JOM Issue 00 by JOM Magazine

OM J

J O U R N E Y O F M A L AYS I A N S

INTERNET KING OF NICHE Questions for PappaRich Best Durians in Melbourne 55th Year of Independence Biggest Hari Raya Celebration Bargain Property? Jinnyboy

ISSUE 00 SEP 2012

media

25 Malcolm Street, South Yarra, VIC 3141 P. 1300 884 168 | www.xynergy.com.au

W NE

interior design

EMERALD Apartment 1-3

1-2

0-2

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South Melbourne Market

Degraves Place

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Artistic impression

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THE EMERALD MELBOURNE

ONE BED STARTS

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Xynergy Realty Group sending warm wishes

Happy Eid ul Fitr wishing you good health, happiness and prosperity

Editor Joyce Ng Editorial Assistant Josh Yu Design & Layout Raymond Chai Advertising & Marketing Officers Jun Tan, Wei Liang, Pam Vasu, Sophia Leyz Circulation Managers Ivy Koh, Wei Liang Social Media Officers Sophia Leyz, Pam Vasu Publisher William Leong Editorial Contributors Trinity Cyv, Ka Mun Ho, Lianne Zilm Letithia, Erick Ng, Paul Maric, Melissa Yang Ying Qing, Loke Kok Fai, Jasmine May Chen Saw, Ooi Ken Lin, Adri Praditya, Al Zaquan, Lim Chee Han, Ty Tien Chew, Azim Hamid, Puteri Sherry Hamizah Mohamad Rameez, Pam Vasu, Sophia Leyz Photographic Contributors Calvin Chua, Josh Yu, Lee Seng Hoo, Ian Tay, PengCheng Zhang, Mohd Amin Zakaria, Antony Stanley, Paul Ebbo, Melissa Foo, Lebin Teo, Amrufm, Hadi Zaher Illustrators Vanessa Law, Teh JS, Tan Yik Hua JOM would also love to thank the following people Sonya Ong, Ahsan Ahmed Khan, Chairmaine Fong, Sumisha Naidu, Chee Chin Lee, Ammar Khairi, Aik Sern Lee, Praveen Nagappan, Akmal Hisham Zulkifli, Gajan Jeyasundram, Dr. Mohamad Rameez Yahaya who have assisted JOM in various ways to make our vision a reality Advertise in JOM jun@jommagazine.com.au weiliang@jommagazine.com.au General inquiries contact@jommagazine.com.au Work experience/ internships JOM is recruiting and is looking to facilitate work experience or internship programs. Please email Joyce Ng at joyce@jommagazine.com.au for more information. Submissions JOM welcomes article, story, comic, joke and photo submissions. Please email your submissions to editor@jommagazine.com.au or for more information. JOM Magazine is published by JOM Media JOM is a monthly magazine. Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright is reserved, which means you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t scan our pages and put them up on your website or anywhere else unless permitted. Find us online Facebook www.facebook.com/jommagazineaus Twitter Jommagazine Youtube JOMmagTV Channel www.jommagazine.com.au

ON THE COVER Wai Hong Fong photographed by Josh Yu

Our ‘Bird or the Egg’ Story Once upon a time, two Malaysian strangers at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport somehow began a conversation. During this conversation, one stranger asked the other: “Oh! Why aren’t there any Malaysian community magazines in Melbourne?” And the rest, as they say, is history. Over the next few months, we slowly started to put things together, like tying logs together to form a raft so that we could embark onto the ocean. We asked people, we asked friends, friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends who we believed were capable, talented and most importantly, shared our interest in setting off on a journey. As we have worked to build this raft, many have given their support, but many have also questioned us: Where is your magazine? What does it look like? These questions were thrown not only by potential advertisers, but also writers and interviewees. Needless to say, not everyone had full confidence in what we are doing. In our situation, what comes to mind is the age old question of the chicken (in our case, bird) or the egg, which comes first? Is it the magazine that needs to come first, or the contributions that form it? This was our dilemma: To convince people to contribute, we needed to show them that this magazine was real and worth their time, but in order to create the magazine, we needed people to contribute. This bird and egg dilemma has accompanied us on our embarkation on this journey, and has certainly influenced the direction of this magazine. It has also created many challenges. But despite this, here we are – you are looking at (or even touching) a ‘magazine’ – but a chick or an egg? We don’t know yet. However, we know that there is still much to learn and a long way to go. As the first issue of the first monthly Malaysian community magazine in Australia, we hope this will serve our purposes as a test run. With your continual support, we hope to grow and help bring together our Malaysian Community here in Melbourne. Yours Sincerely, Joyce Ng Editor

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24 38 37 40 contents 06 08 10 14 18 22 24 26 28 36 44 46 47 50 52

JOM’s picks JOM event calender talk of the town Hari Raya Melbourne Raya / Mega Raya in Melbourne inside Malaysia and beyond celebrating Merdeka and what it means / national days in other countries Malaysian tales the young entrepreneur - Wai Hong Fong artsy Malaysian jinnyboy in Melbourne property how to buy a bargain property? yum yumm best durians in Melbourne / durian kaya recipe / extreme cuisine / a chat with PappaRich lifestyle how to avoid hay fever / it’s spring cleaning time! / always versatile... denim / Lamborghini Gallardo let’s talk meaning of Merdeka / reflections of a spectator live from London dr. who-knows-everything something to say a guide to living alone not funny suggested magazine names / comic student life migration and identities / 2nd “Aspirasi Rakyat Malaysia”

The season for the King of Fruit in Malaysia is between June and August, which is now coming to an end. Photographer Lee Seng Hoo shares his photos of durian tasting back home. Oh my, how we wish we could find these fresh durians here!

http://www.facebook.com/senghooooo

JOM’s picks Typical Melbourne

Shopping

Cafe Twenty & Six – Cover person’s pick Located slight north of Melbourne’s CBD, accessible via Tram number 57 from the CBD, lies one of Wai Hong’s favourite places for breakfast in Melbourne. Café Twenty & Six, a tiny but well decorated café, is a great place for people wanting to have a healthy and nutritious, yet delicious breakfast or brunch. The staff are very friendly too! Apart from gluten and vegan free options, it is also a meat lover’s paradise. For those who enjoy a sleep in, breakfast is served until late, so why not try something different and ‘Melbourne’? Tip: If you are a coffee lover, remember to try their coffee. 594 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, VIC 03051 03 9329 0298 Monday – Friday 7am – 4pm Saturday – Sunday 8am – 5pm Close on Wednesday www.twentyandsix.com.au

Curiosity

Daiso Daiso is one company that has made itself a household name selling a variety of goods for only AU$2.80 each! The products carried by the internationally renowned retail chain store range from common household items, cosmetics and hair accessories to other unique and quirky products.

Haunted Bookshop Anyone who has lived in this city for more than a week will likely have realised that not much apart from restaurants, bars and clubs. But wait! Right down Burke and Elizabeth St in a small alley lies a quaint Haunted Bookshop with an equally quaint owner dressed like Professor Snape. If you come by at 8.30 on a Saturday night, he will bring you around Melbourne for a tour of haunted stories, Melbourne’s buried history and ghosts from our past. This is not a tour to prove the skeptic wrong or some occult hocus poccus. Backed up by historical facts and local witnesses, this tour shows you a different side to the ground under our feet today as you walk through Melbourne city. 15 McKillop Street Melbourne VIC 3000 03 9670 2585 www.haunted.com.au

JOM’s picks

However, do not doubt the quality of the goods with that price tag. Just like many other Japanese products, the items carried by Daiso are not only affordable, they are of good quality and are very attractive as well. Daiso has been in Australia since 2010 and has added its latest branch in Melbourne CBD. One can literally spend hours upon hours in Daiso. We guarantee that you will love the place and find something to your liking. Melbourne CBD Shop 204, Midtown Plaza, 246 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Doncaster Shop G216, Westfield Shopping Centre, 619 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, VIC 3108 Abbotsford Shop 23, Hive Shopping Centre, 313 Victoria Street, Abbotsford, VIC 3067 Monday - Saturday 9am - 9pm Sunday 10am - 6pm 03 9654 7528 www.daisostore.com.au

Visit

Travel

Shrine of Remembrance The Shrine of Remembrance is one of the largest war memorials in Australia. It was built as a memorial to the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I and is a site of annual observances of ANZAC Day (25 April) and Remembrance Day (11 November). Visiting the Shrine is definitely a good idea if you are interested in Australian history and culture (or if you’re a sucker for brilliant architecture)! One of the central experiences of the Shrine is The Ray of Light ceremony. At precisely 11 am on 11 November each year, a ray of natural sunlight passes through an aperture in the ceiling of the Sanctuary and falls onto the Stone of Remembrance over the word “LOVE”! Leslie Bunn Glover, one of the last remaining survivors the atrocities of the Death Camps of Sandakan and Kuching, Malaysia, as captives of the Japanese, will be sharing his life story on 6 September 2012 (Thursday).

Grampians National Park Apart from the Tulip Festival, ever wondered where to go during this season for colourful spring? If you have at least two days to offer for a break for yourself, in the central west of the state of Victoria, the 167,000 acre Grampians National Park is the place to go. With its brilliant spring wildflower displays, panoramic views from lookouts, cascading waterfalls and Aboriginal rock-art sites, the park has some of Victoria’s most rugged and spectacular scenery. The park contains over 800 indigenous plant species. Over 40 of these, including the Grampians Gum and Grampians Parrot-pea, are found nowhere else in the world, according to Parks Victoria. The Park is great for camping, rockclimbing, bushwalks, cycling, scenic drives and nature studies. Our Malaysian friends have been there and they came back saying they wanted to go back there again!

Birdwood Avenue Melbourne VIC 3004 03 9661 8100 10am – 5pm, everday www.shrine.org.au

Google Grampians National Park and you will find plenty of information to organise your visit or your stay. JOM suggests you visit the Parks Victoria website for reliable information. Tourist Rd, Halls Gap, VIC 3381 (4 hours drive from Melbourne CBD) Parks Victoria 13 1963

Fashion

Interesting dining

Fashion Park Fashion Park is one of the rare surviving ‘Asian Shopping Malls’ in the Melbourne region. Gathering a few top Asian fashion brands in Melbourne, their stock is imported mainly from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. If you would like to add a few Asian fashion pieces to your wardrobe this coming spring, why not visit this place? Moreover, most of their items are currently on sale with discounts of up to 70%! There are also beauty services available such as nail therapy.

Luxbite South Yarra Luxbite has been recently renovated and reopened on 25 August 2012. They sell macaroons, but not like others you have seen. Whilst macaroons originate from France, Luxbite improvise and give them an Asian twist with inclusion of ingredients such as kaya, coconut, pandan, lychees and Ribena! By now you might be guessing that it could be run by Malaysians and you are right. Each one of Luxbite’s products is intricately made and filled with surprises. Apart from macaroons, Luxbite also makes tiny cakes that are beautiful, creative and delicious. 38 Toorak Road, South Yarra, VIC 3141 03 9867 5888 Opening hours: 8am – 8pm, everday www.luxbite.com.au

1/168 Bourke Street Melbourne Monday – Saturday 12pm – 9pm Sunday 12pm – 7pm www.fashionpark.com.au

JOM’s picks

JOM Event Calendar Melbourne events

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival 13 September – 9 October 2012 This is one of the most colourful spring events in Melbourne - A must go for everyone who has never been there! Entrance: $15 - $18 www.tulipfestival.com.au

Melbourne Fringe Festival 26 September – 14 October 2012 For anyone with a creative streak, the Fringe Festival celebrates Melbourne’s independent art scene and features the work of both upcoming and established independent artists. Entrance: Varies www.melbournefringe.com.au

Look. Stop. Taste 18 August – 16 September 2012 Have a taste of dishes and beverages that express the abundance of produce and creativity in Melbourne. This event is presented by the City of Melbourne in celebration of the State Library of Victoria’s Gusto! exhibition. www.slv.vic.gov.au/event/look-stop-taste

PHOTO PAUL EBBO

Royal Melbourne Show 22 September – 2 October 2012 The event is Victoria’s most iconic event that showcases the very best of the Victorian countryside, featuring animals, award winning food and wine, arts and crafts, amusement rides, showbags, free live entertainment, spectacular fireworks and much more. Entrance: Various options available. General admission: $16 - $32 per pax www.royalshow.com.au

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 3 – 9 September 2012 Check out the creations of local and international designers, experience the latest styles and couture in this celebration of everything fashion. Entrance: $25 - $35 per pax www.msfw.com.au

Thinking of getting out of Melbourne for Spring? Why not head to the biggest flower festival in Australia. www.floriadeaustralia.com

JOM event calender

Snapped: Melbourne in a moment 1 August – 1 October 2012 Take a photo of Melbourne that captures it at any particular moment and win $1000! Entrance: Free www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ MelbourneLibraryService/Pages/Snapped2012. aspx

Malaysian Events

GRADUAN ® - MASCA

AUSTRALIA RECRUITMENT DRIVE 2012

Calling ASEAN students!

MELBOURNE Recruitment Fair Sat: 6 Oct 2012

ASEAN Games 22 – 25 September 2012 ASEAN Games Australia (AGA) is an annual event aspires bringing together athletes from 10 Southeast Asian nations to showcase their skills. Come join to play a game, volunteer at the event or watch one of the largest Asian sport events in Melbourne! Registration to participate in a game closes 14 September 2012. Entrance: Free, $18 to participate www.aseangamesaustralia.com.au

Venue Crown Promenade Hotel

SYDNEY

Malaysia Street Festival 14 October 2012 What’s more to explain? ‘Pasar Malam’ style street festival coming to Melbourne! Except… it is happening during the day. This event is also recruiting volunteers. Entrance: Free www.festivalmalaysia.com.au

Recruitment Fair Time Graduan Career Fair - Melbourne Stop Wed: 10 Oct 2012 3pm - 8pm 6 Venue October 2012 The Grace Hotel This event is the largest recruitment drive by Participating Organisations: BRISBANE Recruitment Fair Time companies in Australia. It is a top Malaysian Thu: 11 Oct 2012 4pm - 9pm Venue opportunity for overseas Malaysians to great University of Queensland seek employment from potential employers Participating Industries include: inAccounting, Malaysia. Banking, Broadcasting, Consulting, Engineering, IT, Entrance: A resume! Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Services & many more! www.careerfair.graduam.com.my/Home/ More to be revealed soon! ASEAN graduates are encouraged to deposit their resumes by 15 September 2012 at Australia http://careerfair.graduan.com.my For any inquiries, kindly email us at graduancareers@graduan.com.my

Organiser

‘Seminar Pembangunan Insan (SPI)’ or Human Capital Development Seminar 20 September 2012 SPI is an event organized by Kelab UMNO Melbourne (KUAM) for Malaysians in Melbourne. This event calls upon the leaders, entrepreneurs and exceptional individuals who in their fields to discuss and exchange ideas on current issues that affecting Malaysia and the globe. Entrance: Free spi.kuamuniti.com

Time 10am - 5pm

INDONESIA - VIETNAM THAILAND - SINGAPORE Head on over to Australia Recruitment Drive 2012! Secure a career back home with top ASEAN based organisations.

Malaysian Aspiration Summit 7 October 2012 This is an annual event gathering student leaders across Australia to engage in intellectual discourse with prominent Malaysian leaders from the government, private sector and civil society. The event explores the complex dynamics of Malaysia, from politics to economic development, and the issues affecting Malaysians. Entrance: Free (Bookings required) www.malaysianaspirationprogram.com/ malaysian-aspiration-summit-mas.html

In Collaboration with

Supported by

For more information, please log on to www.graduan.com or contact Nada Marie at nada@graduan.com.my / +603 4270 3270

Grand Malaysian Ball 21 September 2012 Organised by 7 university-based Malaysian student organisations and supported by MASCA Victoria. According to the organisers, the ball is “destined to be the most diverse and biggest Malaysian ball in Melbourne history”. Langham Hotel Entrance: $110 www.facebook.com/GrandMalaysianBall2012

JOM event calender

Both Ms. Marion Lau (left) and Mr. Chap Chow (right), People of Ambassador Australia, have a Malaysian background. Senator Kate Lundy, Minister of Cultural Affairs, gave an opening speech at the Conference.

A night with Y.B. Senator Dato’ Dr. Mashitah Ibrahim On the 23rd of August 2012, Kelab Umno Australia Melbourne (KUAM) organised its second Speakers’ Corner titled “Memahami jati diri menurut Islam: Menanggapi belia masa kini” (Understanding identity according to Islam: Addressing the Youth Today). Y.B. Senator Dato’ Dr. Mashitah binti Ibrahim, who has previously met Malaysians for dialog sessions in a number of cities in Australia including Brisbane and Perth, spoke about the issue of Malaysians going overseas, especially those not returning to Malaysia. Attended by 103 people, the talk was aimed at relating youth’s identity to the teachings of Islam in today’s challenging world. “Islam teaches you to love – your country Malaysia, your ethnicity as a Malay and your religion, Islam”, said the Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister Office. “Some muslims are muslims because they were born muslim, not by choice. Some of these people do not understand what Islam really means”. Truly understanding what Islam teaches, she said, will help oneself to find his or her identity. “Who are you? You are Malaysian”. She hopes that young people find a sense of belonging to fight for who they are. She gave an example of the Chinese community. “Wherever you travel, you can find Chinatown in almost every part of the world”. When asked what overseas Malaysians should do, she said, “I hope the Malaysian students study well and excel academically, and come back home to serve and contribute”, said the senator.

Diaspora identity of a Chinese Malaysian at the National Chinese Conference The Chinese Community Council of Australia (CCCA) held its second National Conference at Victoria University, Melbourne on the 19th and 20th of August 2012. But how many Malaysians would you think you can find during a National Chinese Conference in Australia? Surprisingly, a large proportion of the attendees were in fact Malaysians, mostly middle age, not just attending but also speaking and actively being involved at the National Conference. In fact, much of the committee, including the President of the CCCA, had a Malaysian background. “I don’t really know why there are so many Malaysians involved here but I guess Chinese from Malaysia are more outspoken and less afraid of losing face. That’s why they are more willing to speak out”, said Miss Marion Lau, People of the Ambassador Australia. When asked what ethnic identity Miss Marion Lau would identify herself as, she said: “I always say I am a Chinese with a Malaysian background. I am multicultural as I have the original Chinese heritage and Malaysian as well and I am now in Australia! (…) I was brought up in Malaysia and there’s definitely Malay influence in me”. Dr. Y.S. Yow, an Australian author from Perth, said that the identity of an ethnic Chinese is a complex one in today’s world but it is crucial to distinguish nationality and ethnicity. In this context, ‘Chinese’ is referred to as an ethnic rather than a national identity. When asked whether he would call himself a Chinese or a Chinese Malaysian, he said: “I will call myself as an Australian as we need to move on,” said the 63-year-old academic, with a slight Malaysian accent. The National Conference of CCCA, titled “Moving On”, was attended by over 200 people and was aimed at striving for equality for the Chinese community and acceptance into mainstream society in Australia.

talk of the town

PHOTO PENN

Did you know?

PHOTO HADI ZAHER

Talk of the Town in August

There are over 116,000 people who have their country of birth registered as ‘Malaysia’ residing in Australia, according to latest census 2011 released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Among this number, almost 40,000 are residing in Melbourne. The Malaysian community is the second largest migrant community after the Chinese in the Melbourne CBD and the fifth largest Asian migrant community both in Victoria and in Australia.

Refugee Reform Anyone following Australian politics will know that refugee policy has long been a hot political topic in this country. Since the beginning of 2012, already 7,500 asylum seekers have landed on Australian shores, mostly from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, by way of boat from Indonesia. In August, the Lower House of Parliament passed amendments to the Migration Act to bring in a drastic set of reforms for how Australia will deal with refugees arriving illegally by boat. If the bill is passed by the Senate, Australia will re-introduce offshore processing of refugees, in a surprising about-face by the Labor Government, which had previously opposed such a policy. The change will coincide with increases to Australia’s total refugee intake over the next few years in order to encourage refugees to seek legitimate methods of entering the country. The reforms were the result of recommendations from a special panel convened to formulate a strategy to deal with the illegal refugee problem, which since 2009, has resulted in the deaths of more than 600 people at sea whilst attempting to reach Australia.

Really? A 48-year-old woman who already has 10 kids, is at the time of writing, expecting another five kids at Monash Medical Centre. According to Seven Network, the woman was conceived without the help of IVF. Doctors say the chance of conceiving quintuplets naturally is one in 55 million. This will be the first set of quintuplets to be born in Victoria in three decades. The last time was in February 1980, however they were born 11 weeks premature and none survived.

Wow! A Sabahan girl called Hong Yi, nicknamed Red, has used as many as 1500 candles to burn a picture of English singer songwriter Adele. The picture, inspired by one of Adele’s song titled “Set Fire to the Rain”, took two August weeks of preparation and work to complete. “To me, Adele was probably singing about the pain of a lost relationship. Rain maybe a metaphor for her tears she cried, and she is setting fire to it to burn and destroy her pain. I’ve used blue candles to represent tears, and by setting fire to them, they melt and flow into each other, forming a portrait of Adele”. Hong Yi has done many other mind blowing artworks including actually crafting Mark Zuckerberg’s face on books. Go to www. ohiseered.com and www.redhongyi.com to check out more of her stuff.

Durian Boleh! Malaysians love durians! But for those of us who have been living overseas for some time, it may come as a surprise just how much they love it back home. Not satisfied with just eating it plain, some enterprising Malaysians have come up with some interesting creations. Durian White Coffee

Fried Durian

These products have been spotted around Klang Valley in Malaysia, such as the Subang area.

Durian Macaroons

What’s HOT GANGNAM STYLE! Have you heard Gangnam Style? If not, you probably need to get out (or on the internet) more! Gangnam Style is a pop-rap single from Korean superstar PSY, and has caused a huge sensation since going viral on YouTube. So what’s with all the buzz? The song is infectious! The dance is infectious! The lyrics are infectious as well! For those of you not quite yet up to speed on all the details of Gangnam Style, let us help fill you in. v Gangnam is actually a real place in Seoul, South Korea! v “Gangnam Style” refers to a Korean jargon that is mainly associated with the lavish lifestyle and high-end fashion commonly associated with trendsetters of Seoul’s Gangnam district. It indirectly notes how people are willing to spend more money on luxuries than basic needs. v As of August 2012, the MV has over 70 million views since its release in the previous month! v The song is Number 1 in the Top Songs chart on iTunes. v Singer Nelly Furtado performed the top-raking single at her concert recently. v The dance made famous by the MV illustrates an “invisible horse riding” move. v An appearance by PSY at a recent Dodgers game caused many fans to “giddyup” to the song as it was being played. v Since its release, numerous parodies of the MV were reproduced including “Super Kampung Style”, a parody made by Malaysia’s very own radio station FlyFm. v Many appreciation videos have been posted on Youtube by fans including a flashmob dance that took place in front of the State Library of Victoria. v Approximately 30,000 people attended PSY’s concert “The Wetter Show” v at Seoul Olympic Stadium. v Scooter Brown, Justin Bieber’s representative is planning to make an international version of the hit song.

talk of the town

The world’s worst art restoration?

Cecilia Gimenez, an 80 year-old grandmother from north-eastern Spain, noticed that an oil painting of Jesus Christ on the wall of her local church was deteriorating and decided to touch up the 120-year-old fresco herself. The result speaks for itself. Some have labelled it the worst art restoration of all time, while the BBC described the end result as looking like “a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic”. Gimenez can explain it though; “I had nothing but good intentions and always believed I was doing the right thing. Besides, I hadn’t finished the painting!” However, the ‘restoration’ has become an online sensation, with many praising the restoration as a work of modern art. More than 10,000 people have signed a petition to retain the ‘restored’ painting in the church.

Parodies on the internet. twitter.com/ FrescoJesus

Friends reuniting at Hari Raya Open House organised by the Consulate General of Malaysia

Melbourne Raya

WRITES ADRI PRADITYA

“Selamat Hari Raya”. It was the first greeting that I received on a cool cloudy Sunday morning on the 19th of August 2012. On that day Muslims all over the world get up in the morning and shower and make their way to their respective mosques or congregations to perform the Eid prayer. The writer also participated in this once a year special prayer gathering at the Malaysian Consulate on St Kilda Road here in dear Melbourne. From afar anybody could espy throngs of people walking and making their way up to the first floor where the office is located. Lucky for us as I had also invited my fellow Muslims from Kenya and Pakistan we made it just on time before the prayer started. Ten minutes later the prayer was over and as befits the custom of Eid prayer the ‘Imam’ or head cleric took the centre stage and gave his sermon to all the Muslims gathered reminding us of the perils of the world and all the hardships endured by people who are not

so fortunate as you and I. A speech here and there after the sermon by the top people then it was ‘makan’ (eating) time. There was an estimated over 100 people that had come to the Consulate and all queued up for a taste of traditional Malay food that was served on that day, unlikely to be found at any Malaysian restaurants in Melbourne. From ‘laksa’ to ‘kueh-mueh’ to ‘teh tarik’ and ‘rendang’ it simply was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach, even for the non-Muslims who came for the ‘Open House’ in the spirit of ‘Hari Raya’. Giving their wishes for their Muslim compatriots who had endured a month of fasting, many Malaysians came to celebrate with joy and happiness, with good food and good company. By the time the clock hit 10.00, most of the food was gone and everybody that lingered around lazily had smiles on their faces. As is also the custom on the first day of ‘Hari Raya’ it was then time to move on to go pay a visit to friends’ homes and ‘makan makan’ some more until the tummy could take no more. Of course the spirit of ‘Raya’ is incomparable to the atmosphere back home in Malaysia or whichever country one belongs to but it is better than nothing. So long as the people stay true to their hearts and bring smiles to others and let them experience a taste of “home” then it can be considered a job well done indeed. As the first day of “Hari Raya” came to a close after attending three open houses and eating enough food to be shared amongst ten people, the writer would like to wish “Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri” to all Muslims here in Melbourne. But for sure, it will not be the last that you hear of it for the next month. Oh please let me know if you ARE having an open house. ‘Selamat Hari Raya!’

Non-Malaysians loved our Mega Raya

The Biggest Raya WRITES JOYCE NG

As many as 700 Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, flocked Malaysia Hall in Windsor for the largest Hari Raya Celebration in Melbourne on the 25th of August 2012. Mega Raya is the first celebration of its kind in Melbourne. “This is the biggest and most diverse Hari Raya ever”, says Zaim Mohzani, Vice Chairperson of the Malaysian Students’ Council of Australia (Victoria). Whilst Hari Raya is a celebration of the conclusion of the Islamic month of fasting, Zaim says that the Hari Raya celebration is for all Malaysians regardless of race and religion. “Hari Raya is not just for Malay Muslims. It is a National Holiday in Malaysia. It means every single person can celebrate Hari Raya. It is for all Malaysians.” Elena Song, food science student from Deakin University, volunteered at Mega Raya by serving satay (Malaysian chicken skewers). “Being here at Hari Raya is great. It feels like I am back in Malaysia, with Hari Raya songs playing around and people greeting each other”. When serving satay, she was taught about the food and

how to eat it by a Malay volunteer. “I get to know more about Malay culture and Hari Raya food”. Even many non-Malaysians were present for the celebrations. Usama from Pakistan said it felt like home being there as the people at the Raya celebration were from various national and cultural backgrounds, and was a great representation of the cultural diversity in Melbourne. Jumaa Ndope from Kenya thanked the organisers for organising such a wonderful event. He had also attended the ‘Rumah Terbuka’ (Hari Raya Open House) organised by the Consulate General of Malaysia. These were in fact the only Eid Mubarrak celebrations he went to in Melbourne, he tells us. Mega Raya started at 12pm and went on until 5pm with people still talking and eating until the end. By the time all the food was gone and the people slowly left, it was safe to say not a single belly remained empty!

Hari Raya

harapan dan kerinduan

OLEH AZIM HAMID

“Ibu, bila abah akan pulang?” Soal si anak pada ibu, Sedangnya sandar di tepi gerobok, Melihat ibu merintih sayu, Air mata titis ke lantai pondok. “Abah kamu sudah pergi”, Jawab si ibu teresak-esak, Sambil si anak teragak-agak, Mengapa abah pergi mendadak, Tiada tempat ibu bergantung kelak. “Kasihan ibu”, Ujar si anak memujuk, Lalu dikesat air mata si ibu, Difikir abah hanya hilang, Hilang barangkali sesat di hutan, Lalu mengharap abah akan pulang, Pulang bersama satu harapan, Harapan ibu dan anak kembali riang, Sambut Syawal dengan penuh girang. “Anakku, maafkan ibu” Harapan hanya tinggal harapan, Rindu kekal sepanjang zaman, Abah disangkanya hilang di hutan, Rupanya menjadi mangsa syaitan, Syaitan berwajah manusia durjana, Membunuh abah dengan menyeksa, Hanya kerana abahnya Rohingya.

Hari Raya

menyambut Hari Raya di luar negara dan erti sebenar

Tahun ini saya sudah berumur hampIr 12 tahun dan akan menyambut Hari Raya di Melbourne, Australia. Sebelum ini saya sudah menyambut Hari Raya di Malaysia, United Kingdom dan juga di Timor Leste. Kesemuanya kerana saya mengikuti keluarga saya yang berkhidmat dan menuntut di luar Negara. Bagi saya Hari Raya merupakan kemenangan kepada saya setelah berpuasa selama 30 hari. Puasa di Melbourne tidaklah berapa sukar sekiranya di bandingkan dengan berpuasa di United Kingdom dan Malaysia. Semasa berpuasa di United Kingdom saya terpaksa berpuasa dari jam 4.00 pagi sehinggalah jam 9 malam di bulan Ramadhan yang jatuh semasa musim panas di UK. Cuba bayangkan bagaimana saya yang ketika itu yang cuma berumur 8 tahun terpaksa menahan perut dari kelaparan dan dahaga. Syukur saya berjaya berpuasa selama 30 hari. Bagi saya berpuasa di Melbourne yang cuma mengambil masa singkat tidak lebih dari 12 jam dan di waktu sejuk tidaklah begitu berat. Routin harian ialah:- Mama saya akan menghidangkan makanan sahur kami lebih kurang 5 pagi dan tamat makan sebelum sembahyang subuh bersama papa, mama serta adik-adik saya pada jam 6 pagi. Kemudian saya akan tidur sebentar sebelum bangun semula pada jam 7.30 pagi untuk persediaan ke sekolah. Jam 3.30 petang saya dan adik akan diambil oleh ibu saya dari sekolah dan kami akan berehat sebelum papa saya balik pada jam 5.30 petang dan sama-sama kami akan berbuka puasa dan seterusnya sembahyang maghrib. Rasa-rasanya setelah berpuasa berhari-hari, tiada lagi kepenatan untuk saya melakukan ibadah puasa ini.

Puasa ini adalah tuntutan bagi mereka yang beragama Islam. Kesemua rakyat Malaysia turut berpuasa cuma cara mereka berlainan. Bagi mereka yang beragama Hindu contohnya mereka akan berpuasa dengan permakanan vegetarian. Setelah berpuasa selama 30 hari tibalah masanya untuk berhari raya, dan mama saya sudah pun membeli kelengkapan baju kurung raya saya. Tetapi tahun ini saya merasakan sepi kerana nenek saya yang saya panggil dengan nama MAK PD telah pergi tidak kembali menemui penciptanya tahun lepas bulan November. Saya sentiasa berdoa agar MAK PD dipelihara oleh Illahi dengan baik. MAK I miss you, Mama dan Papa pun begitu. Kuih cornflake, tat nanas, nasi biryani MAK PD memang tiada tandingan. Peristiwa yang merisaukan saya tersebut turut menyebabkan saya berfikir untuk terus memastikan kasih sayang saya yang berterusan kepada mereka yang masih hidup. Selagi papa dan mama masih hidup, akan saya taati mereka dan itulah penting bagi saya. Hari Raya akan berulang setiap tahun, tetapi mereka yang kita sayangi tidak pasti berapa lama mereka akan hidup. Penuhi masa mereka dengan kasih saying sepertimana mereka saying dan melindungi kita semasa penghidupan mereka.

Salam Syawal dari Puteri dan Keluarga PUTERI SHERRY HAMIZAH MOHAMAD RAMEEZ Pelajar Tahun 5 di Canterbury Primary School, Camberwell, Australia

Hari Raya

celebrating Merdeka and what it means... WRITES TRINITY CHUA

Many of us who were born in the 1980s and 1990s remember this. A black and white video depicts an Indian family home. The father wakes his son up in the wee hours and gets him dressed. Then, they head off to a square of some sort where the crowd has gathered, voices ringing around them. The father lifts his son onto his shoulder for a clearer view of the celebratory parade. The advertisement ends with the crowd chanting, “Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!.”

Zahar adds on that it was only possible to gain the freedom Malaysia achieved half a century ago because on a grass-root level, Malaysians shared the desire for an independent nation.

“The rally goers help each other and stick together until the end and everyone just disperse peacefully. That’s the day I felt I was never alone in claiming Malaysia as home,” he says.

Economist and a regular political blogger, Khoo Kay Peng agrees. He says an independent nationhood begins with responsible citizenry.

On a lighter note, some Malaysians recognize their belonging to their country through daily familiar grounds they share.

Although that particular advertisement is not aired anymore, it reminds many Malaysians of the yearly celebratory event of their Independence Day. An event of grandiose budget and pride and lots of patriotism to sprinkle around.

“We are begining to understand our responsibility to choose the right path for this country,” he says.

Yet, when asked, a fragment of Malaysians truly stand by a greater meaning of 31st August. It is reminder of a free nation and a continuous effort to practice and believe in that freedom. Syed Zahar, the editor of Malaysian Digest (Malaysian based news portal) believes the meaning behind Malaysia’s independence is to celebrate a nation free from colonialists and imperialists. “The struggle for Independence was not achieved single-handedly by the ruling coalition... What does matter is that each chose different approaches to beat the colonists,” he says.

As it was fifty years back, as it is today, many Malaysians give a heavy emphasis to citizens’ agency as synonymous to the country’s independence. Khoo sees it as something liberating, empowering and dignified. “At least we know the shape of the future in our hands,” Khoo says. As a young man in his early twenties, fresh out of university, Joshua Tzh says he believes in taking action to shape his nation’s future.

Azmir Firdaus Zamzuri who currently lives and works in the heart of Kuala Lumpur says, “I felt like a Malaysian when all driversregardless of race and religion- could not drive and park properly.” A sentiment clearly shared by many in Malaysia especially the cities- if one observes Kuala Lumpur during the peak hours. Unlike many other Malaysians, social activist, David Sypkerman laments that Malaysia having been blessed to have gained so much since its independence could have made a little bit more effort to help asylum seekers seeking refuge in Malaysia. “I hope Malaysia can offer them jobs at least, instead of taking in more foreign workers.”

Tzh takes on an active role in nation-making by participating in different political and social peaceful gatherings.

PHOTO AMRUFM

celebrating Merdeka in Melbourne Merdeka Countdown at Co. Crown, Melbourne

ORGANISED BY TANG EVENTS

“Merdeka!”

The founders of Malaysian Independence probably never partied this hard… but hundreds of young Malaysians in Melbourne were determined to celebrate Merdeka as loudly as possible. Julie Woon, 8tv Host, FHM Model and MC at the Merdeka Countdown, says: “It doesn’t matter how you celebrate Merdeka, as long as you are Malaysian at heart and carry the spirit to celebrate with other Malaysians together”. Shawn Lee, Asia’s number one beatboxer, shows us how it’s done.

dinner function hosted by the Consulate General of Malaysia in Melbourne

“One Malaysia” dance performed by secondary school students from Malaysia.

LOCATION MARRIOTT HOTEL

Over 60 leaders and eminent people in the Malaysian and wider Melbourne community were invited to a dinner hosted by Dr. Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, Consul General of Malaysia in Melbourne, to celebrate 55 years of Merdeka on the 31st of August 2012. During the dinner, Dr Rameez said that the current government has been striving to deliver its promises and will continue to do so. “Stability doesn’t come easy. Stability comes with hard work for many years. The present government has done so for the past 55 years. Malaysia will grow and will continue to grow. Today, we celebrate Merdeka”.

Consul General of Malaysia and guests cutting the National Cake.

Bruce Atkinson, representing the Premier of Victoria, giving a speech.

inside Malaysia and beyond

independence and national days around the world WRITES TY TIEN CHEW & JOSH YU

Singapore National Day, 9th of August Since separation from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore has held annual National Day celebrations. Each year a parade is held in Padang or Singapore National Stadium and includes singing of the Singaporean national anthem as well as songs and displays in all four of Singapore’s official languages of Tamil, Malay, Mandarin and English. The celebration ends with a dazzling display of fireworks. Due to the popularity of the celebrations, an electronic ticketing system was introduced in 2003 and Singaporean citizens must register for a chance to attend the celebrations. Australia Australia Day, 26th of January Australia’s National Day, Australia Day, usually encompasses national parades, fireworks, and the typical sort of celebrative events. Locals usually celebrate by having barbeques at home or by heading down to the local pub for celebratory drinks with family and friends. As Australia Day officially commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in New South Wales in 1788 and claiming the land for the British Crown, some indigenous Australians consider the day to be ‘Invasion Day’ – a marked contrast from the ‘independence’ theme of many other nations’ national days. India Independence Day, 15th of August Independence Day in India is a highly celebrated event and almost if not all movie channels air classic and new patriotic movies. In certain parts of India, people fly kites to express freedom that they received on Independence Day and to remember the hardships and struggles Indian citizens underwent to obtain national Independence from British rule.

Pakistan Independence Day, 14th of August In Pakistan, Independence Day is celebrated on the 14th of August with flag raising ceremonies in Islamabad and all major cities. Various parades and, ceremonies and parties are generally held and the national colours of green and white generally feature in celebrations. Many stamps have been released over the years featuring various leaders of the independence struggle. The first commemorative stamps released by Pakistan Post in 1948 were inscribed with the date 15th August 1947, due to the prevailing confusion regarding the actual date of independence. Sweden National Day, 6th of June Sweden’s began celebrating its National Day of 6th June in 1916, in honour of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523 – only a little less than four centuries after the event. Even then, it was not officially celebrated as a national holiday until 2005, when it replaced the holiday of Whit Monday. This drew complaints from some Swedish unions as it effectively reduced the number of holidays in some years – Whit Monday was always a Monday, whereas National Day could fall on a weekend.

Countries that have no specific National Days United Kingdom The UK currently has no officially recognised national day. The Queen’s Birthday is often marked as a de facto national day by British diplomatic missions overseas, however not in the UK itself. The individual countries of the UK, however, each celebrate their own national day according to their patron saints. In England, it is St George’s Day, in Scotland, St Andrew’s Day, in Northern Ireland, St Patrick’s Day and in Wales, St David’s Day.

inside Malaysia and beyond

Japan Like the United Kingdom, Japan also does not have a designated national day, and similarly, the Emperor’s Birthday is often celebrated as such. The Japanese celebrate a number of national holidays such as Foundation Day and Constitution Memorial Day, however none have been designated as an official National Day.

notes on the wall

This year is the 55th year since Malaysia gained independence from Britain. JOM went around Melbourne and asked some young Malaysians the following questions: v What do you do during Merdeka in Melbourne? v Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your vision for Malaysia? v Your supportive words for Malaysia? These are their responses. Happy 55th year of independence, Malaysia!

Wai Hong at Let’s Talk Business Sydney 2012

the young entrepreneur Wai Hong Fong Top 100 most influential people, The Age Melbourne 2011

INTERVIEW JOYCE NG & PRAVEEN NAGAPPAN WRITES JOSH YU

Four years ago, as a graduate fresh from Monash university, Wai Hong Fong started a business called OzHut with his uncle, selling telescopes on eBay. Initially working by himself with not enough capital in the business to pay himself a wage, Fong managed to turn a first year profit of nearly $300,000. Another three years on, and that business is now a multi-million dollar network of successful niche online stores, and the growth is showing no signs of stopping. Despite the success of OzHut, Fong now finds himself again without a salary – but this time by his own choice. Having recently sold his 40 per cent stake in the company and leaving his role as managing director behind, the young entrepreneur has set off to China for six months to learn Mandarin. When asked about his plans past that, he explains that he doesn’t think that far ahead. Born into a culture where success is often measured by one’s academic prowess and ability to find a respectable and steady job, Fong defied the mould of a ‘good’ Asian child. As a student in high school, he failed to achieve the marks required to study his preferred course at university. Then in university, his love of computer games

Malaysian tales

such as DotA and Ragnarok Online resulted in his failing three subjects in one semester. “In many respects, I’ve been he Asian disappointment to my parents,” he admits. So how did someone with an addiction to computer games and no clear future goals become one of The Age Melbourne Magazine’s top 100 most influential people and StartupSmart’s ‘best young entrepeneur’ in 2011? Fong may credit this partly to his Malaysian background, as he explains, “I think the one word that describes Malaysians for me is ‘adaptability’.” Certainly, that adaptability has proved to be an important factor in the success of OzHut, and Wai Hong considers the ability to adapt as one of the most important factors in building a successful business. Interestingly, he believes that his gaming experiences also helped. He explains that many of the theories he learned from playing computer games could be translated to business. Most importantly, good teamwork was a skill that he developed whilst playing competitive DotA in university and the ability to successfully work in a team was a skill he found to be vital in growing the business.

“The most challenging part is people.”

“

In many respects, I’ve been the Asian disappointment to my parents

”

- Wai Hong Fong Despite his achievements, however, Fong believes that leaving the company has been one of the best decisions in his business career. Despite his success with OzHut, he tells us that business success should not define someone as a successful person. To the young entrepreneur, being able to express one’s values and beliefs, and doing work that is personally meaningful is more important than financial profits. This is why despite not knowing what he may be doing in six months’ time, he does have one mid-term financial goal – to donate $1 million before the age of 30. But Fong does not see himself simply donating money without thought about exactly where it goes – “I’m anal about who I give my money to,” he tells us. “It’s not just throw my money at some big organisation and then be happy because you have 10 WorldVision kids on your desk.” Fong believes in social entrepreneurship and hopes to help grassroots organisations with good ideas that can benefit and enrich people’s lives in creative ways. It is refreshing to see that despite his financial success, Fong remains down to earth and maintains a strong sense of social values. He also remains a proud Malaysian and despite having lived in Melbourne for the past decade, chooses to keep his Malaysian citizenship. Before he leaves, he tells us that simply by doing positive things overseas, all Malaysians can improve Malaysia’s profile and reputation in the world. And we should register to vote so we can have a say in Malaysia’s future. For a 26 year old, he has certainly already achieved a lot, and as he sets off on his new journey, we wish him luck in his future endeavours.

Lessons for Business Success In our interview with Wai Hong, he shared with us some of his advice for other young entrepreneurs, and revealed what he believes to be factors in the success of OzHut. The ‘1/19/80 rule’ Business success, Fong believes, comes down to 1 per cent ‘ideas’, 19 per cent hard work and 80 per cent ‘luck’. By luck, he explains that it is largely our perception of what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ luck. The best opportunities are often what he calls “probletunities” – opportunities disguised as problems. By adapting to situations, even ‘bad’ luck can be turned into a positive. Business Culture Working with people who share the same values and vision is vital to growing a successful business. Fong explains that he would hire or fire based on culture. Working with like-minded people helps to make conflicts less likely and means the business will have a clear vision of its objectives. Humility Fong explains that humility is the best networking tool. Many of the important contacts he has made were made through the most unassuming people. Humility is also important in teamwork, and Fong sees it as an important part of OzHut’s business culture. Capital Having a large amount of starting capital is overrated. Businesses can look at existing personal and professional networks to achieve more for less money. Fong also believes that scarcity breeds creativity, and that opportunities can be missed when a business has too much money.

Malaysian tales

jinnyboy in melbourne! JOM was lucky enough to catch Jin Lim, DJ from Hitz. fm Malaysia, for a 15 minute exclusive interview on his latest trip to Melbourne. Jin, or ‘Jinnyboy’, is well known for some of the most viral Malaysian videos such as ‘My Generasi’, ‘Abuden’ and ‘Only in Malaysia’.

What’s the purpose of this visit to Melbourne? I am here for a holiday. I am also here to scout for locations for the next film, second part of “Unfold”. We will be shooting some of the scenes in Melbourne. We will be back here in October. We are possibly looking for new people for the film as well. Where do you get inspiration from for your videos? I draw my inspirations for what I do in everyday conversation with people, like daily experiences, relationships, you know… stuff like that. If something piques my interest I will delve into it. Often I will be like: “Do you want to do something different with your life?” So I was sort of trying to get people to know what I was going for as well.

INTERVIEW JOYCE NG & CHARMAINE FONG PHOTOGRAPHS IAN TAY WRITES JOYCE NG

Artsy Malaysian

Your videos are viral on Youtube and Malaysians love to watch them! Yeah I know! It’s quite surreal how these videos got viral because when we first made the video, I went to a few different shops to buy a new camera, and then I faced the same guy in a few different shops (laugh). So, I wrote that and we shot a video about it and when we released it people relate to it very well. So I guess those videos are attainable to the mass and I guess that’s how people like it. Until now, I personally still don’t know how these videos get so viral. I still (blank expression) don’t know how it get so viral…!

I guess some of your videos touched people hearts’ too… Yeah that video would probably be ‘My Generasi’, which is written by Ruben. It was funny when we went out with a friend and we were chatting about how kids nowadays grew up with technology like iPhones and iPads but when we were younger, you know, we play all the stuff you can find such as erasers… Yeah I guess people relate to that very well. We are very happy to have Malaysians to claim that the videos are their videos. Comments like “You know what? There’s a video now and it is about us!” We also saw comments like “We are really proud to be Malaysians,” and these comments really make us so, so happy. What’s your vision for your videos and their future direction? Do you plan to go mainstream? No, we don’t plan to go into mainstream. There are so many stuff that you can’t find in mainstream and that’s what Youtube is for, such as an Asian being the lead role, or any cultures being the lead role. And we are trying to bridge the east and the west as well and say, you know what, we are all equal. Well, there have been other artists who have been that in the mainstream media, such as Yasmin Ahmad, ‘Ah Niu’… These people worked really hard. See, those people are people with talent, but we have no talent. I have no background in filming, I have never done film editing, never learnt how to edit videos… How did you learn? Youtube. I spent hours and hours watching hours and hours to learn how to correct the colours, how to edit, how to do the sound… even equipments I got now are results of researches done on Youtube. You can watch our video on ‘How to make a viral video’ to know more. What has been the biggest thing coming out of making videos? Talking to you guys now! I never expected my videos to bring me… this far. Wherever we travel, we hear people saying that they love our films. That means bigger than anything else to us.

* There’s a possibility of a fan meet up with Jin and Ruben when they return to Melbourne in October! Stay tuned with us to find out more!

Jin holding a personalised gift from JOM.

A property purchase is one of the most expensive items people buy in their lifetime, so it is wise to spend time and money to get it right.

how to buy a bargain property? WRITES ERICK NG

Erick Ng is a licensed property buyer’s advocate at Capital Exchange International. He exclusively represents homebuyers and investors to master plan, search, research and negotiate the lowest possible purchase price and best terms. Trained in architecture, construction and real estate, Erick’s client base ranges from first home buyers/investors to experienced developers and government officials. Erick was recently featured on Channel 9’s prime time show ‘Hot Property’. Enquiries and subscription to market updates are welcomed at erick.ng@cexi.com.au.

property

EVERYONE loves a bargain, and especially with the incessant news of house prices “falling” in Melbourne, bargain property hunters have been scavenging the market ever since the unsustainable growth of Melbourne’s house prices in 2009/2010 began to soften in mid 2010. However, to the disappointment and confusion of many, bargains are not as abundant as what the media has portrayed them to be. Such generalisations can be harmful as the Melbourne property market is multi-layered and shows multi-speed. To understand this better, let us dissect the meaning of ‘bargain’ here. The definition of a bargain to an uneducated property buyer could be vastly different from that of a professional buyer who is a real estate insider. A bargain price may be the result of a low grade property, an inflated quoted price, an oversupplied stock, buying into a bad suburb/ location or into a problematic situation/ restriction/ land profile/ building class, buying a property that will dampen resale value, or may simply be a case of being deceived into believing the purchase is a bargain. The real estate market is complicated and takes time to understand, even more so for people who are not in the real estate industry. There are many ways that we can achieve a bargain purchase but firstly we have to obtain a thorough understanding of the macro and micro market of the target areas and specific property types, while ensuring that in the process, the deal is tailored specifically to the buyer’s unique preferences and circumstances. A property is one of the most expensive purchases people make in their lifetime, so it is wise to spend time and money to get it right. Let us examine a common situation:

A property auction in Doncaster East held in June 2012 attracted 100 attendants and 5 active bidders hoping for a bargain purchase. The sold price was a whopping $105,000.00 more than the agent’s quoting price & $65,000 more than the vendor’s reserve.

“Uncle Tan bought a townhouse at a bargain price back in 2008 and his property should be worth more than a million now,” exclaims Johnny to his Malaysian friends. Very often we hear of people’s purchasing stories but very rarely do we get to investigate further. So, was Uncle Tan’s purchase a bargain? What makes Johnny or Uncle Tan think that it will be worth a million dollars now? A quick check into Uncle Tan’s situation reveals that the property was bought at $875,000 in 2008. After adding purchasing costs which include stamp duty totalling approximately $50,000, it would have cost Uncle Tan $925,000 minimum for the townhouse, excluding renovation costs. With results of recent comparable sales around Uncle Tan’s property, his property could be appraised at being between $900,000 and $930,000 conservatively, showing that Uncle Tan will break even or even record a loss if he plans to sell his townhouse now. So the ‘bargain purchase’ was an assumption, and the reality falls short by almost $100,000 on what Uncle Tan thinks it is worth now. A closer look into the townhouse reveals many unpopular features compared to other comparable properties in the vicinity: the floor plan consists of wasted spaces with unusable nooks and corridors; the kitchen is smaller than usual; two small bedrooms with no robe space; frosted windows create viewless claustrophobic bedrooms; the lack of direct sunlight into the courtyard; the inability to provide cross ventilation on the first floor; the desirable Northern sun is blocked by evergreen trees. The design however, of the interior also committed cultural and general Feng Shui offences with its front entrance

opening up directly to the staircase and two of its bedrooms having beds facing the direction of the front door. Location wise, the property is close to the freeway as well as a major arterial road, so traffic noise is audible. Now, where did the million-dollar price tag come from? As many homeowners are house proud, it is common for them to think that their house is worth more than what the market will pay for it. Many homeowners add the price of their renovation and emotional attachment to the value of their home. In these cases, it can reveal their overcapitalization of their home improvement efforts and further adds on to their unrealistic expectation on price. Sellers often engage the assistance of real estate agents to market their properties to hopefully get their dream prices, and this is where most buyers get caught out. In Australia, a real estate agent or selling agent represents the seller. In the contract with the seller, the real estate agent often declares that the level of his/her service is to achieve the highest possible price. One of the mistakes many property buyers commonly make is to naively make assumptions that the real estate agent or the property salesperson is there to help them. Many migrant and overseas buyers assume that it works just like back in their home country. However, in this scenario, many buyers become unwilling mice heading straight into the cheese trap, trusting unverified and biased sources of information and believing blindly in what the agent/ media/ seminars/ relatives/ friends tell them about the real estate market. Property buyers should always get independent and educated advice about the real estate market in Australia. Follow us in the next issue for further exploration on how to obtain a property bargain.

property

a chat with PappaRich Since the opening of three outlets in Melbourne at the start of the year, Papparich has been much talked-about by the residents of Melbourne. We sat down with the chef of Papparich QV, KC, to talk about the Papparich franchise, the feedback they’ve received from customers, and the challenges of serving Malaysian food in Melbourne.

INTERVIEW KA MUN HO & JOYCE NG WRITES KA MUN HO

How long have you been working at Papparich? I’ve been working here since the beginning. Before this I worked at Old Town Kopitiam. How was the transition from working at Old Town Kopitiam to Papparich QV? Obviously, working at Papparich is much easier because it being a franchise system, most products such as pastes are prepared by our central kitchen. We used to do everything in one kitchen [at Old Town Kopitiam]. At the end of the day, the food at Papparich will have more consistency across its restaurants. Where does Papparich source its ingredients from? 99% of the ingredients are sourced locally, but there are ingredients which aren’t grown in Australia, such as gingerflower, which has to be sourced overseas. Do you think the availability of Malaysian spices is a challenge here? Yes. We’re spoilt by choice with ingredients in Malaysia. Cooks in Malaysia get to choose the best. Here, it’s different. You have the choice of one brand- you use it, or you don’t. But if we can find the best here, we always use the best. How did Papparich Australia decide on the menu? Is it the same as the menu offered in Malaysia? It’s definitely different. The Papparich outlets in Malaysia are like ‘lepak joints’, they serve more as hang out places rather than an eatery. There’s less variety in the Malaysian outlet. Here, we are catering not only Malaysians but also people of other cultural backgrounds. There is a greater variety on the menu here, and with an aim to be an eatery rather than a hang out joint.

yum yumm

How is the feedback that Papparich has received from customers so far? Generally, it’s been pretty good. But it’s difficult to satisfy Malaysians. Let’s say with laksa, there are so many regional variations- Penang, KL and Johor laksa. We can’t offer all three on a menu, so the best we can do is find common ground, and that includes trying to satisfy local customers as well. There will always be a small percentage of people who don’t like our food, but we try our best to make improvements. If we get a lot of complaints on a dish, we’ll do research and try a better recipe to improve it. Is there a specific example of this? In our first week of business, we had no idea what people would think. One example is our Asam Laksa. When I was working at Old Town Kopitiam, customers found our Asam Laksa not sour enough. So when we started Papparich, we tried to make it sourer. But people complained that it was too sour. After getting that feedback, we changed it straight away. We also have previous experience from Old Town, after two years of trading we know what people like and don’t like. Has the restaurant tried to modify the flavour of the food since starting the restaurant, in order to cater to different tastebuds? Yes. Malaysian students only make up a fraction of the population here. Although there is a large student population in the city, Papparich is a franchise and we’re aiming to open all over Australia. So we can’t just aim to cater to Malaysians and Southeast Asian students. There are certain flavours that we have to tone up or tone down for the local market. One example is our curry chicken. In Malaysia, when you eat curry chicken, you expect to be served meat on the bone. Local customers prefer meat without the bone. We decided on a boneless piece of Maryland. There is also the option of chicken breast. We try to customise it by always asking which piece of meat they prefer, rather than picking it for them. In Malaysia, most hawker food is prepared by individuals who have specialised in making one dish for years. Is it challenging to recreate such a large variety of Malaysian food under one roof? If you visit a food court in Malaysia, only a couple of stalls will have good food, right? What we’re trying to do is provide that variety, in a small kitchen with just a handful of staff. Secondly, sourcing good ingredients is also a challenge. Even the water here doesn’t taste the same- how are we supposed to produce something that tastes identical to what you get in Malaysia? People here also have higher expectations because of the dollar amount they’re paying. But we try our best, even if it means travelling back to Malaysia to taste the food. What’s the most popular item on the menu? Currently the most popular items are the Char Koay Teow, wat tan hor, nasi lemak and roti. I think Char Koay Teow (CKT) is one of the dishes where it’s pretty hard to find a good one in Melbourne. You can’t even get the right kind of hor fun- the rice noodles here are either the really broad ones or the thin ones. I think we’re the only Malaysian restaurant here using the thin kind. A lot of people complain about it, but the thin noodles are actually closer to the real thing. Next, people have also gotten used to being served really dark coloured CKT. Penang CKT is actually light-coloured, with any darkness coming from the char, from the frying. CKT should taste of a balance of soy sauce, the char from the wok hei and the taste of the seafood. Places that heavily season CKT with dark soy sauce don’t do the dish any justice. Are you finding your food popular among Australians? I hope it is! [laughs] So far we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback. I can see people who come here six or seven times a week. I would say that if you see a lot of regular customers, it’s a sign that you’re doing something right. But obviously, we won’t stop there. We’ll try to improve the food even more.

KC: People here also have higher expectations because of the dollar amount they’re paying. But we try our best, even if it means travelling back to Malaysia to taste the food.

We had the privilege of being the first people to taste the improvised soup of Ipoh Sa Hor Fun! Papparich had improvised the soup a few times but this time is definitely the best so far!

Editor’s picks Ipoh Sa Hor Fun and Satay! The Editor has had at least 7 bowls of Ipoh Sa Hor Fun at Papparich so far!

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How do you feel about being a Malaysian chef in Australia? In a way, non-Malaysian customers might form their idea of Malaysian food based on your cooking. Malaysian food is actually not new on the scene, it’s quite accepted everywhere in the world. There was recently an article about the top ten dishes in the world, and a few of them were Malaysian dishes. But we come from Malaysia carrying the name “Papparich”, which I think is quite important. So we try to make our food as authentic as possible. Some of the Malaysian restaurants here lose their authenticity by catering mainly to the local market. But we aren’t headed in that direction. We’re trying to find ground where we can satisfy the Malaysian crowd, international students and also locals. When it comes to spicy food, do you find that you have to tone down the heat? You’d be surprised! When it comes to spicy food, there are more and more local customers these days who can handle the heat. Restaurants like Dainty Sichuan are so popular among locals- I don’t think it’s a problem at all. So if something is supposed to taste really spicy, I’ll make it really spicy. I think we’re also one of the only Malaysian restaurants in Melbourne which serves cili padi. We serve it with our Ipoh Hor Fun. So you know, we’re not holding back! [laughs] You’ve mentioned that Papparich intends to expand to other parts of Australia. Which areas are you targeting first? I would probably say Sydney, but we’ll just have to see when the opportunity arises.

yum yumm

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Judges scoring durian based on sweetness, texture and flavour

best durians in Melbourne WRITES KA MUN HO PHOTOGRAPHS JOSH YU

What better way to kick off the birth of a Malaysian community magazine than with a durian tasting party? On a relaxing Sunday afternoon, the JOM Magazine staff gathered at Jells Park, Wheeler’s Hill to bring you their gastronomic opinion on the durian selection in Melbourne. We managed to find durians from nine different sources. These durians varied in breed, country of origin and packaging (whole fruit in the shell or durian segments in plastic packaging). It was certainly surprising to some of us to discover the range of durians available in Melbourne! First off, our resident durian expert gave us a couple of tips on how to pick a good durian. As any whole durians found in Melbourne would already be frozen, it’s impossible to discern quality based on smell, we are told. A key tip when picking whole frozen durian in Melbourne is to look at the thorns. A good durian should have thorns that are multi-faceted at the base but firm at the top. The weight of the durian is also important- lighter durians are likely to be of better quality. For more tips on durian selection and information about durian stockists, check out our upcoming video on our Youtube channel – JOMmagTV! As our team set to work on the messy but rewarding task of cracking open the whole durians, there was an unmistakable waft of that pungent fruit. We scored the different durians based on sweetness, flavour and texture to assess the quality of the fruit before us.

yum yumm

During the durian tasting session, Musang King was one of the most popular ones but we do not know why it didn’t come into top three when it comes to maths! Apart from appeasing our durian cravings during this durian tasting session, we also sought to answer some questions for the Malaysians of Melbourne: Is it even possible to find good durian in Melbourne? Yes- of the selection of durians we tasted there were at least three varieties which hit the spot. Does the fruit survive the freezing process better in a whole durian shell or in a plastic container? We found that while not all of the whole durians scored highly, overall theu were more consistent and reliably tasty. This may seem counterintuitive as it’s hard to tell whether the fruit will be good without looking at the flesh. With the pre-packaged durian segments, some were brilliant while others were on the verge of disintegrating. Which ones are cheaper in price? The whole durians were more affordable. Where to find them? Springvale and Footscray are good places to go for whole durians listed above, except ‘Frozen Durian’ which is mostly sold in local supermarkets such as Coles and Safeway. Packed durians can be found in many Asian groceries in the southeastern suburbs, such as Glen Waverley and Clayton. ‘Musang King’ and ‘D24’ can be found in Great Eastern Asian Groceries in the city.

Judges did not know what and which durian were on the plates

Strong opinions about our strong-smelling fruit Which Malaysian hasn’t endured a foreign friend’s open display of repulsion towards our national fruit? We’ve compiled a list of what some adventurous ‘angmohs’ have said about durian. “On first tasting it I thought it like the flesh of some animal in a state of putrefaction.” Henri Mouhot, French Naturalist, year unknown “Like eating sweet raspberry blancmange in the lavatory” Anthony Burgess, British novelist, 1956

“In some parts it tastes like sugar cane and other parts taste like poo!” Noah, 14, Australian

Judge Panel: 5 Malaysians and 2 local Australians

Frozen durian

“... its odor is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from yards away.” Richard Sterling, American food and travel writer, 2003 “Its taste can only be described as...indescribable, something you will either love or despise. ...Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother” Anthony Bourdain, American chef and TV personality, 2006

All tasters

Only Malaysian tasters

Sun brand Monthong 2nd

Cock brand Mornthong

Richmond brand D24 3rd

2nd

Richmond brand Musang King 1st

Trophy brand Monthong (Blue)

Whole durian Mornthong

Cock brand whole durian 1st 3rd

Trophy brand Monthong (Red)

Note: Although ‘Musang King‘ (top right) did not make the top 3 ranking, it received lots of compliments from the Malaysian tasters. yum yumm

durian kaya recipe Super yummy yet extremely simple! It only takes 10 minutes!

Serves 6 people v v v v v v v v

Ingredients Mashed durian, 4-5 pulps Palm sugar (you may use brown sugar as substitute), about 210 gram Pandan leaves, 1 or 2 pieces Coconut Milk, 200 gram Wheat flour (for thickening purpose), 2 tablespoon Water, 2 cups Sugar, 1 cup Pinch of salt

Instruction 1 In a pot, add the palm sugar, pandan leaves and water and bring to boil. 2 In a different pot, melt sugar and sautĂŠ until cameralised. You may put extra pandan leaves in the sugar for extra fragrance. 3 Once sugar is caramelized, pour in palm sugar mixture (without pandan leaves). Stir to combine. 4 Add mashed durian and stir to combine. Add salt and sugar. 5 Add coconut milk. Lower heat. 6 Add wheat flour, stir. 7 Done! :D Best served with steamed or toasted bread, roti jala or nasi pulut :D Enjoy!

PHOTO DENNIS TANG

extreme cuisine?

Kopi Luwak – World’s most expensive coffee

WRITES LIANNE LETITIA ZILM

A few years ago when my father was working in Jakarta, he briefly mentioned in conversation that he was eating coffee made from ‘musang poo’. I assumed he was joking, but later realised that he was talking about Kopi Luwak. One of Indonesia’s more interesting delicacies, this coffee is brewed from beans that have been passed through the digestive system of the Asian palm civet cat. On the islands of Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi, farmers used to face the problem of the civet cats or Luwak climbing their trees and eating their best coffee berries. There are many theories behind it but, for some reason, the farmers would gather the beans out of the Luwak’s faeces and scrub them until they could be ground and brewed. The Luwak’s digestion process naturally fermented the beans, giving them a more complex and enriched flavour. It’s been said that the coffee is rich and earthy, with a hint of chocolate and a syrupy, silky texture. What’s even more impressive is how much people pay for this drink – the unroasted product costs about US$250 per kilo while roasted beans may cost up to US$600 per kilo. Scarcity is the main reason it’s so expensive – only 250 kilograms of beans are produced annually, spread over just a few local companies who export to several countries including the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and some European countries. A cup of Kopi Luwak costs about US$10, making it the most expensive coffee for its quantity. Some enterprising people are trying to cash in on this fad by caging civet cats and feeding them coffee beans. Of course, it is said that this practice produces inferior coffee quality. “Was it nice, dad?” I asked him recently there is on the phone. “Ah, it was okay lah.” Typical – I guess my dad is no coffee connoisseur. However, if you consider yourself one, then the next time you’re on the way home, stop by Indonesia to try the world’s rarest coffee.

Funny Fact In 2010, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tried to bring these precious beans into Australia as a gift for the Prime Minister back then, Kevin Rudd, but they failed to clear the quarantine inspection.

yum yumm

PHOTO CALVIN CHUA

how to avoid hay fever It is Spring! Warm weather, sunshine, flowers... The end to the freezing cold of winter is finally in sight. Unfortunately, for some of us, Spring isn’t all rainbows and lollipops.

WRITES LIANNE ZETITIA ZILM / ADELAIDE

For us who come from a humid climate, seasonal allergic rhinitis, v If you have to go outdoors, wearing sunglasses can double up as protection from itchy eyes. It’s best to avoid mowing the lawn and doing more commonly known as hay fever, may be something we haven’t gardening; if you really need to, mask up and have a good shower after. dealt with too often. The warmer months in Australia are really Also, if you have a choice of going to a park or going to the beach, tempting to enjoy the outdoors, and the last thing you want to have is choose the beach as the pollen count is usually lower at beaches. a stuffy running nose. Here are a few handy tips to help you keep hay fever away so you can go out and play. v Dairy products are known to increase mucous production; hence it may be better to cut down on them. Eat plenty of summer fruits v Pollen is the main offender, so it is best to stay inside when there’s a and vegetables to keep your immunity up. Finally, stock up on lot of it in the air. antihistamines – normally, I keep a box of Telfast handy for quick www.weatherzone.com.au/pollen-index/ relief. You could also consider buying eye drops and nasal spray. This website forecasts the pollen count in Australia’s main cities, so check it out before planning your trip to the Botanic gardens. Also, on high All the best in beating your hay fever and enjoy your spring! :D pollen count days, it’s best to keep your doors and windows closed. v Inside your house, it’s all about keeping pollen to a minimum as well. If you’ve been out, change your clothes when you get back inside and have a good shower. Brush your pets to eliminate pollen from their fur and make sure your house is vacuumed and dusted regularly. As tempting as it is to hang clothes out on the line, you certainly don’t want your clothes to be covered with allergens. It may be worth investing in anti-allergy bedding as well if hay fever normally hits you quite hard.

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Fact: Hay fever is a kind of allergic rhinitis. It is often caused by an allergy to pollen. According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, it is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions in Australia and is affecting around 15% Australians or 3.1 million people.

As spring is arriving, many local residents have been doing their spring cleaning and putting unwanted furniture and other household items outside on their nature strips. You may be surprised by how quickly some items can snapped up by passers by! Many people collect these unwanted items and restore them or turn them into something new. In our future issue, we will show you some examples of how one person’s trash can become another person’s treasure.

it’s spring cleaning time!

Goodbye chilly weather, and hello sunshine! Spring is the perfect time to do some cleaning for a fresh start! But what do you have to do when your room or any part of your house has a stubborn unsavory smells? JOM gives you a few tips on the simple items you can use to reduce or eliminate the odour: v Pandan Leaves v Sliced egg plant v Charcoal – you can get packed charcoal for just $2.80 each from Daiso which is for this purpose. There are also packed ones to be put in the refrigerator.

Place one of those items around your room or the place you would like to get rid of the smell and… ta da! You will be amazed what these little things can do to your place! If none of them work, then you will probably have to get a steam or wet vacuum to thoroughly clean your carpet. Have a good spring! :D

* Share your own tips with us on www.facebook.com/jommagazineaus or email us at editor@jommagazine.com.au

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always versatile... denim

WRITES MELISSA YANG YING QING PHOTOGRAPHS JOSH YU

When someone mentions denim, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Most people would instantly think of jeans, and I admit to being one of those people. But as time has gone by, many designers have challenged that idea, and denim no longer means stiff, uncomfortable jeans. Today, denim is seen as one of the major trends dominating catwalks during fashion weeks all over the world. Denim jeans, denim shirts, denim jackets, denim skirts and even denim dresses will never run out of style. Major style icons such as Kate Moss and Nicole Richie are big fans, and have shown us that denim gives us an effortless style that everyone is striving for these days. Anything denim is what I consider a classic. They are some of the very few clothing items you will end up with for many years. In fact, the older the denim, the better. Think washed out jeans, or frayed denim shorts. Denim represents a laid-back style that can be worn with everything and anything. The problem with cities like Melbourne, where there are four seasons, is that when there’s a change in season, there’s a change in wardrobe choice. I’m pretty sure we don’t want our spring/summer collection of clothes to be stored at the back of our closet just because Melbourne’s temperature dropped. No, we want to make the most of our buys, am I right? Well, I’ve put together 4 looks that will hopefully inspire you with different styles of wearing denim in all seasons. In styling all of these different looks, I am using this denim shirt from Topshop (one of my ultimate favourite fashion forward brands).

Spring/Summer looks Top Forever New Skirt Lush Serendipity (lushserendipity.blogspot.com) Jewellery ALDO/Forever New/ Tilkah Shoes Tony Bianco

Dress Lexi Lyla Belt Forever New Jewellery Forever New Shoes ALDO 1

Autumn/Winter looks Top Topshop Skirt Forever New Belt Forever New Jewellery Forever New Shoes Tony Bianco

Top Topshop Leggings Black Milk Clothing (blackmilkclothing.com) Jacket Forever New Jewellery Tilkah/Forever New/ Sportsgirl Shoes Tony Bianco

lifestlyle

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante

WRITES PAUL MARIC

Sunny, 25 degrees Celsius and next to no wind, the only thing missing is the fastest convertible Lamborghini currently sells. Enter stage left, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante. Built as the rigid convertible version of the lightweight Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, the soft-top Spyder Performante is Lamborghiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pinnacle of open-air speed and agility. With a consummated focus on injecting your ears with as much animalistic V10 noise they can handle, this unrelenting supercar is about as good as they get. Naturally, the best place to sample such automotive erotica is in the hills of the Glendora mountain range, just outside Los Angeles, California. The Spyder Performante boasts a 65kg weight saving over its nonlightweight Gallardo sibling. 40 percent of the weight saving comes courtesy of carbon fibre exterior and interior panels, not to mention the aluminium body and space-frame. Even the wheels contribute a 3.3kg weight saving at each corner.

Price From $542,000 (hard-top) to $577,300 (soft-top) Engine 5.2-litre 10-cylinder petrol Power 419kW @ 8000rpm Torque 540Nm @ 6500rpm Economy 13.7L/100km

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Like Jessica Albaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beach body, the Spyder Performante attracts attention wherever it goes. Inside the cabin you will find masses of suede finished with colour coded stitching, along with lashes of carbon fibre.

The suede seats feature only two direction adjustments – forwards and backwards. Luckily, the sport seats mould perfectly around the body, keeping the driver and passenger steady while tackling corners at physics defying pace.

Despite sporting 235mm wide front tyres, 295mm wide rear tyres and all-wheel-drive, the rear end still managed to squirm when the throttle was prodded on the exit of a corner. The lucent feel through the steering wheel and chassis made it easy and enjoyable to manage.

Cracking out an impressive 419kW of power, the raging bull shoots from 0-100km/h in just 3.9-seconds or 3.4-seconds for the hard-top Superleggera. Lamborghini’s mid-engine 5.2-litre V10 has a unique sound that never gets old. Even at idle, the V10 sounds meaty and ready for action.

With three transmission modes – Auto, Sport and Corsa (that’s Italian for race) – choosing Corsa for the Glendora mountain run was a no brainer. Keep in mind that a traditional six-speed manual is available as a no cost option.

With the roof retracted and windows down, it is impossible to not laugh like a possessed mental patient each time the rev needle approaches the V10’s sonorous 8500rpm redline. Deafening blips during down-shifts and viscously brutal up-shifts only add to the almost theatrical experience. Everything about the Spyder Performante feels right during cornering. The razor sharp steering communicates the road and tyre position with fluent accuracy, while the carbon ceramic stoppers bite with continuous and reassuring pressure, even when tortured to their limits.

Gear shifts in Corsa mode are fast and seriously brutal. Measuring just 120ms in duration, the single clutch E-Gear gearbox can be heard swapping cogs with the roof down – only adding to the excitement of the drive. Gears can be manually selected using the static paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. At $577,300, the Spyder Performante isn’t cheap. But, one thing is for certain – the engine’s deafening roar will never grow tiresome or become any less erotic.

lifestyle

Spotting some emus in the evening

Wilsons Promontory

WRITES KA MUN HO

It was one of those rare sunny winter days when I headed to Wilsons Promontory with friends. The Prom, as it is fondly called by locals and visitors, is about 3.5 hours’ drive from Melbourne. Located in South Gippsland, Wilsons Promontory National Park offers the best of coastal landscape, great walks and glimpses of native flora and fauna. One of the best features of the national park is the varied scenery, from flat endless lengths of white beaches to the quiet beauty of mangroves. A particularly rewarding walk is the walk to Tidal Overlook and Squeaky Beach. The view at the footbridge at the very start of the walk is already stunning, with mountains in the distance looming over lush grassland. Tidal Overlook is also a great spot to admire both Norman and Leonard Bays. From Tidal Overlook it is a short walk back onto Squeaky Beach Track. On arrival at Squeaky Beach, it takes a while to detect the squeak of your shoes crunching into the rounded quartz sand. The view of the pristine beach, however, is instantly breathtaking. For more beach views, you can also stop by Norman Beach. It is accessible by carpark, making it a low-effort photo opportunity. Walking across the beach leads you onto the track to Little Oberon Bay. The endeavour takes 1.5 hours each way, but the gentle climb is accompanied by gorgeous views of the coastline.

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Walks within the park vary in difficulty; while most featured here are categorized ‘Easy/Moderate’ by the national park walking guide, those looking for a flat and relatively short stroll should check out the walk to Millers’ Landing. The walk crosses through woodland and leads ultimately to Millers’ Landing, which is host to the world’s southernmost crop of mangroves. The national park sustained significant damage during flooding in March 2011, but has since made great recovery. Some walking tracks are still closed due to flood damage, but most have been restored to their original state. Keep a keen eye out for wildlife while on your walks and drives, particularly during dusk. On this particular trip, we spotted emus, wallabies and a few incredibly shy wombats. Whilst being a decent drive away from Melbourne, the quiet environment, breathtaking views and fantastic walks make this little slice of nature worth the trip. As some of my friends claim, it gives the Great Ocean Road a run for its money.

View of Tidal River from the footbrige

Walking along Tidal River towards Tidal Overlook

Entry Day entry to Wilsons Promontory National Park is free

Squeaky Beach

Scenery along the trek to Lt. Oberon Bay

Accommodation Camping and cabins within the national park The accommodation in the national park is situated at Tidal River, on the southern end of the Prom. A great way to be immersed in the gorgeous surroundings would be to pitch a tent on the campsite ($19.90 per night for up to 3 people). On the other end of the spectrum are the more luxurious options of staying in the Wilderness Retreats or cabins, both of which are spacious and fitted with heating, cooking and bathroom facilities. In the true Malaysian spirit of seeking great value for money, our party chose to live in a 4 bed hut ($64.50 per night). The huts, while not as well-equipped, are perfectly comfortable. The cosy setup houses two sets of bunk beds, heating and cooking facilities. Communal bathrooms are only a short distance away, and – from personal experience – actually present opportunities to spot a wombat when you step out in the evening. Prom Coast YHA Backpackers Hostel Accommodation within the national park can very popular, especially on the weekends. However, there is no shortage of nice bed and breakfast places near the Prom. If you’re on a budget the Prom Coast YHA is an affordable solution ($30 per person per night). Situated in Foster, this backpackers’ hostel is about half an hour’s drive to the national park entrance. The people who manage it are friendly, and it offers free internet, laundry, kitchen and bathroom facilities. Because it’s smaller than the usual YHA settings found in popular tourist destinations, it’s easy to get chatting with your fellow backpacker. The hostel’s location also makes it easy to venture to places other than the national park, such as Agnes Falls and nearby beaches. Transport The national park is 3.5 hours’ drive from Melbourne. To get there by public transport, catch the V-line to Fish Creek/Foster, where connecting bus services to Tidal River run on Friday night, weekends and public holidays.

Did you know? Gippsland, the district of which Wilson Promontary is situated, stands almost a third of the Victoria state. Wilson Promontary is the largest National Park in Gippsland.

meaning of Merdeka WRITES JASMINE MAY CHEN SAW

Can you still hear it? The triumphant cries of Tunku Abdul Rahman and our ancestors, the calls of ‘Merdeka’ echoing through time. Can you feel it? The joy, the relief along with pain and suffering of those who liberated our country and gave us independence. Can you see it? The growing peace and prosperity that was earned with the blood and sweat of our forefathers. Can you understand it? How far we’ve come as a nation, as a people, and what it means to be ‘independent’? It has been 55 years since the British relinquished their control of the land; 55 years since we rebuilt our country. Standing atop the KL tower today, we can see an impressive skyline of skyscrapers and big modern buildings. Undeniably, Malaysia has come a long way, financially, technologically, even culturally. Many Malaysians enjoy the fruits of our forefather’s labour, the promise of better lives after independence fulfilled. However, it’s a different situation at ground level. There are beggar filled alleys, children in rags, strays milling through dumpsters and rubbish strewn streets. Despite our achievements, the current state of Malaysia is, admittedly, disappointing and still lacking in many aspects. Who is responsible? Who is to blame? No one. And everyone. If we want a better Malaysia, if we want change, we need to shoulder the responsibility. Change has to begin from the bottom levels of society. Not the government nor the ruling classes, but the citizens. The Mak Cik selling nasi lemak in the market; the Indian couple who owns the mamak stall around the corner, the Ah Pek practicing tai chi in the park every morning, the young graduates who have just enough money to rent small apartments. Unity gave our country liberation and independence, and once again we’ll need unity to bring us into the future. When united, when all races – Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba Nyonyas, Kadazans, Iban – all come together and work towards common goals, we can obtain miracles. When we can finally see past our differences and put aside our petty arguments; when Malaysians break free from the oppressor known as race; when the people no longer rely on anyone, not even the government; that’s when we truly are Merdeka.

let’s talk

PHOTO ANTONY STANLEY

reflections of a spectator live from London WRITES LIM CHEE HAN / GERMANY

On the 5th of August 2012, I was there at Wembley Arena in London to witness a historic moment and to cheer for Lee Chong Wei in the Badminton Men’s Singles Final. This was touted to be the most realistic Gold Medal hope for Malaysia ever, for the first time in history. This was also the second showdown in an Olympic Games final since Beijing in 2008, between the top two seeds – Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan. I was extremely fortunate to have obtained the ticket, which drew a lot of jealousy back in my homeland. The match was epic. The live atmosphere was superb, exhibiting the fierce rivalry between supporters for the players’ respective countries. I was in a row of majority Malaysian supporters, and behind me was a row of Chinese supporters. As the match was going on, we exchanged loud shouts and stomps. ‘Malaysia/Lee Chong Wei BOLEH’ versus ‘Zhong Guo Dui/Lin Dan JIAYOU’. Meanwhile, I also spotted the Malaysian No.1 fan of Badminton, none other than the famous ‘First Lady’ Prime Minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor (who traveled a great distance just the night before for this final match). Her signature oversized hair shape was unmistakably recognised from afar, as she entered the venue belatedly, surrounded by other VIPs cladded in orange national sports team jackets. The next time I saw her again at close distance, it was after the narrow defeat of Lee Chong Wei. She seemed not too affected by the result, heading to the exit with her entourage. Despite the final score line, I must confess that both players had performed at their best, even for the case of eventual loser Lee Chong Wei. The third set was particularly an anxious nailbiting yet breathtaking experience to watch. The score was extremely tight

and the rally went point by point, both players chasing each other right until the end of the match. The watershed was at the point of 19-19, where Super Dan went into ‘turbo’ to end the game decisively by taking the final 2 straight points with his outburst confidence. Lee Chong Wei was defeated and I was left immediately deeply disappointed. The stadium ran wild with loud cheers and waving of 5 star red flags. I could not bear to witness the cocky topless frenzy running celebration style of Lin Dan. Still, I could not ask more from Dato Lee who has given his best to the nation. My Thai friend analysed that to me, saying that Lin Dan had the stronger mental strength and sheer determination to carry him through the crucial final points, and obviously overpowered Lee. Although I also believe that Lee was out of luck, I do think there was some truth in my friend’s analysis. I can’t help but also ponder on these questions: Where do we go from here? If Dato Lee will not participate in the next Olympic Games, then who will succeed him as the leading hope for the first Gold? Besides Badminton, what other sports could also make it happen and make us proud as a nation? Sure we have invested quite a substantial amount of money in Badminton, as this is the traditional sport we excel at. However, that is not good enough. In this Olympics, we have seen other previously unknown athletes, our homebred unsung heroes representing our nation in the final round of other sports such as diving and track-cycling (now we have won a bronze medal for Women’s 10m diving!), yet they drew less attention than Badminton. I believe now it is time to call for a national sports ‘transformation’, to manage and to distribute funding better so that all resources can be channeled directly for the benefit of athletes and coaches, whilst also for spotting and training the genuine new sport talents of the future.

let’s talk

PHOTO CALVIN CHUA

dr. who-knows-everything

Dear Mr-Am-I-To-Be-ForeverAlone,

Got a question in your head that needs answering? Send your question to editor@jommagazine.com.au. Dr. Who-Knows-Everything answers any questions. Literally, any.

Instead of accepting things as they are, you are trying to make changes. Good for you!

Question: Am I to be foreveralone? I’ve been single for quite awhile now and I have a hard time finding true friends. I’m lonely. I spend most of my Saturday nights at home. I do go out (rarely) but whenever I try to put myself out there to socialize I get cold feet. What should I do? Mr.Am-I-To-Be-ForeverAlone

Yes, finding true friends is hard but they are out there. They’re not extinct. You just have to look into the right nooks and crannies. Joining sports or activity clubs and getting surrounded by people that enjoy the same thing as you do would be a great start! I understand you get cold feet when you put yourself on the spot, but feeling that way is totally natural so, don’t feel bad. Be confident! People like confidence (not cockiness). Get a haircut, floss your teeth, put on something nice, be brave and invite someone over for dinner! Remember that sometimes, everyone needs a little push from the comfort zone. I’m not saying this is an ‘overnight’ thing, but it will take time depending on you. The key is motivation and determination. I have faith in you, Mr-Am-I-To-Be-ForeverAlone! Sincerely, Dr. Who-Knows-Everything

PHOTO CALVIN CHUA

a guide to living alone

The first week in my new place, I had opened a new Word document and slowly wrote tips for myself to cope with living alone. v Have Facebook on all the time; it’ll delude you into thinking there’s always company. The only drawback is that you’ll be having a lot of meaningless, time-wasting conversations with folks who are as boring as you as they too are alone at home on a Friday night.

WRITES AL ZAQUAN / KUALA LUMPUR

Al is trying to read and write more in his lone apartment, where he tries to avoid sharp objects and tip-toes around everything. He goes on Skype to talk with his cats, who sometimes seem to be the only ones on the outside world who miss him.

v Buy food as if you’re packing for a war storage cabinet, meaning only stuff that will expire in 2090. Unless you’re an overeater, even a can of baked beans will likely take you a few days to finish. Fresh vegetables, fruits and unfinished takeout sound like the kind of food a healthy person who has got his life together would eat, but more often most of this food will rot and stink up your pristine little fridge.

v Pick up a hobby and once in a while take it outside. It’s good that you love to read, write poetry or knit – people underestimate the survival skills of introverts, we’d be able to survive a deserted island without I’ve recently moved out of my home and into an apartment, where I befriending a volleyball – but your solitude will find ways to make reside alone. It was something I had contemplated for a long time, and itself aware once in a while, so take the book out to a crowded café decided on somewhat impulsively. One Monday I told myself that I’d where the noise and fullness is likely to annoy and distract you from be living at my own place by a certain deadline, and until that point I having an emotional breakdown, which in the first few weeks, is going had coaxed my mind into minimizing the issue. I convinced myself that to be a common occurrence and is something you’re just going to it was not a life-changing decision; the new place was only 10 minutes have to endure. away from home and I’d take it as a transition.

something to say

v Decorate with functionality in mind. Try to limit the “negative space”; v Pick up a sport. It doesn’t matter if you’re not athletic, if you’re completely hopeless and too lazy to take your own fitness seriously; don’t allow too much of your own apartment to wander off into a even walking will do. Even the most moderate form of exercise will useless, rather empty territory as this will likely gather dust, moss, have a visible effect on your mental health — it has something to do rubbish, and a room or corner hardly visited is likely going to be with endorphins or hormones and I’m guessing your body is also inhabited by ghosts. tricked into eating and living better since you’re already out there being a proper athlete and stuff. This will prevent you from spiraling Those are some things you can do to cope the first few weeks or into a black hole of chips, junk food, Tumblr (which is infinite and months of living alone, but do realize that it’s natural to feel a bit endless), wallowing and sleeping way too much, which are some of scared and want to resort to such bizarre and unconventional methods the many and somewhat self-destructive habits you can develop while that work only to conceal something fundamental you’re not willing living alone because no one would be there to tell you off. to face (yet). v Take things slow, extend everything. If you’re a coffee drinker, use a French press. Take a bath instead of a shower. Wear shoes with laces and button-up jeans. Shave your whole body every single day. This will ensure you’re occupied with even the most menial things, leaving fewer minutes at the end of the day for your mind to go to dark places. This will also mean you’ll be less likely to multi-task, which everyone knows is the number one cause of death among people living alone. v Keep everyone in your building a stranger. This will give you hope that they turn out to be interesting people, observe their odd habits and chart their routines – there is something intriguing about certain people you don’t fully know, like that man who takes showers at 3AM or the neighbor who you only hear but never see or that lady who just waddles for three hours in the pool every evening – the truths behind these quirky habits are often tedious and disappointing. v Get hooked onto shows that sort of never end. If you’re like me and you don’t spend too much time watching television (shows downloaded onto my Mac don’t count), then you’ll need to buy the DVD Boxset of an old series like Buffy or Law & Order or CSI, something easy-to-follow and brainless, or better yet a show still onair like Neighbours (?) so the same hour of every day is guaranteed to be filled with nonsense like this. Also, “housemate” sitcoms like Friends or New Girl are likely to remind you how amazing it is that you are living alone. Whether you like it or not, TV is going to be an important part of your life now — it can either work for or against you.

something to say

However, after a while it’s going to get very tiring and you’ll only have your own silence to deal with and this is OK. Do give yourself time to lie down on a couch and stare at the ceiling for a few hours – this is the beauty of living alone, this is real life – lie and settle down and allow your thoughts to wander. Are you happy? You can think about this every day, some days your mind will answer “yes” and some days “no”. Nonetheless, this is going to be the question you’ll have the opportunity to confront every day – figure out where you want to go, the kind of things you enjoy and the kind of life you envision having. Daydream but don’t be entirely passive about it – living alone means you’ll have a lot of spare time to allocate – if you’ve thought about starting something, be it a small online business, or join a furnituremaking workshop or sewing some shirts for yourself – the space and time you have is a luxury so use it productively. This is the best time to shape who you are, to explore and allow yourself to be carried away with the possibilities. There will come a time after a few weeks of living alone when you realize this, but let your feelings take their natural course.

This article is republished from ISSUE Magazine

suggested magazine names

We ran a contest on facebook in July to find out how creative Malaysians are in naming our magazine. These are what we compiled from the entries: Le-Pak Magazine MiM (Malaysian in Melbourne)/ M@M MagazineFootprint MASA - Malaysian Australian Secret Association MARI - Malaysian Australian Remarkable Inspirations MARI - Malaysian Australians Really Intelligent.... lol!! MAKAN - Malaysian Australian Knowledge & Adventure Network The Malaysian Overseas Brotherhood - The MOB!! MFiA - Malaysian Footprint in Australia MATE - Malaysian Australian Tribal Essentials Eat, Pray, Lepak! Let’s Talk Malaysians JOM - Joys Of Malaysians Picked! Kampung Down Under From the Kampung The Malaysian Oversea Journal The Majalah MATE - Malaysian Australian Tribal Essentials TDB - Turun Di Bawah MAY = month in a year that represents 乡愁 Gemilang The Pulse of Malaysians MIA - Malaysian In Melbourne Melaysian Our Voices The Malaysian Jom Minum Malaysians Abroad The Malaysian Link The Malaysian Times Boo Boo Cha Cha Durians United Durian

not funny

Durians Abroad? Malaysian Living / MY Living Majalah Melbourne Makan Malaysia and I On the Dot! Bunga Raya Down Under The Majalah Exchange Sang Kancil Times Rasa Sayang Chronicles MAY: MA= Malaysian in Austaralia Y= symbol for asking question Stripes of Glory (a.k.a Jalur Gemilang) The Boleh-land SYOK! Sambal Down Under Rojak Connection Twin Tower Times Citarasa Majalah 1Malaysia Tanah Chilli Padi The Malaysians of Melbourne Negara-ku The Malaysian Connection Sambal Down Under The United Colours of Malaysians The MATA - The Malaysian Australian Talent Alliance MATA - Malaysian Australian Trends & Adventures The Malaysians of Australia The Malaysian Australians Malaysian Australian Today

for the love of durian

concept Dwayne Ong illustration Vanessa Law

why Malaysian support LCW a collection of responses on facebook

i want JAM!

concept Lianne Letitia Zilm & Joyce Ng illustration Vanessa Law

illustration Tan Yik Hua

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think our comic or jokes are funny enough? Share your ideas, jokes or comic with us via editor@jommagazine.com.au

not funny

migration and identities Musing from the first ASEAN-Australia Youth Summit

WORDS LOKE KOK FAI & TRINITY CHUA

“I think it is fantastic as a multicultural society where 25 per cent of Australians are born overseas. I think it benefits both countries - these people to people links.” Melbourne City Councillor Mr. Ken Ong agrees, and panned the idea that the rapid and increasing movement of migration away from ASEAN to Australia formed a worrying brain drain as claimed by many governments in the ASEAN region. “For a government to say it is a brain drain... then I would say think of the ideas or new incentives that [make] people want to stay with you. That is the reality of today. This is an issue that can be fixed with the right policies and incentives.”

China, India, Japan and Korea - the regional Asian superpowers emblematic of the Asian century. Yet with its growing economic strength, ASEAN’s importance continues to be acknowledged by Australia through a host of exchanges and free trade agreements. Addressing the crowd of youth delegates at the first ASEAN-Australia Youth Summit held in Melbourne on 28 July this year, Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird espoused her people’s close ties with their regional partners. “People to people links, especially education ties, are important in developing and strengthening relations between Australia and South East Asia (SEA) countries,” she said, encouraging Australian youth to further participate in exchanges in the region through key governmental programs. Despite the strong encouragement of greater mutual exchange between Australia and ASEAN, much of the current immigratory exchange leans heavily towards a one-way movement heading Down Under. However, Ambassador Bird sees this as something to be celebrated. With her own sister-in-law hailing from Malaysia, she sees this net migration into the country as a wonderful addition to the Australian family.

student life

Ong stressed that people move from one part of the world to another because there are opportunities that exist in different parts of the world in different times. For some youth like Vietnamese student delegate Simon Tran, the time in Australia is a stepping stone for him to expand his horizons, garnering opportunities and career pathways to other parts of the world. “Money comes first. If we compare the wages [in Australia] to most of the ASEAN countries for fresh graduates, it is much higher here. I would like to work and stay in Australia for the five to ten years just to get a payback to the educational funds I have spent. And after that I can go anywhere in the world with the experiences I have gained in here.” Others including Singaporean Lee Si Hui feel their experiences and skills acquired in Australia can become useful tools to improve the state and standing of their own homelands. “It is not so much about bringing what I have experienced here, but taking what I have experienced here plus what I feel is suitable for my country back to my country,” says Lee, while emphasising that this should not be seen as ‘Westernising’ her country.

The ASEAN Summit aims to cultivate young leaders of tomorrow.

Educational Links With many of the over one hundred youth delegates being students themselves, much discussion in the Summit focused on problems with education in their respective countries. Complaints flowed about the use of top-down approaches to the system, lack of emphasis on the arts, the inflexibility of switching majors, heavy reliance on examination performance, the disparity between public and private education quality and high student to teacher ratios. One Malaysian student delegate shared how the constantly changing language of instruction seriously impaired students from his homeland, and strongly argued against the final decision to use national languages in the instruction of mathematics and science instead of English. He argued that this would prevent foreign educated teachers from returning to teach as it would be more difficult in the local language. He emphasised how most academic journals are published in English rather than Bahasa Malaysia. “Basically it becomes an educational cycle where people [who] have no access to good English education cannot get access to good education [systems] elsewhere.” Lee agrees, while refuting the idea that this heralded a Westernising of ASEAN education systems. “People now are different from the past and education should move on to suit how we perform and how we behave in the present. From what I can see in most ASEAN countries, they haven’t [upgraded] their education system.” Yet the Manager of Melbourne University’s Asialink Research Group Dr. Sally Percival Wood says there remains a faint hint of romanticising the prestige of Western education by the region’s leaders and society.

“I think there’s something about a lack of a sense of identity in SEA countries in terms of education. If we could look towards each other a little bit more and explore the educational experience between Australia and SEA I think we could benefit from that.” Yet while education is one of biggest contributors to the net outflow of migration from the ASEAN region into Australia, many of these international students go on to congregate in groups among themselves, separate from the wider Australian community. Wood finds this unsurprising and says if the situations were reversed, Australians abroad would band together too. She however feels that educational institutions here in Australia have to play a much bigger role in integrating international students. “I guess it is up to organizations to see if they can start breaking down some of those barriers by welcoming students in properly and introducing them to the community.” Yet the delegates themselves prefer to take a more participatory approach in reaching out to their regional peers, bridging national borders to form a regional identity. The new student leader group inaugurated at the event, the ASEAN Student Council of Australia (ASCA), aims to do just that while actively engaging with the Australian community. ASCA’s Malaysian representative Ashely Yee Wen says the body will organise yearly ASEAN-Australian activities with youth from each region. She also promises greater student protection for ASEAN youth in Australia. “United together under ASCA, we have a much stronger voice. We’re trying to bring up a community so that after a year we can go, side by side, to lobby the government for student welfare.” Reflecting on her own experiences, Bruneian delegate Noria Fatriah Mutalif says “We are trying, more often than not, to balance our own values and what we learned from many of the more developed countries, yet not forgetting our own culture and regional identity.” student life

PHOTO MELISSA FOO

2nd “Aspirasi Rakyat Malaysia” Is Malaysia Going Bankrupt: Will Malaysia be the next Greece?

WORDS OOI KEN LIN

This time around, the roundtable discussion organized by Malaysian Aspiration Program (MAP), MASCA’s intellectual arm, gave particular focus to our nation’s economy. The topic of discussion was whether the continual increased in public debt could possibly lead to bankruptcy, with the situation in Greece given as a relative comparison. Opinions were thrown across the floor, with several prominent speakers sharing their views on the issue. Topics explored were economic growth, the strength of the Malaysian currency, the current government’s and opposition’s populist manifestos for the upcoming general election, and the capability of Malaysia to achieve a developed nation status by 2020. As the topic is indeed a technical one, it was not surprising that many questions surfaced during the discussion. “Why can’t Malaysia just print more money to pay off the debt?” This was one of the questions posed by a member of the floor, which was well answered by another. “Because if we do, our money would be worthless then.” Questions like this proved to be substantially beneficial for everyone present, as thoughts were voiced, issues clarified and arguments debated upon. After a short break, the discussion went one step further and the floor analyzed critically the reasons for such a debt. Issues like the government handouts (BR1M) and subsidies came into contention. As more people began voicing their opinions, the floor quickly came to a mutual understanding of the fact that our nation’s economics are very much influenced by political forces, although such a situation is not just confined to our country. The scenarios to reduce government budget deficit were made more difficult as economic policies like cutting subsidies and reducing the civil service turned out to be very sentimental ones.

student life

Zaim, a member of the floor, gave an example of the high public tension over this issue. “Pua (Tony Pua - DAP) said that he would cut down on civil service jobs, and a police report was lodged against him the very next day.” By contemplating factors like this, everyone present was made more aware of the hardships and the strong reliance of the Malaysian lower middle class on subsidies as well as the importance of the civil service. More importantly, there was a subtle realization of the difficulties for the government to reduce the public debt. A member of the floor also pointed out another disturbing truth, that emotional issues like cutting subsidies are often manipulated into a racist one. He bluntly put it that a cut on subsidies or a reduction of civil service jobs would appear to be an economic threat towards the Malays, who currently stand to benefit the most on these two aspects. Wan Hoe, another member from the floor, reinforced the social reality that Malaysians would face when he said that the direct effect of such a perception would be cries on ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and constitutional issues, and stirring up unnecessary public emotions. As a result, the slashing of subsidies and civil service jobs rarely goes beyond the proposal stage as governments fear a social backlash – demonstration, riots, drop in public approval ratings, which ultimately would adversely affect their political position. The heated discussion eventually came to an end as time took its toll. To close the discussion, a last question was posed. “Is there a moral obligation to go back to Malaysia after our studies to contribute to our country?” There was a split opinion on this issue among members of the floor. Zaim contended that we can contribute best by being in our country. He said that we need to know our MPs, and voice out our opinions to them regarding the country’s situation. After all, we are the rakyat. Pravin, another member of the floor, pointed out the fact that although such a move could be ideal, not everyone is well positioned to do it. Particularly referring to all of us here in Melbourne, he pointed out that the need to balance between contributing by being physically present in our country, and addressing our life problems and commitments here in Melbourne. In my opinion, as we are currently students in Melbourne, we have a moral obligation to be more aware of our home country. We need to make an effort to know who our ministers are, what are our current economic policies, and where all the public money being spent. With knowledge on these fundamental issues, only then we can make a more informed decision to contribute towards our beloved home country. In conclusion, ARM II proved to be very informative, and drew a larger crowd as compared to the first ARM. The next ARM roundtable discussion will be held in three weeks, and I would recommend anyone to attend. ARM III will be addressing the issue of national unity and will discuss current Malaysian issues. Hopefully, we will see you there!

Ever wondered what to do in Melbourne apart from studying , working , getting a visa, eating , shopping , clubbing...? Is there anything else? JOM aims to find out and share with you the things you can do to make living in Melbourne more fulfilling.

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