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Official Newspaper
KDN : PP17797/06/2012(032765) | MICA : MCI(P) 099/06/2013
The Iskandarian, Iskandar Malaysia’s Premier Community Newspaper, is a publicprivate collaborative product by IRDA’s Social Development Division
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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill
We get in touch with organisation CEOs & Chairmen to drill them with question
The CARE culture tells us to looks after our guests, our team members and the community - Simon McGrath, GM
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Housing Bill Road show planned by the state pg 28 government
LOSING OUR TALENT
pg 9
DoubleTree
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Ramadan Special Places & prices guide on where to pg 22 break-fast
Crucial: We are losing our talent by the thousands as recent statistics show that almost 300,000 commuters cross the bridge to Singapore every day. Will our labour market survive when the Asean Free Trade Area policy takes pg 4 effect next year?
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INSIDE ‘Bring on the night’ 5,000 runners turn up for Sundown Nusajaya pg 11
The Ultimate Beatdown came swinging once again at EduCity pg 13
pic by Nicholas Vincent
Bio-XCell welcomes Kedah MB Dato’ Seri pg 12 Mukhriz
pg 2
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The Iskandarian
Our Friends
news Johor Bahru: World City by 2020
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ISSUE 23 | JULY 2014
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International: A two-day international conference was organised to seek and explore new ideas as Johor Bahru thrusts itself to become a world city by year 2020 By Maisarah & Zarakay newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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s Johor Bahru aspires to be a future world city in the likes of Tokyo, Singapore, London and New York, many issues need to be addressed. To formulate new ideas and share experiences was the objective of the international conference. Launching the conference was YB Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, Deputy Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government who stressed in her opening speech that local governments and city councils must continue to pursue innovation and best practices in their policies and management framework in line with the change of time. “Policies and frameworks structured by city governors and councils must address the future imbalances of land use, physical infrastructures, facilities, and social issues of urbanisation. Addressing these future issues and challenges
Achieving a world city is a collective effort – YB Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique Deputy Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government
today will allow a more diligent approach towards a world city management in the future,” said the Deputy Minister. “The society should be educated and kept engaged so that they understand that achieving a world city is a collective effort,” she added. The conference was attended by 500 delegates from all over the world with 9 speakers and subject matter experts invited to present their ideas and research
From Left: Mayor Abdul Rahman Mohamed Dewam, State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim and Deputy Minister YB Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique works.
Amongst the notable speakers was former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia YAB Tun Musa Hitam, IRDA’s Chief Executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, award winning architect Shane Thompson of Thompson Architects, Australia, Dr. Tadashi Matsumoto of OECD, France and Dr. Joseph Runzo Inada, Policy Advisor of Tokoyama City. The delegates were hosted to a royal banquet dinner at the Grand
Ballroom at Persada Convention Centre in the presence of DYMM Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and followed by a field trip to major developments in Johor Bahru and Nusajaya. UM Land presented a cheque of RM 250,000 to the Malaysian Institute of Planners as part of their CSR effort. Presenting the cheque was KK Wong, CEO of Dynasty View Sdn Bhd, a whollyowned subsidiary of UM Land.
Johor Police HQ 07-221 2999 / 07-225 4499
JB North Police IPD 07-556 3122
Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171
Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91
Immigration 07-224 4233
JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999
Nusajaya Police IPD 07-511 4222
Tourism Malaysia Hotline 1300 88 5050
Johor Tourism 07-223 4935 / 224 9960
Senai International Airport 07-599 4500
Hotlines
Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000
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Published by True Soul Entertainment [14, Jln. Selasih 10, Taman Kemas, 81200, Johor Bahru]Printed by Percetakan Gemilang Sinar/Gan Seng Printing(M) Sdn.Bhd. [No.100, Jalan Tampoi, 81200, Johor Bahru] Copyright of articles, contributions and photos which are published by The Iskandarian is the property of True Soul Entertainment. The Iskandarian does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibilities for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher.
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ISSUE 23 | JULY 2014
Inside Insight The Iskandarian
quick reads
Concerned over Foreign Security Companies The Home Ministry has been urged to scrutinise the proposal by a security company from a neighbouring country to operate at Iskandar Malaysia. Kempas assemblyman Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Hamid Jumat feared that the foreign company’s activities might compromise Johor’s security with the bringing in of 600-strong employees by the company. The government must also scrutinise the background of the company before allowing it to operate in Johor.
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Controversial Stop work order issued on Forest City project
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WAVES Lifestyle What to do this month? Check out pg 15 our calendar
pg 27
Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios opens Interest: South-East Asia’s largest integrated studio facility is open for business in Iskandar Malaysia By Maisarah & Zarakay newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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inewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios opened for business with a multi-milliondollar television production from American Internet-streaming service provider Netflix. Sitting on 20ha of land, the massive film soundstages are 100,000 sq ft in total, while its television studios and other production facilities take up another 24,000 sq ft. Officially completed in December last year, most of its facilities have been taken up with the production of the television series Marco Polo. It is produced by the American production house The Weinstein Company, known for reality shows such as Project Runway and feature films Django Unchained (2012) and the award-
30 per cent cash rebate for qualifying productions – Michael Lake
Chief Executive Officer Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios
winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Khazanah allied with the famous Britain-based Pinewood Studios Group, a production house founded in the 1930s near London, which is responsible for films in the James Bond franchise, to manage Pinewood.
The Iskandarian
Do’s & Don’ts The good, the bad and the ugly of fellow Iskandarians.
The driver must have been in a rush to leave the car in mid street! -Submitted by Edward (Landmark Mall)
Snap your thoughts and send in pictures to our Do’s & Don’ts segment today: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios is up and running “Besides the studios’ infrastructure advantages, such as state-of-the-art equipment, scale and an English-speaking workforce, the location in Johor allows fast access to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur,” said Chief Executive
Officer of Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, Michael Lake. “The Malaysian government also offers foreign firms a 30 per cent cash rebate for qualifying productions filming in the country,” he added.
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from cover page
Losing our talent Crucial: We are losing our talent by the thousands as recent statistics show that almost 300,000 commuters cross the bridge to Singapore every day. Will our labour market survive when the Asean Free Trade Area policy takes effect next year? By Edey Suresh newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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n 2011, World Bank published a 150-page Brain Drain report on Malaysia which stated that one million Malaysians (over 3 percent of the country’s population) were living overseas, including two out of every ten college graduates. Statistics of commuters crossing the bridge to Singapore decreased slightly to 206,136 Malaysians and 91,309 non Malaysians (total 297,445) in 2013 compared to 221,793 Malaysians and 94,981 non Malaysians in 2012 (total 316,774) due to stringent customs checks at the border. Malaysian commuters surged from 150,000 in 2009 to 220,000 in 2012; a leap of 70,000 commuters. What does all these statistics tell us? We’re losing our talent in an increasingly alarming rate. Cited statistics show how our graduates have fared in the various skills-set expected by potential employers and technical skills and soft skills are very much lacking. JobStreet’s 2013 survey indicated that the number one deciding factor for employers to hire is based on good interpersonal skills and communication skills followed by a good command of English and the right salary expectation. Recognising this, the government has introduced entrepreneurship studies at various levels in schools and universities. Extra incentives have also been announced by the government last year. With an allocation of RM200 million, a Graduate Employability Task Force has been set up. Another RM440 million has been set aside to establish a Skills Development Fund Corporation. Malaysia wants to become a developed country by 2020, and we are 6 years away with a mountain of work ahead of us. The National target for 2020 is to have a gross national income (GNI) per capita of US$15,000. This will be achieved by attracting US$444 billion in investments, which will, in turn, create 3.3 million new jobs. The emphasis will be on skills development and the proportion of skilled people in the workforce will rise from the present 24 percent of the total workforce to 55 percent in 2020. Looking at the job market, it’s apparent to favour the science and technical studies graduates with 16 per cent and 27 per cent of them remaining unemployed, a small number in comparison with 44 percent of the arts and social science graduates. The increasing number of unemployed graduates and mismatched employment is worrying at around 40 per cent in 2013. Oddly, diploma holders have been finding it easier to obtain jobs due to the fact that employers prefer to hire them since their pay grade is much lower and because
most diploma holders usually have some sort of job experience whether on their own or via internship. These traits make them more employable compared to the degree holders and beyond. This clearly positions the ‘act global, pay local’ stigma that seems to plague our workforce predicament. Johor is losing its talent not only to Singapore but also to Klang Valley. Countless number of Johorians has crossed over to Klang Valley and don’t see the opportunity to return based on the salary scheme that Johor offers which is quite substantial in comparison. Kelly Services Malaysia’s 2013/14 Salary Guide (free download: http://www. kellyservices.com.my/uploadedFiles/Dev_-_ Kelly_Services%281%29/4-Resource_Center/ Malaysia%20salary%20guide%20ebook. pdf ) states a pay scale that we hardly hear about in Johor. Some argue that competition in Klang Valley is much more intense, and higher salary demands are based on cityliving there but the writer would beg to differ since commuting in KL which has rail links at most areas is cheaper compared to Johor where you have to take a cab or possess your own vehicle, and with living costs going up in folds as we can see from our property prices which shot up close to 20 per cent last year with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at only about 5 percent to 6 percent, Johor is no different from Klang Valley and we should be paid as such. A key problem that demands solutions is the need to change the mindset of graduates. Malaysians generally prefer to remain in their comfort zone and don’t venture out to learn and embrace new things. Remarkably, graduates from Sabah and Sarawak however seem to differ and a high volume of workers from these two states seem to be crossing over to the Peninsula. Come next year, the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) policy will take effect. This means free movement of goods, services and labour in the region which loosely translates that the ten ASEAN nations; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand will now be local job seekers’ competition. It can also mean that we need to up our playing field quickly or end up in the losing end. The AFTA can be perceived as both a boon and a bane as graduates can now meet job demands overseas and look at building careers abroad which is an alternative remedy to fix the current low employability prospects of graduates but it also means we’ll bleed out on local talent once again. A lot more has to be said so the writer will continue this article with a second series as we touch base with relevant authorities and their plans to help ease employment issues faced in Johor and Iskandar Malaysia.
Commuters crossing the Causeway Bridge
(pic by Nicholas Vincent)
Caution given to Ramadan bazaar traders Responsible: Ramadan bazaar traders are reminded to maintain food quality and hygiene standards
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ohor Bahru City Council (MBJB) mayor Abdul Rahman Mohamed Dewam said the council’s health department would mobilise its team to monitor some 1,200 Ramadan bazaar traders at 30 locations. “Apart from the cleanliness of their premises and the quality of food, traders also need to focus on other aspects such as their attire, displaying price tags and not to obstruct the traffic when conducting their businesses,” he said. “Traders who fail to comply with the rules can be compounded immediately for RM500 under the Hawkers Trades and Licensing Rules (1981) (MBJB),” he said at a briefing session with traders at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim. In addition to issuing licences and
providing sites for business, MBJB also pays attention to knowledge and information sharing at no charge to the traders to enhance the quality of their businesses and protect customers’ rights. “With the emergence of communications technology and social media such as Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter, behaviour shown by the traders will easily be spread by anyone and will contribute to both positive and negative effects in future,” he said. He said, last year, the council inspected 873 stalls and gave a grade A to 134, grade B to 386, grade C to 332 and grade D to 21.
Firefly now flies Johor to Ipoh this September Firefly has announced that they’ll begin their Ipoh-Johor flights from 15th September this year. The Ipoh-Johor route was added because Firefly was not able to add another flight from Changi Airport to Ipoh. “Firefly will have four flights per week servicing the Ipoh-Johor route,” said Firefly Johor Sales Manager Khairul Anuar Daud. Tickets for these new routes are up for sale now. In an interview with StarBiz, CEO Ignatius Ong said Firefly will add more than five new destinations over the next three years under its plans to expand operations in the north and east coast of the country.
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Responsible: Care United Johor Bahru distributed Hari Raya Hampers to 100 low-income families from Kg.Skudai Kiri at Dewanraya Kg Skudai Kiri
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arking the ninth year that Care United Johor Bahru has reached out to poor families during Ramadan. All hampers are personally packed by Care United members and handed over to each individual family. Each hamper is worth about RM200 in value inclusive of a shopping bag that contains festive goodies and essential groceries. Led by Care United’s President and members together with volunteers, the visit to Kampung Skudai Kiri was aimed at meeting the individual families and making their Aidilfitri more memorable. All the children of low-income families at Kampung Skudai Kiri will automatically become recipients in the annual Care United Back-toSchool Campaign where they receive back-to-school kits comprised of shopping voucher to purchase school uniforms, new school bag and stationery items. Crowning 10 years of caring and sharing, Care United Johor Bahru is inviting sponsors and members of the public to attend
pic by John Lee
The Iskandarian
quick reads
news Hari Raya Hampers with CARE
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ISSUE 23 | JULY 2014
and support its annual fundraiser - Masquerade Royale Ball in conjunction with Ms Care United Beauty Pageant 2014 on Saturday, 9th August 2014 at Persada Johor International Convention Centre. With stellar performances by Jo Kukathas, artistic director of Instant Café Theatre, emcee Edwin Sumun, feasting, auctions and attractive prizes, the evening promises to be an exciting one. The grand prize for Ms Care United 2014 is a 3D2N stay for 2 persons in a one-bedroom suite with breakfast at
Swissotel Phuket, return air tickets for 2 persons by Silk Air to Phuket, jewels by Queen’s Jewelers and shopping vouchers. In preparation for Miss Care United Beauty Pageant 2014, Care United Johor Bahru recently organised an Etiquette Class and Semi-finals round for its pageant contestants. Admission tickets start from a donation of RM 180 per person or RM 1,800 per table onwards. All donations of RM 50 and above receive a tax exempt receipt.
The Charity Dinner & Dance will help to raise funds for many projects, where RM 606,500.00 is required annually. A hefty chunk of the money raised will go to their Back-To-School Programme, which is entering its 10th year, and aims to eliminate poverty by helping needy children get a good education. Contributions from wellwishers, corporate organisations and members of the public are welcome. All enquiries may be directly made to Care United Johor Bahru at 607357 6899.
Beauty pageant promotes tourism Interest: In a joint effort to promote tourism, Public Advisory Society in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia is organising Miss Natural Malaysia 2014
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ublic Advisory Society (PPN), A Non-Governmental Organisation in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, Media Club of Johor and FIREFLY are organising Miss Natural Malaysia 2014 to promote the states’ beautiful natural attractions, stunning islands and incredible rainforest as the backdrop of picking the winner for Miss Natural Malaysia. The grand finals will take place in Berjaya Waterfront Hotel (The Zon) on 9th August 2014. Talent Show and Beach Sports rounds for the 18 finalists will be held in Pulau Rawa, Pulau Sibu and Pulau Besar from 3rd August 2014 onwards. Photography sessions will also be held at Taman Negara EndauRompin to choose the subtitle holders. Contestants aged
pic by Zarakay
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from 18 to 27 will be competing in a nationwide showdown where only 23 contestants will be shortlisted for the final round. The grand finals will feature indoor fireworks, cultural performances and a special appearance by Lee Yvonne, Miss Malaysia 2012. PPN is founded by a group of professionals to help the public on legal matters and to organise fund raisers for charity.
Nationwide showdown where only 23 contestants will be shortlisted – Public Advisory Society (PPN)
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HIGHLIGHTS
Maslee Express opened their new branch to overwhelming response in Taman Teratai
Global day of discovery Highlight: Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel held their annual ‘Discover Evening Bazaar/Pasar Malam’
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enaissance Hotels are known around the world for encouraging travelers to “Live Life to Discover.” The brand celebrated its third annual Global Day of Discovery, created to inspire business travelers to make time to discover while on the road. In 24-hours, 155 Renaissance Hotels in 35 destinations joined together and encouraged thousands of hotel guests to leave their rooms and discover unforgettable moments either at the hotel through exclusive events or a selection of off-site fascinating local experiences in each destination, especially curated by the hotel
Want to share your ideas? Email us today: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
Navigator. As part of this global initiation, a mini Pasar Malam was held just outside the lobby of Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel. Pasar Malam, is a Malay term commonly used among the locals and it bears the meaning of an evening bazaar. Just as you would imagine, the night showcased the true essence of Johor’s finest local foods. Seven stalls were present that night and each introduced a significant dish, such as the Apam Balik, Putu Mayam, and Gula Ketuk. Nonetheless, the popular Char Kway Teow and Satay were favourites among the crowd. The night would
not have been complete without the artistic and creative minds that demonstrated the versatile art form otherwise known as Batik. The flawless canvas drawings were as impressive as the celebration itself. With such an eventful day, it was no wonder the receptionists were all dressed in their traditional costumes too! All in all, it was a truly remarkable night that reminded us what a delight it was to be making new discoveries every day. In commemoration of Global Day of Discovery, we applaud the efforts of Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel for living to their motto “Live Life to Discover”
Guests seen embracing the Pasar Malam concept outside the Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel lobby. Pic by John Lee.
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ISSUE 23 | JULY 2014
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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill The Iskandarian aspires to be the voice of the rakyat and with that in mind, our Editor touches base with CEOs and Chairmen of organisations to Drill them with questions to hear their opinions and perspectives.
Simon McGrath’s career in hospitality spans over 30 years. He holds a graduate certificate in Hotel Management from the University of South Australia, and has completed the General Managers Programme of the Australian Graduate School of Management. In 1985, he began his career at a Suburban hotel in Sydney, Australia while attending catering college. Before taking charge at Hilton Johor Bahru, he was instrumental in rebranding DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket. To say that he has helmed many senior management positions will be an understatement as Simon has been the General Manager at many prominent hotels and resorts worldwide. He was also the former Vice President of Tourism Accommodation Australia. What sort of a General Manager is Simon McGrath going to be at DoubleTree Hilton Johor Bahru (JB)?
Well I’m an excited GM to begin with (laughs)! To be in such a wonderful development process and the continuation of my learning and understanding of the DoubleTree brand is important. There’s only a few of us who have a Hilton background so my number one priority is to guide everyone and make them understand that their behaviour is a reflection of the brand. One of the underlined parts of our culture is called ‘CARE’ which is an acronym for ‘Creating a rewarding experience’. The CARE culture tells us to looks after our guests but also look after our team members and the
community.
Can you describe your first impression of Johor Bahru and how different was it from what you imaged it to be? Do indulge with our readers. The last time I was here was in 1995 and the developments and the pace JB has moved forward thus far are very encouraging. I’ve lived in Penang for two and a half years before and I lived in Singapore for awhile and what I like about JB is that the culture remains intact in comparison to Singapore. For example, the Singaporean food culture has undergone a lot of changes and now the eateries are mostly food court based but over here, we still have the food culture with places like Meldrum Walk and I think that’s what people want to see in JB.
How do you see the tourism sector in Johor Bahru? Any grey areas that need to be looked at? I think JB is the real Malaysia because everyone will agree that it’s not as cosmopolitan as the capital but still very thriving. For instance, in Penang, you have a lot of Western tourists but over here in JB we see more Asian tourists so even the foreigners arriving here are predominantly from Asia and South East Asian countries. I was the Vice President of Tourism Accommodation Australia so wearing that hat; I would say that the resurgence of JB as a tourism destination shouldn’t come from the perception that it’s a cheap destination for shopping. The development of LEGOLAND Malaysia which is a first rate facility is only one part of the picture and looking at the whole picture, we need to get tourists flocking here from more regions like the Middle East or Australia because there is
“I think JB is the real Malaysia because everyone will agree that it’s not as cosmopolitan as the capital but still very thriving” certainly a higher yielding market that we’re still n o t getting. I’m thinking that perhaps the cultural and eco tourism opportunities will be able to entice these higher paying tourists. The Asian country tourists are volume tourists but we need to start looking at the niche market. From what I can see, Johor Tourism and Tourism Malaysia are both doing a good job but everybody has to be aligned and share the same vision. Another aspect that should be looked at is driving of Corporate Tourism which of course is meetings and conventions. If Persada Johor’s convention centre is full, that will translate as businesses to the hotels and eateries. It’s a spill over effect but of course all parties must first be supportive of the initiative.
Service is the core importance of the hospitality industry, how would it be emphasised at DoubleTree?
We want to empower people. Culturally it’s not easy with designations causing hierarchy differences but with the right confidence instilled, we empower our manpower to deliver quality service. I personally will work at the front desk and pour coffee if needed and I believe I speak for the rest
Simon McGrath General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru
of the management staff when I say that we will definitely participate in front line service and when the other team members see this behaviour from the management, they will follow suit to deliver their best as well. We tell our team that management is always nearby to assist in decision making and if we’re not there, go ahead and make the decision and if you made a mistake, don’t worry because no one is going to get angry for making a mistake as long as you try and finish the solution and turn the customer around. We have to do everything possible to make the customer feel better about awry situations. We certainly hope for a 100% but we have to be realistic (laughs).
In hiring employees, will local Johorians be given preferential importance? Absolutely! I’ve always got a strong bond to giving locals the opportunity but that doesn’t mean we’re sidelining others with the right experience but we’ll certainly looking to get more Johorians. We do have some commitments to foreign labour but that is only because we couldn’t find the locals to fill those positions. We did four mass recruitment days and have interviewed over 700 walk in interviewees and have recruited those who fitted our CARE culture the best. What’s the real success story for me however is that we have ten staffs hired both in middle management and kitchen roles who have decided that even though they get paid more across the bridge, they’ve had enough and want to re-establish their roots back in JB, where they came from and where they belong. They know that Hilton is a great brand and were prepared to make that financial sacrifice so that was really exciting.
Budget hotels put up stiff
competition to big hotels, how will DoubleTree counter this predicament, if you see it as a predicament at all?
It’s just finding the right market. We will be taking one end of the clientele while they will get their fair share. If you’re prepared to pay a slightly higher rate in return for the service and comfort then you go for that and if you just need a place to stay, you’ll probably go with what suits you best.
What are the CSR plans of DoubleTree?
It’s a key part of our presence. Our mass recruitment drive for locals is a show of our seriousness and we’ve spoke to a few NGO’s as well and we’re keen to work with the community. Almost all the artwork seen in DoubleTree is from Yap Han Zhen, a local 15-year old autistic savant. We’re keen to employ staff with special needs and we’ve actually hired a deaf and dumb individual and we also have a special needs chef. We’re also concerned about carbon emission and we’ll be ready to provide some data in six months from now.
Are you, personally, difficult hotel guest?
a
I’m not a difficult customer (laughs) but being a hotelier, I can’t switch off my attention to detail. I love going to hotels and resorts and there are times when I say wow, we should do something like that! I would say I don’t complain loudly but I complain with my feet meaning if I don’t like the place, I don’t go back.
What can we expect to see for the rest of 2014? We open on the 1st of July, everything will be open on the 1st except our for Italian restaurant which will be opened on the 1st of August.
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ISSUE 23 | JULY 2014
Our charming culture
coffee
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shop
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ong before air-conditioned coffeehouses and cafes started in Johor Bahru, there were family-run coffee shops that locals fondly call as kopitiam. This word is coined from the Malay word for coffee; kopi and tiam; the word for ‘shop’ in Hokkien dialect, probably because the early coffee shop operators were mainly Chinese of Hokkien, Hockchew and Hainanese dialect groups. Even as more chic cafes and franchise coffee-chains are opening in our rapidly developing city, a few old kopitiams are still thriving with the patronage of a loyal clientele.
family holidays. In those days when there was no Plus Highway with proper toilets at rest stops, so the toilet convenience at a coffee shop was why we stopped there and sometimes had drinks and snacks.
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kopi-O is black coffee. If you want your coffee with evaporated milk, your order should be kopi-C and it is served with sugar unless you clearly state, kopi-C kosong. If you like an extra strong brew, you should say, kopi-kau because kau means strong and dense in Hokkien dialect or you say kopi-O-kau for extra strong black coffee. These phrases also apply for tea orders like teh-O for black tea or teh-C for tea with evaporated milk but the permutations can get quite complicated for instance, a black tea order without sugar but with ice is, “tehO-kosong-peng.”
Forget style in service because kopitiam coffee is often casually served on chipped crockery and carelessly spilled into the saucer!
Many coffee shops in Johor Bahru still serve coffee that’s strained by a traditional cloth strainer I used to go to Johor Bahru’s main market, then located at Jalan Wong Ah Fook (where JB City Square is now), with grandma and I remember our coffee powder was bought from a vendor who had a stall in the upper floor. The young Indian vendor whom we nicknamed, Cassius Clay would weigh out grandma’s choice of coffee-beans before putting them in a grinder. I can still hear the shrilly whine of the grinder and the fragrant aroma as the beans – the pure stuff that was not roasted with sugar or butter – were ground to the desired texture and neatly packed into brown paper bags for us. With such fine quality coffee being brewed at home, there was no reason for us to drink coffee outside. My first experience of going to a coffee shop was probably when we were travelling en route to Ipoh for our
In that era, the standard furniture in coffee shops was marble-topped round or square tables matched by wooden chairs with round seats. The name of the coffee shop would be emblazoned across a huge mirror on at least one wall as well as on the bamboo chinks hung from the front entrance that was unrolled to keep the interior cooler. Since the 1940s, coffee shops’ décor was typically beer, soft-drinks and cigarette advertisements that were graced by popular Hong Kong female movie stars with the products and brand logos. One of the first things that I noticed in a coffee shop and it still remains engraved in my memory is the spittoon that was placed under each table. My mum warned me to stop swinging my legs under the table for risk of accidentally kicking the spittoon over and I obeyed, cringing at the thought of countless people having spat in it. Back then spittoons were provided for people who chewed tobacco and even though it was unhealthy, public spitting was socially acceptable. But I’m grateful that the use of spittoons in coffee shops gradually disappeared in the 1980s. The coffee shop ambience also left an impression of noise and chaos contributed by the convivial chatter of customers that was punctuated by frequent yells among the staff. I observed how the staff must speak in loud volumes because order-takers would transmit the customers’ orders to the staff at the work stations simply by shouting the order in their lingo. They just did not believe in walking a few steps to convey the message but must shout it and I used to be amazed at how the messages could be accurately received over the din! It was quite impossible for me to decipher their language but much later I learnt that “Kopi-O noh!” means two black coffees! In traditional coffee shops, kopi refers to coffee with condensed milk while
In most traditional kopitiams the menu includes items like kaya toast, half-boiled eggs and even nasi lemak and mee siam in packets! In the beauty of coffee shop language, a phrase like teh-O-kosong-peng is a typical Malaysian mix of languages that reflect the social circles that gather
regularly in traditional kopitiams. Coffee shop customers present a scene of unity and racial harmony where all races share a common bond in enjoying coffee and a favourite menu of kaya toast and softboiled eggs, nasi lemak and mee siam. From politicians, to career women, lawyers, retirees, businessmen and families, the kopitiam remains the place for people to sit together for a drink or a meal, not just at breakfast but also for lunch and afternoon tea. Last week at a kopitiam, I enjoyed breakfast along with customers of different races who can agree on the menu of coffee, kaya toast and the range of rice and noodles. There was something familiar about slurping up perfectly timed softboiled eggs from a saucer and not being offended by it or if coffee or tea was served in chipped crockery and spilled into the saucer. Even though we are seeing more coffee joints and artisan cafes that meet the ice-blended, cappuccino and latte tastes of urbanites, it’s heartwarming to know that there is still a clientele who appreciates coffee shop cuisine and culture. I then watched two men arrive, and when they saw that all the tables were already occupied, they did the acceptable thing in kopitiams by politely asking and tumpang (joined) a table occupied by two young men that had two vacant seats. By then I was no longer looking surreptitiously but openly staring at them because I was totally charmed by this personification of Malaysian coffee shop culture. The two men sat down, chatted amiably with the young men and when their orders arrived, they enjoyed their meal together in warm camaraderie. Such a culture of harmony and agreement that still prevails in our charming coffee shops is truly an inspiration for us to emulate in our daily lives.
A unique sense of unity and camaraderie prevails in coffee-shops as people of different races and ages dine together
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5,000 at EduCity’s Sundown Marathon
quick reads
Highlight: Sundown’s inaugural Educity night race livens up Kota Iskandar By Maisarah & Vishnu Dev newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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ollowing the success of Sundown in Singapore over the last few years, some 5000 runners took part in EduCity Sundown Malaysia 2014, Johor Bahru’s first night marathon. With flag off timings at 8pm and 8.30pm for the 21.1km and 12km respectively, the race attracted participants from over 35 countries. With runners from Malaysia, Singapore and as far as Philippines, Brunei, China, Indonesia, India, USA, Iran and Australia were all geared up at EduCity Sports Complex by Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd. “It is exciting to witness EduCity come alive with exciting sporting events. I am encouraged by the number of participants for this inaugural night marathon and hope that the enthusiasm for a healthy lifestyle continues,”
said Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd Managing Director Joanne Ooi. The pre-race build up consisted of energetic music, beating drummers and a choreographed warm up. “This night marathon is an excellent way to showcase the beauty and wonders of Nusajaya; the heart of Iskandar Malaysia,” said Ooi. Fifteen of the 24 runners who received prizes for finishing with the top three best times in their respective categories were Malaysians. Sundown Malaysia has all the ingredients to become a very successful race in the next few years. Shuttle buses were available to ferry runners. EduCity Sundown Malaysia 2014, which carries the tagline “Bring on the night”, is part of a plan to expand the Sundown Marathon brand, which was created in 2008 in Singapore.
The Iskandarian
Customer Choice Awards
EduCity came alive with over 5000 participants
Runners getting ready to begin their night marathon
foodpanda.my recently announced their Customer Choice Awards winners for their restaurant-partners based on customers’ reviews. The food delivery leader currently has close to 600 restaurants in 6 cities on their website and mobile apps. “We understand that people are looking for the best food in town and are busy. We are proud to announce the inaugural winners of foodpanda. my’s Customer Choice Awards which recognises the best restaurants with a delivery option, making ordering food easy, fast and delicious” says Claudio Abitante, Mananging Director of foodpanda Malaysia. “We want to have this list annually to give more power to the views of our customers and also acknowledge our restaurantpartners for the good food that they make,” adds Abitante.
Jaro continues the awareness Community: Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (Jaro) held a bazaar to showcase the skills and craftsmanship of the disabled community
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he bazaar organised by Jaro was to highlight the skills and craftsmanship of the disabled at Jaro and to recognise their contribution to society and the economy. The bazaar was officiated by the guest-of-honour, DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah and YAD Datin Rosni Omar, wife of Menteri Besar Johor. The bazaar was held to promote Johor heritage in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014, while the funds raised would go towards paying Jaro staffs’ salaries and the employment of more workers. “We appreciate the support and contributions from friends of Jaro to make this bazaar a success,” said Jaro chairman Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong in his opening speech. He said their
DYMM Raja Zarith Sofiah taking a tour of the bazaar purchase of Jaro products made of rattan and batik would help support the aesthetics and traditions of local cultures and native crafts, and enhance the dignity and independence of the disabled. Located at Jalan Sungai Chat, next to Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (English College), Jaro is open from Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm. For details, call 07–224 5632.
We appreciate the support and contributions from friends of Jaro – Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong
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HIGHLIGHTS
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160 acres Dedicated to Biotechnology Highlight: Kedah Menteri Besar YAB Dato Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir visited Bio-XCell Biotechnology Park in Nusajaya
B HIGHLIGHTS
Thistle Johor Bahru’s housekeeping operative staff, Syed Faisal, wins Malaysian Association of Hotels Employee of The Year Award 2014, Johor Chapter
Dato Seri Mukhriz at Bio-XCell Biotechnology Park in Nusajaya to move in, furnished Serviced Office Suites with added value services such as front office services and 24 hours secured access system. The suites come with five internet protocol telephony services together with access to a private pantry. Bio-XCell also provides Virtual Office’s ideal for entrepreneurs, medium sized start up companies operating
either from home or want a base in Nusajaya. The virtual office tenants will benefit from the usage of Bio-Xcell Sentral’s premium and prestigious address which maintains the image of a professional office. Companies that require off-site project spaces or doing research papers can also benefit from their virtual office services.
Students put up a good show
Interest: Second Successful Eisteddfod Festival at Tenby International School Setia Eco Gardens
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or the second year, Tenby International School Setia Eco Gardens (TISSEG) has successfully organised its annual arts festival, the “Eisteddfod”. Eisteddfod is a festival of literature, music and performance, a Welsh tradition which dates back to the 12th century. At TISSEG, this is an annual competition, introduced last year to encourage its students to develop and showcase their skills and talents in expressive arts. There was a variety of performances, which included solo and group dances, miming, drama, choral speaking and musical recitals. “Our students have been practising diligently for this competition since January. As it was wellreceived last year, our parents were also looking forward to the Eisteddfod,”
pic by John Lee
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin leaving his mark on Suara Hati Johor’s open day at Mall of Medini
io-XCell Biotechnology Park (Bio-XCell) is Malaysia’s premier biotechnology park and ecosystem dedicated to healthcare and industrial biotechnology. During Dato Seri Mukhriz’s working visit, selected guests were given the opportunity to visit Bio-XCell Central Utilities facility which provides the clients of the park with bulk utilities such as chilled water, steam and waste water management. “The state of Kedah has a lot of potential for growth and contribution to the Bioeconomy agenda. The visit by Dato Seri Mukhriz provides an opportunity for strategic collaborations and exchange of knowledge to develop an interlinked ecosystem and value chain for bioeconomy with bigger impact and enhanced benefits,” said Dato Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal, Chairman of Bio-XCell and CEO of Malaysia Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp). Bio-XCell provides ready
said School Principal, Mr. David Key. The competition was judged by Mr. Key, Ms. Nicole Struys, Branch Executive of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MICCI) and Mr. Phillip Brisley, Principal of Tenby International School, Miri.
Mr. Brisley commended the students for the exceptional quality of their talents and performances. The parents were also very proud to see their children perform on stage with confidence and enjoyment. TISSEG also recently held their Open Day & Family Fun Day.
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Bloodsport in EduCity Iskandar
Interest: Malaysia’s Premier Grassroots Fight League and longest running MMA promotion in the country; Ultimate Beatdown 14 lived up to its name once again By Ari & John Lee newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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his is not for the viewing pleasure of children, pregnant ladies, elderly people or the faint hearted. Stern opening words by the event host before launching the MMA Ultimate Beatdown 2014 night event, at EduCity Iskandar Indoor Stadium not far from Legoland Nusajaya. His statement was well supported by 400 or so fans and audiences who came to watch and show their support in a lavishly build stadium and uniquely designed ‘octagon-shaped’ cagelike ring. Mixed Martial Arts is a combat blood sport that suggests fear, excitement and a heavy traffic of adrenaline rush when fighters struggle to knock out or tap-out their opponents, while hammering up as much points as they can. With prominent names in the line-up such as Will “the Kill” Chope (USA), Trestle “Jun Minions” Tan (Philippines), Nicholas “Diaz” Lee (Singapore) and Mostafa “White Scorpion” Ashouri (Iran) keeping fans alive and pumped from 6pm to 1am, not to mention the amazing diet hotdogs and chicken burritos from Magnum Sports Café (Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya). As thrilling as this may appear, this is still a dangerous sport. The VIP seat sections (worth RM100) gets the closest feel of the monstrous exchange of punches, rattling body slams, sharp kicks & heavy grappling that echoes throughout the night. The event began with amateurs and ladies fights followed by undercards from all over the world, fighting to claim their mark in the industry. Even to the extent of being disqualifying for repetitive low-blows (astoundingly). Nevertheless, the most honorable part of this extremely dangerous cage fight is the mind-over-body,
Members of the audience were treated to an array of mixed martial arts practices from a lineup of international fighters self-motivational believe that the fighters bring into the octagon. Many fighters, who have even suffered minor body trauma and broken bones during the match, insist to fight-on despite the circumstances. Ming Yuen from REPS Fitness who fought with a fractured rib that was encountered in round 1 is a prime example of the sheer passion of these fighters, who are warriors who have survived the impossible. Their glorious wins and honorable defeats somehow drilled a lasting impression of what we can achieve, if only we can believe in ourselves and risk everything towards achieving our dreams and aspirations.
Key highlights includes TKO under 60 seconds by Cheng Heng Kit (REPS Fitness) over Johari Safuan, Winning Rear Naked Choke Submission by Raymond “The Monk” Beh (Ultimate MMA Academy Johor) over Charles Ferroa, Winning Mounted Arm Bar by Benedict “Ditinho” Ang over Dinesh “T-Rex” Sundram, Winner by TKO punches by Jun Yeoh (Johor) over Ridzuan Dahari, Winning Rear Naked Choke Submission by Syed Izmer Shahir (Team UMF KL) over Pranav Mantri, Winner by TKO punches Andy Teh (Elietz MMA Kuala Lumpur) over Nizam “White Tiger” Rahman. Winner by Armbar Submission George (REPS Fitness / Excite Johor) over Mohd Fouzien “The Underdog”. Main event Winner by Technical Tap-Out by Trestle “Jun the Minion” Tan (REPS Fitness/ Excite Johor) over Mahmoud “Armageddon” Kamal under just 2 minutes of Round One. To sum up the highlights, there has been no official knockout for the night. Submission of the night goes to Mohd Fouzein “The Underdog” & Fight of the Night goes to the match between Muhammad Hawady vs Alex “The Blur”. This Ultimate Beatdown 2014 (UB14) is yet another successful event by the organizers and even management team. Education@ Iskandar Sdn Bhd Chief Operating Officer, K. Sugumaran said after 13 successful events in Johor, and the 2013 event held at the KSL City Mall, this serves as a platform for amateurs and professional fighters in South East Asia to earn recognition. With his statement, we will be sure to expect more UB events in the nearing future.
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Calendar of Events >> pg 4
July 2014
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22 Jump Street & Guardian of the Galaxy Movie Preview Things You Should Know About Fear
Travel
Travel Diaries from Qatar: Doha pt II >>pg 4
July 2014 | Page 2
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
Editor ’s Note
Priya Manikam editor@waveslifestyle.com
W
elcome to the month of July! Lots of Ramadan Buffets from various hotels and restaurants awaits you this month before the fasting season is over. Make a booking and enjoy a treat with your family and friends either at Thistle Johor Bahru, Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour, Granada Hotel, or Soul Thai restaurant to name a few. Once again, as a word of caution; exercise moderation! In this issue, R5 band occupies our Personality cum Music column. Learn all about them through our exclusive interview brought to you by Universal Music Singapore. Rose tackles a new and interesting topic this month on “Fear” which may strike a cord within you. Two movie treats are there for you this month by Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Motion Pictures, Malaysia. Read on the previews and make a date! We continue with sights from Qatar in our Travel column and for all those with a sweet tooth – look no further than Sugar Pantry near Permas Mall, as Tony tells you what to try. On a sweet note, the DoubleTree of Hilton hotel is now open, making Johor Bahru a world-class choice for branded hotels to set foot here. As always, for those wishing to share their clothing line, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/property, or want to appear under the Personality column, drop us an e-mail at editor@waveslifestyle. com today and be featured. Wishing all Muslim celebrants Ramadan Kareem and Selamat Hari Raya Puasa from The Iskandarian team.
Priya
A moment with R5 band
Why “Louder”? Riker – because we are LOUD! Ross – a continuation from our EP LOUD, and we wanted to get LOUDER.
Once we saw the final product, we were extremely thrilled, even though it was very last minute that we decided to film in Tokyo. But I will tell you it was extremely
What do you think makes Louder stand out from the rest? Riker - I think you can listen to louder from the first song to the last song and you get a good range of emotion. You can tune out to the rest of the world for the time and lose yourself to the music –and it is very upbeat and happy. For me, I am proud of each and every song on the album.
For each member, describe yourself. We’ll describe each other: Riker – Optimistic about life, happy, and he’s all about living life and having an amazing time! Ross- He’s the dreamer , the thinker – very smart and intuitive and out of the 5 of us he makes sure we are trying new things and striving to be the best we can be. Rocky – The realist and can read people in the first 5 minutes of meeting them. Oh, and he’s funny. Ratliff – Opinionated, in a good way. He knows what he wants and is funny and definitely the backbone of the band. Rydel – Tomboy, giggly, fun – but also very girly and is always herself!
Your latest music video ‘(I Can’t) Forget About You’ features the band members being in different kinds of crazy adventures while in Japan. How was it like filming the video? Rydel – filming the video in Japan was amazing!
Approaching ART Photography
What is it like working with your siblings? What are the best and hardest parts? Riker - The best thing in the world, they are all my best friends – so we all have so much fun together. Ross – Worst thing is waiting in line for the showers! Ross –Best thing is that it’s nice to not have a filter and we can talk about anything. How did Ratliff become a member of the band? Riker – We Met Ratliff when we moved to California and after knowing him for about a year, we found out he was playing drums! So we asked him to come jam with us and it was a fit right from the start. Riker – He practically lives with us and is like our brother. Ross – We are always together. Source & Photos: Universal Music Singapore
By John Lee Professional Photographer leejohn59@gmail.com
Landscape Photography
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t requires a technical method and intense concentration while composing and shooting the image with the ability to move swiftly. The freely expressive ways in which the impressionist and expressionist depicted in landscapes can make photography’s vocabulary desperately limited. Yet, it narrowly represents scope and landscape photography which is more popular than ever. Working in black and white is the first choice for those wishing to approach landscape photography in an artistic way. Compose to achieve an articulate, poetic image, and cut back to its essentials. The approach you adopt may alter with each situation you encounter, but your aspect of landscape doesn’t vary. Your technique
needs to have a combination of method and intense concentration while composing and shooting the image. Light can change quickly, so often that you have to find the best spot and set it up in a hurry. At the same time, you need to possess an inexhaustible source of patience to wait for the right revelatory and glorious light. The key to rewarding landscape or cityscape photography is to walk; you need to explore the subject even if your viewpoint is limited. Miniscule changes in position or height can make the difference between a reveling image and one that’s unsurprising and ordinary.
Using colours Bright colours are attractive to the eyes and are exactly the same reason why they don’t work well in an image. The array of colours catches the viewer’s attention but distract their eyes. Monochrome – it may seem like a negative strategy, but you will be delighted when you discover that the fewer the colours, your work will be stronger, the image becomes ultimate and simplified, and may take you to one or two colours. Articulate spaces within the picture frame. Learn how to manipulate the relative scale of the elements in the scene to create a sense of space.
July 2014 | Page 3
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
Things You Should Know About Fear (pt I)
E
veryone lives in fear these days until it has become a norm to have even a small fear which is considered safe to feel. All fears, although they look the same has different manifestation in reality. First, let’s understand that fear comes in two categories. One is the body’s reaction towards an external situation for example when one encounters a thief who is threatening the victim for money. That fear gets our body to react beyond limits but this category of fear is physically
healthy. Intuitively, it saves us from being harmed by an external source. The other fear is the body’s reaction towards our thoughts. For example; you are in a loving relationship but your mind keeps seducing you with questions of sincerity or how long this relationship will last. In such situation, worry rises and subtly we would feel the fear of ‘what if’ (things didn’t work out; things didn’t go the way we plan and etc). It is therefore, our responsibility towards our body to know and understand how the second
MOVIE pREVIEW
By Rose Osman Personal Motivator & Energy Coach www.facebook.com/ yourpersonalmotivator Twitter:@BucketOfRoses
category of fear works. The root of fear: All fear rises from the point of insecurity. The future, financial, career and relationship insecurities are the most common fears. Fearing that a tragedy or bad incidents may happen to you again is a fear that comes together with your past. Whether that fear is about the future or
MOVIE pREVIEW
Guardians Of The Galaxy
22 Jump Street
Genre: Action-Adventure Malaysia Release Date: 31 July 2014 Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael and Benicio Del Toro as The Collector Director: James Gunn Producer: Kevin Peige, p.g.a
Genre: Comedy Malaysia Release Date: 24 July 2014
Executive Producers: Written by:
Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Alan Fine, Stan Lee James Gunn & Nicole Perlman
From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revengedriven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.
Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Malaysia
past, these fears only happen in our mind. Fear manifests worry and later on triggers emotional discomfort about your past and future. An excessive fear about the future, specifically about the unknown can lead to anxiety. An excessive fear about the past, or the chronic feeling of ‘if only I had chosen this and not that, or if only I did this and not that’ can lead to selfunacceptance and depression.
Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare and Ice Cube Producer: Neal H. Moritz , Jonah Hill & Channing Tatum Executive Producers: Brian Bell, Tania Landau, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Reid Carolin and Stephen J. Cannell Screenplay: Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman Based on the television series “21 Jump Street” created by: Patrick Hasburgh & Stephen J. Cannell *credits not final After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on an athletic team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don’t have to just crack the case - they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them.
Source & Cover Image: Sony Pictures Malaysia
July 2014 | Page 4
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle Calendar of Events
Travel diaries from Qatar - Doha (pt II)
July 2014 JB & Spore, 1st - 27th July Bazaar Ramadan & Great Singapore Sales
Spore, 5th - 6th July Jobscentral Career & Edu Fair @ Suntec Singapore
JB, 6th July Wild Wild West @ Fatboy’s The Burger Bar, Tmn Sutera Utama
Spore, 9th - 11th July Singapore Gifts Show @ Suntec Singapore
Spore, 11th - 20th July Singapore Food Festival @ various locations
JB, 12th July Mandarin Buddhist Studies @ Tmn Johor Jaya & First Aid & CPR Training Course @ Plaza DNP
Spore, 18th - 20th July Ballet Under the Stars @ Fort Canning Park, S’pore
By Priya Manikam & Mithil Tawde editor@waveslifestyle.com
D
uring the winter season, drive past beyond the city and head north on the Al Shamal highway towards Al Zubarah where Qatar’s history lies. This vast desert houses an old fort and ruins where excavation works are currently ongoing at its archeological site which is not that far off from the fort and worth going to.
site but visitors are allowed to take a short walking tour to understand the life in the 18th century Al Zubarah. Archeologists who are living on site near the fort were seen carrying out their work dutifully and it is a rare opportunity for the public to witness this preservation of history taking place. It is also worth mentioning that on 22nd June 2013, UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage List.
Al Zubarah Fort & Archeological Site The Al Zubarah Fort was built in 1938 by Qatar’s fifth ruler, Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. Originally, the fort was built as a base for the Qatari military and police to protect Qatar’s north-west coast as part of a series of forts along Qatar’s coastline and it was restored in 1987. After opening, the fort quickly became a major heritage attraction and today, you can learn more about its history and findings. Slight work is still going on inside the fort as they are adding new displays but it is still open to the public unless subject to any announcements.
JB, 19th July Astrophotography Camp @ Mersing
28th - 29th July The search of “Fagga”
Hari Raya Puasa
If you need more information on the above mentioned events, drop us an email at:
admin@waveslifestyle.com
Driving back on the highway, we noticed many people searching for something
The archeological site was known as the Al Zubarah town (now ruins) and found by merchants from Kuwait in the 18th century. It was once a successful global trade, including a pearl trading centre of the Persian Gulf and the envy of many. The town rose to prominence in the 1760s, but came under attack and was destroyed in 1811. A smaller settlement was then built on top of the ruins but this too was destroyed in 1878. Today, these ruins are an archeological
specifically near the green patches of the desert. Curiosity got the better of us and we went off-road to discover what everyone was doing and were informed that most Qataris were searching for priceless mushrooms that grows underground near the shrubs! We were told that it is called “fagga” and 1 kilo of these mushrooms can cost up to QR1000 ++ in the market! These mushrooms only grow during the winter season especially post rains, where the soil becomes more fertile. A lady equipped with a spoon managed to find several faggas and she explained that these mushrooms were actually good for health and sought after by the Arabs. The bigger size you find, the better it is. You need to carefully wash away all the soil and boil it in salted water and apparently it’s very tasty. These mushrooms are also known as “desert truffles” and because it is not easily found, hence its price tag. As we were no experts and after searching for awhile, we gave up our priceless search! See you in the next issue with another interesting sight.
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The power of ‘Kunkwanization’ - Innovative Second Language Teaching Pattern Ms. Sally Khor Seh Lee Principal of Kunkwan
What is ‘Kunkwanization’ teaching pattern? ‘Kunkwanization’ is the representation of innovative teaching pattern in which our learning programme is exclusively designed by our professional teaching team unique to Malaysian learners who are not using Chinese as their native language. With reference to all successful Chinese courses offered in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and China, our courses also take into account of relevant subjects such as pedagogy, psychology and linguistics as the theoretical basis of our programme. We combine all advantages of the second languages’ teaching methods and creative ‘Right Brain Memory’ technique to create our own unique teaching methods to all our learners. How do all these methods work?
Total Physical Response (TPR). Gesture is mainly used in this teaching method to catch the attention of learners to every related scene. The active body language and the clear verbal instructions given by the teachers in the lessons can let learners fulfill their tasks according to the demonstrations and instructions. This style of learning makes the environment more active and most importantly, strengthens the learners’ listening and comprehensive power. Audiolingual method. Repeated drilling on sentence structures is emphasised so as to develop learners’ oral and listening skills. This method can help to train learners’ speaking and listening habits more condusively. This method is also the key to successful learning of the basic course of Hanyu Pinyin. Teachers should let learners imitate all appropriate pronunciation of Chinese words and should correct learners’ pronunciation at the right time so as to ensure its accuracy. Only with a solid foundation of phonetics can learners learn more effectively the vocabulary and grammar of the Chinese language and even Chinese characters in the future. Task based language teaching
method is our final step to emphasise the process to students through the activity of ‘learning by doing’. Through communication between teachers and learners, and among learners themselves, a harmonious and relaxed interaction is formed, making you love to learn Chinese and be able to use it easily and efficiently.
The theory of the right brain memory is to make all the abstract information such as words and numbers to become active pictures with the use of imagination by the brain. It is similar to watching movies to make things last in the mind and even the effects of a photographic memory can be achieved.
What techniques can help you memorise unlimited information speedily? Right Brain Memory Technique. An effective technique of memorisation which makes it easier for learners to learn. Therefore, apart from the teaching methods mentioned above, we combine the right brain memory technique which makes learning Chinese more relaxed, interesting, faster and more effective. But why do we use our right brain to memorise? The reason is the proportion of the memory ability of our left brain and the right brain is one to a million. The right brain memory technique is a memorisation method that makes things last in the mind forever and most people have this photographic memory. However, the majority of people use their left brain to memorise.
“In Kunkwan, through the right brain memory training of ‘Kunkwanization’, we help you attain the knowledge of Chinese language speedily. In this way, even children with low learning abilities can enhance their memorisation skills and adults can reduce the risk of having Alzheimer’s disease and maintain a long lasting and active memory”
Do you feel curious on what kind of environment which helps you to learn Mandarin? A relaxing and enjoyable environment…. (To be continued)
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Mega Trends: Moving from Connecting Subscribers to Connecting Devices (pt I) Manoj Menon Partner & Asia Pacific Managing Director at Frost & Sullivan
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rices of mobile devices as well as the tariffs for mobile services have declined sharply resulting in unprecedented growth in subscriber and penetration numbers. Mobile penetration in most markets today exceeds 100 percent. The economic value add that was created based on providing mobility to consumers has been significantly exploited. The Blue Ocean Strategy of creating new economic value is to shift the paradigm to connecting devices instead of connecting consumers. It is quite possible that if executed well, we will see penetration levels of 800 percent or a total connected device ecosystem exceeding 80 billion devices by the year 2020. Whilst the connecting devices trend, i.e. Machine to Machine (M2M), is not new, the current ecosystem is ripe for an accelerated take up of this trend. Rapidly declining prices of radio and telecom infrastructure is a key enabler. Added to that is the fact that most countries today have ubiquitous broadband coverage – both fixed as well as wireless. The availability of platforms such as Android and iTunes amongst several others help leverage the collective innovation capability amongst millions of application developers globally. The baton for discovery of the applications
has been passed on to the consumer and this wisdom of the crowds’ phenomenon helps accelerate the development and innovation cycle. The consumer electronics industry will be a key benefactor of this Mega Trend. Devices which operate in a networked environment will enable consumers to drive a greater degree of personalisation. There will be an explosive level of innovation that will come through from the convergence of these two industries (consumer electronics and connectivity). In many instances the connectivity piece will be completely transparent to the end-user. We have seen the first signs of this emerging business model in the offering from Amazon Kindle with global connectivity and completely transparent carriage charges for users. Carriage costs are marginal compared to the overall benefit for Amazon as well as the consumer and hence the consumer does not get charged for the usage of data separately. Implications for telecom service providers This Mega Trend is a huge growth opportunity for the telecom service providers (telcos). Whilst the revenue streams will be possibly as low as a few cents per device per month, the number of devices that will be connected is huge. The telcos undoubtedly will earn revenues from the connectivity piece. This will, however, be commoditised and the margins will be under continuous pressure. The battle will be intense for the incremental
revenues from the creation of the ecosystem. The first wave of the data connectivity phase has been won by Google, Apple, Facebook and other Over the Top (OTP) players. The upcoming wave of connecting consumer devices will attract the electronic giants such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Philips and others. These companies approach the market from a very global perspective and their scale will be significantly higher than the telcos. The competitive advantage for a telco resides in its strength in operational excellence, its monthly billing relationship with its customers and its strong local distribution presence. They need to adopt a two pronged approach to succeed. Firstly, they need to develop strong global partnerships with the likes of Sony, Apple, and Google and be an early entrant into the market to garner a significant share of the connectivity pie. Secondly, there are several areas which will favor the telcos more than global players, including sectors like the development of smart cities, security solutions and other business to business solutions. Telcos are in a powerful position to be a one stop solutions provider to enterprise customers by helping them navigate this connected device ecosystem. Telcos will have to develop capabilities or partner companies with skills in business consulting and IT integration to make this possible. Implications for System Integrators (SIs) An important requirement for the connected device paradigm to become reality
would be to stitch customised solutions to address both the consumer and enterprise requirements. This opens a new opportunity for the SIs of the world to work with ecosystem partners to design solutions such as transportation solutions for a smart city and or home delivery system for consumers. The SIs will, however, need to design these solutions with newer business models which are OPEXbased, maybe using the Cloud computing paradigm. In addition to the current SIs, we expect other players from the ecosystem and beyond like automation players, and or infrastructure players to enter the market. Implications for Enterprises The connected device ecosystem will enable companies to collect real time information on the usage of their products and services. This will significantly improve the quality of products, increase the pace of innovation and most importantly lead to better utilisation of global resources. Business models will change from outright purchase of products to pay as you go as information about exact usage trends will be available. Insurance companies may offer customised annual premium packages based on your driving habits rather than the one size fits all approach they adopt today. The increased sophistication in cars will translate into the development of collision-less vehicles. Whilst a lot of these may sound futuristic, we strongly believe many of these scenarios will be real by the year 2020.
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ACCUMULATING WEALTH?
¬ Discovering Treasures by Reading the Company Annual Report (pt II)
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n the last issue, we talked about the importance of understanding Chairman / CEO’s Statement from the annual report. In the coming issues, we’re going to explore other parts of the report, such as the financial highlights, profile of directors, directors’ remuneration, financial statements, list of properties and analysis of shareholdings. So here we go: Financial Highlights This part is so essential that it appears at the very beginning of the report. It tells you how the company performed in the last three to five years through some key figures. Among the most common ones are Revenue, Profits before tax, Net Profit, Earning per Share (EPS), Net Tangible Asset (NTA) and so on. A good presentation of financial highlights should accompany with bar charts, so that we can see the company’s financial condition at a glance, regardless it’s
doing well or not. Let’s give an example: an ABC Company which has been growing for years might look like this:
Isn’t this impressive? You bet! So can we buy this counter? Not yet. While this is an ideal situation, it doesn’t mean it’ll continue going up definitely. One of the key factors to determine its future is the company’s earning visibility, which you may get through some hints from the Chairman’s Statement. Likewise, if the chart shows a flat pattern or downtrend, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll remain in this pattern forever.
Tey Bin Yuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. His books are available at major bookstores in Singapore & Malaysia. He’ll be conducting a seminar ‘Profit from Share Investment 9’ on 13 July 14. Reach him at contact@teybinyuen.com
The company may start to turn around if favourable conditions surfaced. Again, you can somehow get a clue from the Chairman’s Statement. Now you see how vital it is to correlate different information in the report. Profile of Directors To help you gain a better understanding of your management team (which is crucial), you need to refer to the Profile of Directors. In this part, you will be able to see the variety of background and expertise of each director. Ask the following questions as you read them: 1. Is one of the directors a founder of the company and is he still running the business? If yes, the management is very likely to act in the best interest of the shareholders. 2. Do the directors have a wealth of experience in the similar industry? If yes, the company is in good hands and
hence your money. 3. Are other family members, such as the son of the owner in the board too? If yes, the company could have a succession plan in place. Directors’ Remuneration As a shareholder, I truly believe the key management should be rewarded handsomely if they do well. However, if the company does not perform or even loses money, the directors’ pay should be lowered accordingly. If not, this is a clear sign that the management is not aligned to the shareholders’ interest. You might want to consider parking your investment somewhere else if you see the company still paying lucrative salary to the CEO even though it keeps losing money. In the next issue, we’ll discuss the company’s financial statement (yes, they are deeper than financial highlights), where we can determine how healthy and strong a company is.
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Highlight: The ninth month of the Islamic Calendar is here and Muslims all around the world will partake in a month long daylight fast. The Iskandarian brings you highlights from must visit hotel break-fast buffet promotions
Once again, it’s time to
Nasi Pelangi and Ayam Percik Utara is a must try at Traders Hotel By Priya Manikam newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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amadan as we know it is when Muslims abstain from food, drink and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus your attention on God and practice of self-sacrifice; the Ramadan month is considered the holiest month for Muslims. Communal prayers and meals are held at mosques, in private homes or held by corporate entities in the ‘break-fast’ evenings of Ramadan. Malaysians and food are synonymous and Ramadan fast breaking dinners are now a highlight at almost all hotels in the country. The chefs
are out in their finest whites and the food is simply breath taking! R e n d a n g R u s a , Ay a m Masak Kurma, Daging Masak Hitam, Kambing M a s a k Masala, Assam Pedas Ikan Tenggiri, Prawn Nestum, Sweet & Sour Fish and the savoury Bubur Lambuk are among the most sought after food items. But there has been a trend in change and now we see Sushis and Tempuras, Salmon Ikan Bakar and Singapore ‘Gearbox’ making their way to our buffet spreads. Over at Thistle Johor Bahru’s Ramadan Buffet titled ‘Bazaar Citrawarna’, Executive Chef Imran Hamid said that the fasting month is the best time for family and friends to come together, regardless of race
and religion. It is definitely an excellent time to let your senses travel as there are a myriad of mouth watering and delicious food to be sampled. Thistle will be bringing back last year’s favourites such as the Sup Tulang, Sup Ayam, Sup Ekor, Sup Kambing and Sup Lidah. Guests at Thistle will be entertained by Ghazal performance throughout the ‘buka puasa’ period and break for prayers at the prayer rooms provided by the hotel. The native chefs at Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel’s Makan-Makan Buffet, are preparing the classic favourites like Rendang Daging, Kambing Masala, Johor Wajik,
Ikan Bakar and more. All mentioned dishes are served with piping hot steamed rice and eaten with delightful condiments such as Ulam-Ulaman, Serunding, Tempoyak and Spicy Sambal Belacan (chilli paste). Not to be outdone, the new kid on the block; DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru will be unveiling their Makan Kitchen for Ramadan. It will be an all-day dining restaurant featuring an eclectic selection of famous Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan cuisines prepared in their four open kitchens. Some highlights from the restaurant is their Barbecued Pipa Chicken,
Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel will put out their finest for your tastebuds
LEGOLAND Malaysia’s Weekend Buffet comes with themepark rides
varieties of sambals, Gado-Gado, Ikan Bakar, Mussel Au Gratin, Pudding Sago and many more. Crossing over to Puteri Harbour, Traders Hotel has Chef Alan Wong dishing out over 60 types of dishes each day from refreshing appetisers to satisfying desserts. With six sets of buffet menus rotating daily, the dining adventure will start with a medley of traditional appetisers consisting of Kerabu Sotong, Rojak Buah, Jeruk Mangga and Chef ’s special Vegetable Acar. Traders Hotel will be introducing their signature Singapore Sup ‘Gearbox’ and Bubur Lambuk and also the favourites such as Roasted Whole Lamb Kuzi, Nasi Pelangi (with choices of Udang Masak Gulai Nenas, Ayam Percik Utara, Siput Masak Lemak,
Dim Sum from their Chinese Kitchen, Chicken Tandoori, Naan, Ikan Masak Asam, Otak-Otak, Lemang, Pansuh Manuk, Tok Beef Rendang, Satay and Kacang Pol. Executive Chef Jaffery Othman is definitely putting no handbrakes to his menu! Looking to get some shopping done before breaking fast? Head over to Bukit Indah and dine at Hotel Granada’s Muhibbah Buffet Dinner. Just across the street from AEON Bukit Indah, the chefs at Granada will be putting forth a wide range of selection at the action stalls where local delights are prepared in minutes. Muhibbah buffet will also be accompanied by live Ghazal performances. Want to have your Ramadan dinner while your kids can indulge in
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Break-fast for Ramadan
Thistle Johor Bahru’s Bazaar Citrawarna Ramadan Buffet
Not to be left out, DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru will unveil their Makan Kitchen LEGO building activities? Head over to LEGOLAND Malaysia at Nusajaya where over 150 dishes will be put forth every weekend. LEGOLAND will extend their parks operating hours to 10pm during this month and besides getting your bellies filled at the Market Restaurant, guests will be entertained with live ‘angklung’ shows, cultural dances and LED Water Drums performance at the Festival Street inside LEGOLAND. Want more? Guests can also take a tour to embrace the unique ambience of Miniland after dark and also enjoy rides in LEGO City Stage which includes the Driving School, Boating School and LEGOLAND Express to complete the tour of the Park at night. Do take note that this deal is only available every Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of this month. For the every
night buffet, head over to LEGOLAND Hotel’s Bricks Family Restaurant and enjoy live music performances while chomping down their signature Briyani Gam and other buffet delights. We hope our special Ramadan compilation are more than enough to whet your appetite. So, it is time to loosen the belts and make reservations at our top Ramadan picks that we have listed for you and start your gastronomic journey with your loved ones. We wish we could have added more to this list, but hopefully better luck next year! Having said that, have a blessed Ramadan Kareem.
PRICE GUIDE Thistle Johor Bahru Price (Adult) : (Children below 12):
RM 95++ RM 76++
Thistle Johor Bahru Sahur @ Glass Restaurant (2am -5am) Price (Adult) : RM 30++ (Children below 12): RM 24++ Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour Price (Adult) : RM 108++ (Children below 12): RM 54++ *Discounts given for pre-bookings Hotel Granada Johor Bahru Price (Adult) : RM 80++ (Children 4-11 yrs old): RM 45++ Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel RM 88++ Price (Adult) : (Children below 12): RM 44++ DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru Price (Adult) : RM 108++ (Children below 12): na *Book a table for 10 at RM 88 per person LEGOLAND Theme Park RM 120++ Price (Adult) : RM 70++ (Children below 12): *Only available on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Sushis and Tempuras are now making their way to our buffet spreads
LEGOLAND Hotel Price (Adult) : (Children below 12):
RM 100++ RM 60++
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he goodness of Sugar Pantry in Permas Mall (near JUSCO Permas) has been spreading fast, though the cake shop is less than a year old. I visited Sugar Pantry at the invitation of the owners, Heng and Yen. Sugar Pantry is a simple and small shop with minimal décor yet cosy. It has a few very inviting, dark blue velvet high back arm chairs resembling a cake showroom. Their cakes are very visually appealing and you could tell they are premium cakes just by looking at their vibrant colours, and carefully sculpted designs.
Yen is the artist behind these works of art and is a Le Cordon Bleu Paris trained pastry
chef. She was the chef in charge of Les Amis’ pastry section and a partner in Pavé Chocolates and Confections in Katong (Singapore) before returning to JB to open Sugar Pantry with her husband Heng. Everything is made at the shop from scratch right to the Blueberry and Strawberry jam. Yen only uses natural ingredients such as vanilla pods from Madagascar.
We tried a few of Yen’s cakes and they contained the right amount of sweetness. I especially love the tea scones here that are quintessentially English pastry combined with a blend of sweet homemade jam and
savoury butter flavours. The warmness and soft graininess of the pastry added an extra Oomph! Next was the Éclair au Confiture de Fraise. The whipped cream has body without being heavy and greasy and Yen is proud of this Nutty Putty (RM11.90) made with milk chocolate and coconut topped with peanut. Yen is a big macaron fan. She used to eat macarons for her main meal when she was in Le Cordon Bleu Paris! You may find Miso, Blueberry and Matcha flavoured macarons here to tempt your taste buds. If you have more room in your stomach, do try out their other cakes on display. Sugar Pantry also serves fresh juices and cocktails to go with their cakes. There is a unique drink called Kiwi Bird and Pandan Bear (RM11.90) which are made with Kiwi fruit, lime, Pandan syrup and fizzy (no alcohol). It gives a good refreshing end. Overall the Sugar Pantry is a nice place to chill out with good cakes and coffee. Restaurant name: The Sugar Pantry Address: G-03, Blk B, Permas Mall, 03 Jalan Permas Utara, Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/riT6h GPS: 1.497335,103.817393
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Hours: 12:00 pm to 10:00pm Non Halal
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T HE I SKANDAR I AN RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS
Must Read CBRE:
Iskandar Malaysia Quarterly Report >> pg 30
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APARTMENTS
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VILLAS
ISSUE 23 | JULY 2014
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CONDOMINIUMS
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OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE
Cover Story Forest City: Stop Work Order >> pg 27
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The Iskandarian
quick reads
Register House Buyers With More Than 4 Units Housing developers need to register with the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, the names of buyers purchasing more than four units of houses each. Deputy Minister Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique said this was one of the conditions set in the Housing Development Advertisement and Sales Permit since May for bulk or en-bloc buying of housing units in new projects. “The government will continue to monitor the rising price of houses and if needed, it will from time to time, take additional fiscal measures to find a balance in the market. Halimah said other approaches taken by the government to stabilise the price of houses included raising the Real Property Gains Tax, doing away with the Developer Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS) by developers, and raising the minimum price of property purchased by foreign buyers from RM500,000 to RM1 million.
Identification Tags for Real Estate Agents The Board of Valuer’s, Appraisers and Estate Agents (BOVAEA) has launched an exercise to register Real Estate Negotiators (REN) by issuing identification tags for all RENs employed by Registered Estate Agents. This is in line with enhancing the level of transparency, instil integrity and to uphold standards of practice among the professionals that represent the industry. It is envisaged that with the new system, cases related to brokers are expected to reduce significantly. By doing so, illegal representation by brokers and their misdeeds will be stopped and will inadvertently curtail the blossoming of brokers.
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Halt to reclamation works for Forest City man-made island Headlines: The Department of Environment has issued a temporary stop-work order against all coastal land reclamation works for the development of the massive Forest City off Tanjung Kupang here pending a detailed study
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he reclamation works for the proposed 49-hectare man-made island dubbed Forest City tourist hub project began in early March and was expected to be completed by year end. However, the project came to a halt after the Singaporean government raised concerns over the state’s coastal land reclamation projects, citing that it might cause trans-boundary issues. State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said any negotiation on lifting the suspension would be between the department and the project’s joint developers, China’s Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd and state-owned Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said that given Singapore’s proximity to Johor, it is “naturally concerned” about any possible transboundary impact
The project will have a 80-room hotel, increasing the area’s density– Datuk Ayub Rahmat
State Health & Environment Committee Chairman
on the country from Malaysian property development projects that involve reclamation works in the Straits of Johor. MFA was responding to queries following reports in the Malaysian media that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had written to his Malaysian counterpart
Artist Impression of the man-made island below the Tuas Second Link Bridge Najib Razak concerning the land reclamation works near the Second Link. Environmental activists have also voiced their worries on Johor’s shoreline reclamation works. “Normally, shoreline reclamation projects below 50ha in size, such as the proposed Forest City project, does not need an EIA report under the
Environmental Quality (prescribed activities)(Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987. However, as the project will have a 80-room hotel, increasing the area’s density, a preliminary EIA report was conducted and its findings submitted to the relevant authorities,” said Datuk Ayub Rahmat as reported by NST.
Property Corner
¬ Case Study 2: The RM200k Itch! A.Devadason CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialise in tax advisory and consultancy. He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my
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50 year old friend called a while back saying that he has about RM200k in hand after the disposal of his land purchased a decade ago. While the original intention of purchasing the land was to build his bungalow, it just never came into fruition. Just like me, he is a seasoned Financial Advisor and wants to continue to stay invested with the RM200k, as he feels that his emergency funds are more than sufficient. Since the gain was from a property, he is of the opinion that the money should now be put into another property. From a financial
perspective, this is right, as hard assets should form a component of one’s financial portfolio. Gain from a property and re-invest back into a property. But here’s the shocker - he is contemplating to purchase an RM1.1m single storey bungalow in Century Garden. He mentioned that it is not for him to reside, but will dispose it in 10 years time to finance his son’s tertiary education. I was dead-set against the idea. My rationale was as the following:a. He is buying during a property up-cycle. The last time Johor Bahru experienced this, was around 15 years ago. What goes up, will come down. It’s just when and why. If this occurs, he is probably going to get the same price when he disposes it, just that it’s going to be a decade later. By adjusting the inflation, he would be in a net loss position. b. Even if he rents the
property, it is unlikely to be sufficient to cover the loan instalment. It is not a gated and guarded unit and the existing infrastructure just does not allow it to be one without causing much inconvenience to others. c. The tenants, should he decide to rent, may not take care of the property as he would. This may result in unwarranted repairs. d. Other incidental costs such as Quit Rent and Assessment just adds to the financial burden, not to mention the legal fees and disbursements incurred to complete the purchase. e. Last but not least, at his age, he should not be taking anymore residential loans. Instead, he should be settling them before his retirement. The key word here is residential loans. Should he be contemplating to enter into a commercial loan, then the whole argument may
change and we shall leave that topic for another time. Do take note that this person is a seasoned planner who has over 20 years of experience. Many of his clients have nothing but utmost respect for his financial advice but he himself is on the brink of making a mistake. The million dollar question is why is he about to make such a serious error? The whole problem lies with emotion. That is why, whenever one is about to enter into a long term financial commitment, always bounce off the idea with an independent party. For now, my friend has reigned in his urges and I hope it stays this way. In conclusion, when making financial decisions, there is no room for emotional play. Always have a thinking partner who will not hesitate to put a stop when emotions intertwine with financial decisions. Having said that, happy investing rationally!
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Property Investment ¬ Why iconic developments work for you
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Ed Cheong is the Singapore founder of the Iskandar Malaysia Investors Forum and Rafflesland Group of Companies which provides platform for property investors to gain insights and worldclass investment strategies. He is contactable at iskandar@rafflesland.com
was recently invited to present to a large gathering of international developers and architects on how investors like ourselves select commercial projects. It was a real honour for me as the summit was attended by the largest developers from around Asia and the
Middle East. They include Singapore’s Capitaland, Malaysia’s Malton, MRT Corp, Saudi Tourism Commission and major developers from China, just to name a few. It is good to note that some of the developers have exposure on Iskandar Malaysia too. The message that rang through the proceedings was how city design and project vision were integral to their success. In particular, I was very fascinated with the presentation on Bandar Malaysia by the main architect firm designing it. Bandar Malaysia is the end station in Kuala Lumpur for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail. It is connected with 2 MRT stations within a mixed-use development of about 198 hectares. That is the single largest urban redevelopment in the entire Klang Valley thus far and
probably the last. My friend from MRT Malaysia explained that the locations are not yet finalized. When KLCC and Petronas Towers were conceived, many skeptics threw scorn at the project accusing the then government of building white elephants. History has now proven all these nay seers wrong. KLCC as a mega region has succeeded in not only beautifying Kuala Lumpur but created billions of value added in the surrounding region. With the development of the High Speed Rail, Bandar Malaysia will take the limelight now enjoyed by KLCC. I believe the same will happen in Singapore and Nusajaya, the other two major stops. If you start to invest when plans are finalized, it would be too late. We always work about 5 years
ahead. There is no need to wait as the current market in KLCC shows that the end of the investment cycle doesn’t pay. We are very certain that given the off balance sheet financing of Bandar Malaysia, the project will be successful. So will the High Speed Rail succeed as it is likely to be a joint Public-Private partnership. Many countries have expressed their interests in financing it, whilst providing the necessary technology link ups. If you need more information on how to invest in the new High Speed Rail iconic developments, do feel free to write to us at iskandar@rafflesland.com. Also so follow all the latest news of business and living in Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore by liking our facebook page at facebook. com/iskandarmalaysiaworld.
Johor’s New Housing Bill passed with amendments Controversial: The Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014 was unanimously passed by the state legislative assembly By Maisarah & Zarakay newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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total of 10 amendments were made to the Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014 during the tabling of the Bill before it was passed. Among the changes read out by the state Local Government and Housing EXCO Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi included a provision that the Sultan is to act on the advice of the Menteri Besar. The bill was approved with a majority vote of 38 from Barisan Nasional while 18 from the Opposition voted against it despite efforts from the Opposition to delay passing the enactment for further studies. Only 29 votes were needed to pass the Bill. The Bill was divided into six sections, 51 clauses and three schedules, was tabled by Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Bandi. Changes were made to the controversial Bill to limit the powers of the Sultan by making 10 amendments to 10 clauses, including stipulating that the Ruler has to act on the advice of the Menteri Besar. The amendment involves
Clause 4 (3) Composition of the Board - changing the phrase from “members of the board may be paid remuneration and allowances as determined by the Sultan” to “members of the board may be paid remuneration and allowances as determined by the state authorities.” Under Clause 12 (2) Appointment of Directors, Officers and Civil Servants, the appointment of the directors shall have prior approval of the Sultan on the advice of the Menteri Besar, instead of solely based on the approval of the Sultan. Under Clause 43 (1) Winding up and Liquidation, the
Road show planned by the state government will shed light about its contents– KK Wong
Rehda Deputy Chairman
From left: Rehda Johor Chairman Koh Moo Hing, Local Government and Housing EXCO Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi and Rehda Johor Deputy Chairman KK Wong seen here during MAPEX 2014 state authority may wind up or dissolve the board by publishing it in the Government Gazette, instead of “the Sultan may wind-up and dissolve by having the order gazetted.” In his closing speech, Datuk Latiff said the enactment was not meant to burden any quarters but at strengthening the housing and
real estate sector in Johor. When contacted Rehda for a comment on the Bill, Deputy Chairman KK Wong said there had been a lot of talk and speculation about foreign developers getting better treatment than local developers. “We do not know much about the Bill but hope the
road show planned by the state government will shed light about its contents,” he said. “Redha would not protect developers who purposely did not build affordable homes within their projects, adding that the new board should not just listen to Rehda but also others in the industry,” added KK Wong.
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The Iskandarian
quick reads
Seri Austin: Johor Bahru Towards World City Royal Award Winner Seri Austin’s Dynasty View Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UM Land received the ‘Conducive Living Township Award’ from the Sultan of Johor, DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar during the Johor Bahru Towards World City 2020 Conference’s Royal banquet dinner. Accepting the award for Seri Austin was KK Wong, CEO of Dynasty View Sdn Bhd. Seri Austin has been winning consecutive awards for their prestigious township with recently winning the 5 Star BEST Award at the Asia Pacific Property Awards Summit 2014 and ‘The Most Livable, Modern Residential Enclave’ at the Malaysian Reserve Property Press Awards 2013.
Mah Sing Group Berhad Recognised Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) was recently recognised for the company’s ‘Investment in People’ policy by Asia Responsibility Entrepreneurship Award (AREA). The 6th annual AREA Awards Ceremony was held at Resorts World Convention Centre, Sentosa, Singapore on 21 June 2014. “Mah Sing believes that Human Capital is the driving force of a successful company. Hence, the Group is genuinely committed in attracting talents, developing and retaining our people,” said Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Leong Hoy Kum, Mah Sing’s Group Chief Executive. In other news, Mah Sing’s shareholders give thumbs up for a strong payout which was the declaration of the first and final single-tier dividend of 8.0 sen per ordinary share of RM0.50 each in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2013. The dividend payout is in line with the Group’s dividend policy in place since 2006 for a minimum dividend payout of at least 40% of net profit.
@home Iskandar Malaysia continues to chart strong supply growth in all sectors
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Review: CBRE’s Iskandar Malaysia MarketView Q1 2014 Report Landed properties/Townships With the high level of residential construction activity, the sector is growing rapidly. Newly developed townships with good accessibility are expected to perform well, helped by the newly built highways that improve connectivity. Price increases for landed residential properties are expected in Iskandar Malaysia as a result. Condominiums High-rise residential properties in Iskandar Malaysia are the most sought-after properties by investors / home buyers, with supply of exclusive condominium units growing quickly as a consequence. Selling prices have even exceeded the RM1,000 psf mark for the most prestigious projects, which have chalked impressive sales rates.
are between RM 2.00psf and RM 2.50psf. Future supply of modern office buildings is expected to help to improve the occupancy rate and the market perception. Shopping malls The retail sector appears to be the fastest growing sector in Iskandar Malaysia. A select few shopping malls continue to enjoy close to full occupancy rates. The majority of existing shopping malls are small to medium in size. The abundant future supply, with a few planned megamalls, will dramatically change the landscape of Iskandar Malaysia’s retail sector and is anticipated to provide a boost to the retail sector in years to come.
Hotels Increasing tourism activity in Iskandar Malaysia has been observed resulting in the improvement of performance in the hotel sector, particularly due to a number of attractions such as JPO, Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park, LEGOLAND Malaysia, The Angry Bird Theme Parks, the Ramsar Site, etc. When compared to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the tourism level is low but outlook is promising with a number of international brand hotels coming to Iskandar Malaysia (DoubleTree by Hilton, Ascott, Shangri-La, etc.) which will drive activity levels further up. More major players will follow suit and venture
into Iskandar Malaysia in the near future, bringing better quality accommodation and strengthening the competition within the hospitality industry. This report was prepared by the CBRE Malaysia Research Team which forms part of CBRE Global Research and Consulting – a network of preeminent researchers and consultants who collaborate to provide real estate market research, econometric forecasting and consulting solutions to real estate investors and occupiers around the globe. To read more of CBRE’s Iskandar Malaysia MarketView Q1 2014 Report, contact: Amy Wong at amy.wong@ cbre.com.my
Offices Office supply has been slow and poor in quality since early 2000s. Currently, the average office occupancy rate is about 75%. Private buildings account for 69% of the total “purposebuilt” office space in Johor Bahru, with occupancy rate of 72%. Prime rental rates range from RM 2.50psf to RM 3.50psf while rental rates of secondary offices
China Developers Continue to Move In Strong Hightlight: Tycoons of Mainland China property market are making waves in Iskandar Malaysia with expansion plans by Country Garden and the arrival of R&F Properties and Greenland Group
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HINA-based property developer Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd is upbeat to further boost projects in Malaysia. They have recently expressed plans to expand into new areas in Johor and to explore Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak. Following Country Garden’s footsteps is another tycoon in the Chinese property market, R&F Properties. R&F has developed over 100 projects including 14 international 5-star hotels including Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Marriott International Inc, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Intercontinental Hotel Group. Not only a developer of luxury private residential properties, R&F also sells and
leases commercial office spaces. Their first overseas project is in Iskandar Malaysia, called R&F Princess Cove. The sales gallery, which opened on 21st June, is now open for public viewing. The freehold R&F Princess Cove, which covers 116 acres of integrated coastal township, is a privileged address in the southernmost part of the Johor. Greenland Group, a China state-owned developer plans to build apartments and a private club in their maiden project in Iskandar Malaysia. The Shanghai-based group, through its Malaysian subsidiary Greenland Danga Bay Sdn Bhd, will develop the project on a 760,000 sq ft site in Danga
Bay.
The group signed an agreement in April for the purchase of the land from Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd (IWHSB) for RM600 million. “Danga Bay was chosen because of its strategic location
Plans to expand into new areas in Johor – Country Garden
Holdings Co Ltd.
in Iskandar Malaysia, which has seen robust growth in recent years,” said Greenland Group Malaysia General Manager Wu Shao Hua at the launch of the Greenland Danga Bay. “It will take us five to eight years to develop our project, called Jade Palace,” he said. Greenland Danga Bay will build commercial shop offices, theme street malls, resort homes and stylish high-rise residences with panoramic view. The development will offer a comprehensive allin-one living and lifestyle services, such as home delivery, general housekeeping, home improvement, interior landscaping and property management.
The Iskandarian Issue 23 | JULY 2014 Advertisement
The Iskandarian Issue 23 | JULY 2014 Advertisement