“Those who support PH will give their votes to Umno, and BN voters will support PH candidates. It will be a win-win situation for both parties. “So, instead of PN harping on non-issues in Selangor, it should take a look closer to home and realise the kind of problems it is facing in the states it governs.” Selangor PH aims to win 51 of the 56 state seats in the polls to be held on Aug 12, said Selangor PH election director Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri. He said PH’s confidence stems from the fact it had won 51 seats during the 14th general election before losing some seats due to party-hopping. “The state government’s excellent track record of developing Selangor also stands the unity government in good stead. Voters can see the performance of the state, which reaches out to the people with various initiatives that help them. “These include the Darul Ehsan Water Scheme, Free Insurance Coverage and Takaful Scheme, Selangor Prosperous Life Support and Senior Age Friendly Scheme.” Mohd Yahya said the cooperation between PH and BN will further boost the people’s confidence in the unity government. He said it will be sad if voters fall for the Selangor Baru slogan being touted by PN, as it has no development model and will just follow what it has applied in states under its control. PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalitions, which form the unity government, are expected to win the majority of seats in the Selangor state election, said Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi. This is despite another political analyst, Khoo Kay Peng, saying Perikatan Nasional (PN) might make some inroads in Malay-majority areas. Awang Azman said PN would not pose a real threat to the PH-BN alliance as the Opposition is merely stirring up trouble to give the impression that there is a problem in the state. He said PN has no role to play in Selangor and even if it wins a few seats, it should be seen as a bonus and nothing more. “Selangor will suffer if PN wins the state. It might try to use the Kedah or Kelantan model to win Selangor, but this will not go down well with the voters. PN should be more worried about Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, where it is expected to lose some seats. “PN is making it look like there is a problem in Selangor as it is attempting to cover up its shortcomings in the three states it rules. But the fact is PN cannot show any success (in the three states) if it compares them with Selangor.” For example, in the Felda debt waiver issue, PN leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is making it out to be an issue. But Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has no reason to lie and had all the facts and figures before he made the decision, said Awang Azman. He also said Muhyiddin may have made some kind of announcement about Felda when he was the prime minister, but it is most likely he did not follow through with it. Awang Azman said with PH and BN working together, it will improve the chances of Umno winning more seats in the state. oGiven win-win situation by working together, unity govt alliance can expect big victory in Selangor: Analyst █ BYRAJVINDER SINGH [emailprotected] TELLING IT AS IT IS ON WEDNESDAY JULY 12, 2023 No. 8307 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my PALATABLE PROFIT ... Ayang Cafe owner Nor Hazelizan Mamat says she is thankful to be enjoying brisk business selling Menu Rahmah meals, which are popular with low-income earners as well as college students in Kota Bharu. – BERNAMAPIC No sweat for PH-BN INSIDE Govt mulls Sentencing Council 2 page Selangor MB keen on second term 3 page Turn to — page 3 Story on — page 4
2 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Govt mulls Sentencing Council PUTRAJAYA: The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department is planning to set up a Sentencing Council to review all sentences for criminal offences, including for drug-related cases under Malaysian legislation. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the council would provide guidelines and reduce prison sentences by promoting more rehabilitation and restorative-based sentences. She said the Legal Affairs Division is also studying ways to overhaul the Offenders Compulsory Attendance Act 1954. “It is to promote the imposition of community-based rehabilitation instead of imprisonment for offenders sentenced to prison for three years and below, in particular for first-time offenders. oPanel to provide guidelines, promote rehabilitation and restorative-based penalties, says Azalina “This could include minor drug offences, which account for 63% of prison inmates in Malaysia.” Azalina said this in a statement issued yesterday in conjunction with the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the Eradication of Drugs on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Azalina said addressing the issue of overcrowding in prisons is a human rights priority for the government, given the detrimental risks faced by inmates. “I hope to present the outcome of the above efforts as a joint Cabinet paper with the Home Ministry and the Health Ministry by the next Parliament sitting at the end of 2023.” She said it is vital for law and enforcement agencies to keep up with the times, especially concerning the progress of sophisticated manufacturing of synthetic drugs and methods of abuse, Bernama reported. “The existing Malaysian laws on drugs were made in the 1950s. At this juncture, the discretion of the judiciary is especially important in addressing drug traffickers separately from drug abusers, and for the latter, a case-by-case treatment such as whether the individual is a first-time user. “The discretion of the judiciary is also vital in introducing rehabilitation options instead of sentences focusing solely on punishment.” Azalina added that as drug dependency is a medical condition, the government wants to revise the present approach to the problem of drug dependency. “We hope to also see the inclusion of medical intervention, treatment and rehabilitation in addressing drug dependency.” Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid said the Home Ministry and the National Anti-Drug Agency had been given three months to coordinate efforts to devise effective initiatives to curb drug problems. FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURS ... The Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during a meeting yesterday as part of the former’s three-day official visit to the republic. – BERNAMAPIC No extreme price hikes this year: Minister KUALA LUMPUR: The government has given an assurance that prices of essential goods, especially subsidised items, will not see an extreme rise this year. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said this includes prices of controlled items, such as sugar, and non-controlled items like bottled cooking oil. “The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has the responsibility of monitoring the prices of essential goods daily, and so far, our observations have shown that prices of subsidised items like eggs, chicken, RON95 petrol and diesel have not gone up. “Subsidised cooking oil in packets is still being priced at RM2.50 each. Similarly, the price of bottled cooking oil has also seen no increase. Some are selling lower than the ceiling price,” he said after inspecting the prices of goods at a hypermarket here yesterday, Bernama reported. Salahuddin said the ministry had not received any complaints on prices of consumer goods so far, refuting claims from several parties about price increases. He urged the public to report to the ministry if they find any price hike involving essential goods in supermarkets or grocery stores. “Report it directly to the ministry and we will take immediate action.” He advised the public not to be easily influenced by any of the Opposition’s claims, given the upcoming state elections. On media reports about a projected 20% increase in the prices of goods in October, Salahuddin said the ministry was aware of the matter and would continue monitoring the situation, especially prices of staples. The 20% increase was projected due to two main factors – import inflation and the rising cost of business operations in Malaysia. Dinner in honour of Indian defence minister KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian High Commission in Malaysia hosted a dinner on Monday in honour of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, whose visit to Malaysia signifies another milestone in the 65-year Malaysia-India bilateral ties. Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy said the visit took place against the backdrop of excellent collaboration between both countries in the three branches of the armed forces – the army, navy and air force. “Defence industry collaboration and research and development with Malaysia are beginning to take root.” He was speaking at the event which was also attended by Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, deputy ministers, Malaysian Defence Ministry officials and the Indian diaspora in Malaysia. Rajnath, who arrived on Sunday for a four-day introductory visit to Malaysia, had paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Monday, besides meeting his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Reddy said the meeting between Rajnath and Mohamad was important in charting a roadmap for the fourth decade of India-Malaysia defence cooperation since a bilateral defence cooperation MoU was signed in 1993. He said the meeting allowed for discussions on ways to fully realise the enhanced strategic partnership established between the two countries in 2015 with the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. – Bernama Don’t spread fake news, politicians urged KUALA LUMPUR: Politicians should refrain from spreading fake news in the lead-up to the six state elections on Aug 12, said Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching. The DAP national publicity secretary said there was a high likelihood of inaccurate and fake news circulating before the election. “As politicians, we have to have principles. Don’t be the one who spreads fake news. This is also a reminder for myself. “To all my friends out there, whether we belong to the same political party or not, we must remember that as elected representatives or politicians, we are all Malaysians. So don’t do anything that can ruin our beloved country.” Teo said this when she appeared as a guest on the Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme aired on TV1 yesterday. – Bernama Condolences to PKR leader’s family KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed condolences to the family of Padang Besar PKR branch chief Amran Kamarudin, who died of a heart ailment on Monday. In a Facebook post yesterday, Anwar, who is also PKR president, prayed that the soul of the Perlis PKR leadership council’s former chairman be placed among the pious and the righteous. “His deeds and sacrifices for Keadilan in Perlis will always be remembered. AlFatihah.” In the 15th general election, Amran, 59, who was fielded as Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Mata Ayer state seat in Perlis, lost in a three-cornered fight. Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is also home minister, expressed condolences to the family of Amran in a post on his Facebook page. “May Allah bless his soul, forgive his sins, accept his good deeds and place him in heaven alongside the pious and the righteous, Insya-Allah. Al-Fatihah.” Amran breathed his last at his home in Kangar at 11.10pm. He was laid to rest at Tok Paduka Muslim cemetery in Kangar. – Bernama Aid for Penang Chinese schools NIBONG TEBAL: The Education Ministry is committed to looking after the welfare of teachers and students and creating a good learning environment by allocating at least RM50,000 for maintenance for each of the 74 Chinese schools in Penang. Its deputy minister Lim Hui Ying said the schools were among the 81 government and government-aided Chinese schools in the state that had applied for maintenance allocations for this year. “I will ensure that these schools get at least RM50,000 for school maintenance. These funds will be disbursed in a week or two,” she said after visiting four schools here yesterday, namely SJK (C) Chong Kuang, SJK (C) Kampung Jawi, SJK (T) Nibong Tebal and SJK (C) Pai Teik. She also announced a total allocation of RM670,000 for the upgrading and maintenance of the schools, with RM150,000 for SJK (C) Chong Kuang, RM200,000 for SJK (C) Kampung Jawi, RM170,000 for SJK (T) Nibong Tebal and RM150,000 for SJK (C) Pai Teik. Lim expressed hope that more schools would emulate SJK (C) Chong Kuang in implementing the Special Integration Education Programme for students with special needs. – Bernama
3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has expressed intent to continue helming the state government if the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalitions win at the polls next month. The Selangor PH chairman said his wish stems from wanting to implement the state’s various development plans in a bid to sustain the economy and well-being of its people, Bernama reported. “Although the plans involve teamwork, I believe I must complete and discharge them as promised to the people, especially under the First Selangor Plan. “This wish is in line with my commitment to defend the Sungai Tua state seat in the upcoming elections, of which I am the incumbent,” he said yesterday. The Gombak MP also refuted rumours of plans afoot to change his role from that of menteri besar to a federal minister after the state elections. “There is a lot of talk out there, with some saying I will be transferred to federal, from menteri besar to Cabinet minister, but Selangor PH is keen to retain me as menteri besar. “So far, there has been no plan to change my role in discussions with PH chairman and Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim),” he said, adding that as a party member, he would abide by any decisions of the party leadership. Amirudin has been the state assemblyman for Sungai Tua (previously known as the Batu Caves state constituency) since the 14th general elections in 2018. He was sworn in as menteri besar before the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on June 19, 2018, after Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali relinquished the post to become the then economic affairs minister. Meanwhile, Amirudin also criticised Perikatan Nasional (PN), saying it did not dare to name a menteri besar candidate despite some of its leaders, including Mohamed Azmin who is the Bukit Antarabangsa incumbent, aggressively portraying themselves as champions of the Selangor people. He said this showed that PN had no confidence in the former menteri besar, even though its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had previously announced that Bersatu would take up the post if the coalition, which includes PAS and Gerakan, wins the state polls. “People are still guessing about who will be their menteri besar candidate. “I know that PAS is also eyeing the position and their grassroots believe a PAS candidate would be better qualified,” he said. Amirudin appealed to the people to vote for PH-BN to ensure continuity of the administration that has made Selangor the most economically and socially successful state, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic downturn. The Election Commission had announced that Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan will go to the polls on Aug 12, with nominations set for July 29 and early voting on Aug 8. ‘Merdeka Legacy’ forum open to public IPOH: The public is invited to attend the Perdana Ehwal Islam Forum titled “Merdeka Legacy” this Saturday at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Meru Raya in conjunction with the launch of the 2023 National Month and the “Fly the Jalur Gemilang” campaign. According to the Perak State Information Department, the programme, which is jointly organised by the Islamic Development Department, Perak Islamic Religious Department, state Mufti Department, RTM and Bank Islam, will begin at 9pm. The forum, moderated by Ustaz Hariri Daud, will feature panellists such as Universiti Selangor president and vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman, Teras Pengupayaan Melayu president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid and independent preacher Ustaz Harryanto Rizal Rokman. Various interesting programmes have been lined up in conjunction with the launch at Bulatan Azlan Shah on July 16, followed by the National Day celebration on Aug 31 at Dataran Putrajaya and the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16, which will take place in Kuching, Sarawak. – Bernama S’gor MB keen on second term oDecision driven by dedication to complete development plans to sustain economy, maintain people’s well-being Sarawak determined to resolve peat soil issues SIBU: Collaborative studies are required to address peat soil problems that hinder the development of certain projects in Sarawak, said state Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. He added that the state government is seriously focusing on the issue and emphasis would also be given to research to overcome it as it could be holding back Sarawak from its development programmes. “Proper research is needed to avoid too much money being spent on the maintenance of development projects implemented on soft ground areas. A form of collaboration is needed among the researchers, not only from the engineering point of view but geology and other fields as well,” he said when officiating at an international symposium on soft ground improvement yesterday. Annuar said the Sarawak Research and Development Council, which is under his ministry’s purview, could provide funds for research that could identify methods to address the issue, particularly in road construction. “While there is not much of a problem in the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, which stretches towards the hinterland where the terrain is hilly, construction of the coastal highway faces a lot of difficulties as it passes through many swampy areas with lots of rivers to cross,” he added. A total of 95 participants involving academia and industry professionals took part in the two-day symposium organised by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The event brought together nine keynote speakers and three invited speakers, who are renowned international professionals from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, to share knowledge, best practices and cutting-edge solutions to enhance infrastructure stability and resilience in soft ground conditions. – Bernama RM7m to boost tourism in Perak LENGGONG: The state government has allocated another RM7 million to upgrade the tourism sector in conjunction with Visit Perak Year (VPY) 2024. State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee said the allocation involves RM3.8 million for upgrading the sector, including providing basic amenities and sprucing up tourism locations. He said the state government also allocated RM3.2 million to promote tourism for VPY 2024 to attain a target of eight million domestic tourists to the state and a projected revenue of RM10 billion. “For the preparation of VPY 2024, the state government has prepared additional allocations that were approved in May and we also received good cooperation from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry. “The ministry has also approved an allocation of RM3 million to implement 12 major tourist site projects, including RM500,000 to the Lenggong district council for the development of infrastructure related to the Lenggong Geopark,” he said after visiting the myKomuniti Perikanan fishing jetty in Kampung Chepor yesterday. – Bernama STPM results to be released tomorrow KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC) has announced that the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) Year 2022 results will be out tomorrow. In a statement yesterday, MEC said candidates from government schools, government-assisted schools, private schools and private candidates can obtain the results from their respective schools or online from 11.30am onwards. “The STPM Year 2022 result slips can be accessed online at stpm.mpm.edu.my/stpmK from 11.30am on July 13. A summary of the results can also be obtained through SMS by typing STPM/IC Number/Index Number and sending it to 15888 from 11am on July 13 to noon FRUITS OF LABOUR ... An Agrotech trainee holding up a sun melon that was grown on a farm at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Serdang. – BERNAMAPIC on July 23.” – Bernama PH ideology closer to Selangor voters He said PN cannot provide the same types of benefits Selangor has provided to the people because they are unique to the state. A survey by ISEAS Perspective, a journal from Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, confirmed one of Umno’s biggest worries in the run-up to the state elections. It said Malay voters in Selangor who supported the party in the last election are more likely to vote for PN candidates. It said Selangor is within the grasp of PN as 39 Malay-majority seats are set to reject PH-BN candidates. Malays make up about 54% of Selangor’s population, followed by Chinese (32%), Indians (13%) and other races (1%). With 56 seats up for grabs, a party must win at least 29 to form the state government. Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said Selangor has the most diverse and liberal voters in Malaysia, and PH’s ideology is a lot closer to them than PN’s. “It is possible for PN to make some inroads, especially in areas with higher young Malay voters who are disenfranchised by the economy and unemployment. “PN is full of confidence. It is taking things for granted in states under its control. However, PH is not on the offensive apart from a few statements from (PKR deputy president) Rafizi Ramli and Anwar about their chances.” He said Umno in Selangor would have to depend on PH’s support to keep its seats as there is infighting and the only way to prevail is to enforce the electoral pact between PH and Umno/BN. Khoo said Umno’s ground support is left at 50% at best. The rest will take a look-see approach and not hesitate to gravitate to the winners even if it is Bersatu. From front page
4 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME Or download app on the AppStore or Google Play ENJOY A SEAMLESS READING EXPERIENCE. Read our iPaper at https://www.thesundaily.my/ Fish mucus hope for breast cancer treatment PETALING JAYA: A groundbreaking study has discovered that the mucus on the skin of a freshwater fish, Anabas testudineus (A. testudineus) or Ikan Puyu, contains proteins that could prevent the growth of breast cancer cells. The study, titled “Anti-Breast Cancer Synthetic Peptides Derived from the Anabas testudineus Skin Mucus Fractions” was conducted by INTI International University Faculty of Health and Life Science senior lecturer Dr Douglas Law (pic), in collaboration with University Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Science and Technology Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Shazrul Fazry Sa’ariwijaya and Dr Ahmad Abdul Kareem Najm. The study found the fish was unique in that it could live in polluted environments due to its epidermal mucus, which protects it from pathogens. It was also observed that Ikan Puyu has remarkable resilience in harsh environments. “The mucus on its skin contains anti-microbial peptides (AMP) that could function as a protective shield, safeguarding it against potentially harmful micro-organisms and maintaining its health,” Law said. “AMP have attracted the attention of numerous researchers due to its ability to combat detrimental microorganisms and abnormal cell growth, including tumours.” He added that AMP act as a natural defence system that helps protect against infections and could help control abnormal cell growth. “This breakthrough emphasises the importance of safeguarding and preserving our valuable freshwater life to ensure their Ikan Puyu is known for its ability to survive harsh environments. – PIC COURTESY OF INTI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY oAnti-microbial peptides found in skin of native species ‘Ikan Puyu’ could inhibit malignant growth, says local research team █ BYJOSHUA PURUSHOTMAN [emailprotected] Menu Rahmah boon in Kelantan KOTA BHARU: Since the Menu Rahmah initiative was introduced by the government in January, it has become the go-to meal for low-income earners and students of higher learning institutions around the city. Ayang Cafe owner Nor Hazelizan Mamat, 45, said her business, which had been slow post-Covid-19, has now returned to full capacity and she could earn almost RM1,000 a day. “My customers prefer Menu Rahmah because each set of rice and chicken with iced tea, or ‘roti ayang’ with iced tea or ‘nasi kerabu’ with iced tea only costs RM5. “At the same time, I hope the government could monitor the price of perishable goods and daily necessities from time to time so that it doesn’t burden traders who take part in the Menu Rahmah initiative,” she said. Universiti Teknologi Mara Kelantan student Nik Muhammad Luqman Al-Hakim, 23, described Menu Rahmah meals offered by traders as a “saviour” for students like him. “A complete menu that includes rice, chicken or fish, vegetables and a drink is available for as low as RM5. “This could help students save on their daily expenses and I hope this initiative will be expanded so that it could reach out to more people,” said the student representative council president. Chicken trader Zarina Abdullah, 50, said the Menu Rahmah initiative is not only able to bring a positive effect to restaurant operators but also to suppliers of raw materials. She said she supplies between 150 and 200 chickens for about RM15 each to seven eateries that serve Menu Rahmah. Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Azman Ismail said as of yesterday, more than 100 food premises throughout Kelantan were offering Menu Rahmah meals. – Bernama Maintain success, Penang voters urged BANGI: States under Pakatan Harapan (PH), namely Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan have been successfully managed, and to keep up the momentum of success, voters need to make the right choice in the Aug 12 state elections, said DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming. He added that the Selangor government has been led by PH since 2008 and at the time, the state reserve fund was only RM430 million, adding that after three terms, the state reserve fund has increased tenfold to RM3.4 billion, making the state the biggest contributor to the gross domestic product, at 25.5%. – Bernama critical contribution to our fragile ecosystem.” A. testudineus is a hardy fish found in freshwater habitats across Asia. It is also known for its ability to survive in low-oxygen environments and remain out of water for extended periods. Law said before conducting the experiments, the fish were kept in an aerated tank with a temperature maintained at around 28°C and provided with a constant supply of food. The study, published in the journals Nature Scientific Reports and Sains Malaysiana, stated that the fish were then observed in difficult environments. It was found that the fish mucus contained several bioactive peptides with potential anticancer properties. “The AMP in the fish mucus have properties that allow them to fight against harmful microorganisms, preventing infections and promoting its overall well-being.” Law added that in the case of the A. testudineus skin mucus fractions, his team isolated specific peptides from the mucus and synthesised them in a laboratory. “The use of peptides derived from natural sources, such as the skin mucus of A. testudineus, offers potential advantages in terms of therapeutic applications. “These peptides may provide a basis for the development of novel drugs or therapies that could be used to prevent, treat and manage breast cancer. However, more in-depth research is necessary to fully validate our findings before the peptides can be introduced and utilised in medical practice. “Our findings offer cancer patients hope and highlight how nature could provide solutions to global health challenges. But we need to take measures to protect water sources from pollution, implement regulations for fishing practices to prevent excessive exploitation and promote conservation initiatives.” Law also said the government needs to work towards improving healthcare accessibility to ensure cancer prevention measures and screenings are readily available to the public. “By fostering partnerships and providing platforms for knowledge exchange, the government could encourage innovation, streamline research efforts, raise community awareness and promote the translation of scientific discoveries into tangible healthcare solutions.”
5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 ‘Nothing wrong with charges against Muhyiddin’ KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was yesterday told that the four charges against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, of misusing his position to obtain bribes totalling RM232.5 million for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), were not discriminatory. DPP Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said this was because all the charges met sections 152, 153, and 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) by stating the form of the charge, particulars as to time, place and person (accused) and manner as to how the offences were committed. He said Muhyiddin’s rights according to Article 5 of the Federal Constitution had not been violated because the trial had not started. “All the allegations by the applicant are premature, and the action in applying to strike out the charges can be ruled as unconstitutional. “At this stage, the applicant’s rights under Article 5 (1) are guaranteed because all procedures met existing laws, especially the CPC, which have been complied with by the prosecution as the respondent,” Wan Shaharuddin said. Meanwhile, DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib said the application to strike the charges is an abuse of court process, and is based on a “wrong premise of law” and “misconception of law”. “Therefore, the court cannot use its power to quash the charges under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission Act 2009 against the applicant.” He said the charges that Muhyiddin is seeking to strike out Muhyiddin and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman arriving at the court yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC Woman in court over receiving unlicensed deposits MALACCA: A single mother pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to two charges of receiving investment deposits totalling RM581,000 without a valid licence. Noryani Abdullah, 56, was charged with accepting unlicensed deposits of RM249,500 into her bank account from Fatimah Abdullah, 61. She is alleged to have committed the offence at a bank in Jalan Hang Tuah between Jan 8 and Oct 26, 2020. Judge Mohd Sabri Ismail set bail at RM25,000 in one surety and Aug 11 for mention. She was earlier charged in another Sessions Court before Judge Darmafikri Abu Adam with receiving unlicensed deposits of RM331,500 at a bank in Jalan Hang Tuah between Feb 16 and Sept 24, 2021. Noryani, who has six children, was allowed bail of RM20,000 in one surety, ordered to surrender her passport to the court and to report at a police station once a month. The two charges against Noryani, who was represented by lawyer Andrew Lourdes, were under Section 137 (1) of the Financial Services Act 2013, that provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years, a maximum fine of RM50 million, or both. DPPs Puteri Nur Nadia Mohamed Iqbal and Aliff Asraf Anuar Sharuddin prosecuted. – Bernama Aug 11 decision on Najib’s appeal in ex-AG suit PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has fixed Aug 11 to decide on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s appeal to disqualify two lawyers from representing former attorneygeneral (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas in a RM1.9 million lawsuit. A three-member panel comprising judges Datuk Hanipah Farikullah, Datuk Azimah Omar and Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli said time was needed to consider the submissions and case authorities put forward by parties in the suit. In the proceedings yesterday, the court heard submissions by Najib’s lawyer, Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin and Thomas’ counsel Alan Adrian Gomez. Najib, 69, is appealing against a High Court decision on Aug 19 last year to dismiss his application to disqualify Gomez and lawyer Mervyn Lai Wei Shiung, both partners in Thomas’ law firm, from representing him in the suit. oFormer premier seeking to disqualify lawyers acting for Thomas, citing conflict of interest Private speaker claims trial to insulting King IPOH: An independent speaker pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to two charges of making offensive posts against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong through WhatsApp in November last year. Ab Malik Hussain, 62, was charged with intentionally making and initiating the transmission of offensive communications to offend others in the WhatsApp group “Questions and Answers on Sufism-(Sufi)”. The offences were allegedly committed at 8.20pm and 8.23pm on Nov 22 at Batu 10, Kampung Pulau Padang Bota Kiri in the central Perak district. Ab Malik, who is from Kota Bharu in Kelantan, was charged under Section 223 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and faces a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to a year, or both, for each charge, with a further fine of RM1,000 for each day the offence is continued after conviction. Judge Azizah Ahmad set bail at RM3,500 in one surety for each charge and set Aug 14 for mention. DPP Saiful Ahmad Mod Said prosecuted. – Bernama Duo looking for clams drown KUCHING: Two men looking for clams along the Esplanade Buntal beach in Kampung Buntal drowned after they were swept away by strong currents yesterday. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations centre said the body of Mohamad Amin Umar, 39, was found at 3.30am, while that of Awang Khairul Aziq Awang Chula, 25, was found at 3.42am. The department said in a statement it was notified of the incident at 12.47am. “The men went to the beach with another friend, who managed to save himself. The bodies were handed to police for further action.” – Bernama Thai woman acquitted, escapes gallows KOTA BHARU: A Thai woman escaped the gallows after the High Court acquitted and discharged her of trafficking 86.8g of methamphetamine in 2018. Judge Datuk Roslan Abu Bakar made the decision after finding the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Miss Rusneeda Beraheng, 41. Roslan said the prosecution failed to prove the second element, namely possession, custody, control and knowledge of the drugs discovered under the seat of a car. “The third element, drug trafficking, automatically failed because the second element was not successfully proven. Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged of the case without being called to enter her defence.” Miss Rusneeda was charged with committing the offence in front of an unnumbered house in Kampung Kubang Juluk, Pasir Mas at 9am on Sept 4, 2018. The charge, under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same law, provides for the death sentence. – Bernama Najib is seeking a declaration that Thomas had committed misfeasance in public office and is claiming RM1.9 million in damages, including costs to cover consultation fees for the audit team to review documentation for preparation of facts. He claimed it was not appropriate to appoint Gomez and Lai to represent Thomas as they were from the same firm as Thomas, Bernama reported. Najib sued Thomas over being charged in the case involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad and International Petroleum Investment Company for abuse of power under the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission Act 2009, and money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Najib, who is former Pekan MP, claimed the charges were part of a move that had been planned by Thomas, that was in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s plan at the time. On Nov 25 last year, the High Court allowed Thomas’ application to strike out Najib’s suit against him. Najib then filed a notice of appeal on Dec 22 last year, and the Court of Appeal has fixed Oct 4 for the hearing. In his submission, Firoz focused on Rule 5 of the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978 that states lawyers should not accept a case if it is difficult to maintain professional independence. He questioned whether Gomez and Lai could maintain their professional independence, adding that members of the same firm should not represent partners, consultants or other lawyers in contentious matters. Thomas was the founding member of the firm, and was the AG from June 4, 2018 to Feb 28, 2020. Firoz said Thomas had pecuniary interests at the firm, adding that a conflict of interest would emerge with the duo acting for him. However, Gomez denied that Thomas had pecuniary interests as a consultant, saying the lawsuit was for alleged misfeasance in public office when he was the AG and not as a partner in the firm. He said there was no conflict of interest as Lai and himself were not involved in the 1MDB charges that had been the focus of Najib’s lawsuit. Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and son, Datuk Mohamad Nazifuddin, were present yesterday. clearly stated the elements of the offence under Section 23 (1). “It is too early to say the charges he is facing are flawed, because the charges are complete in terms of Muhyiddin being the prime minister and Bersatu president. “The bribes he allegedly received are from three companies. We don’t understand what else the applicant wants,” he said, requesting the court to dismiss the application. Muhyiddin’s counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said the charges of position abuse were bad in law and defective, as the respondent failed to particularise how his client had allegedly committed the offences. “All the charges are similarly worded except for the dates, places and amounts. It is obvious the concept of a fair process has been vitiated by an over-hasty and stage-managed prosecution where the basic elementary rules of fairness were not observed,” he said. Judge Muhammad Jamil fixed Aug 15 to decide on Muhyiddin’s application. – Bernama
6 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS Under-construction Bangkok highway collapses BANGKOK: A second person has been confirmed killed and 12 others injured in the collapse of a road bridge under construction in Bangkok, Thai officials said yesterday. The collapse on Monday of a beam system supporting work on a raised bridge trapped several vehicles travelling on the busy thoroughfare in the Lat Krabang district, near Suvarnabhumi international airport. A video released by the Department of Disaster Prevention showed the structure’s sudden fall, raising a cloud of dust, while later videos showed the devastation left in the aftermath of the incident. Bangkok Deputy Governor Wisanu Subsompon told a press conference yesterday the damage may have been caused by an unbalanced crane. “Work will be suspended until they have a safety plan.” The roadwork is part of a project to build elevated highways in an attempt to ease the city’s notoriously congested traffic. Construction safety standards are lax in Thailand, where accidents are commonplace. In 2016, at least 13 people were killed when a building under construction collapsed. The accident had sparked protests from trade unions, who denounced the inadequacy of safety standards and the meagre wages paid to workers on construction sites. – AFP B R I E F SPRAYUTH RETIRES FROM POLITICS BANGKOK: Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced yesterday his retirement from politics, nine years after he took power in a military coup, and promised to stay in charge only temporarily. His announcement was widely expected after his United Thai Nation party was thumped in a May 14 election, in which it won just 36 of the 500 house seats. He will remain caretaker premier until a new government is formed. The former army chief, 69, said he had “achieved many successes”. “I as prime minister have worked hard to protect the nation, religion, monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people. The result is currently bearing fruit for the public,” he said in a statement. – Reuters SIX KILLED IN NEPAL HELICOPTER CRASH KATHMANDU: All six people aboard a tourist helicopter in Nepal were killed when it crashed soon after take-off near Mount Everest yesterday. The Manang Air chopper was heading for the capital Kathmandu from Lukla, the gateway for climbing expeditions to the world’s highest peak, but lost contact 10 minutes after taking off at 10.04am. “Six bodies have been found at the crash site,” said Gyanendra Bhul of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The Himalayan republic has some of the world’s most remote and tricky runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge even for accomplished pilots. – AFP Myanmar tops agenda at Asean talks JAKARTA: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers gathered in Indonesia yesterday for talks dominated by the crisis in Myanmar, with the regional bloc divided over how or whether to re-engage with the coup-wracked country’s ruling junta. The two-day Asean meeting will be followed by talks later in the week with Beijing, Washington and other powers where top US diplomat Antony Blinken will seek to push back on China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent. Asean has long been decried as a toothless talking shop, and it remains split over diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis. Those fractures were laid bare in a draft joint communique seen by AFP, where a section on Myanmar was left blank as Asean members failed to agree on a unified position beforehand. “The para is still being discussed ... member countries are still taking time to propose their submission,” a oBloc remains split over diplomatic attempts to resolve crisis Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP. The only time Asean has failed to issue a joint communique was over a decade ago in 2012 due to a language dispute about the South China Sea. Asean members were making “extra efforts” in the days before the meeting – a prelude to a leaders’ summit in September – to unite the group around the Myanmar issue, the diplomat said on condition of anonymity. However, the official was “not too optimistic” that would happen given that a “few members have different perspectives on how to approach the problem”. Myanmar remains an Asean member but has been barred from high-level meetings over the junta’s failure to implement a five-point plan agreed two years ago to end the Six feared dead after torrential rains in Japan TOKYO: Six people are feared dead in torrential rains that hit southwest Japan this week, the government said yesterday, as search and rescue operations continued on the ground. A heavy band of precipitation dumped record-breaking amounts of rain in some parts of the Kyushu area through Monday, causing rivers to overflow and sodden earth to collapse in landslides. At least three people are confirmed to have died in the rains, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters yesterday, adding officials were investigating whether another three deaths were linked to the disaster. Three people remain missing and two have been reported lightly injured, he added. “We express our condolences to those who died, and our heartfelt sympathy towards those who were affected by the disaster.” Some remote communities remain effectively cut off by flooding and other damage, but the safety of residents there has been confirmed. Transport remained disrupted as of early yesterday, with some train services stopped and highways blocked, and 1,400 homes were without power. In Saga region’s Karatsu, members of Japan’s military were digging through the soil and debris left by a deadly landslide that engulfed homes. The downpours, which forecasters had warned risked being the region’s “heaviest rain experienced”, prompted evacuation notices for hundreds of thousands of people. Japan is currently in its annual rainy season, which often brings heavy downpours, and sometimes results in flooding and landslides as well as casualties. Scientists said climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan and elsewhere, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water. The weather agency said it had already been raining for more than a week in the region before the heavy downpours that arrived on Sunday. Landslides are a particular risk in Japan during heavy rains because homes are often built on plains at the bottom of hillsides in the mountainous country. – AFP violence and restart negotiations to resolve the crisis. But Asean efforts to kick-start the plan’s execution have been fruitless, as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents. Thailand, meanwhile, hosted the junta’s foreign minister for controversial “informal talks” last month, deepening the divisions among Asean members. Cambodia sent a junior diplomat while Asean chair Indonesia and Malaysia snubbed the meeting. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi appeared to take aim at divisions within the bloc in remarks opening a session on the first day of talks. “Our differences should not be an excuse for us to abandon pressing human rights issues in our own region. Despite complexities on the ground, Asean must not waver,” she said. An Asean-plus-three ministerial meeting with Japan, South Korea and China will take place tomorrow ahead of the Asean Regional Forum and an 18-nation East Asia Summit foreign ministers’ meeting on Friday, which will also include Washington and Beijing. – AFP S. Korean jailed for life in stalking, murder case SEOUL: A South Korean court sentenced a man to life in prison yesterday for murdering a woman he had stalked for years. The Seoul High Court sentenced 32-year-old Jeon Joo-hwan for killing a former colleague in revenge after the victim reported him to police for stalking. Over nearly two years, Jeon followed and threatened the woman on more than 300 separate occasions but was never detained, despite her filing repeated complaints, as police deemed him “low risk”. On Sept14 last year, a day before Jeon was due to be sentenced for stalking, he stabbed her to death in a public restroom at a Seoul subway station. Jeon reportedly told investigators that he had been angered by the legal problems his victim had caused him. He had been fired from his job at the Seoul Metro – where the woman also worked – after she first reported him for stalking. A district court had sentenced Jeon in February to 40 years in prison in the murder case. He was separately given an additional nine years for stalking. The two cases have been combined for an appellate ruling. “Revenge crime requires strict punishment,” the court said in yesterday’s verdict. “There is a great need to prevent such a crime from happening again by making it clear that those who violate the life of an innocent person with unreasonable intention and purpose will pay the price.” – AFP Debris from flooding cover a road in the city of Kurume after heavy rains hit parts of Kyushu island. – AFPPIC
7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 Toddler missing in French Alps PARIS: Rescue services said they still hoped to find a toddler who went missing in a hamlet in the French Alps as the third day of searching got under way yesterday. Emile, who is two and a half, was staying with his grandparents when he went missing on Saturday. He was last seen by two neighbours walking alone on a street of Haut-Vernet, a tiny village of 25 inhabitants at an altitude of 1,200m. “We’re not stopping the search, we are not losing hope,” local prefect Marc Chappuis told reporters on Monday. But after 48 hours of combing through the area without success, the search was now becoming “more targeted” and “more selective”, he said. Specialist forensic units had been called in, and more locals would be interviewed in the hope for clues as to the whereabouts of the boy. The site is off limits to outsiders as of yesterday, prosecutor Remy Avon said. Investigators still had no leads as to what might have happened to Emile. “All possible explanations are on the table, we’re not favouring any, and we’re not ruling any out,” the prosecutor said. Several witnesses had been questioned, and all houses in the hamlet searched, except for two that are uninhabited, he said. For now, there was nothing to indicate foul play, he said. Hundreds of volunteers have signed up to help with the search for the toddler. “We took part in a big search this morning with 50 other people,” said Roxane, 19, who came with two friends to help on Monday. “We looked in the fields, and in the woods. We looked out for the smallest clue, maybe an item of clothing or a shoe he could have lost,” she said. The terrain in the search zone is hilly and craggy with many streams, and the region has been hit by a heat wave, with temperatures forecast to reach 34°C today. Police, still hoping for a breakthrough thanks to witness statements, have circulated a picture of the blond and hazel-eyed boy who was wearing a yellow top, white shorts and hiking shoes the day he disappeared. – AFP Australian crocodiles face cull threat CANBERRA: The top politician in Australia’s Northern Territory said yesterday it was “time to consider” a return to crocodile culling after an attack at a popular swimming spot. A 67-year-old man is recovering in hospital after encountering a crocodile at Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park on Monday. Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles told reporters there had been a “significant increase” in the crocodile population since culling was suspended in the 1970s, with numbers going from around 3,000 to an estimate of more than 100,000. “I think it’s time for us to consider: do we need to go back to culling, considering that significant increase in the crocodile population and the impact it’s having not only on tourism and visitors, but locals.” Rangers and a crocodile management team had euthanised a 2.4m male saltwater crocodile at Wangi Falls on Monday night. Litchfield National Park is in a so-called barrier and removal zone, meaning that there is a “zero tolerance” approach to crocodiles. Asked about the impact of the attacks on tourism, Fyles said: “I think everyone in the territory has stories where crocodiles have been more aggressive, have interacted, and when you have a bigger crocodile population, there is more chance that they will interact with humans.”– AFP Ukraine seeks path to Nato membership VILNIUS: Nato leaders grapple with Ukraine’s membership ambitions at their summit yesterday, their determination to face down Russia boosted by a breakthrough in Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. German Patriot missile systems and French fighter jets were guarding the skies as Nato leaders gathered in Lithuania, on land once occupied by Moscow on the alliance’s eastern flank. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will head to Vilnius for the two-day summit to make the case that Kyiv has earned the right to join when the Kremlin’s invasion ends. “Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance. Not now, because now there’s war, but we need a clear signal,” Zelensky said in Kyiv. The Western military alliance is set to offer its full-throated backing for Kyiv’s quest for victory, but its 31 nations are divided over how far to go on letting Ukraine join their ranks. While Ukraine’s neighbours have pushed for an explicit timetable, heavyweights US and Germany are oMilitary alliance’s 31 members divided on how to proceed reluctant to go beyond an earlier vow that it will become a member one day. American President Joe Biden, who will meet with Zelensky today, has said there is no agreement to offer Kyiv membership while its war with Russia rages, as this would drag Nato directly into the conflict. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Nato will draw up a path of reforms that Ukraine will need to undertake in order to eventually join, but without giving a “timetable”. The alliance is offering Kyiv a branch by simplifying its eventual accession bid and dropping a requirement that it complete a formal road map of reforms. As Ukraine wages a punishing counter-offensive, dominant powers the US, Britain, France and Germany have been negotiating long-term commitments on weapons supplies with Kyiv. These fall far short of Zelensky’s desire to be under Nato’s collective defence umbrella, but could reassure him that his nation can keep on fighting. After hours of talks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday ended months of deadlock by agreeing to forward Sweden’s application for Nato membership to his Parliament for approval. Stoltenberg hailed a “historic day” that should help clear the way for Sweden to become the second new member since Finland joined in April. Turkiye has been holding up Sweden’s application to join the Atlantic alliance, accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists Ankara regards as terrorists. Erdogan upped the stakes further, demanding that the European Union revive Turkiye’s stalled EU membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining Nato. In a joint statement, Stockholm said it will now “actively support” efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye’s long-stalled accession bid for the EU. – AFP B R I E F SFAMILY SUES OVER TASING OF 95-YEAR-OLD CANBERRA: Lawyers for the family of a 95-year-old great-grandmother who died after being tasered by Australian police said yesterday they are suing the state government for damages. Clare Nowland, who suffered from dementia, died May 24 – a week after a state police officer shot her with an electronic stun gun at her nursing home in New South Wales. “A civil claim has been brought,” said the family’s lawyer Sam Tierney. Officers had been called to Yallambee Lodge nursing home by staff who told them that a woman was “armed with a knife”. Police said they urged Nowland to drop a steak knife before she moved towards them “at a slow pace” with her walking frame, prompting one officer to fire his taser at her. – AFP RESCUERS SAVE 86 MIGRANTS NEAR CANARY ISLES MADRID: Spain’s coast guard said on Monday it rescued 86 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa aboard a boat near the Canary Islands that had been spotted earlier in the day by a rescue plane. The service said they had found the boat with six females and 80 males on board as rescuers were searching for a missing migrant boat that had “left Senegal with around 200 people on board”. When a rescue plane spotted the vessel 71 nautical miles south of the island of Gran Canaria, it was initially thought to have “200 people on board”, a spokesman said. A rescue ship brought the migrants to the port of Arguineguin, where Red Cross workers provided them with medical care. – AFP Volcano spews toxic gas in Iceland OSLO: Icelandic police have restricted access to a volcano that has been spewing out “life-threatening toxic gas pollution” since it began erupting on Monday, said the department of civil protection and emergency management. Residents of the Reykjanes peninsula, near the capital Reykjavik, have been encouraged to sleep with windows closed and to switch off ventilation, the department said in a statement on Facebook on Monday. “The police, after counsel from scientists, have decided to restrict access to the eruption site due to enormous and life-threatening toxic gas pollution. “For the next hours, it is highly likely that gas will build up around the eruption site due to low wind. “Those who have already undertaken the hike to the eruption site, or are already there, are strongly advised to leave the area.” The footage of the eruption shows that the fissure has shortened a lot and that the lava flow has ceased, University of Iceland professor of geophysics Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told broadcaster RUV yesterday. “It won’t be big, but it can last a long time. We are not seeing a continuation of what we saw in the first hours.” The eruption follows intense seismic activity over the past few days and is classified as a fissure eruption, which does not usually result in large explosions or a significant amount of ash in the stratosphere, the Icelandic government said in a statement on Monday. – Reuters Visitors watching smoke billow from flowing lava during the volcanic eruption at Litli Hrutur. – AFPPIC
8 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 SPEAK UP 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. /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Sizzling race to climatic finish THE dangerous politics of race and religion, if it intensifies, will set Malaysia on a trajectory towards a collision course with the environment. If leaders continue flashing ethno-religious credentials to project an image of themselves as defenders of a race and faith under threat, the nation will be overwhelmed by climate change and ill-equipped to cope with the devastating effects. Climate change is a whole-of-planet disorder and requires a whole-ofhumanity solution as everyone is responsible for the carbon footprint that is heating Earth at an alarming rate. If the majority of voters stay anchored to parochial outlooks that emphasise communal self-importance, Malaysia will fail to pull together as part of the global community. Campaign speeches for the Aug 12 state elections will serve as a gauge to determine if our politicians find climate change a sufficiently forceful reason to avoid violating nature’s code of pluralistic unity. Pluralism refers to the coexistence of different cultural, ethnic and religious groups within a society while maintaining a sense of unity and cooperation. It emphasises the value of diversity and recognises that different perspectives contribute to the strength of a nation. Diversity is a hallowed principle of nature. Even in a jungle where the tiger is dominant, myriad other animals feature in a big way. A nation can have a dominant ethnoreligious community, such as we see in Malaysia, and yet allow many other ethnicities, cultures and religions to play significant roles. Unless we practise this rule, we will be head-on against nature. From the day we acquire selfawareness, two pathways open up for us: to live guided by a sense of global community or to live guided by a sense of tribal identity. Similarly, every nation at its birth is either guided by the light of multicultural globalism or driven by the fire of mono-ethnic nationalism. Civilisation emerged from the long march of humanity out of tribalism. The invention of agriculture 12,000 years ago stirred most tribes to merge and form super-tribes, then mega-tribes and finally kingdoms. Religions emerged as a super-glue to bond diverse spreads of people together. However, any form of religious exclusivity and racial partisanship can only be workable in a time of climate invariance, when the global climate is in a steady state. That time ended with the start of the Industrial Revolution around 1750, and the slow advent of climate change. The pace has accelerated over the past 20 years and now resembles a moving car on a level road that has begun to slope downhill. The car’s speed is accelerating and the brakes are not working. Fragmented by differences instead of united by a sense of global community, Malaysians will have no collaborative power, innovativeness and creativity to push back the tide of climate change. If we focus on promoting communal self-interest, we cannot at the same time focus on defeating climate change. Anchored to the deep bedrock of tribalism, our minds will shut close at every mention of a global community of shared interests. On the other hand, climate change is not a tribal force but a global phenomenon. Our tribal minds cannot grasp it nor understand its power to destroy us. If a castle is under attack from all directions and the castle is inhabited by several tribes of people who are primarily concerned about their tribal welfare, how long will it take before the castle falls? That is the length of time it will take for any nation to submerge under climate change. The irony is that climate change is solely caused by human activity and is a whole-of-planet reaction to our disastrous stewardship of the Earth. Everything on the planet is connected and changing, and the change is accelerating every second. Everywhere, the heat is more scorching than in previous years, and next year will be even hotter. The peak of 38.6°C recorded in Raub on April 16 is just the lower rung of a towering inferno as countries north of Malaysia have seen much worse. This year, Thailand hit 44.6°C, Vietnam 44.2°C, Myanmar 43.8°C, Laos 43.5°C and Cambodia 41.6°C. The worst hit in Southeast Asia is the Philippines, with Legazpi City recording 50°C on May 12. India saw temperatures spike to 47°C in May. Bangladesh, hitting 41.3°C, shut down all primary schools last month as students fell sick. Do not think of cooling your heels in the far north temperate regions where summer used to be mild. Last month, Beijing issued a red alert when it roasted at 41.1°C on June 22. Many parts of the US have seen readings above 40°C, and in Canada, the intense heat has set ablaze a forested area, larger than Selangor and Pahang combined. Europe has now been labelled by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) as the fastest-warming continent on the planet. Extreme weather phenomena, once considered rare, are now common and other “unbelievable” events are happening. Last year, Europe suffered its worst drought in more than 500 years and 15,000 people died in heatwaves. Japan last year endured its worst heatwave since 1875. The WMO has also confirmed that the past eight years from 2015 to 2022 were the hottest since record-keeping began 142 years ago, and it is near-certain that the next five years until 2027 will be even hotter. According to a report by the Reuters news agency, published in theSun on July 6, July 3 marked the hottest day ever recorded globally. Exeter University’s Global Systems Institute believes that a third of the global population will be living in dangerously hot conditions by 2080. Indonesia has been named as one of the large countries, where 100 million inhabitants will be affected. Geographically, Malaysia lies in the same extreme heat belt. How can we persist in living in the comfort zone of racial and religious politicking when this climate threat to our survival is growing ever stronger? It is time for all political parties to take stock of the killer heatwaves, forest fires and raging floods that are heading our way from the higher latitude countries that are already suffering these climate effects. Of immediate risk are persons with pre-existing health conditions and the elderly. Heat stress can aggravate underlying problems and cause more deaths from heart and kidney failure, dehydration, respiratory difficulties and stroke. Although heat-induced, the extra deaths may not be counted as such. Less obvious will be the rising number of highway accidents due to fatigue that results from lack of sleep during a heatwave. The crisis is real as the highest land surface temperature in Malaysia was only 28°C in 2015. Eight years later, it has jumped up 10 degrees. Zoom out to the global picture and we face a “truly terrifying” future. In the words of United Nation (UN) human rights chief Volker Turk: “Our environment is burning. It is melting. It is flooding. It is depleting. It is drying.” He said this in an address to the UN Human Rights Council on July 3. If you are still focused on promoting the interests of your race and/or religion exclusively, heed this poetic advice: “Live just for your community and you live in vain. Embrace all communities, and boundless love shall you obtain. A tapestry of lives intertwined, a harmonious terrain.” The writer champions interfaith harmony. Comments: [emailprotected] “A nation can have a dominant ethno-religious community, such as we see in Malaysia, and yet allow many other ethnicities, cultures and religions to play significant roles. Unless we practise this rule, we will be head-on against nature. Last year, Europe suffered its worst drought in more than 500 years and 15,000 people died in heatwaves. – REUTERSPIC
9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 Power of space in relationships I N today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy and fulfilling relationship can be challenging. One often overlooked aspect that plays a crucial role in nurturing a strong partnership is the concept of space. In the context of a relationship, space refers to the importance of allowing each partner the freedom and autonomy to explore his own individuality, pursue personal interests and have time for self-reflection. Creating space within a relationship is not about distancing oneself or creating emotional distance, but about finding a balance between togetherness and personal growth. It involves recognising that individuals in a relationship are unique beings with their dreams, passions and needs. Embracing this concept can lead to a deeper connection and a more fulfilling partnership. Personal growth is one of the key benefits of space in a relationship. When partners have the freedom to pursue their interests and goals, it will allow them to develop as individuals. Each partner has his own journey of self-discovery and self-improvement, and space provides the necessary environment for that growth to occur. When an individual is encouraged and supported in his personal growth, he becomes more fulfilled and content within himself, which in turn enhances the dynamics of a relationship. As each partner continues to evolve and learn, new perspectives, experiences and knowledge are brought to the partnership, contributing to its richness and depth. Space also plays a pivotal role in fostering trust within a relationship. When partners have freedom to pursue their interests and have time for themselves, an environment of trust and independence is created. Trust is built upon the belief that each partner is capable of making his own decisions and respecting the boundaries set within the relationship. By having space, partners can demonstrate trust in each other’s judgements and the ability to maintain a sense of self while still being committed to the relationship. This mutual trust will form a solid foundation that will strengthen the bond and allow the relationship to flourish. Open communication in a relationship is another aspect that can be nurtured by space. When partners have the freedom to express their thoughts, desires and concerns without judgement or fear of rejection, this will create an atmosphere of openness and understanding. Space allows for honest and meaningful conversations, where both partners can share their needs and expectations as well as any challenges they may face individually. This open dialogue promotes a deeper connection as partners become attuned to each other’s inner worlds, and this can provide the necessary support and encouragement. To love is to let go, and this sentiment is epitomised in the concept of space within a relationship. It means acknowledging that no one can claim ownership over another person’s life or decisions. Each partner retains his individuality, freedom to choose and the right to pursue his own happiness. By embracing this understanding, couples allow each other the space to grow, explore and evolve, without the burden of expectations or limitations. Love thrives in an atmosphere of freedom and acceptance, where partners can come together willingly and authentically. Nurturing our individuality is a fundamental aspect of personal wellbeing and fulfilment. When an individual has the space to explore his passions, develop his talents and prioritise self-care, he is better equipped to bring his best self into the relationship. By nurturing their individuality, partners can maintain a sense of identity, independence and personal fulfilment, which in turn can enhance the overall quality of a relationship. When both partners are actively engaged in their own growth and well-being, they bring a sense of vitality, joy and energy to the partnership. In conclusion, the concept of space in a relationship is vital for personal growth, fostering trust, promoting open communication and nurturing individuality. It allows partners to develop as individuals, bringing new perspectives and experiences to the relationship. By granting space, partners can demonstrate trust, respect and support for each other’s autonomy. Open communication flourishes in an atmosphere of space, enabling honest and meaningful conversations. Love is strengthened when partners let go of ownership and embrace the freedom to be themselves. Finally, nurturing individuality enhances personal well-being and fulfilment, leading to a more vibrant and fulfilling relationship. Embracing space within a relationship is a powerful catalyst for personal and relational growth, enriching the journey of love and connection. The writer is a Certified Mental Health and Awareness Practitioner Specialised in Narcissistic Abuse Recovery. Comments: [emailprotected] “Space plays a pivotal role in fostering trust within a relationship. When partners have the freedom to pursue their interests and have time for themselves, this creates an environment of trust and independence. Enhancing haemodialysis treatment KIDNEY disease continues to pose a significant burden on Malaysia’s healthcare system as the number of patients requiring dialysis treatment for end-stage renal failure (ESRF) keeps rising. It is projected that there will be about 106,000 Malaysians with end-stage renal disease by 2040. Recent forecasts also suggest that the total cost of dialysis treatment could reach RM1.5 billion by 2040. Echoing the call for reform outlined in the Health White Paper, the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) proposes a comprehensive approach to enhance the provision of haemodialysis treatment. This approach includes standardising funding mechanisms and implementing value-based measurements to improve patient outcomes. This is in line with the key principles in the Health White Paper: “Pillar 1: Transforming health service delivery”, where the government aims to optimise the utilisation of capacities and capabilities in both the public and private sectors to achieve greater effectiveness. While this paper focuses on the issues of funding for haemodialysis treatment, NKF acknowledges the crucial importance of early detection and prevention in addressing kidney failure in the long term. Based on data from the National Renal Registry, the government covers nearly 50% of all dialysis treatments (48.1%), followed by Socso (Social Security Organisation) at 23.2%, Zakat/Baitulmal at 12.2% and others sources, such as out-of-pocket payments, non-governmental organisations, insurance and employer subsidies. The availability of funding agencies and public-private partnership schemes have been instrumental in ensuring patients receive life-saving dialysis treatment that they require, thereby alleviating their suffering and improving their quality of life. The government’s commitment to addressing the needs of kidney patients and its proactive approach to leveraging private resources for the patients’ benefit is commendable. NKF is grateful for this invaluable partnership, which has undoubtedly made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals affected by kidney disease. Nonetheless, the existing funding sources and mechanisms for haemodialysis treatment in Malaysia exhibit fragmentation, resulting in disparities in service bundles and subsidy values among different funding agencies. This lack of consistency and incomplete care leads to complications, higher costs, reduced productivity and a diminished quality of life for patients. To address these challenges and ensure high-quality treatment for kidney patients, the NKF proposes the following recommendations: Standardise treatment bundle To ensure comprehensive and consistent care, all funding agencies should provide subsidies for the complete range of treatments and services required by dialysis patients. This includes dialysis services, vascular access for haemodialysis treatment, erythropoietin stimulating agents and parenteral iron, laboratory tests, basic medicine and specialist consultations. By standardising subsidy rates for a bundled package, patients can receive the necessary treatments without financial barriers, leading to improved outcomes and a higher rate of patients returning to the workforce. Implement value-based measurement To measure the quality of care provided by private haemodialysis centres, a comprehensive framework for value-based measurement should be developed. This approach involves continuous monitoring of dialysis centres key performance parameters, such as dialysis adequacy, target haemoglobin levels, bone metabolism status, and water quality. In addition, by using metrics based on continuous quality improvement metrics, namely the patient’s haemoglobin level, albumin level, dialysis adequacy, phosphate level and transferrin saturation, the government and funding agencies can closely monitor patients’ outcomes to ensure that all subsidies are allocated based on achieved values. Ultimately, this will ensure transparency, inclusivity and improved cost-effectiveness. Establishing digital monitoring process To optimise the use of resources and ensure the highest standards of care, an electronic performance monitoring system should be implemented. Once the electronic medical records (EMR) or electronic lifetime health records (ELHR) are implemented per the Health White Paper, the monitoring system can leverage the EMR and ELHR to standardise treatment and patient care. It will enable comprehensive data collection, analysis and reporting of treatment standards and patient outcomes across all haemodialysis centres. Furthermore, it will facilitate continuous monitoring of patient adherence and compliance with treatment and care standards, allowing for effective and efficient cost management and control. In conclusion, the proposed measures seek to address the challenges faced in the provision of haemodialysis treatment for kidney patients in Malaysia. By standardising treatment bundles, implementing value-based measurement and establishing a digital monitoring process, the quality of care can be improved, funding efficiency can be enhanced and better patient outcomes can be achieved. The NKF urges the support and collaboration of the Health Ministry and relevant stakeholders in implementing these recommendations. Together, we can ensure high-quality treatment for dialysis patients and alleviate the burden of kidney disease on both the healthcare system and the economy. By adopting a value-based approach, Malaysia can lead the way in providing equitable and efficient dialysis treatment, setting a benchmark for quality care, and improving patient outcomes in the region. This article is contributed by the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia, a non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to helping Malaysians suffering from end-stage kidney failure who lack access to or cannot afford dialysis treatment. NKF has over 1,700 dialysis patients receiving subsidised dialysis treatment in 29 dialysis centres nationwide. Comments: [emailprotected] COMMENT MIND THE MIND BY DR PRAVEENA RAJENDRA P8: NEW COLUMN: Green Inspiration LOGO with photo, By Pishu Murli Hassaram + QUOTE HEADLINE: It has been forecasted that the total dialysis treatment cost may reach RM1.5 billion by 2040. – REUTERSPIX
10 TRAVEL & LEISURE theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 DANUM Valley Conservation Area is a great location for getting away from the hustle and bustle of contemporary life and genuinely immersing oneself in nature. It is located around 80 km from the nearest town, Lahad Datu, and is relatively secluded; you’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there. The area is vast—over 43,000 hectares—and is home to one of the world’s oldest and most complicated rainforests. Danum Valley was established as a protected area in 1980 and has since become a focus for research and conservation initiatives. It’s a terrific spot to come if you’re interested in nature and wildlife, and it’s a great example of how ecotourism can be used to help conservation efforts. When you arrive, you’ll notice that the area is literally teeming with wildlife. There are approximately 340 species of birds, including hornbills, pittas, and kingfishers, as well as many monkeys, deer, and other mammals. You might even see a proboscis monkey or a wild orangutan if you’re lucky. But it’s not just the animals that are spectacular; the forest itself is breathtaking. It’s the kind of place that transports you to another world. Danum Valley is also home to the world’s tallest tropical tree. The trees are massive, with thick canopies that shade out the majority of the sunlight. It is so tall that it practically reaches the sky. This majestic tree is known as the yellow meranti (Shorea faguetiana) and is 100.8 metres (331 feet) tall. A team of scientists and researchers discovered the tree in 2016, and it was officially named the tallest tropical tree in the world. Although the yellow meranti is the tallest tropical tree in the world, it is not the tallest tree in the world. That honour goes to a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in California, which rises at 115.85 metres (380 feet). On the other hand, the yellow meranti is the world’s second-tallest tree, and its discovery has been heralded as a notable success in botany. The towering height of the yellow meranti is a monument to nature’s amazing force and the beauty of the rainforest. It serves as a reminder of the significance of maintaining our natural world and the tremendous diversity of life that it sustains. The conservation area is also a popular location for eco-tourism, with visitors able to explore the lush rainforests on guided tours. There are a variety of paths available, ranging from short, easy hikes to longer, more difficult treks. Your guide will point out all of the diverse plants and creatures, and you’ll learn a lot about the rainforest’s ecology. A night hike is another excellent way to explore Danum Valley. The forest is a whole different world at night; it’s quieter, and you’ll notice things you wouldn’t notice during the day. This is when you’ll get to observe some of the forest’s more elusive species, such as civets, tarsiers, and sluggish lorises. You can also take a canopy walk through the treetops if you’re feeling adventurous. A series of suspension bridges that take you up to 30 metres over the forest floor. You’ll have an incredible view of the forest canopy from up there, and you might even spot some birds or monkeys up close. Keep in mind that Danum Valley is a conservation area, so be mindful of your surroundings. This includes not littering, not feeding animals, and staying on authorised trails. But if you enjoy and respect nature, I’m confident you’ll find it easy to follow these guidelines. Overall, we definitely recommend visiting Danum Valley. It’s an excellent way to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Borneo’s rainforests while also learning more about the vital work being done to safeguard them. Land of the giants oHome to the world’s tallest tropical trees █ BYACE EMERSON Below: One of the world’s oldest and most intricate rainforests can be found in Danum Valley. Left: The yellow meranti practically reaches the sky. Above: Danum Valley is a wonderful place to experience the beauty and diversity of Borneo’s rainforests. Far left: A series of suspension bridges that take you up to 30m over the forest floor.
KLCI 1,391.46 8.40 STI 3,163.84 14.52 HANG SENG 18,659.83 180.11 SCI 3,221.37 17.67 NIKKEI 32,203.57 TSEC 16,898.91 246.11 KOSPI 2,562.49 S&P/ASX200 7,108.90 104.90 WEDNESDAY JULY 12, 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 July 11, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) BSLCOR 26,546,900 4.0 UNCH WIDAD 82,898,800 42.0 +0.5 SCIB 81,665,600 48.5 +2.5 JADEM 78,404,500 22.0 UNCH EPMB 76,295,300 98.0 +27.0 EXCHANGERATES JULY 11, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.7290 4.5950 4.5890 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.1810 3.0550 3.0230 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.5180 3.4180 3.3960 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.5620 3.4670 3.4470 1 EURO 5.2150 5.0470 4.9990 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.9530 2.8450 2.8180 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.5180 3.4180 3.3960 1 STERLING POUND 6.0950 5.9060 5.8650 1 SWISS FRANC 5.3300 5.2080 5.1670 100 UAE DIRHAM 130.3400 123.6000 123.2200 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.4320 4.1580 3.9510 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 65.5000 63.0000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 61.0900 58.0700 57.7800 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.8300 5.4700 5.2600 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0322 0.0292 0.0242 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.3510 3.2460 3.2200 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 16.2000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.7200 1.6100 1.4200 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.6400 8.1400 7.9300 100 QATAR RIYAL 131.3100 124.6500 124.2800 100 SAUDI RIYAL 127.5500 121.0800 120.7200 100 THAI BAHT 14.1100 12.5200 12.0600 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY July 11, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,256.50 +57.90 FBMKLCI 1,391.46 +8.40 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 547.92 +2.03 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 159.05 +0.17 CONSTRUCTION 165.25 +1.01 FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,466.80 +64.53 ENERGY 802.22 -4.22 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 575.10 +4.83 HEALTH CARE 1,688.35 +12.45 TRANSPORTATION 892.64 -0.15 PROPERTY 713.70 +3.18 PLANTATION 6,901.43 +73.73 FBMSHA 10,544.30 +67.16 FBMACE 5,219.53 +61.09 TECHNOLOGY 62.27 +0.81 TURNOVER VALUE 2.831 BIL RM1.864 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS July 11, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM RAPID 28,900 21.52 +0.62 HEIM 124,800 25.98 +0.46 PETDAG 269,200 22.40 +0.44 PERTAMA 5,628,000 3.01 +0.31 NESTLE 48,000 131.20 +0.30 5 TOP LOSERS July 11, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HEXTECH 193,100 26.32 -0.78 F&N 54,400 25.04 -0.36 DKSH 141,800 4.62 -0.15 DLADY 10,800 20.34 -0.14 AAX 12,592,800 1.62 -0.11 13.84 41.79 Funding Societies, Chailease Berjaya offer financing solutions for used-car dealers KUALA LUMPUR: Funding Societies, Southeast Asia’s largest unified small and medium enterprise (SME) digital finance platform, has signed an agreement with Berjaya Corp Bhd’s associated non-bank financial institution Chailease Berjaya Credit Sdn Bhd to provide financing to 1,500 used-car dealers (UCDs) registered with Chailease Berjaya. Under this partnership, eligible UCDs can apply for financing to facilitate the purchase of dealership floor stock and offer value-added hire-purchase solutions to their customers. The used-car market in Malaysia was valued at US$25 billion (RM112 billion) in 2021, and it is predicted to grow by 40% to US$35 billion by 2027. This growth is fuelled by several factors including consumers seeking to optimise their finances and concerns over crowded public transportation systems following the pandemic. Additionally, many Malaysians are exploring opportunities outside urban hotspots or relocating away from the Klang Valley, making affordable private vehicle ownership a necessity. Funding Societies Malaysia country head Chai Kien Poon remarked, “As we move beyond the pandemic and enter a phase of recovery, our partnership with Chailease Berjaya Credit enables us to grow our UCD portfolio and serve creditworthy, underserved dealerships within Chailease Berjaya Credit’s network. This collaboration provides these dealerships with accessible credit lines to support their operations and Chai (left) and Chang. MyHSR Corp launches RFI exercise on KL-Singapore high-speed rail KUALA LUMPUR: MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR Corp) is embarking on a full-fledged Request For Information (RFI) exercise to enable the private sector to officially submit concept proposals to develop and operate the Kuala LumpurSingapore High-Speed Rail (KL-S’pore HSR) project via a public-private partnership model. In a statement yesterday , MyHSR Corp said, to further assist the government in making informed decisions, the RFI exercise will be opened to local and international firms and consortia to submit their concept proposals. “The exercise will allow the government to assess the industry’s interest and ability to fully fund the project while evaluating their capabilities by looking into areas such as technical specifications, project costing, commercial and business models, as well as consortium and governance framework,” it said. The RFI exercise marks the government’s initiative to reactivate the KLS’pore HSR project via new funding mechanisms and implementation models in efforts to further improve the rail transport infrastructure and to invigorate the national economy. RM25b projects under energy transition roadmap KUALA LUMPUR: The Energy Transition Roadmap will comprise RM25 billion worth of national projects to support the government’s structural reforms of the economy. Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the first 10 national flagship energy transition projects to be developed with the participation of the private sector will be oEconomy minister confident govt’s long-term structural reforms will attract inflows into the country unveiled on July 27. Speaking to reporters at the International Malaysia Law Conference yesterday, he said that since the pandemic, investments in energy transition projects have dominated the global investment landscape. Rafizi is thus confident that the government’s commitment for long-term structural reforms will attract inflows back into the country and eventually improve the ringgit performance. “What we can do in terms of the ringgit strength is ensure that our economy graduate from where it is to be more sophisticated, more high value because these are the kind of growth narrative that foreign portfolios will be interested in. “And if we are able to do this, we will get more investments into our capital markets, either in bonds or equities which will buffer the ringgit from the differential of interest rates. “Many of these policies will take some time for the public to understand, but we know that industries understand that investors have been waiting to see how quickly Malaysian companies can move into the green economy,” he noted. So, the government is coming out with policies to support the energy transition industry in the country. “These are the things that the government is focusing on to realign our economy and our companies into what can attract foreign investments to the companies by buying their shares because since the last five to six years, there has not been a compelling growth narrative that our companies can offer,” he added. – Bernama seize growth prospects.” Meanwhile, Chailease Berjaya Credit Sdn Bhd managing director Ming-Tsung Chang said, “SMEs continue to face significant challenges when it comes to accessing credit. Through our partnership with Funding Societies, we aim to address this issue by expanding credit access to small and medium-sized car dealerships. These dealerships face ever-changing market demands, and we believe that by enabling them to acquire inventory and offer consumer financing options, we can contribute to a stronger ecosystem and enhance cash flow for both dealerships and their customers.” Under the financing partnership, UCDs have the opportunity to secure dealer financing for up to 85% of their motor vehicle inventory purchases. The financing period spans up to 90 days from the disbursement date, and the application process is straightforward – UCDs only need to submit two sets of documents – identity documents (directors and company) and bank statements to apply for financing up to RM500,000. To be eligible for dealer financing under this partnership, UCDs must be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) as one of the following: a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a private limited company (not a subsidiary of listed companies), or an unlisted public limited company with at least 30% Malaysian ownership; have been in operation for at least one year; and have a minimum annual revenue of RM500,000. With more than 50% market share in Malaysia, Funding Societies leads the SME digital financing industry via their tailored financing solutions befitting the varied business needs of SME. Participation 28.5 37.6 33.9 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 522.2 731.0 611.4 1864.6 Sold RM m 541.3 671.0 652.3 1864.6 Net RM m -19.1 60.0 -40.9 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) 11/7/2023
12 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 SUNBIZ ‘Ample room for foreign investments to grow in M’sia due to low base’ PETALING JAYA: Malaysia could see a rebound in investments from foreign investors due to its low foreign ownership, according to Manulife Investment Management (M) Bhd. Manulife co-head of global macro strategy Sue Trinh said that Malaysia is the least crowded in terms of foreign investors’ positions relative to the region. “From a portfolio investments perspective, foreign investors had █ BYHAYATUN RAZAK [emailprotected] really run for the hills for quite some time. And that is actually a positive development for Asia (including Malaysia) here. Looking ahead, it means that foreign ownership of Asian equity and fixed income assets has ample room to grow from a very low starting point,” she said during Manulife Investment Management 2023 Mid-year Regional Market Outlook briefing yesterday. Trinh added that there is an asymmetric risk to the upside for the country, meaning that there is relatively limited downside potential if the news turns unfavourable, but there is certainly much greater upside potential in a positive scenario. “In other words, the potential for gains outweighs the potential for losses,” she said. Trinh added the outlook for Malaysia is balanced from a regional perspective. And Malaysia’s growth deceleration is expected to continue in the second half, partly influenced by the exports to its major trade partner China. “But the government is prioritising fiscal measures, in which discretionary spending plays a role in the growth,” she said. Trinh also said that there are numerous opportunities for Malaysia as de-globalisation is underway. “We are overweight on selective industrial sectors, and considering the demographic theme of an ageing population in relation to economic demand and potential changes in the economy, the health sector could benefit from these factors, along with decarbonization due to environmental issues,“ she added. Additionally, Manulife chief investment officer, Asia (ex-Japan) fixed income Murray Collis said that Malaysia has relatively strong macroeconomics fundamentals. “When we look more broadly, the Malaysian bond market remains attractive from a valuation viewpoint. For us, in terms of Malaysia we do like the bond market,” he said. Collis added, “We feel like the Malaysian ringgit has depreciated excessively. We are neutral on the currency and are slightly positive on it in the medium term.” Anwar-Musk talks to have spillover effect: Economist KUALA LUMPUR: The meeting between Tesla Inc founder and CEO Elon Musk and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would prompt a chain reaction on the nation’s journey towards becoming an electric vehicle (EV) hub in the region, an economist said. Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng noted that a fruitful discussion between the global EV giant and the Malaysian leader, expected to take place within this week, will also lead to further commitments that could benefit the Malaysian economy in general. Regardless of the nature and value of the investment that Tesla intends to bring to Malaysia, Yeah said any forthcoming commitment arising from the meeting will provide the Malaysian EV industry Tesla will be making its official debut in Kuala Lumpur on July 20. – BERNAMAPIX oDiscussion will boost Malaysia’s EV journey by opening up more opportunities for suppliers, service providers as well as component makers with a big boost. “Iconic investments typically have larger spillover effects through enhancing, strengthening local and foreign investor confidence as well as crowding in investments. “This could open up more opportunities for the suppliers, service providers as well as parts and components manufacturers to actively engage with the EV industry,” he told Bernama. Last Friday, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, announced that he will be sitting down with Musk to explore ways for the mega EV company to further its investments in Malaysia. On that note, Yeah said the meeting will have positive implications as it affirms the government’s economic direction to pursue high impact, high value foreign direct investment (FDI), and thrust towards clean energy. “Malaysia’s FDI numbers will continue to edge up should the meeting result in Musk or any of his numerous frontier projects finding a footing in the country,” he added. Meanwhile, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz reaffirmed that the potential collaboration between Malaysia and Tesla is not only limited to the EV sector but may lead to other sectors as well. “What we want is to attract more potential or investment commitment in the automotive sector and other sectors that we can market within Malaysia,” he said. Tesla, an EV designer and manufacturer headquartered in Austin, Texas, US, will be making its official debut in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on July 20. Currently, the nearest Tesla official service centre is located in Singapore and owners from the Greentech leasing programme have been sending their cars back to Hong Kong for major work. In the meantime, Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) CEO Azrul Reza Aziz expressed confidence that the meeting between Anwar and Musk will pave the way for a fruitful collaboration between Malaysia and Tesla in the near term. “We are thrilled about the possibilities that lie ahead from the meeting. The possibility of Tesla increasing further investments in Malaysia will contribute to our nation’s economic growth and enable the development of a sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility ecosystem,” he said. Amro expects Malaysia’s economy to expand 4.2% in 2023 KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economic growth is projected to hit 4.2% in 2023, an expected moderation after registering a strong growth of 8.7% last year, said the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). The forecast would indicate the country’s growth potential at a more sustainable level, despite expanding at a slower pace, said AMRO’s chief economist Hoe Ee Khor in a virtual media briefing yesterday. “Malaysia is a major manufacturing exporter and is now facing headwinds from the weakening demand in Europe and the US. “Although the manufacturing exports are not doing as well, domestic spending, fortunately, is holding up well to support growth. “So, for the whole year we project the country’s growth (to stand) at 4.2% and to improve to 5.2% next year,” he said. In terms of inflation, Hoe viewed that Malaysia has done very well (to control) inflation which had gone down to 2.8% in May from 3.3% in April 2023. Although core inflation is still higher, he expected the overall inflation to decline further to 2.6% next year. “So, inflation probably remains above the long-term trend (versus) the average inflation over the years which (stands at) around 2.5%. “Our view is that monetary policy should remain on hold (and) we think that there is no reason to ease monetary policy at this point in time. “They should just continue to hold or increase a bit more, if necessary, to make sure the inflation does come down to its target,” he opined. Commenting on the ringgit, Hoe said the weakening of the ringgit was in line with other currencies as well, and the main reason was due to the strengthening of the US dollar. “Of course within the basket of regional currencies, the ringgit is probably weakened a bit more than the others. “This also reflects the fact that exports are not doing well and the commodity prices have also come off their peak, resulting in a narrowing trade surplus. “As such, there are good reasons for the slight weakness of the ringgit, but if we compare the ringgit with the other currencies in the region, it is not as big as it would appear relative to the US dollar,” he said. Hoe said that another reason for the weaker ringgit is Malaysia‘s interest rates which are quite low as against the US interest rates. – Bernama MPC introduces Productivity Step Up Programme PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) has introduced the Productivity Step Up Programme, an innovative initiative designed to empower logistics service providers and drive efficiency and productivity in their operations. Deputy director-general Zahid Ismail said the programme aims to empower logistics service providers with the necessary tools, knowledge and support to drive productivity and achieve operational excellence. “By participating in the programme, service providers can enhance their efficiency, optimise resource utilisation, and ultimately deliver value to their customers,“ he said in a statement, yesterday. Additionally, MPC together with Logistics Productivity Nexus, invites logistics service providers to join the transformative journey towards operational excellence and enhanced productivity offered by the Productivity Step Up Programme. EPMB gets nod for EV-manufacturing licence from Miti KUALA LUMPUR: EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) has secured conditional approval for a manufacturing licence from the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to manufacture and assemble four-wheel energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs), electric passenger vehicles (EVs) and electric commercial vehicles. In a statement, the company said its wholly owned subsidiary Peps-JV (Melaka) Sdn Bhd (PJVM) received the award, subject to conditions it must fulfill within six months from the letter of approval. EPMB is an investment holding company listed on the Main Market with operations in the automotive business. The manufacturing licence enables PJVM to start a manufacturing plant to assemble EEVs, EVs, and other related products, the statement said. “This expansion opens up new business opportunities for revenue and business growth while aligning the business with sustainability initiatives,“ it said. Meanwhile, EPMB group CEO Ahmad Razlan Mohamed said the company is committed to fulfill the Miti conditions within the given timeframe. “The group is planning to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Pegoh, Malacca to further accelerate our venture into this market,” he said. He said the initiative will drive business growth and also support Malaysia’s aspiration and vision of a greener future. – Bernama
13 SUNBIZ theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 June price index for steel declines month-on-month PETALING JAYA: A month-onmonth comparison showed a decrease in the unit price index for steel in June 2023 in almost all areas of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM). Meanwhile, other building materials such as cement and timber recorded price increases. In its report on “Building and Structural Works, June 2023” released yesterday, DoSM said the price index per unit of steel was down between 0.6% and 2.3% for almost all areas of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. Meanwhile the price index per unit of steel remained unchanged for several areas such as in Johor, Terengganu and Kelantan and in all areas in Sarawak (Kuching, Sibu and Miri) compared with May 2023. Apart from steel, the price index per unit of steel and metal sections recorded a decrease of between 0.3% and 2.1% for all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The drop in the price index of steel and metal sections was in line with the o Drop recorded in almost all areas of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah decreases in the prices of steel and iron ore at the global level. A month-on-month comparison of construction materials and selected areas also showed that cement still continued to record price increases. Nevertheless, in June 2023, the price index per unit of cement increased at a slower pace, which was between 0.1% and 0.9%, compared with May 2023 (between 1.8% and 4.0%). Apart from cement, the price index for a unit of timber increased between 2.3% and 4.0% in all areas of Peninsular Malaysia except in Johor and Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan. Nevertheless, the price index per unit of timber for all areas of Sabah and Sarawak remained unchanged compared with May 2023. Meanwhile, a comparison of the months of June 2022 and June 2023 showed that the unit price index of cement recorded an increase between 2.4% and 17.5% for all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. In the context of items and areas, the unit price index of building materials in Peninsular Malaysia increased between 0.2% and 17.5% for June 2023 compared with the same month last year. The highest increase for areas in Peninsular Malaysia was cement in Kelantan and Terengganu (17.5%), followed by bricks and walls in Johor (17.4%), and cement in Penang, Kedah and Perlis (17.1%). The price index for a unit of construction material that recorded the highest increase in Sabah was plumbing materials in Kota Kinabalu (17.6%), while in Sarawak it was timber in Sibu (31.7%), and bricks and wall materials in Miri (23.3%). DoSM said the average price per unit of steel, consisting of mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high tensile deformed bars, was RM3,689.50 per tonne, recording a 0.5% decrease compared with the previous month (May 2023: RM3,708.75). Research houses remain ‘neutral’ on domestic plantation sector PETALING JAYA: Research houses have maintained a “neutral” call on the domestic plantation sector, due to slower crude palm oil (CPO) production. MIDF Research said that with all factors considered, its neutral call is with a CPO target price of RM3,500 per tonne for 2023. It added that key downside risks for CPO include fragile demand outlook on the back of inflationary pressure coupled with tight household spending on high base interest rates locally and globally as well as narrowed price discount parity between CPO and soybean oil averaged at US$190.2 per tonne. It noted that there was slower production in June with Malaysia’s CPO output declining to 1.5 million tonne, but it remained steady on a year-to-date basis at 8.1 million tonnes. “The nation’s average FFB (fresh fruit bunch) yield fell by 4.7% year-on-year (yo-y) to 1.2 tonne per hectare in line with slower production levels in the Peninsular states, which were roughly down by 15.8% y-o-y, although OER (oil extraction rate) remained relatively unchanged at 19.83% due to better evacuation activities during dry months. “Overall, performance was deliberately hindered by low manuring activities completed prior year (on combination of labour shortage and lower round of fertiliser implication) exacerbated by unfavourable weather impacts (El-Nino) two-years in a row,” it said in a statement. MIDF noted that post Eid-al-Fitr celebrations, palm oil exports saw inconsequential demand in June to 1.2 tonnes, following tight household spending patterns on high base interest rates globally. The research house remarked that in June, the local CPO delivery price jumped to RM3,730 a tonne, but still averaged lower monthly at RM3,525 a tonne following the decrease in other vegetable oils prices. Meanwhile, PublicInvest Research has maintain its “neutral” stand on the sector with a full-year CPO price forecast of RM3,800 a tonne. It said that the rise in June palm oil inventories was slower than expected due to a decline in production while imports surged as Malaysian refiners took advantage of the increase in price differential between Malaysian and Indonesian CPO prices. The lower-than-expected inventory level was positive for CPO prices. At the point of writing, CPO futures rose RM77 to RM3,911 a tonne. For the first half of 2023, the CPO price averaged RM3,929 a tonne, down 38% y-o-y. Sirim, National University of Singapore in AI collaboration PETALING JAYA: Sirim Bhd is partnering with National University of Singapore to foster collaboration in adopting and adapting Artificial Intelligence Singapore (AISG) programmes to accelerate the Malaysian technology and quality organisation’s business growth. The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in areas related to capability development, AI skills enhancement and application of AI in the Malaysian context. They will also collaborate through knowledge-sharing sessions, trainthe-trainer programmes, advisory and consultation sessions and methodologies used by AISG. Sirim president and group CEO Datuk Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad and AISG executive chairman Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, who represented National University of Singapore, signed the MoU at National University of Singapore recently. Also present were Sirim group chief future officer Tengku Intan Narqiah Tengku Othman and AISG director of AI innovation Laurence Liew. AISG is a national programme administered by National University of Singapore that aims to enhance Singapore’s AI capabilities. Sirim and Singapore’s flagship university have identified solutions to build capabilities and strengthen the technical AI capability in Sirim. This is to be achieved through the AISG programmes, thereby expanding the growth of From left: Liew, Mohan, Ahmad Sabirin and Tengku Intan Narqiah. new products and services in the field of AI, in accordance with the National AI Roadmap and Industry4WRD. Ahmad Sabirin said the MoU will also facilitate the acceleration of deploying advanced technologies related to AI, including the establishment of the Sirim Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence He added that Sirim hoped to collaborate with the National University of Singapore on AI research and development, leveraging their expertise and resources to create innovative solutions for various industries in Malaysia. “The collaboration could also lead to the development of cutting-edge technologies that enhance the productivity and competitiveness of Malaysian industries and contributing to the growth of country’s knowledge based,” he said, adding that they are also exploring talent development and capacity building. Sime Darby Motors appoints 14 BYD dealers across Malaysia PETALING JAYA: Tapping into the vast prospects of the fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) market, Sime Darby Motors, the sole distributor of BYD vehicles in Malaysia, strengthened its EV foothold by expanding its dealership network with the appointment of 14 dealer partners. Together with Sime Darby Beyond Auto, this brings its network to a total of 21 BYD dealership outlets across Malaysia. The appointment of the dealer partners was commemorated during a group dealer signing ceremony at the BYD headquarters in Shenzhen, China. Sime Darby Motors Retail & Distribution Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau managing director Jeffrey Gan signed the agreement with each of the dealer owners. The ceremony was witnessed by BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division general manager Liu Xueliang, BYD Malaysia managing director Eagle Zhao and the BYD team. The new dealer partners had the opportunity to take a tour of BYD’s headquarters, gaining insights into the company’s impressive research and development (R&D) capabilities, as well as its dynamic range of cutting-edge innovative products. Gan said: “This announcement marks another milestone as it has only been six months since we launched BYD in Malaysia and, today, we have 21 dealership locations lined up to meet rising EV demand. “This indeed demonstrates our confidence of EV prospects in Malaysia’s automotive industry while ensuring that we are wellequipped to serve the market.” Meanwhile Zhao said, “This agreement between Sime Darby Motors and BYD is yet another step forward in the automotive green revolution and is indicative of the changing dynamics of the industry. “As the partnership progresses, we expect to provide further technological advancements and consumer experience, driving the industry towards a greener, efficient and a more sustainable future.” Samaiden secures solar power plant contract worth RM181.3m KUALA LUMPUR: Samaiden Group Bhd’s wholly owned unit, Samaiden Sdn Bhd (SSB), has secured a contract worth RM181.34 million from Uzma Bhd’s indirect associate company, Suria Infiniti Sdn Bhd, to develop a solar power plant at Kuala Muda, Kedah. Under the contract, SSB will undertake engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) works for the 50- megawatt alternating current (MWac) largescale solar (LSS) photovoltaic (PV) power plant, approved by the Energy Commission pursuant to the LSS4 programme, Samaiden said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday. The contract is expected to contribute positively towards the future earnings of Samaiden throughout the duration of the project, the renewable energy (RE) specialist said. “We are steadily adding jobs to our EPCC business while at the same time continuing our strategy to diversify geographically around the region. “This will help to enhance our financial performance over the longer term as we clinch more jobs (in tandem with) the demand for RE among businesses and governments for a lower-cost energy source as well as to meet sustainability commitments,” said its group managing director, Chow Pui Hee. Additionally, Samaiden’s total outstanding order book which currently stands at RM388 million, is expected to contribute positively to revenue and profit over the next three years, it said. – Bernama
14 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 SUNBIZ READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME UK mortgage rates hit 15-year high, unemployment back at 4% LONDON: A key British mortgage rate hit a 15-year high yesterday when it rose above the levels reached in the aftermath of September’s “mini-budget” crisis, adding to strains on the country’s slowing housing market as the Bank of England battles stubborn inflation. The average two-year fixed residential mortgage rate climbed to 6.66%, narrowly exceeding the 6.65% touched on October 20 and the highest since August 2008 when it stood at 6.94%, according to data provider Moneyfacts. Britain’s housing market activity staged a recovery in early 2023 from the turmoil triggered by the unfunded tax-cutting plans of former Prime Minister Liz Truss. But homeowners and buyers have faced renewed mortgage pain in recent months. Fixed mortgage deal rates have risen rapidly in recent weeks as stickier-than-expected consumer price inflation, which held at 8.7% in May, pushed up bond yields and increased market bets on the BoE’s benchmark rate peaking at 6.5%, up from 5% now. British homebuyers typically take out mortgages with an interest rate that is fixed for two or five years, and then remortgage on to a new fixed rate or accept a variable rate. Meanwhile, UK unemployment rose back to 4% in the three months to the end of May, official data showed, as the economy struggles with stubbornly-high inflation. The unemployment rate increased from 3.8% in the three months to the end of April, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. The rate was back at 4% for the first time since the start of 2022. Analysts’ consensus had been for unemployment to remain at 3.8%. Despite the rise, finance minister Jeremy Hunt said Britain’s “jobs market is strong with unemployment low by historical standards”. Separately, a key measure of British wages rose at the joint fastest pace on record. The 7.3% surge in basic earnings in the three months to May compared with the same period a year ago was the joint highest alongside April’s growth – which was revised up on Tuesday from an initial 7.2% - and the second quarter of 2021, according to data which goes back to 2001. – Reuters, AFP B R I E F SS. KOREA STATE-RUN BANKS EXTEND HELP TO CREDIT UNION SEOUL: South Korean state-run banks are providing at least two trillion won (RM7.2 billion) of liquidity support to a credit union hit by customer withdrawals, joining commercial banks also offering financing to reduce risks of a crunch in the local money market. The Industrial Bank of Korea and the Korea Development Bank said yesterday they had signed repurchase agreements with MG Community Credit Cooperatives (MGCCC) for 1.5 trillion won and an amount between 0.5 trillion and 2 trillion won, respectively. Customer withdrawals from MGCCC rose after media reports on its debt delinquency rates. – Reuters PAKISTAN US$2B IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM SAUDI ARABIA ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received US$2 billion (RM9.3 billion) in financial support from Saudi Arabia, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said yesterday, a day before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board is expected to give final approval for a muchneeded US$3 billion bailout. Saudi Arabia deposited the funds with the central bank, Dar said, boosting foreign exchange reserves when Pakistan had been left with barely enough to cover a month of controlled imports. Saudi Arabia pledged the funds in April, but had held off depositing the money until it was sure that the IMF bailout would be forthcoming. – Reuters Temasek posts drop in portfolio value to S$382b SINGAPORE: Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings yesterday posted a 5.2% drop in its net portfolio value to S$382 billion (RM1.3 trillion) in the financial year that ended in March. The drop in net portfolio value is its first since the 2020 financial year and came amid intensified global market volatility. Temasek chief financial officer Png Chin Yee said the company, which is an investor in Chinese finance company Ant Group, was hopeful the China tech sector’s troubles were over after signs a regulatory crackdown was ending. Temasek said while Singapore investments remained resilient, its global direct investments had dropped in valuation in the past two years. Over the last decade, Temasek has grown its net portfolio value by 77.7% to S$382 billion from S$215 billion in 2013. Its portfolio value hit a record high of S$403 billion in the year ending in March 2022. “We maintain a cautious investment stance and expect to invest at a moderated pace this financial year, given the challenging macroeconomic environment,” Temasek’s chief investment officer Rohit Sipahimalani said. “However, given our strong liquidity position, we are ready to step up our investments in a market correction.” Temasek is ranked among the top 10 investors in the world. It is mainly anchored in Asia, with a 63% exposure to the region as measured by underlying assets of its portfolio companies, most of which are in Singapore and China. Temasek holds stakes in large listed Asian companies such as Singapore’s biggest lender, DBS Group, and China’s second largest lender China Construction Bank. Its unlisted holdings include Singapore’s port operator PSA International and property developer Mapletree Investments. Its unlisted assets was 53% of its portfolio as of March 31, 2023, up from 27% in 2013, oSingapore investment company hopeful the China tech sector’s troubles are over according to Temasek yesterday. Png said Temasek was optimistic about recent developments concerning the Chinese tech sector. After hitting Ant Group with a US$984 million (RM4.58 billion) fine, the People’s Bank of China said on Friday that most of the main problems platform companies’ businesses were facing had been rectified and regulators would shift their focus to overall regulation of the industry rather than specific companies. “We view it quite positively, right, obviously there was a lot of overhang in the tech sector,” Png said. “So I think this is actually a Foxconn eyes India’s chipmaking incentives TAIPEI/MUMBAI: Taiwan’s Foxconn said it intends to apply for incentives under India’s semiconductor manufacturing plan, a day after parting ways with Vedanta on a US$19.5 billion (RM129 billion) chipmaking joint venture. Foxconn withdrew from the JV with Indian metals-to-oil conglomerate Vedanta on Monday, in a setback to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chipmaking plans for India. The world’s largest contract electronics maker said yesterday it was working towards applying under India’s Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem, a US$10 billion plan offering incentives of up to 50% of capital costs for semiconductor and display manufacturing projects. “We have been actively reviewing the landscape for optimal partners,” it said in a statement. “Foxconn is committed to India and sees the country successfully establishing a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.” Although Foxconn will start afresh, its breakup with Vedanta is a setback for Modi who has made chipmaking a top priority in pursuit of a “new era” in electronics manufacturing. Modi hailed the JV last year as an “important step” in accelerating India’s semiconductor manufacturing ambitions. Foxconn is in talks with several local and international partners to make semiconductors in India using mature chip manufacturing technology for products including EVs, two people with direct knowledge of the discussions said, requesting anonymity as the plans are confidential. “The company will continue to be there, just that it will find other partners,” one of the people said. India expects its semiconductor market to be worth US$63 billion by 2026, but Modi’s plan has so far floundered. Although three companies applied for incentives last year – Vedanta-Foxconn JV, Singaporebased IGSS Ventures and global consortium ISMC, which counts Tower Semiconductor as a tech partner – no plan has been sealed. The US$3 billion ISMC project is stalled because Tower is being acquired by Intel, while another US$3 billion plan by IGSS was also halted because it wanted to resubmit its application, Reuters has reported. Explaining its breakup with Vedanta, Foxconn said “there was recognition from both sides that the project was not moving fast enough” and there were other “challenging gaps we were not able to smoothly overcome”, without giving more details. “This is not a negative,” Foxconn added. The two sources said yesterday that Indian authorities and Foxconn were both concerned about Vedanta’s finances, which had also contributed to the Taiwanese firm’s decision to end the JV. Vedanta’s London-based parent, Vedanta Resources, has been plagued by a rising debt pile. – Reuters good development for the sector. You can see the stock prices have reflected this as well.” “Ant still has got strong advantages. It has got great technology, it’s got a great track record in innovation. So, once this is sort of behind them, they can really focus on stabilising and growing,” Png said. – Reuters Rohit speaking at the annual Temasek Review in Singapore yesterday. – REUTERSPIC Geely, Renault in deal to develop petrol engines, hybrid technology BEIJING/PARIS: China’s Geely Automobile Holdings and French carmaker Renault SA yesterday said they will invest up to €7 billion (RM35.9 billion) in a new equally held joint venture to develop petrol engines and hybrid technology for automobiles. The JV is aimed at manufacturing more efficient internal combustion engines and hybrid systems at a time when the focus of much of the automobile industry has been on the capital-intensive transition to purely electric vehicles. “We are pleased to be embarking on this journey to become a global leader in hybrid technologies, providing lowemission solutions for automakers around the world,” said Eric Li, Geely Holding Group chairman. The new company will employ 19,000 people at 17 engine plants and five research and development hubs, Renault said. At launch, it is expected to supply to multiple industrial customers including Volvo, Proton, Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors, and Punch Torino. The JV aims to have an annual production capacity of up to five million internal combustion, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines and transmissions, Renault added. Reuters reported in March that the new venture will see €15 billion in annual revenue. Saudi Aramco, which signed a letter of intent with Renault and Geely in March, is evaluating a strategic investment in the new company, Renault said. The joint venture is expected to be launched in the second half of 2023. – Reuters
1 2 J U L Y 2 0 2 3 W E D N E S D A Y insecurity and change the direction of the mind. It’s also important to have a ‘self-realisation moment and become aware of the thoughts in our mind, whether positive or negative. “We need to stop and think: I need to transform myself because all of this emotion gives me pressure and pain. Focus and say, I can change my thoughts to positive thoughts,” shared Savita. She advises us to constantly train our minds in a positive direction, even in adverse situations. She explained that adverse situations will not stop coming, but one must be aware that they have no control over the situation. The only thing in their hands is how they can handle or respond to the ‘situation.’ Positive thoughts would start transforming our state of mind, and our vibration would change completely. She reminded me that all kinds of problems will always arise, but it’s how a person changes their mind and reacts or responds (after going through meditation and adopting positive thoughts) to the situation that matters, as it makes a difference. A person with a healthy mind would not consider a situation bad; instead, they would try to gain or learn a lesson and rise above the situation. Meditation helps change our lived realities “Meditation does not change our situation. Meditation changes our mind towards the situation,” she said. A person with a calm mind will respond much better than a person who is not in the right mind. If they take on the challenges positively, they will tend to progress in their lives. Health needs to be approached holistically and not be limited to the physical. Holistic health encompasses physical, mental, and psychological health, as well as the development of spiritual awareness. She said yoga has a good effect on body, mind, and soul and shared about Raja Yoga meditation, which is a practise of higher consciousness and considering oneself a soul or conscientious energy. “Raja yoga meditation shifts consciousness from body consciousness to mind consciousness and encourages connecting with the supreme soul or god,” added Savita. In Raja yoga meditation, they focus on the original positive qualities or virtues of the soul, such as peace, knowledge, purity, love, happiness, bliss, and power, and apply them in their daily lives. At the start of the event, a yoga instructor guided the audience to do simple yoga postures on their seats, followed by a performance by young children who showcased their talent by doing yoga postures. The event was graced by the attendance of the Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy, who officiated the event with other VIPs and gave a speech about yoga. The Brahma Kumar Foundation offers Raja yoga meditation workshops and courses throughout its branch in Malaysia for free. FEELING stressed or strained? Struggling to concentrate in a chaotic world? Stress or strain actually arises from the situations or challenges that we have to deal with on a daily basis. We live in a fast-paced world and spend most of our time working with computers, multi-tasking, and under constant pressure to meet deadlines. Unconsciously, this impacts our minds to a great extent. Our minds are compacted with so many running thoughts on a myriad of things, and eventually, we get tired quite easily. Over time, we tend to neglect our mental health, which will have an impact on our body’s health sooner or later. Often, we are told that a healthy body is the key to a healthy mind, but it’s also the other way around. For a healthy body, you need a healthy mind, too. For a healthy mind, we need to ‘exercise’ our mind the same way we make it a point to do physical activities that benefit our body. The exercise we mean here is meditation. Dr. Savita Arora, a medical graduate who served as medical officer at the Global Hospital and Research Centre in Mount Abu, India, said that we need to allocate 10 to 15 minutes for meditation on a daily basis. Dr. Savita is attached to the Brahma Kumaris Foundation, and she is the national coordinator of the women’s wing. She gave a talk on Yoga for Body, Mind, and Soul: Embracing Holistic Wellness at Harmony House in Kuala Lumpur on June 25, 2023, in line with the 9th International Yoga Day celebration on June 21, 2023. But why do we need to do meditation? One may ask. Meditation heals the mind through calming and re-centering ourselves, which massively helps our overall physical health. “The mind gets attracted to people and situations constantly, which indirectly creates a negative state of mind and eventually affects the health of the body,” Savita said exclusively to theSun after her speech. Explaining further, she said that a stressful mind could lead to psycho-somatic diseases like heart disease, even in youngsters. “We have a fast life; we compete and compare with others. Our minds are affected by people and situations, and when the mind is in a negative state, it affects the body,” added Savita. She elaborated, saying that when the mind is in a negative state (like stress or anger), the body releases certain harmful chemicals into the system, and this could affect our physical health in the long term. “More than 70% of diseases are psychosomatic, such as heart attacks, compromised immunity, and body aches, and this could happen even in youngsters,” explained Savita. Positive thinking for a healthier mind Savita said we need to practise positive thinking for a healthy mind. “When we start practising meditation, we should consciously start thinking positively as well,” said Savita. According to Savita, we must observe the direction of their mind to see if it is becoming negative with anger, hatred, revenge, ego, and A performance by children at Brahma Kumaris. Savita discussed mental health. The audience was given some easy yoga movements. The VIPs, including Reddy, at the ceremony. █ BYS.TAMARAI CHELVI Young children showcasing their talent in yoga at the event. – ALL PIX BY SYAZWAN KAMAL/THESUN Calm in chaos oMeditation helps us achieve a healthy mind Reddy giving a speech at the event.
16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 J.Lo practises responsible drinking OVER the July 4 weekend, when America celebrated its Independence Day, Jennifer Lopez shared a video on Instagram of her dropping by a liquor store in New York to purchase bottles of her drink brand, Delola. The line of fruity, lower-calorie cocktails was released in April, with three ready-todrink spritzes containing a different spirit: the Bella Berry is made with vodka, the Paloma Rosa has tequila, and the L’Orange features an amaro base. At the time, the release caused a little stir J.Lo with her cocktail spritz creation, Delola. – PEOPLE oLopez was previously known to abstain from alcohol █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR among those that followed her on social media, as they were under the assumption that Lopez did not drink alcohol. Lopez admitted that it was true for a long time that she did not drink, but it changed slightly recently. “A few years back, as you will see from several photos of me out over the past ten, maybe 15 years, I have been having the occasional cocktail. I do enjoy the occasional cocktail,” she claimed. Lopez then went into more detail about her typical drinking habits. “I do drink responsibly. I don’t drink to get drunk. I drink to be social and have a good time and just kind of relax and let loose a bit, but always responsibly,” she added. In that context, she claimed that her Delola spritzes fit her lifestyle, as the line contains lower alcohol, calorie, and sugar content. Lopez said that her Delola spritzes “fit my lifestyle” since they have a lower alcohol, calorie, and sugar content. This was backed up by an interview she did in April. “I’m not a huge alcohol drinker, so it needed to be something that was really pleasant tasting,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “I loved the idea of creating something a little more healthy, a little bit more to my taste, with kind of healthier ingredients and being gluten-free.” At the liquor store, she met fans and customers, with one saying they would bring the spritzes for a boat day they were having. “This is what I created this for!” Lopez responded enthusiastically. Lopez also explained the reasoning behind the embossed design. The Bronx crest is a nod to her New York hometown, while the lions represent Leo, the zodiac sign of both Ben Affleck and her. “It’s very personalised, really authentic to me and what I love.” Vidya Balan hated her body ACTRESS Vidya Balan opens up about being body shamed, hating her own body, and eventually accepting her body. The actress, who rose to fame after the success of Dirty Picture in 2011 and Kahani in 2012, revealed that she had not been accepting of her own body for a long time. “I was in a battle with my body for a long time,“ she confessed in an online interview with Bollywood Bubble. “This was not a body that the world expected me to have,” said Vidya. “I have spent so many years hating my body. If it’s not for this body, I won’t be here,“ she said. Over time, she accepted herself as she is. “Everyday, I am trying to be better at accepting who I am. That is love, and this acceptance takes a long time,“ admitted the actress. Vidya’s upcoming movie, titled Neeyat, is expected to be released on July 7, 2023. Balan gets vocal about body image issues. – INSTAGRAM █ BYS.TAMARAI CHELVI Adele calls out dangerous fans THE rabid need for attention by fans at concerts recently has sparked the ire of Adele. At a recent show in Las Vegas’ Caesar’s Palace Hotel & Casino, Adele dropped some choice words for concertgoers who have been throwing everything from ashes to sex toys at artists performing on stage. “Have you noticed how people are, like, Adele performs at Caesar’s Palace Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. – INSTAGRAM █ BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR Salaar teaser is out LESS than a month ago, Prabhas’s big-budget movie Adipurush was released amid massive criticism and trolling on social media. But it looks like he is coming back with a vengeance! Despite the fact that Adipurush failed to garner much love or attain box office success, the actor’s loyal fans showed up with gusto at cinemas to show their unwavering support. Now they are preparing to show up for his newest movie, Salaar, directed by Prashant Neel, who is also the director of KGF: Chapter 2, one of the highest grossers in India. The teaser for Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire was out on July 6, and within hours it received more than 10 million viewers. The film, which will be released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam on September 28, 2023, also stars popular Malayalam actor Prithiraj Sukumaran. Prabhas set to impress fans in Salaar. – INSTAGRAM █ BYS.TAMARAI CHELVI forgetting show etiquette at the moment, throwing things onstage? Have you seen it?” The singer said this in a TikTok video posted last Saturday. “I dare you, dare you to throw something at me,“ she said, while jokingly brandishing a T-shirt gun onstage. “Stop throwing things at the artist!” Quite a number of artists have been facing concerning and bizarre attacks from fans over the past few weeks. Just recently, Lil Nas X dodged a sex toy that was thrown at him during Lollapalooza in Sweden. The week before that, Kelsea Ballerini was hit in the face with a bracelet, and days before, someone threw a bag that allegedly contained their mother’s ashes on stage while Pink was performing. The incidents seemingly all began earlier in June, with Bebe Rexha being hospitalised after an audience member threw a phone at her, which led to a black eye and laceration on her eyelid. The culprit has been arrested and charged with assault. Experts are not sure what is behind this “trend”, but it is rather obvious that this is an evolution of fans wanting their 15 minutes of fame in a digital age where people are desperate to go viral for clout. “It is important to ask questions about why these attacks are happening and what underlying causes or motivations may be leading people to act out in this way,“ licenced psychologist Nathan Brandon told USA TODAY. “It can also underscore the importance of creating safe spaces for artistic expression and how such spaces can become places of healing, connection, and understanding.”
theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 17 Disney cracks open a vast archive FROM princess costumes and cute character sketches to century-old toys, photos, and documents, Disney’s backrooms and warehouses are stacked to the rafters with “hundreds of millions” of filmmaking treasures, its archivists say. In celebration of the company’s upcoming centennial, officially marked on October 16, Disney recently allowed a glimpse into its vaults, hosting a media visit to its film studio lot in Burbank, near Los Angeles. “This is what we call the tip of the iceberg,” said Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline, before presenting artefacts ranging from the studio’s founding legal document and the first Mickey Mouse cartoon script to costumes from the latest Marvel films. Many more items are currently touring the world, with “Disney100: The Exhibition” on display simultaneously in Munich and Philadelphia. More locations, including London, will be added soon. Paris is currently hosting an immersive, multi-sensory experience centred around the friendships between Disney’s iconic characters. But a major portion of the studio’s archives is in “five or six” warehouses “scattered around” the Los Angeles area, including larger items such as former theme park ride vehicles and movie props, said archivist Nicole Carroll. “We make so much stuff, we’re always looking for more space!” she said. Founded in 1970, the 30-strong team of archivists aims to keep a “small representation” of everything, Carroll explained. For example, if a recently wrapped movie has 250 lavish costumes, including four or five for each of the heroes, the archive team will select “a couple of iconic looks from each character” for posterity. Even with this selective approach, every time a film wraps, “we could be adding hundreds of Disney hosted a media visit to its film studio lot near Los Angeles. – AFPPIC oA celebration of the company’s upcoming centennial Thai cinema goes pet-friendly Today is like an experiment,” he told AFP. “We are seeing The Little Mermaid. He will enjoy seeing all the fish on the screen.” The animals had to wear diapers and sit in bags while the sound and lighting were adjusted for their comfort, Major Cineplex spokesman Narute Jiensnong said. “Bangkok is not a very pet-friendly city,“ Narute told AFP, adding that the concept was built on their childfriendly theatres. Narute noted that some pets acquired during the pandemic suffer from separation anxiety now that owners are no longer working from home or in lockdown. “In the kid cinemas, kids will be running around screaming or shouting... I think pet cinema will be the same. Everyone who comes will own a pet and be understanding if dogs bark,” he said. It is not the only business opening its doors to furry visitors. Ikea Thailand welcomes furbabies too Earlier last month, Swedish furniture giant Ikea announced that small dogs and cats were welcome to visit its Thailand stores, as long as they sat in prams. Outside the cinema, there were howls of disappointment as a 62- kilogramme Alaskan Malamute named Tungchae, who arrived in a 1.5-square-metre dog trolley equipped with a fan, was considered too big to enter. Despite the cinemas’ animal welfare safeguards, not all pet owners were thrilled about the idea. One long-time Bangkok expat said that, while her cat frequently falls asleep beside her on the couch watching TV at home, she would never take her pet to the cinema and Pets and their owners at the pet-friendly i-Tail Pet Cinema opening last month. – ETX STUDIO Disney recently allowed a glimpse into its vaults. – AFPPIC A FLUFFY white cat in a yellow dress perched on the top of a Bangkok cinema seat while, nearby, a Chihuahua in a Sebastian the Crab costume geared up to watch Disney’s The Little Mermaid with their owners. One terrier even channelled Ariel in a red wig and mermaid’s tail. They were among the dozens of four-legged filmgoers that arrived in strollers last month for the opening of Thailand’s first pet-friendly cinema on the fringes of the capital. The country’s pet industry is considered the second-biggest in Asia, behind China’s, with some 8.3 million dogs and 3.7 million cats in 2021, according to industry data. Pet ownership grew further during the coronavirus pandemic, and now some businesses are trying to cash in. Mano, 37, had brought his rescue cat, Kati, to the cinema. “We take him to work sometimes. things” to the archive, said Carroll. A tear-inducing display Among the studio’s most treasured memorabilia are the giant storybooks featured at the start of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty, and a crystal slipper from the live-action version of Cinderella. Some items end up serving a practical purpose, an original snow globe from 1964’s Mary Poppins was pulled from the archive and replicated by filmmakers creating the 2018 sequel. Factor in photo and document archives containing first-edition cartoons, tickets to Disneyland’s 1955 opening, plus corporate reports and press clippings, and the total collection extends to “hundreds of millions” of items, said Cline. But perhaps the most hallowed space for Disney obsessives is located right on the Burbank lot – founder Walt Disney’s personal offices, from which he managed his entertainment empire from 1940 until his death in 1966. A painstaking inventory of every item he left behind was taken, right down to the exact resting angle of his books, including volumes on Nikola Tesla, Salvador Dali, and trains. Just under a decade ago, those offices were restored by Walt Disney Archives employees. They now contain everything from unfinished plans for theme parks to figurines of beloved fairytale characters. And, of course, several Oscars. Just a few tour groups are admitted each year to this space, considered sacred by the cognoscenti of a company renowned for the almost unparalleled obsession of its fandom. “People come in and cry at this amazing human,” said tour guide Laura Sanchez. “They get to walk in the past.” – AFP thinks the concept is “unnatural” and “torture”. “Being zipped up in this cage, I don’t know if that’s enjoyable for the animal,” she told AFP. “It’s so ridiculous that dogs are not allowed in (most Bangkok) parks, but they can go to a movie or cafe. What comes next? You bring your dog or cat to a massage parlour?” – ETX STUDIO
18 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 Rosé wine-making is on the rise ROSÉ wine is synonymous with summer. As the market for pink wine grows, it is also evolving, both in terms of production and consumption, changing the game for a wine that has long suffered from second-class status. Rosé wine offers a taste of summer with notes of citrus fruit, wild strawberries, and raspberries. Behind its pretty, bright colour, rosé offers a diverse array of flavours in a deliciously refreshing drink. According to FranceAgriMer’s recently published Rosé Wines World Tracking report, one in 10 bottles of wine consumed worldwide is a bottle of rosé. This rises to one in three bottles in France, the world’s biggest rosé wine consumer. This consumption is logically supported by significant homegrown production. France is the world’s largest rosé producer, in a context where production is on the rise. In 2020, 23 million hectoliters of the drink will be produced globally. France accounted for 35% of total production, while Spain was responsible for 20% and the United States for 10%. Countries such as Italy (9%), South Africa (4%), and Germany (3%) account for a smaller share. However, if France is a pioneer in the rosé market, the fashion for this colour is now being supported by other countries. Firstly, in terms of production, the Rosé Wines World Tracking report identifies several ‘new’ rosé wine-making countries, recording growth of over 50% in 10 years and producing at least 50,000 hectoliters annually. This is a far cry from the astronomical quantities produced by the market’s biggest players. Producers on the rise include Chile, New Zealand, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. At the same time, rosé is increasingly finding its way into the glasses of more consumers. With global consumption reaching 19.5 million hectoliters in 2021, Eastern and Central Europe and the AsiaOceania region are increasingly enjoying the fruity flavours of this wine. Meanwhile, an analysis of imports reveals that wine drinkers in the US, Canada, Denmark, and Sweden tend to appreciate more expensive rosé wines. While the world of wine can be a place where clichés die hard, the rosé market is showing real momentum. The arrival of Germany on the second step of the podium of the world’s biggest consumers is a fine example of the changing market. In fact, Germany’s consumers account for 12% of global consumption, and have overtaken Americans (11%). – Chile, New Zealand, and Romania are big producers of rosé wine. – ETX STUDIO Young Thai chefs disrupt Bangkok’s food scene THITID Tassanakajohn has a degree in economics from Thailand’s top university, but turned his back on a stable career in finance to launch a high-end restaurant in Bangkok, a city famed for its street food. The 38-year-old, known as Chef Ton, is one of a group of top young cooks creating a buzz around fine dining in the capital, traditionally known for its affordable and spicy local fare. His Le Du restaurant, or ‘Season’ in Thai, topped this year’s ranking of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, an influential British gastronomy guide. The recognition was the culmination of a decade’s work trying to expand perceptions of Thai cuisine, he said. “Before, people thought that Thai food was cheap street food, and we only thought of fine dining as French or Italian. “I wanted to change that concept, to show Thai food as a refined and elevated cuisine.” Highlights of his four-course and six-course tasting menus include a twist on the traditional rice dish Khao Chae, made with shrimp and pork pate, pickled radish, and jasmine ice cream. His signature river prawn, with pork belly jam and shrimp-paste organic rice, channels his favourite street food. “It is very important for me to showcase local products,” he told AFP. Since 2017, around 30 restaurants in Thailand, almost all of them in Bangkok, have been awarded the coveted Michelin star. “It is a golden era of fine dining in Thailand,” said internationallytrained Pichaya Soontornyanakij, or Chef Pam, whose restaurant Potong was awarded a Michelin star last year. The best of everything In Bangkok’s Chinatown, nestled between shoe shops on a narrow street, Potong serves Thai-Chinese dishes in a century-old SinoPortuguese building inherited from her ancestors. It once sold traditional herbal medicine, but now the upscale restaurant features luxurious furniture, stunning floral wall art, and antiques. The 33-year-old’s favourite childhood street food dish, the Chinese-influenced goose stew, sparked the initial idea for the restaurant. “Bangkok’s Chinatown is such an unusual place for fine dining,” Chef Pam said. Two-week-aged duck with five spices, Surat Thani oyster with vinegar pearls, and crab with black pepper jam are among the standouts Pichaya “Pam” Utharntharm, chef and founder of one Michelin-star restaurant, Potong. – ETX STUDIO oBangkok’s high-end dining scene gets revamped of her 20-course menu. Only 35 diners can tuck into the degustation menu each night, and there’s a three-month wait for a reservation. “I want Potong to be the reason why foreigners come to Thailand,” she said. Tourism officials hope Thailand can capitalise on the new upscale culinary hype to boost the kingdom’s economy after the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the travel and hospitality industries. Some influential food bloggers, such as American Mark Wiens, who has almost 10 million subscribers on YouTube, are spreading the word. “Bangkok has the best of everything, whether you want a US$1 (RM4.66) or US$200 (RM932) meal,” he told AFP. However, some food critics are wary about the price point compared to other Asian megacities. Thailand is among the most expensive countries for fine dining, said Bangkok-based food critic Siriwatoo Ruksakiati, but “there are certain elements missing, such as the quality of service”. Pushing culinary boundaries Le Du is located in the heart of Bangkok’s busy financial district, but at midday Chef Ton ventures to a local market to “get inspired” for his menu. “I like to come to see which products are in season in Thailand, and I can start planning,” he said, as he looked through a fruit shop overflowing with longan and mangosteen. Educated and trained at top restaurants in New York City, Chef Ton said he learned from the best about how to push culinary boundaries. Besides Le Du, Chef Ton manages seven other restaurants and has tens of thousands of followers on social media after appearing as a judge on Top Chef Thailand. Avoiding “putting all my eggs in one basket” was a deliberate business strategy, he said. “I have seen the ups and downs of the restaurant business,” he explained, adding that there can be cycles of popularity. However, Chef Ton is hoping that the world’s new understanding of Thai food is here to stay. “I want to prove that Thai cuisine is not inferior to any cuisine,” he said. – ETX STUDIO
19 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 Threads cross 10 million users MORE than 10 million people have signed up for Threads, Meta’s rival to Twitter, within the first few hours of its launch, the Facebook parent’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg said July 6. Threads is the biggest challenger yet to Elon Musk-owned Twitter, which has seen a series of potential competitors emerge but has not yet replaced one of social media’s most iconic companies despite its epic struggles. The app went live on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries at 2300 GMT on Wednesday, July 5, and will run with no ads for now. “10 million sign-ups in seven hours,” Zuckerberg wrote on his official Threads account last week. Accounts were already active for celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Hugh Jackman, as well as media outlets including The Washington Post and The Economist. Zuckerberg spent the first few hours of the platform’s launch replying to new users. “One thing that’s up is the number of world champion MMA fighters on Threads, especially now that you’re here!” he wrote in a reply to American MMA fighter Jon Jones. “Round one of this thing is getting off to a good start,” he said in another. Zuckerberg also offered a shot across the bow at Musk, the pair are known to be bitter rivals and have even offered to meet each other in a fighting cage to wrestle it out. In his first tweet in over a decade, Zuckerberg posted a Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme in apparent reference to the similarity of the two platforms. Back on Threads, he wrote: “It’ll take some time, but I think there should be a public conversation app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully we will.” Twitter has said it has more than 200 million daily users. Be kind Threads was introduced as a clear spin-off of Instagram, which offers a built-in audience of more than two billion users, thereby sparing the new platform the challenge of starting from scratch. Zuckerberg is widely understood to be taking advantage of Musk’s chaotic ownership of Twitter to push out the new product, which Meta hopes will become the go-to communication channel for celebrities, companies, and politicians. “It’s as simple as that: if an Instagram user with a large number of followers, such as a Kardashian, a Bieber, or a Messi, begins posting on Threads regularly, a new platform could quickly thrive,” strategic financial analyst Brian Wieser said on Substack. Analyst Jasmine Engberg from Insider Intelligence said Threads only needs one out of four Instagram monthly users “to make it as big as Twitter.” “Twitter users are desperate for an alternative, and Musk has given Zuckerberg an opening,” she added. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri told users that Threads was intended to build “an open and friendly platform for conversations.” “The best thing you can do if you want that too is to be kind,” he said. Under Musk, Twitter has seen content moderation reduced to a minimum, with glitches and rash decisions scaring away celebrities and major advertisers. Musk hired advertising executive Linda Yaccarino to steady the ship, but she has not been spared his whimsy. The Tesla tycoon said last week that he was limiting access to Twitter to ward off AI companies from “scraping” the site to train their technology. Musk then angered Twitter’s most devoted aficionados by declaring that access to its TweetDeck product, which allows users to view a fast flow of tweets at once, would be for paying customers only. EU ‘many months’ away Meta has its legion of critics too, especially in Europe, and despite Instagram’s massive user base, they could slow the site’s development. The company is criticised mainly for its handling of personal data, the essential ingredient for targeted ads that help it rake in billions of dollars in profits every quarter. Mosseri said he regretted that the EU launch was delayed, but if Meta had waited for regulatory clarity from Brussels, Threads would remain “many, many, many months away.” “I was worried that our window would close because timing is important,“ he added to Platformer, a tech news site. According to a source close to the matter, Meta was wary of a new law called the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which sets strict rules for the world’s “gatekeeper” internet companies. One rule restricts platforms from transferring personal data between products, as would potentially be the case between Threads and Instagram. Meta was caught out for doing just that after it bought the messaging app WhatsApp, and European regulators will be on high alert to ensure that the company doesn’t do so illegally with Threads. Back to Twitter? Globally, the Threads hashtag on Twitter has garnered over a million tweets, with many users jokingly suggesting users would be returning to Twitter. “10 minutes into the Threads app. I’m coming back to Twitter,” one user wrote, sharing a video of a man sprinting. Another shared an image of Homer Simpson running back and forth between the Twitter and Threads logos. By midday local time Thursday, Threads were the top trending topic on Japan’s Twitter, but many users expressed concerns over data privacy. “Threads is run by Meta, isn’t it? It will definitely leak your real name, the game you are playing, or put you on the list of your workplace company friends,” wrote one user. Another said, “Meta loves to collect private information, and I don’t trust the way it treats private information. I also have the impression that this is a company hated by the EU, so I’m reluctant.” – ETX STUDIO Over 10 million people signed up for Threads within the first few hours of its launch. – ETX STUDIO oMeta’s rival to Twitter gets intimidating start THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IF YOU WANT THAT TOO IS TO BE KIND – Mark Zuckerberg
20 FASHION & BEAUTY theSun LYFE ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 S AUDI ARABIA is continuing its multibillion-dollar entry into all aspects of global culture, hitting a new milestone last week with the first Saudi designer presenting at Paris Fashion Week. Mohammed Ashi’s haute couture show – his first as part of the official roster after years of dressing top celebrities – is “the peak of my career,” he told AFP at a cocktail soiree at the Ritz Hotel in Paris last week, part of a lavish Saudi PR campaign throughout this fashion season. Ashi forged his own path, having left the kingdom three decades ago, but his promotion to the top league is neatly timed as Riyadh announces its own fashion week in October and says new freedoms will create retail opportunities worth US$32 billion (RM149 billion) a year. Fashion is just one strand of a strategy that has seen de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman divert its oil wealth into movies, sports, video games, and tourism, while overseeing dramatic social changes within the kingdom. Many worried it was all just a smokescreen to defuse criticism of his human rights record, especially after the gruesome murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. But the changes went further and deeper than almost a n y o n e expected. “For the first two years, I a l m o s t d i d n ’ t believe it was real, but then I r e a l i s e d , wow, it IS real,” said Yousef Akbar, 37, who began his eponymous fashion label in Australia in 2017 and has dressed the likes of Nicole Kidman and Rita Ora. “I really never thought when I was growing up that this would happen. When I started my brand in Australia, I thought my whole life would be there since I’m a fashion designer,” added Akbar, who now also runs his business from Jeddah. Big opportunities The Saudi elite has already spent vast sums on international luxury brands for events behind closed doors. But the Saudi Fashion Commission claims new freedoms around public dress and a growing private sector will see retail sales surge by 48% to US$32 billion (RM149 billion) between 2021 and 2025. It wants a lot of this money to stay in the country, creating a Saudi 100 Brands programme to incubate local designers. CEO Burak Cakmak says there are stable foundations for a homegrown industry. “Just because the country wasn’t exposed to the rest of the world doesn’t mean they are starting now,” he told AFP in Paris. “I had an event for a brand this week that’s been running since the 70s.” While the queer community has heavily influenced the fashion i n d u s t r y a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , L G B T Q p e o p l e face severe repression in Saudi Arabia, which criminalises same-sex relations. “The authorities are certainly aware that many couturiers and designers are gay,” said Susanne Koelbl, author of “Behind the Kingdom’s Veil”. Their approach is simply to “try to ignore it,” she added, and the authorities are turning a blind eye to almost everything. “Maybe you can’t dance naked on the table, but almost anything else is possible now, as long as your family is OK with it and you are loyal to the ruler,” Koelbl said. Having repressed practically all opposition to his rule and stripped clerics of their power, there are few obstacles in Prince Mohammed’s path. “It’s a well-planned, long-scheduled reform process that is about to change society completely,” said Koelbl. “The Saudi people don’t tend to be revolutionary, and for the vast majority, there are indeed new and big opportunities now, especially for women.” The excitement is certainly genuine for those who are benefiting. “It sounds cliched, but seeing something happen that we all thought was impossible is very inspiring for my own business,” said Akbar. – AFP FROM an absurdly opulent film shoot at the Opera Garnier to a Chanel catwalk along the Seine, fashion week offered a very different view of Paris last week from the riots in recent news. The country is still licking its wounds and facing up to the deep societal divisions exposed by days of violence sparked recently by the police killing of a teenager. The riots have died down since then, and it was the other France – of unbridled luxury, craftsmanship, and conspicuous excess – that took centre stage on the second day of haute couture week. Chanel’s models paraded alongside the River Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background, some with little dogs or baskets of flowers, in a show of “sophistication and simplicity,” said designer Virginie Viard. She mixed tweeds, silk muslins, organzas, and encrusted lace with floral and graphic motifs. A few bright colours, including Barbie pink, stood out against a largely grey palette. Over at the Opera Garnier, the 19thcentury monument to late-imperial excess, couturier Stephane Rolland put on a fabulously opulent show that was also being filmed by veteran filmmaker Claude Lelouch for his next movie, Finalement. There was a strapless velvet dress with a glittering diamond hood, an elaborate headpiece that looked like a mass of gold flames, and a long red satin dress with a bejewelled collar. The show was an homage to Greek singer Maria Callas, whose voice was heard through the show, aimed at reliving one of her most legendary performances at the Opera Garnier in December 1958. Rolland is known for bright colours, such as the bright-yellow dress in which he put singer Pretty Yende for the coronation of King Charles III recently. But he said, “In the heart of the Palais Garnier, I didn’t want to disturb the scenery with pinks, yellows, and greens” and stuck mostly to black, white, and a few flashes of deep red. Actors mingled with the guests for the upcoming movie from Lelouch, best known for his Oscar-winning 1966 film A Man and a Woman. The director’s request to film during the show was “like a gift from heaven,” Rolland told AFP, adding that it was vital to merge fashion and other art forms. “It’s very important in our profession. I find that from time to time it lacks a bit of refinement. Money is not everything,” he said. Another successful show at Paris Fashion Week was by French designer Alexis Mabille, who created a female take on the tuxedo. And then there was a luxurious display from Giorgio Armani, all sumptuous ballgowns adorned with many variations on poppies and roses. Red was a dominant colour for the Italian fashion house, even for the wedding dress at the end. – ETX STUDIO Paris shows its opulent side Couturier Stephane Rolland put on a fabulously opulent show. – ETX STUDIO First Saudi debuts at Paris Fashion Week oMohammed Ashi’s designs present ethereal fantasy Ashi Studio’s SS2023 Moonlight and Dust Couture show in Paris. – GETTY Ashi has been dressing famous celebrities for years. – INSTAGRAM Complex construction is one of Ashi Studio’s trademarks. – GETTY A shroud of silver paillettes at the Ashi Studio couture show. – GETTY /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME
21 * SPORTS theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 322 Notices NOTIS (Dalam Perkara Mengenai Saman Pemula Pengangkatan yang bertarikh 5 April 2023) AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu Permohonan melalui Saman Pemula No. PA-58- 11-04/2023 bertarikh 5 April 2023 telah difailkan di Mahkamah Sesyen Sivil di Georgetown, Pulau Pinang. Kami sedang mencari seorang wanita yang bernama DO THI THAO (NO. PASSPORT VIETNAM: C2040416) yang mempunyai alamat terakhir di No. 13, Jalan Bungor 1, Bandar Botanic, 41200 Klang, Selangor yang telah melahirkan seorang anak perempuan di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya Kuala Lumpur pada 3 Disember 2017. Sekiranya anda mengetahui keberadaan dan/atau mempunyai informasi mengenai wanita yang menepati deskripsi di atas, sila hubungi Tetuan Cheng, Lee & Goh, Peguambela dan Peguamcara yang beralamat di No. 88-5-2, Jalan Jelutong, 11600 Pulau Pinang, Tel: 04- 281 3955; Faks: 04 -281 3836; Emel: [emailprotected], dengan secepat mungkin dan/atau hadir di Mahkamah Sesyen Sivil di Georgetown untuk pengurusan kes pada 14 Julai 2023 jam 9.00 pagi di hadapan Tuan Hakim Dato’ Mohd Nasir bin Nordin. Bertarikh pada 6 Julai 2023. .............t.t............. Peguamcara Pemohon-pemohon 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI SHAH ALAM PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT NO. BA-28NCC-225-05/2023 Dalam perkara di bawah Akta Syarikat, 2016 Dan Dalam perkara di bawah Seksyen 465 (1) (e) dan Seksyen 466 (1) (a) Akta Syarikat, 2016 Dan Dalam perkara di bawah Kaedahkaedah (Penggulungan) Syarikat 1972 Antara GREEN ISLAND FEED MILLS SDN. BHD. (No. Syarikat 883873-M) ... Pempetisyen Dan AGRO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT BERHAD (No. Syarikat 201401020709 (1096795-U)) ... Responden IKLAN PETISYEN NOTIS ADALAH DENGAN INI DIBERI bahawa suatu Petisyen untuk Penggulungan Syarikat yang dinamakan di atas oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya, telah pada 08-05-2023 dikemukakan oleh Green Island Feed Mills Sdn. Bhd. yang beralamat di PMT 1216, Lorong Perindustrian Bukit Minyak 17, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Minyak, 14100 Simpang Ampat, S.P.S., Pulau Pinang sebuah syarikat yang diperbadankan di dalam Malaysia. DAN bahawa Petisyen tersebut diarahkan supaya dibicarakan di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Shah Alam, pada 09-08-2023 jam 9:00 pagi. DAN mana pihak pemiutang atau penyumbang Syarikat tersebut yang berniat untuk menyokong atau menentang sesuatu perintah mengikut Petisyen tersebut boleh hadir dengan tujuan itu secara peribadi atau melalui peguambelanya pada masa bicaraan dan sesalinan Petisyen tersebut akan dibekalkan oleh pihak yang bertandatangan di bawah ini kepada mana-mana pemiutang atau penyumbang Syarikat tersebut yang memintanya dengan membuat bayaran yang ditetapkan. Alamat Pempetisyen adalah di PMT 1216, Lorong Perindustrian Bukit Minyak 17, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Minyak, 14100 Simpang Ampat, S.P.S., Pulau Pinang. Peguamcara Pempetisyen ialah Tetuan Wong-Chooi & Mohd. Nor yang beralamat di No. 27, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Maju Jaya, Pusat Perniagaan Maju Jaya, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. ...............t.t.................. Peguamcara Pempetisyen PERINGATAN – Sesiapa yang ingin hadir pada perbicaraan Petisyen tersebut hendaklah menyampaikan, atau menghantar dengan pos, kepada Tetuan Wong-Chooi & Mohd. Nor yang dinamakan di atas suatu notis bertulis tentang niatnya sebegitu. Notis tersebut mestilah menyatakan nama dan alamat pihak berkenaan, atau jika ia sebuah firma, nama dan alamat firma, dan mestilah ditandatangani oleh pihak atau firma berkenaan atau peguamcaranya, jika ada. Notis hendaklah disampaikan, atau jika dihantar dengan pos, hendaklah dihantar dalam jangkamasa mencukupi, supaya sampai kepada pihak yang dinamakan di atas sebelum pada pukul 12:00 tengahari pada hari 08-08-2023. Rujukan No. WCMN(BM)/ GIFMSB/2023-059/ACMSB (YKY/lim) 322 Notices AGENT WANTED APPLY NOW Agent wanted for Top brand Japan Massage chair High Income from Rm10k and above Installment payment available for customer Contact : 018 2175363 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF KLIE RENTALS (PENANG) SDN. BHD. (199601029780)(402132-P) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of members of the Company will be held at Lot 425, Jalan Batu Arang, Rawang Integrated Industrial Park, 48000 Rawang, Selangor on 15 August 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes :- 1. To receive the Liquidator’s Statement of Accounts showing the manner in which the winding-up has been conducted and any explanations arising therefrom. 2. To determine by resolution the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator shall be disposed of. Dated : 12 July 2023 LIM LAY HOON Liquidator NOTES : 1. A member entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting may appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, participate, speak and vote in his stead. A proxy may but need not be a member of the Company. 2. A member may appoint more than one proxy, provided that the member specifies the proportion of the member’s shareholdings to be represented by each proxy. 3. The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at the Registered Office of the Company, not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the Meeting, or in the case of a poll, not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. 252 Distributors Agents Wanted 322 Notices CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS KLANG VALLEY PENANG | KEDAH PERAK | PERLIS | PAHANG | KELANTAN TERENGGANU MS. Shoba TEL: 03-7784 8888 FAX: 03-7784 4424 MALACCA | N.SEMBILAN MR. Rajah TEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051 JOHOR BAHRU MS. Anne Lim TEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549 322 Notices NOTIS (Dalam Perkara Mengenai Saman Pemula Pengangkatan yang bertarikh 5 April 2023) AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu Permohonan melalui Saman Pemula No. PA-58- 11-04/2023 bertarikh 5 April 2023 telah difailkan di Mahkamah Sesyen Sivil di Georgetown, Pulau Pinang. Kami sedang mencari seorang wanita yang bernama DO THI THAO (NO. PASSPORT VIETNAM: C2040416) yang mempunyai alamat terakhir di No. 13, Jalan Bungor 1, Bandar Botanic, 41200 Klang, Selangor yang telah melahirkan seorang anak perempuan di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya Kuala Lumpur pada 3 Disember 2017. Sekiranya anda mengetahui keberadaan dan/atau mempunyai informasi mengenai wanita yang menepati deskripsi di atas, sila hubungi Tetuan Cheng, Lee & Goh, Peguambela dan Peguamcara yang beralamat di No. 88-5-2, Jalan Jelutong, 11600 Pulau Pinang, Tel: 04- 281 3955; Faks: 04 -281 3836; Emel: [emailprotected], dengan secepat mungkin dan/atau hadir di Mahkamah Sesyen Sivil di Georgetown untuk pengurusan kes pada 14 Julai 2023 jam 9.00 pagi di hadapan Tuan Hakim Dato’ Mohd Nasir bin Nordin. Bertarikh pada 6 Julai 2023. .............t.t............. Peguamcara Pemohon-pemohon 322 Notices DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI SHAH ALAM PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT NO. BA-28NCC-225-05/2023 Dalam perkara di bawah Akta Syarikat, 2016 Dan Dalam perkara di bawah Seksyen 465 (1) (e) dan Seksyen 466 (1) (a) Akta Syarikat, 2016 Dan Dalam perkara di bawah Kaedahkaedah (Penggulungan) Syarikat 1972 Antara GREEN ISLAND FEED MILLS SDN. BHD. (No. Syarikat 883873-M) ... Pempetisyen Dan AGRO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT BERHAD (No. Syarikat 201401020709 (1096795-U)) ... Responden IKLAN PETISYEN NOTIS ADALAH DENGAN INI DIBERI bahawa suatu Petisyen untuk Penggulungan Syarikat yang dinamakan di atas oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya, telah pada 08-05-2023 dikemukakan oleh Green Island Feed Mills Sdn. Bhd. yang beralamat di PMT 1216, Lorong Perindustrian Bukit Minyak 17, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Minyak, 14100 Simpang Ampat, S.P.S., Pulau Pinang sebuah syarikat yang diperbadankan di dalam Malaysia. DAN bahawa Petisyen tersebut diarahkan supaya dibicarakan di Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di Shah Alam, pada 09-08-2023 jam 9:00 pagi. DAN mana pihak pemiutang atau penyumbang Syarikat tersebut yang berniat untuk menyokong atau menentang sesuatu perintah mengikut Petisyen tersebut boleh hadir dengan tujuan itu secara peribadi atau melalui peguambelanya pada masa bicaraan dan sesalinan Petisyen tersebut akan dibekalkan oleh pihak yang bertandatangan di bawah ini kepada mana-mana pemiutang atau penyumbang Syarikat tersebut yang memintanya dengan membuat bayaran yang ditetapkan. Alamat Pempetisyen adalah di PMT 1216, Lorong Perindustrian Bukit Minyak 17, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Minyak, 14100 Simpang Ampat, S.P.S., Pulau Pinang. Peguamcara Pempetisyen ialah Tetuan Wong-Chooi & Mohd. Nor yang beralamat di No. 27, Tingkat Satu, Jalan Maju Jaya, Pusat Perniagaan Maju Jaya, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. ...............t.t.................. Peguamcara Pempetisyen PERINGATAN – Sesiapa yang ingin hadir pada perbicaraan Petisyen tersebut hendaklah menyampaikan, atau menghantar dengan pos, kepada Tetuan Wong-Chooi & Mohd. Nor yang dinamakan di atas suatu notis bertulis tentang niatnya sebegitu. Notis tersebut mestilah menyatakan nama dan alamat pihak berkenaan, atau jika ia sebuah firma, nama dan alamat firma, dan mestilah ditandatangani oleh pihak atau firma berkenaan atau peguamcaranya, jika ada. Notis hendaklah disampaikan, atau jika dihantar dengan pos, hendaklah dihantar dalam jangkamasa mencukupi, supaya sampai kepada pihak yang dinamakan di atas sebelum pada pukul 12:00 tengahari pada hari 08-08-2023. Rujukan No. WCMN(BM)/ GIFMSB/2023-059/ACMSB (YKY/lim) 322 Notices AGENT WANTED APPLY NOW Agent wanted for Top brand Japan Massage chair High Income from Rm10k and above Installment payment available for customer Contact : 018 2175363 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF KLIE RENTALS (PENANG) SDN. BHD. (199601029780)(402132-P) (IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY WINDING-UP) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459 of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of members of the Company will be held at Lot 425, Jalan Batu Arang, Rawang Integrated Industrial Park, 48000 Rawang, Selangor on 15 August 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes :- 1. To receive the Liquidator’s Statement of Accounts showing the manner in which the winding-up has been conducted and any explanations arising therefrom. 2. To determine by resolution the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company and of the Liquidator shall be disposed of. Dated : 12 July 2023 LIM LAY HOON Liquidator NOTES : 1. A member entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting may appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, participate, speak and vote in his stead. A proxy may but need not be a member of the Company. 2. A member may appoint more than one proxy, provided that the member specifies the proportion of the member’s shareholdings to be represented by each proxy. 3. The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at the Registered Office of the Company, not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the Meeting, or in the case of a poll, not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. 252 Distributors Agents Wanted 322 Notices CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS KLANG VALLEY PENANG | KEDAH PERAK | PERLIS | PAHANG | KELANTAN TERENGGANU MS. Shoba TEL: 03-7784 8888 FAX: 03-7784 4424 MALACCA | N.SEMBILAN MR. Rajah TEL: 012-628 2844 FAX: 06-764 2051 JOHOR BAHRU MS. Anne Lim TEL: 013-770 6699 FAX: 07-355 5549 Major incentive World’s best descend at Scottish Open with eye on prized trophy AS natural ideas go, playing the Genesis Scottish Open the week before the Open Championship is so seamless, one wonders how it ever took so long to match it up like that. Then again, there was probably a time when peanut butter and jelly sandwiches didn’t exist. But today’s world-class players will not concern themselves with what happened in bygone eras; instead, they cherish the fact that creative minds saw the benefit of playing the Scottish Open on links the week before the Open Championship. “This is a massive event when you think about it,” said American Billy Horschel. “When you look at what’s on that wall (a rollcall of former winners of the Genesis Scottish Open) and you appreciate the fact that it’s now co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, this is what we play for. “We want to compete against the best players and see where we stand with our games and what better place than to do it here at the Renaissance Club,” said Horschel. Should you wonder if Horschel is piling on the hyberbole, a check of the entry list for this weekend’s gathering in North Berwick confirms that he is not. At least eight of the world’s top 10 players, including Nos. 1-2-3 (Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy) are committed and the headliners don’t stop there. That’s because Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, and defending champion, Xander Schauffele have signed on. So, too, international favorites such as Viktor Hovland (Scotland), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Adam Scott (Australia) and Robert MacIntyre, the popular Scotsman who’ll be in front of countrymen. Wyndham Clark, the surprising winner of the recent US Open, will tee it up, as will a pair of Englishmen who also won that major – Matt Fitzpatrick (2022) and Justin Rose (2013). Horschel, winner of seven PGA Tour tournaments and the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, said the depth of field matters. “We want to be known as players who won the same tournament as Tiger Woods, the same as Arnold Palmer, and that we won National Opens.” While the Scottish Open might not be as old as the Open Championship or the other majors, it has been staged for more than 50 years and being tied to a country that is considered to be the “Home of Golf” speaks volumes for its richness. When championship organisers moved the Scottish Open to a links in 2011, players talked passionately about the value of getting their “ground game” in good form and it resonated loudly when Phil Mickelson in 2013 did something he never had come close to doing – he won the Claret Jug, at Muirfield, no less. The fact that he won the Scottish Open one week earlier at Castle Stuart was duly noted by just about everyone in golf circles. For sure, the world’s greatest golf championships have one thing in common – they attract a global field and produce international winners. – PGA Tour Pogacar ready for mind games with Vingegaard PRESSURE seems to slide off Tadej Pogacar like water off a duck’s back as the two-time champion heads into the second block of racing in the Tour de France locked in a duel with title holder Jonas Vingegaard. The Slovenian took fresh momentum into the second rest day after gaining another eight seconds on Sunday over Vingegaard, who was dropped twice in the final two mountain stages after being the first to draw blood in the Pyrenees. Five more mountain stages are on the menu and Vingegaard hinted he would have an edge over his rival in the longer climbs of the Alps – a suggestion that Pogacar laughed off yesterday. “We will see in the Alps who it suits better,” the 24-year-old said with a smile. “I also like the Alps stages. I think every year I improve on the longer climbs and in the heat so we need to wait and see who will like it more.” Overall, Pogacar trails yellow jersey holder Vingegaard by 17 seconds and while the Danish rider remains confident that his advantage should see him win another title in Paris, the UAE Emirates rider believes the third week of the Tour could be his. “I’m not at all worried about the last week. I actually should be better than in the first week,” said Pogacar, whose preparations were hampered after he suffered a wrist fracture last April. Vingegaard’s Jumbo Visma team believe Sunday’s effort in the final part of the Puy de Dome climb (4km at 11.7%) was Pogacar’s best performance ever in terms of data, but the Slovenian hinted he had already done better at training, saying he could also do better in the racing environment. “They don’t know all my training or race data,” he said. “They don’t know my weight and a lot (of other things) about me so they can only assume but I can tell you this one (on Sunday) was good but it could be better.” – Reuters MERCEDES team principal Toto Wolff admits the team will soon have no choice but to give up on the development of this season’s car and focus on next year. Lewis Hamilton claimed a thirdplaced finish at the British Grand Prix, but was beaten to second by Lando Norris and was well adrift of challenging Max Verstappen – who extended his title lead to 99 points in pursuit of a hattrick of world championships. Hamilton was unable to pass McLaren’s Norris following the safety car restart despite being on theoretically faster tyres in the closing stages and the seven-time world champion remains fourth in the drivers’ standings – a whopping 124 points behind Verstappen. Wolff knows they can not do anything to stop Verstappen and his dominant Red Bull and therefore says the time will soon come to switch focus to next season. “I think pretty soon,” Wolff said when asked when that time would come. “We have no choice. P2, P3 fundamentally doesn’t impact me and the team. “It is about coming back to being able to win a world championship. “That’s not going to happen this year so we need to set our eyes on next year and we will see with all the races to come how we can learn and develop and make sure that we can carry that forward into next year. “Having said that, the regulations are the same so we are not learning nothing by continuing with this car. So there is a balance to strike.” Wolff chose to view McLaren’s enormous progress in the last two races as a positive that they can achieve similar, but expected his drivers to be able to secure a doublepodium finish. “McLaren were not competitive at the beginning of the season and it is good to see because it shows if you make the right decisions, the car can jump up by a huge amount. “To see that the car has potential fundamentally, all eyes are on the big prize. It is exciting to see that the McLaren was able to find a second in performance.” – The Independent Mercedes will have to switch focus: Wolff █ JIM MCCABE █ SCOTT HUNT FORMER England bowler Steve Harmison believes Ollie Robinson’s Ashes series could be over, suggesting the hosts “can’t afford to take the risk” over his fitness. Robinson has played all three games so far, taking 10 wickets at 28.40, but was sidelined for the majority of the threewicket victory at Headingley with back spasms. The 29-year-old, who was restricted to just 11.2 overs, suffered similar issues during the last Ashes series Down Under in 2021-22 and in the subsequent tour of the West Indies. With record wicket-taker James Anderson raring to return at his home ground of Old Trafford in the fourth Test, Robinson looks set to step down, but Harmison believes he may also be out of contention for the series finale at the Oval too. “He’s done for me; I think he’s done in the Ashes,” Harmison told Talksport. “I think history has repeated itself. “He came into the last Ashes and wasn’t able to bowl the overs he could do because of his body. “I’m not going to speculate on where he is from a fitness point of view or whether it’s just unfortunate that these injuries have come. “But England can’t afford to take the risk.” – AFP Robinson’s Ashes is over: Harmison Toto Wolff. – REUTERSPIX
22 theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 SPORTS WOMEN’S tennis chiefs yesterday pleaded with spectators to show “understanding and respect” when Ukraine players refuse to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents in protest at the ongoing war in their country. The WTA, which runs the women’s game, became the first governing body to acknowledge demands that they publically explain the reasons for the stance. Earlier Aryna Sabalenka backed Elina Svitolina’s call for officials to respond to help shield players from “so much hate”. Victoria Azarenka, from Belarus, was booed off court following her defeat by Ukraine’s Svitolina at Wimbledon on Sunday. As has become common, Svitolina did not shake hands with Azarenka in protest over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow. Azarenka, who held her hand up in the direction of Svitolina, seemingly in a gesture of respect, left the court to a chorus of boos from some sections of the crowd. The two-time Australian Open champion said her treatment “wasn’t fair”. “I thought it was a great tennis match,” she added. “If people are going to be focusing only on handshakes or the crowd, quite drunk crowd, booing in the end, that’s a shame.” Svitolina and her fellow Ukraine players all refused to shake hands with Russians and Belarusians at the recent French Open. She called on the sport’s governing bodies to explain the position of Ukraine players. “I don’t know if it’s maybe not clear for people, some people not really knowing what is happening,” she said. “So I think this is the right (thing) to do.” Belarusian second seed Sabalenka, who beat Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday to reach the quarterfinals, backed Svitolina’s call. “As Elina said, I think someone has to come out on social media with the announcement that there is not going to be a handshake so players will not leave the court with so much hate,” she said. “It would be good for the crowd to actually know what’s going on. There is a reason behind no handshake.” Hours later the WTA, describing the war as “reprehensible”, said they respected the position of the Ukrainian players as it is a “personal decision”. “We have some of the best fans in the world and are grateful for their passion and dedication, and we thank them for their understanding and respect for the athletes,” they said in a statement. – AFP /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME Battle of the young guns Rune ‘not afraid’ to face Alcaraz in last eight Wimbledon clash HOLGER RUNE yesterday became the first Danish man in 65 years to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals and insisted he is “not afraid” to face anybody, even world No. 1 and close friend Carlos Alcaraz. World No. 6 Rune came back from a set and a break down to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 7- 6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. He will next tackle Alcaraz in the last eight after the top seed defeated 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini in his fourth-round clash. “I am not afraid, I am excited,” said Rune, who was supported on Court One by Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik. Rune is just seven days older than Alcaraz and they have been friends since their junior days. When they were 12, they even played doubles and reached the semifinals of a boys event. “I think he’s the same, just so much better now. I think back then he was Carlos, now he’s still Carlos,” said Rune. “He’s the same, just improved a lot and very quickly.” Rune hopes one day they can play doubles again even if they may get in each other’s way. “When a singles player plays doubles, they want to cover the court by themselves. We both try and did that a little bit, which is fun. Again, it was good, because he’s amazing.” As professionals on the ATP Tour, they have met just twice. Alcaraz came out on top at the 2021 NextGen Finals before the Dane gained revenge at the Paris Masters last year when his rival retired from their quarterfinal with an injury. Rune, already a two-time quarterfinalist at the French Open, had been just two points from defeat in the previous round before seeing off Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets. Yesterday, Dimitrov, the 24th-ranked Bulgarian who made the semifinals in 2014, pocketed the first set after carving out a key break in the eighth game. The veteran was a break ahead early in the second set, which 20-year-old Rune retrieved in the eighth game. He levelled the match in the tiebreak. After securing the third set, also on a tiebreak, Rune broke for 4-2 in the fourth courtesy of back-to-back double faults by Dimitrov. Rune wrapped up the match, becoming the first Dane since Kurt Nielsen in 1958 to make the quarterfinals when Dimitrov pushed a weary backhand wide. “Grigor is an amazing player, he pushed me to the limit,” said Rune after a performance in which he fired 11 aces and 46 winners in total. “It was a crazy match, tough and long. But I always fight to the end. “I kept telling myself that Wimbledon is only once a year and that I have to fight to have any chance of winning.” – AFP Sabalenka wants shield from ‘hate’ AMERICAN Chris Eubanks stunned world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon with the biggest knockout of his career. The towering 27-year-old twice came from a set down to continue his fine run in south-west London with a thrilling 3-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in just over three hours. His impressive win over two-time grand slam finalist Tsitsipas follows success over British No. 1 Cameron Norrie and sets up a last-eight meeting with third seed Daniil Medvedev. “I feel like I’m living a dream right now,” said Eubanks. “This is absolutely insane. When you paint all of the context – I’ve tried so much to block everything out and just focus on the next match – it’s surreal, it’s unbelievable. This has been a dream come true.” Eubanks, ranked 43rd in the world, had only won two grand slam matches prior to arriving at SW19. He made an unconvincing start to the contest on Court Two but battled back and floored Tsitsipas – conqueror of Andy Murray – with 53 winners, including 13 aces. Eubanks recently said he hated playing on grass but is currently enjoying a nine-match winning streak on the surface. “Those words will never come out of my mouth [again] for the rest of my career,” he said. “The grass and I, we’ve had a very strenuous relationship over the years, but right now I think it’s my best friend.” Earlier, world No 3 Medvedev eased into his maiden Wimbledon quarterfinal after Jiri Lehecka was forced to retire injured. The 27-year-old Russian was in control on Court One and had just gone two sets ahead at 6-4 6-2 when his Czech opponent pulled out. Lehecka received treatment during a medical timeout at the end of the opening set but initially battled on in some discomfort before opting for a premature departure. “I honestly did not (realise) until he retired,” he said of Lehecka’s injury. “I saw that maybe his movement is a little bit restricted but the way he was throwing the ball I thought that it was not causing him enough trouble but then when he retired, I was like, ‘Okay, I see it different’. “I feel sorry for Jiri. Hopefully he can recover fast and he has a lot more grand slams to come ahead of him.” – The Independent █ ED ELLIOT Raducanu gets advice from Azarenka VICTORIA AZARENKA has advised Emma Raducanu to settle on a small team to help her get back to the summit of women’s tennis after claiming she had been affected by her rapid rise to the top. “When Emma (Raducanu) won the US Open, what I noticed at that time was that everybody latched onto her as if she was their friend, and I was thinking that they probably didn’t even know her a month ago. In a way, it didn’t feel very real,” she said on the Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast. “It’s sad to hear her say that sometimes she wishes she had never won the US Open, but I think this is a very momentary feeling because if you said to her ‘Okay, we’ll take it away and you can carry on’, I’m not sure she would agree to that. “I think the advice I would have given her is that you should not forget the people who drove you to that moment and who helped you get there. From my experience, I would say she needs to have a very small circle and a very solid one.” McEnroe told off by BBC host BBC WIMBLEDON host Clare Balding had to remind John McEnroe what channel he’s on after his comment made live on TV. As Ons Jabeur walked out on to Centre Court, Balding said: “Jabeur is looking up at the sky above wondering if it’s going to rain. I think the answer is no. But it is overcast. It’s one of those days that would see a bit of swing on the ball in cricket.” Tim Henman then added: “Yep definitely. Good conditions for the seamers!” Before McEnroe chimed in: “Are the swingers the ones who don’t throw it as hard? Is that what swingers are? We have different definitions in the States!” McEnroe’s comment had Tracy Austin bursting with laughter but Balding said: “We’re talking about something completely different John! It’s not a channel for that sort of talk.” Andreeva confident she will overcome tantrums TEENAGER Mirra Andreeva will continue to work on her attitude after being given a point penalty for throwing her racket during a fourthround loss to Madison Keys at Wimbledon. She is working through the issue by talking to herself in bed every night, and has taken encouragement from the way the likes of Roger Federer overcame teenage tantrums. “I knew that Federer was struggling with emotions when he was teenager,” she said. “Actually when I was younger, I saw that, ‘Well, he was struggling also. I’m not the only one who also struggles’. I thought that I just need to wait a little bit and it will go away. But it doesn’t work like this. You just have to work on yourself. The faster you’ll do it, then the results will come also faster, I think. I started to work on myself just with myself. I think it works pretty good now.” TRAMLINES Eubanks ‘living a dream’ after knocking Tsitsipas out Tsitsipas. – REUTERSPIX Christopher Eubanks returns the ball to Stefanos Tsitsipas during their Wimbledon men’s singles match. – AFPPIX
23 SPORTS theSUN ON WEDNESDAY | JULY 12, 2023 WOLVES are closing in on re-sign Republic of Ireland fullback Matt Doherty, 31, after his exit from Atletico Madrid. WEST HAM are hoping to land England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, 28, for a fee in the region of £20m but Southampton value their captain closer to £40m. CAMEROON goalkeeper Andre Onana’s £43m move from Inter Milan to Manchester United is at an advanced stage and will be completed this week once the 27-year-old agrees personal terms. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR are confident of signing Wolfsburg’s Dutch defender Micky van de Ven, 22, who is valued at £25m. EVERTON have made an enquiry about signing Manchester United’s former England goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 37. MANCHESTER UNITED have set an asking price of £50m for England defender Harry Maguire, 30. DONNY van de Beek, 26, could also be on his way out of Manchester United this summer with Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Crystal Palace interested in the Netherlands midfielder. TORINO’S Dutch centreback Perr Schuurs, 23, is attracting interest from Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his backline without parting with a large huge fee. LEICESTER CITY are interested in signing English forward Stephy Mavididi, 25, from Montpellier. NEWCASTLE UNITED could sell 26-yearold French winger Allan Saint-Maximin – who is wanted by some Saudi clubs – to help fund a bid for Leicester City’s Englishman Harvey Barnes, 25. INTER MILAN are preparing to increase their bid for Chelsea and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 30, from their initial £23m offer – but the Blues want £40m. AL-HILAL have informed Manchester City that they are ready to pay £60m for Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva. ENGLAND rightback Reece James, 23, wants to become Chelsea’s new captain – despite interest from Real Madrid. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY are in talks with 35-year-old unattached English striker Troy Deeney over a playercoach role. SERBIA midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, 28 will join Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal from Lazio in a transfer worth £34m. PARIS ST-GERMAIN are now leading the race for Eintracht Frankfurt and France striker Randal Kolo Muani, 24. LUTON TOWN want Blackburn Rovers’ Belgian goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, 30, but have not met their £3-4m asking price yet. MANCHESTER UNITED have spoken to Fiorentina and Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, 26, but talks are not at an advance stage. WEST HAM have held further talks with Juventus over 26-year-old Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria but are still short of agreement. £1 = RM5.90 MAURICIO POCHETTINO has consulted with the Chelsea hierarchy over whether to add more experience in attack, with Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and Roma’s Paulo Dybala two of the names brought up. While the club’s new policy is to build a squad around their promising young talent, the recruitment team are sympathetic to Pochettino’s argument that a certain amount of experience is required to balance that. The Argentine feels this is a quality that is potentially lacking in attack as he continues to assess the shape of his squad. Some of it will depend on the plans for Romelu Lukaku, whose future is set to be decided this week. Inter Milan are keen to take the Belgian back on a permanent deal but Juventus are also interested, and that could smooth any potential talks about Vlahovic. Pochettino’s Argentine compatriot Dybala has also been raised as an option, and is all the more attractive since a clause in his contract means he could be available for just £10 million (RM59m). The Chelsea manager previously came close to signing Dybala when he was at Spurs only for the deal to collapse due to the forward’s reluctance to leave Juventus at the time. Juventus had expected there to be a market for Vlahovic this summer, especially as strikers are at such a premium, but that so far isn’t the case. He has only been raised in meetings so far at Chelsea, but not to the extent of any serious interest. Pochettino raised the importance of experience on Friday, when asked about the youth of his squad. “It’s not a rule,” he said. “The most important thing whether experience or no experience is to get the right balance in the squad, in the team, to try to feel good, feel strong. “I think we have players with experience for how we are going to cook and put the ingredients together and work really well. “Yes, of course I love the young talent and energy but to mix with nice people, with experience that can provide to the younger ones at some point the capacity to be relaxed and to behave always in the right way.” – The Independent End of an era De Gea exit closes door on 88 years of Manchester United history S IR ALEX FERGUSON managed Manchester United for 26 years and 1500 games, but he only attended 1497 of them. He missed three: one for his son Mark’s wedding, one for his sister-in-law’s funeral, and a League Cup tie against Scunthorpe in 2010 when he went on a scouting trip. The sense then was that he was watching United’s Champions League opponents Valencia; instead the teenage goalkeeper in the opposition side, Atletico Madrid, was the focus of his attention. A dozen years since he was signed, David de Gea’s departure removes the last survivor of the Ferguson era: for the first time since the relegation season of 1973-74, United in 2023-24 will not feature anyone who has made or will make an appearance for the great Scot. For the first time since 1934-35, there will be none who have played or will play for Ferguson or Sir Matt Busby. Erik ten Hag calls upon Ferguson’s counsel but there are ways in which he makes a break with the past, as Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo can testify. But De Gea was always intended to be part of Ferguson’s legacy: bought when the manager was approaching his 70th birthday, signed with his successors in mind. Ferguson could be selfish and selfless and De Gea reflected the latter: United got 545 appearances from the Spaniard, the seventh most in their history and second only to Wayne Rooney among those Ferguson bought, and 190 clean sheets, 10 more than even Peter Schmeichel. And yet his is a legacy that leads itself to different conclusions. De Gea’s dozen seasons brought a lone League title: the previous 13 produced eight, with four Champions League final appearances and two victories on the biggest stage. De Gea’s last decade comprised of United’s wilderness years; in the worst of them, 2021-22, one of their most eloquent critics was the goalkeeper himself, when his own excellence gave him freedom to express his frustration. But his last game provided a sadly fitting end: De Gea was beaten inside 13 seconds in the FA Cup final, then horribly culpable for Ilkay Gundogan’s ultimately decisive second goal. His final year felt a series of indignities: United’s Europa League exit to Sevilla owed much to a De Gea shocker, capped by an embarrassing error. His last few years at Old Trafford were pockmarked by two problems: an increasing number of mistakes – far more forgivable in his good years – and his limitations in distribution; many of his best saves were with his feet, but he struggled to use them to find teammates. The hashtag at his peak was “DaveSaves”. The issue was that Dave did not kick as well. There was a point when it seemed like De Gea would be a fixture for years to come, perhaps ending up second only to Ryan Giggs in United’s all-time appearance list. But he started to look a man out of time, even before the interest in Onana suggested he would be a man out of the team. But outstanding as De Gea was in the mid2010s, as the last link to Ferguson is severed, it serves as a reminder that the last decade has scarcely gone to plan. – The Independent Chelsea to raid Serie A for experienced strikers DARWIN NUNEZ appears to be making solid progress in his pre-season training as he gears up for the new Premier League campaign alongside his Liverpool teammates. The 24-year-old had a decent first year at Anfield after joining the club from Benfica last summer but still has plenty of room for improvement as he looks to fulfil his sky-high potential. Nunez reported back for the start of preseason at Liverpool last week and looks to be excelling in the fitness drills that have been shared to the club’s social media accounts. The Reds posted a selection of images from their infamous lactate test yesterday and Nunez looked surprisingly comfortable in comparison to some of his fellow players, who appeared to be flagging. Another post shared on Twitter included a video of Nunez and some of his teammates lining up in preparation for a drill, with the former Benfica man displaying a greater level of focus than some may have been expecting. He also seems to have gained a decent grasp of the English language over the summer after predominantly speaking Spanish in interviews and training sessions last season. He was quick to remind his fellow Liverpool stars to keep their standards high before the start of the drill, saying in the video: “(We’ve) finished our holiday, guys, come on.” The forward is by no means the finished product and was criticised by some fans throughout last season after failing to live up to the hype that surrounded his arrival from Lisbon last July. However, it seems as though Liverpool are prepared to be patient in their bid to nurture his talents and get him firing on all cylinders over the next few months. Reds icon Stevie Nicol hit out at those who have already written Nunez off at Anfield, telling ESPN: “You want the finished article, but at the same time have a look around the Premier League and the money people are spending on players that maybe don’t even have that potential. “The guy has had one season. Straight away, right off the bat, you just said ‘is he a bust already?’ This guy has never been given a chance by anybody. “Hold on a second, let’s get this right. When he was signed, did anybody at Liverpool tell us that ‘this guy is the present, this guy is going to start now?’ “The transfer fee doesn’t always tell you that. The guy was brought in as the future, yet after four months, everybody was on his back. Four months! And they were told that the guy is the future.” – Express Newspapers Liverpool’s Nunez transformation taking shape █ RICHARD JOLLY █ MIGUEL DELANEY TOUCHLINES Dybala (left) and Vlahovic.
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] or download app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my FREE access Interactive WEDNESDAY JULY 12, 2023 Spurs willing to pay Kane more after Tuchel promise TOTTENHAM are prepared to offer Harry Kane a jawdropping salary that would eclipse Erling Haaland’s wage at Manchester City in a desperate attempt to convince him to stay, according to reports. Kane has just entered the final year of his existing contract at Spurs and has been tipped to seek a move elsewhere over the coming weeks, with Thomas Tuchel thought to be keen on bringing him to Bayern Munich. The German champions are said to have already seen two bids turned down by Tottenham, who are not willing to sell Kane despite the possibility that he could leave for free next summer if they decide against cashing in. The north Londoners will instead push on with their bid to extend Kane’s contract by offering him a significantly increased wage as part of a new deal, according to The Telegraph. It is said that Tottenham would be prepared to pay the England skipper as much as £400,000 (RM2.4m) per week if he decides to commit his long-term future to the club by signing a new contract. This would see him earn the same amount as Kevin De Bruyne and more than Haaland, who receives a basic wage of around £375,000 (RM2.2m) per week at the Etihad Stadium. However, Kane is reportedly yet to give any indication that he is willing to agree extended terms at Tottenham, while there is an understanding that his decision will not be motivated by money. He is desperate to win at least one major trophy before the end of his career and could be inclined to push for a move to Bayern, who are in a better position to compete for silverware than Spurs as things stand. The forward has also been promised by Tuchel that he could win the Champions League if he joins the Bundesliga giants this summer, which would likely represent a bigger pull than having his salary increased at Tottenham. It will be up to Ange Postecoglou to convince Kane that his future lies in north London, with the new Spurs boss set to hold face-to-face talks with his attacking talisman in the near future. He insisted on Monday that he is not concerning himself with Bayern’s interest in Kane before discussing things with the striker, saying: “If I say it’s annoying me, it would be misleading. It doesn’t register. “I always believe that you’re much better trying to understand what a situation is through your own eyes. “For me it’s in my head right now Harry’s on holiday, he’s on a sunbed and playing with his family and having a great time. “If other things are going on I’m not going to think about it and the reason I don’t is because he’ll be here in two days’ time and everything I need to know will be sitting right in front of me. “So, in the meantime, I’m not going to lose time or sleep on conjecture that may or may not be out there because then you’re jumping at shadows. “How much of it is true? Nothing’s landed on my desk at this moment from anybody at the club to say there’s a decision to be made there, not even close to that.” Kane has also reportedly emerged as incoming Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique’s “top priority” signing this summer, with the French outfit ready to tempt Tottenham with a swap proposal. French outlet PSG Community yesterday reported that both manager Enrique’s and owner Nasser AlKhelaifi’s priority is to make a statement striker signing and are looking to conclude a deal for Kane as quickly as possible. PSG are on the hunt for a world-class forward as they consider life without Kylian Mbappe. Reports emerged in L’Equipe that a number of players have complained to Nasser over Mbappe’s conduct so far this summer, with regards his future. The forward labelled the club a “divisive” one that “attracts gossip” during an off-season interview. Nasser reportedly shares in the player’s frustrations and has set a July 31 deadline for Mbappe to decide whether he will leave PSG this summer or stay at the club. – Express Newspapers/Agencies Champion-elect? TO BE Carlos Alcaraz is to believe that anything is possible on a tennis court, to believe that every point and every shot is an opportunity to produce something special. On a sensational evening on Centre Court, the 20-year-old Spaniard radiated that confidence in every forehand, return and movement, as he came from behind to defeat the former Wimbledon runnerup Matteo Berrettini in four sets and reach the quarterfinals. This should not look this easy, but to be Alcaraz is to believe that you can take on one of the biggest serves in the world and reduce it to a relatively average level. It is to see a volley that lands so wide it almost falls in the front row and not only reach it, but flick it around the posts and down the line. It is to believe that you can rock up at Wimbledon, on only your fourth tournament on grass, and confidently state that you can go and win the whole thing. Novak Djokovic still remains in the other half of the draw, but yesterday’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory only goes to show that Alcaraz has overtaken the rest of the field to stand as a clear second. Berrettini was a Wimbledon finalist two years ago. Last year, he was the second favourite for the title before having to withdraw due to testing positive for Covid. Despite his recent injury struggles, Berrettini arrived at Wimbledon having won 23 of his previous 25 matches on grass. On his return to Wimbledon, the Italian had progressed past tough tests in Lorenzo Sonego, Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev, and without losing his serve once. But against a player who regularly thunders down 209kph serves, Alcaraz finished with the most extraordinary return numbers: the top seed creating 16 break points and allowing Berrettini to win just 67% of his first-serve points. After Berrettini resisted Alcaraz to win the opening set and visibly grew in belief, the Spaniard raised his game and found his stride – racing around the baseline and delivering a magical selection of shots in a stunning spell. Alcaraz was stopped by another Italian, Jannik Sinner, at the same stage last year, but having reached the quarterfinals for the first time he already has his eyes on going further. “I’m hungry for more,” Alcaraz said on Centre Court. “It’s something I really wanted. I came in this year with that goal – get into the quarterfinal, I’m wanting more. “I want to play the final here and maybe win it.” “I knew it was going to be really tough – Matteo is a great player,” Alcaraz added. “It is not easy to come back after losing the first set, but I knew I would have my chances. “I had to stay focused, that’s something I am working on, to not lose my mind.” His clash with Holger Rune, who is a week older, will be the lowest combined age for a Wimbledon men’s quarterfinal in the professional era. It promises fireworks. “(We) grew up together, passing all the categories, playing great tournaments,” the world No. 1 said of today’s meeting. “I’m really excited about this match. We shared a lot of great moments. We played together since we were 12 years old. “Playing quarterfinals of a Grand Slam against him is something great and something that I’m going to enjoy for sure. It’s something that for the fans, they are going to enjoy as well. “We’ve not texted each other, but obviously we know each other really well. Yeah, I’m really excited about it. I think he’s the same. “The young guys are reaching their dreams, coming here and playing the quarterfinals together – it’s great for tennis,” said Alcaraz. With eight-time champion Roger Federer retired and his great rival Rafa Nadal set to join him next year, few would disagree. – The Independent/Express Newspapers/Agencies Hungry Alcaraz powers past Berrettini to set up Rune quarterfinal date Denmark’s Holger Rune in action during his fourth round match against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov yesterday. – REUTERSPIX Carlos Alcaraz reacts after defeating Matteo Berrettini during their men’s singles match on the 8th day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club. – AFPPIX
