Never in his wildest dreams did Ganeswaran Segar expect his favourite football club – Liverpool – to be interested in his artwork.
But the Nilai boy, who took 11 months to finish his painting of Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League triumph, has been contacted by the English and world champion about buying his painting.
“I sent a video of my artwork to the Liverpool management but didn’t expect to hear back from them,” said the 29-year-old.
“Imagine my surprise when they got back to me to say it was fantastic and how much they admired it.
“I was very thrilled to hear that my work was appreciated.”
But a couple of hours later, Ganeswaran received a bigger shock when he was contacted by the club’s head of news, James Carroll, saying there was an interested buyer for his painting called The Six.
“I was shocked. I asked who it was and was told it was Pepijn Lijnders, the assistant manager,” said Ganeswaran, who has been supporting the club since 2004.
Ganeswaran, who has done the storyboard for a soon-to-be-released Tamil movie, said he is still negotiating the price and hopes to sell the piece soon.
“I’m just happy that a local talent like myself can catch the eye of such a huge club like Liverpool,” said Ganeswaran, who got the idea of doing the painting when Liverpool reached the 2018 Champions League final.
“Unfortunately, they lost that game to Real Madrid, only to win the trophy a year later.
“Hopefully, more Malaysian artists get recognition as there are so many talented ones out there.”
Ganeswaran’s painting was one of the main attractions of the newly opened Boot Room at Navigator’s Restaurant Bar & Bistro in Jaya One.
The Boot Room is modelled after the one at Anfield – the home of Liverpool – where legends such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan crafted the all-conquering Liverpool sides.
The Malaysian version has its own ‘Champions Wall’, replicas of the Champions League and Premier League trophies and other autographed mementoes donated by KL Kopites president Sashidaran Nair.
“The Boot Room will be the home of the KL Kopites and it will be where our members will gather to watch matches,” said Sashidaran.
Here’s a round-up of The News Normal today.
FROM RM3.8B UNPAID REFUNDS TO MILLIONS SPENT ON INACTIVE CHOPPERS, AG’S REPORT BARES IT ALL
The 2019 Auditor-General’s Report Series 1 reveals losses and misspent monies by ministries, government agencies and government-linked companies. It also features 73 recommendations to fix the issues highlighted.
The report showed the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) had yet to pay RM3.807 billion of tax refunds for the assessment years of 2017 and before. This has resulted in IRB bearing late payment charges of RM38.29 million involving 135,960 cases since 2013.
The police, meanwhile, paid millions of ringgit in maintenance fees for inactive helicopters. In fact, a helicopter that has been grounded for over six months did not get a 25 per cent reduction in fixed monthly payments as per the contract. The monthly maintenance charge is RM38,500.
STOP THE POLITICAL MADNESS
The intense politicking over the decades has hurt Malaysia unjustly.
Senior lawyer Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos insists there must be strict checks and balances when it comes to politicians and Malaysians must work together to strengthen and protect the country’s institutions.
TEEN GUILTY OF 23 MURDERS FILES APPEAL
The 19-year-old ordered to be detained at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after being found guilty for the death of 23 people in a fire at Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah three years ago, has filed an appeal.
His lawyer Haijan Omar said a notice of appeal against the High Court ruling on Aug 17 was filed through e-filing, a day after the decision.
Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah said since the teenager was a juvenile (16) at the time of the offence, he had applied Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 to sentence him.
The Act states a death sentence shall not be pronounced or recorded against a person convicted of an offence if the child is under the age of 18, and in lieu of the death sentence, as provided under Section 97 (2) of the same law, the court shall order the person to be detained at the pleasure of the King.
PHARMANIAGA HOPEFUL OF COVID-19 VACCINE EARLY NEXT YEAR
Pharmaceutical group Pharmaniaga Bhd expects a Covid-19 vaccine to be available by the first quarter of 2021.
Its acting managing director Mohamed Iqbal Abdul Rahman said clinical trials are being conducted in India and China and he is hopeful of a breakthrough soon.
PENANG FERRY SERVICES ON HOLD FOR REPAIRS
Those wanting to take a trip on the Penang ferry must wait until Aug 26 as services have been suspended for emergency repair work.
Rapid Ferry head Osman Amir said the three-day service suspension was due to some engine problems.
“The problems affect four ferries. We would like to apologise for the inconvenienced caused,” he said in a statement.
