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Malaysia’s Premier Biotechnology Park & Ecosystem
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Bio-XCell: Open for Business Flagship B of Iskandar Malaysia
Prominent location directly fronting Pontian Link with direct access via Exit 309
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Malaysia's First Dedicated Biotechnology Park & Ecosystem Bio-XCell offers an environment conducive for the development and manufacturing of biologics, pharmaceuticals, bio-based green chemicals and other solutions to heal, fuel and green the world. What is Bio-XCell and what are the products/services provided? Bio-XCell Malaysia is a catalytic platform for Malaysia’s large scale biotechnology industry, a park spreading across a 160 acre offering environment that is conducive for manufacturing of biologics, pharmaceuticals, bio-medical and bio-based green chemicals. Bio-XCell Malaysia also acts as a partner for global MNCs in facilitating their expansion into Malaysia. As a managed park, we develop and manage infrastructure and space, provide valueadded services, which includes shared utilities such as Bulk chilled water, steam, waste water management, ICT network, security, park management and R&D facilities. Also, we help manage the process equipment, either through direct purchase or lease arrangements. Our breadth and depth of services help facilitates foreign and local companies to hasten the commercialisation of their projects.
surrounding In essence, Bio-XCell is seen as a
Surrounded by mature residential neighbourhood for ample supply of skilled workers
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biotechnology accelerator, enhancing the biotechnology take-up, and enables its long term ecosystem with a conscious aim to expedite the growth of the biotechnology industry, with a focus on FDI promotion and commercialisation of industrial projects of large scale biobased manufacturing in Malaysia. What are the benefits, besides the amenities and facilities, which BioXCell can provide to its tenants? By and large, Bio-XCell Malaysia’s main components of the park is its Central Utilities Facility(CUF), and today it provides steam, chilled water and waste water management catered to specific utility requirements of our clients. It’s customised to their needs and this is the chief benefit to clients as this substantially reduces the capital expenditure for bulk utilities needed by the park’s tenants. The Park officially opens this August after the Hari Raya festivities, of which
the focus is on in its Bio-XCell Sentral (“XSentral”) - a multipurpose innovative spaces featuring a business and service offices, auditorium, shared GLP labs & virtual office space as well as other lifestyle amenities such as F&B and retail outlets. Among the benefits, clients have options to have either longer term leases, short rentals or pay-as-you-use for its business, offices and lab facilities at Bio-XCell Sentral. Furthermore, Bio-XCell has been working with various partners to build a synergistic ecosystem for businesses at the park and one of which is to house an integrated Bio-Pharma logistics within the Park. Our partnership with WH Distripark Sdn. Bhd is a step closer in enhancing the dedicated and ecosystem offering for an integrated feature in a premier biotechnology park. Providing premise and basic utilities, how does Bio-XCell promote its Bio-Tech Park to eager Bio-Tech startups or corporations, locally and internationally? As a premier biotechnology park, BioXCell Malaysia promotes its premises and value-added services by carefully weighing the synergy of bio-based or bio-medical projects and funding undertakings of its prospective biotech corporations or start-up companies that will match to Bio-XCell’s core product and service offerings. As we open for business this August, we would like to welcome and seek more corporations and SMEs that would like to take advantage of this ecosystem and environment for bio-tech and bio-based projects to be located with us at the Park. Rest assured that in the long term, the strategic intent to locate with Bio-XCell would prove to be a positive benefit.
How does Bio-XCell work with the government in promoting the Bio-Tech/ Bio-Pharma/Bio-Chem etc industry? Without a doubt, Bio-XCell works very closely with BiotechCorp, MIDA, IRDA and other related government agencies or Corridor Authorities in sharing information and in positioning its Park strategically in Iskandar for leading and prospective clientele to look at what is eco-system and what the surrounding geographical area can offer as competitive advantage to them. How does Bio-XCell foresee the bioeconomy in Malaysia? Does Bio-XCell have hindsight for the industry’s growth? What are the future plans for Bio-XCell to sustain its business? Malaysia’s bio-economy industry is currently worth around USD 4.34 billion (RM 13.5 billion) and is contributing 2.2 % to Malaysia’s GDP. It is aimed to grow and contribute up to 8% by 2020. The industry as a whole has created 54,760 jobs in bio-tech industry, and when BioXCell’s bio-tech Park is fully operational, it will create 3,000 more job opportunities in the next five years. Therefore, we foresee to engage around 20% of foreign talent to support the industries in our Park. Parallelly, Malaysia is grooming its students and professionals to be equipped with bio-tech expertise in support of the burgeoning bio-economy and biotechnology industry. Needless to say, bio-economy is an important growth catalyst for Malaysia. In fact, the government through the efforts of Ministry of Science,
Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) and BiotechCorp, is currently embarking on a comprehensive development agenda that promotes amongst others the use of renewable chemicals and biobased products through its initiative called the Bioeconomy Transformation Programme (BTP). These bio-based industries are considered a strategic high-impact, high-growth and high-technology sector capable of driving the development of innovative conversion technologies, generating new economic opportunities and creating a broad spectrum of pioneering industry segments in the country. As a matter of fact, innovation, strategic investment and sustainable ecosystem in bio-based industries are key consideration areas in relation to successfully achieving the BTP. In evitably, bio-based industry is to be seen as Johor’s new economic driver with potential to contribute more than RM10 billion to the state’s GDP by 2020 – and Johor is home to Bio-XCell Malayia in supporting these bioeconomy initiatives.
rizatuddin ramli, CEO of bio-xcell malaysia
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I think when we look good and feel good, we can do good business with more confidence and earn our desired income - Jane Teo, Founder & Creative Director NIA Beauty Academy
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INSIDE Sg Segget Rejuvenation Project is on track to meet its June deadline next year says IRDA’s Planning and Compliance Head in a media briefing pg 12 Legoland Malaysia’s 45-minutes power outage fiasco makes a Hong Kong tourist go berserk demanding for his money to be pg 2 returned
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When it comes to information online, there needs to be control and pg 8 enforcement
Maimunah Jaffar IRDA
Dato Mohamed Khaled Nordin Johor Menteri Besar
Viral video over Legoland power outage Attitude
A video of a customer going berserk at Legoland during a recent power outage goes viral By Maisarah newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
L
egoland Malaysia came under the spotlight recently for the wrong reasons when a video of a man going berserk at the counter went viral. In a 45-minutes power outage situation, a tourist believed to be from Hong Kong was seen shouting and banging on the glass separator at the counter, demanding for his money to be refunded. In the 1-minute video, the man is seen assaulting the customer service counter and other patrons waiting in line behind him did not intervene. It was learned that the
partial power outage only affected certain parts of the resort. The outage was completely restored in 45-minutes. Public Relations Manager of Legoland Malaysia, Deviga Doreraja was quick to respond when contacted by The Iskandarian. “We apologise for the partial power disruption at the Resort. The issue was rectified shortly and all affected areas were systematically restored right after. All emergency procedures were in place during the incident as safety is a priority for us. The park remained open throughout as only certain areas were affected,” said Deviga. The Youtube video also saw a lot of comments with most of them in support of Legoland. Users
condemned the harsh language and lack of communications skills demonstrated by the angry tourist. A few days before the power outage, part of Legoland Malaysia’s Miniland attraction was damaged in a fire that broke out at night. The Kuala Lumpur Miniland replica cluster of about 400 sq metres of built-up area was destroyed in the fire that occurred after the closing hours of the park. Deviga said the cause of the fire is currently being investigated by both the park’s management investigation team and other relevant authorities.
The affected area at the Kuala Lumpur Miniland cluster has been covered and cordoned off temporarily. TI
Screen grab showing the man going on a rampage at the counter
AHIS Rising to New Heights Interest
The signing and exchange of the MoUs between Dato’ Ir. Steve Chong (AHIS) and Michael Chay (SCHPL) witnessed by Ian Mak, Consul-General of Singapore in Johor Bahru
Austin Heights International School partners with Science Centre Holdings Pte Ltd to improve and enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning
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By Harish Mustak newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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ustin Heights International School (AHIS) had signed a M emorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Science Centre Holdings Pte Ltd (SCHPL). This first-of-its-kind partnership and collaboration with SCHPL is a step to venture into a new era of teaching and learning of Science. “This partnership and collaboration marks the beginning of an era of innovative and
meaningful learning approach of science beyond the laboratories and classrooms,” said Dato’ Ir. Steve Chong. “We will soon extend our science lessons further beyond classroom activities. Our students will have yet another avenue to explore and discover the phenomena and mysteries of science in a fun, exciting, meaningful and experimental approach through this collaboration with SCHPL, which is in tandem with our aspiration and vision to make the school a centre par excellence for Science
and Mathematics,” said Lui Lai Nam, Principal of AHIS. “We believe that the handson inquiry-based learning is a good approach for science learning because it involves a scientist’s approach – questioning the world around us and devising ways to find out answers,” said Michael Chay, General Manager of SCHPL. Chay also added that the Science Resource Kits that have been developed by Science Centre has
brought an ongoing and positive transformation to science lessons, from pre-school to secondary level. The hands-on visual exercise that are entertaining and engaging, help students retain and apply information effectively. Similarly, Teachers’ Training Workshops have been designed to guide educators in using the Science Resource Kits effectively in delivering inquirybased and enriching lessons in their classrooms. TI
Published by True Soul Media PLT [No.51-B, Jalan Impian Emas 5/1, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Johor Bahru] Printed by Twinstar Synergy Sdn. Bhd. [Lot2A, Jln 13/2, Seksyen 13, 46200, Petaling Jaya, Selangor] Copyright of articles, contributions and photos which are published by The Iskandarian is the property of True Soul Media PLT. 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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Do’s & Don’ts The good, the bad and the ugly of fellow Iskandarians.
An inconsiderate driver blocking the air pressure pumps at Petronas Kempas -Sent by Andrew Chun
SPAD: New laws to deal with Uber-like Services
M
obile app companies providing illegal public transport services could soon face the full force of the law reported The Sun Daily. Several amendments to the Land Public Transport Act 2010 are on the cards to give the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) the authority to take action. This comes in the wake of difficulties faced by SPAD to rein in foreign and local mobile apps such as Uber, GrabCar, Blacklane, EasyTaxi and other app developers for offering
illegal public transport services. The proposed move will also deal with future apps that facilitate car pooling or the charging of passengers using unlicensed vehicles. MyTeksi, a local internet-based taxi booking service, however welcomed the SPAD proposal to review current public transport regulations to include thirdparty ride-hailing mobile applications. According to the statement, MyTeksi is willing to work in consultation with SPAD and other regulatory
bodies for mutual objective of passenger safety and towards a better public transportation in Malaysia. The proposed amendments will plug the loopholes and address the Uber and GrabCar issues. SPAD is consulting the Attorney-General’s Chambers to draft the new law. “ We are tr ying to ensure all matters per taining to public transport come under us and in future, we can take action directly against the parties involved should they breach the law.”
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Pulai Springs spreading festive cheer Responsible
Ramadan treat for the underprivileged and less fortunate children from SK Taman Universiti 1
I
n conjunction with the recent Ramadan, Pulai Springs Resort hosted 18 underprivileged and needy children from a total of 11 families from SK Taman Universiti 1 to a Majlis Berbuka Puasa.
some from poor families were also accompanied by their guardians, other family members as well as 6 teachers during the dinner. Sunny Soo, the R esor t ’s Direc tor of Operations welcomed the
caring especially during the festive occasions when these underprivileged children need more love and attention”, said Sunny Soo. After the prayers, the children were then treated to a sumptuous spread and the
Group photo with all the 18 children together with Mr Sunny Soo (Pulai Springs Resort’s Director of Operations – in black), Mr Azrin Razali (Pulai Springs Resort’s Sports and Welfare Club chairman) committee members of the Sports and Welfare Club and the staff of Pulai Springs Resort This annual charity event was part of Pulai Springs Resort’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme (CSR) in giving back to the community and to the less fortunate. The less fortunate children aged between 7 and 12 years old who are mainly orphans and
18 boys and girls from the school at Gleneagles Terrace Restaurant together with staffs of Pulai Springs Resort. Also present during the event was Azrin Razali, the Chairman of the Resort’s Sports & Welfare Club and some committee members. “Our team believes in the spirit of sharing and
evening ended with handing out duit raya by Sunny Soo to all the 18 children. The duit raya came from the Resort as well as contributions from the Resort’s Sports and Welfare Club. In addition, each child also received a bag of goodies containing stationeries and other essentials.
Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000
Johor Police HQ 07-221 2999 / 07-225 4499
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
JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999
Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171
Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91
Immigration 07-224 4233
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DENGUE DEATH Concern
Dengue Distress on High Alert as three more Dengue deaths in Johor Bahru brings the total number of fatality to 14 in Johor
By Harish Mustak newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
A
s of week 27, there have been a total of 5,465 dengue cases in the state. The authorities are stepping up efforts to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes.
An official statistical release from the Ministry shows an increase in dengue cases throughout the nation in week 27 (5-11 July 2015) of 15.9% from 2,832 cases to 3,283 cases. The Ministry of Health has monitored that there has been a continual increase in dengue cases since week 16. In regards to that, “I urge all parties to be aware and pay serious attention towards this issue and work together in prevention and control activities, especially in making sure the surroundings are free from Aedes mosquitoes breeding grounds,” said Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Health Director of the Ministry of Health. According to local reports, three more dengue fever fatalities were recorded in Johor Bahru this week, bringing the total number deaths to 14 in Johor by the 27th week. State Health and Environment
Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the three deaths in the past one week in Johor Bahru brought the total number of dengue casualties in the state capital to eight. “The three victims were an 11-year-old girl in Taman Daya, a 28-year-old woman in Taman Kobena who had just given birth and a 35-year-old Bangladeshi man in Taman Desa Cemerlang,” he told reporters after an anti-dengue programme with iM4U volunteers from the METro Polytechnic in Kampung Melayu Majidee recently. According to Ayub, residents, non-governmental organisations and various government agencies had held mega gotong-royong to clean up 34 localities around the city recently. The mass cleaning and fogging will be held periodically to curb the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes. He urged local communities to keep their surroundings clean and
to raise awareness about the dangers of dengue. Bernama recorded a statement from Ayub where he said, “We found the rubbish collection site has become a mosquito breeding ground and residents living on the banks of Sungai Sebulong were believed to be dumping rubbish into the river.” The Ministry of Health advices the public to take proper precautions to deal with the Aedes mosquitoes. Steps that can be taken to make sure that there are less or no breeding of the mosquitoes is by ensuring that the surroundings are free from stagnant water in places such as water tanks, stray containers and drainages. The use of repellents as well as insecticides and protective clothing can help prevent cases. The public are also advised to be vigilant and not neglect symptoms of dengue. TI
QUICK FACTS • The egg of an Aedes mosquito can hatch into a larva in less than 1 day. The larva then takes about 4 days to develop into a pupa, from which an adult mosquito will emerge after 2 days. 3 days after the mosquito has bitten a person and taken in blood, it will lay eggs, and the cycle begins again.
• Only the female Aedes mosquito bites as it needs the protein in blood to develop its eggs. • Peak biting is at dawn and dusk. • The mosquito can lay eggs about three times in its lifetime, and about 100 eggs are produced each time.
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Sharing with the needy By Harish Mustak newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
D
uring the holy month of Ramadan, Care United Johor Bahru organised a charity effor t by distributing Hari Raya hampers to 100 low-income families from Kampung Skudai Kiri. The charity event focused on providing aid to the less fortunate and fostering unity among the community. The food hamper which was worth RM100 comprised of 5kg of rice, flour, canned sardines, coffee, tea, Milo, biscuits, soy sauce, chilli sauce, red onions, garlic, 1kg of potatoes, salt, cooking oil, syrup cordial, jelly,
Responsible
100 low-income families receive aid in form of Hari Raya hampers from Care United Johor Bahru vermicelli, and evaporated milk. These food essentials definitely help assist each recipient family for the festivities. “The people of Kampung Skudai Kiri were so happy to receive these gifts from the bighearted volunteers of Care United. I am personally thankful for the relationship that Care United has made with our kampung and hope
that it will remain strong for years to come,” said the Head of the Kampung. Care United have adopted Kampung Skudai Kiri for the past 10 years and have been providing aid for families in need. Upcoming events would be Children’s Party 2015 in August and Back-To-School Programme 20152016 in December. TI
Quick Reads
Johor Zoo might be moved
The state government is looking into the possibility of relocating the iconic Johor Zoo to Nusajaya due to the lack of space in Jalan Gertak Merah. Johor Health and E nv i ro n m e n t Co m m i t t e e chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the suggestion to relocate was still being considered as factors such as cost and land area had to be taken into account. “We suggested for a move to Nusajaya, as the area has adequate room to expand the zoo and add more animals,” he said. “ The state National
Park and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) has been conducting regular checks at least once every three months to ensure that the animals are being treated well,” he said. He said Perhilitan would usually assess the animal enclosures to ensure that the animals are provided with sufficient space besides offering advice on how they can make changes to accommodate the needs of the animals. Ayub also urged visitors to maintain the cleanliness of the park and refrain from throwing rubbish into the animal enclosures.
RTC Johor Feeds Brandt with Talent Highlight
RTC Johor calling for 50 applicants for new jobs at Brandt International that will provide professional development and opportunities for growth in Kota Iskandar
By Harish Mustak newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
B
randt International recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Transformation Centre of Johor (RTC Johor). Brandt and RTC Johor have announced that this Talent Building initiative will lead to job opportunities in Nusajaya and this collaboration will see the creation of 50 jobs for Customer Management Executives in the new office in 1Medini Hub, Nusajaya. This initiative was aimed to provide professional development and opportunities for growth in Kota Iskandar and the Iskandar Malaysia region as a whole. Brandt’s request of 50 candidates must be from the state of Johor and RTC Johor will be supplying these candidates to Brandt to place and train.
Applicants will be selected on qualifications such as SPM holders with 1 year experience in the service or sales industry, fresh Diploma and Degree graduates in any field and early retirees from other industries who wish to relocate to Nusajaya. “With the support from RTC johor, we are confident that this initiative will be a success. This is only the beginning and Brandt is ready to undertake business development activities to create more job opportunities in Johor. There is also a shortage of talent in Tier 1 cities whereby everyone is competing for the same talents,” said Munirah Looi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brandt International. Once recruited, the candidates will undergo a specially designed training programmes for one month. This programme will ready and equip the candidate with relevant skills and mindsets based on
the job description. The training will cover English Language, Personal Leadership, Soft and Technical Skills required for job performance. The candidates will be ready to begin
their careers upon completion of the training. “We are indeed happy and grateful that Brandt have trusted and chosen to engage with RTC Johor. Brandt has a demand and
RTC Johor has the supply. We will continue to provide the talent needed to ensure that the talent development in the region is up-tostandard,” said Dr. Mohd Azlan Ab Jalil, General Manager of RTC Johor.
Dr. Azlan(second from left) and Munirah Looi (third from left) exchanging the MoU documents
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Turning Malaysia Blue By Harish Mustak newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
I
t was envisioned by our fourth Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir Mohamed that Malaysia will be a high-income and developed country by year 2020. However, due to unavoidable circumstances such as natural disasters, economic instability and political propagandas, the Nation seemed to have lost its sense of direction and unity. Lack of interest and participation has driven the country away from its path towards becoming a healthy, developed nation. However, our present Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Razak has kept steadfast to the initial vision of Malaysia 2020 and has introduced the New Development Model which incorporates an important driving force that has and will get the country back on track which is the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS). Ever since the recent adoption of the National Blue Ocean Strategy, we’ve seen the Nation experiencing a kick-start towards achieving the 2020 vision. The NBOS aims to deliver programmes and services to the public that are high-impact, low cost, and rapidly executed. The effects of the implementation of NBOS in various sectors and industries around the region can be clearly observed. Over 80 ministries and agencies which encompass the police and military, women, youth and higher education organisations are collaborating to formulate and execute creative blue ocean strategy initiatives that
can transform the country, thus, avoiding the nation from falling into Red Ocean Traps. NBOS is not only a strategy that will change the nation on a macro level, but will also effect to smallest of groups. Urban citizens will be able to enjoy living in urbanscapes without having to worry about cost of living and other issues. Rural communities will be able to share and experience just as much as their neighbours in the cities. This is because, the essence of NBOS is that it will change not only lives but also the mind-sets of people, be it the individuals or organisations. The NBOS can be enhanced by teaching about it in schools and learning institutions. Starting from the youth, they will understand how important it is to stay relevant in the global platform. In most ministries itself, we can see the implementation of many NBOS strategies. Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) are now working together with the National Parks and NGO’s to promote Eco-Tourism. Ministry of Youth and Sports are working with the public and private sectors as well as NGO’s and other agencies to promote smart and healthy lifestyles (i.e. FITMALAYSIA, iM4U, IKBN, etc.). Even local authorities such as the Iskandar Malaysia Development Authority (IRDA) are working with big property developers to create smart healthy cities and communities in the region. The synergies created between people, public and private sectors (3Ps) are the key to a unified and forward thinking nation. NBOS can become the catalyst to create better synergies with the 3Ps By removing the unnecessary clutter
and confusion, a lot of resources can be saved such as money, time and labour. As mentioned earlier, NBOS aims to deliver programmes and services to the public that are high-impact, low cost, and rapidly executed. This means that the people itself will be empowered to become mavericks in their own expertise and field. Urban and rural communities are empowered with knowledge, skills and know-how with training and exposure to new technology and solutions. Taking own initiatives will be a trend in the future as the empowerment level among the citizens are enhanced. Ministries,
Quick Reads
Opinion
government agencies, private sectors and the communities will be able to work together in a more cohesive way to drive the nation towards the first step into becoming a highincome developed nation by 2020. The NBOS is so versatile and can be adopted anywhere throughout the nation and it will bring significant change and impacts for sure. The next step is also up to the government with help from the nation to sustain the momentum that has already been created. Together, we can strive to be the high-income developed nation as envisioned in Malaysia Vision 2020. TI
Monitor Online Information Spread
Johor Menteri Besar Dato Mohamed Khaled Nordin said there is a need to control information that is spread online to avoid it from affecting relations between different races reported the News Straits Times. He said the control mechanism and enforcement system were important to prevent false information from spreading and creating uneasiness within society. “When it comes to information online, there needs to be control and enforcement. There cannot be freedom to a point that it affects the country’s interest. “There needs to be a standard whereby there are ways to protect the country’s interest and the interest of the
people of various races,” said Khaled when commenting on the decision by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to temporarily block access to the Sarawak Report news blog due to its content that can threaten national security. Khaled said that the MCMC has a basis for making its decision against Sarawak Report as the site had carried unverified information. “If the situation could threaten the country’ stability, then there is basis for what (MCMC) decided on Sarawak Report. It could be that information that were published were not supported by facts, and the authorities know this,” said Khaled.
Wage disparity must be addressed Johor Mentri Besar Dato Mohamed Khaled Nordin said it’s time companies and businesses in Malaysia are more transparent about the salary structure for existing and potential employees. He cited the difference in the salary scale of employees working in two different companies but similar industries in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru as example. “We need to know why there is a
difference in terms of salary for the same job done in the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru,” Mohamed Khaled said. The cost of living in JB was much higher than the Klang Valley but companies and businesses in the state were paying their employees a lower salary. Khaled said this was the main reason why many Johorians preferred to work in the Klang Valley and Singapore.
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EXCLUSIVE 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.
JANE Teo
Founder & Creative Director
Monthly Drill
NIA Beauty Academy
Local Johorian, Jane Teo is an award winning makeup artist and trainer with over 17 years of experience in makeup and hairstyling, fashion shows, movie productions, TV commercials, dramas, branding, fashion magazine and the list goes on. She is also a trainer and educator for budding makeup and hairstyling artists. Adding to her accolades of achievements is her stints as a judge for numerous local and international competitions. This Ungku Mohsin girl has definitely achieved a lot and adding to that is her CSR activities done mostly in support of breast cancer survivors. Jane is currently the Founder & Creative Director of NIA Beauty Academy which has international branches.
How did you know you wanted to be a stylist? I’ve always had a keen eye to see beautiful things (laughs) and when I was in primary school, I was strongly attracted to clothing and fashion. I used to pay a lot of attention to my teachers’ attires and when I went to secondary school, I started to experiment with makeup and DIY my school bags and watch straps with creative designs. I still remember being the first Chinese girl in my school at that time to wear a baju kurung. I actually wore it as a fashion statement but was praised for promoting racial integration!
When did your entrepreneurial journey begin? I opened my first boutique when I was 17 years old, fresh from high school. I sold vintage clothing such as original vintage Levis and Rangler jeans. My boutique ran successfully for one and half years at Pacific Mall but unfortunately, I had to close it down when the deteriorating mall foreclosed.
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“I think when we look good and feel good, we can do good business with more confidence and earn our desired income”
How did Jane Teo the artist come about? I never went to any formal makeup learning or training classes and back then, there was no internet to refer to, so I mostly learnt by studying books and magazines. I sincerely believe I have a gift in this field so it sort of came naturally to me. I was recognised in the industry by the big players and was given the opportunity to showcase my talent in fashion shows. I was also given the opportunity to be the in-house makeup artist for 3 years for L’Oreal Professional Seminar. Big names like Toni & Guy and Vidal Sassoon were all part of the seminar. Thereafter, I started to join many local and international competitions and was the first runner up of Shu Uemura, The Art of Beauty Makeup Competition 2002 Malaysia.
How long have you been training aspiring artists? I’ve been training aspiring makeup and hairstyling artists since 2003.
What are the competitions that you have judged? I’m the first Malaysian Judge in a Korean International Super Model Contest last year in Busan, Korea. It was quite an experience as they were around 35 judges, both Korean and international. So becoming one of the judges for that competition itself was like a competition on its own! I’ve also judged Miss Johor Super Model competition 2014, Beach Goddess 2004, Queen of China Town 2005, Fabulous Supermodel Search 2003, E.Vogue/ Exchange Hair & Beauty Competition 2004, Fastasy Student Hair competition 2004, Miss World Cover Look 2004. Besides that, I’ll also be the judge for the Johor Fashion Designers Competition finals this September. The winner will then go on to compete nationally and internationally after that.
Share with us you experience working with international artists My experience in working with international artists, mainly Koreans, is that they are very passionate about what they’re doing. The ‘fire’ is burning very brightly over there. They’re very aggressive and competitive and work long hours without tiring easily. Overall, I consider them to be very professional. Working with them has also helped me chisel the professionalism in me and it has given me the courage to explore new ideas. Based on my observation, international artists love to share their knowledge compared to our local artists who are more conservative.
Tell us about your CSR activities I’ve supported the Lion’s Club for their ballet event whereby we sponsored the makeup and hairstyling for over hundred members in support of Dialysis patients. I’ve worked with the
Breast Cancer Support Group (BCSG) for a few of their events and am also actively involved in many fundraising activities by a number of notable charitable organisations.
What’s your advice to aspiring artists? My advice for budding artists is to be very hardworking and stay determined. The current generation appears to be a bit too lackadaisical, maybe because they are quite comfortable and everything appears to come quite easily to them when compared to my time where there was no internet and such and we had to put in extra hours to stay abreast. So keep a positive attitude and put all your effort and don’t expect things to come easily.
What’s next for Jane Teo? I’m opening up another franchise in Sarawak by the end of the year. I’m also looking to explore the male fashion and beauty industry. I think there are a number of guys out there who are quite vain but they just need the encouragement to come out with more confidence. Male grooming is now trending and it’s just a matter of time for this market to boom. I’ve seen taxi drivers in Korea who are well groomed with well kept hairstyles and the aura of confidence it shows! I think when we look good and feel good, we can do good business with more confidence and earn our desired income. The male market in Malaysia definitely has a lot of potential.
Your fashion advice to all Malaysians Wear the right attire for the right occasion! Spend some time in grooming yourselves and always remember to carry yourself well. If you’re a banker with a hidden tattoo, keep that tattoo hidden even if you’re going to the cinema because you wouldn’t know who you’ll bump in to. Always stay in character. TI
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peggy loh
My johor stories
Peggy is a regular contributor to NST and The Malaysian Insider. She actively writes in her blog www.peggyloh.com about matters that are close to her heart. She can be reached at write2peggyloh@gmail.com
Missing the traditions in our old sundry shops
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’m always seeking the nostalgic charm named “Lima Kedai” (Malay for Five Shops), of a bygone era so when I’m in districts because this town developed from just five like Senai, Muar and Kluang, I choose shops. This row of shops was a model of to browse around old shops instead typical town centres at a time where the of visiting modern malls. On these goods and services offered by each of walkabouts, I discovered interesting old these five shops, specifically met the needs shops that are still doing business the way of early settlers who were mainly involved they did back in the 1960s. Shops like these are fast disappearing in the cities but in many of Johor’s smaller towns, they are still serving a regular clientele and doing brisk business. These oldfashioned shops have a place in our history as they once provided the goods and services that early settlers and immigrants A discreet sign that reads Lian Thong Bros Co., replaces the faded needed when they original sign in front of this old sundry shop spotted in Senai, came to seek their Johor fortune in Johor. As the nation celebrates its 58th birthday this in the agriculture industry. Back then when there were no August, the landscape in Iskandar Malaysia is changing with modern developments supermarkets or convenience stores, one and it’s timely to reflect on the past when of the most essential businesses in any various race groups arrived and worked new settlement was the traditional sundry together to develop Johor Bahru into a shop. It was a one-stop general store thriving trading post. They opened up that stocked a wide range of provisions, dense jungles and cultivated pieces of household items and even joss products land close to the rivers into pepper and for Chinese religious rites. Just as its name gambier plantations before going on to describes, the merchandise in sundry shops are such a wide assortment of items, plant pineapples and rubber. I will never forget the interesting quite similar to the inventory of modern story behind the name of a small town departmental stores! I remember driving pass Pekan located between Skudai and Gelang Patah, Nenas, en route to Kukup and Tanjung Piai and when our car stopped at the traffic lights, I looked at the shops that bordered the road. My eyes were riveted to a sundry shop that had developed into a type of department store because it also stocked clothes but it was the range of shoes that caught my eye. I couldn’t Chinese merchants still use the trusted abacus to calculate bill help smiling when I
spotted pairs of single-mould shoes on the outdoor rack, popularly known as “Adidas Kampung”, the ideal waterproof footwear for plantation workers! One of the shops among the five in Lima Kedai was a bicycle shop which not only sells bicycles but also provides repair services and replacement parts for their trusted two-wheelers as the bicycle was the most common mode of transport then. Before bicycles were introduced, rubber-tappers had the back-breaking task of carrying latex in buckets suspended from both ends of a pole placed across the shoulders. Later, tappers depended on bicycles to carry large metal buckets designed to collect the latex and travel across acres of estates to send the latex to the collecting station.
A typical sundry shop stocks a wide range of household and dry food items and also joss sticks and candles for prayers
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hair traditionally long, it took trained professionals like barbers to help the men maintain short and neat hair. In those days, getting a shave and a haircut was probably a big treat for these hardworking men. Finally, the fifth shop must have been a traditional medicine or herb shop where the trader also doubled up as the sinseh who was skilled in offering traditional medical advice. Traditional medicine has been trusted for generations and as physical outdoor activities caused sprains and other aches and pains, the sinseh could be consulted for regular treatments and prescribing concoctions. These five shops served the daily essential needs in the simple lifestyle of early settlers where everyone was familiar with each other and traders would know their regular customers. The sundry shop, in particular, played an important role in helping families make ends meet by extending credit to customers based solely on trust. If food was sold only on a cash basis, many large families may have suffered, but back then, the trader had a unique system of supplying provisions in advance with the bills settled when customers received their weekly or monthly wages. The trader would just record the purchases in small record books, fondly known as 555 booklets. When a customer made purchases, he just needs to tell the trader, “Masuk buku,” (enter book) and the trader would make a record in his booklet. The astute trader would also recognise every member of the customer’s family so they could conveniently buy items and get them recorded in their booklet! So when you visit smaller towns, give the malls a miss and seize the opportunity for a peek into traditional shops that contributed significantly to the humble beginnings and livelihood of many families. This relationship of friendship, trust and goodwill, established in an era when the community was striving together for personal and national progress, remains both vital and priceless as the nation advances. TI
A tinsmith, who made and mends metal buckets and other useful metal items for plantation workers, was another essential service in an early settlement. Back in the day when battery powered lights were uncommon, rubber-tappers used simple metal oil lamps fastened to their foreheads for light to tap rubber in the wee hours when it was completely dark . Sk illed tappers could tap a tree in a standard half-spiral pattern every 20 seconds and completed tapping 450 to 600 trees daily, while some hardworking tappers even tapped two rounds per day! Another of the five shops would be a barber who provided settlers with another essential service in keeping them well groomed. Traders used to provide credit to trusted customers by keeping While women may their individual accounts the old-fashioned way - in 555 booklets! have kept their
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Iskandar Malaysia Records RM172 Billion Cumulative Investments
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skandar Malaysia recorded total cumulative committed investments of RM172.51 billion from 2006 until June this year. Of the total, 50% or about RM87.80 billion accounted for investments that have been realised. IRDA Chief Executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim said, “Local investors contributed RM105.03 billion to the total cumulative committed investments while the balance of RM67.48 billion came from foreign investors.” “For the first six months of this year, Iskandar Malaysia
received total committed investments of RM14.38 billion,” he added. “ This reflects growing investor confidence in Iskandar Malaysia as it moves towards its long-term development objectives,” he said in a statement. The statement was issued at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IRDA and six other stakeholders in Iskandar Malaysia at IRDA’s 17th Members of Authority Meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Iskandar Malaysia
continued its emphasis on sustainable development, encompassing the economic, social and environmental aspects; while playing its role in contributing to the achievement of a high-income and developed nation in line with the 11th Malaysia Plan objectives. IRDA is the regulatory authority mandated to plan, promote and facilitate the development of Iskandar Malaysia into a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing, where living, working, business and leisure converge seamlessly.
Ramadan CSR by UMLand Seri Austin
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uring the month of Ramadan, UMLand Seri Austin treated the orphans from Asrama Kebajikan Ar Rayyan to a Ramadan buffet at Puteri Pacific Hotel, Johor Bahru. Typically, this sort of event is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility activities undertaken by corporate companies as part of giving back to the community and DVSB always makes an effort to do so. Chief Executive Officer of UMLand Seri Austin, KK Wong also presented RM5,000 donation to the orphanage, witnessed by Johor Bahru Mayor, YB Dato’ Haji Abdul Rahman Mohamed Dewam. “This function was carried out to help the less fortunate in our community and to lighten their burden. We wanted to assist them
KK Wong presenting a contribution to Ustaz Halimi Haji Kolan, witnessed by Johor Bahru Mayor to continue to be strong, going through the holy fasting month as well as celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri happily,” said KK Wong. Asrama Kebajikan Ar Rayyan was established in June 2011 as a center for protection and cares primarily for Muslim orphans, low income families, homeless & neglected children and currently houses 78 children aged 6 to 17 years old. TI
Price control checks
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PDNKK Enforcement Division Supplies and Price Unit head, Fahmi Kasim said RM20,500 in compounds, involving 144 cases for failing to place pink price tags, displaying price tags or overcharging, were reported from July 7-18. “So far only one complaint involving a trader in Johor Bahru has been received compared to 10
complaints last year,” he told reporters after inspecting the prices of goods at Bayan Baru market and Sunshine supermarket here in conjunction with the implementation of the scheme which ends on July 23 reported Bernama. He said KPDNKK had not received any complaints on the shortage of cooking oil so far during this year’s Hari Raya celebration.
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JB Tansformation: Sg Segget is on track Highlight
The RM240mil Sungai Segget Rejuvenation Project is on track to meet its June deadline next year By Edey Suresh newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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he multi-million ringgit Johor Bahru Transformation project is expected to be completed in the third-quarter of next year. Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) Planning and Compliance Division Head, Maimunah Jaffar said in a media briefing recently that the progress for package one and two stood at 35.7% and 36% respectively. In 2005, Sungai Segget was covered up as a shortterm measure to ensure odour and pollution of the river was contained above the ground. However, it was realised eventually that the odour could not be contained via a quick fix and more comprehensive work was needed to be done to have a permanent solution. In late 2013, the re-opening of Sungai Segget was undertaken through the JB Transformation blueprint of IRDA. IRDA and Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) were tasked to monitor the implementation of the project with a completion deadline at 2016.
Maimunah said that despite the obstacles that came along the way, IRDA was confident that they will meet the 2016 deadline as they were acquisitive to see the outcome and the spill-over benefits to the community at large. “From an economic stand point, we have successfully cultivated 47% of land usage in the city centre which can be translated as an increase in economic activity in JBCC.” Pedestrian friendly will be the term to use as two bridges will be built for pedestrians to cross the river and extensive walkways will be created for easy access. Maimunah added that the project was within budget despite finding many ‘surprises’ when the river was being dug up such as multiple cables running through and layers of concrete which was not documented in any of the blueprints. When asked on how the project was supposed to recoup its investments, Maimunah quipped that the JB Transformation project was planned for the betterment of the community and is in line with the Comprehensive Development Plan of Iskandar Malaysia. It was not meant to be an investment but a project to contribute to the sustainability of JBCC. Since the inception of JB Transformation, JB town has seen 73% increases in business activity with big names like Komtar JBCC, Suasana UMLand and Double Tree Hilton snapping up prime locations. With the transformation, flash floods in JBCC will be curbed and will no longer be a major concern. TI
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Work in progress at Sungai Segget
(filepic)
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recap
streets Sharing with you the happenings from last month
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JDT Puts Up a Roaring Fight Interest
Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) couldn’t keep up with the pure fluid play of German powerhouse Borussia Dotmund (BVB) in an international friendly match
Consumer
State Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Tourism EXCO Datuk Tee Siew fixing up the price adjustments for the festive season
A press conference with Borussia Dortmund was held at Thistle Johor Bahru before their friendly match with JDT By Harish Mustak newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
L Ops Selamat
Johor Police Chief, Datuk Rusli Ahmad waves the Jalur Gemilang, launching the two week operation of Op Selamat for the Raya festive season
arkin Stadium was recently filled with Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) fans as well as some yellow jerseys from the supporters of the visiting team, Borrusia Dortmund when the Johor Football Association (JFA) organised an international friendly match between the two teams. JDT puts up a better fight than any other previous Malaysian team records against international clubs, lasting longer and playing a more composed game. However, their luck ran out when Borussia Dortmund outlasted them on the pitch ending the game with a 6-1 defeat to the German powerhouse. The visiting team showed their intent early by starting the likes of PierreEmerick Aubameyang, Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the first half. It was no surprise when the eight-time
Bundesliga champions took the lead through a free kick taken by Gundogan in the 22nd minute which left JDT goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias rooted. Dortmund then doubled their lead when Aubameyang tapped the ball home following a low cross by Marcel Schmelzer. The hosts were quite gracious to their German friends in the 32nd minute when a defensive mistake between Mohd Farizal and Asraruddin Putra Omar allowed Kevin Kampl to slot in the third goal. JDT managed to pull a goal back when midfielder Gary Steven Robbat, who spent six months training with the German club, blasted the ball pass Roman Weidenfeller in the 39th minute, much to the delight of the 12,800 fans. Second half commences with Japanese international Shinji Kagawa making it 4-1 in the 73rd minute from a cross by his compatriot Maruoka Mitsuro. Jeremy Calvin Dudziak then beat substitute
goalkeeper Mohd Izham Tarmizi Roslan in the 81st minute before fan favourite Marco Reus ended the deluge of goals in the 90th minute with a composed finish in the box. The match against JDT is the last warm-up for Dortmund in their Asian Tour. Japanese J-League club Kawasaki Frontale was beaten 6-0 in Tokyo recently. The Malaysian chapter of Borussia Dortmund’s Asian Tour, supported by the club’s main sponsor Evonik, is BVB’s second stop after the fullhouse capacity encounter against Japanese J-League club Kawasaki Frontale. The match was held in collaboration with the 2014 groundbreaking development partnership by the former UEFA Champions League finalists and JDT or more commonly known as Johor Southern Tigers. “This is a long-term agreement between us and Dortmund. I’m serious about the development of football in Johor and I want to see it move up to the next level,” said HRH Tunku Ismail. TI
Fans of Borussia Dortmund ready to celebrate the arrival of their favourite team in yellow
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august 15’
NEW
ig PIXELS hitting the b d screen in August an Spore’s Moses Lim stars in OUR SISTER MAMBO
RESH reshmonu RESH Returns
“Half The Man” first single released under Universal Music Singapore
travel
go local MORE STORIES FROM
KG PETA
AUG 2015 | Page 2
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
editor’s M note
alaysia is turning 58 years old soon and a lot has happened in the past few months. Setting differences aside, it’s important for the nation to work together and strive for a peaceful and economically competitive country. Multi-talented ar tist RESH (Reshmonu) has forged a career in the Malaysian and International music scene virtually single-handedly, and this time, Universal Music Singapore (UMS) has signed him with the release of his new single “Half The Man”. Based in Singapore, Tenashar’s mashups and mixes have attracted over
1,000,000 views on YouTube and she has recently signed with UMS to release her first single “Traffic”. Rose continues to tell us why jealousy and relationships should never go hand in hand. This time, Sony Pictures brings us two great movies this August. Catch funny man Adam Sandler in Pixels where “Pac-Man” attacks the world and Singaporean Moses Lim in Our Sister Mambo. Learn what happened next in our Endau-Rompin (Peta) travel tales in our “Go local, Eat local, Stay local” travel column. As for our food column, we are happy
to introduce Peggy Loh as our new food reviewer, and she’ll be taking us on her gastronomic journeys around Johor Bahru. As always, for those wishing to share their fashion collection, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/hotel for a staycation, drop me an e-mail at waves.lifestyle@ gmail.com and be featured. For more news, do access www.theiskandarian.com The Iskandarian wishes all Malaysians “Selamat Hari Merdeka”!
Priya
MUSIC UPDATES
Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com
Universal Music Singapore
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SIGNS TENASHAR
ingaporean DJ and model Tenashar signs to UMS to release her first originally-produced single, “Traffic”. Crowned #87 in 2013’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs, the Tenashar bombshell is a force to be reckoned with, attracting over 1.6 million fans to her Facebook hub. Fusing a galaxy of EDM to her belt from electro, trance, progressive to big room house, this model and DJ’s raging stamina and musical sass has shone dynamically.
Tenashar adds, “It is an absolute honour being part of Universal Music. I strive to put Asia high up on the global EDM charts, and now I have the opportunity to take us higher and further than we’ve ever been before.” Springing at the age of six as a drummer in her own band, the passion for performing flared up, now sparking an electric glow every time it stampedes the DJ booth. From her early days performing in Spain- Madrid to Ibiza and across raves in Italy, she kindles an electric
feel from one show to the next. Spending countless days in the Balearics reveling in the hedonism that the island had to offer, electronic inspiration was born. She also remarkably locked a residency at Singapore’s night club Avalon previously. Across the party globes blazing continents, Tenashar is doing things her way and won’t stop until she has you seduced to the sound of her music. Tenashar’s first majorlabel debut EP is scheduled to be released later this year.
RESH signs to Universal Music Singapore
Reshmonu drops his first single, “Half The Man” - Written and produced by Jim Beanz of Sunset Entertainment Group
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MS is proud to announce the signing of multitalented, multiple award-winning artist, RESH or popularly known as Reshmonu, to the label with the release of a new single “Half The Man”. The single is written and produced by Jim Beanz of Sunset Entertainment Group. RESH’s new Extended Play (EP) is expected to be
released in third quarter of 2015. RESH has forged a career in the Malaysian and International music scene virtually single-handedly, going from humble beginnings as a sound engineer to becoming one of the most recognisable faces of the Malaysian English music industry. RESH unleashed himself onto the entertainment scene in 2003 when he released his debut album entitled “Monumental” under then moniker “Reshmonu”. The album took critics and fans by storm with hit singles like Walk Away and It’s You That Matters. The album earned him a whopping seven nominations at the premier Malaysian music industry award show, Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) in 2004, of which he proudly bagged three awards (Best Male Vocals, Best English-language Artiste, Best Engineering for an Album). Universal Music Malaysia
took an interest in RESH and in 2007, collaborated with him to release his third Malaysian English album entitled “Superfine” with a gala live outdoor concert at The Curve, Kota Damansara, which was attended by over 5,000 fans. He is also among an elite few Malaysian artists who have consistently performed as the opening act for internationally acclaimed acts touring in Malaysia such as Alicia Keys, The Prodigy, Pussycat Dolls, The Black Eyed Peas, Nicole Scherzinger and Girls Generation. The EP will feature first single “Half The Man”, a song RESH describes as “a reminder of the emotional tilt during a separation period, to relate to all those who have withstood the trials and tribulation of a relationship or to those who have lost a loved one”. RESH added, ‘Working with Jim Beanz was a fantastic experience, I can’t wait to share my new sound!”. RESH’s first major-label debut EP is scheduled to be released later this year.
T Source: Universal Music Singapore
ena raff
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The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
Is Jealousy A Sense of Love? (pt II)
Personal Motivator & Energy Coach yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses
How does jealousy work as energy? Remember that jealousy is the branches of a tree of fear, and anything that rises from fear can weaken the body system. The energy of jealousy that causes a pinch sensation (mostly subtle) at the centre of the heart can cause discomfort to the chest and stomach (where fear is usually localised). A strong form of jealousy can cause waves of emotions and it can take over the person’s sense of awareness leaving him/her to act blindly in a relationship. If we observe the act of jealousy, we will see an expression of struggle through force. A person who has been possessed by jealousy can
easily turn into violence. All these reactions drain your energy. Can we heal jealousy? Jealousy is there to tell us that we have created an attachment towards someone or something that cannot belong to us forever. Whenever we feel jealous, or we see it in others, be present to feel the energy. Watch our thoughts and what it says or shows us about jealousy and the fear of losing. Do realise that the sense of losing which we feel is not about losing a person or a thing but rather losing the attachment of possessiveness
towards the person or things. Feel the sensation too. Feel how our body responds to the energy formation. Feel the discomfort or the false sense of love. Avoid reaction but if we must react towards what we see in the jealousy, react with our conscience and consciously. Never get blinded by jealousy. When we build a strong sense of awareness, we could turn the unconscious state of emotional pain (which, in this case, appear as jealousy) into the conscious state of emotion. This process itself is an act of Love that we can give to others in the relationship and towards ourselves.
An Energy Coach and A Personal Motivator. Rose Osman uses her knowledge and intuitive skills in energy to coach people to live a joyful life through her coaching programmes on personal & career growth, relationship, love and health.
ashar’s fic
MOVIES PIXELS Genre: Action Comedy Malaysia release date: 13th August 2015 Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad and Brian Cox Director: Chris Columbus Producer: Adam Sandler, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe and Allen Covert Executive Producer: Barry Bernardi, Michael Barnathan, Jack Giarraputo Heather Parry, Steve Koren, Patrick Jean Benjamin Darras, Johnny Alves, Matias Boucard, Seth Gordon & Ben Waisbren
In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, ’80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), now a home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Joining them is Lt. Col. Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), a specialist supplying the arcaders with unique weapons to fight the aliens.
Screenplay by: Tim Herlihy and Timothy Dowling Based on the Short Film by: Patrick Jean
OUR SISTER MAMBO Our Sister Mambo is a modern-day romance comedy inspired by the Cathay classic, Our Sister Hedy, a 1957 Hong Kong production about a middle-class family with four unmarried daughters. Starring as her father, the head of the Wong household, is popular comedian Moses Lim. He plays a cinema manager who loves old Cathay movies almost as much as his wife and four daughters. The four sisters are different – from the elegant, old-fashioned big sister Grace (played by stage thespian Ethel Yap) to the bubbly, prankish sister number two Mambo; from the sultry, confident third sister Rose (actress-host Oon Shun An) to the shy and geekish baby sister June (Malaysian actress-singer Joey Leong). Mr Wong also has to contend with his wife, an overbearing property agent obsessed with all things Korean: from drama serials to Samsung phones! Stage veteran Audrey Luo plays Mrs Wong.
Genre: Romance Comedy Malaysia release date: 27th August 2015 Cast: Michelle Chong, Moses Lim, Audrey Luo, Ethel Yap, Oon Shu An, Joey Leong, Siti Khalijah Zainal, Rani Singam, Muhammad Mahfuz Mazlan, Nelson Chia, Jonathan Leong, Shankara Ebi Director: Ho Wi Ding Producer: Choo Meileen Co Producer: Lim Suat Yen and Lee Soon Gee Screenplay by: Michael Chiang Music Director: Hardesh Singh
Source: Sony Pictures Malaysia
AUG 2015 | Page 4
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
GO LOCAL EAT LOCAL STAY LOCAL KAMPUNG PETA: ECO-RIDE (PART II) Riding in the jungles of Johor’s Endau-Rompin National Park
Terrain
The fit commandos showing of their stamina
Jasin, we were briefed and made aware of what lies next on our trail. The coordinator from OJCT, Arshata Ali advised the not so experienced bikers to leave their MTBs at Kuala Jasin and continue on foot as the trail would be more challenging from thereon. Half of the group The friendly football match Having fun against the commandos continued up and down the route to Kuala Marong, Upih By Harish Mustak Guling Waterfalls and Tasik Air Biru (Blue Water newsdesk@theiskandarian.com Lake) on foot and the other half, (i.e. more experienced riders) continued on their MTBs. rom the cold waters, we then continued Once we reached our final destination, all of us our bike ride to the rural village school dived into the Blue Water Lake to cool-off and relax. After spending about half an hour there, and had a game of friendly football with the commandos. It was fun as it we got ready to head back to Kuala Jasin to reminded us of our childhood days when we pick up our MTBs and ride back to the National played football in the rain and muddy fields. Park Complex. It was such an experience to ride We then headed back to our chalets to wash up through the jungle and cross rivers with the and get ready for dinner. After dinner, we were MTBs on our backs and having traveled some briefed on the activities that will be conducted 42km to and fro. the following day. After freshening up and a short nap, we Starting off early on the second day, we rode through a route predetermined by had dinner and a session of feedback with the the OJCT which started from the National organisers. MOTAC Johor’s Director, Mohamad Isa bin Abdul Halim also presented their “We Park Complex. The first destination was Kuala Jasin where we were amazed by the Are the Host” programme to the participants. On the last day, we were set for a visit breathtaking view of two rivers joining into to the local aboriginal village of the Jakun one. After admiring the natural beauty of Kuala
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Time to pose
Part of the participants who aided in MOTAC Johor’s NBOS Programme
people. This is part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy program organised by MOTAC Johor. The idea was to visit all the houses in the village of over 50 houses and to place a name plate on the lawn entrances of their homes. This is to ensure that not only everyone in the village knows their neighbours which were quite obvious but also for visitors from outside the village would also know who occupies which house for ease of identification in future. The last activity with the Orang Asli people wraps up the three day event at the Kampung Peta Endau-Rompin National Park. Before checking out from the vicinity, The Iskandarian got a few words from the OJCT
Chairman, Arshata Ali who said, “We are so happy and delighted to be a part of this MOTAC Johor’s activity. This is in fact our 2nd year in collaboration with MOTAC Johor and we hope to continue this eco-ride activites for years to come not only as a healthy lifestyle event but also as a means to promote ecotourism to local and overseas tourists.” When you plan your next vacation, try going local and explore all our natural sights and surroundings across the country.
Endau Rompin National Park Kampung Peta Park Entrance, Kahang, Johor
Calendar of Events
JB, 1st - 2nd Aug 2015 Homedec @ Persada Johor
JB, 1st - 31st Aug 2015 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival
JB, 7th - 9th Aug 2015 MATTA Johor Travel Fair @ Danga City Mall
JB, 7th - 9th Aug 2015 Mom & Baby Expo @ Persada Johor
JB, 9th Aug 2015 MAPEX & Children Talent Contest @ KSL City
Spore, 9th Aug 2015 Singapore National Day
JB, 14th - 16 Aug 2015 Malaysian Rally 2015 @ JB & KT
Spore, 14th - 16 Aug 2015 World Halal Gourmet Expo @ S’pore EXPO
Spore, 21st - 29th Aug 2015 Singapore Night Festival
Msia, 31st Aug 2015 Hari Merdeka & National Celebrations
Spore, 28th Aug 2015 Hungry Ghost Festival – S’pore
JB, 28th - 31st Aug 2015 iProperty Home & Property fair @ Komtar JBCC
JB, 29th Aug 2015 KT kayak & Bike Race 2105 @ KT
Block you dates for this month!
If you need more information on the above mentioned events, drop us an email at: waves.lifestyle@gmail.com
August 2015
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Talent Development Responsible
UMLand Seri Austin became the first private organisation in the state to embrace the government’s call to help reduce unemployment The graduates who went through the talent programme were awarded certificates by the Mayor Dato Haji Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Dewam (sixth from left)
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egularly recognised as the developer that introduces the first of many innovative ideas and solutions for its township, UMLand Seri Austin this time around scaled new heights by joining hands with Elnet Talent Solutions to embrace the state government’s Johor Talent Development Programme. Launched in June this year, the programme ambitioned to escalate employability by developing communications and workplace skills of graduates in Johor. The 40-hour programme was extended to 20 fresh graduates and undergraduates from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, J-Biotech and Crescendo College Johor Bahru. Participants were trained by Elnet Talent Solutions Chief Executive Officer and corporate trainer Dr. Elilen Chandra. Dr. Elilen Chandra, who was the recipient of the 2014 Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Award for Education Advancement, said his aspirations for the programme is that it is supported by all the corporate entities
in Iskandar Malaysia to ensure the state’s vision of reducing unemployment among graduates is realised. “Though refuted, there is a growing concern of unemployment in Johor and employers are generally blaming it on lackadaisical attitude, lack of skills and knowledge among fresh graduates as one of the primary reasons. This is where the Johor Talent Development Programme comes into play by training the undergrads to meet the expectations of the job market,” added Dr. Elilen. KK Wong, UMLand Seri Austin’s CEO said his organisation played the role of financier and potential employer for the programme. “I hope our participation will inspire more corporations to help the government address the unemployment problem and provide graduates with the necessary soft skills to gain employment,” said KK Wong. During the graduation ceremony of the first batch of students held recently, Dr. Elilen Chandra mentioned that the graduates will be referred to companies for possible employment.
Connect with Elnet Talent Solutions Dr Elilen Chandra can be reached at: www.facebook.com/elnettalentsolutions
Quick Facts about the Job Market Between April 2014 and April 2015, online employment in Malaysia has declined by 23% according to online recruitment company Monster Worldwide Inc. While there has been no overall improvement in online hiring activities this month, the banking, financial services and insurance industry leads in online recruitment activities for the second consecutive month at 16% year-on-year, up from 12% in April 2015.
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The Aspects of a Smart Healthy City (pt III)
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he concept of a Smart Healthy City is in line with many other concepts with differing names and focus aspects, one is as good as the other. Rather than concentrating on the differences, we should instead look at the aspirations and strive for the practical realisation of the intended outcome – to improve the community’s quality of life and sustaining it. This guide shall help assess the readiness of aspects of the Smart Healthy City for every targeted community and assist the project proponents to strategise the way forward for each aspect: 3.
3.2 •
Mobilising Intersectoral Action
3.1 •
Steering Committee Membership Mediating working relationships between sectors is an important function of the project steering committee. I ntersec toral action is supported when the mediating role is clearly defined as a responsibility of the committee and the members are appointed to represent departments and other organisations that can contribute significantly to health.
3.3 •
Comparing Experience Project offices can support intersectoral action by creating oppor tunities for senior executives and professionals from different sectors to compare experience with such actions. Seminars for such purposes are sponsored by WHO, National Healthy Cities’ networks and other groups. They provide opportunities to learn new policies and practices, to assess their implications and to overcome concerns about the problems which may occur. Health Impact Assessment Senior executives in sectors other than health may be unaware of the impact of their decisions on health. Alternatively, they may think that to change policies in the interests of health is too costly or impractical. Health impact assessments supported by the project can clarify the health effects of current policies and identify opportunities for acceptable and feasible change.
3.4 Planning • S t r a te gi c p l a n n i n g fo r Smart Healthy City requires intersectoral action. If the project succeeds in influencing the city’s urban plan or having it to adopt a plan, it will lay the groundwork for continuing intersectoral action. Executives from different sectors will work together in preparing the plan and go through an annual cycle of review and negotiation concerning its implementation. 3.5 Incentive • Financial incentives for policy change are an effective way to promote intersectoral action. Such incentives can be provided by setting aside a portion of the city budget to finance changes in policy and programmes that will strengthen their contribution to improve the quality of life. Alliteratively, a step can be built into the annual budgetary cycle allowing the steering committee to advice on use of departmental budgets in the light of quality of life priorities.
3.6 •
3.7
Community Participation T he tools that are used to encourage community par ticipation also help intersectoral action. For example, studies of local needs and citizen satisfaction with public services offer insight into the need for change. Projects should ensure that the results of citizen participation are linked to the decisionmaking processes involved in intersectoral action.
Accountability Mechanisms Accountability mechanisms create strong political and managerial incentives for intersectoral action. • Publishing an annual quality of life indicators’ status report provides an opportunity to identify areas needing priority attention. •
Datuk Ismail, Chief Executive of IRDA launching the Riders Corner at Rumah Iskandar Malaysia
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What is Social Enterprise? SEs profit; society profits. SEs must have a clear sense of its ‘social mission’. An SE must know what difference it is trying to make, who it aims to help and how it plans to do it. It will bring in most or all of its income through selling goods or services. (In Part ii: The Common Misconceptions about SE)
E
veryone is talking about Social Enterprises (SE) and Social Entrepreneurs but some of us have no clue about what SE is all about. In fact, some of us think that SEs are online businesses or something related to social media i.e facebook, twitter, etc. All of the above is wrong. Social enterprises are businesses that trade to
tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community. Simply put, when Quick Fact The Iskandarian has been listed in MaGIC’s the Social Enterprise Blueprint as one of the contributors to the Blueprint
(Part I)
Email us if you want to know more For more comprehensive information on Malaysian Social Enterprise, visit se.mymagic.my or contact at: se@mymagic.my
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Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks
Tey Bin Yuen Binyuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. He’ll be conducting a mini workshop ‘Retire early through Share Investment’ on 21 Aug 15. Collect this article to exchange a ticket worth RM20 for FREE. Reach his team at : contact@teybinyuen.com
O
ne of my students asked me, “How come majority of stock prices have gone down lately but these few counters can stand firm or even buck the trend?” That’s right! Last month wasn’t peaceful especially for the stock market, both internationally and domestically, and it would be perfectly normal for the market to go south. But what it takes for this handful of companies to withstand the headwind and go all the way up? Throughout my years of learning and observation,
Profit from Understanding the Three Highs & Three Lows (Part I)
I’ve discovered these companies possess the ‘Three Highs’ and ‘Three Lows’ trait. What are the ‘Three Highs’? 1)High Earnings It’s the uptrend and the sustainability of the earnings that is very important. Do bear in mind that the number one reason that drives the share price is the company’s earnings. If the company’s earnings do not increase over the years, how can it pay for the utility bills or its workforce salary especially during inflation? If you know the company’s earnings will grow more than 20% per annum, what will you do? I bet you’d buy more. My experience tells me that the brighter the company’s earnings are, the better the share price performs. 2) High Cash People always say ‘Cash is King’. There are two benefits for a company that owns a lot of cash. Firstly, it means the company is able to use its cash
to fund its expansion such as building new factories and buying machineries which would help the company generate more income. Secondly, it means the company is in a good position to give dividend to its shareholders. Let’s examine a bit deeper though. What it takes for a company to own lots of cash, or even achieve a net cash position? It must be due to its healthy cash flow, or the quality of its earnings. For instance, if the company earns 10 million a year, does it collect 10 million cash? Of course not, but the higher the percentage of profits that turns into cash, the better. This is related to the company’s management. A healthy cash flow of a company is like a good blood circulation of our body. Not only it’d affect its daily operation, it’ll decide its potential to grow and survive. 3) High Dividend High dividend is related to good cash flow, because without consistent cash flow generated by the business, the company will not be able to pay regular dividend, let alone high dividend
to the shareholders. In fact, the real achievement of investing in shares lies on collecting consistent and long term dividends. If you are looking to play for dividend, do take heed on companies that has a dividend policy. For example, Company ABC allocates 30% of their annual profits as dividend to distribute to shareholders. As a rule of thumb, if a company pays a dividend where its yield is higher than the fixed deposit rate, say 5% and above, it’s considered good. To recap, a company with
Email us if you want to know more
high and sustainable earnings would lead to positive cash flow which enables it to become cash rich. A cash-rich company is much easier to expand and would even generate higher earnings in the future, which will help the company becomes even more cash rich. As a result, it can reward shareholders with handsome dividend consistently. As you can see, the ‘Three Highs’ are working hand in hand with each other. What about the ‘Three Lows’? We’ll discuss in the next issue. TI
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food review
Creative cuisine at the Chef's Table
Delectable twin tastes and textures in Seared Miso Cod & Salmon in Ginger with Red Wine Sauce
and kombu that are torch-flamed for a slight smoky flavour. Among the popular main course items is Spanish Iberico pork steak and slices of jowl served with a side of garden vegetables, created from juicy acorn-fed meat, air-flown from Spain. Pasta lovers will enjoy tasty spaghetti prepared el dente in Prawn and Scallop Aglio Olio. Favourite dessert choices include Baked Apple Filo in crispy rolls with a side of chilled, tangy Pineapple Granita and Duo Dessert of chilled Tiramisu with Crème Brule.
Red Wine Sauce, is just one example of how a touch of chopped ginger and scallions can give the salmon a distinctly Chinese kick. The passion for serving food cooked to perfection is evident from the way the salmon was slowcooked for 50 minutes using the sous vide technique to retain all its natural juices so that the fish remains moist and tender. Must-try appetizers include Tuna Tataki, a lightly seared black pepper-coated chunk of tuna drizzled in teriyaki sauce and Flamed Salmon Tartare, small patties of chopped salmon tartare with wasabi dressing
Baked Apple Filo with a side of chilled, tangy Pineapple Granita
Peggy Loh is a regular contributor to NST and The Malaysian Insider. She actively writes in her blog www. peggyloh.com about matters that are close to her heart. She can be reached at write2peggyloh@gmail.com
T
he Chef’s Table is a restaurant which Chef Alan Koh designed in a double-storey bungalow along Jalan Serampang. With parking available in its forecourt, the ground level is planned with a separate non-smoking section while the upper level is for hosting private events. With 22 years of culinary experience under his belt, Chef Alan aims to share his passion for creative cuisine with discerning diners here. He humbly admits that he owes his career to his mentor, a 2-Michelin Star French chef in Singapore, who handpicked him to work with their culinary team in France. Chef Alan observed that after the French chef experienced our street food, he boldly introduced local flavours into French
Chef Alan Koh presents Spanish Iberico pork steak and slices of jowl served with a side of garden vegetables
cuisine. He was his inspiration to imbue this menu of traditional French food with a quirky Asian twist. The delectable twin tastes and textures in Seared Miso Cod & Salmon in Ginger with
Restaurant name: Chef’s Table Address: No. 33 Jalan Serampang, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru. Tel. No: (6)07-3318162, (6)07-3318161 Hours: Mon - Fri 11:30 am - 10:00 pm | Fri: 11:30 am - 2:00 am | Sat-Sun: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
@home
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PROPERT Y INSIGHT
PROPERTY
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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS
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APARTMENTS
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VILLAS
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CONDOMINIUMS
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OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE
Cover: The Straits launches 128 units at Abdul Samad
The low density residential enclave is five minutes away from Johor Bahru City Centre pg 29 with only 7 units per floor
plus
Devadason shares his real life case studies by revisiting MRTA
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Quick Reads
@home
Elegance offered by The Straits Highlight
CapitaLand still positive on Iskandar Malaysia The Singapore-based developer is moving forward with plans to build a premier waterfront residential community on A2 Island in Danga Bay, comprising high-rise apartments, landed homes and other supporting amenities. A statement released by the company said, “CapitaLand takes a long-term view of this project and is confident of the long-term prospects of Iskandar Malaysia. The development will be paced and executed in phases over a period of 10 to 12 years according to market conditions, as originally envisaged.”
South East Asia landmark launches The Straits at Jalan Abdul Samad
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n upcoming upscale development called The Straits, will offer a freehold apartment with 128 units comprising of single-key and dual key units of various layouts and sizes. The built-ups area will range between 868 up to 1,616 square feet. The low density residential enclave is five minutes away from Johor Bahru City Centre with only 7 units per floor. The Straits will also offer full communal facilities, which will include a lap pool, gymnasium, reflective pool, poolside lounge, restaurant, meeting rooms, multitier security, destination-control lifts and a fibre-optic cable backbone system.
Knusford and Greenland JV Knusford and Greenland Construction have joined hands to bid and participate in several major real estate development projects in Iskandar Malaysia and the region. Greenland’s Malaysian entity, Greenland Malaysian Urban Development and Knusford’s wholly- owned subsidiary, Kota Express will hold 55:45 equity respectively. Local businesses have the opportunity to tap into procurement jobs for building materials and other services from China developers in Iskandar Malaysia.
PBB: Puteri Harbour Project PPB Group Bhd is upbeat that its newly launched integrated waterfront development in Puteri Harbour will attract strong interest from local and foreign buyers. “We’ve already sold 50% of the 456 condominiums units for the phase one with 80% of the buyers are Malaysians and 20% are Singaporeans, mainland Chinese and buyers from Hong Kong,’’ said Managing Director Lim Soon Huat
Albert Lim Meng Hong from Sonata Resources Sdn. Bhd., is the brains behind the 25-storey freehold apartment project. Born in Johor, Albert holds an impressive repertoire of experience for several projects, namely Orchard City at Kota Samarahan, Sarawak that has a gross development value RM800 million.
“With investors’ growing interests in the Iskandar region, the timing is right. We are confident that The Straits will be successful, leveraging on the uniqueness in design and location that is calm and tranquil,” said Albert. The concept behind The Straits is modern, contemporary development set against the
backdrop of natural heritage and a tranquil environment, with interiors that draw inspiration from the colonial past. Officially launched on the 1 August, The Straits will offer high quality management of 4-star hotel standards, jointly managed by the international hotel chain, Ramada.
Property Corner Real life case studies
A.Devadason
CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialises in tax advisory and consultancy. He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my
I
t’s my job to meet clients at least once a year for their routine refresher as well as the necessary tweaking needed on existing plans that has been put in place. In one such meeting, I was presented with a unique predicament. Over the last 12 months, a client entered into agreements to purchase 3 Semi-D houses, 3 Condominiums, 2 Office lots and 2 Shop lots! These properties were primarily in the Klang Valley with one each in Johor Bahru, Seremban and Penang. Despite earning well above the national average, the properties were all financed
MRTA Reloaded
by loans and the gross amount exceeded the RM10m mark. My client concentrated on getting the units first, and worry about it later. The time to worry came when we met and he realised the amount of debt that he had amassed and the financial strain on the entire family if he’s unable to service his obligations. Financing Banks are excellent business partners when building an empire. As long as the borrower keeps his end of the contract, the marriage is a blissful one. However, for whatsoever reason one starts to default, things will go into a rapid tailspin. This can start as simple but frequent reminder calls, elevating to default notices, demand letters and all the way to full legal action which includes public auctions as well as bankrupting the borrower. Not only will one be ruined financially, in some cases, it also
ruins the family due to adverse publicity, loss of reputation and internal friction. The solution here is quite daunting not because of the size of the premium but in getting an insurer who is willing to take such a high amount of risk on one person. Usually, this will involve one or more re-insurers and the amount of medical and financial requirements can be cumbersome. In the end, to ensure fast underwriting and speedy coverage, only RM3m insurance was planned and put in place. This was done after detailed discussion with the client on the objective of each assets held. He wanted to hold on to 1 unit each of the Semi-D houses and Office lot as his residence and office. The preservation of these units was non-negotiable and he had no intention to dispose them. The loans for these 2 units alone amounted to RM1.8m.
The other units were held purely for “investment purposes”. He figured that in order to dispose them and extract maximum returns, he would need around 18 months and the amount of cash needed to finance the monthly instalments for this duration was estimated to be around RM1.2m Conclusion By adding the amounts needed, a Critical Illness policy was put in place. By having a Critical Illness plan instead of the usual Life policy, I ensured that the client will have greater coverage not only for Death and Disability but for the 36 Dreaded Diseases as death is tragic but being very ill is even worse. Taking loans is akin to digging a hole in the car porch. Steps need to be put in place to ensure this hole is covered in the event uncontrollable events occur. The last thing we would want is to get our loved ones to clean up or even worse, fall into our mess. TI
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Propernomy by Dr Daniele Opinion
Dr. Daniele Gambero REI Group
Fatal attraction: Malaysian or Overseas Investment? (Part I)
far its regional future ASEAN partners are performing in terms of efficiency and future developments.
REI Group of Companies CEO and co-founder Dr. Daniele Gambero gives presentations on the property market and welcomes feedback at: daniele.g@reigroup.com.my.
A
ccording to the recently released Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Malaysia attained 20th placing out of 144 countries. It is also the first developing country to find its way to the top 20 ranking. This achievement even surpasses several advanced economies such as France, Australia, South Korea and my own home country, Italy, which dropped to the 49th position. As I always say, if we want to judge or rank something, we should do it in comparison to other similar or comparable standards. So in this case, let us compare Malaysia with our immediate neighbours in the South-East Asia region. Table 1 shows how well the Malaysian economic performance has been operating at and how
Elaborating on the WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015, it’s interesting to underline that Malaysia has been scoring extremely well in terms of Financial Market Development (ranked 4th worldwide) and of Goods Market Efficiency (ranked 7th worldwide). WEF, being an independent association of business leaders from
all around the world who keep track of and report about improvements or the worsening of economic performances of countries around the world, status of development, level of democracy, etc. bases its reports on objective, realistic and informative details of the actual situation. Therefore, whoever it is around the world who is deciding to open a branch in a different country normally would rely on these WEF reports that are produced annually before acting. I think we would all agree on the fact that the world’s financial centre of gravity is progressively shifting towards the east - attracted by China’s robust performance and by the South-East Asian region which, in the next few decades, will offer huge growth potential. In the last 10 years, all the regional economies have been showing impressive growth and steady performances. Merging the information above with the data reported in Table 2, it is easy to gain a positive outlook on the government plan to see Klang Valley and Greater KL becoming home to the regional headquarters of 100 Fortune 500 and Forbes 2000 multinational
corporations by the year 2020. Since 2011, InvestKL has brought in 32 new MNCs (Multinational Corporations) to establish their regional headquarters in Malaysia’s capital city. These MNCs are attracted by Greater KL’s strategic location which is easily accessible to the region’s key business centres and some of the world’s most rapidly growing and important economies as reflected in the table. However, the best is yet to come as Klang Valley and Greater KL are targeting a 10 million population count by 2020. Penang,
on the other hand, is increasingly becoming a world renowned destination for holiday, retirement and health tourism. Melaka will soon see the launching of the first phase of Melaka Gateway, a project endorsed by the Prime Minister which will raise Melaka to the world stage as a tourism, wellness, business, education and entertainment destination. Sources: Napic Property market Report 2013, CIMB, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Economic Forum, Ho Chin Soon Research, REI Archives.
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Property Investment Opinion
Ed Cheong Ed 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 world-class investment strategies. He is contactable at iskandar@rafflesland.com
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n o t h e r m o nt h h a s passed without a whiff of positive news on Iskandar Malaysia’s (IM) property market. Fortunately, there was a key business development worth recapturing. HUAWEI Technologies Co Ltd opened its first regional data hosting centre in the Iskandar Malaysia development hub in the southern state of Johor. Called the Asia Pacific Digital Cloud Exchange, the exchange aggregates and distributes digital content to telco companies in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. This is a follow through of an earlier October 2013 agreement Huawei signed with Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the Malaysian Government’s strategic investment fund.
The surest way to ensure Iskandar Malaysia’s continued growth
Initiatives especially in the technology outsourcing fields with global conglomerates kept the Iskandar agenda on the world’s radar. As we remember, 2013 was the prime period of IM where we have daily news of tieups, partnerships and industry announcements and we need more of such mega advancements now! I have previously written that in economic down cycles, it is very important to crank up the volume of industrial projects in IM through hard thinking and smart selling. Projects that will generate not just mega news, but real economic value added and specifically more jobs will help both local and international stakeholders to hold on to their initial hopes. Already bleeding from not launching new projects due to the soft market, these land owners from Nusajaya to Johor Bahru are reeling from yet another game changing risk. Let us hope that these international developers do not default on their loans and start abandoning unrealised projects. The last mass defaults during the
1998 Asian Financial Crisis still left Johor with a lot of piles stuck in the sea and dark deserted uncompleted buildings. Therefore, the stakeholders in IM should redouble their efforts to do more outreach road shows and seminars internationally and also across Malaysia. If we recall prior to 2013, many overseas missions brought IM to global investors’ attention. It is time to do more. Even if there is only limited positive news or changes to be shared, never give up reaching out to the world. Such recovery capability and perseverance in bad times is many times more rewarding than easy time’s efforts. IM as an economic corridor must be sold in every possible way in desirable years as well as in difficult ones such as now. I hope we will hear more from the authorities on more industry missions and engagement. Otherwise, the lack of commercial excitement will continue to drive sentiment down. The surest way to ensure continued health of the economic corridor of IM is massive outreach now. TI
UMLand Seri Austin Bags Prestigious Award
U
MLand Seri Austin has been awarded the “Master Class in Green Township” in the prestigious 5th ASEAN Outstanding Business Award (AOBA) 2015 which was recently held at the Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The event was organised by the ASEAN Retail Chain and Franchise Federation (ARFF), where it was set up by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) with the aim of making the ASEAN region a hub of retailing and franchising excellence. The objectives of AOBA is to recognise the achievements in Asian business sector, to honour and encourage top entrepreneur and leaders, to develop new leaders and to serve as catalyst
of growth for country’s economic driver. The awards nomination criteria is based on several aspects; prominently including leadership, innovation, global impact, financial performance, personal integrity, influence and strategic direction. UMLand was recognised as the first Township Role Model in Iskandar Malaysia in relation to the Smart Healthy City and Communities Programme for other developers to follow. The Ministry of Health also gazetted two town parks in SERI AUSTIN as the 1st Smoke-free Town parks in Iskandar Malaysia. UMLand Seri Austin has recorded to be the first project development to offer free accessibility of Internet in Southern Malaysia.
UMLand Seri Austin’s CEO, KK Wong (third from left) receiving the award on behalf of UMLand Seri Austin
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