INSIDE
page
ON MONDAY MARCH 15, 2021
No. 7739 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195)
www.thesundaily.my
Not the way to go
█ BY ALISHA NUR MOHD NOOR
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
P but won’t curb violations of SOP
ETALING JAYA: Raising the
compound fine for violating
Covid-19 standard operating
procedures (SOP) to RM10,000 is
wrong in every way.
It is unconstitutional, violates the
fundamental principles of law and is open
to abuse, according to a lawyer and a
human rights activist.
Andrew Khoo, a constitutional lawyer
who focuses on human rights, told theSun
that making the district health officer the
final authority to determine the quantum
of the fine could lead to abuse of power.
Violation of the SOP is punishable
under the Emergency (Prevention and
Control of Infectious Diseases)
(Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Act 342).
The fine has been raised from RM1,000
to RM10,000 and the new quantum came
into effect last Friday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri
Abdul Hamid Bador had said that all fines
related to SOP breaches will show an
amount of RM10,000 on the summons.
However, that is only to specify the
maximum fine, and the final quantum will
be determined by the district health officer.
Khoo said instead of it being used as an
instrument to enforce a reasonable law, the
amendment can end up being misused to
oppress and bully.
“To assume that people will know how
to appeal for a lower sum means that the
page
TELLING IT AS IT IS
o Raising fine will encourage abuse
initial amount is wholly disproportionate,
it violates a fundamental principle of law
that the punishment must be
proportionate to the offence,” he said.
“I would go so far as to say that such
compounds could well be
unconstitutional. Whoever has authorised
this method and the SOP should be
challenged in court, and this practice
should cease immediately.”
In a recent post, Facebook user Zachary
Yeoh said he was caught in a restaurant
and issued a RM10,000 compound for
violating the SOP although his drink had
already been served when he took off his
mask.
Yeoh said it was “ridiculous” that the
officers did not allow him to clarify and
defend himself, but proceeded to issue a
summons.
The post has been widely shared on
social media.
Rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia told
theSun yesterday that imposing a
maximum fine of RM10,000 is not the best
way to stem SOP violations.
Its executive director, Sevan Doraisamy,
said it is not going to help much to deter
the violators but instead will increase the
misuse of power.
Perpetual cyber 2 Novel safety 3
attack threats idea for schools
HIP ITEMS ... Shop owner Kenny Lim
showing a paper car, a hot item as a Qing
Ming offering, to a customer at his outlet in
Carnarvon Lane, George Town, yesterday.
Other items include paper replicas of petrol
stations and mansions. These items will be
burned along with hell notes and joss sticks
when Chinese pay homage to their departed
loved ones on Qing Ming Festival or Tomb-
sweeping Festival, which is observed from
March 25 to April 14 this year.
– MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN
Story on
—
page 5
Allowing district health officers to
decide on the appeal may lead to more
complication, mistrust and favouritism,
Sevan said.
Malaysian Bar president A. G. Kalidas
said clear guidelines are necessary to
determine the severity of the penalty for
violating the SOP to curb the spread of
Covid-19.
“A RM10,000 compound fine is
excessive. It will be a major burden on
those who have been caught for violating
the SOP out of ignorance,” he said.
Kalidas also pointed out that allowing
the health personnel to decide on the
quantum of the compound fine may lead
to arbitrary discretion.
“It is my view that a high fine does not
always work as a deterrent. Increasing the
fine at this time may not be the best
thing to do. Instead, continuous
education on the need for
compliance for the safety of everyone
is a better approach. During these
trying times, many
things are running
in people’s mind Turn to
and they are facing —
many challenges,” page 3
Kalidas said.
 2 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
Perpetual cyber attack threats
█ BY HAKEM HASSAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Cyber attacks will
continue to be a threat in the
foreseeable future, but there are
ways to put in place an adequate
defence system to mitigate the risks.
According to cyber security
experts, among the steps that can be
taken are to have a team of highly
specialised IT experts in-house,
ensure regular software updates and
take out insurance policies to cover
possible damage.
They were commenting on a
report last week that about 60,000
Microsoft Exchange email accounts
worldwide had been attacked.
US officials claimed that the
attacks were carried out by a
China-backed hacking group known
as Hafnium.
The group had allegedly broken
into private and government
computer networks through the
widely used Exchange.
Criminologist and academic
Shankar Durairaja told theSun that
the primary objective of a cyber
attack is to “steal” information from
organisations involved in various
disciplines such as infectious
disease research, law, higher
Our embassy in Yangon doing good job: Hishammuddin
KUALA LUMPUR: Contrary to a
report in a portal, the Malaysian
Embassy in Yangon is doing a great
job taking care of more than 600
Malaysians there.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri
Hishammuddin Hussein said
Malaysians living there have, in fact,
vouched for the country’s mission.
In a Twitter post yesterday, the
minister shared positive responses
by Malaysians in Yangon, who
criticised allegations made by some
Malaysians there that the embassy
did not provide security guarantees,
given the situation in
Allegations of
phantom voters
at Perak DAP
convention
IPOH: The 19th Perak DAP
Convention yesterday got off to a
disorderly start after some delegates
alleged that there could be
“phantom voters” trying to
participate in the state committee
election.
There were also complaints that
the deadline for registration of voters
had been extended at the last
minute.
The confusion arose soon after
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan
Eng finished delivering his opening
address before some 2,000 delegates
at the Ipoh International Convention
Centre.
According to one of the delegates,
Kampar MP Thomas Su Keong
Siong, the registration should have
ended at 10am but was suddenly
extended to noon.
He said this should not have
happened and that all voters should
be given the same opportunity to
ensure that the election could be
conducted fairly without giving
advantage to any side.
“By right, voter registration
oSmall and medium size businesses most
vulnerable as many do not have budget to
mount proper defences, say experts
education and policy making.
“Small and medium size
businesses are the most vulnerable
given that many do not have the
budget to mount proper defences.
Often, they are unable to attract
and recruit IT specialists or
highly specialised cyber security
experts.”
Cyber attacks can lead to loss of
or damage to electronic data, losses
through extortion, legal
consequences, loss in income,
damage to reputation and leakage of
customers’ data that may result in
scams and identity theft.”
Shankar added that effective
cyber security management is
“tedious and often leads to burnout”.
He said, such threats change
continuously, so finding the best
tools and expertise is an ongoing
challenge and a drain on resources.
He advised businesses to take
cyber security as well as cyber
liability insurance to mitigate the
the country.
“Feedback is positive,
notwithstanding the current
situation. To the three Malaysians
who have refused to be named,
please contact our ambassador
Datuk Zahairi Baharim, and his
team will extend all help possible.”
Hishammuddin shared tweets by
several Malaysians in response to a
news portal report to explain how
the embassy was helping them.
One of them noted that the
quality of services by the embassy
was excellent and that it had always
kept them updated and supported
Su being calmed down by other delegates at the convention yesterday.
should be (kept) open to all and not
just certain members. We, too, can
call up our members,” he told
reporters at the convention.
His view was shared by Pasir
Bedamar state assemblyman
Terence Naidu, who said the election
risks by offsetting some of the costs
incurred for recovery.
Cyber security testing firm LGMS
group chief executive officer Fong
Choong-Fook said the actual
number of victims could be much
higher than officially stated, given
that many organisations might have
neglected reporting to the relevant
authorities.
“Businesses need to be proactive
in updating software to reduce risks.
Staff must also be trained to prepare
for future attacks.”
Fong said the latest attack would
prompt corporations into rethinking
the option of an on-site mail server
over a cloud-managed version.
Cyber security expert and
associate professor at Universiti
Sains Malaysia, Dr Selvakumar
Manickam, said in the case of the
Microsoft Exchange attack, the
hackers could have targeted two
significant vulnerabilities.
“The attacks went on for years
them, Bernama reported.
“There are three relief flights per
week to Kuala Lumpur, which I think
is one of the highest. Thank you to
the ambassador and the very
professional staff.”
Another Malaysian, who has
been working there since 2018, said
the embassy was very helpful and
always lent a hand when Malaysians
needed help.
“Some of my Singapore
colleagues also share updates
whenever they receive them from
the Malaysian Embassy, since they
also keep in touch with our mission
management team continued
registering delegates or voters until
11.30am, reported Bernama.
Another delegate, who declined
to be identified, said the suspected
phantom voters were those wearing
tags with their names written in ink
without Microsoft realising it. This is
known as a zero-day attack.”
He believes that such
vulnerabilities are not confined to
Microsoft. “Other organisations that
provide similar services are equally
vulnerable.”
Selvakumar said many
commercial organisations offering
such services do not give enough
priority to security. “They are more
concerned about getting their
software or services out to market
quickly because it has an impact on
revenue stream.”
Another obstacle to ensuring a
robust service from the security
standpoint is that it is arduous and
costly, he added.
He cited the hack on global cyber
security solutions provider
Solarwinds in December last year to
illustrate the point that no
organisation is impervious to cyber
threats.
Selvakumar said to ensure a
robust system, businesses could hire
“white hats” (industry term for
ethical hackers) to look for
vulnerabilities so that they can be
addressed before the “black hats”
(cyber criminals) exploit them.
“Do it before the software or
service goes public.”
there. The ambassador and the staff
keep monitoring the situation and
provide us correct and timely
information.”
Yet another Malaysian there said
that embassy staff had been very
professional and prompt.
The portal reported that some
Malaysians in Myanmar expressed
disappointment with the Malaysian
Embassy in Yangon for allegedly
failing to provide security
guarantees. They reportedly told the
portal that they were more willing to
go to the Singapore Embassy to ask
for help if the situation worsened.
BRIEFS
and not the approved name tags,
printed with personal identification.
On the agenda yesterday were the
election of 15 members of the state
committee, the tabling and adoption
of financial statement of accounts as
well as acceptance of motions.
Nadma prepared
to deploy
drought relief
ALOR GAJAH: The National Disaster
Management Agency (Nadma) is
prepared to provide assistance to
areas affected by drought in the
country, said Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department Datuk Seri
Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.
He said allocations under the
Nadma Disaster Relief Fund could be
used to buy equipment such as
portable water treatment units for use
in affected areas.
“These units can produce up to
120,000 litres of water a day, which
can be channelled to more than 8,000
residents in affected areas,” he said,
adding that discussions were also
held with several government
agencies, such as the Meteorology
Department and Department of
Irrigation and Drainage to carry out a
study on future weather conditions.
Mohd Redzuan told Bernama this
when met at the launch of the Pak
Wan Prihatin programme for the
Rembia state constituency yesterday.
Last Tuesday, the Malacca
government received five treatment
units worth RM2.25 million from
Nadma as preparation for the dry
season, which normally occurs
during the Southwest monsoon
between March and June.
Meanwhile, Mohd Redzuan, who
is also a Parti Pribumi Bersatu
Malaysia supreme council member,
said implementation of policies
under the leadership of Prime
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in
addressing the Covid-19 pandemic
had prompted opposition MPs to
declare support for the federal
government.
“Although they are not with us,
they have expressed their support for
us. This is a healthy change for
Perikatan Nasional.”
Yesterday, Kuala Langat MP Datuk
Dr Xavier Jayakumar announced his
resignation as Parti Keadilan Rakyat
vice-president and decision to quit
the party to become an independent
MP and support the government bloc
under the leadership of Muhyiddin.
REVIEW OF POWER
SUPPLY PROGRAMME
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of
Energy and Natural Resources will
review the Malaysian Electricity
Supply Industry (Mesi) 2.0
Programme to focus on human
aspects. The move is aimed at
focusing on the electricity supply
industry’s readiness in facing new
challenges with the emergence of
disruptive technologies,
especially those involving
renewable energy sources such as
solar. It said Mesi 2.0 was
approved in 2019 to change the
structure of the electricity supply
industry, which would create a
huge impact on consumers in the
peninsula. – Bernama
FIRST SARAWAKIAN
ON CO-OP BOARD
KUCHING: Wan Shardini Wan
Salleh was appointed to the board
of directors of the Malaysia
Cooperative Societies
Commission (SKM), making him
the first Sarawakian to occupy the
position. His letter of appointment
was presented by Entrepreneur
Development and Cooperatives
Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi
Tuanku Jaafar at a ceremony at
the Kampung Buntal Community
centre on Saturday. Wan Junaidi
said Wan Shardini’s presence on
the SKM board would help boost
the state’s cooperative sector.
– Bernama
 3
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

RM1.13m fines Novel safety idea for schools

in one night
“One may accidentally breach
the SOP and the high amount for From
an ordinary man who may have front
lost his job is excessive. It would page
be wiser if the government could
reverse this decision,” he added.
Selangor Bar chairman Kokila
Vaani Vadiveloo said the government
could come up with guidelines on the
various types of SOP violations and the
maximum fine for each type of offence
based on the seriousness of the violation.
Meanwhile, Johor police chief Datuk
Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay announced
yesterday that police issued summonses
to 109 individuals, involving a total
amount of RM1.13 million in fines on
Saturday night alone.
The 109 were customers of an
entertainment centre in Johor Baru.
SELANGOR TO KEEP
BRIEFS
oStudent introduces system to read, record body
temperature without the need for close contact
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: School is now fraught with
danger. Close contact among students and with
teachers could lead to an infection and possibly
a long stay at the hospital.
But rather than stay away, 12-year-old
Thiiran Murugan decided to do something to
keep his schoolmates and teachers safe.
He introduced a new system to enable
teachers to take the temperatures of students
without having to come into close contact with
each other.
The method, that he has named the Smart
Student System (SSS), can also be used to
monitor temperature irregularities and student
attendance patterns.
temperatures without close contact.”
He based his idea on radio-frequency
identification (RFID) technology, where each
student would be equipped with a tag.
“When a student enters the school
compound, the RFID reader will scan the tag to
record the time of arrival. The student is then
required to walk past a scanner to have his
temperature taken and recorded by the tag.”
The information is then transferred
electronically to a server and can be made
available to the teacher, via an app, 15 minutes
before classes start.
Thiiran said the system, which is still in
preliminary development, will also be
equipped to compile a log that will highlight
absenteeism and later comers.
“The data can be retrieved anywhere at any
merit points on discipline, which will be
reflected in the each student’s report card.”
SSS will also have a GPS to track students’
movements to prevent them from loitering.
“Finally, one option that I like is the ‘cashless
canteen’ feature which will work as a prepaid
RFID tag. With this, all the student has to do is
wave his tag at the canteen counter and the cost
of his meal will be debited from his account.”
He said that being paperless, the system is
also good for the environment.
“We’ll be saving millions of trees. A small
step goes a long way,” he added.
Like all innovations, it began with more
questions than answers.
“The idea proved challenging. How do I get
a working prototype? Will it be costly? What
kind of materials should I use?” Thankfully, I
had help from my parents and teachers. We
worked closely together on the design and they
taught me about the electronic system,” he said.
Dr Bavani Nageswana Row, the team lead of
the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics) unit at the school, said there

Thiiran, who studies at Sekolah Kebangsaan time,” he added. are plans to use SSS in schools in future.
TABS ON EGGS SUPPLY St Paul in Seremban, said when the standard Thiiran said his school has already adopted “I believe this system can be used post
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor operating procedures (SOP) were introduced to the system and he hopes more schools would Covid-19 to safeguard our children from any
government will monitor egg curb the spread of Covid-19, he hit upon the follow suit. future pandemics such as the current one.
producers in response to a decision idea of enabling teachers to monitor students’ “This will help to lighten the We are aware that most schools have
by Singapore to instruct four temperatures from a safe distance. burden on teachers,” he said. installed some kind of safety
importers to recall consignments “I was worried about the teachers and staff The young inventor already measures as part of their SOP.
sold by a company in Kuala Selangor. at my school who were enforcing the SOP. That has plans to upgrade the system Since this is a new experience for
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin triggered an idea for an innovation that could by adding more features. all, we are still working on fine
Shari said the matter had to be enable teachers to keep tabs on the students’ “Soon, I hope to incorporate tuning it,” she said.
carefully looked into as it involved
trade between both countries. “I will
look into the matter,” he told
reporters after opening the Sri Muda
Modern Market at Section 25
yesterday. Also present was Shah
Alam Mayor Datuk Haris Kasim.
Bernama earlier reported that
Singapore had instructed four
importers to recall eggs supplied by a
company in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, in
response to the detection of
Salmonella Enteritidis in the eggs. On
the Sri Muda market, Haris said
construction work on the RM28
million building commenced in June
2017 and was completed in
December last year. The six-storey
market has 219 business lots, a food
court, public toilets, prayer rooms,
facilities for disabled persons and a
three-storey car park. – Bernama

292,000 FRONTLINERS
VACCINATED
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 292,104
individuals have received the first
dose of the Covid-19 vaccine since
the national immunisation
programme was implemented on
Feb 23. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Adham Baba said Selangor recorded
the highest number as of yesterday,
with 35,620 individuals, followed by Thiiran showing an explainer chart on his Smart Student System. – SUNPIX
Perak (31,675), Sarawak (30,634),
Kuala Lumpur (28,244), Pahang
(25,128), Sabah (24,042), Johor
(21,835), Kedah (17,114), Penang
(16,255), Kelantan (15,339),
Veteran’s razed home rebuilt
Terengganu (13,070), Negri Sembilan
(12,209), Malacca (7,963), Perlis LENGGONG: Military veteran Zulkublii the offer came as a relief, given that he, his also assisted in the project.
(6,807) and Labuan (2,342). The Shikh Othman, 62, lost his house in wife and their four children had been forced Zulkublii said the coming Ramadan and
implementation of the National Kampung Rambung, Gelok, to a fire last year to stay at a hotel for several weeks. Syawal will be more meaningful now that he
Covid-19 Immunisation Programme and repeated attempts to get help to rebuild TNB contribute RM56,000 under its and his family have a roof over their heads.
is being conducted in three phases, his house came to nought. corporate social responsibility initiative. In Among those present during a ceremony
with the first phase from February to However, things changed in November, addition, Pelitawanis TNB, the company’s to present the keys of the new house to him
April for 500,000 frontliners. Phase just two months after the fire. He received welfare organisation, donated RM2,500 were Energy and Natural Resources Minister
Two, from April to August, will be for an offer from the Taiping Second Squadron worth of electrical appliances. Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, 70th
senior citizens aged 65 and above, Royal Army Engineers Regiment to rebuild Work on the project began on Nov 19 and Power Generation Specialist Regiment
high-risk groups and people with his house. within 50 days, the three-bedroom house commanding officer and chief grid officer of
disabilities, involving 9.4 million The project was made possible under the was completed. TNB, Major Datuk Husaini Husin, TNB chief
people, while Phase Three will be “Jiwa Murni – Baiti Jannati” programme, in An officer and 22 men from the squadron corporate services officer Mohamad Ariff
from May 2021 to February 2022, for collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Bhd were involved in the project, in addition to Zainol and Malaysia Infantry Second
those aged 18 and above, covering (TNB). experts from the TNB (Territorial Army) Brigade Commander Brig-Jen Mohd
about 14 million people. – Bernama Zulkublii, who is now a fisherman, said Power Generation Specialist Regiment, who Azmurin Mat Khalib. – Bernama

DoE launches probe over river pollution in Perlis

KANGAR: The Perlis Department of
Environment (DoE) has launched an
investigation into allegations that
pollutants have been dumped in
Sungai Ngulang.
State executive councillor in
charge of health and environment
Teh Chai Ann said the cause of the
pollution has yet to be identified and
DoE has taken water samples for
further investigation.
Local resident Zuber Bidin said he
lodged a report with DoE when he
noticed that the quality of the water
had deteriorated extensively.
“The department began
investigations in less than 24 hours.”
he said.
Zuber, who is self-employed, said
the villagers would frequent the river
to bathe and to collect edible snails.
“This river is also our source of
drinking water.
“It is regrettable that this has
happened. The younger generation
should inherit the river in good
condition,” he added, noting that
yesterday was also International Day
of Action for Rivers.
Perlis DoE director Azman Shah
Ismail said he has not ruled out the
possibility that the pollution was
caused by the disposal of industrial
waste or pollutants from paddy fields
near Sungai Ngulang. – Bernama
 4 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Shooting the rapids resumes in Perak under strict SOP

KAMPAR: After about a year of inactivity, water
rafting in Perak is back with the organisation of
a two-day R4 Perak Slalom Carnival X Kampar
River Fest 2021, which started on Saturday.
State Housing, Local Government and
Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee
Ashilin Mohamed Radzi said this was the first
water rafting programme organised since the
movement control order was implemented.
She said the programme was carried out
with strict standard operating procedures (SOP)
to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“As a continuation to the success of the 2019
Kampar River Festival, the state government,
through Tourism Perak, organised similar
sports tourism events with the cooperation of
the Malaysia Rafting Association.
Nolee Ashilin, when met by reporters after
flagging off the event yesterday, said each team
comprised four participants who had to
complete stipulated disciplines.
Seven teams were picked out of 10 that
registered from all districts in Perak after
inter-district travel was allowed on March 5.
The event would also help promote the Kinta
Valley Geopark at international level as Kampar
is one of the districts in the Kinta Valley with a
geosite, she said.
“It is hoped that the closed event can be a
positive start for the industry and motivation for
river guides and rafters, especially in Perak.”
“To date, Gopeng, Selama and Ulu Slim in
Tanjung Malim are among the focal points of
water rafting activities in Perak.” Participants of the water rafting event navigating the rapids in Sungai Kampar, Perak yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
Nolee Ashilin said the state government had

Covid shots for M’sians

sought a RM4.5 million allocation to develop
the rapids areas in the Selama district, which is
known for its beautiful waterfalls.
Mohd Hasrol Khamis@Mahmad from
Malaysia Rafting Association said the winner
took home a trophy, RM1,600 cash and an

working in Singapore
accompanying prize, while the runner-up
received RM1,200, and the third, fourth and fifth
winners recieved RM800, RM500 and RM400
respectively, with an accompanying prize each.
– Bernama

o100,000 to be vaccinated under phase two of

national immunisation programme, says Johor MB
323,763 PONTIAN: About 100,000 Malaysians working
in Singapore are expected to be among the
recipients of the vaccine under phase two of
the National Covid-19 Immunisation
Programme.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni
Mohammad said this had been agreed by the
Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry
(Mosti) and would be implemented in stages,
16,279 306,274 1,210 Bernama reported.
“The ministry has agreed to give the vaccine
earlier to those working in Singapore.
“We know there are about 400,000
Malaysians who work in Singapore every day,
but for the initial stage, the ministry has agreed
that 100,000 will receive the vaccine,” he told
reporters after the launch of the Johor Farmers
Organisation (PPNJ) – All Cosmos Industries
the elderly, some of those who work in
Singapore will also be vaccinated under the
second phase.”
He said the move is to assist in the recovery
of the state’s economy, including the services,
manufacturing and education sectors, once
borders are reopened.
He also advised people in the state to
register for the vaccine in efforts to curb the
spread of Covid-19.
In another development, the Johor mentri
besar said the state government was also
committed to ensure success of the Food
Supply Guarantee Programme through the
mentor-mentee programme carried out in
collaboration with PPNJ and All Cosmos
Industries.
He said All Cosmos Industries had allocated

1,354 158 1,782 4 Mentor-Mentee Programme here.

He said this when asked about the Covid-19
vaccine for Malaysians working in Singapore.
Hasni said a registration system for the
purpose was being developed by Mosti.
“Apart from those in the high risk group and
0
26
33
37
App to seek medical advice launched
KUANTAN: The Ministry of
154 Communications and Multimedia has
launched an e-medical application named
101 5 1 cHEART under its community internet
centres initiative to enable people to seek
577 medical advice or schedule follow-up
21 consultations online.
55 Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said
39 the application was developed by local
2 company DATA8 Sdn Bhd while the
4
Kampung Cherating internet centre was
selected to implement the pilot project
121 before it is extended to other centres in
stages, Bernama reported.
178 “We encourage locals to use this
application to make appointments with their
doctors without having to go to the hospital.
RM400,000 for the programme to help produce
more agriculture entrepreneurs.
“This effort is highly encouraged because
Johor has the potential to become a food
producer, especially as the country’s largest
fruit producer,” he added.
This will save time, costs and energy,” he told
reporters after the launching ceremony here
yesterday.
Saifudin, who is also Indera Mahkota MP,
said for now, the cHEART application only
involved the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the
Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor.
He said the community internet centres
nationwide had extended their services to
include e-commerce, e-sport and e-tuisyen,
adding that the cHEART application would
be an added value to the list.
“I was told that the cHEART app uses
blockchain technology for security
purposes. If necessary, CyberSecurity
Malaysia is also ready to assist at any time in
this matter,” he said.
 5
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Check with TNB to prevent unauthorised entry, public told

KUALA LUMPUR: Residential
property owners can contact Tenaga
Nasional Bhd (TNB) to confirm the
identity of smart meter installers to
prevent entry by impersonators.
TNB Advanced Metering
Infrastructure project director
Mohamed Ghous Ahmad said that in
areas where smart meter installation
will be carried out, every house
owner will be informed and a request
for an appointment will be made.
“For strata homes such as
condominiums and apartments, the
resident association or building
management will be informed before
an installation is carried out,” he said.
Mohamed Ghous said the
homeowner has the right to bar
anyone suspicious, such as someone
who does not wear the TNB uniform
and cannot produce an identification
card.
He said it is compulsory for every
worker to wear an orange uniform or
vest, and produce a document to
confirm their identity.
He said a team comprising two
trained and certified workers, either
TNB personnel or contractor staff,
would be installing the smart meter.
“Consumers can contact the TNB
CareLine at 1-300-88-5454 if they are
doubtful and keen to obtain
confirmation,” he said.
The installation of smart meters,
which is being implemented actively
in the Klang Valley, is free of charge
and would take about an hour.
Mohamed Ghous added the
reading of the smart meter is accurate
as every meter has been tested and
calibrated based on Sirim standards,
complies with regulations under the
Weights and Measures Act, Ministry
of Domestic Trade and Consumer
Affairs, and has undergone the
certification processes and received a
valid certificate of approval from the
Energy Commission. – Bernama

SOP for Qing Ming Cop at scene of

murder quizzed
█ BY CHARLES RAMENDRAN

still being finalised

newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: An off-duty police inspector

oChinese community
looking forward to
perform rituals after
missing out last year
█ BY HAKEM HASSAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: The Chinese community
will be looking to perform prayer rituals and
customs at this year’s Qing Ming, also known
as Chinese All Souls Day, after missing out on
the festival last year.
The 2,500-year-old practice to honour
ancestors falls on April 4 this year. According
to Chinese custom and tradition, the
community will pay their respects within 10
days before and after the actual date.
Last year’s Qing Ming festival had to be
observed at home as the nation was facing the
first movement control order (MCO) due to
the Covid-19 outbreak.
Prayer rituals and customs include
sweeping tombs and removing grass, putting
a stack of five-coloured paper on top of the
tombs followed by a prayer ritual which
honours the God of Earth before proceeding
to pray for ancestors and departed relatives.
Federation of Taoist Associations Malaysia
president Daozhang Tan Hoe Chieow told
theSun that this year’s standard operating
procedures (SOP) for Qing Ming are still being
finalised.
“Various interested parties have given their
feedback to the Ministry of National Unity for
the SOP in relation to this year’s Qing Ming and
we will now await the finalised details,” he said.
At present, what was discussed is that 12
family members would be allowed to visit the
tombs between 6am and 6pm.
“It is the time for us to show our
appreciation and respect to our ancestors as
we can now do so,” Tan said.
Meanwhile, Nirvana Malaysia offered
prayer packages last year to those who were
unable to come, which ranged from free and
simple online prayers to packages where a
Nirvana staff member will offer food and
prayers on behalf of families.
According to Nirvana service adviser
Michelle Sam , the company has received over
4,000 registrations from people via Prayer
Appointment between March 2 and March 9.
She believes this year’s number of
expected visitors will surpass 10,000 people.
Nirvana will also offer prayer packages
including memorial dedication packages for
Buddhist, Taoist and Christians as well as
non-religious package.
“Just like last year, our staff members will
offer food and prayers on behalf of the
families,” Sam said.
She added the Qing Ming festival is to trace
their ancestors and remember them as well as
learning gratitude.
“According to the ancient custom, grave
site veneration is only permissible 10 days
before and after. Now it’s different, our
cemeteries will be open from March 6 to April
11, allowing people to start early to avoid large
crowds.”
She believes the Covid-19 pandemic may
have reshaped traditional practices in
unprecedented ways, with online prayers and
memorial dedication services becoming
popular choices among millennials.
“However, the older generation prefer to
attend to their ancestors’ graves or urns
personally. I think that tradition will still
prevail in the future.”
who was present during a brawl in Bangsar,
which left a man dead on Saturday, was
summoned for investigations following
allegations of inaction by him while he
witnessed the commotion.
The 27-year-old police officer was captured
on a video taken by his friend while about 10
youths, including the murdered victim and his
friend, were engaged in a violent clash at a back
lane near Jalan Telawi 3.
In the footage, the cop’s friend calls out to the
inspector who smiled and responded by saying:
“Eh, I don’t know what is going on also lah”.
Brickfields police chief ACP Anuar Omar
said yesterday that the policeman, who is
attached to the Kuala Selangor district police
CID, had his statement recorded by
investigators.
He said the officer claimed he had earlier left
his house in Subang Jaya with his friend and
went to Bangsar for dinner.
Anuar said they were both walking towards
their car when they stumbled upon the brawl.
He said the video was taken by the
inspector's friend, a 27-year-old commercial
film editor.
“The inspector was not carrying a firearm as
he was off-duty. He was about to call the police
but spotted police patrol cars arriving at the
scene. He then left the place for home soon
after,” Anuar said.
Under provisions of the Police Act, every
police personnel regardless of rank is expected
to use their authority to prevent a crime they
might witness even when off-duty.

17 NABBED IN RAID
BRIEFS

ON CALL CENTRE
KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 17 people
suspected of working at a call centre for an
unlicensed moneylending syndicate in
Pusat Perdagangan Puchong Prima, Taman
Puchong Prima last Friday. Subang Jaya
district police chief ACP Abd Khalid Othman
said police raided a shoplot at about 3pm
and arrested eight men and nine women.
“We also seized 35 mobile phones, eight
desktop computers and a laptop that we
believe were being used for promoting and
offering bogus loans to the public,” he told a
media conference at the Subang Jaya police
district headquarters yesterday. Abd Khalid
said the suspects, aged 18 to 37, were taken
to Subang Jaya IPD for further action. He
said the syndicate’s modus operandi was to
promote their loan schemes on social media
platforms, including WhatsApp, targeting
small business owners with loan offers of
RM200 to RM1,000. – Bernama

34 BEGGARS HELD
FOR FLOUTING REGULATIONS
LAHAD DATU: Police arrested 34 Pala’u
community members who were begging at
two traffic light intersections at Jalan Bunga
Raya and Bandar Sri Perdana on Saturday.
Lahad Datu police chief ACP Rohan Shah
The three siblings holding up their birth certificates. – BERNAMAPIX Ahmad said the nine women and 25 children,
aged two to 41, were detained in an hour-

Joy and relief as children get birth certificates
ALOR STAR: The emotions at the Hisham
Zainol household yesterday was one of joy
and relief.
Three of their children, who did not have
birth certificates, have finally received them.
Hisham, 40, and his wife Rohariza Che
Lah, 42, had failed to register the birth of their
three children – 13-year-old Nur Syaliza, 10-
year-old Mohammad Shazrul Danish and
seven-year-old Nur Eliani – because of
difficulties in going to the National
Registration Department (NRD) office.
“My husband has not been well for several
years and we did not have the means to take
our children to the NRD office,” she said.
“I am happy and grateful that they now do
not have to drop out of school,” she added.
Earlier, Kedah NRD deputy director
Madihah Muhammad handed over the three
birth certificates at their house in Kampung
Alor Serdang.
Madihah said the couple finally sent in an
application for birth certificates for the three
children last year. A team from the Social
Welfare Department went to the children’s
school to conduct an investigation when the
applications were received. – Bernama
long operation dubbed Op Covid-19 which
ended at 1pm. “These people are not
bothered about the spread of Covid-19 and
risk of the virus. They are also taking
advantage of their stateless status to break
the rules,” he said in a statement yesterday. He
said the detainees would be investigated for
not wearing a face mask and not maintaining
physical distancing. Rohan Shah urged local
residents to stop giving money to beggars on
the streets, especially at traffic light junctions,
as this could disrupt traffic. – Bernama
 6 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
S’pore may reopen borders by year end
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong said he hoped
Singapore would start re-opening its
borders by the end of the year as
more countries ramp up vaccination
drives against Covid-19 infections.
The island nation has largely
banned leisure travel, but has put in
place some business and official
travel programmes.
It is also discussing the mutual
recognition of vaccine certificates
with other nations.
“I hope if that many countries can
have substantial proportions of their
populations vaccinated by later this
year, we will be able to have the
confidence and to have developed
the systems to open up our
international borders to travel safely
Protesters holding torches as they join in nationwide
night protests against the coup in Khin Oo, Sagaing
region on Saturday. – REUTERSPIX
Myanmar ‘shadow parliament’ rallies protesters
YANGON: At least one anti-coup
protester was killed yesterday as
demonstrators across Myanmar
continued to defy military rule, a day
after a group of ousted MPs in hiding
urged them to overcome the nation’s
“darkest moment”.
A group of elected MPs, many of
whom are in hiding, have formed a
shadow “parliament” called the
Committee for Representing
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) – the
Burmese word for the country’s
governing bloc – to denounce the
military regime.
The junta’s security forces are
staging near-daily crackdowns
against demonstrators calling for a
Indian activist feels ‘violated’ by sedition arrest
NEW DELHI: An Indian climate
activist linked to Greta Thunberg said
on Saturday she felt “violated” by her
arrest last month on sedition charges
and her treatment by the media, her
first comments on a case that sparked
international criticism.
Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old vegan
and member of Thunberg’s Fridays
for Future movement, was charged
last month over an online document
oTravel bubble with Australia being discussed
again,” Lee said in an interview with
BBC that aired yesterday.
“Hopefully by the end of this year
or next year, the doors can start to
open, if not earlier.”
The city-state has brought its
Covid-19 situation under control with
few new local cases and has been
rolling out its vaccination
programme, having approved shots
from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
As of March 8, the country of 5.7
million people had administered just
over 611,000 doses of vaccines – a
much slower pace compared to
larger nations.
return to democracy, deploying tear
gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to
quell anti-coup protests.
Fresh violence during a protest in
the northern jade-producing city of
Hpakant yesterday saw one man shot
dead before noon
“Kyaw Lin Hteik died when he
arrived at the hospital ... he had a
gunshot on the right side of his chest
and he lost too much blood,” said a
local doctor who declined to be
named.
On Saturday night, the acting
CRPH vice-president called for the
people to continue protesting against
the military’s “unjust dictatorship”.
“This is the darkest moment of the
about months-long protests by
Indian farmers.
Ten days after her arrest and
following widespread criticism, a
court in India’s capital New Delhi
granted her bail, citing “scanty and
sketchy evidence” that she was
involved in fomenting violence.
“I had coerced myself into
believing that the only way I would be
able to live through this was by
But it has said it plans to vaccinate
everyone by year end.
Lee said few local cases meant the
city-state could take the time to
persuade its population to take the
vaccine.
Some are hesitant due to the low
risk of infection and concern about
possible side effects from rapidly
developed vaccines.
Singapore has also received
China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine
ahead of approval.
Lee said Singapore was evaluating
the vaccine and will use it if it passes
safety and effectiveness standards.
nation and the light before the dawn
is close,” said Mahn Win Khaing Than
in a recorded video posted on the
CRPH’s Facebook page.
“This is also a moment testing our
citizens to see how far we can resist
these darkest times,” said the senior
National League for Democracy
politician who served as speaker of
the house during Aung San Suu Kyi’s
previous administration.
“We will try to work through CRPH
to draft necessary laws for people to
be able to defend themselves.”
Along with other top Suu Kyi allies,
he was placed under house arrest
during the Feb 1 power grab,
according to the Assistance
tricking myself into thinking that this
wasn’t happening to me,” Ravi said in
a statement.
“My actions were pronounced
guilty – not in the court of law, but on
flat screens.”
Police say the document Ravi
created stoked violence on Jan 26,
India’s Republic Day, when some
farmers broke free of a planned
march and clashed with policemen.
Meanwhile, Australia said
yesterday it is “working with
Singapore” to create a travel bubble
between the two nations as early as
July.
Early in the pandemic, Australia
effectively closed its international
border to slow the spread of the
coronavirus, with non-citizens
banned from visiting except in
special circumstances.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael
McCormack said Australia was
“working with Singapore at the
moment potentially for a bubble
(beginning) in July”.
“As the vaccine rolls out, not only
in Australia but in other countries, we
will reopen more bubbles,” he told
public broadcaster ABC.
BRIEFS
Association for Political Prisoners
monitoring group.
His Saturday address was his first
appearance in his capacity as CRPH’s
acting vice-president, and he echoed
the anti-coup movement’s calls for a
“federal democracy” – which would
allow ethnic minority groups to have
a role in Myanmar’s governance.
“This uprising is also the chance
for all of us to struggle together
hand-in-hand to establish a federal
democracy union,” he said.
CRPH has issued a few statements
since its formation, but the protest
movement on the ground appears
largely leaderless – with daily rallies
organised by local activists. – AFP
Angry at new agricultural laws
they say benefit large private buyers
at the expense of growers, tens of
thousands of farmers have been
camped on the outskirts of New Delhi
since late last year.
Climate activist Thunberg,
popstar Rihanna, and Meena Harris,
niece of US Vice-President Kamala
Harris, all tweeted in support of the
protests last month. – Reuters
The Sydney Morning Herald
reported the deal would allow
Singaporeans and Australians who
had been vaccinated to travel
between the countries without
quarantining.
The newspaper said Canberra is
also hoping that people from third
countries – such as international
students, business travellers and
returning citizens – could complete
two weeks’ quarantine in Singapore
before flying to Australia.
Australia’s 14-day hotel
quarantine requirement for arrivals
has left tens of thousands of
Australians stranded overseas, with
caps on returnees introduced as the
limited system has been unable to
cope with large numbers. – Agencies
AUSSIES RALLY FOR
GENDER EQUALITY
CANBERRA: Thousands
protested in the Australian city
of Perth yesterday, kicking off a
nationwide campaign for
gender equality as anger swells
over rape accusations that have
rocked the halls of power. The
city launched the
#March4Justice with a packed
rally where people chanted
“enough is enough” and held up
placards demanding action to
address sexual violence against
women. More than 40 protests
will be held across the country
today. Ex-government staffer
Brittany Higgins publicly came
forward last month to allege she
had been raped in a minister’s
office in 2019. Attorney-general
Christian Porter was then
accused of raping a 16-year-old
girl in 1988. – AFP
IRELAND SUSPENDS
ASTRAZENECA JABS
DUBLIN: Ireland suspended the
use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19
vaccine yesterday, following
reports of blood clots in adults
who received the shot. “The
administration of the vaccine is
temporarily deferred,“ a health
ministry spokesman said. The
move came after Ireland’s
National Immunisation Advisory
Committee recommended
suspending the AstraZeneca
rollout “on the precautionary
principal” after “a report from the
Norwegian Medicines Agency of
four new reports of serious
blood clotting events in adults
after vaccination”. “It has not
been concluded that there is any
link” between the vaccine and
the blood clot cases and action
has been taken “pending receipt
of further information”, Ireland’s
deputy chief medical officer
Ronan Glynn said. – AFP
VACCINATION DRIVE
ON TRACK
MANILA: The Philippines is on
track with its Covid-19
inoculation drive, an official said
yesterday, addressing criticisms
the rollout has been slow as
worries grow about a surge in
new cases. Health authorities
reported 4,899 new cases
yesterday. Carlito Galvez, head
of the government’s vaccine
procurement programme, said
90% of the one million doses
that arrived so far had been
deployed nationwide. “(The
government) is on track in its
immunisation programme and
optimistic it would be able to
achieve its target of inoculating
70% of the population within
this year,“ he said. – AFP

Pentagon chief sees Asia ties as deterrent against China
WASHINGTON: US defence
secretary Lloyd Austin said on
Saturday he was traveling to Asia to
boost military cooperation with
American allies and foster “credible
deterrence” against China.
Austin kicked off via Hawaii, seat
of the American military command
for the Indo-Pacific region, his first
foreign visits as Pentagon chief.
“This is all about alliances and
partnerships,” he told reporters on
the trip that is to include meetings
UK cops drag mourners from
vigil for murdered woman
oGovernment demands report on
‘upsetting’ actions as public anger grows
LONDON: London’s police force
which dragged mourners from a
vigil for a woman whose suspected
killer is a police officer faced a
backlash from the public and
politicians yesterday, with the
government demanding it account
for its actions.
The disappearance of Sarah
Everard, 33, as she walked home on
the evening of March 3 has
provoked a huge outpouring of grief
and dismay in Britain at the failure
of police and wider society to tackle
violence against women.
Police had denied permission for
a vigil on Saturday evening at
A woman
laying flowers
at a memorial
site at the
Clapham
Common
Bandstand in
London
yesterday,
following the
kidnap and
murder of
Everard.
– REUTERSPIX
Buckingham Palace hires lawyers to probe ‘bullying’ claims
LONDON: Buckingham Palace has
hired an outside law firm to conduct
an independent inquiry into
bullying claims made against the
Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.
Last week, in the lead up to
Meghan and Harry’s eagerly
anticipated Oprah interview, Palace
sources were quoted as saying that
the Palace was “prepared to retaliate
with fresh disclosures about the
couple’s behaviour if the monarchy
is attacked”.
with key allies in Tokyo, New Delhi
and Seoul.
“It’s also about enhancing
capabilities,” he added, recalling that
while the United States was focused
on the anti-militant struggle in the
Middle East, China was modernising
its army at high speed.
“That competitive edge that we’ve
had has eroded.
“We still maintain that edge.
“We are going to increase that
edge going forward.
London’s Clapham Common, near
where Everard was last seen alive,
citing regulations designed to
prevent the spread of coronavirus.
But hundreds of people, mostly
women, gathered peacefully at the
park in defiance of the ban to pay
their respects to Everard throughout
the day, including Kate, Britain’s
Duchess of Cambridge.
Footage shared on social media
showed dozens of police officers
marching into the crowd to shouts of
“shame on you”, scuffles breaking
out, and officers dragging women
away from the scene.
An image of officers handcuffing
That retaliation has now arrived
as The Sunday Times reports that, in
a surprise move, the Palace will be
bringing in a third-party law firm to
conduct an investigation into the
bullying claims.
Jason Knauf, who at the time was
the Sussexes’ communications
secretary, made the complaint
against the duchess in 2018, alleging
that she drove two personal
assistants out and undermined the
confidence of a third.
“Our goal is to make sure that we
have the capabilities and the
operational plans ... to be able to offer
a credible deterrence to China or
anybody else who would want to take
on the US.”
Lloyd will be joined in Tokyo and
Seoul by secretary of state Antony
Blinken.
“One of the things that the
secretary of state and I want to do is
begin to strengthen those alliances.
“This will be more about listening
a woman as she lay screaming on
the floor was widely shared and
condemned on social media.
“People were very, very upset,
there was a great deal of emotion,
completely understandably, and the
police, being as they are
operationally independent, will be
having to explain that to the home
secretary,” safeguarding minister
Victoria Atkins told Sky News.
Home secretary Priti Patel, the
minister in charge of policing,
described footage of the incident as
“upsetting” and said she had asked
police for a full report on what
happened.
Metropolitan police assistant
commissioner Helen Ball defended
the officers’ actions.
“Officers on the ground were
faced with a very difficult decision.
Hundreds of people were packed
A royal source told The Sunday
Times: “The actual worst incidences
haven’t come out. There are some
harrowing stories to tell.”
Another Palace source said:
“There’s a lot that could come out in
the wash that hasn’t been told.”
Responding to the allegations
earlier this month, Meghan’s
spokesmann said: “The duchess is
saddened by this latest attack on her
character, particularly as someone
who has been the target of bullying
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
and learning, getting their point of
view.”
This tour in Asia of the heads of
diplomacy and defence of the United
States follows an unprecedented
summit of the “Quad”, an informal
alliance born in the 2000s to
counterbalance a rising China.
Blinken will join President Joe
Biden’s national security adviser Jake
Sullivan in Anchorage on March 18
with their Chinese counterparts
Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi.
BRIEFS
tightly together, posing a very real
risk of easily transmitting Covid-19.”
A police officer charged with
Everard’s murder and appeared in
court on Saturday.
Police discovered her body on
Wednesday in woodland about
80km southeast of London.
The court heard that her body
was found in a builder’s refuse bag.
Everard’s murder has resonated
with woman across the country,
prompting thousands to share on
social media their experiences of
violence and sexual assaults
perpetrated by men, and vividly
describe the daily fear they feel.
“I think the sense of your body
not being your own is something
that a teenage girl learns far too
early,” said theatre director Noona
Murphy, who attended Saturday’s
vigil. – Reuters
herself and is deeply committed to
supporting those who have
experienced pain and trauma.”
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has
also been accused of “hypocrisy” by
allies of the his older brother Prince
William.
They claimed Harry was not “cut
off” by his father.
They said Prince Charles was
financially supporting Harry and
Meghan until they “found their feet”
in America. – The Independent
7
The Alaska talks will be the first
between the powers since Yang met
Blinken’s hawkish predecessor Mike
Pompeo in June in Hawaii.
The Biden administration has
generally backed the tougher
approach to China initiated by
former president Donald Trump, but
has also insisted that it can be more
effective by shoring up alliances and
seeking narrow ways to cooperate on
priorities such as climate change.
– AFP
MERKEL PARTY BRACES
FOR DRUBBING
BERLIN: Germans headed to the
polls in two key regional elections
yesterday, with Chancellor Angela
Merkel’s CDU party bracing for a
drubbing. The votes for new
regional parliaments in the states
of Rhineland-Palatinate and
Baden-Wuerttemberg are seen as
a bellwether ahead of the Sept 26
general election. Recent surveys
have shown that support for
Merkel’s CDU/CSU alliance has
fallen to a one-year low at around
30% as Germans sour on its
coronavirus crisis management.
The alliance has been roiled by
damaging claims about MPs
apparently profiting from face
mask deals early on in the
pandemic, forcing three
lawmakers to step down. – AFP
VILLAGERS ATTACK
COAST GUARD BASE
TEHRAN: Several Iranian coast
guard personnel were wounded
as protesters attacked their base
over the killing of a man in a
confrontation between their unit
and fuel smugglers, local media
reported yesterday. In the Friday
incident near the city of Sirik,
coast guard personnel opened
fire at smugglers in boats after
coming under attack with fire
bombs. A 31-year-old local
resident was killed. Hours later,
villagers gathered outside the
base to protest. They then
attacked the base, seriously
injuring several coast guards and
causing heavy damage. – AFP
AID WORKER BACK
IN IRANIAN COURT
TEHRAN: British-Iranian aid
worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
was tried on a new charge of
making “propaganda against the
system” at Iran’s Revolutionary
court yesterday, her lawyer said,
one week after she completed a
five-year jail sentence. British
foreign minister Dominic Raab
said the second trial was
“unacceptable” and called on Iran
to let Zaghari-Ratcliffe return to
Britain. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project
manager with Thomson Reuters
Foundation charity, was arrested
in April 2016 and later convicted
of plotting to overthrow the
clerical establishment. – Reuters
BOLIVIAN FORMER
PRESIDENT ARRESTED
LA PAZ: Bolivia’s former acting
president Jeanine Anez was
arrested on Saturday on terrorism
and sedition charges linked to the
ousting of her predecessor and
political rival Evo Morales. Police
were also rounding up former
ministers who backed the
caretaker government, which was
in place for a year after Morales
fled the country in November
2019 amid disputed elections. The
arrests came months after
Morales returned to Bolivia from
exile on the back of a fresh
election victory in October 2020
for the Movement for Socialism
party he founded. – AFP
 8 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
SPEAK UP
Empowerment comes
with responsibility
E to be taught a lesson
VER so often, when things
go wrong, you might feel
that the world is against
you, and in a fit of
desperation you tend to allow this
thought to be all consuming. In
such circumstances, there is
always another perspective to this
helpless and hopeless thought that
may pervade you. Particularly
during this pandemic when people
are losing track of where the snags
and hitches are coming from, and
are clueless as to where to look for
solutions.
In Life Coaching, we use the
term Locus of Control when
dealing with such situations in
people. Simply put, it refers to the
extent to which people feel that
they have control over the events
that influence their lives.
When you are dealing with a
challenge in your life, do you feel
that you have control over the
outcome? Or do you believe that
you are simply at the hands of
outside forces?
If the former is true,
then you have what
psychologists refer to
The future is
as an internal locus of
control. If it is the what we make
latter, then you have
what is known as an it, and we get
external locus
control. The locus of
of
what we work
control helps you
distinguish between for in life.
those who are living
life in an empowered
way, through an internal locus of
control vs those who are living in a
disempowered way, through an
external locus of control.
It is not rocket science and may
be something very obvious or
apparent but when we are
wallowing in distress or pain we
may not allow sufficient time to
think sensibly. The Principle of
Locus of Control was coined by
Julian Rotter (1954) and it has
armed life coaches around the
world to help people identify and
find the control they need in life.
In this context, some people
may be more internal at home
while more external at work. One
core idea life coaches repeat as a
cardinal principle is that
responsibility breeds
empowerment. Many
people feel down,
depressed and
defeated because of
their current
situation and what is
happening to them.
They believe that
things are happening to
them which are out of their
control and may even believe that
other people have control over
them, and that they cannot do
anything but obey them.
This defeatist mindset is what is
known as the external locus of
control. People with it believe that
they are passive to the events and
things which happen to them in
life and accept their circumstances
as they are. If they feel they have
succeeded in something, they will
be more likely to attribute this to
luck as supposed to their own skill
or talent.
People who operate from an
external locus of control
tend to subscribe to ideas
that they need to be
protected and that their
past equals their future,
that they are victims in
life, that people need to
keep them happy and
that they are entitled to
everything without
needing to work for it
because life owes it to
them.
These people allow
themselves to be impacted by
every event that happens to them
in life and thus they allow the
external world to control their lives
rather than take control and
responsibility of their own lives.
They need to be out of this default
state of mind into a greater
realisation of what they are
capable of, who they are and how
much power they have in their own
life outcomes.
The ultimate goal in this game is
to strive to coach people into
discovering and adopting the
internal locus of control mindset.
Whilst there is nothing we can do
about what happens to us in life,
we can control how we respond to
our external circumstances.
Get ready for the new weekly
The internal locus of
control breeds a very
different attitude in
people where they
believe that they are
precursors and make
things happen in life
and they can choose
how they respond to the
results and outcomes.
Those with a high locus of
control see themselves as being in
control of their future and
acknowledge that the choices they
make will lead to their success or
failure. Whatever the outcome,
they have faith that they are able to
overcome the obstacles they face
and come out on top.
They are not negatively affected
by people judging them, loathing
them or misunderstanding them.
They believe in the strength of
their core identity and trust in
themselves that they are a good
and well-intentioned person.
In sum, the future is what we
make it, and we get what we work
for in life. Bringing this principle
into our lives is not difficult and
hence, when things do not go the
way you expect, one should start
being open to challenge, change
and ideas in order to shift his
mindset from an external to an
internal locus of control.
According to the American
Psychiatric Association, about 62%
of Americans are suffering from
symptoms of anxiety, which is
related to Covid-19, and 59% feel
that the virus is greatly impacting
their day-to-day lives.
One organisation which
conducted a nationwide large-
scale survey of psychological
distress in the general population
of China during the tumultuous
time of the Covid-19 epidemic
found those who are vulnerable for
psychological distress include
female, young adults who obtain
information from social media
which triggers stress, the elderly
who are at higher risk for mortality
and migrant workers affected by
the economic crisis.
Constant education and
awareness on how to deal with
mental health issues is critical in
this period of uncertainty.
Every Friday
LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com
Purveyors of fake
news need
IN March 2020, news of the
“arrest” of ex-finance minister
Lim Guan Eng’s son in
Singapore created waves. A
national Chinese daily, picking
up on chatter in cyberspace,
first reported that the younger
Lim was detained for bringing
in RM2 million into Singapore
without due process. In no
time, the news went viral as
other major news
establishments amplified the
“development”.
Hours later, IGP Tan Sri
Abdul Hamid Bador refuted the
claim. No one was arrested in
Singapore for bringing in huge
amounts of cash to the
republic, least of all the son of
the younger Lim. In other
words, it was all fake news.
But as far as the Lims were
concerned, the damage had
been done. With Malaysians
whipped into a frenzy, the
reputational damage as well as
the political ramifications were
long felt after the end of the
news cycle concerning the
“misdeed” that did not take
place at all.
Worldwide, as information
becomes more easily
accessible, misinformation
becomes a global problem.
Countries the world over are
coming up with novel ways to
stem this scourge.
In Malaysia, under the Fake
News Emergency Ordinance,
violators of fake news face a
fine of up to RM100,000, a jail
term of up to three years or
both from today (March 12).
The Opposition has kicked up a
fuss over the law, saying that it
tramples on free speech.
Don’t critics know the
difference between “free
speech” and “responsible
speech”? The former is when
all and sundry can throw mud
at each other, like the “news” of
Guan Eng’s son being detained
in Singapore. The latter is to
articulate in a manner where
we do not abuse others’
&
reputation or cause injury.
Why make an issue on the
penalties for spreading fake
news if one has no desire to do
it and sincerely believes in
responsible speech?
According to a recent piece
in The Economist, between
March and October last year, 17
countries passed new laws
against “online
misinformation” or “fake
information”. Malaysia is not
alone.
Fake news has become a
problem, and not just in
Malaysia. Donald Trump was
elected US president by
whipping up sentiments using
fake news and half-truths such
as how his rival Hillary
Clinton’s Democratic Party
officials were involved in a
child sex ring.
Dubbed “Pizzagate”, the
claim has been discredited.
Trump and his supporters
continue to cause much
damage by spreading fake news
as do many leaders in
developed nations.
In Malaysia now, anti-
Vaxxers are now spreading
false news about how the
Covid-19 vaccines contained
non-halal substances or is part
of a Jewish conspiracy at brain-
washing. If left unchecked, the
claim will continue to grip
tight, defeating our aim at
getting at least 70% of our
population vaccinated to
achieve herd immunity, and
scuttling our economic
recovery plan.
This is no different from how
news about Guan Eng’s son’s
purported arrest spread.
Purveyors of fake news need to
be taught a lesson. And those
who have no intention of
spreading them or do not wish
to see others fall victim to it,
have no reason to fear.
Nathan Perumal
Bayan Lepas
Penang
 TELLING IT AS IT IS

LIFESTYLE YOUTH FASHION ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

On
firm Modern style staples
for men

footing
>>> Page 4&5
PICTURE COURTESY OF MICHELLE LEE

Michelle Lee is the first female Premier

League football presenter in Malaysia
>>> Page 3
Benefits of drinking
fruit juice
>>> Page 6
 ENTERTAINMENT
2 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

Sonically different
█ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR

Hollywood directors
I
NVITING listeners into his

nominate two
headspace during the first
movement control order

(MCO) last year, Ganesh
Bala takes Solitude into an
uncanny direction compared to
his previous two albums.
Released in early January this
year, the new album is carried
entirely by the multi-faceted
musician’s piano proficiency.
“The self-titled first album is
like a jazz fusion album, and the
second is the same but it was
recorded live. This one was
special to me, because I had
always wanted to have a solo
piano album. I am a pianist to
begin with, as I started learning
music with it. It has always been
there for me to do a solo album,”
Ganesh told theSun.
A personal time capsule of
sorts for what happened last year,
Solitude is more than an album
for the musician. Marking the
end of 2020 and hailing the start
of 2021 aside, the solo piano
album is part of a journey that
sees Ganesh expanding on love
for the piano and the musician
utilising a single instrument to
carry an entire album.
This stands in stark contrast to
his previous two albums, where
Ganesh merged contemporary
jazz with classic Indian music
through the use of acoustic
instruments such as the sitar,
classical guitar and piano with
electronic synthesisers in the
artiste’s original compositions.
“As a musician, it’s always a
challenge to do a solo album,
because there is no other
instrument backing you and you
have to show your capability as a
musician.”
Rearranged, recorded, mixed
and mastered by Ganesh, the jazz
musician explained that his
approach to the album involved
music output
women for top prize
in historic first
A YEAR after
omitting women
oJazz musician Ganesh Bala speaks about his latest album entirely,
Hollywood’s
directors last week
nominated two
Ganesh: ‘As a female filmmakers
musician, it is for their top prize
always a for the first time in
challenge to the awards’ seven-
do a solo decade history.
album.’ Nomadland director
Chloe Zhao and
Promising Young
Woman helmer
Emerald Fennell
become the ninth
and tenth women Zhao.
nominated for the
Directors Guild of
America’s
outstanding feature
film category.
“I congratulate
our five nominees
whose diverse and
extraordinary films
embodied that
Ganesh comes universal power in
from a family of a year that will
musicians. – never be forgotten,“
PICTURES said DGA president
COURTESY OF Thomas Schlamme
OUCH in a statement.
RECORDS & Beijing-born
PRODUCTIONS “reinterpreting” modern songs Ramlee’s Ibu, Ennio Morricone’s Zhao and British
through the looking glass of Cinema Paradiso, and Richard director Fennell are Fennell.
impressionist music of the late Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein joined on the
19th century that Ganesh himself II’s My Favourite Things. diverse shortlist by Lee Isaac Chung, who
is a fan of. “The songs that I chose were drew on his Korean-American immigrant
Highlights in Solitude from all of my favourite songs. I family history for acclaimed drama Minari.
includes cover versions of P. was playing them at random, and The category is rounded out by David
out of those, I picked whichever I Fincher – for Hollywood Golden Age
liked.” reimagining Mank – and Aaron Sorkin for
Elaborating his thought 1960s courthouse drama The Trial of the
process on how he chose the Chicago 7.
songs and the conceptual The DGA Awards are a strong indicator of
approach towards the album as a the Oscars best director prize.
whole, Ganesh said that it was all Only one woman – Kathryn Bigelow – has
about the “What if …” that is won the DGA top honour, and she went on to
prevalent in the mind of scoop the only female best director Oscar win
musicians whenever they are in history for 2009’s The Hurt Locker.
brainstorming a way to create Last year the major award shows including
music. the DGAs and Oscars shut out all female-
“One of the most challenging helmed films in their director categories, with
things for a composer is to come the absence of Greta Gerwig for her acclaimed
up with ‘What ifs’. So, whenever Little Women drawing a particular backlash.
we practise, arrange, or compose The industry has come under increasing
something, it always starts with a scrutiny for its lack of diversity in recent years.
‘What if I take a pop song, and I Last Tuesday the DGA also unveiled five
play it in a different genre?” nominees for the first-time feature director
Pleased with the outcome, prize, including Regina King for One Night in
Ganesh noted that he would Miami and Radha Blank for The Forty-Year-Old
definitely return to the concept of Version.
solo piano albums in future. The DGAs winners will be unveiled at a
“I think making these solo private virtual event on April 10, some two
albums will always be there for weeks before the pandemic-delayed Oscars. –
me.” ETX Studio

Square unveils deal for Jay-Z’s Tidal music platform

DIGITAL payments firm Square said it
was buying a controlling stake in the
streaming music platform Tidal from a
group led by rap star Jay-Z for US$297
million (RM1.2 billion) in cash and
stock.
“The acquisition extends Square’s
purpose of economic empowerment to
a new vertical: musicians,” said a
statement from the finance tech firm
led by Jack Dorsey, who is also the chief
executive of Twitter.
“It comes down to one simple idea:
finding new ways for artists to support
their work,” said Dorsey.
“New ideas are found at
intersections, and we believe there’s a
compelling one between music and the
economy.”
Jay-Z bought Tidal from Europe-
based Aspiro in 2015 in a deal valued at
slightly more than US$56 million
(RM230 million), and sought to use the
platform to give artists more control
over their work.
Owners include Madonna, Rihanna
and Jay-Z’s wife, Beyonce. Tidal has
listeners in more than 56 countries and
relationships with more than 100 labels
and distributors.
But Tidal has struggled to compete
against much larger streaming services
such as Spotify and Apple. The
privately-held company had three
million paying subscriptions in 2016,
when it last disclosed figures.
Jay-Z surprised fans in December
2019 by moving his music catalogue
back to Spotify after a two-year hiatus.
Operating independently
The deal with Square establishes a new
joint venture that gives the payments
firm “a significant majority ownership
stake” along with the existing artist
shareholders, the statement said.
Tidal will operate “independently
within Square”, according to the
statement.
“I said from the beginning that Tidal
was about more than just streaming
music, and six years later, it has
remained a platform that supports
artists at every point in their careers,”
said Jay-Z, whose full name is Shawn
Carter.
“Artists deserve better tools to assist
them in their creative journey. Jack and
I have had many discussions about
Tidal’s endless possibilities that
have made me even more inspired
about its future,” said Jay-Z. – ETX
Studio Dorsey (left) and Jay-Z.

█ BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI
M
ICHELLE LEE draws
people into the world of
football with her
charming personality.
Each time she appears on television,
her fun-loving and infectious attitude
shines through. Lee has a talent for
making you stop and listen, even if
you are not a football fan.
Lee also has what many would
consider a dream job – as a Premier
League football presenter, where she
interviews international football
players.
Apart from presenting and
hosting, Lee is also an ardent football
fan herself and speaks five languages,
including Spanish.
“I started to pick up Spanish two
years ago as I fell in love with the
language. I feel Spanish is beautiful in
terms of sound, melody and the way
it rolls off the tongue. It’s one of the
most spoken languages in the world,
along with the fact that it’s the
language that many footballers
speak,” said Lee.
Apart from football, Lee said: “I
have a passion for animals and
mental health awareness, which
I am hoping to be more
involved in.”
The 29-year-old lives by a
simple maxim: “To be better
than I was yesterday”.
“I am not in competition
with anyone but myself. I
want to make a difference
and make a change for
the good and to live
to my fullest
potential,” said
Lee.
Clooney, Roberts join all-star cast Down Under
GEORGE CLOONEY and Julia
Roberts are the latest Hollywood
stars to feature in a movie shot Down
Under, thanks to Australian
government funding for big budget
films and the country’s enticingly low
exposure to the coronavirus
pandemic.
The pair’s film, Ticket to Paradise,
received a Queensland state grant of
A$6.4 million (RM20 million) to
shoot in the Whitsunday Islands and
elsewhere in the state this year.
Other Hollywood stars to land in
Australia in recent months for film
and TV shoots include Matt Damon,
Mark Whalberg, Natalie Portman,
Zac Efron, Idris Elba, Liam Neeson,
Melissa McCarthy and Tom Hanks.
Nicole Kidman and Chris
Hemsworth are among Australians
to bring big budget productions
home, even as the influx of heavy
hitters has sparked some criticism
amid a government cap on
Australian citizen arrivals and
reports that some of these stars
avoided hotel quarantine.
Australia’s aggressive response to
the coronavirus pandemic, including
On firm footing
oMichelle Lee has made a mark in the world of sports
journalism as the first female Premier League Football
presenter in Malaysia
Lee
interviewing
Jesse
Lingard.
What inspired you to get into this,
especially when there are very few
Lee does not see female presenters for sports shows?
gender as an I love football, so, why not? It wasn’t
obstacle in that I had set out to do this initially,
achieving her but I love a good challenge and if
goals. – PICTURE there is a glass ceiling, trust me to
COURTESY OF break it.
MICHELLE LEE I am glad that the landscape of
football and sports has really started
changing globally and more women
are getting involved in what was
previously seen as ‘a man’s world’. I
am glad more women are falling in
love with the sport, whether playing
or working in the industry. Sports,
football, arts, fashion shouldn’t just
be reserved for a particular gender.
What are the challenges faced by
female sports TV presenters?
Prejudice and stereotype.
Clooney and Roberts star as a divorced couple in Ticket to Paradise.
lockdowns and border closures, has increase in Australian location grants
slowed community transmission to a since 2020 as a reason for choosing
trickle, making the country a popular the country for big budget
choice in Hollywood for so-called productions.
“runaway productions.” “Because of our strong health
Filmmakers have also cited a response and through the efforts of
A$400 million (RM1.2 billion) all Queenslanders in dealing with the
ENTERTAINMENT
When you go against the grain, it’s
only natural that you will encounter
resistance in industry and society.
This is systemic patriarchy that has
manifested throughout history, and it
will be a challenge.
Most women in football have
faced some kind of gender
discrimination and it’s something
that not only happens in football.
Gender discrimination happens in
many other industries and
workplaces, too. But like I said, things
are changing and I am incredibly
lucky to have men (and women)
around me, who believe that there’s
space for women in sports.
It was my producers, my team and
my loved ones who gave me the
support I needed and gave me that
extra push to take on this role. They
have been advocating for women in
sports and football and are also my
biggest supporters.
Be brave to challenge the norm! As
they say, well-behaved women
seldom make history.
Do you feel that you broke the glass
ceiling for female sports presenters
in Malaysia?
Yes and no. Yes, because it was
global pandemic, we’ve emerged as
one of the safest places in the world
to film,” said Queensland Premier
Annastacia Palaszczuk.
In Ticket to Paradise, which is
being made for Comcast Corp’s
Universal Pictures, the Whitsundays
will stand in for Bali, Indonesia, as
Clooney and Roberts play a divorced
couple attending their daughter’s
wedding.
Roberts is also due to shoot Gaslit,
a TV series about the Watergate
scandal, in Sydney, with Sean Penn
and Australia’s Joel Edgerton, who
would also direct, the Sydney
Morning Herald reported.
Among the high profile
productions, Damon, Wahlberg,
Hemsworth and Portman are filming
a Thor sequel, local media reported.
Australian-raised Kidman
returned home with Bridesmaids star
McCarthy to shoot Nine Perfect
Strangers, a series for The Walt
Disney Company’s Hulu, based on a
book by the author of the novel Big
Little Lies, who is also Australian.
Hanks filmed an Elvis Presley
biopic in 2020 after initial filming was
theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021 3
something new, being a female
Premier League presenter and from
the outside looking in, it may seem
that way. It wasn’t until it was
mentioned to me by my colleagues.
No, because it wasn’t something I
had set out to do on purpose because
I didn’t even know it was an issue! It
was something that happened along
the way of my journey that made it
happen. I never saw myself as any
different from my colleagues. Gender
was never really made a ‘thing’
among the circle I am in. We all loved
the same thing - football So, no one
really made a big fuss about it in that
sense. Growing up, I never thought
that my gender would be a factor to
stop me from doing anything.
Perhaps, from the outside looking in,
it appeared that way.
Are you working on any future
projects?
At this point with the pandemic, it’s
difficult to see too far ahead, other
than my football TV commitments.
We have a couple of things up our
sleeves that is currently confidential.
In terms of a personal project, I am
hoping to get my YouTube channel
going soon!
postponed by the pandemic and
Hanks’s own Covid-19 diagnosis.
Two-tier system
The influx has generated some
criticism about a two-tier quarantine
system, following reports of visiting
celebrites getting permission to skip
two-week hotel stints under guard to
isolate in more salubrious private
homes.
The federal government,
meanwhile, has a cap on the number
of Australians allowed to return,
prompting anger among some
citizens seeking to come home.
“If they don’t comply and it’s not
done well, we have a problem,” said
Mary-Louise McLaws, a professor of
epidemiology at the University of
New South Wales, referring to the
visiting stars.
“The public need to know exactly
how the authorities are ensuring that
they are remaining at home and
they’re not going off to the gym or the
golf course, or they’re not having the
gym instructor come and do a
workout with these travellers who are
incubating.” – Reuters
 FASHION
4 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

Placement

Fashion
Birth Place
collection.

meets function
oPenang-based menswear brand Placement creates
modern style staples for men
█ BY JASON LIM physique, we’ve got you covered. Different

S
body shapes will present each of the designs in
OMEWHERE between the Japanese different ways.
aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, that Placement also embraces the idea of
appreciates the beauty of imperfection, modern living and attitude, the desire to evolve
and the famous hygge so dear to by combining and improving the elements of
Scandinavians where cosy functionality meets functionality, modernity and playfulness
minimalism, is the homegrown menswear through the clothing.
brand, Placement.
Founder Joshua Tan’s sartorial eye for What is your idea of modernity, and how
Japanese simplicity and sleek Scandinavian does it play out in your creative process?
fashion blends the two movements that share The fundamental idea of modernity is evident
many similarities, including neutral tones, in the form and function of every object, and I
practical designs and most of all, comfort. apply the same elements in my designs.
“It is quite difficult to find independent However, it is difficult to grasp these elements
clothing stores for men in Penang. We are without understanding how they work
known for our street food but when it comes to individually and how they complement each
fashion, we have very few choices other than other together.
the handful of fast-fashion brands we know of,
and so I thought why not start a brand and Where do you draw inspiration from?
really pour my heart and soul into it? Placement draws its influence from
“I knew what I wanted from the very beginning Scandinavian aesthetics. Other than that, I love
– clothing designed to last beyond the reading Japanese interior and fashion
seasons. I started doing research and I found magazines, most notably Popeye – a monthly
Placement out that Japanese contemporary culture and men’s fashion and lifestyle magazine with its
Archive 0.1 their dedication towards craftsmanship are of tagline “Magazine for City Boys”. It has
collection. the highest standards in everything they do. definitely influenced my idea of fashion and
“However, I wouldn’t categorise myself as a the way I design.
fashion designer because I did not graduate It’s also the reason I find myself pulling
from a fashion school but I also can’t deny my towards Japanese culture, architecture and
love for fashion. I think the role of a designer interior design, and the tendency to translate
has so much influence in educating a wider their aesthetic norms when creating the
audience from within and beyond the fashion ultimate modern wardrobe that will transcend
scene about fast-fashion.” time and season at Placement.
Placement transforms the nature of
effortless and timeless design with utility How do Japanese aesthetic cues serve as
iteration to bring functional details to the inspiration to you?
forefront of menswear, In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is
where activewear a world view centred on the acceptance of
meets business attire transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is
and as Tan explained: sometimes described as one of appreciating
“Each collection is the beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent
carefully placed with and incomplete” in nature. I believe that in
Tan’s purposeful details made every object, there are perfect imperfections, in
relationship for the everyday other ways, there is no total beauty or total
with fashion lifestyle.” ugly.
runs deep,
thanks to his Who do you Talk us through the collections.
family design for? We focus on bringing the essentials to build the
business in The clothes are modern wardrobe through our approach in
clothing designed with craftsmanship which you would be able to see
wholesale free size in even in the finest details of the garments.
for two mind because I ‘Buy better, keep forever’, is what I always
decades. – strongly believe say because quality is really our essence. From
PICTURES that everyone is the fabrics or buttons chosen to the customer
COURTESY beautiful and unique experience and everything in between,
OF JOSHUA in their own way, everything matters in the way we work, care
TAN which is why and create to make sure that each piece of
regardless of your clothing would last beyond the season.

Students launch chaotic Paris fashion week

PARIS fashion week opened in
unique style earlier this month,
with students cutting the virtual
ribbon for women’s ready-to-wear
collections at a time of
unprecedented chaos in the
fashion calendar.
Deserted by several
heavyweight designers, and still
imprisoned online by the
pandemic, organisers turned to
students from the French Institute
of Fashion for a dose of hope and
renewal.
“People have been much more
open. They want to keep fashion
alive and give as many
opportunities as possible to young
designers,“ said one of those
presenting in the opening video,
Clement Picot.
He drew inspiration from horror
films such as The Shining and
American Psycho for his
contribution, full of oversized
comic-book shoulders that he said
were a mix of his dreams and
nightmares.
For youngsters like Picot, the
need to stay virtual is no problem: “I
will be able to watch this video all
my life. It’s maybe even more
personal this way.”
But this fashion week, the fourth
in Paris since the start of the
pandemic, looks as disorganised as
ever.
Dior and Louis Vuitton, part of
the LVMH luxury group, pushed
back their video broadcasts at the
last minute, with organisers adding
an extra day on March 10.
Rival holding Kering (which
includes Saint Laurent, Balenciaga)
is not presenting at all. Anthony
Vaccarello, Saint Laurent’s Belgian
designer announced his withdrawal
from the official calendar during
the first lockdown a year ago.
Others are setting their own
timetables, reflecting the fact that
many designers were tired of the
relentless pace of the fashion
calendar even before the
coronavirus created a new world of
logistical headaches.
Adapt to the unexpected
Hedi Slimane, artistic director of
Celine unveiled his men’s collection
in early February, bypassing the
calendar entirely, with a video show-
ing modern knights in leather jack-
ets parading on the ramparts of
the Chateau de Chambord on the
Loire.
“Everything is being called into ques-
tion,“ Kris Van Assche, Belgian creator
of the historic French house Berluti
(LVMH) told AFP, adding that he had
never seen such “radical” changes in
his 20-year career.
He himself skipped January’s
menswear week in Paris in favour of
presenting in Shanghai in April.
Asked what the young students
should focus on, Assche said: “The
main talent that’s needed on a CV
today is flexibility, the ability to
adapt to the unexpected.”
For up-and-coming talents,
these are rare opportunities,
however.
Originally from Taiwan, Meng
Che Chiang’s contribution to the
opening video was “a love letter to
Paris” while also playing with the
appetite for upcycling, with
exaggerated outfits made from
faded and repainted towels or
jeans, “juxtaposing the ugly and the
beautiful, the old and the new”.
If the epidemic has “limited his
research”, he at least has more time
to study mundane goings-on such
as Parisian garbage cans, and
dream of the day when the streets
will be full of colour and life again.
Another student, Lucie Favreau,
focused on clothes for the moment
– garments to make you “feel
comfortable” – with oversize
sweaters, and a “shaman suit”
printed with healing hands.
She, too, sees no problem with
the new digital iteration.
“It’s not as if we don’t have an
audience,“ she said. “It’s just a
different way of relating to the
audience.” – ETX Studio

Placement
Birth Place
collection.
(right) Wear
your
convictions
on your T-
shirt, but not
From fashion to feminism
at any cost.
“GIRL POWER”, “Proud to be a woman”,
“Girls can do anything”. At a time when it
has never been easier to proclaim
support for women’s rights, notably on
your t-shirt, Lea Lejeune, a journalist
with the French weekly business
magazine Challenges, is calling out the
ways in which brands are appropriating
the feminist cause.
The journalist – who is also president
of the “Prenons la Une” association of
female journalists, striving for better
representation of women in the media –
has published a book investigating the
Placement underlying facts behind brands’
Land Meets appropriation of feminist values.
the Sea From cosmetics and fashion to retail
collection. and women’s magazines, the author
offers an in-depth look at how brands
are using and abusing feminist
arguments.
In her book, Feminisme Washing,
published March 4 in France by Editions
du Seuil, Lea Lejeune reveals the
underside of how brands’ are
appropriating feminism, and how pro-
women themes have become something
of a honey pot, notably in the world of
fashion and beauty.
This use of feminism in the aim of
profit is, according to the author,
particularly dangerous, since the
interests of such businesses sometimes
stand in total contradiction with their
marketing or media discourse.
What is “feminism washing”?
The term “feminism washing” is
inspired by its predecessor,
greenwashing. This marketing technique
and communication strategy concerns
the fallacious use of good ecological
practices in the aim of attracting
customers. Car brands, primarily, have
been singled out for having “greened up”
their communications. For Lea Lejeune,
the workings of “feminism washing” are
similar, except that here, brands are
(left) Fashion “pinkwashing” rather than
students greenwashing their communication or
launch virtual marketing.
Fashion Week The aim is to boost sales while,
in Paris. according to the author, “the company in
question isn’t really taking action on
equality.” And “the companies that strive
to boost their image on the back of one
of the pivotal values of contemporary
society” are lauding “a facade of
feminism”. Lea Lejeune warns of the
“negative effects” of such practices.
“[Companies] can, for example, sell
products manufactured at the expense of
many women’s suffering, precisely to the
[women] who think they are defending
them.”
Talking the talk, walking the walk
The “girl power” slogan T-shirt may have
taken over the catwalks – seen at some of
FASHION
theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021 5
the biggest luxury brands’ shows,
including Dior – but this proclaimed
enthusiasm for empowering women
isn’t always reflected within companies
themselves.
The luxury goods group LVMH – to
which Dior belongs – only counted three
female directors (at Celine, Kenzo and
Thomas Pink), before Maria Grazia
Chiuri arrived at the helm of Dior in
2017.
On the whole, the author reminds us
that “of 371 chiefs helming brands
surveyed in the Business of Fashion
website’s latest study, during the four
spring-summer 2017 fashion weeks, only
40.2% were women”. And, still according
to BoF research, of the 50 most
influential fashion brands in the world,
only 14% were run by women. Maybe it’s
time to leave the slogan t-shirt on the
shelf.
A paradoxical situation for beauty
brands
Fashion isn’t the only sector concerned
by the journalist’s investigations. She
also looked at beauty brands, for
example: “a makeup [item] – even one
that’s healthy for skin and manufactured
by workers who are properly paid and
promoted – remains a tool for
conforming to society’s beauty norms at
a given point in time. These products
cannot ‘in themselves’ become feminist.
If they genuinely contributed to breaking
down the dictates of female beauty, they
would be shooting themselves in the foot
by reducing the size of their market. A
hard-line feminist logic would lead them
to progressively disappear.”
The case of L’Oreal
Still, it’s not all bad. Many companies,
even in the cosmetics sector, are making
genuine efforts to reduce inequalities in
their own businesses. L’Oréal is one such
example. The brand which, on the
admission of Jean-Claude Legrand, the
group’s executive vice president for HR,
was about “makeup made by men for
women”, has been working towards wage
equality for several years.
Since the arrival of Legrand – who also
sits on France’s High Council for Gender
Equality, an independent authority
responsible for evaluating measures in
favour of women’s rights and making
suggestions to the government – the
gaps in salaries and parity have been
identified and measured, taking into
account gender, age, seniority and salary
progression. In 2007, women were, on
average, paid 19% less than their male
colleagues, whereas the gap has today
been reduced to 3.9%.
The effects of such efforts are
certainly being felt, even if there’s still a
long way to go. – ETX Studio
 HEALTH
6 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

The truth behind Numerous

fruit juices
studies have
found that
adults who
drink pure juice
were at a lower
risk of obesity
and had better
insulin
sensitivity.
oConcerns have been raised about the benefits of
drinking fruit juice, but are their fears justified?
█ BY ANANSA JACOB Numerous studies have found that

I
T’S no secret that children (and some of us
adults) love fruit juice. Many of us grew up
drinking fruit juice or fruit drink
concentrates like Ribena, and parents often
think 100% fruit juice is healthy. But is it really?
One of the main reasons some people
consider fruit juice as unhealthy as sugary soda
is the sugar content of these beverages. You see,
we often like the taste of fruit juice because it’s a
sweet drink. But it’s no secret that sweet often
means more sugar, even if it’s natural sugar.
Both soda and 100% fruit juice contain
around 110 calories and 20–26 grams of sugar
per cup (240 ml). Think about whole fruits that
are sweeter – they have more natural sugars that
make them taste sweet. Same goes for those
100% fruit juices, which may not have any
added sugars. Too much sugar of any kind isn’t
healthy.
Because of this, fruit juices are increasingly
being seen as a junk food, and consumption is
falling. However, fruit juice should not be cut
entirely from our diets. Instead, nutrition
experts are encouraging people to read the
labels and seek out pure fruit juices, instead of
drinks made from fruit concentrate or which are
“fruit-flavoured”.
Juices contain
many health-
promoting
nutrients such as
vitamin C,
polyphenols and
carotenoids.
adults who drink pure juice were at a
lower risk of obesity and had better
insulin sensitivity. In addition, pure
fruit juice contains the same range of
health-promoting chemicals as
intact fresh fruit.
In a world where few people
manage to consume the recommended
daily diet of five portions of fruit and
vegetables a day, this convenience can make
a huge impact in nutrition.
Yet despite these benefits, several pressure
groups and other organisations still suggest
that juice should not be part of our diet. But
their concerns rely on an analogy with
sugar-sweetened fizzy drinks, and
confusion over what a fruit juice actually
is.
The fear is that because fruit juice
contains naturally occurring sugar, it
increases the risk of obesity. Although
fruit juice does contain sugar it should
not be viewed as similar to sugar-
containing drinks.
One 2014 study published in PLos One found
that drinking sugar-sweetened fruit juice weight of children over six years, pure fruit does associated with lower cancer risks. Studies have
increased the risk of diabetes, while drinking not. linked them with a lower risk of developing oral
pure fruit juice did not. Juices contain many health-promoting and laryngeal cancer. Similarly, greater levels of
Another, published in nutrients – such as vitamin C, polyphenols and carotenoids in the blood have been related to a
Pediatrics in 2017, carotenoids – that occur only to limited extents reduced rate of breast cancer.
showed that while in sugar-sweetened drinks. Vitamin C, in So what does all this news mean for us juice
sugar-sweetened particular, has been associated with reduced lovers? Simply put, you should only drink pure
drinks increase the blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease and a fruit juices, but in moderation. The danger is
better life expectancy for men. that we tend to consume more of fruits when
Polyphenols – which gives fruit its red, they are in liquid form, and the increased
purple and blue colours – have antioxidant, amounts of natural sugars may negate all the
anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. healthy benefits we would otherwise obtain
One study on flavonoids (a type of polyphenol) from them.
found that high intake cuts the risk of premature Otherwise, it’s perfectly fine to enjoy your
death by a quarter. And intake of daily dose of fruit juice, whether at breakfast or
anthocyanidins – another polyphenol – reduces during the course of the day as part of a healthy
the risk of developing diabetes. diet. Be sure to alternate juices with whole fruits
Finally, carotenoids (responsible for orange, and vegetables as well, for some variety in your
yellow and red colourings) have been healthy diet.

Covid worsening already alarming rate of violence against women: WHO

ONE in three women have already
suffered physical violence or sexual
abuse, the World Health
Organisation said last Tuesday,
warning that the coronavirus
pandemic was deepening the
problem.
In a report, the UN health agency
found that around 30% of all women
and girls over the age of 15 – around
736 million people – have already
been victims of such violence
throughout their lifetimes.
“Violence against women is
endemic in every country and
culture, causing harm to millions of
women and their families,” WHO
chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
said in a statement.
Dr. Claudia Garcia-Moreno, who
co-authored the report,
acknowledged that experts were still
waiting for the full data showing the
impact of the pandemic.
But the health crisis has clearly
had a negative impact, she said.
“We know that the situation for
many women may have gotten
worse,” she told AFP, pointing in
particular to the some 641 million
women and girls over 15 who have
faced violence from an intimate
partner.
“Women who were already in an
abusive situation were trapped in
those situations,” she said. “All of a
sudden they were more isolated and
in constant touch with an abusive
partner.”
At the same time, the financial
pressures and stress of having
children at home, among other
challenges, risked sparking fresh
abuse.
“We know that some of the factors
that contribute to exacerbating
domestic violence in particular are
there,” Garcia-Moreno said.
‘Unacceptably high’
The report is based on global data
from 2000 to 2018. It follows a first
report on the subject in 2013, but
Garcia-Moreno said comparisons
were complicated due to a shift in
methodology and access to far more
data for the second report.
What is clear, she said, is that “the
rates are unacceptably high and need
urgent action”.
Abuse by an intimate partner is by
far the most common form of
violence against women globally, the
report said, impacting a full 26% of all
women and girls over 15.
Six percent of women have
meanwhile been sexually assaulted
by someone other than their
husband or partner, the report found.
Significant stigma around this
issue meant the true figure was likely
much higher, it said.
One alarming finding was that
partner violence often begins very
early in life, with almost a quarter of
all adolescent 15-19-year-old girls
who had been in a relationship
subjected to physical or sexual
violence by their partner.
“This is a concern, because clearly
adolescence and early adulthood are
important moments for both health
and development and also for the
foundations of healthy relationships,”
Garcia-Moreno said.
Around 30% of all
women and girls
over the age of 15
around 736 million
people - have
already been
victims of such
violence
throughout their
lifetimes, mainly at
the hands of
intimate partners,
according to a
report.
While levels of violence against levels of such violence, while
women are “unacceptably high southern Europe had the lowest
everywhere,” there are clear regional rates, at 16%.
differences, she said. “This is probably a reflection in
Poorer countries generally have some part of women’s ability to leave
higher levels than wealthier nations, abusive relationships, more access to
and the region of Oceania counted services, more legal protections,”
the highest rates, with up to 51% of Garcia-Moreno said.
women aged 15-49 having Tedros stressed the need for
experienced partner violence in their urgent action to address the problem.
lifetimes, the report showed. “Unlike Covid-19, violence against
Southern Asia and sub-Saharan women cannot be stopped with a
Africa also saw particularly high vaccine,“ he said. – ETX Studio
 FEATURE
theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021 7

The art of
Chan’s first ambition Chan is always
was to be a tailor. looking for
– PICTURE inspiration.
COURTESY OF
KAR KAH CHAN

movement
oKar Kah Chan speaks
about her passion for
dancing and writing
poems
█ BY BISSME S.

K
AR

KAH Chan is
making waves in
the local
performance arts scene as a
dancer and choreographer.
The 24-year-old, who graduated
with a bachelor’s degree in Dance
from Beijing Normal University,
specialises in traditional Chinese
and contemporary dance.
She has performed in China, Taiwan and
Hong Kong, and has won several local and
international dance competitions, such as the
Hong Kong Bauhinia Cup Dance
Championship 2012 and was also the four-
time winner of the National Chinese Dance
Festival from 2012 to 2015.
Chan recently spoke to theSun about her
early influences, her love for creativity and
her career as a dancer.
Tell us about your family.
My father passed away when I was three
years old. My mother is a systems consultant.
I am the youngest in the family and I have
two older siblings.
Did you always aspire to be a dancer?
My first ambition was to be a tailor. My
grandmother loves to sew. I love the Singer
sewing machine that my
grandmother owns. I
wanted to own a Singer
sewing machine and that
is why I wanted to be a
tailor.
What made you
change your mind?
I was eight years old
when I was first
introduced to the
world of dance. I was
enrolled in a ballet
class but I stopped
taking ballet lessons
when
I was
11 years
old as I
wanted to focus on my studies. I wanted to learn
hip-hop but my mother was not keen on the
idea. She thinks that hip-hop is a bad influence
and I had to drop the idea of learning hip-hop.
How did your mother react to your ambition
of wanting to become a dancer?
She was not happy initially. I do not blame her.
She wanted me to have a stable career. She is
slowly accepting my career choice. Even my
teachers were disappointed with my career
choice. During my school days, I was good in
literature, so they thought I would choose to
study Chinese literature instead of dance.
You specialised in Chinese traditional dance
and contemporary dance. Which one do you
prefer more?
I love both. Chinese traditional dance instilled
discipline in me. While in contemporary dance,
you are given the freedom to create new works.
Over the years I have been dabbling more in
contemporary dance and creating my own
works.
How do you get inspiration for your dance
choreography?
I love roaming the city and looking for
inspiration. For example, looking at a drain can
give me inspiration. Unfortunately, we are in
the midst of a pandemic, and are not
encouraged to go out.
What are the challenges you face as a
Malaysian dancer?
Sometimes, dancers are not taken seriously in
Malaysia. For example, when public relations
companies want to hire us for corporate events,
the pay is low and they tell us to create simple
choreography. They don’t seem to want a
quality show when it comes to dancing. This
attitude needs to change if we want to see our
dancing scene elevated to a higher level.
What are your plans as a dancer for the next
five years?
I am not the kind who plans my future. I do
almost everything impromptu.
What are your other interests, besides
dancing?
I love watching YouTube videos on dancing.
When I am not doing that, I love writing poems
and reading.
What kind of subjects do you deal with in your
poems?
I write about life and love. I think both subjects
are connected. Life is about love and love is
about life. I do not think I will ever publish my
poems. I am not ready to show my poems to the
world. My poems are almost like my private
diary. I express a lot of my deepest emotions in
them. For now, my poems are for my eyes only.
I might show my poems to a few people who are
close to me.
How do people describe you?
It depends on the person. Different people
describe me differently. My best friends will say
that I am wise while my good friends will say I
am silly. My students will say I am
stern.

Egyptian Billy Elliot sets new bar in ballet

SURROUNDED by little girls and mocked
at school when he first tried ballet, it took
serious determination for Luca Abdel-Nour
to become the first Egyptian prizewinner at
the prestigious Prix de Lausanne.
The international competition in
Switzerland has been one of the leading
showcases for young ballet talent since it
began in 1973.
Abdel-Nour, 17, took three prizes,
including second overall and the audience
award, at the latest instalment in February,
and hopes his success can inspire more
boys from the Middle East to overcome
their prejudices about dance.
Born to a French mother but growing up
in Cairo, he performed in dance and theatre
shows with his school as a young boy.
But he didn’t try ballet until he took part
in a summer dance school in France aged
12, and an instructor told him to give it a try.
“I was like ummm ‘I don’t want to do
ballet, it’s for girls’,” he said.
But his mother kept encouraging him
and eventually he joined a class in Egypt.
He soon realised this was his passion, even
if he was the only boy in the group.
“I didn’t really care if there were no
boys,” he said. “People at school knew
because I was open about it. I would be
called names but I didn’t care. I used to tell
them: ‘You do your thing, I want to do my
thing’.”
Starstruck
Hard work helped him overcome his late
start and by 14 he had won a
year’s scholarship to a dance school in
Budapest.
The following year, he won a full-time
place at the elite Zurich Dance Academy.
This was where things became serious: he
had to relearn everything from scratch, and
overcome two leg injuries in his first year.
But the work paid off at Lausanne last
month.
“When they announced the finalists, I
couldn’t believe it, I was on my way home
from school on the train and I cried,” he
said.
Suddenly his phone was lighting up with
messages from some of the biggest names
in the business.
“Dancers who are now directors who I
have watched since I was a child were
texting me saying ‘You did a good job, we’re
interested in you’. I was starstruck and
honoured,” he said.
‘Worth it in the end’
His success has generated plenty of
reaction back home in Egypt, with social
media full of praise as well as the
inevitable sarcastic and even hostile
commentary.
“There are of course lots of negative
comments and stuff, but there are a lot
of people that have been really
supportive of me doing it, saying I’ve
inspired them to do ballet in a
society where ballet is not really
encouraged,” he said.
“You got the positive, you got the
negative, and you have to choose
what you want to listen to.”
Abdel-Nour has accepted a place in
a company, but is not yet allowed to
reveal which one.
“Every step of the way was hard,” he
said. “It’s hard to leave your family
and not see them for long
periods of time but it was all
worth it at the end.” – Abdel-Nour
ETX Studio performs during a
lesson at
Switzerland’s Tanz
Akademie in Zurich.
 MEDIA & MARKETING
8 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

Calling all
Hello Kitty fans!
oHello Kitty Visit Malaysia collectible tins are now
available at 7-Eleven

F
ANS of Hello Kitty have reason to
cheer! 7-Eleven Malaysia, the
nation’s leading convenience
store chain, has teamed up with
Sanrio to launch its collectable premium
loyalty programme, Hello Kitty VISIT
MALAYSIA collectible tins.
The one-of-a-kind collection comes in
30 adorable designs, each featuring an
iconic place of interests representing all
states and federal territories of Malaysia,
such as Dataran Merdeka in Kuala
Lumpur, i-City in Selangor, Dataran
Merdeka in Selangor, Fort Cornwallis in
Penang, A’ Famosa Fortress in Malacca,
Kellie’s Castle in Perak, Langkawi Eagle
Tower in Kedah and the Rantau Abang
beach in Terengganu, among others.
Customers will be rewarded with a
programme sticker for every purchase of
RM5 in a single receipt at any 7-Eleven
Malaysia outlets, from now until May 2. A
bonus sticker will be rewarded if the
purchase includes a selected partner
product from brands such as Goodday,
Mentos, 100PLUS, P&G, Nestle, and Mi
Sedaap, among others.
With a total of 15 stickers, a Hello Kitty
VISIT MALAYSIA collectible tin is
redeemable for free. Alternatively,
customers can also purchase a collectible
tin at RM9.90 alongside eight stickers.
The redemption period of this campaign
is from now until May 9.
7-Eleven Malaysia’s General Manager
of Marketing, Ronan Lee, said, “Hello
Kitty is evergreen and very popular
among Malaysians of all ages and this
exclusive collectible series would
definitely be a hit amongst fans. As our
way of saying thank you, we have
launched this collectable premium
loyalty programme, and we hope this will
strengthen our engagement with
customers as well as further enhance
their shopping experiences.”
“As a bonus, fans may also participate
in our ‘Answer & Win’ social media
contest and stand a chance to take home
a Hello Kitty VISIT MALAYSIA collectible
tin. To participate in the contest, one just
has to answer all three questions posted
correctly by commenting on the post on
our official Facebook page.
There are four rounds in total that you
would not want to miss; there will be 10
winners each round in which each
winner will walk away with three
collectible tins,” Lee concluded.
7-Eleven Malaysia is the largest stand-
Collect all 30 alone convenience store-chain aspire to elevate customers’ shopping
adorable designs nationwide, with more than 2,400 outlets experiences and scale greater heights as
of the Hello Kitty across the country. The launch of Hello the leading convenience store operator in
Visit Malaysia Kitty VISIT MALAYSIA collectible tins Malaysia.
collectible tins. extends the journey to continuously So, hurry on to your nearest 7-Eleven
and enjoy its latest exclusive offerings,
from the UK’s No.1 skincare brand, Boots
to its extensive 7-Eleven packaged bakery
selections, from its delectable range of
imported and trending products to its
scrumptious selection of onigiri and
chilled Ready-to-Eat meals as well as the
coolest drink on earth, 7-Eleven’s
signature Slurpee and be rewarded with
programme stickers to begin your
collection.
Also, be sure to download My7E app
today to grab your favourites at member-
prices and other amazing in-app deals.
For more information on Hello Kitty
VISIT MALAYSIA collectible tins, visit
www.7eleven.com.my or follow its social
media pages at 7ElevenMalaysia.

Sompo Welfare Foundation grants RM37,000 to Silent Teddies Bakery

THE Sompo Welfare Foundation
(The Foundation) recently presented
a cheque amounting to RM37,000 to
Silent Teddies Bakery, who were
among four recipients of the
Foundation’s FY2020 International
Social Welfare Grant outside of Japan.
Tan Sek Kee, Chief Executive
Officer of Berjaya Sompo said: “This
is the eighth year running where the
Foundation has granted a portion of
its international grant programme for
Malaysia. We are honoured to be a
part of this collaboration to enable
these young adults from Silent
Teddies Bakery to acquire the
necessary entrepreneurial skills they
Berjaya Sompo Insurance together with the team from Silent Teddies Bakery and need to enable them to be
other guests. independent.
“Berjaya Sompo values inclusivity
in the workplace and provides equal
opportunity to all employees
regardless of their differences which
is something that the organisation
greatly values. We are proud to see
that Silent Teddies Bakery is a vehicle
for changing lives for the deaf
community by providing them skills
training as well as providing them
meaningful work in the food and
beverage industry.”
Tan presented the mock cheque to
Cindy Leong, the founder of Silent
Teddies Bakery. In her acceptance
speech, Leong said that the
organisation aims to empower the
deaf with the skills needed to
increase their job opportunities, as
well as raise social awareness of
deafness through its Revitalisation
Project.
The Revitalisation Project started
in 2019, is an idea that Leong initiated
to raise funds for the deaf
community, and other persons with
disabilities.
The revitalisation of the building
would allocate space for a learning
centre that supports the education of
the deaf, and to give special attention
to children and youths in need. The
building is in its final stage of
refurbishing its bakery, cafe, and
arts/event space to cultivate the
student’s entrepreneurial skills and
independence in a conducive
environment.

COMMENT
Consent has clear boundaries
T
HE #MeToo movement, including
locally in Malaysia, shines a much
needed spotlight on sexual harassment
and sexual violence, and creates an
environment where survivors feel they can
come forward with their stories.
Within this context, there continues to be
confusion by many – including perpetrators of
harassment and violence, and even the public –
on the issue of consent. This confusion can lead
to society failing survivors who share their
experiences.
As stated by UN Women, when it comes to
consent, there are no blurred lines. There are
clear lines, and each of us has a responsibility to
educate ourselves on where they are and not
cross them.
Five characteristics of consent
There are five recognised characteristics of
consent: Given freely, informed, enthusiastic,
specific and reversible. In any given situation,
each of these five elements must be present.
Given freely refers to whether the consent
was given without any kind of pressure or
threat, with full consciousness, and without the
influence of a mind-altering substance. If
someone is drunk or unconscious, they cannot
freely give consent.
Providing informed consent means that
both parties have all the relevant information
and are operating at the same level of
understanding. For example, if one party lies
about using contraception or having a sexually
transmitted disease, and the other party only
consents based on this lie, this does not
constitute informed consent.
Consent should be enthusiastic, meaning it
takes the form of an active “yes,” rather than
silence or uncertainty. This element is
particularly important when evaluating
evidence in cases of rape and sexual assault,
since too often the standard considered is
whether there are signs of physical protest or
struggle.
Given that there are many reasons a person
COMMENT by Sofea Azahar
Early financial education for the benefit of youth
EVER since the pandemic has taken a toll on
the world economy, talks about financial
literacy have been going around more
frequently, given the challenging situation
involving livelihoods and the critical need for
people to have sufficient savings to survive
rainy days. This particularly points at youths,
who have become more vulnerable
economically, and more concerning is their
low level of financial literacy. Hence, this calls
for practical action plan, and it needs to start
from the core foundation of the society –
education.
A study conducted by the Organisation of
Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) on 26 countries, including Malaysia,
has shown that overall, financial literacy is
already at its low.
Specifically, youth aged 18 to 29, financial
literacy appears to be at a lower level, on the
back of poor financial knowledge and less
prudent financial behaviour.
The study also suggests that financial
literacy might be positively correlated to access
to digital devices or services as digital use may
be consistent with greater financial knowledge
and more prudent financial behaviour.
This can be explained given the present
reality whereby almost everyone depends on
social media or online portals to keep
themselves updated about current issues.
It was also reported recently that 40% of
millennials are spending beyond their means,
according to Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul
Aziz. He also added that 47% of Malaysian
youths have high credit card debts.
Additionally, another survey by RinggitPlus
on financial literacy of Malaysians also
may not physically or even verbally protest –
including shock and fear – the focus must be on
proof of enthusiastic and affirmative consent,
rather than proof of resistance.
Specific consent takes into account that an
individual may be comfortable with, and
consent to, one act, but not necessarily another.
Note that consent is time-specific too, meaning
consent obtained for a past encounter cannot
be assumed to apply to every subsequent
encounter, even for the same act. Check for
consent every time.
Finally, one of the most critical and often
ignored elements of consent is that it is
reversible. An individual is entitled to revoke
consent at any time, even after the act initially
consented to has begun. Do not take consent
for granted, even in long-term relationships.
Thinking about these five elements in any
given situation helps eliminate any confusion
over whether consent was in fact given.
Why we must recognise and adhere to the
strict boundaries of consent
Too often, when survivors share their
experiences and speak out against perpetrators,
they are met with disbelief, contempt or face
attacks on their character.
While every individual is entitled to due
process, and all claims of sexual harassment
and violence should be thoroughly
investigated, it is also critical that we as a society
recognise the role that we have to play in
believing survivors and offering them support,
instead of victim-blaming or subjecting them to
further attack.
One of the ways in which we can better
support survivors is to ensure that we,
individually and societally, understand fully the
concept of consent, and evaluate allegations of
sexual harassment and violence through this
lens.
The evaluation process must equally apply
to alleged perpetrators, and cannot be swayed
by factors like power, privilege or personal
networks.
revealed some worrying statistics about youth:
0 Nearly 29% of youth only realised the
importance of emergency funds since the
movement control order;
0 Nearly 60% are unable to survive beyond
three months;
0 Almost 47% spend exactly or beyond their
earnings; and
0 Almost half of the youth have not started
saving for their retirement.
Since the current dire situation for youth
has been reflected by these numbers, and
given the youth’s low wages to afford living
needs and underemployment, financial
education needs to be consistently promoted
and emphasised in the society.
Some recommendations by the OECD to
improve financial literacy do involve
education, as follows:
1. Look into the priority areas of financial
knowledge such as simple interest, interest
compounding as well as risk diversification,
which are important for consumers choosing
and using savings and credit products;
2. Promoting small but consistent
contribution of funds for emergency needs
and;
3. Start providing financial education as
early as in primary school in order to embed
the knowledge of basic financial concepts
comprehensively.
Fortunately in Malaysia, efforts to pursue
early education for youngsters to be more
financially literate has started and they are
expected to begin in selected primary schools
early this year – a financial literacy programme.
The programme would be a collaboration
between all Malaysia financial institutions,
There is a tendency to blame survivors when
we do not understand consent. Some people
who have not learned the characteristics of
consent will also wrongly believe there are gray
areas in consent.
For example, in a case of sexual assault at a
party where the survivor was intoxicated, the
immediate response is often to question why
the survivor was even drinking. This response
shifts the responsibility away from the
perpetrator, and fails to acknowledge one of the
five key aspects of consent, which is that it be
given freely.
Being clear on the elements of consent and
adhering strictly to its boundaries helps
everyone. It eliminates doubt as to whether
consent was indeed present and it better equips
us as a society – including within the legal
system – to more sensitively evaluate
complaints of sexual misconduct, to ascertain
whether or not the act in question was
consensual and what the appropriate outcome
is.
Individuals and key players, such as
governmental and organisational bodies, play
important roles in the process of accountability.
Without acknowledging and accepting
responsibility for the roles we assume in these
cases, we too become complicit in the
wrongdoing that took place.
There should be greater cooperation to hold
such perpetrators accountable, even more so
when they otherwise remain in their positions
of power, and face no consequences for their
known as Financial Industry Collective
Outreach, alongside guidance from Bank
Negara Malaysia, and a particular focus would
be directed towards the underprivileged
communities.
This is indeed a positive move that is in line
with expectations and hopes but perhaps,
Malaysia could start infusing financial
education into the curriculum a bit earlier
such as beginning at the age of six.
Generally, children are known for their
ability to absorb information faster and easily
compared with adults. Past literature has
shown that children make great strides in
economic understanding between the age of
six and 12, in that children’s understanding is
“essentially adult” around the age 12.
By infusing financial education into the
curriculum from an early age, it allows
children to acquire the knowledge and skills to
build responsible financial behaviour
throughout each stage of education and life.
For the syllabus structure, art of managing
money should be taught – spending, saving,
investing and borrowing. Financial education
does not have to be a “standalone” subject.
Rather, it can also be integrated into other
subjects, such as economics and mathematics,
so that practical real-life experiences can be
shown to the students.
In-school education should be considered
as an additional medium of learning or as an
alternative to home education about financial
management because not all parents are
sufficiently equipped or privileged to teach
their children about money and levels of
financial literacy.
Nevertheless, if it is possible, family plays a
9
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
* SPEAK UP
The #MeToo
movement is a
group that is
against sexual
harassment and
sexual violence
actions. This also helps us move towards being
a society that not only supports and recognises
the rights of survivors, but also demonstrates
universal zero tolerance for sexual harassment
and violence.
Listening with the intent of empowering
survivors to speak up is only the starting point
to providing justice within a system that is
stacked against survivors.
The responsibility then is entrusted upon
organisations, individuals, and concerned
members of society to uphold values and
ensure that their interactions and systemic
processes reflect this.
Such measures are vital, to support
survivors, stop abuse, and hold perpetrators
accountable for their actions at all levels of
society.
Signed,
All Women’s Action Society (AWAM),
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL),
dearHER, Federation of Reproductive Health
Associations Malaysia (FRHAM), FYI KL, Good
Sex Ed with June Low, Legal Dignity, MISI:
Solidariti, Reproductive Rights Advocacy
Alliance Malaysia (Persatuan Hak Kesihatan
Wanita - RRAAM), Sabah Women’s Action
Resource Group (SAWO), Sisters in Islam (SIS),
SPOT Community Project, Women’s Aid
Organisation (WAO), X Ed Malaysia
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
crucial role in shaping children’s financial
behaviour. Past research has shown that better
savings behaviour is associated with an
“authoritative” (supportive but structured)
parenting style. Other research reveals that
there is a significant correlation between
parental teaching of money management and
higher future credit scores.
At the same time, there is a need to pay
attention to the competency of educators who
are responsible in transferring the knowledge
to students in schools. Based on past studies,
teachers’ knowledge and skills are critical to
ensure effective delivery of financial
education.
So, educators from all disciplines should be
provided with appropriate training related to
financial management so that it can be applied
through the teaching process.
This corroborates well with the strategic
priority and action plans laid out in the
National Strategy for Financial Literacy
framework (2019-2023) that was launched by
the former government. In other words, this
framework needs to be continued and pursued
as it is timely given the current situation.
Financial education is a long-term process
as it is difficult or not possible for one to absorb
and adapt to new knowledge overnight or
within a few days. Therefore, it is quite a clear
message that this particular effort should begin
as early as possible.
Sofea Azahar is Research Analyst
at EMIR Research, a think tank focused on
strategic policy recommendations based
on rigorous research. “Comments:
letters@thesundaily.com”
 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

MARCH 15, 2021
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
43.2 Institutions 2384.2 2382.9 1.3 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
41.8 Retail 2342.9 2268.1 74.8
15.0 Foreign 787.1 863.3 -76.1
13.72 10.79 645.89
16.25 506.19 75.62 40.69 52.89
100.0 5514.3 5514.3 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 1,615.69 3,095.22 28,739.72 3,453.08 29,717.83 16,255.18 3,054.39 6,766.81

INDICES
KL MARKET SUMMARY
March 12, 2021

CHANGE
NGO leaves Sime Darby
Plantation rights panel
FBMEMAS 11,862.10 -72.63
FBMKLCI 1,615.69 -13.72
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 638.87 -0.96
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 192.10 +1.28
CONSTRUCTION 183.01 -3.41
FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,549.80 -171.90
ENERGY 1,002.29 +9.49
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 732.90 -1.77
HEALTH CARE 2,993.08 -35.23 oShift’s exit comes in wake of company’s lawsuit The border service told Reuters by email
TRANSPORTATION
PROPERTY
829.47
759.04
-1.67
+6.95 against Liberty Shared managing director it was its policy to decline comment on
pending litigation.
PLANTATION 7,136.78 -52.94 “Following the events of the last few
FBMSHA 13,136.00 -53.47 days, we have regrettably decided to
FBMACE 10,665.10 +222.07 KUALA LUMPUR: Palm oil is one of withdraw from the company’s Expert
TECHNOLOGY 83.73 +1.15 Non-profit Shift said it the world’s Stakeholder Human Rights Assessment
has left Sime Darby cheapest and Commission,” Francis West, business
TURNOVER VALUE Plantation Bhd’s fastest-growing engagement director at US-based Shift,
9.641 BIL RM5.514 BIL new human rights crops, but the told Reuters on Friday.
commission after industry has Shift works with companies to
the Malaysian palm faced scrutiny implement the United Nations Guiding
5 MOST ACTIVES
March 12, 2021
oil giant sued an
activist, potentially
over the years,
with rights
Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Another member of the commission,
dealing a blow to its g r o u p s prominent migrant-rights activist Andy
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) fight against a US blaming producers for Hall, is considering doing the same if Sime
DNEX 825,900,400 97 +1 import ban over vast deforestation in Darby persists with the litigation.
DNEX-WD 467,650,100 37 +1 forced labour accusations. Southeast Asia and “I am deeply concerned on the impact
EAH 306,162,200 35 UNCH An activist said he is also exploitative labour practices. of this ongoing litigation against a human
XOX 289,503,600 7 +0.5 considering leaving the two-week- Sime Darby formed the rights rights activist on the possibility for the
AT 231,737,000 13 +1.5 old panel after the world’s largest panel on March 1 but on Thursday it human rights commission to function
sustainable palm oil producer sued said it has begun US legal action against effectively according to its goals, and to
Liberty Shared managing director Duncan Jepson, who heads Hong Kong-based anti- conduct its work objectively and
5 TOP GAINERS
March 12, 2021
Jepson, in connection with claims of
worker abuse.
trafficking group Liberty Shared, seeking
information about his complaint to
respectably,” Hall told Reuters on
Saturday.
Kuala Lumpur-based Sime Darby did Malaysia’s Securities Commission. He said the commission was helpful for
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM not immediately respond to requests for The complaint has led to an improving the protection and welfare of
DLADY 18,700 36.50 1.66 comment. investigation into the company’s Sime Darby’s workers but that the lawsuit
MPI 660,000 37.18 0.78 The United States in December banned sustainability disclosures. Liberty Shared undermined their work.
HLIND 324,100 9.53 0.53 the company’s palm imports over successfully petitioned the US Customs “I may have to resign if Sime Darby
FANG-2XL 500 13.14 0.48 accusations it uses forced labour in and Border Protection last year to ban Sime decides to continue with it,” Hall said,
BAT 555,200 12.84 0.34 production, prompting some global palm oil Darby products, citing evidence of labour adding that there were concerns the lawsuit
buyers to drop it from their supply chains. abuse. would stifle whistleblowers.

5 TOP LOSERS
STOCK
March 12, 2021
VOL CLSG (RM) RM
Fed expected to stick to ‘very dovish’ stand
KESM 192,900 12.60 0.74 WASHINGTON: Skittish investors have massive US$1.9 trillion (RM7.82 trillion) high “and for how long,” she said.
HEIM 731,100 26.24 0.56 see-sawed between celebration about the stimulus package, boosting the chances the “It’s going to feel warmer, but we don’t
SOP 383,400 4.01 0.29 expected US economic recovery and nail- world’s largest economy can soon reopen, think it’s an overheating situation.”
EURO 3,744,700 4.60 0.20 biting over a possible price spiral, but the investors have begun to fear an inflationary Over more than a decade inflation has
F&N 342,200 30.80 0.18 Federal Reserve (Fed) is standing firm on spiral. rarely pushed above the Fed’s 2.0% target,
keeping interest rates low. That is reflected in the spike in and the central bank’s preferred price
In the balance between allowing faster government debt yields, particularly on 10- measure was up only 1.5% in January
EXCHANGE RATES MARCH 12, 2021 growth – and rising prices – in order to year Treasury notes, a canary in the coal compared to a year earlier.
restore some of the more than nine million mine for coming price increases. Bostjancic and Frick agree with many
Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy jobs still missing due to the Covid-19 While the jump back to its early 2020 economists who say there is a lot of slack in
TT/OD TT OD pandemic, Fed chair Jerome Powell’s (pix) level could be viewed as something of a the economy which will dampen price
1 US DOLLAR 4.1680 4.0430 4.0330 message has been clear: he wants to see market freak-out, there are real-world increases.
more people back to work. consequences of rising Treasury yields, Powell has acknowledged that prices
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.2620 3.1340 3.1180 Analysts are expecting the Fed’s policy- since lending rates for home mortgages will move up but he pledged the Fed would
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.1080 3.0180 3.0100 setting Federal Open Market Committee and car loans are linked to them. not withdraw stimulus until the economy
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.3240 3.2340 3.2220 (FOMC) to maintain its very “dovish” Mortgage rates have begun to creep up, had returned to maximum employment –
1 EURO 5.0010 4.8390 4.8190 stance when it holds its two-day policy which could price some buyers out of an which is unlikely this year – and inflation
meeting this week. already-hot housing market, while existing was both above the 2.0% goal and on track
1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 3.0230 2.9120 2.8960 Powell on Wednesday is expected to homeowners will find it harder to to remain there “for some time”.
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.1080 3.0180 3.0100 stress once again that the Fed is willing to refinance their loans, said “We’re not intending to raise interest
1 STERLING POUND 5.8450 5.6630 5.6430 accept higher inflation to get back to full Kathy Bostjancic of Oxford rates until we see those conditions
1 SWISS FRANC 4.4940 4.3880 4.3730 employment, a goal that took a decade to Economics. fulfilled,” Powell said.
achieve following the 2008 global financial Inflation is expected to However, the Fed is not impervious
100 UAE DIRHAM 114.7900 108.8500 108.6500 crisis. rebound, as the economic to the market jitters, and Powell could
100 BANGLADESH TAKA 5.0110 4.6860 4.4860 “I think it’s ‘markets be damned’ at this engine revs up, especially try again to calm inflation fears by
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 64.4000 61.9000 N/A point,” said Robert Frick of Navy Federal compared to the depressed sending a stronger signal that the
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 54.2900 51.5900 51.3900 Credit Union. prices seen during the central bank will use its tools to address
“The Fed has said that until the real pandemic closures, but any any worrying price increases or bond
100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.8300 5.4700 5.2700
improvement in employment and in the sharp spikes are expected to be yield spikes.
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0299 0.0271 0.0221 economy, they’re not going to budge,” Frick temporary. While he has been
100 JAPANESE YEN 3.8440 3.7230 3.7130 told AFP. “I really don’t think they’re going “The reopening noncommittal about
100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.9000 N/A N/A to waver.” economy is going to be specifics he could
From a 50-year low of 3.5% turbocharged by this provide more details in
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 2.7100 2.5300 2.3300
unemployment before the pandemic US$1.9 trillion fiscal his press conference
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.7400 8.2300 8.0300 lockdowns began in early 2020, the jobless stimulus, so there’s We dnes day,
100 QATAR RIYAL 115.7100 109.8400 109.6400 rate spiked as millions of workers were sent no doubt” inflation including on his
100 SAUDI RIYAL 112.3300 106.6400 106.4400 home, but gradually fell back to 6.2% in will rise, Bostjancic willingness to
February amid businesses reopenings. told AFP. change the mix of
100 THAI BAHT 14.2500 12.6400 12.2400
As vaccine rollouts have picked up The critical debt the Fed buys
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama speed and President Joe Biden signed a question is how each month.
 11
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

* SUNBIZ

On avoidance,
mitigation,
The dollar was
in crisis in
1977, coming
under severe
pressure, and

and evasion
tangible assets
such as real
estate and
gold
appreciated
considerably. .

‘T
AX avoidance’ has recently
been demonised as an
unsavoury practice adopted
by taxpayers to avoid paying
their due share of taxes. Most people will
agree that governments cannot function
without collecting taxes. We are
constantly being reminded by the
authorities that it is our moral duty as
citizens of Malaysia to pay our
share of taxes. Yes, most of us
will not disagree.
Parliament creates tax
laws
Tax laws formulated by the
executive led by the prime
minister are promulgated by
Parliament. Whenever there
are issues on interpretation or
disputes, the courts step in and provide
guidance and resolution.
The question of the moral duty to pay
tax is not enshrined in the tax laws and
till today, the views expressed by Justice
Lee Hun Hoe in the Rakyat Berjaya Case
in 1984 is still applicable; “No
commercial person in his right sense is
going to carry our commercial
transactions except on the footing of
paying the smallest amount of tax
involved. There is nothing wrong at all
for a company to organise their affairs in
such a way to as to minimise tax”.
Taxpayers must comply with tax laws
and pay the correct amount of tax. Any
amount paid more than his dues, is a “gift
to government”.
Why disputes arise?
Although the taxpayer complies with the
law, the tax authorities may take a
different view on interpretation the law
and may argue that sole purpose the
transaction or series of transactions is to
avoid taxes.
Borderline between tax avoidance, tax
mitigation and tax evasion
Tax evasion is clear, it has a criminal
aspect as it carried out with an intention
to evade taxes by falsifying accounts,
providing incorrect information, and
simply not disclosing information or
making fictitious expense claims.
The problem area is tax avoidance –
which is “acceptable” and
“unacceptable” tax avoidance. The basic
requirement for any taxpayer is, comply
with the letter of the law.
The issue of avoidance “pops its head”
when the taxpayer structures his
transaction in a way to reduce his tax
liability by inserting intermediate steps
which have no commercial rationale but
to ensure the ultimate result of the whole
scheme or arrangement results in a
reduction of tax liability. If the
intention of carrying out a
transaction or a scheme is with
the prime motive of avoiding
taxes, that is unacceptable
avoidance.
What is acceptable
avoidance is now recognised as
tax mitigation. Tax mitigation is
invoked when the taxpayer has
choice between two provisions of the law
and if one route allows a more beneficial
tax result, the taxpayer can opt for the
reduced tax route.
Tax mitigation also requires a taxpayer
to show that the primary intent of the
transaction or an arrangement is
commercially driven. The transaction
involves the parties incurring costs,
losses or sometimes a reduction of
income and the tax benefit is merely
incidental.
The “business purpose test” and the
economic consequences to the
transaction should be clearly visible in
order to fall within the ambit of
“acceptable avoidance” or tax mitigation.
Taxpayers, beware.
Whenever taxpayers are carrying out any
transactions between third parties or
related parties, the issue of avoidance
must not be precluded since the tax
authorities are constantly on the
“lookout” for such misbehaviours.
Avoidance is a critical issue to be
considered when transactions involve
business restructuring, undertaking large
transactions, using brought forward
losses, changing transfer prices/business
models, or if tax planning is done after a
transaction has been initiated, etc.
This article was contributed by
Thannees Tax Consulting Services
Sdn Bhd managing director SM
Thanneermalai.
Are we ready for modern monetary theory?
I WAS invited to speak at the
2019 PNB Corporate Summit
“Can Malaysia Reboot Itself?” on
Oct 30, and I shared with the
esteemed audience that I was not
a big fan of the modern
monetary theory (MMT), in
which you can borrow and
spend as much as you can,
monetise the debt and put it on
the balance sheet.
It looks good for academic
papers but devastating for the
markets. If we analyse the market
and what happened to the US
economy in the last 15 months
during Covid-19, we see what is
shown in the table above.
New economic policy of Biden
administration
US President Joe Biden’s
economic policy will follow the
MMT model. So, what wrong
with that?
Nothing, in terms of legal or
accenting boundary, but the
challenge is the confidence
boundary. This might hurt the
dollar outlook in the long run.
With the dollar running into
high velocity, changing hands
fast and losing confidence, the
question from the market is: Will
the market witness a repeat of
1977 when the dollar was under
crisis and 10-year US Treasury
bills Swiss franc-denominated? It
was called Carter bonds during
the time, as the dollar was under
fierce crisis and tangible assets
like real estate and gold
appreciated considerably. Gold
prices went up by 300% in a span
of five years.
There is a benefit of reading
economic history if you try to
correlate things. Can history
repeat itself in the modern
epoch? In these tempestuous
times, anything is possible since
the Big Four central banks [US
– AFPPIX
Base line deficit before Covid US$1 trillion
Stimulus amount in 2020 US$3 trillion (A)
Trump added before Jan 20-21 US$900 billion (B)
Biden stimulus approved US$1.9 trillion (C)
Budget deficit roughly [ A+B+C] US$6 trillion
Fed, Bank of Japan, European where growth momentum is
Central Bank and Bank of strong due to macroeconomic
England] have experimented stability, aggregate demand,
with so many unorthodox policy policy manoeuvering – fiscal and
levers in the last 13 years to bring monetary, rising income, and
confidence and growth back in modern infrastructure.
their economies. But growth Asia remains under the global
remained an economic illusion. investor’s radar due to economic
growth taking place. China is
Economic recovery in 2021 – taking the lead in the growth
real or artificial? trajectory in the Asian region. In
The question is, after post Covid- the next three to five years, China
19, can we maintain the will become the largest economy
economic momentum of the world, leaving the US in
or economic second place. The pivot of
recovery is taking economic growth moves to
place? I doubt Asia.
so, as advanced
economies are This article was
struggling due contributed by Juwai
poor policy IQI global chief
response to economist Shan Saeed
Covid-19 and (pix).
productivity
remains under
lot of pressure.
On the other
hand, you
h a v e
Asia,

WARRANTS WATCH

Turnover surges as HSTECH-C1 makes strong debut

THE Malaysia warrants market
posted a 0.6% increase in turnover to
RM421.1 million from RM419.3
million a week earlier. Last Tuesday
was a notable day as the total
warrants turnover surged above the
RM100 million mark for the first time
this month.
The surge can be attributed to the
first Hang Seng TECH Index
(HSTECH) warrants launch in
Malaysia which allows investors to
gain broader exposure to the
technology sector in Hong Kong. The
technology-focused index is a lot
more volatile than the Hang Seng
Index (HSI) and the FBM KLCI,
boasting an average volatility of 37%,
with 94% growth over the past 12
months (as of Jan 31 2021).
The HSTECH March futures
started the week with a 6.2% dive to
close at 8,007 last Monday but found
some support at the 7,700 level on
Tuesday following close to a month of
decline. The index futures
subsequently traded higher in the
next two days before erasing some
weekly gains on Friday to end the
week at 8,430. HSTECH-C1 was the
most popular warrant on Tuesday
with 64.9 million units traded as
bullish investors took home 12.5
million units, which resulted in the
new call warrant being close to sold
out on its first day of listing. The bid
price of the call warrant hit a weekly
high at RM0.100 on Friday morning
following the strong rebound in
HSTECH futures.
The large fluctuations in the
HSTECH futures provide increased
Top stock warrants by volume traded: carrier AirAsia Group traded above the
RM1.00 level for the first time since
early June, and closing 23.0% higher
Warrant Volume Issuer Exercise Expiry date on-week, marking its fourth
name (mil) level consecutive week of gains since Feb 22.
HSI-CFK 196.8 Macquarie 31,000 29 Jun 2021
HSI-HGK 123.6 Macquarie 27,000 28 May 2021 To view the full list of structured
AIRASIA-C1J 92.4 Kenanga 0.80 26 Apr 2021 warrants available on Bursa Malaysia,
HSTECH-C1 90.9 Macquarie 15,000 29 Sep 2021 visit malaysiawarrants.com.my.
SUPERMX-C1I 80.3 Kenanga 14.00 31 May 2021
Provided for Malaysian residents’
opportunities for investors to million units of HSI-HGK last week as information only. This commentary has
potentially profit from movement in the HSI futures rebounded from a not been reviewed by the Securities
either direction via the new HSTECH weekly low at 28,283 on Tuesday Commission Malaysia. It is not an offer
call warrant and put warrants. (March 9). or recommendation to trade and is not
Meanwhile, HSI warrants remained On the local bourse, call warrant research material.
the two most popular last week with AirAsia-C1J saw heavy trading Past performance is not indicative of
call warrant HSI-CFK and put warrant throughout the week and ended up future performance. You should make
HSI-HGK seeing 196.8 million and third on the most popular warrant list your own assessment and seek
123.6 million units traded, respectively. with 92.4 million units traded. Last professional advice. The warrants will
Bearish investors net bought 7.7 Tuesday, the share price of low-cost not be offered to any US persons.
12 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
SUNBIZ

THE case for gender equity in the workplace

goes beyond ethics and vanity metrics. It is a
business one, and the numbers say it all.
A 2019 McKinsey study found that females in
top leadership can increase company profits
and share performance by as much as 50%.
Development Dimensions International also
reported that organisations with above-average
diversity were eight times more likely to be in
the top 10% of financial performers.
In Southeast Asia, 75% of employees who
rated their organisations the most diverse felt
their organisations were outperforming
competitors, nearly twice that of employees
who rated their organizations the least diverse.
Fellow Malaysians also agreed that a 10%
increase in women at both board and senior
management level would bring a 1.6% increase
in return on equity.
What’s the link?
To get leadership on board, it’s important to
understand how diversity directly benefits
corporations. Here’s how.

Diversity benefits customers

Companies thrive on creating diverse solutions
for customers. Different perspectives help
better meet the needs of diverse customers,
therefore, driving growth. In Southeast Asia,
diversity is strongly linked to innovation.
Companies with five or more dimensions of
diversity attributed 46% of revenue from new
products, 10% more than those with only one
dimension. In Southeast Asia, 75% of employees who rated their organisations the most diverse felt their organisations were outperforming competitors. – AFPPIX

How gender equity

Diversity benefits employees
Diversity driven by formal workplace policies
and informal company culture helps employees
feel welcomed and engaged. This impacts all
employees across the board – current, new, and
potential.

affects the bottom line

New employees feel supported and
included, helping them adapt much quicker. It
also reduces employee absenteeism and
increases employee loyalty. As much as 53% of
employees in Asia believe that greater diversity
and inclusion would help employers better
retain talent.
In a region where more than 70% of senior oA study found that women in top leadership can training is beneficial, only 49% of employers are
providing it. To strengthen our inclusive culture,

increase company profits and share performance

executives report securing top talent a
challenge, ensuring workplace diversity is no
longer an option but a necessity.
Diversity also matters to the new generation
of workers. According to Deloitte, 58% of
millennials from diverse organisations agreed
that their companies were good at attracting
and retaining talent, compared to 41% who said
the same from non-diverse organisations.
Additionally, 69% of employees from diverse
organisations said they would stay beyond five
years, more than double those from non-
diverse ones.
Driving gender equity amid Covid-19
The pandemic has undone much progress in
gender equity as women across the globe are
disproportionately impacted. The
International Labour Organization reported
that employment for women in Asia Pacific
dropped by 4.6%, more than the 4% drop for
men. In Malaysia, the number of employed
females fell by 2.5% in Q2 2020, five times
compared to male employees.
It’s time for corporations to step up – from
changing practices to promoting more female
workforce participation. True gender equality
goes beyond flexible working hours. Here are
some ways corporations can continue to
advance the issue in the new normal.
First, kickstart initiatives that directly
champion female leadership. By providing
platforms for guidance and mentorship, they
help develop leaders at all levels to accelerate
the inclusion and advancement of women. 3M’s
Women’s Leadership Forum is one such
example. It now has over 5,000 employees in its
65 chapters worldwide, including Malaysia.
Second, redesign the recruitment and
interview processes to ensure a fair playing field
for all. According to global recruitment
consultant Hays, the top three ways
organisations in Asia proactively seek diverse
candidates include employee referrals; utilizing
data to choose channels that produce most
diversity; and working with specialist
recruitment agencies to engage applicants from
underrepresented groups. With a cumulative
goal across all diversity categories to double the
pipeline of diverse talent in management
globally from 32.6% to 65.2%, 3M is working on
removing all individual discretion and bias from
interview processes, and investing in a new
interview management system focused on
skills-based hiring.
Third, introduce employee training to
address unconscious biases. This can help
employees identify and understand potential
biases and the tools to change them. There are
still some ways to go in Asia. While 72% of
employees here agree that unconscious bias
we are incorporating unconscious bias training
at all
Lastly, corporations can support gender
equity-focused non-profits and empower
employees to donate their time and skillsets to
such causes. For example, 3M partnered with
Asean Foundation, United Way Worldwide, and
Community Chest of Korea for the Asean Cares
program to help support Covid-19 relief
programmes in Malaysia and Thailand, by
providing access to food and basic hygiene.
Many of the beneficiaries included women-
headed households, pregnant and lactating
women, and other vulnerable individuals and
communities.
Diversity brings undeniable benefits and in
these challenging times, the need for
corporations to strengthen diversity initiatives
and policies is more urgent than ever.
Let’s work together to heed this call.
This article was contributed by 3M people
relations leader for Asia Rozl Bautista.

Virgin Atlantic set to raise £160m in latest financing
BENGARLURU: British airline Virgin Atlantic, “We continue to bolster our balance sheet in of two Boeing 787s as part of a plan to
which has been hammered by the Covid-19
pandemic like much of the sector,
anticipation of the lifting of international travel
restrictions during the second quarter of 2021,”
strengthen its balance sheet.
The deal with Griffin Global Asset
is set to raise £160 million the spokeswoman said. Management to raise just over US$230 million
(RM918.2 million) in new “This latest £160 million financing provides (RM946.8 million) from the two planes was
financing, a spokeswoman for further resilience against a slower revenue meant to enable Virgin Atlantic to repay a loan
Sir Richard Branson’s airline recovery in 2021”, she said. taken on as part of its rescue deal last year.
said in an emailed The latest financing follows the airline’s In the latest raise, Branson’s Virgin Group is
statement. completion in January of the sale and leaseback set to provide about £100 million and the
remaining £60 million would include
deferrals, according to Sky News, which
first reported the development.
In November, the company said
that its £1.2 billion rescue deal
secured two months prior meant
that the airline can survive even if the
travel situation were to worsen.
Virgin cut costs by £335
million last year, CEO Shai
Virgin cut Weiss told an airline industry
costs by event in November. It had also
£335 million announced 4,650 job losses
last year. – during the pandemic, halving
REUTERSPIX its workforce, and shrank its
fleet. – Reuters
Lay Hong offers full
cooperation in
salmonella probe
KUALA LUMPUR: Lay Hong Bhd will offer
full cooperation and compliance with the
Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in
Malaysia and formulate plans to strengthen
farm control practices and monitoring
following the detection of Salmonella
Enteritidis (SE) in eggs exported from one of
its farms in Jeram, Selangor.
“Our priority is the safety of our customers.
We are currently working closely with the
Department of Veterinary and Services to
investigate and monitor the alleged farm related
to export Salmonella detection,” said Lay Hong
executive director Datuk Yap Chor How.
“The Jeram 1 farm is currently suspended
from both the domestic and export market
pending the completion of the investigation
by DVS,” he said in a statement yesterday.
On Saturday, four importers in Singapore
were directed to recall eggs from Lay Hong’s
layer farm in Jeram, following the detection
SE in them. – Bernama

190 Shops to Let
GREAT
RETAIL SPACE
FOR SALE!
Address:
Kota Raya Complex
Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
50000 Kuala Lumpur
Area:
5th Floor – 26,102 sf
4th Floor – 22,390 sf
Other Floors –
From 205 sf to 2,982 sf
For viewing appointment,
please call
Ms. Chloe : 03-2072 2562
322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF THE
COMPANIES ACT 2016
AND IN THE MATTER OF
MJK GLOBAL SDN BHD
201301021068 (1050898-U)
(MEMBERS’S
VOLUNTARY WINDING UP)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
to Section 459 of the Companies
Act 2016, that the Final Meeting
of Members of the abovenamed
Company will be held at 171, Jalan Sri
Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor
Bahru on 15th April 2021 at 2.00 p.m.
for the following purposes:
(a) To receive an account from the
Liquidator showing the manner in
which the winding up has been
conducted and the property of
the Company disposed of and to
hear any explanations that may be
given by the Liquidator;
(b) To receive the resignation of the
Liquidator; and
(c) To determined by Resolution
the manner in which the books,
accounts and documents of the
Company and of the Liquidator
shall be disposed of.
LOR LI MENG
(Liquidator)
Dated: 15 March 2021
Note:
A member entitled to attend and vote
at the Members Meeting is entitled
to appoint a proxy to attend and
vote in his stead, a proxy need not
be a member of the Company. The
instrument appointing a proxy must
be deposited at 171, Jalan Sri Pelangi,
Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru
at least 48 hours before the time
appointed for meeting.
322 Notices
AKUAN PERKANUN KETIDAKMAMPUAN
SYARIKAT MENERUSKAN PERNIAGAAN,
DAN BAHAWA MESYUARAT DI ANTARA
SYARIKAT DAN PARA PEMIUTANGNYA
TELAH DIPANGGIL
SEKSYEN 440(1)
AKTA SYARIKAT 2016
DAN
DALAM PERKARA
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
NO. PENDAFTARAN 199801003187
(459313-U)
(PENGGULUNGAN SUKARELA PARA
PEMIUTANG)
Saya, ABDUL MANAFF BIN HUSSEIN,
No. K.P. 580624-71-5383 daripada
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD. dengan
sesungguhnya dan seikhlasnya
mengumumkan bahawa
tidak mampu meneruskan perniagaan
Syarikat
disebabkan oleh liabilitinya, dan bahawa
mesyuarat-mesyuarat di antara Syarikat
dan para pemiutangnya telah dipanggil
untuk diadakan pada tarikh dalam
tempoh tiga puluh (30) hari dari tarikh
pengumuman ini.
Mesyuarat-mesyuarat di antara
Syarikat dan para pemiutangnya akan
diadakan pada 1hb April, 2021 di First
Floor, 25 Lintang Burma, 10250 George
Town, Pulau Pinang dan saya dengan
sesungguhnya dan penuh kepercayaan
membuat pengisyhtiharan ini bahawa
maklumat ini adalah benar dan
berdasarkan peruntukan Akta Berkanun
1960.
Bertarikh 3hb Mac, 2021
Abdul Manaff Bin Hussein
Pengarah
NOTIS
PELANTIKAN DAN ALAMAT
PELIKUIDASI SEMENTARA
SEKSYEN 513(1) AKTA SYARIKAT, 2016
DAN
DALAM PERKARA
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
NO. PENDAFTARAN
199801003187 (459313-U)
(PENGGULUNGAN
SUKARELA PARA PEMIUTANG)
NOTIS DENGAN INI DIBERIKAN BAHAWA:
a) saya, Lam Wai Min dari 14-01 Menara
Penang Garden, 42A Jalan Sultan
Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town,
Pulau Pinang telah dilantik sebagai
Pelikuidasi Sementara PROFOUND
PEAK SDN. BHD. menerusi resolusi
yang telah diluluskan pada 3hb Mac,
2021; dan
b) alamat pejabat saya adalah di 14-01
Menara Penang Garden, 42A Jalan
Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George
Town, Pulau Pinang
Bertarikh 15hb Mac, 2021
Lam Wai Min
Pelikuidasi Sementara
322 Notices
322 Notices
STATUTORY DECLARATION OF
INABILITY OF COMPANY TO
CONTINUE BUSINESS, AND THAT
MEETINGS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS
CREDITORS HAVE BEEN SUMMONED
SECTION 440(1)
COMPANIES ACT 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
REGISTRATION NO.
199801003187 (459313-U)
(CREDITORS’
VOLUNTARY WINDING UP)
I, ABDUL MANAFF BIN HUSSEIN, IC No.
580624-71-5383 of PROFOUND PEAK
SDN. BHD. solemnly and sincerely
declare that the company cannot by
reason of its liabilities continue its
business, and that meetings of the
company and of its creditors have been
summoned for a date within thirty (30)
days of the date of this declaration.
The meeting(s) of the company and of
its creditors will be held on April 1, 2021
at First Floor, 25 Lintang Burma, 10250
George Town, Pulau Pinang.
And I make this solemn declaration
conscientiously believing the same to
be true and by virtue of the provision of
the Statutory Act, 1960.
Dated this 3rd day of March, 2021.
ABDUL MANAFF BIN HUSSEIN
Director
NOTICE
OF APPOINTMENT AND ADDRESS OF
INTERIM LIQUIDATOR
SECTION 513(1)
COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
REGISTRATION NO. 199801003187
(459313-U)
(CREDITORS’
VOLUNTARY WINDING UP)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT:
a) I, Lam Wai Min of 14-01 Menara
Penang Garden, 42A Jalan Sultan
Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town,
Pulau Pinang was appointed as
Interim Liquidator of PROFOUND
PEAK SDN. BHD. by a resolution
passed on the 3rd day of March,
2021; and
b) my office address is 14-01 Menara
Penang Garden, 42A Jalan Sultan
Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town,
Pulau Pinang
Dated this 15th day of March, 2021
Lam Wai Min
Interim Liquidator
13
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
* SPORTS
Mercedes back on top
Bottas fastest on second day of testing in Bahrain
V
ALTTERI BOTTAS lifted Mercedes to a fastest lap of one minute 30.289 seconds on AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was second
the top of the testing timesheets in the softest and quickest tyres. fastest, 0.124 slower, with Canadian Lance
Bahrain yesterday in a return to How much that meant, in testing, remains to Stroll third for Aston Martin and Lando Norris
normal service for the unsettled be seen and Bottas recognised it was unclear fourth for McLaren.
Formula One champions after a difficult what fuel loads rivals were running. Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fastest for
opening day. “It’s windier here than we’ve had at a race McLaren in the morning session for the second
The Finn had managed only six laps on but one of the bigger issues with the car is the day in a row.
Friday due to a gearbox problem in the rear end, it’s quite snappy and unforgiving,” Double world champion Fernando Alonso,
morning, and seven times world champion said Bottas. who has replaced Ricciardo at the Renault team
Lewis Hamilton sent the car backwards into the “With the new tyres, it’s quite sensitive so we now renamed as Alpine, began his comeback
gravel on Saturday. need to calm the car down a bit.” after two years away with the second-quickest
The situation was a far cry from recent years Mercedes still remained last when it came to time in the morning.
of Mercedes dominating pre-season testing. laps completed, with both drivers having a half The Spaniard ended the day with 128 laps
Bottas got the team back on track with 58 day each remaining to them. under his belt.
laps of the Sakhir circuit in yesterday, the same “It’s day two of testing, so we’re just focused “The car did feel good today, but I think we
amount that Hamilton did in the morning, with on doing our job,” said Hamilton, who had still need to understand the characteristics of
struggled through a sandstorm on Friday. the new aero package a bit better,” he said.
“There’s no point in getting worried just yet, Teams have only three days of testing, half
322 Notices everyone’s focusing on their programmes and the amount of last year, before the first race in
that’s what we’re doing.” Bahrain on March 28. – Reuters
LOST SHARE CERTIFICATE
Middleweight great
The following share certificate has been reported lost or
destroyed:
Certificate No Name of Shareholder No Of Shares
Hagler dies at 66
MMC CORPORATION BERHAD
009871 – 9891 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52256 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52268 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52270 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52272 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN BOXING legend Marvin Hagler, the undisputed middleweight
A52278 – 79
A52281
MMC UTILITIES BERHAD
MMC UTILITIES BERHAD
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
champion from 1980 to 1987, died yesterday at age 66, his wife
A52301 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN said.
A52304
A52315
MMC UTILITIES BERHAD
MMC UTILITIES BERHAD
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
In a posting on the famed fighter’s Facebook page, Kay G.
A52324 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN Hagler said her husband passed away at the family home in
A52340 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN Bartlett, New Hampshire.
A52342 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52362 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN “I am sorry to make a very sad announcement. Today
A52368 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52370 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed
A52372 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire,” she
A52385 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN
A52387 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN wrote. “Our family requests that you respect our privacy
A52265 MMC UTILITIES BERHAD UNKNOWN during this difficult time.”
N43631 – 2 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA UNKNOWN
N43713 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA UNKNOWN “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler fought from 1973 to 1987
J23382 – 3 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA UNKNOWN and delivered some of the epic bouts in a golden era of
MULPHA INTERNATIONAL BERHAD the sport, finishing with a record of 62-3 with two drawn
757392 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 and 52 knockouts.
757477 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000
757986 – 7 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 2 x 1000 The southpaw’s most heralded triumph came in a 1985
757997
873023
PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA
PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA
1000
1000
matchup at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas against Thomas
873770 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 “Hitman” Hearns that lasted only a tick over eight minutes but
873774 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 was regarded as a classic that became known simply as “The War.”
874055 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000
874082 – 4 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 3 x 1000 “Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the greatest athletes
874093 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 that Top Rank ever promoted,“ legendary US promoter Bob Arum
874252 – 3 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 2 x 1000
979759 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 said. “He was a man of honor and a man of his word, and he
981947 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000
1111507 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 performed in the ring with unparallelled determination.
1112458 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 “He was a true athlete and a true man. I will miss him greatly,”
1113183 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000
1113295 PEMEGANG AMANAH RAYA 1000 MARVIN Arum added of Hagler, a member of the middleweight division’s
“Four Kings” of the 1980s along with Hearns, “Sugar” Ray Leonard
HAGLER
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that if within fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, no claim
or representation in respect of such certificates is made to the Directors, they will then and Roberto Duran.
1954-2021
proceed to issue replacement certificates and the original certificates will be deemed
cancelled and void. Sports streaming service DAZN honored Hagler with a 10-count
REGISTRARS salute during a boxing card in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday night.
BOARDROOM SHARE REGISTRARS SDN (378993-D)
Date : 15.03.2021
“Rest in eternal peace the Marvellous One!” said promoter Eddie
Hearn. – AFP
NOTICE NOTIS
IN THE MATTER OF DI DALAM PERKARA
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AKTA SYARIKAT, 2016
Muguruza relieved to end trophy drought
AND DAN
IN THE MATTER OF DALAM PERKARA
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD. PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
REGISTRATION NO. 199801003187 NO. PENDAFTARAN 199801003187
(459313-U) (459313-U)
(PENGGULUNGAN SUKARELA PARA
(CREDITORS’ VOLUNTARY
WINDING UP) PEMIUTANG) FORMER world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza was finalist’s trophy.”
NOTICE is hereby given that the Meeting DENGAN INI NOTIS DIBERIKAN BAHAWA relieved to finally avoid tripping at the last The strongly built Spaniard won her
of Creditors of the above-mentioned mesyuarat para pemiutang Syarikat di
atas akan diadakan di First Floor, 25
hurdle and end her trophy drought yesterday maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in
Company will be held at First Floor, 25
Lintang Burma, 10250 George Town, Lintang Burma, 10250 George Town, Pulau
Pinang pada 1hb April, 2021 pada jam 4.00
in Dubai, the Spaniard’s first WTA singles title 2016 and bagged her second at Wimbledon
Pulau Pinang on April 1, 2021 at 4:00
p.m. for the following purposes:
petang untuk tujuan: in almost two years. the following year to climb to the top of the
1. To appoint a liquidator of the
1. Melantik Pelikuidasi Syarikat untuk The 27-year-old Muguruza had last won a women’s rankings.
Company for the purpose of winding-
tujuan hal ehwal pengulungan Syarikat.
tournament at Monterrey, Mexico, in April, She is ranked 16th but leads the WTA tour
up the affairs of the Company.
2. Untuk menguruskan sebarang perkara
yang timbul berkaitan.
2019. Since then she reached the title rounds with 18 victories during the 2021 season.
2. To transact any relevant matter
arising. Tarikh : 15hb Mac, 2021
at the 2020 Australian Open, Yarra Valley “Definitely it helps the confidence having
Dated this 15th day of March, 2021.
Classic in Melbourne in February and last a trophy under your belt,” Muguruza said. “It’s
ABDUL MANAFF BIN HUSSEIN
Pengarah week’s event in Doha. a sign, a real proof that you’re playing well,
ABDUL MANAFF BIN HUSSEIN
Director “It means a lot, it’s never easy to win titles,” that you’re doing the right things.
NOTICE
NOTIS
DI DALAM PERKARA
Muguruza told reporters after her 7-6(6), 6-3 “But I’ve always been very determined in
IN THE MATTER OF AKTA SYARIKAT, 2016 win over Czech Barbora Krejcikova. that way and believed in myself. I always
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 DAN
AND DALAM PERKARA “It doesn’t happen often, and I’m excited believe every time I go out there that I’m one
IN THE MATTER OF
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
PROFOUND PEAK SDN. BHD.
NO. PENDAFTARAN 199801003187 that it happened now, after a few finals that of the players that can get the trophy… and
REGISTRATION NO. 199801003187
(459313-U)
(459313-U)
(DALAM PENGGULUNGAN SUKARELA
didn’t go my way. A nice relief to be able to I’ve always believed that in good moments
(CREDITORS’ VOLUNTARY PARA PEMIUTANG) hold a champion’s trophy and not the and in bad moments.” – Reuters
WINDING UP)
Notis juga diberikan kepada pemiutang-
NOTICE is hereby given that the pemiutang Syarikat untuk memberi
BRIEFS
creditors of the above-named Company bukti hutang atau tuntutan mereka atau
are required on or before March 29,
2021 to prove their debts or claims and
menubuhkan surat ikatan undang-undang
yang mereka mungkin mempunyai microphone when he retired in 2001 after a 52-
to establish any title they may have to keutamaan dan perlu diberi keutamaan year broadcasting career.
priority by delivering or sending through
the post to the interim liquidator at
dengan menyampaikan atau menghantar
melalui pos kepada pelikuidasi sementara
di alamat dibawah tidak lewat daripada
Formula One loses its ‘Voice’
the under-mentioned address. Form
of proof and of general and special
29hb Mac, 2021. Bukti hutang, proksi Two-way duel at Players
proxies may be obtained from the
interim liquidator at the address below.
umum dan khas boleh didapati daripada
pelikuidasi sementara di alamat di MURRAY WALKER, the British broadcaster
Proxies to be used at the meeting must
bawah. Proksi yang akan digunakan
pada mesyuarat mesti diserahkan kepada regarded as the “Voice of Formula One”, has died BRYSON DECHAMBEAU figured there would be
be lodged with me not later than 12.00
p.m. on March 29, 2021.
pelikuidasi tidak lewat daripada pukul
12.00 petang pada 29hb Mac, 2021.
aged 97. Walker, who served in the Second more duels with England's Lee Westwood ahead
Dated this 15th day of March, 2021.
World War, became a Formula One icon during and just as he predicted, the two will butt heads
Bertarikh 15hb Mac, 2021
more than 30 years as a commentator for the in the final group at The Players Championship in
Lam Wai Min
Interim Liquidator
Lam Wai Min
Pelikuidasi Sementara BBC and ITV. Known for his passionate vocal Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Westwood carded a
Address: Alamat:
style while commentating, he reported on his bogey-free, 4-under 68 to hold onto the lead at
14-01 Menara Penang Garden
42A Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah
14-01 Menara Penang Garden
42A Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah
first Grand Prix for BBC radio at Silverstone in 13-under 203 on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium
10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang. 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang. 1949. Walker became a fulltime F1 Course, while DeChambeau moved into second
Tel : 604-2291813 Fax : 604-2978813 Tel : 604-2291813 Fax : 604-2978813
commentator in 1978 and only hung up his place at 11-under.
14 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021
SPORTS

Simeone aware of monsters lurking

A Atletico held by 10-man Getafe as Benzema double gives Real hope
TLETICO MADRID slipped up again in
La Liga yesterrday as they failed to break
down 10-man Getafe in a goalless draw
that gives further encouragement to
Barcelona and Real Madrid in the title race.
Real Madrid had earlier come from behind to
beat Elche 2-1 thanks to a late double from Karim
Benzema, with Atletico’s stalemate meaning the
gap is down to six points between the city rivals.
Barcelona, meanwhile, can move to within
four points of the leaders by beating bottom club
Huesca today.
Getafe were reduced to 10 men when Allan
Nyom was sent off in the 70th minute before Luis
Suarez hit the post and Moussa Dembele twice
went close during a period of sustained Atletico
pressure.
But they failed to find the finishing touch,
meaning Diego Simeone’s side have now won
only two of their last seven games in all
competitions, with a trip to Chelsea up next on
Wednesday in the Champions League.
Atletico will be attempting to overturn a 1-0
deficit at Stamford Bridge.
“We did everything we could but the ball
wouldn’t go in. We have to take a point,” said
goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Simeone admitted that his team are finding it
tough to maintain their lead at the top, telling
Spanish sports daily Marca: “It’s normal. We’ve
been top for almost the whole season… There are
still 11 games left to go.
“People were saying Barcelona were bad and
look what they did in Paris. They have a new
president and excitement is growing.
“Real Madrid always take points from their
games. We have our job at hand as we continue
down our path.
“It was the game I expected... A point is still a
step forwards.
“We have two monsters below us that want to
be where we are.”
Benzema’s late equaliser salvaged a draw
against Atletico the previous weekend and the
Frenchman came up trumps again for Real
Madrid, a brilliant shot flying in off the post in the
91st minute to secure victory at Valdebebas.
“It was a beautiful goal and it won us three
points, so I’m happier than ever,” he said.
A change in system to three at the back was
not an obvious success as Zidane’s team
struggled to break down an Elche side that sit
17th.
“Against teams that sit back, it’s always
difficult,” said Zidane. “We had to find a solution
and in the end we found a gap.”
The Frenchman suggested his side’s late
turnarounds are not doing much for his blood
pressure.
“I like the character the team is showing but I
would prefer that we scored earlier,” he said. “I

Lewa powers Bayern like games to be more relaxed.

“This team has character, we are still alive in
two competitions and we will keep fighting hard
5255/2021
SPORTS TOTO MALAYSIA SDN BHD (8420 - D)
14/03/2021 (SUN)
past Bremen and believing in ourselves.” – AFP/Agencies

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369 270 014 584 287 408 273 634
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the joy of winning. Now we have to start “A coach’s struggle is to install an idea,”
Visit www.sportstoto.com.my improving our game.” Sampaoli said. “There will be different
for e-Results and more info. Arkadiusz Milik combined superbly results and that’s when we’ll see the level
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 15
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 15, 2021

* SPORTS

RESULTS & STANDINGS

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Southamp-
Magpies can avoid relegation, says skipper
NEWCASTLE UNITED skipper Jamaal Lascelles can see that it’s there, it’s just the final pass or the having taken an 86th-minute lead when Ollie
ton 1 (Adams 27) Brighton 2 (Dunk 16, has called on his teammates to prepare for battle final decision or the final run. Watkins’ header hit defender Ciaran Clark and
Trossard 56), Crystal Palace 1 (Milivojevic 37- in ten “cup finals” to ensure the club remains in “If we can get that right, the amount of looped into the net.
pen) West Brom 0, Leeds 0 Chelsea 0, the Premier League. chances we create, we can convert them into “Considering we were down, losing 1-0, to
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 32) Burnley 2
(Wood 13, McNeil 24), Fulham 0 Manchester The 27-year-old centreback earned a valuable goals. We’ve just got to stick with it – we’ve still come back from that with a few minutes to go,
City 3 (Stones 47, Jesus 56, Aguero 60-pen). point with a 94th-minute header to earn a 1-1 got a fair few games to go – stick with it and just obviously it’s nice feeling,” Lascelles said.
draw with Aston Villa at St James’ Park on keep battling on. “However as players, we need to look at
P W D L F A Pts Saturday. “It’s huge for us. Every game is massive now, ourselves. We shouldn’t really have been a goal
Man City 30 22 5 3 64 21 71 Steve Bruce’s side have now earned three it’s like a cup final and that’s the attitude we need down, we should have been a goal or two up and
Man Utd 28 15 9 4 55 32 54 straight draws to slowly move towards safety, to have going into every game. that’s the mentality we need to have.
Leicester 28 16 5 7 48 32 53 with a two-point cushion with 10 games “We’ll go down to Brighton, try to get a win “We need to convert these points into wins
Chelsea 29 14 9 6 44 25 51 remaining, including the next match against and after the international break, reset and go now. The performances have gradually been
West Ham 27 14 6 7 42 31 48 rivals to beat relegation Brighton. again.” getting better and games like this where we’re on
Everton 28 14 4 10 40 37 46 “We’re confident. As players, we know we’ve Lascelles’ bullet header from substitute Jacob the front foot and creating chances, we need to
Tottenham 27 13 6 8 46 28 45 got enough quality,” Lascelles told NUFC TV. “You Murphy’s cross came in the nick of time, with Villa win them.” – The Independent
Liverpool 28 12 7 9 47 36 43

Blues disappoint Tuchel

Aston Villa 27 12 5 10 39 28 41
Arsenal 27 11 5 11 35 28 38
Crystal Palace 29 10 7 12 31 47 37
Leeds 28 11 3 14 43 46 36
Wolves 28 9 8 11 28 37 35

C
Southampton 29
Burnley 29
9 6 14 36 51
8 9 12 22 37
33
33 HELSEA gave the chasing pack in 20 minutes – we need to be more clinical Chelsea stumble in Champions
Brighton
Newcastle 28
28 6 11 11 29 36
7 7 14 28 45
29
28
the race for a place in next season’s
Champions League hope with a 0-
(but) in general I am happy.
“On a pitch like this against a team like
League chase with stalemate
Fulham
West Brom 29
29 5 11 13 22 36
3 9 17 20 57
26
18
0 draw at Leeds on Saturday, as
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha became the
Leeds who put a lot of pressure on you, we
created good attacks and generally I am
against Leeds
Sheffield Utd 28 4 2 22 16 45 14 first Premier League player not to take a happy with the performance but we want to
knee prior to kick-off of a 1-0 win over West win. The boys are disappointed which is a
CHAMPIONSHIP: Birmingham 0 Bristol City Brom. good sign.”
3, Bournemouth 2 Barnsley 3, Cardiff 1 The Blues remain unbeaten in 12 games “We were not clinical enough in our
Watford 2, Derby 0 Millwall 1, Luton 0 since Thomas Tuchel replaced the sacked counter-attacks. We take a 0-0.”
Swansea 1, Middlesbrough 3 Stoke 0, Frank Lampard and kept a 10th clean sheet Palace moved above Leeds into 11th
Nottingham Forest 1 Reading 1, QPR 0 in that run at Elland Road. with a 1-0 win over West Brom with Zaha’s
Huddersfield 1, Wycombe 1 Preston 0. However, Chelsea remain far from stance before kickoff grabbing the
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts prolific at the other end despite the wealth headlines.
Norwich 35 23 7 5 51 25 76 of attacking talent at Tuchel’s disposal. The Ivory Coast international stood tall
Watford 36 20 9 7 48 25 69 Not only did the Blues lack the while the rest of his Palace teammates and
Swansea 35 20 9 6 45 25 69 customary control in the match in deciding their opponents took the knee.
Brentford 35 19 9 7 62 36 66 to play the game on Leeds’ terms rather The 28-year-old revealed last month
Reading 36 18 7 11 50 38 61 than our own, but they also failed to take when speaking at the Financial Times’
Barnsley 36 18 7 11 45 39 61 advantage of several big chances to score Business of Football summit that he would
Bournemouth36 15 11 10 52 37 56 that were created. no longer perform the gesture against racial
Cardiff 36 15 9 12 54 37 54 Afterwards, Tuchel did little to hide his injustice, which has been followed by
Mid’boro 36 15 8 13 44 38 53 disappointment, even as he tried to not be Premier League players, officials and staff
Millwall 36 11 16 9 35 33 49 too harsh in his public assessment. since June.
“We had enough chances to score,” “As a society, I feel we should be
LA LIGA: Alaves 1 (Joselu 36-pen) Cadiz 1 Tuchel told BBC Sport after the match. encouraging better education in schools,
(Alex 84-pen), Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 73, “It was an OK game, sometimes it is hard and social media companies should be
90+1) Elche 1 (Calvo 61), Osasuna 0 Real to score. It is not that you get what you wish taking stronger action against people who
Valladolid 0, Getafe 0 Atletico Madrid 0. for and we have to abuse others online – not just footballers,”
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts keep on Zaha said in a statement.
Atletico 27 19 6 2 50 18 63 working hard “I now just want to focus on football
Real Madrid 27 17 6 4 46 22 57 and be more and enjoy being back playing on the
Barcelona 26 17 5 4 57 22 56 precise in the pitch. I will continue to stand tall.”
Sevilla 25 15 3 7 35 20 48 opponents’ Once the action began, Luka
Sociedad 26 12 9 5 43 21 45 box. Milivojevic scored the only goal from
Real Betis 26 13 3 10 36 40 42 “Ou r the penalty spot to plunge the Baggies
Villarreal 26 8 13 5 34 29 37 timing in ever closer to a return to the
Levante 27 8 11 8 36 35 35 t h e Championship.
Bilbao 26 9 6 11 37 31 33 last Sam Allardyce’s men remain eight
Celta Vigo 26 8 9 9 34 40 33 points adrift of safety in 19th with just
nine games left to
SERIE A: Sassuolo 3 (Locatelli 4, Djuricic 51, save themselves.
Traore 81) Hellas Verona 2 (Lazovic 43, – The
Dimarco 79), Benevento 1 (Ionita 56) Independent/
Fiorentina 4 (Vlahovic 8, 26, 45+1, Eysseric Agencies
75), Genoa 1 (Pandev 8) Udinese 1 (De Paul
30-pen).
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts
Inter Milan 26 19 5 2 63 25 62
AC Milan 26 17 5 4 50 30 56 Thomas
Juventus 25 15 7 3 51 21 52 Tuchel
Atalanta 27 15 7 5 63 34 52
Roma 26 15 5 6 51 38 50
Napoli 25 15 2 8 55 29 47
Lazio
Sassuolo
26 14 4 8 42 37 46
26 10 9 7 43 41 39 Watford, Swansea seal wins in Championship
Hellas Verona 27 10 8 9 36 32 38
Udinese 27 8 9 10 30 35 33 WATFORD defender Adam Masina scored a he’s saying that then I’m not going to
stoppage-time winner as they beat Cardiff disagree with him, but he did hit it well.
BUNDESLIGA: VfL Wolfsburg 5 Schalke 0, City 2-1 and Swansea City eased to a 1-0 “Having taken the lead, I was
Union Berlin 2 Cologne 1, Mainz 1 Freiburg victory at Luton Town in England’s second- disappointed we conceded so soon
0, Werder Bremen Bayern Munich 3, tier Championship yesterday. afterwards. They were probably better than
Borussia Dortmund 2 Hertha Berlin 0. Cardiff led through an own goal from us on the day but I thought we restricted
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts Francisco Sierralta in the 14th minute before them to very few chances so to lose it at the
Bayern 25 18 4 3 74 35 58 Nathaniel Chalobah equalised a minute end is bitterly disappointing.”
RB Leipzig 24 16 5 3 46 20 53 later. Masina then struck a 94th-minute Irish midfielder Conor Hourihane struck
Wolfsburg 25 13 9 3 43 21 48 freekick to complete Watford’s dramatic an early goal to seal the win for Swansea,
E. Frankfurt 24 11 10 3 47 33 43 comeback to move up to second on 69 who are below Watford on goal difference
Dortmund 25 13 3 9 52 35 42 points after 36 games. with a game in hand.
Leverkusen 24 11 7 6 42 26 40 “Very cruel and tough for the lads having Fifth-placed Reading drew 1-1 at
Union Berlin 25 9 11 5 38 27 38 worked so hard to keep a good team at bay Nottingham Forest while Barnsley in sixth
SC Freiburg 25 9 7 9 37 39 34 for a good while,” Cardiff manager Mick defeated Bournemouth 3-2 and
Stuttgart 24 8 9 7 45 37 33 McCarthy told BBC Sport. Huddersfield Town secured a 1-0 away win
M’gladbach 25 8 9 8 41 40 33 “Then just at the very end they get the at Queens Park Rangers.
free-kick and poor old Dillon (goalkeeper Derby were beaten 1-0 by Millwall,
LIGUE 1: Angers 0 Saint-Etienne 1, Marseille 3 Dillon Phillips) is wondering how it Middlesbrough thrashed Stoke City 3-0 and
Brest 1. happened. Birmingham City fell to a 3-0 defeat by
“Dillon’s saying he should have saved it. if Bristol City. – AFP/Agencies
 QUOTE OF THE DAY
It’s day two of testing, so we’re
just focused on doing our job. There’s no
point in getting worried just yet, every-
one’s focusing on their programmes and
that’s what we’re doing.”
Lewis Hamilton
MONDAY • MARCH 15, 2021

Salah will be focal point

of Liverpool’s summer rebuild
█ TONY EVANS rebuilding programme? (RM412m). It was spent badly.
From Salah’s point of view The likes of Emre Can and Lazar
MOHAMED SALAH is that could make sense. He will Markovic were not up to the job
Liverpool’s biggest asset. He be 29 in June, the age when of filling the void left by the
illustrated that again on players begin to think of their Uruguayan.
Thursday in Budapest when he last big contract. The forward The market conditions would
scored the first goal in his team’s has a keen sense of his own have to be right for FSG to sell
2-0 victory over RB Leipzig. status and worth. He has two Salah and an adequate
The Egyptian leads the years left on his deal and this replacement targeted. Another
Premier League scoring chart summer would be the prime factor is that Klopp did not rate
with 17 goals so far. He has hit time to move. Coutinho quite as highly as
the net more than 25 times in all The problem is the Covid many observers believed.
competitions in three of his four crisis. The pandemic has The German thought
seasons at Anfield. Even in a affected income across the he was a good player
malfunctioning side whose game and depressed the but not necessarily
form has been dire, the 28- transfer market. Only a few the man to build a
year-old has been clubs could afford Salah team around. Klopp
relentless. at the best of times. would very much rue
Despite this, he has In the losing Salah’s goals.
been the object of In normal years, this
criticism from a summer might have
section of the been the moment that
suited both sides to part
company. In a year’s time,
Salah will be approaching a year
left on his contract. His value
will dip.
A clutch of Liverpool players
circumstances, it is are around the same age as
unlikely that FSG would Salah. Georginio Wijnaldum, 30,
get anywhere near the price is contemplating his future
they would require to sell. It is when his contract expires at the
easy to forget that the Liverpool end of June.
fanbase who think he should be owners have had mixed results Van Dijk will be 30 in July.
more clinical. Jurgen Klopp has when it comes to offloading Roberto Firmino is 29 and Sadio
shown a hint of exasperation, their most marketable player. Mane reaches the same age
too. The deal that sent Philippe next month. That could present
Speculation about Salah’s Coutinho to Barcelona three real problems for FSG.
future ran wild last week after years ago was the catalyst for They are at the wrong point
he was hauled off with almost the Champions League and title in their career for a rebuilding
half an hour to go in the 2-0 wins. process. The departure of the
defeat by Chelsea at Anfield. The money was recycled to club’s superstar striker would
Salah was unhappy. Most buy Virgil van Dijk and Alisson send out the wrong message.
players are when they are given Becker, who brought proven This is a dangerous time at
Mohamed the hook. ability and leadership to Anfield. Anfield. It might just suit
Salah Fenway Sports Group (FSG) The sale of Luis Suarez to the everyone to sit tight when the
have not been shy about Catalan giants four years earlier transfer window opens. Salah’s
selling their big names. If Salah backfired badly, however. options are limited and it would
was looking for a way out, Liverpool were expecting more be a foolish move for Liverpool
might the American owners than £100 million (RM550m) but to lose their biggest asset. – The
use the money to finance a had to settle for less than £75m Independent

Routine win
Man City continue title procession with victory over error-strewn Fulham

M
ANCHESTER CITY extended their allowed Stones to open the scoring. a different competition (the Champions another final before we get ready for the
lead at the top of the Premier They had flirted with danger in the first half League Round of 16 second leg against quarterfinal of the FA Cup.
League to 17 points with a 3-0 win by playing the ball out from the back and the Borussia Monchengladbach). There is not a “I will arrive well (with a fit squad) in
over Fulham at Craven Cottage. second and third goals resulted from errors second option in the next game. Budapest through rotating. Sometimes the
Pep Guardiola’s side were not at their best while in possession. “We will prepare our best and try to do well players don’t believe me, I want everyone
and were poor in the first half but a series of Fulham remain in the bottom three. A draw to get in the next stage.” involved.
mistakes by the home side allowed them to – a legitimate ambition at the break – would City have eight games to go, while nearest “Sometimes it is difficult but everyone has
cruise to victory in the second period. have lifted them out of the drop zone. challengers Manchester United have 10 games to make a contribution to win games and we
John Stones opened the scoring in the 47th The cherry on top of the cake for City was left. Now, it seems a case of when, not if, City will arrive at the end of the season fighting as
minute, Gabriel Jesus added the second nine Aguero’s return to the scoresheet, more than a will regain the title that they relinquished to best as possible.”
minutes later and Sergio Aguero converted a year after his last Premier League goal. Liverpool last season. Fulham have now lost five of their past
penalty on the hour after Ferran Torres was Injuries have caused problems for City’s all- “We knew it (would be difficult). You just seven Premier League games at Craven
fouled by Tosin Adarabioyo. time leading scorer this season, but the spot- look at Fulham’s last results they don’t concede Cottage, an issue that needs to be resolved if
Guardiola made seven changes from the kick allowed him to get off the mark for the goals. We do well. In 90 minutes generally we they are to retain their top-flight status, starting
team that beat Southampton last week but League campaign. were so solid and, yeah, we won again,” with the visit of Leeds on Saturday.
even though they were slightly under par, the Guardiola noted the importance of both of Guardiola told BBC Sport. “You are playing against a team that in any
away side were always in control. Even in the his strikers – Aguero and Jesus – getting among “They defended really well man-to-man. In moment of the game can hurt you. You have to
tepid first half, Fulham did not have a touch in the goals. the right moment we did it and I’m very be switched on. That’s probably the deciding
the City area. “It was important for him. To score goals is pleased for all the players and the commitment factor of the game,” Parker said.
Scott Parker looked shocked by his side’s everything for him and Gabriel as well,” he said. from the players in the locker room before the “Disappointing. There’s no denying the
meltdown. The defence, so good for 45 “All the team was brilliant. game. mistakes we gave away for the goals were
minutes, went to sleep at a free-kick and “Wins help to win the next game – of course, “ We travel to Budapest now and prepare for sloppy.” – The Independent/Agencies
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