INSIDE

TELLING IT AS IT IS
Serious health page
Success story of page
issues linked to 3 journalist-turned- 5
heavy schoolbags businessman

DEAD STOP ... Residents of Kampung

Belukar Bukit in Terengganu looking at a chasm
ON TUESDAY MARCH 1, 2022 that appeared yesterday on the main road
leading to the village after the area was hit
No. 7975 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195) www.thesundaily.my Story on
— by heavy rain and floods. – BERNAMAPIX
page 5

Messy affair,
█ BY SURAYA ALI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

P
ETALING JAYA: With numerous new
players in the mix, the upcoming
Johor state election would be a messy
affair, but the impending results
appear very clear to a political analyst.

clear results
Prof James Chin of the University of
Tasmania’s Asia Institute said there are only
two main contenders in the polls, while the
others are merely making up the numbers.
He pointed out that by not getting its act
together, Pakatan Harapan (PH) is doing its
main rival Barisan Nasional (BN) a great
favour.
“There is Warisan, Pejuang and Muda, who
are first timers in the arena, and there are only
so many competitive seats where everyone is
trying their luck,” he said when contacted
yesterday.
In saying the winning coalition would score
o While many hands are stirring the pot
a decisive win, Chin said the new contenders
would be mere “also-rans”. in Johor polls, expert says most would
“It would be like what we saw in Sarawak
and Malacca, but there are many seats with not taste victory
more than three-cornered fights. A majority of
the candidates would lose their deposits.
“Umno traditionally has a very good walkover for Umno, Mohd Tajuddin said it party in DAP.”
machinery in Johor,” he added, pointing out may have huge implications for Malaysia Mohd Tajuddin feels that DAP needs
the party’s main advantage in the state. beyond the Johor election. Amanah to counter the Chinese party
Meanwhile, academician Dr Mohd “PKR and Anwar have been suffering narrative and Amanah needs the machinery
Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi said it would be a under the Umno-PAS-Bersatu assault of being of DAP to survive.
mistake for analysts to think that a repeat of the a DAP stooge. Now, this tactic will throw the “What Malaysia needs is for these two
Malacca election would happen in Johor. Umno-PAS-Bersatu battle narrative into parties to merge and produce a strong
“I think there are several differences that disarray,” he said. ideological and multiracial party that would
would make this election a fantastically Mohd Tajuddin opined that in war, it is sweep Malaysia onto a new age.”
interesting one for the (possible) GE15 important to confuse the enemy and strike He added that Muda is the only true breath
scenario.” during the confusion. of fresh air against the stink of the country’s
According to Mohd Tajuddin, the issue of He added that the alliance between old politics.
PKR using its own logo while DAP and Amanah and DAP also brings a new equation “With the automatic registration of Undi18,
Amanah are opting for the Pakatan Harapan to the floor. Muda is set to change the political landscape
logo is an interesting one. “Amanah is the least strong of the three of Malaysia,” he said, adding that if the party
While most political analysts say this shows parties but it has an ideological Islamic base can win one or two seats, it would be enough
that PH is doomed to fail and that it would be a (aligned) with a socialist multiracial for it to carve a different future for Malaysia.
 2 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
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King views corruption issues seriously

oVital to address
graft to build nation
that values
transparency and
integrity, says
Al-Sultan Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-
Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah
Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah
views seriously corruption issues in
Malaysia.
The King said it is important to
address graft, to build a nation that
values transparency and integrity.
He said this in his royal address at
the opening of the first meeting of the
fifth session of the 14th Parliament
yesterday.
His remarks elicited a
spontaneous response from
members of Parliament who cheered
and banged their tables in support.
The King said he believed that the
government is doing its best to
implement the policies and initiatives
of the National Anti-Corruption Plan
through enforcement, prevention
and education to combat all forms of
corruption. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong receiving the text of the royal address from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
“The government is also in the
midst of upgrading its service delivery and prosperous. He said welfare assistance must cross-social roles and responsibilities improvement of drainage systems,
system via end-to-end initiatives so as “Their contributions are huge and not only be given to those in service on the part of the government, especially in densely populated and
to be more transparent, efficient and go beyond the call of duty. May all but also pensioners, including armed private sector, civil society disaster-prone areas must be
professional.” civil servants continue to be focused, forces veterans. organisations and volunteers, intensified.
The King expressed appreciation dedicated and committed to The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also especially youths and the public. “Short and long-term measures,
for the loyalty and sincere improving the quality of services for urged for disaster management “Coordination between the including flood mitigation
contributions of frontliners, members the people’s wellbeing.” mechanisms to be constantly federal and state governments as well infrastructure preparedness as
of the civil service, armed forces, The King added that the welfare of upgraded to face any threats due to as local authorities should be carried decided in the Central Disaster
police, as well as government civil servants must continue to be environmental degradation and out on a constant basis. Management Committee meeting,
agencies, who have dedicated their protected in terms of health, climate change, Bernama reported. “The development of a centralised should be implemented
services to making Malaysia peaceful education and housing. The King added this will involve disaster warning system and immediately.”

Sedili Kecil Royal praise for third-time election to UN body

horseshoe crabs KUALA LUMPUR: The election of Malaysia, for
the third time, as a member of the United
Parliament yesterday.
The King expressed confidence that the
the highest level of preparedness to face any
threats from within and outside the country.

a hit in Thailand Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for

KOTA TINGGI: Horseshoe crabs, used in
several seafood dishes in the district,
command high demand in neighbouring
Thailand.
Sedili Kecil Horseshoe Crab Hatchery
and Breeding Centre supervisor Mohd
Khairul Idham Ahmad said about 48,000
horseshoe crabs are exported to Thailand
every year, making the neighbouring nation
the main export destination.
He added that most of the crustaceans
are exported to Thailand while the rest
make their way to local restaurants.
“Horseshoe crabs are popular among
the Thai community, and we export them to
Bangkok. Due to the high demand in
Thailand, we sometimes don’t have enough
to meet export needs.”
Mohd Khairul said horseshoe crabs cost
between RM15 and RM40 each, depending
on the grade.
He added that crabs meant for export are
sourced from fishermen as well as
hatcheries.
He said that under a conservation
project started in 2011, an estimated 60,000
to 80,000 baby horseshoe crabs, aged one to
two years, are released into the sea
annually. – Bernama
the 2022-2024 term reflects the international
community’s confidence in the country’s
diplomatic authority.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan
Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah
said Malaysia needs to use the platform to play
an active role in voicing the interests of small
countries and the oppressed.
The King added that the country should take
the opportunity of being a member of UNHRC
to ensure that Malaysia’s interests continue to be
safeguarded.
“I would like to congratulate Malaysia on
being elected to the world body,” said
Al-Sultan Abdullah in his royal address in
110 Malaysian students in Queensland evacuated
KUALA LUMPUR: About 110 Malaysian
students in Queensland, Australia affected by
floods were evacuated to temporary relief
centres.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin
Abdullah said in a Twitter post yesterday that 75
of them were at the University of Queensland
relief centre, while another 35 are being
relocated.
He said there are 348 Malaysians registered
in Queensland, including about 200 students.
country’s international relations would
continue to shine with the implementation of
Malaysia’s Foreign Policy Framework.
Al-Sultan Abdullah said new approaches on
important matters, including health diplomacy,
digital economy, cultural diplomacy, cyber
security and peaceful coexistence should be
given emphasis.
The King also said that the level of capability
and readiness of the nation’s security and
defence measures should always be given
priority.
Al-Sultan Abdullah said they include
bolstering capacity building, acquisition of new
assets as well as maintenance and upgrading of
security assets so that the country is always at
He added that the Malaysian High
Commission in Canberra, in collaboration with
Brisbane Malaysian community representative
Chan Wai Kiong and president of the Malaysian
Students’ Council of Australia Razin Hadi, was
monitoring and coordinating the relocation of
affected Malaysians to relief centres.
“The Queensland state government through
a televised broadcast has informed that the
flood situation is expected to continue for the
next three to five days.
“The concept of comprehensive defence
must also be strengthened through bilateral and
multilateral cooperation platforms so that the
country’s security and sovereignty are
safeguarded.”
The King said the government would
continue to support learning by imparting good
practices and values as well as providing a safe
and conducive school environment.
Al-Sultan Abdullah said all parties should
back government efforts to bridge students’
learning gaps created by the pandemic.
He also commended the establishment of
the National TVET Council and Graduate
Marketability Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
– Bernama
“According to a weather forecast agency, the
southbound rain situation is expected to affect
some areas around Northeast New South Wales
and Sydney.”
He advised Malaysians in affected areas to
contact the High Commission directly at +61261
200 300/310 or +61416 334 901 or email
mwcanberra@kln.gov.my.
Thousands of residents on Australia’s east
coast were ordered to leave their homes
following heavy rains. – Bernama

Army receives six light scout cum attack helicopters

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian
army yesterday received six MD530G
light scout/attack helicopters to
boost its capability.
Army chief General Tan Sri
Zamrose Mohd Zain said the
helicopters would be equipped with
7.62mm Gatling guns, 12.7mm heavy
machine guns and 70mm rockets.
He said they can be used to attack
and destroy light armoured vehicles
and enemies at a range of 500m to
7km. They also have the agility to
perform air reconnaissance.
“Three of the helicopters will be Directorate General Technical the army’s aviation branch.
stationed in the Eastern Sabah Airworthiness and the army,” he told Meanwhile, asked to comment on
Security Command and the rest in the media during the handing over of doubts cast by certain quarters on the
Kluang, Johor. the helicopters yesterday. capability of the helicopters, Zamrose
“Before being allowed to operate, He said the procurement contract said they were suitable for the
they must undergo several included training programmes for functions they are meant for.
inspections such as by the eight pilots and nine technicians of – Bernama

Semarang candidates raise rural development, education issues
BATU PAHAT: The candidates in the Johor
state election vying for the Semarang seat are
raising issues involving education and
continued development in rural areas, which
are close to people’s hearts, among others.
Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk
Samsolbari Jamali, who is the incumbent, said
BN would continue to focus on infrastructure
development in rural areas to close the rural-
urban gap.
Samsolbari, who is also Johor Umno
secretary, said he wanted to carry on with the
Heavy school bags
a weighty issue
oStudy shows they cause
musculoskeletal pain in more
than 60% of pupils
█ BY SURAYA ALI
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Carrying heavy school bags
may not just be “unfair” to children as more
serious health issues are involved, says a
medical expert.
“Children and adolescents do come to my
clinic complaining of aches and pains,
sometimes attributed to carrying heavy school
bags,” Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC)
paediatric orthopaedic specialist Dr Roshan
Gunalan told theSun.
He explained that the cause of the pain is,
however, multifactorial.
“This can depend on the age and size or
build of the child, the muscle strength, the time
carrying the bag, the weight of the bag and
others,” he said.
“However, studies have shown a correlation
between carrying heavy bags and the
prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, especially
back pain.”
Carrying heavy loads tend to cause various
problems for children, the most common
problem reported includes pain, muscle
fatigue and soreness.
“Children have a different composition of
bones as compared with adults; in general,
they are more pliable and respond differently
to stress or load applied to it,” he said.
Children’s bones respond differently to
acute injuries such as fractures, and overuse
stress, such as repeated carrying of heavy loads.
Parents are always concerned that children
develop spine abnormalities and deformities
or stunting of growth if they carry heavy loads.
“A study in India found that 60.6% of male
pupils and 65.7% of female pupils reported
musculoskeletal pain and the most affected
areas were back and neck,” he said.
Roshan added neck and shoulder postures
were influenced by the weight and duration of
carrying heavy bags.
“There have also been significant increases
in the thoracic and lumbar spinal curvatures as
the children fatigued while carrying the
weighted backpacks,” he said, adding that these
curvatures are postulated to progress into
adulthood, if there is repeated/regular carrying
of heavy backpacks.
Stunting of growth, however, is rare, as the
long bones and their growth potential
407,097 candidates to sit for SPM from tomorrow
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 407,097 candidates will
be sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)
2021 written examinations starting tomorrow
until March 29.
In a statement yesterday, the Education
Ministry said 50,154 invigilators have been
appointed to ensure the smooth running of the
examinations which will be held at 3,382
examination centres nationwide.
“All candidates are reminded to refer to the
concept of “developing potential, improving
infrastructure” in rural areas.
“We do not promise to build high-rise
buildings and large supermarkets, but we
continue to focus on having infrastructure and
facilities in the constituency so that it would not
fall far behind urban centres.
“Issues involving electricity and water have
been resolved, now we focus on having internet
facility and other needs,” he said when met by
Bernama in Kampung Parit Amil, Yong Peng.
Asked about his strategy to woo young
Schoolchildren helping each other to adjust their backpacks. The boy’s bag appears to be too heavy for
him, causing him to lean forward. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN
withstand repeated stress better, compared
with the spine.
When asked the maximum load a child
should carry, Roshan said a backpack load
exceeding 10% of body weight has been shown
to increase energy consumption, increase
trunk forward lean, and result in decreased
lung volumes.
“These factors lead to reduced efficiency in
the breathing and mechanics and eventually
fatigue,” he said.
When suggested the use of better-quality
bags that may cost more, Roshan said
expensive bags may not play a preventive role
in these problems in children.
“The content load will still be the same. It is
recommended that stroller bags be used as
opposed to backpacks,” he said.
As a solution, Roshan suggested schools
should be encouraged to provide lockers for
children, so that they do not need to carry
heavy loads on a daily basis.
Intan Mas Ayu Shahimi, a mother of four,
said three of her children are in primary
school and they all face the same problem of
SPM examination timetable for information on
the date, time, code, papers as well as
instructions that need to be followed during the
examination,” the ministry said.
The examination timetable can be
downloaded from the official website of the
Examinations Syndicate at http://lp.moe.gov.my
Candidates are reminded to bring along their
identification cards and examination registration
slips to the centres.
voters, Samsolbari said as a local, he
understood the pulse of youths in the area,
adding that he would help raise their voice
through consensus and maintain friendly
relations with them.
Meanwhile, Shazani A Hamid of Perikatan
Nasional (PN) said he wanted to develop
educational institutions in Ayer Hitam in
addition to making the area a major stopover in
Johor.
“I believe if there are many educational
institutions here, the economy will pick up and
heavy bags.
“My children always complain they are tired
from carrying heavy bags several flights of stairs
to reach their classrooms,” she said.
Intan Mas Ayu said there were days her
children begged her to allow them either to stay
home from school or leave some books at
home.
“On average they carry three to four books
per subject, and they have five to six subjects
per day,” she said.
And to make matters worse, not all the
books are used and by end of the school term
some pages were left unused.
Intan Mas Ayu pleaded with the Education
Ministry to look seriously into the matter
before the new school session starts next
month.
“For instance, why would physical
education class need a textbook and activity
book when it is not even an obligatory subject
that affects their academics?” she asked.
The heavy school bag issue has been a
concern for many years with news reports on it
dating back to 1980.
Candidates are also required to comply with
guidelines issued by the ministry on the
operations of schools and examinations as well
as the standard operating procedures on Covid-
19 prevention as issued by the National Security
Council and Health Ministry to curb the spread
of the virus.
The guidelines can be downloaded from the
Education Ministry’s official portal at
https://www.moe.gov.my. – Bernama
3
theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
more job opportunities will be available to the
residents.
“Ayer Hitam is at the heart of the state of
Johor, people would normally stop over at Ayer
Hitam to buy flower pots and handicrafts, so it
has great potential to be a major stopover area
and I will make an effort to set up a food hub
here,” he said.
Semarang will see a four-cornered fight
among Samsolbari, Shazani, Adzlan Raju of
Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) and Haryati
Abu Nasir (PKR).
eWages to monitor
prompt payment
to foreign workers
PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources
Ministry has proposed the implementation
of eWages as a salary monitoring system for
foreign workers, said its minister Datuk Seri
M. Saravanan.
“The eWages initiative will be
implemented soon to monitor prompt
payment of wages to foreign workers,” he
said in a statement yesterday on the
management of foreign workers, adding that
the proposed system was agreed on by the
Cabinet on Jan 12.
Saravanan said as a member of the
International Labour Organisation, Malaysia
strictly observed its 11 indicators on forced
labour, which also cover the aspect of
conducive living conditions for workers.
The ministry has made it compulsory for
employers to fully comply with the Standard
Minimum of Housing and Amenities Act
1990 (Act 446) as a mandatory requirement
to employ foreign workers, he said.
“Moving forward, the ministry is in the
midst of planning to regulate and introduce
a Centralised Labour Quarters within a span
of five years for an effective and coordinated
supervision of foreign workers,” he said.
Saravanan also said his ministry was in
the process of concluding the memorandum
of understanding (MoU) on Indonesian
domestic workers after getting the official
nod from the Cabinet on Feb 23.
The MoU with Vietnam, Cambodia, India
and Sri Lanka are currently in the final stages
of discussion, all of which have lapsed
during the implementation of the
movement control order in the country due
to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.
He said that so far the ministry has
concluded and signed MoU with 10 source
countries and is in the midst of finalising the
MoU that have expired. – Bernama
Snow thrills climbers
on Mt Kinabalu
RANAU: Lucky climbers and mountain
guides on Mount Kinabalu were surprised
by a brief snowfall of two to three minutes
around the peak yesterday morning.
A mountain guide for the Via Ferrata
route, Hajiri Sulumin, 47, said the snowy
experience occurred at 7.18am when he was
waiting for climbers in the Sayat-Sayat area.
“I was at the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint
when it happened ... it was snowy, like a
light drift (of partially melting snowflakes)
unlike heavy ice pellets,” he said when
contacted by reporters yesterday.
He added that in his 11 years as a
mountain guide on the Via Ferrata route, he
had witnessed a similar phenomenon in
2018.
Meanwhile, director-general of the
Malaysian Meteorological Department
(MetMalaysia) Muhammad Helmi
Abdullah said in a video statement that the
snow phenomenon was not altogether non-
existent in high altitudes such as the
(equatorial) highlands of Mount Kinabalu.
When the air temperature dipped to 0°C
or lower, snow could form provided there is
sufficient humidity, he said.
“Conditions of sub-zero weather or when
the wind hangs can contribute to the
formation of snow, a phenomenon that we
rarely see but it can happen,” he said.
– Bernama
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4 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
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Caution on use of paracetamol

oRisky to exceed dosage or consume
fake version of drug to counter aches from
vaccination and booster shots, say experts
KUALA LUMPUR: A shortage of
paracetamol tablets in the market has
raised concerns that the public may
be resorting to self-medication to
alleviate the side effects of
vaccinations and booster doses as
well as symptoms of Covid infections.
Experts view the hike in over-the-
counter purchases of paracetamol as
a worrying trend, as overdosing on
the drug can expose users to
poisoning.
Doctors and pharmacists
interviewed by Bernama said the
trend appeared to be getting “out of
hand”, possibly due to a spike in new
Covid-19 cases, the bulk of which
comprises mild infections that cause
symptoms such as fever and body
ache, which can be relieved by taking
paracetamol.
Several pharmacists also said
many were stocking up on
paracetamol in preparation for their
booster shots, which may cause side
effects such as fever, headache and
joint pain.
Paracetamol is commonly used to
relieve aches and pain and reduce
fever. Panadol, which contains
paracetamol, is among the most
popular painkiller medication brands
available in Malaysia.
Malaysian Pharmacists Society
president Amrahi Buang said
patients should have some
knowledge of any medication, even if
it was just paracetamol that they are
taking.
Amrahi also expressed concern
over consumers turning to online
vendors to purchase their preferred
brand of paracetamol, when the
usual stores and pharmacies they buy
it from run out of stock.
“We are concerned that some
irresponsible people may take
advantage of the situation and sell
fake paracetamol tablets to
consumers online, which can
endanger their health,” he said.
On why paracetamol stocks are
hard to come by currently, Amrahi
said it stemmed from the attitude of
consumers who seem to prefer to
take a certain brand of paracetamol
medication.
Universiti Malaya public health
expert and epidemiologist Prof Dr
Noran Naqiah Hairi said there are
alternative medications, other than
paracetamol, to treat symptoms such
as fever and body ache.
“Individuals receiving their
vaccine or booster shots can seek the
advice of the health staff on duty at
the vaccination centre on the
appropriate medicines to take, apart
from paracetamol,” she said.
Pharmaceutical company
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Malaysia,
which manufactures Panadol, said in
a statement to Bernama that there
has been an increase in the demand
for Panadol since the
implementation of the National
Covid-19 Immunisation Programme
on Feb 24 last year.
Meanwhile, Pharmaniaga Bhd
managing director Datuk Zulkarnain
Md Eusope said his company’s
paracetamol product, Actimol, is not
experiencing any shortage in
the market.

Only 0.43% cases in higher categories ‘Decision on prayers

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 105 cases (0.43%)
of the 24,466 new Covid-19 cases recorded on
Sunday are in categories Three, Four and Five,
compared to 129 such cases recorded on
Saturday.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor
Hisham Abdullah said the remaining 24,361
cases (99.57%) on Sunday were in categories
One and Two, which are mild and
asymptomatic infections.
The figures bring the cumulative total of
cases in Malaysia to 3,419,636.
“Of the 105 cases under categories Three,
Four and Five, 25 involved unvaccinated or
not fully vaccinated individuals, 56 had
received two doses but not the booster jab,
and 24 had received the booster shot,” he said.
Noor Hisham added that on Sunday, 1,559
cases were admitted to hospitals, with 569
(36.5%) in categories Three, Four and Five
and the remaining 990 (63.5%) in categories
One and Two.
He said 22,380 recoveries were reported on
Sunday, bringing the cumulative figure for
recovered cases to 3,085,940.
On intensive care unit cases, Noor Hisham
said six states recorded bed utilisation of at
least 50%, namely Kelantan (94%), Johor
(69%), Putrajaya (67%), Kuala Lumpur (62%),
Perak and Malacca (both at 58%).
On flood-related Covid cases, he said as of
3pm on Sunday, two cases had been
identified among flood evacuees in
Terengganu, bringing the cumulative number
of such cases to 25.
“All reported cases have been identified
and isolated from other flood victims at a
special relief centre. No clusters among flood
victims were reported at any relief centre.”
Noor Hisham also said two health facilities
in Terengganu were affected by floods (level
one), namely the Wakaf Tapai health clinic in
Marang and Kuala Nerus district health office.
However, both facilities were reported to
be operating as usual.
“On Feb 27, there were seven acute
respiratory infection cases and one skin
disease case reported. No cases of
conjunctivitis, typhoid, cholera, leptospirosis
or dengue were reported among flood
victims,” he added. – Bernama
based on Ruler’s consent’
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has said
that the decision to allow only individuals who
have received a booster shot to perform Friday
prayers at mosques was based on consent from the
Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
State Islamic Religious Affairs, Consumer
Affairs and Halal Industry Committee chairman
Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni said in a statement
yesterday the consent was announced through a
Selangor Islamic Religious Department directive
dated Feb 21.
The directive was aimed to boost enforcement
of standard operating procedures at state mosques,
surau and musolla (prayer rooms) to control the
Covid-19 pandemic.
“The consent is (based on) the concern of His
Highness to avoid Covid-19 infections, on the
advice of the Selangor Health Department,
following the latest developments of the
(pandemic).”
He said the approach to encourage people in
the state to take the booster shot was in line with
one of the principles of Maqasid Syariah, namely
the preservation of life, adding that the state
government was very concerned over the health
and well-being of the people and constantly makes
efforts to adopt the best approaches.
“The government is also confident that the
consent of the Sultan to make the taking of the
booster dose mandatory to perform Friday prayers
at mosques is based on the Fiqhiyyah concept,
namely sadd adz-dzara’I, which means to prevent
something that can bring damage and danger,”
he said. – Bernama

14.5 MILLION ADULTS

BRIEFS

GIVEN BOOSTER SHOTS

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 846,486 children
(23.8%) aged between five and 11 in
Malaysia have received their first dose of
vaccine under the National Covid-19
Immunisation Programme for Children
(PICKids) as of Sunday. According to the
CovidNOW website, 14,578,408 (62%) of
the country’s adult population have
received their booster shots, while
22,948,424 (97.5%) have been fully
vaccinated 23,228,204 (98.7%) have
received at least one dose. For adolescents
aged 12 to 17, a total of 2,800,661 (90%) in
this age group have completed their
vaccination while 2,894,898 (93%) have
A mascot greeting a child at a PICKids vaccination centre yesterday in Parit, Perak. – BERNAMAPIX received at least one dose. – Bernama

More children being infected in Labuan INFECTIVITY RATE

LABUAN: Children below the age of 12 are
starting to form a large proportion of Covid-19
cases in Labuan, said its health department
director Dr Ismuni Bohari.
He said as of Sunday, a total of 54 children
below the age of 12 were infected while
another 219 cases involved those above the
age of 13, who have not yet fully recovered.
“Currently, we have 10 children aged 12
and below, with five each at hospitals and
quarantine and treatment centres.
“The remaining 44 are undergoing home
quarantine, and these children are classified
under Category Two.”
He said his team views the number of
infections involving children seriously, as the
number of such cases has risen steadily over
the past week.
“There were 82 new cases involving
children aged 12 and below reported on Feb
23, before declining to 65 cases on Feb 26, and
54 as of Sunday. But we cannot predict (the
figures) for the next few days.”
He said the number of children aged five to
11 being vaccinated under the National
Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for
Children (PICKids) has yet to meet its target
since the initiative was launched on Feb 7.
“We expect to run PICkids for a month, but
the number of children who have received
their first dose has yet to exceed 50% of the
total target of 11,700.”
He said only 23.94%, or 2,801 children,
have received the shots at four vaccination
centres, namely at Labuan Hospital,
Kompleks Darul Kifayah hall, Sekolah
Kebangsaan (SK) Pekan 2 and SK
Sungai Lada.
Labuan recorded triple-digit new daily
cases over the past week, with 311 cases on
Sunday and two cases requiring intensive
care. – Bernama
DROPPING STEADILY
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Covid-19
infectivity rate (Rt) was at 1.06 on Sunday, a
0.02 decrease from the 1.08 Rt reported the
day before. Health Minister Khairy
Jamaluddin said on Twitter although the
country’s daily Rt had steadily dropped to
1.05, it was too early to say that Malaysia
has gone past the Omicron variant peak,
although 96% of active cases are recovering
at home and hospital capacity is currently
manageable. “If the trend continues, full
border reopening and more relaxed
domestic measures will follow,” he said.
– Bernama

From journalist to successful
businessman
█ BY ELLY FAZANIZA
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
HARD WORK and perseverance
have been the key to success for
journalist-turned-businessman Tan
Sri Clement Hii Chii Kok (pix).
“I was a news contributor to the
then weekly Borneo Bulletin when I
was in Form Four and Form Five. On
completing my SPM (Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia), the then editor Hugh
Mabbett came to Sibu and offered me
a reporter’s job,” he said in a recent
interview with theSun.
“After hardly a year attached to the
Bulletin’s Brunei office, I was
headhunted to be chief editor of the
now-defunct Sarawak Herald in Sibu.
Six months later, See Hua Daily News
wanted to start an English daily, The
Borneo Post, and at age 19, I became
its founding chief editor.
“Sibu was then earmarked as a
security zone under Rascom (Rajang
Area Security Command) and I felt I
hardly had the maturity and expertise
to run a news daily, but it was a great
experience,” he said.
Recounting the days of electric
typewriters and cut-and-paste design
of pages, Hii shared that editing work
began at noon and ended after
midnight.
Number of flood
evacuees in
Terengganu,
Kelantan rises
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of
flood victims in Terengganu and
Kelantan increased to 22,450 people
at 234 temporary relief centres as of
yesterday afternoon, compared with
19,626 at 225 relief centres in the
morning.
In Terengganu, the number of
people affected by the floods
increased to 13,530 from 3,735
families at noon, compared with
11,137 from 3,177 families as of 8am
yesterday.
Sixteen more relief centres were
opened, bringing the number of
operational relief centres to 173, with
45 in Besut, 31 in Hulu Terengganu, 30
in Setiu, 26 in Dungun, 23 in
Kemaman, nine in Kuala Terengganu,
eight in Kuala Nerus and one in
Marang.
The State Disaster Management
Committee secretariat said Kemaman
recorded the highest number of flood
victims, at 3,857. Hulu Terengganu
had 3,537, Besut had 2,251, Dungun
had 1,572 while there were 1,298 in
Setiu, 592 in Kuala Terengganu, 418 in
Kuala Nerus and five in Marang.
According to the Department of
Irrigation and Drainage website
publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my, water
levels at five rivers in the affected
districts were at the danger mark,
namely Sungai Kemaman in
Kemaman, Sungai Nerus in Setiu,
Sungai Telemong in Hulu
Terengganu, Sungai Dungun in
Dungun and Sungai Terengganu in
Kuala Terengganu.
In Kelantan, the number of victims
increased to 8,920 from 2,862 families
as of 2pm yesterday, compared with
8,489 from 2,750 families in the
morning. The Social Welfare
Department Disaster Unit reported
that a total of 61 relief centres were
opened in the state. – Bernama
oEntrepreneur recounts journey from reporter
to chief editor, and helming various publications
before venturing into property, education field
“The media industry has
transformed so much that there is
hardly any resemblance to how we
plied our trade in those bygone days.”
Decades later, armed with a
deeper knowledge of the industry, he
became the executive chairman of
Star Publications (now Star Media
Group).
“I saw the shift towards
digitalisation then and set up a
couple of MSC companies, with the
intention to eventually push digital
platforms to the fore. I understand
the plan did not pan out after I left.
“I still believe print media will
always be there, although in a
different format and probably serving
different niches. But we can all see
that social media is capturing most of
the eyeballs, and that is not about to
change for the foreseeable future.”
At 32, he returned to school to
study law, and after graduation, he
took over an institution of higher
education in Kuching.
MASSIVE HAUL ... Bukit Aman
Narcotics Criminal Investigation
Department director Datuk Ayob Khan
Mydin Pitchay (centre) showing part of
the drugs seized during nationwide
raids under Op Tapis Khas during a
press conference at the Kuala Lumpur
police contingent headquarters
yesterday. – BERNAMAPIX
Drug trafficker’s passengers escape gallows
PUTRAJAYA: Two mechanics who
accompanied an online
businessman in a car to buy spare
parts escaped the gallows yesterday
over a charge of trafficking 971.6g of
methamphetamine.
A three-member bench of the
Court of Appeal led by Justice Datuk
Hanipah Farikullah acquitted and
discharged Saiful Adly Zakaria, 40,
and Azrul Alias, 36, after allowing
their appeals.
Justice Datuk Wira Ahmad Nasfy
Yasin, who delivered the decision,
ruled that the High Court had erred
in its findings that the duo had
common intention to commit
the crime.
He said there was no
pre-arranged plan to show that the
two had intention to traffic the
“(I’ve since) become known as ‘Hii
who bought his college’. It had six
students then. I grew it and it was
later acquired by PRIME College in
Petaling Jaya. I became the group
CEO in 2000.
“We later did a reverse takeover of
Systematic Group of Colleges.
Subsequently, I took a controlling
stake of the listed entity and it
eventually became SEGi University &
Colleges. Recently, we were among
the only 19 universities ranked five
stars plus by QS World University
Ranking.”
His foray into education came
about eight years ago as he ventured
into a few diversified industries,
which included property
development.
“We have created a few ‘education
cities’ and will be launching a few
more projects this year, with a total
GDV (gross development value) of
about RM6 billion.
“HCK Capital Group now has a
drugs, adding that they were just
passengers in the car.
He said the convictions of both
men were unsafe.
The other judge presiding was
Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali.
However, the court upheld the
conviction and death sentence of
the businessman, Mohd Bukhti
Shukran Abdul Rahman, 37, for drug
trafficking.
In dismissing Mohd Bukhti’s
appeal, Ahmad Nasfy said evidence
showed that he was in custody of the
car for a month before the incident.
The three men were appealing
against the decision by the Shah
Alam High Court on Aug 16, 2019,
convicting and sentencing them to
death for trafficking drugs at the
Aeon Big car park at Bukit Rimau in
theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
market capitalisation of about RM1
billion but there is still a lot of work
that we have to do to reach the level
we aspire to be. We may be a property
developer but our business is heavily
driven by high-tech platforms.
“I am also involved in a media
entity, among other communication
services. I run Focus Malaysia online.
At one point, it was doing a few
weekly business publications and
news websites. These have been
expensive ‘hobbies’ for me and may
not be my areas of emphasis now. But
during the last seven to eight years, I
have been active on social media,
trying to create interesting content on
a regular basis.
“The journalist in me has never
quit. That is probably why I have
quite a following online,” he added.
Shah Alam, Selangor at about
6.20pm on Aug 7, 2017.
According to the facts, Mohd
Bukhti drove his car from Telok
Panglima Garang in Selangor to a
workshop in Bandar Sunway to
repair his car.
Mohd Bukhti said he went to
Aeon Big to meet a person known as
“Boy” to collect spare parts for his
car, and was accompanied by the
two men.
However, upon arrival, a police
team searched the car and found a
box containing drugs.
Lawyers Muhammad Rafique
Rashid Ali and Fahmi Abdul Moin
represented the three men, while
deputy public prosecutor How May
Ling appeared for the prosecution.
– Bernama
5
Civil servant
duped of
RM710,000
by scammers
█ BY CHARLES RAMENDRAN
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: A 52-year-old
civil servant lost over RM710,000
to phone scammers after being
tricked into believing he had
broken the law.
Kuala Lumpur police
Commercial Crime Investigation
Department (CCID) head ACP
Mohd Mahidisham Ishak said the
victim lodged a police report on
the incident on Saturday.
He said the civil servant
received a call from a scammer,
who claimed to be a “court officer”,
and alleged that the victim was
being investigated for corruption
and money-laundering activities.
Mohd Mahidisham said the
scammer then transfered the call
to a “policeman”, who told the
victim to transfer all his funds to
several bank accounts to “facilitate
investigations”.
Fearing repercussions, the
victim did as he was told and
moved RM711,626 in 74
transactions to 13 different bank
accounts provided by the
scammers.
Later sensing that he had been
cheated, he then lodged a report.
Mohd Mahidisham advised the
public to be constantly alert and
not fall victim to such scams.
Those with information on
such activities can contact the
Kuala Lumpur police hotline at
03-2146 0584/0585 or the CCID
Scam Response Centre at 03-2610
1559/1599, or via Whatsapp on the
CCID Infoline at 013-2111 222.
Enhance security
in run-up to
Philippines
election: CM
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief
Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor has
directed Sabah police to heighten
security surveillance in the run-up
to the Philippines presidential
election.
Hajiji said he wanted police to
monitor the situation since the
issue of Sabah’s claim has always
be a hot topic used by Philippine
presidential candidates to gain
support from voters.
“The heat from the Philippines
presidential election, that will be
held on May 9, needs to be
monitored closely by our police,
especially the Special Branch,” he
said in a statement yesterday after
visiting the Sabah police
contingent headquarters in
Kepayan. Also present were Sabah
Federal Secretary Datuk Sarul
Bahiyah Abu and Sabah Police
Commissioner Datuk Idris
Abdullah.
Hajiji also said he was satisfied
with the overall security in
the state.
“Based on a briefing by the
Sabah police commissioner and
his officers, I am glad to hear
that we are in the good hands of
the police,” he said.
On the issue of Sabah being
used as a transit for drug
trafficking, Hajiji expressed hope
police would continue to monitor
the situation because the spillover
of the substances into the state
could create major social issues.
– Bernama
 6 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
No significant
change in
Moscow’s nuclear
posture: London
LONDON: The British government has
seen no major change to Russia’s
nuclear posture despite President
Vladimir Putin placing his strategic
forces on higher alert, Defence
Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday.
“We’ve looked at their posture. There
isn’t a significant change,” he said on
LBC radio, accusing Putin of trying to
“flex muscles” with his invasion of
Ukraine bogged down.
Wallace said he had assured his
12-year-old son: “No, we’re not going to
have a nuclear war.
“What I’ve said to him is, look,
President Putin is dealing at the
moment in a rhetoric, he wants to
distract from what’s gone wrong in
Ukraine, and he wants us all to be
reminded that he has a nuclear
deterrent.”
But Britain, France and the United
States had their own nuclear deterrence
available, Wallace stressed.
“It’s kept us safe for decades. It is a
deterrent by definition and design.”
The minister said the progress of
Russia’s advance into Ukraine was
deteriorating, telling BBC radio in a
separate interview: “There are many
reports of Russians either sort of
deserting or surrendering.
“Because they are confused as much
as anyone why they are engaged in a
war with people they’re probably
related to.” – AFP
BRIEFS
LEADING WRITERS
SLAM ‘SENSELESS WAR’
LONDON: More than 1,000
writers from around the world,
including Margaret Atwood and
Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk,
have expressed solidarity for the
people of Ukraine. In a letter
organised by the campaign
group PEN International, and sent
also in Ukrainian and Russian, the
authors demanded Russian
President Vladimir Putin end his
invasion of Ukraine. “We stand
united in condemnation of a
senseless war, waged by
President Putin’s refusal to accept
the rights of Ukraine’s people to
debate their future allegiance
and history without Moscow’s
interference,” they wrote. “We
stand united in support of
writers, journalists, artists, and all
the people of Ukraine, who are
living through their darkest
hours. We stand by you and feel
your pain.” – AFP
SINGAPORE TO IMPOSE
EXPORT CONTROLS
SINGAPORE: The city-state will
impose sanctions on Russia over
its invasion of Ukraine, including
blocking financial transactions
and export of items that can be
used as weapons against
Ukrainians. Singapore rarely
imposes sanctions on other
countries without a decision from
the United Nations, Minister for
Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan
told parliament yesterday. But
given “the unprecedented gravity”
of the attack, “Singapore intends
to act in concert with many other
like-minded countries to impose
appropriate sanctions and
restrictions against Russia”, he said.
“Unless we as a country stand up
for principles that are the very
foundation for the independence
and sovereignty of smaller
nations, our own right to exist and
prosper as a nation may similarly
be called into question one day,”
he said. – AFP
Russian forces seize two cities
as ceasefire talks begin
o360,000 refugees have fled Ukraine, says UN
KYIV: Russian forces seized two
small cities in southeastern Ukraine
and the area around a nuclear
power plant, the Interfax news
agency said yesterday, but ran into
stiff resistance elsewhere as
Moscow’s diplomatic and economic
isolation deepened.
After four days of fighting and a
Russian advance that has gone more
slowly than some expected, talks
between Ukraine and Russia started
yesterday at the border with Belarus,
a senior Ukrainian official told
Reuters via text message.
The goal was an immediate
Misinformation campaigns on social media
WASHINGTON: Pro-Russia groups
are orchestrating misinformation
campaigns on social media, using
fake profiles or hacked accounts to
paint Ukraine as a feeble pawn of
Western duplicity, Meta said
yesterday.
The cyber security team at the
tech giant – parent of Facebook and
Instagram – said it blocked a set of
Russia-linked fake accounts that
were part of a social media scheme
to undermine Ukraine.
“They ran websites posing as
independent news entities and
created fake personas across social
media platforms including
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
YouTube, Telegram and also
Russian Odnoklassniki and VK,”
Meta said in a blog post.
In some cases, “they used profile
Zelensky demands ‘immediate’ EU membership
KYIV: Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday
urged the European Union (EU) to
grant his country “immediate”
membership, as Russia’s assault
against the pro-Western country
went into its fifth day.
“We appeal to the European
Union for the immediate accession
of Ukraine via a new special
procedure,” the 44-year-old leader
said in a new video address.
ceasefire and the withdrawal of
Russian forces, the Ukrainian
president’s office said earlier.
It was not clear whether any
progress could be achieved after
President Vladimir Putin on
Thursday launched the biggest
assault on a European state since
World War II and put Russia’s
nuclear deterrent on high alert on
Sunday.
The Western-led response was
swift, with sanctions that effectively
cut off Moscow’s major financial
institutions from Western markets
sending Russia’s rouble currency
pictures that we believe were likely
generated using artificial
intelligence techniques”.
The small network of Facebook
and Instagram accounts targeted
people in Ukraine, using posts to try
to get people to visit websites
featuring bogus news about the
country’s effort to defend itself from
the invasion by Russia.
Meta said it connected the
network to people in Russia and
Ukraine, as well as media
organisations NewsFront and
SouthFront in Crimea.
The US has identified NewsFront
and SouthFront as disinformation
outlets that get marching orders
from Russian intelligence services.
The organisations were among
more than a dozen entities
sanctioned by Washington for trying
“Our goal is to be together with
all Europeans and, most
importantly, to be on an equal
footing. I’m sure it’s fair. I’m sure it’s
possible.”
He said 16 children had died
during the first four days of
Moscow’s assault and another 45
were wounded as he hailed
“Ukrainian heroes”.
“Ukrainians have shown the
world who we are.
down 30% against the dollar
yesterday.
Countries also stepped up
weapons supplies to Ukraine.
Blasts were heard before dawn
yesterday in the capital Kyiv and in
the major eastern city of Kharkiv,
Ukrainian authorities said.
But Russian ground forces’
attempts to capture major urban
centres had been repelled, they said.
However, Interfax news agency
quoted Russia’s Defence Ministry as
saying its forces had taken over the
towns of Berdyansk and Enerhodar
in Ukraine’s southeastern
Zaporizhzhya region as well as the
area around the Zaporizhzhya
nuclear power plant.
The plant’s operations continued
A Russian
armoured
personnel carrier
burning during a
fight with the
Ukrainian armed
forces in Kharkiv
on Sunday.
– AFPPIX
to influence the 2020 US
presidential election “at the
direction of the leadership of the
Russian government”.
Meta shut down the bogus
accounts and blocked sharing of
internet addresses involved in the
deception, director of threat
disruption David Agranovich said in
a briefing.
Bogus claims published by the
sites include that the West had
betrayed Ukraine and that Ukraine
is a failed state, according to
Agranovich.
Meanwhile, a hacking group
called Ghostwriter believed to
operate out of Russia has ramped up
action against military figures and
journalists in Ukraine in recent days,
according to Meta’s security team.
Ghostwriter’s typical tactic is to
“And Russia has shown what it
has become.”
Zelensky urged Russian soldiers
to lay down their weapons.
“Abandon your equipment.
“Get out of here. Don’t believe
your commanders. Don’t believe
your propagandists.
“Just save your lives,” he said.
He claimed that more than 4,500
Russian soldiers had already lost
their lives during the invasion.
normally, it said.
Ukraine denied that the nuclear
plant had fallen into Russian hands,
according to the news agency.
There was fighting around the
Ukrainian port city of Mariupol
throughout the night, Donetsk
regional administration head Pavlo
Kyrylenko said yesterday.
He did not say whether Russian
forces had gained or lost any ground
or provide any casualty figures.
At least 102 civilians in Ukraine
have been killed since Thursday,
with a further 304 wounded, but the
real figure is feared to be
“considerably higher”, United
Nations (UN) human rights chief
Michelle Bachelet said yesterday.
More than 360,000 people have
fled to neighbouring countries,
according to UN Refugee Agency.
A senior US defence official said
Russia had fired more than 350
missiles at Ukrainian targets since
Thursday, some hitting civilian
infrastructure.
“It appears that they are adopting
a siege mentality, which any student
of military tactics and strategy will
tell you, when you adopt siege
tactics, it increases the likelihood of
collateral damage,” the official said,
speaking on condition of anonymity.
Partners in the US-led Nato were
providing Ukraine with air-defence
missiles and anti-tank weapons, its
chief Jens Stoltenberg said in a tweet
yesterday.
The Kremlin accused the
European Union of hostile
behaviour, saying weapons supplies
to Ukraine were destabilising and
proved that Russia was right in its
efforts to demilitarise its neighbour.
It declined to comment on
whether there was a risk of
confrontation between Russia and
Nato. – Reuters
target victims with “phishing”
e-mails that trick them into clicking
on deceptive links in an effort to
steal log-in credentials.
The goal of compromising
Facebook accounts appeared to be
to spread links to misinformation,
such as a YouTube video falsely
contending to be of Ukrainian
soldiers surrendering to Russian
troops, according to Meta.
“We’ve taken steps to secure
accounts that we believe were
targeted by this threat actor,” said
Meta head of security policy
Nathaniel Gleicher.
Facebook last week restricted
Russian state media’s ability to earn
money on its platform.
Gleicher said Meta had yet to see
any throttling of Facebook in Russia.
– AFP
Russia has admitted to deaths
and casualties but given no toll.
The Ukrainian president also
said authorities would release
convicts with combat experience so
that they could help defend the
country.
“We have taken a decision which
is not easy from the moral point of
view, but which is useful from the
point of view of our defences,” he
said. – AFP

HK mortuaries hit capacity
oGovt does not
rule out city-wide
lockdown as
Covid deaths climb
HONG KONG: Facilities for storing
dead bodies at hospitals and public
mortuaries in the city are at
maximum capacity due to a record
number of Covid-19 fatalities, the
Hospital Authority said yesterday, as
officials battle to control a surge in
cases.
Hong Kong reported a daily
record high of 34,466 new
coronavirus infections and 87 deaths
yesterday, health authorities said.
Separately, the city’s education
secretary said international schools
could maintain their original term
dates, after widespread confusion
over summer school holidays.
Kevin Yeung said international
Singapore
court rejects
latest gay sex
ban challenge
SINGAPORE: The top court here
yesterday dismissed the latest
challenge to a law banning sex
between men, but gay rights
campaigners pledged to fight on
and get the legislation
overturned.
A holdover from British
colonial rule, the law is not
actively enforced but campaigners
say it still denies members of the
gay community their rights.
There have been several failed
attempts to get the legislation
repealed in recent years.
The latest ruling, by the Court
of Appeal, was on a challenge
against a 2020 High Court
decision.
A panel of judges dismissed
the appeal, saying it was
unnecessary for them to rule on it
as the campaigners who brought
the case “do not face any real and
credible threat of prosecution”.
But they did go further than in
previous cases, noting the law
was maintained due to its
“symbolic weight” but on the
basis that it “would not be
proactively enforced”.
The legislation
unenforceable unless and until
the (attorney-general) of the day
“is
provides clear notice that he”
decides to enforce it, they said.
Roy Tan, a retired doctor and
one of three people who lodged
the challenge on the grounds the
law is unconstitutional,
welcomed the statement the law
was “unenforceable”.
But he said it did not go far
enough as the law “remains on
the books, and that is a huge
signpost to society that gay men
are still criminals, even though
they may not be prosecuted”.
Tan said he intended to
pursue fresh legal challenges.
Gay rights campaigner Bryan
Choong, also one of the trio who
brought the case, said “we are
upset and disappointed with the
judgment”.
Officials maintain most in
socially conservative Singapore
would be against repealing the
law, which carries a maximum of
two years in jail for homosexual
acts. – AFP
schools could continue with online
classes through March and April,
while local schools will take an early
break for the summer from March
until mid-April.
School campuses are expected to
be used by the government this
month as authorities roll out
compulsory testing of the city’s 7.4
million population.
The government has not ruled
out a city-wide lockdown during the
mass testing period, local
broadcaster RTHK reported, citing
Health Secretary Sophia Chan.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam has
previously said she was not
considering a city-wide lockdown
for the moment.
Empty grocery shelves were seen
across several supermarkets in the
Chinese-ruled financial hub as
residents scooped up essentials in
case of a potential lockdown.
The Hospital Authority said the
number of patients dying from
Covid-19 or serious complications
ON TENTERHOOKS ... A Nepali Army ordnance disposal unit member examining a suspected bomb in front of Nepal’s
Parliament gate in Kathmandu yesterday, following street clashes between police and protesters who are against a grant
agreement with America. – AFPPIX
Rooftop rescues in Australia as tens
of thousands evacuated from floods
CANBERRA: Tens of thousands of
Australians were ordered to flee their
homes yesterday, as torrential rain
sent floodwaters to record levels,
leaving residents stranded on the
rooftops of their homes.
Eight people have died, and the
country’s weather bureau has
warned further severe
thunderstorms and intense rainfall
will cause “life-threatening flash
flooding” across a swathe of the
central Pacific coastal region.
In the town of Lismore, resident
Danika Hardiman woke up yesterday
morning to find mud-brown
floodwaters had reached the balcony
of her second-floor apartment.
She and her partner managed to
climb up to the roof, where they were
spotted by passing kayakers, who
flagged down a makeshift rescue
boat.
“We were rescued by two guys in a
boat, two locals,” she said, describing
the scenes in Lismore as “horrific”.
triggered by the cold weather
sharply increased over the past two
weeks, putting immense pressure on
the mortuary service in public
hospitals.
“The storage space in hospital
mortuaries has reached full
capacity,” the authority told Reuters
in an e-mail.
Dozens of bodies are waiting in
hospital accident and emergency
rooms to be transported to
mortuaries, said Public Doctors
Association head Tony Ling.
“These bodies now need extra
time to wait for collection because
resources are just so tight,” due to
manpower and storage capacity
shortages, he said.
There have been more than 600
coronavirus-linked deaths in Hong
Kong since the start of the pandemic
in 2020, fewer than in other similar
major cities.
However, numbers are climbing
daily with around 400 deaths
recorded in the past week, with the
“Imagine you’re in a boat sailing
past people’s roofs. The scary thing is
this is just the beginning, there’s lots
of rain to come.”
With the town’s levees already
breached, 43,000 residents were
ordered to leave.
Emergency services were
overwhelmed by calls for aid,
leading some locals, including
Lismore’s mayor Steve Krieg, to turn
to social media for help.
“If anyone has a boat and can get
to Engine Street, there’s a pregnant
lady sitting on her roof. HELP
Please,” he posted on Facebook
yesterday.
Emergency rescue services said
they had also deployed a helicopter
to pluck other stranded residents
from rooftops.
More than 400mm of rain has
fallen in the past 24 hours around
Lismore, with the town’s Wilson
River still rising.
Water levels in Lismore have not
NEWS WITHOUT BORDERS
BRIEFS
majority being unvaccinated
residents.
Hong Kong has a large proportion
of unvaccinated elderly despite a
recent pick-up in vaccinations.
Many have hesitated to be
inoculated due to a fear of side
effects and complacency due to the
city’s success in controlling the virus
last year.
Around 600 elderly care and
disability centres have been infected
over the past month, authorities
said.
Medical experts have said the city
of 7.4 million residents could see
cumulative deaths from the virus
potentially rising to around 3,200 by
mid-May.
Around 4,000 people on average
die each month in Hong Kong,
according to government figures.
The city has recorded 190,000
infections in total, with 180,000 of
them since the start of last month
due to the highly transmissible
Omicron variant. – Reuters
yet reached their expected peak of
14m – but they are already the worst
floods the town has experienced.
Flooding across eastern Australia
has now killed eight people, after a
man in his 50s died yesterday when
his car was swept away by
floodwaters in the northern state of
Queensland.
Millions of people have been told
to stay home and nearly 1,000
schools in Queensland remain
closed because of the floods.
A 70-year-old man miraculously
survived after his houseboat, swept
along by the raging Brisbane River,
collided with a ferry terminal and
quickly sank.
Members of the public were able
to rescue the man, with one telling
broadcaster ABC they had linked
arms to create a human chain and fish
the man from the river unharmed.
“I don’t know how he survived it,
to be honest,” onlooker Matthew
Toomey said. – AFP
7
theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
HUGS AND TEARS AS NZ
EASES BORDERS CURBS
WELLINGTON: New Zealanders
stranded overseas by the
pandemic returned home to tears
and hugs yesterday as the country
began dismantling some of the
world’s toughest Covid-related
border restrictions. At Auckland
airport, relatives carrying signs
such as “welcome home my
dearest daughter” scooped up
loved ones allowed into the
country without mandatory hotel
quarantine for the first time in
almost two years. Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern said the change
was cause for celebration,
particularly for the tens of
thousands of New Zealanders
overseas keen to return home.
“We can’t wait to see you,” Ardern
told reporters. “It’s also a huge
milestone for our tourism sector
and regional economies.” – AFP
IRAN AWAITS WEST’S
‘POLITICAL DECISIONS’
TEHRAN: Western parties have yet
to make “political decisions” to
conclude talks aimed at restoring
the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran said
yesterday after its chief negotiator
returned to Vienna. All sides to the
negotiations have signalled
progress in the talks being held in
the Austrian capital, but add that
they are at a critical stage. Iran has
repeatedly emphasised the need
for the West to make certain
“decisions”. “Unfortunately,
Western sides and the US haven’t
still made their political decisions
on several remaining issues,” said
Foreign Ministry spokesman
Saeed Khatibzadeh. He said these
issues are “in the fields of removal
of sanctions, guarantees and some
political claims about Iran’s nuclear
programme”. – AFP
Myanmar troops
accused of
holding children
hostage
YANGON: Myanmar soldiers took a
group of civilians, including at least 80
children, hostage for two days during
clashes with rebels before releasing
most of them yesterday, according to
media reports, a rebel group and a
shadow government statement.
The incident happened in the
Sagaing region, which has been the
scene of fierce fighting between junta
troops and militia groups opposed to
the military coup.
Air strikes and raids by the military
at the weekend in Yinmabin, a
township about 120km west of
Mandalay, had driven out most
villagers, but dozens of children and
some teachers were stranded at a
monastery that also housed a school,
according to media reports.
The Irrawaddy newspaper said on
Sunday that 85 children and 10
teachers had been taken hostage,
citing residents in the area.
Reuters could not independently
verify the reports and a spokesman
for the junta did not respond to
requests for comment.
The National Unity Government, a
shadow government set up by
opponents of last year’s coup, said
some of the children held were under
12 and some younger than five,
accusing the army of a “grave
violation” of international law.
A member of the area’s People’s
Defence Force said most hostages
had been released when troops
withdrew yesterday, but some adults
were arrested.
“We could not fight the troops as
they were holding the children,” said
the militia member, who asked not to
be identified. – Reuters

8 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
SPEAK UP
COMMENT by Chandra Muzaffar
Ukraine: Understanding
the roots of conflict
M
AINSTREAM Western media is
almost unanimous in demanding
that Russia and Vladimir Putin
stop their military operation in
Ukraine immediately. This in their opinion is
the only solution to the current conflict.
However, if one attempts to understand
how the current conflict had evolved, one
would ask not Russia but the US-led Western
alliance to bring down the political
temperature as a first step.
The roots of the present conflict have to be
traced back to the end of the Cold War in 1991.
The leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR), Russia’s predecessor,
Mikhail Gorbachev felt that if peace is to greet
the demise of the Cold War then the military
posturing that signified that era should be
buried once and for all.
For his part, Gorbachev was prepared to
dismantle the Warsaw Pact that the USSR
helmed which was his country’s response to
the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(Nato).
All that he asked for in return was a firm
commitment that Nato would not expand
eastwards, extend its military power to the
states adjacent to Russia thus posing a security
threat to the latter.
Though the undertaking that Gorbachev
sought was not engraved in written language,
American leaders at that time like President
Ronald Reagan and former secretary of state
James Baker had some notion of the gravity of
the verbal pledge they had given to their
Russian counterpart.
It is a pity that in the years that followed, the
US government made no attempt to give
substantive meaning to that pledge.
On the contrary, in 1997, three former
Warsaw Pact states, Hungary, the Czech
Republic and Poland, were invited to hold
talks on joining Nato.
On March 27, 2020, all three joined Nato, in
spite of protests from elements in the Russian
leadership.
A few other states that were once part of the
USSR and others allied to Russia in the past
have now joined Nato.
It is against this background that one
should view events in 2014 that exacerbated
Russia-Ukraine ties in relation to Nato. These
events are directly linked to the current conflict
in Ukraine.
The democratically elected president of
Ukraine, Victor Yanukovich, who was not
prepared to follow blindly the dictates of
Western powers was unceremoniously
removed from power through the
manipulation of parliamentary procedures
and replaced by a new regime more inclined
towards Washington.
Though the Yanukovich government was
seriously flawed in some ways, his engineered
ouster which strengthened the hands of neo-
Nazi and fascist elements, spawned virulent
anti-Russian rhetoric and spiked street
violence that has left deep scars upon
Ukranian society.
The separatist tensions and turmoil in parts
of Eastern Ukraine in the last eight years that
have taken the lives of at least 14,000 people
can only be understood within the context of
this post-2014 scenario.
It is also this scenario that explains in part
why Putin acted the way he did in Crimea in
Eastern Ukraine.
The overwhelming desire among the vast
majority of the people of Crimea to relink their
land to Russia affirmed in the 2014
Referendum is irrefutable proof of how
ordinary citizens view their security and well-
being.
This is why loose talk in Kyiv and
Washington in the last few months that
“Ukraine should join Nato” or that “Ukraine
should acquire nuclear weapons” in the end
produced a backlash effect.
It increased anxiety among both elites and
citizens in Russia about security concerns.
It is important to emphasise yet again that
this concern for their collective security as a
nation and as a people is what Putin, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other
Russian leaders have tried to convey to their
counterparts in Washington, London, Paris,
Berlin and indeed every other Western capital
for more than 20 years since the end of the
Cold War.
Simply put, Russia does not want a Western
military alliance – Nato – perched at its gate.
The West has refused to address this very
legitimate concern.
Worse, it has wilfully chosen to brush aside
Russia’s fear.
Bluntly put, Moscow has now been
provoked to act. Since Washington in
particular was not willing to use diplomacy to
address Russia’s fear, its concern, Moscow has
opted for a special “military operation”.
Moscow’s response is perfectly
understandable. It is completely rational.
FOLLOW
/thesundaily
Perhaps we should all remind Washington
and the West of a fragment of their own history
to help them appreciate better what is
happening now in Ukraine.
In 1962, there was a huge international
political crisis. We thought we were on the
verge of a world war.
The USSR had deployed missiles in Cuba,
on the soil of its ally, facing their common foe,
the United States. Cuba was just 90km from the
US shoreline.
The then US president, John Kennedy, saw
it as an act of provocation. He wanted the
missiles removed immediately. Otherwise, he
would attack Cuba.
After some negotiations, Cuban leader
Fidel Castro requested his Soviet friends to
remove the missiles. The Cuban crisis was
defused.
In response to Castro’s decision, Kennedy,
it is alleged, undertook not to overthrow Castro
through illegal means.
Whether he kept his word or not, it was not
really tested because Kennedy was
assassinated in November 1963 before he
could complete his second term as US
president.
Some of his successors tried to undermine
Castro but that is another story.
Cuba 60 years ago is relevant to the present
situation in Ukraine.
Just as the US did not want Russian missiles
at its doorstep in 1962, Russia in 2022 does not
want overwhelming Western military power at
its gate today.
The Cuban leadership understood what
had to be done to assuage American fears. One
hopes that the US and Western governments
today realise why it is so important to allay a
legitimate Russian concern about its security.
In a nutshell both situations demand an
appreciation of that ancient truth found in all
spiritual and moral traditions: do not do to
others what you do not want others to do to
you.
It is a truth that has been described as the
fundamental ethic in relations between
human beings, communities and states.
It is, in plain language, the Golden Rule of
Life. The US elite in particular has shown so
little regard for this golden rule in international
affairs.
Dr Chandra Muzaffar is the president of the
International Movement for a Just World
(JUST). Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
ON FACEBOOK SCAN
ME
LETTERS
letters@thesundaily.com
Maintain optimal
weight to stay healthy
OBESITY is still a global health issue during this
Covid-19 pandemic.
In conjunction with World Obesity Day 2022, we
should be aware that the global prevalence of
obesity has increased three-fold since 1975 and the
number is still escalating presently.
In Malaysia, according to the National Health
and Morbidity Survey 2019, every one out of two
adults is overweight or obese.
It is anticipated that the rates of overweight and
obesity will surge further as the Covid-19 pandemic
may restrict the public’s mobility, which reduces
their physical activities.
Obesity is a condition with excessive
accumulation of fat that predisposes individuals to
cardiometabolic diseases. The fat tissue in the human
body is supposed to be flexible and multifunctional.
Besides serving as an energy reservoir, the fat
tissue is also responsible for:
0 secreting hormones that regulate many
physiological processes;
0 serving as a hub for inflammatory responses;
0 providing mechanical cushioning and
insulation; and
0 participating in heat production for the
regulation of body temperature.
However, obesity will lead to a decline in
adipose-tissue flexibility and thus may cause
fibrosis and inflammation.
These sub-pathological changes impair adipose
tissue’s critical nutrient-buffering functions, leading
to insulin resistance and other diseases such as type
2 diabetes, stroke, and coronary artery disease.
Although obesity is reversible through dietary
monitoring and physical activity, weight
management during a pandemic is challenging.
To overcome obesity during the Covid-19
pandemic, we need to factor in life stressors such as
stress and anxiety that can negatively impact our
eating behaviours.
For instance, employees who work from home
are more likely to be sedentary or may increase
snacking of junk foods resulting in weight gain.
Therefore, individuals who work from home
should control stress eating, have a good stress
management strategy, and try to make the home
environment more assessable to healthy-eating
conditions.
They should stock up on healthy foods like fruits
and vegetables, lessen the oil, salt, and sugar
contents while cooking at home. Prepare sufficient
plain water for daily consumptions and prevent all
kinds of snacks and junk food at home, in
compliance with the latest Malaysian dietary
guidelines 2020 during the ongoing Covid-19
pandemic and beyond.
Ng Yit Han, PhD candidate
Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming
Department of Social and Preventive
Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya

Endemicity, are we there yet?
COMMENT
by Jamari Mohtar
A
S mentioned in an article
“Sustaining endemicity in pre-
endemic times”, it was a
misnomer to think that we
were already in an endemic stage.
Those who thought so were focusing
on the definition of endemic as co-
existence with the virus per se when the
correct definition is co-existence with
the virus without a staggering loss of
lives so that normalcy will be the order
of the day.
When the article was written on Oct
31 last year, the death figure that day was
37.
On Feb 22 this year, it was 43 deaths
followed by 55 the next day.
The last time the daily death number
was zero was on Dec 4, 2020.
After more than three months since
the article was written, daily death
figures have increased though they are
still in the two digit zone.
We have come a long way dealing
with this situation after going through
much trial and error in combatting the
scourge.
It is not only Malaysia that had to go
through trial and error as Covid-19 is a
new animal that has caught many
governments, operating in a context of
radical uncertainty, facing difficult
trade-offs given the health, economic
and social challenges it raises.
Already there are two approaches in
combatting the pandemic. One is the
zero-Covid path with its emphasis on
lockdown, border closure and strict
preventative measures that were being
implemented successfully by countries
such as China and New Zealand, among
others.
The other approach is via endemicity
whose proponents include Singapore,
Malaysia and many European countries,
which is based on the notion that the
virus is here to stay for the long haul.
As such, to achieve zero transmission
is almost impossible and we just have to
learn and live with it.
But the endemicity approach has yet
to see any success so far because it is still
a process or a transition towards
endemicity i.e a work in progress.
According to a Harvard infectious
disease expert, Yonathan Grad, “this
distinction between pandemic and
endemic has been put forward as the
checkered flag,” a clear line where
Once borders reopen, what’s next for tour operators?
COMMENT by YS Chan
BORDERS will eventually be reopened and will
stay open for as long as the pandemic is under
control.
As a quick succession of opening and closing
of borders will bring more harm than good, the
criteria used for making such impactful
decisions should be made known.
Besides listing the requirements for entering
and exiting the country, the overall situation
and conditions for borders to remain open
should also be spelled out so that the public can
be more proactive as well as make timely
changes when sensing an imminent closure of
borders.
Prior to the pandemic in 2019, an average of
2,175,065 foreign tourists entered Malaysia
monthly.
After the movement control order (MCO)
was introduced in March 2020, the average
dropped to only 9,588 per month during the 18-
month period from April 2020 to September
2021.
When borders are finally reopened,
hopefully soon, will there be an influx of foreign
visitors?
restrictions disappear overnight, Covid-
related anxieties are put to rest, and we
are “done” with this crisis.
That’s not the case. And there are
zero guarantees on how or when we’ll
reach endemicity, or whether we’ll
reach it at all.
Many are clueless on what
endemicity is all about and hence, fail to
distinguish between the process and
end result.
The endemicity approach is hinged
on one basic premise, a truly endemic
state is reached when the virus is
circulating among us without being the
threat that it is now and without a large
number of hospitalisations.
But what does it mean when
proponents of endemicity say “when the
virus is circulating among us without
being the threat that it is now”?
Obviously, it refers to the high rate of
daily transmissions that is now in five
digits in Malaysia.
The problem is proponents of
endemicity have never specified the
digit of daily transmission that It will be a long time before Covid-19 becomes endemic in Malaysia.
constitutes a non-threatening situation.
Given that an endemic situation is
one where it is impossible to attain zero
transmission, does a one-digit, two-
digit, three-digit or four-digit daily
infection rate constitute a non-
An important
threatening situation?
This failure to specify has led many to
cornerstone of
say that the daily infection number is not the endemicity
important, since what is important is
that serious cases are below 1% of the approach is
total daily cases.
But what if the daily infection you cannot
number is in the six digit range, as was
the case in many Europeans countries as reach
early as last month?
Assuming daily cases are 100,000 and endemicity
0.5% of this are serious cases that would
mean 500 serious cases needing ICU
without the
beds, oxygen supplementation and
ventilators.
waves of
Seeing that a hospital would
normally have 1,000 beds, out of which
transmission
about 300 to 500 are ICU beds, 500
serious cases are manageable only if the
because there
six digit daily tally is a one-off event. can be no
But in many countries that have
experienced this, once the five or six- natural
digit figure hits it will go on and on for at
least a week or so, sometimes longer, immunity
and those who were hospitalised will
not be discharged for the next three to without
four days because these are serious
cases we are talking about. infections
This will put tremendous pressure on
the healthcare system resulting in the
poor care of patients, which will have a
Chances are not many will be leisure tourists
on holidays.
The first waves will be on essential travel,
including those for business, education,
medical treatment, and visiting friends and
relatives.
In the second quarter of 2019, the main
purpose for more than 25% of foreign tourists
that came to Malaysia was to visit friends and
relatives.
During this three-month period, there was a
total of 6,658,345 foreign tourist arrivals,
averaging 2,219,448 per month.
But with high Covid-19 cases plus
uncertainties, we may get only 20,000 foreign
tourists in April 2022, which will be less than 1%
of the 2,159,517 we had in April 2019.
If numbers were to increase by 20,000
monthly, then arrivals could reach 200,000 next
January.
Sadly, international tourism will not recover
by this year or the next.
This year may mark the beginning of a very
long and slow recovery after borders are finally
reopened, and next year could be even more
arduous as unexpected or unprecedented
challenges may surface.
Back in early July 2020, then prime minister
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin disclosed that the
Economic Action Council had predicted that
9
theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
SPEAK UP
knock-on effect in terms of argument should be treated with a pinch
simultaneously raising the death rate of salt.
and transmission rate, even among the Moreover, it will only lead to an act of
frontliners.
An important cornerstone of the
stupidity in wanting to get infected so
that your natural immunity will
endemicity approach is you cannot
reach endemicity without the waves of
increase.
There is, however, merit in the
transmission because there can be no argument that endemicity doesn’t mean
natural immunity without infections.
High natural immunity (used to be
an attempt to stop the transmission as it
aims to only slow it down and ensure the
called herd immunity) in the
community can come about only when
healthcare system is not overwhelmed
so that every sick person can be cared
people are infected, so say the
proponents of endemicity.
for.
And this is also the reason why some
The more infections there are (and
people recover from their infection), the
restrictions are still in place, which
means it is a process towards endemicity
greater will be the natural immunity in
the population.
because when endemicity is reached,
there shouldn’t be any restrictions.
This is why you cannot reach
endemicity without the waves of
Hence, people should get it in their
heads that endemicity is a long process,
transmission.
With every wave of transmission
and there is still a need to observe
restrictions and standard operating
natural immunity in the population also
increases, making the population more
procedures, and be circumspect when
you have to go out in the open.
resilient. This does not mean you cannot go
The main weakness in this argument
lies in assuming people who are infected
out of your house.
It is just a personal decision with
will necessarily recover.
Some don’t and become a statistic in
responsibility i.e you decide whether it is
necessary to go out.
the daily death number, while others
may regress from Category 1 to 2 or from
If it is, by all means go. Just take the
necessary precautions. Otherwise stay at
2 to 3 and so on.
The fact that in most countries during
home.
waves of transmission the daily recovery Jamari Mohtar is the editor of Let’s Talk!,
number is always less than the daily an e-newsletter on current affairs.
infection number shows that this Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
our local tourism business, which was the would want or need.
worst-affected industry by the Covid-19
pandemic, will need four years to recover.
This will not happen if they continue with
the same old narratives.
But it will be difficult to attract a million Nothing short of a paradigm shift or a
foreign tourists a month in 2024 and even the change of mindset is needed to think outside
years after that, let alone regaining the 2.2 the box.
million monthly as in 2019. This can only come about when they
Therefore, inbound players should brace participate in a tourism lab and find the
themselves for many more years of waiting for courage in making the impossible possible.
international tourism to fully recover. If not, tour buses and vans that have
Now, more than ever, tourism businesses remained mostly idle since March 2020 will
can only survive or even prosper in the new continue into their third year.
normal if their products are geared more These assets with hundreds of millions of
towards the domestic market instead of foreign, ringgit in book value will be wiped out if left in
which used to be easy pickings when large storage yards or parked by the roadside, as they
numbers of other nationalities could travel have little or no market value.
freely to our country. On the other hand, new services that could
While hoteliers have switched from luxury be offered in the local market could see
five-star hotels catering to businessmen hundreds of tour buses running in all cities,
travelling on corporate expense to more suburbs and around Peninsular Malaysia,
affordable tourist-class accommodations for catering mostly to thousands of residents daily
holidaymakers and budget hotels for locals, with only the minority of passengers being
inbound tour operators have made little or no foreign tourists.
effort to change or adapt.
While it is true that very few tour packages YS Chan is Asean Tourism Master Trainer for
are bought by residents as most can drive their travel agencies, master trainer for Mesra
own vehicles or book public transport and Malaysia and Travel & Tours Enhancement
purchase a variety of tickets directly, tour Course. He is also a tourism and transport
operators ought to think outside the box to industry consultant and writer. Comments:
create innovative services that even locals letters@thesundaily.com
10 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
MEDIA & MARKETING

A
IA Group Limited (AIA)
recently announced the
launch of AIA One Billion, a
bold ambition to engage a
billion people to live Healthier,
Longer, Better Lives by 2030.
As the largest pan-Asian life and
health insurer, AIA is starting a
movement to improve the health and
wellness of individuals and help
create a more sustainable future in
Asia.
AIA Group chief marketing officer
Stuart A. Spencer said: “Launching
AIA One Billion extends our Purpose
of helping people live Healthier,
Longer, Better Lives far beyond our
immediate customer base.
“AIA One Billion underscores AIA’s
commitment to engage, educate and
inspire communities across Asia to
improve physical, mental and
environmental wellness while
championing financial inclusion.
“The pandemic has increased
people’s awareness of the importance
of health and wellness. Yet
populations in Asia are seeing an
increase in lifestyle-related diseases,
accounting for more than 70 per cent
of all deaths.
“The World Health Organisation
has warned that climate change will
increase morbidity and mortality, Striving for a better tomorrow with the AIA One Billion campaign.
especially in Asia. It is critically

For health
important for AIA to play a positive
role and be at the forefront of helping
our communities address these
issues.”
AIA Malaysia CEO Ben Ng echoed
the same sentiments. He said: “The

past two years have truly changed
how we view our health and wellness.
“There has never been a more
crucial time than now when our
purpose of empowering a healthier
and better quality of life for all
Malaysians can truly make an impact.
“AIA Malaysia is proud to be a part
of this movement. We are deeply
committed to doing our part in
touching One Billion lives in the next
8 years and continuing to make
significant strides in helping fellow
Malaysians achieve their health and
wealth aspirations.”
Through partnerships, events,
community programs and
campaigns AIA One Billion will
encompass all our interactions across
our communities to engage and
encourage everyone from all walks of
life to lead healthier lifestyles and
help secure a healthier planet.
As a first step to kick-start AIA One
and wellness
oAIA pledges to engage 1 billion people to live
healthier, longer and better lives by 2030
Billion, a regional social media
campaign has been launched to invite
people to ‘Join the Journey’.
AIA ambassadors across the region
including Malaysia’s Nicol David will
also support the initiative and rally
communities to take action and drive
broad positive behavioural change.
AIA has the ambition to become a
global leader in Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG). AIA One
Billion builds on its long-term strategy
to make a difference in the
sustainable development of our
communities and set clear goals in
line with our ambition to be a global
leader in ESG.
As part of its ESG reporting, AIA
will track, measure, and report on
progress towards the goal to engage
one billion people by 2030 to live
Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.
Find out more about AIA One
Billion at aia.com/aiaonebillion. Malaysia’s squash queen Nicole David is among those supporting the campaign.

F&N brings CNY cheer to the less fortunate

FOR the recent Chinese New Year
celebration, F&NHB shared festive
joy at 12 charitable homes across
Malaysia by contributing much-
needed daily essential items as well
as F&N products to liven up the
celebrations in these unprecedented
times.
Selected homes such as Persatuan
Kebajikan Kanak-kanak Cacat Yee
Ran Jing Sheh, Persatuan Kebajikan
Warga Tua Seri Bahagia Ipoh,
Persatuan Kebajikan Orang-Orang
Tua Bahagia Selangor and
Handicapped & Mentally Disabled
Children Center Melaka, to name a
few, are dependent on public funds
and they rely on sending out pleas for
fundings to help them carry on.
In the spirit of caring and sharing,
a total of 73 staff volunteers from all
over Malaysia shared CNY joy and
goodies to those in need of a good
cheer, bringing along with them
angpows, sundry provisions, packed
food and, most importantly, smiles.
In total, the volunteers visited 247
orphans, disabled children, seniors
and the less fortunate in Butterworth,
Ipoh, Selangor, Melaka, Johor,
Kuantan, Mentakab, Kota Bahru,
Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
F&NHB director of
communications, corporate affaird &
sustainability Karen Tan said: “F&N is
glad to have the opportunity to play
its role to contribute back to society
and spread some good cheer during
this Chinese New Year season.
“At F&N, these charity visits have
been our company’s tradition for
more than two decades now. It is an
activity that our employees look
forward to, giving back to the
communities that have supported us
in good and bad times.”
Regional marketing services
manager How Qi Di added: “In my
years with F&N, helping to
coordinate the company’s charity
activities has been truly uplifting. I
am proud to work for a company that
believes in promoting diversity and
fostering national unity in our
communities.”
Valerian Hansen Petrus, manager,
Regional Manager Trade Marketing
SBU East Malaysia said: “Our annual
festive activity has always reminded
me how important it is that F&N
spreads festive cheer to help
communities connect with each
other and strengthen relationships
between different cultures.”
Besides providing angpows and
sundries, F&N also helped in other
ways, according to each home’s
needs. In the case of Pertubuhan
Kebajikan Orang Tua Xiao Xin in
Serdang, Selangor, F&N supported
the charity old folks’ home by paying
two months rental amounting to
RM3,000 besides providing the home
other necessities and goodies.
To support the daily needs of the
residents at the Persatuan Kebajikan
Orang-Orang Tua Bahagia in Petaling
Jaya, Selangor, F&N contributed
RM4,000 worth of sundry items and
vouchers, as well as F&N products
and angpows.
“We understand that many
charitable bodies are having difficulty
getting financial contributions from
the public because of the ongoing
economic uncertainties. As such, we
engaged with each of the homes to
find out beforehand how we could
best contribute to their needs,
whether in the form of financial
contribution or contribution in kind,”
added Tan.
“The pandemic has made it even
harder to get public funds but we also
understand the Covid-19 outbreak
has in general affected everyone
across families, businesses and
industries. We are truly touched by
In the spirit of
sharing and caring
... F&N Malaysia
staff doing their
part to spread CNY
cheer to the less
fortunate.
the contributions received from
Malaysians including F&N during
these challenging times,” said Stanley
Yap of Persatuan Kebajikan Orang-
Orang Tua Bahagia.
Tan added that as an organisation
that has become part of the fabric of
life of everyday Malaysians for the
past 138 years, F&NHB is dedicated
to giving back to the communities in
which F&NHB operates, and
strengthening the relationships
between different cultures with the
local community.
 TUESDAY
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

MARCH 1, 2022
A Trading Participant of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad
Editorial Tel: 03-7784 6688
28/02/2022 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
39.1 Institutions 1288.7 1814.6 -525.9 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com
21.5 Retail 871.2 836.2 35.0
39.4 Foreign 1811.4 1320.5 490.9
52.23 54.16
100.0 3971.3 3971.3 0.0 16.56 10.90 50.32 CLOSED 22.42 51.30
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: Bursa Malaysia 1,608.28 3,242.24 22,713.02 3,462.31 26,526.82 2,699.18 7,049.10

INDICES
KL MARKET SUMMARY
February 28, 2022

CHANGE
RHB pencils in lower ROE
target for 2022
FBMEMAS 11,426.78 +76.54
FBMKLCI 1,608.28 +16.56
CONSUMER PRODUCTS 585.05 -0.08
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 210.88 +2.23
CONSTRUCTION 149.85 -0.56
FINANCIAL SERVICES 16,524.90 +40.26
ENERGY 758.54 -8.76
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 624.74 -2.85
HEALTH CARE 2,100.53 +21.25 oBanking group factors in attractive pricing.
“In fact, we’ve seen a lot more activities
TRANSPORTATION
PROPERTY
847.91
716.66
-2.37
-7.43 impact of potential in the last couple of months and the
pipeline is also showing a very positive
PLANTATION
FBMSHA
8,315.51
12,117.59
+217.22
+101.12 prosperity tax on return on trend in corporate fundraisings through the
capital market,” said the principal officer.
FBMACE
TECHNOLOGY
5,887.78
77.49
-61.06
-0.88
equity The bank expects net interest margin
(NIM) in 2022 to moderate to 2.11% after
strengthening by 8 basis points (bps) to
TURNOVER VALUE 2.14% in 2021.
3.478 BIL RM3.971 BIL █ BY AMIR IMRAN HUSAIN SAFRI Its CFO, Nik Rizal Kamil Nik Ibrahim
sunbiz@thesundaily.com Kamil, explained that the moderation is
primarily driven by the repricing of fixed
5 MOSTFebruary
ACTIVES28, 2022
PETALING JAYA: Although RHB Bank Bhd
sees the pickup in economic activity, which
deposits that was completed in first-half
2021.
started late last year, continuing in 2022, “Secondly, current account savings
STOCK VOL CLSG (sen) +/– (sen) group officer-in-charge/principal officer account (Casa) has been quite competitive,
SIAB 188,304,200 31.0 +1.0 Mohd Rashid Mohamad (pix) disclosed which could potentially drive the NIM
SMTRACK 145,440,400 24.0 +0.5 that it has pencilled in a return on equity slightly further as we do expect Casa will
DNEX 79,649,500 113.0 -2.0 (ROE) target of 8.5% for this year compared potentially taper off a little bit as the mainly due to higher net fund-based
ARMADA 67,173,100 47.5 -2.0 with a 1.5% year-on-year (y-o-y) improvement economy opens up due to pent-up income, lower allowances for credit losses
FITTERS 57,418,900 25.5 -7.5 in ROE to 10.3% achieved in 2021. spending. and lower net modification loss, partly
“Our ROE target for FY2022 is lower “All this will contribute to a slightly lower offset by lower non-fund based income and
because we have included the potential or moderating NIM compared to the higher operating expenses.
5 TOPFebruary
GAINERS 28, 2022
prosperity tax, Cukai Makmur,” he told the
media during a virtual briefing on the
previous year,” he said.
For FY21, RHB disclosed that its net
Revenue for the quarter stood at RM2.89
billion, a 6.1% decline from RM3.08 billion
bank’s financial year 2021 (FY’21) results fund-based income rose to RM5.87 billion previously.
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM yesterday. despite a 24% y-o-y decline in funding cost For FY21, it reported a net profit of
PETDAG 1,646,900 21.52 1.30 Without the one-off prosperity tax, attributed to Casa growth of 4.5%. Customer RM2.62 billion, a 28.8% improvement over
UTDPLT 1,850,400 15.22 0.54 Rashid calculated that its ROE would come deposits went up 7.5% y-o-y to RM218.7 RM2.03 billion registered in the preceding
KLK 2,815,600 26.00 0.52 in at 10% for FY’22. billion, on the back of fixed and money financial year. Revenue for the year stood at
TAANN 5,941,200 5.49 0.37 Despite the brighter economic scene, market time deposits growth of 9% and Casa RM11.75 billion, a 6% drop from RM12.5
SOP 3,133,500 6.23 0.33 RHB has also projected loan growth for this of 4.5%, respectively. billion previously.
year to be lower at the 4-5% range Rashid believes market liquidity will RHB’s board has proposed a final
compared with the 6.7% achieved last year remain and it will focus on growing its Casa dividend of 25 sen per share consisting of a
5 TOP LOSERS
February 28, 2022
while gross impaired loans will be below
1.7%. He elaborated that loans for the small
moving forward.
This year, the bank aims to maintain a
cash payout of 15 sen per share and an
electable portion under the dividend
and medium enterprise, retail and Casa composition of 30% of the total reinvestment plan of 10 sen per share.
STOCK VOL CLSG (RM) +/– RM commercial segments are expected to grow deposits achieved in 2021. Together with the previous interim
PMBTECH 641,500 18.60 1.44 in line with the economic projections. For the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, dividend of 15 sen per share, the total
PMBTECH-WA 9,500 15.40 1.40 “From the perspective of large 2021 the bank posted a net profit of dividend for FY21 amounts to 40 sen per
F&N 241,500 22.60 1.20 corporates, we believe they’ll go into the RM631.17 million, a 43.9% improvement share, which translates into a 62.9% payout
NESTLE 259,700 134.00 1.10 securities or capital market and raise funds over RM438.63 million recorded in the ratio and dividend yield of 7.4%, the highest
CARLSBG 126,800 20.20 0.46 there, as there is ample liquidity and corresponding quarter of the previous year, ever for the group.

EXCHANGE RATES
Berjaya Corp registers Q2 net profit of RM101m
FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Foreign currency Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy

TT/OD TT OD
1 US DOLLAR 4.2635 4.1385 4.1285
PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Corp Bhd segment. However, these positive results for
(BCorp) posted a net profit of RM101.01 the group are also a reflection of the various
1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.0800 2.9580 2.9420 million in the second quarter ended Dec 31, business improvement initiatives that were
1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 3.1380 3.0470 3.0390 2021 compared with a net loss of RM49.71 undertaken by the operating companies,”
1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.3380 3.2490 3.2370 million a year ago, thanks to the hospitality said BCorp group CEO Jalil Rasheed.
1 EURO 4.7770 4.6240 4.6040 and retail segments, a gain from disposal of For the six months period, BCorp
a 30% stake in associate company Razer registered a net profit of RM41.70 million
1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.8650 2.7600 2.7440 Fintech Holdings Ltd (BCorp continues to compared with a net loss of RM108.66
1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 3.1380 3.0470 3.0390 hold a 19% stake in the company), as well as The hospitality segment was similarly million a year ago, while revenue dropped
1 STERLING POUND 5.7090 5.5300 5.5100 stronger results from its other associates buoyed by the gradual easing of Covid-19 11.4% to RM3.44 billion from RM3.88 billion
1 SWISS FRANC 4.5860 4.4820 4.4670 and joint ventures. restrictions. It saw a small revival after in the same period last year.
It registered revenue of RM2.06 billion, several depressed quarters. The segment Going forward, the Covid-19 situation,
100 UAE DIRHAM 117.4600 111.3800 111.1800
5.9% higher than RM1.94 billion in the showed higher revenue through both while creating a stop/start environment,
100 BANGLADESH TAKA 5.0430 4.7330 4.5330 corresponding quarter of the previous year increased occupancy rates as well as higher seems to have stabilised somewhat,
100 CHINESE RENMINBI 67.5000 64.8000 N/A primarily driven by the retail and hospitality average room rates. This applied to local although the Omicron variant and
100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 55.1900 52.4500 52.2500 segments. and international properties in the group. geopolitical events still pose a real concern.
In the non-food retail segment, HR The services sector saw a drop due to As both Malaysia and other countries ease
100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.7800 5.4200 5.2200
Owen PLC, which operates in the UK, saw STM Lottery Sdn Bhd (formerly known as restrictions further, BCorp is cautiously
100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0307 0.0278 0.0228 higher sales which were mainly generated Sports Toto Malaysia Sdn Bhd). The optimistic for a gradual improvement in its
100 JAPANESE YEN 3.6940 3.5790 3.5690 from the used-car sector, due to a continued decrease was mainly due to softer recovery performance for the remaining quarters of
100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR N/A N/A N/A supply shortage. after it resumed business operations on the financial year.
In the food retail segment, revenue Sept 14, 2021 following the nationwide “While there remain uncertainties, I am
100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 2.4500 2.2900 2.0900
increased due to the easing of restrictions lockdown that was implemented from June fairly confident that BCorp is now much
100 PHILIPPINE PESO 8.4300 7.9500 7.7500 on travel and the gradual opening of public 1 to Sept 13, 2021. better prepared to weather the future
100 QATAR RIYAL 118.1100 112.1200 111.9200 spaces. Coupled with Christmas and year- “This quarter’s results are a combination through the various initiatives that we have
100 SAUDI RIYAL 114.9300 109.1000 108.9000 end celebrations, this segment saw a boost, of several factors. The easing of Covid-19 embarked on. Barring any unforeseen
especially from Starbucks Coffee outlets restrictions was critical and presented a circumstances, we are expecting continued
100 THAI BAHT 13.6100 12.0800 11.6800
that showed higher same-store-sales semblance of normalcy for our businesses positive results and growth for BCorp in the
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama growth. especially in the retail and hospitality second half of FY2022,” Jalil said.

12 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
SUNBIZ
LIAM: Double-digit
growth in 2021
new business premiums
KUALA LUMPUR: The life insurance industry
registers double-digit growth of 12.4% or RM12.8
billion in new business total premiums in 2021
from RM11.4 billion in 2020.
In a statement, Life Insurance Association of
Malaysia (LIAM) president Loh Guat Lan said the
stronger performance of the life insurance
industry reflects the increase in awareness among
consumers on the importance of life insurance
protection amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The industry recorded a healthier
performance driven by the strong rebound of
investment-linked policies which rose 31.2% to
reach RM6.6 billion in 2021, despite the
challenging business environment due to the
pandemic,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Group policies recorded a moderate growth
of 7.7% in new business total premiums to RM4.1
billion in 2021 Loh added.
However, traditional policies charted a
decline of 17.3% during the year.
Meanwhile, Loh said new policies issued in
2021, recorded a strong growth of 53.5% to 1.9
million policies last year compared to 1.2 million
in 2020 due to encouraging take-up of
Perlindungan Tenang policies under the
Perlindungan Tenang RM50 Voucher
programme for Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat
recipients from end-September until end-
December 2021.
In addition, the total in-force premiums rose
eight% to RM46.8 billion in 2021 compared to
RM43.4 billion in 2020, he said.
LIAM CEO Mark O’Dell said the industry
foresees the positive trends will continue in 2022.
– Bernama
KPS TARGETS 5-10% ANNUAL
BRIEFS
REVENUE GROWTH AFTER
SHIFT TO MANUFACTURING
SHAH ALAM: State investment arm
Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Bhd (KPS)
has targeted annual revenue growth of
between 5% and 10% following its shift in
focus to manufacturing from the
infrastructure and utility sectors. KPS
managing director and CEO Ahmad Fariz
Hassan said the manufacturing sector
contributed between 85% and 90% to its
total revenue after it implemented a business
transformation plan in 2016. Its investments
in the manufacturing sector included
Kaiserkorp Corp Sdn Bhd, global brand
owner of King Koil®, Century Bond Bhd, a
provider of integrated cleaning solutions, in
2016; CPI (Penang) Sdn Bhd in 2018 and
Toyoplas Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
in 2019, both of which provide electronics
manufacturing services. – Bernama
PUBLIC BANK LAUNCHES DUITNOW
ONLINE BANKING/WALLETS
PETALING JAYA: Public Bank has launched a
new secured online payment solution
DuitNow Online Banking/Wallets in January
this year to support the cashless economy.
The feature supports e-commerce
transactions facilitating real-time payment
acceptance via online banking and e-wallets
through simple redirection. Public Bank
managing director and CEO Tan Sri Tay Ah
Lek said the service is in line with customers’
demand for convenience and security.
DuitNow is powered by PayNet, the national
payments network and shared central
infrastructure for Malaysia’s financial market.
BURSA PUBLICLY REPRIMANDS, FINES
IQZAN HOLDINGS, FOUR DIRECTORS
PETALING JAYA: Bursa Malaysia Securities
Bhd has publicly reprimanded Iqzan
Holdings Bhd and four of its directors for
breaches of the Bursa Malaysia Securities
Main Market Listing Requirements (Main
LR). In addition, the four directors were
imposed total fines of RM450,000. Iqzan
was publicly reprimanded for a disclosure
breach, first announcement breach and
directive breach. The four directors at the
material time were publicly reprimanded
and fined for breach of paragraph 16.13(b)
of the Main LR for permitting, either
knowingly or where they had reasonable
means of obtaining such knowledge, the
company to commit the breaches.
Farm Fresh aims to raise
RM1b in March IPO
oBursa’s largest initial public offering since June 2021 has
received the backing of a record 30 cornerstone investors
PETALING JAYA: Dairy producer Farm Fresh
Bhd, enroute to a listing on the Main Market
of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd, plans to
raise RM1 billion in its initial public offering
(IPO).
This IPO is Malaysia’s largest IPO since
June 2021.
Farm Fresh’s IPO involves an offer for sale
of up to 520.2 million existing shares and a
public issue of 223 million new shares based
on the initial retail price of RM1.35 per share.
Proceeds to the company of RM301 million
raised via the public issue, will be utilised to
establish a new manufacturing hub, dairy
farm and integrated processing facility in
Malaysia, expansion of a production facility in
Australia, regional expansion outside
Malaysia and for working capital together
with listing expenses.
The IPO has secured support from a record
number of 30 cornerstone investors, the most
seen in a Malaysian IPO to date. The 30
renowned cornerstone investors are Abrdn,
Affin Hwang Asset Management, AIA, Alcea
Rosea (Creador), Barings Singapore,
Eastsprings Investments, Employees
Provident Fund, Fortress Capital Asset
Management, Franklin Templeton Asset
Management (Malaysia), Great Eastern Life
Assurance (Malaysia), Hong Leong Asset
Management, Hong Leong Assurance,
JPMorgan Asset Management (Singapore),
KAF Investment Funds, Kenanga Investors,
Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan),
Lembaga Tabung Haji, Manulife Investment
Management, Maybank Asset Management,
Merit Glory (Ikhlas Capital), New Silk Road
Investment, OAKS Emerging Umbrella Fund,
Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Principal Asset
Management, Social Security Organisation,
UBS Asset Management (Singapore), UOB
From left: Farm Fresh group CFO Mohd Khairul Mat Hassan, group COO Azmi Zainal, Loi Tuan Ee, plant operations director Loi Tuan Kin and group
senior farm manager Jacob Mathan.
Capital A on recovery path, sees steady improvement
PETALING JAYA: Capital A Bhd’s (formerly
AirAsia Group Bhd) net loss for the fourth
quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 narrowed to
RM884.09 million from a net loss of RM2.46
billion a year ago due to the recovery in air
travel demand, improved revenue growth from
the digital businesses and strict cost control
measures, as well as the absence of
impairments or fuel swap losses for the quarter.
Revenue went up 118% year-on-year to
RM717.12 million from RM328.39 million
helped by the aviation business.
For the full year, Capital A’s net loss
narrowed to RM3.12 billion from a net loss of
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/thesundaily
Asset Management (Malaysia), Urusharta
Jamaah, Value Partners Hong Kong, and
Zurich Life Insurance Malaysia. The
cornerstone investors will take up in aggregate
80% of the institutional offering tranche under
the IPO.
Farm Fresh, in operations since 2009, has a
strong track record of rapidly growing its dairy
market share and product offerings with plans
to further expand its capabilities across the
value chain distribution network while
increasing its regional presence outside
Malaysia. The group has demonstrated strong
financial performance over the years. From
financial year ended March 31, 2019 (FY19) to
FY21, the group’s compound annual growth
rate (CAGR) for revenue was 65.9% from
RM178.2 million to RM490.5 million and its
profit after tax attributable to owners of the
company increased at a CAGR of 14.9% from
RM27.4 million to RM36.2 million.
According to Frost & Sullivan, Farm Fresh
is the second-largest player in the ready to
drink (RTD) milk category (which includes
the chilled RTD milk and ambient RTD milk
segments) for the first nine months of 2021,
commanding a 18% share of the market. In
the chilled RTD milk segment, Farm Fresh is
the market leader, with its market share at 42%
for the nine months ended Sept 30, 2021. The
group is also the third largest player in the
yoghurt category with an 11% share of the
Malaysian market.
Farm Fresh group managing director and
group CEO Loi Tuan Ee said the growth of the
group reflects the benefits of being a vertically
integrated producer of dairy products.
“Our “grass-to-glass” model and presence
across the entire spectrum of the dairy
industry provides us with various strategic
and financial advantages that differentiates us
RM5.11 billion as the revival of the airline
industry, particularly with governments in
Asean countries gradually easing travel
restrictions has contributed to the group’s
reported growth in passengers carried and
commendable load factor at 80% in the last
quarter of 2021.
Revenue was down 47% to RM1.73 billion
from the preceding year’s RM3.27 billion as
airline revenue declined.
On the group’s outlook, Capital A CEO Tan
Sri Tony Fernandes said Capital A is also now
the holding company for more brands than any
other company in Asean, with business
HERE SCAN
ME
from our competitors. Our home dealer
network, which is the largest in the country
amongst vertically integrated dairy
companies, extends our reach and enables us
to achieve greater penetration of our
products. It has also helped us contribute to
communities, by spawning a network of rural
and sub-urban micro-entrepreneurs who
distribute our products.
“We are well positioned to capitalise on the
sustained strong consumer demand for fresh
milk products in addition to addressing the
insufficient local milk production visible
today. Post-listing, Farm Fresh will endeavour
to execute our plans to continue gaining
market share and growing our sales in
Malaysia and abroad. By optimising our
growth, we endeavour to reward our
shareholders through the adopted dividend
policy that targets to return 25% of our annual
earnings to shareholders,” said Loi.
For Farm Fresh’s listing exercise, CIMB
Investment Bank Bhd is the sole principal
adviser, joint global coordinator, joint
bookrunner, joint managing underwriter and
joint underwriter for the IPO. Maybank
Investment Bank Bhd is the joint global
coordinator, joint bookrunner, joint managing
underwriter and joint underwriter. Credit
Suisse Securities (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and
Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited are also
participating as the joint global coordinators
and joint bookrunners for the listing of Farm
Fresh. Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd,
AmInvestment Bank Bhd, Hong Leong
Investment Bank Bhd and RHB Investment
Bank Bhd are the joint underwriters for the
IPO.
Pursuant to the launch of the prospectus,
applications for the public issue portion are
open from today and will close at 5pm on
March 8. The group is scheduled to be listed
on the Main Market of Bursa Securities on
March 22. Upon listing, Farm Fresh will have a
market capitalisation of RM2.5 billion based
on the initial retail price of RM1.35 and its
enlarged share capital of 1.86 billion shares.
verticals comprising AirAsia Aviation Group,
airasia Super App, logistics venture Teleport,
BigPay fintech services, the airline engineering
business Asia Digital Engineering and venture
arm Redbeat Capital.
“Importantly, the best is yet to come. We
have pivoted, we have transformed and with
our strategic growth plans we aim to see the
digital segment contributing around 50% of
overall group revenue by 2026. Once the
airlines return to pre-pandemic levels in the
near future, all of our other lines of business will
benefit significantly and will all soar to new
heights.”

Serba Dinamik
posts RM290m
net loss for Q2
KUALA LUMPUR: Serba Dinamik
Holdings Bhd reported a net loss of
RM290.32 million in its second
quarter ended Dec 31, 2021, on the
back of revenue of RM177.14 million.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, it
said second quarter revenue
decreased 77.8% from the immediate
preceding quarter, mainly due to
slower activities in the operations
and maintenance segment,
especially from Qatar, the United
Arab Emirates and Malaysia.
“Overall the group incurred a
gross loss of RM165.9 million, with a
reduction of RM234.8 million against
its first quarter of 2022 financial year,”
it said.
Serba Dinamik has changed its
financial year-end from Dec 31, 2020
to June 30, 2021. Hence, there is no
year-to-year comparison quarter.
Commenting on the
performance, group managing
director and CEO Datuk Dr Mohd
Abdul Karim Abdullah said the big
drop in crude oil futures prices for
two consecutive months since
November was contributed by
market volatility and rising
uncertainty about the Covid-19
Omicron variant’s impact on the
global economy and oil demand.
“However, due to recent geopolitical
tensions and resilient oil demand, the
consensus has raised their crude oil
price forecast from US$75/bbl to
US$80/bbl, (RM315 to RM336) and this
re-rating catalyst could benefit the
group’s operations in the O&M and
EPCC segments,” he said.
Serba Dinamik said despite the
fact that the group has been classified
as a PN17 company, the board is
confident that the restructuring and
regularisation plan will benefit
shareholders in the long run.
At this time, the board has enlisted
the assistance of the court’s judiciary
management, it said. – Bernama
CIMB’s Q4 net profit up nearly threefold
PETALING JAYA: CIMB Group
Holdings Bhd’s net profit for its
fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2021
(Q4’21) increased more than 2.7
times to RM854.51 million from
RM214.98 million in the same
quarter of the previous year,
attributed to significantly lower
provisions compared with Q4’20 at
the peak of the economic disruption
caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Revenue for the quarter, however,
slipped 1.7% to RM4.59 billion, from
RM4.67 billion previously.
For the whole year, CIMB’s net
profit soared 289.3% to RM4.3 billion
from RM1.19 billion in the preceding
year, while revenue came in 14.9%
higher at RM19.51 billion, compared
with RM16.99 billion previously.
The group said the FY21
performance translates into a core
annualised return on average equity
of 8.1% and core earnings per share
of 46.4 sen. Its FY21 core operating
income improved 8.2% year-on-year
(y-o-y) to RM18.37 billion from
RM16.99 billion in FY20.
The bank highlighted that its net
interest income rose 11.5% to
RM13.96 billion, driven largely by net
interest margin expansion and
rebounding loan growth at 3.3% y-o-
y. However, its core non-interest
income fell 1.1% y-o-y to RM4.41
billion due to lower trading and
foreign exchange gains.
CIMB reported total gross loans
rose 3.3% in 2021, driven by 4.1%
growth in Malaysia, 3.9% in Indonesia
and 4.6% in Singapore. Meanwhile,
total deposits increased 7.2% y-o-y
Siab opens at 34 sen for 13.3%
premium in ACE Market debut
oConstruction services company’s
share ends 1 sen above IPO price in its
first day’s trading
PETALING JAYA: Siab Holdings
Bhd made its debut yesterday on
the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia
Securities yesterday with a 13.3%
premium, opening at 34 sen a
share, 4 sen higher than the initial
public offering (IPO) price of 30 sen
From left: Siab director Andrea Huong Jia Mei, executive directors Cheryl Tan Sok Moi & Meryl Lim Mei Hwee, Ng, chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, directors
Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar and Datuk Lim Tong Lee at the listing ceremony.
Abdul Rahman (right) and group CFO Khairul Rifaie at CIMB’s FY21 financial
results announcement yesterday.
while current account savings account
(Casa) grew 10.3% y-o-y to reach a
ratio of 42.5% as at December 2021, up
1.3% from the preceding quarter.
Group CEO Datuk Abdul Rahman
Ahmad said it has seen strong
underlying operational performance
recovery across all its business
segments and geographies, driven by
solid growth in operating income,
discipline in containing cost
escalation and lower provisions.
While loan growth came in slightly
below target, Abdul Rahman pointed
out the bank has reshaped its
portfolio towards its focused
investment areas and protect asset
quality to improve risk-adjusted
returns, resulting in a positive asset
growth momentum in Q4’21. He
noted its digital businesses continued
to register healthy growth with Touch
‘n Go Digital’s registered users
increased 10.5% y-o-y to 16.8 million .
a share.
The building construction
services provider’s share price
ended at 31 sen, 1 sen above its offer
price, with 188.3 million units
traded.
Siab raised RM36.72 million from
On prospects, the group CEO said the
outlook remains mixed and uncertain
due to pandemic-related developments
and CIMB believes the economies it
operates in will further recover in 2022
on the back of vaccination progress and
economic reopening.
“Based on this, the group’s key
headline targets for FY22 include
core ROE of 8.5 to 9.0%, loan growth
of 5.0 to 6.0%, credit income ratio of
below 49.0% and maintaining our
common equity tier 1 ratio above
13.0%. However, we note that our
reported ROE performance will likely
be sustained at 7.0 to 8.0%, affected
by the one-off Cukai Makmur
introduced in Malaysia for 2022.”
CIMB has proposed second
interim dividend of 12.55 sen per
share, bringing the total proposed
annual dividend to 22.99 sen per
share which translates into a payout
ratio of 50%, in line with its policy.
theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
the IPO and RM13.13 million of the
proceeds will be used to purchase
machinery and equipment, RM6.1
million to buy land and build a
storage facility and RM9.3 million
for working capital. Aside from that,
RM300,000 has been allocated for
office expansion, RM400,000 for
upgrading software and system, and
the remaining RM4 million for
defraying listing expenses.
Siab managing director Ng Wai
Hoe said the proceeds will enable
the company to better position itself
in the construction industry to bid
CN Asia in proposed Kazakh JV
with Halim Saad-linked company
PETALING JAYA: CN Asia Corp Bhd
has entered into a heads of
agreement (HOA) with Markmore
Energy (Labuan) Limited (MELL)
and CaspiOil Gas LLP (COG) for a
joint venture in relation to the
proposed construction and
operation of facilities at the
Rakuschenoye oil and gas field in
the Karakiyan district of Mangistau
Oblast, Kazakhstan.
The parties aim to collaborate in
the development, production,
marketing and export of
hydrocarbon including liquid and
gaseous hydrocarbon in the field.
CN Asia intends to produce and
process the hydrocarbon, which
includes liquid and gaseous
hydrocarbon in the Rakushechnoye
oil and gas field, by investing and
developing the Central Processing
Complex (CPC) to be sited at the
Rakushechnoye oil and gas field
together with COG.
The proposed CPC is an integrated
complex facility to process oil and gas
separation as well as gas processing to
extract condensate, liquefied
petroleum gas and natural gas.
The investment value for the
implementation of the CPC is about
US$285 million (RM1.19 billion) for
the first phase. The equity to be
injected by CN Asia is 15% or US$42
million, while the balance of 85% is
to be raised via issuance of debt or
loan to be procured by the parties.
It is expected that the investment
and implementation of the CPC will
have an indicative net present value
13
SUNBIZ
for higher-value projects which in
turn will deliver better value to
shareholders.
“We are well poised to take on
larger projects in both the
residential and non-residential
segments,” he said.
Upon listing, Siab will have a
market capitalisation of RM146.89
million and an enlarged total
number of issued shares of 489.63
million.
M&A Securities is the principal
adviser, sponsor, underwriter and
placement agent for the IPO.
of US$200.0 million, an internal rate
of return of minimum of 17% and a
payback period of five years.
The parties agree that the crude
oil produced at the Rakuschenoye
oil and gas field belongs to COG. In
the event the crude oil is treated by
the CPC, CN Asia is entitled to a fee
to be fixed as soon as practicable but
not later than four weeks from the
date of the HOA.
In respect of crude oil produced
or processed by the CPC from
condensate, after deduction of
agreed charges to be received by CN
Asia, CN Asia is entitled to 60% of the
product and COG is entitled to 40%
of the same. As for the LPG
produced by CPC, CN Asia is
entitled 100% of the profit whereby
COG is entitled to 100% of the
natural gas produced by the CPC
after deduction of agreed charges.
The duration of the HOA is four
months and the parties will sign a
definitive agreement.
MELL is principally an
investment holding and petroleum
exploration and production
company. The directors of MELL are
Tan Sri Halim Saad and Abu Talib.
MELL is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Markmore Sdn Bhd, an
investment holding company.
MELL in turn wholly owns
CaspiOilGas LLP (COG), via a
special purpose vehicle.
Kazakhstan’s COG is principally
involved in the exploration and
production of hydrocarbons in
Mangistau region of Kazakhstan.

14 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
SUNBIZ
ORANGE PICKS NOKIA FOR
BRIEFS
ROLLOUT OF ‘STANDALONE’
5G IN FRANCE
BARCELONA: Orange, France’s biggest
telecoms operator, said yesterday it has
opted for Finnish telecom gear maker
Nokia for the rollout of the core
network of the so-called ‘standalone’
next generation of mobile internet, or
5G, in its home country. Orange said in
2020 it had chosen Nokia and Sweden’s
Ericsson to deploy its 5G network in
mainland France, as China’s Huawei
Technologies Co Ltd faced intense
political scrutiny in Europe. – Reuters
CHINESE EV MAKER NIO
PURSUES HK, SINGAPORE
SECONDARY LISTINGS
SINGAPORE: Chinese electric vehicle
(EV) maker Nio Inc plans to carry out
secondary listings by introduction in
Hong Kong and Singapore as it seeks to
grow its business in the region. Stock
exchange filings yesterday showed the
New York-listed firm had received
preliminary approval from the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange to trade its shares
in the city, while the Singapore
Exchange was reviewing an application
for a secondary listing on the main
bourse of that board. – Reuters
THAI Q4 JOBLESS RATE AT
LOWEST LEVEL SINCE
PANDEMIC AS CURBS EASE
BANGKOK: Thailand’s unemployment
rate in the fourth quarter fell to its
lowest level since the pandemic and
the jobs situation should improve
further with restrictions easing and
more foreign tourists returning, the
state planning agency said yesterday.
Thailand’s official unemployment rate
dropped to 1.64% in the December
quarter, representing 630,000 jobless
workers, from 2.25% in the previous
quarter, the agency said in a statement.
– Reuters
Europe and Canada
move to close skies
to Russian planes
MONTREAL: European nations and Canada
moved on Sunday to shut their airspace to
Russian aircraft, an unprecedented step
aimed at pressuring President Vladimir
Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, the
biggest attack on a European state since
World War Two.
Aeroflot said it would cancel all flights to
European destinations after EU foreign
policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU had
decided to close its airspace to Russian
traffic.
The US is considering similar action, but
has yet to make a final decision, according to
US officials. The US government said citizens
should consider leaving Russia immediately
on commercial flights, citing an increasing
number of airlines cancelling flights as
countries closed their airspace to Russia.
The ban on Russian jets comes as the
airline industry continues to grapple with the
fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic that is
still undermining global demand for travel.
Germany, Spain and France joined
Britain, the Nordics and Baltic states in
declaring bans on Russian use of their
airspace, a major escalation in a tactic by
mostly Nato allies to wage economic war
against Putin in retaliation for the invasion.
Russia is now widely expected to retaliate
further against the air blockades and other
sanctions. It has already responded to the
earliest European airspace bans with its own
edicts barring airlines from Britain, Bulgaria
and Poland.
Without access to Russia’s airways,
experts say carriers will have to divert flights
south while also avoiding areas of tension in
the Middle East.
A reciprocal airspace ban by Russia and
the US would cause longer flight times for US
carriers and could require crew changes on
East Coast routes to Asia, said US-based
analyst Robert Mann of R.W. Mann &
Company, Inc. – Reuters
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM SCAN
@thesundaily ME
Russia scrambles to limit
fallout from sanctions
ordered market players to reject foreign
oCentral bank raises rates sharply to counter risks of rouble clients’ bids to sell Russian securities.
depreciation and higher inflation The steps came after Western allies
ratcheted up sanctions on Saturday, taking
action to banish big Russian banks from the
main global payments system SWIFT and
MOSCOW: Russia’s central bank yesterday central bank said in a statement, adding that announced other measures to limit Moscow’s
sharply raised its key policy rate to 20%, a day the rate hike ‘will ensure a rise in deposit use of a US$630 billion (RM2.6 trillion) war
after announcing a slew of measures to rates to levels needed to compensate for the chest to undermine sanctions.
support domestic markets, as it scrambled to increased depreciation and inflation risk.” The new set of sanctions were likely to
manage the fallout of harsh Western Yesterday’s steps bolster other measures deal a devastating blow to the Russian
sanctions in retaliation against Moscow’s announced on Sunday, which include the economy and make it hard for Russian banks
invasion of Ukraine. central bank’s assurance that it would and companies to access the international
The bank hiked the key rate from 9.5% to resume buying gold on the domestic market, financial system. The rouble plunged nearly
counter risks of rouble depreciation and launch a repurchase auction with no limits 30% to an all-time low versus the dollar
higher inflation, and also ordered companies and ease restrictions on banks’ open foreign yesterday.
to sell 80% of their foreign currency revenues. currency positions. Russians waited in long queues outside
“External conditions for the Russian It also increased the range of securities ATMs on Sunday, worried that new Western
economy have drastically changed,“ the that can be used as collateral to get loans and sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine
will trigger cash shortages and disrupt
payments.
Western sanctions target Russia “A bank run has already started in Russia
over the weekend ... and inflation will
The U.S. and allies have imposed heavy sanctions on all 10 of Russia’s immediately spike massively, and the
largest financial institutions, as well as export control measures Russian banking system is likely to be in
that will more than halve Russia’s high-tech imports trouble,” said Jeffrey Halley, Asia-based
senior market analyst at OANDA.
Rouble: Russian currency Roubles to $1 Nomura analysts said the fresh reprisal
plunges to record low 85 measures by the West against Russia is likely
against U.S. dollar. Feb 25: 85.10
to have wider global implications.
The Russian central bank in several
Russia’s stock market 80 announcements on Sunday sought to ensure
tumbles to lowest level financial stability. It said it would resume
in four and a half years. buying gold on the domestic market from Feb
Moex index falls by 33% 75 28.
It added that customers of sanctioned
Jan 3: 74.10
70 banks would be unable to use their bank
Jan Feb cards outside Russia, and that cards issued by
Russia’s banks: Sberbank and
25 subsidiaries barred from
VTB Bank:
Assets of Russia’ s
the sanctioned banks won’t work on Google
Pay or Apple Pay.
transactions in U.S. dollars.
Russia’s largest bank holds around
second-biggest
lender, VTB, as well as
It also ordered market players to reject
attempts by foreign clients to sell Russian
securities, according to a central bank
one-third of Russia’s banking sector Bank Otkritie, Sovcombank OJSC
assets. Sberbank’s value on London and Novikombank, frozen in U.S.
document seen by Reuters.
That could complicate plans by the
Stock Exchange plummets 72% Five banks and financial institutions sovereign wealth funds of Norway and
Australia, which said they planned to wind
New debt: Ban targeted by U.S. hold total of down exposure to Russian-listed companies.
on raising money $1 trillion in assets In a bid to inject cash into the financial
on U.S. markets Oligarchs: Sanctions system, the central bank said there would be
no limit at a “fine-tuning” repo auction it
by 13 Russian on Russian elites and planned to hold yesterday and added that the
state-owned family members “who banking system remained stable after the
financial enterprises including have enriched new sanctions targeting Russia’s financial
Sberbank, AlfaBank, Credit Bank of themselves at expense institutions.
Moscow, Gazprombank of Russian state” The central bank said bank cards were
working as normal and that customers’ funds
Exports: Russia’s military, aviation and maritime could be accessed at any time. It said it would
sectors blocked from buying items produced by foreign substantially increase the range of securities
nations using U.S.-origin software, semiconductors, that can be used as collateral to get central
bank loans.
encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics The central bank also said it is temporarily
or maritime technologies easing restrictions on banks’ open foreign
Sources: Bloomberg, Financial Times, Reuters © GRAPHIC NEWS currency positions after the sanctions. –
Reuters
China open to working with US on Build Back
Better World, American role in Belt and Road
BEIJING: China is willing to work with the US anniversary of the Shanghai Communique, China in Asia-Pacific to build a “family of
on a G7-led global infrastructure plan and which marked the normalising of relations openness, inclusiveness, innovation, growth,
welcomes Washington to join its Belt and between US and China. connectivity and win-win cooperation”, rather
Road Initiative, Chinese Foreign Minister He said China is also open to the US than turn the region into one of conflict and
Wang Yi said yesterday. participating in the Belt and Road Initiative confrontation.
The Group of Seven (G7) richest (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative, a The Shanghai Communique, a document
democracies, consisting of US and its allies, call by Chinese President Xi Jinping in which marked the end of isolation between
proposed the Build Back Better World (B3W) September for all countries to work towards both countries and issued during then US
initiative in June to help developing countries sustainable development. President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to
meet infrastructure needs, as they sought to G7’s B3W initiative is seen as an alternative China, meant that two major powers with
counter China’s growing influence. to rival China’s BRI, which was launched by Xi different social systems were willing to coexist
“We are also willing to consider in 2013. More than 100 countries have signed peacefully, he said.
coordinating with the US ‘Build Back Better agreements with China to cooperate in BRI Wang reiterated a call for the United States
World’ initiative to provide the world with projects like railways, ports, highways and to stop supporting independence for Taiwan, a
more high-quality public goods,” Wang said in other infrastructure. self-ruled island China claims as its own. –
a video message at an event for the 50th Wang urged Washington to work with Reuters

Books that actually live
up to the hype
oA list of critically acclaimed books that
deserve to be called must-read
█ BY CELESTINE FOO psychological insight and human
B
comprehension in this chronicle of life as we
OOKS play a huge role in how society see the main character deals with the past to
has been shaped and how we think manage the present.
today. Fiction or not, there are many
which help give us a better insight into
the workings of human life on top of providing
literary enlightenment. Over the years, there
have been many critically acclaimed books –
but there are way too many. Here, we have
shortlisted are a few that we find deserve their
place on the must-read list.
The Call of the Wild – Jack London
Originally published in 1903, this classic is a
story told in the perspective of Buck, a sled-dog.
Stolen from his cosy California home to be sold
to prospectors and taken to pull sleds during
1890’s Klondike Gold Rush, Buck’s journey
involves fights, beatings and struggles which
call to his instincts. We see him go from loyal pet
to an unrestrained and aggressive animal. A
gripping account of the power of a dog’s natural
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee instincts and the dignity
This is one of those titles everyone speaks that animals deserve, the
about. It tells the tale of lawyer Atticus Finch, author brilliantly blends
whose morals make him the unconventional story with philosophy to
hero. Told from the perspective of six-year-old make this a mandatory
Scout Finch, we follow her and her brother Jem read.
on a valuable journey about tolerance, empathy
and understanding. The book was set in the One flew over the
1930s, during which America was dealing with cuckoo’s nest – Ken
the Great Depression. Readers can draw Kesey
parallels between the rapidly diminishing Addressing the
American Dream and Atticus Finch’s ideas of relationship between
the ideal society. Finch’s character is said to be sanity and lunacy,
based on Lee’s own father, Amasa Coleman conformity and
Lee. The plot of To Kill a Mockingbird was rebellion, Kesey’s novel
inspired in part by the compassionate lawyer’s is key to the
unsuccessful defense in 1919 of two African antipsychiatry
American men convicted of murder. movement of the
1960’s. The tale is
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of narrated by
Pilgrimage – Haruki Murakami McMurphy, a half-
This is a book that sold over a million copies the Indian schizophrenic
first week it went on sale in Japan. Readers are who fakes deaf-
drawn into the story of Tsukuru Tazaki, one of a muteness, and is set
five-person circle of teenage friends. The 20 in a mental ward.
year old man goes through life feeling “as if he Governing the ward
already died but not yet noticed it.” The reason? is Big Nurse, who
His circle of friends abruptly ended their uses unorthodox
friendship with him for seemingly no reason. but highly effective
We then meet Tsukuru again at 36 years old, disciplinary
where he appears to be doing well in life. Upon m e a s u r e s .
realising that he has a huge hole in his heart Mc Mu r p hy
from his loss, his girlfriend convinces him to challenges her,
face his confusion head on. There is plenty of constantly overstepping
T U E S D AY
1 MARCH 2022
boundaries and a figurehead in pushing
against the system. This book is a powerful
one, with lessons scattered throughout that
will give the reader pause.
Nineteen eighty-four – George Orwell
Similar to the themes in Kesey’s novel
above, the main character in this dystopian
tale follows Winston Smith, a frustrated,
low-ranking member of ‘the Party’. Its ruler,
‘Big Brother’, dominates every part of
people’s lives. Smith sets in motion a
rebellion against the Party and fights for
freedom and justice. Highlighting the
importance of resisting mass control and
oppression, Orwell’s novella strikes a chord
because he masterfully explores the
complete control of a nation under a
totalitarian state.
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
This 2009 novel was the inspiration behind
the 2011 period drama film of the same
name, written and directed by Tate Taylor.
The focus of the story is the lives of Black
maids working in white households during
the civil rights
movement of
the 1960’s.
Touching on
racism and
the connections of storytelling, Joyce tells the tale of a middle-
that form within aged Jewish man and a young intellectual. The
the oppressed, we entire novel is set in Dublin on June 16, 1904,
see the maids’ and plays out the two men’s journey in a day.
unwillingness to Reading the author’s unique perspective on the
fight for racial events that unfold throughout the day, his work
justice. It takes an crosses the borders of literary realism and
incident for them to makes this an interesting read. Of course, his
change their views string of words, devoid of any punctuation
and take the risk of make it a bit of a task, but it’s well worth plowing
telling the truth in an through if you have the patience for it.
attempt to create a
difference. Moving The Time Machine – H.G. Wells
and compelling, the Equipped with splendid imagination and
hilarity and sense of talent, H.G. Wells has created a work of timeless
realism thrown in fiction that continues to fascinate readers to this
helps readers to relate day. He writes of a scientist who builds a time
better to the machine and travels to the year 802,701 AD –
characters, gaining more than 800,000 years past his own era of
perspective that can be 1895, the book’s year of publication.The
applied even in current traveller comes across two races, the
society – and that is descendents of humanity. They seem to denote
what makes it such a the duality of human nature while providing a
great read. rather pessimistic outlook on how humanity
could evolve. The book bravely questions
Ulysses – James Joyce unchecked capitalism and class division while
A simple storyline with a inspiring a sense of adventure in the reader,
rather confusing method making this a worthwhile read.
 ENTERTAINMENT
16 theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022

█ COMPILED BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR, THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN & ANANSA JACOB

Major win for Squid

Game at SAGs
HISTORY was made at yesterday’s Screen
Actors Guild awards, when South Korean
drama Squid Game walked away with two
of the biggest prizes of the night.
Jung Ho Yeon took home the award for
outstanding performance by a female actor
in a drama series for her role as Sae Byeok in
the runaway hit Netflix series, beating out
other screen veterans such as Jennifer
Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Snook
and Elizabeth Moss.
In a tearful speech, Jung said: “ I have
been watching all of you on a big screen as
an audience, dreaming to become an actor
myself one day. I just want to say thank you
so much and I’m so honoured to be here.”
She added: “Thank you for making my
dream (come true) and opening the door
for me. Love you Squid Game team!”
With this, Jung becomes only the second
Asian woman to win the award, following
Youn Yuh-Jung’s win last year for Minari.
Earlier in the night, her Squid Game co-
star Lee Jung Jae scored a landmark win by
taking home the award for outstanding
performance by a male actor, becoming the
first Asian male to do so.
The 49-year-old appeared lost for words
over the surprise win, but thanked not just
the Squid Game team, but also the fans of
the show for their love and support.
The series also won a third award that
night, for best stunt performance by an
ensemble. Green Day is the latest band to cancel a show in Russia. – REPRISE

G Concert cancelled
Jung (left) and Lee both made history at
yesterday’s SAG awards. – AFP
REEN DAY has canceled its concert
that was scheduled for May 29 at
Spartak Stadium in Moscow over
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the band
announced on Sunday.
“With heavy hearts, in light of current events
we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcoming
show in Moscow at Spartak Stadium,” the band
said in a statement to Variety.
“We are aware that this moment is not about
stadium rock shows, it’s much bigger than that.
But we also know that rock and roll is forever
and we feel confident there will be a time and a
place for us to return in the future. Stay safe.”
While dozens of Western acts currently have
live shows scheduled in Russia and even
Ukraine in the coming months, it seems unlikely
that most if any will take place.
As of now, Green Day is just the second
music act to cancel performances in the
country. On Friday, pop act AJR called off its
Moscow concert slated for October.
According to artiste website Songkick and
other sources, in Moscow alone, Saint Jhn,
Tricky, Disclosure and Bring Me the Horizon
have shows scheduled for March and April, with
oRussia-Ukraine war is affecting Europe’s concert industry
Khalid, OneRepublic, Yungblud, Girl in Red,
Judas Priest, Denzel Curry and OneRepublic in
May.
But those are just a preamble for what was
looking to be a very busy summer concert
season, including the alt-rock-leaning Bol
festival and two Park Live festivals (the latter
featuring the Killers, Gorillaz, My Chemical
Romance, Iggy Pop and many others) along
with summer dates by Iron Maiden, Deep
Purple, Imagine Dragons, Bjork, Eric Clapton
and others.
Geoff Meall, a London-based agent for
Paradigm Agency, told Variety on Friday: “We’ve
got [multiple] of acts due to be going there from
next month right through the summer – rock
acts, alternative acts, a lot of electronic artists as
well. As it stands, I can’t see any of those shows
being able to happen.”
Meall concluded: “Ukraine is obviously an
active war zone, so it’s impossible to do a
concert there, and with Russia, first, every
government is advising its citizens not to go
there unless it’s essential business – rock and
roll probably wouldn’t be considered that – but
more, a lot of artistes wouldn’t want to be seen
as supporting the actions of that government at
the moment.”
It is expected that many more acts will be
cancelling concerts in the coming days.

Kim Hyung Joon

Cynthia Erivo talks about her sisterly bond with
Wicked co-star Ariana Grande
TWO popular icons will soar they sat for three hours on the floor of her
onto big screen for the house chatting and talking about everything.
upcoming film adaptation of Back in November, the two superstars took
the smash-hit Broadway to their Instagram accounts to share the
musical, Wicked. Cynthia exciting news with a note to each other.
Erivo, 35, is all set to play “‘Pink goes good with green.’
‘wicked’ witch Elphaba Congratulations Miss A, the part was made for
opposite pop singer Ariana you. I look forward to sharing this musical
Grande. journey with you,” Erivo wrote to
During a red carpet Grande.
interview at yesterday’s Grande wrote back: “Dear
Screen Actors Guild awards, Cynthia, honored doesn’t even begin
the Oscar nominee said she is to cover it. I cannot wait to hug you.
very excited about the See you in Oz. All my love, Ari (sic).”
project. The movie follows the friendship of
“Before I even went to do the two young sorceresses before the
the audition, I knew that Erivo (right) spoke about her connection with her Wicked co-star events of The Wizard Of Oz. Erivo and
music like the back of my Grande. – AP/REUTERS Grande will fill roles originated
hand. I was doing it at drama by Kristin Chenoweth and
school and sneaking up to the piano room and and chatting and talking and building our own Idina Menzel, who earned
just learning it all,” she told E! ‘s Laverne Cox. relationship because we know that it’s a a Tony for her
“So, I think it’s about learning the music, sisterhood and we want to be ready and performance as
learning the story, finding our sort of way prepared to be there for one another.” Elphaba in the Wicked
through it.” “So, it’s that, and [director] Jon M. Chu is musical by Winnie
The star added she’s been spending time to amazing so we’re just sort of waiting to start. Holzman, which is
know her co-star Grande in order to prepare We’re ready to rehearse and get into it.” currently in its 18th
for the movie and build their relationship. She also mentioned that bonding with season on
Erivo said: “Ariana and I have been meeting Ariana is the greatest thing ever, adding that Broadway.
announces marriage
IT’S going to be wedding bells for Kim Hyung
Joon. On Sunday, the singer and former SS501
boyband member announced his engagement
during his GIFT concert, a free performance
which was also streamed on YouTube.
He told his fans: “I made a decision to walk
through my future life together with the person
who stood by me during the most difficult and
hard times.”
He then explained that he had been
pushing himself to live a good life for his
fans, and felt that instead of
announcing the big news in a letter,
that he should let them know about
it in person.
Initial reactions from fans to the
news have been largely positive.
Previous news reports had speculated
that Kim and his unnamed fiance would
forgo a formal wedding ceremony due
to Covid-19 fears.
Kim’s agency later released
a statement asking the
public for their “warm
support as [the couple]
carefully takes their first
step toward a future they
will walk together as a
precious relationship in a
difficult time.”
 FOLLOW ON YOUTUBE ENTERTAINMENT
SCAN theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022 17
/theSunMedia ME

Playing
█ BY JOHN TAN

W
HO knew Korean cinema could be
so raunchy? The majority of
international audiences have only

rough
got to know the industry for its
romantic tales, gorry sequences, and pretty
boys. But now, finally, viewers are getting to
relish a new side to Korean life – all thanks to its
latest offering, Love and Leashes.
Directed by Park Hyun-Jin, the romantic
comedy follows office worker, Jung Ji-Wo played
by Seohyun, who has feelings for her co-worker
Jung Ji-Hoo, portrayed by Lee Jun-Young. Yet, oNetflix’s Love and Leashes
she refuses to confess her feelings to him. Their
interaction only begins after Ji-Wo accidentally spice things up with its
opens a package that was meant for Ji-Hoo.
In it, she finds a dog leash that is intended for intimate exploration into the
S&M. Though Ji-Hoo initially tries to cover it up,
he eventually admits and tells her of his fetish.
world of BDSM
He then doubles down on the revelation by
asking her to be his “master”. Surprisingly, she
accepts and starts their three-month
relationship of dominance and submission.
For starters, the movie deserves praise for
making the bold move of venturing into a new
creative direction. To this date, not many
mainstream Korean directors have dared to
experiment with this theme. So, kudos to
director Park Hyun-Jin for pushing the
envelope.
But of course, it is not just his creative
exploration that has captured the attention of
viewers. In fact, the film’s appeal goes beyond
sexy handcuffs and painful whips. Unlike Fifty
Shades, Love and Leashes shines through with
its take on the politics of power, intimacy and
pleasure in an unorthodox relationship.
Take, for instance, the relationship dynamic
between Seohyun and Jun-Young’s characters.
Contrary to Fifty Shades, the dominant figure in
the relationship is the female character.
Despite her lack of knowledge in S&M, Jun
Young’s character is willing to be submissive to
her. He even guides her on how to navigate the
relationship. Although I do not understand his
fetish, it is refreshing to see an ultra-feminine Seohyun (left) as Jung Ji-Wo and Lee Jun-Young
character take charge and explore her desires. as Jung Ji-Hoo. – NETFLIX Netflix’s Love and Leashes explores BDSM culture. – NETFLIX
And the plot culminates at its peak when she
demands more out of the relationship. The next for the lead actors. Director Park Hyun-Jin to witness them acting outside their usual roles, foray into acting has been working very well for
aspect I found intriguing was Jun Young’s clearly picked the right performers to play the especially Seohyun. her.
character journey of accepting his fantasies. It leads. Their flawless and natural interactions did As a fan of Girls Generation, I was so used to All in all, Love and Leashes was a good
was nice to watch him transform into a more not cause any cringiness, even during the her good girl image that it felt like she was a breath of fresh air. But while the movie aims to
confident individual as he comes to terms with intimate scenes. different actress. None of her characteristics in normalise BDSM, Love and Leashes is
the different depths of his personality. Their chemistry was so good that the Fifty the show resembled the Seohyun of SNSD I essentially still a romantic film. Beneath all its
Needless to say, the characters could not Shades leads should give them a run for their came to know. But this only proved her kinkiness, is its beautiful message of accepting
have resonated with the audiences so well if not money. Speaking of the actors, it was inspiring excellent range as an actress. It is no wonder her oneself despite how weird one’s traits may be.

A quirky rom com about wild love

The gentleman pirate
FROM creator David Jenkins and Emmy-
nominated executive producer Taika Waititi
comes the Max Original comedy series Our
Flag Means Death. The ten-episode season
debuts with three episodes on March 3
exclusively on HBO GO. Subsequent episodes
will air over the next three weeks.
Our Flag Means Death is (very) loosely
based on the true adventures of an 18th-
century would-be pirate Stede Bonnet, played
by Rhys Darby. After trading in the seemingly
charmed life of a gentleman for one of a
swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede becomes
captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling
to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous
crew, Stede’s fortunes change after a fateful
run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard,
played by Waititi. Stede and crew attempt to
get their ship together and survive life on the
high seas.
DISNEY+ Hotstar invites everyone who has
ever held a workplace grudge to sit back and
enjoy as the cast of Crazy Love explore what
happens when you decide to take revenge.
Set to launch on March 7, this 16-part series
stars Kim Jae Uck and Krystal Jungin a fun-
filled story complete with twists, turns and
touching moments.
When mathematical genius CEO Noh
Go-Jin (Kim Jae Uck) begins to receive
death threats from an unknown person, he
hatches an elaborate plan to track them
down.
Shortly after the start of his plan, Lee
Shin-a (Krystal Jung), an introverted hard-
working secretary who has recently been
The series is executive produced by Waititi,
who is also directing the pilot, alongside
showrunner David Jenkins, producer Garrett
Basch, and Dan Halsted.
In addition to Darby and Waititi, the
ensemble cast stars Nathan Foad, Samson
Kayo, Vico Ortiz, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Matt
Maher, Kristian Nairn, Con O’Neill, Guz Khan,
diagnosed with a life-threatening disease
and who plans to take her revenge for her
poor treatment at his company, discovers
Go-Jin in an unusual situation.
What ensues is a sweet and, at times, Troye
grisly romance between the pair that will Sivan.
have viewers reeling as they swerve from
twist to twist.
Centred around the unexpected
romance between an employee and her
boss, Crazy Love will take viewers on a
fantastical and light-hearted adventure
complete with bundles of on-screen
chemistry between its two stars, in a story
written by Kim Bo-Kyum and directed by Wait is over for Troye
Kim Jung-Hyun.
Sivan’s new song
TROYE Sivan
dropped a new Scan the QR
code to
track, Wait,
featuring fellow watch the
Australian artist trailer
Gordi. It’s one of
Pirating ain’t easy two original songs he recorded for the new
... Our Flag Means feature film THREE MONTHS, which Troye
Death is a MAX stars in alongside Academy Award winner Ellen
Original comedy Burstyn.
that is sure to Troye wrote both songs from the point of
tickle your funny view of his character, Caleb, a South Florida
bones. – HBO teen who loves his camera, his weed and his
MAX grandmother. On the eve of his high school
graduation, everything changes when he’s been
David Fane, Rory Kinnear, Samba Schutte, exposed.
Nat Faxon, Fred Armisen and Leslie Jones. While he waits three months for his results,
Stream Our Flag Means Death only on Caleb finds love in the most unlikely of places.
HBO GO. You can also access HBO GO via Fans can also check out the film’s score, Three
Astro. HBO GO is also available on Android Months – Original Motion Picture
TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV - Soundtrack, which was released digitally by
and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast Lakeshore Records on Feb 25. The collection
functionality. features music by Roger Neill.
 HEALTH
18 theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022

A
MERICANS are paying to
get a star of the psychedelic Ketamine pills are
medicine movement – proving to be an
ketamine – shipped to them unlikely saviour for
for at-home mental health some with mental
treatments that are being called both health issues. – AFP
a breakthrough and a gamble.
A pandemic-spurred easing of
prescription rules helped fuel a jump
in telemedicine offerings of
ketamine, an anesthetic that was
once a taboo party drug but has
become a buzzed-about tool against
depression.
Yet long-term, large-scale studies
of ketamine’s medical impact are
limited, leaving some experts
concerned that an unregulated
online boom could result in mishaps
or a regulatory crackdown.
“This has to be rolled out slowly,”
said Boris Heifets, a Stanford
University assistant professor of
anesthesiology. “The risk is that we
are scaling the fix but not the
solution, which is a more integrated
approach to mental health.”
Ketamine has been available in
the United States since the 1970s as
an anesthetic called a “dissociative”
because of the hallucinogenic effects
that have helped make it a rave
culture drug.
It’s legal for US doctors to
prescribe, while some other
psychedelics getting renewed
attention for mental health uses like
LSD or MDMA (also called ecstasy)
are classified as having no medical
utility and a high risk for abuse.
In this context, recent years have
seen an uptick in clinics offering in-
person intravenous ketamine
treatments for depression, anxiety or
chronic pain, though regulations and
practices vary across the US.

Ketamine ‘babysitter’
Then came the pandemic, which
resulted in US authorities allowing
doctors to remotely prescribe drugs
like ketamine that previously
required an in-person visit.
An increasing number of
companies, some already doing in-
clinic treatments, began offering to
evaluate clients online and to send
the drugs for home use to approved
candidates.
Nue Life, which launched about a
year ago, is one of those firms. Its CEO
Juan Pablo Cappello estimated it has
served over 3,000 ketamine patients
so far.
“If you actually drill down on the
sort of potentials for abuse here, you
realize of course they exist, but we’re
creating a standard of care to make
that quite unlikely,” he told AFP.
For example, he noted clients are
instructed to have an adult
“babysitter” watch over them for the
Sudden turnaround
oOnce-taboo ketamine is booming for
US at-home mental care
roughly 90 minutes the drug
experience lasts, and he reasoned
that people simply looking for
ketamine could get it cheaper on the
street.
Clients of the service, which costs
$1,250 (RM5,252) for a package
providing six ketamine experiences,
are encouraged but not obligated to
couple it with therapy, Cappello said.
“The at-home telemedicine
model, I would argue, is actually safer
and more effective for patients,”
allowing more patients “to actually
take advantage of these therapies,” he
added.
Heifets, the Stanford researcher,
noted that making ketamine more
available carries risks – including the
chances that authorities would
tighten access if an at-home
treatment resulted in some sort of
tragedy.
‘Change your life’
US regulators in 2019 approved a type
of ketamine specifically for adults
with treatment-resistant depression,
though with stringent rules like
requiring patients to be monitored by
a health care provider for at least two
hours after their dose.
Americans have “a hair trigger for
problem-solving through litigation,”
Heifets noted of the potential for
lawsuits if things go wrong.
He was part of a team that
analysed the real-world effectiveness
of intravenous ketamine therapy –
which can involve higher doses than
the at-home services – and reported
most patients improved, though
about eight percent said depressive
symptoms worsened after treatment.
“We have very, very little evidence
for our understanding of how
effective ketamine is for depression at
scale,” he added.
Yet for people like 36-year-old
New Yorker Philip Markle, who
underwent an at-home treatment
with a company called Mindbloom,
ketamine is a profoundly useful tool.
Over his long battle with
depression, the performer and
comedian has tried medication,
psychedelics like LSD, and talk
therapy since the age of 12, but found
something unique in ketamine.
Rather than the short-lived sense
of change other treatments provided,
ketamine imparted a sense of clarity
and of helpful self-acceptance – not
the heavy effects he’d experienced
with other psychedelics.
“It felt like if any drug could be
administered through the mail, and
you could do a psychedelic that could
change your life, on your own, this
would be the one,” he told AFP. – AFP

Attractive people have stronger immune systems, study finds

STOP everything! If you thought that
Physical beauty was a matter of subjectivity,
attraction could societal norms or dictates, then you
be related to were wrong. It seems that
better- attractiveness could actually be
functioning linked to the strength of our immune
immune systems, according to a team of US
systems, reveals researchers. Incredible, but
a new scientific (potentially) true!
study. – ETX Beauty may be more than skin
STUDIO deep, it seems. A team of scientists
from Texas Christian University in the
United States have been investigating
the potential link between physical
attractiveness and the immune
system’s ability to fight all kinds of
infections. The idea seems totally
crazy, but the researchers believe that
we could be attracted to a certain
form of beauty because we are simply
biologically programmed to seek a
healthy partner.
It’s a phenomenon that they
attempted to demonstrate through a
study published in the journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The study involved 159 male and
female participants, students at Texas
Christian University or members of
the surrounding community, who
were photographed without makeup
and with neutral facial expressions,
and who underwent blood tests. For
the second phase of their
investigation, the scientists asked 492
people participating in an online
survey to rate their physical
attractiveness based on each
photograph.
Could attractiveness be
synonymous with good health?
The result is surprising, since the
women and men who were
considered the most attractive were
also those with the highest rates of
phagocytosis, a process that plays a
central role in destroying certain
disease-causing bacteria. In other
words, the better-looking you are, the
more likely you are to have a strong
immune system – or vice versa.
However, the researchers
observed some gender disparities.
Men who were judged to be the most
attractive were more likely to have
high-functioning natural killer cells
to clear viral infections from the
body.
Women’s beauty was associated
with slower growth of a bacterium in
their plasma responsible for food
poisoning and localised infections.
There could be a link between
how appealing you find a person’s
features and the functioning of their
immune system – which is ultimately
based on your attraction to the
potential good health of a future life
partner.
However, this is the first study of
its kind, and these results warrant
further investigation, especially since
such a hypothesis would assume that
beauty is objective, beyond all
cultural and societal considerations,
and with no link to personality.
In conclusion to their research,
the scientists also suggest that
advances in modern medicine could
have changed the game when it
comes to physical preferences.
“With modern medicine,
infections are not as deadly as before,
so perhaps it’s okay if people lstart to
give people who are less attractive a
shot,” said the study’s lead author. –
ETX Studio

█ BY CELESTINE FOO
M
ENTAL health is like an
elusive illness we all try to
understand but always
seem unable to. The
subject matter is a broad one, with
many unable to fully grasp this
affliction that they cannot see.
An intangible illness
“Our understanding of physical
health is based on symptoms we can
see, but the difficult part of mental
health is that we don’t see it. When
we do see it, it is usually at an intense
stage and not one that many people
can understand. Our mental health
varies in terms of the degrees of
severity – like between having a
common cold and having cancer –
whether it’s a diagnosed disorder or
just general tiredness,” says Sara Au, a
licensed and registered counsellor at
Cara Cara, a collective which
provides affordable mental health
therapy.
The above rings true when it
comes down to invisible illnesses. 27-
year-old Grace Kam was diagnosed
with obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) at the age of 13.
“I used to spend a lot of time in the
toilet, with most of the time spent
washing my hands to the point of
them cracking and bleeding. That
alarmed my parents. My older sister
used to joke about me having OCD,
but in one of our regular
conversations, she realised I might
have the disorder and was not just
being particular. She sat my parents
down and told them we might have to
consider professional help,” shares
Grace.
Sharing further insight that
specifically applies to those with
obsessive-compulsive disorder,
Grace explains that they have a very
strong need for certainty. The need is
so strong that they tend to seek
reassurance from anyone, and this
can manifest in the form of seemingly
silly or irrational questions.
“Without knowledge of this
condition, my parents might not have
been able to exercise tough love,
where they had to hold back from
answering these questions. While
answering the questions might
soothe the child’s anxiety for a while,
it is still a never-ending cycle and
increases their anger, frustration and
exhaustion,” Grace explains.
A huge misconception
surrounding obsessive-compulsive
disorder is that it is about the sufferer
feeling the need for everything to be
organised.
“My disorder is often used as a
classic pop culture term sometimes
and I used to get really angry about it.
OCD is really just a doubting disease
– you doubt everything. It has nothing
to do with neatness and cleanliness,”
she points out.
She has since come to terms with
the understanding that people often
(mistakenly) and loosely attribute the
term to mean someone being very
particular or fussy.
Someone with an anxiety disorder
might also experience depression,
which was the case for her.
“My compulsions were really
affected by my mood and it was really
difficult to do simple tasks. At that
time, I was just entering high school
and the medication I was on helped
to alleviate my mood,” Grace adds.
“In hindsight, it was just so I
wasn’t such a nuisance to everybody,”
the science enthusiast chuckles.
Collective frustration
Growing up in a tight-knit family with
siblings, her disorder began affecting
those around her too.
“I used to be someone that was
seemingly okay – you didn’t have to
worry too much about me as a
person. So when the diagnosis
happened and things started to look
really serious on the outside, it really
scared my parents. I experienced
HEALTH
theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022 19
An unseen
illness
oAn insight into the elusive
world of mental health
Grace Kam.
their anger and frustration because help for the brain. It took the edge off health care is something every In the event of a burnout, the
all they wanted was for their child to so I wasn’t always so prickly,” she individual needs but we don’t have therapists are encouraged to take a
be content and okay. Without elaborates. enough professionals in this field to break. “At the end of the day, all
acceptance, there were lots of difficult Grace vividly describes her low cater to that,” she says. professionals are humans too and we
emotions and conversations that we point as the feeling one gets as a The gap in accessibility and know that we have our limits. We have
had to go through. That is what really frightened child, running into bed affordability of mental health care in to respect those limits so we can give
affected the people outside – they can and pulling the sheets over the head. Malaysia led Sara to team up with her our best,” Sara says.
get quite emotional living around “It feels like you are still somehow colleagues in an effort to extend that
you. It’s tiring as well,” says Grace. stuck in the sheets but you know that care to as many as possible within a The no-nos
Until the age of 19, she you can open the blanket a bit for more affordable range. She likens A common stereotype that exists is
was on various different fresh air – you feel semi- maintaining one’s mental health to when people think individuals are
prescriptions throughout suffocated and confined by maintaining fitness by going to the able to turn off certain emotions.
the years, with the most fear.” gym. It should be an While many are
common being With knowledge and help ongoing thing and not often unequipped with
antidepressants. Grace from therapy as well as an done only when one is the knowledge or
describes feeling understanding support at wit’s end. understanding of
mostly numb on the system, the food creator The Cara-Cara helpful phrases to
medication, but lives a healthier life today. team often work say to someone
reminisces that “it together with in a negative
was okay as it The other side of the other like- state of mind,
helped me coin m i n d e d unhelpful
finish my Equipped with an therapists to sentences are
secondary interest in psychology s p r e a d something we
education”. and firsthand awareness about should educate
It was not all experience of a mental health on ourselves on. Most
smooth sailing corporate job along social media to normalise the idea of commonly, we hear people saying
after she got off with the stress that therapy. things like “don’t feel sad” or “don’t
medication and comes with it, Sara was While research and understanding worry”. Being humans, our emotions
there were times drawn to finding a role in this field is still lacking, there has act as indicators of an uncomfortable
she and her where she could been noticeable progress, with the situation. This subsequently lets us
parents felt lost as provide assistance recent pandemic contributing know that there is something we
to what the best from a mental health towards acceptance and awareness. should pay attention to – much like
route would be perspective. “More people are finding ways to how our pain receptors work.
subsequently. “The biggest navigate through these issues and “By telling someone to stop feeling
“There was some challenge is not support one another, which helps us a certain way, it’s almost like telling
calmness, but I having enough to progress from where we were five them to stop breathing. I would
wouldn’t say it got people do or 10 years ago,” Sara says. encourage everyone to embrace and
easier. It just what we do understand their emotions,” Sara
helped a little bit because Being human vs being a says.
more. The mental professional
medication Sara explains that in an altruistic Small progress, big reward
provided sense, her job satisfaction comes from Progress is subjective to every
s o m e being able to help someone unravel individual when it comes to the topic
regulatory their challenges. She also facilitates of mental health. Sara explains it as
the process for someone to find such: “It is never about aiming for full
Sara Au. answers they need to make the recovery. Rather, it’s in the small
choices that they have wanted to but progress, the little growths, the
were afraid to make. “Being able to lightbulb moments where the patient
witness a person’s growth is realises they are not crying as much as
honorable and incredibly satisfying to they used to or that they are making
experience, which is what makes this choices a lot quicker. Those are the
job a very rewarding one.” moments we look for.”
As humans, it is difficult not to feel Both Sara and Grace share the
some form of emotion for the people view that we should place as much
we interact with and Sara explains importance in mental health as we do
that therapists are trained to set in physical health. Many extenuating
boundaries. Allocating time for self circumstances affect one’s mental
care, be it spending time with loved balance. With the awareness that all
ones or partaking in activities for these factors should be taken into
health or enjoyment, are necessary account, it is imperative to take on a
steps to prevent burnout as a more holistic approach when it
professional in this field. comes to self-care.
 ENVIRONMENT
20 theSun LYFE ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022

T
ANGLED in seaweed, buried
in sand, washed up in rock Volunteers collect plastic
pools – tattered old flip flops waste during a cleaning
are an eyesore on Kenya’s exercise organised by
beaches, flushed out of rivers or Ocean Sole Africa, in Kilifi
carried across the sea from Asia and county. – AFP
beyond.
They are the footwear of choice for
much of the world but cheap flip
flops, like other plastic trash, are
polluting oceans and pristine white-
sand beaches like Kilifi on the Indian
Ocean.
“Rich, poor, everybody has got a
pair,” said Lillian Mulupi from Ocean
Sole, a Kenyan enterprise that
recycles discarded flip flops and other
plastic garbage found on beaches and
waterways into colourful sculptures
and children’s toys.
“Since they’re very easy to afford,
when a pair is done you just throw it
away and get a new one. So you get a
lot of it ending up on our beaches.”
The rising scourge of marine litter
will be front and centre when Kenyan artisans gather and thoroughly clean the foamy
negotiations for an international shoes, separating them by colour. – AFP

From trash to art

plastics treaty begin later this month
at a UN environment meeting in the
Kenyan capital.
Plastic has been found in the
smallest of plankton and the largest of
whales, and pressure is growing for
an international agreement to tackle
what has been called an ecological
crisis.
Governments are being urged to
agree on a treaty framework in
Nairobi to curb plastic pollution
“from source to sea” and to develop
ways of reusing the plastic already in
circulation.
Less than 10% of plastic is
recycled, with most dumped in
oceans and landfill.
From “the deepest ocean trench to
the Arctic, you are finding plastics”,
UN Environment Programme
executive director Inger Andersen
told AFP in an interview this week.
“You could weep.”
oOld flip flops are given a makeover in Kenya to curb plastic pollution
Trash to treasure finds garbage from across the globe
The crisis is plainly visible in Kilifi, in the quiet dunes that fringe her
where enormous volumes of plastic local beach.
bottle caps, toothbrushes, candy “Trash has come from as far as
wrappers and flip flops were India, the Philippines. Sometimes we
collected in a single hour by are shocked,” she told AFP.
volunteers during a recent beach Beneath a tree, sacks bulging with
clean-up. refuse are sorted into categories, with
“We can collect as much as a hard plastics and PET bottles put
tonne from a two-kilometre stretch of aside to be sold to recyclers.
beach,” said Mulupi, who organises The flip flops – mostly cheap,
regular clean-ups along the Kenyan modern varieties made of foam and
coast involving about 150 volunteers. other plastic materials that mimic
One of them is Sally Adolwa, who rubber – are purchased by Ocean
Discarded flip
flops are cut,
sanded, glued
and carved to
make animal
sculptures.
– AFP
Some of the animal creations made by the Kenyan artisans. – AFP
Sole, allowing collectors to earn a
little extra cash to support their
families. They are sent to a workshop
in Nairobi, thoroughly cleaned, and
glued together into multi-coloured
slabs.
Dozens of artisans – mostly former
woodworkers – skilfully carve them
into miniature turtles and whales,
custom wall hangings and animal
sculptures big and small for sale,
mostly abroad.
Off cuts and harder plastic
unsuitable for sculpting are shredded
into filler for mattresses, cushions
and dog beds.
Plastic insulating Styrofoam
salvaged from dumped refrigerators
is used as a mould for larger works,
including elephants and towering
giraffes that can sell for many
hundreds of dollars.
“Even we can do masterpieces
that take about 2,000 flip flops,” said
production supervisor Jonathan
Lenato.
Drop in the ocean
Flip flops aren’t just sourced from the
sea but rivers and canals in the slums
of Nairobi, one of Africa’s fastest-
growing cities with a major landfill
problem.
“We receive – weekly – about 1.2
tonnes. Turn this into a month, then a
year ... It’s a lot of flip flops,” said
Lenato.
All in all, Ocean Sole says it
recycles between 750,000 and one
million flip flops a year, and has
created around 100 full-time jobs.
But they are working against the
tide: some estimates suggest between
19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic
enter the world’s waterways every
year, a figure expected to sharply rise
in coming decades without action.
The scale of the crisis is not lost on
Lenato – never once in 16 years has
he run short of raw materials to meet
orders.
“We have to do something about
our environment. We are
encouraging people all over the world
to do their part also,” he said.
“We need to do recycling with our
trash the best (we) can.” – AFP

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* SPORTS

190 Shops to Let 322 Notices

IN THE MATTER OF THE

First for Austria
Straka takes Honda Classic in rainy finish
GREAT RETAIL

S
COMPANIES ACT, 2016
SPACE FOR and
IN THE MATTER OF EPP STRAKA became the first The 28-year-old sealed victory after rolling a long
RENTAL/SALE! ANJUNG TAIPAN SDN. BHD. Austrian player to win a PGA Tour eagle putt to within a few inches on the 18th for a
Registration No:
200201005339 (573002-X) event yesterday after conjuring a simple tap-in birdie as torrential rain lashed the
Address:
Kota Raya Complex
(In Member’s Voluntary late birdie blitz to snatch victory at course.
Winding-Up)
Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock the Honda Classic as overnight That meant the chasing Irishman Shane Lowry
50000 Kuala Lumpur NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that leader Daniel Berger suffered had to birdie the last to force a playoff, but the 2019
pursuant to Section 459(2) of the
Area: Companies Act, 2016, the Final a final round meltdown. British Open champion could only make par.
4th Floor – 22,390 sf Meeting of the contributories of The Vienna-born Straka Straka had surged into contention as third round
Other Floors – the abovenamed Company will be
held at the Liquidators’ office at conjured three birdies in leader Berger endured a miserable final round.
From 205 sf to 2,238 sf
Wisma Goshen, 2nd Floor, 60, 62 his final five holes - Berger had played flawlessly over the opening 54
& 64 Jalan SS 22/21, Damansara
For viewing appointment, Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, including a birdie on the holes to take a five-shot lead on Saturday.
please call Selangor Darul Ehsan on Friday, 18th – to card a 4-under But that healthy cushion evaporated in the space
Ms. Sall : 03-2072 2562 1st day of April, 2022 at 10.00 a.m.
for the following purposes:- 66 for a one-shot of the opening six holesyester, with a double-bogey
victory at PGA seven on the third followed by back-to-back bogeys
Notices 1. To lay before the meeting
322
the Liquidators’ statement National in Palm on the fifth and sixth holes.
of account and to give Beach Gardens in That opened the door for Lowry, who moved to
explanations thereof.
DALAM MAHKAMAH
DALAM MAHKAMAH SESYEN
DI KUALA
DI KUALA LUMPUR
LUMPUR
SESYEN Florida. the top of the leaderboard with birdies on the first and
DALAM NEGERI
DALAM NEGERI WILAYAH
WILAYAH 2. To decide under Section 518(3) Straka, who fourth holes.
PERSEKUTUAN
PERSEKUTUAN (b) of the Companies Act, 2016,
(BAHAGIAN DAGANG)
(BAHAGIAN DAGANG) the manner in which the books, moved to the The Irishman extended his lead after rolling in a
GUAMAN SIVIL
GUAMAN SIVIL NO.
NO.
WA-B52NCC-775-12/2021
WA-B52NCC-775-12/2021 accounts and documents of the United States 13-foot birdie putt on the 11th before being pegged
Company may be destroyed.
ANTARA
ANTARA
with his family back by Straka’s late charge.
PACIFIC REFRIGERATING
PACIFIC REFRIGERATING SDN
SDN BHD
BHD
Dated this 1st day of March, 2022 as a teenager, The Austrian drained a 10-foot putt for a birdie on
(NO .SYARIKAT:
(NO .SYARIKAT: 270929-T)
270929-T)
Tan Kee Huat fired a final- the 14th and then made an 18-footer from the apron
… PLAINTIF
… PLAINTIF
DAN
DAN Lam Lee San (f) round 66 that left to grab a share of the lead at nine under on the 16th.
1. NG
1. NG SEW
SEW LENG
LENG Liquidators
(NO.K/P: 720309-10-5659)
(NO.K/P: 720309-10-5659) him on 10-under His birdie on the last gave him sole possession of
[berniaga di
[berniaga di bawah
bawah nama
nama dan
dan gaya
gaya firma
firma NOTE: for the tournament the lead to pile the pressure on Lowry.
PEMBEKAL MAKANAN
PEMBEKAL MAKANAN LAUT
LAUT HAI
HAI AU
(NO. PENDAFTARAN:201503231625)]
(NO. PENDAFTARAN:201503231625)]
AU
Sepp Straka poses with a 72-hole aggregate 270. Lowry, however, was unable to force the playoff,
A contributory entitled to attend
2. NG
2. NG SEW
SEW LENG
LENG and vote at the abovementioned with The Honda “It’s unbelievable,” an elated finishing with a 3-under 67, 9-under overall.
(NO.K/P: 720309-10-5659)
(NO.K/P: 720309-10-5659)
… DEFENDAN
… DEFENDAN -- DEFENDAN
DEFENDAN
meeting is entitled to appoint a Classic trophy at Straka said after his maiden PGA Berger meanwhile had given himself a fighting
proxy who need not be a member
NOTIS IKLAN
NOTIS IKLAN
of the Company to attend and PGA National Tour win. chance after chipping in on the 14th to move within one
Kepada:
Kepada: vote in his stead. The instrument
appointing a proxy must be duly
Resort And Spa “The words aren’t really of the lead at 8-under.
NG SEW
NG SEW LENG
LENG (NO.K/P:
(NO.K/P: 720309-10-5659)
720309-10-5659)
[berniaga di
[berniaga di bawah
bawah nama
nama dan
dan gaya
gaya firma
firma deposited at the Liquidators’ yesterday. coming to me right now. It’s But his challenge ended after he found the water on
PEMBEKAL MAKANAN
PEMBEKAL MAKANAN LAUTLAUT HAI
(NO. PENDAFTARAN:201503231625)]
(NO. PENDAFTARAN:201503231625)]
HAI AU
AU office, not less than 48 hours
– AFPPIX just crazy. I really don’t know 18, leaving him with a 4-over 74 to finish fourth on 7-
before the time of the meeting.
No.61, Jalan
No.61, Jalan 9/152,
9/152,
what to think.” under. – AFP
Taman Perindustrian
Taman Perindustrian OUG,
OUG,
Batu 6,
Batu 6, Jalan
Jalan Puchong,
Puchong,

Lowry blames downpour for missing out

58200 Kuala
58200 Kuala Lumpur,
Lumpur,
Wilayah Persekutuan.
Wilayah Persekutuan.

Dan
Dan

NG SEW
NG SEW LENG
LENG (NO.K/P:
(NO.K/P: 720309-10-5659)
720309-10-5659)
No.51A, Jalan
No.51A, Jalan Raja
41400 Klang,
41400
Raja Bot,
Bot,
Klang, Selangor
Selangor
SHANE LOWRY said the worst break he has forced to lay up, hit his third shot to 43 feet The Irishman was seeking his first victory
AMBIL PERHATIAN
AMBIL PERHATIAN bahawa bahawa suatusuatu
experienced in golf cost him the Honda and was unable to make the birdie putt, since the 2019 Open Championship. He did
Writ Saman
Writ Saman bertarikh
bertarikh 28.12.2021
28.12.2021 Classic title yesterday. settling for solo second. climb 15 spots to No. 35 in the Official World
telah dikeluarkan
telah dikeluarkan terhadap
terhadap kamu
kamu di di
Mahkamah Sesyen
Mahkamah Sesyen didi Kuala
Kuala Lumpur
Lumpur oleh
oleh Lowry was tied for the lead at 9-under “It’s hard to take, to be honest,” Lowry said. Golf Ranking with yesterday’s runner-up
PACIFIC REFRIGERATING
PACIFIC REFRIGERATING SDN
.SYARIKAT: 270929-T)
.SYARIKAT: 270929-T) yang
SDN BHD
BHD (NO
yang beralamat
beralamat
(NO
322 Notices when he reached the 18th tee box. Up “Feel like I’ve got the tournament stolen from finish and now has five consecutive top-25
di Wisma
di Wisma Fatric,
Dua, Kawasan
Dua,
Fatric, Lot
Kawasan Perusahaan
Lot 1025,
1025, Jalan
Perusahaan Selayang
Jalan
Selayang
ahead, Sepp Straka had just blasted a 334- me today. finishes worldwide.
Baru, 68100
Baru, 68100 BatuBatu Caves,
Caves, Selangor
Selangor
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA yard drive on the par-5 finishing hole. “I played the golf perfectly to win the After an even-par 70 in his opening
Darul Ehsan
Darul Ehsan dan dan Mahkamah
Mahkamah telah telah
memerintahkan bahawa
memerintahkan bahawa WritWrit Saman
Saman AT KUALA LUMPUR With rain turning into a heavy downpour, tournament, and that’s this game sometimes round, Lowry posted three consecutive 67s
dan Pernyataan
Pernyataan Tuntutan
Tuntutan bertarikh
bertarikh (COMMERCIAL DIVISION)
dan
28.12.2021 diserahkan
28.12.2021 diserahkan kepada
kepada kamu
kamu COMPANIES WINDING-UP Straka put his second shot on the green. and that’s this level. at the demanding Champion course at PGA
secara penyampaian
secara penyampaian ganti
menampalkan satu
menampalkan satu salinan
ganti dengan
salinan Writ
dengan
Writ Saman
Saman
NO : WA-28NCC-11-01/2022 While the Austrian was walking up to survey “That was as bad a break as I’ve ever got. National.
dan Pernyataan
dan Pernyataan Tuntutan
28.12.2021 bersama
28.12.2021
Tuntutan bertarikh
bersama dengan
bertarikh
dengan satu satu
In the matter of Section 465(1) (e) & his eagle putt, Lowry pulled his tee shot only Especially when you’re standing on the tee “Look, it is what it is. It’s a great week for
salinan Perintah
salinan Perintah untuk
untuk Penyampaian
Penyampaian 466 (1) of the Companies Act 2016 241 yards into the left rough. and you see him over that left bunker, which me,” he said. “I’m very happy where my game
Ganti ini
Ganti ini didi papan
papan notis
notis Mahkamah
Mahkamah
Rendah di
Rendah di Kuala
Kuala Lumpur
Lumpur dandan di
di alamat
alamat And Straka narrowly missed his eagle putt, but I would’ve been able to do if there was no is at. I’ll get on with my life tomorrow and I’ll
No.61, Jalan
No.61, Jalan 9/152,
OUG, Batu
OUG, Batu 6,
9/152, Taman
6, Jalan
Taman Perindustrian
Perindustrian
Jalan Puchong,
Puchong, 58200
58200 In the matter of MONDAY-
tapped in for birdie to reach 10-under. Lowry, rain.” be fine.” – Field Level Media
Kuala Lumpur,
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Wilayah Persekutuan
Persekutuan OFF DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD

India record 12th straight T20I win

dan No.51A,
dan No.51A, Jalan
Jalan RajaRaja Bot,
Bot, 41400
41400
Klang, Selangor
Klang, Selangor iaitu
iaitu merupakan
merupakan alamat
alamat (COMPANY NO : 200301021494)
terakhir kamu
terakhir kamu yangyang diketahui
diketahui dan dan
dengan mengiklankan
dengan mengiklankan satu satu Notis
Notis sekali
sekali Between 322 Notices 322 Notices
di dalam
di dalam satusatu akbar
akbar harian
harian tempatan
tempatan
dan serahan
dan serahan di di atas
atas dianggap
dianggap sebagai
sebagai YEOH SEONG MOK
penyampaian sempurna,
penyampaian
berkesan ke
berkesan
sempurna, cukup
ke atas
atas kamu
cukup dan
kamu selepas
selepas empat
dan
empat
(NRIC NO :561028-08-6441) IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF OF IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES SHREYAS IYER hit an unbeaten 73 to lead February 2018 to September 2019.
... PETITIONER THE COMPANIES
THE COMPANIES ACT,ACT, 2016
2016 AND
AND
belas (14)
belas (14) hari
hari dari
dari tarikh
pengiklanan, mengikut
pengiklanan,
tarikh penampalan/
mengikut yang
penampalan/
yang mana
mana lebih
lebih And IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF OF
ACT 2016
AND
India to a record-equalling 12th successive Skipper Rohit Sharma said it is good to
lewat.
lewat.
KTS MEDIA
KTS MEDIA SDN.
(COMPANY NO.:
(COMPANY
SDN. BHD.
BHD.
NO.: 201001039295
201001039295
IN THE MATTER OF Twenty20 international victory as they have players taking their chances and
MONDAY-OFF DEVELOPMENT SDN JOHN HOLLAND RAIL & CIVIL
Writ Saman
Writ Saman dan
dan Pernyataan
Pernyataan Tuntutan
Tuntutan BHD
[923219-A])
[923219-A])
(IN MEMBERS’
(IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
VOLUNTARY SDN BHD whitewashed Sri Lanka in the three-match performing in the year of the T20 World
bertarikh 28.12.2021
bertarikh
oleh kamu
oleh
28.12.2021 boleh
kamu atas
boleh diperiksa
atas permohonan
diperiksa
permohonan kamu
kamu didi
(COMPANY NO : 200301021494) WINDING-UP)
WINDING-UP) COMPANY NO. 201501038944
(1164265-X)
series on Sunday. Cup as the hosts won the series without
... RESPONDENT
Mahkamah ini.
Mahkamah ini. NOTICE IS
NOTICE IS HEREBY
HEREBY GIVEN
GIVEN pursuant
pursuant to
to Chasing 147 for victory, India romped Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant.
Bertarikh pada
Bertarikh pada 23
23 Februari
Februari 2022
2022 ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION Section 439(2)
Section
2016 that
2016
439(2) of
that the
of the
the Special
the Companies
Companies Act,
Special Resolution
Resolution set
Act,
set out
out
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT Mr.
Wong Soon Fong of 221B, Jalan
home with 19 balls to spare propelled by “We just want to move forward. It’s
..………t.t…….…
..………t.t…….… NOTICE is hereby given that a
below was
below
of the
of
was duly
the Company
duly passed
Company on
passed by
on 23rd
by the
the members
members
23rd February,
February, 2022:-
2022:-
Mahkota, Taman Maluri, 55100 Kuala Iyer’s third successive unbeaten half- going to be a big challenge but it’s nice to
Lumpur has been appointed as the
Penolong Pendaftar
Penolong Pendaftar // Pendaftar
Mahkamah Sesyen
Mahkamah
Pendaftar
Sesyen
Petition for the Winding-Up of
the abovenamed company by [a] THAT
[a] THAT thethe Company
Company be be wound
wound up up by
by Interim liquidator of the Company by century. They won by six wickets in the have guys in form rather than not in form,”
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
the High Court was, on the 4th way of
way of Members’
Members’ Voluntary
Voluntary Winding-
Winding- its directors on February 24, 2022 Himalayan hill town of Dharamsala. Rohit said after the win.
Up and
Up and that
that Mr.
Mr. LimLim KokKok Heng,
Heng, pursuant to Section 440(1) of the
Notis Iklan
Notis
CH Chua
CH
Iklan ini
ini telah
Chua && Co,
telah difailkan
difailkan oleh
Co, peguamcara
peguamcara pihak
oleh Tetuan
Tetuan
pihak Plaintif
Plaintif
day of January 2022 filed by the
Petitioner, YEOH SEONG MOK at No. Chartered Secretary,
Chartered Secretary, ofof Lot
Lot 515,
515, Block
Block Companies Act, 2016. India, who climbed to No. 1 in world T20 Shreyas, who stands unbeaten in the
yang
yang mempunyai
mempunyai alamat
alamat 305A, 1st Floor, Melawati Square,
A, Kelana
A, Kelana Business
SS7/2, 47301
SS7/2,
Business Centre,
47301 Petaling
Centre, 97,
Petaling Jaya,
97, Jalan
Jalan
Jaya, Selangor
Selangor Dated this March 1, 2022
rankings after their 3-0 sweep of West series after not out scores of 57 and 74 in
penyampaiannya di
penyampaiannya di No.
No. 14,
14, Jalan
Jalan Desa
Desa
Ria 2,
Ria 2, Taman
Taman Desa,
Desa,
Taman Melawati, 53100 Kuala
Lumpur and that the said Petition
Darul Ehsan
Darul
for the
for
Ehsan be
the purpose
be appointed
purpose of
appointed Liquidator
of such
Liquidator
such winding-up;
winding-up;
Indies earlier this month, have remained the first two wins, kept up the pace to reach
58100 Kuala
58100 Kuala Lumpur.
Lumpur.
is directed to be heard before the [b] THAT
[b] THAT the the Liquidator
Liquidator be be indemnified
indemnified SECTION 440 (1) OF
THE COMPANIES ACT 2016
unbeaten since the loss to New Zealand in his fifty with a six off 29 deliveries.
Court sitting at Kuala Lumpur High by the
by the Company
Company against
against allall costs,
costs,
Tel :: 010-3662968
Tel 010-3662968
Fax :: 03-79725792
Fax 03-79725792 Court at 9.00a.m., on the 26th day charges, losses,
charges, losses, expenses
expenses and and the World Cup last year. He remained unstoppable in a 45-run
liabilities incurred
liabilities incurred or or sustained
sustained by by STATUTORY DECLARATION OF
(Ruj :: CCC/L/2180/PRSB(HaiAu))
(Ruj CCC/L/2180/PRSB(HaiAu)) of April 2022; and any creditor or him in
him in the
the execution
execution and and discharge
discharge INABILITY OF COMPANY TO India drew level with Afghanistan, who unbeaten partnership with Ravindra Jadeja,
contributory of the said company
desiring to support or oppose the
of his
of his duties
duties as
connected therewith
connected
as liquidator
liquidator and
therewith and
and in
and arising
in
arising
CONTINUE BUSINESS, AND THAT won 12 straight T20I matches between who made 22. – AFP
MEETINGS OF THE COMPANY AND
making of an order on the said therefrom.
therefrom. ITS CREDITOR HAVE BEEN
Advertise with us Petition may appear at the time
LIM KOK
LIM KOK HENG
HENG SUMMONED
& connect to our of the hearing by himself or his
counsel for that purpose; and a copy
Liquidator
Liquidator
Petaling Jaya.
Petaling Jaya. JOHN HOLLAND RAIL & CIVIL BRIEFS Svitolina to donate prize money
urban readers. of the Petition will be furnished to
any creditor or contributory of the Date: 01st
01st March,
March, 2022
2022
SDN BHD
to help Ukraine
Date: COMPANY NO. 201501038944

KLANG VALLEY
said company requiring the same
by the undersigned on payment of IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF OF
(1164265-X) Proteas eye series-levelling win
the regulated charge for the same. THE COMPANIES
THE COMPANIES ACT,ACT, 2016
2016 AND
AND ELINA SVITOLINA said she will donate her
PENANG | KEDAH IN THE
IN THE MATTER
MATTER OF OF
We, TEH TONG HIN I/C No.
The Petitioner’s Solicitors are KTS MEDIA
KTS MEDIA SDN.
SDN. BHD.
BHD. 640607108073 and NG KOON LYE I/C WICKETKEEPER Kyle Verreynne posted an prize money from WTA tournaments to
PERAK | PERLIS Messrs. Raj & Sach of C-5-42, (COMPANY NO.:
(COMPANY NO.: 201001039295
201001039295 No. 680413106818 of JOHN HOLLAND
PAHANG | KELANTAN 10 Boulevard, PJU 6A, Lebuhraya [923219-A])
[923219-A]) RAIL & CIVIL SDN BHD do solemnly and unbeaten century as South Africa set New Ukraine’s military and to help with
Sprint, 47400 Petaling Jaya, (IN MEMBERS’
(IN MEMBERS’ VOLUNTARY
VOLUNTARY sincerely declare that the company
Zealand a world record chase of 426 runs for humanitarian efforts following Russia’s
TERENGGANU Selangor Darul Ehsan. WINDING-UP)
WINDING-UP) cannot by reason of its liabilities
sgd continue its business, and that victory in the second and final Test in invasion of her country last week. The world
MS. Shoba ………………………….
NOTICE IS
NOTICE IS HEREBY
Creditors of
Creditors
HEREBY GIVEN
of the
the abovenamed
GIVEN that
abovenamed Company
that the
Company
the meetings of members the company
Christchurch yesterday. Verreynne found form No. 15 told Eurosport her family and friends in
Messrs. Raj & Sach and of its creditors have been
TEL: 03-7784 8888 Petitioner’s Solicitors
which is
which is being
required on
required
being wound
on or
wound up
or before
up voluntarily
before 05th
voluntarily are
05th April,
April, 2022
are
2022 summoned for a date within thirty (30) when it counted as the “Proteas” declared their Ukraine were defending the country and that
FAX: 03-7784 4424 to send
send their
their names
names and and addresses
addresses days of the date of this declaration.
NOTE: - Any person who intends to
to
with particulars
with particulars ofof their
their debts
debts oror claims
claims second innings closed at 354 for nine on a she wanted to help. “Really until the very last
appear on the hearing of the said and the
and the names
names and and addresses
addresses of of their
their The meetings of the Company and sunny day at Hagley Oval, having all but moment we did not believe that this war
MALACCA | Petition must serve on or sent by
solicitors (if
solicitors (if any)
the Liquidator
the
any) to
Liquidator of
to the
of the
the undersigned,
the said
undersigned,
said Company
Company
of its creditors will be held on March
22, 2022 at 221B, Jalan Mahkota, batted New Zealand out of the game. He would actually start and then everything just
post to the abovenamed Solicitors
SEREMBAN for the Petitioner notice in writing
at Lot 515,
Centre, 97,
Centre,
Block
97, Jalan
Jalan SS7/2,
A, Kelana
at Lot 515, Block A, Kelana Business
SS7/2, 47301
Business
47301 Petaling
Petaling
Taman Maluri, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
strolled off on 136 not out, with tail-ender happened at night… Everyone is terrified,
at 10.00am and 11.00am respectively.
MR. Rajah of his intention so to do. The notice Jaya, Selangor
Jaya, Selangor Darul
required by
required by notice
Darul Ehsan
notice in
Ehsan and
in writing
and ifif so
writing from
from the
so
the And we make this solemn declaration Lutho Sipamla on 10 after captain Dean Elgar’s everyone is heartbroken,” she said. “My family
must state the name and address conscientiously believing the same to
TEL: 012-628 2844 of the person, or, if a firm, the name said Liquidator,
said Liquidator, are
personally to
personally to come
are by
come and
by their
their solicitors
and prove
solicitors or
prove their
their debts
or
debts be true and by virtue of the provisions declaration brought the teabreak early. South is there. Lots of my friends who didn’t leave
and address of the firm, and must
FAX: 06-764 2051 be signed by the person or firm,
or claims
or claims at
be specified
be
at such
specified in
such time
time and
in such
and place
such notice
place as
notice oror in
as shall
shall
in default
default
of the Statutory Declarations Act,
1960.
Africa had resumed on 232 for seven after the country are there. They’re fighting for their
or his or their solicitor (if any) and thereof they
thereof they willwill bebe excluded
excluded from from lunch, looking to build on a 303-run lead life… The most painful thing I would say is I
must be served, or if posted, must the benefits
benefits of of any
any distributions
distributions mademade
JOHOR BAHRU be sent by post in sufficient time
the
before such
before such debts
debts or or claims
claims are
are proved.
proved.
Subscribed and solemnly declared by
the abovenamed Teh Tong Hin and Ng
against a tiring New Zealand attack. Kagiso feel completely useless because I want to help
MS. Anne Lim to reach the abovenamed not later LIM KOK
LIM KOK HENG
HENG Koon Lye, Directors, at Kuala Lumpur Rabada took full advantage, hammering four them… So I decided the prize money from my
than twelve o’clock noon of the before me, Syed Khairilanuar B Syed
TEL: 013-770 6699 25th day of April 2022 (the day
Liquidator
Liquidator
Petaling Jaya.
Petaling Jaya. Zainudin sixes and four fours in a 34-ball 47 before he upcoming tournaments here in Mexico and in
FAX: 07-355 5549 before the day appointed for the
hearing of the Petition). Date: 01st
Date: 01st March,
March, 2022
2022 This February 21, 2022.
was caught slogging to long-on off the the States will go to the Ukrainian Army and to
bowling of Matt Henry. humanitarian needs.”

22 theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022
SPORTS
Dortmund draw
leave Bayern eight
points clear
SECOND-PLACED Borussia Dortmund conceded a
late equaliser as they were held 1-1 at Augsburg
yesterday to leave Bayern Munich eight points
clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Bayern are steaming towards a 10th straight
league title after Noah Sarenren Bazee netted for
Augsburg in the 78th minute.
Thorgan Hazard’s first half goal gave Dortmund
the lead in Bavaria, until Augsburg’s pressure paid
off and substitute Bazee headed in off the crossbar.
“We tried a lot of things and had a lot of control,
but we didn’t do everything right,” said Dortmund
coach Marco Rose, who admitted his team were
“losing strength” when Augsburg equalised.
Bayern earned a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt
on Saturday after Germany winger Leroy Sane
came on to score the late winner.
Earlier, RB Leipzig earned a third straight away
win in a week as Christopher Nkunku’s late goal
sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Bochum to
keep his club fourth in the table.
Nkunku, who also scored twice against Bochum
in Leipzig’s home win last October, broke the
deadlock eight minutes from time with his 14th
Bundesliga goal this season.
“Bochum was a tough opponent. Many teams
have not won here. It was a close game, but we
showed our quality,” said Leipzig forward Yussuf
Poulsen.
Bochum suffered their first defeat in five games,
a run which included a shock 4-2 win over Bayern a
fortnight ago in their previous home match.
Leipzig have now lost just two of their 13
games since Domenico Tedesco replaced Jesse
Marsch as coach in December.
They backed up last Sunday’s 6-1 romp at
Hertha Berlin and a midweek victory at Real
Sociedad which put them into the last 16 of the
Europa League. – AFP
Hamilton has ‘no
idea’ where Mercedes
stand versus rivals
LEWIS HAMILTON has insisted he’s yet to
gauge where Mercedes stand in comparison to
the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren ahead
of the new F1 season.
The Stevenage-born racer set the fastest
time of the week on Formula 1 pre-season
testing on Saturday. He’s out to prove a point
this year, especially after missing out on title
glory to Max Verstappen last time out.
Hamilton has won seven titles throughout
his F1 career, with his first triumph coming back
in 2008.
And he’ll be eager to overtake Michael
Schumacher in the history books when the new
campaign gets underway next month.
Hamilton set his best time late on the final
day of the three-day testing stint in Barcelona
on Saturday.
That bodes well for the 37-year-old as he
looks to reel in Verstappen, whose victory in
Abu Dhabi in December remains a raw wound.
“It’s not been the easiest or smoothest
running. We have had some obstacles to
overcome.
“We would always want more laps but I am
happy with today. I think I almost got 100 laps
in today. So for half a day of running, that’s not
too bad.
“The car is a lot different to previous years to
drive, as are the tyres. But we’re working our
way through it.”
And when asked where Mercedes stand in
terms of competitiveness with the likes of Red
Bull, Ferrari and McLaren, he added: “You never
do on the first week. We have no idea where we
are.”
George Russell, Hamilton’s new partner with
the team for this year, sent a warning to his
teammate after the testing, however.
“Even though we are top of the timesheets, I
wouldn’t read too much into it,” said Russell.
“We have some improvements to make, as
we’re not fully happy with the balance of the car
and the limitations we have currently. But we
have a good indication of the direction we need
to go in.” – Express Newspapers
Ruiz takes Napoli to Serie A summit
FABIAN RUIZ shot Napoli top of Serie A
yesterday with a stunning, last-gasp winner
in a thrilling 2-1 victory at Lazio.
Spain international Fabian crashed home
a first-time strike in the 94th minute at the
Stadio Olimpico in Rome to snatch first place
from AC Milan on goal difference.
His goal came at the end of a hugely
eventful match which Lazio thought they
had drawn when Pedro crashed home a
sumptuous volley with two minutes
remaining to cancel out a superb 62nd-
minute opener from Lorenzo Insigne.
Insigne’s first goal from open play this
season banished the boos which
accompanied his substitution during
Thursday’s 4-2 thumping by Barcelona.
Barcelona’s
Ousmane Dembele
(right) scores a goal
during the La Liga
match against
Athletic Bilbao at the
Nou Camp
yesterday. – AFPPIX
P
IERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
scored his fifth goal in three Barcelona
matches in a 4-0 LaLiga win against
Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp.
Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang
opened the scoring in the 37th minute before
substitute Ousmane Dembele doubled the
hosts’ advantage.
Luuk De Jong netted a third in the closing
stages, with Memphis Depay completing the
rout in added time.
Xavi’s Barcelona moved ahead of Atletico
Madrid into fourth.
Sevilla reduced Real Madrid’s lead to six
points following a 2-1 win against rivals Real
Betis.
Ivan Rakitic scored from the penalty spot
after 24 minutes, with Munir El Haddadi
extending Sevilla’s advantage before the
interval. Sergio Canales scored a consolation
in stoppage time.
Yeremy Pino scored four times as Villarreal
completed a 5-1 thrashing of Espanyol, while
Marseille into second despite late Troyes leveller
MARSEILLE moved back into second in
Ligue 1 yesterday, despite conceding a late
equaliser in a 1-1 draw at lowly Troyes.
Jorge Sampaoli’s men had dropped to
third behind Nice after their top-three rivals’
0-0 draw at Strasbourg on Saturday.
Marseille are now 15 points adrift of
runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
OM were far from their best at Troyes,
creating little but led for the majority of the
match after Dimitri Payet’s 28th-minute spot-
kick, which he smashed into the top corner.
FOLLOW ON TELEGRAM
/thesuntelegram
Fabian’s strike ensured that Luciano
Spalletti’s side capitalised perfectly on both
Milan and champions Inter, who sit two
points back in third but with a game in hand,
only managing to draw with relegation
threatened opposition on Friday evening.
“Everyone breaks this team’s balls saying it
doesn’t have character, I’d like to see what
they’re saying now,” said Spalletti, irritated at
critisms of his team post-Barca.
“There’s a nasty atmosphere around this
team because people are saying that the
players are soft, that they don’t have
character. Well tonight they had character, or
no?”
Napoli host Milan this weekend in the
latest episode of an exciting title race which
Dembele
sparkles
for Barca
… as Aubameyang scores
again in Bilbao thumping
Aritz Elustondo’s strike secured a 1-0 win for
Real Sociedad against Osasuna.
Dembele turned the jeers to cheers by
scoring a stunning goal and setting up two
more in yesterday victory over Bilbao.
Dembele’s explosive finish in the second
half was his first goal since the January transfer
window, when Barca told the Frenchman he
should leave if he refused to sign a new
contract.
But Xavi Hernandez has insisted on
reintegrating Dembele in the last few weeks,
with Barca needing the 24-year-old in their
fight to finish in La Liga’s top four.
“Today he is the best Dembele we have
seen and that is what we want,” said Xavi.
After bitter contract talks ended in
stalemate, Dembele played against Napoli in
the Europa League earlier this month, when
Xavi brought him on as a substitute to
screeching whistles from the angry home
supporters.
Yet many gave their backing to the forward
But Troyes struck back in the 90th minute,
substitute Yoann Touzghar netting from close
range.
Marseille boss Sampaoli said the journey
to Azeri capital Baku to face Qarabag in the
Europa Conference League in midweek had
left his team fatigued.
“For us it was a very difficult game
because we were coming back from a long
trip but despite everything we controlled it
well,” said the Argentinian.
The point dragged Troyes from the
SCAN
ME
also has Juventus creeping up on the leading
trio, and will have a whole week to prepare
for a huge match in Naples.
Milan and Inter meanwhile face off in the
first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal
tomorrow, with Inter hosting bottom side
Salernitana on Friday.
Fabian’s goal, which fizzed past Thomas
Strakosha and sparked wild celebrations
among the Napoli players and fans, inflicted
a harsh defeat on a Lazio team guided by ex-
Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri whose bid for a
Champions League place took a hit.
They sit seventh, seven points behind
fourth-placed Juve and were overtaken by
local rivals Roma who beat Spezia 1-0 thanks
to a last-gasp goal of their own. – AFP
in that game too, demonstrating the emotional
bind Barcelona fans have found themselves in,
caught between supporting a player Xavi
wants to use and venting their frustration at his
intention to leave for free.
This time, they whistled again when
Dembele was introduced in the 67th minute
but then had little choice but to applaud.
He used his pace and power to score a
brilliant second goal and then teed up De Jong
and Depay with two superb crosses in injury-
time.
Xavi appears to have managed the situation
as smoothly as possible, with Dembele
noticeably going over to celebrate with
Barcelona’s coach, who gave him a hug and an
approving pat on the head.
“It’s not a question for me, it’s a question for
the club, for Ousmane,” Xavi said. “His
contract ends (in the summer). Nothing can
be ruled out in football. He couldn’t play and
now he’s playing. He can be the best in his
position.” – The Independent/AFP
bottom of the table to outside the relegation
zone.
Elsewhere, defending champions Lille
moved to within four points of the European
places with a 1-0 at Lyon, who slipped to
10th.
Swedish defender Gabriel Gudmundsson
scored the only goal in the first half.
Monaco’s European hopes suffered
another setback with a late collapse in a 2-1
home loss to Reims, with teenager Nathanael
Mbuku scoring an injury-time winner. – AFP
 23
theSUN ON TUESDAY | MARCH 1, 2022

* SPORTS

RESULTS & STANDINGS

CARABAO CUP (Final): Chelsea 0
Rangnick defends CR7 selection against Hornets
Liverpool 0 aet (Liverpool win 11-10 MANCHESTER UNITED interim and fail to convert a number of before the game, before the some of his family, to know what he
on pen.) boss Ralf Rangnick has emphasised other opportunities. training session. He told me he was has to do for the rest of his career, if
“we have to play with the players While Ronaldo has scored 15 fully fit to play and that’s why I there is a future in his career.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: West we have available” and that he goals for United this term, his strike decided to have him in the starting “I don’t want to watch Ronaldo
Ham 1 (Soucek 59) Wolves 0. started Cristiano Ronaldo against against Brighton on Feb 15 is the XI.” and have pity, because he’s been on
P W D L F A Pts Watford after the forward declared only one he has netted since the Former Chelsea defender Frank the top for so many years,” the
himself fully fit. turn of the year. Lebeouf reckons Ronaldo should former France international told
Man City 27 21 3 3 64 17 66 Having played 85 minutes of the Rangnick was asked after the think about retiring following his ESPN.
Liverpool 26 18 6 2 70 20 60 4-2 win at Leeds last Sunday and Watford match if he had concerns poor recent form. “I don’t want him to be a normal
Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50 then all of the 1-1 draw at Atletico over the amount Ronaldo was “Do you know what? I think player. He’s been an exceptional
Man Utd 27 13 8 6 44 34 47 Madrid three days later, Ronaldo playing and it was put to him that it there is a time where you have to player for so long.
West Ham 27 13 6 8 46 34 45 was again involved for the full looked to be taking its toll on the think, ‘What do I do with my life and “I’d prefer him to give up his
Arsenal 24 14 3 7 38 27 45 duration on Saturday as United Portugal international. my career’. career at the top instead of maybe
Tottenham 25 13 3 9 35 32 42 were held 0-0 by Watford at Old The German said: “Yes, but we “And maybe it’s time for trying and play for two or three
Trafford. have to play with those players we Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of his more years and not being the
Wolves 26 12 4 10 24 21 40
The contest saw the 37-year-old have available. career to wonder and have a player that he used to be.” – The
Southampton 26 8 11 7 34 37 35 have an effort ruled out for offside “I spoke with him (on Friday) discussion with himself, and maybe Independent/Agencies
Brighton 26 7 12 7 25 30 33

El Loco’s legacy intact

Crystal Palace 27 6 12 9 37 38 30
Aston Villa 25 9 3 13 33 37 30
Leicester 23 7 6 10 37 43 27
Newcastle 25 5 10 10 28 45 25
Brentford 27 6 6 15 27 44 24
Leeds
Everton
26 5 8 13 29 60 23
24 6 4 14 28 41 22 Biesla will be remembered as one of the most important managers in Leeds’ history
Burnley 24 3 12 9 22 30 21
Watford 26 5 4 17 25 47 19 █ MARK WALKER Jesse Marsch as their new manager, fans may

M
Norwich 26 4 5 17 15 55 17 begin to realise this was the way it was meant to
ARCELO BIELSA will always be be.
LA LIGA: Villarreal 5 (Pino 14, 20, 45, revered by the city of Leeds, not just Leeds are after all English football’s boom and
53, Dia 86) Espanyol 1 (Bare 65), Leeds United. He restored the club to bust club and not even Bielsa can keep pulling
the Premier League, but his impact rabbits out of his hat forever. Not in the Premier
Sevilla 2 (Rakitic 24-pen, Munir 41)
on the wider community ran deeper than that. League.
Real Betis 1 (Canales 90+4), Real His legacy transcends Elland Road and He came unstuck because he ran out of
Sociedad 1 (Elustondo 52) Osasuna cannot be measured by a long-awaited players. At one stage this season Bielsa was
0, Barcelona 4 (Aubameyang 37, promotion or, when at its best, the breathtaking without 11 injured first-team players and the loss
Dembele 73, L. de Jong 90, Depay beauty of his football alone. Bielsa helped one of of Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford and captain
90+3) Athletic Bilbao 0. the UK’s largest cities rediscover its sporting Liam Cooper to long-term problems was a
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts identity. conundrum too far.
Real Madrid 26 18 6 2 52 20 60 A city centre street renamed after him and Some boos were heard after Saturday’s 4-0
murals depicting Bielsa the saviour attest to that. home defeat to Tottenham and chairman Andrea
Sevilla 26 15 9 2 39 18 54
As does the outpouring of sadness, Radrizzani felt compelled to act.
Real Betis 26 14 4 8 48 32 46 indignation and even outrage from fans on social The Italian has been savagely criticised by a
Barcelona 25 12 9 4 46 28 45 media at the manner of his departure. Did he large section of fans for not giving Bielsa until the
Atletico 26 13 6 7 47 34 45 have to go now, like that? end of the season to try and turn it round.
Villarreal 26 11 9 6 47 25 42 There will be demands for a statue because Radrizzani will argue he had no choice but to
Sociedad 25 11 8 6 25 25 41 after 16 years of hopeless failure on and off the apply the brakes to a thrilling roller-coaster ride
Bilbao 25 9 10 6 29 21 37 pitch, Bielsa made the fans fall back in love with in order to protect the club’s wider interests,
Valencia 26 8 9 9 38 42 33 their club. He made the city stand up and sing for albeit as well as his own.
Leeds United. Radrizzani has always maintained that Leeds
Celta Vigo 26 8 8 10 29 28 32
And new fans, from South America and all need deeper pockets if they are to break into the
over the world, came to share in the dream and Premier League’s “top six”.
SERIE A: Lazio 1 (Pedro 88) Napoli 2 stand alongside them. That is the reason why Radrizzani and his
(Insigne 62, Fabian Ruiz 90+4), Spezia In six short weeks in the summer of 2018 after board decided Leeds’ love affair with Bielsa had
0 Roma 1 (Abraham 90+9-pen), being unveiled as Leeds’ new head coach, he to end.
Torino 1 (Belotti 54) Cagliari 2 transformed a mid-table Championship side into Bielsa does not deal in pragmatism. He
(Bellanova 21, Deiola 62), Verona 3 promotion contenders. admitted himself he could never change his style
(Simeone 54, 63, 88) Venezia 1 It was true what they said about “El Loco”. If he of play and Leeds’ joint-owners refused to risk
was trusted and allowed to do things his way, more heavy defeats.
(Okereke 81). they said, he would perform miracles. And he Bielsa the maverick, the reluctant hero,
TOP 10 P W D L F A Pts did. delivered more than just promotion and the city
Napoli 27 17 6 4 49 19 57 He turned the dream into spectacular reality will be forever grateful that he came.
AC Milan 27 17 6 4 53 29 57 for a negligible financial outlay. Even Gary Neville But whether we like it or not, it appears
Inter Milan 26 16 7 3 55 22 55 Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa celebrate and Roy Keane became big fans of Bielsa-ball. romanticism alone will never be enough to
Juventus 27 14 8 5 41 25 50 winning the Championship and promotion to the But all dreams must come to an end and as challenge in the Premier League. – The
Atalanta 25 12 8 5 46 30 44 Premier League last year. – REUTERSPIX the next page is turned when Leeds announce Independent
Roma 27 13 5 9 45 34 44
Lazio
Fiorentina
27 12 7 8 54 42 43
26 13 3 10 45 36 42
City may have to win every game Moyes praises Soucek’s
Hellas Verona 27 11 7 9 52 43 40
Sassuolo 27 9 9 9 45 45 36
to retain EPL title: Guardiola winning performance
█ CARL MARKHAM do it this year. So it’s not an exception. DAVID MOYES was full of praise for Tomas Soucek’s
BUNDESLIGA: VfL Bochum 0 RB “Eleven games left and we know performance after the match winner’s strike proved enough
Leipzig 1, Augsburg 1 Borussia MANCHESTER CITY manager Pep exactly what we need to do; we need to as West Ham boosted their push for a Champions League
Dortmund 1. Guardiola believes his side will probably win all of them or nearly all of them to spot following a 1-0 Premier League victory over Wolves.
have to win all their remaining matches be champion. The Hammers boss had said before the game that he
TOP 6 P W D L F A Pts if they are to successfully defend their “Every game will be an incredibly would like more goals from Michail Antonio and Soucek
B. Munich 24 19 1 4 75 26 58 Premier League title. tough battle and you have to face every before the pair linked up for the hosts’ only goal of the game.
Dortmund 24 16 2 6 64 37 50 A late 1-0 victory over Everton got game knowing if we drop points it will Antonio heeded his manager’s words, playing in Soucek
Leverkusen 24 13 5 6 63 39 44 them back to winning ways after defeat be difficult to be champion.” in front of goal, which was then tapped home by the Czech
RB Leipzig 24 12 4 8 50 28 40 to Tottenham and restored the six-point The City boss is confident it is not a Republic international to give West Ham the lead and
Freiburg 24 11 7 6 39 26 40 gap to second-placed in-form Liverpool, situation which will faze them. ultimately, the three points.
Hoffenheim 24 12 4 8 47 36 40 who have a match in hand. “After three Premier League (titles) in Soucek scored 10 goals last season for the Hammers but
Jurgen Klopp’s team, who have to the last four years we could be more before yesterday had only found the net three times in this
travel to the Etihad Stadium in April, naive or more arrogant in our campaign, but his manager was not ruling out the midfielder
FRENCH LIGUE 1: Monaco 1 Reims have reduced a 12-point deficit on City behaviours and it’s completely the equalling his previous tally.
2, Angers 1 Lens 2, Brest 0 Lorient 1, since Feb 12 courtesy of a six-match opposite,” he added. “He’s got four now, so I’m not putting 10 beyond him. He
Clermont 1 Bordeaux 1, Metz 0 winning run. “So still we have the humility to go got 10 last year and he had a great season so I’m hoping that
Nantes 0, Troyes 1 Marseille 1, Lyon 0 “It’s not the first time we’ve been in here and everywhere to try to do our gives him the confidence,” Moyes said.
Lille 1. this situation and we have learned from game, to respect the opponents a lot “I thought he played better today. I thought his whole
TOP 5 P W D L F A Pts that in the past,” said Guardiola. and try to win the games. performance as well as the goal – and it’s the performances
Paris SG 26 19 5 2 56 23 62 “If you want to be champion in the “This is the best prize and the best I’m after, I’m looking for improved performances and I
Marseille 26 13 8 5 39 24 47 Premier League, against this rival – achievement, as a manager and a staff, thought today’s – was a much-improved performance.
Liverpool, they are not going to drop to inoculate in the hearts and the minds “I thought we were good on the ball, created some much-
Nice 26 14 5 7 37 21 46 points – you have to do your job in of the players that it doesn’t matter what improved stuff. I thought we created more chances than we
Rennes 26 13 4 9 51 25 43 nearly all the games. happens, you have to try to do it again have in other games, so I thought there was lots of good
Strasbourg 26 12 7 7 48 31 43 “We felt it in the past and we have to and again and again.” – The Independent things about today’s performance.” – The Independent
 QUOTE OF THE DAY
Do you know what? I think there is a time
where you have to think, ‘What do I do with
my life and my career’. And maybe it’s time for
Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of his career to wonder
and have a discussion with himself, and maybe some
of his family… if there is a future in his career.”
Former Chelsea defender Frank Lebeouf
TUESDAY • MARCH 1, 2022

Tuchel takes responsibility for defeat, refuses to blame Kepa

█ NICK PUREWAL
THOMAS TUCHEL has insisted Kepa Arrizabalaga
cannot shoulder any burden for Chelsea’s 11-10
penalty shoot-out Carabao Cup final loss to
Liverpool.
Spain stopper Kepa came off the bench in the
closing stages of extratime specifically for the
shoot-out, but would not have expected to step
up to strike from the spot himself.
A stunning set of penalties left both keepers
having to shoot at goal, however, and Kepa
proved a luckless fall guy when blazing high over
the bar.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had
drilled a fine penalty into the net to heap the
pressure on Kepa, and he came up just short at
the very last.
“Do you think we do this and don’t talk to the
players? The players know the plan and we have
done it before,” said Tuchel.
“I take the decisions and I don’t take them to
try to be the hero. Today it took 11 penalties to
find the winner. And if you want to blame
anyone blame me, there’s no problem.”
Chelsea had subbed Kepa on for Edouard
Mendy for the penalty shoot-out in the European
Super Cup final against Villarreal in August.
And the switch paid off in Belfast as the Blues
prevailed 6-5 at Windsor Park.
But the plan did not bear fruit at Wembley, as
Jurgen Klopp secured his first domestic cup as
Liverpool manager.
Chelsea boss Tuchel was at pains to stress that
Kepa must not receive any criticism, amid a
shoot-out where every other penalty proved
close to flawless.
He said: “It is so bad for him of course, but no
blame of course. We took the decision like we did
last time in a penalty shoot-out, because Kepa is
training with the players on a daily basis.
“They know how good he is and he simply
has more time to do this than Edou (Mendy) on
the training ground.
“This plays a huge part in how good we shot
today. Unfortunately he could not save any, the
penalties were brilliantly taken.
“It was a bit harsh on him to be the guy to
miss the one and only penalty today but there’s
no blame.
“I take the decisions when I take the decisions
and I only take them when I want to take them. I
cannot re-judge my decisions after the outcome.
“We cannot know what would have
happened if we had left Edou on the pitch.
“So of course if there’s any blame, it’s blame
on me. I’m the guy to take the decisions,
sometimes it works out and sometimes it does
not.
“This is life as a football coach, and as a
football coach who makes substitutions. So there
are no regrets, I take the blame and responsibility
for that of course.”
Chelsea were left to rue three goals ruled out
for offside amid a goalless 120 minutes.
Liverpool saw Joel Matip’s header chalked off
for offside, but Kai Havertz had the ball in the
back of the net twice and Romelu Lukaku also
had an effort ruled out.
“If you look at the line that’s drawn in the goal
for Romelu, it’s a bit of a weird line to make the
decision that it’s offside,” said Tuchel.
“But that’s it, we cannot have any regret, I’m
very proud of the performance of the team.
“There’s a lot of good things and I told the
guys we should not lose sleep about this.
“I think we have to accept the quality also of
the opponent. They are maybe the most
dangerous attacking side at the moment in
Europe, they are full of individual quality and
with such a high rhythm.
“And so defending with the quality we did
and playing like this made me so proud today.” –
The Independent

Killer Kelleher
Liverpool cup hero world’s best back-up goalkeeper, says Klopp

J
URGEN KLOPP branded Caoimhin Kelleher There were plenty of conversations on who
the world’s best back-up goalkeeper after the Chelsea would go with in goal out of Kepa or
Republic of Ireland star’s penalty shoot-out Mendy, with the former playing in every other
heroics sealed Liverpool’s Carabao Cup round of the Carabao Cup.
triumph over Chelsea. Tuchel ended up choosing to go with Mendy
Kelleher blasted the decisive spotkick before for the final with the Senegal international pulling
Kepa Arrizabalaga fired high over the bar, as off some tremendous saves during the match.
Liverpool prevailed 11-10 in a shoot-out of the But Klopp also faced questions on his choice
highest quality. for the goalkeeper. The Liverpool boss stated after
The 23-year-old’s nerveless spotkick strike their semifinal win over Arsenal that Kelleher
handed Klopp his first domestic cup trophy as would keep his place for the final.
Liverpool boss, leaving the German heaping the However, the German head coach admitted
praise on the Cork native. that he wasn’t always sure on his decision.
Klopp insisted that regular keeper Alisson “Even in professional football there should be
Becker is the world’s best goalkeeper, before space for some sentiment,” Klopp said.
hailing Kelleher as the globe’s top back-up “Kelleher is a young boy, plays in all the
option. competition, what do I do? I am two things, a
“Alisson Becker is the best goalie in the professional manager and a human being
world for me,” said Klopp. “There are other and the human being won. He deserves
good goalkeepers out there but this goalie is it.”
absolutely insane. Having failed to win a trophy last
“But to be honest for me Caoimhin season, Klopp believes his players
Kelleher is the best No. 2 goalie in the can use the momentum from
world as well. The game he played their Wembley success to fuel
tonight was absolutely incredible. their bid to become the first
“I can remember at least two English club to enjoy a trophy
incredible saves, and probably there clean-sweep.
were more. So he proved that the The Reds are six points
decision to line him up was behind Premier League
absolutely right. leaders Manchester City
“And then in a very spectacular with a game in hand, hold a
penalty shoot-out he showed the 2-0 lead heading into their
whole range of his skill set. He Champions League last-16
finished one off with his really second leg against Inter
skilled feet. So top class. Milan and host Norwich
“They call it the people’s cup, in the FA Cup fifth round
but the whole journey was a squad on Thursday (4.15am
journey, and that’s what I love Malaysian time).
most about it.” “This is the start. We
Klopp admitted “the human are not silly. You need
being won” after his own personal luck. We have to survive,
battle in Liverpool’s team selection work hard and, we have to
paid off. play on Wednesday again, which I cannot
Chelsea and Liverpool went toe-to- believe at this moment,” Klopp said.
toe at Wembley in a fascinating “Anfield will be rocking because of this
encounter from start to finish. result and hopefully we can deliver a game to
Both teams were playing at a high enjoy.
tempo, but somehow the game ended Liverpool's Jordan Henderson “We don’t get nervous when things don’t
0-0 after extra-time. (left) and goalkeeper go well. We are more experienced now.
Neither team seemingly wanted Caoimhin Kelleher hold the “It’s a big one for us. The first time for this
the game to end early either with all winner’s trophy after the group. The atmosphere was outstanding. It
outfield players scoring in the penalty English Carabao Cup final was nice to celebrate with the people after
shoot-out before it was the turn of the against Chelsea at Wembley the match.” – The Independent/
goalkeepers. Stadium yesterday. – AFPPIX Express Newspapers/AFP
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