17 OctOber 2021
PP19653/12/2020 (035233) (No. 22676) RM1.80
What this polls will tell
The men who caused the downfall of the Melaka government say they are ready for battle. The
state polls, if it takes place, will be a barometer on key issues such as Umno’s strength in going
solo in the next GE and Malaysia’s handling of an election amid a pandemic.
> See reports on page 5 by RSN MURALI and RAHIMY RAHIM
(From left) Sunaini Mohamad, Ain
Husna and Fatin Shamsul, all 26
years old, looking out at the city
from the KL Tower Sky Deck.
They are among throngs of
Malaysians who visited tourist
sights in the country. > 7
FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
2 Nation
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Holidaying safely is not hard to do
WE can finally travel again, and this
time, not just within the country but
out of Malaysia too, albeit only to a
handful of destinations at the
moment.
Judging from news reports and
social media posts, many have been
travelling since the ban was lifted
on Monday, mostly to balik kampung. Others have stated that they
are waiting to take advantage of
next week’s Maulidur Rasul public
holiday, which falls on Oct 19.
For some Sabahans living out of
the state like myself, balik kampung
can only officially start on Nov 1, as
announced by Sabah Chief Minister
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Wednesday.
The SOP for travelling within
Malaysia includes being fully vaccinated (children under 18 must be
accompanied by at least one fully
vaccinated adult) and wearing
masks at all times during your journey.
For travel to Sabah, there is an
added measure: You need to take a
Covid-19 test within three days of
your flight.
And those wishing to go to
Sarawak have to fulfil some preentry screening requirements that
include taking a Covid-19 test at
least three days before one’s flight
and making an application via the
enterSarawak app. Your application
must then be approved before you
can proceed with your journey.
Meanwhile, the SOP for travelling
abroad includes undergoing a mandatory seven-day quarantine –
shortened on Friday from 14 days
in the initial announcement made
last week – upon returning from
your trip, and getting tested for
Covid-19. This you would need to do
several times, depending on the
requirements of the airline as well
as the country you are visiting; for
Malaysia, you would need to test
three days before leaving your holiday destination, and again upon
returning home.
Quarantines could be done at a
designated centre or at home,
depending on the situation.
Some of the countries that
Malaysians can travel to for now
include Britain, Egypt, Finland,
France, Iceland, the Maldives, the
United Arab Emirates, and the
United States, with a few more
nations set to open their borders to
us by next month.
All this easing of restrictions cer-
tainly brings much relief to everyone, especially tourism-related
business owners and workers,
retailers, and regular Joes and Josies
who just want to have a break from
that overburdened work desk at
home. A real, proper break where
you actually get to swim in the cool
waters of a river or feel the sand
between your toes on a beach, and
not just see it on your screen.
Sure, there are still some “holidayhesitant” folk who wish to wait a
little while longer before proceeding
to book that flight to somewhere.
That’s fine too – do whatever makes
you feel safe and comfortable.
But to folks who are already out
there having the time of your life,
please remember that we are still
not completely out of the woods yet.
Really, no country truly is.
We have all been properly
informed, notified and reminded
many times by the authorities (and
the media) of the SOP, so there is
really no excuse for not adhering to
them. Or worse, suddenly “forgetting” what they are.
We have followed basic safety
measurements – mask on, physical
distance, sanitise, isolate when ill –
for close to two years now, so surely
continuing with the same rules for a
while longer won’t be such a difficult thing to do, right?
The end goal here is to learn how
to live with Covid-19. And I think we
have done a good job so far. It
would be a shame if all this freedom, for which we have waited
patiently for so long, is jeopardised
simply because we can’t follow simple rules.
Govt will not interfere, says PM
cops can act
against those
in Pandora
Papers leak
What needs
fixing?: Ismail
Sabri (second
from left) with
Shahidan (left)
chatting with
Muhammad arif
Izzuddin Shahril
Sham (second
from right) about
the playground
facilities at the
Seri Perak flats in
Sentul.
— IZZraFIQ
aLIaS/the Star
By JOSEPH KAOS Jr
joekaosjr@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement
authorities are free to take action
against individuals implicated in
the Pandora Papers leak, says Datuk
Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The prime minister said the
government will not interfere or
stop the authorities from pursuing
any case based on information
made in the papers if there is
enough evidence.
“We are an open country. If anyone has a case against them, the
authorities are free to take action.
“The authorities have access to
read what has been revealed (in the
Pandora Papers). The Malaysian
Anti-Corruption
Commission
(MACC) knows what has been
reported.
“So we leave it to the authorities
and we will not prevent them from
taking action.
“However, there needs to be
proof (of wrongdoing) before taking action,” said Ismail Sabri at a
press conference after visiting the
Seri Perak public housing in Sentul
here.
The Pandora Papers refers to the
recent leak of some 2.94 terabytes
of data, which includes the opening
of offshore accounts involving former and current government and
political leaders around the world.
Thousands of influential people
around the world, including several
prominent Malaysians, have been
named and linked to secret offshore
accounts in the leak.
Meanwhile, Federal CID director
Comm Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan
said four police reports had been
received on the matter and two
investigation papers had been
opened.
“Of the reports received, two
have been classified as no further
action.
“These two reports were connected to memorandums handed over
urging police to investigate.
“We have taken statements from
the complainants over the two IPs.
“One of the IPs was referred to
Bank Negara Malaysia on Thursday,” he said, adding that the other
investigation paper would be
referred to Bank Negara Malaysia
tomorrow for further investigation.
On a separate matter, Ismail
Sabri urged unvaccinated individuals to consider getting their
Covid-19 jabs as they will lose out
on many perks if they do not.
“We have not made any decision
to make vaccines mandatory. But
I’m encouraging those who are
unvaccinated to get your jabs.
“You’ll lose out on many privileges if you don’t.
“You won’t be able to balik kampung, and even if you try to sneak
your way home, you can still get
caught. The police recently arrested
several individuals who did so.
“You cannot go for umrah or possibly perform the haj next year
when Saudi Arabia allows it, as they
only accept fully vaccinated travellers.
“You also won’t be able to dine in
at restaurants with your family or
pray at a mosque,” said Ismail Sabri.
The Prime Minister added that
civil servants do not have much
choice but to get vaccinated or face
internal action.
“So even though it is not mandatory, I implore unvaccinated people
to get their jabs. It is our responsibility to protect the people around
us,” he said.
Currently, 4.9% of adults in the
country are unvaccinated.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said
RM127mil has been put aside by the
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to
replace all the lifts at 67 public
housing projects in KL.
“Broken lifts are the biggest problem affecting residents living in
public housing.
“It becomes a problem when
there is a water shortage and people have to carry water up flights of
stairs.
“If there is a death, people have to
carry the body down the stairs from
a high floor.
“So replacing old lifts is a priority
and we hope to start work as soon
as January,” he said.
At the Seri Perak flats, Ismail
Sabri also said the government has
agreed to replace its old electrical
wiring system and conduct various
other repairs and upgrading works.
Also present at Ismail Sabri’s visit
was Federal Territories Minister
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.
Watch the video
TheStarTV.com
Committee to tackle cyberbullying, sexual crimes against children
PUTRAJAYA: An integrated action
committee to tackle cyberbullying
and online sexual crimes against
children has been set up, says
Women, Family and Community
Development Minister Datuk Seri
Rina Mohd Harun.
The move is in line with Malaysia’s
commitment to protect children
from sexual exploitation and abuse
based on Article 34 of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
“Malaysia must comply with the
principles and provisions enshrined
in the CRC, especially concerning
children’s rights, including their
survival, protection, development
and participation,” she said.
Rina said the committee was set
up on June 15, comprising various
government agencies, the private
sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social activists.
The committee is also tasked to
discuss advocacy measures and
appropriate interventions regard-
ing the issues, she added.
“We (the committee) have discussed methods to tackle these
issues (cyberbullying and sexual
crimes against children). Among
those that will be carried out is an
advocacy campaign,” she said at a
press conference after officiating
the National Children’s Day 2021
celebration themed “Our Children,
Our Future” here yesterday.
In another development, Rina
said the ministry is drafting the
WEATHER
National Child Development Index
which will be introduced soon as an
effort to improve policies related to
children’s biological and psychological development.
She said the Department of
Statistics Malaysia reported that as
of May this year, about 9.69 million
or 29.3% of the total population in
Malaysia are children.
“Given this huge number, the
ministry, in the spirit of the
Malaysian Family, remains commit-
ted to ensuring the well-being of
children,” she said.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Hadif
Syazwan Anas, 11, the recipient of
the Hang Tuah award, expressed
his pride in the recognition.
Hadif Syazwan received the
award for the courage he had
shown in rescuing his greatgrandmother Kalsom Abdullah, 85,
from being swept away by the
floods in Yan, Kedah, on Aug 18. —
Bernama
PRAYER TIMES
GEORGE TOWN
K. LUMPUR
JOHOR BARU
KOTA BARU
K. KINABALU
KUCHING
AM
No rain
No rain
No rain
No rain
No rain
No rain
PM
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms
No rain
No rain
No rain
ALOR SETAR
5:56
Subuh
1:06
Zohor
4:24
Asar
Maghrib 7:04
8:14
Isyak
PENANG
Subuh 5:56
1:06
Zohor
4:24
Asar
Maghrib 7:05
8:15
Isyak
K. LUMPUR
5:50
Subuh
1:02
Zohor
4:18
Asar
Maghrib 7:01
8:11
Isyak
JOHOR BARU
5:40
Subuh
Zohor 12:53
4:08
Asar
Maghrib 6:54
8:04
Isyak
KUANTAN
5:44
Subuh
Zohor 12:56
4:12
Asar
Maghrib 6:56
8:06
Isyak
KOTA BARU
Subuh 5:49
Zohor 12:59
4:17
Asar
Maghrib 6:57
8:03
Isyak
Nation 3
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Fatal accidents increasing again
number of cases on the uptrend after resumption of interstate travel
By AUSTIN CAMOENS
austin@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: With the number of fatal road accidents showing
an uptrend following the resumption of interstate travel, Bukit Aman
will adopt a “total enforcement
stance”.
Federal Traffic Investigation and
Enforcement Department director
Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim said
analysis of the data showed that
there had been an increase in the
number of accidents and fatalities
following each phase transition of
the movement control order.
“Our statistics show that during
the first MCO, 5,498 accidents
occurred, with 51 of them involving
58 fatalities.
“During the second MCO, we
recorded 4,693 accidents involving
54 fatal accidents and 56 deaths,” he
said in an interview yesterday.
During the third MCO, 6,011 accidents were recorded with 63 fatal
accidents involving 65 deaths.
“During the recovery MCO, there
were 102,240 accidents, with 835
fatal accidents involving 907 deaths.
“Throughout the Covid-19 Ops
beginning March 18, 2020, until Oct
13 this year, there was a total of
566,760 accidents, with 5,412 of
these being fatal involving 5,739
deaths,” he added.
Comm Mat Kasim said last year,
there were 4,297 fatal accidents,
with the leading cause of these
being vehicle skids (2,266 cases),
MCO 1.0
(March 18 – May 3, 2020)
5,498 58
Accidents
Fatalities
MCO 2.0
(Jan 13 – March 4, 2021)
4,693 56
Accidents
Fatalities
MCO 3.0
(June 1 – June 28, 2021)
6,011 65
Accidents
Real-time data: traffic management centre staff monitoring traffic flow on 30 highways at the Malaysian
Highway authority. — bernama
followed by careless entry or exit of
junctions (476 cases) and failed
attempts to overtake (314 cases).
“Between January and September
this year, 692 fatal accidents were
caused by skidding, followed by
careless exit or entry of junctions at
410, and other causes at 742,” he
said.
To reduce accidents and fatalities, Comm Mat Kasim said enforcement would be increased.
“This will be done to ensure
motorists abide by traffic regula-
tions and laws,” he said, urging
motorists to have more self-control
and to follow the standard operating procedure.
The department, he added, would
conduct total enforcement to reduce
road accidents and fatalities.
Fatalities
graphics
“Our elements will be deployed to
ensure smooth traffic flow, taking
into account the increase with the
relaxation of rules,” he said, urging
all motorists to plan their journey
ahead and ensure they were fit to
drive.
P-hailing riders in Melaka notorious for beating red light
MELAKA: Riders providing food
delivery service (p-hailing) in the
state often violate traffic rules by
beating the red light, says Melaka
Road Transport Department (RTD)
director Mohamad Firdaus Shariff.
He said since the operation
dubbed Ops Merah was launched
on Oct 8, a total of 112 of the 183
compound notices issued were
related to the offence.
A total of 549 motorcycles were
inspected during the operation, of
which common offences included
the absence of safety helmets and
riding against traffic flow.
“We hope these delivery riders
would abide by the rules so that
they do not put themselves and
other road users at risk.
“The advocacy programme held
in conjunction with Ops Merah,
with the cooperation of the
Operation and Road Safety Units, is
meant to create awareness on road
safety and traffic etiquette among
p-hailing riders,” he told reporters
when met at the Melaka Sentral bus
terminal late Friday evening.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Firdaus
said since the interstate travel ban
was lifted on Oct 11, 152 express
buses and 1,800 passengers were
inspected across Peninsular Malaysia as of Friday.
“Apart from checking on the condition of the buses, the driving
licences and logbooks to ensure the
operators provide a second driver
for journeys that exceed 300km or
four hours, inspections were also
made to ensure the MySejahtera QR
code and hand sanitisers were provided.
“We also checked that only fully
vaccinated
individuals
were
allowed on the bus,” he said.
During the operation, three compound notices amounting to
RM4,500 were issued by Health
Ministry enforcement personnel.
They were issued for failure to scan
the QR code using the MySejahtera
app when entering the bus terminal.
4 Nation
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Legalising medical marijuana
Editor’s
pick
caucus to study regulation, evidence-based science, social impact
By ASHLEY TANG
and FATIMAH ZAINAL
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Legalising medical marijuana will prevent the substance from being sold in the black
market and being open to abuse,
say marijuana advocates.
Dr Kelvin Yii, a member of the
newly formed parliamentary caucus to study regulations on the use
of marijuana and ketum for medical purposes, said they were looking
into legalising medical cannabis or
hemp which contains cannabidiol
(CBD), which has proven health
benefits.
He said based on various research
studies, the evidence on the health
benefits of cannabis has been
mounting over the past 10 years.
These include treatment for nausea caused by chemotherapy, muscle relaxants to relieve muscle tightness sometimes associated with
multiple sclerosis and paralysis, as
well as to promote appetite and
treat chronic pain.
“When we talk about legalising, it
is not about having it widely circulated in the open market but rather
proper regulations so it is used specifically for its medicinal and economic properties only.
“This means there is an element
of control of the product. We can
monitor its implementation, tax it,
control the production and sale,
and evaluate the impact on society.
“This will also allow patients to
have legal, safe and reliable access
to medical cannabis and not resort
to black market access, which may
have questionable and harmful
compounds including pesticide,
moulds and other impurities,” he
said, adding that the caucus was not
looking into legalising recreational
marijuana.
Dr Yii said while he understood
public concerns that legalising medical cannabis might lead to social
ills and possible misuse, the multi-party caucus was only pushing
for it to be properly regulated.
He cited how cigarettes and alcohol cause more harm and death all
around the world but both items
were still legally regulated in the
country.
“If medical cannabis is left unregulated, the demand will still be
there. Supply will then be obtained
in the black market which may be
more dangerous and open to
abuse,” he said.
Dr Yii said the caucus would look
into the issue holistically and consider the views from different
stakeholders including how to
install safeguards in a local context.
The Bandar Kuching MP said
with proper regulations, approved
medical cannabis products would
involve regulated professionals
such as chemists and be dispensed
in a regulated manner.
“This is also economically beneficial to the country,” he added.
On Thursday, a bipartisan caucus
led by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed
Abdul Rahman was formed in an
effort to formulate policies and
strategies to study the regulation of
the use of ketum and medical cannabis to reduce harm.
The move came after Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin
said the government was looking
into legalising medical marijuana.
Malaysia Society of Awareness
vice-president Harish Kumar said
they have been following many
countries on their process of legalising marijuana.
Harish said marijuana should be
legalised for medical usage, citing
various instances where a profound
effect was seen on severely ill
patients.
“The bipartisan caucus is a good
step as it can help people to understand based on scientific facts.
“It needs to look at clinical trials
to prove that cannabis does not
intoxicate or make a person high or
become addicted.
“But with today’s technology, we
have people who modify it to have
high tetrahydrocannabinol content.
It is something that we have to be
careful of,” he said.
Universiti Putra Malaysia neuro-
science researcher Assoc Prof Dr
Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas said
the caucus should look into people-centric policies that would benefit Malaysians medically and economically.
Dr Mohamad Aris, who has conducted research on using an extract
of cannabis on animals, said more
than 30 countries in the world have
legalised cannabis as a form of
treatment.
“I am against the recreational use
of cannabis, but for medical use,
there are a lot of applications that
can be applied.
“Thailand has allowed cannabis
to be used and for people to cultivate it,” he said, adding that cultivation must be strictly regulated to
prevent misuse of the plant.
Lawyer Samantha Chong said the
country’s laws still criminalises cannabis although the United Nations
Commission on Narcotic Drugs has
voted to drop cannabis and cannabis resin from its Schedule IV of the
1961 Single Convention on Narcotic
Drugs.
She said there was a need to
review the definition of cannabis,
adding that it was also time to regulate cannabis to allow local clinical
trials and research on medical cannabis, and to eliminate the black
market.
On whether legalising marijuana
would lead to social ills, Chong said
‘Conduct more studies on its implications’
PETALING JAYA: More studies are
needed on the implications of legalising medical marijuana in the
country, say medical groups.
Malaysian Medical Association
president Dr Koh Kar Chai said a
study on its implication on society
needs to be looked into first.
“Marijuana does have its medical
uses and it is legalised in some
countries. There have been numerous lobbies for it to be legalised in
Malaysia.
“But before we push for it, there
has to be a study on its implications
on society which goes beyond looking at the medical therapeutic
effects,” he said.
Dr Koh said fair policies needed
to be put in place to allow access to
medical marijuana.
“There has to be special training
and licensing for the prescribers
and dispensers, meaning that policies must govern both doctors and
pharmacists who wish to be
involved,” he said.
Medical Practitioners Coalition
Association of Malaysia president
Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah said while
there are medicinal values of marijuana, it has to be studied very carefully before deciding to legalise it.
“Who can use it? Who can prescribe it? What cases can it be used
for? All these queries have to be
determined first for safety,” he said.
Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Datuk
Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the
current stand of most medical associations is not to legalise marijuana
for now.
“Until we are clear on its purpose
– recreational or medicational – as
well as evidence to support its use.
If there is enough clinical evidence,
then it can be considered,” he said.
Dr Zainal said currently, hemp
was being used in many countries
for medical purposes, but not cannabis.
Khairy wants
defibrillators
in buildings
KUALA LUMPUR: Given that time
is crucial in saving heart attack
patients, Health Minister Khairy
Jamaluddin wants to push for buildings to have an automated external
defibrillator (AED) installed at their
premises.
Underlining the importance of
this medical device, Khairy pointed
out that half of the deaths caused by
acute myocardial infarction happened outside of the hospital and
patients died before reaching the
hospital.
“Heart diseases are one of the top
causes of fatalities. There have been
so many cases of people being
struck by a heart attack but weren’t
able to get to the hospital on time.
“We need a whole-of-society
approach to make this work,” he
said after opening the 11th National
Acute Myocardial Infarction Course
by Serdang Hospital in Bangsar
here yesterday.
AED is a medical device to analyse the heart rhythm and deliver
an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore their
Heart
matters:
Khairy looking
at an aed
demonstrator
being displayed
at the naMIc
event in
bangsar.
— FaIHan
GHanI/the
Star
heart rhythm.
Ventricular fibrillation occurs
when a patient has an uncoordinated heart rhythm, which is the most
common cause of a heart attack.
Khairy said that in many countries, an AED was commonly available at buildings housing education
institutions, government and corporate offices.
“It does not make sense for a
RM100mil building, for instance, to
not have an AED.
‘’It must be displayed and we
need to train as many people as
possible to be first responders,” he
said, adding that people needed to
be taught to be first respondents.
The minister, however, did not
mention the targetted timeline for
the AED proposal.
He said he would discuss it with
the relevant ministries, state and
local governments.
‘’I will push for it ... for a start, for
government buildings to have them
before moving to bigger buildings,”
he said.
Khairy also said he would raise
the matter with the Cabinet soon.
Watch the video
TheStarTV.com
Hey, (not-so)
good-looking!
> StarLifestyle
every substance was capable of
being abused.
“We need to look at the reasons
behind this.
“Childhood trauma, abuse and
neglect are among the reasons why
young people are using drugs.
“Poverty, family conflict and
mental health are risk factors for
drug addiction. To reduce demand
and the supply of drugs, we need
evidence-based scientific intervention while also facilitating access to
controlled medicines for those in
need,” she said.
Chong added that a strict policy
and legal framework was needed to
regulate medical cannabis.
For example, she said medical
cannabis must be prescribed only
by trained doctors.
“We can learn from the United
States and Canada where revenue
from cannabis sales is used to fund
drug prevention programmes,” she
said.
Daily cases
below 10k
for two
weeks now
PETALING JAYA: For two weeks
straight, Malaysia’s Covid-19 daily
cases have remained below 10,000,
with 7,509 new infections recorded
yesterday, bringing the cumulative
number to 2,384,542.
Health director-general Tan Sri
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said
98.5% of the new cases were asymptomatic (Category 1) and those with
mild symptoms (Category 2).
“Only 1.5% (116 cases) are under
Categories 3, 4 and 5. Of the total
new cases, 16 were imported, comprising eight locals and eight foreigners.
“The remaining 7,493 were locally transmitted with 93% (6,967) of
them locals,” he said in a statement.
Dr Noor Hisham said 695 patients
were being treated in intensive care
units with 65 suspected to be Covid19 cases.
Currently, 347 patients needed
ventilator support with 66 classified
as probable Covid-19 cases.
Malaysia’s infectivity rate stood
at 0.87, with all states recording
values below 1.0 except Putrajaya
(1.04) and Negri Sembilan (1.03).
Dr Noor Hisham said nine new
clusters were detected yesterday,
bringing the accumulative number
to 702.
Of the new clusters, four involved
workplaces while three were linked
to the education sector.
Recoveries continued to outpace
new infections with 9,531 people
discharged.
Malaysia’s recovery rate now
stood at 94.8%, with a cumulative
2,261,289 recoveries since the pandemic began.
Nation 5
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Defectors set for showdown
We’re ready to face our constituents, say three of them
By RSN MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my
MELAKA: The two Umno defectors
and an Independent assemblymen,
who are among the four men who
caused the fall of the state government, are preparing for the battle
ahead once the state election is
called.
“I will contest in the state polls
and I am well prepared to face any
criticism targeted at me after I exited the ruling state government,”
said Sungai Udang assemblyman
Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
He said he believed that personalities count in this election, adding
that the electorate would not be
swayed by the rhetoric of “old warhorses”, especially those who play
the race and religion card.
“Voters will be able to distinguish
between genuine and hypocritical
candidates. They will vote in someone with a good personality,” he
said in an interview.
Idris said he had yet to decide
which political party he would be
joining before offering himself as a
candidate in the state polls.
Local pundits are speculating
that Idris will go up against Melaka
Umno stalwart Datuk Seri Mohamad
Ali Mohamad should the latter join
the fray.
Idris, Datuk Nor Azman Hassan
(Pantai Kundor) and Datuk Noor
Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), together with Independent assemblyman
Safety issues: Filepic showing Sulaiman (left) in a discussion with
Occupational Safety and Health department director-general Zailee
dollah during a seminar. — bernama
Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee
(Pengkalan Batu), withdrew their
support for the Barisan Nasional/
Perikatan Nasional-led Melaka government on Oct 4.
The state government led by
Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali was left
only with 13 seats in the 28-seat
assembly.
This led to Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam dissolving
the legislative assembly.
Nor Azman said he would recon-
test in his own constituency.
“I will not run from my constituents. I will defend my seat as an
incumbent,” he said, adding that he
was “battle ready”.
Nor Azman said he had met leaders of various political parties and
would decide which party to join
when the state election draws close.
“For now, I am still an
Independent. I am still continuing
my services to my constituents.
“My voters know the reason why
I defected after being loyal to Umno
for some three decades,” he said.
He added that no one could claim
his constituency was their party’s
stronghold.
“I know the sentiments of the
grassroots as I am always with
them,” he said, claiming that he
would open ‘Pandora’s box’ on mismanagement issues.
As for Norhizam, he said there
was no turning back for him as he
was ready to contest again.
“I will never give up. Remember, I
am the ‘Hulk’. I want to tell my opponents to stop making me angry. Do
not smear my reputation,” he said.
He became known as “YB Hulk”
after a video clip of him emerged in
2018, showing him in a heated
exchange with villagers in Bukit
Beruang.
Back then, he was part of the
Pakatan Harapan-led Melaka government.
Asked which party banner he
would contest under, Norhizam
replied that nothing had been finalised yet.
He voiced confidence of a victory
even without a party, adding that he
had chances of making a comeback.
“Please go and ask my constituents whether I have served them
well,” he said.
As for Noor Effendi, he has stayed
mum.
When The Star contacted him
several days ago, he merely said:
“Let me have a break.”
Experts: Melaka polls an acid test for many
By RAHIMY RAHIM
rahimyr@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: The Melaka state
election will be a testing ground for
Umno to see if it can go solo in the
15th General Election (GE15), say
political pundits.
They said the state election would
also be a clash of personalities
between those who once headed
the state government.
Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian
from the School of Social Sciences at
Universiti Sains Malaysia said that
the state election would be an acid
test on several key matters, including to what extent the Election
Commission (EC), security forces
and others were prepared for an
election during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said it would also test the form
of cooperation between parties on
both sides of the political divide.
“It will test the recent memorandum of understanding between the
government and Pakatan Harapan
as well as whether Barisan Nasional
will work with Perikatan Nasional
or Muafakat Nasional.
“Most importantly, it will also see
a clash of personalities that can
become bigger than the party itself,”
he said when contacted.
“It will test the recent memorandum
of understanding between the
government and Pakatan Harapan as
well as whether Barisan Nasional will
work with Perikatan Nasional or
Muafakat Nasional.”
Prof dr Sivamurugan Pandian
On Wednesday, Umno president
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
said the party would not cooperate
with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia
in the Melaka state election.
It is understood that intense seat
negotiation is still ongoing among
all major parties.
Prof Sivamurugan said many
viewed the state election as being
created by Umno and as such, the
party had to manage this perception to avoid internal sabotage that
could further divide it.
“Umno may have to face not only
those who withdrew support for the
chief minister, but also be prepared
to take on other parties such as
Bersatu,” he said.
Barisan, he added, should seriously consider if it was prepared to
go solo because working with
Muafakat and Perikatan had some
“value” to it.
“There are a few seats where they
may need support from others to
win.
“If they lose this state election,
morally it will affect the leadership
and party as well,” said Prof
Sivamurugan.
National Professors Council senior fellow Dr Jeniri Amir said performing well in the state election
would be an indication of a party’s
performance in GE15.
“If Pakatan can win the Melaka
state election, it has a good chance
of winning in the next general election.
“But if Umno wins, it will indicate
that the party is on the right footing,” he said.
Jeniri said that the main question
was whether Umno could stand on
its own without its partners, especially PAS.
“Or is it better for Umno and PAS
to be together?
“It will be interesting to see the
voting pattern in the Melaka state
election,” he said.
Constitutional expert Datuk Dr
Shamrahayu Ab Aziz pointed out,
however, that although the Melaka
state election would need to be held
within 60 days of the state legislative assembly being dissolved, the
Yang di-Pertuan Agong still had the
authority to declare an Emergency
throughout the state.
The Melaka state assembly was
dissolved after the Perikatan/Umnoled state government lost its majority on Oct 4.
The EC will hold a special meeting tomorrow to decide on matters
linked to the state election including
nomination and polling days.
PAS to contest if Melaka election is called
KOTA BARU: PAS is set to field candidates in the Melaka state election if it
is held, says PAS secretary-general
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (pic).
He said the party had yet to decide
on the number of seats to be contested and the candidates.
According to him, the party had set
up a parent committee for the state
election chaired by PAS vice-president
Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
“We also hope that the state election is contested based on consensus,
as has been established at the federal
level.
“All parties should be united (and)
there should be no clashes with one
another.
“We will be together with all the
parties that are with the Federal
Government,” he told reporters after
officiating the 54th Kota Baru PAS
general meeting here yesterday. –
Bernama
Speculation
rife EC has
set date for
Melaka polls
MELAKA: Talk is swirling here that
the nomination day for the Melaka
election will be held end of next
month.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh (pic)
is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow to announce details
of the state election.
Political parties
have started their
preparations in
anticipation of the
poll being held
next month.
There is even
speculation that the Melaka election
would be held simultaneously with
Sarawak amid a shorter campaign
period due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, locals here are not
eager for a state election due to concerns about health safety.
On Friday, a coalition of five
non-governmental organisations in
the state appealed to the Yang
di-Pertua Negeri Melaka Tun Mohd
Ali Rustam to stop the state election
from being held.
The spokesman for the coalition,
Ronsome Ho Choong Seng, said a
memorandum had been sent to the
Melaka Governor to consider deferring the poll until the Covid-19 situation in the state was under control.
He said the NGOs represented
fishermen, hawkers, vegetable sellers as well as trishaw riders in the
state.
Melaka Umno
readies its
election
machinery
MELAKA: Melaka Umno is ready
to compete solo in the state election,
says state party chief Datuk Seri
Abd Rauf Yusoh.
“We are ready with our machinery and the party is prepared to
face the polls. We will only discuss
any working relationship once our
election machinery is strengthened,” he said.
On the list of potential candidates, Ab Rauf said the names
would be only shortlisted once the
Election Commission (EC) sets a
date for the state election.
“We have not reached any decision on the candidates. And no
Umno divisions in the state have
submitted their choices so far,” he
said after handing notebooks to the
Masjid Tanah Umno branch in
Kampung Pulau here on Friday.
The EC is expected to announce
the nomination and polling dates
tomorrow.
Ab Rauf said Melaka Umno was
confident of securing its stronghold
constituencies of Sungai Udang and
Pantai Kundor if a state election
was held following the exit of its
assemblymen there.
The preparation of the election
machinery at the two state seats
was being handled by Tangga Batu
Umno division chief Datuk Seri
Mohamad Ali Mohamad, he added.
Watch the video
TheStarTV.com
6 Nation
Covid-19
Current situation
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
New cases
Total cases
7,393
7,509 2,384,542 (98.5%)
116
(1.5%)
Covid-19 infectivity rate or R-naught (Rt) by state as at Oct 15
Perlis
Kedah
Penang
Perak
0.96
0.84
0.85
0.80
Total recovered
Category 1, 2 Category 3, 4 & 5
2,261,289
(+ 9,531cases)
Negri Melaka
Selangor Kelantan Terengganu Pahang Sembilan
0.91
0.96
0.92
0.84
1.03
0.92
TOTAL DOSES
FULLY
VACCINATED ADMINISTERED
VACCINATED
IN MALAYSIA 46,633,404 22,036,881
As at 11:59pm Oct 15
(Daily figures in brackets)
(174,732)
Johor
Sabah
Sarawak
0.84
0.88
0.76
(129,359)
FT
FT
FT
K. Lumpur Putrajaya Labuan
0.97
1.04
0
Anti-vaxxers to face ‘pain’
Hamzah:
We will look
Govt to make life difficult for those who refuse vaccination into reports
against
anti-vaxxers
By ALLISON LAI
and FATIMAH ZAINAL
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will dish out doses of discomfort to those who do not have valid
reasons to refuse Covid-19 vaccination, says Khairy Jamaluddin.
“Sorry to say, we will make life
very difficult for you if you’re not
vaccinated by choice.
“If you cannot be vaccinated,
that’s fine. We give MySejahtera
digital exemption,” he said after
officiating the 11th National Acute
Myocardial Infarction Course by
the Serdang Hospital yesterday.
The painful points, he said, would
go beyond just being unable to dine
in at restaurants or enter shopping
centres.
Some of the painful points under
the National Testing Strategy will be
unveiled next week. There are also
plans to mandate those who are
unvaccinated by choice to undergo
regular Covid-19 testing.
“If you choose not to vaccinate,
then we will probably ask you to do
regular tests that you have to pay
for,” he said.
“Athough Malaysia is unlikely to
mandate vaccination at the national level, it is seriously looking at
sectoral mandates.
“For example, we have discussed
it for a long time, that there have
been parents who are concerned
about sending their children back
to school as there are teachers who
still refuse to be vaccinated.
“That’s why we found that it cannot be just for the education sector,
but also the public sector. So, the
Public Service Department’s director-general has issued a circular,
whereby beginning November, it
will be mandatory for all civil servants to be vaccinated,” he said.
Such sectoral mandates, he
added, should also be practised in
the private sector for those who
need to work in the office.
Meanwhile, those who need a
booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine
in order to perform the umrah can
apply to the Health Ministry. The
same applies to those who need a
particular booster shot in order to
meet the requirements of other
countries they are travelling to.
“The ministry will consider the
applications that include those who
need a booster dose which is of a
different brand from the first two
jabs they received.
“The application can be done
through MySejahtera. This month,
we may start with the booster for
those who need it to go to another
country,” Khairy said, adding that
Malaysia is also liaising with destination countries to ensure there is
no discrimination against certain
vaccines as long as they have been
approved by WHO for emergency
use.
“For example, like in the United
Kingdom, they allow Malaysians
who are vaccinated with Pfizer
(Comirnaty) and AstraZeneca to
enter without quarantine.
‘’Many Muslim countries use
Sinovac (CoronaVac), like Indonesia,
Pakistan and Turkey. So, the Saudi
Arabian government should understand this.
“But in any case, we will give the
booster dose. But the easier and
better solution is not to discriminate as far as the vaccine is concerned,” he added.
At one point, the Saudi Arabian
government only accepted pilgrims
who are either jabbed with
Comirnaty or AstraZeneca.
In another development, fully
vaccinated travellers entering
Malaysia, as well as close contacts of
those who test positive for Covid-19,
will begin serving a reduced quarantine period of seven days starting
tomorrow.
This applies to citizens, perma-
nent residents, expatriates, members of the diplomatic corps, or any
other foreigner allowed entry to the
country by the Immigration director-general.
Close contacts of Covid-19 cases
and also individuals given supervision and observation orders by
authorised officers, such as individuals returning from high-risk areas,
will also enjoy the shortened quarantine.
“All individuals mentioned above
are subject to this reduction in the
mandatory quarantine period with
effect Oct 18,” Khairy said in a statement later.
“Those who are not vaccinated or
have yet to complete their Covid-19
vaccine doses should undergo a
quarantine period of 10 days.”
However, unvaccinated or
semi-vaccinated individuals who
are currently undergoing day eight
or beyond of their mandatory quarantine can take a polymerase chain
reaction test as of yesterday.
“If they test negative, they will be
granted a release order on Oct 18,”
Khairy said.
Watch the video
TheStarTV.com
Langkawi folk happy with school reopening
By IMRAN HILMY
imran@thestar.com.my
LANGKAWI: Parents on the resort
island here are glad that their children will return to school today
after months away due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Hotel worker Rosmizi Mutat, 43,
is relieved that his daughter Nur
Damia Qistina, eight, will be able to
attend face-to-face lessons.
“It’s time for her to catch up with
the syllabus in a conducive environment,” he said when met at his
house in Kampung Keda Wang Tok
Rendong.
Rosmizi has three other daughters, two of them aged 13 and 14,
who will also go back to school at
the end of the month.
Nur Damia Qistina is excited to go
to school after attending online lessons for some time.
“I can’t wait to go to school to
meet my friends and teachers,” she
said.
Another parent, Nor Izatun
Ibrahim, 33, lauded the government’s decision to allow physical
lessons in light of a downward
trend in Covid-19 cases.
“I believe the standard operating
Going back
to school:
rosmizi
helping nur
damia and nur
dia with their
school
preparation in
Langkawi.
— LIM benG
tatt/the Star
procedure will be in place at
schools, although I am still worried
that my children could contract the
virus there.
“It is a relief that the school is
open as my children prefer to learn
in school rather than online.
“I keep telling my children to
always be vigilant,” said the tailor
with three children aged between
seven and 11.
Businessman Mohd Hasbi Hareh,
34, is also glad that schools are reopening in stages on the resort
island.
“My boy who is in Year Two has
been asking when he can return to
school,” he said.
Mohd Hasbi said his son could
learn more at school than online.
Schools in Langkawi reopen
today with Year One to Year Three
pupils alternating between physical
lessons and online learning.
Tabung Haji allocates RM36mil for pandemic relief
KOTA BARU: Lembaga Tabung
Haji (TH) has set aside about
RM36mil to assist those affected by
the Covid-19 pandemic since it hit
the country in March last year.
Deputy Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department (Religious
Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk
Shaary said to help those affected,
TH had spent about RM19mil last
year and RM17mil this year.
He said a total of 100,000 recipients from the asnaf (eligible for
tithe) group nationwide had benefited from the allocation in the form
of necessities, cash and food packs.
“The assistance is an initiative by
TH to reach out to the affected asnaf
group as the majority of TH depositors are among the dhuafa (less fortunate). It is appropriate for us to
return their kindness,” he told
Bernama after attending a dry food
bank donation drive for asnaf recip-
ients at TH Kelantan here yesterday.
Also present were TH Eastern
Region director Datuk Mohyen
Mosman, Kelantan TH director
Ashrof Shamsuddin and Bukit
Aman Royal Malaysia Police
Cooperatives chairman Datuk
Hasanuddin Hassan.
LARUT: The Home Ministry will
look into police reports lodged
against anti-vaccination groups
before deciding if action should be
taken against them, says Home
Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah
Zainudin.
He said suitable provisions of the
law that could be enforced against
them were being identified.
“If we find them committing
offences, we will act.
“We will study the police reports
given to us, and decide which sections of the law apply, as well as the
category of offences ... all this will
be announced from time to time,”
he told reporters after handing over
food aid in a meet-and-greet session
with Kampung Sungai Ara residents
in Batu Kurau yesterday.
Hamzah, according to Bernama,
said the government would decide
in due course if a new specific law
should be introduced to deal with
anti-vaxxers.
The Health Ministry has lodged
several police reports against
anti-vaccine groups which spread
false information that threaten public health.
In a tweet on Friday, Health
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he
hoped that follow-up action, including investigations and prosecutions,
could be expedited.
He said anti-vaxxers continued to
spread false news, threatening public health, and “were annoying”.
91.4% of
adults fully
vaccinated
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of
91.4% or 21,399,802 of the
adult population in Malaysia
have completed the Covid-19
vaccination as of Friday.
According to the Health
Ministry’s data on the
CovidNow portal, 95.1% of the
adult population or 22,260,137
individuals had received at
least one dose of the vaccine.
A total of 174,732 doses of
the vaccine were dispensed on
Friday, involving both the
adult and adolescent population.
This brings the cumulative
total of doses administered to
adults under the National
Covid-19
Immunisation
Programme (PICK) since Feb
24 to 46,633,404.
As for youngsters aged 12 to
17 years, 20.2% or 637,079 individuals had completed the vaccination while 77.5% or
2,439,727 had received at least
the first dose of the vaccine
since PICK for the adolescent
group was launched on Sept 8.
Nation 7
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Reports by IVAN LOH, IMRAN HILMY and STEPHANIE LEE
Sabahans throng tourist spots to unwind
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s tourist
spots such as Ranau and Kundasang
were crowded during the weekend
following the resumption of
inter-district travel as well as
improved vaccination rates and
Covid-19 cases.
For many Sabahans, this is the
place to be for weekend getaways as
Kundasang is cool and has fresh air.
Homestays are either fully or
almost fully booked, with hotels like
the Perkasa Hotel and Kinabalu
Pine Resorts in Kundasang at 100%
capacity.
The Kinabalu Park, which has
been open to the public for quite
some time, is livelier than usual,
with crowds seen buying entrance
tickets and souvenirs.
“It is busier than usual for us here
in Kinabalu Park this weekend. But
we are happy because when people
come, income is generated,” said
Sabah Parks employee Lee Keat
Hou.
A large group of people had also
gathered outside the Poring Hot
Spring entrance after only a maximum of 100 people were allowed in
at any one time.
Kasey Freddy, 35, who lives in
Penampang, said he missed going to
Kundasang during the movement
restrictions.
“I miss going to Kundasang with
my children, just to enjoy the cool
mountainous air, and to relax in the
homestays and unwind.
“But I will let the crowds go first
and we’ll plan our short holiday
there in the weeks ahead,” he said.
Ranau resident Clarence Dol said
that while he welcomes the visitors,
he is not looking forward to the
traffic congestion and long lines at
the supermarkets.
“So, I will stay home during the
weekends and try to only go out for
grocery shopping during the weekdays,” said the father of one.
At the Ranau Rabbit Farm, only
25 people are allowed inside the
premises at any one time so that
proper distancing can be maintained. “So if you come here and the
park is already full with 25 people,
you need to wait outside first,” said
its operator when contacted.
However, the Desa Cattle Farm,
dubbed the New Zealand of Sabah
with its production of milk products,
is still closed to the public.
It is learnt that it is still sorting
out details on standard operating
procedures, ways to maintain physi-
cal distancing and other related
matters.
State Tourism, Culture and
Environment Minister Datuk Jafry
Ariffin said returning visitors mean
a positive improvement to the people’s livelihood.
“We are glad to see our tourism
sector starting to slowly pick up,
with more people allowed to travel
around the state and helping to
spur the economy.
“However, it is important to
always adhere to the SOP so we can
keep each other safe as we try to
rebuild our social lives and economy once again,” he added.
Sabah lifted the district zoning
system, allowing fully vaccinated
adults and their children to travel
from Oct 14. Interstate travel will be
allowed in Sabah from Nov 1.
Foodie dreams served
culinary travel is the hottest item on the menu
IPOH: A trip to Ipoh will not be
complete if one does not indulge in
its street food.
Out-of-towners testify that they
have missed the taugeh (bean
sprout) chicken and other delicacies
during the enforcement of Covid-19
movement restrictions.
Bank employee Shawn Woo from
Kuala Lumpur said his main reason
to visit Ipoh was to eat.
“A friend, who is from Ipoh, suggested we head here and we thought
it would be a fun weekend makan
trip,” he said.
The 28-year-old came here with
six friends.
“The last time I was here was
about eight years ago,” he said
when met at Panglima Lane, better
known as Concubine Lane, yesterday.
“We also plan to visit some of the
cave temples and other popular
tourist spots.”
Asked about his concerns with
regard to the pandemic, Woo said
he and his friends would take the
necessary precautions by observing
the standard operating procedure
to protect themselves during the
trip.
“We would not have come to
Panglima Lane if the place was
overcrowded,” he added.
Interstate travel has been allowed
since last Monday. Many Malaysians
are taking advantage of the long
weekend, in conjunction with
Food
addiction:
Locals and
out-of-towners
get their fix of
Ipoh’s famous
nasi kandar,
dubbed ‘nasi
ganja’, at Kedai
Kopi yong
Suan in Perak.
— bernama
Maulidur
Rasul
(Prophet
Mohamad’s birthday) that falls on
Tuesday, to go sight-seeing.
Sales executive JK Lee, from
Petaling Jaya, said he and his friends
“targeted” several popular eateries.
“We had dim sum in the morning
and will eat tau fu fah at the drivethru place in the city centre after
lunch.
“We also plan to have taugeh
chicken for dinner later,” he said.
As soon as the announcement on
the lifting of the interstate travel
ban was made, he began discussing
with friends about driving to Ipoh
for a short trip.
Accountant Nur Arina Aziz, 27,
and her 20-year-old sister, Nur Ain
Fatihah Aziz, from Seremban, said
they came to Ipoh with their parents
on Thursday to visit their elder sister.
“We’ve been staying with our sis-
ter since we arrived and only came
out today.
“We have been cooped up at
home for quite a while and it feels
nice to be able to come out for a
walk,” said Nur Arina.
And of course, a “food hunt” was
on her itinerary.
“We went to the popular halal
restaurant in Canning Garden to
have our chee cheong fun and wan
tan mee,” she said.
Editor’s
pic
ck
12MP: A leap
for learning
> StarEdu
Floodgates
open for
Melaka
river cruises
MELAKA: Some 10,000 visitors
have gone on the Melaka River
Cruise in the 14 days since the state
reopened tourism on Oct 1 following its transition to Phase Three of
the National Recovery Plan.
Melaka River and Coastal
Development Corporation chief
executive officer Datuk Murad
Husin said this bodes well for its
target of getting 200,000 visitors for
this year.
“On Thursday alone, we recorded
a total of 1,400 visitors and the number is expected to increase over the
weekend, especially with interstate
travel now allowed,” he said during
a function on Friday.
Murad said various plans will be
implemented in stages to attract
more tourists, including a pitstop
package at 14 jetties under Phase
One of the Sungai Melaka project
involving the Muara Sungai Melaka
to Taman Rempah route. This is
expected to be launched on Oct 23.
“Under the package, visitors can
take the cruise to their destinations
at the 14 stations like Kampung
Morten, The Shore, Kampung Hulu
and Kampung Jawa using a ‘one
day access ticket’,” he said.
A total of 28 pitstops will be built
along the Melaka River for the
cruise, he added.
Murad said the tickets will be
priced at RM25 for children, RM40
for adults and RM30 for senior citizens and students. Foreigners will
be charged RM50 for adults and
RM40 for children.
Water taxis as a new medium of
public transport will also be introduced.
Vacationers: Safer to get tested before holidaying
LANGKAWI: Despite the removal of the
mandatory Covid-19 saliva test for domestic
travellers before entering Langkawi, many
holidaymakers still feel everyone should be
tested for the safety of all.
Postal worker Rusydi Haris Ahmad Rusli,
36, said he made sure all his family members
got tested at home before embarking on their
trip to Langkawi.
“We started our journey only after each of
us tested negative,” said Rusydi, who lives in
Taman Samudera in Alor Setar.
He was spotted on the resort island with his
wife Nor Anissyazwani Shamsudin, 31, and
their two children.
Another visitor, Mohd Aizat Othman, 29,
from Selangor, said he hopes that the government’s decision to drop the mandatory selftest will not backfire later.
“Personally, I think it should still be made a
mandatory ruling for everyone’s sake, including visitors and the Langkawi folk,” he said.
The decision to drop the mandatory test
has received mixed reactions.
Langkawi Business Association deputy
president Datuk Alexander Isaac said the
decision is timely as the country has reopened
state borders for all fully vaccinated people.
“If the mandatory test ruling is still applied,
it would put Langkawi at a disadvantage as
the state is now under Phase Four of the
National Recovery Plan. There’s more freedom to (travel) for the public now.
“Everyone should learn to live with the
virus and strictly follow all the standard operating procedures mandated by the government,” he said, adding that the country is
moving towards the endemic stage.
However, Kedah/Perlis Malaysian Association of Hoteliers chairman Eugene Dass
said the removal of the mandatory test for
visitors could put Langkawi at risk of infections.
“It should be extended for another month
at least. That’s my personal opinion.
“Imposing the self-test would remind
travellers to continue to stay vigilant all the
time,” he said.
Life goes on: Local tourists in silhouette enjoying a dip.
— LIM benG tatt /the Star
8 Nation
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Malaysian arrested in heroin bust in Australia
MELBOURNE: Australian police
have seized the largest heroin shipment ever detected in the country,
worth an estimated A$140mil
(RM431.8mil), and arrested a
Malaysian.
Australian police said the 450kg
shipment – as heavy as a grand piano
– was detected in a sea freight container of ceramic tiles sent from
Malaysia and addressed to a
Melbourne business.
In an immediate reaction, Bukit
Aman said it was working with
Australian police on the case.
Federal
Narcotic
Crime
Investigation Department director
Comm Datuk Razarudin Husain said
it was aware of the arrest of the
Malaysian in Australia.
“We will liaise with our counterparts in Australia on the case,” he
added.
Australian police have not named
the arrested man, a typical practice in
Australia.
The man was charged with importing and attempted possession of a
commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
The maximum penalty is life
imprisonment, said Australian
police.
The Australian Federal Police was
working with Malaysian police, said
Krissy Barrett, Australian Federal
Police Commissioner Southern
Command.
“We continue to work together in
identifying and disrupting transnational organised crime syndicates
that seek to harm both our nations
and generate millions of dollars of
profits from criminal activity,” said
Barett.
The interception of the heroin
helped save 225 lives based on the
police’s estimate that there is one
death in the Australian community
for approximately every 2kg of heroin consumed.
More needed for
mental healthcare
experts call for brighter spotlight on the matter
By VENESA DEVI
venesa@thestar.com.my
JOHOR BARU: Mental health experts
and NGOs here are hoping that the
government will provide more allocation for mental health support and
treatment in Budget 2022 that will be
tabled at the end of the month.
Johor Baru Monash University clinical school deputy head Assoc Prof Dr
T. Sivakumar said more focus should
be put on mental health, especially
because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Budget has always looked
kindly at the medical sector but mental health is only a small component
of it and has often taken a backseat.
There is a need for a higher allocation
dedicated to mental health.
“In the past two years, with the
onslaught of the pandemic, it is clear
how important mental health has
become and focus should be put on
providing more access to the public
to deal with mental health challenges,” he added.
Dr Sivakumar said the allocation
could include extending the availability of medications to treat mental
health-related diseases, particularly
at government district clinics.
“While there are medications at
some district clinics, it is still quite
limited. They should look into provid-
Run-up to
ing better access to mental health
treatments.
“Access to mental health at the
moment has always been through
government hospitals. There are
those in private facilities and hospitals, but because most insurance
schemes do not comprehensively
cover mental health, patients will still
have to fork out a lot of money for
consultations and medications.
“While there have recently been
insurance schemes that cover mental
health, the coverage is still not comprehensive. Mental health treatments
could be expensive, especially when
they involve medication,” he said.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
counselling centre director Dr
Zulfikar Ahmad said the government
should also look into providing incentives for those who render support to
people going through medical health
challenges.
“Over the past five to 10 years,
more Malaysians have developed a
strong sense of providing support
and assistance for those facing difficulties because of mental health
problems. Most of these are through
NGOs.
“However, there has not been
much incentive or monetary aid targeting these efforts.
“Throughout the pandemic, the
government has provided incentives
for frontliners but there has been little mention for those at the second
line of defence – the mental health
practitioners and support groups,” he
said.
Dr Zulfikar also called for more
scholarships to be made available to
those aspiring to be trained as counsellors.
Johor Baru Befrienders president
Danny Loo said the Budget should
also provide funds for NGOs offering
support to those struggling with mental health issues.
“Such NGOs have not got any support through the Budget over the
years and I hope that Budget 2022
will change that and be an inclusive
one.
“This has taken a new urgency due
to the Covid-19 pandemic that has
caused NGOs to receive lower donations from the public as we could not
conduct physical charity events to
collect more funds,” he said.
Sabah folk want resolution to water woes
By STEPHANIE LEE
stephanielee@thestar.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: First, it was the
floods, and now Sabahans want the
state government to solve the never-ending water disruptions and
shortages over the years.
Those who have yet to have basic
tap water supply and who depend on
gravity pipes, are also calling for
assistance from the authorities.
They include villagers in Sabah’s
rural areas, places like Beaufort,
Sepanggar, Penampang and even
within residential pockets in the city.
An elderly couple in Kota Belud
said they have been wholly dependent on gravity pipes and rainwater
for years, and had to go without
water for days during the dry season.
“Luckily, there’s a stream nearby.
But when this dries up, we’d depend
on our children to buy bottled water
for us,” said the elderly man who did
not want to be named.
People in Pitas and those living
close to rivers are a little more advan-
taged as they can still bathe and have
a source of water whenever their
gravity pipes fail.
“No water? Normal. It’s been years.
We are old and we are used to it but I
pity the youngsters because they can’t
be living like us when it’s already the
year 2021,” said a farmer in Pitas.
Sales executive Martha Martin,
who is originally from Kg Dowokon
Pitas but now lives in Kota Kinabalu,
hopes that government leaders can
help solve this problem for villagers.
In rural Paitan, it is the same. They
don’t even have electricity.
“We want basic facilities like water
and electricity supply,” said Nita
Rahman, 26, from Kg Lubang Buaya,
Paitan.
In Penampang, the water disruption issue has become more rampant
following increased flooding over the
past months, with many having to go
without supply for a day or two.
Residents in Kg Terawi complained
after the district was short of water
supply for three days.
“What is happening? Where is the
water supply?” asked Marcelus Puvok.
On the Sabah Water Department
website, notices of water disruptions
due to treatment plant maintenance
and other issues are put up on a daily
basis.
There is at least one district with a
water shortage problem each day. On
Thursday alone, at least 10 notices of
water disruptions for different areas
were issued.
State Public Works Minister Datuk
Seri Bung Moktar Radin urged
Sabahans to be patient as the state
government comes up with feasible
solutions to the water supply woes.
He said while the state had short
and long term plans to resolve the
issue, the matter needed to be looked
into thoroughly to prevent future
problems.
“We are waiting for the full report
and detailed analysis from our
appointed consultants in order to
come up with holistic measures to
solve this problem,” he said, adding
that any action must be measured
carefully and carried out in phases.
Nation 9
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Arrows aimed at Hadi’s inner circle
In the run-up to the PaS election next month, there are rumblings that a handful of top
leaders have too much influence over their president.
Analysis by JOCELINE TAN
DATUK Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has
often been deemed too naive and
utopian for the cut-throat world of
politics, with critics thinking that he
is more suitable for life as a preacher than a political leader.
Well, his critics have been proven
wrong. Hadi is the most successful
leader PAS has ever had, having
brought the party all the way to
Putrajaya.
The party which used to be synonymous with the sekolah pondok
(village religious schools) and the
rural poor in padi-growing districts
is now part of the axis of power.
It has three mentri besar, three
ministers, five deputy ministers and
the icing on the cake, said its
Selangor election director Roslan
Shahir, is “the religious affairs portfolio we have always wanted”.
In that sense, the party’s muktamar (annual convention) next
month ought to be about celebrating how far the party has come.
This is also an election year for the
party with an intense contest expected for the three vice-presidents.
The muktamar scheduled for Nov
6 and 7 will be in Kuala Terengganu
to accommodate Hadi, who has
been home-based in Rusila where
he is battling diabetes as well as
heart and kidney issues.
But politically, the PAS president
is at the pinnacle.
“Don’t listen to rumours. Nobody
is telling him to berehat (take a
break) or step aside. He is at his
peak, he has taken us so far. We still
need him to lead,” said Roslan, who
was Hadi’s press secretary when
the latter was the Terengganu mentri besar.
If that is so, why are there rumblings concerning his leadership?
Apparently, the rumblings are
less about Hadi than about a handful of top leaders around him.
These leaders include secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin
Hassan, vice-president Datuk Seri
Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and
Youth chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin.
This circle of influence around
Hadi was instrumental in getting
Hadi to join Perikatan Nasional
instead of committing to Muafakat
Nasional.
Hadi trusts Takiyuddin implicitly
and had fought off pressure to drop
Takiyuddin from the Cabinet following the latter’s mishandling of
the end of the emergency rule,
which resulted in a royal rebuke.
Ahmad Samsuri, who is also
Terengganu Mentri Besar, is part of
the loop because he has unlimited
access to Hadi, having been Hadi’s
political secretary for many years.
Khairil, an engineer by training,
is more of a mouthpiece for the
group and he may pay the price for
it in the election. He will likely face
a stiff challenge from Pasir Mas MP
Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
The trio are also part of what is
known as the “Publika gang” – a
group associated with the powerful
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah
Zainudin, who runs his political
affairs from an office at the Publika
complex in Kuala Lumpur.
For instance, Takiyuddin and
Ahmad Samsuri were also present
when several top Bersatu leaders
including Hamzah and deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal
Azumu visited Hadi in Rusila on
Friday.
Outwardly, it was to “menziarahi
Hadi” or a social visit. But their aim
was to discuss the impending
Melaka election, and it appears that
Hadi has reaffirmed his commitment to Bersatu.
However, the mainstays of PAS
prefer Umno, whom they regard as
an equal partner with a formidable
election machinery. To them,
Bersatu is a shell with generals but
no soldiers or machinery.
“I think our members want PAS
to be the peacemaker rather than to
take sides,” said Roslan, who is also
the Subang division chief.
According
to
incumbent
vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar
Nik Abdullah, ties between the
Malay parties will be a key topic of
debate at the muktamar.
“Every party has its own strengths
and weaknesses. We need to work
together, pool our strengths and
help each other overcome our
weaknesses,” said Mohd Amar, also
the Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar.
The top leaders and central committee members will convene in
Kuala Terengganu while the delegates will participate via video conferencing from their respective
states.
Despite the rumblings, this is
expected to be a relatively calm
muktamar because there is no fight
for the top two posts.
The big fight will be for the
vice-presidency. Only Idris Ahmad,
who was recently appointed as the
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Religious Affairs), is
assured of retaining his seat.
The other two incumbents, Mohd
Amar and Ahmad Samsuri, will
have to work hard to fend off the
challenge.
There will be a few challengers
but the strongest to date is former
minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin
Aman Razali, better known as
Khairuddin at-Takiri.
Khairuddin made news for the
wrong reasons when he was a minister but he has a big following in his
home state of Terengganu. He is also
secretary of the syura council, the
highest decision-making body of PAS.
He will pose a threat to Ahmad
Samsuri because delegates may not
want two people from Terengganu
as vice-presidents.
Khairuddin is said to be the PAS
leader in a controversial audio that
has been the talk of the party. The
person in the audio was critical of
Hadi’s decision to side with Bersatu.
However, PAS members seem to
agree with Khairuddin’s claim that
Takiyuddin is influencing the party
president.
The battles lines are clearly
drawn. Hadi is likely to reappoint
Takiyuddin as secretary-general
after the muktamar. But can Hadi
save Ahmad Samsuri and Khairil
given the mood on the ground?
The focus of the muktamar will
be on how to get the three Malay
parties to unite ahead of the general
election.
However, arrows are already flying towards Hadi’s inner circle.
The views expressed here are the
writer’s own.
Editor’s
pick
p
When you
can't
control
those
farts
Playing safe
> StarHealth
p4
George town OcPd asst
comm Soffian Santong
(second from right)
monitoring and advising
beach goers to follow
the standard operating
procedure while having
fun on the batu Ferringhi
beachfront.
— ZHaFaran naSIb/
the Star
Speaker to decide on Warisan push for Sindumin vacancy
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
vmugu@thestar.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan
Sabah has moved to “force” a vacancy in the Sindumin state seat after
its incumbent assemblyman, Datuk
Dr Yusof Yacob, quit the party on
Oct 8.
Warisan’s lawyers submitted the
pre-signed resignation letter by Dr
Yusof to the office of the Speaker of
the Sabah legislative assembly on
Friday.
When contacted, Speaker Datuk
Kadzim Yahya confirmed that his
office received the letter while he
had also received a sworn affidavit
from Dr Yusof revoking all his presigned oath (Aku Janji pledges) he
made as a Warisan candidate.
“I have received a notification
from the Sindumin assemblyman
on Oct 8 informing me he was leaving Warisan and will be an independent assemblyman supporting
the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)
led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor,” he
said, adding that Dr Yacob has also
informed him that he has withdrawn the undated letter of his
purported resignation.
“Give me some time to peruse the
letters (from Warisan and Dr
Yusof).
“To be fair to both sides, I will be
going through all the documents
together with my deputies and
assembly secretary to decide whether the Sindumin seat will be vacant
or otherwise,” he added.
The pre-signed resignation letter
by Dr Yusof was part of the party’s
requirement for all their candidates
contesting in last year’s snap Sabah
election.
A video of the candidates taking
their oath of loyalty to the party and
promising to vacate the seat in the
event they crossover was also
taken.
The video of Dr Yusof taking his
oath has been circulating on social
media.
Dr Yusof, who quit the party to be
an independent assemblyman supporting both the state and federal
governments, could not be reached
for comment.
Warisan had attempted to vacate
the Sebatik state seat by using a
similar pre-signed letter of resignation after its assemblyman Hassan
Amir Gani left the party on Feb 25 to
support the GRS-led state government.
However, Kadzim rejected the
pre-signed resignation letter after
Hassan submitted a statutory declaration revoking all previously
signed documents.
In making his decision at that
time, Kadzim said that he decided
against a vacancy for the Sebatik
seat as “the letter was void and
against public policy, as far as the
law stands now.”
Warisan has since taken a civil
suit against Hassan, and the case is
still at the High Court.
Hefty fines
issued to one
dose diners
GEORGE TOWN: A restaurant
owner is now poorer by RM10,000
for allowing patrons who have yet
to be fully vaccinated to dine in.
Beside the owner, six other people were also fined RM2,000 each
during an inspection by the police
at the restaurant in Magazine Road
here at around 10.50pm on Friday.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm
Soffian Santong said the six were
aged between 23 and 57.
“The six who dined in were found
to have completed only their first
dose of the vaccine.
“The restaurant owner was at
fault for allowing customers to dine
in despite them being not fully vaccinated,” he said.
ACP Soffian said all the offenders
were compounded under Sections
16 and 17 of the Prevention and
Control of Infectious Diseases Act.
10 Nation
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Four key lessons from the pandemic
By TENGKU ZAFRUL ABDUL AZIZ
BY now, millions of Malaysians
would have criss-crossed the country following the lifting of the interstate travel ban on Monday. Some
are out to fulfil their wanderlust,
but for many, it is a long-awaited
and heartfelt journey to meet their
loved ones, perhaps for the first
time after the ban was imposed
earlier this year.
By any account, the lifting of the
interstate travel ban on Oct 11
marks an important turning point
for Malaysia after nearly 20 months
of battling an invisible enemy that
has left a trail of public health and
economic damage in its wake.
Yet, if there is anything that
Malaysians are known for, it is our
resilience.
History has shown that we are
hardwired to thrive amid any crisis.
But will the pandemic make us
stronger? Can we survive a repeat
of this crisis? Herein lies our opportunity to ensure that this crisis does
not go to waste.
What we have gained
Prior to 2020, no country in this
world had a pandemic playbook.
Since last year, we have gathered
not just knowledge about Covid-19,
but also wisdom. The cold, brutal
fatality of Covid-19 aside, we have
warmed to the rich expressions of
caring for and connection with our
fellow human beings in equal
measure.
Indeed, one silver lining to this
pandemic is that it has forced us to
be more strategic, creative and
experimental.
In fact, strategy, creativity and the
courage to experiment are what we
While short-term policies are important, long-term
institutional and fiscal reforms are crucial.
need to firmly set the
nation on its healing
journey towards the
new normal.
Related to this, I
would like to share
four key lessons that I
feel represent the
“how” on healing, and
on how we could be
strategic and creative
at the same time.
> Lesson number
one: Our readiness to
face another pandemic.
As a nation, we can
be proud of having one of the
world’s fastest vaccination rates,
but how do we enhance our
resilience for future shocks?
Covid-19 may not be the last pandemic to hit our shores, but we
must make it the last time the country is caught in a zero-sum game of
choosing between lives and livelihoods.
Can we use this crisis to fix our
public health system, medical infrastructure and industrial capacity?
Perhaps we can learn from South
Korea, which was poorly prepared
for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome) several years ago, but
learnt fast such that when Covid-19
hit, the country was able to bounce
back quickly.
A few months back, Operation
Surge Capacity for the Klang Valley
proved to be our commendable
debut in Covid-19 crisis response. It
is exactly this capacity that we need
to be able to scale up
swiftly and effectively
in the face of another
crisis.
> Lesson number
two: It is crucial to go
digital.
Digitalisation is a
game-changer that
can close the income
gap between the
haves and have-nots.
During the various
stages of lockdowns in
the country since
March 2020, we saw
how tech grew as an
economic enabler. Even those selling nasi lemak by the roadside have
used social media accounts to ply
their trade online.
But we need to strengthen our
nationwide digital backbone, so
that even Malaysians in rural areas
have access to tech-enabled opportunities.
Our Digital Malaysia policy is set
out to achieve this. We must
embrace technology like IR4.0, 5G,
Big Data and Machine Learning, or
risk being left behind in an increasingly tech-driven economy.
> Lesson number three: Let’s
build up our strategic supply
chain.
At the start of the crisis, we were
struggling to procure masks, ventilators, respirators and other medical equipment required to save
lives.
If we are heavily reliant on
imports, what will happen if borders are closed again? And what
about our food security?
This is also the best time to embed
sustainability in all its forms –
including social and environmental
– into our supply chain principles
because increasingly, sustainability
and the bottom line are no longer
mutually exclusive.
> Lesson number four: This is
an opportune time to strategically address the structural issues
that have prevented us from
realising our true socio-economic
potential.
The pandemic has highlighted
many of the country’s deep legacy
faultlines. One of these is our job
creation capacity.
Since early 2021, through the
National Employment Council
(NEC), the government has sought
to create 500,000 new employment
opportunities.
In September, we successfully
breached the 390,000-mark and
God willing, we are on track to hit
our
target
by
December.
Unemployment was at 5.3% in May
2020, but gradually reduced to 4.6%
last August.
But the NEC goes beyond job
creation. It is also strategic about
job quality, and capacity building,
like ensuring that graduates’ skills
match industry’s needs; reskilling is
provided to enable redundant jobbers to pivot to different industries;
vocational education is properly
developed; and entrepreneurship is
continuously nurtured.
Datuk among those
nabbed for flouting SOP
JOHOR BARU: A businessman with a Datuk
title and two civil servants were among 80
individuals slapped with compounds in three
separate raids around Johor Baru and Pasir
Gudang here.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ayob Khan
Mydin Pitchay said the raids at the entertainment centres were part of Ops Noda that took
place between 1am and 11pm on Friday.
“A total of 83 people were checked during
the operation. Three of them were caretakers
of the centres while 80 were customers and
workers.
“The three individuals taking care of the
entertainment centres were slapped with
compounds of between RM10,000 and
RM25,000 each, while the customers and
workers received compounds of between
RM2,000 and RM5,000, bringing the total
amount of compounds to RM357,000,” he said
in a statement yesterday.
Comm Ayob added that the individuals
involved were between the ages of 16 and 62.
He said the first raid was at an entertain-
ment centre in Stulang Laut, where 50 individuals were checked, including a businessman with a Datuk title and two civil servants.
“The Datuk and two civil servants, along
with other customers, received compound
notices for flaunting the standard operating
procedure under Phase Three of the National
Recovery Plan.
“A total of 29 of the people checked were
arrested after testing positive for drugs, while
10 foreign women were arrested for not
having travel documents,” he said, adding
that a local man in charge of the establishment was also arrested in the raid.
The second raid took place at Taman Desa
Jaya, Masai, at about 9.30am, where 17 individuals, including three workers and the
caretaker of the entertainment centre, were
checked.
“The three workers, who are all foreigners,
were arrested for not having travel documents and for working without a permit,”
said Comm Ayob.
“The 13 customers and the person taking
structure in terms of connectivity, comfort
and safety.
“With the handing over of the LOAs, the
economy can be remobilised so that the country can return to its previous position.
“One of the ways is via development projects,” he said after conducting a working visit
to the Kota Baru-Kuala Krai (KBKK) expressway project worksite for Package 2B, from
Ketereh to Kok Lanas near here yesterday.
According to Bernama, Fadillah said the
progress of the KBKK project involving a
This is the NEC’s holistic strategy
to build resilience in our people.
12MP and Budget 2022
Recently, the 12th Malaysia Plan
(12MP) was unveiled, outlining the
country’s economic vision for the
next five years. There are many
goals reflected in the 12MP, but it is
always the annual budget that
brings to life the execution of our
five-year plans at a more granular
level.
On Oct 29, I will be tabling Budget
2022. As important as short-term
policies are in driving our socioeconomic recovery in 2022, it is
equally critical that we pursue
longer-term institutional and fiscal
reforms, like the four lessons above,
for rebuilding our resilience so that
we are better prepared to face any
similar major setback in future.
Since the reopening of domestic
and, soon, international borders,
our economic recovery has shifted
to higher gear – and is poised for a
speedy rebound.
I am confident that as our recovery gathers momentum, we will
come out of the pandemic stronger
than before. We must ride on this
momentum, and curate a better
Malaysia that all Malaysians
deserve.
The writer is the Finance Minister.
King must end
Emergency
before Sarawak
polls can be held
care of the centre received compound notices.”
He added that the third raid was at a commercial area in Johor Baru where 16 individuals were checked.
“Two of the customers were also arrested
for not being able to provide any identification documents during the raid,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section
6(2) of the Johor Entertainment Enactment,
Section 269 of the Penal Code, Section 55B and
6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, and Section
25(n) of the National Registration Regulation.
Getting construction projects back on track
KETEREH: The Works Ministry will soon
hand over 120 letters of acceptance (LOAs) for
construction projects nationwide, says Works
Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The allocations had been approved by the
Federal Government, he said.
He said the handing over of the LOAs was
in line with the ministry’s key performance
indicators for the first 100 days, in which it
seeks to implement the economic recovery
agenda for the construction sector.
He said this included improving the infra-
Run-up to
6.2km route from Ketereh to Kok Lanas was
76% completed and would be fully completed
by next May.
“Package 2B has been given a time extension, and based on discussions, it involved the
challenges of the current situation and the
monsoon season.
“But the contractor has assured us that the
project will be completed by May.
“As such, the Public Works Department and
the contractors must ensure this project is
ready by next year,” he said.
KUCHING: Two things must be done before
the 12th Sarawak state election can be held,
says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr
Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said first, the Emergency Proclamation
declared by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan
Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah
Shah that runs until Feb 2, 2022, would have
to be terminated earlier with the King’s consent, if necessary.
“Secondly, the Sarawak state election could
be held if His Majesty approves the terms
agreed upon between the Sarawak Yang
Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud
with the state government and Sarawak Chief
Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun
Openg,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of
the Mutiara Iman Mosque here yesterday.
On July 31, the King proclaimed a six-month
emergency in Sarawak from Aug 2 to Feb 2,
2022, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus
suspending the state election for that period.
According to Article 21 (3) of the state constitution, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly
should have stood dissolved on June 7.
But it does not have the power under paragraph 15 (1) (a) of the Emergency (Essential
Powers) Ordinance 2021 to suspend the dissolution of a legislative assembly.
However, Section 2 (2) of the Emergency
(Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021,
issued in conjunction with the Emergency
Proclamation for Sarawak, states that the
operation of the Proclamation of Emergency
may be terminated earlier by the King after
consultation with the governor.
11
SUNDAY STAR, SUNDAY 17 OcTOBeR 2021
Rinse and repeat
It’s the same nonsensical soundbites, but this time,
there’s cause for public concern.
On the beat
WONg cHUN WAI
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
PAS politicians never cease to
amaze many Malaysians. From
attempting to justify the act of corruption to blaming God’s wrath for
flooding, they seem to have the
most incredulous responses to
issues.
Last week, PAS senator Mohd
Apandi Mohamad blamed Korean
dramas for teenage suicides in
Malaysia.
After bingeing the nine-episode
Korean drama and global blockbuster Squid Game, this writer only
lost a night’s sleep, and didn’t end
up a “blur sotong” (a Singlish
phrase meaning someone who is
clumsy or confused). I haven’t
heard of anyone, teenage or warga
emas, who was driven to suicide
because, well, they are desperately
awaiting season two.
If we go by Mohd Apandi’s logic,
and had he watched the series, he
probably only saw all the killings.
He wouldn’t have seen its message
– that greed should never overcome
human values.
Life isn’t necessarily entirely
black and white. So the main character, Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee
Jung-jae), may have plenty of flaws,
being a gambler, a failed father and
Life is
the art of
drawing
without an
eraser.
– John W.
Gardner
an alcoholic, but he is also generous
and helpful.
His main rival, childhood friend
turned failed investment banker
Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo), even
reminds Seong that his biggest failing is that he “cares too much about
others”. By Cho’s deduction, this is a
weakness – presumably worse than
an addiction to alcohol and gambling – because in a world of conformity, success is measured by
how much a person is valued or
what institute of education they
attended.
So I would not be surprised if politicians from PAS, who play to their
audience, have a script to appeal to
their voter base. They couldn’t care
less what urbanites think about
them. Why should they when they
don’t contest in urban constituencies, where the people find them an
odd bunch?
Apandi, who was apparently surprised by the brickbats he received
from social media users, quickly
clarified in the Dewan Negara that
there were other factors that lead to
suicide, and that he was not singling
out Korean shows. Still wanting to
stand his ground, though, he reportedly said “I am not saying Korean
dramas or dramas trigger suicides,
but they play a part.”
Oh, seriously – “a, jin-jja!” Still
stubborn? After the fiasco, he tried
to squirm his way out. Luckily, he
didn’t blame the media for taking
his words “out of context”, a line
often used by inane politicians.
Earlier, Apandi had reportedly
told the Dewan Negara that almost
every South Korean film or drama
incorporates elements of suicide,
and Malaysian teens were aping
that culture. He said many of the
teens who took their own lives were
“too influenced by films and dramas from Korea”.
According to the study “Youth
Positive message: A complex drama like Squid Game is about more
than just killing. Through its flawed main character, Seong Gi-hun
(pictured), it shows what happens when greed overcomes human values
– not exactly an incitement to suicide is it? — Screenshot
Suicide in Malaysia” by Chua Sook
Ning and Vaisnavi Mogan, during
the period of March 18, 2020, when
the first movement control order
came into effect, to Oct 30, 2020,
there was a total of 266 people who
died by suicide, equivalent to
around 30 suicides a month –
almost one a day.
About one in four of these preventable deaths were adolescents
aged between 15 and 18 years. The
reasons in the suicide cases included debt issues, family and marriage
problems, relationship breakdowns,
and work pressures.
The study also found that younger individuals were at the highest
risk of suicidal behaviour, with individuals between 16 and 24 years old
being 4.8 times more likely to
attempt suicide compared with people 65 years and above.
In 2017, suicide attempts were
highest among Indians (17.9%), followed by Chinese (10.7%) and
Malays (4.6%), with over 10% of suicides among bumiputras in Sabah
and Sarawak.
Social factors attributed include
unemployment, stress, social
crimes, poor physical health, and
social media, with Internet addiction especially increasing the risk of
suicide attempts.
Still, let’s give credit to Apandi for
bringing this up. It is an important
issue. In the spirit of Squid Game,
let’s not eliminate him but let him
continue to play the game and
move on to the next round. Everyone must be given a chance.
Perhaps he was merely trying to
draw attention to his otherwise
mundane speech, or he didn’t
inform himself enough.
Depression is a cry for help, even
if the person experiencing it doesn’t
know it. So being receptive and
offering a listening ear are the simplest things we can do to help someone ailing from it. Offering a support network comprising family
and friends is crucial.
Mental health is a dire problem
in Malaysia. The Covid-19 pandemic
has generated a hike in suicide
cases, no doubt about it.
Just look at the figures. The police
recorded 468 suicides in the first
five months of 2021 compared with
a total of 631 in 2020 and 609 in
2019. On average, at least two suicide deaths occurred daily from
2019 to May 2020. In that time, at
least 281 men and 1,427 women
committed suicide, with 872 aged
between 15 and 18, the police said.
Instead of blaming Korean dramas, we hope that PAS can draw up
ideas and proposals on how we can
thwart this malaise by identifying
family members and people around
us who could be suicidal.
The last thing we need is for PAS
politicians to moralise and lecture
Malaysians, and tell young people to
stop watching Korean dramas after
a day’s hard work.
Some entertainment won’t hurt
lah, even if only to release pent up
tension.
An interesting character in Squid
Game is Player 244, played by Kim
Yun-tae, who always seems to be on
the right side of the Lord but who
turns out to be brutal as the game
progresses.
If you are facing problems or are concerned that someone you know is
lonely, distressed or contemplating
suicide, you can reach out to the
Mental Health Psychosocial Support
Service at 03-2935 9935 or 014-322
3392; Talian Kasih at 15999 or 019261 5999 on WhatsApp; Jakim’s
(Department of Islamic Development
Malaysia) family, social and community care centre at 0111-959 8214 on
WhatsApp; and Befrienders Kuala
Lumpur at 03-7627 2929 or go to
befrienders.org.my/centre-inmalaysia for a full list of numbers
nationwide and operating hours, or
email sam@befrienders.org.my.
12 Focus
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
How can youths
secure jobs in the
wake of Covid-19?
Many fresh graduates and young jobseekers,
having entered a post-lockdown employment
market, are facing a tough time securing work.
How can they capitalise on their abilities and
online education over the past two years to
improve their marketability?
Stories by DINA MURAD
dina@thestar.com.my
IT took more than a year for 23-year-old
Ridwan to finally secure a full-time job after
completing his degree in virtual reality and
3D animation at a local university.
Ridwan, who only wishes to be known by
one name, graduated last year and got an
offer this week to work at a cafe in the Klang
Valley. He says it is difficult to find employment as many companies are not hiring or
are only interested in people with years of
experience.
“I started looking for a job right after I
completed my studies but Covid-19 hit at the
same time and many companies were downsizing,” says Ridwan, who sent his resume to
30 to 40 companies and got called for about
five interviews but never heard back from
any of them.
“The lockdown definitely had an effect on
the job market and limited our ability to build
connections outside. Before this, companies
came to my university to look for talent and I
was able to meet them face-to face. That was
how I got an internship,” says Ridwan.
“But now companies cannot come to campuses due to Covid-19 and I’m not sure how
my juniors can create this connection with
industry players,” he says.
Adding to his difficulty, Ridwan says that
other batches have since graduated and the
field is becoming more competitive.
“My friends are still looking for full-time
positions. About 5% have secured employment while the rest are freelancing or taking
up part-time gigs,” says Ridwan, who is still
on the lookout for a position that is related
to his field of study.
For the time being, Ridwan is working on
strengthening his skills by practicing 3D
modelling and developing augmented reality
and virtual reality designs.
“Things will get better but it takes time.
For now, businesses are opening up and we
have to prepare and sharpen our skills.”
THe job market is now very competitive
and demands are constantly changing.
Therefore, the expectations from talents
have also evolved with the disruptive and
uncertain economic climate we are in, say
employability and human resources specialists.
Young jobseekers and fresh graduates
who have just come out of some two years
of online learning can navigate the hiring
process to secure employment by being
agile and continuously seeking ways to
improve themselves, says Awatif Ghapar, a
human resources professional specialising
in early career development at international
professional services company PwC
Malaysia.
“It starts with good personal branding –
from the activities during university days
until graduation. How does your profile portray you as an individual? Does it have the
skills and criteria employers are looking
for?” says Awatif, who is a founding team
member of One Step Closer, a social enterprise supporting employability.
Sharpening skills
When Covid-19 struck Malaysia in
March 2020, it caused the worst economic
downturn in the country since the height of
the Asian financial crisis in 1997/1998. Many
people were retrenched, faced salary cuts, or
had to resign to take up care work at home.
Among those most impacted are youths
about to enter a narrowing job market –
who are further handicapped by limited
experience, low starting wages and student
debt.
The Malaysian unemployment rate in
2020 was 4.5%, the highest in almost three
decades, and is expected to average the same
this year. Globally, youth employment fell
8.7% in 2020, with middle-income countries
being the hardest hit. Statistics Department
of Malaysia data shows that Malaysia experienced a 22.5% rise in the number of unemployed graduates last year, amounting to
more than 200,000 people.
A survey on the impact of Covid-19 on
Malaysian youth published in December last
year by the Research for Social
Advancement think tank found that out of
534 students and recent graduates, only 22%
received an internship or a job offer while
65.7% (74) of those who received such an
offer said their offers were postponed or
retracted due to the pandemic.
The current crop of fresh graduates –
those who finished courses during the pandemic period – have spent less time on campus compared with their seniors as Covid-19
forced them to pivot to remote learning.
They may have missed out on opportunities
to network with industry reps in face-to-face
meetings, and many are having difficulties
landing interviews because of this as well as
being forced to rely purely on their resumes.
While this might mean that recent fresh
graduates may not be able to hone some
skills or opportunities that require face-toface interaction, they may be able to maximise new digital skills instead. Creative graduates can hone in on these skills to make
themselves sought-after in the workforce.
Because in times like these, a degree alone
is not enough. Some young jobseekers have
adopted alternative ways of networking and
innovative methods to showcase their abilities. For example, through independent content creation, building a strong public profile, taking advantage of alumni communities to scout for employment opportunities,
and gaining abilities beyond their fields to
make themselves stand out.
Virtual communication
Dr Patricia Lau, who specialises in human
resource development and management,
points out that this is a valuable opportunity
for students to learn and grasp global virtual
teamwork and communication skills so that
they are well-equipped for the new normal
of work.
Lau says that these digital communication
skills, often embedded in the design of the
learning activities in universities, are essential and required by employers as many
businesses are going global.
“In the context of the pandemic, the new
normal of work is boundaryless. With the
advancement of technology, we can use
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams,
FreeConferenceCall, WhatsApp, and many
young jobseekers can maximise their
skills and foster networks to secure
employment
“If you are an engineering student or
graduate, are there any co-curricular activities such as competitions, final year project
accomplishments, internships, special projects and so on that can help your career?”
she says.
Value of networks
An equally important step is to network
by building and maintaining relationships.
Pointing out a common mistake, Awatif
explains that networking is not just about
adding prominent personalities as your
LinkedIn connections.
“Keep in touch with your lecturers, university career centres, peers and so on.
Initiate conversations online, interact with
them and keep in touch. It’s even better if
you can make a good impression. You could
share positive and constructive thoughts
about the work they do or ask for guidance
or mentorship,” she explains.
Those who are still searching for jobs can
continue to upskill themselves by learning a
new language, picking up digital skills, or
working parttime.
“It shows you are keen to learn and continuously grow yourself regardless of your
situation. It also reflects your resilience and
self-motivation,” says Awatif.
Capitalising on online skills
Although many new graduates were
forced to move to online learning and may
others to communicate and work with
others across borders.
“Although fresh graduates are generally
technology savvy, some of them experience
communication problems. This affects their
working relationships to achieve team efficiency and effectiveness,” she says.
Apart from submitting a good resume to a
potential employer, there are two other
important preparations before an interview.
The first is to research the job advert so that
jobseekers can evaluate how their learning
experiences fit with the job; they should map
out their own knowledge and skills against
the job advert, says Lau.
“For example, one essential soft skill
required by employers is strong interpersonal and collaborative skills to establish strong
relationships with key stakeholders. Fresh
graduates can map these skills against their
teamwork and communication skills learned
during their undergraduate studies, and
how they used these skills to resolve issues,”
says Lau.
Secondly, fresh graduates’ personal characteristics must match with the organisations’ requirements.
“They can evaluate if their values can fit
with the corporate values. They can also
look at the company’s corporate social
responsibility to see if there are any valuable
experiences to share and contribute to the
organisation,” says Lau, explaining that
these two important preparations will
increase an applicant’s self-confidence during the interview.
not have had as many opportunities to hone
some skills that require face-to-face interaction, “conventional” skills like communication, self-leadership, problem solving, and
even Microsoft Office are still very relevant,
says Awatif.
“It is equally important for fresh grads to
know how to communicate online; this
includes basic etiquette for email correspondence, social media interactions, online
interviews, and managing different stakeholders in a virtual setting. There is less
body language to be used as a signal, so
fresh grads need to learn how to deliver
effective communications virtually,” she
says.
Presentation skills are also essential, and
they go beyond software like Microsoft
PowerPoint. There are many tools and platforms out there that may be used to present
information, says Awatif, with the common
ones being Google Apps, Power BI, Powtoon,
and Canva.
“For certain roles, social media managing,
content creation and design of visually
Focus 13
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
DIGITAL
CONTENT
Editor, copywriter,
podcaster, YouTuber,
video editor
FINANCE &
INSURANCE
Financial advisor,
accountant, financial
planner, finance
specialist, insurance
agent
E-COMMERCE
Online specialist,
e-commerce
coordinator
HEALTHCARE /
MEDICAL
FRONTLINE
Medical doctor, general
practitioner, medical
officer, nurse,
paramedic
CUSTOMER
SERVICE
Customer service executive,
customer experience manager,
customer support specialist,
contact centre specialist,
customer service team lead
SOFTWARE &
TECHNOLOGY
Web developer, system
analyst, mobile
application developer, full
stack engineer, frontend
developer, devOps
consultant
DIGITAL
MARKETING
Beyond resumes: The
Social media manager,
digital marketing
specialist, social media
marketing specialist,
marketing specialist,
marketing analyst
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
& SALES
Sales specialist, account
manager, account
executive, business
development specialist
HEALTHCARE /
MEDICAL
SUPPORT
Medical technologist,
pharmacy assistant,
healthcare assistant,
medical officer, medical
specialist
CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity analyst,
cybersecurity specialist,
cybersecurity consultant,
information security
specialist
right attitude can make
a job applicant stand
out from the crowd.
— 123rf.com
Enhancing employability:
Attitude matters
AcAdemic performance is important but it
is not the only criteria that employers use to
assess potential employees.
in some situations and industries, academic performance is the secondary criteria, says
dr Patricia Lau, a specialist in human
resource development and management.
There are three things that all students
must learn before they graduate, says Lau:
And that’s attitude, attitude and attitude.
“Attitude is time-proof. Attitude includes
behaviours, cognition and emotions. With a
positive attitude, fresh graduates can have
growth mindsets, good teamwork skills, emotional stability and a willingness to learn and
work hard,” she says.
“For example, some students with a high
cGPA (cumulative grade point average) can
have poor attitudes. Because they are high
achievers, they care about their grades so
they never learned to develop teamwork
skills and sharpen their attitude – they only
have one focus, their academic grade. As a
result, they can’t work with others who are
different from them. This results in team
conflicts leading to inefficiency,” she
explains.
“Without a good attitude, they do not
experience the process of knowing how to
solve team problems together.”
Skills matching
SUPPLY CHAIN
Distributor, logistics
supervisor, operational
specialist, logistics
manager, head of supply
chain management
graphics
Source: LinkedIn
appealing posts on instagram, TikTok,
Twitter and so on might also be key, on top
of the ability to analyse data to better reach
different audience groups,” she says.
Other critical digital skills that are valuable include data analytics, software development, data science, creative digital writing,
e-commerce and statistics.
“Business decisions are often made using
data trends hence data interpretation and
presentation are highly valuable skills. The
digital approach to engage consumers has
pushed the demands for creativity to be in
line with digital skills,” she says.
She adds that jobseekers can maximise
their opportunities by visiting multiple job
portals, sending resumes and job applications for review, networking with seniors or
mentors in their chosen fields, and attending virtual career fairs and recruitment
events.
There are many resources online – initiatives from both the government and private
sector – such as mYFutureJobs, HRd corp,
Talentcorp, coursera, Acumen Academy,
Google and so on that offer free or subsidised courses for upskilling, says Awatif.
An often overlooked factor is a person’s
social media presence. many recruiters
check applicants’ personal social media
pages to filter out candidates so it is important that what you put out online reflects
how you would like to be perceived by
potential employers.
Jobseekers seeking employability assistance can visit One Step closer at
onestepclosermy.carrd.co for free resources
and career advice.
Securing employment early
despite changing environments, having a
good resume is still a necessary requirement for jobseekers, says Universiti Sains
malaysia’s former centre of Alumni, career
and Graduate employability director dr
Norazharuddin Shah Abdullah.
currently, many applicants submit generic, one-size-fits-all resumes when what is
actually needed is to tailor-make resumes to
Adding to Lau’s comments, the malaysian
employers Federation (meF) says the most
important attribute for an employee is work
experience, commitment and having the
right skills and attitude.
“in a tight labour market, employability is
highly dependent on whether the skills
match industry requirements. Graduates
have to be aware of both hard and soft skills
that are needed to secure jobs in the future
world of work,” says meF president datuk
dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman.
each application, says Norazharuddin,
whose background is in engineering.
While digital skills have become more
important, and the baseline for necessary
basic iT skills has risen substantially, such
skills alone are not enough.
“The bigger question is how to integrate,
manage your own iT capacity and be relevant to, or even ahead of, the job scope,” he
says.
Now, skills with certification have become
the item of choice with more courses available online. This is also the case with onlinebased activities, says Norazharuddin, pointing out how influencers, media content
developers and digital sales and services
skills are very much in demand.
“The most important thing for fresh graduates to do now is to plan for an appropriate endgame – short-term, mid-term and
long-term goals. They need to be flexible
enough to ensure relevance to stay ahead of
their peers and be noticed by stakeholders
they are interested to engage with,” he says.
“One opportunity to secure employment
Communicate well: although fresh
graduates are generally technology savvy,
some of them have communication
problems says Lau.
Syed Hussain says that jobseekers must
adopt a growth mindset moving forward,
and continuously work towards strengthening their skills. This will help them stay
employable and employed, especially for
in-demand roles in fast-growing industries.
New entrants to the job market must be
prepared to face the challenges of a weak
labour market and the hiring trends of companies as they grapple with business resilience and sustainability, he says.
“The reason why some graduates face difficulty in securing jobs may be due to a mismatch between the skills they possess and
what employers are looking for. Graduates
may also possess the knowledge but lack the
right attitude and confidence,” he says.
Syed Hussain says that the willingness to
learn and be motivated calls for a mindset
that is open and collaborative, and this can
be learnt through the acquisition of language, presentation and communication
skills.
is through the industrial training route.
Fresh graduates’ academic courses may
require industrial attachment as a part to be
fulfilled for graduation, and that industrial
training or attachment can be the initial
step towards employment,” says
Norazharuddin.
Fresh graduates should also consider the
government’s Graduate employability initiative for various industries. Such programmes require industrial collaborators to
provide training and up to six months’
attachment, and can be a stepping stone to
full time employment.
There is also an important role for universities to play as a bridge between students
and industries, says Norazharuddin.
“The syllabus needs to change and be
flexible enough to keep up with market
demands. if universities fail to market themselves, the burden will fall on the students.
Universities need to do much more,” says
Norazharuddin, stressing that it is vital that
universities have job placement centres and
industry collaborations.
14 Focus
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
A Pandora’s box
of hidden assets
the latest revelations raise some tough questions
about financial secrecy.
Leaked files show alleged hidden wealth
The Pandora Papers are a massive leak of confidential financial records
that accuse the world’s richest of stashing their wealth away from
tax inspectors, regulators and the public
Jordan’s
King Abdullah
Uhuru
Kenyatta
Amassed more than
US$100mil worth of
property in US and
UK through secret
companies
President of Kenya and
six family members
linked to network of
13 offshore companies
Czech Prime Minister
Andrej Babis
Members of
Prime Minister
Imran Khan’s inner
circle, including cabinet
ministers, found to
secretly own companies
and trusts holding
millions of dollars
Failed to
declare
offshore
investment
company
used to purchase
French estate worth
US$22mil
Azerbaijan
By VIKRAM KHANNA
IT’S no surprise that the world’s
super-rich buy palatial mansions,
Picassos, luxury yachts and private
jets. What is more interesting,
though, is that many of them hide
these assets in shell companies that
make it difficult to know who the
true owners are.
The so-called Pandora Papers,
released by the International
Consortium of Investigative
Journalists (ICIJ) on Oct 3, uncover
more of these financial shenanigans
and their perpetrators.
This was not the first such release
by the ICIJ, which includes journalists from 117 countries and territories. In 2016, the consortium
released the Panama Papers, based
on information from a single law
firm in Panama, which gave the
world a glimpse of what was going
on in the shadowy world of offshore finance.
The Pandora Papers go much further. Based on data leaks from 14
wealth management and law firms
around the world, the 11.9 million
documents contain more than twice
as much information. According to
the ICIJ, the data includes e-mails,
passport copies, bank statements,
PDF files, spreadsheets, company
incorporation records, real estate
contracts, due diligence questionnaires and more than four million
images.
Piecing all the information
together through a massive collective effort, the ICIJ was able to figure out the real owners of some
29,000 offshore companies and
their contents. They come from
more than 200 countries and territories.
On the list are more than 330 current and former politicians and
heads of state, including Jordan’s
King Abdullah II, former British
prime minister Tony Blair, the
Czech Republic’s Prime Minister
Andrej Babis, Kenyan President
Uhuru Kenyatta, Ecuador’s
President Guillermo Lasso, former
French socialist leader and
International Monetary Fund chief
Dominique Strauss-Kahn and associates of both Pakistani Prime
Minister Imran Khan and Russian
President Vladimir Putin. The list
also includes business tycoons, rock
stars, sports icons and supermodels.
Issues of legality
The ICIJ does not allege these people did anything legally wrong.
Owning offshore companies or cre-
Most of the sitting heads of government or politicians named in the
Pandora Papers are from low- and middle-income countries. — aP
ating offshore trusts is not illegal –
although some countries’ tax laws
require that these be disclosed.
Many of those named in the
Pandora Papers claim to have complied with the laws that apply to
them. The financial institutions and
law firms involved also point out
that they serve legitimate needs of
their clients such as privacy and
strategies to minimise tax liabilities.
However, shell companies, which
have no physical presence or
employees and exist only on paper,
can and have been used for illegal
purposes such as hiding assets from
creditors, government authorities
and spouses, as well as evading (as
opposed to lawfully avoiding) taxes,
and concealing corrupt payments.
There is certainly circumstantial
evidence of wrongdoing.
Fifteen of the billionaires who
own offshore companies uncovered
by the ICIJ have been sanctioned for
corruption or criminal charges and
about 15% of the US-based trusts
revealed in the Pandora Papers held
assets connected to people or companies accused of fraud, bribery or
human rights abuses.
Estimates of the amounts stashed
away by individuals in tax havens
vary widely because they don’t
show up in government statistics
and the data is murky.
In a 2020 study, the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) estimated the
total at US$11.3tril (RM47tril). The
Tax Justice Network, an independent think-tank that monitors tax
issues, puts the amount as ranging
from US$21tril to US$32tril
(RM87tril to RM133tril).
Whatever the true figure, just
about everybody who has studied
the issue agrees that it’s staggering.
What it implies is tax losses
amounting to at least hundreds of
billions of dollars.
As a proportion of GDP, the biggest losers are developing countries,
whose wealthiest citizens and politicians are prominent users of tax
havens. Most of the sitting heads of
government or politicians named in
the Pandora Papers are from lowand middle-income countries. These
countries’ tax losses, which are likely to far exceed the amounts that
they receive in foreign aid, translates into severe underfunding of
public services and infrastructure.
“This is where our missing hospitals are,” says Susana Ruiz, tax policy lead at the NGO Oxfam
International, responding to the
revelations in the Pandora Papers.
“This is where the pay packets sit of
all the extra teachers and firefighters and public servants we need.”
Besides revenue losses, tax
havens perpetuate inequalities, not
only by easing the tax burden on
the super-rich but also by providing
mechanisms for them to hide
wealth that are not available to
other taxpayers. As professor of
Economics Dr Gabriel Zucman at
the University of California,
Berkeley, puts it, tax havens feed the
corrosive narrative “that there is
one set of rules for regular people
and a completely different one for
those at the top of the pyramid”.
Reining in tax havens
So what can be done to curb the
activities, or at least the excesses, of
tax havens, which governments
have repeatedly urged?
Piecemeal reforms in individual
jurisdictions don’t help much
because of the intense rivalry
between tax havens. As the ICIJ
report notes, for example, after
Panama tightened its regulations on
its tax havens following the publication of the Panama Papers in 2016,
other tax havens viewed this as a
marketing opportunity, snapping up
clients that fled to locations considered safer.
In 2014, the OECD developed the
Common Reporting Standard, rules
which provide for an automatic
exchange of financial accounts
between tax authorities, and to
which more than 100 jurisdictions
have signed up. But there are still
loopholes that enable financial institutions to hide the identities of beneficial owners. The rules, which are
often wilfully misinterpreted, also
do not fully cover real assets such
as property.
Various experts have produced a
laundry list of recommendations to
reform tax havens. One of them is
to put an end to financial secrecy,
Family and
associates of
President Ilham Aliyev
have been secretly
involved in property
deals in Britain
worth more than
US$500mil
Sources: AFP, ICIJ, Reuters
South Dakota
Pakistan
Vladimir
Putin
Linked
through
associates
to undisclosed assets
in Monaco, including
property acquired by
Russian woman who
reportedly had child
with Russian leader
Pictures: Getty Images, ICIJ
which is still rampant and enables
tax havens to be abused.
The NGO Transparency
International proposes that the
identity of beneficial owners of the
assets held by shell companies
should not be allowed to be hidden.
Sometimes, even the firms that provide and maintain shell companies
do not know who is really behind
them.
Zucman proposes that shell companies themselves be made illegal.
He also advocates creating an international financial registry listing
who owns what, to which governments have access.
Other recommendations include
sanctioning private enablers such
as accountants, lawyers and wealth
management firms when they facilitate criminal activities like money
laundering and tax evasion.
Financial crime experts point out
that in some jurisdictions, lawyers
who set up trusts and shell companies are not required to examine
the sources of their clients’ wealth.
Many hedge funds and private equity firms also avoid doing such due
diligence.
Individual countries could take
steps to close loopholes that allow
opaqueness and tax avoidance via
tax havens. For example, Britain
could stop allowing companies in its
offshore financial centres to hold
properties in the UK without requiring them to reveal the names of
their true owners. It could also stop
enabling individuals to avoid paying stamp duties on property sales
by buying a shell company that
holds the property rather than buying the property directly.
According to the Pandora Papers,
this was the route taken by Blair,
who acquired a British Virgin
Islands company that owned a
US$8.8mil (RM37mil) property in
the UK – effectively making him
and his wife the beneficial owners.
However, countries sometimes
deliberately keep some tax loopholes in place, which enable them
to attract investments, especially if
they are high-tax countries. London,
for example, is able to attract huge
investments in its property market
from foreigners, thanks in no small
part to the country’s relatively liber-
US state sheltering
almost US$360bil in
customer assets, some
tied to offshore-based
people and companies
accused of human
rights abuses
Tony Blair
Former
UK prime
minister
legally
avoided paying stamp
duty on US$8.8mil
London property when
he and his wife bought
offshore company that
owned it
Other public figures
Singer Shakira, model
Claudia Schiffer and
cricket legend Sachin
Tendulkar are among
those linked to offshore
assets
© GRAPHIC NEWS
al policies on investments through
shell companies in tax havens.
Political challenges
Many economists agree that in
the end, the challenges of reining in
tax havens are not technical but
political. And here, one major problem is that some of the most powerful countries are themselves hosts
of tax havens. For example, prominent tax havens such as Bermuda,
the British Virgin Islands, the
Cayman Islands and Gibraltar,
which derive sizeable revenues
from their financial activities, are
British overseas territories.
Luxembourg, which hosts some
55,000 offshore firms, is part of the
European Union.
One of the startling revelations in
the Pandora Papers is about the
emergence of several states in the
United States, such as Alaska,
Florida, Nevada and South Dakota,
as major financial secrecy jurisdictions for global clients.
The Pandora Papers report, for
example, that tens of millions of
dollars have recently moved from
offshore havens in the Caribbean
and Europe to South Dakota, where
customer trust assets have more
than quadrupled over the past decade to around US$360bil (RM1.5tril).
US President Joe Biden’s home state,
Delaware, is widely considered a
domestic tax haven.
Given these political realities, as
well as the influence of powerful
vested interests such as law firms,
financial institutions and real estate
lobbies, it’s hard to be optimistic
about tax havens coming under
serious threat.
But revelations such as those in
the Pandora Papers make people
wiser about what is going on in
such places and will hopefully reinforce the case, and the pressure, for
reform. – The Straits Times/Asia
News Network
Vikram Khanna is an associate editor
at The Straits Times, a member of the
Asia News Network (ANN), which is
an alliance of 24 news media entities.
The Asian Editors Circle is a series of
commentaries by editors and contributors of ANN.
Focus 15
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
A tale of two state polls
If Melaka and Sarawak held state elections, how will they affect the much-awaited
15th General election?
It’s just politics
PHIlIP GOlINGAI
pgolingai@thestar.com.my
THE Melaka polls -- if they are held
-- will give us a glimpse of what
could happen in the 15th General
Election (GE15).
Since the state assembly was dissolved on Oct 5 after four assemblymen withdrew support from the
chief minister, Melaka’s polls must
be called by Dec 3 (if no emergency
rule is declared in the interim).
“We will know which party is
going solo, which party is going to
work with which. The Melaka state
elections will be a litmus test for
GE15,” said Prof Hamidin Abdul
Hamid from the Ilham Centre, a
political research firm.
Dr Mazlan Ali, a political analyst
Comment by ANNISA EROU &
TASHRYN MOHD SHAHRIN
FORCED labour and human trafficking within the fishing industry persist as acute problems and are intricately connected to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Such fisheries crime threatens
marine ecosystems and fish stocks,
which adversely impacts food security and sustainable fishing in coastal communities around the world,
as indicated by the International
Labour Organisation (ILO).
Fishers are often trapped in situations that include debt bondage,
long hours working overtime; verbal, physical, and sexual abuse;
deception; and abuse of vulnerability. Many have died because of these
horrible situations.
F, 31 years old, a former crew
member on a fishing vessel in
January 2019, shared in a
Greenpeace report that “The fishing
crew often got bad and unpleasant
treatment from the captain. We did
not get our salaries as promised.
Our passports were also held by the
captain.”
As many as 34 Indonesian
migrant fishers have detailed conditions suggesting signs of forced
labour on 13 suspected foreign fishing vessels, while 62 others on 41
fishing vessels and four refrigerated
transport vessels complained about
further labour and human rights
abuses in a follow up report.
In addition, ILO investigations
based on interviews with migrant
fishers from Taiwanese-owned vessels have revealed that infringements of labour and human
rights-related laws are easily detected in Taiwan’s distant water fishing
fleets. In an industry that is so dispersed and informal with many
other violations going unreported,
exact figures are hard to nail down
as the issue of modern slavery
extends far beyond these numbers.
Given the precarious work, the
ILO Work in Fishing Convention
188 was adopted in 2007. Overall,
this convention plays a significant
at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,
agreed, noting that the polls will
indicate whether Umno will cooperate with PAS or Parti Pribumi
Bersatu Malaysia.
According to Mazlan, if Umno
goes solo in these elections and
wins, it would mean that the party
has recovered from its historic loss
of the Federal government as well
as the Melaka state government at
GE14 in 2018.
“It means that Umno can go on
its own in GE15 without PAS or
Bersatu,” he said.
On the other hand, if Bersatu and
PAS, via Perikatan Nasional, contest
against Barisan Nasional and
Pakatan Harapan and win a significant number of seats, it would be
an indication that the coalition has
a bright future in GE15.
He said Pakatan will know how
it will do in GE15 if there is a
three-cornered fight (Pakatan vs
Barisan vs Perikatan) or a two-cornered one (Pakatan vs Barisan and
Perikatan) – “It will indicate what
support Pakatan would have in
GE15,” he said.
In GE14, Barisan, through Umno,
won 13 seats in Melaka and
Pakatan won 15 (DAP eight, PKR
three, Amanah two and Bersatu
two).
Prof Hamidin pointed out that
the difference between GE14 and
the possible upcoming Melaka polls
is that the voters had a clear choice
in 2018, Barisan or Pakatan (PAS
was on the ballot but did not win in
any of the 28 constituencies).
If Umno goes solo now, it will be
interesting to see where the Malay
votes will go, he said. He also noted
that with Bersatu no longer with
Pakatan, the big question is whether PKR and Amanah could win the
Malay seats.
Mazlan contended that the big
difference between GE14 and the
upcoming Melaka polls would be
the issues.
“In GE14, Pakatan used (financial
scandal) 1MDB to campaign against
the Barisan government. And it
worked as it gave a negative perception of Umno. And at the same
time, the young, fence-sitting voters
gave their support to Pakatan,” he
said.
For the next Melaka polls,
Mazlan said that Pakatan will probably play up the sentiment that
Umno is greedy for power, along
with the sand royalties issue as
alleged by Umno warlords who are
against some party leaders.
“The other issue is that the rakyat, who faced the Covid-19 pandemic, is seeing a bit of recovery so
it will be about which government
they think can bring political stability,” he said.
For Prof Hamidin, one of the big
issues would be leadership, especially in Umno.
“The Melaka polls is a fight
among warlords in Umno which
spilt over outside the party –
from state to national politics,”
he said.
Sarawak polls were due this year
as the state assembly expired on
June 6, but a national emergency
was declared which stopped them.
When the national emergency was
lifted on Aug 1, Sarawak declared a
state emergency until February
2022. Now, however, the talk is that
the Sarawak government, which is
led by Gabungan Parti Sarawak
(GPS), is seeking to lift that emergency so that state polls can be held
next month.
Unlike the Melaka polls, though,
Mazlan doesn’t think that Sarawak’s elections will be much of a
barometer of Peninsular Malaysia’s
political trends in GE15.
“The political reality of Melaka is
the political reality of Peninsular
Malaysia because the main national parties, such as Umno, PKR, PAS
and Bersatu, will be contesting
everywhere from Perlis to Johor.
However, not all of them are in
Sarawak,” he explained.
Dear Asean: Modern slavery
at sea is worsening
Stop the slavery: Indonesian maritime workers take part in a rally in
Jakarta to condemn abuses against fishing crews. — aFP
role in improving the welfare of
fishers and their families because it
sets minimum standards on occupational safety and health (OSH) and
medical care, rest hours and written contracts, as well as social security protection.
Provisions outlined in the convention also benefit fishing vessel
owners as improvements in OSH
can lead to a reduction in costs
from work accidents, and proper
documentation regulated by the
convention could save time and
avoid potential detentions in ports;
plus, a better protected workforce
will be more efficient and readily
available.
While Thailand pioneered the
ratification of the convention, both
in the Asean and the Asian context,
worker unions and civil society
organisations continue to observe
major flaws in the regulations and
controls on Thai fishing vessels that
amount to significant gaps in the
very system designed to eradicate
practices of trafficking and slavery.
Therefore, effective enforcement
and implementation of the convention must accompany the ratification itself.
Within Asean, there are many
driving forces of IUU fishing that
perpetuates modern slavery at sea,
including the absence of adequate
regulatory control over fishers and
fishing vessels, and the lack of effective management tools to manage
fishing capacity.
The weak enforcement of fishing
legislations, the evasion of payments related to fishing fees and
taxes, and incompatible legal frame-
works for combating IUU fishing all
contribute to the current predicament.
On top of its weak vessel licensing system and incapacitated fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance, many Asean fisheries are
poorly managed with limited concern for fisheries conservation.
Asean sectoral bodies such as the
Senior Officials Meeting on
Transnational Crime, the Asean
Committee on Migrant Workers,
and the Asean Intergovernmental
Commission on Human Rights are
key stakeholders whose mandates
centre on upholding commitments
to protect the rights and welfare of
migrant workers and South-East
Asian fishers alike. They are obligated to be at the forefront to empower and facilitate the entry into force
of the ILO convention in Asean
member states.
Instruments such as the Asean
Convention Against Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and
Children and the Asean Declaration
on the Protection and Promotion of
the Rights of Migrant Workers
(known as the Cebu Declaration) do
not cover migrant fishers unless
they are recognised as migrant
workers in the same category.
Across Asean, migrant workers
are referenced as land-based workers, not sea-based workers. Fishers
are not regarded as seafarers, ie,
migrant workers employed on
board a registered vessel. This
means that migrant fishers are not
granted the same protection and
rights as other types of migrant
workers.
All Asean member states have a
significant role and responsibility in
eliminating practices of forced
labour and human trafficking in the
Bornean politics, he added, is
also different from politics on the
peninsula as the issues – such as
the Malaysia Agreement 1963 – are
unique to Sabah/Sarawak while the
two states’ demographics are quite
different from that of peninsular
states.
“Sarawakians are not too much
into national politics. They focus on
Sarawak issues,” he said.
Prof Hamidin agreed: “Sarawak
is a ‘gone case’ as GPS will win it.
Sarawak politics is about the status
quo and nobody is rocking the
boat. That is why GPS has the
upper hand,” he said.
He observed, however, that politics in Peninsular Malaysia is moving very fast, and that trend is
reflected in Melaka.
“What matters most is the internal politics of parties such as PAS,
PKR, DAP and Umno,” he said.
An example of internal politics is
the issue of warlords within Umno
fighting each other – this is what
caused the Melaka government to
collapse when two Umno assemblymen decided to defect to Pakatan.
If state polls in Melaka and
Sarawak are held simultaneously,
the one to watch is in Peninsular
Malaysia. The possible fight
between Umno and Bersatu is a
must-watch event.
fishing industry. Combating these
issues is complicated as fishery
resources are shared by several
countries and fisheries products are
traded intra-regionally before
export, rendering the fate of
migrant fishers to lie in the hands of
many governments in departure
states and seafood importer states.
Laws and policy action thus need
to be unified in monitoring and governing these issues. As such, it is
imperative that Asean member
states draw on the standards of the
ILO convention to analyse policy
gaps during strategic meetings such
as the Asean Labour Ministers
Meeting, Asean Ministerial Meeting
on Transnational Crime as well as
meetings between the Asean
Intergovernmental Commission on
Human Rights and Senior Officials
Meeting on Transnational Crime,
and especially during reviews of the
respective bodies’ five-year Work
Plans.
To ascertain effectiveness and
move beyond the fora space, Asean
must take important new steps to
clamp down on the use of indentured workers on the high seas by
establishing a task force that specifically gathers Asean member states
in the same space to address issues
of modern slavery together and
take joint corrective steps ranging
from national regulations to technical arrangements along the fisheries
labour supply chain.
What is essential is for Asean to
employ a multistakeholder
approach. In remaining committed
to doing its part not only in promoting sustainable fishing practices
that use safe and legal labour, but
also to genuinely eradicate slavery,
Asean must coordinate, collaborate
and cooperate with the entire
industry and global community to
accelerate the pace of reform. –
Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
Annisa Erou and Tashryn Mohd
Shahrin are consultants that
co-lead the Greenpeace South-East
Asia ‘Beyond Seafood’ campaign’s
Asean Intervention team.
16 Focus
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
ressa reacting during an interview about
her win earlier this month. — aP
Muratov talking to the media after his win —
he has downplayed the buzz around his
name, saying the award is for all of the staff
at his newspaper, Novaya Gazeta. — aP
Obama speaking after being awarded the 2009 prize.
He donated his prize money to charities and the head
of one of them admitted to mismanaging and
personally profiting from the money. — bloomberg
Liu, the 2010 prize winner, faced
repercussions and spent years in
detention until his death in 2017.
— aFP
esquivel, the 1980 winner,
suddenly found he had access
to senior uS lawmakers and
european government
officials. — Wikimedia
commons
tutu photographed on Oct 7.
after winning the prize in 1984,
he remarked that it had ‘the
remarkable powers of an Open
Sesame’. — reuters
aung, who won in 1991 and led
Myanmar from 2015 until she
was deposed by a coup in 2021,
faced a backlash for her actions
while in government
ernment. — aFP
Paying the price forr
winning the Prize
the nobel Peace Prize brings overnight fame, but also
frequent scrutiny, trolling and persecution.
THE two journalists who won this
year’s Nobel Peace Prize have
become international celebrities
overnight. Maria Ressa and Dmitry
Muratov will no doubt benefit from
their increased prominence and
status. At the same time, the celebrity that comes with the prize will
bring a host of other challenges the
winners will have to navigate.
I have researched the impact the
Nobel Peace Prize has had on winners in recent decades, both in
terms of the unexpected challenges
they face in their work and the
newfound attention it brings.
Both Ressa and Muratov will likely face similar pressures, especially
considering they have worked to
combat authoritarianism in two
countries (the Philip-pines and
Russia) where the government has
actively tried to silence them.
How the award immediately
changes lives
Ressa has been lauded for challenging Filipino President Rodrigo
Duterte’s deadly anti-drug campaign. Muratov, a Russian journalist, has been honoured for speaking
truth to power as one of the founders of a prominent independent
newspaper.
Excitement surrounded the winners after the announcement.
Ressa, looking visibly shocked in a
Zoom panel discussion, shared her
gratitude with supporters. Muratov
was greeted with flowers and
champagne by colleagues.
During Nobel Week in December,
the laureates will receive their
medals and the money that accompanies the prize. Each will be
awarded 5mil Swedish kronor
(RM2.4mil). The funds will be a
welcome boost in their fight for
freedom of expression.
Like many Peace Prize laureates
before them, Ressa and Muratov
will undoubtedly use their acceptance speeches (and other appearances) as an opportunity to
advance their causes and condemn
repression by authoritarian governments.
‘The remarkable powers
of an Open Sesame’
Both journalists have now
attained what one scholar has
called “achieved celebrity” on an
international level, or fame gained
through accomplishments or successes in a particular field.
In the short term, both Ressa and
Muratov will benefit from the enormous international exposure they
have received. Their messages will
be relayed by media outlets around
the world. The journalism profession is also benefiting, given the
stature of the prize.
Previous winners were able to
reap the benefits of their skyrocketing fame in various ways. For
example, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel,
an Argentine artist and human
rights activist who won the Peace
Prize in 1980, suddenly found he
had access to senior US lawmakers
and European government officials.
According to one analysis, it
helped him and the NGO he
cofounded strengthen the huma
an
rights movement in Latin Amerrica
and contributed to democratisation
in the region.
South African anti-apartheid
activist Anglican Archbishop
Emeritus Desmond Tutu, the 1984
winner, once said the prize had
“the remarkable powers of an
Open Sesame”.
He remarked: “... things you said
before you got the Nobel Peace
Prize and not too many people paid
attention. You say the same things
[afterwards], and people think it’s
pearls from Heaven.”
Increased scrutiny and
tensions with colleagues
However, celebrity comes with
increased levels of scrutiny. The
world keeps a close eye on Nobel
Peace Prize winners, and outcries
are common after even the smallest missteps, especially in the age of
social media.
Recently, for example, women’s
education activist Malala Yousafzai, who became the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate in 2014,
questioned the institution of marriage in a British Vogue interview,
provoking fury in her native
Pakistan.
How the prize winnings are
spent is always a major focus of
attention too. This extends to the
humanitarian organisations created by the winners – and the way
others use donated funds.
For example, former US Presi-
— aFP
dent Barack Obama, the 2009 laureate, donated his winnings to 10
different charities; the head of one
of these charities admitted in 2014
to mismanaging and personally
profiting from the money.
The awarding of the Peace Prize
also sometimes creates tension
between the winners and their colleagues. This is partly because of
the Nobel Foundation rules, which
state that a Nobel Prize can’t be
given to more than three people in
a given year.
So while some winners become
overnight celebrities, their former
colleagues are sometimes sidelined.
Perhaps most sensationally, the
1997 awarding of the prize to Jody
Williams and the Inter-national
Campaign to Ban Landmines led to
bitter in-fighting within the organisation.
More dire threats from
authoritarian regimes
One of the biggest, immediate
threats facing both Ressa and
Muratov is potential harsh repression from the authorities in their
home countries.
Over the years, many Peace Prize
winners – and their supporters –
have faced severe repercussions
after winning the award.
For example, Chinese dissident
Liu Xiaobo – who won the prize in
Malala, who became the
youngest winner of the
prize in 2014, questioned
marriage in an interview
and faced fury in
Pakistan. She’s pictured
here in a 2019 file photo.
— reuters
ebadi, an Iranian
who became the
first woman
prize winner
from the Islamic
world when she
won in 2003,
has also had to
weather political
backlashes
since then. —
Wikimedia
commons
2010 – spent years in detention
for “iinciting subversion of
statte power” until his death
in 2017. The Chinese government depicted him as
e
a stooge of the West and
blocked information
about him online. His
wife spent nearly eight
years under house
arrest despite never
having been charged
h
with a crime.
w
Other winners, such as
yanmar pro-democracy
My
er Aung San Suu Kyi
leade
er in 1991)and Iranian
(winne
Shirin Ebadi
political activist
a
(2003), also had to weather political
backlashes. For this reason, one
commentator
t t has pointed out the
Peace Prize sometimes brings little
peace.
Tensions may already be appearing in Russia following Muratov’s
win. Even though the Kremlin congratulated Muratov – calling him
“talented” and “brave” – authorities
have begun to label other journalists and media organisations “foreign agents”.
Supporters of the imprisoned
Russian Opposition leader Alexei
Navalny have also expressed disappointment over the choice of winner, as well as Muratov’s approach
of trying to engage with Russia’s
leaders.
Ressa, meanwhile, has faced a
torrent of online trolling and
threats throughout her career,
which have continued with ferocity
after her win.
For all the glamour and worldwide attention it brings, Nobel
Peace Prize celebrity has a darker
side, which all winners have to
handle. As Ressa has said, there is
only one way to deal with it: “When
we came under attack, there wasn’t
really any other choice, the phrase
we used is ‘hold the line’.” -- The
Conversation
Lukasz Swiatek is a lecturer at the
University of New South Wales. This
article is republished from The
Conversation (theconversation.com)
under a Creative Commons license.
Focus 17
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
By RAVI VELLOOR
NEARLY a quarter century ago,
when she was a counsellor in the
office of then United States
Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, Wendy Sherman, together
with her boss, used their gender to
gain entry into the women’s section
of the refugee camps for displaced
Afghans in the Pakistani border city
of Peshawar.
The tales the two heard from the
women housed there were horrendous, and they included stories of
rape. One young woman had
escaped the Taliban – which had
recently seized power in Afghanistan at that time – by jumping out
of an upstairs window.
Today, the Taliban is back in
power in Afghanistan and Sherman,
the No.2 in the US State Department
to Secretary of State Antony
Blinken, is America’s most powerful
woman diplomat.
Sherman will do well to remember those terrible stories as she executes her nation’s foreign policy,
and acts to prevent more of the horror, now that she has the power
and influence. It is not a job she can
do alone; indeed, she must try to
enlist Pakistani and Chinese support
– two nations that have sway with
the new regime in Kabul.
For in the unspooling situation
caused by her President’s determination to pull troops out of Afghanistan, abandoning countless
Afghans to the mercy of a band of
tribals with mediaeval instincts, no
section of people deserve more
attention than women.
The pity is that in the past two
decades, Afghan females had made
significant societal advances. Nearly
four in 10 of the roughly nine million children enrolled in schools
were girls when the United States
pulled out, compared with the
fewer than 1% of girls in elementary schools in 2001. At the privately
run Ghalib University, 60% of the
2,400 students on the rolls had been
women. More than a quarter of the
249-seat national Parliament comprised women representatives.
At its first media conference in
mid-August, the Taliban held out
assurances that it would respect
human rights, including gender
equality – “our sisters, our men
have the same rights,” said its
spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.
But those words came with caveats: women’s rights would be
respected “on the basis of our rules
and regulations” and within the
Taliban’s frameworks of Sharia.
Since then, there has been significant retrogression, even in urban
areas. Female employees have been
told to not show up for work. Men
By SHIN JI-HYE
CLAD in a taekwondo uniform, a
13-year-old Afghan girl says she is
happy with her newfound freedom
in South Korea. She can participate
in all sorts of social activities that
had been limited only to boys in
her home country.
“I want to learn Korean and
work here,” she tells reporters at a
press briefing organised by the
South Korean Justice Ministry on
Oct 13.
Another evacuee, a 15-year-old
boy, hopes to make South Korea his
new home, saying he now feels
secure: “If I can get permanent residency, I want to think of [South
Korea] as my country and live by
helping Koreans,” he says.
Another 15-year-old boy wants
to learn Korean, go to university
and become a doctor to “help
Koreans”.
On Wednesday, the three teenagers housed at a government facility
in Jincheon, North Chungcheong
Urgent need to protect
Afghanistan’s women
More pressure needs to be asserted and three countries – china, Pakistan and the
united States – have unique levers that they should use.
Fighting for right: afghan women’s rights defenders and civil activists demonstrating in a protest calling on
the taliban to preserve women’s achievements and education, in Kabul last month. — reuters
on the streets threaten women who
are not accompanied by a mahram,
or male escort, even if they are fully
covered.
The pity is that the Taliban won
power back at a time when women
were entering surprisingly new
areas. Today, all the advances made
by a generation of women are at
risk. Some 230 women judges are
said to be in hiding, some in fear of
retribution from the people they
had dealt justice to.
It is not that the world is unaware of the predicament that
Afghanistan’s female population has
been thrown into. On Aug 18, the
European Union and 21 nations,
including Australia, Britain and
New Zealand, co-signed a statement
that said: “We are deeply worried
about Afghan women and girls, and
their rights to education, work and
freedom of movement. We call on
those in positions of power and
authority across Afghanistan to
guarantee their protection.”
Disappointingly, no Asian state
seems to have been a signatory to
the statement.
What can be done to alleviate the
situation? No single country has the
clout to tell the Taliban what to do
but combined pressure from a few
key ones – China, Pakistan and the
United States – can possibly make a
difference.
They could do so if, for once, all
three decide to put aside geopolitical considerations to act with a common purpose. To start with, the
release of badly needed aid, and the
release of money owned by the
Afghan state that lies in Western
institutions, must be calibrated to
better behaviour on the human
rights front, particularly women’s
rights.
Perhaps the foreign government
that has the most influence in Kabul
today is Pakistan, currently
involved in a global effort to muster
support for the government it
helped bring to power there. Pakistan is, in fact, on the verge of recognising the Taliban as the legitimate Afghan government.
Prime Minister Imran Khan must
check pressure from his military
and his own instincts to earn more
merit points with the Taliban by
holding off on recognition for the
regime until it meets acceptable
standards of behaviour.
Indeed, he must do so in the
memory of the mother he lost at
age 33 and in whose name he has
done so much for the Pakistani public. While his sporting exploits on
the cricket field made him a national celebrity, it was his act of setting
up the Shaukat Khanum Memorial
Cancer Hospital and Research
Centre in Lahore that initiated his
climb from cricket hero and global
Afghan evacuees share joys of new life
Province, shared stories about
beginning a new chapter in their
lives after being resettled there.
The three, who asked for anonymity for safety reasons, are
among 391 people – comprising
156 adults, 195 children and 40
infants and toddlers – who travelled to South Korea on Aug 26. The
Korean government flew them out
of Afghanistan over fears of
Taliban retaliation, as they had
worked on South Korean projects
in the war-torn country.
During their six-month stay at
the National HRD Institute in
Jincheon, the government will provide programmes on integrating
into Korean society that will help
them to support themselves. They
will cover a wide range of topics,
from the Korean language, local
etiquette and community rules
such as recycling, to consumer pol-
icies and gender equality.
The Afghans have received longterm residence visas (F-1). After
their adjustment period ends, the
government plans to issue F-2 visas
that will permit them to work in
South Korea so they can become
self-reliant. However, the law
needs to be revised to grant this
visa status, and such preparations
are already underway.
One instructor in charge of social
integration says husbands and
wives are taught separately
because they have different interests: “Husbands showed a lot of
interest in Korea’s economic policies, wage levels, jobs and apartment prices. Wives were very curious about parenting policies,” she
says.
An Afghan man, 36, says he and
his fellow refugees know that settling down in South Korea will not
be easy due to the differences in
the economies and cultures of the
two nations. But he says they will
work hard to fit in.
“With the support of the Korean
government and the Ministry [of]
justice, we will work hard to settle
here properly. If we work hard, we
can solve all the problems we will
face in the future.”
A woman in her 20s says she
sees similarities between Afghanistan and Korean culture. Both
value family and respect the elderly, she says. Both nations also have
a culture of taking off their shoes
when entering the house.
“(This is) something simple but it
makes us feel at home. Actually, it’s
something we have to be worried
about. If we visit our friend’s
house, we are concerned about
what to do and what not to do.”
For many of them, there has not
playboy to earnest national
do-gooder.
At a time when sportsmen scarcely earned the rewards they do
today, Khan had donated his entire
£90,000 (RM500,000 at today’s rates)
prize money from leading the
Pakistan team to the 1992 Cricket
World Cup. His party, Tehreek-iInsaaf (Movement for Justice), was
launched in 1996, two years after
the hospital opened.
China, with its own considerable
interests in Afghanistan – from
curbing militant Islamists to potentially tapping the country’s sizeable
mineral resources – cannot look
away either. Modern China is much
more aware of issues such as women’s rights, and even as its foreign
policy affects a muscular masculinity, Beijing would be hurting itself by
going overboard to back a regime
that behaves so poorly with women.
China does not suffer from a
shortage of influence. Taliban officials have described China as
Afghanistan’s most important partner and said they welcome Chinese
investment to rebuild their country.
Speaking up robustly for Afghan
women also would improve
Beijing’s global image.
These are moments when one
misses Fu Ying, once the most powerful woman in Chinese diplomacy
as vice-minister for foreign affairs.
In retirement, Fu serves as chair of
the National People’s Congress
Foreign Affairs Committee. With
dozens of officers who reported to
her still in service, she is not without clout in the Chinese foreign policy system.
Given the nature of the times,
and strained US-China ties, the
Biden administration’s Asia policy
czar Kurt Campbell, who knows Fu
well, may not be the person to make
that call to request her to weigh in
on behalf of Afghanistan’s women.
Sherman, on the other hand, can do
so without embarrassment. Every
little helps. – The Straits Times/Asia
News Network
Ravi Velloor is an associate editor
at The Straits Times.
been any big culture shock because
they had worked with South
Korean government institutions,
like hospitals and the embassy, for
long periods in Afghanistan.
They also praise the South
Korean government’s evacuation
operation, saying not all countries
could fly their helpers out of
Afghanistan.
“Some of them are still living in
a terrible situation in Afghanistan.
Some countries like Japan, they
were not able to evacuate even one
person. But South Korea evacuated
all of its members because they
played a very good leadership role
in terms of coordination with the
international forces,” one Afghan
says.
“Although there were some difficulties as the Taliban was preventing our progress, the overall evacuation process was very well done
and we appreciate that.
“The word ‘miracle’ is the perfect
name [for the evacuation].” – The
Korean Herald/Asia News Network
18 Focus
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Of Capt Kirk and final frontiers
despite the obvious pitch for publicity for a private spaceflight company, William ‘capt Kirk’ Shatner’s brief
visit to outer space resonates with a particular generation that grew up on tales of rocketships and aliens.
Comment by ROBERT GREENE
WILLIAM Shatner was at a loss for
words.
It was an uncharacteristic state
of affairs for the loquacious
90-year-old American actor,
recording artist and TV pitchman –
although, you have to cut him
some slack. He had just been rocketed more than 100km into the sky
and then, with his three Blue
Origin spacecraft companions,
touched down gently in Texas. It
took his breath away. For a little while.
And then they just
couldn’t shut him up. You
could almost sympathise
with Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of the
spaceflight company,
whose ear Shatner bent
with his impressions of
the short flight Wednesday
morning.
“Was that death?” he asked
about the blackness of space he
saw before him. “Is that the way
death is? Whoop and it’s gone.
Jesus. It was so moving to me.”
Amid violence, political unrest
and a continuing pandemic, 2021
has been the year of space tourism
for the rich and famous. Most passengers have paid for their rides
on suborbital capsules launched by
companies led by Bezos and fellow
American billionaires Richard
Branson and Elon Musk. But in a
savvy publicity move, Bezos invited TV’s Capt James T. Kirk to ride
as a guest.
It was a sort of closing of the circle for baby boomers all over the
globe, who grew up reading (and
believing!) books like You Will Go
to the Moon, watching sci-fi movies
in which rockets not only blasted
off but touched back down on
In this photo provided by Blue Origin, Shatner is caught looking out of the
‘tourist-friendly’ window in the capsule on Wednesday. — aP
Elated: Shatner speaking to the press on Wednesday after returning to
earth — he called his brief foray into outer space the most profound
experience of his life. (Inset) Shatner’s turn as capt James t. Kirk on
tV’s Star Trek made him one of the biggest sci-fi stars. — aFP/
Paramount Pictures
Earth, and following the adventures of Kirk, Spock, Uhura and all
the others in deep, imaginary
outer space.
As we grew up, space was different, if still exciting. Rockets didn’t
land, but fell into the ocean as
expensive waste. The promise that
we, ourselves, would go to the
moon was broken. But a handful
of Americans did go, and they
described their voyages for us not
like breathless travellers but like
the military men and engineers
they were.
But the very brief moon age
ended with Apollo 17 just before
Christmas in the United States in
1972.
We grew older, and just as the
vast majority of us came to terms
with the realisation that we would
never be professional football players, rock stars or presidents and
prime ministers, we let go of our
space traveller dreams.
Oh, sure, some older folks might
get a shot. John Glenn, the first
American to orbit the planet, hero
of our childhood, got a second ride
into space at 77 in 1998. But then,
he really was a US senator by then,
as well as an astronaut.
As people of my generation grew
older we came to realise two
things: We would not go to space;
and there is, instead, a very different final frontier we’d prefer not to
think about.
Yet here is this 90-year-old man,
from the pre-boomer generation,
standing next to a capsule fitted
with large, tourist-oriented picture
windows.
So despite all the legitimate
questions about a handful of billionaires using all these resources
to send rich, famous or lucky tourists into space, this one ageing
boomer and cancer survivor
salutes Capt Kirk. And all the other
space tourists too, including Hayley
Arceneaux, the cancer survivor
who a month earlier became at 29
the youngest American in space.
In 1936, five years after
Shatner’s birth, the movie Things
to Come appeared in US cinemas.
Based on the work of British science fiction writer HG Wells, it
depicted a struggle between the
human desires for exploration and
comfort. Will there never be any
rest, one of the characters asks,
after a rocket sends his child into
space?
Rest enough for the individual
man, his companion responded.
“But too much, and too soon, and
we call it death.”
The line comes to mind after
hearing Shatner’s words upon
landing – words unmatched by any
of those military men launched
into space by Nasa decades ago.
“Blue down there, and the black
up there,” he said. “Here is mother
and Earth and comfort and there is
– is there death?
Is there death? Not for now,
there isn’t. Not today. Not for
dreams, or the drive to make them
come true. – Los Angeles Times/
Tribune News Service
Space exploration should aim for peace, not competition
By KUAN-WEI CHEN, RAM S.
JAKHU & STEVEN
FREELAND
WHEN the Soviet Union launched
Sputnik 1 in 1957, it represented
humanity’s first significant foray
into the cosmos. Our imagination
was opened to the wonder and
lure of space for human endeavour
as science fiction suddenly became
science fact.
The launch of Sputnik 1 represented a significant moment in
human history.
At the time, the prevailing Cold
War mentality contributed to suspicion and fear about what it
meant to be in space, and resulted
in the military roots of space technology and applications. US president John F. Kennedy famously
stated that “if the Soviets control
space they can control the earth, as
in past centuries the nation that
controlled the seas dominated the
continents”.
The Space Race, as it would
become known, was characterised
by fierce competition between the
Soviet Union and the United States
to achieve space superiority.
Space technology and applications have evolved rapidly since
Sputnik 1. Seven decades of space
exploration and use have revolutionised the way the world communicates and greatly enhanced navigation on air, ground and sea.
Space science has enabled us to
monitor weather patterns, enhance
land use and greatly advance our
understanding of our own planet
and our place in the universe.
However, the desire to counter
the space ambitions of others and
to achieve superiority in space
seems to have re-emerged. Despite
the proliferation and commercialization of space activities, and the
recognition of space as an essential
part of every country’s economic,
social and scientific progress, there
is an alarming build-up of counterspace capabilities worldwide. Even
as private citizens can now crew
space missions, military strategists
are warning the competitive and
congested nature of space will lead
to an outbreak of conflict in outer
space.
Simmering tensions on Earth
increase the risk that humanity
may somehow lurch into an unimaginable space war, destroying
economies and critical civilian and
military infrastructure that have
become so heavily space-dependent. In April, the International
Committee of the Red Cross
warned the international community that “the human cost of using
weapons in outer space that could
disrupt, damage, destroy or disable
civilian or dual-use space objects is
likely to be significant”.
If a war in space takes place,
the devastation might have
long-lasting effects.
However, despite assertions to
the contrary, a space war is not
inevitable. A notion that space is
the new “warfighting domain” contradicts the six-decade-long understanding that space is a shared
area governed by international
law, where global interests converge to ensure its exploration and
use for the benefit of all countries,
irrespective of the degree of their
economic or scientific development.
The first space-focused UN
General Assembly resolution recognised the desire “to avoid the
extension of present national rivalries into this new field”.
In 1967, a decade after Sputnik 1,
diplomats came together
during the height of Cold War
brinksmanship to conclude the
Outer Space Treaty. Today, 111
countries are parties to this phenomenal feat of international
diplomacy, which underlines the
common interest of all humanity to
explore and use outer space “for
peaceful purposes”. The treaty also
affirms that space, including the
moon and celestial bodies, are free
to be explored and used by all
states “on a basis of equality and in
accordance with international
law”.
Departing from the traditionally
reactive nature of international
law, the Outer Space Treaty initiat-
ed the most significant principle of
law for enhancing the common
interest of all in space in order to
thwart potential colonisation ambitions in space. By declaring that
outer space “is not subject to
national appropriation” by any
means, the treaty established a
foundational governance system
based on mutual understanding
and friendly relations.
Since the 1980s, the UN General
Assembly has every year passed a
resolution on the prevention of an
arms race in outer space, the latest
of which reminds the international
community of “the importance and
urgency of preventing an arms
race” and calling on states to
“refrain from actions contrary to
that objective”.
The prevention of an arms race
in outer space is vital yet contemplates and may even legitimise
increased military uses of space. A
proper emphasis of the humanity
of space and the preservation of its
safety, stability and sustainability
drives the need for peace in outer
space.
The Outer Space Treaty, and
multilateral dialogue at the UN,
have for decades provided the
anchor to keep space free from
conflict. There is no reason why
this overarching legal and institutional framework for peace cannot
continue to shelter us from irresponsible behaviour in space. The
diplomatic language is shifting in
this direction, as are initiatives to
clarify international law as it
applies to the military uses of outer
space.
Governments, industry stakeholders, civil society and the
younger generations all have a role
to play in promoting the benefits
and common interests of humanity
in space, drawing inspiration from
the words of the first human in
space, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri
Gagarin: “There is room in space
for everybody.”
In an era when humanity is
faced with a climate crisis, a global
pandemic and the rapid exhaustion of resources, there is no room
for assertions of dominance and
superiority. Rather, the common
interests in peace that we all share
are even more important, both on
Earth and in outer space. – The
Conversation
Kuan-Wei Chen is the executive
director of the Centre for Research
in Air and Space Law at McGill
University, Australia. Ram S. Jakhu
is the acting director at the Institute
of Air and Space Law at McGill
University, and Steven Freeland is
emeritus professor of International
Law at the Western Sydney
University, Australia. This article is
republished from The Conversation
(theconversation.com) under a
Creative Commons license.
19
SUNDAY STAR, SUNDAY 17 OcTObeR 2021
Brunei
Myanmar’s junta
chief will be
excluded from
Asean summit. >20
Indonesia
Hugely impacted by
Covid-19, desperate
people turn to crime
to survive. >21
Vietnam
Artist Tran Thanh
Thuc finds success
with cloth creations.
>22
New Zealand
Country dispenses
record number of
jabs at ‘Vaxathon’.
>23
China
Chinese astronauts
arrive at space
station for longest
mission. >24
Indonesia
Muddy collapse: A soldier walking past houses damaged by a landslide triggered by the earthquake in Bangli, Bali. — AP
Quake and aftershock rock Bali
Temblor strikes just before dawn, destroying homes and killing three
All fall down: A man surveying the damage to a temple in Karangasem,
Bali. — Reuters
A moderAtely strong earthquake
and an aftershock hit Indonesia’s
resort island of Bali, killing at least
three people and destroying dozens
of homes.
the quake hit just before dawn
yesterday, causing people to run
outdoors in a panic.
It struck just after the island has
begun to reopen to tourism as the
pandemic wanes.
the US Geological Survey said the
magnitude 4.8 quake was centred
62km northeast of Singaraja, a Bali
port town. Its shallow depth of
10km may have amplified the
amount of damage.
A magnitude 4.3 aftershock followed. that quake was relatively
deep, at 282km.
Photos from the island showed
homes buried in rocks and mud
and buildings collapsed, walls splintered on the ground.
Gede darmada, head of the
island’s search and rescue agency,
said the agency was still collecting
updates on damage and casualties.
Apart from the three confirmed
dead, at least seven people were
reported hurt with head injuries or
broken bones.
the earthquake triggered landslides in a hilly district, killing at
least two people and cutting off
access to at least three villages,
darmada said.
It toppled homes and temples in
Karangasem, the area closest to the
epicentre, killing a three-year-old
girl who was hit by falling debris, he
said.
“Nearly 60% of the houses in our
village were damaged and can no
longer be lived in,” said I Nengah
Kertawa, head of Bunga village in
Karangasem.
Houses and government facilities
also were damaged in trunyan and
in Kintamani, a popular sightseeing
destination with a stunning lake.
on thursday, Bali reopened to
international travellers for the first
time in more than a year after
Indonesia’s Covid-19 caseload
declined considerably.
the country has had around
1,000 cases a day in the past week
after peaking at around 56,000 daily
new cases in July.
Indonesia is frequently struck by
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions
and tsunamis because of its location
on the “ring of Fire”, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines that arcs the
Pacific. — AP
20 StarAsean+
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Junta chief not welcomed
asean ministers exclude Myanmar leader from summit
Brunei
MYANMAR’s junta
chief will be excluded from an upcoming Asean summit, the group said, a rare rebuke as
concerns rise over the military government’s commitment to defusing
a bloody crisis.
Foreign ministers from Asean
agreed at an emergency meeting
late Friday that Min Aung Hlaing
(pic) would not be invited to the Oct
26-28 summit, current Asean chair
Brunei said yesterday.
The bloc, widely considered a
toothless organisation, took a
strong stand after the junta
rebuffed requests for a special
envoy to meet with all parties
concerned – a phrase seen to
include ousted civilian leader Aung
San Suu Kyi.
The statement noted “insufficient
progress” in the implementation of
a five-point plan agreed by Asean
leaders in April to end turmoil following a coup in February.
Some member states recommended giving “space to Myanmar
to restore its internal affairs and
return to normalcy”.
It was decided “to invite
a non-political representative from Myanmar” to the
summit, “while noting the
reservations from the
Myanmar representative”,
the statement said.
Mustafa Izzuddin, a
global affairs analyst at
consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, called the exclusion
“a political stop-gap measure for
Asean to assuage international criticism”.
“Second, it ensures its regional
reputation as an organisation that
can still play an active role in SouthEast Asian affairs,” he said.
Mustafa also said the move sent a
“political signal” to the junta “that
Asean is not one to be pushed
around, and that Myanmar must
show its seriousness and its commitment to roll out the five-point
plan”.
Myanmar, mostly ruled by the
military since a 1962 coup, has been
a thorn in Asean’s side since it
joined the bloc in 1997.
Elections in 2015 won by
Suu Kyi’s National League
for Democracy party ushered in the start of civilian
rule – but this was cut
short by the coup.
Asean has been under
international pressure to
address unrest that erupted after the putsch, including massive protests; renewed
clashes between the military and
ethnic rebel armies in border
regions; and an economy spiralling
into freefall.
The bloc has expressed disappointment at a lack of cooperation
from the junta, which continues to
crack down brutally on dissent.
More than 1,000 civilians have
been killed, according to a local
monitoring group.
Part of the consensus was to
allow a long-delayed visit by a special envoy, Brunei’s Second Foreign
Minister Erywan Yusof.
Asean has insisted that he meets
with all parties concerned but the
junta rejected any proposed meetings with people on trial, among
them Suu Kyi who is facing charges
including sedition and flouting
coronavirus restrictions during last
year’s polls.
Member nations had already
voiced their disappointment at the
path the junta has chosen.
“Malaysia is very disappointed
that after six months from April,
Minister Erywan has yet to be able
to be to go to Myanmar,” Malaysian
Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin
Abdullah said on Friday ahead of
the meeting.
“If there is no real progress, then
Malaysia’s stance will remain: that
we will not want the general to be
attending the summit. No compromise on that.”
In a joint statement on Friday, the
US, Britain, Australia, Canada, South
Korea, New Zealand, Norway and
Timor-Leste said they were “deeply
concerned about the dire situation
in Myanmar”, and urged Naypyidaw
to “engage constructively” with
Erywan. — AFP
Old job is key in case against US journalist
AN American
journalist
detained almost five months in
military-ruled Myanmar is being
prosecuted for an offence allegedly
carried out by a news service for
which he had stopped working
more than half a year previously,
his lawyer said.
Danny Fenster was detained at
Yangon International Airport on
May 24 as he was about to board a
flight to go to the Detroit area in the
United States to see his family.
He is the managing editor of
Frontier Myanmar, an online news
magazine based in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city.
Media groups and the US government have called for Fenster’s
release. He is among about 100
journalists detained since a Feb 1
military takeover ousted the elected
government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
More than half have since been
released, but the media remain
under tight restrictions.
Fenster had worked until July last
year as a reporter and copy editor
for the online news site Myanmar
Now, and joined Frontier Myanmar
the following month.
As popular resistance to the military takeover grew, Myanmar Now,
along with several other media outlets, had its licence revoked in early
March.
It was banned from publishing
on any platform but has continued
to operate clandestinely online.
Fenster’s lawyer Than Zaw Aung
Myanmar
Under detention:
a filepic showing
Fenster working
out of his van that
he turned into a
home/office in
detroit. — aP
said the judge on Friday’s pre-trial
hearing told his client that after
Myanmar Now had its licence
revoked, it continued to post stories
about the activities of organisations
opposed to the military takeover.
Those groups – the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Committee
Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
and the National Unity Government
– were all established after the
army seized power.
They have been declared illegal.
Contacting them and publishing
their words is punishable by two to
three years’ imprisonment under
the Unlawful Associations Act,
which Fenster was formally charged
under earlier this month.
The judge said Fenster had been
sought in connection with Myanmar
Now’s activities, together with its
chief editor Ko Swe Win.
Fenster had already been charged
with sedition for allegedly spreading false or inflammatory information.
That offence is punishable by up
to three years in prison.
Details of his case are scarce and
the hearings at the court at Insein
Prison, where Fenster is jailed, are
closed to the press and the public.
Military spokesman Major-Gen
Zaw Min Tun said last month that
“Danny Fenster did more than just
what a journalist does”.
However, he did not elaborate.
“It is disappointing that the prosecution is still alleging that Danny
was working for Myanmar Now in
March 2021, when in reality he had
resigned seven months earlier to
join Frontier,” Thomas Kean, Frontier Myanmar’s editor-in-chief, said
on Friday in a text message.
“It just underscores again why he
should never have been arrested in
the first place and why the charges
should be dropped immediately so
that Danny can go home to his family.”
Lawyer Than said the defence
and prosecution both submitted
their arguments on whether bail
should be allowed in the sedition
case, with a ruling expected at the
next court session on Oct 27.
He said Fenster was in good
health. — AP
Construction of cartography centre resumes
Cambodia
THE National
Defence Ministry has resumed the construction of
its Cartography Centre after a yearlong hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The centre is built with financial
support from China’s Ministry of
National Defence.
A ceremony to resume the construction was held on Thursday in
the presence of Cambodia’s Defence
Ministry secretary of state El Vann
Sarath and Chinese embassy councillor Chang Jian.
“The ministry’s department of
geography is proud to have a new
cartography centre.
“The Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces never had such a centre
before,” Vann Sarath said.
Back when Cambodia was a
French protectorate, he said the
French government created a team
in 1899 to work on mapping in
Indochina and they set up a carto-
graphy centre in Dalat city of the
former South Vietnam.
When Cambodia gained independence on Nov 9, 1953, the team was
dissolved and each country that
emerged from the Indochinese
Union had to set up its own institution to work on cartography.
Cambodia had one of its own
called “Khmer Cartography Team”
and in June 1956, a geography
department was set up. But it had
no map production facility.
Tep Chamroeun, director of the
geography department, said the
establishment of the cartography
centre – with the support of its
Chinese counterpart based on an
agreement on cartography and
navigation between the two ministries back in 2018 – represents
another significant milestone.
As per plan, the construction is
expected to be completed by the
middle of next year. — Phnom Penh
Post/ANN
11 students
drowned,
10 rescued in
river clean-up
Indonesia
ELEVEN students
drowned and 10
others were rescued during a school
river clean-up outing in Indonesia’s
West Java province, officials said.
Local officials said 150 students
from an Islamic junior high school
were participating in the clean-up
on Friday along the banks of the
Cileueur river when 21 of them
slipped into the water.
“The weather was good and there
was no flash flood,” said Deden
Ridwansyah, chief of the Bandung
Search and Rescue Office.
“The children who drowned
were holding each others’ hands.
One of them slipped and the others
followed.”
Nearby residents and a rescue
team managed to save 10 of the
students, who were sent to a nearby
hospital.
Rescuers used big orange inflatable rafts to search for the victims
and all students were accounted for
when the search ended on Friday
night.
The students apparently were not
wearing flotation devices.
Some reports said they were trying to cross the river, which is popular for rafting and inner tubing,
when they fell in.
Rains cause frequent landslides
and flash floods in Indonesia, where
millions of people live in mountainous areas or near flood plains.
In February last year, a flash
flood killed at least six students who
drowned in a river in Sleman district of Yogyakarta province. — AP
Number of new
Covid-19
cases
remains high
THE number of new
locally-transmitted
Covid-19 cases recorded over the
past five days remained high, especially in the provinces of Vientiane,
Khammuan, Savannakhet and
Luang Prabang.
The observation was made as the
National Taskforce for Covid-19
Prevention and Control on Friday
announced another 573 new cases
of the virus, bringing the cumulative total to 31,188, with 36 people
having died from the illness.
Of the new cases, 571 were locally
transmitted and the other two were
reported among people entering
Laos.
Khammuan reported the highest
number with 161, Vientiane 145,
Luang Prabang 45, Savannakhet 42,
and Vientiane 86.
Another 25 cases were reported
in Champassak, Xaysomboun 21,
Borikhamxay 31, Saravan four, and
Bokeo 10.
With significant virus transmission occurring in many communities and current levels of vaccination lower than needed to stop the
spread of infection, it is essential
that public health and social measures continue to be rigorously
adopted, the taskforce said.
While vaccination uptake is
increasing, more people are dying
from Covid-19, none of whom have
been vaccinated. — Vientiane
Times/ANN
Laos
StarAsean+ 21
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Ordinary people driven to crime
covid-19 pandemic forces the poor to steal in order to stay alive
Indonesia
THE Covid-19
pandemic triggered a massive job crisis that left
millions unemployed, with very
few legitimate options to put food
on the table. The Jakarta Post spoke
to three individuals about how they
resorted to crime just so they and
their families could survive.
Moch Jinar Ridwan is a 37-yearold father of two young children, an
infant and a toddler, who lives in
Jombang, East Java. He used to sell
bakso (meatballs) until Covid-19
arrived and left him without a job.
“Before the pandemic, I sold
meatballs in several areas in
Jombang to earn a living. However,
the pandemic made me lose my
source of income,” Jinar said on
Sept 29, during The Jakarta Post’s
visit to Jombang Penitentiary,
where he is serving his sentence for
a burglary conviction.
Jinar used to earn between 90,000
rupiah (RM26.55) and 100,000 rupiah (RM29.50) each day from selling
bakso. When the pandemic hit, his
income decreased drastically to
25,000 rupiah (RM7.37) per day,
mostly as a result of the government’s variously named policies to
restrict community mobility and
curb the virus’ spread.
“That 25,000 rupiah was not my
net income. With that money, I still
had to buy cigarettes for myself and
plastic wrap for the bakso,” he said.
The former bakso seller stole
electronic devices like LCDs and
computer hard drives from 23
schools in Jombang. He started
stealing in January, and his last
heist netted him 30 million rupiah
(RM8,850) in equipment from SDN
Podoroto elementary school in
mid-September, when the local
police caught up with him.
Jinar said he received 300,000
rupiah (RM88.50) in monthly social
assistance from the government for
just three months, after which the
aid stopped coming.
He was too ashamed to ask his
neighbourhood unit (RT) head
about it.
That was when he started targeting schools to steal electronic equipment that he could resell for cash.
Jinar told the Post he originally
planned to burgle just one school so
he could support his family. Still
without a job, however, Jinar found
himself unable to stop.
It did not help that he was making far more from just one burglary
than he ever did as a bakso seller.
According to Jombang police
investigator Brig Dwi Ari Suryanto,
Jinar surveyed the schools he had
targeted before carrying out the
theft. Jinar mostly targeted schools
that were padlocked on the outside,
Dwi said, because he knew then
that the school did not have on-site
security.
A case like Jinar’s was ineligible
for sentencing based on the concept
of restorative justice, said Jombang
police
chief
Brig
Lukman
Hardiyanto, as he had committed
the same crime on 23 separate occasions, enough to put him behind
bars for up to seven years.
“To grant restorative justice, we
always need to (review) the situa-
A group of leading Asian
newspapers working
toward improving coverage
of Asian affairs.
www.asianewsnet.net
tion. First, we can grant it if the
(crime) is not repeated. Second, the
perpetrator must report (their
movements) to us every Monday or
Thursday,” Lukman told the Post.
It is unclear who is taking care of
Jinar’s family while he is in jail.
Marsini, 55, and her niece
Yulianti, 29, were temporarily
apprehended
though
swiftly
released as a result of restorative
justice for shoplifting on Aug 31 in
Blitar, East Java.
During a visit in late August to
her modest home in Malang, East
Java, Marsini shared how she and
Yulianti ended up stealing a box of
formula milk, a bottle of cajuput oil,
a common ointment used to treat
headaches, pains and fever, and
bottled water from a mini market in
Blitar.
They were granted restorative
justice and told to reconcile with the
shop owner, as neither had a criminal record.
The Blitar police also gave them
1,000,000 rupiah (RM295) to buy
milk for their children as well as
five boxes of formula milk.
“Initially, I did not want to steal.
We went to Blitar to ask my brotherin-law for financial assistance. But
by that time, my brother-in-law had
passed away and no one could help
us anymore. We didn’t even have
the money to return to Malang,”
said the mother of five.
Marsini previously sold jenang
and cilok traditional snacks to earn
a profit of between 25,000 rupiah
and 50,000 rupiah (RM14.74) each
day. She had survived on this
income for over 20 years but things
came to a head when the pandemic
hit.
Her husband Roman, 54, lost his
job as a ragman that earned him
50,000 rupiah on a good day. He fell
ill and became unable to walk.
Yulianti’s story is similar.
“I did not have the money to buy
milk for my four-month-old baby.
My husband was unable to help us
either because he made money
from (an informal job) directing
traffic on the street and needed to
rotate (shifts) with 12 other people,”
said the mother of three.
Her husband Sugiono, 46, lost his
job as a result of the Covid-19 mobility restrictions and now busks on
the street, bringing home around
50,000 rupiah every day.
“For the last few days, our baby
has had a fever. He has not been
taken to the doctor yet. If both of us
cannot earn money, we cannot provide a living for our family,” said
Changi Airport allows pick-ups again
Singapore
HOMECOMING
will be sweeter
at Changi Airport with friends and
family members of passengers
allowed to enter the arrival halls
again after a five-month suspension.
The easing of rules comes ahead
of the extension of a quarantine-free
travel scheme to eight countries on
Tuesday.
Passenger pick-ups had been
severely restricted since May, following the outbreak of a large Covid-19
cluster linked to the airport.
In an update on its website on
Friday, Changi Airport said family,
friends and professional services
are now allowed to pick up passengers from low-risk countries and
regions in the arrival halls.
Professional services refer to people representing hotels, transport
providers or companies. These services had been permitted to pick up
passengers in the arrival halls since
September.
Low-risk countries and regions
are places that fall within Categories
I and II of a Covid-19 risk framework by the Ministry of Health.
These places include China, the
United States, Britain and Australia.
Changi Airport said anyone
intending to enter the meeting zone
at the arrival hall will have to present the passenger’s flight itinerary.
Alternatively, they can provide a
copy of their company’s authorisation letter/email.
Entry is allowed only after the
flight has landed and only one person is permitted to pick up each
arriving passenger group.
Alternatively, people can opt to
Yulianti, who had already tried her
hand at selling toys in front of an
elementary school in Malang.
“I have never received social
assistance from the government,”
said Marsini. “Maybe it’s because I
don’t have a fixed address and we
need to report our new addresses to
the RT, and this would be very troublesome for me.”
Yulianti said her situation was
the same.
Criminologist Dr Prija Djatmika
from Brawijaya University believes
that more empathy is needed
regarding the desperation of lower-income Indonesians.
“I don’t think these crimes can all
be resolved (with prison sentences),” he said, pointing to cases in
which the poor were jailed for a
long time for petty theft.
“If we always charge people without looking at their (life) conditions,
it will not solve the problem. Because
we have a huge welfare problem, we
need social assistance for less fortunate Indonesians,” Prija said.
He noted that people could not
always rely on the government for
help but as a society, the more fortunate needed to be aware of those
who were less fortunate.
“If the government (tries) to help
(everyone), let’s face it, it will not
work because we have a huge population. The economy is stagnating
and income is lacking while the
(welfare) needs of the lower class
are very high. So social action from
the community is also very important,” he said. — The Jakarta Post/
ANN
Passengers
happy with
partitions
in taxis
A RECENT survey
shows that most
passengers are happy that Bangkok
cabs have been fitted with partitions to prevent Covid-19 transmission.
“The Department of Land Transport has been conducting a survey
since Sept 20 via the QR code displayed on the partition,” the department’s director-general, Jirut
Wisanjit, said.
“As of Thursday, the survey shows
that 86.81% of passengers are satisfied with the partitions. Also, 87.88%
said they felt safer while 90.2% said
they want these partitions to be
installed in all Bangkok cabs.”
Meanwhile, 83.76% of cabbies
believe the partitions protect them
from picking up the virus from passengers when they are talking. Also,
81.65% of cab drivers agree that
every taxi should be installed with a
partition and 90.2% believe the partition will encourage people to use
cabs more and boost their income.
However, some passengers and
drivers voiced concern that the partition may obstruct air-conditioning
and reflection from the plastic may
affect the driver’s visibility. Some
also said the partitions would
require proper cleaning at the end
of the day.
The department aims to install
partitions in 3,000 Bangkok taxis
and 2,192 cabbies have expressed
interest. — The Nation/ANN
Thailand
More movement: Flight crew members walking along the transit hall of changi International airport. — aFP
pick up the passenger using their
vehicles at Terminal 1 and Terminal
3. They should contact the passengers before driving to the arrival
pick-up points, said Changi Airport.
In response to queries, Changi
Airport Group said: “With the
Singapore government opening up
more Vaccinated Travel Lanes and
moving more countries into
Categories I and II, we anticipate
that the airport will start to receive
more arrival passengers.
“Allowing family and friends to
pick up travellers from low-risk
countries/regions at the arrival hall
gives them an additional option.”
When The Straits Times visited
Terminal 3 on Friday afternoon,
staff were seen removing signboards stating that family and
friends can pick up passengers only
at the arrival pick-up point.
ST did not observe anyone entering the meet-up zone between
1.30pm and 3pm.
The area around the arrival hall
remains cordoned off, with a staff
member stationed to ensure those
entering are able to show either the
passenger’s itinerary or an authorisation letter.
Passenger pick-ups at arrival
halls in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3
were stopped in May when the airport terminal buildings were closed
to the public after the emergence of
the airport Covid-19 cluster.
These pick-ups then resumed for
professional services when Changi
Airport reopened to the public on
Sept 1.
The Civil Aviation Authority of
Singapore and Changi Airport had
said then that this was part of precautions to segregate arriving travellers from the public.
T2 and T4 remain closed. Both
have been shut since May last year
amid a drastic fall in passenger
numbers due to the pandemic.
There are no immediate plans to
reopen either terminal. — The
Straits Times/ANN
22 StarAsean+
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
La Nina, magnifier of storms, is here
Growing weather phenomenon may persist until first quarter of 2022
Philippines
THE state weather
bureau
announced the onset of La Nina,
which in the past had magnified the
effects of extreme weather in the
country.
In its first La Nina advisory this
year, the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (Pagasa)
said recent oceanic and atmospheric conditions indicated that the
weather phenomenon had developed in the tropical Pacific.
La Nina is characterised by unusually cooler than average sea surface temperature and associated
with above-normal rainfall conditions across most areas of the country during the last quarter of the
year and early months of the following year.
Pagasa said the sea surface temperatures in the central and equatorial Pacific started to cool in July
and the temperature further dropped in September, when the likelihood that La Nina would occur
increased to 70%.
“These past few months, signs of
emerging La Nina were not only
observed in the tropical Pacific but
also manifested in the Philippine
climate, especially in the wind and
rainfall pattern, and recently, some
extreme rainfall events in this first
half of October, which were associated with Severe Tropical Storm
‘Maring’ (international name:
Kompasu),” Pagasa said.
It said La Nina was likely to persist until the first quarter of 2022.
Also on Friday, Pagasa announced
that the southwest monsoon, or
“habagat”, was officially over.
“This means that the season in the
Philippines is now in the process of
transition, which will lead to the
gradual onset and progression of
the northeast monsoon (‘amihan’)
in the coming weeks,” the weather
bureau said in a separate advisory.
It said weathermen would continue to monitor La Nina, as past La
Nina events had brought adverse
impacts such as floods and landslides that naturally occurred during the northeast monsoon season.
“These events magnified by La
Nina have brought so much devas-
tation in agriculture and infrastructure, and had even taken plenty of
lives,” said Esperanza Cayanan,
deputy administrator for research
and development of Pagasa.
In 2020, La Nina worsened the
effects of Typhoon Rolly (Goni) in
October and Typhoon Ulysses
(Vamco) in November, which devastated the Visayas and Northern
Luzon, respectively.
Cayanan said severe flooding and
landslides in Mindanao in January
2009 could also be attributed to La
Nina, as well as the massive landslide in Guinsaugon, Leyte, on Feb
17, 2006.
The Guinsaugon incident took
place after a 10-day period of heavy
rain and a minor earthquake, and
Artist finds
niche with
cloth creations
Govt lauded
for heritage
conservation
Cambodia
Vietnam
IN a hot and stuffy
room in Hanoi,
Tran Thanh Thuc holds up a delicate silk scarf and begins snipping it
into tiny pieces, ready to paste onto
her works of art.
For four decades, Thuc has been
recreating Vietnamese landscapes
using vibrant shades of fabric cut
from scarves, traditional ao dai (a
long split tunic) – or whatever material she could find during years of
poverty in the 1980s.
“At that time, I tried to look for
woollen string, velvet cloth or other
very simple pieces to make my first
pictures,” she said.
“Now sometimes I cut them from
the very beautiful silk scarves sent
from my friends abroad.”
Often using hundreds of thousands of pieces of cloth to shape
trees, rivers and patches of sky, the
61-year-old artist doesn’t dare to
cool her home studio with fans or
air conditioning, even in the boiling
summers of the Vietnamese capital.
“If the fan is on, the details will
get blown away,” she said.
“So when I work, the environment is tough ... it’s just me and the
fabric.”
For most of the years that Thuc
claimed 1,126 lives.
Pagasa advised the public and
government agencies to take precautionary measures to mitigate the
potential impacts of La Nina.
Government estimates put at 82
billion pesos (RM6.7bil) the damage
to infrastructure and agriculture
inflicted by five typhoons magnified
by La Nina toward the end of last
year. The 2020-2021 La Nina occurrence was considered moderate.
Before then, the La Nina occurrences in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018
were both classified as weak.
The most severe La Nina in recent
history occurred in 2010-2011, which
was followed by a moderate one in
2011-2012. — Philippine Daily
Inquirer/ANN
Textile style: thuc working with colourful fabrics on a piece at her home studio in Hanoi. — aFP
has worked with cloth, she has also
kept a day job as a civil servant and
only had time “to do what she
loved” during the night.
But her fortune began to change
when an American collector bought
a piece in 2000 and around a decade
ago she started to be invited to exhibitions and her work began to sell.
Now her creations sell for
between US$1,000 and US$5,000
(RM4,000 and RM20,000) and she
has taken part in shows around
Vietnam.
“I am happy because they help
me to have a comfortable life and
I’m free to do what I want,” she said.
“My works are a summary of the
passion and the beauty that I experienced after travelling across this
land.” — AFP
UNESCO praised
the government
for issuing a circular to prevent the
demolition of heritage buildings in
Cambodia to promote conservation
and sustainable development.
“Urban heritage, including its tangible and intangible components,
constitutes a key resource in enhancing the liveability and resilience of
urban areas, and fosters economic
development and social cohesion in
a changing environment,” it said in
a statement on Friday.
Prime Minister Hun Sen issued
the circular on Tuesday.
“In order for the conservation of
urban sites, religious buildings,
ancient villages and houses to be in
accordance with the Law on the
Protection of Cultural Heritage, the
government prohibits the alteration
of exteriors that may damage their
beauty,” he said in the circular.
Unesco said Cambodia has a longstanding record for its efforts on
cultural conservation and this circular would strengthen the balance
between urban growth and development, and reaffirm the country’s
commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 11. — Phnom Penh
Post/ANN
Nearly 700 teachers told to pay back allowance by end November
Vietnam
NEARLY 700 teachers in Dak Nong
province are very concerned as
they have been asked to pay back
an allowance totalling 5.5 billion
dong (RM1mil) by Nov 29.
The money was wrongly given to
teachers in Gia Nghia City last year.
The conclusion of the budget
management inspection of the provincial Department of Finance showed that Gia Nghia City’s People’s
Committee had wrongly spent
roughly 5.6 billion dong last year.
Of that, 5.5 billion dong was spent
by the city’s Education and Training
Office as an allowance for nearly 700
teachers at 31 public schools in 2020.
The money, which was from the
state budget, was allocated to pay
allowances according to the Ministry of Education and Training’s regulation No. 6 issued on June 5, 2019.
Under the regulations, teachers
who work for state-owned preschools and primary schools in dis-
advantaged areas, mountainous
and island areas are given an additional sum of 50% of their salary as
an allowance every month.
Those who work for these types
of schools in cities and towns
receive an additional 35%.
Gia Nghia Township was marked
as a disadvantaged area until it was
upgraded into a city in early January
2020.
Teachers in Gia Nghia were given
an allowance of 50% of their salary
since 2005. That means since 2020,
teachers should only receive 35%
instead of 50%.
The Department of Finance concluded that all schools spent an
excess amount of 15% of the budget
and required them to pay the
amount back within 30 days.
The amount to be repaid was
estimated at 5.5 billion dong.
K’Toang, teacher at To Hieu Primary School in Dak Nia Commune in
Gia Nghia City, said he and his col-
Lesson time: a Gia nghia city classroom where teachers were told to
repay funds that were mistakenly disbursed. — Vietnam news/ann
leagues were shocked after being
told the amount they would have to
pay back.
“We are very shocked. The working conditions are difficult and up
to 60% of students are from ethnic
minorities with financial hardship,”
he said.
He said he would have to pay
back 15% of the allowance, equiva-
lent to about 10 million dong
(RM1,800).
A representative of the school
said Gia Nghia was still a mountainous area with many difficulties. The
population was sparse and with a
large number of ethnic minorities.
So the application of the lower
allowance level as that of other better off cities and towns for Gia
Nghia was not right, he said.
Phan Thi Hieu, Deputy Director
of the Department of Finance, said
all documents of the central government and the provincial authority
clearly defined Dak Nong as a highland province and Gia Nghia City as
a highland area.
Meanwhile, the regulations did
not stipulate the level of allowance
for teachers in highland areas.
There were only two different allowance levels for plains, cities and
towns, and mountainous, islands,
and remote areas. — Vietnam
News/ANN
23
SUNDAY STAR, SUNDAY 17 OcTObeR 2021
Security under spotlight after British MP stabbed to death
Leigh-on-Sea: The fatal stabbing
of British lawmaker David Amess
was a terrorist incident, police said,
as MPs pressed for tougher security
in the wake of the second killing of
a UK politician while meeting constituents in just over five years.
Veteran Conservative MP David
Amess, 69, was talking with voters
at a church in the small town of
Leigh-on-Sea east of London when
he was stabbed to death on Friday.
Police said they arrested a
25-year-old suspect and were investigating “a potential motivation
linked to ... extremism”.
Police have said the investigation
is in the “very early stages”, though
multiple UK media outlets, citing
Tragic: A photograph of Amess being displayed prior to a service at
Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea in southeast England. — AFP
sources, reported that the suspect
was believed to be a British national
with Somali heritage.
Britain’s politicians were stunned
by the highly public attack, which
recalled the murder of a pro-EU
lawmaker ahead of the Brexit referendum.
In June 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox
was killed by a far-right extremist,
prompting demands for action
against what lawmakers said was
“a rising tide” of abuse and threats
against elected representatives.
Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater, who
became an MP in the same constituency this year, said Amess’ death
had left her “scared and frightened”.
“This is the risk we are all taking
120,000 vaccinated in a day
NZ ‘Vaxathon’
target upped
to 150k after
100k achieved
weLLingTon: New Zealand
healthcare workers administered a
record number of vaccine jabs as
the nation held a festival aimed at
getting more people inoculated
against the coronavirus.
Musicians, sports stars and celebrities pitched in for the “Vaxathon”
event which was broadcast on television and online for eight hours
straight.
By late afternoon, more than
120,000 people had gotten shots,
eclipsing the daily record of 93,000
set in August. The event stretched
into the evening.
A throwback to TV fundraising
“telethon” events that were popular from the 1970s through the
1990s, it comes as New Zealand
faces its biggest threat since the
pandemic began, with an outbreak
of the Delta variant spreading
through the largest city of Auckland
and beyond.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern,
who chatted with motorists at a
drive-through vaccination centre in
Wellington, initially set a target of
100,000 jabs for the day but upped
that to 150,000 after the first target
was met.
Cretaceous, not Jurassic: Allan Beverwijk and Patsy Beverwijka, dressed
in dinosaur suits, arriving at a vaccination centre in Whangarei as Jason
Waitoa (inset) waits for his turn at a drive-through in Rotorua. — AP
She also set a target of 25,000
shots for Indigenous Maori, whose
vaccination numbers have been
lagging and who have been hit hard
by the latest outbreak.
National carrier Air New Zealand
converted a Boeing 787 Dreamliner
plane into a vaccination clinic for
the day, issuing people boarding
passes on “Flight NZVAX”.
Singer Lorde beamed in from
abroad, saying she couldn’t wait to
come back home to play a concert
and have everyone get sweaty and
dance.
“I am the first person to admit
that I find getting injections really
icky, but ever since I was a kid, I
have treated myself by going to the
bakery after an injection, normally
Thief flees in tractor
after bungled robbery
SYdneY: A thief in a tractor has led
police on a destructive chase through suburban streets and onto train
lines in Australia after allegedly
stealing motorbikes from a shopfront.
Queensland Police released dramatic footage of the moment a farm
vehicle ploughed into a motorbike
store’s window early Friday morning in Ipswich, west of Brisbane.
According to police, the driver
then got out of the cabin and
attached two motorbikes to a boom
on the front of the vehicle before
driving off.
But as the tractor attempted to
flee police vehicles, the two bikes
were dropped onto the road.
The tractor then hurtled along
roads and damaged fences before
crashing through a gate onto a rail
line while police followed.
Trains were stopped as the vehicle fled along the railway, cut
through bushland and backyards
before eventually sliding into a tree.
The man then ran away but was
for a custard tart,” she said. “So you
could do that.”
New Zealand has so far used only
the Pfizer vaccine.
For much of the pandemic, New
Zealanders have lived completely
free from the virus after the government successfully eliminated each
outbreak through strict lockdowns
and contact tracing. — AP
Busted:
The tractor
caught on
CCTV
carrying a
pair of
motorbikes
away from
a shop in
Ipswich,
Australia.
— Reuters
tracked and arrested by police in
the long grass of a creek.
The 41-year-old was charged with
several offences, including the dan-
gerous operation of a motor vehicle
and evading police.
No one was injured in the incident. — AFP
and so many MPs will be scared by
this,” she added.
Home Secretary Priti Patel on
Friday ordered police across the
country to review security arrangements for all 650 MPs.
House of Commons Speaker
Lindsay Hoyle promised no “kneejerk reactions” but told Sky News:
“We will take further measures if
we need to.”
Labour MP Chris Bryant wrote in
The Guardian that “sensible measures” were needed both in parliament, which is typically heavily
guarded, and in constituencies,
where MPs often hold meetings in
locations such as church halls and
high-street offices. — AFP
Indicted former
boeing pilot a
‘scapegoat’ in
MAX scandal
new York: The former Boeing
pilot indicted over his role in the
737 MAX scandal said he should not
be made a scapegoat for a pair of
deadly plane crashes.
“This tragedy deserves a search
for the truth – not a search for a
scapegoat,” said a statement released by attorneys for Mark Forkner,
who led the 737 MAX flight technical team and represented Boeing
before US air safety regulators.
On Thursday, the Justice Department charged Forkner with fraud,
alleging he misled aviation regulators during the certification process
for the 737 MAX.
The indictment of Forkner, 49, is
the first since two MAX jets crashed
in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.
“If the government takes this case
to trial, the truth will show that
Mark did not cause this tragedy, he
did not lie, and he should not be
charged,” said Forkner’s statement,
which was released by David
Gerger, a Houston attorney.
The indictment centres on
Forkner’s representations to the
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) over a flight handling system
called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS)
that has been seen as a root cause of
the two crashes.
According to court documents,
Forkner had discovered information in 2016 about a major change
made to the MCAS, but deliberately
chose not to share the details with
the FAA.
As a result, the FAA did not
include a reference to the MCAS in
training manuals for pilots.
In a message to a colleague
revealed in 2019, Forkner said that
the MCAS made the aircraft difficult
to fly in a simulator. But he deliberately chose not to share that information with the FAA.
Forkner bragged to his colleague
that he had lied to the regulator.
According to documents published in early 2020, he also boasted
that he could deceive his FAA contacts to obtain certification for the
MCAS.
Boeing agreed to pay more than
US$2.5bil (RM10bil) to settle a DOJ
criminal charge that the company
defrauded regulators overseeing
the 737 MAX. — AFP
24 StarWorld
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
The significance of the Chinese ‘rice bowl’
BEIJING: A bowl of rice might not
sound like much, but for the leader
of the world’s most populous country, a man who has known real
hunger, it carries a lot of significance.
In 1969, Chinese President Xi
Jinping, a teenager at the time, left
Beijing for the rugged, rural village
of Liangjiahe in northwest China.
He would spend the next seven
years living and working alongside
the community.
There, he saw people struggling
to put food on the table.
When the annual spring plowing
began, the women and children
would beg for food in other villages,
leaving what little sustenance they
had at home for the men who had
to fill their stomachs to work the
land.
Life was hard for the community.
There was always hoeing, herding and hauling to do, and at the end
of a long day, the dimly lit, flea-infested caves barely offered any
comfort.
Xi once asked villagers what
would be their goals for an ideal
life. Their replies would stay with
him long after he left the village.
First, they said, was enough chaff
to feed themselves so they wouldn’t
have to beg.
Second, they craved grains such
as sorghum rice and corn meal, and
third – a seemingly unattainable
dream at that time – was to have
rice and flour on the table at any
time, with a meal of meat regularly.
Their happiness was a full rice
bowl.
This is why, throughout his
career, Xi has visited the kitchens of
China’s underprivileged communities, lifting a pot lid or opening a
fridge, or taken time to venture out
into the fields to check the crops
and chat with farmers.
In 2018, during an inspection of a
padi field in Heilongjiang province,
northeast China, Xi picked some
ears of rice and said, “Chinese people should hold their rice bowls
firmly in their own hands, with
grains mainly produced by themselves.”
Less than two years later, a global
health emergency would highlight
the significance of this statement.
In February 2020, at the height of
the Covid-19 pandemic, the world
food market was beginning to strug-
All set for long space stay
china astronauts ready to spend six months at tiangong
BEIJING: Three astronauts successfully docked with China’s new space
station, on what is set to be Beijing’s
longest crewed mission to date and
the latest landmark in its drive to
become a major space power.
The three blasted off shortly after
midnight on Friday from the
Jiuquan launch centre in northwestern China’s Gobi desert, the
China Manned Space Agency said,
with the team expected to spend six
months at the Tiangong space station.
The space agency declared the
launch a success and said the crew
“were in good shape”.
The Shenzhou-13 vessel carrying
the three completed its docking yesterday with the radial port of the
space station less than seven hours
after the launch.
The mission, which is expected to
last twice as long as a previous
90-day visit, will involve the crew
setting up equipment and testing
technology for future construction
on the Tiangong station.
Mission
commander
Zhai
Zhigang, 55, a former fighter pilot
who performed the country’s first
spacewalk in 2008, said the team
would undertake “more complex”
spacewalks than during previous
missions.
The crew include military pilot
Wang Yaping, 41, who is the first
woman to visit the space station
Gravitating towards success: (from left) ye, Zhai and Wang waving as they prepare to embark on a
record-setting six-month stay in space. — aP
after becoming China’s second
woman in space in 2013.
The other team member is
People’s Liberation Army pilot Ye
Guangfu, 41.
The previous record-breaking
crew – made the first mission to
Tiangong – returned to Earth in
September after spending three
months on the space station.
China’s heavily promoted space
programme has already seen the
nation land a rover on Mars and
send probes to the moon.
The Chinese space agency is planning a total of 11 missions to
Tiangong, which is ongoing until
the end of next year, including at
least two more crewed launches
that will deliver two lab modules to
expand the 70-tonne station. — AFP
gle, yet under Xi’s direction, China
held its rice bowl securely.
That year, it celebrated a bumper
harvest for the 17th year in a row.
Hunger is now a distant memory
for the villagers of Liangjiahe and
hundreds of millions of others
across the country.
One extreme, however, should
not be replaced by another and Xi
has rolled out policies to address
food waste.
“When I was young, I was taught
by my family not to waste food,
(not) even a single grain of rice,” he
has said. — Xinhua
Seven
anti-China
disruptors
sentenced
HONG KONG: Seven anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong were sentenced by the District Court of the
Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region to up to 12 months in prison
for holding or organising and inciting others to take part in unauthorised assemblies on July 1 last year.
Figo Chan Ho-wun was sentenced
to 12 months while Tsang Kin-shing
and Wu Chi-wai were given 10
months, and Leung Kwok-hung got
eight months.
Chui Chi-kin, Eddie Chu Hoi-dick
and Tang Sai-lai were sentenced to
six months in prison.
Among the eight defendants, the
seven people above pleaded guilty
to the charges, while former district
council member Lancelot Chan
Wing-tai has pleaded not guilty and
will appear in court in June 2022.
Chan, Chu and Leung are serving
time for other cases, and the judge
ruled their sentence will run consecutively, meaning the three will be
jailed for 21 months, eight months,
and 23 months, respectively.
Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong said
their violations happened when the
national security law had just taken
effect and the social environment
was unstable, noting that there was
a risk of violence. So, imprisonment
was the only appropriate penalty at
that time. — Xinhua
Over 90 rattlesnakes found under US home
SAN FRANCISCO: Al Wolf is used
to clearing one or two snakes from
under houses but was recently
called by a woman who said she
had seen rattlesnakes scurrying
under her Northern California
house and was surprised to find
more than 90 rattlesnakes getting
ready to hibernate.
Wolf, director of Sonoma County
Reptile Rescue, said he crawled
under the mountainside home in
Santa Rosa and found a rattlesnake
right away, then another and another.
He got out from under the house,
grabbed two buckets, put on long,
safety gloves and went back in.
He crawled on his hands, knees
and stomach, tipping over more
than 200 small rocks.
“I kept finding snakes for almost
the next four hours,” Wolf said on
Friday.
“I thought ‘oh, good, it was a
worthwhile call’ but I was happy to
get out because it’s not nice – you
run into spider webs and dirt and it
smells and it’s musty and you’re on
“I kept finding
snakes for almost
the next four
hours.”
al Wolf
your belly and you’re dirty.”
But the work paid off.
He used a 60cm snake pole to
remove 22 adult rattlesnakes and
59 babies when he first visited the
home in the Mayacamas Mountains
on Oct 2.
He has since returned another
two times and collected 11 more
snakes.
He also found a dead cat and possum.
All the snakes were Northern
Pacific rattlesnakes, the only venomous snake found in Northern
California, he said.
Wolf, who has been rescuing
snakes for 32 years and has been
bitten 13 times, said he responds to
calls about snakes under homes in
17 counties and has seen dozens of
them in one place in the wild but
never under a home.
He said he releases the rattlesnakes in the wild away from people and sometimes in private land
when ranchers request them for
pest control.
Wolf said there are plans to
return to the house again before the
end of the month to see if any more
snakes arrived.
“We know it’s a den site already
because of the babies, and the
amount of females I found,” he said.
Rattlesnakes usually hibernate
from October to April and look for
rocks to hide under and warm places and will return to the same place
year after year.
The homeowners didn’t remove
any rocks when they built the
house, making it an attractive place
for the reptiles, Wolf said. — AP
Slithery
encounter:
nearly a
hundred
rattlesnakes
that were
getting ready to
hibernate were
extracted from
under a home in
Santa rosa,
california. — aP
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
25
26 Sport
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Super Kings superb show
Maestro Mahendra leads chennai to win over Knights for fourth IPL title
DUBAI: Ageing maestro Mahendra
Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings
won their fourth Indian Premier
League (IPL) title, beating two-time
champion Kolkata Knight Riders
by 27 runs in the final.
Chennai, playing their ninth IPL
final, made an imposing 192-3 after
being put into bat on Friday.
Kolkata, who had chased down
199 in the 2012 final against
Chennai, crumbled to 125-8 before
tailenders Shivam Mavi (20) and
Lockie Ferguson (17 not out)
dragged them to 165-9.
“We had match winners coming
game after game,” Dhoni said.
“Every final is special. If you look
at stats, we may say we’re the most
consistent team to lose the final,
too. I feel it’s important to come
back strong, especially in the
knockouts.”
Openers Shubman Gill (51) and
Venkatesh Iyer (50) put on a solid
91-run stand, then Kolkata lost
their way completely, losing eight
wickets for just 34 runs in a dramatic collapse.
Dhoni twice came close to dismissing Iyer, but first dropped a
sitter before the left-hander scored,
and the ball eluded the wicketkeeper above his head when Iyer went
for a pull shot.
Fast bowler Shardul Thakur,
who has replaced Axar Patel in
India’s Twenty20 World Cup squad,
picked up 3-38 while Josh
Hazzlewood (2-29) and Ravindra
Jadeja (2-37) ran through Kolkata’s
middle order.
Thakur’s twin strikes in the 11th
over derailed Kolkata’s hopes: Iyer
was dismissed by Jadeja’s splendid
two-handed catch in the deep, and
Nitish Rana offered a tame catch at
mid off to Faf du Plessis off the first
ball he faced.
Sunil Narine’s promotion up the
order lasted only two balls when
Jadeja took another blinder on the
edge of the boundary.
Gill attempted an extravagant
shot off Hazlewood and was out
plumb leg before wicket off a low
full toss.
Jadeja removed Dinesh Karthik
and Shakib Al Hasan off successive
deliveries, and when Deepak Chahar
had captain Eoin Morgan caught on
the boundary to the disbelief of the
Englishman, Kolkata was on the mat
at 125-8 in the 17th over.
Earlier, all four top-order
Chennai batsmen were amongst
the runs, led by du Plessis’ 86 off 59
balls. But the South African had a
lucky escape on 2 when Karthik
missed a regulation stumping off
Bangladesh left-arm spinner
Shakib.
Ferguson (0-56) had an off day
and conceded the second most
runs by a bowler in an IPL final,
while the other bowlers also struggled to stem the flow of runs.
The three cameos by Moeen Ali
(37 not out), tournament top-scorer
Ruturaj Gaikwad (32) and Robin
Uthappa (31) helped Chennai to set
a formidable total.
The IPL, the world’s top-rated
domestic league, resumed in the
United Arab Emirates last month
after it was suspended in May in
India due to Covid-19. — AP
Still a force: Mahendra Singh dhoni led the chennai Super Kings to
their fourth IPL title. — reuters
• Ob it u a ry • Co n do le n ce s
• Ac k n ow led g e m e nt s
• R eq u ie m s • M e m ori a m
• Menara Star (PJ) 03-7966 8388 • Penang 04-269 8000 • Ipoh 05-253 9269 • Seremban 06-762 6984 • Melaka 06-282 1909 • Johor Baru 07-331 5666 • Kuantan 09-513 1323 • Kuching 082-457 888
Forever
in our hearts.
Deeply missed
and forever etched
in our hearts.
Cherished
memories
remain
close to our
hearts.
Departed, yet
unforgotten.
Sport 27
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Mitchell shines again at Summit to grab CJ Cup lead
LOS ANGELES: Keith Mitchell (pic)
fired an eagle and seven birdies for
an eight-under 64 to take an early
five-shot lead in the second round
of the CJ Cup.
The American, searching for a
second US PGA Tour title to go with
the Honda Classic trophy he lifted in
2019, followed up a first-round 62
with another strong effort at the
Summit Club in Las Vegas, Nevada,
hosting the tournament moved
from South Korea because of the
coronavirus pandemic.
Mitchell hit 16 of 18 greens in
regulation in a round featuring
a 60-foot eagle putt at the par-
five third.
With afternoon starters still on
the course he had a five-shot lead
over three-time major-winner
Jordan Spieth, fellow American
Harry Higgs and South Korean Kim
Seong-hyeon.
Spieth had an eagle and eight
birdies along with three bogeys in
his seven-under 65. Higgs carded a
67 and Seong-hyeon nabbed seven
birdies and an eagle at the par-five
18th in a nine-under 63.
The South Korean, winner of the
Japan PGA Championship in July, is
in search of a first US PGA Tour title.
Mitchell said he’d felt the pres-
sure of trying to add a second title to
his resume – something he almost
did at the Wells Fargo Championship
at Quail Hollow in May.
He held a two-shot lead going into
the final round but finished tied for
third behind winner Rory McIlroy
– who said his closeup view of
Mitchell’s game convinced him the
American was the real deal.
While Mitchell appreciated that
view, he said he’d been working
hard to gain the consistency that
would make him a contender weekin and week-out.
Last season he made 16 cuts,
with three top-five finishes, and
missed 12.
“It’s like a roller coaster, and my
game is like that,” he said. “This
year, I kind of took a hard look at
my game. I felt like I’ve either had
the game, the potential I should say,
to play a lot better than I have on a
consistent basis.
“I just wanted to take this year
and just try to be as consistent as
possible, because I felt like feast or
famine was kind of my game the
last four years and I wanted to be a
little bit more consistent, a little bit
more patient – play like a Tour pro
and not just like a young kid out
there firing at flags.” — AFP
Seeds bite the dust
Favourites Zverev and tsitsipas crash out in Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS: Olympic gold
medallist Alexander Zverev and
French Open runner-up Stefanos
Tsitsipas slumped to shock quarter-final exits in the ATP Indian
Wells Open, losing in three sets at
the main stadium.
American Taylor Fritz survived
two match points to come from
behind and eliminate third seeded
Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) while second seeded Tsitsipas was shown the
door 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 shortly after by
world
number
36
Nikoloz
Basilashvili.
The exits of Zverev and Tsitsipas
means Britain’s Cameron Norrie,
who is seeded 21st, is the top seed
left in the final four.
The semi-finals are now set with
31st seeded Fritz facing Basilashvili
and Norrie going up against 23rd
seeded Grigor Dimitrov for a spot in
today’s championship match at the
Tennis Garden in the California
desert.
Germany’s Zverev jumped out to
a big lead in the final set and
appeared to be heading to victory
before he started to struggle mightily on his second serve.
“This one hurts because I knew
that after Stefanos lost this morning, I was kind of the favourite to
win this tournament,” said Zverev.
“But my tennis wasn’t there.”
He blasted a 135mph ace to get to
match point but then immediately
double faulted and Fritz won the
next point to take the game and cut
the lead to 5-4.
Crowd favourite Fritz dominated
the third-set tiebreaker clinching
the match with a cross court forehand winner.
“I put myself in a situation to get
back into it and I did,” said Fritz, of
San Diego. “I just kept fighting and
went after my shots and kept playing my game.”
This was just the second loss for
Determination: taylor Fritz returns a shot to alexander Zverev in the
men’s singles quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Open. — aFP
Zverev since losing in the fourth
round at Wimbledon. Zverev is 20-2
over that stretch.
Tsitsipas also fell in three sets to
the 29th seeded Basilashvili, who
recorded one of his biggest career
wins.
Georgia’s
Basilashvili
beat
Tsitsipas for the first time in three
career meetings and recorded his
first win over a world number three
player.
He defeated Roger Federer en
route to the Doha title in March,
when the Swiss great was playing
just his second match since a
13-month injury absence.
Leading up to Indian Wells,
Basilashvili said he had been working on polishing his serve.
“I am not surprised. I have been
playing good tennis for a long time
especially in practices,” he said. “I
just didn’t have the kind of first
serve. It was missing. I had big
minus in my serve.
“I improved my serve a lot lately.
That’s why I’m in the semis now.”
Basilashvili had never won a
round in Indian Wells until this
year’s tournament.
Tsitsipas, of Greece, blasted 10
aces but made two double faults
and was undone by unforced errors
in the two hour, 10 minute match
on the main stadium.
Basilashvili jumped out to early
leads by breaking Tsitsipas in the
opening games of the first and third
sets. He won four of the final five
games in the third and clinched the
match when Tsitsipas blasted a
backhand wide.
“I was under stress. My energy
level was going up and down but I
am happy with the way it ended
and I kept my energy level up,” said
Basilashvili, the son of a Georgian
national ballet dancer.
“At the end I was really tired but I
was physically able to stay on the
court.”
Besides saving a match point to
beat Federer on the way to the
title in Doha, Basilashvili also
won his fifth career title in
Munich in May.
After Friday’s win, Basilashvili
said beating his hero Federer had
been a springboard.
“My win against Roger meant a
lot to me because he was my idol,”
Basilashvili said.
“Roger’s win was very important
in my career. Beating Stefanos
today was as well, a really, really
important match.” — AFP
Azarenka proud of comeback win to reach final
INDIAN WELLS: Former world
number one Victoria Azarenka
(pic) said she was proud of her
fighting spirit in her comeback victory over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko
in the semi-finals of the Indian
Wells tournament.
Azarenka, a two-time winner at
the California event, fought back
from a set and break down to beat
2017 French Open champion
Ostapenko 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Friday.
The 32-year-old will face Spain’s
Paula Badosa in today’s final as she
aims to become the first woman to
win the Indian Wells title three
times after victories in 2012 and
2016.
“I thought the most important
(thing) was my fight, that I can be
really proud of,” twice Grand Slam
winner Azarenka told reporters.
“Analysing the game, it was a lot
of things that I could have maybe
done a little bit better.
“Overall, she (Osta penko) was
playing incredible in the first set ... I
was just trying to find opportunity,
create opportunity, for me to get
back into the match, to take a little
bit more control in the match, really
fight for every ball.”
Azarenka, who is searching for
her first title of the season, said that
she had endured a “tricky” campaign this year.
“There were parts where I physically couldn’t necessarily bring that
extra level, extra fight, which was
very frustrating,” the Belarusian
said.
Badosa defeated Ons Jabeur in
straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to book her spot
in the final.
Spain’s Badosa has reached the
final in her first appearance in
Indian Wells, cooling off Jabeur,
who has been one of the hottest
players on the Tour with 48 wins in
2021.
Badosa is seeking her second
career title, having won her first in
Belgrade this year.
Jabeur, the 12th seed, also
claimed her first career title this
year, winning in Birmingham to
become the first Arab woman to
win a WTA tournament.
Jabeur did not go quietly in the
second set, fighting off five match
points before Badosa clinched it on
the sixth match point when the
Tunisian hit a backhand wide. —
Agencies
Langasque
leads, world
No. 1 Rahm
misses cut
SOTOGRANDE: Romain Langasque (pic) carded a second consecutive round of 69 to take a one-shot
lead into the weekend at Andalucia
Masters as world number one Jon
Rahm missed the cut.
Frenchman Langasque made a
stunning eagle on the 17th to jump
to four-under and stand a shot clear
of Ryder Cup star Matt Fitzpatrick,
another Englishman Laurie Canter,
Ryan Fox of New Zealand and
Swede Sebastian Soderberg.
US Open champion Rahm, meanwhile, added a second round 74 to
his opening 78 for 152 – 14 shots
back from the leader.
Langasque won his maiden
European Tour title at last season’s
Wales Open but had made just two
of his last ten cuts.
“I played really solid again today,
like yesterday,” he told europeantour.com.
“My long game is very good, my
driving is really good.
“I didn’t make many mistakes,
that was the key for today. I stayed
really patient and had a lot of pleasure. That was the most important
thing.” — AFP
RESULTS WORLDWIDE
GOLF
ANDALUCIA MASTERS
Leading second round scores (Bri-Irl unless stated):
138: Romain Langasque (Fra) 69-69; 139: Laurie
Canter 74-65, Matthew Fitzpatrick 71-68, Sebastian
Soederberg (Swe) 70-69, Ryan Fox (Nzl) 70-69; 140:
Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 71-69, Scott Jamieson
72-68, Robert Rock 72-68, Julien Guerrier (Fra)
67-73; 141: Renato Paratore (Ita) 71-70, Jason
Scrivener (Aus) 73-68, Tapio Pulkkanen (Fin) 71-70.
Selected: 152: Jon Rahm (Spa) 78-74.
CJ CUP
Leading second round scores (US unless stated): 126:
Keith Mitchell 62-64; 131: Kim Seong-hyeon (Kor)
68-63, Jordan Spieth 66-65, Harry Higgs 64-67, Adam
Scott (Aus) 68-63; 132: Rickie Fowler 66-66, Tyrrell
Hatton (Bri) 67-65; 133: Ian Poulter (Bri) 66-67, Erik
van Rooyen (Rsa) 67-66, Viktor Hovland (Nor) 65-68,
Aaron Wise 66-67, Mackenzie Hughes (Can) 71-62,
Cameron Smith (Aus) 66-67, Paul Casey (Bri) 68-65,
Robert Streb 61-72; 134: Kevin Na 68-66, Maverick
McNealy 69-65, Hudson Swafford 65-69.
TENNIS
INDIAN WELLS OPEN
Men
Quarter-finals: Nikoloz Basilashvili (Geo) bt Stefanos
Tsitsipas (Gre) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; Taylor Fritz (US) bt Alexander Zverev (Ger) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
Women
Semi-finals: Victoria Azarenka (Blr) bt Jelena Ostapenko (Lat) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5; Paula Badosa (Spa) bt Ons
Jabeur (Tun) 6-3, 6-3.
28 TeeUp
SUNDAY STAR, SuNdAY 17 OCTObeR 2021
Punch through
it, let it run
In the wet, get the ball running
with a vertical shaft
punched through impact
IN soft and wet conditions, like how it has been
recently, it is sometimes tough to get the ball up to the
hole on long chip shots.
But there is a technique that can get the ball out low
and hot, with minimal backspin – a combination that
helps the ball run out to the pin in soft conditions.
It is a rather unusual technique but with some
practice, you will find this a low-risk, useful shot.
‘Punch’ it
The feeling through
impact should be that of
‘punching’ the clubhead
through the ball. Avoid
getting the hands leading
– this will create a
‘choppy’ strike and a
‘checking’ ball. Aim to
return the shaft to vertical
at impact.
Straight face
A back ball position will
give you clean contact
with the straight face you
are using to keep the ball
low and ‘running’.
Vertical shaft at impact
This shot can be played with anything from a
6-iron to a wood. Close your stance and
position the ball opposite your trail foot.
Avoid any forward shaft lean. This creates a
downward strike that adds backspin. Let the
shaft run vertically up, towards your right hip.
It promotes an early, shallow strike –
allowing clean contact with minimal spin.
Body, shoulders control
It should be like a long putt more than a chip.
Your hands and wrists must be kept quiet
and let your body and shoulders control the
movement – they create a wider arc to your
action and a shallower strike through impact,
which reduces backspin.
Nakajima, Lin the ones to watch in Asia-Pacific
The fortunes of number one ranked amateur Keita Nakajima (left) and
defending champion Lin Yuxin will be closely followed.
GARMIN have launched what
they say is the most accurate GPS
laser range finder on the market.
According to the global brand,
the new range finder has been
designed to help improve a
golfer’s situational awareness
with the Approach Z82 measuring
“precise” shot distances to
within 10 inches of the pin from
up to 450 yards away.
The Approach Z82 comes with
full-colour 2-D Course View
mapping through the lens and
Green View overlay on more than
41,000 courses worldwide
“Thanks to the enhanced
performance, the device can hit
the flag more consistently than
previous models,” said Garmin
vice-president of Global
Consumer Sales, Dan Bartel.
“The Approach Z82 utilises
some of the most prominent golf
features available on the market
THE world’s top-ranked amateur
Keita Nakajima and defending
champion Yuxin Lin are the main
drawcards of the men’s AsiaPacific Amateur Championship
that is scheduled for Dubai Creek
Golf & Yacht Club in the United
Arab Emirates from Nov 3 to 6.
This, though, is not to say that
any of the others in the field will
not win it. On the contrary, this
is a high caliber tournament
featuring the cream of the crop
from the Asia-Pacific region.
But when things do get
underway, much of the spotlight
will focus on Japan’s Nakajima
and China’s Lin.
Nakajima has been in fine fettle
recently and galvanised the point
with deserved wins at the Japan
Amateur Championship and the
Panasonic Open, an event on the
Japan professional Tour.
“I’m an amateur who is at
college, so it is an honour that I get
the chance to play against the
pros,” said Nakajima. “It provides
me with a great challenge to
compete against them and it has
helped me become a better player.
“My confidence is high but I
know I will still have to play at my
best in Dubai to be in contention.
“I would like to be with Hideki
(Matsuyama) when he defends his
Masters title next year, so this is
my best chance to fulfill that
dream and get to play alongside
him at Augusta National,” added
Nakajima, who is assured of a
place at the 2022 British Open and
US Open, as a result of winning
the McCormack Medal this year.
For his part, Lin said: “It would
be a dream come true if I can win
the Asia-Pacific Amateur
Championship for a third time.
“To be in the same bracket as
Hideki as a two-time champion is
surreal, so to go one ahead would
be amazing,” said Lin, who was
T30 in the 2020 European Tour’s
Abu Dhabi Championship.
“It is an incredible opportunity
to gain an invitation to the 2022
Masters and a place in the 150th
British Open at St Andrews.
It will be a tough task but I will
give it my best shot.”
Range finder with enhanced stabilisation
and builds on the foundation of
our first range finder to add even
more depth and distance
precision, and help sharpen a
golfer’s game.”
The Approach Z82’s improved
optics produce sharper images
and a superior viewfinder offers
better eye relief. In addition,
vibrational feedback
and the refined
laser ranging
performance
make locking on
to the flag more
precise and
intuitive.
“What sets the
Approach Z82
apart from other
range finders is the
supplementary course details that
are readily available in the
player’s peripheral vision,” said
Bartel. “By merging GPS
technology and CourseView
mapping, a 2-D image of the hole
is overlaid on the viewfinder,
along with distances to key
hazards and layups.
“When the Approach
Z82 locks on to
the flag, the
map
automatically
zooms in to the
green, marking a
laser ranged arc
at that specific
distance. Once
this happens,
players will be
able to know the pin position
relative to the front and back of
the green.”
The Approach Z82 can also
display wind direction and speed,
to help take the guess work out of
choosing the proper club. With
the new Hazard View feature,
golfers can also zoom in and
scroll through each hazard on the
map to see more details and
know exactly where the distances
to the front and back of each
hazard are being measured to.
Golfers can keep score and
track stats on the Approach Z82
by uploading their scorecards to
the free Garmin Golf app – a
useful application that keeps a
history of course stats,
leaderboards and scorecards.
Locally available, the Approach Z82
comes with a price tag of RM2,899.
TeeUp 29
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Saudi Golf boost for Asian Tour
Singapore events in January to ‘close out 2020/21’ regional season
Straight drive
ShAUN ORANge
shauno@thestar.com.my
THE Asian Tour is looking
forward with great enthusiasm
to the 2022 season and beyond.
Much of this positive energy is
borne out of the partnership
struck up with Saudi Golf, to host
the Saudi International – a
tournament that will have prize
money of US$5mil next February.
For the first three years it was
sanctioned by the European Tour.
Now, as the regional circuit
prepares to restart tournament
play with an event in Thailand
next month, after an absence of
some 19 months, TeeUp conducted
a wide-ranging interview with its
Commissioner and chief executive
officer Cho Minn Thant.
In it, Cho said it is “exciting for
Asian golf to have the Saudi
International” as their (2022)
season opener.
He added that two tournaments
in Singapore in January would
bring to an end a “thrilling
season” that stretches from
January 2020 to January 2022.
Four events were played
between January and March last
year, the Bandar Malaysian Open
being the last of the quartet.
The Blue Canyon Championship
set for November 25 to 28 and the
Laguna Phuket Championship
from December 2 to 5 have
already been confirmed.
The tournament names, venues
and dates of the Singapore events
are yet to be released.
With regards to the Asian
Tour’s 10-year Saudi International
partnership and a Golfweek report
that hinted at financial support to
the tune of US$100mil, Cho would
not be drawn into divulging if
there was any substance or
accuracy to it.
He said: “We’re not going to
comment on speculation. Our
10-year partnership to sanction
the Saudi International is a
crucial first step and a very
exciting one at that.”
Following are excerpts of the
interview, some of which will be
royal Greens Golf & country club, host venue of the uS$5mil Saudi International tournament.
carried in next Sunday’s TeeUp
pages as well:
Q: How important is the
sanctioning of the Saudi
International to your Tour?
A: There are wide-ranging
benefits, the biggest being that we
have a new flagship event with a
purse of US$5mil. It’s an addition
to our schedule that will provide
increased playing opportunities to
our members, lead to other
commercial opportunities and
allow us to expand our footprint
while increasing our fan base.
With the field that the tournament
sees, it is also a valuable chance
for our members to gain a
considerable amount of world
ranking points.
Q: What is the event to the
Tour’s membership, in terms
of numbers, etc?
A: The sprint to the season’s
finish line is expected to be more
exciting than ever, as the top-30
players from the final Order of
Merit will receive automatic entry
into the Saudi International.
There will certainly be a higher
percentage of Asian Tour players
teeing off as there will be other
categories through which our
Tour players will be able to
compete. Details of the field make
up will be announced later.
Q: The American media outlet
Golfweek also reported that the
The bulk of the Saudi
International field will
come from an open
category which is for the
top-200 in the world,
regardless of the Tour.
cho Minn thant
US PGA Tour will refuse to
allow some of its biggest stars to
play in what they termed is a
“controversial Saudi
International” next year – what
is the Asian Tour’s view on this?
A: We have every expectation
that the Saudi International will
continue to field the world’s top
golfers and maintain its
positioning as one of the most
competitive tournaments across
the sport.
Q: The Golfweek report also
added that the European Tour
plans to deny permits for its
members to compete in event
– what is your view on this?
A: We’ll welcome all eligible
players regardless of which Tour
they are from, in an open
category. And we look forward
to constructive dialogue on
the matter.
Q: Does the Malaysian Open,
which happened to be the Asian
Tour’s last event proper (March
2020), still figure in your plans?
A: We were delighted to
welcome the Malaysian Open
back to our schedule last year,
after a gap of five years. It was
certainly very unfortunate that it
was the last event played before
Covid-19 hit. The event definitely
features in our plans going
forward and like all events in the
near future we will need to stage
it in an environment that
observes all Covid protocols.
Q: Is the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), which is now also part of
the Asia-Pacific Confederation,
in the sights of the Asian Tour,
and if so what sort of presence
do you have there, given that
they also host several European
Tour events?
A: The Middle East is where
East meets West. There is no hard
and fast rule regarding which
Tour’s territory the region falls
under. As you know, the
European Tour stage a number of
events in the Middle East, but the
Asian Tour has also enjoyed
playing events there in the past.
We now have a partnership with
Golf Saudi to sanction the Saudi
International for the next 10
years. And we are also in the
early stages of discussions for our
Asian Development Tour to work
more closely with the Middle East
& North Africa (Mena) Tour. We
will certainly be looking at doing
more business in the Middle East
in future and we believe we have
the right partners to do that.
Q: What number of events can
we expect on the schedule next
season – besides the Majors,
WGCs, those in Europe and the
Japan Golf Tour?
A: Our goal has always been to
provide our members with
23 to 25 sanctioned tournaments
in any given season, not inclusive
of the Majors and WGCs. But now,
our primary focus has been on
finishing the current season and
it’s exciting that is about to
happen. We have worked very
hard behind the scenes to make
that possible. Announcements on
2022 will follow later. As you can
imagine we have to plan carefully
and wisely at the moment due to
the Covid-19 pandemic.
Q: What do you make of those
who have questioned the
integrity of crowning an Order
of Merit champion when only
two events have been lined up
this year?
A: Actually, we have four events
planned to complete the season:
two on Phuket Island in Thailand
(Nov/Dec) and two in Singapore
(Jan). So, this would mean the
(2020/21) season will boast eight
events, which will be an excellent
result after a difficult and
fractured season. It is imperative
we complete the Order of
Merit and then determine who
can compete in the seasonopening US$5mil Saudi
International. This will allow us to
make a fresh start to 2022.
30 Sport
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Struggle for Parisians
Europeans
ready to
block FIFA
PSG scrape win over angers with late Mbappe penalty W-Cup plans
regardless
RESULT
of vote
Paris St Germain 2 Angers 1.
Leading standings: Paris St Germain 27, Lens 18, Nice
16, Angers 16, Marseille 14.
PARIS: Kylian Mbappe converted
a soft late video assisted referee
(VAR) penalty award to give a Paris
St Germain side, who are missing
Lionel Messi and Neymar, a 2-1
win over Angers in Ligue 1.
PSG had to come from behind,
with Danilo Pereira heading in the
equaliser midway through the second half after Angelo Fulgini had
given the away side the lead at the
Parc des Princes.
Mbappe then finished emphatically from the spot with three minutes left after Angers defender
Pierrick Capelle had been penalised for a handball only seen by the
referee following a review of the
images.
Beaten at Rennes in their last
game before the international
break, Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG
side have now won nine of their 10
Ligue 1 outings this season and are
nine points clear of Lens in second.
The victory, which PSG will say
was deserved on the overall balance of play, came without their
South American stars who were in
World Cup qualifying action across
the Atlantic less than 24 hours earlier.
Messi, Angel Di Maria and
Leandro Paredes all played in
Argentina’s 1-0 win over Peru in
Buenos Aires, while Neymar scored
and Marquinhos was an unused
substitute as Brazil crushed
Uruguay 4-1 in the Amazonian city
of Manaus.
“We were without 80% to 90% of
our players during the international break, but the players who haven’t played much put in a great
effort and it’s a great three points,”
said Pochettino, who was grateful
for the presence of Mbappe.
“We know Kylian is a great play-
No sweat: Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe celebrating after scoring a penalty against angers during the
Ligue 1 match at the Parc des Princes. — aFP
“We know Kylian
is a great player,
one of the best in
the world, and he
shows up when
the team need
him.”
Mauricio Pochettino
er, one of the best in the world, and
he shows up when the team need
him.”
PSG will hope to have their South
American contingent back for their
home Champions League clash
with Leipzig on Tuesday, but
against Angers a much-changed
team nearly paid the price for a
lethargic start.
Pochettino made seven changes,
with the likes of Colin Dagba and
Rafinha getting rare starts, and it
was Angers who took the lead nine
minutes before half-time.
The visitors, who had lost just
once this season prior to this game
and sat fourth in the table, broke
forward quickly and Sofiane
Boufal’s superb low ball from the
right was turned in at the back post
by Fulgini.
Ander Herrera had a goal ruled
out for offside for the home side
just before the break, and after the
restart it was Mbappe who inevitably dug PSG out of a hole.
Fresh from scoring France’s winner in last weekend’s UEFA Nations
League final against Spain, Mbappe
set up the 69th-minute leveller as
his delightful clipped cross from
the right was nodded in from close
range by Pereira.
With seven minutes left Mbappe
sprinted for the byline and cut
back a cross for Mauro Icardi,
whose header was weak and was
deflected into the arms of Angers
goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni.
However, a VAR review showed
the ball, while initially heading off
target, was taken towards the goal
by a touch off the arm of Capelle.
The referee pointed to the spot
and Mbappe gladly took the chance
to win the game with his fifth
league goal of the season, but it
was a bitter pill for the away team
to swallow.
“There is no shame in losing
here but not like that, it’s just not
possible,” angry Angers defender
Romain Thomas told Amazon
Prime. — AFP
Infantino: Biennial World Cup
gives countries chance to ‘dream’
CARACAS: FIFA president Gianni
Infantino defended his plan to hold
the World Cup every two years during a visit to Venezuela, a country
that has never qualified for the global showpiece.
The biennial World Cup project,
which has the backing of former
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger,
has come in for heavy criticism from
continental federations UEFA and
Conmebol, as well as coaches and
pundits.
“Our job as FIFA is to constantly
think about how we can improve
football in the world, to make football truly global,” Infantino said during an event in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.
“The FIFA president is president of
the 111 countries and all those countries have the right to dream, a
dream like the Vinotinto (Venezuela’s
national team) dream.
“They also have to be able to
achieve that dream because if you
have to dream for eternity, in the
end you prefer to do other things.”
Infantino insisted that a biennial
World Cup would increase the
chances for smaller nations to qualify.
“When it was decided to organise
a World Cup every four years, more
or less 100 years ago, FIFA had 40
countries. It’s time to re-analyse the
issue.”
Infantino said South American
sides were often at a disadvantage
due to the amount of travel they
have to do compared to European
sides.
Europe has hosted the World Cup
more than twice as often (11 times)
than any other continent.
South America have welcomed
the tournament five times.
Africa and Asia have only hosted it
once each, although the next one is
in Qatar.
“If Messi has to travel 350,000km
to play a World Cup and Cristiano
Ronaldo 50,000km to play ... I think
it’s normal that in June the South
Americans are a bit more tired than
the Europeans,” said Infantino.
“Since 2002, Brazil have not won a
single World Cup knockout match
against a European side ... not for 20
years, and that’s Brazil!” — AFP
Forging ties: FIFa president Gianni Infantino (left) shaking hands with
Venezuela President nicolas Maduro at the Miraflores Palace. — reuters
LONDON: FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup face being blocked by
European and South American
opponents, even if they are given
the backing of the majority of football federations, multiple sources
have said.
FIFA’s proposals are set to be
voted on in December by the 211
member associations of global football’s governing body, with president Gianni Infantino travelling the
world to rally support for the plan,
which has been fronted by former
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
While sources close to FIFA indicate that Infantino is confident he
can get a majority, with support
from federations in Africa, Asia and
the Caribbean, turning that support
into actual change may prove more
difficult.
European and South American
clubs, leagues and confederations
are confident they can stop the
plan, regardless of the outcome of a
vote, multiple sources have said,
raising the prospect of a damaging
split in the international game.
European confederation UEFA
have threatened to boycott an additional World Cup, while South
American body Conmebol are also
opposed to the plans.
“Considering the clubs, the
leagues, UEFA and Conmebol are all
against this, it is unlikely that they
would abide by the FIFA calendar,”
said one senior football industry
source with knowledge of the discussions between opponents of the
plan.
FIFA have argued that a biennial
World Cup would lead to increased
chances for countries to play in the
tournament and that a streamlined
qualification process, with fewer
international breaks, would reduce
international travel for players.
UEFA said that a more frequently
held World Cup would dilute the
competition’s prestige and that
holding major tournaments every
year would increase the load on
players and crowd the schedule.
In a statement on Friday, UEFA
said that the proposals “would damage all forms of football and devalue the competition itself”.
“This concept has all the hallmarks of a decision that FIFA want
to take in haste and leave the rest of
the game to repent bitterly at leisure. Any perceived attraction is
shallow, while the pitfalls are cavernous,” the organisation said.
“UEFA will continue to oppose it
until common sense prevails and
the plans are dropped.”
Infantino shows no sign of backing down, however, and was holding meetings with South American
federations on Friday.
FIFA’s ruling council are due to
meet on Wednesday when they are
expected to decide whether
December’s meeting of all their federations will be a full Extraordinary
Congress or another “global summit”.
The proposals are part of a major
overhaul of the international match
calendar, which determines when
clubs have to release players for
international duty.
The legitimacy of that calendar
would be challenged if a biennial
World Cup were to be included and
then boycotted. — Reuters
Sport 31
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Pedri signs new deal with ‘greatest club’ Barcelona
BARCELONA: Barcelona midfielder Pedri
Gonzalez (pic) signed a new contract through
2026, with the club hoping the teenager can
help them recover from the traumatic departure of Lionel Messi.
Pedri has been one of the very few bright
spots for Barcelona over the past year, during
which a president has resigned and their debt
has skyrocketed. Barcelona had to let Messi
walk away when they could not pay his wages.
Painful losses on the field have followed.
“My desire was to remain here for many
years,” the 18-year-old Pedri said after signing.
“It is true that we are going through a difficult
moment, but we are the greatest club in the
world and we are going to work this out.”
Pedri is coming off a breakout season, his first
with Barcelona after joining from Las Palmas.
The playmaker led Barcelona with 53 appearances, helping them win the Spanish King’s Cup.
Pedri also became a key player for Spain,
helping the national team reach the semi-finals
of the European Championship and winning a
silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
His salary was not made public but Barcelona
president Joan Laporta thanked Pedri for making “an effort” to reach an agreement that the
cash-strapped club could afford.
An exultant Laporta, who at one point in their
joint news conference accidentally called Pedri
“Messi”, said re-signing the teenager was “one
of those days when it pays to be Barca’s president.”
In a sign of the expectations Barcelona have
placed on Pedri, his contract includes a release
clause of €1bil (RM4.8bil), the highest in club
history. Barcelona director of football Mateu
Alemany said Pedri’s release clause “means he
will be off the market for several years”.
Pedri signed for Barcelona in 2019 from Las
Palmas, a second-division club on his native
Canary Islands.
At Barcelona, Pedri quickly convinced coach
Ronald Koeman that he should be his central
playmaker in a similar role to former great
Andres Iniesta.
Spain coach Luis Enrique took note and gave
Pedri a starting spot in the European
Championship, where his precision passing and
ball control earned him the award for the tournament’s best young player.
With Messi gone and no money to make big
signings, Pedri forms part of a youth movement
at Barcelona along with forward Ansu Fati and
Gavi Paez, who recently became the youngest
player to debut for Spain at age 17.
Pedri is currently recovering from a left thigh
injury. He said that he did not believe the injury
was due to the staggering total of 74 matches he
played for country and club last season.
“I am eager to get back out there and make
good on the trust that (the club) have placed in
me,” Pedri said. — AP
Bruce not bruised
under-fire manager vows to fight for newcastle job
LONDON: Newcastle manager
Steve Bruce says he will fight to
keep his job as speculation swirls
that he faces the sack despite being
allowed to take charge of today’s
game against Tottenham.
Bruce will reach 1,000 matches
as a manager this weekend, but
that landmark could be a bittersweet moment if it proves to be his
last game as boss at St James’ Park.
The 60-year-old was reportedly
set for the sack following last
week’s £305mil (RM1.7bil) takeover
of the English Premier League
strugglers by a Saudi-led consortium.
Bruce has been granted a stay of
execution after new Newcastle
director
Amanda
Staveley
announced on Friday there would
be no immediate decision on his
future.
“We have had an extremely busy
week reviewing the business and
getting to know people and it is
imperative that we continue to be
patient and considered in our
approach,” Staveley said in a statement.
“We met Steve and the players
on Monday and have given them
the time and space this week to
focus on preparing for what is a
very important game on Sunday
(today).”
It remains unlikely former
Manchester United defender Bruce
will be in charge for much longer.
The Magpies have been linked
with former Chelsea boss Frank
Lampard, ex-Borussia Dortmund
manager Lucien Favre and
Villarreal chief Unai Emery among
many others.
However, Bruce made it clear he
would love the opportunity to turn
underperforming
Newcastle
around.
“Who wouldn’t want to try? I’m
not going to give up the hope of it,”
Bruce said at his pre-match press
conference on Friday.
“Who wouldn’t want this job
now going forward, the way it is,
the way it looks in the future?
“Certainly I would and I’m sure
there’s hundreds who’d want to do
Palace boss
Vieira
ready for
‘emotional’
Arsenal return
LONDON: Crystal Palace boss
Patrick Vieira is looking forward to
an emotional return to Arsenal as he
prepares to face his old club for the
first time in his managerial career.
Vieira heads to the Emirates
tomorrow for an occasion that will
stir countless memories for the former Arsenal and France star.
The 45-year-old won three English
Premier League titles and four
English FA Cups with Arsenal, captaining them through their unbeaten “Invincible” top-flight season in
2003-2004.
He played around 400 games for
the Gunners after joining from AC
Milan in 1996 – proving one of
Arsene Wenger’s most astute signings.
“I am really looking forward to it,”
Vieira said. “I had the chance to play
for this football club for nine years. I
arrived at this football club when I
was a kid and I left as a man.
“That is the club where I played
my best football, I would say. So
obviously going back there will be
emotional, but I will put that on the
side because it will be important for
us to perform well and to get points.”
Vieira eventually left for Juventus
in 2005, but his contribution to
Arsenal’s glory days guarantees him
a rousing reception from Gunners
fans tomorrow. Asked whether it
will be difficult to keep his emotions
in check, Vieira said: “I will answer
that question after the game.
“Nine years is quite a long period
of time. In that period we were successful and I was really pleased to be
part of a generation of players who
make history for this football club.
“Going back there will be emotional, yes, but the focus and the
concentration will be how can we
perform well to have more chance
of getting what we want.” — AFP
West Brom go
top after gritty
derby victory
Safe for now: Steve bruce (left) has been granted a stay of execution after newcastle announced there
would be no immediate decision on his future. — reuters
the same thing.
“There are exciting times ahead
for the club, that’s for sure.”
Bruce said his job status had not
been on the agenda during a brief
meeting with his new employers.
“There were no discussions on
my future, it was all about the
team, injuries and how we are
looking for the weekend. It was
very informal and I have to say
they were very good people,” he
said.
Bruce said he did not care about
the uncertainty over his own position after the takeover.
“It’s not about me personally,” he
said.
“I’ve tried to keep my respect
and dignity, which has probably
served me well over the last 20-odd
years, and that will remain.
“I played 950 times, won
everything there is to win domestically. It is about the club going forward and more importantly getting
a result on Sunday.”
Newcastle are just one place off
the bottom of the table and without
a win in their seven league games
this season, a dismal record that
has prompted many fans to jeer
Bruce during matches.
In asking Newcastle supporters
to back Bruce and his team this
weekend, Staveley hinted a managerial move was still on the agenda.
“If we make any changes going
forward, Steve will be the first to
know but, in the meantime, we
wish him the best of luck in his
1,000th match as a manager and
will be joining you in getting right
behind the team,” she said.
“Change does not always happen
overnight, it demands time and
that we follow a carefully considered plan and strategy.” — AFP
LONDON: West Brom moved to the
top of the English Championship
after a second-half strike by Karlan
Grant gave them a 1-0 win over
local rivals Birmingham.
The Baggies lead the standings on
goal difference from Bournemouth.
Grant’s powerful 75th-minute
goal from a pass by Jake Livermore
settled a gritty affair at The
Hawthorns.
“Three points, a clean sheet, and
a good goal for Karlan Grant. A lot
of positives to take,” said West Brom
coach Valerian Ismael.
“It was a difficult game. But It
was important that we stayed calm.
We know we can score at any time
– and it came.”
Birmingham are four points
above the relegation zone and have
not scored in 453 minutes.
Friday’s setback was their fifth
defeat in six games.
“My only disappointment was the
goal. We should have defended better. It was one lapse of concentration,” said Birmingham boss Lee
Bowyer.
“But we can’t carry on missing
chances. I think once we get one,
they’ll start to go in.” — AFP
32 Sport
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Back with a bang
Xiaolong:
Harry Potter
magic needed
to get China returning Khairul turns on the heat to win race One
to World Cup
SHANGHAI: Chinese football’s
problems are so deep-rooted that
not even the best coaches in the
world could get them to the World
Cup without the help of a magic
wand, according to former international Wang Xiaolong.
China’s hopes of qualifying for the
World Cup Finals for the first time
since 2002 are hanging by a thread
after they lost three of their first four
matches in the third round of Asian
qualifying for Qatar.
Winger Xiaolong, who played
three internationals in 2012, said
there should be understanding for
coach Li Tie, as even the likes of Pep
Guardiola and Juergen Klopp would
struggle for success given the talent
he has to work with.
“I’m keen to see if they could turn
themselves into Harry Potter, waving his magic wand to bring China to
the World Cup Finals,” he told the
Xinhua news agency.
“Our Chinese players are streets
behind their foreign contemporaries
in their understanding of the game.”
Li Tie replaced Marcello Lippi in
2020 when the World Cup-winning
coach resigned after a poor start to
the second round of Asian qualifying. Italian Lippi, who also failed to
get China through qualifying for the
2018 World Cup, was one of a host of
foreign coaches and players to have
plied their trade in the country in
recent years.
“Many big-name overseas coaches
came and took over the national
team only to leave in frustration
without being able to make any positive changes,” Xiaolong said.
“We also had some high-profile
overseas players in the Chinese
Super League, and what they complained most in private was that the
Chinese players were, too, lacking in
technical and tactical awareness.”
— Reuters
Bebou shines
as Hoffenheim
destroy Cologne
BERLIN: Ihlas Bebou scored a double to inspire Hoffenheim to a 5-0
home demolition of Cologne to lift
them up to eighth in the Byndesliga
standings.
The Togo winger struck both
sides of the interval with Christoph
Baumgartner, Dennis Geiger and
Stefan Porsch also scoring to put
Hoffenheim on 11 points from eight
games, one behind seventh-placed
Cologne.
Bebou put the hosts ahead on 31
minutes, going around keeper Timo
Horn for a cool finish after being
played through by Andrej Kramaric.
The Togolese winger doubled the
advantage four minutes into the
second half, finding the back of the
net with a backheel from Kevin
Akpoguma’s cross.
Christoph Baumgartner put the
hammer down two minutes later
from close range after collecting a
David Raum cutback before Geiger
and Porsch completed the rout in
the last 15 minutes. — Reuters
RESULT
Hoffenheim 5 Cologne 0.
Leading standings: Bayern Munich 16, Bayer
Leverkusen 16, Borussia Dortmund 15, Freiburg 15,
Wolfsburg 13.
RESULTS
MSBK1000: 1. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Yamaha,
Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN), 21:23.783, 2. Azlan
Shah Kamaruzaman (BMW, ONEXOX TKKR Racing
Team), 21:32.698, 3. Ahmad Daniel Haiqal (BMW,
MME Racing Team Malaysia) 22:00.313.
MSBK 600: 1. Khairul Idham Pawi (Yamaha, ONEXOX
TKKR Racing Team), 21:59.034, 2. Mohd Syarifuddin
Azman (Kawasaki, SIC Racing), 21:59.383, 3. Mohd
Helmi Azman (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing
Team), 21:59.430.
MSBK250: Md Izam Ikmal (Honda, Boon Siew Honda
Racing Team) 20:09.226, 2. Mohd Danial Syahmi (Kawasaki, SIC Racing) 20:09.294, 3. Mohd Syafiq Rasol
(Yamaha, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team) 20:09.382.
PETALING JAYA: Former Moto3
rider Khairul Idham Pawi has
announced his comeback in style by
winning Race One of the MSBK 600
category in the Malaysia Superbike
Championship (MSBK).
Riding for ONEXOX TKKR Racing
Team, Khairul completed Round
One of the race with a time of
21:59.034 in 10 laps at the Sepang
International Circuit yesterday.
His win did not come easy as he
had to fend off stiff competition
from SIC Racing team rider Mohd
Syarifuddin Azman, who finished
second just 0.349 seconds behind
him in an exciting race.
It was his first race in a year since
he announced his retirement from
Moto3 in late 2021.
“I had a really bad start because
I’ve been away from the starting
grid for almost a year,” admitted
Khairul.
The race was touted to be a
five-cornered fight among Mohd
Ibrahim Norrodin, Azroy Hakeen
Anuar, Mohd Helmi Azman, and
Syarifuffin.
“But I quickly noticed that
Ibrahim and Azroy were making a
Leading the pack: Khairul Idham Pawi (centre) in action during the MSbK 600 race at the Sepang
International circuit.
lot of mistakes, so I decided to take
my time, and in lap two, I took the
lead when they both hit the gravel,”
said Khairul.
“For the first lap, I was content to
follow. Once I got into the lead, I
found that Helmi was also making a
lot of unforced errors.”
One of Helmi’s unforced errors
included a last-lap last-corner gamble when he tried to out-brake
everyone to take the win, but it
backfired.
“It was a really good race, and I
enjoyed it very much.”
Boon Siew Honda Racing Team
rider Helmi eventually finished
third with a time of 21:59.430.
Meanwhile in the 1000cc race,
Yamaha Racing Team Asean team
rider Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin
enjoyed a dream debut when he
effortlessly won the race with a time
of 21:23.783.
Starting the race from pole position, Kasma didn’t face any chal-
lenge from the other riders from
start to finish.
“While it is thrilling to win my
debut race in the 1000cc class, I
learn nothing if I race alone and just
keep to my race pace,” said Kasma.
“So I’m hoping Azlan and his
team would have resolved their suspension issues by Race Two, and I’m
also looking forward to Zaqhwan
(Zaidi) coming back to join the grid
for Race Two. At least then, I’ll have
riders to compete with.”
Boboev urges Penang to draw inspiration from past glory
By T. AVINESHWARAN
PETALING JAYA: Penang have yet
to hit top gear in the Malaysia Cup
but Sheriddin Boboev believes they
will pick up the pace soon.
They were a letdown at their
home ground when they lost 1-3 to
Premier
League
runners-up
Sarawak United and drew 1-1 with
Kuala Lumpur in Group A matches
at the City Stadium in Georgetown.
It’s disappointing that they just
have one point from two matches
as much was expected from them
after a superb outing in the Super
League.
The 2020 Premier League champions finished third in the Super
League.
The 22-year-old Boboev wants
his team to look to the past to draw
inspiration.
“We were successful in the league
because we were focused as one
family. When the odds were against
us, we stuck together as brothers,”
said the Tajikistani winger, who
has won 22 caps with his country.
“We have to remind ourselves
that it was this unity that brought
us success and we’ve to use it as an
inspiration.
“We’re keeping ourselves in top
condition during training session
and will take part in few friendly
matches.”
In the Malaysia Cup, Boboev has
scored a goal and an assist.
In the Super League, he scored
six goals and had four assists in 20
matches.
“My first year (in 2020) here was
very hard mentally because of the
Covid-19 situation, and I took time
to adapt but the experience has
made me stronger,” said Sheriddin,
who had played
Istiklol and
Barkchi in the Tajikistan top division.
Good record:
Penang’s
Sheriddin
boboev scored
six goals and
had four
assists in 20
matches in the
Super League.
— Penang Fc
Mintah ready to step up and help Terengganu lift the Cup
PETALING JAYA: Striker Jordan
Mintah hopes to play his part to end
Terengganu’s 20-year agonising
wait for the Malaysia Cup.
Terengganu last won the Cup in
2001 and they came close in 2018,
too, but lost to Perak in the final.
Their coach Nafuzi Zain was a
member of the winning team and
together with several others like
Rosdi Talib (leftback), Sapian Wahid
(winger) and Zubir Ibrahim (goalkeeper), they became household
names.
The Ghanian is inspired to join
the league of the elite players, who
have tasted success before.
“I’m beginning to learn the history of the Cup and how Terengganu
won it before and who were behind
it,” said the 26-year-old.
“I’ll will do my part to help the
team realise this dream.
“I feel much more spirited to give
my best, especially for the fans.”
Mintah was roped into the squad,
thanks to his exploits in the Premier
League, where he scored 16 goals
for the feeder side Terengganu II.
“Coach Nafuzi believes in me,
and I want to repay his faith. I will
go all out to get the goals.”
Terengganu have started well in
Group B by beating Kuching City
(2-0) and Selangor (2-1).
They will resume their campaign
when they play Perak at the Perak
Stadium in Ipoh on Oct 30 and will
be banking on Mintah to continue
with his goal scoring act.
Sport 33
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Building
more
$uccess
Liek Hou gets early boost
for Paris Games – thanks to
bt bina’s million-dollar deal
By TAN MING WAI
PETALING JAYA: A luxury condominium and RM1mil as yearly
expenses.
Things are just getting better and
better for Tokyo Paralympics badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou
and his coach Datuk Rashid Sidek.
Although, the Paris Paralympics
is still three years away, Liek Hou
and Rashid have landed a major
three-year sponsorship deal with
renowned developer BT Bina
Group Sdn Bhd.
The 33-year-old Liek Hou and
Rashid are among the four recipients alongside newly-formed professional women’s doubles pair
Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien who
will benefit from the sponsorship
deal until 2024.
BT Bina pledge RM1mil per
annum to back them in their preparations to qualify and excel at the
Paris Games. Each of them will be
allotted RM250,000 every year for
the next three years to cover their
One for the album: (From left) OcM secretary general datuk nazifuddin najib, chairman of bt bina tan Sri
Syed Mohd yusof tun Syed nasir, cheah Liek Hou, datuk rashid Sidek and bt bina ceO datuk Seri david tan
at the presentation ceremony yesterday.
tournament expenses and allowances.
On top of that, Liek Hou and
Rashid have been rewarded with a
luxury condominium unit at one of
the developers projects, Grand
Maris Suites in Bangsar, which is
worth RM800,000 each.
An overjoyed Liek Hou said it
was a massive early boost in his bid
to defend the men’s singles SU5
(impairment in upper body) gold he
won in Tokyo two months ago.
“I can’t thank BT Bina enough for
having the faith in me. I will do my
best to justify it by bringing back the
second gold from Paris,” said Liek
Hou after putting pen to paper in a
brief ceremony yesterday.
“With this financial support, it
allows me to plan my tournament
schedule well. There will be plenty
of action starting from next year
with the formation of the BWF
World Para Circuit.
“This is important because I can
now train and maintain my performance with peace of mind, without
Wee KiongKian Meng
march
into semis
V Shem eyes
glorious
finish
at World
C’ships
KUALA LUMPUR: The 2016 Rio
Olympics silver medallists Goh V
Shem and Tan Wee Kiong have
parted ways but they plan to come
together again to play in the World
Championships in Huelva, Spain
from Dec 12-19.
Although the world’s best shuttlers will be there, V Shem is confident they have what it takes to
emerge champions.
“Of course we want to emerge as
champions in Spain although it
won’t be easy,” said V Shem after he
was appointment as Vanilla Crepe
ambassador at an event held at a
hotel on Friday.
“I hope we can prepare well and
play as best we can in our last
appearance together in the men’s
doubles,”
The world number 13, who
announced the decision to end their
seven-year partnership in August,
agreed to have a final fling in Spain
New image: Vanilla Mille crepe ceO and co-founder nelson Liew (right) and Goh V Shem after signing on to
become the group’s brand ambassador. — MuHaMad SHaHrIL rOSLI/the Star
after making the 48-pair cut based on
the list of qualifiers released by the
Badminton World Federation (BWF).
V Shem and Wee Kiong currently
have different partners. The
32-year-old V Shem plays with Low
Juan Shen while Wee Kiong, 32, is
currently playing in his first tournament with Tan Kian Meng at the
ongoing Dutch Open.
The V Shem-Juan Shen combination will make their debut in the
Denmark Open from Oct 19-24.
V Shem, who said that he was
looking forward to doing well in the
Denmark Open at the Odense Sports
Park, believes that his appointment
as Vanilla Crepe ambassador would
boost his confidence to forge a
strong partnership with Juan Shen.
— Bernama.
Malaysia lose to Scotland for fifth defeat in UK tour
By T. AVINESHWARAN
PETALING JAYA: It was not a
strong ending that Malaysia had
hoped for in the United Kingdom
when they lost 0-1 to Scotland
Under-23 side at the Clydesdale
Hockey and Cricket Club yesterday.
The Scots scored the game’s only
budget constraints.”
At the Tokyo Paralympics, Liek
Hou created history when he
defeated world No. 1 and archrival
Dheva Anrimusthi from Indonesia
to became the first Malaysian gold
medallist in badminton as the sport
made its debut in the Games.
Vivian and Chiew Sien were not
present at the ceremony as they are
currently in Europe, competing in a
stretch of tournaments there, starting with this week’s ongoing Dutch
Open in Almere.
goal in the 55th minute through
Keir Robb’s field goal, as Malaysia
suffered their fifth defeat in the
tour.
They also have lost against
Repton (0-2), England Under-21
(2-3 and 0-2) and Hampstead and
Westminster (1-3).
In the eight matches played, the
juniors only beat England Under-
21 (5-4) and Wales Under-21 (2-1).
The only draw came against
Scotland when they held them 1-1
on Friday.
Though defeated, coach Wallace
Tan felt that his boys played well,
and he would take some positives
ahead of the Junior World Cup
next month.
“I cannot fault their effort
against Scotland. This whole stint
was for them to adjust to some
competitive games after not having played for almost two years. I
just wanted to see growth in every
game,” said Wallace.
“They showed progress in every
game, but there were lessons that
they learnt from their mistakes
too.
PETALING JAYA: Independent
shuttlers Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee
Kiong continued with their fine
form to march into the men’s doubles semi-finals in the Dutch Open.
The sixth seeds, playing in the
first international tournament
together, defeated Andreas Sondergaard-Jesper Toft of Denmark 21-11,
21-19 in a 30-minute quarter-final
match in Almere yesterday.
They had easily disposed of
Germany’s Freek Golinski-Jona van
Nieuwkerke 21-14, 21-14 in the second round.
The duo will take on the winners
of the match between fifth seeds
Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar and
qualifiers Eloi Adam-Kenji Lovang.
Kian Meng-Wee Kiong are the
only Malaysians left in the lower-ranked tournament after all others crashed out.
Youngsters Ng Jun Yan-Wong
Tien Ci and Mohd Nurfirdaus
Azman-Jimmy Wong went down to
Terry Hee Yong Kao-Loh Kean Yean
of Singapore (18-21, 11-21) and Rory
Easton-Zach Russ of England (21-15,
19-21, 17-21) in the second round
matches respectively.
Tien Ci went one step better in
the mixed doubles with Lim Chiew
Sien when both reached the quarter-finals but they were beaten
15-21, 14-21 by second seeds Mikkel
Mikkelsen-Rikke Soby of Denmark.
The other Malaysians who did
not clear the early rounds are
Chang Yee Jun-Yap Roy King, Chong
Ee Jack-Ling Wei Jie (men’s doubles); Vivian Hoo-Chiew Sien (women’s doubles); Lim Tze Jian-Wong
Kha Yan and Wee Kiong-Vivian Hoo
(mixed doubles).
34 Sport
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
THOMAS-UBER CUP FINALS
AARHUS, DENMARK (Oct 9 - 17)
Rashid: Bright future ahead for players after worthy displays Plan to help
Ng get
even
stronger
PETALING JAYA: Former international Datuk Rashid Sidek has given
the youthful Thomas Cup Finals
squad the thumbs up despite their
quarter-final exit in Aarhus.
All is not lost, according to Rashid,
a member of the 1992 Cup-winning
squad, as he feels that everyone saw
the potential in Leong Jun Hao (pic)
and Ng Tze Yong following their
worthy performances.
Jun Hao scored Malaysia’s solitary
point in their 4-1 group stage loss to
Japan when he defeated world No.
16 Kenta Nishimoto 21-19, 21-18,
while Tze Yong won the hearts of
many with his spirited effort in the
21-14, 19-21, 16-21 loss to world No. 7
Jonatan Christie.
Rashid said if the Badminton
Association of Malaysia (BAM) were
to build on the progress made in
Aarhus, they were certainly heading
in the right direction to achieve one
of their Project 2024 targets - to reach
the final of the Thomas Cup Finals
next year in Bangkok, Thailand.
“It has been almost 30 years since
we last won the Thomas Cup, but I
can see that we have a bright future
with this batch of players,” said
Rashid.
“Through this Aarhus edition, we
can see that some of the players have
improved, particularly in the singles
where Jun Hao and Tze Yong were
among those who have impressed.
They can only get better in the years
to come.
“This will be the same group going
for the next Thomas Cup. They form
the core of the squad to realise BAM’s
(Project 2024) mission.
“To challenge for the Thomas Cup,
we need a squad with equal standard and depth. The singles have
made good progress. Now, the doubles need to work harder to find a
second strong pair.
“The team will only have a shot at
winning the Cup when you know
that the points can come from any of
the five matches.”
Rashid believes Jun Hao and Tze
Yong have what it takes to break into
the world’s top 10 if they move forward in the right direction.
“Both have the potential and tremendous fighting spirit,” said
Rashid.
“If they really work hard to fulfil
their potential, I won’t be surprised
if they become world top 10 players.”
PETALING JAYA: More focus will
be given to helping Ng Tze Yong
build up his strength so that he can
last the pace in a match.
National coaching director Wong
Choong Hann admitted that Tze
Yong was feeble when he joined the
senior team. They had to work
closely with the National Sports
Institute (NSI) experts to improve
his physical condition.
“Since joining the senior team,
we have improved his weight from
58kg to 68kg and are constantly
working with him,” said Choong
Hann.
“He played well in his first
Thomas Cup Finals but it’s obvious
that we need to build more on his
strength.”
Worth the weight
Going the distance: ng tze yong falls after retrieving a shot by Indonesia’s Jonatan christie. — badminton Photo
beefing up adds power to tze yong’s game
By TAN MING WAI
PETALING JAYA: From skinny to buff in just
five months.
Rising star Ng Tze Yong has cited his physical change as the reason behind his powerful
play and inspiring performance in his Thomas
Cup Finals debut in Aarhus, Denmark.
The 21-year-old showed he has the potential to become a world beater after stretching
world No. 7 Jonatan Christie to the limit
before losing 21-14, 19-21, 16-21 in 75 minutes
at the Ceres Arena on Friday.
The defeat in the second singles saw
Jonatan, who is also the Asian Games champion, seal a convincing 3-0 win to send Indonesia
into the semi-finals after his teammates
Anthony Ginting and Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin
Sanjaya defeated Lee Zii Jia and Aaron ChiaSoh Wooi Yik in the earlier matches.
The energetic performance from world No.
82 Tze Yong has earned praises and he has
become a major talking point among the
Malaysian badminton fans.
Tze Yong believes he has improved following the weight gain over the last five months.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
THOMAS CUP FINALS
China bt Thailand 3-0 (Shi Yuqi bt Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-14,
21-17; He Jiting-Zhou Haodong bt Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren
21-10, 21-18; Li Shi-feng bt Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-13, 17-21, 21-7).
Japan bt South Korea 3-2 (Kento Momota lost to Heo Kwang-hee 19-21,
17-21; Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi lost to Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung-jae
18-21, 13-21; Kanta Tsuneyama bt Jeon Hyeok-jin 21-10, 21-16; Akira
Koga-Yuta Watanabe bt Kang Minh-yuk-Kim Won-ho 21-15, 21-18;
Kenta Nishimoto bt Cho Geon-yeop 21-15, 21-10).
Indonesia bt Malaysia 3-0 (Anthony Ginting bt Lee Zii Jia 21-15, 2117; Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-17,
16-21, 21-15; Jonatan Christie bt Ng Tze Yong 14-21, 21-19, 21-16).
Denmark bt India 3-1 (Viktor Axelsen bt K. Srikanth 21-12, 21-13; Kim
Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen lost to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty 15-21, 21-17, 18-21; Anders Antonsen bt B. Sai
Praneeth 21-8, 21-15; Mathias Christiansen-Frederik Sogaard bt M.R.
Arjun-Dhruv Kapila 21-16, 21-9).
He now weighs 70kg, six more than what
he was back in May.
“I began my weight gain programme since
the start of the year. But it was only in the last
five months that I intensified my effort,” said
Tze Yong.
“After playing in my first World Tour event
at the Spain Masters (in May, where he lost
early in the second round), I realised there’s
an urgent need for me to buff up because I
was way too light to compete with more
established opponents.
“I was not strong enough and I felt vulnerable. So with the help of a nutritionist, I managed to gain six kilograms in the last five
months by taking a lot of protein and working
out a lot in the gym.
“At first, I wasn’t too comfortable after getting heavier. But soon I was able to adapt to
my new physical shape. I feel much more
stronger and it helps with my performance
too.
“I hope to get to 75kg, which is my ideal
weight,” added the 180cm tall player.
Although he could not keep Malaysia’s
hopes alive during the clash with Indonesia,
Tze Yong said he was pleased with his performance.
“It was not too bad considering I have
never played a highly-ranked opponent like
Jonatan,” said Tze Yong.
“I really enjoyed the match. All the while, I
kept wondering about the gap separating me
with the world’s best. I must admit that I felt
scared before the match against Jonatan, but
not anymore.
“I look forward to keep improving and
eventually reach that level one day.”
Sport 35
SUNDAY STAR, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
THOMAS-UBER CUP FINALS
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia
and Indonesia’s rivalry in badminton,
particularly
the
Thomas Cup, goes all the way
back to the late 1950s.
But the most fiercely-contested period probably took place
from 1992-2002 where the two
nations featured in four of the
six finals.
World No. 7 Jonatan Christie
was only five when Indonesia
last lifted the trophy after beating Malaysia 3-2 in Guangzhou
in 2002, but he knew exactly
what the victory over their
archrivals meant for the
273.5mil people in his country.
On Friday, Jonatan turned
hero for his side after sealing
the winning point with a 14-21,
21-19, 21-16 victory over Ng Tze
Yong in the second singles of
the quarter-final tie at the Ceres
Arena in Aarhus.
And the 2018 Asian Games
gold medallist declared “it’s a
win
for
everybody
in
Indonesia”.
“Indonesia and Malaysia’s
(rivalry) is just like Japan and
South Korea, it’s not just in badminton, but other sports as
well. We have a strong rivalry,”
he told Badminton Europe after
the match.
“It’s very, very important for
me, the team and the Indonesian
people.”
Jonatan’s
teammates
–
Anthony Ginting and Marcus
Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya – had
earlier won their respective
matches to give the 13-time
winners a commanding 2-0
lead.
Anthony and Marcus-Kevin
exacted sweet revenge over
rivals Lee Zii Jia and Aaron
Chia-Soh Wooi Yik after losing
in their previous encounters at
the Sudirman Cup in Finland
which resulted in Indonesia’s
exit in the quarter-finals following a 3-1 defeat.
Anthony, who beat Zii Jia
21-15, 21-17, was delighted to
deny the latter a second consecutive victory against him.
“After losing to Zii Jia previously, I didn’t want to lose my
second chance (to beat him).
“So I tried my very best (to
win).”
Marcus echoed Anthony’s
sentiment and said they were
driven by the will to avenge
their last defeats, more so as the
world No. 1 pair had been
under fire after losing twice to
Aaron-Wooi Yik including their
quarter-final defeat in the
Tokyo Olympics.
Prior to that, they dominated
all their seven meetings.
Grind and
sweat for it
Gruelling contest
ahead: china’s chen
yufei has to brace
herself for the
toughest match
when she takes on
Japan’s akane
yamaguchi (inset).
china can’t expect smooth
ride in showdown with Japan
By RAJES PAUL
PETALING JAYA: Japan are standing in
China’s way from winning their 15th Uber Cup
Finals title.
On Friday, China exacted sweet revenge over
Thailand by pulling off an easy 3-0 win at the
Ceres Arena in Aarhus, Denmark, but they
can’t expect an easy ride against the defending
champions in the final.
At the last edition in Bangkok, Thailand,
China were shocked 2-3 by the homesters in the
semi-finals and the downfall started when
their No. 1 player Chen Yufei lost the first point
against a fired-up Ratchanok Intanon.
On Friday though, reigning Olympics champion Yufei won the rematch after taking only
five points. The former world champion
Ratchanok conceded a walkover when she was
trailing 2-5 due to her nagging shoulder injury.
That really did the damage to the Thai team
as Rawinda Prajongjai-Puttita Supajirakul and
Pornpawee Chochuwong went down without a
fight to their respective opponents – Chen
Qingchen-Jia Yifan and He Bingjiao respectively.
“It’s a pity that we didn’t play a good game
for the fans but I hope for the best for her
(Ratchanok),” said Chen Yufei.
Now that they have gone one step further
than the previous outing, Yufei has to brace
herself for the toughest match when she takes
on Akane Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi has a better head-to-head record,
having won nine times, one better than her
23-year-old opponent.
However, Yamaguchi’s form in Aarhus is
questionabl e if based on her easy 14-21, 7-21
defeat to An Se-young of South Korea in the
semi-finals on Friday. Japan went on to beat
South Korea 3-1 but the manner in which
Yamaguchi lost has raised alarm.
Yamaguchi, who makes up for her short stature with fighting spirit, had been plagued by a
lower back injury in 2019, and hopefully, the
old injury has not returned to haunt her.
Japan’s strength had been affected following
the absence of several doubles players but
scratch pairs Yuki Fukushima-Mayu
Matsumoto and Misaki Matsutomo-Nami
Matsuyama have done well here so far.
On paper and current form, China are the
favourites but one should never underestimate
Japan.
RESULTS
n UBER CUP FINALS
Semi-finals: Japan bt South Korea 3-1 (Akane Yamaguchi lost to An Se-young 14-21 7-21; Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto bt Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan
19-21 21-16 21-14; Sayaka Takahashi bt Kim Ga-eun
18-21 21-18 21-14;
Misaki Matsutomo-Nami Matsuyama bt Kim So-yeongKong Hee-yong 21-17 21-18).
China bt Thailand 3-0 (Chen Yufei bt Ratchanok Intanon
5-2 rtd; Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan bt Rawinda Prajongjai-Puttita Supajirakul 21-15, 21-10; He Bingjiao bt
Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-15, 21-16.
AARHUS, DENMARK (Oct 9 - 17)
Oh boy! Jonatan
knows what
beating
Malaysia
means to
all in Indonesia
SUNDAY STAr, SUNDAY 17 ocTobEr 2021
No easy meat: Ng Tze Yong
in action against indonesia’s
Jonatan Christie in the
Thomas Cup quarter-final.
— Badminton photo
don’t
take
him
lightly
NG Tze Yong was set for a heavy task even before he was picked for the Thomas Cup Finals. Weighing only
64kg five months ago, he was considered not strong enough to take on the top opponents. The world No.
82 packed on six kgs and worked out more in the gym to add power to his game.
>Story by TAN MING WAI on Page 34
Headed
for a
big
win
Liek Hou and
Rashid land
dream deal. >33
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fiXtUreS
■ todaY
Vieira charged for
emotional return
to Arsenal. >31
EvErToN vs WEST HAM (9pm)
NEWcASTlE vs ToTTENHAM(11.30pm)
Liverpool’s Virgil van dijk beats Watford’s ismaila sarr to the ball during their premier League match at
Vicarage Road. Liverpool won 5-0. — Reuters
■ toMorroW
ArSENAl vs c. PAlAcE (3am, Tuesday)
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THE STAR, SundAy 17 OcTObER 2021
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In Malaysia, a large percentage of fresh produce is discarded after harvest
simply because it does not meet industry beauty standards.
Stories by AbIRAMI duRAI
lifestyle@thestar.com.my
IN farms across the world, massive quantities of fresh vegetables
and fruits are often thrown away
right after they are harvested simply because they suffer from the
same blighted fate: they don’t look
right.
In the United Kingdom for
instance, an article in The
Guardian in 2013 indicated that
up to two-fifths of a crop of fruit
or vegetable is discarded because
it is considered ugly. In the United
States, estimates show that the
probable figures are close to 50%.
Malaysia is certainly not
immune to this demand for per-
fect-looking produce. In fact,
many farmers indicate that about
40% of crops never leave the farm
and are instead thrown away
once they are sorted and graded,
simply for cosmetic reasons –
whether that is blemishes, discolouration, cracks, imperfect surfaces, irregular shapes, holes or colours that do not match consumer
expectations.
This is despite the fact that all
this produce is perfectly edible
and have the same nutritive value
as their more aesthetically blessed
brethren.
“Yes, unfortunately it is very
true. Most of the standards are
put upon by supermarkets and
driven by consumers.
“One of our farmers used to
grow French beans and cucumbers and he told me his throwaway rate was 40% for wonky vegetables. But this isn’t just happening in Malaysia; it happens all
over the world too,” says Leisa
Tyler.
Tyler is a former food journalist
and board member of the World’s
50 Best Restaurants who now
helms Weeds & More, which operates a series of farms in Cameron
Highlands that grow Western-style
vegetables like kohlrabi, heirloom
tomatoes, baby leek and fennel,
using organic principles.
While Tyler runs one of the
rare farming initiatives in
Malaysia that sells everything it
grows (mostly to high-end restaurants and hotels), food waste is
prevalent in many conventional
farms.
Most Malaysian farmers use a
grading system set by the Federal
Agricultural Marketing Authority
(FAMA) and often end up discarding the lowest grade vegetables at
the farm level because they feel
there is no ready market for it.
“Usually in the market, you can
find grade A and grade B vegetables, but grade C vegetables
(determined by factors like
deformity in shape and size) are
usually dumped because they
don’t fetch good returns.
“So farmers reject the products
because the market will also reject
it, so there is no point wasting
transportation costs and other
costs on these produce,” explains
Chay Ee Mong, the secretary of
the Cameron Highlands Vegetable
Growers Association.
“It is still edible, but there is no
choice for farmers because consumers won’t accept this kind of
produce,” adds Chay.
Interestingly, if beauty was not
an issue, crop wastage would be
nearly negligible. Tyler for
instance, only generates about 2%
wastage on her farms while Chay
estimates that wastage on many
farms would be under 10% if
looks were not a factor.
> TuRn TO PAGE 2
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2 Food
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
> FROM PAGE 1
According to Chay, leafy
vegetables like spinach, choy
sum and kangkong are subject to the sort of merciless
scrutiny that even beauty
pageant contestants
would find unendurable. In the end, only
the greens that are
intact and devoid of any
unsightly holes end up making
the cut, with the rest binned.
“Some of these leafy vegetables when they are
attacked by pests and have
a lot of holes, people will
look at it and say ‘Oh, it’s not
nice’. But it’s actually edible –
since insects can eat it, why not
humans?” he reasons.
This is a sentiment shared by
Tyler, who has seen her spinach
plants thrown away by a supermarket, because it failed to live up to
conventional ideals.
“When we had spinach leaves
with slug marks, they were literally
throwing away whole plants
because of slug marks on one leaf. I
think a lot of it comes down to perception – what we think is pretty,”
she says.
Tomatoes are also often discarded
at farms after harvest, especially if
they have blistered surfaces or are
simply too small.
“Small ones will be rejected or if
they are cracked or the shape
doesn’t look perfect or there are any
signs of attacks by pests or disease –
consumers simply won’t accept
these tomatoes,” explains Chay.
Tyler meanwhile says tomatoes
often have cracks on them if they
are overwatered and although nothing is wrong with them, they are
typically discarded for this reason.
Other common vegetables and
fruits that are frequently discarded
at the farm level for failing to meet
industry beauty standards include
chillies, cucumbers, French beans,
cabbage, zucchini, bananas and
dragonfruit.
So what happens to these discarded vegetables and fruits when they
are deemed not good enough for the
market? According to Tyler and
Chay, there are no proper disposal
grounds for these vast quantities of
rejected fruits and vegetables, so
farmers often end up throwing
them wherever is convenient.
“In Cameron Highlands, most
farmers would throw it into the forest or rivers – it’s just the culture.
Sometimes they just throw it over
the side of the road,” says Tyler.
According to Chay, a tiny percentage of farmers utilise these wonky
vegetables and end up composting
it.
“Very few will replough it into
their fields. They will do their own
simple composting, but it’s not so
common here, because we are now
facing a very critical shortage of
labour, and to do extra composting
all vegetables have to be brought
down to a cooler temperature
straight after being harvested, otherwise shelf life is severely shortened. — MarIna HeLena
MuLLer/unsplash
consumers
have become
accustomed to
seeing perfect-looking
vegetables on
supermarket
shelves, but
this thinking
has to change
in order to stem
the tide of food
wastage generated for cosmetic reasons.
— Filepic
chay says most farmers do not
have the manpower to turn the
wasted wonky vegetables into
compost. — Filepic
requires extra manpower,” says
Chay.
In the long run though, composting realistically offers a plethora of
benefits for farmers and is the best
way to utilise these odd-looking
crops, especially if they are not being
channelled to end users one way or
another.
“When you turn it into compost,
you feed it back into the soil.
Compost is full of nutrients that
plants would need and has a high
moisture content, so it can help to
retain water, improve the product
quality and decrease strong reliance
on pesticide,” says Sudy Yeo, a circular economy advocate who says
when composting becomes the
norm, it will eventually help farmers
save the costs associated with pesticide use.
The cycle repeats itself
When produce is discarded
because it is deemed unappealing
for consumers, this triggers a series
of events that set off a repeated,
vicious pattern.
FOOD waste is often defined as a
fork-to-farm problem because
food is wasted across all parts of
the food supply chain, from farms
to packing, transportation, retail
stores, restaurants and homes.
According to a 2013 article in
The Guardian, in developing countries, “much of the loss of food
occurs during post-harvesting
storage, processing and packaging”.
Leisa Tyler who runs Weeds &
More, which grows organic
Western vegetables in Cameron
Highlands, says this is something
she has discovered is true in terms
of Malaysian post-harvest best
practices.
According to Tyler, most
Malaysian farms don’t invest in
hydro-coolers which are a norm in
large farms in Australia. Hydro-
First, it continues to feed the narrative that fresh produce must look
perfect, especially if retailers continue to respond to consumer demands
for high-quality produce by shielding
them from wonky-looking produce.
Consumers can only buy what
they see and if they continue to be
spoilt with an array of idealistic produce, it just perpetuates the myth
that all produce is created equal and
drives expectations to unrealistic
points, forcing farmers to cater to
these demands by discarding produce all over again.
This in turn will also create an
even bigger wedge between urban
consumers and fresh produce. Many
modern shoppers have little to no
understanding of how fresh produce
is grown and farmed and this disconnect continues to be shaped and
moulded by the ideals set on shelves
and in markets i.e. everything seemingly looking symmetrical and uniform.
“In the past, when people grew
food themselves, they knew what
nature was and didn’t have high
expectations. Nature isn’t perfect, so
how can produce be perfect? But
now everyone lives in cities and goes
to supermarkets and supermarkets
are really removed from farmers, so
I think this feeds this idea of perfection, which is also tied to what is
Instagrammable,” says Tyler.
The other side of this coin is the
loss of potential income for farmers.
Imagine throwing out 40% of your
hard-earned harvest for no other
reason than the idea that no one
wants it. If looks were not a part of
this equation, farmers could easily
earn at least 30% more each time
they harvest produce.
Also, discarding vegetables comes
at a price. Quite literally, in the sense
that it drives up the price of vegetables and fruits.
“The wastage drives cost up, so
that pushes the price of vegetables
up, because the margin comes down,
so the whole thing is a little bit
wacky,” says Tyler.
Perhaps the biggest tangible blot
generated by the cycle of consumer
demand and how it co-relates to ugly
vegetables is the unimaginable
waste created for purely superficial
reasons.
Fresh produce is grown with care
by farmers but ultimately do not end
up serving a purpose. These sidelined vegetables and fruits don’t feed
humans or animals or even fertilise
the earth – they are simply discarded and left to rot, which is a tragedy
in itself.
Post-harvest food waste
coolers allow for fruits and vegetables to be cooled rapidly after
harvest without affecting the
moisture content of produce.
“In countries like Australia, big
farms have hydro-coolers which
pull temperature down very fast,
so within minutes vegetables will
go from harvest temperature to 1
or 2°C, which automatically means
it lasts longer.
“In Malaysia, I have never met
anyone with a hydro cooler – we
have one, but I think 99% of farmers don’t,” says Tyler.
For context, the temperature of
all vegetables needs to come down
really fast after harvesting. For
instance, broccoli needs to be
brought to a temperature of O°C
within one hour of being harvested. This will give it a shelf life of at
least 21 days post-harvest.
According to Tyler, the flip side
of this is if broccoli is left in high
temperatures (30°C) for a few
hours, shelf life is cut down to
about seven days and it ends up
being thrown out by supermarkets
a lot earlier than it needs to be.
“Even a small bak choy, if you
don’t bring it down to temperature, in two or three days it starts
to turn yellow, which means it is
decomposing, so the supermarket
will throw it out. And that is not a
supermarket problem, it is farmers not investing in proper facilities,” says Tyler.
Tyler says she has seen this happening all over farms in Cameron
Highlands, even as part of a daily
routine.
“To this day, I have seen farmers harvest cauliflower the night
before and leave it out the whole
night. So when it gets to the supermarket, it has two saleable days
and it starts to turn black and rot
and supermarkets are forced to
throw it away.
“So how farmers manage crops
after harvest is important – farmers are really good at growing but
Food 3
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
about 40% of
crops in many
Malaysian
farms are discarded after
harvest and
thrown along
road sides, rivers or even forest areas
because they
do not meet
industry cosmetic standards. — tHe
LOSt FOOd
PrOJect
Farmers work extremely hard to grow produce but end up having to discard a substantial amount of it because there is no viable market, so
there is also a loss of potential income from this waste. — Filepic
Interested in cooking?
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What can be done
be a tangible campaign of a similar
nature but Tyler believes that local
supermarkets hold the power to
court this change.
“Of course there should be conversation ideally to change this narrative and supermarkets should be
driving this conversation and perhaps big supermarkets should be
taking a stand,” she says.
Chay believes that if retailers
start selling less good-looking produce on their shelves (even if it is at
a reduced rate), consumers can
then make purchasing decisions for
themselves, whether that is based
on aesthetics or not.
“As long as the nutritional value
of the product is not affected and
the price is reasonable, why not?
For instance, consumers can go to a
supermarket and buy bananas for
RM6 per kg. But if they go to a normal grocery story and they are selling wonky bananas for RM3 – it just
gives them more options on how to
spend their money. The decision of
what to buy will then be up to
them,” he says.
Change can only happen with
education – consumers are the biggest end users of fresh produce and
need to know that the cosmetic
make-up of produce doesn’t affect
its nutritional value, edibility or for
that matter – appeal.
In many other countries around
the world, this consumer education
has happened by way of rebranding
exercises in the form of ugly vegetable or wonky vegetable campaigns,
which have been gaining traction
for years now. In many instances, it
is often supermarkets who have
been leading this charge for change.
In the UK for instance, supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and Tesco have
relaxed their cosmetic standards
and nowactively sell wonky vegetables. In Sweden, less good-looking
produce is sold at a reduced price at
grocery giant Coop while in France,
food chain Intermarche has run
massive campaigns to educate the
public about this produce.
In Malaysia, there doesn’t seem to
Yesterday was World Food Day,
which has the theme ‘Our actions
are our future’. Find another story
about food waste,
with recipes that
utilise ingredients
which are typically
discarded on The
Star Online.
what happens after that plays a
big part because if you can’t pull
temperatures down, crops
degrade much faster, leading to
wastage,” she says.
Tyler also says many farmers
think leaving vegetables out at
room temperature for hours is
fine so long as it is packed into
cold trucks but what they don’t
necessarily realise is that cold
trucks maintain the existing temperature of the vegetables; they
don’t bring the temperature
down.
When supermarkets face these
problems time and time again,
Tyler says some just end up opting
to use imported produce instead
of relying on unreliable crops
from local farmers.
“I have seen carrots turn black
within 12 hours if not properly
dry and the temperature is not
brought down – it’s really crazy.
So when you see things like this,
it’s easy to understand why supermarkets prefer to deal with farmers from countries like Australia
because everything is treated a
certain way and they will get a
longer shelf life out of it. There is
nothing worse than supermarkets
buying a consignment of vegetables and three days later, it goes
off,” she says.
Tyler also adds that part of the
wastage generated post-harvest is
due to poor packing or inferior
quality of boxes, which ultimately
results in produce getting
squashed or damaged, which
means retailers often have to
throw it out.
Ultimately, Tyler believes that so
much of these poor post-harvest
The ugly vegetable rescue mission
EVERY day, tonnes of vegetables
are binned in local wholesale
markets and supermarkets for
various reasons. In wholesale
markets, this might be because
there is unsold surplus produce
or simply because it is deemed
odd-looking and ultimately unappealing for end users.
This is where organisations like
The Lost Food Project (TLFP)
come in. Founded by former BBC
journalist (and former The Star
columnist) Suzanne Mooney, the
non-profit organisation has been
collecting surplus vegetables from
the Selayang wholesale market
and selected supermarkets for a
few years now.
Part of the organisation’s main
aim is to provide nutritious fresh
produce to communities that
would otherwise not be able to
access them. According to
Mooney, this is integral to what
they do.
“Up to 70% of all our food that
comes in is fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s saved from different
places, most of it is from the pasar
borong Kuala Lumpur in
Selayang, we also get some from
farmers.
“For us, it’s always been a priority to get vegetables and fruits, we
want to be giving out a lot of
nutritious fresh produce, because
the people we are giving to need
it more than anyone,” she adds.
The organisation’s pasar borong
project was actually initiated five
years ago when co-directors of the
project Adeline Chang and
Zawiyah Saimon began the first of
many conversations with vendors
in the Selayang wholesale market.
“We spent a lot of time in the
market educating the vendors.
They were throwing vegetables
into bins and we told them the
food can be eaten. It took time but
now they are very willing to do
this,” says Chang.
Zawiyah and Chang now work
with over 200 vendors in the
wholesale market (there are over
400) and collect surplus vegetables every day.
“The wholesale market vendors
order from farmers in Cameron
Highlands, and when the vegetables arrive, they sell to customers
like hotels, wet markets, restaurants – these are the main points
of distribution for these vegetables.
“They sell as much as they can
and they also have to sort the vegetables and see what looks good.
So there are some ugly vegetables
that they keep aside because it
cannot be sold,” says Chang.
“At the end of the trading day,
they will have to get rid of the
excess, and there is always excess.
It is still edible, so that’s where we
rituals are attributable to a lack of
knowledge on farmers’ parts combined with a focused approach to
farming which does not take into
account what happens after produce is harvested.
“The majority of farmers don’t
have this knowledge, especially
about hydro-coolers. Also, it’s
expensive and it takes a lot of
management and skill.
“We have implemented it on
our farms but honestly getting my
farmers to get their heads around
having to do it has been hard as
well.
“I think all farmers try hard to
grow produce the best way they
know how to, but it’s difficult for
them to think about what happens
after the produce is harvested. It’s
like ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’”
says Tyler.
the ugly vegetables collected from wholesale markets and supermarkets are channeled to b40 communities in low-cost housing and
end up feeding over 300 families at each of these housing areas. —
tHe LOSt FOOd PrOJect
come in to collect every day by
the tonnes,” she adds.
Zawiyah adds that there are
two types of ugly vegetables that
often end up going to the organisation – the first one is the natural
odd balls, which are wonky-shaped, full of holes, blemished or discoloured. The second
kind are the ones that have started to wilt and look limp and now
appear unappealing, even if they
were head-turners just a day earlier.
“We get a lot of eggplants, radish, snake gourd, loofah (petola)
and cucumbers that are considered ugly vegetables, because
they are bent, curved or just irregular shapes – this happens a lot
with radish especially. So the market vendors already think nobody
will want this because take-up for
this produce is generally low
among retailers and consumers.
“Even with fruits like dragonfruits – the colour needs to look
pretty. We have gotten dragonfruits that are brownish on the
outside, because they haven’t
been wrapped properly so the
outer skin doesn’t look good, but
when it is cut, it is normal. And
dragonfruits can normally retail
for RM10 per piece in supermarkets!” says Zawiyah.
TLFP now collects approximately 70,000 tonnes of these surplus
vegetables a month. This produce
is channeled every day (except
Sunday) to charities that the
organisation works with as well
B40 communities in low-cost
housing projects throughout the
Klang Valley on a rotational basis.
Zawiyah estimates that each
trip to deliver fresh produce to
B40 communities ends up benefitting 300 families. In Lembah
Pantai alone, the initiative helps
7,000 families access fresh vegeta-
bles and fruits that they may not
otherwise be able to afford on
their own (and which would have
been thrown out).
Chang says their work has
become extremely pivotal during
the pandemic when many households have been unable to afford
basic food supplies.
“No matter how infrequently
we come, they still save on the
cost of food when they utilise this
fresh produce. They can put petrol in their tanks or use the
money they would have spent on
food on something else.
“And sometimes the food that
we rescue, I don’t think many
low-income individuals can afford
to buy it themselves, because it
can be expensive produce like
capsicum, pumpkin and cauliflower, so in this way, they are
exposed to better food,” says
Chang.
Zawiyah says that their data
shows that from April 2017 to
September 2021, their surplus
produce collection programme
has rescued over 1.5 million kg of
ugly vegetables and fruits, which
in turn has provided over 4 million meals for those most at risk
of hunger and prevented over
600,000 kg of greenhouse gas
emissions.
Moving forward, Zawiyah and
Chang are looking at expanding
their operations beyond the Klang
Valley and continuing to educate
people (they even have education
programmes in schools) about the
attributes of wonky vegetables.
“We want to reach out to other
states when we have enough
manpower and also educate people that certain produce may not
look good, but it is edible. If we
don’t rescue these unappealing-looking produce, it will just
end up in landfills!” says Chang.
tyler says many farmers work very hard to grow crops, but don’t have
the same level of knowledge of how to treat produce after it is harvested, which often results in unnecessary wastage. — LeISa tyLer
4 Opinion
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
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Science (and maths) is hard
trying to understand science and the research it produces is difficult. but to outright
accept or reject ideas and theories is dangerous because it leaves less room for you
to change your views as we learn more.
Contradictheory
DzOF AzmI
OTHER students at university
would often look with envy at those
of us who were doing mathematics.
Whereas they had large reading
lists of books to get through each
week, us mathmos would get only a
single worksheet per topic. And to
top it all off, we would spend a lot
of time playing pool.
True, we would occasionally stop
to scribble something down on a
torn bit of paper. But then it
wouldn’t be long before we
returned to the table and continued
to play. “Maths sure looks easy,”
they would say.
But of course you know it isn’t. If
I tried to sit down to give an example of what was on that worksheet,
most of you would glaze over and
move on to the next article.
What grabs attention is something like Covid-19. Somebody
shared in a WhatsApp group a
study that suggested that the risk of
dying from vaccine side effects may
be as high as the risk of dying of
Covid-19. If the cure is as dangerous
as the disease, then that sounds
intriguing.
One thing in support of the paper
was that it was published in a journal that in turn is managed by a
publisher called MDPI. The current
consensus is that MDPI is a respectable organisation, so this paper
should be taken seriously.
However, when I looked into it, I
discovered that less than a month
after publishing that paper, the
journal retracted it. The reason
given was that there was a “misinterpretation of data, leading to
incorrect and distorted conclusions”.
I pointed this retraction out in the
group chat. To my surprise, the
response by the person who shared
the paper was that there was “no
misinterpretation of data”, and
instead this person advised me to
“just do what you think is right”.
I resisted the temptation to say,
“Well, what I think is right is to
assume the guys at the journal
understand more about the paper
than you might”. But I suppose the
real question is, to what extent do
you trust scientists and researchers,
and why do you feel your minutes
of reading stuff on the Internet is
worth more than their years of
experience?
The Internet has made everybody
an expert. I used to joke that if you
ever felt ill, you shouldn’t Google
your symptoms because you’ll probably find out you have cancer. I personally feel getting a doctor to run
tests on you is probably a better
indicator of that than answering a
multiple choice quiz on the World
Wide Web.
The truth is, for many people,
“doing your own research” isn’t
about going through the literature,
understanding the foundations of
the science you are studying, and
then weighing evidence from multiple independent sources. For most
people, it means “Google it until you
find something you agree with”.
I’ll let you into a little secret: If
you are ever writing a column or
making a presentation, and you
need some data to back up your
assertion, there is always someone
somewhere arguing your case.
For example, perhaps you want
to say something about Internet
access in Malaysia. You might share
a 2020 survey by the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia
Commission (MCMC) that found out
that 88.7% of Malaysians use the
Internet, and 87.3% of those have
good enough access to watch videos
online. That is quite impressive.
However, if your opinion is opposite to this, you might look elsewhere for your evidence. You might
present a 2020 survey by the
International Islamic University of
Malaysia’s student union that says
30% of respondents say they don’t
have a good enough Internet connection to join online classes.
It is important to note that I’m
not talking about fraud here. Both
results may be valid and true. But to
understand them fully requires you
to sit down, and look a little more
carefully at the surveys. How was
the data collected? Are the results
comparable?
Perhaps you might notice that the
MCMC survey said that 87.3% of
Internet users watch videos, not
87.3% of the country’s total population. How does that compare with
the 30% that say they can’t join
online classes? Can you even compare the two surveys like that?
The point I am making is that trying to understand science and the
research it produces is difficult. To
outright accept or reject ideas and
theories is dangerous because it
leaves less room for you to change
your views as scientists learn more.
Those are just simple surveys.
Take something more complicated,
like, for example, how our understanding of Covid-19 has changed.
Recently there has been less emphasis on handwashing and more on
avoiding close contact in crowded
rooms. Scientists now believe that
the virus is mainly spread via air-
For many people, ‘doing your own research’ isn’t about going
through the literature, understanding the foundations of the
science you are studying, and then weighing evidence from
multiple independent sources. For most people, it means
‘Google it until you find something you agree with’.
borne droplets. And that it spreads
without anybody needing to touch
anything (and then rubbing their
eyes, for example).
We also used to hope that vaccines would create “herd immunity” and vaccinated individuals
would “shield” those who could not
be vaccinated. Unfortunately, the
evidence is that the virus can still
spread through vaccinated people –
but it’s still important that as many
people get vaccinated as possible
because vaccines reduce the severity of the disease (among other reasons), and that we continue to take
precautions like wearing a mask
and keeping a physical distance.
And underpinning all that is a lot
of hard work and effort, and years
of experience.
Just because a question on a university maths worksheet can be
answered on one side of an A4
paper, it doesn’t say anything about
how much work had to go into it.
While in other subjects, people
could read books, learn what they
needed from them, and then organise their answers as needed, if we
mathmos got stuck solving a problem, we had no other recourse than
to think really hard about it (and
play a little pool while we did so).
Logic is the antithesis of emotion but
mathematician-turned-scriptwriter
Dzof Azmi’s theory is that people
need both to make sense of life’s
vagaries and contradictions. Write to
Dzof at lifestyle@thestar.com.my.
The views expressed here are entirely
the writer’s own.
A musical note of clarification
YOUR SAY
the gedombak being played
during a wayang kulit show in
Kelantan. — Photos from
Traditional Malaysian Music
I REFER to the StarLifestyle feature
on the sape, “Bringing music to
life” (Oct 8; online at bit.ly/star_
sape). The second story on the
same page mentions the top five
folk instruments from Sarawak,
namely, the sape, selinguit, engkromong, jatung utang and gedombak
(“Top 5 folk instruments from Sarawak”; online at bit.ly/star_folk).
While four of the instruments mentioned are indeed traditional musical instruments from the Land of
the Hornbills, the gedombak is
actually from the northern part of
Peninsular Malaysia.
The gedombak, a pear-shaped
drum from the membranophone
category, is an instrument in the
musical ensembles of wayang kulit
Kelantan, Mak Yong and the Thai
shadow play nang talung where it
is referred to as tharp. The writer
mistook the gedombak for dumbak, a common error to make as
the names are very similar sounding.
The dumbak, also called gondang pidabot, is a cylindrical drum
made from belian, tapang or cempedak wood with both faces covered with goatskin that is secured
with rattan around both drum
heads. Rattan coils which lace the
body of the drum are tied to two
rattan rings located a third of the
way down from each drum head.
Pegs are inserted at one of these
two rings to effect proper tension
the dumbak is
one of the
instruments in
the musical
ensemble of
the bidayuh
people in
Sarawak.
of the drum skin. A hole in the
middle of the body regulates the
internal pressure for proper sound
production.
The dumbak, which is about
50cm in length and 25cm in diameter, is played by hand or a rattan
stick, and is one of the instruments
in the musical ensembles of the
Bidayuh people (from my book
Traditional Malaysian Music, published by Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka,
2007).
MOHAMED GHOUSE
NASURUDDIN
Centre for Policy Research and
International Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Penang
Opinion 5
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Praise the effort, not the grades
When it comes to academic performance, it’s important to celebrate effort rather than
results. no amount of a-grades or bragging rights is worth a depressed or dead child.
Sunny side up
SAndY CLARkE
PARENTS work hard to provide
their children with good prospects
and a stable future. So it’s understandable they place so much value
on their kids’ academic performance and development.
Seeing your child score straight
As and thriving in extracurricular
activities is cause for celebration,
but the pressure on young people to
perform can lead to them having
mental and physical health problems.
Even those who achieve success
consistently can have problems. I’ve
met clients with high anxiety or
depression symptoms because they
“feel defined by grades” and as high
achievers. They worry about letting
their parents down, and their selfworth is extremely fragile as a
result.
In the worst cases, the psychological burden can lead young people
to suicidal thoughts. In South Korea,
many young people who attempt to
take their own lives cite academic
stress as the main cause. They were
far from weak – even the strongest
among us would eventually fold
under such heavy and constant
pressure.
A 2018 article by The Star (“Too
many teens suffering from stress”,
Oct 12; online at bit.ly/star_
teenstress) reported a national survey finding that one in five Malaysians aged 13 to 17 suffered depression, two in five struggled with anxiety, and one in 10 experienced
stress. One reason given for the rise
in suicide rates (which have since
increased due to the pressures of
the Covid-19 pandemic) is the
“exam-orientated culture” that can
cause acute stress for many students
who believe the grades they achieve
will map their entire future.
This is, of course, a misguided
belief and it points to something
much more affecting than academic
pressure alone. Exam stress is normal but we might want to question
why many students experience the
kind of excessive stress that gives
rise to major mental health problems.
The difficulty doesn’t just lie within the education system but how
some parents communicate the
importance not of education itself
but the grades they strongly urge
their children to chase.
It’s understandable. What parent
wouldn’t want their child to perform well academically? Nevertheless, parents have to be mindful
of how they encourage their kids. If
children grow up believing how
they perform defines their worth,
they’re likely to face difficult challenges as they try to make their
way into adulthood and the workplace.
It can be tempting to say today’s
kids are soft, but every generation
thinks like that of the one that
comes after it. The silent generation
(born between 1928 and 1945) saw
baby boomers (born between 1946
and 1964) as soft and spoiled.
As times change and technology
advances, so do the psychological
demands placed on each new generation. Today’s kids need
only look at their
phones to be
reminded how
much they don’t
live up to the millions of people
they can instantly
compare themselves with. It’s not
enough to just look
good. There are
persistent pressures to be productive, entrepreneurial, innovative,
creative, artistic,
and a paragon of
social activism.
All the while
Graphic: 123rf.com
remembering self-care routines and
daily journalling.
To rest and be happy within ourselves are the cardinal sins of a
modern age that’s always demanding we push ourselves to be more.
All of this has real life consequences when kids don’t have nurturing
support from those they look to for
love and acceptance.
This is why, when it comes to academic performance, it’s so important to celebrate effort rather than
results. No amount of A- grades or
bragging rights is worth a
depressed or dead child.
Let’s compare these examples:
“You got all As! Good. Now you
can go on and study medicine and
work towards being top of your
class. Make your parents proud and
take your studies seriously.”
“You got all As! Well
done, you put in so
much hard work and
effort, we’re so
proud of you.
We’ll be supporting you in
your next steps
and as long as
you try your best,
that’s what matters
to us.”
“You got three As
and two Bs. Why
not five As? Don’t
you care about
your future? Will
you be able to get
into our first-choice programme?
This is so disappointing. Tell us,
what went wrong with you?”
“You got three As and two Bs!
That’s a wonderful effort, we know
how much you put into this. It might
not be the results you were hoping
for and that’s OK. Grades don’t
define a person, character does, and
you always try your best even if
things are challenging. We’re so
proud of you, and whatever you
want to do next, keep giving it your
best shot.”
How parents communicate with
their children has a tremendous
effect on how the children see and
value themselves. Many parents
won’t realise this because kids are
masters at hiding what they truly
feel. But every therapist at some
point will have seen what many parents don’t, and it is heartbreaking.
Always praise the effort rather than
the grades. Focus on the person rather than the paper. It’ll make all the
difference in providing children
with the security, confidence, and
resilience they need to make their
way in the world.
Sandy Clarke has long held an interest in emotions, mental health, mindfulness and meditation. He believes
the more we understand ourselves
and each other, the better societies
we can create. If you have any questions or comments, email lifestyle@
thestar.com.my. The views expressed
here are entirely the writer’s own.
(Pics from left) Southern realty set aside rM250,000 to deliver foodstuff to people hard hit by the pandemic; handed over an X-ray machine and other medical equipment and supplies
worth rM500,000 to Hospital tengku ampuan rahimah in august 2021; and, donated protective items costing rM120,000 to the Klang Municipal council.
KLANG-BASED FIRM GIVES BACK TO HOMETOWN FOLK
KLANGITES have much to be
proud of their city famed for its
delectable food.
From yummy savoury delights
of bak kut teh and ikan bakar to
sweet treats like apple strudel and
pandan layer cake, this is a township that keeps on serving.
This also holds true for Klangbased Southern Realty (Malaya)
Sdn Bhd that set aside RM250,000
as part of its ongoing food aid initiative within the community since
July 2021.
Southern Realty aims to reach
out and deliver food boxes to
households and individuals experiencing hardship during these trying times, pledging 500 boxes
monthly to those in need.
Each food box contains pantry
essentials such as a 5kg bag of rice,
noodles, canned goods, sugar,
along with a variety of sauces and
condiments.
The palm oil and real estate
investment company estimates
Southern realty donates foodstuff, hospital equipment and protective items to the community
these boxes would reach some
2,500 households in the Klang
region. With assistance from the
police and the Klang Municipal
Council, more than1,000 families
have received food boxes to date.
“As a company based in Klang,
we feel it is our responsibility to
provide for the community in
times of need,” says Southern
Realty senior director Dr Nick Low.
“We will strive to continue our
longstanding commitment to the
community and ensure everyone is
taken care of. We have witnessed
the impact of the pandemic first
hand, and decided to contribute
over RM1mil to tide the various
members of the Klang community
over the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Low says that many people have
lost their main source of income
due to the pandemic and continued
lockdown measures.
“We understand that these people are in dire need of basic necessities and we want to help alleviate
any burden our neighbours may be
facing, and wish to contribute in
any way we can,” he says.
In the spirit of banding together
to fight Covid-19, the company
donated some RM500,000 worth of
medical equipment and supplies to
Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah
in August, 2021.
Southern Realty’s contributions
consist of new machines and essential equipment upgrades for the
radiology, forensic and laboratory
departments, as well as the Covid19 response team.
The hospital received a brandnew mobile FDR Nano X-ray
machine that is critical for evaluating Covid-19 patients, 30 mechanical hi-lo hospital beds, body racks,
and a variety of laboratory test
equipment and other essentials.
HTAR consultant haematologist
Dr Tan Swee Looi says: “When the
influx of patients overwhelmed
our facility, Southern Realty’s donation of GeneXpert to the pathology
department and digital portable
X-ray machine to the radiology
department had our backs covered.
“They even looked into the welfare of our frontliners’ physical
and mental well being with their
thoughtful gifts. My sincere gratitude to Southern Realty for the
thoughtful and timely assistance.”
To motivate the frontliners further, the company donated
RM350,000 worth of amenities
such as refrigerators and microwave ovens to staff pantries at all
the wards as well as 200 vouchers
of full board holidays to be used by
the frontliners when the pandemic
settles.
“Frontliners and healthcare
workers are the community’s last
line of defence against Covid-19.
We want to show our support and
do what we can to motivate them
to continue their fight.
“Their wellbeing, especially their
mental health, is our priority,” says
Low.
Aside from hospitals within the
Klang region, Southern Realty also
donated essential protective items
to the Klang Municipal Council.
The company contributed
RM120,000 worth of protective
items such as disposable PPE coveralls, Covid-19 antigen rapid tests,
surgical face masks, soft nitrile
gloves, disinfectant and hand sanitisers to the local authority.
For more information, go to www.
southern.com.my
6 Culture
By DINESH KUMAR
MAGANATHAN
lifestyle@thestar.com.my
SOMETIMES, words aren’t enough
to express how you feel.
Eyes That Speak, a photography
and video essay project by KL-based
alternative school Buku Jalanan
Chow Kit (BJCK), was set up to document the learning process of students during the pandemic and
explore questions of mental health.
The 28 BJCK students (aged 13-17)
who were involved in Eyes That
Speak project learned how to handle film cameras through a series of
workshops and participated in dialogue sessions with counsellors and
dance-therapy sessions with
Manizia Kajiwara, a Japan-based
dance-therapist.
This community-based initiative,
which ran from February to
September this year and supported
by the Vans Checkerboard Fund,
culminated with the recent publication of a photobook called Eyes That
Speak.
The 105-page bilingual (Bahasa
Malaysia and English) photobook,
designed by Moka Mocha Ink, contains photos taken by the students
alongside two essays written by the
curatorial team and sociologist Dr
Azhar Ibrahim from the National
University of Singapore.
“The title of our project is in line
with the idea of how our ways of
seeing and perceiving can be an
important way to articulate our collective and collected experiences,
particularly during the pandemic.
“We cannot articulate everything
that we experience via words which
have the tendency to reduce and
dehumanise our sense of being.
And sure enough, the students
spoke through their eyes,” says Zikri
Rahman, organiser and co-curator
of the project.
Photographer Akmal Zamri and
Faisal Aziz, the founder of
Photobook Club Kuala Lumpur,
complete the curatorial team.
The photos – more than 800 were
taken but only 65 photos made it
into the book – give an insight into
the lives of the students. These
works capture a series of visual
memories during the MCO, with the
students photographing lockdown
life at home, their siblings at play,
right to how they prepared for
online classes, and helped their parents at a stall.
“I love walking everywhere. But
because of Covid-19, I’m restricted
from going for walks like these,”
shares Nafisah, a student, referring
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Speaking through the lens
In the Eyes That Speak photobook, buku Jalanan chow Kit students share
how they are coping with the pandemic.
nafisah talks about
being trapped at
home through her
series of photos.
Zahid, one of the students, captured this image of KL city, while showing his love
for clouds. — buku Jalanan chow Kit
to her images that depict being
trapped at home.
Another student, Sarah, shares
her happy times with her friends
when they were able to roam the
city during the conditional MCO
period after being stuck at home for
months.
Right before the second MCO
was enforced in January this year,
Zikri helped to organise a series of
cultural mapping projects for BJCK
students. He says through this project, many anecdotes were gathered
about the students’ experiences
during the pandemic pertaining to
their daily lives as well as their families’ wellbeing.
“There’s so much for us to digest
on how the students’ lives had been
impacted by the pandemic and
their status of being in the at-risk
community was far from being
helpful,” he adds.
The idea that was mooted was to
let the students themselves articulate and document their experiences through a series of photography
journals and video essays.
In the workshop sessions, the students explored the art of storytelling via photography (using disposable cameras) as a medium for
self-exploration and self-discovery,
specifically in exploring their personalities during the pandemic.
The workshop sessions were conducted online. TikTok was also used
to show the students how to handle
a camera. They were then encouraged to go around and capture photos using these prompts: space, selflove and collected memories.
“Not only were the students able
to express and share their concerns
via photography, but also each story
became a form of exchange for
them to get to know each other better,” says Zikri.
The dance-therapy also allowed
the students to explore their emotions and communicate through a
series of interactive and impromptu
dance choreography sessions.
The final element of Eyes That
Speak was the documentation process where the students got to
choose their own photos.
“The
idea for the
documentation process was
really to allow it to
be a safe space for
reflective thinking as well
as for expressions to thrive,”
says Zikri.
The photos and the experiences
by the BJCK students were then
documented on an interactive website which was also launched last
month and collated into the photobook.
Zikri shares that if the situation
permits, there will be a physical
exhibition of the photos in January
next year.
Apart from that, the curatorial
team is also arranging multiple
photo-outing sessions with the students. The students will also be collaborating with Manizia in a choreography-based project with special
needs students in Japan.
BJCK, founded in 2015, focuses on
giving opportunities and equal
the 105-page bilingual
(bahasa Malaysia and
english) photobook is
designed by Moka
Mocha Ink.
rights
of education to the community, particularly
among the youths in Chow
Kit who are at risk as a result of systemic social inequalities as well as
being deprived access to education
as a result of their undocumented/
stateless status.
BJCK programmes include
Sekolah BJCK, a homeschool programme that runs every Monday to
Friday, Weekender Night Class that
runs every Friday and Sunday
night, grassroot football club BJC
Football Club, art class
#KolektifAnakChowKit and technology-driven classes by Arus Maker
Academy.
Facebook: Buku Jalanan Chow Kit.
Franzen dreams big, goes deep
JONATHAN Franzen dreams big.
His newest novel, Crossroads,
arrives with an audible thud on
readers’ doorsteps and will easily
hold those doors open at 580 pages.
The themes are monumental –
from the existence of God to our
obligations to family to the morality of war. It’s also the first of a trilogy called, aspirationally, “The Key
To All Mythologies.”
But don’t let all the hype surrounding a Franzen novel overwhelm you before reading.
In many ways, this is peak
Franzen, with richly created characters, conflicts and plot.
Crossroads introduces readers to
the Hildebrandt family at the start
of the 1970s. The patriarch, Russ, is
a middle-aged associate pastor at a
suburban Chicago church, with
less-than-pure thoughts about a
widowed parishioner in his congregation and a younger rival in
the clergy, Rick Ambrose, whose
flourishing youth group gives the
novel its name.
Russ’ wife, Marion, wonders if
all the sacrifices she made to be a
pastor’s wife were worth it. And
their four kids, from oldest to
youngest – Clem, Becky, Perry and
Judson – are all caught up in some
fashion in the swirling cultural
winds of the decade. Despite their
religious upbringing, or perhaps in
part because of it, there are temptations at every turn, from drugs to
pre-marital sex.
And in typical Franzen fashion,
we go fathoms deep into all the
characters’ heads (except Judson,
who at nine, is mostly spared the
inner monologue) as they navigate
their lives. The introspection is
head-spinning at times.
Just when a character convinces
themselves to do something, they
reconsider and the plot spins off in
a new direction. That’s not to say
any of it feels arbitrary. Franzen
has a story to tell, it’s just a story
featuring characters who aren’t
always sure what they want. The
novel’s title is more than just the
name of the church’s youth group,
after all.
The writing is a marvel. Despite
the super omniscient third-person
narrator, Franzen also delivers economic lines like these, as we get
Marion’s backstory before she met
Russ: “Her first Christmas alone
wasn’t so bad that it didn’t later
seem good.” You feel throughout
like you’re in the hands of a very
confident storyteller and the joy of
the novel is going along for the
journey with each character as
they make choices and live with
the consequences.
You also feel when you finish
that the story is just getting started.
We’re told on the book jacket
that the trilogy will “span three
generations,” which means the
children will likely be adults in the
next volume, and then we’ll
approach present day with their
children.
It’s reminiscent of (John) Updike’s
Rabbit novels in that regard, except
it feels even broader in scope.
In many ways, this is peak Franzen, with richly created characters, conflicts and plot. — Handout
Russ gets the most pages in novel
number one, but it’s truly a family
saga. His life choices and the
impact they have on the rest of the
family will set the stage for what
comes in books two and three. And
that’s the hard part.
An audience accustomed to
binge watching will have to
wait years for the Hildebrandt
story to play out. But isn’t that a
moral in many mythologies? Good
things come to those who wait. –
AP
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
7
8 Culture
AFTER a devastating industry-wide
shutdown, Broadway has finally
reopened with performances of
beloved shows like Hamilton,
Wicked and new plays and musicals such as Six, Lackawanna Blues,
and Thoughts Of A Colored Man.
In celebration of the resurgence
of live theatre in New York City,
Variety magazine brought together
several Broadway heavyweights,
including Andrew Lloyd Webber
(you know what he’s done!) and
director Jerry Zaks (Hello, Dolly!),
as well as stage stars like Beanie
Feldstein (the upcoming Funny Girl
revival), Ron Cephas Jones (Clyde’s)
and Sharon D. Clarke (Caroline, Or
Change) for “Legit! The Return To
Broadway”, a recent event held in
the city that is the heart of live theatre in the United States.
It was a largely celebratory
affair, with producers, creators and
performers thrilled to be back
doing what they love best. But
there’s also a growing sense that
the industry they return to after
months of Covid-19-related closures and a global social justice
movement must be more inclusive
and reflective of society.
Here are five takeaways from
the recent gathering of theatre lovers:
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Thrilled to be back
beanie Feldstein, andrew Lloyd Webber, Sharon d. clarke and other broadway
artists on theatre’s comeback.
It’s good to be back on stage
It’s been a long hard 18 months
for performers who made a life
for themselves on the footlights.
Zoom-staged readings were nice in
the meantime, but they hardly
replace the thrill of being able to
sing, dance and crack wise in front
of a crowded room. “
Caroline, Or Change’s Clarke,
Clyde’s Ron Cephas Jones and
Chicken And Biscuits star Michael
Urie have gotten a taste of what
they’ve been missing as their new
shows enter previews and prepare
for opening night and beyond.
So far, they have noticed the
pandemic has given people a
renewed sense of appreciation for
the small moments.
“When people (on stage) are
kind to each other, the audience
applauds,” said Urie. “We talk to
each other back stage and say,
‘They’re applauding goodness.’ It
makes you feel better about
human beings. Yeah, everyone is
wearing a mask and I’m sure
they’re nervous about being
packed into a theatre, but the sense
of joy and fellowship is bleeding
out onto the street.”
It’s not only the audience that
has been grateful. Actors, many of
whom went without work while
Broadway was dark, are marveling
at the fact that theatre was able to
rebound.
“It’s been amazing. What I found
so profound is how everyone came
together to fight this disease so we
could come together,” said Cephas
Jones.
“We were so wanting to get
back to bring life to the theatre.
With all the testing and masking
and vaccinations, you realise the
hundreds of thousands of people
that it took to make us able to
come together in this room right
now. It’s very overwhelming, but it
shows how much we can accomplish when we pull ourselves
together.”
Already, Broadway stars have
grown accustomed to protocols
that come with actively working to
prevent the spread of a deadly
virus.
“We’re all quite used to masking
up,” said Clarke.
“You just get on with it. What
you focus on is being back in the
room and being creative.”
Plus, there are enough Covid-19
protocols to keep them feeling safe.
“You’re being tested three times
a week,” she said.
Posters advertise broadway musicals outside the richard rodgers theatre near times Square in new york
city. broadway – which generated around uS$33mil (rM137mil) in sales per week before the pandemic
across 31 shows – is gradually reopening. — aFP
Feldstein, who takes on the role of
Fanny brice in 2022’s revival of
Funny Girl, knows she has some
pretty big shoes to fill. — reuters
Urie added, “It is a drag, but it is
so worth it. I would do twice as
much to be in a play.”
actors Michael urie (left) and norm Lewis participate in the broadway
League’s the Curtain Up! Broadway Is Back kick-off event in new york
city last month. — reuters
How to make a movement
out of a moment
again and again.”
Lia Vollack, a producer for MJ
The Musical, says it is necessary to
support black leadership beyond
only directing and acting, but also
in the areas of producing, general
management and stage management.
“Having performers is one thing,
but having decision makers is
another,” said Vollack.
“We wanted to provide longterm
support.”
Many shows have taken the extra
step of hiring people to oversee
equity, diversity and inclusion
efforts.
“This is an amazing season full of
diverse voices,” said Pass Over producer Matt Ross.
“Urgency to make lasting changes
is really important. Every person in
a room who has an EDI director
means more people having access
to the room.
The upcoming Broadway season
isn’t just different in terms of pandemic-era protocols and the fact
that audiences have to be vaccinated and stay masked. It also presents
a milestone in terms of inclusion.
A record number of shows by
black artists are scheduled to premiere this season, and Broadway
producers are eager to ensure that
particular development isn’t unique
to this year.
“It’s an interesting conversation
talking about the moment versus
lasting systemic change,” said Brian
Moreland, the producer of Thoughts
Of A Colored Man.
“In this window of time, a lot of
change has happened, a lot of good
things have happened.”
That includes new playwrights
being recognised and new directors
getting their big break.
“There’s a real urgency and
desire to make it long-lasting. The
only way we can sustain it is to
keep talking about it. We need to
widen the table and make sure this
change is a lasting lifetime change.
We’ve seen it this particular season,
and we want to see it again and
Why big stars come to
Broadway
Jerry Zaks is no stranger to working with outsized talent over his
decades in show business, directing
hit shows like 2017’s Hello, Dolly!
revival, Guys And Dolls, Meteor
Shower and the upcoming Music
Man.
He’s guided movie greats, like
Bette Midler, Amy Schumer, Nathan
Lane and Hugh Jackman through
the challenges of performing eight
shows a week on Broadway. So
what brings these A-listers back
time and again, abandoning the
comforts of closed movie sets for a
chance to share their talent on centre stage?
It’s the unmatched thrill of performing live, of course. But, Zaks
notes, it takes courage.
“They are exposed. They are vulnerable,” he said. “There’s no cut or
editing. It’s all immediate. I think
people like Hugh, Amy and Bette do
this because it’s beyond thrilling.
You’ve never seen anyone work
harder than Bette Middler worked
to get ready Hello, Dolly! Hugh has
been in training for The Music Man
for a year. Amy committed
everything to that role.”
Zaks, for his part, makes every
effort to put the actors at ease.
“Great stars like that, as far as I’m
concerned, I make sure the first
thing I say to them is a really smart,
good idea,” he says. “An actable
note. you’d be surprised at the
number of notes that directors
give that are absolutely, utterly
un-actable.”
People who need people ...
to calm their nerves
Feldstein, who play Fanny Brice
in 2022’s revival of Funny Girl,
knows she has some big shoes to
fill. After all, Barbra Streisand
became a star portraying the vaudeville legend on stage and to Oscarwinning effect on screen. So is
Feldstein nervous about belting the
show’s beloved songs like People
and Don’t Rain On My Parade?
“I’ve always been nervous,”
admitted Feldstein. “But Funny Girl
takes it to a different level.”
Before she took the stage at
Variety’s breakfast, she ran into
Zaks – who directed Feldstein in her
Broadway debut in Hello, Dolly –
who imparted some advice.
“Jerry said to me back over there,
‘It’s good to be nervous, Beanie-leh.
It keeps you good.’”
Feldstein doesn’t disagree. “I’m
like, ‘You’re right Jerry! It’s good to
be nervous.”
As for putting her own spin on a
character that’s become synonymous with Streisand, Feldstein does
not feel daunted by the challenge at
hand: “My job is to play Fanny
Brice. It all comes back to Fanny
herself, and that’s what I have to
focus on.”
Don’t expect Andrew Lloyd
Webber to retire
Andrew Lloyd Webber has spent
the last year and change on a mission to get live theatre back, but
rather than soak in theatre’s triumphant return, the Broadway impresario is already charting his next
moves. That includes bringing his
West End musical Cinderella to the
Great White Way next year and
working on a new show, the details
of which he remains mum.
“I want to write something else,”
said Lloyd Webber. “I’ve got an
idea, but I can’t really share it.”
He did offer one morsel, which is
that it won’t be based on any
pre-existing properties.
“It will need to be an original
story. Having done recently School
Of Rock and Cinderella, I’d quite like
to do something a bit more serious.”
– Variety/Reuters
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
9
10
STARLIFESTYLE, SUNDA
Aquarius
(Jan 21 - Feb 18)
Best Day: Tuesday
Over time, you’ve learned that tolerance works well for
you. But there are some situations that can still test your
patience. What you should look out for this week are ego
clashes. Clever Aquarians will recognise there are no real
winners in warfare. If love is on your mind, you should find
the latter part of the week more amenable.
Pisces
(Feb 19 - March 20)
Best Day: Monday
Now that Mercury steps forward, over the next few days
you’re once again free to sign contracts, schedule vital
meetings, have significant conversations and make
important decisions or purchases. Remain confident as you
push ahead with anything that requires communication or
forward planning. You’re back in control.
Aries
(March 21 - April 20)
Best Day: Wednesday
Few people will totally agree with your plans this week and
may not like what you have to offer. Don’t try to force your
views. The best thing is to avoid discussions where you feel
questions or accusations are pointed at you. Instead, follow
your own dreams and allow others to have theirs. Not
everyone beats to the same drum.
Taurus
(April 21 - May 20)
Best Day: Friday
This week life’s responsibilities land squarely on your
shoulders. Previous effort and hard work start to pay
off. You’re now seen as an authority figure, and the cosmos
expects you to take on this new role. It may seem like too
much pressure too soon - but don’t fret. It’s what you have
wanted, if not yet expected.
Gemini
(May 21 - June 21)
Best Day: Sunday
If you’ve spent the last three weeks feeling mentally
scrambled, stressed or just ridiculously indecisive, relief is
near. After Mercury steps forward on the 20th, you’ll soon
notice the difference. From here on in, this quicksilver planet
becomes more dynamic every day, as will you. Take action
based on new insights learned over recent weeks.
Cancer
(June 22 - July 22)
Best Day: Monday
Our lives are full of opportunities to start over, and every so
often there’s a potent cosmic push that gives us a dynamic
boost and creates new beginnings. So now that Mercury
steps forward again, it’s the right time for forward planning.
This week, investigate ways to make your life grow. The end
result will be so very satisfying.
11
AY 17 OCTOBeR 2021
Leo
(July 23 - Aug 23)
Best Day: Friday
It’s one of those weeks, Leo. You’re stressed, and really
can’t cope with much more. But one of the remarkable
things about you is your amazing tenacity. Sure, there may
be a roadblock or two, but your innate GPS should
instinctively steer you towards unmapped detours.
Laughter, too, will help settle any excessive stress.
Virgo
(Aug 24 - Sept 22)
Best Day: Tuesday
It’s okay, Virgo. We know all about those darker passions
that lurk beneath your sometimes overly-pragmatic
veneer. Last week offered the chance to free up some of
that hidden intensity, but many of you kept a handle on
things. This week pushes even harder for inner desires to
be set free. Such daring has been a long time coming.
Libra
(Sept 23 - Oct 23)
Best Day: Sunday
Clutter can drain Libran energy. When you walk into a room
or building, you have an instant reaction to it. The space can
agitate or calm you. So stroll through your home or office,
and notice how you feel. Mess can be a huge obstacle to
the natural flow of energy and energy is something you’ve
lately lacked. This week, clear the trash.
Scorpio
(Oct 24 - Nov 22)
Best Day: Thursday
A forward moving Mercury sees work goals move in the
right direction. All lines of communication suddenly re-open,
and you can look forward to busy discussions. One
warning: prolonged pressure can place high demands on
even the healthiest body, so don’t overdo punishing regimes.
Another likely distraction: inconsiderate colleagues.
Sagittarius
(Nov 23 - Dec 21)
Best Day: Saturday
Sagittarians are known for their wistful ways. It’s fine to
have the occasional daydream - but don’t let fantasy replace
reality. A hard ask, I know. But in order not to be exploited,
you really must be able to deal with the cold, hard facts of
life - and there may be a few to contend with this
week. Know who your true allies are.
Capricorn
(Dec 22 - Jan 20)
Best Day: Saturday
The planets push for more honesty at home. If relationships
feel strained, talk problems through. For others, the week
attempts to sort out family feuds. Perhaps, too, painful
childhood memories demand resolution. Uranus also
continues to deliver a busy work schedule. There may be
little rest this week, but much should be achieved.
12
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
13
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
8
© NIKOLI Co Ltd, Japan
10
23
25
26
27
28
24
2
3
CRYPTIC
1 Fashionable substitute for wood
or metal (7)
2 authority’s abuse of freedom (7)
3 See trivia as an odd collection of
different things (9)
4 brought down, strange though it
may sound (5)
5 Sea-going vandal (9)
6 describing a boom in the travel
industry (5)
7 understand and cash in (7)
8 Such things are always there and
are lent out (7)
14 abandon the rules when bowling?
(5,4)
15 treat wage adjustment as a political scandal (9)
16 Gave voice when I damaged a
tendon (7)
17 Means of gauging a boring job (7)
19 Is such an acquaintance agreeable? (7)
20 a strange odd pet taken in by the
family (7)
22 From which convicts once had
their pick (5)
23 Finished with part of a written
dedication (5)
1 4
8 6
7
4 5 6
Fill up each 3x3 box, as well as each row and column, with all the numbers 1 to 9. For tips and
techniques for solving Sudoku puzzles, go to nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/sudoku.html.
KAKURO
CRYPTIC
SoLuTIonS
1 Friend starts to rave about tedious activity (7)
5 Justify rate (7)
9 Gives a hundred lines? (7)
10 auntie’s sort of curvaceous (7)
11 drawn - from the past for example? (5)
12 Order the way to go (9)
13 Makes me cry, this school subject (9)
15 Instrument of torture the 16
across never had (5)
16 Peruvians who help to make
violin cases (5)
18 Land of Hope and Glory? (9)
21 a sad relation (4,2,3)
24 Set for one road diversion (5)
25 Van comes back holding new
book of russian-born author (7)
26 daily journalist (7)
27 unrealistic sightseer? (7)
28 doctor moved bit by bit and got
out of bed (7)
Down
E
T
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N
A
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Across
9
8
7
1. Put numbers from 1 through 9 in each cell
(No zeros.)
2. A number in a cell divided by a diagonal line tells the
sum of the numbers in the consecutive cells to its right
or downward.
3. No number may appear more than once in
consecutive cells.
SUDOKU
8
2
7
9
5
4
6
1
3
22
4 2
5 1
20
9
4
3
6
7
1
8
5
2
19
1
5
6
2
3
8
4
7
9
21
18
5
6
4
9
8
7
1
5
3
2
6
17
1
3
6
1
4
8
2
7
9
5
16
15
2
7
5
3
6
9
1
8
4
14
5
1
9
8
4
6
2
3
7
13
2 3 4
6
3
2
1
9
7
5
4
8
12
7
8
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5
2
3
9
6
1
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© NIKOLI Co Ltd, Japan
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1
This Week In History
October 18, 1961
The film version of West Side Story
was released. Adapted from the
Broadway musical and based on
Romeo and Juliet, it won 10 Oscars
including Best Picture
Picture: Getty Images
October 17, 2020
New Zealand’s Labour Party won a
landslide re-election victory,
buoyed by Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern’s success in containing the
coronavirus pandemic
1956: The world’s first commercial
nuclear power station opened at
Calder Hall in England
1961: Over 40 people died as riot
police in Paris confronted Algerians
demonstrating against colonial rule
2009: The Maldives government held
an underwater cabinet meeting to
highlight the threat of global warming
2011: The Occupy Wall Street
movement spread from New York to
other US and international cities
1996: Scientists announced they had
found an “absolute” link between
smoking and lung cancer
2001: Several US government offices
closed after 30 employees tested
positive for anthrax
2011: Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held
in Gaza for over five years, was freed
in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
2019: Chile imposed a state of
emergency as protests spread over
rising living costs
O
ctober 2
0, 2
011
October
20,
2011
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who
ruled Libya with a dictatorial grip
for 42 years, was killed when
revolutionary forces overwhelmed
his home town of Sirte
Picture: Newscom
1943: Streptomycin, the first antibiotic
cure for tuberculosis, was isolated by
PhD student Albert Schatz
2001: Over 3,500 Afghan refugees
fleeing heavy bombing in Kandahar
crossed into Pakistan
2011: A two-day general strike started
in Greece, exacerbating riots
throughout the country
1987: A rare first edition of a
Gutenberg Bible sold for a record
US$5.39 million at Christie’s in New
York
2006: A referendum in Panama
overwhelmingly approved a plan to
expand the Panama Canal
2011: Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al
Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,
died at age 80
2019: Emperor Naruhito was formally
enthroned as the 126th ruler of Japan
Picture: Newscom
Picture: Associated Press
October 19, 1901
Brazilian aviator Alberto
Santos-Dumont successfully
piloted an airship around the Eiffel
Tower. The 30-minute trip made
him an international celebrity
Picture: Newscom
2015: Thousands of migrants were
blocked by new border controls as
they tried to enter Western Europe
1923: The world’s first planetarium,
showing how stars move across the
sky, was opened in Munich, Germany
2008: India and Pakistan reopened a
trade route through disputed Kashmir
for the first time in 60 years
2014: President Dilma Rousseff was
re-elected by the narrowest margin
since Brazil returned to democracy
2014: A frog found living in wetlands
in New York City was confirmed as a
new species of leopard frog
1935: Mao Zedong’s forces ended
their Long March in northern China, a
year after fleeing Chiang Kai-shek’s
forces
1947: An investigation into
Communist infiltration of Hollywood
began, blacklisting people for years
2002: Blue Stream, the world’s
deepest underwater pipeline, was
opened between Russia and Turkey
2020: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe
successfully touched down on the
asteroid Bennu to collect samples
October 23, 1956
The Hungarian uprising against
Soviet occupation began in
Budapest with demonstrators
demanding the withdrawal of Soviet
forces
Picture: Newscom
October 21, 1901
The Eastman Kodak Company of
New Jersey was formed to market
the hugely successful Brownie
camera, which brought photography to the masses
Picture: Associated Press
October
22,
1721
O
ctober 2
2, 1
721
Peter the Great was proclaimed
Emperor of all the Russias,
dropping the title of Tsar. His
extensive reforms established
Russia as a great nation
1991: Serb forces began shelling the
Old Town of Dubrovnik, the historic
heart of the Croatian city
2001: The IRA decommissioned the
first of its weapons in a historic
breakthrough for the Northern Ireland
peace process
2006: Romania officially ended the
use of conscription
2011: Cristina Kirchner was
re-elected as President of Argentina
in a landslide victory
© GRAPHIC NEWS
14
Sunday October 17 2021 THE STAR
Shops
For Sale
Cars
For Sale
TOYOTA PRIUS C, 2012 (2 units),
1 owner, black & white, well kept
acc free, low mile, touch screen,
GPS. RM21.8k. 019-3385177 Lee
Vehicles
Wanted
MASJID JAMEK nr LRT station
OCBC and Lotus Hotel. 5sty
with lift 2 flrs tenanted f/hold
approx 20'x55' Asking RM5M
neg. Lakshmi (REN 04968)
Tel: 019- 2169191 E(3)0344
Apartments
For Sale
BRICKFIELDS PALM Court
Condo, 3r 2b, 952sf for sale. Renovated & furnished. Tenanted for
RM2000. Sale RM450k. Call GK
012-3172729, Sara 012-6966870
Houses
for sale
PJ SEC12 l/a 5888sf, basic, 5r2b,
RM1.95Mil neg, s/s b’glow, basic,
l/a 8900sf, 4r3b, nice gdn, asking
price RM2.5m ono. Veron 019 275
8224 R10278/77271699 E(3)0791
PJ SEC14 near Sri Aman lake, d/s
b’glow, l/a 5440sf, 5r5b, good location, RM2.38Mil neg. Call Veron
019-2758224 REN10278 / 037727 1699 E(3)0791 Universal
PJ SEC16 2sty b’glow, l/a 7200sf,
fully renovated, 6r 5b, private and
exclusive. RM2.88Mil ono. Veron
019 - 2758 224 (REN10278) / 0377271699 E(3)0791 Universal
PJ SEC9 s/s b’glow l/a 9400sf b/u
2500sf 5r 2b lease extended to
99yrs, asking for RM2.5mil neg.
Veron 019-2758224 REN10278 /
03-77271699 E(3)0791 Universal
PJ SS3 d/s s/d, 4r 3b, 3200sf, well
renovated, good location, freehold,
RM1.8Mil neg.Veron 0192758224
REN10278 / 77271699 E(3)0791
PJ SS7 dsl, 22x75, freehold, fully
reno, 4r 3b, RM850k neg. Veron
019-2758224 REN10278 / 0377271699 E(3)0791 Universal
BRICKFIELDS VILLA Scott 1380
sq ft well kept 2+1room 2 baths
fully furnished circular balcony
high floor KLCC view RM720K.
(E(1)1448) Max 012-2020724
Shops
Wanted
KL PJ shoplots / land . Ready
buyers! Proprima Estates Call
012-3820126 E(3)1943
Shops
To Let
MONT KIARA 2400+sf 4r4b hi/flr
3 car park, balcony East, elegant
interior nicely renovated close Int’l
school & shops. Asking RM1.55m.
E(3)0791 Desmond 016-2387570
MONT
KIARA
Spectacular
breathtaking view freehold white
interior as new 2700sf 4r 5b 3 car
parks extra ordinary furnishings
low fees, all facilities. Viewing will
convince. Reasonably RM2.25 mil.
Ling E(3)0791 016-2387570
TAMAN SEPUTEH Robson Condominium near Mid Valley , 1292sf.
Tastefully renovated, quality fixtures and fittings, 2+2 rooms 2
baths, nicely furnished quiet and
breezy facing greenery. Comes
with long term tenancy . Freehold.
View to appreciate. RM780K.
E(1)1448. Max 012-2020724
Apartments
To Let
Repairs/
Maintenance
REPAIR ROOF leak specialist.
Reasonable, free inspection with
2 years warranty. Call Simon Ng
019-3334769
DAMANSARA HEIGHTS, Desa
Damansara, 2153sf, 3r/3b, 2
c/park, fully reno & fully furnished,
owner leaving country, RM1.9M
019-3106688 PEA1599E(2)1064
KENNY HILLS, Sri Bkt Tunku f/h
lowrise,1550sf,3r3b,facilities,3mins
KL, Malls, UMNO Bldg, trains.
RM950K. E(3)0791 016-2387570
ALL OLD cars wanted. 3-35 yrs all
models & also any year's motorcycles. Pls call 03-41490353 (O)
012-3301689 / 03-41426001 (Hse)
BRICKFIELDS SHOPLOT 5sty
good frontage with lift & ample
c/park. Individual floors available
separately. Owner 012-677 6044
Warehouse
For Sale
TELOK PANGLIMA Garang warehse 2.5ac f/h tenanted RM70k
for 7yrs. ROI 4.6% RM18Mil. Ben
012-2870268 Ren29842 E(3)1822
Land
For Sale
BATANG BERJUNTAI 10acres oil
palm facing mainroad l/h 10km to
UNISEL RM350k per acres. Ben
012-2870268 R29842 E(3)1822
KAPAR KLANG 5mins to Kapar
3.95ac l/h agri land surrounded by
few factories only RM20 psf. Ben
012-2870268 Ren29842 E(3)1822
Business
For Sale
GP CLINIC for takeover in Happy
Garden off Jln Kuchai Lama KL.
Give away price. Pls WhatsApp
017-3261631
Distributors/
Agents Wanted
CASHLESS MEDICAL Card.
Joining age up to 65 years.
Income RM5K to RM35K. Free
holiday fund. Call 018 - 2175 363
AMBER COURT Genting Highlands f/f studio 2beds 2baths.Mthly
rent RM1800/Sale RM350K only.
Serious contact now 017-8776873
TTDI SULAIMAN area 1) 2sty
n'lot with land la: approx
3680sqft bu approx 20x95
RM2.5M. 2) 2.5sty n'lot with land
la 2840sqft bu approx 24x95
RM2.5M. 3) 2sty s/d nr mosque
la approx 6260sf bu approx
4300sf RM5.640M. 4) 2sty link
house Helmi area approx 24x75
RM1.7M all unit f/hold & well
kept Lakshmi REN04968 0192169191 E(3)0344
Houses
Wanted
TAMAN TUN TTDI link / semi d/
bungalow. Ready Buyers! Proprima Estates. Call 012-3820126
E(3)1943
Houses
To Let
DAMANSARA UTAMA SS21/18
dsl 4r3b, fully reno, well maintained, with fittings RM2500 neg.
Veron 019 2758224 REN10278 /
03-77271699 E(3)0791 Universal
SS2 DOUBLE storey terrace
1650sq.ft 4r3b, semi-furnished
RM2,300 (preferably family). Contact Charlene 012-2986238
TAMAN DESA Danau Villa, 3 storey semi-d, l/a 3000sf 5r+2r stL 4b
partly furnished, gated guarded,
RM 5800 neg.Veron 019 2758224
REN10278 /77271699 E(3)0791
Apartments
For Sale
BANGSAR SRI Bangsar, 5mins
walk to LRT station, 1254 sqft,
2rooms 2baths, spacious living &
dining area, high flr, balcony, good
view, near amenities. RM610K.
E(1)1448 Max 012-2020 724.
BANGSAR SRI Wangsaria corner
freehold spacious low level 1350sf
1c/park at entrance 2r2b wooden
flr. New price RM880K. Rent
RM2,500. E(3)0791 016-2387570
BANGSAR TIVOLI Vila approx
1200sf 2+1room partly furnished.
Pool view facing East RM850K.
(E(1)1448) Max 012-2020724
BUKIT ROBSON top flr balcony
open spectacular view 1300sf
2+1r 2b f/h tenanted price reduced
RM830k. E(3)0791 016-2387570
BANGSAR ONE Menerung 3+1r
p/f good view / Serai 4+1r p/f. Avail.
Owner welcome to list. 019-386
4122 REN01738 E(3)0043
BANGSAR PANTAI Towers
1600sqft 3+1 room 3 baths partly
furnished RM2,500 neg. E(1)1448
Max 012-2020724
KENNY HILLS RM138psf , one
acre, facing KLCC, bungalow
land. Ready to build now. Call
019 3101880 Thevan E(3)0751
BANGSAR TIVOLI Villa 1300 sq.
ft.Renovated open concept kitchen
2 rooms 2 baths, furnished
Rental RM2,400. Sale RM860K.
E(1)1448 Max 012-2020 724.
TAMAN INDUSTRI Alam Jaya
Puncak Alam 1 acre vacant land
to let. 2) Ijok Bestari Jaya 4 acres
freehold (6 years oil palm trees)
for sale. Call 019-3100183
BRICKFIELDS PINES Condominium 1200sf 2+1 room 2 baths,
fully furnished, high floor, near
amenities RM2,100. E(1)1448.
Max 012-2020724
BRICKFIELDS VILLA Scott 1400
sq ft. Newly refurbished 3+1room
3 baths nicely furnished RM3000.
(E(1)1448) Max 012-2020724
PALM COURT Condominium
Brickfields . Block A. 3 rooms, 2
baths. Fully furnished. RM1,800
Contact: 012-2688965.
PJ EHSAN Ria Condo 1600 sq. ft.
3+1 room 4 baths, furnished. High
floor panoramic view RM2500.
E(1)1448. Max 012-2020724
Properties
For Sale
BRICKFIELDS, 27 rooms hostel
(4 units Apt). Lock Stock & Barrel
Income RM12k. Selling RM1.2mil
negotiable. Call 014-3239249
Shops
For Sale
Cars
For Sale
HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0 GLS ‘03,
clean interior, accident free, gold,
good condition. Sell as scrap
RM3K. Call 019-3385177 KK
MITSUBISHI L200 Triton Lite 4x2
Year 2004. No Plate WB 7652 A
Contact : Mr Lim / Mr Azahar at
03-2142 9044
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Year 2008. No Plate WRP 9522
Contact : Mr Lim / Mr Azahar at
03-2142 9044
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Vacancies
DRIVER NEEDED: Embassy
seeks Driver with D & B1 license.
Min 2 years of experience in KL /
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Fluent in English , reliable and responsible. Must provide references. Experience with Embassies is an advantage. Applications
only by e-mail. Please send CV
with salary expectations to Head
of
Personnel
chembmy@gmail.com
General
Notice
General
Notice
Pets 15
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
By KAMALANATHAN RATNAM
MARCH 6, 2021, was a memorable
and momentous day for my nineyear-old granddaughter Nushca
and my 10-year-old grandson
Vivaker.
Nushca had always pined for a
pet dog but her mother, a single
parent, was not for it. My daughter
and her two children live in
Bangsar, KL, but due to the pandemic, my wife and I invited our
daughter and her two children to
stay with us so that when my
daughter is at work, the grandmother could keep watch over the
grandchildren’s online classes.
We live in Taman Seputeh, Kuala
Lumpur. When we drive up
Seputeh Hills, we have to pass a
virtual jungle on both sides but
now, on one side, the beginning of
the construction of luxury apartments has totally obliterated the
beautiful sight of glistening lights
of the Kuala Lumpur metropolis.
However, on the left of the
Seputeh Hills as one drives into
Seputeh from the highway is a veritable jungle where a pack of wild
dogs live. In the mornings and evenings, one would see good
Samaritans leaving food for these
wild dogs.
One day, while driving Nushca
home, we saw a female dog with
seven puppies trailing her across
the road.
Nuscha promptly repeated her
desire for a puppy and, since only
the grandparents were in the car,
she bravely ventured that surely
we could adopt any one of those
puppies.
We got to know that a Filipino
aunty married to a local was the
person who was allowed by the
mother to feed her puppies. We
then approached Aunty Charlie for
her help and, on that eventful day,
she brought a little brown-andblack tinged with grey puppy, to
our house.
As soon as the gate bell rang, my
Dasher and the grandkids
Our reader’s family learns the true
meaning of caring and sharing when they
adopt a puppy.
wife and I met Aunty Charlie who
promptly deposited the puppy into
my wife’s hands and left.
When Nushca saw the puppy,
tears of happiness flowed down
her cheeks. As she was cradling the
puppy, it jumped out of her arms
and dashed around the garden. His
speed and versatility in stopping
and swerving without colliding
into the pots and flower beds was
sufficient for the two children to
name him “Dasher”.
Aunty Charlie had guessed that
Dasher was around two months
old then.
When I see the love and devotion of a nine-year-old in taking
care of a stray dog, I am moved by
her generosity and kindness. She
would be up before seven in the
morning and, even before brushing her teeth, she would mix milk
and serve her puppy.
One evening, carried away by
the exuberance of youth and the
spirited display of affection shown
by Dasher who refused to let go of
his towel, Nushca tried to snatch
the towel from him. The towel then
got entangled between Dasher’s
rear legs. When Nuscha pulled the
towel, Dasher tried to run and his
left rear leg snapped and Dasher
let out an ear-splitting yelp of pain.
Nushca ran to her mother and
insisted that they take the dog to
the nearest vet at Old Klang Road.
The vet X-rayed Dasher and diagnosed a dislocation. Nushca was
beset with self-recrimination and
blamed her sloppiness. Then she
When pet parrots
arrots are ‘bored’
bored
THE Norwegian Blue may
only have been a fictional
parrot species made famou
us
by a Monty Python comedy
y
sketch about a caged bird
“pining for the fjords”, but
real pet parrots do, it seems,
get the blues in captivity.
That’s according to new
research published by the
Britain’s Royal Society,
which suggests the bigger
More active an
the captive bird’s brain, the
e
d
more likely it is to exhibit
parrots can sp intelligent wild
en
“forms of abnormal
their time fora d up to 75% of
gi
behaviour”, such as chewresearch show ng, but new
s
ing the bars of its cage or
parrots will su some captive
ffer from shor
plucking its own feathers.
te
lifespans due
to boredom. — r
The extent to which
dpa
more intelligent parrot
species are “prone to diseasse”
and “apparently shortened
ing that is not compensated
lifespans” appears equivalent to
for among captive birds by the
the “mismatch” between captivchance to say “Polly wants a
ity and life in the wild, say acacracker”.
demics from Britain’s University
Parrots in the wild are often
of Bristol and Bristol University,
“naturally social” but such speas well as Canada’s University of
cies often live without any such
Guelph and the Utrecht
social contact when captive and
University in the Netherlands.
are at risk of suffering “bore“The extent to which captivity
dom”.
constrains animals’ natural
In general, “intelligent anibehaviours”, and reduces their
mals have unique welfare needs
scope “for foraging, deciin captivity,” the researchers
sion-making and cognitive probsay, recommending that owners
lem-solving” leads to “frustraoffer “more naturalistic diets”
tion”, the researchers found.
and come up with “cognitive
More active and intelligent
stimulation” to liven things up
wild parrots can spend up to
for the caged birds, who could
75% of their time foraging,
otherwise end up “pining for
according to the experts, a
the fjords” or even an “ex parrough-and-tumble of probrot,” as the 1969 sketch put it. –
lem-solving and decision-makdpa
do you have an interesting
story about your pet that you
would like to share? We’d love
to hear from you. tell us in
600-800 words (in text or
Word format), with three to
four photos (1Mb, captioned,
in JPeG format). there is no
payment for submissions. We
reserve the right to edit all
submissions. email:
lifestyle@thestar.com.my with
the subject ‘My Pet Story’.
virtually lived in the kennel with
Dasher, caring for his every need.
Dasher is now back to his raunchy self. Soon he will be a year old
and Nushca is already preparing
his birthday celebrations. She has a
list of invitees – those who own
dogs as pets.
When I see the love and affection my granddaughter has shown
to a stray pup, I cannot but reflect
on the law of karma. While one
puppy leads a luxurious life in a
fenced compound and enjoys a
proper and balanced diet, his siblings forage in the jungle with their
mother for their daily sustenance
and live off the generosity of people like Aunty Charlie.
Surely there is a reason that one
dasher with his two young owners nushca (left) and Vivaker. —
Photo: KaMaLanatHan ratnaM
pup is picked to enjoy the good
things in life while the rest continue to live an uncertain life. Could it
be that Dasher in his previous life
had done something good so that
in this life he reaps the benefit? Or
could it be that in her previous life
Nushca owed Dasher a debt that
she now seeks to repay in this life?
Whatever it may be, this experience has taught my family the true
meaning of caring and sharing.
Even an 82-year-old grandfather
has learnt from a nine-year-old
what it is to share the unbridled
love for animals.
Rescue puppy has trouble sleeping alone
By JOAN MORRIS
DEAR JOAN: My adult daughter
is struggling with sleep deprivation because her new fourmonth-old puppy won’t let her
sleep through the night. Any
tips?
She and her husband got a
puppy a few days ago from a rescue group where the pup was
used to sleeping in a crate with
the rest of the litter. The pup
wouldn’t sleep in its crate at its
new home and barked and
whined at night. So my daughter
brought the puppy to her bed
where he snuggled and bumped
against her head all night.
It’s her first puppy.
Denis, Danville, California
Dear Denis: Ah, the new puppy
snoozing blues. It afflicts almost
every dog parent, whether the dog
is a puppy or an adult. The good
news is, all dogs learn to sleep by
themselves or to share the bed
with their humans.
I’m, of course, joking about that
last part. For the past 10 years that
I’ve had my Chihuahua, I’ve been
relegated to sleeping on the edge of
the mattress because he sprawls in
the middle, but that’s my bad.
There is debate on whether you
should allow your pet to sleep with
you. Despite his bed-hogging, I like
having my dog beside me. Many
people don’t, and that’s fine, too.
But ignore the chatter that says it
disrupts the alpha relationship and
Puppies and dogs
can be taught to
sleep in their own
beds, starting with
crate training. but if
you like to cuddle
with your dog, there’s
usually no harm in
letting the dog sleep
with you. —
dreamstime/tnS
puts the human below the dog in
ranking. It doesn’t. Your daughter
and her husband just need to
decide what they want, then stick
to it. Whatever choice, know that it
will be painful for at least a few
nights.
The first step is to get the pup
used to going in and out of the
crate. That might not be a problem,
but if it is, the couple should spend
some time playing with him inside
it, offering treats and maybe even
feeding him there.
The crate shouldn’t be overly
large at this stage. He needs to be
able to stand and turn around in it,
but crates that are too big will
increase the sense of loneliness
he’s feeling without his cratemates.
They also should put the crate in
the bedroom for the first few
nights so that he will be able to see
that his humans are nearby. It will
also help them know when the dog
needs a late-night potty break.
Puppy bladders are too small to go
an entire night without a pit stop.
Make the crate comfy with soft
bedding and some favourite toys.
Coax him inside at bedtime and
close the door. Then, let the whining begin.
This is where the couple needs to
harden their hearts. They can’t
respond to the whimpering and
whining, or the dog will quickly
learn that it’s a good way to get
attention. They have to let him cry
without offering words of comfort
or scolding, no matter how much
their patience is tested.
He eventually will learn that this
is his sleeping spot, and that calls
in the middle of the night to go to
the bathroom will be answered,
but not cries to be cuddled in the
bed. It might also help to put a hot
water bottle – not too hot – in with
him. It needs to be sturdy because
puppies like to chew.
If they want to let the dog sleep
with them, they’ll need to accept
that the dog might wake them or
crowd them, but it’s doable. – The
Mercury News/Tribune News
Service
16 Dear Thelma
Is something
bothering you?
Do you need a
listening ear or a
shoulder to lean
on? Thelma is
here to help.
e-mail
lifestyle@
thestar.com.my
or write to
dear thelma,
c/o StarLifestyle,
Menara Star,
15, Jalan 16/11,
46350 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Please include your
full name and address,
and a pseudonym. no
private correspondence
will be entertained.
The Star does not
give any warranty on
accuracy, completeness,
usefulness, fitness for
any particular purpose
or other assurances
as to the opinions
and views expressed
in this column. The
Star disclaims all
responsibility for any
losses suffered directly
or indirectly arising
from reliance on such
opinions and views.
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
I AM an adult but I still live in my
parents’ house because I am a student.
My parents provide me with adequate food, a roof over my head and
pay for my education. I don’t think
they have ever neglected me when it
comes to the basic needs a parent
should provide for a child.
Yet, I am not happy in my home
due to the emotional abuse I am
going through with them. Since I was
a young child, I have been called
names due to my skin condition and
my figure. They have even humiliated me in front of others as a joke. As
a young person, this affected my
self-esteem a lot and it still does at
times. It was so bad, to the point that
I would never look at myself in the
mirror because I was so disgusted by
my own appearance.
Recently, things have been worse
because every time I express my
opinions, they get so angry and lash
back at me by calling me certain
names and saying stuff that nobody
would ever say to a stranger. Some
examples: “You are such a b!+@h”,
“You are very hard to live with., “You
are not worthy and special”, “I wish I
never had you as my child”, “I wish
you were dead”.
This has led to me crying at nights,
feeling lonely, depressed and even
having suicidal thoughts.
I don’t have anyone to
confide in since I have
no siblings and my
friends can only
help up to a certain level. I
don’t have a
partner as well
because of all
the emotional
Suffering emotional
abuse from my parents
trauma that I’ve faced since I was a
young kid. I don’t have the confidence to date or fall in love. I constantly have the fear that my potential partner might hurt me like my
parents do. I also worry I’m not likeable, as my parents always say.
It is not easy to hear harsh words
and comments almost on a regular
basis from them. Their attitude
demotivates me and makes me feel
worthless most of the time. Every
time, I have to fake a smile when I
step out of the house just to ensure
nobody thinks I’m suffering or that
everything in my house is not perfectly normal.
What should I do to feel better?
How do I overcome these feelings in
me? What is the solution for all the
emotional abuse I’m facing from the
most important people in my life?
I want to be happy. I want to feel
loved. I want to feel appreciated. I
want to be heard. I want to be the
real me.
Broken Yet Hopeful
I’m so sorry this is happening to you.
It’s very sad when a family
abuses one of their members.
As you have suicidal thoughts, please
get support immediately. You can
contact the numbers below but as
you’re in university, it
may be easier for you
to start there.
Those suffering from
mental health issues or
contemplating suicide
can reach out to the
Mental Health Psychosocial
Support Service (03-2935 9935 /
014-322 3392); Talian Kasih
(15999 / 019-261 5999 on
WhatsApp); Jakim’s (Department of
Islamic Development Malaysia) family,
social and community care centre
(0111-959 8214 on WhatsApp); and
Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627
2929 or go to befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers
nationwide and operating hours, or
email sam@befrienders.org.my).
Counselling for abuse requires a special skills set and experience, so look for
a professional with at least a Masters in
Psychology, Counselling or Sociology
who works with abusive families or victims of violence.
It is very hard to work on yourself
when you feel bad, so the first thing
that has to be addressed is your overall
mental health.
They will assess you for depression,
anxiety and suicidal ideation first, and
then you will spend a few sessions
exploring how you think, feel and act
now, and how you can make some
effective changes.
As your family’s bullying have had an
impact on the way you see yourself,
especially your body, spend a few sessions on this subject. And before you
start, let me tell you right now: there is
nothing wrong with you! There’s something very wrong with people who
bully kids, but please don’t think there
is any truth in
the nasty
things
Are you suffering from
mental health issues or
contemplating suicide?
Contact the Befrienders
service nearest to you.
For a full list of numbers
and operating hours, go
to befrienders.org.my/
centre-in-malaysia.
By ELENA ZELLE
PEOPLE who tend towards procrastination are all too familiar
with the advice that they set themselves a deadline.
But really, if you’re being honest,
it’s hard to take that kind of deadline seriously, because you know
that it can be postponed. On the
flip side, if you have a tight deadline set by a superior at work, it
can cause stress and frustration.
This all begs the question: Are
deadlines even a useful method for
getting things done? Two labour
researchers explain the psychology
behind deadlines and how to use
them effectively.
Final sprint
Hannah Schade is a researcher at
the Leibniz Institute for
Employment Research at the
Technical University of Dortmund
in Germany.
As she points out, especially in
they’ve said.
In addition to working on you, devote
some time to creating a good circle of
friends. Do this by seeing what friends
you have now, and then add a new
hobby or activity so you can expand
your network.
Now, etiquette demands that we are
cheery during social activities like parties. It’s rude to attend a function and
spoil it with sulks, frowns or gloominess. However, with personal relationships, you can be yourself. So please,
don’t fake happiness with your nearest
and dearest friends. Let them know
what’s going on.
If you are shy about this, work out
how to go about that in your sessions. It
will be a safe space for you to practise
what you say. Again, please don’t worry
too much. Many people have experiences with bullies, so you will find support.
The big question is whether you can
get your family to become accountable
for the hurtful and disrespectful things
they have said and to learn new behaviour that is based on respect and kindness.
As this has been going on for years,
that might be difficult. However, do talk
through possibilities in your sessions.
For example, if there is one family
member who is different, you may be
able to connect.
If not, then aim for independence
with friendships that will provide the
support and love you deserve.
As for dating, I urge you to wait a
while. People from abusive families
tend to fall into abusive relationships.
It would take a book to explain why,
but in short, we tend to be attracted
by the familiar. That’s great if you
come from a nurturing family but not
so hot if you don’t.
Please don’t think you’re doomed!
All you need to do is build some selflove, get good, healthy friendships
going, and to learn to recognise the
hallmarks of toxic behaviour like
gaslighting, stereotyping, and so
on. That will take a few months
of prep, but then you can go
and date happily.
I know it’s very painful to
grow up with abusive family,
but please know you’re
not alone. Recovery is
totally doable; it just takes
a bit of time and support.
So please make an
appointment right away.
You deserve to be happy.
How to make deadlines work best for you
these coronavirus times, structure is
enormously important; people who
have too much freedom often get
bogged down too easily. “Deadlines
bring structure to the hodgepodge
of to-dos,” explains Schade.
Deadlines also help set you up to
make a final sprint: “If you know
that your work is over when you
hand it in at time X, you can often
increase your productivity,” she
explains. But if this end point does
not exist, people can be less productive.
People who have high expectations for themselves can often find
that a deadline is a good way to set
a fixed point at which to finish their
work, instead of continuing to try to
improve it.
Larger place
Setting a deadline alone, how-
ever, usually isn’t enough.
As Corinnna Peifer, a professor
of work and organisational psychology at Germany’s University
of Luebeck point outs, it has to be
embedded within a successful
goal-setting process.
This is where the SMART criteria can be useful. The letters
stand for specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant and timebound – criteria that help you figure out what exactly needs to be
done and what the end product
should look like.
Key points should be defined so
that the result can be measured
against them; the meaning behind
the task should be relatively
clear-cut; and the deadline should
be clear and realistic.
“Above all, it’s important not to
take on too much. Otherwise, a
deadline is demotivating and just
causes stress and frustration,”
according to Peifer. Work should
be demanding, and being under
time pressure can have a positive
effect on performance, at least in
the short term – but that applies
only if the tasks still seem to be
doable within the time frame.
Go with the flow
“A sprint here and there is OK,
but recovery phases are important,” says Peifer, who also
researches “flow experience”.
When in the flow, people deeply immerse themselves in their
work and are very concentrated
and productive. To reach this
state, it helps to have clear goals
that optimally challenge the person; a realistic deadline can help
contribute to flow.
Schade suggests turning to
social controls as a way to commit yourself to your work: For
example, you could suggest to
your colleagues that you present
your results before you have to
deliver the final product. That
gives time to incorporate possible
suggestions for improvement into
the end product.
Double deadline
Schade also recommends always
planning in a buffer period – “and
it shouldn’t be after work or over
the weekend.”
It’s better to set a kind of double
deadline – that is, to set a deadline
before the actual submission date.
The time between deadlines should
also be much, much bigger than
you think: “You never get as much
done as you set out to do,” says
Peifer. – dpa
Living 17
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
By MARTIN BENSLEY
ALTHOUGH the automotive world
is currently obsessed with battery-driven cars, electrification is
only one of several technical solutions to reducing the carbon footprint of vehicles on our roads.
Synthetic fuels, which are also
known as efuels, have the potential
to be just as climate neutral.
Several carmakers including
Porsche are investing heavily in
this technology, which would by the
way, keep combustion-engined
sports cars like the iconic 911 on
the road for a very long time to
come.
BMW has also put money into
Silicon Valley start-up Prometheus
Fuels which captures carbon from
the air to make next-generation petrol. The Munich manufacturer
described the technology as “one of
the largest levers that modern society has in the struggle against climate change”.
Efuels are made using electrolysis which splits water into oxygen
and hydrogen to produce synthetic
methanol.
During production, the same
amount of carbon dioxide is
removed from the atmosphere as is
later released during combustion.
Engineers use the umbrella term
“Power-to-X” for the many different
ways of using electricity to create
synthetic fuels.
The synthesis method goes back
almost 100 years and was discovered by German chemists Franz
Fischer and Hans Tropsch while
working on making fuel from coal
in the town of Muelheim an der
Ruhr.
The Fischer-Tropsch process
named after them results in an
“e-crude” which, like crude natural
oil, can be refined to make various
types of fuel for aviation, shipping,
Synthetic fuels to the rescue
despite massive global investment in electromobility, the internal combustion engine
is far from dead. Many experts believe climate-friendly synthetic fuels could prolong
its life by many years if sufficient quantities can be produced at the right price.
Synthetic fuels, also known as efuels, have the potential to be just as
climate neutral as electric cars, but have the added benefit that they
don’t require any new infrastructure to work. — dpa
road transport and cars.
Cost factor
If the electricity needed for the
electrolysis comes from renewable
sources such as wind, water or sun,
the resulting efuel is 100% carbon
neutral.
The success of this power source
does, however, depend crucially on
reducing production costs which
remain far too high.
Outgoing Bosch chief Volkmar
Denner went on record last year as
saying that a litre of synthetic fuel
could drop from between €3 and
€4 a litre at present to €1.20 by
2030 and even below €1 by 2050.
It is a bold claim and critics say
that using renewable energy to
power cars by charging their batteries is still more efficient than
using the same green resources to
create efuels using chemical electrolysers. In fact, both methods are
hugely expensive in the long run.
The Bosch manager called for an
open approach to alternative
mobility “for the sake of our common future”.
Denner said policymakers needed to create the necessary framework conditions for efuels. “Only if
they do will renewable synthetic
fuels be available in any apprecia-
ble quantity at our filling stations
before the decade is out. We cannot
afford to wait. Climate change certainly won’t.”
The viability of efuels depends a
lot on their prices falling. This
could happen through economies
of scale and an expected drop in
the cost of renewable electricity.
Since no one knows when this
might happen, synthetic fuel supporters stress the need to locate
production plants in countries
where generation costs are low and
then import the efuels.
Porsche has joined forces with
Siemens energy to build a pilot synthetic fuel production plant called
Haru Oni in Punta Arenas in Chile.
From 2022, the wind-driven facility is scheduled to turn out 34,340
gallons of fuel. This will later be
ramped up to 14.5 million gallons a
year.
Porsche also plans to use synthetic fuel in its Mobil 1 Supercup race
series which starts next year.
Blending fuels
Efuel advocates meanwhile focus
on the need to act fast in order to
head off climate change.
They say using synthetic fuels
means the existing infrastructure of
petrol and diesel filling stations can
be retained without the need for
massive investment in public and
private battery recharging stations.
Efuels can also be blended with
existing fossil fuels and then gradually replace them as an energy
sources.
Germany’s huge and influential
ADAC motoring club sees a great
opportunity for alternative fuels
alongside electrification.
It welcomed a German government plan to promote research into
the topic up until 2024 to the tune
of €1.54bil (RM7.4bil).
With an eye to the club’s members, most of whom do not drive an
electric car, ADAC technology chief
Karsten Schulze said: “Millions of
cars with combustion engines are
still in use on German roads and
they are likely to be around for a
long time. If we are to achieve climate protection targets, we need a
solution for them too.”
“While the world is still looking
for a way to cut the carbon dioxide
emissions blamed for climate
change, petrol and diesel engines
are being increasingly maligned,”
according to the authors of an analysis from the Hamburg Commercial
Bank. Unfairly, it seems.
“The great hope for advocates of
climate protection now rests in
electromobility – without questioning how climate-friendly the electricity produced for electric cars
actually is, or alone how much carbon dioxide is pumped into the
environment during production of
the necessary batteries.” – dpa
For emission-free cargo delivery
Big push for cycling
By JULIA CEBELLA
BELGIUM’S federal government
recently launched Be Cyclist, its
first ever action plan to promote
cycling. Among the key measures
announced are the expansion of
allowances for employees who
cycle to work, the establishment of
new cycle paths and the creation
of a central bicycle registry.
The action plan includes a total
of 52 measures divided into three
main categories: making it easier
for as many people as possible to
cycle, increasing the amount of
safe infrastructure, and promoting
cycling.
The federal government wants
Belgians to commute using bicycles on a massive scale. Currently,
more than 500,000 Belgian workers receive an allowance for commuting to work by bicycle, corresponding to a tax exemption of 24
cents (RM1.16) per kilometre. The
government hopes to extend this
type of allowance to all companies
in Belgium in the near future.
In terms of infrastructure, the
BICYCLES, electric cars and public
transport might be a sustainable
form of transport for the average
commuter, but what about freight
and packages that need delivering?
Do we need to assume that diesel
delivery vans and freight trucks will
remain a normality in cities if we
want our goods delivered as usual?
One German city has other plans,
and is looking into the combined
use of trams and cargo bikes as an
alternative.
The financial hub of Frankfurt is
hoping to use containers carried by
freight trams and loaded onto cargo
bikes to enable goods to find their
way through the city in a low-emission and space-saving way.
Not only could the city’s carbon
footprint and fine particle pollution
be reduced in this way, but also
urban congestion.
While battery-supported cargo
bikes are becoming increasingly
common in cities around the world,
the combination of freight tram and
cargo bike for urban deliveries is
rare at best.
“We hope that we can also shift
traffic in this way,” said transport
official Silke Hoehn from the
Frankfurter Verkehrsgesellschaft
(VGF), presenting the plans at the
opening of the National Cycle
Logistics Conference in Frankfurt
recently.
The containers with a capacity of
2.1 cubic metres and a length of
1.7m fit into the multi-purpose area
of trams and are the size of the
standard Euro pallets used for deliveries in countries around the world.
After being transported by tram,
the containers on wheels are to be
In an effort to clear its streets of polluting vans and trucks blocking
roads, Frankfurt is trying to switch to a new, zero-emissions delivery
combination: freight trams and cargo bikes. — dpa
picked up at usual stops by a cargo
bike courier. The cyclists can then
deliver the goods straight to businesses and households.
The idea of the freight tram is far
from new, explains Kai-Oliver
Schocke, professor of logistics at the
Frankfurt University of Applied
Sciences.
“The tracks of trams were also
used for freight transport until the
sixties.” Around 20 years ago, the
idea of freight trams came up again,
the expert says. Only now, against
the backdrop of climate changed
and crowded cities, has the concept
gained enough relevance to move to
the next level.
It’s also not just freight being considered. Mail delivery by freight
tram and cargo bike in cooperation
with the city and a parcel delivery
company is also being trialled in
Frankfurt.
According to Schocke, the concept
is also being tested in the German
city of Karlsruhe as well as in
Zurich.
Complex planning
“It makes sense to try it out further, especially in densely populated cities,” says mobility researcher
Martin Lanzendorf.
But the expert finds it difficult to
assess whether the concepts with
the trams will work out.
“It’s a great idea because you can
get everywhere relatively emission-free,” he says. However, the
logistics concepts of the companies
require complex planning. “You
have to look very hard at which
kinds of product groups this makes
sense for.”
The researcher supports the idea
of a courier on a bicycle instead of
in a car: “With a typical courier
vehicle like this, you’re stuck in traffic jams a lot, which you can of
course avoid if you have a cargo
bike, for example.”
After all, deliveries on a bicycle
can sometimes cheat their way
through winding paths instead of
blocking the road. – dpa
government wants to invest heavily in new cycle routes, including
the development of cycle paths
along railway lines. The Belgian
National Railway Company (SNCB)
will implement an ambitious bicycle-train strategy, so that more
people can use bicycles for their
first or last kilometres. This could
take the form of self-service bicycle stations near train stations, for
example.
This plan also aims to combat
bicycle theft. Every year, more
than 30,000 bicycles are stolen in
the country. The idea is to set up a
central bicycle registry in order to
stop the resale of stolen bicycles.
The action plan is to be fully
implemented by the end of 2024. It
should be noted that in addition to
having a significant ecological
impact, increasing the proportion
of cycling among transport methods would also reduce traffic congestion, the annual cost of which is
estimated at €2.3bil (RM11.13bil).
– AFP Relaxnews
the federal government wants belgians to commute using bicycles
on a massive scale. — aFP
18 Living
FOR hundreds of years, the inhabitants of the northernmost part of
Scotland and Britain have bred
small horses – the Shetland pony.
The animals, named after the
unforgiving northern archipelago
in the North Sea, have long drawn
attention for their distinctive
shape, size and rough hair.
But during the coronavirus pandemic they saw their value soar to
new highs, prompting hopes of
another bumper year as the
islands’ annual sale approaches.
“People had more money
because they stayed at home and
couldn’t go on holiday, and a pony
is a very nice way to spend your
time,” said Sheena Anderson, chair
of the Pony Breeders of Shetland
Association.
While demand for Shetland
ponies has fluctuated over the last
12 months, prices in 2020 hit
records of more than £3,000
(RM17,100) for one of the tiny horses.
In tougher times, they have sold
for as little as a few hundred
pounds each, and sometimes even
less.
Breeders were chomping at the
bit for the Oct 1 auction, which has
been held online for the last few
years.
Because of their size, Shetland
ponies are cheaper and easier to
maintain than larger horses, said
Anderson.
And, as well as being relatively
strong for their stature, “they’re
cute”, she added.
This year the breeder put two of
the ponies up for sale.
She said as well as having a
strong legs and a good “tail, top
line and movement”, the animals
also have to have a certain look.
“It’s like a beauty contest,”
Anderson explained, stroking
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Small trumps large
Shetland ponies prove popular during pandemic.
Therapy animals
anderson (right), chair of the Pony breeders of Shetland association at Papil, burra near Lerwick. For hundreds
of years, the inhabitants of Scotland’s most remote islands have bred small horses like the hardy but adorable
Shetland pony, named after the unforgiving northern archipelago that is its home. — aFP
Dester, a miniature beige specimen, barely 1m (3.3 feet) tall.
International interest
The breeders are counting on
high demand this year driven by
the online sale, which has widened
access to buyers from all over the
world.
“We’ve had interest already from
people in Germany and Norway,”
said Anderson, but buyers have
also bid for the ponies from Russia,
Canada and the UAE.
Prices remain very low compared to their larger cousins and
pony breeders – who number
about 100 on Shetland – often
struggle to make a living.
“I do it as a hobby. I don’t make
any money on it,” Anderson, a
Global warming threatening cities
RAPID population growth and
global warming are increasing
exposure to extreme heat in cities, aggravating health problems
and making moving to urban
areas less beneficial for the
world’s poor, according to a
study released recently.
The rise is affecting nearly a
quarter of the world’s population, said the report published in
the Proceedings Of The National
Academy Of Sciences.
In recent decades, hundreds of
millions of people have moved
from rural areas to cities where
temperatures are generally higher because of surfaces such as
asphalt which trap heat and a
lack of vegetation.
Scientists studied the maximum daily heat and humidity in
more than 13,000 cities from
1983 to 2016.
Using the so-called “wet-bulb
globe temperature” scale, a
measure that takes into account
heat and humidity, they defined
extreme heat as 30°C (86°F).
The researchers then compared weather data with statistics on the cities’ population over
the same 33-year period.
They calculated the number of
days of extreme heat in a particular year by the population of
the city that year to come up
with a definition called person-days.
The authors found that the
number of person-days in which
city dwellers were exposed went
from 40 billion per year in 1983
to 119 billion in 2016.
Cascade Tuholske at Columbia
University’s Earth Institute, a
lead author of the study, said the
rise “increases morbidity and
mortality”.
grazing on windswept hills, their
manes tossed in the strong ocean
breeze, or walking on white sandy
beaches buffeted by turquoise
waters.
Elaine Tait, whose parents breed
Shetland ponies, fell in love with
the animals from the age of five,
when she repeatedly told them: “I
want a pony.”
Her parents relented, then five
years later at the age of 10, she got
her second.
Today, alongside the family business, she has founded her own riding school for children and a separate business for tourists: the
Shetland Pony Experience.
an advertising board showing 47°c amid a heatwave in Seville,
Spain, recently. — aFP
“It impacts people’s ability to
work, and results in lower economic output. It exacerbates
pre-existing health conditions,”
he said in a statement.
Population growth accounted
for two-thirds of the exposure
spike, with actual warming temperatures contributing a third,
although proportions varied
from city to city, they wrote.
Worst affected
Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka
was the worst-affected city, seeing an increase of 575 million
person-days of extreme heat
over the study period.
That was largely attributable
to its population soaring from
around four million in 1983 to
around 22 million today.
Other big cities to show similar
trends were Shanghai,
Guangzhou, Yangon, Dubai,
Hanoi and Khartoum as well as
various cities in Pakistan, India
and the Arabian Peninsula.
Major cities that saw around
half of their exposure caused by
a warming climate included
Baghdad, Cairo, Kuwait City,
Lagos, Kolkata and Mumbai.
The authors said the patterns
they found in Africa and South
Asia, “may crucially limit the
urban poor’s ability to realise the
economic gains associated with
urbanisation”.
They added that “sufficient
investment, humanitarian intervention, and government support” would be needed to counteract the negative impact.
In the United States, some 40
major cities saw exposure grow
“rapidly”, mainly in the Gulf
Coast states of Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida.
The study was carried out by
researchers at New York’s
Columbia University, University
of Minnesota Twin Cities, the
University of Arizona at Tuscon
and the University of California,
Santa Barbara. — AFP Relaxnews
nurse by profession, said, adding
that in other countries, like the
Netherlands, breeding is better regulated, organised and more lucrative.
For the head of the breeders’
association, the peaceful Shetland
ponies are an integral part of the
remote islands’ culture and identity.
The horses are everywhere –
The Shetland ponies’ tiny stature
is thought to have been part of
their adaptation to the islands’
harsh climate.
The windswept archipelago,
home to some 23,000 people, 110
miles (180km) north of mainland
Scotland, and just under halfway to
Norway.
When the harsh winter sets in,
grass is scarce and only the smallest creatures were able to survive.
As a result, the ponies have
super strength for horses of their
size and a century ago put it to use
in agriculture or in coal mining.
Today, they are bought to show
in competitions, for horse racing,
breeding, to teach children how to
ride, as pets or even therapy animals.
Libby Morrison, a therapist,
explained on her website she has
found “horse-human interaction to
have a wide range of benefits for
those affected by anxiety, depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress
disorder), and autism”. – AFP
Relaxnews
Getting streak-free windscreens
CLEANING your windscreen wipers
is like brushing your teeth. Get into
the habit of taking care of them, and
you’ll save yourself plenty of pain
down the road.
That’s because streaks on the
windscreen are more just than
annoying. They impair your visibility when dirty lines on your windscreen light up in oncoming car
headlights at night. Your response
time may also be slowed if the wipers can’t keep up in the rain.
What’s more, your car’s wipers
are designed first and foremost for
rain. Use them to clean off every bit
of gunk that hits your windscreen,
and you’ll soon find they need
replacing.
Not much work is needed to keep
things wiping smoothly: All you need
to do to clean your wipers is to run a
soft, damp cloth over the rubber.
Wipe, don’t scrub
The wipers are typically quite sensitive, so you don’t want to scrub
hard, say road safety experts. In fact,
the gentler your cleaning, the better.
“Any cleaning of the rubber lips
peels away the graphite layer along
the wipers, whether it’s wet or dry,
whether using glass cleaner or just
water,” explains Jochen Oesterle of
Europe’s biggest automobile club,
ADAC.
This graphite layer ensures that
the wipers glide across the windscreen steadily, cleanly and smoothly.
“If this layer is removed, the wiper
blades will begin to rub and cause
streaking.” This, in turn, affects visibility and also shortens the wipers’
lifespan.
To function well and with as little
wear as possible, the wipers will
need not just a full tank of wiping
water, but also clean windscreens.
Sand, ice, coarse dirt and a dry
windscreen will damage the wiper
blades more quickly.
You’re better off removing any
coarse dirt with a sponge and water
and not with the wipers. The same
goes for insects, small twigs and
leaves.
Resist the temptation to try and
just clean any of these things off with
the wipers – you’ll need to do it by
hand, or else the sensitive silicone of
the wipers will be damaged, and
you’ll have more trouble later when
you have to replace them.
When is it time to replace?
If they constantly form streaks on
the windscreen, it’s high time for
new wipers. These kinds of marks
are a tell-tale sign that the rubber
part has become worn or porous.
You can install new ones yourself,
in which case you can find new
windscreen wipers at specialist
shops or online.
Choose carefully, though.
Windscreen wiper blades are not
universally exchangeable so won’t
necessarily fit each and every car.
“Many new vehicles nowadays
have blades that are a different
length on the driver side and the
passenger side,” says Leser.
Windscreen wipers also have different systems to attach them.
You definitely need new ones if
you can’t see clearly through the
windscreen anymore. Sound, too,
can be a sign. “You can often tell if
your wipers are worn if they squeak
or rumble,” says Leser.
No huge amount of technical skill
is needed once it comes to actually
exchanging them, and it’s something
drivers can do themselves.
But if you’d rather not or don’t feel
like doing all the research to find the
right model, it might be best to head
to a specialist workshop. – dpa
Showbiz 19
STARLIFESTYLE, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
This week’s TV picks
Boss Level
Oct 17 – Oct 23
By ZAI KAMAL
SUNDAY
Oct 17
MMA Diva
Celestial Movies, Astro Ch 309, 9pm
In an MMa match, Xin Lan loses to He
Hua, which means the latter now takes
over her father’s club. Xin Lan then
seeks out a retired fighting legend to
help reclaim her honour as well as get
back her father’s club. this cantonese
movie stars Wiyona yeung and Giselle
Lam.
MONDAY
Oct 18
Succession S3 SEASON
PREMIERE
HBO, Astro Ch 411, 9am/10pm
ambushed by his rebellious son
Kendall, Logan roy finds himself in a
perilous position, scrambling to secure
familial, political and financial alliances.
Starring Hiam abbass and nicholas
braun.
Hudson & Rex PREMIERE
AXN, Astro Ch 701, 8.50pm
detective charlie Hudson, from Major
crimes department, teams up with rex,
a former-K9 German Shepherd, whose
heightened senses keep them hot on
the trail of his suspects. together, they
investigate puzzling crimes. Sounds like
Turner & Hooch series, doesn’t it? airs
Mondays to thursdays.
George Clarke’s Remarkable
Renovations PREMIERE
BBC Lifestyle, Astro Ch 717/unifiTV Ch
512, 9.15pm
George clarke’s forte is turning building
(industrial, commercial and agricultural)
that was never intended for domestic
use into a home.
TUESDAY
Oct 19
WEDNESDAY
Oct 20
Dog: Impossible S2
the courier
Streaming Picks
Battle On The Beach
PREMIERE
HGTV, Astro Ch 715, 9.10pm
three teams hit the beach to renovate
identical beachfront properties. With
help from ty Pennington, alison
Victoria and taniya nayak, they’ll
compete to wow the judges and win a
uS$50,000 cash prize.
pageant queen Jonbenet ramsey. In
this documentary, never before heard
audio diaries of detective Lou Smit
will reveal insight into one of
america’s most notorious cold cases.
THURSDAY
Oct 21
SATURDAY
Oct 23
While We’re Young
TV2, Astro Ch 102/unifi TV Ch 102, 9pm
ben Stiller and naomi Watts star as a
middle-aged couple who is happily
married but feels like their life is stuck
in a rut. When they meet a younger,
hipster couple – played by amanda
Seyfried and adam driver – their
ho-hum life begin to change.
Extreme Sisters PREMIERE
Nat Geo Wild, Astro Ch 550/unifi TV Ch
509, 8.30pm
Matt beisner trains dangerous and misunderstood dogs using groundbreaking
methods to change their aggressive
behaviour.
Jonbenet ramsey:
What really
Happened?
TLC, Astro Ch 707, 9.55pm
Some sisters can’t get along but not
the ones featured on this reality show.
these sets of sisters share details of
their strong bond that may seem
extreme and intense by conventional
standards.
FRIDAY
Oct 22
La Brea
La Brea
Planet Of The Reptiles
a sinkhole opens in Los angeles, swallowing
hundreds of people. However, they don’t die.
the survivors find themselves in a mysterious
primeval land. can they ever find their way
back to La? three episodes are available with
new ones releasing every Wednesday. (HbO
Go).
Boss Level
The Raincoat Killer: Chasing A
Predator In Korea
National Geographic Wild, Astro Ch
550/unifi TV CH 509, 8.30pm
From Komodo dragons to crocs, this
series takes a look into the lives of
some of the most amazing reptiles.
HBO, Astro Ch 411, 9pm
Former Special Forces soldier roy
Pulver urgently needs to figure out
why he is stuck in a repeating time
loop in which he is killed violently in
different ways every day. He should
consult the girl from Happy Death Day
who has cracked the
code! Starring Frank
Grillo, Mel Gibson,
Michelle yeoh and
naomi Watts.
In the early 2000s, yoo young-chul hammered
his victims to death and cast fear across
Seoul. Sounds like a plot to a new K-drama?
no, this is actually a documentary that
recounts the hunt for a prolific killer in South
Korea. Premieres Oct 22. (netflix)
More Than Blue: The Series
JonBenet Ramsey:
What Really
Happened?
Discovery Channel, Astro
Ch 552, 9pm
twenty-five years after
her brutal death,
people are still
obsessed with
the case of sixyear-old
More Than Blue: The Series
based on the hit 2018 movie, this taiwanese
series tells the story of a man with a terminal illness who helps his girlfriend find a
partner before he dies. Premieres Oct 22.
(netflix)
The Courier
I Know What You Did Last
Summer
HBO, Astro Ch 411, 9pm
Former bond girl Olga Kurylenko stars
as a courier who is hired by a gangster
to deliver a package. She then discovers inside the package is a bomb which
is set to go off and kill the only witness
who is able to testify against the crime
lord.
remember that 1997 slasher flick starring Jennifer Love Hewitt? Well, this is the
updated version turned into a series where a
group of teens are being stalked by a killer a
year after they covered up an accident which
killed someone. Four episodes are available
with new ones releasing every Wednesday.
(amazon Prime Video)
Hudson & rex
20
TV1
5.58am
6.00
6.30
7.00
7.10
8.00
10.00
10.30
Negaraku
Bacaan Yassin
Kelodak Dari Langit
Berita Pagi Nasional
Salam Pagi
Selamat Pagi Malaysia
Trains
Nella The Princess
Knight
11.00
Wira
12.05pm Banteras Covid-19
12.30
Singgah-Singgah
1.00
Berita Tengah Hari
1.30
Kampung Kool
2.00
Ganjil Yang Indah
2.30
Rona Sabah
3.05
Pantas Pacuan
Tanpa Sempadan
3.30
Terbaik Dari Landang
4.05
Monograf Seni Bina
Malaysia
5.00
Berita Wilayah
6.00
PSA Covid-19
6.30
Persada Jurnal
7.00
Piala Thomas
8.00
Berita Perdana
9.00
Keris Pusaka
10.00
Planet Sukan
11.00
Wira
Midnight Berita Tengah Malam
12.30am Singgah-Singgah
1.00
PSA Covid-19
1.30
Kekal Sihat
2.00
Rona Sabah
2.30
Persada Jurnal
3.00
Cerita Kita
3.30
La Cucuq
5.30
Persada Jurnal
TV2
TV3
6.00am Sanggar Cinta
Raudhah
7.00
Kancil
7.30
Zoo Kita
8.00
Sumo Mouse
8.30
Synostone
9.00
Misi Ady
9.30
Space Racers
10.00
Chop Chop Ninja
10.30
Noddy: Toyland
Detective
11.00
Diari Ratu
11.30
#HTV! Live
Noon
Berita Mandarin
12.30pm Updates @ Noon
1.00
Syurga Tanpa Dosa
3.00
What Say You
4.00
Istimewa Bersama
5.30
Kisah Mr Cinderella
6.00
NBA Action
6.30
Beyblade Burst Turbo
7.00
Berita Mandarin
7.30
Berita Tamil
8.00
Infiniteen
9.00
Sanam Teri Kasam
Midnight WWE Bottom Line
1.00pm #HTV! Live
1.30
Cinta Macarons
2.00
MIthra
3.00
Shadows Of Love
4.00
Katta Bomman
6.30am
8.00
9.30
10.00
10.30
By ALISON DE SOUZA
ONE of the television shows that
made a big splash at this year’s
Emmys was Hacks, about an ageing stand-up comic forced to work
with a young comedy writer.
The acclaimed series, which
debuted in the United States in
May this year, was nominated for
15 awards and went home with
three: Outstanding Writing and
Directing in a Comedy Series and,
for star Jean Smart, Outstanding
Lead Actress.
In the show, Smart is Deborah
Vance, a Las Vegas diva and
comedy legend whose star is
rapidly fading.
To stay relevant and freshen up
her material, she reluctantly teams
up with Ava (Hannah Einbinder),
an entitled 25-year-old writer who
is down on her luck after an illjudged tweet.
The series offers a critique of
both the comedy scene and the
entertainment industry as a whole,
and the fact that both have always
been unforgiving for female performers of a certain age.
But things have improved somewhat in recent years, says Smart.
At 70, she is experiencing a
remarkable streak of late-career
successes, with roles in series such
as this year’s crime drama Mare Of
Easttown, and the superhero shows
Watchmen (2019) and Legion (2017
to 2019).
It is true that finding work gets
harder as women in the industry
age, but “to a much lesser extent
than it was in the past”, says Smart
at a virtual press event.
“For me, I’ve had some of the
most incredible opportunities in
my career in the last several years
and I don’t take any of it for
granted whatsoever. I’m very
TV Guide
STARLIFESTYLE, SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER 2021
ntv7
Tanyalah Uztaz
Borak Kopitiam
Buletin Pagi
Thomas & Friends
My Little Pony: Pony
Life
11.00
Boboiboy Galaxy
11.32
Muzik-Muzik
12.30pm Melodi
1.30
Buletin 130
2.00
Nona
3.00
Idola Kecil
4.02
Seadanya Aku
5.00
Spongebob
Squarepants
5.32
Helo Doktor
6.30
Bersamamu
7.00
Pesan Pada Hati
8.00
Buletin Utama
9.00
Buli
10.30
Halaqah
11.30
SQFT
Midnight Nightline
12.30am Sudu & Garfu
2.30
Kapsul Surah
3.00
Tanyalah Uztaz
4.30
Pesan Pada Hati
5.30
Wow Shop
7.00am Kaunselor Anda
7.30
Cergas Bersama
Jurulatih SSM
8.00
Menengah Atas
10.00
Tahap II
11.00
Pra Sekolah
Noon
Tahap I
1.00pm Buletin Didik
1.30
Hati Emas
2.00
Menengah Rendah
4.00
Sukses SPM
6.00
Kemahiran Sukan
6.30
Kelab Kraf Didik
7.00
Mat Yoyo
7.30
Buletin Didik
8.00
Buletin Didik Khas
8.30
Sukses SPM
9.30
Bimbing Tingkatan
4&5
10.00
Jurnal Resepi
11.00
Ocean Mysteries
With Jeff Corwin
11.30
Jalan-Jalan Makan
Angin
8TV
TV9
7.00am The Sound Of
Happiness
8.30
Wow Shop
9.30
I Court You
10.30
Wow Shop
12.30pm Mandarin News
1.00
Wow Shop
2.00
The Legend of
Taiwan
3.00
Mr Player
4.00
Wow Shop
5.00
The Making Of An
Ordinary Woman
6.00
Click To Health
6.30
Back To The
Foodture
7.00
The Dripping Sauce
8.00
Mandarin News
9.00
Twinkle, Twinkle
Lucky Stars
11.00
Young Forever
12.30am Goodnight DJ
2.00
8FM @ 8TV
6.00am
6.30
8.30
1.30pm
2.00
6.00
6.30
7.00
7.30
7.40
8.30
10.00
11.00
12.30am
Sanam Teri Kasam (TV2)
Smart move
Actress Jean Smart is having a career resurgence at 70.
Smart has won three Emmys for the sitcoms Frasier and Samantha Who? — Handout
appreciative of the opportunities
that have been offered to me.”
Yet the star – who won three
Emmys for the sitcoms Frasier
(1993 to 2004) and Samantha Who?
(2007 to 2009) – knows Tinseltown
is still a tough nut to crack.
“I probably wouldn’t encourage
my daughter to be an actress,” says
Smart, who has a son, 31, and
daughter, 13, and was married to
the late actor Richard Gilliland.
Juggling motherhood and the
capricious profession of acting has
not been easy either. “If you have
kids, there’s always the feeling that
1.00
2.00
3.00
3.30
4.30
5.30
Kapsul Surah
Tanyalah Ustaz
Wow Shop
Senario
Wow Shop
Boboiboy
Soccer Bugs
Buletin TV9
Sembang Viral
Kampung People
Running Man
Majalah 3
Wow Shop
Abang Sado Jemur
Kain
Senang Terhibur
Bidadari
Edisi Khas
Buletin FM
Bencinta
Jejak Rasul
you’re short-changing either your
job or your family. That’s the
hardest part to me – feeling like
you’re not giving your all to one or
the other.”
Gender equality in
entertainment still lags behind
other industries, Smart says.
“Yes, there are fewer jobs for
women than men, that always has
been true. But, unfortunately, our
business is a very subjective one,
so you can’t really put some of the
same rules and expectations on it
as other parts of society where I
think fairness to women in the
workplace has come a long way,
although it still has some way to
go.”
Hacks also explores the evolving
relationship between the two
women, which is fuelled in part by
a generation gap as well as a clash
of comedic sensibilities.
“Deborah’s sort of on automatic
pilot a bit when we first meet her,
which is why her manager insisted
she meet this young person to
punch up her act a little,” Smart
says.
“But Ava’s point of view is that if
the masses think something is
funny, then it’s not, and it’s not
cool. Neither one of them is right
or wrong, but they disagree a lot
about what’s funny.”
Some viewers might see shades
of the late comedienne Joan Rivers
in Deborah, but Smart says she
did not base the character on her
or any other well-known female
comedy stars from that era.
“I’m certainly a fan of a lot of
female comics and, every once in a
while, there will be a scene or I’ll
do something and I’ll think, ‘Oh,
that kind of reminds me of so-andso’.
“I guess I borrow things from
other comediennes unconsciously,
but I haven’t based it on anyone.
“I kind of go with my gut instinct
and the writing is so good that it
usually works out.” – The Straits
Times/Asia News Network
Hacks is available on HBO Go.
SUNDAY STAR, SUNDAY 17 OcTObeR 2021
Looking after
Paralympians
The head of Malaysia’s
2020 Paralympics
medical team shares his
experiences supporting
and treating our national
athletes during the
recent Games.
by Dr AZRIL SYAZWAN MOHD ALI
THE 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games may
have ended more than a month ago, but the
sweet memories of this international sporting competition still remain strong.
It was indeed a remarkable event given
that the Games were at the risk of cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
And it ended on a high note for the
Malaysian contingent, who clinched an outstanding three gold and two silver medals,
surpassing the previous haul of three golds
and one bronze in the 2016 Rio Paralympic
Games.
Represented by 23 athletes and competition partners, our Paralympics team participated in nine of the 23 sports contested at
the Games.
They were archery, athletics, badminton,
boccia, cycling, powerlifting, table tennis,
swimming and wheelchair tennis.
On a personal level, this was my first
Paralympic Games as the Chief Team
Physician.
Although I have served previously as the
chief medical officer for our differentlyabled team at the 2017 Asean Para Games
and the XXI Commonwealth Games in 2018,
nothing could be better than taking care of
these athletes at the pinnacle of sports competitions – the Paralympics.
Training in full quarantine
This edition of the Paralympic Games was
certainly no ordinary one, thanks to the
Covid-19 pandemic.
Months prior to the start of the Games, we
were made aware that many adjustments
would have to be made in our preparations
and during the Games itself.
We would face restrictions on the places
we could go during the competition, and
high emphasis on hygiene and physical distancing measures would be in place.
These “safety first” decisions were meant
to protect us, the Games’ participants, as
well as the people of Tokyo and Japan.
This meant that countermeasures to
ensure that all the Malaysian athletes and
contingent members were not exposed to
Covid-19 infection and enabling them to
compete successfully and safely, were paramount.
> TURN TO pAge 3
Dr Azril (right) taking a photo with powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin just before the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games opening ceremony on Aug 24. — Dr AZRIL SYAZWAN MOHD ALI
2 Health Snippets
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Aspirin no longer
recommended
One of the effects of eating a balanced diet is increasing your ability to detect sweetness, so eat healthy to
better enjoy your desserts! — aFP
Training your
taste buds
Here are some tips on how to enhance our sense of taste,
which is essential to our enjoyment of food.
THE Covid-19 pandemic has
brought attention to the numerous problems associated with
loss of taste and smell – a signature symptom of the illness –
and highlighted just how essential these senses are to our lives.
And while regaining taste and
smell after illness can take time
– and sometimes, special exercises – it is possible to pamper our
taste buds on a regular basis so
that they offer us optimal sensations during our meals on an
everyday basis.
Yes, taking care of your taste
buds is an actual thing!
Here’s how to do it:
Although rare, inflammation
of the tongue or papillae is a real
condition – it is called glossitis.
Causes include a fungus or
irritation from braces or dentures.
In any case, brushing your
teeth two to three times a day is
imperative to maintain good
bacteria in the mouth and
reduce bad bacteria.
> Eat a balanced diet
Get your fill of fruits and vegetables (preferably seasonal ones)
in order to ingest the maximal
amount of antioxidants and B
vitamins.
According to ear, nose and
throat specialist Professor Sven
Saussez, fruits and vegetables
allow for better nerve recovery
of the taste buds and are key for
rehabilitating the sense of smell.
We all know how important it
is to eat a balanced diet with the
right proportions of protein, carbohydrates, fats, as well as little
treats, to maintain a healthy
weight and have ample energy
for your day.
What you may not know
though is that this recommendation also has an impact on your
taste buds and on your ability to
detect flavours, especially sweetness.
A study from the University of
Bangor in Wales, the United
Kingdom, showed that drinking
too many sugary drinks prevents
you from detecting sweet tastes.
> Make a dental
appointment
> Give your palate (or rather
your brain) a workout
Oral health is essential to
avoid infections and keep your
mouth healthy.
A report from the Switzerlandbased FDI World Dentist Federation published in March noted
that many dentists around the
world are seeing the fallout from
people avoiding the dentist even
when it is deemed safe to go,
which can result in serious problems.
According to a 2016 article in
Food Technology Magazine: “The
mechanism of taste starts on the
tongue, where thousands of taste
buds are concentrated in papillae...
“Taste buds are also located on
the roof of the mouth and in the
throat.
“Each taste bud includes about
50 to 100 specialised cells that
contain taste receptors...
> Fruits and vegetables
“Information from the chemical stimulus within taste cells is
translated into an electrical message that is relayed by taste
nerves to the brain stem, where
initial taste processing takes
place.
“From there, impulses are
relayed to other parts of the
brain.”
In the same article, expert
Robin Dando of Cornell University in the United States emphasises that: “A taste for sweet in
the natural world is a signal that
there are calories there.
“And in the past environment,
until recent history, calories
were a very good thing.
“You don’t survive without
calories.
“The more that you could
detect them and consume them,
the better for you.”
Indeed, recent scientific research indicates that the brain is
key in tasting and that the perceived flavour of a food stems
from an interaction of taste and
smell.
Olfactory stimulation is therefore essential for building up a
repertoire of tastes and smells.
This is why people suffering
from Covid-19 and anosmia (loss
of smell) are encouraged to train
their olfactory memory by smelling essential oils several times a
day.
The goal: to reconnect smells
to words.
We can preserve our sensory
acuity by identifying all the
smells that surround us, from
those of the kitchen to those of
the street, regardless of whether
they are sweet to our nostrils or
repulsive. – AFP Relaxnews
A US government expert panel said
last Tuesday that it no longer recommends a daily dose of aspirin
to reduce the risk of heart attack
and stroke in people aged 60 and
over.
People aged 40 to 59 who are at
a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but have no history of it, should consult with their
doctor and make an individual
decision on whether to start taking
the medicine.
The statement was a major
reversal in the US medical field,
where taking aspirin daily is a
widespread practice.
The medication thins blood,
helping prevent blood clots and
reduce the risk of heart attack or
stroke.
Since 2016, the US Preventive
Services Task Force, a government
medical expert panel, has recommended a daily dose of aspirin for
people in their 50s who have a 10%
or greater risk of having a heart
attack or stroke in the next 10 years.
The panel also said at the time
that for at-risk people in their 60s,
the decision to take aspirin should
be an individual one.
But for several years, studies
have questioned those recommendations.
Last Tuesday, experts said that
aspirin’s benefits were not enough
to offset the increased risk of bleeding, especially in the brain or intestines, in older people.
“Daily aspirin use may help prevent heart attacks and strokes in
some people, but it can also cause
potentially serious harms, such as
internal bleeding,” said Task Force
member John Wong.
“It’s important that people who
are 40 to 59 years old and don’t
american medical experts no
longer recommend a daily dose of
aspirin to lower the risk of heart
attack and stroke in those aged 60
and above due to bleeding risks.
— aFP
have a history of heart disease,
have a conversation with their clinician to decide together if starting
to take aspirin is right for them.”
These new recommendations
are not yet final.
They will be open to public debate until early November.
They also do not apply to patients taking aspirin after suffering
a stroke or heart attack, the statement said.
An estimated 600,000 Americans
suffer a first heart attack, and
about 610,000, a first stroke.
Taking aspirin to reduce this risk
of heart disease is often a spontaneous decision for many Americans.
According to a 2017 study, 23%
of adults aged 40 and over who
don’t have cardiovascular disease
took aspirin as a preventive measure. Of this group, 23% did so
without a doctor’s recommendation. – AFP Relaxnews
Ruin your mood in minutes
SOME countries have seemingly
seen the worst of Covid-19 and
have lifted many lockdown restrictions.
Yet, pandemic news can still
“ruin a person’s mood” in just
minutes, according to British and
Canadian researchers.
In a paper published in the medical journal PLOS One, academics
from the University of Essex in the
United Kingdom and Simon Fraser
University in Canada reported socalled “doomscrolling” through
pandemic news shared on social
media to be ”one of the least enjoyable activities in a day”.
That’s hardly a surprise, given
that such stories have been a seemingly relentless drumbeat of daily
case numbers and deaths, as well
as updates about ”government regulations and lifestyle restrictions”.
But even related news about
issues such as hospital bed shortages, cuts to medical treatment and
supply-chain jams, such as those
that have forced car makers to cut
production in recent weeks, also
cause negative mental health
effects.
To get around concerns about
“reverse causality” – i.e. that people with poorer mental health or
who already feel anxious are more
likely to seek out more negative
news – the team presented pandemic updates via Twitter and
YouTube to around 1,200 survey
participants.
“Consumption of just two to four
minutes of Covid-related news”
prompted “immediate and significant reductions in positive affect
and optimism”, according to the
unsurprisingly, “doomscrolling”
through pandemic news shared on
social media can take a serious
mental toll on a person after just
minutes, according to new
research. — dpa
responses.
The researchers cautioned that
the participants were “primarily
young white and female participants”, limiting the extent to which
the results could be generalised.
All the same, the findings broadly tallied with other research on
the impact of the pandemic on
mental health, the team said, pointing to studies showing that average
levels of anxiety and depression
have increased since the start of
the pandemic.
Estimates published earlier in
the month by The Lancet medical
journal, suggested that around 160
million more people suffered mental health problems in 2020, compared to the year before. – dpa
People 3
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
> FRoM PAgE 1
Ever since the start of the pandemic last
year, our national athletes had been training
under full quarantine at a designated athlete
training complex.
This meant they had strictly limited access
to outside exposure with full-on infection
countermeasures in place.
The programme was designed to emulate
the anticipated hardship we would face in
Japan.
The National Sports Council led the programme under the Road to Tokyo initiative,
with a committee joined by the National
Sports Institute (ISN) and other stakeholders.
This committee observed all the athletes,
coaches and support services through to the
final phase of Games preparation.
Covid-19 countermeasures, such as providing medical advice, monitoring screening
and testing, and supporting exposure control
interventions within the “bubble system”,
were undertaken by ISN’s sports medical and
sports science departments.
Meanwhile, the high performance medical
and sports science team delivered the necessary medical treatment, rehabilitation and
performance support.
Nearer to the competition, Covid-19 countermeasures were amplified.
Extra precautions included daily reporting
of the health of athletes and coaches as
required by the Japanese government via a
special health monitoring app.
Exposure control was tightened to further
minimise social interactions, vaccinations
were completed for all, and regular Covid-19
testing was conducted as prerequisites for
travel prior to departure.
Flights were staggered and individual
seats specifically assigned to ensure appropriate physical distancing.
Everyone was excited to go to Tokyo, but
remained vigilant to avoid the risk of exposure to Covid-19.
Upon arrival, compulsory Covid-19 tests
and activation of a close contact monitoring
app were done to fulfil safety checks at the
airport.
Strict measures maintained
During the Games itself, daily saliva PCR
(polymerase chain reaction) testing, regular hand-sanitising, compulsory face mask
wear, physical distancing restrictions and
strict crowd control in the Games village
and sports venues, were required.
No outside spectators were allowed to
watch the training or matches, apart from
accredited personnel.
In the Games village, communal areas
were equipped with abundant hand
hygiene facilities and physical barriers to
help decrease exposure among the residents.
Our athletes and contingent team
seemed to have no trouble following the
“new normal” as they were all used to
these practices during their full quarantine
training programme back home.
The organising Paralympic medical committee monitored any daily Covid-19 cases
among athletes, games-related personnel,
media, employees, contractors and volunteers.
Regular communication was established
with all the participating contingents, and
the latest news or statistics could be easily
checked on the official Paralympic website.
Each country also had their own Covid19 Liaison Officer nurse who helped manage
the daily testing for athletes and contingent
members, as well as being the first to attend
and manage any Covid-19 patient and their
close contacts in the team.
Throughout the whole Games, we were
constantly on our toes, ready to act should
we learn of any Covid-19 cases detected
among our athletes or games-related personnel, as this would lead to close contact investigation.
A close contact declaration would be a
disaster to any athlete involved as the long
weeks of quarantine required would render
him or her unable to compete.
Indeed, some affected athletes and team
personnel from other countries were not
allowed to train and participate in their
events because of this.
Throughout the Paralympics, more than
300 positive cases were reported, with 13 of
them being athletes.
Fortunately, no cases were detected within
our contingent, and no complicated cases or
Doubly challenging
room” to send live feedback to the athletes
and coaches on sporting strategies.
But no matter how much we prepare, people are bound to get injured in sports.
Experience had taught us to prepare for
the worst and we did.
Physical injuries among Paralympic athletes tend to derive from technical or biomechanical errors, and that was certainly the
case for some of our athletes during the
Games.
Extrinsic challenges in Japan, such as environmental heat and cold or rainy weather
that risked health problems and created
competitive disadvantages, were also considered and handled appropriately.
Overall, we had cases of acute medical
conditions, acute on chronic musculoskeletal
pain and acute muscle tendon tears.
Some of these conditions caused our athletes to retire from their match or event, and
in some cases, unfortunately prevented them
from breaking personal records.
A life-changing experience
dr azril (in yellow shirt) taking a wefie with other members of the Malaysian medical team
while waiting at the finishing line for the 400m t20 sprint event involving athlete Siti noor
Iasah Mohamad ariffin. — Photos: dr aZrIL SyaZWan MOHd aLI
death were reported among the positive
cases during the Games.
Handling disabilities
Aside from keeping our athletes safe from
Covid-19, we also had the added challenge of
looking after Paralympians.
Working with gifted athletes who had a
wide range of disabilities was a unique experience for me as a sports physician.
The main disabilities in our national contingent ranged from wheelchair-bound spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsies, limb
deformities, amputations, visual impairments and intellectual disabilities.
These disabilities mean that each athlete
has specific individual needs in facing the
challenges of daily life, social interactions
and the requirements for participating in
high level sports.
The physician attending these athletes
must have adequate and appropriate awareness, knowledge, skills, competencies and
experience working with them, as well as
their coaches, support personnel and the
multidisciplinary healthcare team, to provide holistic care.
This is in addition to the sports doctor’s
main duty of advising on an athlete’s health
or injury issues, providing emergency and
acute treatment, arranging referrals, and
ultimately, making the decision on the athlete’s fitness to compete.
The main challenges for us in the 2020
Tokyo Paralympic Games was adapting to
the dynamic demands of the high performance sporting environment, as well as
devising a bulletproof pandemic control protocol.
As the Covid-19 countermeasures were
meticulously planned and dealt with by
everyone onboard the full-quarantine training programme, that was one problem
solved.
As for the former, being the Chief Team
Physician meant that I had to oversee the
entire team and ensure that everyone worked together to solve any issues around each
athlete’s readiness to compete in their sports
event or match.
The last thing we wanted was any unnecessary medical problems hindering the
potential success of an athlete.
Realising that each individual sporting
event presents with its own issues or requirements, we took the initiative, as well as
adopted a “learning on the job” approach, to
get as much information as we could and
carefully plan appropriate strategies to deliver the necessary services.
We quickly familiarised ourselves with the
badminton player didin terasoh’s knee
injury was one of the acute cases dr azril
(right) had to treat during the Games.
needs of each sport’s training and competition processes, and worked closely with the
athletes and the coaches, so that we could get
their feedback quickly.
During the Games, I carried a portable
ultrasound machine around to help us provide better point-of-care diagnosis for any
limb injury complaints.
Any clinical work was performed at the
team medical facility, together with medical
and science support staff from ISN.
Our team consisted of sports doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, masseurs and psychologists – all of whom had long years of experience working with Paralympic athletes.
At other times, we dealt with the injury or
illness at the training or competition venues.
Teamwork is the top priority and the good
networking we had with the host medical
service team helped to provide the best treatment support for our athletes during referrals.
In addition to physical health, psychological services were provided to address
stress-related issues experienced by the
athletes.
On top of that, our sports performance
analysts back at ISN’s headquarters in Kuala
Lumpur were standing by in the “war
It was a truly exciting experience working
with my medical team during the Games.
Enthusiasm was high and we couldn’t wait
to get to each match as solving problems and
issues during competition and really putting
ourselves to the test was really satisfying.
No doubt it was quite stressful at some
points, especially during the heat of the competition, but this experience only further
strengthened our work skills and team-bonding.
I also appreciated the opportunities we
had to discuss and exchange opinions with
colleagues from the host country and around
the world.
We learnt new practices with regards to
athlete preparation, the use of state–of-theart equipment and technologies, and current
sports performance strategies.
These experiences will help improve the
management of our Paralympic athletes in
the future.
In addition, we learnt the new system
introduced by the Paralympics organising
committee to collect data for a comprehensive prospective injury study that, in my
opinion, helped improve the on-the-ground
clinical work as well.
On a personal level, a particularly heartwarming moment was when I attended to
T20 long jumper Abdul Latif Romly after he
sustained a severe pain in his groin after his
fifth jump attempt.
Although he was unable to continue on, he
had done well enough to win a gold medal!
The injury was severe at that point, and
although it seemed too painful for him to
stand or walk, he still needed to attend the
medal ceremony.
I was filled with pride and happiness for
his achievement, and eventually managed to
provide the support and treatment he needed to stand for the event.
It was truly an extraordinary experience
handling this case, especially as it was the
targeted third Malaysian gold medal on the
very last day of our participation in the
Games!
The medical team witnessed the Jalur
Gemilang being raised and sang Negaraku
with tears in our eyes.
As part of their support team, we too share
the emotional roller coaster with our national athletes as we stand by their side through
both the pain of losing and the glory of winning.
These athletes with disabilities are all from
humble origins and have endured so much
hardship in life to get to the pinnacle of
sporting achievement.
For them, winning a medal in the Games
after years of preparation is nothing short of
a wonderful life-defining moment.
To be there helping them to achieve this is
as life-changing for us as it is for them.
Dr Azril Syazwan Mohd Ali is a consultant
sports physician with the ISN. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my.
The information provided is for educational
purposes only and should not be considered
as medical advice. The Star does not give any
warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as
to the content appearing in this column. The
Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on
such information.
4 Health
YOUR abdomen seems to
expand and starts to rumble
ominously.
You feel it coming on, and if
you’re not alone, are afraid of
the telltale sound and smell if
the little “devil” breaks out.
A soundless escape hardly
helps, because “silent, but deadly” is obviously bad too – although it may offer a chance at
plausible deniability.
People in most cultures are
embarrassed if they happen to
fart in public.
Nevertheless, doctors say you
shouldn’t try to suppress the
expulsion of intestinal gas,
which could be painful.
Instead, you should release it
discreetly at an unnoticed
moment and at a distance from
other people.
To reduce the risk of finding
yourself in this situation, you
could make changes to your
diet.
This is easier said than done
though, because healthy foods
are unfortunately the ones most
likely to cause flatulence – the
medical term for breaking
wind.
But there are things worth
trying and experts have some
tips on reducing these noxious
emissions.
First, an explanation of how
flatulence occurs.
“Feeling bloated is due partly
to gas in your gut, but also
increased intestinal content,”
says Dr Viola Andresen of the
German Society of Gastroenterology (DGVS).
Gas is produced when bacteria in the colon metabolise fibre
in food.
ALTHOUGH we are halfway
through the month, the significance
of Pink October should not be overlooked.
Symbolised by a simple pink ribbon, it aims to raise awareness of
breast cancer among women and to
encourage them to step up their
efforts in early detection of cancer.
It is also a good time to address
the other forms of cancers that
women are vulnerable to and
become more knowledgeable of the
steps in detection as well.
Concerning figures
According to the World Health
Organisation’s Global Cancer
Observatory (Globocan) 2020 findings, in the past year, among 25,587
cancer cases in women, about
32.9% new cases involve breast cancer.
This is the highest percentage in a
single cancer type as compared to
other types faced by women.
Sunway Medical Centre Sunway
City consultant breast and endocrine surgeon, Dr Normayah Kitan
said that a survey done in Malaysia
by Lee Mun-Seng et al1 showed that
breast cancer awareness is relatively high, even in rural areas.
However response for screening
is low, as was shown in the 20122016 National Registry Report, with
the percentage diagnosed at Stage 3
and 4 increased to 47.9% from 43%
between 2007-2011.
“The public regards mammography rather negatively,” said Dr
Normayah. “They feel that mammography is painful and exposes
them to high radiation.”
Similarly, they perceive biopsies
as a dangerous procedure that is
not only painful but can hasten the
spread of the cancer.
Although every woman should be
attentive in detecting breast cancer
regularly, there are, however, other
malignancies that should be regard-
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
A fart too far
can’t control those gassy and potentially smelly emissions?
Here are some tips on managing your flatulence.
Some of the gas is broken
down by the bacteria, some
enters the bloodstream and is
eventually exhaled, and the rest
is passed rectally.
Flatulence is ordinarily no
cause for concern, according to
Dr Andresen.
“It’s usually part of normal
digestion,” she says.
But she adds: “If flatulence is
new to you or puts you under
heavy stress, you should have it
checked out.”
There are various possible
causes.
Often the culprit is gas-producing food you’ve eaten.
Some people have trouble
digesting lactose and/or fructose, for example.
Or a condition known as
small intestinal bacterial overgrowth could be to blame.
Or you may have eaten too
fast and swallowed a lot of air.
While gas is mostly caused by
the metabolization of dietary
fibre, that’s no reason to avoid
fibre as it’s very important for
healthy digestion and protects
against many diseases, notes
dietician Gabriela FreitagZiegler of the Berlin-based
Professional Dietetics Association (VDOE).
“Alliums (e.g. onions, garlic,
leeks), cabbage, legumes, whole-
meal bread, and some kinds of
fruits and vegetables, in particular, cause flatulence in some
people,” she says.
Her tip: Cooked fruits and
vegetables are generally more
easily digestible than raw ones.
You can also gradually accustom yourself to high-fibre foods
by sampling them in small portions to see, for instance, whether cabbage or lentils agree
with you, she advises.
If this doesn’t help, you
should replace individual foods
rather than cutting out entire
food groups.
“Not all cabbage is the same,”
the dietician says, and suggests
you try hispi (pointed) cabbage
if white cabbage doesn’t agree
with you.
“It’s softer and more easily
digestible for many people.”
There are big differences
among lentils as well.
She points out: “Small lentils,
such as the red ones, are often
more easily digestible.”
Herbs and spices can also
help reduce the production of
pesky intestinal gas, especially
caraway, fennel and aniseed.
“But also, fresh basil, dill and
thyme add flavour, as well as
soothe your stomach,” says
Freitag-Ziegler.
Although a lot of people steer
clear of wholemeal
bread because it
makes them
gassy, it deserves a second chance.
“There are
many varieties, and
they’re worth
sampling,”
she says.
Her tip:
“Wholemeal
breads from
finely ground
wholemeal flour
are more easily
digestible.”
But what’s most important is the way the bread is
made, she adds.
Hard-to-digest substances
in the dough are broken
down when it’s allowed to rise
and rest for long periods of
time.
And exercise – as it does with
many physical complaints – is
also helpful in combating flatulence.
“It stimulates the intestines
and gas is transported better,”
remarks Dr Andresen.
When gas “gets stuck”, she
says, you don’t break wind –
you might well experience
abdominal pain though. – dpa
Farting in public is
embarrassing in many
cultures, but holding it
in is not healthy either,
so take a look at your
diet to see if you can
reduce these gassy
‘leaks’. — dpa
HERE’S WHAT PINK OCTOBER IS ABOUT
dr Jennifer
Leong
dr normayah
Kitan
ed as well.
Sunway Medical consultant clinical oncologist Dr Jennifer Leong
Siew Mooi said that according to
Globocan 2020 report, breast cancer
holds the highest incidence for cancer in women.
However, there are other types of
common cancers afflicting women
that should also be highlighted
including colorectal (9.4%), lung
(8.4%), cervix (6.5%) and thyroid
(4.9%).
This is also reflected in our
Malaysian National Cancer Registry
Report for 2012-2016 which listed
breast cancer (34.1%), colorectal
cancer (11%), cervical cancer
(6.3%), lung cancer (5.9%) and ovarian cancer (5.6%) as the top five
most common cancer among
Malaysian women.
Risk assessment
The most common risk factor for
any developing cancer is increasing
age. Couple that with certain lifestyle choices and the risk of developing certain cancers can rise.
Obesity caused by a sedentary
lifestyle and a high consumption of
processed meat is also a risk factor
in developing colorectal cancer.
Cervical cancers are closely associated with human papilloma virus
(HPV) infections so the HPV vaccine
is instrumental in reducing infections.
Hereditary risk is also an important factor for a woman whose family has a history of cancers; she
should consider visiting a geneticist
for evaluation on the appropriateness of genetic testing.
These risk factors allow an individual to perform early screenings
so she can hopefully detect cancers
early or even in their precancerous
states, which means a higher
chance of survival.
Detection methods
The mammogram is essentially
an X-ray of the breast, which doctors can use to detect early signs of
breast cancer. The breast is placed
between two plastic plates and
squeezed in order to get a good
cross-section scanned using X-ray.
This method uses less radiation
and is in accordance with medical
guidelines and is repeated for
top-bottom and sideways for each
breast.
Some women may find these procedures uncomfortable, even painful, but it lasts only four to five seconds, which outweighs the burden
of late detection at Stage 3 or 4.
Women can reduce discomfort by
scheduling mammogram checks on
their mid-menstrual cycle, when the
breasts are less tender.
Besides mammograms, regular
cervical smear screening, or the pap
smear, is also an important screening method, particularly for those
who are sexually active, right until
they are 65 years old.
It allows precancerous cervical
lesions to be treated when detected
early.
Mental, emotional health
Dr Leong added that it is important for cancer patients to receive
good emotional and physical sup-
port throughout their journey.
“Positive attitudes aid tremendously while the patient is undergoing treatments and provide a better
overall outcome in the disease outlook.”
This is even more important for
women dealing with cancer diagnosis as their emotional wellbeing has
a great impact on the family members as well.
Patients often find it relatable
when they can learn or share their
experiences with similar cancer
survivors. A cancer survivor group
is important and should be offered
to patients if such avenues are
available.
There are various cancer support
networks in Malaysia that patients
can get in touch with depending on
the type of cancer, such as Pink
Ribbon Wellness Foundation and
Lung Cancer Network Malaysia
(LCNM).
Non-profit organisations such as
National Cancer Society Malaysia
offer continuous education, care
and support services for cancer
patients, while the National Cancer
Council (Makna) provides financial
assistance for a selected group of
cancer patients.
In conjunction with Pink October,
Sunway Medical Centre is offering a
special package on 3D mammogram screening to encourage more
women to come forward for screening, especially those aged 40 years
old and above and those who might
have a family history of cancer.
Reference
1)
Lee, Mun-Seng et al. “Awareness on
breast cancer screening in Malaysia: a
cross sectional study.” BioMedicine
vol. 9,3 (2019): 18. doi:10.1051/
bmdcn/2019090318
Health 5
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
By Dr IVANNA SIM, Dr SEAN
THUM and Dr KHOR SWEE
KHENG
AS we transition into an endemic
Covid-19 stage, booster vaccine
doses are inevitable.
For example, on Sept 22, the US
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) approved a single Pfizer/
BioNTech vaccine booster dose for
three groups of people six months
after they complete their primary
vaccination series.
They are: those aged 65 years
and above, those who are at high
risk of severe Covid-19, and those
with frequent exposure to Covid19.
Following this, Health Minister
Khairy Jamaluddin announced the
rollout of booster doses in Malaysia
from this month onwards for selected targeted groups.
However, the world continues to
face shortages of Covid-19 vaccines.
Although vaccine shortages are
worse in low-income countries,
middle-income countries like
Malaysia are not spared.
We have enough vaccines for
approximately 110% of our population, but that number may be
under-counting our actual population and boosters may deplete our
supplies.
Therefore, it is crucial for Malaysia to implement an effective,
nuanced and targeted booster
strategy.
Here, we propose five ways to
strengthen Malaysia’s booster strategy and support public health outcomes.
Strengthening our
booster strategy
as covid-19 booster shots appear increasingly necessary, here
are five suggestions to consolidate our approach to them.
Developing our own vaccines
Strengthen primary
vaccination
Firstly, we need to strengthen
our ongoing primary vaccination
series.
The primary goal of vaccination
is to confer immunity on the entire
population.
Malaysia’s own Real-World Evaluation of Covid-19 Vaccines under
the Malaysia National Covid-19
Immunisation Program study has
shown strong protection from the
three main vaccines used (AstraZeneca/Oxford, Pfizer/BioNTech
and Sinovac) against infection,
symptomatic disease and ICU
(intensive care unit) admission.
This shows that two doses of
the Covid-19 vaccine are highly
effective and protective against
the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and likely
sufficient for the general population.
Therefore, while we roll out
booster doses to protect those who
remain at risk, an equal focus
should remain on our primary vaccination series, especially in states
with low vaccination rates.
For example, on Oct 11, only 65%
of the adult population of Sabah
had been fully vaccinated, although the national average is now
90%.
Collect booster shot data
Secondly, we need to gather and
publicize data on the need for
boosters in high-risk groups.
Currently, there is limited data
globally on Covid-19 vaccine booster doses, like who should receive
them, when, how often and the
safety profile.
Therefore, to increase public
confidence in our ongoing primary
vaccination series, we urge the
Health Ministry to gather and publicise local data and evidence on
the definition of high-risk groups
ble with widespread immunity
achieved through vaccination.
Current data indicates decreased
efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines over
time, suggesting the need for
repeated booster doses, and perhaps even a Covid-19 vaccine every
12-18 months for selected high-risk
groups.
Therefore, our long-term strategy should include the embedding
of regular booster doses into the
National Immunisation Programme (NIP), unlike the current situation where boosters are being administered through the National
Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).
In other words, we need to shift
the Covid-19 vaccination campaigns from “campaign mode” to
“routine mode”.
Public education and communication should be continued to improve public confidence in the covid-19
vaccines, including the need for booster shots. — FaIHan GHanI/the Star
Selangor state public health, unity, women and family development
committee chairman dr Siti Mariah Mahmud shows a graph on covid-19
patient admissions to hospitals in the state for the period of Sept 1-21.
data on booster shots should be similarly gathered and publicised to
help increase public understanding on the issue. — bernama
and their indications for booster
doses.
This data will hopefully increase
public understanding on issues
such as the increasing infection
rates in states with high vaccination rates, like Sarawak.
Following this, the promised targeted booster strategy should be
publicised.
Some points to cover include
transparent data on vaccine supply
across states and regions, detailed
definitions on high-risk groups,
logistics of the administration of
booster doses, and whether these
booster doses are necessary or may
be opted out of by targeted groups
who have previously received two
doses.
Continue public
communication
Thirdly, we must educate and
reassure the public that vaccines
remain important and useful, even
if we need a booster shot.
As in many aspects of health,
adequate patient or public educa-
tion will create understanding and
motivation, while reducing fake
news.
In this education process, the differences between a third Covid-19
vaccine dose and booster doses
should be clarified, as these two
terms are currently used interchangeably.
Although this may now be a
minute detail, it may generate
public distrust in the two-dose
Covid-19 vaccine regime or other
vaccination initiatives.
Proper education on the differences between these two terms
will increase public understanding
of the reasons for booster or third
Covid-19 vaccine doses, which will
increase public confidence in our
booster strategy.
Communication with the public
needs to be simple and targeted to
our unique Malaysian demographic, which includes using multiple
languages, formats and media.
Making it routine
Fourthly, a booster strategy must
be long-term and short-term at the
same time.
We urge the government to
begin laying down a sustainable
foundation for an endemic Covid19 strategy.
“Zero-Covid” strategies are slowly being abandoned worldwide
because the inherent properties of
the SARS-CoV-2 virus – such as high
transmissibility and its capacity to
evolve into new variants – make it
impossible to be completely eradicated.
Instead, the world is now moving towards an endemic Covid-19
strategy, which will only be possi-
Finally, we should utilise this
opportunity to accelerate the development of a National Vaccine
Development Strategy.
The procurement of Covid-19
vaccines for Malaysia has not been
an easy feat.
Furthermore, repeated purchases can be costly.
Malaysia has long produced
international award-winning scientists, suggesting that our country
has the intellectual capacity to
come up with our own vaccines.
We must now build the regulatory and manufacturing capacity to
match our intellectual capacity.
This can be made possible by
appropriately building and investing in the country’s manufacturing
facilities, by aligning with health
policy areas of the 12th Malaysia
Plan (MP12).
In addition to ensuring efficient
and wise resource allocation of
vaccine production, any advancement in manufacturing facilities
will further strengthen Malaysia’s
public health and pandemic preparedness in facing future health
crises.
However, the government must
create the conditions for private
sector investment in manufacturing, rather than act as the sole or
biggest investor.
This will ensure a clear separation between government and
business, increase the chances that
capital will be allocated efficiently
and reduce the risk of corruption.
One part of the whole
Although currently controversial, Covid-19 booster doses are
being increasingly accepted as a
necessity.
Nonetheless, there are still ways
for us to strengthen the booster
shot programme, as we have
described in this column.
Above all else, we urge everyone
to remember that boosters and
vaccination programmes are crucial, but they are only one part of
the entire universe of our public
health and pandemic responses.
Dr Ivanna Sim just graduated with
her medical degree, Dr Sean Thum
is a psychiatry trainee, and Dr Khor
Swee Kheng is a physician specialising in health policies and global
health, who tweets as @DrKhorSK.
The views expressed here are
entirely their own. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.
com.my. The information provided
is for educational and communication purposes only. The Star does
not give any warranty on accuracy,
completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the
content appearing in this column.
The Star disclaims all responsibility
for any losses, damage to property
or personal injury suffered directly
or indirectly from reliance on such
information.
6
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Women’s Health 7
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Back pain during pregnancy
this comm
m suffered
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on
reg
sym
nant women h
as
man
y causes
t medication.
is usually manag
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n
ed witho
a
become lax, disrupting the stability
of the pelvis.
Weight tends to shift from the
spine to the legs when laxity occurs,
and the loosening of joints can also
affect posture.
> Increasing size of the uterus
As your baby grows, so does the
size of your uterus.
Your spine also begins to change
in shape, particularly in the lower
back area where it becomes noticeably curved.
Muscles that help stabilise the pelvis are shortened, increasing the
curved shape and creating pain.
Aggravating factors
Women’s world
DATuk DR NoR ASHikiN
MokHTAR
EXPERIENCING back pain during
pregnancy is common and is caused
by many factors.
These factors – which are due to
the anatomical, postural, vascular
and hormonal changes that take
place naturally during the course of
pregnancy – tend to develop simultaneously and cause pain in the
woman’s body.
Most of the time, pregnancy back
pain is normal.
But you should still be aware of
some causes of pregnancy back pain
that may indicate a more serious
situation. In fact, in some rare cases,
they can be life-threatening.
How it begins
A pregnant woman will go
through changes in the mechanics
of her lower back, creating discomfort and making any existing conditions worse.
The types of back pain a pregnant woman can expect to experience are:
> Lower back pain
> Pelvic pain
> Thigh pain
> Back and hip pain
> Abdominal cramps
Some musculoskeletal causes of
back pain during pregnancy are:
> Widening of the pelvis
Higher oestrogen and relaxin hormone levels widen the pelvis.
This starts at the 10th or 12th
week of pregnancy, causing the pelvis size to increase typically by
about 10mm.
Muscles and soft tissues in the
lower back are affected due this
change in pelvis size, which can
affect your gait and create pain
while walking.
The pain can worsen in the later
stages of pregnancy, extending to
the thighs.
> Laxity of joints and soft tissue
Concentrated levels of oestrogen
also increase tissue and joint flexibility in the lower back.
This causes the sacroiliac joints to
Other causes of back pain during
pregnancy include:
> Neural
Peripheral nerves in the thigh and
pelvis region may become stretched,
compressed and lose their blood
supply, making them a source of
pain.
The swelling of soft tissue causes
additional pressure on these nerves,
causing pain in the thighs, lower
back and pelvis.
Medical conditions like diabetes
and obesity also increase the risk of
peripheral nerve pain in the legs.
> Herniated disc pain
Increased strain on the lower
skeletal system affects the spinal
discs and causes herniation.
The nearby nerve roots may be
affected, resulting in sciatica symptoms that can move down the
thighs, legs, and even to the feet.
It often affects one side of the
body, and can become aggravated
during pregnancy.
> Weakened hip bone and joint
Some pregnant women may
develop osteoporosis during their
third trimester.
The reason why it occurs is still a
mystery, but the symptoms usually
appear gradually, affecting the tissues of the hip joint, which causes
pain and limits movement.
Another condition that affects the
hip region – avascular necrosis of
the femoral head – may occur due to
biological changes in pregnancy.
These changes include weight
gain and high levels of natural steroids, which can affect the bone tissue in the top part of the thigh bone
(femoral head), and cause groin and
lower back pain.
> Certain obstetrical conditions
Although uncommon, some obstetrical conditions like spontaneous
abortion, ovarian cysts, pelvic or
uterine adhesions, fibroids, or fluid
collection, may cause lower back
pain in pregnancy.
> Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Severe lower back and groin pain
may occur when the fallopian tube
ruptures due to an ectopic pregnancy.
This condition is a serious medical emergency and occurs in early
pregnancy – typically within the
first few weeks or first trimester.
> Placenta location
In some pregnancies, the placenta
is located near the posterior wall of
the uterus, where it can potentially
cause back pain.
Limited research indicates that a
posterior placenta may also cause
poor pregnancy outcomes and preterm labour.
Physical treatment
You may want to seek treatment
for your pregnancy back pain if the
condition worsens.
But treatment depends on the
underlying causes, stage of pregnancy and other medical conditions.
You need to consult with the
appropriate medical specialists to
determine the right treatment.
They’ll evaluate posture, range of
motion in the lower extremities, leglength inequality, tendon reflexes,
gait pattern, joint pain and the degree of curvature in the lower spine.
The options for treatment usually
include postural correction or physical therapy.
In more serious cases, medical
management and surgical intervention may be required.
> Postural correction
One way to reduce a considerable
amount of strain off the lower back
is by maintaining an ergonomicallysupported posture throughout the
day.
Your doctor may advise you to
reduce high impact activities, and
perform stretches and exercises to
build strength in the pelvis, hips and
lower back.
Most women find sleeping on
their side with additional supportive
pillows the most comfortable during
pregnancy.
Place a pillow between your
knees and ankles while sleeping.
This puts the top of the knee on
the same level as the hip, thus
reducing stress on the lower back.
You can support your upper arm
by resting it on a vertical pillow in
front of your abdomen and upper
body.
To support your head and neck,
try placing a small rolled-up towel
inside the pillowcase.
Another tool that may be of help
is a lumbar roll.
Placing this behind the small of
the back to help support spinal curvature while sitting for extended
periods can help decrease the frequency and intensity of back pain.
It may also help reduce the pelvic
pain that occurs from a sit-to-stand
position.
Get an inflatable lumbar roll to
help accommodate the changes in
body size and posture as the pregnancy progresses.
> Physical therapy and exercise
Exercise and physical therapy
involves stretching, movements to
strengthen the back, and posture
modifications.
Seeing a trained therapist can
help pregnant women focus on the
right set of exercises to strengthen
soft tissues and muscles in the lumbar spine area.
Flexion exercises (bending for-
Sleeping on your side can help to relieve the back pain caused by
pregnancy. — gpointstudio/Freepik
ward) help make the abdominal
muscles stronger, improve core
strength and decrease the lumbar
curve.
Extension exercises (bending
backward) help increase strength in
the paraspinal muscles that provide
stability to the spine.
Low-impact exercise options
include pelvic tilts, knee-to-chest
stretch, straight leg raise, curl-ups,
side-lying leg raise, and even Kegel
exercises.
> Heat therapy
Taking short breaks throughout
the day from standing, moving,
walking or sitting in a tensed position at a desk for long periods of
time helps ease muscle spasms and
relieves acute pain.
While sitting, keep both feet elevated to help bend the hips and
decrease the curvature in the lower
spine.
You can also use a heat patch in
the lower back area or rear pelvis to
further reduce soreness, decrease
muscle spasms and improve blood
circulation while resting.
The heat source must be used for
15 to 20 minutes at a time and cannot be too hot.
Adding a barrier, such as a towel,
is advisable to avoid burns.
Take drugs with caution
Drugs are not typically recommended for pregnant women right
away.
Most are not safe for the foetus as
they can cause developmental harm
or death if taken.
Only a certain number of pain
medications can be used during
pregnancy. But even these must be
avoided in the first trimester, and
are only safe to take in the second
and third trimesters.
For pregnancy back pain and pelvic pain, paracetamol is considered
relatively safe and used as a firstline drug.
For nerve pain, such as in sciatica
or radiculopathy, anticonvulsants
(gabapentin) or antidepressants
(amitriptyline) may be prescribed
with caution for short term use.
For debilitating or severe pain,
opioid medications may be recommended, but the dosage and regimen are prescribed with caution to
avoid opioid withdrawal in the newborn.
Always consult a physician before
taking any medication while pregnant, including supplements, overthe-counter medication, ointments,
and even inhalers.
Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar is a
consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a functional medicine practitioner. For further information, email
starhealth@thestar.com.my. The
information provided is for educational and communication purposes only,
and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. The Star does
not give any warranty on accuracy,
completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the
content appearing in this column. The
Star disclaims all responsibility for
any losses, damage to property or
personal injury suffered directly or
indirectly from reliance on such information.
8 Let’s Get Physical
STARHEALTH, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
‘Skip’ your workout
Once a favourite childhood game, skipping or jumping rope offers a total body
workout in a short span of time.
Two fit
REvATHi MuRuGAPPAN
starhealth@thestar.com.my
DO you recall skipping or jumping
rope as a child?
If you’re middle-aged like me,
then you may remember weaving
long skipping ropes by stringing
together hundreds of rubber bands.
To make the rope sturdier, we
would use double bands, and to
make it pretty, we would mix and
match colours.
These days, if you’ve been out
and about in parks and open areas,
you may have noticed more people
skipping rope for fun and exercise.
There are also numerous postings on social media about new
tricks skipping enthusiasts and
celebrities are attempting.
It must be something to do with
the Covid-19 pandemic that we are
reliving our childhood and indulging in an activity that was once
thought of as child’s play.
But a skipping rope is indeed a
great tool to help keep you moving,
assuming your knee and ankle
joints are healthy and pain-free.
It offers a full-body cardiorespiratory workout, which can be both
high or low impact, and burns calories in a short amount of time.
As an added bonus, it improves
hand-eye-feet coordination and
assists in weight loss.
According to the American
Council on Exercise, a person
weighing 70kg can burn up to 420
calories from skipping for 30
minutes.
You would need to run 13.7km in
the same amount of time to burn
the same amount of calories!
The only problem, as some students have told me, is that it takes
time to coordinate so many body
parts to swing the rope properly.
How to buy a rope
Sporting equipment has
advanced rapidly from the time I
was a kid and so many types of
skipping ropes are now available.
The rope material can range
from plastic, vinyl, PVC (polyvinyl
chloride), leather, cotton or adjustable beads, while the handle can
be designed using wood, plastic
and so on.
The sophisticated ones even
come with fitness trackers, timesetters and weights for added
intensity.
Handles are important, but
using the correct type of rope or
cable makes all the difference
while skipping.
While there is a plethora of
online sites available to buy these
ropes, it’s best to get the right “fit”
from a physical sports store.
A knowledgeable salesperson
should be able to walk you
through the best ways to use a
jump rope and if you’ll need special shoes.
If you’re a beginner, speed
should not be your objective, so a
One mistake beginners make is to lift their knees and jump too high while
skipping rope – this only serves to tire you out faster.
Once you get used to skipping rope, you can start changing things up,
like crossing your hands while skipping.
That means hard surfaces such as
concrete, or even carpets, are not
ideal, as they put a lot of strain on
the knee and ankle joints.
A safety tip: make sure there is
nothing around you that can make
you accidentally trip or fall.
Common mistakes
remember those childhood days when rubber bands were used to make dIy skipping ropes? — Photos: Filepic
longer rope is ideal to allow for
less-than-perfect timing.
To size your rope, stand on the
centre of the rope with your feet
together while holding the handles
with your arms close to your body.
Move your elbows outwards and
sideways until the rope is taut.
The rope length (not including
handles) should be just under your
armpit.
To get the perfect length, test the
rope out (check if you are allowed
to do this at the store as there are
different Covid-19 standard operating procedures in place).
If the rope keeps hitting your feet,
it is too short; and if the rope drags
along the ground and slows your
momentum, it’s probably too long.
If you’re still wary of going out
due to the pandemic, you can purchase your rope online.
Just add three feet (91.4cm) to
your height and this length should
suffice.
Try this
Here’s a quick refresher if you’re
planning to try jumping rope after a
long lay-off (do some warm-ups
first!):
> Stand tall with your feet hip distance apart and the rope behind
your feet.
Tighten your abdominal muscles.
> Grip the handles loosely with
your fingers.
Do not use the death grip
involving your palms, which
turns your knuckles white.
A loose grip will enable a natural, more efficient turn of the
rope.
> Your wrists and elbows should
always remain close to the body.
> Use your hands to swing the rope
over your head in one movement.
As you’re swinging the rope
forward, you’re also moving your
wrists slightly upward so that the
rope will land between your
ankles and your knee.
> You might want to practise this
movement a few times and see
where the rope falls before trying
to jump over it.
> Once you get this movement, lift
both feet slightly off the floor
with the knees bent and jump
over the rope.
Land on the balls of your feet
with your body fairly erect.
Again, practise this a few times
and once you get the hang of it, do
it continuously.
A lot of beginners make the mistake of lifting their knees too high
when they jump over the rope and
this tires them out.
It really takes only a little lift-off
from the floor to jump over the
rope.
If you’d rather try the motions
first, then you can start by “shadow
jumping” or “pretend jump” without the rope – boxers tend to use
this method as a warm-up.
Yes, you will look ridiculous, but
this is a great way to practise your
jump and proper form.
Once you’re comfortable with
your “pretend” jumps, add the rope
in and begin with a 30-second set.
Rest for a minute before repeating.
You can try doing five sets at one
go at first.
As you improve, you can add on
more sets, pick up the pace and get
creative.
Keep in mind that it’s best to skip
on a surface that will give you a
gentle landing and cushion the
impact on the joints, e.g. a rubber
mat or grass.
Here are some common mistakes
that occur while jumping rope.
> Using the arm and not the wrist
It’s all about wrist flicks.
Your hands should be held near
the front of your pelvic bones.
The elbows assist by performing
small pumping motions in combination with the work of the wrists.
The only exception to this is
when you swing the rope over for
the very first time – this will require
some arm movement.
Thereafter, the arms just stabilise
the wrists.
> Hunching the back while jumping
Proper form is crucial to avoid
injuries.
Unfortunately, too many people
realise this too late.
Many jumpers tend to bend forward, roll the shoulders in and
hunch the back to get the rope over.
You should be jumping straight
up and down, like you would on a
trampoline.
> Jumping too high or kicking
your heels back
This is not a how-high-can-youjump competition – you only need
to get a few inches off the ground.
The ropes are not that thick, so
it’s not necessary to take big leaps
and get out of breath.
Keep the jumps small and neat.
You’ll look good and feel good.
Revathi Murugappan is a certified
fitness trainer who tries to battle
gravity and continues to dance to
express herself artistically and
nourish her soul. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.
my. The information contained in
this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star
nor the author gives any warranty on
accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances
as to such information. The Star and
the author disclaim all responsibility
for any losses, damage to property
or personal injury suffered directly
or indirectly from reliance on such
information.
SUNDAY STAR, SUNDAY 17 OcTObeR 2021
Content: (03) 7967 1388 Ext 1808
educate@thestar.com.my
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The latest five-year Malaysia Plan focuses on
enhancing STeM, digital education and
skills training
A COUNTRY’S education system and a job market that provides opportunities
for its graduates to achieve their full potential are the best benchmarks of a
nation’s progress.
Covid-19 and the onslaught of the Fourth Industrial Revolution have shaken the country’s economic sector with talents made redundant as their skills
and knowledge become obsolete, and as organisations restructure to weather challenges brought on by the pandemic.
Understandably, students who have just enrolled in university, as well as
fresh graduates entering the job market, are anxious.
The recent unveiling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) by the Prime
Minister is aimed at addressing some of these concerns.
Elaborating on initiatives to improve the education system, Datuk Seri
Ismail Sabri Yaakob said science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET) programmes, would be enhanced.
The higher education sector would also be given greater flexibility,
he told the Dewan Rakyat.
“The (TVET) programmes will be enhanced by improving the
ecosystems and quality of programmes through accreditation,
recognition and certification by international standards
bodies, as well as the introduction of TVET institutional
rating system.
“A centralised database for TVET supply and
demand will be developed,” he said in a Bernama
report on Sept 27.
Better cooperation with industries, he added,
would be set up in the higher education sector, to
improve the quality of graduates and to fulfil industry needs.
At the school and tertiary levels, digital education
would be introduced to provide better access to
quality education, he said. This is to better prepare
students for advancing technologies.
Describing the 12MP as “highly appropriate”,
Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and
Universities (Mapcu) president Datuk Dr Parmjit Singh
said an entire chapter was devoted to prioritising developing future talent.
“There is clearly a strong intent to make the necessary
changes to the country’s education system.
“The priorities and strategies announced comprehensively addressed many of the issues faced by the sector,” he told
StarEdu.
He, however, said only time would tell if the initiatives
are effective in helping the nation achieve its talent development goals.
“The pandemic has hit us hard. We have a lot of work to
do to re-establish Malaysia’s position as a favoured educational destination.
“Greater investments to promote the country as a safe
and student-friendly environment are needed while we
strive to ensure that regulatory and enforcement frameworks are in place to support and create a conducive learning ecosystem for international students.” — By SANDHYA
MENON
12MP:A leap
MORE STORIES ON PAGES 4 & 5
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2 Teachertalk
DR G MAllikA
VASUGi
Teachertalk
IT has been almost two years since the
Covid-19 pandemic arrived in full force.
As teachers are still coming to terms with
new pedagogical methods and modalities,
many of their conversations revolve
around newly-acquired competencies and
pandemic-related issues.
Another common thread in their personal narratives is student outcomes.
After all, as my former teaching colleague
puts it, “When all is said and done, it’s all
about our students and how they turn out,
isn’t it?”
It was during one of these virtual sharing
sessions that I heard the following story from
a senior teacher, Mr Raz (not his real name).
“I used to be the discipline master and
also the class teacher in my former school,”
he said as we began our virtual chat.
“It was one of those premier schools
where we got 100% passes for every major
examination. A good number of our students were regularly on the national list of
top scorers every year.
“We also won numerous national awards
for sports and other co-curricular activities.
In fact, some of our teams had even won
international competitions.
“Having a child enrolled in our school
was a mark of pride among parents in the
community.
“Although there were a number of criteria
for accepting a student into the school, one
special consideration was familial ties.
“Having an older child studying in the
school made it much easier for a younger
one to get in. And that was how we ended
up with Sam Lim (not his real name) in
Form One,” he said.
“Here, let me share a photo of Sam,” he
offered as a class photo showing two slightly disorganised rows of students appeared
on the screen.
Seated at the centre of the front row was
a much younger-looking Mr Raz, his hands
firmly planted on his knees.
His crisp white, long-sleeved shirt and
the sheen from his neatly combed side-parted hair contrasted deeply with the untidy
and somewhat ruffled shirts of the school
boys who sat on either side of him.
“Form 4F, 2017,” said Mr Raz with a note
STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
‘The last boy in the last class’
Onus on teachers to take ownership of duties despite student outcome variables
of wistfulness in his voice. “I had more hair
then, didn’t I?”
I watched his image on the screen as he
patted the front of his head where his
receding hairline began.
“I wonder when we will be able to take
class photos like this again, with everyone
actually together... It’s just not the same on
virtual platforms, right?”
He did not wait for my answer and went
on, “Last class in Form Four. And that’s
Sam. Third from the left, back row. Last boy
in the last class.”
I took a closer look at the slightly chubby
boy with a wide grin who was standing
between two taller and more serious-looking classmates.
“Sam’s older brother was a former top
scorer of the school who had gone on to
secure a scholarship overseas to complete
his law degree,” Mr Raz said.
According to Mr Raz, Sam’s parents
owned a furniture shop near the school.
Both were fully occupied looking after their
business and running a household with
aged parents to look after.
Having been raised from fairly underprivileged backgrounds, they had not had
the chance to continue their education past
primary school. Neither could assist their
two young sons academically.
Fortunately for them, their older son, Ben,
was an extremely bright boy with a high sense
of responsibility. Independently motivated, he
managed to always perform well in school.
Sam was different. From the start, he
professed to have little interest in his studies. His assignments were sloppy and badly
written, and his grades were appalling with
academic reports displaying a string of failures in most subjects.
No amount of scolding, warning or
threats from his teachers seemed to work.
“When he reached Form Four, we were
all worried because the following year, he
would be sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia (SPM),” said Mr Raz.
“The school management and leadership
was deeply concerned that for the first
time, they would not be able to achieve
their 100% pass rate. That wouldn’t be good
for the school’s reputation.
“One of the department heads actually suggested that we should ask Sam to transfer to
another school. Another colleague said, how
about asking him not to sit for his SPM? They
all sounded like such bad, cruel suggestions,
didn’t they?” said Mr Raz, shaking his head.
“Luckily, no one agreed. The thing is,
despite his poor academic performance,
Sam’s teachers felt he was an intelligent
boy and could perform better if he applied
himself to his studies. In the end, we decided that we needed to talk to his parents.”
A few of his teachers were sceptical, saying it would never work. Previous attempts
to get Sam’s parents to come over to the
school to discuss his academic performance
had been unsuccessful. Sam himself was
not very helpful.
“Aiyah sir,” he said in colloquial English,
‘’No use talking to my parents. They very busy.
Cannot leave the shop. Sure won’t come.”
Finally, after many more attempts, a harried-looking Mrs Lim turned up.
When Mr Raz showed her Sam’s academic record and pointed out that he had failed
almost every subject in the previous two
terms, Mrs Lim looked him straight in the
eye and began, “Sir Raz, my English not so
good but I ask you first, my Sam got do anything wrong in school or not?”
“I shook my head,” Mr Raz said, “No,
nothing wrong with his behaviour but...”
“He got disturb other boys or not? Got spoil
the school’s property? Break the undang-undang sekolah? Behaved rude to teachers?”
“I had to say no to all her questions,” said
Mr Raz with a slight chuckle. I felt like I
was in the courtroom being questioned by
a lawyer. And to think Mrs Lim had never
even attended secondary school.”
“So, why you called me here?” she went
on. “My son’s discipline all very good. If my
son cannot study, you must teach. I send
him to school for teachers to teach him.
“I can only scold him. I don’t know how
to teach. You all must teach my son, help
him to pass his exams. I am a mother, not a
teacher. Some things I can teach. But pass
an exam, I cannot teach.”
“Honestly,” said Mr Raz, “it was almost
impossible to say anything after that. There
seemed to be so much logic in those few
sentences.”
After she left, Sam came to me and said,
“That’s why lah, sir, I said no use to call my
mother.”
“But you know what,” Mr Raz said, “the
most miraculous thing happened shortly after
Mah: Ministry
looking
into Tamil
school plight
THE Education Ministry will work closely
with relevant stakeholders to repair a four
decade old school after its roof fell off —
again.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr
Mah Hang Soon said the ministry is waiting for reports from the district education
office (PPD) and the Malaysian Public
Works Department (JKR) before deciding
on the next course of action to fix SJK(T)
Telok Panglima Garang.
“This school is 44 years old and upon visiting it, we noticed that the roof had fallen off.
“We are still waiting for the reports to
know what the issues are and what steps can
be taken to repair the building soon.
“We will work closely with Kuala Langat
MP Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar (on
improving the building’s condition),” he
said after visiting the school in Banting
with Dr Jayakumar last Thursday.
The school has a total of 478 pupils. No
one was hurt when the roof fell off on Oct
12.
SJK(T) Telok Panglima Garang parent
teacher association deputy chairman
that. Suddenly in the middle of the year,
Sam decided that he was interested in studying after all. Don’t ask me how or why it
happened.”
“Perhaps there was some internal Aha
moment or awakening in the boy. He began
putting in more effort and actually started
performing better.
“However, most of us, me included, were
largely sceptical. How can a student catch up
five years of work in such a short time? And
he was the last boy in the last class.
“When the SPM results were released the
following year, and our principal
announced a 100% pass rate for the school,
the question on everyone’s lips was Sam.
What about Sam?”
As it turned out, not only had Sam passed
all his subjects, he had also managed to
score a few credits.
“And you know what?” continued Mr Raz,
“It didn’t stop there. It seemed like Sam had
found his learning groove. He decided to pursue his studies to the next level – he went on
to complete his foundation year and is doing
very well in his undergraduate business
course in one of the local universities.”
“Who would have believed it?” said Mr
Raz. “The last boy in the last class. Was he a
late bloomer? What really caused him to
turn around and decide that he was interested in studying after all? Was it something
we said, or something his parents said?
Maybe it was a combination of everything.”
The truth is, despite all that we teachers
may or may not do, despite using every triedand-tested pedagogical approach, and despite
soliciting support from all stakeholders in the
education of our students, sometimes there is
no guarantee and no way of knowing how
our students will turn out in the end.
But perhaps the more important lesson is
to keep believing in our students. There
was a noteworthy lesson in Mrs Lim’s
request for teachers to take ownership of
teaching her son.
If he doesn’t know, then teach him, she
said. Sometimes it just boils down to that.
While we now use many terms to define
the role of teachers or educators, we need to
always bear this in mind: that we are here
to teach our students and to teach them
well, and never to relegate this primary
responsibility to someone else who does not
have this as their main job descriptions.
Application deadline:
Oct 24, 2021
Maxis Scholarships
Inspection: dr Mah inspecting the damage. (Inset) the fallen roof.
Kamalanathan Chellappan said this is not
the first time the roof has fallen off.
“We have had this problem for many
years, and each time, it just gets repaired.
“This time around when PPD and JKR
Kuala Langat told us the same, we took a
firm stand to say enough of repairing, give
us a new roof.
“We suggested demolishing the building
with the fallen roof, and replacing it with a
new structure; we have enough land,” he
said, urging the government to use its allocation wisely for the children’s development.
“We hope Mah’s visit will accelerate the
process of improving our school,” he said. —
By SANDHYA MENON
Watch the video
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STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Taylor’s tops in
graduate employability
FOR the third consecutive year,
Taylor’s University has retained
its position as Malaysia’s top private university in the
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
Graduate Employability Rankings.
This places the varsity alongside
internationally renowned universities such as Cardiff University,
Lancaster University, the
University of Notre Dame and
Université de Montréal.
Taylor’s University’s top performance in the QS Graduate
Employability Rankings 2022 is
its latest in a string of achievements garnered this year.
The institution continued its
record as the leading private university in Malaysia and South-East
Asia by leaping 47 spots to rank
332 globally in the QS World
University Rankings 2022, placing
it at the top 1.1% among the most
influential institutions globally.
Taylor’s University vice chancellor and president Prof Michael
Driscoll said the latest results of
the QS survey show that the varsity has made great strides in the
Employer Reputation and
Employer Partnerships indicators.
“This demonstrates the trust
that our industry partners place
in us, and a testament to the quality of our graduates,” he said in a
press release dated Sept 23.
He added that the university
strives to ensure its graduates
are equipped with the intellectu-
ONE important lesson that can be
taken from the unprecedented pandemic that swept the world to leave
devastation in its wake, is the need
and importance of financial planning.
National Higher Education Fund
Corporation (PTPTN) chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid
says: “Good financial planning is
vital to build up savings for emergency use. We have all heard the
expression that money is not
everything, but in the world today,
money is an important resource for
the continuation of daily life.”
One important thing people need
to pay attention to is having savings
or liquidity on hand during difficult
times.
He quotes Warren Buffet: “Don’t
save the balance after spending, but
spend according to the balance you
have after saving.”
Without proper financial planning, even the wealthy can find
their income reduced. Conversely,
someone who implements sound
financial planning will be able to
build up their wealth in future.
Therefore, it is important to inculcate the habit of saving and financial planning among Malaysians.
Also, making sound financial
decisions now will enable families
to ensure a brighter future for their
children, with higher education
being taken care of.
This is important, as education
costs have risen over the years.
Proper financial planning is needed
to ensure you have enough for your
children to continue their education
uninterrupted. As today’s children
are the stewards of tomorrow’s society, top priority should be given to
their education to create the citizens
of tomorrow.
In recognition of World Savings
Day on Oct 31, PTPTN has been
organising the Simpan SSPN
Savings Month, or Bulan Menabung
Great strides:
taylor’s university
retained its position
as Malaysia’s leading
private university in
the QS Graduate
employability
rankings 2022.
al, practical and creative intelligences necessary to navigate an
increasingly volatile world, set
against a backdrop of high graduate unemployment.
“With the Higher Education
Ministry’s Graduate Tracer Study
indicating that more than 40,000
Malaysian graduates were unable to secure jobs last year,
Taylor’s University has stepped
up to the plate with innovative
curriculum reforms and an
emphasis on entrepreneurial
and lifelong learning skills.
“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, our efforts have resulted in a
99% graduate employment rate
for the university’s graduates,
based on survey results in that
same tracer study,” he said.
Additionally, the university
retained its Top 20 world ranking
in the Hospitality and Leisure
Management subject in the QS
World University Rankings by
Subject 2021 earlier this year –
making it the only university in
Malaysia, and South-East Asia, to
be in the Top 20 ranking.
The same rankings too indicated that Taylor’s Business School
is the top private business school
in Malaysia.
Taylor’s University is also one
of a few Asian universities
awarded the QS 5 Stars rating
for Online Learning.
In the press release, the university said the award is testament to the institution’s direction in its teaching and learning
approach, where e-learning has
taken centrestage.
The unprecedented pandemic
has accelerated the university’s
latest approach in its new Taylor’s
Curriculum Framework and the
curation of a Taylor’sphere ecosystem, developed to hone multiple
intelligences and encourage multidisciplinary learning, it added.
Congratulations:
(From left)
Hadhinah, tan and
Senthil Kumaran.
M’sians realise dream
with IELTS Prize
CELEBRATING
SUCCESS
THREE outstanding Malaysian test
takers were among 26 East Asia
winners of the 2021 International
English Language Testing System
(IELTS) Prize who will get to pursue
their dreams of studying abroad.
The winners, Tan Pei Jing,
Hadhinah Ahmad Puaad and
Senthil Kumaran Raja Kumar, were
among millions of students who
had to readjust their study plans
due to the continued disruption of
the pandemic.
The British Council received over
600 applications and interviewed
over 80 high-flying individuals,
who not only excelled at their
IELTS, but explained their intentions to contribute to society locally
or abroad after their studies.
The win, said first prize winner
Tan, has given her the confidence
to be bolder in taking chances to
explore, experiment and excel in
life.
“There is nothing more motivat-
ing than seeing the joy in my parents’ eyes when they heard that I
won the IELTS Prize,” she said in a
press release dated Sept 29.
IELTS, a high-stakes English
proficiency test, has been a crucial part of students’ entry
requirements, especially for East
Asia, which is one of the largest
markets for students wishing to
study in the United Kingdom, the
US, Canada and Australia.
Trish Thomson, regional marketing director for the British Council
in East Asia said: ‘The IELTS Prize
recognises those high-performing
students who demonstrate the academic excellence and commitment
to excel during international study.
“More importantly, they show
the determination to take what
they learned during their time
abroad and use it to benefit their
communities when they return
home. It is our privilege to help
these talented individuals make
their mark in the world that is rapidly changing. International study
is one way they can prepare themselves to thrive in the future.”
BE A ‘SAVER SUPERHERO’ FOR YOUR KIDS
Simpan SSPn Savings Month invites parents to Jom Jadi Superhero Anak Anda
ahmad emphasises the need for
financial planning, particularly in
these times.
bulan Menabung Simpan SSPn 2021 aims to foster saving practices
among parents and children.
Simpan SSPN 2021 (BMS 2021) in
October every year, starting in 2018.
This signature programme presents the Simpan SSPN product as
the community’s main choice to
make savings while enjoying the
privileges provided. In addition,
such programmes serve to convey
information and provide exposure
on financial planning as well as foster saving practices among parents
and children.
BMS 2021 will be held from Oct
1-31 virtually, and complies with
new norm SOPs.
This year feature a new theme –
the Galaxy, which represents unlim-
ited dreams, with the tagline Jom
Jadi Superhero Anak Anda. This
invites parents to be heroes for
their children in the context of savings so that their children can successfully continue their education
without financial problems.
This year, BMS 2021 will be enlivened with various interesting programmes and competition as well
as online live appearances by wellknown artistes and influencers as
well as invited panellists who will
discuss topics related to financial
planning and savings.
Ahmad says: “This is our second
year holding the Bulan Menabung
Simpan SSPN (BMS) event online.
This programme has been well
received by the public. Through
this, we aim to empower people to
start saving – this is the ultimate
purpose of organising BMS.”
To add further boost to BMS 2021,
the PTPTN Prihatin programme –
the Simpan SSPN Tour – is part of
PTPTN’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, through
which PTPTN zakat contributions
have been collected amounting to
over RM500,000, in collaboration
with the state zakat centre and government agencies.
More than 5,000 recipients from
the hardcore poor communities will
receive cash contributions in the
form of Simpan SSPN Prime
accounts.
With the intention to empower
Malaysians with savings products,
PTPTN has upgraded its product
offering more benefits to depositors. Simpan SSPN Plus still maintains a savings package as low as
RM1 a day that every household
can afford, but it now offers with
more attractive takaful protection
benefits with a wider range of
Takaful companies to choose from.
There are six shariah-compliant
package options for all Malaysians,
starting from an affordable RM30
monthly.
In conjunction with the launch of
the new Simpan SSPN Plus, PTPTN
is holding the Cabutan WOW!
Simpan SSPN Plus 2021 draw.
Attractive and lucrative prizes with
a total prize pool worth almost
RM320,000 await all depositors
from Sept 1 to Dec 31.
The main prize is a gold bar
worth RM150,000 in the spirit of
financial planning and investment.
Ahmad says: “Now everything,
including opening a Simpan SSPN
account, can conveniently be done
online. There is no excuse to not
open an account, as it is so accessible – you do not need to physically
go to the counter.”
He adds, “Take this opportunity
to set a good example for your children and instil the habit of savings
before spending in them – be their
superhero.”
Become your child’s superhero by
saving through www.lovesspn.com/
BulanMenabungSimpanSSPN2021.
Visit PTPTN’s Facebook page
PTPTNOfficial to find out more.
4 Cover story
STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Stories by SANDHYA MENON
sandhyamenon@thesttar.com.my
THE much anticipated
d 12th
Malaysia Plan (12MP)) is aimed at
empowering and imp
proving the
country’s education sector.
Some 30 pages – mo
ore than
most other sectors detailed in the
report – are dedicated
d to developing quality students and graduates from school to ttertiary
level.
The five-year reporrt (20212025) is focused on ellevating several key areas of the e
education
system, including pro
oviding more job opportu
unities for all
Malaysians.
According to the
12MP, the government will focus on re
ealigning the labour ma
arket
for inclusive and sustainable growth, developin
ng
future-ready talent,
increasing job
opportunities for
Malaysians,
achieving equitable
compensation of
employees, improving labour participation and strengthening the labour marke
et
support (see infographics).
During the tabling o
of
the RM400bil report
themed “A Prosperous,
Inclusive, Sustainable
e Malaysia”
on Sept 27, Prime Min
nister Datuk
Seri Ismail Sabri Yaak
kob said the
improvements on the
e education
system would include
e strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathema
atics (STEM)
education; replacing d
dilapidated
schools, strengthening
g Technical
and Vocational Educa
ation and
Time to move forward
Proper implementation of 12MP crucial if
the Malaysian education sector is to soar
post-pandemic, experts say
From school to tertiary education and
tVet, the nation’s
education system is
moving forward.
– Graphics:
Vecteezy
in private higher education
institutions and are a major
contributor to the country’s gross domestic product, he added.
Details needed
Training (TVET) programmes,
and creating a more flexible
higher education system.
But can the 12MP bring our
education system forward?
StarEdu caught up with academicians and educationists to hear
what they have to say.
12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025):
Multifaceted challenges
Developing Future Talent
Eyes on education
Promoting Equitable Compensation of Employees
and Labour Participation
> Strengthening Labour Market
> Facilitating Labour Force Participation
Realigning the
labour market
for inclusive
and sustainable
growth
Developing
future-ready
talent
Looking ahead:
Strengthening the Labour Market Support System
> Enhancing Labour Market Information
Infrastructure
> Promoting Responsive Workforce Training
> Addressing Labour Displacement due to Covid-19
Pandemic
> Providing Decent Work for Gig Workers
> Encouraging Shared Responsibility
Raising the Quality of Education
> Improving Learning Outcomes
> Promoting a Flexible Higher Education System
> Strengthening Assessment Approach
> Strengthening Industry Collaboration
> Enhancing TVET Programme
> Strengthening Enculturation of Lifelong Learning
Strengthening Governance
> Enhancing Governance and Coordination of the
School System
> Fostering Effective Governance and Greater
Financial Independence of Higher Education
Institutions
Leveraging Emerging Technology
> Optimising Digital Learning Ecosystem
> Strengthening TVET through Digital Learning
Ensuring Equitable Learning Outcomes
> Increasing Accessibility to Inclusive and Quality
Education
Addressing Overlap in TVET Governance
> Revamping the TVET Governance Systems
> Promoting the TVET Brand
> Enhancing Quality Programmes
> Creating TVET Database
Source: The 12th Malaysia Plan
(2021-2025) report, Chapter 10
graphics
The challenges facing the education sector, Malaysian Association
of Private Colleges and Universities
(Mapcu) president Datuk Dr Parmjit
Singh said, are multifaceted.
In higher education, these
include issues ranging from graduate underemployment and
unemployment, access to higher
educational opportunities particularly for the underprivileged,
brain drain of bright talent and
the over-regulation of the private
higher education sector.
“The imminent shifts in job roles
globally as a result of rapid
advancements in digital technology
also raise questions about our ability to produce future-proof talent.
“If these issues weren’t serious
enough, the pandemic has turned
our labour market on its head,
resulting in critical challenges
surrounding economic recovery,
affordability, unemployment and
the fear of similar debilitating
events in the future.
“As such, at no point in the
country’s recent history has a
National Plan been as critical as
the 12MP,” he said.
To achieve the ambitious objectives of the 12MP, Parmjit said it
is important to shed silo mentality that has plagued the implementation of previous strategic
blueprints.
The country’s education system, he said, must be seen as a
whole and talent development
should be viewed as a continuum
from preschool right up to tertiary and TVET education.
“The outcomes at each level must
flow continuously and seamlessly
into the next level towards producing skilled, resilient and highly employable talent who will
propel our economy.
“This requires close coordination and cooperation between all
the agencies involved in talent
development, working with public and private education providers and with industry to nurture
and monitor outcomes.
“Stability and consistency are
also key factors; the strategies
outlined should be allowed to run
their course without hindrance,”
he explained.
The country
country’ss private higher eduedu
cation sector, he said, needs to be
strongly facilitated, supported and
incentivised to enable it to play a
strategic and complementary role
in talent development.
This is because almost half of
the country’s talent are produced
The 12MP initiatives, National
Association of Private Educational
Institutions (Napei) president
Elajsolan Mohan believes, covers alll
aspects of the country’s education
system to bring it to the right path.
He, however, said that the implementation and execution could
prove to be a challenge.
Funding, he said, is a main concern. He cautions that the country’ss
e
current fiscal deficit may derail the
implementation of the 12MP.
The lack of coordination and
concerted efforts from the relevant government agencies can
also be a stumbling block to
targets.
achieving the 12MP targets
To ensure that the 12MP initiatives are implemented smoothly,
it is vital for the government to
improve the lack of coordination
between ministries and agencies
during the implementation of
previous Malaysia Plans.
“To achieve the
ambitious
objectives of the
12MP, it is
important to shed
the silo mentality
that has plagued
previous
blueprints.”
“The primary
concern would be
how these plans
will be
implemented and
executed, and
whether there are
sufficient funds
to do so.”
Parmjit
elajsolan
Cover story 5
STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Parents, teachers on 12MP
“What the education
system needs is bold
leadership to take
transformational
reforms to the next
level. bring in more
technology as an
enabler to 21st century learning.
evaluate education
reforms, communicate them to stakeholders and make the
outcomes public on a
regular basis. the
key people here are the dynamic principals in schools
who need to be bold leaders, too, rather than pitstops
awaiting retirement. until teachers realise that a
mindset change is necessary to produce students
with a worldview, the 12MP will remain a pie in the
sky until the next plan.”
“education plays a major role
in the development of
Malaysia so the welfare of the
teachers must be a priority.
Over the years, we have been
talking about revolutionising
the education system. now is
the time to look into this seriously. While bahasa Malaysia
is our national language, the
teaching of english should be
emphasised. We want everyone to be able to speak
english fluently since they
already have a good command of the national language. the 12th Malaysia Plan is welcomed and shows
that we are progressing as a nation towards the future. as
the country moves forward, parents hope the education
system will be revamped to ensure quality education for
every child.”
“What we parents want is
straightforward
and simple – we
want our children
to be bilingual,
marketable, global citizens with
the promise of a
decent job. to
achieve this,
there must be
more emphasis
on the use of
english in
schools and enhanced training for students to
be more computer savvy to prepare them for
the It and digital world. However, this requires
political will because on paper, plans always
look great but implementing them is another
story.”
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia chairman
Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Educationist and former National Union of the Teaching
Profession secretary-general Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education
chairman Mak Chee Kin
This is especially crucial for a
sector like TVET, he said, as it
comes under the purview of several ministries and agencies.
“The 12MP is a comprehensive
plan but it is lacking details. Only
the government’s focus areas are
spelled out,” he said, adding that
the 12MP talks about creating better infrastructure for TVET but
the main issue with the sector is
that not all school leavers want to
take up skills-based training as it
is seen as less prestigious compared to tertiary education. The
problem is compounded by the
low salary for TVET graduates.
“We already have the necessary
infrastructure for TVET in place.
The issue is that TVET providers
cannot fill the seats.
“We are finding it difficult to get
school-leavers to take up skills programmes. More than 25% of SPM
graduates do not enrol into any
form of post-secondary programme.
“How do we address this? Failing
to solve this issue will lead to the
loss of talent and this skills shortage will result in our continued
dependence on foreign labour,” he
said, while calling on the government to reveal the implementation
details of the 12MP.
To ensure that skills-based
training programmes are
designed and implemented in
tandem with the needs of the
industry, Federation of JPK
Accredited Centres (FeMac)
president Azizul Mohd Othman
said industry involve-
ment is crucial.
“To enhance the quality of the
TVET programmes and graduates,
training should be conducted in
collaboration with the industry to
ensure that the courses are relevant. This will also provide trainees with the necessary industrial
exposure.
“Without the industry’s serious,
structured participation, we will
be back to square one,” he said,
adding that training institutions
must be well prepared for the
12MP agenda in terms of course
content, quality of trainers and
training infrastructure.
The government, he said, must
help training centres improve.
“Support in terms of subsidy and
soft loans must be made available
to assist these institutions, particularly those privately owned, as
many of them are struggling to cope
with the financial strain due to the
impact of Covid-19 on the economy.
“There is also a need for a comprehensive entrepreneurial
development plan to upskill and
reskill our graduates, especially
those from the social sciences and
humanities background as they
are the majority of our unemployment statistics,” he said.
Be committed
The 12MP is a challenging plan to
implement, especially in the current
climate of the pandemic, National
STEM Movement chairperson
Datuk Prof Dr Noraini Idris said.
“There is a need to relook our
teaching and learning, from primary school until university level.
“We also must be aware of
industry demands and consistently
ask ourselves, ‘What skills and
knowledge do they need, as more
sectors embrace technology?’
“Successfully implementing the
12MP will require a strong commitment from the different ministries,” she noted.
Under the 12MP, STEM education will be strengthened to prepare students to embrace the
Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The measures outlined include
introducing Inquiry-Based Science
Education and Inquiry-Based
Mathematics Education teacher
training programmes to improve
teaching and learning approaches, and a new and advanced
STEM curriculum embedded with
digital technologies.
The existing STEM For All programme will also be promoted by
facilitating linkages between
schools and industries and per
capita grant for subjects under
STEM programmes will be
revised to provide adequate
materials for students to conduct
science experiments.
In addition, science labs will be
upgraded to ensure teaching and
learning processes include compulsory hands-on science activities.
Prof Noraini said 12MP must
focus on job creation.
Using the example of how
Malaysia created job opportunities when the national car maker
Proton was launched in 1983, she
said many STEM and TVET graduates were hired in the automobile
industry in the years that followed and several universities
were set up to focus on new areas
that emerged from the growth of
the automobile industry.
“It was well planned and we
managed to produce local talent to
run our automobile businesses.
“There were graduates who ventured into selling spare parts of
vehicles, those who focused on
technological areas and others who
were involved in the business side
of things. This is a healthy way to
grow our economy and also ensure
job opportunities for our talent.
“This can serve as a lesson as
we move forward to implement
the 12MP,” she offered.
To strengthen STEM, she said
the government must first ensure
that there are industries ready to
welcome graduates.
She said during former prime
minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi’s tenure, he campaigned on
the importance of biotechnology
which saw many students enrol in
the course at university.
These days, she said, biotechnology graduates find it difficult to seek
employment within the field.
“To strengthen both TVET and
STEM, we must strike a balance
between what courses and programmes students take and job
opportunities available for
them,” she said.
But the pandemic, she added,
will make it tricky to execute
even the best laid plans.
“Students have been stuck at
home for more than a year,
meaning that they have been
“To strengthen
STEM, the
government must
first ensure there
are industries
ready to welcome
graduates.”
Prof noraini
deprived of a conducive environment to conduct STEM experiments and experience hands-on
skills training programmes.
She said these areas of study, in
particular, require more than just
theoretical knowledge as practical
application is vital.
“The relevant ministries and
industry players must take all these
factors into account when discussing the implementation of the 12MP.
“One important question is
whether there is a need to retrain
our graduates to match what the
industry requires in light of the
changes brought about by the
pandemic.”
The 12MP, she said, addresses the
various issues the country’s education system is facing.
But there must be more roundtable discussions and feedback from
citizens, including industry players.
“It’s one thing to lay out these
plans, but another to actually see
through their implementation,”
she said.
Sufficient jobs: Prof noraini
said there must be a balance
between what courses and
programmes students take and
job opportunities available for
them in the government’s bid to
strengthen SteM and tVet.
6
STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Opinion 7
STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Wing LAM
educate
@thestar.com.my
Live&Learn
THIS was the time when online
education was meant to shine.
In the face of an unprecedented
pandemic, universities en masse
were forced to pivot from face-toface to online teaching.
The change was potentially
transformational, upending a format of teaching that had been
used for centuries but which was
often criticised for being out of
touch with the modern digital era.
However, after 18 months of
almost exclusive online study,
the message is resoundingly
clear: the majority of students
want to return to campus.
Not only that, students are
“zoomed out”; fatigued to the
point where many are now
“sick” of online learning.
Not to mention the serious mental health concerns which have
been raised as a consequence of
being cooped up at home or in a
room isolated from others.
Nor can we ignore the widespread perception that online
education does not provide the
same “value for money” as
on-campus education.
Indeed, Gavin Williamson, the
United Kingdom’s former education secretary, seemed to discourage online learning when he commented that universities in
England should not be charging
students full fees if they continue
to deliver online rather than
on-campus learning.
In Malaysia, the situation is no
different. Health and safety concerns aside, the majority of university students and parents
appear to yearn for a return to
campus, something which the
Higher Education Ministry
appears to support judging by its
Teaching with tech
as face-to-face learning resumes, key takeaways
from virtual learning prove invaluable
Here to stay: the physical campus is more important than it has ever
been for learning and to provide the holistic experience that young
adults expect. – 123rf.com
most recent announcements.
Furthermore, a recent study by
Universiti Malaya suggested that
over three-quarters of Malaysian
school students are eager to
resume face-to-face teaching.
Ostensibly, the great experiment in online education has
concluded in a clear preference
for on-campus education.
Rather than showcase the benefits of online education, the
pandemic has vividly exposed its
limitations.
Sure, a dose of online learning
for a few weeks can be a refreshing change, but the novelty only
lasts for so long and we now realise that studying online, over a
sustained period, away from the
campus, is far from ideal.
So, where does this leave us
and what does the future hold
for online education? Like all
experiments, there are things we
can learn from.
For one, despite all the fervour
and excitement around digitisation, online education is not the
disruptive force or transformational revolution in higher education that some have thought it
would be.
Traditional teaching methods
and brick-and-mortar campuses
are unlikely to disappear any
time soon.
If anything, the physical campus
is more important than it has ever
been, not just for learning per se,
but to also provide the wholesome
and holistic experience that most
university students, the majority
of whom are young adults, expect.
However, online education
certainly has its place and will
continue to appeal to a distinct
segment of learners, such as
working professionals, where
the convenience of online learning has its advantages.
We’ve also come to realise that
online communities are no substitute for physical ones.
Despite the plethora of
advanced digital tools now available for virtual interaction, such
as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and
Google Classroom, online relationships somehow lack the
depth of physical ones.
Nothing can quite replace the
warmth of meeting people face to
face, or the sense of attachment
and belonging that a physical
place like a campus provides.
We often don’t know what we
will miss until it’s gone. The
Covid-19 pandemic has made us
realise how much value a campus experience adds to the holistic development of students.
Spending three years studying
online remotely is vastly different from spending three years
studying on campus.
Students who are on campus
have the opportunity to develop
social, communication, teamwork and other skills that they
would otherwise find difficult to
do in an online setting.
So, it’s not hard to appreciate
why students and their parents
feel they are “missing out” by
being away from campus.
Paradoxically, despite the
importance of the physical campus, we are likely to see greater
technology adoption in higher
education because of the pandemic, not less.
Technology will complement
on-campus teaching as some of
the experience with online education gained from the pandemic
trickles back into on-campus
teaching.
For example, think about a
physical classroom where a lecturer uses online tools like
Cahoot and Mentimeter to conduct quizzes in class; nor will
Zoom disappear.
Instead, we’re likely to see traditional large lectures with hundreds of students crammed into
lecture halls move to a Zoom-like
delivery.
The experience that universities
have gained in conducting online
examinations may also spur alternative examination formats to the
traditional exam halls.
Perhaps the biggest issue
exposed by the global pandemic
in Malaysia is the existence of a
clear digital divide – those with
and without access to technology.
Zoom meetings, for example,
which involve real-time video,
require a certain level of technology to function effectively.
In Malaysia, some of the basics
are still missing, such as the availability of fast Internet access in
non-metropolitan areas and
access to computers particularly
for those in the B40 group.
The pandemic is a wake-up call
that we need to be technologically
better prepared as a nation.
Prof Wing Lam is the provost and
chief executive officer at
University of Reading Malaysia, an
international branch campus of
University of Reading, United
Kingdom (UK). He has held a variety of academic positions in
Malaysia, Singapore and the UK.
Prof Wing completed his PhD in
computer science at King’s
College London in 1994. He has
published over 80 peer-reviewed
articles and journals. His current
areas of research interest include
technology and innovation. The
views expressed here are the writer’s own.
We welcome letters on issues related to education.
Send to educate@thestar.com.my
Letters must carry the sender’s
full name, address and telephone number.
COVID-19 has forced many medical
training institutions to go virtual. A
whole assortment of gadgets and
tools including virtual reality (VR)
and augmented reality (AR) will
eventually be employed to enhance
the teaching and learning efforts.
Virtual teaching and assessment is here to stay and this will
have major implications for medical education worldwide.
The interaction between the
physical and virtual world provides enormous room for ingenuities and creativities.
In the last five years, healthcare
activities such as remote robotic
surgeries, AR and VR in rehabilitation, remote three-dimensional
organ printing and virtual consultations were introduced.
Accessibility to these Fifth
Industrial Revolution (IR5.0) technologies and the human-robot
interaction will result in total radicalisation and revamp of the
medical curriculum.
Gone are the days where rote
learning is emphasised. Recall of
knowledge in examinations will
probably be obsolete.
Clinical skills examination will
be replaced by advanced technology and sophisticated equipment
like the Bluetooth-enabled stetho-
Medical edu post-pandemic
scope with artificial intelligence
(AI) capability for making a clinical diagnosis.
Pen-sized ultrasounds will be
used in clinical examinations,
making the traditional clinical
examinations irrelevant and a
thing in the past.
IR5.0 will move on to the areas
of remote awake and pinhole surgeries, capsule endoscopies with
cameras and biosensors for diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract disorders, in the same way as targeted genetic engineering-assisted
cancer diagnosis.
Photos of skin conditions will be
immediately matched to known
diseases through the AI database.
Combinations of different
symptoms and signs through AI
will make provisional diagnosis
more accurate. This future expectation and advancement in
healthcare will have a bearing on
the way we train medical doctors.
The well-established Bloom’s taxonomy in medical education and
learning objectives will thus be
challenged. Traditional teaching
and assessment are commonly asso-
ciated with “absorption” and recall
of facts, names and terminologies.
Those with the best recall capabilities will get good grades and
are considered “clever”. The same
can no longer be true in the new
normalcy.
Memory should be used for higher-order thinking and not for rote
learning and recall of facts.
The acquisition of knowledge
through recall of facts and regurgitating them fluently may now be
obsolete as students have instant
access to theoretical knowledge
on their mobile phones.
While the “memorising” portion of Bloom’s taxonomy may no
longer be valid, the understanding of a bodily function is still relevant as this understanding is
critical when diseases disrupt the
body system.
Students learn better through
the visualisation of concepts and
they will understand the function
and the disruption of a body better through animation, AR or VR
which will be the new normal in
medical education.
Animation will take over knowl-
edge acquisition through lectures
and PowerPoint presentations.
Thus, medical education training
can be revised and revolutionised.
The traditional five-year training
may be too long if theoretical
knowledge and examinations can
be done at a student’s own pace.
More time should be spent on
enhancing the “hidden curriculum” where students are on site
witnessing illnesses and the
nuances in all settings.
This “hidden curriculum” is the
key test in assessing the quality of
a doctor. The overwhelming challenge is to train a doctor to be
empathetic and compassionate,
despite having to deal with these
creative technologies.
This cannot be done through virtual means. This is only possible by
witnessing the sufferings of people,
smelling the environment and
touching the sick.
Perhaps regular classroom
teachings could be suspended, and
the students deployed to extend
help as part of his or her medical
training, when an earthquake or
tsunami strikes the region.
Or, a student’s first year could
start with exposure to the wards
and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), talking to the sufferers of diseases and
relatives of these patients, instead
of studying in the classroom.
These critical experiential
learnings will make the difference between scientifically and
technologically advanced doctors
and those with empathy, humanity and ethical behaviour.
The elements of a “hidden curriculum” are powerful determinants in positively impacting and
shaping the personalities of medical students.
It is only through experience
that a doctor can appreciate the
pains of his patients and join in
their joy of being healed.
In addition, Bloom’s taxonomy
should also be modified to include
the elements of humanity, of interaction between humanity and their
environment, plus the philosophy
underlying these interactions.
This will perhaps be the future
of medical education.
PROF DR ZABIDI-HUSSIN
Fellow of the Royal College of
Paediatrics and Child Health, UK;
Expert panel member of the
European Research Agency
8 NiE
STAREDU, Sunday 17 OctOber 2021
Rare kind of trip to heart of KL
Getting vaccinated is a level of protection, says youth
By CARRIE ANN LIM YI WEN
brats@thestar.com.my
I WAS one of the lucky few
among my peers who secured
an appointment when the
AstraZeneca vaccine opt-in registration was open to the public
for the second time.
I received my first vaccine
shot on June 21, followed by the
second one on Aug 23.
In anticipation of my first
dose, I arrived at the Putra
World Trade Centre light rail
transit station 40 minutes before
my appointment at 4pm.
It was an unfamiliar area to
me, so I depended on directional signage and arrows to guide
me towards World Trade
Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL),
which had been converted into
a vaccination centre.
Upon reaching the WTCKL
entrance, I looked around for
Station 3, as instructed in my
MySejahtera app.
It was like a maze inside the
centre but the volunteers, as
well as the arrows, signs and
dividers, were there to guide
us along.
The volunteers repeatedly
reminded us to scan the
MySejahtera QR code and practise social distancing as we sat
in the waiting area.
In no time, it was my turn to
enter the big exhibition hall
upstairs. I was given two forms
and a card to fill in. The forms
were identical and there was a
number stapled together with
them.
I listened to the instruction as
I filled in the forms. Basically,
everyone had to fill in their
particulars and reconfirm their
health status.
There were two forms
because one was meant for the
person at the counter for official use and the other was for
my record-keeping.
The delicate ringing to signify
a number had been called never
stopped. I panicked a little when
I saw my number pop up on the
television screen as I had not
completed the second form yet.
In haste, my handwriting
looked terrible but thankfully,
the worker at the counter did
not make a fuss about it.
As I set off to the next station, I felt like I was having a
tour around the place. Along
the way, I saw people of different races discussing the side
effects of the vaccine and giving each other advice.
At the identity confirmation
area, I presented my MyKad to
the worker who asked me a
few questions to verify my
identity. He proceeded to
sanitise the thumbprint
scanner before asking me to
place my thumb on it.
Then off I went to another
station, where three were
assigned to the same table for
a consultation with a nurse or
doctor. The doctor briefly
introduced the vaccine we
were about to receive before
asking us a few questions. She
also checked our forms and
answered our enquiries.
We were then ushered to the
vaccination area. To my surprise, two stations shared a
compartment which was the
size of a small convention
booth.
I went in, sat down and
pulled my sleeve up automatically. The nurse tapped me on
my shoulder gently as I put my
bag down.
She showed me the bottle
Fully
vaccinated:
carrie ann
received both
vaccine doses at
the WtcKL
vaccination
centre.
which contained the vaccine
and told me that she was going
to inject the first dose on my
arm. I had to scan the QR code
first so that it would be recorded
in my MySejahtera app.
Having asked me to relax my
muscles, she rubbed some alcohol on my arm and did the jab
swiftly. It took less than a minute and it was surprisingly painless, even when she taped a cotton ball to the spot.
It was only five minutes past
four when I walked to the observation area. Placing my form at
the counter, the worker told me
to take a seat and wait for my
name to be called.
Fifteen minutes later, one of
the volunteers called seven of us
to the front. We gathered in a
circle near her as she cheerily
asked how we were doing and
advised us on the dos and don’ts
in the few days to come.
She described some of the
symptoms we might face and
emphasised that it was crucial
to go to a clinic or hospital if we
were experiencing more serious
and uncommon after-effects.
With that, we were allowed
to go home. As I made my way
out, a lot of people were taking
selfies at the photo booths set
up around the centre.
During my second appointment, I was only required to go
through three stations: identity
confirmation, vaccine shot and
observation area.
The most important thing to
do after receiving your second
dose is to check whether you
have the digital certificate in
your MySejahtera app to prove
that you have already completed two doses.
Each time after getting both
doses, I had a slight fever and
the injection site was sore for 12
hours. Apart from that, I did not
suffer any other symptoms.
I firmly believe that those
eligible should be vaccinated if
their health allows it. If you
have any doubts, seek advice
from a doctor instead of relying
on hearsay or shying away from
the vaccine altogether.
Getting vaccinated would be a
level of protection to reduce the
seriousness of the symptoms in
the event that you are tested
positive for the coronavirus.
Missing days gone by
By SINDHU SEGAR
brats@thestar.com.my
EVER since the whirlwind of
the Covid-19 pandemic struck,
our lives have been impacted
substantially.
It seems aeons ago when I
was on a school trip with my
classmates engaging in a
lengthy discussion about our
group project, or on a morning
stroll in the park admiring the
magnificence of nature.
I have been reminiscing
about these simple yet valuable moments. Admittedly, I had
not fully grasped the importance of these moments until
the pandemic hit us.
I remember exploring the
outdoors as a child along with
my friends in the little garden
in our school.
Whenever my feet got cold, I
would warm them up by stepping on the pebbles that had
been toasting under the sun
for hours. It satisfied me to
hear the pebbles crunching
under my feet.
We were like little explorers
on a hunt for ladybirds hiding
in the bushes and plants.
If any of us caught one successfully, we would gather
around the person and pass
Seasons in the sun: Sindhu’s
strolls in the park have been
replaced with indoor exercise
routines in the wake of the
pandemic.
the ladybird gently to each
other, allowing it to crawl up
our fingers.
Fascinated with its intricate
pattern and colour, we would
scrutinise the tiny creature
intently before carefully lowering it onto a leaf.
This was how I spent most of
my days, on a hunt for the wonders of nature.
I truly miss the memorable
times I spent in the great outdoors accompanied by my
group of adventurous friends.
Most of all, I miss doing the
things that I had enjoyed doing
on a day-to-day basis.
I used to enjoy my meals in
my school cafeteria, giggling
and chatting away with my
friends around a table.
We would have sleepovers
surrounded by piles of pillows
and blankets, sharing a bowl of
snacks and watching our
favourite movies.
We would celebrate birthdays together, filling each
other in on each other’s lives.
To make things even more
exciting, we would dance
together to K-pop hits and
laugh until our stomachs hurt.
It’s rather unfortunate that the
pandemic has completely wiped
out all these opportunities.
It’s very sad to think about
children missing out on the
opportunity of feeling the fresh,
green grass and running around
in the park with other toddlers
for close to two years.
Even though the restrictions
have been relaxed in stages,
many are understandably cautious about their comings and
goings.
While we wait for our
pre-pandemic activities to
resume in full force, let us all
make the best of the time we
have now.
I, for one, have channelled
my energy into baking various
types of pastries and cakes
with the help of YouTube videos and the abundant resources
of recipes online.
I have also been incorporating more indoor exercise routines into my daily schedule,
even modifying exercises into
dance routines and yoga poses
that are easy and fun to do
with family members.
Carrie Ann, 20, and Sindhu, 17,
are participants of the BRATs
Young Journalist Programme
run by The Star’s Newspaper-inEducation (Star-NiE) team.
Throughout the year-long
programme, participants aged
between 14 and 22 from all
across the country experience
life as journalists, contributing
ideas, conducting interviews,
and completing writing
assignments. They get to earn
bylines, attend workshops, and
extend their social networks. To
join Star-NiE’s online youth
community, go to facebook.
com/niebrats.
1. Test your Covid-19 vocabulary knowledge!
How well are you able to explain the meanings of these words? Refer to a dictionary if
you are unsure of their definitions.
pandemic
cluster
asymptomatic
social distancing
quarantine
ventilator
essential worker mask
lockdown
comorbidity
personal protective equipment (PPE)
2. Now, get a family member or friend to play
this word guessing game with you. Discreetly,
pick three of the words or phrases listed
above to work on individually. In your StarNiE scrapbook, provide clues to the words.
The clues could be in the form of pictures or
written words. You may even use pictures
from The Star or words from a dictionary to
help you. When you are done, reveal your
clues to the other player. Is he or she able to
guess the words or phrases you have chosen?
Example: Guess the word!
Picture clue:
Word clue: Equipment used by healthcare
workers to protect themselves while caring
for Covid-19 patients; this includes masks,
face shields, gloves and other coverings.
3. These are some words that are often used
in news reports of Covid-19 vaccination. Do
you know their meanings?
immunisation
inoculation
booster shot
immunity
vial
administer
If you have received your vaccine shot(s),
write about your experience in not more than
150 words, using at least two of the words
above. Email your writeup, along with a photograph (optional), to us at starnie@thestar.
com.my. Remember to provide your full
name, age and the state you are from. By submitting an entry, you stand a chance of being
featured on this page!
4. Our BRATs participant Sindhu wrote about
missing the “simple yet valuable moments”
she had enjoyed during pre-pandemic times.
What do you miss most about those times?
Name your Top Three.
Sindhu also shared two activities she has
been doing to make the most of her time during the pandemic. What are they? How have
you been making the most of your time in the
wake of the pandemic? Comment on our post
at facebook.com/niebrats.
Since 1997, The Star’s Newspaper-inEducation (Star-NiE) programme – with the
Education Ministry’s endorsement – has supported English language teaching in primary
and secondary schools nationwide. Through
Star-NiE’s teacher and student workshops,
annual contests and monthly English language
resources for classroom use, participants of
the programme have reportedly shown marked
interest in the language and progress in their
proficiency. Starting this month, Star-NiE will
continue its role of promoting the use of
English language through a weekly activity
page in StarEdu. These activities are suitable
for use individually and in groups, at home and
in the classroom, across varied proficiency
levels. Parents and teachers are encouraged
to work on the activities with their children and
students. In addition, Star-NiE’s BRATs Young
Journalist Programme will continue to be a
platform for participants to hone and showcase their English language skills, as well as
develop their journalistic interests and
instincts. Recruitment for the BRATs 2022
programme will start in November. Follow our
updates at facebook.com/niebrats. For StarNiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
.