Is there a reason on why our local coaches tend to do well abroad, instead of at home? We take our local coaches for granted here. I mean, we are quite comfortable and familiar with the local coaches, and we assume that what they teach here is normal. However, when these local coaches go abroad, especially the ones who are well known, the foreign players show respect and value their coaching. We look up to foreign coaches and show respect to them but these coaches experience the same treatment back at home.

KUALA LUMPUR: Wasco Bhd's indirect wholly-owned Singaporean subsidiary WS Engineering & Fabrication Pte Ltd has bagged a US$33.89mil (RM161.86mil) contract from Schneider Electric France for the supply of pre-fabricated buildings for a project in Africa. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group said the scope of work involves engineering, procurement and construction of pre-fabricated buildings. The contract works and services are expected to be completed within 17 months. "The contract is expected to contribute positively to the earnings of WB Group over the contract period. The Contract is project specific and is not renewable," said Wasco.

KUALA LUMPUR: Apex Securities Research is advising investors to stay defensive during this volatile period as rising US Treasury yields continue to take the shine off equities investment. The research firm said in a note that investors' risk appetite in the equity markets will continue to dwindle with expectations that interest rates will remain higher for longer. "Should these results beat estimates, buying support may emerge and put a pause to the recent selling tone," it said. At the opening bell, the benchmark FBM KLCI was up 0.16 points to 1,438.28, suggesting investors are staying to the sidelines. Most active counters included Metronic down 0.5 sne ot 1.5 sne, Revenue rising two sen to 23 sen and Alrich falling 0.5 sen to four sen.

The Maybank Championship has always been more than just a golf tournament, and this year, the event aspires to deliver that and much more. You can step into the world of artisan craftsmanship at Maybank Women’s Eco Weaver’s Corner, where fans can witness the art of weaving with live loom displays. This immersive journey connects a person to the rich tapestry of Asean culture and champions diversity, equity and inclusion. You can even write a note to your own younger self and submit it for publication on the Maybank Championship social media platforms. Spectators can also get RM5 off for Grab rides to and from KLGCC on all four days (limited to 500 redemptions per day for Thursday and Friday and 1,500 redemptions per day for Saturday and Sunday).

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia and the ringgit have taken a beating on Monday, in line with the weak sentiment in regional markets. The FBM KLCI fell 2.92 points, or 0.2% to 1,438.12. The market traded within a range of 8.81 points between an intra-day high of 1,443.86 and a low of 1,435.05. Against the Singapore dollar, the ringgit fell 0.4% at 3.4889. Elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.83%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed down 0.72%, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.76% and Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.76%.

PETALING JAYA: The National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health(NCEMH) will develop a mental health action plan for children and teenagers soon, says Dr Zaliha Mustafa, citing the worrying trend of such cases among youngsters. I see a rising trend in mental health issues among our younger generation. (This happens in) both children and teenagers” said the Health Minister during her speech at the National Mental Health Day Celebration on Sunday(Oct 22). Dr Zaliha also launched the Mental Health Psychosocial Support during a Crisis or Disaster Module (MHPSS) to train healthcare personnel to handle mental health cases. The ministry will also launch the “Mental Health for All, Stop Stigma” campaign to improve literacy on mental health issues and prevent stigma and discrimination.

PETALING JAYA: Doubles shuttler Vivian Hoo knows that time is running out on her to qualify for the Olympic Games. “The chances are slim but we are not planning to give up,” said Vivian, who has not made plans to retire just yet. “I will continue to enjoy the game until one day I decide to retire,” said Vivian, who will head to France Open next. While Vivian has no plans after retirement, Chiew Sien is expected to play on in the mixed doubles with Wong Tien Chi. Aaron-Wooi Yik face He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu in the quarter-finals while Yew Sin-Ee Yi play home favourites Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s headline inflation hit more than two-year low after the consumer price index (CPI) unexpectedly decelerated further in September 2023. Data from the Statistics Department showed CPI growth in September eased to 1.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) from 2% y-o-y in August. The latest CPI reading was the lowest since March 2021, and it came in below market consensus estimate of 2.2% y-o-y. MIDF Research said the the softening inflationary pressure was a positive to support domestic demand to stay on expansionary path in the second half of 2023.

According to TA Research, in the unlikely event of the war escalating and spreading to the broader Gulf region, Brent crude oil price could breach the US$150 per barrel level. As such, it maintained its Brent crude oil price assumption at US$83.50 per barrel for 2023 and US$85 per barrel for 2024. In its thematic report yesterday, TA Research noted that Malaysia, as a significant oil-producing and exporting country, could benefit from rising commodity prices. “Rising oil prices not only boost government revenue but also profoundly affect Malaysia’s fiscal position,” TA Research said. Besides, at this level, the FBM KLCI would be trading at a very attractive one-time multiple to 2024 PBV.

PETALING JAYA: Eight-time squash world champion Nicol David can't help but being emotional after the sport was included in the 2028 Olympic Games programme for the first time. Squash is one of the five sports that have been included in the Los Angeles edition of the Olympics, together with cricket, flag football, baseball-softball, and lacrosse. "It's quite emotional to get squash in after 30 years of bidding for place in the Olympic Games," said Nicol, who retired from the sport in 2019. "All the hard work, blood sweat and tears have finally paid off for our beloved squash to be acknowledged as an Olympic Games sport. "Congratulations to an amazing squash campaign team for making it a reality finally for squash and for our future of this sport."

IPOH: The Ipoh City Council aims to have at least 2,500 food premises with grade-A certification by 2025, says Datuk Rumaizi Baharin. The Ipoh Mayor said as of September, only 359 premises evaluated had obtained this grade. Rumaizi said he hoped to show the world that Ipoh food was not only delicious, but its eateries' cleanliness was also impressive. "It is important (for Ipoh) to be recognised... (as) a clean and safe gastronomic destination. He said locals and tourists could access the MyGred MBI at http://mygred.mbi.gov.my to check the cleanliness of licensed restaurants or cafes.

Jada Pinkett Smith was not expecting to hear those words that night – especially "wife." Earlier in the week, while promoting her upcoming memoir Worthy, Pinkett Smith revealed that she and Smith have been living separate lives since 2016. Speaking to Kotb for an NBC News special that aired Friday (Oct 13), Pinkett Smith revisited the infamous Oscars moment. Pinkett Smith lives with alopecia, which causes temporary or permanent hair loss. "I'm just out of it 'cause I really worried about Will," Pinkett Smith said.

IT’S unprecedented to hear about a top police officer admonishing a room full of the most senior cops from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and then uploading a video of the shelling online. When these CID officers from around the country gathered for a closed-door meeting, they surely would have expected some tough words from Bukit Aman CID chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

PETALING JAYA: The temporary price control on eggs and chicken will be lifted to allow the local market to function freely and ensure enough supply, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “Now that the prices of chicken and eggs are starting to stabilise, the government is considering floating them based on prices that are lower than the government’s float price. “Since February last year, the issue of eggs and chicken subsidies, which were usually introduced during the festive seasons, has continued to be borne by the government. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) deputy president Datuk Dr Paul Selva Raj, when contacted, said that the lifting of these price controls for chicken and eggs should only be done when there is sufficient supply in the market. Prof Dr Anjas Asmara @ Ab Hadi Samsudin from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Agriculture said it was time that the government lifted the temporary price controls for chicken and eggs.

PUTRAJAYA: The August 2023 Supplementary Electoral Roll (DPT BLN8/2023) which was verified and gazetted on Tuesday (Oct 3), is open for review for the next 30 days until Nov 1, 2023, says the Election Commission (EC). Ikmalrudin said the list included 12,915 registered voters who changed electoral divisions and 763 voters who changed voter status/category. He said the EC provides five review methods, which are through the EC portal at https://www.spr.gov.my or https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my; the official portal of the State Election Offices at the link http://ppn.spr.gov.my; and online application at https://myspr.spr.gov.my. Any registered voter in an electoral division who makes a review and wishes to make an objection can fill in Form D online at myspr.spr.gov.my or go to the relevant state election office. For any questions regarding the review of DPT BLN8/2023, the public can visit the EC's official portal at the link https://www.spr.gov.my or contact the EC at 03-8892 7218 or any State Election Office.