PETALING JAYA: With the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical, engineering and financial sectors among others, National Association of Educational Institutions secretary-general Dr Teh Choon Jin has called for its technology development and deployment to be regulated. Teh, who is also senior director and registrar of the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, said the rapid advancement of AI has brought transformative changes to numerous industries. He said this necessitates a delicate balance between innovation and ethical considerations. “AI’s ability to make independent decisions raises concerns about the fairness and transparency of algorithms. “Hence, government regulations should require transparency in the decision-making process and demand accountability throughout AI development.” Teh added that privacy and safety standards are paramount, which is why the government must lead in implementing legislation that safeguards individual privacy rights while still facilitating technological progress. “This calls for comprehensive regulations that strike a balance between fostering innovation and protecting privacy.” oNeed for law to strike balance between fostering innovation and protecting privacy: Expert █ BY JADEN RAUL [emailprotected] ‘Regulate AI’ 5 page INSIDE Safe driving option for drinkers TELLING IT AS IT IS ONMONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2023 No. 8382 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my ROAD TO THE TOP ... Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, launching the book Anwar Triumphs, written by prominent Australian criminal lawyer Mark Trowell (left) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Malaysians continue to rally in support of Palestinians KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians nationwide continued to rally in solidarity with Palestine yesterday, in line with Malaysia’s stand to support the beleaguered Palestinians against the onslaught of the Zionist regime. In Malacca, over 5,000 Malaysians of various religions and ethnicities showed up for the Palestinian Defenders’ Mega Road Tour gathering at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong. Cries of Hidup Palestin, Merdeka Palestin and Hancur Zionis reverberated throughout the stadium, as protesters showed their objection towards the current crisis in the Middle East, some having arrived as early as 7am, dressed mostly in white and waving Palestine flags. The gathering was also attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, who arrived at around 9.30am with other state government leaders, in a show of support to the Palestinian people. Ab Rauf told reporters the state government does not object to any NGO holding solidarity gatherings but said organisers have to abide by the set regulations, Bernama reported. In Negeri Sembilan, shouts of Bebaskan Palestin marked the start of a Palestine Solidarity convoy by 200 Negeri Sembilan Pajero Malaysia & Frenzz club and Aman Palestin members at the grounds of Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi. The 52-vehicle convoy travelled around 40km on a route starting from the stadium to Bagan Pinang beach in Port Dickson, said Negeri Sembilan Aman Palestin manager Mohamad Isfahmi Mohamad Nordin, adding that it would serve as a message to the world that Malaysia is standing side-by-side Palestinians in their time of need. In Terengganu, three Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Malaysia educational institutions held a peaceful gathering at UCB Theatre Hall in Putera Jaya, Bandar Permaisuri yesterday in support of the Palestinian people, programme manager Tengku Ahmad Mujahid Tengku Mahmud said, adding that a total of 200 students from University College Bestari, Technology College and Bestari Skills Institute took part. “The gathering started with prayers and participants were carrying placards with messages such as ‘Free Palestine’ to show their sympathy towards the suffering of the Palestinians,” he said. He added that the foundation of AI regulations is expected to be established by next year, which will include the formulation of a code of ethics and governance. He said the effort aligns with the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025, which encompasses the seven principles of responsible AI. “These serve as guidelines for the development of trustworthy and responsible AI, prioritising the protection of individual rights and privacy.” Teh said it is also important to recognise that standards and legislation should complement each other. He said the Home Ministry launched the National Integrated Immigration System project, replacing the existing system with a more sophisticated one equipped with AI technology. Teh also said developing effective AI in Malaysia is a multifaceted task. One key challenge is the need to align regulatory frameworks with the rapidly evolving AI landscape. “Malaysia faces the task of ensuring that its regulations remain up to date with the fast paced developments in AI, such as the implementation of guidelines for digital investment management companies by the Securities Commission to address algorithm understanding, risk profiles and data security.” He said the lack of global uniformity in AI regulations presents a significant hurdle as well, adding that Malaysia must navigate through the differences in regulatory approaches among countries. “Data privacy and security is another critical aspect that necessitates robust regulation.” Teh said with increasing reliance on data for AI applications, Malaysia faces the challenge of balancing the need for data-driven AI innovation with the protection of individual privacy rights, as demonstrated by the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Act. 4 page Clearing up ‘dyslexia confusion’ Turn to — page 3 Story on — page 2
2 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME Be mindful of role in promoting unity, varsities told KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has told universities not to forget the important role of education in promoting harmony, unity and progress in the country. Al-Sultan Abdullah said this is because universities play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Malaysia and it is their collective responsibility to ensure that they continue to excel. The King was speaking at a gala dinner held in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Universiti Malaya Chinese Studies Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah Aminah at the event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC oInstitutions contribute much effort in determining future of country, says King Sabah populated areas 5G scope at almost 50% RANAU: The 5G network coverage in Sabah has reached almost 50% of populated areas as of Sept 30, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, adding that 401 of the total 622 5G sites planned in Sabah has also been completed. He said 4G mobile broadband coverage has reached over 90% of populated areas in Sabah, with an average mobile speed of 43.76Mbps, as of the second quarter of this year. “A total of 4,229 of the 4,281 transmitter stations planned to be upgraded to the 4G network have been completed, while another 52 stations are being implemented,” he said at the Hari Bersama Komuniti event at the Kampung Lohan Digital Economy Centre yesterday. The event is an ongoing initiative of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the Communications and Digital Ministry to promote digital economy centres in an effort to cultivate the elements of digitalisation among the people. On the implementation of the National Digital Network project in Sabah, Fahmi said 186 of the 631 new communication towers planned to be erected had been completed, while 445 new communication towers are in the implementation stage. He said the National Digital Network project, which encompasses two phases of development, was implemented to improve connectivity and quality internet services for the people, including for education, health and economic purposes. Fahmi added that a total of 118 digital economy centres are in operation in Sabah to date, with another 14 to be established to empower the local community, especially in rural areas. He said internet facilities provided at the centres nationwide are to encourage the local community to venture into online businesses through e-commerce platforms. – Bernama Department on Saturday. The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah also graced the event, which was held at the university’s Dewan Tunku Canselor. Al-Sultan Abdullah also congratulated the department for its contribution to the success and growth of the university and its faculties in upholding and strengthening the legacy of pursuing knowledge and promoting cultural heritage. The King also gave recognition to the unwavering support for the department and university from the Chinese community. “You have sent your best youths to the university, provided scholarships, accepted students as your interns, provided generous research grants for academics and funded a variety of projects over the past six decades. “Your commitment and dedication have played a pivotal role in complementing the quality education envisioned by our country and the institution.” Al-Sultan Abdullah said the university has consistently demonstrated excellence in the field of education and research. “It brings me immense joy to learn of Universiti Malaya’s remarkable achievement of attaining the rank of the third-best university in Southeast Asia, and being placed among the top eight universities in all of Asia, according to the 2023 rankings. This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire university community.” In this regard, the King acknowledged the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who is also the university’s chancellor, for being an unwavering supporter of education and the pursuit of knowledge in the nation, Bernama reported. “I truly admire his lifelong fervour in pushing the boundaries of knowledge, which is upheld as the mission of this university as well.” Organising committee chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said in his speech that the department was established with three main objectives – strengthening the learning of the Chinese language, researching and promoting Chinese culture and facilitating the exchange of cultures among ethnic groups. Expansion of large-scale padi scheme JERTIH: The government is working to expand the Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Padi Field programme throughout the country, including Sabah and Sarawak. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the move is being made to meet local rice needs, especially for states affected by the yearly monsoon season. “Currently, rice production in Sabah and Sarawak is still low to meet the needs of their population, but we are confident that in the long term, the two states can become rice producers not only for their own consumption but also for other states.” Mohamad was speaking at a Santai Agro Madani Penuaian Program at Kampung Gerai yesterday. He said apart from Sabah and Sarawak, the ministry has received good response from other states, such as Pahang and Johor, to carry out the programme, which involves integrated padi farming using modern technology to increase crop yields and produce better quality rice. He added that the programme was introduced at the end of 2021. – Bernama PM launches book on premiership journey KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday launched the book Anwar Triumphs, written by prominent Australian criminal lawyer Mark Trowell. The book portrays Anwar’s journey, marked by victories over long-standing rivalries and political treachery as well as bold initiatives to uplift the nation. The narrative culminates in the historic hung Parliament after the 15th general election, and his ascension to the position of Malaysia’s 10th prime minister. Trowell said the title of the book was not meant only to describe Anwar becoming prime minister but also to capture the fulfilment of the “Reformasi” movement. “The importance of such books is that they record for history what actually happened, a ‘contemporary account’, rather than something written after many years when memories become foggy.” He said the “Reformasi” movement struggled over many years to overcome an authoritarian government that had been in power for more than 50 years. “The story needed to be told and updated,” Trowell said. Also present at the launch was Anwar’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The book is available at all major bookstores. – Bernama Plan to produce Quran prodigies SERDANG: The Education Ministry will ensure that all sports equipment in schools are audited to ensure the safety of students during sports activities, said its minister Fadhlina Sidek. She said it is crucial to ensure sports equipment and school grounds are always in good condition, in line with the ministry’s 1Student, 1Sport policy. “Sports development facilities should be given focus. At the ministry level, apart from sports related allocations, we are also looking at how to ensure sports equipment can be audited so that they will be in good and safe condition for students.” She was speaking after officiating at the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK) (C) Serdang Soon Ah Koon synthetic field in Serdang yesterday. She added that the policy would also be expanded so that all students would have access to games and sports, thus cultivating a sports culture for a more healthy generation, Bernama reported. “Sports culture should start in the early stages of schooling. Most importantly, in the overall context, the holistic character development (of students) includes sports. “We are also trying as much as possible to make sports a unifying medium among students.” School sports KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal equipment audit Territories Islamic Religious Department has been asked to draw up a strategic framework and action plan within three years to produce quality qari and qariah (male and female Quran reciters), and hafiz and hafiza (male and female Quran memorisers) among youths, including the asnaf (those eligible to receive tithe). Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said continuous training in modules and syllabuses by Quran experts would be provided to enable trainees to master the knowledge of reciting the Quran and the basics of tadabbur (contemplation session) of its verses. “Encouraging the community to return to appreciating the noble values of the Quran is the priority of the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), which is being mobilised by all its agencies via various approaches. “This is also an effort by all of us to preserve the agenda of developing Malaysia Madani, forming a society that upholds the values of knowledge, morals and virtue. This effort is a commitment mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.” He was speaking at the Federal Territories-level Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly on Saturday, Bernama reported. Mohd Na’im said mosques and surau in the Federal Territories would continue to be used as learning centres for people of all ages to understand the interpretation of the Quran. “Individuals who adhere to religious teachings will apply Quranic values such as unity, love and tolerance in society. “Alhamdulillah, I have observed and noticed that there are several mosques and surau in the Federal Territories have been organising lectures and Quran study classes, and we hope that all mosques and surau make the same effort to boost appreciation of the Quran.” Mohd Na’im also raised the importance of the community being united and working together to sow the spirit of solidarity. “It is hoped that unity among Malaysians will serve as the core for Malaysia to advance further and remain intact and strong.”
3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 Additionally, the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy 2020-2024, initiated by the National Cyber Security Agency, is a comprehensive plan to enhance cybersecurity, including AI-related security measures. “This reflects the government’s commitment to securing cyberspace while fostering economic prosperity.” However, Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said AI usage should not be overregulated as that could stifle its adoption by businesses and society, and negatively impact the growth and competitiveness of businesses. He said stringent AI regulations could pose challenges for businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). “Compliance is costly and timeconsuming, with larger companies better equipped to bear the financial burden. “This puts MSME at a disadvantage, hindering their ability to compete.” Syed Hussain added that the government must balance consumer interests with the need to support MSME, ensuring regulations promote growth and competitiveness without imposing excessive burdens. “In Malaysia, 62% (of the population) fear AI will replace their jobs, significantly higher than the global average of 36%,” he said. He advised the people to focus on upskilling and reskilling to keep their skills in tune with their employers’ needs, ensuring job security. From front page KOTA KINABALU: Media organisations should ensure the journalism industry in Sabah continues to thrive by involving more youths in the field, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said not many among the younger generation were keen to make journalism a career option nowadays, with attractive salary packages being among the key reasons. “Perhaps it is time for media organisations to offer appropriate salaries and incentives to ensure that more among the young generation take up journalism in the future,” he said while officiating at the Kinabalu Press Awards on Saturday. Also present were Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Datuk Muguntan Vanar. Hajiji also called on media employees to continue helping the government in disseminating information to the grassroots level about the successes that have been achieved to increase the people’s confidence in the government, Bernama reported. “Smart cooperation between the media and state government is very important and needs to be continuously strengthened to ensure the successes achieved through the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan can be communicated directly to the people.” Meanwhile in Penang, Ipoh City Council Works and Buildings director Arif Mohd Zainudin said the media plays a crucial role in the realisation of development efforts planned by the council. He said various state development agendas such as the “Ipoh Bandaraya Bestari Sejahtera” and “Perak Sejahtera” were able to be realised with the help of the media in Perak. “The relationship between the media and government agencies such as the council is very important because our aspirations must be widely disseminated to city dwellers. “It will also assist the council in gathering feedback from the community, particularly the people of Ipoh,” he said at a dinner on Saturday held in conjunction with the Media Retreat - Team Building event, which was also attended by Penang deputy secretary (Development) Datuk Mohd Zakuan Zakaria. The two-day event, which was attended by 45 participants, was the third edition after the first was held in Pulau Langkawi, Kedah in 2018 and the second in Terengganu in 2019. According to Arif, the event was held in collaboration with the Perak Media Sports and Welfare Club and is aimed at strengthening relations between the Ipoh City Council and the media in the state. Regulations must not be stifling: MEF Sabah Youths not keen on journalism career oChief minister calls on media firms to offer better remuneration packages to reverse situation CYBERJAYA: A sustainable and unrestricted media environment is critical to enhance Malaysia’s reputation as an investment hub, said Communications and Digital Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching. Speaking at the post-Hawana conference recently organised by the National Press Club (NPC), she said this is in line with the principles of Malaysia Madani. The conference was held with support from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) at its Centre of Excellence. Teo said the theme of the conference, “Malaysia’s Quest for a Free and Sustainable Media Landscape”, was apt as the media plays a crucial role in facilitating effective communication and promoting diplomacy. “Malaysia’s media ecosystem will play a critical role in efforts to elevate the country’s economy to the list of the top 30 in the world in less than 10 years.” Teo said the media have a shared responsibility to report factual news while considering sensitivities as the country strives towards racial harmony. “When reporting, we must not only consider public interest but also be mindful of the potential harm that can be caused by emotionally charged sentiments. “Understanding the boundaries and laws governing media reporting is crucial in making informed decisions about what should be reported and how it should be presented. This will help preserve the integrity of information.” Teo said Malaysia currently stands at 73rd position in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index. “This is an impressive improvement from the previous 113th position.” NPC president Datuk Ahirudin Attan said this is the first time NPC has collaborated with the ministry. “This is a new beginning for the media landscape in Malaysia, in which we can bolster media autonomy and freedom in a developing country. He said NPC also strives for Malaysia to be in the top 30 countries with the most free medium, or free press. “The government and regulators need to understand what we need to have to create a conducive economic situation in Malaysia. “It is important for us to work together to enhance our competitive advantage and bridge the strategic gaps that impede our sustainable development.” He added that it was also important for media employees to have a deep understanding of their responsibilities and obligations to ensure fair and sustainable journalism. The conference featured a panel discussion titled “Media Ecosystem and the Future of Sustainable Journalism”, featuring MCMC senior director of Consumer and Industry Affairs Division Eneng Faridah Iskandar, Big Boom Media group CEO and co-founder Datuk Zainul Arifin and NPC committee member Abdul Rahmat Omar. 14 rivers labelled ‘most polluted’ JOHOR BAHRU: A total of 14 rivers in Johor have been categorised as having the most polluted water quality in the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said among the rivers were Sungai Kempas, Sungai Buluh, Sungai Tampoi and Sungai Pandan. He said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Environment Department, local authorities and related agencies had been instructed to set up a task force to address the issue immediately. “I have instructed relevant departments and agencies to create a framework to deal with polluted rivers in Johor as soon as possible. “I am confident that with the close cooperation of various state and federal agencies, the rivers in Johor would be cleaned so that we can realise the Johor Bersih agenda by 2030,” he said in a post on Facebook. He also expressed disappointment after inspecting several rivers yesterday, which were filled with rubbish, waste and emitted a foul odour from chemical pollution. Onn Hafiz also called on the people of Johor to observe social responsibility and work closely with the state government in maintaining cleanliness and general health. – Bernama █ BYALLEN WONG [emailprotected] Starlink connection for Sabah village RANAU: The installation of a Starlink satellite device in Kampung Langsat here is expected to benefit 500 residents, who now have access to high-speed internet connectivity of over 200 Mbps. Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the installation of the devices through the Proof of Concept project was a temporary measure to address connectivity issues in the area and meet the needs of residents in the village, pending the completion of the construction of a telecommunication tower under the National Digital Network Plan. Fahmi said the Starlink device in Kampung Langsat was installed on Sept 7, the second in Sabah after the first in Keningau on Sept 5. – Bernama NATURAL COLOURS ... A Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia student displaying a collection of butterflies during the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair yesterday at the MINES International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN Conducive media environment vital: Deputy minister
4 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Get a jump start today on creating a successful tomorrow! For the best in local and international higher education institutions, catch theSun's fortnightly Education Focus. FOCUS 2023 EDUCATION Contact us now for special deals on digital, video and print advertising. Unravelling confusion over dyslexia PETALING JAYA: About 13,300 government school students with special needs have dyslexia, according to the Education Ministry Special Education Data. The Health Ministry also said between 4% and 8% of school students, or between 200,000 and 400,000, are dyslexic and face difficulties in reading, writing, spelling and comprehension. In conjunction with the Dyslexia Awareness Month, which falls in October, the Dyslexia Association of Malaysia said awareness of dyslexia is oDisability requires understanding, support so sufferers are not misunderstood as ‘stupid’ or slow learners: Group █ BYQALIF ZUHAIR [emailprotected] low in the country compared with autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Its senior coordinator Mohd Fairoz Aflin Roslan said: “We want to raise awareness on the disability so people will understand that dyslexics are not stupid or slow learners. They just have a problem with their eyes. “This disability requires a lot of understanding and support so sufferers are not misunderstood.” Mohd Fairoz said dyslexia is a lifelong condition that makes it difficult for individuals to read, write and spell proficiently. “Contrary to popular misconception, it is not easily detected in early childhood. Confusion between letters “b” and “d” and “p” and “q” is not necessarily indicative of dyslexia. “Only if it persists beyond eight or nine years of age do children risk having dyslexia.” He added that since dyslexia is incurable, children with the condition would face unique challenges when they are adults. “While intervention during childhood can improve reading, counting, and spelling abilities, dyslexics may continue facing challenges in other areas, like constructing coherent sentences. “It is important to understand and accommodate their needs. “Dyslexic survivors may struggle with tasks that others find straightforward,” he said. Mohd Fairoz added that dyslexic adults would display informal speech patterns and a unique thought process, especially when they are recounting stories. “Their train of thought may appear disjointed, akin to assembling a puzzle. “It is important to be patient and provide necessary support to help them express themselves effectively.” He said the level of difficulty and progress of dyslexic children will be monitored by the association. “If a child makes good progress in six months, he will usually be on par with his non-dyslexic peers and can attend mainstream schools.” However, some dyslexic students progress very slowly and could take up to a year to grasp how to read correctly. “At the association, regardless of age, the intervention depends on their level so it doesn’t matter if other students of the same age are progressing faster.” Mohd Fairoz said the association tailors its support to each student’s unique needs. If comorbid conditions, such as ADHD, autism or global development delay, are detected, they are addressed in conjunction with the dyslexia intervention. The association has its module based on what is issued by the Education Ministry. “The ministry module consists of a framework, which we use as a guide, and then we mix with our multi-sensory approach.” The association’s four branches in Ampang, Subang Jaya, Bangi and Taman Tun Dr Ismail, conduct classes for dyslexic children from the age of six to nine. It currently serves 280 dyslexic children and has 30 teachers across its four branches. During the launch of Dyslexic Awareness Month on Oct 17, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri pledged to help dyslexic children, especially in rural areas, with various initiatives. Visitors treated to rare sights KUALA LUMPUR: Visitors to the National Planetarium on Saturday had the opportunity to see Saturn and Jupiter through observation activities organised by the agency. Eight telescopes were provided for visitors to enable them to view the two planets. However, due to cloudy skies, the planets could only be seen at 12.30am yesterday. By then many visitors had already left the planetarium. The remaining visitors, who patiently waited, managed to witness another captivating sight when a partial lunar eclipse phenomenon occurred. Planetarium science officer Mohd Zamri Shah Mastor said the partial lunar eclipse phenomenon was from 3.35am to 4.52am yesterday. The phenomenon of a partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and the Moon align, though not perfectly. As a result, only a portion of the darkest part of Earth’s shadow would shroud the moon, creating a visually striking contrast. Mohd Jamaluddin Ismail, 48, who came with his family, said they had been looking forward to observe planets Saturn and Jupiter, as well as the partial lunar eclipse. “This is the second time we are here, and to be able to witness the natural phenomena is amazing,” he said. – Bernama Changes to development plan pending KOTA BHARU: The proposed changes to the development plan involving environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) in Kelantan is still at the publicity and public participation phase, which runs until Nov 11. Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the proposal was made so that development in Kelantan could be coordinated while ensuring that water catchment areas would be protected. “We will provide further information after the publicity and public participation stage is completed, said Mohamed Fadzli at Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Ismail Petra here yesterday. On Saturday, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government would stop the allocation of the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation to Kelantan if the state continued with its proposal to make changes to its development plan involving ESA. – Bernama BREAKFAST FAVOURITE ... Mohd Zapri Embong and Yahaya Abd Khalid selling nasi lemak at the Makan Sama-Sama event in I-City Shah Alam yesterday. It was organised by the National Unity Ministry. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN
5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 Special squad to prepare for monsoon season floods GUA MUSANG: The National Unity and Integration Department has activated a unity squad to prepare for floods during the Northeast Monsoon season, which is expected to begin next month. Its director-general Datuk Che Roslan Che Daud said the squad, which comprised members of neighbourhood watch teams, will help affected individuals. “When the monsoon season begins in November, it is very likely that floods will occur in the east coast. We have the unity squad committee, which will assist whenever there are floods. “The squad will work with the Civil Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Department, police and other agencies,” he said, adding that it will monitor flood-prone areas from time to time. “At the headquarters, we do not have specific allocations but we will join forces with all agencies to help. Most important is our efforts to help other agencies, which have special allocations.” Che Roslan said all parties need to be prepared and cooperate with security agencies when ordered to evacuate. The Meteorological Department has advised the public to be vigilant about weather changes, as there is an expected four to six episodes of heavy rainfall starting next month until February, which have the potential to cause floods. – Bernama Evacuees in Perak allowed to return home IPOH: The flood situation in Perak has improved with more evacuees allowed to return home, leaving only 81 individuals at two temporary relief centres as of 10am yesterday, compared with 263 on Saturday. The SK Behrang centre in the Muallim district closed at 8.30am after all the evacuees returned home. The state Disaster Management Committee said in a statement the two centres still operating are at Dewan Serbaguna Padang Tembak in Perak Hilir, which accommodated 40 individuals from 12 families, and at SK Changkat Lobak in Kerian, which was opened on Oct 24, with 41 evacuees. According to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, the water at Sungai Ijok in Larut Matang and Selama still exceeded the danger level at 12.15m, compared with its normal level of 10m. Sungai Bidor in Changkat Jong also recorded a danger level of 3.93m, above its normal 2m. The water at Sungai Slim rose to a warning level of 25.21m, while Sungai Kinta at Weir Tanjung Tualang reached a level of 14.05m. The Meteorological Department has forecast storms and heavy rain in the afternoon and evening in all districts. Meanwhile, the Perak Public Works Department said Jalan Kubu Gajah Ijok-Sumpitan in Selama was still closed to all vehicles due to landslides and the public is advised to use Jalan Pintasan Kampung Sumpitan-Kampung Masjid as an alternative. Jalan Proton City in Muallim was also closed in both directions for the same reason. Jalan A111 Alor Pongsu-Bukit Merah Bypass was suggested as an alternative road for the public as the Jalan Selama route in Kerian was open to heavy vehicles only. – Bernama Four areas at risk of high tides ALOR SETAR: The Civil Defence Force has identified four areas in Kedah at risk of flooding due to high tides expected to occur for three days, beginning yesterday. They comprised the coasts of Kuala Kedah, Kota Kuala Muda, Kuala Yan and Kuala Jerlun, said state Civil Defence Force director Lt-Kol (PA) Zairil Anuar Zulmuji. He added that the phenomenon resulted in waves reaching three metres and could cause flooding at low lying areas if it coincided with heavy rains. Zairil Anuar urged residents along coastal areas to be alert to changes in sea level. “The high tide occurred at about 1am yesterday and is expected to occur at around the same time today and at 1.45am tomorrow. Waves are expected to reach up to three metres or higher than usual and could endanger small boats.” – Bernama Safe option for drinkers PETALING JAYA: Over the past 10 years, only 69 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs have been reported, making it the lowest cause of death in road crashes. Private chauffeur service provider Steven Lee said road users have been drinking and driving responsibly in recent years. “More people are drinking responsibly by using our service compared with when the platform was just founded. “I believe the numbers will keep increasing,” Lee said, adding that he founded the company following a minor accident after having some alcohol. “After the incident, I got the idea of starting a private chauffeur service so that drinkers like me can be driven to ensure the safety of other road users. oFirm offers chauffeur service to clients at risk of driving under influence perils █ BYALLEN WONG [emailprotected] Lawyer linked to MYAirline co-founder released on police bail KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer for an investment company, believed to be linked to the co-founder of low-cost carrier MYAirline, was released on police bail last Friday. Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said yesterday the 62-year-old man will be called back to record his statement. He was among four individuals detained last week for investigations into a money laundering case involving investment company i-Serve and MYAirline. The other suspects comprised a finance assistant, research and development manager and a shareholder of i-Serve. On Oct 17, police arrested the MYAirline co-founder, his wife and son at their residence in Shah Alam to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – Bernama USEFUL SKILLS ... Perlis police personnel presenting a self-defence demonstration during an anti-sexual harassment event in Kangar yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC “With our service, a registered driver will ferry the passenger who consumed alcohol and send him home in his car. This way, the passenger is safe from police checks and potential crashes as well.” Lee said his company ensures the safety of clients by only hiring qualified and well-trained drivers. “Our drivers need to follow stringent qualification standards before they can drive under our service. This serves to ensure that none of our clients will be taken advantage of when they are intoxicated.” A user of the platform, who wished to be known only as Ganesh, said he once encountered a police roadblock after having had some drinks. “For a long time after that, I dared not drink outside my home as I was worried about running into the police again. “It was only after I got to know about this service that I started to go out drinking with friends again. Now, I always book a driver whenever I go drinking.” He said the service gives him peace of mind as it ensures he gets home safely without endangering himself or others, apart from avoiding legal consequences. Lawyer Siva Ganish Sundrarajoo said the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and a fine of between RM10,000 and RM30,000. “The person will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for not less than two years from the date of conviction. “If the person is found guilty of the same offence a second time, the jail term will be up to five years with a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000. “He or she will be disqualified from obtaining a licence for not less than five years from the date of conviction.” Siva said police conduct regular roadblocks to check on drivers suspected of driving under the influence. “If the person is suspected of (being under the influence), he or she will be taken to a hospital for blood and urine tests. The specimens will then be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis. “The prescribed limit of alcohol is 22 microgrammes (mcg) per 100ml of breath, 50mcg per 100ml of blood and 67mcg per 100ml of urine.”
6 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS China opens security forum without defence minister BEIJING: Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China’s biggest annual show of military diplomacy, started yesterday, although the Asian power is still missing a defence minister, who typically hosts this event. China hopes to use the forum to promote President Xi Jinping’s vision for a safer world and draw developing countries closer, as it faces increased coordination between the US and its allies to curtail its military ambitions. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was initially listed in the forum’s agenda as the first guest speaker at today’s opening ceremony, a sign that suggests oUS and some European countries among participants FRAGRANT WATERS .... A volunteer cleaning the holy sarovar (lake) after a helicopter showered rose petals over the Golden Temple ahead of the birth anniversary of fourth Sikh Guru Ramdas in the Indian city of Amritsar. – AFPPIC China intends to give Russia, which invaded in Ukraine in 2022, centre stage at the forum. But as of yesterday, Shoigu’s name was not on the agenda. The US Defence Department has sent a delegation led by Xanthi Carras, China country director in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defence. This year’s forum takes place at an awkward time for China, when it is without a defence minister, whose main role is to engage with foreign militaries. Beijing sacked Li Shangfu as defence minister last week but did not name a replacement. Reuters reported last month that Li, who has been missing for two months, was being investigated for corruption. Chinese military leaders more senior than the defence minister have filled in for Li. State media reported that Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, ranked number two and three in the military, separately held bilateral meetings with the defence ministers from Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam on Saturday. Zhang is due to make a speech at a dinner reception and also give the keynote address today, a task performed by the defence minister in previous years. State news agency Xinhua reported that the number and level of foreign participants, including 22 defence ministers and 14 military chiefs, are the highest this year since the forum was first held in 2006. In particular, China is focusing its outreach to the Global South. Zhao Yufei, an official with the event organiser, said the forum will call on developing countries to oppose bloc confrontation and a “Cold War mentality”, which are two frequent criticisms Beijing have of the West. Two defence diplomats, whose countries have sent ministers, told Reuters the forum offers a rare opportunity to engage with senior Chinese defence officials and military leaders to build trust, which would be key in times of crisis. Concerned about how open the forum can be, many in the West have either shunned it or are only sending small and low-level delegations. Instead, they preferred to discuss international security issues at the Shangri-La Dialogue held annually in Singapore. Some European countries, including France, plan to send a small delegation from their defence ministries, according to sources familiar with the matter. Nato’s delegation will be led by Wendin Smith, its security policy director, an alliance official said. – Reuters One dead in bomb attack at India prayer session NEW DELHI: A suspected bomb blast during a prayer meeting in India’s southern state of Kerala killed one person and wounded 36 others, police said yesterday. “At 9.40am (12.40pm in Malaysia) approximately, there was an explosion in Zamra International Convention Centre in which one person died and 36 are undergoing treatment,” Kerala director-general of police Darvesh Saheb told reporters. “We will find out who is behind this and take stringent action ... preliminary investigation shows it was an IED (improvised explosive device) blast.” More than 2,000 people were attending a three-day prayer meeting at a convention centre in Kalamassery near the port city of Kochi when the blast ripped through the crowd. “We are examining all angles and will find out who is behind this,” Saheb said, adding that he was going to the area himself to oversee investigations. He said “a special team will be constituted” to conduct investigations. He also warned people against sharing provocative posts on social media. There was confusion over the number of blasts. The Press Trust of India news agency reported at least three “blasts”. Police sources cited by the NDTV news channel said the explosives were placed in a tiffin box. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is currently in New Delhi, called the incident “unfortunate” and promised a thorough investigation. “It is an unfortunate incident. One person died and two others are in serious condition. “An investigation has been launched and further details will be available later,” he told reporters in the national capital. Videos from the convention centre showed people screaming and running, with toppled chairs as a fire swept parts of the convention centre. India’s federal counterterrorism unit, the National Security Guard , has rushed one of its bomb disposal units from Delhi to Kerala to collect materials from the blast site and conduct an investigation. A forensic team of the country’s anti-terror agency, the National Investigation Agency, has also reached the site to collect evidence. – The Independent/AFP Former ‘Facebook minister’ arrested in Myanmar YANGON: Myanmar’s former information minister has been arrested and charged with encouraging dissent against the military, the junta said yesterday. In recent months the military, facing armed resistance since seizing power in a 2021 coup, have detained a number of trade and commerce officials as the civil conflict batters Myanmar’s already struggling economy. Ye Htut was information minister and presidential spokesman under the military government of Thein Sein, which ceded power to Aung San Suu Kyi following 2015’s landmark elections. In a statement, the junta information team said the 64-yearold had been detained on Saturday evening in connection with “spreading wrong information on social media”. “U Ye Htut was arrested last night and charged under Section 505 (a),” a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity and without giving further detail. Section 505 outlaws any action deemed to undermine the military. The law carries a maximum jail term of three years. His arrest comes a week after pro-junta Telegram channels accused him of exposing the address of a retired military officer on social media. Thein Sein’s administration permitted some economic and social liberalisation – including granting Suu Kyi’s opposition party access to mainstream politics – but also oversaw waves of deadly religious violence. Ye Htut earned the moniker “Facebook minister” at the time for his frequent posting on the social media network, which was among the country’s most popular. Following his retirement he remained active on the platform, sharing details about his travels. He last posted on Oct 27 during a trip to Inle Lake. – AFP Mouse embryos grown in space TOKYO: Mouse embryos have been grown on the International Space Station (ISS) and developed normally in the first study indicating it could be possible for humans to reproduce in space, a group of Japanese scientists said. The researchers, including Teruhiko Wakayama, professor of University of Yamanashi’s Advanced Biotechnology Centre, and a team from the Japan Aerospace Space Agency, sent frozen mouse embryos on board a rocket to the ISS in August 2021. Astronauts thawed the early-stage embryos using a special device designed for this purpose and grew them on the station for four days. “The embryos cultured under microgravity conditions developed” normally into blastocysts, cells that develop into the foetus and placenta, the scientists said, adding there were no significant changes in the condition of the DNA and genes. The experiment “clearly demonstrated that gravity had no significant effect”, they said in a study that was published in the scientific journal iScience. – AFP B R I E F SBANGLADESH OPPOSITION CHIEF HELD DHAKA: Bangladesh’s main opposition leader was detained for questioning yesterday as clashes continued for a second day between police and protesters against the prime minister ahead of upcoming elections. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman said the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had been “detained for interrogation”. Habibur said Mirza Fakhrul would be questioned over Saturday’s violence in which a police officer and a protester were killed, and at least 26 police ambulances were torched or damaged. Mirza Fakhrul, 75, is BNP secretary-general and has led the party since BNP chairman and ex-premier Khaleda Zia was arrested and jailed. – AFP MASS COMMEMORATION FOR CRUSH VICTIMS SEOUL: Thousands of people, including victims’ families, survivors and activists, held a mass commemoration in Seoul yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the deadly crush that killed nearly 160 people during Halloween festivities last year. A year on, victims’ families say they are still seeking answers to what went wrong and who was responsible for the deadly crush. A police probe into the disaster found massive failures in planning, and a botched and delayed response to the unfolding catastrophe. But it stopped short of assigning blame to any top officials, and no senior figures were fired or resigned over the disaster. – AFP
7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 Trump vows to reimpose travel ban WASHINGTON: Donald Trump used a speech to a Republican Jewish convention on Saturday to promise reimposition of a controversial travel ban that targeted a slew of mostly Muslim countries if he gets re-elected. “We will keep radical terrorists the hell out of our country,” he told the audience attending the annual summit of the Republican Jewish Coalition. “You remember the travel ban? On day one I will restore our travel ban.” At the start of his presidency in 2017, Trump imposed sweeping restrictions on the entry of travellers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and, initially, Iraq and Sudan. The order was quickly challenged in court as discriminatory against a religious group, but the bans, along with Trump’s hardline anti-immigration agenda, were popular with his base. President Joe Biden reversed the ban in his first week in office in 2021. Biden “was proud to overturn the vile, un-American Muslim ban enacted by his predecessor”, a White House spokesman said. Trump was among several Republican hopefuls lining up at the gathering of influential Jewish donors to pledge unwavering support for Israel in its war against Hamas. He told the event, held in Las Vegas in the southwestern state of Nevada, that he would “defend our friend and ally in the state of Israel like nobody has ever”. He spoke after sparking fury in recent weeks by describing the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group as “very smart” and criticising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump’s nearest rival Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others pointed to what they said was rising anti-Semitism on US college campuses, and proposed yanking funding for universities and cancelling visas for pro-Palestinian foreign students. Support for Israel is a huge issue for both political parties in the US, and a rare instance of foreign policy that matters at the ballot box, thanks in part to the large number of Jewish voters. – AFP ‘Friends’ star Perry dies in possible drowning LOS ANGELES: Actor Matthew Perry, beloved star of the top-rated 1990s US television sitcom Friends as the wise-cracking Chandler Bing, died on Saturday after apparently drowning in a hot tub. He was 54. The Los Angeles Times and TMZ.com, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the American-Canadian was found dead in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home. The news brought an outpouring of grief from fellow celebrities and other high-profile personalities. Actor Mira Sorvino said on X: “Oh no!!! Matthew Perry!! You sweet, troubled soul!! May you find happiness in Heaven, making everyone laugh with your singular wit!!!” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was a former schoolmate of Perry’s in Ottawa, described the latter’s passing as “shocking and saddening” on X. “I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. “Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved and you will be missed.” Perry’s last post on Instagram, on Oct 23, included a photograph of him sitting by a pool or jacuzzi at night, with the words: “Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.” – Reuters B R I E F SKAZAKHSTAN MOURNS AFTER 36 KILLED AT MINE ASTANA: Kazakhstan was in nationwide mourning yesterday after 36 people died in a fire at an ArcelorMittal mine, the worst such disaster in years, which has prompted the nationalisation of the company’s local affiliate. The Ministry of Emergency Situations said at 10am local time (12pm in Malaysia), “the bodies of 36 miners were found and 10 workers were still being sought”. However, the chances of finding them alive are “very low”, the rescuers warned the night before, due to the lack of ventilation in the mine and the force of Saturday’s explosion, which spread over 2km. Flags were at half-mast across the country yesterday to mark the day of mourning. – AFP MOSCOW THREATENS TO CONFISCATE EU ASSETS MOSCOW: Russia will confiscate assets belonging to European Union (EU) states it deems unfriendly if the bloc “steals” frozen Russian funds in a drive to fund Ukraine, a top ally of President Vladimir Putin said yesterday. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that the EU executive was working on a proposal to pool some of the profits derived from frozen Russian state assets to help Ukraine and its post-war reconstruction. “Such a decision would require a symmetrical response from the Russian Federation,” State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said. “In that case, far more assets belonging to unfriendly countries will be confiscated than our frozen funds in Europe.” – Reuters Pence drops out of US presidential race WASHINGTON: Former US vice-president Mike Pence dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Saturday, saying it was not “his time” – and underlining his ex-boss Donald Trump’s total dominance of the Republican Party. The timing was a surprise. Pence got a warm reception when he stepped up to speak at the annual meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas, only to cause a shock by using the occasion to become the first major 2024 candidate to suspend his campaign. “It’s become clear to me: this is not my time,” Pence said. “After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president.” The setting, perhaps, was unexpected. But the eventual demise of Pence’s bid to be chosen to take on President Joe Biden next year had only seemed a matter of time. Despite national name recognition and years of experience in Washington, his campaign was anemic. Had he not dropped out Saturday, he faced the humiliation of not being invited to join a primary candidates’ debate in Miami on Nov 8 due to lack of support in the polls. The departure of Pence leaves the field a little clearer for Trump’s main rival, Ron DeSantis, the right-wing governor of Florida – although he too is seen as having little chance of overcoming the Trump juggernaut. – AFP ‘Order starting to break down in Gaza’ GAZA STRIP: Israel pounded Hamas-ruled Gaza with more air and ground attacks yesterday in an escalating military campaign as the UN warned civil order was “starting to break down” in the besieged Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steeled the nation for a “long and difficult war” ahead in a late-night televised address as the Red Cross voiced shock at the “intolerable level of human suffering” inside Gaza. More than three weeks on from the Oct 7 attacks, Israel has intensified the war despite UN calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, outrage across the Muslim world and desperate pleas from families of the 230 hostages to “bring them home”. The ground operations have heightened fears that Israel’s other enemies – the Iran-allied “axis of resistance” forces in Lebanon as well as Syria, Iraq and Yemen – could get involved in the conflict. After weeks of heavy bombardment of Gaza, which the enclave’s Health Ministry said claimed over 8,000 lives, the army said “stage two” of the war started with ground incursions since Friday. Israel’s military said early yesterday that it had struck another 450 Hamas targets within the past 24 hours, and that it was increasing the number of ground forces in Gaza. Netanyahu said on Saturday “this is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear: Destroying the military and leadership capabilities of Hamas, and bringing the hostages back home.” A resident pushing his bicycle past a gas station destroyed during Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis refugee camp. – AFPPIC oWorld is witnessing humanitarian catastrophe: UN chief He vowed to “eradicate” Hamas “for the sake of our existence”. Panic and fear have surged inside Gaza, where over one million people are displaced, and where communications went dark for days after Israel cut internet lines, although connectivity had gradually returned early yesterday. Inside Gaza, where petrol and diesel have virtually run out, donkey cart driver Raafat Najjar said “there are no cars, we transport (people) on carts as there’s no fuel”. In a statement yesterday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said “thousands of people broke into several UNRWA warehouses and distribution centres in the middle and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, taking wheat flour and other basic survival items like hygiene supplies. “This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza. People are scared, frustrated and desperate.” “The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added. “More than two million people, with nowhere safe to go, are being denied the essentials for life – food, water, shelter and medical care – while being subjected to relentless bombardment. “I urge all those with responsibility to step back from the brink.” – AFP
8 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 SPEAK UP Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesundaily.my/ US, West battle new world order “ WE were in a post-war period for 50 years where it worked pretty damn well, but that’s sort of run out of steam. Sort of run out of steam. It needs a new — a new world order in a sense like that was a world order,” said US President Joe Biden. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow: “We absolutely agree with Mr Biden. This is a rare case when we absolutely agree with what he said. Indeed, the world needs a new order based on completely different principles.” Peskov elaborated that such a “new world order” must be based on international law, mutual respect, mutual benefit and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Perkov omitted to point out that the foundations of the new world order are already being laid and that this is not a variation of the US-centric world order which has generated incessant war, killed millions and wrought destruction and carnage, with the ongoing Israel war on Gaza the latest incarnation of world disorder brought by Pax Americana. But change is coming. Palestinians will not only survive. The Palestinian state will triumph and emerge as the latest country in the world and state to be recognised by the United Nations. Too many innocent lives have been lost but history is being rewritten in the Middle East and elsewhere. But when it is finally done, Palestinians will not only win their full rights to land and freedoms denied by the US-backed Zionist cabal. They will also be contributing to a new page in the making of the new world order. Beginning of the new world order June 16, 2009, and Sept 7, 2013, may well go down in history as key dates ushering in the beginning of a new world order. Since the end of World War II, especially with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989, the US perverted version of the world order, with its perpetuation of global inequality and monopoly of benefits by the US and ally countries, has remained relatively unchallenged and unchanged. US leaders and allies, continually watchful for any geopolitical challenge that would affect their national interests, have been able to engage in successful interventions and military campaigns against countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Today, two new forces have emerged to challenge the existing world order that has preserved dominance of the world’s population of over eight billion in 195 countries by mainly Western countries comprising the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and European Union countries, with their population of under one billion. The first force comprises the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) which met in South Africa for its 15th meeting on Aug 23, the second is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) grouping which met in Beijing on Oct 18 to mark its tenth anniversary. BRICS has a more explicit political agenda aimed at a multipolar world to contest US control and hegemony over the world’s international order. BRI has an economic agenda to build new models of development and greater flows of investment and trade for the economic progress of participating, especially poorer, countries. Critics in the West, to counter the two groupings, have conflated the two agendas to claim that they are inferior to the Western model of economic development encapsulated in the USled mission of building liberal democracies, promoting human rights and freedoms, and fighting the axis of evil, authoritarianism and dictatorships. The failure of the West to live up to its rhetoric of equitable growth, nondiscrimination and fair distribution of global resources for the poor and powerless while respecting the needs, rights and independence of the global South has cast aspersions on their commitment to a more equal and just international world order. It has also brought into the limelight the motives and hypocrisy of the forces behind the anti-BRICS and anti-BRI campaigns. This explains the Westerncontrolled international media’s news coverage which has focused on discrediting the aspirations and objectives of what is the most potent challenge to business as usual in a Western-dominated world. BRICS progress Since its establishment, BRICS has been routinely disparaged and dismissed as a “hodgepodge” of nations that would never amount to any kind of force or weight in international politics. What we are seeing today has turned out to be the reverse. BRICS is the hottest geo-political club in the world with 11 member countries. The new members include the world’s oil and gas giants of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates which will give the grouping considerable economic clout. Earlier, before its Johannesburg summit, 22 countries had formally sent applications to join BRICS while another 23 countries informally expressed their intention to join. It is possible that a BRICS majority if not dominant, world economic order will arrive well before 2030. According to International Monetary Fund data, the Westerndominated G7’s share of global GDP fell from 34.3% in 2010 to 29.9% in 2023, while the fivemember BRICS share increased from 26.6% in 2010 to 31.2% today. This development will become more pronounced as more South countries, especially in Africa, turn against the neo-colonialism of France 2023 data based on IMF estimates as of April. – by IMF World Economic Outlook ANOTHER TAKE BY LIM TECK GHEE and other EU countries as is happening in the Sahel countries and West Africa. BRI progress As for BRI, it has received harsh criticism from Western policymakers and media. Because China has conceptualised it, it is alleged to be a self-serving geopolitical tool with little or no benefit for participating countries whilst imposing heavy debt burdens on them. The actual record which Western media has concealed from its readers? As of August, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 155 countries and 30 international organisations across five continents. Participating countries include almost 75% of the world’s population and account for more than half of the world’s GDP. Chinese President Xi Jinping has explained that in pursuit of common development and prosperity, ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics are not a choice in BRI cooperation. “What we stand against are unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption. “This is why the BRI is never a threat to others’ development.” Representatives from other countries have expressed support for the difference between the BRI and Western forms of development cooperation. According to Grandview Institution executive director Naseem Khan Achakzai in Pakistan: “Contrary to the Western-led model, the BRI prioritises pragmatic infrastructure and economic development without imposing political conditions.” Former director of operations at the Prime Minister’s Office of India Sudheendra Kulkarni has emphasised: “The BRI has become the largest and most beneficial project in the modern history of the world to promote common development and common prosperity.” The end game in the world order There can be no doubt that Western leaders and media will try every trick in the book and more to discredit BRICS and BRI. There will also be attempts to divide the members and undermine the achievements and future plans of the two groupings. But it is clear that history is being revised by the global South and this time around, there will be no turning back. Lim Teck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments: [emailprotected] “Critics in the West, to counter the two groupings, have conflated the two agendas to claim that they are inferior to the Western model of economic development encapsulated in the US-led mission of building liberal democracies.
9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 Battle against food inflation not over ALTHOUGH Prime Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim via Budget 2024 had stressed that “the battle in dealing with the cost of living, which was initiated by the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, shall not end, and will be further enhanced” under the Payung Rahmah programme, food inflation as a category in its own right hasn’t been given much attention. It’s critical for there to be a closer alignment between cost-of-living (reducing the financial burden of the rakyat) and food inflation (reducing food prices) not only because the latter significantly impacts the former but also to ensure a more holistic and comprehensive policy framework and approach involving the entire supply chain that will promote and guarantee sustainable food security understood here as ready availability and accessibility at all times, and in all places at affordable prices. Food inflation should remain a key concern and might go higher due to geopolitical dynamics (directly via supply-chain disruptions and indirectly via cost transmission), the El Nino phenomenon, other climatic conditions resulting from global warming, export restrictions and other protectionist measures. This is set against the backdrop whereby the economy is still recovering for many households i.e, still reeling from the scarring impact of Covid-19 in the form of depleted savings and reduced income. As it is, persistent food inflation is paired with cashflow problems whereby there is a positive correlation. In addition to the overarching Payung Rahmah programme, the Madani unity government, through Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and his ministry, has embarked on and launched the People’s Income Initiative (IPR). Participants now enjoy increased revenue by multiple times (up to RM14,000 on average) and RM500 million will be allocated under Budget 2024 “to increase the participation of more hardcore poor”. As it is, IPR revolves around the three components of the supply chain, namely upstream in the form of the Agro/Farmer Entrepreneur Initiative (Intan), midstream in the form of the Food Entrepreneur Initiative (Insan) as well as Ikhsan in the form of the Service Operator Initiative (downstream). Like Payung Rahmah, IPR has helped to alleviate the financial burden of the rakyat by providing income-generating opportunities and will continue to do so even as both flagship and signature programmes are being expanded under Budget 2024 and beyond. However, it’s critical for the government as driven by the Madani Economy Framework to also conceptualise how food inflation as a distinct or separate albeit interrelated policy category/issue can assist the cost-of-living measures. In this, a closer alignment between cost-of-living and food inflation can be epitomised and represented by policy measures undertaken to reregulate the supply chain involving the nation’s staple, i.e, rice, as a prominent case in point. Instead of market liberalisation, we should be reverting back to stronger state involvement in the form of the restoration of the National Padi and Rice Board or Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN), which was established in 1971 as a statutory body under the Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara Act. The proposed reversion was indeed a policy idea of Salahuddin himself when he was the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister. What better way to honour his memory. This is also in line with the recent calls by the Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation and n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organisation Padi Rescue. Or Bernas could even be reversed and corporatised as a g ove r n m e nt- l i n ke d company (GLC) under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry. Either way, the state would take full responsibility and control in the single gatekeeping mechanism instead of leaving it to Bernas as a private entity where it has to import according to market prices, regardless. This means lossmaking when prices exceed the ceiling (selling) prices. Furthermore, Bernas can only import according to market supply. This renders the role of a private entity ineffective during times of crisis. We have seen how only government-togovernment (G2G) arrangements can help secure the needed levels of supply flow to complement and supplement the domestic stock in reference to India which has agreed to lift export restrictions to the tune of 170,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice. In addition, as a private entity, Bernas’s role is also stymied as the buyer-of-last resort (BOLR) whereby it has no choice but to purchase paddy irrespective of the quality at a guaranteed floor price, which is set at RM1,300 per metric tonne. Although the government provides a subsidy of RM360 per metric tonne, which has been increased to RM500 per metric tonne under Budget 2024, there would be a time lag since applications would have to be made subject to bureaucratic procedures. This adds to the cashflow pressures of padi farmers who are experiencing higher input costs (seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, machinery rental, land rentals, etc). Hence, a government entity would be able to dispense with both the minimum or floor selling price, and the subsidies to padi farmers simultaneously – without payment delays/backlogs – as BOLR (and absorb any financial losses). From one vulnerable point to another, it also means that Bernas would not be able to perform the role of stockpiler-of-the-last resort (SOLR) which is critical if we are to ensure sufficient supply to meet demand or any shortfall. As SOLR, Bernas should then be able to release excess or surplus stock into the market to relieve supply pressures (nationwide). This would obviate losses to Bernas (as buyer) and/or downstream players (i.e, retailers) as a result of hoarding and, by extension, repackaging of labels (i.e, from local to imported) as well as mixing of rice (i.e, local and imported together) by the midstream cartel players. However, a government entity such as the LPN or a GLC equivalent can be better poised to fulfil such a role. This is because the institutional vulnerabilities/exposures of Bernas can be redressed with the substitution of a government entity backed by greater financial and nonfinancial resources in the form of the LPN or GLC equivalent. The role of LPN – in substituting for Bernas – will be also as SOLR (i.e, as in also seller of the last resort) for seedlings and fertilisers. This will provide proper competition in the market since the market for the distribution of seedlings and fertilisers is currently subject to oligopoly, i.e, governmentapproved suppliers. Should there be reverse corporatisation, funding could also come from private sector sources, i.e, GLC banks, whereby there would be the issuance of corporate bonds, including sukuk (that could partly to a certain extent help in what should be the long-term fiscal consolidation and deficit reduction plan rather than under the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework/MTFF, 2023-2025). There could then be a transition to re-investment into equity holdings at a later stage. In short, the LPN or its GLC equivalent would be able to ensure food inflation for our staple at affordable levels both directly for rice imports, especially during times of crises, and indirectly in correlation/synchronisation with domestic rice by ensuring ample supply as SOLR (to reduce price pressures on the former). At the same time, as SOLR, an LPN or its GLC equivalent would be in a better position to help in the coordination of the operational activities of the private sector cartel in the distribution of domestic rice supply to ensure that the profit margins are equitably distributed among both the bigger and smaller players which could form a jointventure (JV) for such purposes. In the same vein, a government entity such as SOLR would be able to invest in production, milling and warehousing activities alongside vertical integration between upstream and midstream components of the supply chain. For example, a government entity or its GLC equivalent can venture into padi plantation schemes in Kalimantan which may spillover into or share landbank with the Borneo territories of Sabah and Sarawak, including hill-padi cultivation, by way of a joint-border agricultural area characterised by geographically seamless production networks of padi fields where there can be sharing of irrigation, processing and storage facilities. Other zones would be between Kedah and Kelantan and their regional counterparts in the Deep South of Thailand. Indeed, we would be positioned then to enter into strategic alliances with both Thailand, who are ahead of us in rice production and one of the world’s leading exporters, and Indonesia and, by extension, contribute to the Asean Food Security Reserve designed to pool stockpiles of rice supply in critical times such as disasters. The role of LPN will be complemented and supplemented by the existence of a Malaysia Food Security Agency (MFSA) which was not mentioned or alluded to in Budget 2024. While Budget 2024 has allocated RM400 million for the implementation of the Food Security Strengthening Programme which would, for example, promote collaboration with state governments in optimising land use to increase crop and livestock production (RM150 million sub-allocation) and RM50 million to supply 50,000 farmers with bioorganic fertilisers to increase soil fertility, there is still a critical need for an MFSA that’ll ensure supply-chain resilience from external sources via import diversification, aggregator and integrator arrangements with overseas farms (non-poultry livestock), G2G agreements on nonrice food produce, bulk/wholesale purchases of animal feed, etc. The MFSA could also play the role of a SOLR for certain food produce and animal feed to complement the role of the pre-existing approved permit holders. Part of the funding for the establishment of an MFSA could come from an inflation stabilisation fund which in turn could be partly funded by our foreign exchange (forex) reserves with Bank Negara. This would include the yuan obtained via currency swap arrangements with the People’s Bank of China, which would be recycled back into importing food produce and feed products from China and also from countries desiring to obtain the currency as part of its forex diversification, especially BRICS member-states. An MFSA is expected to have its presence and footprints strategically in certain countries as representing gateways into the respective regions concerned (representative offices), which will allow for direct and specialised negotiations to take place for both trading (importing) in nonUSD currencies. This should also include the ringgit as well as some space for bartering. The supplies for the bartering would come from our, i.e, the MFSA’s, acquisitions and stockpiling of food resources from other countries. The existence of an MFSA will contribute towards managing and keeping inflationary pressures under control while promoting selfsufficiency and food security in the longer term. In the final analysis, the nationalisation or corporatisation of Bernas, as well as the establishment of an MFSA, would cushion us from the vagaries and volatilities of market forces and conceptualise as a form of the “(re)deployment” of targeted subsidies on a “macro”-level, i.e, covering the entire supply chain and in a more effective and sustainable way by harnessing and marshalling non-fiscal resources such as reregulation of and intervention in the market at the same time to control food inflation. Jason Loh Seong Wei is head of Social, Law and human Rights at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research. Comments: [emailprotected] COMMENT by Jason Loh “It’s critical for the government to also conceptualise how food inflation as a distinct or separate albeit inter-related policy category or issue can assist the cost-ofliving measures. Anwar showing the folder containing the Budget 2024 document recently. – BERNAMAPIC
10 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 MEDIA & MARKETING Enclosed is my payment of RM payable to SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD. Please WhatsApp your bank-in slip to 0182929936 or email to [emailprotected] *Not inclusive of vendor service charge Stay informed with the latest news and trends All the best articles from Monday to Friday 32 pages full colour SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE Subscribe now for Monday-Friday copies of theSun newspaper 6 month subsciption (128 issues) for only RM110* (Normal price RM128) 1 year subscription (258 issues) for only RM200* (Normal price RM258) 1 year subscription at normal price RM258* (258 issues) + RM50 administration fee to get 2nd year free 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: [emailprotected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 M Email: [emailprotected] IKEL ARTETA said the way Eddie Nketiah trained made him impossible to leave out against Nottingham Forest as the striker repaid the faith by opening the scoring on his recall. The 24-year-old had not scored a competitive goal in over 10 hours before breaking the deadlock as the Gunners began their quest for the Premier League title with a narrow 2-1 win. After a 30-minute delay to kickoff following an issue at the turnstiles, Nketiah struck just after the midway point of the first-half, his deflected strike coming on the back of a fine piece of skill from Gabriel Martinelli. Bukayo Saka’s fine curling effort proved enough to secure the points, even though Forest rallied and pulled a late goal back through substitute Taiwo Awoniyi. “I’m delighted for him because he is a role model,” Arteta said of Nketiah, who was back in the starting XI having missed out on a berth against Manchester City in the Community Shield win the previous week. “He was a player who was so disappointed not to play the final in the absence of Gabi (Jesus). “What he did was he came on the field in the final and changed the game. That’s number one. The second one was the way he was training this week was saying ‘gaffer, if you’re not playing me you are blind’. “A lot of players come and say ‘oh why am I not playing’ and you have to try to explain, other players come and say ‘these are the reasons why I deserve to play’. This is exactly what Eddie does. “This is exactly what he did and then he got on the pitch and he performs that way. He’s a clear and very good example to everybody.” Defeat at Forest in May saw Arsenal’s title charge come to an end last season and, despite starting the new campaign with a win, Arteta conceded he was concerned by the fall in performance levels. “For sure,” he replied when asked if he was worried by the drop-off. “It’s going to be very difficult to dominate games for 100 minutes. But we allowed them to get some grip of the game because they didn’t create anything but on that action the game changes. “Momentum shifts immediately after that goal. That’s not the moment to change it, you cannot change it, now you have to be so good at dealing with that situation, running the clock down and earning the points. “The team has done that really well but we’re going to have to be more ruthless and more critical of ourselves to be more pushy and kill the game.” The big worry for Arteta is the injury to Jurrien Timber, who lasted less than 50 minutes on his Premier League debut before being forced to leave the field through injury. It was only his second appearance for the Gunners, having played in the Community Shield win over Manchester City ahead of the start of the season. Forest boss Steve Cooper was left ruing the defending for Arsenal’s goals after setting up the visitors to create the sort of chances that led to their late consolation. “I was disappointed with elements of our game in the first half,” he said. “Structurally we were good but I didn’t like us on the goals – we should have defended those much better. “I didn’t love that we didn’t back ourselves in the duels. I showed some clips to the lads at halftime – we needed to believe, back ourselves and compete. “The real chance in the first half was Brennan Johnson’s from open play. The plan was going to plan with our counter-attacks but we needed to compete more. So it is a game of ‘what might have been’.” – The Independent or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME MONDAY • AUGUST 14, 2023 HARRY KANE made his debut for Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup, but missed out on his first trophy as Leipzig won 3-0 at the Allianz Arena. The England captain stepped off the bench as a 63rd-minute replacement for Mathys Tel but made little impact, with DFB-Pokal holders Leipzig running out convincing winners thanks to Dani Olmo’s hattrick. Kane, who wore the No. 9 shirt after training with his new teammates for the first time on Saturday morning, has yet to win any silverware in his 14-year senior playing career. Kane, who has signed a deal until June 2027 after Tottenham agreed an £86.4 million (RM501m) deal plus add-ons with the German champions, was given a rapturous reception by the Bayern fans after stepping out of the dug-out. The striker had earlier taken to social media to announce his departure from Spurs, which chairman Daniel Levy said the club “reluctantly” agreed to as Kane, who had entered into the last 12 months of his contract in north London, had made it clear he was seeking a fresh challenge. Kane said: “It’s not a goodbye because you never know how things pan out in the future, but it’s a thank you and I’ll see you soon.” He told his new club’s website: “I’m very happy to be a part of FC Bayern now. “Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I’ve always said that I want to compete and prove myself at the highest level during my career. This club is defined by its winning mentality – it feels very good to be here. “I feel like it was the right step in my career to really push myself and test myself on the highest level so that’s why I’m here and I look forward to that challenge.” Shortly before the deal was officially confirmed, Kane posted a message on social media in which he thanked the fans and said he had not wanted to start the season with his future unresolved. “From the moment I’ve been playing I’ve been one of your own and I’ve given everything that I possibly could to make you proud and give you as many special moments and memories to hopefully last forever,” Kane said. “I felt like it was the time to leave. I didn’t want to go into the season with a lot of unresolved future talk. “I think it’s important for the new manager and the players to concentrate on trying to get Tottenham back to around the top of the table and fighting for trophies, so I wish Ange (Postecoglou) and all the boys all the very best of luck. “I’ll be watching from a fan point of view now and really hope the team can be successful.” Postecoglou had revealed on Saturday that Kane’s move was “imminent” after a breakthrough in negotiations between the clubs was reached on Thursday. It left the ball in Kane’s court and he decided on Friday to leave his boyhood club for Bayern. Kane leaves Tottenham as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 280 goals but without a trophy. Bayern had seen their previous bids for Kane turned down, but refused to give up their pursuit of the 30-year-old, who remains 47 goals shy of equalling Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260. Kane’s strike partner at Spurs, Son Heung-min, paid tribute to his departing colleague in a post on Instagram and was later confirmed by the club to have been appointed as their new captain. Son, who holds the Premier League record for goal combinations with Kane, wrote: “Leader, brother, legend. “Since day one it has been a joy to play by your side. So many memories, amazing games and incredible goals together. “Harry, thank you for everything you have given to me, to our club, and to our fans. Wish you nothing but the best in your new chapter. Good luck brother.” – The Independent Kane misses out on trophy as Leipzig thrash Bayern Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane look dejected after the DFL Super Cup match yesterday against RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena. – REUTERSPIX Gunners role model Arteta says Nketiah forced his way into Arsenal team in training Ű MARK MANN-BRYANS 7 Glover holds on to lead -page 21 Jude not obscure anymore -page 22 7 Eddie Nketiah PERSONAL PARTICULARS Name: NRIC: Race: Malay Chinese Indian Others Profession: Commencement date: Delivery Address: Residence Ofice Postcode: State: Tel: Mobile No: E-mail: DETAILS OF CURRENT NEWS VENDOR (IF ANY) Vendor name: Contact no: For your convenience, you may call or send in your subscription particulars via any of the following: Tel: KL/PJ 03-7781 4000, 03-7784 6688 (9.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday) Fax: 03-7781 4484 Post: P.O. Box 179, Jalan Sultan, 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Attn: Subscription Email: [emailprotected] *Terms & Conditions apply Important note: SMCSB reserves the right to revise the price at any time without prior notice. (*Limited to ffrst 1,000 subscribers) Pay to Maybank ( Account number 508177700420 ) Account name ( SUN MEDIA CORPORATION SDN BHD ) PUTRAJAYA: Anwar Ibrahim said the government Prime Minister Datuk Seri will continue providing subsidies to the people in Budget 2024. However, he emphasised that subsidies need to be targeted to avoid leakage and to ensure they only benefit deserving groups. Anwar, who is also finance minister, said this was because at present, the super-rich and 3.5 million foreigners in the country were also enjoying the benefits of government subsidies. “The government has been providing RM81 billion in subsidies, the highest in the world. Although I was often criticised for the statement promising that “the day we come to power, the following day fuel prices will drop”, it is a different context because at the time, the oil price in Saudi Arabia was 50 sen, and now it’s RM2.85 there while here, it’s RM2.05. “The subsidies for fuel, chicken and electricity are also enjoyed by 3.5 million foreigners and 10% of the super-rich, and this does not include those smuggled out. “Hence, proper planning needs to be done to prevent leakage,” he said at the monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister’s Department yesterday. Citing the diesel subsidy as an example, Anwar said there is a need for a policy to address subsidy leakage because the government found that the number of vehicles has not shown an increase as significant as the increase in diesel consumption. “This means that diesel is being taken out (smuggled) ... that’s why we are improving the policies on diesel subsidy.” Anwar also said the early incentive payment of RM2,000 for civil servants in Grade 56 and below as announced in Budget 2024 is a form of recognition for the services of civil servants. He said the incentive payment is pending review of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), and signalled that the oAssistance to be targeted to avoid leakage and ensure only deserving groups benefit: Anwar Subsidies continue INSIDE TELLING IT AS IT IS OCTOBER 17, 2023 ON No. 8373 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) TUESDAY www.thesundaily.my Anwar said the 114-page Budget 2024 was the result of teamwork. – BERNAMAPIC government is paying serious attention to the wage rate of the 1.6 million civil servants in the country, Bernama reported. “It is not reasonable to expect better performance and higher productivity, but no increase in the wage rate. “If we look at a study by the Statistics Department, there is an increase in productivity, but the increase in wages is moderate. There is no encouragement,” said Anwar. He hoped employers in the private sector would make a similar move, taking into account the current economic factors. On the review of SSPA, he said he wanted it to be completed before the middle of next year so that the outcome could be shared during the tabling of Budget 2025. PETALING JAYA: Budget 2024 provisions to enhance potency of EPF schemes The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has hailed Budget 2024, saying it prominently addresses some of the concerns it had raised on the long-term financial well-being of Malaysians, and specifically lauding four key points involving EPF savings. Increase of government matching incentive for i-Saraan programme EPF said it welcomes the government’s initiative to extend the i-Saraan programme beyond 2023 and increase the annual maximum incentive limit from RM300 to RM500 per year. Additionally, the i-Saraan programme has also been enhanced to allow eligible Malaysians in the informal sector, including housewives and those with no fixed income under the age of 60 to have the opportunity to receive a lifetime incentive of RM5,000 per individual, with a capping of RM500 per year. This incentive is set to benefit more than 350,000 current and new i-Saraan participants. Expanding i-Sayang programme to husbands Beginning next year, the i-Sayang programme will be expanded to include husbands, and working wives will also have the option to allocate 2% of their monthly EPF contributions (employee’s portion) to the husband’s EPF account. The i-Sayang programme, launched in March 2023, allows husbands to voluntarily allocate 2% of their monthly EPF contributions (employee’s portion) to the EPF account of the wife. Since its launch, about 34,000 husbands have registered and participated in i-Sayang, involving a cumulative savings of RM14.7 million. Extension of i-Suri programme with matching contributions and maximum incentive amount for housewives Acknowledging the contribution of housewives to family development and nation-building, the government seeks to enhance incentives for the i-Suri Programme, in which a matching incentive will be provided for every ringgit contributed to EPF by housewives under the age of 60 registered in the e-Kasih database. Additionally, participants of the i-Suri programme will receive a lifetime incentive of up to RM3,000 per individual, subject to a capping of RM300 matching incentive per year. Turn to — page 2 Turn to — page 2 Prostitution scourge on social media 5 page SST hike will create fair economy: Expert 3 page Awesome experience with new Galaxy Tab series S AMSUNG Electronics has announced its new Galaxy Tab A9 series, delivering the Samsung Galaxy tablet experience at great value for money. Now available in two sizes, the series combine immersive video and audio with hyper-fast connectivity, supporting everyday entertainment and productivity. The Galaxy Tab A9 and Galaxy Tab A9+ exemplify the Galaxy connected ecosystem, offering a continuous experience across multiple devices, as well as innovative ways for users and their loved ones to safely navigate the digital realm. President and head of Samsung Electronics Mobile eXperience Business T.M. Roh, said: “We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the latest innovations in tablet technology. “With the latest Galaxy Tab A series release, we are making it easier than ever for all to enjoy great entertainment and productive multitasking across the entire Galaxy ecosystem.” Engineered for pure viewing pleasure The Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+ offer the largest screens of any Galaxy A series tablet, with 8.7 and 11-inch display respectively, that immerse users in their favorite movies, shows or games. Galaxy Tab A9+ users can get totally absorbed in cinematic experiences, thanks to a 90Hz refresh rate, whether for lag free gaming or scrolling, while they enjoy immersive sound with Quad speakers, powered by Dolby Atmos. Currently, with hyper-fast 5G connectivity, Galaxy Tab A9 features Dual speakers and LTE connectivity. Both tablets feature sleek, unibody designs with a soft-texture back cover, making them easy to use. Awesome performance Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+ provide exceptional performance and speed The new Galaxy Tab A series provide exceptional performance and speed that empower users to accomplish beyond expectation. oTop notch A9 and A9+ tablets from Samsung now bigger, faster and safer that empower users to accomplish beyond expectation. With the largest memory and storage available on a Galaxy Tab A series, there is plenty of room to store and save documents, sources of inspiration and more. Your Galaxy, Your Way The Galaxy Tab A series enable seamless connectivity across Samsung Galaxy devices, so users can easily move content between mobile, tablet and TV monitors. The new Galaxy Tab A series also ensure that data is safe and secured by Samsung Knox, Samsung’s award-winning, multi-layered security platform. The Security & Privacy Dashboard empowers users to easily see and control what happens to their data. With Private Share, content is encrypted before it is shared. The sender can set access permissions, expiration dates and more to have extra peace of mind when sending sensitive information. Together with secure WiFi, users can take their Galaxy Tab A9 or A9+ on the go without worrying about risky shared internet networks. Currently, internet traffic is encrypted and tracking apps are blocked so browsing is private and secure. Tablets have become an essential source of entertainment and learning for children, and Samsung Kids helps children safely navigate the digital realm. With a simple set up process, parents and guardians can monitor and control digital activities, access settings, create child profiles, set playtime and monitor the content that children are viewing. Plus, the Samsung Galaxy “Edutainment” feature provides fun and engaging content on-device. The Galaxy Tab A9 series have been available in Malaysia since Oct 23. Enjoy these promos when you buy the devices until Nov 30. To learn more on the Galaxy Tab A9 or A9+, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/tabl ets/galaxy-tab-a/galaxy-tab-a9-plus5 g - m y s t i c - n a v y - 6 4 g b - s m - x216bdbaxme Purchases can be made at https://www.samsung.com/my/tabl ets/galaxy-tab-a9/buy/
KLCI 1,441.90 1.30 STI 3,061.85 3.73 HANG SENG 17,398.73 354.12 SCI 3,017.78 29.48 NIKKEI 30,991.69 9.46 TSEC 16,134.61 60.87 KOSPI 2,302.81 S&P/ASX200 6,826.90 14.60 MONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2023 Editorial Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [emailprotected] Advertising Tel: 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [emailprotected] 5 MOST ACTIVES October 27, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) CSH 169,596,500 5.5 -0.5 KANGER 87,753,600 13.5 -0.5 HSI-HPF 59,847,000 15.5 -3.0 SCIB 56,417,100 54.0 UNCH PUC 55,814,100 5.5 UNCH EXCHANGERATES OCTOBER 27, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.8470 4.7140 4.7040 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0910 2.9700 2.9540 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.5420 3.4400 3.4320 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.5070 3.4140 3.4020 1 EURO 5.1310 4.9670 4.9470 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8390 2.7350 2.7190 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.5420 3.4400 3.4320 1 STERLING POUND 5.8850 5.7020 5.6820 1 SWISS FRANC 5.3720 5.2500 5.2350 100 UAE DIRHAM 133.6300 126.7600 126.5600 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.4830 4.1930 3.9930 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 66.3000 63.8000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 62.7000 59.6100 59.4100 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.9200 5.5600 5.3600 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0315 0.0286 0.0236 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.2300 3.1290 3.1190 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 16.0000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.7600 1.6500 1.4500 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.6500 8.1500 7.9500 100 QATAR RIYAL 134.5700 127.7500 127.5500 100 SAUDI RIYAL 130.7800 124.1500 123.9500 100 THAI BAHT 14.0000 12.4200 12.0200 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY October 27, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,634.00 +2.30 FBMKLCI 1,441.90 +1.30 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 553.50 +2.01 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 172.73 +0.87 CONSTRUCTION 186.72 -0.10 FINANCIAL SERVICES 16,233.30 -9.42 ENERGY 874.58 +3.92 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 564.06 +0.22 HEALTH CARE 1,664.96 +0.58 TRANSPORTATION 934.48 +5.88 PROPERTY 847.30 -1.95 PLANTATION 6,888.85 +13.37 FBMSHA 10,846.10 +2.69 FBMACE 5,038.27 -11.32 TECHNOLOGY 61.66 -0.44 TURNOVER VALUE 2.723 BIL RM1.695 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS October 27, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM NESTLE 436,000 125.90 +1.00 HEXTECH 1,800 24.40 +0.70 RAPID 519,800 26.20 +0.34 ALLIANZ-PA 900 16.90 +0.30 PPB 239,600 15.44 +0.20 5 TOP LOSERS October 27, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM VITROX 1,537,200 6.92 -0.28 SAB 4,700 3.24 -0.21 UEMS-C83 18,000 0.96 -0.18 AAX 5,209,600 1.98 -0.10 RANHILL-CD 152,000 0.055 -0.095 Participation 26.3 43.1 30.6 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 451.5 769.0 474.8 1695.3 Sold RM m 440.8 691.0 563.5 1695.3 Net RM m 10.7 78.0 -88.7 0 % Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com Source: Bursa Malaysia A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad S E C U R I T I E S S D N. B H D. 197201001092 (12738-U) 27/10/2023 Premier: Wealth fund will make Sarawak economy more stable KUCHING: The Sarawak economy is expected to become more stable and have surplus income from investments by the Sovereign Wealth Future Fund. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he is confident that with a total of RM8 billion deposited in strong financial institutions, the fund will continue to grow undisturbed within 20 years. “Unless we face a war and a crisis that requires funds, but based on normal circ*mstances we don’t touch the fund for 20 years, which means this fund will grow like the Norwegian (sovereign wealth) fund. “That’s why we have international members who have managed such funds, one from Europe and the other from the United States,” he said, after holding a meeting with the board of trustees of the fund here yesterday. Abang Johari said the board of trustees members will monitor and manage the fund according to world governance – the Santiago Principles. “There are several important committees to assess the risk before they invest. Of course, they will look at the state of the market,”Abang Johari said, adding that the annual report of the results and management will be presented before the State Legislative Assembly annually. Currently, he said, Sarawak is a member of the London-based International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds, which is an important global institution. – Bernama Penang’s Island Hospital expects 2023 revenue to exceed RM600m KUALA LUMPUR: While it is going to get busy in the long run completing its Island Medical City project in the next five to 10 years, Island Hospital expects to close 2023 treating 200,000 patients and anticipates the year’s revenue to be above RM600 million, a 50% improvement over last year’s figure. The private hospital, which is located in George Town, Penang, has started to see the number of patients return to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, chief of staff Lim Kooi Ling told Bernama. “We have reached close to 90,000 patients in the first half of the year and we are confident that we can finish this year with 200,000 patients, with half of them being health travellers from more than 60 countries; namely Indonesia, Singapore and countries from the Middle East,” she said. Lim said that in 2019, Island Hospital had close to 170,000 patients but during Covid-19, with the border lockdown and travel restrictions, the number of patients dwindled. With that now over, the hospital is getting busier than ever, which is in line with the Penang government’s vision towards making the state the city for medical tourism in Malaysia. Lim said the hospital has a 50:50 ratio between foreign patients, or “health travellers”, and local patients. “We offer a significant cost advantage, not only versus other countries like medical tourism hospitals, for example those in Singapore, but also versus hospitals in Kuala Lumpur,” she said. “We are planning to have facilities not only for this new hospital (Phase 1) but additional hospital components to achieve a total of 1,000 hospital beds ... we also have in our approved planning 318 medical suites,” she added. Lim said Phases 1 and 2 have been completed and the hospital will begin constructing Phase 3 next year, pending clearance from the Ministry of Health. “We have this land bank and we have this ability for this brownfield expansion which all in all will be close to two million square feet of space. It will definitely be something that will keep us busy for the next five to 10 years. “That is a sign that this concept of Island Medical City is something that we are able to translate into reality,” she said, adding that the gross development value for the whole project is more than RM2 billion. Embrace technologies used by GBS hubs: Expert PETALING JAYA: Local enterprises are encouraged to capitalise on their proximity to advanced global business services (GBS) centres by embracing the technologies utilised by these hubs. GBS and finance expert Joon Teoh (pic) said among the renowned multinationals that have established GBS centres in Malaysia are Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), AstraZeneca, Novartis and Baker Hughes. “They (Malaysia’s business community) are probably not aware that in our backyard, there are so many (GBS) centres that are using advanced technology, and they also employ good talent,” she told Bernama on the sidelines of AGOS GBS Summit 2023, organised by AGOS Asia, here, recently. Teoh said GBS centres in Malaysia oAGOS Asia CEO tells Malaysian companies to tap into resources and talent of advanced global business services centres in the country 389.91 provide shared services using digital technology for global internal customers, such as finance, human resources, procurement, supply chain, and information technology (IT). “Robotic process automation (RPA) is one of the technologies that are being employed by those GBS centres and it can also be adopted by the local business community to get rid of voluminous, repetitive and transactional work. “RPA can help to free up people’s time for them to do more analysis work to improve productivity, savings, cash flow and so on. There is also a new technology, called process mining, which gives an organisation some real-time insights into some control areas that can identify fraud and also non-compliance,” she explained. Teoh also said that the automation and digitalisation process in Malaysia has indeed accelerated after the Covid-19 pandemic but much more effort is needed as many enterprises are still considering cost as a significant barrier when it comes to the need for digital transformation. “This is where local companies need to be clear about their decision criteria. Cost is one factor to be considered but what is more important is to create a holistic business case and think about the quantifiable or non-quantifiable value to the business. “An example will be improved talent retention as staff sees an opportunity to upskill themselves on the automation curve,” Teoh, who is also AGOS Asia’s chief executive officer, said. She said one of the reasons she started the summit in the early years was to make it a platform for the country’s local companies to join and learn from the multinational GBS players who are using high-end technology.
12 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 SUNBIZ /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME KUALA LUMPUR: Evergreen Group Holdings and Holistic Wealth Group (HWG) have joined forces to transform the financial industry landscape in Malaysia. The financial entity known for its Fund Management and Financial Institution Licenses in various Asian regions has for the first time opened its corporate office in Pisteuo’s UpTown Damansara, Petaling Jaya. HWG is currently leading an amazing journey of growth and transformation, with a clear goal of becoming the top-notch provider of wealth management services. This partnership of the pioneer business will surely shed light on the future of the clients, making their lives more fulfilling. Evergreen Group Holdings: A leading financial entity with a vision for positive impact Well-known Singaporean K-pop singer David Yong, who is also Evergreen Group Holdings CEO, said: “We are committed to long-term commitment and positive impact.” He added that Evergreen Group Holdings aims to transform the financial industry landscape through strategic partnerships, comprehensive financial advisory, and socially responsible initiatives. Yong said, “The milestone will be celebrated alongside the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HWG, a leading wealth management company. Furthermore, we embrace the latest advancements in the financial industry to provide the best possible service.” Moving forward, he added that their dedication to excellence and innovation will continue to set new benchmarks in wealth management and positively impact the financial well-being of their clients. “This venture will contribute to the improvement of the financial landscape and enable the provision of comprehensive financial advisory to individuals, businesses, and institutions.” A historic partnership – equal emphasis on Evergreen and HWG This partnership is not just about collaboration; it’s about creating a financial ecosystem that addresses the diverse financial needs of the region. In addition to the partnership announcement, Evergreen Group Holdings will also celebrate a significant milestone for its subsidiary company Maxima, which operates under the HWG umbrella. Maxima CEO Jenson Lim said: “We have achieved noteworthy success in obtaining the BNM approved financial advisory and crafting a toptier, industry-disruptive strategy that will propel its financial advisers into exponential growth. “Evergreen Group Holdings is dedicated to making a positive impact on society and we are proud to announce our collaboration with government bodies to provide crucial financial backing to affordable housing schemes,” he added. He said the MoU signing ceremony will mark a historic moment in the wealth management industry as Evergreen Group Holdings and HWG take a monumental step towards the community. “Together, Evergreen Group Holdings and HWG are underway to offer more cross border financial product solution which will be a valuable asset,” he added. Yong said the partnership with HWG promises to enhance the capabilities of both organisations and expand the range of financial products and services they can offer. These initiatives further demonstrate the commitment of this joint venture to meet the diverse financial needs of the region. HWG: A collaborative force with a client centric approach As a trendy collaborator with a touch of pizzazz – HWG, a prominent wealth management company join forces to offer a variety of financial advisory to individuals, businesses and institutions. Its CEO, Datuk Chua Meng Min said: “With a focus on client centricity, HWG prioritises the needs and desires of all stakeholders in providing innovative financial solutions and driving growth within the industry. “The key to achieving this mission lies in our commitment to nurturing and empowering the most talented individuals in the wealth management field. Their expertise and unwavering dedication ensure that our clients’ financial aspirations are realised,” he remarked. Chua said the company takes great pride in offering a wide range of innovative and diversified portfolio solutions, perfectly tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs. The partnership with HWG promises to enhance the capabilities of both organisations and expand the range of financial products and services they can offer, Yong said. Recognising that housing plays a vital role in maintaining stable communities and enhancing the quality of life, Yong and Evergreen Group COO Desmond Sim said the partnership aims to facilitate access to safe and affordable housing for as many individuals and families as possible. “This collaboration reflects their vision for long-term commitment and positive social impact,” the initiators said. Evergreen Group unveils new corporate haven in M’sia with HWG partnership Clear your backlog or you could face prosecution IT IS becoming very clear that there are still many taxpayers (individuals, corporates, and other taxable entities) who are stubbornly refusing to file tax returns. The latest case brought to court in Johor includes the logistics company called Narita Shipping and Transport Sdn Bhd which have not filed its tax returns for 2020 and 2021 where the outstanding taxes amount to RM550,000. The other case in a similar court relates to Syed Azhar Syed Sahat who failed to file his returns for the years 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and there are taxes outstanding amounting to RM129,843. If they are proven to be guilty, they will have to pay the taxes and they face a potential 300% penalty on the taxes due, and a possibility of facing a jail term not exceeding six months. Despite such frightening consequences, it appears that taxpayers are willing to take the risk and not file tax returns. There are other consequences. If a taxpayer has been charged in court, there is a possibility that the credit rating agencies will report this, and it will affect their credit standing too. Why are such taxpayers reluctant to file their returns? It is possible that the backlog could be due to the fact that the accounts are not finalised due to disputes between shareholders, disagreements with the auditors, family disputes, pending legal matters, or simply because the accounts are not up to date. It is also possible that there are genuine cases where the accounts cannot be prepared because records don’t exist or they have been lost due to flood, fire, or other calamities. The tax law doesn’t discriminate between those who intentionally delay and those who are genuinely caught in a bind. How do you get out of the bind? If your case is genuine and you are unable to prepare the accounts, it will be best for you approach the IRB and explain the situation. This alone is not enough. You need to get a good tax adviser or an accountant to estimate your income and this can be done by collecting information from your suppliers, customers, and from your banking transactions. It can also be derived from your stock records and expense patterns. There are many ways of estimating your income. Once you have the estimated figures and you have the basis for calculating the estimated figures, you should submit the information to the IRB and ask them to issue an assessment. At the moment, you have a golden chance of using such information under the Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme 2.0 (SVDP) to file the tax return without any penalty. If subsequently you are able to get more information to produce an accurate set of accounts, you can go back to the authorities and ask for your return to be amended. This will only be applicable if there are additional taxes to be paid. In the event the tax is reduced, you will not get the refund. Therefore, you have to be careful in submitting yourself under an SVDP. Any numbers submitted under the SVDP should have a basis and it should be explainable to the tax authorities. Please come out of the woodwork and come clean with the tax authorities. IRB is here to help you. If you do not want to use a tax consultant or an accountant, the IRB has customer service representatives at all branches, and they will help you. This article is contributed by Thannees Tax Consulting Services Sdn Bhd managing director SM Thanneermalai (www.thannees.com). █ BYGLORIA HARRY BEATTY [emailprotected] From left: Lim, HWG co-founder Elsie Loo, HWG CFO/COO Kathryn Khoo, Chua, Yong, Sim and Evergreen Group Holdings Malaysia director Daphne Tan at the event.
13 SUNBIZ theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 LAST week’s overall warrants turnover inched up 1.7% week-onweek (w-o-w) to RM217.6 million despite the market holiday in Hong Kong on Monday (Oct 23) pursuant to the Chung Yeung Festival. Turnover generally ramped up over the week other than on Thursday into RM67.2 million traded on Friday, the highest daily turnover for the month of October thus far. The boost was due to a 5.6% increase in turnover for Hang Seng Index (HSI) warrants and an over threefold increase in turnover for S&P500® Index (SP500) warrants, making up for the decline in trading activity for warrants over stocks last week. The HSI reopened following the long weekend with a 1.1% drop on Tuesday to break below the 17,000 level, before rebounding on Wednesday and continuing to trade below 17,100 on Thursday. On Friday, the Hong Kong benchmark index rallied 2.1% to 17,398.73, ultimately ending 1.3% higher w-o-w, as more Chinese companies unveiled stock buy-back plans, lifting confidence in the markets, as well as the increase in industrial profits for a second straight month. The highest rise in four weeks led to bearish investors net buying the put warrants HSI-HPF and HSI-HN2 on Friday, with 16.2 million and 12.9 million units net bought on Friday, respectively. Investors net sold various call warrants across the board, namely 24.8 million units in HSI-CRY and 12.9 million units in HSI-CR5 as they clocked over 20% gains, magnifying the surge on Friday. Meanwhile, the US markets ended the week in the red, with the SP500, Dow Jones Industrial Average® Index and Nasdaq-100® Index losing 2.5%, 2.1% and 2.6% respectively, dragged by renewed selling on recession fears. The coming week has in store the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting as well the release of some notable earnings reports and economic data. Structured warrants are available over foreign indices, allowing investors to gain leveraged exposure to foreign markets without leaving Bursa Malaysia. On the local front, warrants over Ekovest continued to be in the spotlight last week, as call warrant EKOVEST-C39 clocked in 33.7 million units traded, as the shares notched a 3.2% weekly gain following the decline in the previous week. Other than that, warrants over YTL Power, UEM Sunrise, YTL Corporation and MY E.G. Services also drew investors’ attention. To view the full list of structured warrants available on Bursa Malaysia, kindly visit malaysiawarrants.com.my. Provided for Malaysian residents’ information only. This commentary has not been reviewed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. It is not an offer or recommendation to trade and is not research material. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. You should make your own assessment and seek professional advice. The warrants will not be offered to any US persons. WARRANTS WATCH Top warrants by volume traded Warrant Volume Issuer Exercise Expiry date name (’mil) level HSI-CRY 190.7 Macquarie 20,000 28 Dec 2023 HSI-CR5 155.7 Macquarie 18,600 30 Jan 2024 HSI-HPF 126.5 Macquarie 16,400 29 Nov 2023 HSI-HN7 114.0 Macquarie 16,800 30 Oct 2023 HSI-CRT 59.1 Macquarie 21,000 28 Dec 2023 Ekovest remains in spotlight among Malaysian issues CTOS Digital delivers record revenue, net profit in Q3 KUALA LUMPUR: CTOS Digital Bhd reported a solid quarterly performance in Q3’23, hitting a new record in both revenue and net profit. The group’s revenue expanded to RM66.5 million, reflecting a growth of 26% y-o-y in comparison to RM52.8 million in Q3’22. This robust performance was underpinned by sustained growth across all three customer segments (Key Accounts, Commercial and Direct-toConsumer) and all types of services, with digital solutions and comprehensive portfolio review and analytics leading the surge. The group’s associate companies continued to gain traction, with the share of profit from associates amounting to RM8.4 million for the quarter, marking a 42% y-o-y improvement. With higher revenue and contribution from associates, net profit for Q3’23 rose to RM24.4 million, compared to RM22.8 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The normalised net profit for Q3’23 increased by 11% to RM29.3 million, up from RM26.4 million in Q2’23. For the first nine months of the year ended Sept 30, 2023 (9M’23), revenue increased by 33% to RM188.3 million while net profit grew to RM62.1 million versus RM57.7 million in 9M’22. Normalised net profit reached RM75.5 million for 9M’23, closing in to the internal management target of RM100-105 million for FY23. Normalised net profit added back components including costs related to acquisitions and incremental income tax expense based on the statutory tax rate of 24% for CTOS Data Systems. CTOS Digital executive director and group CEO Erick Hamburger, said: “Our performance this quarter was the highest since our listing in 2021, with y-o-y growth evident across all our business segments and service offerings. With financial institutions and businesses embracing digital transformation, we are poised for an exciting journey of sustainable growth. “We’re also delighted to share that our wholly owned major subsidiary CTOS Data Systems Sdn Bhd (CDS) has received the approval from the Finance Ministry for a second five-year tax exemption extension from Nov 9, 2021 to Nov 8, 2026. With this approval, there will be a reversal of approximately RM27.8 million tax provision in the upcoming financial quarter, subject to finalisation of our tax computation,” he added. CTOS Digital continues to reward shareholders and declared a third interim single tier dividend of 0.64 sen per ordinary share in respect of the threemonth period ended Sept 30, 2023, which will be paid on Dec 22, 2023. The total dividend payout to date amounts to RM37.5 million representing a payout ratio of 60%. Set goals, break through barriers How has your life experience made you the leader you are today? My life experience has helped me to persevere even in the face of rejection as I’ve learned that rejection isn’t personal. Most of the time, it is important for us to focus on what we can bring to the table in any negotiation. I also assume the best in all situations that I encounter. This perspective has helped me to be a go-getter and a leader who sets the roadmap for a three-tofive-year plan. I believe it is vital to for us to prioritise what matters and make decisions based on these priorities. This has helped us to persevere through difficult circ*mstances as we focus on our goals as individuals and as a unit. I’d like to think that my leadership traits are anchored on these traits. What traits do you look for in your talent or how do you decide who is right for a job? I believe organisations need to have a diverse talent pool in order to be successful. This is why we have to identify the talent gaps within our organisation and source for suitable candidates that can fit into these vacant positions. I also think that it is important for these new candidates to embrace the culture within our organisation. This is why we put a lot of emphasis in growing them through a system that we have implemented at ARB. Through this, we help them to adapt to the consistently evolving world, train them with the needed skills and future-focus determination. We believe that this will help to effectively engage, retain and motivate them to achieve long-term personal and business goals. We have also developed a comprehensive performance review and goal setting system to help us with our resource planning over the near-term and long-term. How do you think the industry you are in will evolve? The information technology (IT) industry is growing at a rapid pace. There will be a lot of focus on the next wave of technological breakthrough of the Industry 4.0. However, most people failed to realise that technology on its own is not going to transform the world that we live in. Instead, the Industry 4.0 is about empowering every individual and organisations to be better. This includes political and business leaders, policymakers and people from all income groups. I believe that the digital revolution over the next decade will focus on harnessing converging technologies in order to create an inclusive, human-centred future. What I mean by this is that these new technologies will allow us to have the opportunity to work on things that matter to our lives. For example, smart manufacturing with the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics will open up opportunities for us to focus on families, organisations and communities. While we’re still in the early days of this evolution, I am confident that artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually eradicate the inequality that we’re seeing today and push mankind into an inclusive growth that is sustainable. We all know about the industrial revolution, oARB Bhd executive director Datuk Seri Liew Kok Leong tells SunBiz it is important to focus on what we bring to the table in any negotiation SUCCESS: THE INSIGHT STORY are we in for a technological revolution? Your thoughts. I believe we’re already in the next phase of technological evolution. With big data, faster digital network and AI, this will accelerate our shift into the next technological breakthrough. However, as mentioned before, I believe this next evolution will focus on empowering every individual and organisations to be better. It is about what technology can do for humanity. What do you want to accomplish in the next five years? There is a huge potential in the industry, and we want to be a part of this growth over the next five years. Our aim is to increase 20% of our market share to become one of the top tier IT companies in Asean. We also want to be one of the best ROI companies in the region as we need to maintain our shareholders’ interest as our priority. Aside from that, we also want to be the best company to work for in order to attract the best talents in the industry. Best piece of advice you ever received in your career. There is no shortcut to success. It all boils down to the result of preparation, hard work and willingness to learn from failure. How do you stay abreast of issues affecting your industry? I think the best way to stay abreast of issues affecting our industry is through innovation. It is an open secret that we must innovate to keep up with the market’s pace of change. With technological advances disrupting all industries, companies must innovate in order to stay relevant and not be left behind. For us, we focus on the innovation of our business model to drive revenue. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced? And what did you learn from it? I think one of the biggest challenges that I have faced is in attracting and retaining talent. With competition from global tech companies, it puts companies like us in a difficult position to get the best talents to work with us. This is part of the reason why we are looking to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange, which could boost the profile of the company significantly. What are the top three factors you would attribute your success to? Like I’ve said earlier, it’s all about persevering through every different challenge and obstacle. In order to do that, we need to first set our roadmap and business goals. The art of setting an agile roadmap to achieve a set of business goals is the key to my success. With our priorities set, it is about breaking through barriers. There is a need to be decisive at the workplace, make clear-cut and timely decisions with the appropriate amount of information. By focusing on what we could do with the available information, we will be able to add values to our stakeholders including our customers, partners and shareholders. The success that we achieve also helped to build our reputation in the industry. This has helped us to attract and retain talent in the industry, which keep our growth trajectory intact.
14 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 SUNBIZ Shift in balance of power between US business, labour NEW YORK: The US economy is contending with a wave of union activism unseen in decades as organised labour seizes a rare opportunity to play hardball in a tight employment market. Sectors experiencing unrest include automobiles, healthcare, restaurants, defence, airlines, technology and the performing arts. In some cases, employees have threatened to walk out, but did not actually strike. “Workers haven’t had much leverage for decades, and certainly not in the aftermath of the 2008- 2008 recession,” said Susan Schurman, professor of labour Striking workers walking the picket line outside a hotel in Los Angeles in July 2. Organised labour in automotive, healthcare, food service, defence, airlines, internet and entertainment, among others, have been taking advantage of the bargaining power provided by low unemployment to demand – and obtain – better conditions against a backdrop of high inflation. – AFPPIC oWorkers seize rare opportunity to play hardball amid tight job market UAW expands GM walkout after deal to end Stellantis strike DETROIT: The United Auto Workers (UAW) on Saturday expanded its strike against General Motors (GM) to include its Spring Hill, Tennessee, engine plant, a move that could stall GM’s large pickup production and increase its financial pain. The expansion of the seven-week strike leaves GM the only Detroit automaker without a contract deal. Chrysler-owner Stellantis reached agreement with the UAW on Saturday and Ford on Wednesday. Those deals won workers a record 25% jump in wages over the 4½-year contract and allow the companies to restart their profitable truck assembly lines. At GM, people familiar with the bargaining said sticking points in the UAW negotiations include retirement benefits and issues related to temporary workers. GM has more retirees than either Ford or Stellantis and increases to pension benefits for workers hired before 2007 cost GM more than its rivals. “We are disappointed by GM’s unnecessary and irresponsible refusal to come to a fair agreement,” UAW president Shawn Fain said in a statement to Reuters. GM said in a statement that two of its large pickup plants could be affected by the Spring Hill walkout and that it wanted to reach an agreement quickly. The UAW is already striking at GM’s Arlington, Texas, assembly plant, which makes the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban and Cadillac Escalade. GM said earlier last week that this walkout was costing it US$400 million (RM1.9 billion) a week. The Spring Hill plant, which employs 4,000 workers, supplies motors to nine assembly plants that build several of the automaker’s bestselling and most profitable vehicles. UAW lawyer Benjamin Dictor said in a social media post: “Imagine, everyone is making trucks but you. If everyone else could get it done, what does that say about you?” No more talks were expected on Saturday and it was unclear when GM and UAW would reconvene, sources familiar with the matter said. The deal with Stellantis follows a template set by UAW and Ford. The deals will amount to total pay hikes of more than 33% when compounding and cost-of-living are factored in. The contracts will start with an initial increase of 11%. “We look forward to welcoming our 43,000 employees back to work and resuming operations,” Stellantis said on Saturday. The Ford and Stellantis agreements will have to be ratified by all workers. US President Joe Biden said in a statement the Stellantis “contract is a testament to the power of unions and collective bargaining to build strong middle-class jobs”. The deal includes an agreement to reopen Stellantis’ assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, which will now build midsize trucks, Fain said in a video on social media. The trucks could compete against Ford’s Ranger and GM’s Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models. Stellantis will also keep open two facilities that were under threat of closure – an engine manufacturing complex in Trenton, Michigan, and a machining operation in Toledo, Ohio, Boyer said. In all, the automaker committed US$19 billion in new investments in US operations and the creation of 5,000 jobs where previously it planned to cut 5,000 jobs, Fain and Boyer said. The UAW has won the right to strike over product investment decisions, Fain said. Fain accused the Detroit automakers of enriching executives and investors while neglecting workers and said the UAW’s success would help blue-collar workers across the country. The companies argued that UAW’s demands would significantly raise costs and put them at a disadvantage against EV leader Tesla and foreign brands such as Toyota Motor, which are non-unionised. – Reuters relations at Rutgers University. Schurman considers the current dynamic the most advantageous for unions since the 1930s, a rupture from a long period in which employers had the upper hand. “Wages have been stagnant for decades,” Schurman said. “The pandemic changed all that,” with the low unemployment bolstering worker leverage. Such a backdrop has given momentum to organising campaigns at more companies, although establishing a union shop remains difficult. In some cases such as Starbucks and Amazon, workers have voted in favour of representation, but struggled to seal a contract with the employer. The activism can feed on itself as workers in different sectors observe each other fighting for more, sometime spurring concessions from employers who are trying to stay union-free, said Schurman. This can mean higher wages, better working conditions, increased job security or other conditions. Higher consumer prices have been another catalyst for workers, adding credibility to workers claims that they need higher pay just to break even. Data released last week showed a 3.7% increase over September 2022, down from the 9.1% surge in June 2022. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates 11 times since March 2022 in an effort to return inflation to a 2% target. In August the US lost 4.1 million days of work due to strikes, the highest level in 23 years, according to the Labour Department. One of the most prominent strikes has been the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) unprecedented stoppage of Detroit’s “Big Three”, Ford, Stellantis and General Motors, the first time the union has walked out of all three companies at once. Pointing to soaring CEO pay at the companies, UAW president Shawn Fain has called out the automakers to boost pay and restore benefits following union concessions after the 2008 financial crisis and ensuing auto industry bankruptcies. “Another record quarter, another record year. As we’ve said for months: record profits equal record contracts,” Fain said on Tuesday as he announced the latest expansion of the strike at GM. “It’s time GM workers, and the whole working class, get their fair share,” said Fain, who has seen gradually improved company offers as evidence the “stand up” strike is working With last week’s most recent walkouts, UAW employees on strike numbered around 45,000. Schurman said she was “surprised” by Fain’s strategy, “but it appears to be working”, she said. “They all have more on the table now than they did a month ago.” On Wednesday, the UAW announced a tentative agreement with Ford applauded as “an historic accord” by President Joe Biden. The agreement, which includes a 25% wage hike, still must be ratified by Ford workers. Biden also cheered an agreement between the Teamsters and UPS in July that averted a potentially calamitous strike. Defence group General Dynamics also sealed a deal with the UAW that could avert a walkout. The big US airlines Delta, United and American have reached agreements with pilots unions for about a 40% pay boost. However, negotiations are continuing with flight attendant unions at United and American, with a holiday-season walkout not out of the question at this point. Healthcare has also seen plenty of activity, with insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan still on the picket line after launching a strike in mid-September. Health network Kaiser Permanente agreed to hefty wage increases after some 75,000 of its 85,000 employees walked out for three days in early October and threatened another stoppage next month. Workers at pharmacy chain Walgreens have had walkouts. In Hollywood, actors have been on the pickets since July, while the Writers Guild of America ratified its contract earlier this month after a 148-day stoppage. – AFP Vietnam exports, industrial output increase in October HANOI: Vietnam’s exports and industrial output rose in October from a year earlier, showing signs of a gradual economic recovery in the country which is highly sensitive to swings in global demand, government data released yesterday showed. Exports in October rose 5.9% from a year earlier to US$32.31 billion, with imports also witnessing a rise of 5.2%, the statistics office said in a report. However, amid lower global demand for goods, in the first 10 months of the year Vietnam’s exports fell 7.1% from a year ago to US$291.28 billion, while imports decreased 12.3% from a year earlier to US$266.67 billion, with an estimated trade surplus of US$24.61 billion over that period, it said. Industrial output of Vietnam, a manufacturing centre for major global electronics and clothing brands, rose 4.1% in October from a year earlier, the agency said in a report, with output from manufacturing rising 4.9%. That was an acceleration from September when industrial output increased by an annual 2.9%, according to the latest data, which however was revised from a previous 5.1% reading. On Friday, official data showed foreign investment in Vietnam surged in October as the country attracted more than double the average monthly financial pledges it has received this year. – Reuters Aurelius said to be in talks to buy The Body Shop BENGALURU: Private equity investor Aurelius Group is in talks to buy beauty products chain The Body Shop, which has been put up for sale by its Brazilian owner Natura & Co, a source familiar with the talks told Reuters. If completed, the deal is expected to value The Body Shop at a lower price than the £400 million-£500 million (RM2.3 billion-RM2.9 billion) suggested in some media reports, the source, who did not wish to be identified, said. Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura said in August that its board of directors had authoriaed the company to search for “strategic alternatives” for its subsidiary The Body Shop, including a potential sale of the business. Natura bought The Body Shop from L’Oreal in 2017. Natura and Aurelius declined to comment while The Body Shop did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The talks were first reported by Sky News. – Reuters
3 0 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 3 M O N D A Y The nightmare begins Petrifying games on page 16 Outlast the horror onpage 17 Get your Venom onpage 18 The goat mother onpage 19
16 GAMING & TECH theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 Season of shadows AS the veil between our world and the unknown grows thin, Halloween emerges as the prime season to immerse yourself in spine-tingling horror games. Within this sinister catalogue, we unearth the most chilling and diabolical creations available today, masterpieces that lurk in the digital realm and even oldfashioned physical media. If these games fail to send shivers down your spine, it might be wise to question the functionality of your primal fight-or-flight instincts. For those who relish gore-fueled dread, whether it emerges from cosmic horrors or eldritch dimensions that challenge the very essence of your being, or for those who seek a descent into unsettling lofi realms, the gaming industry unfolds a banquet of unique, highquality nightmares. These are the titles that will leave you praying your trousers contain ectoplasmic remnants rather than other, more unsettling fluids. Recent years have borne witness to the emergence of horror games that defy the boundaries of what we believed possible. A symphony of graphical enhancements unveils body horrors we couldn’t have fathomed, meticulously crafted audio design makes us rue not investing in surround sound headsets sooner, and the eerie haptic feedback coursing through our controllers sends electric shivers down our collective spine as demonic entities lunge from the shadows. Simultaneously, we have seen a resurgence of nostalgia in the form of video games. They serve as affectionate tributes to a bygone era of Friday night VHS rentals and PS1 classics that managed to haunt us with minimal polygons. If you find yourself yearning for restless nights and the comfort of well-illuminated rooms, journey with Alan Wake Remastered - a thrilling blend of action and horror. oGuide to the best horror games for Halloween █ BYACE EMERSON The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - unleashing horror in a game of survival. Dead Space - a terrifying triumph in gaming remakes. The Little Nightmares - a disturbing delight of puzzle-platforming horror. The Evil Within - a chilling challenger to Resident Evil. us as we unveil the cre me de la cre me of horror games available to play this Halloween. Alan Wake Remastered In the realm of Alan Wake Remastered, darkness looms and action takes precedence over outright horror, yet this won’t deter you from occasionally contemplating the necessity of keeping the lights on. While some gameplay elements may now feel somewhat cumbersome, the enduring ambiance of Alan Wake and its Twin Peaks-inspired town remains unparalleled. The narrative still grips you with unrelenting suspense, and the remastered edition boasts enhanced visuals, along with the inclusion of the two DLC expansions you might have overlooked in your initial playthrough. With the imminent release of Alan Wake 2, there has never been a more opportune moment to delve into one of the most captivating video game narratives in existence. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” In the realm of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the very essence of terror is embodied by individuals who wield chainsaws, farm implements, and don masks crafted from the flesh of their victims. Encounters with such horrors are an all-too-frequent occurrence in this nightmarish landscape. Gun Media’s unique survival-horror experience introduces an innovative 4v3 twist to the asymmetrical multiplayer genre, offering players a thrilling game filled with one-of-a-kind jump-scares that pay the utmost homage to the source material. With meticulous dedication, the game faithfully reproduces the groundbreaking scares of the original film, seamlessly translating them into a gripping and authentic cat-andmouse pursuit, drenched in the suspense and tension that fans of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre crave. Dead Space In the bustling landscape of 2023’s gaming world, Dead Space emerges as an early standout, even in a year teeming with blockbuster releases. This remake of the 2008 survivalhorror classic continues to stand as a formidable contender for the coveted title of “Game of the Year.” What sets it apart? Developer EA Motive hasn’t merely applied a fresh coat of 4K paint to the digital DNA of the original game; instead, they’ve meticulously reconstructed this sci-fi horror masterpiece from the ground up, implementing ingenious design choices that surpass the original in every way. The outcome? Unrelenting terror within the chilling void of space, adaptive difficulty settings that will leave your palms clammy, and a quantum leap in graphical fidelity that might just prompt you to clutch a barf bag every time you encounter a grotesque Necromorph Dead Space’s revival is nothing short of a spinetingling triumph in the world of gaming remakes. The Little Nightmares Series The Little Nightmares series, comprising a collection of puzzleplatforming horror games, serves as a captivating and unsettling experience, seamlessly blending both fascination and dread. While each installment in the current trilogy holds its own, there’s one that stands out among the rest: Little Nightmares II. This second sequel takes the creepiness factor to new heights, immersing you in an atmosphere of discomfort and leaving you psychologically scarred as the end credits begin to roll on this peculiar and distressing manifestation of a children’s nightmare come to life. The Evil Within Series In the realm of survival horror, few contenders could match the pedigree of a game crafted by the very creator of Resident Evil, Shinji Mikami. While The Evil Within and its sequel may not have caused Capcom sleepless nights, they remain a testament to the mastery of horror within this gruesome genre. Despite a few minor irritations, this series offers an experience characterised by exquisitely macabre level design, a complex and intricate narrative, and heart-pounding scares that can send your pulse racing faster than a Jigsawbranded treadmill. Arguably one of the most unadulterated survivalTurn to next page
17 GAMING & TECH theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 Butterfly Effect system to ensure every decision counts Supermassive Games In this golden era of gaming, where high-quality visuals and impeccable sound design reign supreme, Supermassive Games has skillfully carved out a unique niche within the horror game genre. Titles such as Until Dawn, The Inpatient and The Dark Pictures Anthology stand as cinematic experiences, offering players a choose-your-own-demise style of horror gameplay. These games employ a Butterfly Effect system that ensures every decision holds weight as you strive to evade a harrowing fate. Designed to provide interactive thrills and chills to a new generation of horror enthusiasts, these games not only boast striking visual aesthetics but are also enriched by the exceptional performances of Hollywood heavyweights. As you assume control of the narrative, its stellar acting elevates the immersive storytelling, creating an unforgettable and spine-tingling gaming experience. Mundaun Mundaun, a captivating horror game adorned with hand-drawn visuals and a distinctive fear system, unfolds in the mystique of the Swiss Alps. This eerie masterpiece finds its inspiration in the childhood traumas of its creator, Michel Ziegler, who was haunted by terrifying experiences from his Alpine vacations. The delicate blend of reality and the supernatural crafts a compelling narrative where a fear metre significantly influences a player’s control, while challenging puzzles await your intellect and a chilling environment beckons exploration. While it may not claim the title of the scariest game on this list, Mundaun unquestionably stands out as one of the most visually memorable experiences in the world of horror gaming. Outlast The Outlast series stands as a resounding success story of the early 2010s, offering masterclasses in the art of jump scares and spinetingling intensity. The initial game raised the bar with its harrowing setting at the Mount Massive Asylum, a nightmarish abode inhabited by homicidal monstrosities lurking in the darkness, poised to extinguish your feeble existence as you navigated its sinister depths. The 2017 sequel elevated the terror with increased gore, cunning adversaries and surreal, mind-bending sequences that left players in a state of perpetual dread. And then there is The Outlast Trials, a prequel that places a heavy emphasis on teamwork and allows you to share your terror with others in a multiplayer setting. If you have ever yearned for a video game adaptation of the Saw franchise that does not disappoint, the Outlast series presents an exquisite fusion of oldschool horror and stunning visuals, guaranteed to leave you so petrified that turning off the lights becomes Supermassive Games’ distinctive horror game collection. oCaptivating with hand-drawn visuals Mundaun - a haunting experience in hand-drawn horror. The Outlast series - a frightening journey through fear and terror. Silent Hill 2 - a classic revival in the making. Hunt: Showdown – a deadly game of hunter versus nightmares. The resurgence of Resident Evil - a feast for fans. an unthinkable endeavour. Silent Hill 2 Silent Hill, after a decade of dormancy, is poised for a grand resurgence in the gaming world’s future. Among the exciting developments is the remake of Silent Hill 2, helmed by the horror game studio Bloober Team. However, the task at hand is no small feat. The original Silent Hill 2 has long held a hallowed place not only within the series but also as one of the most revered horror games in history. At its core, Silent Hill 2 weaves a tragic narrative filled with esoteric puzzles, following protagonist James Sunderland as he becomes ensnared in his own personal abyss. This game is an exploration of personal demons, torment and the burden of guilt. While the gameplay may show its age after two decades, the story’s power remains undiminished. Silent Hill 2 continues to stand as a masterpiece that becomes increasingly shocking and haunting as you delve deeper into its intricate narrative. Hunt: Showdown In this game, you step into the muddied boots of a hunter assigned the ominous task of eradicating the nightmarish creatures that have overrun the treacherous 1895 Louisiana Bayou. Your mission entails tracking down these abominations, hunting them with unwavering determination and ultimately bracing for a showdown to claim the lucrative bounty. However, the twist lies in the fact that you are not alone in this endeavor. You find yourself in fierce competition with other mercenaries, all vying for a substantial payday. The amalgamation of competitive tension and the presence of formidable creatures capable of obliterating the unprepared create a potent and heart-pounding combination. In this darkly oppressive world, where brutal weaponry and high-stakes gameplay reign supreme, the atmosphere is charged with a sense of peril that is truly unforgettable. The resurgence of Resident Evil Resident Evil aficionados have been treated to a banquet of horror delights in recent years, courtesy of Capcom’s Resi-Renaissance. This renaissance has gifted the gaming community with stellar sequels, toptier remakes, and original projects that have reinvigorated the franchise. The often-underappreciated Resident Evil: Revelations series played a pivotal role in realigning the series with its roots, offering smaller yet engrossing adventures that emphasised survival-horror elements. However, the spinechilling revival truly took flight with the haunting Resident Evil 7, propelling the series into a new era of terror. Resident Evil Village continues the trend, offering a gorgeously atmospheric descent into horror. Meanwhile, the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 not only exude visual splendour but also adapt the core gameplay to suit modern sensibilities. While it may not maintain an unrelenting level of fear compared to its peers, the upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake is poised to steal the spotlight. This masterpiece promises a heartpounding fusion of survival action, witty one-liners, and cinematic blockbuster moments that leave fans eager for more. From page 16
18 GAMING & TECH theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME TikTok takes on YouTube TIKTOK is shifting its focus to longer-form content, with recent rumours indicating that the platform plans to increase the maximum video duration for uploads. In this changing scenario, select users will soon be able to share films lasting up to 15 minutes, a significant shift from TikTok’s short-form content roots. This strategic decision raises the question of whether TikTok has positioned itself to compete with YouTube. While TikTok sprang to prominence as the go-to destination for short, sharp and highly shareable videos, it is now clearly broadening its horizons to accept longer content formats. TikTok initially restricted content TikTok has yet to announced when this 15-minute format might be rolled out to all users worldwide. oPlatform explores longer-format content █ BYACE EMERSON Venom spin-off likely FIVE years ago, Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man was a blockbuster hit at release, breaking all sorts of sales figures. Praised for its storytelling (among a multitude of other things), the game ends with a scene that teases a new o r i g i n story for the alien symbiote Venom, showing that it is being used to treat Peter Parker’s best friend, Harry Osborn’s incurable disease. As of Oct 20, Venom has returned in the sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which has what many are calling the best SpiderMan story in recent times. In an interview with Insider prior to the game’s launch, senior narrative director Jon Paquette delved a little into how the studio approached creating their version of Venom. Paquette revealed that the team took inspiration from the entire breadth of Venom’s storied history, from the moment the alien In a game with several supervillains, Venom remains at the forefront. – SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT providers to posting videos with a maximum length of 15 seconds. This restriction was gradually increased to 60 seconds, three minutes, and, most recently, ten minutes. While the idea of 15- minute video uploads has generated interest, TikTok has yet to confirm this development. When renowned social network expert Matt Navarra got a notification on his account, he became aware of this potential transition. He later posted a screenshot of the message on his T h r e a d s a c c o u n t , w h i c h s t a t e d : “Upload videos up to 15 minutes long.” Check that your app is up-to-date before uploading to tiktok.com via your app or desktop.” TikTok is getting closer to YouTube, its long-standing adversary in the videosharing sphere, with these latest modifications. TikTok users may now fastforward through videos by holding down their finger on the right-hand side of the screen or by manipulating the cursor on the film’s progress bar, in addition to the longer video lengths. While TikTok has established itself as one of the most popular social networks among young people, the platform’s increasing content offerings, which continue to gain traction, may easily succeed in converting the last remaining sceptics of online entertainment. Recognising that not all TikTok users may be interested in longer formats, the Chinese social network is not resting on its laurels. TikTok has just created a content monetization strategy that offers producers more returns in order to increase the attraction of its new content possibilities. Meanwhile, YouTube has ventured into shorter formats with the launch of “Shorts,“ a feature that has quickly gained popularity on the platform. Furthermore, YouTube now allows creators to monetize a broader range of topics, even those considered sensitive, further enriching its content ecosystem. As TikTok and YouTube continue to evolve and diversify, the battle for viewers’ attention in the digital realm rages on. Multiple streaming options IN August, the popular live streaming platform Twitch updated its “simulcast” (simultaneous casting) guidelines to include TikTok and Instagram. After TwitchCon on Oct 20, the platform has broadened its simulcast rules further. Streamers can now live broadcast their streams onto more platforms, such as YouTube and Kick. Unfortunately, this will not apply to streamers with Twitch-exclusive agreements. Rules for simulcasting include not directing traffic away from Twitch to a secondary streaming platform and interacting with fan communities on various platforms at the same time. As an added incentive of sorts, former Twitch streamers that had their partner agreement terminated after they left for another service and informed Twitch beforehand will be eligible to reinstate their Twitch Partner status. Even if Twitch may not admit it, the simulcasting policy comes after the platform began losing popular talents to competitors such as Kick and YouTube. Just a few days before TwitchCon, Kick signed popular streamer Nick “Nickmercs” Kolcheff in a one-year contract estimated at US$10 million (RM50 million) in a Forbes report. Earlier, by the end of June, Kick nabbed Twitch’s most popular female streamers, Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa and Felix “xQc” Lengyel”, who was reported to have been offered a staggering deal worth US$100 million (almost RM500 million). The simulcast policy comes at a dire time for the platform. – TWITCH █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR symbiote was first introduced as Peter Parker’s “new suit” from the famous Secret Wars comic book crossover in the mid-1980s all the way to the recent storyline involving Knull, the primordial god that created the symbiotes. “There’s such a rich universe there, and there’s a lot that the comics have done. We tried to take all that in and then forget about it and think about what would be best for our characters and our franchise”. Asked by Insider whether there will be a spin-off featuring Venom similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Paquette said the door is open, but it depends on the reaction from fans. In related news, on X (formerly Twitter). Insomniac Games community director James Stevenson revealed in a reply to another user that Spider-Man 2 will not have “New Game+” and “Mission Replay” features at launch, but the developers are working on an update for these later on.
19 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 RECENTLY, Jacob Elordi, known for his role in Euphoria, confessed that his knowledge of Elvis Presley during his formative years was rather limited and amusingly revolved around a Disney cartoon. In the forthcoming Sofia Coppola film Priscilla, Elordi takes on the role of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll icon Presley. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 26-year-old actor humorously admitted that, growing up, he didn’t have much exposure to the real Presley apart from a 2002 animated Disney film, Lilo & Stitch. In Lilo & Stitch, the character Lilo introduces her blue alien companion, Stitch, to the music of Presley, with several of the King’s famous songs featured on the film’s soundtrack. The movie was created by Christopher Sanders and Dean DeBlois. Remarkably, when the film celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, DeBlois, one of its creators, disclosed that initially they had doubts about obtaining the rights to use Presley’s music and likeness in the movie. DeBlois stated, “We figured at some point someone was going to pull us aside and say, ‘You can’t do that.’ But representatives of the Elvis estate came out to look at our story reels, and they got behind it.” The film’s creators even had the surreal experience of having a premiere at Graceland, Presley’s former home, and getting a special tour of the iconic rhinestone jumpsuits. Elordi’s connection to Presley goes beyond his childhood Disney exposure. Before taking on the role of Presley in Priscilla, he expressed his inspiration drawn from the rock ‘n’ roll icon in an interview. This came after he saw the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s Presley biopic, which prompted him to purchase Peter Guralnick’s Presley biography, Last Train to Memphis. In the interview, Elordi expressed his newfound appreciation for Presley, saying, “I was just like, damn, Elvis Presley wanted to be James Dean. He wanted to be Marlon Brando. I’ve researched almost every actor from that time period, and I passed Elvis off as an entertainer and singer.” Grande’s loving nature oGoat mother shines HEARTWARMINGLY, Ariana Grande’s love for animals shines through in her recent Instagram post. The 30-yearold singer shared a delightful carousel of images on Monday, capturing her endearing moments on a farm with some adorable animals. In the carousel’s caption, she playfully referred to herself as a “goat mother,“ accompanied by the first image where she appeared snug in a cream-coloured coat, sharing a heartwarming connection with two friendly-looking goats. She then showcased her fashion sense in the second snap, tagging the fashion brand Loewe and her stylist, Mimi Cuttrell. She rocked a pair of blue jeans and a light beige sweater, exuding her signature style. Actress Cynthia Erivo made an appearance in the following slide, sitting alongside Grande, adding a touch of glamour to the farm visit. The carousel continued to capture the heartwarming interactions as Grande gazed lovingly at a dog in the fourth picture, seated in a guitar case. Her devotion to animals was further exemplified when she shared a video of her mother, Joan Grande, surrounded by goats on the farm. The video featured Joan nervously approaching the camera as the goats curiously encircled her, while Ariana’s laughter could be heard off-camera, making for a delightful family moment. Grande recently concluded her divorce with Dalton Gomez. The Thank you, next singer, who had signed a prenuptial agreement with Gomez, will pay him a substantial sum of $1,250,000, according to documents obtained at the beginning of October. Notably, Gomez will not receive spousal support, as he will receive his tax-free payment upfront. Additionally, as part of their agreement, Gomez will be entitled to half of the net proceeds from the sale of their former Los Angeles home, and Grande will cover up to $25,000 of his attorney fees. Despite the legal aspects, sources indicated that Ariana and Dalton handled their divorce with care and respect, emphasising the kind and patient nature of their uncoupling. They simply moved on, and this chapter in their lives has come to an amicable close. Grande and Gomez, 28, tied the knot in May 2021, and now they embark on separate journeys. █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ Kapoor’s Animal set to release in December RANBIR Kapoor will be seen next in the movie titled Animal, which is slated for release on Dec 1, 2023. The teaser for the movie was played at the iconic Times Square in New York. Ranbir went through some physical transformations for the movie and described the role as the darkest ever. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the movie stars Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandana, and Bobby Deol. Ranbir is also expected to play the role of Lord Ram in the Ramayana, which is set to release in 2024. Sai Pallavi is said to play the part of Sita. The father of six-month-old Raha recently divulged in an interview that his playlist is full of children’s songs like Baby Shark. Elvis Presley in Lilo & Stitch gives actor long-lasting impression █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ █ BYS. TAMARAI CHELVI The Rock, all bleached out AFTER the Grevin Museum in Paris debuted a wax figure of Dwayne Johnson on Oct 16, social media, primarily TikTok, was quickly flooded with jokes about the statue. Despite sharing the actor’s physicality and smirk, the statue had one glaring issue that social media users quickly took to mocking, which was the skin tone. Critiques ranged from comparing the statue to “Mr. Clean,” the mascot of an American all-purpose cleaner brand, to outright calling it a whitewashed version of the actor. Unsurprisingly, Johnson is well aware of the TikToks and the situation as a whole. Five days after the statue debuted to scorn and ridicule, Johnson posted on Instagram that he would have his team reach out to the museum to “update” the wax figure with “some important details and improvements”. On Oct 25, the museum responded to the situation, saying they too were surprised with the statue’s pale skin after it arrived. Museum director Yves Delhommeau explained that painting wax figures is a complicated process, particularly when it comes to skin tones, as reference pictures are used and the lighting in each one is often different. He also noted that the museum is working on rectifying the issue. █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Grande loving the role of “goat mother”. – PIC BY ARIANA GRANDE/INST AGRAM Jacob Elordi; “Lilo & Stitch” (2002). – PIC BY CINDY ORD/GETTY; WALT DISNEY/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION 1. The difference between Dwayne Johnson and his wax statue is uncanny. – PIX BY (LEFT) GREVIN MUSEUM/(RIGHT) UNIVERSAL PICTURES Kapoor in Animal - PHOTO FROM RANBIR’S INSTAGRAM
20 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME more time with my family, focusing on my emotional and psychological well-being. Additionally, I became a volunteer to support other cancer patients. Q: What was the hardest or most challenging part of the journey? The most challenging aspect was the emotional and psychological adjustment. Initially, I couldn’t bring myself to tell my family about my illness. Everything felt unreal to me until I began losing my hair after the first chemotherapy session. Fortunately, I had a strong support system throughout the entire eight-month journey. The medical team and my family played crucial roles in my recovery. We discussed treatment options and the nurses and medical staff provided unwavering support with their reassuring smiles. My mother was my primary carer and aided in my daily activities. My friends even gifted me a wig before I started chemotherapy. Peers at the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) assured me that I would overcome cancer in the near future. Q: You welcomed a child after being cancerfree. How did you feel about being blessed with a bundle of joy? The arrival of my child filled me with immense fulfilment and happiness. Every life is precious. Approximately 12 years ago, the first question I asked the doctor upon discovering my cancer diagnosis was whether I would still be able to conceive. For a long time, I felt incomplete and having a child felt like a distant dream. The entire pregnancy was filled with apprehension. My age and cancer history placed me in the high-risk category. However, I was under constant monitoring by both the medical team and my family. Today, I feel grateful and relieved. My daughter is healthy, and I sense that my life is complete and brimming with hope. Her smile is a constant source of energy for me. Q: Can you breastfeed after breast cancer treatment? Yes, I can breastfeed with my healthy breasts. Initially, I felt guilty that I couldn’t exclusively breastfeed my baby. However, I adjusted my perspective to realise that being a good mother cannot be measured solely by breastfeeding. I focused on excelling in other aspects. Q: What advice would you share with those who are planning to get pregnant after becoming cancerfree? Breast cancer should become a thing of the past, a chapter in our lives. It should not deter us from fulfilling our dreams of motherhood. I N 2011, Liew Swee Lee’s life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer, just six months into her marriage. Her dreams of a blissful married life and starting a family were shattered by the devastating news. The prospect of having children seemed distant and uncertain. However, Liew did not let cancer define her. She embarked on her treatment journey, including lumpectomy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and radiotherapy, emerging victorious as a cancer survivor. Despite her triumph over cancer, Liew continued with regular check-ups and monthly self-breast examinations to stay vigilant. Cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, can impact a woman’s ability to conceive. Liew had to wait 12 years before her dream of motherhood became a reality. Earlier this year, she was blessed with her first child, a moment of pure joy for her and her family. Liew, now the secretary of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BWCA), shares her remarkable journey of battling cancer and ultimately emerging victorious. Q: How and when did you find out you had cancer? I was on vacation, staying in a hotel with a large bathroom mirror. It was then that I noticed my right breast was noticeably larger than the other side. Upon further examination, I felt a lump. Q: What was the diagnosis and at what stage were you at? At the time, I was 32 years old. After an ultrasound, two breast surgeons initially believed it was fibroadenoma, a relatively common condition among women. I had the option of close monitoring or surgery. However, I was cautious and chose to have the lump removed surgically. The next morning, following the surgery, the doctor delivered the shocking news that the lump contained many blood vessels and could potentially be cancer. She instructed me to be prepared and informed me that the official report would be ready in a week. I was alone in the room when I received this news and it was an incredibly surreal moment for me. Q: Does anyone in your family have breast cancer? I have no family history of breast cancer. I maintain a healthy diet, am not particularly fond of meat and even participated in a half marathon. Q: How has cancer affected your life? Cancer has both physical and financial implications. I suffered from long-term lymphedema, a condition characterised by swelling due to the removal of lymph nodes. Financially, my insurance coverage was limited and the cost of treatment and medical expenses depleted my personal savings. To return to work as soon as possible, I had to seek employment, which was challenging due to my extended absence during treatment and my cancer history. Consequently, I switched career paths to enter a different industry. Q: What has been the most significant change that you have had to make in your life? The most significant change I made was in my lifestyle. I became committed to leading a healthier and more balanced life. I prioritised work-life balance and adopted an early sleep schedule. I valued my relationships and spent Winning at life at life oSwee Lee’s inspiring journey: from cancer diagnosis to becoming a mother. Liew Swee Lee during the final radiation – PIC BY SWEE LEE Liew with her baby – PIC BY SWEE LEE █ BYS.TAMARAI CHELVI Liew and her child – PIC BY ADIB RAWI/THESUN
theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 21 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF WISDOMTECH DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD. 199601016821 (389172-P) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Acta 2016, the Final Meeting of the members of the Company will be held at PS2A, Taman Evergreen, Batu 4, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58100 Kuala Lumpur on 30/11/2023 at 10.30am for the purposes of: I. having an account laid before the members, showing the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and the property of the Company has been disposed of and of hearing any explanation that may be given by the Liquidator. II. passing a resolution pursuant to Section 518(3)(b) that the Liquidator is directed to destroy all the books, papers, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator after the expiration of three (3) months from the date of the final meeting. III. accepting the resignation of LIM LOW PHIN as the Liquidator of the Company with effect from the conclusion of the Final Meeting of the Company. LIM LOW PHIN Liquidator PS-2A, TAMAN EVERGREEN, BATU 4, JALAN KELANG LAMA, 58100 KUALA LUMPUR. Date: 30/10/2023 Note: A member of the Company shall be entitled to appoint another person as his proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, participate, speak and vote in his stead. A member may appoint more than one proxy provided that the member specifies the proportion of the member’s shareholding to be represented by each proxy. All forms of proxy must be deposited at the Liquidator’s office not less than 48 hours before the time set for the meeting. 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA KUBU BHARU DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA WRIT NO: BF-A72NCvC-127-06/2023 ANTARA MAJLIS PERBADARAN HULU SELANGOR … PLAINTIF DAN LEE THONG MING (NO K/P : 551107-10-5955) … DEFENDAN NOTIS IKLAN Kepada: LEE THONG MING No.37, Jalan 37 Desa Jaya 52100 Kepong Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Dan LEE THONG MING No.20, Jalan Seroja 4B/2 Seksyen BS6, Bukit Sentosa 48300 Rawang Selangor Darul Ehsan AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh MAJLIS DAERAH HULU SELANGOR (MDHS) yang beralamat di Jalan Bukit Kerajaan, 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan-salinannya beserta satu salinan yang dimeterai bagi Perintah untuk penyampaian ganti pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret di Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, menampal satu salinan Writ Saman bersama dengan Perintah tersebut ke alamat terakhir Defendan yang diketahui dan pengiklanan Perintah tersebut dalam satu keluaran akhbar tempatan ‘The Sun’ selama satu hari dan bahawa penampalan, pengeposan dan pengiklanan sedemikian dianggap sebagai penyampaian yang wajar dan mencukupi akan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini keatas kamu atas penamatan EMPAT BELAS (14) hari selepas tarikh terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. DAN SELANJUTNYA AMBIL NOTIS bahawa tarikh pengurusan kes Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut telah ditetapkan di hadapan Majistret 18.10.2023 pada 9.00 pagi di dalam Pengurusan Kes secara eReview (dalam talian). Jika kamu berhasrat untuk menentang dan/atau membela diri, kamu mestilah dalam masa empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk memasukkan kehadiran di Mahkamah ini. Jika tidak, suatu Penghakiman boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu. Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini boleh diperiksa oleh kamu dengan melalui permohonan kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh 12 Oktober 2023 …………………… Penolong Pendaftar Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Kubu Bharu NOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh TETUAN IBRAHIM & FUAADAH, Peguambela & Peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang beralamat di No.12F, Jalan Bidara 8, SU Mall, Saujana Utama 3, 47000, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, No. tel: 03- 6038 8164 No. Faks: 03- 6038 8167 / emel: [emailprotected] DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA KUBU BHARU DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA (BAHAGIAN SIVIL) GUAMAN NO: BF-A72NcVC-126-06/2023 ANTARA MAJLIS PERBADARAN HULU SELANGOR …PLAINTIF DAN JIMMY LIEW HOCK LEONG (NO. K/P: 591114-10-7007) …DEFENDAN NOTIS IKLAN Kepada: JIMMY LIEW HOCK LEONG No 4, Changkat Duta Taman Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur , Wilayah Persekutuan Dan JIMMY LIEW HOCK LEONG 16/B10, Pangsapuri Ria, Genting Highland, 69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang Darul Makmur AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh MAJLIS DAERAH HULU SELANGOR yang beralamat berdaftarnya di Jalan Bukit Kerajaan, 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan-salinannya beserta satu salinan yang dimeterai bagi Perintah untuk penyampaian ganti pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, menampal satu salinan Writ Saman bersama dengan Perintah tersebut ke alamat terakhir Defendan yang diketahui dan pengiklanan Perintah tersebut dalam satu keluaran akhbar tempatan ‘The Sun’ selama satu (1) hari dan bahawa penampalan, pengeposan dan pengiklanan sedemikian dianggap sebagai penyampaian yang wajar dan mencukupi akan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini ke atas kamu atas penamatan EMPAT BELAS (14) hari selepas tarikh terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. DAN SELANJUTNYA AMBIL NOTIS bahawa tarikh pengurusan kes Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut telah ditetapkan di hadapan Hakim pada 18.10.2023 pada 9.00 pagi di dalam Pengurusan Kes secara eReview (dalam talian). Jika kamu berhasrat untuk menentang dan/atau membela diri, kamu mestilah dalam masa empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk memasukkan kehadiran di Mahkamah ini. Jika tidak, suatu Penghakiman boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu. Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini boleh diperiksa oleh kamu dengan melalui permohonan kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh 12 Oktober 2023 ……………………… Penolong Pendaftar Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Kubu Bharu NOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh TETUAN IBRAHIM & FUAADAH, Peguambela & Peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang beralamat di No.12F, Jalan Bidara 8, SU Mall, Saujana Utama 3, 47000, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, No. tel: 03- 6038 8164/3031 emel: [emailprotected] [Ruj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ffl (;3(5,(1&(5(48,5(0(176ffl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flflfl WKH6XQLVSXEOLVKHGE\6XQ0HGLD&RUSRUDWLRQ6GQ%KG /RW/HYHO-DODQ3HWDOLQJ-D\D6HODQJRU 302 Jobs IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR IN WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN, MALAYSIA (COMMERCIAL DIVISION) COMPANIES WINDING UP NO:WA28NCC-1044-10/2023 In the matter of Section 465(1)(e) Companies Act 2016 And In the matter of All Time Fresh Supply Sdn Bhd [Company No: 201901001800( 1311126-D)] BETWEEN TKC FRUITS & VEGETABLES SDN BHD [Company No: 201701041989(1256162- A)] …PETITIONER AND ALL TIME FRESH SUPPLY SDN BHD [Company No: 201901001800(1311126- D)] …RESPONDENT ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed Company by the High Court was on the 18th day of October 2023 presented by TKC FRUITS & VEGETABLES SDN BHD [Business Registration No. : 201701041989 (1256162-A)] of NO.6A, JALAN PS 9, TAMAN PRIMA SELAYANG, 68100 BATU CAVES, SELANGOR and that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Kuala Lumpur via Video Conference (Zoom) at 9:30 o’clock in the morning on the 31st day of January 2024; and any creditor or contributory of the said company desiring to support or oppose the making of an Order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is at NO.6A, JALAN PS 9, TAMAN PRIMA SELAYANG, 68100 BATU CAVES, SELANGOR. The Petitioner’s solicitors is Messrs NG & TINA of No. 2-37A1, Jalan Desa 1/1 (Mezzanine Floor), Desa Aman Puri, 52100, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. ……..…t.t……..… MESSRS NG &TINA Solicitors for and on behalf of the Petitioner Note : Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed Messrs Ng & Tina, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than twelve o’clock noon of the 30th day of January 2024. This advertisem*nt of Petition is issued by Messrs Ng & Tina, the solicitors for the abovenamed Petitioner whose address is at No. 2-37A1, Jalan Desa 1/1 (Mezzanine Floor), Desa Aman Puri, 52100, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.(Our Ref : NT/N/5818/23) IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KUALA LUMPUR IN THE STATE OF WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN, MALAYSIA COMPANIES WINDING-UP NO. WA-28NCC-1014-10/2023 In the matter of Section 465(1)(c) and (h) of the Companies Act, 2016 And In the matter of the Companies (Winding-Up) Rules, 1972 And In the matter of Khalifah Nabawi Sdn Bhd (Company No: 201901005711 (1315038-X)) BETWEEN 1. NORAZIZAH BINTI ABD LATIF (NRIC No. 821031-08-5034) …PETITIONER AND 1. NORULHIDAYAH BINTI MOHD NAWI (NRIC No. 860518-33-6052) 2. SITI SHAHIDA BINTI SHA’ARI (NRIC No. 861115-56-5728) 3. NORFANEYSA BINTI ABD LATIF (NRIC No. 900909-14-6196) 4. NORFATIHAH BINTI ABD LATIF (NRIC No. 970722-14-5664) 5. ROBEAH BINTI MOHD IDRIS (NRIC No. 561010-08-5002) 6. KHALIFAH NABAWI SDN BHD (Company No.: 201901005711 (1315038-X)] ...RESPONDENTS ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION (Winding Up Rules 1972, Rule 24) NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the winding-up of the 6th Respondent by the High Court was, on 10.10.2023, presented by the Petitioner. And that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Kuala Lumpur at 9.00 a.m., on 30.01.2024; and any creditor or contributory of the 6th Respondent desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the 6th Respondent requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s solicitor is Messrs Lawrence Lee & Hoong, having its address at Suite B2-2-3 Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Email: [emailprotected] , Tel: 03- 6738 0243 23.10.2023. ………………………………… Solicitors for the Petitioner Messrs. Lawrence Lee & Hoong NoteAny person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said petition must serve on or send by post to M/s Lawrence Lee & Hoong, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitor (if any) and must be served, or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the above-named not later than 12pm of the day previous to the day appointed for the hearing of the petition. 322 Notices 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF U-CHUAN FURNITURE (M) SDN. BHD. Registration No. 200201032298 (392334-H) (in Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE OF FINAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act 2016 a Final General Meeting of the contributories of the Company will be held at 4-5-3A Kompleks Kantonmen Prima, 698 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200 Kuala Lumpur on 1 December 2023 at 11.00 a.m. for the following purposes: 1. To receive the Liquidator’s statement of accounts showing how the winding up has been conducted and to receive any explanation thereon. 2. To resolve under Section 518(3) (b) of the Companies Act 2016 (“the Act”) the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and Liquidator shall be destroyed after the expiry of three months from the date of the Final General Meeting. 3. To approve and accept the resignation of the Liquidator pursuant to Section 513(3) of the Act. Chan Eng Mat Liquidator Kuala Lumpur Dated: 30 October 2023 322 Notices 322 Notices IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF BSC HEALTHY FOOD SDN. BHD. 201601013882 (1184813-U) (In Member’s Voluntary Winding Up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the Company will be held at Suite I, 2nd Floor, Wisma Lister Garden, 123 Jalan Macalister, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang on Friday, 1 December 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes: 1. To receive and consider the Liquidators’ 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 Liquidators. 2. To resolve under Section 518(3)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidators shall be destroyed. 3. To approve and accept the resignation of the Liquidators in accordance with Section 513(3) of the Companies Act, 2016. Dated this 30th day of October, 2023 Suraya Binti Sharif Yeoh Hon Lin Liquidators 322 Notices 322 Notices NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP (Section 50(4)(a) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012) Notice is hereby given that GLUTT SERVICES PLT [No. PLT: 21704004122 (LLP0014248-LGN)] will be making an application to the Registrar of Limited Liability Partnerships for a declaration of dissolution pursuant to section 50(2) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012 within seven (7) days after the publication of this notice. Any partner or creditor of the LLP desiring to object to the application may do so in writing to the Companies Commission of Malaysia within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice. IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF ARTONTECH ENGINEERING SDN. BHD. Company Registration No : 201201029130 (1013617-H) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to Section 459(1) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the abovenamed Company will be held at 229-1, Jalan Perkasa Satu, Taman Maluri, Cheras, 55100 Kuala Lumpur on 30 November 2023 for the following purposes :- A G E N D A 1. To receive and consider the Liquidator’s Final Accounts showing how the windingup has been conducted and to receive any explanations thereon; and 2. To determine pursuant to Section 518 (3)(b) of the Companies Act 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company thereon shall be destroyed after the expiration of three (3) months from the date of final meeting. CHIA KWONG CHOW Liquidator Date : 30 October 2023 Kuala Lumpur IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 (Pursuant to Section 459) AND IN THE MATTER OF GOLDEN SUPPORT SDN. BHD. (Registration No. 199301030015 (284754-K)) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act 2016 that the Final Meeting of the members of the abovenamed Company will be held at 50- 1, 52-1 & 54-1, Jalan BPM 2, Taman Bukit Piatu Mutiara, 75150 Melaka on Wednesday, 29 November 2023 at 11.00 a.m. for the purposes of receiving 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 of hearing any explanation that may be given by the liquidator and also of passing resolution determining the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the liquidator shall be disposed of. LIM LI FANG Liquidator Date: 30 October 2023 Notes: (a) A member of the Company is entitled to appoint another person as his proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, participate, speak and vote at the Meeting. The instrument appointing a proxy must be deposited at the registered office of the Company not less than 48 hours before the time set for holding the Meeting. (b) The accounts of the Company since winding up has been made up and may be inspected at 50-1, 52-1 & 54- 1, Jalan BPM 2, Taman Bukit Piatu Mutiara, 75150 Melaka during office hours from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Item Reg No Make Model Price 1 JVC5592 2022 HONDA RS-X FS150FA 6000 2 VGM3559 2021 HONDA DASH 125 3000 3 VJN427 2022 SYM SYM VF3I 185 LE 3000 4 BQP657 2021 HONDA DASH 125 2500 5 WTU1994 2010 MITSUBISHI L200 TRITON (M) 16000 Scan QR to download Pickles Auctions App Bank Repossessed bikes and cars for sale by auction. All auctions are conducted via eBidding on Wednesday 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, November at 10.00am (bikes) and 11.00am (cars). All are invited to join our PUBLIC AUCTION. Viewing and inspection on every Tuesday from 9.30am - 5.30pm. Download Pickles Auctions app to view all auction listings or visit www.pickles.my For more information call 016-6999170, WhatsApp 012-5553727 or email [emailprotected] PICKLES ASIA SDN BHD [1231292-D] Lot 19391, Batu 8 1⁄2, Jalan Klang Lama, Taman Desaria, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF UAC DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION SDN. BHD. Registration No. 201501003695 (1129027-H) (in Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE OF FINAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act 2016 a Final General Meeting of the contributories of the Company will be held at 4-5-3A Kompleks Kantonmen Prima, 698 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200 Kuala Lumpur on 1 December 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes: 1. To receive the Liquidator’s statement of accounts showing how the winding up has been conducted and to receive any explanation thereon. 2. To resolve under Section 518(3) (b) of the Companies Act 2016 (“the Act”) the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and Liquidator shall be destroyed after the expiry of three months from the date of the Final General Meeting. 3. To approve and accept the resignation of the Liquidator pursuant to Section 513(3) of the Act. Chan Eng Mat Liquidator Kuala Lumpur Dated: 30 October 2023 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA KUBU BHARU DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA WRIT NO: BF-A72NCvC-128-06/2023 ANTARA MAJLIS PERBADARAN HULU SELANGOR … PLAINTIF DAN IRENE LOW (NO K/P : 610520-10-6828) … DEFENDAN NOTIS IKLAN Kepada: IRENE LOW D3A-02, Prima Duta, Jalan Dutamas Raya, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Dan IRENE LOW No. 2-1B, Jalan Seroja 1A Perniagaan Jalan Seroja Bukit Sentosa 48300 Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa satu Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan telah dikeluarkan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah ini oleh MAJLIS DAERAH HULU SELANGOR (MDHS) yang beralamat di Jalan Bukit Kerajaan, 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor Darul Ehsan dan Mahkamah telah memerintahkan supaya Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut disampaikan kepada kamu dengan menampalkan salinan-salinannya beserta satu salinan yang dimeterai bagi Perintah untuk penyampaian ganti pada Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret di Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, menampal satu salinan Writ Saman bersama dengan Perintah tersebut ke alamat terakhir Defendan yang diketahui dan pengiklanan Perintah tersebut dalam satu keluaran akhbar tempatan ‘The Sun’ selama satu hari dan bahawa penampalan, pengeposan dan pengiklanan sedemikian dianggap sebagai penyampaian yang wajar dan mencukupi akan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini keatas kamu atas penamatan EMPAT BELAS (14) hari selepas tarikh terakhir penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut. DAN SELANJUTNYA AMBIL NOTIS bahawa tarikh pengurusan kes Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut telah ditetapkan di hadapan Majistret 22 September 2023 pada 9.00 pagi di dalam Pengurusan Kes secara eReview (dalam talian). Jika kamu berhasrat untuk menentang dan/atau membela diri, kamu mestilah dalam masa empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut menjadi sempurna, memohon kepada Mahkamah untuk memasukkan kehadiran di Mahkamah ini. Jika tidak, suatu Penghakiman boleh dikeluarkan terhadap kamu. Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan ini boleh diperiksa oleh kamu dengan melalui permohonan kepada Mahkamah ini. Bertarikh 10 Oktober 2023 ……………………… Penolong Pendaftar Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Kubu Bharu NOTIS IKLAN ini difailkan oleh TETUAN IBRAHIM & FUAADAH, Peguambela & Peguamcara bagi Plaintif yang beralamat di No.12F, Jalan Bidara 8, SU Mall, Saujana Utama 3, 47000, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, No. tel: 03- 6038 8164 No. Faks: 03- 6038 8167 / emel: [emailprotected] 322 Notices
22 theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 SPORTS 5711/2023 29/10/2023 (SUN) 9280 8539 3240 6674 5645 0000 0063 7709 6294 1951 7681 8328 4367 9657 5861 4227 2680 6620 8561 6664 0453 1079 6262 4,222,295.68 9280 9280 9280 3240 3240 8539 3240 3240 8539 8539 9280 8539 257,296.71 9280 8539 3240 DRAGON 36710 38013 8013 013 89639 1 3 4 4 821544 21544 1544 544 82154 8215 821 8 2 3,107,932.83 1,649,982.15 7 17 24 43 47 49 100,000.00 3 15 35 36 39 47 11 23 28 31 32 46 42 10,995,778.52 RM11,997,777 RM150,000 won on 28/10/2023 ! Toto 5D Power 6/55 482 749 +DRAGON 655 588 + GOAT 421 079 + GOAT Draw Date: 29/10/23 (Sun) Draw No: 5658/23 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB 2749 5588 1079 5675 + 5893 9897 + 2333 0441 + 4336 6797 + 6499 7800 + 4815 5416 + 4892 7449 + 9889 8952 + 5566 4733 + 9182 0215 + 8986 RM3,520,025.40 2749 + 5588 5588 + 2749 2749 + 1079 1079 + 2749 5588 + 1079 1079 + 5588 RM100,000.00 RM2,180,327.50 RM1,916,817.00 RM80,000.00 215 675 665 893 059 897 572 333 760 441 904 336 626 797 686 499 917 800 714 815 045 416 604 892 857 449 379 889 738 952 395 566 794 733 529 182 320 215 908 986 749 588 079 RM680,227.20 749 + 588 + 079 588 + 079 + 749 749 + 079 + 588 079 + 749 + 588 588 + 749 + 079 079 + 588 + 749 1+3D Jackpot 2 RM182,810.00 won on 28/10/2023! Brilliant Bellingham Real midfielder delivers dramatic Clasico comeback against Barca J UDE BELLINGHAM’S stunning double snatched Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in his first La Liga Clasico on Saturday. The England international, who has started his Madrid career in remarkable goalscoring form, unleashed a rocket into the top corner from distance after Ilkay Gundogan had sent hosts Barcelona ahead at the Olympic Stadium. Bellingham then fired home a second in stoppage time from close range to silence Barcelona fans and reach 10 goals in the top flight this season. Barcelona hit the woodwork twice and had the better of the game but Bellingham, La Liga’s top goalscorer, is in unstoppable form and inevitably made his mark in his first Clasico. Bellingham’s brace sent Madrid to the top of La Liga, ahead of Girona on goal difference, with both teams four points ahead of Barcelona in third. “I love these comebacks, it played with my heart a little bit (but) they’re always so fun to play in,” Bellingham told Real Madrid TV. “We didn’t give up and I’m so happy I could do it.” Bellingham didn’t waste time celebrating his equaliser, keeping a cool head and quickly preparing to re-start the game, in search of the eventual winner. “He seems like a veteran… the goal to level it totally changed the game,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said of his 20-year-old match-winner. “What was surprising today was his shot, he’s always arriving in the box, today he scored a stupendous goal from in front of the area.” Bellingham has now scored 13 goals in 13 games for Real Madrid across all competitions. “He can get to 20 or 25 goals, because he has started very well,” added Ancelotti. Barcelona could not believe the points had slipped out of their hands after a strong performance. “The summary is simple, we had 60 very good minutes where we scored a goal, they had 20 to 25 minutes and they scored two,” said coach Xavi. “I think Madrid’s victory today is unjust… they were much more efficient than us, that is the big difference.” Barcelona were boosted by the returns of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha from injury, with Xavi naming them on the bench. His counterpart Ancelotti once again deployed Bellingham in the No. 10 role as he got his first taste of arguably the world’s biggest club football match. If Madrid’s comeback played with Bellingham’s heart, it broke Barcelona’s. “The message for everyone, the players too, is that this season is long, it’s the 11th game,” said Xavi, trying to rouse his troops who seemed despondent at fulltime. In contrast, Bellingham was naturally overjoyed. “It was a little bit emotional thinking about all the times I watched (the Clasico) on my sofa with my family,” added Bellingham. “I said to them today it was my turn to make an impression – I’ve done that and I’m really happy.” – AFP TYSON FURY survived a knockdown and went on to beat Francis Ngannou in a controversial decision on Saturday night, avoiding a major upset. WBC heavyweight champion Fury squared off with Ngannou – a mixed martial artist and ex-UFC champion – in a professional boxing match in Saudi Arabia, with the Cameroonian stunning the Briton in Round 3 with a knockdown, clipping him on the top of the head with a fine left hook. Ngannou, 37, was making his boxing debut yet outfought Fury, 35, for much of the bout, as a stunned audience looked on in Riyadh. However, Fury avoided the first loss of his professional career when he was named a split-decision winner – 94-95, 96-93, 95-94. After the fight, Oleksandr Usyk entered the ring to face off with Fury, whom he is contracted to fight next. “That definitely wasn’t in the script,” said Fury. “Ngannou is a lot better of a boxer than we thought he’d be. He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher, and I respect him a lot. He was very awkward, he wasn’t coming forward; he was waiting for me to throw my punches then looking to counter. “The knockdown is a part of boxing. I got caught behind the head. I got up and it was alright; I got back to my boxing. “I don’t know how close the fight was, but I got the win and that’s what it is. I’ve been out the ring a long time again. You can see it in here – ring rust, everything. No excuses, though. He’s cut me across the eye there. It was a good, rough fight. Perfect.” – The Independent Joker says Olympics among ‘big goals’ NOVAK DJOKOVIC said winning Olympic gold next year is one of his main ambitions as he returns to action at the Paris Masters next week after taking time off following his record-tying 24th Grand Slam title in New York. The 36-year-old Djokovic dashed back from the US Open to help Serbia into the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Sept 15 but then skipped the tour’s return to China, instead spending time with his family. Rafael Nadal last month said Djokovic was the “best in history” after seeing his longtime rival overtake his mark for most major titles in men’s tennis this year with the Spaniard sidelined by injury. Djokovic was reluctant to wade into what is an endless debate over who is the greatest men’s tennis player in history but admitted it was nice hearing Nadal’s assessment. “I’m not going to say I am the greatest player of all times. It’s not up to me to say things like that. I leave it up to others,” said Djokovic. “Obviously I’m very proud that my greatest rival could say such things, but I leave this discussion to other people.” Djokovic dreams of joining Nadal and Andre Agassi in a select group of men to have won all four Grand Slams as well as Olympic singles gold. “My greatest motivation is still love for the game. I really like competing,” said Djokovic. “Then, you know, I always have goals, you know, and to win another slam, to be No. 1 again. Of course next year is Olympic Games. I really want to do well in Olympic Games.” – AFP █ ALEX PATTLE Tyson Fury (right) fights against Francis Ngannou during their heavyweight boxing bout in Riyadh. – AFPPIX Fury survives knockdown in controversial win
23 * SPORTS theSUN ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2023 BAYERN MUNICH striker Harry Kane joked that he would have to keep the match ball in his hotel room after scoring a Bundesliga hattrick against Darmstadt on Saturday, as he is still yet to find a house in Munich. “The ball will have a nice place in my hotel room – I still need to find a home!” said Kane, who left the Allianz Arena clutching a ball after scoring three in Bayern’s impressive 8-0 win. “To score a hattrick is always a great feeling for a striker,” added the England captain, who has now scored two hattricks in nine Bundesliga games since joining Bayern earlier this year. Kane’s second goal was one for the history books, with the England striker lobbing Darmstadt goalie Marcel Schuhen from inside his own half after Bayern caught Darmstadt short in the transition. “This is the first time I’ve scored one like that. I’m always looking where the ‘keeper is. I looked up and I could see the ‘keeper was off his line,” he said. “I’ve tried it a few times in my career, and it was nice to see this one dip under the crossbar.” Kane added that it was a good feeling to play alongside Manuel Neuer for the first time, after the veteran Bayern goalkeeper made his long-awaited return after almost a year out with a broken leg. “Manu is one of the best goalkeepers in history. I know he was really excited to get /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY 947/23 29/10/2023 0807 2646 2804 3662 4926 3656 8296 1640 4966 5243 3336 0911 2794 7665 6302 3344 6361 6858 4628 5331 0849 1208 3300 RM4,728,334.74 RM422,215.49 0807 + 2646 2646 + 0807 2804 + 0807 0807 + 2804 2646 + 2804 2804 + 2646 2 12 16 18 23 26 33 36 19 32 RM3,652,403.27 RM182,342.36 0 7 4 6 0 4 0 7 4 6 0 7 4 6 0 4 0 7 4 6 4 6 0 4 0 7 4 6 0 4 0 7 0 4 4 6 0 8 Kane nets hattrick … as Bayern thrash Darmstadt on Neuer’s return back. He’s a fantastic player and an important personality for our team. He’ll be delighted, even though he didn’t have much to do second half,” he said. Kane and Bayern now turn their attention to a midweek cup game against Saarbruecken before next weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Borussia Dortmund. “I’m excited for the game against Dortmund. It was always a big game to watch when I was in England,” said the former Tottenham striker. “We have momentum at the moment, and if we can get three points there it will be a big statement going into the rest of the season,” he added. Bayern’s win sent them top of the table on Saturday evening, with both Dortmund and previous leaders Bayer Leverkusen set to play on Sunday. – AFP Bluebirds down Robins CARDIFF CITY enjoyed further derby day bragging rights as they triumphed over Severnside rivals Bristol City 2-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium. Perry Ng, who finished between the sticks when the two sides met here last season, rose highest to net his second goal in as many games with a bullet header 15 minutes before the break to hand his side a deserved lead. Rubin Colwill made sure of the points by lashing home a superb second deep into stoppage time. Back-to-back wins sees City climb into the Championship’s top six, and Erol Bulut will likely have been hugely pleased by the spirit shown by his side. “It was not an easy game,” Erol began. “After the last game where we won 4-0 against Huddersfield I said we must continue and cannot just stay there and celebrate. “Today again we worked hard and it was a good result for my team. I’m glad to see this performance from the players.” The Bluebirds coach added: “Rubin has been doing well for a long time, of course today he had more minutes than before. He did well, my advice to him is to not stop, to continue. “If you saw the second half, the opposition were pushing a lot, trying to create, so we needed that goal to be more relaxed and Colwill did it great. I told him after the game that I see a lot of him in me. “Football will be played on the field and whoever gives the better performance will win the game and right now we are doing this really well. “Of course we cannot say we have the best team in the league but our players give everything every week and every game to be in this position and we will continue to work like that.” The result also means Cardiff are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten run at home for nearly four years. – Agencies Messi eyes an eighth Ballon d’Or LIONEL MESSI is the favourite to win the eighth Ballon d’Or of his remarkable career when this year’s ceremony to crown the planet’s best footballer takes place in Paris today (Monday, 3.30am Malaysian time), while Spain’s World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati is tipped to take the women’s prize. The prestigious award has been dominated over the last 15 years by Messi and his old adversary Cristiano Ronaldo, who have won it 12 times between them. Only two other players have won the Ballon d’Or since Ronaldo claimed his first in 2008 – Luka Modric won it in 2018 and Karim Benzema was crowned last year following a brilliant season with Real Madrid. Messi is set to benefit from a recent change which means the award is now based on a player’s record over the last season, rather than over the course of the calendar year. Last season saw Messi lead Argentina to glory at the World Cup in Qatar, where he scored seven times and was named the tournament’s best player. It was the crowning moment of his astonishing career, and is likely to mean Messi sees off the considerable competition elsewhere among the 30 nominees. Most notably, there are seven members of the Manchester City team that won the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League under Pep Guardiola. “I always said that the Ballon d’Or should be in two sections, one for Messi, and after that look for the other one,” Guardiola said recently. “Erling Haaland should win. We won the treble and he scored, I don’t know, 50 million goals. “But of course if you tell me the worst season of Messi, it would be the best season for the rest of the players. “Both deserve it, so what can I say? Selfishly I would say I want it to be Erling because he helped us to achieve what we achieved. I would love it.” – AFP ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea 0 Brentford 2 (Pinnock 58, Mbeumo 90+6), Arsenal 5 (Nketiah 28, 50, 58, Vieira 88-pen, Tomiyasu 90+6) Sheffield United 0, Bournemouth 2 (sem*nyo 22, Billing 76) Burnley 1 (Taylor 11), Wolves 2 (Lemina 36, Hwang 71) Newcastle 2 (Wilson 22, 45+4-pen), Crystal Palace 1 (Ayew 90+4) Tottenham 2 (Ward 53-og, Son 66). P W D L F A Pts Tottenham 10 8 2 0 22 9 26 Arsenal 10 7 3 0 23 8 24 Man City 9 7 0 2 19 7 21 Liverpool 9 6 2 1 20 9 20 Aston Villa 9 6 1 2 23 13 19 Newcastle 10 5 2 3 26 11 17 Brighton 9 5 1 3 22 18 16 Man Utd 9 5 0 4 11 13 15 West Ham 9 4 2 3 16 16 14 Brentford 10 3 4 3 16 12 13 Chelsea 10 3 3 4 13 11 12 Wolves 10 3 3 4 13 17 12 Crystal Palace 10 3 3 4 8 13 12 Fulham 9 3 2 4 8 15 11 Nottm Forest 9 2 4 3 10 12 10 Everton 9 2 1 6 9 14 7 Bournemouth 10 1 3 6 8 21 6 Luton 9 1 2 6 8 17 5 Burnley 10 1 1 8 8 25 4 Sheff United 10 0 1 9 7 29 1 CHAMPIONSHIP: Leeds 4 Huddersfield 1, Southampton 3 Birmingham 1, Blackburn 0 Swansea 1, Cardiff 2 Bristol City 0, Hull 1 Preston 0, Ipswich 3 Plymouth 2, Middlesbrough 0 Stoke 2, QPR 1 Leicester 2, Sunderland 3 Norwich 1, Watford 2 Millwall 2. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Leicester 14 13 0 1 29 8 39 Ipswich 13 11 1 1 29 15 34 Leeds 14 7 4 3 24 15 25 Southampton 14 7 3 4 24 25 24 Cardiff 14 7 2 5 23 16 23 LA LIGA: Almeria 1 (Ramazani 73) Las Palmas 2 (Munir 23, Kaba 90+4), Barcelona 1 (Gundogan 6) Real Madrid 2 (Bellingham 68, 90+2), Real Mallorca 0 Getafe 0, Cadiz 2 (Ramos 8, Machis 28) Sevilla 2 (Ocampos 37, Rakitic 60), Girona 1 (Herrera 90+1) Celta Vigo 0. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Real Madrid 11 9 1 1 23 8 28 Girona 11 9 1 1 25 13 28 Barcelona 11 7 3 1 23 12 24 Atletico 9 7 1 1 23 8 22 Sociedad 10 5 3 2 18 12 18 SERIE A: Juventus 1 (Cambiaso 90+7) Verona 0, Lecce 0 Torino 1 (Buongiorno 42), Sassuolo 1 (Boloca 44) Bologna 1 (Zirkzee 3), Genoa 1 (Gudmundsson 35) Salernitana 0. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Juventus 10 7 2 1 16 6 23 Inter Milan 9 7 1 1 24 5 22 AC Milan 9 7 0 2 16 9 21 Napoli 9 5 2 2 20 10 17 Fiorentina 9 5 2 2 18 13 17 BUNDESLIGA: Bayern Munich 8 Darmstadt 0, Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 Heidenheim 1, Werder Bremen 2 Union Berlin 0, Stuttgart 2 Hoffenheim 3, Augsburg 3 Wolfsburg 2, RB Leipzig 6 Cologne 0, Bochum 2 Mainz 2. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts B. Munich 9 7 2 0 34 7 23 Leverkusen 8 7 1 0 25 7 22 Stuttgart 9 7 0 2 27 11 21 RB Leipzig 9 6 2 1 25 7 20 Dortmund 8 6 2 0 17 8 20 FRENCH LIGUE 1: Reims 1 Lorient 0, Lens 4 Nantes 0, Clermont 0 Nice 1. TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts Nice 10 6 4 0 11 4 22 Monaco 9 6 2 1 23 12 20 Paris SG 9 5 3 1 20 7 18 Reims 10 5 2 3 16 12 17 Lille 9 4 3 2 12 10 15 RESULTS & STANDINGS Cardiff City players celebrate after beating Bristol City. – Cardiffcity.co.uk
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: [emailprotected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [emailprotected] CHELSEA slumped to another damaging home defeat against Brentford on Saturday as Eddie Nketiah hit a first Premier League hattrick in a 5-0 win for Arsenal against struggling Sheffield United. Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea appeared to have turned a corner in recent weeks, taking seven points from their three previous fixtures, but their 2-0 loss means they have just one home win from their past 13 games in the league. Ethan Pinnock took advantage of non-existent marking to head the visitors in front shortly before the hour mark at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had failed to capitalise on their first half dominance. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was embarrassed in added time after joining his team’s attack for a corner, failing to catch Neal Maupay in a race as he broke with the ball, allowing Bryan Mbeumo to score in an empty net to compound home fans’ woes. The result means Brentford leapfrog Chelsea into 10th place in the Premier League table, pushing Pochettino’s men into the bottom half. “I’m not happy and think the players also and the whole club is not happy about the run (at home),” said the Argentine manager. “It’s a long time that we need to be more consistent here and very disappointed with this. We feel the responsibility that we need to change the dynamic.” The former Tottenham boss said on Friday that Christopher Nkunku is nearing a comeback from the knee injury that has prevented the signing making a competitive appearance yet for his new club. On this evidence, the French international’s return cannot come soon enough as Chelsea’s other new striker, Nicolas Jackson, again failed to fire. “If you don’t score, you need to blame ourselves,” said Pochettino. “We were not nasty or clinical in front of the goal.” It was a different story for London rivals Arsenal, who roared back from 2-0 down to draw against Chelsea last week to preserve their unbeaten league record. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack for the visit of bottom club Sheffield United and Nketiah celebrated his recall to the starting line-up in style. Nketiah proved he was up to the task as a swivelled finish gave the home side a 28thminute lead. He arrowed a shot into the top corner early in the second half and completed his treble with a stunning strike from distance just before the hour mark. Substitutes Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu added gloss to the scoreline. Arsenal moved up to second in the table, two points behind Tottenham, who beat Crystal Palace on Saturday. “For me, he is top level,” said Arteta on Nketiah. “You look at the stats from his last 10 years, what he has done is remarkable.” Newcastle missed the chance to close in on the top four after twice letting the lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Wolves. Bournemouth came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Burnley 2-1 and secure their first league win of the season. – AFP MONDAY • OCTOBER 30, 2023 or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME … as Nketiah shines for five-star Arsenal STRENGTH in depth and the positional versatility of the 33-strong squad were behind South Africa’s record fourth World Cup title, coach Jacques Nienaber said, warning not to dub his staff “geniuses” over their leftfield selection. Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok had been first-choice half-backs in the run-up to Saturday’s final in which South Africa edged New Zealand 12- 11. But Nienaber rang the changes for the final at the Stade de France, recalling Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard, the architects of the 2019 World Cup-winning team in Japan. He also went for a replacements’ bench comprising seven forwards and just one back in Willie Le Roux, backing the players he picked to play to their strengths. Pollard hadn’t even made the initial squad and was only called up as an injury replacement for hooker Malcom Marx. That had left the squad with just one specialist hooker in Bongi Mbonambi. As it turned out, Mbonambi went off injured within minutes of the kickoff, replaced by 37-yearold flanker-turnedhooker Deon Fourie. “I’m not saying we’re geniuses!” said Nienaber, who took over from Rassie Erasmus as head coach after the latter had led the Boks to glory in Japan before taking up a director of rugby role. “We don’t try and be creative and think out of the box. “It’s not genius, it’s just that the players we have have the ability to give us different tactical viewpoints. “It’s the strength of the group, it’s 33 players who understand their roles, they don’t have egos and they buy into it. “That gives us the opportunity to maybe go a little bit different than normal.” Nienaber said the country’s record fourth title after previous successes in 1995, 2007 and 2019, had been long in the planning. “We came a long way with the players,” he said. “We always planned for this World Cup, since 2018. Massive credit to our fans. “They were special from South Africa, 62 million people, the videos we had to play from them. It was unbelievable.” Selecting Pollard, who kicked four first-half penalties, was straightforward, Nienaber said. “Manie probably deserves it, a guy like Cobus deserves it when you think about what they’ve done in the quarterfinal and semifinals. “The one thing we do have is we have 33 players that are the right players – not necessarily the best players in their positions, but they’re the right players. “When we go with a strategy, we explain it, a guy like Cobus and a guy like Manie accept it.” Nienaber also heaped praise on “phenomenal” flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, who delivered 28 crunching tackles – and the tireless Jordie Barrett merited a special mention. “If there’s a white plastic bag that blows over the pitch, he’d probably chase that down as well!” joked Nienaber. “He was a machine.” – AFP Wasteful Chelsea Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson (right) in action with Brentford’s Nathan Collins during their Premier League match. – REUTERSPIX Eddie Nketiah ‘We’re not geniuses!’ Nienaber says after final selection pays off
