The Sun Daily-110723 - Flip eBook Pages 1-24 (2024)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will present proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution to the Conference of Rulers soon, in efforts to resolve the citizenship issue plaguing overseas-born children of Malaysian women with foreign spouses. He said this is to enable Malaysian mothers to be granted equal citizenship rights as those already enjoyed by Malaysian fathers in the Constitution. “I will seek an audience (with the Rulers) and present the matter within this couple of days. “The law states that citizenship is given to children whose father is a citizen, it does not include the mother. So, we want both parents to be included in the Constitution ... it’s not fair to have just the father (stated in the Constitution) but not the mother. “That’s all that needs to be presented,” he told reporters after opening the International Malaysian Law Conference yesterday. Anwar said the proposed constitutional amendment is expected to be tabled in Parliament in September. On the plight of stateless persons, he said earlier in his speech that the Home Ministry has received numerous requests for citizenship under Article 15(A) of the Constitution, which underscore the urgent need for action. He added that several critical issues contributed to the challenges faced by stateless persons in Malaysia. “As for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers, efforts are already under way to resolve the issue of citizenship for them. “We will be tabling amendments to the Constitution to replace the words ‘whose father’ in Part I and Part II of the Second Schedule with the words ‘at least one of the parents”,’ he said. On another matter, Anwar called on members of the legal fraternity to continue supporting the government’s initiatives to institutionalise good governance, Bernama reported. “No doubt working on the present for the better of the future is essential, but equally imperative is to bring to justice the perpetrators of corruption in the past. “Giving them a free pass without accountability is to give a blank cheque for the perpetration of future abuses. We need to see a forceful demonstration of this fervour from the Malaysian Bar,” he said. On the rule of law, Anwar said it cannot be viewed purely from the prism of theoretical jurisprudence, as such a principle cannot be realised if the man in the street or those lacking the economic resources are unable to access the halls of justice. He said from the empirical point going back to certain years in the past, the independence of the judiciary may not be that evident, and in many ways through no primary failing of the judiciary itself. “Nevertheless, as I stand here today, I can say with utmost certainty that since my taking office as prime minister, not only have I not encroached upon even a single inch of this sacred terrain, but that I shall defend, at all costs, the independence of the judiciary. “In this regard, I must commend our Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat for her courageous role in strengthening our faith in the judiciary. “And by this, I mean that thanks to her oPM to present proposed constitutional amendment to Rulers on recognising rights of mothers to accord citizenship to child Let’s resolve this TELLING IT AS IT IS ON TUESDAY JULY 11, 2023 No. 8306 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my ELEGANT EIGHT ... A troupe performing a Portuguese dance at the ‘Musical Malacca Heritage of Magnificence from the 15th Century’ event at Banda Hilir in Malacca. – BERNAMAPIC steadfast stand on the independence of her judicial office and that of her judicial brethren in the face of relentless attacks, the horizon for continued judicial independence appears bright and promising,” Anwar said. INSIDE page 3 page PM announces RM10m for legal aid foundation 2 Multiple factors determine wage increases

2 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS RM10m for legal aid foundation KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday announced an allocation of RM10 million to the National Legal Aid Foundation to assist those who cannot afford legal services. Anwar said since the beginning of the foundation’s operations in 2012, this model has seen hundreds of thousands of persons being represented in criminal proceedings. “With my limited experience, not that limited in Sungai Buloh, I’ve seen hundreds of prisoners being given the chance to defend themselves together with a reasonably fair trial. “Therefore I am persuaded by credentials to announce another RM10 million for this purpose,” he said in his keynote address at the International Malaysia Law Conference. The prime minister said access to justice has been greatly enhanced, with the foundation being the largest provider of legal aid in the country, Bernama reported. The government also acknowledged the role of the Malaysian Bar in this initiative. Meanwhile, Anwar said it was time to review the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 in a bid to expand protection and the avenues for Anwar answering a question during the conference yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC oService has facilitated access to counsel for hundreds of thousands in financially burdened group: PM disclosures to appropriate agencies without fear of punishment. He said history has shown that it was corruption and bribery that constituted one of the primary causes for the collapse of the Roman Empire and subsequent empires as well. He added that it was not just the existence of corruption but the scale and long-term global effects that should concern everyone. “Much has been said about my so-called preoccupation with the issue of corruption and that not a day goes by without me shouting myself hoarse about waging war on corruption. “While we have no empire as such, nevertheless our nation’s history is marred by abuse of power and corruption no less. “This scourge has permeated the fabric of our society, stymied our progress and national aspirations and undermined our foundations of good governance.” He said the abolition of the mandatory death penalty does not imply a possible increase in crime rates in the future. “Death sentence still exists, just that it will not be automatically handed down in court, it must be decided by a judge. I believe that is fairer,” he said. On April 3, the Dewan Rakyat passed Act 846 (Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty Act), which aims to abolish the mandatory death penalty to vary the sentence relating to imprisonment for natural life and whipping and to provide for matters connected therewith. Under the Act, the court now has the discretion to impose the death penalty or imprisonment of not less than 30 years but not exceeding 40 years, and if the death sentence is not imposed, whippings of not less than 12 strokes will also be handed down. Cabinet to finalise policy on cyber security KUALA LUMPUR: Policy decisions on the streamlining of the national cyber security ecosystem will be discussed and finalised at the Cabinet meeting on July 19, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He added that this demonstrated the seriousness and firm commitment by the government in addressing cyber security challenges. “I want to be unequivocal in saying that the unity government will not compromise the security of our cyberspace, nor will it brook delays in this regard. “What we are lacking in time, we will make up with hard work,” he said in his speech at the opening of The Cyber Defence and Security Exhibition and Conference 2023 yesterday. His speech was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who inaugurated the event on Anwar’s behalf. The decision to bring the issue to the Cabinet was made after Anwar chaired the first National Cyber Security Committee meeting last month, which discussed crucial decisions to fortify cyber security in Malaysia. Anwar said the meeting endorsed the National Cyber Security Agency’s (Nacsa) position as the central agency on cyber security that directly reports to the prime minister. He added that the meeting also agreed that the immediate drafting of a Cyber Security Bill was necessary to ensure a robust legal framework with good governance to effectively address the evolving cyber threats. “The Bill will provide Nacsa with a clear legal authority to regulate and enforce laws on cyber security, thus enhancing the effectiveness of its functions. “Cyber Security Malaysia, a company limited by guarantee and which also plays an important role in strengthening the cyber security ecosystem in Malaysia, will be placed under Nacsa to avoid duplication and confusion.” Meanwhile, Anwar said the government must lead by example in creating a secure and resilient cyber ecosystem. To achieve this, the government must strengthen its ability to manage cyber security challenges, working together with all relevant stakeholders. Commenting on the exhibition, Anwar hoped that the event would be an important platform where capacity and capability building in cyber security would be established and expanded. – Bernama Concern over digital threats ALTHOUGH digital transformation has helped Malaysia in overcoming the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, its exponential evolution has also increased cyber risks and amplified its impact, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He cited the World Economic Forum 2023 global cyber security outlook, which stated that 93% of cyber leaders and 86% of cyber business leaders believe that geopolitical instabilities make a catastrophic cyber event likely in the next two years. “Among cyber business leaders, 43% believe that a catastrophic cyber event will have a material impact on their own business. Yet only 27% of business leaders believe they have achieved cyber resilience. “This significant gap between cyber-resilient companies and the likelihood of a material catastrophic impact is worrisome, and this needs to be addressed collectively by governments, businesses, academia as well as civil society.” Anwar said this in a speech read by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday. The prime minister added that according to the state of cyber threat intelligence report, 26,900 vulnerabilities were reported in 2022, of which 55% were remotely exploitable. Threat actors exposed or stole 22.62 billion credentials and personal records, ranging from account and financial information to emails and social security numbers. Anwar said to counter this, governments worldwide have placed cyber security on their national agenda, pledging their commitment to work towards an open, secure, stable, interoperable and peaceful cyberspace, based on the principle of responsible state behaviour. He said at the national level, securing the cyber ecosystem can only be achieved by good governance and effective strategies with measurable outcomes. – Bernama 31 ‘sick’ projects revived in May PUTRAJAYA: A total of 31 “sick” private housing projects involving 3,299 housing units were rehabilitated between May 1 and May 31, said Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. “Of that total, 28 housing projects have received the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) while the other three projects are back on the construction schedule,” he said during a press conference regarding the latest status of sick and abandoned private housing projects yesterday. Overall, he said 149 sick private housing projects have been rehabilitated involving 17,436 housing units valued at RM15.2 billion that have either received a CCC or are back on the construction schedule since the action committee for sick and abandoned private housing projects was established. The action committee, established on Dec 30, 2022, aims to find a more focused and strategic approach that will have a positive impact on solving the issue of sick and abandoned projects in the country. “This committee is always ready to be a facilitator in resolving matters with the ministry (Local Government Development Ministry), including related agencies, to speed up the process of completion and issuance of the CCC,” he said. Akmal Nasrullah added that as of May 31, delayed projects have decreased from 141 to 124. – Bernama Cooperative policy to be launched soon KUANTAN: The Malaysian Cooperative Policy 2030 (MCP 2030), which aims to create a holistic and conducive cooperative ecosystem, is expected to be launched at the end of this month. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said MCP 2030 is a continuation of the National Cooperative Policy 2011 to 2020, which was also aimed at driving the cooperative sector to spur Malaysia’s socio-economic development. “Most likely, MCP 2030 will be launched in conjunction with the closing of the national cooperative month celebrations in Sabah at the end of this month by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,” he told a press conference after the launch of the National Cooperative Month 2023 by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail yesterday. – Bernama RM2.6 million for chilli farm programme KUALA TERENGGANU: The Farmers’ Organisation Authority has received an allocation of RM2.6 million from the Economy Ministry to implement the Kuala Langat Regional Farmers’ Association chilli plant pilot project. Its chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the allocation under the People’s Income Initiative is meant to increase income and eradicate poverty among the B40 group. He said 20 farmers were selected to participate in the programme, which will be launched in Putrajaya today. Meanwhile, the Social Security Organisation launched the Terengganu state-level Op Kesan yesterday to track and take action against errant employers who fail to register their businesses and eligible workers with the organisation. – Bernama

3 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 PORT DICKSON: The allowance for Civil Defence Force volunteer beach rescuers has been increased to RM40 per day since early this month, with a financial impact of RM1.8 million per year. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the increase in allowance will benefit more than 10,000 volunteers in the country. He said the allowance for volunteer beach rescuers was last increased to RM5 per day in 1970, and the move was in line with its improvement in terms of strengthening the organisation, remuneration and human resource. “This move is important because we want these volunteers to improve their skills. “According to statistics, the volunteers have saved 461 lives in drowning accidents at sea in the last five years,” he said at the closing ceremony of the national-level 2023 Civil Defence Beach Lifeguard Challenge in Pantai Batu 5 yesterday. Armizan also said his ministry would submit to the government on the need to create a contractual position in the force to strengthen the agency’s role as the secretariat of disaster management committees in districts and states. – Bernama Factors determining wage hikes PETALING JAYA: Various factors determine wage increases in tandem with the rising cost of living, said Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng. Yeah, who is also an adviser to the Finance Ministry, was giving his views on Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s July 8 call on the private sector to help manage the cost of goods and services while raising wages. “Inflation does not accurately reflect the cost of living as it depends on multiple factors, such as lifestyle, family composition and residential locality. “Malaysia’s inflation eased further in May this year with the consumer price index slowing to 2.8% from 3.3% in April. “It is important to ensure workers’ productivity is raised through upskilling. This will contribute to the company’s profitably and competitiveness to sustain wage increases.” Yeah said poverty can be addressed by growing entrepreneurship opportunities through training, mentorship, and access to funding for aspiring businessmen. He added that this could be done through government initiatives, public-private partnerships, and the establishment of business incubators and accelerators. Yeah said Malaysia could also encourage agricultural and entrepreneurial activities by raising vocational training programmes to equip individuals with the right skills, including training in agribusiness management, sustainable farming practices and value-added processing techniques. The government may also create a conducive environment for the B40 and M40 groups to raise their income through upskilling so that they could earn progressive wages, he said. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad chief economist Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the decision to implement progressive wages would be commercially driven. He said employers would typically weigh their costs and benefits before deciding to employ additional manpower. “Even for salary revisions, private sector employers would hire human resource consultants to study salary structure before reviewing compensation. “So we are not just looking at employees’ salaries per se, but also the total package such as performance bonus, medical and insurance coverage.” Afzanizam said the Malaysian education system should emphasise producing employees who are creative and intelligent. “They should have a higher degree of problem-solving skills that cover a broad range of subjects interconnected with factors such as healthcare and infrastructure, for which the government takes responsibility.” Bakery supervisor Nursyamimi Norul Hisham, 25, who is from the B40 group, said she believes progressive wages would help improve her standard of living and provide her with a stronger foundation for personal and financial growth. “It’s been almost three years since I started working at the bakery, and I have been promoted from a service crew to a supervisor. “This is because I attended several upskilling programmes that allowed me to improve my knowledge and master my job scope,” she said. “As a B40 employee, I often face financial challenges. “I believe progressive wages will help to uplift people like me by providing us with better wages and improved financial stability.” oIncrease attributable to rising cost of living, lifestye, family composition and residential locality: Expert Carbon policy to be rolled out this year KUCHING: The National Carbon Policy, which aims to provide guidance on carbon trading at state level, is expected to be ready for implementation this year, said Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. He said the Malaysia Climate Change Action Council (MyCAC) meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be held on Friday to present the latest status of the policy, and detail the scope of legislation that needs to be implemented under the policy framework. “This meeting will also be attended by menteris besar and chief ministers. “The function at the federal level is to facilitate (carbon trading activities) in the states involved, so we will prepare the policy this year,” he said yesterday after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia. Nazmi said based on results of the meeting, the government will also examine the law enforcement requirements for regulatory aspects and monetisation of carbon business. “(Carbon trading) does not require any amendments to the law as it only involves legislation and policy,” he said. He added that his ministry has actively held discussions related to carbon trading with state governments. On June 30, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the government is studying a proposal to place carbon trading under the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry. Fadillah, who is also plantation industries and commodities minister, said all issues related to carbon are under the jurisdiction of the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry. Earlier, Nik Nazmi and Abang Johari witnessed the handing over of eight River Corridor Rehabilitation Plan projects that had been fully completed by the Irrigation and Drainage Department to the Sarawak government. The project implementation, involving an allocation of RM63 million, involves river corridors in Batang Kayan in Lundu, Batang Balingian (Mukah) and Batang Sadong in Pekan Gedong and Serian. Projects involving the restoration of river banks and retaining walls were also carried out in Batang Sadong, Simunjan, Sungai Baram, Rumah Naing, Pekan Sabtu Oya and Betong. “These projects provide added value with the development of recreational areas, which will benefit nearly 195,000 residents,” said Nik Nazmi. – Bernama Sarawak expects 3m tourist arrivals KUALA LUMPUR: About 1.6 million tourists visited Sarawak between January and May, said Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Abdul Karim said the ministry was optimistic that tourist arrivals would hit three million by year-end, exceeding the state target this year. “We know we will surpass our target of three million (tourist arrivals). We have many activities planned for this year, such as the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) in August,” he said after launching the AIFFA 2023 KL at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage here yesterday. The 6th edition of the AIFFA 2023 will be held in Kuching from Aug 2 to 4. A total of 120 entries will be competing for 12 prestigious awards. Sarawak has hosted the biennial festival four times, with the last being held in 2019. The previous editions of the festival saw the attendance of top celebrities such as Jackie Chan (2015), Donnie Yen (2017) and Steven Seagal (2019). Abdul Karim said Sarawak was also poised to become a regional hub for umrah pilgrims from Borneo to travel to Saudi Arabia, further enhancing the number of visitor arrivals into the state. The Sarawak Tourism Board launched the Kuching Umrah Gateway in October last year, with its first flight scheduled to take off on Aug 29 from Kuching to Jeddah. Under the initiative, Kuching will be positioned as a stopover point for umrah travellers, including those from nearby regions of Kalimantan, Brunei and southern Philippines. Sarawak recorded 2.02 million visitors last year. – Bernama █ BYPAVETHRA RAMAN [emailprotected] Upgrade for Unesco heritage buildings MALACCA: Heritage and historical buildings recognised by Unesco here are being repaired and upgraded to preserve the assets in conjunction with the Visit Malacca Year 2024. Malacca Historic City Council mayor Datuk Shadan Othman said the works were being implemented in stages under the standard operating procedures set by Unesco. “The works will involve heritage and historical buildings in Bandar Hilir, such as Stadthuys, Kota A Famosa and Jonker Walk,” he said at the Malacca Heritage Festival 2023 on Sunday night. The event was launched by Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam. Also present was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh. Shadan also said the council was upgrading all public toilets in its administrative area, especially at tourist hotspots in Bandar Hilir. – Bernama Volunteer rescuer allowance raised FUN CRUISE ... Visitors enjoying a kiddy car ride that is among the many attractions at the Ipoh Night Market in Perak. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

4 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS READ OUR HERE /thesundaily SCAN ME Thumbs up for plan to have Felda dialysis centres KUANTAN: The setting up of haemodialysis centres in all Felda regions is seen as a necessity due to the increasing number of patients among settlers, serving to ease the financial burden incurred each time they seek treatment at hospitals located far away. During the national level Felda Settlers Day celebrations in Serdang, Selangor, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday announced the provision of 12 haemodialysis centres with a RM21 million allocation in all Felda regions, and one at the Yayasan Felda premises. In Pekan, Felda Chini Timur 3 head of settlers Zaid Sidek, 60, said there are chronic oFacilities would reduce travelling time, costs for patients and ease burden on caregivers: Settlers Govt to resume abandoned housing projects KUALA TERENGGANU: The government’s move to revive abandoned Felda new generation housing projects is seen as an effective way to stem the migration of youths from settlements. In Kemaman, Felda Seberang Tayor head of settlers Alimun Daud, 62, said many youths moved away in recent years to find work and very few chose to carry on the family profession. He said the abandoned project in the settlement was one of the main reasons for the migration, which has jeopardised oil palm plantation operations. “Most of the Felda Seberang Tayor first generation settlers have passed away. The issue we face now is that our youngsters prefer to find work outside. “The completion of the second generation housing project could indirectly retain them.” Alimun said Felda Seberang Tayor received good news in 2013 about the 125-unit housing project. However, just as all the materials were received and construction was about to start, the area was hit by floods, submerging the site. “The project was abandoned due to severe floods. So far, not even a single pillar has been raised, despite several changes in government. “Of course, we are happy to hear Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s) announcement to revive housing projects. We hope Felda Seberang Tayor is on the list,” he said. During the national level Felda Settlers Day celebrations on Friday, Anwar announced that the government would allocate funds to immediately complete the balance of 283 Felda new generation housing units for the welfare of settlers. Meanwhile, Felda Neram 1 head of settlers Abd Aziz Ibrahim, 57, said although all the houses in his area were completed last year, he hopes the government could consider providing additional units to encourage more youths to stay. “We have 105 housing units, but if the government could add another 100 units, it would be enough. “Felda Neram 1 is about 20 minutes away from the Gebeng industrial zone in Kuantan, so many residents commute to work there,” he added. – Bernama Cops probe Hadi over sensitive remarks KUALA LUMPUR: Police confirmed that PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang is being investigated for his recent remarks allegedly concerning royalty, religion and race sensitivities. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (forensics and strategic planning) Datuk S. Suresh Kumar said it followed Abdul Hadi’s statement that DAP intends to retain the meaning of Islam in the Federal Constitution based on colonial interpretation, upholding liberalism and freedoms espoused by the West. “The investigation is being conducted by division D5, under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said in a statement yesterday. He added that the statement is believed to have been made through Abdul Hadi’s Facebook page on July 8 and published in a local news portal on the same day. “Stern action will be taken against any party who threatens public order and national security,” he said. – Bernama kidney disease patients who have to travel over 50km to the Muadzam Shah Hospital in Rompin for dialysis treatment, Bernama reported. “(Their) treatment is done three times a week, which means the total petrol cost is also high. If a centre can be established here, the cost can be saved.” Felda Chini 5 settler Hasnah Abdul Ghani, 63, said she knows individuals who need to go to the Pekan Hospital, which is more than 60km away, to get treatment. “People our age need the help of others when it comes to travelling long distances, and it is usually the children who will take us for treatment. If there is a centre nearby, it is easy for them to take us and pick us up, especially for those who are daily wage earners. “If the centre is close by, they can go back to work while waiting for the treatment to be completed because it takes four hours.” In Bentong, Felda Lurah Bilut head of settlers Mohd Asri Lazim, 38, said: “The first generation toiled to clear forests to cultivate the land with crops. It would be nice if their sacrifices are rewarded by making health facilities easier at their age.” Felda Keratong 5 second generation settler Mohd Sahrin Abdullah, 45, added that a haemodialysis centre could be created by upgrading the current existing health clinic. “The older we get, the more people are diagnosed with multiple diseases. If the necessary treatment is available in the area, there is no need to go far. Furthermore, immediately after treatment, patients are usually weak or tired.” In Kuantan, Felda Hilir 3 second generation settler Mohamad Shofi Mat Isa, 39, said apart from the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, a treatment alternative is at a private centre located near Kuantan town, more than 30km from the settlement. “However, there are many who go to government facilities because the cost at private centres is hundreds of ringgit for a single treatment. Not everyone can afford to spend thousands of ringgit every month because the treatment is not just once a week.”

5 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 Tertiary education in prison KUALA LUMPUR: Zubir (not his real name), 37, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his employer at a house in Selangor when he was 14 years old. Despite spending 23 years behind bars at Kajang Prison, Zubir now holds a PhD in Business Administration from Open University Malaysia (OUM). As a minor, he was not sentenced to a jail term but ordered to be detained at the “pleasure of the Ruler” as he was under 18 years old at the time of the offence. Sabah-born Zubir said he never imagined he could pursue his education to a PhD level, and be offered a lecturer’s post. The eldest of four siblings, who graduated with a Master’s degree five years ago, said it was his dream to earn a PhD while he was in jail as he wanted to prove that prisoners are capable of learning. “There were some who made a mockery of my efforts. They believed the knowledge I gained would not be put to use. But I brushed aside their negativity. “Knowledge is key to changing mindsets, biases and prejudices. It has changed my perception of certain issues. “Looking at the bigger picture, I can help other inmates who are keen to pursue their education and I am determined to contribute to society after my release.” Meanwhile, Vikram (not his real name) hopes to change public attitudes towards ex-offenders and help them reintegrate into society. The 30-year-old, who has completed his Master’s in Business Inmates attending classes at Kajang Prison. – BERNAMAPIC oTwo inmates recount journey to better prospects after completing courses by Open University M’sia Najib allowed to attend court proceedings PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who is serving a 12-year jail term for corruption, has been allowed to attend court today to follow the appeal proceedings on his suit against former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas for alleged misfeasance in public office. A three-member bench of the Court of Appeal comprising judges Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, Datuk Lim Chong Fong and Datuk Azizul Azmi Adnan allowed Najib’s ex-parte application for the prison authority to take him to court for the proceedings. Najib’s counsel Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin told the court that the former prime minister’s presence was essential to enable his counsel to get appropriate instructions concerning the appeal. He also said it was Najib’s right, as the person who filed the suit, to attend the proceedings in open court. Najib, 69, is appealing against the High Court decision on Aug 19 last year to dismiss his application to disqualify two lawyers from representing Thomas. He claimed it was not appropriate to appoint Alan Adrian Gomez and Lai Wei Shiung to represent Thomas as they were from the same firm as Thomas, Bernama reported. Najib sued Thomas, claiming he had been charged in court in the case of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), International Petroleum Investment Company, for abuse of power under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Thomas was the attorney-general from June 4, 2018 to Feb 28, 2020. Najib, who is former Pekan MP, said the charges against him were part of a move that had been planned by Thomas, and it was in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s plan at the time. Najib is seeking a declaration that Thomas had committed misfeasance in public office and is claiming RM1.9 million in damages, including to cover consultation fees for the audit team to review documentation for preparation of facts to address the prosecution against him. 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. The Court of Appeal has fixed Oct 4 to hear Najib’s appeal against the High Court dismissal of his suit against Thomas. Najib is currently jailed at Kajang Prison, subsequent to his conviction in the SRC International case. Muhyiddin withdraws bid to transfer case to High Court KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has withdrawn an application to transfer seven charges made against him for allegedly using his position to obtain bribes and receiving money from unlawful activities. His lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told High Court Judge K. Muniandy that his client had sent a letter to the prosecution on July 5 requesting to withdraw the application for a transfer from the Sessions Court to the High Court. “Therefore, we request that the application to transfer this case be revoked,” he said during case management yesterday. DPP Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin did not object to the withdrawal, Bernama reported. In the letter to the prosecution, Muhyiddin said he was withdrawing the transfer request pending the disposal of his application to quash the charges against him. “We have recommended to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that the transfer application be postponed until after a decision on our application to quash the charges has been made, but MACC wants the transfer application to be heard first. “However, to save the court’s time and costs, since we think the transfer application will be academic if the cancellation is granted, we hereby withdraw the transfer application,” Muhyiddin, 76, was charged on March 10 with four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM232.5 million and two charges of receiving money from unlawful activities amounting to RM195 million. The Pagoh MP allegedly committed the offences at the Prime Minister’s Office at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya and the CIMB Bank Menara KL Branch on Jalan Stesen Sentral in Kuala Lumpur between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021, March 1, 2020, Aug 20, 2021, Feb 8, 2022 and July 8, 2022. On March 13, Muhyiddin was charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court with receiving money from unlawful activities amounting to RM5 million at the AmBank branch of Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya on Jan 7, 2022. Muhyiddin then applied to strike out the four charges involving the misuse of his position to receive bribes amounting to RM232.5 million for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on April 18. On April 27, he filed to transfer all the cases to the High Court on grounds they involved complex legal issues on the Federal Constitution. – Bernama Two die, seven hurt in tour bus crash SEREMBAN: Two people were killed and seven others seriously injured in a crash involving a tour bus and a car at Km285.5 of the North-South Expressway (northbound) yesterday. Nilai Fire and Rescue station chief Bakarya Mohd Salleh said the state operations centre received an emergency call regarding the crash at about 5am. He said a total of 22 individuals were injured in the crash, including the two deceased – the male bus driver and an Indonesian woman passenger. “Thirteen other passengers, who suffered only minor injuries, were taken to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital Emergency Unit for treatment.” Bakarya said the other victims, a man and a woman who were travelling in the car, sustained injuries and received treatment at the same hospital. – Bernama Plantation worker jailed 8 years for robbery attempt KOTA TINGGI: A oil palm plantation worker was sentenced to eight years’ jail and one stroke of the cane by the Sessions Court here on Sunday after he pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a senior citizen of a gold bracelet and voluntarily causing hurt to her during the incident last week. Judge Hayda Faridzal Abu Hasan ordered Nazry Mohamad Mokhtar, 37, to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest on July 2. He was charged under the Penal Code with committing the offence on a 60-year-old woman at a house in Felda Air Tawar 4 at 12.40pm on July 2. DPP Muhammad Irsyad Mardi appeared for for the prosecution, while Nazry was represented by counsel Hilmi Sulaiman Salahuddin. – Bernama Administration at OUM, said he plans to set up a service company to assist individuals to start a business, Bernama reported. “That’s the real reason I opted for the Master’s programme at OUM. I hope to change public stigma on ex-prisoners and to prove that we can also achieve academic excellence right up to the highest level. “This is a stepping stone for me to set up my own company, that will provide various types of services to assist less skilled groups and those who are new to business. “I hope to pursue my PhD in Business Administration before the end of my term in prison.” Vikram was sentenced to 15 years’ jail for a kidnapping offence and is determined to repay his family for their sacrifices and support, including covering the full cost of his studies. Kajang Prison director Roslen Ramli said the inmates are encouraged to pursue higher education to be ready for the job market at the end of their prison term. “At Kajang Prison, more than 10 inmates are pursuing their studies, from diploma to PhD. This helps them reintegrate into society and plan their future after serving their sentences. “This way, they will be able to secure better jobs while embracing change, hence preventing them from negative influences.” OUM vice-chancellor Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang said the Prisons Department has set some criteria and requirements that prisoners must meet before they are allowed to pursue their studies. “Once they have met the criteria set by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, inmates are required to seek approval from the directorgeneral of prisons before they are allowed to register. “They are given similar facilities as other OUM students, but they must be under tight supervision by prison authorities.”

6 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN ME Six killed in China kindergarten attack BEIJING: A 25-year-old man was suspected of attacking a kindergarten in China’s Guangdong province yesterday, killing six people and injuring one, triggering an outpouring of concern about violence against children at school. Media described the attack in Lianjiang county in the southern province as a stabbing incident. The suspect, with the surname Wu and from Lianjiang, had been detained, police said, adding they were investigating. Some media reported that both adults and children were among the victims. While violent crime is rare in China due to strict gun laws and tight security, incidents of stabbings oSocial media users question security at schools after similar previous attacks at pre-schools over the past few years have raised concerns about school safety. The latest news sparked emotive debate on the Weibo social media platform. By 1.50pm, it was the top-trending discussion, with 290 million views. Some social media users called for the suspect to face the death penalty. “It’s outrageous to do this to children who have no power at all. How many families will be destroyed by this ... I support the death penalty,” one Weibo user said. Another user questioned security at schools, especially after similar previous attacks. “Why do such cases still continue to emerge?” In August last year, three people were killed and six wounded in a stabbing at a kindergarten in the southern province of Jiangxi. In 2021, a man killed two children and wounded 16 at a kindergarten in the southwestern region of Guangxi. Attacks on children have also thrown a spotlight on mental health, which often goes under the radar due to cultural stigma attached to mental illnesses. In 2017, a 22-year-old man set off an explosive device outside a kindergarten in Jiangsu province, killing himself and a few others while wounding dozens. The man had a neurological disorder and had scrawled words for death on the walls of his home, according to state media. Mental health experts point to the Covid-19 pandemic as a major factor behind an increase in mental health problems. – Reuters TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HERO ... Members of the Thai ‘Wild Boars’ youth football team lining up to pay respects to Navy Seal diver Saman Kuman outside the Tham Luang Cave in the northern province of Chiang Rai yesterday during an event to mark the five-year anniversary of their rescue from inside the flooded cave. Saman died after running out of oxygen during the rescue operation. – AFPPIC Southwest Japan sees ‘heaviest rain ever’ TOKYO: One person was killed and hundreds of thousands were urged to evacuate their homes in southwestern Japan yesterday, as forecasters warned of the “heaviest rain ever” in the region. Torrential downpours after a week of steady rain have caused rivers to burst their banks and sodden earth to collapse in deadly landslides, including one that killed a 77-year-old woman. The woman’s home in Saga region was engulfed, the local fire department told AFP. Her husband was recovered conscious and taken to hospital. A second woman was feared dead after last being seen clinging to a car in rising floodwaters in neighbouring Oita region, officials there said. At least nine other people were missing in landslides in f*ckuoka and Oita regions, where over 420,000 people were under a toplevel evacuation warning stating: “Your life is in danger, you need to take action immediately.” Nearly two million more in f*ckuoka, Hiroshima, Saga, Yamaguchi and Oita were under a lower-level warning, urging them to evacuate if they are in hazardous areas. Japan has five levels of evacuation order, but people cannot be compelled to leave their homes. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the downpours risked flooding and landslides across f*ckuoka and Oita. “This is the heaviest rain ever experienced” by the region, Satoshi Sugimoto of JMA’s forecast division told reporters. “The situation is such that lives are in danger and safety must be secured.” Footage on national broadcaster NHK showed a gash in the hillside above a home in Karatsu City that had partly collapsed into a river, with many of its traditional roof tiles smashed or sliding off. Images from elsewhere showed surging rivers washing over bridges that normally sit well above the waterline, and floodwater turning local streets into streams. The prime minister’s office said a task force had been established to coordinate a response to the rains. “We have received reports that several rivers have flooded and that landslides have occurred in various parts” of the country, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. “The government is doing its best to get a complete picture of the damage and taking measures under a policy of ‘people’s lives first’.” He warned torrential rain was forecast across much of the country today. “If you feel your life is in danger, even just a little, don’t hesitate to act.” In f*ckuoka’s Asakura City, officials said the rain was believed to have peaked but there were still fears about flooding. “Water levels in rivers are rising so we’re vigilant,” said local official Takaaki Harano. – AFP Economists called ‘traitors’ online for meeting Yellen BEIJING: A group of Chinese female economists who met with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over the weekend have been lambasted on Chinese social media by some netizens who accused them of treason for meeting her and being “radical feminists”. Yellen, a trailblazer in the field of economics, had lunch with six female economists in Beijing on Saturday, an effort to spotlight gender diversity following meetings with China’s largely male government leaders. In one post which garnered close to 600 comments, an online user said female economist Hao Jingfang, who attended the meal with Yellen, was “not only a traitor but also a radical feminist”. Hao wrote online in response to queries as to why she attended the meal that “Yellen is the friendliest American official, she is always dedicated to developing friendly China-US relations”. Some users called Yellen an “obviously dangerous person” asking why she was allowed to be officiated as a public guest in the country, while others called out the female economists as being pro-American. “Look at the bunch, the anti-espionage law might come in handy,” wrote a user called Shan3847, while another user wrote: “Everyone around the table should be caught, no one is innocent. “The United States is always so kind to help us expose the rebels.” Ahead of the meeting, a senior Treasury official had said the lunch with the Chinese economists would give Yellen, who was also the first woman to head the US Federal Reserve, a chance to “interact with a number of people kind of outside the normal policy structure”. President Xi Jinping’s decade as the ruling Communist Party’s general secretary has seen the number of women in politics and top government roles decline and gender gaps in the workforce widen, with the government emphasising more traditional roles for women. – Reuters North Korea threatens to down US spy planes PYONGYANG: North Korea yesterday threatened to shoot down any American spy planes violating its airspace and condemned Washington’s plans to deploy a nuclear missile submarine near the Korean peninsula. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the US has “intensified espionage activities beyond the wartime level”, with “provocative” flights made by American spy aircraft over eight straight days this month, and one reconnaissance plane intruding into its airspace over the East Sea “several times”. “There is no guarantee that such shocking accident as downing of the US Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen in the East Sea of Korea,” the spokesman said in a statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. The official cited past incidents when Pyongyang shot down US aircraft, and warned America would pay for its “frantically staged” air espionage. The statement also slammed the planned deployment of US strategic nuclear assets to the Korean peninsula as “the most undisguised nuclear blackmail” to North Korea, saying it posed a grave threat to regional and global security. “The present situation clearly proves that the situation of the Korean peninsula is coming closer to the threshold of nuclear conflict due to the US provocative military action,” it read. Washington said in April that it would send a nuclear-armed ballistic submarine to make the first visit to a South Korean port in decades, without specifying the timing. North Korea has conducted multiple sanctions-busting launches this year, including test-firing its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, and in May attempting to put a military spy satellite into orbit. – AFP B R I E F SNZ ‘HAS CONFIDENCE’ IN UN ADVICE WELLINGTON: New Zealand said yesterday it has “full confidence” in the UN nuclear watchdog’s advice after it approved of Japan’s plans to discharge treated water from the f*ckushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Tokyo’s scheme to release treated water from the tsunami-hit nuclear plant into the sea over the next few decades would have a “negligible” radiological impact on people and the environment. “I reiterated New Zealand’s full confidence in the IAEA’s advice and commended their science-based approach,” New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement. – AFP AUSSIE POLICE SUSPEND SEARCH FOR HIKER CANBERRA: Australian police yesterday suspended the search for Belgian hiker Celine Cremer in remote northwest Tasmania, saying she could not have survived the “treacherous” conditions since disappearing more than three weeks ago. Cremer, 31, was last seen on June 17 in Waratah, a small town in the island’s scenic northwest. It is believed that she left her vehicle in a carpark before embarking on a day walk at Philosopher Falls around June 20. “Expert medical advice has been received that, given consideration to poor weather conditions and cool temperatures, Celine could not have survived,” said Tasmania police commander Stuart Wilkinson. – AFP

7 NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 Threads signs up 100 million users PARIS: The Threads app launched by Instagram as a rival to Twitter has signed up more than 100 million users in less than five days, data tracking websites reported yesterday, smashing the record of AI tool ChatGPT for fastest-growing consumer app. While ChatGPT took two months to hit the 100 million user mark and video-sharing app TikTok took nine months, Instagram itself took two and a half years to reach that mark after its 2010 launch. Threads went live on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries on Wednesday, though it is not available in Europe because parent company Meta is unsure how to navigate the European Union’s data privacy legislation. Twitter is thought to have around 200 million regular users but it has suffered repeated technical failures since Elon Musk bought the platform last year and sacked thousands of staff. Musk has also alienated many users by introducing charges for previously free services and allowing banned right-wing accounts back on the platform. Several rivals have emerged but most are niche platforms without the capacity to grow at the necessary scale to dethrone Twitter. Threads is finding it easier because it is linked to Instagram, which has more than one billion regular users. Online data service Quiver Quantitative reported that the app passed 100 million users at 0700 GMT (3pm in Malaysia) yesterday. Other websites using a count of the “badges” received by Instagram users who have downloaded Threads reckoned the mark had passed earlier. Musk has threatened to sue Meta for stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, claims denied by the company. He is locked in a rivalry with Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, with the two men calling each other out for a cage fight recently. – AFP UN council to debate religious hatred motion GENEVA: The Human Rights Council is set to debate a contentious draft proposal on religious hatred in the wake of a Quran burning incident in Sweden, an initiative that has highlighted rifts in the UN body and challenged practices in human rights protection. In a draft resolution presented by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the group described the burning of the Quran in Stockholm last month as “offensive, disrespectful and a clear act of provocation” that incites hatred and constitutes a human rights violation. The draft – which condemned “recurring acts of public burning of the Holy Quran in some European and other countries” – has stoked opposition from Western diplomats who argue it aims to safeguard religious symbols rather than human rights. oPakistan-led initiative faces Western opposition “We don’t like the text,” one Western diplomat said of the draft, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva today. “Human rights are supposed to be attached to individuals, not to religions.” The OIC initiative also stokes tensions between Western states and the Islamic organisation at a time when the group has unprecedented clout in the council, the only body made up of governments to protect human rights worldwide. Nineteen OIC countries are voting members of the 47-member council, and other states such as China have aligned with their draft resolution. It remains to be seen whether Pakistan will succeed in rallying all OIC countries behind it. “If the resolution passes, as seems likely, it will strengthen the impression the council is flipping and the West is losing ground on key debates such as the boundary between free speech and hate speech, and whether religions have rights,” said Marc Limon, director of the Geneva-based Universal Rights Group. “This could make the council explode in acrimony.” The European Union has urged parties to reach a consensus on the issue. “Defamation of religions has been a difficult topic for decades within the UN,” an EU diplomat said in negotiations last week. “The question where to draw the line between freedom of expression and incitement to hatred is indeed a very complicated one.” – Reuters ‘Life threatening’ floods in US state WASHINGTON: Heavy rains caused “life threatening” flooding on Sunday in New York state, turning streets into raging waterways, washing out bridges and leading the governor to declare a state of emergency. A woman was killed while trying to leave her house with her dog in the Hudson Valley when she was swept away in a flash flood, multiple media reports said. Governor Kathy Hochul declared states of emergency in Orange County, northwest of New York City, and in Ontario County in the central part of the state, noting that up to 200mm of rain had created “life-threatening conditions due to flash flooding”. “We are approaching a critical point in this weather event,” Hochul said. By Sunday evening, more than 12,000 customers had lost electricity, her office said. The heavy rains washed out roadways and stranded people in their cars and homes. The National Weather Service said it was “receiving multiple reports of significant flooding and persons trapped in vehicles in eastern Orange county”. “Remember turn around don’t drown,” it warned drivers. As of 8pm (8am yesterday in Malaysia), highways were closed in at least five counties, including Westchester County, which is immediately north of New York City and borders the Hudson River. – AFP B R I E F SDUTCH PM RUTTE TO QUIT POLITICS AFTER ELECTIONS THE HAGUE: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said yesterday he would quit politics after the fall of his coalition government, in a shock announcement ending the career of the Netherlands’ longest-serving leader. Rutte, who has led four coalition governments since 2010, announced the fall of the four-party coalition on Friday due to a row over limits on numbers of asylum seekers. “I took the decision that I am no longer suited to be the new head of the list for the VVD (his centre-right party). When the new government is sworn in after the elections, I will quit politics,” the prime minister told Parliament. Rutte has said he is staying on in a caretaker capacity until elections, which will not be until mid-November at the earliest. – AFP PERU RESCUES 23 AFGHANS FROM TRAFFICKERS LIMA: Peruvian authorities on Sunday rescued 23 Afghans from migrant traffickers along the border with Brazi. The migrants, who were trying to get to Ecuador, paid money to people smugglers to transport them across the nation and to the northern border, prosecutors said. But they were cheated out of their money and crowded into a house without food in the village of Inapari in the Madre de Dios department along the Peru-Brazil border, a statement from the prosecutor’s office said. Among the victims were “four children, including a two-month-old baby”, it said. Prosecutors did not say how much the migrants had paid the smugglers. – AFP BBC suspends presenter after explicit images allegations LONDON: The BBC said on Sunday it had contacted the authorities and suspended a presenter following allegations that he had paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos. British Culture Minister Lucy Frazer said earlier she had spoken about the “deeply concerning” allegations with BBC director-general Tim Davie, who assured her the broadcaster is “investigating swiftly and sensitively”. Britain’s The Sun newspaper, which first reported the claims, cited the young person’s mother as saying that an unnamed BBC presenter paid her child more than £35,000 (RM210,000) for the images over a three-year period. It is also claimed that the presenter in question appeared on air for a month after the family of the young person – who was said to be 17 when the payments started – complained to the BBC in May. In a statement on Sunday, the BBC confirmed that it “first became aware of a complaint in May”. “New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own enquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.” The statement said that “a male member of staff has been suspended”. “This is a complex and fast-moving set of circ*mstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps.” London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed the BBC contacted it over the matter, “but no formal referral or allegation has been made”. “We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow.” – AFP OUT OF CONTROL ... Smoke rising from the Texas Creek wildfire south of the Canadian municipality of Lillooet. The blaze has affected approximately 60ha in steep, remote terrain. – BC WILDFIRE SERVICE/REUTERSPIC

8 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 SPEAK UP well as the destruction and disruption of critical utilities, services and industries, have not been thoroughly examined or brought prominently into public knowledge and consciousness. War game scenarios involving the West, Russia and China have been recently played, including by the media. However, the repercussions and short and long-term impacts have received minimal attention. It appears that the public has been kept in the dark on post-war scenarios, following a nuclear war, developed by the US and Western countries. What are the physical and biological aspects and implications of nuclear war? How will survivors cope with health and other medical effects from radiation? What are the direct and indirect impacts on various socioeconomic sectors? How do governments and society reorganise themselves? How will social order and human behaviour, which have most probably been altered, look like? These and more questions need to be asked even though there may not be answers to them. The Asean media should use its clout and space to begin asking these questions, so that our citizens and the rest of the world are made aware of the imminent risk of nuclear war and its consequences for humanity. Lim Teck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments: [emailprotected] Asean’s fate in face of nuclear war THE chilling YouTube presentation showing the consequences of a nuclear war should be widely played and replayed worldwide, especially in the Western media and across global media outlets. Titled “A Simulation: Nuclear War between the US and Russia”, this recent presentation by the Future of Life Institute provides a simulation illustrating the devastating impact on life on Earth in the event of a nuclear war between the two countries. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- xthzy1PxTA). The prospect of this war happening is possibly the most advanced since the beginning of the Doomsday Clock, with the current ongoing war in Ukraine. This year, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock forward, mainly due to the war in Ukraine. The Clock was reset to stand at 90 seconds to midnight – the closest the clock has ever been to global catastrophe. Since the latest resetting of the Clock in January, Russia’s leaders have repeatedly issued charges against the US and “the collective West” for raising the risks of war over Ukraine. Moscow has also reiterated that it may engage in a pre-emptive strike, which may include the use of nuclear weapons. It is quite likely that the next reset of the Clock will see the world even closer to midnight and Armageddon. The Future of Life video, based on detailed modelling of nuclear targets, missile trajectories and the effects of blasts, electromagnetic pulse and smoke on the climate and food resources, provides a graphic and terrifying depiction of what a nuclear war will bring to life as we know it, surpassing the descriptive illustrations of text reports. Although the simulation primarily focuses on the northern hemisphere, where the Ukraine war is being waged, the presentation concludes with a projection that over five billion people, including 99% of those in the US, Europe, Russia and China, could face death by starvation. Casualties from the Asean region have not been estimated and it is possible that countries in the equatorial region, away from the epicentre of the nuclear blasts and fallout, will suffer lower levels of death. However, any lower casualty estimate is no consolation. What about the fate of other countries in the region and the latest aspirant, by proxy, of the nuclear club – Australia? Australian casualties were not calculated in the Future of Life presentation. But, according to Dr Ryan Heneghan from the School of Mathematical Sciences at Queensland University of Technology, Australia and New Zealand are identified as the best locations in the world for surviving a nuclear war. In his paper published in Nature Food in 2022, which examined various nuclear winter scenarios, Australia would be one of the few places where people stay fed after a “nuclear winter” caused by regional nuclear wars. His findings may have influenced defence and national security policymakers and the Australian government, which made the recent decision to conclude a historic trilateral security pact with the US and UK directed at China and the Indo-Pacific region, a pact described by former prime minister Paul Keating as the “worst deal in history”. Since Heneghan and his fellow scientists worked on the paper, the prospect of Australia being directly involved in a nuclear war has become a distinct possibility. With Australia gearing up for a possible war with China and with Aukus submarines soon prowling around the South China Sea surrounding China and Taiwan, an update on the paper would be of interest and importance to Asean countries that were left out of the Australian-US-UK security intelligence loop on the Aukus pact. Asean will certainly be impacted by the spread of nuclear winter as well as other ripple effects on the economy, agriculture, trade and practically every aspect of life. Heneghen’s food simulation-focused paper does not touch on the life and realities that survivors of a nuclear war will have to cope with. Any small-scale nuclear war, even one confined to the South China Sea region, can escalate into a global catastrophe with such dire consequences that those who have survived its initial impact may not perceive themselves as fortunate. In addition to the need for food, survivors would face challenges in all aspects of life. The extensive damage from a nuclear war upon densely populated cities as Urgent action needed on road rage ADDRESSING the issue of road rage should be prioritised before it escalates out of control. Many motorists have experienced distressing encounters with road rage perpetrators, who have responded violently or aggressively, following minor accidents or close calls. It is difficult to attempt reasoning with them. Even a slight provocation or minor altercation on the road can prompt them to brandish hammers and samurai swords. These aggressors are purposeless rebels who are willing to engage in any form of confrontation. They target drivers who are physically inferior to them, especially women. Encountering them is a recipe for peril. They are volatile individuals, like ticking time bombs. They resort to striking the windows and windshields of victims’ vehicles with their helmets, shattering side mirrors, kicking the tyres and hurling verbal insults. Certain individuals have been known to get physical and deliberately provoke the victims. Unfortunately, the victims are at their mercy. Some of the victims have been a f f e c t e d e m o t i o n a l l y a n d psychologically. At times, the vehicles are extensively damaged as a result of their aggression. Even good Samaritans, who intervene to help victims, have had to face the wrath of these assailants. In fortunate instances, such incidents have been captured by bystanders, leading to appropriate measures being taken against the culprits. These perpetrators should not only be apprehended by the police but also assigned to do community service as a form of punishment. Hopefully, by doing community service, they will have an opportunity to reflect on their attitude and behaviour, and repent and change for the better. Additionally, counselling sessions may help diminish their aggressive tendencies. Samuel Yesuiah Seremban A nuclear war will see the world even closer to Armageddon. – REUTERS LETTERS [emailprotected] ANOTHER TAKE BY LIM TECK GHEE “War game scenarios involving the West, Russia and China have been recently played, including by the media. However, the repercussions and short and long-term impacts have received minimal attention.

9 SPEAK UP theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 AI fashion has been gaining traction since the groundbreaking AI Fashion Week held in New York City in April. The event, organised by creative studio Maison Meta, marked the world’s first ever fashion week entirely designed by generative AI tools. The screens at the event displayed a variety of designs, including traditional catwalk imagery in vibrant venues and dynamic settings. AI Fashion Week departed from the conventional fashion week format, offering an avenue for winning designers to bring their AI-generated designs to life and transform them into captivating capsule collections. Generative AI, powered by machine learning, is a remarkable technology capable of creating novel content across multiple mediums, including images, text, videos and sound. By training on vast datasets and processing massive amounts of information, generative AI acquires an understanding of patterns, styles and nuances embedded within the data. It then harnesses this knowledge to generate diverse and captivating content based on input received, opening up limitless possibilities for creative expression that pushes the boundaries of human imagination. From a designer’s perspective, the initial stages of the design process involve searching, exploring and brainstorming ideas. This includes sketching, drafting, collaborating with colleagues, and conducting draping experiments, ultimately leading to sampling and prototyping. Often, these early design stages account for around 80% of the collection development process. Collaborating with generative AI enhances the humanised creative process, fostering greater creativity and significantly shortening production timelines. Designers contribute their unique blend of subjective judgment, artistic vision, human intuition, cultural understanding and trend forecasting, while AI accelerates creative ideation to unprecedented levels within minutes. While AI generates and combines ideas, designers meticulously consider essential design elements, such as fabric choices, garment details, wearability and market demand. Fashion design encompasses not only aesthetically pleasing creations but also understanding consumers’ needs and desires, creating cohesive collections while capturing the essence of a brand. Although generative AI is still struggling to conquer the humanised critique, AI still proves to be a valuable tool when wielded by skilled designers, fuelling inspiration and remixing existing concepts to generate a sense of innovation. Besides, business practitioners are expanding the definition of a “designer” to include mastery of generative AI tools. Furthermore, generative AI tools bring substantial value to the fashion industry in terms of sustainable and ethical practices, and accurate market p r e d i c t i o n s , c a p t u r i n g consumer trends and enabling better decision-making to meet actual market demands. For example, a renowned brand addressed diversity concerns in fashion modelling by utilising AI models, facilitating more ethical and sustainable communication of their Shaping corruption-free society THE ongoing issue of corruption and bribery will persist as long as there is no unified and resolute action to fight them. Recently, we were brought to light on the alleged prevalence of a corruption culture among some immigration officers at the country’s immigration entry points. If these allegations are true, they highlight the pressing need for prompt investigation and decisive measures to tackle this matter. Conversely, if a comprehensive investigation proves the allegations to be false, it is crucial to ensure that justice is served for the individuals involved. In response to this matter, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a surprise visit to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Reports suggest that during his visit, he advocated for the overall integrity and authority of the Immigration Department, aiming to avoid creating a general perception of issues within the department. Anwar further called upon the heads of government agencies and enforcement bodies to personally engage with their staff and actively address instances of complacency and negligence among civil servants, resulting from “old systems and practices”. Abusing power for personal gain Corruption is a complex and pervasive issue involving the abuse of entrusted power for personal benefit. It refers to dishonest or unethical behaviour by individuals or institutions, typically involving bribery, embezzlement, fraud, nepotism or other practices. Bribery is an unethical and illegal practice involving the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of something of value, with the intention to influence the actions or decisions of individuals in positions of power. It occurs across various sectors and industries, including government, business, politics and everyday life. Bribery revolves around the exchange of favours or benefits, wherein individuals receive bribes or rewards in the form of cash or valuable items as an incentive to carry out actions related to one’s official duties. These actions often undermine justice, fairness and transparency. Usually, these individuals seek to attain unfair advantages or illicitly obtain desired outcomes by exploiting the vulnerabilities of those being bribed. This may involve actions, such as obtaining desired positions, securing contracts, receiving special treatment or evading legal consequences. Corruption has far-reaching negative consequences for society and the economy as a whole. It erodes public trust in institutions and undermines the rule of law. When the justice system is tainted by corruption, the process of justice becomes unfair and biased. This threatens the principles of justice and endangers those who should be protected by the law. Such injustices can breed social discontent and disrupt the social fabric. The economy can also be affected by corruption. Public funds that should be allocated for development and public services can be illicitly diverted by corrupt individuals. This hinders growth and sustainable development. Furthermore, corruption can discourage foreign investment and hinder international collaboration as investors and business partners are reluctant to engage with countries or institutions tainted by corruption. Education and public awareness Fighting corruption requires a multifaceted approach involving preventive measures, strong legal frameworks, robust enforcement and culture oriented towards transparency and accountability. To combat corruption, collective efforts are needed from the government, organisations, communities and international bodies. This is crucial because without collaboration, corruption will remain rife. One way to combat corruption and unethical practices is through education and public awareness. Integrating anti-corruption education and ethics into the national school curriculum is an effort that will reflect the government’s commitment to fostering a culture of integrity and combat corruption from an early age. Through this initiative, young people can be educated and equipped with the necessary knowledge and values to avoid corruption and its negative effects. However, this is not enough. Universities and colleges should also play a crucial role in promoting integrity and ethics. By incorporating anticorruption education and ethics into their curricula, educational institutions can educate, expose and emphasise the importance of integrity and ethical behaviour in various fields and sectors. Targetting young minds through education is one way the government can encourage youngsters to become agents of change and contribute to the collective endeavour of eradicating corruption. Additionally, this can foster and shape a future generation with a strong ethical foundation that prioritises integrity. Furthermore, aggressive awareness campaigns need to be carried out by the government to provide information to the public about their rights and protections under whistleblower laws. The community needs to be exposed to the knowledge and importance of reporting corruption, the risks involved and the steps that can be taken to protect themselves. In addition, cooperation with the mass media is crucial in the battle against corruption. The media can play a pivotal role in reporting corruption cases, highlighting successful cases in combating corruption and effectively conveying anti-corruption messages to the public. A free and ethical media can raise public awareness and indirectly exert pressure on institutions and individuals involved in corruption. Acting against corruption Anwar, as the leader of the unity government, must demonstrate a strong commitment to combating corruption. He needs to take decisive steps to investigate allegations and hold accountable those involved in corrupt practices as well as implement comprehensive reforms to create a system that is transparent, accountable and resistant to corruption. The fight against corruption is a continuous and arduous journey. It requires unwavering determination, strong leadership and collective efforts. Only through genuine and committed actions can the government live up to its promise of combatting corruption and building a society based on integrity, transparency and justice. The writer is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara in Segamat, Johor. Comments: [emailprotected] COMMENT by Wan Mohd Farid Wan Zakaria “The fight against corruption is a continuous and arduous journey. It requires unwavering determination, strong leadership and collective efforts. Only through genuine and committed actions can the government live up to its promise of combatting corruption and building a society based on integrity, transparency and justice.” COMMENT by Dr Alshaimaa Bahgat Ezzat Alanadoly Generative AI takes centre stage The designs are created by Alshaimaa Bahgat using Lexica.art, a generative textto-image AI tool. collections. They joined other brands that made significant investments in AI, leveraging virtually created models to photograph their collections to foster eretailing, virtual try-on and highly immersive marketing campaigns. The potential for generative AI tools to revolutionise the fashion industry worldwide is imminent. As technology advances, the integration of AI and fashion presents intriguing possibilities as fashion companies can streamline their collections, expedite processes at a reduced cost, and adopt more sustainable practices. However, generative AI tools will always remain as tools as it is crucial to recognise stylists, planners, designers and other fashion stakeholders’ skills and contributions that extend far beyond the output displayed on a screen. The writer is a Senior Lecturer of fashion design technologies at the Design School, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University. Comments: [emailprotected]

10 HEALTH & WELLNESS theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 Microsleep has the potential to be disastrous KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital’s Neurologist, Dr. Lim Poh Hin, revealed that Microsleep, a brief sleep lasting between one and 30 seconds, is a phenomenon that can occur involuntarily while driving or performing other tasks such as operating dangerous machinery. Driver irresponsibility caused by Microsleep has been found to be a substantial cause of road accidents in Malaysia. This condition is exacerbated by irregular sleep habits and severe weariness. To avoid the development of microsleep and its potentially disastrous consequences, it is critical to understand its causes and implement appropriate countermeasures. The importance of sleep cannot be overstated. Sleep allows the body to undergo the repair process necessary for the following day. Adequate sleep also plays a crucial role in preventing excess weight gain and heart disease and promoting overall health. Therefore, getting enough quality sleep is essential for maintaining optimal physical and mental wellbeing. The amount of sleep required by different age groups is influenced by a variety of factors. Babies require 12 to 16 hours of sleep each day, including naps, but adults should strive for seven hours or more of sleep per night. Children who consistently get enough sleep have better health, attention, behaviour, learning, memory, emotional control, and general quality of life. Microsleep episodes can be exacerbated by poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep. Frequent sleep disruptions have an impact on sleep quality, which is just as important as the quantity of sleep acquired. Furthermore, certain situations, such as pregnancy and ageing, can cause changes in sleep patterns and interrupt the sleep cycle. One prevalent sleep disorder that can cause poor sleep quality is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where individuals experience repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep due to the tongue falling back and closing the airway. These interruptions can lead to a drop in oxygen levels and an increase in carbon dioxide levels, which prompts the brain to signal the body to wake up briefly. Sleep apnea has b e e n o Causes and ways to overcome Microsleepinduced driver irresponsibility has been identified as a significant cause of road accidents in Malaysia. – PIX BY 123RF Sleep studies use tools like polysomnograph y to monitor brain activity (EEG), heart activity (ECG), and oxygen levels. – PIX BY 123RF associated with several serious health conditions, including stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and even an i n c r e a s e d risk of c a n c e r . M a n a g i n g sleep apnea is crucial for maintaining overall health and reducing the risk of a s s o c i a t e d comorbidities. Aside from sleep apnea, individuals may also experience absence seizures, which are transient and unexpected seizures that cause a person to stare blankly into space for a limited period of time. These convulsions are more common in children than in adults and may lead to the development of microsleep. To identify sleep disorders and improve sleep quality, individuals can undergo sleep studies using detection tools like polysomnography, which includes monitoring brain activity (EEG), heart activity (ECG), and oxygen levels. Expert observations during the night can help assess sleep patterns and diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and the absence of seizures. For individuals with narcolepsy, a rare brain condition causing sudden and inappropriate sleep episodes, medications like “modafinil” may be prescribed to help manage their condition. To prevent microsleep and improve sleep quality, individuals can adopt several practical strategies: Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine: Engage in calming activities before bedtime to signal your body that it’s time to sleep. Avoid stimulating activities like using electronic devices or consuming caffeine close to bedtime. Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature to facilitate restful sleep. Limit Naps: If you struggle with sleep at night, try to limit daytime naps to improve nighttime sleep quality. Manage Stress: Practise stressreduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to ease your mind before bedtime. Exercise Regularly: Regular physical activity can help improve sleep quality, but avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime. Avoid Heavy Meals and Alcohol Before Bed: Consuming large meals or alcohol close to bedtime can disrupt sleep patterns. Seek Medical Help: If you suspect you have a sleep disorder or are consistently experiencing poor sleep quality, consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In conclusion, microsleep can be dangerous, especially when it occurs during tasks such as driving. Understanding the causes of microsleep, such as poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep, is critical for prevention. Individuals can overcome microsleep and enjoy the benefits of excellent sleep for their overall well-being by adopting appropriate sleep habits, controlling sleep problems, and getting medical care when necessary. – KPJ.

KLCI 1,383.06 5.39 STI 3,149.32 9.85 HANG SENG 18,479.72 114.02 SCI 3,203.70 7.09 NIKKEI 32,189.73 198.69 TSEC 16,652.80 KOSPI 2,520.70 S&P/ASX200 7,004.00 TUESDAY JULY 11, 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 10, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) SKYWLD 110,509,500 74.0 -6.0 MYEG 94,601,300 75.5 +4.0 RGB 72,941,800 34.5 -3.5 SCIB 61,350,700 46.0 -0.5 UEMS 41,583,600 34.0 +3.5 EXCHANGERATES JULY 10, 2023 Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 4.7320 4.5990 4.5880 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.1770 3.0510 3.0130 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.5070 3.4040 3.3880 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.5540 3.4590 3.4310 1 EURO 5.1880 5.0190 4.9750 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.9440 2.8340 2.8030 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.5070 3.4040 3.3880 1 STERLING POUND 6.0760 5.8870 5.8360 1 SWISS FRANC 5.3030 5.1820 5.1370 100 UAE DIRHAM 130.2000 123.4200 123.4900 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.4260 4.1510 3.9590 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 65.6000 63.0000 N/A 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 61.0200 57.9800 57.9400 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.8200 5.4600 5.2600 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0323 0.0292 0.0243 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.3240 3.2170 3.1880 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 16.2000 N/A N/A 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 1.7300 1.6200 1.4300 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.6300 8.1300 7.9400 100 QATAR RIYAL 131.1300 124.4800 124.5300 100 SAUDI RIYAL 127.3800 120.9200 120.9600 100 THAI BAHT 14.0500 12.4600 12.0600 Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama KL MARKET SUMMARY JULY 10, 2023 INDICES CHANGE FBMEMAS 10,198.60 +32.17 FBMKLCI 1,383.06 +5.39 CONSUMER PRODUCTS 545.89 +0.52 INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 158.88 +0.63 CONSTRUCTION 164.24 -0.02 FINANCIAL SERVICES 15,402.30 +24.85 ENERGY 806.44 +14.24 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 570.27 -0.17 HEALTH CARE 1,675.90 +0.88 TRANSPORTATION 892.79 -4.96 PROPERTY 710.52 +6.43 PLANTATION 6,827.70 +24.77 FBMSHA 10,477.20 +46.02 FBMACE 5,158.44 +18.57 TECHNOLOGY 61.46 +0.22 TURNOVER VALUE 2.241 BIL RM1.508 BIL 5 TOP GAINERS JULY 10, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM KLK 1,269,700 22.70 +0.36 NESTLE 29,800 130.90 +0.30 F&N 5,200 25.40 +0.20 ANNJOO-PA 5,000 0.51 +0.19 UCHITEC 757,700 3.57 +0.13 5 TOP LOSERS JULY 10, 2023 STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM HEXTECH 4,500 27.10 -0.40 HEIM 67,100 25.52 -0.32 RAPID 32,400 20.90 -0.28 BKAWAN 7,800 20.88 -0.22 QUALITY 500 0.60 -0.205 Export proceeds into ringgit – it is BNM’s call KUALA LUMPUR: The government will leave it to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to decide whether exporting companies should be compelled to convert their export proceeds into ringgit, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz (pic). He said the move, which was done by the central bank at the end of 2016, had its advantages and disadvantages as a form of capital control in controlling the difference in interest rates between the ringgit and foreign currencies. “If we look at the interest rate differential (between the overnight policy rate at 3% and US Federal Reserve’s funds rate at 5.25% ) it is quite large, the US dollar rate is even higher than the ringgit rate. “This is under BNM’s purview. I leave this (matter) to BNM’s discretion on how to control it,” he said in a press conference after officiating the soft launch of the International Electric Mobility Showcase 2023 (IEMS 2023) here yesterday. In December 2016, BNM stipulated that local exporters must convert 75% of the revenue generated from exports into ringgit and only 25% is allowed to be retained in foreign currency. Tengku Zafrul called on local companies, especially government-linked companies (GLC), to play a role in supporting the growth of the ringgit and not just leave the responsibility solely to the government. “This is important, we must show confidence in our currency, especially Malaysian companies and GLCs which are involved in exporting. “As a trading nation, we are the net exporter. We have current account position, which should be positive for our currency, but we must (also) make sure (that) we remain passionate about supporting our country’s currency as well,” he said. On potential Malaysia-Tesla collaboration, Zafrul said it is not only limited to the electric vehicle (EV) sector but other sectors as well. He added there would be a call between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk before the end of this week. “There is more than just the EV sector that we are talking about in this potential collaboration. “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 with the official unveiling taking place here on July 20. Meanwhile, Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) group CEO Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor said he hoped Tesla would take part in IEMS 2023 on Oct 4-6. He said IEMS 2023 is aiming to secure RM4 billion in green technology and sustainability-led investment prospects compared with RM3 billion garnered during last year’s instalment. – Bernama ‘Bursa expected to recover when global financial climate stabilises’ KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia’s performance is expected to recover when the global interest rate environment is more stable, subsequently drawing renewed interest and foreign fund inflows into this region, said Bursa Malaysia Bhd chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. He said Malaysia saw net foreign fund outflows of RM4.2 billion in the first half of 2023 following the interest rate differential between Malaysia and the United States, which prompted investors to increase holdings of safe assets during a period of global economic uncertainty. Bursa Malaysia recorded foreign fund inflows of RM4.4 billion amid stable conditions last year. “Malaysia’s stock market is not the only one affected, other markets were also not spared. Thailand (market) is even worse. “Like I said, investors must focus on fundamentals. When the economies in the US, Europe and the United Kingdom are more stable, they will not raise their interest rates further, and this would cause the flow of funds back to the emerging markets,” he told reporters at the listing of SkyWorld Development Bhd here yesterday. Abdul Wahid said the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI is trading at around 12 times price-to-earnings (PE) multiple. “This is lower compared with the historical PE of 16 times. So again, look at the long term, address the fundamentals, after all we are investing for the medium and long term,” he added. – Bernama US firms keen to explore greenfield deals in M’sia KUALA LUMPUR: Companies from the United States have shown significant interest in exploring greenfield entries into Malaysia, said Deputy Finance Minister II Steven Sim Chee Keong. In sharing the outcome of a recent meeting with the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Sim said US business communities who have established a base here ae also keen to expand their operations locally. The meeting was to discuss Malaysia’s position as a destination of choice for hightechnology and high-quality investment among US investors. Sim said the Finance Ministry (MoF) and AmCham agreed it is important to continue oAmerican Malaysian Chamber of Commerce emphasises significance of regulatory coherence to aid ease of doing business 11.41 6.01 38.30 fostering a conducive business environment in Malaysia for both local and foreign entities as well as review current regulatory procedures and taxation to ease business operations. He said AmCham emphasised the significance of regulatory coherence to aid ease of doing business. “The association commended the unity government’s steadfast efforts to facilitate business operations and shared feedback from the business community on areas of improvement, such as reducing bureaucracy for companies who want to establish and operate their businesses. “AmCham also highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to encourage the business community to prioritise environmental sustainability,” he said in a statement. Sim said AmCham urged Malaysia to capitalise on its strong infrastructure to deliver world-class healthcare as Malaysia is currently ranked among the top medical tourism destinations in Asia. “Malaysia is the hub for medical device exports in Southeast Asia, with exports reaching RM31.2 billion in 2022. “AmCham members encouraged Malaysia to continue its free market policy for more innovative drugs to enter Malaysia, supporting medical tourism with advanced medical treatment for Malaysians and patients throughout the region,” he said. The deputy minister reiterated MoF’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment that enables companies to retain and grow their investments. He said the ministry wiil continue to focus on measures to catalyse and attract high-quality investments that will generate linkages with local businesses and highincome job opportunities. “The ministry will also look at reducing bureaucratic hurdles and encourage technology diffusion and transfer through foreign direct investment to local small and medium enterprises and henceforth domestic direct investment as a key strategy to stimulate domestic economic growth.” As the ministry gears towards the development of Budget 2024, which will kick off this week with a consultation session chaired by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday, the association and others in the business community are invited to continue sharing their feedback with the government, Sim said. – Bernama Participation 32.7 35.6 31.7 100.0 Retail Institutions Foreign Bought RM m 487.4 578.0 442.9 1508.3 Sold RM m 498.9 496.0 513.4 1508.3 Net RM m -11.5 82.0 -70.5 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) 10/7/2023

12 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 SUNBIZ /thesundaily FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK SCAN ME Sapura, Nacsa collaborate to boost national cybersecurity PETALING JAYA: In a proactive step towards fostering Malaysia’s cyber resilience, Velum Labs Sdn Bhd – a subsidiary of Sapura Group – and the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the sharing of cyber intelligence and implementation models to strategically strengthen, promote and develop national cyber capabilities. The signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Nacsa acting chief executive Shariffah Rashidah Syed Othman (left) and Velum Labs CEO Rizman Merican signing the MoU, witnessed by National Security Council director Datuk Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin (left) and Shahril. oParties will share intelligence and implement models to strengthen, promote and develop country’s capabilities Yusof, was held in conjunction with the launch of Cyber Defence & Security Exhibition & Conference 2023 (CYDES). The MoU marks significant progress for Velum Labs, following a successful show at the recent Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition, where it unveiled and launched V-Dark, a locally developed next-generation cyber intelligence solution, specially designed to combat high-end threats such as Advanced Persistent Threat groups, organised financial crime syndicates and other adversarial targeting enterprises. The end-goal at Velum Labs is to revolutionise cyber security as a core economic output of Malaysia in this digital age through inward investment of enhanced training and having the best tools to compete with international competitors. Other international joint partnerships with Velum Labs further demonstrate Malaysia is now recognised as a key provider for cyber intelligence with expected significant growth in this area in both Asean and international markets. Recognising the importance of human capital development specifically in a niche sector like cyber security, Velum Labs and Sapura are the main sponsors for the Capture the Flag cybergames which will be held at CYDES 2023. This national cyber competition will see ten teams of four from ten local universities compete to represent Malaysia at the upcoming CyberSEA games in Bangkok Thailand at the end of this year. Velum Labs, founded by Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin, stands as the biggest exhibitor at CYDES 2023, showcasing its home-grown Tier-1 cyber intelligence capabilities built and operated by local cyber analysts, data scientists and software architects. CYDES 2023, organised by the National Security Council, Nacsa and Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd, aims to bring together stakeholders to shape Malaysia’s cyber security agenda. SkyWorld makes debut on Main Market at 80 sen PETALING JAYA: SkyWorld Development Bhd, an urban property developer principally involved in investment holding, provision of management services to its subsidiaries and property development, premiered on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The company’s share price opened at 80 sen – unchanged from its initial public offering price – with a volume of 16.4 million shares, giving it a market capitalisation of RM800 million. The counter closed at 74 sen with 110.5 million shares traded. SkyWorld founder and nonindependent executive chairman Datuk Seri Ng Thien Phing said: “We are delighted to be successfully listed on the Main Market. As SkyWorld embarks on this new journey, we are confident that its strategic approach and careful allocation of resources will enable it to deliver a modern skyline of quality development projects and accelerate its development plans both locally and regionally. “The listing is a major milestone for the company and culminates the efforts of the entire team who has worked hard to bring the SkyWorld brand to the public. “We wish to thank our investors for their unwavering trust and support. SkyWorld intends to declare a yearly dividend with a target payout ratio of 20% of its profit after tax attributable to owners of the company on a consolidated basis,” he added. The company raised RM166.4 million through an offering of 208 million new ordinary shares at 80 sen each. Of the proceeds raised, RM100 million has been allocated for the acquisition of land for development. Meanwhile, RM35.2 million and RM20 million have been budgeted towards working capital for project development and repayment of bank borrowings respectively. The remaining RM11.2 million has been allocated to defray fees and listing expenses. Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd is the principal adviser, underwriter and placement agent while Newfields Advisors Sdn Bhd is the financial adviser for SkyWorld’s IPO exercise. From left: Skyworld Development promoter Zafidi Mohamad, non-independent executive director Datuk Lam Soo Keong, Ng, non-independent executive director and CEO Lee Chee Seng, and independent non-executive directors Chan Seng Fatt, Zalinah A. Hamid and Ong Soo Chan. Malaysia’s May natural rubber output up 6.8% from April KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production increased by 6.8% to 25,062 tonnes in May 2023 from 23,460 tonnes in April 2023, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM). Similarly, NR output grew by 20.2% year-on-year as against 20,857 tonnes in May 2022, it said. “Production of NR in May 2023 for Malaysia was mainly contributed by the smallholders sector (86.3%) as compared to the estates sector (13.7%),” said DoSM in a statement yesterday. However, it said total NR stocks in the month fell by 11.4% to 172,263 tonnes versus 194,464 tonnes in the month before, with the rubber processing factories contributing 92.4% of the stocks, followed by the rubber consuming factories (7.5%) and rubber estates (0.1%). As for exports, DoSM said Malaysia’s NR amounted to 37,062 tonnes in May, a decrease of 1.8% versus April’s 37,728 tonnes. China remained the main destination for NR exports which accounted for 41.9% of total exports in May, followed by Germany (16.3%), Pakistan (3.7%), Turkiye (2.9%) and Portugal (1.6%). “The exports performance was contributed by NR-based products such as gloves, tyres, tubes, rubber thread as well as condoms, and gloves were the main exports of rubber-based products with a value of RM1.0 billion in May 2023, an increase of 28.6% as compared to RM0.8 billion in April 2023,” it said. The department also said that an analysis of the average monthly price showed that latex concentrated recorded a 1.3% month-on-month decline to 488.76 sen per kilogramme (kg) in May, while scrap grew by 2.8% to 478.02 sen per kg. “Prices for all Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) are mixed with a decline of 1.2% and increase of up to 2.2%,” it pointed out. Quoting the Malaysia Rubber Board Digest in May 2023, it said the positive sentiment of the Kuala Lumpur rubber market was boosted by the positive progress of the United States (US) debt ceiling negotiation, the decline in local NR production due to the heatwave phenomenon, and the weak ringgit against the US dollar. – Bernama Net foreign selling on Bursa enters 12th successive week PETALING JAYA: Following Bank Negara Malaysia’s decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate at 3% on July 6, last Friday witnessed the highest weekly investment from local institutional investors into Bursa Malaysia worth RM160.6 million, according to MIDF Research. However, for the week ended July 7, foreign investors continued their net selling streak for the twelfth consecutive week, with net foreign outflows reaching RM254.1 million, the research firm said in its fund flow report yesterday. Last Monday, net foreign inflows of RM83 million were observed, with interest in stocks such as Public Bank (RM28.4 million), Maybank (RM16 million) and Gamuda (RM15.2 million). Foreigners have been sellers for 21 out of 27 weeks this year, with a total net outflow of RM4.45 billion. The only two sectors that posted net foreign inflows last week were plantation (RM23.5 million) and construction (RM22.4 million), while the top three sectors that recorded net foreign outflows were financial services (RM75.9 million), consumer products & services (RM51.2 million) and industrial products & services (RM50.3 million). Local institutional investors remained net buyers for the sixth consecutive week at a rate of RM200.9 million. Year-to-date, they have been net buyers of domestic equities for 21 out of 27 weeks, with a total net inflow of RM3.93 billion. Local retailers remained net buyers for the second consecutive week, after net buying RM53.2 million worth of domestic equities last week. Year-to-date, local retailers have been buyers for 15 out of 27 weeks. The total net buying year-to-date amounted to RM516.3 million. In terms of participation, there was a decrease in average daily trading volume by foreign investors (17.9%) and retail investors (1.2%), There was, however, a 3.3% increase by local institutional investors. For the previous week ended June 30, 2023, foreign investors remained net sellers on Bursa Malaysia with RM359.9 million.

13 SUNBIZ theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 HSS partners CTII to bid for socio-environmental infra jobs KUALA LUMPUR: Engineering and project management consultant HSS Engineers Bhd (HSS or HEB Group) yesterday signed its fifth memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese engineering consultant firm CTII to participate in tenders for socio-environmental infrastructure projects. They include water resources and supply management, flood mitigation and disaster management, and sewerage and drainage. Both parties will also team up in other infrastructure projects, such as transport, roads and highways, data centres, and smart cities. CTII specialises in engineering consultancy services of study, planning, designing, construction supervision, and project management for infrastructure development. With representative offices in Philippines, Cambodia, and Pakistan, CTII has an established track record of undertaking socio-environmental improvements in numerous foreign developing countries. HSS’ strategic partnership with CTII targets potential infrastructure projects in Asean, India, as well as countries in the Middle East North Africa (Mena) region. HSS Engineers Bhd executive oPartnership allows both parties to set sights for bigger projects in Asean, India, and countries in Mena region vice-chairman Tan Sri Kuna Sittampalam said: “The signing of this MoU not only portends to ample construction and engineering opportunities in the region, as envisioned by top business leaderships in Japan, but also highlights HSS’ engineering expertise that is well recognised in the region. “HSS can certainly play a significant role in various socioenvironmental projects with our Japanese partners across many developing countries in the Asean region, India, and even in the many countries in the Mena region.” He added both parties can tap into each other’s strengths in many aspects, especially in the waterrelated infrastructure projects. “CTII’s areas of expertise in the Water and Flood Disaster Management complement our core competencies in the water sector too. Of course, we will also identify other high-impact infrastructure projects that will add economic value to these developing countries that we see great potential for fiscal spending,” he said. Kuna added they are pleased to be collaborating with yet another formidable international player, diversifying their regional and global sector coverage, and they envision a strong partnership with CTII as they work towards spearheading their national and regional developments together, bringing about positive socioeconomic changes via their collective resources. He said they will hit the ground running by identifying projects of national interests in Malaysia such as the detailed design of flood mitigation works for the critical stretches of the East Coast Highway Phase 1 project.” HEB Group has bagged numerous contracts in the water infrastructure sector in Malaysia since its successful acquisition of SMHB Engineering Sdn Bhd in March 2018. Its most recent major win was a RM111 million contract awarded by TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd, appointing the consortium of SMHB, AFRY Switzerland Ltd, and AFRY Malaysia Sdn Bhd to provide Owner’s Engineer Services for life extension programme of Sungai Perak Hydroelectric Station during project implementation. The Malaysian government has committed development expenditure of RM1 billion annually for flood mitigation projects, with an additional expenditure of RM15 billion between 2023 and 2030 to expedite these projects further under the 12MP. Palm oil stocks rise to 1.72m tonnes in June KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s total palm oil stocks increased by 1.92% to 1.72 million tonnes in June 2023, from 1.69 million tonnes in the preceding month. In its latest industry performance report for June 2023, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said crude palm oil (CPO) inventory fell by 0.43% to 917,846 tonnes last month from 921,800 tonnes in May. Processed palm oil stocks, meanwhile, rose by 4.75% to 802,721 tonnes from 766,346 tonnes previously. CPO production decreased by 4.6% to 1.45 million tonnes in June from 1.52 million tonnes in the month before, while palm kernel output went down by 4.67% to 350,516 tonnes from 367,689 tonnes. MPOB said palm oil exports rose by 8.59%, or 92,721 tonnes, to 1.17 million tonnes in June from 1.08 million tonnes previously, while oleochemical exports decreased by 3.85% to 218,297 tonnes. Biodiesel exports declined by 4.72% to 12,927 tonnes in June from the preceding month’s 13,568 tonnes. Exports of palm kernel cake fell 25.18% to 133,089 tonnes from 177,877 tonnes previously, and palm kernel oil exports also fell 30.90% to 64,819 tonnes from 93,804 tonnes in May. CPO imports stood at 8,469 tonnes in June, the same level as in May, while total palm oil imports surged by 67.15% to 135,271 tonnes compared with 80,926 tonnes in the previous month. – Bernama TNB eWallet’s covers more countries now KUALA LUMPUR: Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet now offers its more than 20 million users a seamless payment experience in popular destinations such as mainland China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. This development brings its users a vast network of millions of merchant touchpoints, enabled through its integration with national cross-border QR payment and its partnership with Ant Group’s Alipay+. For instance, Touch ‘n Go eWallet is now accepted across Indonesia’s QRIS network, allowing its users to pay seamlessly with competitive exchange rates at more than 25 million merchant touchpoints. Users will be able to conveniently transact in the respective country’s local currency with realtime foreign exchange rates displayed in the eWallet before making payments. Payment will be deducted from their eWallet or their GO+ balance, just like payments done locally in Malaysia. More countries are also in the pipeline, including Philippines, Australia, and many more. Strengthening job market to support GDP growth: MIDF Research KUALA LUMPUR: The strengthening of Malaysia’s job market will further reinforce consumer consumption and support overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year, said MIDF Research. However, the research house expects a slight moderation of employment growth in the second half of 2023 (2H 2023) due to a slump in external trade performances. Nevertheless, it said the labour market in Malaysia is expected to strengthen further in 2023 and 2024, backed by encouraging momentum in the domestic economy. “Malaysia’s average unemployment rate is expected to decline further to 3.5% in 2023 and return to pre-pandemic levels at 3.3% in 2024,” it said in a note yesterday. MIDF Research said the return of noncitizen workers is expected to boost overall employment and reduce the jobless rate. “Continued improvement in the labour market will support consumer spending as the wage recipients to employment ratio has reached a new peak at 64.5% in 2021, thanks to among others the minimum wage salary policy,” it said. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), the labour force numbers in May 2023 continued to record a steady upward trend with an addition of 0.2% to register 16.86 million persons compared to 16.84 million in April. Meanwhile, a month-on-month comparison showed that the number of employed persons in May 2023 inched up 0.2% to record 16.28 million persons versus 16.25 million in April. Commenting further, MIDF Research believed the elevated job vacancies among others supported the steady employment growth and reduction in unemployment as well as outside labour force since early 2021. “We foresee average job vacancies to hover between 150,000 and 250,000 per month for 2023 due to the external trade weakness in 2H 2023,” it added. – Bernama Fernandes reduces stake in QPR to rebuild airline, grow digital businesses KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd yesterday announced that CEO Tony Fernandes has reduced his shareholding in QPR Holdings Ltd, the parent company of Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR), in order to concentrate his time and efforts on expanding AirAsia and Capital A’s digital businesses. Following this strategic move, which aligns with his vision to drive growth and innovation in these key sectors, Fernandes no longer holds any shares in QPR Holdings Ltd. Reflecting on his time at QPR, Fernandes stated, “My time with QPR has been filled with unforgettable highs and lows. On the pitch, there have been special victories, with the highest being the promotion to the Premier League at Wembley Stadium. Off the pitch, QPR’s reputation as a true communityoriented football club is something I will always be proud of. “While stepping away from QPR was a difficult decision, it has been made with the clear determination that my time and expertise are needed elsewhere. Now that AirAsia is coming back in full throttle and growing again, I owe it to Allstars and our shareholders to give 100% of my focus in rebuilding the airline business and expanding our digital companies to provide a tremendous value for the people of Asean, where there is strong demand for low-cost, high value products and services. “We have truly come a long way over recent times putting in place the right platform for a successful and profitable future, which isn’t solely reliant on selling just airfares anymore. We have a lot more to achieve as we carry out our aggressive expansion plans in Asean and beyond for our airlines and all other affiliate portfolio companies in our ecosystem.” Fernandes also intends to shift his focus to finalising the regularisation plan to uplift Capital A from the Practice Note 17 (PN17) status. “I am encouraged that exiting PN17 is moving in the right direction. Strengthening the balance sheet and building strong growth models in all our businesses from airlines, logistics, travel and fintech digital business and aviation services is also gathering pace,” he added. Now that AirAsia is coming back in full throttle, I owe it to Allstars and our shareholders to give 100% of my focus in rebuilding the airline and expanding our digital companies, says Fernandes - AFPPIX

14 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 SUNBIZ /thesuntelegram FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM SCAN ME Alibaba, Tencent shares rise as crackdown nears end Alibaba to gaming company Tencent and food delivery group Meituan. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares closed up 3.2%, beating a 0.6% rise for the benchmark Hang Seng index. Tencent shares closed up 0.7%. Besides Ant, the Chinese authorities also announced on Friday they had fined Tencent’s online payment platform Tenpay nearly 3 billion yuan for committing violations in areas such as customer data management. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said on Friday that most of the prominent problems for platform companies’ financial businesses had been rectified and regulators would now shift their focus from focusing on specific companies to overall regulation of the industry. Alibaba, which spun off Ant 11 years ago and has a 33% stake, said on Sunday it was considering whether to participate in the buyback that would transfer shares to an employee incentive scheme. Ant’s major shareholders, Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership and Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, which collectively hold more than 50% of its shares on behalf of the company’s executives and employees, will not participate in the buyback, it said. Ant said on Saturday it proposed to repurchase up to 7.6% of its equity interest at a price that represents a group valuation of about US$78.5 billion. Ant and its subsidiaries had violated laws and regulations in areas including corporate governance, financial consumer protection, payment and settlement business, as well as anti-money laundering obligations, the PBOC said on Friday. The fine was one of the largest ever for a Chinese internet company. The finalisation of Ant’s penalty is seen as paving the way for the firm to secure a financial holding company licence, lift its growth rate and eventually revive its plans for a stock market listing. However, analysts are questioning whether Ant will press ahead with a listing in the near future. “According to the company, the reason for the buyback is providing liquidity to existing investors and attracting and retaining talented individuals through employee incentives,” said Oshadhi Kumarasiri, a LightStream Research analyst who publishes on Smartkarma. – Reuters Last year’s freezing of almost half of Russia’s gold and forex reserves has prompted many countries to keep their gold back home for safety purpose. – UNSPLASH PIX oMassive fines slapped by Beijing on both tech giants recently signal the end of clampdown on various industries, say investors Countries repatriating gold in wake of sanctions against Russia: Study LONDON: An increasing number of countries are repatriating gold reserves as protection against the sort of sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, according to an Invesco survey of central bank and sovereign wealth funds published yesterday. The financial market rout last year caused widespread losses for sovereign money managers who are “fundamentally” rethinking their strategies on the belief that higher inflation and geopolitical tensions are here to stay. Over 85% of the 85 sovereign wealth funds and 57 central banks that took part in the annual Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management Study believe that inflation will now be higher in the coming decade than in the last. Gold and emerging market bonds are seen as good bets in that environment, but last year’s freezing of almost half of Russia’s US$640 billion (RM2.9 trillion) of gold and forex reserves by the West in response to the invasion of Ukraine also appears to have triggered a shift. The survey showed a “substantial share” of central banks were concerned by the precedent that had been set. Almost 60% of respondents said it had made gold more attractive, while 68% were keeping reserves at home compared to 50% in 2020. One central bank, quoted anonymously, said: “We did have it (gold) held in London... but now we’ve transferred it back to own country to hold as a safe haven asset and to keep it safe.” Rod Ringrow, Invesco’s head of official institutions, who oversaw the report, said that is a broadly-held view. “’If it’s my gold then I want it in my country’ (has) been the mantra we have seen in the last year or so,” he said. Geopolitical concerns, combined with opportunities in emerging markets, are also encouraging some central banks to diversify away from the dollar. A growing 7% believe rising US debt is also a negative for the greenback, although most still see no alternative to it as the world’s reserve currency. Those that see China’s yuan as a potential contender fell to 18%, from 29% last year. Nearly 80% of the 142 institutions surveyed see geopolitical tensions as the biggest risk over the next decade, while 83% cited inflation as a concern over the next 12 months. Infrastructure is now seen as the most attractive asset class, particularly those projects involving renewable energy generation. – Reuters South Korea asks banks to prepare US$4b to support credit union SEOUL: South Korea’s financial services regulator has asked major commercial banks to prepare around US$4 billion (RM19 billion) in financing to support a credit cooperative hit by customer withdrawals, two banking sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. An official at the Financial Services Commission confirmed that banks had been asked to prepare liquidity through repurchaseagreement facilities to aid MG Community Credit Cooperatives, but did not comment on the amount. The official declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter and the commission had no further comment. Depositors were lining up last week to withdraw funds from a branch of MG Community Credit Cooperatives after local media reported a rise in non-performing loans tied to real estate projects. The branch, in the city of Namyangju east of Seoul, is due to be closed soon. South Korea’s top financial authorities pledged on Sunday to ensure liquidity at the credit cooperative, which has nearly 1,300 branches, saying in a statement that MG Community’s capital ratio and liquidity far exceeded regulatory ratios and it had sufficient cash-equivalent assets. Sharply rising interest rates and a cooling property market have raised concerns about the potential impact on Asia’s fourth-largest economy. South Korea’s five major commercial banks have signed or are in the process of signing repurchase agreements with the credit union, said the sources, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. Repurchase facilities allow for raising cash in exchange for collateral, such as bonds. Woori Bank, Hana Bank, Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin Bank and NongHyup Bank had been asked to make financing available to MG Community Credit, although the actual amount extended to the credit union would depend on deposit withdrawals, the sources said. The sources added that each of the banks was asked to prepare 1 trillion won of financing, or 5 trillion won in total (RM17.9 billion), as potential support. MG Community and the five banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. – Reuters B R I E F SSVB FINANCIAL SUES US REGULATOR TO RECOVER USS$1.9B BENGALURU: SVB Financial Group has sued the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) to recover the US$1.93 billion (RM9 billion) the regulator seized during its takeover of the failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March, according to a filing in a bankruptcy court on Sunday. The lack of access to the funds was impeding SVB Financial’s reorganisation, it said, adding the money should be generating over US$100 million in annual interest, without which it would likely have to seek costly and uncertain debtor-in-possession financing. SVB Financial said in the filing while the FDIC asserted it has claims against the company to justify its refusal to pay, it has not identified even a single claim “despite having numerous opportunities”. – Reuters CHINA’S KAISA TO FIGHT WINDING-UP PETITION FILED IN HK HONG KONG: Chinese property developer Kaisa Group said yesterday a winding-up petition has been filed against it in a Hong Kong court in relation to 170 million yuan (RM110 million) nonpayments on onshore bonds. Many Hong Kong-listed Chinese developers have faced windingup petitions since the sector slipped into a debt crisis in mid2021. Many property firms have defaulted and are undergoing debt restructuring. Kaisa said the petition was filed by Broad Peak Investment Pte Advisers Ltd at the Hong Kong High Court on July 6. The Shenzhen-based company said it would seek legal measures to oppose the petition vigorously, and it would continue to proactively communicate with its offshore creditors on the restructuring plan, with the objective of announcing terms to the market as soon as practicable. – Reuters INVESTORS TO PUMP EXTRA £750M INTO UK’S THAMES WATER LONDON: Thames Water said yesterday its investors had agreed to pump £750 million (RM4.5 billion) into Britain’s biggest water company but the troubled business warned it would need even more new equity in the years ahead. Thames Water, weighed down by £14 billion of debt and under pressure over its environmental record, had told shareholders it needed £1 billion to help fund its turnaround. Worries over its financial viability surfaced in late June, when its CEO abruptly quit and it brought in new interim cochief executives and a new chairman, aimed at hastening the turnaround following regular sewage releases from creaking infrastructure. – Reuters GO FIRST AIRLINE SEEKS INVESTOR INTEREST AS PART OF INSOLVENCY BENGALURU: India’s Go Airlines (India) Ltd has invited investor interest in the company through a court-appointed administrator as part of the carrier’s ongoing insolvency, a newspaper advertisem*nt showed yesterday. Two bankers told Reuters they expect Indian conglomerate Wadia Group – which used to own Go Airlines before it started bankruptcy proceedings – to be part of its insolvency process. The Wadias, however, have not communicated their intent directly to bankers, they said. – Reuters HONG KONG: Alibaba Group and Tencent shares rose in Hong Kong yesterday after China’s US$984 million (RM4.6 billion) fine against the Jack Ma-founded Ant Group appeared to signal the end of a regulatory crackdown on the country’s technology sector. Following the penalty on Friday, the Alibaba affiliate announced an up to US$6 billion share buyback that values the fintech at a 75% discount to the valuation touted in an abandoned initial public offering (IPO) plan, but is seen as providing liquidity and certainty to investors. The abrupt shelving of Ant’s IPO in late 2020 had heralded the start of a wide-ranging clampdown by Beijing on industries ranging from technology to education, as regulators sought to assert their authority over what they deemed to be excesses and bad practices emerging from years of runaway growth. The scrutiny left decades-old firms and startups alike operating in a new, uncertain environment and wiped billions off share prices, ensnaring companies from online retail giant

1 1 J U L Y 2 0 2 3 T U E S D A Y oThe largest private Japanese summer festival packs in the crowd NIHON Matsuri, the largest Japanese festival event in Klang Valley, brought together everything we love about the Land of the Rising Sun at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil’s carpark, which was transformed into a little Japan. Organised by Trumpet International Sdn Bhd, the crowd packed the Japanese cultural festival for an unforgettable experience that kicked off on June 29 and went on for four days, ending on July 2, 2023. It was packed with non-stop activities, energetic and entertaining dance performances, a great range of food, rewarding games, eye-catching anime characters, cosplay competitions, and more! Visitors entered through a manmade Shibuya Crossing, which closely resembles the original landmark in Tokyo. Advertising signs flanked both sides of the entrance, replicating the feel of the iconic urban city. At the end of the entrance, large LED display screens aired live footage of the festival. I was transported to the enchanting world of Japan, with visitors walking around proudly dressed in anime characters or wearing gorgeous yukata (summer kimono), reminding us about Japanese culture and their traditional attire. Decorated with hanging Japanese lanterns and sakura flower arrangements, the entire space turned into a beautiful place filled with colourful sakura lantern towers at unreachable heights. The vast event space was divided into a Cosplay Zone, Shongtengai, Tsukiji Fish Market, and Yatai. Participants wore their favourite anime or cartoon character, and brought their character alive on stage for a ‘live’ cosplay competition with a grand prize of RM18,000 and two flights tickets to Japan. Their fascinating performances drew loud cheers from the younger crowd, who applauded with joy. Younger visitors also joined in the fun by dressing up as anime characters, some even going further to invent characters with colourful and yet quirky attire. Besides this, a myriad of things, from Japanese toys to Aniplush plushies to Japanese masks, were picked up by the visitors from the booth inside the Cosplay Zone. At the Shontengai (Japanese market square), visitors engaged in various Japanese traditional Matsuri games like Senbonbiki and fun activities like origami making, or just renting Yukata (summer kimonos) for stunning photographs. But one could never miss the rows and rows of food stalls with Japanese sign banners at Yatai, which literally translates to ‘food cart’. Food enthusiasts were spoilt for choice as more than 140 food booths sold an assortment of Japanese traditional and street foods, including taiyaki, sushi, sashimi, takoyaki, ramen, udon, tempura, wagyu, kakigori, and more. In addition to this, a whole variety of beverages, including matcha, Japanese tea, fruit drinks, and thirst-quenching fusion, were available, as was an array of desserts to indulge in. But the biggest highlight of the day was the first-ever ‘live’ Tuna Fish Cutting event at the Tsukiji Fish Market stall, which was named after the largest fish market in the world. In Japan, Tsukiji Fish Market has now moved to Toyosu. A giant Bluefin Tuna weighing 55 kg was flown directly from Nagasaki Prefacture in Japan for the special occasion. A professional Japanese chef, Akira Ito, from the 19th Suzuki Shoten restaurant in Publika (who also participates in tuna cutting at the restaurant), performed at the much-awaited event. Ito showcased his talent and magnificent skills in cutting the Bluefin Tuna, one of the most expensive fish in the world, with a Samurai-like sword and a smaller knife with style and precision. Despite the huge size, the chef successfully used his incredible techniques to perfectly cut the desirable parts. Later on, the chef sliced the meat into super-thin slices with ease. Ito’s impressive art of cutting fish left the viewers in awe, with all eyes glued to his every move. Meanwhile, the host explained different parts and cuts like otoro and chutoro: the most expensive servings, and the parts that served as sushi and sashimi. Viewers did not miss the opportunity to taste the precious meat. Just minutes after the fish went on sale, a long queuing line formed where visitors were willing to pay up to RM40 just for a few fresh slices of the prized tuna. After slicing the meat, the chef showed his funny side and took some time to play and ‘scare’ young children with the huge fish head. At the event, Malaysian footballer Hadi Fayyadh, who plays in the J League (in Japan), dropped by for a photo session. Visitors were also entertained with awe-inspiring dance performances at the Shibuya Crossing. Everyone was in high spirits after watching the young dancers move to the music. Among the crowds was a 22-year-old participant in the Cosplay competition dressed as the Gyarados character from Pokemon, Ines, also known as Doufuhuaa, who said she felt nervous initially but was calmer after her turn. “It’s very different compared to festivals held at malls, and it leans more towards culture, and the decoration emulates Japanese festivals.” I have never experienced this in Malaysia,“ said Inez. Another 18-year-old, ‘Ace’, who was dressed up in Genshin Impact’s character ‘Xiao, loved the surroundings as they were colourful and beautiful. “There is a lot of food. I really like the Japanese culture and decoration,“ admitted the student. Another, who goes by the name ‘CCY’ in the anime character ‘Kazuha’, felt the crowd was more enthusiastic this year than last year, and the performances and decorations were better. Families and friends sat together at the open-space seating area beneath the moonlight and illuminating Japanese lanterns to relax and enjoy the rich and tasty Bluefin Tuna slices, sweet treats, and savoury snacks. The vibrant Japanese festival Nihon Matsuri 2023 hits hard this year. █ BY S.TAMARAI CHELVI Food stalls were decorated with Japanese motifs and lanterns. Dance performances were exciting and energetic. Japanese chef Akira Ito slicing up a 55kg Bluefin Tuna. Eye-catching lantern towers. Nihon Matsuri 2023 a hit Ines, wearing a Gyarados costume for the Cosplay Competition.

16 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 KNOWN YouTube personality Grace Helbig recently shared the devastating news that she is currently battling breast cancer. “I don’t know how to do this, so we’re just going to do this. I have breast cancer,” the lovable actress and Internet personality began in an eight-minute video posted on her YouTube account. “It’s very shocking. It’s very surreal. It doesn’t sound real, but it’s real,” she continued. In the video, Helbig stated that she found out “about a month ago” that she has “triple positive breast cancer,” which doctors are saying is stage 2A, but “are not entirely sure yet.” She then shared that she will undergo six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and hormonal therapy. “From every doctor, medical professional, or person that has any knowledge about cancer, they have said it is super treatable; it is highly beatable,” Helbig calmly said. “We are going for cure, not remission here, which is exciting, encouraging, helpful, and good.” She then went on and explained that she received her diagnosis after reluctantly telling her gynaecologist about feeling a lump in her left breast at an annual exam. “I really had to, like, talk myself into bringing it up to her in the appointment because I thought I was just a stupid little girl that didn’t know how girl bodies worked,” Helbig stated. “Thank God I listened to that little voice inside of me that finally got the courage to bring it up to her because she also thought it was abnormal.” The prominent comedian who rose to fame in the early days of YouTube has now accumulated a total of 2.6 million subscribers. In the same video, she urged viewers to “Get those lumps checked, and do not be afraid to ask a doctor what you might think is a stupid question.” Helbig then added, “Laughing feels like it helps me breathe within a situation where I feel like I’m holding my breath.“ Continuing with, “This is a very serious situation, I know that, but there’s also some humour to be found here. I mean, the joke’s not lost on me that I’ve spent 15 years not using my boobs to get attention on the Internet and yet here we are, and that I’m announcing this during Cancer season; it’s all right there.” Confidently, Helbig told her loyal fans she knew she would get through the tough road ahead. “This is my job now,” she said. “I’m going to fight this little thing in my left breast as best, as strongly, and as gracefully as I can, pun intended.” Grace Helbig shares cancer diagnosis oHelbig posted heartfelt video on YouTube account Helbig sharing her update on a recent video. – YOUTUBE █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ INDIAN designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee is famous for dressing up Bollywood stars, especially on their big days. Among his beautiful brides who wore his designs were Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan, Anushka Sharma, Bipasha Basu, Soha Ali Khan, Asin Thotumkal, Samantha Prabhu, and the list goes on. It has become a fairytale dream for anyone to wear his stunning Bridal Collection. However, the designer has been in the news recently for another of his masterworks, a beautifully carved elephant head mask that was worn not by a famous Bollywood couple but by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who attended The Animal Ball. The ball is a fund-raising event aimed at protecting Asia’s animals and natural areas. This year, the focus was on supporting the Elephant Family charity. Sabyasachi, a Bengali descendant, made the Shola mask as a tribute to Bengal’s heritage and culture. Sholapith is a traditional Bengali craft that is mostly carved into a crown worn by Bengali brides. Shola, or Indian cork, is a white soft material extracted from the stem of a spongy plant, and designs are carved from it. In his post on his Instagram page, @sabyasachiofficial, the designer posted Charles and Camilla’s photographs with The Shola Mask, captioning it: “I like to tell hyperlocal stories to the world in an attempt to create economic sustainability for heritage crafts and craftspeople. The Shola masks have been made by hand using age-old artisanal techniques and materials, as a collaboration between the artists from the Sabyasachi Art F o u n d a t i o n and the master craftspeople of Bengal.” “The masks celebrate the continuity of one of Bengal’s most treasured heritage crafts that is practised by about 5,000 artisans. Shola is the craft of carving sholapith, the spongey cork from the aquatic plant that grows in the marshlands of Bengal. Every year, the craftspeople make decorations for the deities and entire structures during the Durga Puja celebrations; that is a part of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Shola Masks are made in homage to Bengal’s living heritage and culture,” he stated. Another feather on Sabyasachi’s cap A closer look at the mask reveals two intricate elephant heads. – INSTAGRAM The British royals in Sabyasachi -designed masks. – INSTAGRAM Stream hottest Asian shows on Astro KUALA LUMPUR: From the hottest K-dramas to larger-than-life Bollywood shows, Astro customers can now access more premium Asian shows, including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Southeast Asian, and Malaysian content, on their Ultra/Ulti Box with apps such as Viu, TVBAnywhere+, iQIYI, WeTV, and ZEE5. Depending on the TV Pack, some apps are already included in your chosen package, while others are available as add-ons for an exclusive price only for Astro customers. This July, you can enjoy the best Asian shows from across the region, including: Highly anticipated K-Dramas: Numbers starring Kim Myung-soo of INFINITE and revenge-comedy series Delightfully Deceitful on Viu. Must-watch Chinese shows: fantasy drama Snow Eagle Lord and inspirational coming-ofa*ge story Where Dreams Begin on WeTV; fantasy-romance Beauty of Resilience on iQIYI; and Hong Kong supernatural series Unchained Medley on TVBAnywhere+. New local shows to binge-watch: psychological thriller Alter-Naratif and romance-comedy Journal Sarahaeyo on Viu. For fans of South Asian entertainment: Hindi biopic based on India’s iconic home chef Tarla, Tamil action drama Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam, and Telugu comedy show Maya Bazaar: For Sale (premiering July 14) on ZEE5. Other shows you don’t want to miss: Indonesian romance series Mozachiko on WeTV and Marriage With Benefits on Viu. Enjoy Even More Savings with the Primary Pack For only RM59.99/month*, the Astro Primary Pack now offers you savings of RM239 with two complimentary add-ons of Kids and Korean for 1 year! This means a total of 8 extra channels, namely tvN, K-Plus, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., CBeebies, DreamWorks, and Moonbug, will be FREE for you to watch for 1 year when you sign up for the new Astro Primary Pack now. For those seeking a WiFi plan with amazing content to enjoy, you can also sign up for our Primary Pack with Astro Fibre 50 Mbps and Liga Malaysia add-on for only RM149.99/month*. New Astro. Better Than Before. WhatsApp “Get Astro” to 03-9543 3838 or visit astro.com.my to subscribe. For more information on streaming apps, please go to https://products.astro.com.my/apps.

17 ENTERTAINMENT theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 PACKED with various content, Prime Video is here to deliver for this month of July! They’re bringing you a refreshing wave of entertainment that will whisk you away to a world of enjoyment. For this month, we have Rurouni Kenshin Season 1, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Imaginur, The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2, Stone Turtle, and Good Omens Season 2. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 (Premiering July 7) Meet friends such as Yahiko Myojin from the samurai-class family in Tokyo and Sanosuke Sagara, who claims to be a fighter for hire, and face off against various foes who have unfinished business from Kenshin Himura’s past. The Meiji Samurai romantic story of people who are struggling to live in the new era unfolds here! Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (Premiering July 9) Experience the zombie world with Akira, a corporate employee who is tired of working life. But then a zombie apocalypse breaks out. Instead of being afraid, Akira is glad he oCheck out July’s entertaining list of shows ▪ BY YASMIN ZULRAEZ doesn’t have to work anymore and even sets 100 goals to achieve before turning into a zombie! Imaginur (Premiering July 13) This incredibly imaginative film explores ideas of memory, identity, and time as powerful yet dangerously fragile constructs, often beyond our simple ken. Ingeniously playing with time and space, Imaginur poses bold questions about existence with stunning cinematic bravado. The Summer I Turned Pretty, Season 2 (Premiering July 14) Belly used to count down the days until she could return to Cousins Beach, but with Conrad and Jeremiah fighting over her heart and the return of Susannah’s cancer, she’s not sure summer will ever be the same. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future of Susannah’s beloved house, Belly has to rally the gang to come together and decide once and for all where her heart lies. Stone Turtle (Premiering July 27) A refugee and a researcher are embroiled in a devious game of deception in this spellbinding island folk horror. A wild and dynamic film that unfolds through unconventional s t o r y t e l l i n g , including an a n i m a t e d s e g m e n t featuring local folklore. Good Omens Season 2 ( P r e m i e r i n g July 28) Originally based on Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s i n t e r n a t i o n a l b e s t - s e l l i n g novel, this season explores beyond the original source material to illuminate the ineffable friendship between Aziraphale, a fussy angel and r a r e - b o o k dealer, and the f a s t - l i v i n g demon Crowley. Solving a mystery and t h w a r t i n g Heaven and Hell in the process, the duo will need more than a miracle; they’ll need to once again rely on each other. 50 Cent: I was crazy AS 50 Cent heads out on a world tour marking the 20th anniversary of hip-hop classic Get Rich or Die Tryin, he told AFP it’s probably his last on this scale. “I won’t be able to tour like this again. My film and TV production stuff doesn’t allow me,” said the rapper, who will soon be seen alongside Sylvester Stallone in Expendables 4. He took “a huge pay cut” to shift from music to TV a decade ago – most notably with hit show Power – but saw it as a strategic business decision. “My audience is older. With my film and TV work I’m speaking to my core audience directly. I don’t want to lose them... They made me a success.” 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, turned 48 last week as he prepares to embark on the Final Lap tour across North America, Europe and Australasia, with more dates due to be added in Asia and beyond. It has already sold more than 600,000 tickets, which the evermodest “Fiddy” says with a chuckle “would be impressive for other guys, but I’m 50 Cent”. The one thing that could lure him back after this would be if his old mentors – Eminem and Dr Dre – came with him. “If I could get Em and Dre out the house, that would get me back touring but I don’t think that’ll happen,” he said. Wouldn’t stop growing Launched in February 2003, his debut was one of the fastest selling records of all time, boosted by a colourful backstory of true-life gangsterism, including time in prison and an attempted assassination in which he was shot nine times. Debut single In Da Club is still a huge hit thanks to its evergreen refrain, “Hey, Shorty, it’s your birthday”. And the rapper is still 114th on Spotify’s worldwide rankings despite not releasing a studio album since 2014. There was debate over which single to launch at the time, with Dr Dre pushing for If I Can’t. “But I thought, no, we gotta go with ‘Go Shorty, it’s your birthday’. Coz every day is someone’s birthday and makes the song relevant again,” said Jackson. “And the sh*t wouldn’t stop growing. I got a plaque now because it’s been played a billion times on Spotify. We weren’t even listening to sh*t on Spotify back then.” He remembers the moment, sitting on a tour bus heading for Washington DC, when he heard that the album had gone past 800,000 sales in the first week. “At the time I thought if I could pray for just one thing, it was for that record to be a success. But one thing I learned about myself is I just want more wishes,” he said, laughing. “There was so much success and energy it started to feel like I could have whatever I want. The album was called Get Rich or Die Tryin and I was, like, ‘No, let me die later. This feels great.’” All the adulation and partying went to his head, of course. “If they had clinically tested me at the time, they would have said I was crazy.” – AFP 50 Cent at The Stanley Cup, Las Vegas. – INSTAGRAM The King of Musang King to feature on streamlining site COMING soon, loyal members of Prime Video in Malaysia can finally stream the highest-grossing Singaporean film of 2023, The King of Musang King, exclusively on the streaming site starting from July 27. This fantastic film follows the story of Mao Shan (Jack Neo), an ambitious durian farmer who wishes to expand his sales overseas against pressure from the “Three Heavenly Kings” of the business. He helps Mei Lian (Yeo Yann Yann), his neighbour and sole supporter, to improve her durian farm harvests and develops feelings for her in the process. However, Mei Lian’s long-separated husband, Jin Shui (Mark Lee), returns, complicating things. Jin Shui tries to influence Mei Lian’s children against Mao Shan, as Mao Shan fights to save both their businesses and win Mei Lian’s heart. For more updates regarding the film or other amazing content by Prime Video, feel free to follow Prime Video Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. Prime Video can be streamed anywhere, anytime, at primevideo.com. The King of Musang King. – PRIME VIDEO ▪ BY YASMIN ZULRAEZ Rurouni Kenshin Season 1. – ALL PIX BY PRIME VIDEO Prime Video’s latest releases Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2. Stone Turtle. Imaginur. Good Omens Season 2.

18 LIFESTYLE theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 Pet playlists for animal companions HUMANS and animals have many things in common, including their shared love of music. In fact, dogs, cats, and other pets can enjoy listening to tunes as much as their owners do, and this is creating a promising new market in the pet business. Create Music Group, an American company specialising in music distribution, has taken its first steps in the pet music sector by acquiring Music for Pets, for an undisclosed sum. The company, founded in 2017 by Amman Ahmed and Ricardo Henriquez, offers tracks and other entertainment content for pets. It’s a surprising concept, but it’s one that seems to have found its audience. Indeed, Music for Pet’s two brands – Relax My Dog and Relax My Cat – rack up more than 12 million listening hours per month, according to the specialist website Music Ally. They also reach over 20 million animals worldwide. But what does music for our twoand four-legged friends sound like? Basically, like any kind of background music, The Relax My Dog YouTube channel offers a whole universe of live, radiofriendly sounds to relax your pooch. Some of the soothing videos it hosts last 10, 15, or even 20 hours, but that doesn’t stop them from reaching a large number of internet users and their dogs. This YouTube channel has 1.47 million subscribers, compared with 818,000 for Relax My Cat. Different animals have different musical tastes Music For Pets is not the only player in the music industry to offer music for the world’s millions of pets. Streaming services are teeming with playlists aimed specifically at canines and felines. On Spotify, Relaxmydog counts 59,556 monthly listeners, while Relaxmycat counts 102,823. The latter’s selection includes tracks with millions of listens focusing on relaxation and rest, such as Relax My Cat and Deep Sleep Tones. The tracks most popular with dogs whose owners use Spotify are more focused on escapism and tranquility, such as Dogs and cats apparently don’t have the same taste in music. – ETX STUDIO oAnimals can enjoy music as much as humans Anisongs popular in own right the borders of the Land of the Rising Sun. During that period, Japanese studios began to pay particular attention to the soundtracks of the anime they produced, regularly calling on anime music legends. Among them was Shunsuke Kikuchi,; known for his work on a large number of anime series, including Doraemon, Dr. Slump, UFO Robot Grendizer, Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX, and the two legendary adaptations of Akira Toriyama’s manga, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. From TV to TikTok While the success of anisongs has long gone hand in hand with that of the cartoon series where they originate, some of these songs became hits in their own right starting in the 1980s. For example, Japanese singer Anri’s single Cat’s Eye topped Japan’s Oricon Singles Chart for five weeks in autumn 1983. This served as the opening credits for the animated series based on Tsukasa Hôjô’s manga of the same name. Moreover, this anisong appears in 398 different playlists on Spotify, attesting to its longevity for Chartmetric. Other anisongs follow a similar path. LiSA’s Homura, the theme from the animated film Demon SlayerM Kimetsu no Yaiba, reached number 8 on the Billboard Global Japanese duo Yoasobi’s Idol serves as opening credits music for Oshi no Ko. – ETX STUDIO JAPANESE animated films, or anime, play a key role in the worldwide fascination with Japanese pop culture. While early screenings may have targeted niche markets, in recent years they have managed to win over a huge audience, at least in part thanks to their soundtracks. The popularity of this music has given rise to the phenomenon of “anisongs.” The term “anisong” is a portmanteau of the words “anime” (the abbreviation of the Japanese transcription of the word “animation”) and “song.” It refers to the songs created for the opening or closing credits of Japanese animated films. These are crafted to pique viewers’ interest while giving clues to some of the major themes on screen, as Laurence Green, a specialist in anime and Japanese popular culture, explained to Chartmetric. Anisongs made their first appearance in the 1960s with the emergence of animated series such as Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy. Its opening theme was composed by Tatsuo Takai, with lyrics by the poet Shuntaro Tanikawa. It gained cult status two decades later when the animated TV series Astro Boy was broadcast beyond Meditation Dog, Paz y Amor, and Mar de Tranquilidad. Is this a sign that dogs and cats have different tastes in music? That’s what a number of scientific studies on the subject have found, at least. In 2015, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered that cats seem to ignore “human” music. On the contrary, they are much more sensitive to “music” composed especially for them. Surprisingly, dogs have a much more diverse musical taste than their historical enemies. They seem to appreciate classical music but also reggae and soft rock, as revealed by a study published in 2017 in the journal Physiology & Behavior. However, it’s probably best to avoid heavy metals, which irritate them more than anything 200 in 2020, while Kick Back, the opening music from the anime Chainsaw Man, reached number 13 on the same chart the following year. Meanwhile, the track Idol by the duo Yoasobi, which serves as the opening credits for the anime series Oshi no Ko, has topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for 11 consecutive weeks. A major triumph for an anisong and, more generally, for any Japanese song. The phenomenon of anisongs scaling the music charts is a direct result of their success on the small screen and, these days especially, on the internet. Streaming platforms are overflowing with playlists dedicated to these treasures of Japanese animation, whose popularity continues to grow. The Anime Now playlist on Spotify has over 772,000 likes, a sizeable audience in a highly competitive music ecosystem. And TikTok hasn’t been spared the anisong phenomenon either. The growing social network is home to hundreds of videos revolving around the world of Japanese anime, the majority of which are devoted to dancing and lip-syncing. All the more reason for these Japanese soundtracks to have a bright future. – ETX STUDIO else, according to research published in 2012 in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour. Whatever the case, music for pets has the potential to become a thriving market in the pet sector. The global pet industry alone could be worth a staggering US$500 billion by 2030, according to estimates by Bloomberg Intelligence. Indeed, the affection people feel for their pet is priceless, which is why pet owners are often prepared to spend so much to keep their little companion happy. Whether it’s on clothing and accessories, healthcare, insurance, smart devices, or restaurant trips, nothing is too good for these adorable furry friends. Music for pets is part of the same package and could become a profitable business in the years to come. – ETX STUDIO

19 FASHION & BEAUTY theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 and even contributes to skin repair. Another plus point of aloe vera is that it doesn’t leave any kind of greasy film on the skin – which can be particularly welcome in hot weather. But the plant has other virtues too, whether for acne-prone skin, irritated and sensitive skin, or mature skin. It can, indeed, have a role to play in the fight against skin aging. It’s a natural moisturiser that suits almost all needs and skin types. Olive oil to soothe and calm A must-have in the kitchen, olive oil is already known for its many health benefits. But this store cupboard staple is also good for the skin. Here, it’s not a question of slathering yourself in olive oil when you’re out at the pool or beach, but of using natural cosmetics based on this wonder ingredient, or looking out for its many solid-product forms, including traditional olive oil soap. Particularly rich in antioxidants, olive oil is celebrated for its moisturising and nourishing properties, as well as its anti-aging and soothing qualities, calming irritated skin or skin prone to redness. These benefits have been recognized by almost all civilizations since Antiquity. – ETX STUDIO Shea butter to rescue dry skin If you had to choose just one beauty essential for daily use, then it should probably be shea butter. Not only does it nourish and moisturise dry skin, but it’s also an ideal ally in tackling the sun’s harmful effects. It can even help prolong your healthy tan. Make sure you get raw, unrefined shea butter to enjoy the best of its benefits. Shea butter is a natural moisturiser that is suitable for all skin types and body parts (including hair). Rich in vitamins, including vitamin A, it deeply nourishes the skin, helps it regenerate and promotes elasticity. Indispensable all year round, shea butter is even more so in tropical and hot c l i m a t e s . Containing a natural latex, it can even p r e v e n t allergies to the sun and s o o t h e irritated skin ( i t c h i n g , shaving rash, sun, insect bites) – all while prolonging your tan thanks to its many active ingredients. What’s more, in solid form, shea butter can easily be slipped into carry-on luggage. Aloe vera to cool and repair In the fall of 2021, a study placed aloe vera at the top of the list of most sought-after skincare ingredients in no less than 37 countries around the world. This success is mainly due to the high moisturising power of the succulent plant, making it an indispensable skin ally all summer long. Thanks to its high concentration of water, aloe vera meets the various needs of skin that’s left dry and dehydrated by the sun, the pool or seawater, THE Slim Velvet Radical by YSL is a warm, dark copper with a satin sheen. The texture is light, silky smooth, and velvety, allowing it to glide on your lips without being too classically creamy. I got my hands on it recently, and the sleek and angular tube features a single coat of opaque pigmentation that evenly coats my lips and doesn’t emphasise lip structure or settle into my lip lines. It wore well for over six hours and hydrated softly over time. This particular lipstick has an intensely pigmented semi-matte finish that provides intense colour and lasting wear. It is also infused with up to 67% caring ingredients for all-day comfort. To maximise its use, it is designed to be in a tapered square bullet shape for precise and perfect application anywhere, anytime, anyhow. The application is easy for both beginners and regular beauty enthusiasts, as you start by applying at the centre of the upper lip before using the pointed tip of the lipstick’s square bullet to shape the cupid’s bow and gently work towards the lip corners. Then, for the bottom lip, apply from the corners of the lip, aiming towards the centre, using the edges of the square bullet. With an average rating of 4.8 on the official Malaysian product page, it is no wonder that the product works like gold on my lips, providing a continuous, luminous, and sparkling dimensional effect. The Slim Velvet Radical by YSL. - YSL BEAUTY MALAYSIA █ BYYASMIN ZULRAEZ Three natural solutions for moisturised skin I T’S essential to moisturise skin after sun exposure, but some products and ingredients are far more effective than others. While some people turn directly to after-sun products, specifically formulated to replenish the skin after sun exposure, certain natural ingredients can offer the same benefits for soothing, repairing and deeply nourishing skin. Here are three natural skin allies for hot and humid weather. Sun protection is undoubtedly the cosmetic product that should never be overlooked when it comes to tropical climates. But products to help soothe and regenerate the skin after time in the sun should also be high on the list. And, in light of consumers’ new demands and concerns when it comes to natural beauty, this means looking to ingredients from Mother Nature herself. Here are three beauty essentials to deeply nourish dry, dehydrated skin damaged by prolonged exposure to the sun. oMother Nature provides the best products for natural beauty Shea butter is a natural moisturiser suitable for all skin types. – FREEPIK Olive oil based products are a must have. – FREEPIK YSL’s Slim Velvet Radical is phenomenal Aloe vera is a beauty essential for hot and humid weather. – ETX STUDIO

20 EDUCATION theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 Join us for a better future Apply Now www.unikl.edu.my * Programmes offered are subject to availability Where Knowledge is applied and dreams realised A P P L I C A T I O N FOR JULY/SEPTEMBER 2023 INTAKE I S NOW OPEN APPLY NOW FOR • FOUNDATION • DIPLOMA • BACHELOR UniKL Page 97 1800 888 177 | 03-2175 4000 011-5693 8263 | 011-5965 6805 [emailprotected] Universiti Kuala Lumpur DU011(W) Choosing a potential career post SPM oEngineering and Technology industries provide marketable skills S TUDENTS often find themselves lost and undecided on the right courses to pursue after SPM, STPM, matriculation, or foundation studies. The transition from SPM or foundation level to university can be daunting, but with the right choice of programme, they can seamlessly transition into tertiary education. It is important to choose a field of study that interests them, and institutions that provide a wholesome and well-rounded experience. One of the marketable areas that provide a good platform is Engineering and Technology. In fact, Malaysia needs high numbers of workers in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic areas to fill key positions in these industries. Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) is one of many universities that provide programmes for an engineer-to-be. To be more specific, one of UniKL’s campuses, the Malaysian Spanish Institute (UniKL MSI) is one of the campuses that provide Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical and Electronic programmes, with embedded automotive technology. Since 2002, UniKL’s campus in cooperation with the Spanish government offers various courses for diploma and Bachelor in Engineering Technology. The programme mostly offers an individual with wider knowledge and capabilities, in the design and the manufacture of mechanical products. This is also the best route for students who are passionate about engineering technology with 60%-70% of learning methods being hands-on. This method can provide students with extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the industrial environment and also to learn through real experience in the industry. UniKL-MSI offers three diploma courses for this July 2023 intake, which are Diploma of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Design and Development, Diploma of Electronic Engineering Technology (Industrial Automation and Control) and Diploma of Engineering Technology in Production. This program is offered specifically for SPM graduates as well as SKM level 3 graduates. Apart from pure science streams, students from other streams are also eligible to apply for this engineering technology program, by passing SPM and obtaining a minimum of grade C in mathematics and any science or technical subjects. UniKL-MSI also offers the Bachelor of Engineering Technology programme in the field of Mechanical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing, Automotive and Applied Electronic for this upcoming September 2023 intake and January 2024. In addition, there is also the Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering with Honours offered at the campuses located at Kulim HiTech Park. SPM graduates can continue to pursue the bachelor’s degree programme offered through the Foundation in Sciences and Arts which is also offered at the UniKLMSI campus. The programme is focused on all types of mechanical systems design and development including automotive. It also deals with thermodynamics, heat transfer, structures and materials, fluid dynamics and advanced control systems. Automotive engineering mainly focuses on the design, manufacture and operation of engines and cars. It is not only offering theoretical training, but also practical application where the students will be able to experience machine and engine operations first hand. Rather than focusing on their discipline or area of specialisation, they will be exposed to other forms of knowledge such as management, business practices, leadership, and entrepreneurship as an added value. Students are provided with practical learning or “hands-on” with the help of facilities that meet industry standards. In addition to technical skills, UniKL MSI also stresses on communication skills through activities and programs, organized by the University while creating a more interactive learning environment. Students are also provided with education funding provided by Majlis Amanah Rakyat and PTPTN as well as other sponsoring bodies. As the premier leader in Technical and Engineering Technology education for almost 20 years, UniKL would be the perfect head start into these high-skilled and noble professions. UniKL MSI produces high skill and knowledgeable graduates, competent, innovative, and able to solve design and engineering related problems in-line with the industry requirements, also graduates who have effective leadership qualities to support their roles in industry. For admission inquiries, qualification details and more information, visit unikl.edu.my, contact admission at +6014-8861896 or email [emailprotected]. UniKL-MSI offers three engineering diploma courses for July 2023. – UNIKL-MSI

21 SPORTS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI PULAU PINANG PERMOHONAN UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN NO: PA-38-98-02/2023 Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 256 dan 257 Kanun Tanah Negara, 1965 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Gadaian Perserahan No: 0799SC2010042776 ( bertarikh 12/11/2010) ke atas semua bahagian tanah yang dipegang di bawah GRN 50360, 4454, Mukim 11, Daerah Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Aturan 83 Kaedah- Kaedah Mahkamah, 2012 ANTARA Public Bank Berhad (No. Syarikat : 6463-H) .. PLAINTIF DAN Sun Beam Trading Sdn Bhd (No Syarikat : 200701014664(772670-U)) ...DEFENDAN Menurut Perintah Mahkamah Tinggi Malaya di PULAU PINANG mengenai Perintah Jualan dan Perintah bertarikh 3 September 2020 dan 23 Mei 2023, adalah dengan ini diisytiharkan bahawa Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Pusat Operasi e-Lelong di Kuantan AKAN MENJUAL SECARA LELONG AWAM Pada Hari Khamis, 27 Julai 2023, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi, SECARA ELEKTRONIK DI LAMAN WEB e-LELONG, PUSAT OPERASI e-LELONG, KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR NOTA: Bakal pembeli adalah dinasihatkan agar membuat carian Hakmilik secara rasmi di Pejabat Tanah dan memeriksa semua tanggungan, bebanan serta mengenal pasti dengan tepat hartanah tersebut sebelum juaIan lelongan dijaIankan. Sila layari https://eIeIong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK: No. Hakmilik : GRN 50360 No. Lot : 4454 Mukim/Daerah/Negeri : 11 / Seberang Perai Utara / Pulau Pinang Pegangan : Hakmilik Kekal No. Petak/No. Tingkat/No. : Bangunan : Keluasan Tanah : 1431.6000000000 kaki persegi : 133.0000000000 meter persegi Pemilik Berdaftar : Sun Beam Trading Sdn. Bhd. Syarat Nyata : (First Grade) The Land comprised in this title : (a) shall not be affected by any provision of the National Land Code limiting the compensation payable on the exercise by the State Authority of a right of access or use conferred by Chapter 3 of Part Three of the Code or on the creation of a Land Administrator’s right of way; and Sekatan Kepentingan : Tiada Bebanan / Lain-Lain : Kawasan Rizab : Kaveat : (i)No Pers 0799B2018000233 Kaveat Persendirian atas Tanah oleh CHARTERWAY REALTY SDN. BHD. No. Syarikat : 960712-M No. 51-9-A MENARA BHL, JALAN SULTAN AHMAD SHAH, 10050 PULAU PINANG didaftarkan pada 9 Januari 2018 (ii) No Pers 0799B2020006131 Kaveat Pendaftar atas Tanah didafarkan pada 18 Ogos 2020 (No Rujukan Fail : PTG/PHMT/C/511/87(43) LOKASI DAN PERIHAL HARTANAH : Hartanah tersebut adalah Hartanah dan hereditamen dikenali sebagai Geran No. Hakmilik: 50360, No. Lot: 4454, Mukim 11, Daerah Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang yang beralamat pos di No. 48, Lorong Murni 10, Taman Desa Murni, 13800 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang. HARGA RIZAB : Hartanah tersebut akan dijual atas “sepertimana sedia ada” tertakluk kepada satu harga rizab sebanyak RM 400,000.00 (RINGGIT MALAYSIA: EMPAT RATUS RIBU SAHAJA) dan kepada syaratsyarat jualan yang dilampirkan. Pembida yang berminat hendaklah mendepositkan 10% daripada harga rizab dalam bentuk Bank Draf di atas nama PUBLIC BANK BERHAD 1 HARI BEKERJA sebelum tarikh lelong awam. Baki harga belian hendaklah dibayar oleh pembida yang berjaya kepada PUBLIC BANK BERHAD dalam tempoh seratus dua puluh (120) hari dari tarikh jualan. Untuk butir-butir selanjutnya, sila berhubung dengan:- Firma Guaman : WONG-CHOOI & MOHD NOR Alamat : NO. 27, 1ST FLOOR JALAN MAJU JAYA PUSAT PERNIAGAAN MAJU JAYA, 14000 BUKIT MERTAJAM, PULAU PINANG No. Telefon : 04-5398855 No. Fax : 04-5395855 No. Rujukan : WCMN(BM)/PBB-HL/2020-012/SBTSB(RS/j) IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 AND IIN THE MATTER OF GOOD PERFECT PROPERTY SDN. BHD. [Company Registration No: 201401027030 (1103120-D)] (Members’ Voluntary Winding-up) At a General Meeting of the Members of the Company duly convened and held at 122-01, Jalan Adda 7, Taman Adda, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor on 10th July, 2023, the following special resolutions were duly passed. 1. THAT, the company will be liquidated by way of members’ voluntary winding up. 2. THAT, LEE SZE KIONG of 122- 01, Jalan Adda 7, Taman Adda, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor be appointed as Liquidator to act for the purpose of windingup the company’s affairs and distributing its assets. 3. THAT, the said Liquidator be indemnified by the company from and against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by him in the execution and discharge of his duties in relation thereto. LEE SZE KIONG Chairman Dated: 11th July, 2023 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the creditors of the above mentioned Company which is being wound up voluntarily, are required on or before 5:00 pm, 9th August, 2023, to send in their names and addresses with particulars of their debts or claims and their names and addresses of the solicitors (if any) to the undersigned, the liquidator of the company and, if so required by notice in writing by the liquidators, either personally or by their solicitors to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, and in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts and claims are proved. LEE SZE KIONG Liquidator 122-01 Jalan Adda 7, Taman Adda, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor. 322 Notices IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT JOHOR BAHRU IN THE STATE OF JOHOR, MALAYSIA COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. JA-28NCC-90-06/2023 In the Matter of Section 465(1)(e) & Section 466(1)(a) Companies Act, 2016; And In the Matter of Companies (Windingup) Rules 1972; And In the Matter of ROUTINE F&B SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201801045294 (1307326-T)) Between R & F DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD. (Company No.: 201301039425 (1069248-H)) ... Petitioner And ROUTINE F&B SDN. BHD. (Company No: 201801045294 (1307326-T)) ... Respondent ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed company by the High Court was on 14th day of June, 2023 presented by R & F DEVELOPMENT SDN. BHD. (Company No: 201301039425 (1069248-H)) and that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Johor Bahru at 9.00 a.m. in the forenoon on 8th day of August, 2023, and any creditor or contributory of the said company desiring to support or oppose the making of an Order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose; and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the said company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charges for the same. The Petitioner’s address is at Suite 335A, 3rd Floor, Johor Tower, Jalan Gereja, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor. The Petitioner’s Solicitors is Messrs Han & Partners, Advocates & Solicitors, of #10-13, Austin 18, Jalan Austin Perdana 3, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor. Dated this 19th day of June, 2023 sgd. …………………… Messrs Han & Partners Solicitors for the Petitioner Note: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed solicitors notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or if a firm, the name and address of the firm, and must be signed by the person or firm, or his or their solicitors (if any) and sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than 12.00 noon of 7th day of August, 2023. (Ref.: TYK/J/1473/23) Firstclass Supplies Sdn. Bhd. - In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up Registration No. 199401032684 (318367-K) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Special Resolution set out below was duly passed by the members of the Company on 5 July 2023: The Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 439(1)(b) of the Companies Act 2016 (the “Act”) and that Teoh Lye Huat of Sirius Corporate Services 199303033572 (JM0192213-D), 28A Jalan Serampang, Taman Pelangi, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor be appointed as Liquidator of the Company for the purpose of the Winding Up with such powers as are conferred by Section 456 of the Act Dated this 11 July 2023 Liew Voon Tet, Chairperson of proceedings Firstclass Supplies Sdn..Bhd. - In Members’ Voluntary Winding Up Registration No. 199401032684 (318367-K) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the creditors of the above Company, which is being wound up voluntarily, are required on or before 11 August 2023 to submit particulars of their debts or claims in prescribed forms to the Liquidator at the above registered address for due process and adjudication or in default thereof, their rights to any claims on its assets will be expunged. Dated this 11 July 2023 Teoh Lye Huat, Liquidator DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN NO. WA-A72NCVC-3422-05/2023 ANTARA GOLDEN WORKS (M) SDN BHD (No. Syarikat: 198901002766 (180072-U)) … PLAINTIF DAN SURIANARAYANAN A/L GAVARASU (No. Kad Pengenalan: 570116-02- 5205) (Menjalanan Perniagaan sebagai pemilik tunggal bagi Nasi Kandar Meed (No. Pendaftaran 200803211471 (001801931-P)) … DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTI DALAM BENTUK IKLAN Kepada: SURIANARAYANAN A/L GAVARASU Lot 22, Skypark Terminal, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, 47200 Subang, Selangor SURIANARAYANAN A/L GAVARASU 18, Jalan Bukit Indah 1/16, Taman Bukit Indah, 68000 Ampang, Selangor AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Majistret di Kuala Lumpur melalui Guaman No.: WA-A72NCVC-3422-05/2023 oleh Plaintif, GOLDEN WORKS (M) SDN BHD [No. Syarikat: 198901002766 (180072-U)] yang beralamat di Lot 13-01A, Level 13 (East Wing), Berjaya Times Square, No.1, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur dalam mana tuntutan Plaintif terhadap Defendan ialah untuk:- a. Defendan membayar jumlah sebanyak RM16,070.77 setakat 03.08.2022 kepada Plaintif; b. Defendan membayar faedah pada kadar 10% setahun ke atas RM16,070.77 dari tarikh pemfailan tindakan ini sehingga penyelesaian penuh; c. Kos tindakan ini dibayar oleh Defendan; d. Defendan membayar kos tindakan ini atas dasar indemniti diantara peguamcara dan anak guam; dan e. Relif-relif selanjutnya yang difikirkan adil dan suaimanfaat oleh Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini. Dan telah diperintahkan pada 27.06.2023 bahawa penyampaian sesalinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan kedua-duanya bertarikh 30.05.2023 dalam tindakan ini disampaikan ke atas kamu secara penyampaian ganti seperti berikut:- (i) Dengan menampalkan satu salinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut berserta dengan satu salinan perintah penyampaian ganti ini di Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret, Kuala Lumpur dan penampalan di alamat SURIANARAYANAN A/L GAVARASU, Defendan terakhir yang diketahui di Lot 22, Skypark Terminal, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, 47200 Subang, Selangor and di 18, Jalan Bukit Indah 1/16, Taman Bukit Indah, 68000 Ampang, Selangor; dan (ii) Dengan mengiklankan satu Notis sekali di dalam akhbar tempatan “The Sun” dan bahawa penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut merupakan dan disifatkan sebagai penyampaian yang sempurna dan memuaskan bagi Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut selepas tujuh (7) hari dari tarikh akhir penampalan atau pengiklanan. Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran ke atas tindakan tersebut empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh penyampaian. Jika kamu ingkar berbuat demikian, Penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 4 Julai 2023 T.T …………….………… Tetuan Mastura Partnership Peguamcara bagi Plaintif Notis Penyampaian Ganti Dalam Bentuk Iklan ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Mastura Partnership bagi pihak Plaintif yang dinamakan di atas yang mempunyai alamat penyampaian di K-5-3, Solaris Mont Kiara, Jalan Solaris Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No. : 03-6201 5566 & 03-6201 6655; Fax No. : 03-6201 0000 Email: [emailprotected]. my [Ruj: 09.01.1392.23 GW-Surian] DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI KUALA LUMPUR DALAM WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA GUAMAN NO. WA-A72NCVC-3423-05/2023 ANTARA STEPHENS PROPERTIES SDN. BHD. [No. Syarikat: 197301002231 \ (15721-K)] … PLAINTIF DAN ONE SIX SIX PLANTATION SDN. BHD. [No. Syarikat: 201801006488 (1268502-K)] … DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTI DALAM BENTUK IKLAN Kepada: ONE SIX SIX PLANTATION SDN. BHD. 12-B, Jalan Suarasa 8/4, Town Park 1, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, 43200 Cheras, Selangor ONE SIX SIX PLANTATION SDN. BHD. 53B, Komplek Damai, Jalan Dato Haji Eusoff, Off Jalan Ipoh, 50400 Kuala Lumpur AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan telah dimulakan terhadap kamu dalam Mahkamah Majistret di Kuala Lumpur melalui Guaman No.: WA-A72NCVC-3423-05/2023 oleh Plaintif, STEPHENS PROPERTIES SDN. BHD [No. Syarikat: 197301002231 (15721-K)] yang beralamat di Lot 1.11, 1st Floor, Wisma Cosway, 88 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur dalam mana tuntutan Plaintif terhadap Defendan ialah untuk:- a. Defendan hendaklah memulangkan milikan kosong premis di Lot 7.14, 7th Floor Wisma Cosway, 88 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur kepada Plaintif; b. Sekiranya Defendan enggan, gagal dan/atau cuai untuk menyerahkan milikan kosong Premis tersebut kepada Plaintif dalam jangka masa tujuh (7) hari dari tarikh perintah Mahkamah, Plaintif diberikuasa untuk memasuki Premis tersebut dengan kuasa yang munasabah untuk mendapatkan milikan kosong Premis tersebut dan kosongkan Premis tersebut; c. Defendan membayar kepada Plaintif jumlah wang sebanyak RM25,462.49 setakat 03.03.2023; d. Faedah pada kadar 5% setahun yang dikira ke atas jumlah penghakiman dari tarikh pemfailan writ ini sehingga penyelesaian penuh; e. Defendan membayar kos tindakan ini; f. Kos atas dasar peguam-klien; dan g. Apa-apa relif selanjutnya yang difikirkan adil dan suaimanfaat oleh Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini. Dan telah diperintahkan pada 28.06.2023 bahawa penyampaian sesalinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan kedua-duanya bertarikh 30.05.2023 dalam tindakan ini disampaikan ke atas kamu secara penyampaian ganti seperti berikut:- (i) Dengan menampalkan satu salinan Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut berserta dengan satu salinan perintah penyampaian ganti ini di Papan Notis Mahkamah Majistret, Kuala Lumpur dan penampalan di alamat ONE SIX SIX PLANTATION SDN. BHD., Defendan di alamat berdaftar di 12-B, Jalan Suarasa 8/4, Town Park 1, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, 43200 Cheras, Selangor dan alamat perniagaan di 53B, Komplek Damai, Jalan Dato Haji Eusoff, Off Jalan Ipoh, 50400 Kuala Lumpur; (ii) Dengan mengiklankan satu Notis sekali di dalam akhbar tempatan dan bahawa penampalan dan pengiklanan tersebut merupakan dan disifatkan sebagai penyampaian yang sempurna dan memuaskan bagi Writ Saman dan Pernyataan Tuntutan tersebut tujuh (7) hari selepas tarikh akhir serahan Jika kamu berhasrat untuk membela tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah memasukkan kehadiran ke atas tindakan tersebut empat belas (14) hari dari tarikh penyampaian. Jika kamu ingkar berbuat demikian, Penghakiman boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 7 Julai 2023 T.T …………….…… Tetuan Mastura Partnership Peguamcara bagi Plaintif Notis Penyampaian Ganti Dalam Bentuk Iklan ini difailkan oleh Tetuan Mastura Partnership bagi pihak Plaintif yang dinamakan di atas yang mempunyai alamat penyampaian di K-5-3, Solaris Mont Kiara, Jalan Solaris Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No. : 03-6201 5566 & 03-6201 6655; Fax No. : 03-6201 0000 Email: [emailprotected]. my [Ruj: 09.01.1392.23 SP-One] 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 DALAM MAHKAMAH MAJISTRET DI SHAH ALAM DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA WRIT NO.: BA-A72NCVC-523-05/2023 ANTARA TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD [No. Syarikat : 199001009294 (200866-W)] …PLAINTIF DAN GUNASEGRAN A/L MUTHUSAMY [NO. K. P.: 571020-10-5133/5258019] …DEFENDAN NOTIS PENYAMPAIAN GANTI-BENTUK IKLAN Kepada, GUNASEGRAN A/L MUTHUSAMY [NO. K. P.: 571020-10-5133/5258019] 14, Jalan Palas Tiga 18/46C Seksyen 18, Shah Alam 40200 Selangor Darul Ehsan Dalam perkara Writ yang dikeluarkan pada 5 haribulan Mei 2023. AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa suatu tindakan Writ telah dikeluarkan terhadap Defendan dalam Mahkamah Majistret di Shah Alam dalam Guaman No. BA-A72NCVC-523-05/2023 oleh Tenaga Nasional Berhad [No. Syarikat: 199001009294] (200866-W)] di mana tuntutan Plaintif ialah untuk jumlah RM15,546.60, faedah ke atas jumlah RM15,546.60 pada kadar 5% setahun dari tarikh pemfailan saman sehingga tarikh penghakiman, faedah ke atas jumlah RM15,546.60 pada kadar 5% setahun dari tarikh penghakiman sehingga tarikh penyelesaian penuh dan kos dan adalah diperintahkan bahawa sesalinan Writ bertarikh 5/5/2023 dan Penyata Tuntutan bertarikh 5/5/2023 disampaikan kepada kamu melalui Penyampaian Ganti iaitu dengan menampalkan sesalinan Writ dan Penyata Tuntutan tersebut di Papan Notis Mahkamah Shah Alam, ditinggalkan di alamat terakhir Defendan di 14, Jalan Palas Tiga 18/46C, Seksyen 18, Shah Alam, 40200 Selangor Darul Ehsan (selepas ini “alamat terakhir Defendan”) dan mengiklankannya sekali (1) dalam surat khabar tempatan ‘The Sun’ dan saya percaya bahawa penyampaian itu menjadi penyampaian yang sempurna dan cukup ke atas Defendan tersebut empatbelas (14) hari selepas dari tarikh pengiklanan atau penampalan tersebut. Sekiranya kamu berhajat untuk membuat pembelaan terhadap tindakan tersebut, kamu mestilah diwakili oleh Peguambela kamu di hadapan Mahkamah Majistret Shah Alam pada 28/7/2023 (secara E-Review), jam 9.00 pagi. Sekiranya kamu gagal berbuat demikian maka Penghakiman Ingkar boleh diberikan terhadap kamu. Bertarikh pada 11 haribulan Julai 2023 …..….………tt…….…….. Tetuan Sandosh Anandan Peguamcara bagi Plaintif Notis Penyampaian Ganti Bentuk Iklan ini dikeluarkan oleh Tetuan Sandosh Anandan, Peguamcara bagi pihak Plaintif yang beralamat di Unit A502, Blok A, Kelana Square, No. 17, Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Jaya, 47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 03-78065819 / 03-7804607 Fax: 03-78807409 (Ruj: SA/L/TNB/GUNASEGRAN/1902/2023/ SA) PERAK UNITED SENDIRIAN BERHAD 196601000394 (6846-A) LOST SHARE CERTIFICATE The following share certificate has been reported lost or destroyed: Certificate No.Name of Shareholder No. of shares 236 Soo Lip Mou @ Soo Li Mou 50 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT if within fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, no claim or representation in respect of the above share certificate is made to the Directors, they will proceed to deal with the application for replacement share certificate and the above share certificate will be deemed cancelled and void. Yeoh Hon Lin Company Secretary SSM PC No.: 202008000399 MAICSA 7025664 Dated this 11th day of July, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, 2016 and IN THE MATTER OF POLING REALTY SENDIRIAN BERHAD Registration No. 196401000179 (5502-V) (In Members’ Voluntary Winding-Up) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 459(2) of the Companies Act, 2016, the Final Meeting of the contributories of the abovenamed Company will be held at the Liquidators’ office at Wisma Goshen, 2nd Floor, 60, 62 & 64 Jalan SS 22/21, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan on Friday, 11th day of August, 2023 at 10.00 a.m. for the following purposes:- 1. To lay before the meeting the Liquidators’ statement of account and to give explanations thereof. 2. To decide under Section 518(3) (b) of the Companies Act, 2016, the manner in which the books, accounts and documents of the Company may be destroyed. Dated this 11th day of July, 2023. Lam Lee San (f) Lee Yee Ching (f) Liquidators NOTE: A contributory entitled to attend and vote at the abovementioned meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy who need not be a member of the Company to attend and vote in his stead. The instrument appointing a proxy must be duly deposited at the Liquidators’ office, not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting. 252 Distributors Agents Wanted IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA IN JOHOR BAHRU IN THE STATE OF JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM, MALAYSIA COMPANIES WINDING-UP NO.: JA-28NCC-89-06/2023 In the matter of Section 465 (1) (e) of the Companies Act 2016, the provisions of the Companies Act 2016 and the Companies (Windingup) Rules 1972 AND In the matter of Miellania Samudera (M) Sdn. Bhd. [Company No. 200501012488 (689536-P)] BETWEEN PERBADANAN USAHAWAN NASIONAL BERHAD [COMPANY NO.: 199101010745 (221057-V)] …PETITIONER AND MIELLANIA SAMUDERA (M) SDN. BHD. (COMPANY NO.: 200501012488 (689536-P)) …RESPONDENT ADVERTIsem*nT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed Company by the High Court at Johor Bharu was on the 13th day of June 2023 presented to the said Court by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad. And that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the High Court of Insolvency sitting at Johor Bharu on Tuesday, the 8th day of August 2023 at 9:00 o’clock in the forenoon and any creditor or contributory of the said company desirous to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his Counsel for that purpose and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any Creditor or contributory of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is at 10th Floor, Block 1B, Plaza Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. The Petitioner’s Solicitor is Messrs. Kama & Wan, whose address is at Lot 226, T/2B, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim. ………………………… Messrs. Kama & Wan Solicitor for the Petitioner NOTE: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the above-named Messrs. Kama & Wan, notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm and must be signed by the person or firm or his or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served, or if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later that 12:00 o’clock in the noon of the 7th day of August 2023. This Advertisem*nt of Petition is filed by Messrs. Kama & Wan, Advocate & Solicitor on behalf of 226, T/2B, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim. (T: 09 7449993) (E: [emailprotected]) [Ref. No.: WS/PUNB/MSMSB/01(L) (KB)] 322 Notices 322 Notices 322 Notices CALL TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS MS. SHOBA T 03 7784 8888 F 03 7784 4424 Vingegaard holds on to Tour de France lead DEFENDING champion Jonas Vingegaard held on to the Tour de France overall lead yesterday ahead of the first rest day as Canada’s Michael Woods took a prestigious stage win on the Puy de Dome volcano. France’s Pierre Latour crossed 28 seconds behind Woods with Slovenian Matej Mohoric a further seven seconds adrift as the fight between the favourites played out much further down the steep slopes. Two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar launched an attack from 600m but defending champion Vingegaard held his cool and followed the Slovenian over the summit finish line just seconds behind. Two fancied British riders – former Vuelta champion Simon Yates and up-andcoming Ineos star Tom Pidco*ck – were a further 43sec behind Vingegaard. Vingegaard leads the race ahead of yesterday’s rest day by 17 seconds, losing eight seconds to Pogacar, but the expected fireworks never materialised on a hot July day. Woods was surprised with his win after managing to get into the day’s escape which led by 16 minutes on the tough slopes where no fans were allowed. “Because there were no fans at the end it was almost like Covid-period climbing,” said Woods. “Up to that point it has been deafening,” said the 36-year-old who overtook American Matteo Jorgenson in the home straight. Warner on chopping block AUSTRALIA captain Pat Cummins refused to rule out axing David Warner for the Ashes run-in after the opener’s struggles against Stuart Broad continued at Headingley. Warner is coming to the end of the road in Test cricket, having flagged his intention to retire in January after a final homecoming game against Pakistan in Sydney, but he may not get the chance to bow out on his own terms. The 36-year-old was dismissed for one and four in England’s three-wicket victory in the third Test, with his old nemesis Broad making short work of the left-hander on both occasions. Mitch Marsh made a major impact as an injury stand-in for Cameron Green, scoring a powerful first-innings century and taking two wickets, but both all-rounders are expected to be fit for the next Test. Asked if Warner could be sacrificed to fit them both in, Cummins said: “We’ll keep all our options open. We’ve got nine or 10 days now, so we’ll take a deep breath. “We’ll go away for a few days but everyone comes back into it. Greeny should be fit for Manchester, we should have a full roster. So we’ll have a look at the wicket, have a chat and work out the best XI.” Stokes did not watch run chase BEN STOKES admitted he was “nervous” at the end and unable to watch the final 20 deliveries as he praised the “amazing” Harry Brook for his match-winning innings to keep the Ashes alive at Headingley. Showing a maturity beyond his 24 years, and more experience than his 10 Test matches would suggest, Brook played the Test innings of his career, with his 75 a key deciding factor as England chased down 251 to secure a three-wicket victory. “I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous at the end,” Stokes said. “I walked about 2km around the Headingley dressing room in the last half-hour, I didn’t actually watch the last 20 runs being scored. “It’s a completely different place when you can’t do anything, you can’t influence the game anymore, you’re left watching and hoping things are going to go your way. “Because of where the series was at before this game started the whole performance with bat, ball, field… it was just an unbelievable effort from everybody. “Looking back at certain individuals and the performances they put in and it’s all led to us being here as the winning team today.” SHORTS

22 theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 SPORTS @thesundaily FOLLOW ON TWITTER SCAN ME Max wants more bite Verstappen demands dramatic changes despite British Grand Prix win. MAX VERSTAPPEN has outlined a bumper list of demands for Red Bull despite enjoying a commanding win at the British Grand Prix. The double world champion suggested Red Bull needed to improve in almost all areas despite cruising to his eighth victory of the campaign. The comments prompted laughs from Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton but the Dutchman quickly insisted he was “not kidding”. Verstappen made the admission after he was asked what he wanted from planned upgrades at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He replied: “Drag, low speed, medium speed, high speed, DRS effect, tyre wear all of these areas. Braking performance. I’m not kidding.” Verstappen enjoyed an early scare with Norris getting a better start and taking the lead into turn one. After the race, Verstappen blamed wheelspin for the issue which almost cost him P2 as Oscar Piastri led a challenge into Copse corner. However, Red Bull’s race pace came into its own with Verstappen getting back past the Briton within a matter of laps. Norris held on during the early stages but was unable to make a serious challenge on the reigning champion. Red Bull boss Christian Horner admitted resources are already being piled into the development of next year’s RB20. But a new package is expected to be introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix which will likely only increase the squad’s bumper advantage. Verstappen tried to justify the new parts as he warned Red Bull were not confident they could deliver a result in Budapest. “In Hungary the circuit is completely different. There we will put some upgrades on the car and hopefully they will all work well,” Verstappen explained. The Red Bull ace also highlighted the confused picture behind with McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin all looking at challenging for a runners-up spot at different weekends. When asked if he had worked out the pecking order in the chasing pack, Verstappen admitted he was shocked by McLaren’s uptick in performance. “I was definitely positively surprised by the pace of McLaren in the race. They were actually very quick compared to the other cars behind,”he said. “But at the end of the day you just have to focus on yourself throughout the whole weekend and then find out what happens behind you. “Yeah positively surprised, let’s see what the next race will bring again.” After the race, Hamilton confirmed that he will hold “serious conversations” with Mercedes chiefs. The Briton was able to move ahead of Piastri’s McLaren thanks to a Safety Car that went in his favour, but the 38-year-old is hoping that the Silver Arrows can use Norris’ team as inspiration to improve going forward. “The McLaren is proof of the direction they have gone and it’s impressive how quick they were in the high speed,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. “We have strengths in our car – long runs particularly are great. As soon as we have the rear end that they have, we will be on our way.” – Express Newspapers Nothing worked today, says Red Bull’s Perez after sixth-place finish SERGIO PEREZ lamented another tough afternoon as Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen racked up his sixth win in a row to power 99 points clear in the Formula One championship. “Nothing worked today,” the Mexican told reporters after finishing sixth from 15th on the grid in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. “I had a great launch (at the start) but then I was pushed off by (Alpine’s Esteban) Ocon on lap one, and I lost positions instead of gaining, so it just made the recovery harder. “I used too much (of) my tyres on that first stint and then we boxed I think three laps before the safety car, so it wasn’t meant to be. “In the end we gave it all and we did what we possibly could.” The Mexican remains Verstappen’s closest rival and despite the double world champion’s domination he managed to put some more distance between himself and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who is now 19 points behind. Perez started the year strongly with two wins in four races but has only twice finished on the podium in his last six outings. He has also failed to qualify in the top 10 in his last five races. That has led to speculation about his future, although team boss Christian Horner said last weekend in Austria that the Mexican still had Red Bull’s full confidence. “I have full support from the team, I’m mentally very strong and I know that I will overcome these issues and turn around my season,” said Perez. “The pace is there and I can still get back to where I should be.” – Reuters IN the same week that Michelle Wie West said goodbye to professional golf, another Hawaiian announced herself with a resounding hello. Allisen Corpuz poured in six birdies to break away from the pack and win the US Women’s Open by three strokes yesterday at Pebble Beach Golf Links – earning not only her first major title but her first win of any kind on the LPGA Tour. Corpuz trailed Japan’s Nasa Hataoka by one shot entering the final round and played with Hataoka in the final pairing. She turned in a 3- under 69 to finish at 9-under 279. A 25-year-old from the Honolulu area, Corpuz took home a US$2 million (RM9.2m) winner’s share of the US$11 million (RM50.6m) prize pool, both records for women’s professional golf. It marked the first women’s major of the modern era to be held at the famed course along the Pacific Ocean. “Every few holes I just kind of looked out and said, ‘I’m out here at Pebble Beach,‘” Corpuz said at the trophy presentation. “There’s not many places that are better than this.” As a child, Corpuz broke Wie’s record as the youngest player to qualify for the US Women’s Amateur Public Links at just 10 years, three months and nine days old. Now, like Wie, she can call herself a major champion. “I never really thought I’d get this far,” Corpuz said. “Just watching Michelle, she’s been such a huge role model to me…But I’ve never really compared myself to her. I’ve always wanted to make my own name. She’s just served as a really big inspiration.” England’s Charley Hull rocketed up the leaderboard with a 6-under 66, matching Hataoka’s third round score for the low round of the week. Hull and South Korea’s Jiyai Shin (68) tied for second at 6-under, and Hataoka (76) faded to a tie for fourth at 3-under with Bailey Tardy (73). – Field Level Media Corpuz tames Pebble beach for first LPGA title ‘Bitter-sweet’ for McLaren’s Piastri AUSTRALIAN rookie Oscar Piastri described his fourth-place finish for McLaren in yesterday’s British Grand Prix as a “bittersweet” moment after he missed out on a podium due to a safety car deployment. The 22-year-old Melburnian had been running third before the delay when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas suffered an engine failure. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes took advantage to take a “cheap” pit stop and third place behind the triumphant Max Verstappen of Red Bull and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. “It’s a bitter-sweet result,” he said of his best Formula One result in his debut season. “That’s the best way to describe how I feel. The most pleasing aspect was that we achieved these results on merit. “I think it’s one thing to get these results by lucky incidents, but we were genuinely the second quickest team today, which was a very happy surprise. “On my side, we were unlucky with the safety car timing with Lewis getting a free stop. But it’s nice in some ways to be disappointed with a fourth place, considering where we were at the start of the year!” Brad makes Pitt-stop at Silverstone BRAD PITT was full of praise and respect for Formula One and, in particular, the drivers yesterday after spending the weekend in their company for filming at the British Grand Prix. The Hollywood film star told Sky Sports F1 that the paddock and sport as a whole had welcomed and embraced the as yet unnamed Apple-supported F1 film project in which he is starring. “I’m having the time of my life,” he said, having raced around the track himself. “I’m a little giddy right now! It’s great to be here. We’re having such a laugh. It’s the time of my life. “To be a part of it in this way? To tell our story? Everyone has been cool with us, the teams have opened their doors to us, the FIA have been really helpful, F1 and Stefano Domenicali. Everyone has been amazing.” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly were among the drivers thrilled by their chance to spend time with Pitt, but defending world champion Max Verstappen said he was less than impressed. “I completely can’t be bothered with this,” Verstappe said. PGA board member resigns over ‘serious concern’ on LIV deal RANDALL STEPHENSON, a former AT&T chief executive, reportedly has resigned his PGA Tour Policy Board position over “serious concerns” about the tour’s controversial deal with LIV Golf’s Saudi backers. The Washington Post reported yesterday that it had obtained a copy of his resignation letter dated Saturday with immediate effect. The 10-member policy board must approve the deal announced last month by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan for it to be finalised. In his letter, according to the report, Stephenson, a board member since 2012, said the framework agreement of the deal “is not one that I can objectively evaluate or in good conscience support, particularly in light of the US intelligence report concerning Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.” “I joined this board 12 years ago to serve the best players in the world and to expand the virtues of sportsmanship instilled through the game of golf,” Stephenson wrote in the letter. “I hope, as this board moves forward, it will comprehensively rethink its governance model and keep its options open to evaluate alternative sources of capital beyond the current framework agreement.” BRITISH GRAND PRIX (TOP 10) 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Lando Norris (McLaren) 3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 5. George Russell (Mercedes) 6. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 8. Alex Albon (Williams) 9. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 10. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) FASTEST LAP: Max Verstappen WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS DRIVERS (Top 5) 1. Max Verstappen 255pts, 2. Sergio Perez 156, 3. Fernando Alonso 137, 4. Lewis Hamilton 121, 5. Carlos Sainz Jr 83. CONSTRUCTORS (Top 5) 1. Red Bull 411pts, 2. Mercedes 203, 3. Aston Martin 181, 4. Ferrari 157, 5. McLaren 59. SHORTS RESULTS & STANDINGS Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the British Grand Prix. – REUTERSPIX

23 * SPORTS theSUN ON TUESDAY | JULY 11, 2023 I F Iga Swiatek goes on to win Wimbledon 2023 and, make no mistake, Swiatek has proved she is now capable of winning Wimbledon 2023, then this match may just be the turning point in her tournament and maybe in her entire relationship with grass-court tennis. To say the world No. 1 was on the brink of elimination would be the mother of all understatements. At a set and 6-5, 15-40 down facing two match points in a contest where everything had seemed to be conspiring for a Belinda Bencic victory, she was basically in the taxi on her way home. Yet she dug deep, probably deeper than she ever has on a surface that she openly admits she is “still trying to figure out” to smack a forehand winner down the line and then a backhand winner cross-court. True champions shine brightest in the darkest moments and Swiatek was luminescent as she turned the tide to somehow snatch a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 victory in a three-hour thriller that earned her a standing ovation from an enthralled Centre Court crowd. She could have been forgiven for scratching her head and wondering exactly how she had been in that position in the first place. In the first set, Swiatek earned six break points, two set points and barely lost a point on her own serve, yet it was Bencic ultimately revelling in a set win after taking the tiebreak 7-4 and with one foot in the quarterfinals. No one ever said elite sport was fair. She was given a genuine test by a top-15 player in the world. A player who is the reigning Olympic champion, who is confident on grass and who had the backing of a Centre Court crowd sniffing an upset. The fact she came through that adversity may just be the spark that sets her on the path to lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish on Saturday. “Usually I’m using my chances,” Swiatek told wtatennis.com. “I had six break points. I felt like I’m more solid. I still lost the set. “I didn’t want to focus on that in the second and third. It stayed in my head a little bit. “I felt like I should have been the one that won that set, but it doesn’t work like that. “I thought there’s no sense to kind of think about that. I just wanted to go forward and have no regrets. “For sure this match is going to give /theSunMedia FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE SCAN ME Top seed fights back from brink to beat Bencic Rublev hits extraordinary shot in epic win SEVENTH seed Andrey Rublev dived into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon with an extraordinary shot to bring up match point against Alexander Bublik. Rublev was in the middle of the baseline when Bublik hit what he, and everyone else on Centre Court, thought was a clean winner down the line. But the Russian dived forward, got a racket on the ball and somehow floated it over the net. “That is one of the great shots we’ve seen here in years,” exclaimed John McEnroe on commentary as Bublik scratched his head in disbelief. Rublev, who had been two sets ahead but was pegged back by his opponent from Kazakhstan, went on to seal a 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4 win after one of the most entertaining matches of the Championships. “It was the most lucky shot ever,” said the 25-year-old. “It was luck, nothing else. Rublev’s diving skills are becoming a theme at this year’s Wimbledon after another spectacular flight across the lawns during yesterday’s match. The 25-year-old set up match point in a five-set thriller with a gravity-defying lunge to somehow return a backhand piledriver by his mercurial opponent. Bublik stood in stunned disbelief as Rublev somehow redirected the ball back into an open court – a point he said he will remember forever, especially coming on Centre Court. “The feeling that at least I have one amazing point in my career,” Rublev said when asked about the shot. “I don’t know if I will ever feel this feeling. At this score, final set, being on Centre Court at Wimbledon in front of all the crowd at this tight score in the end of the match, to make this shot, I don’t know how many times in a life you will have those moments. It’s one of the highlight of my life.” – AFP/Reuters EIGHTH seed Jannik Sinner reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the second successive year as he broke the stubborn resistance of unseeded Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan with a 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3 victory yesterday. The 21-year-old Italian’s progress was relatively routine although he looked tetchy at times against the big-serving South American as he twice got involved in arguments with umpire Marijana Veljovic over Hawkeye calls. Sinner, who has dropped only one set so far, is the first Italian man to reach the quarterfinals twice at Wimbledon. While he has never gone beyond the quarterfinals at any of the four Grand Slams he now has a great opportunity to break new ground with 92nd-ranked Russian Roman Safiullin up next. Sinner’s explosive groundstrokes and muchimproved serve are paying dividends on the Wimbledon lawns – with former Australian player Darren Cahill’s influence paying off. He has worked with Cahill this summer and says the best advice he has been given is to be ‘friendly with the grass’ “This is a quote that Darren gave me,“ Sinner said. “You’ll have chances but sometimes there are some bad bounces or you can get unlucky a couple of times because your opponent is serving good. You have to always have the right mindset. “Also sometimes trying to smile because you also have to enjoy to play here.” Galan, ranked 85th in the world, matched Sinner throughout the opening set and the Italian looked rattled in the tiebreak when forced to replay a point after winning a Hawkeye challenge. Sinner did not allow his debate with Veljovic to distract him too long though as he took the opening set. His mood was hardly helped as he dropped serve at the start of the second set and then squandered five break points in the next game, again having words with the match official. Four more break points went begging in Galan’s next service game but Sinner finally got back on level terms when he converted a break point, at the 15th attempt, for 4-4. He then held serve and broke again to move two sets up. The third set was more straightforward as the Italian made it safely through to the second week. “Today was a tough day. I was not feeling great on the court but I managed to win the most important points,” he said. “Usually I’m calm but sometimes it happens, there were some tough calls on my side.” – Reuters Sinner not saintly but reaches quarters █ ANDY SIMS Swiatek ready to win Wimbledon me more belief,” Swiatek said. “I’m happy that it was really tight and I could still play my game. “Belinda is a really, really great player. She likes playing on grass. She has this game style that helps her a little bit on grass. “It wasn’t an easy match for sure today. You saw that. I’m just happy that I won it ‘cause it feels I’m going the right direction.” When asked if she would play her match points differently, Bencic said: “I tried to make her play. “She came up with a great shot. That’s well done from her. I would do the same thing again.” – The Independent/Agencies Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action during her fourth round match against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic yesterday. – REUTERSPIX AirAsia owner Fernandes leaves QPR QUEENS PARK RANGERS co-owner Tony Fernandes has left the Championship club after 12 years. Fernandes bought the west London club in 2011 alongside Ruben Gnanalingam and Kamarudin Meranun, and stepped down as co-chairman in 2018. The Malaysian businessman, who founded airline AirAsia, no longer holds any shares in QPR Holdings Limited, a club statement said. “This decision to step away is made with a heavy heart,” Fernandes said. “I would like to thank the supporters who I have experienced the last decade of adventures with. “I will continue to look out for QPR’s results and wish the board nothing but success for the future.” Majority shareholder Gnanalingam added: “This is a sad day for the club, and for me in particular because Tony and I joined the club together. “There have been some incredible moments during that period, particularly our survival in the Premier League in 2012 and our play-off success in 2014. “Of course, there have been challenges too but Tony’s good intentions for the club can never be doubted.” – Agencies JUVENTUS have told Chelsea they can have Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, 23, for £21.4m plus their Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku. HOWEVER, Lukaku, 30, is willing to take a £1m-per-year pay cut in order to make a permanent return to Inter Milan after his loan spell. CHELSEA have told Inter of Juventus’ interest in Lukaku in an attempt to drive up the price, which has angered Juve. BAYERN MUNICH have made an improved offer of £70m plus add ons for Tottenham’s England striker Harry Kane, 29. NEW Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard has held talks with Ivory Coast winger Wilfried Zaha over a £16m-per-year move to Saudi Arabia, with the 30-year-old’s contract at Crystal Palace having now expired. MANCHESTER UNITED are preparing to submit a new bid to Atalanta for Rasmus Hojlund, having already reached an agreement in principle with the Denmark striker, 20, over a contract until 2028. £1 = RM5.97 TOUCHLINES Rublev

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 TUESDAY JULY 11, 2023 Svitolina refuses to sympathise with Azarenka as Belarusian booed off court UKRAINIAN Elina Svitolina had no sympathy for Victoria Azarenka after the 33-year-old was booed off Court One yesterday following their epic fourthround match. The match betwen Svitolina and Azarenka was the first time a Ukraine tennis player was facing someone from either Russia or Belarus. Svitolina has been one of the most outspoken players on tour about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and she’s regularly refused to shake hands with Belarus or Russian players. The 28-year-old was roundly booed at the French Open after incidences with Anna Blinkova, Daria Kasatkina and Aryna Sabalenka. And Svitolina reiterated her intentions not to shake hands with Azarenka before their fourth-round match yesterday. That was before both players embarked on a near-three-hour epic on Court One as Svitolina reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam less than a year after giving birth to her first child. The crowd inside Court One erupted into cheer as Svitolina won the match with an ace with the players not embracing at the net, although Azarenka did raise her hand in a gesture of congratulations. Then there was seemingly some confusion from a section of the crowd over what didn’t happen at the net as Azarenka was roundly booed, who looked shocked and disappointed at the jeers. But Svitolina refused to offer her condolences for the way the Belarusian was treated on court. When asked to give her view on Azarenka being booed by the Wimbledon crowd, Svitolina said: “Well, I got the same. I got the same in Paris. I played three matches in Paris in this way. Today, as well. “For me personally, I think the tennis organisations, they have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian players. “I don’t know if it’s maybe not clear for people. Some people not really know what is happening. So I think this is the right way to do.” But when asked directly whether she felt bad for her opponent, Svitolina responded: “Well, it was like this in Paris. It also was unfair for me in Paris quarterfinal.” In her post-match press conference, Azarenka said she was surprised by the crowd’s reaction to the non-handshake and said the booing was “not fair”. “I’m not sure that a lot of people were understanding what’s happening,” she said. “It’s probably been a lot of Pimm’s throughout the day. “I feel like it’s been pretty consistent for the last 18, 19 months. I haven’t done anything wrong, but keep getting different treatment sometimes. “But what can I say about the crowd? There is nothing to say. She doesn’t want to shake hands with Russian, Belarusian people. I respected her decision. What should I have done? Stayed and waited? “Like, I mean, there’s no thing that I could do that would have been right, so I just did what I thought was respectful towards her decision. “But this conversation about shaking hands is not a life-changing conversation. So if you guys want to keep talking about it, bring it up, make it a big deal, headlines, whatever it is, keep going. “I thought it was a great tennis match. If people are going to be focusing only on handshakes or crowd, quite drunk crowd, booing in the end, that’s a shame. That’s probably what it is in the end of the day.” Svitolina was a set and a break down and staring down the barrel of her Wimbledon exit before embarking on an incredible turnaround. A deciding tiebreak was needed with the spectators on the edge of their seat for the gripping contest before Svitolina grabbed the win with her eighth ace of the match before collapsing to the floor. Iga Swiatek is up next for the Ukraining so she’ll have to try and recover in time to face the No. 1 seed. – The Independent Why Onana is such an upgrade between the sticks for Manchester United GETTING rid of a goalkeeper who’d just won the Golden Glove could be considered a misguided move, but 17 Premier League cleen sheets masked what was another disappointing campaign for David De Gea. The Spaniard’s inability to effectively operate as an 11th outfielder has routinely been scrutinised, and this weakness to his game really came to the fore in the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City, that proved to be his final game in a Manchester United shirt after he confirmed his Old Trafford exit on Saturday. De Gea made more inaccurate passes (18) than any other player at Wembley last month, and against a City side that will dominate possession, this seemed to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back for Erik ten Hag. “There are occasions in the game, issues in the game, we have to improve,” the United boss said when pressed on De Gea’s problematic distribution in the wake of the 2-1 loss to their city rivals. Having signed Mason Mount this week, and a new striker another priority, United need to strengthen between the sticks this summer. The well-documented decision to withdraw their contract offer for De Gea means United are seeking another goalkeeper, and despite being linked with Diogo Costa and David Raya, Inter’s Andre Onana has emerged as the No. 1 target for Ten Hag’s side. While the two teams are yet to agree a fee, the general consensus is that United will head into the new season with Onana as their new No. 1, and the Cameroonian goalkeeper will prove an immediate upgrade on De Gea. The former Atletico man had established himself as one of the best shotstoppers in the game, but even here he fell short of Onana’s return in their respective leagues last season. De Gea’s save success rate of 69.7% was lower than Onana (73.8%) in Serie A in 2022/23, with the 27-year-old proving a more than capable last line of defence for the Nerazzurri. However, the core reasoning behind United’s interest in Onana was that he is a far stronger performer with the ball at his feet than De Gea. Goalkeepers nowadays need to not only prevent opponents from scoring, but play their part in instigating attacks from defence, be it through short passes to the centrebacks, or raking, long balls out wide. Onana was hugely effective at helping set Inter on the front foot last season, as he chipped in with 6.1 accurate long balls per 90, a significant improvement on De Gea (4.9). Considering United scored more counterattacking goals (nine) than any other Premier League team last season, a goalkeeper capable of picking out a teammate from range would go a long way to benefiting this United side. Not only is Onana the superior goalkeeper with the ball at his feet, but his command of the area would be a huge bonus for Ten Hag’s team. A goalkeeper who is prepared to come for crosses or long balls into the box eases pressure on the backline, and crucially, will exude confidence throughout the defence. While previously United would have prioritised other areas, Ten Hag’s decision to actively pursue another goalkeeper on the back of the FA Cup final has taken them to Onana. The pair worked together at Ajax, meaning the Dutchman is already aware of the former Cameroon international’s strengths, which bodes well for United heading into next season. De Gea has been a loyal servant to the club since his 2011 arrival from Atletico Madrid, but football is a ruthless business and if United are to improve upon last season’s top-four finish and Carabao Cup success, then there is little room for sentiment. They’ll be a far more testing proposition with Onana in goal next season as a result. – The Independent █ BEN MCALEER Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina reacts to beating Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka during their women’s singles tennis match on the 7th day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships. – AFPPIX Inevitable Gea change ONANA