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WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS DECEMBER
SABAH | SARAWAK | BRUNEI KOTA KINABALU CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 10th -13th December 2020
Don’t miss the Christmas celebration in this festive season at Padang Merdeka with fairy lights and christmas trees all set up at the field! Stroll along the brightly-lit field with family and friends as you enjoy the season’s festivities. Spread the Christmas vibes! Padang Merdeka, Kinabalu. 088 521 800 Rosman.Tadul@dbkk. sabah.gov.my
Kota
ENCHANTING CHRISTMAS
SELERA BRUNEIKU
25th December 2020
4th November - 31st December 2020
Christmas is the season of love and giving. Come witness the official tree-lighting ceremony placed symbolically at the 0km Sabah Tourism Board and enjoy the month-long festivity along Gaya Street.
Join us and experience Brunei’s finest delicacies while enjoying fun and exciting activities with your family and friends!
Sabah Tourism Board, 51 Gaya Street. 088 212 121
To find out more, download the official guide and don’t forget to share your experiences with our official hashtag #SeleraBruneiKu. Brunei Darussalam
info@sabahtourism.com
+673 2382822 info@tourism.gov.bn
Events are subject to change due to Movement Control Order.
EDITOR’S NOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM Hello Breeze readers, We’re at the end of the year and that means shopping will be quite an activity among our people especially with lots of year end & Christmas promos going on during this period.
In this issue, we will focus more on shopping especially on Sabah Pay, an online app developed by Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) for the people of Sabah to conveniently make online payments for bills, shopping and many more. We start off with Mr. Taitim Tulas on the Cover who happens to be the CEO of SCC. He is quite a prominent figure in SCC and has shared his insight on Sabah Pay in Personality. To read more on Sabah Pay, go to our Feature page. So, have you decided on what to shop for yet? How about the recently released iPhone 12? Read the juice about it in Tech. Or maybe just treat yourself for a nice meal at Kota Kinabalu’s new Japanese restaurant called Izakaya Ebizou. If you love Japanese food, the food there is a must try. On another note, Mr. Taitim is not the only local we highlighted in this issue. There is also Elica Paujin, a very good singer with some serious local and international achievements under her belt. Enjoy the rest of our pages and stay safe out there. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year in advance!
Editor in Chief – Dinoza Mahruf Assistant Editor – Noel Jinguli Writer – Khaleedah Jailani Writer – Thanis Lim Writer – Eilvane Chieng Writer – Andro A. Sandor Writer – Devyne Koh Writer – Adelina Adna Writer – Cherelle Lim Writer – Iffah Hazirah Copy writer – Iliana A.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director – Dinoza Mahruf Head Graphic Designer – Clarinda Peters Graphic Designer – Danie Guido Masudal Graphic Designer – Fatihah Affendy Fashion – Glam Squad Photographer – Jofanna Bridal Studio Photographer – Aznan Johary Photographer – Vance Tan Photographer – Alex Fell
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Managing Partner – Sonny Ali Finance – Zainaba S Administrator – Florence Masri Events & Promotions – Shana K IT Head – Eddie Bee Public & Gov. Relations – Noor F. Z. Advisor – James S.E. Quek
SALES & MARKETING TEAM
Marketing Head – Mohammad Iskandar Shah Senior Marketing Manager – Alina Lim Marketing – Labuan – Leonie Peter Marketing – Labuan – PRO LVY Ent Marketing – KL – Kahan Singh Gill Marketing – KL – Mimi Khan Magazine Sales – Robert Tham
CONTACT INFO
Editorial/Marketing 088-268 180 Administration: 088-316 926 Fax Number: 088-316 936 Email: breeze@breezeborneo.com (General) sales.marketing@breezeborneo.com (Sales) admin@breezeborneo.com (Admin) Marketing (KL): +60 19-336 2211 (Kahan) Marketing (Sabah): +60 18-662 0134 (Alina) Marketing (Labuan): +60 19-897 1238 (Leonie) Marketing (Labuan): +60 19-583 9100 (Eugene)
Scan to read online copy
Breeze Mag
Cover featuring Taitim Tulas Cover photoshoot by Chris Pereira Venue Sabah Credit Corporation
Printing by JC Printer SDN. BHD (Co. No. 75764-p) No. 11, Lorong Dewan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. P.O. Box 11984 88821 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Tel: 088-230749, 242378 Fax: 088-235806 Email: jc.printer@yahoo.com
The views and opinions expressed in Breeze are those of authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of MB Managers & Consultants (45857 T), its directors or editorial staff. While every reasonable care is taken in compiling the magazine, the publisher shall not be held responsible for any omission, error, or inaccuracy. Please notify the publisher in writing of any such omission, error or inaccuracy. Editorial contributions are welcome but unsolicited materials are submitted on sender’s risk. The publisher cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage. ® All rights reserved by MB Managers & Consultants (45857 T). No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s permission in writing. KDN PPH 308/10/2013 (033079)
content the shopping issue #149 14TECH 06FLASH
The iPhone 12 Family
34RANTS & RAVES
November 2020
ONLINE SHOPPING
08KamiLabuan
35 POP CULTURE
#Inicarakita
10feature
Towards a smarter sabah
e-wallet
26WELLNESS 16destination
forward focus
alpaca club
42 RESTAURANT REVIEW 32FITNESS SHOPPING Workout
13Music
Elica Paujin: A breath of stardom
22personality TAITIM TULAS: MOVING FORWARD WITH SABAH PAy
izakaya ebizou: EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY
FLASH
November 2020 CHIU’S DONATE 80 CUPS OF COFFEE TO COVID WARD STAFF Kota Kinabalu, 2 November 2020 - Local restaurant Chiu’s - The Modern Local donated 80 cups of coffee to the Covid Ward staff members at Hospital Queen Elizabeth I. This is one of the zero profit donations done by the collaboration between Chiu’s and their supportive customers during the pandemic. The donation to the Covid Ward staff members was made possible thanks to the contribution by one of Chiu’s supportive customers who prefers to be unnamed. Her message for these frontliners was “希望大家可以感受到疫情中 的温暖，大家不孤独。” In English context, she hoped that the frontliners could feel the warmth in the middle of the pandemic and be a little less lonely. Chiu’s hope their donations will also inspire others to give kindness to less fortunate people.
SUNWAY MEDICAL CENTRE DONATES OVER RM300,000 WORTH OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL IN SABAH Kuala Lumpur, 3 November 2020 - Giving is not just making a donation. It is about making a difference. It has been a tough year for Malaysia and especially more for the medical frontliners at Sabah. With the rising numbers over there, the superheroes are toiling day and night, fighting an invisible enemy. The tranquil early hours belie alarming implications of a supply shortage Sabah is currently under. As of 1st Nov 2020, Sabah leads the country’s infection stats with 644 new cases, more than the rest of the country combined. More than half of the state are now #COVID19 red zones. As a fellow healthcare provider, Sunway Medical Centre felt the need to motivate the frontliners and support this fight against COVID-19. Therefore, they have donated more than RM300,000 worth of essential supplies to their brothers and sisters over at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah. Among the items donated were two ventilators, worth RM110,000. Sunway Medical Centre hopes their humble contribution can make a difference to help soften the pandemic’s blow.
JFF PLUS: ONLINE FESTIVAL LAUNCHING Kuala Lumpur, 20 November 2020 - The “JFF Plus: Online Festival” launched a series of 20 titles for Malaysians to stream online for free from 20 to 29 November 2020. Following the postponement of “JFF 2020” at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) from September 2020 to January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (now called as JFF 2020 PLUS ONE), the The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur has introduced a digital platform for everyone to enjoy Japanese films from the comfort and safety at home. The titles consist of some popular titles screened during the previous Festivals, and also some new titles ranging from drama, romance, thriller, animation and many more for Malaysians to enjoy. “JFF Plus” (previously known as “JFF Magazine”) is a platform introduced by the Japan Foundation, bringing the latest news, articles and interviews from the Japanese film industry. With a slogan of ‘Japanese Film Anytime, Anywhere,’ the program was launched in 2016 for 10 ASEAN countries and Australia, apart from the annual Japanese Film Festival held in multiple cities and countries. Find out more at www.jfkl.org.my/events/jff-plus-onlinefestival.
SABAH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE DONATES 600 PACKED LUNCHES TO HQE 1 Kota Kinabalu, 27 November 2020 - In showing support to health care workers on the front lines of COVID-19 pandemic, Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) joined Rebecca Chin’s “Frontliners Meal Project” food charity drive and donated 600 packed lunches to Hospital Queen Elizabeth 1. The employees, management, building contractors and consultants at SICC came together to donate towards a healthy packed lunch to express their gratitude and deep appreciation for these everyday heroes. It was a team effort at SICC, where the banquet kitchen team prepared a delicious meal while the sales and administration associates coordinated the delivery with a thank you card to our healthcare heroes along with an invitation to SICC Café for a dessert treat.
6
KAMILABUAN
#IniCaraKita
K
AMILABUAN is a designated event in accordance with COVID-19 awareness for Asian Supply Base Sdn. Bhd. (ASB) HSE Week. ASB is taking another initiative in which to project COVID-19 awareness film in a way to engage with the local communities despite the CMCO restrictions. Since March 2020, ASB has tightened up its company protocol in complying the COVID-19 SOP such as below: • Restrictions on staff travelling • Suspension of annual leave • Limitation of face to face meetings • Prohibitions of vessel crew embarkation/disembarkation from ASB Jetty • Limiting acceptance of vendors coming from high-risk areas • Scheduled disinfection services in ASB Services • Sending staff for precautionary COVID-19 sampling • Assisting KKM in contact tracing Apart from the listed measurements taken, ASB has also taken part in doing various CSR to local and Sabah communities. KAMILABUAN project film will cover the challenges, adaptations, stigmas and appreciations to all the frontliners who have contributed directly and indirectly to curb the spread of COVID-19. KAMILABUAN is mainly produced by the committee members among ASB staffs with the assistance from ProLV productions. This project film will feature few original songs and few covered classical songs by Labuan born musicians. It has been a challenging journey in producing the film during the CMCO. ASB hopes that the messages delivered in this film will create positive impacts not only to ASB staff, ASB clients and local communities but for everyone to implement COVID-19 awareness in order to protect oneself and surroundings. Nevertheless, the dedication and commitment shown by the productions team will be the key success for the project film that will be launched on December 11, 2020, 8 PM on FB Live KAMILABUAN. 8
feature
Towards a smarter sabah
I
magine this, you have a few bills to pay and you need to visit different departments in order to pay them all. Not only do you need to drive to different parts of town, you’d also be stuck waiting in line for who knows how long. Wouldn’t it be much easier to pay them all wirelessly in with the click of a button? Well, earlier in February 2020, Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) introduced a one-stop app that allows you to do just that. Introducing Sabah Pay, a one-stop app set up to enhance the lifestyle standards for everyone in Sabah, creating an inclusive atmosphere while supporting a more citizen-centred environment through the variety of services offered in the app. With Sabah Pay, everyone can enjoy the convenience of having the latest credible news and updates, while paying utility bills, all in the palm of the hands. To deliver a successful app, the Sabah Pay team worked with multiple government departments. Among them are the Sabah State Treasury Department, Lands and Surveys Department, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), and Sabah State Water Department. With the collaboration between these and other departments, Sabah Pay has made it much easier for users to wirelessly pay water and electricity bills. In addition, Sabah Pay is also in collaboration with E-wallet and E-hailing services such as Boost, Grab, FoodPanda, and Maxim. Users can now access these services through the Sabah Pay app, either as payment methods, ordering food, or even hailing a ride safely. Plus, the collaboration with select stores such as Pick N 10
Pay, Servay, and AVIIMO, users can safely browse and shop for groceries and home essentials online. So, now you don’t even need to queue up long lines for groceries and food anymore. However, you shouldn’t get confused with the name “Sabah Pay”, as it is more than just for making payments. The most notable feature is the ability to report incidents around you. The collaboration with DBKK allows you to report broken streetlights or open burning incidents anytime and anywhere. Paying traffic
fines has never been easier with Sabah Pay. All you need to do is log in the report number and pay the set amount through Boost. That’s not all, you can also lodge police reports, fire emergencies, or even health emergencies through the app with ease. Don’t miss out on the latest promotions, news, and announcements. Sabah Pay ensures you’ll receive your news from credible sources and announcements from the State Government straight to your mobile device. You can also keep track of the latest offers and promotions by local business as well. You can also apply for financing with Sabah Pay. As it is an app designed by the SCC, users can get financing advice facilities from them. Get to know their loan programmes developed to guide those in need of credit facilities assistance. Easily access and apply for said facilities with the help of Sabah Pay. The Sabah Pay team worked hard to make this app a success and it shows in how seamless it is to operate. Having established this app shouldn’t be considered the “end” of development, this is just the first step to make a smarter Sabah. Let us appreciate the effort that has been made to make our lives easier and more convenient. Looking at the glass half full, we might even see the digital development of Sabah sooner rather than later.
by Noel Jinguli Images | Sabah Pay
11
movies
DECEMBER NETFLIX MOVIES
MANK
AVA
Release date: 4 December 2020 Genre: Biography, Drama Director: David Fincher Cast: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins
Release date: 7 December 2020 Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller Director: Tate Taylor Cast: Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, Common, John Malkovich
1930s Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish “Citizen Kane.”
THE PROM Release date: 11 December 2020 Genre: Comedy, Musical Director: Ryan Murphy Cast: Jo Ellen Pellman, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, KeeganMichael Key A troupe of hilariously self-obsessed theatre stars swarm into a small conservative Indiana town in support of a high school girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom.
Ava is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.
A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS Release date: 14 December 2020 Genre: Comedy, Romance Director: Shaun Paul Piccinino Cast: Lauren Swicard, Josh Swickard, Ali Afshar With his carefree lifestyle on the line, a wealthy charmer poses as a ranch hand to get a hardworking farmer to sell her family’s land before Christmas.
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
THE MIDNIGHT SKY
Release date: 18 December 2020 Genre: Drama, Music Director: George C. Wolfe Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Glynn Turman
Release date: 23 December 2020 Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Director: George Clooney Cast: George Clooney, Felicity Jones
Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player, and the white management determined to control the legendary “Mother of the Blues.” Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s play.
This post-apocalyptic tale follows Augustine, a lonely scientist in the Arctic, as he races to stop Sully and her fellow astronauts from returning home to Earth, where a mysterious global catastrophe has taken place.
Elica Paujin: A breath of stardom
MUSIC
of making the song took quite a bit of time. Recording actually started last year (2019) and it was supposed to be released by then. We released the single in May of 2020 are we successfully overcame the many challenges we faced. B: Who or what inspires you? EP: When I was a kid, I was inspired by this one filipino singer named Charice Pempengco. So, I actually started singing after watching all of her videos. B: What are the biggest achievements you had yet? EP: One of my biggest achievements is winning the Mentor Milenia 2017, a nationwide singing competition televised on TV3. I also feel blessed to have the chance at competing and winning Starizer 2020 at Jakarta, Indonesia. B: What were the challenges you overcame to be where you are today? EP: The biggest challenge I had to overcome was my lack of confidence. But the more I performed, the more confident I got. Another challenge for me is the negative comments and vibes from critics. I learned to just shut them out, otherwise it’ll be hard to maintain my career and become what I am today.
H
ow do you determine the potential of a singer? Do you judge it by their voice or what they’ve achieved? Well, in this month’s Music feature, we have the ever energetic Elica Paujin, who has shut the critics down with her powerful voice and the success she had as a singer. Read about her journey and the process behind Momuhobo, her current trending hit released earlier this year. Breeze (B): Introduce yourself Elica Paujin (EP): My name is Angelica Paujin. Elica Paujin is my stage name, so most people know by that name. I’m 21 years old and originally from Tambunan.
B: What are your plans for the future? EP: For the future, I’m planning to release my first ever album. B: Anything you’d like to add? EP: I just wanna say thank you to all my supporters. Thank you breeze! Thank you to those who always supported me until now. And don’t forget to listen to my new single featuring Yunk-g, Berryferhan and Skyonsax - “Aku Faiya”.
B: How long have you been singing? EP: I started to sing when I was 4 years old. When I was 10, I started to pursue my dream of becoming a singer by joining the Sugandoi Dazanak for the state level at the KDCA (KadazanDusun Cultural Association). At the time, I took 2nd runner up and kept working hard until where I am today. B: Tell us about Momuhobo EP: Momuhobo actually means “breathing” in the Dusun language. The song tells the story of an on and off relationship, detailing how a person needs their space to breathe. It was written by a local singer, which is Benn Simon, and the process
by Noel Jinguli Images | Elica Paujin
@elicapaujin_
Elica Paujin
Tech
The iPhone 12 Family
A
s an Android user, I’ve never had much interest in the Apple iOS ecosystem part from the days of the iPhone 4 or 5. To me, they’ve sacrificed too many features for such expensive devices. However, my criticism has died down a bit after seeing competing companies going down the same route, especially in our smartphone market. Plus, seeing Apple churn out more affordable devices is a good change of pace. This change is what made the iPhone 12 line really interesting. The line consists of the iPhone 12, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max. Now, you can look at this in two ways, either praise it or criticise it, but for me the best thing about the iPhone 12 line is; almost all the features are shared between the devices. Want a Super Retina XDR display that’s top notch in the market? Do you desire Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, one of the best chipsets for any smartphone? Or do you want the best smartphone camera setup currently available? All these features are available if you pick any of the current lineup of the iPhone 12. There are only a few features that differentiate the types of models in the lineup. The biggest one would be the 6.7 inch display size of the Pro Max, which is the biggest iPhone display Apple has put out yet. The regular iPhone 12 and the Pro both sport 6.1 inch displays while the Mini has a 5.4 inch display. The camera’s characteristics and features are also different from each model. While the Mini and regular iPhone 12 have dual rear cameras,
by Noel Jinguli Images | Unsplash 14
the Pro and Pro Max have a triple setup. All of which have 12mp (megapixels) main and wide angle sensors, while the Pros have an extra 12mp telephoto. The battery sizes are also different, but Apple hasn’t disclosed the size for any of them though. Personally, the Mini is what really caught my attention. The smaller size paired with the gorgeous design is perfect for those missing a smaller form factor of a device. You won’t even miss any essential features that make an iPhone 12 because the Mini has all of them. The main and wide angle cameras produce stunning photos. It even features their Night Mode that not only brightens up your pictures but also does it without ruining them. You’ll also get the MagSafe charging feature. Now, I know what you’re thinking, is buying any of the iPhone 12 models worth it? Well, it depends what you’re looking for in a phone. One thing’s for sure, Apple is trying to appeal to a much broader audience this time around and I believe there’s an iPhone for everyone.
WHOLLY MANAGED BY SABAH CREDIT CORPORATION (A STATUTORY BODY OWNED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF SABAH)
destination
alpaca club
The alpacas being fed fresh green grass.
L
ocated just a few minutes drive from Kundasang town sits a 3-acre hillside farm where our newest cute and cuddly friends live. Alpaca Club is an upcoming petting farm with Sabah’s first ever alpacas! Now you don’t need to travel overseas to meet this fluffy and quirky creature that we’ve all only imagined of ever meeting. If you’re not sure what an alpaca is, they come from the same family as camels and llamas. There are 2 breeds of alpacas, with the ones at Alpaca Club being the Huacaya, which has similar fleece as sheep. The 10 alpacas you can meet there have all their fleece sheared off for hygienic purposes and will grow back in a few months time. When you have a chance to visit, you can pet the alpacas, feed them, and even take pictures with them. You’ll be provided with either fresh grass or fruits, and you can just hand it to them to eat. A quirky trait they possess is they’ll follow wherever the food goes. Speaking of feeding them, visitors will also have a chance to sit and have lunch among the alpacas. For a set fee, the whole farm will be shut down for an hour while you enjoy a specially prepared lunch in the alpaca play area.
the perfect backdrop to a relaxing stay at Alpaca Club. Other facilities also include a small cafe and gift shop for visitors wanting a quick meal and souvenirs. They also have a wishing wall for visitors to hang their wishes on them. In the future, Alpaca Club will include a rabbit farm around the alpaca play area for visitors to interact with while waiting for their turn with the alpacas. They’re also planning to include a farm tour and opening a hiking path up the hill. The Alpaca Club is planning to start operating in December depending on the current CMCO. They also want to continue developing visitor experience at the farm, so if you’re interested in working together with them, don’t hesitate to contact them. @alpacaclubsabah
Other than that, you can also spend the night in chalets on top of the hill as Alpaca Club also provides a homestay for a group of 6 visitors. From there, you are able to breathe in the fresh air and have an amazing view of Kundasang with Mt. Kinabalu as
by Noel Jinguli Images | Noel Jinguli 16
The view from the homestay.
Alpaca Club
012-802 1906
BEING CREATIVE
shopping
Image by Blake Wisz (Unsplash)
S
hopping doesn’t have to mean guilt. Let me take the pool is closed. I am very depressed about that, and I am not you on a short tour of my recent retail activity! convinced of the need for this, but it is the rule at the moment.
There’s not a lot that a bit of careful retail therapy won’t help. If you want something cerebral, buy a book. Or a magazine, or a newspaper. Take out a subscription so you get a treat every month or every week. I recommend The Oldie - not just for old people, but intelligent and original. Or The Economist, or any of the many many different international publications for every possible taste.
Clothes? Well, for a giant orang putih like myself, this is not something that is very easy to do. I buy Ann Kelly linen from Metrojaya, and I have been lucky with Uniqlo sometimes, but on the whole, I don’t do so well here, so I can’t advise. I have looked for tailors, and have usually been disappointed; Mr Tan in Kampung Air is lovely, and has copied some of my dresses perfectly, but I have had some disasters, so each commission is a voyage of discovery. Does recent anyone have any recommendations? I feel in my bones that once people find a tailor they like, they keep them very close to their chests. Am I right? I went to Langkawi the other day, and visited the Crafts Centre which was a revelation. I bought a couple of really nice cotton and linen garments, which FITTED ME! I didn’t buy shirts, ties, silver, pewter, pottery, scarves, bags but I could have. Well worth a visit.
If you cook, take a trip to Metrojaya or the Kitchen Shop in Suria Sabah or Damai Plaza. You can go mad and buy a whizzy coffee machine (although I prefer making it in a jug with a filter and coffee grounds), or a BBQ, or if you just want to raise your spirits with a gadget, there are all sorts to pick from - squeezers and cutters and graters and scrapers to make your life easier and keep your poor fingers safe. I have just bought four striped mugs for my tea or coffee - not heavy and lumpen, but thin and nice to drink from - at Parkson at Imago. And I am a Lazada addict. Such fun! Paintbrushes. Christmas presents such as wireless speakers, a lap top stand, an iPad I have just bought a pair of Aftershockz headphones - waterproof stand, a really good potato peeler and lemon zester (trust and bone conducting, so not poking in your ear while you do me - get one and your life will change). And that’s the lot I your lengths - if you do. I notice that swimming is not a high can remember. Oh, I know, because I left my coat in England, priority for many people in Sabah, but for me, it is the best and it will be very cold when I go back, I have ordered a exercise, and listening to podcasts or music makes it possible jacket that you can charge with a USB cable - then when you for me to swim up and down and feel very pleased with myself feel a little chilly, you press a switch and it warms you up. Or when I have done some 500 meters. Alas, during lockdown, electrocutes you, I suppose. Will report back, if I remain alive!
by Sylvia Howe
18
One little taster: I am working with the North Borneo History Enthusiasts on a wonderful book to be called From Jesselton to Kota Kinabalu. Out in a few months. Be sure to buy a copy - it is quite unique, full of first hand memories and photographs that have not been seen before. We may launch it at WordPower, all things permitting...
eco news
What to keep in mind this shopping season
T
he holidays are coming and you know what that means? Shopping! Now, it’s mainly just online shopping. Everyone is looking to buy items either as gifts or just to replace something old. Just ask yourself, do you really need to replace that “something” and what would you do to the packaging? With our current situation, not just financial but also environmental wise, buying things you don’t need doesn’t really make sense. So, before buying those cool pairs of shoes or that shiny new game console, ask yourself; do you really need it? A lot of resources are used to make a product, resources are also used to power the production machines. The same goes with the packaging of these products. Add all these resources up and you’d be wasting a lot more than your hard earned cash. Don’t even get me started on the fumes and pollution that factories release during production. These are just some of the things we don’t consider when we buy things on impulse. If you decide that you do need it, what should you do next? First of all, if you’re replacing something, make sure you’ve disposed of the used one properly. If the item is unusable, don’t just throw it into the bin. For electronics, some components can still be used and recycled, even if the item as a whole is unusable. Same goes for clothes, kitchenware, and even furniture. If your item is still usable, why not try to sell it and get some money back? Better yet, you can donate it or give it to someone who really needs it. There are so many groups in social media that help you sell the things you don’t want anymore or better yet go to the sites that support giving things away for free.
by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash 20
The same can be applied to the packaging. Recycling is an obvious step, but why not reuse it for packaging or for something else. I recently found a Facebook page where members can give and receive pre-loved items, or used packaging, for free. It’s called the Beli Nothing Project and it’s a win-win situation for all parties, even benefiting the environment directly through waste reduction. With all that in mind, next time you shop, make sure to consider the impact your purchase will have not just towards yourself but also towards the environment. I’m not saying you should stop shopping, as I understand different people have different interests. Try supporting sites that use eco-friendly packing products. Try purchasing with others to share on shipping costs, wrapping materials and packaging. Just be sure to learn about the steps you should take to ensure everyone benefits from your purchase, however direct or indirect it may be.
personality
S
TAITIM TULAS: MOVING FORWARD WITH SABAH PAy
abah Credit Corporation (SCC) CEO, Mr Taitim Tulas, is an innovative leader who believes in empowering people, embracing technology, and enjoying work. We sat down with him at his office recently to capture his thoughts on how Sabah Pay is impacting the way we transact. For those who don’t know, Sabah Pay is an online app developed by SCC for the people of Sabah to conveniently make online payments for bills, shopping and many more.
Hi! So, tell us a little bit about yourself. Well, I was born in Kepayan. Lived there for 10 years where I spend the first half of my Primary School years at SK Kepayan. I was the 5th child and have 8 siblings. My dad was a policeman and at 10 years old we moved back to my hometown, Tenom, after he retired, where the rest of my school years were spent at St Anthony. I started off with a Diploma in Computer Science from ITM and then was recruited by Sabah Foundation as a programmer. I received a scholarship from the State to do my degree in England, returned after 4 years there and joined the State Computer Services Department (JPKN) and was based with Resettlement Division, Chief Minister Department as their IT officer developing computerized systems for the department concern. How did you come to be the CEO of SCC? In 1993, I was seconded to SCC as a System Analyst from JPKN taking charge of SCC’s ICT Section. I fully joined SCC 3 years later after my secondment completed. The ICT Section was upgraded to a full department where I was then promoted to head the new department. I was then assigned as the Head of Human Resources Department followed by the Head of Corporate & Services Department. In 2012, I was promoted as the CFO and in 2019, as CEO. Being in IT at the beginning of my engagement with SCC meant I had the privilege to know and understand all the process and procedures of the different departments in SCC that really helped me understand how the SCC works. What are your personal goals as CEO to steer SCC through the current economic phase during the pandemic? COVID has really changed the way we do things, the way we manage and indeed our own way of life. We have to be openminded and accepting the effects from the pandemic to enable us to move forward. I personally believe that in everything we do, we should really look into having balance and wisdom. Steering an organization, like SCC, through this pandemic is really challenging. However, in SCC, we believe in PIT – People, Ideas and Technology to steer us through this situation. People are the enablers and they are the most important component of SCC. You need to have the right people with the right mentality and attitude. You need to make sure their welfare is taken cared, appreciate them and rewarding them where needed. Allow them to bring dignity to their role. When you do that, productivity will come. Ideas are the engines in SCC. We empower our staff to give their ideas, whatever ideas, because ideas make people think regardless of whether the ideas are big or small. Technology is the catalyst. It moves us forward faster. For example, the headphone, then and now. It keeps evolving because the people behind the technology keep pushing to make it better and better. It’s a cycle.
by Adelina Adna Image | Chris Pereira
Sabah Pay was launched in February this year. What was the vision behind it? Our vision was towards developing smart Sabah connecting the people, the State Government and the business through a single network for the economic wellbeing of all parties. At the same time, SCC needed a tool that could facilitate our collection and we wanted it to make it easy for our customers to make payments anytime, anywhere. We thought it would be a good idea to make the platform available for the State government agencies as well. What sets Sabah Pay apart from other existing e-Wallets? With Sabah Pay, our aim is to connect Sabahans with the State government, agencies and be a one-stop digital tool for Sabahans. On top of being a payment collection system, we also have other services such as the Incident Reporting system, which is now used by DBKK. How has Sabah Pay been doing in the current situation? Sabah Pay actually had an increase in download. Currently there are more th an 50,000 users registered with Sabah Pay. The volume of transactions and the amount of collection are steadily increasing by the day. There are several single transactions exceeding RM4,000 through Sabah pay. The number of government departments and agencies participating in Sabah Pay is also increasing steadily. DBKK, Land and Survey Department, State Water Departments, Veterinary Department, Environmental Protection Department and Housing & Urban Development Board (LPPB) are using Sabah Pay as one of their collection channel. Others are from the education institutions and private sector. All these show that Sabah Pay is gaining more confidence from the public and merchants. Sabah Pay also provides a channel for SCC clients to apply for financial facilities and checking the status of their application. The users are also starting to channel donations through Sabah Pay How can Sabah Pay help businesses and the community? Ideally, we’d like to see Sabah Pay being used in place of cash especially in areas where banks are not easily accessible. People can just use Sabah Pay for their transactions within the community through cash transfers right from the app. What are your hopes for Sabah Pay and its presence in the community? My hopes is that Sabah Pay will foster financial inclusion and be able to help the unserved, unbanked, underserved and underbanked in the community. Sabah Pay’s paramount objective is for the well-being and economic of the people. I’d like to see Sabah Pay being used everywhere, and help the whole government institutions in Sabah. Maybe even create more employment for the younger generation to support the development of the country. Fun Facts: Mr Taitim is a Liverpool FC fan and enjoys sports including football, rugby, badminton and hockey.
AUtomotive
the will of z
W
hen it comes to iconic sports cars, Nissan is well known for their Skyline and GT-R lineup. However, people tend to forget that the company has another sports car in their line up, the Fairlady Z. So, in conjunction with the announcement of the new 400Z model, let’s walk down memory lane and reminisce on the cars that preceded the 400Z. The 240Z is where it all started. Yutaka Kariyama, A.K.A Mr K, was the first president of Nissan Motor Corporation USA. Being known as the father of the Z, he championed the Nissan design team for the 240Z to entice more American buyers, to the then Datsun brand, in the USA. It was designed to be fast, reliable and affordable. The timeless fastback design with its long swooping hood are permanent characteristics of Z model cars until today. Almost every person is looking for one to restore or customise these days. Even Sun Kang (Han from the Fast & Furious franchise) has one. What’s cooler is the 240Z has racing heritage, having taken part in the Dakar rally. Moving on to the early 90’s, take a look at the 300ZX (Z32). This beauty was the fourth generation of the Z family. This time, Nissan decided to put twin turbos under the hood of the car straight from the factory, making it a powerful yet reliable option for buyers. The 300ZX also has a prestigious racing background. In 1994, a race modified version of the car participated in the 24Hour Le Mans race and took fifth place overall while finishing first among the IMSA GTS class that it entered in. The number
by Noel Jinguli Images | Unsplash 24
75 car with the red, white, and blue colour scheme still remains iconic to this day. Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift made the next car in the list famous. No, not the Veilside RX-7, I’m talking about the 350Z driven by the main antagonist. Introduced in 2002, the 350Z charmed fans of the Z line with its back to basic design, incorporating the classic long hood and fastback rear end combined with modern looks and curves. It was made for those looking for a fun sports car that didn’t break the bank. It’s the perfect budget project and drift car. Drifter Chris Forsberg drove one when he competed in the Formula Drift circuit from 2006 to 2010. We hope we have shown you that the Z lineup from Nissan has always been beautiful and powerful options from this Japanese auto manufacturer. Let’s see if the 400Z can continue with the heritage of the Z family during its run in the future.
wellness
Forward Focus
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ave you ever noticed how there are days when you wake up feeling listless, as though you can’t focus and you have no motivation or energy to move forward. After drifting for a while, you finally get fed up of feeling like this, you plonk down, and ask yourself what exactly do I want to get done today. As you begin to write down the list, you find that your energy starts to increase and your desire and motivation comes back.
looks like, sounds like, and feels like when you have achieved it completely? Is it specific enough, and it is a small enough piece that you can imagine easily getting it done? For instance, if you’re a student, saying you will study for an exam is not as specific as imagining that for that morning you will see yourself doing one complete chapter of reading, and feeling good when you complete.
So what happened?
Feel First into the Future. Many times, when we have a conflict happen, we imagine all the future negative possibilities. So for instance when you have a fight with your mom, you think about how the next time you meet her, she’ll say something mean, and how you will fight back. Then when you finally do see her, because you had been practicing feeling bad already, you naturally get triggered and have the fight exactly as you imagined. So how about imagining the great emotions you want to have first? And imagine when and how you will feel them? That way, when you meet those situations, you’ll start feeling good, and create better possibilities.
Human beings are goal-seeking machines, and at times, when we feel we are not motivated, procrastinate, or are lazy, it could just be that we are unclear, we do not have the clarity to see or feel on what exactly we want to do. So how about for today, I share what has worked for me and my clients? Set your goals and outcomes in a well-defined way. When you say you want something, can you actually imagine what it
by Dr. Sivakumar Kumaresan Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah’s First NLP Trainer at UMS Investment Holdings Sdn. Bhd Coachy Cruz Alex Fitness Professional Cruz Fitness/Wellness Images | Unsplash 26
Use these two main tools, clear goals and positive feelings, to gradually change your day, as bit by bit, everything can be a cinch. From Cruz and I, we wish you an amazing year ahead in 2021, filled with positive possibilities. Dr. Siva and Coachy Cruz are available for online coaching in NLP for Performance Coaching and Wellness or Fitness, respectively. Look up for Coachy Cruz through www.instagram. com/cruzfitnesskinabalu and Dr. Siva through email at saadashiva@gmail.com
FULL FACE THREADLIFT What is Face Threadlift? Thread lift procedure is a minimally invasive alternative to facelift surgery. Thread lifts claim to tighten your skin by inserting medical-grade thread material into your face. Other than tighten, it also promotes collagen formationand whitening of your skin. Thread lifts are considered a low-risk procedure with minimal recovery time, but side effects of redness, bruising, and swelling do occur. This procedure can be performed in about 45 minutes, it is best perfomed by experienced aestheticians to avoid unwanted complication such as excessive bleeding, infection, visible dimpling, migration of thread.
AESTHETIC
We advise that you skip your daily moisturizer for the first few weeks after a thread lift, and sleep with your head propped up to avoid rolling over on to the newly placed sutures. You’ll also be advised to avoid saunas and high intensity workouts for the first week or so after the thread lift is performed.
by Dr Katalina Katalina Aesthetic & Wellness
What to expect after Face Threadlift? Recovery after a successful thread lift is quite minimal. While there may be some visible swelling and bruising, you can go back to work right away if you’d like. Results should be apparent right after the threads are put into place, but you may notice more in the days and weeks right after they are inserted, as swelling and bruising starts to subside. Results from a thread lift aren’t meant to be permanent. Successful effects typically last from 1 to 3 years. The threads used in the procedure will eventually be absorbed by the tissue underneath your skin. After a thread lift, you can resume your normal routine. Your provider may advise you not to rub your face vigorously and to avoid sleeping on your side, in the initial weeks following the procedure.
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dental
GETTING TO KNOW ROOT CANALS
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ooth pain can be treated with a few different procedures and treatments. Through the media we consume, it’s likely that many of us are familiar with the term “root canal”. However, how familiar are you with it? In this month’s Dental feature, let’s learn about the treatment and how we can avoid it.
after the initiation of the treatment. However, it does depend on the size of the lesion. When a tooth is badly infected, hence the bigger lesion size, more time is needed to witness healing on a radiograph. The good news is, only 10% of patients need to re-do the treatment.
A root canal treatment is a dental treatment used to repair and save a tooth that’s been badly decayed or infected. The “root” cause of the pain is from the center of the tooth called the dental pulp, which contains the nerves and blood vessels inside each of our teeth. When the dental pulp becomes infected with bacteria, the tooth ultimately develops pain. So, dentists need to remove the dental pulp in order to treat the tooth.
There are a few alternatives to the treatment such as extractions and replacement with prosthesis - removable dentures; dental bridges or implants. With that said, prevention is better than curing. Avoid habits such as teeth clenching as it may place too much pressure on our teeth and develop into cracked teeth. Dr. Sylvia advises all of us to brush and floss twice a day, and visit a dentist every 6 months.
According to Dr. Sylvia Lim of Phi Dental, the root canal treatment is painless. Before anything else, a dentist will start by applying anesthesia near the affected area. They will then carefully remove the decay on the affected tooth and remove the infected dental pulp. After that, they clean and disinfect the root canal. At the end of the treatment, the dentist will place a permanent filling to seal the space, restoring the tooth back into its fully functional form. Usually, it will take 1 to 2 visits depending on how severe the case is. If it does take 2 visits, it’ll be set two weeks apart.
At the end of the day, just be sure to take good care of your oral hygiene in order to prevent undergoing a root canal treatment. Though, please visit a dentist if you do experience any tooth pain.
Generally, the success rate of a root canal treatment is more than 90%, and most patients are relieved immediately from pain
by Noel Jinguli Images | Unsplash 28
C
fitness
SHOPPING Workout
hristmas is coming and the workout theme for this month is “SHOPPING”! Workouts primarily focused on cardiovascular fitness and upper body resistance training. Here are 3 workouts to help prep you better for running around the mall to catch that year end sale and handling your shopping bags. HIP ESCAPE 5 Sets, 15 Reps each side - Rest 15 secs) As the name suggests, this movement does not only help you to escape from unwanted fat gain, but during desperate times like being caught in a crowded area where people overlook social distancing, you would be fit enough to escape. SETUP • Come to a quadruped position (both palms and feet on the floor with knee hanging about an inch away from the floor) • Keep a neutral spine & brace the core. EXECUTION • Keeping one foot on the ground, rotate from your hips, release the palm on the same side as the grounded foot and thread the opposite foot through. • Return back to original position then repeat on the other side.
PUSH UPS The push up is a traditional staple workout for the upper body & core stabilisation. SETUP • Come to a plank position with palms directly under the shoulders. • Align the hip and knee in one line & amp; engage your core.
Regressed option (on the knees)
MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS (4 Sets, 15 Reps each side - Rest 20 secs) SETUP • Come to a plank position with feet hip width apart and palms placed directly below the shoulders; keep a neutral spine position EXECUTION • Without shifting the shoulders and lifting the hips up, alternately bend the knees and bring them up towards your belly button.
EXECUTION • As you go down, keep the shoulders depressed and maintain the elbows at a stable 45 degree angle away from the body. • As you go back up, squeeze the chest and make sure to move the whole upper body as a single unit.
by Hazli Bojili FITM Borneo Images | Hazli Bojili 32
Have a great Christmas and don’t let the extra calories take over!
rants & raves
ONLINE SHOPPING
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don’t know about everyone else but, being stuck at home has increased my urge to shop online. Right now, we try to avoid large crowds. Which means, shopping malls are off limits. So, what do we do? Shop online! This type of shopping is somewhat easier because we can do it from the comforts of our own home. It’s also easier to find a product, instead of looking through multiple shelves or racks, all we must do is just look it up on the specific website. In fact, if we want to find a product at a cheaper price, we can look it up on Google, and it will show us different websites that sell the same product at different prices. Shopping online can sometimes also lead to spending more money than intended. Since, we aren’t exactly holding anything physical, we can’t decide on our own when we’ve bought too much! Not only that, but shopping online also makes for tough decisions. Well…for me at least. I can never seem to decide what colour an accessory should be. I can’t try it on to determine whether gold or silver looks better, So I usually end up buying two! That’s probably not a good idea. Not only that, but when shopping online, we seem to buy the most random things. Do you really need that magic sushi maker? It’s weird, but I guess staying at home makes you try crazy things or random stuff you don’t need.
by Cherelle Lim Images | Unsplash
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To add to the sudden shopping spree, Shopee, Lazada and other clothing apps are having sales every day! The urge to spend seems to increase whenever there’s a sale going on. Especially when there are multiple going on. No one can pass up an opportunity like this! Mostly because you know that if you miss it, you’ll never get it at that price again. Kind of a shame if you don’t buy it right?
E-WALLET
F
orgot your wallet? Don’t have time to get through the traffic for it? Worry not, with one click in e-wallet that limited edition YEEZY sneakers will still be yours. What is e-wallet? E-wallet is an application used for transactions, basically replacing physical credit cards or cash and it is used through one’s smartphone or even computer. In order to make a transaction one’s e-wallet application has to be connected to their bank account and are protected with a password (encrypted technology) to avoid online theft/scam. E-wallet applications have been gaining popularity these past few years. But when did this system actually exist? Believe it or not, digital payment has been around for over 20 years. The Coca Cola Company was given credits for launching the world’s first digital payment ever. It started back in 1997, when the company launched new vending machines in Helsinki, Finland. The company allowed their customer to purchase the drink via text message on their cell phone. From there the evolution of E-wallet payment hit off and grew till this day.
pop culture
subscribers between them, while GrabPay claimed that two out of three Malaysians are using the service. In early 2019 alone and thanks to e-wallets, it’s been reported that almost 50% of the Malaysian population are shopping on sites such as Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora. That’s almost 16 million Malaysians! The most popular items purchased were for fashion & beauty, electronics, video games, and toys/ hobby/ sports items. Surprisingly, 2.6 times more East Malaysians were more likely to shop online compared to Peninsular Malaysians. In Sabah, earlier this year on 11th February, an online payment platform was launched called ‘Sabah Pay’. This application has the same functions as other e-wallet platforms and also it broadcasts various interesting scenes that are happening in Sabah. Simply saying, E-wallet brings heaps benefits for its users and with this technology we may achieve the revolution of Industrial 4.0.
With our lifestyle changing plus the revolution of smartphones, fast and secure transactions are highly needed, this is where e-wallet comes in handy. Not only that, with fewer items to be carried we can finally say no more to bulky wallet. In addition, the usage of e-wallet could also curb the spread of Covid-19. Convenient, efficient and secure, what more can a user could ask for. Some of the widely used payment platforms are Paypal, Touch n Go, Apple Pay, Boost and Google Pay. The increasing internet speeds and usages have resulted in more Malaysians using e-wallets regularly. Even the government has continually encouraged the use of e-wallets, giving out RM50 for users with less than RM100,000 in annual income. In 2017, Boost and Touch ‘n Go were reported to have a few million
by Khaleedah Jailani Images | Unsplash 35
M
Kedai kupi
of the month
COOKIES C R E AT I O N
ichelle proves that age is just a number when she founded her humble little business, Cookies Creation, at the age of 15. Growing up, the kitchen has always been her comfort zone. Amidst the pandemic, she found ways to spread positivity through her self-baked goods, hence the birth of Cookies Creation. Now you can get your hands on Michelle’s delectable cookies. Starting with mochi-filled ones, it comes in two different flavours – chocolate chip and matcha. They have crunchy shells that pair with the chewy mochi filling. Another remarkable flavour that she offers is the Peanut Butter Lava. It is highly recommended to have it warm to experience the flowing peanut butter filling that satisfies your palate. The flavour that keeps everyone coming back for more is the Triple Chocolate – also, the best seller. It’s a must-have for chocolate lovers. As you can tell from the name itself, the chocolate cookie is filled with gooey chocolate filling and sprinkled with chocolate chips (yum!). Michelle has some plans for new flavours this Christmas, so stay tuned! If you’re interested in getting these scrumptious cookies, be sure to place your order at least two days in advance. Images | Stephanie Lam Contacts: +60 12 8022 100 +60 12 838 2508 @cookiescreation.co
Restaurant Review
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fter a long day at the office, nothing quite beats meeting a few good friends or close colleagues to unwind from the pressures of the workplace. In Japan, it’s very much a tradition where entire herds of local salarymen (and women) flock to their favourite Izakaya after office hours, for a well-deserved beverage and a bite to eat. Located at Peak Vista, Izakaya Ebizou recently opened its doors in September 2020. It is the ‘soul’ sister outlet of the Sakagura Japanese Restaurant. With their growing presence of restaurants around Kota Kinabalu, Izakaya’s owner Akira Nagata decided to bring yet another piece of his Japanese culture to our shores. It offers delicious food and a unique Japanese Izakaya dining experience. Traditionally, Izakayas are a type of Japanese bar in which a variety of small, dishes and snacks are served to accompany alcoholic drinks. It is not too different from Spanish tapas bars or English taverns experience.
by Devyne Koh Image | Vance Tan
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izakaya ebizou: EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY
It was another rainy day when we arrived Ikazaya Ebizou and as we entered the premise, we were greeted by the typical Japanese expression by Akira and his team. The space is casual yet cozy with simple wooden furnishing, Japanese painting and picture of a typical Izakaya adorned on the walls. After catching up on the current events with Akira, he pointed out to us what will be served to us. So first, it was the Oden which is one of Japan’s soul-food repertoire. It came in a steaming-hot bowl, comfortingly filled with wafu soup, big chunks of daikon, hard-boiled egg, fried tofu and fish cake. The key to an oden dish’s success is its broth; here the wafu soup which is made from a combination of shoyu sauce, dashi, kelp, sake and the likes. The soup is dark, broth-y and chock full with flavours of umami. Customers can choose what they want in their bowl of oden from the menu, served as a warm and wholesome dish that works well for rainy days. If you’re looking for something familiar, Izakaya also offers rice bowls in the menu. Their Salmon Rice bowl is simple served with a generous amount of sliced and cubed salmon, Tamagoyaki egg and dollop of wasabi and accompanied by a small bowl of shoyu sauce. The salmon is fresh and the Tamagoyaki egg is cooked perfectly, tasting a little sweet but surprisingly refreshing.
The Yakitori is akin to our Malaysia satay is a popular type of Japanese food consisting of skewered meat cooked typically over a charcoal grill, where “yaki” means to grill and “tori” is bird. Usually made to order and cooked over charcoal, made from bite sized pieces of meat from all different parts of the chicken, such as the thighs, skin, liver and other innards. Yakitori is often flavoured with salt or a soy sauce-based sauce. Chef Don prepared several skewers of us to taste and I must say, the flavours are unpretentious — good old pub grub with lots of smoky and savoury aroma from perfectly flamed skewers. We had the liver, chicken buttocks, enoki mushroom and cherry tomatoes wrapped in pork belly slices, salted pork belly, chicken thigh pieces. For adventurous foodies, you can venture exotic parts and a slew of uncommon options like liver, gizzard, chicken skin or buttocks. Hailing from Papar, Chef Don has been learning the craft of Japanese cuisine with Akira for the over 5-years. He now leads the team at Izakaya’s kitchen in preparing all the appetizing dishes. His next dish plated to us was the shredded fried chicken karaage tossed in garlic ponzu. Another simple but unassuming dish that blew our minds particularly the garlic ponzu combination. Some parts of the chicken was crunchy and tender at the same time. This small plate of fried chicken is an ideal salty, sour garlicky accompaniment with an ice cold beer or with a highball. We dubbed thee the ‘sharing is not caring’ dish. Another favourite was the Tonkatsu Pork Cutlet, coated in flaky panko breadcrumbs then deep-fried. It was served with a bit of hot yellow mustard and thick tonkatsu sauce that has a sweet and tangy flavour. Akira demonstrated to us how to grind the toasted sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle and then mixed into the sauce for extra flavour. Along with the dish was shredded raw cabbage, cherry tomato and a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the cabbage and the crispy tonkatsu. The clean flavour of the cabbage and lemon juice provides a cool contrast to the richness of the juicy pork. Crispy outside and moist inside, and smothered with a thick sweet-salty sauce, tonkatsu is a good dish to introduce anyone to Japanese cuisine. Akira introduced to us to several new beverages that most KKians might not be quite familiar with, they are the Highball, Ryokucha Hi and Lemon Sour. The Highball is essentially an alcoholic beverage usually whisky mixed with soda with a simple garnish like a citrus peel or lemon slice. They are light and refreshing and are the ideal accompaniment for meals; and comes in normal or mega size. While the Lemon Sour and Ryokucha Hi are a soju cocktail mixed with lemon and soda; and green tea.
Izakaya Ebizou may be new, but they know what they are doing and they do it well, leveraging from Akira and his teams’ years of experience in Japanese culinary. The prices are rather affordable based on the value and quality the restaurant provides. Definitely an assurance Japanophiles are going to love.
oden
TONKATSU PORK CUTLET
SALMON RICE BOWL Pickled Chinese Cabbage
YAKITORI
TORIAEZU
HIGH BALL, RYOKUCHA HI & LEMON SOUR
ADDRESS: S6, The Peak Vista, Lorong Puncak 1, Tanjung Lipat, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah BUSINESS HOURS: 11.30am-3.00pm (Last Order 2.30pm) | 5.30pm-9.00pm (Last Order 9:30pm) (Closed on Tuesdays) CONTACT: 017-837 5558 SERVE PORK FB | Izakaya Ebizou IG | @izakayaebizou
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