Aug sep 2016 by Plus Magazine

E SU IS ’S EN M Aug–Sep 2016

Everything Old is New Again with Vintage bikes

Abdul Rahman, 20 years of Motorcross Experience

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ONG CHEE MANG GO KART ENTHUSIAST USD $3.99 GBP £3.49 BND $5.00

EDITION

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Getting Yourself in Shape

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Aug–Sep 2016

+Content

RACE TO THE TOP! —

ONG CHEE MANG.

24 +Health 6 Eat the best; leave the rest — The Energy Kitchen 10 Eating Healthy to Keep Fit for Extreme Sports

+Fitness 16 Amazing Health Benefits of Go Kart Racing 18 Getting in Shape for the Motocross Circuit 21 Extreme Sports Fitness Can Help Avoid Injuries

+Life inspired 24 Race to the Top! — Ong Chee Mang. 32 Abdul Rahman — Get Muddy with Dirt Biking

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ZAINIDI:

Content+

45 THE BRUNEIAN FILMMAKER CREATING WAVES IN THE HEART OF PARIS

38 Recycles Motorcycle Co: Bringing Back Vintage Styled Bikes to The Roads of Brunei 45 Zainidi: The Bruneian Filmmaker Creating Waves in The Heart of Paris

Abdul Rahman — Get Muddy with Dirt Biking

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+Publisher Info

Dear readers, W

orld Heart Day and our Plus+ Charity Run is fast approaching so we needless to say, we are extremely excited for this event and the opportunity to collaborate with The Energy Kitchen who will be making heart-healthy food for the event. This month, we garner invaluable information on healthy eating and the type of food you should have, as well as avoid, for a healthy heart. This issue also includes plenty of information on extreme sports with an emphasis on race sports. Read about how to prepare yourself physically as well as mentally for extreme sports and the Motocross circuit, how partaking in extreme sports could possibly prevent injuries in other activities, and also the correct nutrition you should be betting before, during and after training. On a lighter note, you may discover that while Go Karting is a fun hobby, it could prove to have a myriad of benefits as well, as an added bonus! On our cover is 35-year-old Ong Chee Mang, a man with a huge passion for Go Karting and with many accolades under his belt. Read all about his

+Publisher Nexploit Services +Editor-At-Large Plus Team +Talent Editor Elizabeth Sim +Proof Reader Monica Lim +Marketing and Digital Content Nursadiqin Misir +Graphic Designer Anna Thien

impressive accomplishments, struggles, sound advice and his prediction and hopes for the sport in our country. We also speak to Azim Ghani, the founder of Recycles Motorcycle Co., a company that does vintage bike restorations right here in Brunei. Find out how his love of café racers started and discover the events and upcoming projects of this unique entrepreneurship. Last but not least, we chat with Abdul Khabir Zainidi, a quirky and supremely talented filmmaker living in Paris. It’s safe to say that he has done what no other Bruneian filmmaker has done before and we should all be very proud that he is doing his best to promote Brunei in Paris and around the world through his impressive films. Don’t forget you can follow us for the latest updates @PlusBrunei on Facebook and Instagram, where we post behind the scenes pics and sneak peeks of upcoming features. Many thanks and happy reading, The Plus Team

Oleh Melnyk John M. Rey

Ministry of Health (Brunei Darussalam) Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Darussalam) Health Promotion Centre (Brunei Darussalam) Fitness Zone Royal Brunei Airlines Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd

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+Photographer Aron Tan’s Studio +Featuring Ong Chee Mang Abdul Khabir Zainidi Azim Ghani +Contributors Shelley Ann Busque Joana Tan

All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Nexploit Services. Where option is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Plus. All information in Plus is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

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+Supported by:

Plus Brunei

+Health

EAT THE BEST;

LEAVE THE REST — THE ENERGY KITCHEN The Energy Kitchen (TEK) provides cuisine especially for cardiac patients. Can you tell us about the concept of the food? The concept of TEK revolves around Real Food. Real Food means food that is minimally processed, using the freshest ingredients available (local where possible!) and lighter cooking methods. We never, ever deep-fry! In conjunction with the upcoming Plus+ Magazine Run, we have created a number of heart-healthy dishes that specifically cater for the dietary requirements of Cardiovascular Patients. Whether they have just come out of surgery or have started to adjust their lifestyle, we want them to still be able to enjoy delicious and exciting meals. There seems to be so much more awareness regarding eating clean for better health and wellness. What do you think is driving the trend and how can we prolong it? With the recent publications in the newspapers highlighting His

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Health+ Herb & spiced grilled chicken breast, fresh salad with purple cabbage, seeds, corn & a balsamic reduction

Majesty’s vision 2035 of working towards a healthier nation coupled with Brunei’s ranking as having the highest percentage of obesity within the ASEAN countries, there is an increasing awareness of the importance of living a healthier lifestyle. As the saying goes, you are what you eat and I believe that everyone is responsible for their own health. At TEK, we strive to provide healthy, well-balanced meals whether you want to dine in at our restaurant in Kiulap or at the convenience of your office or home via our deliveries or meal plans. A lot of people perceive healthy food as being boring and bland but if you have an open mind, you would be pleasantly surprised by the type of dishes that come out of our kitchen! It also helps that there is an increasing amount of startups of gyms, boot camps, spinning studios open to the public as well as an increasing amount of national runs like the Plus + Magazine Run this September. This definitely encourages people to be more active and by exercising in groups it pushes you to work harder and motivates you further than if you were to start off solo. What is the most effective way, in terms of food, to avoid cardiac problems?

Wrapped salmon fillet, baked alongside cauliflower florets, sweet potatoes, whole asparagus & fresh dill

According to JPMC specialists, meals have to be prepared with minimal amounts of salt and oil, have a variety of vegetables as each one has their own benefit (the more colourful the better), and have choices of meat that are lean. Cardiac issues usually go hand in hand with obesity and a lot of people are unaware of the levels of sugar, sodium and other unnecessary ingredients that are found in processed food. Knowing and understanding the ingredients that goes into your food plays a very big factor, not just to avoid cardiovascular problems but improving your overall health and lifestyle. There is no supernatural food to diminish the risk of cardiac problems. However, you can definitely reduce them. What can you advise on home cooking and lifestyle eating? Healthy eating is definitely a lifestyle change and not a fad diet, and

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+Health

that’s what we try to promote at TEK. In Brunei, it can be a challenge to find places that guarantee the use of fresh and minimally processed ingredients, but we do see healthier options popping up out there which is great. It’s good to train yourself to spot the least unhealthy options on a menu, and also, many restaurants are willing to swap out things like fries for salad or steamed vegetables.

Veggies are an important aspect of healthy eating; trying to cultivate that regularly into your diet will be tough at first but once you get past that hurdle you will learn how good vegetables taste and discover all the different varieties and its many benefits.! What types of food are the best for one’s heart and what food should one avoid (if possible)? Food containing low or no saturated fat, lean meats, and have low levels of salt are foods that are good for the heart as well as whole grains, fruit and vegetables and lean meat. I would recommend staying away from fatty deep fried food, sweets & sugars — basically food that you yourself have no idea what

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has gone inside the mix. I cannot stress how important it is to know what goes into your food! Our Heart Healthy meals which we are launching with the Plus Run are designated to increase your uptake of vegetables, use lean meats whilst limiting high-fat and high-sodium foods. Can you explain the dishes you will be serving during the upcoming World Heart Day. There will be 3 dishes available in conjunction with the Plus+ Run & World Heart Day. Firstly, zucchini, carrot & meatballs to replace the normal spaghetti & meatballs, sauce and cheese included! Next, a herb & spiced grilled chicken breast, fresh salad with purple cabbage, seeds, corn & a balsamic reduction. And lastly, a parchment wrapped salmon fillet, baked alongside cauliflower florets, sweet potatoes, whole asparagus & fresh dill. All low cal, low salt & all good for the heart.

Zucchini, carrot & meatballs

FEATURING: The Energy Kitchen ARTICLE BY: Swee Ann PHOTOGRAPHER: Aron Tan’s Studio

29 September 2016

power your life

Your heart powers your whole body. It lets you love, laugh and live your life to the full. A few simple daily changes is all it takes to keep it charged and make a lasting difference to your heart health. So fuel your heart. And power your life. www.worldheartday.org worldheartday @worldheartfed

in partnership with

+Health

EATING HEALTHY TO KEEP FIT FOR EXTREME SPORTS W

hen it comes to eating right for those that are involved in extreme sports, there are three areas that have to be considered; the before, during, and after as this relates to building one’s self up to the level of fitness that is required for this level of sports activity. Before any extreme sports enthusiast can even think about going into competition, there is a long road ahead of them for getting themselves fit enough to compete.

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BUILDING YOUR BODY FOR EXTREME SPORTS COMPETITIONS Building the body for this type of sport is all going to revolve around a very rigid exercise regime specific to extreme sports. Nutrition is going to play a very important part and as mentioned before, the three main areas of focus are before the workout, during the workout, and the post-workout.

Health+ NUTRITION BEFORE THE EXTREME SPORT WORKOUTS Prior to the workout, it is important that the body is fuelled so that it will be able to endure what it is about to be put through. This means that the focus has to be on a balanced, high protein diet that is also carbohydrate-rich. Anyone that enters into extreme sports knows the importance of carbs in their diet. Oftentimes,the workouts are short durations of gruelling exercise that may include running or jumping. During this time, the body has a need for the extra glucose that is being stored in the body. It is important that the diet that is being consumed stabilizes the blood sugars so that the energy levels can be maintained. In order to do this, the type of carbs that can be counted on are those found in fruit and vegetables, as well as wholegrain items such as breads, cereals and potatoes. For longer segments of exercise and endurance, the body will rely on stored fat. This means that part of the diet must also include the right fats. These are the fats that can be

found in salmon as well as olive oil, nuts and nut butters.

DURING THE WORKOUTS During the workouts, short breaks are often taken between long workout schedules. Many times the different exercises are done in repetition or in sets and in between these, the extreme sport trainee can take in a quick fix of items like fresh or dried fruits and nuts.

EXTREME SPORTS AFTER WORKOUT NUTRITION After a workout is the time that the body is going to be going through its repair phase and the type of foods that are needed for this have to be consumed as they are critically important. The athlete must be able to refuel their body to replenish what has been utilized and consume the proper amount of food to allow the body to heal itself. Included in the diet should be foods that are rich in minerals to help replenish and hydrate the body.

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+Health

DURING THE COMPETITIONS Just as the body has to be replenished during its workout and in between sets and repetitions, it is important that the body be maintained with the proper nutrition during the competition season. Most often, during this time, the exercise regime is still kept on par and the body is being put through extra work with keeping up with the exercise as well as competing with the circuit. It is suggested that on an average, an individual cannot burn any more than 300 calories of what has been digested in an hour. It is also said that protein should be consumed if the extreme sport is going to be longer than two or three hours in duration. Some suggest that soy protein should be added to the diet at this time.

AFTER THE COMPETITIONS AND EXERCISE REGIME This is when the body is going to go through the process of recovery. During this time it requires the need to be rehydrated, re-fuelled, and rested. Consuming a meal that has a 3 to 1 ratio of carbs to protein either after a workout or a competition will do well in helping the body to recover. Every competitor in extreme sports is different and will have their own specific requirements. Having a rule of thumb or a general idea to follow when it comes to the needed nutrition helps to get one started on the right regime that can be altered and adjusted as needed for the individual.

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+Fitness

AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF GO KART RACING

f you have never had the opportunity to try Go Kart Racing, believe it or not, you may have been missing out; not only on a ton a fun, but you have been missing out on all the amazing health benefits that it can actually provide. Go Kart Racing has been around for years in the UK and all over the world, and this great sport is more popular than ever. There are many different types of sports out there that also provide a bunch of various health benefits, but depending on the sport you choose, some can turn out to be quite expensive. On the other hand, Go Kart racing is actually very affordable, as in most cases you don’t even have to own your Go Kart; you can usually rent one for a great rate, and often, especially in you live in the UK, you will be able to find a Go Kart raceway somewhere relatively close to you. It is never too late to start enjoying the benefits of this great sport, and if you have kids, it is great to get them started at an early age, so they can have some great fun, while getting healthier at the same time. First and foremost, this sport is extremely enjoyable and you do not need any experience to get started. Go Karting is a very challenging sport and if you have made the decision to get your kids and yourself involved, they will have the chance to learn quite a few things that will benefit them for years to come. For example, there are a bunch of safety rules that people have to adhere to when they are racing, and the experience they gain while they on the track as well as many of the rules they learn, will help them big time when they are ready to start driving a real car down the road. Your kids will learn that if they follow all the rules that are applicable on the track that this sport can be really enjoyable and safe at the same time and the same can be said when they finally get their license and start

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driving the bigger and faster vehicles. The added bonus is the potential health benefits it can offer.

IMPROVES AGILITY Just like real driving, having good reflexes is essential when you are behind the wheel. Most Go Kart courses and especially those in the UK generally have a large variety of twists and turns in addition to straight aways and you have to be ready to slow down when necessary in order to make these turns successfully. If you don’t slow down in time, most often this can lead to you crashing into the sidelines. After a few times you will find your reflexes will start to improve and before long, you will know how to handle a Go Kart no matter what course you race on. This helps to build your agility, which is healthier for your body in its reflex capabilities.

INCREASES ADRENALIN If you have ever competed, you know there is a big adrenaline rush, especially when the event is about to start. Whether it is a game of sport, such as the start of a hockey or football game or whether it is when you are waiting for the green light for some type of race, such as Go Karting for

example. This rush is not only highly enjoyable, it is extremely healthy as well. Your heart rate increases, which serves to dilate blood vessels as well open air passages, providing you with more oxygen, your senses are heightened and not only do you feel energized but it has been proven that this experience can actually improve your memory and overall well-being.

BUILDS SELF CONFIDENCE Looking good and feeling good makes for a much healthier human being. This type of sport is not only fun but it can build an individual’s confidence level, which again has been proven to affect one’s health. Having fun is always healthy and if you are able to enjoy Go Karting with your whole family, it can bring you all closer and make a big difference in how everyone gets along. A happy family life is very conducive to feeling better and the fun you have will be immeasurable in many ways for years to come.

HEALTHIER LIFE STYLE Those who enter into the competitive Go Kart scene have to focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle like any sports athlete does and this enhances overall health.

+Fitness

GETTING IN SHAPE

FOR THE MOTOCROSS CIRCUIT M

ost people who do not ride Motocross will never full appreciate the physical nature of the sport. They believe that the ability to ride is the most important factor for being a successful Motocross rider. While this is true overall; you do have to be a very good rider with the unique ability to handle your machine, the physical nature of the sport also means that those who are in the best physical shape are usually the most successful long-term. Yes, you can post wins even without being in shape but in the long run you will never be able to compete as long and as hard as those who train for their sport as other athletes do. Getting in shape for Motocross is not done in the same way as say, getting in shape for a weightlifting competition. You do need to build muscle but you never want to be the huge muscle-bound guy that weightlifters become. You want to create a plan that makes you stronger but with more lean muscle and with endurance as the primary objective. By building stronger muscle groups you will be able to tackle the toughest tracks with the endurance required to succeed and you will also be able to avoid more injuries by being in the best shape possible. When working out for Motocross, really think about the muscle groups you are working. Your core strength is going to be very important so targeting the abdominal and back muscles will enable you to create the strength

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needed to avoid shifting the burden to your arms and legs when you get fatigued on the track. Concentrating on the back will also aid in avoiding the same problem. When doing weight training, be sure to be lifting the proper way to ensure that you are gaining strength in the right areas. You should really try to incorporate exercises that target total body movements rather than isolating certain muscle groups extensively to avoid getting the bulk that you do not want for Motocross. This means concentrating on exercise like the step-up press and the dead lift, which work a wide variety of muscle groups at the exact same time. By doing exercises that are specific to the muscles used in Motocross, you will maximize the gains that you make and avoid the targeting of single muscles like bicep curls or bench presses will do. By combining a good strength training program with your conditioning workouts designed to improve your cardio capabilities, you will achieve a more total body workout, and that is what is required for the gruelling test on the body that Motocross can be. Some Motocross riders avoid lifting weights as they are afraid of bulking up but this is a myth, pure and simple. You really need to want to bulk up to do so. You would need to greatly increase the calories that you consume and then specifically target certain muscle groups with

repetitive heavy lifting to really have to worry about bulking up too much for Motocross. Keep in mind that bodybuilders have to put in a whole lot of effort to get the bulk they desire so don’t sweat about the risk of bulking up by incorporating some strength training into your Motocross workouts. There are an incredible amount of excellent workout regimens available on the internet, that if followed will bring about the results that a Motocross rider needs to perform at the highest possible levels. By fully understanding exactly what you hope to accomplish and doing those exercises designed to bring those goals to fruition, you will be ahead of the competition from the very beginning, long before you ever get to the starting grid. Always remember that your physical strength is equally important as your ability to have the stamina required to run a long and hard race. By concentrating your efforts on maximizing your conditioning by doing heavy cardio work in conjunction with the right types of full body training that targets the core muscles as well the arms and legs, you will end up being in the best shape that can be and the effort will allow you to compete at the top levels for many years to come as well as help you to avoid injury and heal faster when you do suffer an injury. Keep working hard and the success will follow you in the long run. Always remember that you can’t win a race in the first lap but you can certainly lose one.

Fitness+

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Fitness+

EXTREME SPORTS FITNESS CAN HELP AVOID

INJURIES PLUS 21

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+Fitness

o matter what sport you play, unless it is on a TV and you are playing a videogame where there is no risk of getting some type of wrist ailment or carpal tunnel syndrome, there can always be some risk of injury. Most people that play sports, whether it is through school or even later on down the road, have to do some type of training to improve their skills. This is true for any type of sport, however some demand more training than others. It is training that makes an individual even better, no matter what game they play, but the tougher the game, the more training you need just to prevent you from getting injured. For example, a person that plays tennis would definitely have a different type of training regime than an individual that plays football for a living. A football player has to be bigger than many other people in other sports because of how much more physical that game is compared to others.

help to prepare the body for anything strenuous, and anyone that has trained hard and performs well in their chosen sport will also have an increased level of confidence that can go a long way in many things they encounter during their life. In addition to warming up, it is important that you take the proper time to cool down by doing gentle aerobics, walking, or slow jogging for example, making sure that you stretch the body out all over again. This will help to ensure that you will not get any type of muscles seizing up and that you have had enough time where your body has cooled down properly and you can relax comfortably.

Extreme sports have become far more popular nowadays and the level of competition has skyrocketed to a point that you have to be in a high degree of conditioning if you want to be successful. With that being said, more and more people are utilizing this form of extreme training so they are better equipped to perform better in their chosen sport, and by being in this type of shape they are much better able to avoid any injury that might keep them out of the game, race or any other competitive position. In most regular style sports, once you have learned the basics, it is much easier to avoid some type of serious injury. Whereas with extreme sports, even if you are highly trained, extremely fit, and have been playing the game for some time, there is always the chance that you could sustain some type of serious injury that can not only be an inconvenience, but could possibly change your life. A good example is that in soccer, even a skilled player might get a sprained ankle or bruised up here and there, compared to an extreme snowboarder, skateboarder, speed ice climber or the many other extreme sports, who risk death with some of the stunts they perform. If you have trained to avoid injury in many of the extreme style sports, then you have a much better chance of staying healthy in a sport that is less dangerous and less taxing on the body. You will learn during this type of training that it is imperative you take the proper time to make sure all of your body muscles have been properly stretched before any type of physical exertion, or you increase the risks of strains, sprains or even more serious injuries that can sideline you for a long period of time, or in some cases forever, depending on the sport you play. You should warm up for a period of at least 20 minutes or more, depending on how physical the sport is. Strength drills and cardiovascular exercises

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Another great skill that extreme sports fitness can help with is the ability to fall without sustaining any serious injury. You might think that is strange training, but if you think about how many players, in so many different games that are not extreme sports, are actually hurt from falling, then this training might seem a lot more essential to one’s best health. By building certain muscles, you can save yourself from many serious injuries and if you ask any extreme skateboarder, for example that fly to unbelievable heights, and then flips and twists and lands on their board how many times it took them to get that trick right, it would make you wonder how they are still walking. This is only because of the extreme training they do. The bottom line is the harder you train, the better shape you will be in, and if you train to handle extreme sports, then the regular games you partake in will seem like child’s play and you will feel much better at the end of the day, not to mention much healthier than somebody who did not invest the proper time into training.

+Life inspired

RACE TO THE TOP! — ONG CHEE MANG.

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Life inspired+

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+Life inspired

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Life inspired+

s a young boy, Ong Chee Mang, better known as Ming Ong, was a big Motorsport fan. Now at 35, his passion has followed him into adulthood. Although Formula 1 has always been the Motorsport that he prefers, he sees that Go Karting, being the more affordable option, is the closest he can get to Formula 1 racing. The interest started to build when some of his friends developed the same interest in Go Karting. As time went on, his passion continued to grow and he started Go Karting internationally about two years ago. Apart from the enthusiasm for Go Karting, he loves the adrenaline rush that comes with it. The focus to win was what drove him to go deeper into the sport. Since 2015, he has won more than 10 competitions internationally. Last year, The Media Corp Rotax Max Challenge Rotax Max Master DD2 race was his first win. This was followed by 1st place in Rotax Asia Max Challenge invitational Race in Sepang International Kart Circuit earlier this year.

He also bagged the 2nd place on Rotax Asia Max Challenge Round 1, also in Sepang International Kart Circuit. These races make up his fondest memories so far, said the 35-year-old. Apart from that, he also won numerous races in the Rotax Asia Max Challenge in Elite Speedway Plus Karting Circuit. He won 1st place in the DD2 Master category and third in DD2 category recently in the Rotax Max Challenge at the Elite Speedway Plus Karting Circuit in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, held recently. He is currently on his fifth round and there will be one more round to go in September before the grand final. Rotax Max Challenge is the biggest Go Kart competition in the region and it is Ong’s dream to race in the Grand Final. The race, which is held annually towards the end of the year, will be held in the Napoli International Circuit in Sarno, Italy in October. The Rotax Max Challenge Asia/ Malaysia has six seasons per year and for every category, one top racer will be racing for the finals.

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+Life inspired

For this year’s final, there will be 288 drivers from all over the world taking part in the 4 categories- Junior, Micro Max, Senior and DD2 Master. When asked what the hardest thing about Go Karting is, he said “keeping my weight below the minimum allowance!” “I am a very active person and I am huge in size,” he said; noting that his total weight is 183kg when added to his kart. In Go Karting, there is a maximum and minimum weight to be maintained. This is to balance out the weight of both the racer and body of the car. The maximum weight in the DD2 Master category in which Ong races, is 175kg. Despite being overweight, his biggest strength is being able to control his Go Kart at very tight turns without any accidents whilst still being able to stay focused on the race. When asked about his training, he said that he has a coach from Japan to push him towards victory. “Riki Tanioka has been my coach and teammate since January this year. My target is to beat his time in the track!” he said.

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He also said that the future of Go Kart in the sultanate is good, however, it would be better to have proper Go Karting tracks as well as international races to be held in the country. “Of course, the track has to have safety precautions in place. Once everything is sufficiently up to standards, we can then also invite people from overseas and this will bring in tourists and other racers to our country,” said Ong. The cost of owning a Go Kart depends on the model preferred. A brand new chassis including the engine would cost about $13,000 and a used one would probably cost about $8,000-$9,000, he said. He also said that getting into Go Karting doesn’t stop after owning a kart. One must also need mechanics to maintain and service them. “During the weekends, we usually go over the border to undergo training on how to be our own mechanic. But during races, we need our own mechanic as the timings need to be quite efficient and we can’t really do it ourselves,” said Ong, who is also a member of Stratos Motorsports. Stratos Motorsports began operations in 2010 and has a workshop

based in Selangor, Malaysia as well as a paddock at the KF1 Circuit in Singapore. Though focusing on Karting, the team is involved in other types of motorsports including rallying and circuit racing. “The main goal of the Stratos team is to win as many races as they can, and to always provide the best service to its drivers. The company also operates Stratos Racing School. The school’s aim is to provide quality and efficient coaching to further enhance driving skills and to bring the driver closer to his or her motorsports dream. The training can be done at any of the three homologated kart tracks in the Kuala Lumpur area- Sepang International Kart Circuit, Speedway Plus Circuit and the Shah Alam Circuit. A professionally prepared kart as well as other equipment such as helmets, suits, gloves and shoes is provided for training. Different training packages are available with prices starting from RM1700 for a one day course,” he said. Words of encouragement to the younger generation who may have an interest in Go Karting in the future — “Be patient and don’t be shy to ask. Keep driving and you will eventually get there!”

+Life inspired

CEO of Praga

Stratos Team

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Life inspired+

Reviewing Performance

With Stratos Motorsport Manager

FEATURING: Ong Chee Mang ARTICLE BY: Swee Ann PHOTOGRAPHER: Ben Leong

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+Life inspired

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Life inspired+

Abdul Rahman — Get Muddy with Dirt Biking His love for the extreme sport started at a very young age. Twenty years on, the love still holds strong! Read on as Abdul Rahman talks about his passion for riding dirt bikes. PLUS 33

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+Life inspired offer a challenge and a new life experience. Describe how and when motocross caught your interest. How did you get into riding dirt bikes? My dad and my uncle both raced motocross since I was a little kid. Back then, my dad would watch videos of pro motocross races and I would watch them with him. I remember going to the track to watch them ride but I never stayed for too long because I would always get myself dirty at the end of the day. Anyway, his and my uncle’s motocross bike were stored at my grandparents house back then, so whenever I went to visit my grandparents, my uncle would be busy tuning the bikes and I would hear the loud noise of bikes being revved.

Introduce yourself. My name is Abdul Rahman Haji Harith. I am 25 years old and I work as an IT Support Engineer. I’m alsoa guy who has been riding dirt bikes for 20 years now! Tell us more about riding dirt bikes. When I was younger, I did not like any school sports at all and rarely participated in them because they were not exciting enough for me. I rarely participated in any competitions at school but I always participated in national or regional motocross races on the weekends, which provided more exposure and recognition. Other than motocross, my hobbies include running, hiking, swimming, listening to music and playing video games; FIFA, Call of Duty, Assassins Creed, Grand Theft Auto and other action adventure games. I’m interested in travelling to the United States of America to watch American Supercross one day and maybe check out Silicon Valley as well. Other than that, I am always interested in doing something that I never thought I would be able to do; maybe climb a mountain or getting lost somewhere and having to find my way home — something would

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I think for me, growing up in that type of environment made it inevitable that this was going to be a sport that would stick with me for the rest of my life. I did not start riding dirt bikes until the age of 5 and it was when my family stayed in Melbourne (where motocross is popular) for one year in ‘96. My dad picked me up from school one day and told me that he had bought me a dirt bike. At first I did not believe him, but once we got home there it was sitting in the garage. Immediately and with his guidance, I mastered how to ride it. I rode it in the backyard of our house and along the streets. A couple of weeks later I joined my first race! What’s the hardest thing about motocross? I think the hardest thing about motocross is how physically and mentally prepared you have to be. It looks really simple from the outside perspective, but the sport actually demands a type of physical and mental training that riders have to go through. When you’re riding, you are bringing about a 100kg bike through bumps, corners and jumps so that’s when the physical preparation comes in. Mentally, it requires quick reflexes to react to these changing conditions not to mention the pressure that you have to withstand when a rider is behind you trying to pass you. What drives you to go on in the sport? Why do you ride?

The sport is different and that is what keeps me going. It’s different in a way that it is something unique and not many people actually do it. I was never good in any school sports and was often teased because of that. Riding and racing motocross really made me believe that I was actually good at something and from then on, I took advantage of it. Another factor is that it is considered an extreme sport in that there’s a risk involved. During my high school days, I would look forward to the weekend so that I could ride motocross. Riding motocross during the weekend acted as a stress releaser for me so every time I would ride, all the stress that I accumulated during the week would be released out on the track so when Monday came along, my mind would be fresh with no worries. Today it still is but I also ride in order tokeep improving myself and help other riders as much as I can. What is your fondest memory so far? Two memories stand out. The first is when I won both categories (125 expert & motocross open) at the 2008 Brunei Motocross Challenge at the age of 17. Looking back, that was a huge accomplishment for me to win at that age and I think that it is going to take a while for a Bruneian at that age or younger to replicate that feat. Oh, I also became $800 richer that day, haha! The second is definitely last year at the 2015 Brunei Motocross Challenge race. My results were 1st in Expert Category and 3rd in Open Category. That race was actually the first motocross race in Brunei that I participated in since that day in 2008 and also my second race back from being overseas for one year. I actually had doubts going into that race and some people were questioning my fitness. In the end, I dominated the expert category and put in a good performance in the open category by challenging the two best riders in Borneo — Ivan Pedro Wuner and Ariandi. Racing against those guys really gave me a lot of confidence in terms of where my level and speed are at and what I needed to improve in order to beat them.

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+Life inspired

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Life inspired+

Where do you see the future of motocross going in Brunei? Is it competitive? Right now, with the people that are involved with the sport, I see that the future of motocross in Brunei to have a lot of really good riders that will have many overseas racing experience. This will help in the long run as they can play a part in helping people that want to get into the sport to get started. It is definitely getting more competitive now than it was ten years ago as there are now more fast guys here and they have the strong determination to improve. At the end of the day, what’s important is to have fun and that’s what motocross is all about. Every weekend I look forward to seeing my friends, as there are always jokes, smiles and laughs at the track during practicing day. What would your dream race be? When I was a teenager, my dream was to one day go to the United States of America and race in the Monster Energy American Supercross Series. I dreamt of riding for a factory team and to race against the best riders in the world at indoor stadiums across North America with the large crowd, loud music

and fireworks that take place in a Supercross. I can still dream about it now, but the reality is that one day, I might go to Anaheim, California and just be a spectator because now I realise that in order to race there I really have to take this sport seriously to be at that professional level of racing. What would you say is your biggest strength and what are you going to focus on improving? My biggest strength is that I never stop trying to improve and learn. I am never satisfied and always try to find new techniques to be better than I was. Last year I trained alone and the problem with doing that is you will never know your limits. This year I am training regularly with my two motocross buddies, Noh and Liyana, because progression is easier when you have people around you with the same attitude and who will push you beyond your limits. So far I am definitely seeing the results from training with them. Who inspires you? Do you have a favorite motocross rider? I guess my favourite motocross rider is the German, Ken Roczen. He has this attitude where he works hard to be the best rider in the

world but also has fun doing it as he is always posting some funny stuff on social media. He keeps everything balanced in working hard and enjoying life, which is important. Other than that he has a great riding style and I try to mimic what he does on the track. Do you have any words of encouragement to the younger generation who may have an interest to ride dirt bikes in the future? To the younger generation, if you are looking for something different and unique, this is the sport for you. Just like other sports there’s always risks involved but the feeling of riding a dirt bike lets you escape from reality and clears your mind. Also, if you do start riding motocross, always make sure to have fun and surround yourself with people who will positively support you when you fall down. Those are the two things that will help you be a better rider. FEATURING: Abdul Rahman Haji Harith ARTICLE BY: Swee Ann PHOTOGRAPHER: Aron Tan’s Studio

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S E L C Y C RE YCLE CEO: G C A T R N I O V K T C O A M INGING B S TO THE E K BR I B I E D E N L U Y R B ST F O S D A O R

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lways dreamed of cruising down the road in style with a vintage-inspired two-wheeler? Well with the help of Azim Ghani, 25, and his company, Recycles Motorcycle Co., that dream could very well turn into a reality! With a passion for motorcycle restoration and café racer designs specifically, the young entrepreneur is dreaming big and determined to bring these 1960s inspired machines to the roads of the Sultanate. Do tell us more about Recycles Motorcycle Co. I have always loved motorcycles and anything on two wheels! Growing up in the kampong and being born in the 90s meant that I had the chance to enjoy life riding my bicycle and playing outdoors a lot! Recycles Motorcycle Co. started back in 2009, at a time when I was working as a flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines. I travelled to many places during my time with the company but it was only after making so many trips back and forth to Australia and the United Kingdom that

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Life inspired+ I found love for café racers. It was the uniqueness of its style and how it is made to look that caught my attention. It was common to see these bikes parked outside hippie cafes, restaurants or just along the streets, especially in Melbourne and in the UK. I came back home one day and did some research on the net on how to build a café racer from an existing bike. I then bought a Yamaha Rx-king model because I knew I could turn it into my very own café racer bike. This was how everything started, Recycles and its café racers, year after year and one bike after another. It grew into a business of motorcycle restoration and design. I would regularly go to government auctions (post office tenders) to find old bikes selling, buy the whole lot, get the bikes restored and running and turn them into one of a kind, vintage looking machines.

What inspired you to start up the business? Have you always been into bike restorations? I didn’t have a proper bike until the age of 15, when my dad got me an electric scooter for my birthday. Yes, it ran on batteries and only went up to about 20km/h; slow, but it was still the closest thing I could get to a real motorcycle at the time. I started my first job working for an IT company at the age of 18 and decided to look for a cheap mode of transportation to get me to work because I couldn’t afford to buy a car as I had only been working for a few months. I then found myself a 50cc scooter that was selling for $500 at the time. It was a pretty beat up Yamaha Jog but I got it restored and running. That inspired me to own one bike after another up to till now. I do what I can at home but I still have to take

the bikes to the workshop to get them running properly at times. It is because of my regular trips to the workshop that taught me a lot about how to fix bikes. Every day is a learning process. What do you think makes the company stand out, and why restoration? It’s what we do that makes us different from the rest. There are not many people I know doing vintage bike restorations here in Brunei. There are a lot that does motorbike restoration but not many that do what we do. We concentrate on making every motorbike project as vintage, classic and unique as we can but still road legal and safe to ride. It is fun to work on different kinds of bikes, you get to work your mind out on a lot of ideas every time. The challenge and struggles while doing so is

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something you don’t get anywhere else but definitely worth the sweat. Were there any struggles you had to overcome with starting the business and maintaining it? Time and money are issues sometimes. Doing all the work requires a lot of time, thinking is an investment… Ideas don’t come cheap and are not always free. Also, because most of the parts are sometimes not available here in Brunei and you have order them online, waiting for all the parts to arrive is always a challenge. There were a few ups and downs for me, doing this line of business but for everything that has happened during my 5 years of maintaining it, be it good or bad, I always take everything positively and believe that every bad or good thing that I go through is just part of the process I need to experience along the way. I never give up and I love to dream big. I have restored and turned more than 15 bikes into café racers over the past 5 years and managed to sell most of them. Are there any notable events that the company has been involved in?

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We gathered more than 60 riders and classic vintage bikes to ride for the first, “Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride” (DGR) for Brunei in 2014. Brunei’s first DGR event was part of the global DGR movement, “an international event for Classics, café racers, bobbers, trackers, customs, modern classics, classic scooters & undefinable 2/3 wheeled machines”. The Ride aimed to raise awareness and money to help find a cure for Prostate Cancer. Last year, we did it again for the second time and managed to get more riders to join and also managed to raise $581. We are also working towards this year’s DGR event.

for my merchandise in Bandung, Indonesia with the help of my friend, Varitamarezky and also in Kuala Lumpur.

Any exciting plans or ongoing projects from Recycles Motorcycle Co. we should look out for?

For more information on Recycles Motorcycle Co. and to keep up to date with their activities and products, do check out their Facebook pages, “Recycles Motorcycle Co” and “Elders Helmet Brunei”. You can also follow them on Instagram at @recyclemc

I recently started the Recycles Motorcycle Co. clothing line and other merchandise such as caps, non-industrial work onesies, and enduro jerseys as well as our own line of helmets designed by Recycles Motorcycle Co. and mass produced in Taiwan. These helmets I am making will be available for purchase in the country by the middle of the year. I am also working on a few international product shoots

Also this year, I managed to become the authorized and official distributor for Elders Helmet in Brunei. These helmets are worn by vintage, modern classic bikes lovers around the world. I am fully concentrating on making this brand grow locally and internationally, just like other brands that have inspired me a lot; Deus Ex Machina, Dexton, Union well, to name a few, and other motorcycle & surplus stores around the globe.

FEATURING: Azim Ghani, Recycles Motorcycle Co ARTICLE BY: Syazwana Souyono PHOTOGRAPHER: Aron Tan’s Studio

29 September 2016

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Life inspired+

ZAINIDI: THE BRUNEIAN FILMMAKER CREATING WAVES IN THE HEART OF PARIS

ost people can only fantasise about living in Paris; sitting in one of the quaint cafés, sipping strong coffee and walking along the streets, trailing the smell of freshly baked bread. Well, Abdul Khabir Zainidi is not only a part of the Parisian pulse, he is in fact one of the notable filmmakers in the region, having screened multiple short films at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival; wowing people with his quirky masterpieces. Better known as Abdul Zainidi, this young man is on a mission to spread the story of Brunei and its people across the globe, but in true Abdul Zainidi

fashion, the stories must be told in a unique way, injected with surrealism and all things whimsical. The up and coming filmmaker has also recently been selected as the very first Bruneian to be a part of the Asian Film Academy 2016, which is an intensive film course under the Busan International Film Festival intended to nurture and further develop the skills of future front runners in the Asian film industry. The programme, which was introduced back in 2005, provides an opportunity for participants to improve their art under the guidance of leading

filmmakers in the business. Abdul Zainidi, the sole Bruneian representative, will embark on the experience in Korea this September alongside 24 other selected individuals from India, Russia and Afghanistan, to name a few. Tell us about your upbringing and the journey leading to your involvement in the film industry. I am a Bruneian born artist/actor/ director and growing up, I was very fortunate to be able to travel and see different sides of the world. Consequently I was able to learn,

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+Life inspired adapt and create a world around myself based on the different cultures I had experienced. I feel that I am a voyager who can bring back a piece of art and the experiences of living abroad. I was lucky to have just wanted to learn French after studying in UK and that led to a life changing injection of the arts or ‘beaux arts’ as they say in France. I decided to pursue acting school in France which was, let’s face it, not the norm; but I suppose that being artistic, I felt like an outsider and I always feel that being an outsider gives one a special perspective; like a storyteller looking over the world, a narrator of life. So I did acting and was fortunate enough to be a diverse actor and won a best actor award, which led me to perform at the Espace Pierre Cardin theatre in the Champs-Elysées district of Paris. I quickly discovered how hard it was to maintain acting in Europe as an Asian actor and so I decided to pursue another avenue, which would highlight myself and pay homage to my Bruneian roots, so I did writing and directing in theatre and then eventually short films.

videos. How do you set yourself apart?

Describe your style and the genres you usually depict in your films and

I was the first Bruneian to represent a film

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I’ve always had a quirky style and an emphasis on the strange. Even when I was an actor, I always knew how to intrigue the audience. My ‘acting in English’ teacher Lesley Chatterley used to say that more often than not, our best asset is usually what is most strange about us; big hands, wonky eyes, strange eyebrows — you shouldn’t see it as a default but as a tool. One can apply this theory to the way we film or direct. My first few short films, “Bread Dream” and “Teluki and Lobak” emphasised the surreal world of Brunei mysticism and the extreme other side of Brunei we don’t often get to see; for instance in my more unknown work “Haram Queen”, which features cross dressers in the Sultanate, and then we jump to Science Fiction in “Flying Udal”, where a boy in Tutong chases after a UFO but with consequences. I’ve always had the intent to show Brunei in a different light and execute it in diverse ways. What are the highlights of your career so far?

to the Cannes short film corner and have been invited to the Tokyo International Film Festival, I have also given a talk about Brunei cinema at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations in Paris. I was selected to show the opening short film at the Alliance Francaise Francophonie week held at Taman Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in March where I filmed Bruneians and asked them what they thought some French words meant, the result was ‘dis-moi dix mots’ (Tell me ten words). My docufiction of 2015 “Vanishing Children”, which told several stories about empty houses and fictional missing people was a unique look on Brunei, so unique that the London Sci-fi Film Festival officially selected it for their short film programme. Since then, I have continued to make more short films, pushing the envelope on what can be shot in Brunei and the themes of death, ghosts and the different side of Brunei life.

Life inspired+ In 2015, I was selected by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to be a candidate for Brunei for the ASEAN-ROK Film Leaders Incubator: FLY programme under Korea, where they trained and tutored us in the business of filmmaking. It was an intense period under the Busan Film commission but it was an unbelievable experience.

asked me, “Aren’t you fed up of going nowhere? It must be frustrating to be stuck, don’t you just want to give up?”. It is often criticism like this that fuels artists to climb higher; a week after she made this comment I was invited to the French ambassador’s residence as a result of my amazing work in the French short film I did for Francophonie week.

This year back in Paris I plan to promote “Vanishing Children” in Cannes again as well as “Flying Udal”, “Bitungkal” which promotes the Tutong district and the artistic short film, “Boy on Fire”, which features the Chinese and Malay side of Brunei. I was fortunate to attend the Brussels Fantastic film festival recently where I spoke about the fantastic films of Brunei and even got to show “Bitungkal” and “Flying Udal” in Paris.

The best way to fight off doubt, critics and those who do not believe in what you do, is to work harder and be more creative. This aunt no longer says anything and I am creating a character in my upcoming movie based on her and the stereotype she represents. This is one of the upsides of being a filmmaker, you can express yourself creatively and I feel that it is therapeutic.

How have the local and international viewers responded to your films and videos so far? Is it a struggle to break into the scene, especially locally, with such tight constraints with religion and culture? Well pursuing this line of ‘work’ is not easy as peers and even family often criticize you. For me, it was a large sting when one of my aunts

I think in Brunei, there is a still a certain intimidation about showing films abroad but I feel that this trend is already changing as there are now many feature films on their way out. I managed to make one but it was a complete flop, but I do at least have a feature film under my belt. I plan to make

one this year based on the mystery elements I love from directors like Miyazaki, Lynch and Hitchcock. I feel that the youth should now concentrate on collaborating more with each other and produce more films or even theatre plays like I did before and continue to do. In Brunei I have already written and directed three plays to date, “Tiny Pock Land”, “Anggur” and “Boor and Langsat”. As for censorship, I feel that I can make films about Brunei

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+Life inspired I plan to shoot “Brunei in Paris: The Movie”, a feature film based on my web series of the same name, paying homage to the French capital and my love of the surreal and artistic. I also plan to make a documentary about Ramadhan in Paris for Radio Television Brunei. The “Brunei in Paris: The Movie” will hopefully exemplify this blend of what I like to do, tell a story without a big budget. I am also working on the sequel to “Vanishing Children” called “Vanishing Children 2”, a somewhat continuation and addition of the missing stories from the first film, which proved to be a hit in the west. In France, I am shooting a couple of science fiction films but my main aim is to promote Brunei in France as well as around the world. Any words of wisdom for those in pursuit of their dreams much like yours? I guess if you have a story to tell, jot it down, don’t let in brew inside you until it disappears, just like my short film “Boy on Fire” — Fire is passion, it has to come out. I always believe you should express yourself and never forget religion and also be true to yourself. Work to earn money but also cultivate your creativity. Never forget that as an artist, life, death and dreams are all in and show them outside, as I have never ever been derogatory in my content. I’ve always wanted to capture Brunei in an intelligent way but paradoxically in a comical way as well, such as in my web series “Brunei in Paris”, but with certain films like “Gagak dan Merak” which features the theme of cross dressing, I just knew I wasn’t going to screen that in Brunei and it was an endeavour to be different. I have always respected the religion and culture of my country and I still do. I make films to promote and bring Brunei out and never to downgrade it. I work a lot with Radio Television Brunei and promote the short films I did about Brunei with them. Any ongoing or future projects we can look forward to? I was involved in the recent Pechakucha volume 7 of Brunei alongside Rozan Yunus at The Energy Kitchen. Although I

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regretted not meeting Wu Chun, I did however get to share my experiences of being a Bruneian filmmaker overseas, talking about my French films such as “Blue Monster” and “My God Fairy Cat”. There are films that I shoot in France and films that I shoot in Brunei, I am a fan of bringing them together to form a hybrid.

one bag, you never know what you will pull out of the bag with your hand. Life is so random and artistic this way, like a magician’s hat. FEATURING: Abdul Khabir Zainidi ARTICLE BY: Syazwana Souyono

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