INSIDE
TELLING IT AS IT IS
ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2022
No. 7966 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my
█
When kids go hungry
BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
P properly when dealing with issues of
ETALING JAYA: Malaysians were
rightfully shocked when two
Myanmar children died after
eating out of the trash in Langkawi
recently.
The question on most people’s minds
was how a middle-income country such as
Malaysia could have a hunger crisis.
In the 2021 Global Hunger Index,
Malaysia ranked 58th from 116 countries
surveyed and with a score of 12.8, Malaysia
is considered to have a moderate position.
While being on the moderate list may
seem trivial, it should be taken seriously,
according to activists and a research
analyst.
Kembara Soup Kitchen founder
William Cheah described child hunger as
a situation in which a person under the age
of 18 has insufficient healthy nutrition for
normal living and growth.
“One thing to note is that it doesn’t
mean a person does not get to eat, but it
can also mean eating incorrectly,” he told
theSun.
He added that while many B40 children
may seem obese, creating the assumption
they have enough food, their physical
appearance could mean they are regularly
consuming food high in carbohydrates
and sugar just to fill their stomachs, and
nothing else.
“An example would be eating plain rice
and drinking sugared water.”
o ‘Children’s needs not addressed
poverty and welfare’
Cheah added that hunger in whatever
form in Malaysia is predominantly
economic-based and due to poverty.
“Our country has more than sufficient
food supply. (The problem is) the factor of
affordability when it comes to hungry
children,” he said, adding that hunger is a
huge global issue faced by many countries
with a large refugee and illegal
immigration population.
He also said with the complications
presented by the various underlying
issues, it is not easy to find a solution.
“It is first and foremost a humanitarian
matter. But it also brings economic,
cultural, political and sovereignty issues
into play. If we view it only as a
humanitarian issue, then of course the
simple answer would be to provide shelter
and needed relief, whether by the
government or the public. But this will
only be a short-term solution at best.”
Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable
Development research analyst Derek Kok
pointed out that children are often left out
in conversations about poverty and
welfare, despite the fact that poverty affects
children more disproportionately.
Jobs, party-hopping Unwanted golf
page on minds page T-shirts joy for
3 of first-time
voters in Johor
4 underprivileged
fishermen
FALLEN GIANT ... Wildlife
Department staff examining
the remains of a female
elephant that was found
yesterday on a roadside in
Kampung Pinang in Pedu,
Kedah. – BERNAMAPIX
While Malaysia is set to be an aging
nation by 2030, its social safety net for
children is woefully lacking.
“The Welfare Department’s current per
capita financial assistance for children of
RM253 per month is the lowest since 2013.
A 2018 study of children living in low-
cost flats in Kuala Lumpur also found
that 34% of households did not receive
support from Malaysia’s Bantuan
Rakyat 1 Malaysia programme while
only 4% of households received
support from the Welfare Department
despite being eligible,” he said, adding
that this is where a universal child grant
can make a difference.
“Universal child grants (UCG) are
cash transfers given to every child in the
country to assist parents and caregivers
with child rearing costs. It would be paid
on a regular basis and to all children
regardless of family income, hence its
‘universal’ moniker. Therefore,
basic common properties of UCG
is that it is a cash transfer, Turn to
universal to the population of —
children, unconditional and paid page 4
on a regular basis,” said Kok.
 2 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
CORDIAL TIES ... Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob speaking at a reception hosted by the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at
Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
‘Minimum wage should
reflect economic realities’
oEntry level wages stagnant for 15 years as trade, workers’
bodies lack clout to negotiate salaries, benefits: Expert
KUALA LUMPUR: Raising the minimum
wage every two years will reflect the economic
situation on the ground, according to the
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
(Ideas).
Its acting research director and Economic
and Business Unit director Dr Juita Mohamad
said entry level wages have remained
unchanged for at least 15 years as trade and
workers’ associations were not powerful
enough to negotiate wages and non-wage
benefits.
“With no other way to negotiate wages, the
minimum wage law is our only device for
salary growth,” she told Bernama in an email
interview.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri
M. Saravanan announced recently that a
minimum wage of about RM1,500 a month is
expected to be implemented before year-end.
He said the new rate has yet to be finalised
Sarawak passes Bill to redesignate CM as premier
KUCHING: The Constitution of the State of
Sarawak (Amendment) Bill 2022, which
contains a clause to change the designation of
“chief minister” (CM) to “premier” was passed
by the state legislative assembly yesterday.
Tabled by state Tourism, Creative Industry
and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul
Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Bill was passed
with more than two-thirds majority when 67
members voted in favour of it while six opposed.
Abdul Karim said the amendment was in
accordance with the amendment of the Federal
Constitution enforced last week.
He said that the adoption of the word
“premier” instead of “chief minister” under
Article 6(3) of the Sarawak Constitution, is
as the ministry is awaiting Cabinet approval.
Juita added that the minimum wage should
take into consideration inflation and rising
cost of living.
“Wages should increase according to
provinces, occupations and sectors so that
they account for demand and supply of a
particular sector and mirror living costs of a
certain area.”
She said suppressing wages is not a
sustainable way to keep cost of production and
prices low.
She added that other instruments and
policies need to be put in place to ensure that
prices do not rise drastically.
“Setting a ceiling price for selected goods
and providing subsidies may help.”
The proposed minimum wage increase has
led to brickbats from associations representing
industries and employers.
The Malaysian Employers Federation said
similar to what is practised in other
Commonwealth regions.
“The head of the federation is styled as
‘prime minister’, and heads of regions
constituting the federation are referred to as
‘premier’, while the other subregions or states
are headed by chief ministers,” he explained.
Also proposed in the Bill was the
redesignation of “assistant minister” to “deputy
minister”.
“The designation of ‘assistant minister’ is
restyled as ‘deputy minister’ to better reflect the
functions and responsibilities of assistant
ministers,” Abdul Karim said.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (GPS-Dudong),
in debating the Bill, said Sarawak should strive
the time is not right to increase the cost of
doing business, and the proposed RM1,500
minimum wage would derail economic
recovery.
The Federation of Malaysian
Manufacturers expressed concern about the
proposal to hike the minimum wage from the
current RM1,200, saying that adjustments to
wages must be done progressively.
Its president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the
proposed 25% increase would have an
undesirable impact on the economy.
Expressing similar sentiments, Bank Islam
Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd
Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the operating
costs of businesses would be affected.
Malaysia’s inflation, as measured by the
consumer price index, went up 3.2% in
December 2021 from a year earlier, mainly due
to increases in food and fuel prices.
Juita said the current rise in inflation is a
worldwide issue, stemming from stronger
global demand and higher energy prices, after
two years of battling the pandemic through
lockdowns. She added that Bank Negara has
the power to adjust the interest rate to ensure
that inflationary pressures are kept at bay.
for more powers of autonomy by passing
appropriate resolutions or amending other
related portions of the state Constitution.
“Matters involving the interests and rights of
the people of Sarawak must be prioritised.”
Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Padungan) raised the
issue of the term “premier”, which could be
confusing once translated into Bahasa Malaysia.
He said the august house should make a
stand to come up with a standard term for the
title in Bahasa Malaysia before proceeding to
pass the Bill.
Baru Bian (PSB-Ba’Kelalan) said the Bill was
unconstitutional as the Federal Constitution at
the moment referred to Sarawak’s head of
executive as “chief minister” and nowhere in the
Deadline extended
for opening TH
savings accounts
MALACCA: Pilgrims who are eligible to
receive compensation following the
temporary postponement of umrah travel
have until next month to open a Tabung Haji
(TH) savings account for the purpose.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Religious Affairs) Senator
Datuk Idris Ahmad said the period was
extended because more than 1,000 pilgrims
have yet to open a TH savings account, the
sole medium to be used for the payment.
“The payment will be made on Feb 18,”
he said after attending the opening
ceremony of the state-level Multaqa
Murabbi Ummah at the Al-Azim Mosque
yesterday.
The event was officiated by Malacca Chief
Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. Also
present was Islamic Development
Department deputy chief executive of
operations Datuk Sirajuddin Suhaimee.
Idris said he had also instructed TH to
inform its branch offices nationwide to
facilitate the opening of savings accounts to
smoothen the disbursement process.
It was reported that pilgrims who were
affected by the temporary postponement of
umrah travel would each receive RM1,671 in
compensation.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry
had submitted a list of 8,027 pilgrims eligible
to receive the amount and of this, nearly
1,000 do not have TH savings accounts.
– Bernama
Foreign minister
leads delegation
to Asean retreat
PUTRAJAYA: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri
Saifuddin Abdullah will lead a delegation to
the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat from
Feb 16 to 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The retreat is the first scheduled meeting
this year for Asean member states, said the
Foreign Ministry in a statement yesterday.
It will be preceded by an Asean senior
officials’ meeting (SOM) from Feb 15 to 16.
The Malaysian delegation to the SOM will be
led by Foreign Ministry Secretary-General
Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob.
“Among issues that will be discussed by
the foreign ministers are updates on the
implementation of decisions reached during
the 38th and 39th Asean summits and
related summits, as well as the group’s
external relations.
“They will also discuss initiatives to take
forward the agenda and key priorities of
Cambodia’s Asean chairmanship in 2022 as
well as exchange views on regional and
international issues of mutual interest.
“As member states set sights on
developing the Asean community’s
post-2025 vision, Malaysia, as the co-chair
and permanent shepherd of a high-level task
force on the community’s vision, remains
committed in upholding the bloc’s centrality
and fully supports Cambodia as chair in
ensuring Asean’s continuous progress at the
regional and international levels.”
– Bernama
nation’s supreme law is the position mentioned
as “premier”.
“It would be better to take concrete steps
which would benefit Sarawak and Sarawakians
tangibly, rather than rushing into a name
change that may bring some self-gratification
but may ultimately be criticised for being
unconstitutional.”
Fazzruddin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong)
said that changing the title would provide a
distinction between Sarawak’s chief executive
and chief ministers of Malacca and Penang.
“What is more important is the spirit behind
the introduction of this new word or title to
signify the difference of the three partners
forming Malaysia,” he added. – Bernama

MMEA to beef up
with more
choppers, ships
PORT KLANG: The Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will get
more ships and helicopters to assist
enforcement and rescue operations in
national waters.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah
Zainuddin said this was aimed at
strengthening the agency, which had
several marine assets that were over 30
years old.
Among them are KM Amanah (40 years
old), KM Langkawi (30 years old) and KM
Siangin (over 30 years old) which are
currently stationed in waters around
Peninsular Malaysia.
“The existing MMEA ships are very old,
so the Home Ministry’s plan is to ensure
that all the necessary assets can be
obtained as soon as possible to guard the
country against encroachment by
organised crime syndicates,” he said.
He said the contract had been awarded
to a local company that was supposed to
deliver the ships two years ago, but
experienced delays due to capacity
constraints.
“Otherwise, we would have already had
three new ships, but due to their delay, it
has been put on hold. However, we are
pushing to ensure that these ships are
ready soon,” he said during a press
conference in conjunction with MMEA’s
17th-anniversary celebration yesterday.
Elaborating, Hamzah said the first new
MMEA ship is expected to be received this
year, while another ship will be received
next year and the third in 2024.
At the same time, he said the ministry
planned to add three more helicopters to
MMEA’s assets. – Bernama
Lensman sets up conservatory for 2,000 endangered plant species
KUALA LUMPUR: Photographer Suzairi
Zakaria’s love for forest plants has led him to set
up a conservatory for the endangered species in
his house compound in Setiu, Terengganu.
Suzairi, 46, who has been involved in the
tropical rainforest conservation efforts since
2015, has replanted more than 2,000 species of
forest plants, including 200 wild orchids found in
bris soil and logging areas in the state.
He said forest plants such as ferns, wild
gingers, pitcher plants, hoyas and various other
species as well as wild orchids were replanted in
his house compound, which has been turned
into a conservatory called WildDome Research
and Conservation Centre.
The centre now becomes a reference for
What first-time voters want
oBetter job opportunities, higher income and a stop to party
hopping are on their wish list
█ BY SURAYA ALI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Better job opportunities and
party hopping are among the issues first-time
voters want addressed in the upcoming Johor
state election.
Fareez Syimeer said he wants the “party
hopping” practice in Malaysian politics to
stop.
The 25-year-old mechanical engineer from
Johor Baru said another concern he had for
Malaysia is job availability.
“I believe my peers just want to have better
opportunities in our careers with better income
since the cost of living here is also on the rise,”
he told theSun.
Fareez added that he wants better
opportunities all round for fellow Malaysians in
every industry because, according to him,
Maszlee tipped to be PH’s candidate for Johor MB
PETALING JAYA: Speculation is rife that former
education minister Maszlee Malik would be
Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) candidate for Johor
mentri besar if the coalition wins the upcoming
state polls.
This comes after PKR president Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim announced the party’s
candidates for the southern Johor zone on
Monday.
Maszlee is Simpang Renggam MP. Anwar
said Maszlee is the only MP from PKR
contesting in the upcoming state election.
conservationists, researchers and orchid
enthusiasts from all over the country.
Suzairi, who is also known as the Dome, said
his passion to conserve wild orchids and forest
plants grew as a result of his frequent trips to the
Setiu Wetland to capture the lush forest
landscapes rich with flora and fauna.
“Some places that I revisited have changed
due to land and forest exploration. Most of which
are the natural habitats of wild plants and
orchids.
“So, whichever forest plants and wild orchids
that can be saved, I will replant them,” he said,
adding he has extended the conservation efforts
to other logging areas, including Tasik Kenyir.
Suzairi has discovered several new species
currently it is very hard for youths to survive
financially.
“Many graduates are jobless, and those who
manage to secure a job are exploited by
employers with heavy workloads and
minimum salary,” he said, adding he just wants
to live within means and contribute towards a
better Malaysia.
Another first-time voter, Arif Mohd Azahari,
said he is somewhat excited to be eligible to
vote as he has watched his family cast their
ballots and always wondered what the
experience would be like.
The second-year corporate
communications student said he is planning to
vote although it may depend on his class
schedules.
Asked what he understood about Malaysian
politics, Arif, 20, admitted he does not follow it
closely but he is aware of a few things that are
Besides Maszlee, other prominent PKR
candidates named include S. Gopalakrishnan,
who will be contesting in Tiram, and Johor
Wanita PKR chief Napsiah Khamis, in Kempas.
Meanwhile, Johor PKR Youth secretary
Fahruddin Moslim and Arthur Chiong, the new
faces for PKR, will be contesting the Pasir Raja
and Bukit Batu seats respectively.
Earlier, the Malaysian United Democratic
Alliance (Muda) announced its first candidate –
27-year-old Amira Aisya, who is the party’s
secretary-general.
Suzairi collecting
different plant species
he found in logged
areas to be replanted
in his conservatory.
– BERNAMAPIX
such as pitcher plants, Nepenthes latiffiana and
Nepenthes domei as well as wild orchids such as
Bromheadia petuangensis, Dendrobium ruseae
and Dendrobium mizanii, which was named
after the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan
Zainal Abidin.
“I need to work with qualified botanists to
elaborate on the findings of the new species
because each discovery needs to have a written
research paper to confirm the findings in any
scientific journal,” he explained.
He is curently working with Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Putra Malaysia,
Forest Research Institute Malaysia and the
Malaysian Agricultural Research and
Development Institute. – Bernama
3
theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
related to his field of study.
“I hope for less or zero corruption in this
country and for politicians to care about
Malaysia. We as citizens depend on the
leaders,” he said.
Arif said he will consider registering for
postal voting that is open for registration online
on the Election Commission website until Feb
18.
Last month, the Johor State Legislative
Assembly approved an amendment to the State
Constitution to lower the minimum age to vote
and contest in elections to 18.
The amendment to Clause 16 of Part Two of
the Government Constitution 1895 was
approved unanimously by the 53 assemblymen
present at a special sitting of the state assembly.
The Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara had
approved the amendment to the Federal
Constitution to lower the minimum age
through the Constitution Act (Amendment)
2019 (A1603) which was gazetted on Sept 10,
2019.
First-time voters from Johor will get to
exercise their right in the upcoming state
election scheduled for March 12.
Citing education, security and economy to
be the focus of her campaign, Amira will be
contesting in Puteri Wangsa.
Meanwhile, Umno information chief Shahril
Hamdan said the party will not follow other
parties in announcing its candidates. “We have
our own strategies. Umno and Barisan Nasional
are not bound by the methods or approaches of
other parties,” he said.
The Election Commission has set March 12
as polling day with early voting on March 8.
Nomination day is set for Feb 26. – By Suraya Ali
Socso allocates
RM3.57m to raise
OSH awareness
KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security
Organisation (Socso) has allocated
RM3.57 million in financial assistance
to carry out activities to raise
awareness level on occupational safety
and health (OSH) aspects throughout
the year.
Deputy Human Resources Minister
Datuk Awang Hashim said 37 non-
governmental organisations (NGO)
and institutions received the aid to
carry out 639 programmes related to
OSH this year.
“I hope that all NGO and
institutions that receive financial
assistance from Socso manage the
funds well and ensure that all planned
programmes run smoothly and
effectively.
“During the pandemic phase last
year, I was informed that 399 OSH
programmes were implemented with
an allocation of RM2.25 million,” he
said at the Socso financial assistance
presentation ceremony yesterday.
Also present at the event were Socso
chief executive Datuk Seri Dr
Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed
and the Department of Occupational
Safety and Health director-general
Zailee Dollah.
He said the financial assistance was
based on the scope and field of each
institution and NGO to help Socso
cultivate awareness on OSH, thus
reducing accident rates in the country.
Awang said throughout last year,
Socso received reports on 56,990
accident cases, with 33,096 of them
being industrial accidents and the rest
commuting accidents.
He added based on the statistics,
negligence and poor monitoring on
OSH compliance in workplaces were
the main factors contributing to these
incidents. – Bernama
 FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN
4 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS /thesuntelegram ME

Agreement on vaccine certificate recognition

PUTRAJAYA: Travellers from
Malaysia are now allowed to enter
the Philippines, by presenting proof
of complete vaccination via the
digital certificate on the MySejahtera
app.
Wisma Putra said in a statement
the move follows an agreement
reached between the Malaysian and
Philippine governments on Monday
to recognise the vaccination
certificates of both countries.
Travellers from the Philippines
are allowed to enter Malaysia by
presenting their vaccination
certificate in the VaxcertPH app.
“The entry of travellers is also
subject to prevailing quarantine
procedures set by the authorities of
both countries,” the statement said.
The agreement would allow the
Malaysian Embassy in Manila to
assist seven Malaysians stranded at
the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport to enter the Philippines for
official and business purposes.
It was reported on Monday that all
seven were stranded at the airport
after being informed by Philippine
authorities that the MySejahtera
digital vaccine certificate was not
acceptable as proof of vaccination.
However, they were allowed to
enter the country yesterday.
According to Wisma Putra, the
Malaysian government in principle
recognises travellers who have been
inoculated with vaccines approved
under the Emergency Use Listing by
the World Health Organisation, or
approved by the authorities of
certain countries. However,
recognition of the MySejahtera
digital vaccination certificate is
subject to the discretion of
authorities at the destination
country.
Malaysia and the Philippines also
agreed to continue cooperation
towards verifying the authenticity of
Covid vaccination certificates of both
countries online, with a safer and
more secure system to facilitate the
entry route of travellers who have
been fully vaccinated. – Bernama

Donation initiative
inspired from the green Total confirmed
cases

oCharity organisation 3,083,683

collects unwanted golf Totalac�ve New cases
cases
T-shirts for distribution to
underprivileged fishermen 168,447 22,133
Current recovery Total recoveries
█ BY MUHAMMAD YUSRY rate cases
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
2,860,954
PETALING JAYA: It was by chance that
Hisham Misripin found out used golf T-shirts
92.78%
were much sought after items by poor Deathtoll Brought-in-Dead
fishermen in the east coast.
At the time, the co-founder of an eco-
charity platform called EcoFreeMarket (EFM) 32,149 6,504
was on a charity-distribution trip to Delta
Sungai Kelantan three years ago after having
collected used T-shirts and bicycles to be
given away. PERLIS 194
One of the donors had collected used golf
T-shirts from his golfing friends and wanted to
give them to those in the lower-income group. KEDAH 2,649
“The reactions I got from the fishermen
were amazing,” Hisham said.
“They asked me repeatedly if we really PENANG 1,681
wanted to give them that kind of T-shirts. They
liked the material and asked for more of it.”
The T-shirts were of good quality and had PERAK 558
either been worn only once or never used.
“From what I gather from golfers, they
would get a new T-shirt at every competition SELANGOR 3,862
they take part in,” Hisham said.
“The T-shirts would not be used for other
golf tournaments as the details of the events K. LUMPUR 1,215
are printed on them.”
Instead of keeping them in their closets,
Hisham persuaded golfers to donate them. PUTRAJAYA 108
“The fishermen are the ones who really
can make use of the T-shirts because they are Hisham sorting out the collected T-shirts prior to distribution. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN
working in harsh conditions out at sea. A good PAHANG 836
quality T-shirt would last them a long time T-shirts for 150 poor fishermen and farmers in He will collaborate with a local non-
and helps them save money instead of having Kelantan and Perak. government organisations based in Kelantan
to buy other garments that are not so durable.” Hisham has 25 volunteers helping him to to distribute the items to those in need. MALACCA 546
In the last three years, EFM has distributed collect a targeted 200 T-shirts in his latest Those keen on donating golf T-shirts may
60 such T-shirts to more than 50 fishermen. campaign called “Golf Shirts for Fishermen”, do so at the EFM collection point at 11, Jalan
It is now on a drive to collect more golf which ends on Feb 28. Serambi U8/27 in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam. N.SEMBILAN 684

Efforts necessary to ensure no one excluded in aid initiatives JOHOR 2,780

“With cash, families themselves can
choose which needs to prioritise. This
is especially pertinent as the
financial costs of child rearing are From
not insignificant and can fluctuate front
with time.” page
Why should this aid be given to
all children, instead of only targeting
those from poor or B40 families?
Sabah parents urged to register children for jab
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government
yesterday advised parents and guardians of
children aged five to 11 to register them for
vaccination under the National Covid-19
Immunisation Programme for Children
(PICKids).
Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said as of Feb 13,
a total of 32,186 children in the age group in
Sabah had registered through the
“Evidence increasingly shows that
poverty-targeting methods can miss large
numbers of its intended beneficiaries. A
2019 study of 38 social protection
schemes showed that 25 of the
programmes had exclusion errors above
70%, with the most effectively targeted
scheme incorrectly excluding 44% of its
intended coverage.
MySejahtera app to receive the first dose of
the Covid-19 vaccine under the programme.
“The number is still low as it represents
less than 10% of the 411,400 children in the
state who are eligible to receive the vaccine,”
he said at the launch of the state-level PICKids
at the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital
(SWCH) yesterday.
Also present were state Local Government
“In contrast, universal schemes had the KELANTAN 1,598
lowest exclusion errors and were the most
effective in reaching the poorest target
recipients. For instance, Mongolia’s TERENGGANU 431
Universal Child Money scheme had virtually
no exclusion error and reached 99% of the
poorest 20% of children,” he said, adding LABUAN 311
that to reach the poor, aid needs to be given
to all.
SABAH 4,374
SARAWAK 284
and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun
and state health director Datuk Dr Rose Nani
Mudin, Bernama reported. PROGRESS STATISTICS FOR THE NATIONAL
To date, a total of 9,686 children in the age COVID-19 IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME
group in Sabah received the first dose of the As of February 14
vaccine since PICKids commenced on Feb 3
at five hospitals – SWCH, the Duchess of Kent Received second dose
Hospital Sandakan, Keningau Hospital,
Lahad Datu Hospital and the Tawau Hospital.
26,297,198 25,734,211

Suspect in police custody dies
two hours after being arrested
█ BY CHARLES RAMENDRAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: A 39-year-old man,
who was arrested on Monday for
drug possession and died less than
two hours after being detained, was
the eighth person to die in police
custody this year.
Federal police integrity and
standard compliance department
director Comm Datuk Azri Ahmad
yesterday said the man was held by
the Gombak narcotics crimes
investigations department for drug
possession and consumption under
Section 12(2) and Section 15(1a) of
the Dangerous Drugs Act
respectively.
He said the deceased was arrested
at 4.45pm and taken to the Gombak
district police headquarters but
Court dismisses Shafee’s bid to expunge statements
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court
yesterday dismissed Tan Sri
Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s
application to expunge more than half
of the written witness statements of a
former Inland Revenue Board (IRB)
officer in relation to his money
laundering case involving RM9.5
million.
Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil
Hussin in his judgment said there was
no probability that 33 out of 51
paragraphs of the witness statement
MP’s rape trial vacated due to Covid-19 close contact status
IPOH: The High Court here
yesterday postponed the trial of
Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong
Choo Kiong, who is charged with
raping his Indonesian maid three
years ago, on the grounds that Yong
and his wife came into close contact
with a Covid-19 positive case.
Judge Datuk Abdul Wahab
Mohamed set March 16, 30 and 31
oDetainee held for drug possession
complained of breathing difficulty sent to
hospital, but died while receiving treatment
about 45 minutes later, he
complained of breathlessness.
Azri said police contacted the
Selayang Hospital and the man was
taken away for medical treatment.
However, he said at about 6.30pm
while being treated at the hospital,
the suspect passed away. The cause
of death has not been ascertained.
He said the criminal
investigations and death in custody
(CIDC) unit of the department will
conduct a probe into the case.
In a similar case on Feb 3
from Syed Nasrul Fahmi Syed
Mohamad, the seventh prosecution
witness, prejudiced the accused
(Muhammad Shafee).
“In my opinion, the 33 paragraphs
in the written statement of the seventh
prosecution witness are relevant to
prove the third and fourth charges
against the accused,” he said.
He added the witness statement
could always be challenged by the
defence during cross-examination.
The judge said whether the witness
for Yong to enter his defence after
hearing the application from Yong’s
lawyer Datuk Rajpal Singh. There
was no objection from the
prosecution.
Rajpal said Yong, who is also the
main defence witness, and his wife,
Too Choon Looi, who is the second
defence witness, informed him that
they were close contacts with Too’s
involving a 35-year-old man held for
drug possession two days earlier, the
detainee was found dead in his cell at
the Pandamaran police lock-up in
Klang.
In another case on Jan 13, two
policemen and two detainees were
arrested over the death of a 63-year-
old man who was being held at the
Taiping district police headquarters
lock-up. The deceased was held
earlier over a vehicle theft case.
Last week, Azri was quoted as
saying that in the seven cases earlier,
statement should be accepted and
whether it could prove the charges
against the accused are different
issues and are for the court to decide.
“Therefore, the application to
expunge the 33 paragraphs in the
seventh prosecution witness’ written
statement is hereby dismissed,”
he said.
On Sept 13, 2018, Muhammad
Shafee pleaded not guilty to two
charges of receiving RM9.5 million,
which were alleged proceeds from
sister, who tested positive for Covid
on Feb 12 after doing a PCR test and
had to undergo self-quarantine.
“The status on their MySejahtera
apps have also turned orange.
Therefore, the defence would like to
apply for an adjournment because
the main defence witness and the
accused (Yong), are unable to appear
in court,” he said.
theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
four detainees had died in police
lock-ups while three others died in a
hospital or on the way to a hospital,
adding that only one death is
suspected to involve foul play.
“Police have proposed that a
clinic be set up at lock-ups to
monitor the health of detainees
instead of the current practice of
referring them to the nearest hospital
when a health emergency emerges,”
Azri said.
With the frequent ocurrence of
custodial deaths, the department
formed the CIDC to undertake
investigations of such cases.
The CIDC, which is led by a
superintendant, comprises 12 police
officers and a civilian staff.
It was reported that between 2015
and last year, 70 people have died in
police custody nationwide.
FEARLESS ... A soldier
carrying out a drill during
the closing ceremony of the
rapid action force basic
course in Kuala Terengganu
yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
unlawful activities through two
cheques issued by former Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak
that were deposited into his CIMB
Bank Berhad account.
He was also charged with two
counts of engaging in transactions
resulting from illegal activities, namely
submitting incorrect tax returns,
which is in violation of paragraph
113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967
for the financial years ending Dec 31,
2013, and Dec 31, 2014. – Bernama
Yong, 52, was charged with raping
his 23-year-old maid in a room at his
house in Meru Desa Park on July 7,
2019, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm.
The charge, framed under Section
376(1) of the Penal Code, carries a
maximum jail term of 20 years and
whipping. Yong was scheduled to
enter his defence yesterday.
– Bernama
5
Syariah judge
files for default
judgement
KUALA LUMPUR: Chief Syariah
Judge Datuk Mohd Na’im
Mokhtar has applied for a
judgment in default against Datuk
Lokman Noor Adam for failing to
file a statement of defence in
response to his suit regarding
sexual harassment allegations
uploaded on his Facebook page
and YouTube channel.
Mohd Na’im filed the
application through Messrs
Akberdin & Co at the High Court
registry yesterday.
A judgment in default is an
order issued by the court to
confirm a claim made by the
plaintiff after the defendant fails
to file a defence within the
stipulated time, which is within 14
days from the date the suit is filed.
It is learnt that Lokman failed
to file a statement of defence after
the filing period was extended
until Feb 11.
Lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul
Kader, representing Mohd Na’im,
confirmed the matter when
contacted yesterday.
On Jan 17, Mohd Na’im, 54,
filed the suit in his personal
capacity and named Lokman, 49,
as the defendant. He is seeking
damages amounting to RM30
million over allegations of sexual
harassment against several
women, including a “Datin”.
The plaintiff is also seeking
general damages to be assessed
by the court, apart from
exemplary, aggravated and
punitive damages, amounting to
RM10 million each as well as
other relief deemed fit by the
court. – Bernama
Smuggling routes
found in Selangor,
Perak waters
GEORGE TOWN: Marine Police
have identified more than 50 routes
along the waters of Selangor to Perak
used by syndicates to smuggle
foreigners into the country from
Indonesia.
Region One commander ACP
Shamsol Kassim said the routes,
which took only four to five hours to
reach by boat from the neighbouring
country, were far from any of its
bases.
“The routes chosen by the
syndicates are from the waters of
Klang and Sabak Bernam in
Selangor to Hutan Melintang in
Perak, with the landing time
between 9pm and 3am.
“From January to yesterday, a
local and 12 Indonesians, who were
smugglers or syndicate members,
were arrested while 188
Indonesians, including 42 women,
were also arrested for trying to enter
the country illegally. All of them were
aged between 21 and 45,” he told a
press conference yesterday.
He added they also seized four
boats worth RM900,000.
Shamsol said each foreigner paid
between RM1,500 and RM2,000 to
the syndicates and were promised
jobs in the plantation sector and as
maids.
Meanwhile, he said Marine
Police also seized contraband
cigarettes and liquor worth over
RM3 million from January until
Monday.
“We also arrested 12 men,
including three foreigners, and
seized two boats, two cars, a
motorcycle and a lorry, all worth
RM326,000,” he said. – Bernama
 6 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Philippines now Trudeau invokes emergency powers over protests

at ‘low risk’ OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau on Monday
“The blockades are harming our
economy and endangering public
The “Freedom Convoy” protests,
started by Canadian truckers
and Detroit, for six days before
police cleared the protest on
from coronavirus activated rarely used emergency
powers in an effort to end protests
safety,” Trudeau said.
“We cannot and will not allow
opposing a Covid-19 vaccinate-or-
quarantine mandate for
Sunday, while others have shut
down smaller border crossings in
MANILA: The Philippines is now at that have shut some US border illegal and dangerous activities to drivers, have drawn people opposed Alberta, Manitoba and British
“low risk” from the coronavirus crossings and paralysed parts of the continue.” to Trudeau’s policies on everything Columbia. Protests in Ottawa
pandemic as more people are getting capital. But the Canadian Civil Liberties from pandemic restrictions to a entered a third week.
vaccinated and hospital admissions Under the Emergencies Act, the Association said the government carbon tax. Copycat trucker protests Protesters camped in front of the
have dropped, said President Rodrigo government introduced measures had not met the standard for have also sprung up in Israel, Canadian Parliament said the latest
Duterte’s spokesman Karlo Nograles intended to cut off protesters’ invoking the Emergencies Act, France, Australia and New Zealand. steps were excessive.
yesterday. funding and took steps to reinforce which is intended to deal with Protesters blockaded the “It’s an extreme measure that
The country reopened to foreign provincial and local law threats to sovereignty, security and Ambassador Bridge, a vital trade isn’t necessary,” said protester
tourists for the first time in two years last enforcement with federal police. territorial integrity, the group said. route between Windsor, Ontario, Candice Chapel. – Reuters
week, although some health restrictions
remain as campaigning for the May 9
elections has started, with political
rallies seen as potential super spreader Patients lying on hospital beds outside
events. Caritas Medical Centre in Hong Kong
“The National Capital Region and yesterday as the city faces its worst Covid-
the entire Philippines now have a 19 coronavirus wave to date. – AFPPIX
low-risk classification in terms of case
growth, prevalence and health system
capacity, Nograles said.
After surges of the highly
transmissible Omicron and Delta
strains that led to government-enforced
restrictions on mobility, hospital bed
occupancy rates have eased to about
30%.
Cases have averaged to about 3,600
daily in the past week as the number of
fully vaccinated people climbed to
about 56% of the population, health
officials said.
After lengthy lockdowns, which
ravaged the economy and put millions
out of work, the government is now
planning to lift all restrictions, Health
Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire
said.
“When that happens, everything will
be self-regulated,” she added.
The virus has infected more than 3.6
million people and killed more than
55,000, according to government data.
– AFP

PANDEMIC-WEARY
BRIEFS

NURSES PROTEST
SYDNEY: Thousands of nurses
walked off the job in Sydney
yesterday, protesting against staff
shortages and pandemic-related
stresses and strains. Defying a

Hong Kong rules out

strike ban, thousands decked in housing blocks where cases are
scrubs and surgical masks detected, she added.
marched to the state parliament Like mainland China, Hong Kong
over what they say are intolerable
conditions. Throngs of nurses has tackled the virus with largely
cheered, clapped and chanted closed borders, lengthy quarantines,
contact tracing and stringent social

their anger at persistent
shortages of hospital beds,
equipment and the grinding toll
of the protracted crisis. They
brandished placards that read
“Nurses are not coping” and
“Thank you doesn’t pay the rent”
– hitting out at political leaders
who they accuse of ignoring their
plight. For two years, Australia’s
medical staff have worked under
strict Covid protocols, while
trying to carry out day-to-day
tasks and roll out an
unprecedented vaccination
programme. – AFP
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
TO REOPEN BORDERS
PORT MORESBY: Papua New
Guinea will reopen to vaccinated
travellers from today, ending two
years of strict border closures that
virtually sealed the Melanesian
nation off from neighbours. The
country’s pandemic controller
citywide lockdown
oEfforts must continue in anti-epidemic
battle as surrendering is not an option,
says chief executive
HONG KONG: Chief executive
Carrie Lam yesterday said she
would not impose a mainland
China-style hard lockdown as the
city faces its worst coronavirus wave
to date, even as she vowed no switch
to living with Covid-19.
For more than two years, Hong
Kong has followed China’s
zero-Covid strategy, but a wave of
the highly transmissible Omicron
virus variant has battered the city’s
capacity for testing, quarantine and
treatment.
No place in the world has
managed to return to zero Covid
cases after such an outbreak except
mainland China, which has
imposed citywide lockdowns and
mass stay-at-home orders when
even a handful of cases are detected.
Lam ruled out that approach.
“We have no plans whatsoever to
impose a complete, wholesale
lockdown,” she said.
But she also rejected calls from
some public health experts and
business figures to switch from
zero-Covid to a mitigation strategy.
“We have to continue to fight this
anti-epidemic battle. Surrendering
to the virus is not an option.”
Authorities will continue to use
smaller-scale district lockdowns,
with testing of all residents in
distancing laws.
With more than 2,000 new daily
infections reported on Monday, and
the figure hovering over 1,000 for
much of the last week, the current
wave is testing the policy like never
before. Local researchers have
warned that new daily cases could
exceed 28,000 a day by March.
Before the outbreak, Hong Kong
treated all coronavirus patients in
isolation wards, but beds at
hospitals and a temporary mass
treatment facility near the airport
have quickly filled. Close contacts of
virus cases were earlier sent to a
government quarantine camp, but
many are now being told to isolate at
home.
Lam said 3,000 flats in newly
constructed public housing blocks
will be converted for quarantine use.
– AFP

Omicron wave moving towards east Europe: WHO

David Manning said yesterday he
had revoked rules requiring
approval to enter the country and
mandatory quarantine. The rules
had hampered production at
some of the country’s largest
copper and gold mines and
caused diplomatic spats – most
notably with India and China.
Some domestic restrictions will
remain, including compulsory
mask-wearing in markets, shops,
on public transport and places of
worship. – AFP
GENEVA: A new wave of infections
from the Omicron variant of the
coronavirus is moving towards the
east of Europe, the World Health
Organisation (WHO) said yesterday,
urging authorities to improve
vaccination and other measures.
Over the past two weeks, cases of
Covid-19 have more than doubled
in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Georgia, Russia and Ukraine,
WHO’s Europe regional director
Hans Kluge said in a statement.
The comments come at a time
when several European countries,
including the Czech Republic and
Poland, have hinted at easing of
Covid-19 restrictions next month if
daily infection numbers keep
falling.
The WHO, however, stressed the
continued need for measures such
as rapid testing and masking,
adding that over 165 million cases
have been recorded so far across the
WHO European region, with 25,000
deaths in the past week.
“Faced with the Omicron tidal
wave, and with Delta still circulating
widely in the east, this situation is
not the time to lift measures.”
These measures include
avoiding crowded locations,
wearing masks indoors, improving
ventilation and using rapid tests to
identify cases early.
He also called on governments to
examine local reasons for low
vaccination rates.
Less than 40% of those aged over
60 in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and
Uzbekistan have completed their
vaccine series, he said. – Reuters

Russia to pull back some
forces near Ukraine border
oMove is first big step
towards efforts to avert
major war in Europe
MOSCOW: Russia said yesterday it was pulling
back some of its forces near the Ukrainian
border to their bases, in what would be the first
major step towards de-escalation in weeks of
crisis with the West.
The move came amid an intense
diplomatic effort to avert a feared Russian
invasion of its pro-Western neighbour, and
after Moscow amassed more than 100,000
troops near Ukraine’s borders.
The crisis, the worst between Russia and
the West since the end of the Cold War,
reached its peak this week with US officials
warning that a full-scale invasion, including an
assault on the capital Kyiv, was possible
Teacher gets life for
rape of 13 students
BANDUNG: An Indonesian court
yesterday sentenced a teacher to life in
prison for the rape of 13 students, in a case
that has drawn national attention to sexual
abuse in the country’s religious boarding
schools.
Bandung district court in West Java
found Herry Wirawan guilty of raping 13
female students, all minors, and
impregnating at least eight of them.
During the trial, it was revealed he had
raped the children, many from poor
families attending the school on
scholarships, over five years.
The pattern of abuse came to light when
the family of a female student reported
Wirawan to the police for raping and
impregnating their teenage daughter last
year.
The revelations have sparked national
outrage, with a senior government official
saying President Joko Widodo has paid
special attention to the case. –AFP
within days.
Yesterday morning, the Russian Defence
Ministry spokesman said some forces
deployed near Ukraine had completed their
exercises and were packing up to leave.
“Units of the Southern and Western
military districts, having completed their tasks,
have already begun loading onto rail and road
transport, and they will begin moving to their
military garrisons,” the ministry’s chief
spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian
news agencies.
It was not immediately clear how many
units were involved and what impact the
withdrawals would have on the overall
number of troops surrounding Ukraine, but it
was the first announcement of a Russian
drawdown in weeks.
If Western officials confirm that Moscow is
taking steps to reduce its forces, it would ease
fears of a major war in Europe that have been
rising for weeks.
The first reaction could come from German
India bans Chinese apps over
security concerns
DELHI: Spurred by security concerns, India
has blocked access to 54 mobile apps,
mostly of Chinese origin, among them the
game Free Fire, which is owned by Sea Ltd,
government sources said yesterday.
India has banned a total of 321 apps
since political tension first flared with its
giant neighbour in 2020, leading to the
South Asian nation’s initial ban on 59
Chinese apps, including TikTok.
Shares of Sea plunged 18.4% in New York
on Monday to wipe more than US$16 billion
(RM69 billion) from the company’s market
value, following reports of the latest ban.
Asked about the ban at its annual general
meeting on Monday, Sea told shareholders
the firm was “working through it”, according
to a source.
India believes user data was being sent
via the apps to servers in China, said the
government source, who sought anonymity.
“This will enable them to compile huge
HEARTFELT MARCH ...
Members of the
Household Cavalry pass
Wellington Arch and a
large inflatable heart on
Valentine’s Day in London,
Britain on Monday
– REUTERSPIX
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was due in
Moscow for talks with Russian President
Vladimir Putin. Support from Germany, a
major economic partner for Moscow and
importer of Russian gas, is crucial for the
package of crippling sanctions that Western
leaders say would be imposed in response to
an invasion.
BRIEFS
United States President Joe Biden and
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed in
a call late on Monday that “a crucial window
for diplomacy” remained.
“The leaders emphasised that any further
incursion into Ukraine would result in a
protracted crisis for Russia, with far-reaching
damage for both Russia and the world,” a
Downing Street spokesman said.
Amid some claims from US officials that an
invasion was being prepared for today,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,
meanwhile declared it a “Unity Day”, urging
Ukrainians to take the streets in peaceful
demonstrations of solidarity. – AFP
personal data.”
Such collection would allow the data to
be mined, collated, analysed and profiled,
most probably by “elements hostile to the
sovereignty and integrity of India and for
activities detrimental to national security,”
the source added.
The ban spells trouble for Sea, as its
e-commerce app, Shopee, already faces
boycott calls by traders in India.
They accuse it of trade practices that hurt
offline traders.
Trade group, the Confederation of All
India Traders, has complained to regulators
against Shopee and was “surprised” at its
absence from India’s banned list, the
group’s secretary-general, Praveen
Khandelwal, said on Twitter on Monday.
Sea’s Shopee, the dominant player in
Southeast Asia, expanded across Latin
America, Europe, and in India in 2021.
– Reuters
7
theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
US wants Honduras to
extradite ex-president
TEGUCIGALPA: The United States has asked
Honduras to extradite former president Juan
Orlando Hernandez who is suspected of drug
trafficking, a Honduran official said on
Monday.
Police special forces were seen encircling
Hernandez’s residence in the capital
Tegucigalpa on Monday evening, while the
official, who declined to be named, said the
former president is currently in Honduras.
Hernandez, a former US ally who left office
last month, has been linked to drug trafficking
operations by New York prosecutors.
Earlier, the Honduran Foreign Ministry
had said on Twitter that an “official
communication from the US Embassy” was
sent to the Supreme Court formally asking for
the provisional arrest of a “Honduran
politician” for extradition.
The ministry did not name the politician.
News channel CNN broadcast images of
the document, which made a “formal request
for provisional arrest for the purpose of
extradition to the United States of America of
Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado”.
Speaking to a local TV channel,
Hernandez’s attorney Hermes Ramirez said
the police deployment constituted an “attack”
on the ex-president’s rights as they had
prevented advisers from coming to the
residence.
Ramirez said no arrest warrant had been
served to Hernandez, who has repeatedly
denied any involvement in drug trafficking.
During his eight years in office, Hernandez
cultivated close ties with Washington, though
his tenure was dogged by accusations of
corruption, and of his relatives and alleged
associates having links to the drug trade.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
revealed this month that Hernandez had been
blacklisted last year, with his name added to a
register of people denied entry to the United
States for corrupt or anti-democratic action in
El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
“The United States is advancing
transparency and accountability in Central
America by making public visa restrictions
against Honduras’ former president, Juan
Orlando Hernandez, on account of corrupt
actions,” Blinken tweeted on Feb 7.
“No one is above the law,” he said. – AFP
TOP COP HELD OVER DRUG
CARTEL TIES
LAGOS: A high-profile Nigerian police
commander, who was suspended last year,
has been arrested after investigators
issued a wanted notice against him for
alleged involvement in a drugs deal, police
said. National deputy police commissioner
Abba Kyari was suspended after he was
implicated by Nigerian influencer Ramon
Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, who pleaded
guilty to money laundering and other
crimes in the United States. Kyari, who
became famous for exposing a string of
high-profile crimes in Nigeria, denied the
allegations against him. On Monday, the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
declared Kyari is wanted for complicity in a
25kg cocaine deal. In a statement late
Monday, the police said Kyari and four
other officers had been arrested “for their
involvement in a case of illicit drug
trafficking involving a perpetual
transnational drug cartel”. – AFP
ACTOR JAILED FOR US$650M
PONZI SCHEME
LOS ANGELES: An American actor, who
swindled US$650 million (RM2.7 billion) in
a huge Hollywood ponzi scheme, using it
to finance a lavish lifestyle of yachts, jets
and fast cars, was jailed on Monday for 20
years. Zachary Horwitz, who acted in
small-time horror films under the name
Zach Avery, created fake contracts that he
told investors were with HBO and Netflix,
to trick them into handing over vast sums
of money. “Horwitz portrayed himself as a
Hollywood success story,” prosecutors said.
“He branded himself as an industry player,
who leveraged his relationships with
online streaming platforms like HBO and
Netflix to sell them foreign film
distribution rights at a steady premium.”
– AFP
 8 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
SPEAK UP

Interactive training more effective levels in one or more areas of expertise, trainers ought to use interactive Trainees must be induced to speak
COMMENT
by YS Chan
improve the level of awareness of
participants and to boost their
methods to engage with the audience,
and participants must think and speak
their minds as mistaken beliefs or
wrong notions of one participant can
motivation to perform better in their instead of being spoon-fed. The also be held by half of the

L
jobs or businesses. contents of the programme are in the audience. Correcting any fallacy,
AST week, Datuk
Thangavelu and I conducted a
K. To do that, trainers should first ask
participants to comment on a topic or
“The main slides but the quality of training
depends on the trainer and trainees.
misinterpretation or misunderstanding
of one participant can also benefit half
Training-of-Trainers (ToT) for
the Travel and Tours
reply to a question before explaining or
disclosing the answer. Even if the aims of Therefore, trainers should always
ask participants to speak what is in
the audience.
Just as important, a knowledgeable
Enhancement Course (TTEC), an
ongoing programme under the
audience were to remain silent, the
exercise would prompt many to put on training are to their mind each time a header or line
appears in an animated slide. When
trainer would be quick to confirm and
praise what was correctly said. This
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry
(Motac) since 2012.
their thinking caps and be more
receptive to learning. increase skill there is no response, trainer can then
share something useful or interesting
would encourage others to speak up
and crystallise their thoughts. The best
In 2019, we also co-conducted a ToT
for the same programme. Recently,
If trainers were to keep talking
without pausing for participants to levels in one or before the focus is shifted to the next
line or slide.
way to learn is to teach. One must
speak convincingly among peers,

TTEC has been revised to help travel
trade personnel cope with a different
tourism landscape and everchanging
scenario, and to equip them to be
better prepared for future shocks.
Trainers were reminded that TTEC
is a training programme with learning
outcomes, but many tend to fall into a
lecture mode. Listening to what is
being said is less effective than written
words, which could be read and reread
on the spot or at a future occasion
when needed.
If it were limited to disseminating
information, then there is no need for
travel trade personnel to attend this
programme in order to renew their
company licence with Motac. It would
be more efficient and effective to email
them the written texts, pictures, videos
and slides.
What the audience sees and hears
during presentation from the trainer
may not be clear or will be quickly
forgotten. It would be more of a syiok
sendiri exercise when trainers are more
eager to share their experiences and
stories than listening to questions,
answers and comments.
While lectures are teacher-centred,
training is student-centred. The main
aims of training are to increase skill
think or speak, it would result in
information overload.
Daily, most of us consume tonnes of
information online through force of
habit but have gained little from such
exercise. Without realising the
importance, we will not act.
To go beyond superficial
knowledge, we need to focus, reflect
and not rely on official definitions. If we
cannot describe what we think we
know in our own words, the
information gathered is only
superficial knowledge. We will not be
prompted to apply or change anything.
Having trained thousands of
industry personnel and tourism
academics, including those with PhDs,
I am no longer surprised if only a few
can define meaningfully basic travel
trade terms such as tourism,
hospitality, visitor, travel agency, tour
leader and tourist guide.
During normal times, most industry
players could keep their business
chugging along with the rest. Only
those that took the trouble to explore
discovered new frontiers became
insightful, put in efforts to capture the
market, and stood head and shoulders
above their competitors.
For training to be more effective,
more areas of
If not, the trainer would keep on
lecturing and descend into a
monologue session.
expertise, While the trainer may feel good to
have shared his or her story or
improve the experience, the audience may not have
understood or be able to relate to what
level of was said or have long drifted away by
their short attention span.
awareness of While I usually stand in front of the
audience during training, I would walk
participants around the room when asking
questions and get participants to
and to boost answer. While I try to make eye contact
with everyone, I single out those who
their seem to be in a world of their own.
When starting a new topic, it would
motivation to be better to begin by asking
participants to talk about the problems
perform better they have encountered instead of going
straight into a long list of dos and
don’ts, such as in licensing and legal
in their jobs or issues that include contracts and
agreements, suits and settlements.
businesses. Sharing and overcoming common
challenges should be the core of
training, and using real examples are
the best ways to learn and move the
industry forward. But all too often, both
trainers and participants spend too
much time on hazy definitions and
academic discussions.
especially during training.
TTEC has undergone evolutionary
changes each time it was revised, since
2012. But it was revolutionised in the
latest revision in Langkawi at the end of
last September, after the island
reopened to fully vaccinated local
tourists beginning Sept 16.
Malaysians tend to treat training
programmes like academic courses, by
giving great importance on the
contents, expecting trainers to lecture
and trainees to memorise what is
taught. But such methods have only
produced graduates that cannot solve
real problems in the industry.
Although the four modules in TTEC
are now more in line with current
realities, the quality of training would
vary. To extract the full value of this
programme, participants must know
and tell what their problems and
challenges are, so that trainers can
discuss them during training.
YS Chan is Asean Tourism Master
Trainer for travel agencies, master
trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel
& Tours Enhancement Course.
He is also a tourism and transport
industry consultant and writer.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Dwindling reading culture, a sad story

LETTERS
letters@thesundaily.com
IT is nice to know that people still flock to
bookstores to buy printed books during book
sales in this digital age when everything is
online and available at a click of a button.
Having a physical book in one’s hands has its
advantages.
From my observations during my travels
abroad, it appears the habit of reading at bus
stops, railway stations etc has not caught up
with Malaysians as with many foreign
countries. Many still tinker with their
handphones. Only a sprinkling few have the
habit of reading at public places.
The mindset of an individual plays a vital
part in the need to want to read. Besides
amassing a wealth of knowledge from reading,
it also keeps the mind active, a practice worth
converting into a habit.
Just as anything that is left idle will sooner or
later disintegrate, erode or waste away, reading
stimulates brain cells and helps prevent
memory loss. It is a win-win situation.
An interesting way to gauge if the reading
culture is declining is through newspapers.
According to my newspaper vendor, year-on-
year, subscription for newspapers has been on
the decline. Among my siblings, only the eldest
three, who are in their 70s, faithfully subscribe
to it, and of course my aunt who is touching 80.
My newspaper vendor has predicted that
within the next five years, he would be carting
an even lesser load of newspapers. Gone are the
days when we can hardly notice the vendor on
his motorbike because of the stack of
newspapers mounted behind and in front of
him.
It is sad that the present day generation
rarely buy newspapers. They prefer to browse
through the internet to access information.
There is nothing like going through a
newspaper while having a cup of coffee in the
mornings. There is an extensive coverage of
news, current affairs, sports and other
happenings to keep us updated at one’s leisure.
There is no denying the fact that when you
hold a hard copy of a newspaper, you tend to
read more, and for that matter, in detail too.
The ideal way to inculcate the habit of
reading is via parents as role models. Parents
should inculcate the habit of reading in their
children from young. This is the best way to
keep a healthy mind.
Thiagarajan Mathiaparanam
Klang
 9
theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022

SPEAK UP

Human factor in cybersecurity

█ BY JONATHAN KNUDSEN Although giving developers more supply chain. Building secure software is building applications, it is not really at

I
LOVE the boundless possibilities of
modern software development.
Anyone with a computer and an
internet connection can code. More
than any other time in human history,
each of us has the power to build
something in software, to realise
whatever we can imagine.
At the same time, a thriving ecosystem
of open source software components
allows us to stand upon the shoulders of
giants, to quickly assemble huge building
blocks of existing functionality that can
rocket us towards our own goals.
At some point of course, reality
intrudes. Gravity is a harsh mistress. If
we create buildings, they must not
collapse. If we create airplanes, they must
stay aloft until they are ready to land.
If we create software, it must not fail,
either by accident or under attack.
Do not cook the goose
In some sense, developers are like the
goose that lay a golden egg. After all,
developers are the creative workers that
produce the software that brings in
revenue.
However, security vulnerabilities are
essentially mistakes made by developers;
every once in a while, the goose lays a
dud.
Sometimes the connection between
developers and security vulnerabilities
leads management to make bad
decisions. If developers are the source of
vulnerabilities, the reasoning goes, then
let us just train them in security so they
do not make any more mistakes.
Problem solved, right? Not at all.
knowledge about software security is an
excellent step forward, it is a narrow,
simplistic approach to a much larger
challenge.
Software supply chain
The notion that developers create
software is a gross oversimplification.
Software is made from the effort of a wide
variety of contributors.
0 Designers and architects figure out
what the software should do and how it
should be structured. Many
vulnerabilities are introduced at this
stage, before any code is written. Design
reviews, threat modelling and
architectural risk analysis should all be
performed so that the finished design is
as secure as it can be.
0 Developers write code, but they make
extensive use of pre-built components –
often open source packages – to supply
basic functionality. The code that
developers write is often a relatively thin
layer of glue that holds everything
together and provides specific
functionality. In essence, developers rely
on a shadow army consisting of all the
developers who contributed to the
components they are using.
0 Operations engineers deploy,
configure and maintain the software,
making plenty of decisions with far-
reaching security implications.
0 Users themselves makes security-
related decisions when they use the
software.
The path that leads all the way from
an idea to a user is the software supply
chain. Developers are important, but
they only occupy one link of the whole
about taking steps to reduce risk across
the entire supply chain.
Use machines
You can move a big pile of dirt with a
shovel but if you have a backhoe handy, it
will go much faster. Making software
more secure works the same way. You
can hunt down vulnerabilities manually,
but if you can use automated tools, you
“Security tools can accomplish so much more.
A single software application could
are not as have many thousands of lines of code,
sometimes millions, especially if you add
smart as in the open source components that are
part of the application. It is simply not
humans (yet), feasible to have developers hunt security
vulnerabilities manually.
but they can Security tools are not as smart as
humans (yet), but they can do a huge
do a huge amount of analysis in a relatively short
amount of time. Effective security
programmes use the best parts of tools
amount of and humans; tools can cover broad areas
quickly, and humans can do more
analysis in a targeted analysis.
Some activities simply cannot be
relatively automated. Most, if not all, security
analysis that happens during the design
short amount phase, for example, must be done by
humans. But during development,
of time. testing, deployment and maintenance, a
variety of useful automated testing
techniques help flush out security
vulnerabilities.
Let developers be developers
Developers are creative people who solve
tough problems. The core of the job is
creating code that gets something done.
While security is an important part of
the heart of what developers do.
So yes, it is good if developers know
about security but what they really need
is to be part of a proactive security
process. When developers make
mistakes, automated tools should let
them know and help them fix it. This
needs to happen in the least intrusive
way possible, which means integrating
security into the tools that developers
already use.
In a properly implemented software
development process, security is nearly
invisible to developers – just a normal
part of everyday life. They spend their
days writing code, confident that the
designs they are implementing have
already been evaluated and hardened
from a security perspective.
When they make coding errors, a
plug-in in their development
environment tells them about the
vulnerability and provides pointers
about how to fix it.
When they commit their code to the
source repository, automated tools static
application security testing, software
composition analysis, interactive
application security testing, and so on –
find vulnerabilities, which are fed back to
developers via the issue-tracking systems
(such as Jira) that they are already using.
At the end of the day, security
demands not that we improve
developers, but that we build a better
process around developers.
Jonathan Knudsen is senior security
strategist at Synopsys Software
Integrity Group. Comments:
letters@thesundaily.com

Spare a thought for cyclists LETTERS

█ BY DONNACHADH MCCARTHY
COULD anything more graphically symbolise
our failing battle to stop humanity destroying
civilisation with climate destruction, than
reports of another young person tragically
killed while cycling?
Chuijiang Kong was not only a cyclist using
zero-carbon transport, but she was also, with a
terrible double irony, an exceptionally talented
scientist who had dedicated herself to
researching solar rays at Imperial College.
She wanted to help make solar power even
more productive, out of her concern for the
threats of the climate crisis to her and future
generations. She was crushed to death beneath
the wheels of a heavy goods vehicle while
cycling to work.
Let us be clear about one thing: We cannot
reach the urgently necessary net zero carbon
emissions for UK transport unless we radically
reduce the number of cars on our roads and get
more people cycling the 70% of trips that are
under five miles. This is due to the huge,
embedded carbon costs involved in
manufacturing cars, whether they are electric
vehicles or fossil fuelled, the oceans of concrete
and tarmac needed to build and repair our
roads and the devastating destruction of
rainforests to supply the endless demand for
billions of new tyres for the world’s vehicle fleet.
Yet the tragic killing of Chuijiang came in
the middle of a torrid tsunami of hateful
cyclophobia in the tabloid media, directed
against minor steps to make cycling to school a
bit safer for our kids.
Instead of increasing the – currently tiny –
budget for building protected cycle lanes and
separating kids cycling to school from heavy
goods vehicles (HGV) (currently just one-tenth
of the UN-recommended 20% of the transport
budget is spent on cycling), the UK government
announced some minor changes to the
Highway Code, governing how drivers, people
cycling and pedestrians must behave where
they have to share roads.
These changes basically codify the good
practice that has been taught in good motoring
schools and children’s cycle training for
decades.
If a person is cycling on a road that is too
narrow for a driver to overtake safely, with a
more than 1.5m space between them, then the
person cycling should cycle in the middle of the
lane (not the road) until there is space for the
driver to do so safely. This is because if a child
should wobble or hit a pothole and the driver is
too close, the child could be crushed under the
wheels of the vehicle.
However, this sent some tabloids into a
purple fit of cyclophobic hysteria. “Genghis
Khan’s London looks as if it has been hit by a
cluster of neutron bombs, which has left the
buildings and bike lanes intact and laid waste
to all commercial human activity. The revised
Highway Code is just the latest example of how
virtually every area of public policy has been
surrendered to a cabal of blinkered, neo-
communist fanatics,” fumed Richard Littlejohn
in the Mail.
Howard Cox, from the fringe motoring
lobby group Fair FuelUK, fulminated in The
Sun: “The latest Highway Code is a cyclists’
charter to ride any way they wish, no matter
how dangerous, without fear of any
prosecution.”
But the AA and RAC (providers of
breakdown services) welcomed the changes,
saying that they would help protect vulnerable
people walking or cycling. The government’s
consultation received more than 70% positive
support for them.
Then, in the middle of all this, news
emerged that the government was considering
dropping European Union (EU) rules requiring
new HGV trucks to meet the Direct Vision
standard, so that drivers can see adjacent road
users. Their current blind spot means that HGV
are a significant cause of killings of people
walking and cycling.
We asked the Department of Transport if
this was true and they said: “We’re currently
The UK government
recently announced
some minor changes
to the Highway
Code, governing how
drivers, people cycling
and pedestrians must
behave where they
have to share roads.
– REUTERSPIX
considering the vehicle safety provisions
included in the EU’s General Safety Regulation
and will implement requirements that are
appropriate for Great Britain and improve road
safety.”
Then it also emerged that the London
mayor’s cycle safety programme was
threatened in his negotiations with the
government on how to cover the Covid-related
drop in income for Transport for London.
The mayor’s cycling and walking
commissioner, Will Norman, told this column
that without a government settlement, there
would be no more cycle lanes built, dangerous
junctions sorted or any community safer street
programmes in London’s boroughs.
Also under threat is the London mayor’s
important £10 million (RM56.77 million),
three-year programme to make existing HGV
trucks safer, by requiring two- and three-star
danger-rated HGV to have CCTV and cycle
sensors, as the most dangerous one-star rated
already have to.
Cycle campaigners are devastated by this
threat, as the hope was to roll it out across the
country, not destroy progress in London.
So, what are we to make of all this? If we
cannot find even the smallest amount of
money to protect people cycling, if we refuse to
create the national cycling infrastructure to
enable the switch from high-carbon cars to
near zero-carbon bicycles, and if the tiniest
change in the Highway Code produces a
collective apoplectic fit across our tabloid
media, then what hope have we got of radically
cutting our carbon emissions across society in
time to avoid self-destruction?
Will our government wake up before it is
too late? We simply must do better than this.
– The Independent
letters@thesundaily.com
Put off by smelly
neighbour
I REFER to the letter by S. Sundareson
published in theSun on Feb 9. I concur with the
writer that most neighbours are good and
friendly. This is especially so when neighbours
own the houses and live with their families.
Most of them are courteous and helpful.
However, I am not so fortunate as the writer.
I live in a respectable residential area in
Petaling Jaya. For many years, I had a good
neighbour. About six years ago he retired and
moved to Negri Sembilan.
He rented his house to a person in the
sewage business. However, the tenant did not
stay in the house. The house was used as
accommodation for his local and foreign
workers.
Everyday large sewage trucks would come
to pick up the workers. On many occasions, the
drivers would park their trucks in the house
compound, and the stench from the trucks
would permeate the surrounding area.
I have filed several complaints to the local
authorities and provided them with photos
and CCTV recordings. However, until now the
authorities have not been able to resolve the
matter.
The tenant has occupied the house for
about six years. Rubbish is strewn all over the
compound. There is no maintenance or
housekeeping. Grass and shrubs in the
compound are cut only once a year. The place
is infested with mosquitoes and rodents.
Most of the time the tenant would only cut
the grass and shrubs after complaints are
made to the authorities.
I envisage I may have to live with this
neighbour for many more years to come. If the
existing tenant vacates the house, the owner
may have difficulties finding a new tenant as
the house is in poor condition and needs
major repairs.
I hope the authorities will see to my
complaints and resolve this matter as soon
as possible.
Unfortunate house owner
Petaling Jaya
10 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
MEDIA & MARKETING
T
IKTOK, the leading
destination for short-form
mobile videos, in
conjunction with its next
phase of the #BeCyberSmart
campaign, has introduced a series of
tips to protect its users’ hearts and
wallets from romance scams. With
Valentine’s Day around the corner,
TikTok is buzzing with feelings with
over 640 billion views of #love.
With the abundance of dating
apps, singles are spoilt for choices
when it comes to finding love at a
distance. However, cyberspace is full
of scammers eager to take advantage
of lonely hearts and romance scams
are on the rise as it involves victims
losing large sums of money.
As many have been struck by
Cupid’s arrow, whether in the
physical or virtual world, the best
defence against fraud is awareness.
Alongside working with fraud
awareness champions such as About-
Fraud, Wiser Free Security Training,
and Frank on Fraud, TikTok has also
spoken to creators to help shine a
spotlight on the cruel intentions of
so-called suitors that have long-
plagued dating apps or other online
forums.
TikTok is committed to educating
its community about the dangers of
cybercriminals posing as a potential
love interest online.
Mission to turn Petron service stations into a 5-star pit stop
PETRON’S Tandas Kita Bersih
campaign is on track to achieve its
mission of maintaining clean and
functional toilets as 113 Petron
service stations from eight states –
Johor, Penang, Pahang, Terengganu,
Perak, Kedah, Selangor and Wilayah
Persekutuan – received a five-star
rating from local state councils.
Choong Kum Choy, Petron Head
of Retail & Commercial Business
said: “Our customers’
needs and
expectations
Petron’s campaign hopes to result in a more comfortable experience for road users.
Don’t fall
for bad Cupid
oTikTok empowers users to #BeCyberSmart
with tips to prevent romance scams
Here are some security tips:
0 Take it slowly. Swindlers are quick
to profess their affection and take
conversations off apps. They often
try to draw in victims with love-filled
texts, emails, or calls. A best practice
is to vet your new heartthrob by
asking questions and pay attention
to inconsistencies that may reveal
your crush as an impostor.
0 Keep your funds (and personal
information) to yourself. If you’ve
are important to us and we want
them to have a positive experience
each time they visit a Petron service
station. Our goal is to make our
stations the preferred pit-stop for
everyone.”
Petron Malaysia initiated the
clean toilet
never met in person, don’t send or
exchange money via gift cards, wire
transfers, or cryptocurrency, and
don’t share personal details like bank
account, home address, or other
sensitive information.
0 Don’t play games. Tools like
images.google.com can help conduct
a reverse image search of someone’s
online profile photo. If results show
the same photo on another site but
with a different name attached, a
campaign under its Fuel Happy
programme to ensure all its service
stations are clean, dry, and
operational. Petron launched the
Tandas Kita Bersih programme in
2018 with the tagline Jom Singgah
Petron.
The Tandas Kita Bersih
programme has evolved from being
a campaign to becoming a full-
fledged system that sets the
standards and guidelines for all
Petron stations. The
programme was
developed in
scammer may have stolen it. For
sweet emails or text messages that
sound too good to be
true, copy and paste the
text into a search engine
to see if others have
already encountered
this potential fraudster.
TikTok also
encourages creators to
cut off all contact
immediately should
something
amiss. The app also
seem
allows creators to
report suspicious
activity in-app on the
TikTok Safety Center.
TikTok Malaysia
strategy operations
manager Darren
Quek said: “User
safety has always
been our priority. As
a platform that
connects people to other creators
based on their interests, we are
committed to promoting a safe
consultation with the Ministry of
Housing and Local Government
(KPKT).
Petron’s clean toilet programme
has proven to be successful. Petron
service stations have been actively
participating in the prestigious
national award for clean toilets under
KPKT. Over the years, multiple
service stations including Petron
Batu Burok, Terengganu, Petron
Tongkang Pecah, Johor, and Petron
Senawang 2, Negeri Sembilan have
won first place in the National Best
Toilet Award under the Service
Station category.
The dealer of Petron Senawang 2,
Mokhtar Paunari, whose station won
first place in the 2019 National-
level Clean Public Toilet Competition
(service station category)
environment for our community
even when sparks fly. In efforts to
keep users safe against romance
scams and cyber
scams, TikTok has
also introduced
@TikTokTips which
furnishes users with
information on more
ways to
#BeCyberSmart.
“We have also
implemented
messaging protection
policies that do not
allow users to send
images or videos via
direct messaging and
constantly update our
Community Guidelines,
such as our latest efforts
to add clarity on the types
of hateful ideologies on
our platform to ensure
that TikTok can continue
to bring people together
to create, connect, and
enjoy community-powered
entertainment long-term.”
commented: “Commitment,
teamwork, and consistency are the
key factors in ensuring that our toilet
achieves the standard of ‘model
toilet’ for petrol stations in the
country.”
For Azmin Che Mat, dealer of
Petron Rantau Panjang, winning
third for the best public toilet in the
Kelantan state competition is a
great achievement.
He said: “I want to offer the best
service to our customers, and I want
our customers to feel comfortable
when they are here to use the services
we offer.”
Going the extra mile for his
customers, Azmin appointed a
dedicated janitor to maintain the
cleanliness of the restrooms.
Tandas Kita Bersih also supports
Petron’s sustainability aspiration of
promoting a culture of good sanitation
at all Petron service stations. This is in
line with the UN Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 6, which
ensures access to clean water and
good sanitation for all.
Choong said: “We applaud our
dealers for stepping up to the
challenge to achieve and maintain
the highest standards of service for
our customers. Having clean toilets
shows that we care about every
aspect of our customers’ experience
at our stations.”
 WEDNESDAY
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

FEBRUARY 16, 2022
A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad
Editorial Tel: 03-7784 6688
15/02/2022 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
54.1 Institutions 1462.2 1761.7 -299.6 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
26.7 Retail 782.8 810.3 -27.5
19.2 Foreign 735.6 408.6 327.0
15.77 0.18 200.86 17.21 214.40 45.86 27.94 37.00
100.0 2980.6 2980.6 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: Bursa Malaysia 1,599.61 3,421.38 24,355.71 3,446.09 26,865.19 17,951.81 2,676.54 7,206.90

INDICES
KL MARKET SUMMARY
February 15, 2022

CHANGE
Kenanga Investment Bank
unveils AI-driven robo-adviser
FBMEMAS 11,411.29 +89.57
FBMKLCI 1,599.61 +15.77
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 581.45 +3.07
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 211.81 +1.38
CONSTRUCTION 148.62 -0.20
FINANCIAL SERVICES 16,453.43 +70.07
ENERGY 792.94 -1.96 revealed its robo-adviser looks
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 626.17 +6.00 oOne feature is that it monitors global at 50-100 different types of
HEALTH CARE 2,166.26 -7.01 ETF at any given day and picks
TRANSPORTATION 879.65 +7.30 market conditions and rebalances customers’ 30-35 ETF and the things that
PROPERTY 712.92 +3.34
portfolios automatically
are looked for are very liquid
PLANTATION 7,656.42 +371.06 ETF that are low cost as well as
FBMSHA 12,145.64 +122.87 diverse in terms of geography
FBMACE 6,285.45 +35.95 and asset classes.
TECHNOLOGY 81.70 -0.06 █ BY AMIR IMRAN HUSAIN SAFRI Invest provides a gateway to “We’re talking about a range
sunbiz@thesundaily.com the global markets at an of different product classes and
TURNOVER VALUE affordable fee,” he said at the it does a lot of analysis on the
3.572 BIL RM2.980 BIL PETALING JAYA: Kenanga Investment virtual launch of the platform fundamentals, looks at how it is
Bank has unveiled its Kenanga Digital yesterday. doing vis-a-vis other markets
Investing (KDI) platform, an artificial In differentiating itself and design an optimal portfolio
5 MOSTFebruary
ACTIVES 15, 2022
intelligence-driven (AI) robo-adviser for
Malaysians to save and invest.
from the other digital
investment management
around that,” Lloyd said.
“Furthermore, it looks at
It said the platform comprises two provider, Lloyd said the key the entire market condition
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) products, KDI Save – which offers daily piece to this puzzle is and it also detects if there is
DNEX 124,898,000 113.0 -2.0 returns on savings with no lock-in period simplicity as well as utilising the expertise of something happening in the market, there
TAWIN 120,692,300 16.0 +1.5 and zero management fees – and KDI Kenanga, as it is the first local investment is extreme volatility or other things that are
SMTRACK 112,827,500 21.0 +0.5 Invest, which enables customers to access bank to offer such a product. happening and will take a defensive play.”
HIBISCS 97,759,700 114.0 +1.0 global investment opportunities via US- He said the system selects suitable The investment bank highlighted that
AHB 96,136,900 24.0 +2.5 listed exchange traded funds (ETF) at a portfolios to help customers achieve their KDI Invest is free for investments below
competitive rate. investment goals in line with each RM3,000 while investments above that
The investment bank’s group chief customer’s personal risk preferences. amount will be charged a management fee
5 TOP February
GAINERS 15, 2022
digital officer (CDO), Ian Lloyd (pix), said
the platform is another step towards its goal
In addition, the AI monitors global
market conditions and rebalances
between 0.3% and 0.7% a year, making it
one of the most competitive robo-adviser
of making investing accessible to all. customers’ portfolios automatically, giving platforms in the market today.
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM “We are proud to launch KDI Save, a cash them peace of mind that their portfolio is Meanwhile, KDI Save is offering a
KLK 6,933,200 25.52 1.16 management product with one of the being taken care of around the clock market-leading fixed interest rate of 3%
GENP 5,216,600 7.95 0.55 highest returns in the market, while KDI Elaborating on the process, the CDO until the end of this year.
HLFG 787,600 19.50 0.50
SIMEPLT 31,084,600 4.69 0.45

Farm Fresh inks underwriting agreement for IPO

BKAWAN 52,900 25.30 0.42

5 TOPFebruary
LOSERS 15, 2022 PETALING JAYA: Farm Fresh Bhd has well as foreign institutional and selected poised for further growth as the economy
entered into an underwriting agreement for investors outside the United States. recovers.
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM its initial public offering (IPO) on Bursa Farm Fresh has also set aside 55.7 “Its journey is truly a home-grown
PMBTECH-WA 43,900 15.08 1.44 Malaysia’s Main Market slated for the first million issue shares representing about 3% success story, backed by a strong and
PMBTECH 666,200 17.90 1.36 quarter of 2022. of its enlarged issued share capital with 18.6 experienced local management team,”
PMBTECH-LA 1,100 18.40 0.90 The dairy producer signed the agreement million issue shares reserved for application Jefferi said.
MPI 441,100 36.98 0.64 with CIMB Investment Bank, Maybank and the remaining 37.2 million issue shares Maybank Investment Bank CEO Datuk
MSC 2,136,400 3.87 0.25 Investment Bank, Affin Hwang Investment is reserved for application by the Malaysian Fad’l Mohamed said that Farm Fresh, as
Bank and RHB Investment Bank. public. one of the largest integrated dairy players in
The group said the IPO will see an offer “In the span of 12 years, we have grown Malaysia, is well poised for the next stage of
EXCHANGE RATES FEBRUARY 15, 2022 of up to 743.2 million shares comprising into one of the nation’s leading dairy growth as it enlarges its footprint in the
520.2 million existing shares and a public producers despite stiff competition from domestic and regional consumer space
Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy issue of 223 million new shares. other brands,” Farm Fresh managing with its strong branding.
TT/OD TT OD A total of 687.4 million or 37% of Farm director and group CEO Loi Tuan Ee said in For the IPO, CIMB Investment Bank is
1 US DOLLAR 4.2490 4.1240 4.1140
Fresh’s enlarged issued share capital has a statement. the sole principal adviser, as well as the joint
been allocated as institutional offering, He remarked that the underwriting global coordinator, joint bookrunner, joint
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0480 2.9270 2.9110 which includes 167.2 million issue shares exercise takes it one step closer to the managing underwriter alongside Maybank
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.1550 3.0620 3.0540 and up to 65 million offer shares to group’s debut on Bursa’s Main Market. Investment Bank.
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.3340 3.2450 3.2330 bumiputra investors approved by the CIMB Investment Bank CEO Jefferi Credit Suisse is also participating as the
1 EURO 4.8140 4.6580 4.6380 Ministry of International Trade änd Hashim said it is proud to play a role in the joint global coordinator and joint
Industry (Miti). IPO. bookrunner for the listing. Meanwhile, Affin
1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8230 2.7190 2.7030 Up to 455.2 million offer shares have He commented that Farm Fresh’s Hwang Investment Bank, AmInvestment,
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.1550 3.0620 3.0540 been allocated to Malaysian institutional combination of innovative products and Hong Leong Investment Bank and RHB
1 STERLING POUND 5.7600 5.5790 5.5590 and selected investors (apart from business model has proven its resilience in Investment Bank are the joint underwriters
1 SWISS FRANC 4.5850 4.4810 4.4660 bumiputra investors approved by Miti) as a challenging economic environment and is for the IPO.
100 UAE DIRHAM 117.0500 111.0000 110.8000
100 BANGLADESH TAKA
100 CHINESE RENMINBI
5.0350
66.9000
4.7150
64.3000
4.5150
N/A MPC, ministry pledge to drive construction sector productivity
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 55.0400 52.3100 52.1100
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Productivity Two new productivity nexuses were industry. “Construction Productivity Nexus
100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.7100 5.3600 5.1600
Corporation (MPC) and the Ministry of established under 12MP, covering construction has conducted several discussions with
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0307 0.0278 0.0228 Works are committed to driving the and logistics services. These two sectors Construction Industry Development Board
100 JAPANESE YEN 3.6870 3.5710 3.5610 productivity of the construction sector in contributed 7.1% to gross domestic product and will work with construction industry
100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 16.3000 N/A N/A the country through the establishment of and 12.9% to total employment in 2020. associations to implement this initiative.”
the Construction Productivity Nexus. “Nexus plays an important role in Ministry secretary-general Datuk Wan
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 2.4600 2.2900 2.0900
MPC director-general Datuk Abdul Latif identifying issues that hinder productivity Ahmad Uzir and Champion of Digital
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.4000 7.9100 7.7100 Abu Seman said the establishment of growth. Through Nexus governing committee, Productivity Nexus Datuk Wei Chuan Beng
100 QATAR RIYAL 118.0100 112.0300 111.8300 Construction Productivity Nexus, as both public and private sectors will work expressed their commitment to addressing
100 SAUDI RIYAL 114.5400 108.7300 108.5300 announced in the 12th Malaysia Plan together to implement initiatives to increase issues related to digital infrastructure along
(12MP), is an important platform led by the productivity,” said Abdul Latif in a statement. the highway. They agreed to acquire more
100 THAI BAHT 13.6900 12.1400 11.7400
private sector to drive productivity growth He said it will strengthen and facilitate comprehensive information and data from
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama of the construction sector. business startups in the construction industry players for further action.
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SUNBIZ @thesundaily ME

Aerodyne, Petrosar collaborate to explore DT3 markets in Sarawak, Borneo

KUALA LUMPUR: Aerodyne Group
and Petrosar Academy are
collaborating to provide cutting-edge
drone technology, data technology,
and digital transformation (DT3)
solutions and “explore other industry-
related contingencies” in the Sarawak
and Borneo markets.
Petrosar is a certified Technical
Vocational and Education Training
(TVET) centre that aims to support the
growth of various local industries.
“With Petrosar’s strong business
presence in Sarawak and its regional
market as well as Aerodyne’s solutions
in drone technology and data
management, this collaboration
strives to develop and improve the
entire technology industry in Sarawak
and Borneo.
“This partnership aims to equip
both private and public sectors with
world class solutions towards
achieving high performance business
results,” both parties said in a joint
statement yesterday.
Petrosar and Aerodyne said they
are set to transform the Sarawak state
industrial landscape by utilising their
respective core capabilities in the
areas of oil and gas engineering
services, critical infrastructure asset
inspection, security and aerial
surveillance, advanced drone delivery
and other services, including training
and human capital development.
Aerodyne founder and group CEO
Kamarul Muhamed said the group
will work hand in hand with Petrosar
and its affiliate companies to digitalise
and revolutionise businesses in the
Sarawak and Borneo markets,
providing cutting-edge technical
solutions.
“This will create a huge
opportunity for local stakeholders to
reinvent their business process and
achieve their goal. At the same time,
both parties are also looking towards
the creation of ‘jobs of the future’ in
Sarawak - transforming Malaysia into
a technology-driven country,” he said.
Petrosar CEO Azfar Safri said the
strategic collaboration was a key
milestone for the company in
Sarawak.
“Our aim is not bound by
geographical borders. Just like the
industrial drones roving the skies as
far as they can go, Petrosar Academy
has strategic plans for catalysing the
drone analytics industry into the
whole of Borneo, including
Kalimantan, Indonesia,” he added. –
Bernama

SDP: RM82m to reimburse Economists see 2021

hiring fees to foreign workers
oSince the imposition of Withhold Release Order by the US customs, group has
implemented audit practices both internally and by independent organisations
KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Plantation
(SDP) will reimburse its current and former
foreign workers recruitment fees totalling
RM82.02 million tomorrow, following the
company’s comprehensive audits both
internally and by independent organisations.
According to a statement yesterday, the
group said it will reimburse 15,078 current
foreign workers an aggregate sum of RM38.55
million.
The workers hail from Indonesia, India,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri
Lanka and Pakistan.
Additionally, SPD is also setting aside a
sinking fund amounting to RM43.47 million to
reimburse 19,565 former foreign workers.
Group managing director Mohamad Helmy
Othman Basha said that since the imposition
of the Withhold Release Order by the US
Customs and Border Protection in December
2020, the group has implemented the audit
practices.
“Unfortunately, the audits were unavoidably
delayed as the Malaysian government had
imposed strict nationwide movement controls
over several months in 2021 to contain the
spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“This entire exercise has certainly been a
learning experience for us. SDP has always
been proud of having industry-leading policies
and practices. However, over the last year, we
have learnt that there is always room for
introspection and review, that improvement is
a continuous journey,” he said.
Mohamad Helmy said that the plantation
company spent a long hard year auditing,
examining and occasionally unearthing
entrenched practices that needed to be
improved or changed.
Meanwhile, he said SDP has implemented
new and significant governance and structural
changes to ensure that workers’ welfare and
wellbeing are improved and entrenched within
the organisation, in addition to a new
environmental, social and governance (ESG)
scorecard and accountability mapping
process.
“We have also developed new platforms
and channels for dialogues with our workers to
improve existing communications, build trust
and ensure that their voices are heard.
SDP has been working with independent migrant worker rights specialist Andy Hall since October
2020 to revise its Responsible Recruitment Procedure and guidelines that govern the hiring of its
foreign workers. - BERNAMAPIX
“We have taken stern and swift action
against those who have not adhered to the
company’s policies,” said Mohamad Helmy,
noting that the consequence management and
accountability will help the group’s efforts to
ensure a sustainable cultural shift.
He added that SDP has been working with
independent migrant worker rights specialist
Andy Hall since October 2020 to revise its
Responsible Recruitment Procedure and
guidelines that govern the hiring of its foreign
workers.
The new policy emphasises the
appointment of suitable recruitment agents via
open tenders, with appropriate checks and
balances to ensure that workers are no longer
exploited or encumbered with recruitment
fees.
SDP will also conduct regular due diligence
on appointed recruitment agents to establish
that they are licensed and have credible track
records.
“Our selected agents chosen through the
transparent open tender process will undergo
mentoring and training to address any gaps in
their understanding of our requirements.
“Their performance will be monitored to
ensure contractual accountability for
compliance to ethical and transparent
recruitment standards, as well as our own
policies and standards,” said Mohamad Helmy.
The plantation company has also rolled out
“Social Dialogue” – a two-way communication
platform across 121 estates and 33 mills in
Malaysia.
In every estate and mill, foreign workers
from each nationality would nominate a
representative for on-site dialogue with
management representatives.
To ensure that all improvements and
initiatives planned and implemented are
sustainable, the board has approved an ESG
scorecard that carries as much weight as the
operational scorecard.
This new scorecard is designed to ensure
that clear indicators are implemented,
monitored and applied across the upstream
Malaysia organisational structure.
Additionally, a new Social Welfare and
Services department has been established,
where a dedicated team will oversee the
implementation of policies and procedures
related to the well-being and safety of workers;
ensuring that day-to-day upstream operations
comply with internationally recognised best
practices. – Bernama
EPF dividend rate at
between 5.2% and 6%
KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident
Fund (EPF) is expected to declare a handsome
dividend payout for 2021, ranging between 5.2%
and 6%, on the back of the fund’s higher gross
investments and better capital market
performance, economists said.
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist
Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the EPF’s
gross investments for the first nine months of 2021
were already 7.7% higher year-on-year at RM48.02
billion, compared with the same period in 2020.
“In that sense, there could be a chance that the
dividend rate could be better than in 2020. I think
it should at least match the 2020 level, if not
better,” he told Bernama and estimated that the
dividend would likely be between 5.2% and 5.4%
for 2021.
In 2020, the pension fund manager declared a
dividend of 5.2% with a payout amounting to
RM42.88 billion for conventional savings and
4.9% for shariah savings, with a payout totalling
RM4.76 billion.
Mohd Afzanizam said the chance for a better
dividend rate in 2021 would be higher should
corporate earnings in the fourth quarter turn out
better.
Furthermore, the EPF has also been
diversifying its portfolios into overseas markets
and incomes from foreign equities have made a
significant contribution to its total income, he
noted.
“So their portfolio diversification strategy has
really paid off and it could be translated into a
sustainable dividend rate going forward,” he
added.
On special withdrawals under the EPF’s i-
Sinar, i-Lestari, and i-Citra facilities, the
economist reckons that the withdrawals would
likely not have a severe impact on the dividend
performance.
He observed that the economy had been able
to grow in 2021 and the unemployment rate had
trended down to 4.2% in December 2021 from as
high as 5.3% in the middle of 2020.
Therefore, fresh contributions from the EPF
members, along with maturing investment assets,
would help to offset the withdrawal trend, he said.
Professor of economics at i-CATS University
College Kuching, Datuk Shazali Abu Mansor,
expects the EPF dividend rate to be between 5.5%
and 6% in view of the better investment
performance.
“Dividends should increase in tandem with
income. It should be more than 5.2% for 2021, if
less than that then it is not justified,” he said.
Ambank Group chief economist and research
head Anthony Dass said despite some domestic
challenges, the overall performance of the local
capital market was favourable hence the dividend
payout is expected to hover between 5.45% and
6%.
“With the economy starting to rebuild, more
people will be employed and at the same time

Three firms sign MoU worth over RM100m at Expo Dubai 2020
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian small and Cooperatives Ministry secretary-general Datuk
medium enterprise (SME) firms on Monday Suriani Ahmad said the participation of the
inked memorandums of understanding ministry – which led the country’s SME Week at
(MoU), valued at more than RM100 million, the expo via its coordinating agency SME Corp
with three potential international business Malaysia – was part of the government’s efforts
partners at Expo 2020 Dubai. to revive the role of startups and SME as the
The signatories were Propeasy Sdn Bhd nation’s economic growth engine with the
and Mahaley Marketing, Fario Holdings Sdn support and cooperation from investors and
Bhd and Miko Koffie NV of Belgium as well as potential business partners.
Govicle Sdn Bhd and Six Day Company LLC. “This will help in boosting the startup
Entrepreneur Development and ecosystem to meet the global industry’s
requirements,” she said in a statement.
The three Malaysian companies were
among the 17 startup and SME with high
potential which were part of the Malaysian
delegation to Expo 2020 Dubai–Malaysia SME
Week.
Medac said the highlighted industry focus
this time via the startups and SME were
artificial intelligence and innovation,
medicine and health, and drone-related
services. – Bernama
more jobs would be created from new lines of
businesses that will rebuild EPF savings,” he said.
“However, for the savings level to reach 2019
levels, it will depend on how much of the future
contributions they can place in the EPF.”
On the outlook for 2022, Mohd Afzanizam
noted that a rising interest rate environment
would help EPF’s revenue in the fixed income and
money market instruments as the issuance of the
new bonds would be pegged at a higher rate
which translates into a higher coupon rate.
“Perhaps, the EPF’s strategic asset allocation
will help to guide the fund navigate through these
turbulent times,” he said. – Bernama
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/thesundaily ME theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022

* SUNBIZ

MAM launches Maybank

New Honda City
Hatchback hybrid
priced at RM107,783
PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia
revealed the Honda City Hatchback
RS e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle)
variant is priced at RM107,783.09
(on-the-road price without
insurance). It is the first time the
model is offered in the market as a
hatchback body type.
Its managing director and CEO
Madoka Chujo stated since the
launch of the All-New City
Hatchback in December 2021, the
response from Malaysians has been
overwhelming with more than 5,200
bookings collected.
“We are confident that the All-
New City Hatchback RS e:HEV will
set the benchmark in the market with
its complete package of stylish RS
exterior, e:HEV powertrain, Honda
SENSING and advanced telematics
Honda Connect,” she said in a
statement.
Madoka anticipates the model
will attract the attention of
customers, especially the younger
audience.
MAG TO LEASE 25 737 MAX
BRIEFS
Flexible Retirement Solution
oComprises two syariah-compliant funds –
Maybank Global Wealth Moderate-I Fund and
Maybank Global Wealth Growth-I Fund
█ BY JUNE MOH
sunbiz@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Maybank Asset
Management Sdn Bhd (MAM)
yesterday launched Maybank
Flexible Retirement Solution, a
retirement solution that aims to
supplement investors’ retirement
planning.
The solution comprises two new
global syariah-compliant funds
consisting of Maybank Global
Wealth Moderate-I Fund and
Maybank Global Wealth Growth-I
Fund.
RM500 million by the end of this
year.
MAM Malaysia chief investment
officer Syhiful Zamri Abdul Azid said
dynamic asset allocation attribute
was the solution investment strategy
and the key to managing the funds
“Both funds are targeting for 6%
to 8% return and would be based on
investors risk appetite. For moderate
fund, we are tilted more to Sukuk for
capital preservation in contrast to
growth where we would invest more
in equities to support higher return,”
he told reporters during the virtual
launch of the solution.
Ahmad Najib Nazlan said the group
had reframed the traditional age-
based approach to retirement
planning.
“The solution is designed based
on understanding and targeting the
investors’ various life stages, time
horizons and financial goals to
appeal to a wider audience.
“Investors of different segments
will be able to choose what levels of
risk to take, for instance, moderate
or growth and have the flexibility to
decide on how their retirement
planning should fit their goals and
needs. Even young working adults
can invest in a solution tailored to
their requirements as they go
through different life stages,” he said
in a statement.
Schroder Investment
Management (Singapore) Ltd
(Schroders) CEO Lily Choh said the
impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
“Our 2021 Global Investor Study
found that 80% of non-retired
Malaysians would like to save more
for their retirement because of the
pandemic, and half of the
respondents have not changed their
expected retirement age,” she said.
MAM Malaysia and Schroders
have been co-developing a range of
specialised investment solutions
since 2018 including syariah-
compliant environmental, social
and governance funds for the
growing wealth market in Malaysia.
Maybank Global Wealth
Moderate-I Fund offers two share
classes namely MYR-Hedged
Accumulation and MYR-Hedged
Distribution Class, while Maybank
Global Wealth Growth-I Fund offers
MYR-Hedged Accumulation Class.
Investors can purchase units in
the funds at a minimum initial
investment of RM1,000 and make

MAM targets to achieve assets Maybank Asset Management had thrust retirement planning into additional investments at a
FROM AIR LEASE CORP under management (AUM) worth Group and MAM Malaysia CEO the spotlight. minimum of RM100.
SINGAPORE: Air Lease Corp will
lease 25 Boeing 737 MAX jets to

AEON Malaysia implements minimum wage hike

Malaysia Airlines’ parent to be
delivered between early 2023
and 2026 through the lessor’s
orderbook with the
manufacturer. Malaysia Aviation
Group (MAG) CEO Capt Izham
Ismail said the deal was part of a
restructuring of the terms of the
airline’s order book with Boeing.
“As part of the terms we were
given options to swap our
orderbook aircraft with leased
aircraft,” he said at a Singapore
Airshow forum yesterday. MAG
had previously placed an order of
its own for 25 737 MAX jets, which
remains listed on Boeing’s
website. – Reuters
HLAM DECLARES INCOME
DISTRIBUTIONS OF
RM428M FOR 20 FUNDS
KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong
Asset Management Bhd (HLAM)
has declared income
distributions of RM428 million
for 20 funds for the 12-month
period ended Dec 31, 2021. CEO
Hoo See Kheng said the
conventional-HL Value Fund
generated a distribution yield of
7.03%, HL Asia-Pacific Dividend
Fund (6.98%), HL Growth Fund
(7.06%), and HL Consumer
Products Sector Fund (9.27%).
Meanwhile, the Islamic-HL Dana
Makmur and HL Dana Maa’rof
funds a saw distribution yield of
6.51% and 5.49%, respectively. –
Bernama
COURT AFFIRMS RM50,000
FINE ON PETRONAS
CARIGALI OVER SAFETY
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal
here yesterday affirmed a
RM50,000 fine against Petronas
Carigali Sdn Bhd for failing to
ensure a safe work system which
resulted in the death of a worker
eight years ago in Kemaman,
Terengganu. A three-member
bench led by Justice Datuk
Hanipah Farikullah unanimously
dismissed Petronas Carigali Sdn
Bhd’s appeal after ruling that
there was no appealable error by
the High Court in finding the
appellant guilty under Section
15(1) Occupational Safety and
Health Act 1994 (OSHA). The
appellate court also affirmed
RM5,000 in costs to the
prosecution. – Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: AEON Co (M)
Bhd and AEON BiG (M) Sdn Bhd
(AEON Malaysia) share the good
news when they announced the
implementation of minimum wage
hike for Grade G employees from
RM1,200 to RM1,500 per month
effective Jan 1. This amount is the
basic salary which does not include
allowances or other incentives.
AEON Malaysia said it has always
prioritises the welfare of its
employees and welcomes the
recommendation from the Human
Resources Ministry. Accordingly, the
effective date of the new minimum
wage by AEON Malaysia is earlier
than the date recommended by the
government, which is by the end of
2022.
“We are very grateful to be able to
implement the new minimum wage
for our Grade G employees. It is in
line with AEON Sayap Bagimu’s
sustainability initiative which aims
at providing opportunities,
encouragement and support to
stakeholders, especially those in
need. The decision made is based on
their best interests and welfare to
help alleviate the living cost as well The new minimum wage will be for Grade G employees, where they will now get an increment from RM1,200 to
as in support of the RM1,500 per month effective Jan 1.
recommendations by the
government thus the swift company’s most valuable assets. play our roles in generating the implementing minimum wage hike
implementation,” said AEON Their welfare and livelihoods are our country’s economy,” added Dr is in line with the efforts to
Malaysia chief human resources key priority. Through AEON Kasuma. champion the United Nations’
officer cum director of corporate Warriors, we will continue to Prior to this, the minimum wage Sustainable Development Goals
communications Dr Kasuma Satria implement new retail innovations to was last revised on Feb 1, 2020 where the focus is on providing good
Mat Jadi. remain competitive in facing the during the presentation of 2020 jobs and economic growth. It
“AEON Malaysia is supported by current challenges and most Budget, with a salary increment promotes sustained, inclusive and
approximately 13,000 employees of importantly, for the convenience of from RM1,100 to RM1,200 per sustainable economic growth, full
various grades nationwide. Known our customers. month. and productive employment and
as ‘AEON Warriors’, they are the We stand firm and stay united to AEON’s initiative in decent work for all.
AmBank wins Asian Banker award for customer on-boarding experience
KUALA LUMPUR: AmBank by leveraging on our digital our customers to facilitate “In May 2021, we said AmBank managing
Group has been awarded capability thus allowing us to their banking needs launched a fully digital director (retail banking)
the “Best digital account remain competitive amidst irrespective of time and onboarding experience via Aaron Loo.
opening/Customer on- this fast-changing era of space. We will continue to our AmOnline app, The Asian Banker’s
b o a r d i n g globalisation,” said AmBank develop the app for a more eliminating the need to visit awards is one of the
initiative/Application 2021” Group CEO Datuk Sulaiman intuitive banking journey, the bank branches. The industry’s most prestigious
by The Asian Banker Mohd Tahir. with security capabilities to development of the digital recognition in reference to
Malaysia Awards 2021. “By leveraging on ensure an overall smoother account opening was timely its rigorous criteria for
“This award bodes well AmBank’s digital experience for our users,” amidst the on-going Covid- innovativeness in retail
for our digital footprint, capabilities, we have further said AmBank Group chief 19 pandemic where we financing in the Asia-Pacific,
given our focus on delivering enhanced the AmOnline operations officer Datuk wanted our customers to be Central Asia, the West Asia
customer-centric solutions app to extend flexibility for Iswaraan Suppiah. able to bank safely with us,” and Africa.
 FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN
14 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
SUNBIZ /theSunMedia ME

Aerospace firms face supply

SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK
BRIEFS

INVESTS US$100M IN
INDONESIA’S AKULAKU
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Siam Commercial
Bank Pcl yesterday announced a

chain, wage inflation woes

US$100 million (RM418.6 million)
investment in Indonesian fintech
startup Akulaku, as part the bank’s
expansion overseas and into
technology. “Our investment in Akulaku
fits within our regional goal of serving
an underserved market using digital
innovations,” SCB president Arak
Sutivong said in a statement. SCB also
operates its own food delivery app,
with plans to include travel and other
services this year. Akulaku offers digital
banking and brokers insurance and says
its mobile banking service has about 13
million users in Indonesia. – Reuters
AUDI-FAW’S US$3.3B EV
VENTURE GETS CHINA NOD
SHANGHAI: Volkswagen’s Audi and its
Chinese state-owned partner FAW
Group have received approval from
Chinese authorities to start
construction on their US$3.3 billion
(RM13.8 billion) electric vehicle (EV)
joint venture plant, according to a
government notice. The planning
regulator of China’s northeastern
province of Jilin said work on the plant,
which will be based in the provincial
capital of Changchun city, is planned to
start in April and that the companies
will invest a total of 20.93 billion yuan
(RM13.8 billion) in the plant. The plant
will start production in December 2024
and have the capacity to manufacture
150,000 cars a year, according to the
regulator. – Reuters
BLACKSTONE, PARTNERS
SPEND €21B TO
RECAPITALISE MILEWAY
LONDON: Blackstone Inc is leading a €21
billion (RM99.7 billion) recapitalisation
of Mileway, the biggest operator of
urban warehouses in Europe, as the
private equity giant increases its bet on
demand for rapid goods delivery.
Rather than list or seek a private sale,
the US investor is opting to recapitalise
the logistics company, Europe’s largest
owner of last-mile logistics, as
consumers worldwide increasingly
demand same-day delivery of food and
other items. Mileway has over 1,700
assets across 10 major European
countries with a team of over 350
employees across 26 offices, according
to the company’s website. – Reuters
oParticipants at Singapore
Airshow tell of shortage of
workers and vital materials
SINGAPORE/SEATTLE: Supply chain
shortages and wage inflation are at the top of a
list of concerns for aerospace companies
attending a depleted Singapore Airshow amid
tight health controls this week.
Across aerospace, the suppliers that feed
Boeing and Airbus factories are facing an acute
shortage of skilled workers and weakened
balance sheets after back-to-back crises
triggered by a 737 MAX safety grounding and
the Covid-19 air travel slump.
A shortage of vital materials, from titanium to
microchips, is worrying procurement
executives, coming on top of existing fears over
available stocks of steel and aluminium.
Those factors – compounding a decade of
pressure from Boeing and Airbus to cut prices -
Visitors watching a Boeing 777-9 in the aerial display at the Singapore Airshow yesterday. –
REUTERSPIX
are fuelling doubts about the supply chain’s
ability to meet aggressive narrowbody
production ramp-up plans this year and
beyond, particularly at Europe’s Airbus.
“Wherever I look in the supply chain, I see
problems,” Gary Lowe, chief executive of
Thyssenkrupp Aerospace North America, told a
US supplier conference on the eve of the air show.
Referring to increases in production planned
by Airbus and Boeing, he said, “I think it’s going
to be a lot more lumpy and problematic than
people realise.”
A labour shortage is likely to fuel inflation as
firms try and lure back workers who left the
industry during the pandemic, while staffing up
to meet demand.
The aviation recovery has been swifter than
expected, particularly in the narrowbody
market, Kailash Krishnaswamy, senior vice
president of aftermarket services at Spirit
AeroSystems, said on the sidelines of the
Singapore Airshow yesterday.
“When you have cut down labour by 20% to
50%, ramping up that steep ... it’s just very
challenging getting people back. And when you
don’t have people back, you don’t have parts,”
he added.
And many analysts say the maximum point
of vulnerability is when suppliers have to invest
in inventory or new equipment to respond to
demand coming out of the crisis, rather than
during the low point of demand when furlough
schemes softened the pain.
“Some of these supply chain guys have been
stretched in terms of their balance sheets, cash
flows, significant investment into plant and
material prior to pandemic. So I am worried
about their financial health,” Domhnal Slattery,
chief executive of aircraft lessor Avolon said here.
Lowe urged suppliers across the industry to
be transparent about what they need and avoid
stockpiling materials.
After months in which the aerospace
industry broadly shrugged off the impact of the
semiconductor shortage, aviation is beginning
to feel pressure.
Planemakers can still find supplies of the
high-value, low-volume chips used for flight
controls and avionics – whose designs are
relatively old compared with the lightning pace
of change in the consumer products world.
But supplies of chips for more common uses
such as aircraft seat electronics are beginning to
dry up, a senior procurement source said.
Eric Bernardini, global co-head of aerospace,
defence and aviation at US consultants
AlixPartners, said the problem is more visible in
the supply base of Airbus than Boeing.
That is because Airbus is pushing ahead faster
than its rival despite reservations from its engine
suppliers, while delays in the 787 Dreamliner and
a gradual recovery in the 737 MAX have left parts
of Boeing’s supply base with excess inventory.
On Monday, executives from both companies
said they were aware of supply chain risks and
were factoring them into their planning.
To offset cost pressure, suppliers in the US
are moving some production from states with
high labour costs such as California, Bernardini
said.
He said the Omicron coronavirus variant has
also taken a toll on assembly lines as Covid-19
infections left suppliers short-staffed. – Reuters

UKRAINE STANDOFF TO
TEST MARKET STABILITY:
EU SECURITIES WATCHDOG
LONDON: Worries about Ukraine and
the removal of help for economies over
Covid-19 will challenge markets, which
were already showing signs of being
overvalued and heading for sharp
corrections over coming months, the
European Union's securities watchdog
said yesterday. The threat of a possible
invasion by Russia of Ukraine raises the
risk of further bouts of volatility,
especially in sectors such as energy and
commodities, the European Securities
and Markets Authority (Esma) said in a
report on trends in risks. “We maintain
our assessment of very high market
and liquidity risks; high credit,
contagion and operational risks; and
elevated environmental risks,” Esma
said. “Going forward, we continue to
see high risks to institutional and retail
investors of further – possibly significant
– market corrections.” – Reuters
Japanese economy rebounds in Q4 on solid spending
TOKYO: Japan’s economy rebounded in the
final three months of 2021 as falling coronavirus
cases helped prop up consumption, though
rising raw material costs and a spike in new
Omicron variant infections cloud the outlook.
Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor Haruhiko
Kuroda also highlighted escalating tensions in
Ukraine as a fresh risk to the central bank’s
forecast for a moderate economic recovery.
The world’s third-largest economy expanded
an annualised 5.4% in October-December after
contracting a revised 2.7% in the previous
quarter, government data showed yesterday,
falling short of a median market forecast for a
5.8% gain.
Some analysts expect the economy to slump
again in the current quarter as rising Covid-19
cases keep households from shopping and
supply chain disruptions hit factory output.
“The economy will likely stall in January-
March or it could even contract, depending on
how the Omicron variant affects service-
sector consumption,” said Takeshi Minami,
chief economist at Norinchukin Research
Institute.
Economic growth was driven largely by a
2.7% quarter-on-quarter rise in private
consumption, which accounts for more than
half of Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The expansion in consumer spending, which
was bigger than market forecasts for a 2.2% gain,
came after Japan ended coronavirus curbs in
October.
Capital expenditure also rose 0.4%, roughly
in line with market forecasts. External demand
added 0.2% point to growth, a sign exports
continued to benefit from the global recovery.
“As the economy reopened, service
consumption, such as for hotels, restaurants
and entertainment, got a big boost,” said
Wakaba Kobayashi, an economist at Daiwa
Institute of Research.
Japan’s recovery, however, continues to lag
other advanced economies, forcing the BOJ to
keep monetary policy ultra-loose, even as other
central banks eye interest rate hikes.
The country’s seasonally-adjusted real GDP,
sized around ¥541 trillion (RM19.58 trillion),
remains below the pre-pandemic level of late
2019.
A record spike in Omicron cases forced the
government to impose loose curbs on most
areas and keep borders closed, which likely
dampened consumption since the outset of this
year.
Rising infections have also forced some
manufacturers to halt production, causing
output disruptions and delivery delays at auto
giants such as Toyota Motor Corp.
Meanwhile, creeping import costs add risks
to Japan’s fragile recovery.
“Heightening tensions in Ukraine could have
unfavourable effects on global and Japanese
growth if they spark a surge in fuel and
commodity prices,” Kuroda told parliament
yesterday. – Reuters

Indonesia’s January export growth slows after coal shipment ban

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s export growth
slowed more than expected in
January, after authorities in the
world’s top thermal coal exporter
banned coal shipments, a move that
shocked the global energy market.
The January trade surplus was
bigger than expected at US$930
million (RM3.9 billion), however,
official data showed yesterday,
compared with a US$190 million
surplus seen in a Reuters poll, as
imports rose more slowly than
predicted.
Indonesia on Jan 1 suspended
coal exports due to low inventory at
power plants. Shipments resumed
gradually from Jan 10 but the ban still
applies to miners not compliant with
domestic sales requirements.
The resource-rich country has
recorded a trade surplus every month
since May 2020 due to an upward
trend in commodity prices as
countries lift Covid-19 restrictions.
January’s exports grew 25.31%
annually, the slowest increase in the
past year. Total exports were valued at
US$19.16 billion, the smallest since
June.
Exports of products classified as
mineral fuel – much of which is coal –
dropped by US$2 billion from
December, with shipments to China,
India and the Philippines most
affected.
Tin exports fell US$259 million in
January from a month earlier, due to
delays issuing export permits.
Meanwhile, imports increased
36.77% to US$18.23 billion.
“I see this as a good situation, that
even without the support of coal in
January we could still book a surplus.
This means with the reopening of
exports in February, we will see
surplus soaring,” said Trimegah
Securities economist Fakhrul Fulvian.
Bank Danamon economist Wisnu
Wardana said consumer goods
imports were typically weaker early
each year and vaccine purchase was
low in January, but imports continue
to rise, pressuring the trade surplus. –
Reuters

I
NDIAN transmedia artist and
activist Poulomi Basu has
launched a dynamic new series
with UK-based international
NGO Wateraid titled Sisters of the
Moon, to show how a lack of clean
water and toilets limits the power and
potential of women and girls.
The project is inspired by the
women and girls Poulomi has met
through more than a decade of her
previous work and includes her own
experience of being raised in a
patriarchal home in Kolkata, where
both her mother and grandmother
were child brides.
Poulomi also wanted to explore
issues that affect women and girls all
over the world such as gender-related
violence, menstrual taboos and
climate change, so rather than focus
on a specific country, Poulomi chose
to create a fictional dystopian world
in the beautiful and barren landscape
of Iceland.
She placed herself in the
photographs as a way of connecting
her own struggles with those of
women and girls from across the
global south, using her body as a
canvas to confront the politics of race,
representation and environmental
justice.
Sisters of the Moon is being
released to support WaterAid’s Thirst
for Knowledge appeal, which will
bring clean water, decent toilets and
good hygiene to homes and schools
around the world, helping ensure
girls have an equal chance to learn in
dignity and safety.
The 14 striking images include a
bed submerged in water, inspired by
women Poulomi met in Bangladesh
who are living on the front line of
Women’s Bodies and the Land shows the connection between menstruation, the
land and melting snow on a landscape at the front line of climate change.
Walking for Water: women and girls often have to walk long distances, barefoot, across tough terrains to collect water for
their families, which means many girls miss out on school or drop out altogether. – IMAGES BY WATERAID/PULOMI BASU
Thirsting
for equality
oAn artist and activist seeks to highlight the
impact lack of water has on women and girls
climate change and whose homes
were flooded, and many lost as a
result of rising sea levels. Floating by
the bed are water containers,
highlighting how the climate crisis is
a water crisis, with flooding
contaminating water supplies and
droughts drying them up.
One picture features a woman in a
red veil walking towards a burning
hut. The fiery image alludes to
defiance against the practice of
“chaupadi” in parts of Nepal, where
women are forced to isolate during
their period, when they are
considered unclean.
In another photo, women are
carrying water pots over a snowy,
rocky terrain, reflecting the
challenging journeys millions of girls
make every day to collect water.
One in 10 people have no water
close to home, and women and girls
are responsible for collecting water in
four out of five households with water
off the premises, often making long
journeys across remote and difficult
terrain, putting their safety at risk and
leaving little time to go to school or
earn a living.
Poulomi told The Independent:
“Sisters of the Moon explores our
global water crisis and the challenges
of environmental and ecological
Climate Change and Loss addresses how the homes of women and girls are
impacted by the multiple battles of the climate crisis, rising sea levels and the
imminent threat of cyclones.
W E D N E S D AY
16 FEBRUARY 2022
Spinning Magic points towards the
greater powers of women and how, if
they got the right opportunities and
education, they would rule the
universe.
change, and how these intersect with
gender equality.
“I have drawn on my past
experiences working in the field and
my own family life growing up in
India to present an ecofeminist tale in
which the women look powerful, but
their real power has been curtailed
and controlled.”
For Sisters of the Moon, Poulomi
worked with Edda Gudmundsdottir,
who styles Icelandic singer Björk, and
make-up was by Sunna Björk. The
clothes she wears in the photographs
were donated by designers Iris van
Herpen, Jivomir Domoustchiev, Aziz
Rebar and Richard Malone. – The
Independent
 ENTERTAINMENT
16 theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
█ COMPILED BY CELESTINE FOO, MARK MATHEN VICTOR & THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN
T Look into the future
HE Super Bowl is marked
on every American football
fan’s calendar, but that is
not the only reason it is a
landmark TV event.
Throughout the game, it has
been a tradition to show new
trailers from some highly
anticipated titles – a treat for TV and
movie buffs!
The Super Bowl took place on
Sunday, but there were already
some exciting movie trailers that
showed the week prior. These
included Jurassic World: Dominion,
where the audience will once again
see franchise leads Laura Dern, Sam
Neill and Jeff Goldblum, as well as
Jordan Peele’s Nope, which stars
Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and
Steven Yeun. This new piece of work
will be an American neo-Western
Remembering a comedy legend
HOLLYWOOD is still in mourning
over the loss of producer-director
Ivan Reitman, whose wildly
successful comedies of the ‘70s and
‘80s included the blockbuster
spookfest Ghostbusters, and who
died in his sleep over the weekend.
He was 75.
Born in Czechoslovakia,
Reitman’s mother survived the
Auschwitz extermination camp,
while his father fought in the Czech
resistance. At four years old, he was
taken by his family as they fled the
repressive postwar Communist
regime.
Raised in Canada, Reitman
would then become responsible for
propelling many young comics into
stardom, such as Dan Aykroyd, Rick
Moranis, Billy Murray and John
Belushi.
The biggest film of Reitman’s
career that spawned a four decade
old franchise was Ghostbusters,
which recently saw a sequel,
Ghostbusters: Afterlife that was
directed by Reitman’s son, Jason.
Reitman was also responsible for
showing the comedic-side of (at that
time) action hero Arnold
Schwarzenegger through Twins
(1988), Kindergarten Cop (1990) and
Junior (1994).
In a 1993 New York Times feature,
writer Randall Rothenberg said: “Mr.
Reitman, [his actors] say, walks a
oSuper Bowl trailers offer a sneak peak at upcoming films and series
science-fiction horror film.
Kicking off the game with a bang
was Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the
Multiverse of Madness, which is set
to premiere on May 6. MCU fans sat
on the edge of their seats as they
were teased with a showdown
between Scarlet Witch and Doctor
Strange.
Still trying to cope with the
aftermath of the events of
WandaVision, she tells Strange:
“You break the rules and become a
The beloved director left an indelible impact upon the world of cinema. – AP
fine line between the control many
directors assert over every aspect of
a film and the willingness to let his
cast – many of whom come from the
world of improvisational comedy –
fly free.”
Paying tribute to Reitman,
Aykroyd’s statement expressed his
heartbreak to Reitman’s surviving
family.
“The loss of my friend,
collaborator, champion and one of
the last great creative talents of the
big screen era crumples me,” the
veteran comedic actor said.
hero. I do it and I become the
enemy. It doesn’t seem fair.”
The two-minute clip also shows
Doctor Strange getting arrested and
facing some people in a court. A
familiar voice, whom many have
suggested may be that of X-Men
leader Professor X, as played by
Patrick Stewart, then says that
Doctor Strange should probably
know the truth.
Meanwhile, on the TV side, The
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of
“Now on Thursdays who am I
gonna call?”
Reitman is survived by his wife
Genevieve; his son Jason, a director;
and daughters Catherine, a TV
actress-writer-producer, and
Caroline.
In a statement, the family wrote:
“We take comfort that his work as a
filmmaker brought laughter and
happiness to countless others
around the world. While we mourn
privately, we hope those who knew
him through his films will remember
him always.”
Power was a fine demonstration of
how Amazon Prime Video will be
bringing J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-
earth world to life.
Set thousands of years before
Peter Jackson’s six feature films
adapted from Tolkien’s novels, the
brief one minute trailer begins with
the hopeful question: “Haven’t you
ever wondered what else is out
there? There’s wonders in this world
beyond our wandering. I can feel it!”
There are various scenes of epic
Yurina makes her debut
KAWAGUCHI YURINA, former
participant of the Mnet survival
show Girls Planet 999 will debut as
a soloist in Japan next month.
She will be making her solo
debut on March 21 through
Universal Music. Ahead of her
debut, the singer has opened her
official social media accounts and
all the information regarding her
upcoming music will be released
through her social platforms.
Her single titled Look At Me is
written by Yurina herself and a
teaser was recently released
One of the most
anticipated trailers was
that of Doctor Strange
in the Multiverse of
Madness, which stars
Benedict Cumberbatch
as the Sorceror
Supreme. – MARVEL
STUDIOS
Scan the QR code
to watch Multiverse
of Madness trailer
Scan the QR code
to watch The Rings
of Power trailer
proportions in the teaser. It is a clear
demonstration of a huge show that
is prepared to deliver the sort of
fantasy worthy of Jackson’s fans.
Variety has reported that the
movie, merchandising, gaming and
live event rights to The Lord of the
Rings, The Hobbit and other titles by
Tolkien will be auctioned off by Saul
Zaentz Co, the current rights holder.
The properties are estimated to
net upwards of US$2 billion
(RM8.38 billion).
Fans will be
looking
forward to
seeing what
Yurina has in
store.
– UNIVERSAL
MUSIC
featuring Yurina posing with a
plain turquoise background.
The talented singer was one of
the fan favourites during last year’s
season of Girls Planet 999 as she
consistently ranked in the top 9
positions. However, Yurina didn’t
make it to the final list to become a
member of K-pop group Kep1er
after getting ranked 14th in the
final episode and losing to nine
other participants.
Meanwhile, are you excited to
see what concept she will debut
with?

Spreading her
wings
oSinger-songwriter Heerraa releases a Malay
cover of Feel Alive to reach a new audience
█ BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI
L
OCAL singer Heerraa, who
has won international awards
for her tracks in English, is
expanding her horizons by
venturing into singing in our national
language.
To that end, she recently released
a Malay-language version of her
biggest hit, the uplifting Feel Alive.
“I am a very proud Malaysian and
to write a song in Malay is an honour
because I got to appreciate the
language more. I want more people
to enjoy the song and for more
Malaysians to sing along in Bahasa
Malaysia. It is a tribute to tanah airku
(my homeland),“ said Heerraa,
whose full name is Heerraa
Ravindran.
“Feel Alive is a song which is very
close to my heart. When the song was
released last year, I was touched that
the fans not only loved the song for its
catchiness, but its depth in the lyrics,“
she said.
Many of her fans have also shared
about the impact of the song on their
lives. It has played on mainstream
radio in Malaysia, overseas, and
across streaming platforms, reaching
60,000 streams collectively.
“Feel Alive is a modern, up-tempo
pop song that sends a message about
self-love and finding your own
happiness. The song is about the
ever-present need for approval or the
self-imposing judgment that hinders
us from truly being happy,“ said the
22-year-old songwriter.
She wrote the lyrics of the song
just after the pandemic began,
around March 2020. And that is when
the world had stopped, according to
Heerraa.
“At that point, I wasn’t ‘busy’
anymore, I realised I didn’t know how
to be happy. Even when I was
surrounded by loved ones, I was not
able to stay in the moment and
appreciate the people around me.”
As a singer-songwriter, Heerraa
often penned down her inner
thoughts into songs to express her
feelings or thoughts about the
situation and challenges she has
been through. “I wrote Feel Alive to
find a solution to my problem,“ she
added.
The song has charted in many
countries around the world and
earned praises and fans from places
such as the US, UK, Taiwan,
Indonesia, Canada and Denmark.
Heerraa released a
Malay version of her
song to honour the
national language
and to help spread
the message in the
lyrics. – ALL IMAGES
COURTESY OF
HEERRAA
ENTERTAINMENT
theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022 17
She hopes to be
able to write more
tracks in Malay in
the future.
Music Awards 2022 (USA) for Pop have ever written in Malay.”
Female Vocal of the Year and Pop “I have poured my heart into the
Song of the Year. lyrics and I am really glad it turned
Heerraa said she had her own out the way it is. I hope the fans will
reasons for translating this particular enjoy the lyrics, too.”
song in Malay. The Malay version of Feel Alive is
“From the many songs I have currently available to stream on
written and performed, Feel Alive has Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music.
The song even earned her been the song which has made me In the future, Heerraa is planning
various international awards more self-appreciative and kind to not just to sing translated Malay
including the Entertainer of myself. Its lyrics have always uplifted versions song of her original English
the Year 2021 at the my spirit when I was feeling sad. songs but to write lyrics in the Malay
Rampage Music Awards. “I wanted to write this song in language, too.
Recently, she Malay so that Malaysians would have “I am looking forward to writing
w a s this song to go back to whenever they more original songs in Malay. It is
nominate d are feeling down. Besides, writing the such a beautiful, poetic language
for the same song in Bahasa Malaysia was which I am exploring more and more
song at the nostalgic and heartwarming for me. each day.”
Rampage “I fell in love with the song and its theSun first featured Heerraa in
message all over again; I got to LYFE last year (April 1, 2021) and
rediscover self-love and the reported on her growing career,
pursuit of happiness by including her collaboration with US-
writing this song in Malay. based artiste Autum Helene on the
This was the first full song I track Morning Light.
DOLLA does good with latest single BAD
MALAYSIA’S most talked-about
girl group DOLLA continues to
create a ripple in the local music
industry as they introduce their
latest single called BAD.
The single, which is produced by
Swedish duo Ludwig Lindell and
Karl-Oskar ‘Cage’ Gummesson,
was composed and written in both
Malay and English by Lindell,
Gummesson, as well as local hip
hop sensation Yonnyboii.
According to DOLLA member
Syasya: “BAD like DOLLA’s
previous hits is also about women
empowerment. Some may see it as
a heartbreak
anthem after
b e i n g Scan the QR
mistreated by code to
their partner, watch the
while some may MV
dedicate it to
their partners and friends who have
always doubted their sincerity and
never showed positive support.
“There is a line in the song which
ssays: ‘You never met a woman just
like me, you’ll see, kau takkan
pernah agak’, which can be
interpreted in many different ways.”
 TECH
18 theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Bringing history to life

oSocial media platform Snapchat
uses augmented reality lenses to
teach Black stories and culture

E
VERY February, Black History Month is
celebrated across the world. This year,
Snap has partnered with the Black
Cultural Archives to unveil hidden
stories of Black British and Black people in the
UK through augmented reality.
It’s very likely that you have never heard of
Mary Seacole, even if you were born and raised
in the UK. This British nurse lived and served in
the 1800s during the Crimean war. The statue of
her saw opposition for 12 years before it was
built in the gardens of St Thomas’s Hospital, in
London.
But few Britons know that. Less than a third
of them (32%) can recognise famous historical
black figures, according to research conducted
by Snap, the Black Cultural Archives and
Research Without Borders. In comparison, 63%
of Brits say they recognise similarly important
famous white figures.
A new immersive experience, called Hidden
Black Stories, is aiming to change that. It is using
Snapchat’s augmented reality lens to preserve
and champion the histories of African and The Hidden Black Stories project
Caribbean people in Britain.
preserves and champions the
“The opportunity to recognise these stories
through cutting edge AR technology that histories of African and
reaches younger audiences is both exciting and Caribbean people in Britain. –
powerful. British History is full of incredible SNAPCHAT
Black people and hidden stories that deserve to
be told,” Lisa Anderson, interim Managing
Director for Black Cultural Archives, said in a These past few years, several organisations
statement. have turned to immersive technology to
highlight the contributions of Black and Brown
Virtual statues people throughout history. This is the mission
Snapchat has created a series of lenses that of the Movers and Shakers of NYC, an edtech
highlight the underrepresented historical Black startup founded in 2017.
figures that played a role in the events It has since launched Unsung, an app that
memorialised by some of the famous uses augmented reality to tell the stories of four
monuments of London’s Trafalgar Square. Black women singers, and the Monuments
Users just need to point their phones at certain Project, a mobile app that places digital statues
spots to discover more about George Ryan, Bill of important women, people of colour and
Richmond and Tom Molineaux. LGBTQ+ icons in the real world.
Ryan was a Black sailor who fought for More recently, the company has released
Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar. He is said to be Kinfolk to help middle school educators and
the person depicted on Nelson’s Column. students across the United States to take a
Whereas, Richmond was a British boxer, born deeper dive into Black history. It has created
into slavery in 1763. His protégé, Tom virtual monuments of overlooked historical
Molineaux, was said to have won his freedom in figures like Ida B. Wells, Pauli Murray and
a boxing match. Bayard Rustin that can be placed in public
Users can also get familiar with the history of spaces.
the sculpture of Mary Seacole thanks to Snap’s “[Thanks to immersive technology], we
Landmarker Lens. This statue saw a lot of could make hundreds of monuments for the
opposition and was finally erected in 2016, after cost of what one monument could be and put
a 12-year campaign. For those unable to travel them anywhere in any size with or without
to London, Snap has also launched a national permission,” Glenn Cantave, co-founder and
Lens that brings Nelson Mandela’s statue to life CEO of the nonprofit Movers and Shakers, said
in front of users, wherever they are. to The Hill. – ETX Studio Stills of what Snapchat’s VR art gallery looks like. – SNAPCHAT

Deepfake democracy: South Korean candidate goes virtual

IN a crowded campaign office in
Seoul, young, trendy staffers are
using deepfake technology to try to
achieve the near-impossible: make a
middle-aged, establishment South
Korean presidential candidate cool.
Armed with hours of specially-
recorded footage of opposition
People Power Party candidate Yoon
Suk-yeol, the team has created a
digital avatar of the frontrunner – and
set “AI Yoon” loose on the campaign
trail ahead of a March 9 election.
From a deepfake video of Barack
Obama insulting Donald Trump to
failed New York mayoral candidate
Andrew Yang campaigning in the
metaverse, AI technology has been
used in elections before.
But AI Yoon’s creators believe he is
the world’s first official deepfake
candidate – a concept gaining
traction in South Korea, which has
the world’s fastest average internet
speeds.
With neatly-combed black hair
and a smart suit, the avatar looks
near-identical to the real South
A staffer showing off the deepfake version of candidate Yoon. – AFP
Korean candidate but uses salty
language and meme-ready quips in a
bid to engage younger voters who get
their news online.
It’s been a huge hit. AI Yoon has
attracted millions of views since
making his debut on Jan 1.
Tens of thousands of people have
asked questions, but it’s not the usual
policy-related fare.
“President Moon Jae-in and (rival
presidential candidate) Lee Jae-
myung are drowning. Who do you
save?” one user asks AI Yoon.
“I’d wish them both good luck,”
the avatar snaps back.
Meta-snark
At first glance, AI Yoon could pass for
an actual candidate – an apt
demonstration of how far artificially
generated videos, known as
deepfakes, have come in the last few
years.
The real Yoon recorded more than
3,000 sentences – 20 hours of audio
and video – to provide enough data
for a local deepfake technology
company to create the avatar.
“Words that are often spoken by
Yoon are better reflected in AI Yoon,”
said Baik Kyeong-hoon, the director
of the AI Yoon team.
What the avatar actually says is
written by his campaign team, not by
the candidate himself.
“We try to come up with
humorous and satirical answers,”
Baik told AFP.
The approach has paid off. AI
Yoon’s pronouncements have made
headlines in South Korean media,
and seven million people have visited
the “Wiki Yoon” website to question
the avatar.
“If we had only produced
politically correct statements, we
would not have this reaction,“ Baik
said.
“The political establishment has
been too slow in the face of a fast-
changing society,” he added.
AI future
Tech-savvy Baik and his two other
team members – all in their 20s and
30s – are some of the youngest staffers
in the sprawling Yoon campaign.
They come with AI Yoon’s
responses in rapid-fire brainstorming
sessions, which can take as little as 30
minutes, in contrast to the carefully-
honed rhetoric usually found in
public policy debates.
South Korea’s election monitor
allows AI candidates to campaign on
the condition it is clearly identified as
deepfake technology, and does not
spread misinformation.
But Baik thinks AI is the future of
election campaigns.
“It’s so easy to create huge
amounts of content with deepfake
technology,” he told AFP.
“It is inevitable that this will be
used more and more.” – AFP

Several default office settings. – GATHER
The future space
oIntroducing the sensational virtual
chat platform, Gather
█ BY JOHN TAN
O
VER the past two years, we have seen
some drastic changes take place in
our lives. Whether it is our
professional or personal affairs, the
need for social distancing has led to people
seeking out new ways to connect.
Thus, virtual apps have been a valuable asset
in bringing people together in these uncertain
times. One specific online app is Gather, which
was launched during the peak of the pandemic.
Designed as a video chat platform, Gather aims
at making online interactions more personal.
The virtual app builds a metaverse that
allows users to work, socialise and learn. From
working in a virtual office, to catching a movie
with your pals, Gather blends real-life
interactions into virtual spaces that are realistic
and simple to use.
Here are five ways you can use Gather:
Build your own office space
Looking to work from your office but concerned
about the potential risks? Well, fret not, because
Gather is here for you! Contrary to other virtual
platforms, Gather allows its users to build and
customise their own workspaces in the
metaverse.
Yup, just like any regular physical office
setting, the software allows you to design an
The karoake stage, where avatars can hold performances as a group. – GATHER
environment that best reflects your company
culture. You can decide if you like to work with
existing default options or start from scratch.
If you need a little help, Gather has an option
that allows other staff to decorate the virtual
space with you. From the floor tiles to the
natural elements, these chosen features will not
only enrich your virtual experience but also
boost your productivity from home.
Korean tech company, Seoul Digital
Foundation (SDF) was among the first global
organisations to have embraced Gather. Just
two months ago, the Korean corporation
establish its very first office branch in Gather.
Host business events
Aside from designing office spaces, Gather is
also designed to hold virtual spaces that can
carry up to 100 members at a time. As a matter
of fact, this particular feature can mimic the
social interactions and settings of physical
social event space.
Since hosting a physical social event is still
risky, Gather may be your next bet! Whether it is
to celebrate a milestone or to showcase a new
product, Gather allows you to continue
advancing your business despite the pandemic.
Numerous companies have utilised this for
their greater good. The American publishing
company, Wizards of the Coast showcased
exclusive card collections to their audiences last
Gather aims to make online interactions more personal. – GATHER
American publishing company, Wizards of the Coast showcased exclusive card collections on Gather
last year. – WIZARDS OF THE COAST
year on the platform.
Play online games
Here, Gather Town fulfil its promise of
providing a safe, exciting and fun time to its
users. Built to integrate various multiplayer
games into its system, the platform is a safe
haven for youths (especially game lovers) to
have fun and enjoy the company of their
friends.
Some games are strategic, others are
designed for pure fun and laughter. In fact, here
are some of the many options users can pick
from:
0 Draw Battle: Require users to spilt into two
TECH
theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022 19
teams and compete in a drawing battle. The
contestant has to draw random words for
teammates to guess. The winner is the first
person to guess it correctly.
0 Poker: Similarly, to the usual game, users
win the battle by putting on their best poker
face, calling their bluffs and going all-in to win
every chip. But here, users sit around a virtual
poker table.
0 Battle Tetris: Players are treated with a new
spin on Tetris. Instead of playing just by
yourself, you can compete against your friends
in a head-to-head battle. But if you prefer your
own company, there is also a solo version just
for you.
0 Down for across: Allow players to solve
crosswords with friends. Likewise Battle Tetris,
you can also solve clues just by yourself if you
like to.
Also, in case you are wondering – you can
play the games together while chatting with
your friends through video chat.
Sing along with friends
Miss singing at your local karaoke bar? Now is
your chance! Together with your friends, you
can unleash the superstar in you. Just simply set
up a karaoke session on Gather. You can start by
choosing the “Open Mic Cafe” space template
upon opening Gather.
This helps make the experience more
realistic and fun. Then proceed to search the
karaoke version of your favourite songs on
YouTube. Once you do, go ahead and claim
your stage.
Your screen will be broadcast to the entire
room, allowing others to view your lyrics. You
can even make your character dance along by
pressing the Z key on your keyboard.
Throw movie parties
Last but not least, you can host your very own
movie night party! All you need to do is create a
space on Gather and invite your loved ones to
join your watch party. Then, pick the
“Standalone Keynote” template and design
your own cinema.
You can add a ticket booth, food cart and
even a red carpet to achieve the theatre feel. But
what makes it more special is that you can chat
with your friends while the movie is streaming.
You can discuss, laugh and cry together as
the scenes are unfolding. But if they get too
loud, you can just put them on mute.
20 theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
Novel crisis
oIran’s book market shrinks as US sanctions
begin to bite readers and publishers
F
OR literature lovers in
sanction-hit Iran, a new novel
has long provided a brief
respite from a grinding
economic crisis triggered by
international pressure imposed over
Tehran’s contested nuclear
programme.
But now losing yourself in a good
book is becoming harder, as cash-
strapped publishers struggle because
the price of paper is soaring.
“If a 200-page novel sold for
400,000 rials (RM6.70) last year, its
price today is 1,000,000 rials
(RM17.20), most of which is the cost
of production,” said Reza
Hasheminejad, who runs the Ofoq
publishing house.
Iran does not produce its own
paper pulp for publishing so relies on
imports, and while those are not
under sanctions, they must be paid
for in foreign currency. That means
the price of a book depends directly
on the fluctuation of Iran’s rial.
So publishers are not only slashing
the number of titles published, but
also cutting the number of pages of
those they do print by shrinking the
font size.
“Publishing has suffered a major
crisis – which could become
existential,” said Emily Amrai,
collection director at the Houpa
publishing house.
While publishers worldwide face
growing challenges to the way people
read and consume literature, Iran is
facing an extra problem.
The United States, under former
president Donald Trump, unilaterally
withdrew in 2018 from a landmark
accord to prevent Iran from acquiring
an atomic bomb – a goal Tehran has
always denied pursuing – with
Washington then reimposing tough
economic sanctions.
“As soon as the US sanctions were
reinstated in 2018, the price of paper
rose,” Amrai said.
‘A miracle’
Long-running negotiations to revive a
deal with Iran continue in Austria, but
until an international agreement
turns the page, the impact of
sanctions grows worse.
“The devaluation of our currency
against the greenback, the global rise
in the price of paper paid in dollars
and the increase in the cost of
BOOK REVIEW
The stranger in the lifeboat
THE story begins with a man finding
a raft belonging to a luxury yacht, the
Galaxy, which exploded a year
earlier.
Inspector Jarty LeFleur discovers
the remains of a notebook written by
deckhand Benjamin Kierney,
containing details about the ten
survivors who boarded the lifeboat
after the ship sank, and their
extraordinary journey, including
vivid details of the situation on the
boat and the sea.
Among the ten survivors were rich
and famous people, who were invited
by a billionaire to gather on the
Galaxy, as well as some of the ship’s
staff. The survivors then pull a
stranger from the sea, who promptly
declares himself to be ‘the Lord’.
transport – also paid in foreign
currency – has plunged publishing
into the doldrums,” said Hossein
Motevali, owner of Houpa, which
specialises in children’s books.
Because book prices are fixed in
Iran, profits are pegged to the rapidly
fluctuating price of paper.
“Between receiving the
manuscript, laying it out, and setting
the price of the book, I can lose
everything if the price of paper has
gone up suddenly,” Hasheminejad
said.
“That happens because I’m at the
mercy of the fluctuation of the
currencies.”
As for the authors, they are paid by
the number of the pages in the book,
whether they are famous or not.
“Selling books is a miracle today,
because the majority of customers
belong to the middle class – and given
the economic conditions, their
priority is to obtain essential goods
such as food,” said Hasheminejad. “I
really wonder how people still buy
books at these prices.”
Bookstores in Iran look similar to
shops anywhere in the world. As well
A book stall in Tehran, where even a second-hand title can be difficult to afford. – AFP
Through the notes, LeFleur – a
father who lost his four-year daughter
and subsequently, lost his faith in
God – learns about each of the
characters and, most importantly,
about the suspicious stranger.
Eventually, he finds the answers
to what caused the sinking of the
ship and about the stranger’s
identity.
The book actually is made up of
three stories, told out of order: the
book begins with the flashback
scenes of the survivors in the lifeboat,
LeFleur trying to figure out what
could have caused the ship to sink (in
present time), and the breaking news
of the accident and the finding of the
raft.
The news coverage also serves as a
READ OUR
Bookstores in Iran look similar to those anywhere in the world, but publishers have had to slash the number of titles and
reduce the pages. – AFP
as shelves of Iranian writers, popular
sellers include translations of foreign
works – from 20th century European
classics to self-help and psychology
books.
Farsi translations of Mary Trump’s
tell-all on her uncle Donald Trump,
as well as the memoir of former US
first lady Michelle Obama, have been
way to update readers about key
incidents. (For some reason, it
reminded me of the search of the
missing Malaysian Airlines flight
MH370 and the breaking news about
pieces of wreckage washing up on the
shore)
Author Mitch Albom has written
best-seller books like The Five People
You Meet in Heaven (which was
adapted into a TV movie) and
Tuesdays with Morrie and many
more.
In this book, the author has given
readers a beautiful story.
The story is about love, faith,
accepting the loss of loved ones,
believing and moving forward. Some
parts I found interesting include a
conversation about the mysterious
HERE
/thesundaily
recent hits.
Shrinking industry
But as the crisis deepens, several
small publishing houses have been
driven out of business.
“Today, many independent
publishers, who have published
‘Lord’ between passengers on the
lifeboat, and another moment when
one character asked another why
God takes away loved ones, and the
reply comes with a question: Why did
God give them to us?
A mystery, full of surprises,
suspense, touching moments, and
words that will be etched in our
memory, for a long time. Every
character in the book is inspiring,
including the man who first
found the raft – a surprise reveal, at
the end.
If you are a big fan of Albom’s
books or love a good story, you
should definitely get this as you
would not want to put it down until
you find the answers! – by S. Tamarai
Chelvi
SCAN
ME
excellent works, have been
eliminated from the market,” said
Amrai.
Larger publishing houses have
had to adapt to survive.
“We have reduced our profits by as
much as possible in order to keep our
customers, we have reduced printing
and pagination, and publish digital
books to avoid paper and reduce
costs,” said Hasheminejad.
“But that will only last a year or
two, for even the most solid
companies.”
So far, books printed before recent
spikes in paper costs provided a
buffer, but those stocks are running
low.
“In a few months, when the books
stored in the depots are exhausted, it
will be a shock for the customer when
they see the new prices,”
Hasheminejad warned.
On Enghelab Street, Tehran’s main
book market, retired teacher Behjat
Mazloumi, 60, already struggles to
afford second-hand books.
“I haven’t been able to buy a book
for years,” said Mazloumi. “Even
street vendors sell books at a very
high price.”
The cost rise will have wider
impacts too, experts say.
Children in poorer areas where
access to literature is already limited
will soon find themselves priced out
completely, Hasheminejad said.
“Today, we see people in some
disadvantaged areas who cannot
even communicate properly in Farsi,”
he said. “They will certainly
experience difficulties.” – AFP
 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022 21
* SPORTS

Fury hits out at

302
302 Jobs
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201201001222 (974746-K)
201201001222 (974746-K) “bully” after the UFC Fury, who was sat nearby,
Company
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Friday, 18 March
March 2022
2022 at
at 12.00
12.00 noon
noon to
to transact
transact the
the following:-
following:- (In Members’
(In Members’
Voluntary Winding
Voluntary Winding Up)
Up)
superstar took issue with
his praise towards his MMA rival
stood back, which also drew
criticism from rival Dillian
Finance and HR AS ORDINARY
AS ORDINARY BUSINESS:
BUSINESS:
AGENDA
AGENDA At aa General
At
of the
of
General Meeting
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the abovenamed
of the
abovenamed Company
the Members
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held Khabib Nurmagomedov. Whyte, who labelled him a
Job Description: 1. To
To table
table the
the Audited
Audited Financial
Financial Statements
Statements for
for the
the financial
financial year
year ended
ended
on 11-02-2022,
on 11-02-2022, the
resolution was
the following
duly
following special
passed:-
resolution was duly passed:-
special The WBC heavyweight world “coward”.
•• To
To handle
handle full
full set
set of
of accounts
accounts following
following accounting
accounting principles,
principles, 1.
30 September
30 September 2021
2021 together
together with
with the
the Reports
Reports ofof the
the Directors
Directors and
and champion lauded the Russian for The Notorious continued his
compliance with
compliance with applicable
applicable standards
standards and and regulations.
regulations. Auditors thereon.
thereon. Note
Note 11 “THAT the
“THAT the Company
Company be be wound
wound up up
Auditors voluntarily pursuant
voluntarily pursuant to to section
section 439(1)(b)
439(1)(b) his legacy in the octagon, tirade by maintaining “you done
•• Prepare
Prepare && oversee
oversee full full spectrum
spectrum of of accounting,
accounting, month-end
month-end closing,
closing, of the
the Companies
Companies Act Act 2016
2016 and
and that
that Mr.
Mr.
year-end closing,
year-end closing, audit
audit schedules,
schedules, tax, tax, stock
stock control,
control, etc.
etc. 2. To
2. To consider
consider and
and ifif thought
thought fit,
fit, to
to pass
pass the
the following
following Ordinary
Ordinary of
LaiChung
Lai ChungEnEnand
andMs.
Ms.ChanChanBee
BeeLeeLee(f)
(f)of
of
admitting he has “big respect” for nothing” before claiming “even
Resolutions:-
Resolutions:- StanleyCoCorporate
StanleyCo CorporateServices
ServicesSdn.
Sdn.Bhd.,
Bhd., the man from Dagestan as he when I’m wrong I’m right”.
•• Responsible
Responsible for for management,
management, statutory statutory andand group
group reporting
reporting
Suite 15,
15, 6th
6th Floor,
Floor, IOI
IOI Business
Business Park,
Park,
Suite
requirements.
requirements. Resolution 11
Resolution Bandar Puchong
Bandar Puchong Jaya,
Jaya, 47170
47170 Puchong,
Puchong, “did it right. Got in and won and But Fury didn’t wait long to hit
(a) To
To re-elect
re-elect Mr.
Mr. Kong
Kong Soo
Soo Har
Har @
@ Hoong
Hoong Hing
Hing Hiang
Hiang who
who shall
shall retire
retire Selangor be be and
and are
are hereby
hereby appointed
appointed
•• Responsible
Responsible for for finding
finding solutions
solutions andand resolving
resolving daily
daily operational
operational issues
issues (a)
in accordance
accordance withwith the
the Company’s
Company’s Constitution
Constitution (Article
(Article 91
91 of
of the
the
Selangor
as Liquidators
as Liquidators for
for the
the purpose
purpose of of such
such got out on top”. back, mocking McGregor for his
ifif any.
any. in
Company’s Articles of Association) and being eligible, has offered
Company’s Articles of Association) and being eligible, has offered
winding up
winding
section 456
up with
with all
456 and
all powers
and the
powers given
the Eleventh
given under
under
Eleventh Schedule
Schedule
There is bad blood between recent losses, “come back when
•• Responsible
Responsible for for the
the development
development of of business
business plans,
plans, budget
budget andand cash
cash himself for
for re-election.
re-election. section
flow forecast.
flow forecast.
himself of the
of the Companies
CompaniesAct Act 2016.”
2016.” McGregor and the now-retired you win a fight mush and the
•• Periodically
Periodically review
review financial
financial reports
reports and and identify
identify opportunities
opportunities for for Resolution 22
Resolution Dated this
Dated this 16-02-2022
16-02-2022 Khabib, who triumphed in their difference in me and you is I
cost reduction.
reduction. (b) To
(b) To re-elect
re-elect Mr.
Mr. Chee
Chee Teng
Teng Hsiu
Hsiu who
who shall
shall retire
retire in
in accordance
accordance 2018 fight with a fourth-round don’t get myself in trouble and
cost KONGTECK
TECK FONG
FONG
with the
with the Company’s
Company’s Constitution
Constitution (Article
(Article 91
91 of
of the
the Company’s
Company’s KONG
•• Ensure
Ensure internal
internal control
control and and accounting
accounting control
control procedures
procedures are are in
in place.
place. Articles of
Articles of Association)
Association) and
and being
being eligible,
eligible, has
has offered
offered himself
himself for
for Director
Director submission, which sparked a people actually like me, you’re
•• Administer
Administer credit
credit control
control and and debt
debt collection.
collection. re-election.
re-election. IN THE
THE MATTER
MATTER OF
OF mass brawl between each just a bully who hit an old man.”
IN
•• Responsible
Responsible for for Finance
Finance audit audit and
and tax
tax matters.
matters. THE COMPANIES
COMPANIES ACTACT 2016
2016
•• Oversee
Oversee the the recruitment
recruitment and and selection
selection process
process to to attract,
attract, recruit
recruit and
and Resolution 33
Resolution
THE
AND IN
AND IN THE
THE MATTER
MATTER OFOF fighter’s teams. Fury and Saunders are close
(c) To
(c) To re-elect
re-elect Mr.
Mr. Frederick
Frederick Ng
Ng Yong
Yong Chiang
Chiang who
who shall
shall retire
retire inin ZEN PROJECTS
ZEN PROJECTS SDN.
SDN. BHD.
BHD. McGregor labelled Fury a friends, with the former
retain talents.
retain talents. accordance with
with the
the Company’s
Company’s Constitution
Constitution (Article
(Article 91
91 of
of the
the 201201001222 (974746-K)
(974746-K)
accordance 201201001222
•• To
To manage
manage payroll
payroll system,
system, staff
staff benefit,
benefit, yearly
yearly performance
performance and and Company’s Articles of Association) and being eligible, has offered
Company’s Articles of Association) and being eligible, has offered (In Members’
(In Members’ “Versace t***” and then accused middleweight and super-
himself for
for re-election.
re-election. Voluntary Winding
Voluntary Winding Up)
Up)
appraisal.
appraisal. himself Fury of not defending Billy Joe middleweight world champion
•• Develop,
Develop, design
design && implement
implement of of HR
HR policies
policies toto support
support thethe company
company
Resolution 44
Notice isis hereby
Notice hereby givengiven that
that the
the Creditors
Creditors Saunders’ father Tom in a contemplating retirement after a
business objectives
objectives and and compliance
compliance with with law
law and
and regulatory.
regulatory. Resolution of the
of the above
above Company,
Company, which which isis being
being
business (d) To
To approve
approve the
the declaration
declaration of
of aa final
final single
single tier
tier dividend
dividend and
and aa
(d) voluntarily wound
voluntarily wound up, up, are
are required
required onon security row during the fight with crushing loss to Canelo.
•• To
To handle
handle disciplinary
disciplinary matter
matter including
including staffs
staffs counselling,
counselling, grievances
grievances bonus single
bonus single tier
tier dividend
dividend totalling
totalling 30
30 sen
sen per
per ordinary
ordinary stock
stock for
for or before
or before 16-03-2022
16-03-2022 to to send
send inin their
their
handling, domestic
handling, domestic inquires
inquires && termination
termination process
process && other
other industrial
industrial the year
the year ended
ended 3030 September
September 2021.
2021. Note
Note 22 names and
names and addresses
addresses with with particulars
particulars Canelo Alvarez in Dallas, Texas. But Fury has told him not to
of their
their debts
debts and and claims
claims and
and ofof any
any
relation procedures
relation procedures in in compliances
compliances with with local
local Labour
Labour Law.
Law.
Resolution 55
of
security held
security held by by them
them andand the
the names
names Saunders suffered a brutal retire and insists the decision to
Resolution
•• To
To handle
handle standard
standard HR HR letters,
letters, documents,
documents, memorandums
memorandums and and other
other (e) To
(e) To approve
approve payment
payment of
of Directors’
Directors’ fees.
fees. and addresses
and
any) to
addresses of
to the
of their
the undersigned
their Solicitors
Solicitors (if
undersigned Liquidators
Liquidators at
(if
at
defeat to the Mexican and his walk away from the sweet science
correspondences, such such as as warning
warning letters,
letters, appointment
appointment letters,
letters, any)
correspondences,
Resolution 66
Suite 15,
Suite 15, 6th
6th Floor,
Floor, IOI
IOI Business
Business Park,
Park, father looked to check on him by would “haunt him forever”. – The
confirmation letters
confirmation letters andand related
related correspondence
correspondence as as requested.
requested. Resolution Bandar Puchong
Bandar Puchong Jaya, Jaya, 47170
47170 Puchong,
Puchong,
(f) To
(f) To re-appoint
re-appoint M/s.
M/s. O.
O. L.
L. Yeo
Yeo && Co
Co PLT
PLT as
as Auditors
Auditors of
of the
the Company
Company Selangor and
Selangor and ifif so
so required
required byby notice
notice in
in leaping a barrier, only for the Independent
•• Other
Other administration
administration duties duties where
where required
required and and part
part of
of the
the scope.
scope.
for the
the financial
financial year
year ending
ending 30 30 September
September 2022
2022 and
and to
to authorise
authorise writing from
from the
the said
said Liquidators
Liquidators areare by
by
for writing
•• Any
Any other
other duties
duties asas assigned
assigned by by the
the superior/
superior/ management
management from from time
time the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration.
the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration. their Solicitors
their Solicitors or or personally
personally to to come
come
and prove
prove their
their debts
debts or or claims
claims atat such
such
BRIEFS
to time.
to time. and
time and
and place
place as as shall
shall be
be specified
specified inin
3. To
3. To transact
transact any
any other
other business
business of
of which
which due
due notice
notice shall
shall have
have been
been time
certainly can’t underestimate
Requirements: given.
given.
such notice
such
will be
will
notice or
be excluded
or in
excluded from
in default
default thereof
from the
thereof they
the benefit
benefit of
they
of any
any
them.”
Kiwis without Williamson,
•• Candidate
Candidate mustmust process
process at
at least
least Professional
Professional or
or Degree
Degree in
in Finance
Finance // distribution made
distribution made before
before such
such debts
debts oror
NOTICE OF
NOTICE OF CLOSURE
CLOSURE OF
OF BOOKS
BOOKS claims are
claims are proved.
proved.
Accountancy or
Accountancy or equivalent.
equivalent.
•• At
At least
least 55 Year(s)
Year(s) managerial
managerial // supervising
supervising of
of working
working experience
experience inin NOTICE IS
NOTICE IS HEREBY
HEREBY GIVEN
February 2022
2022 to
to 28
GIVEN that
that the
28 February
the Transfer
February 2022.
2022.
Transfer Book
Book will
will be
be closed
closed from
from 26
26 Dated this
Dated this 16-02-2022
16-02-2022 Taylor for Proteas Test DeChambeau to miss
February
Genesis Invitational
audit, financial
audit, financial accounting
accounting andand HR.
HR. CHAN BEE
BEE LEE
LEE (F)
(F)
CHAN
•• Familiar
Familiar with
with Accpac,
Accpac, ERPERP Accounting
Accounting && HR
HR software
software would
would bebe an
an
By Order
By Order of
of the
the Board,
Board, LAI CHUNG
LAI CHUNG EN
Liquidators
EN NEW ZEALAND enter unfamiliar
added advantage.
advantage. Liquidators
added Koh Poh
Koh Poh Suan
Suan
Nurizzatul Ilya binti Md Isa
Isa
territory when the first Test PGA TOUR star Bryson
•• Computer
Computer literate
literate and
and knowledgeable
knowledgeable of of Ms
Ms Excel,
Excel, Word
Word && Power
Power Point.
Point. Nurizzatul Ilya binti Md
•• Good
Good command
command of of written
written and
and spoken
spoken in
in English.
English. Proficiency
Proficiency in
in Bahasa
Bahasa Nur Syabinaz
Nur Syabinaz binti
binti Jamal
Jamal against South Africa begins in DeChambeau will miss this week’s
Malaysia && Mandarin
Malaysia Mandarin will
will be
be an
an added
added advantage.
advantage.
Secretaries
Secretaries Christchurch tomorrow, without Genesis Invitational at Riviera
Melaka, 16
Melaka, 16 February
February 2022
2022 322
322 Notices
Notices batting greats Ross Taylor and Country Club in Los Angeles as he
Admin Executive cum Notes:-
Notes:-
Kane Williamson. It has been 14 continues to work his way back
years since the hosts started a Test from hip and hand injuries.
Personal Assistant 1. Pursuant
1. Pursuant to
to Section
Section 340(1)(a)
directors shall
directors shall lay
340(1)(a) of
lay before
before the
of the
the Companies
CompaniesAct
the Company
Company at at its
Act 2016
2016 [the
its annual
[the“Act”],
annual general
“Act”],the
the
general meeting
meeting
DALAM MAHKAMAH
DALAM
SESYEN DI
SESYEN
DALAM NEGERI
DALAM
MAHKAMAH
DI ALOR
ALOR SETAR
NEGERI KEDAH
SETAR
KEDAH DARUL
DARUL AMAN,
AMAN, without either Taylor or DeChambeau has only made two
its annual
its annual financial
financial statements
statements mademade up
up toto aa date
date not
not more
more than
than 66
Job Description: months before
months before the
the date
date of
of the
the meeting.
meeting. There
There will
will be
be no
no resolution
resolution to
to
MALAYSIA
MALAYSIA
GUAMAN SIVIL
GUAMAN SIVIL NO.:NO.: Williamson and they have the starts in official Tour events this
•• Reporting
Reporting to
to senior
senior management,
management, performing
performing and
and administrative
administrative duties.
duties. be passed
be passed on
on this
this item
item 1.
1. KA-A52NCC-27-12/2021
KA-A52NCC-27-12/2021 extra burden of trying to win a season. He withdrew from the
•• Data
Data entry,
entry, maintaining
maintaining operations
operations database,
database, records
records keeping,
keeping, compile
compile
and analyse
and analyse KPI
KPI reports.
reports. 2. At
2. At the
the said
said meeting,
meeting, thethe directors
directors will
will recommend
recommend payment
payment of of aa final
final
ANTARA
ANTARA series against South Africa for the Sony Open in Hawaii with a sore
•• Liaising
Liaising and
and coordinating
coordinating with
with internal
internal departments,
departments, answering
answering calls
calls
single tier
single tier dividend
dividend of
dividend of
of 20
20 sen
of 10
sen per
10 sen
sen per
per ordinary
per ordinary
ordinary stock
ordinary stock
stock for
stock and
for the
the year
and aa bonus
year ended
bonus single
ended 30
single tier
30 September
September
tier B2B FINPAL
B2B FINPAL SDN
SDN BHD
(NO. SYARIKAT:
(NO.
BHD
SYARIKAT:1192385-H)
1192385-H) first time. Taylor retired last month left wrist, was apparently bothered
dividend
and making travel arrangements.
and making travel arrangements. 2021 to
2021 to all
all stockholders
stockholders whosewhose names
names appear
appear in
in the
the Register
Register of of DAN
DAN
PLAINTIF
PLAINTIF and Williamson is injured, leaving by the same hand as he missed
•• Scheduling
Scheduling appointments,
appointments, maintaining
maintaining events
events calendar
calendar and
and sending
sending Members at
Members at the
the close
close ofof business
business atat 5.00
5.00 p.m.
p.m. on
on 25
25 February
February 2022.
2022.
1) KEJURUTERAAN
1) KEJURUTERAAN KITAKI
KITAKI PADU
PADU SDN
SDN BHD
BHD
the Black Caps without the pair’s the cut at the Farmers Insurance
reminders.
reminders. 3. AA member
3. member shall
shall not
not be
be entitled
entitled to
to appoint
appoint more
more than
than two
two (2)
(2) proxies
proxies to
to (NO. SYKT:
(NO. SYKT:201801027531/614357-W)
2) HASBULLAH
201801027531/614357-W)
HASBULLAH BINBIN SIRON
SIRON @ @ KAMIS
KAMIS
steadying influence against a Open and then withdrew from the
•• Arranging
Arranging and
and preparing
preparing monthly
monthly meeting
meeting minutes.
minutes. attend at
at the
the same
same meeting.
meeting. Where
Where aa member
member appoints
appoints two
two (2)
(2) proxies,
proxies, 2)
•• Any
Any other
other ad
ad hoc
hoc duties
duties assigned
assigned byby management
management fromfrom time
time to
to time.
time.
attend
the appointment
appointment shall
shall be
be invalid
invalid unless
unless he
he specifies
specifies the
the proportion
proportion ofof
(NO. K/P: 680102-10-6757)
(NO. K/P: 680102-10-6757) dynamic “They’re obviously a Saudi International on the Asian
the 3) MUHAMMAD
3) MUHAMMAD AZFAR AZFAR BINBIN HASBULLAH
HASBULLAH
his holdings
his holdings toto be
be represented
represented by by each
each proxy.
proxy. (NO. K/P:
(NO. K/P:960122-10-6195)
960122-10-6195) quality side, capable of beating Tour earlier this month after one
Requirements: 4. The
The instrument
instrument appointing
appointing aa proxy
proxy must
must be
be deposited
deposited at
at the
the Registered
Registered
DEFENDAN-DEFENDAN
DEFENDAN-DEFENDAN
India in South Africa,” New round. “I am very disappointed to
•• SPM/High
SPM/High School/Diploma
School/Diploma level level and
and above.
above. 4. NOTIS
Office of
Office of the
the Company
Company atat No.12,
No.12, Jalan
Jalan Bukit
Bukit Gedong,
Gedong, 75050
75050 Melaka
Melaka not
not Kepada:
Kepada:
NOTIS
Zealand coach Gary Stead miss the (Genesis Invitational) this
•• Certification
Certification inin secretarial
secretarial work,
work, office
office administration
administration or
or related
related training
training less than 48 hours before the time set for holding the meeting or at
at any
any
will be
will be anan added
added advantage.
advantage.
less than 48 hours before the time set for holding the meeting or
adjournment thereof.
thereof. HASBULLAH BIN
HASBULLAH BIN SIRON
SIRON @
@ KAMIS
KAMIS admitted. “They’ve got classy week at one of my favorite golf
adjournment
•• 1-2
1-2 years
years ofof experience
experience as as aa personal
personal assistant
assistant would
would be
be
(No. K/P:
(No. K/P:680102-10-6757)
No. 25,
No.
680102-10-6757)
25,Jalan
Jalan BK
BK 5/7A,
5/7A, players throughout and while courses on tour,” DeChambeau
advantageous. 5. IfIf the
5. the appointer
appointer is
is aa corporation,
corporation, the
the form
form of
of proxy
proxy must
must be
be given
given under
under Bandar Kinrara,
Bandar Kinrara,
they lack some experience you wrote yesterday on Twitter.
advantageous. its common
common seal
seal oror under
under the
the hand
hand ofof an
an officer
officer of
of the
the corporation
corporation duly
duly 47100 Puchong,
47100 Puchong,Selangor
Selangor
its
•• Knowledge
Knowledge in in using
using software
software such
such asas MS
MS Word,
Word, Excel
Excel and
and PowerPoint.
PowerPoint. authorised on its behalf.
authorised on its behalf. Ambil perhatian
perhatian bahawa
bahawa suatu
suatu tindakan
tindakan
Ambil
•• Possess
Possess advanced
advanced skills
skills in
in typing,
typing, note-taking,
note-taking, organising,
organising, and
and telah dimulakan
telah dimulakan terhadap terhadap kamu kamu
record-keeping.
record-keeping. 6. In
6. In the
the case
case of
of joint
joint holdings,
holdings, the
the vote
vote of
of the
the first-named
first-named in
in the
the Register
Register dalam Mahkamah
dalam Mahkamah Sesyen Sesyen Di Di Alor
Alor
of Members
Members willwill be
be accepted
accepted toto the
the exclusion
exclusion ofof other
other joint
joint holders
holders Setar, Kedah dalam
Setar, Kedah dalam Guaman No: KA-Guaman No: KA- IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF
OF
of
•• Ability
Ability to
to manage
manage internal
internal and
and external
external correspondence.
correspondence.
of the
the stocks.
stocks.
A52NCC-27-12/2021 oleh
A52NCC-27-12/2021 oleh B2BB2B Finpal
Finpal THE COMPANIES
THE COMPANIES ACTACT 2016
2016
of Sdn Bhd
Sdn Bhd (No.
(No. Syarikat:
Syarikat: 1192385-H)
1192385-H) yang yang AND IN
AND IN THE
THE MATTER
MATTER OFOF 322
322 Notices
Notices 322
322 Notices
Notices
•• Good
Good command
command in in written
written and
and spoken
spoken English.
English. mempunyai alamat
mempunyai alamat di di Unit
Unit T2-L9,
T2-L9, Level
Level TERRA HILL
HILL
9, Tower
Tower 2, 2, PJ33
PJ33 (Jaya
(Jaya 33),
33), Jalan
Jalan Prof
Prof TERRA
9, DEVELOPMENT SDN.
DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD.
BHD.
Office based in Petaling Jaya (5 days a week) Khoo Kay
Khoo Kay KimKim (Jalan
(Jalan Semangat),
Semangat), 46200
46200
201101043227 (971347-V)
201101043227 (971347-V)
IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF
OF THE
THE COMPANIES
COMPANIES ACT,
ACT, 2016
2016 Petaling Jaya,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
menuntut daripada
Selangor yang
yang mana
mana Plaintif
daripada Defendan-Defendan
Plaintif
Defendan-Defendan (In Members’
(In Members’ IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF OF THE
THE IN THE
IN THE HIGH
HIGH COURT
COURT OF
OF
Closing date
Closing date -- 28
28 February
February 2022
2022 AND IN
AND IN THE
THE MATTER
MATTER OF
OF
menuntut
seperti berikut
seperti berikut –– Voluntary Winding
Voluntary Winding Up)
Up) COMPANIES ACT,
COMPANIES ACT, 2016
2016 MALAYA AT
MALAYA AT KUALA
KUALA LUMPUR
LUMPUR
a) jumlah
a) jumlah prinsipal
prinsipal Issued
Issued Note
Note sebanyak
sebanyak AND
AND
Send in
Send in your
your CVCV with
with your
your photo
photo via
via email
email to
to :: BNC MARKETING
BNC MARKETING SDN.
SDN. BHD.
BHD. RM150,000.00;
RM150,000.00; At aa General
At General Meeting
Meeting ofof the
the Members
Members ofof
IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF OF
ORIGINATING SUMMONS
ORIGINATING SUMMONS NO: NO:
b) faedah
faedah pada pada kadar
kadar 15.50%
15.50% setahun
setahun the abovenamed
the abovenamed Company
Company heldheld on
on 11-
11- BA-28JM-11-06/2021
BA-28JM-11-06/2021
thesun.hr2@gmail.com
thesun.hr2@gmail.com [COMPANY NO.:
[COMPANY NO.: 200901013645
200901013645 (856704-A)]
(856704-A)] b)
mengikut pengiraan faedah
mengikut pengiraan faedah harian, ke harian, ke 02-2022,the
02-2022, the following
following special
special resolution
resolution MICRONIX SDN. BHD.
MICRONIX SDN. BHD.
InIn the
the matter
matter ofof Order
Order 88
88
NOTICE OF
NOTICE OF REDUCTION
REDUCTION OFOF ISSUED
ISSUED SHARE
SHARE CAPITAL
CAPITAL atas jumlah
atas jumlah prinsipal
tarikh pinjamam
tarikh
prinsipal Issued
pinjamam diberi
Issued Note
diberi kepada
Note dari
kepada Penerbit
dari
Penerbit
was duly
was duly passed:-
passed:- Registration No:
Registration No:
ofof Rules
Rules ofof Court
Court 2012
2012
(“Issuer”) (“Disbursement
(“Issuer”) (“Disbursement Date”);
Date”); “THAT the
“THAT the Company
Company be be wound
wound up up 198301003152 (98335-H)
198301003152 (98335-H)
c) faedah
faedah penalti
penalti lewat
lewat pada
pada kadar
kadar 8% 8% (IN MEMBERS’
MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
VOLUNTARY And
And
voluntarily pursuant
pursuant to to section
section 439(1)(b)
439(1)(b) (IN
CALL TO PLACE
c) voluntarily
NOTICE is
NOTICE is hereby
hereby given
given pursuant
pursuant to to Section
Section 117
117 ofof setahun ke
setahun
dari tarikh
ke atas
atas setiap
tarikh matang
setiap Issue
matang setiap
Issue Note
setiap Issue
Note
Issue Note
Note
of the
of the Companies
Companies Act Act 2016
2016 and
and that
that Mr.
Mr. WINDING UP)
WINDING UP) InIn the
the matter
matter ofof Sections
Sections 404,
404, 405,
405, 406,
406,
dari Lai Chung
Chung En
En and
and Ms.
Ms. Chan
Chan Bee
Bee Lee
Lee (f)
(f) of
of
the Companies
the Companies Act,
Act, 2016,
2016, that
that aa Special
Special Resolution
Resolution sehingga tarikh
sehingga tarikh penyelesaian
penyelesaian penuh
penuh dan
dan Lai
StanleyCo Corporate
StanleyCo Corporate Services
Services Sdn.
Sdn. Bhd.,
Bhd., 407 and
407 and 408
408 ofof the
the Companies
Companies Act
Act 2016
2016

CLASSIFIED ADS
muktamad;
to reduce
to reduce the
the share
share capital
capital of
of BNC
BNC MARKETING
MARKETING SDN. SDN. muktamad;
d) kos;
d) kos; dan
dan Suite 15,
Suite 15, 6th
6th Floor,
Bandar Puchong
Floor, IOI
Puchong Jaya,
IOI Business
Business Park,
Jaya, 47170
Park,
47170 Puchong,
Puchong,
NOTICE OF
NOTICE OF FINAL
FINAL GENERAL
GENERAL And
And
BHD. (“the
(“the Company”)
Company”) has has been
been duly
duly passed
passed byby the
the e) relif-relif
e) relif-relif yang
yang yang
yang dianggap
dianggap sesuai
sesuai Bandar MEETING
MEETING
BHD. dan berpatutan
dan berpatutan oleh oleh Mahkamah
Mahkamah yang yang Selangor be
Selangor be and
as Liquidators
and are
Liquidators for
are hereby
for the
hereby appointed
the purpose
appointed
purpose ofof such
such
InIn the
the matter
matter ofof Logistics
Logistics Worldwide
Worldwide
Members on on 11
11 February
February 2022
2022 to to reduce
reduce its
its share
share Mulia ini.
ini. as Express (M)
Express (M) Sdn.
Sdn. Bhd.
Bhd.
Members Mulia
winding up
winding up with
with all
all powers
powers given
given under
under NOTICE IS
NOTICE IS HEREBY
HEREBY GIVEN
GIVEN that
that (Judicial Managers
(Judicial Managers Appointed)
Appointed)
capital from
capital from RM250,000.00
RM250,000.00 comprising
comprising of of 250,000
250,000 DAN MAHKAMAH
DAN MAHKAMAH TELAH TELAH MEMERINTAHKAN
MEMERINTAHKAN section456
section 456and
andthe
theEleventh
EleventhSchedule
Scheduleof of
in pursuant
pursuant to to Section
Section 459(2)
459(2)
KLANG VALLEY ordinary shares
ordinary shares to
to RM10,000.00
RM10,000.00 comprising
comprising of of 10,000
10,000
BAHAWA penyampaian
BAHAWA penyampaian Writ
Pernyataan Tuntutan
Pernyataan
tindakan
Tuntutan tersebut
tersebut
Writ dan
tersebut dalam
disampaikan
dan
dalam
kepada
the Companies
the CompaniesAct

Dated this
Act 2016.”

this 16-02-2022
16-02-2022
2016.” in
of the Companies Act, 2016, aa
of the Companies Act, 2016,
[Registration No.:
[Registration No.:
201101002116 (930253-P)]
201101002116 (930253-P)]
ordinary shares
shares that
that is
is in
in excess
excess of of the
the needs
needs ofof the
the tindakan tersebut disampaikan kepada Dated Final Meeting
Meeting of of the
the Company
Company
PENANG | KEDAH ordinary
Company and
Company and such
such reduction
reduction bebe affected
affected by
by returning
returning
kamu melalui
kamu melalui penampalan
dan Pernyataan
dan
penampalan salinan
Pernyataan Tuntutan
Tuntutan tersebut
salinan Writ
tersebut di
Writ
di atas
atas KONGTECK
KONG TECK FONG
FONG
Final
will be
will be held
held atat No.42A,
No.42A, Jalan
Jalan
Form
Form 22
[Rule
22
[Rule 37]
37]

PERAK | PERLIS | PAHANG | SS21/39, Damansara

Damansara Utama,Utama,
berserta dengan
dengan salinan
salinan perintah
perintah untuk
untuk
berserta Director
Director SS21/39, NOTICE OF
NOTICE OF EXTENSION
EXTENSION ORDER
ORDER OF
OF
to the
to the holders
holders of
of the
the Company
Company to to the
the extent
extent of
of RM1.00
RM1.00 penyampaian ganti bertarikh
penyampaian ganti bertarikh 17.01.2022
dengan menampalkan
dengan menampalkan sesalinan
17.01.2022
sesalinan serupaserupa 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT
JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT ORDER
ORDER
IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF
OF
KELANTAN per share
per share held
held payable
payable inin cash.
cash. di Papan
di Papan Notis
Setar, Kedah
Setar,
Notis Mahkamah
Kedah dan
penyampaian
Mahkamah Sesyen
dan serta
dalam
Sesyen di
serta mengiklankan
bentuk
di Alor
mengiklankan
notis
Alor

di
THE COMPANIES
THE COMPANIES ACT
AND IN
AND IN THE
ACT 2016
THE MATTER
2016
MATTER OFOF
Darul Ehsan
Darul Ehsan on
2022, 10.00
2022,
on 17
10.00 a.m.
17 March
a.m. for
March
for the
the
NOTICE IS
NOTICE
11th day
IS HEREBY
HEREBY GIVEN
day ofof August,
GIVEN that
August, 2021,
that onon the
2021, aa judicial
the
judicial
TERENGGANU 11th
penyampaian dalam bentuk notis di TERRA HILL
HILL
dalam surat
dalam surat khabar
khabar harian
harian tempatan
tempatan “The“The TERRA purpose of:-
purpose of:- management order order for for placing
placing the the
Pursuant to
Pursuant to Section
Section 118(2)
118(2) ofof the
the Companies
Companies Act,
Act, Sun” untuk
Sun” untuk satusatu terbitan
terbitan dan dan bahawa
bahawa DEVELOPMENT SDN.
DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD.
201101043227
BHD. management
abovenamed companycompany under under judicial
judicial
segala penampalan
penampalan dan dan pengiklanan
pengiklanan 201101043227 abovenamed
MS. Shoba 2016, any
2016, any creditor
creditor of
of the
the Company
Company maymay apply
apply to
to the
the segala
setelah tamat
setelah tamat tempoh
tempoh tujuh tujuh (7)(7) hari
hari (971347-V)
(971347-V) 1) To
1) To lay
lay before
before the
the meeting
meeting management has
management has been
been made
made by by the
the Court
Court
(In Members’
Members’
Court for
Court for the
the Special
Special Resolution
Resolution to
to be
be cancelled
cancelled within
within selepas tarikh
selepas tarikh akhir
pengiklanan tersebut
akhir penampalan
penampalan dan
tersebut hendaklah
hendaklah disifatkan
dan
disifatkan
(In
Voluntary Winding
Winding Up)
Up) the accounts
the accounts of of the
the and on
and on the
the 8th
8th day
day ofof February,
February, 2022
2022 an an
TEL: 03-7784 8888 six weeks
six weeks from
from the
the date
date of
of the
the Special
Special Resolution.
Resolution.
pengiklanan
sebagai penyampaian
sebagai
dan
penyampaian yang
mencukupi bagi Writ
yang sempurna
dan
sempurna
Pernyataan
Voluntary
winding-up of
winding-up of the
the Company
Company extension order
management order
management order has
of
extension order of the judicial
has also
the
also been
judicial
been made
made by by
dan mencukupi bagi Writ dan Pernyataan Notice isis hereby
Notice hereby givengiven that
that the
the Creditors
Creditors by the
by the Liquidator
Liquidator for for
FAX: 03-7784 4424 Tuntutan tersebut
Tuntutan tersebut ke
kamu berhasrat
kamu berhasrat untuk
ke atas
atas kamu.
untuk membela
kamu. Jika
membela dalam
Jika
dalam
of the
of the above
above Company,
voluntarily wound
Company, which
wound up, up, are
which isis being
are required
being
required onon adoption and
adoption and of
of giving
giving any
any
the Court.
the Court. The
matter are
The relevant
given
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Solvency Statement
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all the
the tindakan tersebut
tindakan tersebut kamukamu mestilah
mestilah dalam
dalam voluntarily
or before
or before 16-03-2022
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send inin their
their explanation thereof.
explanation thereof.
matter are given as follows:
masa tujuh
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(7) hari
hari dari
dari tarikh
tarikh tersiarnya
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Date ofof filing
filing ofof application
application for for
Directors of
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names and addresses
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MALACCA | N.SEMBILAN
iklanini,
iklan ini,memasukkan
memasukkankehadiran
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Pejabat
of their
of their debts
debts and and claims
claims andand ofof any
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capital shall
shall be
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the Company’s
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ingkar memasukkan
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order: 10th day of January 2022 2022
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Menara Permata
Permata Damansara
Damansara and addresses
addresses of of their
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Section 518(3) of of thethe
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and
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undersigned Liquidators
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Companies Act, 2016,2016,
2.2. Applicant’s
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Sern Siu
Sern
solicitor: Messrs.
Siu && Huey
Huey
Messrs. Kee Kee
(Oval Damansara),
(Oval Damansara), No.No. 685,
685, Jalan
Jalan Damansara,
Damansara, 60000
60000 berhubungan dengan
berhubungan dengan dirinya
dirinya sebagaimana
sebagaimana Suite 15,
Suite 15, 6th
6th Floor,
Floor, IOI
IOI Business
Business Park,
Park,
all books and papers
all books and papers of of 3.3. Date
Date ofof extension
extension orderorder ofof judicial
judicial
TEL: 012-628 2844 Kuala Lumpur,
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Wilayah Persekutuan,
Persekutuan, for for inspection
inspection
yang difikirkan
yang difikirkan adil
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suaimanfaat oleh oleh Bandar Puchong
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and ifif so
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so required
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said Liquidators
notice in
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the Company and and ofof the
the management order:
management order: 8th 8th day
day ofof
FAX: 06-764 2051 during business
during business hours,
hours, by
by any
any creditor
creditor of
of the
the Company
Company Bertarikh pada
Bertarikh pada 15
15 Februari
Februari 2022
2022
writing
their Solicitors
their Solicitors or or personally
personally to to come
come Liquidator be
Liquidator be destroyed
destroyed February 2022
February 2022
for aa period
period of
of six
six weeks
weeks from
from the
the date
date of
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the Special
Special and prove
prove their
their debts
debts or or claims
claims atat such
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five (5)
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and
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place as as shall
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dissolution company: 28-B,
company: 28-B, Jalan
Jalan Tun Tun Abdul
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Resolution.
Resolution. Tetuan Maylee
Tetuan Maylee Gan Gan &&Tai Tai such notice
such notice oror in in default
default thereof
thereof they
they
of the
the Company.
Company. Razak, Susur
Razak, Susur Satu,
Satu, Johor
Johor Bahru,
Bahru,
JOHOR BAHRU Peguamcara bagi
Peguamcara
NOTIS ini
NOTIS ini dikeluarkan
dikeluarkan oleh
bagi pihak
pihak Plaintif

oleh Tetuan
Plaintif

Tetuan Maylee
Maylee
will be
will be excluded
excluded from
distribution made
distribution
from the
made before
the benefit
benefit of
before such
such debts
of any
any
debts oror
of Johor
Johor

MS. Anne Lim GAN RAYMOND

GAN RAYMOND Gan && Tai
Gan Tai beralamat
beralamat di di No.
No. 12,
12, 1st
1st Floor,
Floor,
claims are
claims are proved.
proved. Chok Hui
Chok Hui San
San LIM TIAN
LIM TIAN HUAT
HUAT
Director
Jalan BK
Jalan BK 1/17,
1/17, Bandar
Bandar Kinrara
Kinrara Industrial
Industrial Liquidator
Liquidator
Director Park, 47180
47180 Puchong,
Puchong, Selangor
Selangor Darul
Darul Dated this
Dated this 16-02-2022
16-02-2022 CHIANG TENG
CHIANG TENG GUAN
GUAN
TEL: 013-770 6699 Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Park,
Ehsan,peguamcara
Ehsan, peguamcarabagi
dinamakan di di atas.
bagipihak
atas. (Tel.
pihakPlaintif
(Tel. No:
Plaintifyang
No: 03-8071
yang
03-8071 5998
5998 CHAN BEE
CHAN BEE LEE
LEE (F)
(F) Petaling Jaya
Jaya
Judicial Managers
Judicial Managers
dinamakan
LAI CHUNG
CHUNG EN EN Petaling
FAX: 07-355 5549 16 February
16 February 2022
2022 // Faks
Faks No:
No: 03-8071
(KKPSB)21)
(KKPSB)21)
03-8071 5972).
5972). (Ruj:
(Ruj: MG/349/
MG/349/ LAI
Liquidators
Liquidators Dated this
Dated this 14
14 February
February 2022
2022 Dated this
Dated this 16
16 February
February 2022
2022
22 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
SPORTS

Messy Masi situation

█ PHILIP DUNCAN

M
ICHAEL MASI’S future as Formula
One’s race director remains in the
balance following a crunch meeting
of the sport’s major players in
London yesterday.
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes boss Toto Wolff,
and his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner,
arrived at F1’s headquarters at St James’s Market
awaiting the outcome of the FIA’s inquiry into
last year’s controversial finale which saw Max
Verstappen take the world championship.
But two months and two days after the
contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – a race
Hamilton said was “manipulated” following
Masi’s handling of a late safety car period – the
Australian’s fate is seemingly still to be
determined.
FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem
chaired the four-hour summit and is expected
to address the continued fallout from Abu
Dhabi later this week.
5419/2022 15/02/2022 (TUE)
Future of F1 race director still in the balance following ‘inconclusive’ meeting
One source told the PA news agency: “The
meeting was inconclusive. Not a lot of progress
has been made.” It is also understood that Masi
was present for the talks.
Hamilton, described by Wolff as
“disillusioned” after missing out on his eighth
world title, will make his first public appearance
since the debacle in the desert on Friday when
Mercedes launch its new car at Silverstone.
In a statement, the FIA said: “The FIA
President led detailed discussions of the 2021
Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“Feedback from the Commission on matters
raised will be incorporated into the President’s
analysis and he will publicly present news of
structural changes and action plan in the
coming days.”
One school of thought is that Masi could be
forced to take up a lesser role, with Portuguese
Eduardo Freitas moving across from the World
Endurance Championship to replace him.
But the under-fire Masi has found the
support of a number of drivers in recent days,
with four-time world champion Sebastian
Vettel, British driver Lando Norris and his
McLaren teammate Daniel Ricciardo all
speaking up on his behalf.
Away from the continued Abu Dhabi fallout,
the FIA did confirm a resolution has been found
to stage three sprint races at Imola, Spielberg,
and Interlagos.
The winner of the shortened race – which
determines the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix and
was first introduced last year – will now receive
eight points instead of three.
Meanwhile, the FIA confirmed that no
points will be awarded unless at least two laps
have been completed without a safety car.
The new rule comes into force following last
season’s two-lap, rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix
which ran entirely behind the safety car.
The first pre-season test starts in Barcelona
next Wednesday ahead of the opening round in
Bahrain on March 20. – The Independent

6576
8548
3444 Draw Date: 15/02/22 (Tue) Draw No: 5366/22 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB

0362 8334 5473 5176

1854 4365 3938 7066 5517
2888 7459 0080 0217
3598 9416 9953 9183 6288
5447 0460 8449 0385 5836

0614 + 6831 7517 + 1256

4,035,185.53 FROM LEFT: Toto 6083 + 9807 5257 + 2631
Wolff, Michael 1848 + 9238 6147 + 9180
6576 8548 8548 6576 Masi and 3208 + 2431 0193 + 7648
6576 3444 3444 6576 Christian Horner. 7134 + 2346 6307 + 1773
8548 3444 3444 8548
241,963.48
Button warns of Russell threat 5517 + 6288
RM19,368,872.90
6288 + 5517
JENSON BUTTON expects Lewis asked who he thinks will be stronger
Hamilton to get the better of Max between Mercedes and Red Bull in 2022: 5517 + 5836 5836 + 5517
6576
Verstappen in the 2022 Formula One “I have to say Mercedes. I think Red Bull 6288 + 5836 5836 + 6288
8548 season – but he thinks that George were strong last year but throughout the
Russell could still beat his fellow Briton to season Mercedes got closer.
RM421,742.10
3444 HORSE
the Drivers’ Championship. “And I think they overtook them on
Button believes his former teammate outright pace and we all know to beat
Hamilton’s greatest threat to a record- Mercedes you have to be faster than
breaking eighth crown could come from them because they do not make
his new Mercedes partner. mistakes as a team. RM1,453,333.30
Hamilton widely expected to duel it “I think Mercedes and then it’s the 265 517 + HORSE
out with Verstappen once again if he fight between Lewis and George. I really
returns to the grid as expected. can’t wait for that. Two Brits at Mercedes RM2,995,381.20
1 0 3 2 0 And Button, who raced alongside fighting for a world championship
896 288 + OX
0 3 2 0 Hamilton at McLaren from 2010 to 2012, hopefully.
4 9 0 3 3 3 2 0 expects Hamilton to come out on top of “George Russell in a Mercedes 775 836 + ROOSTER RM1,010,000.00
2 1 1 1 9 2 0 Verstappen in the new season despite alongside Lewis is going to be a really
the Dutchman’s maiden title triumph. interesting dynamic to see how it works
But he believes Mercedes newcomer out, the young kid coming in.
270 614 586 831 257 517 651 256
3 7 1 6 8 0 Russell, who replaces Valtteri Bottas for “Lewis is the older guy in that team 006 083 579 807 245 257 622 631
the Silver Arrows after three seasons at and it’s the first time really ever he’s been 001 848 979 238 966 147 059 180
3 7 1 6 8 7 1 6 8 0 Williams, could be a significant hurdle for in that situation. I’m looking forward to 293 208 372 431 050 193 017 648
3 7 1 6 1 6 8 0 seven-time world champion Hamilton. seeing how that dynamic works.” –
Button told Sky Sports News when Express Newspapers 347 134 772 346 456 307 611 773
3 7 1 6 8 0
3 7 8 0
FIFA orders Brazil vs Argentina replay
517 288 836
5 37 40 43 44 46 THE World Cup qualifier between Brazil country during the 14 days before the
and Argentina in September that was game, the Brazilian officials said.
54,662,725.84 suspended just minutes after kickoff when Argentine officials said they believed
health officials ran on to the pitch must be the same protocols used in the Copa RM618,466.80
replayed, football’s governing body FIFA America in Brazil in June last year were in
1 18 25 35 44 55 said yesterday. place for the World Cup qualifiers to allow 517 + 288 + 836 288 + 836 + 517
The match at NeoQuimica Arena in Sao teams to travel across the continent. The 517 + 836 + 288 836 + 517 + 288
9,891,844.76
Paulo was halted after five minutes when South American Football Confederation 288 + 517 + 836 836 + 288 + 517
Brazilian health officials invaded the pitch confirmed that interpretation.
3 4 12 19 38 49 11 to stop Argentina’s England-based players FIFA, though, said the two nations’
from playing, saying they had breached inability to complete the match
HSSB 1+3D Jackpot 1 RM163,232.00
7,311,270.22 the country’s Covid-19 quarantine rules. demanded disciplinary measures. won on 13/02/2022!
247,351.09 The officials said the Argentines had “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has
breached rules stating travellers who had concluded that the abandonment of the
been in the UK, South Africa or India match stemmed from several deficiencies
during the previous two weeks were of the parties involved,” FIFA said in
forbidden from entering Brazil unless they statement.
were citizens or had permanent residency. The match “should be replayed on a
The players had misled border officials date and at a location to be decided by
by declaring they had not been in a red list FIFA,” it said. – AFP
 FOLLOW
@thesundaily
TOUCHLINES
CHELSEA defender Antonio Rudiger, 28,
says the club will decide whether he stays
or goes when his present deal ends in the
summer. The Germany international has
already received offers to join Real
Madrid and Paris St-Germain.
NEWCASTLE will return to Sevilla in the
summer with a fresh offer for their Brazil
defender Diego Carlos, 28, who they missed
out on in the January transfer window.
PARIS ST-GERMAIN are assembling a
lucrative package to sign France mid-
fielder Paul Pogba on a free transfer this
summer. However, the 28-year-old has
not ruled out staying at Manchester
United, with Juventus, Barcelona and
Real Madrid also monitoring his situa-
tion.
MANCHESTER UNITED have added
Christopher Nkunku, 24, to their list of
summer targets after interim manager Ralf
Rangnick urged the club to step up their
interest in RB Leipzig’s French midfielder.
CRISTIANO RONALDO and several other
Manchester United players do not believe
Ralf Rangnick has the ability to manage
the club and is out of his depth at Old
Trafford.
RANGNICK’S personal intervention per-
suaded Edinson Cavani, 35, to change his
mind about leaving Manchester United in
January. However, the Uruguay forward will
depart in the summer when his contract
expires.
MANCHESTER CITY are among a posse of
Premier League clubs keen on Barcelona
and Spain U-21 midfielder Nico Gonzalez,
20, who has established himself at the
Nou Camp this season.
ARSENAL turned down the chance to sign
Argentina forward Mauro Icardi, 28, from
Paris St-Germain during the January transfer
window.
CHELSEA and Albania forward Armando
Broja, 20, is not ruling out a move away
from Stamford Bridge this summer with
Arsenal interested in signing him due to
his impressive performances at
Southampton on loan.
CRYSTAL PALACE fear losing 29-year-old
Ivory Coast international Wilfried Zaha
for a bargain price as they look to tie
down the forward, whose current con-
tract runs out in the summer of 2023, on a
new deal.
CHELSEA forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, 21,
is weighing up a switch of international alle-
giance from England to Ghana, despite
having won three caps for the Three Lions.
SERIE B side Como and teams in the
Greek Super League are interested in
signing midfielder Jack Wilshere, 30, who
has been training with former club
Arsenal and last played for England in
2016.
IVORY COAST midfielder Franck Kessie, 25,
has not decided which club he wants to join
when his AC Milan contract runs out in the
summer with Barcelona also now interested.
FORMER Manchester United midfielder
Paul Ince says the club should sign
Brighton and Mali midfielder Yves
Bissouma, 25, to replace Brazil interna-
tional Fred, 28, in their engine room.
RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP: West Bromwich
Albion 0 Blackburn 0.
LA LIGA: Mallorca 3 (Sevilla 22,
Rodriguez 30, 73) Athletic Club 2 (Garcia
59, Berenguer 61).
SERIE A: Spezia 1 (Agudelo 74) Fioren-
tina 2 (Piatek 42, Amrabat 89).
ON INSTAGRAM SCAN
ME
Back to his best
Van Dijk gets thumbs up from Klopp after imposing form against Burnley
█ CARL MARKHAM
L
IVERPOOL defender Virgil Van Dijk is
back to his best with perfect timing for the
remainder of the season, according to
manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Netherlands captain was in imposing
form during the Reds’ hard-fought 1-0 victory at
Burnley which helped maintain their pursuit of
leaders Manchester City, who hold a nine-
point advantage having played one match
more.
February’s Champions League restart is
usually the signal for Van Dijk to shift through
the gears as the quest for trophies steps up.
And having proved he has successfully
recovered from anterior cruciate ligament
surgery to his left knee last season, Klopp now
believes the centreback has regained his
superiority.
“Definitely, definitely, you can see it in all
movements and everything,” he said. “We were
always convinced that it would happen. He is
completely back on track, he is
absolutely at his best again.
“I would say it’s good timing
because the decisive part of
the season is coming up
now. Long may it continue.”
Van Dijk’s fellow
defender Andy Robertson
admits the players have
been eagerly awaiting
the restart of the
Champions
League.
“Obviously
the group
stages to
the last 16
is the
biggest
Dzeko, Salah face-off as
Liverpool lay in wait for Inter
EDIN DZEKO will take to the San Siro pitch
with old friend Mohamed Salah when Inter
Milan take on Liverpool in the Champions
League last 16 tomorrow (4am Malaysian
time), a reminder of the havoc the pair used
to cause together at Roma.
After an anonymous time at Chelsea and
signs of promise at Fiorentina, Salah’s career
really started to take off after arriving in the
Italian capital in 2015.
Once firmly established as strike partners
under Luciano Spalletti, Dzeko and Salah hit
it off in a big way, scoring 58 goals in all
competitions in 2016-17 and helping Roma
to second in Serie A as an ageing Francesco
Totti was shunted aside.
Salah’s inconsistent but at times
unstoppable performances earned him a
move to Merseyside, where under Jurgen
Klopp he quickly became one of the world’s
best, for what now looks a paltry €50
million (RM230m).
“I must say, in some little way, I helped
Momo become what he is now,” Dzeko said
in an interview published by the Daily Mail
Eriksen plays in first game since collapse
DANISH midfielder Christian Eriksen
marked his 30th birthday with a first
appearance since his cardiac arrest in June
last year, registering one assist in Brentford’s
3-2 friendly win over fifth-tier club
Southend United.
Eriksen, who joined Brentford as a free
agent in January, played for about an hour
in a friendly match behind closed doors,
nearly eight months after suffering a cardiac
arrest on the pitch during a European
Championship match.
His former club Inter Milan ended his
contract in December as he is not allowed
to play in Serie A due to his heart starter
device (implantable cardioverter-
23
theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
* SPORTS
wait for the Champions League,” Robertson told amazing stadium, I’m sure the crowd will be
liverpoolfc.com. fantastic and we’ll bring a big away support.”
“Once the draw gets done you get excited Fabinho scored the only goal of the game at
about it and you look forward to that challenge Turf Moor on Sunday and Robertson has been
ahead. It’s going to be incredibly tough. impressed by the Brazilian’s goalscoring prowess
“Inter are going really well in of late, with the midfielder making it five goals in
Serie A, up fighting at the top seven matches.
and we’ll try to keep “His all-round game has been magnificent,”
pushing on all fronts. added Robertson. “He is well known for
“We’ve got a tough breaking up the play and getting the ball back
game away first and we and feeding the strikers more so, but he seems to
need to be at our best be popping up at the right place at the right time
and do what we’ve just now.
been doing over the “At the start of the season we knew we all had
last six to eight to chip in. Some have chipped in obviously more
weeks. than others but I think that’s five goals in the last
“If we do that, I seven games from Fab, an incredible run of form.
believe we can get a “Long may people keep on chipping in and
positive result. But we keep scoring goals because we can’t always rely
look forward to it – an on the front men to put it in the back of the net.”
iconic stadium, an – The Independent
Van Dijk
last week.
“We had a great time together in
Rome… I’m so happy for him, a great guy
who deserves everything he has achieved.”
Dzeko looks a player reborn since
making the move north from Roma in the
summer, and has been such a hit with Inter
fans that they have largely forgotten
Romelu Lukaku, the key man behind last
season’s league triumph.
Liverpool have already been to the San
Siro once this season, strolling past AC
Milan and knocking Inter’s local rivals out of
Europe.
But Dzeko doesn’t think the gap
between Italy’s top sides and Europe’s best
is as big as that match made it seem.
“We played two even matches with Real
Madrid, we should have won the first one
but we weren’t at the level we are right
now,” Dzeko recently told the Corriere Della
Sera.
“Liverpool are a good side, they’re
beatable but they can also hit five past you.
We going to give it a go.” – AFP
defibrillator).
“A cold, damp afternoon in West London
was lit up by Eriksen’s return to a match
environment for the first time since
suffering a cardiac arrest last June,”
Brentford said on their website.
“Eriksen, who celebrates his 30th
birthday today, could have found himself
on the scoresheet in the opening minutes
but was twice denied by the visitors’
stopper Collin Andeng Ndi.”
The former Tottenham Hotspur player
said last week he is determined to prove he
is still the same player he used to be before
the incident and was not afraid to play with
the implanted device. – Reuters
 QUOTE OF THE DAY
Definitely, definitely, you can see it in all
movements and everything. We were
always convinced that it would happen. He (Virgil van
Dijk) is completely back on track, he is absolutely at
his best again. I would say it’s good timing because
the decisive part of the season is coming up now.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Djoker prepared to miss French Open, Wimbledon over vaccine stance

NOVAK DJOKOVIC has given his the anti-vax movement, admitting He added: “For me, as an elite Djokovic vehemently denied that
most in-depth interview to date after that he could potentially get the professional athlete I have always notion before opening up on his time
his deportation from Australia – vaccine in the future. carefully reviewed and assessed in detention Down Under.
announcing that he is willing He said: “I was never against everything that comes in, from the “I was really sad and disappointed
to sacrifice his Grand vaccination. I understand that supplements, the food, the water that with the way it all ended for me in
Slam record hopes globally, everyone is trying to put a I drink or sports drinks, anything really Australia,” he added. “It wasn’t easy.
by not getting big effort into handling this virus and that comes into my body as a fuel.” “The visa declaration error was not
the vaccine. seeing, hopefully, an end soon to this Djokovic received plenty of deliberately made. It was accepted
The virus.” backlash after his arrival in Australia and confirmed by the Federal Court
But the 34-year-old rejected the last month, into a country which had and the minister himself in the
idea of getting a vaccine just to been in strict lockdown throughout Ministry for Immigration in Australia.
compete in tournaments on the ATP the Covid-19 pandemic. “So actually, what people probably
Tour. The furore continued further when don’t know is that I was not deported
world No. 1 And Djokovic is prepared suggestions emerged that Djokovic’s from Australia on the basis that I was
was at the centre to skip this year’s French positive test in mid-December not vaccinated, or I broke any rules or
of controversy Down Open and had been that I made an error in my visa
Under last month in tampered declaration.
what turned out to be a 10- with. “All of that was actually approved
day fiasco. and validated by the Federal Court of
After initially being given a Australia and the Minister for
medical exemption to compete at the Immigration.
Australian Open, Djokovic was soon “The reason why I was
at the mercy of Australian officials deported from Australia was
who wanted his visa revoked. because the Minister
Despite winning the first court
case, Djokovic ended up losing the Wimbledon
battle to compete in Melbourne as he over their current
was deported the day before the vaccine requirements for
tournament started. entry into the country.
The 20-time Grand Slam “Yes, that is the price that I’m
champion had stayed relatively quiet willing to pay,” he said. “Because
on the matter, although a brief the principles of decision making Man
statement given to Serbian media on my body are more important United
suggested that silence would soon be than any title or anything else. forward for Immigration used
broken. “I’m trying to be in tune with my Cristiano his discretion to cancel
And now Djokovic has given a body as much as I possibly can.” Ronaldo. my visa based on his
wide-ranging interview to the BBC on Djokovic believes in the freedom perception that I might create some
the saga in Australia, while also to “choose what you put in your anti-vax sentiment in the country or
speaking out on his own vaccine body” and has so far decided against in the city, which I completely
status. getting the vacciation “based on all disagree with.” – Express
Djokovic did distance himself from the information that I got”. Newspapers

Time Ron-ing
-ing o
out
If Ronaldo is not scoring, what else does
he offer to Manchester United?
Availability is perhaps the biggest
difference between a good player and a
great one, and to Ronaldo’s credit, he
rarely if ever feels that is unable to play.
█ MARK CRITCHLEY United is to score goals and arguably the But when Cavani does start, the

T
greatest goalscorer of his generation is not differences between United’s two
HIS IS Cristiano Ronaldo’s longest scoring many. veteran centre-forwards could not be
barren spell in front of goal in 13 Across all competitions, Ronaldo’s record more stark.
years. That it currently stands at just reads 14 in 26 games – a healthy 0.53 per- Not only does Cavani do the
six games demonstrates what a truly game, though that is significantly down from defensive dog work that Ronaldo
extraordinary player he has been over that the 0.81 per game in a mediocre Juventus side infamously avoids, he also does the
period – a goalscorer almost beyond last season. In the Premier League alone, he is classic off-the-ball work of a natural
comparison in the modern game – but there averaging 0.40 per game. Compare that to 0.87 born centre-forward rather than
were times at Old Trafford on Saturday when in Serie A last year. someone who has adapted their
you wondered if this is more than a dry patch. That decline in output is not especially game to the role.
“Of course he would have wished to score, surprising when Ronaldo’s other contributions It is no secret that Ronaldo stripped
I would have wished him to score,” Ralf are down across the board too. back and pared down his game in order
Rangnick, the United manager, said after yet After averaging 5.2 shots-per-game last to stay competitive at the very highest
another Ronaldo blank and yet another term, he is managing just 3.9 now. His level.
occasion when Manchester United had expected goals (xG) has fallen from 0.83 per 90 Soh
uatmo
p
n
t But these past few weeks, either side
thrown away a lead. over the course of his three years in Turin to due of his 37th birthday, it is as if that process
“Today he had his chances, one of the biggest 0.58 in Manchester. Strip out penalties, it is to a has chiselled away at so much of one of
was when he went past the goalkeeper but it 0.49. groin the most extraordinary players of his
was cleared off the line.” And if Ronaldo is not scoring goals, what injury, generation to leave precious little
For Rangnick to describe it as a goal-line else does he offer? telling remaining.
clearance was generous. It only just about The incessant debate about his pressing has Jorge Mendes, Ronaldo’s agent,
entered the six-yard box. This was a poor miss finally died down but, even though Ronaldo’s once described him as an “alien”, in
by anyone’s standards. By Ronaldo’s, it was number of pressures per game has increased respect of his extraterrestrial
barely believable. under Rangnick, it is still the fewest of all centre abilities.
These misses can happen to any player, even forwards in the Premier League. There is still something
the very best, and they can come at any time. And as tedious as that debate became, it Rangnick supernatural about Ronaldo. He
But when taking those chances is that player’s may have focused attention on his after breakfast should not be as effective as he is
sole purpose in the team, missing them contributions beyond his sheer volume of on Saturday at his age. But time waits for no
becomes an even bigger problem. goals. morning that he did not feel man, and no alien either. – The
Because make no mistake, Ronaldo’s job at Edinson Cavani missed the draw with fit enough to play. Independent
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