Latest news with #RM2.13bil
The Star
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Justin Bieber was near 'financial collapse' when he sold catalogue for RM850mil
In recent months, the singer has ranted at paparazzi on multiple occasions, essentially calling them parasites. Photo: TNS Justin Bieber was reportedly very nearly broke before selling his catalogue for US$200mil (RM853.92mil) two years ago. Insiders in the Love Yourself pop star's camp told TMZ's What Happened To Justin Bieber doc that he was on the brink of 'financial collapse' when he made the sale to Hipgnosis Songs Capital. Bieber, 31, had reportedly spent the entirety of the estimated US$500mil to US$1bil (RM2.13bil to RM4.27bil) he'd made in his successful career prior. Manager Scooter Braun reportedly tried to steer his hotshot client away from such a deal as he's still early in his career. Short of that, Braun advised Bieber to hold off on selling until early 2023 so he could snag a tax break. Though the sale wasn't reported until late January 2023, TMZ reports the Grammy winner was chomping at the bit and sold in December 2022, making the Canadian the youngest musician to do so. The TMZ doc, available to stream on Hulu, comes less than a month after Bieber's camp denied reports he's in 'financial distress' thanks to cancelling much of his 2022 Justice world tour. They also denied that he owes Braun's company US$20mil (RM85.43mil). 'Any source that is trying to sell you a story about alleged financial distress … either doesn't understand the entertainment industry or, more likely, is trying to paint an unflattering portrait of Justin, which bears no resemblance to reality,' Bieber's team told The Hollywood Reporter . In recent months, the newly minted dad – who welcomed son Jack with wife Hailey in August – has ranted at paparazzi on multiple occasions, essentially calling them parasites, and in March opened up about contending with longstanding imposter syndrome. –New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
The Star
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Despite tourism billions, Sabah villages stuck with dilapidated bridges, says Kota Belud Umno chief
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah may be raking in billions from tourism, but some visitors' hotspots in community villages are still relying on old, dilapidated wooden bridges, says Azuwan Marjan Norjan (pic). The Kota Belud Umno chief noted that the state recorded RM2.13bil in tourism revenue between January and March this year alone, with nearly a million visitor arrivals in the first quarter, including over 150,000 from China. 'This is supposedly proof that the state's tourism industry is on solid ground. However, some community-based tourism villages continue to be left behind with poor basic infrastructure,' he said. Azuwan pointed out that several community tourism spots still rely on old, narrow wooden bridges for access by both villagers and visitors. 'There are places where people are forced to walk in because tour buses cannot enter due to the bridge's size and its severely deteriorated condition,' he said. Ironically, he noted, these very places are frequently featured in state tourism campaigns. 'If Sabah can earn billions from timber and billions more from tourism in just three months, is it so difficult to provide a safe concrete bridge? Is it too much to fix access roads to these growing community destinations?' he asked. Azuwan stressed that the people are not asking for multi-million ringgit investments. 'They are only asking for safe and usable access routes for visitors. This is not about politics. It is about dignity and fairness for communities who are also contributing to the state's revenue,' he added. Azuwan added that if Sabah is to be promoted as a world-class destination, its infrastructure must reflect that level of commitment.
