Ejen Ali Misi: Juang wins at ContentAsia Awards 2021

Media Prima’s content arm Primeworks Studios and WAU Animation clinched the Best 3D Animated Kids TV Programme award at the ContentAsia Awards 2021, for the short film Ejen Ali Misi: Juang.

The short film was released on the official Ejen Ali Youtube channel on December 25, 2020 and garnered over 16.7 million views to date. Ejen Ali Misi: Juang was supported by an extensive public service campaign and paid tribute to the tireless frontliners and their heroic efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ejen Ali Misi: Juang imagines an epic battleground where MATA Ejens and non-Ejens join forces with the courageous frontliners to fight against a destructive Covid-19 army. Joining the fighting ranks was none other than YBhg. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Malaysia’s Director General of Health, in a cameo role during the battle.

The dramatic turns in the short film are soundtracked to a moving new rendition of Kita Jaga Kita (‘We Take Care of Our Own’), an original theme song by Altimet, Cuurley and Malik Abdullah from 2019’s Ejen Ali The Movie.

The underlying message of the song is to inspire the public to come together to defeat the pandemic, and by coming together, we will win together.

“It is an honour for Ejen Ali Misi: Juang to be nominated and then to ultimately win this award. We attribute this success to our partner WAU Animation's dedication to create visually stunning yet moving stories and using the animation medium in a uniquely innovative way.

Ejen Ali Misi: Juang highlights Malaysia’s technical capabilities on the international stage and imaginatively portrays the dedication of our frontliners in fighting COVID-19 while showcasing our nation’s multiculturalism and diversity in an engaging and impactful way,” said Dato' Khairul Anwar Salleh, Chief Executive Officer of Media Prima Television Networks & Primeworks Studios.

“My deepest appreciation goes to the WAUriors who worked tirelessly on

Ejen Ali Misi: Juang during the challenging times we had working from home throughout the pandemic. The team expressed incredible creativity and passion during the development process and contributed countless creative and imaginative ideas throughout. We feel very proud of this win, and see it as an accomplishment of our goal to express our respect and gratefulness to all the frontliners who never faltered to perform their duties battling COVID-19,” said Usamah Zaid Yasin, Chief Executive Officer of WAU Animation and Director of Ejen Ali Misi: Juang.

​​The ContentAsia Awards bring ContentAsia’s experience, depth of knowledge and integrity into Asia’s awards space for the first time. The inaugural Awards were held in 2020 – a pandemic moment that highlighted the gigantic demand for screen-based content. The Awards are owned and operated by ContentAsia, a 15-year-old information platform curated to offer insights into Asia’s content environment.

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Despite it all, what makes you proud as a Malaysian?

Malaysians have gone through a lot for their beloved country. We dared to dream of a better future when Dr Mahathir Mohamad first pitched the Vision 2020 way back in 1991.

Many among the rakyat still try to make Malaysia a better place every year. It’s truly ‘Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh.’

This Merdeka, we ask our readers what makes them proud to be Malaysian despite all the dramas they’ve seen unfold in the country over the years:

Despite it all, we still manage to live under one roof in peace called Malaysia <3 – Santhana

“Anne, roti canai tapau.” 3 languages, 1 sentence. – Siva Kumar Chandran

The Malaysian culture. – the_epicure_mum

That we look out for each other. – Teresa

We look out for each other. There are so many stories of Malaysians helping the less fortunate, especially in our current situation. – Winny

We’re multicultural. We live without war and at peace. – Jwala

I’m proud of our affordable yet relatively high standard of healthcare. Also, I love how we enjoy celebrating each other’s cultural festivals. – YN

The love for food. – Qi Wen

Two words: Malaysian food. – Praveen

I got good food, great people, and we’re polyglots! – Daphne

Nasi kandar! – Yusry Rofeman

We have one of the best culinary experiences in the world. – Linda

Having friends with different ethnicities, and I learnt to speak 5 languages. – Pua

Mixed cultures and plenty of opportunities. – Kiru

The various cultures and languages we have. – WSueY

Most of us are multilingual since young. – Kiry

Kindness. – Mr K

We are a multiracial country that celebrates different festivals and we have lots of food choices. – Gengadevi Koothaperumal

The people – Tina

Don’t know what to eat because too many choices lah. – bb.katun

Variety of yummy food. – Farah

Variety of cultures. – Nivedha Murugan

The fact that I love durians makes me a true Malaysian. - Cherisha Sharma

Public holidays. – Kaarthik

Food came to my mind instantly. – Olivia

What makes us Malaysian is our language is rojak like no other language. – zyinwty

Our multiracial citizens living in harmony. – S

Peaceful and so many foods to eat. – Shaqi Sumari

Food – Tara

Diversity – Choeh Jiat Chan

This article was first published in theSun Buzz Merdeka edition. Feeling bored this Merdeka Day? Check out these long series to binge watch and reminisce with the cast of The Walking Dead as they approach their final season.

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The end is near: Interview with The Walking Dead cast

After debuting 11 years ago, The Walking Dead has finally reached its eleventh and final season. The premiere episode titled Acheron: Part 1 picks up when the group returns to Alexandria from a critical food mission.

When the supplies aren’t enough for everyone, Maggie proposes a new but risky plan. Meanwhile, those previously captured by the strange soldiers are relocated to another undisclosed location.

The series sees the return of stars such as Lauren Cohan as Maggie, Norman Reedus as Daryl, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, Eleanor Matsuura as Yumiko, and Seth Gilliam as Father Gabriel.

BUZZ had the opportunity to have a chat with all five members of the cast in a roundtable interview session about reprising their roles for the last time in Season 11a.

How does it feel like playing your characters for so many years?

Norman: It feels good actually. I think Norman, just like Daryl, has gradually grown in the last ten years. It’s been a real gift to be able to play a character while continuously watching him grow because not many people get to do that. All his mannerisms, his face, and his attitude have changed.

I remember when this little piece of grey hair right here (his chin) was one tiny piece and I kept twisting it because I wanted to make it like a weird goat hook at the end of my chin. Andy would always give me s*** for that and go ‘What are you doing?’

You’ve gradually seen this turn more grey, so it’s kind of an honour to play a character you see grow and age in real time.

I remember me and Scott Wilson (who played Hershel Greene) had a pact. We were like ‘just let our hair grow.’ Let’s just get wild and we had like a contest to see who looked the roughest. We thought we would be like savage, at-the-end-of-the-world people.

When we first started the show, I thought if we ever went this far and this many seasons, we would all have like three teeth, be super skinny and we’ll be like crazy, wild animal people.

As the show gets bigger, some characters’ pants get tighter, they get little cute haircuts or they shave the sides of their heads and I’m like ‘Who’s cutting your hair in a zombie apocalypse? Is there a barber here somewhere that I don’t know about? Did you guys go to a Gap? What’s going on?’ (laughs)

Lauren: It actually felt different every year, I mean we were saying before we haven’t had time on screen together (as Maggie and Negan) so it’s been fun this year. It’s like a whole new show in so many ways.

Maggie coming back this season with so much baggage from before has been a whole new experience. I’m just so glad that the writers have put us together, because having people so diametrically opposed and needing to face each other has been so much fun for Jeff and I.

I’m glad we have a long season (to hash it out) because it’s very heavy and complicated. I think what has been a good surprise is to see what parts of Negan and Maggie are so similar in each other.”

Jeffrey: It’s really nuts. It’s been really cool to be able to play these characters for so long because they’re constantly evolving. It’s a big testament to our writers because we get to flesh out these characters. I never played anyone as long as I have played Negan.

First couple of years, we’re just a couple of comic book characters coming to life but it was more one-dimensional. Over the years, the longer I get to play him, the more I’ve got to find within him. And I think getting to do a redemption arc lets me see every side of that coin.

Negan who started off as the nutty leader has broken down, and is now is trying to find a place to fit in this community.

It’s really fun to see Maggie and Negan bringing out so much s*** in each other this season and see how they interact after so much time apart. What has happened between them is something we (have) never seen from either of them.

We’re seeing a darkness in Lauren that you could never have imagined even when we first met Maggie. We love working with each other.

Eleanor: In terms for the journey of Yumiko, watching how she started as part of the group to where she’s now, I’m just really excited for her. I think she (has) always shown promise of having the skills and the capabilities to step up and become a leader. We saw glimpses of it at Hilltop.”

Why do you think The Walking Dead is such a hit with the audience?

Seth: I think they love the tension and the action. I think they love that there are different people that you can choose to relate to and that helps with the longevity of the show.

There’s also a great sense of play when you watch the show; dressing up in costumes, trying to apply bite makeup on your arm or zombie makeup on your face.

Those things help the younger audience members to stay attached to the show, until they start to understand the deeper questions that have been asked and answered by the adults on the show.

Eleanor: I would say the thing that always stands out to me about the show are the two extremes. One is the world of the show where it’s like a fantasy environment you could lose yourself in, and it’s such an evocative world.

The outfits, the mud, the heat, the woods ... it’s a fantasy. But then what really roots it is the connection, these human stories and the characters the audience fall in love with. You’re invested in humanity and what it costs to survive in a world like this.

What can the audience expect from the season finale?

Eleanor: DEATH (laughs).

Seth: We’re ways away from a finale. I don’t know what the finale will bring. I know from the history of the show that we can expect it to be big, fast and exciting.

Eleanor: We’re only halfway through shooting right now. It still feels like an extraordinarily long way away and we’re only halfway up the mountain, there are more to go. I can tell you with confidence that it won’t disappoint. It’ll be incredibly in keeping with The Walking Dead universe.

It always has extraordinary openings in the seasons and the most extraordinary place, and this will be epic and huge.

Norman: Last time we saw Maggie, she was kinda running Hilltop and I (Daryl) didn’t live in Hilltop. She went on her way to do her own thing and when she comes back, she’s in full terrified mode so the group kind of gets back together to protect one of their own and that kinda leads us to the first part of the season.

Whenever one of our core family members is in trouble, there’s a lot of team spirit amongst our group to rally around and protect each other.

Were there any challenges reprising your characters or during filming?

Norman: There are challenges all the time. If it was a movie, one thing that would happen to me is that I would change my perspective and I would be a killer or a hero. In ten plus years of being on TV, you can make a timeline of things that happen to Daryl since season 1 such as looking for Sofia, bonding with Carol, choosing this family over Merle and having to kill Merle, and Rick acknowledging Daryl as a brother.

In this season, he’s doing things that he doesn’t want to do and doing things for the good of other people. When this show is over, I would like to see Daryl do something for himself. He’s always doing something for other people over and over.

I think Daryl needs a spa day, you know what I mean? He needs a day of getting massages and manicures.”

Jeffrey: I think the challenge is always just to bring it and elevate the material as best you can. Working with Lauren this season, I know how good she is and she surprises me daily. Knowing that when I show up in the morning, I take as a f****** challenge. I want to make sure I’m as good a partner, acting-wise.

So there is that aspect which I think we both enjoy very much and it’s our last year. You want our last year to be good and we want to end it right. It’s really important and the fans deserved it.

The material has been really hard but there’s a safety and a security that I have working with Lauren is very rare.

Lauren: Yeah. You cannot know if you got it but you know from each other.

Jeffrey: So far she hasn’t steered me wrong.

Lauren: Just like Maggie and Negan (laughs).

Seth and Eleanor, what’s the importance of bringing Asian and Black representation in such a big franchise?

Eleanor: It’s a hugely important thing for me. I’m incredibly proud to be playing the character and representing both the Asian and LGBTQ community. Truly, it comes from the top down so hands down it’s one of the most diverse and inclusive shows I’ve ever had the privilege of working on.

The thing that always strikes me about it is that my relationship with Magna (played by Nadia Hilker) in the show is an example of this. They’re two women being in a relationship, and it shouldn’t be the most interesting thing about their characters.

I liked the fact that it’s just how they are and there doesn’t have to be any comment about it. It’s about showing humanity and showing people in real life. It’s who we are and the show does that quite well.

Seth: I’m incredibly proud of the diversity on the show. It’s taking place in kind of a futuristic setting at this point and to know that we haven’t killed each other off due to our differences in skin tone ... I guess I’m pretty proud to represent killer priests. There aren’t many of us out there (laughs), just so you know.

Eleanor: We’re representing all the niche groups (laughs).

Seth: Yes, I got it all covered. Checked a lot of boxes.

This interview is first published in theSun Buzz edition. If you need ideas for long series to binge on, check out this list.

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Best shows to binge on

Are you looking for shows to fill your time in the never-ending lockdown?

We’ve narrowed down a few TV series with more than three seasons to keep you company during the upcoming Merdeka and Malaysia Day holidays.

Supernatural

Supernatural spans 15 seasons, so it’s the best show to start with if you’re in a long binging mood. The story revolves around two brothers, Dean and Sam Winchester, who are trained to hunt supernatural beings by their father. Throughout their long journey, their bonds as brothers are tested while they encounter creatures such as demons, ghosts, monsters and even gods.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones has eight long seasons to keep you occupied until the year ends. Set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, noble families are either vying to claim the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, or fighting for independence from the monarchy.

The main conflict is centred between House Stark and House Lannister. While they form and break allies of their own, Daenerys Targaryen, a new player from across the Narrow Sea makes her own moves to reclaim her father’s throne too.

Friends

All 10 seasons of Friends have entertained generations of fans, and still do today. During the pandemic lockdowns, the sitcom has provided relief and comfort for many people at home.

The series tells the bumbling and romantic adventures of six friends in their late 20s – Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, Ross Geller, and Chandler Bing – in Manhattan, New York City. The show has spawned several lines and quips which are still iconic today.

The Nanny

The Nanny has also provided much needed laughs and comfort to many who are stuck at home. All six seasons revolve around the ever fashionable nanny, Fran Fine, who works for the Sheffield family.

Fran Fine has remained an iconic character due to her unique speaking voice, bold fashion sense and sharp wit. The equally talented ensemble cast consists of Niles the butler, Maxwell Sheffield the patriarch of the family and C.C. Babcock as Maxwell’s business partner who’s envious of Fran Fine, makes the show a laugh-fest from the start to the end.

Modern Family

Modern Family is a brilliant mockumentary family sitcom about family dynamics and the hilarious moments in their lives.

Across all 11 seasons, the story follows three different types of families who are interrelated through patriarch Jay Pritchett and his children, Claire and Mitchell. This hilarious extended family and their heartwarming antics will melt even the coldest hearts.

Parks and Recreation

The award-winning series Parks and Recreation is a political satire mockumentary sitcom about the employees working in the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee.

The story follows the daily life of an ambitious and perky mid-level bureaucrat Leslie Knopes (Amy Poehler) as she tries to do the best for the town with her ragtag crew of employees.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Looking for a little magic in your lives? Based on the Archie Comics character, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a fun and slightly darker take on the teenage witch we know and love.

Sabrina Spellman has to come to terms with her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while fighting to protect everyone she loves and the town they live in. The series is split into four parts and it’s just enough to occupy your time during the extended lockdown.

The Simpsons

The Simpsons has been on television for as long as anyone can remember. With over 32 seasons, it’s the best cartoon series to occupy your time. The main characters are the Simpsons family who live in the fictional town of Springfield.

Many of the episodes examine their relationships and bonds with each other and their friendships in the quirky community. The show is known for some of its ‘fortune-telling’ plots and scenes, as well as its Halloween-themed episodes known as the Treehouse of Horror.

Penthouse

Penthouse (or The Penthouse: A War in Life) takes viewers on a wild ride of murder and revenge among the elite South Korean families living in Hera Palace, a luxurious penthouse.

The drama is known as a ‘makjang’ series and it’s a series that displays a lot of unrealistic yet horrible situations that seem to go from bad to worse. If you love drama, you’ll enjoy this catty show.

Running Man

Running Man is the longest running South Korean variety show. It’s popular among audiences because it features a huge list of South Korean celebrities.

In the show, fans get to know more about their favourite celebrities, while the celebrities get to wind down and have fun via various activities. The celebrities and guests have to complete missions and hilarious antics ensue while they vie for the number one spot.

Legends of Tomorrow

Legends of Tomorrow had a bumpy start in the first season, but the show has since garnered lots of praise for its action, comedy and acting as the seasons went on. The show begins with Rip Hunter, a Time Master, who went rogue when immortal tyrant Vandal Savage conquered Earth and killed Rip’s family.

In order to avenge his family, Rip recruits a ensemble crew of superheroes and villains from different timelines such as Ray Palmer (Atom), Sara Lance (White Canary), Martin Stein, Jeff Jackson (Firestorm), Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Captain Cold and Heat Wave. Together, they journey in a stolen time ship, the Waverider, and try to stop Savage’s rise to power.

Ducktales (2017)

The Ducktales 2017 reboot features a deeply touching and entertaining storyline centred around Scrooge McDuck and his adventurous family.

Scrooge McDuck has always gone on treasure hunting expeditions on his own until one day, he reunites with his nephew Donald Duck and begrudgingly takes in his triplet grand-nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie.

In each episode, the family goes on a globetrotting treasure hunting adventure while battling villains such as Flintheart Glomgold, the Beagle Boys and Mark Beaks.

Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time is a clever spin on fairy tales that we know and love. Set in a fictional seaside town called Storybrooke, the story unfolds when Emma Swan’s 10-year-old son, Henry Mills, discovers that the people in town are actual fairytale characters.

Throughout all seven seasons, viewers get to learn the backstories of each character and their motives in both the fairytale world and the real world.

Archer

Archer is an adult animated sitcom following the adventures of a dysfunctional intelligence agency. The plot is mainly told through Sterling Archer’s point of view and his interactions with his colleagues – his mother Malory Archer, Lana Kane, Cyril Figgies, Cheryl Tunt, Pam Poovey, Ray Gillette and Dr Krieger. No matter what Archer does, he always gets his team into ridiculous situations and trouble.

This article was first published in theSun Buzz Merdeka edition. Read the interview with the cast of The Walking Dead as they reminisce their memories on set before the season finale premiere. Not feeling the Merdeka spirit? Our readers share what makes them proud as a Malaysian despite it all.

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Ready to take on the world

FOR the final part of our series on the gaming industry, we speak to members of Malaysia’s leading PUBG Mobile team SEM9.GANK, which were recently acquired by leading global digital goods and service platform for online games SEAGM in a landmark partnership with WULF Esports valued at RM2 million.

SEAGM co-founder and CEO Tommy Chieng said that the partnership signalled SEAGM’s commitment towards developing and supporting the mobile gaming industry in Malaysia, which has been growing rapidly in recent years.

The current SEM9.GANK team line-up consists of ManParang (In-Game Leader), Draxx (Fragger), Bravo (Rusher), Putra (Support) and the youngest member Wrydep (Stand-in Rusher).

The team was first established in November 2018 by ManParang under the name Yoodo GANK, and teammate Draxx has been by his side since the start. As the core members of the team, they have built a solid reputation within the local esports community during their three years in competition.

Experienced PUBG Mobile players Bravo and Putra joined the team earlier this year, having been recruited by ManParang after he noticed their skills during prior PUBG Mobile tournaments.

Both players were journeymen in the local PUBG Mobile scene, on the lookout for a team which would allow them to realise their full potential. Putra, in particular, was known for changing teams with each season. Now, both are hoping to make SEM9.GANK their permanent home for the foreseeable future.

Wrydep was recruited by ManParang after the latter was impressed by his performance during mini-league tournaments. At just 16 years old, Wrydep is poised to make his regional tournament debut.

The team recently got third place at the PUBG Mobile XOX Unity League 2021 – Grand Final over the past weekend, and are currently taking part in PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL) MY/SG Season 4.

As one of the shining stars in the local mobile gaming scene, SEM9.GANK is looking forward to the opportunity to prove themselves on the global stage.

Despite all the pressures that have been placed on their shoulders, these fine young gentlemen are more than ready to handle the challenges, all in the name of promoting esports in Malaysia and beyond.

theSun recently got the opportunity to speak to the team as they were preparing for the PMPL MY/SG Season 4 tournament (answers have been edited for length and clarity).

Was there any negative feedback when you became a pro gamer?

ManParang: “I think all parents find it difficult to support their kids going into esports because, first, it’s not that well-known, and secondly, because of all the negative vibes about it just being ‘playing games all the time’. Even for me, when I first started out, my mother didn’t really support me.

“But after I began showing my potential, and proving that I could go far in the field – I won a tournament and got to travel to Thailand – both my parents began to support me. So I think the key thing is that you need to prove your skill and ability.

“I think most parents are like that. Even for me, if I had a kid, I would feel hesitant about letting them join, because for a sport like this you need to be committed, and they would need to prove that they can go far before I would feel comfortable.”

What are the most common misconceptions you have heard about esports?

Bravo: “When I tell people I’m in esports they would say ‘It has no future’, ‘Why don’t you continue your studies?’, ‘Why don’t you get a job?’. That’s what they said then. And Alhamdulillah, they still say that now (laughs).”

ManParang: “Until you show them your [expensive] car (laughs)!”

What do you think of the PUBG community here in Malaysia?

ManParang: “I think the fan community is great, they give solid support to the local players. The only thing is their numbers are smaller when compared to supporters of more mainstream sports.

“Our audience mostly consists of students, and other young people. But there are also parents, who maybe started to follow it because their children were interested in it.

“So to me, the community is great, and I hope that it will continue to grow, thanks to more exposure through mainstream media.”

How does it feel to represent Malaysia in international tournaments?

Draxx: “For me, as one of the players, I feel excited and happy to show the other countries that Malaysia can ‘game’, and to show good sportsmanship and give a good fight. And at the same time, we can raise up the country’s name [in the international] scene, and make all Malaysians proud.”

What are your personal goals as players?

Putra: “To be the best player and to reach the global level!”

ManParang: “As a competitive player, I really want to reach the Top Three on the global leaderboard. I’ve been at the global level twice, and both times I was at the bottom. So I really want to reach the Top Three, and then I can retire. And become rich (laughs).”

Draxx: “My goal is the same as everyone, to be the global champion and then – that’s it. Everyone wants to be the champion, no one wants to be the loser. So yeah, I want to be the champion at the global finals. That’s my ultimate goal.”

Bravo: “I want to be the global champion and become the best player in the world!”

Wrydep: “I want to reach the global finals! Of course, first I will have to reach the Southeast Asian (SEA) level, but the global finals are my main goal.”

We’re doing this interview on the eve of your participation in the PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL) MY/SG Season 4. How are your preparations?

ManParang: “Well, we just finished in third place at the PUBG Mobile XOX Unity League 2021 – Grand Final, so I think that was our best preparation, because we learnt what were our weaknesses and what we need to improve before PMPL. Which is good.

“We will try our best at PMPL MY/SG Season 4, and try to reach at least SEA, and hopefully reach the global finals soon, and reach our goals.”

What other teams are you looking forward to seeing in action at PMPL MY/SG Season 4?

Wrydep: “For me, I want to see NSEA.”

Putra: “Team Secret.”

Bravo: “I want to go up against Team 4Rivals.”

ManParang: “And I want to see Team Yoodo Alliance. Because before this, we were under the Yoodo name. So ... they’re our rival now (laughs).”

How are you handling the pressure of being one of the top PUBG Mobile teams in the country?

ManParang: “For myself and Draxx, we don’t feel the stress as much, although I’m not sure about the others. I think every player will have a time when they go through a mental block.

“Prior to this, we had a coach (the late Agusalim ‘Hahagus’ Amran) who gave us a lot of mental support, who always helped us out. But he passed away recently because of Covid-19. So [right now] we don’t have anyone who can give that level of support.

“But we do have an analyst named Soultannn, who is now taking over the responsibilities as our coach. Hopefully he can help us on the mental care front, which is the hardest thing to face.”

What are your other hobbies outside of online games?

Wrydep: “Nothing. My hobby is only playing games (laughs).”

Putra: “You all know mine.”

ManParang: “Playing Minecraft?”

Putra: “Watching anime! What else?”

Bravo: “For me, I like kickboxing, but now I can’t because of the MCO. We can’t do contact sports.”

ManParang: “If I could, I want to go bowling. But I have no friends who want to join me. I can’t just play by myself.”

Wrydep: “Why not?”

ManParang: “No, it’s not fun going bowling by myself, I’ve been doing that since I was a student. It’s boring.”

Hopefully once the MCO ends, you all can go bowling together.

Bravo: “Bowling and kickboxing. Jom semua!”

ManParang: “No, I don’t want to. I’ll break my bones.”

Bravo: “If we all go bowling together, after that we can all go kickboxing. It’s a sport too!”

Wrydep: “And after that, let’s go to the beach.”

Days following our interview, SEM9.GANK took its first step towards realising its dream by qualifying for the PMPL MY/SG Season 4’s first Super Weekend tournament, which begins today (Aug 27).

Based on Super Weekend points the Top 16 teams of the tournament, which ends on Sept 12, will qualify for the Country Finals.

You can follow the team’s progress by visiting the SEM9 Facebook page, and show your support for these skilled, talented players.

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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It moves away from haunted house scares

The seventh installment in the Conjuring Universe, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, takes a different turn this time round.

Based on the case files of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the upcoming film shows the couple fight to save the soul of a young boy and it takes them beyond anything they’ve ever seen before.

After wrapping production on The Conjuring 2, producer James Wan knew he didn’t want the next film to be another haunted house movie.

To achieve that goal, Wan, producer Peter Safran and screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick turned to one of the Warren’s most famous case files. The particular case file is centered on the first US murder trial where demonic possession was used as a legal defense.

This storyline was the perfect opportunity for Ed and Lorraine to push their skills to the limit and risk their lives to prove the innocence of the accused, and the existence of evil.

“What really sets this Conjuring apart and makes it so exciting,” director Chaves says, “is that you have all of the scares and the terror that you would expect from a Conjuring film, but it is set against this incredible mystery that is tied into what the Conjuring universe is all about.”

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return to star as Lorraine and Ed Warren. The film also stars Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Julian Hilliard.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It premieres exclusively on HBO Go on August 27, 2021.

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Enjoy Starbucks’ festive collaboration with Christy Ng

IN CELEBRATION of the upcoming Mid-Autumn festival and the unveiling of its first iteration of its collaboration with local designer, Christy Ng, Starbucks is pleased to present its artfully designed exclusive mooncake sets to be shared with friends and family this year.

The exclusive mooncake sets feature distinctly-designed mini-tote bags by Christy Ng, which draws inspiration from the ancient folklore of the festival but with a modern-day twist. The design of the tote bag illustrates a tale of its own, in the form of the Crane fetching Chang’e, the prevailing protagonist of the Mid-Autumn festival, an Osmanthus flower from earth to quell her nostalgia of family and home as she sits far away on the moon.

Bridging the gap of longing and familiarity, like Chang’e, families can now extend their love and gratitude for their loved ones through these specially designed mooncake sets to each other even while apart.

The two bags from the collection are available in two colourways, the Starbucks x Christy Ng Exclusive Mooncake Set in Burgundy Red and the Starbucks x Christy Ng Limited Edition Mooncake Set in Midnight Blue.

Inside the tote bags are sweet surprises in the form of four new flavours of mooncakes from Starbucks Malaysia. Home to the famous ‘Caramel Macchiato’, fans of this beverage will be delighted to find the Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Mooncake in this year’s set.

Joining this well-renowned flavour are also the Matcha Adzuki Mooncake, the Lotus Salted Egg Mooncake and the Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Mooncake. A combination of novel and classic flavours of mooncakes offer customers a variety that will be easily shared and enjoyed together with a diverse group of people.

To further welcome the Mid-Autumn festivities, Starbucks is also introducing a collection of tumblers, water bottles and mugs dedicated to the celebration. Stargazing is taken as the inspiration for the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Collection, to celebrate the season of reunion featuring floppy bunnies searching the dreamy constellations under a starry night.

The Starbucks x Christy Ng Exclusive Mooncake Set in Burgundy Red is priced at RM138 each, while the Starbucks x Christy Ng Exclusive Mooncake Set in Midnight Blue is tagged at RM158. Customers can purchase the Starbucks x Christy Ng Exclusive Mooncake Sets in stores nationwide, while stocks last. To add in more joy to the festivities, customers can also purchase the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Collection from as low as RM75.

For more information, please visit the Starbucks Malaysia website.

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Flavoured vape e-liquids help smokers to quit smoking

A RECENT paper by Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) and the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has concluded that vapers risk returning to smoking traditional cigarettes if they do not have access to flavoured vape e-liquids.

The paper titled Why Flavours Matter cited a five-year US study involving 17,000 Americans. It found that adults who used flavoured vaping products were 2.3 times more likely to quit traditional cigarettes compared with those who consumed tobacco-flavoured vaping products.

The research also found that a majority of vape users prefer non-tobacco flavoured vape products because of their taste, which does not remind them of conventional cigarettes.

Based on these findings, the report stated that banning vape flavours significantly limits the usefulness of vaping as a tobacco harm reduction tool, and will ultimately lead to more adults going back to smoking combustible tobacco.

The study also estimated the number of vapers who would be pushed back to smoking in countries around the world. It claimed that in nations with larger populations such as the US, a full ban on flavoured vape e-liquids would drive as many as 7.7 million vapers back to smoking.

It added that in Germany, 1.3 million people could switch back to cigarettes with a flavour ban in place, while in France, 1.6 million smokers could re-emerge if a flavour ban is in place.

In Southeast Asia, Malaysia was also featured in the report and it is estimated that 700,000 Malaysian vapers would go back to smoking if flavoured vape e-liquids were prohibited.

In addition, the paper also suggested that a ban on flavoured vape e-liquids would push vapers to resort to the black market. Past flavour bans have also driven unscrupulous manufacturers to create vaping liquids in their own homes without any legal oversight, developing unregulated and potentially dangerous products.

These illegal sales are outside the tax regime, which means the government loses revenue that they could otherwise acquire if these products were regulated and taxed.

Vaping has been proven to be an effective harm reduction tool for adults who are trying to quit traditional cigarettes. It reduces the harms posed by smoking by decreasing or removing the combustion of tobacco altogether, which is why in 2015 Public Health England declared vaping was 95% less harmful than combustible tobacco, and began recommending current smokers switch to electronic cigarettes.

Flavour bans have disastrous outcomes, and the approach should be focusing on enacting regulations that would strictly prohibit youth access to the product. For example, legislators could enact rules that penalise those who violate the law or who are caught selling to minors on repeated occasions.

Regulation on vaping flavours must take the facts of smoking cessation and harm reduction into account, and CCC and WVA believe any ban on flavoured vape e-liquids will negate the potential public health benefit that vaping can offer.

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Spider-Man: No Way Home bursts the doors to the multiverse wider

The official teaser trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home just dropped and fans are ecstatic!

The third Spider-Man movie to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe picks up from the previous film with Peter Parker dealing with the fallout after Mysterio exposed him as Spider-Man.

Based on the trailer, having his alter ego blown is too much to bear and handle for the teen superhero.

In desperation, he visits Dr Strange in hopes of a ‘cure’ of sorts to make people forget that he’s Spider-Man.

Despite Wong’s warning, Dr Strange performed a dangerous spell which backfired when he got distracted by Peter.

The fallout from messing with the fabric of time and space sees the return of old villains such as Dr Otto Octavius and Electro. Dr Strange can definitely not be mad at Wanda, Sylvie and Loki now. And why is Dr Strange celebrating Christmas early in the sanctum?

Spider-Man: No Way Home is directed by Jon Watts, and stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange, Zendaya as Mary Jane Watson, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, and Marisa Tomei as Peter’s Aunt May.

Actor Alfred Molina reprises his role as the villain, Dr Otto Octavius, while Jamie Foxx will play another fellow villain, Electro.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is set to release in cinemas soon.

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Streaming for a good cause

DIGITAL online game store SEAGM aims to raise up to RM10,000 in donations for charity through its first online charity show match - the SEAGMGivesBack Merdeka Charity Online Event! The event will begin on Aug 31 at 12pm.

#SEAGMGivesBack ties back to SEAGM’s core value, Care. The event also provides a platform for gamers to empower themselves, and impact a change to help the needy through the power of games and esports as a whole.

CEO of SEAGM and founder of SEM9, Tommy Chieng will be kicking off the event, which will be hosted by popular esports figure Flava. Those participating include famous SEAGM Squad figures such as MasterRamen, MamaJess, Hailey and SEM9 professional players such as ArrHedge, Rabbit, Manparang, Bravo, WryDep, Putra and Draxx!

Fans can watch the event through their favourite streamer’s/player’s page as well.

Donations raised will be channelled to the Handicapped and Mentally Disabled Children Association Selangor branch, located in Banting. The home currently houses a total of 78 patients who are currently disabled and require special attention.

The home requires daily necessities such as food items and provisions. The home also serves as a refuge for patients who have been abandoned by family members and have no other place to turn to.

The #SEAGMGivesBack campaign believes in the spirit of giving back while celebrating Malaysia’s 64th Independence Day alongside community and supporters. The company hopes that all Malaysians will unite alongside their favourite esports figures for this great cause!

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Easy and delicious recipes to try in a lockdown

In the first part of our simple (but delicious) recipes for you to try during the lockdown, we broke down our presentation to the three main meals of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This time, we’re going to keep things simple and curate complete meals you can cook in 1 pot.

Chicken porridge

Rice porridge, congee or ‘jook’ in Cantonese is the go-to comfort food for many in Malaysia when they’re feeling under the weather and prefer something not that heavy, easy to digest but filling at the same time.

There is something magical about a good bowl of soft yummy porridge that lifts the mood.

And the best thing is, it is easy to prepare the ingredients and everything is cooked in one pot!

Ingredients:

-> 1 cup of white rice

-> 200g chicken meat boneless and skin off (breast or tenderloin)

-> 8 cups water

-> Thinly sliced spring onions and ginger

Chicken Marinade:

-> 2 tsp cornstarch

-> 1 tbsp oyster sauce

-> 2 tbsp water

-> 1 tsp granulated chicken bouillon or a quarter of a Knorr chicken cube

-> 1 tbsp cooking oil

Seasoning:

-> 1 tsp granulated chicken bouillon or a quarter of a Knorr chicken cube

-> Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Wash the rice, drain, and keep aside for now

2. Cut chicken into thin slices and marinade in a bowl with oyster sauce, chicken stock, cornstarch and water. Mix well then add the cooking oil and mix for 30 seconds. The oil will keep the chicken from sticking together during cooking.

3. Put 8 cups of water in a cooking pot and bring to a boil with high heat.

4. Once the water is boiling, add rice.

5. Turn the heat down to medium and stir for 15 seconds.

6. Partially cover the pot with the lid (leave a little gap) and cook for 25 minutes.

7. At the 25-minute mark if rice grains are still fairly solid, add a little bit more water and continue to cook between 5 to 10 minutes extra. (Note: Cooking time depends on your stove)

8. Next, Stir/Whisk the rice with a cooking whisk or ladle for 3-5 minutes to break down the rice into a smooth consistency. Don’t hesitate to add a little bit more water to reach the consistency you like.

9. Set the stove to high heat, and slowly add the marinated chicken into the pot, keep stirring so the chicken do not clump together.

10. Once everything is in, keep stirring and let the chicken cook for another 3 minutes under medium heat. You’re almost done!

11. Mix in ginger strips, spring onions and granulated chicken bouillon and continue to stir for another minute.

12. Taste and add seasoning as needed.

Chicken Stew

Delicious, nourishing and flavourful, this chicken stew is the ideal comfort food when you’re feeling down and just need a big warm hug. It is also the perfect dish to help you clear out any remaining vegetables and bread you have in the house before grocery shopping.

Key Ingredients:

-> 1kg of boneless skinless chicken thigh or breast

-> 1 can Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup

-> 1 can button mushrooms halved

Vegetables:

-> 500g potatoes peeled and halved

-> 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

-> 1 medium white onion, cubed

-> 3 sticks celery diced

-> 2 large tomatoes halved

Additional ingredients and spices:

-> 4 tbsp olive oil or cooking oil

-> 4 cloves garlic minced

-> 3 tsp granulated chicken bouillon or half of a Knorr chicken cube

-> 8 whole bay leaves

-> 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

-> Salt to taste

-> Finely chopped parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add chicken meat and sear each side about 3 minutes until brown. Remove and set aside.

2. Turn the heat down to medium, add a little bit more oil into the pot if needed and sautee the onions, garlic and mushrooms for 3 minutes until the onions are soft and fragrant.

3. Add celery and carrots and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed to avoid burning your garlic.

4. Turn off the heat and pour in the cream of mushroom soup.

5. Fill the empty can with water and add to pot. Stir and dilute the cream.

6. Repeat step 5.

7. Add chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, pepper and bay leaves into the pot and mix well.

8. At this point you should add just enough water to cover the top of the ingredients.

9. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let everything simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken and potatoes are fully cooked and the liquid has thickened.

Tip: To adjust the consistency of the stew to your liking, you can dilute 2 tbs of cornstarch with 4 tbs of water in a bowl then slowly adjust the thickness of the stew by adding 1 tbs of the mixture into the pot every 3 mins until you get the thickness you like.

10. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Homemade garlic bread is perfect to go with this recipe. All you need is mix:

-> 4 cloves of finely chopped garlic

-> 4 tbsp butter at room temperature

-> Some freshly chopped parsley

-> A pinch salt

Directions:

1. If you have an oven, add the garlic butter spread on your bread and bake at 180°C for 4-5 minutes or until bread is toasted.

2. If you just have a toaster at home, toast your bread then add the garlic butter spread before toasting the bread spread-side down on a cooking pan for 2 mins under low-medium heat.

Claypot chicken rice

Claypot chicken rice is easily one of Malaysia’s favourite rice dishes. While not every household will have the signature claypot, we can easily adapt the recipe to using the humble rice pot and the best thing is, you probably have most of the ingredients you need at home already!

Ingredients:

-> 2 cups white rice

-> 500g boneless chicken thigh, chopped into bite-sized pieces

-> 1 piece salted fish

-> 5 dried shiitake mushrooms

-> 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic

-> 3 tbsp cooking oil

-> Spring onions to garnish

-> Salt and pepper to season

Marinade:

-> 1 tbsp dark soy sauce

-> 2 tbsp oyster sauce

-> 5 tbsp light soy sauce

-> 1 tbsp sesame oil

-> 3 inches of young ginger with skin removed

Directions:

1. First you’ll need to grate or blend the ginger into a fine paste. Then add 3 tbsp of water to the paste and set aside.

2. Put the chicken into a large bowl and add in all the marinade ingredients and ginger paste.

3. Seal the bowl with cling film or just cover it with a large plate.

4. Let the chicken marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes, remove and let it sit until room temperature.

5. Thinly slice mushrooms and let them hydrate in a bowl of water for 15 minutes then drain.

6. In a cooking pan or wok, heat the oil under medium heat and stir fry the garlic until fragrant.

7. Add the mushrooms and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

8. Add the marinated chicken and stir until chicken is fully cooked.

9. Add about 6 tbsp of water to the chicken to get some gravy.

10. If the chicken is too dry or there is not enough gravy, you can add a little bit more water and 1 tbsp of oyster sauce.

11. Turn off heat.

12. Wash and cook rice in your rice cooker as normal.

13. After about 15-20 minutes when rice is half cooked and solidifying, add the chicken and gravy on top of the rice and mix everything together.

14. Close the rice cooker lid and continue cooking for at least another 15 to 20 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, let it remain in the “keep warm” mode for about 10 minutes at most in order to ensure all the aroma from the marinade is infused into the rice.

Salted Fish Garnish

1. Wash and pat dry the salted fish with kitchen towels.

2. Thinly slice it.

3. Heat up a pan to medium heat with some oil.

4. Fry till crispy before serving with the rice.

Serve this dish while hot – and enjoy!

This article first appeared in theSun Buzz edition. Find out more recipes to try and get all your meals of the day sorted.

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Different types of candle wax

The idea of making your own candles at home sounds fun and easy, but you’ll soon find out that there are few types of candle waxes you can use.

If you’re not sure what makes a particular candle wax better than the other, hopefully, this will help you find out what you need and help make up your mind.

First off, the most commonly used wax is paraffin wax. This traditional wax has been used for hundreds of years. It’s cheap and takes colours and scents easily as compared to the other waxes.

However, its use has waned in recent times due to increasing worries of its potentially toxic fumes.

Due to this, an increasingly popular option is to use soy wax. It’s made with soybean oil and it’s sometimes mixed with paraffin and other waxes. Similar to paraffin, it takes colours and scents well too.

Soy wax is said to burn cleaner (producing less soot) and slower, which means your candle will last long. With that said, soy wax candles have a subtler scent throw, so it’s a perfect option if you have a sensitive nose and want a lightly scented candle.

Another popular and environmentally healthier option is to use beeswax. It’s the oldest candle-making ingredient and is said to have been found in the great pyramids of Egypt.

The wax is produced by bees and is a by-product of the honey-making process. Due to this, beeswax has a natural golden brown colour and a subtle honey scent. The sweet scent may not go well with some of the other scents you want to incorporate in your candle.

Beeswax candles are smokeless and sootless too. On top of giving a cleaner burn, it’s said to be able to purify the air.

Beeswax can be expensive, and as such it’s often mixed with another cheaper wax.

Coconut wax is another expensive yet eco-friendly option. The scent throw of coconut wax is amazing and burns slow so your candle will last long.

Another wax with superb scent retention and scent throw is the rapeseed wax. Also known as the canola wax, rapeseed wax is gaining popularity as an alternative to soy wax with similar benefits.

For an artsy take, a gel candle is a great, non-toxic option. Due to their clear finish, gel wax candles give off an elegant vibe and make great gifts.

The gel used is a combination of polymer resin and mineral oil and comes in three grades: High-Grade, Medium grade and Low Grade.

For better scent throw, most candle makers use the Medium Grade gel because the High-Grade gel can be expensive.

When it comes to fragrance, it’s important to use a non-polar fragrance with a flashpoint higher than 76.7°C.

Unlike the other candle waxes, liquid dyes can be used to colour gel candles. It is said that gel candles burn twice as long as paraffin wax.

Out of all the waxes, soy wax is considered to have the longest burn time while paraffin wax gives the best scent throw.

Now that you’re equipped with all the relevant information, you’ll be able to choose the best waxes to make your candles smell amazing and longer-lasting.

This article was first published in theSun Buzz Candle Craft edition. Find out how to make and beautify your own candles.

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Meet the characters in The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

Before Geralt, there was his mentor Vesemir – a swashbuckling young witcher who escaped a life of poverty to slay monsters for coin.

However, when a strange new monster terrorizes a politically-fraught kingdom, Vesemir is forced to confront the demons of his past while going on a frightening adventure.

Meet the characters in The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf!

Vesemir (voiced by Theo James) grew up as a servant on a nobleman’s estate and worked long days for too little coin.

He yearns to break free of his social standing and to explore the Continent to find his destiny. Voiceactor David Errigo Jr. voices the young Vesemir.

Tetra Gilcrest (Lara Pulver) is a powerful sorceress who is descended from one of the Continent’s first mages.

She believes magic connects all things of beauty. She and her followers work to keep peace on the Continent by ensuring that magic is not abused.

Lady Zerbst (Mary McDonnell) is a Kaedwen noblewoman who inherited her husband’s seat on the king’s advisory council after he passed at an early age.

She has since risen to become one of the king’s most trusted advisors, and a fierce supporter of the witchers.

Deglan (Graham McTavish) was raised on the harsh, unforgiving Skellige Isles and is the hardened warrior-leader of the witchers.

He is fiercely loyal to his “boys,” and committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect them.

Filavandrel (Tom Canton) is a fallen elf king from the Blue Mountains and an old friend to Vesemir.

He is also known as Filavandrel of the Silver Towers.

Luka (Matt Yang King) is a pessimistic witcher who resents his profession and trained with Vesemir and Sven.

Unlike other witchers, Luka never quite learned to love his profession. Maybe his pessimism is merely a shield, maybe it is really how he feels, either way: Luka is vocal about nearly everything — and that gets him in trouble more than once.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf premieres on August 23 on Netflix.

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Vape to curb smoking

THERE is a growing belief that the traditional “Quit or Die” public health approach to getting smokers to kick the habit is ineffective, and should be abandoned in favour of less harmful cigarette alternatives like vaping.

This view is echoed by Dr Lorenzo Mata Jr, the president of the Phillippines-based advocacy group Quit for Good. In a speech at the Asia Harm Reduction Forum 2021, Mata said the reality is that there are smokers who just do not want to quit.

He said the best approach is to enable them to switch to safer alternatives like vaping to substantially reduce the risk of death and diseases caused by smoking.

“Beyond any reasonable doubt, vaping is considerably less harmful than combustible cigarettes.

“Almost all the harm done by cigarettes arises from the smoke which is caused by combustion. Vaping does not produce smoke, only vapour,” he said, adding cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and over 7,000 chemicals.

Closer to home, official data from the Malaysian Ministry of Health recorded in 2019 finds smoking prevalence in Malaysia to be 21.3% or 4.9 million Malaysians.

While this might seem high, the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 showed that the smoking prevalence among adults in Malaysia has in fact largely plateaued over the past decade.

Further statistics from the World Bank show that as of 2018, the smoking rate in Malaysia has seen a decline of around 0.7% every two years.

Despite this, the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) is of the opinion that the reduction in smoking prevalence is not commensurate with the numerous stringent controls put in place over the past decade.

In a recent press statement, FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow said that switching to alternative, less harmful options, can be a first step towards smoking cessation.

“We cannot discount tobacco harm reduction strategies,” Chow said. “Switching to less harmful alternatives such as vapes, snus, nicotine patches and gum, can provide smokers a pathway towards quitting traditional cigarettes altogether.”

To this end, FPMPAM is urging public health officials to evaluate new strategies instead of just implementing more controls on tobacco use.

Mata is also a proponent of alternative measures, explaining: “We have extensive international and independent studies showing smoke-free products are less harmful than combustible cigarettes.”

He cited one study, published this year by the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Kitakyushu, Japan that concluded e-cigarettes could significantly reduce exposure to harmful substances compared to traditional cigarettes.

This exposure also included those around people who vaped.

“Tobacco harm reduction, through the use and promotion of safer alternatives to combustible tobacco, should be employed to substantially reduce the risk of death and disease of smoking,” Mata said.

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Universal confirms Fast 10 will return in 2023

Fasten your seatbelts guys because Universal has confirmed that Fast and Furious 10 is set to release on April 7, 2023.

F9 which was released on a theatrical window is the highest grossing movie during the pandemic around the world with $681.5M. According to Deadline, the film was the first Hollywood title during the pandemic to surpass $500M overseas this past weekend.

Justin Lin will direct the upcoming film too. While the cast has not been revealed yet, viewers can definitely expect the original crew such as Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez to reprise their roles.

It’s not said whether John Cena and Jason Statham will reprise their roles as Jakob Toretto (Dom’s brother) and Deckard Shaw respectively.

In a report by Entertainment Weekly, Dwayne Johnson is officially out due to his beef with Diesel.

“I wish them the best of luck on Fast 10 and Fast 11 and the rest of the Fast & Furious movies they do that will be without me,” said Johnson recently.

Despite receiving mixed reviews for F9, the stories remain a favourite among the audience.

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Astro celebrates 25th Anniversary and National Day with special programmes

As a gesture of appreciation to all customers, Astro is launching Astro 25 on Channel 100 with specially curated content featuring the best of Malaysian and Asian entertainment, premier blockbuster hits, and new documentaries from 16 August to 3 October 2021 on Astro TV, On Demand and Astro GO.

“It’s a very special Merdeka and National Day for us this year and our theme, #KitaTeguhBersama means we’re stronger and better together. It is a reflection of the best of what we have seen in Malaysians and continues to be the common value we need for us to unite, recover and grow through these times,” said Henry Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer of Astro.

“Astro is 25 years young this year and we will continue to provide the best mix of content including aggregating the best streaming services i.e. Astro GO, Disney+ Hotstar, HBO Go, iQIYI and soon Netflix. We will also raise the bar for local original content, and live signatures to further delight Malaysians.”

For the past 25 years, Astro has made strides in championing local content and local talents. The company has achieved many firsts such as the first HD, 3D and 4K UHD broadcast, first cinema in the home, and Astro First, the region’s first 24/7 local sports channel.

Astro has also put local sports and athletes on the global stage, discovered and made stars, and provided opportunities for Malaysians to shine and realise their dreams.

Talents such as Nabil, Aznil, Zizan, Remy, Hui Min, Denesh, Ean and Arnold, and Chiu Keng Guan have gone beyond and achieved their dreams entertaining fellow Malaysians.

In the last 12 months, Astro achieved its highest-grossing Astro First movie of all time titled Mael Totey, introduced local premium drama megahit Project Anchor SPM, extended the Hantu Kak Limah universe with the hit Kampong Pisang and refreshed its drama lineup to attract new audiences with programmes such as Scammer and Ratu Ten Pin.

Another show titled Rindu Awak Separuh Nyawa on Astro RIA became the #1 drama of 2021 and much awaited exclusives premiered such as Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Friends: The Reunion and Penthouse the K-drama that had everyone talking.

The vernacular content IPs such as flagship news talk shows, Evening Edition and Prime Talk and best of Chinese signatures Classic Golden Melody and documentary Social Playlist continue to be firm favourites together with popular drama series Tamiletchumy on Astro Vaanavil and movies Vetti Passenge, Vedigundu Passenge and Appalam.

From 16 August to 3 October, these are the shows making its debut on the platform to celebrate the National Day.

Tanah Tumpahnya Darah Kita

Tanah Tumpahnya Darah Kita is a documentary detailing the story of one man who detailed his sacrifice in the army through letters to his wife and young family.

The stories also include the stories and lives of other veterans whose valour defending the country transcended race, creed, language and culture. In retracing the steps and trials of these brave men, a group of young Malaysian artists such as Red Hong Yi was recruited to create interpretations of the sacrifices of the brave soldiers.

Alvin Teoh, Chief Creative Officer of Naga DDB Tribal, said “This docu-story was years in the making, I was inspired by stories from my father, an artillery officer, who served side by side with soldiers of all creeds and colours during the Daururat and Konfrantasi periods of our history. I am indebted to all involved for bringing to life these personal stories of a remarkable group of men and women from every ethnicity who came together as ‘kita’ to win us the freedom we enjoy today.”

“Tanah Tumpahnya Darah Kita is significant for me because I realise how little I knew about the veterans before this. Through meeting the veterans, I learned how Malaysia was fought for by people of all kinds of backgrounds who love the country. I hope my artworks will tell the story of the veterans - they deserve much more recognition, honour and respect for the sacrifices they have made for the country,” said Red Hong Yi.

The documentary premieres on 16 September 2021.

We Are No Different

Directed by Chie Keng Guan, it’s the first ever documentary about interracial adoption amongst Malaysian families whose stories are often overlooked by society but treated as the norm.

Viewers get to meet Hero, Sarah, Lavinya and Kamala to uncover their stories about acceptance and the bonds of love that go beyond blood ties.

Journey to Stardom

Journey to Stardom chronicles the lives of much loved local celebrities in realising their dreams.

Other than these shows, customers get to enjoy more than 150 titles comprising the best Malaysian and Asian movies, all-time favourite entertainment and reality shows as well.

On Your Mark premieres on Astro First

In line with raising local talents and content, director Chiu’s maiden film in China titled On Your Mark will debut on Astro First (CH 480) on 26 August 2021.

The story tells the emotional journey of a father accompanying his physically challenged son in a marathon. The film has successfully garnered a cumulative box office collection close to RM100 milllion in China.

“I’m thrilled by the overwhelming support received during the film’s release in China. I hope Malaysian audiences will be touched by the story, especially the father’s and son’s deep love that is portrayed in the film. I also hope that this film will inspire all the young and aspiring Malaysian filmmakers to pursue their dreams and go beyond,” said Chiu.

More in radio

Astro Radio is joining the fray by curating a special line-up such as the best of 25 favourite hits, top 25 Malaysian songs and many more over the SYOK app and across the stations.

RAAGA will also bring a 90-minute National Day virtual concert on 31 August 2021 with performances from renowned local artists on its Facebook page.

For more information on Astro’s 25th Anniversary offerings and #KitaTeguhBersama campaign, visit www.astro.com.my/bettertogether

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Work and play hard

IN last week’s edition of our series on online gaming sponsored by SEAGM (www.seagm.com), we spoke to educators preparing a new generation for careers in the games industry, as well as students entering the workforce.

Now, we get a chance to hear from two unique women from the industry itself, who can offer insight into their experiences as well as share what it takes to make it in this vibrant, thriving gaming ecosystem.

MAMAJESS

Jessica Chua Jia Lin is one of the most distinctive personalities within the local gaming scene. Known as MamaJess online, this Kedah-born Kuala Lumpur resident streams herself playing mobile games, including Free Fire and Mobile Legends, on Facebook daily.

“If you knew me back then, I wasn’t a [hardcore] gamer,” MamaJess said. “My brother would play PC games, and whenever he wanted to take a break, he would ask me to help grind the game for him.”

She admits that while she never took to PC games, she embraced gaming as a pastime when “mobile phones with big screens” were first released.

“I would play easy games like Clash of Clans or Candy Crush,” she said. “Usually when I was bored and had nothing to do.”

She fell into streaming almost by accident. She started out as a banker, then made the bold move to open her own café in Johor. Sadly the business failed after three years, leaving her wondering what to do next.

“I always believed that, while I was still young, I should not be afraid of trying new things,” she said.

Throughout all this, she continued playing, and by chance, ended up becoming the moderator for two local streamers, Edwardo Gaming and KBCSensei. They suggested that she try streaming out herself.

“At the time, my son was about a year old, and I told them ‘Who would want to watch this aunty with a baby? And what if my baby was hungry and needed milk in the middle of my game?’ But they both encouraged me, saying that I should try it out and see how far I could go.”

She decided to take the plunge, reasoning that she could always return to moderating if things did not work out. And the rest, as they say, is history.

MamaJess now has a solid five-year streaming career under her belt, and is one of the many streamers signed to Team Salty. Her bio proudly describes her as a “single mother who spends her time playing games while streaming.” Her now six-year-old son Samuel makes occasional ‘guest appearances’ during her streaming sessions, much to the delight of her viewers.

“If you want to start streaming, your heart must be as hard as a rock,” she said, reflecting on what she has learnt over the years. “You have to be prepared for the toxic comments. People might condemn you and say bad things about you.

“And if you are a woman, you have to be prepared for some really nasty comments. People will be telling you things like ‘go back in the kitchen’, ‘why are you playing, you should be making babies’.

MamaJess added that while streamers accept the risks that come with putting themselves in the public eye, she hopes that audiences will understand that that they are human as well.

She said: “Many of us are parents, we have our own families. We’re not robots. We do have a life outside of the stream.”

She was asked what technical advice she would give to would-be streamers. “Well, the most important thing is that you must first choose your platform to stream. The most popular in Malaysia are Facebook, YouTube and Twitch, but there are also others.

“As for equipment, if you don’t have the budget, you can first start streaming using Omelet Arcade (a free recording app). I would also advise you to try and get a good data or Wifi plan in order to ensure a smooth stream. I recommend 720p at a minimum.

“Once you get viewers, then you can think of upgrading your equipment to a better PC or laptop. Don’t get all excited and start buying the most expensive equipment before you start. Start cheap, and figure out if this is really what you want to do before spending money.

“And when you play [and talk], you have to be yourself, don’t act like someone else. Because you will have to show your true self in public one day, and if your fans meet you and you act differently, they won’t want to follow you anymore.”

Throughout it all, she has never lost sight of the real reason why she keeps on streaming.

“Everyone who has given me Stars on my Facebook streams (one Star is equal to US$0.01), know that almost all the money goes into a savings account for my son. Although I do take some of it as a side income, the rest is meant for his future education.”

She also shared that she hopes to one day start an Esports café, where players could also come and stream their games. “I still want to try out new things, and it would be good to have a second source of income, in case streaming doesn’t work out.”

SAMMY CHAN

From her home in Sitiawan, Perak, 29-year-old Sammy Chan is still able to perform her duties as the manager of partnerships, collaborations and Esports for SEAGM. Most aspects of her job take place online, and she has her hands full managing events and players for the Esports division of her company.

What keeps her going is her genuine passion for online gaming. She explained that she began playing the Sims at age 11, gradually moving to more strategy-based games such as Age of Empires, Command and Conquer, and Red Alert.

She continued playing even when she entered university in Selangor to study broadcasting, noting that gaming helped her meet new friends, and also helped improve her command of English. After graduation, she returned to Sitiawan and began working in a production house.

“Online games were my true passion,” Sammy said. “Back when I was in uni, I didn’t know how to join that industry, and so I went into broadcasting. But I felt unhappy [at the production house]. And so I decided to quit.

“I wasn’t yet sure what I wanted to do, but I just knew I wanted to work in gaming.”

She found out that SEAGM, then in its infancy, had an office in her hometown, and made the bold move of contacting the company on Facebook to ask if they had any open positions.

She initially interviewed for a position in customer service, but SEAGM co-founder Tommy Chieng noticed her resume included samples of her work from when she ran an e-magazine with her friends. She was eventually hired as a content writer for the gaming news website of the company.

Sammy has since written several hundred articles about the gaming industry, utilising her own experiences and interests in the process.

“I myself already read gaming news on the daily, so I knew where to look,” she said. “I also knew that you could also get information on games directly from developer’s websites.

“And as a gamer myself, I knew what tone to use to talk to readers, and what news they wanted to hear.”

A year later, she was put under a new marketing team and given the chance to try project leading, which included projects with Esports teams. She agreed to the challenge, explaining that her dream had always been to work in Esports as she “really loved gaming”.

For her, the biggest satisfaction comes from knowing that she had proven her detractors wrong. “My old boss from the production house told me that going into this industry would be a waste of time. Hearing that, I was fired up to make sure I would succeed.”

Knowing how fast the local gaming industry is flourishing, she has some words of advice for others who might also want to follow in her footsteps. “Working in Esports is more than just being good at games or being a pro gamer,” she said. “There is so much more going on behind the scenes.

“Companies like SEAGM and its Esports arm SEM9 are trying to create new jobs for people in the industry. In the future, the industry will need coaches, they will need broadcasting and event staff, people to handle the business side of things – there are so many careers and possibilities.

“No matter where you [end up] in the industry, you will need to put in the hard work. It may be ‘gaming’ but look at it as a real job that demands real effort.”

Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to our Gaming series, where we get to hear from one of Malaysia’s top Esports teams – SEM9 GANK.

Only in theSun’s BUZZ edition on Aug 27.

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Taylor’s new ecosystem future-proofs its graduates with holistic skills

In order to future-proof its graduates against the backdrop of a challenging economic landscape, Taylor’s University recently introduced its unique ecosystem termed Taylor’sphere that nurtures students in the three intelligences of intellect, practical wisdom and craft.

Aside from driving employability for graduates, the ecosystem ensures graduates are equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset that helps convert their passion projects and ideas into viable business models that could positively impact the community.

“It is evident that academic knowledge alone is not sufficient for a graduate to succeed in today’s world. Graduates need to have the life skills, the street smarts, the agility and creativity to be able to tackle complex problems that will need more than one solution.

“Our ecosystem allows students to develop the right life skills, and collaborate across disciplines to solve problems and create impact in their community, mimicking the way the industry operates. Providing students with the right environment, networks and resources at the university level is crucial to enable them to thrive in their future careers,” said Professor Dr Pradeep Nair, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer of Taylor’s University.

During the virtual launch, Prof Pradeep said he believes interdisciplinary education is the way of the future. On top of allowing students to mix and match their degree modules to gain a greater breadth of knowledge, the university has revamped its Taylor’s Curriculum Framework to incorporate various elements such as work-based learning, hybrid degrees and compulsory interdisciplinary projects.

This also complements the life skills modules that every Taylor’s student undertakes and taught by specialised life skills moderators. Students’ soft skills are systematically assessed in every module too.

“I believe we’re the first university in Asia that assesses its students across all their modules on their communication, teamwork, critical thinking and leadership skills, among others – and our students graduate with a second transcript detailing the Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities they have achieved, alongside their academic certificate,” said Prof Pradeep. “They will also gain a SHINE Award to recognise their co-curricular involvement.”

How has the Taylor’sphere ecosystem benefited students?

In the Taylor’sphere ecosystem, students are encouraged to use any studio or lab in campus for their projects irrespective of their degree programme. According to Mike Choong Wai Keng, the co-director of the Taylor’s Me.reka Makerspace (TMM), this effectively makes the whole Taylors’ campus a giant Makerspace.

In other words, students get to experience the Craft side of things by working across faculties in their first year and final year projects, proposing and prototyping solutions to address a gap in the market or in society.

“TMM mentors and advises student groups in their projects, and we provide them the space and resources to build their prototypes. Those with viable business ideas also approach our university startup incubator BizPod who will guide students regarding funding opportunities and assist them in scaling up their business. BizPod also works closely with the Research Enterprise arm when it comes to commercialisation and patenting,” said Mike Choong.

“The beauty of this ecosystem is that students get to create, experiment, fail and start again in a safe environment, and the university supports them in their journey.”

One of the student projects which have created a societal impact is the DuckiePi project.

Founded by a Taylor’s student, Bernard Yap, and TMM, their invention helped make online learning accessible for children from B40 communities during the pandemic. Yap did tons of research and negotiations to make a device which only costs RM400 each and runs at a desktop-level performance.

Each DuckiePi set includes:

-> 2 USB 2.0

-> 2 USB 3.0

-> Ethernet port

-> 2 micro HDMI

-> 1 audio output port

-> 1 SD card slot

-> 4GB RAM

-> Wifi-5 (Wireless-AC)

-> Bluetooth

-> Broadcom BCM2711 processor (4 cores running at 1.5GHz)

-> Raspberry Heatsink and Raspberry fan

The cost-efficient DuckiePi devices are powered by the Raspberry Pi and have applications such as Zoom, Google Suites and camera functions to enable B40 children to access online classes and resources.

How you can contribute to the DuckiePi project?

To raise funds and drive public participation, the DuckiPi team has launched a donation campaign earlier this year.

Currently, DuckiePi have partnered with InstaCash on a trade-in campaign. RM10 will be donated towards the DuckiePi fund when app users trade-in used devices with the promo code DUCKIE30.

Other successful student projects

Under BizPod’s mentorship, several student projects have grown to be impactful businesses. These include parking app Arrivo that utilizes artificial intelligence to provide a hassle-free parking experience to users; the Cultiv8 platform that aims to sell innovative, healthy and sustainable food products; and Unravel Apparel that revives deadstock fabric into trendy outfits in an effort to reduce fast fashion waste.

“All these resources and initiatives serve to enhance the Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities of social emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, cultural adaptiveness, and entrepreneurship in order for students to be holistic and well-balanced individuals. It enables our graduates to become persons of influence and impact, be it in corporations or in their own enterprises in a post-pandemic world,” added Prof Pradeep.

For more information about Taylor’sphere, head over to the official website.

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Add joy to Mid-Autumn Festival with Guinness Mooncakes

JUST in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival, local bar chain The Beer Factory (TBF) and Malaysia’s favourite stout, Guinness, have partnered once again to create the limited-edition Guinness Snowskin Mooncakes.

Wrapped up in a velvety black snowskin, Guinness Mooncakes set themselves apart with deep roasted flavours of Guinness and chocolate-infused lotus paste with an alcohol-infused golden bean paste centre, creating a rich and indulgent treat.

Fans can find out just what makes Guinness Mooncakes so popular, with the smooth and luxurious filling flavoured with stout and chocolate, and the slight hint of bitterness from the Guinness complimenting the sweetness of chocolate to create a mouth-watering delicacy, worth savouring every bite.

Exclusively available at selected TBF outlets across Peninsular Malaysia*, the Guinness Snowskin Mooncakes are priced at RM88 per box of two, while stocks last.

Housed in a premium presentation box of black and gold layering, it makes an ideal gift for the Guinness-lovers in your life too.

This time around, Guinness Mooncakes are also available for purchase online with the options of self-collection or delivery within 10km of radius from the nearest TBF outlets.

Visit https://bit.ly/GuinnessMooncake2021 to place your orders now to avoid disappointments.

“Those who missed out on last year’s sold-out Guinness Snowskin Mooncakes are in for a treat as we bring them back in conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. It goes without saying that we’re proud to have established this special tie with Guinness for three years now and hope this partnership will continue to grow and bring even more innovative creations to our customers and Guinness fans,” said The Beer Factory’s founder, Kent Chua.

“The festive spirit will be at an all-time high with these limited-edition Guinness Snowskin Mooncakes, even while we celebrate this Mid-Autumn Festival at home. We always seek to add a dash of magic to every occasion, and our mooncakes are the best fit to lift the experiences to a whole new level. We’re delighted to partner with The Beer Factory again this year for this exclusive, limited edition,” explained Guinness Marketing Manager Shaun Lim.

To place your orders for self-collection or delivery of the exclusive Guinness Mooncakes, visit https://bit.ly/GuinnessMooncake2021.

For more information on The Beer Factory (TBF), visit www.facebook.com/thebeerfactory.

For more information on Guinness, visit www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia.

*Walk-ins are also welcomed to purchase the limited-edition Guinness Mooncakes, available exclusively at the following TBF outlets, while stocks last:

The Beer Factory Penang

The Beer Factory Butterworth

The Beer Factory Bukit Mertajam

The Beer Factory Bandar Puteri Puchong

The Beer Factory Sunway Giza Mall

The Beer Factory Express Sunway Geo

The Beer Factory Hartamas

The Beer Factory PJ SS2

The Beer Factory Melaka

The Beer Factory Rawang

*For Non Muslims only

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A word before you go...

ALRIGHT! You’ve made up your mind to leave your current employment after careful consideration.

Before you hand over your resignation letter and announce your departure, make sure you check and do all of the things listed below to leave a good impression. As the saying goes, kill them with kindness.

Use your unused medical privileges

Before handing in your resignation later and proclaiming your intention to the whole office, do use up your unused medical privileges first.

While sitting in those appointments, it’ll also give you time to think about your decision and figure out what needs to be done.

However, make sure you don’t book all your appointments on company’s time. You don’t want them to be “onto you” that fast especially when you’re still deciding.

Copy over personal files from company gadgets

Over time, the company gadgets such as the laptop and phone may feel like yours but at the end of the day, it still needs to be returned when you resign.

Before handing in the letter and announcing your decision to resign, take the time to copy over personal files and save your work samples to your own personal computer first.

This is because the company laptop and phone will be wiped before it’s passed to your successor.

Prepare a transition plan for your successor

You’ll want to leave a good impression before you leave and it’ll be nice not to leave your successor in a lurch. Prepare a transition plan for the next person doing your job in an organised file so they can hit the ground running.

Take good meeting notes, list down any on-going projects with brief updates, and save this information in an easy-to-read manner.

It’ll be nice to offer to help select and train your successor too to make the transition process smoother.

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile

If you’re still thinking of resigning, it’s good to keep your resume and LinkedIn profile up-to-date. This will help in your job search to go quicker and smoother when the opportunity arises. It’s better to update your profile and details as you’re making the job change, while everything is still fresh in your mind.

Check your savings

Most importantly, you have to take stock of your financial situation. This is crucial if you’re resigning without a plan or another job in hand.

Depending on your financial needs, you may need to suck it up at the current workplace for a few more months and draw up a budget to follow.

Check if you’re eligible for unemployment benefits

If you’ve been laid off or without a job, you can check if you’re eligible for unemployment benefits such as the Employment Insurance System (EIS).

You can find out more about EIS by visiting the EIS website.

Go over your contract

Before making any final decisions, do go over your employment contract one more time. You need to note down the terms and conditions of resigning such as the number of months to serve, and what are the ex-employee benefits you retain once you resign.

Check unused vacation and sick pay

When you resign, your employer might be required to pay you for your unused vacation time, sick leaves and paid leaves.

This is usually paid out in a lump sum so you may be able to calculate what you’re owed.

Decline counteroffers politely

It’s possible that your current employer will offer a counteroffer in hopes of making you stay. It’s best to refuse any counteroffers politely.

Depending on your reasons for leaving, you’ll likely want to leave again despite the extra perks given. Accepting the counteroffer is also rude to the recruiter who helped you secure another job, and it’s also rude to the other company which decided to hire you.

Once the panic of your resignation settles down, your current company will peg you as a flight risk and you might be booted sooner than you think.

Exit with grace and dignity, not a blaze of glory

It’ll be tempting to give terrible bosses or colleagues a piece of your mind while you exit in a blaze of glory. However, do not ever do this. It’s much better to exit with grace and dignity. You’ll never know who you’ll meet again in another job, and it’s always better to be kinder than mean.

Thank everyone you’ve worked with and don’t brag

Whether you have had a good or bad working experience in the company, it’s thoughtful to thank everyone you’ve worked with.

These are the people who have helped you on last minute deadlines or to be productive in your roles.

Take the time to send a goodbye email to colleagues, clients and vendors. It’s also helpful to provide the necessary contact details to those who might want to keep in touch with you.

While you might be excited for your next job, don’t brag about it to your colleagues. And resist the temptation to badmouth management or staff. It might alienate them and you’ll never know who might be listening.

Even if they aren’t tattle tales, the negative interaction might leave a bad memory in your wake, and it might return to haunt you in the future.

Now, that you’ve exited gracefully, you can finally yell: “FREEDOM!”

This article was first published in theSun Buzz Careers edition. Here’s 10 GOOD reasons to quit and 10 BAD reasons to resign.

If you feel overwhelmed when things seem dire, here’s entrepreneur Kiru’s story about how he lost his business and built himself from the ground up again.

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10 bad reasons to quit your job

You may want to switch careers and jump ship because a new role seems to offer better opportunities and rewards. As tempting as it may be, there is a chance that it might be a bargain you aren’t ready for.

If you don’t want to be caught in a deeper rut, go through the list below to figure out if you’re leaving for the right or wrong reasons before handing in your resignation letter.

It didn’t make you famous or rich

These days, being a popular content creator or a startup founder seems like a glamorous thing to do. It is very easy to look at other people and be envious of their jet setting lifestyle and work perks.

Whether you like it or not, the truth is not everyone will get famous or reach that level of wealth. It’s best to be pragmatic and work on your goals and maybe you’ll get close to that level of comfort. You’ve got to put in the work to reap the benefits.

You’re afraid of the added responsibilities

It’s tempting to flee when you’re afraid of the added responsibilities and feel that you’re not knowledgeable enough to do it.

Leaving the job isn’t the answer because you might face the same issues in another role.

To manage this, you’ll have to fight the impostor syndrome and get to work. If you feel you’re out of your league, take the time to learn new skills and seek help from others such as your colleagues or friends. You’ll be glad that you stuck around and handled it like a champ.

You’re chasing a bigger paycheck

Are you tempted to jump just because the other role offers a bigger paycheck? Before making the jump, make sure it’s a job that you don’t mind doing day in and out.

Stop comparing what you don’t have and focus on what you can do more for yourself. You stand a better chance to succeed if you put in the time to master your skills and the rewards will soon follow.

You want a flexible schedule but...

You have not proven yourself to be a reliable employee, or you have not discussed the situation with your superiors. Before changing jobs, speak to your supervisor to see if the company can accommodate your needs and schedule.

If you haven’t been a reliable employee, your chances of getting a flexible schedule are very slim. Perhaps it’s something that you need to work on and improve too.

You received criticism for your work

It may be disheartening to receive criticism for your work but before you do anything rash, sit and think whether the feedback is constructive.

Getting constructive feedback is an opportunity to fix your mistakes now rather than later. Seeing that you haven’t been fired, you’re given an opportunity to do better.

You were not given a promotion

It can be demotivating to find out you’ve been passed over for a promotion. Before hastily submitting your resignation letter, speak to your supervisor to find out the reasons why and how you can improve to nail the next promotion.

You might find out some key areas that you’ve not done well which can be improved. Only leave if there’s clear evidence of foul play or favouritism.

You want to be your own boss

It’s always better to be your own boss than working for someone else. However, many are often shocked to find out that being their own boss requires way more work on their part, and the responsibilities are can be daunting.

You have to be a disciplined individual if you’re thinking of freelancing. Before leaving your current role, make sure you have a plan for your new business venture and enough savings to see you through the project.

Having a tough time at home

Don’t leave your current job just because you can’t deal with the stress at home whether it’s fighting with your spouse or dealing with unruly children.

To manage, it’s helpful to reframe how you think about work. This is because having a job to go to may actually be the ‘escape’ or respite you need.

Work can offer some time alone and is also a good place to have conversations with other adults if you’re tired of talking about school-related stuff.

Because the grass looks greener on the other side

Things may look sunny and chummy at your friend’s workplace but you don’t know if it’s a toxic work environment filled with gossipy cliques.

People often post the highlight reels on their social media so don’t be too caught up with their fake, curated lives. Everyone gets frustrated with their job but sometimes when it’s managed properly, the hard times will pass.

Don’t leave a stable work environment just because something else looks better in pictures and on paper.

You don’t have work friends

It can be lonely at work if you have not formed meaningful connections with your colleagues. Put in some effort to mingle around before calling it quits.

You might be able to form more professional connections which may or may not lead you to better roles in the future. In short, try to improve your situation first before making the leap. If you’re still unable to make friends at work, maybe it’s time to look in the mirror and check yourself.

Sometimes we aren’t aware of our tone of speech and body language. Fortunately, these can be fixed with time.

This article is first published in theSun Buzz Careers edition. Here’s are 10 GOOD reasons to quit your job and what you should do before resigning.

If you’re in need of motivation, here’s entrepreneur Kiru’s story about how he lost everything and built himself from the ground up again.

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