œ œ

 

INSIDE
TELLING IT AS IT IS
Less time Plant-based
for students page diet way to page

to prepare 5 maintaining 6
for exams health

ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 3, 2020

No. 7673 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my

WHITE WOE ...

Residents of Lumajang
in the East Java
Province of Indonesia
making their way
through the village
that has been
blanketed in ash
spewed by Mount
Semeru on Tuesday.
– REUTERSPIX

█ BY HAKEM HASSAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
How to wing it o Aviation experts weigh in on pros and
Financial results released in January
showed that Malaysia Airlines would be unable

P
ETALING JAYA: The future of Malaysia
Airlines may come down to quite an
unlikely choice for those deciding its
fate – business expediency versus
national pride.
Experts in the aviation business pointed out
that the days of a national flag carrier were
over, but sentiments for an airline bearing the
Malaysia brand remains high.
It has been pointed out that many
countries, such as Brazil, Sweden and Norway,
have long shed the need for a state-run carrier,
drawing attention to their less-than-perfect
cons of keeping Malaysia Airlines flying
profitability record over the years.
However, for some current and former
industry players, such as former Malaysia
Airlines director of flight operations Capt
Mohd Kamil Abu Bakar, it is a matter of
national pride.
Malaysia Airlines has been a story of one
failure after another. Billions in taxpayers’
money have been poured into the airline to
keep it aloft but they have all failed miserably.
In October last year, it was announced that
Malaysia Airlines Bhd would need a capital of
RM1 billion a year just to sustain its operations.
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah
Nasional Bhd owns 100% of Malaysia Airlines
via its vehicle Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd. Up
until the fourth quarter of last year, Khazanah
had pumped RM800 million into the carrier.
to turn around its fortunes without a major
investor. Otherwise, the government would
have to invest an additional RM21 billion to
keep it flying until 2025, according to a report
on simpleflying.com, an aviation news website.
Shukor Yusof, founder of Malaysia-based
aviation consultancy firm Endau Analytics,
believes that the concept of a national airline
today is redundant.
“Few countries and
governments have the ability to Turn to
sustain a flag carrier with —
efficiency and profitability,” he page 5
told theSun.
 2 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
RAJVINDER SINGH AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

Speaker unsure of alleged Govt boosting

middle finger gesture
KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat
Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun
said he was unable to make a ruling
on the alleged “middle finger”
incident due to his poor eyesight.
He said he was still unsure about
the details of Tuesday’s alleged
incident despite having gone through
videos of it that have gone viral,
adding that he did not make an
official ruling as he was unclear
about it.
Azhar asked MPs who were
unhappy about the purported
incident involving Deputy Plantation
Industries and Commodities
Minister Willie Mongin to file a
motion with the Rights and Privileges
Committee.
He needed to determine all the
oBlaming poor vision, Azhar says he is unable
to ascertain if purported incident took place
facts before making a decision as
both sides were saying different
things, Azhar said.
“Honestly, I didn’t see it. I have an
eyesight problem this week. I even
asked the deputy minister to explain
and he denied displaying such a
gesture.
“After I watched the video in slow
motion, I still could not determine if it
took place or not,” he told Khoo Poay
Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) when asked
if a decision had been made on the
matter.
Khoo said he has a clear video of
the alleged incident and would show
it to the Speaker.
Azhar then invited Khoo to his
office so that he could take a look at it.
Khoo said he would visit the
Speaker’s office later.
Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew
(PH-Wangsa Maju) said she
witnessed Mongin’s alleged gesture
clearly.
“I was sitting right in front of
Puncak Borneo (Mongin). I saw it
very clearly.”
MPs also urged Azhar to seek
clarification from Datuk Noraini
Ahmad (Umno-Parit Sulong), who
was seated near Willie, and was seen
attempting to defuse the situation.
They also suggested that Azhar
allow the closed-circuit television
recording to be played in Parliament
and call witnesses to come forward in
light of his inability to verify the
incident by himself.
R.S.N. Rayer (PH–Jelutong)
claimed that Willie had flashed his
middle finger after the latter had
finished delivering his winding-up
speech on the allocation proposed for
his ministry under Budget 2021.
Willie allegedly made the vulgar
gesture twice after delivering his
ministry’s winding-up speech.
domestic
tourism to help
services sector
TO help revive the services sector,
which has been badly hit by the
pandemic, the government is
working on giving domestic tourism a
boost, said Deputy Minister in the
Prime Minister’s Department
(Economic) Arthur Joseph Kurup.
He said the tourism industry in the
country and internationally is
expected to improve once countries
gain access to Covid-19 vaccines.
“For now, the government is
working on encouraging local
tourism as the pick-up of the industry
will be dependent on other countries,
including the opening up of our
borders.
“The domestic travel bubble was
introduced to support the local
tourism industry and airlines to
dampen the effects brought on by the
pandemic,” he said when replying to
a question by Rubiah Wang (GPS-
Kota Samarahan).
She had asked about the
government’s plans to ensure that the
tourism industry would not be
paralysed due to the pandemic and
unemployment.
Arthur said the unemployment
rate in the country had dropped to
4.6%. “In May, it stood at 5.3%.”
The government has introduced
several measures such as the Wage
Subsidy Programme to curb
unemployment, he added.

Approval for
employers to
swap foreign
workers
EMPLOYERS have been given the
flexibility to transfer or exchange their
foreign workers with other
companies that need extra
manpower, said Deputy Plantation
FINANCIAL LIFELINE ... Contributors Industries and Commodities
queuing up outside the Seberang Jaya Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck
Employees’ Provident Fund office in Seng.
Butterworth to update their account details This is a short-term initiative
to access the i-Sinar facility, which kicks off known as Permohonan Tukar
on Dec 15. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN Majikan to help solve the worker
shortage in the plantations and
commodities sector, he said, adding
that employers have been facing

Entry ban on foreigners based on virus risk factors
RESTRICTIONS on the entry of because they use Malaysian
foreigners into Malaysia are made treatment facilities although they
based on an assessment matrix were infected abroad.
which can provide a clear picture of “This will disrupt the
the risks of Covid-19 being imported government’s healthcare services
into the country. because the nation’s main
Minister in the Prime Minister’s responsibility is to provide the best
Department (Special Functions) healthcare services, including Covid
Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof treatment, to Malaysians and not
said the criteria used in calculating foreigners entering the country.”
risks include the number of Covid-19 He was responding to a question
cases, death rate for one million from Dr Ong Kian Ming (PH-Bangi),
people in the last 14 days and the who wanted to know the reason
death toll as well as recovery index of behind the blanket ban imposed in
countries they are coming from. September on all citizens from
“Imported cases have a big impact countries with 150,000 virus cases,
including those with valid entry
permits such as participants of the
Malaysia My Second Home
programme and expatriates.
Mohd Redzuan said the
government’s decision to impose
restrictions on 23 countries deemed
high-risk in early September was an
immediate measure as there was
insufficient data on the Covid-19
situation and control methods
implemented in those countries.
He said the move was to protect
Malaysians as it was feared that there
would be a spike in Covid-19 cases in
those countries as well as risk of
infection here, Bernama reported.
“During the temporary ban, the
government obtained the latest
information and re-evaluated the
risks. Accordingly, on Sept 10, the
government decided that expatriates
in the Employment Pass 1 category
and technical experts or skilled
workers from 23 countries be allowed
to enter Malaysia.
“They are required to submit
applications to the Immigration
Department with supporting
documents from the Malaysian
Investment Development Board or
the relevant ministries/agencies.
problems getting foreign workers due
to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The government has also
launched two other initiatives under
the Illegal Immigrants Recalibration
Plan, which started on Nov 16 and
ends on June 30, next year.
“The initiatives are the Program
Rekalibrasi Pulang and the Program
Rekalibrasi Tenaga Kerja.”
The first initiative allows illegal
immigrants to return to their home
countries voluntarily, based on
specific conditions while the second
is a programme to regularise foreign
workers as legitimate workers, who
can be employed by qualified
employers, Wee said in response to a
question from Shaharizukirnain Abd
Kadir (Pas-Setiu).

‘Any law, including OSA, can be reviewed’

THE government is prepared to
review existing laws, including the
Official Secrets Act (OSA) to improve
them, Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department Datuk
Takiyuddin Hassan said.
The government always conducts
reviews of laws to ensure
improvements benefit the people
and the administration, he said.
“Every act of Parliament has its set
objectives and the government is
willing to listen to other views and
amend any law to improve it.
“We are also willing to look at the
Whistle Blower Protection Act 2010
(Act 711),” he said to a question by
R. Sivarasa (PH-Sungai Buloh).
Sivarasa had asked if the
government had any plans to
enhance Act 711 by emulating the
steps of Bursa Malaysia listed
companies to set up an internal
whistle-blower system.
He said Act 711 was passed in 2010
to fight graft and misconduct in the
public and other sectors.
He said the Act also makes it
easier to expose illegal activities,
adding that whistle blowers must act
in good faith as under Act 711,
protection will be accorded to them.
“The information provided by
them, as well as their identities,
addresses and occupations will
remain confidential. They will also
have immunity from any civil or
criminal action.”
In return, he said a whistle blower
must cooperate and act within the
provisions of the Act so that
protection will be given to them
under the law.”
The Act also allows enforcement
agencies to conduct probes, he said.
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020 3
 4 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Alternative bounty
from river
PERMAISURI: During the monsoon
season when it is too risky to go out to
sea, fishermen here have found an
alternative way to generate income.
For Mat Adnan Mohd Amin, 59, this is
the time of the year for catching
freshwater shrimps, or glass shrimps.
“These shrimps can be found in
abundance in the river during the
monsoon season,” he said when met in
Kampung Penarik in Terengganu.
He uses a special net, known as
“gogoh”, that he makes out of bamboo
and a gunny sack.
Mat Adnan and his wife Rohani
Embon, 58, would spend the evenings
setting the nets at various points in the
river. For bait, they use shimps or
coconut flesh.
“We have about 100 nets that I made.”
“At 7am every day, we return to the
river to collect the nets, by which time
they would be filled with freshwater
shrimps,” he said.
By the time they get home two hours
later, there would be buyers waiting for
the catch. On an average day, the couple
harvests up to 18kg of shrimps.
Mat Adnan said the villagers would
buy some of the shrimps from him, while
the rest are sold to middlemen and
market traders.
The shrimps, which he said are
smaller but tastier than other shrimps,
are sold at between RM18 and RM20 per
kilogramme.
“It is sweet and soft, very tasty even if
it is just boiled with palm sugar, with just
a pinch of salt,” he added. – Bernama
Klang Valley, Johor new
Covid-19 hotspots
oOf 851 new infections, 249 detected in S’gor and 85 in
Kuala Lumpur while southern state registered 102 cases
PETALING JAYA: Attention has shifted to
Peninsular Malaysia as the majority of new
Covid-19 infections detected were from the
Klang Valley and Johor.
The Klang Valley recorded 334 cases, or
39.2%, of the 851 new infections detected over
the past 24 hours as of noon yesterday.
Selangor accounted for 249 cases, followed
by Sabah with 229 while Johor recorded 102.
Kuala Lumpur had 85 cases, Negri Sembilan 62,
Penang 60, Perak 34, Kedah 26, Kelantan two,
and Pahang and Malacca one each.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor
Hisham Abdullah said of the total number of
new cases, four were imported while 847 were
locally transmitted, bringing the total number
of active cases with infectivity to 10,686 cases.
“The total number of Covid-19 cases in
Malaysia stands at 68,020,“ he told a press
conference on Covid-19 developments.
There were 658 recoveries yesterday, taking
the tally to 56,969 recovered cases.
The Health Ministry is considering whether
to bring its personnel and frontliners in Sabah
back to Peninsular Malaysia.
There has been a request from Selangor and
Negri Sembilan to bring back staff sent to
Sabah, so they can assist in case detection and
risk evaluation, Noor Hisham said.
There were two more deaths, pushing the
toll to 365.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Security)
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the public
need not worry about using the MySejahtera
app as data collected is secure and protected
under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
MySejahtera also conforms with
international standards on confidentiality and
safety of personal data, he said.
“MySejahtera data is fully owned by the
Health Ministry and regulated by the National
Cyber Security Agency (under the) National
Security Council,” he told a press conference.
“There should not be any concern about
using My Sejahtera because the government
controls it and ensures that the data is
protected.”
He was commenting on allegations that
MySejahtera data was not safe and could be
easily accessed by unauthorised parties.
On calls to allow public libraries in
conditional movement control order (CMCO)
areas to operate, Ismail Sabri said the service
was classified under “prohibited indoor
activity”.
Nevertheless, he said the suggestion to allow
public libraries to open, especially to help
students prepare for examinations and have
internet access, would be discussed with the
relevant ministries.
Residents wait in
line for their
Covid tests
yesterday during
targeted
community
screening
operations in
Meru, Klang.
– ASYRAF

More returning RASID/THESUN

home as floods
recede
KUALA LUMPUR: Flood evacuees woke
up to a ray of sunshine yesterday
morning as floods in Terengganu have
subsided and in the other states,
conditions are improving.
Several relief centres have closed as
more evacuees made their way home.
In Terengganu, the last relief centre at
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan
Merchang in Marang district was closed
at 10.30am as the last of the evauees
from three families left for home.
This is one of the most badly hit
states. At the peak of the floods which
began on Nov 24, five districts, namely
Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu,
Dungun, Kemaman and Marang were
inundated.
In Malacca, the number of evacuees
Call to ascertain halal status of vaccine
has dropped from three families of 16 KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government wants to conduct a thorough study and refer to the (CMCO) being implemented in Kelantan,
people to two families of 12 as of 8am a study to be carried out to ensure that the religious authorities or the fatwa council to Mohd Amar urged residents to continue to be
yesterday. Covid-19 vaccine complies with Islamic law avoid a polemic in society,” he told reporters at disciplined by adhering to the prescribed
The remaining evacuees are staying before it can be used, said Deputy Mentri Besar his office in Kota Darul Naim yesterday. standard operating procedures to curb the
at Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Gantong in Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah. On Nov 7, Science, Technology and spread of Covid-19.
Jasin. He said the study is crucial to raise the Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin “If everyone complies with the SOP, it means
In Bintulu, Sarawak, which was the confidence of the people, especially Muslims, announced that the government will start the CMCO will not be extended, but it depends
only district affected by the floods, the in the vaccine. making orders for the vaccine through an on the Covid-19 situation. That is why we want
number of evacuees has dropped to 71. “Some people totally reject the vaccine, allocation of more than RM3 billion in the 2021 the people to discipline themselves so that the
One relief centre at Muhibbah which to me is not appropriate in terms of Budget. figures do not increase. But if it increases, then
Stadium was closed at noon on Tuesday religion because it is among efforts for us to Malaysia is on the priority list to receive the the government has no choice but to extend
when 30 evacuees from eight families fight against a disease. So, if it is halal and does vaccine from China. However, it has caused CMCO,” he said.
were allowed to returned home. Only not contradict syariah, it is not wrong to get the controversy among Muslims who doubt the The CMCO was enforced in Kelantan on
the Bintulu Auditorium relief centre vaccine. halal status of the vaccine. Nov 24 following a spike in Covid-19 cases in
remains open. – Bernama “However, we want the federal government On the conditional movement control order the state. – Bernama

Stranded Sabah students finally home

KOTA KINABALU: Eighty-four
secondary school students who were
stranded in the peninsula after the
imposition of a conditional
movement control order (CMCO) in
Sabah, have finally returned home.
The Form One to Form Four
students were studying in the
peninsula under the sponsorship of
Yayasan Sabah (YS).
They arrived at the Kota Kinabalu
International Airport (KKIA)
yesterday on a Malaysia Airlines flight
and were greeted by YS director
Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar.
“All the students underwent swab
tests before being sent back to
Sabah,” he told reporters while
welcoming the students at KKIA.
He said the students, who are from
districts near Kota Kinabalu as well as
those who live in the city, will be sent
home and remain under quarantine
for 14 days, adding that 15 students
would be sent back to Tawau and
three to Lahad Datu today.
“Parents need to be fully
responsible in ensuring that these
children do not move about freely to
prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
Ghulam Haidar said another
direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to
Sandakan has been scheduled to
bring back nine more YS-sponsored
students tomorrow.
“There are another 25 Form Five
YS-sponsored students staying in a
YS house in the peninsula who have
not been sent back because they are
sitting for their exams.” – Bernama
 5
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020

NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS

Covid takes heavy toll on students

oMany find difficulty keeping up with studies
due to school closures
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: The Covid-19
pandemic has taken a heavy toll on
students, more so for those who are
sitting for examinations.
Unable to attend classes, many
have found it difficult to keep up with
their school work, and the
postponement of the Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi
Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)
examinations until next year has only
put them under greater pressure.
The SPM will begin on Jan 6, 2021
and the STPM starts on March 8.
As many students have pointed
out, 2020 has turned out to be a
prolonged school year but with less
time to prepare for their SPM
examinations.
For Pure Science student Nur
Zarith Sofea Kamalrul Fadzillah, the
biggest problem is the lack of
practical learning.
“Chemistry classes cannot be
conducted online and students
cannot be expected to understand
chemical reactions or other similar
concepts without actually trying it out
themselves,” she told theSun.
“It has been difficult to keep up
with my studies. I’m more of a
hands-on person, so I prefer the
traditional way to learn, not through a
computer screen,” she said.
Zarith Sofea also has trouble
focusing on her studies.
“I’m not physically and mentally
prepared for online classes. In the
classroom, sitting together with our
classmates, it motivates us to do
better.”
She said another setback is the
lack of co-curricular activities.
“I now realise how important that
is. That is the only time when we get
to be outside the classroom with our
classmates.
“We learn to socialise with each
other. But now, I have retracted into
my shell.”
Addison Wong Qi En, who is also
Karveena Suresh going online to do her school work. – SUNPIX
sitting for the SPM examinations,
believes that being in the classroom is
a better way to learn.
“At the very least, it helps me pay
attention.”
“I have also missed out on many
activities that could have boosted my
confidence, such as performances
that I was participating in until the
MCO (movement control order) put
an end to it,” he said.
Form Four student Karveena
Suresh has another year to go before
she sits for the SPM but she is already
worried about being unprepared for
the examination.
“Form Four is the year we lay the
foundation for ourselves before we go
for the real test in Form Five, but we
have yet to cover the entire syllabus,”
she said.
She also misses the co-curricular
activities that she said sharpen her
athletic skills.
Nishtha Nair feels that while the
school year has been shortened, the
academic year has actually been
lengthened for students like her.
Schools across the country have
been closed since Nov 9, weeks
ahead of the scheduled annual
school holidays that start in
December.
Nishtha said having to cover the
entire syllabus before she sits for the
SPM examinations without the
guidance of a teacher has been very
stressful.
As president of the school’s
English Club, part of her
extra-curricular activities are debates
and public speaking but having to
stay at home has literally emptied the
forum of potential orators.

‘National carriers becoming less relevant’ Malaysia haven for

“The advent of cheap low-cost airlines
and savvier (and younger) passengers means charges, is not in favour of full service
that national carriers are becoming less
relevant,” he added.
Regional aviation industry analyst
K. Ajith, who is director of Asia
transport research at UOB Kay Hian, is
of the view that the market is “clearly
not (big) enough for four domestic
airlines”. Apart from Malaysia Airlines, which
is a full-service carrier, there are two low-cost retained as the national flag carrier.
carriers, namely AirAsia and Firefly, and a
hybrid service Malindo.
“The cost structure, even for airport
carriers,” Ajith said.
For Mohd Kamil, who also once
From served as senior vice-president of the
front Malaysia Airlines Academy, the fact
page that Malaysia has a limited number of
world class sports personalities and
teams to fly the Jalur Gemilang makes it
even more pertinent that the airline be
“National carriers face the same
challenging conditions as private-owned
airlines. It is a very competitive market. But at
the end of the day, it depends on who helms
the organisation. They must be strong and
innovative to survive.”
However, he conceded that the situation
is dire for Malaysia Airlines.
“One way is to start afresh and have Firefly
(the sister carrier of Malaysia Airlines) adopt
the identity of a national carrier.”
“But before that, let us give space to Capt
Izham Ismail (current group chief executive
officer at Malaysia Airlines) to try his best to
address the crisis,” Mohd Kamil added.
Muslim travellers
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is the world’s most
Muslim-friendly destination, according a recent
survey.
The poll, conducted by DinarStandard, an
international strategy research and advisory
firm, ranked Malaysia tops in four of six
categories.
Apart from the Muslim-Friendly Travel
(MFT) sector, the country is also ahead of its
peers in the halal food, Islamic finance and
pharmaceutical and cosmetics categories.
The survey covered 81 countries, comprising
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
countries as well as non-OIC countries with a
prominent halal industry. The findings of the
survey were published in the State of the Global
Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2020/21.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk
Seri Nancy Shukri said Malaysia was ranked
second in the Media and Recreation category
and fourth in the Modest Fashion category.
“Given the huge potential in Islamic tourism,
the ministry and its agency, the Islamic Tourism
Centre (ITC), will beef up efforts to gain market
share through various initiatives,” she said in a
statement yesterday.
In the MFT category, Malaysia ranked top in
two out of four benchmarks, namely governance
and stakeholder training.
Nancy said her ministry and ITC had focused
on stakeholder training during the lull in travel
caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and this was
highlighted in the SGIE report. – Bernama

M’sia to study terms

of pandas’ return
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia must study an
DIZZYING HAUL ... Customs Director-General Datuk Seri Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir (second from right) showing seized smuggled beer during a press agreement with China when deciding whether
conference yesterday. Also present was Customs deputy director-general (Enforcement and Compliance) Datuk Johari Alifiah (right). The value of the to return the pandas living in Zoo Negara.
seized consignment was estimated at RM110,000 while the duties and taxes involved amounted to RM448,000. Energy and Natural Resources Minister
Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said China’s
decision to have Malaysia play host to the
RM4b in overpaid GST returned to companies pandas underlined the special relationship
between the two countries since diplomatic
relations were established in 1974.
PUTRAJAYA: The Customs Department failed to provide information while other information in the Taxpayer Access Point, Under the Malaysia-China Giant Panda
has refunded RM4 billion in overpaid failed to provide valid banking details. MyGST. International Conservation Agreement,
goods and services tax (GST) for the period “This happens when claimants do not They can also contact the department by Malaysia was to keep the giant pandas – a female
June 22 to Nov 30 this year. update their company registration sending an email to named Xing Xing and male named Liang Liang,
These were for 40,280 claims made by information such as business address, refundgst@customs.gov.my, he said. for a period of 10 years beginning 2014.
27,426 companies. telephone number and email in the MyGST On June 15, Finance Minister Tengku In another agreement signed between the
However, director-general Datuk Seri system, resulting in notices or information Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the GST refund Department of Wildlife and National Parks and
Abdul Latif Abdul Kadir said 82,517 claims not reaching them,” he said yesterday. would be made from June 22, and payment the Malaysian Zoological Society on June 22,
for RM1.316 billion submitted by 48,225 He advised companies that have yet to to all claimants was expected to be 2013, the government agreed to develop the
companies could not be processed. receive their GST refunds to update their completed by December at the latest. Giant Panda Conservation Centre and pay
In some cases, he said the claimants registration information and bank – Bernama annual panda conservation fees. – Bernama
 6 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
SHOOT-OUT SUSPECTS’
BRIEFS
REMAND EXTENDED
KANGAR: The remand of three
Malaysians and a Thai, believed to
be involved in a shoot-out that
left a General Operations Force
(GOF) personnel dead and
another seriously wounded, has
been extended. The Thai and one
local man, aged 27 and 45,
respectively, will be remanded
until next Tuesday and and the
other two Malaysians, aged 22
and 45, will remain in lock-up
until next Wednesday. The
extension was granted by Kangar
High Court deputy registrar Siti
Nor Hasliza Md Ali after an
application by police. All four
were taken to the court complex
here yesterday. The police
were granted an order to remand
three other suspects, all Thais,
until next Monday. In the Nov 4
incident, GOF personnel Sgt
Baharuddin Ramli, 54, was
killed and his colleague Sgt
T. Norihan, 39, was seriously
injured in an ambush at the
Malaysian border with Thailand.
– Bernama
FRIENDS FACE DRUG
CHARGE
KANGAR: Two friends were
charged in a magistrate’s court
here yesterday with two counts of
drug trafficking. However, no plea
was recorded from Mohd Firdaus
Abdullah, 21, and Mohd Zamidi
Mat, 31, after the charges were
read out to them before
magistrate Kamaliza Md Zain. On
the first charged, they were
alleged to have trafficked in
126kg of methamphetamine at a
house in Jalan Raja Wali, Felda
Rimba Mas, Padang Besar, at
12.15am on Sept 2. They were
also charged with trafficking in
100kg of cannabis at the same
place and time. The two men,
represented by lawyer Syed
Muhammad Anwar Syed Lokman
Hakim, face the death sentence,
if found guilty. – Bernama
Altantuya’s family file appeal
KUALA LUMPUR: The family of
Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian
model who was murdered in Shah Alam
in 2006, has filed an appeal against the
High Court’s dismissal of their
application to obtain statements
recorded from those investigated by
police in connection with the case, to be
used in their civil suit.
Altantuya’s father Shaariibuu Setev,
his wife and their two grandsons filed
the RM100 million suit against two
former policemen, Azilah Hadri and
Sirul Azhar Umar, political analyst
Abdul Razak Baginda and the
Malaysian government on June 4, 2007.
Counsel for Altantuya’s family,
Sangeet Kaur Deo, told Bernama the
appeal was filed on Aug 14.
“The appeal was fixed for case
management before Court of Appeal
deputy registrar Noridah Adam on Jan
18 via e-review,” she said via WhatsApp
Staying fit during quarantine
SEREMBAN: Instead of whiling away
his time with nothing to do, a teacher
spent his 14-day quarantine exercising
and sharing his regime.
He spent the 14 days working out
and recording his exercises on video.
He then uploaded these videos on
YouTube to be shared with others.
Firdaus Abdullah, 36, who teaches at
Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Dusun
Nyior, was put on quarantine after he
came in close contact with a Covid-19
patient.
HK star stays young
with meatless diet
oMore people opting for
plant-based food to maintain
health, wellbeing
█ BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Hong Kong
superstar Andy Lau, 59, has managed
to maintained his youthful
appearance despite his age and 39
years in show business.
His chiselled looks and flawless
complexion could be due to his
vegetarian diet, which he adopted in
2013 due to the dietary choice of his
Malaysian wife, Carol Chu, and
eight-year-old daughter, Hanna, who
are vegetarians.
Lau, who has a nutritionist, also
abstains from starch and sugar.
Details of a meal, supposedly
catered for him for lunch when he was
a judge at the Golden Rooster Film
Venture Capital Conference in China
in end-November, have gone viral.
His meal consisted of mushroom
soup, Taiwanese vermicelli, stir-fried
Chinese yam with fungus, steamed
pumpkin with chestnuts and bamboo
shoot stew.
There were over 375 million
vegetarians worldwide in 2018,
representing 8% of the world’s
population.
The shift towards plant-based diets
has been predominantly driven by
consumer concern surrounding
health, wellbeing and animal welfare.
Coordinator of the Tzu Chi
International Medical Association,
Dr Eddie Chan, said research has
when asked about the latest
development on the matter.
On July 22, Datuk Vazeer Alam
Mydin Meera, the trial judge in the civil
case at the Shah Alam High Court, when
dismissing the application, ruled that
the statements had been taken in
confidence and for the purpose of the
criminal trial.
The judge, who has been elevated to
the Court of Appeal, also noted that
disclosure could be highly prejudicial to
future investigations or pending
investigations.
Meanwhile, Sangeet said the trial has
been fixed to resume on Jan 11 until Jan
15 next year.
So far, 10 witnesses for Altantuya’s
family have testified in the civil case,
which began in January 2019.
Shaariibuu and his wife, Altantsetseg
Sanjaa, and their two grandsons,
Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and
Firdaus did sit-ups, goblet squats,
jump rope double under as well as
hang snatch exercises. These exercise
routines were uploaded under the title
“WOD Pink Bracelet”.
Firdaus said his intention was to
make full use of his time and to
promote a healthy lifestyle.
“I live with my wife, Noraziera
Johari, 33, and seven-year-old child in
an apartment unit, and because of the
quarantine, we cannot leave the house
and our movements are limited.
proven that
plant-based
diets help
maintain
health and
keep chronic
diseases at
bay.
“This type of
diet is common
among the younger
generation because they
are exposed to the internet,
and I congratulate those who
opt for plant-based diets.
“The common paradigm that
more meat should be consumed for
a healthier diet is not true.”
Plant-based diets consist mainly
of greens, seeds, nuts and fruits, and
provides nutrients, specifically
phytonutrients – a type of natural
compound found in plant foods
such as vegetables and whole grains
– and minerals that our body needs.
“The American College of
Lifestyle Medicine designed the
‘healthy plate’ on how to start a
plant-based diet. Half of the plate
should consist of fruits and
vegetables, one quarter should have
whole grains and one quarter of
plant proteins.
“Herbs and spices can be added
for a boost of antioxidants too,”
Altanshagai Munkhtulga, filed the suit,
but Munkhtulga’s name was later
removed as a plaintiff as he died in 2017.
In their statement of claim, the
family alleged that Altantuya’s death
had caused them mental shock and
psychological trauma, entitling them to
be compensated with exemplary and
aggravated damages.
Abdul Razak was charged with
conspiring with Azilah and Sirul to kill
Altantuya, age 28, in 2006, but was
acquitted of the charge in October 2008
without having to enter his defence,
while Azilah and Sirul were found guilty
in 2009.
Sirul fled to Australia and is being
held at an immigration detention
centre, and on Dec 5 last year, Azilah,
who is on death row, filed a review
application to set aside his conviction
and death sentence, and order for a
retrial.
“So, to get rid of boredom and stress,
my family and I do crossfit exercises,
which is the best exercise to release
stress and increase the body’s
immunity,” he told Bernama yesterday.
Firdaus, an Islamic Education
teacher, said he learned all the basic
techniques of the exercises from a
coach in a gym.
He advised those who have to be
quarantined not to be discouraged but
to always think positive, and stay active
to ensure they stay healthy.
Andy Lau at the
Hong Kong Film
Awards. – AFPPIX
Chan added. get the daily required amount.
He pointed out that research has “Plant-based diets also help
found that animal-based diets maintain the required BMI (body
contribute to many chronic-related mass index). Malaysians do not
issues such as hypertension, have a protein deficiency
cardiovascular diseases and problem, we have a fibre deficiency
stroke. problem.”
“Animal-based diets cause Chan noted that besides general
inflammation in our body, so when physical health, plant-based diets
you talk about diets, the focus contribute to mental and spiritual
should be on balance and the wellbeing too.
outcome it provides. “It promotes calmness and keeps
“In addition, plant-based emotions in check.
proteins are more than sufficient for “Many also feel good because
daily requirements.” they are able to help animals by
“For those who are worried about cutting down on meat, and this
protein deficiencies, if they follow contributes to reducing carbon
the healthy plate portions, they will footprint.”
Mokhtar is new CEO of Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian
National News Agency
(Bernama) editor-in-chief,
Datuk Mokhtar Hussain (pix),
has been promoted to chief
executive officer (CEO) with
immediate effect.
Bernama chairman, Senator
Ras Adiba Radzi, announced
Mokhtar’s appointment as the
CEO after a meeting of the news
agency’s board of governors
yesterday.
Mokhtar, 59, has been acting
CEO since May 17, following the
resignation of Nurini Kassim a
day earlier.
He has been editor-in-chief
since Aug 23 last year and deputy
editor-in-chief (general news)
for six years prior to that.
Mokhtar has 35 years of
journalism service with
Bernama.
He began his career in the
news agency as a news executive
in 1985 and has held various
positions, including Sabah
Mokhtar expressed gratitude
for the trust and confidence
placed in him by the Bernama
bureau chief and news and board as well as the Ministry
current affairs manager (audio- of Communications and
visual service). Multimedia in discharging his
He holds a master’s degree in responsibilities.
Business Law from Universiti “I am grateful for the
Kebangsaan Malaysia and a huge responsibility of leading
bachelor’s degree with honours Bernama.
in Jurisprudence from “This is an honour for all
Universiti Malaya, as well as a Bernama staff. I will work closely
bachelor’s degree with honours with the new chairman and staff
in Mass Communication to take the national news agency
from Universiti Kebangsaan to greater heights,” he said.
Malaysia. – Bernama

Lockdowns
drive spike
in online
child abuse
CANBERRA: Out-of-school kids and adult
predators spending more time at home and
on the internet during the coronavirus
pandemic is the “perfect storm” driving a
spike in online child sex abuse around the
world, activists and police say.
From slums in the Philippines to
Australia’s suburbs, the cross-border crime
has mushroomed as offenders take
advantage of school closures and
lockdowns to reach children – either in
person or via social media, gaming sites and
the dark web.
In Australia, federal police received
more than 21,000 reports of child sex abuse
in the 12 months to June 30, an increase of
over 7,000 cases on the previous year. Their
investigators also recorded a 136% increase
in online child sex exploitation material.
“Lockdowns created the perfect storm
for increases in online sexual exploitation of
children,” said John Tanagho of the
International Justice Mission in Manila.
The Philippine government saw a 260%
increase in reports of online child abuse
materials from March to May – when the
country was in a strict lockdown, Unicef
said.
With jobs and income lost and more
time spent at home as a result of strict virus
measures, in the Philippines many of the
victims are first abused by their own
parents, who livestream the sexual violence
for predators in wealthy Western nations.
“The abuse is directed, it’s paid for and
it’s consumed live by child sex offenders
around the world who don’t need to leave
the comfort of their home,” Tanagho said.
In Indonesia – which along with the
Philippines has become a global hotspot for
child sex abuse – around 20% of children
surveyed by ECPAT, an international NGO
working to end child exploitation, reported
predatory behaviour online.
Police in West Java province recently
uncovered a group on popular messaging
app LINE that facilitated “live nude shows”
including several minors.
Among them was a 14-year-old girl who
was convinced to do a strip show while her
parents thought she was doing homework
online in her room. – AFP
BRIEFS
MAN PARADED NAKED
AROUND TOWN IN INDIA
NEW DELHI: Five brothers have been
arrested in India after a man was
paraded naked in the streets
allegedly in punishment for a social
media post. Police said yesterday the
38-year-old was kidnapped on
Tuesday by the brothers, assaulted
and made to walk for 45 minutes
around the western town of
Khambhaliya with no clothes on. “On
Sunday in a Facebook Live video, (the
man) made serious allegations
against the five brothers and claimed
that they were involved in criminal
activities,“ police spokesman
Hirendra Chaudhary said. – AFP
ISRAELI GOVT INCHES
TOWARDS COLLAPSE
TEL AVIV: Israel’s precarious coalition
government was set to move closer
towards collapse yesterday with
lawmakers expected to approve a
preliminary measure to dissolve
parliament, raising prospects of
elections next year. In a primetime
televised address on Tuesday,
Alternate Prime Minister Benny
Gantz, the key coalition partner of
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
said his centrist Blue and White party
would back a bill to dissolve the
Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Gantz’s
decision to side with the opposition
highlights the widening cracks in
Israel’s ruling coalition. – AFP
UK approves Pfizer vaccine
in world first
oAnti-coronavirus injection to be available next week,
says Prime Minister Johnson
LONDON: Britain approved Pfizer’s Covid-19
vaccine yesterday, jumping ahead of the United
States and Europe to become the West’s first
country to formally endorse a jab it said should
reach the most vulnerable people early next
week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the
medicine authority’s approval as a global win
and a ray of hope amid the gloom of the novel
coronavirus which has killed nearly 1.5 million
people globally, hammered the world economy
and upended normal life.
Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted
emergency use approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccine, which they say is 95% effective in
preventing illness, in record time – just 23 days
since Pfizer published the first data from its
final stage clinical trial.
“It’s fantastic. The vaccine will begin to be
made available across the UK from next week.
New Zealand premier declares
‘climate emergency’
WELLINGTON: New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern declared a “climate
emergency” yesterday, telling parliament that
urgent action was needed for the sake of
future generations.
Ardern said the science on climate change
was clear and New Zealand had to
acknowledge the threat.
The centre-left leader said the challenges
posed by global warming meant parliament’s
declaration – an act undertaken by more than
a dozen other countries – was warranted.
“In those cases where we do issue
declarations, it is often where there is a threat
to life, a threat to property, and civil defence
emergencies,” she told parliament.
“If we do not respond to climate change,
we will continue to have these emergencies
on our shores.”
Lawmakers passed the largely symbolic
emergency declaration by 76 votes to 43 after
Ardern urged them to back the move.
It’s the protection of vaccines that will
ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get
the economy moving again,” Johnson said.
The world’s big powers have been racing for
a vaccine for months in an attempt to be first to
begin the long road to recovery.
The approval of a vaccine for use almost
exactly a year since the novel coronavirus
emerged in Wuhan, China, is a triumph for
science, Pfizer boss Albert Bourla and his
German biotechnology partner BioNTech.
China has already given emergency
approval for three experimental vaccines and
has inoculated around one million people since
July. Russia has been vaccinating frontline
workers after approving its Sputnik V shot in
August before it had completed late-stage
testing on safety and efficacy.
But the European Union’s drug regulator
said yesterday that its longer approval process
for Covid-19 vaccines was safer, as it was based
“Vote in favour of this declaration, be on
the right side of history, be part of the solution
we must collectively deliver for the next
generation,” she said.
Britain’s parliament became the first in the
world to declare a climate emergency, passing
the motion in May last year, followed closely
by Ireland.
According to The Climate Mobilisation, a
US lobby group pushing for such declarations,
more than a dozen nations have followed suit,
along with 1,800 local authorities in cities and
towns globally.
New Zealand’s centre-right opposition
National Party rejected the climate
emergency declaration, labelling it “virtue
signalling”.
“It can do harm in making people think
that by declaring an emergency something
has happened, when it hasn’t,” National
leader Judith Collins told Radio New Zealand.
“It’s quite false and misleading.”– AFP
7
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
on more evidence and checks that the
emergency procedure chosen by Britain.
British leaders said that, while they would
love to get a jab themselves, priority had to be
given to those most in need – the elderly, those
in care homes and health workers.
The US drugmaker said Britain’s emergency
use authorisation marks a historic moment in
the fight against Covid-19.
Pfizer announced its vaccine breakthrough
on Nov 9 with stage III clinical trial results.
“This authorisation is a goal we have been
working toward since we first declared that
science will win, and we applaud the MHRA for
their ability to conduct a careful assessment
and take timely action to help protect the
people of the UK,” Bourla said.
“As we anticipate further authorisations and
approvals, we are focused on moving with the
same level of urgency to safely supply a
high-quality vaccine around the world.”
MHRA approved the vaccine in record time
– partly by doing a “rolling” concurrent analysis
of data and the manufacturing process while
Pfizer raced to conclude trials.
Johnson said Britain had ordered 40 million
doses of the Pfizer vaccine. – Reuters
SHOW OF
GRIEF ...
Residents of the
German city of
Trier pay their
respects at the site
where a car
crashed into
pedestrians on
Tuesday, killing
five people,
including a
nine-month-old
baby and injuring
some 15 others. A
51-year-old
German suspect is
being questioned
and authorities
said it appeared to
be a deliberate
act. – REUTERSPIX
10 rescued from
‘baby factory’
LAGOS: Police in Nigeria have rescued 10
people, including four children, four pregnant
women and two other women from an illegal
maternity home, a spokesman said yesterday.
The operation was carried out at the
so-called “baby factory” in the Mowe area of the
southwestern Ogun state on Tuesday.
“Acting on a tip-off, our men stormed the
illegal maternity home and rescued 10 people,
including four kids and six women,” police
spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi told AFP.
He said the women told police that the
owner hired men to impregnate them and then
sell the newborns for profit.
The “factories” are usually small illegal
facilities parading as private clinics that house
pregnant women and offer their babies for sale.
In some cases, young women have been
held against their will and raped before their
babies are sold on the black market.
Oyeyemi said two suspects, a
physically-challenged man and the daughter of
the owner of the clinic, were arrested. – AFP
 8 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
Thai PM wins crucial legal
battle to stay in office
BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-O-Cha, under pressure
from months of street protests,
yesterday survived a legal challenge
over his living arrangements that
could have seen him thrown out of
office.
The kingdom’s nine-member
constitutional court ruled that Prayut
was not guilty of conflict of interest by
living in an army residence after
leaving the military.
“The status of General Prayut
Chan-O-Cha as prime minister and
defence minister remains
unchanged,” the head judge said.
The court ruled that Prayut’s
status as prime minister entitled him
to live in the house even though he
stepped down as army chief in 2014.
The ruling, though widely
expected, is likely to inflame the
protest movement that has shaken
Thailand since July calling for Prayut,
Hong Kong
dissidents jailed
over protests
HONG KONG: Leading dissident
Joshua Wong was jailed alongside
two other young activists
yesterday for taking part in last
year’s huge democracy protests in
the former British colony as the
crackdown on Beijing’s critics
gathers pace.
Wong was prosecuted
alongside close friends and fellow
campaigners Ivan Lam and Agnes
Chow over a rally outside the
police headquarters.
“It’s not the end of the fight,” the
24-year-old said on Twitter in a
message conveyed by lawyers
shortly after his sentencing.
“We’re now joining the battle in
prison along with many brave
protesters, less visible yet essential
in the fight for democracy and
freedom for (Hong Kong).”
The trio – some of the city’s
most visible and vocal critics of
Beijing’s rule – pleaded guilty to
inciting an unlawful assembly and
other charges.
“The defendants called on
protesters to besiege the
headquarters and chanted slogans
that undermined the police force,”
magistrate Wong Sze-lai said as
she handed Wong 13.5 months in
jail.
“Immediate imprisonment is
the only appropriate option.”
Chow, who turns 24 today and
burst in tears in court, received 10
months.
Lam, the 26-year-old son of an
ex-policeman, got seven months.
Hong Kong was convulsed by
seven straight months of huge and
often violent rallies last year in
which millions took to the streets.
Beijing has refused demands
for universal suffrage and
authorities have pursued
protesters with criminal cases and
a tough new security law.
The tactics have restored a
semblance of calm.
But the finance hub remains
deeply polarised with many still
seething against Beijing’s growing
hold on the semi-autonomous
city. – AFP
oCourt rules Prayut not guilty of conflict
of interest by living in army residence
who came to power in a coup, to quit.
As the judgment was read out,
pro-democracy protesters massed for
a fresh rally at a major intersection in
northern Bangkok.
“I’m not surprised because I think
the court received the directive from
the top and the court is not fair,”
Reeda, 26, a graduate student, told
AFP as demonstrators gathered at Lat
Phrao intersection.
“In the past they always decide
decisions that contrasts with the
feeling of the people.”
The judge said the military had
changed the status of the residence
from an army house to an guest
house in 2012 “so technically, the
MAKING A POINT ... Indian farmers rest on mattresses at a petrol kiosk at the Singhu border near Delhi yesterday during
protests against newly-passed farm bills. The reforms would let farmers sell their produce anywhere, not just at
government-regulated wholesale markets where growers are assured of a minimum price. Small growers fear the changes
will make them vulnerable to competition from big business. – REUTERSPIX
China probe lands on Moon, collects soil
BEIJING: A Chinese space probe
yesterday began drilling on the
surface of the Moon hours after
landing, in an ambitious attempt to
bring back the first lunar samples in
four decades.
Beijing has poured billions into its
military-run space programme, with
hopes of having a crewed space
station by 2022 and of eventually
sending humans to the Moon.
The Chang’e-5 spacecraft – named
for the mythical Chinese moon
goddess – touched down on the near
side of the Moon on Tuesday, and is
now gathering samples from the
surface, the China National Space
Administration said.
Chang’e-5’s goal is to collect lunar
rocks and soil to help scientists learn
about the Moon’s origins, formation
and volcanic activity.
If the return journey is successful,
China will be only the third country
defendant’s no longer living inside an
army house”.
The opposition party Pheu Thai
brought the legal challenge, which if it
had succeeded would have forced
Prayut and his cabinet out of office.
Prayut has previously argued his
family must stay at the army house on
a military base for security reasons.
He appeared relaxed on Tuesday
ahead of the decision, saying he
would send his lawyers to the court
but would not go in person.
“If the court rules that you’ve done
wrong then you’ve done wrong ... if
not then that’s the end of the story.”
Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political
scientist with Ubon Ratchathani
to have retrieved samples from the
Moon, following the United States
and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and
1970s.
This is the first such attempt since
the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission in
1976.
The probe had finished drilling for
samples by early yesterday and is
now “gathering surface samples as
planned”, China’s National Space
Administration said.
The spacecraft was launched from
the country’s southern Hainan
province last week and entered lunar
orbit on Saturday after a 112-hour
journey.
State broadcaster CCTV showed
rows of scientists at mission control,
wearing blue jackets emblazoned
with Chinese flags, monitoring the
probe then clapping after it
successfully touched down.
A huge screen at the front of the
BRIEFS
University, said Prayut’s victory was
little surprise as “they always try to
find a legal loophole to protect him”.
Chulalongkorn University political
scientist Thitinan Pongsudhirak
echoed the view.
“Anyone who’s followed Thai
politics for the past 15 years will think
it’s a foregone conclusion because
the constitutional court has been so
politicised since 2006 that it does not
engender public trust.”
The protest movement is facing
legal action of its own, with five key
leaders charged on Monday under
Thailand’s strict royal defamation
laws – the first time they have been
used in two years.
As well as calling for Prayut to go,
protesters want reforms to the
army-drafted constitution and for
changes to the monarchy – a
taboo-smashing demand in a country
that reveres its royal family. – AFP
room displayed images sent by the
probe of the grey lunar surface.
A separate state media video
released later showed the probe
drilling into the moon’s surface.
The spacecraft plans to collect 2kg
of material in a previously
unexplored area known as Oceanus
Procellarum – or “Ocean of Storms” –
a vast lava plain, according to the
science journal Nature.
The probe was designed to both
get samples from the Moon’s surface,
as well as drill a 2m deep hole and
gather specimens from there, to
ensure a diverse collection.
State media said the craft was
preparing for “around 48 hours” of
tasks on the lunar surface.
The samples will then be returned
to Earth in a capsule programmed to
land in northern China’s Inner
Mongolia region, according to US
space agency Nasa. – AFP
WECHAT BLOCKS
AUSSIE PREMIER
SYDNEY: The Chinese social
media platform WeChat
blocked a message by Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison
amid a dispute between
Canberra and Beijing over the
doctored tweeted image of an
Australian soldier. Morrison
took to WeChat on Tuesday to
criticise the “false image” and
said Australia would deal with
“thorny issues” in a transparent
manner. But that message
appeared to be blocked by
yesterday evening, with a note
appearing from the “Weixin
Official Accounts Platform
Operation Centre” saying the
content was unable to be
viewed because it violated
regulations, including
distorting historical events and
confusing the public. – Reuters
JAVA VOLCANO
SPEWS LAVA, ASH
JAKARTA: Hundreds of
Indonesians have fled their
villages after a rumbling
volcano spewed hot ash
thousands of metres into the air
and belched lava down its
crater. Mount Semeru on Java
island spouted the towering
column on Tuesday, prompting
a call for around 500 people to
temporarily evacuate their
homes. Footage from the scene
showed dead livestock covered
by pyroclastic flows – a fast-
moving mixture of hot gas and
volcanic material. Local disaster
agency chief Agus Triono
warned yesterday residents
could still be at risk as heavy
rains threatened to trigger
more volcanic flows from the
still-spewing crater. – AFP
Lab-grown
meat to go on
sale in S’pore
SINGAPORE: Lab-grown chicken
will soon be available in
restaurants in Singapore, after the
city-state became the first to
green-light meat created without
slaughtering any animals.
US start-up Eat Just said
yesterday that its meat had been
approved for sale in the city-state
as an ingredient in chicken
nuggets.
The news marks a
“breakthrough for the global food
industry”, said the company, as
firms increasingly try to find less
environmentally harmful ways of
producing meat.
“I’m sure that our regulatory
approval for cultured meat will be
the first of many in Singapore and
in countries around the globe,”
Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO
of Eat Just, said.
Demand for sustainable
alternatives to meat is rising, but
other products in the market are
plant-based.
There were concerns
lab-grown varieties would be too
expensive, but a spokesman for
Eat Just said the company had
made “considerable progress” in
lowering the cost.
“Right from the start, we will be
at price parity for premium
chicken at a high-end restaurant,”
he told AFP.
He did not reveal the price of
the nuggets but said they would be
launched soon at a Singapore
restaurant, before other products
including lab-grown chicken
breasts are rolled out. – AFP

COMMENT by Firas Raad
Productive, inclusive ageing for Malaysia
T
HERE is cause for celebration in
Malaysia. The country is following the
path of many others that have climbed
up the income ladder and reached
greater levels of economic prosperity. Its
demographics have also shifted from a situation
of high fertility and high mortality to an era of
low fertility and low mortality.
As a result, in 2020 Malaysia passed a crucial
milestone in its development trajectory and
became an ageing society, defined per the
international convention, as having 7% or more
of the population aged 65 and above.
But ageing also raises concerns, especially if
it happens fast. The share of the population
aged 65 and above in Malaysia is expected to
double from 7-14% by 2044, in just 24 years.
Only 12 years later, the share will reach 20%.
Thus, Malaysia’s ageing process is happening at
a similar pace to that of Japan.
Rapid ageing means Malaysians will have to
work longer. At present, compared with other
upper middle- and high-income countries, the
employment rate of those aged 55 to 64 in
Malaysia is very low, especially among women.
Whereas in Korea, Japan or Thailand more than
65% of persons aged 55 to 64 are active in the
labor market, in Malaysia this is the case for
only 45% of those in this age group.
Working longer will allow Malaysians to
contribute to the country’s economic growth
while improving their own financial protection
at old age. In addition, working at older ages
provides social interactions, autonomy, and a
sense of purpose and is therefore often
associated with greater life satisfaction and
COMMENT by William G. Borges
Highlights of the 2020 US elections
REGARDLESS of President Donald Trump’s
refusal to concede the presidential election to
Joe Biden, the world knows he lost.
This has been an indisputable fact since at
least since Nov 7 when the state of Pennsylvania
was called for Biden, giving him more than the
number of electors needed to win.
Still, many observers persist in denying
some obvious truths. So it is important to note
these four things:
0 Notwithstanding popular claims to the
contrary, the presidential election wasn’t
very close.
Several election analysts have pointed out that,
although Biden’s popular vote total – about 81
million – is much higher than that of any other
presidential candidate, Trump’s total is the
second-highest ever, at about 74 million.
While this is interesting, it’s irrelevant when
considering the issue of a candidate’s margin of
victory. That is, the total vote gap between two
contenders is secondary in importance to the
discrepancy in percentage between the two.
Biden’s margin of victory, when properly
viewed, is quite substantial in itself and when
viewed historically. And while America’s
presidential elections are not decided by raw
votes, those votes do indicate the candidates’
respective levels of overall popularity.
As of Dec 2 Biden’s margin of victory stood at
6.9 million votes, he defeated Trump by 4.4
percentage points, 51.3% to 47%. How
substantial is this win? Compared with other
presidential races, it is about average.
Since the end of World War II (usually
regarded as the start of the modern era of
American politics), the US has had nineteen
presidential elections, and Biden’s popular-win
margin by percentage ranks as the eighth
highest.
But Trump’s loss must also be measured by
his status as an incumbent president. Since
1900, twenty-one incumbents have stood for
reelection, and Trump is only the sixth one to
lose in the modern era, only four of 12
incumbents have been beaten.
Moreover, Trump failed in both of his bids to
receive a plurality, much less a majority, of
popular votes cast, as he garnered 46.1% in
2016, one point beneath his percentage this
year.
slower cognitive decline.
In fact, workers’ cognitive capabilities tend
to change rather than decline as they age. Older
workers have the skills that complement, rather
than substitute those of younger workers. There
is also no evidence, in Malaysia or in other
countries, that increased employment among
older workers harms the employment
prospects of younger workers.
As in nearly all high-income countries,
longer working lives will in turn require gradual
adjustments to the minimum retirement age in
line with the increasing life expectancy. One
policy option is to gradually increase the
relatively low minimum retirement age from 60
to 65, and thereafter to link it to life expectancy.
In parallel, the minimum withdrawal age of
the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) of 55
years old is also relatively low by international
and regional standards. For example, the
equivalent age in Singapore is 64.
Along with the fact that many EPF members
move in and out of formal employment, this
means the majority of older persons in Malaysia
have very inadequate EPF benefits, or none at all.
Thus, the burden often falls on families, or the very
limited social welfare programmes, to protect
older persons against poverty and destitution.
The average 55-year-old Malaysian is
expected to live for another 24.5 years. This
means that many workers will spend longer in
retirement than as active EPF contributors.
Shifting the minimum withdrawal age from
55 to 65 through a well-considered transition
process, for instance over a period of 20 years,
could almost double the effective financial
Still, these elections are decided by electoral
votes, awarded (in 48 of the 50 states) on a
winner-take-all basis. This causes candidates to
(understandably) focus only on competitive (or
“battleground”) states.
In this year’s contest the battlegrounds were
in six states – Wisconsin, Michigan,
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida and
Arizona. Each of these states was carried by
Trump in 2016.
Of the remaining 44 states, Trump held the
23 he carried in 2016 and Biden took the 21
states Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, won
that year.
But Biden convincingly won the electoral-
vote battle, as he prevailed in four of the six
swing states, including all three of the so-called
“Blue Wall” states – Wisconsin, Michigan and
Pennsylvania – where the race was decided in
2016.
By the time the votes were counted Biden
had flipped five Trump-2016 states, while
Trump failed to flip any Clinton-2016 states.
Four years ago, Trump defeated Clinton in
the electoral college 306-232 and this year
Biden defeated incumbent Trump by the exact
same margin.
In sum, then, Biden went against a sitting
president and defeated him by about seven
million popular votes and 74 electoral votes,
crushed him in the Blue Wall, beat him in four
out of six battleground states, and won an
additional Trump-2016 state (Georgia) to boot.
This was not a close election.
0 The pollsters didn’t do such a terrible job
in their forecasts.
The major polling agencies have again taken a
beating in the press for their election
forecasting, but as in 2016 when pollsters
missed the national popular vote by only 1%
they performed reasonably well.
Most of the major national polls had Biden
winning the popular vote by about eight points,
about 3.6 points more than the actual total.
So even though leading pollsters correctly
predicted the winner, they were off by a fair
amount. But in the electoral count, which
matters far more, their findings were pretty
good.
Indeed, the polls called none of the swing
states incorrectly. They had Biden winning the
protection for EPF members who work
continuously.
This is due to three effects: members will
contribute for an additional 10 years, they will reap
an additional 10 years of dividends and the
withdrawal period will be substantially shortened.
In parallel, policies are needed to foster the
productive and inclusive employment of all
workers, including older workers.
If Malaysians are to work longer, they will
need to be healthier for longer, with less
physically demanding job, and with more
digitally-enabled work places. A first policy
option is to provide enhanced opportunities for
training and lifelong learning that consider the
specific circumstances of older workers.
In addition, companies could be
encouraged and supported to accommodate
the wishes and abilities of older workers in
areas such as work organisation, work
equipment, and working time policies.
Finally, a regulatory framework for the
productive and flexible employment of older
workers could be developed, and part-time and
other flexible forms of employment could be
further facilitated.
In order to prevent exacerbating existing
gender imbalances in employment, it will also
be important to address women-specific
constraints to work.
Relevant initiatives include better
availability, quality and affordability of
childcare, reforms of the legal environment and
improved support for parents in line with
international legal norms, and policies that
address gender norms and attitudes.
three “Blue Wall” states, which he did, and had
the other battlegrounds – Arizona, Florida and
North Carolina – within the statistical margin of
error (in other words, tied).
They correctly predicted a comfortable
popular and electoral win for Biden while
overstating Democrats’ support in
congressional races, where they lost 11 or 12
seats in the House of Representatives and
picked up between one and three Senate seats
(this number will be decided when Georgia
hosts two run-off elections on Jan 5).
0 The difference between Trump’s national
vote and that of Republicans clearly reflects a
rejection of Trump.
While many pundits have slammed the
Democrats’ national showing because Biden
did not win by double digits and his party lost
seats in Congress, they are overlooking some
simple facts.
First, as noted earlier it is very difficult for a
challenger to defeat an incumbent president.
But Biden nevertheless beat Trump
substantially, both in popular and electoral
votes.
Second, it is not unusual for the party
winning the White House to lose congressional
seats. For example, in 2000 Republican George
W. Bush won the presidency, but his party lost
two seats in the House and the exact same thing
happened when his father won the White
House twelve years earlier.
Still, the GOP did better than expected in
congressional contests, while Trump lost by a
large popular vote.
What does this indicate? While Trump and
his supporters argue that Trump carried down-
ballot Republicans to victory, this seems
illogical. That is, why would the candidate who
is carrying others to victory lose his own race?
9
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
SPEAK UP
While efforts to enable Malaysians to work
longer might not always be popular, experience
from different European countries shows how
an inclusive reform process, the transparent
provision of information, and the adoption of
concepts from behavioral economics can win
over some of the sceptics.
Some countries, including Denmark, Italy,
and the Netherlands, even aim to increase the
minimum retirement age beyond age 70, while
others have made provisions to automatically
link the retirement age to life expectancy.
Even beyond the need for Malaysians to
work longer, ageing will be a key mega-trend
affecting all Malaysians in coming decades,
raising policy challenges in areas such as
income security, healthcare, and aged care.
Many of these policy challenges have been
exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. For
instance, Covid-19 infections in several aged
care homes in Malaysia show the importance of
securing health and safety conditions in these
homes.
Ultimately, the right mix of policies can help
Malaysia adapt to rapid ageing, improve the
well-being of al, and increase the share of
Malaysians that experience old age not as a
burden but as a period of their life, full of
independence, social inclusion and
productivity. That is the silver lining we all want
to see.
Firas Raad is the World Bank Sustainable
Growth and Inclusive Finance Hub country
manager in Malaysia. Comments:
letters@thesundaily.com
The more plausible explanation is that voters
were rejecting Trump while showing distrust for
both parties and consequently voted for divided
government. (It is also important to point out
that, while GOP House gains were impressive,
Democrats won the national congressional vote
by 6.8 percentage points.)
0 A Trump run in 2024 would not be a first,
except in the modern political era.
While refusing to concede defeat, Trump has
floated the idea of running again in 2024, and
some have suggested that he might make a
ceremonial announcement of his candidacy on
Jan 20, during the Biden inauguration.
An individual may serve a maximum of two
presidential terms, whether those be
consecutive or non-consecutive. Grover
Cleveland is the only president to serve two
non-consecutive terms, winning the White
House in 1884, losing in 1888, and winning
again in 1892.
It is conceivable, but unlikely, that Trump
could match Cleveland’s feat for a simple
reason. Cleveland was a popular president, in
all three elections where he competed he won a
plurality of the popular vote.
In his two runs, Trump decisively lost the
popular vote. Furthermore, during his
presidency Trump has not once had a majority
approval rating.
Trump-related news will change
dramatically when Trump concedes or Biden is
sworn in, whichever comes first.
And once the charade involving the election
outcome is over, attention by the news media
will immediately turn to Trump’s criminal and
civil problems, which are numerous.
The writer is a professor at HELP University.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
 10 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
MEDIA & MARKETING
WINNING DOCUMENTARY
BRIEFS
BY UTAR STUDENTS
Red Wine Chicken, a film documenting
the life, marriage and love between a
Vietnamese woman and a Malaysian
man by two Bachelor of
Communication (Honours)
Broadcasting final year students from
the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
(UTAR) Faculty of Creative Industries
(FCI), has been named one of the five
winning documentaries by the Visual
Documentary Project (VDP) 2020.
Initiated in 2012 by the Center for
Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) Kyoto
University, the VDP aimed to provide a
platform to deepen exchanges on
Southeast Asia through documentary
filmmaking, supplement academic
research on Southeast Asia and create
bridges between filmmakers and
researchers working in the region.
FASHIONVALET DONATES
RM100,000 TO IMARET
In conjunction with FashionValet’s 10th
anniversary, the brand is donating
RM100,000 to the IMAM Response &
Relief Team (IMARET) fund on behalf of
its employees to join the fight against
the Covid-19 pandemic. A trendsetter
and leader in the modest fashion
industry, FV is looking towards a global
expansion in the next two years with the
aim of elevating and redefining the
modest fashion scene.
VALUE DEALS TO SUIT
EVERYONE’S NEEDS
Domino’s, the world’s number one
delivery company continues to surpass
expectations by expanding consumers’
wallets with its dedicated “Everyday
Value”, created to give the best value
when pizzas are ordered via delivery or
take-aways. The roll out of this
campaign provides a variety of value
for money offers to satisfy its loyal
customers with scrumptious pizzas
that’s worth every sen, from products
to the services offered.
Roasted to perfection
MALAYSIAN coffee lovers have
something to look forward to, as Nestle
Malaysia presents its first ever 100%
home-grown coffee, Nescafe Classic Kopi
Kedah! This first edition is made with
100% locally grown coffee beans from the
Nescafe Grown Respectfully Programme,
a sustainable coffee farming initiative
launched last year in Kedah.
The coffee beans used in Nescafe
Classic Kopi Kedah are grown with
respect and selected with utmost care.
Roasted to perfection and ground to a
fine coffee powder, this delivers the
Reimagining the future
of work
oWill remote working be the new norm
in tomorrow’s world?
W
ORKERS around the world have
had plenty of time to weigh up
the advantages and
disadvantages of working from
home since the onset of the Covid-19
pandemic.
Now, it seems that remote working could
become a new norm, although a long-term
shift looks more likely in Europe or the USA
than elsewhere in the world.
A recent consumer survey from the US-
based consultants McKinsey & Company,
carried out in nine countries worldwide
(China, France, Germany, India, Japan,
Mexico, Spain the UK and the USA), analysed
more than 2,000 activities in more than 800
occupations to find out which have the
greatest potential for remote work.
Jobs requiring workers’ physical presence
(retail, deliveries, care, etc.) were not taken
into account.
The survey revealed that more than 20% of
the workforce in the nine countries studied
could work remotely three to five days a week
as effectively as if they were in an office. A new study from McKinsey estimates that 22% of employees in the US could work remotely
“If remote work took hold at that level, that between three and five days a week without affecting productivity.
would mean three to four times as many
people working from home than before the and the country had the highest potential for The potential for time spent on remote
pandemic and would have a profound impact remote work among those studied in the work drops to 12-26% in these emerging
on urban economies, transportation, and report. economies.
consumer spending, among other things,” the The UK workforce could theoretically work In the US, 22% of employees could work
report concludes. remotely one-third of the time without losing remotely between three and five days a week
The potential for remote working, which productivity. without affecting productivity, while only 5%
may become a long-term trend, varies from Similarly, in other advanced economies, could do so in India.
country to country, in turn reflecting the workforces could work from home 28-30% of According to the results of another global
makeup of their economic sectors, the time while maintaining productivity. survey from McKinsey, carried out in May,
occupations and activities. But it’s a different story in the report’s 38% of corporate executives polled (across all
Indeed, some occupations and activities emerging economies (China, India, Mexico), sectors) expected their remote employees to
lend themselves more easily to remote where labour markets rely more heavily on work two or more days a week out of the office
working than others. occupations requiring physical and manual after the pandemic, compared to 22% of
For example, business and financial activities, in sectors like agriculture and respondents surveyed before Covid-19. – AFP-
services are a large share of the UK economy, manufacturing. Relaxnews
signature aroma and taste of Nescafe
Classic, bringing Malaysians a truly
authentic local coffee experience.
Further paying homage to the 100%
home-grown product, the all-new
Nescafe Classic Kopi Kedah is packaged
in a printed traditional Malaysian batik
aluminum collectible tin can, bringing to Nestle Malaysia
life local elements. chief executive
The limited-edition Nescafe Classic officer Juan
Kopi Kedah is available in a 170g Aranols holds a
aluminum tin can, retailing for RM23.02 can of NESCAFE
at selected local supermarkets and mini Classic Kopi
markets. Kedah.
 SunBIZ
THURSDAY
S E C U R I T I E S S D N.
197201001092 (12738-U)
B H D.

A Participating Organisation of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad

DECEMBER 3, 2020
A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad
Editorial: Tel.: 03-7784 6688
Fax: 03-7785 2624/5
Participation Bought Sold Net Email: sunbiz@thesundaily.com
% RM m RM m RM m Advertising: Tel: 03-7784 8888
Fax: 03-7784 4424
43.8 Institutions 2336.0 2420.9 -84.9 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
37.2 Retail 2078.8 1957.5 121.3
19.0 Foreign 1014.4 1050.8 -36.4
3.54 3.17 35.10 2.56
13.44 103.47 41.65 1.67
100.0 5429.2 5429.2 0.0
Preliminary stats (excluding trade amendments). For final data, please refer to www.bursamalaysia.com
KLCI STI HANG SENG SCI NIKKEI TSEC KOSPI S&P/ASX200
Source: Burs Malaysia 1,598.72 2,810.95 26,532.58 3,449.38 26,800.98 13,989.14 2,675.90 6,590.20

INDICES
KL MARKET SUMMARY
December 2, 2020

CHANGE
Oil price to average higher
in 2021: Fitch Solutions
FBMEMAS 11,561.50 -8.11
FBMKLCI 1,598.72 -3.54
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 591.65 +1.13
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 168.35 +1.23
CONSTRUCTION 177.30 +0.67
FINANCIAL SERVICES 14,295.50 +87.30
ENERGY 824.77 -15.70
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 628.00 +2.01 dissidents to agree to the proposed
HEALTH CARE 3,973.94 -13.10 oAt US$53 a barrel, supported by sharp and robust extension but it is also an indication of the
TRANSPORTATION 767.87 +1.47
PROPERTY 671.53 +1.44 global growth rebound as Covid-19 headwinds ease growing, visible signs of cracks within the
group that could bring future compliance
PLANTATION 7,339.12 -11.10 to any output cut quotas into question.
FBMSHA 13,330.20 -41.80 Under the terms reached in April, the
FBMACE 10,573.10 -198.00 PETALING JAYA: The average oil price for Middle East drag on demand recoveries current cut of 7.7 million barrels per day
TECHNOLOGY 66.32 +1.05 2021 is expected to trend higher at US$53 per and market confidence,” it said in a report. (bpd) will be reduced to 5.8 million bpd
barrel (pb) compared with US$48 previously The vaccine rollout across the globe is starting from January 2021.
TURNOVER VALUE projected by Fitch Solutions, supported by a expected to occur over the next 24 months, “Based on past decisions by Opec+,
9.221 BIL RM5.429 BIL sharp and robust global growth rebound as reaching most by second-half 2021. This however, the expectation is still for the
Covid-19 headwinds ease. supports the narrative of a stronger group to agree to roll over the current level
After a 4% contraction this year, its economics and fuel demand in the later of cuts by at least three additional months,
5 MOSTDecember
ACTIVES 2, 2020
economist forecast growth in global real
gross domestic product (GDP) to expand
half of next year.
In the immediate term, Fitch Solutions
as sharp relapses in Covid-19 infections in a
number of key markets threaten new drags
by a robust 5.4% in 2021, in large part due to projected that the Opec+ meeting today on global demand.”
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) base effects but also as halted economic will likely see an agreement to roll over the However, Fitch Solutions highlighted
BIOHLDG 486,987,400 31 -4.5 activities are resumed after months-long current level of output cuts for at least three that a failure to reach a settlement cannot
AT 407,656,500 19.5 -1.5 hiatus. more months, providing support to prices be ruled out, although such a scenario
LAMBO 259,453,200 4 +0.5 Fitch Ratings’ research arm forecast the over the first quarter of 2021. would be costly and prove highly
FINTEC-OR 205,783,900 2 +0.5 coming year to be one of two halves However, it noted that reports on the detrimental for oil prices that are already
HIAPTEK 185,505,100 31 +3 marked with volatility, noting that Opec members’ meeting on Monday were highly sensitive to changes in supply.
optimism over positive progress on the not encouraging as they failed to agree on Over the next few years, it foresees the
Covid-19 vaccine front and strong extending the current levels of cuts despite supply side fundamental to be broadly
5 TOPDecember
GAINERS 2, 2020
economic performance from the US and
China through third-quarter 2020 has
reaching a framework agreement for a
three-month extension.
bearish and the concentration of returning
barrels in 2022 will see average prices in
begun to be priced in by the market. There were also murmurs that Saudi that year come in at US$51 pb, lower than
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM “However, the degree of bullishness Arabia considered resigning as co-chair of what it forecasts for 2021.
NESTLE 04,000 137.00 0.60 looks set to level off over the first half of the Opec+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring “Even factoring in a likely extension of the
UWC 8,034,600 7.94 0.55 2021, as resumption of lockdowns in key Committee, which the research arm current level of Opec+ output cuts, the cuts
PETDAG 286,800 21.20 0.52 markets such as the US, Europe and the viewed as a possible bargaining ploy to get are still designed to be eased over its lifetime
KESM 267,400 11.96 0.34 through to April 2022, barring further re-
MPI 319,500 25.50 0.30 negotiation,” said the research arm.
It cautioned that the potential for
continued market management by Opec+
5 TOP LOSERS
December 2, 2020
cannot be ruled out as market conditions
remain volatile, although group cohesion
looks set to be increasingly tested as
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) RM disputes among members grow.
IHS046000824 10 101.00 0.50 Meanwhile, the easing of pandemic
SUPERMX-C82 1,000 4.35 0.29 curbs along with a modest rebound in prices,
PPB 528,700 18.40 0.20 will allow idle/shut capacities in global
VITROX 193,200 14.80 0.20 markets to return in the coming months,
SUPERMX-C88 2,000 3.52 0.18 capping more significant gains in prices.
Fitch Solutions pointed out that trends
in US shale in particular will be important
EXCHANGE RATES DECEMBER 2, 2020 to monitor, due to the sector’s ability to be
quickly switched on.
Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy “The carryover of headwinds built up
TT/OD TT OD over 2020 will see US shale output hit a
1 US DOLLAR 4.1330 4.0070 3.9970
nadir in 2021, before rebounding in 2022.
However, the pace of growth will be
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0690 2.9460 2.9300 significantly slower than in previous years,
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.0890 2.9990 2.9910 A 3D printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed stock graph and ‘Covid-19’ in this next to persistent price volatility and more
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.1910 3.1050 3.0930 illustration picture. Fitch Solutions says it will be important to monitor trends in US shale in conservative spending among firms,” it
1 EURO 4.9950 4.8320 4.8120 particular, due to the sector’s ability to be switched on quickly. – REUTERSPIX said.
1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.9310 2.8230 2.8070
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR
1 STERLING POUND
1 SWISS FRANC
3.0890
5.5550
4.5800
2.9990
5.3790
4.4740
2.9910
5.3590
4.4590
Invesco: Erratic recovery, emerging stocks to rise
MUMBAI: A recovery from the coronavirus Chao said at the Reuters Global Investment there needs to be economic growth, higher
100 UAE DIRHAM 113.8100 107.8900 107.6900
pandemic will be erratic but loose Outlook Summit, 2021. inflation, rising bond yields and improved
100 BANGLADESH TAKA 4.9790 4.6310 4.4310 monetary policy around the world and Stock markets in the United States are corporate earnings, which will hinge on a
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 63.1000 60.6000 N/A vaccine optimism would keep risk assets expected to go through a period of vaccine being approved and available to
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 53.8700 51.1800 50.9800 supported, a global markets strategist at correction, Chao said, adding that a the public,” he added.
Invesco said yesterday. broader rotation into value and cyclical Chao expected the US dollar to weaken
100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.7200 5.3600 5.1600
Asia-Pacific equities, specifically stocks in the near-term was likely. in the first half of 2021 due to ample
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0303 0.0273 0.0223 markets in Greater China and North Asia, “From a fundamental standpoint, liquidity from the Federal Reserve’s ultra-
100 JAPANESE YEN 3.9670 3.8420 3.8320 are expected to rise on Covid-19 widespread inoculation will fuel a pickup loose monetary policies and additional
100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR 15.6000 N/A N/A containment measures, a rebound in in global demand, which should see fiscal stimulus measures.
economic activity and increased capital cyclicals and value stocks rally relative to For those same reasons and as a vaccine
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 2.6400 2.4600 2.2600
expenditure from the 5G rollout, David growth,” he said. becomes available, Chao said inflation
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.7300 8.2300 8.0300 Chao, global markets strategist for Asia From a valuation perspective, Chao could “finally start to rear its head” in the
100 QATAR RIYAL 112.7300 107.0200 106.8200 Pacific at Invesco, told the Reuters Global said, the disparity between value stocks, at second half of 2021.
100 SAUDI RIYAL 111.3800 105.7300 105.5300 Markets Forum. 17 times price-to-earnings (PE), and “There will be a day of reckoning ... and
“I am very much overweight equities growth stocks, at 38 times PE, was greater the first sign will be inflation and then
100 THAI BAHT 14.2900 12.6700 12.2700
over fixed income... 2021 could be a great than the early-2000 record. credit defaults. However, that day isn’t on
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama year for emerging market (EM) stocks,” “For a continued rally of value stocks, the horizon just yet,” he said. – Reuters
12 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
SUNBIZ
Third-quarter earnings
show signs of recovery
PETALING JAYA: The recently
concluded third-quarter corporate
earnings period has provided some
hope for the upcoming quarters,
analysts said, despite 2020 being a
write-off year.
PublicInvest Research said
whether it was a situation in which the
investment community had become
overly pessimistic on prospects and
made drastic cuts to expectations, the
current period saw a good number of
upside revisions, be it on earnings
estimates, recommendations and/or
valuations.
It said for the stocks under its
coverage, earnings hits and misses
were noticeably better 67:33% vis-à-
vis the 61:39% at the end of the
second quarter, offering some
optimism of strength into the future,
particularly with the expected
economic recovery going into 2021.
“While markets have been
moving upward in recent months,
predominantly on heightened levels
of expectations, earnings recoveries
JAKS: Vietnam power plant’s first unit up and running
PETALING JAYA: JAKS Resources
Bhd has received confirmation from
Vietnamese authorities that the first
unit of its build-operate-transfer
(BOT) thermal power plant in Hai
Duong province commenced
operations on Nov 24.
The second unit is scheduled for
completion in the second quarter of
2021.
JAKS Resources CEO Andy Ang
Lam Poah said the completion of the
whole power plant is expected to
generate revenue annually over the
next 25 years.
“This augurs well for JAKS as we
can now reap in the benefits of the
recurring stable income in the long
run, starting with the first unit
achieving its commercial
operational status. Going forward, in
light of the region’s huge appetite for
energy, we are absolute that our
renewable energy prospects will be
very bright,” he said.
The power plant comprises two
600MW coal-fired thermal units with
a project cost of US$1.87 billion. JAKS
initially obtained the concession and
subsequently formed a joint venture
with China Power Engineering
Consulting Group Co Ltd (CPECC) to
build and operate the power plant.
Former operations director of Axiata subsidiary faces more charges
KUALA LUMPUR: A former
operations director for an Axiata
Group Bhd subsidiary who
previously faced 21 counts of
corruption involving RM2.8 million
in the Shah Alam Sessions Court,
was arraigned in the Sessions Court
here yesterday on two charges of
soliciting bribes for the supply of
services and several projects with
regard to the telecommunications
company.
Kok Chin Peng, 41, a former
director at Apigates Sdn Bhd,
pleaded not guilty after both charges
against him were read out by a court
interpreter before Judge Manira
Mohd Noor.
The accused was charged with
soliciting bribes from a man for 10%
oThere’s hope yet for the coming quarters
despite 2020 being a write-off year, say
analysts
on the back of business-related
improvements are picking up.
“While current upward
adjustments are not to the cyclically-
critical sectors like banks, properties
and construction as yet, we expect to
see improvements in the coming
year due to pick-up in activity,
underpinned by the global and our
economic rebound,” it added.
The research house is keeping its
year-end target for the FBM KLCI
unchanged at 1,590 points, and
suggested that the benchmark could
head toward the 1,720-point mark in
the coming year.
“Beyond 2021, preliminary
indications suggest a roughly 5%
earnings growth, likely sufficient to
JAKS holds a 30% equity interest in
this joint venture with CPECC
holding the remainder.
Under the power purchase
agreeement, the joint-venture
company, namely JAKS Hai Duong
Power Co Ltd, will be guaranteed
with fixed capacity payments by the
Vietnamese government and will be
backed by energy payment to cover
of the amount claimed monthly by
Skytree Sdn Bhd from Axiata Digital
Services Sdn Bhd for the supply of
Axiata’s Customer Support Managed
Services, as well as 20% for the
supply of Axiata’s MIFE Billing
Managed Services.
He was also charged with
soliciting bribes from the same
individual, namely 24% of the
monthly claims for Axiata’s Customer
Support Managed Services, Axiata’s
MIFE Billing Managed Services and
Apigate’s Onboarding Managed
Services projects, as well as 19% for
software development projects/
sofware enhancement. It is alleged
the bribes were inducements to help
Skytree acquire customer service
works from Axiata Digital Services Sdn
keep investors engaged in the
market. Interest rates at all-time
lows, conditions we last saw in
2008/2009, is feeding the hunger for
investment returns hence the market
is not reacting particularly negatively
to weaker earnings reports seen in
the last two quarters,” it said.
For stocks, PublicInvest said it is
retaining its preference for smaller-
capitalised names with strong
growth stories. Johore Tin, Magni-
Tech Industries, Mega First, Sarawak
Plantations, Serba Dinamik, SKP
Resources, Homeritz Corporation
and D&O Green Technologies.
CGS CIMB Research said that
while quarterly market earnings for
companies under its coverage grew
variable costs, including fuel and
variable operating costs, and
therefore contributing to a
sustainable income contribution
during the 25-year tenure.
The recurring income from JAKS
Hai Duong Power Co, which is
readily convertible into US dollars,
bodes well for JAKS as it helps to
hedge its earnings against foreign
Bhd and Apigates.
Kok is alleged to have committed
both acts at a restaurant in Jalan
Klang Lama here, between August
2017 and September 2018 and was
charged under Section 16 (a) (A) of
the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission Act 2009, which
provides for a maximum jail term of
20 years and a fine of up to five times
the value of the bribe.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor
Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin
requested the court to use the set
bail amount of RM50,000 in one
surety, along with the additional
conditions set on the accused at the
Shah Alam Sessions Court last
month.
“I also request that this case be
year on year for the first time in eight
quarters, it foresees corporate
earnings to be mixed quarter on
quarter in the final quarter, as
sequential earnings recovery would be
negatively impacted by the
reinstatement of the Conditional MCO
from mid-October to early December
in major cities in the country.
The research house is raising its
year-end KLCI target to 1,628 points
from 1,520 points and introduced its
end-2021 KLCI target of 1,732 points.
“For our top three picks, we
replace Tenaga and MPI with
Telekom and Inari, while retaining
Public Bank. This is in line with our
stance that investors should
positioned into companies that will
benefit from the recovering
economy as the impact of the Covid-
19 outbreak eases,” it said.
Its top picks now include Inari,
Telekom, Malaysia Airport, Hong
Leong Bank, DRB-HICOM, AXIS REIT,
Hap Seng Plantations, SKP Resources,
LSK, Media Prima, and 7-Eleven.
A view of JAKS
Vietnam’s thermal
power plant. –
JAKS RESOURCES–
WEBSITE PIX
currencies’ fluctuations when the
group widens its operational
footprint in Southeast Asia.
Ang said the group will be on the
lookout for opportunities in
renewable energy-related projects in
Southeast Asia and will focus on
expanding the power division,
particularly solar and hydropower
projects, in Vietnam and Malaysia.
transferred to the Shah Alam
Sessions Court as it is related to the
trial there, and the Shah Alam
Sessions Court has already set Dec
16 for mention,” he said.
The application was not opposed
by lawyer Mohd Shahrullah Khan
Nawab Zadah Khan, who
represented the accused.
Manira then allowed for the bail
and other conditions set by the Shah
Alam Sessions Court to be used in
the case, and for it to be transferred
to the same court.
On Nov 2, the accused pleaded
not guilty in the Shah Alam Sessions
Court to 21 counts of corruption
involving RM2.8 million for service
works at the company between 2017
and 2020. – Bernama
Fintec laying
groundwork
for glove venture
PETALING JAYA: Fintec Glove Sdn
Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Fintec Global Bhd,
commissioned AE Multi Industries
has
Sdn Bhd and its partner Ripcol
Engineering Sdn Bhd for the design,
procurement, construction of its
glove-manufacturing venture with
projected gross development value of
RM160 million.
The group has acquired land in
Chemor, Perak, where its 14 glove
double former dipping lines
production facility wil;l be situated
next to AT Systemization Bhd’s.
In April, Fintec took a 13.8% stake in
AT Systemization. In November, AT
Systemization became a manufacturer
of medical gloves with an annual
production capacity of 1.87 billion
pieces of medical gloves.
“Through establishing a strategic
partnership with AT, the synergies
provided from the combined
manufacturing plant will enable
Fintec Glove to unlock shareholder
value through the following channels:
expedited construction process,
shortening Fintec’s production lead
time and cost savings of RM10 million
over eight years due to Fintec Glove’s
close proximity to AT Systemization’s
manufacturing site that will enable
both parties to share resources and
improve efficiencies,” Fintec said in a
Bursa filing.
The construction of 14 glove
double former dipping lines is
expected to start this month and
production will begin in June 2021.
With 14 glove dipping lines
operational, Fintec Glove’s production
capacity is projected to exceed 3.3
billion pieces of medical gloves,
equivalent to 32,000 pieces every hour.
Fintec Glove expects to recuperate
its capital cost within three years,
assuming the average selling price of
each piece of glove remains above 20
sen.
At present, Fintec Glove is seeing
strong interest from multiple parties
to sign long-term contracts
committing to the future delivery of
medical gloves.
Proton set to end year
with a bang as
November sales jump
KUALA LUMPUR: Sales of Proton
cars have continued their trajectory
towards a strong year-end finish with
11,411 units sold in November 2020 –
a growth rate of 18% year on year.
In a statement, Proton Holdings
Bhd said the sales recorded in
November have brought the
carmaker’s total number of units sold
year to date to 96,410.
“While sales for other Proton
models for the month were slightly
down compared to October,
deliveries of the all-new Proton X50
began to gather momentum with
1,756 units delivered; making it the
best-selling B-segment (five-seat)
sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Malaysia.
“Combined with sales of 2,157
Proton X70 units, it makes Proton the
overall sales leader for SUVs,” said
Proton Edar chief executive officer
Roslan Abdullah.
He said Malaysian car sales has
continued to outperform market
projections from earlier in the year,
with total industry volume estimated
to be more than 56,000 units for the
third consecutive month.
“A lot of this can be accounted for
by traditional year-end deals offered
by car brands.” – Bernama
 13
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020

SUNBIZ

Analysts in ‘wait and see’ on Top Glove

oMaintaining their ratings pending updates on charges group could face
over worker accommodation conditions
PETALING JAYA: Analysts are waiting
to see the outcome of the charges Top
Glove Corp Bhd could face under the
Workers’ Minimum Standards of
Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act
446), maintaining their ratings on the
group pending updates.
CGS CIMB Research said it is
making no changes to its FY21-23
earnings per share (EPS) estimates at
this juncture, while also keeping its
‘add’ rating with a target price of
RM10.
“We continue to like Top Glove
as it is the key beneficiary of
higher glove demand due to the
Covid-19 pandemic, given its
position as the world’s largest
glove maker,” it said.
It added that it is also unable to
ascertain the impact of Human
Resources Ministry charges of
RM50,000 per offence, pending
further details such as number and
type of charges to be filed against the
group.
“Assuming that each worker
accommodation (we estimate that
Top Glove has a total of 300 worker
accommodations) is hit by one
charge, they will have to pay fines up
to RM15 million,” it added.
Conversely, AmInvestment Bank
Research said that while the
investigation is still ongoing, it is not
making any changes to its earnings
forecasts at this juncture but the
latest development could potentially
raise the perceived risk premium to
Top Glove, hence reducing its price
to earnings ratio valuation to 25
times from 28 times.
“With the 25x PER, we arrive at a
lower fair value of RM7.03 per share
(previously RM7.88) based on CY22
EPS. Maintain hold
recommendation,” it said.
To recap, the charges that Top
Glove faces come after enforcement
operations that were carried out last
week on six of its companies in five
states to investigate the conditions of
its worker accommodations and
hostels.
The findings indicate that Top
Glove did not apply for
accommodation certificates from the
director-general of the Department
of Labour of Peninsular Malaysia as
required under Act 446, and that its
accommodations are cramped,
uncomfortable, have poor
ventilation, and lacked rest and
kitchen areas.
Top Glove has said that it will fully
cooperate with the authorities on
this matter, and will gradually
increase the number of housing
location for its workers, including its
recent efforts to spend RM20 million
to purchase up to 100 units of
apartments for its workers in the past
two months.
This is in addition to its previous
investment of up to RM50 million to
set up 1,000 double-storey houses
and hostels with various facilities.

BIOALPHA, HK’S RITAMIX

BRIEFS
IN HEALTH SUPPLEMENT JV
PETALING JAYA: Bioalpha Holdings Bhd
has entered into a collaborative
agreement with Hong Kong-listed
Ritamix Global Ltd to manufacture and
supply health supplement products for
the latter to market in China, Hong
Kong and Southeast Asia, via its wholly
owned subsidiary, Bioalpha
International Sdn Bhd. Under the
agreement, the group will act as the
contract manufacturer for Ritamix in
the development of health
supplement products, not limited to
immunity and longevity products,
which are formulated and owned by
the Hong Kong-listed entity. According
to its Bursa filing, the agreement is not
expected to have material effect on its
net assets and gearing for Bioalpha’s
financial year ending December 31,
2020.

AWC AWARDED RM20.9M

MALACCA WATER PLANT JOB
PETALING JAYA: AWC Bhd has accepted
a sub-contract works from Aliran
Intelek Sdn Bhd related to civil &
structural and mechanical & electrical
works for a total contract sum of
RM20.87 million, via a joint venture
between its wholly-owned subsidiary
DD Techniche Sdn Bhd with Techkem
Utilities Sdn Bhd and Techkem
Resources Sdn Bhd. The group told the
local bourse that the work entails
engineering, supply, installation &
construction, supervision, testing and
With FDA registration and CE marking in hand, group is now keen to establish sales in the export markets, and further expand its face mask division. - commissioning and all related works
PECCA GROUP WEBSITE for the implementation and execution
of the overall entire 30MLD packaged

Pecca clears red tape for face mask exports to US, EU

PETALING JAYA: Pecca Group Bhd will
commence medical face masks exports to Asia,
Europe and the US after being registered with
the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and
obtaining the European Union’s CE marking
compliance certificate requirements, via its
wholly owned subsidiary Pecca Leather Sdn
Bhd.
Its production of face masks started in
August this year with a current production
capacity of 20 million pieces per month and it
aims to achieve a capacity of 50 million per
month by early next year.
The group initially exported to Singapore
and Hong Kong for corporate customer trials
‘RHB Bank repayment aid loans at 10% of its total domestic lending’
after obtaining leave from the Domestic Trade
and Consumer Affairs Ministry to export up to
50% of its production capacity.
Its group managing director Datuk Kelvin
Teoh commented that with the FDA
registration and CE marking now in hand, it is
keen to establish sales in the export markets,
and further expand the face mask division.
“To this end, we would appoint distributors
and agents in overseas markets, as well as grow
our existing sales and marketing channels in
Malaysia,” he said in a press release.
“We view our face masks segment as a long
term venture that caters to increasing demand
for face masks amidst the pervasiveness of the
Covid-19 pandemic, and are confident of
growing the segment into a significant
contributor to the group in the coming years.”
Teoh believes its face mask manufacturing
venture is poised to meet rising demand for
face masks in Malaysia and global markets,
even as both healthcare personnel and the
general public manage their lifestyles in the
interim when the Covid-19 vaccine is still being
developed.
In addition, he pointed out that there are
various countries where the mandatory wearing
of masks in public space have been legislated to
slow the spread of the virus, which reinforces the
prospects for the group’s new venture.
water treatment plant in Jasin, Malacca.
The project commenced on Oct 28,
2020 and shall be completed by June
15, 2021 or at an extended date under
the provision of the main contract.
RANHILL IN DUE DILIGENCE
EXERCISE ON INDAH WATER
PETALING JAYA: Ranhill Utilities Bhd has
been invited by the Ministry of Finance
Inc (MOF Inc) to undertake a due
diligence exercise on Indah Water
Konsortium Sdn Bhd in relation to a
proposed interest disposal. According
to its Bursa disclosure, the group has
submitted a proposal for a
restructuring of Indah Water that will
involve a disposal of interest by the
ministry among others, on June 26,
2020. The due diligence exercise will
enable Ranhill to have access to the
information necessary to finalise its
proposal to MOF Inc.

KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Bank loans under
repayment assistance currently account for
10% of its total domestic loans with 9% of total
corporate loans have been approved for
restructuring.
Maybank IB Research, in a note yesterday,
said the management assesses 23% that may
require some form of restructuring or
rescheduling of its corporate loans.
“The B40 group accounts for about 14% of
its retail portfolio,” it said.
The research house said total loans grew
5.6% year-on-year (yoy) at end-September
2020, with the growth of retail loans at 5.2%,
business banking at 8.5%, and overseas loan
growth of 11.3%.
“These more than offset 3.1% yoy decline
in wholesale loan growth, while within retail
loans, mortgages rose 5.8% and auto financing
increased 4.2% yoy.
“SME loans rose 9.4% and overseas loan
growth of 11.3% yoy, led by Singapore loans
growth of 16.4% yoy, backed by property such
as logistics warehouse and property space for
rental,” it said.
On the flip side, the research house said
margins continued to contract due to the
delayed repricing of deposits while provisions
more than doubled.
In light of the CMCO, it said the
management raised its credit cost guidance to
45-50 basis points (bps) from 40bps previously
and expected credit cost to rise in 4Q20.
“Our credit cost is correspondingly raised
to 47/35 bps from 40/30 bps previously, but
this is balanced off with higher net interest
margin (NIM) assumptions and higher
investment income,” it said.
Maybank IB has maintained profit
forecasts and imputed a dividend payout ratio
of 40% for FY20E versus 50% in FY19. –
Bernama
CHIN HIN TO ACQUIRE
BANDAR KINRARA LAND
PETALING JAYA: Chin Hin Property
Group Bhd’s wholly owned unit Boon
Koon Commercial Sdn Bhd will be
acquiring a piece of freehold land in
Bandar Kinrara for RM59.77 million. The
company received the letter of
acceptance from Perumahan Kinrara
Bhd on Dec 1. Under the letter of
acceptance, Chin Hin Property will have
to obtain the approval of the Economic
Planning Unit within 60 days.
14 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
SUNBIZ

Australia exits first recession Xiaomi trade

in almost 30 years
SYDNEY: Australia has exited its first
recession in almost 30 years, after
official figures yesterday showed the
economy grew 3.3% in July-
September compared with the
coronavirus-hit previous quarter.
With local transmission of Covid-
19 largely under control, official data
showed businesses have begun to
rebound and consumer spending has
surged.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics
said household spending largely
drove the economic bounce, rising
7.9% compared with the previous
quarter.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said
the figures “can give Australians
cause for optimism and hope”,
declaring that Australia “has
performed better on the health and
on the economic fronts than nearly
any other country in the world”.
However, central bank governor
Philip Lowe warned that positive
economic indicators masked
lingering difficulties.
“These figures... cannot hide the
reality that the recovery will be
uneven and bumpy and that it will be
BoJ prepared to
extend aid for
oLocal transmission of Covid-19 largely under
control, official data shows businesses
rebounding and consumer spending on the rise
drawn-out. Some parts of the
economy are doing quite well, but
others are in considerable difficulty,“
he told lawmakers.
Australia’s central bank has
predicted the economy will not
return to pre-pandemic levels until
the end of 2021.
The economy has yet to fully
recover from the coronavirus-fuelled
recession, recording a 3.8% slump for
the year to September.
The return to economic growth
followed a record 7% decline in the
June quarter and a 0.3% dip in the
first quarter of 2020.
A recession is generally defined as
two successive quarters of economic
contraction.
The return to growth comes
despite Victoria state – which
accounts for about 25% of Australia’s
economic output – spending much of
the September quarter in one of the
world’s strictest lockdowns, curtailing
economic activity.
In a pattern repeated across the
globe, economic shutdowns to curb
the spread of the coronavirus sent
Australia tumbling into recession as
whole industries ground to a halt.
Around a million people lost their
jobs and many more were forced to
take pay cuts or saw their hours
slashed.
In response, the government and
the central bank have embarked on a
vast stimulus spending programme,
pumping billions into the economy
to avert a full-blown depression.
Last month, the Reserve Bank of
Australia also cut interest rates to a
record low of 0.10% as it attempted to
help hasten the recovery.
“There is a lot of ground to make
up and many Australian households
and many Australian businesses are
doing it tough – very tough,“
Frydenberg said.
“Many challenges do remain,“ he
added. “The global economic
environment remains uncertain as
many nations experience an increase
in Covid-19 cases and new
lockdowns.”
Higher unemployment is
expected to linger in Australia, with
the jobless rate rising to 7% in
October.
Closed borders continue to drag
on the economy, with exports falling
due to weaker demand for Australian
mining commodities and travel
restrictions.
Yesterday’s figures were roughly in
line with economists’ expectations,
coming as Australia continues to roll
back virus restrictions and open
domestic borders after largely
containing major outbreaks.
The country has been relatively
successful in its pandemic response,
recording just under 28,000 cases and
908 deaths. – AFP
halted in HK by
disclosure delay
HONG KONG: China’s number two
smartphone maker Xiaomi briefly
suspended trading of its shares in
Hong Kong yesterday after failing to
disclose a multibillion-dollar top-
up placement in time for the
market to open.
The unusual halt came just
after business began with a brief
statement to the stock exchange
and remained in place throughout
the morning.
Trading began again in the
afternoon once a full disclosure of
a share and bond sale was
published, though shares were
down more than 6%.
In that later filing to the stock
exchange Xiaomi said it plans to
sell one billion shares at HK$23.70
(RM12.50) a piece, raising US$3.1
billion (RM13 billion).
It also proposed the sale of
convertible bonds, raising a net
US$855 million.
Hong Kong’s stock exchange
requires a company to apply for a
trading halt if certain inside
information has been made public
before an official disclosure.
“It’s definitely unusual because
other companies which had share
placements usually file the official
announcements soon after
pricing,“ Castor Pang, head of
research at Core Pacific-Yamaichi
International Hong Kong, told
Bloomberg News.
Xiaomi’s shares have soared
more than 140% this year, boosted
by the troubles of its main

firms beyond March competitor Huawei, which has

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is
ready to extend beyond March a
range of steps aimed at easing
corporate funding strains, its deputy
governor said, suggesting a decision
could come as early as this month as
a resurgence of Covid-19 infections
cloud the outlook.
Masayoshi Amamiya said Japan’s
economy was recovering thanks to a
rebound in automobile exports,
which will help prevent a return to
deflation.
But he warned that the lingering
pain from the pandemic will keep any
recovery moderate and companies
under financial stress, with risks to
the world’s third-largest economy
being skewed to downside.
“The BoJ will closely watch the
impact of Covid-19 (on the economy)
for the time being and take additional
easing steps without hesitation as
needed,“ Amamiya told an online
meeting with business leaders in
Akita, northern Japan yesterday.
“We also plan to extend as needed
the deadline for our programmes” to
deal with the Covid-19 fallout, he
said.
BoJ eased policy in March and April by ramping up asset purchases and creating a facility to funnel funds via financial
institutions to cash-strapped firms hit by Covid-19. – REUTERSPIX
The BoJ eased policy in March and
April mostly by ramping up asset
purchases and creating a new facility
to funnel funds via financial
institutions to cash-strapped firms hit
by Covid-19.
The package of measures was
deployed as a temporary measure
that expires in March next year,
unless the BoJ decides to extend the
deadline.
An extension has been widely
viewed as a done deal, with the BoJ
leaning toward a decision at its Dec
17-18 rate review in December to
reassure markets it is acting quickly to
forestall a cash crunch.
Amamiya also said he wanted to
launch “as quickly as possible” a
planned new scheme in which the
BoJ would pay 0.1% interest on
deposits held by regional banks that
improve their finances or consolidate
while coping with years of low
interest rates.
“The chance is very low that a new
scheme to boost regional finances
would affect interest rate formation in
the market as a whole,“ Amamiya
said, referring to some concerns it
could impact broader rate policy.
“Even if there’s any effect, it could
be fully offset by monetary
adjustment. In that sense, there’s a
clear distinction from monetary
policy.” – Reuters
been battered by US sanctions as
tensions with Beijing plunge.
The share and bond sale will
help the company boost its coffers
to grab more market share from
Huawei. – AFP
Westpac to sell
insurance arm to
Allianz for A$725m
BANGALORE: Westpac Banking
Corp said yesterday it would sell
its general insurance arm to
German insurer Allianz for A$725
million (RM2.2 billion), further
trimming its portfolio to beef up
capital and focus on its core
banking business.
Australia’s third-largest bank
expects a small post-tax gain in
fiscal 2021 from the sale, which it
says will add around 12 basis
points to its common equity tier 1
ratio.
The sale comes a day after
Australia’s bank regulator forced
Westpac to add 10% to the amount
of cash it keeps on hand until an
independent review of its risk

Biden ‘not ready’ to remove Phase 1 trade deal with China
BANGALORE: US President-elect Joe
Biden has said that he will not
immediately act to remove the Phase
1 trade agreement, which President
Donald Trump inked with China, the
New York Times reported yesterday.
In an interview with a Times
columnist, Biden said that the United
States needed to get leverage back to
use in negotiations with China.
“I’m not going to make any
immediate moves, and the same
applies to the tariffs,“ Biden said. “I’m
not going to prejudice my options.”
“In my view, we don’t have
(leverage) yet,“ he added.
The United States needs to
develop a bipartisan consensus and
increase government-led
investments in research and
development, infrastructure and
education to better compete with
China, according to the president-
elect.
“I want to make sure we’re going
to fight like hell by investing in
America first,“ Biden said.
Under the Phase 1 agreement
signed earlier in the year, China
agreed to increase purchases of
American products and services by at
least US$200 billion (RM815 billion)
over 2020 and 2021.
The deal also leaves in place 25%
tariffs on a US$250-billion array of
Chinese industrial goods and
components used by US
manufacturers, and China’s
retaliatory tariffs on over US$100
billion in US goods.
Biden’s team will pursue policies
targeted at China’s “abusive
practices,“ including “stealing
intellectual property, dumping
products, illegal subsidies to
corporations” and forcing “tech
transfers” from US companies to their
Chinese counterparts, according to
the interview.
On Iran, Biden said he stood by his
views that his administration would
lift sanctions if Tehran returned to
“strict compliance with the nuclear
deal.”
Last month, Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had
said Iran would fully implement its
2015 nuclear deal if Biden lifts
sanctions, which Zarif said could be
done swiftly through “three executive
orders”.
“In consultation with our allies
and partners, we’re going to engage
in negotiations and follow-on
agreements to tighten and lengthen
Iran’s nuclear constraints, as well as
address the missile program,“ Biden
added. – Reuters
management is finished.
Westpac is looking to sell
several of its underperforming
units in response to the disruption
caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
and after a record fine in
September for enabling millions
of improper payments, including
to people exploiting children.
For Allianz, the deal will boost
its presence in Australia’s general
insurance market, where it is
among the top five biggest players.
Westpac’s general insurance
business offers home, car, travel
and life insurance. The bank will
also sign a 20-year exclusive
agreement for Allianz to distribute
general insurance products to
Westpac customers. – Reuters

█ BY S. INDRA SATHIABALAN
A
VETERAN of two reality
shows – Akademi Fantasia
season 7 and Indonesia’s
D’Academy – Zizi Kirana is
riding the wave with her latest single
Tentu which was released under the
Joox Originals Super Producer
project.
Tentu (Zizi also has co-
composer credits) was ranked
number 13 among all Bahasa
Malaysia tracks within just two
days of its release.
This year has been a
challenging one in particular
for many, and in Zizi’s case,
she also had to deal with the
death of close friend Sandra
Dianne in September.
“This year has been a
challenging one because of
the pandemic, and what we all
have been facing saddens me.
“These intense emotions
have inspired me to express
myself, and I was able to
channel [my feelings]
into my creativity to
bring some joy through
the release of the new
song.”
Tentu was produced
by Faizal Tahir, a giant
in the local
entertainment scene.
“This was the first
time I worked with Faizal
Tahir. Faizal is very
professional when it
comes to work, and I feel he
is very good in guiding
artistes like me into
achieving something outside
the box. His ideas are really
good, and he is always happy
to share his knowledge.
“During the production of
Zizi is having a great time
expressing her individual
creativity – COURTESY OF
JOOX MALAYSIA
Rapid Covid-19 tests provide lifeline
for London orchestra
MAXINE KWOK, a violinist in
London’s oldest symphony
orchestra, is delighted that
rehearsals have resumed thanks to
a rapid, lab-free Covid-19 test that
gives the musicians the
confidence to work together again.
“It was so difficult not to play
for months,” Kwok, a member of
the London Symphony Orchestra
(LSO), said after being tested. “But
the moment that we were able to
have this kind of testing at this
regularity, meaning we could just
come back to work and feel
comfortable and safe, really made
a huge difference for us,” Kwok
told Reuters.
“I was so thrilled. I can’t
describe it really,” she added
ahead of a rehearsal attended by
around 40 musicians, all masked
and still observing social
distancing rules.
Once a month, the musicians
Staying the course
o Instead of letting the pandemic get her down, Zizi
Kirana decides to express herself creatively
provide a phlegm sample by
spitting into a small pot which is
tested in groups, called bubbles,
by Imperial College London spin-
off DNANudge with their
cartridge-based technology that
gives a result in just over an hour.”
The bubble test is really
relevant when you’ve got
organisations that work together
and they need to get back to work,”
said Professor Chris Toumazou,
chief executive of DNANudge,
outside the LSO rehearsal studio
in east London.
“For example the London
Symphony Orchestra is key to the
arts industry, they need to
rehearse together. Just having one
bubble test or a couple of bubble
tests for the entire orchestra
means they can be tested on the
day of rehearsals,” he said.
Testing more than one phlegm
sample at a time significantly
Tentu, two of the
producers, AJ & Gnello,
were in Sabah. Somean,
the other composer,
managed to fly
into KL before
the CMCO.
“We finished the
song within two
weeks. During the
production stage,
Somean and I had a
meeting with Faizal in
the studio where he
shared his feedback to
increases testing capacity,
maximising the number of people
who can be tested over a given
period while using fewer testing
resources.
“... to know that you start every
four weeks with a clean group,
everyone negative, is a huge
confidence to everyone in the
organisation,” said Kathryn
McDowell, the LSO’s managing
director, adding that other
“mitigating measures” such as
masks and social distancing also
remained important.
DNANudge is providing
Britain’s National Health Service
with nearly six million rapid
Covid-19 test kits at a not-for-
profit cost price but it’s also
making them available to people
without symptoms seeking
reassurance on whether they
could be infectious, including key
workers and travellers. – Reuters
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
Every
competition
Zizi has
entered, she
looks upon as
a learning
experience. –
COURTESY
OF JOOX
MALAYSIA
give the song more ‘oomph’. It felt
good having someone you admire
giving you advice.”
Zizi, 35, said that some of her
projects have been postponed due to
the pandemic.
“My team and I had planned to
collaborate with an up-and-coming
Indonesian rapper, however, the
pandemic has put things into
perspective, and I am grateful for the
time and space that allowed my
creativity to flourish in a different
manner.
“Positive thinking is the way to go,
From the musician’s own vault
comes documentary Zappa
WHEN Alex Winter became the first
filmmaker to get access to a vault of
Frank Zappa’s private videos, he
could not decide initially whether it
was a blessing or a curse.
It took Winter six years to work
through the material and turn it into
the documentary Zappa, which
presents a unique portrait of the
influential late musician.
“He was much more than this
groovy, mustachioed rock guitar guy,”
said Winter. “He was a political satirist
and he was an artiste and a
filmmaker. ... I really wanted to just
tell what I considered to be an
extraordinary life story of somebody
engaged in a very interesting period
of American history.”
Zappa, released for sale and rent
online last week, traces the
musician’s life from his
childhood memories of
experimenting with
explosives, through his
three decades as avant-
garde composer and
singer, and his political
ambitions. Zappa
died in 1993 of
prostate cancer
at age 52.
Much of
15
ENTERTAINMENT
especially in times like these.”
Being a former reality show
contestant, we asked Zizi what was
the most important thing she learned
from the experience.
Calling it an “incredible journey!”
Zizi added: “I’ve learned to keep
going and to not lose hope, because I
believe one’s time will come. You just
need to keep believing and keep
moving forward! Why do I say this? I
waited 11 years to finally have the
chance to compete in the semifinal
Muzik Muzik as a solo singer.
“Being in competitions taught me
a lot, not just about technique, but
also about life. Indonesia’s
D’Academy purely highlighted
dangdut – a genre that is so close to
Indonesians. It was a chance for me
to learn a brand new genre, and I had
fun doing it. I didn’t know I could [do
it] till I tried. This contest gave me
great exposure in Indonesia, and I am
truly blessed for being able to
represent my beloved country.”
Zizi was previously a part of two
groups, Fabulous Cats and Nukilan.
When asked if she sees herself joining
another group, or if she is happy
flying solo, she said: “I have been
having a great time expressing my
individual creativity and going solo at
this moment. But I am open to
collaboration with other artistes
across all genres.”
She is open to trying new things
such as acting, if the right offer comes
her way. But for now, she sees herself
as a singer and a TV host.
Zizi is confident that the
entertainment industry will recover
after the pandemic. “It will take time.
We must be optimistic that we can get
through this together.”
To her fans, Zizi said: “Thank you
for embracing Tentu. We are all in this
together, we will rise and come out of
this stronger.”
the material comes from Zappa
himself.
“He would hang out with his
friends in his basement and he would
slap on a film camera or a video
camera, and they would talk for
hours about all the things that
interested them.
“From a documentary standpoint,
it’s like dying and going to heaven
but it’s also a curse, right?” Winter
said. “I looked at it and I thought,
‘There’s the next six years of my life,’
and it was.”
Winter was given permission to
use the footage by Zappa’s wife Gail,
who has since died. The filmmaker
and actor, who starred in the Bill &
Ted comedy movies, raised much of
the money from a crowdfunding
website.
Asked what he thought Zappa
would make of the documentary,
Winter quipped that he would likely
loathe it.
“If you’re Frank Zappa, the last
thing you’d want is your whole life
put together and tied with a neat
little bow ... He’d be like
‘please, please don’t
do this for me.”
– Reuters
16 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
ENTERTAINMENT

W
HEN Ryu Sera made her debut
with K-pop girlband Nine Muses,
the years of intense training and
ruthless competition seemed
worthwhile, her dreams of stardom finally
coming true.
A few top 10 singles followed, but within four
years she had been cast on the K-pop
scrapheap, sacked by her management
company as it reshuffled the band’s line-up.
An attempted solo career foundered, she
was left in debt, battling depression and
contemplating suicide.
But six years after her dismissal, she has
been given a second chance on a
groundbreaking new television show for failed
and former idols – and is speaking out against a
structure that consumes young hopefuls with
only a tiny minority surviving to stardom.
“The K-pop industry has a factory-like mass-
production system,” she told AFP.
K-pop is the latest and biggest instance of the
so-called Korean Wave, as the South’s popular
culture gains overseas recognition – epitomised
by the global success of boyband BTS, who
topped the US Billboard singles chart earlier
this year.
The phenomenon earns billions of dollars
for the world’s 12th largest economy and scores
of groups are launched each year to try to Ryu (second right) dancing with other competitors during a recording of a television show Miss Back in Seoul.
capture a slice of the pie.

Second chance
Unlike many groups elsewhere, K-pop bands “There are very, very famous people that
are not normally formed by the members chose to end their lives,” she said.
themselves who then try to secure a record deal, “When I was really depressed I thought about
but are instead usually assembled by their the worst thing.”
managing agencies. She has been on medication since she was
They put the members through intensive diagnosed with depression last year.
training programmes and control everything
from their music and lyrics to their looks and oFaded K-pop star competes for comeback Countless teenagers flock to entertainment
agencies aspiring to become stars but no-one
many aspects of their daily lives. looks after those who do not make the cut, she
But most acts quickly disappear, leaving said, nor those who debut but are replaced soon
barely a trace on the score of musical history. “It was an endless contest with tests every category of elegant, sexy women,” she said. afterwards by younger rivals.
week, and those who ranked bottom on “I doubt they are even aware that they hurt “In the K-pop industry, we don’t take mental
‘Like an addict’ dancing, singing skills and looks were kicked me with their words.” health seriously,” she added.
Ryu was 22 when she out.” But she complied with their demands: “When you are mentally ill, you immediately
passed an audition to At first, she often scored poorly for dancing “When they told me to cut my hair, I did... There feel ashamed.”
become a trainee and singing, but she “practised like an addict”, was an atmosphere that we should be grateful
with Star Empire, a she said. for being given a chance to become idols.” ‘Miss Back’
medium-sized A year later she was chosen to be When her contract came up for renewal, she The business uses a “high-risk, high-return”
agency in Seoul. Nine Muses’ lead singer. demanded that the Nine Muses members take formula that generates “countless also-rans” in
She was Even after their debut, there part in every concept meeting, that they would the process, said cultural commentator Jung
among 40 to 50 was no let-up in the regimen, have control over what clothes they wore, and Ho-jai.
contenders for and she was subjected to no more members would be replaced. “Former idols and trainees take the brunt of
a place in constant reviews, often The producers did not offer her a new deal. their failure in the market,” he added.
Nine Muses. critical, of her “There are so many trainees, so many artists, “Someone needs to speak up about the side
appearance. so many young people that want to get into this effects of this industry. Now Ryu is doing just
“Managers would industry,” she said. that.”
say things like “So, they sometimes consider us replaceable More than a decade since passing the Star
‘Why are you so products.” Empire audition, Ryu is competing again in a
fat?’... because A Star Empire representative told AFP the new television show, Miss Back.
I did not fall firm and Ryu had been “unable to agree on new Hosted by K-pop queen Baek Ji-young, who
into their contract terms”, adding: “We wish her all the has eight studio albums under her belt in a
best.” career still going strong after 21 years, it offers
former female idols a new showcase – some who
Illness and shame never made it and others who were once famous
In an attempt to build a solo career, Ryu but then faded away.
borrowed money to produce her own albums Around 200 were interviewed for only seven
and put on concerts, but without the backing of slots on the programme.But among the chosen
a major agency none of them generated a profit. few, no-one will be eliminated.
“I felt like I had accomplished nothing and Each week, they perform the same song, and
was being forgotten,” she said. the one the judges score highest is released as a

Mads Mikkelsen to replace Depp South Korea is an intensely competitive

society and has an unusually high suicide rate,
with recent celebrity deaths including singers
single, with the performer sharing in the profits.
In the process, the cast members share the
pains and struggles they endured in the hidden

in next Fantastic Beasts movie Goo Hara and Sulli, both of whom had been
subjected to vicious cyber-bullying, and Kim
Jong-hyun of the boyband Shinee. Ryu also
shadows of the glamorous industry.
And there will be no overall winner.
Ryu said: “This programme is like therapy for
DANISH actor Mads Mikkelsen has been heavy drinking by Depp. considered killing herself. wounded soldiers.” – AFP
chosen to replace Johnny Depp in the third Depp, who had earlier begun production
film in the Fantastic Beasts fantasy franchise, on the third Fantastic Beasts movie in
Warner Bros. said on Nov 25. London, said he was asked to leave by Warner
Mikkelsen, 55, who is known for his role as Bros.
serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the popular Mikkelsen has also played roles in action
US television series Hannibal, will movies Doctor Strange and Casino Royale as
play the evil wizard Gellert well as taking roles in Danish dramas
Grindelwald in the spinoff such as The Hunnt and A Royal
movie from Harry Potter Affair.
author J.K. Rowling. The Fantastic Beasts movies, based
Depp was forced to exit the on the magical adventures of Newt
role in November after he lost Scamander, are set some 60 years
a major libel case in Britain before the Harry Potter films but
against a tabloid newspaper that feature several of the same key
had branded him a “wife beater”. characters when they were younger.
The three-week trial in July heard The third as yet untitled movie in the
evidence from both Depp series is set for release in July 2022.
and his former wife The first two of the five
Amber Heard planned Fantastic Beasts
about a film franchise earned
tempestuous US$1.5 billion (RM6.11
m a r r i a g e billion) at the global
marked by box office, according
violence on both Mikkelsen. – AFPPIX to Box Office Mojo. –
sides and of Reuters Ryu (right) talking with K-pop queen Baek Ji-young (left).
 17
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020

LIFESTYLE

A
T FLAVOUR maker

Tricking
Givaudan’s innovation
centre near Zurich, veteran
chef Sam Brunschweiler
serves up a lamb shawarma dish that
looks and tastes appropriately meaty

the taste
but is made from pea protein.
The Swiss company and
competitors such as International
Flavors & Fragrances and Symrise are
vying to create the tastiest plant-
based meat alternatives in a market

buds
that is growing fast on the back of
consumer concerns about health,
sustainability and animal welfare.
“A pea tastes like a pea. You put it
in a burger, it’s not exactly what you
would expect,” Givaudan’s head of
savoury flavours, Flavio Garofalo, told
Reuters.
o Flavour makers
Givaudan analyses how fat,
proteins, sugars and water in meat
rise to meaty
produce different flavours when
heated because “most of the flavour
challenge
comes from the cooking”, Garofalo
said.
Mimicking the conditions in a
vessel with non-animal proteins,
sugar and fat – and using less water
for roasted and more for boiled
flavours – allows specialists to re-
create a meat taste without meat, he
said, just as a strawberry flavour can
be created from bananas and apples.
The market for plant-based meat
analogues, dominated by US-based
Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and
global food group Nestle, is
expected to be worth US$27
billion (RM110 billion) by
2025, according to
E u r o m o n i t o r
blog.euromonitor.com.
A pea protein- Brunschweiler wears a protective mask as he displays a pea protein-based hamburger with vegan juicy
Too much salt? based lamb meat flavour, tomato, salad and sesame bun on a plate.
Stacy Pyett, who shawarma with
manages a protein aubergine, the salt content at a certain temperature,” Garofalo IFF, too, plant-based meat substitutes
programme at yoghurt and by 35-40% said. are a priority.
Wag e n i ng e n couscous, while keeping The technology, which is awaiting Symrise said it was particularly
University & pomegranate. the taste. a patent, would keep the fat inside the important to use natural ingredients
Research, said flavour The company patty and make it juicier, allowing for from sustainable sources because
houses played a key role has also a reduction in fat content of up to 75% consumers cared about that. The
in creating tastier plant- developed a ‘fat and of calories by around 35%. German group has developed
based meat analogues. encapsulation’ Chantelle Nicholson, a London- ProtiScan, a procedure allowing
Improving their technology that based chef who participated in quick detection of off-tastes in food
nutritional profile, which preserves fat in plant- Givaudan’s Chef’s Council on plant- containing plant-based proteins.
typically has more salt but fewer based burgers during cooking based food last year, said the fat US-based IFF, which increased its
vitamins and iron than meat, is also a as in real meat. Normally with encapsulation technology was “a plant-based footprint through a
challenge. plant-based products, most of the fats huge breakthrough” because fat gave merger with Dupont Nutrition &
Pyett said research showed salt analogues might allow for reducing melt and flow into the pan. flavour to meat and it was still difficult Biosciences, said it was about to
was easier to taste in a juicy sausage added salt. “Fat is present in meat in what we to get the same depth of flavour with launch technologies that improve
than in a dry one, an indication that Garofalo said Givaudan had call fat cells. When the fat melts, it’s plant-based alternatives. mouthfeel and texture and use new
enhancing juiciness in meat created flavours that allowed cutting inside a little capsule that only breaks For Givaudan’s peers Symrise and natural maskers. – Reuters

Baronetto (left)
and his assistant
Family cooks up solution to virus woes
Vittorio di Palma MILLIONS of people around the
package a pasta world lost their jobs this year as A worker
dish with meat governments introduced preparing pizza
sauce. economically damaging ingredients at
lockdowns to curb the the Jemapoh
spread of the Pizza Kayu Api
coronavirus. restaurant.
But one family in a
Malaysian village
managed to turn a
bumper profit during the
downturn by opening up
an eatery serving wood-
fired pizzas from their home.

Turin restaurants serve the needy Based in Jemapoh, 120

IN the kitchen of the Michelin-
starred Del Cambio restaurant,
chef Matteo Baronetto fusses
over a boiling vat of paccheri – fat
pasta tubes to be immersed in a
light tomato sauce.
Baronetto is part of the
‘Solidarity Kitchens’ project, a
network of 21 restaurants,
volunteers and charities in the
northern city that has served up
about 35,000 meals since it
began in late March.
Project coordinator Andrea
Chiuni, head chef of the Tre
Galline (Three Hens) restaurant,
said it did not take a lot of extra
effort for professional chefs to
whip up a simple, nutritious meal,
even for hundreds.
“Above all, the cooks on our
team are so happy to belong to
this movement,“ he told AFP.
The idea of restaurants
cooking for the poor during the
pandemic has been replicated
elsewhere in Italy and
throughout the world.
But perhaps nowhere else is it
as organised as in Turin, which
hopes the idea can be sustained
and even expanded.
The gamut of participating
restaurants – whose chefs and
staff donate their time and often
use donated ingredients – runs
from simple trattorias and
restaurants serving ethnic food to
Turin’s haute-cuisine institutions.
– AFP-Relaxnews
kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur,
the business offers pizzas with herbs
and spices, and cut pineapples mixed
with meat or tuna, along with a heavy
layer of mozzarella and cheddar
cheese.
“We did this to get some pocket
money,” said Raudhah Hassan, 35,
the eldest of several siblings and
mastermind behind the business.
“But – praise be to God – what we
did has become the talk of the town.”
Pizzas have been flying out of the
family’s makeshift kitchen since late
April, a month after authorities
implemented curbs that confined
people to their homes and saw the
closure of most businesses.
Restaurants were allowed to keep
operating and, after Raudhah’s shop
selling headscarves saw a fall in
business and some of her siblings
had their pay cut, the family decided
to open the pizzeria.
“We were stranded here. We said,
we have to do something,” explained
Raudhah, who runs the business at
her parent’s house with the help of
other family members.
The family built a stone oven in
their backyard to roll out a few dozen
pizzas in time for the holy month of
Ramadan in the Muslim-majority
country, when the faithful typically
enjoy lavish meals to break their fast.
The business quickly became a
hit. “Some pizzas are too salty, but
these are really nice,” said first-time
customer Nurliyana Hidayah.
“I will come here again.”
The family have now added a shop
to their home and hired about 20
people from the village to make up to
800 wood-fired pizzas daily, five days
a week.
More than 800,000 people have
lost their jobs in Malaysia this year as
the virus pushed the country into
recession, Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin said in October.
Malaysia has largely lifted the
toughest of its restrictions and most
businesses are operating again,
although it has been battling a virus
resurgence in recent weeks. – AFP-
Relaxnews
 18 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
YOUTH

A dream come true

█ BY JASON LIM

A
T ONLY 17 years old, content
Next Gen
creator and emerging singer-
songwriter Kon Wen Wei has
amassed quite a following on
her social media, where she is
recognised for her song covers, day-to-
day vlogs, and lifestyle-centric content.
She released her debut single Teenage
Dream in July this year to tell a sweet and
loving story dedicated to her significant
other.
Kon has actually been writing her
own songs since she was 15 years old,
sharing her music on her YouTube
channel.
“I wrote my first ever song That Girl
That Ruined Me back in 2018, to share
my stories and experiences through a
song; songwriting just came naturally for
me as a way of expressing my thoughts
and emotions.
“Oftentimes I would find myself
picking up my guitar, then find a beat and
hum along, and let creativity take the
reins. I believe it is not that much of a
difference compared to other artistes.”
Where did your love for music come
from?
“I’ve been surrounded by music since I
was young, and one of
my inspirations
is actually
my dad.
o Content creator Kon Wen Wei ventures into the music scene with her
debut single, which is about her childhood sweetheart
Every morning he would always making music to express your
put on music at full blast with his feelings, do you also pen down
big speakers, and in some ways, your thoughts in a personal
that has influenced me. diary?
“I love writing music based “I do. I really believe in having
on my personal stories – my different forms of expression to
feelings, my upbringing, my be incredibly important, be it
past, the good and bad times I’ve through dancing, singing or
gone through.” writing; it helps to get things off
your chest.
How was the experience of “Especially because I went
producing your first single through such a rough patch back
Teenage Dream? in high school, to the point that I
“Just like the song title, it really is actually sought help from a
a dream come true to be able to therapist. I was taught the
properly release a song. traditional way of writing a diary
“The process was difficult, to when you have no one else to
be honest, because I didn’t have talk to.
the resources at first but I still “Start by writing down just
tried my best to gather what I about anything you want, but
could and in the end, it turned don’t look back. Look back only
out great. after some time has passed,
“The experience was a fun because it’s interesting how we
one, from exchanging ideas with often make a big deal out of
my producer and my vocal teacher, to something but later realise it’s not
filming the music video itself, and I
couldn’t have done it without my talent
agency as well.”
\TRIVIA important at all.”

Being a content creator and a

Favourite singers:
Share with us the story behind “Justin Bieber, Lauv, Pink Sweat$ and
Teenage Dream. G-Dragon.”
“As my first Guilty pleasure:
single, “Eating crepe cake.”
Hobbies:
“Playing volleyball and dancing.”
Spirit animal: “Owl.”
I wanted it to be a special and authentic,
one that is based on my personal story. I
wrote Teenage Dream a year ago for my
boyfriend Marcus to commemorate our
second anniversary last year, but only
decided to make it an actual song this
year. The song was released on July 7, as a
surprise for him, and to celebrate our
third year of being together.
“Interesting story… we met each other
when we were five years old in
kindergarten, but parted ways after and
went on our separate ways to different
Kon wants to primary schools. Six years later, we met
focus on being a again in secondary school, knowing
solo artist before we’ve grown so much since.
expanding into “This song was written based on how
collaborations. we met, how I felt about him, our story
– COURTESY OF basically, which I still find crazy
KON WEN WEI sometimes. I guess you’d call it fate.”
Writing lyrics is a form of journaling to
get in touch with emotion. Besides
YouTuber has its own pressure when
you’re putting your personal life on
public display. What are some of the
challenges for you?
“You know, I still find it challenging
when meeting people. I’m an introvert
by nature, so whenever I have to attend
events, I get rather anxious and
uncomfortable, but its all part of growing
up.
“It doesn’t help that I’m still a student
in high school; you feel as if everyone is
comparing and trying to outdo each
other, but it’s all really just in your head.
I’ve learned to just be my most authentic
self because people will love you for who
you are.”
What keeps you going when things get
tough?
“My social media followers who are so
supportive of what I do, and who show
great interest in the content I come out
with. I always end each of my videos on
YouTube by saying ‘You are loved’ as a
sign of mutual support and
encouragement.
“Other than that, my family and
friends, as well as my dog Chanel who is
always with me when I practise music.
Also, I find listening to podcasts to be
really therapeutic and motivating, it
helps me a lot.”

POSTGRAD
The key to success is to first start somewhere.

PUBLICATION DATE 29 DECEMBER, 2020 (Tuesday)

Speak to theSun’s Sales team now for special deals on BOOKING & STORY DEADLINE 15 DECEMBER, 2020 (Tuesday)
digital, video and print advertising.
MATERIAL DEADLINE 24 DECEMBER, 2020 (Thursday)
 19
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020

FEATURE

T Small is
O the sound of drums and
flutes, a freshly coiffed
Palestinian groom dances
with his brothers, cousins
and friends, anxiously waiting for his

veiled bride to arrive in her
shimmering gown.
It might have been a normal Gaza
wedding, except for the venue – not a
luxurious seaside hall, but a narrow
alley in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood
of Gaza City.
Welcome to Gaza’s
pandemic-era weddings: they are
new
small because of strict crowd limits,
they are held outdoors, and they
finish early to beat the curfews.
And they are a whole lot cheaper
than usual.
“I’m not entirely happy because I
would have preferred to celebrate it
in a wedding hall,” said the groom,
Mohammed Ahmed Ashour, wearing
a blazer and burgundy tie.
But for his family, the 24-year-old
merchant told AFP between dances,
the pared-down nuptials have also
brought welcome savings at a time of
economic hardship.
Weddings in the Palestinian
coastal enclave are usually
extravagant affairs, held in large halls
that dot the Mediterranean coastline.
Despite staggering poverty and
unemployment rates of around 50 %
even before the pandemic, many
Gazans spend several thousand
dollars on weddings.
This year the virus has further
impacted the economy in the strip,
which has been under Israeli
blockade since 2007, and is currently
spreading rapidly across Gaza.
In recent weeks infections have
multiplied and “the situation is
getting out of control,” warned
Doctor Ahmad al-Jadba of Gaza
City’s Shifa hospital.
On Nov 27, the Palestinian health
ministry announced 922 new cases
for the last 24 hours in Gaza, a daily
beautiful
o Gaza’s toned-down
Covid-era weddings
record which takes the total number
of people known to have been
infected with the virus in the enclave
to 18,333, including 86 deaths.
‘One-hour weddings’
To contain the spread of coronavirus,
the Islamist group Hamas that runs
the strip, like authorities elsewhere,
has banned large indoor gatherings.
Families have been forced to hold
smaller weddings in less-than-
fairytale settings – like alleys and
backyards – but saved bundles in the
process.
Ashour said these days many
couples opt for scaled-back daytime
nuptials which take “a little over an
hour”.
Once the Ashours’ wedding was
over, the musicians – three
percussionists and a player of the
traditional reed flute called a ney –
headed home before the evening
curfew.
They had more performances
booked for the next day, as their
small, travelling business is now
thriving.
A few days later they were in
Jabaliya, a town in the north of the
strip, for the wedding of Ahmed Omar
Khallah, a 28-year-old postman.
A veiled Palestinian bride covers her face as she leaves a beauty salon in the northern Gaza Strip.
Khallah said that for him, too, the
timing is good: “There is no work, no
money, but we have saved a lot by
marrying now,” he told AFP.
He was picking up his bride from a
beauty salon called “Al-Hour al-Ayn”,
an Islamic expression referring to the
beautiful eyes of the women of
paradise.
Its proprietor, Fadwi, confirmed
that “many young couples prefer to
get married during the corona period
because the costs are lower. They
don’t have to rent wedding halls or
pay for large buffets.”
Fadwi has changed his business
hours to accommodate the new
routine as Hamas police patrols
enforce the night-time curfews.
“We now start work around 7am,”
he said, “because people only get
married in ceremonies until 5pm”. – Mohammed Ahmed (centre) dances with male relatives and friends while waiting
AFP-Relaxnews for his bride.

Biker dog Bogie thrills fans as he

cruises Philippine highways
WITH his black sports jacket,
reflective aviator sunglasses and
bespoke orange helmet with holes
so his ears can stick out, Bogie the
dog sure is one suave-looking
canine, with an Easy Rider look
that would earn him a place in any
motorcycle gang.
The 11-year-old crossbreed
from the Philippines takes daily
motorcycle rides with his owner
Gilbert Delos Reyes, balanced
perfectly with his hind legs on the
edge of the seat and paws
straddling the handlebars. Bogie
has become a neighbourhood
celebrity and is a magnet for
attention on mountain and beach
road trips.
Soraya tattoos a “The first thing I taught him
client at her when he was around four months
beauty salon in old was how to ride a motorcycle. I
Kabul. would carry him whenever I rode,”
said Reyes, who owns a motorcycle
shop in Cavite province outside the
Afghan female artist breaks tattoo taboo capital Manila.
“One day, he just started
following me every time I left the
house. As soon as I started the
engine, he would get excited and
jump on the bike.”
Bogie is also good for business,
helping to lure customers eager to
take pictures with him to Reyes’
shop, and doling out pawshakes as
well.
He has even proven himself
useful as a guard dog, once chasing
after thieves who tried to steal his
owner’s gold necklace at an
intersection.
Reyes purchased Bogie when
he was just a month old for 100
pesos (RM8), but says the dog has
been a lucky charm, and is
priceless.
“I think of Bogie as a son. He’s
been with me for 11 years and is a
big part of my life. We’ve had so
many adventures and been to
many places together, I don’t think
I can ever replace him.” – Reuters

SORAYA SHAHIDY carefully lays a
stencil on Nargis Merzayi’s arm
before inking the latest tattoo in her
salon in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul.
A normal routine in studios
around the world, Shahidy’s artwork
in the conservative country breaks a
tattoo taboo: she believes she is the
first female tattoo artist in a country
where some religious scholars say
tattoos are forbidden under Islam.
“I could have performed this
profession abroad but I wanted to do
it in Afghanistan because there are no
female tattoo artists in the country,”
she told Reuters. “I believe it’s not
only men who can apply tattoos.
Women can do it too.”
Shahidy, 27, who trained in Turkey
and Iran, insists her artwork is
legitimate in Islam.
“Some mullahs say tattoos are
forbidden, but there are other
mullahs who say the opposite,” she
said, adding that Kabul is seeing a
small but growing demand from
young people for tattoos.
“Most clients want tattoos on their
wrists, arms, neck and legs ... Girls are
more interested in delicate tattoo
designs such as flowers, butterflies
and dragonflies, or the names of
people they love. But some boys
choose designs that are extravagant
to me.”
One client, she said, wanted a
tattoo of a tombstone inscribed
“volunteer of death”.
Shahidy’s current client, Merzayi,
was long interested in getting a tattoo
and finally decided to go ahead with a
design on the inside of her forearm.
“My tattoo is in Hindi handwriting
and it means courage,” she said.
Like many in the country, Shahidy
thinks about the possibility of a
return to power by the Taliban, who
are in peace talks with the Afghan
government to end two decades of
war. But she expressed confidence
the country has changed
dramatically since the hardline
Islamists were ousted in 2001.
“We are not the people who can
easily lose the achievements we have
gained over the recent years,” she Motorcycle enthusiast Reyes rides with his pet dog Bogie in Kawit, Cavite,
said. – Reuters Philippines.
20 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
FEATURE
█ BY BISSME S.
K
ENRY TANG TZE LYE is a
rising name in the
Malaysian visual arts scene.
Born and raised in Kuala
Lumpur, and currently living in
Penang, his works deal with the
themes of identity, gender, culture
and insecurities.
He spent nearly four years in
Gujerat, India, studying
contemporary art at the University of
Baroda Faculty of Fine Arts. The
university has a reputation for
promoting a creative and
individualist approach among its
students, and has historically
adhered to secularist, humanist, and
modernist ideals.
Currently he is trying to finish his
Masters in Fine Art at University Sains
Malaysia (USM).
In 2009, he was second runner up
in Nando’s Art Competition, won first
place in Mumbai’s 2015 Mood Indigo
Fashion Design competition, and was
a finalist for both Bakat Sezaman
Muda 2016 and SPOTLIGHT in 2018
and 2019.
Recently one of his works was
exhibited at the prestigious Gwangju
Art Fair in South Korea.
What motivated you to become a
visual artist?
“When I was a young kid, I loved to
draw the stories that I made up. I also
loved to sketch portraits. I would
scribble on any empty space in my
book. It was like writing a dairy in the
visual form. Stories and colours are
the driving force in my life. When I
was 19, I knew that I wanted to be a
visual artist.”
Did your parents give their blessing
to your ambition?
“Most parents would not allow their
children to pursue art as their career,
because they believe it is very
unstable. But I was lucky. My parents
(his father is a
fire engineer
and his
mother is a
c l e r k )
approved of
my ambition.
They believed
I would excel
with what I
love doing.”
Who was the
first person
who influenced you to be an artist?
“My mother. She unintentionally put
the love of art in me. She loves to
weave. She framed her weaveworks
nicely and hung them on the walls of
our house. I used to admire her
A world of DNA and bacteria found on Leonardo da Vinci drawings
THE drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
hold many mysteries, even 500 years
after they were first sketched. While
some offer clues as to the identity of
the Renaissance master’s models,
others have been found to contain
some more surprising things.
Researchers have discovered
residues of DNA and bacteria on
several of the artist’s most famous
drawings, revealing all kinds of
information about the geographical
areas they have passed through and
the experts who have restored them.
Scientists from Austria and Italy
have studied the microbiome of a
selection of drawings by the Italian
artist, most of which are housed in
the Royal Library of Turin.
These include Autoritratto
(Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk),
Studi delle gambe anteriori di un
cavallo (study of the front legs of a
horse) and Figura presso il fuoco
(figure at the fire).
Stories and colours
oVisual artist Kenry Tang Tze Lye explores various
identities and insecurities in his works
(above) I love cleaning I; and (far right) I love cleaning II.
works. I their narrative into their works
a l w a y s
dreamed that
one day I
could hang
something I
have done
next to her
works.”
Who are
some of your
favourite visual artists?
“My favourite artists are Keith Haring,
Kehinde Wiley, Tracey Emin,
Anandita Kumar, K. G. Subramanyan
and Mithu Sen. I like them because
they certainly know how to weave
The researchers used an
innovative genomic approach
called Nanopore sequencing to
extract DNA residues found in the
drawings.
Their findings, published in the
journal Frontiers in Microbiology,
showed a surprising dominance of
bacteria over fungi. Previously,
researchers thought that fungi were
the dominant microbial community
in paper-based art.
It is for this reason that art
conservationists often go to great
lengths to prevent the development
of fungi, responsible for the
deterioration of old manuscripts
and drawings.
The researchers discovered that
a high proportion of the bacteria
identified were typical to the
microbiome of the human body.
This suggests that the drawings have
more than likely passed through
many hands over the years.
young art
collectors to
expand the
art market.
“After all,
the art market
depends on
them.”
What advice
can you give
to young
artist in this country? people who want to make the visual
“The first challenge is finance. arts as their career?
Sometimes my works get sold, and “Never be afraid to approach galleries
sometimes not. There was a time with your portfolio, and approach
where I had no money for a few them with manners, saying you
months to pay my bills and to get would like to show your works to
materials for my studio. them.
“The second challenge is having to “You need
communicate with people who are to be
not exposed to art. It is hard to put confident
into words and tell them what my with the
works actually mean. themes you
“Only when you understand what explore in
my art means, will you be tempted to your work.”
buy it.
“The key is I should constantly What do you
share what my art means, and hope do when you
the knowledge I share will connect are not
with this group of people.” painting your
canvas?
What is the biggest change you “I love to cook
would like to see taking place in the for my friends. I have learned to cook
art scene in Malaysia? some Indian dishes when I stayed in
“It is nice knowing there are potential Gujerat for four years where I studied
art buyers in this country. contemporary art.
Unfortunately, the art market is “My friends love it when I cook
niche. I would like to see there being nasi biryani. I also love to watch
more education on buying art for movies and documentaries.”
of art with the juxtaposition of
cultural influence, art
market, politics
and their
personal
message.
“Their
works are
i n c re d i b l y
amusing.”
What are
the biggest
challenges
you have Tang has loved drawing and scribbling
faced as a since he was a child. – COURTESY OF
visual KENRY TANG TZE LYE
This theory is further reinforced
by the presence of a large amount of
human DNA on the drawings.
It is, however, impossible to say
with any certainty whether any of
the DNA traces are genetic material
from the Italian master himself.
“This result indicates that
restoration techniques should be
continually reviewed based on
scientific evidence and that
monitoring studies in the field of
conservation and restoration
should be encouraged,” write the
study authors, in relation to the high
proportion of human DNA.
“Likewise, new methods and
protocols are needed, both for the
documentation and for the recovery
of these natural ‘bio-archives’ that
accompany all the unique objects of
our artistic and cultural heritage,
without weighing down the already
arduous work of conservators and A visitor stands next to a self-portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci at the exhibition The
restorers.” – AFP-Relaxnews World of Leonardo, in the Biblioteca Reale in Turin, Italy.
 21
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020

* SPORTS

Grosjean ‘saw death coming’

020
020 Education
Education 322
322 Notices
Notices
F1 ace says he willed himself out of burning race car in fiery Bahrain GP crash

F
IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OFOF
THE COMPANIES
THE COMPANIES ACTACT 2016
2016 RENCH Formula One driver Romain
AND
AND Grosjean said he thought of Niki Lauda’s
A/c DIPLOMA
A/c DIPLOMA (UK) (UK) IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OFOF
fiery crash and willed himself to get out
*Fee == RM350
*Fee RM350 xx 66 mths
mths INNOVENT CHEMICALS
INNOVENT CHEMICALS (M)(M)
(1)Full-Set Accounts
Accounts RM600
RM600 SDN. BHD.
SDN. BHD. of his burning Haas for the sake of his
(1)Full-Set (Co. Reg.
Reg. No.
No. 726465-U)
726465-U)
(2)Practical Taxation
(2)Practical Taxation RM600
RM600 (Co. children, as he “saw death coming” after his
(In Members’
(In Members’ Voluntary
Voluntary
(3)SQL Computerised
(3)SQL Computerised 600 600 Liquidation)
Liquidation)
accident in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
(4)IPA (AUST)
(4)IPA (AUST) (400
(400 xx 6)
6) “I saw my visor all orange, the flames around
New Intake
New Intake :: 12.12.2020
12.12.2020 NOTICE IS
NOTICE IS HEREBY
HEREBY GIVEN,GIVEN, me, and the accident of Niki Lauda came to
fb//jasaaccountancy
fb//jasaaccountancy pursuant to
pursuant to Section
Section 459 459 ofof
the Companies
the Companies Act Act 2016,
2016, that
that mind I didn’t want to end up like that,” the 34-
Tel: 03-20726100
Tel: 03-20726100 (2pm)
(2pm) year-old father of three told TF1 and LCI from
a Final Meeting of
a Final Meeting of the abovethe above
named Company
named Company will will bebe his Bahrain hospital room in an interview
held at
held at Falcon
Falcon Management
Management
Services Sdn.
Services Sdn. Bhd.
Bhd. ,, B-5-
B-5- reproduced on the French broadcasters’
4, Block
4, Block B, B, Megan
Megan Avenue
Avenue websites.
322
322 Notices
Notices 1, 189, Jalan Tun Razak,
1, 189, Jalan Tun Razak, “I had to get out, for my children. I saw death
50400 Kuala
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Lumpur on on 0404
January 2021
January 2021 at at 10.00
10.00 a.m.
a.m. coming, I had no other option but to get out of
IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF
OF THE
THE
COMPANIES ACT,
COMPANIES ACT,2016
2016 for the purpose
for the purpose of having of having there,” added Grosjean in the comments
AND
AND an account
an account laid laid before
before thethe translated from French.
IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OFOF members, showing
members, showing the the
BEYOND AD
BEYOND AD SDN.
SDN.BHD.
BHD. manner, in
manner, in which
which thethe winding
winding Grosjean’s Haas car careered off the track at
Company Number:
Company Number: 200901015442
200901015442 up has
has been
been conducted
conducted and and high speed on the opening lap of the floodlit
(858518-P) up
(858518-P) the property of the company
the property of the company Bahrain Grand Prix. The car speared through
(IN MEMBER’S
MEMBER’S VOLUNTARY
VOLUNTARY disposed of,
disposed of, and
and of of hearing
hearing
(IN
WINDING-UP)
WINDING-UP) any explanation
any explanation that that may
may be be the protective barriers lining the track in a 53G
given by
given by the
the liquidators.
liquidators. impact that split it in half and burst into flames.
NOTICE OF
NOTICE OF FINAL
FINAL MEETING
MEETING
The Frenchman, who had remained
AA member
member entitled
entitled to
to attend
attend
NOTICE IS
NOTICE IS HEREBY
HEREBY GIVEN
GIVEN that
that the
the
and vote
and vote at at the
the above
above conscious throughout, miraculously extracted
Final Meeting
Final Meeting ofof the
the shareholder
shareholder of of
the above-mentioned company
the above-mentioned company will be will be meeting may
meeting may appoint
appoint aa proxy
proxy himself from the blazing wreckage before being
held at
held at Meeting
Meeting Room,
Room, 42B,
42B,Jalan
Jalan SSSS to attend and vote
to attend and vote instead instead helped to safety. The suvival cell of Haas F1’s French driver Romain Grosjean’s car being removed after a crash during the
6/8,Kelana
6/8, KelanaJaya,
Jaya,47301
47301Petaling
PetalingJaya,
Jaya, of him. A proxy need
of him. A proxy need not be not be
Selangoron
Selangor on08/01/2021
08/01/2021at at10:00
10:00a.m.
a.m. aa member
member of of the
the Company.
Company. Images of the burning car were evocative of a start of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in the city of Sakhir last
for the following purposes:-
for the following purposes:- Proxies to
Proxies to bebe used
used at at the
the more dangerous era of Formula One such as Sunday. – AFPPIX
1.ToTo receive
receive the the Liquidator’s
Liquidator’s
meeting must
meeting must bebe lodged
lodged not
not when three-time world champion Lauda was
1.
statement of of accounts
accounts for for the
the later than 48 hours before
later than 48 hours before the the
statement
period from 11/11/2019
period from 11/11/2019 to to date of
date of the
the meeting.
meeting. administered the last rites after suffering severe to in the interview as “Mickey Mouse” hands Fittipaldi for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix.
08/01/2021, showing
08/01/2021, showing the
the manner
manner burns and scorched lungs in an accident at the because of the bandages swaddling them. However, Grosjean is determined to return
in which the winding up has
in which the winding up has been been Lee Chee
Lee Chee Hong
Hong
conducted and
conducted and toto receive
receive any
any Yap You
You Mun
Mun
1976 German Grand Prix. He said the accident felt like a “rebirth” that for the season-ending Abu Dhabi race on Dec.
Yap
explanationthereon;
explanation thereon;and
and
Liquidators
Liquidators The Austrian, who died last year at the age of would mark him for life. 13 which is likely to be his swan song.
2.To
2. To authorise
authorise the
the manner
manner in in 70, was back in his Ferrari just six weeks later, Grosjean, who is set to be discharged from “Even though it is complicated for those
which the
the books,
books, accounts
accounts and
and Dated this
Dated this 03
03 December
December 2020
2020
which
documents of the Company and of
his wounds still bandaged and healing. hospital overnight after spending an extra night close to me, it is a need for me to get back into a
documents of the Company and of
theLiquidator
the Liquidatorshall
shallbe
bedisposed
disposedof.
of. Grosjean suffered little more than burns to there, is set to leave Formula One next season. F1 car, to see where I am, if I can continue to
the top of his hands which he jokingly referred He will be replaced by Haas reserve Pietro drive,” he said. – Reuters
CALL
LooHin
Loo HinLam
Lam
Liquidator
Liquidator

TO PLACE
Aussie Open in Feb,
PetalingJaya
Petaling Jaya
Dated: 03/12/2020
Dated: 03/12/2020
322
322 Notices
Notices BRIEFS
CLASSIFIED ADS
Notes:
Notes:
Russell to stand in for Hamilton
players can train
1.AAshareholder
shareholderentitled
entitledto
toattend
attendand
and DALAM MAHKAMAH
DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI
TINGGI
1. MALAYA DIDI SHAH
SHAH ALAM
ALAM
vote at
at the
the meeting
meeting isis entitled
entitled to
to MALAYA
vote DALAM NEGERI
DALAM NEGERI SELANGOR,
SELANGOR,MALAYSIA
MALAYSIA
appoint a proxy to attend and
appoint a proxy to attend and vote vote
BRITAIN’S George Russell will stand in for Lewis
MS. SHOBA
PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT
PENGGULUNGAN SYARIKAT
inhis
in hisstead.
stead. AAproxy
proxyneed
neednot
notbe
beaa NO.: BA-28NCC-411-10/2020
NO.: BA-28NCC-411-10/2020
shareholderof
shareholder ofthe
theCompany.
Company. Hamilton at Mercedes for Sunday’s Sakhir Grand
Dalam perkara
perkara Kuala
Kuala Ibai
Ibai Development
Development
2.The
2. The instrument
instrument appointing
appointing aa proxy
proxy
Dalam
SdnBhd
Sdn Bhd(No.
(No.Syarikat:
Syarikat:282366-H);
282366-H); THE start of the Australian “We are confident we will Prix after being released by Williams, both
T 03 7784 8888
mustbe
must bedeposited
depositedatat42B,
42B,Jalan
JalanSSSS
Dan
Dan
Open will be delayed until Feb be in a position to finalise teams announced yesterday. Hamilton, who has
6/8, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling
6/8, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling
Jaya, Selangor
Selangor not
not less
less than
than 4848 8 because of coronavirus details for the Australian Open already clinched his seventh world
F 03 7784 4424
Jaya, Dalam perkara
Dalam perkara Seksyen
Seksyen 465
465 (1)
(1) (h)
(h) Akta
Akta
hours before
hours before the
the meeting
meeting or
the time
time for
or any
for holding
holding
any adjournment
adjournment
Syarikat2016;
Syarikat 2016; prevention measures, a 2021 very soon,” Tiley tweeted championship, has been ruled out after testing
the
thereof.
thereof. Dan
Dan newspaper reported, as on Tuesday. positive for Covid-19. Williams said Britain’s Jack
Dalam
Dalam perkara
perkara Kaedah-Kaedah
Kaedah-Kaedah negotiations on players’ arrival “Everything will require Aitken, their official reserve driver, will make his
(Penggulungan)Syarikat
Syarikat1972.
1972.
322
322 Notices
Notices
(Penggulungan)
and quarantine in Melbourne approval and agreement from F1 debut as Russell’s replacement alongside
ANTARA
ANTARA continued yesterday. the Victorian government Canadian regular Nicholas Latifi. Russell, 22, will
PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN
PERISYTIHARAN JUALAN
DATO’CHANG
DATO’ CHANGJONG
(No.K/P:
JONGYU
YU
K/P:530802-11-5087)
530802-11-5087)
International players would before it can be confirmed,” he be only the fifth driver to race for Mercedes
(No.
DALAM MAHKAMAH
DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI
PERMOHONAN UNTUK
PERMOHONAN
TINGGI MALAYA
MALAYA DI
UNTUK PERLAKSANAAN
PERLAKSANAAN NO:
DI PULAU
PULAU PINANG
PINANG
NO: PA-38-320-09/2020
PA-38-320-09/2020
…PEMPETISYEN
… PEMPETISYEN be allowed by the Victoria state added. since 2010 and the third Briton to do so in the
Dalamperkara
perkaramengenai
mengenaiSeksyen
Seksyen256
256dan
dan257
257Kanun
KanunTanah
TanahNegara,
Negara,1965
1965
DAN
DAN government to arrive from Jan Tiley had originally wanted Formula One world championship after Stirling
Dalam
Dan
Dan 1.1.DATO’
DATO’SERI
SERIYONG
YONGTU
TUSANG
SANG 15-17, according to detailed players to fly in from mid- Moss and Hamilton. “I wish to thank our loyal
Dalam perkara
perkara mengenai
mengenai Gadaian
Gadaian Perserahan
Perserahan No
No 0799SC2017021963
0799SC2017021963 bertarikh
bertarikh
Dalam
13/06/2017ke
13/06/2017 keatas
atassemua
semuabahagian
bahagiantanah
tanahyang
yangdipegang
dipegangdidibawah
bawahHakmilik
HakmilikStrata
StrataNo.
No.
(No.K/P:
(No. K/P:461125-10-5829)
461125-10-5829)
plans seen by French sports December so they could partners at Williams for their collaboration and
HakmilikPajakan
Hakmilik
Dan
Dan
PajakanNegeri
Negeri2249/M2/5/115
2249/M2/5/115 2.2.KUALA
KUALAIBAI
IBAIDEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENTSDN
(No.Syarikat:
(No. Syarikat:282366-H)
282366-H)
SDNBHD
BHD daily L’Equipe, meaning the undergo quarantine before open-mindedness in making it possible for
Dalamperkara
Dalam perkaramengenai
mengenaiAturan
Aturan83
83Kaedah-Kaedah
Kaedah-KaedahMahkamah,
Mahkamah,2012
2012 …RESPONDEN-RESPONDEN
…RESPONDEN-RESPONDEN first Grand Slam of the year will playing traditional warm-up George to race for Mercedes this weekend,“ said
ANTARA
ANTARA PENGIKLANAN PETISYEN
PENGIKLANAN PETISYEN be delayed by three weeks. events before the Grand Slam. Mercedes principal Toto Wolff. Russell, a former
PUBLIC ISLAMIC
ISLAMIC BANK
BANK BERHAD
BERHAD (No.
(No.Syarikat
Syarikat :: 14328-V)
14328-V)
PUBLIC
...PLAINTIF
...PLAINTIF Notis adalah
Notis adalah dengan
dengan ini ini diberikan
diberikan The proposals would allow But state premier Dan GP3 and Formula Two champion will line up
ZAIMAH BINTI
ZAIMAH BINTI DOLLAH
DOLLAH (No.
(No.Kad
DAN
DAN
Kad Pengenalan
Pengenalan :: 760522715102)
760522715102)
bahawa
bahawa suatu
suatu
penggulungan Syarikat
penggulungan
Petisyen
Petisyen
Syarikat yangyang dinamakan
untuk
untuk
dinamakan players to train during a Andrews reportedly only wants alongside Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas.
...DEFENDAN
...DEFENDAN didi atas
atas oleh
didi Shah
oleh Mahkamah
Shah Alam,
Mahkamah Tinggi
Alam, telah
Tinggi Malaya
telah dikemukakan
Malaya
dikemukakan
mandatory 14-day quarantine players to arrive from early “Obviously, nobody can replace Lewis, but I’ll
Menurut Perintah
Menurut Perintah Mahkamah
Mahkamah Tinggi
Tinggi Malaya PULAU PINANG
Malaya didi PULAU PINANG mengenai
mengenai Perintah
Perintah pada 26.10.2020
pada 26.10.2020 kepada
tersebut dan
kepada Mahkamah
dan kemudiannya
Mahkamah
kemudiannya dipinda dipinda
period. January – making it impossible give my all for the team in his absence from the
Jualan dan
dan Perintah
Perintah bertarikh 28 Julai
bertarikh 28 Julai 2020
2020 dan
dan 33 November
November 2020,
2020, adalah
adalah dengan
dengan tersebut
Jualan
ini diisytiharkan
ini diisytiharkan bahawa
bahawa Timbalan
Timbalan Pendaftar/Penolong
Pendaftar/Penolong Kanan
Kanan Pendaftar
Pendaftar Pusat
Pusat Operasi
Operasi pada 3.11.2020
pada 3.11.2020 (“Petisyen
(“Petisyen Terpinda”)
Terpinda”) Tennis Australia would not to play the build-up events. moment I step in the car,“ the Briton said.
e-LelongdidiKuantan
Kuantan oleh DATO’ CHANG
oleh DATO’ CHANG JONG JONG YU YU (No.
(No. K/P:
K/P:
e-Lelong 530802-11-5087) yang
530802-11-5087) yang beralamat
beralamat comment on the report Andrews said yesterday he
didi 103-B,
England secure series whitewash
103-B, Sura
Sura Jeti,
Jeti, 23000
23000 Dungun,
Dungun,
AKAN MENJUAL
AKAN MENJUAL SECARA
LELONG AWAM
SECARA
AWAM Terengganu dan
Terengganu dan bahawa
bahawa PetisyenPetisyen yesterday, which came a day remained committed to
LELONG
Pada Hari Selasa, 15 Disember 2020, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi,
Pada Hari Selasa, 15 Disember 2020, Pada Jam 11:00 pagi,SECARA
SECARA ELEKTRONIK
ELEKTRONIK Terpinda tersebut
Terpinda tersebut diarahkan
didengarkandidihadapan
didengarkan
diarahkan supaya
hadapanMahkamah
supaya
Mahkamahyang yang after CEO Craig Tiley said holding the tournament, but
DI LAMAN
LAMAN WEB
WEB e-LELONG,
e-LELONG,PUSAT
PUSAT OPERASI
OPERASI e-LELONG,
e-LELONG,KOMPLEKS
KOMPLEKS MAHKAMAH
MAHKAMAH
DI
KUANTAN,PAHANG
KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL
DARUL MAKMUR
MAKMUR bersidang pada
bersidang
pagi dan
pada 19.1.2021
dan mana-mana
19.1.2021 pada
mana-mana Pemiutang
pada jam
jam 9.00
Pemiutang atau
9.00
atau
arrangements for the safety was paramount in a state DAWID Malan scored an unbeaten 99 as
pagi
NOTA: Bakal
NOTA: Bakal pembeli
pembeli adalah
adalah dinasihatkan
dinasihatkan agar
agar membuat
membuat carian
carian Hakmilik
Hakmilik
PenyumbangSyarikat
Penyumbang
menyokong atau
Syarikattersebut
tersebutyang
atau membantah
yangingin
membantah pembuatan
pembuatan
ingin tournament, originally that only recently emerged England impressively chased down an imposing
menyokong
secara rasmi
secara rasmi di
serta mengenal
di Pejabat
Pejabat Tanah
mengenal pasti
Tanah dan
pasti dengan
dan memeriksa
dengan tepat
memeriksa semua
tepat hartanah
semua tanggungan,
hartanah tersebut
tanggungan, bebanan
tersebut sebelum
sebelum jualan
bebanan
jualan lelongan
lelongan
satu Perintah
satu Perintah ke
ke atas
atas Petisyen
Petisyen Terpinda
Terpinda scheduled for Jan 18-31, would from a months-long Covid-19 target to beat South Africa by nine wickets at
serta tersebut boleh
boleh hadirhadir pada pada waktu
waktu
dijalankan.
dijalankan.
tersebut
perbicaraan dengan
perbicaraan dengan sendirinya
sendirinya atau atau be revealed soon. lockdown. – AFP Newlands yesterday and complete a clean
SilaIayari
Sila Iayarihttps://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb
https://elelong.kehakiman.gov.my/bidderweb
melalui Peguamnya
dan sesalinan
dan sesalinan dari
bagi
melalui Peguamnya bagi tujuan itu
dari Petisyen
tujuan
Petisyen Terpinda
Terpinda
itu
sweep of their three-match Twenty20 series.
BUTIR-BUTIR HAKMILIK:
HAKMILIK:
tersebut akan
tersebut akan diberikan
diberikan kepada
kepada mana-
mana- South Africa elected to bat after winning the
Holyfield calls out Tyson
BUTIR-BUTIR mana Pemiutang
mana Pemiutang atau atau Penyumbang
Penyumbang
No.Hakmilik
No. Hakmilik :: Hakmilik
HakmilikStrata
StrataNo.
2249/M2/5/115
2249/M2/5/115
No.Hakmilik
HakmilikPajakan
PajakanNegeri
Negeri Syarikat tersebut
Syarikat tersebut yang
oleh penandatangan
yang menghendakinya
menghendakinya
penandatangan didi bawah bawah atas atas
toss and, after a spluttering start, reached 191
oleh
No.lot
No. lot
Mukim // Daerah
Daerah // Negeri
Negeri
:: 5802
5802 pembayaran bayaran
pembayaran bayaran yang yang diselaraskan
diselaraskan for three wickets. But a swashbuckling, record-
Mukim :: 01
01//Seberang
SeberangPerai
PeraiTengah
Tengah//Pulau
PulauPinang
Pinang baginya.
Pegangan
Pegangan :: Hakmilik
HakmilikPajakan
Pajakan
baginya.
breaking reply, spearheaded by Malan and Jos
No. Petak/No. Tingkat/
No. Petak/No. Tingkat/
No.Bangunan
No. Bangunan :: 115
115/5
/5/M2
/M2 TandatanganKee
Tandatangan KeeSern,
Sern,Siu Siu&&HueyHuey EVANDER Holyfield called out is the fight that must happen Buttler, helped England to their target with 14
Keluasan Tanah
Keluasan Tanah :: 710.00
710.00kaki
kakipersegi
66.00meter
66.00
persegi
meterpersegi
persegi
..........................t.t...............................
..........................t.t...............................
TetuanKee
Tetuan KeeSern,
Sern,Siu Siu&&Huey Huey
Mike Tyson yesterday, saying it for both our legacies. balls to spare. The tourists made 192-1 with
Pemilik Berdaftar
Pemilik Berdaftar
Syarat Nyata
Nyata
:: ZAIMAH
ZAIMAHBINTI
BINTIDOLLAH
DOLLAH Peguamcara bagi
Peguamcara bagi Pempetisyen Pempetisyen was time the two former “Saturday night you said Malan one shy of his century and Buttler 67 not
Syarat :: Pangsapuri
Pangsapuri
Tanah yang
Tanah yang diberimilik
diberimilik ini
ini tidak
tidak boleh
boleh dipecah
dipecah No. 468-11E(2),
No. 468-11E(2), 2nd
2nd Floor,
Floor, Block
Block C,
C, undisputed heavyweight you were ready to fight me, so out in a T20 international record 167-run
sempadan,pindah
pindahmilik
milikcagar,
cagar,pajak
pajakatau
ataudilupuskan
dilupuskan Rivercity, Jalan
Jalan Sultan
Sultan Azlan
Azlan Shah
Shah
sempadan,
tanpa kebenaran
tanpa kebenaran bertulis
bertulis daripada
daripada Pihak
Pihak Berkuasa
Berkuasa
Rivercity,
(dahulunya Jalan
(dahulunya Jalan Ipoh),
Ipoh), 51200
51200 Kuala
Kuala champions returned to the sign the contract and get in the second-wicket partnership, which came off 90
Lumpur.
Sekatan Kepentingan
Sekatan Kepentingan ::
Negeri
Negeri Lumpur. ring to cap their rivalry and ring, Tyson. balls.
Bebanan // Lain-Lain
Bebanan Lain-Lain ::
NOTA:
NOTA:
Mana-mana orang
Mana-mana orang yang
yang berminat
berminat untuk
untuk settle legacies. “The world is waiting and
LOKASI DAN
LOKASI DAN PERIHAL
PERIHAL HARTANAH:
Hartanah tersebut
HARTANAH:
tersebut adalah Rumah Pangsa
adalah Rumah Pangsa yang
yang beralamat
beralamat pos 4-01, Blok
pos didi 4-01, Blok E,
E,
hadirpada
hadir padaperbicaraan
tersebut
perbicaraanPetisyen
tersebut mestilah
PetisyenTerpinda
mestilah menyampaikan
Terpinda
menyampaikan pada pada
Holyfield’s challenge comes it’s on you now. I’m ready.” Doors wide open for Tokyo Games
Hartanah
Persiaran Sembilang
Persiaran Sembilang 1,
1,Seberang
Seberang Jaya,
Jaya,13700,
13700,Perai,
Perai,Pulau
Pulau Pinang.
Pinang. atau mengirimkan
atau mengirimkan melalui
yang dinamakan
melalui pos
dinamakan didi atas,
pos kepada
atas, notis
kepada
notis bertulis
bertulis
after 54-year-old Tyson “My side tried to make the
HARGA RIZAB
HARGA RIZAB ::
yang
mengenai niat
mengenai niat beliau
beliau untuk
untuk berbuat
berbuat dominated Roy Jones Jr, 51, in fight happen and we got JAPAN aims to allow “large-scale” numbers of
sedemikian. NotisNotis tersebut
tersebut mestilah
mestilah
Hartanah tersebut
Hartanah
harga rizab
tersebut akan
rizab sebanyak
akan dijual
sebanyak RM
dijual atas
RM 120,000.00
“sepertimana sedia
atas “sepertimana
120,000.00 (RINGGIT
sedia ada”
(RINGGIT MALAYSIA:
ada” tertakluk
MALAYSIA: SATU
tertakluk kepada
SATU RATUS
kepada satu
RATUS DUA
DUA PULUH
satu
PULUH
sedemikian.
menyatakan nama
menyatakan nama dan dan alamat
alamat orang
orang an exhibition fight on Saturday nothing but excuses,” said overseas visitors to attend next year’s Tokyo
harga
RIBU SAHAJA)
RIBU SAHAJA) dan dan kepada
kepada syarat-syarat
syarat-syarat jualan
jualan yang
yang dilampirkan.
dilampirkan. Pembida
Pembida yangyang
tersebut,
dan alamat
dan
atau
alamat firma
jika sebuah
firma tersebut,
firma,
tersebut, atau jika sebuah firma, nama
tersebut, dan
nama
dan mestilah
mestilah in Los Angeles that was ruled a Holyfield. Olympics without mandatory vaccinations or
berminathendaklah
hendaklahmendepositkan
mendepositkan10% 10%daripada
daripadaharga
hargarizab
rizabdalam
dalambentuk Bank Draf
bentuk Bank Draf
berminat
didiatas
atasnama PUBLIC ISLAMIC
namaPUBLIC ISLAMIC BANKBANK BERHAD
BERHAD11 HARI
HARI BEKERJA
BEKERJAsebelum
sebelumtarikh
tarikhlelong
lelong
ditandatangani oleh
ditandatangani
atau peguamcaranya
atau
oleh orang
peguamcaranya (jika
orang atau
atau firma
(jika ada)
firma
ada) dandan
draw. “Now I can see why he quarantine provided they submit negative
awam.Baki
awam. Bakiharga
ISLAMIC BANK
ISLAMIC
hargabelian
BANK BERHAD
belianhendaklah
hendaklahdibayar
BERHAD dalam
dibayaroleh
dalam tempoh
olehpembida
pembidayang
seratus dua
tempoh seratus
yangberjaya
dua puluh
berjayakepada
puluh (120)
(120) hari
hari dari
PUBLIC
kepadaPUBLIC
dari tarikh
tarikh
mestilah disampaikan,
mestilah disampaikan, atau
mestilah dikirimkan
dikirimkan melalui
atau diposkan,
melalui pos
diposkan,
pos dalam
dalam
Calling the bout with Jones wanted a tune-up fight before Covid-19 test results and download tracking
mestilah
jualan.Untuk
jualan. Untukbutir-butir
butir-butirselanjutnya,
selanjutnya,sila
silaberhubung
berhubungdengan:-
dengan:- tempoh masa
tempoh masa yang
yang mencukupi
mencukupi supaya
supaya Jr “a tune-up” Holyfield thinking about fighting me. apps, the Nikkei business daily reported
sampai keke yang
yang tersebut
tersebut didi atas
atas tidak
tidak
Firma Guaman
Firma Guaman :: TOH
TOH THEAM
THEAM HOCK
HOCK && CO.
CO.
sampai
lewat daripada
lewat daripada 12.00
12.00 tengahari
tengahari pada
pada taunted Tyson, urging him to “Roy Jones was a good local yesterday. Under current restrictions imposed to
Alamat :: NO.
NO.155,
155,1ST
1ST FLOOR
FLOOR
Alamat
MEDAN KIKIK
MEDAN KIKIK SATU
SATU
18.1.2021.
18.1.2021. give the world the fight they opponent for Mike but a fight curb the spread of the novel coronavirus,
No.Telefon
No. Telefon
TAMAN INDERAWASIH,
TAMAN INDERAWASIH,13600,
:: 04-3981918
04-3981918
PG,MY
13600,PG, MY (TelNo:
(Tel No: 03-92122688)
(FaxNo:
(Fax
03-92122688)
No:03-40440448)
03-40440448)
want to see. with me would be a global travellers are required to self-isolate for 14 days
No.Fax
No. Fax
No.Rujukan
Rujukan
:: 04-3981921
04-3981921 (Emel:general@ksshlegal.com)
(Emel: general@ksshlegal.com) “No more excuses,“ said event, the only fight anyone on arrival as well as sign up for contact-tracing
No. :: TTH/PBB/IF-92/2019/0SY/NA
TTH/PBB/IF-92/2019/0SY/NA (Ruj:TYP/LKS/GL06/DCJY-KIDSB/200345)
(Ruj: TYP/LKS/GL06/DCJY-KIDSB/200345)
Holyfield in a statement. “This wants to see.” – Reuters apps.
22 theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
SPORTS

I’m not going to

resign: Zidane
oReal Madrid manager determined to turn around
slump after latest Shakhtar defeat

Z
INEDINE Zidane rubbished suggestions he last 16 in the balance.
could walk away from Real Madrid and said the Substitutes Dentinho and Manor
Spanish giants did not deserve to lose after Solomon both scored second-half goals
going down 2-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday, in Kiev as Shakhtar stunned the 13-time
their second defeat by the Ukrainians in this season’s European champions again, having
Champions League leaving their hopes of reaching the already won 3-2 in Madrid in October.
Shakhtar had lost their last two
Group B matches against Borussia
Moenchengladbach by an aggregate
score of 10-0, but this victory allowed
them to move above Real into second
place in the group with one game
5206/2020 02/12/2020 (WED) remaining.
SPORTS TOTO MALAYSIA SDN BHD (8420 - D) Gladbach top the section by a point, Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy (in
while Shakhtar now have the upper white) in action during yesterday’s
TOTO 4D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL
hand on Real thanks to their superior Champions League Group B match
1st Prize 9391 head-to-head record. against Shakhtar Donetsk at the
2nd Prize 0567 However, Inter Milan’s 3-2 win away Olimpiyskiy stadium in Kiev. – AFPPIX
to Gladbach not only kept the Italians
3rd Prize 9628 alive, but also limited the damage for Spanish sports daily Marca.
Draw Date: 02/12/20 (Wed) Draw No: 5153/20 Venue: PERAK TURF CLUB

Special Consolation Real, who now know a win at home to “We had chances, (we hit) the post...
1743 4740 2748 2651 the Germans next week will take them and then it got complicated. I think we
1703 3496 8030 5317 through, regardless of how Shakhtar deserved to win. We had chances. We 1900
7321 5553 8431 7006 fare in their last game. can’t let our heads drop. When you have
3060 6708 1359 2604 Madrid have made it out of their a bad run, you have to keep going. 9460
7170 9535 9756 6827 group in every year since 1997 and so “It’s a bad run in terms of results, but 2692
failure to qualify would be seen as a we have to keep going. It was a ‘final’
disaster, but Zidane said he would not today. We prepared for it well, but the 9343 + 6089 7834 + 5854
leave the club he has so far led to three ball didn’t go in. We have a game to win
3,791,717.19 Champions League triumphs and two and (let’s) move on.”
7678 + 4905 7151 + 0488
La Liga titles over two spells as coach. Zidane has been the subject of 1050 + 0257 1992 + 9555
9391 0567 0567 9391 4391 + 8837 4489 + 0921
9391 9628 9391 “I am not going to resign, not at all,” criticism this season due to the team’s
9628
0567 9628 9628 0567 said Zidane. “We are always going to apparent lack of direction in their style 2829 + 5575 6443 + 4007
have difficult moments, and we are on a of play.
110,928.40 bad run, but we need to keep going. “I don’t think there’s a problem, lots
Winning combination of any 1 of Top 3 & any 1 of Special prizes. “I have the strength needed to turn of things are coming together (at the
the situation around and I am going to same time),” Zidane added. RM7,151,676.10
give everything to do that, so are the “We created chances, it’s not to do
players,” added the Frenchman, whose with our game. We’re struggling to score 1900 + 9460 9460 + 1900
1st Prize 9391 + team also lost at the weekend, going goals. An opening goal would’ve made 1900 + 2692 2692 + 1900
down 2-1 at home to Alaves in La Liga. the game easier for us. 9460 + 2692 2692 + 9460
2nd Prize 0567 +
“We played well and we deserved ”I’m optimistic. It’s a difficult
3rd Prize 9628 + BOAR more. We just need to lift our heads up moment, but we have to have character
RM364,541.80
4th Prize Special Prize +
and think about the next game. and pride,“ Zidane continued.
“We were very good in the first half, “Today’s result is a shame because
5th Prize Consolation Prize + but we were missing goals. We were we didn’t deserve it. We have to win the
6th Prize Any 4D drawn number
pressing well, playing well... The ball next game. We’re going to believe and
didn’t want to go in,” Zidane told we’re going to fight.” – AFP/Agencies RM170,000.00
TOTO 5D & 6D PRIZE PAYMENTS GUARANTEED IN FULL
571 900 + ROOSTER
3 0 7 1 6

2 6 2 0 9
0 7 1
7 1
6
6
Lukaku double for Milan 989 460 + SNAKE RM2,653,749.00

keeps group wide open 292 692 + RABBIT RM1,733,207.60

0 4 8 6 0 1 6
6 1 3 2 3 4 649 343 116 089 397 834 165 854
INTER Milan forward Romelu Lukaku start with Matteo Darmian slotting the
scored twice in the second half to ball through the legs of goalkeeper 887 678 944 905 747 151 710 488
6 1 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 4 secure a 3-2 win at Borussia Yann Sommer in the 17th minute. 631 050 340 257 611 992 709 555
6 1 3 2 3 2 3 4 Moenchengladbach yesterday and keep The Germans found their footing 434 391 528 837 034 489 620 921
6 1 3 2 3 4 their hopes of reaching the knockout after half an hour and, despite frantic
stage alive with Group B still wide open shouts of calma, calma from Conte
662 829 615 575 966 443 784 007
6 1 3 4
with one round of games left. echoing across the empty stadium, the
TOTO GAMES GIVES YOU MORE WINNING CHANCES! The Belgium international has Italians lost their grip on the game.
4 16 31 48 49 50 proved a lifesaver for Inter, having also Alassane Plea headed home the
scored twice, including a last-minute equaliser in first-half stoppage time but 900 460 692
38,693,144.56 equaliser, in their 2-2 draw with the as the hosts edged closer to a second
Germans in Italy on the first matchday. goal after the break, Lukaku struck with
7 25 27 28 31 45 Lukaku fired home for a 2-1 lead in a powerful shot across the area into the
the 64th minute at Borussia Park and far corner. RM614,636.40
9,088,430.32 tapped in his second goal nine minutes He then completed a quick move 900 + 460 + 692 460 + 692 + 900
later to make it 3-1, with Inter now with an easy tap in.
12 23 27 29 41 49 26 needing a win in their last group match Moenchengladbach were not done 900 + 692 + 460 692 + 900 + 460
against Shakhtar Donetsk to have any yet and Plea cut the deficit in the 76th 460 + 900 + 692 692 + 460 + 900
Jackpot 1 1,931,745.06
chance of advancing. while eight minutes later the
Jackpot 2 100,000.00 “You need to be a great group (of Frenchman had an effort disallowed by Avoid crowds, stay safe, play safe
players), otherwise you don’t come here VAR for an offside in the area. with dmcGO.
Toto 4D Jackpot 2 and win against this Borussia side in “We’d have liked to get points from
great form,“ said Inter coach Antonio this game. We didn’t manage that and
RM98,810 Conte. we’re very disappointed,“ said Gladbach
Toto 4D Jackpot 2 (i-System) “We had a great performance, we coach Marco Rose, who was furious
fully deserved to win. We just could over the offside decision.
RM1,190 avoid some risks at the end but we are Asked what he had told the referee
won on 01/12/2020! still alive and this is what counts the in an agitated manner at the end of the
Visit www.sportstoto.com.my for e-Results and more info. most.” game, Rose replied: “Merry Christmas.” –
Inter were rewarded for their strong Reuters

Olympiakos,
OM look for
Europa
comfort
OLYMPIAKOS were eliminated from
the Champions League when they
slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Olympique
de Marseille in Group C on Tuesday,
with the two clubs left fighting for a
Europa League spot.
The Greek side went ahead in the
first half through Mady Camara, only
for Dimitri Payet to score two
penalties after the break to give OM
their first win and their first goals in
the competition this season.
OM, who ended an embarrassing
13-match losing streak in the
Champions League, are bottom of the
group on three points, behind
Olympiakos by virtue of the head-to-
head rule.
Olympiakos host Porto and
Marseille travel to Manchester City in
the final group games next
Wednesday.
At the Stade Velodrome, the
visitors went ahead in the 33rd
minute, as Marios Vrousai cut the ball
back to Camara who fired it into the
top corner from the edge of the box.
Marseille levelled 10 minutes into
the second half when Payet
converted a penalty after Florian
Thauvin was fouled in the area by
Pape Abdou Cisse.
Rafinha then handled the ball and
Payet converted a second spot kick
with 15 minutes left to give OM the
chance to have something to fight for
in the final game next week.
OM manager Andre Villas-Boas
said his team does not deserve to be
drafted in the Europa League after
yesterday’s win.
“Teams should not have the bonus
of being drafted in the Europa
League,” Villas-Boas told explica.co.
“The bonus is qualifying for the
knockout stages of the Champions
League, for the first two... it would be
better if the 3rd and 4th were
eliminated.
“It’s not something that you can
live with joy. There is no trophy to be
lifted to qualify for the Europa
League.”
RESULTS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Group A
Atletico Madrid 1 (Felix 26) Bayern
Munich 1 (Muller 86-pen), Lokomotiv
Moscow 1 (Miranchuk 79-pen)
Salzburg 3 (Berisha 28, 41, Adeyemi
81).
Group B
Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 (Plea
45+1, 76) Inter Milan 3 (Darmian 17,
Lukaku 64, 73), Shakhtar Donetsk 2
(Dentinho 57, Solomon 82) Real
Madrid 0.
Group C
Marseille 2 (Payet 55-pen, 75-pen)
Olympiakos 1 (Camara 33), Porto 0
Manchester City 0.
Group D
Atalanta 1 (Romero 79) Midtjylland 1
(Scholz 13), Liverpool 1 (Jones 58) Ajax
0.
ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP
Birmingham 1 Barnsley 2, Bourne-
mouth 2 Preston 3, Cardiff 3
Huddersfield 0, Derby 1 Coventry 1,
QPR 1 Bristol City 2, Rotherham 0
Brentford 2.
23
theSUN ON THURSDAY | DECEMBER 3, 2020
* SPORTS
Cardiff boss lauds Moore after Huddersfield win
CARDIFF City secured back-to-back wins for
the first time this campaign as Kieffer Moore’s
double and a Robert Glatzel strike gave the
brilliantly inside before rifling in a shot off the
crossbar to ensure Cardiff leapfrogged Huddersfield
up to 11th in the Championship.
Bluebirds a 3-0 win against Huddersfield.
Neil Harris’ side spent long periods of the
game without the ball but deservedly led at
After losing to Coventry
last week the
pressure had
half-time as Moore caught the reached breaking point
Huddersfield for manager Harris but
six points from two
games has got the
Bluebirds moving in the
right direction again.
Harris lauded striker Moore (pix) for his well-taken
goals in each half against the Terriers.
defence sleeping “Again, he has bullied the centrehalves for the 75
to turn home Sheyi minutes he was on the pitch,“ Harris said after the
Ojo’s cross. match. “He is looking like a top acquisition by the
Another defensive error led to club.
Cardiff ’s second, as substitute “He was a handful in the air, he is quick when he
Junior Hoilett stole the ball off runs down the sides, he is taking care of the ball for us
Naby Sarr inside the Huddersfield and scoring goals at the moment.
box to square for Moore, who had “He is making life very difficult for the opponents.
the simplest of finishes. Huddersfield changed to a three to deal with him and
The points were sealed as Mark Harris and I thought he was a real handful
substitute Glatzel turned again.” – WalesOnline/Agencies
Headache
for Simeone
Atletico frustrated as Muller penalty rescues
weakened Bayern
A
TLETICO Madrid coach Diego and earned the penalty.”
Simeone said they are still going in Simeone tried to look on the bright side
the right direction even after they after his side failed to hold out for a victory.
were held to a 1-1 draw at home to “This is the way to go, that’s clear. We are
an understrength Bayern Munich side working hard, the players are in good shape
yesterday and made to wait to seal a place in and I liked how calm we were on the ball,” he
the Champions League knockout stages. said.
A late Thomas Muller penalty for the “We are not being clinical in front of goal
visitors cancelled out Joao Felix’s early but we’re creating lots of chances, and I can
opener and Atleti now face a showdown at tell our fans that we’re going to keep on doing
RB Salzburg next week needing to avoid that.”
defeat to reach the last 16. Goal scorer Felix told Movistar Plus: “We
The Austrians, who earlier beat played very well individually and collectively,
Lokomotiv Moscow 3-1 away, will qualify at but are frustrated by not getting the victory to
Atletico’s expense if they win next week’s put us in the last 16.
game. “We were winning until the 85th minute
Simeone’s side have won just one of their and we had more chances than they did but
five matches in Group A and this was their didn’t take them. They only had a few but it
third consecutive draw after two stalemates was enough for the draw.”
against Lokomotiv. For Bayern, whose focus was primarily on
“I leave here with the sensation the team Saturday’s Bundesliga showdown with RB
is still doing the right things even though the Leipzig, it marked just the fourth time in 43
Champions League is giving us a right matches this year they failed to win.
headache,” the Argentine coach said. “I’m very happy with the result. We were
“We deserved more from these three more competitive in the second half to get
draws but we were not clinical enough. We the draw. With Muller, we gained a bit more
played very well in the first half and got a dynamism up front. On the whole, it was a
lovely goal, we nearly got a second one but it satisfactory match,“ said Bayern coach Hansi
didn’t arrive and Bayern are a strong team Flick. – Reuters/AFP
Bayern Munich
midfielder Douglas
Costa (right)
challenges Atletico
Madrid midfielder
Koke (centre) during
yesterday’s
Champions League
Group A match at the
Wanda
Metropolitano
stadium in Madrid. –
AFPPIX
 QUOTE OF THE DAY
Again, he has bullied the centrehalves for the
75 minutes he was on the pitch. He is looking
like a top acquisition by the club. He was a handful in the
air, he is quick when he runs down the sides, he is taking
care of the ball for us and scoring goals at the moment.
He is making life very difficult for the opponents.”
Cardiff City manager Neil Harris on Kieffer Moore
THURSDAY • DECEMBER 3, 2020

J
Red delight
URGEN KLOPP hailed a depleted
Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Ajax to reach the
last 16 as one of his greatest Champions
League nights given the circumstances of
a lengthy injury list.
The Reds’ youngsters took their chance to
shine as 19-year-old Curtis Jones scored the
only goal, while Caoimhin Kelleher kept a
clean sheet against the Dutch giants on his
European debut.
Victory also ensures Klopp’s men win
Group D with a game to spare, allowing the
German to give some of his stars a much-
needed rest away to Midtjylland next week. Klopp rates Ajax win up with his best at Liverpool
“Honestly, since I am (at) Liverpool, for
how it feels, one of the biggest Champions as youngsters take centre stage at Anfield
League nights,” said Klopp, who has guided
Liverpool to two finals and won the competitions and he was made to work for they were left to regret what might have been header from point-blank range to see
competition in 2019. his clean sheet on the big stage as he flew to but for one moment of madness from Onana. Liverpool over the line.
“Without supporters in, it was the most his left to turn Noussair Mazraoui’s long- The Spaniard made amends with a great A delighted Klopp ran onto the field to
important, the most difficult and the most range effort behind. save to turn Roberto Firmino’s effort onto the embrace his goalkeeper after the full-time
exceptional game.” Mazraoui was denied again by Kelleher post to keep Ajax in the game after Liverpool’s whistle and will hope his squad is in better
Kelleher had to deputise for Alisson early in the second half, but David Neres best move of the match involving Henderson health for another deep run in the knockout
Becker, who added to Klopp’s long injury list should have swept home the rebound when and Salah. stages come the new year.
before kickoff, while Andrew Robertson he hit the outside of the post. But Kelleher produced an even better stop “You never know how a boy will react,”
needed heavy strapping applied to his ankle Ajax now must beat Atalanta in two minutes from time to parry Klaas- said Klopp. “I’m really happy with how calm
in the first half. Amsterdam next week to make the last 16 and Jan Huntelaar’s powerful he was, with how good he was.” – AFP
Liverpool were already without Virgil van
Dijk, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,
Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Trent
Alexander-Arnold and James Milner through
injury.
“There are not a lot of reasons to smile
because of the injuries it’s tricky. Then the
boys throw themselves into that game,”
added Klopp.
“How the kids played. Robbo with a
proper knock on the ankle pushing himself
through, Hendo (Jordan Henderson) with a
proper knock on the back, pushing himself
through.
“Gini (Wijnaldum) I have no words for
him, Curtis Jones what a game for a 19-year-
old boy. I’m really proud tonight.”
Jones has been one of the beneficiaries of
those absentees with many more first-team
minutes this season and came closest to
breaking the deadlock before half-time when
his curling effort came back off the post after
just six minutes.
The midfielder was then alive to score the
winner just before the hour mark when a
lofted cross from Neco Williams appeared
easy pickings for Ajax ‘keeper Andre Onana,
but he instead tried to let the ball go behind
for a goal kick and was caught out when Jones
sneaked in at the back post to turn the ball
into an unguarded net.
“That’s how it is sometimes, in situations
where there are problems there is always an
opportunity for someone else and he took it
just exceptionally well,” added Klopp. Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones
Ajax had been unbeaten in eight games (right) scores the opening goal
since losing to at home to Liverpool in during yesterday’s Champions
October, but they could not find a way past League Group D match against
the inspired Kelleher.
Ajax at Anfield. – AFPPIX
All of the young Irishman’s previous
appearances had come in domestic cup

Pep delighted by City’s ‘incredible’ CL group stage

PEP GUARDIOLA expressed satisfaction with
the performance and outcome as Manchester
City secured top spot in their Champions
League group with a goalless draw at Porto.
City were not at their exhilarating best
yesterday but, with qualification for the last 16
achieved with two games to spare, they were
under little pressure at the Estadio do Dragao.
Porto, needing just a point themselves to
join City in the knockout stages, also appeared
to set their stall out for a draw and they
frustrated the visitors by defending stoically
throughout.
“We played incredibly well,” said City boss
Guardiola. “We attacked, we didn’t concede one
corner, we didn’t concede one shot on target.
“Alongside Benfica they are the best side in
Portugal for the quality they have, the
physicality they have, how quick they are up
theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
front. We played exceptionally well. “When you lose one or two games or draw, local rivals Manchester United on Dec 12.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t score but we always you have to go to the last game and Guardiola, however, wants to use the final
came here to finish first. We are happy, I guess, with the Covid situation and injuries always Champions League group game against
and Porto as well.” there would have been a risk. Marseille to drive up the standards within the
City, who have been beaten in the “But we have done an incredible group squad.
quarterfinals for the last three years, have made stage. I know it is (considered) a disaster if we “I am more than delighted with the
relatively-easy work of the group stage this are not able to do it but we know the other performances in these games. We have one left
year. groups were difficult - incredible teams are – nothing to play (for), just maintain the
They won their opening four games with finding it difficult to qualify. rhythm.
little alarm and remain unbeaten after the “So this competition is really, really difficult. “It is a day to be happy. Now it is time to
stalemate in Portugal. If you slip one or two games everything is forget the Champions League until February
Guardiola said: “A big, incredible going to be complicated from the beginning.” and focus on the Premier League.
compliment and congratulations for the team With Champions League knockout matches “It is not just about preparing for United and
for all the group stage, especially the games we not taking place until February, Guardiola’s side Old Trafford, because against Marseille we’re
play away. We played with huge personality can focus on reviving their Premier League going to play to win,” the Spanish coach added.
and courage. campaign as they currently sit 11th – six points “This is the way big teams create the
“In this period – and with the way this off leaders Tottenham Hotspur but with a game mentality. It doesn’t matter what competition
season has started – the Champions League in hand. you play, you have to try to do it.” – The
was tricky. City host Fulham on Saturday and then visit Independent/Reuters