Home Blog Page 75

NO EASY RIDE INTO SECOND ROUND FOR KISONA IN THAILAND OPEN

0
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 – Sea Games champion, S. Kisona will battle Saina Nehwal in the women’s singles first round at the Yonex Thailand Open on Wednesday.
It is fast turning out to be a handful for the young Malaysian in Bangkok who went with the team for the HSBC BWF Tour’s first tournament of the Asian-leg as a sparring partner but found herself in the main draw after a spate of withdrawals when China and Japan withdrew their teams.
Kisona will now face the Indian hope in the opening match on Wednesday for a place in the second. Another Malaysian in action in the first round is Soniia Cheah who will take on rising Korean star, An Se Young who is seeded seventh in the USD1,000 tournament.
Meanwhile, in an all-Malaysian first-round match for the men’s doubles, national number one Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi gave a disappointing performance and went down tamely to former teammates Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in straight games 7-21, 19-21 in only 28 minutes.
”It is a good start for us and we hope to keep the confidence going. After a long break, it is nice to get the feel of a tournament,” said V Shem.
The V Shem-Wee Kiong pair next faces England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy for a place in the quarter-finals.
If Aaron and Wooi Yik were disappointed, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were all smiles as they marched into the second round with an impressive 21-16, 19-21, 21-11 win over Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol. The match lasted 61 minutes.
The Koreans, who are making a return to competitive badminton were the world and Asian champions in 2014 and are currently ranked No 25. The 28 ranked Malaysians next face a Danish hurdle in Mathias Christiansen-Niclas Nohr.
It was also a winning start for fifth seeds Chan Pen Soon-Goh Liu Ying who won 22-20, 21-18 against Indonesians Adnan Maulana-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso in a 39 minute match.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie went through the distance to snatch a 21-16, 14-21, 21-17 win over French pair Ronan Lebar-Anne Tran in a 53-minute encounter.

PELAKSANAAN PERINTAH KAWALAN PERGERAKAN (PKP) 2021

0

TEKS PERUTUSAN
PERDANA MENTERI MALAYSIA

YAB TAN SRI DATO’ HAJI MUHYIDDIN BIN HAJI MOHD YASSIN
11 Januari 2021

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamuálaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh dan salam sejahtera.
Apa khabar semua? Saya harap saudara dan saudari sihat walafiat.
Saudara dan saudari sekalian,

1. Malaysia mula merekodkan kes harian empat digit bagi COVID-19 pada 24 Oktober 2020 (iaitu sejumlah 1,228 kes). Bermula penghujung November 2020, fenomena kes harian empat digit bagi COVID-19 direkodkan setiap hari sehinggalah rekod tertinggi yang telah dilaporkan pada 7 Januari 2021, iaitu sebanyak 3,027 kes.

2. Di dalam gelombang ketiga ini yang bermula pada 20 September 2020, sejumlah 476 kluster baharu dilaporkan sehingga 10 Januari 2021 melibatkan 259 kluster (54.41%) tempat kerja. Data ini menunjukkan peningkatan ketara bilangan kluster baharu di dalam
gelombang ketiga berbanding 110 kluster baharu yang direkodkan semasa gelombang kedua dengan 25 kluster (22.72%) melibatkan tempat kerja.

3. Secara keseluruhannya, sebanyak 586 kluster telah direkodkan sehingga 10 Januari 2021 dengan 48.46% daripadanya merupakan kluster yang melibatkan tempat kerja. Daripada jumlah ini juga, sebanyak 254 kluster masih lagi aktif manakala 332 kluster telah
pun diisytiharkan tamat.

4. Sepanjang tempoh gelombang ketiga penularan jangkitan COVID19 di Malaysia, trend kes import didapati adalah terkawal tetapi kes-kes penularan tempatan terus meningkat melibatkan golongan bukan warganegara dan warganegara.

5. Pada permulaan gelombang ketiga pada 20 September 2020, keskes lebih tertumpu kepada kumpulan bukan warganegara, iaitu sebanyak 63% dan hanya 37% melibatkan warganegara. Namun perkembangan semasa menunjukkan jangkitan dalam kalangan
warganegara semakin meningkat. Sehingga 11 Januari 2021, sebanyak 70% kes positif COVID-19 di Malaysia adalah melibatkan warganegara dan hanya 30% bagi bukan warganegara.

6. Berdasarkan nilai R-naught semasa yang berada pada paras 1.1 bagi kadar kebolehjangkitan COVID-19 di Malaysia, unjuran kes harian di negara ini dijangka boleh mencecah sehingga 5,000 kes sehari pada minggu kedua bulan April 2021 dan akan melonjak kepada 8,000 kes sehari pada minggu keempat bulan Mei 2021.

7. Semakin tinggi nilai R-naught, semakin sukar untuk mengawal penularan kerana semakin ramai yang telah dijangkiti. Pelaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) pada bulan Mac telah berjaya  menurunkan nilai R kepada 0.335, sekaligus mengurangkan kes
jangkitan COVID-19 kepada angka satu (1) hingga dua (2) digit sehari.

8. Trend ini nyata amat membimbangkan dan Kerajaan sedar bahawa pendekatan yang lebih tegas mesti diambil bagi memutuskan rantaian penularan jangkitan COVID-19 ini, sekaligus menurunkan bilangan kes positif harian ke satu tahap yang terkawal dan boleh
diuruskan dengan lebih berkesan.

9. Kerajaan mendengar keluhan dan cadangan daripada rakyat seluruhnya yang amat bimbang dengan perkembangan peningkatan kes kebelakangan ini. Kerajaan juga sangat
memahami beban tugas yang dihadapi oleh petugas-petugas kesihatan kita berikutan peningkatan kes yang mendadak. Frontiners kita semakin penat dan kesihatan awam negara semakin tenat.

Saudari saudari yang saya kasihi,

10. Pada ketika ini, fasiliti Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) sudah tidak mampu untuk menampung peningkatan sehingga 2,000 kes baharu setiap hari. Our healthcare system is at breaking point. Saya ingin jelaskan realiti situasi sistem kesihatan yang sedang kita hadapi sekarang:
I. Lima belas (15) buah hospital COVID-19 mencatatkan kadar penggunaan katil COVID-19 (bukan ICU) melebihi 70 peratus.

II. Di Lembah Klang kadar penggunaan katil ICU untuk pesakit COVID-19 di Hospital Kuala Lumpur dan di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya telah mencapai 100 peratus manakala di Hospital Sungai Buloh pula telah mencapai 83 peratus. Sementara itu, kadar penggunaan katil ICU untuk pesakit COVID-19 di lima (5) buah negeri iaitu Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Terengganu dan Sarawak telah melebihi 70 peratus.

III. Buat masa ini, terdapat lebih dari 1,450 orang anggota perubatan di hospital seluruh negara yang telah dijangkiti atau terpaksa menjalani arahan kuarantin dan tidak dapat bertugas.

IV. Jumlah kematian akibat COVID-19 pula terus meningkat kepada 521 kes dengan kadar kematian sebanyak 0.41 peratus. Malaysia mencatatkan lebih 100 kes kematian sebulan bagi bulan Oktober hingga Disember 2020 berbanding dua (2) hingga 59 kes kematian
sebulan bagi bulan Mac hingga September 2020.

V. Pertambahan kes harian yang tinggi menyebabkan kelewatan petugas kesihatan untuk mengambil para pesakit di rumah untuk di bawa ke hospital dan Pusat Kuarantin dan Rawatan Risiko Rendah COVID-19 (PKRC).

VI. Bencana banjir dan peningkatan kes di beberapa negeri juga menyukarkan proses mobilisasi anggota di dalam negeri dan juga di antara negeri. Ini menyukarkan usaha menambah bilangan katil ICU untuk pesakit kritikal.

Saudara dan saudari sekalian,
11. Dalam menangani pandemik COVID-19 ini, amat penting bagi mana-mana negara untuk mengelakkan insiden peningkatan kes yang mendadak dalam tempoh masa yang singkat.

12. Peningkatan jumlah pesakit secara mendadak akan melumpuhkan kapasiti sistem kesihatan sedia ada dalam sekelip mata. Ia tidak lagi mampu untuk menampung jumlah pesakit yang memerlukan rawatan dan kes-kes kematian akan terus meningkat.

13. Tidak mudah untuk saya mengatakan semua ini tetapi inilah realiti yang berlaku sekarang dengan berbagai kemungkinan yang terpaksa kita hadapi sekiranya dibiarkan berlarutan tanpa sebarang campur tangan atau intervensi kesihatan awam yang lebih ketat.

14. The situation today is indeed very alarming. Our healthcare system is under tremendous pressure now than at any other time since the start of the pandemic. As I have said before, unprecedented situations call for unprecedented measures.

15. Justeru berdasarkan penilaian risiko oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) serta pelbagai Kementerian dan Agensi serta nasihat pakar-pakar kesihatan awam di dalam negara, Kerajaan bersetuju dengan pandangan bahawa satu tindakan yang tegas perlu diambil untuk memutuskan rantaian jangkitan penularan virus COVID-19.

16. Untuk itu, Kerajaan telah memutuskan untuk melaksanakan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) untuk tempoh 14 hari bemula jam 12.01 tengah malam, Rabu, 13 Januari 2021 sehingga 26 Januari 2021. Perintah ini melibatkan tiga peringkat
pelaksanaan seperti berikut:

a. Pertama, PKP ke atas enam (6) buah negeri iaitu Pulau Pinang, Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan), Melaka, Johor dan Sabah.

b. Kedua, PKP Bersyarat (PKP-B) ke atas enam (6) buah negeri iaitu Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu dan Kelantan.

c. Ketiga, PKP Pemulihan (PKP-P) pula akan dilaksanakan bagi negeri Perlis dan Sarawak dan akan diteruskan sepanjang tempoh tersebut.

17. Negeri-negeri yang dikenakan PKP adalah negeri yang berisiko tinggi hasil penilaian risiko oleh KKM dan tahap keupayaan perkhidmatan kesihatannya telah hampir mencapai kapasiti maksimum. KKM akan membuat penilaian risiko secara berterusan bagi memutuskan sama ada pelaksanaan PKP ini akan ditamatkan atau diteruskan sebelum tempoh dua minggu berkenaan tamat.

Saudara dan saudari sekalian,

18. Bagi mengurangkan risiko jangkitan dan memutuskan rantaian COVID-19 ini, aktiviti sosial yang melibatkan perkumpulan beramai-ramai seperti kenduri kahwin, persidangan, perarakan keagamaan termasuk Thaipusam, mesyuarat, seminar, kursus dan sukan berkumpulan adalah TIDAK DIBENARKAN sama sekali. Bagaimanapun bagi negeri-negeri di bawah pelaksanaan PKP-P, aktiviti sosial adalah dibenarkan, tertakluk kepada pematuhan SOP yang ketat. Pergerakan rentas negeri adalah TIDAK DIBENARKAN di seluruh negara manakala bagi kawasan PKP, pergerakan rentas daerah juga TIDAK DIBENARKAN.

19. Susulan larangan pergerakan merentas negeri dan daerah ini, operasi sekatan jalan raya (SJR) akan mula berkuatkuasa pada jam 12.01 tengah malam, Rabu, 13 Januari 2021. Bagi negeri yang dilaksanakan PKP, pergerakan anda adalah terhad di dalam 10 kilometer radius sahaja. Bagi tujuan membeli barangan keperluan dari pasar raya atau kedai runcit yang berdekatan, HANYA DUA (2) anggota isi rumah yang dibenarkan untuk keluar dan berada di dalam kenderaan yang sama. Mana-mana individu yang melanggar larangan ini boleh dikenakan kompaun maksimum RM1,000.

20. Bagi sektor ekonomi, Kerajaan telah mengenal pasti lima (5) sektor yang dibenarkan beroperasi dan dikategorikan sebagai sektor ekonomi perlu (Essential economic sector) iaitu pengilangan dan pembuatan, pembinaan, perkhidmatan, perdagangan dan
pengedaran, serta perladangan dan komoditi.

21. Sektor ini dibenarkan beroperasi kerana peranannya menyokong kerja-kerja membekal keperluan asas seperti makanan, minuman dan barangan keperluan rumah serta penjagaan diri; kelengkapan PPE, peranti perubatan dan ubatan kepada petugas kesihatan; aktiviti perdagangan antarabangsa; memastikan rantaian bekalan tidak terputus dan menyokong infrastruktur kritikal dan kerja-kerja kecemasan.

22. Bagaimanapun, hanya 30 peratus pekerja dalam kumpulan pengurusan yang dibenarkan berada di pejabat manakala bagi pekerja di dalam kumpulan sokongan, jumlah pekerja yang diperlukan pada satu-satu masa akan ditentukan oleh majikan masing-masing. Ingin saya ingatkan, jumlah pekerja yang ditentukan mestilah mengambil kira pematuhan ketat SOP yang ditetapkan. Jangan sampai tiada penjarakan fizikal langsung
sewaktu berada di tempat kerja. Mana-mana majikan yang melanggar SOP dan menyebabkan berlakunya penularan jangkitan COVID-19 di tempat kerja, tindakan tegas akan diambil berdasarkan undang-undang termasuk menutup premis berkenaan.

23. Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) akan memperincikan jenis-jenis perkhidmatan yang disenaraikan sebagai essential economic sector. MITI dan Kementerian Kerja Raya juga akan memperincikan butiran kerja-kerja pembinaan yang
dibenarkan beroperasi.

24. Bagi sektor atau perkhidmatan yang tidak disenaraikan sebagai essential services, arahan bekerja dari rumah atau work from home akan berkuatkuasa. Semua majikan mesti mematuhi arahan ini untuk mengurangkan pergerakan di dalam komuniti, terutamanya di kawasan yang berkepadatan tinggi. Hanya dengan langkah ini, kita dapat mengurangkan risiko jangkitan COVID-19 di tempat kerja.

25. Sepanjang pelaksanaan PKP kedai makan dan gerai penjaja dibenarkan beroperasi HANYA untuk perkhidmatan take away manakala bagi kawasan PKP-B dan PKP-P, kedua-duanya dibenarkan beroperasi seperti biasa mengikut SOP yang telah ditetapkan. Perkhidmatan penghantaran makanan dibenarkan beroperasi.

26. Pasar raya, perkhidmatan kesihatan termasuk klinik, hospital dan farmasi; serta bank dibenarkan beroperasi di kawasan PKP pada tahap berjaga-jaga. Patuhi SOP ketika berada di tempattempat ini seperti memakai pelitup muka dengan betul, jaga penjarakan fizikal dan kerap gunakan hand sanitizer. Sekiranya tidak ada keperluan segera atau mendesak, tidak perlulah keluar rumah. Stay at home.

27. Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) telah memberikan jaminan bahawa bekalan di semua sektor peruncitan adalah mencukupi. Pemantauan terhadap barangan keperluan pengguna seperti gula, minyak masak, tepung gandum, beras, roti putih, susu tepung, ayam, sayursayuran, telur, bawang, hand sanitizer dan pelitup muka akan dilakukan setiap hari.

Saudara dan saudari sekalian,

28. Walaupun terdapat sekatan pergerakan yang ketat, khususnya di negeri dikenakan PKP, pengecualian diberikan kepada pelajar dan calon peperiksaan utama termasuk peperiksaan
SPM bagi sesi 2020 dan 2021. Mereka dibenarkan hadir ke sekolah dengan SOP yang ketat. Pihak Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia akan memperincikan SOP ini.

29. Bagi aktiviti keagamaan, hanya ahli jawatankuasa masjid atau rumah ibadat dibenarkan hadir di negeri yang dilaksanakan PKP dengan jumlah maksimum 5 orang. Bagi negeri yang dikenakan PKP-P dan PKP-B, aktiviti keagamaan masih dibenarkan dengan
bilangan kehadiran minimum yang ditetapkan di dalam SOP. Pihak berkuasa agama negeri disaran untuk memberi penetapan yang bersesuaian dalam menetapkan jumlah kehadiran yang dibenarkan.

30. Saya juga sedar bahawa pengasingan diri untuk satu tempoh yang lama boleh memberi tekanan terhadap kesihatan mental. Justeru bagi memastikan kesihatan minda dan fizikal yang berterusan, anda dibenarkan meninggalkan rumah untuk beriadah dengan anggota isi rumah sahaja. Pastikan jarak anda dari orang lain adalah dua (2) meter setiap masa. Kalau hendak berjoging, jangan lebih daripada dua (2) orang dan kalau berbasikal, janganlah
secara berkumpulan. Cukuplah seorang sahaja.

Saudara dan saudari yang sangat saya sayangi,
31. Tempoh dua minggu yang akan datang ini amatlah penting untuk bukan sahaja diri kita tetapi juga seluruh Negara. Semua kebebasan yang kita korbankan ini – terputus hubungan dengan rakan-rakan, berada di dalam isolasi di rumah, dan kesukaran untuk
melakukan aktiviti sosial di luar – akan mampu menyelamatkan nyawa kita semua.

32. Virus ini telah pun berada di dalam komuniti dan hidup bersama kita. Janganlah kita merasa terlalu selesa dan akhirnya mengabaikan langkah-langkah pencegahan yang begitu mudah untuk kita amalkan seperti kerap mencuci tangan dengan sabun, memakai pelitup muka dengan betul, jaga jarak fizikal dan elakkan dari bersentuhan.

33. Saya ingin mengajak pemimpin-pemimpin masyarakat atau community leaders untuk menjaga dan melindungi komuniti masingmasing daripada menjadi tempat penularan jangkitan COVID-19. Anda semua adalah frontliners di dalam komuniti anda dalam
perjuangan melawan virus ini. Jalinkan kerjasama dengan pejabat kesihatan daerah, klnik-klinik kesihatan komuniti dan juga majlis daerah untuk mendidik warga komuniti anda supaya mereka juga tahu bagaimana cara terbaik untuk mencegah jangkitan COVID-19
ini.

34. Sebagai bukti komitmen kerajaan untuk memperkasakan komuniti, satu jawatankuasa peringkat tinggi yang dipengerusikan oleh Ketua Setiausaha Negara bersama Menteri Tugas-Tugas Khas telah dibentuk untuk memastikan pelaksanaan langkah pemerkasaan komuniti dengan lebih berkesan.

35. Anggaplah bahawa virus tersebut berada di dalam diri kita agar kita sentiasa berwaspada dan tidak leka dalam mematuhi SOP yang ditetapkan. Kita bergelak ketawa di luar bersama rakan dan  keluarga, tetapi kita sering lupa segala SOP dan petugas-petugas
kesihatan kita yang bertungkus-lumus, mengorbankan masa bersama keluarga dan mengeluh bersendirian untuk mengawal penularan jangkitan COVID-19 ini.

Saudara saudari sekalian,

36. Saya juga ingin mengambil kesempatan untuk mengumumkan bahawa Kajian Klinikal Fasa 3 vaksin COVID-19 akan bermula pada 21 Januari 2021 di sembilan (9) buah Hospital
KKM di bawah kelolaan Pusat Kajian Klinikal (Clinical Research Centre – CRC) masing masing.

37. Kajian klinikal yang pertama dilakukan di Malaysia ini dijangka akan melibatkan seramai 3,000 sukarelawan dan Malaysia bakal menjadi negara pertama di luar negara China untuk kajian calon vaksin inactivated COVID-19 vaccine buatan Institute of Medical Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China (IMBCAMS) ini. Kesemua keperluan regulatori termasuk kelulusan etika dari Medical Review & Ethics Committee (MREC) dan akhir sekali, Clinical Trial Import License (CTIL) dari NPRA telah diperolehi pada 8 Januari 2021.

38. Selain itu, Bahagian Regulatori Farmasi Negara (NPRA) Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM) juga telah meluluskan pendaftaran vaksin COVID-19 yang dihasilkan syarikat farmaseutikal, Pfizer. Justeru, Malaysia dijangka akan menerima bekalan vaksin Pfizer untuk fasa pertama pada hujung Februari ini insya’Allah. Sebagai persediaan awal bagi memastikan pengagihan vaksin  COVID-19 kepada rakyat Negara ini berjalan lancar apabila bekalan diperolehi, KKM telah membangunkan Pelan Program Imunisasi COVID-19 Kebangsaan.

39. Bagi mencapai imuniti kelompok, sebanyak 60-70 peratus atau 20-23 juta populasi Malaysia perlu dberikan vaksin COVID-19. Buat masa ini, kerajaan telahpun menandatangani perjanjian awal dengan fasiliti Covax, syarikat Pfizer dan AstraZeneca bagi
perolehan vaksin COVID-19 untuk mendapatkan jaminan bekalan vaksin sebanyak 40 peratus liputan populasi. Kerajaan juga sedang dalam proses rundingan akhir dengan Sinovac, CanSino dan Gamaleya bagi mendapatkan jaminan bekalan vaksin bertambah
melebihi 80 peratus jumlah populasi negara atau 26.5 juta.

40. Kerajaan akan pastikan hanya vaksin yang memenuhi ciri-ciri keselamatan, berkualiti dan berkesan akan didaftarkan dan digunakan di Malaysia. Proses penilaian ini dibuat oleh
Jawatankuasa Penilaian Produk Bahagian Regulatori Farmasi Negara (NPRA) untuk kelulusan dan Pihak Berkuasa Kawalan Dadah bagi tujuan pendaftaran sebelum vaksin COVID-19 tersebut boleh digunakan di Malaysia.

Saudara saudari yang saya kasihi sekalian,

41. Saya ingin mengingatkan seluruh rakyat termasuk diri saya sendiri untuk terus mematuhi semua SOP yang telah ditetapkan. Ya betul, kita akan menerima bekalan vaksin tidak lama lagi tetapi itu bukan satu-satunya langkah pencegahan dan pastinya bukan untuk penyembuhan.

42. Pencegahan paling utama adalah dengan diri kita sendiri melakukan amalan mencuci tangan menggunakan sabun dengan kerap, gunakan hand sanitizer sekiranya tiada punca air yang berdekatan, pakai pelitup muka ketika berada di tempat-tempat awam, jaga jarak fizikal dan elakkan dari bersentuhan.

43. Bersama, kita berpeluang untuk membendung dan memutuskan rantaian penularan jangkitan COVID-19 daripada menjadi lebih teruk. Saya sangat berharap agar segala nasihat dan peringatan yang saya sampaikan hari ini akan dipatuhi sepenuhnya oleh setiap lapisan masyarakat.

44. Saya beri jaminan bahawa Kerajaan akan lakukan yang terbaik untuk memberi perlindungan kepada seluruh rakyat. Dan saya juga memohon kepada anda semua untuk lakukan yang terbaik untuk melindungi diri masing-masing, komuniti dan masyarakat. Hanya dengan bersatu melawan virus ini, kita boleh menang. Insya-Allah.

Sekian. Wabillahi taufiq wal hidayah wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi
wabarakatuh.

BOJAN HODAK IS KL UNITED FC COACH

0
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 – Bojan Hodak is back to light up the new Malaysian Football League season after Kuala Lumpur United FC, in a surprise move, named him as the new head coach in place of Chilean Simon Elissetche.
Hodak, who is currently undergoing quarantine in a hotel after arriving in Kuala Lumpur on Friday and is expected to start work next week. He has accepted a one-plus-one contract with Kuala Lumpur.
His KPI for the new season is modest – to ensure the team retains its Super League status. Anything more will be considered a bonus for the team and Hodak is ready for the challenge.
“Due to the tight budget constraints my first task is to keep the team in the Super League…anything more will be a bonus,” said Hodak in an interview.
“We can set higher targets next year with the hope that things will be much better on all fronts by then. This Covid-19 pandemic is madness but it is something beyond our control. For now, let’s look at positive things.”
Hodak is expected to get down to his work by next week. The new Malaysian Football League is scheduled to kick off on Feb 26 with the Charity Shield match between Johor Darul Takzim (JCT) and Kedah at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.
The experienced and widely traveled Hodak comes with strong credentials and is capable of hitting the right chords with the City Boys who finished third in last season’s Premier League behind champions Penang and Terengganu 2. Since Terengganu 2 is a feeder squad of Terengganu FC, it is not eligible for the promotion.
Hodak was a hit with Kelantan during his stint with the East Coast side. He took the team to a treble in 2012 when Kelantan won the Super League, the FA Cup, and the Malaysia Cup. In 2013 Kelantan also won the Charity Shield.
A year later the Croatian won the Super League for JDT and the Charity Shield in 2015 before he left to take the job of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Penang FA and had a hand in saving the Panthers from relegation.
After Penang, Hodak was appointed as the National Under-19 team and a year later Malaysia won the AFF Under-19 title in 2018.
At the end of 2019, Hodak was named as the head coach of PSM Makassar in the 2020 Indonesian League. However, the Indonesian League was canceled because of the Covid 19
pandemic.
Hodak left his 12-year-old son Luka back home in Croatia as he is studying in an international school there. Like his dad, Luka is also very much into sports and deeply involved in football, basketball, and cycling.
The father, however, is not too worried over Luka as he is well looked after by other family members.
”Luka and his cousins play in the age-group leagues there…the leagues there are very competitive. It is good for him,” added Hodak.
However, Hodak’s wife, Junie Tan Hodak is in Kuala Lumpur with him but will return to Croatia once she settles some matters here.

DREAMS CRUSHED, HOPES DASHED FOR SOME IN SABAH FC

0
Benedict (third from left)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 – Sabah football has got off to a messy start to the new season for now – following the change of leadership in the FA with political links and with that came changes in the management – at all levels.
Those who had accepted jobs and had already signed appointment letters deemed as a legal document are now left in a lurch after being told that the letter is not valid. Expect a legal battle to start between the two parties.
Sabah deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (who is also the UMNO chief) is the present acting president of the Sabah FA – taking over the post from Datuk Abdul Rahman Zakaria.
The new leadership revamped the entire structure of Sabah FC which had Datuk Verdon Bahanda as its chief executive officer.
Verdon subsequently resigned from his post when Bung Moktar came into power.
During Verdon’s short lived tenure as the CEO of Sabah FC, a new head coach was appointed and he was Lucas Kalang Laeng who holds a Pro A license.
The Sarawakian had already signed a one year contract that runs through from Dec 1, 2020 to Nov 30, 2021.
Our reports on Dec 1 2020.

However the turn of events in Sabah has left everything topsy-turvy and former Indonesian international Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, who was the head coach last season, was reappointed to the post in place of Lucas while former Malaysia Cupper, Burhan Ajui is his assistant.

Sabah FC’s new CEO is businessman Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan who is also the state Bersatu Information Chief.
There is also no place Jelius Ating, who was assistant coach last season, as the new team manager this year. The new manager is Ahmad Marzuki Nasir.
Sabah FA/FC’s new secretary-general Benedict Asmat confirmed in a telephone interview from Kota Kinabalu of the changes in the set-up.
”Kurniawan is already in town. He is expected to name the new team in the next couple of days. Apart from the foreign quota the rest of the squad will come from local players. There is plenty of football talent in Sabah and we want to expose them,” said Benedict.
”We cannot afford to hire players from the peninsula  as they are too costly for us.”
For the record Sabah finished 10th in the Super League last season and narrowly missed relegation.
What happens next is left to be seen. For now it is dreams crushed and hopes dashed for names like Lucas, Jelius and Verdon.

BIG NAMES DON’T SCARE UiTM FC

0
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 – After a memorable debut in the elite Super League last season with a sixth-place finish UiTM FC has fired an early salvo that the rookie team is ready to make its presence felt in the new M-League season.
Nicknamed “The Lion Troops”, the Shah Alam based outfit scored stunning wins over some of the big names in Malaysian football including Pahang (1-0), Terengganu (2-1) and drew 1-1 against Kedah and 3-3 against Selangor.
In the Malaysia Cup competition, they beat Kelantan 3-2 in the first round to earn a quarter-final tie against Premier League champions Penang before it was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
UiTM FC’s Prof Dr. Azizan Abdullah while praising the team for the “encouraging results” last season warned rivals that there is more to come from the Lion Troops this year where a lofty target has been set.
”We are looking at a top-three finish this season and also set eyes on winning one of the Cups (Malaysia Cup and the FA Cup) although there has been a movement of players,” he said.
”We had a good season last year and gave a good account of ourselves. The big names in the M-League do not fear us and we are ready to face them again without fear. I have faith and confidence in the team that we can do better this year.”
UiTM FC’s German coach Frank Bernhardt will have four new faces in the foreign quota with only influential skipper Victor Nirennold available this season.
The French defender canceled his earlier plans to move to another team when Bernardt voiced his intentions to accept a new offer from elsewhere.
The Lion Troops have signed up Croatian goalkeeper Dominic Picak, strikers Abou Bakr Al-Mel (Lebanon) and Nana Poku (Ghana), and playmaker Adam Michel (Philippines). Abou Bakr played for Kelantan and Adam for Pahang last season.
However, Bernhardt is staying put with the university team and so is Nirennold who was eyed by several teams in the M-League.
”I am once again counting on total commitment and self-discipline from my players for the new season. We will go about our preparations knowing that we will have to up the ante for a tougher season,” said Bernhardt.

NATIONAL BOWLING QUEEN SHALIN ZULKIFLI QUITS

0
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 – Malaysia’s bowling, queen Shalin Zulkifli has quit the sport she loves most at the age of 42, after an astonishing 28-year career in the bowling alleys that kept the Malaysian flag flying.
Without a doubt, her retirement closes a chapter in the history of bowling. She also leaves a vacuum in the Malaysian bowling team that will be hard to fill.
Her retirement caught many by surprise but Shalin had given broad hints of her impending retirement.
The five-time Malaysian Sportswoman of the Year -1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2002 – also won the three World Championships and this was in Malaysia (2003), Mexico (2007) and again after a ten-year lapse in Las Vegas, United States in 2017.
The mother of one who is married to former national bowler, Azidi Ameran had a glorious bowling career to keep Malaysia’s flag flying. There were ups and downs but Shalin stood strong to make her blood, sweat, and tears count when it mattered most.
She stood with pride on the rostrum – let it be at World FIQ, Asian FIQ, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Championships, Asian Games, SEA Games, World Rankings, World Tenpin Masters, World Cup, World Team Cup, World Bowling Tour.
Shalin will remain etched in the minds of all those who knew what she could deliver when called upon to rally for Malaysia. This she did countless times in her illustrious runs at the bowling alleys. She was always there as “Mama” as her teammates remember her for her motivation.
Always a “darling” to all who came to know Shalin she was also an inspiration when it mattered most and when the chips were down.
Shalin will be missed and one who will be hard to replace.

MOMOTA TESTED POSITIVE COVID-19, JAPAN WITHDRAWS ENTIRE TEAM FROM ‘ASIAN-LEG BUBBLE’

0
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 – World No.1, Kento Momota was tested positive at the Narita Airport which led  Japan to withdrawing its entire team from the Thailand Open Badminton Championship later this month.
The 26-year-old won the All-Japan title last week and the Yonex Thailand Open from Jan 12-17 was to have been his first international tournament after winning the Malaysian Masters in January last year.
It is a tournament Momota will not forget for the rest of his life as hours later the van taking him to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) crashed.
The van driver was killed while Momota was severely injured when his eye socket was fractured and needed surgery.
Momota is Japan’s hope for the men’s singles gold medal in this year’s Tokyo Olympics rescheduled to August this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Japanse ace was also a medal prospect at the 2016 Rio Olympics but he never got to step into Brazil when the All-Nippon Badminton Association slapped an indefinite ban on the player for gross indiscipline when he was found guilty of gambling at an illegal casino in Japan.
As a precaution against the deadly virus, the Nippon Badminton Association decided to withdraw the other 22 players from the tournaments in Thailand. The other tournament in the ‘Asian Leg Bubble’ is the Toyota Thailand Open from Jan 19-24.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian team to the two tournaments in Thailand will leave for Bangkok on Monday without the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) coaching director, Wong Choong Hann.
Choong Hann was tested positive for the virus and will be staying back in quarantine while the rest of the 39-strong squad will proceed after testing negative for the mandatory pre-tournament swab test.
“Disappointed yes. However, I believe the team is in good hands and well prepared for the Thailand tournaments. We have done the best in our preparations for the tournaments,” said Choong Hann when contacted.

TOP GLOVE PURPLE LEAGUE: JOO VEN STAMP HIS MARK TO TAKE HOME THE MEN’S SINGLES CROWN

0

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 3 – Professional singles player, Soong Joo Ven took the men’s singles crown of the Top Glove Purple League Pro Am 2020 Badminton Championship after beating Iskandar Zulkarnain in the final today.

In the series of final matches that were played at the Precinct 11 Neighbourhood Complex in Putrajaya, the day started with the men’s singles which saw top seed, Joo Ven taking on second seed Iskandar.

It was an intense final with Joo Ven winning the first set as Iskandar then staged a fightback to dominate the next two sets.

But after battling for over an hour, Joo Ven was crowned the men’s singles champion after winning the final 3-2 (11-10, 10-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-10) to take home the RM10,000 cash prize.

While Joo Ven fulfilled his top billing as the top seed, there were surprises in the mixed doubles and the men’s doubles as the seeded players took a beating.

The mixed doubles saw unseeded pair of Boon Xin Yuan-Teoh Lexuan getting the better of 3/4 seed, Tan Kok Xian-Wong Kha Yan.

Xin Yuan-Lexuan had to endure some anxious moments when their loss of focus resulted in them losing the first two sets.

However, Xin Yuan-Lexuan regained their momentum to shut down their opponents to win the next three sets over Kok Xian-Kha Yan 3-2 (9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6).

“We lost early in the game because we failed to read the way our opponents played. But everything changed in the third. We changed the pattern of the game and that allowed us to win the match,” said Xin Yuan.

For Lexuan, the victory was a good start for him as he had just been paired with Xin Yuan after turning professional.

“After this success, it is possible that we will be retained as a pair but everything depends on the planning of the club,” said Lexuan.

Completing the fixtures was the men’s doubles match between the 3/4 seed Iskandar Zulkarnain-Nur Muhd Azriyn Ayup against the tournament’s second seed Shia Chun Kang-Wong Tien Ci.

After losing the men’s singles final earlier, Iskandar was clearly motivated and driven as his partnership with Azriyn surprised Chun Kang-Tien Ci 3-1 (10-11, 11-8, 11-10, 11-4).

The winner of the doubles event took home a cash prize of RM15,000.

Iskandar became the highest-earning player at the tournament this year when he took home a total of RM12,500 in cash.

Purple League Chief Operating Officer, Ho Khek Mong thanked the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Putrajaya Badminton Association (PBA) and tournament’s main sponsor Top Glove.

The objective of organizing the tournament has been achieved and he hoped the players will continue to strive to achieve further success.

“The tournament which lasted for six days is a complete success. Honestly, I am excited by the intense competition and the enthusiasm that were shown by the players.

“There were talents for sure that we were waiting just to show their abilities. I hope this tournament will be a platform for players to further improve the quality of their game and strive for greater glory,” added Khek Mong.

He added that in spite of the current uncertain situation with COVID-19, Purple League will continue to strive to organize other tournaments, especially the Sengheng RedONE Purple League.

RESULTS

MEN’S SINGLES

Soong Joo Ven [1] – Iskandar Zulkarnain [2] (11-10, 10-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-10)

MIXED DOUBLES

Boon Xin Yuan – Teoh Lexuan vs – Tan Kok Xian – Wong Kha Yan [3/4] (9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6)

MEN’S DOUBLES

Iskandar Zulkarnain – Nur Muhd Azriyn Ayup [3/4] vs Shia Chun Kang – Wong Tien Ci [2] (10-11, 11-8, 11-10, 11-4)

CASH PRIZE BREAKDOWN

Men’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles

Champion- RM15,000

Runner-up – RM8,000

3rd place – RM4,000

4th place – RM2,000

Places 5 – 8 – RM1,000

Places 9 – 16 – RM500

Men’s Singles:

Winner – RM10,000

Runner-up – RM5,000

3rd place – RM2,500

4th place – RM1,500

Places 5 – 8 – RM1,000

Places 9 – 16 – RM500

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL SHAKIR JOINS PERAK FOR THE NEW SEASON

0
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 – After a miserable season last year, Perak known as Bos Gaurus was delivered a further blow for the new season when top hitman Shahrel Fikri moved to the Klang Valley to join rivals Selangor.
Shahrel, a national asset, has undoubtedly left a vacuum upfront but Perak is moving to build a strong side for the 2021 season.
The Bos Gaurus is looking at a South Korean or a striker from an Arab nation as a replacement.
Perak FA president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, however, refused to reveal more details on the player targeted by the team.
Ahmad Faizal, who remains as the FA president until the congress meets later this month to pick his successor, is also the former Menteri Besar of Perak. The FA president’s post is usually held by the Menteri Besar.
Meanwhile, Perak had good news for their supporters when Singapore international, Shakir Hamzah joined the team for the news season.
It is described as a ”breakthrough” deal with the Singaporean who played for Kedah last season and played a pivotal role in the team’s second-place finish in the Super League behind champions, Johor Darul Takzim.
Another Kedahan who has moved south to join Perak is goalkeeper Azri Ghani – hailed as a goalkeeper to watch.
Another catch for Perak is defender Danish Haziq Saipul Hisham who also played a pivotal role for UiTM FC in its Super League debut last season and finished sixth.
Perak has also retained Brazilian attacking midfielders Careca (Raiandersen da Costa Morais, Leandro dos Santos and newly naturalized Guilherme de Paula.
Long-serving Australian coach, Mehmet Durakovic remains at the helm of Perak. Durakovic became the target of the home fans when Perak fell to a 7-0 defeat to JDT in a league match in Johor Bahru.
The Bos Gaurus slipped to fourth place in the 12-team league after a 3-2 defeat to Kedah in their final match at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
The defeat proved costly for Perak after Terengganu moved ahead with a win over Petaling Jaya City FC.
In the Malaysia Cup, Perak handed a 4-0 defeat to Kelantan United and was drawn to meet Terengganu in the quarter-finals before the competition was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

TOP GLOVE PURPLE LEAGUE: CHI WING FINISH THIRD IN THE MENS SINGLE

0

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 2 – Former national shuttler, Lim Chi Wing finished third in the men’s singles of the Top Glove Purple League Pro-Am 2020 Badminton Championship after defeating Muhd Izzuddin Shamsul Muzli 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11 -6) in the classification match at the Precinct 11 Neighbourhood Complex today.

The win has somewhat redeemed Chi Wing’s frustration after failing to advance to the finals of both the men’s singles and also the doubles events.

In the men’s doubles classification tie today, third place went to the pair of Liew Daren-Soong Joo Ven who did not face any problems in scoring a straight set victory over the combination of Shaun Chung Kin Wai-Wong Yau Xiang 11-8, 11-8, 11-5.

The battle for third position in the mixed doubles went to second seeded pair, Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien after their opponents Mohd Arif Abdul Latif-Desiree Siow had to withdrew in the second set due to injury.

Tien Ci-Chiew Sien won 11-6 in the first set and led 5-3 in the second set before Ariff suffered a knee injury which forced him to withdraw.

Arif (left) withdrew from the match due to injury.

“The pain in my knee started yesterday. I cannot jumps and to avoid it becoming even more serious, it was better for me to withdraw,” said Arif who confirmed that he will be concentrating in local tournaments for now.

He added that his main focus will be entirely on the badminton academy to hone new talents.

Meanwhile, in the semi-finals that took place late yesterday evening, non-seeded pair of Boon Xin Yuan-Teoh Lexuan and Tan Kok Xian-Wong Kha Yan will compete for the mixed doubles crown in the final tomorrow.

Xin Yuan-Lexuan bounced back from defeat in the first two sets before showing the exit for 3/4 seed Mohd Arif Abdul Latif-Desiree Siow in a five-set bout 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-10.

Xin Yuan-Lexuan’s opponents in the final tomorrow is Tan Kok Xian- ong Kha Yan who sprang a surprise to dump second seeded Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien also in a five-set bout, 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 8-11, 11 -10.

The men’s doubles final will see second seed Shia Chun Kang-Wong Tien Ci up against the pair of Iskandar Zulkarnain-Nur Muhd Azriyn Ayup.

However, the focus in the final of the Top Glove Purple League Pro -Am 2020 tomorrow will surely be in the men’s singles between Joo Ven and Iskandar.

 

Latest Article

MISS BORNEO ANTARABANGSA 2026 BAWA INSPIRASI MARTABAT BUDAYA BORNEO

0
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Mei – Miss Borneo Antarabangsa 2026 bukan sekadar acara pertandingan kecantikan, sebaliknya hadir dengan aspirasi besar untuk mengangkat warisan budaya dan...