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Malay Mail
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
More fun, less pressure: Why Malaysia's retired athletes are picking up the pickleball paddle
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Goh Liu Ying knows what it means to stand on the world stage. An Olympic silver medallist and former badminton darling, she spent most of her life chasing glory under stadium lights and carrying the nation's hopes. These days, her court looks a little different. 'I played two to three times a week before I gave birth, sometimes for three hours,' she told Malay Mail in a recent interview. But she wasn't talking about badminton – she was talking about pickleball. The fast-growing sport, a mix of tennis, ping pong and badminton, has quietly gained a cult following in Malaysia's parks and community courts. 'You're asking a badminton player,' Goh laughed when asked if it could rival her first love. 'Pickleball can be a social sport. But if it can enter the Olympics, I guess it has a chance,' she said. Goh Liu Ying says pickleball's inclusion in the Olympics would be monumental in lifting the sport's profile and status as well as ensure a safety net for professional players. — Picture by Raymond Manuel For career athletes like Goh, Olympic status still matters. 'All of our planning as athletes revolves around the Olympics. You can get pension money and salary if your sport is in. If it's not, it's tough,' she said. Still, she's drawn to pickleball's relaxed, inclusive energy – a refreshing change from the grind of elite competition. 'You can go pro or just be social. That's the advantage. You don't even need to train hard, you can just show up and enjoy,' said the 36-year-old mother of two. That same spirit of freedom is what lured Christian Didier Chin, once one of Malaysia's brightest tennis prodigies. 'I didn't find it so fun anymore,' Chin said of his tennis career. 'I didn't find travelling fun because I didn't have a team.' Christian Chin gave up tennis for pickleball. — Picture by Raymond Manuel After leaving the pro circuit at just 22, Chin tried to revive local tennis by working with influencers to create buzz – like Dylan Gee of 'Tennis with Dylan' fame. But a surprise entry into a paddle tournament changed his course entirely. 'We won. RM20,000 prize money. My whole life I played tennis in Malaysia, there was no money like that,' Chin recalled. He now plays both pickleball and paddle professionally, and is currently ranked top three in Asia for paddle. 'Tennis is just my business now, to sustain myself. Pickle and paddle is my profession.' What keeps him hooked is simple. 'Instead of taking it so seriously I play any sport now as long as I'm enjoying it.' Another convert is Colin Wong Wei Ming, a former national junior tennis player. After college tennis in the US and five years in finance, he stumbled upon pickleball early last year. 'I came from a very competitive background. Pickleball reignited that spark in me after my tennis career was done,' Wong said. By August that year, he quit his job to go all in. Colin Wong shifts his career to pickleball and paddle as he sees a better future in it. — Picture from Instagram/prodigius 'I had to decide. I couldn't keep juggling both. My friends and family told me this might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance so I decided to just go all out on pickleball,' he told Malay Mail. Today, he trains like any serious athlete, with a manager, strength coach, physiotherapist and nutritionist. His goal is simple – to push himself as far as he can. 'The good thing about pickleball is it's more of socialising first then playing. The culture is nurturing and very welcoming,' he said. 'It's so inclusive. Doesn't matter your background and the games go by fast, so it's easy to connect with people, to unwind. That's what makes it special.' Pickleball may not have the legacy or Olympic pedigree just yet. But for a growing number of Malaysian athletes, it offers something just as valuable – a second act. One that's less about medals, and more about meaning.
Malay Mail
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
More fun, less pressure: Why Malaysia's retired athletes are picking up the pickleball padle
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Goh Liu Ying knows what it means to stand on the world stage. An Olympic silver medallist and former badminton darling, she spent most of her life chasing glory under stadium lights and carrying the nation's hopes. These days, her court looks a little different. 'I played two to three times a week before I gave birth, sometimes for three hours,' she told Malay Mail in a recent interview. But she wasn't talking about badminton – she was talking about pickleball. The fast-growing sport, a mix of tennis, ping pong and badminton, has quietly gained a cult following in Malaysia's parks and community courts. 'You're asking a badminton player,' Goh laughed when asked if it could rival her first love. 'Pickleball can be a social sport. But if it can enter the Olympics, I guess it has a chance,' she said. Goh Liu Ying says pickleball's inclusion in the Olympics would be monumental in lifting the sport's profile and status as well as ensure a safety net for professional players. — Picture by Raymond Manuel For career athletes like Goh, Olympic status still matters. 'All of our planning as athletes revolves around the Olympics. You can get pension money and salary if your sport is in. If it's not, it's tough,' she said. Still, she's drawn to pickleball's relaxed, inclusive energy – a refreshing change from the grind of elite competition. 'You can go pro or just be social. That's the advantage. You don't even need to train hard, you can just show up and enjoy,' said the 36-year-old mother of two. That same spirit of freedom is what lured Christian Didier Chin, once one of Malaysia's brightest tennis prodigies. 'I didn't find it so fun anymore,' Chin said of his tennis career. 'I didn't find travelling fun because I didn't have a team.' Christian Chin gave up tennis for pickleball. — Picture by Raymond Manuel After leaving the pro circuit at just 22, Chin tried to revive local tennis by working with influencers to create buzz – like Dylan Gee of 'Tennis with Dylan' fame. But a surprise entry into a paddle tournament changed his course entirely. 'We won. RM20,000 prize money. My whole life I played tennis in Malaysia, there was no money like that,' Chin recalled. He now plays both pickleball and paddle professionally, and is currently ranked top three in Asia for paddle. 'Tennis is just my business now, to sustain myself. Pickle and paddle is my profession.' What keeps him hooked is simple. 'Instead of taking it so seriously I play any sport now as long as I'm enjoying it.' Another convert is Colin Wong Wei Ming, a former national junior tennis player. After college tennis in the US and five years in finance, he stumbled upon pickleball early last year. 'I came from a very competitive background. Pickleball reignited that spark in me after my tennis career was done,' Wong said. By August that year, he quit his job to go all in. Colin Wong shifts his career to pickleball and paddle as he sees a better future in it. — Picture from Instagram/prodigius 'I had to decide. I couldn't keep juggling both. My friends and family told me this might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance so I decided to just go all out on pickleball,' he told Malay Mail. Today, he trains like any serious athlete, with a manager, strength coach, physiotherapist and nutritionist. His goal is simple – to push himself as far as he can. 'The good thing about pickleball is it's more of socialising first then playing. The culture is nurturing and very welcoming,' he said. 'It's so inclusive. Doesn't matter your background and the games go by fast, so it's easy to connect with people, to unwind. That's what makes it special.' Pickleball may not have the legacy or Olympic pedigree just yet. But for a growing number of Malaysian athletes, it offers something just as valuable – a second act. One that's less about medals, and more about meaning.
Daily Express
25-06-2025
- Daily Express
Female pilot allegedly loses RM194,970 in Haj package scam, Nilai police investigating
Published on: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 25, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: Nilai police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the victim, in her 30s, filed the report at the Nilai police station at 11.23 am, saying that she had dealt with an individual from an Umrah travel agency who offered the hajj package on Jan 14. — Picture by Raymond Manuel SEREMBAN: A female pilot lodged a police report today claiming she was cheated in a Haj package deal, resulting in a loss of RM194,970. Nilai police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the victim, in her 30s, filed the report at the Nilai police station at 11.23 am, saying that she had dealt with an individual from an Umrah travel agency who offered the Haj package on Jan 14. 'The victim, who works for a local airline, made several transfers totaling RM194,970 to the agency's account as full payment for the package. 'However, she realised she had been scammed on March 15 after finding out that the agency was no longer in operation and she would not be able to perform the Haj as promised,' he said in a statement today. Abdul Malik said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, and efforts to trace the suspect are underway. * 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
Malay Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Unintended consequences of vape ban by states — Liu Hai Kuok
MAY 8 — I support public health and protecting our young people from addiction. However, the recent push by some states to stop issuing vape licences, while well-intentioned, may end up doing more harm than good. Let's be honest: people are still vaping. Banning vape sales won't make the habit disappear; it just pushes the whole thing underground. Johor has had a ban for years. Has it stopped people from vaping? No. It only forced legal sellers to close shop while illegal ones took over. These backdoor sellers don't follow any rules. They disregard age limits, proper labelling, and safe ingredients — making it even more dangerous for our kids. If you ban something but don't stop the demand, you create a black market. We've seen this happen before with cigarettes. Malaysia is already notorious for having one of the highest rates of illicit cigarette use in the world. Are we going to repeat the same mistake with vapes? What's worse is that these unregulated products can be harmful. Some are mixed with cheap or toxic chemicals. If someone falls sick or worse, there's no one to hold accountable. No manufacturer. No quality control. No protection. Unregulated vape products can be harmful. Some are mixed with cheap or toxic chemicals. If someone falls sick or worse, there's no one to hold accountable. — Picture by Raymond Manuel Also, banning vapes sends mixed signals. Cigarettes are still openly sold, taxed, and regulated. So why crack down only on vapes — which many adults use as a way to quit smoking, such as through heated tobacco products? Shouldn't we guide smokers toward safer alternatives, not make it harder for them? Enforcement will also be a nightmare. If one state bans vapes and another doesn't, people will simply drive across borders or buy them online. How will state officials manage this? And won't it confuse both consumers and traders? Let's not forget tax revenue. Vape liquids are now taxed by the federal government, and that money could fund health campaigns, education, or better enforcement. By shutting down the legal market, we lose that income — and people will still vape. There's already a federal law in place: the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act. If there are concerns, improve that law. Don't bypass it with patchwork actions at the state level. We need one clear, consistent policy — one that protects young people, guides adult smokers, and tackles illegal trade head-on. Blanket bans won't achieve that. Regulation and strong enforcement will. Again, I support public health. But let's be smart about how we get there. Don't push vape users underground. The country will lose out. • This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malay Mail
05-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Why Malaysia needs the Urban Renewal Act and why some are resisting it
KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — After more than a decade in the making, Malaysia's much-anticipated Urban Renewal Bill is expected to be tabled in the upcoming July parliamentary sitting. The Bill aims to restore the vibrancy of old areas, provide affordable housing, enhance public facilities and revitalise architecture. However, despite these goals, it still faces resistance on the ground. PAS Youth recently announced a protest set for June 14 in the Klang Valley to oppose the Bill. The group argues that the legislation could open the door to exploitation by developers and endanger vulnerable communities. So why does Malaysia need an Urban Renewal Act (URA)? Many of the country's buildings were constructed during the post-independence property boom. As a result, many are now deteriorating and in need of rejuvenation. However, redeveloping these properties has long been hampered by legal hurdles. Under current laws outlined in Section 57 of the Strata Titles Act 1985, a strata development can only be sold if 100 per cent of unit owners agree. The proposed URA aims to lower this threshold based on the building's age and condition. If the Bill is passed in Parliament, it is intended to overcome that gridlock. While the URA is much needed in Malaysia, Adjunct Professor Shuhana Shamsuddin of Taylor's University said the proposed Bill seems developer-driven. — Picture by Raymond Manuel Majority rule proposed to break redevelopment deadlocks Professor Jamalunlaili Abdullah, dean at Universiti Teknologi MARA's Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, said the Bill will look at giving power to the majority when it comes to determining consent threshold — before a building is sold or listed under the URA for refurbishment or redevelopment. 'Currently, even 10 per cent of residents can block a project supported by the 90 per cent who want a redevelopment project. 'So supposed if an area is very dilapidated, then supposed that 90 per cent of the residents want it to be redeveloped but 10 per cent disagree, they (authorities or developers) cannot do anything. 'That's why some of the projects are stalled for redevelopment. This new Bill will allow for that — majority power to determine a renewal project,' he said when contacted by Malay Mail. That is not all, Jamalunlaili said as there are concerns on the ground, for example the concern of what happens after redevelopment is completed. 'Yes, people may get larger, better homes. But can they afford the property taxes and upkeep later? 'The property tax will increase as this tax is based on the value of the properties in an area. When redevelopment is done, the value of properties in the area will go up,' he added. He also said that while the Bill is positive, it still needed to include some safeguards for property owners, especially if they belong to the low-income tier. 'People need this assurance that they will still be able to afford living in their houses after it has gone through redevelopment and this assurance should be long term — for the next 10 to 20 years. 'There have been cases in the past whereby land owners have to sell their land due to rising taxes. This is something that could still happen today,' he said. A vision for renewal should prevent gentrification While the URA is much needed in Malaysia, Adjunct Professor Shuhana Shamsuddin of Taylor's University said the proposed Bill seems developer-driven. 'If you compare this proposed Bill to URA in other countries, there is no mention of developers in their URA. 'Ours seem to put developers at the forefront, leading the renewal programmes. 'What should be done is the government setting up an agency that overlooks these urban renewal programmes,' she said when contacted. Shuhana, who is also the Malaysian Urban Design Academy (Perekabandar) president, said this is why there is anxiety on the ground as property owners still have the sentiment that developers will not protect them. 'The sentiment on the ground is that people fear their homes will be demolished and replaced by high-rises that they cannot afford,' she said. Citing an example, Shuhana pointed to Kampung Baru — a once-thriving cultural enclave now overshadowed by surrounding development. 'Urban renewal shouldn't erase identity. It should protect it,' she said. A general view of the Kampung Sungai Baru in Kuala Lumpur April 26, 2025. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa On the ground, residents speak out Save Kuala Lumpur chairman Datuk M. Ali said even if 1 per cent do not agree to sell their property, this decision should be respected. 'Why are they (government) pushing for 75 per cent and 85 per cent. You must respect even if one individual refuses, you must be able to work through it. 'If it's going to benefit them in the long term without any financial implication without loss of anything, then that is okay. 'This is what the government must make clear, what the exact plan is and why are they pushing so hard for a lesser percentage. 'Even if 1 per cent objects, you have to be able to convince that one person. Yes, they want better homes, but not at the cost of the community and livelihood,' said Ali. Is there potential abuse of the URA? According to Jamalunlaili, there should not be any room for abuse of the Act as any redevelopment should follow what is stated in the existing local and structure plans. 'That's why they need to follow the zoning laws in the local plan — plot ratio, density, how many units. 'Taman Rimba Kiara is an example — it was protested due to zoning issues. So in other scenarios, if the local plan states a plot ratio of 1:8, developers cannot build more than that. 'There should not be any abuse of the URA as the local plan has laws and must be followed,' he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has since said the proposed URA will protect the rights of property owners by ensuring fair and significantly higher compensation than is currently provided. He also said that the law aims to protect the rights and dignity of the people, particularly Malays in the cities, ensuring that the urban poor can live with greater dignity, rather than being left to live in overcrowded conditions for decades without resolution.
