Campus Plus Magazine March 2016 by Campus Plus Magazine

111 MARCH 2016 FREE AT ALL CAMPUSES

Skolafund A Shot at Education LADIES WHO LUNCH

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F E M A L E M ’ S I A N FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R S

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J A PA N T R AV E L D I A R I E S

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M A K N YA H S O F M A L AY S I A

march2016

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

feature

SHEDDING LIGHT ON CHILD MARRIAGE IN MALAYSIA

Shocking statistics indicate child marriage in Malaysia is on the rise. How is this even possible?

Unplugged

4 DUDES, 1 CHICK AND PLENTY OF AMOUR!

Meet the jovial and fun college band who will be releasing their five-track EP this year. What a great achievement!

career chat

A CHILDHOOD DREAM CONCEPTUALISED

Read all about Johnson Ting, the man who creates characters in video games. For Ting, his job is really his passion and hobby.

beauty buzz

THINGS EVERY BEAUTY YOUTUBER SHOULD KNOW

Meet Farisha Nadia, our very own beauty guru who will take you through the dos and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ts of becoming a beauty expert on You Tube.

CAMPUS PLUS

COVER STORY

SKOLAFUND, A SHOT AT EDUCATION

An inspiring story on how four passionate undergraduates are making education affordable for all. Read about how they started and helped so many students crowdfund their education.

Advertorial

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bacteria. This ensures you feel fresh and odourfree throughout the day. By the way, the Safety Long & Wide liner is another addition to the range with 16.5cm length and a wider center cushion for better security and maximum coverage. You can choose between its Non-perfume and Sakura perfume options. If you feel you need a more powerful absorbency panty liner, this is what you have been waiting for. It locks heavy discharge for those who needs extra protection and at the same time keeps you dry during light flow days.

march2016

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

REGULARS

wanderlust

Konnichiwa Japan

Read all about Rachel’s short, yet exciting vacation to Japan.

News ............................................. 08 Music............................................. 22

wired up

Movies....................................... ... 25

PLUG INTO THE FUTURE OF TECH

Beauty Case.................................. 39

Where all the latest gadgets reside.

Guys’ Stuff.................................... 44

Fashion Buzz................................ 46

chow down

LADIES WHO LUNCH

Off the Shelf................................. 49

Rengee and Rehna, the ladies who meet the demands of hungry people in PJ and KL by delivering fresh, gourmet food for lunch.

Weird Wacky World ..................... 50 Arts and Culture .......................... 58

22 4

CAMPUS PLUS

Campus Talk ................................. 62

SIGHTS & INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITOR

takenote

march 2016

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL

THE TEAM Mac Sivanesan

Publisher

MAC@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Editorial Director

Subashini Nair

Writers

Rachel Fong Eusoff Andrei

eusoff@campusplus.com.my

Contributors

Farisha Nadia Rebeqah Abraham

General

Editorial

CREATIVE

NEWSDESK@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Art Director

Suzanne Chuah

Senior Graphic Designer

Lam Jian Wei

Junior Graphic Designer

Ahmad Faidhi

Visual & DI

Kamil Haziq

CORPORATE

ZANNE@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

jw@campusplus.com.my

FAIDHI@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

HAZIQ@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Corporate Communications

Nancy P

Events Managers

Jeyasekhar M

Haziq Hilman

All around the world, International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. At Campus Plus, we truly believe in that. Read all about women and their contributions peppered across the magazine.

SUBA@campusplus.com.my

rachel@campusplus.com.my

Follow us on: <Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/campusplus> <Twitter: http:// twitter.com/campusplustweet > <Instagram: http://instagram.com/campusplus> <www.campusplus.com.my>

nancy@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Check out page 28 for an inspirational story on Skolafund, a company set up by a group of young entrepreneurs who believe no one should be deprived of an education. Read all about how Skolafund raise funds for underprivileged higher learning students. You may just know someone who needs Skolafund. Knowledge should not come with a price tag. Everyone deserves an education and it is probably the main source of hope for the future. We believe that the availability of free college education can boost an economy and at the same time help erase social inequality. If that doesn’t inspire you, then read all about Johnson Ting, the man who plays video games for a living. How cool is that? We have all heard of the saying by Confucius “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Well, Ting definitely lives by this saying. Also check out our interview with Resh, formerly known as Reshmonu on page 22. The man has re-invented himself after all these years.

a b u S

jeya@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

HILMAN@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Biz Development Manager

Eva Lee

Biz Development Executives

Derrick Wong

eva@CAMPUSPLUS.com.My

Derrick.wong@CAMPUSPLUS .com.My

Jonathan Tan

Advertorial

SPONSORS

Jonathan.tan@CAMPUSPLUS .com.My

For sponsorships, please send proposals to events@campusplus.com.my

Photographer

: Kamil Haziq

Assistant

: Jeyasekhar

Location

: ZAWARA COFFEE

Published by: Campus Media Resources Sdn Bhd (810574-K) D2-02-01, Blk D2, Pusat Perdagangan Dana 1, Jalan PJU 1A/46, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E.

All The

Curveseand Spac s

Behind The Scene : Nadhirah Rafidz

RightAll The Right

Honda understands what it takes to be a college student. From their interpretation of a student’s various needs, Honda has created a pair breed that is spacious, practical and yet unbelievably stylish. They present students with a choice of affordable quality. Quality, college students can only hope for in their very first car.

Talent In our modern era, everything can be controlled by just a touch of

The Jazz; ‘Sporty’, ‘spacious’, ‘versatile’. This car allows the designated driver to take their passengers on rides to the streets without feeling cramped. Worry no more of holiday luggages or sizeable projects, the Jazz has ample space for heavy loads by flipping its ULTRA seats to 4 different modes!

Setia Alam

Honda City; ’Aerodynamically contoured’, ‘stylish’, ‘practical’. The City’s design is perfect for the city student, pairing the aesthetic beauty of the urban life with the practicality of a sedan. Flash the angular beauty of the exterior and take pride in the latest interior features (and it’s spacious too!)

a finger. So can the City! The car features a 7-inch touch Display Audio with a simple yet sleek layout. When you’re driving for class in the morning, skip the hassle of knobs and buttons. Everything is just a touch away. You will also find an extra set of air conditioning, specially for the nagging backseat passengers. With these added features, the City is a quality car that offers value for money. Don’t

: Eusoff Andrei

Rebeqah Dominic Abraham

forget it’s fuel efficient too!

Tel: +603-78426688 Fax: +603-78426689

Nur Amira Nazeha Abd Aziz

E-mail: mail@campusplus.com.my

Sheena Stephanie Sebastian

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© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from Campus Media Resources Sdn Bhd. The publisher has made every effort to ensure that the contents of this material is accurate at the time of printing, and therefore will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Opinions and advice expressed by advertisers and contributors in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editors, staff and the publisher.

campusnews

THE LATEST FROM YOUR CAMPUS

march 2016

INTI Celebrates 30th Anniversary with INTIpreneur INTI International University & College celebrated 30 years of providing quality education with a bang when they launched INTIpreneur 2016. An initiative that answers to the entrepreneurship trend, it molds students’ critical thinking skills to make them innovators who will make an impact on society. In the competition, students will be guided by their mentors, who are all key industry leaders with the ability to help them develop their business acumen, entrepreneurial and soft skills. The competition was launched with the presence of heavyweights such as Google Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and New Emerging Markets managing director Sajith Sivanadan and INTI chairman and co-founder Tan Yew Sing.

Curtin’s ‘Aussie Sausage Sizzle’ More than 370 staff and students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia celebrated Australia Day on 26 January with their ‘3rd Aussie Sausage Sizzle’. In his opening speech, Chief Operating Officer Kingsley Francis Charles said that the event was an opportunity to celebrate 60 years of Australia-Malaysia relations this year as well as Curtin Sarawak’s connection with Curtin University – one of Australia’s leading universities. Australia Day is celebrated annually on 26 January to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from the Great Britain and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.

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campusnews

THE LATEST FROM YOUR CAMPUS

march 2016

MQA CEO Congratulates UCSI Standouts UCSI University’s annual Award & Scholarship Presentation Ceremony this year was graced by none other than the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) CEO, Prof Dato’ Dr Rujhan Mustafa. While he was there, he shared his insights on education with 926 students who were present. Among other things, he encouraged them to have vision and foresight when it came to their education, saying: “Do not dwell on short-term glory but plan for long term brilliance.” All in all, over RM18 million was given out in the form of various awards, scholarships and bursaries.

sm mV ing and uty tive

UTAR Launches Volunteerism V UTAR’s second and third year public relations undergraduates relived their forerunners’ volunteerism spirit and legacy with the grand opening ceremony of the PR Campaign 2015/2016: Volunteerism V at the UTAR Kampar Campus. This year’s campaign constitutes five groups with each championing a sub-theme – ‘Depression (D)’, ‘Recycle (R)’, ‘Technology Escapism (E)’, ‘Animal Protection (A)’ and ‘Malaysian Culture (M)’ – collectively known as ‘D.R.E.A.M’. International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Dato’ Lee Chee Leong was present for the opening ceremony. This is the fifth consecutive year this campaign is being held.

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KDU Student Breaks New Ground in Journalism One of KDU University College’s final year students in Bachelor of Communication has made waves among peers and in the world of journalism for his outstanding contributions to the field, despite not having officially graduated yet. Chris Lau Chun Wan’s achievements appeared on the radar of public consciousness when his name was featured in social news site SAYS.com’s list of “11 Young Malaysians You Should Definitely Watch Out For in 2016”. To do justice to his accomplishments, one must start from the beginning. His path to glory began when he embarked on a seven month long backpacking trip around the world from 2012 to early 2013, which came about as a means for him to find himself and discover where his passion lies. On the first leg of his trip, he traversed the borders of Afghanistan, where he spent two months. When one expects tight security and harsh living conditions, Chris experienced warmth and hospitality from the natives who took him in as a guest. He was moved by how human they were in spite of the wars they had witnessed and been subjected to. “What happened was that the people had mistaken me for a journalist when in fact I was just a backpacker,” he said, reflecting on his time there. “I was totally taken aback when they talked to me and pleaded with me to get their stories out on how severe their situation has become and how desperately they needed humanitarian aid.” After that, all Chris could think about was how he could help them, and that was the moment when a lightbulb went off in his head. “I love to travel and I can write, thus I decided to pursue journalism. It was a way for me to do what I love and help people get their stories heard,” he added. Following that, he was driven to pursue his Bachelor of Communication at said university, where he could learn the basics of writing and carve out those essential first steps. Of course, a fire that burns so bright could never be doused easily and Chris’s journalistic spirit was fuelled by doing some actual journalism on the side. He contributed as a freelancer for Guang Ming Daily and other web news portals while pursuing his degree, while still making time to travel the world to sniff out new stories.

Inspired by his fateful trip to Afghanistan, Chris now frequents conflict zones, where he can put his journalistic skills to good use. He often makes his way there with NGOs who are on humanitarian missions, but has also been known to travel alone. One of his more recent expeditions was in Syria, where he worked closely with Malaysian Life Line for Syria, a local NGO. “I’ve joined their mission twice since my backpacking trip, I went back to Afghanistan on my own twice as well as several other conflict zones such as Iran, Lebanon and Egypt.” he said. Naturally, when asked about what lies ahead for him in terms of his career, he stated that he has set his sights on covering conflict zones full time, adding that he harbours dreams of becoming a war correspondent for renowned news agencies such as Al Jazeera, BBC and the likes.

MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

lifestylenews

THE LATEST FOR YOUR WORLD

MARCH 2016

An Apple a Day Keeps Doctor Away As an effort to usher in a healthier 2016, the Washington Apple Commission (WAC) joined hands with Fitness First to launch its “Go healthy nutrition & fitness lifestyle campaign” dubbed “Apples Everyday, Fitter Every Way! 2016”. Fruits and fitness took the spotlight as fellow media and bloggers were treated to a half-day of apples and fitness galore outside Fitness First at Paradigm Mall. The event kicked off with an energetic performance by Fitness First instructors, paving the way for moments of interactive and educational fun activities on apples and fitness. Renowned Brazilian Coach of EPS Football Club, Erika Peres also poured in her fair share of insights about nutrition and fitness facts during the campaign. The highlight of the event is none other than the Instagram contest and interactive game sessions that took place later during the event. Indeed, all had an “applelicious” time and took home with them complimentary sacks of Washington apples from WAC.

Malaysia’s First Hello Kitty Run Come 6 March, beloved pop icon Hello Kitty will be all over the streets of KL starting from Perdana Botanical Gardens as the first ever ‘Fruity Rush’-themed family fun run comes to Malaysia. In keeping with Malaysia’s tropical country status, the run will have four different checkpoints, each with a unique fruity scent, which are Mango, Durian, Strawberry and Lemon. Aside from the run, families get the chance to have even more fun with carnival game zones, photobooths and a fruity craft corner. Registration is now open to public, with admission fees of RM150 per participant. Each participant will receive a T-Shirt, race ID tag, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag and plush ball chain. 12

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lifestylenews

THE LATEST FOR YOUR WORLD

MARCH 2016

The Freedom to Be Live House Since its opening in December last year at TREC KL, Live House held its launch party to celebrate its grand outlet with exciting performances. Hosted by funny man Andrew Netto, the event kicked off with an enthralling performance by the band Hydra. Main Room @ Live House presented one of the hottest international ensemble live bands around – Elevate – who filled the atmosphere with energy, enthusiasm and excitement. Live House is also the host to the biggest comedy club in South East Asia – LOL @ Live House – which is brought together by the pioneers of standup comedy events in Malaysia – LOL events. With the new Killer Gourmet Burgers (KGB), Live House completes the triple combo of sensational live music, gut-busting comedy and a great food outlet all under one roof.

Logitech – Simplifying Connectivity Logitech country manager KP Sim, launched a range of Bluetooth products namely Logitech K380, K480, M337 and Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 Plus at the elegant ‘The Ming Room’ restaurant in Bangsar recently in conjunction with their Chinese New Year luncheon with members of the media. While the K380 and the K480 were created as part of Logitech’s ‘Be Free’ campaign, the K400 Plus was created as part of their ‘Save the Couch Potato’ campaign. “The living room is a place where we come to relax, entertain and connect with friends and families,” said KP Sim. “The Logitech Wireless Keyboard K400 Plus makes it easy to connect your PC to the TV and search for Internet content.”

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Logitech Country Manager

KP Sim showing off the

Logitech K480 keyboard

Flash 2 – Lazada’s December 2015 Sales Chart Topper The Flash team held a media briefing to share the roadmap for what is in store for the Flash 2 – a mobile phone that has the camera, features, looks, and perfect-in-hand feel that is making it increasingly popular. Launched late last year, the Flash 2 topped Lazada’s December 2015 sales chart as the most popular smartphone in Southeast Asia and became the champion in the USD100 to USD150 price range. Flash E-commerce Operations Director, Mr. Yogi Babria, shared four new developments concerning the Flash 2 including new battery cover colours, a camera lens cap for macro and fish eye photography, an Android Marshmallow 6.0 update, and increasing availability of the model – including offline.

Asus Zensation Launch Asus launched the ZenFone Zoom – the world’s thinnest 3x optical-zoom smartphone with Hoya lens in an innovative 10-element lens arrangement for exceptional clarity and close-ups with up to 12x total magnification – as well as several other Zen-sational devices such as the ZenBook Pro UX501, the Zen AiO Pro, ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition and the ZenWatch 2 at the ASUS Zensation Media Launch. The launch took place at the glitzy Ruyi & Lyn Restaurant & Lounge in the Bangsar Shopping Centre with an appearance by Professional Photographer Peter Tan, a testament to the capabilities of the new ZenFone Zoom.

MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

feature by eusoff andrei

Child Marriage

MARCH 2016

Shedding Light on

Child Marriage in Malaysia W

hile many of us may think that child marriage is something which is only common among rural and indigenous communities in the middle-eastern countries, you will be shocked to know the rate at which this happens here in Malaysia. Before we go on, let’s define child marriage: “A formal marriage or informal union before age 18” – UNICEF. Suffice to say, the minimum age of marriage is not uniform in Malaysia where non-Muslims can only get married in the eyes of the law upon reaching the age of 18 whereas, Muslim girls can get married when they turn 16 under the Syariah law. An interesting point to note is that they can get legally married at an even younger age with consent from their parents and the Syariah court. Now let’s take a look at child

marriage statistics in Malaysia since the start of the new millennia. Proceed with caution, what you are about to read may shock you. The 2000 Population and Housing Census revealed that Selangor and Sabah recorded the highest and the second highest numbers respectively with 6,800 girls under the age of 15 married nationwide. In fact, statistics from 2000 to 2010 were already indicating an increasing trend of child marriage practice in Malaysia. By 2010, it had risen to approximately 16,000 girls according to the Deputy Minister for Women, Family and Community Development. More than 1,100 applications for marriage were filed in 2012 in which one party, usually the bride, is younger than the legal marrying age. Out of these, the Syariah Courts approved 1,022

– an increase from 2011 with approximately 900 marriages approved in which at least one Muslim minor was involved. Experts at the Asia Pacific conference on Child Neglect and Abuse in Kuala Lumpur in 2015 affirm that child marriage in Malaysia is not a small issue, citing a UN population fund report which states that more than 15,000 children in the country were married below the age of 18 despite Malaysia’s relatively good education system and low poverty rate. This, however is more of a mentality issue rather than religion. Consider this, while the National Fatwa Council published a fatwa in 2014 declaring that child marriage is NOT obligatory and that it is NOT a healthy practice, there seems to be a worrying trend among Malaysians to marry off child rape victims to the perpetrator or to other men deemed suitable by the parents. “Between 2011 and 2015, an average of 1,029 Muslim girls were reportedly married annually. For non-Muslims, the

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) provides temporary shelter, social work and counselling services for domestic violence survivors and advocates for women’s human rights. You can call their counselling line at 03 7956 3488 or SMS TINA to 018 988 8058 if you National Registration Department or someone you know is experiencing abuse. recorded a total of 2,104 cases Together, we change lives. of girls between 16 and 18 getting married between 2011 and September 2015. These numbers indicate that child marriage is still widely practised in Malaysia. “Parents are marrying off their young in their right to education. A worrying daughters once they have been discovered to trend leading to an imbalance of power in be sexually active, even marrying them off to the marriage which will result in domestic their rapists,” said Women’s Aid Organisation violence and economical dependency. (WAO) Advocacy Officer (Communications), Having said that, there are options Kristine Yap. In a developing country, this is for those who find themselves caught something that cannot be swept under the in such situations. Advocacy and public carpet and must be looked into. Aside from education based organisation WAO, provides the social, economic and biological effects shelter, individual case management and marriage can have on a child who isn’t counselling services for women in crisis, physically and mentally ready, it can also including victim-survivors of domestic lead to social isolation and act as obstacles violence and women who are pregnant and

do not get support from their partners, family or community. “Both urban and rural communities need to be educated on the dangers of child marriage. Parents must realise that marrying girls off at a young age is not in the child’s best interest. Comprehensive sex education needs to be implemented at schools as it teaches young people to respect their own bodies and of others. “The Islamic Family Law Act 1984 needs to be reformed so that there is no loophole for girls under the age of majority (i.e. 18) to marry. Additionally, the “Special Marriage License” for non-Muslim girls who are between the ages of 16 and 18 to be married needs to be abolished,” shared Kristine. MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

unplugged by eusoff andrei and rebeqah abraham

Amoura

March 2016

4 dudes, 1 chick and plenty of Amour!

ovial and friendly, college band Amoura will be releasing their self-titled five-track EP this year. Having been around in the Malaysian independent music scene since April 2014 performing at places such as The Bee, Laundry Bar and Merdekarya, bassist Wesley Wong, lead guitarist/ backup vocalist Adrian Lim, drummer Jo-Vi Pan and rhythmic guitarist Maskurnia Sayuti is no stranger to the music scene. “It all started in high school when I met Adrian and Jo-Vi. We started like a garage band where we just jammed in Jo-Vi’s house every week. We’d perform at some shows in schools and some small events. Then when I started university, I met Mas and our singer Carolyn and that’s how we formed Amoura,” shared band frontman Wesley. The band draws musical inspiration from Paramore and One OK Rock. “Our band’s name developed from the French word Amour as we love music and we have a passion for music but it didn’t strike us as a band name so we gave it a little twist,” Wesley added. “Our upcoming EP sounds more raw and alternative. Amoura started as a punk rock band, but funk-ish. This EP will bring a more raw and alternative sound and it will set what we are going to sound like. Sort of like our introduction,” continued Mas. Unfortunately, lead singer Carolyn Park, a South Korean was unable to join us for the interview as she was back in her home country pursuing an internship at a production house. She was previously with a record label back home for five years since she was 16 years old. However, for the rest of the band members, it’s all about passion and chasing the dream. “Being a 90’s kid and coming from an era of bands like Simple Plan and MCR, you can’t help but get influenced by them. I started playing piano first but then I didn’t like it so I stopped and picked up drums when I was 12 and the rest is history,” shared Jo-Vi. As for Adrian, playing guitar at the age of 10, gave him the first boost in music. ”When I was 13, I took classes because I wanted to go

a bit further. Eventually, I had to stop because my tutor moved away and I continued learning myself through YouTube video tutorials,” he added. As one checks out their performances online, one begins to wonder why they wouldn’t go straight to producing a full-length album. While finance is one of the major reasons, Wesley also cited that all songs in the EP gave out different vibe and feel. “If we release an album, it would feel like it’s all jumbled up. You won’t get the theme and the feel of an album. In this EP, the sound is different from most of our other songs. Maybe we’ll keep the other songs for a full album release.” “Silver Rain and Follow Your Heart has a different mood. The four songs including Niga Guripta gives a different vibe and feel,” he added. “It took a lot of collective effort and that’s just an EP. Imagine an album. All of us play live but when you go inside the studio and you lay down the tracks for the EP, it’s totally different. You get to learn a lot of new things and luckily we have a very good producer – Seiko Sawaki from Studio Hive. Having recorded the EP, we’ve expanded a lot as a band. The band’s first single, ‘Niga Guripta’, translates to ‘I Miss You’ in Korean and was written as a way for Carolyn to express her homesickness with lyrics on missing home, family and wanting to be close with them. For Amoura, the creative process is a collective one, as one person takes the lead

“Choose your bandmates wisely. If you want to bring your best friend in, be ready to make sacrifices. Don’t let your friend in over pity. A lot of people lose friends over bands,” added Wesley.

and the rest of the band follows. In their case, Adrian comes up with a rhythm or lead and Jo-Vi will figure out a way to structure the song, followed by the vocalist writing the lyrics. Despite how far they’ve come, their humble and down-to-earth attitude is evident when asked about their message to fans. “I don’t think we have any fans yet, it’s all friends. If you’re out there, please do support us and come to our shows,” said Jo-Vi. On a lighter note, the male band members share what it’s like balancing time between the band and their girlfriends. “I’m not looking for anyone now or anytime soon. White chicks though, hmmmm, Scandinavian chicks, Russian, Czech…” trailed off Wesley, who will be completing the final year of his undergraduate studies in the UK. It’s always Wesley and Jo-Vi taking pictures with the fans while Adrian and I will be wondering what to eat for lunch,” said Mas, who recently got into a relationship with a classmate who is also a musician. “I have a girlfriend but she’s an independent girl and she has her own stuff to do as well,” added Jo-Vi, who has been together with his girlfriend for six years. “Man, I have a lot to say! No matter what I have to prioritise, practise first,” chirped in Adrian, who checks his schedule regularly to ensure his commitment to the band and his girlfriend don’t clash. To new bands, Wesley’s advice, “Choose your bandmates wisely. If you want to bring your best friend in, be ready to make sacrifices. Don’t let your friend in over pity. A lot of people lose friends over bands.” “For upcoming bands especially, believe in the music that you write because if you don’t believe in what you do, nobody else will. Just do your thing. What matters is the initiative taken, the effort put in, and the love for what you do,” Mas continued.

careerchat by rachel fong

johnson ting, concept artist

MARCH 2016

A Childhood Dream,

Conceptualised

People play video games all the time, just like you and I. Yet, how many of us get to say we’ve actually created the characters in said video game? Johnson Ting, graduate of The One Academy in Illustration, is one such person. He is the result of what happens when you find a passion and work tirelessly at perfecting it, regardless of time or circumstance. We spoke to him about how he’s gotten to where he is now. C+: What is Project Triforce about, and what do you do with them? Johnson Ting: Project Triforce is a company in New York which specialises in creating replicas and collectibles for major video game titles, such as Mass Effect, Gears of War, Halo and Tomb Raider. We produce high quality collectibles such as statues that go as tall as one or two feet and design the statues that go with the collectors’ editions for video games too. My job is to produce and design the concepts, which will then be applied to the making of the statues. Half the time, I also do concept art for games. Right now we’re focusing on doing reproduction and replicas for video games. Now, we’re slowly going into (doing) films and we are working on a few but I can’t say what the titles are yet, only that they are by Warner Brothers! C+: How did you know that digital art was the path you wanted to pursue? JT: I wouldn’t say it was specifically digital art. When I got into The One Academy, all I wanted to do was draw. I knew I wanted a career where I could draw. I also love playing video games a lot and have since a young age when I got a computer in 1997, so I also knew I wanted to do something that was related to 46

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gaming. One thing I can remember was that when I saw the creatures within the game, I just wanted to design the creatures for those games. Then, I got my first Wacom tablet in Form 5, and that was when I first tried digital painting. After I got into The One Academy, I was provided with courses on how to paint digitally and traditionally. When I graduated, I realised it was a must to know digital art if you wanted to work in the industry, which is something that my university had also prepped us on so we would know what to expect once we stepped into the industry. I worked a few years for a digital company to hone my skills, then I got out and have been with Project Triforce until now. C+: How did you hone your skills before coming out into the industry? JT: I came from a poor family, so I could barely afford my fees and it was a very big struggle for me. So, I worked and studied at the same time. At my busiest, I would go for classes in college, then work in 7-11 as a cashier after class. At the same time, while doing a cashier’s job, I would draw stuff for my own clients on a freelance basis. Then, I’d finish my shift and go back to continue painting. I guess that’s how I improved; I had to take on more than just homework, I had to take on a lot of industry jobs as well, which is also how I got to know how the industry is like. It’s the pressure that hones my skills. C+: What were the challenges you faced as a full-time digital artist? JT: I would say time management was my biggest issue. When you start painting professionally, it takes up a lot of time, from a few hours up to a week’s time. However, the industry is already there and has a fixed schedule on how much time an artwork needs. So, if you don’t know how the industry works and you’re an amateur artist, it would be a struggle to hand in projects on time. You can’t afford delaying the whole project just because you can’t draw fast enough. When you begin, you’re going to have to work through nights and over the weekends, and even when we are free now, we try to hone our

skills and keep on improving on our speed. After a few years, once you get used to it, you’ll get more free time to yourself. C+: Can you tell us about some of the most memorable work you’ve done so far? JT: I think one of my favourite is Mortal Kombat X. It’s the latest Mortal Kombat game for PS4, Xbox and the PC. It’s special for me because when I was younger, I remember playing it on the computer with my brother and it’s a special feeling now when you get to design the characters you once played with. One of my favourites is Jax, he’s the guy with the cyborg arm and I designed him. It’s like: oh man I used to play with this guy and now he’s the one I designed! C+: What is your ultimate dream as a digital artist? JT: It’s quite simple – I just want to continue doing what I love, which is designing and making iconic characters for games. I also plan to have a game of my own in the future, so I did a lot of research and artwork for my own intellectual property and I plan to sell it as a whole and pitch it to game companies. Apart from that, I also want to be a part of a community that shares their experiences and knowledge and be a part of the Golden Age of the game industry in Malaysia.

JAN 2015 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

music

by eusoff andrei

REF - RESH - INGLY GENUINE

MARCH 2016

RESH – New Name,

New Sound,

New Look

ention RESH (formerly known as Reshmonu), and the first thing that comes to mind is his long dreadlocks. It’s his brand and one can’t image him without it. But after 11 years, RESH finally said goodbye to his dreads, donning a new, clean look. It’s going to take some getting used to. “Dah bosanlah,” RESH said. “I’ve done everything I could do with the cornrows and the dreads. Yes, it’s my brand, but I was waiting for a relevant point in time to make the change and this was it. It’s really comfortable. “Firstly, I don’t have to wash it as often because I sweat a lot when I work out. Secondly, I don’t have to keep it on for an extensive week and a half like I used to. After 11 years, it was time to take it off,” he added. What a perfect time to reinvent and rebrand. His new looks, to complement his brand new EP, ‘Who Am I’, and a new stage name. “I didn’t want to just do a rebranding without new material to play for you,” he reiterated. On his stage name, this is what he had to say, “For those of you who may not know, I’m a Malayalee and ‘monu’ or ‘mone’ affectionately means ‘son’. I’m 39 years old. I’ll always remain the son to my mum but I think I’ve matured now so yeah, I decided to drop the ‘monu’ and go with just RESH,” he added.

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His new single, ‘Half the Man’, has been viewed around 150,000 times at press time and YouTubers expressed pleasant surprise that the song was from a Malaysian artist, as it sounded more like Jason Derulo or Ne-Yo. “I ain’t complainin’. I’m honoured. What else can I say?” quipped RESH. Musically inspired by Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Brian McKnight, Luther Vandross, Remember The Shakthi and Fusion Works by British producer Nittin Sawhney, RESH defined his new sound as heading towards the grassroots of R&B. He added that there were too many EDM tracks in the market and he believed that there is still room for R&B, just pure soul-singing R&B. His EP, ‘Who Am I’, took RESH and his team about two years, working with Producer Jim Beanz who has also produced many songs for the hit TV series ‘Empire’. “The EP took about two years from conceptualising to recording to going forth and recording the music video and restyling my image. I’m stoked and very happy that it’s out. I can’t wait for everyone to hear the other songs on the EP,” he said. As for how and why RESH ended up working with Jim, this is what he shared. “Part of the decision to take my music to the next level was a simple sit down with my management team and my lovely

wife and we decided to send out an email to some of the top producers around the world – Timbaland Productions was at the top of our list. We thought ‘Nah, they’re not going to reply.’ But funnily enough, within 24 hours, we received a reply from them to specifically work with Jim. So I started researching on him and found out that he’s shared more or less the same story as I have. He’s come out straight from the ghetto. He’s unpolished and he tried doing something no one else would do and he got signed on to Timbaland Productions at a very young age after which he worked with artistes like Nelly Furtado and Britney Spears,” RESH added. Extremely satisfied with how Jim Beanz managed to bring out the music in him, he said that he will definitely be working again with Jim in the future. RESH expressed that it was no longer about producing a 12 or 24 track albums and from a business point of view, it made sense to work on singles with an EP of six to seven songs. Working with one of the best producers in the business got even RESH, who clearly has the talent, nervous. Who could blame him? After all, he was working with a producer who’s tied up with some great artistes like Jennifer Hudson. Despite that, everything was done and dusted within three weeks.

What was your inspiration behind this EP? Change was the only constant. After 11 years being in the industry and going full cycle – two English albums to my credit, a Malay and an Indian album, basically we travelled full cycle to come back to a point of origin and then we realised, ‘Don’t tell me we’re going to do this all over again and if we are, let’s take it to a higher level.’ So that’s when the email went out to Timbaland Productions. Who ‘left and took half of’ you? It would be a miss for me to say that I’ve not been through a heartbreak. We all have. Reflecting to the days of my premarital endeavors, I felt that these words would connect with a lot of people because we all go through heartbreaks. I think it’s just the nature of this evolving life journey that we’re all taking. I knew right away that these words would connect with a lot of people. My best lyrical point in this song would be ‘when you

love someone, when you love someone, more than you love yourself, so bad for your health’. I mean, we’ve all been at that point. What is your advice to youth wanting to pursue music as a career? It’s going to be very tough. Even for me, before I got into music, I finished my Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical & Electronics and I had a Diploma in Sound Engineering. It was only after I had this as a backup plan that I pursued music. So my advice would be to do the same. Don’t just jump into it. Have some sort of a backup plan because the market and industry here is still very challenging. What’s your advice for nervous beginners? There’s always that one slight moment just before you get up on stage. I still experience it. It’s a normal thing but it’s not stage fright. It’s more like, what are the expectations of the crowd? So in that split second before I

get on stage, like for example today’s press conference, what kind of crowd would I get? Through experience, I can already gauge my crowd. In terms of stage fright, it’s always proper to have good grounding because stage fright starts from your legs so whenever you’re stuck in that position, just remember to ground your legs. Try marching. How do you handle slip ups during a performance? When you slip up, it’s about recovery. If it shows on your face that you’ve slipped up, then the audience will know but if you don’t and you carry on, it’s ok. At the end of the day, we’re human and there’s always going to be that quick moment where there’s a disconnection in your mind and it’s quite normal. Some international artistes actually have TVs on stage with their lyrics because they’re doing 16-song repertoire concerts and some of them can’t remember all their lyrics.

music

ALBUM RELEASES AND REVIEWS

MARCH 2016

REVIEWS

WILDFIRE

| Rachel Platten

Death of a Bachelor

| Panic! At the Disco

While ‘Wildfire’ isn’t Platten’s first album, it is her first full-length major label debut album. Released through Sony Music Entertainment, the album gives off an assuring and positive vibe. With its fair share of slow and fast tracks, the album does have a few catchy tunes besides hit singles ‘Fight Song’ and ‘Stand by You’. Other tracks to look out for includes ‘Speechless’, ‘Lone Ranger’, ‘Angels in Chelsea’ and ‘Superman’. Having released 2 previous albums in 2003 and 2011 respectively, it’s safe to say that this album affirms ‘Fight Song’– she’s definitely like a small boat in the ocean, sending big waves into motion.

‘Death of a Bachelor’ is Panic! At the Disco’s fifth studio album. Vocalist and multiinstrumentalist Brandon Urie, now the only member of the official line-up of this American rock band, describes the album as being his way of giving back / paying it forward to Frank Sinatra who turns 100 this year and whose music has been a major player in the soundtrack of Urie’s life. Aside from the album’s title track, other tracks to look out for include ‘Don’t Threaten Me with A Good Time’, ‘Crazy=Genius’, ‘LA Devotee’, ‘The Good, the Bad and the Dirty’ and ‘Impossible Year’.

The Blue Hour

Information | Eliot Sumner

| Federico Albanese

Starting off with aptly named ‘Nel Buio’ which translates to ‘Into the Dark’, Italian

Being the child of Sting and Trudie Styler, Sumner has pretty big shoes to fill.

composer Albanese’s ‘The Blue Hour’ is hauntingly beautiful. Released by the historical record label BERLIN CLASSICS in their new series of contemporary classical music called ‘Neue Meister’, this instrumental album is a treat to one’s musical senses, flowing seamlessly from track to track. Even if you’re not particularly into instrumental music, Albanese’s pure talent on this album is definitely worth checking out. Tracks to look out for include ‘Migrants’, ‘Silent Fall’, ‘The Boat and the Cove’, ‘The Blue Hour’ and ‘Stellify’.

Having released a previous album under the band name ‘I Blame Coco’, Information is Sumner’s first album released under her own name. The fact Sumner chooses not to identify with a particular gender. The label comes across as rather epicene. While the title track is unconventionally long at over seven minutes, it is still rather catchy and doesn’t feel it's being stretched. Other tracks to look out for include ‘Halfway to Hell’, ‘Firewood’ and ‘In Real Life’.

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THE LATEST CINEMA FLICKS

march 2016

movies PREVIEWS

PREVIEWS

ZOOLANDER 2

RACE

STARRING: BEN STILLER, OWEN WILSON, WILL FERRELL, PENÉLOPE CRUZ, KRISTEN WIIG, FRED ARMISEN

STARRING: STEPHAN JAMES, JASON SUDEIKIS, JEREMY IRONS, WILLIAM HURT, CARICE VAN HOUTEN

RELEASE: 3rd March 2016

RELEASE: 10th March 2016

The sequel to Zoolander, the film features cameo appearances by Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, and Usher. Interpol recruits Derek Zoolander and his friend Hansel McDonald to infiltrate a new and different world of high fashion when musical celebrities around the world are assassinated with Derek’s iconic “Blue Steel” look on their face.

This biographical sports-drama film follows the story of Jesse Owens, who won a record-breaking four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, as he becomes the greatest track and field athlete in history. As his quest thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy.

SISTERS

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

STARRING: TINA FEY, AMY POEHLER, MAYA RUDOLPH, JOHN LEGUIZAMO, IKE BARINHOLTZ, JOHN CENA, JAMES BROLIN, DIANNE WIEST

STARRING: BEN AFFLECK, HENRY CAVILL, AMY ADAMS, JESSE EISENBERG, DIANE LANE, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, JEREMY IRONS, HOLLY HUNTER, GAL GADOT

RELEASE: 17th March 2016

RELEASE: 25th MARCH 2016

When Maura and Kate are told by their parents that they’re selling their home, they decide to throw one last party in their childhood home. Shortly after, they find out that the house needs to be in perfect condition for the sale to go through. As expected, many things go wrong – trying to keep a house in perfect condition after a party? Pfffftt! – expect plenty of laughter throughout the movie.

The first live-action film to feature both Batman and Superman as well as the first theatrical film to feature live-action portrayals of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash, this highly anticipated movie has been keeping fans on the edge of their seats as more and more information is released over time. Essentially, as the world wrestles with what kind of hero it really needs, Lex Luthor unleashes a new threat – Doomsday.

CAMPUS PLUS |

movies by rebeqah abraham

by CHERYL TAI

UNCHARTED WILDERNESS

MARCH 2016

MOVIE REVIEW

THE REVENANT L

eonardo DiCaprio’s character, Hugh Glass, is just as relentless in coming back alive as Leonardo is for his well-deserved Oscar. We thought he had it in the bag with ‘Wolf of Wall Street’. Unfortunately, it evaded him for the fourth time. Enough is enough! It was time to play a killer role and that’s what he did in ‘The Revenant’. Glass was in love. He married a Pawnee and had a son. Tragic events took hold of the family and left the father and son to fend alone. Surviving as a member in an American hunting party, years after, the Pawnee tribe ambushed them and massacred the party, leaving a helpless few. Due to his inside knowledge of the wild lands they encounter, Glass is more valuable than he is given credit for by some of his confidants and is soon left with his life in their very hands. Betrayed by the few he managed to help save from the Pawnee’s “killing spree”, Glass finds himself dying, alone and vengeful. Drawing strength from his family, he turns to his primal instinct for the sole purpose of seeking revenge. ‘The Revenant’ is not for the weak of heart nor spirit. It is a journey of survival fuelled by revenge. This man harboured a myriad of feelings from his past and all hell broke loose when his son is murdered by his own comrade. You will witness the true nature of a hunter. His food: revenge. His sleep: despair. His staff: desperation. Everyday becomes a question of, “How will he survive today?” You feel the hopelessness, the helplessness, the anger and

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you understand the raw beauty and fear to be human in a world you do not truly own. Leonardo DiCaprio was phenomenal! His acting was unbelievably believable, relatable even. No, I have never been mauled by a grizzly bear, nor have I been swept off by a highcurrent river with no hope of surviving but that is exactly why his acting was superb. He makes you feel exactly what it is like to go through the unimaginable. I was cringing, embarrassingly so, with arms occasionally flailing to cover my eyes, just to peek through the fingers. Because as painful as it was to watch, these were all moments that were too good to be afraid to watch.

“I’m not afraid of dying. I’d done it already” Not to mention Tom Hardy as the coldblooded psychopath. If you know some who are mentally challenged, you’ll agree it was a job very well done. I walked out the theatre hating him with much gusto. So, acting talent? Check! At the end of the day, it was based on true events. Yet, it wasn’t just a copy paste production. The director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, did much more to the screenplay; He accentuated it. Who remembers that fight scene?! It could have been played out like any other generic punch-hug-fall-crawl-shoot but we’re so glad Mr. Inarritu went the extra mile. They were so raw. Stripping away the weaponry, they’re left with a small axe and a knife. It wasn’t just how they ripped at each other. It was when the drum beats began reverberating throughout the cinema and the audience was silent and the two men turned primal. I mentally applauded Alejandro G. Inarritu for his directing.

coverstory

by rachel fong

The men behind skolafund

march 2016

– A Shot at Education

While the world may seem at times harsh, and almost completely void of goodness, it is simply not true – at least not when you apply it to crowdfunding, a concept which has become increasingly popular in the last decade and relies on the generosity of the general public to make it happen. Skolafund is one such organisation that has risen up in response to this trend and stands out due to its specialisation in raising funds for underprivileged higher learning students. Here’s the story of how two university students from Singapore made education more accessible.

Origins of Skolafund

ounded in April 2015, Skolafund is the brainchild of four undergraduate students, namely Tengku Syamil, Syakir Hashim, Wildan Zulkifar and Faruq Rashid. All of them were brought together by a passion to help students like themselves finance their education. In Tengku Syamil’s case for example, his motivation was sparked when he came across a post on an unofficial Facebook page for his university, International Islamic University Malaysia, called IIUM Online. It was written by a student who was having a hard time getting funds for his education, as his parents were unable to work due to sickness. He was working part-time, but the money was insufficient and he needed to extend his course by an extra semester in order to graduate. He had already reached

out to various parties like his university and third party charitable organisations to make ends meet, but to no avail. In the post, he had enquired about ways to get funding or possible job openings that he could apply to. However, what he got instead were hundreds of responses going along the lines of: Just PM (private message) me your bank account number and I’ll transfer some cash to you. It was a heart-warming demonstration of generosity. Later on, Syamil came across a similar post on the page and the progress was largely the same, with many offering to chip in, no questions asked. From that, Syamil saw the chance to connect two groups of people: the first being smart but financially incapable students and the second being kind, willing donors. “What they needed was a platform that enabled them to get help, for their voices to be amplified and for the sponsors, an entity to verify the validity of the students and to make the whole process easier,” added Syamil. With that, Skolafund was created to become a trusted middleman between the students and their would-be donors.

Mechanics of Skolafund So you find that you’re short on funds to further your education and want to give Skolafund a shot. You can start by visiting the website (www. skolafund.com) and submitting your application there once you sign up for an account. Along with your application, a number of documents are needed to help the administrators verify your status as a student in need of financial help such as a matriculation card/university offer letter and payslips from your parents/legal guardians. These documents are crucial, as a campaign promoting your cause to the donors of Skolafund won’t begin without them, as the organisation wants to cultivate trust in their scholars. Even if you’re a non-Malaysian, the possibility of launching a campaign is open to you. Once the campaigns are launched, they go by an all-or-nothing policy, which means students will have to get the full amount they require over a 30-day period or the money will be refunded to the sponsors. Once they receive the full scholarship, the money will be channelled directly to the universities. If, however, there is an amount stated for learning equipment and allowance expenses in the campaign, the funds collected will be transferred to the scholar’s personal account. The process doesn’t stop there, as the relationship between sponsor and scholar continues with the scholar providing updates about their schooling life and their academic performance.

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If you’re on the other side of the coin, you can easily donate any sum of your choice over RM1 by clicking on a student’s campaign and pledging via a long list of online banking services like CIMB Clicks, Maybank2u, RHB Online Banking, Paypal, credit cards and more.

Future of Skolafund “Big results require big ambitions.” as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said. On that note, it’s easy to see why Skolafund is aiming high. “Our big vision is to be the biggest higher education financing platform in Asia,” said Syakir Hashim. “We want to look at more ways on how we can provide funds for the students. We are also looking into exploring Skolajob, which is a platform for students to get jobs, as well as peer-to-peer lending, where students can loan the funds they need so they can remain in school to focus on their studies,” he added. Ultimately, the founders are building their organisation on the belief that quality education should be accessible for all who are qualified and hope that people who share their principles can lend support to the platform and the students. “When more people are educated, they’ll add more value to the community, which in turn will develop into a better educated community,” Syakir reiterated. Errin, Marine Biology Student

Success Stories of Skolafund

Fuaddin, Computer System & networking student

The story of Skolafund’s journey would not be complete without its success stories – the Skolafund Scholars. In a short period of time that has passed since its establishment, 21 campaigns have been launched, 15 of which were successful, which means 15 students got their shot at a brighter future. One such student is Fuaddin, a Computer System and Networking major at Universiti Malaya. His education was helped along by sponsorships amounting to over RM4, 500, to which he said: “It motivated me to do better in life, as well as help others who are also unfortunate and struggling to complete their studies like I was. It gave me a second chance to complete my studies, because if it wasn’t for Skolafund I would have had to extend my course or go on a study leave to find money for university fees.” he added. Skolafund appealed to him because the funds are crowdsourced, which means there is nothing binding him to a company upon graduation unlike some scholarships. That said, Skolafund went the extra mile by sharing job opportunities with him after the campaign was completed. Errin, too, got a major lending hand when she successfully completed a

Amirizz,

Mechatronic Engineering Student

campaign under Skolafund. With the money collected, the Marine Biology Masters student from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu was able to pay off three months’ worth of rent and bills incurred by her internship, plus a flight ticket to return to her hometown on her last day. “With funding from Skolafund (sponsors), I did not need to work as a parttimer there, and did not need to have just instant noodles for lunch and bread for dinner. I was able to afford rice for both meals.” she said. In five years, she sees herself as a coral expert who aids in prolonging the survival of the coral population. In Amirizz’s case, he wasn’t able to pool enough funds to support his studies in Mechatronic Engineering despite working parttime and being a recipient of PTPTN loans. The son of a labourer, Amirizz could not get adequate financial support from his parents either. All that changed after his successful Skolafund campaign raised RM4, 000, which covered a myriad of costs from tuition fees to food to transportation. The campaign also indirectly helped him garner the support of friends and family, who had no clue about his dire financial state prior to that. As a bonus, he was even able to land a wellpaying job as a tutor at a tuition centre with Skolafund’s help. With his engineering degree, Amirizz said: “I can solve many engineering problems related to our community and will be able to create new devices, techniques and/or solutions to better our community.” mar 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

d n a s e v r u Right C s e c a p S t h Rig All The

All The

Advertorial Honda City; ’Aerodynamically contoured’, ‘stylish’, ‘practical’. The City’s design is perfect for the city student, pairing the aesthetic beauty of the urban life with the practicality of a sedan. Flash the angular beauty of the exterior and take pride in the latest interior features (and it’s spacious too!)

In our modern era, everything can be controlled by just a touch of a finger. So can the City! The car features a 7-inch touch Display Audio with a simple yet sleek layout. When you’re driving for class in the morning, skip the hassle of knobs and buttons. Everything is just a touch away. You will also find an extra set of air conditioning, specially for the nagging backseat passengers. With these added features, the City is a quality car that offers value for money. Don’t forget it’s fuel efficient too!

campuscouture by rachel fong

Spotlight on RAFFLES COLLEGE

MARCH 2016

lthough the theme was Silent Night, the designs featured on the runway showcased by Raffles College of Higher Education KLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion Marketing and Management students were anything but that. A Christmas fashion event organised as part of their Fashion Coordination and Promotion project, the evening was kicked off at a hip event space RUANG in Subang Jaya. The event had already proved to be a success, as it was fully financed by the students on the strength of fund raising activities. While Christmas is normally associated with joy and laughter, the students decided to turn the focus on a different side of the holiday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a decidedly more sombre one. The reality is, many people around the world are dealing with financial setbacks during a time when lavishness has become a signature, and this event was made to raise awareness on them. Behind the clothes, laid the message that there are many out there who are less fortunate than us, so we should not expect only decadent material goods and take them for granted, but

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instead get back to the true spirit of Christmas by appreciating those we love and have. Apart from the stunning garments, the event’s atmosphere was further lifted up with DJ Seven’s help, who did a freestyle spin prior to the show. After that, ballerinas appeared to perform a contemporary ballet dance, before making way for the designs themselves. Up and coming as well as established local designers such as Afiq M, Rhea Benson, Cassey Gan, Dude & Duchess and more gave the crowd something to feast their eyes on as they sent models parading down the runway in their designs. Fashion and music often go handin-hand, and the students smartly incorporated this by putting Eugene Too onstage, who performed a saxophone solo. Singer-songwriter Rafique Ramleh ended the show on a melodic note with a cover of John Mayer’s Broken Hearts and an original track, Someone Else. FEB 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

beautybuzz by farisha nadia

beauty vlogging know-hows

march 2016

Things Every

Beauty r e b u t u o Know YShould Michelle Phan, Jenn Im, Carli Bybel…these are all household names for almost any beauty enthusiast with a Wi-Fi connection and a tendency to kill time with Youtube. With millions of subscribers and billions of views between these three alone, it’s apparent that beauty vlogging is a serious business – so much so that girls and guys are jumping on the bandwagon increasingly rapidly every day in hopes of becoming the next holy beauty guru. Campus Plus spoke to Farisha Nadia, a local success story whose makeup-themed exploits have taken her as far as the semi-finals of Beauty Bound Asia, a newly launched international competition to find ‘Asia’s Next Top Beauty Creator’. Here, she shares her advice on how to get ahead in the online beauty content biz.

1. Do it for passion, not money Contrary to popular belief, most Youtubers don’t make as much money as people think. Youtube does not pay you based on the number of subscribers you have or the amount of likes per video, but rather on the number of clicks on the advertisements that play before or during the video. This is why those with a lot of subscribers or likes per video earn enough to compare it to a conventional job, because their chances of getting more clicks is higher (operational word being ‘chances’). With that in mind, it’s a hard journey for you if your end goal is making a good income. That’s why you should do it for passion – passion for knowledge, growth, creativity and to connect with others in your community. That’s the main reason why those who make it in this industry are able to go the distance. When you’re starting out, just be patient and have fun, for whatever success you’re meant to have will come in time.

2. Know your audience Decide early on the kind of audience you would want. If you want to do beauty videos, your audience would generally be females and if you’re doing a video about a Korean makeup look, your audience would be Korean makeup fans and perhaps even people from Korea. After posting videos for some time, you can check your analytics to see which part of the world the majority of your audience comes from and you can use that to create more relatable content and build on your following from there. You can do the same by observing the number of views, likes and comments that each video gets. Take note of the videos that get more feedback, so you know what type of content generates more views.

3. Remember that YouTube is a community It may feel lonely when you’re recording, editing or uploading, but remember, being a Youtuber means you can seek out others and make connections. Why else would we put ourselves out there? Even if we are able to inspire just that one person, it would make us so happy because of that connection we just made. Ask your viewers questions in your videos, and ask them to like and subscribe to your channel. Open yourself up to interacting with them so they feel more comfortable responding to you. Make friends with other Youtubers as well; the community in Malaysia is still pretty small, especially for beauty Youtubers, so take this opportunity to expand your network. When I was starting out, I couldn’t find a Facebook group dedicated to only beauty Youtubers in Malaysia, so I decided to start one of my own and called it Fayre Network (pronounced as Fair).

4. Work with what you’ve got High tech equipment and gadgets like auto-focused DSLRs and LED lights are cool, but you don’t have to get them to start being a Youtuber. Those things come in second when you have an awesome personality and creativity – show your viewers who you really are and they will subscribe to your unique personality. Here are a few tips to help you create great videos without expensive equipment. First, use the best lighting source there is – natural light! The best time to record your video would be between eight to 10 in the morning or two to four in the afternoon. Second, film somewhere quiet. Turn off your air conditioner, smartphone or anything else that will disrupt your video’s audio quality (and distract you!). Lastly, be aware of your background. You don’t need a fancy wall or sparkling Christmas lights, just a clean wall will do. When your space is tidy, the audience won’t get distracted, and will pay you their full attention.

5. Know your copyright laws You are not allowed to use someone else’s song or music in your videos, whether or not you monetise your videos. If YouTube places a strike on your channel you could risk having your channel being taken down. Thankfully, YouTube has their own library of copyright-free music. Simply go to your “creator studio” and look for the tab named “create”, it will take you to the library where you can find all the free music you need. Also, know the difference between the inspiration and straight-up copying. The process of inspiration starts when you find your muse and interpret it using your own words, art or any other medium, which means your final work is only partly ‘inspiration’ and the rest is all you. For example, when you look up ‘Sunset Inspired Look’ on YouTube, you’ll see a ton of different interpretations. This differs from copying, whereby you completely rip off another person’s video and claim it as your own work.

6. Thumbnails matter

Thumbnails are a quick way to attract viewers, so they are important! A nice and clean looking one can help you look more professional. At the same time, try to show what the video is all about in the thumbnail. For instance, a good thumbnail for a makeup tutorial is one of a before and after picture or the final result of a makeup look. There are a lot of free online picture editing tools that you can use to edit it.

7. Be well-versed in metadata, such as PicMonkey, Pixlr and Fotor. annotations and cards Remember these terms because they are the secrets to boosting your interactions and views. Metadata provides information about other data, so when you input specific words and tags for your videos, it makes it easier for people to search for and discover them. Metadata applies for your video’s title, description bar and tags. Annotations and cards can be used to promote external links (social media channels) or other videos of yours. However, annotations are for desktop viewers while cards are for those using the mobile version. As an increasing number of people are watching videos from their smartphones, be sure not to neglect the cards. Use these to promote your other videos, get more views and keep viewers on your channel for the longest possible time.

8. Experiment and adapt Believe me when I say being a Youtuber is all about trial and error. Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake; it’s a good way to learn what doesn’t work for you. The more chances you take, the more experiments you do, the likelier it is for you to find the best method for you. Some Youtubers film, edit and upload the video on the same day. Others take a few days to a week, while some may pre-record a few videos at a time and edit them one by one. Try as many styles as possible and eventually you will know which one is best suited to your lifestyle. FarishaNadiaOfficial

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farisha_nadia

FarishaNadia

BEAUTY PICK

MARCH 2016

beautycase compiled by rachel fong

K-Palette 1 Day Lash Perm VC01 (Volume & Curl) Mascara RM59.90 available at selected SaSa and Guardian outlets Infused with a curl keep polymer, there’s not a set of lashes that can’t be curled to perfection with this new mascara wand from K-Palette. Apart from that, the polymer also keeps the curl intact, making sure your eyes look bright and wide awake all day. Curling is not all this mascara is good for, however, as it also contains pullulan, which thickens your lashes to give them a falsies effect without the hassle. The mascara is formulated with ingredients that promote healthy and durable lashes as well.

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lip Gradation RM32.90 available at all pharmacy outlets

Laneige Edge-Drawing Eyeliner RM70 available at all Laneige counters and boutiques South Korean beauty brand Laneige has created an eyeliner specifically for Asian women with smaller eyes and single eyelids, which claims to make eyeliner drawing a cinch. Armed with an elastic and stable felt tip, the eyeliner has been named the ‘3-Second Liner’ due to how easy it is to use. It’s also highly pigmented, so every stroke you make comes out bold, black and beautiful. If you hate the smudges that come with using liquid eyeliner, worry no more as the formula dries in under three minutes. To get the exact desired stroke, the pen also allows you to alternate between a thick Sharpie Tip and a thinner Pen Tip.

The ombre lip look has captivated many beauty enthusiast and now Maybelline has come up with a product that lets you achieve the same look with two easy steps. The double-sided lip crayon is a colour stick on one end and a cushion blender on the other. To get the look, simply fill in the inner part of your lips with the colour stick, then use the cushion blender to blend out the hue, giving it a nice, colour-melting effect on your lips. There are eight shades in total to help you change your look.

Bandi Ultra Polish RM68.90 available at selected Nail and Beauty Salons

Dr. Morita’s Basic Series Facial Masks

Nail polish evolution is a real thing, and it’s making strides every day, as seen with Bandi’s latest Ultra Polish, which is a ten-day nail polish that needs only natural light to dry and is as easy to remove as conventional polishes. With gel solution lacquer system, it gives the wearer a long lasting, high gloss manicure by applying just three layers, namely Ultra Polish Base, Ultra Polish Colour and Ultra Polish Top. Additionally, there are 52 shades in total for you to experiment with to your heart’s content, whether it’s pastels, nude shades or primary colours.

RM22.90 available at Guardian outlets Hailing from Taiwan is Dr. Morita, a new facial mask brand that will rejuvenate your skin and skincare routine. Users new to the brand can try out the Basic Series, which consists of three variants and they are Nanopeptide Whitening Essence, Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Essence and Collagen Repair Essence. As the name suggests, they work to brighten, hydrate and boost skin’s elasticity, respectively. Each pack contains five sheets and are retailing exclusively at Guardian outlets nationwide.

wanderlust by rachel fong

Osaka Kyoto Japan

march 2016

a w i h c i n Kon

! n a p a J

December is the time when most of us decide to end the year on a high note by going for a holiday. In my case, I was lucky enough to score a tour through Japan with my family. We began our 7-day long trip in Osaka, travelled upwards to Kyoto, before concluding things in Tokyo. While it was indeed a whirlwind experience, I discovered so much about the Land of the Rising Sun that I would never have otherwise.

pon landing at Kansai International Airport, we headed straight to the Universal Studios Japan. It was at this time that we were told by our tour guide we would need to gather at the entrance of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – arguably Universal Studios Japan’s biggest draw. In the meantime, we killed some time in Amity Village, which is a recreation of the same village featured in the thriller classic Jaws. This part of the park features the adrenaline-pumping ride JAWS, which – without giving too much away – simulates the experience of being in the movie. The journey into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter begins with Hogsmeade, a village that wizarding students liked to frequent for the abundance of magical supplies and mouthwatering food. It was not the most epic part yet though, because waiting at the end of it was none other than an awe-inspiring, built-to-scale replica of Hogwarts Castle. Here is where you can line up for the roller-coaster ride Flight of the Hippogriff and the not-to-be-missed Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. For photo opportunities, stick around for the parade, which features a myriad of characters from Sesame Street, Minions, Hello Kitty and more. After an early morning call and (thankfully!) a sumptuous breakfast, we headed to Kyoto’s Arashiyama. Picture-perfect sceneries of fall 40

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greeted us at To g e t s u - k y o Bridge, which is notable for being a landmark in the district for over four centuries. It offers stunning views thanks to its location that spans the Katsura River in front of the Arashiyama Mountain and is best visited during spring and autumn. From there, we walked across to Sagano’s Bamboo Groves, where you can choose to cycle or stroll through towering stalks of bamboo. After lunch, the bus took us to an important cultural icon of Kyoto – Heian Shrine. Built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the establishment of Herankyo (Kyoto’s former name), it was also a symbol of revival for the city. From there, we plodded on to Kiyomizudera, where many Buddhist tourists from all over the world head here to pay respects or ask for blessings and even if you’re not a follower of the religion, there’s plenty to take your wishes a little further, such as the three channels of water flowing from the Otawa waterfall, which visitors can drink for luck. Our third day began with a bucket list destination – Mount Fuji, a.k.a. the highest mountain in Japan. In those times of chilly weather, Mount Fuji boasted a beautiful snowcapped peak and we could barely contain our anticipation for the stunning photos that laid ahead MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

for us. While we couldn’t get that high up, it was a jaw-dropping experience to see the apex from below, on Gotemba new fifth station, which is 2,300 metres above sea level. From Mount Fuji, we finally began to make our way to the multi-faceted city of Tokyo. The past few days have consisted mostly of greenery and suburban sights, so it was a complete departure to be back among skyscrapers adorned with names of big corporate brands and flashing billboards advertising the latest pop act on the block or the latest smartphone. Our first stop in the city put us at Tokyo Tower, which at 332.9 metres is the secondtallest structure in Japan. One speedy elevator ride up later, we found ourselves laying eyes on an unparalleled panoramic view of the city around us. It was truly a visual treat to see this bustling city – that was on par with the greatest Western cities of the world – in its near full form. After the great heights of Tokyo Tower, the next destination was the Asakusa district. The first thing that greets visitors is the Kaminarimon (‘Thunder Gate’), the exterior of two entrance gates that lead to the Senso-Ji, one of the main temples in the district. Shoppers could spend hours here at the maze of shop houses behind Senso-Ji, which is named Nakamise. Usually tours only feature one theme park on the itinerary, but this goes to show how 42

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exciting Japan is – because we were now headed to DisneySEA! Not to be mistaken for Disneyland, DisneySEA is a separate theme park available only in Japan, with a heavier emphasis on attractions inspired by ocean tales and legends. We were also told that the rides here are slightly more edge-of-your-seat, which means it caters to older children and adults. We got to experience that first-hand when our tour guide acquired Fast Pass tickets for us to go on Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull. We took our time after that leisurely strolling in and out of the various ‘ports of call’, which included the charmingly named Mediterranean Harbour, American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast and Mysterious Island. Once we were well-rested from the high-octane action that came by way of DisneySEA, we took a train ride over to Harajuku, where we visited Yoyogi Park. Located adjacent to Harajuku Station, Yoyogi Park is an easy landmark to get to. It is large enough to contain areas for picnicking, cycling and public sport courts, as well as Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo’s major shrines. Apart from providing a ton of

memorable photos, it’s also a good place in the middle of the city to get to when you want to escape the hectic city pace. As the day wore on, we hopped on the subway again to Shibuya and as night fell fast (skies would usually darken around 4 or 5pm), it didn’t take long for us to see the iconic Shibuya Crossing in all its lit up, crowdinfested glory. Naturally, one could not possibly count their Shibuya jaunt a successful one without a photo-op with the statue of Hachiko, which was erected

in memory of the loyal dog who unknowingly waited for his owner to return at the same station every day for more than nine years. On our final day, we decided to savour as much of it as possible by slowing things down a notch. First stop of the day: Shinjuku Gyoen. It is a composite of three garden styles, namely French Formal Garden, English Landscape Garden and Japanese traditional garden. Some parts of Shinjuku Gyoen bring to mind images of New York’s Central Park, and that is probably why. The second part of our day took us to Harajuku’s Takeshita Street, a pedestrian-only retail paradise bursting with curious bric-abracs, beauty products, and trendy clothes, that is most favoured by the youths of Japan. Like DisneySEA, the time we were given to explore this corner was not nearly enough, but that’s alright – all the more reason for us to start planning on that next vacation. MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

o t e r Da

guysstuff by eusoff andrei

breaking barriers

march 2016

! k n i P N

ow, before you dismiss this article as an un-based challenge to your manhood, wearing pink is indeed not for the faint of heart. Wearing pink shows confidence and, when done correctly, a sense of style. In fact, it is for these very reasons that most women love pink not just on themselves, but also on guys. The general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing a shade of pink to don on one’s self is that lighter shades go well with darker skin tones and darker shades go well with lighter skin tones. In fact, this goes for any colour shades which are similar to one’s skin tone as they tend to make one look either washed out or faded. Do keep in mind to be particularly careful with bright and bubble gum pinks in order to avoid becoming a fashion faux pas. Now, if you’ve come to accept that pink is just another colour and does not imply anything about your sexuality, you can choose to integrate it slowly into your wardrobe. Accessories, ties, bowties, pocket squares, socks and bracelets are a great way of integrating this colour into your look without making you feel conscious of the colour if you’re not used to it. 44

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Wear

When it comes to clothing, a button-down dress shirt is the easiest way to start wearing something which is solid pink. If wearing a suit, keep in mind that blue, black, and grey suits work best with pink shirts. Pink polo shirts are also an easy way to start off integrating this colour into your closet. However, be mindful that these are generally associated with being preppy – unless, of course, that’s the look you’re going for. When it comes to shoes, pink tends to work relatively well if you pair it with the right clothes. Take, for example, the loafers pictured above which will work for both formal and casual looks. A word to the wise, for those of you who are conscious of the opinions of others: Unless you are confident enough to wear anything and pretty much don’t give a damn about what anyone has to say, avoid t-shirts and sweaters in pink as these tend to be less socially acceptable items of clothing in this particular colour.

fashionbuzz by rachel fong

MALAYSIAN FEMALE FASHION DESIGNERS

MARCH 2016

Fact: The Malaysian fashion scene is more alive and kicking than ever. Not only do we have an increasingly larger pool of designers, the pool is also swimming with more diverse and substantial talents than ever. With the help from visually-driven social media channels like Instagram, there’s also a greater appreciation for their work as well as a more instant platform to garner exposure on. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, we’ve taken the liberty of shifting the spotlight onto four Malaysia’s female fashion designers worth watching out for.

Alia

Bastamam

France has Christian Dior, Italy has Valentino, and we have Alia Bastamam. With her intricately designed, show-stopping wedding gowns and red carpet ready frocks, she has amassed a loyal fan base in the most elite tier of Malaysian society – a heady mix of socialites and celebrities. Her creations range from ready to wear to bridal to atelier, the last of which refers to custommade designs. When you see a dress that employs soft fabrics and sharp cuts, with a sensual silhouette, it’s most likely to be an Alia Bastamam design. Most recently, the designer had the honour of conjuring up a bridal gown for Malaysian actress Nabila Huda’s wedding and her work has also appeared in numerous editorial spreads. Follow her at: aliabastamam.com instagram.com/alia6astamam

Ong Shunmugam Malaysian-born designer Priscilla Shunmugam, who is of Indian and Chinese heritage, has built a solid reputation for herself by drawing from her unique lineage to create garments that are traditional with a modern update. Currently based in Singapore, her collections would appeal to both young and old alike, what with designs like a cheongsam with dainty floral embroidery sewn over a sheer mesh sweetheart neckline and a yukata-inspired dress with vibrant prints and a jumpsuit silhouette. Her inventive designs have taken her and the brand to many parts of the globe, such as Coterie, a trade show held in conjunction with New York Fashion Week, where they were presented. Closer to home, her creations have also been showcased at the George Town Festival 2014, one of the top cultural events in Penang.

Cassey

Follow her at: ongshunmugam.com instagram.com/ongshunmugam

Gan

Proof that your initial calling might not always be your destiny, Cassey Gan studied Chemical Engineering in Melbourne for four years before making an about-turn to pursue fashion design in London. It was a risk that paid off handsomely, as Cassey was not only featured in Vogue Italia in a feature about fashion’s future generation of talents upon graduating, but also featured by CNN Asia in a story about the boom of fashion in Malaysia. Since launching her self-titled label in her native country, she has enjoyed commercial and critical success, thanks to designs that favour function over style. While they may not follow the trends, the creations are designed to be timeless and versatile – apt for the modern day, financially independent working woman who is in need of a wardrobe that can keep up with her fast-paced lifestyle.

Kittie Yiyi

Follow her at: casseygan.com instagram.com/casseygan

A fashion designer who doubles as a blogger, Kittie’s love for clothes is apparent in her personal sense of style, her colourful Instagram feed and of course, her radiant, unabashedly fun-filled creations. She first made a splash with the showing of her pre-fall 2014 collection for KL Fashion Week 2014, and made a lasting impact the following year when she sent her Spring/Summer 2016 collection down the runway at the same event. Bursting with neon pops of colour and quirky, childlike prints, the designs straddle the fine line between childhood nostalgia and sophisticated dressing up. At press time, the official website from which customers can make purchases is still in the works. However, fans of Kittie Yiyi can already get their fix over at Fashion Valet.

Follow her at: kittieyiyi.com instagram.com/kittieyiyicollection

he says/ she says

with TRAXXfm

March 2016

Diyana Hashim Is it ok for guys to wear pink? Pink is a colour just like any other colour in the world. Anyone should be able to wear whatever colour they like to express their thoughts and feelings.

Would you ask your boyfriend to buy tampons / pads for you? I’ve done it a million times. If anyone were to be irked about it, I’m just going to have to say straight up: “Mate, your mum’s a woman. She went through the same thing.”

Should women breastfeed in public? Why not? I won’t deny that it was a shock the first time I saw it. It’s a perfectly natural thing. It’s almost as if you’re doing your nails while you’re talking to someone. The thing is, the baby needs to eat.

In your opinion, who is the most inspiring woman?

Getting on Traxx with

Women’s Issues

In conjunction with our women’s issue, we sat down with our friends from TRAXXfm and picked their brains on topics ranging from their most inspiring woman to tampons and pads to gender equality.

I love my mum to bits and she is definitely the queen of my heart but in terms of inspiration, I definitely see a lot more of that with my sister because she’s an adventurous person. She does everything at her own beat.

Can gender equality and chivalry go hand in hand? When it comes to chivalry, it shouldn’t be about gender. It should essentially be politeness and making someone feel comfortable and nice.

Balakarthik

(fondly known as BK)

Is it ok for guys to wear pink? If you feel like wearing pink go ahead. If someone tells you not to cause it may make you less manly, still go ahead and do it. It’s an individual choice.

Would you buy tampons / pads for your girlfriend? I would and I have before. The only thing that, I think, may be a difficult issue on my end would be in terms of the brand or size.

Should women breastfeed in public? I think it’s perfectly fine. I think a mum has the right to do it anywhere without anyone passing any judgment on her.

In your opinion, who is the most inspiring woman? Personally, my mum. She’s been the woman that I’ve grown up with my whole life and she’s the closest person that means something to me.

Can gender equality and chivalry go hand in hand? Sometimes chivalry is mistaken for an act of flirtation and that slowly kills off the whole idea of being chivalrous but that doesn’t mean a man should stop opening the door and pulling the chair out for a woman even though we’re trying to make gender equality a reality.

For the full interview, head on over to www.youtube.com/user/campusplus

selection of New Products

MARCH 2016

offtheshelf

Skinfood Rice Brightening Cleansing Tissue RM52.90 available at Skinfood outlets nationwide Using rice water to cleanse one’s skin has been proven to have many benefits and Skinfood’s Rice Brightening Cleansing Tissue capitalises on that to give users bright, flawless skin. If you constantly find yourself strapped for time, one wipe on your face with this tissue reduces your cleansing routine to 10 seconds. It has a clean finish and doesn’t require any rinsing off.

Bad Lab Caveman Cleaner RM13.30 available at Watson’s outlets and major supermarkets nationwide With its glossy copper exterior and animaloriented designs, Bad Lab’s skincare range stands out from the crowd on a shelf full of archetypal skincare products. One of its standout offerings is the Caveman Cleaner, which pulls triple duty as a 3-in-1 Hair, Face and Body Cleaner. Using FluidiPureTM8G, it effectively eliminates dirt and other stubborn impurities, as well as undesirable odours. It is available in 200ml and 400ml variants.

Uniqlo UT Spring Summer 2016 Collection from RM39.90 available at all Uniqlo outlets nationwide

Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean Electric Toothbrush RM134.10 available in Guardian outlets nationwide A good oral hygiene routine keeps cavities and toothaches away, which is why a reliable toothbrush is vital. Oral-B’s newest electric toothbrush keeps your teeth in top notch condition by reducing twice as much plaque as a manual toothbrush, thanks to its 7,600 oscillations per minute speed. It also has a unique Precision Clean Brush Head, which penetrates hard to reach corners of your teeth and cleans them thoroughly. It also has a two-minute timer to ensure you brush for just the right amount of time.

Once again, Uniqlo has unveiled a covetable UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) collection that surely has something for everyone, with over 40 graphic themes. The mainstays return with new designs, such as Disney, and Sesame Street, while Spongebob fans now have a reason to rejoice as their favourite sea creature lands on the quintessential T-shirts. Japanese culture, a recurring theme, gets a breath of fresh air with designs from Haibara, a traditional handmade paper dealer from the 19th century Tokyo and Shodo, which comprises black brushstroked characters.

Keds Spring 2016 Footwear Collection RM139-RM199 available at selected Stadium, Studio R, Royal Sporting House and LAB outlets As Keds rolls out its spring 2016 footwear collection, it will also be celebrating its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this major milestone, the collection’s designs range from fresh and vibrant to classic and effortlessly chic, to cater to all shoe enthusiasts. The long-time fans will want to get their hands on the Champion Americana range, which celebrates the brand’s American heritage, while style experimenters will surely love the Champion Teacup Jelly range, which features pastelcoloured flats in a breathable, jelly-like material. Street style followers, meanwhile, will dig the Triple Colour Block range, which features sneakers with stacked soles.

www weirdwackyworld

our eccentric world

MARCH 2016

Can’t be Superman. Must Be your Friendly Neighbourhood, Spiderman!

Australians woke up from their beautiful countryside homes to look out their windows and find a fine sheet of…snow? No, spider webs! All over the crops! Is it finally the end of the world? Is this some plague meant for you to pay out your debts and tell Jesse you stole his girlfriend?! Hike up those pants. We can explain. Fact of the matter: It’s called the “Angel Hair” phenomenon. Spiders do this all the time and it happens all around us. It’s just in minute quantities and we don’t notice it. “Angel Hair” occurs when an innumerable amount of SheetWeb Weaver spiders all decide to stick their tushes up in the air and release silk strands (spider web) to catch the wind and sail them to a different location…much like flying. (Holy Shamoka, flying spiders?!) But why all at once? Are they telepathic? (If they are, just take over the world already). Actually, they wait for not-so-conducive weathers for “flying” to end and when the weather does relent, they all just know it’s the right time to lift off and scare the crap out of people. It’s called “ballooning”. You have to admit…it’s pretty cool.

He May Be Wanted By the Police…but First, He Needs to Take A Selfie.

Mr. Donald A. “Chip” Pugh is wanted by the police for charges on arson, vandalism and failing to appear for those charges. You’d think being this evasive, he could hold on a tad bit longer? Noooo, apparently his mugshot threw this guy into a fit! Claiming his mugshot looked “like a Thundercat or something”, Mr. Pugh here sent the Lima Police Department of Ohio his own car-selfie with the caption “Here is a better photo, that one is terrible”. The LAPD put it up on twitter thanking him for his photographic assistance and asked for his help to actually come down to the station to talk.

Bringing Headgear to a Whole New Abnormal Level. We have no idea what to make of this. Let’s see… Attempt #1 “Ever wonder where all the tissue in the house goes?” Nope that didn’t sound right. Attempt #2 “What happens when there’s an apocalypse and you need to go to the loo but the zombies, for some odd reason, stole all the tissue!” By joy, that was a bad one. Attempt #3 What if it isn’t the solution right under your nose, but the problem itself! Having an ever-running nose? Running out of packets of tissue to stem the flow? Look not ahead, but above your head! We’ve got you covered! Now you can always keep a roll of tissue around for all types of emergencies! Like when all tissue in the house is finished — or even a zombie apocalypse! Have no fear for the Hay Fever hat is here!

wiredup

plug into the future of tech

march 2016

Asus Zenfone Max (ZC550KL) This incredibly-long-lasting high-capacity smart device gives its user an unprecedented amount of mobile freedom. With a monster battery of 5000mAH custom-crafted from lithium-polymer, it packs maximum energy into the device’s minimum space while doubling as a power bank for your other devices. With Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4, the Asus Zenfone Max (ZC550KL) offers 2x more dropdamage resistance compared to its predecessor, a 2.5x increase in retained strength and is 85% less likely to break during daily use — making it stronger than ever before! Price: RM899 www.asus.com/my/

LG SH8, SH7, & SH6

Honor Band Z1 The Band Z1, Honor’s first smart band, combines smart functionalities and elegant design in a compact form factor. It also features health tracking capabilities and notification alerts. With straps available in three colours – Black, White and Khaki straps – the colour of the body is matched to the colour of the strap. The Black watch strap will come with a black aluminium body, while the White and Khaki colours will be paired to a silver aluminium body. Price: RM259 www.vmall.my

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These new soundbars from LG spoils its user for choice as it provides a myriad of options making it easy to choose settings suitable to one’s needs. Sporting a sleek, slim design which blends in with almost any interior décor, the SH8 and SH7 come with wireless subwoofers which enable the soundbars to provide rich bass tones to complement the speakers’ audio output while the SH6 is comprised of 6 independent speaker drive units and utilise an innovative air duct structure in order to deliver powerful sound from its compact single-body sound system. Price: N/A www.LG.com

Asus Zenfone Zoom Pegged as the world’s thinnest 3x optical-zoom smartphone with Hoya lens in an innovative 10-element lens arrangement for exceptional clarity and close-ups with up to 12x total magnification, this device comes with Periscopic innovation, a SmartFSI sensor, 52MP Super Resolution, 5cm macro shots and pro-style Manual mode. With 64-bit quad-core power, a 4GB RAM, 250Mbit/s LTE, and Full HD IPS display, it also promises its user PC grade performance. Price: RM2,099 www.asus.com/my/

Microsoft Lumia 550 Dubbed as Microsoft’s most affordable 4G LTE smartphone, the Microsoft Lumia 550 enables you to get things done faster. Microsoft Office apps are tailored to the device’s screen size, enabling its user to view, create, and edit documents on the go. The device is equipped with a 4.7-inch HD display, a 5MP rear-facing camera with LED flash, and a 2MP front camera for quality Skype calls. Price: RM539 www.microsoft.com/en-my/mobile/

LG Signature OLED TV Winner of the 2016 CES ‘Best of Innovation’ award, eliminates all unnecessary elements that distract from the viewer’s immersive experience and is elegantly simple. It features LG’s unique Picture-on-Glass design, which boasts an ultra-thin 2.57mm OLED panel with a translucent glass back and forward-facing sound bar speaker system. With HDR capabilities, Pixel Dimming, 10-bit panel/10-bit processing power, ColorPrime Pro, and new webOS 3.0, it represents the ultimate in TV technology. Price: N/A www.LG.com

MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

wiredup by eusoff andrei

Logitech K400 Plus

march 2016

Convenience at your

Fingertips

GOLD

Logitech K400 Plus

MARCH 2016

Logitech’s K400 Plus wireless keyboard comes across as convenient and nifty right out of the box. Part of Logitech’s ‘Save the Couch Potato’ campaign, this device was launched in response to the growing Smart TV and PC-to-TV market. Design Available in black and white, this device has its pros and cons. On the bright side, its size puts it perfectly in your hands and the nifty additional left click button located on the top left hand corner makes it easy to scroll with your right hand and click with the other. Also, for those of us who are a wee bit scatter brained (especially when it comes to small items), there is a handy little holder for the USB unifying receiver for whenever it isn’t connected to any of your other devices. Having said that, expect good but basic quality from this device as the keyboard tends to give off less of a comforting feel than your average pc/laptop keyboard 54

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and the trackpad isn’t 100% reliable in terms of accuracy.

get a responsive, trouble-free connection from most areas of our rooms.

Layout

Battery Life

With a familiar keyboard layout, the K400 Plus can be customised further via the free Logitech Options software. On top of that, located right above the mouse pad are three convenient keys which enable you to either mute, decrease or increase the volume of your devices.

The device comes with two AA batteries right out of the box and according to Logitech, it has a battery life of 18 months with the conveniently placed on/off switch. It’s quite easy to eventually forget it runs on batteries given its long battery life. A definite plus point!

Connectivity The wireless connection of the K400 Plus which connects to your devices via a USB unifying receiver is reliable. With a 33 foot (10 metre) range, most of us should

Specifications • • • •

33 foot (10 metre) wireless range Plug and Play 18-month battery life Designed for use with Windows® 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and later, Android™ 5.0 or later, and Chrome OS™

Vivo Y51

march 2016

wiredup by eusoff andrei

Vivo-fy

Your Life! Vivo Y51

Vivo’s Y51 is a mid-range smartphone with quite a few nifty little tricks tucked within it. In truth, it manages to land right on the proverbial fence between looking cheap and looking too pricey. Curious? Read on to see if this is the next smartphone for you. Design Available in white, gold and black, one thing refreshing about the Y51 is that the back cover is removable. However, those of you who are hoping that this means the battery is interchangeable, will be disappointed as the battery is not (at least not without the use of a screwdriver).

Display Its multi-touch, capacitive 5.0 inch qHD display comes with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. That’s four times the resolution of 720p high definition!

Camera

technology, it takes the common beauty effect in most smartphones these days a step further by identifying your gender first and then giving you a personalised makeover. ‘Voice Capture’ and ‘Palm Capture’ also make selfies much less of a hassle to capture.

Work-Life Balance The device’s dual SIM and dual standby capability eliminates the need to carry two phones for those of us who like to keep our work and personal lives separate. On top of that, 16GB ROM, 2GB RAM and 128GB of expandable storage provides ample storage space for both your work and personal

lives while minimising the impact on the device’s performance.

Additional Features This smartphone comes with quite a few nifty features such as ‘Long Screenshot’ which enables you to get all of your desired content in a single screenshot, ‘Screen Recording’ which enables you to capture on-screen activity and turn it into a video, ‘Smart Click’ which enables you to customise the volume down button in terms of what it does when held down when the screen is off and ‘Smart Wake’ which enables you to initiate certain functions by drawing the assigned patterns when the screen is off.

The Y51 comes with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. With facial recognition

GOLD

MARCH 2016

Specifications •

Funtouch OS 2.5 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop

•

Snapdragon 410 Quad-core 1.2GHz

CAMPUS PLUS |

chowdown by rachel fong

the lunch club asia

march 2016

So it’s finally lunch hour and you’re feeling pretty ravenous – you could eat a chicken live if one ran past you right now. Trouble is, your next class is right at the end of lunch hour, and you just can’t live with the thought of having to spend that one precious hour going out to look for lunch and waiting for it to arrive, only to spend 15 minutes (or less!) enjoying your meal. Enter: The Lunch Club Asia. Helmed by passionate foodies Rengee and Rehna, The Lunch Club Asia delivers fresh, tasty and ever-evolving lunches to the busy yet hungry people of PJ and KL. Read on to find out how these power women transformed their love for food into a dream career.

The Hatching In its first form, The Lunch Club Asia was only a side project, sparked by Rengee’s love for toying with brand development and social media, as well as her friend Kay’s interest in experimenting with new recipes. The side project escalated fairly quickly from there once more people found out about them and soon they were serving hundreds of meals each week to office locations, schools and cafes that did not have their own kitchen facilities. At this point, they were joined by Rehna, who had dabbled in catering previously. She quit her job with a law firm and came onboard to oversee operations at The Lunch Club. At the same time, the women noticed that KL was experiencing a rapid sprouting of independently owned food providers like themselves. Realising that this meant there was a thriving demand for artisan meals, they decided to shift their focus from the production of meals to connecting these foodpreneurs’ quality food with the community that was demanding it. 56

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The Leap As enthusiastic as they are about cuisine, Rengee and Rehna came from two different backgrounds that would normally never converge in a food-lined path. Rengee had left AirAsia X to work on a travel-related start-up, but life happened and she ended up founding The Lunch Club as well as lifestyle communications agency Mad Hat PR. “It was definitely not the plan, but plans change. I’m definitely not complaining!” says Rengee. As for Rehna, she made the decision to leave her job in the legal sector, as she needed a break from its relentless lifestyle. Even so, their prior jobs have driven their business in unique ways. Rehna’s training as a barrister has given her top notch organisational skills and sharp efficiency, which comes in handy for planning and running operations. In her own words: “I also have an acumen for developing relationships and partnerships and of course I also contribute my regulatory and legal knowledge.” Her love for food comes through in the curation of menus, something which she enjoys immensely. As for Rengee, her years as Head of Ancillary Revenue at AirAsia X have honed her

business development skills, which included marketing, budgeting and innovation – all of which are needed to drive a company above and beyond. She also brings to the table a wealth of experience in digital marketing and public relations, which helps to promote The Lunch Club to a wider audience.

The Development “We carry out a lot of research, from surveying the latest food trends in Malaysia to food styling.” says Rehna. Once that’s done, they reach out to unique and independent foodpreneurs to bring them onboard The Lunch Club platform. From there, the collaborative efforts begin as they work together to curate menus that would be a hit with consumers. Every business, needs to continually innovate themselves to not be left in the dust and with the New Year, The Lunch Club is working on a new platform where customers can access food by the best independent ‘food maestros’ more easily. Rengee and Rehna definitely don’t rest on their laurels, as they are constantly working on ways to

improve the ordering experience, build the variety of menus and services offered and reach out to more people across the country and the region. Expect to see The Lunch Club Asia at an event near you too, as the business is now serving a wide variety of occasions, from boardroom meetings to baby showers and family dinners. “Yes, The Lunch Club isn’t only about lunch.” Rengee says with a wink.

The Parting Advice For Rengee, venturing into entrepreneurship has been rewarding in every sense, as she feels like she now has the freedom of control over how she chooses to spend her time and resources and can see the direct impact of the choices she makes. “I truly feel that successful entrepreneurship boils down to resilience and acting genuinely. Resilience because things are not always going to be looking up, so you need it to weather the storms. Acting genuinely, because I feel if you pursue something you believe in, it will shine through your work. When you do good work, the money will come.” she remarks. Rehna, meanwhile, believes that being with The Lunch Club has made her more independent and bold and states that those with dreams of being an entrepreneur need not wait for the ‘right time’ to take the leap. “You just need to believe in yourself and strive to work towards your goals/dreams.”

MAR 2016 | CAMPUS PLUS |

arts&culture by eusoff andrei

OF GENDER NOT SEX

march 2016

f you’re a Malaysian, chances are you already know what the term Mak Nyah means. If you’re not, it’s a term used to refer to the male-to-female transgender people in Malaysia. The term Mak Nyah is equivalent in meaning to the hijras in India, kathoeys in Thailand, warias in Indonesia and occult in Myanmar. Generally, Malaysian transgender women prefer this term compared to various other derogatory terms which are often thrown at them. However, it is important to note that this term is not only for those who have undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery but also for men who look like women and are soft and feminine, men who dress up as women and those of the third gender. Being a transgender woman in Malaysia is definitely no walk in the park as they face legal, social, and religious discrimination. In the spirit of celebrating women and all who identify as such, check out these 7 influential Malaysian transgender women:

Yuki Vivienne Choe One of Malaysia’s most recognisable transgender activists, she writes for Tilted World which is a Malaysian LGBT Community Project and US-based Ex-Gay Watch in addition to running TransMalaysia, a support group for Malaysian transgenders, their families, and friends. Born as a male in Ipoh, this 39-year-old knew from a young age that she wasn’t like her friends. However, despite her successful professional life, things are not all well at home even though her father tries to accept her. She still has to act and dress like a male during Chinese New Year in order to placate her mother and her relatives.

Sharan Suresh A transgender advocate and Policy Advocacy Officer for the Islands of Southeast Asian Network on Male and Transgender Sexual Health (ISEAN), Sharan has also seen herself as more female than male since the early years of her childhood. After being rejected by her family following her decision to become a woman at the age of 21, she left home and began transitioning while she was in college and eventually got married. Unfortunately, her career has not always been smooth sailing. After working with a communications company for two years, she was promoted to a different department at their headquarters only to discover that she was not accepted due to the department’s policy. They seemed to have a different policy.

Dr. Jessie Chung Dr. Jessie Chung, who married her husband Joshua Beh late last year with their parents’ and family members’ blessings, is the founder of Natural Health Farm with a long list of qualifications to her name including Doctor of Medicine (Clinical Integrative Chinese Medicine and Western MedicineOncology) from the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China. She is also the Vice President of the Malaysian Anti-Cancer Association (MACA). Aside from that, she has also dabbled in the entertainment industry – she first stepped into the international entertainment scene when she starred in the Chinese film ‘Faces’ and has released a total of seven albums.

Khartini Slamah A Malaysian transgender human rights defender working on HIV/AIDS and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, Khartini is a Founding Working Group member and Core-Group Chair of the Transgender Programme in the Pink Triangle Foundation, Malaysia and has more than 27 years’ experience in HIV/AIDS work. She stresses the fact that transgender women are NOT men – they are a distinct demographic with their own unique needs and should not be put together in the same group as homosexuals.

Nisha Ayub Having been sentenced to three months in a male prison where she was sexually abused by the warden and other prisoners in 2005 after being charged under an anti-crossdressing law, she has been relentlessly advocating for transgender rights in Malaysia. A recipient of the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism by the Human Rights Watch and ‘Hero of the Year’ at the second Asia LGBT Milestone Awards in Bangkok last year, she is part of rights group Justice for Sisters and a Programme Manager at SEED Foundation – a Malaysian group that promotes LGBT rights.

Hazreen Shaik Daud Formerly an NGO worker with the Penang Family Health Development, Hazreen is the first transgender woman in Malaysian politics, working as political secretary to Tanjung Bungah state assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu of opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) since mid-2013 where her responsibilities include assisting in overseeing the transgender community’s welfare as well as collect data and alleviate the status and social stigma associated with the transgender community. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia, she has expressed that she would eventually like to operate her own boutique.

Sulastri Ariff in Sulastri, who is now in her mid-50s, once served as a sex worker for six years to support herself. Coming from a Malay family in Kuching, she decided to move to Kuala Lumpur to live her life as a transgender. After being arrested and fined when living on the streets, she decided to do more for herself and became an advocate for transgender rights. Now the Programme Manager of the Pink Triangle Foundation’s Sex Workers Programme, she helps those who are facing issues with their families and job discrimination.

At the end of the day, it is important to remember to respect each other as human beings and not to judge and discriminate others. Here’s something for all of us to ponder upon: “People changed lots of other personal things all the time. They dyed their hair and dieted themselves to near death. They took steroids to build muscles and got breast implants and nose jobs so they’d resemble their favourite movie stars. They changed names and majors and jobs and husbands and wives. They changed religions and political parties. They moved across the country or the world — even changed nationalities. Why was gender the one sacred thing we aren’t supposed to change? Who made that rule?” — Ellen Wittlinger, Parrotfish (Author of Hard Love)

campustalk

speaking out about feminism

march 2016

What do you think about the feminist movement? In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, Campus Talk decided to shed some light on what the youths today think about feminism. While the topic of feminism might seem straightforward on the surface, what brews beneath, is far more complicated which has bred a great deal of controversy for the term in recent years. Perhaps the true meaning of the movement can be found in the bright minds who might possibly be the next generation of crusaders, so we turned to the students of Sunway University for answers.

Abraham J. Taher, 21

Kim Daniel Pam, 23

American Degree Transfer Programme

“First off, it’s important to differentiate between radical feminism and postmodern feminism. Radical feminism wants women to be ahead of men, while feminism in general aims for equality between men and women. It’s unfortunate that even today we haven’t reached a stage of equality. The movement should go on to the point where we don’t need movements anymore.”

“I’m in favour of the liberal feminism movement, because it says that men and women should have equal rights and in order for that to happen, there has to be social and legal reforms. This makes the movement less radical as compared to others of its own kind and when implemented, can let us live in better societies.”

Ili Mariah Binti Mohd Sharif, 19 American Degree Transfer Programme

Bernadine Kwan Wan Ling, 19 American Degree Transfer Programme

“There’s this misunderstanding about the word feminism. They associate the word with the idea of making women more dominant than men, but that’s not the case. I think they should understand that feminism is about having same rights as men. When it’s taken in a positive context, it can be quite powerful, like in the case of Stephen Colbert, Emma Watson and Malala Yousafzai, who are doing an amazing job being advocates.

“I think the movement has come a long way, because if you go back in history, women were degraded in very startling ways that would not be acceptable now. The movement has empowered a lot of women, such as equality in the workplace and society in general. We are also no longer perceived as weak and emotionally unstable as much as we used to. However, gender inequality will always exist.

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