Malaysia Retailer|Vol 7|No 1|2019|SUNRIDER

Vol 7 No 1 2019

MRCA Annual Charity Run 2018 Imperial Chakri Palace Skyview & Raintree Sky Bar

“MY DREAM IS TO MAKE EVERYBODY BECOME THEIR OWN BOSS” Dr Tei Fu Chen, Founder and Chairman of Sunrider International

WM RM9 / EM RM11

Wine & Dine with a 3600 view of KL skyline

MRCA Corporate Patrons

Event

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A-5-2, 3, 3A, Level 5, Block A, Sky Park One City, Jalan USJ25/1, 47650 Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 603-5882 4333 Fax: 1 700 810 950 Website: www.mrca.org.my PRESIDENT Datuk Seri Garry K.S. Chua ROTOL FOOD-CHAIN (M) SDN BHD

FOUNDER PRESIDENT Dato’ Eddie Choon POH KONG HOLDINGS BHD

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Dato’ Liaw Choon Liang, JP FOCUS POINT HOLDINGS BHD

PRESIDENT COUNCIL Dato’ Eddie Choon POH KONG HOLDINGS BHD Datuk Albert Chiang BONIA CORPORATION BHD Datuk Lee Hwa Cheng SINMA JEWELLERY CENTRE SDN BHD Dato’ Tay Sim Kim OSIM (M) SDN BHD H.E. Datuk Seri Nelson Kwok, JP HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE TO MALAYSIA NELSON’S FRANCHISE (M) SDN BHD Dato’ Liaw Choon Liang, JP FOCUS POINT HOLDINGS BHD Datuk Seri Garry K.S. Chua ROTOL FOOD-CHAIN (M) SDN BHD

DEPUTY PRESIDENT Dato’ Vincent Choo Kok Leong URBAN IDEA SDN BHD VICE PRESIDENTS Dato’ Liew Bin BRILLIANT MERCHANDISING SDN BHD Valerie Choo Yoke Shiem SIMPLY AWESOME SDN BHD Shirley Tay Bee Koo SUNRIDER INTERNATIONAL (M) SDN BHD Datuk Seri Dr. Chai Kee Kan KK SUPERMART & SUPERSTORE SDN BHD SECRETARY GENERAL Ken Phua Cheng Chuen BENTLEY MUSIC SDN BHD DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL Dato’ Bruce Lim Aun Choong SKILLS JOHOR SDN BHD TREASURER GENERAL Dato’ Alex Wong Che Sing HAP SENG STAR SDN BHD DEPUTY TREASURER GENERAL Dato’ Winnie Lim Yoke Chin SOLUTION RISK CONSULTANTS SDN BHD COUNCIL MEMBERS Seak Thean Pow BAGUS CURTAIN SDN BHD Dato’ Choi Wei Yee SUNLIGHT TAXI SDN BHD Dato’ Syed Kamarulzaman Dato’ Syed Zainol Khodki Shahabudin PERBADANAN NASIONAL BERHAD Dato’ Dr Edmund Lee Kim Hock KLUANG STATION F & B SDN BHD Datin Flora Tan Joo Hua TRANSTEL TECHNOLOGY (M) SDN BHD William Tang Chee Weng THE STORE CORPORATION BERHAD Brian Tham Jee Ping WATATIME (M) SDN BHD Nicholas Chong Kah Yean YFS CORPORATE (M) SDN BHD Jeff Yong Chun Loong KIMMA SDN BHD Raymond Woo Hai Siang ARORI (M) SDN BHD Sharan Valiram VALIRAM TRADING SDN BHD Jason Woo Wee Yoong CLARA INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY GROUP SDN BHD Malaysia Retailer Vol 4 No1

BOARD OF ADVISORS Dato’ Dr. Jennifer Low, JP GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, QUILL GROUP OF COMPANIES Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai CHAIRMAN, TOP GLOVE CORPORATION BHD Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Leong Hoy Kum GROUP MD, MAH SING GROUP BHD Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Barry Goh Ming Choon CHAIRMAN OF MCT BHD Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng JP GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BINA PURI HOLDINGS BHD Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN SUNSURIA BHD PRESIDENT’S ADVISOR Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Tang Yeam Soon THE STORE CORPORATION BERHAD PRESIDENT’S ADVISOR FOR EVENT & PR Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi D’TOUCH INTERNATIONAL SDN BHD LEGAL ADVISORS Datuk Ringo Low RINGO LOW & ASSOCIATES Dato’ Dr Manjit Singh MANJIT SINGH SACHDEV, MOHAMMAD RADZI & PARTNERS HONORARY AUDITOR Dato’ Sri Raymond Liew Lee Leong MCMILLAN WOODS Datin Yap Shin Siang YYC GST CONSULTANTS SDN BHD OTHER FOUNDING MEMBERS Dato’ Chin See Keat Wong Chee How

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President’s Message Dear esteemed members,

Datuk Seri Garry KS Chua, President, 2016-Present, Malaysia Retail Chain Association

2019 is pointing to a great start for MRCA and our member companies as well as the Malaysian retail industry. Last year we achieved an all-time high total membership of 486. MRCA remains keen to explore more business opportunities and support the new Malaysian government in its policies to improve the economy and encourage more foreign tourists, especially from China, to help grow the retail industry.

MRCA, with a consulting firm, had in October carried out an industry survey among its member companies that represent 59 brands and a combined total of 2,266 stores across various retail categories. It was carried out in collaboration with independent research firm Stratos Consulting Group Sdn Bhd. It has shown that in 2018, the growth rate of retail sales is expected to be at 4.9% y-o-y while retailers from the F&B, health and beauty, and other sectors reported growth rate of 5.4%, 3.1% and 21.3% y-o-y respectively.

Detailed statistics have been made available and can be used for benchmarking, forecasting and business planning purposes.

As the Association is keen to increase membership and participation, the Council have continued to organise our signature events as well as additional networking opportunities. I would like to thank Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) who flagged off the 10.8km and 5.3km categories of the MRCA Charity Run 2018. Thanks to the MRCA Charity Run Organising Chairman William Tang, who is also MRCA Council member and Youth Deputy Chief, we successfully raised RM100,000 for eight charity organisations.

We also had a Christmas Charity celebration for 115 underprivileged children from the Association of Social Services and Community Development of Gombak District, Selangor. A total of RM25,000 in cash and kind were donated to the Association. For the Chinese New Year charity celebration, we visited the Lutheran Care Home and Rumah Sejahtera Bentong where we distributed ang pows and goodies. I would like to thank Datin Flora Tan, Organising Chairlady, for organising both these events.

This year, we will be organising events such as the CNY Banquet, AGM and Council Meeting, a visit to the Taipei International Chain & Franchise Spring Expo, and our flagship MIRF Exhibition and MRCA Retail Conference, and many other events for this year.

On a personal note, my company has opened the Chakri Palace Skyview & Raintree Sky Lounge located at the rooftop of the 27-floor of Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur. I was extremely grateful that YB Khalid Abdul Samad, Minister of Federal Territories took time out to officially launch the restaurant. The Chakri Palace Skyview & Raintree Sky Lounge was also awarded the Highest Altitude “Four-In-One” Outlet by Malaysia Book of Records and 1st St John AED Kit for Cardiac Arrest. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the VIPs, MRCA Past Presidents, Council members and members as well as my family and friends for showing their tremendous support during the launch.

Lastly, I would like to wish everyone a prosperous and happy Chinese New Year. May the Year of the Boar brings us good health, a roaring economy and personal happiness.

“ENRICHING MEMBERS FOR THE FUTURE”

Malaysia Retailer Vol 7 No 1

CONTENTS / VOL. 7 NO. 1

20 Launch of Imperial Chakri Palace Skyview

EVENTS 43 MRCA Youth Visits Valiram Group’s Office

COVER STORY 6 Sunrider International Expands Outlook in Malaysia

The company opens a new office in Kuala Lumpur with the aim to be one of the top performing companies in South Asia.

44 MRCA Youth 2019 CNY Party

DEPARTMENTS 3 President’s Note

ON THE COVER

Dr Tei Fu Chen, Founder and Chairman of Sunrider International Photography: Song @ Picture This

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FEATURES 12 MRCA Annual Charity Run 2019 17 AmBank Group Bags Award for Best SME Bank 18 Fundnel Expands to Malaysia 20 Launch of Imperial Chakri Palace Skyview 22 Tangkak Beef Noodles Serves Bowls of Excellence 23 Poh Kong – A World-Class OneStop Jeweller 24 Spectrum Reaches Out Through OOH 25 Regal International Group – Building with Innovation 26 PKT Logistics – Moving Businesses Forward 27 Serving Happiness in Every Scoop 28 PAYDIBS – Breaks New Ground in Online Space

29 Paradise Group Creates

F&B Haven 30 Nyonya Colors – First of its Kind Peranakan Snacks & Desserts 31 MYDIN – A Malaysian Company for Malaysians 32 iPay 88 Shares insights into Malaysians e-ecommerce Transactions 34 Focus Point – A Clear Focus on Better Visions 35 YYC Group – Learn, Innovate and Serve 36 The Untameable Fire Fighter 37 Eureka Snack – Hallmark of Popcorns 38 Empire Sushi – On the Fast Lane to Success 39 Dragon-i Sizzles the Malaysian F&B Scene 40 Wheelcorp Premium – Living the BMW Experience Beyond Purchase 41 Keep Cool with V-KOOL 42 Michael Geh – Stepping Up to the President’s Post

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unrider International was founded in 1982 in Utah, US,

by Taiwan-born herbalist Dr Tei-Fu Chen and his wife Dr Oi-Lin Chen. It manufactures health, beauty, food, and household products, and has thousands of franchise stores and tens of thousands of distributors in more than 50 countries and territories.

Currently its Malaysian arm, Sunrider International (M) Sdn Bhd, operates two business models concurrently – the MLM system and the Retail/ Franchise system, and has achieved very encouraging results. Since 1995, the company operates from an office on Jalan Ampang. The new contemporary office signals a big push into Malaysia and the ASEAN region.

Malaysia has been the regional headquarters supporting Sunrider affiliates in IT, finance, business development, and publications.

The countries under this region are Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“With this new office, we want to create a space for everyone to be able to learn about Sunrider, our products, and our business opportunity. We will be able to hold many training sessions, product fairs, and fun events to create a community of health and wellness.

“With the bigger and nicer meeting rooms in the new building, and a huge lobby area, I can see exciting things happening. This move definitely has a very positive impact on the company’s growth,” said Dr Tei-Fu Chen at the office’s launch recently.

“We want to help our business partners to achieve their potential and give them a solid foundation that will help them achieve their dreams and help those around them at the same time. We do not just focus on the business aspect.

We want to help our business partners and customers to achieve good health, to lead a life of wellness and happiness, and to look beautiful and young.”

People from all walks of life can start their own Sunrider business with the potential to earn retail profits and commissions. The company provides business opportunities to store owners to be Authorised Business Owners (ABO), as well as direct-selling benefits that have far-reaching rewards for Independent Business Owners (IBO), and jobs for employees around the country, he added.

Cover Story

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Sunrider International Expands Outlook In Malaysia Known for its herb-based products, supplements, skin care and home care, the company opens a new office in Kuala Lumpur with the aim to be one of the top performing companies in South Asia.

Photography Song @ Picture This

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Cover Story

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FOOD SAFETY AND PRODUCT QUALITY “Since I established Sunrider in the US, food safety and quality have been our top priorities. To ensure the safety of our products, I made it absolutely imperative that we manufacture almost everything we put our Sunrider label on. I strongly believe that if you don’t manufacture your own products, you can’t guarantee the integrity of your products,” he shared.

He said having their own manufacturing facilities gives the company complete control of every aspect of how the products are made.

His teams oversee from the ground up, from involvement in selection of herbs, to ingredient testing and formulation, as well as packaging.

The manufacturing facilities include onsite chemistry and microbiology labs that enable their specialists to monitor ingredient purity, stability, and quality.

“After testing the raw materials to make sure they meet our exacting standards, manufacturing specialists thoroughly clean the herbs by hand and then with pharmaceutical-grade machines to remove contaminants such as harmful bacteria, microbial pathogens, or heavy metals like mercury

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or lead. We then systematically test each batch of product throughout the entire manufacturing process,” he said.

“For example, although most largescale manufacturers use irradiation or fumigation treatments to sterilise their products, we avoid such practices. No artificial preservatives are used in our food products, something that’s rare in food manufacturing.

“We go to great lengths to make sure our manufacturing plants meet and exceed the most rigorous standards of cleanliness, food safety, and ingredient quality. Our Los Angeles manufacturing plant continually surpasses the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements set by the US FDA. “Our Singapore manufacturing plant was recently presented with a Certificate of Commendation for achieving Grade ‘A’ status in 2018. This commendation is awarded by the AgriFood and Veterinary Authority, with the grading based on criteria such as factory cleanliness, food hygiene, employee personal hygiene, and the performance record of the factory.

“I’m proud to say this is the 18th consecutive year our Singapore manufacturing facility has earned this industry accolade,” said Dr Tei-Fu Chen.

FOOD TECHNOLOGY With customised technology, Sunrider runs extensive tests on samples before accepting a single bulk quantity shipment of herbs. Micro and identity testing are carried out to verify that the quality meets the company’s standards.

“We avoid ingredients grown from GMO seeds and pesticides. Rigorous in-process testing is later performed on every batch throughout the entire manufacturing cycle.

“Another layer of safety is how we’ve packaged our products. A high-tech temperature control and air-tight sealing processes ensure the safety and purity of every packaged product. We don’t use preservatives or chemical additives when packaging our food, beverage and supplement products, and we monitor the storage conditions throughout the entire product shelf life,” he said.

CHANGING RETAIL LANDSCAPE Asia is and will be a major player in the changing retail landscape. The region is diverse, and urbanisation is accelerating everywhere, affecting how the people shop and spend.

It is projected that the value of retail sales in Asia Pacific will reach US$11.8 trillion by 2021, representing

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a tremendous opportunity for businesses to get involved and accelerate a new phase of growth.

According to reports, e-commerce today is just 14.7% of current total retail sales, valued at US$1.3 trillion. However, e-commerce is expected to double by 2021 to US$3 trillion and represent 25.4% of total retail sales in Asia-Pacific, making the region one of the largest and fastest growing markets globally.

“We see a vast opportunity for growth in this new landscape. Our new and exciting compensation plan lays the foundation for our business partners to leverage on this new shopping trend to meet the needs of demanding customers of today,” he said.

Based on a recent survey carried out by Stratos Consulting Group in collaboration with the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), retail sales growth rate was 4.9% y-o-y for 2018.

As of Q3 2018, food and beverage, health and beauty and other retailers reported encouraging growth rate of 5.4%, 3.1% and 21.3% respectively.

“Sunrider is positive that we are on the right track with the growth rates above coinciding with Sunrider’s focus on our beauty, health and wellness products. We are confident of expanding and growing our business in this region that is robust and fast-changing, with emphasis on realizing the health and beauty goals of many in this country.

“In the US, customers rely on two types of research to make their decisions – aggregate reviews like you see on Amazon.com and influencer reviews like you see on social media or from people they trust.

“Our marketing strategy aligns with influencer marketing where the customer has a connection or relationship with the person recommending a product. In many cases, customers try our products because they see their friends or family members use our products and receive great results.

“We are also very active on social media and post content that our IBOs like to share with their friends. We don’t advocate a pushy, hard sales relationship, but one based on friendship and sharing,” added Dr Tei-Fu Chen.

While many large companies are also trying to keep up with Amazon in terms of free shipping, ease of ordering, and breadth of product offerings, he said Sunrider is taking a different approach.

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“Our strength lies in the personal connections between our store owners or independent business owners and their customers. We personalise the shopping experience, which is something that Amazon is unable to do. Our customers know they can count on our business owners to provide excellent customer service that’s personalised to their needs.

“We realise that customers expect a seamless online shopping experience so we’re currently researching new platforms to create an improved e-commerce website. We will add more videos and product information so customers have the information they need to feel confident about their purchases.”

ONLINE SHOPPING With Malaysia on the fast-lane to develop its digital economy, Dr Chen finds Malaysians are rapidly embracing the digital culture, triggering the need for the retail sector to adapt to this change to capture this new, modern consumers market.

Malaysia’s digital economy has strengthened further and is now one of the main contributors to the economy. Malaysians have embraced the internet economy and e-commerce in a big way, leading the e-commerce market in the region.

Reports are rampant on how the digital world is quickly eating into the traditional, more hands-on way of life. This fear is more prominent for brick-and-mortar retailers as they find it difficult to capture value, and stay relevant for 21st-century shoppers.

“However, I feel that not all is doom and gloom for retailers. Consumers aren’t simply browsing in store and then going online in search of the lowest-cost option. They’re also researching online and buying in stores.

“It is well known that the impact of online shopping goes well beyond direct sales. Digital is viewed less as a threat to brick-and-mortar retailers and more as an opportunity. Instead of thinking in terms of online and off, savvy retailers are taking an integrated approach to drive sales in both and providing an engaging experience for consumers regardless of whether they buy in-store or online,” he said.

Based on surveys, it is noted that respondents in Thailand, the Philippines,

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India and China frequently research products online before buying in stores or use online reviews to help make purchasing decisions.

The importance of online research in all these markets is likely driven by wide variation in product quality, the prevalence of social networks and the importance of keeping up with the latest trends. The digital shopping revolution offers new opportunities to physical stores and mall operators agile enough to seize them.

“For Sunrider, we have two business models running concurrently – the MLM system and the Retail/Franchise system.

We are able to meet the demands of both the online and offline markets with our two business models. Our ABOs own world-class retail stores to

“We want our business partners and customers to achieve good health, to lead a life of wellness and happiness, and to look beautiful and young.”

- Dr Tei-Fu Chen, Founder of Sunrider

give customers the social experience of shopping in actual stores. As an ABO, the entrepreneur is trained to operate his or her own franchise-like store.

“Our IBOs operating the MLM business model offer a rewarding business opportunity that combines the best of direct selling and social networking with a generous compensation plan. Our IBOs are trained to promote and sell the products through his or her own social media channel, home or one-on-one interactions. They are the ones who have the exclusivity of distributing Sunrider herbal food, beverage, supplements, cosmetics and household products,” stated Dr Tei-Fu Chen.

PHILANTHROPIC TRADITION At Sunrider, part of its mission is the responsibility to help others – not only through business opportunity

and nutritious foods but through philanthropy.

“What makes me extremely gratified is how I’ve been able to use the success and resources gained from establishing Sunrider to positively impact the lives of people in need. Throughout the years, we’ve been able to support charitable organisations both locally and abroad, and are proud to have worked with organisations such as UNICEF, American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and AIDS Walk, among others,” he said.

“Disaster relief has also been a big part of our philanthropic tradition.

I couldn’t be prouder of our Sunriders around the world – including our staff, ABOs, and IBOs – who quickly got behind our fundraising efforts to aid victims through organisations such as the American Red Cross and Direct Relief. The heart and compassion of our Sunriders shines through at times like these,” he added.

The company is also committed to supporting the health and wellness of children. One way it has been able to help is through its support of UC Irvine Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center (PERC) which conducts research to give physicians and educators better information and tools to improve childhood health through exercise. Sunrider donated $1.75 million towards this cause.

The couple’s son, Reuben, a medical doctor and UC Irvine School of Medicine alumnus, was instrumental in getting Sunrider involved with this exerciseas-medicine initiative. “The exciting research PERC is doing is proving to be vital in understanding how to best use exercise to help kids grow up healthy and strong. As my son has said, it’s exciting to be part of something that could change the face of how we view health for generations to come,” Dr Tei-Fu Chen said.

Also, in 2013, Sunrider made a donation of US$2.5 million to support the construction of Torrance Memorial Medical Centre’s new Main Tower, which opened in 2014, and now houses a state-of-the-art surgical centre with the Chen family name on it.

“We hope that through our support, many more people will be able to experience the kind of wonderful care and treatment we have received as a family at Torrance Memorial,” he added.

Sunrider Founders Dr Tei-Fu Chen and Dr Oi-Lin Chen Sunrider founders, Dr Tei-Fu Chen and his wife, Dr Oi-Lin Chen, come from a humble beginning. As a young boy, he was quite sickly and to improve his health, he not only drank the herbal concoctions but learned about herbs from his paternal grandfather. He went on to study his grandfather’s ancient manuscripts on herbs and their numerous health benefits, and graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from Kaohsiung Medical College.

It was during college that he met and married Dr Oi-Lin Chen, a licensed medical doctor. They migrated to the United States searching for a better future. With their combined knowledge of herbs and modern medicine, they founded Sunrider in 1982. The name derives from the Sun, the provider for all living species of plants, animals and humans.

Although it was a tough ride in the beginning, they held on to their philosophy of wanting to create healthy herbal products to improve overall well-being.

Today, Sunrider is the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced natural herbal products. The company has also created manufacturing processes that are setting new standards for quality in the health food industry. Sunrider manufactures over 415 natural, plantbased formulas that employ ancient Chinese recipes combined with 21st century technological advances.

Both Dr Chen and his wife, together with their sons Eric Chen, an organic chemist and Vice President of Manufacturing, and Reuben Chen, MD, board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Vice President of Business Development, command a team of scientists to synthesise the herbal traditions of the East with modern technology of the West in order to produce the safest, most powerful health and beauty products possible.

In the Sunrider manufacturing plant, Dr Chen has made it a priority to eradicate toxic, heavy metals, such as mercury and radiation from the raw herbs used. His manufacturing processes are said to stretch far beyond what most health food companies adhere to for testing of undesirable microbes and heavy metals in their raw ingredients.

At its core, the principle of yin-

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yang is about the interdependence of contrary forces and Dr Chen has fused yin-yang and Western technology to create a wellness model that helps to achieve a balanced life.

He believes one has to nourish the body in order to be healthy and taking the right supplements can help to replenish the cells in the body.

“Health is one’s wealth. Nothing comes free in life. Life is like a buffet.

You cannot sit and watch how you want life to be. You need to pick up what you want,” says Dr Chen.

The IBO division caters to markets in Hong Kong, Japan, South Asia, North America and Europe using a direct-selling system.

Meanwhile, the ABO system governs retail and franchise stores on mainland China and in South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS In 2006, Dr. Chen entered the hospitality industry to further expand, solidify, and diversify Sunrider’s business. These are The Sunworld Dynasty™ Hotel Group which includes three world-class hotels: the Sunworld Dynasty™ Hotel Beijing, the Sunworld Dynasty™ Hotel Taipei, and Sunworld™ Hotel Beijing. The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a five-star landmark of sleek sophistication, is just steps from the upscale Beverly Center mall.

St. Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster, London, a four-star luxury hotel, is located in central London.

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MRCA Annual Charity Run 2018 The event, held for the fifth consecutive year, attracts more than 2,000 participants and raised about RM100,000. he annual Charity Run, themed “Aim For The Best”, was held in One City, Subang Jaya, Selangor, and graced by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), who also flagged off both the 10.8km and 5.3km categories.

The proceeds from the 2018 Charity Run were donated to eight selected charitable organisations – Early Steps Care Centre (ESCC), Dialysis Centre Of Kuala Krai, Feed The Needy (Lions Club Of KL Bukit Kiara), Ixora Nursing Home, Kiwanis Club Of Kluang Mandarin, Persatuan Kasih Jati (Great Heart Charity Association), Pusat Jagaan KanakKanak Cacat Setia and Pusat Kebajikan Kehidupan Harapan (Living Hope).

All runners who crossed the finish line received a specially designed “A” shaped finisher medal. The letter also signified the completion of the medal set

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of the letters M.R.C.A. It also represented the 2018 theme “Aim For The Best”.

A total of 25 trophies and RM28,000 worth of prizes were awarded to the top five winners from the Men’s Open (10.8km), Men’s Veteran (10.8km), Women’s Open (10.8km), and Women’s Veteran (10.8km) and Team Run categories.

Upon completion of the run, all the runners were entitled to claim four complimentary F&B items at the courtyard and each runner was also given one goodie bag. A total of 12,000 F&B items were available for runners to redeem and all those items were courtesy of the generous sponsors.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, in his speech, commended MRCA’s effort for organising the event for a charitable course.

MRCA President Datuk Seri Garry Chua said he was happy to see the large number of participants supporting

the charity event. He also thanked Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution for taking time off on a Sunday to launch the run. He also congratulated the Organising Chairman William Tang and his team for successfully organising the event and getting the support of the sponsors. Datuk Seri Garry Chua and the organising committee also extended their heartfelt thanks to all sponsors.

William Tang, who is also MRCA Council member and Youth Deputy Chief pointed said that the Charity Run strived to raise funds for the MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation as MRCA is committed to invest the local communities through various corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

“In the spirit of charity, we are proud to organise this Charity Run for the fifth consecutive year, and we are delighted to inform that we raised RM400,000 for the needy in the past four Charity Run events,” he said.

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Group photo with Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasutio bin Ismail, Minister of KPDNHEP.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin lunched the Charity Run.

Participants at the flag off.

Datuk Seri Garry Chua.

Willian Tang, Organising Chairman.

Stage performances.

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Token of Appreciation for AmBank for being the Main Cash Sponsor.

Relay teams at the starting point.

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Group photo of the Charity Homes who received the proceeds from the Charity Run.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS MEN’S OPEN Champion: Kimitei Rodgers Kiptanui 1st Runner Up: Lel Kip Chir Chir 2nd Runner Up: Muhaizar Bin Mohamad 3rd Runner Up: Asdi Bin Weding 4th Runner Up: Reza Bin Rebuan WOMEN’S OPEN Champion: Kipchumba Irine Jeptoo 1st Runner Up: Tan Bee Kiang 2nd Runner Up: Ong Sue Ming 3rd Runner Up: Nurul Juliana Binti Abdul Haum 4th Runner Up: Ami Aida Binti Ahmad Azam MEN’S VETERAN Champion : Arumugam Vadiveelu 1st Runner Up: Ong Chin 2nd Runner Up: Rafe Ng 3rd Runner Up: Subramaniam Divagaran 4th Runner Up: Khoo Hua Seng

SPONSORS

Main Cash Sponsor: AmBank Group Venue Sponsor: e.City Hotel Sdn Bhd Platinum Cash Sponsor: The Store Corporation Bhd Gold Cash Sponsor: B&G Global Property Sdn Bhd, Focus Point Holdings Bhd, Miracle Land Sdn Bhd and Perfect Channel Sdn Bhd. Cash Sponsors: Bina Puri, Gintell Sdn Bhd, Valiram Group, Bonia Corporation, Golden Home Kitchen Sdn Bhd, Poh Kong Holdings Bhd and Urban Idea Sdn Bhd. Prize Sponsors: All IT Hypermarket, Bagus Curtain, Fiffy, Fitness Concept, Focus Point, Hong Kong Sa Sa, Manhattan Fish Market, One World Hotel, Redbox, Thai Odyssey, Time2Travel Tours and Watatime.

Apparel Sponsor: Paragon Vest Sdn Bhd (Brooks).

F&B Sponsors: Big Onion Caterer, Cupsule Beverage Manufacturer, Delfi Marketing, Eu Yan Sang, GoodMorning Global, Indocafe, Marrybrown, Milo, Pastry World, Pita Berry, Secret Recipe and Sunrider International.

Goodie Bag Sponsors: Beaute Library, Crystal Water Enterprise, Delfi Marketing, GoodMorning Global, KK Supermart, Koon Brother, Malaysian Mosaics, Nicko Jeep Manufacturer, Poh Kong Holdings, The Barbecue Plaza and The Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie.

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WOMEN’S VETERAN Champion: Sheela Samivellu 1st Runner Up: Helda Makis 2nd Runner Up: Lee Swee Mei 3rd Runner Up: Tan Pei Leng 4th Runner Up: Tan Wan Jiun TEAM RUN Champion: Loob Holdings Sdn Bhd 1st Runner Up: Malaysia SME 2nd Runner Up: Hap Seng Star 3rd Runner Up: Nanyang Siang Pau 4th Runner Up: Sunrider International

hree AmBank customers recently won return flight tickets for two each to Bangkok in the bank’s latest Debit Card Campaign. The campaign was launched in collaboration with Thai

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Airways and supported by Mastercard.

The prize giving ceremony was held at Menara AmBank in Kuala Lumpur.

“We would like to congratulate all the winners and we are pleased to continue rewarding our valued customers for

Liau Wai Choo, Head, Retail Products Management, AmBank (M) Berhad (3rd from left) with the winners of AmBank Debit Mastercard Card Campaign at a prize giving ceremony. Also present were Lenon Cheong, Head, Cards and Merchant Services AmBank (M) Berhad (far left), Tishti Sumitra, General Manager for Malaysia and Brunei, Thai Airways (far right) and Nikki Lee, Director of Consumer Marketing, Mastercard Asia Pacific (2nd from right).

their loyalty and support towards us,” said Jade Lee, Managing Director, Retail Banking, AmBank (M) Berhad.

“The objective of this campaign is mainly to drive cashless transaction by using AmBank debit cards. Hence, by offering the chance to win such attractive prizes we hope to promote electronic payments and continue building our CASA base customers at the same time,” added Jade.

The senior management who were present at the prize giving ceremony were Liau Wai Choo, Head, Retail Products Management, AmBank (M) Berhad, Lenon Cheong, Head, Cards and Merchant Services, AmBank (M) Berhad, Tishti Sumitra, General Manager for Malaysia and Brunei, Thai Airways and Nikki Lee, Director of Consumer Marketing, Mastercard, Asia Pacific.

AmBank customers stood a chance to win the prize when they spent a minimum of RM200 with six times of retail transactions using Debit Card during the campaign period.

AmBank Group Bags Award for Best SME Bank mBank Group has been named the Best SME Bank award for Malaysia by Global Banking & Finance Review. Global Banking & Finance Review is a leading UK based financial portal and print magazine offering news, analysis, opinion, reviews, interviews and videos from the world of banking, finance, business, trading, technology, investing, brokerage, foreign exchange, tax and legal, Islamic finance, asset and wealth management.

Commenting on the win, Dato’ Sulaiman Mohd Tahir, Group Chief Executive Officer, AmBank Group said, “We are very honoured to receive this award for the first time. This achievement bears testament to

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our commitment for excellence and the support rendered to our SME clients which has resulted in their continued trust.”

Christopher Yap, Managing Director, Business Banking, AmBank Group added that the award recognises the bank’s efforts to support SMEs in their business growth through financing and knowledge-sharing which goes beyond financial accessibility. “We will continue to deliver business banking solutions that pushes the boundaries of innovation in this exciting and challenging new era.”

Since its inception in 2011, The Global Banking and Finance Awards reflect the innovation, achievement, strategy, progressive and inspirational changes

Christopher Yap,Managing Director, Business Banking, AmBank Group (left), and Dato’ Sulaiman Mohd Tahir, Group Chief Executive Officer, AmBank Group with the Best SME Bank award for Malaysia.

taking place within the Global Financial community. The awards were created to recognise companies of all sizes which are prominent in particular areas of expertise and excellence within the financial world.

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AmBank Debit Card Customers Win Return Flight Tickets To Bangkok

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Fundnel Expands to Malaysia The Singapore-based private investment platform hopes to boost the Malaysian economy by fuelling the growth of SMEs, including local cafes and retail stores.

undnel, Singapore-based private investment platform, has formally expanded to Malaysia following its recent appointment as a Recognised Market Operator by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) – the first approval SC has granted in almost two years.

The fintech company’s launch was recently officiated by Norhizam Abdul Kadir, Vice President, Growth Ecosystem Development of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) in Kuala Lumpur. “The global economy is increasingly being shaped by SMEs, which often face challenges obtaining growth capital,” said Kelvin Lee, CEO and co-founder of Fundnel, the region’s largest private investment platform.

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“Crossing the borders is a big stride towards our goal of creating access to capital for everyday companies.

We believe that funding good-quality private businesses will create more jobs in Malaysia and in turn spur economic growth. Our team is excited to commence work and make a difference to the local market.”

Norhizam Abdul Kadir said that Fundnel’s entry into Malaysia was a testament to the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination. “As a government agency, MDEC works closely with industry players, regulators, start-ups, and accelerators in nurturing the nation’s fintech ecosystem. We look forward to partner with Fundnel and other investment platforms to create a

more vibrant environment and benefit businesses in Malaysia,” he stated.

Fundnel Malaysia will provide a comprehensive suite of capital raising services, targeted at local unlisted growth companies that form the backbone of the economy. This includes SMEs from local cafés and retail stores to larger companies in the fields of education and wellness.

This is in line with two of the new pillars championed by the government in the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, namely ‘Enhancing Inclusive Development and Wellbeing’ and ‘Strengthening Economic Growth’.

The fintech company adopts a technology and data driven approach to connect quality businesses with growth capital, in tandem with the Malaysian

(L-R): Benjamin Twoon, Chief Operating Officer of Fundnel; Kelvin Lee, CEO of Fundnel; Norhizam Abdul Kadir, Vice President of Growth Ecosystem Development, MDEC; and Sng Khai Lin, Chief Financial Officer of Fundnel at the launch.

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“Fundnel Malaysia will provide a comprehensive suite of capital raising services, targeted at local unlisted growth companies that form the backbone of the economy.”

– Kelvin Lee, CEO and co-founder of Fundnel government’s effort in promoting the use of technology to drive financial inclusion and equitable opportunity for the people.

The company offers a modern capital raising solution that is cost and time efficient. Applications on Fundnel has the potential to reach a global network of over 10,000 investors and partners whereupon multiple investment offers will be made. By virtue of being an online platform, price discovery is granted to the fundraiser who then has the flexibility to compare these offers that may best suit their stage of growth or other strategic requirements. This unique element is a key differentiator that sets Fundnel apart from traditional financing options.

Fundnel’s launch in Malaysia comes at a timely moment as the government advocates a shift towards high value-added activities, particularly in knowledge-intensive industries.

This covers digital transformation of the economy by tapping on the potential of big data and fintech.

MisterTyre, a homegrown pioneer in on-demand mobile car care services, will be one of the first companies to be launched on Fundnel Malaysia. The Klang Valley-based start-up plans to use proceeds from this round of fundraising to launch its affiliate program across Malaysia and to initiate licensing of its Software as a Service (SAAS) automotive solution in the United States.

SMEs are fast becoming a cornerstone of the Malaysian economy contributing 37.1% to the country’s GDP and 66% of nation’s workforce in 2017.

Despite the vibrant SME landscape, insufficient access to capital has inhibited their ability to grow. Access to financing remains a key challenge for local SMEs today, as highlighted at the recent SME CEO Forum 2018. Other barriers to growth include lack of access

(L-R): Norhizam Abdul Kadir, Vice President of Growth Ecosystem Development, MDEC and Kelvin Lee, CEO of Fundnel.

ABOUT FUNDNEL

to the latest business technologies and platforms to reach the right investors during early stages.

A 2017 survey carried out by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) determined that funding schemes provided by the government were being underutilised due in part to convoluted application procedures and insufficient loan amounts. As of June 2018, the Registered Market Operators authorised by the SC have collectively raised a total of RM118 million in capital for more than 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises, demonstrating the potential of alternative financing platforms.

In anticipation of its launch, Fundnel has forged a strategic partnership with homegrown investment firm, Midana Capital. Both Fundnel and Midana Capital will assist each other in deal origination with the common ambition of supporting Malaysian companies.

“Our partnership will connect local companies to their network of investors from across the globe, helping them grow and scale up,” said Chris Tan, General Partner of Midana Capital.

• Fundnel is a private investment

platform that curates local unlisted growth companies (usually SMEs).

• It is the first company to have obtained a Recognised Market Operator license from the Securities Commission Malaysia in almost two years.

• Fundnel has originated over US$100 million worth of deals, including for the likes of SpaceX, Travelio and Vickers Ventures Partners.

• Since inception in 2015, Fundnel has expanded its footprint in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, India and Australia.

• It boasts a portfolio of more than 10,000 investors, businesses and partners, and has analysed more than 2,300 companies and facilitated 25 deals for businesses across the region, with a total deal origination value of over US$100 million.

• The company clinched The Asset Triple A Digital Award for Best Fintech Company (Singapore) in 2016.

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Imperial Chakri Palace Skyview Located on the rooftopof Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, the restaurant together with the Rain Tree Sky Bar & Lounge, offer exquisite Thai cuisine and a majestic view of the city skyline.

Minister of Federal Territories, Khalid Abdul Samad and other VIPs officiating at the launch.

hen MRCA President Datuk Seri Garry Chua was first shown the empty place on the rooftop in Dorsett Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, he immediately saw the huge potential of the place. “I knew this place could be turned into an iconic venue where people can come for great food, good ambience and a view to die for,” he said.

Datuk Seri Garry, who is known for his restaurants, especially the Imperial Chakri Palace Restaurants, has opened another branch of the famous Thai restaurant right on the rooftop of the 27th floor of Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur. It was officially opened by YB Khalid Abdul Samad, Minister of Federal Territories.

The Chakri Palace Skyview& Raintree Sky Lounge was awarded the Highest Altitude “Four In One” Outlet

by Malaysia Book of Records and 1st St John AED Kit for Cardiac Arrest.

What sets this Imperial Chakri Palace apart from the others is the view.

The view grabs your attention as you approach the restaurant which has floor to ceiling glass walls that give diners a 360-degree scenic view of Hartamas below and of the majestic skyline of Kuala Lumpur in the background. All

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Skyline of Kula Lumpur from the restaurant.

the iconic buildings such as the KL Tower, Petronas Twin Towers, Menara Maybank, Menara Public Bank and The Exchange 106, the skyscraper under construction within the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) area, are clearly visible from the restaurant.

This is an ideal place to impress your guests not only with the view but also the food. The dishes are created by the top celebrity Thai chef, Chef Mc Dang. Besides the general dining area, there are also private dining rooms that can accommodate up to more than 30 people. The Raintree Sky Bar & Lounge,

which is next to the seated area of the restaurant, is a great place to chill out with friends in the evening for drinks, snacks and pizzas with a difference.

There’s an extensive list of drinks to choose from for drinkers and nonalcohol drinkers alike. The terrace with its long corridor outside the lounge is a place to enjoy a drink and view the spectacular skyline of the city.

The Imperial Chakri Palace has three VIP rooms while the Rain Tree Sky Bar has an upper deck VIP section. The Sky Lounge has three cigar rooms and four KTV rooms.

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Tangkak Beef Noodles Serves Bowls of Excellence The family chain of restaurants serves an international crowd and is a popular choice among diners from Singapore, Taiwan, China, Japan and the US.

n 1976 Au Ah Kuang set up his stall by the roadside of Jalan Payamas, Tangkak, Johor and sold beef noodles to a regular breakfast crowd after learning how to make them from his father.

The Hainanese recipe became a huge hit over time, thanks to the authentic taste of Ah Kuang’s homemade recipe.

The perfect blend of fresh ingredients and herbs coupled with choices of homemade noodles brought out the best aroma and flavour in every bowl.

After the stall became a hit, Ah Kuang shifted his business to a shoplot near Jalan Solok in Tangkak, to accommodate the higher volume of customers. Twenty years later, Ah Kuang’s eldest son decided to expand the family business and opened a second outlet in Melaka. A third outlet followed suit as Ah Kuang’s second son expanded the business to Kluang, Johor.

It was his youngest daughter and her husband that took the family business to the capital city and opened three outlets at strategic locations – Kuchai Lama, Puchong and Cheras.

The business transformed into a family chain of restaurants and became known as Tangkak Beef Noodle Management Sdn Bhd in June 2013.

Today, it serves an international crowd .

Tangkak Beef Noodles would not have climbed to great heights if it wasn’t for the precision and consistency seen in every dish, particularly the noodle soup recipe which is believed to be of Hainanese origin. The specialty

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soup uses 10 types of herbs mixed with fresh ingredients, bones and meat and boiled for two hours. This results in an aromatic broth bursting with flavours that can satisfy even the most discriminating tongues.

The beef mixed with choices of fresh brisket, tenderloin, meatball or other parts are either served together with an aromatic soup or kon lou (dry) style.

The family chain treats every outlet like their home kitchen. Their signature dishes are tested for quality before they open their doors for business daily. The management has constantly insisted on serving the best quality food and beverages using the freshest of ingredients. Local beef is used so customers enjoy the superior quality of fresh meat rather than frozen imported meats.

Tangkak Beef Noodles has gone through an evolution from their roadside stall days. Despite being recognised as a brick and mortar business, the management still prides itself in meeting the needs and wants of their customers by falling back on their mission of consistently aiming for the highest level of excellence.

This includes readying themselves to embrace the world of e-commerce that presents endless business opportunities. They’ve engaged

e-delivery services such as Food Panda and Honest Bee, catering to a wider Internet-savvy market pool.

As a growing business, Tangkak Beef Noodles constantly leans on the value of Common Creed that aims for excellent service and top-quality food and beverages which supports the business’ sustainability.

These factors coupled with reasonable price, portion, a clean environment and raving reviews could keep their business booming for years to come, despite heavy competition in the F&B scene.

Tangkak Beef Noodles is also a strong advocate of customer-centricity as they do their best to live up to expectations of their diverse customer base. With strategic growth objectives embedded deeply in their hearts of all their employees, the family chain expects to establish a brand presence locally by opening more outlets nationwide. They aspire to eventually be recognised as a global brand by expanding their business to neighbouring countries.

For Tangkak Beef Noodles, the exciting F&B scene is not all competition but an opportunity for them to represent a different food culture and indulge their customers in a first-class food and beverage experience.

The country’s largest jewelley retail chain is recognised as an integrated one-stop jeweller that sells gold, jewelleries and precious stones. oh Kong Holdings Bhd (PKHB), the mother company of Poh Kong Jewellers (PKJ), is the largest jewellery retail chain in Malaysia.

It not only has an in-house brand but is a distributor for some of the top jewellery brands in the world.

PKJ opened its first store in 1976 at a time when gold was retailing below USD133.77 per ounce (about RM556.

26). The first store was a 55 sq ft rented shop at Jalan 52/4 in Petaling Jaya. Back then it was a competitive business with many goldsmiths as gold was affordable.

Despite intense competition, PKJ grew and in 1982 opened a second shop of 1,500 square feet in SS2 Petaling Jaya. Its workforce too expanded to 20 people. In the 1980s when the price of gold skyrocketed, many smaller gold shops closed down but PKJ soldiered on and the following decade saw the company opening more stores in different towns in Malaysia.

The 90s also marked many firsts for the company. It implemented a computerised point of sales system in 1993 and also received international recognition for its designs. In 1996 PKJ’s design team won the gold medal in the prestigious Gold Design Awards under the World Gold Council in Italy.

The 21st century saw the company reach even greater heights. It went into manufacturing with the opening of a 60,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility in Shah Alam. Skilled master craftsmen were hired to create exclusive jewellery designs.

In 2004 PKHB was successfully listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd. In the same year, it opened its first Poh Kong Gallery on the first floor of its headquarters in Petaling Jaya. Poh Kong Gallery is a 5,000 sq ft lounge VIP decorated in elegant Italian classic style.

It is reserved for high spending clients such as royalty, celebrities and socialites

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who like to view collections and shop in privacy.

In 2006 PKJ expanded into East Malaysia with the opening of its first franchise outlet in Kota Kinabalu. The following year it opened its flagship store in the prestigious Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. And in 2011 it achieved a milestone, opening its 100th outlet.

Besides selling exclusively designed pieces under its in-house brands such as Tranz, Anggun, Happy Love and The Art of Auspicious, PKJ also emerged as the sole distributor for some top global brands. For example, in 2006, the company became the exclusive distributor in Southeast Asia for Schoeffel pearls.

Another coup for PKJ was in securing the exclusive distributorship of Luca Carati, one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious jewellers. Other brands exclusively carried by PKJ are Disney Jewellery, Hemera (most brilliant 101 cut diamond) and Moraglione 1922 coloured stone jewellery from Italy.

Poh Kong owes its success to one of its founders, Dato’ Eddie Choon, who brought many innovative changes to the company, steering it from a family-run business to its present avatar as a wellknown jewellery company.

Dato’ Eddie attributes this to the

company staying true to its core business principles which are quality, value, trustworthiness and choice.

Honesty and trustworthiness, he said, are qualities that are essential to any business and without them no business can survive long.

To be one step ahead of competitors, the company keeps abreast with new technology for the jewellery industry.

Ever since its listing on the stock market, it has invested about RM3 million annually on upgrades.

Another reason for its success is the hard work put into the company by its staff, without whom, the company would not be what it is today, said Dato’ Eddie. The company has a good record of retaining its employees because it also looks after their welfare by giving generous benefits in terms of health.

It also provides hostel facilities, uniforms, meal subsidies and flexiworking hours for its employees.

The company also believes in giving back to society. Its CSR initiatives include sponsorships and monetary support in the areas of health and welfare of the underprivileged, education, arts, culture, sports, entertainment, building funds, humanitarian missions, charitable causes and women entrepreneurship.

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Poh Kong – A World-Class One-Stop Jeweller

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Spectrum Reaches Out Through OOH Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising has been around since mid-1800s and the fact that it is still a thriving means of advertising in the 21st century is a testament to the power of the category in the advertising world.

OOHs such as billboards remain a powerful and effective advertising tool because the advertisement is exposed to road users around the clock, creating lasting awareness and increase in sales.

Spectrum, the number 2 company among OOH advertising in Malaysia, has not only inventories throughout prominent locations in Peninsular Malaysia, it is also the proud owner of its Premium Outdoor LED (POLD) known as Blinq, located on SS2/ LDP, Bangsar and in the heart of KL. Spectrum prides itself for using only premium quality LED screens in order to provide advertisers with the ultimate alternative platform.

Spectrum started in 1997 when Dato’ Yap Kun Lee, Dato’ Haji Suhaili and Mr Henry Low, all with OOH advertising background, came together. The early years, after the Asian Financial Crisis, was challenging for the company, especially in getting the market to believe in the product but the founders did not give up.

Spectrum’s list of clients grew steadily. Today, it has a portfolio of over 258 advertising agencies, media specialists and direct clients. With over

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20 years of experience in the OOH industry, Spectrum has emerged as one of the more well-known OOH companies in Malaysia and in the region.

Over the years the company has been aggressively developing new site inventories on a nationwide scale to accommodate the demand for OOH. Boasting a portfolio of over 500 sites, Spectrum’s site inventory ranges throughout the country and has the most number of impressive billboards on prominent locations in the country such as the KLIA/ELITE expressway.

Despite Spectrum’s tremendous growth, the company’s vision remains the same — to grow by acquisitions and strategic alliance, both locally and cross-border.

As an active member of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Malaysia (OAAM), Spectrum has adopted a set of voluntary industry principles of which it endorses and continues to encourage others in the industry to strive for.

Some of Spectrum’s strengths are its expertise to help clients successfully plan their campaign. Its services extend beyond conventional needs and include handling research, planning, location identification, insurance coverage and continual monitoring of sites.

Another of Spectrum’s strength is its ability to streamline processes for clients, making it a one-stop-solution for a cost-effective media package, and successful OOH campaign. Its strong and profound relationship extends also to its in-house contractors and business partners, hence creating a well-structured ecosystem which supports Spectrum in its growth.

Spectrum recently expanded into the Jakarta and Australian markets.

OOH advertising targets consumers who commute for work. They are also the segment that generates income and holds purchasing power.

Spectrum is committed to providing value and service to advertisers nationwide as well as maintaining and improving the quality, appearance, and safety of advertising structures and locations. Spectrum also encourages the use of new technologies to continuously improve services provided to advertisers, including information provided to the public.

By maintaining the company’s stronghold in both static and D-OOH platforms, Spectrum seeks to provide the ultimate OOH platform for clients by addressing their individual campaign needs.

Building with Innovation

IG adopts the strategy of product innovation and value chain creation to ultimately heighten demand and broaden its customer base. The group is constantly on the lookout to enhance its development projects through value-added services and innovative real estate applications.

Representing the group, Temasek Regal Capital Sdn Bhd was awarded the SME 100 (East Malaysia Edition): Malaysia’s Fast Moving Companies 2014 as a recognition of its growth in a lucrative market by Business Media in 2014. The same year subsidiary Midas Residence Sdn Bhd was given the Merit Award for Low Rise Residential for The Tropics Condominiums project in Kuching by the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developer’s Association (SHEDA) at its Excellence Award.

“RIG hopes to do more than assembling bricks and mortar, instead it offers a way of living. Tropics City exemplifies Regal’s concept of an enrichment hub – a one-stop platform for interactive, value-added consumer experience, ultimately transforming

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into an enriching eco-system of sustainable growth,” said Nicholas Wong, Executive Director, RIG. For the group’s remarkable achievements under his leadership and entrepreneurial visions, CEO Dominic Su was conferred the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award (APEA) 2016.

In the following year RIG snagged the Built Environment Industry (BEI) Asia Awards – the Top Distinguished Award, as recognition for leading enterprises that have achieved commendable success across Singapore’s Built Environment Industry.

The group’s core competency is in the business of property development, investment and construction.

Over the past 15 years, RIG has achieved an impressive track record of constructing and completing a range of property development projects in Kuching and Kota Samarahan, including shophouses, landed residential properties, condominiums, commercial and industrial units.

Tropics City, the star property project

of the group, located within the prime Jalan Song district in Kuching, is well poised to be the next landmark in town. A mixed development comprising SOHOs, residentials, commercial units and an enrichment hub, Tropics City offers commercial investment opportunities that can be well-sustained with an immediate ready catchment of 280,000 patrons from the surrounding residential areas.

Consisting of six complementary developments – The Tropics Condominiums, 72 Residences, Tropics City, Tropics Central, Tropics Plus and Tropics Cheers, the development will stretch across a 25-acres land once completed.

Tropics City is an enrichment hub positioned above the average business and retail ecosystem.

Unlike traditional retail products, Tropics City will be built on the foundation of urban families’ lifestyle enrichment, offering one-stop convenience and accessibility for food and beverage, education, medical, health, beauty and wellness as well as culture and arts. These six anchor concepts, curated to provide families ultimate ease and convenience, will form Tropics City’s unparalleled strategic edge as the first Enrichment Hub in Sarawak.

With an assorted blend of international and local F&B establishments, educational classes, healthcare offerings, fitness memberships, beauty and wellness services as well as cultural, arts entertainment being introduced to this family-friendly hub, these enriching services, when combined, will emerge as a tremendous pulling factor to attract a larger pool of patrons.

Tropics City will also house the first aqua gym in Kuching on the Active Zone on the third floor, where gym facilities and eco-friendly swimming pools are available. With over 153,144 sq ft of commercial space for at least 184 storefronts, Tropics City apartments’ residents will have an easy access to a diverse range of activities.

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Regal International Group Ltd (RIG) is one of the first Sarawak-based companies to list on the mainboard of the SGX. It is also listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

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PKT Logistics – Moving Businesses Forward A thriving business since 1974, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd is Malaysia’s award-winning company known for its superior supply chain management. ven before an illustrious career in the industry, CEO Dato’ (Dr) Michael Tio’s entrepreneurial genes stood out during his student days in England where he ran an export business involving luxury pre-owned vehicles.

Back in Malaysia in 1996, he took charge of what was formerly known as Port Klang Trading, founded by his father Dato’ Tio Sook Keo. Port Klang Trading began as a Customs brokerage and forwarding service provider. The business slowly grew to encompass total logistics solutions for freight forwarding, Customs brokerage, warehousing, transportation and distribution, and 4PL services.

Today, it serves the growth of large and medium national and multinational automotive, fast moving consumer good F&B, E-commerce and renewable energy businesses by ensuring an increased level of efficiency and reduced transit time for all their goods.

Spanning over 27 acres, PKT’s One Logistics Hub houses three main warehouses. The Ship, built in 2009,

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has 10,000 pallet positions and 25,000 sq ft shelving system for auto parts, as well as a Warehouse Management System and Radio Frequency scanners.

It is equipped with the state-of-the-art security and surveillance system.

The Wave, a nautical themed secondgeneration warehouse, has 35,000 pallet locations, 45 container loading bays, 24/7 security, natural ventilation and lighting, while The Lighthouse is naturally-lit, naturally-ventilated multi-storey, split level warehouse that stands as a testament to their go green initiative. The Lighthouse, which comes with built-in solar panels and rain harvesting system for general use, is the first Green Building Index (Gold certified) warehouse in the country.

Dato’ (Dr) Michael not only turned PKT Logistics into a leading one-stop logistics player in ASEAN, he is also Malaysia Book of Records CEO and was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Logistic Management by University Utara Malaysia in 2018. He was also selected as one of the Top CEOs under the CEO Faculty Program in Jabatan Pengajian Politeknik Malaysia and Ministry of Higher Education.

AWARDS WON BY PKT LOGISTICS AND DATO’ (DR) MICHAEL TIO • 2017 – JCI Malaysia Sustainable Development Award Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure Winner • 2017 – Keystar Supplier Award By Keystone Group 2nd place in the world • 2017 – The Most Active CEO Award Ministry of Higher Education • 2016 – Frost & Sullivan Best Ocean Freight Service Provider of the Year • 2015 – Greentech Awards PKT Logistics recognised as one of the Top 30 Green Catalyst in Malaysia • 2015 – Frost & Sullivan Green Logistics Service Provider of the Year Niche Logistics Service Provider of the Year • 2015 – Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (Macau) Investment in People Responsible Business Leader • 2014 – Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards Business Excellence Person of the Year CSR Excellence Award • 2014 – Hull Laureate Award by University Of Hull First Recipient in the World • 2013 – Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Top Nominee (Master Category) • 2012 – SOBA Awards Grand Winner: Malaysian Business of the Year Grand Winner: Entrepreneur of the Year Best Green Initiative: Gold Award Best Employer: Silver Award Best in CSR: Silver Award • 2011 – Frost & Sullivan Emerging Logistics Service Provider of the Year • 2011 – The Star Outstanding Business Awards or SOBA Best Employer: Silver Award Business of the Year 2011: Silver Award Entrepreneur of the Year 2011: Gold Award • 2011 – The Brand Laureate Awards SMEs Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Best Logistics Service Provider of the Year 2011 • 2018 – Conferred the Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Logistic Management, University Utara Malaysia

Baskin-Robbins is the only ice cream brand in the world that offers a different flavour for each day of the month – some say one for each day of the year as it has been reported that it has over 1,300 flavours. askin-Robbins was founded in California by Burton Baskin and Irvin Robbins in 1945. Baskin produced ice cream for his peers in the US Navy while serving in World War II, while Robbins worked in his father’s ice cream parlour. After Baskin returned from the war, the brothers-in-law decided to commercialise the idea of a family-friendly ice cream shop by kickstarting what would be one of the most celebrated brands in the world.

Today, Baskin-Robbins owns over 8,000 stores around the world across more than 54 countries. In Malaysia, the brand is owned by Golden Scoop Sdn Bhd. It was on his honeymoon trip to Hawaii in 1986, that Dato’ Cheah See Yeong stumbled upon the American ice cream brand.

Amazed by the selection of flavours, Dato’ Cheah tried out Rocky Road, which turned him into an ice cream enthusiast that same day. He and his wife then had two different flavours of ice cream each day, throughout their holiday.

Two years later on Christmas Eve in 1988, Golden Scoop opened its first Baskin-Robbins outlet in Subang Parade Shopping Centre. Today, Golden Scoop owns over 130 Baskin-Robbins stores nationwide and several stores in

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Singapore after expanding its wings into the neighbouring country, in 2011.

Every employee of Golden Scoop is deeply ingrained in the H.O.P.E (Happy, Open, Passionate, Empathy) philosophy in order to get their staff to provide the best service to their customers.

Led by a team of ice cream lovers themselves, Golden Scoop’s grand mission is to create magical moments to make the world a happier place. Resonating with the childlike joy ice cream brings, all employees also take a lot of pride in serving their customers just to see them indulge in their offerings.

With so much passion in store at each store, it’s no wonder that Golden Scoop won the esteemed BaskinRobbins Partner/Licensee of the Year in 2008, the highest honour awarded by the Mother brand Dunkin’ Brands Inc. While the award was the first recognition given to Golden Scoop, it also set a premier standard for the company to follow suit. This resulted in a host of other prestigious awards

and accolades such as 360 Retail Star (2011), Baskin-Robbins Innovator of the Year (2011), Operator of the Year (2012), Innovation Excellence (2013) and Development Excellence (2016), all awarded by Dunkin’ Brands International.

The company also clinched other awards, namely 50 of Malaysia’s Most Outstanding Retailer Chains (2012) and Outstanding Innovation (2015) awarded

by Malaysian Retailer-Chain Association; Master Class Awards in Retail Chain (2012) awarded by McMillan Woods Global Awards and Largest Ice Cream Chain awarded by The Malaysia Book Records in 2014.

The company is known for its creative marketing strategies which include visually appealing images, creative taglines, and bright and vibrant colour choices. Be it the “Flavour of the Month” which introduces a new flavour each month; the guilt-free “BRight Choices” range; colourful vegan sorbets; sugarless flavours; cakes or milkshakes, Baskin-Robbins has something for everyone.

All its products sold in Malaysia undergo stringent quality checks before they are imported into the country under strict food and beverage policies.

All flavours served in Malaysia are also certified halal by the local and overseas Islamic authorities, reaffirming the company’s commitment to serve only the best to their customers here.

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PAYDIBS – Breaking New Ground in the Online Space The company facilitates businesses, irrespective of size, to accept both online and mobile payments via its reliable and secure proprietary technology platform.

s technology continues to break new ground, we now occupy an era where major businesses run online, and payments and transactions are made by a few simple clicks. It isn’t a stretch to say that within the next decade, we would have completed our transformation into a cashless society.

In fact, in most parts of the globe, that process is happening right now at full speed. That said, Malaysia hasn’t exactly caught up to the developed powerhouse nations of the world.

It is this very problem that brought forth Paydibs. Founded in 2010, Paydibs Sdn Bhd is a Bank Negara regulated Merchant Acquirer aimed at facilitating businesses, irrespective of size, to accept both online and mobile payments via its reliable and secure proprietary technology platform.

At the core of Paydibs are five passionate individuals – Terry Yee (CEO), Lim Sze Kiat (Head of Finance), Kelly Soo (Head of Operations), Raymond Wong (Head of Risk and Compliance), Yong Ooi Mei (Head of IT) and Chong Suk Yin (Head of Merchant Acquiring) – who, together with the rest of the Paydibs team, are on a mission to drive forward the cashless culture among SMEs in Malaysia. Working hand in hand with the government, Paydibs is on a mission to be the leading merchant acquirer and payment provider.

Paydibs is confident that the

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Terry Yee, CEO of Paydibs.

cashless concept will lead the retail industry in Malaysia in the next five years. This will then change the shopping behaviour among citizens nationwide.

How does Paydibs tower over their competitors who offer similar services?

For one, Paydibs doesn’t just limit SMEs to using a singular branch of e-money.

On the contrary, Paydibs offers ‘Paydibs Pay’ which enables SMEs to carry out their transactions using a plethora of e-money – Alipay, Boost, MCash, etc – or even QR payments via a simple mobile payment application.

Paydibs also offers a payment platform called Paydibs Checkout where it facilitates e-commerce merchants to accept credit and debit cards as a form of transaction, as well as online banking from online shoppers.

There is no doubt that Paydibs is a unified payment platform of the highest quality, one that can and should be used to facilitate merchants to accept both online and mobile transactions securely anytime, anywhere.

Recently Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also expressed interest in making the country cashless in order to drive operational efficiency as well as combat corruption. In relation to that, Paydibs has also made it clear that while the company hopes to expand their business to other countries within Southeast Asia, the primary focus is still the growth and progress of Malaysia towards a cashless society.

Furthermore, Paydibs is a company that continuously evolves to enhance its payment solutions to be on par with the latest trends and market demands, with its focus not just on efficiency but security as well. Paydibs guarantees state-of-the-art security to protect the interests of both the merchants and the consumers.

Paydibs believes that in the coming years, online and offline businesses will complement each other, and so Paydibs offers payment solutions, not just for online businesses, but for all retailers regardless whether it is online or offline.

Malaysia is slowly but surely taking its first step towards becoming a cashless society, and Paydibs is set to be a pioneer Fintech company as far as payment processing technology and solutions go. In 2012 Paydibs was awarded an MSC-status company by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation. Since its inception, Paydibs has continuously proved to be not just reliable but a real game changer.

Whether it’s hawker-styled or fine dining, Chinese cuisine never loses its lustre and following. Hence it was only natural for Singapore-based restaurant chain, Paradise Group Holdings Pte Ltd to spread its wings to Malaysia. he Paradise begins with a simple story that first took place at Defu Lane, Singapore, in 2002. Despite being discreetly located at an industrial area, the Seafood Paradise – the Group’s first 25-seater coffee shop – attracted a large following, simply for its outstanding taste.

Founders, Eldwin and his brother Edlan Chua, decided to ride on its success by opening a second Seafood Paradise to prominently showcase their dishes at the iconic Singapore Flyer.

Their seafood delights grew both a local and international fan base.

The brothers were quick to tap on Seafood Paradise’s success and within 13 years, the dynamic duo grew Paradise Group into a mega food empire with more than 100 restaurants across 12 unique culinary concepts worldwide.

They also have a presence in China,

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Japan, Hong Kong, Myanmar, the Philippines and Taiwan.

The Chuas along with Elyna Tan, CEO of Paradise Group Malaysia, who has an extensive experience in the F&B industry, brand building and promotion, have an aim to serve an outstanding gourmet experience at great value to their patrons.

Today, the multiple award-winning Group enjoys an annual turnover of over S$180 million. Paradise is currently on a massive expansion plan with a target to achieve a turnover of S$300 million in the next three years. They also aim to open and manage at least 150 restaurants globally.

Capitalising on the high demand for various types of Chinese cuisine here, the Group opened Paradise (F&B) Malaysia Sdn Bhd in 2012, the first Paradise Dynasty at

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Paradise Group Creates F&B Haven

Paradigm Mall, a unique dining concept that serves the delectable xiaolongbao (specialty steamed bun), along with northern and southern signature and contemporary dishes. They are the first in the world to introduce eight types of xiaolongbao fusion flavours – original, crab roe, cheese, garlic, ginseng, Szechuan, foie gras and black truffle.

The Group opened their second and third Paradise Dynasty outlets at Bangsar Village II in 2013 and Pearl Shopping Gallery in 2016 with a seating capacity of 160 and 138, respectively.

To date, it has a total of six outlets in Malaysia including the latest at Sky Avenue Genting Highland. While at Sky Avenue check out the LeNu/ Canton Paradise and Beauty in the Pot dining outlets. Beauty in the Pot infuses health and nourishment concept into their specialty soups while LeNu / Canton Paradise offers classic and contemporary noodle and congee dishes prepared with the finest and freshest ingredients.

Famous for their Cheese Baked Rice and Nissin Noodles, the Kung Fu Baked Rice outlet at Subang Jaya AEON Big is a popular dish along with hearty meat options which include beef steaks, chicken cutlets, chipolata sausages, fish fillet and seafood. Their signature Stylo coffee is a must try for coffee lovers.

For customer convenience, the food kiosk has an inbuilt ‘order number’ calling system, similar to the system found at food courts in Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Thai food lovers will be spoilt for choices at Paradise’s ParaThai outlets at Mitsui Outlet Park, Sepang, MyTOWN, Cheras and Citta Mall. Dine like royalties in theatrical and gallery-like outlets and savour a tastefully decorated ambience that pays tribute to young Thai artists.

The Mitsui Outlet Park also houses LèTen, which offers an extensive selection of Asian dishes accompanied with exquisite dim sum. LèTen is a Chinese Muslim restaurant and, as such, all food served here are halal.

With these hopes to offer the best gastronomic journey through their traditional and fusion Oriental creations.

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NYONYA COLORS – First Of Its Kind Peranakan Kuih-Muih Nyonya Colors is the first of its kind lifestyle cafe that specialises in top quality Peranakan snacks and desserts at affordable prices, differentiating them for the overcrowded and low entry barrier Kopitiam market.

here was a time where foodies had to hunt high and low for Peranakan food, especially when it came to the scrumptious kuih-muih or snacks and desserts. This is what propelled Chris Loh to start Nyonya Colors in 2003.

It was the first to offer Peranakan kuihmuih in a self-service cafe format.

Loh partnered with Ong Mei Lean in the late 1990s and built his business.

Interestingly enough, neither one of them has a background in F&B – Loh was a management consultant while Ong was a remisier.

Although they had no experience in the F&B world, they were determined to provide food of the highest quality.

They realised on that they would have to produce their own goods when their suppliers failed to meet their standards.

Loh and Ong would ask friends for secret recipes and try them out.

Although they failed repeatedly, they kept chugging along, improving every step of the way. Loh would purchase popular kuih-muih from Melaka, Penang and even Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, from his frequent travels, and would benchmark their own kuih through blind tasting. They truly embodied the phrase, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again!”

This attitude propelled a company of humble beginnings into the recognisable and popular brand it is today. Today, the company boasts 10 Nyonya Colors cafes located in 1Utama, The Gardens MidValley, Empire Shopping Gallery, Sky Avenue Genting Highlands, Suria KLCC, Gateway KLIA 2, Nu Sentral, Berjaya Times Square and

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My Town, and Little Cravings, also at 1Utama. They have more than 200 staff.

Nyonya Colors is a first of its kind lifestyle cafe that specialises in top quality Peranakan snacks and desserts at affordable prices, differentiating them for the overcrowded and low entry barrier Kopitiam market.

This is the only brand in the space that offers a wide range of kuih, a whopping 30 to 50 delicacies, of which almost all are produced in house to ensure quality and consistency control. To this day, Loh, assisted by his son Kun Quan, still goes down to the field and talks to all their process owners whenever there are issues pertaining the quality. To ensure quality is maintained, all outlets are ownerowned (non-franchise) supported by a central kitchen.

But apart from quality, Nyonya Colors offers good value for money, with a pleasant dining experience. Plus, they also have their own flagship products unique to their brand such as the Thai Mee Siam and the Yellow Laksa with Winter Melon.

While many analysts have stated that brick and mortar businesses are dying in the age of the internet because of online shopping and food delivery services, Nyonya Colors isn’t rattled. If anything, the growth of the internet and handheld technology will only enhance customers’ experience with Nyonya Colors be it purchasing, order taking or incentivised loyalty.

Nyonya Colors also emphasises market segmentation. One might wonder why this brand isn’t seen at every single major shopping mall

nationwide. That’s because the brand is positioned in a way to appeal to a targeted segment, which is absolutely critical in the overcrowded and competitive F&B market. They’re careful not to overstretch or dilute the value of the brand by being everywhere.

While Nyonya Colors recognises the potential for the business to go beyond the borders into the several overseas markets such as Singapore, Indonesia and Australia, they would much rather focus on the untapped areas of the local market, at least for now.

Nyonya Colors has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Moving forward, the company plans to capitalise on their growing brand name and tap into the corporate market and explore the possibilities of online orders and deliveries. The company also plans to extend its product range even further by offering complimentary products like cookies and various sauces.

A Malaysian Company For Malaysians MYDIN has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a wooden shop in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Today, it is a household name with 25 hypermarkets, 17 emporiums, three bazaars, nine supermarkets, 12 convenience shops, five franchise outlets and three premium supermarkets. rue success comes when we are able to address the concerns of society,” said Managing Director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin.

“The issue now is how to combat the rising cost of living in Malaysia. It is simply easy to tell people that we are increasing the price due to the higher cost imposed by suppliers. But that was simply not an option. We look forward to work hand-in-hand with the government and the private sector to reduce the impact of the cost of living and increase the people’s spending power,” stated Datuk Ameer Ali. Specialising in wholesale trading and widely known as an able retailer to supply in mass, MYDIN provides goods and products in large quantities at low price. Its customers are not only from Malaysia, but also from the international market including Turkey, Dubai, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

MYDIN is a goal-oriented company and is working positively towards

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becoming the country’s largest hypermarket chain. Despite having 74 branches across the country, it is constantly seeking ways to evolve and grow. It aims to be the world’s leading distributor of competitively-priced halal goods and services.

In keeping with the times MYDIN also enjoys an online presence.

Customers can now check for promotions, discounts and stores activities on Facebook and on Instagram @mydinmalaysia. It has also ventured into omni-channel retailing. Customers can shop online with its ‘MYDIN Online, Klik and Pick’, which allows customers to get the items delivered to their doors or to pick up the ordered items at the Chiller and Frozen Locker available at their Subang Jaya Hypermarket.

Customers also enjoy the privilege of iMeriah under MYDIN’s Meriah Loyalty and Rewards Program. MYDIN introduced this insurance policy that provides monthly groceries to the nominee of Meriah Card members.

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iMeriah is Syariah compliant, and this complimentary group term Takaful plan provides protection against death.

This benefit is managed by AmMet Life Takaful Bhd for MYDIN. Honesty is key to staying relevant.

Likewise good work ethics, said Datuk Ameer, The company emphasises on team work and bridges the gap between employer and employee.

The Board of Directors and Managers lead by example, are hands-on at work and encourage an active working environment through open communication for everyone by inviting feedback and responding to employees.

The company also cultivates a familylike work environment.

More importantly, it believes that empowering the staff through growth opportunities is effective in solidifying the strength of the company.

MYDIN’s retail academy, MYRA, partners with local universities such as OUM, UUM and UITM to conduct programmes to upskill its employees.

It also subsidises fees for employees to further their studies in the Masters in Retail Management programme at UiTM. Separately, it is planning to bring the wholesale business to the spectrum of retail digitalisation, by building a platform for the business to supply items in mass quantity. While current online markets are narrowing business on the basis of small-scale orders, the company sees digitalisation as essential to Malaysia’s economic growth. Offline or online, the focus is always on convenience for its customers.

MYDIN introduced an e-wallet and e-invoice system for time and cost saving, allowing staff to focus their time on the front-end customer experience, which in retail is crucial.

In 2018, MYDIN had a Warehouse sale which received a massive response from the public.

To optimise customers shopping experiences, MYDIN will continue to provide wide assortments of products as well as enhancement of services via technology.

While it’s tempting to expand the business overseas, Datuk Ameer Ali said there is still potential in the local market.

“We have found our niche in the Malaysia retail industry. We are keen to grow in Perlis, Sabah, and Pahang.”

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Mobile eCommerce Dominates, Contributing to 40.8 Million Transactions in 2018 iPay88 Holding Sdn Bhd, a leading Malaysian-based provider of online and retail payment solutions in region, shares insights into Malaysians e-commerce transactions via their online payment gateway system. nline payment provider iPay88 Holding Sdn Bhd recorded a total of 52.45 million payment transactions in 2018 as compared to 28.7 million in 2017, nearly doubling in transactions. December recorded the highest number of transactions with RM6.9 million transactions. These transactions amounted to a total sale of RM7 billion, a 68 percent increase as compared to 2017.

Executive Director Chan Kok Long said smartphones were a key catalyst for the exponential growth of ecommerce over the last few years, and as such, businesses should look into enhancing their mobile experience and application performance.

“Mobile eCommerce began overtaking desktop eCommerce in the second quarter of 2016. In total, 40.8 million transactions were successfully performed over mobile devices in 2018.

This further shows that smartphones

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were the preferred device amongst Malaysians as the device to access the internet,” explained Chan recently at a media briefing where he shared insights into Malaysians e-commerce transactions via their online payment gateway system.

Chan added that online banking transactions superseded credit card transactions in the fourth quarter of 2018.There were 13.8 million transactions through online banking in the quarter compared to 3.5 million transactions through credit card.

“Bank Negara’s move to bring down the cost of online banking transactions in the last few years has definitely made online banking the preferred payment method for consumers. FPX is fast becoming a preferred mode of payment for consumers,” he said.

BIGGEST GROWTH AREAS FOR ONLINE RETAIL Supplements and Healthcare products

showed the highest growth in sales in 2018, recording a 336 per cent increase in 2018 as compared to 2017. Food and beverages recorded RM44 million (75 per cent), market place RM2 billion (71 per cent), gift and merchandise RM23 million (69 per cent, advertising services RM56 million (50 per cent), accommodation RM148.3 million (45 per cent) and transportation services RM82.9 million (38 per cent).

He pointed out that online retail will continue to show tremendous growth in 2019, with mobile phones being the preferred device of use.

“Businesses that have yet to go online must relook their strategies or lose out on a significant segment of retail purchases. On our part, iPay88 will continue to provide our customers, both merchants and consumers, with mobile applications and payment systems that are easier to use and feature innovative user friendly features,” Chan said.

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A Clear Focus on Better Visions Focus Point is one of the largest optical retailers in Malaysia with more than 185 outlets nationwide and in Brunei. It has over 10 years of experience in managing their franchise business which includes various concept stores catering to different market segments.

ocus Point prides itself in being an all-in-one solution when it comes to eye care, eyewear and accessories.

It offers a board range of concept stores such as Focus Point Signature, Opulence, Whoosh, Focus Point Concept Store and Solariz.

Focus Point has also ventured into the food business with the opening of Komugi bakeries which offers delightful Japanese pastries throughout their bakery, café and deli outlets.

Their main focus, however, remains on the optical business which makes up more than 80 per cent of its revenue.

Focus Point is an ACE market listed company on Bursa Malaysia. It is listed as Focus Point Holdings Bhd. Focus Point founder President and CEO Dato’ Liaw Choon Liang opened his first optical shop in Muar in 1989. The early years were challenging but after persevering and when his business turnover increased along with the Focus Point brand popularity, Dato’ Liaw expanded his business to Segamat and Johor Bahru in 1994.

In 1997, he opened his first store in Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur, to create Focus Point’s first optical city.

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He then moved his headquarters to Petaling Jaya and expanded to Ipoh and Penang. In 2008, Focus Point become Malaysia’s number one optical store. Soon after, Dato’ Liaw saw an opportunity when his loyal employees desired to open their own business. He partnered with them and created a winning franchise model where Focus Point employees could become franchisees.

Focus Point has achieved many firsts including the first to open the largest optical city in Mid Valley Megamall with the largest range of eye care and eyewear brands. It was the first to start its optical franchise programme and also the first optical company to be listed on the ACE market.

It is also the first optical shop to

offer the 0 per cent easy payment plan for customers to afford quality eyewear.

Recently, Focus Points opened 10 new franchise outlets in the Philippines under the brand name Kumori, under its food and beverage business. It has an outlet each in Kuching, Melaka, Johor and Melbourne, Australia. Komugi has implemented a franchise and it is an achievement for a local Malaysiangrown brand to have overseas interest knocking at its doors for expansion.

Focus Point also introduced Whoosh, their latest concept outlet targeting the young generation with fast moving fashion eyewear. Here, customers can pick a frame, get their eyes tested and receive their glasses, all in 30 minutes, and at an affordable price.

Focus Point also owns various wellknown brands catering to different market segments. Opulence, for example, focuses on luxury eyewear.

Solariz, meanwhile, is a dedicated sunglasses specialist centre while Excelview is a professional eye care specialist business.

Focus Point has also ventured into the food and beverage business with the group’s homegrown Komugi bakery.

Komugi has 11 stores in Klang Valley, a franchise outlet each in Kuching, Melaka, Johor and Melbourne, and 10 franchise outlets in the Philippines known as Kumori.

Focus Point chalked a revenue of RM165.1 million in 2017. Dato’ Liaw believes in being hands on in his business, emphasising on personal touch to retain customers and encourage repeat sales. He also focuses on quality and professionalism.

He values the people in his organisation by investing in their career paths and ensuring that they stay motivated at all times.

YYC Group, one of Malaysia’s leading auditing, tax and business advisory firms, focuses on innovation and adaptability, strives to lead with better business practices. n 1974 YYC Group (formerly known as SF Yap & Co) was established by Yap Seong Fatt. During its early years, the company was a purely accounting and audit firm but in 2005 when Datin Shin helmed her father’s company, she reinvented the company’s traditional business model to further boost sales.

Datin Shin continuously explored various business opportunities, keeping in mind the lessons she’s learned from wise and successful people around the world, including Jack Ma who once said, “never ever compete on prices, instead compete on services and innovation”.

With Datin Shin at the helm, YYC Group pushed themselves to keep learning and innovate in their efforts to provide the best and most contemporary business solutions to their more than 10,000 clients.

When GST was implemented, Datin Shin realised that many SMEs were struggling to adjust. Her idea to help

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business owners during this period propelled YYC to the next level.

Today, the Group is run by the second generation of the Yap family, with Datin Shin as the company’s CEO, alongside Chau Yap who is the Chairman. It has evolved into one of Malaysia’s leading auditing, tax and business advisories, with more than 500 staff – a testament to their talent management.

YYC Group has 18 branches, mostly in the Klang Valley, Johor and Penang, and the company is growing. Their mission is a noble and powerful one, which is to inspire a life changing journey for business owners, not just in Malaysia, but across the globe. Their goal is to be the number one accounting firm for business owners through innovation.

The most basic level, is the ‘compliance’ category. It is a category that encompasses more common accounting related services such as audit and assurance, GST and SST management, taxation, accounting and bookkeeping and the like.

Apart from that the company also provides advisory services regarding share structures, strategic planning, pre-IPO, tax and digital marketing, among others.

The third and fourth categories ‘business school’ and ‘platform’, are

unique. The ‘business school’ category reflects YYC’s mission to inspire business owners through innovation.

In this category, YYC will not only advise but also provide leadership training modules, directors and shareholders modules, CEO modules, soft skill training, tax training modules as well as employment law modules. Business owners will get to learn from the best at YYC. In the ‘platform’ category, YYC will shadow the client’s company as a private advisory board to help the company make a break-through in the competitive market.

While many companies are concerned that the shift to the digital age might affect their businesses, YYC remains unfazed. It launched a website (yycadvisors.com) and payment gateway. They also utilise suitable social media platforms to build awareness around their company. In fact, about 40% of all YYC sales come from the digital side.

YYC Group isn’t looking to slow down anytime soon. Through partnership associate in countries like Hong Kong and China, YYC has expanded their business well beyond the borders of Malaysia and will continue to grow and expand in the coming years.

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The Untameable Fire Fighter Founded by Jeffrey Soo in 1974, Fire Fighter was set up on the basis of “losses” that could be easily prevented with the right awareness, equipment and knowledge.

ire accidents and hazards have always been a major concern to all regardless of their operating environment. Understanding the effects of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, Jeffrey founded the fire-fighting business, in its literal sense, an essential trade that helps save lives.

As he grew his business, Fire Fighter eventually became a name in fire safety for household, public, commercial and industrial spaces.

Both Jeffrey and his wife, executive director, Michelle Hah, are hands-on in their business approach by maintaining professionalism with staff and stakeholders.

Having been around since the 1970s, Fire Fighter, as an organisation has been through several business challenges including financial and economic crises.

This explains why the company has maintained a conservative business approach including guiding their staff every step of the way.

Despite maintaining a low profile, Fire Fighter became the preferred SME, thanks to their value-added services.

Fire Fighter believed that anyone can sell fire-fighting equipment but an outstanding business will always find ways to outperform its competitors.

It is one of the few SMEs in the firefighting industry that provides clients with an additional training package.

Fire Fighter does not clash with its competitors on prices or promotions but provides quality products and support services. It visits schools, offices and public spaces for exhibitions and road shows, always ensuring that fire safety awareness is heightened, as reflected in their motto “One House, One Fire Extinguisher”.

The husband-and-

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wife team has also invested a lot into research and development, backed by years of industry statistics to study market trends and make calculated business decisions in all aspects.

As an SME, Fire Fighter maintains a lean business landscape. The company seeks out opportunities to move their business up the value chain. ISO Certification was one such opportunity. One of Fire Fighter’s biggest selling point is their quality assurance. An ISO-certified company since 2001, Fire Fighter is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 assured as per Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd’s QMS Standards.

For Fire Fighter, their own ISO Management System, which has been in place for 18 years, keeps them on top of their game by ensuring consistent and optimum quality on all their products and services.

Fire Fighter goes by the philosophy ‘ISO Our Way of Life’, to empower their staff and instil values of being pro-active. Staff are taught to prioritise customers’ needs without compromising on the quality of their products and services, not even at the expense of their affordable product range, as the slightest of oversight can prove to be fatal in the safety industry.

All their products are SIRIM certified, having passed all fire-rating requirements – another testament to their superior products which range from fire extinguishers and refilling machines to hydrants, hoses and other accessories.

Despite dealing with physical fire safety products, Fire Fighter has strengthened its e-commerce base to encourage interactivity and sales via online platforms.

Their webpage, www.firefighter.com. my services include online purchase, online enquiries, e-catalogue, online demo video on the use of fire fighting equipment and others.

Fire Fighter has also penetrated the online shopping scene through a local television station via CJ WOW Shop, an online TV Shopping programme.

Unlike regular profit-making products, Fire Fighter’s products are classified under statutory regulations that require them to meet certain industry specifications. However, Fire Fighter has taken steps to ensure that their business remain sustainable.

To ensure this, the organisation goes big on its social initiatives such as Safety Day Talks, fire safety campaigns, awareness campaigns and a host of other social outreach programmes in partnership with agencies like the Fire Department as well as property developers to expand their branding.

The organisation has also embarked on export programmes through MATRADE, that opened up channels to promote their products to the Asian and regional market in the last five years.

In early 2018, Fire Fighter was granted the MATRADE Export Award 2018 for the Women Exporter Category. Their products are available in Brunei, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Snacking is much ingrained in the expansive Asian food culture and it was this discovery that gave Eureka Snack its eureka moment, literally speaking. ureka Snack is a story about popcorn fans Alvis Koh, Cammy Sim and Charles Hung, who fell in love with the idea turning popcorns into a delightful snack outside of the cinema setting. With an intention to spread their innovation of Asian-flavoured popcorn to the world, the founders were quick to expand their fledgling start up – founded in 2011 – into a chain of stores.

Eureka Snack today boasts 19 stores nationwide and four overseas stores in Singapore and Saudi Arabia with Kuwait and Dubai, in the pipeline A new flagship outlet will be opened soon in Jewel Changi, Singapore. Certified halal, this Malaysian-made product is also exported to Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand and the Maldives as the founders identified a unique snack market in these countries. Eureka Snack is also available in FMCG market such as Tesco, AEON and Watsons, among others.

Eureka Snack’s mission was simple and straightforward. The founders wanted to turn popcorn into a common snack just like potato chips. This was

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their idea of unleashing a fun way of snacking with extraordinary, trendy, healthy and uniquely flavoured snacks.

This finally resulted in a range of confectionaries.

Eureka Snack is the only popcorn producer in the market with the largest popcorn flavours, offering 20 flavours.

Their popcorn range certainly takes centre stage thanks to its unique texture and taste. Unlike butterfly popcorns – the regular type of popcorn consumed in cinema halls – the mushroom popcorn can be easily identified from its well-rounded texture.

Derived from special mushroom popcorn maize, Eureka Snack uses the finest ingredients to create flavours that are evenly spread over. With the right texture coating, mushroom popcorns stay crispy and fresh for a much longer period.

Eureka popcorns are also healthier as they are made from non-GMO corns and use natural ingredients for its flavours. It is also preservative and transfat-free, making them a healthier option for those who enjoy snacking but are also health-conscious.

All its flavours are a result of intensive market research as Eureka Snack set out to learn what excites Asian palates. They encountered a diverse range of flavours – some popular, some eccentric – and opted for those that provide a good representation of Asia.

Besides the original flavour, their Classic range includes flavours like barbecue, caramel, cheese, cocoa malt, sea salt, sour cream and onion, and sweet tomato while their Oriental collection has Matcha Chocolate, seaweed, salted egg and even wasabi.

As a sign of a truly Asian brand, Eureka has also incorporated a Heritage line-up which contains curry, durian and white coffee flavours to embody common Malaysian favourites while their butter caramel and dark chocolate are perfect for an indulging treat.

Eureka popcorns come in various paper cans or aluminium packs weighing between 35 and 140g. It can also be turned into attractive gift boxes or festive snacks.

Apart from providing a good marketing support to their chain of distributors, Eureka Snack also treats franchisees as business partners while providing training to upskill their inexperienced franchisees.

As they listen to their market, adapt and evolve, Eureka Snack continues to capture the market by striking a good relationship with their stakeholders and finding excellent locations to set up their stores and vending machines.

Apart from training, management ensures that staff are rewarded accordingly as they ideate and innovate.

Eureka has also set up an e-commerce platform so consumers can shop at their online store anywhere, anytime.

Staying true to their vision of becoming the No. 1 brand and a leading extraordinary snack retailer in Asia, Eureka Snack is aiming for the stars as they evolve to meet the discerning tastes of their vast consumer market.

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Eureka Snack The Hallmark of Popcorns

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On the Fast Lane to Success While sushi can fetch a premium price in many restaurants today, the founders of Empire Sushi, Jordan Tan and Nicole Lim, want to universalise the premium cuisine by appealing to the masses by offering reasonable prices. stablished in 2013, the company positioned themselves as a quickservice sushi kiosk with a trendy appeal. From the first kiosk opened at an isolated spot in Berjaya Times Square, Empire Sushi grew at an exponential rate, opening 29 outlets within five years in major cities. Other than Kuala Lumpur, Empire Sushi kiosks can be found in Petaling Jaya, Penang, Ipoh, Alor Setar, Kuantan and Johor.

Jordan Tan and Nicole Lim wanted to make creative and premium sushi that cater to the local taste buds. The idea of kiosk-based outlets sprang from their research which indicated that Malaysians prefer a convenient experience when purchasing and dining.

Despite being sushi on-the-go, the freshness of their ingredients is second to none. Coupled with a homemade sauce, moist vinegared rice and a variety of fillings, giving it the extra flavour customers once sought from soy sauce and wasabi, allowing for precise enjoyment of the sushi as it is.

Catering to the average Malaysian tastebud, Empire Sushi infuses various spices into their creations. Their creative hot-sellers include Grilled Lobster, Grilled Abalone, Saba Teriyaki, Smoke Duck, Spicy Roll, and Cheese Roll.

Besides a diversified range of sushi on set such as Gunkan, Nigiri, Premium Maki, Onigiri, Temaki, Oden and Bento, Empire Sushi also created their own signature dishes such as the Grilled Abalone and Inari Lobster.

The Empire Sushi story is an inspiring one. The company entered the market without a support network. In its early days, their business proposals were rejected by more than 20 locations as they were an unknown name in the food and beverage industry.

Refusing to back down, the founders along with their R&D team persevered by developing a unique-tasting spread and their own in-house sauce.

Within a short period of operating at

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Jordan Tan and Nicole Lim, founder of Empire Sushi.

Berjaya Times Square, their kitchen was swamped with batches of new orders.

Jordan’s exceptional sushi-crafting skills and Nicole’s amiable services paved the way for their second outlet in Klang Valley, within the same year.

To stay up-to-date, the management conducts quarterly product mapping to review the popularity of each creation.

Low demand items are quickly replaced with new, trendy ones to avoid wastage.

Despite entertaining long queues, Empire Sushi does not compromise on the quality of their offerings as well as their operational efficiency. These, along with quality service, excellent branding,

positioning and marketing make up Empire Sushi’s innovative business model.

The advent of digital technology has also empowered Empire Sushi to adopt e-commerce capabilities. To cater for a growing online market, Empire Sushi plans to roll out a cloud-based order and delivery system in early 2019.

The founders have also created an app-based membership system that offers the collection of points for every meal. Consumers could then exchange their points for lucky draws and vouchers.

By the end of 2018, Empire Sushi has a total of 29 kiosks. The company targets to open 70 franchise outlets at strategic locations nationwide by 2023.

Moving forward, Empire Sushi continues to strive for creative excellence in all aspects of pricing, competition and concept.

Dragon-i Sizzles The Malaysian F&B Scene

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With 33 outlets in the Klang Valley, Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Melaka and Sabah, Dragon-i is the most established and successful Shanghainese and Hong Kong restaurant chain operator in the country. diverse melting pot of food, culture and tradition, Malaysia has never been short of options when it comes to dining, and this includes international flavours that are in high demand worldwide.

Dragon-i was inspired by the rich culinary delights from Shanghai, Szechuan, Beijing and Lanzhou, China.

After entering the F&B scene with their first restaurant at Mid Valley Megamall in 2004, Dragon-i Sdn Bhd went on to gain glorious recognition under the strategic directions of its CEO Datuk Henry Yip. While Dragon-i is primarily known for its Shanghainese cuisines, the Group’s second brand Canton-i, shares the same kind of success with authentic Hong Kong cuisine offerings at its outlets across the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor.

It has also opened the flagship Dragon-i Peking Duck outlets, a subsidiary brand introduced by the Group, at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 1Utama Shopping Centre, Sky Avenue in Genting Highland and Komtar Mall Johor Bahru.

The Group recently added a new chain, Dragon-i Mixian Pan-fried Dumpling, to its list of specialties with outlets at Sunway Velocity Mall Cheras and Ho Min San, located at Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru and Mid Valley Megamall.

The name Dragon-i itself has inferences to one of their specialty dishes, the xiao long bao (Shanghai meat dumpling), as signified by the character ‘Long’ which also means dragon in Chinese.

The chain is also famed for its la mian (hand-pulled noodles) and a host of traditional and contemporary Chinese dishes whereas their Canton-i outlets is building a reputation for its Hong Kong wonton noodles and dim sum variety.

The Dragon-i Peking Duck, served

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at their flagship outlets, boasts a tender, succulent taste of Beijing.

The handpicked Peking ducks are roasted to perfection in traditional brick ovens, over a fire ignited with fruittree woods to give it the golden-brown crispy texture and an aromatic flavour that lingers.

To cater to the festivities, Dragon-i also brings to the table specialty snacks such as Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings, artfully-packed mooncakes and yummy pineapple shortcakes, among other things. In short, there is nothing simple or common with Dragon-i as customers truly get served the best of the best, regardless of the occasion.

The fundamental reasons behind Dragon-i Group’s mass success rests not just in the variety of best cuisines

offered, but also on the originality of its food and preparation concept.

The food’s authenticity is highly guarded by chefs from China and Hong Kong. One such Dragon-i personality is China-born sous chef Man Fong Lam who has had an illustrious career at renowned restaurants in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Dragon-i ensures all the primary ingredients that go into their food are imported from China and Hong Kong so that the chefs can leverage on the original ingredients as much as possible, as they prepare the food.

Customers are able to see how the chefs work their skills through the open kitchen concept, so they can appreciate the chef’s culinary expertise and be convinced of the quality of food they are offered.

These practices have even earned their central kitchen at Glenmarie the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certification by Moody International, for their ability to identify and prevent food safety hazards through hygienic practices. Their outlets’ cleanliness has also been endorsed by local authorities.

Besides a classy and cozy dining ambience, the food prepared by all Dragon-i outlets are nutritious and healthy thanks to their MSG-free, lowsodium, less-oil policy. This also means that all food and drinks are prepared fresh on a daily basis.

These practices garner Dragon-i a lot of mileage as they continue to serve perfection in every dish they offer.

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Living The BMW Experience Beyond Purchase Wheelcorp Premium strives to give its customers the ultimate BMW experience through their unique belief system. hen it comes to BMWs, less is better. There are just 25 BMW-anointed sales locations in the country.

Hence one can only imagine the sheer joy felt by Jayden and his father Michael Liew when they received word from BMW in 2011 that they’ve been awarded the dealership.

The following year, Jayden launched Wheelcorp Premium Group, a newly forged premier automotive enterprise specialising in BMWs and MINIs. Despite his age, Jayden is an old hand in the industry. He has helped his father manage Wheelcorp Sdn Bhd, a multicar brand dealership.

From the get go Jayden’s strategy was to extended the customers’ BMW experience beyond their purchase – a belief system that is now at the heart of Wheelcorp Premium Group, also known as the BMW 4S (sales, service, spare parts, systems) centre.

To enhance this experience Wheelcorp Premium is a one-stop centre that offers a complete range of services, including sales for BMW, MINI and BMW Premium Selection, aftersales service, spare parts, spray painting and body repair, as well as renewing insurance policies and road tax, and making insurance claims.

In the 3rd quarter of 2015, Wheelcorp

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Premium moved into its new 112,000 sq ft headquarters. This five-storey building houses new and pre-owned vehicle showrooms, service centre, waiting lounge, BMW M Performance gallery, stock-holding area, and body and paint workshop, making it a one-stop shop.

In addition to service documentation, it screens all vehicles to ensure each car sold is of exceptionally high standard. Not only do recent models with low mileage and a complete service history get selected, all vehicles are also required to undergo a process called the extensive 72-point vehicle check. Be it systems, mechanisms or safety components, nothing goes unchecked here.

Each vehicle from the BMW Premium Selection also comes with its full service history, a six-month warranty (for cars below four years), 24-hour roadside assistance, and a Wheelcorp Privilege Club membership. Wheelcorp Premium Group also guarantees top notch collision repairs and painting solutions for all BMW and MINI vehicles, at their approved body and paint workshop.

Only genuine parts and official BMWapproved paint materials are used.

The company also offers a five-year complete manufacturer warranty with scheduled services, complimentary with new cars.

The company also provides its employees with opportunities to attend various workshops to hone their talents.

This initiative is available to all staff, from sales and after-sales personnel to technicians and mechanics.

NEW MODELS

2018 was another great year for new BMW debutantes! BMW enthusiasts can catch these models at the Wheelcorp Premium showroom.

• BMW X3 The BMW X3 is a statement of unlimited opportunities and an expression of sheer presence and freedom. Its athletic appearance is enhanced with autonomous driving and BMW xDrive all-wheel drive capabilities, for supreme comfort regardless of terrain.

• BMW X5 BMW X5 is a luxury Sports Activity Vehicle equipped with a wide range of intelligent technologies that elevate efficiency, driving dynamics, comfort and versatility on and off-road.

• BMW 6-Series GT This is an aesthetically proportioned grand tourer with significant, muscular dynamic lines and a classy interior for that maximum ride comfort during long journeys.

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Keep Cool with V-KOOL

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While options are wide in the market today, it takes a lot more to beat the heat and V-KOOL seems to have found all the right formula to retain their market position as a tinting specialist.

-KOOL was developed in the US and is manufactured using German technology under Eastman Chemical Company, an American Fortune 500 company in 1990s.

In fact, Eastman Chemical pioneered the production of high performing, high visibility window film then, giving V-KOOL a favourable market reaction, thanks to its ability to transmit bright light with reduced heat using XIR technology. In other words, their film absorbs light but reflects infrared heat which keeps the tinted glass and interior much cooler.

The international brand came to Malaysia in 1993 via NVK Interior (M) Sdn Bhd (then know as V-KOOL (M) Sdn Bhd). The company also became the sole distributor for V-KOOL and Solar Gard products.

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, V-KOOL Malaysia is still leading the market with a range of highly recognised ‘spectrally-selective’ films.

Besides serving the automotive and architectural industries, it is also the preferred OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supplier for leading automobile brands in Malaysia.

The local master distributor Tint Shop (M) Sdn Bhd and its extensive network

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authorised dealers have also made V-KOOL a mass favourite among vehicle owners who are able to enjoy cooler ride thanks to product’s innovative features and extended warranty against peels, cracks, delamination, demetalisation and discolouration from the American manufacturing company.

Today, V-KOOL Malaysia has over 48 outlets serving the automotive and architectural industries while retaining its reputation as one of the leaders in the tinting industry.

V-KOOL products are NASA-inspired.

It is the world’s first spectrally-selective film that filters out heat and radiation from the sun while permitting natural light vision unlike darker tints which filters out natural light as well. This broke the perception that the darker the film, the better the protection.

V-KOOL films are embedded with seven layers of strong metal including gold, physically known for its heat and radiation shielding properties. This beats dye or ceramic films which are inefficient in deflecting heat, light or radiation. No wonder NASA uses so much precious metal foil to protect its space contraptions.

Unlike regular solar control films, V-KOOL’s intelligent technology allows for more than 70% light transmission,

blocks up to 94% and 99% infrared and ultraviolet rays, respectively, and maintains high visibility and clarity, even at night.

Besides international ISO certification, V-KOOL products go through a thorough quality testing stage in the US to ensure its heating, cooling and laminating features comply with industry standards. Locally, V-KOOL is SIRIM-certified and JPJ-compliant.

V-KOOL offers a range of durable and long-lasting products for businesses and end users. Their best-selling core products under the V-KOOL Serendipity series offers high heat rejection and high clarity products for end users, while the V-KOOL Conventional series serve the mid-market offering the mass public affordable range of window film options without compromising on quality and durability of its series.

It is also a trusted brand in the architectural industry providing advanced tinting solutions for home or office windows. Their architectural solutions embed metallic coating onto a transparent polyester film that blocks up to 94% infrared rays which is responsible for the heat felt within enclosed spaces.

Besides conserving energy, it also comes with high fade control solutions, keeping furniture, fabric and display products looking like new while its scratch-resistant feature allows for easy maintenance.

With professional sales and marketing teams, installers and an extensive dealer network nationwide, V-KOOL Malaysia consistently provides a platform for their customers to test out their products through their heat demo practice available at most outlets at no cost or obligations.

For V-KOOL, while their brand reputation speaks volume, consistent engagement with customers, the right education and exposure and excellent service will ensure an unceasing stream of support and brand confidence.

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Stepping Up To The President’s Post Sr Michael Geh has been part of FIABCI Malaysia for over 15 years. He has held the FIABCI Malaysia Vice President and international board member positions, and is now the FIABCI Malaysia President.

y regional and international interactions with FIABCI have provided me with the professionalism needed to lead FIABCI Malaysia,” he said. Yet taking over the top post is no easy task, especially for an esteemed international real estate federation such as FIABCI, but Geh is unfazed.

“I want to take FIABCI Malaysia to the next level by making it relevant and future-proof,” said Geh who ventured into the industry more than 25 years ago after completing his Bachelor of Business, majoring in valuation and land economics, at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.

A member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UK), he is a Malaysian-registered valuer, a real estate agent and a chartered valuation surveyor. Additionally, he has a Certificate in Business Valuation Practice ICVS and is a member of IACVA the International Association of Consultants, Valuators and Analyst (Canada). Geh was awarded FIABCI’s prestigious International Real Estate Consultant Designation, FIREC. Today, he is a

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Senior Partner of Raine & Horne International Zaki & Partners Sdn Bhd. Geh said the market in Malaysia has reached a mature stage where supply is plentiful. The hotspots of development and progress are in urban districts such as in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Kuantan.

Meanwhile, the issue in the residential property industry lies not in the supply but in the affordability of these properties. Studies have shown that most Malaysians can afford houses priced below RM500,000, and this has proved a challenge to the industry. “I

believe that the sluggishness in the housing sector will continue for the rest of this year and into next year,” he said.

To bolster sales property developers have come up with attractive deals and are looking at international purchasers. “Don’t get sucked into such so-called good deals. Buy what you need and can afford,” he advised first-time homebuyers.

Purchasing property involves several steps. Firstly, to purchase at the right price, Geh advises property buyers to work with their trusted loan officer as opposed to randomly walking into a bank, so that they can fully understand what type of loan the buyer needs.

Next, for property valuation, Geh said it is best that loan applicants to get their own valuation expert. This ensures they get the best loan options and an accurate value for the property instead of depending on estimated values by the bank.

Geh sees incoming waves in the property sector. The first wave concerns the residential sector. “We can see a rising change in the residential sector in tandem with the growth of AirBnB,” he said. He noted that the online shortterm lodging service has already made massive changes to the residential real estate sector and broadly challenged the hospitality sector.

The second wave is the office sector in the form of co-working spaces and shared office spaces.

The third wave will be the industrial property sector where spaces will be maximised. Geh said this sector will also be challenged by a rise in warehouse space sharing and manufacturing facility sharing which will change the whole sector.

Geh foresees a fourth wave where online trading portals such as alibaba. com will encroach into actual shopping malls where a whole mall will be occupied by the portal.

“These malls will become the main viewing and collection centres for shoppers,” he added. He said these sites will soon transform the whole mall landscape by bringing in their own vendors and operating the malls on their own.

“These are inevitable waves of change that will strongly challenge the property industry so the industry will have no choice but to adapt in order to survive,” Geh said.

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MRCA Youth Visits Valiram Group’s Office Several MRCA Youth wing members led by its President Nicholas Chong and his Deputy William Tang, recently visited the Valiram Group’s office in Kuala Lumpur. Also in the group tour were MRCA Vice President Valerie Choo, Deputy Treasurer General Dato’ Winnie Lim and Council member Seak Thean Pow. The team were greeted by the company’s Group Executive Director, Sharan J. Valiram who later gave a briefing on the company’s operations, marketing and how the company stood out among its competitors.

Valiram Group, established in Kuala Lumpur in 1935, started as a textile merchant and has since grown into one of the most prestigious specialist retailers of luxury and lifestyle brands in Southeast Asia. The Group represents more than 150 brands and operates over 150 stores in numerous categories from fashion and accessories, timepieces, jewellery, perfumes, cosmetics, to

confectionary and dining concepts. Its footprint covers Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Australia and China, in both domestic and travel retail environments.

The Valiram Group continues to bring to the region iconic luxury brands and cutting-edge retail concepts in the domestic and travel-retail arena.

This was one of the many visits to MRCA members’ office organised by the Youth wing to gain insights and knowledge.

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MRCA Youth 2019 Chinese New Year Party More than 100 MRCA Youth members led by the association’s Youth President Nicholas Chong and his Deputy William Tang, attended a Chinese New Year on 25th January at the Da Vinci Wine & Bar Jaya One. Also at the event were MRCA President Datuk Seri Garry Chua and Past President Dato’ Tay Sim Kim. In his welcoming speech, Nicholas Chong thanked his members, Datuk Seri Garry Chua and Dato’ Tay for attending the event. The Youth wings has been having many activities including visitations to various members’ companies to gain insights into the operations of the companies. “We are planning to have more such visitations and I encourage more members to participate in the activities,” he said.

Datuk Seri Garry Chua thanked the Youth members for inviting him and was pleased to see many members participating in the festive celebration.

He also encouraged more participation from the youth members as they are the future leaders.

The highlight of the night was the tossing of Lou Sang followed by a scrumptious buffet dinner. There were also lots of games and cash Luck Draws.

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