Breeze #165 - The Print Reading Issue

Flash

MISS MERDEKA PRESS CONFERENCE 2022

Kota Kinabalu, 7 August 2022 - The Miss Merdeka 2022 press conference was held today at Sutera Harbour. Miss Merdeka 2022 was organized in conjunction with Malaysia's Independence Day to promote patriotism and togetherness among Malaysians. Organized by Empower Myself Sdn. Bhd, the pageant is participated by contestants from Sabah and Sarawak. It also acts as a platform to develop participants' talents and abilities for them to be inspiring future leaders. The press conference was attended by 31 contestants. Representatives of main sponsors were also present. This includes founder of Soh Beaute Suzy Van Der Leij & husband Carl Van Der Leij, Jacquelyn Jamin of Sumandak Gorgeous, co-founder of Int3Tree Elton Linsayan, and Maya Lady of Classique By Maya. The grand final of Miss Merdeka 2022 will commence on 10 September 2022 at Tun Ahmad Raffae Auditorium, Yayasan Sabah. For more information, go to Facebook: Miss Merdeka 2022.

SABAH AUTO WORLD IS BACK

Kota Kinabalu, 13 August 2022 - Sabah Auto World is back for you to discover the latest offers and find your dream car. The 3 day event happened at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall and showcased exciting new automotives from brands like Volkswagen, Mazda, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Proton. President of Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) Richard Lim was present to handover certificates of appreciation to participating vendors. He hopes Sabah Auto World continues to happen in the future. He is also excited to have Sabah Auto World to be part of the Automotive Pavilion in the upcoming Sabah International Expo (SIE) 2023 next year. The Automotive Pavilion will also feature various car accessories and spare parts. For more information, contact Benjamin (012-827 3939) or Roland (017-801 3939).

OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF BAJAUSAMA CULTURE CENTRE

Tuaran, 21 August 2022 - The Bajau Sama Cultural Centre was officially launched today. YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Bin Haji Noor, Chief Minister of Sabah and also President of Rumpun Bajau Sama Sabah Association was present to officiate the launch. The launching was filled with captivating traditional dance and singing performances, and also the grand final of Ratu Sarimpak 2022. There were also booths featuring Bajau culture, and a food bazaar. The centre is now open to locals and tourists. Currently it features attractions like horse riding, herb farm, traditional Bajau houses, and history gallery. In the near future, more attractions will be added. Find out more at www.facebook.com/pusatkebudayaanrumpunbajausamasabah.

WSG GROUP JOINS INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY EXHIBITION (IPEX) 2022

Kota Kinabalu, 28 August 2022 - WSG GROUP has officially participated in the upcoming International Property Exhibition (IPEX) 2022. This was confirmed during a handover of the IPEX 2022 poster as a token of appreciation by ImpactZone Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Benjamin Lo to WSG Group Managing Director, Datuk Susan Wong. WSG Group is currently working on exciting ongoing projects such as Parklane City 2 storey shoplot & Parklane Villa terrace house at Benoni, Papar and The Palm Condominium at Kinarut. Find out more at www.wsggroup.com.my. IPEX 2022 is organized by Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) Sabah Chapter, in collaboration with ImpactZone Sdn Bhd. It is one of Sabah's biggest and eagerly anticipated events of the built environment. The event will be a diverse mix of exhibitors and a convention for innovations, trends and highlights of the properties sectors, building materials, electrical appliances and home products. IPEX 2022 will take place on 21st until 23rd October 2022, at the SICC. For further details, contact PAM Sabah Chapter (088-232524) or Impact Zone Sdn Bhd (012-827 3939).

report

kota kinaballu international film festival (kkiff) is back!

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he KKIFF 2022 starts on 11 September (Sunday) with one day of masterclasses with Carolyn Jones and Izzy Chan, documentary filmmakers from the United States. These masterclasses start at 9.00am at the Sutera Harbour Marina Theatre (Level 1) – they are free and open to everyone. After the masterclasses finish at 3.00pm, there will be a free screening of Izzy Chan’s documentary The Big Flip at 7.30pm, followed by Q&A. This event is sponsored by the US Embassy and the American Film Showcase and will take place at the Marina Theatre (Level 1).

The CINEBALU Screenings – cinema programme is from 1724 September at City Cineplex, City Mall at 8.00pm each night. Four Sabah-made films will be featured. These are the world première of Sight of Borneo Kirin (Sunday, 18 September, 8.00pm), Silence of the 177 (Monday, 19 September, 8.00pm), Craze Below the Wind (Saturday, 24 September, 8.00pm) and The Rise of Lion (CINEBALU Screenings – online programme, 17-25 September). Come to the screenings at City Cineplex to meet the directors and actors/crew and listen to them talk about their films.

Tickets are available now online and you will also be able to buy tickets at the cinema. Check out the KKIFF website - cinebalu. kkiff.com - for the deals you can get with online ticket purchases – for example, buy two and get one ticket free for the same show.

Besides local movies, KKIFF 2022 will of course feature international movies as well from Germany, France, Spain and New Zealand – a mix of comedies and documentaries. On Wednesday, 21 September, there will be Variety Night, with 8 short films from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Philippines and Indonesia. These include a true story about a beauty queen who becomes the leader of a guerrilla army in the

Philippines, and the back story to an infamous Pontianak! You can read about the films and see the trailers in the festival guide on the KKIFF website.

Meanwhile, the CINEBALU Screenings – online programme will be available from 17-25 September. Information about how to subscribe is available on the KKIFF website. There are more than 20 shorts and feature films from Sarawak, Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Sabah, Taiwan, Argentina and Australia, including shorts from the Mini Film Festival and the nominations for the Cine10 Filmmakers’ Competition. Again, all the information about the films is in the festival guide on the KKIFF website.

The highlight of the KKIFF 2022 is the Cine10 Filmmakers’ Competition Awards Night on Sunday, 25 September, 7.30pm, Marina Theatre (Level 1). Golden Kinabalu Awards will be given to the winners of each category in the competition: Documentary, Indigenous Language and Narrative and the three winning short films will be screened during the evening. This event is free and open to everyone.

The KKIFF 2022 is the 13th edition of this Sabah-based festival. This year it is being supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, the Sabah Tourism Board and Yayasan Sime Darby.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to: cinebalu.kkiff. com or contact Rendall 016 8497160. Special arrangements are available for groups.

Image | Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival

feature

"7 majestic steps" to improve your life?

The motivation of the book is to share his 7 “step-ups” for others to have the tools to achieve success for themselves and the betterment of Sabah as a whole. The sharing of the messages in this book can be used in 7 different categories of life differing on their depth and intensity, namely;

1. Children within the primary education level

2. Secondary school level students

3. Undergraduates from diploma levels to masters level

4. Young aspiring executives

5. Competitive professionals climbing the corporate ladder to the top

6. Family relationships

7. Maintaining credibility and steadfastness for senior citizens

The book is meant to develop aspiring executives in the private sector, civil servants, NGO leaders and even politicians and is meant to help up-and-coming leaders reach their potential at whatever stage they are in and to not have regrets in whatever they do. It is a roadmap, so to speak, for anyone who is aspiring to be the leader of their pack.

• Don’t sabotage yourself & stunt your career growth

• Failure for yourself is also failure for your department to reach its objectives

• Loss as a leader as well as development for future leaders

This month’s feature is about a book recently penned by our Personality of the Month. Datuk Ir. Haji Amrullah is a professional Civil Engineer with a PEPC (Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate) and a retired civil servant who has put his 35 years of experience working in the Government into a concise and easy to read book. It is meant for people of all ages interested in improving themselves to see successful results in anything that you do. He wanted to find a way to share his years of experience in learning techniques, theories and strategies with others.

The book is titled “YOU Too Can Excel Through The 7 Majestic Step-ups”. The book was penned to document Amrullah’s journey of the past 35 years working as a civil servant in the Sabah Government. Although it only took 9 months to complete this book, it was put together from years and years of notes on learning and self-discovery in his real-life work experience. The most surprising thing that he discovered was that all the content was already in his head and his partnership with Dr. Victor Tan, helped him co-write his thoughts and put them into a book.

Amrullah felt that challenges should be welcomed. They make you think and make you learn and look for solutions. Sometimes you may not find what you are looking for but, in the process, discover something new. He pointed out that the world develops at different paces and we should we should aspire to be like more developed countries and work towards being one.

Our interview with Amrullah was eye opening for those unfamiliar in how things are done within the Sabah Government and his book documents (from his point of view) success stories in the development of Sabah that most of the general population is unaware of. He utilizes the 7 “step-ups” in everything that he does. He practices them from his work life to home life and it has managed to give him leaps and bounds in making things successful & excellent.

He believes that the start of everything is to improve one’s communication skills. Start with these five steps; 1) enlighten people, 2) engage people, 3) encourage people, 4) empower people, and finally 5) execute the plan.

Once you have started the communication process, you must have the “guts” to put things into action. Start by 1) building up your knowledge and skill on the matter, 2) prepare yourself in advance, 3) face your fears, 4) choose positive results (stay away from the negatives), and finally 5) just do it!

Amrullah biggest challenge was putting this book together in the heat of a pandemic. Luckily the internet and other digital media facilitated making things easier. Amrullah credits his success to his parents and the teachings of Anthony Robbins. Reading is so important to him and he feels that it is important for input in individuals planning and action. His style of reading is not taking a book from cover to cover but reading passages of chapters independently as the need presents itself. “Read what you can and what your need”.

He defined success as “creating leaders. When someone discovers their capabilities, that is true success. Develop people.”

The added bonus that he experiences is that as he guides people to step up and achieve success, he too develops and improves himself. He finds himself happier and more fulfilled in his life. His closing message to our readers this month was a recap of his

7 majestic steps ups through his concise and straight forward statements;

1. Develop a vision

2. Have the guts to do what is right

3. Improve your communication skills

4. Have a hunger for success & be performance driven

5. Undertake massive action

6. Follow through until you are successful

7. Build your powerful team and keep them motivated

His book not only gives detailed examples of how he has used the 7 majestic step ups in his working career but the book is filled with numerous well-known leaders and personalities in Sabah commending Amrullah on publishing this book and proving the efficacy of his 7 majestic steps in achieving his goals that have had an immense positive effect on the people of Sabah.

Contact us online or directly to our office to purchase an autographed copy of the book by Datuk Ir. Haji Amrullah. Copies are limited and available on first come, first serve basis.

by TEMBADAU Image | ChrisRyann Media

city cineplex september 2022 movies

3000 YEARS OF LONGING

Release Date: 1 September 2022

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance Director: George Miller

Cast: Tilda Swinton, Idris Elba

A lonely scholar, on a trip to Istanbul, discovers a Djinn who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom.

THE INVITATION

Release Date: 15 September 2022

Genre: Horror, Thriller Director: Jessica M. Thompson Cast: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty

A young woman is courted and swept off her feet, only to realize a gothic conspiracy is afoot.

NOPE

Release Date: 15 September 2022

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi Director: Jordan Peele

Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun

The residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.

SMILE

Release Date: 29 September 2022

Genre: Horror

Director: Parker Finn Cast: Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner

After a traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

Release Date: 29 September 2022

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Director: Olivia Newman

Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson

A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man she was once involved with.

SEE HOW THEY RUN

Release Date: 29 September 2022

Genre: Comedy, Mystery Director: Tom George Cast: Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody

In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered.

music

omar musa - oh child of mine

B: How does it feel discovering your Sabahan roots?

O: It's often joyous, celebratory, empowering, freeing but it's also confusing, where I feel like an imposter or a fraud. It's conflicting. Trying to reconnect with your bloodline and heritage, it's never just one thing, there’s good and bad, I try to celebrate that fluidity and the paradox of nature of rediscovering your heritage.

B: What inspires you to write? Is it the same inspiration for both music and poetry?

O: It used to be feelings of fury, anger, braggadocios that I would impart in my rap while my poetry would be my quiet, internal thoughts. Now I try to melt the borders between the two, more like an intuition and feeling. What inspires me to write? Normally something of emotional depth or an intellectual risk I want to pursue, like maybe a conundrum I want to figure out through words.

Omar was in Kota Kinabalu earlier this year as part of his current world tour. Find out more about Omar and his tour at www.omarmusa.com.au

Omar bin Musa is a Malaysian-Australian author, poet, rapper and visual artist from Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. His blood ties with Sabah is with his grandparents who are still here today! Home is where the heart is. Hence his many trips back.

Omar recently dropped a new poetry book, “Killernova” and also launched a new video clip for his single “Oh Child of Mine”.

Let’s get to know Omar rapid fire style:

B: Poetry and rap, how did that happen?

O: I come from a creative family. Being an only child, my parents have always encouraged my love of words growing up. Words were a beautiful way I could express myself. It helped change my low feelings into something beautiful. My father always spoke about poetry in Malaysia and even Indonesia as something best performed. Him and his friends would always, berbalas pantun, something back then that was a part of everyday life. I was always searching for something like that when I was growing up in Australia, I couldn’t find it until I discovered the likes of Ice Cube, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Wu Tang Clan. It spoke to me as a form of poetry for the young generation I was part of.

by Chris Pereira Image | Chris Pereira

THE 1975 - I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU

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he 1975 has released ‘I’m In Love With You’ - the third track from their highly anticipated forthcoming new album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’.

‘I’m In Love With You’ follows recent releases ‘Happiness’ and ‘Part Of The Band’, the band’s acclaimed comeback single which Pitchfork praised as “the kind of grand, playful pop song that only this band could pull off”.

All three tracks will be feature on ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, the band’s fifth studio album. The album is available to pre-order now at the1975.com

The 1975 made their long awaited live comeback last month, headlining Japan’s biggest rock festival Summer Sonic 2022 in Tokyo and Osaka before returning for two triumphant homecoming headline slots at Reading & Leeds Festival. The band will hit the road again in November and December for the North American leg of their ‘At Their Very Best’ tour.

Formed in Manchester in 2002, The 1975 have established themselves as one of the defining bands of their generation with their distinctive aesthetic, ardent fanbase and unique sonic approach.

The band’s previous album, 2020’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’, became their fourth consecutive No. 1 album in the UK, landing at No. 1 in Australia too. The band were named NME’s ‘Band of the Decade’ in 2020 after being crowned ‘Best Group’

at the BRIT Awards in both 2017 & 2019. Their third studio album, ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’, also won ‘Mastercard British Album of the Year’ at the 2019 ceremony.

More about them at the1975.com

Image | Samuel Bradley

tech

No more paper with the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

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ou might not know it but eReaders are still the rage among avid readers. If you still doubt it, the fact that Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite device is now in its 11th generation is clear proof that people still prefer reading on dedicated eReaders instead of their smartphones. The question is, why? Well, taking a closer look at the 11th-gen Kindle Paperwhite might just give you the answer.

The new Paperwhite sports a 6.8inch E-Ink Carta 1200 display. It’s 20% more responsive and enables smoother animations. The new screen also supports an adjustable warm light for a more comfortable reading experience at night or in dark situations. It also mimics paper better, with a 300ppi (pixel per inch) antiglare display. You won’t have to worry about reading under the bright sun any longer.

With a flush front design, the Paperwhite is purpose-built for reading. This allows for a better and more comfortable grip when holding the device. Its battery will also last up to 10 weeks with a single charge via USB Type-C. So that means no more using multiple, proprietary, or even outdated chargers with your devices. Apart from that, the device is waterproof as well, giving you the ability to read your favourite books while enjoying a warm bath or a relaxing day by the pool or sea. The bluetooth capabilities also allow you to go hands-free when you pair it with your bluetooth headphone or speaker, and an Audible subscription.

Pick between a choice of the 8gb or 36gb storage to store loads of e-books, comics, magazines, and audiobooks. Besides the storage, you also have a choice of choosing if you prefer ads or without ads in your Kindle experience. Choosing the latter will free you from those pesky ads at the sacrifice of a higher price.

So why is an eReader still relevant today? Well, isn’t it obvious? The simplicity of a device that does one thing almost perfectly is the beauty of the eReader. Yes, you can read from your smartphone or tablet, which can do so much more for more or less the price of the Kindle. However, you won’t be bothered by those pesky notifications when using an eReader. The temptation of scrolling through social media will also be reduced with a dedicated device as well.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash

automotive

FM by Falida brings the Tesla to Sabah

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t has always been difficult to even imagine a Tesla driving around Kota Kinabalu, let alone have it become the norm of seeing one. Well, it isn’t as difficult now as the first few Teslas have landed in Sabah recently. Brought to you by FM by Falida (FM), the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are just the start as they prepare to bring more electric vehicles (EV) into Sabah.

FM is planning to further improve the EV landscape in Sabah not by just bringing in EVs but also improving the infrastructure to make this plan work. They are providing charging stations at their showrooms for EV owners to use. These charging stations can charge a car’s battery to full in just under an hour. If you’re opting to charge at home, FM is also providing the option to install lower voltage chargers in your property. Understandably, these do take longer, more or less 8 hours because of the lower voltage.

Apart from that, FM has also mentioned about the bright future of EVs in Peninsular Malaysia, as TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad) have allocated a big amount of funds to establish more charging stations. Sabah may as well follow suit with the growing popularity of EVs grazing our roads these days. Maintenance would also be an issue that would be solved through the 3S Centre that’s set up by FM to ensure easier access for EV users to service their cars.

PEKEMA (Persatuan Pengimport dan Peniaga Kenderaan Melayu) Malaysia encourages more of its members, such as FM, to import EVs into Malaysia. They truly believe EVs are the future of the Malaysian automotive industry. It’s certainly a huge step in the effort of environmental preservation. For PEKEMA, EVs provide more options for consumers. Speaking of which, they are also looking into more affordable and trusted brands to

import into Malaysia. As many of us know, the more well known EV brands on our roads aren’t the most affordable cars out there. That’s why bringing in affordable options can entice more buyers to switch to EVs in the future.

So, going back to my statement in the beginning, it was difficult to imagine EVs being the norm in Kota Kinabalu. However, we can’t deny the fact that EVs are actually the future, and FM by Falida is taking us one step forward to that future.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Noel Jinguli

destination

ANIMAL SHOW AT LOK KAWI WILDLIFE PARK IS BACK!

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aving a python draped around your shoulders, learning about civets and letting a colourful Macaw parrot fly around while you sit and enjoy the snippets of information given out by a friendly guide.

These are some of the fun-stuff one gets to experience apart from looking at the animals at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park now that its animal show has returned. This animal show had ceased operations for about six months due to contractual issues, and it is now back with more educational activities lined up.

Sabah Wildlife Department Director Augustine Tuuga said the animal show, which is available daily except Friday, for two sessions - 11.15am and 3.15pm, would now focus more on educational programmes, volunteerism and enrichment programmes.

“Visitors can not only interact more with our chosen wildlife, they will learn about the behaviour and natural habitat of the animals as well,” he said.

He added that students and visitors can also opt to join in volunteer activities such as making enrichment toys and furniture for the animals, feeding and so on. Tuuga stated the purpose is to educate, create awareness and let visitors learn while having fun. He explained that the animal show had to be put on hold the past six months or so as the Singapore based company which ran the show since 2008 did not wish to renew their contract.

“So we had to stop the shows. The animal show is among our main attractions for visitors at the park,” he said. Tuuga said fortunately, the Singapore-based company’s former staff, who are locals, have been well trained in doing their job for years. “So they got together and set up their own company - Borneo Behavior Solutions - to run the animal show in the park now,” he said.

This is also a positive and wonderful development for local talents, now that they are their own bosses and they run their own show. Tuuga said the programmes conducted at the wildlife park are subject to strict audits from relevant bodies including NGOs like Wild Welfare to ensure that the management and activities conducted with captive animals were correct and humane.

Wild Welfare is an international NGO that challenges practices that compromise animal welfare, improve captive animal welfare in substandard facilities and works with leading zoos, academic and animal welfare organisations among other purposes.

For more information, contact 088-765793.

Image

Wildlife

eco news

HILTON KOTA KINABALU HOSTS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EVENT IN KIULU WITH PAGEANT FINALISTS

Kota Kinabalu, 25 August 2022 – Hosted by Hilton Kota Kinabalu as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, pageant finalists embarked on a meaningful day trip to Kiulu where they connected with the locals and engaged in eco-tourism activities.

Bringing to the fore Hilton's Travel with Purpose commitment, the program granted all twenty-four beauty pageant finalists a chance to connect with the local community as they beautified homestays, upgraded footpaths, and planted trees at Kampung Mantob.

The pageant finalists were also given the opportunity to experience the scenic wonders of Kiulu by water rafting down the Kiulu River. Furthermore, the MUKEST community in Kiulu also prepared engaging cultural programs followed by a traditional lunch by the river at Kiulu Farmstay.

Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai hoped that the contestants learned something meaningful during their visit and spread the word about Kiulu’s natural beauty.

"I hope by coming here, the pageant contestants will gain a better appreciation for the Kiulu people and their cooperative efforts to improve the economy and village through tourism," he said.

Also present were Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Sabah Tourism Board deputy chief executive officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit and Hilton Hotel general manager Andrew Nisbet.

The contestants are in Kota Kinabalu to compete for the titles of Miss World Malaysia, Miss Grand Malaysia, and Miss Supranational Malaysia – a three-in-one mega beauty pageant, The Hyperlive Festival Malaysia, held in Sabah for the first time.

For more information, please call Hilton Kota Kinabalu at +608 8356 000 or email kotakinabalu_events@hilton.com

Image | Breeze Mag and Borneo Eco Tours

personality

DATUK IR. HAJI AMRULLAH KAMAL: civil servant to civil guru

This month’s personality is a local gentleman who built his career in the Government sector and upon his recent retirement penned a book which has been both published in English and Bahasa Malaysia. The man of the month for this issue of Breeze is Datuk Ir. Haji Amrullah Kamal.

Datuk Ir. HajiAmrullah Kamal

mrullah was born in Tawau and did most of his primary education at St. Patrick school in Tawau until moving to Kota Kinabalu during his secondary school time attending Sabah College. After that he earned his tertiary education in London (1978) with an advanced Level at Central London College and David Games Tutor College thereby attaining his BSc Degree in Civil Engineering in 1983 at Queen Mary of London University and over the years has continued to develop himself with training programs, university studies; including attaining his MBA at Edith Cowans University in Perth Australia and attending motivational talks with such renowned speakers like Anthony Robbins which he managed to participate in person not once or twice but thrice. First in Kuala Lumpur with his immediate Boss, Datuk Anjin Ajik, then a year after that in Singapore with his wife, Fanny and finally ten years later in Singapore again with his son, Ahmad Fauzan.

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Amrullah’s early years developed his character through his participation in various martial arts which instilled discipline in him. Being in the Boy Scouts taught him leadership, networking, survival skills and independence. His parents gave him a good sense of morality and humility. His devotion to Islam also strengthens his desire to serve mankind and God.

Amrullah’s career highlights while working for the State Government include obtaining federal funding for developing our rural roads and while in DBKK and Tawau Municipal Council aided with the modernization of both those local councils. As the Director General of DBKK he brought back Sabah buskers from all over Malaysia to entertain the tourists and locals alike along Gaya Street/Api-Api Night Market. As the President of Tawau council he upgraded the Sunday market by boldly moving the Takada Sunday Market to the more spacious Sabindo Sunday Market within the 1st 15 days of taking office, something that 3 previous Tawau Presidents had difficulty implementing and also introduced 2 weekly night markets at Chester Street/Chester Circus.

Since retirement from the Civil Service, Amrullah is still active in Engineering through his consultant firm. He also keeps himself busy learning from the digital world and how it can help us here in Sabah. Believe it or not, he is actually working on his second book (wow!). Being retired from the Civil Service doesn’t mean it’s a hindrance to develop Sabah with his “7 Majestic Steps…” as all he believes is essential is to get partnerships from the various leaders in the respective departments to work with him.

He is truly a friendly and personable individual but considers himself to be rather firm when it comes to work. His children all exude the same level of confidence he portrays as he has inculcated his life experiences and success into their daily upbringing. He believes his positive outlook on life guides him to never give up and anything that doesn’t end in immediate success is just “delayed success” for a later date.

His interests and passions include music, guiding the children in the Tawau orphanage and his friendships in Rotary. He is currently reading a book titled “The Unfinished Business” by Yeo Bee Yin to learn about the Malaysian carbon credits issue and his favorite books are those by Anthony Robbins. With his busy schedule, he enjoys catching up on his sleep on his days off when he is not playing golf, playing tennis or road biking with his friends to stay fit. To feel instantly better he reminisces and recalls the moments of celebration on the good things he has accomplished in life like attaining his degree and Masters, his wedding, birthdays, winning golf competitions, which in his own words “can turn depression into joy in a heartbeat”.

He lives by the following philosophy of: sharing whatever little bit of knowledge a person has to others and the tenets that guide him on making use of the 5 aspects of life before the other 5 come for you. (as advocated by the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him)

1. Use your free time before you get too busy

2. Utilize your youth before you get too old

3. Benefit from your health before you get sick

4. Utilize your wealth (including your faculties) before you get too ill/poor

5. Maximize your life before death comes

His religious teachings also taught him to practice the ideology by Sayyidina Ali that “Today must be better than yesterday but tomorrow should be better than today”.

His advice to aspiring executives especially the younger generations is to “Read his book on the Majestic 7 Steps” (while chuckling to this answer) so that they can be successful in whatever they choose to do.

He feels we should all open our eyes and ears when attending conferences or seminars whether locally or internationally and “look for something that you can bring back for Sabah”. It is essential for one to have a vision and to implement it.

Ministry of Community Development and People's Welfare

Early childhood education is very important in the growing phase of children. The Sabah state government, through the Ministry of Community Development and People's Welfare have established Child Development Centres (PPKK) which are supervised by the Sabah General Welfare Services Department in an effort to ensure that children receive early education before entering primary school.

PPKKs are built in areas that do not have access to education involving preschools, kindergartens, and nurseries so that children in those areas do not drop out of early education.

As of 2022, there are 34 PPKKs throughout Sabah. The first PPKK was built in 1995 in Kampung Koniung Darat, Matunggong Kudat. PPKKs are included in the Sabah Maju Jaya Roadmap which aims to build two PPKKs every year.

Among the children's activities at PPKK is learning to read, write and count, and are taught by trained village community members.

Hopefully, this initiative can help the development of the state in producing good quality and prosperous human capital.

fitness standards? strive to be better

With the rise in popularity of fitness influencers on social media, more and more attention has been drawn to the realm of health and fitness. Unfortunately, this has also seemed to have distorted the general population’s perception of what aesthetic results can be achieved naturally and sustainably. Beauty standards such as having six pack abs and thigh gaps have become synonymous with a person being classified as “fit”. Today we will talk about some truths about being lean and why it may not be something you need to strive for.

The harsh reality is that the general audience just getting into fitness may not seem to understand what it really takes to have chiselled abs year-round like the fitness models we see on Instagram. In order to achieve low body fat percentages, you need to be in a caloric deficit (a topic covered on previous issues). That means eating less calories than your body requires to sustain your current body composition, and that may mean cutting down or even giving up your favourite desserts and snacks, being diligent with doing cardio, and ultimately staying consistent with the plan. If you are currently healthy and happy with your current body composition, you do not necessarily need to do all this if being shredded does not add any more value to your life.

The level of effort required by an individual to sustain a certain body fat percentage varies from person to person due to your lifestyle and genetic makeup. For example, someone with a smaller appetite and a job that requires a lot of moving around will have a much easier time getting and staying lean than someone with a larger appetite and sedentary lifestyle. Everyone’s body has a Metabolic Set Point, which basically means a certain body fat percentage that their body is naturally comfortable maintaining.

Being under too large of a deficit for too long may also bring side effects such as bad recovery, lacklustre performance in the gym (and other areas), hormone imbalance, lethargy and so on. For those actively participating in sports, there may also be an increased chance of injury to go along with the performance deficits. Like it or not, our body performs and functions best when calories are consumed at a maintenance or surplus level. This is due to having an abundance of energy reserves from the sufficient caloric intake. When fed with enough nutrients, your body recovers more productively and workouts build more muscle and strength. So, contrary to popular belief, trying to be “six pack lean” year-round may be counter-productive in making long term progress!

In conclusion, being shredded may not come as easy to you as it would for someone else. You do not need to have six pack abs to be healthy and having six pack abs may not necessarily mean you’re healthy either. Keep in mind that all (and we do mean “all”) the pictures chosen for these pages are carefully curated, with models undergoing physical preparation such as dehydrating themselves to look extra lean, as well as hours of practice put into posing in the right lighting to achieve these perfect representations.

Don’t suffer just to conform to society’s standards, strive to be better than you were yesterday! Personal Training, Nutrition Coaching and Group Classes Available now at Hustle Fitness! Reach us through Instagram or Facebook to book a slot!

by Joshua Tsen Image | Unsplash

Back in school days when reading was a dreaded activity to the majority, many would fall asleep to a certain extent when reading. Our education system has always revolved around reading and textbooks are essential all the way up to university. But how much of us really do enjoy reading? Well, as much as we don’t find interest within textbooks, the wide array of fictional and non-fictional books are endless.

As writers create fictional characters and creative fantasy stories, great movies such as the Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings were all visualised through books! We also have non-fictional biographies and self-help books which I personally enjoy as we mature. Reading has various great benefits to personal growth and wellness; here’s some of them to encourage you to pick up a book to start reading.

TRANQUILITY & STRESS RELIEF

Don’t you sometimes feel like just getting away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life? But it’s not always costeffective to plan a trip to get some time in solitude. Especially with the current digital era, where social media and technology are frequently a distraction and a reason to be busy. Reading a book allows you to gain similar tranquility of a short getaway to catch a breather. What’s more interesting is that people suffering from high blood pressure or anxiety can find peace in reading too!

Reading books can help you escape your world and experience the fictional adventures of the characters. Opening up the imagination, allows one to get away from stress and problems and get some rest through the mind. At the same time, reading self-help books for example, allow those with depression to better understand themselves and their symptoms and the issues they are facing. A lot of times, books will allow readers to feel

Peace through Reading

WELLNESS

understood and sometimes find the answers they seek through reading. These self-help books are actually highly recommended by doctors and experts.

IMPROVES ANALYTICAL SKILLS & EXPANDS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS

The brain is constantly trying to sort and organise information and reading simply makes it better at it. While following the story’s plot or imagining the possible ending, you indirectly train yourself to organise, sort, manage, conceptualise, visualise and manage information. Research and data analysis to fill in the book gaps enable the reader to have the empirical ability of analysis at all times. Not only is it beneficial for your brain to read various fictional books, but it’s also fun!

This helps you improve your thought process, allowing you to better understand real-life concepts and make it easier for you to form your own opinions about things.

In conclusion, reading can improve your life in many ways, and the reading benefits are undeniable. Among the most powerful weapons you can ever have in the world is knowledge gained from a book, as it gives you a chance to explore the different possibilities in the world and be inspired in the process, while you’re at it - a pen holds similar power for writers too!

Guess what? Pictorial and Manga are books too ya know?

So, sit back and relax and read a book.

by Geraldine Yong Image | Unsplash

DENTAL

Not the Gum you Expected

The teeth in our mouths are very important, that’s why we put a lot of effort in taking care of them. However, there’s another part of our mouths that’s equally as important as our teeth. I’m talking about our gums that help keep our teeth in place. Together with Dr. Sylvia of Phi Dental, let’s discuss our gums and how to take care of them in the long run.

Our gums, also known as gingiva, are the tissues of the upper and lower jaw that surround the base of our teeth. It forms a tight seal around the teeth to keep them in place and help provide a barrier against bacteria. So, when our gums get damaged, our teeth will easily be knocked out and are susceptible to infection. That’s why it’s equally as important to take care of our gums.

But what kind of issues can damage our gums and how do we maintain them?

Well, periodontitis, or gum disease, is a serious gum infection that can and will damage the soft tissues. Without treatment, it can destroy the bone that supports the teeth, leading to loose teeth and tooth loss. It’s a very common problem among oral health issues but largely preventable. Apart from that, older adults will also encounter receding gum issues. This happens when the tissue pulls away from the tooth, exposing the base, or root, of the teeth. This can cause inflammation and decay as it’s easier for the bacteria to build up. A lifetime of brushing too hard can also cause our gums to recede.

If you’re wondering, how can you tell if your gums are healthy or not, you can sometimes tell by the colour. If it’s light to dark pink, it generally means you have healthy gums. However, if it’s red or pale, you might need to visit your dentist.

To prevent damage from happening, you should floss at least once a day, get regular dental cleaning, and brush twice a day. You can also use available over-the- counter therapeutic mouthwash to reduce plaque. However, if you’re a smoker, you should definitely consider quitting as gum disease is another thing to worry about from a long list of smoking effects.

Oral health is always an important aspect of our daily lives. That’s why Phi Dental applies the Guided Biofilm Therapy in their gum care procedure, which is a systematic, evidencebased solution for dental biofilm management in professional prevention using state of the art AIRFLOW® and PIEZON® technologies to achieve the highest standards of comfort in gum care treatment.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash

NOT ENOUGH BONE THICKNESS

FOR IMPLANT?

Phi Dental helps regenerate the bone for implant

What is cataract?

A cataract is when your eye's natural lens becomes cloudy. A cataract begins when proteins in the eye form clumps that prevent the lens from sending clear images to the retina. It develops slowly and eventually interferes with your vision. Cataracts are common in older people. Over half of people in Malaysia have either cataracts or have had undergone cataract surgery by the time they are 80 years old.

REFRACTIVE CATARACT SURGERY

MONOFOCAL standard IOLs only allow a patient's vision to focus at a single fixed distance. Thus, patients receiving monofocal IOLs often requires spectacles post-operatively to improve their near and

lenses are designed to enhance intermediate vision while providing distance vision comparable with a monofocal IOL. Because this lens is designed to keep the benefits of a monofocal IOL and to add intermediate vision, the lens gives you that monofocaltype sharpness of vision with about one more line of near vision than a standard monofocal on average. The benefit is that many patients can get great distance vision and yet still see their cell phone at arm's length. There are no optical disturbances

What is the treatment for cataract?

Cataract can only be removed by surgery. Cataract surgery is a common, safe, and effective procedure. It is usually done as a day procedure and overnight stay in the hospital is not necessary.

Make an appointment with our eye specialists for professional advice for cataract surgery.

Eyemedics Specialist Eye Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

aim to provide unaided intermediate vision, with some near vision with only a mild compromise to distance vision. The patient may still have the dysphotopsia that you would expect from a multifocal IOL (glare, halo and starburst), but the incidence and severity will be to a lesser degree. The trade-off is that patients will likely need glasses for reading smaller

for those who hope to eliminate or reduce the need for reading glasses can consider multifocal lens implants which can give varying levels of distance, intermediate and near vision implants can be implanted to eliminate the need for

FROM

PER EYE

Terms and Conditions

Monofocal

RANTS & RAVES

Physical VS Digital Books

Books have been around for a long time and have evolved throughout the years. From the type of ink and paper used, to how they were printed and distributed, we humans have evolved the book to what it is today with our ingenuity. Books have further evolved these days into a digital phase. This is good news, but there are still those who prefer reading books physically. Why? Well, let’s talk about it.

Digital books are books that require a device for you to read them. Devices include a computer, your smartphone, or an e-book reader. This is both a pro and a con for digital books. Even though you usually have your phone with you, you still need to worry about the battery life and charging. If you’re thinking of using an e-book reader, well, these devices tend to cost a lot for what they do. However, they are convenient as you can store and bring hundreds of books with you in a small device. You won’t need to worry about weight and space to store a physical book to bring with you.

Physical books on the other hand have something special when you read them. Some people will say they love the smell of a book’s pages while others love the feeling of touching and holding them. These senses actually help enhance the experience of reading a book, providing a nostalgic experience. However, these books, if not taken care of wisely, will deteriorate over time. Another thing to keep in mind is the impact of books towards the environment. One of the main items used to make books is paper and ink. Paper is made from trees and the ink can be toxic when not properly handled.

Personally, I don’t mind reading either way. Although, I do have a preference towards a physical book. It’s just refreshing to give the screen a rest after staring at it the whole day. Though, I love the convenience of having any book at the tip of my fingers in my smartphone. I guess what I’m saying here is, no matter what you prefer, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. What matters is you enjoy doing what you do.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash

Signature Series

Raisin

Our best selling Signature series comes with Ezy-tin tie ensuring your bread is always clean and fresh.

POP CULTURE

the lord of the rings

Think of any fantasy game, book, or movie. It’s most likely that it’s been influenced by a series of books and stories published more than 60 years ago. Yes, what we know about the fantasy genre today is all thanks to a certain J. R. R. Tolkien and his literary work of The Lord of the Rings (TLTR).

Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings is actually a sequel to his 1937 children’s book, “The Hobbit”. The title refers to the antagonist, Sauron, who created the One Ring in his campaign to rule Middle-earth. It follows the quest to destroy the One Ring through the perspectives of the hobbits; Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin.

The TLTR books were divided into three volumes, with two books per volume. The volumes were titled “The Fellowship of the Ring”, “The Two Towers”, and “The Return of the King”. They were published in July 1954, November 1954, and October 1955 respectively. Although garnered with mixed reception earlier in its publication, the TLTR books went on to sell more than 150 million copies worldwide.

Peter Jackson successfully adapted the books into a live action movie trilogy which saw the release of the movies based on the volumes of Tolkien’s work in 2001, 2002, and 2003 respectively. All three movies won multiple Academy Awards.

However, Tolkien’s work not only influenced the big screens but also in small TV screens as well. The video game The Legend of Zelda has influences from TLTR based on the types of beings

and characters portrayed. Other fantasy based media such as Dungeons & Dragons, Dragon Quest, Warcraft, and The Elder Scrolls series all have their inspiration and influences from the The Lord of The Rings books.

Today, anything that is reminiscent of Tolkien’s work can be simply categorised as “Tolkienesque”, which is an official entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. The movies have also conjured many memes from memorable scenes such as Gandalf’s “You shall not pass” and Gollum’s “My precious” phrases. Amazon has also recently acquired the rights to produce a television series based on TLTR called The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.

Whether there is too much success or criticism in Tolkien’s work and those based or inspired by The Lord of The Rings, it’s undeniable that most fantasy works today don't have a hint of influence from the books. It’s truly amazing how one man's ability was able to change and influence a whole genre until this day.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash

Sp BeefMeatb a l l

CLASSIC CARROT WALNUT CAKEFood

METHOD

by Beverly Chow www.quicktakesorder.blogspot.com Image | Beverly Chow

INGREDIENTS

inches cake mould/loaf mould

Bake 45 min

2 cups of shredded carrot

200gram unsalted butter

4 large eggs

4 cups self raising flour

1 tsp of cinnamon powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

1.5 cup sugar

1 cups walnut

Kedai kupi of the month

Prepare before baking

• Pre-heat oven, grease mould and cover with grease paper

In a mixing bowl

1. Mix butter & sugar until fluffy

Add eggs beat until all combined

3. Add flour mix until combined & lastly add carrots & walnut

Bake for 45 minute

omewhere in Kota Kinabalu is Botak Sweets, a home-based baking business founded by Azri Aidi Adus. He is a self learned baker who previously worked in an oil gas company. The transition was in a way something he wanted since it has always been his dream to work in a f&b industry. Being a "one man show” really give him a chance to learn & overall views in this business. It is challenging but so far he is enjoying it.

Botak Sweets has entered its 3rd year in the business and has gained a lot popularity and of course sales. It hit big time especially with popular items such as devil food cake and vanilla choux (pastries series).

Generally Botak Sweets is more known for its cakes and is capable to do custom-made ones as well. but they also have menu items such as french tarts, choux pastries, pavlova and their newest release is matcha beverages.

Botak Sweets is busy every week producing 7-9 cakes and other menu items per week. The latest to order their menu items is 4 days (preferably 7 days) in advance. At this moment, deliveries are only for within Kota Kinabalu.

Azri is currently working on Botak Sweets to have at least their own pop-up stall by next year.

restaurant review

5th Avenue Bistro & Cafe

5th Avenue Bistro & Cafe, located in the Damai area, has been a local favourite. When you think about a hearty soup of salmon fish head noodle, you know they are one of the best serving it as their signature dish in Kota Kinabalu.

The outlet has 2 floors. Bistro and Pub on the lower ground focuses on serving Western food and late night drinks. They operate from 12pm all the way to 12am, the venue can accommodate an average of 60 pax each, perfect for events and parties. While the upper floor is the cafe that serves chinese cuisine with western options is available as well and that holds up to 100 pax. VIP Rooms are available that fit 10-15 pax, upon reservation. There are 2 rooms available according to the pax range.

It is a family regular spot for dining with a massive selection of comfort food from a head cook with 30 years experience in chinese food.

Served on their monthly special were 3 hot & cold combinations and Fish Maw Crabmeat Soup which is a personal favourite. Hot & Cold combination has always been a highly anticipated dish because not only do you get to sample different tastes, the aesthetic display and showcase of food enlightens your excitement to eat too! The fact that the Hot & Cold dish was not your common frozen fishcake was already a thumbs up for me! I enjoyed the fu chuk wrapped rolls very much.

The table’s favourite would have definitely been the Nam Yee Pork Belly. Crunchy and well flavoured; the pork belly was nice bite-size pieces that go well with warm fluffy rice. Second on the list would have been their Butter Cheese Prawn, which I believe says it all. On its own with a flavourful butter and cheese evenly coated on the prawns. So delicious, you will clean the plate of the sauce down to the shells!

Another signature highlight would be their Braised Hakka Yam Pork Belly! A table favourite as well! This dish itself undergoes a lot of prep work and is a regular sight only on big occasions like Chinese New Year, this is among those that brings back family

gathering feels and gives you a touch of home which is also perfect for family group dine-ins! The yam was nicely done; moist and soft yet flavourfully paired with the pork belly. The portion size was quite generous and fed at least 10 pax. Definitely something to opt for, to get your fix for braised yam pork cravings.

Although known for its chinese cuisine, the outlet caters to western tastebuds as well! And serves a decent range of wine for those who prefer to opt for grilled items and pizzas, while you have a family that are also keen with a rice bowl or noodle preferences.

From Mixed Grilled Platters, including a variety of grilled chicken, lamb, and pork belly with a side of greens is perfect for that chill and unwind session with the gang over an icy cold beer. Nothing can go wrong with grilled meat; nicely marinated and charred, served with a barbecue sauce for that extra flavour - the meat was already great on its own. Something different would have been their Fried Pork Trotter, we usually associate the trotter with stew or a braised method of cooking; but fried with batter? Interesting. The trotter was still fairly moist and had a crunchy texture to the skin, with melting fats in every bite. Think Fish & Chip; but replace the fish with pork trotter!

Being in Sabah, it wouldn’t be Malaysian if there was no fusion menu, right?

The team at 5th Avenue also serves up a very local fusion of Tuhau Pizza! A heavy boost of wild ginger as a pizza topping over cheese, the pizza is jammed packed with the Tuhau flavour in every bite! However, it might only be suitable for the adventurous eaters, or a great option for Tuhau fans. As for the regular folks, their Seafood Pizza and Pulled Pork Pizza which are more of a common favourite. My personal favourite would be Pulled Pork Pizza, as it has a sweeter hint to the taste with pineapples and mint sauce as part of the toppings.

They also offer family sets that cater to 3-4 pax at an affordable price of RM98, with 4-5 menu items. Currently on-going offer is their Mid-Autumn package that comes with snow skin mooncake for that perfect family reunion gathering.

Pre-order now and book your tables in advance to avoid any disappointments.

by Geraldine Yong

Fried Pork Trotter

Seafood Pizza

Braised Hakka Yam Pork Belly Mixed Grilled Platters

Tuhau Pizza Pulled Pork Pizza

Nam Yee Pork Belly Butter Cheese Prawn

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