The Iskandarian July 2018 by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

The Iskandarian

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ISSUE 71 | JUL 2018 FREE COPY Official Newspaper

The Iskandarian

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Iskandar Malaysia’s Official Newspaper, is a synergistic product by True Soul Media PLT & IRDA’s Social Development Division

The satisfaction one gets from seeing his fellow comrades succeed is unparalleled

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We interview CEOs & Chairmen with drilling questions

pg 9

- Vishnu Dev Director, Reel Studio Sdn Bhd

email: editor@theiskandarian.com

website/e-paper : www.theiskandarian.com

Tin DAK fo r Eve r y Chi l d , Now ! Read on pg 7

THE ISKANDARIAN ISKANDAR MALAYSIA’S OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER

IIB Grooming Basketball Players for Johor Read on pg 4

Permaisuri Johor Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah at the Kempen TinDAK event which is in line with her strong advocacy in the area of child welfare and safety (Image by Royal Press Office)

Digitising Johor into the Future

- RM200 million injection by the Federal Government to spur digital growth of Johoreans

5th ISKANDAR MALAYSIA SOCIAL HERO AWARDS 2018 #IMSHA2018

Read on pg11

PEN! S ARE NOW O N IO T A IN M O N Visit alheroawards ci o /s m o .c k o www.facebo for details

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IRDA Shifts Focus to Northern Part of the Corridor

Development is coming to the northern part of Iskandar Malaysia through a Rancangan Kawasan Khas (Special Area Plan) Kulai – Sedenak 2025 that will transform the largely agricultural area into Johor’s data and digital hub

he Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) briefed newlyminted State International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee Chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse and the media on the development that has been on the drawing board for the Kulai-Sedenak area of the country’s southern growth corridor of Iskandar Malaysia. This Rancangan Kawasan Khas (RKK) or Special Area Plan Kulai-Sedenak 2025, set to transform areas of Iskandar Malaysia which includes the Sedenak Digital Valley, planned to be a data and digital hub that IRDA believes will be a catalyst for high technology players such as those involved in information technology, electrical, electronics and robotics industries to come invest and establish centres for their operations. Maimunah Jaffar, IRDA’s Head of Planning and Compliance Division in giving the briefing said

that the area encompasses 49,376.80 acres (19982.082 hectares) with a population of only 5,000 currently but this is expected to grow to 83,242 by the time the project is fully developed. “We also estimate that there will be 77,500 job opportunities for Johoreans in the Kulai-Sedenak Special Area,” Maimunah said. Puah welcomed the plan that will set the stage for development in an area that largely encompasses his mainly rural political constituency of Bukit Batu. “It’s time that the northern part of Iskandar Malaysia sees development because so far Iskandar’s growth has been focused in the southern region of Johor,” said Puah. Since the Draft Plan was available for public scrutiny, the public was urged especially the population within the KulaiSedenak and also other Johoreans to scrutinise and provide their feedback

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Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

Maimunah Jaffar briefing EXCO Jimmy Puah Wee Tse and members of the media

Maimunah Jaffar, IRDA’s Head of Planning and Compliance Division, EXCO Jimmy Puah Wee Tse, Mohd Khir Johari bin Haji Salleh, Kulai District Officer and Farizal bin Ismail, YDP Kulai Municipal Council

on the draft. “Due to its potential impact on Johor’s economy, public feedback was vital because it is through this that we can improve on the plan to ultimately benefit the population,” he added. The draft plan was on display for public scrutiny and feedback since 13th May till 12th June 2018 at five locations namely the Kulai Municipal Council office, the Johor Town & Country Planning Department, IRDA’s office at Danga Bay, Kampung Gunung Pulai and Felda Bukit Batu community halls. Within this Special Area is the Sedenak Industrial Park where the 746-acre (302 hectares) Sedenak Iskandar Data Hub is located. Puah took the opportunity to suggest that it be rebranded to ‘Iskandar Data and Research Hub’. “Incorporating the word ‘Research’ into the name expands its scope and attract sophisticated

investors and participants,” he said. The Digital Hub itself is estimated to attract RM260 million worth of investments, according to Puah. The key rural landmarks in the area are Felda Bukit Batu, Kampung Rahmat, Kampung Felcra Kuala Kabong 1 and 2, Sungai Pontian Besar, Ladang Sri Pulai, Kampung Melayu Kuala Kabong 2 & 3, Ladang Kulai Young and Kampung Sri Gunung Pulai. While the non-agricultural area is the Sedenak Industrial Park. Maimunah said that the current infrastructure is not yet ideal for what is planned for the Special Area because of its agricultural nature, but with this intended development, present and future population will enjoy better network of roads, fibre-optic enhanced communications, utilities and amenities that befits a high-tech zone. - by Shufiyan Shukur TI

23 Motors Does their Bit for Charity

The car sales company launched its Sebarkan Syukur initiative and gave out free bubur lambuk during the Ramadan month

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n a step to give back to the local community, car showroom 23 motors Sdn. Bhd. announced ‘Sebarkan Syukur’, a CSR initiative that aids the needy during the holy month of Ramadan. Aside from a buka puasa session, the company pledged to donate a certain percentage of their earnings to charity. Four special homes were invited for the buka puasa, namely Pusat Jagaan Warga Emas Nur Ehsan, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Insan Istimewa Johor Bahru, Persatuan Kebajikan Orang-Orang

Istimewa and Madrasah Al-Ammer. Each home was presented with a donation worth of RM5000 as well as hampers. “We’ve always wanted to do our bit for the community and felt that the holy month of Ramadan’s core of moderation and community-focused activities best fit the ideas we had in mind,” said CEO of 23 Motor’s Dato’ Farouk. 23 motors also gave out free bubur lambuk at their branch since mid-May till the end of the Ramadan month.

Pusat Jagaan Warga Emas Nur Ehsan receiving a donation sum of RM5,000 and a hamper from CEO of 23 Motor’s Dato’ Farouk

He added that the initiative gave their customers the opportunity to contribute to a

worthy cause while upgrading their own vehicle this festive season. - by Amin Khairuddin 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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Food and Funfair

Persatuan Cerebral Palsy Johor in dire need to raise funds for its association

e all know that charity education and services for children Corporate people through their CSR begets charity and in and adults with Cerebral Palsy – a programmes are encouraged to that line, be generous disorder caused by damage to purchase coupons in bulk and are with your pockets as the brain. Currently, there are 130 free to donate it to any charitable the annual Charity Food & Funfair children and adults with Cerebral organisations of their choice or via organised by Persatuan Cerebral Palsy housed at the association, and Persatuan Cerebral Palsy Johor’s Palsy Johor (Cerebral Palsy Johor/ they are all provided with special choosing. For further information, association) will be back on the 4th education, rehabilitation skill training (vocational) and sheltered please contact Suthina Tharmapalan of August 2018 at its premises. of Persatuan Cerebral Palsy Johor We have previously workshop for the adults. So save the date and spare at 07-2235452/2264380. - by Priya highlighted in our publication that the operating cost at the a thought by lending your support. Manikam TI association is about RM1.9 million annually, and as such the Charity Food & Funfair is one such revenue generating activities that will assist to raise funds for the association’s upkeep. This event is one of their major fundraising projects and there will be stalls for charity sales selling a variety of food items and also recreational activities such as pony rides, games stalls, lucky draw, colouring contests and etc. Persatuan Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah during previous Raya Open House at Persatuan Cerebral Cerebral Palsy Johor Palsy Johor (file-pic) cares and provides

IIB Grooming Basketball Players for Johor Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) promotes sports culture with another pioneering initiative in EduCity

nce again, Iskandar investment Berhad (IIB) is slam-dunking another sporting initiative at the EduCity Sports Complex in Iskandar Puteri with the hopes of promoting sports culture in the region through 3 on 3 Basketball Challenge 2018. IIB being the title sponsor is proud to collaborate with the Johor State Basketball Association (JSBA) in hosting and jointly organsing this national level competition that will be held from 13th to 14th July 2018 at EduCity Sport Complex. As many as 14 categories will be contested for a total cash prize of RM16,000. 14 championship titles reserved for winners in the 12, 14, 16, 18, and 21 year old categories, as well as the Open and Sekolah Berasrama Penuh (Boarding Schools) categories, for both men and women athletes competing in

these categories. “3 on 3 Basketball is one of the fastest growing urban sports in the world and will be included in the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. It is also in line with our mission to instil sports culture and a healthy lifestyle among Iskandar Puteri residents and promote this new city as a sports destination of choice for everyone in the region. Johor has one of the best sports infrastructures in the country after Kuala Lumpur and is blessed with many talents playing in various fields. Through this initiative, IIB hopes to uncover some of Malaysia’s most promising sportsmen and sportswomen,” said Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, President and Chief Executive Officer of IIB. “We are proud to collaborate with IIB to bring this inaugural 3 on

3 Basketball Challenge to Iskandar Puteri. This is a critical milestone in the wider development of basketball in Johor. The challenge itself serves as the best platform to unearth quality Johorean’ talents, and will also be a good training ground for the professional players in the run-up to the Malaysia Games (SUKMA XIX) in Perak this September,” commented Dato’ Daniel Lee, President of JSBA. Running up to the main event that is the 3 on 3 Basketball Challenge 2018, two supplementary programmes will be held for basketball enthusiasts all over. A Referees’ Clinic is scheduled to take place on 7th July 2018, and a Basketball Clinic will be conducted on 13th July 2018. Both clinics will be held at EduCity Sports Complex. As for the main event itself, entries are now open until 7th of July

news

Passing the Baton with Grace RCJB’s President Datuk Teo Shiok Fu JP ends his one year term on a high note

n conjunction with Hari Raya, Rotary Club of Johor Bahru (RCJB) President Datuk Teo Shiok Fu JP and his fellow members organised a visit to Rumah Kanak-Kanak Mini Ulu Tiram in Ulu Tiram on Saturday 23 June 2018. This is a Datuk Teo Shiok Fu JP finishing his final Children’s Home programme as RCJB President for abused female children. There are currently 24 (SIGS) also joined them on this visit. “This was a meaningful children, aged from 5 to 12 years’ project to bring joy and cheer to old staying there. RCJB presented duit raya and the children during Hari Raya,” said organised a lunch for the children. Shiok Fu. This was his final community Marrybrown Sdn Bhd sponsored the lunch and their Chipmunk Mascot service project as RCJB President for provided entertainment for the Rotary Year 2017-18 (1 July 2017-30 children which they really enjoyed. June 2018). As RCJB President, Datuk Each child was also handed Teo Shiok Fu JP and his team has a goody bag containing snacks and carried out a total of 15 community basic necessities such as hair & body service projects throughout the year wash, hand towel, toothbrush and to help all communities. His last project was a visit toothpaste. To help the home further, to Rumah Berkat (Pertubuhan RCJB donated necessities such as Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Johor) shampoo & body wash, toilet paper to give duit raya and a box of rolls and baby diapers. Persatuan dates each to the 138 students Doktor-Doktor Johor and Interactors during Ramadan in May. - by The from Sultan Ibrahim Girls’ School Iskandarian TI

2018. Submissions can be forwarded to JBE Hoops Stations Skudai Parade by calling +6075565370 or apply via Spotify by going to https://www. spotifyapp.com/jsba-3x3-basketballchallenge-2018/. Besides IIB, other sponsors of the event include Gatorade (Isotonic Energy Drink), Molten which is one of the world famous sports brand, and Pusat Pakaian Hari Hari that is an apparel store chain with over 80 stores nationwide. “EduCity Sports Complex

is a comprehensive world-class sporting venue that is ready to host international events in Iskandar Puteri,” added Khairil. EduCity Sports Complex in Iskandar Puteri has multiple Olympic-standard facilities and has been home to many international events such as EduCity Sundown Marathon, EduCity Duathlon Challenge, NAZA National Rugby Sevens Series, and many more since its opening in 2013. - by Harish Mustak TI

Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, President and Chief Executive Officer of IIB with Johor State Basketball Association (JSBA) during the launch event

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news

#Fast4Malaysia Johor Bahru M4M founder, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir promoted peace and unity by urging all Malaysians to experience fasting for a day

n the spirit of Malaysia Baru, International Women’s Peace Group Malaysia (IWPG) together with Malaysia’s for Malaysia (M4M) organised #Fast4Malaysia in Johor Bahru. #Fast4Malaysia campaign was created in response to the prevailing tensions and sentiments in the community. Notable guests at the event was Johor Women

Development and Tourism Committee Chairman exco Liow Cai Tung, ADUN Stulang Andrew Chen Kah Eng and Thomas Fann, social activist and chairperson of ENGAGE. “Malaysians are now very optimistic about their future. To make and sustain the changes we want, we have to be strong and united,” said Woo Sow Pheng, President of IWPG. A round of collection was held

for Tabung Harapan contributions at the event, with a total amounting to RM 2668 which will be sent to Tabung Harapan on behalf of the #Fast4Malaysia event in JB. “The success of Malaysia is not because of Pakatan Harapan but because of your votes and we we have made it happen together,” said exco Cai Tung. - by Edey Suresh & Shufiyan Shukur TI

Partly Lost in Translation

Helen Grey Helen Gray has lived and worked in Asia for over 25 years. Her passion for photography has led her to explore and record her impressions of many countries. Through her website (www. helengray.net), she provides information on places to visit in the region and focuses on the history of Johor

t the present time, the only staterun museum in Johor Bahru which I have found to be open to the public is the Figure Museum (Muzium Tokoh Johor). The museum is about the figure head of the state, so the upper floor contains information about Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim and his family. It also contains an extensive exhibition about Jamil Sulong who was a famous Johorean film producer, but how the term “figure” applies here I do not know since there was no English translation in either of these exhibitions. Nevertheless, this museum is well worth a visit (closed Fridays) for the building itself, and the exhibition on the ground floor has an English translation. The building was completed in 1896 on 100 acres of land on Senyum Hill, overlooking the Tebrau

Straits and Singapore. It was the official residence of Dato’ Ja’afar bin Haji Muhammad, the first Chief Minister of Johor serving from 1886 - 1919. He had accompanied Sultan Abu Bakar on several trips to Europe, and had his house modeled after Hardwick Hall in England. Apparently, Sultan Abu Bakar had acknowledged Dato’ Ja’afar’s request for permission to build such a big house with a smile. The word “Senyum” means “smile”, hence this building was known as Senyum Castle built on Senyum Hill (Bukit Senyum). Three of Dato’ Ja’afar bin Haji Muhammad’s sons also served as Chief Minister (Menteri Besar) after him, including Dato’ Onn bin Ja’afar who was the founder of UMNO (United Malays National Organisation). So, this building holds the stories of one of the most important Malay families in Johor Bahru in the late 19th century. On the ground floor is a large book describing the lifestyle on Bukit Senyum. Only a few pages are available to read, but they are enough to allow you to imagine how things were for the Malay elite of Johor. Dato’ Ja’afar bin Haji Muhammad had five wives and many children, all of whom were expected to play a musical instrument in a Ghazal orchestra to provide the evening’s entertainment. It is easy to imagine that sitting on the balcony on a balmy evening, listening to the orchestra and eating fruits from your own orchard, would have brought a smile to anyone’s face. TI

Thomas Fann from ENGAGE, Johor Women Development and Tourism Committee Chairman exco Liow Cai Tung and ADUN Stulang Andrew Chen Kah Eng attended the meaningful event

James Dyson Award: A Global Call for Problem Solvers

he James Dyson Foundation held an event to launch the James Dyson Award (JDA) in Malaysia aiming to inspire young engineers and inventors to come up with solutions to real world problems. The event took place at Glasshouse Kuala Lumpur where partners and university professors attended to hear from Dyson engineers and the 2017 national JDA winner on the competition. Awarded by the James Dyson Foundation, the international design award celebrates and inspires the next generation of design engineers. The award (which runs in 27 countries) aims to give young engineers and inventors a platform to take their creations from concept to reality while giving them international exposure. Design something which solves a problem, big or small. The winner will gain international exposure through the competition and £30,000 (about RM 158,150.00) prize money to develop their idea. James Dyson says: “Young engineers and designers have perspective and unbridled intelligence that makes them incredibly adept at problem solving. Their ideas can easily be dismissed, but if nurtured and celebrated they are transformative. Developing a product or technology is a long and daunting process; the James Dyson Award celebrates the inventive young people embarking on that process”. The competition is simple; design something that solves a problem. This problem may be a frustration we all face in daily life, or a global issue such as world hunger. The important thing is that the solution is an effective

An aspiring young engineer with her invention at the James Dyson Award (JDA) in Malaysia

and well-thought through solution. There is an international prize of £30,000 and £5,000 for their university and £5,000 for two international runners up and each national winner receives £2,000. Entries are first judged at the national level - before progressing to the international stage. A panel of Dyson engineers selects an international shortlist of 20 entries. The Top 20 projects are then reviewed by Sir James Dyson, who selects the international winner. The James Dyson Award runs in 27 countries and regions worldwide. The deadline is midnight GMT on 20th July 2018 and candidates enter through an online application via the James Dyson Award website - https:// www.jamesdysonaward.org/. Entrants should concisely explain what their invention is, how it works, and their development process. The best entries are always realistic and sustainable, show iterative development, solve a real problem and tell a story. Entrants should submit imagery to support their application. The best entrants should be able to show evidence of physical prototyping as well as sketches and CAD. Eligibility criteria is that

entrants must be, or have been within the last four years, enrolled for at least one semester in an undergraduate or graduate engineering or design programme at a university in a country or region chosen to participate in the James Dyson Award. In the case of team entries, all members of the team must be, or have been within the last four years, enrolled for at least one semester in an undergraduate or graduate programme at a university in a country or region chosen to participate in the James Dyson Award. One will need to be nominated and registered as the team member. Founded in 2002, the James Dyson Foundation (JDF) a Dyson’s charity, exists to inspire future engineers by supporting education initiatives from primary school through to university. In Johor, more than 750 Dyson engineers work with their counterparts in the UK to develop Dyson’s pipeline of technology. In their spare time, these engineers represent the Foundation and head out to universities and local schools to conduct engineering workshops and technical talks, as well as STEM workshops at local schools to inspire the next generation of inventors. - by Priya Manikam TI

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TinDAK for Every Child, Now!

From Cover

TinDAK is a Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Campaign that is making a difference, no matter how tough or complicated each case might be

ow often do we hear about domestic issues becoming the cause of many other household problems these days? Broken homes usually attract a plethora of unnatural human developments. However, we are not saying that every broken home will produce a new generation of criminals per se and some can even bring out the best in people just like how a diamond is formed when coal is put under extreme conditions and pressure. However, the typical storyline will prove that once a bad seed has been planted, the tree will bear bad fruits, or in some cases, poisonous ones. One worrying issue that is ever growing yet does not enjoy the publicity and coverage as other issues is the topic of child sexual abuse. How sad is it to look into the eyes of a child who has been physically and mentally traumatised, and to hear their faint cries when trying to come out with a simple statement as a supplement to a police report. In addition, to think that a child has to be driven up to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, just to record a statement is even more frustrating! Why does a child have to travel to Seremban you ask? Well, for a start, the statement recording machines in Johor and Melaka states are busted! But what about the child?! Will there be someone accompanying them to the police station and are all the cases being recorded? Unfortunately, there are so many questions with close to no answers or solutions. While we are here getting angry at the lack of coverage and commitment to the real issues like child sexual abuse, many groups and individuals are taking their own initiative in tackling and raising awareness on the topic of child abuse. The Johor Women’s League (JEWEL) is a Johor-based nonprofit, non-governmental society of women volunteers whose mission is to uplift the status of women and children in Johor through education, advocacy, and other forms of assistance.

Established in 2009, JEWEL has been active for the last 10 years in organising charity fund-raisers to raise awareness on some key issues that have been clouding our nation and the whole world at large. JEWEL takes on the facilitator role in tackling child sexual abuse cases by assisting and supporting the victim with proper channel and resource utilisation. This time around, with an emphasis on Child Sexual Abuse, JEWEL, in collaboration with Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor, had organised a charity fund-raiser entitled, “An Afternoon Tea with Her Majesty Permaisuri Johor” at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The fundraiser event raised some RM800,000 in aid of its signature child sexual abuse awareness and prevention campaign. The largest donation of RM500,000 was granted by DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and other major donors were Forest City, KPJ Healthcare, YTL Foundation and Noah Foundation. The funds raised at the afternoon tea will go towards funding Kempen TinDAK (acronym for Tindak Demi Anak Kita), which is dedicated towards raising greater public awareness and community engagement in combatting child sexual abuse. Kempen TinDAK was created in late 2016 by JEWEL

Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah giving the opening address (Image by Royal Press Office)

as a response to the alarming upward trend in child sexual abuse cases. TinDAK’s key objectives are to PROTECT children from falling victim to sexual abuse, via a coordinated awareness and prevention campaign at state, district, and grassroots level. To EMPOWER children to know they have a right to physical and personal safety and STRENGTHENing COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT and collective responsibility in tackling child sexual abuse. The event was graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, Permaisuri Johor which is in line with her strong advocacy in the area of child welfare and safety. Also featured at the tea were performances by singers Joe Flizzow, Jaclyn Victor, and Dewi Liana Serestha. A silent auction was also held at the tea to raise funds for the campaign which saw some exclusive items being auctioned off such as two dresses donated by Penang born designer, Han Chong from his Self-Portrait label and 2 new hybrid of Phalaenopsis orchid, hybridised by orchid breeder, Mr Robert C. S. Ang of Ipoh. The highlight item auctioned off was a 12 year old (30cm) Hermes Birkin handbag in Crimson Togo leather, donated by Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Tun Aminah binti Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. The bag had been

news personalised with an abstract art design by the Princess. The Princess said in a statement, “When I was asked by Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi if I would be open to donate one of my handbags for auction in support of JEWEL’s “An Afternoon Tea with Her Majesty Permaisuri Johor”, I was happy to oblige for the sake of the good cause of child safety. “I admit I did have misgivings. The Birkin handbag has been in the spotlight lately for the wrong reasons, and I did not want my sincere intentions to be misunderstood. However, one cannot blame the iconic Birkin bag for the perceived misdeeds of a few. “The overall message I wished to convey through the seemingly raw nature of the abstract pattern is that – there is nothing simple, edited, or understated about child sexual abuse. And we as an engaged society should not attempt to downplay the devastating, long term effects of such abuse on children,” she concluded. Attendees to the tea event also bought Kempen TinDAK t-shirts that were designed exclusively for the campaign by Sarawak-born designer Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi.

being taken (on the perpetrators) as they are afraid for their safety. “Hence, they come to us (JEWEL) and we will always monitor and ensure that every complaint is promptly attended by the authorities,” she told reporters at a press conference on the JEWEL’s Child Sexual Abuse Awareness fund raising campaign here. She said in order to raise awareness about sexual abuse; JEWEL has also provided training to teachers at 906 primary schools in the state that started last year through the Action for Our Children (TinDAK) campaign. “We are also collaborating with the hospitals to provide counselling in our efforts to change people’s mind set especially among the victims and families, to overcome their shame and to lodge a report,” she said. Children’s rights in Malaysia have progressed since Malaysia acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1995 and introduced the Child Act in 2001. Government and civil society initiatives to realise and uphold the rights of children have resulted in progress in the field of education and primary healthcare for children.

Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah with JEWEL ladies (Image by Royal Press Office)

The Johor Women’s League received between three and four complaints a month, on sexual and physical abuse cases involving children in the state. Its Chairman Liza Alip said it was worrying as JEWEL received an average of one complaint per week. “They (victims and families) are worried once they lodge reports to the authorities, it will be a long wait before any action is

Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah graced the Kempen TinDAK (acronym for Tindak Demi Anak Kita) event (Image by Royal Press Office)

However, key challenges re m a i n , particularly fo r marginalised and disadvantaged groups of children in the country. The Government of Malaysia’s reservations to five Articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 2, 7, 14, 28(a)(1) and 37) suggests that it takes the view that children can be discriminated against, have no right to a name or nationality, have no freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and should not be free from torture and deprivation of liberty. The public are welcomed to donate and contribute to the cause of Kempen TinDAK, and are able to do so by sending cheques or funds transfer to the Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor bank account at CIMB Bank: 86-0152061-3. Currently, JEWEL is working on Kempen TinDAK for Schools, TinDAK Istimewa, and TinDAK for Teens. In the future, JEWEL will be looking at educating Taska and Tadika operators on Child Sexual Abuse. For enquiries and more information on Kempen TinDAK, email at kempentindak@gmail. com. - by Harish Mustak TI

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drill

MO N T H LY DR I L L w Intervie with the Editor

Director

Vishnu’s journey started at the young age of 23 as a freelancer and 10 years down the road, he is now one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the local and international Photography, Videography and Corporate Events industry. Vishnu has been awarded and recognised for his milestones whereby he has proved that the business of photography, videography and corporate events can be done in a big scale professionally with the right attitude and passion. Vishnu has also ventured into the IT world now by providing basic web solutions and detailed software building in his journey of establishing his business empire.

Tell us about your startup journey

When I started off at the age of 23 in Kuala Lumpur, I was very much into multimedia and doing design works. It was a hobby that I really enjoyed. I moved to Johor Bahru at that age and had a few photographer friends who sought my assistance to edit photos for them and they all encouraged me to take up photography as well since I already mastered the editing bit. So I took their suggestions and ventured into the interesting world of photography.

How long till you set up your own business entity and what were among the challenges faced?

I created Reel Studio back then but it actually took me 7 years to set up and operate as a company right to hiring my first employee (laughs)! Some might think that’s a long time to even start off but in that 7 years, I learned and mastered my skills, built my PR, earned my network, and also convinced myself that this is a sustainable and lucrative form of income for

V ishnu D e v Dire c tor Re el Studio S dn Bhd

me and my dependants. The industry I’m in is very competitive and it comes with its own set of challenges but after 7 years of building my brand, the relationships I made along the way has proven to be fruitful as most of my clients come to me based on word of mouth or by referral.

but upon doing that, I realised that they don’t have a company website or other software and it was a no brainer to startup a mini tech solutions company. VS IT Trading is currently growing and we have hired some personnel from India to help clients develop programmes.

Tell us something unforeseen that happened that you can’t forget

What sets you apart from your competition?

Interesting question! I actually started off my sound system services through an unforeseen circumstance (laughs). I had a job for sound system services but passed it over to a friend of mine but at the eleventh hour, he pulled out and I was stuck in a situation of either spoiling my hard earned reputation or to fix the problem myself. So I obviously chose the latter and quickly brought the equipment and with my basic knowledge in sound system operating, I managed to pull off the job. I must say that it was a blessing in disguise as it led me to getting more corporate events and expanding my corporate events arm.

The services I provide for my customers are what set me apart. I agree that my industry is quite dense and that’s why I emphasise on quality, prompt delivery of albums or prompt execution of events, after service and relationship management. With my experience and with the manpower I currently have, we ensure that all our clients walk away happy. Relationship is very important. I have handled photography and videography for a wedded couple from their pre wedding photos till their first born turned 1, turned 5 and so on. We have become the ‘family photographer’ to many families and I personally feel that I am an extended family member to all of them.

So how did all this lead to IT services?

How many staffs have you currently hired?

Since young, I have been fascinated by computers’ hardware and software. I used to repair computers on my own and I have a diploma in network studies. I was always interested in programming and web development. I used to assist some friends to set up their network and other basic stuff

For events, we hire additional freelancers based on the job requirement but we currently have about 15 full time staff. I strongly believe in grooming talent so apart from my full time staff, I also source out some of my projects to other photographers. I have also introduced and guided many photographers who have

gone to set up their own brand and even win international awards. The satisfaction one gets from seeing his fellow comrades succeed is unparalleled.

What’s your entrepreneurs?

advice

aspiring

Most importantly be true to yourself and be honest to your clients. Be sincere and passionate about what you’re doing and don’t do things just for monetary rewards or for fame. Pursue your dreams wholeheartedly and I’m sure success will be yours.

What is next for you and Reel Studio?

I’m actually planning to open more branches but have also been approached to explore the possibilities of franchising our brand so let’s see. I also want to set up our own academy so we can train more youngsters and introduce them to the industry. Apart from that, I am still constantly expanding our current portfolios and benchmarking our brand to suit international standards. TI

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news

peggy loh

My johor stories

Our resident writer, Peggy Loh, actively writes in her blog www.peggyloh.com about matters that are close to her heart. She can be reached at write2peggyloh@gmail.com

Our return to Masai-chusetts Bustling Masai town now has a taxi and bus terminal but its bus service is still number 39

Façade of the Post Office situated by the main road into Masai, between the Chinese cemetery and the junction into Jalan Sekolah

few things happened recently that set me thinking about going back to Masai for a visit and I did so with my mum and eldest sister. We took a leisurely drive to Masai via sections of the two expressways and saw the quarters we lived in within the Health SubCentre compound at Jalan Sekolah before touring familiar sites, all the way to the jetty at Kampung Kong Kong Laut and back. Throughout the trip, our comments were mostly about the changes we saw in the way Masai has developed and how nearby estates were now replaced by buildings. My thoughts about Masai were triggered off at, Bicarawara Tokoh – Lada Hitam dan Gambir, an event where a guest speaker on the topic of Johor’s pepper and gambier heritage, was UTM Associate Professor Dr Haji Kassim Thukiman. We met at the tea-break and the first thing Prof Kassim said was, “I bought two of your books!”

Heavy traffic inching their way through Masai town, now a wider main road bordered by double and triple-storey shop-houses

He was referring to my book, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage and expressed how thrilled he was to read about Masai, a town mentioned in my story, Going back to Masai-chusetts. He was fascinated with my experiences in Masai while our parents, transferred to work with the hospital’s Health Sub-Centre, were based there for 13 years. Prof Kassim was born in Kong Kong, specifically in Kampung Cahaya Baru, a FELDA development, but as the nearest Police Station was situated in Masai, his birthplace was thus registered as Masai. As we chatted about familiar places, I felt a strange sense of pride in Prof Kassim, an academic and university lecturer, and his humble beginnings in a kampung near Masai. Not long after meeting the professor, I was at Dine, Puteri Harbour for a food-tasting experience and was introduced to a menu of recommended dishes by Chef Kalidass. As the items were served, I began to notice distinctive and creative Western-Asian fusion ideas applied to the meats and sauces that were not only unique but rather gutsy. When the chef finally came out of the kitchen, I invited him for a chat to learn more about his culinary journey and the inspiration behind his creativity. Kalidass, better known as Chef Dass, then shared his story about how he was guided by strong mentors and trained in international brand hotels in Germany and Singapore, before coming back to run a restaurant here. His determination and passion was evident from his voice and when I asked

where he was from, Chef Dass told me he was from Taman Sungai Rinting, a former kampung near Masai! A few days later, I was at another event in Bandar Seri Alam, a township on the edge of Masai, and stumbled upon an interesting café, Grumpy Goat and Friends Specialty Coffee House. I could hardly believe that Grumpy Goat was in Masai. As I reminisced about the old town, I marveled at how far Masai had progressed since those early years when Johor Port was created in Kampung Pasir Gudang. When our parents started work in Masai, my siblings and I lived with our grandparents at Jalan Ngee Heng so that we could conveniently walk to school. Our term holidays was with them in Masai and I can never forget the fun we had at beautiful Palm Beach in Kampung Pasir Gudang, how dad taught us to lose the fear of water and the way we used to swim-race with each other. In the latter years when we moved back to live with our parents, we witnessed how Masai gradually developed from a onestreet town into a thriving business centre as it grew in tandem with Johor Port and the Pasir Gudang Industrial Area. Many businesses opened to meet the needs of a budding shipping industry and to support the manufacturing and heavy industries happening in Pasir Gudang. Masai folks were suddenly seeing a new wave of people coming into their once sleepy-hollow town and the enterprising ones started more sophisticated businesses here. The stylish décor in Grumpy Goat, a specialty coffee house, sent me on a flashback to the first coffee house in Masai, located at the last shop in that row on the main road. Named, Ocean Coffee House, it was not only designed with a glass-panel door and covered by curtains across its insides, it was of course, air-conditioned. At that time, it was the place in Masai to entertain clients and visitors in air-conditioned comfort. I’ve dined in Ocean and remember it had a coffee house menu of food and beverages – both local and European – as well as ice-creams and they also served beer! Not long after that, visitors to Masai could have a drink or two at a pub-restaurant (if my memory serves me right) called,

Seaman’s Paradise. In our school-going years, mum arranged for my sisters and I to commute daily from Masai by school bus or Bas Sekolah and we travelled by the winding old road. But when we joined more extracurricular activities and our hours became irregular, we opted to travel by public bus. At that time, the bus service between Masai and JB was provided by Alec Bus, commonly called ‘the Green bus,’ and its number was 39. When our brother started Standard One at JB’s St Joseph’s School, mum arranged the same Bas Sekolah driver for him. One of the most unforgettable incidents must be that day when my brother did not come home as expected because the bus driver forgot to pick him from school! The driver was oblivious to it until the moment mum went to ask him for her son. Filled with anxiety, mum and the driver rushed to the school and were relieved to find my brother in the office, safely with then headmaster, Alex Anthony. Since that horror incident, the driver took extra care to ensure that my brother was safely on board his bus before he left the school for Masai! This and many other memories came flooding back on our return to Masai-chusetts. TI

A directional sign seen on the way back to Masai from Kong Kong that shows how vastly this area has developed shop-houses

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J U L 2 0 18

E D I S iN

ies v o m zing ly a m a 3 this Ju + WA o t l e trav

JUL 2018 | Page 2

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

editor’s W note

e have now stepped into the second half of the year with lots of busy schedules till the year end. Plenty of movies for you to choose from this month right from Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Ant Man and The Wasp,” featuring a new chapter of heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink to my favourite Dracula in “Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation” and action packed scenes with Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible Fallout”. With all the Raya food and some

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

still ongoing festive invitations, the Magistrate team brings us a breath of fresh air with a modern take to Chinese food in contemporary setting at KS Treasures at Taman Sentosa. This time we move away from Malaysia yet still closer in time zone to Western Australia for the ultimate family holiday. Although the holidays are over but I figured this article may inspire you to start planning for your next vacation. 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

Priya

movies

By Priya Manikam MOVIES ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

n the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

Source: The Walt Disney Company Malaysia

Genre: Action-Adventure Release date: 4th July 2018 Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip “T.I.” Harris, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John-Kamen, Abby Ryder-Fortson, Randall Park, with Michelle Pfeiffer, with Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas Director: Peyton Reed Producer: Kevin Feige Screenplay by: Lawrence Kasdan, Jon Kasdan

JUL 2018 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Meet Me Half Way – Part 1

D Rose Osman has intuitive skills in hacking potentials in human energy for success and healing. She coaches through One-toOne sessions, group sessions and via E-courses on Udemy.com.

yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses www.roselifecoach.com

o you know where does social awareness come from? Social awareness comes within our body and it gives us the feeling and urge to bond in many levels of social interaction. There are three different forms of awareness in a human body; body awareness that focuses on survival of the body, mental awareness that acts as self-reflective consciousness and social awareness, which serves as Emotional Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence is connected to social interaction including sexual bonding, caring and support, sense of adventure and moodiness. If you realise, human these days have reached a point where emotions play

the biggest part in our lives and relationship. One thing we need to know about Emotional Intelligence is how it moves within our body through the waves. It is the waves that give us moments of high hopes and low sadness and pain. That is the reason why we cannot stay happy or sad forever. In the presence of emotional waves, we have no clarity in communicating our emotions to others. That doesn’t mean we should stay silent. In relationship, communication and transparency of emotions are important. Here are tips on how we could communicate our emotions in a healthy way. You can use this in any confrontation in the relationship too.

Meet Me Half Way Most of the communication between two or more people comes from a place of emotions. Therefore, clarity is rare. It’s easy to fall into misunderstanding when two people communicate through their emotional waves. Instead of avoiding communication at all, try ‘Meet Me Half Way’. You can begin the process by acknowledging and sharing the emotions you two feel about issues and find the middle ground where communication could land on the same spot of truth. You may face intense emotions that could cloud you from speaking up. This is where a couple needs to practice communicating about their emotions consciously.

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.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: A MONSTER VACATION

n Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation, join our favourite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis realises Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could destroy all of monsterkind.

Source: Sony Pictures Malaysia

Genre: Animation Release date: 19th July 2018 Cast: Adam Sandler (Dracula), Andy Samberg (Johnny), Selena Gomez (Mavis), Kevin James (Frank), David Spade (Griffin), Steve Buscemi (Wayne), Keegan-Michael Key (Murray), Molly Shannon (Wanda), Fran Drescher (Eunice) and Mel Brooks (Vlad) Director: Genndy Tartakovsky Producer: Michelle Murdocca Screenplay by: Genndy Tartakovsky and Michael McCullers

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT

Genre: Action-Spy Release date: 26th July 2018 Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, and Sean Harris with Henry Cavill, Wes Bentley, Vanessa Kirby, Sian Brooke, and Angela Bassett

hen an IMF mission ends badly, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt takes it upon himself to fulfill his original briefing, the CIA begins to question his loyalty and his motives. Hunt finds himself in a race against time, hunted by assassins and former allies while trying to prevent a global catastrophe.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie Producer: Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise, J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger Screenplay by: Christopher McQuarrie

Source: Paramount Pictures

JUL 2018 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

travel 018 Y2 JUL

dar Calen ts n of Eve 1st July

The Classical Music Festival @ Puteri Pan Pac Hotel

1st July – 12th Aug The Great Singapore Sale

1st – 30th July Festival of Football @ S’pore Sports Hub, OCBC Square

9 Reasons to Spend Your Holidays in Western Australia with Your Children– Part One Farm animals near Bridgetown, Western Australia

3rd – 8th July Star Property Fair @ AEON Bandar Dato Onn

5th July Asia Overland Adventure Offroad @ Johor Jaya Clubhouse

6th – 8th July X Two Media Homefair @ Persada Johor

6th – 8th July Baby World Fair @ Singapore Expo

7th July Walk for Unity @Ponderosa Golf & Country Club

7th July English Workshop @ Paragon Int School

13th – 29th July Singapore Food Festival

14th July Metal Legends Live in JB @ Stadium Tertutup Pasir Gudang

17th – 19th July Specialty & Fine Food Asia @ Suntec Convention Centre S’pore

26th – 30th July – International Champions Cup @ S’pore National Stadium

By Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

amily vacations are fun, memorable, rewarding, and a wonderful way to strengthen family bonds. Travelling also exposes your children to the world, encouraging them to embrace diverse cultures and appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature. Western Australia (WA) has all the ingredients to make your family holiday one to remember – adorable dolphins, friendly farm animals, stunning wildlife parks, white sandy beaches and more! Whether you plan to travel with your darling infants, high-energy toddlers, or even teenagers, the perfect family getaway awaits you in WA! Here are nine reasons why WA is the ideal destination for your next holiday: Play with the friendly dolphins At Monkey Mia, bottlenose dolphins visit the beautiful shores daily to interact with beach-goers, so dip your toes in the shimmering waters and grab the opportunity to help handfeed the dolphins under the supervision of park rangers. Remember to catch an early start, because feeding times are between 7:45am and 12:00 noon! Discover amazing national parks Measuring over 2.5 million square kilometres, WA has over half of the nation’s biodiversity hotspots and several national parks featuring a multitude of flora and fauna. Perth Hills’ John Forest National Park, a mere 45 minutes’ drive east of the city centre, is a hub of excitement. Cycle along the Railway Reserves Heritage trail,

Block your dates for this month!

If you need more information on the above mentioned events, drop us an email at: waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Discover amazing national parks

Play with friendly dolphins bushwalk, or take scenic drives with your family for breathtaking views. Located in the Coral Coast region and well-known for its towering limestone spires, up to five metres tall and formed over millennia in the golden sands of the Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park makes for the perfect family day trip from

Pick fruits from the orchard at Fontanini Fruit and Nut Farm, in Manjimup Perth. Be sure to also visit the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre for more about the park’s fascinating geology and natural history. Pick fruit straight from the orchard

Head over to the orchards located in Perth Hills, where the fresh country air and the fragrance of various blossoms will provide the perfect atmosphere for you and your family to pick fruit and vegetables right off the trees, or even enjoy a picnic outdoors together! Travel south from Perth to WA’s apple capital, Donnybrook, to discover an abundance of the freshest local produce, such as apples, oranges and stone fruit. This charming South West town is a blissful countryside break, where its visitors can marvel at the display of apples and cherry blossoms in spring. Experience farmstays with adorable farm animals Take the kids, and experience country life on a homestead, cattle station, or farm – a priceless and culturally-rich rural dimension to your stay. WA offers a myriad of countryliving options, from Bullara Station and the Kimberley cattle country to the rolling pastures of South West. On these farmstays and homesteads, you will be invited to do as the locals do – feed the livestock, collect eggs, pet goats, and take leisurely bushwalks in the misty morning sunshine. Your young ones will certainly be thrilled by the endearing farm animals, and can even try horse of pony riding in certain locations! Farm charm awaits you at all of WA’s many local farms, many of which are close to and easily accessible from the city centre, such as Bindoons Windmill Farm (Perth & Surrounds), Cinnamon Coloureds Farmstay (South West), Kerriley Park Forest and Farmstay (South West), Mary’s Farm Cottages (Golden Outback) and Settlers Rest Farmstay Swan Valley (Perth & Surrounds). TI

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live

Protein Intake in Older Adults Joyce Tan Sze Chia Consultant Dietitian Master in Nutrition and Dietetics (Flinders University) Real Food Matters

alaysia is fast becoming an aging nation. The average life expectancy now stands at 74.7 years in 2016 as compared to 72.2 years in 20001. With the average Malaysian living longer, it is important to ensure that these ‘additional years’ are spent in good health. After the age of 30, the average adult is estimated to lose 3% to 5% of muscle per decade2 due to a combination of factors e.g. aging, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition or presence of illness. A decrease in muscle mass and strength over the decades can lead to frailty, reduced mobility, increased risk of falls and fractures. In older adults, it is possible to

rebuild those muscle mass through diet and exercise. Protein Power Protein from food is broken down during digestion into amino acids which are the building blocks for muscle. Older adults require more protein than younger adults due to reduced ability to break down protein (attributed to aging). The recommended protein intake for average older adults is between 50-60 grams p e r day3.

Plant Protein sources (except soybeans) lack some of the amino acids and therefore are considered ‘incomplete protein’. For vegetarians/vegans, plant protein needs to be eaten in combination with other foods (e.g. beans and rice or peanut butter on bread) in order to obtain all essential amino acids. Exercise Strength training is a good way to improve overall muscle strength. Check with your doctor before you embark on any exercise and approach a well-qualified physiotherapist/trainer to ensure you perform those exercise safely. Age-related muscle loss is inevitable but it is possible to slow down the process. With adequate protein intake and regular exercise, you can remain strong and healthy in your golden years.

References: 1 Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) 2 Harvard Health Publishing (Harvard Medical School) 20102018: Preserve your muscle mass 3 Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysia 2017: A report of the technical working group on nutritional guidelines TI

Animal Protein sources are considered the best as they contain all essential amino acids required for muscle building. Do include some protein sources at each meal and/or during snack time to ensure adequate protein intake.

Tanjung Piai – Asia’s Southernmost Point Serina Rahman Serina Rahman is the cofounder of Kelab Alami and a Visiting Fellow at the ISEASYusof Ishak Institute, Singapore

anjung Piai, a cape tucked away in a corner of Pontian, Johor is known as Peninsular Malaysia’s southern-most point. However, it is also actually the southern-most point of mainland Eurasia (Europe and Asia combined). Singapore can be seen just across the water and your phone line might suddenly switch to an Indonesian network; it’s that close! The beauty of Tanjung Piai is its mangrove forests. While

heavy container ship traffic in the Melaka Straits has had an impact, this is merely an illustration of how important it is that we preserve our coastal mangroves to protect our shores. Without the mangroves of Tanjung Piai, the adjacent beaches could have completely eroded into the sea. Tanjung Piai National Park is a gazetted Ramsar site, meaning that

it is an internationally recognised wetlands area of great importance. An impressive network of boardwalks allows you to wander right up to the water’s edge to

watch the ships pass by. There is also a birdwatching tower that provides a glimpse into life in the canopy – and a chance to spot the odd heron or stork, and perhaps a monkey or two. Tanjung Piai is an important stopover

for migratory birds and is known to host the Lesser Adjutant Stork, a vulnerable species that is hard to find elsewhere. The National Park has an information centre and trained guides who can answer your questions on the mangrove habitats; a great place for a school trip or a family weekend outing. TI

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Attractive Salary and Benefits Most Important to Malaysian Employees: Randstad Employer Brand Research 69% Malaysians want attractive salary and benefits and 49% seek work-life balance from their ideal employer

mployees and job seekers in Malaysia ranked attractive salary and benefits as the most important consideration when seeking for an ideal employer, much more than work-life balance or career progression opportunities. Randstad - one of the world’s largest recruitment agencies - released the findings of the annual Employer Brand Research in Malaysia. Commissioned by Randstad and conducted independently, the global study is the most representative employer brand research that measures the perception of the country’s largest commercial employers (by workforce size) and unlocks drivers of employee motivation. Ryan Carroll, Country Director at Randstad Malaysia said, “With unemployment rates below 4%, the country is operating at full employment, indicating that companies are competing against each other for the best talent. The Employer Brand Research provides a comprehensive yearon-year analysis of the workforce trends and public’s perception of the employer brand to help companies formulate their attraction and retention strategies. This year’s results have also confirmed that Malaysians are increasingly placing more importance on work-life balance, indicating that employers should start offering progressive initiatives to help employees be healthier and more productive at work.”

Attractive salary & benefits top of mind for Malaysian employees According to the research, almost seven in 10 employees and job seekers in Malaysia said that attractive salary and benefits is the number one must-have criteria for their ideal employer. This is followed by work-life balance (49%) and career progression (40%). Employees’ expectations of having an attractive salary and benefits have increased by 5% this year (from 63% in 2017). This upward trend suggests that employees and job seekers in Malaysia might be prioritising salary to meet the higher cost of living and as a security buffer due to the potential uncertainties around the local economic and political landscape. The research highlights that women ranked attractive salary and benefits more important than men. This increased expectation for attractive salary and benefits could be attributed to the nation’s efforts to boost the economy by ensuring that more women are joining and re-entering the workforce. Furthermore, women are more likely to negotiate for an equal pay as an effort to narrow the gender pay gap, which is still prevalent in the country. Employers should always determine the salary based on market benchmarks, as well as the potential employee’s skills, experience and knowledge, instead of historical salary data which are often influenced by old biases and inequalities. One of the most notable trends captured in the research is that employees’ expectations on work-life balance in Malaysia have increased steadily since 2016 to 49% this year. While it is the second most important criteria that people seek in an ideal employer, it is critical that employers start recognising and investing in work-life balance initiatives and policies to appeal to job seekers who want more than financial remuneration when choosing a potential employer. - by The Iskandarian TI

work

Moonlighting: Right or Wrong? – Part One Ashikin Abd Rahim Legal Adviser MECA South Sdn. Bhd. shikin@meca.com.my

oonlighting refers to secondary or supplementary income. Ages ago (or still), the office environment will be full of employees who bring their catalogues to sell products such as Tupperware (the lid and the significant brands when neighbours exchange food during breakfast or Eid; nostalgic much?) or Amway (home detergent products, house utensils and etc). This conventional method has changed whereby these days, employees sell their products (either their own or as dropship agents) via online platforms - Facebook, Instagram, blogs etc. Clearly, the pattern of side-income activities among employees has shifted from traditional way of selling to the more up-to-date just one click away method. As an employer, you should know that you can’t control everything relating to your employees’ life. Earning from a side income is a grey area topic where you tend to ask yourself, whether you should impose any policies or regulations or should you just allow it since it is a need to possess extra money in this time and age as compared to relying on just one source of income from the Company. It also can be argued that it is a private act to have an additional side income; therefore, there shall

* Image is for illustration only

be no interruption from the Management. The issues arise if you allow your employee to do online or offline business during office hours. Let’s say, during the month of Ramadan, most Muslim employees will be busy looking for means to earn extra money for the Raya preparation and you would have encountered instances where many would bring samples of cookies, or just busy scrolling their phones during lunch break since it is the fasting month and they don’t need to eat anyway. How about those who use the Company’s facilities like computers and the internet to handle their side income matters? Or even worse, those who drive ‘Grab’ or ‘Uber’ during non-working hours which leads to them being late comers or who’s performance has been drastically affected. Penny for thoughts: Can or should you as an employer stop them from having an additional side income? There is no written law that states expressly or impliedly on how to handle this matter. Nevertheless, there are Industrial Court cases that set an eye to eye opinion which suggests as long as the legitimate interest of the Company is not affected, then the moonlighting activity shouldn’t be a problem. TI

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invest

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

A Scenario of Low Risk High Return changed and the business is still growing. It means the setback that the company is facing now is temporary.

Tey Bin Yuen Binyuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’ and ‘Profit from Share Investment’. His books are available in major bookstores in Malaysia, Singapore or online http://www.teybinyuen.com/ profitfromshareinvestment

he stock market has been lacklustre recently, even though the uncertainties have reduced. On 12th June 2018, North Korea and the US had celebrated the Trump-Kim summit as a victory, signifying a new peaceful relation for both countries. A day after, the US Federal Reserve raised a key US interest rate, underscoring the central banks confidence in a steadily growing economy. Domestically, the stock market has been under selling pressure, especially after the market has learned that Malaysia’s national debt has hit RM1 trillion. Moreover, the companies’ quarter one results announced end of May was less than satisfactory. At the time of writing, the foreign selling streak hit 25th day, which is the longest since February 2014. As negative as it sounds, it’s little wonder why most investors, including foreign funds, prefer to stay away from the Malaysia market. But why foreign funds are

Disclaimer: The companies or strategies mentioned in this article are meant for study purpose only. It doesn’t constitute any ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ recommendation. Please consult your financial professional if you want to make any decision.

selling? First, I believe international investors would tend to be more skeptical if a country has changed its ruling government. Second, if you are a fund manager and were told that the country you invested in has 1 trillion debt, you just won’t sit there and do nothing. The natural reaction is ‘sell and get out’ first. But here is another question: will the selling end eventually? Once the selling is done, what would happen? Furthermore, what if the new government starts performing? Will foreign funds reenter? You bet! Of course, it takes time for all good things to happen. But, do you only invest when the positive signs start to surface? Maybe not. Regardless, let’s have a look at our

portfolio when our market is in the confusion stage. As you can see, while the table has showed a gain of 180% since November 2015, the three counters bought earlier have gone into red because of their poor quarter results. Is the poor result due to a fundamental change or temporary factors? So, let’s observe one more quarter. Added 40000 shares HEVEA at 0.77 The quarter 1 result for Hevea was a disappointing one, only making RM2.3 million net profits compared to RM15.5 million in the last quarter, which is a decrease of YoY and QoQ. According to the management, the poor result was due to the rising

material cost, labour shortage and weaker USD. As a result, the share price plunged tremendously. However, we took the opportunity to buy on dip based on the following: 1. The management indicated the labour shortage issue has been resolved. 2. There are continuous demands for both particleboards and RTA. 3. Its share price did not fall below the recent low of RM0.685, even though the result was far below 2017 Q3. 4. It was understood the new business venture – the king oyster cultivation may start to bear fruit from second quarter onwards. The above indicates that the fundamentals have not

How to Manage Recurring Bills and Subscriptions

our business can learn (to earn) a lot from subscription services, such as Netflix and Tidal. These services are transforming the way companies earn money and ensuring that consumers receive their products and services in perpetuity. More businesses are choosing this method of billing and shipping because it almost guarantees repeat business and it’s completely automated, which saves money on staffing costs and more. Managing Subscriptions and Recurring Bills Subscriptions work like this: basically, customers sign up for goods or service deliveries online via your website. This can also be done over the phone, but that requires a greater financial investment because you’ll need to hire a dedicated sales force. Keep in mind that anything can be sold on a recurring basis, not just television and music streaming services. Goods, such as groceries and clothing items, can also be sold on a recurring basis. Customers

finalise their order by entering their billing information, and they’re automatically billed on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.). This process isn’t complicated when you take advantage of subscription billing software, which operates on the cloud and is nearly infallible. The software requires little IT knowledge to set up and creates a selfservice sales portal on your website. It even comes with all those small idiosyncrasies that drive sales, such as free plans, free trials, cancellation buttons and more. Fulfillment software simplifies the process for you and the consumer, which means any business, can harness the money-making power of recurring billing without too much technical experience. Step One: Determine Your Pricing Plan You’ll need to do your best to create a pricing plan that’s profitable to you, but also fair to your customers. You’ll need to consider your costs, the value to your customer, and your customer’s needs. It may take some trial-

and-error before you find a pricing plan that works. Here are some ideas to help you get sign-ups fast, so you can build revenue quickly: • Offer a free plan or a free trial • Offer a coupon or incentive for upgrading • Considering offering different pricing plans for different levels of service • Guarantee that payments are secure band offer a few methods for paying (credit card, Paypal, etc.) Step Two: Make it Easy to Cancel Customers don’t want to feel scammed or cheated, but that’s exactly how they will feel if you’re lacking a return policy or easy cancellation. Those customers will report you and leave negative reviews about your business, which has the potential to ruin your reputation. The last thing you need is negative reviews showing up in search results for your company, so keep a strong commitment to customer service.

Added 50000 shares D&O at 0.68 D&O is the world leading SMT LED manufacturer which provides services of OEM, OBM and ODM in opto semiconductor products. It has planted the seeds for automotive lighting business many years ago and now it has started to bear fruits. This is reflected from its earnings in 2017, which doubled from 11 million to 22 million. The growth has showed by 26% CAGR of the automotive segment since 2013. In addition, its balance sheet has strengthened from a net debt position of 5.6 million in 2016 to a net cash position of 5.6 million in 2017. Furthermore, as the world’s top five automotive LED manufacturers with end customer cover almost all brands of cars; it’s obvious that D&O is in the high entry barrier business. The investment sum of Hevea and D&O is RM64800. Updated with the cash brought forward plus the RM1200 dividend (0.5 sen/share) received from JHM, our new cash level is now at RM19,125. In conclusion, the market is lacklustre now. But with lower valuation and fewer uncertainties, it’s a scenario of low risk high return, which means higher chance of winning. TI

Step Three: Engage with Customers to Increase Satisfaction According to a 2011 American Express survey, 78% of consumers have abandoned a transaction or canceled an intended purchase due to poor customer service. This unhappy customer ’s negative experience can have a negative impact on your business. In fact, Ruby Newell-Legner, author of Understanding Customers, reports that “It takes 12 positive experiences to make up for one unresolved negative experience.” A negative review isn’t the end of the world, but it is more impactful than a positive review; therefore, it’s essential to provide quality customer service to ensure the good reviews outnumber the bad ones. Here are some tips for providing quality customer service: • Show empathy • Be adaptable • Communicate clearly • Train your staff to be knowledgeable • And, remember: the customer is always right Recurring billing can be extremely profitable, and it only requires a few steps to get off the ground. The most important thing is that you understand your target market, and do your best to provide them with exemplary service. - by Ashley Green TI

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Batu Batu Outreach Project in Mersing Schools

An initiative to create awareness and educate students and teachers on the importance of ocean and marine conservation, turtle conservation and the problems around plastic pollution

Environmental outreach programme deliverance by Siva Prakash, Conservation Outreach Coordinator at Batu Batu Resort with lower secondary (Form 1 and Form 2) students at SMK Mersing

atu Batu Resort is located at Pulau Tengah, Mersing, Johor, and is about 20 minutes boat ride from Mersing town. Besides being a gorgeous resort, the resort cares and is committed to the preservation, proliferation and protection of the flora and fauna in and around Pulau Tengah (Tengah Island). The resort tread lightly, source sustainably and support

local business wherever possible. Batu Batu has set-up and run several conservation initiatives including island-based Turtle Watch Camp. In 2017, the Turtle Watch Camp at Batu Batu Resort received 7588 turtle eggs from 9 islands, resulting in the release of 4543 sea turtle hatchlings. The hatch rate was 60.8% which was an increase of 13.1% and 12.8% from 2016 and 2015 respectively.

The coral and fish population around the island appear better today than they were before Batu Batu was opened. The resort does its part by protecting reefs and letting them grow healthier day-by-day by enforcing the no-take zone around the island, and protects turtle eggs from poachers which allows thousands of endangered green turtles and critically endangered hawksbill turtles to hatch. Batu Batu also picked-up hundreds of bags of washed-up plastic from the beaches each year – in all of these ways to have a positive impact on the island and her surroundings. It has been one of Batu Batu’s main objectives for 2018 to launch an environmental outreach programme with school children and after receiving the go ahead from the local authorities, Batu Batu resort was finally able to make it happen. The programme was delivered by Siva Prakash, Conservation Outreach Coordinator at Batu Batu Resort, to eight Mersing schools, a mixture of primary and secondary. They

Siva Prakash with the SMK Mersing School Principal, Vice Principal- Cocurriculum and class teacher doing hand sign for turtle

aimed to undertake three visits with each of the schools to expose and educate the students (and teachers) on the importance of ocean and marine conservation, turtle conservation and the problems around plastic pollution. Schools involved include SMK Anjung Batu, SK Sri Mersing, SMK Sri Mersing, SJK (T) Mersing, SK Bandar Mersing, SK Mersing Kanan, SMK Mersing and SMK Pai Chee. It is hoped that over the sessions, these students will

gain a greater knowledge of the importance of protecting local Marine life for future generations. Perhaps they will feel inspired to reduce their own plastic use, or organise their own beach cleans. So far sessions have taken place in three schools namely, SMK Mersing, SJK (T) Mersing & SK Sri Mersing with more sessions planned over the coming months. For more information contact outreach@batubatu.com. my - by The Iskandarian TI

Find Dining with MAGistrate.my

KS Treasures

A veritable trove trove of of culinary culinaryat “KS Treasures” “KS Treasures”awaits! awaits! For those of you who enjoyed good homestyle food in Taman Johor Jaya since 1994, you will be glad to know that Kitchen Stories will now up the ante to serve modern Chinese cuisine in Taman Sentosa. Aptly titled KS Treasures, the restaurant has a bounty of delicious dishes crafted with effort, skills, quality ingredients and helmed by a new chef. Hailing from Segamat, Chef Benson‘s culinary experience span over 18 years that took him to Singapore, Shanghai, and the award-winning Michelin Star Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan in Miami (USA), we would expect KS Treasures to have something completely different in store, so we are here to taste dishes from the latest additions to the old signatures.

Our starters include a double-boiled Chicken Soup served in a hollowed-out coconut shell, Deep Fried Duck Salad with more duck meat than salad greens that are actually delicious and Chilled Cherry Tomatoes uniquely served “on the rocks” (on a large mound of shaved ice) – a divine way to getting us ready for the upcoming dishes. A stellar dish of the restaurant and one of Chef Benson’s signature dishes, the much-anticipated Poached Seafood Rice with Supreme Bisque had us sweeping the pot for the last remnants. We also appreciated the subtle spiciness from the white pepper and onions that accompanied the chunky slices of Sauteed Grouper, while the Signature Homemade Spinach Beancurd was amazingly sublime with soft, rough skin on the outside, and a smooth and creamy texture on the inside. However, special praise must go to the Smoked Spare Ribs infused with Longjing Tea Leaf, the Sauteed Sea Prawns with Sweet Ferment Rice and a wealth of Braised Assorted Treasures, served in Pumpkin that will touch the hearts of diners of all ages! Over a month since opening for business on 19 May 2018 and without any media shout out, sheer curiosity and the usual word-of-mouth have indeed travel fast in attracting both the traditionalists and hipsters alike! Go on, check it out! For full review, visit: https://magistrate.my/ks-treasures/ 155 & 157, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, 81050 Johor Bahru, Johor Daily from 11.30am – 3.00pm; 5.30pm – 10.30pm +607-665 1133

KS Treasures is the brainchild of Jeremy (owner of Kitchen Stories) and Benson (head chef & co-owner) after 2 years in the making.

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PROPERTY INSIGHT

Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto on affordable housing well thought of, says pg 23 HBA PROPERTY

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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

APARTMENTS

VILLAS

CONDOMINIUMS

OFFICE/RETAILSPACE Artist Impression of Medini

HBA: Unfavourable to Privately Leased Land Private companies should not be allowed to lease out freehold land for pg 21 housing developments for 99 years

Read this article on our website

Menteri Besar

High Speed Rail

Dato’ Osman Sapian said Land Price Disputes May Stall JB-S’pore RTS

Postponing of HSR ‘Little Impact’ on Property Development in Iskandar Malaysia

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Chinese Buying Abroad: Who Benefits from the Shifting Focus?

Dzulkefly: To request MACC to investigate dubious RMMJ recipients

Carrie Law, Juwai.com CEO shares more on the Chinese reaction

atest UBS Evidence Lab survey by UBS Securities Asia Limited shows that 3,403 mainland Chinese shows growing interest in Japan and SE Asia, specifically Thailand, with their channel checks suggesting Vietnam is also on Chinese buyer’s radar. Data from Juwai.com also reveals that in 2017, Thailand is in the 3rd spot as one of the preferred destination for the Chinese to buy properties after United States and Australia, with Vietnam in the 9th and Malaysia in the 10th spots. Carrie Law, CEO and Director of Juwai.com, the no. 1 Chinese international real estate website and the exclusive international real estate partner to Chinese online giant Tencent, said, “Southeast Asia has been gaining Chinese buyer market share faster than any other global region since early 2017. “The top Southeast Asian countries for Chinese buyers are Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Even smaller countries like Cambodia are seeing very rapid

growth in Chinese buying — although from a much smaller base. “In 2016, only three Southeast Asian countries made it into the top 15 for Chinese buyers, and none made it into the top five. Last year, five made it into the top 15. Thailand alone jumped from 6th place to 3rd, bypassing Canada. “The biggest drivers are the lower prices in these countries and the fact that they seem to have government blessing as

Belt and Road Initiative countries. Capital controls are constraining the amount Chinese buyers can spend, so they have turned to lower priced countries and lower priced property even in high-cost countries like Australia.” Law said Chinese buyer inquiries on Malaysian properties in the first three months of 2018 were up 103% from the same time a year ago. Inquiries in April rose 120% from a year ago, she added. “If there is no change, we

expect Chinese investment in Malaysian property to continue to grow in the months and years to come. Chinese acquisitions could at least double by 2025,” she added. Closer to home in Gelang Patah, Johor, is the Forest City development by Country Garden Pacificview which is a joint venture project between China and Malaysia cementing a standard demonstration zone of “One Belt One Road” in Southeast Asia. - by Priya Manikam TI

Land Price HBA: Unfavourable to Privately Disputes May Stall Leased Land Private companies should not be allowed to lease out JB-S’pore RTS

he Star reported that disputes over the prices of land to be acquired for the development of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit Link (RTS) may delay the project. Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Osman Sapian said owners of some of the parcels are dissatisfied with the valuations offered. For example, owners of land in Kim Teng Park – Johor Bahru’s oldest housing

estate, would have to be paid over RM300 million based on current market value, but they disagree with the valuation. T h e infrastructure project will also need more land than initially planned, affecting more land owners, he added. Osman said the RTS would help to relieve the Causeway’s daily heavy traffic and the RTS will link the Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore. TI

Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Osman Sapian

freehold land for housing developments for 99 years

skandar Investment Bhd (IIB), a strategic developer of Medini in Johor, had brought up the idea of a scheme to allow private companies to lease out freehold land for housing development, back in 2012, reported SunBiz. IIB had approached the National House Buyers Association (HBA) in 2012 to discuss about a land lease structure in Medini, but the association had rejected it, said HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong. The issue then came up again last year when the Department of Lands and Mines under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry hosted a session in November to brief industry stakeholders. “In November last year, they presented the paper to us. They invited quite a lot of stakeholders; we were not the only ones there but we were the only ones to bring up

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issues,” Chang told SunBiz. The proposals — to introduce a new chapter in the National Land Code 1965 and an amendment to the Strata Title Act 1985 — had already been drafted by then, SunBiz reported an unnamed lawyer as saying. Chang said that it all started with the notion that the properties to be sold are all special properties. “In other words, they are meant to be sold to foreigners for purposes of investment. At the end of the day, they said they don’t want these properties to end up in the hands of foreigners.” The main concern for both the lawyer and Chang, however, was on the impact of such changes in the law on the housing market. “Already in the market, there are big-time developers now buying up freehold land. As soon as this is passed, freehold land is going to be like gold. They will sell it to our children and grandchildren

on leases of 99 years whereas they (developers) become the perpetual owners. After the lease expires, they can take it back. Whether to renew or not is the prerogative of the landowners, we are very worried as this will open up a new can of worms,” said Chang. At present, projects in Medini are being developed under a private lease scheme. Some of the stratified residential projects in Medini as listed on IIB’s website are Iskandar Residences, The Meridin, 1Medini and Paradiso Nuova. “If ever the private lease scheme is to be adopted, the government could consider passing a new law strictly for the Medini/Iskandar/Forest City, JB projects similar to the Kampung Baru Development Corporation Act. 2011 (Act 733) and its land ownership restrictions,” added Chang. - by The Iskandarian TI

State Housing and Rural Development Committee Chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad said 16,010 homes under the Johor Affordable Housing Scheme (RMMJ) were built and distributed over the last three years, but questioned the actual number of deserving people who got the houses under the scheme. He did not rule out the possibility that some of the current recipients of the RMMJ may have their houses returned to the state or be forced to pay a much higher amount for the house. He will also request the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate some of the dubious RMMJ recipients. MB Datuk Osman Sapian said that Johor is planning to build 100,000 affordable houses under the Rumah Mampu Milik Johor (RMMJ) housing scheme. The prices of the RMMJ houses will remain at RM42,000, RM80,000 and RM150,000 each. Meanwhile, Johor has scrapped the political party quota system (KMK) for allocation of affordable housing units.

Affordable Housing Council

All affordable housing agencies will be placed under the proposed Affordable Housing Council to coordinate housing development especially the People’s Housing Project (PPR). Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the Cabinet paper on the proposed establishment of the council was being prepared and she hopes the council can be set up by early August. Among the affordable housing agencies are the 1Malaysia Housing Corporation (PR1MA), Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), 1Malaysia Public Housing Project (PPA1M), 1Malaysia Transit Homes and Federal Territory Affordable Homes (RUMAWIP). “The council will ensure housing development will not be focused only in certain areas, in fact matters regarding the price, design and management which became issues previously can be resolved,” said Zuraida.

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Postponing of HSR ‘Little Impact’ on Property Development in Iskandar Malaysia

irst there was a lot of excitement and mixed reviews pertaining to the highly anticipated High Speed Rail (HSR) project from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in 90 minutes, but when the newly minted government under the ruling of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that he is postponing the project, eyes were watching as to what impact it would cause on the property market and developments in Iskandar Malaysia region particularly in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. It was reported that the postponing of the HSR project will have minimal impact on property development in Iskandar Puteri in the medium term, as it is only a plus point to upcoming projects in the region. UEM Sunrise Bhd Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib said the region was close enough to Singapore, adding that there was already a second link connecting Malaysia and Singapore. “ There are other plus points such as Nusajaya Tech Park, Puteri Harbour, FASTrack City,

LEGOLAND Malaysia and many more”. According to Anwar, the take up rate for Iskandar Puteri’s mixed development projects, Bayu Nusantara and Denai Nusantara, comprising 10,000 units of affordable housing, had been positive. “The postponing of the HSR project for now will have a minor impact on the take up rate, but we strongly believe that Iskandar Puteri will continue to be developed vibrantly, with or without the HSR,” he said. Meanwhile, Anwar said that the masterplan for the Transit Oriented Development ( TOD) project in Iskandar Puteri would be put on hold pending a study on the impact of the HSR postponement for now. According to UEM Sunrise’s 2017 annual report, the detailed masterplan of the TOD project, which involved 121.4 hectares, was supposed to be revealed by the second half of this year. Under the plan, 28.32 hectares would be allocated for the HSR station in Gerbang Nusajaya. The remaining lands will be

developed into mixed residential and commercial developments via a joint venture with Leisure Farm Corporation Sdn Bhd. The gross development value for Gerbang Nusajaya, the new township developed by UEM Sunrise, stood at about RM45 billion.

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Mahathir Mohamad initially announced that the KL-Singapore HSR would be scrapped as it would not benefit Malaysia but now it’s been revealed by Putrajaya that the project is merely postponed as the government needs time to study this multi-billion dollar rail project. - by The Iskandarian TI

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The 330-kilometre HSR project, announced in 2010, dubbed as a game changer by both Malaysia and Singapore leadership before, was expected to cut time travel to just 90 minutes from five hours by road. Although on 28th May 2018, Prime Minister Tun Dr

A net worth statement is your financial scorecard which can be used regularly to assess your financial standing. It serves as a reference point in making money-related decisions and reports on what you own (assets) and what you owe (liabilities). Assets include items such as cash, savings, real estate, unit trusts and shares, while liabilities include all types of loans including borrowings from family and friends, credit card debts, payments for rental and utility bills. Your net worth can be enhanced by monitoring your expenses through the use of a budget. A budget helps you to control your expenditure. This, in turn, enhances your net worth by assisting you to invest and accumulate assets. Therefore, the key to enhancing your net worth is simply to spend less and save more for your investment.

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Government’s Affordable Housing and Home Ownership Agenda

t was reported in the local dailies that Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto on affordable housing and home ownership has been very well thought off, according to the National House Buyers Association (HBA). H B A S e c re t a r y General

Chang Kim Loong said upon implementation, it could go far towards increasing the supply of affordable housing and reduce the threat of homeless people. “The HBA views the manifesto with high optimism and anticipation and we are highly supportive of this m a n i f e s t o ,” he said w h e n met by reporters after being called by the Council of Eminent Persons to brief them on

the association’s views on the housing agenda. Pakatan Harapan, prior to winning the 14th General Election had announced among others, that the coalition would build one million affordable houses within two terms of the Pakatan Harapan-ruled government. It had also announced that a special housing loan scheme tailored for youth to buy their first home would be created and maintenance cost in low-cost housing area would be taken over by the government. A National Affordable Housing Council chaired by the Prime Minister would also be formed to bring together, the work of different agencies under one roof. - by The Iskandarian TI

Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) has a New Boss KPRJ staff welcomes new CEO, Noorazam Osman

umpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) Sdn Bhd, recently appointed Haji Mohd Noorazam bin Dato’ Haji Osman as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing Haji Abd Razak bin Mohd Yusoff whose contract ended on 4th of June 2018. Prior to this, Noorazam was the Deputy State Secretary of Johor cum CEO of the Johor SUKMA 2020 Secretariat. He is also the CEO for Sports Johor Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of KPRJ) which primarily acts as supporting organisers for SUKMA Johor 2020. Noorazam brings almost 27 years of experience to the demands of his new post. Excelling in manning many key state and public sector positions has proved Noorazam’s abilities in holding the said responsibilities. He also played a key

role in the establishment and early developments at Iskandar Malaysia by positioning the region as a destination for investment and he is also responsible in the planning and development of the RAPID project in Pengerang. As the District Officer of Muar, he managed to raise the standards there by winning an award as 2018 Cleanest Asian City. His credibility in state administrative management is proven further with his appointment as the President of the Johor Civil Service (JCS) Association. He is also active in the sports arena as he was also elected as President of the Johor Rugby Union (JRU). Noorazam received his early education at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK). He then pursued his studies at Northumbria University,

&G Corp Bhd has terminated the acquisition of two pieces of land measuring 23.39ha in Pontian, Johor for RM30.96 million. The developer said in a filing with the stock exchange that its wholly owned indirect subsidiary Melia Aktif Sdn Bhd (MASB) decided not to proceed further with the sale and purchase agreement dated Aug 26, 2015 as the conditions precedent as stated in clause 5.1 had not been fully complied with. “Hence, MASB via its solicitors had, on

New Chief Executive Officer of KPRJ, Haji Mohd Noorazam bin Dato’ Haji Osman

Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts with Honours in Government and Public Policy Studies in 1990. The staff of KPRJ welcomes Noorazam as the new CEO of KPRJ. They believe that KPRJ will excel as a state government owned company under the leadership of Haji Mohd Noorazam bin Dato’ Haji Osman. - by Harish Mustak TI

SP Setia Expects a Revival in Property Market

he Star reported that the country’s property market, which has been on a downtrend over the past three years, is expected to return to growth following the implementation of the zero-rated Goods and Services Tax. SP Setia Bhd President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Khor Chap Jen said he hoped the move to abolish the GST would help improve buying sentiment, especially among the young and first-time house buyers. “The property business has been a bit challenging over the last three years amid a soft market, but we hope this will change following the general election, with buying sentiment rising again. “We are also seeing a decline in property speculation, so property buyers nowadays are those who really want to purchase houses. Housing demand will always be there, but it is now moving towards a stable, gradual

Axis Real Estate Investment Trust

xis Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT ) has proposed to acquire two industrial properties with a combined area of approximately 251,000 sq ft, situated within Kawasan Perindustrian i-Park, Bandar Indahpura, Kulai, Johor reported The Edge Financial Daily. Th e p ro p e r t i e s are located strategically within one of the main development corridors under Iskandar Malaysia. Each of the property comprises a single-storey detached factory with mezzanine offices and other ancillary buildings. The proposed acquisitions will cost RM38.7 million, to be funded by existing bank facility. They are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2018. Th e p ro p e r t i e s have 100% occupancy rates as of last Thursday. Upon completion, both

properties with a combined lettable area of 166,000 sq ft shall be leased to Beyonics Precision Malaysia Sdn Bhd (BPM) and Oerlikon Balzers Coating Malaysia Sdn Bhd (OBCM) respectively. BPM shall lease the property for a fixed period of 10 years (expiring in 2027) at an agreed monthly rental of RM186,000 for the first three years, while OBCM shall lease the property for a fixed period of seven years (expiring in 2024) at RM43,000 per month, both with options to renew for further terms. We are positive on the proposed acquisitions as they are yield-accretive, given the net yield of 6.8% and 6.9%, respectively (before Islamic financing cost) versus its current yield of 5.4%. The properties will be fully tenanted under fixed long-lease terms of 10 years and seven years, respectively, which further minimise the risk to Axis REIT. The acquisition price

Y&G Corp Aborts Land Buy in Johor June 14, 2018, served the vendors’ solicitors a notice of its decision to exercise its right to discontinue with the purchase hereof and in terminating the said SPA summarily in pursuant to clause 5.2 of the SPA.” With the termination notice, Y&G said

increase,” he told reporters after the World Environment Day celebration organised by SP Setia. Khor said in terms of demographics, a lot of young people were seeking houses and demand existed for landed residential properties with an average price of RM500,000 despite tighter bank lending requirements seen in the last three years. “However, we hope this will change, as there has been many applications and requests to Bank Negara from first-time house buyers for the conditions to be eased,” he explained. SP Setia’s projects in Iskandar Malaysia are Bukit Indah, Eco-Garden, Setia Tropika, Setia Indah, Taman Pelangi and Taman Rinting, undertaken by its subsidiary, I and P Group Sdn Bhd. “In Johor, the highest demand is for landed properties as opposed to apartments,” he added. - by The Iskandarian TI

the vendors will refund to MASB the deposit of RM3.1 million free from interest within 14 days from the notice. Y&G had reportedly planned to embark on a mixed development project comprising commercial and residential on

works out to be RM154.40 per sq ft, which is fair for freehold industrial space in Kulai, Johor. Also, the acquisition price of RM38.7 million is lower than the market value of RM40million based on valuations by independent valuers. Axis REIT intends to utilise debt facility of approximately RM38.7 million from its existing credit lines. Its gearing ratio is expected to increase to 34.1% from the current 33.1%. This is still comfortably below the gearing limit of 50%, leaving room for more future acquisitions. We maintain our “hold” rating at a TP of RM1.44 based on financial year ending Dec 31, 2018 targeted yield of 5.7%, which is derived from two-year historical average yield spread of Axis REIT and 10-year Malaysian Government Securities. TI

the land. Meanwhile, Construction group Tiong Seng Holdings subsidiary Robin Village Development, has agreed to fully acquire Malaysia-incorporated firm Kinsbina – which in turn owns two vacant plots of land in Mukim Rimba Terjun, Daerah Pontian, Negeri Johor – for RM29.9 million. This comes as part of the group’s plans to expand its production capacity and capabilities in pre-cast manufacturing and prefabrication. - by The Iskandarian TI

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