No.

7641PP
No.7641 PP2644/12/2012
2644/12/2012(031195)
(031195) www.thesundaily.my
www.thesundaily.my

TELLING IT AS IT IS
TELLING IT AS IT IS

ONMONDAY
ON MONDAY OCTOBER 19, 2020
OCTOBER 19, 2020
II theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020 III
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: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
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INSIDE
TELLING IT AS IT IS
Covid won’t stop page Cops eyeing China page
S’wak polls: CM 2 scam syndicates 5

DOORSTEP POOL ...

Children enjoying a splash
right outside their home at
ON MONDAY OCTOBER 19, 2020 the Bagan Hailam Village in
Klang after the area as well as
No. 7641 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my Kuala Selangor, Sepang and
Sabak Bernam experienced a
high-tide phenomenon
yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX

Extend loan moratorium

█ BY AZMAN UJANG
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
o Bank Negara urged to ‘show leadership’
declaring them bankrupt if they don’t pay up.
These are not normal times and Bank Negara

P
should intervene,” she said.
ETALING JAYA: Bank Negara Malaysia
(BNM) should extend the six-month in pushing for move to curb job losses, Not surprisingly, their appeals for extending
the moratorium has found support from a
loans repayment moratorium that
ended last month to prevent more job business closures former chief executive officer of a major bank.
“The banks can afford to be more
losses and businesses going bust, said accommodative to viable businesses which
businessmen and other concerned citizens. suffer temporary cash flow problems. It should
They told theSun the central bank should borrowers of loans are losing their jobs by the resulting in unfeterred job losses. not, however, be carte blanche as at the same
show firm leadership by at least extending the thousands?” said one prominent businessman. “When the economy recovers in six months, time, we want to avoid the inevitable. The banks
moratorium for another three months, as the Even if banks were to halve their after-tax these airlines and hotels can get back on their have to come out with a template or formula on
economy has hardly recovered since the onset profits or break even, they would still be far feet again and so the Ministry of Finance needs how to determine business viability and make it
of the Covid-19 pandemic early this year and better off than other sectors of the economy, a plan to tide them over the situation. It’s not transparent to their customers so there will be
amid signs of an unprecedented spike in new said another businessman. rocket science at all,” he said. no issue of favouritism,” he told theSun.
infections. He said of the 10 local banks, at least five are A former senior bank executive said BNM Others interviewed pointed out that the
“While most businesses were hard-hit and owned directly or indirectly by government- should make a firm decision on extending the central bank should be “more sensitive”
many having closed for good resulting in linked entities like the Employees Provident moratorium instead of leaving it to individual towards the genuine hardships faced by the
massive retrenchment of their employees, the Fund (EPF), Khazanah Nasional, Permodalan banks to work out mutual arrangements with rakyat, especially borrowers from
country’s 10 banks continue to enjoy hefty after- Nasional Berhad, Tabung Haji and a few other borrowers, especially those having housing and the B40 group, with the worsening
tax profits by the billions. government-linked corporations. car loans. economic and pandemic Turn to
“Banks are making so much money even Another corporate personality also appealed “This is the time for Bank Negara to exert its situation. —
when others are suffering. What is wrong with to the government not to allow Malaysia leadership. I have heard many cases of The situation has also been page 3
them reducing their huge profits when the Airlines, AirAsia and more hotels to close down individual banks threatening borrowers with aggravated and made bleaker by

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 2 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
‘We need leaders with integrity’
█ BY RAJVINDER SINGH
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Many politicians
are only thinking about themselves
instead of placing the country first,
Malaysian Association of Certified
Fraud Examiners (MACFE)
president Datuk Akhbar Satar said
yesterday.
He said the country is in dire
need of a statesman - a person who
thinks about how to help the public
today as well as the next generation.
Behind every successful nation
there are great leaders with
intellectual honesty, he pointed out.
“Leaders who pursue the truth,
keep their words, make decisions
based on facts and formulate
policies for the benefit of their
electorate,” he told theSun.
Akhbar said they always think of
their country first and avoid placing
S’wak CM: Polls
will go ahead,
pandemic or not
KUCHING: As far as Sarawak Chief
Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang
Johari Abang Openg is concerned,
nothing - not even the Covid-19
pandemic - will prevent the state
from holding elections “when the
time comes”.
The term of the current
government expires in June next
year, and elections must be held
within 60 days of its expiry.
Abang Johari noted that certain
individuals and parties have
suggested that the state election
should not be held during the
pandemic. However, he said, there is
no choice but to dissolve the state
assembly to pave the way for polls
when the current term ends.
Fears of another surge in Covid-
19 infection has been stoked by the
drastic surge in new infections
following the Sabah polls recently.
It has been attributed mostly to
the failure to observe SOP during
campaigning and polling.
“We have to go back to the people
(for a fresh mandate) and we have a
good government to manage Covid-
19 (during the polls process),” Abang
Johari said when closing the Sarawak
United People’s Party (SUPP)
Convention 2020 here yesterday.
Abang Johari, who is Gabungan
Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, said
Sarawak ought to continue to be
ruled by Sarawakians and not people
Felda to see new blood and future millionaires
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal
Land Development Authority
(Felda) needs to be rejuvenated, and
the task should fall on the shoulders
of younger settlers who are more
adept at using new technology.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Idrish
Jusoh, said current settlers and their
“block leaders” are already in their
60s and 70s, and it is time for the next
generation to take over.
He said new initiatives to reform
Felda would see younger people,
those aged below 50, make up at
least 15% of the block leaders.
“Felda is embarking on an effort
to create smart and integrated
agriculture to raise settlers’ income
in line with the objective of turning
them into a high-income
oPoliticians in power should put people and
country before self: MACFE chief
their personal needs above others.
He said every country needs
leaders with integrity.
“Unfortunately, we see many
national leaders being charged in
court with corruption and abuse of
power.
“Today, corruption is considered
a national tragedy that is so rampant
it is no longer conducted discreetly
‘under the table’.
“It is done blatantly and
shamelessly in the open. It becomes
tragically ironic when those who are
corrupt start giving advice on how to
deal with corruption,” he said.
Akhbar said it is even worse as we
see convicted leaders going about
Abang Johari speaking at the SUPP convention in Kuching yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
and political parties from outside the
state.
GPS is a Sarawak-based coalition
of four parties, namely Parti Pesaka
Bumiputera Bersatu of which Abang
Johari is the president, SUPP,
Progressive Democratic Party and
community,” Idris said.
“Our aspiration is to raise income
to more than RM5,000 a month for
each settler by 2023,” he said.
“Over and above that, we want to
create up to 3,170 entrepreneurs by
2025, 1,000 of whom will be
millionaires,” he added.
This programme will be
conducted in collaboration with the
Malaysian Technology
Development Corporation, the
Malaysian Global Innovation and
Creativity Centre and Universiti
Pertanian Malaysia.
“It is designed to suit the
capabilities and abilities of the
younger generation who are more
exposed to the latest technology,
especially in agriculture,” Idris, who
their affairs without any remorse or
humility, and continuing to receive
adulation from their followers.
He asked if these followers are so
willing to ignore proven evidence for
the sake of blind loyalty.
He said they, and by extension we,
end up becoming a laughing stock. It
is difficult to find a statesman who
truly thinks of the fate of the people,
he added.
“Political stability at a time when
the country is facing the Covid-19
pandemic crisis is difficult to achieve,
let alone when some leaders are seen
to continue to place personal
interests above the interests of the
people.
Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
“I want all the component parties
to work as a team to win the 12th
state election convincingly,” he
added.
Abang Johari said Sarawak under
GPS would continue to exercise its
was appointed to head Felda on May
1, told Bernama.
He said Felda is providing an
allocation of RM1 billion for the
Settlers Development Programme,
which is expected to provide high
income to the settlers.
The agency, which is now 64
years old, boasts 112,638 settlers in
317 land schemes nationwide. It has
also produced many great figures
among the younger generation,
thanks to an education system
provided in every land scheme.
Idris said the land schemes have
produced many professionals like
doctors, engineers and lecturers.
Among notable figures are
Puncak Niaga Holdings founder Tan
Sri Rozali Ismail from Felda
“The most important factor for a
respected leader is integrity, that
cannot be questioned. In Malaysia,
not only integrity but also honesty
does not exist.
“Acts are not in line with words,
promises are not fulfilled,” he said
Akhbar said they are entering
politics not to help the people but to
seek wealth and power.
He said projects are handed to
their cronies which in the end will
benefit them and not the public.
He said they also appoint cronies
and their friends to important posts
just to protect their own power.
Akhbar said such politicians only
think about the next election and
how to consolidate their power.
“In this of time of dire need, with
people losing their jobs due to the
Covid-19 outbreak, politicians
should stop jostling for power or
making demands,” he said.
rights over minerals on its soil in
order to diversify its income for
additional revenue.
Last month, Sarawak won a suit
against Petronas for higher royalties
on the sale of petroleum products. -
Bernama
Gedangsa, Kuala Kubu Baru,
Selangor, preacher Datuk
Muhammad Kazim Elias (Felda
Besout 3, Perak), celebrity Asmawi
Ani @ Mawi (Felda Taib Andak,
Kulai, Johor), and Farm Fresh chief
operating officer Azmi Zainal
(Felda Kelemah, Gemas, Negri
Sembilan).
Idris feels that Felda has great
potential and can become a major
player in the national food security
as it has enough land and manpower
compared to other government
agencies.
“Felda has (vast) lands and we
have settlers to do agricultural work.
We have the ability, so it is easy for us
to act as a food security provider,”
Idris added. - Bernama
Mohd Redzuan:
No need for
Cabinet reshuffle
MALACCA: There is no need for a
Cabinet reshuffle as the current
government is functioning well, said
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Special Functions)
Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md
Yusof.
“This continuity is essential,
especially with the country still
fighting the spread of Covid-19,” he
said.
He said rumours of a Cabinet
reshuffle that had been spread could
have been a personal statement
made by some leaders, and did not
represent any party in Perikatan
Nasional (PN).
“I had a meeting with the Prime
Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin)
yesterday and during the discussion,
we did not see the need for a Cabinet
reshuffle at the moment.
“If the Cabinet is seen not
functioning well, then a decision to
reshuffle can be made. So there is no
need to pressure the prime minister
to reshuffle the Cabinet,” he told
reporters after a dinner with
members of the print and electronic
media here on Saturday.
Mohd Redzuan, who is Bersatu
supreme council member, said all
PN coalition party leaders, both with
or without Cabinet posts, should
unite to strengthen the government’s
administration for the benefit and
well-being of the people.
He said all political party leaders
should also be responsible and fight
for the people, especially to ease
their worries over the country’s
political crisis, which is still unstable,
and economic situation, which is
affected by the spread of Covid-19. -
Bernama
‘Cool’ content to
woo young ones
to talk show
SHAH ALAM: Catchy presentations
will now be added to the Wacana al-
Quran talk show to attract the young
audience.
Among others, content in the form
of posters, quotes and short videos
will be uploaded on the newspaper’s
digital platform, Sinar Harian Digital
News senior editor Ruzy Adila Idris
told Bernama.
The show discusses current issues
and ways to resolve these issues are
based on the teachings in the Quran.
“Let’s take Sinar Harian Instagram
followers as an example, most of
them are between 15 and 25 years old
and very responsive.
“They don’t like content with
element of violence, but they love
‘cool’ information,” Ruzy Adila said.
“So, we will get good quotes from
the programme and publish them on
Instagram,” she added.
Wacana Al-Quran, which is a
collaborative effort between Warisan
Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF),
Sinar Harian and Karya Bestari, will
be broadcast “live” via the daily’s
social media platform for one hour
from 6pm, starting today.
The programme is a continuation
of the My#QuranHour campaign
which had been organised by the
media house over the past seven
years.
Wacana al-Quran will run for
three months in a bid to create an
Islamic or Syariah compliant
ecosystem and curb moral
decadence in the society. - Bernama
 3
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

TELLING IT AS IT IS

Says ...
Keeping everyone safe makes good business sense
Graphics_1 > Graphics Logos >The Sun Masthead .ai

█ BY EDDIE HOO brick-and-mortar outlets chalking up
the bulk of the sales.
SHOPPING malls have continued to However, the Covid-19 pandemic
flourish despite the rise of e- is now threatening their business
commerce and a glut of such places operations. There were 105 new
in the country. cases registered under the Utama
Malls in this region have done well cluster last Friday.
by incorporating entertainment and The recent scare has led to Klang
dining to offer more than retail. Valley residents staying away from
They grew into venues where shopping malls, leading to a drop in
families and friends could spend time footfall. This translates to lower sale
together, and this has helped to transactions and a dip in earnings for
maintain a strong mall culture. traders in these places.
Consumer goods are still mainly The index case for the Utama
moved through traditional retail, with cluster is a 28-year-old Nepalese
security guard at one of the shopping
malls in the Petaling district, Health
Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor
Hisham Abdullah said.
Malls have to be proactive in
ensuring public confidence in their
facilities. It would make sense to
ensure that their frontline staff are
periodically checked for Covid-19.
Imagine how big the risk of
exposure an affected security guard
would pose to shoppers. If the guard
had been placed at the main
entrance and was tasked with taking
the temperature of visitors, he would
have come into close contact with
thousands of people in a day.
What some retail outlets are now
doing is putting up a self-check
electronic thermometer. That way,
their staff do not have to put
themselves or others at risk of
infection.
Beyond the human vector, Covid-
19 can spread through common
contact areas such as door handles,
lift buttons, ATM keypads, escalator
handrails, shopping trolleys and
parking ticket payment machines,
among others.
The virus can survive on surfaces
longer than initially thought.
Disinfection of such contact points
should be stepped up and the
practice of supplying plastic gloves to
customers by a grocery chain should
be emulated by other retailers that
do not do so.
Such practices should also be
employed for frontline staff or
counter clerks who would face a big
number of people daily. The
operation areas can also do with
similar regular disinfection or
cleaning up.

Move to ensure
safety at malls Name
How Well Banks Are Doing
2015
6,835.9
2016
6,743.0
Financial Year
2017 2018
7,520.5 8,113.3
2019
8,198.1
2020
n/a
oShopping centres conduct regular cleaning and
MALAYAN BANKING BHD
PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 5,062.2 5,206.9 5,470.0 5,590.6 5,511.6 n/a
HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD 2,233.2 1,903.4 2,145.0 2,638.1 2,664.5 2,494.6
implement SOP to reassure visitors CIMB GROUP HOLDINGS BHD
RHB BANK BHD
2,849.5
1,665.0
3,564.2
1,681.6
4,475.2
1,950.1
5,583.5
2,305.2
4,559.7
2,482.4
n/a
n/a
AMMB HOLDINGS BHD 1,918.6 1,302.2 1,324.6 1,132.1 1,505.3 1,340.7
BIMB HOLDINGS BHD 547.3 559.0 619.8 682.1 786.9 n/a
█ BY HAKEM HASSAN Chin told theSun that apart from ALLIANCE BANK MALAYSIA BHD 509.8 520.0 512.1 493.2 537.6 424.3
AFFIN BANK BHD 345.6 464.1 417.9 503.1 487.8 n/a
newsdesk@thesundaily.com enforcing standard operating
procedures (SOP) such as ensuring Total 23,587.8 23,303.4 25,942.1 28,948.8 28,653.2 n/a
PETALING JAYA: Malls in the Klang social distancing and requiring visitors theSunGraphics© - Magenan All values in RM mil
Valley are the latest hotspots for the
transmission of Covid-19, forcing
closures for sanitisation purposes.
and staff to wear face masks, the
company is using a form of mechanical
ventilation chemical treatment for air
Public transport sector also struggling
Most of them have almost been circulation. the ongoing tussles among selfish bus operators with bank loans Meanwhile, prominent social
emptied of shoppers even when they “Businesses are also barred from politicians bent on jostling for were experiencing serious cash activist Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar
reopen as people stay away for fear of transferring staff from one outlet to power as well as attempting to flow problems due to a sharp said priority for the moratorium
contracting the virus. another and personnel such as security topple the government via a drop in passenger load, extension and provision of
Adding to the fear is a recent report guards and cleaners are required to confidence vote in From which was worsened by repayment flexibility should be
quoting Australian scientists from the undergo extra checks,” he said. Parliament, they added. front the new conditional given to individuals who lost their
Centre for Disease Preparedness as “Retailers also have the option for A random survey page movement control order jobs and have yet to find a job.
saying that the coronavirus can survive flexible hours to ensure less contact with among some housing and imposed in Selangor, Kuala In addition, small and
for up to 28 days on certain surfaces. customers,” he added. car loan borrowers showed Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan medium enterprises especially
To their credit, shopping centres Chin said Sunway Malls is also that they were doing everything and Sabah. are facing acute cash flow
have reacted quickly to avert a providing shoppers with care kits possible to save their housing “The pandemic has heavily problems due to interrupted
deterioration of the situation, a step a comprising a face mask, hand sanitiser loans given the fact that such impacted our rice bowl and most business and most were hardly
public health expert agrees is adequate. and wet wipes. loans were their biggest personal cannot afford to repay loans, and managing to keep afloat.
However, epidemiologist Datuk Dr “We believe safety is a collective investment and homes being a many have had their vehicles “Worse, some are hardly able
Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said responsibility and we will continue to basic need for their livelihood. repossessed or are near to meet overhead expenses. How
more could be done to ensure good share all our safety and hygiene efforts “Most don’t quite mind giving bankruptcy while others have then can they meet their
ventilation and prevent overcrowding, on social media to continue building up car loans but not housing. So been dragged to court. obligations to the banks?” said
which is a challenge in itself. confidence that we are a safe place to we appeal to banks to bear with “Under these circumstances, it Akhbar, who is president of the
Among the major shopping malls visit.” us on the current hardships we is almost certain that our bus Malaysian Association of
that have recorded new infections 1Utama public relations manager are facing by agreeing to ease our industry is on the verge of being Certified Fraud Examiners and a
within their premises are 1Utama, Lee Li Lian told theSun that the mall had burden,” said a borrower. crippled. So we appeal to the leading anti-corruption activist.
Sunway Pyramid and The Curve in earlier implemented ways to enhance Several public transport government to provide us with a He said a vicious circle would
Petaling Jaya, as well as NU Central, conformity to SOP. entrepreneurs have also joined special grant to sustain the public set in when default of loan
Bangsar Shopping Centre and KLCC in In response to the discovery of the appeal for an extension of the transport business,” said Mohd repayment occurs as the
Kuala Lumpur. several cases recently, the mall was moratorium. Rofik, who is president of the borrower would not be able to
Although only selected outlets at closed for extensive cleaning and Their spokesman, Mohd Rofik Malaysian Chartered Bus obtain further loans with
these malls have reported positive cases, sanitation works and has reopened Mohd Yusoff, said almost 90% of Operators Association. depleting reserves.
steps have been taken to sanitise the since Saturday.
entire building. Awang Bulgiba, who is also a public
Sunway Malls operations general health expert, said although surfaces
manager Jason Chin said they have been can harbour viruses, the SOP currently
collaborating with hygiene focus practised at malls are sufficient as
companies such as Kimberly-Clark and common contact surfaces are regularly
SmartCoat to keep their premises clean cleaned.
at all times. He emphasised that hand
Sunway Malls operates four sanitisation, temperature checking and
shopping centres in Selangor, Kuala usage of the MySejahtera application
Lumpur and Putrajaya, including should be strictly observed.
Sunway Pyramid. He also commended businesses for
SmartCoat produces an eco-friendly ensuring that staff with symptoms be
water-based coating that kills viruses as advised to seek treatment immediately
well as enhance indoor air quality. instead of going to work.

Include us in task force: MTUC

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Trades Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan’s effort
Union Congress (MTUC) and its affiliate, to introduce the task force to ensure
the National Union of Employees in that employers in the rubber-based
Companies Manufacturing Rubber industry would comply with the laws to
Products (NUECMRP), should be safeguard the welfare of employees,
included in the newly-established including migrant workers.
Labour Legislation and Policy “It is our view that the minister ought
Compliance Rubber Sector Task Force, to ensure workers’ representation in the
MTUC Penang Division said in a task force,” it said, adding that NUECMRP
statement yesterday. has been representing workers since its BUSINESS GROUNDED ... Kite trader Izwani Ilias selling her wares at Pantai Batu Hitam in Kuantan yesterday. Izwani said
It said it welcomed Human Resources inception in 1962. – Bernama visitors to the popular beach in Pahang has dropped considerably as a result of the Covid pandemic. – BERNAMAPIX
 4 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Spike in cases dampens good news

oHighest number of single day recoveries
recorded yesterday: Noor Hisham
█ BY HAKEM HASSAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: It was a day when
old records were broken and new
ones set.
A total of 701 patients were
discharged as of noon on Saturday, a
new record for the number of people
to have recovered from Covid-19 in a
single day.
But the good news was dampened
by the runaway increase to 871 new
cases in the same period, the highest
single day rise since the pandemic
began in March.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr
Noor Hisham Abdullah told a “live”
media conference yesterday that the
national tally of Covid-19 infections
now stands at 20,498 and out of that,
7,049 are active cases.
Of the 871 new cases, 866 were
locally transmitted infections. Only
five are imported ones.
Sabah continues to lead, with 702
new cases, and Selangor a distant
second with 77. Penang came in third
with 45 cases while Perak was next
with 10.
Labuan, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur,
Sarawak, Negri Sembilan,
Trengganu, Johor and Malacca
recorded fewer than 10 cases each.
Noor Hisham said 86 patients are
still in intensive care, with 28
requiring ventilator assistance.
There were seven fatalities,
bringing the death toll to 187. They
comprised four men and three
women aged 41 to 70. Three of them
had underlying medical problems,
including high blood pressure, heart
disease and diabetes.
One new cluster each were also
reported in Labuan, Penang,
Selangor and Sabah.
Noor Hisham said the clusters
were in Bah Layangan (Labuan),
Alma (Penang), Auto (Selangor) and
Kepayan Prison (Sabah).
Active prison clusters contributed
a total of 97 cases yesterday, with
eight at the Alor Star Prison in
Tembok, 22 at the Penang Remand
Prison, 18 at Seberang Prai Prison
and 49 at Kepayan Prison in Sabah.
Existing clusters that have
reported high numbers of new cases
were Tujuh Serangkai with 25,
Ramai-Ramai with 17 and Tanamera
with 13.
A total of 27 other clusters
recorded fewer than 10 new cases
each. These included clusters in
Sabah, Selangor, Malacca,
Terengganu, Sarawak, Perak, Labuan,
Penang, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur.
On the bright side, Noor Hisham
said the Health Ministry has
successfully reduced Malaysia’s rate
of infection (R0) despite the spikes in
positive cases.
The R0 value during the beginning
of the third wave on Sept 20 was 2.2,
but within four weeks, it has dropped
to 1.5.
“If the infection rate is maintained
at 2.2, the number of positive cases
may exceed 1,000 daily. This shows
the efforts in combating the virus are
effective but to lower the rate further,
people’s cooperation is needed.”

Less than 4 hours to collate daily virus data
KUALA LUMPUR: Data tells stories, but only
when it is presented in a concise and easy to
understand format.
In the case of Covid-19, no one has proven
more adept at collating the daily data than the
National Crisis Preparedness and Emergency
Response Centre (CPRC) task force.
In a post on his Facebook page yesterday,
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor
Hisham Abdullah said CPRC has less than
four hours to collate all the data to be
presented by him at his daily media
conference.
Noor Hisham also shared another post by
task force member Dr Mohamad Fadli
Khairie, who outlined the team’s role and
responsibilities.
According to Mohamad Fadli, Noor
Hisham would meet all those in the Covid-19
management team, including health experts,
at 8am. Issues discussed at this meeting
include details on daily cases, active clusters,
conditions at hospitals and health clinics,
human resources, as well as measures to be
taken to address problems.
“Our job starts with receiving reports and
notifications on positive cases reported from
midnight until noon for the day,” Mohamad
Fadli wrote.
“All information is studied to ensure
accuracy and validity. Each patient is assigned
a case number for data analysis and patient
data confidentiality.”
He explained that each positive case will
be identified in terms of its socio-
demographic information, the cycle
threshold value, cause of infection, type of
screening and risk of transmission to the
community.
Links between cases will also be studied,
especially when they involve other states, and
discussions with relevant authorities will be
held.
“The critical time for us is between 4pm
and 5pm, before the daily media conference.
The data must be verified and finalised. All
processes should be done fast and accurately.
“It becomes a challenge when the number
of cases is high, making data analysis difficult.
Whatever happens, having zero-error is
always our goal.” Mohamad Fadli said all the
cases involved would undergo a geo-coding
process to be used by the MySejahtera
application team for tracking. – Bernama
Alor Star Prison EMCO
extended
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: The enhanced movement
control order (EMCO) imposed on the Alor Star
Prison has been extended by another 14 days to
Nov 1.
The EMCO, implemented on Oct 5, was
scheduled to end yesterday, but the high number
of Covid-19 cases compelled the government to
extend the order.
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
said as of Saturday, a total of 1,178 individuals had
tested positive for the virus.
They comprised 1,137 prisoners and 41
attendants, he told a media conference yesterday.
Meanwhile, violations of the standard operating
procedures (SOP) continued. On Saturday, a total
of 661 individuals were arrested for flouting the
SOP.
Ismail Sabri said 27 of those detained were
remanded, two offered bail and the remaining 632
issued compounds.
The offences committed were failure to wear
face masks, ignoring social distancing, violating the
EMCO as well as visiting entertainment centres.
Also nabbed were business owners who failed
to provide equipment for contact tracing
registration.
Ismail Sabri said the arrests were made during
an inspection of 15,106 premises, including
supermarkets, restaurants, factories, markets,
places of worship and leisure areas.
In a separate operation, called “Ops Benteng”,
72 illegal migrants were picked up and 35 land
vehicles were seized.
He said that since the implementation of Ops
Benteng in May, a total of 497 illegal migrants and
28 boat skippers had been arrested in Sarawak
alone.

FOUR MORE MEDICAL

BRIEFS

OFFICERS SENT TO TAWAU

SPECIAL DELIVERY ... Personnel from the Welfare and Civil Defence departments as well as Rela taking food yesterday to residents of Asrama
Tropicana in Petaling Jaya, which has been placed under an enhanced movement control order. – BERNAMAPIX
Procurements being made to face monsoon floods
MALACCA: The government is making
procurements for flood management,
including those required by workers to curb
the spread of Covid-19 during the November
to March monsoon season.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri
Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said among the
procurements are new assets such as boats,
four-wheel drive vehicles, food items, tents
and personal protective equipment (PPE).
“We have drawn up regulations and
standard operating procedures (SOP),
including the requirement for use of PPE by
workers who will be involved in rescue
missions and evacuation of flood victims to
curb the spread of the virus.
“It is a challenge for the government to
manage a flood disaster during the
pandemic,” he told reporters after a dinner
event with members of the print and
electronic media in Malacca on Saturday.
In keeping with the SOP and new norms,
he said the number of flood victims at relief
centres will be limited to ensure physical
distancing.
In regard to manpower, he said it would be
sufficient as the staff of agencies and
departments under various ministries will be
mobilised for the task. – Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Four officers from the
National Institute of Forensics Medicine at
Kuala Lumpur Hospital have been sent to
the Tawau Hospital in Sabah to carry out
forensics medicine duties and manage
Covid-19 fatalities. Health Director-General
Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the
team, comprising a forensics medicine
specialist, two medical officers and an
assistant medical officer, left yesterday. “The
specialist will work in Tawau for three
months,” he said in a Facebook post.
SABAH CM, WIFE RECOVER
FROM COVID-19
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister
Datuk Hajiji Noor and his wife Datin Juliah
Salagha have recovered from Covid-19 and
were discharged from the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital at 10.30am yesterday. Hajiji, in
expressing concern over the surge in Covid-
19 infections in Sabah, said the state
government would do its best to curb the
spread. “The important thing is that people
must be disciplined, cooperate and always
abide by the standard operating
procedures set by the government,“ he said
in a statement yesterday. – Bernama
 5
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020

* NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

‘Travel permits for

genuine cases’
KUALA LUMPUR: Those applying for
inter-state travel permits have been
cautioned against giving “lame” excuses
for the purpose.
“They are only allowed to do so if
there is a genuine and urgent need,”
Gombak district police chief ACP Arifai
Tarawe said yesterday.
Since the conditional movement
control order (CMCO) was enforced last
Wednesday, a total of 1,587 applications
for inter-state travel have been received,
and out of that, 1,555 applications have
been approved, he said.
“Most of the applications to cross the
state border are for medical, death and
emergency cases. Those that were
rejected gave lame excuses, such as for
travel and holiday, to attend a wedding
reception or sending children back to
home town for no reason,” he told
reporters after a special CMCO
compliance operation in Selayang Baru
and Sri Gombak last Saturday.
During the operation, seven
individuals were issued compounds and
two foreigners were detained.
Last Thursday, Senior Minister
(Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri
Yaakob said application forms for
movement permits can be obtained
from the nearest police station or
downloaded from the police Facebook
page. The completed form must be
submitted to the nearest police station to
be signed by the station chief. – Bernama
Covid pandemic boosts
sale of smart devices
oDemand for electronic gadgets growing steadily this year
because of millennials, says eCommerce chief
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: The Covid-19 pandemic has
been a boon for the sale of smart devices – from
phones and TV sets to watches and tablets.
For online marketplace Lazada Malaysia,
the annual 10.10 Sale on Oct 10 this year saw
four times more smartphones and tablets
flying off the shelves compared with the same
event last year.
The signs of a boom were already there a
month earlier, at the 9.9 Sale on Sept 9. Lazada
registered a 30% year-on-year increase in sale
of mobile devices on the day, over the previous
year’s event.
Lazada chief executive officer Leo Chow
told theSun yesterday that more than 4,000
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 smartphones were sold
in less than eight minutes during the inaugural
chief discount officer’s livestream that day.
The event itself chalked up more than
580,000 views in just three and a half hours.
Chow said the electronics category has
been growing steadily this year. “Last month,
we saw a 60% increase in sales compared with
the beginning of the year.”
The high interest and spending on smart
mobile devices has been attributed almost
entirely to the millennials, sometimes known
as “digital natives”.
One of them is content writer Lim Yi Ling,
who spends up to RM500 a month on smaller
gadgets each year.
This does not include her spending on
bigger items such as laptops and smartphones.
“I usually spend on smaller gadgets like
headphones, gaming mice, keyboards and
high speed chargers. I have spent RM200 to
RM300 since last month because I wanted to
replace my old gadgets with newer versions.”
Lim said she replaces most of her gadgets
every one to two years. “I have deadlines to
meet at work so I cannot afford a gadget
malfunction,” she added.
“I am also a moderately-heavy gamer. I play
online games like Counter Strike and
Maplestory with my friends. A computer
mouse would be more efficient in gaming
compared to a touchpad, and headphones are
a must for communication.”
Consultant coordinator Dorothy Low said
she does not buy gadgets as often as her friends
but when she does invest in a new gadget she
spends from as little as RM150 to as much as
RM3,000, depending on the item.
She considers her laptop most important to
her, although she is also considering an
upgrade to an iPad or MS Surface to lighten her
workload.
“I can foresee myself being dependent on
my tablet in the future because it is light and
mobile but can still support the heavy
demands of my work.”
Low said she does not conform to the idea
that gadgets need to be constantly updated as
time passes.
“The smartphones I have used are non-
flagship phones such as the Samsung C9 Pro
which I think is very underrated. Even though
it’s not mainstream, it has the features that I
need, a bigger RAM compared with many
other phones, which to me is better than
anything the latest smartphones at the time
could offer.
“My gadget doesn’t have to be the latest, as
long as its specifications are ideal for me,” she
added.

China nationals
behind local
syndicated
crime
█ BY CHARLES RAMENDRAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR : Criminal syndicates run

A visitor walks past an inflatable
replica of the moon at a car boot
sale in Batu Hitam beach in
Kuantan yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
by crooked China nationals are
mushrooming in Malaysia and raking in
millions of ringgit in ill-gotten gains.
Dozens of such syndicates that carry
out scams, online gambling, non-existent
investments, prostitution and other illegal
activities have been crippled by police but
their numbers are not on the decline.
Apart from picking plush apartments
and landed properties to operate from, the
syndicates are also setting up their
activities in commercial buildings, creating
an office-like environment as if they were
running a legitimate business.
Federal police CID director
Commissioner Datuk Huzir Mohamed
said last Saturday that police believe there
are many more such foreign syndicates
operating in the country that have yet to be
sniffed out.
In the latest bust on Saturday evening,
police raided a “Macau scam” syndicate
here. They also seized a whopping RM2.5
million and arrested 14 China nationals
and two local men, aged between 21 and
48.

Celestial attraction at Kuantan night market
KUANTAN: A replica of the moon has been
attracting visitors to a car boot sale on Batu
Hitam beach.
Many could not resist having their pictures
taken with the “celestial object”, to be posted on
social media. After all, many cultures consider it
romantic.
This unique and out of this world close
encounter has been made possible by a group
of Universiti Malaysia Pahang graduates who
went to great lengths to get the inflatable
“moon” to the beach. The 6m in diameter orb
has been the main attraction at the car boot
sale, also known as “Malam Carboot”.
Three 25-year-olds – Muhamad Nazirul
Aman Rusli Aman, Muhammad Asyraf Mat
Nain and Joe Fadzly Johari – are the operators of
the night market.
Muhamad Nazirul said they were inspired to
create the replica of the moon by the beautiful
image of moonlight over water.
He said he and his friends went on a search
and it was only in August that they finally were
able to find the inflatable decoration and
ordered it online. The light that emanates from
the inflatable moon makes it look real, and it
attracts the attention of visitors to the “Malam
Carboot” site.
The mechatronic engineering graduate said
they had spent thousands of ringgit to have the
custom-made inflatable moon by a
manufacturer in China as an attraction to get
the public to the sale site.
The objective is to generate income for some
50 traders operating their business during the
recovery movement control order. – Bernama
A police team from the federal anti-vice,
gaming and secret societies division made
the arrests and seizure in separate raids on
a condominium in Kajang and a double-
storey terrace house at Jalan Desa Bukit
Tiara in Cheras.
Huzir said the syndicate had
commenced its activities two months ago
and has been targeting victims in China.
The syndicate’s scams were related to
prostitution, crypto-currency and money-
laundering, he added.
Huzir said apart from portable
computers and cellphones, an undisclosed
amount of drugs was also seized.
 6 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
Victoria partially
eases lockdown
MELBOURNE: Australia’s state of Victoria, the
epicentre of the country’s coronavirus outbreak,
will see more freedom of movement as of today
after months-long restrictions, but retailers and
restaurants must wait longer, making some of the
owners unhappy.
After more than 100 days in a strict lockdown
that allowed only for two hours of outdoor activity
a day, the five million people living in Melbourne,
Victoria’s capital, will be able to spend as much
time exercising outdoors as they wish.
However, people must stay within 25km of their
homes, Premier Daniel Andrews said. Public
gatherings will remain tightly limited, and retailers
and restaurants must operate only on take-away or
delivery orders, with the state government eyeing
their reopening by Nov 1.
The head of Melbourne’s Chapel Street
Precinct Association, a local marketing body
representing around 2,200 commercial entities,
said there was a “cloud of anger” from their
businesses on Sunday.
“The fact retail and hospitality is still left waiting
‘til potentially November is an unjust joke,”
Chrissie Maus, general manager of the Chapel
Street Precinct, said in a statement.
Victoria is home to a quarter of its 25 million
people and accounts for 25% of economic output,
but because of the prolonged lockdown, it makes
up now 40% of Australia’s effectively unemployed,
according to government data.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed
sympathy for the “frustrations” of businesses.
Yesterday, Victoria recorded two new cases of
Covid-19, keeping infections below double digits
for a fifth day, down from more than 700 cases a
day in early August. – Reuters
BRIEFS
VIRUS CAN SURVIVE ON SKIN
FOR NINE HOURS
TOKYO: The coronavirus remains active
on human skin for nine hours, Japanese
researchers have found, in a discovery
they said showed the need for frequent
hand washing to combat the Covid-19
pandemic. The pathogen that causes the
flu survives on human skin for about 1.8
hours by comparison, said the study
published this month in the Clinical
Infectious Diseases journal. The research
team tested skin collected from autopsy
specimens, about one day after death.
Both the coronavirus and the flu virus are
inactivated within 15 seconds by
applying ethanol, which is used in hand
sanitisers. – AFP
LAW PASSED TO PREVENT
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
SHANGHAI: China’s top legislative body
passed a new biosecurity law aimed at
preventing and managing infectious
diseases, state news agency Xinhua
reported late on Saturday. The National
People’s Congress Standing Committee
voted to adopt the law on Saturday,
according to Xinhua, and it would come
into effect on April 15, 2021. The law
would establish systems for biosecurity
risk prevention and control, including
risk monitoring and early warning, risk
investigation and assessment, and
information sharing. It would also have
provisions to prevent and respond to
specific biosecurity risks, including major
emerging infectious diseases, epidemic
and sudden outbreaks, reported Xinhua.
– Reuters
ARDERN VOWS REFORM
AFTER LANDSLIDE WIN
WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed
yesterday to “crack on” with delivering
her vision following a landslide election
victory. Ardern won a historic outright
majority in Saturday’s poll – the first since
New Zealand adopted proportional
voting in 1996 – allowing her to
implement policies without support
from minor parties. Ardern said she now
had a mandate for change. The
charismatic leader said the scale of the
victory meant more voters were backing
her party and its reformist agenda. – AFP
Brits not confident PM
can handle Covid dilemma
oSurvey shows 22% of voters do not consider it
reasonable to conform to restrictions after spring
LONDON: British voters do not trust Prime
Minister Boris Johnson and his health
secretary Matt Hancock to beat coronavirus,
according to a new survey – and less than a
quarter (22%) think it would be reasonable for
ministers to expect them to keep obeying
restrictions on their social and economic lives
beyond the spring.
The poll, by BMG Research for The
Independent, laid bare the extent of financial
hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
and the lockdown measures imposed by the
government to fight it.
More than a quarter of those questioned
(26%) said their household incomes had gone
down as a result of the outbreak.
And some 3.4% – the equivalent of more
than 900,000 families or sole-person
households – said their income had fallen by
more than half.
The poll of 1,500 people was conducted as
Johnson struggled to maintain his grip on his
regional coronavirus policy, with councils in
the north rejecting his efforts to tighten local
restrictions and Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer
Thai celebrities break silence on democracy protests
BANGKOK: A K-pop superstar, beauty queens
and TV personalities are among a growing
wave of celebrities backing Thailand’s pro-
democracy movement, sending out messages
of support to millions of followers on social
media.
Political statements are unusual from Thai
celebs, whose lucrative endorsements rely on
the billionaire clans that are a pillar of the
country’s establishment. But some prominent
figures broke cover after police fired water
cannon at peaceful protesters in Bangkok on
Friday.
Thai-American K-Pop idol Nichkhun,
better known as the “Thai Prince”, told his 6.9
million Twitter followers he cannot “stand idly
by” after Friday’s scenes, an escalation after
months of student-led protests.
Nichkhun is a member of ultra-popular
South Korean boy band 2PM.
“Violence has never helped anything. I
hope everyone stays safe ... and take care of
yourselves.”
demanding a national “circuit-breaker”
lockdown.
It found that just 36% now trust the prime
minister to lead the response to the pandemic,
against 44% who do not – an overall rating of
-8. For Hancock, the figures were more
damning, with a trust rating of -13 based on
just 26% trusting him and 39% expressing
distrust.
The most trusted politician was chancellor
Rishi Sunak, whose +19 rating of 44% trust
compared to 23% distrust was no doubt
buoyed by his role handing out close to £200
billion (RM1 trillion) in state support,
including a furlough scheme paying up to 80%
of wages for employees unable to work.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
had a +13 trust rating (42-29%, soaring to +22
(52-30%) in Scotland, while Starmer’s positive
rating was a more modest +9 (36-27%).
Levels of trust in the key pandemic experts
were comfortably higher, with chief medical
officer for England Chris Whitty scoring +25
(41-16%) and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick
Vallance +21 (36-15%).
Friday’s showdown was the first such use of
force against the protesters, who are calling for
the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-
Cha, a former military chief brought to power
in a 2014 coup, and demanding reforms to the
powerful monarchy.
It followed a tense week in the Thai capital
when protesters defied a ban on
demonstrations, and the arrests of scores of
leading activists, to return to the streets in their
tens of thousands.
Amanda Obdam, the newly crowned Miss
Universe Thailand, took to Instagram with
pictures of a lone protester pushing against riot
police wielding their shields.
“A picture says a thousand words,” the Thai-
Canadian model wrote. “Your job is to protect
the people not harm them.”
Previously, many stars have remained
conspicuously silent on hot-button issues in
celebrity-obsessed Thailand, where their
careers and income are closely tied to product
endorsements.
The figure with lowest public credibility on
dealing with coronavirus was US president
Donald Trump, with just 11% of Britons saying
they trusted him on the issue, against 73% who
did not.
There was little sign of optimism for an
improvement to families’ financial position in
the near future, with 25% of those questioned
saying they expect their household income to
decline further over the next six months. The
period will see the replacement of Sunak’s
furlough scheme in November with a less
generous system paying 22% of wages or 67%
for firms forced to close in tier 3 Covid alert
areas.
The poll found that those most likely to lose
out financially due to coronavirus were 25 to
34-year-olds – those most likely to be bringing
up small children – among whom 36% said
their household income had fallen, against just
10% who said it had gone up. By contrast, just
8% of over-65s reported financial loss.
Ethnic minority households were far more
likely to report that they had lost income (35%)
than white British (24%).
The poll found that 49% of voters believe
that the government is right to prioritise
limiting the number of deaths caused by the
disease, while 30% say limiting the damage to
jobs and the economy should come first.
– The Independent
Pro-democracy
protesters take
part in an anti-
government rally
at Victory
Monument in
Bangkok
yesterday as they
continue for the
fourth
consecutive day
to defy an
emergency
decree banning
gatherings.
– AFPPIX
Another former beauty queen, TV
personality Maria Poonlertlarp, said in a video
on Facebook that the treatment of protesters
was “completely unjust”.
She had grown more vocal since the July
disappearance of Thai pro-democracy activist
Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who was kidnapped
off the streets of Cambodia where he lived in
self-exile.
Even some celebrities who have mixed with
Thailand’s leaders have spoken out. Popular
girl band BNK48 visited Prayut at Government
House in 2018, where officially released photos
showed the normally gruff premier chatting
cheerfully with the group.
But BNK48 member Milin “Namneung”
Dokthian left no room for doubt about her
feelings in a message urging protesters to “stay
safe” this week.
“We wouldn’t have to say ‘be safe’ if we had
a true democracy,” she wrote on Facebook, in a
post shared by fellow band-members. – AFP
 7
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020

SPEAK UP

COMMENT by Farhan Kamarulzaman

Contact tracing key in Covid-19 fight

F
OLLOWING the unexpected rise
in Covid-19 cases hitting the
country, it is crucial to bear in
mind that Malaysians should
remain vigilant and not take contact
tracing lightly, as it is a vital way to curb
the spread of Covid-19.
This is because contact tracing,
which is defined as the process of
identifying people who may have come
into contact with someone infected with
Covid-19 and subsequently collecting
further information about these
contacts, is essential for our country,
particularly during this new wave of
infections.
They are also likely to be at greater
risk of infection, and potentially further
infecting others.
Besides, contact tracing can
determine the high-risk places for
individuals to take action such as
disinfection, and remind people to avoid
these areas. It is now more useful as most
of the rakyat are using the MySejahtera
mobile application as well.
Contact tracing has now been made
simple compared with the beginning of
the pandemic as 17 million Malaysians
are now using the MySejahtera app, as
reported by Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin during his recent
announcement on Oct 6.
With more than 60% of the rakyat
now using the app, it will significantly
help the Ministry of Health (MoH) to
conduct contact tracing activities. But to
further ensure this, it is best for
individuals who have not yet registered
with the application to register and use it
wisely in their daily lives.
Although it seems to be like a piece of
good news, it does not mean that contact
tracing is the only priority now. People
should follow the standard operating
procedures (SOP) and avoid the 3Cs as
stated by the MoH, which are crowded
places, confined spaces and close
conversations in order to curb the
Covid-19 outbreak.
Apart from the citizens’
responsibilities, it is also the
responsibility of the person-in-charge of
taking people’s information and
checking their temperature to carefully
ensure these individuals obey the SOP
properly by complete monitoring.
This involves people’s compliance
with QR code scanning, or manually
writing their information, maintaining
physical distancing and wearing a face
mask while entering the premises.
Based on Crystal Watson, a senior
scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center
for Health Security, contact tracing is the
best method for handling Covid-19 in an
ongoing way and allowing the economy
to open up again.
Since Malaysia is in the recovery
movement control order phase, contact
tracing is essential to effectively balance
both public health and economic
aspects until a vaccine is found.
Previously, contact tracing was fully
utilised by the government using the
MySejahtera app and manual contact
tracing to identify close contacts of
infected individuals for clusters such as
the Sivagangga cluster. Also, the MoH
managed to control the Covid-19 spread
for most of the clusters.
Although our country recently
recorded 871 cases of Covid-19, which is
the highest recorded, the government
will undoubtedly be able to contain the
spread of new clusters like how they Contract tracing is the best method for handling Covid-19 while keeping the economy open.
successfully did in the previous clusters
through the use of contact tracing (home quarantine), 0 Riding the same vehicle between two
activities. 0 D refers to individuals who have close seats over two hours.
However, people should be extra
careful now by following the SOP as we
“People should contact with individuals from Category
C, who can go out for work or other
People’s awareness of this crucial
information will undoubtedly ease the
are currently experiencing the third
wave of Covid-19 infection, as reported
be extra careful business, and
0 E refers to individuals who are not
process of contact tracing for the MoH as
some individuals are still unaware of
by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr
Noor Hisham Abdullah.
now by follow- related to any categories.
It implies that categories C and D
this.
But this kind of information does not
Another crucial thing is people
should never neglect the process of
ing the SOP as should wait for the test results of B, so if
B tests positive, C will become B, and D
mean keeping people in a state of panic,
it is just to show how public awareness of
providing personal information so that it
does not interfere with all the MoH we are will become C. And if B tests negative, B
has to do the 14-day home quarantine,
contact tracing is vital in curbing the
spread of Covid-19.
activities to detect individuals with the
infection. currently while C and D are free to resume their
activities as usual.
Indeed, people need to know at this
juncture we are far from winning the war
Additionally, the MoH is using these
categories of close contacts to determine experiencing According to the MoH, close contact
means:
against Covid-19. So, stay safe, follow the
SOP and let’s work together against this
the risks of the groups:
0 A refers to individuals infected with the third wave 0 Family members (sleeping/eating
together) of the same household or the
pandemic for our country’s public
health.
Covid-19, same small group,
0 B refers to individuals who have close of Covid-19 0 Face to face for more than 15 minutes Farhan Kamarulzaman is a Research
contact with individuals from Category in an enclosed space at a distance of less Assistant at EMIR Research, an
A and are required to do the swab test,
0 C refers to individuals who have
infection. than one metre,
0 Not face to face but staying together in
independent think tank focused on
strategic policy recommendations
close contact with individuals from an air-conditioned closed room for more based on rigorous research. Comments:
Category B and need to stay at home than two hours, and letters@thesundaily.com

COMMENT by Muzaffar Syah Mallow

Understand challenges facing employees during CMCO

EMPLOYERS in all working sectors
should understand the burden and
hardships employees are going to
face after the implementation of the
conditional movement control order
(CMCO) in several states.
Recently, the government decided
the CMCO would be enforced in
Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and
Putrajaya from Oct 14 to 27, and the
whole of Sabah between Oct 13 and
Oct 26.
The CMCO needs to be
implemented due to the increased
number of Covid-19 cases reported
in the country lately.
These restrictions need to be
implemented in order to bring down
the number Covid-19 infections and
prevent the outbreak itself among the
general population.
Through the CMCO, schools, day-
care centres, places of worship, parks,
sporting activities, social activities,
weddings and entertainment outlets
in these states are prohibited.
Inter-district and inter-state travel
is also prohibited except for working
purposes. Since the government
decided to implement the CMCO in
several states, life will become
difficult for employees who stay or
work in CMCO areas, where they are
required to seek permission from
their bosses in order to go to work, or
even to move around to carry out
their work-related activities.
For some employees, seeking
such permission usually entails
bureaucratic and time-consuming
processes as they need to seek
constant permission from their
employer in order for them to move
around or to carry out work-related
activities easily.
They will also need to face the
long queues at roadblocks by
authorities in CMCO areas.
Since schools and day-care
centres will also be closed
throughout the CMCO period,
employees with young children will
also need to focus on them
throughout the 14-day duration they
are at home.
Due to this, employers should
exercise their discretion wisely and
not put more burden and hardship
on their employees.
Employers in certain working
sectors should permit their
employees to do their work from
home and fully implement flexible
working arrangements for them.
Employees should be permitted to
perform their duties from a place
where they feel safe.
Employers must avoid asking
them to come to work if it is not
necessary to do so. By not asking
employees to travel chances of
contracting the Covid-19 infection
will also be reduced.
Meetings, seminars, courses and
other work-related activities should
be conducted online.
Less physical or face-to-face
interaction should become the new
norm in all workplaces.
It is important for employers to
protect the safety and health of their
workers.
Both common and Malaysian
laws stipulate a clear duty by every
employer to protect the safety and
health of their employees as much as
possible.
Such duties include protecting
their employees from any hazardous
diseases like Covid-19.
Employers must ensure their
workers are able to perform their
duties without risking their safety and
health at the workplace.
This is clearly highlighted under
the Occupational Safety and Health
Act 1994 (Act 514). Section 15 of
Occupational Safety and Health Act
1994 (Act 514) requires every
employer and self–employed person
to ensure, so far as is practicable, the
safety, health and welfare of all his
employees at work.
If the employer can’t give such
assurances, it’s better to allow their
workers to perform their duties from
home and conduct all work-related
activities online.
If the employer is still forcing their
workers to come to the workplace
where there is no assurance over the
worker’s safety and health, such
employers will be committing an
offence.
Section 19 of Occupational Safety
and Health Act 1994 (Act 514)
provides that an employer who
neglects, or disregards safety and
health issues at the workplace
commits an offence and may be fined
up to RM50,000 or face a jail term of
not exceeding two years, or both.
Employers must also never be
allowed to take advantage of the
current hardships faced by the
employee due to the CMCO, to
terminate them indiscriminately.
Malaysian employment law
requires employers to have “just
cause and excuse” before
terminating their employees.
Under Section 20 of the Industrial
Relations Act 1967 (Act 177), an
employee who feels he/she has been
unfairly dismissed without just cause,
or excused by their employer, may
lodge a representation to the
director-general of Industrial
Relations Department, Ministry of
Human Resources within 60 days
from the date of termination.
The Industrial Relations
Department will try their best to solve
the matter amicably.
However, in the event the parties
fail to come to an amicable
settlement, the matter can be further
referred to the Industrial Court for
determination.
Muzaffar Syah Mallow is a senior
lecturer of Faculty of Syariah and
Law at Universiti Sains Islam
Malaysia (USIM). Comments:
letters@thesundaily.com
 8 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
MEDIA & MARKETING

Hisense signs on Gong Li

See your story
brought to life Film star
Gong Li has

V
IU, a leading pan-regional
OTT video service from
PCCW media group, has
launched Viu Pitching
Forum in Malaysia. It is Viu’s strategic
initiative to empower and facilitate
creative development in major
markets across the region.
The inaugural Viu Pitching Forum
in Malaysia will focus on identifying,
grooming and nurturing local up and
coming scriptwriters. As part of the
initiative, shortlisted participants will
receive mentoring and guidance
from leading creative talent from
across the industry.
At the end of the process, one
winning writer will see his/her story
brought to life as a Viu Original
production, which will be aired in
2021 across Viu’s 16 markets globally.
Additionally, three finalists will
receive mentorship to develop their
concept and refine their pilot scripts.
Viu Pitching Forum is an
innovative programme first launched
by Viu in Indonesia in 2016. It
received widespread participation
from the creative community, as well
as interest from brands and
commercial partners. Additionally,
Viu Pitching Forum resulted in highly
successful Viu Originals that were
developed locally and ultimately
reached a global audience of
millions. Following the success and
impact of this programme in
oViu announces the launch of the inaugural
Viu Pitching Forum in Malaysia
Sahana Kamath.
Indonesia, Viu is pleased to expand
the programme and for the first time
bring it to Malaysia.
Sahana Kamath, head of Original
Production for Viu Malaysia and
Indonesia, said: “What we have
learned over the past two years of
producing Viu Originals in Malaysia
is that there are a plethora of rich
local stories yet to be told and unique
Malaysian voices still to be heard. In
bringing together the country’s most
celebrated veterans and brightest up-
and-comers via Viu Pitching Forum,
we are sure to see path-breaking
stories and forward-facing themes
emerge. At Viu, we are proud to
provide a global platform for this kind
of complex, inventive storytelling and
to support the growing local industry
for premium content as well as the
Malaysian storytellers of the future.”
As a catalyst to growing and
empowering the local entertainment
industry, Viu Pitching Forum aims to
create opportunities for scriptwriters
to hone their craft and further
develop their stories.
With that, Viu is on the search for
local budding scriptwriters and
directors who are able to
conceptualise distinctively bold,
unique and differentiated concepts
that are strongly grounded in local
context and appeal to Gen Z and
millennial Viu-ers across Malaysia.
Writers interested in participating
in Viu Pitching Forum Malaysia can
submit their ideas to
vpf.malaysia@vuclip.com before
5pm on Oct 30, 2020.
HISENSE, the TV and home
appliances brand that has been
the top in Chinese market for 16
consecutive years, announced its
collaboration with Gong Li as
their global brand ambassador.
The famous international
movie star, Gong Li who leads the
women volleyball team to win
the world championships in her
latest movie Leap has picked up a
new role for herself through this
endorsement - The Ambassador
for the Champion of Television.
The collaboration between
Gong Li and Hisense has
promoted the brand globally, just
like how Gong Li brought the
Chinese films to the international
level. The serious attitude of
Gong Li in her industry has
reflected the reliability and focus
of Hisense in the TV marketl.
Moreover, Gong Li is always
known as the ‘Queen’ in the film
industry, which enhanced the
desire for Hisense to collaborate
been made
global brand
ambassador
for top
Chinese TV
and home
appliances
brand
Hisense.
with Gong Li as Hisense is the
absolute ‘king’ in the Chinese TV
market.
According to China Market
Monitor Co., LTD (CMM), the
authoritative third-party data
organization, Hisense topped the
Chinese TV market in terms of
market share from 2004 to 2019.
Hisense Laser TV occupies
first position in the market share
and is the absolute ruler of the
large screen market, especially in
the field of high-end large
screens above 80 inches.
The survey released by China
International Publishing Group
shows that Hisense was one of
the most familiar Chinese brands
to overseas users for many years.
Therefore, all these amazing
results made Hisense the top in
its market for 16 years in a row
and became the king of the TV
brand in the market, which
perfectly matches with Gong Li’s
amazing film career.

URBAN e month
y F ir s t Tu esday of th
Ev er

theSun’s vibrant URBAN Focus section captures all the

vibes of modern living, from digital technology and home
improvement to recreational, travel, wellness, dining, and
entertainment options. It covers the latest lifestyle and
household trends, products and services while showcasing
interiors and furnishing which give readers a peek into
what they can achieve in their own space.

PUBLICATION DATE 3 NOV, 2020 (Tuesday)

Contact theSun's Sales & Marketing team to book your advertising space. BOOKING & STORY DEADLINE 20 OCT, 2020 (Tuesday)
03-7784 6688 advertise@thesundaily.com
MATERIAL DEADLINE 28 OCT, 2020 (Wednesday)
 SunBIZ
MONDAY
S E C U R I T I E S S D N.
197201001092 (12738-U)
B H D.

A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad

OCTOBER 19, 2020
A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad
Editorial: Tel.: 03-7784 6688
Fax: 03-7785 2624/5
Participation Bought Sold Net Email: sunbiz@thesundaily.com
% RM m RM m RM m Advertising: Tel: 03-7784 8888
Fax: 03-7784 4424
45.5 Institutions 2211.7 2127.2 84.5 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
40.0 Retail 1938.4 1871.5 66.9
14.5 Foreign 618.7 770.1 -151.4
10.11 9.40 96.60 77.45 19.68 33.51
228.25 4.18
100.0 4768.8 4768.8 0.0
Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com
KLCI STI HANG SENG SCI NIKKEI TSEC KOSPI S&P/ASX200
Source: Burs Malaysia 1,503.84 2,533.02 24,386.79 3,336.36 23,410.63 12,750.37 2,341.53 6,176.79

INDICES
KL MARKET SUMMARY
OCTOBER 16, 2020

CHANGE
Glove producers get
the benefit of the doubt
FBMEMAS 10,938.07 -39.92
FBMKLCI 1,503.84 -10.11
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 554.85 -5.71
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 143.60 -0.65
CONSTRUCTION 160.72 -0.32
FINANCIAL SERVICES 12,409.67 -53.92
ENERGY 703.58 -5.22 The latet survey also found that investors towards ESG best practices and sustainable
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HEALTH CARE
571.77
4,227.17
-1.46
+58.06
oInvestors shrug off US are increasingly holding companies
accountable, with ESG factors playing a
investing principles. This includes
embedding ESG considerations into
TRANSPORTATION
PROPERTY
646.58
613.16
+6.06
+8.69
action on Malaysian-made central role in their decisions with 91% of
investors stating that non-financial
investment analysis and decision-making
processes, as well as seeking appropriate
PLANTATION
FBMSHA
6,858.51
13,140.61
-54.20
-32.66
gloves, chase most performance has played a pivotal role in ESG disclosures from investee companies.
their investment decision-making over the It should be noted that of the “big four” –
FBMACE 10,971.88 +96.03 counters higher past 12 months, either frequently or Hartalega, Kossan, Top Glove and
TECHNOLOGY 59.02 +0.29 occasionally. Supermax – only two (Hartalega and Top
The correlation between syariah- Glove) are included in the FTSE4Good
TURNOVER VALUE compliant companies and ESG values is Bursa Malaysia Index, with Top Glove being
8.707 BIL RM4.768 BIL █ BY AMIR IMRAN HUSAIN SAFRI evident with analysis of 7,636 public listed the only one coming in the top 25% by ESG
sunbiz@thesundaily.com corporations by asset management firm, ratings among listed companies in FBM
Arabesque commissioned by Salaam EMAS that have been assessed by FTSE
5 MOSTOCTOBER
ACTIVES16, 2020
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian glove
producers, which are syariah-compliant
Gateway, which found a 7.8% higher mean
ESG scores in syariah-compliant companies
Russell.
Both Kossan and Hartalega come in the
counters, seem to be receiving the benefit of compared to the wider dataset. top 26-50% by ESG ratings, while Supermax
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) the doubt from investors, ending the week Ng concurred with the increasing sits in the top 51%-75% by ESG ratings.
MAHSING 660,421,500 94.5 +22 mostly up, despite the decision by the US importance of ESG factors in the current Juwai IQI Global’s chief economist Shan
AT 474,634,300 8.5 +1.5 Department of Labor to place Malaysian- investing climate, as institutional investors Saeed (pix) commented that more and more
PHB 386,035,700 2.5 UNCH manufactured gloves on its list of goods tend to avoid counters that are not global investors are moving to healthcare
LUSTER 329,319,300 17.5 +3 produced by forced labour. compliant which will dampen its valuation. while keeping ESG values in mind.
SCGBHD 304,948,800 33 UNCH On Friday, Hartalega Holdings Bhd In Malaysia, he pointed out, this habit However, he opined that the US is
closed 1.77% or 32 sen higher at RM18.38, has yet to take root, especially among the blowing the issue with Asia-based glove
Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd ended the retail investors. “In the future, retailer producers out of proportion.
5 TOPOCTOBER
GAINERS16, 2020
week at RM8.04 an increase of 0.75% or 6
sen and Top Glove Corp Bhd closed
investors will be more mature and
understand the importance of ESG which
“The challenge for the USA is many
America-based companies can’t compete
unchanged at RM9.34 would lead to downward pressure on with Asian companies and they apply other
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM Meanwhile, Supermax Corp Bhd fell by companies faced with similar news.” tactics to control the growth and valuation
LPI 24,500 13.20 0.38 0.38% or 4 sen to close at RM10.50. That said, according to the EY survey, the of these companies,” said Shan.
HARTA 10,510,600 18.38 0.32 William Capital Plt’s chief investment demand for sustainable finance focusing on He highlighted that the glove
ACME 12,890,700 0.68 0.30 officer William Ng pointed out that the ESG considereations has been gaining manufacturers have always complied with
ACME-WA 3,103,300 0.395 0.30 syariah-compliant status of the equities – momentum in Malaysia since the launch of rules and regulations and quality control,
KESM 22,700 8.80 0.30 which acts as proxy to environmental, the Sustainable Responsible Investment and have taken good care of the manpower
social, governance (ESG) values, an framework in 2014. issues as well.
increasing measure of import to As at June 2020, a total of nine “In the end, all companies are competing
5 TOPOCTOBER
LOSERS16, 2020
institutional investors – might have been
given the benefit of the doubt by smart
investment managers and asset owners in
Malaysia – which include the
for market share and competitive positioning
and Asian glove manufacturers will take the
money investors to resolve the issue. Employees Provident lead in having enhanced valuation in the
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM “Should the issue persist in the long Fund, Khazanah next two to three years,” he said.
NESTLE 20,500 139.40 2.10 term, institutional investors might have Nasional Bhd and He projected that Asian glove
PETDAG 457,200 18.98 0.84 to sell off their holdings if it is not Kumpulan Wang manufacturers will continue its rise towards
F&N 6,300 31.74 0.66 resolved,” he told SunBiz. Persaraan – have the end of the second half of the year.
PPB 870,100 19.08 0.42 According to an EY Climate Change signed the United Shan said global investors have more
MPI 102,800 19.64 0.32 and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Nations-backed confidence investing in Asia or emerging
survey released in August, institutional Principles for markets where growth and valuations are
investors have ramped up their Responsible rising and aggregate demand for healthcare
EXCHANGE RATES OCTOBER 16, 2020 assessment of ESG factors to assess the Investment, under and medical equipment are strong and stable.
performance of companies, with 98% of which they pledged “Global investors are looking for stability
Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy respondents evaluating non-financial their commitment and solid cash flows of companies while
TT/OD TT OD performance based on corporate investing along with strong fundamentals of
1 US DOLLAR 4.2180 4.0900 4.0800
disclosures, with 72% saying they the industry.
conduct a structured, “Markets continue to be driven by the
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0030 2.8810 2.8650 methodical evaluation, a interplay between economics and
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.0980 3.0060 2.9980 leap forward from the epidemiology. Investors and policymakers
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.1850 3.0980 3.0860 32% who said they used are weighing the support offered by
1 EURO 4.9430 4.7800 4.7600 a structured approach unprecedented central bank liquidity
in the survey’s fourth provision against concerns over a second
1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.7940 2.6900 2.6740 edition in 2018. wave coming in the market,” he added.
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.0980 3.0060 2.9980
1 STERLING POUND 5.4480 5.2730 5.2530
1 SWISS FRANC
100 UAE DIRHAM
4.5960
116.1800
4.4880
110.0900
4.4730
109.8900 Malaysia Airlines revamp talks prolonged, CEO tells staff
100 BANGLADESH TAKA 5.0670 4.7350 4.5350 SINGAPORE: Malaysia Airlines’ parent discussions with creditors on its ongoing In the memo to staff, Izham assured
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 62.7000 60.3000 N/A company is still holding negotiations with restructuring exercise”. them that MAG’s restructuring exercise “is
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 55.0100 52.2400 52.0400 lessors and creditors over a restructuring MAG, owned by state fund Khazanah, still work in progress”.
plan to keep the carrier alive, but the talks said Izham’s memo to staff was to address “Do you see me throwing in the towel
100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.8400 5.4800 5.2800
are taking longer than planned, according to concerns among employees. yet? Together with the senior leadership
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0298 0.0268 0.0218 a staff memo seen by Reuters. Malaysia’s national airline is seeking to team, we are here still fighting for the
100 JAPANESE YEN 4.0070 3.8790 3.8690 “The negotiations are still ongoing and restructure after the coronavirus pandemic company’s survival,” Izham said.
100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.7000 N/A N/A taking longer than the planned timeline, but forced it to slash operations. On Thursday, MAG said subsidiary
we are gaining encouraging traction from The carrier had restructured after two Firefly Airlines will start flying in early 2021
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 2.6300 2.4600 2.2600
the lessors and creditors thus far,” Izham deadly crashes in 2014 but unlike at that as part of a realigned group-wide business
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.8000 8.2800 8.0800 Ismail, chief executive of Malaysia Airlines time the government is unwilling to bail it strategy.
100 QATAR RIYAL 117.1000 111.1600 110.9600 and group CEO of parent Malaysia Aviation out this time. Reuters reported last week that MAG had
100 SAUDI RIYAL 113.6700 107.9000 107.7000 Group (MAG), said in a memo to staff on Reuters reported last week that a group warned lessors that its sole shareholder
Oct 16. of lessors had rejected a restructuring plan would wind down the airline if restructuring
100 THAI BAHT 14.1200 12.5200 12.1200
In response to a Reuters query, MAG said that involved steep discounts, bringing the talks are unsuccessful, and would focus on
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama in an email on Saturday it is “continuing carrier closer to a showdown over its future. Firefly.
10 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
SUNBIZ
Felda positive
of returning
to the black
by 2022
KUALA LUMPUR: Beleaguered Federal
Land Development Authority (Felda),
which has been hit by massive losses in
billions and liquidation of several
subsidiary companies, is confident of
returning to the black by the financial year
2022 through the implementation of a
new business model.
Chairman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said
following the presentation of a white
paper on Felda in parliament on April
10, 2019, a task force led by Tan Sri Abdul
Wahid Omar was formed to look into
ways to enhance its (the white paper)
inadequacy to address various issues
besetting the agency.
“The task force had also proposed
financial restructuring, how management
system can be improved, which include
digitalisation of the financial system,
changing the mindset of settlers, gearing
them to achieve high income, as well as
cost-cutting exercise,” he told Bernama.
On the new business model, Idris
said Felda believed the right business
model for the agency moving forward is
to have a complete supply chain from
farms, mills to downstream.
“Before FGV Holdings Bhd was listed
on Bursa Malaysia, we already have our
own mills, whereby Felda during that
time registered profit amounting over
RM1 billion, of which in 2011 it posted
about RM1.85 billion in profit.
“However, after the listing of FGV
Holdings Bhd in June 2012, Felda’s
earnings obviously declined as the
returns from FGV investment did not
commensurate with what was expected
from them,” he said.
Under the Land Lease Agreement
(LLA) between Felda and FGV, Felda
should receive a payment of RM248
million per year and profit share of 15%
for lease of its commercial land for a
course of 99 years.
To achieve the goal of returning Felda
to profitability, Idris said the agency clearly
intends to take back 350,000ha of Felda-
owned land leased to FGV under the LLA.
He said the wish had been discussed
with the government and Felda was still
awaiting the answer.
“When the LLA was entered into,
there were conditions stating that Felda
can take back the land at any time by
giving them (FGV) 18 months’ land
acquisition notice, Idris said.
On the compensation to be paid to
FGV with the termination of the LLA,
Idris said it had not been discussed in
detail, but what was clear Felda’s priority
at this time was to take back the leased
land and create a complete supply chain.
As an alternative to debt restructuring,
Idris said Felda intends to issue Sukuk and
this will be discussed with the government
as the guarantor and the amount to be
issued will be announced later.
He said the new Felda model also
touched on reducing the repayment
period of the replanting loans for settlers
from eight to four years.
This measure has been implemented
to reduce the debt burden of the settlers
and make them more sustainable and
competitive, he added.
Idris said Felda also intends to
encourage settlers to engage in cash crop
cultivation on their farms to diversify
their income streams, which will
indirectly increase their income.
As for Felda’s financial restructuring,
he said Felda is also looking at
liquidating its non-core assets locally
and abroad, particularly hotels, which
has been put on hold due the current low
price and will continue the exercise once
the price is right.
WARRANTS WATCH
Turnover soars, interest centres
on Mah Sing and Comfort Glove
THE Malaysia warrants market saw a steep
recovery in terms of turnover last week which
saw a total of RM1 billion traded compared
with RM767 million in the week before.
Warrants over Malaysian shares continued to
dominate the space with RM992.5 million
turnover, representing 98.7% of the total
warrants market. In particular, we saw
enormous investor interest in call warrants over
Mah Sing Group and Comfort Glove last week
as both underlyings saw their share prices
reaching new highs.
Property developer Mah Sing has proposed
to diversify its core businesses to include the
manufacturing and trading of gloves and
related healthcare products last Thursday (Oct
15). The company in its latest statement to
Bursa Malaysia said its indirectly owned unit
will buy 12 new glove production lines which
can produce up to 3.68 billion pieces of gloves a
year (The Star, Oct 15). Mah Sing shares
finished unchanged on Thursday following the
announcement. However, the share price
jumped to a 17-month high at RM0.975 on
Friday before closing at RM0.945, which is
37.9% higher week on week. Call warrant
MAHSING-C24 with an exercise price of
RM0.80 was crowned the most popular warrant
last week with 285 million units traded followed
by MAHSING-C23 which ranked fourth with
Red flags to consider when applying for freelance jobs in Malaysia
IN ACCORDANCE to the Social Security
Organisation’s (Socso) Employment
Insurance System, the number of unemployed
cases in Malaysia peaked at 67,068 on July 31.
With the second wave of conditional
movement control order coming into play
following the spike in Covid-19 cases, many
are beginning to feel anxious about the
possibility of being laid off.
As the nation witnessed a switch in the
working trend amidst the pandemic,
freelancing has emerged as one of the preferred
modes of income. In accordance to the World
Bank data in October 2020, 25.15% of Malaysia’s
workforce are self-employed, with a portion
attributable to freelancers. Freelancing appeals
to those who want to explore different
industries or acquire new skills and knowledge.
This gives people the chance to pursue their
passions and be entrepreneurs without abiding
by the stringent 9-to-5 working hours.
Self-employment is a double-edged sword.
While freelancing in Malaysia has been
incredibly empowering as of late, every wrong
step has a price to pay. This is because scammers
are constantly looking to take advantage of eager
gig workers. Although having the freedom to
make decisions and to determine your working
environment may sound tempting, it is crucial
not to neglect the risk(s) i.e. miscommunication
associated with it.
Receiving constant and prompt payments is
one of the few struggles freelancers face. As
some freelancers do not get to meet their clients
or employers face-to-face, this creates the
opportunity to be “ghosted” by their clients –
making it difficult for freelancers to track them
down for overdue payment.
Gigworks CEO and founder Glenn Tay shared
that freelancers are often misled to work for free,
hence are easily deceived by attractive rewards.
“Sketchy job listings are commonly sighted,
and unfortunately, without warning labels.
Though self-employment is extremely alluring
for the money, it is important to be vigilant of the
‘red flags’ associated with the job,” said Glenn.
These are some ways to identify credible
freelancing job listings to prevent yourself from
becoming a victim of fraud:
Sign a contract
Contracts are legally binding agreements that
allow both the business and worker to deliver
Top warrants by volume traded
Warrant Volume Issuer
name (mil.)
MAHSING-C24 285.0 Ambank
SUPERMX-C1I 259.1 Kenanga
COMFORT-CD 202.5 Macquarie
MAHSING-C23 119.7 RHB
COMFORT-CC 108.7 Kenanga
119.7 million units traded.
Meanwhile, Comfort Glove’s share price
gained a whopping 24% week on week, which
outperformed most of its larger glove maker
peers. Call warrant COMFORT-CD was the
second runner-up on the top 5 most active
warrants list with 202.5 million units traded.
Investors net bought more than 38 million units
of COMFORT-CD throughout the week which
resulted in this call warrant being close to sold
out.
When a warrant is close to being sold out,
the issuer will typically widen spreads – in this
case, by raising the offer price but maintaining
the bid price at a fair price – while when a
warrant is fully sold out, the issuer can no
longer provide an offer price. Despite being
sold out, the bid price of COMFORT-CD still
Freelancers are often misled to work for free, hence are easily deceived by attractive rewards. – BERNAMAPIX
and clarify their roles in the deal, preventing
miscommunications and disputes from arising.
Regardless of who you are doing the work for,
always sign an agreement that establishes the
work, fees, and the time and mode of payment.
Avoid fake job postings
Be aware of fake job postings even on official
websites. Take your time to scroll through their
profile and only accept jobs from employers
with a verified rating, as this determines that the
client is genuine. Additionally, you may search
for reviews online to determine if your client is
able to meet their contractual obligations.
Suspicious payment methods
Freelancers often offer various modes of
payments to attract more clients. Such payment
methods include direct deposits, cheques and
credit card payments. Scams may occur via
unusual payment systems such as vouchers,
gift cards and other forms of goods and services
instead of cash. The best way is to limit yourself
to the payment methods you are familiar with.
Avoid contacting clients outside official
channels
Freelance sites are often equipped with
integrated communication systems that allow
Exercise Expiry date
level
0.80 7 May 2021
14.00 26 Jul 2021
6.50 16 Apr 2021
0.70 27 Apr 2021
5.00 16 Aug 2021
tracked the underlying price movement closely
to finish 33.3% higher week on week.
Other than that, SUPERMX-C1I and
COMFORT-CC are two other call warrants
which were in the top active list last week.
To view the full list of structured warrants
available on Bursa Malaysia, kindly visit
malaysiawarrants.com.my.
Provided for Malaysian residents
‘information only. This commentary has not
been reviewed by the Securities Commission
Malaysia. It is not an offer or recommendation
to trade and is not research material.
Past performance is not indicative of future
performance. You should make your own
assessment and seek professional advice.
both parties to communicate without divulging
personal information. This provides privacy
protection for workers, preventing fraud and
allowing paper trail. If deals are being made
outside these platforms, it is advisable to create
a business email address to record every
agreement being made, as this enhances the
credibility for your job opportunities.
Do not pay to work
In uncertain times like the pandemic,
freelancers are worried about their job stability.
They become blinded to the contentious
criteria, i.e. payment to the employer, just to
secure a job. Legitimate freelance job listings do
not oblige you to pay for an interview. Do not
fall for false promises made by companies such
as securing plentiful tasks after paying an entry
fee. More often than not, these clients do not
have the integrity to keep their promises.
Now that you have some insights on what to
look out for when searching for freelance jobs,
get started to establish your portfolio. Take the
opportunity to build a career that will provide a
living during this pandemic. Remember to
follow these steps to avoid being a victim.
This article was contributed by Gigworks.

Leadership is all about walking the talk
oThis week SunBiz gets the thoughts
and views of Red Hat country manager
Eric Quah
SUCCESS:
THE INSIGHT STORY
How has your life experience made
you the leader you are today?
I am an Ipoh boy at heart and, in
many ways, that hasn’t changed. I
was lucky enough to study in the
States which gave me an
international perspective... which I
brought with me when I came back to
Malaysia and started my career right
in the middle of the dotcom boom.
I’ve been a tech advocate
throughout my career. The pace of
our industry, particularly in cloud
computing, certainly keeps me on my
toes. In my current role, I’m excited
about taking Red Hat Malaysia to its
next phase of growth and supporting
the country’s broader move to a
digital economy through the clients
we serve – many of whom provide
essential services to the citizens.
What traits do you look for in your
talent or how do you decide who is
right for a job?
Red Hat is first and foremost a tech
company, so, of course, the skills for
the job are important. For
developers, we are always looking
for people who write great code.
Given the dynamism of the open
source community in Malaysia,
there’s a deep wellspring of talent
to draw from. Many of Red Hat’s
global developer talent has gone
“from dorm room to boardroom”,
so to speak. Just take a look at our
global CEO Paul Cormier.
But all around, we are looking
for hires who understand what it
means to be transparent,
collaborative, and accountable.
Because that is the foundation of
Red Hat as an open source
company. So
technical
skills
a r e
important, but we are looking for
people who understand and buy into
the vision of what we are doing,
which is creating enterprise tech that
is changing the world.
How do you think the industry you
are in will evolve in the future?
That depends how technical you
want me to get. At the tech level,
currently spending a lot of time
thinking about Quarkus – which is the
next evolution of the coding language
Java – and the impact this will have on
cloud computing at large. Given how
fast Malaysia and Southeast Asia are
leapfrogging technology, I’m also
thinking about edge computing,
particularly with telcos.
Often I am looking at my kids and
how digital-native they are, and the
demands that will put on businesses
(my own clients included) to deliver
seamless services. All of that is related
to cloud-based infrastructure.
In the bigger picture, more
enterprises are
turning to
o p e n
source solutions to modernise their
IT systems. The question is no longer
“why cloud computing”, but “how?
when? And what is that mix”?
Businesses will not be competing
for who adopts open source the
soonest, but who has the most
innovative and efficient applications
to drive digital transformation. We
are seeing this with clients like
Alliance Bank who moved their
branches to a “phygital” model. This
is not industry-leading only in
Malaysia, but innovative at a global
level.
What advice can you offer those
looking to start their career/own
business?
Read widely. We live in the
information age and there’s a wealth
of knowledge at your fingertips. If
you’re looking to brush up your Linux
skills or learn more about
automation, Red Hat has free online
courses that you might want to take
advantage of.
We all know about the industrial
revolution, are we in for a
technological revolution? Your
thoughts.
We’re already in it, since we’re talking
about Industrial Revolution 4.0 and
the digital economy. Some of the
digital transformation projects we are
working with clients on include
preparation for 5G architecture in the
telco sector, and transformation
within the financial services industry
to introduce digital products and
services through open banking.
Another example where we’re
helping clients pivot is with open
innovation labs, which is focused on
digital transformation and building a
strong DevOps culture.
How has mentorship made a
difference in your professional life?
Great leadership makes all the
difference and it pushes me to pass
this on to the next generation of
leaders as well. As I was growing in
my career, my managers taught me
that people are our greatest assets
when it comes to running a
successful organisation. In a sales
role you are often asked to go above
and beyond to win and serve
clients, so it’s important for
me to pay that forward for
my team, and ensure
they remain inspired.
What do you want to
accomplish in the
next five years?
Keep Red Hat’s
business growing
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
at a healthy and sustainable rate. We
are ambitious about the potential in
Malaysia for the next few years
especially when it comes to hybrid
cloud, containerisation, and
automation. Red Hat is honoured to
have the trust of many organisations
from different industries such as
financial services, telco, government,
retail, and manufacturing. We hope
to expand our market leadership.
As you can see, technology
advances quickly and will continue to
evolve in the future. On a personal
level, I’ve been encouraging my
children to remain prepared for the
digital world by sending them to
coding class. It’s pretty interesting, as
they’re learning Python and mobile
development at the moment. A great
change of perspective from my day-
to-day job.
Best piece of advice you ever
received on your career.
To quote Sun Tzu: ”To know your
enemy, you must become your
enemy”. Or my interpretation of it:
know yourself, but know your
competitor better. Understand what
your competitors are doing well, and
strive to go one step further.
Most-admired business leader?
Why?
Jim Whitehurst, the ex-CEO of Red
Hat and currently president of IBM.
Jim grew Red Hat to become the first
US$1 billion revenue open source
software company in 2012 and tripled
Red Hat’s revenue from US$500
million in 2008 to US$3.4 billion by
2019. The story of how he turned
around Delta Airlines in his previous
role is also inspirational to me.
How do you stay abreast of issues
affecting your industry?
Talk to your community. The value of
taking time to grab a coffee with those
in your network cannot be
underestimated. I’ve found out a lot
of great intel and trends this way.
If you could have an hour with any
thought leader in the world, who
would it be and why?
Elon Musk. He’s a visionary and truly
believes in every business venture he
puts his mind to. Because he has such
tenacity, he isn’t afraid to face
obstacles others might find
impossible to overcome. For
example, he risked his entire early
fortune to build SpaceX and Tesla.
His companies are focused on
addressing three distinct existential
risks to the long-term survival of
humanity: climate risk, single-planet
dependency risk, and human species
obsolescence risk. It would be great to
understand how he thinks and
approaches the world.
What has been the biggest
challenge you have faced? And
what did you learn from it?
I always like to look at challenges as
growth opportunities. If I had to share
a recent instance, it would be when I
joined Red Hat as country manager of
Malaysia. As I assessed the business
opportunity we had, and compared it
to the team’s skill sets, I realised we
needed to make some changes. We
had to re-engineer the team for
stronger long-term performance, and
often this is only possible if you take
time to understand your team well
and not just outline decisions and
enforce them. A leader needs to walk
the talk and build trust in the team to
make any change happen. And
restructuring is never easy, but we
had to do it keeping in mind business
and organisational needs.
We evaluated each team
member’s strengths and weaknesses,
11
* SUNBIZ
and in some cases had frank
conversations with them to place
them where they’d be better able to
contribute and advance in their
career. This was better for the team in
the long run, and our alumni have
gone on to do great things, whether it
is inside Red Hat or elsewhere.
This decision also gave me an
opportunity to understand my team
better and make them integral to our
company’s growth story in Malaysia.
Red Hat’s open organisation and
open culture give the manager and
associate opportunities to reflect and
share feedback. I also learned that we
have to stay objective in order for
change to happen. Sometimes, as
leaders, we need to make tough
decisions but it is important to find a
balance and think long term.
What was the most outlandish
business proposal you have ever
heard of?
I believe there are no ideas or
proposals that are too outlandish.
Every great innovation or idea we
read about is always mocked in the
first instance. And so, it is just a
matter of perspective.
What man-made innovation
confounds you? Why?
I wouldn’t say one that confounds,
but one that often amazes me is how
smartphones have revolutionised our
lives. Besides calling, texting and
emailing, more than two billion
people around the world now use
these devices to navigate, run
essential banking services, book cab
rides, follow news, find
entertainment, and of course... to stay
connected. Can you imagine yourself
without your smartphone for a day?
This is impacting our clients too
because their customers – like me or
you – want fast, efficient, and reliable
mobile services. And then I feel proud
that I am working for a company that
is helping realise some of these
innovations through services like
cloud computing and open source
technologies.
Malaysia’s greatest brand.
Old Town Coffee. For the number of
late nights and business deals that
they’ve seen me through.
A must-read for every business
owner/manager is…
The Open Source Way by Jim
Whitehurst. Jim wrote this before he
moved from Red Hat across to his role
as president at IBM. The book is a
good dive into how adopting open
source principles can alter the nature
of work, management, and
leadership. It also discusses how
open source principles can form the
foundation of tomorrow’s most
innovative organisations.
But what also struck me was the
humility of Jim. He is a modest and
compassionate leader. The book
enumerates this well where he has
candidly written about his experience
of working in an open organisation,
where associates would directly reach
out to him to share any good/bad
feedback for a project. And often it
would also be about a program he has
implemented. The book is a great
reminder of the power of teamwork
and that we are the sum of all our
parts.
What are the top three factors you
would attribute your success to?
Hard work. My family. Strong email
filters.
Tell us a joke.
A user interface is like a joke. If you
have to explain it, it’s probably not
very good.
12 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
SUNBIZ

Amazon alternative Shopify takes flight

oCanadian company allows businesses to
create an e-commerce site in just a few clicks
TORONTO: The coronavirus pandemic
has forced businesses worldwide to
pivot online to survive, and many have
turned to Shopify, a Canadian company
that has emerged as a thriving
alternative to Amazon.
Founded 15 years ago in Ottawa,
Shopify allows businesses to create
an e-commerce site in just a few
clicks. Already growing with more
than one million e-stores at the end
of 2019, its user base has exploded.
“The retail world that would have
existed in 2030 has really been pulled
back into 2020,” Shopify president
Harley Finkelstein said in an
interview with AFP. “It feels like Covid
has permanently accelerated the
growth of online commerce.”
Amid a lockdown of bricks and
mortar stores, online commerce has
boomed this year. Consumers have
grown accustomed to buying over the
internet, and industry giants, led by
Amazon, have seen sales rocket.
At the same time, many
businesses that did not have a
presence or a direct online sales
channel took the plunge as the
pandemic took hold.
Popular with entrepreneurs,
Shopify saw the number of new stores
created on its platform jump 71% in the
second quarter from the previous one.
One of these new e-merchants is
Tariq Al Barwani, creator of Plentea, a
tea bar in Toronto that remained open
in March at the start of the lockdown.
But with only a handful of
customers a day, the situation quickly
became untenable, forcing him to go
out of business in May.
The same month, supported by a
municipal programme helping small
businesses affected by the crisis to go
digital, he opened a store on Shopify.
“It took us a week,“ he recalls from
his living room, overlooking Lake
Ontario, where he now works. “If you
are used to going on the internet, it is
easy to understand.”
Shopify has become a resounding
success far from Silicon Valley. It was
co-founded in 2006 by Tobias Lutke, a
young German who’d moved to
Canada for love and designed the
software originally to sell snowboards
over the internet.
Hailed for its simplicity, it has seen
the number of stores on its platform
grow from 150,000 in 2014 to over one
million – in 175 countries – in 2019,
asserting itself in the eyes of many
independent merchants as an
alternative to Amazon.
“For retail to thrive, it has to be in
the hands of the many, not the few,”
Finkelstein said. “We need to have as
many retailers, as many brands, as
many entrepreneurs and small
businesses selling, so that we don’t all
look the exact same, (and) so we
don’t buy the exact same stuff.” – AFP

AMERICAN AIRLINES TO RESTART

Gove says door still ajar for trade deal talks with EU

LONDON: British senior minister Michael
Gove (pix) said yesterday the door remained
“ajar” for talks on a post-Brexit trade deal to
continue if the European Union (EU) changed
its approach.
“I think the EU effectively ended the
current round of talks last week. It was the
case we were making progress but then the
EU retreated from that,” he told BBC TV.
Asked if the door was ajar for talks to
continue, Gove said: “It is ajar. We hope that
the EU will change their position; we’re
certainly not saying if they do change their
position that we can’t talk to them.”
Separately, Gove said the chance of
striking a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU
had fallen because the bloc had not been
willing to intensify talks or produce detailed
legal texts.
Asked by Sky News if EU negotiator Michel
Barnier should come to London this week,
Gove said the “ball was in his court”.
He said both sides needed to compromise
to reach a deal, but “the EU side is not doing
so at the moment”.
In an opinion piece in the
Sunday Times newspaper, Gove,
who is handling Brexit divorce
issues for Britain, said the UK is
“increasingly well prepared” for a
no-deal Brexit even as businesses
urged Britain and the EU to find a
compromise over trade terms.
A tumultuous “no deal” finale to
the UK’s five-year Brexit crisis
would sow chaos through the
delicate supply chains that stretch
across Britain, the EU and beyond just as the
economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic
worsens.
“It is not my preferred destination,” Gove
said in his opinion piece.
“But if the choice is between arrangements
that tie our hands indefinitely, or where we
can shape our own future, then that’s no
choice at all. And leaving on Australian terms
is an outcome for which we are increasingly
well-prepared”.
BRIEFS
A so-called “Australia deal”
means that the UK would trade on
World Trade Organization terms:
as a country without an EU trade
agreement, like Australia, tariffs
would be imposed under WTO
rules, likely causing significant
price rises.
Johnson’s critics say that an
Australian-style deal is simply code
for no deal at all with Britain’s
largest export market. Australia’s
trade with the EU is dwarfed by
Britain’s.
More than 70 British business groups
representing over 7 million workers made a
last-ditch attempt yesterday to persuade
politicians to get back to the negotiating table
next week and strike a Brexit deal.
The groups ranged from the Confederation
of British Industry, TheCityUK and techUK to
the National Farmers’ Union, British Retail
Consortium and the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders. – Reuters
737 MAX SERVICES END OF YEAR
BANGALORE: American Airlines Group plans
to return Boeing 737 MAX jets to service for
passenger flights by the end of this year
depending on certification of the aircraft
from the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). The airline will operate a daily 737
MAX flight between Miami and New York
from Dec 29 to Jan 4. American Airlines will
make customers aware that they are flying
on a 737 MAX. -Reuters
JAPAN’S WEALTHNAVI SEEKS
NOD TO LIST ON TSE: NIKKEI
TOKYO: Japan’s asset management fintech
firm WealthNavi Inc has applied to list its
shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with
approval and an initial public offering (IPO)
expected later this year, the Nikkei reported
yesterday. The listing of the company that
provides a fully automatic asset
management service using financial
engineering to retail investors will mark
Japan’s first IPO of a fintech firm in asset
management, the business daily said. The
corporate value is estimated at ¥50-¥60
billion (RM1.97-RM2.36 billion). – Reuters

RENAULT TO UNVEIL 8-YEAR

Fed officials urge tougher regulation to prevent asset bubbles: Report
LONDON: Tougher US financial regulation is
needed to avoid the rise of excessive risk-
taking and asset bubbles in the markets at a
time when the Federal Reserve is keeping
interest rates low, two senior Fed officials told
the Financial Times in an article published on
Saturday.
Boston Fed president Eric Rosengren told
the newspaper that the Fed lacked sufficient
tools to prevent companies and households
from taking on “excessive leverage” and called
for a rethink on issues related to US financial
stability.
“If you want to follow a monetary policy
... that applies low interest rates for a long
time, you want robust financial supervisory
authority in order to be able to restrict the
amount of excessive risk-taking occurring
at the same time,” the FT quoted him as
saying.
“(Otherwise) you’re much more likely to
get into a situation where the interest rates
can be low for long but be counterproductive”
Rosengren said.
Minneapolis Federal Reserve president
Neel Kashkari said there was a need for
stricter regulation to avert repeated
interventions in the market by the Fed.
“I don’t know what the best policy solution
is, but I know we can’t just keep doing what
we’ve been doing,” he told the newspaper.
“As soon as there’s a risk that hits,
everybody flees and the Federal Reserve has
to step in and bail out that market, and that’s
crazy. And we need to take a hard look at that,”
he said.
A representative of the Boston Federal
Reserve confirmed Rosengren’s remarks
made to the Financial Times, adding he was
interviewed on Oct 8. Kashkari was not
immediately available to comment on the
article published on Saturday. – Reuters
TURNAROUND PLAN IN 2021
BARCELONA: French carmaker Renault
RENA.PA will unveil an eight-year plan next
year as the group contends with a demand
slump exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis,
chief executive Luca de Meo said in a
newspaper interview published yesterday.
De Meo had flagged last month that Renault
might have to dig deeper than the €2 billion
(RM9.7 billion) of cost cuts it has already
outlined to get back on its feet after a
sustained downturn in earnings since 2018.
“The next two years will be tough. We have
an eight-year plan that we will be
announced in January, and we can turn it all
around,” he told El Pais newspaper without
disclosing specific details. – Reuters
 13
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

CELEB SPEAK Samson is working

on an AllStar
█ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Remix of his track
I’ll Not Forget

R
APPER and recording together with
artiste Samson Thomas notable names in
grew up in the now the industry. –
demolished Pekeliling Flats COURTESY OF
that were once located in Jalan Tun SAINT TFC
Razak, and later spent most of his life
in Sentul. Coming from hardship,
Samson would (almost naturally)
move towards music, working and
collaborating with other artistes as
his career progressed.
“I started my career as a rapper in
Psychomantra’s maiden album Oru
Kirukkanin Kaaviyam. I got my big
break when I was featured on a
collaborative track composed by
Saran Z called Ennavaley together
with Psychomantra, Dhilip Varman
and Thila Laxman,” said Samson,
who uses the stage name Saint TFC.
“Until today I have up to 36 songs
playing on local and international
radio stations. I was also the first
Malaysian rapper to be featured on
the soundtrack of the Indian
Malayalam-language movie
Ranam starring top actors
like Prithiviraj and

The right time

Rahman.”
theSun spoke to
Samson about his
latest music project,
which has caused
quite a stir.
He explained: “It all
started during the oSaint TFC talks about delivering a timely music video
Black Lives Matter
movement protesting
the unjust murder of Forget, with lyrics highlighting the Beyond its pointed lyricism, the still rolling, so I can’t tell.”
George Floyd. I was problems faced by ethnic Indians in song was sung or rapped in three Samson added that despite being
with my wife, and we Malaysia, and using Samson’s own languages; Malay, Tamil and happy over how many people the
were reflecting upon experiences. He released the music English. song has reached, he was also
racism, and how it video for the song in July. Each language was employed for confronted by some of the pitfalls of
has impacted the “Before writing I’ll Never Forget, I specific reasons, such as the Malay of being a celebrity promoting a
world. had to understand how sensitive the verse being Samson’s way of social issue.
“I started issue was, and I had to wrap my head breaking the language barrier and to He said: “Some people started
asking myself around exactly what I wanted to reach out, Tamil for highlighting the opening up to me and started telling
how many times convey through that song. I had to casteism within the Indian their stories, and a few others said I
I have take a walk down memory lane and community, and English to bring all did the song just for [attention], and
experienced it relive all the moments I was racially the verses together. that I just wanted to be famous. I am
and how it has discriminated. Trust me, it was not a Three months after releasing the someone who respects other
changed or good walk. As soon as I had the song, Samson claimed that his people’s opinions, hence I didn’t
moulded me. inspiration from my own life intention of wanting to have people respond to any of those remarks.
“That’s when I experience to write the song, I had to share their own stories has worked. “I was taken aback by the stories
realised that it figure out its direction.” “A lot of people came out and that were shared with me. Some
was way too As Samson did not want to just shared their story, and I was glad [people] were very young and I also
many times, yet record himself accusing others of that they found the courage to do so. had stories from 60-year-olds. I also
no one has ever being racist on the track, he opted From fellow Malaysians that are still received a lot positive comments on
come out and for the pacifist route by sharing his here, to those who migrated because the YouTube video from people of
said or done story instead. they couldn’t stand the other races. A lot of Malaysian
anything about “I wanted to pen down the times discrimination.” Indians reached out to me and
it. That was when in my life where I felt less of a However, he was still unsure of thanked me for song, and the steps
I realised that I had Malaysian and more like an outcast, the track’s long term effects, and that I took to raise this issue.”
to do a song about it.” although at home I was raised added: “I believe I sparked Samson is currently working on
This led to Samson believing differently,” he bluntly something and I hope it only churns other songs for his future releases
writing the track I’ll Never explained. out positive outcomes. The ball is through his Audiofreaks studio.

Netflix doubles down on efforts to tap African market

WITH 193 million subscribers in
over 190 countries, Netflix seems to
reign supreme in the streaming
world. However, the Silicon Valley
giant is struggling to break through
on the African continent, where it’s
been present in 54 countries since
2015. Netflix is now doubling down
on efforts to adapt to the tastes and
consumer habits of local
populations by launching cheaper,
mobile-based subscriptions and
African content.
According to data from Digital
TV Research, the streaming service
only counts 1.4 million subscribers
on the African continent. In
comparison, the South African pay-
TV operator, MultiChoice boasts
almost 20 million subscribers in 50
African countries.
This difference is partly
explained by the high cost of Netflix
subscriptions relative to the
purchasing power of African
households. The “Basic” plan in
South Africa is 99 South African
Rand (approx. RM24.70) per
Netflix is currently trialing mobile subscription plans for African countries.
month, for example, equivalent to in Sub-Saharan Africa, predicted to
25% of the country’s average salary. number 500 million people in 2021
As a result, Netflix recently according to data from the GSM
announced the launch of two Association. Even more importantly
lower-cost subscription plans for Netflix, mobile data
aimed at smartphone users – a consumption is also expected to see
population category that’s booming strong growth in the coming years.
After being trialed in Egypt and
South Africa, these mobile
subscriptions have now launched
in other African countries, such as
Nigeria – a country heading for 101
million mobile internet users in
2021.
“We’ve had the same three plans
for several years now and this test
offer reflects significant usage of
and preference for mobile in
Nigeria,” a Netflix spokesperson
told Quartz magazine. “We’ll only
roll this out longer term if people
value the increased flexibility.”
Celebrating African stories and
storytellers
One of these mobile plans costs
1,200 Nigerian Naira per month
(approx. RM13), which is half what
Nigerians would pay for a classic
Netflix subscription (2,900 Naira or
RM31.40). The plan remains costly,
however, for most households in
the country, where 40% of the
population live on less than RM5 a
month – a situation that could be
exacerbated by the Covid-19
pandemic.
Faced with these new challenges,
Netflix also hopes to win over users
in Africa by diversifying its content
offer. Back in May, the streaming site
launched an initiative called Made
in Africa, Watched by the World,
showcasing a selection of African
shows, movies and documentaries
and “demonstrating Netflix’s
commitment to the continent and
its creative community.”
The selection features critically
acclaimed movies and shows like
Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema,
King of Boys, Lionheart and Tsotsi,
as well as Netflix original
productions such as Queen Sono
and Blood & Water.
“We want you to know that if
you’re looking for the best African
stories, then you will find them on
Netflix. We are going to expand
heavily to ensure that goal is met,”
Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix head of
Africa originals, told CNN. – AFP-
Relaxnews
14 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
ZEST

The ever present risk of Covid-19

F
ROM door handles and
handrails on public oWatch out for objects that could harbour the virus
transportation to
disposable tissues and
enclosed spaces with inadequate avoid touching the handrails when after touching the device screen, alcohol-based hand sanitiser is,
ventilation, public health travelling on public transport to and avoid using your smartphone without a doubt, together with
messaging encourages us to be minimise their risk of picking up while eating. These basic hygiene mask-wearing, the most important
wary of things that present genuine the virus. rules should ideally be followed recommendation in these times.
risks of catching the novel But they may not imagine that irrespective of the pandemic, since Whether you keep rings on or
coronavirus. But certain other day- the smartphone they’re glued to smartphones can be veritable take them off for handwashing,
to-day objects – things that you during their daily commute could breeding grounds for bacteria. have you ever considered that your
touch or share instinctively – could also be a source of contamination. jewellery could be a potential
also be potential sources of Although we don’t yet know the Banknotes source of contamination? Although
contamination, contributing to the frequency or extent to which the While card payments – especially research hasn’t identified this as a
spread of Covid-19. Here are some novel coronavirus is spread contactless – have been strongly specific potential risk, it’s evident
things that you should handle with through contact with advised since the onset of the that rings come into contact with
particular care. contaminated surfaces, scientists pandemic, plenty of people are still many of the surfaces we’ve been
from the Commonwealth Scientific using cash. Banknotes and coins advised to avoid, such as door
Smartphones and Industrial Research should be handled with the handles, handrails on public
Some people do everything they Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia greatest of caution when you think transport, or even the desk you
possibly can – and rightly so – to have demonstrated that it can about how frequently they pass work at each day. Stay safe by
survive for up to 28 days on from hand to hand without ever paying close attention to your
smartphones. undergoing any kind of cleaning. accessories and cleaning jewellery
The news should be taken In the CSIRO study, published as much as possible.
with caution, however, because in the Virology Journal, researchers
the study was carried out report that coronavirus can also Cigarette lighters
under strict lab survive up to 28 days on banknotes, A final object to handle with care is
conditions – a far cry which means taking extra care with the humble cigarette lighter.
from day-to-day life. hygiene measures. To reduce the Smokers might instinctively lend
Nevertheless, it risk of contamination and their lighter to anyone and
still serves as a transmission, handwashing everyone who asks for a light,
handy reminder between each exchange of cash is without being able to wash hands
just how highly recommended. before handing it over or after
important it is to Note that the results of this vast getting it back. And that can
The virus clean your Australian study also extend to the happen several times a day,
responsible for smartphone screens of ATMs and self-check-out whether at work or on the street. In
Covid-19 can regularly, wash machines. light of this potential source of
survive for 28 your hands, contamination, smokers might
days on a v o i d Jewellery want to rethink their habits in order
smartphone touching Washing your hands several times to help prevent the spread of
screens. your face a day with soap and water or Covid-19. – AFP-Relaxnews

ALTHOUGH 2020 has been the year of the

Covid-19 pandemic, 63% of over 19,000 adults
from 27 countries around the world still say
they feel happy, according to a new study
from Ipsos. That’s only a slight drop compared
to last year (64%).
It seems that the Chinese are the happiest
of all, followed by the Dutch and the Saudis.
With a “happiness rate” of 93%, the
Chinese come out on top as the world’s
happiest people, according to this study.
The country gains 11 points on last year,
outstripping last year’s leaders Canada and
Australia, where the feeling of happiness has
dropped by eight and nine points respectively
year-on-year.
Newly added this year, the Netherlands
debuts directly in second place with 87% of
participants saying they feel happy, ahead of
Saudi Arabia (80%), then France and Canada,
both with 78%.
On a global scale, 63% of adults say they
feel happy. Moreover, across all 27 countries,
Happy despite the pandemic
11% of those surveyed say they are very
happy.
While that percentage is stable compared
to 2019 (64%) – despite 2020 being a
particularly complicated and stressful year
for many people – it nonetheless hides
disparities between countries. Very few
adults report feeling happier than last year,
except in China and Russia (+11 points), as
well as in Malaysia (+10 points) and
Argentina (+9 points).
Conversely, happiness has dropped 26
points in the space of a year in Peru, which
now comes bottom of the list, 15 points in
Chile, 13 points in Mexico and 11 points in
India.
Australians, Canadians and South
Africans also reported being less happy than
in 2019.
Among 29 sources of happiness
measured, the Ipsos Global Happiness 2020
survey found that the greatest drivers of well-
being among participants were physical and
mental health (55%), relationships with a
partner or spouse (49%), children (49%), the
feeling that life has meaning (48%), and
living conditions (45%).
“In comparison to the pre-pandemic
survey conducted last year, the sources of
happiness that have most gained in
importance globally pertain to relationships,
health, and safety. On the other hand, time
and money have ceded some ground as
drivers of happiness,” the report concludes.
Other sources of happiness proved
particularly important in certain countries,
such as personal financial situation (France,
Hungary, Russia, South Korea), friends
(Australia, Belgium, the UK) and hobbies
(Japan). – AFP-Relaxnews
GOOD VIBES
“Once we learn to
become silent and
to reflect on our
inner self, we start
feeling satisfied
with what we find
inside and there is
a deep sense of
contentment.”
One can make a
difference
THERE was a writer who used to go to the
seaside to do his writing. He had the habit of
walking along the beach before he began his
work.
One day, along the shore, he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer. Intrigued, he began
to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young
man and he was not dancing. Instead, he was
picking up something and very gently throwing
it into the sea.
He asked the young man what he was
doing, and the latter replied that he was
throwing starfish into the sea.
When asked why he was doing that,
he replied that the tide was going out and
if he did not throw them in the sea, they would
die.
The writer said: “Young man, don’t you
realise that there are miles and miles of beach,
and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make
a difference!”
The young man listened politely, then he
bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it
into the sea, and said: “It made a difference for
that one.”
We are all gifted with the ability to make a
difference. Once we become aware of that gift,
we can gain the power to shape the future
through the strength of our vision.

Bridget Menezes is the author of

Second Edition of Self-Empowerment
and Spiritual Counsellor. Readers can email
her at lifestyle.bridget@ thesundaily.com.

French researcher
in Microbiology,
Genetics and
Biochemistry
Emmanuelle
Charpentier.
A simple cleaning routine of
your smartphone will help
prevent the spread of viruses.
Disinfect your
smartphone!
WHILE everyone has likely heard that a
smartphone screen can potentially
harbour more germs than a toilet bowl, a
recent Australian study showed that, under
certain conditions, the new coronavirus
can survive for 28 days on a smartphone. It
is therefore highly recommended to clean
it at least once a day. It takes just a few
seconds and can prevent you from
becoming sick.
After months of pandemic, everyone
has understood that hand-washing was
key to avoid spreading or contracting
covid-19. Our hands have to be thoroughly
washed, several times a day, but we
shouldn’t forget the object that we touch
the most during the day – our smartphone.
To clean your smartphone you’ll need a
damp cloth (with a tiny bit of soap if
possible). Gently rub the cloth, not to
scratch the screen. After that, you’ll also
need a second cloth, a dry one, to finish up
the task.
However, cleaning your cell phone does
not mean only taking care of its screen.
You will have to remove its protection and
also wash it thoroughly. The whole device
has to be cleaned, the front and back as
well as the edges. However, make sure
never to use cleaning products designed
for the home, and never put it under a tap.
Not a single drop of water should enter the
device.
This operation should be repeated
regularly, at least once a day during the
pandemic. – AFP-Relaxnews
Capture sharper and play smoother
REALME Malaysia has unveiled its latest ultra-
smooth device with 90Hz refresh rate and
64MP Quad Camera, the realme 7i. Malaysians
were also introduced to realme C17 being
the latest addition to realme’s entry level
segment.
“We always prioritise our fans by
personalising the products to fit in their daily
lifestyle. realme enables fans to continuously
enjoy the strength of display and camera in
the latest tech-trendsetting devices – realme 7i
and realme C17.
“Both devices are available in Malaysia with
premium designs or specifications that match
their daily needs,” said Tiffany Teh, brand
manager of realme Malaysia.
Women gain ground in Nobel man’s world
THE Nobel prizes remain very much a
man’s world, especially in science,
but with four female laureates
named this year, women are
gradually getting more
recognition.
Since the first Nobel prizes were
given out in 1901, 58 women have
been rewarded, representing only
6.2% of the 934 laureates (excluding
institutions) overall.
However the number of women
laureates has been steadily
increasing over the decades, with
11.1% in the 2010s and 9.2% in the
2000s, against 5.4% in the 1900s and
2.6% in the 1910s.
There were, however,
none in the 1950s.
The latest additions to
the Nobel club are
America’s Louise Gluck
More popular
than ever
oMobile games thrive, even as
pandemic keeps players home
M
OBILE games are
thriving as players
turn to them for fun
and friendship during
the pandemic, with increasing
numbers of women joining the
trend.
“Being stuck at home has not
stopped people from playing
games on their phones,” said
SensorTower mobile insights
strategist Craig Chapple. “To the
contrary, mobile gaming is more
popular than ever.”
Smartphone game play
involves taps on touchscreens
with just a few moments of play at
a time, often while sipping coffee
or waiting for transit, in contrast to
the console games with
immersive worlds that can span
hours.
Mobile games appeal to a
broader demographic than do
shooters and other genres
popular on console or PC gamers.
More than 40% of mobile
gamers are women, according to
research firms Newzoo and
Statista. That differs from gamers
using consoles or personal
computers, who are more likely to
be males age 12 to 35 years old,
according to analysts.
“We’ve had loads of people
forced inside during lock-downs
in need of entertainment,” said
Futuresource mobile tech and
gaming research analyst Morris
Garrard.
15
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
TECH TODAY
(the poet took the literature prize), Andrea Ghez have won two Nobels (1903 in physics and 1911
(who shared physics) and Jennifer Doudna who in chemistry).
won the chemistry award with France’s Women make up only 1.9% of physics
Emmanuelle Charpentier. laureates, or four out of 216, while they won
The three women scientists have pulled off seven out of 186 chemistry prizes.
quite a feat in getting their prizes in two of the The medicine and economics awards are also
most male-dominated disciplines. heavily male dominated, with 5.4% of women
laureates in medicine (12 out of 222) and 2.3%
Success in science (two out of 86) in economics.
Doudna and Charpentier’s chemistry win is only The Nobel peace prize (15.9%, or 17 out of
the third time in Nobel history that a woman or 107), not taking into account those awarded to
an all-female team have taken it, after Marie institutions, and literature (13.7%, 16 out of 117)
Curie and the British X-ray crystallography are slightly more women friendly.
pioneer Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin won it on Like the prizes themselves, the Nobel
their own in 1911 and 1964 respectively. committees awarding them are also male-
As a Frenchwoman, Charpentier follows in dominated, with women holding less than a
the footsteps of Curie and her daughter Irene quarter of the places.
Joliot-Curie, who won the prize in 1935 in a There are, for example, only two women
tandem with her mother and husband Frederic among the seven members of the committee
Joliot. which selects the literature laureate, one out of
Marie Curie was the first woman laureate in seven for physics and four out of 18 for medicine.
1903 in physics, and is to date the only one to – AFP-Relaxnews
Casual games
which rely on
short play times
such as puzzle
and arcade-style
games are
among the most
downloaded
mobile titles.
“Gaming being one of the
most interactive and
engaging forms of
entertainment has seen a
significant boost.”
According to the
mobile consultancy App
Annie, spending on
mobile gaming is expected
to see strong growth this
year and top US$100
billion. Popular titles
include Candy Crush Saga,
Honor of Kings, Pokemon Go
and Gardenscapes.
Minnows and whales
Many mobile games are free to
download and rely on massive
numbers of people spending a
little on things like extra lives,
virtual outfits, or items that boost
in-game abilities.
And, paying a dollar or so to
upgrade to an ad-free version of a games can be a relaxing escape absolutely huge,” Garrard said.
mobile game is seen by some as a while standing in queues, waiting Mobile game revenue is
bargain. for a food orders, or just whiling powered by the fact that they are
Mobile players who spend little away time, according to players. easily available to the more than
to nothing are referred to in the Playing mobile games can four billion people in the world
industry as “minnows”, while improve moods; boost brain with smartphones, according to
those more willing to pay are power, and provide a sense of Garrard.
“dolphins” of “whales” depending community, according to “Maybe they’re not spending a
on how deep they reach into their proponents. lot, but there are many who spend
wallets. “Allocating a bit of time to a little bit on mobile games and it
Casual games which rely on playing games can improve your really adds up,” Garrard said.
short play times such as puzzle mental health in a lot of amazing A trend toward cloud streaming
and arcade-style games are among ways,” Lifehack digital marketer services will likely boost mobile
the most downloaded mobile Zuhair Sharif said in a blog. gaming, as titles once limited to
titles. “This has led many to consoles will be able to offer more
A major innovation in recent incorporate video games into play on smartphones or tablets
years has been a “battle pass” their regular lives.” since action is power by
system popularized by Fortnite Mobile game lovers are quick datacenters.
from Epic Games, with players pay
for tickets to each “season”,
according to Chapple.
to point out that playing console
or computer games in planes,
buses, or cars is not an option,
Hight-capacity, super-fast 5G
telecom networks could enable
game makers to bring console
while smartphones can be quality graphics and action to
Addictive fun? whipped out anywhere to make a mobile devices, appealing to more
Mobile game makers, like few moves. hardcore players.
their console-focused peers, “The concept of gaming on the
manipulate psychological levers Mobile millennials go will be ever more present,
that emotionally reward players Worldwide, an estimated 72% of supported by improvements in
and keep them engaged in ways active mobile game players are mobile infrastructure,” Garrard
that some say can be addictive. “millennials” – 23 to 38 years old. said.
The World Health Organisation The broader audience for “It’s not just the gaming
has classified “gaming disorder” a mobile games includes those in platform will be benefiting, but the
disease characterised by parts of the world where likes of kind of Google and Apple.”
“impaired control over gaming, smartphones are the primary, if Apple and Google are behind
increasing priority given to not only, way people connect to the mobile operating systems, iOS
gaming over other activities” even the internet and Android respectively, that
if it is detrimental to one’s life. “In emerging regions, power nearly all of the world’s
But, in a stressful world, mobile particularly China and India, it is smartphones. – AFP-Relaxnews
16 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020 S E C U R I T I E S S D N.
197201001092 (12738-U)
B H D.

FEATURE A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad

A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad

█ BY AZIZUL RAHMAN ISMAIL

B
OSTAMI AHMAD is no
ordinary designer. He grew
up the son of Felda settlers
who did not even own a car.
However, his love of designing and
pursuit of excellence led him not only
to the designing studios of
Lamborghini, but also getting
shortlisted as a candidate to become
Malaysia’s first astronaut.
Bostami said: “I’ve always loved
designing. When I was a kid, I thought
to myself that I would design a car for
my father someday.
“When I was in Form 3, I
remember writing ‘One day I will
design a Ferrari’ in the margins of my
notebook.” It was a farfetched dream,
but that did not deter him from
reaching for the stars. A limited edition chronograph
“In 2008, 2009, Lamborghini commemorating Malaysia’s first Prime
Design announced that they were Minister.
looking for a young designer to
develop a new DNA for their
Lamborghini car design. And it came
with a scholarship and a master’s
degree.
“It was opened to entries from all Zakiyah (left) watches over Bostami as he sketches his latest design. – ASHRAF SHAMSUL/THESUN
over the world. It was crazy.

From automobiles to
Thousands of people applied. I had to
try because I love designing cars and
automotive stuff,” said Bostami.
Three months later Bostami
received a call from Milan, Italy

wristwatches
requesting for complete works and
sketches.
“I was in Shah Alam at the time. I
had to go back to my home in Jengka,
Pahang, Because all of my work was
under the bed there,” said Bostami.
He spent close to RM500 to ship
his designs to Italy. oFormer automotive designer Bostami Ahmad has turned A portion of sales of the LIMA |
It took another three months
before he received his sights to designing wristwatches Universe Wonders watch will go to
developing Malaysia’s space industry.
the call he has
been waiting
for. scholarship,” said Bostami. founded the start-up company designed and produced watches with as our watch movement. This is
“Long story When he returned to Artwist.Co in Cyberjaya. Datuk M.Nasir, Butterfingers, Boys of basically the engine of our watches,
short, I spent Malaysia, Bostami The duo combined their collective Straits, and Miey Ali, in addition to the beating heart of every Artwist.Co
one and a half worked on some of mastery that was developed at the some of original designs. timepeace,” said Bostami.
years in Italy the Proton cars Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan Currently Artwist.Co has designed He hinted that the strength of
doing we see on the and shaped by their experience with and is producing the first two watches Artwist.Co is the collective
t h e roads today. Lamborghini, Moleskine, 3M, and in the Malaysia Prime Ministers experience that members of the team
Three years Google XPrize Moon Mission. series featuring Tunku Abdul have gained through working in
ago, Bostami At a glance, Artwist.Co is a Rahman, and Tun Abdul Razak, various industries around the world.
and partner company that produces premium art Malaysia’s first and second prime They research and curate
Z a k i y a h and artist-centric watches. ministers. It is the result of a everything they do; from the designs
Hasan, “After the first year of research and collaboration with the Malaysia to their collaborators, and their
development, that was how we National Archive. partners.
started, making artist watches,” said “Those who purchase any of the “Each design is created
Bostami. These are one of a kind and Artwist.Co Prime Minister Series specifically and meticulously to fit
limited edition watches that feature watch will also stand a chance to win the artist, person, or theme of the
unique artwork by artists from all the two Negarawan Watches watch. We take into account their
over the world. featuring hand-drawn portraits of persona and their fans as well,” said
These watches are designed by Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Bo.
Artwist.Co and are made using Razak, by the mural artist, Miey Ali,” He added that the company
quality global materials and said Bostami. has plans to go beyond wristwatches,
production methods. They are also designing and and intends to celebrate
However, Bostami has bigger producing the *Wings* 35 Years local legends and international
dreams. “At Artwist.Co we are selling Anniversary watch, in collaboration talents by immortalising them in
value, we are selling stories, we are with local rocker Awie and Wings. timepieces.
selling the experience,” said Bo. “The “Our core strength is design. We You can browse and purchase
Co in Artwist.Co stands for partner with international Artwist.Co collection of timepieces at
collaboration”. manufacturing and use Japan Artwist.Co and follow them at
Over the past year, Artwist.Co has Movement such as Seiko and Miyota @artwist.co on Instagram.

Londoners show off their endless creativity

DID you take advantage of lockdown from Australian insurers, Budget popular home decoration styles for
to revamp your home interior? Well, Direct, with 825 and 616 pictures revamping interiors as modern,
you’re not alone. In recent months, respectively posted on Instagram vintage, rustic, boho and cottage.
homeowners around the world have from these locations with the To establish its rankings, the study
been busy upgrading their interiors #DIYhomedecor hashtag. analysed 500,000 Instagram posts
with DIY home decor projects. The US, however, tops the list of tagged with #DIYhomedecor. The According
According to a new Australian study, countries where homeowners have data was collected in June 2020. to the
London stands out as the trend’s the biggest appetite for amateur The top 10 cities where study,
global capital city. interior design. A total of 26,476 Instagram’s amateur home designers
London is
London is the city in which DIY pictures with the hashtag have been busy in recent months:
enthusiasts have been busiest rolling #DIYhomedecor were posted from 1 - London the city
up their sleeves to give their homes a the country, compared to just 5,055 2 - New York where DIY
makeover. From a lick of paint to new from the UK. 3 - Los Angeles enthusiasts
furniture and more, Londoners were Bangalore, Mumbai and Toronto 4 - Bangalore have been
quick to show off their endless also land places in the top 10 global 5 - Mumbai busiest
creativity on Instagram, sharing 961 cities with a taste for DIY home decor 6 - Toronto renovating
posts with the hashtag, projects. Houston comes in 10th 7 - Delhi their home
#DIYhomedecor. place with 287 Instagram posts with 8 - Chicago decors in
New York and Los Angeles take the #DIYhomedecor hashtag. 9 - Berlin recent
second and third place in the ranking The study also identified the most 10 - Houston. – AFP-Relaxnews months.
 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020 17
Notices
SPORTS
322

NOTICE
IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMPANIES ACT 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF Dhawan keep Capitals on top
CHENG WAH DEVELOPMENT
SDN. BHD.
(Company No. 197701004981 SHIKHAR DHAWAN hit his first Indian
Home Repairs Notices Notices Notices
(36031-H)) Premier League century yesterday as Delhi
110 322 322 322
Maintainance (In Members’
Voluntary Winding-Up) Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings to go back
top of the table.
Home Repair LOST CERTIFICATES IN THE MATTER OF THE
IN THE MATTER OF THE At an Extraordinary General
COMPANIES ACT, 2016
and COMPANIES ACT 2016 Meeting of the Members of Cheng
Wah Development Sdn. Bhd., duly
South African veteran AB de Villiers
Kumpulan Melayu Johore Sdn. Bhd. IN THE MATTER OF
VI SOLUTIONS (M) SDN. BHD. AND convened and held at Lot 1.02, First produced another blistering batting display
(Copany No. 197101000577 (10979-H) Registration No. 200601019160 IN THE MATTER OF Floor, Acctax Corporate Centre, No. 2,
meanwhile to take Royal Challengers
(Incorporated in Malaysia) (738913-A)
NYONYA MANIS
Jalan Bawasah, 10050 George Town,
(In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) Pulau Pinang on 13th October 2020, Bangalore to victory over Rajasthan Royals
(M) SDN. BHD. the special resolutions set out below
Expert Plumbing, THAT the following share certificates registered in the name of At a General Meeting of the Company duly
convened and held at Wisma Goshen, Company No.: was duly passed. and keep them in the playoff race.
Abu Kassim Bin Hj Mohd have been reported lost together with the India opener Dhawan batted through the
Tiling, Wiring and relative transfer deeds.
2nd Floor, 60, 62 & 64 Jalan SS 22/21,
Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, 198801006506 THAT the Company be wound up
A/Cond Selangor Darul Ehsan on Monday, 12th (173864-K) voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1) Delhi innings as they chased Chennai’s 179-4
day of October, 2020, the following special (b) of the Companies Act 2016 and
From RM60 Share Certificate No. Number of Shares resolutions were duly passed: that Mr. Neoh Chin Wah of Insol-i in which Faf du Plessis made 58 and Ambati
onward 6 2,000 1. THAT, the Company will be liquidated by
NOTICE OF PROPOSED Corporate Recovery PLT, 3rd Floor,
Acctax Corporate Centre, No. 2, Jalan
Rayudu an unbeaten 45.
121 304 way of Members’ Voluntary Winding Up. REDUCTION OF SHARE Bawasah, 10050 Georgetown, Penang Dhawan made 101 off 57 balls with 14
2. THAT, Mr. Tan Kee Huat and Ms. Lam Lee
169 6,912 CAPITAL
San both of Norvic Corporate Services
Sdn. Bhd., Wisma Goshen, 2nd Floor, 60,
be appointed as Liquidator to act for
the purpose of the winding-up.
fours and one six but his partners Shreyas Iyer
226 18,432 62 & 64, Jalan SS 22/21, Damansara (23) and Marcus Stoinis (24) hit the
Call : Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Notice is hereby given Dated this 19th October 2020
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT within fourteen (14) days from Darul Ehsan be appointed as Joint pursuant to Section 117(10) boundaries that kept Delhi in the hunt.
017-320 8888 the date of publication, if no claim or representation is made, the
and Several Liquidators to act for the
purpose of winding-up the Company’s of the Companies Act 2016 Sgd
Neoh Teong Sar
The surprise IPL contenders needed 15 off
affairs and distributing its assets.
Directors of the Company will then proceed to issue a replacement 3. THAT, the said Liquidators be authorised that the Special Resolution Director the last over and it was spin bowler Axar Patel
Distributors certificate and the original certificates will be deemed duly set out below was duly
252
Agents Wanted cancelled and void.
to divide amongst the members in
specie or kind, the whole or any part IN THE MATTER OF who blasted three sixes to secure the win
passed by the Members of
of the assets of the Company and may,
for such purpose, set such value as the Company on the 14th
THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 with a ball to spare.
AND
REPORTED BY: KUMPULAN MELAYU JOHORE SDN. BHD. they deem fair upon any property to be
divided as aforesaid and may determine day of October, 2020. IN THE MATTER OF “It feels very special,” said the 34-year-old
how such division shall be carried out CHENG WAH DEVELOPMENT
SDN. BHD.
Dhawan.
Dated this 19th day October, 2020 as between the members.

Jamaliah Binti Saubari

Extract of the Special (Company No. 197701004981 “At the start of the season also I was
(36031-H))
Director Resolution: (In Members’ hitting the ball well but I wasn’t converting
Dated this 19th day of October, 2020 Voluntary Winding-Up) those 20s into 50s. Once you do that, you take
322 Notices 322 Notices “THAT the Company’s that confidence into the next game.” – AFP
IN THE MATTER OF THE Notice is hereby given that the
COMPANIES ACT, 2016 Share Capital be reduced creditors of the abovenamed
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES
and from RM2,000,000.00 Company are required on or before
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES IN THE MATTER OF 19th November 2020 to prove their
ACT, 2016 ACT, 2016 VI SOLUTIONS (M) SDN. BHD. to RM1,500,000.00 debts or claims and to establish
AND
AND Registration No. 200601019160 by effecting a capital any title they may have to priority 322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF CHEEN HENG (738913-A) 322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF BRIGHTECH TRADING SDN. BHD. (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) repayment of RM500,000.00 by delivering or sending through
& ENGINEERS SDN BHD (Company No. 132665-W) the post to the Liquidator at the
201301043675(1073498-U) (IN MEMBERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the creditors to the shareholders of the undermentioned address and
SPORTS MEDICINE
(In Members’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) of the above Company are required to Company, being capital in affidavit verifying their respective
SERVICES SDN. BHD.
Voluntary Winding Up) send in their names and addresses and debts or claims. In default they will be
The following Special Resolution was duly the particulars of their debts or claims excess of the needs of the excluded from the benefit of priority, (318204-T)
passed by the members of CHEEN HENG
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant TRADING SDN. BHD., on the 19th October
and the names and addresses of their
solicitors (if any), to the undersigned (the
Company.” if any, and from objecting to any such (Incorporated in Malaysia)
to Section 439 of the Companies Act, 2020 in accordance with Section 439 of Liquidators of the said Company) at the distribution. Form of proof may be (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up)
2016 that the Special resolution set the Companies Act, 2016. belowmentioned address by 5.00 p.m. on obtained from the Liquidator at the
out below was duly passed by the 19th day of November 2020:- GOH BOON KAN address shown below.
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
members of the Company on 12 ‘That the Company be wound up (MAICSA 7052970) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that
voluntarily pursuant to Section 439 of the c/o Norvic Corporate Services Sdn. Bhd. Dated this 19th October 2020 pursuant to Section 459 (1)(b) of
October 2020. Companies Act, 2016 and that Mr. Low Reg. No. 200201033104 (600769-D) Company Secretary
Wisma Goshen, 2nd Floor the Companies Act 2016 a final
“That the Company be wound up
Poh Seong of No 5, Jalan 1/15, Seksyen
1, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor be and 60, 62 & 64 Jalan SS 22/21
Dated this 19 October 2020 Sgd meeting of the members of the
voluntarily pursuant to Section 439 is hereby appointed Liquidator for the Damansara Jaya Neoh Chin Wah, Liquidator abovenamed Company will be
of the Companies Act, 2016 and that purpose of such winding-up’ 47400 Petaling Jaya c/o Insol-i Corporate Recovery PLT held at Suite 12-A Gurney Tower
Madam Lor Li Meng of 171, Jalan Sri Selangor Darul Ehsan 3rd Floor
Dated this: 19th October 2020 Acctax Corporate Centre Office, 18 Persiaran Gurney,
Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor The creditors (either through their 10250 Penang on Wednesday, 18th
Bahru be appointed Liquidator for No. 2, Jalan Bawasah
the purpose of such winding up with
Sgnd solicitors or personally) who do not 322 Notices 10050 Georgetown November 2020 at 11.00 a.m.
…………………………….. file their debts and claims on or before
power to distribute surplus assets in (YAP MOOI CHAI @ YAP LEE CHOO) the specified date and time above will Penang AGENDA
specie to members and to exercise DIRECTOR be excluded from the benefit of any
the power of the Liquidator as set distribution made. 1. To receive accounts from the
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES Liquidator showing the manner
out in Section 456 of the Companies ACT, 2016 Tan Kee Huat 322 Notices in which the winding- up has
Act 2016”. AND Lam Lee San(f)
IN THE MATTER OF CHEEN HENG Liquidators been conducted and the assets
GAN CHONG HOE TRADING SDN. BHD. IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA of the Company dispose of and
Director (Company No. 132665-W) Dated this 19th day of October, 2020 to hear any explanations that
(In Members Voluntary Winding Up) AT KUALA LUMPUR
(COMMERCIAL DIVISION) may be given by the Liquidator.
Johor Bahru COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO.
Notice is hereby given that the creditors 2. To consider and, if thought fit,
Date : 19 October 2020 of the above named Company, which WA-28NCC-327-03/2020
is being voluntarily wound up, are IN THE MATTER OF pass the following resolution as
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that required on or before 19th November 20 THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 an Ordinary Resolution:
In the matter of Section 465 (1) (e) “That the books, accounts and
the creditors of the BRIGHTECH 20 (30 days from AND
advertised date ) to send in their names
read together with Section 466 (1) of
& ENGINEERS SDN BHD IN THE MATTER OF the Companies Act, 2016 documents of the Company
201301043675(1073498-U) are and addresses with particulars of their and of the Liquidator, shall be
debts and claims and of any security held BRIDGE FRONT
required, on or before 19 November by them, and the names, addresses of ORGANIC AGRICULTURE SDN. BHD. AND kept by the Liquidator for a
2020 to send their names and their solicitors (if any) to the undersigned (1300795-T) period of three months after the
addresses and particulars and Liquidator at No 5 Jalan 1/15, Seksyen (IN MEMBERS’ In the matter of the Companies Company has been dissolved,
particulars of their debts, or claims 1, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and if VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) (Winding-Up) Rules, 1972
so required by notice in writing from the
and that thereafter such books,
to the undersigned, the liquidator of
the said Company, and is so required, said Liquidator, are by their Solicitors accounts and documents may
or personally to come in and prove their
Notice is hereby given pursuant to AND be destroyed by the Liquidator.”
are to come in and prove their debts debts and claims at such time and place Section 439(2) of the Companies Act,
and claims as shall be specified, as shall be specified in such notice or in 2016, that the Special Resolution In the matter of ANHANZ GROUP SDN LAU KIM SEONG
or in default will be excluded from default thereof they shall be excluded set out below was duly passed by BHD (1065229-M) Liquidator
the benefit of any distribution made from the benefit of any distribution made the members of the company on
before such proof. before such debts or claims are proven. 13.10.2020. Penang
BETWEEN
Dated:19th October 2020
Dated this: 19th October 2020
LOR LI MENG That the company be wound up 3R SYSTEMS SDN BHD
Liquidator Sgnd voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1) (Company No. 836483-D)
………………………………. (b) of the Companies Act 2016 and … PETITIONER DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI
Johor Bahru LOW POH SEONG that Lee Pit Nyuk, of No. 53, Tingkat AND MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG
Date : 19 October 2020 Liquidator 2, Bandar Raub Perdana, 27600 Raub, PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT
Pahang be and is hereby appointed ANHANZ GROUP SDN BHD NO: PA-28NCC-32-05/2020
liquidator for the purpose of such (Company No.1065229-M)
winding up. … RESPONDENT Dalam perkara Seksyen 465(1)(e)
322 Notices 322 Notices dan Seksyen 466 Akta Syarikat 2016
That the said Liquidator be ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION
indemnified by the contributories Dan
against all the costs, charges, losses, NOTICE is hereby given that a
expenses and liabilities incurred or Petition for the Winding-Up of the IN THE MATTER OF Dalam perkara PRISM FILLER SDN.
sustained by him in the execution abovenamed Company by the High THE COMPANIES ACT, BHD. (No. Syarikat: 1077326-V)
Used Cars Below Market Price. and discharge of his duties in relation Court at Kuala Lumpur on the 11th 2016
thereto and his remuneration be fixed day of March 2020 presented to the Dan
Finance / Insurance / Extended Warranties available for all cars*. on the scale of his usual professional said Court by 3R Systems Sdn Bhd
AND
We are open to public. All 67 cars priced to sell. charges for the work involved. (Company No. 836483-D) of No. IN THE MATTER OF Dalam Perkara Kaedah-kaedah
Bank Repossessed – 17 unit; Used – 5 units; Restored – 45 units 49-3, The Highway Centre, Jalan SAMANDAH SDN. BHD. (Penggulungan) Syarikat 1972
See our FAQ on how to buy at http://www.pickles.my/faq That the liquidator be and is hereby 51/205, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. And (142613-X)
authorised to divide all or such that the said Petition is directed to
LOT
Reserve LOT Reserve part of the surplus assets of the be heard before the Court sitting at
(In Members’ Dan
NO
Reg No Model Price
(RM)
NO
Reg No Model Price
(RM) Company as he thinks fit in specie or Kuala Lumpur at 9.00 o’clock in the Voluntary Winding-Up) Dalam Perkara Mengenai Kaedah-
AFFIN REPO 34 VCT3513 2018 MITSUBISHI TRITON 2.4L VGT HS AT 80000 in kind amongst the members of the morning on the 25th November 2020 Kaedah Mahkamah 2012
1 AJL6919 2013 PROTON PREVE 1.6L CVT (A) 12300 35 WC8795E 2015 TOYOTA VIOS 1.5 G (A) 38000 Company. and any Creditor or Contributory of NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
the said Company desiring to support ANTARA
2
3
TBJ6258
WRN31
2012 PROTON SAGA 1.3 FL (A)
2008 MERCEDES BENZ C200K - W204 (A)
9500
25900 37
36 SMC428
VBB4301
2015 BMW 428I COUPE (A)
2017 PERODUA BEZZA-1300 X (A)
138000
23000 TAI KIOK KIANG or opposes the making of an Order
pursuant to Section 459 of
4 MBQ5525 2009 BMW 525I SPORTS E60 27500 38 BNA3969 2014 HONDA JAZZ 1.5L V (A) 36000 Director on the said Petition may appear at the Companies Act, 2016 LUBRICLEUM SDN. BHD.
5
6
VBQ5525
MAU9887
2018 NISSAN ALMERA 1.5E (A)
2001 VOLVO S60 2.3TS (A)
28500 39
5000 40
JRG3773
KEE3602
2015 MERC BENZ E300 BTH-W212 (A)
2016 PERODUA MYVI - 1300 G (A)
75000
20500
Raub, Pahang the time of hearing by himself or his that a Final Meeting of the (No. Syarikat: 647881-V)
7 WKB9179 2002 PROTON SATRIA 1.3 GLI (M) 3200 41 BPH2248 2017 PERODUA MYVI - 1500 SE (A) 23000
19th. October, 2020 Counsel for that purpose and a copy Company will be held at …PEMPETISYEN
of the Petition will be furnished to
8
9
WMJ992
PLH3342
1997 BMW 5231 (A)
2013 SUZUKI SWIFT 1.4L (A)
14600 42
22000 43
VFF2236
JPU8900
2017 VOLKSWAGEN POLO HB (A)
2013 TOYOTA PRIUS C 1.5L (A)
35000
18000 IN THE MATTER OF any Creditor or Contributory of the No. 15, Taman Kok Doh,
DAN
10 VCV3802 2019 NISSAN ALMERA 1.5L (A) 42000 44 BPR9371 2012 TOYOTA VIOS 1.5 E (A) 24000 THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 said Company requiring the same by Segambut, 51200 Kuala
11
12
RP955
NCS8497
2016 KIA RIO UB (A)
2012 PROTON PERSONA 1.6L (M)
28000 45
9500 46
AHV1780
VV4923
2015 SUBARU XV 2.0 I (A)
2017 PERODUA BEZZA-1300 X (A)
37000
24500
AND the undersigned on payment of the Lumpur on 18 November PRISM FILLER SDN. BHD.
IN THE MATTER OF regulated charge for the same. 2020 at 10.00 a.m. (No. Syarikat: 1077326-V)
13 JQG7617 2014 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0 (A) 28200 47 PMU956 2016 NISSAN ALMERA 1.5E (A) 16000
14 WC9520G 2015 KIA CERATO YD (A) 28500 48 JQT2243 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.6 (A) 30000 BRIDGE FRONT ORGANIC ...RESPONDEN
15 WLD2980 2003 PROTON WAJA 1.6 (M) 7000 49 JRB2281 2015 TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS 1.8G (A) 50000 AGRICULTURE SDN. BHD. The Petitioner’s address is at No.49-
16 WA2046B 2014 PROTON EXORA 1.6L (M) 15700 50 WQJ8863 2007 HONDA CITY 1.5 I-DSI (A) 10000 (1300795-T) 3, The Highway Centre, Jalan 51/205, AGENDA NOTIS MENGENAI
MAYBANK REPO 51 WC9375C 2015 TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS 1.8G (A) 48000 (IN MEMBERS’ Petaling Jaya, Selangor. PERINTAH PENGGULUNGAN
17 UUU8855 2018 MERC BENZ AMG-GLC63 S COUPE 565000 52 JRK3034 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY 2.4 (A) 55000 VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) 1 To receive the accounts
RESTORED 53 JJM3777 2005 SSANGYONG REXTON RX270 (A) 8000 The Petitioner’s Solicitors is Messrs
18 WA1205K 2014 PERODUA MYVI 1.5 SE (A) 19000 54 KEP5828 2018 NISSAN X-TRAIL 2.0L CVT (A) 60000 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Han Ch’ng & Partners of Unit 610, and reports of the Dalam perkara mengenai PRISM
Liquidator in relation to FILLER SDN. BHD. (No. Syarikat:
19 VBD6898 2017 MERCEDES BENZ C200-W205(A) 140000 55 NCR2629 2012 INOKOM ELANTRA 1.6 (A) 20000 creditors of the abovenamed company 6th Floor, Lobby 2, Block A, No. 1, 1077326-V).
20 TBQ9804
21 WB2230L
2015 PERODUA AXIA -1000SE (A)
2015 PERODUA ALZA - 1500 EZ (A)
15000 56
24000 57
JRG1673
VAN6042
2015 NISSAN ALMERA 1.5E (A)
2017 PERODUA MYVI - 1500 SE (A)
15000
29000
which is being wound up voluntarily Damansara Intan, 47400 Petaling the winding up of the Perintah Penggulungan yang dibuat
are required on or before 19th. Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Company. pada 6/10/2020.
22 VBW8549 2018 PERODUA MYVI - 1300 G (A) 29000 58 WYF9551 2013 FORD FOCUS GHIA (A) 18000
23 CEF606 2019 HONDA CITY 1.5L S (A) 43000 59 BKR3900 2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG V8 (A) 16000
November 2020 to send their names Nama dan alamat Penyelesai ialah:
24 FC7621 2019 HONDA CIVIC 1.5 TC (A) 72000 60 BLP3445 2012 TOYOTA VIOS 1.5 J (A) 28000 and addresses with particulars of their …………… t. t.………… Pegawai Penerima, Jabatan
25 RN6335 2016 HONDA HR-V 1.8L E (A) 45000 61 RY9522 2018 PROTON PERDANA 2.0L (A) 65000 debts or claims and the names and Messrs Han Ch’ng & Partners 2 To resolve that under
Insolvensi Malaysia, Cawangan
26 VCB2539 2018 NISSAN ALMERA 1.5E (A) 17000 62 WRR4828 2008 MITSUBISHI GRANDIS (A) 18000 addresses of their solicitors (if any) Solicitors for the Petitioner Section 518(3)(b) of the Pulau Pinang, Tingkat 9,
27 WB8641A 2015 PERODUA MYVI - 1300 X (A) 17000 USED to the undersigned, the Liquidator of
28 VBG2034 2018 HONDA JAZZ 1.5L E (A) 42000 63 WA6652B 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY 2.0 E (A) 60000 the said Company; and if so required Note:-
Companies Act 2016, Bangunan Persekutuan Pulau
29 PPH1298 2020 TOYOTA VIOS 1.5E (A) 52000 64 PJW9088 2010 NISSAN NAVARA M 2.5D 25000
in writing from the said, are by their Any person who intends to appear the books and papers of Pinang, Jalan Anson, 10400
30 JSA9250 2017 HONDA CITY V 1.5L I-VTEC 38000 65 WA6741H 2014 PROTON EXORA FL 1.6L CVT 25000
the Company and of the Pulau Pinang.
31 VCL5107 2018 PERODUA AXIA - 1000 G (A) 18000 66 WYG257 2013 NISSAN SYLPHY 2.0 CVTC (A) 26000 solicitors or personally to come in and on the hearing of the said Petition
32 BMS5640 2014 TOYOTA VIOS 1.5S (A) 36000 67 WNK4388 2005 PROTON SAVVY 1.2L MT STD/COMFO 600 prove their debts or claims at such must serve on or any send by post Liquidator that are relevant Bertarikh pada 19 Oktober 2020.
33 VDC8750 2019 NISSAN X-TRAIL 2.0L CVT (A) 76000 time and place as shall be specified in to the abovenamed Solicitors HAN to the affairs of the
such notice or in default thereof they CH’NG & PARTNERS, notice in writing
The auction is conducted LIVE and bidders can bid in-person or ONLINE by downloading Pickles Auctions App on
will be excluded from the benefits of of his intention so to do. The notice Company at or subsequent .............t.t.............
WEDNESDAY, 21st October 2020 at 12.00pm. Prospect buyers are advised to inspect the cars on Peguamcara pihak Pempetisyen
any distribution made before such must state the name and address to the commencement
TUESDAY, 20th October 2020 from 9.00am - 5.30pm with strict CMCO guidelines & SOP. debts are proven. of the person, or, if a firm, the name of the winding up of the Notis Mengenai Perintah
All vehicles are sold “AS IS WHERE IS” basis. You may obtain full auction listing on inspection day or view full auction listing in and address of the firm, and must Company be destroyed
Pickles Auctions app or visit www.pickles.my Raub, Pahang be signed by the person or firm, Penggulungan ini difailkan
19th. October, 2020 or his or their Solicitor (if any) and accordingly. oleh Tetuan John Heah & Co.,
HOW TO BID ONLINE? For more details, please contact +6016-6999170 Peguambela & Peguamcara yang
Step 1: Download Pickles Auctions App, or email info@pickles.my must be served, or, if posted, must
beralamat di Tingkat 1, Mutiara
Step 2: Register with attached NRIC, LEE PIT NYUK be sent by post in sufficient time to Dated : 19 October 2020 I&P, No. 47, Greenhall, 10200 Pulau
Step 3: Received approval, PICKLES ASIA SDN BHD [1231292-D] Liquidator reach the abovenamed not later than
No. 53, Tingkat 2, twelve o’clock noon on the 20th day Pinang, Peguamcara bagi pihak
Step 4: Top up deposit, Lot 19391, Batu 8 ½, Jalan Klang Lama, Chai Fooi Chen Pempetisyen.
Step 5: Attend auction and place your bids Taman Desaria, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Bandar Raub Perdana, of November 2020.
27600 Raub, Pahang Darul Makmur. (Ref No: Lit/Lc/3RAnhanz/1142) Liquidator [Ruj Kami: JH/AL/88-19/LSB]
18 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
SPORTS

R Big boys eat humble pie

EAL MADRID and Barcelona will each
head into the Clasico this weekend on
the back of a defeat after La Liga’s two
title favourites were punished for slack
performances yesterday.
Zinedine Zidane made four substitutions at
half-time but could not spark a lethargic Madrid
into life as his team fell 1-0 at home to newly-
promoted Cadiz.
Then two hours later on the opposite side of
the city, Ronald Koeman tasted his first
competitive loss as coach of Barcelona as they
followed Madrid’s example by being beaten 1-0
by Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Madrid’s was perhaps the more concerning
display of the two, the reigning champions
managing just two shots on target against Cadiz,
who could have scored more after Anthony
Lozano’s early strike.
But Barca were not much better, with Lionel
Messi strangely quiet and the team failing to
rebound after Jaime Mata’s penalty gave Getafe
the lead in the second half.
Barcelona, Real Madrid both lose ahead of Clasico
“We knew this was a very difficult ground to
come to but we tried to create passages of play
and move the ball around quickly and they kept
disrupting that with fouls,” Koeman said.
For Madrid, there was an injury concern too
as Sergio Ramos spent the second half in the
stands with ice strapped around his left knee.
Madrid said the injury was not serious but it
puts in doubt Ramos’ involvement in their first
Champions League game against Shakhtar
Donetsk on Thursday (12.55am), as well the
Clasico three days later.
“Hopefully it’s minor,” said Zidane.
“Tomorrow we’ll see what he has done.”
A prolonged absence for Ramos would cap a
deflating night for the champions, whose dreary
display certainly hands an early boost to their
title rivals.
“There is no explanation,” said Zidane. “If they
scored two or three goals in the first half, we
couldn’t have complained. There are no excuses.”
This is Cadiz’s first season in the top flight in
14 years and their first victory over Real Madrid in
29. Their reward is second place in the table,
denied top spot by their opponents only due to
goal difference.
“They had more rhythm and desire... it was a
bad game. We must congratulate Cadiz. We’re
not happy, but this can happen in football,”
Zidane told managingmadrid.com.
It’s concerning that this loss came now, at the
start of a huge week for Real Madrid with the
return of the Champions League and the Clasico.
But, Zidane doesn’t think there will be a hangover
from this defeat.
“No, I don’t think this will affect us going
forward. We’ve clearly had a bad night, but we’ll
try to change this.”
Even if Barcelona were unable to capitalise,
Atletico Madrid had earlier beaten Celta Vigo 2-
0, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring at
Balaidos.
But the Suarez-Diego Costa combination
came to an early end as Costa was forced off
injured in the second half.
“I liked the mix of the two,” said Diego
Simeone. “Their characteristics mean they can
play together. They give us strength and presence

Ibra at the double for AC
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC struck twice in his
first match back from coronavirus
5185/2020 18/10/2020 (SUN)
yesterday as AC Milan beat city rivals Inter
SPORTS TOTO MALAYSIA SDN BHD (8420 - D)
Milan 2-1 to take top spot in Serie A ahead
TOTO 4D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL of Atalanta who slumped 4-1 at Napoli.
1st Prize 4059 But champions Juventus, playing
without quarantined Cristiano Ronaldo,
2nd Prize 0098 were held 1-1 at promoted Crotone whose
first top-flight point this season moved the
3rd Prize 3166 southerners off the bottom of the table.
and personality in the penalty area. It’s one of the
options the team has.”
Atletico climb to fourth, two points behind
be at home coming off a very high pace, Real Madrid and one ahead of Barcelona. –
the body is shaking because it wants to AFP/Agencies
work, it wants to play.
“I lost my sense of taste a little bit, but I
had a swab every three days and nobody
was going to stop me playing the derby.
“This derby was very important, AC
Milan hadn’t won for four years.”
Milan won their opening four matches
for the first time since the 1995-1996
Draw Date: 18/10/20 (Sun) Draw No: 5132/20 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB

Special Consolation “I was so hungry and it showed,” said season when they won the title under
3529 9358 1764 9190 Ibrahimovic who bagged his second Fabio Capello.
6657 7257 5261 1591 double in as many league matches. And Stefano Pioli’s side are top of the 3777
1097 4069 3263 5087 “They locked the wrong animal at table with maximum 12 points, three
6867 7291 2595 4259 home for two weeks. ahead of Atalanta who fell to third-placed 5548
2537 2934 7687 2726 “It’s not easy mentally to Napoli, who are equal on eight points with 1837
always Juventus.
Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo blamed 0642 + 3253 3092 + 9488
7,640,475.52 his new-look team’s inexperience as they
finished a second game 8158 + 2914 4080 + 7015
with 10n men with new 3635 + 6732 1025 + 1798
4059 0098 0098 4059
4059 3166 3166 4059 signing Federico 2668 + 4359 0658 + 8386
0098 3166 3166 0098 Chiesa sent off on 9454 + 2670 1649 + 6765
his debut.
118,805.28 “We are a
Winning combination of any 1 of Top 3 & any 1 of Special prizes. young team, we
need time to RM5,207,265.40
gain
experience,” 3777 + 5548 5548 + 3777
1st Prize 4059 + said Pirlo. – 3777 + 1837 1837 + 3777
2nd Prize 0098 + AFP 5548 + 1837 1837 + 5548
3rd Prize 3166 + DRAGON RM331,845.90
4th Prize Special Prize +

5th Prize Consolation Prize +

6th Prize Any 4D drawn number

TOTO 5D & 6D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL 733 777 + RAT RM1,655,622.10
3 4 3 0 2
235 548 + HORSE RM2,473,749.00
4 3 0 2 Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij (left) fights
6 2 9 1 2 3 0 2 for the ball with AC Milan’s Zlatan
8 8 2 8 4 0 2 Ibrahimovic during their Serie A 961 837 + DRAGON RM1,553,207.60
match at the San Siro stadium in
4 3 8 4 4 1 Milan yesterday. – AFPPIX 820 642 753 253 113 092 089 488
SIDENETTING 538 158 112 914 154 080 747 015
4 3 8 4 4 3 8 4 4 1 253 635 696 732 411 025 001 798
4 3 8 4 8 4 4 1 Lewandowski, Muller chances in the first half and we knew we 222 668 524 359 470 658 058 386
4 3 8 4 4 1 star for Bayern needed to create more in the second
979 454 742 670 881 649 966 765
4 3 4 1 half,” the goalscorer told Sky.
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI and Thomas
TOTO GAMES GIVES YOU MORE WINNING CHANCES! Muller both scored twice as Bayern Thauvin guides Marseille
Munich banished their early-season
1 8 33 36 48 58
blues with a thumping 4-1 win over to Bordeaux win
30,221,348.65 Bundesliga minnows Arminia Bielefeld FLORIAN THAUVIN’S early wonder strike
777 548 837
yesterday after a “crazy” first half. Treble helped Marseille to their first home win of
5 9 11 21 51 54 winners Bayern started the day in mid- the season as they beat Bordeaux 3-1
table following a shock defeat to yesterday ahead of this week’s return to RM616,094.60
7,528,950.95 Hoffenheim last month, but victory in the Champions League. Thauvin’s effort
Bielefeld was enough to propel them was followed by Jordan Amavi’s first goal 777 + 548 + 837 548 + 837 + 777
1 16 34 36 41 50 20 back up to second place. “The first 45 since last December, a Pablo own goal and 777 + 837 + 548 837 + 777 + 548
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Toto 4D Jackpot 2 (i-System) an earlier match. Erling Haaland set up It’s good for our confidence,” Amavi told
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Kop keep Van Dijk
vigil amid ACL
injury rumours
LIVERPOOL are concerned that Virgil van Dijk faces a
lengthy spell out on the sidelines amid suggestions the
Dutchman has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
The Reds have yet to get the results of a scan on the
defender’s knee as they sweat on his diagnosis.
Van Dijk was cropped by Everton goalkeeper Jordan
Pickford and was forced off inside after 11 minutes of
the 2-2 Goodison Park draw on Saturday.
The 29-year-old limped off the pitch but was spotted
later leaving hospital on crutches, with some claims that
he faces spending the rest of the season on the
sidelines.
BeIN Sport host Richard Keys claimed yesterday: “The
information that we are receiving is that he has done his
anterior cruciate ligament.
“If that is the case, well I say he’s done, he will be out
for 7-8 months if that is the case.”
But the Liverpool Echo say the Premier League
champions do not yet know the full extent of the Dutch
skipper’s injury.
However, while they are still waiting on results, it is
claimed Liverpool are fearful they will not be positive
and that Van Dijk could be out for a significant period of
time.
The club have not officially commented on the
matter but early signs are not good.
Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson
revealed after the final whistle that his England
teammate Pickford asked him to apologise to Van Dijk.
The Everton shot-stopper caught Van Dijk’s knee in
an x-rated scissor challenge that could have seen him
sent off were the Liverpool defender not adjudged by
VAR to have been offside moments earlier.
Henderson told BT Sport: “Everyone keeps asking us
about it so I’m guessing it’s a red card. It mustn’t be a
good challenge.
“To be fair, Jordan came up and apologised to me
after the game and (told me) to tell Virgil.”
But Jurgen Klopp was fuming that keeper Pickford
was not booked for the incident.
He said: “I don’t know (about Van Dijk’s injury). It’s not
good.
“I don’t want to say Jordan Pickford wanted to do it
but it is of course not a challenge how a goalie can do it
in the box because there is another player.
“If it’s not offside it’s a 100% penalty. And so it’s
nothing.” – Express Newspapers
RESULTS
ENGLISH PREMIER
LEAGUE: Sheffield United
1 (Sharp 85) Fulham 1
(Lookman 77), Everton 2
(Keane 19, Calvert-Lewin 81)
Liverpool 2 (Mane 3, Salah
72), Chelsea 3 (Werner 15,
28, Havertz 59) Southamp-
ton 3 (Ings 43, Adams 57,
Vestergaard 90+2),
Manchester City 1 (Sterling
23) Arsenal 0, Newcastle 1 (Shaw 2-og), Manchester
United 4 (Maguire 23, Fernandes 86, Wan-Bissaka 90,
Rashford 90+6).
CHAMPIONSHIP: Preston North End 0 Cardiff City 1,
Barnsley 2 Bristol City 2, Birmingham 0 Sheffield
Wednesday 1, Blackburn 0 Nottingham Forest 1,
Bournemouth 0 QPR 0, Brentford 2 Coventry 0, Luton
0 Stoke 2, Middlesbrough 0 Reading 0, Rotherham 1
Norwich 2, Swansea 1 Huddersfield 2, Wycombe 1
Millwall 2.
LA LIGA: Villarreal 1 (Alcacer 6-pen) Valencia 0, Eibar
0 Osasuna 0, Athletic Bilbao 2 (Berenguer 68, Williams
79) Lavente 0, Granada 1 (Herrera 82) Sevilla 0, Celta
Vigo 0 Atletico Madrid 2 (Suarez 6, Carrasco 90+5),
Real Madrid 0 Cadiz 1 (Lozano 16), Getafe 1 (Mata 56-
pen) Barcelona 0.
SERIE A: Napoli 4 (Lozano 23, 27, Politano 30, Osimhen
43) Atalanta 1 (Lammers 69), Inter Milan 1 (Lukaku 29)
AC Milan 2 (Ibrahimovic 13, 16), Sampdoria 3
(Quagliarella 32, Augello 41, Damsgaard 74) Lazio 0,
Crotone 1 (Tochukwu Nwankwo 12-pen) Juventus 1
(Morata 21).
BUNDESLIGA: Hoffenheim 0 Borussia Dortmund 1,
Freiburg 1 Werder Bremen 1, Hertha Berlin 0 Stuttgart
2, Mainz 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1, Augsburg 0 RB Leipzig
2, Arminia Bielefeld 1 Bayern Munich 4, Borussia
Moenchengladbach 1 Wolfsburg 1.
LIGUE 1: Reims 1 Lorient 3, Marseille 3 Bordeaux 1.
M Tough Citizens
ANCHESTER CITY boss Pep
Guardiola praised his team for
coming through a tough
encounter against Arsenal to get
back to winning ways in the Premier League.
The Etihad Stadium club had only won
one of their three opening fixtures before this
win, with a late start and international breaks
interrupting any kind of consistency.
A single goal from Raheem Sterling was
enough to win a tight game, with City
defending particularly well in the second half
once ahead.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match,
Guardiola claimed it was a vital win for the
team’s mentality as much as for the returning
faces.
“It was so important for our heads, this
victory, for the problems that we had,” he said.
“Bernardo (Silva) coming back, Aguero
played a good 60 minutes and an incredible
effort for everyone.”
Guardiola also reserved praise for his
goalkeeper, after the Brazilian made a couple
of vital one-on-one stops to deny Arsenal and
preserve his clean sheet, giving City the three
points ahead of a busy run of games.
SIDENETTING
Cardiff City’s Sheyi Ojo (right) celebrates his goal against Preston with teammate
Kieffer Moore during their English Championship match at Deepdale yesterday.
Ojo secures three points
for Cardiff
CARDIFF CITY’S impressive away form
continued as Sheyi Ojo’s first Bluebirds
goal secured victory at Preston North
End. On-loan Liverpool winger Ojo
rounded off a swift counter-attack with
an emphatic finish to light up what was
a largely forgettable contest. Ojo’s fierce
strike, coupled with a solid defensive
display, means Cardiff have won two of
their three away league games this
season. The goal the game desperately
needed arrived early in the second half.
Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls combined
to clear a throw-in into the Cardiff box
before Kieffer Moore laid it on for Ojo,
who stepped away from Ben Davies
before flashing a shot past Declan Rudd
and inside the near post. Yesterday’s win
lifts the Bluebirds to 12th in the table,
while Preston remain 18th.
Leaky defence has Lamps singing the Blues
FRANK LAMPARD said Chelsea need to
cut out individual errors after they twice
relinquished a lead to draw 3-3 with
Southampton.
Jannik Vestergaard headed in a
dramatic injury-time equaliser to claim the
Saints a point, after Danny Ings and Che
Adams had earlier brought the visitors
back from 2-0 down to 2-2 at Stamford
Bridge.
All the goals conceded by the Blues
included defensive mistakes, with Kai
Havertz needlessly losing possession in his
own half for the first, a weak back-pass
from Kurt Zouma and poor attempted
block from goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
contributing to the second, and an
unnecessarily conceded free-kick and
poor attempted clearance enabling the
third.
“We have to not give those goals
away,” Lampard told BBC Sport. “We are
making individual mistakes in games and
19
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2020
* SPORTS
Guardiola hails team’s mental strength
after victory over Gunners
“Ederson again; the game against Leeds he the game.
made incredible saves (and) today again. “I am extremely happy about the
“It’s the beginning of the season but after performance, the attitude, the courage to play
the international break is finished, the transfer they way we did today. I cannot demand
market is over… we can start from here.” much more from the players apart from the
City now face a run of five games in 13 days three big chances we have, you have to score.”
across League and Champions League Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno admitted
competitions. Arteta was disappointed with the result – and
Arsenal remain without an away League opened up on what the Spaniard told his
win against one of the “big six” in 29 games squad in the dressing room after the defeat.
dating back to January 2015. “It’s very hard. The manager said we have
And despite a spirited performance, the to be upset because (getting a result) was
fact they have lost again at Liverpool and the possible,” he said. “But on the other side there
Etihad in the first five games of the campaign were a lot of positives.
shows the strides manager Mikel Arteta still “It’s disappointing that we lost. But we
has to make to restore the Gunners to title competed today and had chances to get a
contenders. point. Unfortunately we didn’t take the
“We’ve come a long way,” said Arteta. “I am chances.” – The Independent/Express
upset because I think we deserve more from Newspapers
Blades, Cottagers finally
get off the mark
SUBSTITUTE Billy Sharp scored a late
penalty to earn Sheffield United their
first point of the season in a draw with
Fulham in the Premier League. Sharp
fired in from the spot after Ademola
Lookman’s excellent solo effort had put
the visitors ahead at Bramall Lane. The
Fulham winger, making his first start for
the club, skipped beyond two players
before firing left-footed past Blades
goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Aleksandar
Mitrovic had earlier smacked a penalty
against the crossbar after defender Jack
Robinson handled. And it was Mitrovic
who then fouled Robinson inside the
Fulham box, with the decision awarded
by the video assistant referee. The draw
means both teams have their first point
of the season, after losing their opening
four games.
it gives other teams chances at all times. It
is something we need to get better at.
“It goes through the team. We are
seeing a lot of goals in the Premier League
at the moment and no manager is happy
with that. We all want clean sheets. It has
to be better.
“You go 2-0 up and you want to finish
the game, as at that point we were
playing great football. The first half was as
good as we have played this season,”
added Lampard.
Lampard insisted that he and the team
have faith in Arrizabalaga, but it will
require hard work and mental strength
from the 26-year-old to rediscover his
form.
“He has to be strong enough mentally;
that’s the job we’re in,” said Lampard.
“He has to deal with that, he has the
support of myself and his teammates. He
has to keep working, that’s the only way
through it.” – Agencies
 QUOTE OF THE DAY
We have to not give those goals away.
We are making individual mistakes in
games and it gives other teams chances at all
times. It is something we need to get better at. It
goes through the team. We are seeing a lot of
goals in the Premier League at the moment and
no manager is happy with that.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard
MONDAY • OCTOBER 19, 2020

Solskjaer lays down Premier

League marker after
Devils awaken Solskjaer continued: “Paul had hip and back
problems when he was away with France, so it
wasn’t right to start him.
“We have got big games coming up. Everyone
Newcastle rout has to perform when they come on. I am delighted
for him.”

O
Goalscorer Maguire has come under fire of late
LE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER insists Man United’s Bruno and was sent off for England earlier this week for
Manchester United’s season begins now Fernandes (right) celebrates two bookable offences, having also suffered flak
after their 4-1 hammering of Newcastle scoring United’s second for the 6-1 loss to Spurs.
yesterday. goal with teammate Aaron Asked if United answered their critics on
The Red Devils recovered from going a goal Wan-Bissaka during Tyneside, Maguire said: “There’s some way going
behind to win at St James’ Park, scoring three yesterday’s English towards that but I wouldn’t say we’ve answered
times after the 86th minute to seal a dramatic Premier League them.
victory. match at St “It’s crazy because we’re three games into the
They were dominant in the second half at James’ Park. season and it seems like a big criss.
Newcastle and thoroughly deserved the victory, “This is our fourth game of the season.
– REUTERSPIX
which came via Bruno Fernandes, Aaron Wan- Won two, lost two. We’ve put in two
Bissaka and Marcus Rashford’s late strikes. terrible performances, we know
Fernandes had earlier missed a chance to put we can do a lot better.
United 2-1 up from the penalty spot with Karl “This club doesn’t deserve
Darlow equal to his effort from 12 yards out after performances like we’ve put
Rashford was fouled. in at Old Trafford this
Captain Harry Maguire had levelled for the season.
visitors after Luke Shaw inadvertently put the ball “We’ve gone a
into his own goal inside two minutes, with Emil part of answering
Krafth’s cross deflecting off the left-back and our critics but
beyond David de Gea. there’s still a
United were level in the 85th minute but their long way to
pressure finally told with three goals in quick go. It’s a long
succession in the dying embers of the match. season, a lot
And Solskjaer is hopeful that his side, having to improve,
suffered 3-1 and 6-1 home defeats to Crystal but we’ve
Palace and Tottenham respectively this term, can got the three
kick on in their hopes of challenging for the top- points tonight.
flight title this term. “When you play
“Great result and great character to come back, for this club and you get
led by a very inspirational captain,” he told Sky beaten at home by Crystal
Sports. Palace and thoroughly deserve
“The boys came together really well. The are to get beaten and play
looking forward to every game. Today I rested a Tottenham and deserve to get
few and they have come on and done the beaten, we ask questions.
business for us. “We knew we had to bounce
“Harry scored and leads by back. I felt it would’ve been
example. He showed good really harsh if we’d just come
character, I am happy for him. He away with a point, especially
had a couple of difficult weeks having shown great character.
since he last played for us. “Because we’re under
“The season started for us pressure and we’ve had a lot
today. We have come up to the of criticism so to concede a
speed of the game and that showed goal like we did in the first
today.” minute is really tough to
Paul Pogba started on the take. Great character
substitutes’ bench but came on shown by the lads and a
as United applied second-half thoroughly deserved
pressure to eventually force a win.” – Express
flurry of goals. Newspapers

EUROPEAN football is reeling with

stadiums largely empty and
revenues down, but it is business
Bayern vs Atletico, Messi against Ronaldo already complaining about the
punishing schedule in a season
that is more condensed than ever
as usual on the field for the
continent’s biggest clubs this
week as the Champions League
spearhead Champions League kickoff – the six rounds of group games
are being packed into eight weeks
up to early December.
group stage gets underway and final as they take on Manchester occasion was, and yet the quality continent’s other super clubs are Last season’s competition
Bayern Munich begin their United (3am). of the football was not in again aiming to stave off the four- finished nearly three months
defence of the trophy. They are arguably the week’s question. pronged assault from the Premier behind schedule with a series of
Hansi Flick’s all-conquering two standout ties and would be And so there will be a spectacle League. one-off knockout ties behind
team have a glamour tie to get spine-tingling occasions under on the pitch if not in the stands, For all Barcelona’s current closed doors in Lisbon from the
things going, at home to Diego the lights before a full house, as with Lionel Messi and Cristiano problems, they, Bayern and Real quarterfinals onwards.
Simeone’s Atletico Madrid on would Liverpool’s trip to play Ajax Ronaldo due to face each other Madrid have won eight of the last UEFA does not envisage
Thursday (3am Malaysian time) . in Amsterdam. when Barcelona and Juventus 10 Champions Leagues between repeating that format, insisting
It will be a fascinating contest, But those games will go ahead clash in Group G. them, and 10 of the last 15. this season “will be played out in
and as Bayern’s Thomas Muller behind closed doors. After all, Last season, long before the It is surely only a matter of its entirety, in its existing format
admitted after the draw was while UEFA is allowing clubs to debacle of Barcelona’s 8-2 time before PSG and Manchester with the final in Istanbul”.
made, “the pressure is on you open stadiums up to 30% of humiliation against Bayern in City get their hands on the The Turkish city was supposed
straight away when you are the capacity, it all depends on the Lisbon, Messi had let slip that “the silverware they crave more than to host last season’s final before
holders.” green light of local authorities. way we are right now I don’t think anything, but if there is to be a the pandemic forced a change of
Before that, on Wednesday, The few who attended Bayern’s it’s enough to win the Champions surprise winner maybe this is the plan. It remains to be seen if fans
Paris Saint-Germain return to the final win over PSG behind closed League”. year. will be able to flock from abroad
competition following their doors in Lisbon just two months They may still be nowhere near The very biggest clubs have to the banks of the Bosphorus on
defeat by Bayern in last season’s ago can attest to how surreal that good enough, but they and the the strongest squads, yet they are May 29 next year. – AFP
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