Latest news with #RM8
Daily Express
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Express
Sabah Youth Table Tennis competition on August 24
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: GL Oh Text Size: Clement (second right) and Albert (third left) with (from left) planning committee secretary Natasha Goh, deputy organising chairman Albert Ting, Clarence Wong and organising committee Steve Yap. Kota Kinabalu: The Datuk Simon Chee Chi Nyen, J.P. Cup Sabah Youth Table Tennis competition will be held at the Kian Kok Middle School Hall in Kota Kinabalu on August 24. Organising chairman Datuk Clement Yeh said the event co-organised by Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association Youth Section and Alan Table Tennis Club has set a new record in a youth table tennis tournament with the total prize money of RM8,400. Advertisement He urged all schools, table tennis clubs and youth across Sabah to take part in the sport that will help them to build self-confidence and grow stronger towards a brighter future. The six categories to be staged are Boys (U18–U14) – Born 2007 to 2011, Girls (U18–U14) – Born 2007 to 2011, Boys (U13–U11) – Born 2012 to 2014, Girls (U13–U11) – Born 2012 to 2014, Boys (U10 & below) – Born 2015 or later and Girls (U10 & below) – Born 2015 or later. The winning prizes in all the categories are champion: RM600 and medals; 1st runner-up: RM300 and medals, 2nd runner-up (2): RM150 and medals and consolation prize (4): RM50 and medals. Meanwhile, Cup patron and advisor to the Hokkien Youth Section Datuk Simon Chee Chi Nyen, who sponsored the event, said its aim is to raise the standard of table tennis in the State, ignite the competitive spirit among the young players as well as to identify future champions. 'Table tennis is also a sport that benefits both the mind and body. I strongly encourage students to step away from screens and engage in physical activities that build discipline, focus, and confidence,' he added. Registration will open on July 25 at 12 noon and closes at 4pm on August 8. Interested parties are also reminded that each category is limited to 32 entries on a first-come, first-served basis, to be confirmed upon registration fee payment of RM20 per participant. Those needing further information are to contact Alan (016-823 2356), Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association secretariat (088-252 737) or planning committee chairman Clarence Wong (016-831 0878). * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Seremban housewife turns velvet wire art into lucrative business
She first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts 20 Jul 2025 04:01pm Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. Photo by Bernama SEREMBAN - What started as a hobby driven by a passion for art has now become a lucrative source of steady income for a housewife here, thanks to her creativity in crafting flowers from velvet wire. Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. "I started learning how to do velvet wire arrangements after being captivated by a tutorial on Instagram. I became interested, bought the wire, and tried it out. I saw that the results were quite good. "It was quite difficult at first, but eventually it became easier once I got the rhythm and pattern down to make creations like flowers, keychains, decorations, and bouquets,' she told Bernama when met at her home here. The mother of four said that small velvet wire arrangements can be completed within five minutes, while larger ones like bouquets take up to two hours and that her creations are sold at prices ranging from RM3.50 to RM250 depending on the type and customer request. Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. Photo by Bernama She said most customers usually order velvet bouquet arrangements and decorative flowers as gifts for convocation or retirement events, as they remain beautiful and do not wilt like real flowers, making them lasting keepsakes. "Alhamdulillah, the response has been very encouraging. Every month I earn over RM1,500 from these arrangements, and once made up to RM8,000 when the product went viral on social media,' she said, adding that she runs the business from home. The Jempol native said she is one of the entrepreneurs guided by the Community Development Department (KEMAS), from which she received a one-off assistance of RM5,000 through the Quick Win Programme. Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. Photo by Bernama Siti Amirah added that she continues to actively participate in various courses organised by KEMAS, particularly for micro-entrepreneurs, to deepen her business knowledge. "My dream one day is to open a shop to sell my crafted and decorative products on a larger scale. Even if it's a small venture, I'm satisfied when my customers are happy with my handiwork,' she said. She also shared that she has no intention of letting her talent go to waste, but instead plans to use it to create meaningful products for herself and for lovers of floral art. - BERNAMA
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah emerges as Malaysia's strategic frontier for upstream O&G investment
KUALA LUMPUR: Amid intensifying global energy uncertainty, Sabah is fast emerging as a compelling destination for upstream oil and gas (O&G) investments. The state offers international players a stable, underexplored and increasingly investor-friendly environment, industry analysts said. The shift reflects broader regional realignments in upstream energy strategy, as geopolitical instability in traditional oil-producing regions pushes investors toward safer, high-potential frontiers especially in Southeast Asia, they added. Economist Samirul Ariff Othman, an adjunct lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, told FMT that Sabah had recently been attracting more international oil companies. This was spurred by instability in the Middle East and Malaysia's comparatively stable investment climate. "Presently, Sabah leads in near-term FDI flows, followed by Sarawak," he said. "The 2025 Iran-Israel skirmish and heightened Red Sea tensions have made freight insurance, security costs and supply stability in the Middle-East and North America increasingly uncertain. "Investors are looking for lower-risk (and) high-potential alternatives, and Southeast Asia fits that profile," the portal quoted him as saying. Sabah's Rising Profile in Deepwater Exploration According to Samirul, Sabah's underexplored deepwater blocks particularly Blocks SB409 and SB310 are drawing renewed attention, alongside the redevelopment of the Kota Belud field, which is expected to ramp up activity in the second half of 2025. Industry players have taken notice. ConocoPhillips' recent pivot away from Sarawak toward Sabah underscores growing confidence in the latter's upstream potential. While Sarawak continues to command significant attention due to its advanced LNG infrastructure and active gas blocks such as SK318 and SK408, analysts warn that lingering regulatory ambiguities are clouding investor sentiment. "The friction between Petronas and Sarawak's state oil company, Petros, has created uncertainty around fiscal terms and licensing processes," said Samirul. In May, federal and state authorities announced a framework granting Petros the role of gas aggregator in Sarawak. However, legal disputes and unclear operational boundaries between the two entities remain unresolved. Tricia Yeoh, associate professor at University of Nottingham Malaysia, told the portal that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement of broad agreement reached in February this year with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had failed to clear the air sufficiently. "Neither statement addresses Sarawak's claim (to resources) over 200 nautical miles of territorial waters, so that remains at large," she said, referring to Anwar's speech in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 17 and a media release issued by Abang Johari the following day. Regulatory clarity is still lacking, Yeoh said, adding that ongoing lawsuits, such as the RM8 million bank guarantee dispute, continue to cast a shadow. Malaysia's PSC Framework Still Competitive Samirul acknowledged that Malaysia's production-sharing contracts (PSCs) remain among the most attractive in the region, especially when compared to Indonesia and Vietnam. Under current terms, contractors pay five per cent royalty each to federal and state governments, after recovering 70 per cent of costs. However, he warned that delays in PSC approvals, combined with high royalty burdens for marginal fields, could dull Malaysia's competitiveness. "The fundamentals are strong but speed and predictability are everything in today's investment climate," he said. Yeoh echoed the sentiment, calling on Putrajaya to clarify the conditions under which states like Sabah and Sarawak may receive PSC carve-outs. "Dragging this issue for another year or 10 would severely damage Malaysia's upstream outlook," she cautioned. "As I have stated previously, there needs to be a joint Petronas-Petros committee (comprising lawyers, financial and technical representatives and members of the federal and state governments) that works out these details." Yeoh added that the joint committee should be given the space to deliberate in private until a consensus is reached after which the outcome should be made public. "The nation can then move forward constructively," she said. Stronger Petronas Future Despite local challenges, Petronas continues to bolster its global standing through strategic upstream partnerships with international oil majors such as Eni, TotalEnergies, Idemitsu and ConocoPhillips both within Malaysia and in regional plays like Indonesia. Joint ventures help Petronas hedge geopolitical and cost-related risks while gaining access to advanced technologies, particularly in deepwater exploration and carbon management, said Samirul. "With global upstream costs rising due to inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and deeper offshore exploration needs, joint ventures are a rational de-risking strategy," he said. Samirul explained that shared equity spreads exploration costs, reduces capital exposure and allows partners to pool advanced technologies. These partnerships also allow Petronas to gain technical know-how from international oil majors experienced in carbon management and digital exploration and production, which supports its energy transition goals, he added.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Can a fresh spin on its heritage put Burberry back in fashion's front row?
A year after Josh Schulman became Burberry's CEO with a mandate to turn the British luxury brand around, investors say they're pleased with early signs of recovery even though sales are still falling. Burberry, known for its trademark trench coats and check pattern scarves, is in the early stages of a reboot as Schulman tries to reverse the group's years of underperformance and return sales and profit to growth. Analysts expect the group to report on Friday (July 18) that comparable retail sales fell 3% in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, according to a consensus provided by Burberry. That would mark an improvement from a 6% fall in the January-March period. Burberry issued a string of profit warnings under previous CEO Jonathan Akeroyd, and Schulman after taking over said the brand had lost its focus on outerwear and recognisable British references, and had strayed too far into a "niche aesthetic". Its shares are up around 63% since Schulman took the helm, outperforming luxury peers, and analysts have grown more upbeat in recent weeks, with HSBC saying Burberry has the opportunity to gain market share from rivals. "We are seeing the improvement in terms of the product range, pricing, marketing, and there are early signs that is leading to a pickup in sales – but it's early days still," said Dan Carter, a member of the investment team at Phoenix Asset Management Partners in London. Burberry's marketing under Schulman has drawn on its association with British heritage, but in a way that is also contemporary, Carter added. Burberry typically makes more of its revenue in the Autumn/Winter season. However, it has been trying to tap into key events of the British summertime, with its most recent "Burberry Festival" campaign timed to coincide with Glastonbury music festival. Read more: Get your fete style on for upcoming music events with the latest trends The campaign featured hip-hop artiste Loyle Carner and music producer Goldie, as well as model Cara Delevingne sitting in a pit of mud in Burberry rain boots, in a nod to Glastonbury's unpredictable weather. "They're a brand that is focusing on outerwear and protection against the weather... so to try and stretch that through the year makes sense," said Carter. As part of its turnaround, Burberry announced in May it would cut a fifth of its global workforce, a radical cost-cutting move that investors have welcomed. Less expensive bags, more high-end trenches The brand has moved away from high-priced bags and brought in more affordable models like its recently launched Cotswold range, priced at £1,490 to £1,890 (approximately RM8,549 to RM10,844), and the £850 (RM4,877) Horseshoe crossbody bag – driving its average bag price down by 9% since the start of October last year, according to pricing analysis by Luxurynsight. "They're kind of trying to thread the needle of being luxury while shifting the assortment down a little bit," said Brett Sharoni, senior analyst at Pzena Investment Management in New York, which owns shares in Burberry. "We had been engaging with Burberry for over a year before we ended up buying – and one of our big pieces of feedback to them was, you know, you don't really have a right to sell handbags for US$3,000 (RM12,764)," he said. Read more: Now that Burberry has a new CEO, how will it affect the fashion brand? Burberry has, though, brought in some higher-priced outerwear products such as a ¥115,000 (RM68,268) corduroy trench coat in China, Luxurynsight found, and has broadened its range of outerwear products by 22% since the start of October last year. Yumi Shin, chief merchandising officer at New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, said she supports the emphasis on the brand's trademark products, like the classic trench coat and winter accessories. "We're continuing to feel optimistic about Burberry's transformation under Josh's leadership," said Shin. "Josh has a merchant's mindset and understands the necessity to balance fashion and function on the shop floor." – Reuters
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Vivy Yusof reveals battle with lupus: 'My body is collapsing from inside'
KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Vivy Yusof, co-founder of the e-commerce platform FashionValet, has revealed she is battling the autoimmune disease lupus, also known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). In an Instagram post, Vivy, whose full name is Vivy Sofinas Yusof, 38, said she must live with the condition for the rest of her life and is actively seeking treatment. "Lupus means wolf, which symbolises how frightening this illness is. Essentially, it attacks your body from within, and you may not realise it as it manifests through symptoms such as fatigue, rashes or joint pain. "Stress is the biggest enemy. I thought I was managing my stress well as an entrepreneur since I rarely fall ill and I'm always optimistic, but I didn't realise my body is actually collapsing from inside," she said. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's tissues and organs. It can affect anyone, but is most commonly found among women aged between 15 and 50. The disease is reported to impact not only physical health but also mental well-being, often leading to symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, Vivy, who is married to Datuk Fadzarudin Shah Anuar, is grateful the disease was detected, giving her a chance to seek treatment. "I'm thankful I was diagnosed. Now I know how to manage it. "I've been told it's a lifelong condition, which I've come to terms with. Still, I'm constantly exploring treatment options that don't involve long-term steroid use," she said. Vivy has resumed sharing aspects of her life with followers on social media after a brief hiatus. She has created a new Instagram account as a platform to share her personal journey. Through the account, she has opened up about her experience with lupus. Previously, Vivy had set her main Instagram account to private following legal proceedings. Vivy and her husband were charged with an alternative count of criminal breach of trust involving RM8 million in investment funds belonging to Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd six years ago.
