No. 7734 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.

my

TELLING IT AS IT IS

ON MONDAY MARCH 8, 2021

II theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021 III
theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com

ON MONDAY MARCH 8, 2021
No. 7734 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my
Hindered by tradition
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
P women at disadvantage
ETALING JAYA: Despite the
progress that has been made,
Malaysian society remains
largely patriarchal. The
preference for sons over daughters is a
symptom of this condition.
It is this social structure, which
affirms the power of men over women,
that has left women with fewer
opportunities, experts told theSun.
According to Selangor Friends of
Women Association secretary Suguna
Papachan, the conditioning starts from
childhood.
“Unlike boys, girls are the ones who
stand in for the mother in looking after
their younger siblings and to take on
household chores. Through this, girls
learn the skills of caring.”
She added that coupled with
conservative religious concepts, the
patriarchy structure makes women feel
trapped and deny them employment
opportunities.
“Some women, especially those who
are assertive, manage to break out of the
grasp of this structure, but how many
are prepared to do so?
“Ours is a modern society with
technological advances, yet we hold on
TELLING IT AS IT IS
o Patriarchal social structure puts
to archaic ideas of gender roles. Both
genders need to work and bring in the
income to support the demands of a
growing family and support each other
in the care responsibilities.”
Suguna added that the assumption
that men are better than women persists
despite the fact that women are better at
multi-tasking, an essential quality in
business.
She said businesses should enable
care responsibilities to be brought to the
workplace to enable women to perform
their professional duties without
compromising their domestic needs.
“This is possible, as demonstrated by
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda
Arden.”
Arden was in New York to address
the United Nations General Assembly in
September 2018, with her six-week-old
daughter Neve Te Aroha in tow, making
her the first world leader to bring her
baby along for the assembly.
Suguna was commenting on a recent
LinkedIn study that showed 45% of
INSIDE
page
Cops start probe on trainer
who assaulted police recruit
3
page
Alcohol consumption does
not affect Covid vaccine: MMA
4
BRIGHT BEACON ...
Former nurse Normaisarah Ibrahim
is a source of pride for women all
over as the Kelantanese lass
combines her passion for ‘heavy
tasks’ with her medical background
to serve in the Negri Sembilan Fire
and Rescue Department.
theSun wishes all women ‘Happy
Women’s Day’. – BERNAMAPIX
women said they were getting fewer
opportunities than men, and six in 10
women feel they have missed out on
raises and promotions.
Sociologist Dr Nor Azlili Hassan said
gender inequality in familial and
household responsibilities are to blame
for the sense of inequity.
She said in a patriarchal society,
women are economically weaker than
men, making them dependent on their
male partner.
“There is also the perception that
women are not able to lead as well as
men. As a result, they are rarely given
opportunities for promotion, especially
to top positions that require them to
lead other employees,” she told theSun.
Nor Azlili pointed out that often, the
balance in empowerment and
opportunities are tipped in
favour of men, leaving
women more vulnerable. Turn to
“As a result, the negative —
impact of a pandemic on page 3
women is usually far greater.”
 2 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

MCA to stay put in Barisan Nasional

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president
Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the
party will remain with Barisan
Nasional (BN) in the 15th general
election (GE15).
He said since its establishment,
MCA had faced various challenges
and gone through thick and thin
together with BN.
“Celebrating cultural diversity,
moderation and an inclusive nature
as instilled and practised by BN is in
line with MCA’s struggle,” he said in
his opening address at the 67th MCA
general assembly yesterday.
“Therefore, in the coming GE15,
MCA will continue with BN to ensure
victory. If there is a need, we will also
be with other parties in the spirit of
diversity and moderation for the sake
of safeguarding the country.”
The general assembly was
conducted in a hybrid format due to
the Covid-19 pandemic, with 95
delegates present physically at the
MCA headquarters and the
remaining 1,030 delegates attending
virtually.
Wee, who is also transport
minister, said GE15 is very important
to MCA as it will determine the
party’s future and whether it will
regain the people’s support and
mandate.
“For us, the coming polls will be a
very big challenge because we need
to ensure MCA wins more seats to get
a bigger mandate and strengthen the
party.”
He said under the new normal,
MCA could no longer afford to
compete based on the old model
and mindset.
MCA should move with the times,
taking into consideration views
expressed to remain relevant and to
fulfil its main objective of winning
and restoring the party to its former
glory, he said.
“We do not want any internal
conflict or dispute in the party as it is
destructive and can bring us all
down. We need to ensure victory in
the next GE. Do not let internal
struggles compromise our party.”
He also urged MCA members to
take the failure of Pakatan Harapan as
a lesson so that the party would not
commit the same mistake.
Wee also said MCA, which is part
of the Perikatan Nasional
administration, would continue to
play its role in the government for the
sake of the people, especially in
fighting the pandemic and reviving
the economy.
Wee launched the 72nd
anniversary celebration of MCA
yesterday, which included musical
performances. – Bernama

Fewer Malaysians on rich list Buskers back in

oNumber of high net worth individuals fell by 8%, from
17,936 in 2019 to 16,442 last year: Report
█ BY HAKEM HASSAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: As expected, the Covid-19
pandemic has taken a toll on wealth.
While the world continues to see an
increase in the number of rich individuals, the
quantum of increase fell last year, compared
with previous years.
However, Malaysia is bucking the global
and even Asia-Pacific trends, with more
people exiting the rich list.
According to the latest report by Knight
Frank, a real estate agency and residential and
commercial property consultancy based in
London, the number of high net worth
individuals (HNWI) in Malaysia dropped by
8%, from 17,936 in 2019 to 16,442 in 2020.
In the same period, the number of ultra
high net worth individuals (UHNWI) declined
by 3%, from 626 in 2019 to 606 last year.
The report defines a HNWI as one with a
net worth of at least US$1 million (RM4.26
million) while a UHNWI is one with a net
worth of at least US$30 million (RM127.8
million).
Sunway University Business School
Professor of Economics Dr Yeah Kim Leng
said the decline in the number of rich people
is inevitable given the overall 5.6% drop in the
nation’s real income. “The HNWIs, who built
their fortunes through hotels and restaurants,
aviation, leisure, tourism, hospitality and
retail, would have experienced significant
losses in business income and asset values,”
Yeah told theSun.
Datuk Dr Rajah Rasiah, Professor of
Economics at the Asia-Europe Institute at
Universiti Malaya, said the slump (in net
worth) was imminent even before Covid-19.
“The economy was already slowing down,
thanks to the US-China trade war under US
president Donald Trump’s administration.”
Rajah cited the more predictable and
stable financial situation elsewhere, such as in
Singapore, which saw an impressive increase
of 10.2% in the number of UHNWIs.
Yeah believes the sharp rise in the demand
for medical supplies and various ICT
products and services, led by the growing
work-from-home trend, helped to boost the
fortunes of countries where these products
are manufactured.
Another fact, he said, also in relation to
Singapore, is the success of its entrepreneurs
capitalising on the shift in economic and
business opportunities caused by the
pandemic and subsequent disruptions in the
global supply chain.
The Knight Frank 2021 report said the
number of UHNWIs rose by 2.4% globally
from 2019 to 2020, which was a third of the
previous year’s quantum. Even so, the world
saw more than 520,000 new millionaires and
billionaires.
It also forecast that Asia-Pacific’s UHNWI
population will likely grow by a third to
168,567 in 2025, ahead of the global average of
663,483 or 27%.
Indonesia will lead the charge with an
expected 67% growth, followed by India
(63%), New Zealand (52%) and China (46%).
Over the next five years, the number of
millionaires and billionaires in Asia-Pacific is
set to rise by 37% and 46% respectively.
The Asia-Pacific region is now home to
36% of the world’s billionaires, higher than
any other region.
According to Yeah, Malaysia can easily
match the global growth. “Our strong
entrepreneurial spirit and talents, coupled
with a business-friendly environment and
level playing field are all that is necessary to
help us meet the projected growth in the
number of wealthy individuals.”
However, he also cautioned against
widening the gap between the haves and
have-nots. “Without inclusive growth, the
country’s economic progress is unlikely to be
sustainable or socially and politically stable.”
business
KUALA TERENGGANU: Buskers are rejoicing
as they can play music again with the lifting of
the movement control order (MCO) in
Terengganu.
They are now allowed to perform in public
places, subject to strict adherence to standard
operating procedures.
“We are relieved that the government has
given us the green light to play again,” one of
them, Iswandee Ismail, 43, said.
The past few months had been difficult for
him. “When the MCO was imposed, I began to
sell tauhu begedil (a local snack) that my wife
made.
“That was our only source of income as I do
not have any skills apart from playing music.”
Others like him had resorted to working as e-
hailing drivers and food delivery men. With the
MCO lifted, they are hopeful that they can start
performing at corporate events or weddings
again or be signed up for regular performances
at cafes and restaurants. This was their main
source of income before the Covid-19
pandemic.
Another musician here, Ahmad Aiman
Matin Raduan, 32, had to dip into his savings to
make ends meet.
“I know of some who have given up music
but not me. I have been doing this for 11 years
and I will continue as long as I can.”
Ahmad Aiman has already been signed up to
perform at several restaurants here. “We can’t
be too choosy as there are not many jobs
available.”
But the “down time” during the MCO did not
go to waste. “I spent it brushing up on my music
skills.”
Affandi Hamzah, the owner of Uptown
Kontena-Dapo Pata, a bazaar and
entertainment centre, said the government’s
decision to allow busking would help revive the
tourism business.
“Apart from buskers, we have other creative
people here, such as mural artists and
photography enthusiasts.” – Bernama

Umno-Bersatu ties
good for Sabah
SANDAKAN: The decision of Sabah Umno to
continue working with Parti Pribumi Bersatu
Malaysia (Bersatu) through Gabungan Rakyat
Sabah (GRS) is key to preserving political
stability in the state via various economic
development programmes.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald
Kiandee said last year’s state election results
were a reflection of the people’s desire for
political stability and unity within the GRS
alliance.
“The people have hopes that any approach
taken is one that promises a better future for the
country,” Kiandee, who is Beluran MP, said in a
statement yesterday.
Kiandee, who is also Agriculture and Food
Industry minister, said Sabah Umno’s stand
should preferably be emulated at the national
level to establish a strong political coalition that
can promise political stability.
Yesterday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji
Noor, who is also Sabah Bersatu chairman, and
Deputy Chief Minister and Sabah Umno chief
Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said cooperation
between the two parties in Sabah had not been
RELIGIOUS DUTY ... Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman performed the umrah on Saturday. affected by political developments at the
Muhyiddin is on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. – BERNAMAPIX national level. – Bernama

Police begin probe into
assault of recruit
o27-year-old rank-and-file sustains
ruptured eardrum after being hit by
corporal during basic training
█ BY CHARLES RAMENDRAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
SEREMBAN: Police have
commenced investigations into a
police trainer who allegedly
assaulted a recruit at the Ayer Hitam
Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in
Jempol, near here, causing him to
suffer severe injuries in an ear.
It is learnt the incident occurred
on Nov 11 last year but a police
report was only lodged on Friday
after the case was brought to the
attention of a senior officer of the
centre.
INCHES TO
SPARE ... A
resident of Taman
Seroja Bandar Baru
in Salak Tinggi,
Sepang, Selangor
is seen taking
pictures of his
vehicle, which two
uprooted trees
narrowly missed
during a storm on
Saturday evening.
The storm
damaged about
100 homes.
– BERNAMAPIX
Ancient route connecting villages found in Perak
IPOH: A study by a heritage
association has uncovered an
ancient route that connected two
villages in the southern part of
Gunung Lanno, Simpang Pulai,
near here.
It is believed that the route was
last used more than 100 years ago.
Perak Geotourism Association
(GeoNat) chairman Mohd Fadly Md
Noor said a team explored the area
after receiving information from
locals about this three months ago.
“We were asked to conduct a
study and after the exploration
based on an old topographic map
One in four women workers in non-formal sectors
She said a pandemic, such employment and are either
as the Covid-19 scourge that
from
has swept across the globe, front
also has a greater negative
page
impact on women’s career
progression. like those enjoyed by workers
About a quarter of women in in the formal sectors, she added.
Malaysia are in non-permanent “This makes them particularly
Sources said the 27-year-old
rank-and-file was undergoing basic
training at the centre at about 7am
when his 38-year-old police trainer
turned hostile.
The corporal, who was carrying
out marching exercises on a group
of recruits, became upset with the
victim’s performance and allegedly
slapped him on the head.
Although he suffered injuries to
his left ear, the victim kept mum
about the incident. However, two
weeks ago, the victim sought
treatment at a specialist clinic at the
Kuala Pilah Hospital and was told by
published in 1916, we discovered
traces of a route that had been used
in ancient times.
“Among our findings were a long
tunnel and a stair-shaped stone
structure in a cave,” he said when
met by reporters in the area.
He said the route was also
believed to have been used for
connecting two villages, namely
Teluk Kangor and Serba Jadi, during
the British colonial era at the time of
the World War I (1914-1918), but
most of the villages there had now
been turned into an industrial area.
He said the findings would be
self-employed, informal
workers or unpaid family
workers. As a result, they do
not have security guarantees
a doctor that he had suffered severe
rupture to his left eardrum, which
would require surgery.
A senior officer of the training
centre got wind of the assault and
lodged a police report.
relayed to the relevant parties to
enable further studies to be
conducted in more detail at the
location gazetted as a quarry zone
under the administration of the
Batu Gajah District Council.
“Besides that, the area is unique
and we believe has the potential to
be developed into a conservation
centre and even suitable as a
location for activities such as
kayaking or tourism because there is
a pool in the area.
“Further research can be carried
out by historians or institutes of
higher learning because we found
vulnerable to reduced or loss of
income during the pandemic.”
She said other issues that
separate women from men in the
labour market are lack of education
and experience as well as the
quality of paid occupation.
“There are fewer opportunities
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
* NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
It is learnt the victim, whose
mother is a former armed forces
doctor based in Kuala Lumpur, had
chosen not to lodge a police report
nor inform his family of the incident.
He is expected to undergo
surgery at the Kuala Pilah Hospital
next month.
Jempol police chief Supt Hoo
Chang Hook (pix) said yesterday
that investigations are ongoing and
both parties will be summoned to
have their statements recorded.
“We will conclude the
investigations by the end of the week
and submit our findings to state
police and Bukit Aman before it goes
to the Attorney-General’s
Chambers,” he told theSun.
He said an internal investigation
will also be carried out by the
Pulapol Ayer Hitam’s police Integrity
and Standard Compliance
Department.
BRIEFS
that there is a unique H-shaped
water pool in the hill area,” he said.
Mohd Fadly said if the cave there
could be developed as a tourist
attraction, it would be the first to
offer water activities, especially
kayaking, in Perak.
He said GeoNat is conducting
further studies on the rock structure
and environment of the cave area as
well as safety aspects including
identifying suitable times to visit
based on water level and weather
factors together with diving and
waterfall experts and nurses.
- Bernama
for them to acquire the necessary
professional skills, undergo
training or be given guidance
through networking and
connections. These are barriers
that deny women of opportunities
for advancement in the workforce,”
she added.
3
Greater
empowerment for
women sought
KUALA LUMPUR: The formulation
of bills and policies aimed at
providing gender equality and
increasing the number of motions on
women empowerment to be debated
in Parliament are among the targets
set by the Council of Malaysian
Women Political Leaders (Comwel).
Comwel comprises 13 women
MPs and 31 members of state
assemblies.
The council said in a statement
yesterday that it agreed with the joint
statement issued by women MPs
urging the Dewan Rakyat to be more
gender-sensitive, adding that it
would like to join in the efforts to
realise the agenda.
“The effort to make the Malaysian
Parliament as a gender-sensitive
institution is a progressive effort that
requires the comprehensive
cooperation of all parties, whether in
the government bloc or the
Opposition,” Comwel said in the
statement.
It said the nation should also
strike a gender balance among
delegates in Parliament, fight for
budgets and allocations that are
more women-friendly and gender-
sensitive.
In conjunction with International
Women’s Day today, it expressed
hope that women’s empowerment
agenda and gender mainstreaming
would be intensified accordingly to
allow women in Malaysia to be viable
and successful, it said.
Women leaders should unite
beyond the political divide as this
would accelerate the women
empowerment agenda to achieve the
set targets that would in turn benefit
all women in Malaysia, it said.
- Bernama
12MP TO BE TABLED
WHEN DEWAN SITS
JELI: The 12th Malaysia Plan
(12MP) will be tabled once
Parliament is allowed to sit,
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Economy) Datuk
Seri Mustapa Mohamed said. He
said the 12MP is ready for tabling
and it is constantly being
updated, among others, in terms
of numbers and strategies as it
takes into account the impact of
the Covid-19 pandemic. “The
updating process is continuous.
As soon as the government
announces the tabling (of the
12MP), we will do so and we are
ready,” he told reporters after
visiting the armed forces family
housing project site near here,
yesterday. - Bernama
HELPING OUT TO
REVIVE TOURISM
KUANTAN: The Communications
and Multimedia Ministry will
continue to play its role by
assisting the Tourism, Arts and
Culture Ministry in restoring the
country’s tourism industry now
that inter-district travel is
allowed. Communications and
Multimedia Minister Datuk
Saifuddin Abdullah said the
ministry had offered its assistance
to help the Tourism Ministry to
promote places of interest
through broadcasts by Radio
Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and
the Malaysian National News
Agency (Bernama). “Apart from
RTM and Bernama, we also have
the Malaysian National Film
Development Corporation
(Finas), which can help in reviving
the tourism sector by publishing
short videos and documentaries,”
he said. - Bernama
 4 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Helping women financially

impacted by pandemic
KUALA LUMPUR: Being a
frontliner in the fight against
Covid-19 is not an easy task,
especially for women.
Although health workers and
security personnel play a key role
during the pandemic, those “behind
the scenes” who help in restoring
the economy and people’s income
also play a huge role.
One of them is Women
Entrepreneur Network Association
(Wena) president Nuraizah Shamsul
Baharin, who voluntarily came
forward to help cultivate the spirit of
“women help women”.
Nuraizah said the effects of the
pandemic had been a great blow to
the community’s economy,
especially women
micro-entrepreneurs, and she and
her association felt it was their duty
to help.
“Many of these
micro-entrepreneurs are badly
affected by the pandemic, some
even had to close down their
enterprises,” she said.
“It made us wonder what we
could do (to help). Apart from the
assistance provided by the
government, we also need to help
them restore their source of
income,” she told Bernama
yesterday.
Nuraizah, who is also managing
director of Madcat World Sdn Bhd, a
company that develops mobile
applications, said Wena had
implemented three programmes
since the Covid-19 outbreak to help
women micro-entrepreneurs.
She said the programmes
included the MADCash
programme, where three women
micro-entrepreneurs were given
RM1,000 each.
“This helped to generate income
of about RM16,000 during the last
Hari Raya celebrations for the three
recipients.”
She said through Wena, a total of
30 women micro-entrepreneurs
were given financial assistance.
They were enrolled at an academy to
help them improve their business
skills with the help of funding from
the US Embassy.
“In June, we will get another
round of funding from the US
Embassy.
“This is to help more than 50
micro-entrepreneurs, who will then
be enrolled in an academy to
improve their business skills and
their businesses.”
Nuraizah said through the
“BangKIT Bank Islam” programme,
MadCat, as the “change maker”,
received funding of between RM500
and RM20,000 to help about 100
micro-entrepreneurs.
“We are still in the process of
selecting the recipients,” she added.
As a working woman and a
mother of one, Nuraizah said her
aim was to create an ecosystem of
women helping women.
“Women do not live for
themselves, but also for their
children, husband and parents
because they are taught to be strong
and to serve the country and
society,” she said.
Malaysia’s test kits can detect Nigerian variant
KUALA LUMPUR: The Nigerian
variant of Covid-19, known as B1.525,
has important mutations but it does
not affect the health authorities’
ability to detect anyone infected with
the variant.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr
Noor Hisham Abdullah said the
polymerase chain reaction test kit
uses multiple targets to detect
variants of the virus that causes
Covid-19.
There is also no data to suggest
that this variant is more virulent or
causes increased fatality, he said in a
media statement issued on Saturday
in response to questions about the
Nigerian variant.
On the other hand, he said other
variants, such as those from South
Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1), have
been associated with some level of
resistance to neutralising antibodies
that are essential to give protection.
He said the resistance meant that
there would be a possible reduction
in the effectiveness of natural or
vaccine-driven immunity.
Other mutations, such as the
D614G and Q677H, have also been
found to be more transmissible.
The first case of the Nigerian
variant was detected in a couple,
aged 36 and 33.
They are Indian nationals who
were travelling with their six-year-old
son.
Noor Hisham said the husband is
ALL GOOD ...
Former prime
minister Tun Dr
Mahathir
Mohamad and
wife Tun Dr Siti
Hasmah Mohd Ali
give the thumbs
up after receiving
their Covid-19
vaccination at the
Vaccine Dispensing
Centre at the
Langkawi Sports
Complex yesterday.
– BERNAMAPIX
a finance professional who worked in
Dubai the past two years. The family
was in Malaysia because the husband
had received a job offer.
The husband was initially
admitted to the low-risk Covid-19
quarantine and treatment centre but
was transferred to a private medical
centre a day later upon his request.
He was discharged on Feb 9.
The wife and son were admitted
to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
She was discharged on Feb 15.
The family arrived in Malaysia on
Jan 31 and were tested on their
arrival at the KL International Airport
because they did not have
predeparture Covid-19 screening.
– Bernama

Vaccine not affected

313,460
by drinking alcohol
oModerate consumption unlikely to diminish efficacy
of Covid-19 drug, say experts
20,333 291,958 1,169 █ BY HAKEM HASSAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
“However, that depends on many factors,
such as tolerance to alcohol, drinking
pattern, type of beverage consumed and even
PETALING JAYA: Drinkers would be relieved gender,” she said.
to know that moderate consumption of On the other hand, it would be ideal to
alcohol is unlikely to diminish the efficacy of avoid or minimise alcohol consumption
the Covid-19 vaccine. before and after Covid-19 vaccination to help
Apart from those whose liver is already the body develop adequate immunogenicity

1,683 174 2,506 3 damaged, or have other health issues, a drink

or two will not weaken their immunity against
Covid-19, several doctors told theSun.
Malaysian Medical Association president
Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam said
consumption of alcohol “should not have any
24 effect” as long as it is not excessive.
Virologist Prof Dr Sandy Loh of Universiti
12 Nottingham Malaysia said while high levels of
15 alcohol consumption can hinder one’s
10 immunity response, it also depends on the
amount taken and the individual’s level of
172 tolerance.
They were commenting on a report that
48 12 8 anyone who has taken the Covid-19 vaccine
should abstain from drinking for 45 days. The
746 report quoted India’s Covid-19 task force
48 chairman Dr M.K. Sudarshan as saying that
125 immunity response could be hindered.
99 In December, a health official in Russia
2 said people should not consume alcohol for
3
42 days after taking the Sputnik V vaccine but
the vaccine developer later said moderate
158 consumption was allowed.
Loh said there are scientific reports that
201 state high levels of alcohol consumption can
compromise a body’s immune system and
raise the risk of infection.
(the ability of a foreign substance, such as an
antigen, to trigger an immune response) so
as not to defeat the purpose of vaccination.
“Studies have shown that there is
significant reduction in immune cells in the
blood before and after consumption of four
to six units of alcohol,” she said (a can of beer
typically contains one to two units of
alcohol).
Malaysian Society of Allergy and
Immunology president Dr Amir Hamzah Abd
Latiff said it would make sense to reduce
alcohol consumption to have an optimum
immune system which is ready to engage and
respond.
“But there’s still the exposure to endemic
viruses daily that can also decrease our
immune response,” he pointed out.
Amir, who is also a virologist, said curbing
or reducing alcohol intake would be advisable
for one or two days before and
after vaccination but “any longer does not
make sense”.
“What I would say is to have good amounts
of rest before and after vaccination, avoid
hectic routines and ease up on hefty exercises
during those one or two days before and after
the vaccine,” he added.

MH370: Still no closure
seven years on
COMMENT
by Capt Mohd Kamil Abu Bakar
T
IME flies, 2,555 days have gone by.
Today, March 8, marks the seventh
anniversary of Malaysia Airlines
flight MH370’s disappearance.
It was supposed to be a routine six-hour
flight to the Chinese capital Beijing, when
upon its handover to Ho Chi Minh control, it
went incommunicado and its transponder
code disappeared from the air traffic
controllers’ radar screen.
The last voice transmission from the
Boeing 777 which sounded perfectly normal
was the now infamous, “Good night,
Malaysian Three Seven Zero”.
So much has been said, written and
speculated about the disappearance of
MH370, arguably the biggest mystery in
modern aviation history.
The internet is full of such stories, with
videos about what could possibly have
happened to the flight appearing on YouTube.
All sorts of hypotheses and theories were
made by “experts” regarding the incident.
The fate of the 239 people on board the
twin-engine wide body jetliner – two pilots,
10 cabin crew and 227 passengers – remains
unknown.
Admittedly, all l know about its
disappearance was from the media.
Without any plausible evidence, there is
not much that can be adduced to the many
speculations already made.
Nevertheless, being a retired pilot, l can
say from my perspective what could
possibly have happened.
One theory speculated was that it was a
murder/suicide case, which is highly
preposterous.
I knew the commander, Captain Zaharie
Ahmad Shah, personally. He was my co-
pilot during the early days.
I knew him to be a gentle, soft spoken
and humble person, well-liked by
everybody.
It is hard to believe, besides there was no
reason whatsoever for him to commit such a
heinous act.
He had so much to live for, happily
married with grown-up daughters studying
in Melbourne, Australia.
On the other hand, from the ensuing
tracking on military radar, it was possible
that the aircraft could have been taken over
by somebody unknown.
Though post-Sept 11 aviation security
has become tighter, among the measures,
the cockpit door is to be locked at all times.
However, somebody with a motive would
be able to find an opportunity to gain entry to
the pilots’ station and sieze control of the flight.
All it would take was a lapse in security
measures by the crew, for example when
bringing in drinks or food to the pilots.
Very recently, another book was
published, written by French journalist
Florence de Changy.
Sarawak Report, in its narration of the
book titled The Disappearing Act, was highly
critical of the Malaysian government’s
handling of the case, insinuating there was a
cover-up in the investigation. What interest
would that be to us when we were the
victims? For no reason, we lost an aircraft,
12 crew members and the lives of 227
passengers on board.
Another theory postulated by the French
journalist was that the aircraft had been
accidentally shot down by a “jet fighter,
missile or a new laser-guided weapon
system”. Indeed, if that is so where is the
debris?
Despite a very thorough search by
International Naval Forces, not a single
piece of debris was found around the area
where it was purportedly shot down.
In any case, my full rebuttal to Sarawak
Report on the theories covered in the book
The Disappearing Act and other theories
that appeared in UK Express, Daily
Telegraph, The Atlantic Daily and The Star,
are contained in my soon to be released
book Malaysia Aviation – The Untold
Stories.
The fact that after seven years no
wreckage was found and nothing has been
heard about those on board, though it might
sound heartless, it is best that we just forget
about the whole thing and move on with life.
Let us, however, say some prayers for the
239 people who needlessly perished
together with the aircraft.
Capt Mohd Kamil Abu Bakar is a former
director of flight operations at Malaysia
Airlines. Comments:
letters@thesundaily.com
5
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
* SPEAK UP
LETTERS
letters@thesundaily.com
Provide multiple
channels for
vaccine registration
THE public vaccination project, which began
about two weeks ago, is indeed a timely
response on the part of the government to
control the Covid-19 pandemic and to achieve
the desired herd immunity of 80%.
However, one cannot help noticing that the
emphasis seems to be on Malaysians having
touch-screen smartphones to register
themselves via the MySejahtera application.
Such an approach, though it may seem as
intending to expedite the registration process,
actually excludes those who do not have
smartphones or similar gadgets, and those
who do not know how to use these devices to
register themselves, particularly senior citizens.
There are many B40 Malaysians living in
low-cost apartments and flats who do not
have these sophisticated mobile digital
devices.
Moreover, Malaysians with special needs,
irrespective of their age, may also not have
access to vaccine registration.
We would request the government to
provide multiple access channels for
registration by asking the Ministry of Health to
open customer service counters in all public
hospitals and health clinics countrywide, and
assign staff to register all those who do not
have smartphones, as well as those with
special needs who need assistance.
Prof S. Venkateswaran
Secretary-General
Building Management Association of
Malaysia
 6 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

TWEET AUCTION DRAWS

NLD official dies in custody
BRIEFS

US$2 MILLION BID

WASHINGTON: Twitter boss Jack
Dorsey is selling his first tweet via
auction, with bidding on Saturday
reaching US$2 million. “just setting
up my twttr,“ Dorsey tweeted on
March 21, 2006. On Friday, he
posted a link to “Valuables @Cent,“
an online marketplace for tweets
where, the site says, collectors can
“buy and sell tweets autographed
by their creators”. The top bid for
Dorsey’s tweet – US$2 million –
came from Justin Sun, who heads
the BitTorrent streaming platform.
Buying a tweet means purchasing “a
digital certificate of the tweet,
unique because it has been signed
and verified by the creator“,
according to Valuables. – AFP
AUCKLAND EMERGES
FROM LOCKDOWN
WELLINGTON: Auckland, New
Zealand’s biggest city, emerged
yesterday from a strict weeklong
lockdown imposed after a
community cluster of the more
contagious British coronavirus
variant was found. There were no
new local cases recorded yesterday,
marking a full week of no
community transmissions across the
country. Footage on TVNZ showed
people lining up at coffee shops
early yesterday, with many saying
they were feeling relieved. Australia
also had no local Covid cases
yesterday, making it the 37th day
without infections this year.
– Reuters
CHINA MINISTER
DEFENDS HK REFORMS
BEIJING: Beijing’s proposal to
introduce new veto powers on
Hong Kong’s legislative elections are
“lawful, just and reasonable“, China’s
foreign minister Wang Yi said
yesterday, after the move was
criticised as an attack on the city’s
freedoms. Legislation to allow
China’s rulers to vet all election
candidates in Hong Kong was put
forward on Friday at the opening of
the parliament in Beijing. Wang said
the proposed change was necessary
to “maintain enduring peace and
stability in Hong Kong” following
huge rallies in 2019. He said the
proposed rules would promote
“Hong Kong’s transition from chaos
to governance”. – AFP
SAUDI-LED COALITION
DESTROYS 10 DRONES
SANAA: The Saudi-led coalition
engaged in Yemen said yesterday
that it destroyed 10 armed drones
launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi
movement, including at least five
sent towards Saudi Arabia. The
coalition did not specify locations in
the kingdom but said the drones
were aimed at “civilian sites”. On
Saturday, the coalition said it
intercepted seven drones over 24
hours launched towards Khamis
Mushait and one towards Jazan,
both in southern Saudi Arabia. The
Houthis, who have been battling the
coalition since it intervened in
Yemen’s civil war in 2015, recently
stepped up missile and drone
attacks on Saudi Arabia. – Reuters
oProtests erupt in half
a dozen Myanmar cities
YANGON: An official from deposed Myanmar
leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for
Democracy (NLD) party died in police custody,
associates said yesterday, while protests were
held in at least half a dozen cities in some of the
most widespread action against the coup that
erupted last month.
The cause of Khin Maung Latt’s death was
not known, but Reuters saw a photograph of his
body with a bloodstained cloth around the
head.
Sithu Maung, a member of the dissolved
parliament, said in a Facebook post that Khin
Maung Latt was his campaign manager and
was arrested on Saturday night in the Pabedan
district of Yangon.
Police declined to comment.
Pope Francis visits Mosul, hears testimonies
BAGHDAD: Muslim and Christian residents
of Mosul told Pope Francis of their lives under
the brutal rule of Islamic State yesterday as the
pontiff blessed their vow to rise up from ashes,
telling them that “fraternity is more durable
than fratricide”.
Francis, on a historic trip to Iraq, flew into
Mosul by helicopter to encourage the binding
of sectarian wounds and to pray for the dead
of any religion.
The 84-year-old pope walked past ruins of
houses and churches to a square that was
once the thriving centre of the old town.
The northern city was occupied by Islamic
State from 2014 to 2017.
“Together, we say no to fundamentalism.
No to sectarianism and no to corruption,” the
Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, Najeeb
Michaeel, told the pope.
Francis sat on a white chair surrounded by
skeletons of buildings and dangling
staircases.
Mosul’s Old City is home to
a n c i e n t
churches and
mosques that
w e r e
destroyed in
2017 during
the bloody
battle by Iraqi
forces
Pope Francis releasing a white dove near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception yesterday. – AFPPIX
Security forces cracked down on many of the
protests across the country yesterday.
Police fired tear gas and stun grenades in the
direction of protesters in Yangon and in the
town of Lashio in the northern Shan region,
videos showed.
A witness said police opened fire to break up
a protest in the historic temple town of Bagan,
and several residents said in social media posts
that live bullets were used.
There was no word of any casualties.
Video posted by media group Myanmar
Now showed soldiers beating up men in
Yangon, where at least three protests were held
despite overnight raids by security forces on
campaign leaders and opposition activists.
The United Nations said security forces have
killed more than 50 people to stamp out daily
demonstrations and strikes since the military
overthrew and detained Suu Kyi on Feb 1.
“They are killing people just like killing birds
and chickens,” one protest leader said to the
crowd in Dawei, a town in Myanmar’s south.
and an international military coalition to
drive out Islamic State.
Corruption and infighting among Iraqi
politicians still slow efforts to rebuild Mosul
and large parts of the city remain in ruins.
The pope, visibly moved by the
devastation around him, prayed for all of
Mosul’s dead.
“How cruel it is that this country, the
cradle of civilisation, should have been
afflicted by so barbarous a blow, with ancient
places of worship destroyed and many
thousands of people – Muslims,
Christians, Yazidis and others –
forcibly displaced or killed,” he said.
“Today, however, we reaffirm
our conviction that fraternity is
more durable than
fratricide, that hope is
more powerful than
hatred, that peace more
powerful than war.”
Iraq’s Christian
community, one of the oldest
in the world, has been
particularly devastated by the
years of conflict, falling to
about 300,000 from about 1.5
million before the US invasion
of 2003 and the militant
violence that followed.
Father Raid
“What will we do if we don’t revolt against
them? We must revolt.”
Yangon residents said soldiers and police
moved into several districts overnight, firing
shots.
They arrested at least three people in
Kyauktada Township, residents there said.
They did not know the reason for the arrests.
“They are asking to take out my father and
brother. Is no one going to help us? Don’t you
even touch my father and brother. Take us too if
you want to take them,” one woman screamed
as an actor and his son were led off.
Well over 1,700 people had been detained
under the military junta by Saturday, according
to figures from the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners advocacy group.
“Detainees were punched and kicked with
military boots, beaten with police batons and
then dragged into police vehicles.
“Security forces entered residential areas
and tried to arrest further protesters, and shot at
the homes, destroying many.” – Reuters
Adel Kallo, pastor of the destroyed Church of
the Annunciation, told how in 2014 he left
with 500 Christian families and how fewer
than 70 families are present now.
“The majority have emigrated and are
afraid to return,” he said.
“But I live here, with two million Muslims
who call me father and I am living my
mission with them,” he said, telling the pope
of a committee of Mosul families who
promote peaceful coexistence among
Muslims and Christians. – Reuters

American cop tackles and pepper sprays woman with toddler

WASHINGTON: Police in the New
York city of Rochester are under
scrutiny after body-cam video shows
them forcing a woman, holding her
three-year-old daughter, to the
ground and pepper spraying her.
The video of the Feb 22 incident,
which was released last week, shows
an officer stopping a woman on the
snow-covered shoulder of a road and
telling her a nearby business had
accused her of stealing.
The woman, carrying her tiny
daughter in one arm, insists that she
stole nothing and partially empties
her purse to show the officer.
But when the officer refuses to let
her leave, the woman suddenly turns
and runs, her child still in her arms.
Several officers give chase, catch
up with her and force her to the
ground.
When the woman struggles back
to her feet and grabs for her
screaming daughter, a police officer
used pepper spray to subdue her and
force her back to the ground.
“Stop. What is wrong with her?”
one officer is heard saying.
The child was not pepper sprayed
directly, according to the Democrat &
Chronicle newspaper, but officials
who saw the footage said she could
have been exposed.
The city’s Police Accountability
Board, made up entirely of civilians,
said it was “disturbed” by the video,
which it released.
Board chairman Shani Wilson told
reporters that there were “troubling
parallels” to an incident in late
January in which a nine-year-old girl
was handcuffed and pepper-sprayed.
“Both involved black people
obviously in crisis, both involved
officers using pepper spray on or
around a black child,” Wilson said.
She said the Rochester Police
Department “needs to fundamentally
change its organisational culture”.
City Council president Loretta
Scott said “the amount of force used,
coupled with the emotional damage
on the child, was disproportionate to
the alleged crime”.
The woman was ultimately
charged with trespassing and the
arresting officer was placed on
administrative leave pending an
internal investigation. – AFP
 TELLING IT AS IT IS

LIFESTYLE YOUTH FASHION ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021

Spice up
life
your
Santhi Raj Barr has become
a cooking guru to many
>>> Page 3
Hip-hop figure maker
tells his story
>>> Page 4&5
PICTURE COURTESY OF SANTHI RAJ BARR

L’MIÈRE brings out

the best in you
>>> Page 7
 ENTERTAINMENT
2 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021

A scene from
‘The Dogs’. –
PICTURE
COURTESY OF
ANDY DARREL
GOMEZ Zhen. – PICTURE
COURTESY OF
NIGEL ZHEN

Love in pandemic times

█ BY BISSME S. Piong. – PICTURE
COURTESY OF

T
HE Covid-19 pandemic
encourages us
practise social
distancing. We have less
communication with our
colleagues, classmates, friends
and lovers. We use modern
technology such as the Zoom
app to stay in touch with our
loved ones.
In the spirit of this new
normal, filmmaker Andy Darrel
Gomez used Zoom to direct a
16-minute short film called The
Dogs.
Shot last June, it will be
screened at the Cinema Del
Cefalu festival in Italy, in June.
The story centres on a Zoom
conversation between two
young lovers named Nigel and
May. Like us, the couple also
face restrictions because of the
pandemic. The film shows the
tension and sometimes
humourous moments
encountered by the love birds.
“Art is always a response to
what is happening around us,”
said the 31-year-old filmmaker,
who is a lecturer in the
Department of Performance
and Media at Sunway
University.
“We are currently adapting to
the changes that the pandemic
has brought to our lives. We are
going through some kind of
transition. I captured the
emotions of this transition
between the couple in my film.”
Gomez does not deny that
there are times the audience
might feel the couple are using
each other as a coping
mechanism to adapt to the
GERALDINE PIONG
to
oAndy Darrel Gomez used Zoom to direct ‘The Dogs’
Gomez’s idea for
the film was
changes of their new States. character. inspired by the
atmosphere. “Right now, I would like to “I have dealt with ‘new normal’ of the
“You might be questioning if balance myself between loneliness and puppy love times we live in. –
the couple are really in love,” teaching film and telling stories in the past. My character PICTURE
said the filmmaker, who was through filmmaking. can be self-absorbed and COURTESY OF
born in Malacca and raised in “I cannot choose between has a lot of attachment
ANDY DARREL
Kuala Lumpur. the two. I believe both has the issues. But I have grown
While shooting the film, the same aim. Teaching allows me since and am no longer like GOMEZ
actress Geraldine Piong was to make my students become my character.
staying in her grandmother’s critical thinkers while He added that many
house in Kajang while the actor filmmaking also allows me to couples were faced with
Nigel Zhen was in his make my audience become break-ups during the
hometown in Miri, Sarawak. critical thinkers.” lockdown period.
Both are students who are set to On the short film, Piong said “I believe the
graduate this month with a she knew her lecturer was fact that they
diploma in performing arts. dabbling in something cannot see
“I was shooting their actual experimental. each other
room,” said Gomez, who is an “I fully trusted him with the physically
English Linguistics and project and I also trusted myself takes a toll on
Performing Arts graduate from to say yes to the opportunity,” t h e i r
University Putra Malaysia. said Piong, who also aspires to relationship.”
He asked his actors to send be a filmmaker. L i k e
pictures of their rooms and he About her role, Piong said: “I Piong, Zhen
sculpted his narrative based on think she brings the emotional also wants to
the things he found in their baggage from her past into the be a
rooms. current relationship. I feel filmmaker.
Gomez was active on stage everyone can connect with her. He said he
and screen and some of his Sometimes, we find difficulty would love to
prominent stage works include cutting ties with our past.” try his luck
Veil at the launch of the Yasmin Piong, who is a freelance o u t s i d e
Ahmad museum in 2014 and photographer, said she loves Malaysia, in
Tiga, supported by the Five Arts telling stories through images, the film
Centre in 2017. adding: “Filmmaking makes my industries in
In cinema, he works life purposeful.“ Thailand and
predominantly as a writer and Zhen said he was excited Brazil, and gain
actor where some of his short about the prospect of being a new perspectives in
films were screened at film part of the project, and that he filmmaking in the
festivals in Japan and the United could easily relate to his process.

THREE decades after his death,

French singer-songwriter Serge
Gainsbourg (left) remains a go-to
reference point for British and
American artists trying to tap his
distinctive blend of musical risk-
taking and louche style.
Strands of Gainsbourg’s music
proved as popular in 1990s US hip-
hop – cropping up in songs by Nas,
the Wu Tang Clan and Busta
Rhymes – as they have with his
more obvious, singer-songwriter
successors of recent years.
The ball was already rolling just
before his death on March 2, 1991,
when De La Soul used two samples
from his oeuvre for their album De
La Soul is Dead of that year.
Gainsbourg’s wounded ennui
and Gallic swoon soon cast a spell
over everything from trip-hop
(Both Massive Attack and
Portishead were explicit about his
influence) to later dream pop
bands such as Beach House and
Tame Impala.
Pop stars, too, have been known
to inject a little European class into
their set lists: Kylie Minogue
reworked his duet with Brigitte
Bardot, Bonnie And Clyde, for her
2007 single Sensitized.
Gainsbourg still a global influence
For many of Gainsbourg’s indie
heirs, the key touchstone is his
seminal 1971 album Histoire de
Melody Nelson.
“Abroad, he’s often reduced to
‘Je t’aime ... moi non plus’, but for
connoisseurs of music, it’s all
about Melody Nelson,” his
daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg
told AFP.
US indie star Beck sampled
heavily from that album for his
own low-key masterpiece Sea
Change in 2002.
“There’s an ambition, a
conceptual depth to Melody Nelson
that’s incredibly hard to pull off but
which Gainsbourg does
completely... It’s one of the greatest
marriages of rock band and
orchestra that I’ve ever heard,”Beck
wrote in the liner notes for a reissue
by US label Light in the Attic.
‘Signifiers of sophistication’
For others, Gainsbourg helped
define their entire approach to
music.
“When you’re young and you
start a pop band, you think that it
all works around guitar-bass-
drums. And then you come across
Melody Nelson and you’re plunged
into a film,” said Jinte Deprez, of
Belgian group Balthazar.
“Listening to that album, we
started to arrange our music
differently. We were always
influenced by Air but we didn’t
know where their sound came
from until we realised it was
Gainsbourg under its skin,” he
added.
In a 2016 article on his
influence, US magazine Pitchfork
noted the striking way in which
different musicians drew different
inspirations from his work.
“Some acts are attracted to the
sheer sound, others to the roiling
undercurrent of sleaze, others find
inspiration in the arch
appreciation of pop art or perhaps
Gainsbourg’s underpinnings in
poetry and jazz as signifiers of
sophistication,” it said.
It’s a reference that keeps
cropping up.
In recent interviews with AFP,
his name has been cited by British
group Django Django, up-and-
coming indie-soul star Arlo Parks
and singer-songwriter Buzzy Lee
(real name Sasha Spielberg,
daughter of the famous director).
“He has a great honesty, his way
of showing respect and
understanding to the language and
to music,” said Parks.
It was also the try-everything,
louche-to-the-point-of-anarchic
that made him popular among
punks long before he was
rediscovered by the indie
cognoscenti in the 1990s.
“When you write pop songs, at
some point you have no choice but
to look at this iconic guy,” said
Deprez of Gainsbourg’s far
reaching influence.
For the great man’s daughter,
these are moving tributes.
“He would have been so proud,”
she told AFP.
“There’s all this admiration
around him that my father never
knew in his lifetime. Success came
very late for him so he never took it
for granted. He would have been
very touched.” – ETX Studio

Creative inspiration
CELEB SPEAK
█ BY S. TAMARAI CHELVI
C
HEF Santhi Raj Barr
makes it look simple,
whether she is cooking
aromatic Asian or Western
cuisines.
The home chef (with a TV
show) can whip up a dish within
minutes, but when she cooked for
the first time, she took five hours to
complete one dish – sotong
sambal.
Now, self-taught Santhi has
become a cooking guru to many.
Who inspires you in terms of
cooking?
It’s without a doubt my
amazing mother, Pushpa
Rani. She’s a traditional
cook who
whips up
some of
t h e
most
A treat for Sudanese film lovers
SUDANESE moviegoers are enjoying
their first drive-in cinema after a festival
showcasing the country’s resurgent,
post-uprising film scene moved
outdoors this year due to the Covid-19
pandemic.
About 100 vehicles gathered in a
Khartoum parking lot across from giant
screens showing Sudanese and
European films on Feb 26, the start of a
week-long festival organised by the
British Council.
“We’re watching films from our cars,
and that’s something that has never
happened before in Sudan,” said Asmaa,
among festival attendees sitting inside,
next to, and on top of their cars for the
nighttime screenings.
Once heavily regulated by the
ENTERTAINMENT
theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021 3
oChef Santhi Raj Barr adds unique twists
to traditional cuisines
amazing and hands-down best- nutritious meals that have no
tasting dishes that always gets me additional preservatives or
craving for more. She has always anything harmful to their health
encouraged me to add a twist to in the long term. I think mothers
her recipes. Honestly, after having out there will agree with me that
my home-cooked meals, I always wholesome meals are the
crave for her cooking, which supplements the body needs, in
warms me up from inside and terms of not falling ill easily.
makes my day better. I must say
that her consistency to What is your favourite or guilty
shower love and pleasure food?
care through the I love spicy food and that brings
meals she Thai food to the top of my
prepares has favourite food list! I must have
taught me so spice in my food as much as
many lessons possible. As for my guilty pleasure
in the kitchen food, it has to be my mother’s
that is so home-cooked mutton dish, which
relevant and she does with her special and
valuable for secret recipe, something that I
me in my life can’t get anywhere else, not even
to become a if I make it myself.
b e t t e r
daughter, wife, Tell us about your furry kids?
mother and My furry kids mean the world to
member of me! I can’t imagine going back to
t h e an empty home. Scotch is two-
community. and-a-half years old while Santhi with
Spencer will be one in January some of her
What do you 2021. Beemer is a rescue cat found homecooked
love about inside our car tyre. Many people dishes. –
cooking? are surprised at how they all get PICTURE
What I love along. Probably, it is because I let COURTESY OF
most has to be them share one bowl of milk the SANTHI RAJ Barr is also the man behind Chef two from him. He does the best-
the fact that I day I brought Beemer into the BARR Santhi! He saw how passionate I grilled salmon but he claims that I
know exactly house. I thought I was not a cat am and has been my rock in my do it better than him. As they say,
what goes into each person, but I guess when the time cooking journey. I must say that I a family that eats together, stays
and every dish I comes, your motherly instinct wouldn’t have explored cooking if together. I want to continue
prepare and serve on kicks in, and all fear goes away. it was not for him. Since 2017, he cooking up a storm to keep us
the table for my Santhi adores has been everything a woman happy together. I have found my
family. It gives me Tell us about your marriage and her furkids. – needs to become the best version happiness. I hope every woman
great joy and your family. PICTURE of herself. I am very thankful to will, too.
satisfaction to see I am very excited to start this COURTESY OF God for bringing us together. As for her future plans, Santhi
them relishing the journey with someone I see as my SANTHI RAJ Being a foodie himself, he often hopes to start a YouTube cooking
dishes I prepare every soulmate, a friend, my greatest BARR joins me in the kitchen and gives channel – Sizzle with Santhi,
day. It also allows me companion and the best dad I me an honest opinion. where she hopes to share more of
to sleep peacefully, could ever have imagined for my When it comes to Western her recipes with a wider
knowing that they get son, Akshay. My husband Rayan dishes, I have learned a trick or audience.
People sit on
a car as they
watch a
Japanese theatre’s new approach
screening of THE lights dim, as at the start of the dancers. been encouraging, only 30
the Sudanese any theatre performance, and “We intentionally created people are allowed in the
European the audience leans forward to small holes and slots resembling audience at each show. This does
Film Festival look through a letter-box slot or mailbox slots,” said Nobuyoshi not cover the cost of the
at an peephole in the door in front of Asai, the theatre’s artistic director performance, including safety
outdoor, them as the performers break out and choreographer, explaining measures such as disinfecting
into dance. how limiting the scope of the venue. Government
drive-
Japanese dance company viewing allows the audience to subsidies barely help the
through Moonlight Mobile Theater has become more absorbed in the company make ends meet.
cinema for come up with a novel way of performance. While acknowledging the
visitors, bringing people back to their The theatre company began difficulties, Asai is steadfast in the
adhering to avant-garde performances while this peephole viewing in advantages of this idea.
coronavirus maintaining social distancing. December after cancelling most “If we don’t do it, artists will
restrictions, Audience members sit on of its shows last year because of lose opportunities to dance and
in Khartoum, stools in separated cubicles the pandemic. Since December, act,” he said. “We want to
Sudan on surrounding the stage, each with all 12 of the peephole propose this as a model to bring
Feb 28. its own door and letter-drop slots performances have sold out. audiences back to theatres.” –
through which they can watch Though this response has Reuters
Islamist regime of former President
Omar al-Bashir, who was toppled in
2019, public spaces in Sudan are being Audience
slowly reclaimed. members
Films from Sudan’s small cinema watch the
industry have won awards at major Moonlight
festivals, and Sudan submitted its first Mobile
film, You Will Die at Twenty, to the Theater’s
Academy Awards in 2020.
dance
“This festival expanded to include
Sudanese films in 2018,” said British show
Council country director Robin Davies, through
but health precautions prompted a peepholes
change of format. at a
“I’m so happy that the festival has shopping
Sudanese films, and we encourage all mall in
the creatives and young people to Nagoya,
produce movies,” said Rabab al-Haj, Japan, on
another moviegoer. – Reuters Feb 19.
 FEATURE
4 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021

Hip-hop figure maker

oFormer ticket seller and that dream come true.
“It was a tough call. To let go of a stable
and not a factory,” he added.
Some of his works are one-of-a-kind. In
dancer Mohd Saiful Zainal income was not an easy decision despite my
confidence in my skills. I discussed it with my
these cases, he would send the original mould
with the figure to the client. However, when it
turns a childhood skill into a wife and we decided to take the leap,” he
recalled.
comes to a cast that he can reuse, he would
never make more than 30 copies of a figure.
career Within a year, his art improved with every
project. He targeted the hip-hop market and
With fame comes a lot of challenges as well.
As the bulk of the figures he makes are in the
using his marketing intuition, he made figures likeness of hip-hop artistes done in graffiti
of famous Bboys, which he sent to them. Word style, some of the artistes do not appreciate it.
█ BY AZIZUL RAHMAN ISMAIL about his figures started to spread and clients “It was scary at first. Some of

H
started pouring in. these artistes warned me against
IS creations are highly sought after However, despite his talent, art and using their likeness and I
in the international market. Each marketing sense, he lacked business acumen. would take down any photos
figure he makes fetches an In 2019, Saiful hit rock bottom. or videos of them when
average price of US$400 “I only had RM5,000 when I quit requested.
(RM1,600). Last year during the my job. When I made a profit from “But my fans would
pandemic, demand for his work the figures, I spent it all buying stand up for me. They
surpassed his wildest dreams. But stuff for the workshop. I didn’t know that my work is
the journey of Mohd Saiful Zainal save. I didn’t know how to run a based on clients’ requests,
was never easy, and it involved business. I had to turn to my and I do not mass produce
making tough decisions. friends for help, and thanks to them.
Known in the art scene as friends like Mufizal, I was able “My figures are seen
BboyBlackz, Saiful, 40, recounted to get back up.” as fan art, done with
his younger days when he had to In 2019, Saiful learnt to respect for the subject,
make his own toys. He loved robots streamline his business, sourced for someone who loves
and action figures and his parents for materials locally, and found a hip-hop culture, not a
could not afford any, so he used to balance between profit and commercial product.”
make them on his own using whatever demand. So, does he keep any of the
he could find. “For example, I used to use a figures that he has made?
He began experimenting when he was in commercial resin to cast my figures in the “No, my mother would not let
secondary school, by sculpting plasticine and beginning. Now, I source them straight from a me. She said I can make them but I
later developed his skills using Sculpey, where local factory. Also, after a lot of trial and error, I can’t keep them,” Saiful quipped.
his creations were baked. Now, he casts resin found supplies and materials locally that
figures based on his clients’ requests. works with what I do,” Saiful explained.
His fascination with hip-hop also began Most of Saiful’s clients are from overseas,
when he was young. He was a member of a especially the US and Canada, where the hip-
Bboy group and was known as Black. That is hop scene thrives.
how Saiful got his name, BboyBlackz. “My clients range from fans of hip-hop,
His talent in Bboying, also referred to as shop owners, to hip-hop artistes themselves.
breakdancing, took him around the world and “Each figure takes between a couple of
while he travelled, he soaked up the hip-hop weeks to over a year to complete. It depends on
culture. my inspiration. Sometimes, I use an iPad to
Nevertheless, he did not choose dancing as make sketches first. Other times, I go straight
a career. Instead, he worked long hours at a to sculpting.”
cinema to make ends meet. As demand for his figures
Sculpting, casting, painting and making increased and boomed
figures began as a side gig for Saiful in 2007. in 2020, he was not
Initially, he only made figures on personal able to deliver on
requests because despite having the talent, time, having to offer
Saiful lacked skills. refunds to his clients.
“Although I developed skills in sculpting on “They would refuse
my own, I learned about casting and refined to take refunds
my skills further with the help of renowned because they know
sculptor and art director Mufizal Mokhtar,” he they can’t get my
said. figures anywhere
After years of going home late at night and else. So, they are
working early in the morning, very patient.
Saiful decided to quit his day They know
job in 2018. The long hours that I am just
had taken a toll on him and one person
he wanted a better life for
his wife and children, and
he believed that
his figures
could make

Some of his
other
figurines.
 FEATURE
theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021 5

Sparking a
humanitarian
movement with art
BRITISH artist Sacha Jafri has
unveiled 70 framed sections of
his work Journey of Humanity,
the world’s largest painting on
canvas, which will be
auctioned off to raise millions
for charity.
The 44-year-old
contemporary artist hopes his
Guinness World Record-
holding painting, which
spanned 1,595.76 square
metres (17,176 sq ft) of the
ballroom at Dubai’s Atlantis,
The Palm hotel, will spark a
humanitarian movement.
The colourful painting now
adorns the walls of the luxury
hotel’s ballroom in 70 separate
framed pieces of varying sizes
that will be sold at auctions in
the coming years.
The aim is to raise at least
US$30 million (RM122 million)
to fund health, sanitation and
education initiatives for
children in impoverished parts
of the world.
But Jafri, who is currently
based in Dubai in the United
Arab Emirates, said he has an
even bigger goal.
“I don’t want this to be a
one-off thing ... I want to
actually help change the world,
and the way to do that is we’re
going to put the internet in
all the poorest communities
of the world,” the artist told
AFP.
“Then we can bring
education in, and give
(children) a real education...
and where are they going to
put that? Back into their
community.
“All you need is five success
stories from those
communities, and you can
change the world. That’s what
Saiful gave up a stable we’re going to try to do. It’s
income to pursue his going to take 10 years, but we
passion. – PICTURES can do it.”
COURTESY OF MOHD
SAIFUL ZAINAL
‘Humanity-inspired’
For Jafri, the devastating
impact of the coronavirus
pandemic across the globe has
resonated with him,
highlighting a break between
humanity and the planet and
driving him to focus his efforts
on connecting people to
counter its impact on children.
“When humanity becomes
disconnected from the soul of
the Earth, it’s a far bigger
problem than Covid-19 will
ever be,” he said.
“We were allowing the
destruction of the planet, that’s
well known, but what isn’t well
known is that we were allowing
the destruction of humanity.
That’s unforgivable,” added
Jafri, sporting a paint-
splattered blazer over jeans, a
white T-shirt and cowboy
boots.
The “humanity-inspired”
artwork took Jafri seven
months to complete – working
at a pace of 18 to 20 hours a day
– and using more than 6,000
litres (1,500 gallons) of paint
and over 1,000 brushes to lay
down almost 300 layers of
colour on the massive canvas.
Children from 140 countries
submitted artwork online to be
included in Jafri’s creation,
which was completed at the
end of September, shortly
before it was confirmed by
Guinness World Records as the
“Largest Art Canvas”.
“It depicts the soul of the
Earth, nature, humanity, the
love and nurture of the mother,
the guidance and protection of
the father, as they guide their
child through life and enable
them to feel safe, loved and
brave, so they can grow their
wings, make their dreams
come true and take them into
the solar system.” – ETX Studio

RUN DMC and Slick

Rick figures.

The timeless mullet and ‘stache

THE mullet has supposedly been making a we can now see some remarkable
comeback for months, but what if this detail. His hairstyle and
legendary hairstyle had always been at the mustache are clear, which
cutting edge of fashion? That’s what a small might be indicative of current
Iron Age figurine seems to suggest, in any trends or perhaps ‘typical’ for
case. This 5-cm figure of a deity can be seen depictions of this particular
sporting a mustache and a mullet, a deity,” explains Shannon
potentially popular hairstyle at the time, Hogan, National Trust
according to archeologists. Archaeologist for the East of
Love it or loathe it, the mullet hairstyle has England. “We have
spanned the ages. Although often associated extremely limited
with superstars like Billy Ray Cyrus and knowledge of what
David Bowie, this cut may also have been ordinary people of
popular in Roman Britain. National Trust England at that
archaeologists and colleagues from Oxford time looked like,
Archaeology East came to this conclusion so this
thanks to a copper-alloy figurine made in the beautifully
1st century AD discovered in 2018 in detailed figure
Cambridgeshire, a county in the East of might just be
England. giving us a
The artifact depicts a human figure with tantalising
oval eyes, a mustache, and a mullet haircut, glimpse into their
which the specialists think represents an appearance, or how
Archeologists
unknown Celtic deity. The figure is also they imagined their
holding a torc, an open-ended metal neck gods.” discovered a
ring popular in Celtic times and associated This figurine copper-alloy
with status. Such details reinforce the was discovered on figurine made
archeologists’ thinking that the figurine the National Trust’s in the 1st
probably served as a decorative handle of a Wimpole Estate, together with century AD
spatula. 300 other metal objects including coins, during an Jafri standing on his record-breaking painting entitled ‘The Journey
“This figure is an exceptional find and cosmetic implements, brooches, and Roman excavation in of Humanity’ on Sept 23, 2020.
thanks to careful conservation and cleaning, military uniform fittings. – ETX Studio 2018.
 HEALTH
6 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021

█ BY ANANSA JACOB

S
O many of us live in fear of changes
to our bodies; especially changes
that we perceive as negative such as
weight gain, changing body shape,
and declining health which may lead to
chronic illness or disease.
This fear leads us to try and control our
bodies through diet. We may think that if we
just follow a diet exactly, we’ll lose weight
and be healthy. But the truth is, there is no
perfect diet, especially none which is one-
size-fits-all. The perfect diet doesn’t exist
because our lives are constantly changing
and as a result, our nutritional needs
change as well.
Perfectionism doesn’t make room for
real life to occur; it doesn’t allow for those
everyday situations that knock you off track.
These events are a normal part of life, and if
your plan doesn’t allow you to adapt, your
forward progress and your motivation will
come to a grinding halt.
Our daily nutritional needs are affected
by a variety of factors:
Age: How you eat now is extremely
different from what you ate when you were
a baby. Newborns rely solely on breast milk
or formula to thrive and grow. Then, as
children grow, they require different
nutrients. Nutritional needs change
through adulthood as well. Therefore, we
can’t have one perfect diet because we have
different nutritional needs over time.
Lifestyle: Some individuals work at a

Loving a
desk all day, while others perform physical Be more adventurous and try out new dishes.
labour. Some people train for competitive
sports on a daily basis, while others prefer
more leisurely activities. Based on these new cuisines in your area or have fun
differences, your lifestyle should determine comparing different options.
your nutritional needs. Letting go of the idea of the perfect diet

stress-free diet
Season: Environmental temperatures frees up your energy to focus on
affect our body temperatures which may the things you enjoy, or
influence our preference for hot or cold finding tasty ways to eat
foods, amount of liquids or portion sizes. more produce and whole
Living in a tropical country, we tend to have grains. If you’re
a preference for ‘cooling’ foods including struggling with the
fruits and vegetables. At the same time, nagging feeling that
during cooler months such as during the
rainy season, we tend to crave hot soups oSometimes the best way to enjoy food is by learning to you’re letting yourself
go by not following a
and curries more often.
How and what we eat is an ongoing eat with our heart instead of with our brain strict diet, focus on
all the positive ways
process of learning and discovery. With age, that self-acceptance
lifestyle and season, our nutritional needs is allowing you to
will change. Instead of fearing change, we out the fibre-less foods. Take it slow and let A more relaxed take better care of
should embrace it. your body and the way it feels guide you. approach to yourself.
Instead of focusing on following a There is no rush. dieting will
‘perfect diet’, here’s how to change your 3. Stop eating before you are allow you to
relationship with food for the better: uncomfortably full. Pay attention to the enjoy your food
1. Eat only when you feel true physical different sensations of fullness. See if you fully.
hunger. And if you tend to have subtle can stop eating before the point at which
hunger cues, begin eating when you first you usually stop, and leave some food on
begin to sense a bit of hunger. your plate if need be. Take a 20- minute
2. Pay attention to your cravings. This pause.
doesn’t mean eat candy and fried food 4. Be more adventurous and try out new
because you’re craving sugar and fat – try to dishes. Counter to popular belief,
satisfy your cravings by selecting nutrient- sometimes the best way to diet is by eating
rich, unprocessed, whole foods full of fibre. a larger variety of foods. Eating as an
Nutrient-rich foods, especially leafy green exploration is a great way to break out of the
vegetables and fruits, send a message to our confines of what you ‘should’ eat. In this
nutrient receptors to turn off our appetite. sense, eating can be a means of discovering
Try to add unprocessed whole plant foods new cultures and experiencing new
to your daily eating plan and slowly crowd flavours. If you’re dining out, you can seek

One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

ONE in four of the world’s population will increase more than 1.5-fold during the next “Even among health-care providers,
suffer from hearing problems by 2050, the three decades” to 2.5 billion people – up knowledge relevant to prevention, early
World Health Organisation warned from 1.6 billion in 2019. identification and management of hearing
Tuesday, calling for extra investment in WHO is Of the 2.5 billion, 700 million would in loss and ear diseases is commonly lacking,”
prevention and treatment. calling for 2050 have a serious enough condition to it noted.
The first-ever global report on hearing extra require some kind of treatment, it added – The report proposed a package of
said that the causes of many of the investment in up from 430 million in 2019. measures, including public health
problems – such as infections, diseases, prevention Much of the expected rise is due to initiatives from reducing noise in public
birth defects, noise exposure and lifestyle and demographic and population trends, it spaces to increasing vaccinations for
choices – could be prevented. treatment for added. diseases such as meningitis that can cause
The report proposed a package of hearing hearing loss.
measures, which it calculated would cost problems. Poor access to treatment It also recommended systematic
US$1.33 (RM5.32) per person per year. A major contributor to hearing problems is screening to identify the problem at key
Against that, it set the figure of nearly a a lack of access to care, which is particularly points in people’s lives.
trillion US dollars lost every year because striking in low-income countries where Among children, it said, hearing loss
the issue was not being properly there are far fewer professionals available to could be prevented in 60% of cases.
addressed. treat them. “An estimated one trillion US dollars is
“Failure to act will be costly in terms Since nearly 80% of people with hearing lost each year due to our collective failure to
of the health and well-being of those loss live in such countries, most are not adequately address hearing loss,” WHO
affected, and the financial losses arising getting the help they need. director-general Tedros Adhanom
from their exclusion from Even in richer countries with better Ghebreyesus said in the report.
communication, education and facilities, access to care is often uneven, said “While the financial burden is
employment,” said the report. the report. enormous, what cannot be quantified is the
One in five people worldwide have And a lack of accurate information and distress caused by the loss of
hearing problems currently, it said. the stigma surrounding ear disease and communication, education and social
But the report warned: “The number hearing loss also prevents people getting interaction that accompanies unaddressed
of people with hearing loss may the care they need. hearing loss.” – ETX Studio
 BEAUTY
theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021 7
L’MIÈRE dual-

Healthy
sided silicone
Tula Brush. –
PICTURE

radiance
COURTESY OF
LAU KAH
MING

CETAPHIL understands that great

skincare leads to glowing, beautiful,
healthy skin and that healthy skin is
integral to leading a healthy life.
The new Cetaphil Bright Healthy
Radiance range of products will gently
cleanse away impurities and deeply
hydrate the skin for smooth and soft
skin. Formulated to brighten and even
skin tone, leaving the skin to be more L’MIÈRE Pandora Box capsule masks. –
vibrant and radiant throughout the day PICTURE COURTESY OF LAU KAH MING
while it corrects and revives the skin
complexion during night time. inflammation and protect the skin from
The skincare features Gentle Bright premature ageing and sun damage by
Technology, a combination of sea speeding up collagen production for a
daffodil, a plant extract proven to help younger, bouncier looking complexion.
reduce the size and colour of dark spots, L’MIÈRE’s star product, Pandora Box, is
by regulating melanin synthesis and a series of three capsule masks – the Glacier
inhibiting overproduction of melanin in Mud Soothing & Rejuvenating Mask, Yogurt
the skin, and niacinamide, a gentle yet Infused Venom Repairing Mask and Bye-
powerful antioxidant that lightens and Bye Sugar Sleeping Mask – that offer a
evens out skin tone by controlling three-step intense facial repair treatment.
melanin transfer to upper layers of the “It makes sense that we provide only the
skin, that will visibly correct dark spots right solution to target specific skin
without irritation, boosts brightness, and concerns. The Pandora Box is able to visibly
evens skin tone in four weeks. Made in improve skin health at your own
Korea, this range is the healthy way to convenience, and it’s also a form of
visibly brighter skin. indulgence and self-love,” said Lau.

The rise of
The Bright Healthy Radiance range
consists of the Cetaphil Brightness Do you believe that skincare is ‘one size
Reveal Creamy Cleanser (RM39), fits all’?
Cetaphil Brightness Refresh Toner Maybe that is appropriate to certain people
(RM59), Cetaphil Brightening Day but different lifestyles would call for
Protection Cream (RM113), and different forms of self-care and self-love

functional beauty
Cetaphil Brightening Night Comfort methods.
Cream (RM113). All of the products in That said, there is absolutely nothing
the Bright Healthy Radiance series are wrong with one size fits all. A lot of great
suitable for dry to normal skin types, skincare brands are coming out with
including sensitive skin. products that are effective and well-
tolerated to be used by most skin types.
At L’MIÈRE, our range of products are
suitable for all skin types. However, there
oHomegrown skincare brand L’MIÈRE redefines are different ways of using them according
mundane skincare routine with high-performance to each skin type and concerns.

ingredients and a bit of fun Why is the Fairy Balle Facial Cleanser
shaped like a ball?
We believe skincare should be fun. I cleanse
my skin twice a day, sometimes up to three
█ BY JASON LIM believe we are able to fulfil and celebrate times a day, and to do something so boring

F
those needs.” so often, I would love for something that I
UNCTIONAL skincare brand The brand’s rather modest range of can have fun with.
Cetaphil L’MIÈRE puts the “fun” in skincare includes the Fairy Balle Facial We have reformulated the texture of the
Bright Healthy “functional” to bring out the best in Cleanser that challenges traditional facial cleanser numerous times to make it
Radiance you, not the stress. The idea is to methods of cleansing with its sphere- soft and bouncy. Imagine it like a
range. incorporate effective and multi- like jelly texture, designed to stress ball where you give it a
performance skincare products instead of transform the way you spring into squeeze every morning and night
Blemish-free serving a single purpose to support a multi-
tasking lifestyle.
your skincare routine with elation.
Never has there been instances
to cleanse the face, each squeeze
makes you feel less stressed out.

skin
No one wants an overwhelming skincare where one is as excited to cleanse
routine, it gives the impression that the only their face, hence this ball What is it that makes Pandora
way to achieve radiant skin is by cleanser will show you Box so special?
MAMONDE, the flower expert, is using several different products. what the fun is all It is our star product. It plays
introducing its latest innovation L’MIÈRE cofounder Lau about. Perhaps you with the idea of a three-step
– the Rose Blemish Clearing Kah Ming said: “While most are using it out of facial spa in the comfort of your
Serum to help consumers people see skincare as a curiosity to see how it own home in just 30 minutes.
achieve form of routine, we see it as works its magic but As we spend more time at
brighter a way to escape from our nonetheless, the home in the midst of the pandemic,
blemish-free Mamonde’s already routine-oriented anticipation and the we want to make the skincare
clear skin. The new Rose life. It’s all about cultivating a thrill is exactly what routine easier by integrating it into
rose inspired, Blemish holistic experience to get our L’MIÈRE set out to our daily activities so you can
multi-action Clearing mood moving in the right create. comfortably do it anywhere and
serum, which is Serum. direction. We call it the Simply run it under everywhere at your own
also the latest L’MIÈRE experience, that drives some water, rub it in your convenience, even when doing
addition to anticipation and pleasure through hands to produce a frothy foam house chores.
Mamonde’s all- skincare. to lather on your face.
time bestseller - “Truth be told, we are all Its key ingredients feature L’MIÈRE Fairy How do you think
the Rose Water chasing after the finer 24K gold flakes, diamond Balle Facial skincare will evolve in
range, does not and simpler powder, chamomile Cleanser. – 2021?
only help in things in extract and PICTURE With everyone
relieving blemishes l i f e, hyaluronic acid COURTESY OF embracing a sense of
and traces of Food Science a n d to gently LAU KAH MING responsibility for the
breakouts, but it and Nutrition w e exfoliate environment, 2020 has
also works graduate Lau t h e certainly focused a great
synergically to help has always skin, deal on sustainability with refillable
soothe, hydrate and been working calm options, 100% recyclable packaging and
brighten the skin in just seven days! in the health eco-friendlier products. Beauty brands will
Formulated with Triple-Rose Complex and wellness never cease to find innovative ways to
that is derived from three types of roses, industry, with a become even more eco-conscious as 2021
namely the Damask Rose, White Rose focus on continues.
and Centifolia Rose, the serum is pharmaceutical We are also falling back to the basics,
especially suitable for both acne-prone and medical focusing on skin-soothing ingredients to
and sensitive skin as it comes with a mild combat maskne, such as the spotlight on
devices. –
formulation. niacinamide in 2020. We are likely to expect
For best results, the Mamonde new PICTURE full transparency from the product
Rose Blemish Clearing Serum (RM125, COURTESY OF development and manufacturing process
30ml) can be paired with the Rose Water LAU KAH to provide customers peace of mind and a
Toner and the Rose Water Gel Cream. MING better user experience.
 MEDIA & MARKETING
8 theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
31 days of celebration
oCelebrate the missed occasions with Guinness during the month-long
St. Patrick’s celebration
T
HE past year has been very overwhelming,
many people missed many different
celebrations. Be it birthdays, wedding
anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, graduation
ceremonies, or even just gatherings with friends,
Malaysians are longing to bring back the
missed fun and be part of a celebratory
ambiance again. With that notion in
mind, Guinness wants to spark little sips
of optimism and give everyone a
chance to celebrate all last year’s
missed occasions this St. Patrick’s
month.
For 31 days in a row, Guinness will
spread joyful St. Patrick’s spirit to its
fans in Klang Valley and Penang with
the Guinness St. Patrick’s Celebration
Kits. These kits are curated exclusively
for fans to catch up on their missed
celebrations. All they have to do is tell
Guinness their missed occasions by
sliding into the comments section or
chat box on Guinness’s Facebook or
Instagram pages, and top five
submissions will be selected daily for
31 days and rewarded with the kits.
The exclusive Guinness St. Patrick’s
Celebration Kits vary according to fans’
missed occasions. Each kit is carefully
curated with a dash of Guinness and St.
Patrick’s elements to it, ranging from
scrumptious burger platters, mouthwatering
cakes, exquisite cocktails, ice creams for the
Great Eastern pledges RM1 million
Covid-19 vaccine fund
GREAT EASTERN pledges a total of RM1 million under
the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund to help customers following
the recent roll-out of the National Covid-19
Immunisation Programme.
The fund is extended to customers of Great Eastern
Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad, Great Eastern
General Insurance (Malaysia) Berhad and Great Eastern
Takaful Berhad. Customers of Great Eastern Life
Assurance (Malaysia) must be a registered e-Connect
user whose policies are in-force during the fund’s
coverage period, from now until Dec 31 or when the
fund has reached its RM1 million limit.
The fund aims to support customers with daily
hospital cash benefit of RM200 per day, up to a
maximum of seven days for hospitalisation due to
adverse effects following immunisation (AEFI), within
14 days of receiving an approved Covid-19 vaccination.
Additionally, a lump sum of RM10,000 is provided for
AEFI related deaths occurring within 30 days of receiving
sweet tooth and juicy at-home BBQ platters. Guinness
partnered with various vendors across the Klang Valley
and Penang to create these masterpieces, namely
myBurgerLab with Tipsy Boar, Coley, Makhan By
Kitchen Mafia, The Ice Cream Bar and Anniekins
Cakehouse in the Klang Valley as
well as
Mish Mash, Cake By X and Three Tiers Ice Cream Above: BBQ
in Penang. Platter –
Available only throughout the St. Patrick’s Makhan by
Month between March 1 and 31, fans who wish Kitchen Mafia.
to purchase these kits instead can do so too at
each vendor’s respective outlets or platforms. Left: Guinness
That’s not all! For an added touch of St. Tumblers.
Patrick’s merriment, Guinness lovers can also
score themselves a free limited-edition
Guinness tumbler that comes in three designs,
with any purchase of Guinness Draught or
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout all through March.
It is time for fans to check out participating
outlets nationwide or e-commerce platforms
too, and pick up a Guinness to make it up to all
Below: Koh said
their missed celebrations!
Promotions are available to non-Muslims Great Eastern
aged 21 and above only. Guinness Malaysia has been
advocates responsible consumption and urges introducing
consumers to not drink and drive. For full initiatives to
terms and conditions and to find out more support their
about Guinness St. Patrick’s Month, visit customers on
guinnessstpats.my/ or Guinness every journey
Malaysia’s social media pages at during these
www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia unprecedented
and www.instagram.com/guinnessmy. Slainte! times.
a Covid-19 vaccine or from date of admission to hospital
due to AEFI.
“As the leading life insurer in Malaysia, safeguarding
the physical and financial wellbeing of our customers
has always been at the core of everything we do. Since
the onset of Covid-19, we have been introducing
initiatives to support our customers on every journey
during these unprecedented times. The Covid-19
Vaccine Fund is another such initiative, as they prepare
for their vaccination,” said Datuk Koh Yaw Hui, Chief
Executive Officer of Great Eastern Life Assurance
(Malaysia) Berhad.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Fund is in addition to its RM2
million Financial Assistance Programme announced in
February 2020 to help customers mitigate the effects of
the pandemic, which was fully utilised.
For more information, customers may contact Great
Eastern Customer Service at 1300-1300 88 or email
wecare-my@greateasternlife.com.
 SunBIZ
MONDAY7
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
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

SUNBIZ
MARCH 8, 2021
A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad
Editorial: Tel.: 03-7784 6688
Fax: 03-7785 2624/5
Participation Bought Sold Net Email: sunbiz@thesundaily.com
% RM m RM m RM m Advertising: Tel: 03-7784 8888
Fax: 03-7784 4424
44.7 Institutions 2262.1 2345.7 -83.6 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
38.3 Retail 1994.5 1953.0 41.5
17.0 Foreign 896.2 854.1 42.1
0.93 138.50 1.50 65.79 51.18 17.23 49.86
18.86
100.0 5152.8 5152.8 0.0
Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com
KLCI STI HANG SENG SCI NIKKEI TSEC KOSPI S&P/ASX200
Source: Burs Malaysia 1,600.12 3,013.85 29,098.29 3,501.99 28,864.32 15,855.23 3,026.26 6,710.85

INDICES
FBMEMAS
KL MARKET SUMMARY

11,695.26
March 5, 2021

CHANGE
+74.59
Diversity ups productivity
FBMKLCI 1,600.12 +18.86 work better together,” explained Sandra.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 622.33 -2.58 oIn the male-dominated logistics industry, women The logistics industry is working to make
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 184.84 -0.34
CONSTRUCTION 173.14 +2.07 can excel too, and inspire and encourage others changes to attract a more diverse workforce
but, in doing so, it is important that there is
FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,452.74 +265.09 a focus on hiring women in positions where
ENERGY 951.51 +29.03 they have visibility to inspire and encourage
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 718.68 +1.03 █ BY EE ANN NEE Southeast Asia with over 1,000 hubs and other women into the industry.
HEALTH CARE 3,109.42 +1.11 sunbiz@thesundaily.com more than 20,000 employees. Over the past Sandra, who has been in the customer
TRANSPORTATION 799.40 +1.06 12 months, Ninja Van Malaysia has achieved service line for the past 15 years across
PROPERTY 701.93 +5.10 PETALING JAYA: Fostering a diverse 100% Peninsular Malaysia coverage, various industries, said dealing with upset
PLANTATION 7,163.42 +13.96 workforce and creating an equal and doubled its number of Ninja points, and angry customers is simply part and
FBMSHA 12,935.83 +18.77 inclusive working environment can achieved an 80% growth in fleet size with parcel of the logistics industry.
FBMACE 10,407.99 +13.73 contribute to a company’s creativity, millions of parcel deliveries monthly. Ninja “Having said that, we do have processes
TECHNOLOGY 84.99 -2.92 expertise, performance, innovation and Van Malaysia is the guaranteed next-day in place to ensure we continue to provide a
productivity, as seen in the male-dominated delivery partners for Lazada and Zalora. consistent level of operational excellence to
TURNOVER VALUE logistics and supply chain sector where Over 15% of Ninja Van Malaysia’s our customers at all times. One of the ways
7.986 BIL RM5.152 BIL women have steadily advanced. workforce are women, and they make up we do this is working with our operations
In tech-enabled express logistics both its management and operations team to identify and analyse existing issues
company Ninja Van Malaysia, unit head of teams. Sandra, for instance, is responsible and how we can eradicate them.
5 MOST ACTIVES
March 5, 2021
customer service Sandra Anne Samuel (pix)
pointed out that one of the biggest
for managing overall customer satisfaction,
developing and reviewing the process and
“2020 was a challenging year due to the
pandemic. As we are considered essential
challenges when it comes to customer innovation frameworks as well as services, we’ve had to make quite a few
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) service in logistics is to learn the ins and outs spearheading initiatives. She manages over changes to our process, such as implementing
KOMARK 254,333,000 43.5 -17.5 of a male-dominated industry, along with 120 staff across seven teams. the practices of contactless deliveries instead
VELESTO 231,913,600 17.5 +1 the jargon and logistics Ninja Van is modernising its workplace of getting customers’ signatures as proof of
ARMADA 213,990,200 45.5 +3 technology that can to achieve gender equality and to close the delivery. During this time, our team played a
THHEAVY 206,325,400 13.5 +1.5 get technical and gender gap to increase productivity, and is crucial role in ensuring that we update and
SAPNRG 162,441,700 15 +0.5 tricky. committed to breaking down barriers in educate our customers on these changes and
“My advice the male-dominated logistics industry. why they were required.”
would be to start Women are succeeding at top levels at She stressed that good customer service
5 TOP GAINERS
March 5, 2021
learning from the
groun up. Although
Ninja Van with their strong work ethic,
passion for supply chain and logistics and
usually increases loyalty and customers will
most likely return if they have a good
customer service is have the ability to be comfortable as one of experience.
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM just one part of a few women in a room. “Being a tech-enabled company, we
CGB 4,110,200 1.41 0.31 logistics, we have to “I have learnt that it is crucial to step out have improvised with tech-savvy solutions
TOPGLOV 42,665,900 5.25 0.29 understand every of our comfort zone. It takes courage for like contactless deliveries and live chat
LATITUD 448,200 4.50 0.27 part of the women to strive in an environment implementation to further enhance how we
HLBANK 2,163,500 18.68 0.26 operation from dominated by men. However, we must not continue to offer hassle-free delivery
ARTRONIQ 61,321,000 1.05 0.245 warehousing, be limited by our gender. We services during the pandemic. During this
deliveries and should focus on the qualities time, we’ve also scaled up our operations
sorting parcels to we bring to the table and be and capacity to ensure that we are able to
5 TOP LOSERS
March 5, 2021
ensure we have
the full picture of
proud of the role we can
play. We must also
meet the demands of our customers.
“To understand a customer, the most
how the company support and empower important thing is to put ourselves into their
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM works,” she told each other. That shoes. By doing this, we actually experience
MPI 1,226,400 39.40 2.44 SunBiz. means women what they experience, and we are able to
NESTLE 246,500 135.50 2.30 Since its working together, relate to their frustrations. Then naturally,
HEIM 324,600 24.70 1.28 inception in 2014, but also in the words and actions will follow along to
FANG-2XL 1,400 12.32 0.68 Ninja Van has collaborative help resolve and offer the right resolutions
HSI-CFA 2,900 2.56 0.61 grown across six partnerships tailored to their specific requests and
countries in with men – we requirements,” said Sandra.
EXCHANGE RATES MARCH 5, 2021

Foreign currency Bank sell

TT/OD
Bank buy
TT
Bank buy
OD
Proportion of M’sian women in senior roles at record 37%
1 US DOLLAR 4.1305 4.0055 3.9955 PETALING JAYA: The proportion of information officers, up 3pp to 20%. businesses last year to 54% of businesses
women holding senior leadership positions However, the proportion of women this year,” Seah commented.
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.2010 3.0740 3.0580 in Malaysia has hit 37%, the highest ever holding CEO positions was down slightly at In terms of ensuring employee
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.0850 2.9960 2.9880 recorded despite the Covid-19 pandemic 10% (-5pp), and has trended lower since 2019. engagement and inclusion, more than half
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.2530 3.1660 3.1540 affecting economies around the world, According to the research, Malaysia has of Malaysian businesses (56%) have an
1 EURO 4.9480 4.7880 4.7680 according to Grant Thornton’s annual the most businesses with female chief environment where employees can “speak
Women in Business Report. marketing officers (36%) in Asean. Besides up” with ideas, issues and questions. They
1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.9740 2.8640 2.8480 The Asean region, too, has performed that, the proportion of women in the more are also promoting work/life/balance
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.0850 2.9960 2.9880 positively, having improved from 35% last traditional senior HR roles increased and/or flexibility for employees (54%) and
1 STERLING POUND 5.7450 5.5630 5.5430 year to 38% this year. slightly at 54% (+2pp from 2020). instilling new working practices to better
1 SWISS FRANC 4.4330 4.3300 4.3150 Grant Thornton Malaysia national tax Passing the 30% of women in senior engage all employees (50%).
practice leader Seah Siew Yun said: “Seeing roles globally is an important milestone for While the number of women in
100 UAE DIRHAM 113.7400 107.8500 107.6500 the proportion of women leaders in businesses, but it is not the end goal. leadership roles has grown, questions
100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.9510 4.6480 4.4480 Malaysia rise from 31% last year to 37% this The research has shown that Malaysian remain over the impact of the Covid-19
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 63.8000 61.3000 N/A year is encouraging. This figure is also businesses are taking positive actions and pandemic on women, particularly working
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 53.7700 51.1000 50.9000 above the global figure of 31%. More the top three actions taken to improve the mothers. The report reveals that over half
importantly, it is also above the crucial 30% gender balance of their leadership team (56%) of respondents in Malaysia agree that
100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.7400 5.3900 5.1900
threshold, which research shows is the were creating an inclusive culture (54%), in their organisations, new working
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0300 0.0271 0.0221 minimum representation needed to ensuring equal access to developmental practices as a result of Covid-19 will benefit
100 JAPANESE YEN 3.8320 3.7120 3.7020 change decision-making processes.” work opportunities (48%), and providing women’s career trajectories in the long term.
100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.9000 N/A N/A Another encouraging finding is the mentoring and coaching (47%). “Breaking the 30% barrier certainly does
types of leadership roles women are “Recognising the importance of a gender represent progress – having grown from
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 2.6700 2.5000 2.3000
occupying. Grant Thornton’s research balanced leadership team, more businesses 23% 14 years ago when we first started
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.6200 8.1200 7.9200 reveals there are higher numbers of women are now walking the talk. It is encouraging to tracking this – but these gains can easily be
100 QATAR RIYAL 112.9700 107.2500 107.0500 across operational C-suite roles in Malaysia see more businesses placing a priority in lost. Reassuringly, 85% of businesses in
100 SAUDI RIYAL 111.3100 105.6700 105.4700 compared with last year, with the creating an inclusive culture in their Malaysia say they are taking action to
proportion of female chief financial officers workplace. The research has shown that the ensure the engagement and inclusion of
100 THAI BAHT 14.1700 12.5700 12.1700
up 12pp to 41%, female chief marketing number of businesses taking this initiative their employees against the negative
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama officers up 14pp to 36%, and female chief has increased the highest, from 17% of backdrop of the pandemic.”
 8 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
SUNBIZ
From left: Pan, Lye, CSCD representative Cindy Leong and Tok at the mock cheque presentation to the Community Service
Centre For The Deaf recently. – ASYRAF RASID/THESUN
Mach 1 brings in JCB’s
electric mini excavator
█ BY AMIR IMRAN HUSAIN SAFRI
sunbiz@thesundaily.com
SHAH ALAM: Mach 1 Construction
Equipment Sdn Bhd has introduced
JCB’s E-Tech 19C-1E to the country, the
first fully electric mini excavator with
zero emissions at the point of use.
In a virtual address, JCB Southeast
Asia general manager Rajbir Sandhu
stated that the mini excavator is a
testament to the equipment
manufacturer’s commitment to a zero
carbon future.
Compared to its diesel counterpart,
he said that the electric variant is
quieter while still able to do a full day’s
work.
Mach 1 group executive director
Pan Chee Seng highlighted that
innovation is the main motivation for
its partnership with the multinational
equipment manufacturer.
“The E-Tech 19C-1E shows that JCB
is at the forefront of innovation and
commitment towards building a
carbon neutral Malaysia,” he told
SunBiz at the launching ceremony of
the excavator last Friday.
According to the group, the mini
excavator which weighs less than two
tonnes with a maximum dig depth and
dump height of 2.8m, is priced at
£53,000 (RM298,305) excluding taxes.
Should Malaysia’s regulations and
environmental standards align with the
global benchmark, Mach 1 JCB
executive director Bill Tok projected it
would sell at least five units per year.
He explained that this is due to the
machine’s small size and selected
application which is particularly
suitable for landscaping and
earthworks on buildings such as the
Good demand for HSI and FBM KLCI warrants in volatile market
WARRANTS WATCH
OVERALL warrants turnover for the
first week of March increased slightly
by 3.2% week on week to RM419.3
million, mainly driven by the
increased trading activity in warrants
over the Hang Seng Index (HSI) and
FBM KLCI with both contributing a
total of 34.5% of the turnover.
The HSI yoyoed throughout last
week, moving between positive and
negative territory with fluctuation in
bond yields. At the start of the week,
the index rose 1.6% to surpass the
29,000 level, closing at 29,452.5
points before falling 1.2% on
Tuesday. However, the index
rebounded 2.7% on Wednesday,
posting the biggest one-day gain
oThe E-Tech 19C-1E is quieter than its diesel
counterpart and and has zero emissions at point
of use
Tun Razak Exchange and KLCC.
Aside from that, the rig could also be
utilised in renovation works such as
underground car parks, hospitals and
schools as well as other environments
with noise restrictions.
“Aside from the mini excavator,
there are also plans to bring bigger
excavators, telehandlers and backhoes
which utilise electricity in the future,”
said Tok.
To illustrate the savings from electric
machinery compared to its diesel
powered counterpart, he guided that a
regular telehandler machine would
consume about 10 liter per hour which
translates to RM100 for four hours of
work compared to the cost of a full
charge.
“However, it’s not a matter of savings
but whether the machine suits the
environment. In noise-sensitive and
other restrictive environments, this is
the perfect tool for the job, but for a
more intensive infrastructure work site
a diesel engine would be more suitable”
The event also saw the handover of a
JCB backhoe loader to Tan Lek Chong,
the winner of the ‘Be The Boss” the
corporate social responsibility project
organised by Mach 1 and the Malaysia
Heavy Construction Equipment
Owners Association (PAJPBM).
Tan, who lost his job during the
Covid-19 pandemic, has been granted
a six month usage of the equipment to
since January, though it slid 2.6% for
over the next two days, weighed
down by investors’ fears on potential
interest rate increases and stock sell-
off (Reuters, March 5).
Both HSI-HGK and HSI-CFK
remained popular among investors
with a total of 128.9 million units and
113.3 million units traded,
respectively. At the end of the week,
investors net bought 2.2 million units
of HSI-HGK (unchanged) while they
net sold 4.2 million units of the call
warrant HSI-CFK (+10.1%).
On the local front, Bank Negara
Malaysia (BNM) decided to maintain
the policy rate at its record low of
1.75% last Thursday. This decision
was made based on BNM’s optimism
on global economic recovery, though
still uneven, coupled with
help him start his own business with
guidance from PAJPBM in the
principles of running the business. This
equipment loan will not only help Tan,
but will also provide a huge
contribution to the local community by
supporting vital infrastructure projects
across the region.
“Be The Boss’ allows us to support
small contractors in Malaysia, and we
are delighted to be helping Tan with six
months use of a JCB backhow loader.
This is a fantastic opportunity for him to
build his own business, and Mach 1
and the team at JCB will be fully
supporting him in realising this
ambition,” said Tok.
In addition, the launch also
included the presentation of a RM3,888
donation by Mach 1 to the Community
Service Centre For The Deaf (CSCD)
towards its revitalisation project, for the
construction of its cafe and learning
centre, organised by PAJPBM’s legal
adviser Datuk Dr Lye Wing Voi.
“I am grateful and touched by Mach
1 and its sales team’s kindness and their
generous spirit of giving back to
society,” he said.
To date, Lye has raised over
RM120,000 for the charity and hopes to
reach the RM200,000 mark to obtain a
matching grant by Malaysian Global
Innovation and Creativity Centre under
the Penjana “Social Impact Matching”
grant.
Top warrants by volume traded
Warrant Volume Issuer
name (mil)
HSI-HGK 128.9 Macquarie
HSI-CFK 113.3 Macquarie
SUPERMX-C1I 100.4 Kenanga
TOPGLOV-C1D 83.8 CIMB
SUPERMX-C98 80.3 Kenanga
improvements in external demand
and continued consumer spending.
Further, the recent rollout of the
domestic Covid-19 vaccination
programme may boost sentiment
and economic activity.
Following this, the FBM KLCI
closed slightly above the 1,600 level on
Friday – 1.2% higher at 1,600.1 points;
Collecting taxes without
denying taxpayer rights
THE government of Malaysia has
been generously supporting
businesses and the rakyat through
various stimulus packages
announced in 2020 and 2021.
Apart from the RM322 billion
expenditure allocated in Budget
2021, a further RM330 billion
worth of economic
stimulus packages were
provided.
One of the
important sources of
financing the above
“giveaways” will
come from the
income tax collection
which is expected in
2021 to be in the region in
RM144 billion versus the
actual collection in 2020 of RM123
billion. In the current economic
climate, this will be a big challenge
for the Inland Revenue Board
(IRB), especially when 2021 has
kicked off on a weak note with
various forms of lockdowns.
Attempting to collect increased
taxes in the current situation
requires delicate handling. Lately,
it is becoming evident that IRB, in
its desire to collect taxes, has been
intensifying and increasing the
level of audit and investigation
activities.
Whilst it is their absolute right to
examine taxpayer returns and
identify taxpayers who have not
complied with the tax laws or have
underpaid their taxes or taxpayers
who have not filed any tax returns,
etc, taxpayer rights, especially to be
heard, should not be denied.
The taxpayer should be given all
the opportunities to provide
explanations to the issues raised by
the IRB. It is clearly stated in the
Tax Audit Framework that IRB will
explain any tax adjustments and
provide reasonable time for the
taxpayer to give responses to the
issues raised and ensure the rights
and interests of the taxpayer and
tax agent are safeguarded.
Time should be given to listen to
taxpayer
There is no objection to the IRB
having internal guidelines on the
expected timeline to complete an
audit or investigation. This is just
good practice for internal
productivity purposes.
Since these cases can go back
five years for income tax and seven
years for transfer pricing matters,
collecting information, and
recollecting the events that
Exercise Expiry date
level/price
27,000 28 May 2021
31,000 29 Jun 2021
RM 14.00 26 Jul 2021
RM 7.00 30 Jul 2021
RM 4.50 31 May 2021
the index rose 1.4% week on week.
Put warrant FBMKLCI-HDA
(+14.3%) with an exercise price of
1,550 was the most active warrant
over the index, with investors taking
home 2.2 million out of 16.7 million
units traded.
Elsewhere, rubber glove counters
were volatile last week; Supermax
transpired to support the
economic activities during those
years will require time beyond the
usual 14 or at the maximum 21
days provided by the IRB to reply to
their enquiries. It is common
practice of the IRB to provide an
extension of time, but such
extensions are sometimes
inadequate to fully
explain the taxpayer’s
perspective.
Some of these
records may be in
archives or if they are
in a softcopy form,
the data in those
records may be
corrupted or the
accounting systems may have
changed and will require software
experts to retrieve the lost data.
There are other circumstances
where the taxpayer requires more
time to retrieve information and
recollect the events especially
cases involving capital statements
which requires scrutinising entries
in bank accounts, credit card
statements, mutual fund
statements, share transactions,
director accounts, etc.
There are increasingly
occasional circumstances where
the tax officials inform taxpayers
that a case has gone on based on
the internal guidelines beyond a
particular period, and therefore
the case is abruptly brought to a
close, and at times, without
providing a final set of findings to
the taxpayer and giving him an
opportunity to answer.
The impact is severe on
taxpayers since the taxpayer must
pay the tax within 30 days of the
issuance of the assessment.
Appeals to the court are time
consuming and expensive.
Recommendation
Although the country needs an
increase in tax collection,
hastening the audit or
investigation process without
providing the full opportunity to
listen to taxpayers will be
unproductive to both the country
and the IRB because businesses
are already in financial difficulties
and making them pay taxes on
disputable assessments will only
antagonise taxpayers.
This article was contributed by
Thannees Tax Consulting Services
Sdn Bhd managing director
SM Thanneermalai.
tumbled 7% on-week while Top
Glove fell 0.2%. Call warrants
SUPERMX-C1I and TOPGLOV-C1D
secureed spots in the top 5 most
active warrants.
To view the full list of structured
warrants available on Bursa Malaysia,
visit malaysiawarrants.com.my.
Provided for Malaysian residents’
information only. This commentary has
not been reviewed by the Securities
Commission Malaysia. It is not an offer
or recommendation to trade and is not
research material.
Past performance is not indicative of
future performance. You should make
your own assessment and seek
professional advice. The warrants will
not be offered to any US persons.

322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
SYABAS IRAMA SDN. BHD.
Company No. 199601028387
(400739 T)
(IN MEMBERS’
VOLUNTARY WINDING UP)
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant
to the Companies Act, 2016 that a Final
Meeting of the abovenamed Company
will be held at No. 43, 1st Floor, Jalan Ros,
85000 Segamat, Johor Darul Takzim on 12
April, 2021 at 10.00 a.m. for the purposes:
(i) To receive and consider the Liquidator’s
Statement of Accounts showing the
manner in which the winding-up has
been conducted and of hearing any
explanation that may be given by the
Liquidator; and
(ii) To resolve under Section 518(3)(b) of
the Companies Act, 2016 that after
the expiration of three (3) months
from the date of the Final Meeting the
books, accounts and documents of
the Company and of the Liquidator be
destroyed.
Dated this 8th day of March, 2021
ONG CHEE YOW
Liquidator
IN THE MATTER OF
COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
SJ RISK CONSULTANTS
SDN. BHD. (855984-U)
(IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
LIQUIDATION)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that pursuant to Section
459 of the Companies Act,
2016 a Final Meeting of the
Members of the abovenamed
Company will be held at
1A-3, Plaza Mayang, Jalan
SS26/9, 47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan on 9
April 2021 at 11.00 a.m. for
the purpose of:
1. Having an account laid
before the members,
showing the manner in
which the winding up has
been conducted and of
hearing any explanation
that may be given by the
Liquidator.
2. To resolve under Section
518(3)(b) of the Companies
Act 2016, that the books,
accounts and documents
of the Company and of the
Liquidator be destroyed
after the expiration of three
(3) months from the date of
the final meeting.
Dated this 8 March 2021
CHAI YAH KANG
Liquidator
322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES
ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NAZAL HYDRAULIC
LINE SDN. BHD.
[Registration No. 200101015327
(551084-U)] (In Members’ Voluntary
Winding-Up)
NOTICE OF RESOLUTION
An Extraordinary General Meeting of
Members of the abovenamed Company
was duly convened and held on the 3rd
day of March 2021 at No. 52A-M, Lebuh
Enggang, 41150 Klang, Selangor and the
following Special Resolution was duly
passed:-
“THAT the Company be wound up
voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of
the Companies Act 2016 and that Mr Ng
Chin Hock (NRIC No. 720111-10-5805) of
No. 17, Jalan Pendamar Indah 1C, Taman
Pendamar Indah KS5, 42000 Port Klang,
Selangor be and is hereby appointed
Liquidator for the purpose of such winding
up with power to distribute surplus assets
in specie to members and to exercise
the power of the Liquidator as set out in
Section 456 of the Companies Act 2016.”
NG CHIN HOCK
Director
Dated: 8th March 2021.
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES
ACT 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
NAZAL HYDRAULIC LINE SDN. BHD.
[Registration No. 200101015327
(551084-U)]
(In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up)
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the creditors
of the abovenamed Company which is
being voluntarily wound up are required
to send in their names and addresses
with particulars of their debts or claims
and of any security held by them, and the
names and addresses of their solicitors
(if any) to the undersigned Liquidator at
No. 17, Jalan Pendamar Indah 1C, Taman
Pendamar Indah KS5, 42000 Port Klang,
Selangor on or before 15th April 2021 and
if so required by notice in writing from the
said Liquidator to come in personally or
by their solicitors to prove their claims at
such time and place as shall be specified
in such notice or in default thereof they
will be excluded from the benefits of any
distribution made before such debts or
claims are proved.
NG CHIN HOCK
Liquidator
Dated: 8th March 2021.
322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES
ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
DSR MANAGEMENT SDN. BHD.
Company No. 197901001302 (45585-H)
(IN MEMBERS’
VOLUNTARY WINDING UP)
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant
to the Companies Act, 2016 that a Final
Meeting of the abovenamed Company
will be held at No. 43, 1st Floor, Jalan Ros,
85000 Segamat, Johor Darul Takzim on 12
April, 2021 at 2.00 p.m. for the purposes:
(i) To receive and consider the Liquidator’s
Statement of Accounts showing the
manner in which the winding-up has
been conducted and of hearing any
explanation that may be given by the
Liquidator; and
(ii) To resolve under Section 518(3)(b) of
the Companies Act, 2016 that after
the expiration of three (3) months
from the date of the Final Meeting the
books, accounts and documents of
the Company and of the Liquidator be
destroyed.
Dated this 8th day of March, 2021
ONG CHEE YOW
Liquidator
322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF
COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
TECHCREME SDN.
BHD. (1040616-V) (IN
MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
LIQUIDATION)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that pursuant to Section
459 of the Companies Act,
2016 a Final Meeting of the
Members of the abovenamed
Company will be held at
1A-3, Plaza Mayang, Jalan
SS26/9, 47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan on 9
April 2021 at 10.00 a.m. for
the purpose of:
1. Having an account laid
before the members,
showing the manner in
which the winding up has
been conducted and of
hearing any explanation
that may be given by the
Liquidator.
2. To resolve under Section
518(3)(b) of the Companies
Act 2016, that the books,
accounts and documents
of the Company and of the
Liquidator be destroyed
after the expiration of three
(3) months from the date of
the final meeting.
Dated this 8 March 2021
MOK SENG CHEW
Liquidator
322 Notices
PRIN AD SDN. BHD.
(198601006198)
(In Creditors’ Voluntary
Winding Up)
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
pursuant to Section 459 of
the Companies Act, 2016 that
a Final Meeting of Members
and Creditors of the Company
will be held at Suite 9-3A,
9th Floor, Wisma Zelan, No.
1, Jalan Tasik Permaisuri 2,
Bandar Tun Razak, 56000
Kuala Lumpur on 9th April
2021 at 11.30 a.m. for the
following purposes:
AGENDA
1. To receive and consider
the account of the
liquidation and giving any
explanations thereof.
2. To consider pursuant to
Section 518(3)(c) of the
Companies Act, 2016,
the books, paper and
documents of the Company
be destroyed after three (3)
months from the date of
the final meeting.
Yew Fooi
Liquidator
Tel no: 03-9173 2295
Fax no:03-9172 1151
Date: 08.03.2021
IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
GION UNIVERSAL SPORT
SDN. BHD.
200301004395 (606815-D)
( IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
LIQUIDATION )
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
UNDER SECTION 459 (1)
OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
to Section 459 (2) of the Companies
Act, 2016 that the Final Meeting of
the abovenamed Company will be
held at No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, Batu
3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200
Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 13 April
2021 at 10:00 a.m. for the following
purposes:-
1) To receive an account from the
Liquidator showing the manner
in which the winding-up has
been conducted and the property
of the Company disposed of and
to hear any explanation that may
be given by the Liquidator.
2) To determine pursuant to Section
518 (3)(b) of the Act , the manner
in which the books, accounts and
documents of the Company and
of the Liquidator thereof, shall be
disposed of.
NG YING HUEY
LIQUIDATOR
Dated this: 8 March 2021
No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A,
Batu 3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
51200 Kuala Lumpur.
Note : A member entitled to attend
and vote at this Final Meeting
is entitled to appoint a proxy to
attend and vote in his stead. A
proxy must be a member of the
Company.
IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
ROBAMTEC ELECTRIC (M)
SDN. BHD.
201701002837 (1216987-P)
( IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
LIQUIDATION )
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
UNDER SECTION 459 (1)
OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
to Section 459 (2) of the Companies
Act, 2016 that the Final Meeting of
the abovenamed Company will be
held at No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, Batu
3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200
Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 12 April
2021 at 10.00 a.m. for the following
purposes:-
1) To receive an account from the
Liquidator showing the manner
in which the winding-up has
been conducted and the property
of the Company disposed of and
to hear any explanation that may
be given by the Liquidator.
2) To determine pursuant to
Section 518 (3)(b) of the Act ,
the manner in which the books,
accounts and documents of the
Company and of the Liquidator
thereof, shall be disposed of.
NG YING HUEY
LIQUIDATOR
Dated this: 8 March 2021
No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A,
Batu 3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
51200 Kuala Lumpur.
Note : A member entitled to attend
and vote at this Final Meeting
is entitled to appoint a proxy to
attend and vote in his stead. A
proxy must be a member of the
Company.
IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
LI YING HOLDINGS SDN. BHD.
200401030092 (668600-W)
( IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
LIQUIDATION )
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
UNDER SECTION 459 (1)
OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
to Section 459 (2) of the Companies
Act, 2016 that the Final Meeting of
the abovenamed Company will be
held at No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, Batu
3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200
Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 13 April
2021 at 3:00 p.m. for the following
purposes:-
1) To receive an account from the
Liquidator showing the manner
in which the winding-up has
been conducted and the property
of the Company disposed of and
to hear any explanation that may
be given by the Liquidator.
2) To determine pursuant to
Section 518 (3)(b) of the Act ,
the manner in which the books,
accounts and documents of the
Company and of the Liquidator
thereof, shall be disposed of.
NG YING HUEY
LIQUIDATOR
Dated this: 8 March 2021
No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A,
Batu 3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
51200 Kuala Lumpur.
Note : A member entitled to attend
and vote at this Final Meeting
is entitled to appoint a proxy to
attend and vote in his stead. A
proxy must be a member of the
Company.
9
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
* SPORTS
Kohli sets sights on World Test Championship final
SKIPPER Virat Kohli said India were task of needing to win Test series matches.
“relieved” to make the inaugural away in Australia and at home India twice bounced back from
World Test Championship final and against England to make the final. opening losses in four-match series to
would now focus on that “one big “We are relieved that now we have beat Australia 2-1 and England 3-1,
game” against New Zealand in June made it to the final,” Kohli told Board with each game throwing up new
after seeing off England. of Control for Cricket in India TV. heroes, notably wicketkeeper-
India crushed Joe Root’s side “Probably if you look at the last batsman Rishabh Pant.
inside three days in the fourth Test in two-and-half years how we have The left-handed Pant, who played
Ahmedabad on Saturday to clinch played, we deserve to be in that final. a key part in the win Down Under in
the series 3-1 and finish top of the “Now it’s just about getting January, hit 101 on Friday to set up
Test Championship table ahead of together as a group again and India’s latest victory by an innings and
New Zealand. focusing on that one big game which 25 runs.
India had led the standings until is quite exciting for all of us.” Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, all-
November, when a change in the New Zealand’s berth in the final rounder Washington Sundar and
points system because of disruption was secured when the Test series spinner Axar Patel also burst into the
brought by the coronavirus between South Africa and Australia side making an immediate impact.
pandemic promoted Australia to top was postponed last month. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said
spot. Kohli had maintained that the that for players like himself and fast
The new system, based on championship race was merely a bowler Ishant Sharma, who mostly
percentage of points instead of total “distraction” for his team, who did not feature in Tests, the final is “like
points, left India with the daunting need any further incentive to win Test literally the World Cup”. – AFP
Djoker eyes Slam history
… after surpassing Federer’s world No. 1 record
322 Notices
IN THE MATTER OF
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
AND Grand Slams MEN: WEEKS AT WORLD NO.1
IN THE MATTER OF
SUGIRANI ENGINEERING
SDN. BHD. 18 Novak Djokovic SRB Longest streak (wks): 123 311
198601004674 (153832-A)
( IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
20 Roger Federer SUI 237 310
LIQUIDATION )
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING
14 Pete Sampras USA 102 286
UNDER SECTION 459 (1)
OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 8 Ivan Lendl CZE 157 270
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
to Section 459 (2) of the Companies 8 Jimmy Connors USA 160 268
Act, 2016 that the Final Meeting of
the abovenamed Company will be
held at No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, Batu 20 Rafael Nadal ESP 56 209
3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200
Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 13 April
N
2021 at 2:00 p.m. for the following
purposes:- DJOKOVIC:
OVAK DJOKOVIC CAREER
will today set aTIMELINE Turned
will slip out of the top five. pro: 2003
1) To receive an account from the new landmark of 311 weeks as Djokovic made his top 100 debut in July
Liquidator showing the manner
in which the winding-up has world No.Australian
1, surpassing Open title 2005, justWimbledon
Roger weeks after Nadal had won his
been conducted and the property Federer whose hold on a record- first Roland Garros.
of the Company disposed of and
to hear any explanation that may equalling 20 Grand Roland
Slam Garros
titles is now He was U.S.
topOpen
50 in June 2006, top 20 for
be given by the Liquidator. firmly in the Serb’s sights. the first time in October 2006 and top 10 by
2) To determine pursuant to Section The 33-year-old Djokovic, already the March 2007.
518 (3)(b) of the Act , the manner winner of 18 majors, has time on his side He first became world No. 1 at the age of
with Federer turning 40 World No.1 ranking24 on July 4, 2011, the day after winning
in which the books, accounts and
documents of the Company and in August.
of the Liquidator thereof,
He is also a year younger than Rafael Wimbledon for the first time, beating
Nadal who also has 202008majors. 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
shall be disposed of.
Nadal in the final.
NG YING HUEY
LIQUIDATOR “Now that I’ve become the historic No. Only a six-month injury absence in
1, I’m relieved,” said Djokovic after 2017 saw his ranking plunge, all the way to
Dated this: 8 March 2021
sweeping to a ninth Australian Open last 22 the following summer.
No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, month which guaranteed his extended stay It was just a blip – Djokovic was back at
Batu 3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
51200 Kuala Lumpur. at the top. 2014 2015
No. 1 again 2016 2017 and 2018
by November with the
Note : A member entitled to attend
“Now, I’m going to be able to focus exception of November 2019 until January
and vote at this Final Meeting mainly on the Grand Slams.” last year, when Nadal reclaimed pole
is entitled to appoint a proxy to
attend and vote in his stead. A Djokovic reclaimed the top ranking position, he has beenSource: rock solid.
ATP
proxy must be a member of the from Nadal in February 2020 and finished Djokovic, whose lone French
Picture: GettyOpen title
Images
Company.
as year-end No. 1 for the sixth time, 2019tying came
2020 in 2016,
2021 has comfortably
© GRAPHIC NEWS more
IN THE MATTER OF the mark set by Pete Sampras. Australian Opens than Federer (six) and
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 He is currently in his fifth different spell Nadal (one).
AND
IN THE MATTER OF atop the rankings. His Wimbledon total stands at five to
PROMAIR TECHNICAL SERVICES
Nadal, currently at No. 2, has been at Federer’s eight and Nadal’s two.
SDN. BHD.
199801005384 (461511-T) the top for “only” 209 weeks in total At the US Open, he has three to
although the 13-time Roland Garros Federer’s five and Nadal’s four.
( IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
LIQUIDATION ) champion can boast being a top 10 ever- “Obviously I have in my mind to win
NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING present since April 2005. He will, however, more Gralnd Slam titles and to break
UNDER SECTION 459 (1)
OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016
lose his world No. 2 spot to Daniil records.
Medvedev. “Until I retire from the tour, I will be
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
to Section 459 (2) of the Companies
Federer, who returns to action in Doha devoting most of my attention and energy
Act, 2016 that the Final Meeting of this week after more than a year out of to winning the other major titles,” Djokovic
the abovenamed Company will be
action to recover from two knee surgeries, said. – AFP
held at No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, Batu
3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200
Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 13 April
2021 at 9:00 a.m. for the following
purposes:- BRIEFS Bradley were on 207 and England’s Tommy
1) To receive an account from the Fleetwood was sixth on 209.
Liquidator showing the manner
in which the winding-up has
Westwood grabs Bay Hill lead
been conducted and the property
of the Company disposed of and
Rublev takes down Tsitsipas
to hear any explanation that
BRITAIN’S Lee Westwood curled in a 28-
may be given by the Liquidator. foot closing birdie putt after an eagle at 16 ANDREY RUBLEV beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-
to seize a one-stroke lead after the third 3, 7-6 (7-2) yesterday to advance to the final
2) To determine pursuant to Section
518 (3)(b) of the Act , the manner round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in in Rotterdam and extend his winning run in
in which the books, accounts and
documents of the Company and Miami, Florida. The 47-year-old Englishman ATP 500 events to 19 matches. Fourth seed
of the Liquidator thereof,
shall be disposed of.
made eight birdies and an eagle against Rublev broke Tsitsipas twice in the opening
three bogeys to shoot a 7-unde 65 and set and put the second-seeded Greek away
NG YING HUEY
LIQUIDATOR
stand on 11-under 205 after 54 holes at with a dominant tie-break to secure victory
rain-softened Bay Hill. “I’m not surprised,” in 97 minutes. Rublev, through to a fourth
Dated this: 8 March 2021
Westwood said. “I know I’m still capable of straight ATP 500 final, will face Marton
No. 11-1, Jalan 1/57A, playing well when it matters. I haven’t lost Fucsovics after the qualifier from Hungary
Batu 3, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
any of my length and I haven’t lost any of swept past Borna Coric 6-4, 6-1. “(I play
51200 Kuala Lumpur.
my enthusiasm to go and work in the gym.” tennis) to play at the best level, to play at
Note : A member entitled to attend
and vote at this Final Meeting Reigning US Open champion Bryson the best tournaments, to try to compete,
is entitled to appoint a proxy to
attend and vote in his stead. A
DeChambeau shot 68 to share second on then to go deep and to try to win them,”
proxy must be a member of the 206 with Canadian Corey Conners while Rublev said. “A final is always special, so I am
Company.
Americans Jordan Spieth and Keegan going to try to do my best tomorrow.”
10 theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021
SPORTS

Koeman’s youth policy paying off

B Teen Moriba latest to impress as Barcelona close in on leaders Atletico
ARCELONA cranked up the pressure on
leaders Atletico Madrid by beating
Osasuna 2-0 yesterday to edge two points “It was a great goal,” Koeman told Spanish to stay in the La Liga title “The run of form is important. Let’s hope we
behind their city rivals. sports daily Marca. “Every time he comes into the race, where Atletico can stay on the right track.”
Lionel Messi set up both goals in Pamplona as team, he adds something. He’s good on the ball Madrid and Real As for their European hopes, Barcelona will
Jordi Alba hammered home in the first half before and is a strong boy physically. He’s pushing to be Madrid will face head to Paris in midweek for the second leg of
the 18-year-old Ilaix Moriba came off the bench to in the first team more often. each other their Champions League tie with Paris Saint-
curl in an impressive shot late in the second. “We’re really proud of being able to bring overnight. Germain.
“Thankfully Leo gave me the pass and I don’t younger players through the ranks. We do it “We need “We need to rest and we have to prepare for
know how I cut in and shot with my left foot, I’m because they deserve to have opportunities. to keep that game,” Koeman added. “I don’t want to say it’s
just glad it went in,” Moriba said. “I will never “People like Pedri, Ilaix, Riqui, Mingueza and w i n n i n g ,” impossible, but we’re going to go there to get a
forget it, I will take that goal to my grave.” Araujo show they have a big future. As a coach, Koeman said. good result.”
Moriba’s strike was his first goal in La Liga and I’ve always given opportunities to youngsters “It wasn’t our While Barcelona sustained momentum from
another breakthrough moment for a Barca because they are a club’s future. They deserve best game, but their midweek victory in the cup, Sevilla failed to
youngster, who joins Pedri, Ansu Fati, Ronald these opportunities.” we were okay bounce back, instead sinking to another loss away
Araujo, Oscar Mingueza and Riqui Puig in the Barcelona have now won four matches in a and we deserved at Elche in an earlier match.
senior squad. row in all competitions as they strive to win. I’m happy. Raul Guti and Guido Carrillo sealed a crucial 2-
1 win for Elche, with Luuk de Jong adding a late
consolation for Sevilla, who have now lost three
Barcelona’s Ilaix consecutive matches in eight days.
Moriba (right) They sit six points ahead of Real Sociedad in
celebrates with fifth. Elche climb to 17th, two points above the
teammate bottom three. – AFP/Agencies
5252/2021 07/03/2021 (SUN)
Lionel Messi
SPORTS TOTO MALAYSIA SDN BHD (8420 - D)
after scoring
TOTO 4D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL during their
1st Prize 2020 Spanish La Liga
match against
2nd Prize 0371 Osasuna at El
Sadar stadium
3rd Prize 4089 yesterday.
Draw Date: 07/03/21 (Sun) Draw No: 5199/21 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB

Special Consolation – AFPPIX

1260 4327 0090 9750
8234 0702 8356 8352 8698
4260 1746 6905 4578
5517 2470 8506 2827 4964
7805 7208 0834 7589 0218

4551 + 4767 0849 + 5653

3,011,847.87 8504 + 1709 0452 + 3250
7637 + 4884 9400 + 8736
2020 0371 0371 2020 5869 + 5275 4560 + 1762
2020 4089 4089 2020
0371 4089 4089 0371
332,876.67
Morata spearheads Juve fightback 3200 + 0165 9825 + 0571

Winning combination of any 1 of Top 3 & any 1 of Special prizes.

ALVARO MORATA scored twice and set “Today we started the game 20
up another as Juventus warmed up for this minutes late but it was normal because RM6,265,767.90
week’s Champions League game against many were out of position and many
Porto with a 3-1 comeback win over Lazio returned (from injury),” said Pirlo. 8698 + 4964 4964 + 8698
1st Prize 2020 + yesterday to close the gap on the Milan “But there was a great reaction, we 8698 + 0218 0218 + 8698
teams in Serie A. didn’t get down and despite the many 4964 + 0218 0218 + 4964
2nd Prize 0371 +
Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench absences we played an excellent match.
before Wednesday’s (4am Malaysian time) “For us it was a final, an important
RM182,301.30
3rd Prize 4089 + BOAR
key last 16, second leg game against the match for the standings and we’re happy.”
4th Prize Special Prize +
Portuguese in Turin with Juventus trailing Lazio’s top striker Immobile threatened
5th Prize Consolation Prize + 2-1. but was unable to add to his 14 goals this
Champions Juventus fell behind to an campaign, drawing a blank for a fourth
6th Prize Any 4D drawn number
early Joaquin Correa goal following a straight game as the Romans fell to their RM433,333.30
Dejan Kulusevski passing error midfield. third defeat in four matches. 828 698 + TIGER
TOTO 5D & 6D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL
But Morata set up Adrien Rabiot to pull “It’s a defeat that hurts,” said Lazio
2 3 1 4 9 the hosts level before the break with the coach Simone Inzaghi whose side’s hopes 924 964 + DRAGON RM2,496,457.50
Spaniard scoring twice in a three-minute of Champions League football next season
3 1 4 9 spell before the hour mark. took a knock as they sit seventh, six points
4 6 9 4 1 1 4 9 Andrea Pirlo’s side are third, seven adrift of Atalanta in fourth place. 690 218 + RAT RM1,585,644.60
0 8 6 7 0 4 9 points behind leaders Inter who host “We compromised the game alone,
Atalanta on Monday, and one point adrift giving away an avoidable penalty. We 774 551 634 767 070 849 475 653
of AC Milan who play Hellas Verona on made some mistakes and at Juventus, with
0 2 8 1 8 4 Sunday. some mistakes you don’t win.” – AFP 678 504 571 709 880 452 753 250
437 637 834 884 409 400 468 736
0 2 8 1 8
0 2 8 1
2 8 1 8
8 1 8
4
4 Lewandowski showssaidwho’s
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI scored a
the boss
Bayern coach Hansi Flick.
815 869
923 200
235 275 994 560
350 165 069 825
101 762
410 571
0 2 8 1 8 4
hattrick to leave him on 31 Bundesliga Bayern have won the last five meetings
0 2 8 4 goals this season and seal Bayern Munich’s between the clubs.
TOTO GAMES GIVES YOU MORE WINNING CHANCES! 4-2 comeback home win over Borussia “We weren’t good enough. We started
Dortmund yesterday in Germany’s well, but didn’t play good enough 698 964 218
5 26 28 30 36 44 Klassiker. football. We should have been more
Dortmund raced into a 2-0 lead as brave,” said Dortmund midfielder Emre
12,524,610.91 Erling Braut Haaland netted twice in the Can.
first nine minutes behind closed doors at “We started great and ended very RM775,743.70
12 21 23 37 45 49 the Allianz Arena. badly,” added Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.
However Lewandowksi then struck Dortmund were left fuming for what
698 + 964 + 218 964 + 218 + 698
13,344,598.72 twice, the second from the penalty spot, captain Marco Reus claimed was a clear 698 + 218 + 964 218 + 698 + 964
to haul Bayern level before the break. foul on Can late on. 964 + 698 + 218 218 + 964 + 698
Leon Goretzka put Bayern ahead for “It was a clear foul – if that had been
8 19 23 31 41 42 44 the first time with two minutes left before against Bayern, it would have been given,”
Lewandowski completed his hattrick on fumed Marco Reus.
dmcGO GO Package, let’s ONG and
Jackpot 1 3,107,872.54 HUAT!
90 minutes. Earlier RB Leipzig briefly climbed top of
Jackpot 2 100,000.00 “The quality is certainly there, that’s the table with a 3-0 romp at Freiburg
our DNA,” said Thomas Muller of Bayern’s thanks to goals by Christopher Nkunku,
Toto 4D Jackpot 1 (i-System) fightback. Alexander Sorloth and Emil Forsberg.
The win leaves Bayern two points clear Leipzig impressed in their final tune-up
RM931,086 of RB Leipzig at the top of the table. before facing Liverpool in Budapest on
wo n o n 0 6 / 0 3 / 2 0 2 1 ! “We shook ourselves up at 2-0 down Thursday (4am) in the last 16 of the
Visit www.sportstoto.com.my for e-Results and more info. and deserved to win because we were the Champions League having lost the first
dominant team for (the last) 60 minutes,” leg 2-0. – AFP
 11
theSUN ON MONDAY | MARCH 8, 2021

* SPORTS

RESULTS & STANDINGS

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: West Bromwich
Albion 0 Newcastle United 0, Burnley 1 (Wood
39) Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 6), Sheffield United
0 Southampton 2 (Ward-Prowse 32-pen, Adams
Klopp not worried
Liverpool manager makes confident FSG claim about his future
49), Aston Villa 0 Wolves 0, Brighton 1 (Lallana

L
10) Leicester 2 (Iheanacho 62, Amartey 87).
IVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp is suffering from burnout due to his intensity. continued.
P W D L F A Pts confident that he still has the support But the Reds boss is adamant that he has “So it is not that easy. It is somewhere in
Man City 27 20 5 2 56 17 65 of the club’s owners, Fenway Sports the full support of the club, and believes the between.You need to find belief, optimism
Leicester 28 16 5 7 48 32 53 Group, despite the team’s terrible run owners don’t want him to go anywhere. and positivity before a game to go and play.
Man Utd 27 14 9 4 53 32 51 of form. “We cannot do other than our best and And that’s what we kind of always did.
Chelsea 27 13 8 6 42 25 47 The reigning Premier League champions that’s how it always is,” Klopp said. “Most of the time at least I saw that in the
Everton 26 14 4 8 39 33 46 are going through a torrid spell at the “And if there is somebody who thinks games. We had our share in games, we had
West Ham 26 13 6 7 40 31 45 moment, having lost five of their last six there is another manager who can do better big parts of the game and we lost them.
Liverpool 27 12 7 8 47 35 43 League games. then they have to make the decision, that’s “After Chelsea I spoke to Thomas Tuchel.
Tottenham 26 12 6 8 42 27 42 They’ve picked up less points at home clear. He analysed us and he didn’t understand
Aston Villa 26 12 4 10 38 27 40 than any other team in the football league in “But I don’t think that’s the case. Not that how we lost the game.
Arsenal 27 11 5 11 35 28 38 2021. nobody can do it better, but that I don’t think “If you lose a game because you perform
Leeds 26 11 2 13 43 44 35 Liverpool fans are calling for a squad any of the people who decide my future have bad, you can change it. But if you play good
Wolves 28 9 8 11 28 37 35 overhaul this summer, with the Reds set to go that opinion – at least nobody told me.” and lose it anyway, not because the
Crystal Palace 27 9 7 11 29 43 34 after a new striker and centreback. Klopp also discussed Liverpool’s recent opponent is better but because you made a
Southampton27 9 6 12 33 44 33 Klopp’s future has also been called into form and believes his side are playing well mistake or were unlucky then we had so
Burnley 28 7 9 12 20 36 30 question recently, with reports suggesting he enough to win games – and should have many of these defeats this year.
Newcastle 27 7 6 14 27 44 27 could leave this summer if the Germany job beaten Chelsea last week. “Not many with us performing
Brighton 27 5 11 11 27 35 26 becomes available. “When we win football games we’re not completely under our ability, maybe only
Fulham 27 4 11 12 21 33 23 Speculation suggests that he could opt to constantly partying and if we lose them we Aston Villa – but even that game was strange.”
West Brom 28 3 9 16 20 56 18 walk away this summer, and that he is simply are not punching each other’s face,” Klopp – Express Newspapers
Sheffield Utd 28 4 2 22 16 45 14
CHAMPIONSHIP: Huddersfield 0 Cardiff 0,
Barnsley 1 Birmingham 0, Bristol City 0 QPR 2,
Coventry 1 Derby 0, Millwall 0 Blackburn 2,
Norwich 3 Luton 0, Preston 1 Bournemouth 1,
Reading 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0, Stoke 2
Wycombe 0, Swansea 2 Middlesbrough 1,
Watford 1 Nottingham Forest 0.
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts
Norwich 35 23 7 5 51 25 76
Watford 35 19 9 7 46 24 66
Swansea 33 19 8 6 43 24 65
Brentford 34 18 9 7 61 36 63
Reading 35 18 6 11 49 37 60
Barnsley 34 17 6 11 42 37 57
Bournemouth35 15 11 9 50 34 56
Cardiff 35 15 9 11 53 35 54
Mid’boro 35 14 8 13 41 38 50
Stoke 35 12 12 11 41 39 48
Cardiff City’s Will

Cardiff play out

LA LIGA: Valladolid 2 (Plano 14, Weissman 24) Vaulks (left) in action
Getafe 1 (Mata 37), Elche 2 (Gutierrez Parejo 70, during Saturday’s
Carrillo 76) Sevilla 1 (L. de Jong 90), Cadiz 1 English Championship

frustrating stalemate
(Negredo 40) Eibar 0, Osasuna 0 Barcelona 2 match against
(Alba 30, Moriba 83). Huddersfield Town.
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts
Atletico 24 18 4 2 47 16 58 CARDIFF CITY missed the chance to are looking increasingly light.
Barcelona 26 17 5 4 57 22 56 move back into the Championship’s top The bitter blow of losing Bagan to a
Real Madrid 25 16 5 4 43 20 53 six after a scrappy goalless draw at dislocated shoulder perhaps hampered
Sevilla 25 15 3 7 35 20 48 Huddersfield Town. the Bluebirds’ rhythm, with the youngster
Sociedad 25 11 9 5 42 21 42 Chances were sparse during a contest now facing a long spell out.
Real Betis 25 12 3 10 33 38 39 which, on the whole, perhaps wasn’t the Certainly not the ideal performance,
Villarreal 26 8 13 5 34 29 37 tub-thumping spectacle Mick McCarthy but a clean sheet and another game
Granada 25 9 6 10 31 42 33 would have liked on his 1,000th game in without defeat – Cardiff’s run now
Levante 25 7 11 7 35 34 32 management. stretching to 11 under McCarthy – will
Bilbao 24 8 6 10 34 28 30 The Bluebirds, carrying several injury perhaps be seen as a positive.
concerns, were unable to really find their “A really tough game. We haven’t
SERIE A: Spezia 1 (Verde 71) Benevento 1 (Gaich usual attacking fluency in West Yorkshire, played particularly well in it, although we
24), Udinese 2 (Llorente 42, Pereyra 90+3) and may well consider themselves lucky have been really solid,” McCarthy told
Sassuolo 0, Juventus 3 (Rabiot 39, Morata 57, 60- to leave with a point after Yaya Sanogo BBC Sport Wales.
pen) Lazio 1 (Correa 14). missed from the spot deep into the “They have had a tough schedule as
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts second half. well but we got done I think with the
Inter Milan 25 18 5 2 62 25 59 McCarthy will have plenty to ponder, Wednesday-Saturday and Tuesday-Friday,
AC Milan 25 16 5 4 48 30 53 particularly after seeing Joel Bagan with our energy levels I guess.
Juventus 25 15 7 3 51 21 52 forced off before the break. “We have had to scrap it out, but if
Atalanta 25 14 7 4 60 32 49 With Joe Bennett already a long-term you cant win it, don’t get beat. We’ve
Roma 25 14 5 6 50 38 47 injury concern, and Perry Ng left out due ended up with a good point.” –
Napoli 24 14 2 8 52 28 44 to a knock, McCarthy’s fullback options WalesOnline/Agencies
Lazio 25 13 4 8 39 35 43
Hellas Verona 25 10 8 7 34 27 38
Sassuolo 25 9 9 7 40 39 36 SIDENETTING should’ve gone in ahead,” Villans bosss
Udinese 26 8 8 10 29 34 32 Dean Smith, told BBC’s Match of the Day.
Game of two halves
BUNDESLIGA: Freiburg 0 RB Leipzig 3, Hertha Saints finally win
Berlin 2 Augsburg 1, Borussia Moenchenglad- ASTON VILLA’S European hopes suffered
bach 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1, Hoffenheim 2 VfL another setback as they were held to a SOUTHAMPTON won for the first time in
Wolfsburg 1, Eintracht Frankfurt 1 VfB Stuttgart goalless draw by Wolves in their West 10 Premier League matches as Che Adams’
1, Bayern Munich 4 Borussia Dortmund 2. Midlands derby. The hosts, who suffered a spectacular strike helped Ralph
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts surprise loss to Sheffield United in Hasenhuttl’s side claim a 2-0 win at
Bayern 24 17 4 3 71 34 55 midweek, dominated the early stages with Sheffield United, whose slim survival
RB Leipzig 24 16 5 3 46 20 53 Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa both hitting hopes took another blow at Bramall Lane.
Wolfsburg 24 12 9 3 38 21 45 the crossbar. But with the influential Jack Adams rifled a half-volley into the top
E. Frankfurt 24 11 10 3 47 33 43 Grealish again missing as he recovers from corner four minutes into the second half,
Leverkusen 24 11 7 6 42 26 40 injury, Villa faded after the break as Wolves ending a run of 16 games without a goal
Dortmund 23 12 3 8 48 31 39 sparked into life. Having failed to create a in all competitions. Saints had broken the
Union Berlin 23 8 10 5 36 26 34 chance of note during the first period, deadlock when James Ward-Prowse sent
Freiburg 24 9 7 8 37 38 34 Nuno Espirito Santo’s visitors somehow Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way from the
Stuttgart 24 8 9 7 45 37 33 contrived to miss several gilt-edged penalty spot following Ethan Ampadu’s
M’gladbach 24 8 9 7 40 37 33 chances to snatch all three points. The clumsy challenge on Nathan Tella. “The
result leaves Villa ninth in the table on 40 first win after such a long time is always
FRENCH CUP (Last 32, selected): Red Star 3 Lens points while Wolves remain 12th, five the most difficult one, now we have to
2, Ales 1 Montpellier 2, Valenciennes 0 Metz 4, points further back. “We were good first keep on improving,“ Hasenhuttl told BBC
Lyon 5 Sochaux 2, Brest 0 Paris Saint-Germain 3. half, created some good chances and Sport afterwards.
 QUOTE OF THE DAY
We cannot do other than our best and
that’s how it always is. And if there is somebody
who thinks there is another manager who can do
better then they have to make the decision, that’s
clear. But I don’t think that’s the case…”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
MONDAY • MARCH 8, 2021

Foxes ready to fight Rodgers praises team for stepping up after come-from-behind win against Seagulls

D
ANIEL AMARTEY scored a after the postponement because of everything,” Rodgers said on thankfully we got one and it paid off. another season in the top flight.
late winner as Leicester the coronavirus pandemic. Iheanacho to the “We deserved to win by the end of Brighton manager Graham Potter
City came from behind to Talisman Jamie Vardy has scored leicestermercury.com.uk. the second half and that was what told BBC Sport: “It feels sore. Overall
beat Brighton 2-1 and boost only once in his past 11 League “He’s come up trumps a few times mattered. our performance – certainly the first
their bid for Champions League games, but Iheanacho is producing recently, if you remember at Fulham “There were a lot of changes and a half – was good. We were close to
qualification. the goals to fill the void. he scored that important header. lot of attacking players out, but we getting a second.
The defender stooped low to head Having rescued a point at Burnley “In the first half it got away from don’t want to use that as an excuse. “In the second half, Leicester
into an empty net after Brighton last week, Iheanacho latched on to him too much, he had too many I’m delighted for the team, it a very responded and we didn’t play as well.
keeper Robert Sanchez failed to claim Youri Tielemans’ exquisite no-look touches and was losing possession, good win against a good side. Still, we had some opportunities but
Marc Albrighton’s corner. through ball to lift the ball over but when he intensified his game, he A City win seemed a long way off it felt like a draw might have been the
Kelechi Iheanacho began the Sanchez for the equaliser. played quicker and his finish was in the first half, when Lallana scored right result.
fightback with his second goal in as Amartey was the beneficiary when superb. That’s the level of confidence and Brighton routinely sliced “There was no problem with the
many games. Albrighton whipped in an excellent he’s at. through the visitors’ midfield and approach and intention of the team.
He cancelled out Adam Lallana’s late corner and Sanchez was unable “He worked well for the team and defence. We made a few too many errors
first Brighton goal, which ended a to free his arms and punch the ball his contribution was valuable.” “We were deservingly behind,” against a team going for the
503-day drought without scoring. clear in the melee of bodies. On the winning goal, Rodgers Rodgers said. “In the second half, we Champions League. The goal at the
Yesterday’s victory extended Leicester have the best away added: “I’m not sure Dan knew it hit adjusted the mentality, we were in end is a bit of a blow.
Leicester’s unbeaten away run to 10 record in the division, and with key him! We haven’t been good enough contention, there was tempo to the “Adam Lallana did some really
League games while Brighton remain playmaker James Maddison likely to from corners. We’ve got to make running. Everything was how we nice touches, nice combinations. He
three points above the relegation return before the end of the season, more first contacts, but would usually play.” helped the team, kept us going. He
zone in 16th. their credentials are looking strong. The Seagulls are in was a positive for us.” – Express
The Foxes were on course for a In the meantime, Iheanacho is danger of being sucked Newspapers/Agencies
top-four finish making the most of his chances into the bottom three
last season and is ensuring his side continue but keeping
before to pick up points. Lallana fit may
f a l l i ng “He has a be their best
away bit of route to

Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey (2nd

left) celebrates scoring his team’s
second goal during their English
Premier League match against
Brighton and Hove Albion at the
American Express Community
Stadium yesterday. – AFPPIX

Arteta fumes at VAR for snubbing ‘obvious’ penalty in Burnley draw

MIKEL ARTETA felt Arsenal were denied a “clear”
and “obvious” penalty in the Gunners’ draw with
Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday – but admitted
his charges can ultimately only look at themselves
for not winning the game having dominated in
the first half.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the
scoring inside six minutes with his eighth Premier
League goal against Burnley, squeezing a shot
past Nick Pope at his near post.
Arsenal were comfortably the superior side
after that with Burnley struggling to match them
– until the 39th minute.
Just before the break, the Clarets were gifted a
way back into the game after Granit Xhaka,
played into pressure by Bernd Leno, inadvertently
fired the ball off Chris Wood’s midriff and into the
back of the Arsenal net.
Both sides had chances in the second-half,
goalscorer Wood and substitute Nicolas Pepe
squandering the best of them for either team, but
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could not take advantage.
Dani Ceballos struck the post in stoppage time
as Arsenal threw everything at Burnley, who
stood strong with a resilient defensive display to
clinch a point that moves them slightly further
clear of the relegation zone.
Yet the visitors were also frustrated not to have
been given a penalty after Pepe tried to take the
ball beyond Erik Pieters inside the box only for it
to clearly strike the Dutchman’s outstretched arm.
A penalty was not awarded by on-pitch official
Andre Marrinier and that decision was backed up
by Kevin Friend in the VAR boot, with the
explanation that the spot-kick was not given due
to the proximity between Pieters and Pepe when
the ball came into contact with the former’s hand.
But Arteta was baffled by the decision and
said to BT Sport: “It’s a really tough place to come
on a difficult pitch, but I have to say we should
have scored the big chances we had.
“When you miss the chances we had, and you
do not get decisions, it is complicated to win
football games. If that is not a penalty, then
someone needs to explain what one is.
“From what we produced, you have to come
here and win. When you do not, you have to look
at yourself. We completely dominated the first
half but they make it difficult with a lot of long
ball.
“We generated chances and we should have
won by two or three goals. if you give any hope to
any team in the Premier League, they are going to
take it.”
On the comical goal that his side conceded,
Arteta added: “It’s something that we work on
and we’re going to keep doing.
“The first goal we scored is through Bernd,
Bernd starts the whole thing then we score a goal
with Aubameyang. Then we made a mistake that
cost us a goal.
“But the only chance they had, it was a long
kick from Bernd. We are in open structure and
they had the only chance they had in the game. It
can happen when you play short and long, this is
football.
“But obviously when you miss the chances
that we missed today, in this ground obviously
you’re going to have moments where they put
you under pressure and it becomes the game
they want.
“Then you don’t get the decision when it is an
obvious penalty, because somebody has to
explain to me what a penalty is.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche told BBC Sport:
“We had to work very hard against a decent
Arsenal side but the mentality of the players was
outstanding.
On the VAR incident, Dyche said: “I don’t think
he (Pieters) has thrown his arm up and I do not
believe it was deliberate. The referee had his red
card out in a millisecond but that is what VAR is
for… today we got the right use of VAR.” – Express
Newspapers/Agencies