School Edition January 2017

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FEATURES

20

“Vizhi” on Drowsy Driving

LIFE 101

Your Pre-University options after SPM

It’s never too early to plan for your future. Achieve your goals with this guide to all your Pre-U options.

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KES KAJIAN - SEJARAH

JENIS-JENIS KERAJAAN DI DUNIA

Bukan semua negara di dunia mengamalkan konsep demokrasi. Kenalilah jenis-jenis kerajaan yang ada di dunia.

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Case StudY – Science DIPHTHERIA: IS VACCINATION A CHOICE? Part 2

Several diphtheria cases have been recorded in Malaysia, triggering a public outcry. What are some factors that led to the declining rate of immunisation?

Find out in this case study.

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Case Study - Business Franchise Businesses Part 1

Find out what a franchise business is all about, and the initial cost of running one in Malaysia.

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Case Study – English

Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 Winner – Bob Dylan

For the first time in history, a musician was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Read about this unprecedented win in this case study.

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Case Study – IT ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEMS

Whether it’s booking a holiday or movie tickets, online reservations system not only expedite but also guarantee that your bookings do not slip through the cracks.

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Case Study – Global perspectiveS ANIMAL WELFARE

How we treat animals reflects on how truly civilised we are as a society. Thankfully tougher acts are in place to protect the voiceless victims of violence and neglect.

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CONTENTS

feature

Malaysian James Dyson Award winner, Mugil, shines a light on high accident rates caused by drowsiness with his invention, Vizhi.

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SCHOOL ED

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COVER STORY

CHINESE NEW YEAR AND THE BELIEFS

The distinct sounds of beating drums and bursting firecrackers tells of the arrival of Chinese New Year once again. A time when family ties, culture and tradition takes precedence over all else. Behind each tradition lay tales told by ancestors of years past, relived each year along with the festivities.

SIGHTS & INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITOR

takenote

JANUARY 2017

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL

THE TEAM Mac Sivanesan

Publisher

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Subashini Nair

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Writers

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Nur Amira Nazeha Abd Aziz

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Christopher Yee Seng Hong

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General

Editorial

CREATIVE

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Happy New Year! I trust you had an excellent celebration over New Year’s Eve and you’re all set to take on new challenges, new goals and re-imagined exercise routines.

Here at School Edition, there’s renewed vigour in our team’s workout sessions, possibly in preparation for all the feasting when Chinese New Year comes along soon. For now, we’re sticking to salad and yong tau foo.

Food and festivities go hand in hand and it’s always a great feeling ushering a festival whether you’re celebrating it or not. Although I am not too fond of the crazy traffic jams that normally occur pre-CNY, it’s always great to buy your essentials on discount, visit friends, plan a holiday or stay home to enjoy quiet time with family.

Malaysia’s rich heritage of mixed cultures, each with its own unique set of beliefs, values and traditions are practiced by many but how many truly know the meaning of these beliefs and traditions? Our writer Chris Yee has compiled a guide to help you understand these traditions on page 14.

With that, Gong Xi Fa Cai! dear readers. May the Year of the Rooster be filled with prosperity, wealth and health for each and every one of you.

jw@cMR.my

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Thank you for being a loyal reader of School Edition. Huat ah!

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NEWS

JAN 2017

The pack that grows back Tetra Pak has been fighting the good fight to protect the environment for more than 20 years and as of January 2016, the company has sold 184 billion Tetra Pak packages. The achievement continued when it successfully achieved 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certification and controlled sources to produce the paperboard used to make their cartons. In the spirit of educating Malaysian consumers about renewable packaging and the importance of the FSC label, Tetra Pak partnering with FSC Asia Pacific launched ‘The Pack that Grows Back’ campaign held at Sunway Pyramid shopping mall from 10-13 November 2016. Ace Canning, F&N, Etika, Marigold, and Nestle are among the participating brands that employ Tetra Pak’s packaging for their products.

From Chef to Future Chefs KDU University College culinary students welcomed Iron Chef Thailand Winner, Chef Tom Haplin, to their Utropolis Glenmarie Campus last October for an exclusive sharing session where the young prominent chef shared his vast experience of his years of becoming a chef. Haplin who used to work as a sous chef at Michelinstarred restaurant, Noma, shared about his hardships during the learning process and aimed to motivate KDU culinary students to hammer through the upcoming challenges that they’d experience on their road to becoming successful chefs. Haplin was in town in conjunction with his collaboration with Chef Darren Teoh, executive chef of KDU’s modern Malaysian fine dining restaurant, Dewakan on a dinner series that incorporates his interpretation of Malaysian herbs and spices.

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Classrooms of the future While it may not be a radical change, the way we study in our classrooms every day is becoming ever more advanced and fun. With increased access to technology, there is a greater demand for digital content and experiences for the younger generation, said Microsoft General Manager Nik Ariff Nik Omar. His sentiments were echoed by Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Director Prof Madya Dr Arham Abdullah, and Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation Senior Lecturer Dr. Kalai Anand Ratnam, who came together to demonstrate a few ways in which technology can highly improve the way studies and lecturerstudent relations can be improved. Citing Office 365, Skype, and even video games as a way to get students to interact with education, we are stepping into a whole new era of learning.

NEWS

Race their way to Melbourne Children from 50 charity homes (47 from across Malaysia and three from Brunei Darussalam) were given a chance to get in touch with their inner-chef with the Ayam Brand â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bento Kids Could Do!â&#x20AC;? campaign. The aim was to introduce Bento meals, which are single-portion meals with a variety of food that make up a whole meal, to children so they can prepare it themselves. The children learnt to prepare four Ayam Brand dishes in a fun and interactive session that was specially developed to suit people of all ages and abilities, which included Mixed Fruit Salad, Baked Bean, Heart Shaped Sardine Sandwich and Tuna Onigiri under the guidance of celebrity Chef Loke from T-Garden Cooking School. The children also left with goodies such as tuna, mackerel and kernel corn.

THE FIRST CHEER FACTOR CHAMPIONSHIP Cheer Factor Championships is the first cheerleading competition in Malaysia organised by Cheer Aspirations in collaboration with SNEL CS Services. Close to 300 cheerleaders will be participating in Cheer Factor, from various private, international and government schools around the Klang Valley, from primary up to college level. The top three finalists in each division will win medals where division champions will bring home trophies and cash vouchers. An internationally certified panel of judges will assess the teams, ensuring the quality and standard of the competition. The Cheer Factor Championships is part of Cheer Aspirations efforts to promote cheerleading as a positive and healthy sport and to improve the negative portrayal of cheerleading as a frivolous past time.

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The pillar of nature Curtin University Sarawak is no stranger to advocating nature preservation especially the Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) located in Miri. It was announced as a nature reserve in 2013, and the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bring Back the Rain Forestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (BBtRF) Project was launched recently to protect the wildlife and plant life population in the nature reserve.

Over 57 volunteers from Curtin Sarawak were present at the launch that was officiated by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. A total of 800 volunteers joined forces and planted over 1000 saplings as part of their efforts in taking the responsibility to restore and conserve PNRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape.

NEWS

JAN 2017

Reaching Out to RefugeE Children

Mentors handing out materials

John Lim, Harvard Teaching Fellow sharing speaking tips

Volunteers from Harvard-linked Center for Asia Leadership (CAL) and the Malaysian NGO CyberCare Youth Leadership came together recently to organise a publicspeaking training session at the Sunway International School for 40 refugee youths.

The refugee youths who are from Syria, Palestine, Pakistan, and Somalia were invited to partake in the inaugural CAL Community Service programme “Speak Up! We Are Listening.” The programme is aimed to address one of the biggest challenges facing the underserved youths from homes, which is communication skills.

CAL was established in collaboration with the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation in 2015.

For more information on Center for Asia Leadership’s programmes for youths, scholars and executives, please email cali@asialeadership.org or log on to http://asialeadership.org/

Let’s get digital with Digi Digi launched its very first digital day, gathering over 1,700 “Digizens” and partners for a full-fledged technology showcase and inspiring talks with innovating speakers who talked about mind boggling topics such as “digitally sending smells and touch”, “clean water with nanotech”, “racing to the moon with robots”, and “self-diving cars”. The event showcased interesting technologies like virtual reality, robotics, artificial intelligence, driverless cars, nanotechnology and other cool projects. There was even a showcase of an app that allowed one to unlock and start Tesla cars from a distance, as long as there was a sim card in the car itself.

Everyone came out of the venue many times smarter, brains brimming with new ideas and inspiration.

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WEIRDWACKYWORLD

www paper of stone

JAN 2017

the sunken forest

Rainforests are a common thing in the world. It really doesn’t deserve a spot in this section. A forest frozen solid and preserved by a lake of rain, though? Yeah, that counts.

Lake Kaindy in Kazakhstan was created through a landslide that blocked a gorge, and created a large, natural dam filled with rainwater over a large amount of time. The rain slowly submerged the trees in the forest, and over time, it has become something incredibly mind-blowing and beautiful.

Under any other circumstances, the trees would have disintegrated into the lake, leaving no evidence of the earthquake that caused this phenomenon. However, the lake is just cold enough that it has managed to freeze the tree trunks, preserving even its branches in pristine condition. If the cold is something that you can brave, then go ahead and have your world turned upside down!

Whenever someone hears the sentence “writing on stone”, one’s mind immediately harkens back to the days of cavemen and Neanderthals, where all diaries and notes were carved or painted on walls or on tablets of stone.

However, with amazing advancements, writing on stone can be just as easy as writing on paper.

Italian company Ogami’s latest notebooks use REPAP, a paper that is said to be 100% tree-free, and is made primarily from limestone and ecological resins. It is tear-resistant, waterproof, and is incredibly smooth to write on (but takes a while to dry if you use ink or gel pens). Better yet, no trees would be cut when making the notebooks, so it helps save the environment by that much.

The unreadable manuscript Artifacts of the past often tell us something about their previous owners – how their society once was, what language they used, and how they used to live their lives.

However, this isn’t the case with the Voynich manuscript, which was purchased by a book dealer named Wilfred Voynich.

Despite looking pretty with immaculate handwriting and pictures, there is not a single person on this earth who can read the manuscript. Written in a language that no one can distinguish, its contents are a mystery to all but its writer, who, unfortunately, is long dead. The only meaning that can be gleaned from the book would be through the pictures of flora, fauna, astrology, and bathing women. Many have attempted to decipher the language and how to read it, but none have had any luck so far.

The Voynich manuscript now sits in Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, its knowledge hiding in plain sight.

w

the people walker

Meet Chuck McCarthy. He’s big, he’s friendly, and he has a great beard. Oh, and he walks people. Yes, you read that right. Based in Los Angeles, Chuck accompanies or leads people on walks all over town, sometimes guiding them to places they’ve never seen before.

Chuck came up with the idea when he needed some extra cash, but didn’t want to be a personal trainer or a dog walker as he would have to yell at people or clean up after dogs when they poop. The thought of ‘walking people’ then hit him after that.

People hire chuck for a number of reasons – for motivation to exercise, safety, or just for a new friend to talk to when you’re out running. Just as long as you don’t mind paying $7 per mile.

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hinese New Year, otherwise known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most celebrated festivals around the world. Celebrated in Malaysia (of course), Singapore, China, Vietnam and the two Koreas, as well as by pockets of Chinese people around the world, it is truly a spectacular event. However, while many people practice it, how many truly know the meaning behind this celebration?

THE LEGEND OF tHE NIAN MONStER (A.K.A. tHE HIStORY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR) During ancient times, there used to be a ferocious monster called the Nian, who had long teeth and sharp claws. By the end of every lunar year, the Nian would come to the villages to hunt people, eat their livestock and ravage their homes. The villagers were forced to vacate their homes and move to the secluded mountains every year to escape the Nian’s ferocious attacks.

One year, while everyone was desperately packing up to escape, there was an old man beggar who calmly sauntered up to the village, asking for food. Amongst the people bursting to take refuge in the mountains, there was an old lady who took pity on the old man.

She offered him food, and asked him to follow the rest of the villagers up the mountain lest he dies when the Nian comes.

The old man, however, calmly requested to stay one night in the lady’s house, and that he had a way to chase the Nian away, once and for all. The lady, still sceptical, begged the man to follow her up the mountain, but the man insisted that he had three secret weapons against the Nian. At her wit’s end, she had to leave the man in the village and hope for the best.

That day at midnight, the Nian came as predicted, and began rampaging, and destroying the village. However, it noticed one particular house with its lights still brightly lit. Unfamiliar to this sight as the place was normally dark and abandoned in the past,

BY: CHRISTOPHER YEE

D N A E TH

the Nian approached it cautiously.

Upon closer inspection, it saw hundreds of candles, as well as red papers adorning the house.

Terrified of the brightness of the light and the colour, the beast shrieked and roared, scrambling to get away from it. It was at this moment that the old man swung open the doors, revealing several firecrackers making extremely loud bursting noises. The Nian immediately fled, utterly terrified, never to return again.

The villagers returned to find that their village was (mostly) intact, and the lady was amazed that the man was able to repel the Nian. After that, it became a tradition to paste red spring couplets on the doors to the house, light candles and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and bad omens, and hope for a lucky, grand and prosperous year ahead.

LION DANcES

The loud and grandiose lion dance is something that draws the attention of the entire area every time it is performed. Drawn to the clashing of cymbals and thumping of skin drums, the timeless art never fails to wow kids and adults alike with their flashy dancing combining balance, dexterity and kung fu moves.

It is believed that the lion symbolises courage, stability, and superiority. The dance, coupled with the loud percussions and firecrackers, is believed to chase away evil spirits.

The dance is performed by two people – one for the head, and one for the body. It usually starts and ends at a temple, where the lions pay respect to the temple, its deities, and the ancestral hall. The lions will then dance down the street, bringing good luck and fortune to all.

The dramatic climax of the Lion Dance would be (cai qing), which literally means

‘plucking the greens’. The lion will pluck the auspicious vegetables like lettuce that is hung on a pole, or placed on a table, and is tied together with a red packet (ang pow). The lions will then ‘eat’ the vegetables, and ‘spit’ it out, but keep the red packet.

RED PAcKEtS (ANG POW)

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Hong Bao Na Lai!!! (Wishing you a prosperous year, now give me the ang pows!) is one of the chants often shouted by children when it comes to the time of year. Regarded to be one of the most anticipated practices of Chinese New Year (by kids, teens and unmarried adults), this tradition is said to chase away bad luck.

The tradition is said to have been derived from yasui qian, a practice that was believed to help younger children ward of sickness and death, and let them live longer.

It was said that in ancient times, there was a demon that touched children on the head, causing them to be deathly ill. A worried couple decided to pray to their god for protection, and the god sent down eight fairies to protect the child. The eight fairies disguised themselves as coins to fool the demon, and when the demon attacked, they shone so brightly that the demon was scared away. After that, the villagers began spreading the word to give out red envelopes filled with money to protect their children.

OtHER pRActIcES tO WARD OFF BAD LUcK

The Chinese have many practices and beliefs when it comes to the Spring Festival, and while many Chinese don’t follow all of them to a tee, it is still enforced in many homes.

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Cutting, or washing of hair is forbidden, as it is believed that good luck would be ‘washed away’, or ‘cut off’.

Sweeping on the first day of Chinese New Year is strictly forbidden, as it is believed that doing so would ‘sweep’

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away all wealth and prosperity.

Spring cleaning All debts should be paid off as any leftover debts brought into the new year would invite more debt. No borrowing or lending of money should occur either.

Black or white clothes should also not be worn, as they are the colour of mourning, and is associated with death and bad luck.

Knives or scissors are not to be used, or it may ‘cut’ off fortune.

FOOD OF pROSpERItY

The symbolisms of the Chinese people don’t only end with practices; the food prepared during Chinese New Year are chock full of it too. There are many foods prepared during the Chinese New Year that carry meanings beyond taste buds. Here are a few of the

more prevalent dishes during the auspicious Spring Festival.

ingredients represents something, such as prosperity, good luck, wealth, youth, and flourishing businesses.

Mandarin oranges (Gan): The fruit is a popular sight amongst the Chinese when it comes to this period in time as not only does it taste refreshing and sweet, it is said to bring wealth and good luck due to the fact that the Cantonese pronunciation for the characters for gold and mandarins sound similar. Many families display the oranges to welcome wealth and luck.

Longevity noodles (Chang sou mian): It isn’t hard to guess what the Chinese believe when it comes to this dish – it’s already in the name. The noodles are longer compared to normal noodles to represent long life, and it is usually served uncut. It is usually boiled and served with broth, or fried.

Fish (Yu): Due to the Chinese character for fish sounding similar to that of abundance, the Chinese believe that eating steamed fish would bring about abundance in all they want – be it money, good fortune and love from their loved ones.

Nian Gao: While the name literally means ‘Year Cake’, it’s name is a homophone for a chinese term that implies ending a year on a high note. This sticky delicacy made of glutinous rice can be steamed, or fried in flour, along with pieces of yam. The Nian Gao is a popular gift during Chinese New Year, and can be found in almost every Chinese home. SE

Yu Sheng: While this dish may not have originated from China, it is said to have traces of origins from there. It is hotly debated whether this dish that we see every Chinese New Year was created in Malaysia or Singapore, but the reason we eat it is the same. The dish is made out of a medley of ingredients, such as raw salmon slices, carrots, radish, peanuts, sesame seeds, plum sauce, flour crisps and oil. Each of the

ANIME

2. by mira aziz

1.

JAN 2017

C u r t a in R a is e r s

3.

4.

There’s a rumour circling around that anime is losing its magic. We’re going to prove them wrong by showing them that anime is back bigger and better. The anime listed below will air in the first month of 2017, including a Netflix’s original anime film! You’re not going to be disappointed.

1. Kuzu no Honkai (Scum’s Wish)

Not your typical romance anime, Kuzu no Honkai explores a darker side of love and what it could do to someone when romance turns sour. For others, Mugi Awaya and Hanabi Yasuraoka are the couple they strive to be but behind the pretend intimacy, both of them are in love with someone else. They seek each other’s comfort to ease their heart from the pain of heartbreak.

Many of you will relate as to why the characters become so destructive over a feeling they can’t control. This anime will make you ponder whether love is really worth dying for.

Genre: Drama, romance, school, seinen

2. ChäoS;Child

3. Blame!

Netflix’s anime film, Blame! is a manga adaptation that will air this month. The award-winning manga follows the journey of Killy in finding the Net Terminal Genes, the key to saving humanity while battling to stay alive from cyborgs called Safeguards.

Set in a world where advanced technology dominates, humans are no longer in charge of their city. Killy is determined to take back what’s lost by invading enemy territory with his powerful guns.

Genre: Action, sci-fi, drama

4. All Out!!

This is the one we’re most excited about.

Chaos;Child is set six years after a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people in Shibuya. A group of high-schoolers that survived the catastrophe started investigating bizarre murders with patterns similiar to serial killings that happened six years back (Chaos;Head).

Equipped with their superhuman powers, these survivors must confront the tragedy hitting their city by finding the killer before the next murder occurs. They survived a natural disaster, but will they survive a serial killer?

Sports-based anime has been receiving love from fans for a very long time. The latest one in 2017 is All Out!!, carrying the pride of rugby. The anime’s beginning is similar to another popular sports anime, Kuroko no Basuke. No one would expect that a small but bold Kenji Gion would join the rugby team but he signed up anyway and together with the other teammates, they must learn to work together despite the clash of personalities so that they can reach the top.

The plot is clichéd and straight-forward, thus it comes down to the character build-up to make this anime shine.

Genre: Murder mystery

Genre: School, seinen, sports

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5.

5. Chain Chronicle: Hekuseitasu no Hikari From the acclaimed game, Chain Chronicle comes a TV series that will bring the continent of Yggdra to life. Yggdra, a land of mythical creatures is led by the Holy King but when he falls into the hands of the mysterious Black Army, peace is slowly traded with fear. When all hope seems to disappear, a young man by the name of Yuri takes charge and creates his own Volunteer army to defeat the Black King and wrest his home back. Three Chain Chronicle films will be released prior to the TV series, so don’t miss out on the preview of this anticipated anime!

Genre: Action, adventure, fantasy

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FEATURE

JAN 2017

Malaysian James Dyson Award winner shines a light on high accident rates caused by drowsiness with his invention, Vizhi.

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T

he Real Time Traffic Accident Statistics show that more than 4,000 people were killed in car accidents in 2015 and the Malaysia Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) have identified drivers who fall asleep on the wheel as the second most common contributor to motor vehicle accidents, after overtaking.

This year, the Malaysian James Dyson Award winner attempts to solve the problem of high accident rates caused by drowsiness.

Hailing from a town in Kedah and citing cars as his main passion, Mugilan Muralitharan, a Mechanical and Automotive Engineering graduand from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia aims to take on this threat by inventing Vizhi, an anti-sleep device that can detect eye behaviour and alert drivers who might fall asleep while driving.

By incorporating firmware and software, Mugilan has created a prototype that links a high definition webcam to MATLAB software.

Through the webcam, the device is able to detect how alert the driver is by analysing their eye behaviour. Once detected, it produces appropriate commands such as ‘normal condition’, ‘low alertness and possible drowsiness’ or ‘low concentration and risk of falling asleep’. These output commands will inform drivers if they should take a break or continue driving.

We managed to catch up with Mugilan to find out a little bit more about his achievement.

When and how did you first find out about the James Dyson Foundation and the competition?

I found out about this competition through a friend, who was an intern in Dyson.

He encouraged me to try out as he had confidence in the final year project I was working on. So I visited the website and felt that it was the best platform for me to put my idea forward.

What are some of your other achievements in the engineering field?

In my previous semester, I designed the prototype of a car using paper rolls. My team, out of the six participating teams was successful in getting the car to move.

What were some of your interests growing up and what propelled you to be who you are today?

I was always inspired by my dad who is my hero. I built my interest in all things technical by watching my dad who was a technician.

He was very handy around the house – fixing appliances that were faulty and also good with fixing cars. That’s how I developed my passion for cars. While I learnt how to fix stuff from him, I was also inspired to take it one step ahead – by inventing.

Tell us a little bit about the idea or inspiration behind the invention.

The inspiration is an incident that occurred a decade ago when my family and I were travelling from Kulim to Rawang in a car driven by my dad. Exhausted from the long distance drive, he dozed off at the wheel and almost crashed into another car. Real life problems have always been my design inspiration. It’s the best feeling knowing my invention can help save lives. And I am glad I can use the knowledge learned from my engineering course to do that.

How did you come about naming your invention Vizhi?

Vizhi is a beautiful Tamil word that means both “eye” and “awake” which was the perfect name for the prototype.

Tell us a little bit about the process you went through in coming up with your invention.

Firstly I would like to thank my lecturer who accepted this idea for my final year project.

I did my research based on his advice to develop the core technology used in my

prototype. I spent a year on research alone. I also spent time interviewing people who are at risk, mainly long haul lorry drivers as well as shift workers. I also conducted research on the other technologies available out there to find out the viability of Vizhi in the market, in future.

Share with us, some of the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

The biggest challenge was learning how to use the MATLAB software which is the platform that the prototype runs on. I relied strongly on my own reading, and also discussed with my lecturer whenever I hit a roadblock. In future, I will have to create my own software in order to run Vizhi. Also, right now Vizhi has some limitations, especially with regards to lighting and can’t yet be used by those who wear spectacles. I will be aiming to tackle these shortcomings in the following prototypes.

How long did it take you to be satisfied with the final version of Vizhi?

It took me one and a half years to reach this point. I will then be moving on to the second phase of the project which will involve a triggering or alerting mechanism that will alert the driver who is at risk of falling asleep.

What are your hopes and aspirations for the future?

I hope that Vizhi will be available in the market one day and will be affordable to everyone. SE

CAREERCHAT

JAN 2017

With multiple restaurants and 55 staff under his wings, Navin Karu’s love for food, as well as the F&B business is apparent. In fact, this German-born entrepreneur who owns Vin’s Resto Bar & Velvet Lounge and the latest, Manja Restaurant & Bar, has been riding on his passion ever since he discovered it. A double degree holder in Marketing & International Tourism from Victoria University, Navin admitted that the journey to success in the industry was not as ‘tasty’ as the food in his restaurants.

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My dream is to go into the parts in the heart of the city which make you feel like you’re not even in the city.

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have enough skills and knowledge to do this business. The only thing that I learnt from college that was useful to my business was how to deal with people. That was worth more than formal education. Everything was wrong because I didn’t know a thing and I hired wrong people for the job. So what I did was to experience every aspect of the job myself.

I became the kitchen helper, learning the system inside out. Basically, it came down to hands-on experience.

What were you doing to get to where you are currently?

The first step was to learn how to be a boss and how to manage staff because I didn’t have prior experience. Through my research, I found that Shell was one of the top employers in Malaysia, so I aimed for a job there. I didn’t get a call from them but I kept finding means to reach them. In the meantime, I took my first job at CIMB bank before moving on to Marcus Evans but I never lost sight of what I really wanted which was to work with Shell. Finally, they contacted me and I was chosen for the graduate training programme.

I learnt a lot of things; how to deal with people, chain management strategy and their goals. So with that knowledge, I started my project plan for my first restaurant, Vin’s. I didn’t have any money at the time, so I bought Shell’s share units using my three months’ salary and I sold them to save up for my business but it still wasn’t enough. I borrowed from my father, my family, and friends. With that, I opened Vin’s.

What were your initial expectations before you started the business?

What I thought it would be and what it actually is, was completely different. I realised that the years of education was redundant. I didn’t

What is the thought process before you decided to grow and expand your business?

The creativity to express myself and grow my staff. I like developing people, seeing someone come in as a cleaner and grooming them into a manager. I don’t expand for money because it’ll never go well if your goal is just to make money.

What is the most difficult aspect of owning and managing these restaurants?

Handling people because business is about people and they’re going to represent themselves based on how they grew up. You have to really understand them to be able to approach them.

What is your advice for youth who want to do something different as compared to what their parents want them to do?

I don’t believe in depending on formal education. I don’t believe in compelling a child into something that is not relevant for the future. You need to spend time unlearning what’s been taught to you and you need to question everything around you. SE

BY: MIRA AZIZ

What got you into F&B? I lived in Germany and London for 12 years and I have a lot of food experiences. Once I returned to Malaysia, I didn’t even really bother to get a degree but I did it anyway to make my parents happy. Even then I always knew that I wanted to open a restaurant because I want to be around food. I love the whole experience that comes with food.

Why did you go head on with it even though you had no knowledge about the business?

I come from a family that doesn’t require me to look after my parents financially, so there was no motivation for me to work a normal job and earn a medium salary doing something that I don’t even enjoy. If you put me in an area that I’m interested in, I perform. So I knew that if I want to develop myself further, I needed to do something that I’m actually interested in.

LIFE101

JAN 2017

Your Pre-University options after SPM

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t’s never too soon to start planning your further education options. Many degree courses, if not all, requires its students to have the proper entry requirements into their degree programmes. This is where Pre-U courses come into the picture. It is basically your passport and stepping stone to any course and university in the world.

There are a handful of popular Pre-U courses available here in Malaysia, and choosing the right one is important to ensure that you’re on the right track to success. A good Pre-U course should help to build strong knowledge and foundation skills that will see you through your degree course. To get you to where you want to go in your career, you need to map out your tertiary academic journey properly. A little prior planning and knowledge will eventually help you to achieve your goals faster and save on the heartache/disappointments.

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A-Levels Widely recognised, especially in Commonwealth countries, the Advanced Level General Certification of Education or more commonly known as the A-Levels is a popular foundation programme chosen by many Malaysian students. Most A-Level programmes are administered through the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) and Edexcel International boards.

The scope of studies and the examination style is highly specialised, with the number of A-Levels required for university entrance usually being three. Assessment is 100% examination based, and students have to sit for a minimum of three subjects. Course duration normally lasts for 18 months but could be as long as two years, depending on the college and the students’ own subject combinations.

The A-Level was split into two phases in 2000, resulting in the Advanced Subsidiary

level (AS) examinations and the “A2” level examinations. This means that students would have to obtain their AS qualification in one examination session (usually three modules) and then sit for the final assessment (A2) in a subsequent session (the remaining modules) in order to obtain their A-Level qualification. The purpose of this distinction is to offer students a more flexible and broader scope of study as well as to better prepare them for their tertiary education. These examinations are all set and graded by the CIE board of examiners.

South Australian Matriculation (SAM)

Offered to students outside of Australia since 1982, the SAM programme places emphasis on critical thinking skills, practical application and creativity. It is an internationally recognised one year pre-U matriculation programme administered by the Senior

Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia (SSABSA), an independent, statutory authority of the South Australian government.

The SAM is a pre-U course which allows students in their respective countries to build upon their local pre-matriculation studies.

Once theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve successfully completed the SAM, they are accredited with the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), an award recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), and which opens doors to many accepted universities locally and worldwide.

The advantages of doing the SAM includes its relatively short course duration of one year or accelerated nine month programme (depends on the college offering the course).

The scope of studies is almost similar to that of the A-Levels, and the programme offers a flexible schedule that gives students the option to complete the entire course over an accelerated pace or over an extended period.

Students must complete a minimum of five subjects in order to qualify for the SACE and meet the tertiary entrance rank. Additionally, students are required to achieve a satisfactory score (10/20 or better) in either English studies or English as a second language to obtain the qualification.

As the final evaluation is comprised of 50% college-based coursework and assessments, and the remaining 50% is based on the external examination set and marked by the SSABSA, the SAM is a programme that promotes and encourages consistency and time management skills. For students wishing to excel, focus must not only be aimed at the final examinations, but must be equally attributed to their coursework and assignments over the entire course.

This is a great pre-U course for those who intend to further their studies in Australia, as obtaining the SACE is a passport to many recognised Australian universities.

Canadian PreUniversity (CPU)

Available in Malaysia since 1983, the CPU is the equivalent to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Year 12). Private colleges here offer this diploma via the International Canadian Pre-University (ICPU) or through the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP).

Although not as internationally recognised as some of the other pre-U qualifications, it is nevertheless accepted in all Canadian universities and selected universities in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

This makes it the perfect pre-U course to pursue if you are planning to pursue your tertiary education in Canada.

The course duration is approximately one year (two semesters), in which the scope of studies is coursework intensive.

Students would be evaluated throughout the academic year in the form of assignments, tests, quizzes, participation in class and attendance, which altogether constitutes coursework evaluation of 70%. The remaining 30% is evaluated via the final year examination. This makes the CPU course a very interactive and student-focused learning approach.

The other advantage is that upon completion of the CPU programme, students can proceed to university without having to sit for the TOEFL or IELTS English-language proficiency qualification. However, students are required to pass an Ontario secondary school literary test as well as serve a prerequisite of 10 hours of community service during the course.

American Degree Program (ADP)

Also known as the American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP), this is in actual fact not a pre-U course in the traditional sense. As its namesake implies, it is basically a four year degree course, whereby the first two years are completed in Malaysia and the credits obtained are then transferred to complete the degree in an American university of choice. Which means this â&#x20AC;&#x153;pre-Uâ&#x20AC;? programme is a preparatory course for students who intend to study at universities in America or Canada.

The duration of the pre-U portion of this degree course takes around one to two years (approximately three to five semesters) and is done in Malaysia. The scope of study is broad-based and follows the flexible American style of education.

Students are free to choose the subjects that they wish to study based on the course

of their choice, unlike the more rigid syllabus of the A-Levels. Besides being graded on the final examination, students are also assessed based on their classroom assignments and coursework.

It is an internationally recognised course, especially in America and Canada. However, like the CPU programme, the ADP does not have a particular governing body and instead relies on the respective universities to govern the ADP.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP))

The IBDP originated over 30 years ago as an effort by a group of international educators to bring quality educational standards for students, regardless of where they lived.

Governed by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) in Geneva, Switzerland, and administered by the International Baccalaureate Curriculum and Assessment Centre in Cardiff, it is a two year programme that employs a revolutionary approach to pre-U studies.

A tough and at times considered an elitist programme, students must attend an International Baccalaureate (IB) school in order to join the IBDP. Students must possess above average grades in their SPM, and are required to sit for entrance tests and interviews. The scope of study is revolutionary in that it is comprehensive, academically challenging, progressive and encourages international mindedness (with the learning of a second language). Students are required to sit for a minimum of six subjects from six different subject groups, and complete three core requirements.

Assessments are via international examinations, oral presentations, practical coursework and other projects.

The advantage of the IBDP is that it is highly recognised and accepted by all private universities worldwide. The drawback is that it is an expensive course. SE

WELLNESS

JAN 2017

New Year resolutions are never complete without a ‘lose weight’ on the list and by the year end, that box is always left unticked because food is just irresistible. So we did a little digging and we’ve concluded that the key to losing weight is consistency. Although, there are literally thousands of tips to achieve that, we chose one that might put an end to this vicious cycle of not losing weight – detox juicing plan.

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ome of you may not have heard of detox juice but it’s been gaining popularity among health/beauty enthusiasts and they have been consuming it as part of their effort to shed a few pounds. Detox juice is basically fresh fruits and vegetables that are blended together without additional sugar or sweetener and it works by removing toxins from your body that is one of the major causes of weight gain.

In South Korea, less than 4% of the population is obese and it actively promotes the benefits of detox juice.

Although many took it to the extreme by starting juice fasting, a meal-less detox juice diet for days or weeks, it is safer and a lot healthier to consume detox juice along with protein-based meals. However, due to its fresh ingredients, they are ridiculously overpriced. So, we recommend you make it in your own kitchen for daily consumption. Here are our three favourite recipes of detox juice!

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Watermelon & mint 1-2 litres of water ½ watermelon (cut into cubes) 2 lime (1 squeezed and 1 sliced) 10-13 fresh mint leaves Directions: Put the watermelon, mint leaves and lime in a jar and then add water. Leave the jar in the fridge overnight and add ice cubes before drinking.

Lea Michele’s De-bloating Juice 1 glass of water 2 squeezed lemons ½ chopped cucumber 6 cubes of watermelon A fist of fresh ginger shavings Directions: Blend all the ingredients in a mixer and serve.

Dr. Oz’s Red Drink 1 beet 1 large carrot (chopped) Fresh parsley 1 apple (cut into cubes) Directions: Blend all the ingredients in a mixer and serve.

Tropical Paradise 1 medium ripe papaya 1 small pineapple 1 medium kiwi 1 piece of ginger ½ cup of fresh young coconut juice Directions: Peel and slice the fruits and ginger.

Add them into the mixer and pour the coconut juice.

Blend all ingredients until smooth and serve.

WIREDUP

JAN 2017

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 3700 All-in-one

Introducing the world’s smallest printer – the 3700 series. It fits on the tiniest of spaces, and is perfect for people who are running out of space in their homes or tables.

The printer is completely wireless (with the exception of the power plug), and you can send documents and pictures to it directly from your phone or your laptop through Wi-Fi Direct. With HP Printbot, Facebook Messenger users can even print content directly from a Messenger conversation. Not only can you print, you can scan and copy as well! It comes in three exciting colours – Electric Blue, Sea Grass Green, and Cardinal Red. Price: RM379 http://www.hp.com/my/

Dell Alienware 17

Zenfone 3 Deluxe

http://www.dell.com/my/

https://www.asus.com/my/

This latest addition to Alienware’s line of high-performance PC gaming systems, the Alienware 17 boasts of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-series family of GPUs; desktop-class graphics performance, enhanced capabilities and realistic gameplay. It can even be overclocked with Intel Core i7 k-series processors on DDR4 memory running up to 267 Mhz. It is made of materials such as anodised aluminium, magnesium alloy, steel reinforcement and copper to add form and function to the new design – making it lighter, stronger and even easier to cool. It even has an optimised GB LED for better key lighting. It also has a whole new line of special features; such as Tobii eye tracking technology, which allows players to control the mouse with nothing but their eyeballs, record and even export your eye movement, as well as VR compatibility. This is truly one of the best machines for gamers to game on. Price: RM8,299

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Walled within a luxurious full metal body with invisible antenna along with 5.7 inch super Amoled screen, the new Zenfone 3 Deluxe is giving the smartphone competitors a run for its money. Equipped with revolutionised smartphone technology, the most attractive feature of Zenfone 3 Deluxe is probably its camera known to be the first in the world that uses Sony’s IMX318 sensor with a whooping 23MP resolution rear camera covered with sapphire glass and 8MP wide viewing angle front camera. It also includes a fast charging 3000mAh nonremovable battery and touch security that can recognise up to five fingers and will unlock in 0.2 seconds. To top it off, the 6GB RAM Zenfone 3 Deluxe runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processors paired with Adreno 530 GPU to ensure smooth performance. Price: RM2,599

Moto Z

For those who are not into bulky smartphones, Motorola Mobility has just introduced the world’s thinnest premium smartphone that is said to be razor thin. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor is shielded with military aircraft-grade aluminum and a stainless steel body. Moto Z features 4GB of RAM and a 14cm (5.5”) Quad HD AMOLED display. The 13MP f1.8 high-resolution camera comes with optical image stabilisation and laser autofocus. Another upgrade to its value is the addition of a responsive fingerprint reader. Using TurboPower for the battery, you can get up to seven hours of power in 15 minutes. To seal the deal, Motorola also introduced Moto Mods that will allow you to transform Moto Z as add-ons. Moto Mods includes JBL Soundboost Speaker, Hasselblad True Zoom Camera, Insta-Share Projector and many more to be purchased separately. Price: RM2,699 http://www.motorola.com

Sony Xperia XZ

It maximises Sony’s acclaimed image sensor, two additional assisting sensors have been added to make Sony’s triple image sensing technology, allowing for beautiful images even when capturing images in motion. Coupled with a 23MP main camera, high autofocus speed and quality, and you’ll have superb pictures despite bad lighting. Users will be able to shoot smoother videos with Sony’s Steadyshot as well.

Running on a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 processor, the phone is able to run extremely smoothly. Price: RM2,699 http://www.sony.com.my/

Acer Swift 3

Swift it away with Acer’s latest ultra-thin and lightweight Swift 3 notebook designed to lessen the hassle of carrying your heavy laptop around. Only weighing 1.5kg, this 17.95mm thin notebook is armored with a solid all-aluminum chassis and an impressive 14” display. It promises great productivity through the 6th Generation Intel® CoreTM i5 processor that is translated to enhanced graphics and better CPU performance.

The work-on-the-go experience is further intensified with battery life that can last up to 10 hours. The device also features 256GB SSD and 4GB of internal memory. One noticeable premium feature in Acer Swift 3 is the Acer Fingerprint Reader that allows Windows 10 to identify users without a password so that they can log in to their device in a more secure way.

Acer Swift 3 comes in two colours, Sparkly Silver and Luxury Gold. It is now available at select authorised Acer resellers nationwide.

Price: RM2,899 http://www.acer.com.my

MOVIE REVIEW

JAN 2017

g n i t i s i v Re

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If only we could erase every memory we have of something or someone that has recently caused us grief, would we be better off forgoing all memories, be it good or bad, that has to do with the person? or simply live with all of their memories together, and all the emotions that go with it? This is the question that ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ aims to ask.

he movie tells the story of the failing relationship between the shy, introverted Joe Barish (Jim Carrey) and the untameable, free-spirited Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) who just wants to get the most out of life. However, their relationship soured, and Clementine elected to have her memories of Joel erased through an experimental procedure performed by Lacuna Inc., a company that specialises in memory erasure. Wracked with grief, Joel decided to get the procedure done to him too.

The narration is done through a non-linear fashion; the viewer is often propelled back and forth through a recollection of Joel’s memories with Clementine, as the vast majority of the film takes place in Joel’s mind.

The viewer will experience their relationship backwards, from the troubled latter days of their relationship, to their days as a happy couple, and finally the fateful day that they met. Combining elements of science fiction, drama, romance and comedy, Eternal Sunshine is one that will keep viewers racing through different emotions – sadness, joy, and even laughter.

Despite being associated with comedy films, Carrey manages to pull off an excellent performance as the bashful, sometimes cowardly Joel Barish. Although, not able to resort to the exaggerated movements and facial contortions he has come to be known for, Carrey manages to portray the

range of emotions his character feels – love, awkwardness, and one that we feel most strongly – grief.

Kate Winslet’s character as the impulsive, over-the-top Clementine Kruczynski is also incredibly infectious – her outgoing personality and ‘carpe diem’ mentality, leads her to live life fast and to try everything she can; but it ultimately leads to a whole lot of irresponsible decisions (such as erasing Joel in the first place).

The chemistry between them is extremely palpable. Despite being involved in arguments in the latter days of their relationship, one can see what attracted the two characters to each other in the first place. In the end, one can’t help but feel a sense of melancholy – the movie invites the viewer into the lives of Joel and Clementine through snippets of memory, all that time spent being happy with someone they love, then reverting into a state of obliviousness when the next dawn arrives.

Viewers are also treated to sub-plots regarding the lives of the employees of Lacuna Inc – Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson), Patrick (Elijah Wood), Mary (Kirsten Dunst) and Stan (Mark Ruffalo).

At the end of the movie, one really begins to realise that memories, be it the good or bad, is all we have of someone we hold dear.

While someone may be gone from your life, they aren’t truly gone – a piece of them will always live on, inside of you. But if you get rid of that too, then they truly will be… gone. SE

MOVIES

PREVIEWS

JAN 2017

A Monster Calls

Arrival

STARRING: SIGOURNEY WEAVER FELICITY JONES TOBY KEBBELL LEWIS MACDOUGALL LIAM NEESON

STARRING: AMY ADAMS JEREMY RENNER FOREST WHITAKER

RELEASE: 5th January 2017

RELEASE: 12th January 2017

Conor O’Malley feels invisible and how many of us wouldn’t if we were in his shoes? At a young age, he finds himself having to deal with his mother’s terminal illness and attacks from local school bully, Harry. Watch as he encounters a giant humanoid yew tree who shares tales with him and begins to help him fix his unhappy life.

Linguist Amy Banks is approached for assistance when an unidentified spacecraft lands. Together with mathematician Ian Donnelly and US Army Colonel Weber, she must decode what the occupants of the spacecraft want as the chaos of their landing leads mankind to the verge of worldwide destruction.

Split

xXx: Return of Xander Cage

STARRING: James McAvoy Anya Taylor-Joy Jessica Sula Haley Lu Richardson Betty Buckley

STARRING: VIN DIESEL DONNIE YEN SAMUEL L. JACKSON DEEPIKA PADUKONE NINA DOBREV RUBY ROSE TONY JAA TONI COLLETTE

RELEASE: 19th January 2017

RELEASE: 26th January 2017

Three teenage girls are hurled into a nightmare when they are kidnapped by Kevin, a man who embodies 23 different personalities. They meet with all his personalities from a sophisticated woman to a young nine year old boy – or so they think. They are unable to escape him and soon discover that he has a 24th and final personality – “The Beast”.

Thought to be deceased, extreme athlete turned government operative, Xander Cage comes out of a self-imposed exile and goes head-to-head with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a quest to recover Pandora’s Box, a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon. Together with his new team, Xander finds himself in the thick of a deadly conspiracy.

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MUSIC

REVIEWS

DNCE | DNCE

Glory Days (Deluxe) | Little Mix

If one had to summarise DNCE’s self-titled debut album in two words, this would be it: good vibes. From tracks like ‘DNCE’ (yeap, the song was written before the band was named). It speaks of being too drunk to even care about it (hint: it’s spelling) and dancing the night away to ‘Good Day’ which preaches positivity and living life the way you want to. This is definitely an album to destress to. While fans will recognise three of the tracks featured on this album from their EP, other tracks to note include ‘Doctor You’, ‘Blown’, ‘Naked’ and ‘Be Mean’.

After proving to their fans that they’re anything but just another girl group with the release of ‘Secret Love Song’, Brit artistes Little Mix are back with their fourth studio album. Putting it simply, if you absolutely detest songs centering on relationships, then this album probably isn’t for you. Otherwise, its one you should definitely check out as there is a certain sincerity behind their vocals that makes the message behind the songs come across quite clearly. Look out for ‘F.U.’, ‘Oops’, ‘Power’, ‘Nobody Like You’, and the acoustic version of ‘Touch’.

Starboy | The Weeknd

Darkness and Light | John Legend

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye aka The Weeknd is back with his third studio album which is haunting without coming across as creepy. In short, this would be the kind of album that you would listen to over a few drinks with some buddies on a Thursday night, which is what we have come to expect of The Weeknd by now. Aside from the title track, look out for ‘False Alarm’, ‘Secrets’, ‘Six Feet Under’, ‘All I Know’, and ‘Die For You’.

John Legend’s fifth studio album is something which starts off okay but gets much better as it goes on. True to his style, the music is relaxing while still meaningful and the album as a whole is definitely something which you should check out if you’re a fan. While I’m not particularly a fan of the title track in the case of this album, don’t forget to check out ‘Penthouse Floor’, ‘ Love Me Now’, and ‘Surefire’.

JAN 2017

WANDERLUST

JAN 2017

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ISLANDS IN THE SUN here’s some great beaches to explore in langkawi for the ultimate relaxing experience

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Singa Besar

erhaps a lesser known, and definitely under appreciated form of tourism within Malaysia are the shores of our beautiful islands, rich in folklore with numerous choices of water activities.

There are a few clusters of little green emeralds that rise above the sapphire ocean that are worth the time and money; and the returns of your investment will come in the form of experiences and memories to cherish for a lifetime!

While there are many islands to choose from in Malaysia, we will only be focusing on three islands.

* Prices mentioned are accurate at press time.

The Langkawi Archipelago

Dayang Bunting

This is usually the second destination on the island hopping tour, as the island is situated between Dayang Bunting and Beras Basah. The island is rather undeveloped and this allows it to maintain its natural charm and beauty.

The major attraction on this island would be the eagle feeding. Most tour services would stop slightly away from the shore and the boatman would throw pieces of chicken into the sea; then watch as magnificent eagles swoop down at the water to feed.

There is also the option to camp on the island for those who want to. However, you should get in touch with the Langkawi Tourist Information Centre before making plans to go camping.

This famous Malaysian island was believed to be cursed in 1819, by a woman named Mahsuri – who was put to death for alleged adultery (another popular tourist spot is Mahsuri’s tomb). The curse was that there would be no peace and prosperity on the island for seven generations. Whether or not one chooses to believe this, the curse has been lifted and the island has become quite prosperous indeed.

In the surrounding waters of tax-free haven Langkawi, are a number of islands.

It’s not just the cheap chocolates and perfume that make it a popular tourist spot; the charming and laid-back town lifestyle and the friendliness of the locals provide an uplifting break from hectic city life.

Head on over to the beach side and you will find a myriad of tour operators that provide island hopping packages. The price

This island, located about 20 kilometres from Kuah town is said to have mythical origins. Here, legend has it that a celestial princess named Mambang Sari had a favourite bathing pool, Lake Dayang Bunting, also known as the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. The lake is believed to have mystical qualities that help barren women bear children, if they were to take a dip in its waters. Seen from afar, the entire island looks like a pregnant woman lying on her back.

One can enjoy the lush greenery of the island through the nature walk which has been paved to make the experience enjoyable for tourists – but beware of the monkeys! Other activities that can be enjoyed include a natural fish spa and use of paddle boats. There is also a souvenir shop for those who want mementos of the place.

This island is often times described as pristine and beautiful - with it’s white sands and clear water. Beras Basah is essentially the best spot to relax and unwind.

There may not much activities to do there but it’s best to just soak up the sun and embrace your surroundings. It is a great venue to spend some quiet time by yourself or with those you love; so bring a book or pack a picnic – just make sure that you pack those stuff well, preferably in waterproof bags to prevent them from getting soaked by spray as motorboat rides can get very wet.

Additionally, should you get the opportunity, island hop around the isles of Redang, Perhentian and Lang Tengah. Also check out Sipadan Island, Kapalai Island and Mabul Island, to name just a few more. SE

ranges from around RM30* – RM60* per person, depending on the tour provider.

Then there is also the option to rent an entire boat, which costs between RM250* – RM300* if you intend to take your own time and do not want to jump in a boat with other random tourists.

The most famous islands that are the usual picks for tourists to hop along are Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Singa Besar and Pulau Beras Basah. Usually the time taken to visit all three islands is about four hours.

Beras Basah

GAMING

JAN 2017

avee h ly oic l a re h chs and e wm u c m e r ? o D t gaatte o e tha ids it m v in oe d

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very form of media ever introduced to humankind has brought with it a new form of interaction – the printing press made the latest news accessible quickly and widely; radio allowed us to broadcast songs and messages, and the invention of television allowed us to utilise three out of our five senses, adding sight into the equation.

Video games, the latest in the chain of media, have provided its users with something that has never ever been achieved by any other medium before: the feeling of agency. It is the only medium that lets you control

what happens – it allows the player to make choices; and thus, player agency.

Players are often invited to exercise their agency not only during narrative, but also in the mechanics of the game as well. Gamers can choose different ways to complete their missions, invest points in different skills to grant them different powers, or simply have the freedom to explore the world they’ve been introduced to.

This allows players to feel as if they have invested a part of themselves in the game.

By doing something that they personally choose to, they are projecting a little bit of their personality into the game or the character they play with every choice they make.

However, it is argued that while games do allow us to make certain decisions – it does not allow one to have true free will and immersion.

There will definitely be limits imposed in the world - there will be limits to where you can go, what you can say, and what you can do – there will always be a conveniently placed pile of debris, limited conversation choices, and you can never set out to be a villain in a game where you play a hero who is sent out to save humanity.

If the developers were to go all out and write codes for every possible outcome and whim that the player might have, they will never be able to release their game. The coding process would take far too long, and it would be far too arduous to even attempt.

Fortunately, it is not necessary for that much choice to be coded into the game for the player to feel agency – all that matters is that the game makes us feel that our choices do affect the game, be it through our gameplay or through the narrative. One does not need unending options to offer the player, all they need is for an acknowledgement that they’ve made that choice, and that it has mattered in the grand scheme of the game. This will make all the difference; it will make the choice worth making.

Some would even say that if a player has absolutely full control of whatever they want to do, the narrative would end up suffering, as the player would move so far off course from the intended story that it wouldn’t even be relevant anymore.

There are even games that capitalise on the fact that players may not have that much choice in games to truly highlight that feeling of oppression and lack of choice in the game, such as during fights against opponents far stronger in which the player is meant to lose. It can also be used during instances where the player is trapped and at the mercy of others, such as in Portal, that purposely limits the places you can go within the Aperture Laboratories to fully elucidate how truly and undeniably trapped you are.

Despite not being able to offer true agency, choice has the very real opportunity to help the player to be further immersed into the world, and draw players in using a whole new way of storytelling.

But really, the only real choice we have when it comes to video games is ‘to play, or not to play’. SE

BERITA

JAN 2017

MALAM KEBAJIKAN â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;HALLOWEEN SPOOKED FUNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kechara, sebuah Pertubuhan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) menganjurkan malam kebajikan yang penuh keseronokan bagi 360 orang tetamunya di Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Pahang yang terdiri daripada tetamu khas, kanak-kanak dan mereka yang kurang bernasib baik. Acara

ini dirasmikan oleh tetamu kehormat, ADUN daerah Ketari, Yang Berhormat Encik Lee Chin Chen, Ahli Majlis Perbandaran Bentong, Yang Berusaha Lim Sang Hong, Naib Presiden Kechara House, Pastor Kok Yek Yee, hos rancangan The Paranormal Zone Phng Li Kim dan DJ Wayne Thong

dari 98.8 FM. Acara tersebut juga disertai kanak-kanak dan para penjaga dari Pusat Harapan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Kampung Perting, Pertubuhan Ibu Tunggak Semarak Kasih Selangor, SMK Katholik, SJK (C) Khai Mun Pagi, dan Komuniti Orang Asli Sungai Lebak serta Kampung Chamang.

Jelutong. Tidak kurang hebatnya, SMK (L) Methodist di Pulau Pinang telah menerbitkan risalah setebal 32 halaman yang bertujuan untuk membekalkan maklumat kepada orang ramai tentang bahaya penyakit denggi dan pencegahan denggi, sementara SMK Puncak

Alam pula telah memanfaatkan kuasa para selebriti dengan menggandingkan nama-nama besar separti Siti Nurhaliza, Fahrin Ahmad, Chef Zubir dan ramai lagi rakan artis untuk merekodkan klip-klip video pendek sebagai usaha untuk menyebarkan misi Patrol Denggi.

Program Patrol Denggi 2016 Untuk Memerangi Gejala Denggi Dalam program Patrol Denggi, 167 buah sekolah di seluruh negara telah bersaing untuk melaksanakan kempen kesedaran dan pencegahan denggi yang paling kreatif dan berkesan dalam tiga kategori berbeza â&#x20AC;&#x201C; iaitu melalui penglibatan komuniti, media sosial dan seni pentas. Antara acara utama aktiviti ko-kurikulum termasuklah aktiviti pembersihan peringkat komuniti yang melibatkan 30 buah daerah di Sandakan, dan turut disertai oleh majlis perbandaran Sandakan dan lebih daripada 2,000 orang peserta awam, yang dianjurkan oleh SK Karamunting serta pelbagai bentuk persembahan seperti sebutan korus persembahan jalanan, tarian boneka bertali dan persembahan dram yang diperbuat daripada bahan kitar semula dari SK Bukit 38

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Pemenang Kempen Kitar Semula

F&N & MBSA 2016

h rendah

menagi kategori sekola

SJK (C) Chung Hua me

SMK Bukit Jelutong

mengutip 10, 800kg

bahan kitar semula

PELAJAR KUMPUL LEBIH satu JUTA KG BAHAN KITAR SEMULA Usaha gigih dan idea kreatif pelajar dan guru SMK Seksyen 16 telah membolehkan transformasi laman sekolah itu menjadi sebuah taman indah dengan setiap sudut dan ceruk dipenuhi pelbagai ciptaan daripada beratus-ratus bahan kitar semula.

Penggunaan bahan kitar semula secara kreatif oleh sekolah menengah tersebut telah mendapat pengiktirafan pada Kempen Kitar Semula F&N & MBSA tahun ini yang mencatatkan kutipan 1.07 juta kg bahan kitar semula sejak kempen dimulakan pada 2007. Dalam kempen tahun ini, wang tunai berjumlah RM24,900 telah dihadiahkan kepada para pemenang. Datuk Bandar Shah Alam, Datoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad, menyampaikan hadiah bersama Cik Cariessa Goh kepada wakilwakil sekolah yang menang.

KES KAJIAN SEJARAH

Jenis-jenis Kerajaan di Dunia

JAN 2017

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perlembagaan kerajaan demokrasi. Hal-hal pentadbiran negara semuanya telahpun tertera dalam perlembagaan dan ia merupakan kuasa tertinggi negara.

Kerajaan Republik

T

erdapat pelbagai jenis kerajaan di seluruh dunia. Jenis-jenis kerajaan ini mempunyai ciri-ciri yang berbeza dengan keistimewaan masing-masing.

Di Malaysia, kita mengamalkan kerajaan demokrasi berparlimen. Marilah kita lihat persamaan serta perbezaan antara kerajaankerajaan ini.

Kerajaan Demokrasi Berparlimen Demokrasi ialah suatu perkataan yang berasal daripada Bahasa Yunani yang sebenarnya membawa maksud â&#x20AC;&#x153;rakyatâ&#x20AC;?. Sesebuah negara yang mengamalkan sistem demokrasi selalunya berciri seperti berikut: Kerajaan demokrasi mempunyai sistem politik yang terbentuk sepenuhnya oleh rakyat yang akan memilih pemimpin serta

pegawai-pegawai kerajaan sendiri melalui pilihan raya yang dijalankan secara adil dan bebas. Rakyat mempunyai kuasa untuk menyokong, mengekalkan ataupun menukar kerajaan sedia ada melalui proses pilihan raya. Sistem demokrasi memastikan dan menjanjikan pemeliharaan hak asasi semua lapisan masyarakat, tidak kiralah kaum majoriti ataupun minoriti. Dalam sistem demokrasi, sistem perundangannya memastikan rakyat dikenakan prosedur undang-undang secara adil dan sama rata. Perlembagaan kerajaan demokrasi biasanya menghadkan kuasa dan perjalanan rasmi kerajaan. Ia juga memastikan kuasa kerajaan terbahagi supaya monopoli kuasa tidak dipegang oleh pihak tertentu. Kerajaan demokrasi mengamalkan kebebasan bersuara dengan membenarkan rakyatnya berhimpun, memberi ucapan dan sebagainya. Kebebasan akhbar dan media juga termaktub dalam

Kerajaan republik mempunyai ciri-ciri yang hampir sama dengan kerajaan demokrasi.

Dalam sebuah kerajaan republik, kepimpinan kerajaan biasanya terletak di bawah seorang presiden yang merupakan seorang warganegara biasa. Perbezaan yang ketara antara kerajaan demokrasi dan republik adalah perlembagaan memerincikan hak asasi umum yang melindungi masyarakat kaum minoriti daripada diketuai oleh masyarakat daripada kaum majoriti secara sepenuhnya. Di kebanyakan negara republik, tempoh pemerintahan seseorang presiden itu dihadkan antara empat tahun hingga enam tahun atau selama satu atau dua penggal. Wakil yang terpilih itu akan memerintah kerajaan dan setiap ahli warganegara itu mempunyai hak sama rata. Contoh sebuah negara yang mengamalkan kerajaan berbentuk republik ialah Amerika Syarikat.

Kerajaan Komunis Komunisme adalah ideologi politik dan struktur sosio ekonomi berdasarkan pemilikan dan kawalan sama ke atas faktor pengeluaran dan harta secara umumnya. Menurut Karl

prinsip sosialisme terbelah kepada dua.

Sesetengah golongan sosialis mengikut Lenin dan mereka dipanggil komunis. Sesetengah yang lain pula percaya kepada sistem parlimen dan mereka ini dipanggil demokrat sosial. Ahli sosial demokrat sangat tidak bersetuju dengan prinsip komunis tetapi antara ciri golongan ini ialah mereka menjadi pendukung kepada konsep negara kebajikan.

Kerajaan Monarki

Marx, ajaran komunisme menganjurkan prinsip masyarakat tanpa kelas, tanpa negara dan bebas dari penindasan. Menurut Marx, keputusan tentang dasar yang dibuat secara demokratik membenarkan setiap ahli masyarakat mengambil bahagian dalam proses membuat keputusan dari segi ekonomi, politik dan sosial. Penubuhan komunisme sebenarnya merupakan cara alternatif untuk menyelesaikan masalah dalam ekonomi pasaran kapitalisme dan warisan penjajahan dan nasionalisme.

Marx menekankan bahawa kunci untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah ini terletak pada golongan pekerja yang menurut Marx adalah pengeluar utama kekayaan dalam masyarakat tetapi menjadi mangsa ekploitasi oleh kelas kapitalis (golongan kaya yang memiliki syarikat). Oleh itu, asas kepada kerajaan komunis merupakan pembinaan masyarakat yang bebas daripada pembahagian kelas. Ajaran komunisme juga menolak sebarang ajaran agama kerana dianggap mengongkong pemikiran rakyat.

Kerajaan Sosialis Sosialisme merupakan teori atau sistem organisasi sosial dan ekonomi di mana salah satu ciri utamanya adalah sumber kekayaan negara dinikmati bersama oleh seluruh rakyat secara sama rata. Robert Owen yang berasal dari Wales dikatakan sebagai pengasas prinsip sosialis yang juga merupakan ahli sosialis yang pertama. Beliau dianggap sebagai pengasas gerakan koperasi di Britain. Menurut Robert Owen, pekerja dalam sesebuah syarikatlah yang sepatutnya menjadi tuan kepada syarikat di mana mereka bekerja. Hasil keuntungan syarikat itu pun haruslah dikongsi sesama pekerja. Idea inilah yang menyebabkan kebanyakan parti sosialis ditubuhkan semasa kurun ke-19 dan awal kurun ke-20. Antara pejuang sosialis terkenal ialah Karl Marx yang merupakan penulis buku ajaran komunisme, iaitu The Communist Manifesto. Antara ahli sosialis lain yang terkenal ialah Vladimir Lenin iaitu ketua kerajaan Republik Rusia. Selepas Perang Dunia Pertama dan Revolusi Rusia,

Kerajaan Monarki merupakan sebuah kerajaan yang diketuai oleh Raja ataupun Sultan. Raja ataupun Sultan merupakan pentadbir utama yang memegang kuasa eksekutif. Pentadbiran negara dijalankan oleh kaum kerabat diraja ataupun sultan. Takhta kerajaan diturunkan kepada waris dalam kerabat diraja. Monarki demokratik atau Elective Monarchy dalam bahasa Inggeris berbeza sedikit daripada konsep raja yang sebenarnya. Tetapi dalam sistem monarki demokratik, takhta raja akan bertukar secara bergilir-gilir di kalangan beberapa sultan dan raja dan bukannya diwarisi oleh raja tertentu. Malaysia mengamalkan kedua-dua sistem iaitu raja berpelembagaan serta monarki demokratik. Di Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong merupakan ketua tertinggi negara yang juga merupakan simbol kedaulatan negara. Yang di-Pertuan Agong juga merupakan ketua agama Islam serta ketua tentera negara.

Kerajaan Totalitarian Fahaman totalitarinisme merupakan satu jenis pemerintahan di mana hanya satu parti politik sahaja dibenarkan dan parti inilah yang memerintah negara secara mutlak. Kerajaan totalitarian melibatkan penyebaran propaganda secara berpanjangan untuk memastikan rakyatnya patuh sepenuhnya kepada agenda yang dikeluarkan oleh kerajaan. Kerajaan Stalin di Kesatuan Soviet dan kerajaan Jerman di bawah pimpinan Hitler adalah beberapa contoh kerajaan totalitarian. Pemerintahan jenis ini sinonim dengan konsep penindasan, terutamanya apabila melibatkan pembunuhan dan penyekatan para cendekiawan masyarakat yang menentang dasar-dasar kerajaan pemerintah walaupun secara aman. SE

PERBINCANGAN Buatlah bacaan lanjut dan senaraikan kebaikan dan keburukan setiap jenis kerajaan dalam kes kajian ini. Pilih jenis kerajaan yang paling banyak membawa kebaikan atau keburukan. Bandingkan hasil kajian anda dengan sistem pemerintahan di Malaysia.

CASE STUDY SCIENCE

PART 2

JAN 2017

Contributed By: Nabilah Abdul Aleem Sidek & Ting Jen Ching (Grace) Lecturer, Centre of Foundation Studies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sg. Long Campus, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

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W

hen diphtheria affects a

unable to pump the blood at regular beats,

affect the nervous system depending on which

person’s throat and tonsils,

chronic heart disease and heart failure may

nerves are affected. This condition is known

a bluish-white or grey

occur, followed by death.

as neurological complication and can occur

membrane which is made

weeks after the first diphtheria infection.

up of bacteria and dead cells will form in

Diaphragm paralysis

the throat and on the tonsils within two or

Another possible complication is the paralysis

Diphtheria in Malaysia

three days. This membrane sticks to the soft

of a patient’s diaphragm. The diaphragm is a

As one of the developing countries that fell

palate of the throat and bleeding may occur.

thick dome-shaped muscle that separates the

under the WHO EPI programme in 1974,

If bleeding persists, the membrane may

chest from the abdomen to help us breathe in

diphtheria vaccine was first introduced

become greyish-green or black. The patients

and out. The patient may encounter diaphragm

in Malaysia in 1980s, resulting in a great

at this point either recover or develop severe

paralysis weeks after diphtheria first develops

decline in the diphtheria cases in this country.

weakness and die within six to 10 days.

or even after the patient recovers from the

Approximately 345 cases were reported

Another presentation of diphtheria can be

initial infection. Diaphragm paralysis can occur

between 1980 and 1989, followed by a great

skin lesions or skin infection. This condition

suddenly, over a period of around 30 minutes. If

reduction in the subsequent years with 42

is known as cutaneous diphtheria, in which

a ventilator (a device that mimics the functions

cases in 1990 to 1999, 30 cases in 2000 to

the wound is sore, painful, inflamed and full

of the diaphragm by regulating the pressure

2009, three cases in 2010, four in 2013, two in

of pus and may be surrounded by greyish

of the lungs) is not applied immediately,

2014 and four cases in 2015.

skin patches.

diaphragm paralysis can be fatal.

Despite all symptoms that appear with a

With the latest cases that led to public outcry regarding the disease, both the public

range of one to six days of infection, untreated

Kidney failure

and authorities, including the Malaysian media

diphtheria can be contagious for up to four

Diphtheria can also cause problems with

and health associations, are now aware of

weeks which may lead to extremely serious

the nerves controlling a person’s bladder

how vital proper vaccination is in preventing

and potentially lethal complications.

to develop. This condition is known as

an outbreak. Following investigations into

neurogenic bladder dysfunction. If these

the recent cases, several factors are found

Respiratory failure

nerves are damaged, the patient will not

to be the reasons that led to the inadequate

One of the most severe complications of

be able to fully empty their bladder and

immunisation in children. Among others are

diphtheria is suffocation caused by the

subsequently cause symptoms such as

parents forgetting or are too busy to bring

abnormal development of membrane that

needing to urinate often, passing small

their children in to be immunised, parents’

further obstructs normal breathing of a patient.

amounts of urine frequently and losing

ignorance over the severity of the diseases,

control of the bladder.

anti-vaccination sentiments, or favouring the

Chronic heart failure

practice of homeopathy or naturopathy over modern medicine.

of the heart muscle and valves in the heart,

Other nervous system complications

also known as myocarditis. When the heart is

Diphtheria can cause other complications that

cases mainly involved Muslim parents being

Some patients also experience inflammation

The recent outcry, however, finds that the

reluctant to immunise their children due to rumours that the diphtheria vaccine contains a porcine (swine/pig)-derived component.

The rumours were believed to be spread by the growing anti-vaccine movement groups that were initiated in Kedah. In checking the ingredients of the diphtheria vaccines at ProCon.org, Asian Correspondent, it was found that this allegation was not true.

“Immunisation is a must and that vaccines are halal” The Fatwa Council Even if vaccines were to contain porcine elements, from a religious perspective, it is still permissible, as Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim said there is a fatwa stating that if it is categorised as medicine, then it can be taken.

Effects of the anti-vaccine movement were petrifying when the president of Family Medicine Specialist Association of Malaysia, Dr Norsiah Ali reportedly said that the number of cases of vaccinepreventable diseases has risen over recent years. For instance, measles from 235 cases in 2014 to 539 cases as recorded

as of September 2015, pertussis from 497 cases in 2014 to 655 cases as of 2015, and tetanus from 12 cases in 2014 to 22 as of September 2015. More shocking numbers was reported as the number of parents who refused to vaccinate their children also increased from 470 cases in 2013 to 1,054 cases as of May 2015.

“It was sinful for Muslims to refuse to take measures that prevent them from harm, such as vaccinating against a known dangerous disease such as diphtheria” The highest Islamic religious authority The progress of this life-threatening issue

[they are] now making a comeback among children who do not receive vaccination and made worse by parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated,” he said, adding: “Of course, it is very worrying.”

It is also learnt that while Malaysia’s

had prompted the Health Ministry, medical

Health Ministry introduced its National

experts and a state mufti to cease the anti-

Children’s Immunisation Programme more

vaccine movements and to plead with parents

than 50 years ago that was provided for free,

not to believe in what was proven to be

however immunisation is not compulsory in

baseless “rumours”.

the country, thus giving ways and freedom

“The vaccinations are a proven method for preventing infection recognised by millions of Muslim doctors worldwide”

for parents to have their children excluded from the immunisation programme.

The relentless statements made by

-The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia-

health authorities, government parties and

Paediatrics specialist Dr Musa Nordin

the society reflect the need for Malaysia

in a report said that he was surprised

to seek for a desperate measure to look

with the outright rejection of preventive

thoroughly into the issue so as to put the

measures by some parents. “Diseases such

anti-vaccine movement to a halt, as loss of

as diphtheria have been eradicated, but

lives can be prevented by vaccination.

SE

CASE STUDY BUSINESS

JAN 2017

Franchise Businesses PART 1

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A

ccording to businessdictionary.com, a franchise business is defined as follows: An arrangement where one party (the franchiser) grants another party (the franchisee) the right to use its trademark or trade-name as well as certain business systems and processes, to produce and market a good or service according to certain specifications. The franchisee usually pays a one-time franchise fee plus a percentage of sales revenue as royalty, and gains immediate name recognition, tried and tested products, standard building design and dĂŠcor, detailed techniques in running and promoting the business, training of employees, and on-going help in promoting and upgrading the products.

Franchise Business in Malaysia The SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp.

Malaysia) is a Central Coordinating Agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia that formulates overall policies and strategies for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). They also coordinate the implementation of SME development programmes across all related Ministries and Agencies. It acts as the central point of

reference for research and data dissemination on SMEs, as well as provides advisory services for SMEs in Malaysia.

According to SME Corp. Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, franchises in Malaysia are regulated by the Franchise Act 1998 (FA 98), which came into force on 8 October 1999. The FA 98 sets out a legal definition of a franchise and regulates those business models that fall within the legal definition of a franchise. The Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) was formed in 1994 to support the implementation of the Government programme to promote entrepreneurship through franchising and development of franchising in Malaysia. MFA serves as a resource centre for both current and prospective franchisors and franchisees, as well as for the media and public.

The main functions of MFA include setting and enforcing standards of ethical business among members. It also acts as a registry for information pertaining to franchise businesses operating or intending to operate within the country. MFA also coordinates and offers educational programmes, seminars and exhibitions specially oriented to matters related to franchising. They also conduct promotional activities to promote franchising as a successful marketing business concept.

The MFA also provides input and liaises with government departments or agencies on matters concerning franchising and the processes involved in the application for a franchise business. The MFA serves as a forum for exchange of experiences and expertise among members. It establishes and maintains

affiliations with counterpart organisations in a global scale. The MFA develops and maintains affiliations with local industry trade organisations representing distributors, retailers and service industry generally. They sponsor franchise trade and investment missions to other countries. They also host international franchise trade and investment missions and assist in familiarising them with the potential in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, there are various types of franchise businesses. These businesses are established across various industries, for example the food and beverage industry, retail industry as well as education, service and consultation industries. Some examples of franchise businesses that we commonly see in Malaysia include Focus Point, Big Apple, Oldtown White Coffee, Reliance Travel Franchise System, Kids Planet Kindergarten and so on.

Opening a Franchise in Malaysia – McDonald’s If you want to start a McDonald’s franchise in Malaysia, there are certain requirements that need to be fulfilled. These include the financial requirements of the McDonald’s franchise, investment costs and expected returns, area requirements and the franchisee application process.

Financial Requirements There are several financial requirements to become a McDonald’s franchisee. In this section, we will discuss them in detail, including initial investments or start-up costs, expected returns, financing options and so on.

A potential franchisee must have a personal net worth of not less than RM 3 million. This is to make sure that the person is financially independent, and he or she may self-finance the business and/or qualifies for a bank loan if necessary. However, the initial investment for a McDonalds franchise will vary depending on the type of the establishment: mall restaurants, shop front restaurants, special site restaurants, or drive-throughs. Usually, drive-through outlets are the most expensive ones. In general, the cost of opening a McDonald’s franchise in Malaysia will be anywhere between RM 2 million and RM 4.5 million. Given below is the estimated details of McDonald’s franchise investments; both for new restaurants starting from scratch, and

for purchasing existing ones. According to franchisedirect.com, the start-up cost to run a franchise business in Malaysia will roughly be as follows:

decor and landscaping services should be prepared by individual suppliers.

Approximately, you must have at least RM1.8 million to RM2.5 million for this purpose.

Set-up Cost

5) Civil Work

The rough cost for setting up new McDonald’s franchise restaurant in Malaysia can be brokendown as follows:

Depending on the type of store as mentioned earlier, you will require an estimated investment of RM1 million to RM3 million for all the civil works to be done. This civil work includes building construction, ventilation and any renovations that are to be done to the premise.

1) Franchise Fees A sum of USD$22,500 (RM94, 000) must be paid during the starting of the franchise restaurant or prior to that.

6) Miscellaneous Costs 2) Security Deposit A security deposit worth RM50,000 is to be paid. This payment is interest free and will be refunded after successful completion of the franchise period.

3) Pre-Opening Expenses These expenses include the cost for the training required by new staff as well as living costs for the staff during the training period. It also includes stock trading as well as other usual start-up costs. The total of these costs will range between RM200,000 to RM250,000.

4) Furniture and Decoration The necessary kitchen equipment, furniture,

Apart from these start-up expenses, you have to bear the cost of the government stamp duty in addition to the working capital. Also, the franchisee has to pay the legal fees involved for the preparation of required documents.

Apart from these initial investments, McDonald’s franchisees will also have to bear some recurring expenses such as a royalty fee, rental, and marketing contribution. At present, the marketing contribution and royalty fees for McDonald’s franchise in Malaysia is five percent of the concerned restaurant’s gross sale. SE Look out for Part 2 of this case study in School Edition February 2017

CASE STUDY ENGLISH

JAN 2017

Nobel Prize in Literature 2016

Winner

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T

he Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 was awarded to American musician, singer and song writer, Bob Dylan, 76 “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. This win is said to redefine the boundaries of literature, as it’s the first time in history that a musician has been selected as the winner of this award. This win, seals Dylan’s spot among other famed and cherished Nobel laureates such as John Steinbeck, Albert Camus, Ernest Hemingway and Sir Winston Churchill, to name a few.

Come writers and critics Who prophesise with your pen And keep your eyes wide The chance won’t come again And don’t speak too soon For the wheel’s still in spin And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’ For the loser now will be later to win For the times they are a-changin’ An excerpt from The Times Are a Changin’ by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941. Dylan is one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 20th century whose career began in the early 1960s with songs that chronicled social issues like war and civil rights. This legendary singer-songwriter has received Grammy, Academy and Golden Globe awards. A song from the album of the same name, The Times Are a Changin’, embodies the protest movement which among other things protested the Vietnam War and also championed women’s and gay rights.

The Nobel Prize and Alfred Nobel

According to nobelprize.org, Alfred Bernhard Nobel was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833 to Immanuel and Andriette Nobel. His father, Immanuel Nobel was an engineer and inventor who built bridges and buildings in Stockholm. He experimented with different techniques for blasting rocks. Immanuel Nobel later went on to open a mechanical workshop that supplied equipment to the Russian army. Immanuel designed naval

mines to block enemy ships and convinced the Russian Tsar to use them during the Crimean War. These naval mines were simple devices that consisted of submerged wooden casks that were filled with gunpowder. This invention would go on to successfully deter the British Royal Navy from moving close enough to St. Petersberg to be within firing range. Immanuel Nobel then brought his family to St. Petersberg.

By the age of 17, Alfred Nobel was fluent in several languages besides Swedish, which include German and French. Although he was primarily interested in English literature, physics and chemistry; his father was keen on him doing engineering and employing those skills to join his enterprise. Alfred would then go on to study chemical engineering under the tutelage of T.J. Pelouze, a famous chemist. Alfred later met Italian chemist, Ascanio Sobrero who prior to that had invented nitroglycerine, a highly dangerous and volatile liquid with explosive properties exceeding that of gunpowder.

Alfred Nobel, with the help of John Ericsson, an engineer that developed the screw propeller for ships, and his father, spent years of research and experimentation trying to develop nitroglycerine for commercial use. To make the handling of nitroglycerine safer, Alfred Nobel experimented with different additives.

He soon found that mixing nitroglycerine with kieselguhr (a form of diatomaceous earth normally used in labs as a filter, filler, or insulator) would turn the liquid into a paste which could be shaped into rods with a suitable shape and size for insertion into drilling holes. In 1867, he patented this material under the name of dynamite.

Besides inventing dynamite itself, he also

invented the detonator than can be used to ignite the dynamite, allowing it to cause an explosion.

The invention of dynamite was a factor in changing the face of the building industry.

Together with the pneumatic drill which was invented at about the same time, processes such as rock blasting, tunnel drilling and even the construction of canals were improved drastically. By 1865, his factory in Germany was exporting nitroglycerine explosives to other countries in Europe, America and Australia. Over the years he founded factories and laboratories in about 90 different places in more than 20 countries. Alfred Nobel also focused on other industries besides explosives, such as the synthetic rubber and leather as well as artificial silk industry. By 1896, which was the time of his death, he held about 355 patents under his name.

While Alfred Nobel never married, he developed a close friendship with Countess Bertha Kinsky (Bertha von Suttner). They frequently corresponded by sending letters, for decades. Bertha was the author of Lay Down Your Arms which served as a pivotal voice in the peace movement.

Nobel directed the bulk of his vast fortune into a fund in which the interest would be “annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Although Nobel offered no public reason for his creation of the prizes. It is said that Lay Down Your Arms clearly influenced Nobel where in his final

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will, he included an award for persons or organisations that promoted peace. The portion of his will establishing the Nobel Peace Prize read, “[one award shall be given] to the person who has done the most or best work for fraternity among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Exactly five years after his death, the first Nobel awards were presented. Nobel did not explain the reason behind his decision to award these prizes.

However, it is widely believed that he did so out of moral regret over the increasingly lethal uses of his inventions in war. The Nobel Prize is managed by the Nobel Foundation, established in 1900 based on the will he left behind. This foundation manages the assets that was made available to award the Nobel Prize in the various categories.

Nobel Prizes: then and now

Since 1901, there has been 109 Nobel Prizes in Literature awarded to 113 individuals.

Today, the Nobel Prizes are regarded as the most prestigious awards in the world in their various fields. The Nobel Prizes are still presented annually on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death. Marie Curie became the first female Nobel laureate in 1903 when she and her husband Pierre were awarded the prize for physics. While the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Peace was none other than Baroness Bertha Sophie Felicita von Suttner, née Countess Kinsky von Chinic und Tettau in 1905 for her anti-war novel, Lay Down Your Arms in 1905.

In 2006, each Nobel Prize carried a cash prize of nearly $1,400,000 and recipients also received a gold medal. SE

The First Nobel Prize

The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, in Sweden for Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Literature and Peace. The award ceremony coincided with the fifth anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decides the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic science; the Swedish Royal Caroline Medico-Surgical Institute determines the physiology or medicine award; the Swedish Academy chooses the award recipient for literature; and a committee elected by the Norwegian parliament, awards the peace prize.

DISCUSSION Read more on the Nobel Prize and discuss the following • Why in your opinion, is the Nobel Prize not awarded posthumously (after one has died)?

• What in your opinion, do you think is the motivation behind awarding prize money to the winners of these prizes?

• How do you feel about the board’s decision to award the Nobel Prize for Literature to a musician, for the first time?

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CASE STUDY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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he internet has altered the face of running businesses in many ways.

In fact, it has changed us so much that we can perform almost anything online. This includes making reservations online. Whether we realise it or not, we use online reservation systems on a regular basis and for various purposes; to book or buy movie tickets, to make seat reservations at a restaurant, to book or buy theme-park or airline tickets and even to book hotel rooms.

The internet makes things easier indeed, especially when it comes to travelling. Given that a huge portion of the population is IT literate, and as people are constantly connected and on the go, business owners must therefore keep up with this trend. With reservation systems in place, people can perform reservations with just the click of a mouse button.

The shift from traditional business methods (pen and paper) to online reservation systems would simply involve adding an online reservation system into the business website. An online reservation system is a software which allows a potential customer to book and pay for an activity or service through this website.

Some businesses extend this facility by also allowing reservations through social networks and via mobile phone application to be made. Online reservations has grown

rapidly over the years and has since become the preferred choice among reservation systems. Also, the customer receives email confirmations for their reservations. This makes it easier for them to keep track of their reservation, and ensures that the service they have booked has been received by the business or organisation. Also, the only cost that’s incurred by the customer will be to pay for an internet connection.

Traditional systems require members of staff to be present to take phone reservations and manage them manually. With manual systems, the prevalence of human error increases the possibilities of mistakes and errors in reservations.

How online reservation systems can improve your restaurant business An online reservation system exists entirely within the restaurant’s website itself. Unless it’s a mobile application, it does not require any installation to be performed onto the customer’s computer. The customer will just need to log on with their username and password to select and continue with their reservation. The customer will land on your website and choose which activity or service they’d like to book, and then will click through to the reservation page. Therefore, it is a good idea to place the online reservation

button on every page of the website. Your online reservation calendar shouldn’t just be on a single reservations page. It’s also not a good idea to link out to another site for reservation purposes, so do keep it within the restaurant’s site itself. Putting it on every page of your website will remind them to make a reservation regardless if they visited

the website looking for the menu, phone number, address, or even reviews. Also, do take note of visitors to your site that arrive through mobile devices. Your website should therefore be optimised for mobile web users as well.

Another good way to improve your restaurant’s business is to include a reservation link in your email marketing campaigns. A lot of money, time and energy goes into designing the perfect and most eye-catching newsletter telling your customer about your new menu, up-and-coming promotions as well as events. These newsletters are designed to get the customers excited to come to your restaurant. The recipients of these newsletters would be tempted to make reservations. So, by adding a link to your reservation system in this newsletter, you can leverage from it by helping them translate their plans of eating at your restaurant into action. It’s also a good idea to leverage on social media in making your restaurant business thrive. Facebook is a good platform to allow reservations to be made by using its calendar application. SE

DISCUSSION 1. Divide into groups for the following exercise. Imagine that you are setting up a reservation or purchasing system for the following businesses: • • • • •

Lodge/Hotel Theme Park Cinema/Theatre Concert Transport (Airline/Train/Bus)

What are the items that you need to ensure when you are setting up an online booking system for each of these?

Discuss and share with the other teams.

2. Conduct your own research to find out more on how other businesses manage reservations that are made online through their website, via

applications as well as walk-ins.

3. What measures should be in place to avoid double bookings or

conflicts when managing bookings and reservations across the various platforms that are in place?

4. What are some of the dangers of online reservations/booking systems

that also accept payments from customers? How do security systems in place circumvent these possible dangers?

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CASE STUDY GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

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he Malaysian government has passed the Animal Welfare Act 2015 on the 29th of December of the same year.

While Malaysia has always had an animal welfare law since 1953 (Animal Act 1953), it was criticised for not being a strong enough deterrent to acts of animal cruelty in the country. The lack of enforcement of existing laws also failed to protect the rights of our voiceless animal friends. Following several high-profile animal abuse cases, a new comprehensive act with provisions for heftier fines for the gross mistreatment of animals was thus desperately needed. This new act outlines some very important aspects of animal welfare that cover various areas.

Duties of owner or licensee

Animals used in research, testing or teaching

The owner of the animal should take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the animal are met and fulfilled. This includes the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need for a suitable environment, a suitable diet, the need for it to be able to exhibit its normal behaviour patterns, the need for it to be housed with or apart from other animals; and the need for it to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

If an owner fails to adhere to the above, they could have their licenses revoked, which prohibits them from owning a pet. Anyone who is found to violate this law may also upon conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than RM10, 000 and not more than RM50, 000 or to imprisonment for a term not more than one year or to both.

Animals also cannot be kept in labs for experiment purposes in research, testing or teaching facilities unless all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that the physical health, and behavioural needs of those animals are in accordance with this Act. The animals also should receive treatment that can alleviate any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress caused when ill or injured. The infliction of any degree of pain or distress must be reduced to the most minimum level possible in the circumstance where the nature of the research, testing, or teaching cannot completely prevent it.

No individual except for schools should use animals for research, testing or teaching unless the person is licensed by the Board. The

guidelines on the research, testing or teaching of animals in schools shall be in accordance with any guidelines. No person shall breed any animal to be used for research, testing or teaching unless it is approved by the Board.

Any person who breaches any provision under this section commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than RM20, 000 and not more than RM100, 000 or might face imprisonment for a term of not more than three years or both.

Transportation of animals An owner or transport operator shall have the duty to provide adequate, clean and sanitary facilities; sufficient food and water for any animal being transported to ensure the safe delivery of the animals to the consignee at its destination. No person shall confine or cruelly restrain animals which are being transported.

Any person who commits these offences, will be liable to a fine of not less than RM15, 000 and not more than RM75, 000 or might face imprisonment for a term not more than two years or both upon conviction.

Cruelty offences Acts of cruelty by a person include: • Cruelly beating, kicking, overloading animals during transportation as well as torturing or terrifying any animal.

• Those who procure or own the animal and thus permit any animal to be exploited in any manner.

• Failing or neglecting to provide the animal under their care with sufficient food, drink or shelter by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act that causes any unnecessary pain or suffering.

• Allowing an animal to perform labour, which causes the animal to suffer from disease, sickness, wounds or sores and is pretty much unfit to be so employed.

• Cruelty also includes mutilating any animal in any manner including ear cropping, tail docking, defanging, declawing, branding, piercing or debarking unless in the manner as determined and certified by a veterinary authority or a registered veterinary surgeon.

• Acts of cruelty also include one who skins, roasts or kills any live animals for superstitious belief through a procedure which causes pain and suffering to the animals; extracts any parts of any live animals through a procedure which causes pain and suffering to the animals for getting skins, oils or other animal products.

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Severe acts such as using dynamite, electrifying or poisoning any streams, rivers or other water bodies for killing, harvesting or catching animals.

The acts of cruelty that are prohibited also include keeping any animal chained or tethered by using a short or heavy chain or cord, or hobbles the legs of animal.

Cruelty also includes keeping or confining any animal in any cage which does not measure sufficiently in height, length and width to permit the natural movement of the animal.

Offers any animal which is suffering in pain due to mutilation, starvation, thirst, overcrowding or other illtreatment for sale.

Anyone who even possesses an animal suffering in pain because of mutilation, starvation, thirst, overcrowding or other ill-treatment.

People who abandon any animal that causes it to suffer trauma, pain or suffering caused by relocation, starvation, thirst, injury, or illness.

Anyone who is the owner of an animal

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and who either wilfully or negligently causes the animal to go out unattended to any place while the animal is infected with an infectious disease.

Any animal owner who wilfully or negligently causes any diseased, disabled or injured animal to die in any place.

Any person who causes, obtains or assists in the fighting or baiting of any animal, or even manages or receives profits from running such a premise.

This also includes anyone who promotes or takes part in a shooting match or competition where animals are released from captivity for shooting sports.

Anyone in charge of situations where animals are subjected to cruelty, either during the sport or activity itself or while in training. Anyone who commits such an offence shall, upon conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than RM20, 000 and not more than RM100, 000 or face imprisonment for a term not more than three years or both. SE Look out for Part 2 of this case study in School Edition February 2017

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