The Iskandarian September Issue by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

KDN : PP19356/08/2018(034949) | Singapore MICA : MCI (P) 079/12/2019

the

Iskandar Malaysia’s Official Newspaper is an effort by True Soul Media PLT & Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)

ISSUE 97

SEPT 2020

Crucial Data for an Equally Crucial Strategising

Fire and Rescue Department Strengthen its Air Division Page 4

Monthly Drill

Accumulating Wealth Opportunities in the Bubbles

Page 17

with Jarod Chia Lik Ming, Chairman of MyBHA

Page 14

Page 5

Malaysia and Singapore on Board with New Rapid Transit System (RTS) Agreement The Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project is officially resuming

ingapore and Malaysia held a ceremony at the Causeway to mark the official resumption of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project on 30th July 2020. Witnessed by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia, Lee Hsien Loong and Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin bin Haji Mohd Yassin, the symbolic ceremony marked the resumption of the project with Singapore’s

Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung and Malaysia’s Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong. The ceremony was also attended by Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and former Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, Khaw Boon Wan, on the Singapore side; and Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein and Menteri Besar of Johor Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni bin Mohammad, on the Malaysia side. Officials from Singapore and Malaysia remained on their respective sides of the Causeway

All smiles, making historic moment in between Malaysia Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin and Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong at the Causeway bridge

Johor Offers Free Bus Service

s the borders bet ween Singapore and Johor Bahru partially resumed, the Johor Public Transport Corporation (PAJ) has started to provide free bus shuttle service since 20th of August 2020 under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement www.facebook.com/theiskandarian

during the ceremony to maintain their social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Suspended on the 1st April 2019, both sides have discussed and agreed on three key changes. First, the RTS Link will be a standalone Light Rail Transit (LRT) System, instead of leveraging the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system and the capacity remains unchanged at up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. Second, the RTS Link will no longer use the existing TEL Mandai Depot and a new depot will be constructed in Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Third, each Government separately appointed an infrastructure company (InfraCo) to fund, build, own, maintain and renew the civil infrastructure and stations in its territory up to the international boundary. Malaysia has changed its InfraCo from Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to Malaysia Rapid Transit System Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn. Bhd. The Land Transport Authority of Singapore remains as Singapore’s InfraCo. Arising from the suspension of the project and the above

(PCA) schemes. According to State Public Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri, the buses are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore but it is necessary for the buses to make a U-turn at the ICA in Woodlands. Reports shows that as there are no public transport or shuttle buses plying the 1km-long Causeway, those without their own private vehicles has to travel on foot with some seen carrying large pieces of luggage. The PCA allows Singapore and @theISKANDARIAN

Malaysia and Singapore officials led by both Prime Ministers and Transport Ministers Wee Ka Siong and Ong Ye Kung at the Causeway to mark the official resumption of the RTS Link project. Also present was former Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan changes, the targeted passenger service commencement date will be deferred from end 2024 to end 2026. The three key agreements necessary to resume the RTS Link Project have been successfully concluded. An agreement to amend the RTS Link Bilateral Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of Malaysia, a Joint Venture Agreement between Singapore’s SMRT RTS Pte. Ltd., and Malaysia’s Prasarana RTS Operations Sdn. Bhd. to constitute RTS Operations Pte. Ltd.; and a Concession

Malaysia citizens or permanent residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to enter that country for work. Meanwhile, the RGL is for Malaysia and Singapore residents keen to do shorter-term travel of up to 14 days, for essential business and official purposes. In a statement, PAJ said that the free hourly bus services will be available from 7.30am to 6.30pm daily, and commuters are advised to comply with standard operating procedures set by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health when using the services. Since the partial reopening, traffic has

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Agreement for the Government of Malaysia and the Land Transport Authority of Singapore to appoint RTS Operations Pte. Ltd. as the OpCo for the first 30-year concession period. The successful resumption of the RTS Link Project underscores the deep and enduring bilateral relationship between both countries, and the collective desire to strengthen partnership. The completed RTS Link will ease Causeway congestion, improve connectivity, foster people-topeople ties and generate shared economic and social benefits. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

been smooth across both the causeways. - by Priya Manikam TI

Travellers seen with their luggage (Pic credit Exco Solihan Badri) www.theiskandarian.com

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

NEWS

Johor E-Marketplace with E-Commerce Titan Shopee to Assist Over 3,000 Entrepreneurs SEND LETTERs or inquiries to facebook.com/theiskandarian editor@theiskandarian.com www.theiskandarian.com

Our Friends

A microsite in the leading internet shopping website will feature specific products of Johor

he Johor State Government through Kumpulan Permodalan Darul Ta’zim (PDT ), a subsidiary of Perbadanan Usahawan Johor (PUJB) has signed a partnership with one of the leading e-commerce platforms, Shopee, to launch the ‘Johor E-Marketplace’, to help expand marketing and increase sales for entrepreneurs online. This cooperation will provide an opportunity for Johor entrepreneurs to leverage on the new wave of digital economy now that more Malaysian consumers are relying on e-commerce a lot. Johor E-Marketplace will be running from 9th August 2020 to

31st December 2020 and a special microsite will feature tens of thousands of Johor-made products from various categories such as snacks, fashion, home appliances and famous local products such as chips, otak-otak, Johor laksa paste, Johor jerseys and etc. Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni bin Mohammad, said more than 3,000 entrepreneurs in the state of Johor and Shopee users are targeted to enjoy the benefits of the microsite which will serve as a platform for businesses to find a much more private approach to connect with users nationwide. As physical distancing is still encouraged, this initiative will ease geographical challenges for businesses. The state government will provide discount vouchers to help Johor entrepreneurs increase their online sales along with a comprehensive range of product

marketing assets, training skills in handling Shopee e-commerce accounts through Shopee University. Customer service is also provided to support SME businesses in Johor. He said, “Johor E-Marketplace is believed to be able to give a positive impact and drive economic development in the state of Johor,

Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni bin Mohammad receiving a memento by Shopee’ Malaysia’s Fast-moving Consumer Goods Cluster Chief, Tan Ming Kit as a symbolic gesture of the agreement made in between Johor State and Shopee

Tourism Johor Gets Proactive on Domestic Tourism with MICA Partnership Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

The NGO organised an exchange of information market for tourism product owners and agencies to promote Johor

ourism Johor has recently established a partnership with Malaysia Inbound China Association (MICA) for domestic tourism boosting campaign called FOLIDAY that derived from four different keypoints – Friends, Family, Fun and Freebies to obtain safe travel for family and friends (tourists) to have fun and get freebies. MICA, a non-government and non-profit association was formed to provide its members a platform for exchanging information pertaining to inbound tourism industry. Held at Dewan Kencana Puri, Pulai Springs Resort, the FOLIDAY campaign for Johor state was officiated by Senior Director (International Division) of Tourism Malaysia, Manoharan Periasamy. Also present were Tourism Johor’s Deputy Director, Afzan Haji Azhari, representative from MOTAC Johor and Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor Chapter Chairman, Ivan Teo. 74 of MICA members, made up of tour operators, tour managers and product owners along with 20 Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from Asia Association of Influencer (AAOI) also attended the said event. Manoharan in his speech is supportive of the new approach

especially to various industries, especially when seeing Johor as one of the new powers of the Malaysian economy and its strategic position.” Interested sellers can register for free through http://tiny.cc/JohorEMarketplace and more information can be found in PUJB Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PUJB. official/. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

of using social media broadcast that would help introduce and refresh memories of potential and returning tourists post COVID-19. He addressed that since Johor has its own international airport, he is looking to discuss with Tourism Johor on how to increase flights that could connect to more locations in the future to make Johor more accessible via airways. MICA President, Dato’ Dr Angie Ng gave a breakdown on the FOLIDAY campaign for 6 states nationwide in which Johor’s focus will be on investment tourism as well as the association’s effort during the pandemic to keep their customers in Mainland China interested in Malaysia using China’s popular social media, Weibo. She calls on Johor tourism key players to always put themselves forward citing the huge potential Muar city has among others in the state. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Senior Director of International Division, Tourism Johor, Manoharan Periasamy receiving token of appreciation from MICA president, Dato Dr Angie Ng

Yayasan PETRONAS Sentuhan Harapan – Program Mekar to Help 3,400 B40 Families to Bloom

ayasan PETRONAS, a Corporate Social Responsibility unit of PETRONAS has recently announced Program MEKAR (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) through their foundation, Sentuhan Harapan. The initiative aims to assist 3,400 B40 or low income families in targeted districts across Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu. Launched in phases for a period of 24 months, the programme would address poverty at the grassroots level with the provision of basic needs such as water, electricity and food. It also provides training to improve the B40 communities’ living standards and income stream. CEO of Yayasan PETRONAS, Lita Osman said, “Efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment requires long-term commitment. We are taking this opportunity to invest in resources for at least two years to ensure sustainable economic growth amongst the communities in these targeted districts. Through Program MEKAR, we want to create an equitable society and narrow the income gap as Malaysia progresses into a high-income developed nation.” Yayasan PETRONAS first collaborated with the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) to kick off empowerNCER – Program MEKAR in Kedah in November 2019. To date, successful beneficiaries have recorded significant income improvements, with some earning 10 times more than previously. One of the beneficiaries, Norhazima Abdul Jalil, 34, from Pendang, said, “Previously, I stayed at home and earned about RM500 a month selling food, in addition to helping my husband work at a rubber plantation. I took the courage to participate in the skills and entrepreneurship training offered via empowerNCER – Program MEKAR funded by Yayasan PETRONAS, and now I own a stall selling various types of noodles and earn 12 times more than my previous income. Through Program MEKAR, Yayasan PETRONAS aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for Malaysians, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 8 as well as PETRONAS’ Sustainability Agenda. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Published by True Soul Media PLT [No.51-B, Jalan Impian Emas 5/1, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Johor Bahru] Printed by Percetakan Osacar Sdn Bhd [No. 16, Jalan IDA 1a, Industrial Desa Aman, Taman Desa Aman, Kepong, 52200 Kuala Lumpur] Copyright of articles, contributions and photos which are published by The Iskandarian is the property of True Soul Media PLT. The Iskandarian does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibilities for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher.

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

NEWS

JELTA Prepares Young Minds in Understanding Ethical Journalism Cultivating interest in the profession and providing the correct path to understand the broad mass media

Part of the 60 students that participated in the news-crafting workshop

n the height of news being easily available in the days of technology, preparing the youth to understand the roles of journalism in bridging information along with ethics and skills that embodies the practise in the industry is extremely crucial – especially these days where credibility of news are hardly questioned at the limitation of awareness on how news works. The Craft of News Writing Workshop organised by the Johor English Language Teaching Association (JELTA) at a hotel downtown, aided 60 Johor Bahru secondary school students to understand how journalism and news

work. A panel of experienced journalists was there to share with the students the opportunity to learn useful tips on writing for a newspaper and the important link between the newspaper and education. Among the speakers were Terence Netto, a journalist from MalaysiaKini, former NST group editor, Rashid Yusof, JELTA President Vincent D Silva and many more who briefed the students on basic newspaper jargons, and the need to read more in order to produce quality writing, among others. The students got an opportunity to be exposed to journalism and

what it entails such as writing for the newspaper, journalism as a career, the importance of integrity in reporting, efficiency and risk-taking related to journalism, the media that shapes opinions, and distinguishing fact from opinion. At the end of each session, the students were given the opportunity to ask questions and respond to issues. The sessions were interactive and the students participated in the activities related to journalism and newspaper reports. A mini training session was also added to the programme so that the students could write a short report and share it with all the participants. by Norfy Shafeq TI

JAKOA & Ayam Brand Supports 167 Orang Asli Families in 4 States Orang Asli community have felt the economic impact of COVID-19 through reduced economic opportunities

yam Brand in cooperation with the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) is introducing the #AyamWithYou community care campaign to Orang Asli communities in Johor, Pahang, Perak and Selangor. The # A y a m W i t h Yo u community pantry is now self-sustaining in 13 locations nationwide with communities coming together to give and take daily essentials such as food, and helping those in need supported

by product contributions from Ayam Brand, Mission Foods and Alce Nero. The community care campaign is being rolled out at Kampung Kangkar Senanga (Johor), Kampung Orang Asli Teluk Gunung (Pahang), Kampung Orang Asli Tibang (Perak) and Kampung Orang Asli Changkat Bintang (Selangor) with one month’s supply of Ayam Brand and Alce Nero products being contributed to a total of 167 Orang Asli families from these communities. The Director General of JAKOA, Prof Dr Juli Edo said that the #AyamWithYou campaign was needful for its tangible and psychological support of Orang Asli communities through the

contribution of food essentials during these challenging times. As the communities are deep in the interior, JAKOA will take on the logistics support, and coordinate with the Tok Batin to distribute a box of 27 products to heads of households in each community, while ensuring that

Open University Malaysia’s First PhD Holder is a Police Officer!

t was a busy afternoon when Associate Professor Abdul Rahim, Director of Open University Malaysia (OUM) and his assistant greeted Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohd Roslan Mohd Tahir, the head of Nusa Bestari Police Station at Iskandar Puteri District Police Headquarters. Rahim congratulated the first PhD holder from OUM in their Arts programme, pulling witty remarks by asking if the Temerloh-born Mohd Roslan wants to be addressed as an ASP or a doctor as we walked into the hall of the police station building. The 52 year old is a calm and humble man in blue, giving green light for his interview to be recorded. Being among the 11,000 Johorean police officers who have been deployed statewide during the MCO period, while also having to keep day-to-day administration of the station by

managing his staff as well as keeping an eye on crimes, and maintaining relations with the community, he is no stranger to making sacrifices and multitasking. “It was tough and full of challenges,” he said, when asked about the obstacles during the period of pursuing his doctorate study with OUM since 2016 in Johor. “But my goal is bigger than any challenges that are set for me.” The father of four had to frequently go to Kuala Lumpur to attend seminars that were hosted by reputable public universities and often guested by the industry’s top academic figures together with his supervisors on top of his already demanding day job. Fresh off from high school with SPM in hand when he first joined the enforcement as a constable, Mohd Roslan climbed his way up by earning certifications gradually

social distancing is practised. “These communities are hard hit economically, and the contribution of food items with longer shelf lives is a vital lifeline. We hope more organisations join the #AyamWithYou campaign, or initiate their own charitable giving,” said Prof Dr Juli.

from a public university. As he got more responsibilities on hand, he found limitations in following the available regular campus schedules. OUM helped him to pursue a Master’s degree study in Occupational Safety and Health Risk. After completing his Masters, he carried on to doctorate and picked up an Arts Programme in OUM which he found suitable as he intended his study to be insightful and be useful to the community that he is serving in. “OUM became my university of choice because of its flexible and learner-friendly system as well as its affordable fees,” he added. Professor Rahim addressed that Mohd Roslan was adamant in his study to understand the reason that made criminals commit their crimes. OUM’s Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is a systematic process that involves the identification, documentation and assessment of prior experiential learning like knowledge, skills and attitudes that would determine the extent to which an individual has achieved the desired learning outcomes. This helped Mohd Roslan’s goal to learn and earn his doctorate while serving the nation at the same time, possible. He

Through its long-running CSR programmes, Ayam Brand has contributed more than 2 million healthy meals for charity, providing nutritious food to more than 21,800 people from 524 charity organisations and NGOs over the past 13 years. “We have reached out to different communities, especially those in need through the community care campaign, and are glad to work with JAKOA to support Orang Asli communities,” says Ayam Brand Malaysia’s Marketing Manager, Teoh Wei Ling. Find out more about the #AyamWithYou community care campaign by visiting https://www. ayambrand.com.my. - by Priya Manikam TI

hoped that his efforts would motivate the other frontliners especially in the police force and many other busy, working adults to pursue education while they can. ASP Mohd Roslan’s learning journey is definitely inspiring enough to others out there who wishes to pursue their goals and go for it. For more information on OUM programmes, visit https://www.oum.edu. my/ and https://www.oum.edu.my/apply/ for application. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

ASP Dr Mohd Roslan Mohd Tahir featured in Open University Malaysia’s website

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

NEWS

MyBHA Invites Domestic Tourists to Explore Johor’s Hidden Gems

alaysia Budget Hotel Association ( MyBHA) Johor Chapter has announced a Johor tour package deal namely ‘Jom Jalan Johor’ (Lets Tour Johor) in conjunction with the National Day celebration. The package was launched during MyBHA Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Holmes Hotel, Gelang Patah, Johor on 4th August, 2020 officiated by Senior Director Domestic & Events Division of Malaysia Tourism, Dato’ Dr. Ammar Abd Ghapar. Also present during the

launch were Tourism Johor Director, Fizwan Rashidi, Tourism Malaysia Southern Region Director, Solehudin Ahmad on behalf of chairman of the Johor Tourism, Youth and Sports committee, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and MyBHA National Deputy President, Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel. Chairman of MyBHA - Johor Chapter, Jarod Chia said in the press conference that the association is looking to make the best out of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) by promoting their forte –

the price. “With only RM63 per night for two pax in any of the 40 boutique hotels all over Johor, domestic tourists will have more added value while travelling around places of interests, locally,” he said, paired with Jom Jalan Johor Day Tour Package ranging from RM48 to RM68 per pax for a day trip at places of interests in Johor with a private MPV or Coach Van. The promotions from 1st August until 30th September 2020 is also an effort from MyBHA to introduce and increase awareness

Fire and Rescue Department Strengthens its Air Division

Six officers from JBPM stand tall after being commissioned as helicopter pilots at a ceremony held in conjunction with the Official Working Visit of the Director General of Public Service to the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia

he Air Division of the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) further strengthened its unit when six of its members were commissioned as helicopter pilots after completing their training at Helang Flying Academy based at Senai International Airport, Johor. All the helicopter pilots received their flight wings from the Director General of Public Service Datuk Mohd Khairul Adib bin Abd Rahman at a ceremony held at the Sungai Rengit Fire and Rescue Station in Johor. The ceremony was also attended by JBPM Director General Dato’ Mohammad Hamdan bin Haji Wahid and Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid, Director of Helang Flying Academy. The six pilots, who went through the Commercial Pilot License or CPL (Helicopter) course for 15 months since May 2019 at Senai International Airport will be assigned to various air bases of JBPM. They are expected to be involved in various rescue missions at their respective locations, including rescue and

forest fire fighting operations. Speaking at the event, Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid said, “I would like to congratulate these six new pilots on their success in obtaining their CPL (Helicopter) qualification after undergoing a tough training programme. Our thanks also go to JBPM for the trust given to Helang Flying Academy to train their helicopter pilots. We are proud to assist JBPM in this challenging endeavour, without having to send these pilots to training centres abroad. In fact, these six pilots are graduates from Malaysia’s local academy after a gap of four years without a locally-commissioned helicopter pilot”. “Through cooperation with our partner, Defense Conseil International (DCI) from France, Helang Flying Academy is able to provide the best expertise comparable to training centres in other developed countries as our international teaching team consists of highly-skilled personnel with military, paramilitary and civilian backgrounds”, he added. Since 2018, Helang Flying Academy has been offering various helicopter flight and crew courses after receiving its Approved Training Organisation (ATO) certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). It has state-of-the-art EC120B helicopters and advanced simulator for training purposes. Indeed, Helang Flying Academy is a helicopter flight training centre focused on excellence and is set to become a leading provider in helicopter training in Southeast Asia and beyond. Helang Flying Academy C/O Sapura Technics Sdn. Bhd. is based at Sapura Aero Hangers in Senai International Airport. For more information, contact +607 595 7800 or Fax +607 595 5279.- by Priya Manikam TI

Regency Specialist Hospital Leverages on the Latest in Robotics and Disinfecting Technology

egency Specialist Hospital (Regency) is the first private hospital in Malaysia to leverage on robotics technology to eliminate bacteria and viruses, so as to enhance patient and public safety against COVID-19. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public has been concerned about safety in hospitals and a number may have delayed their medical

consultation and treatments as they are apprehensive about visiting hospitals. Regency is fully committed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of its patients, visitors, doctors, nurses and staff. The Hospital has diligently adhered to the latest guidelines from the Ministry of Health and implemented strict infection control and precautionary measures to safeguard all parties. Apart from these measures, Regency

of affordable legal lodging that are licensed and recognised by the government. Jarod added that, in line with the safety issues like hygiene and sanitation during the pandemic, the well-being of staff and customers are the association’s priority. Tourism Johor Director, Fizwan Rashidi hinted that the department is proposing to have a COVID-19 SOP certified and trained team for each lodgings to the government in order to ensure safety and it would be announced soon. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

KPJ Pasir Gudang’s ‘Frontliner to Frontliner’ Appreciation

PJ Pasir Gudang Specialist Hospital organised an awareness event, ‘From FRONTLINER to FRONTLINER’ in lieu with Malaysia’s 63rd Independence Day celebration and in the spirit of camaraderie with fellow frontliners in different services to keep the nation going throughout the lockdown since March 2020. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the hospital invited 40 food delivery riders from Grab and foodpanda to learn basic awareness on first aid and CPR to help them prepare for any incidents that they may encounter while performing their duties. Chief Executive Officer of KPJ Pasir Gudang Specialist Hospital, Hazarul Azly Hamzah said in his speech that the effort is a show of gratitude from one frontliner to another, citing that the food delivery service has helped ease the process of getting food to others when the whole nation was staying put at home to contain the spread of COVID-19. Referring to the nature of the riders’ work that need to brave the risks and odds, the basic skills would come in handy to respond to any situation of

has also kept abreast with the latest advancements in health and safety technology. The Hospital has applied an anti-microbial coating on all high- touch areas such as the lift buttons, lift walls and staircase railings. This coating is able to inhibit microbial growth, and with resonance energy it can even inactivate harmful microbials to provide better sanitisation and disinfection. In addition, Regency is proud to announce that they have deployed a UV- disinfecting Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) called Sunburst UV Bots to combat COVID-19. Regency is the first private hospital in Malaysia to adopt this technology by PBA, a leading regional

emergency that would help themselves and others. Around 13 participants, all serving under Grab Food are either hearing or speech impaired and were seen communicating with the help of a sign language interpreter from Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga Darul Ta’zim (YPKDT), Mohd Fadhrul Zharef Mohd Fuzi. According to him, the effort would help add skills to these groups of people to be able to be productive members of the society. One of the hearing impaired riders, Mohd Izwan Syah Bohari, 31, has been working as a rider for over a year and enjoys his work delivering necessities. The event lasted for 2 hours with the hospital’s personnel bidding farewell with well-wishes to the riders going off to attend their duty for the afternoon, armed with a packaged lunch box, waterproof rain jacket and KPJ’s simple first aid kit each. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

robotics and automation company headquartered in Singapore. The Sunburst UV Bots kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria. Built with an ultraviolet-C light module emitting powerful UV-C rays, these UV Bots can detect, navigate and adapt to changes in their environment, as well as identify the most efficient routes, such as in common areas, corridors, wards, and other facilities in the hospital. “We are committed to ensure a safe environment to reduce risk of potential exposure of any viruses on our patients, doctors and operational staff,” said Serena Yong, Chief Executive Officer of Regency Specialist Hospital. - by The Iskandarian TI

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

Jarod Chia Lik Ming Chairman of MyBHA National Foreign Trade Affairs Bureau & Johor Chapter Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (MyBHA)

NEWS

MONTHL

DRILL

Born in Johor Bahru, Jarod Chia climbed up the ladder through hard work and determination. Jarod graduated from University of London with 2nd class honours degree in Bachelor of Science, Economics and Management Studies. He has a great passion in web and graphic design, and worked as a web designer in a legal firm while he was at the University. He also acquired a certificate in AutoCAD design. With a background of management and economic studies, Jarod has implemented his knowledge in the hotel industry for the past 11 years focusing on budget hotels. As the Chairman of the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (Johor Chapter), Jarod is actively involved in formulating strategies and initiatives to keep the industry competitive while promoting best practices and maintaining quality standards.

Tell us more about Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (MyBHA) MyBHA was established in 2001, under the initiative of former Minister of Tourism and Culture Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir to address the issue of many budget hotels of not having licenses and not registered under the Ministry, deterring them from keeping track of the budget hotels operating nationwide. The main objectives of MyBHA at that time was to find out why the said hotels were unable to obtain their operating licenses and come up with ways for the ministry to help these hotels obtain the required licenses. MyBHA is the umbrella body for all budget hotels (3 stars and below) in Malaysia. Currently, MyBHA’s 2185 hotel members are made up of hotel entities which are represented by proprietors of hotels or appointed representatives throughout the nation. In Johor, MyBHA Johor Chapter has a total of 256 hotel members from different districts, which includes Johor Bahru (170), Kulai (20), Kota Tinggi (15), Pontian (4), Kluang (10), Mersing (7), Batu Pahat (7), Segamat (8), Muar (14), Tangkak (1). What are some of the initiatives done by MyBHA for its members as well as the industry? MyBHA’s mission is to be the collective voice of all small and medium hotels in Malaysia which includes Business, Boutique and Budget (3Bs) hotels and promote the interest of members with the common objective of advancing sustainable growth. We aim to foster goodwill and co-operation among the budget hotels in Malaysia and promote good business ethics and service standards among members. MyBHA has continuously fought for the best interest of its members, which includes the issue of Tourism Tax (TTx) collections, Music Right Malaysia (MRM) subscription charges, illegal homestay & Airbnb, incentives for hotel operators in Budget 2020 for Visit Malaysia 2020, online accommodation platform regulations, fire detection system (SPKA), incremental in SST Threshold Value, and incentives from the government to hotel operators during this COVID-19 pandemic.

In the accommodation provider industry, how do budget hotels remain competitive? Budget hoteliers must continuously work hard to change how budget hotels are perceived since most of the hotels doesn’t even look like a typical “cheap” hotel. To remain competitive in the market, more budget hotels were built or renovated with better interior design, good quality personalised services, quick check-in and out, super affordable room rates and comprehensive amenities such as free WiFi, smart TV, coffee and mineral water. How did MyBHA deal with the economic blow to the tourism industry during COVID-19? During the MCO period, MyBHA Johor had successfully organised 2 online conferences on ‘How to Survive in 90days?’ by professionals such as tax specialists, bank consultant, lawyers and entrepreneurs. MyBHA Johor had also participated in the Tourism Recovery Action Committee (TRAC) organised by the Johor state government and had a personal dialogue session with Datuk Onn Hafiz, the chairman of Johor Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee, in reflecting the current challenges faced by the hoteliers such as the low occupancy and zero income issue. MyBHA Johor was actively involved in planning the promotion campaign to promote Johor as a whole which includes the ‘Jom Jalan Johor RM63 Super Deal’ and RM48 Day Tour Packages. How can the budget hotel industry in particular assist in rejuvenating the current state of the local economy? Budget hotels must actively play a supportive role to support any campaigns initiated by local travel agencies and government tourism promotion board which is to provide the best services and rate to attract more tourists to stay. During this pandemic, MyBHA had assisted members in preparing Standard Working Guidelines and urged all hoteliers to take full caution in ensuring high hygienic environment to be provided for all guests and staffs.

In your own words, what lesson can we take back from the COVID-19 experience? We should reassess our digital strategy and marketing tools. Revamp as needed. Leverage light marketing initiatives focused on driving brand awareness and advanced bookings. Adjust audience and keywords to hone in on audiences that are still likely to be planning to travel and reduce Online Travel Agency (OTA) dependency. We should develop our own website with clear communication to address existing reservations and cancellation policy. If possible, we have to ensure that our website has 24-hour online chat and messaging functions. Consider advanced purchase offers with special offers, flexible check-in/out policy, full refund cancelation policy, COVID-19 precaution action plan, value-added packages and etc. Price wars strategy is not encouraged and we need to strengthen brand relationship. While people are not traveling and many hotels are closed, hotels should stay connected with past and future guests through social media, email, and editorial content that entertains and adds value. Update local listings such as Google & TripAdvisor to ensure that they reflect current latest business hours/closings, product photos, address and website links. On a personal note, how and why did you choose to venture into the hospitality industry? I am an active and outgoing person. I like to meet new friends from different nationalities, race and culture. Every day is a new start for me, so I keep a high passionate level to work under the tourism industry. Malaysian tourism is the 3rd largest foreign income earner, contributing up to 94.5 billion, after manufacturing and palm oil industry. Tourism accounts for over 7% of the country’s economy. Although the current situation may not be feasible for us, however, I believe the industry will fully recover after COVID-19.

What does Jarod Chia do in his free time? I like spending time with my wife Anna, and 2 precious kids, Lucas and Enzo age 5 and 2. I take them out on drives to the playground or to my parents’ home for family time. With little extra time at night, I like reading articles related to the hotel and hospitality services including viewing interior design images shared online, to ensure that we’re not outdated. TI

Jarod Chia Lik Ming

06 06

The Iskandarian ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020 Advertisement

IC S U

Pop Smokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Album Tops Chart!

SEPT 2020 | Page 2

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

M u s i c U p d at e s

editor’s note

Pop Smoke Debut album, ‘Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon’, tops the Billboard 200 Chart

By Universal Music Singapore

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

lthough Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke is no longer alive, but his songs live on as his posthumous debut album, ‘Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon’, tops the Billboard 200 Chart within the first week of its release. Meanwhile, The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” posts an unprecedented 21st week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart. If everything goes according to schedule, Disney should be releasing the much awaited The King’s Man this month (fingers crossed), and Sony Pictures releases a fun Chinese movie called Monster Run. On a serious note, Rose tackles on a new topic that is insightful and may parents find it helpful. Chicken Wu Xiang, Crsipy Seabass, Pandan Chicken, Har Kao, Siu Mai, Prawn dumplings, Chinese Pancake, Lemon tart...Wondering what I’m talking about? Flip over the pages to our Food column and find out about Thistle Johor Bahru’s All-You-Can-Eat Dim Sum Buffet! Everyone looks forward to long weekend breaks or any little time they have for a day out. But the key word here is to have fun! That’s exactly what our reporter Izzbil did at KidZania in Mutiara Damansara as part of Tourism Selangor’s “Pusing Selangor Dulu”. Read our Travel column to know how splendid the trip was. As always, for those wishing to share their fashion collection, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/hotel for a staycation, drop me an e-mail at waves.lifestyle@gmail. com and be featured. For more news, do access www.theiskandarian.com and https:// waves-lifestyle.com/ The Iskandarian wishes every Malaysians Selamat Hari Malaysia, and don’t miss out our beautiful doodle art!

Priya SEND LETTERS OR INQUIRIES TO www.facebook.com/waveslifestyle www.waves-lifestyle.com Waves.lifestyle@gmail.com Waves Lifestyle

his is a monumental moment for Pop Smoke’s legacy as his posthumous debut album, ‘Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon’, tops the Billboard 200 Chart with total consumption of 251,000 units and 268.4 million streams in the first week of its release! The album which was released in mid-July has also topped the charts in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway, debuted at #3 in France and Sweden, top ten in Germany and Italy, and became the highest charting debut rap album from an international artist in the UK following 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ released in 2003. The album also topped both the Apple Music and iTunes US Albums charts and was crowned one of the top 3 hiphop debuts of 2020 by Billboard,

the third biggest hip-hop debut of 2020, and the sixth biggest debut of 2020. The release also marks another major milestone, with “For The Night” becoming the first Pop Smoke song to debut inside the top ten of the Hot 100 chart and all 19 songs securing a place on the chart as well.

The album finds Pop’s voice in concert with collaborators both old and new. Staying true to his intention to use his debut album to show the breadth of his artistry, fans will discover a Pop Smoke that they had yet to see - one that is singing, stepping outside of the Brooklyn drill sound that he helped bring to a global level and more, while also reuniting with familiar names like 808Melo, CashMoneyAP and Yamaica. It’s an album that only begins to scratch the surface of a talent who had so much more to show the world. The release follows breakout mixtapes Meet the Woo and Meet the Woo 2. Before his untimely passing in February, Pop Smoke was on his way to becoming a mainstream hip-hop giant. Watch ‘The Woo’ MV (feat. Roddy Rich & 50 Cent) - https://PopSmoke. lnk.to/SFTSAFTMDLXVD TI

The Weeknd

he Week nd’s “Blinding Lights” posts an unprecedented 21st week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs (billboard.com) chart as the hit single retains the top slot on the list dated 15th August. “Lights” overtakes a trio of tracks that shared the previous record of 20 weeks – Drake’s “One Dance,” featuring WizKid and Kyla, The Weeknd’s own “Starboy,” featuring Daft Punk, and Bruno Mars’“That’s What I Like” – since the ranking began in 2012. As “Lights” shines, here’s a look at the tracks with the longest runs at No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs: Weeks at No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1 21, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, 7th March 2020 20, “One Dance,” Drake featuring WizKid & Kyla, 7th May 2016 20, “Starboy,” The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, 15th Oct 2016 20, “That’s What I Like,” Bruno Mars, 4th March 2017 19, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke featuring T.I. + Pharrell, 1st June 2013 18, “Talk,” Khalid, 4th May 2019 17, “Diamonds,” Rihanna, 20th Oct 2012 15, “Suit & Tie,” Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z, 2nd Feb 2013 15, “Wild Thoughts,” DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller, 15th July 2017 15, “Better,” Khalid, 19th Jan 2012 TI

SEPT 2020 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Saving our Children (Part 1)

s a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in THE KING’S MAN. TI

We are living in an uncertain world, and the concern is not just our future but the future of our children as well. Are they safe in the house and out there? Genre: Action/Comedy Release date: 17/18th September 2020 Director: Matthew Vaughn Produced by: Matthew Vaughn, David Reid, Adam Bohling Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance Based on the Comic Book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

Do you know that there are millions of children around the world that are trafficked for sex and labour? There are other lists of crimes against children ranging from child marriage, bullying, kidnapping, rape, murder and many more too. Therefore, what can we do to protect our children? It is time to educate and nurture our children to face the uncertain world. For parents, you know that you cannot guard them round the clock and the only way our children can protect themselves is through their own inner intelligence and survival skills. We can nurture that in our children too. Begin with their Inner Authority Every child has their own highest intelligence called the Inner Authority. According to the Human Design System, there are 7 types of inner authority and each child has one that they can count on. This inner authority is not intelligence outside of the children, but their own innate intelligence that arises from a specific function in their bodies. It can be their emotional intelligence, gut feeling, intuition and immune system, heart and willpower, or their own voice that they speak spontaneously. The minority of the children are more attuned to nature as part of their intelligence, and parents can explore this through the Human Design System.

Source:

The Walt Disney Company Malaysia

MONSTER RUN (Chinese)

ome strange things have always existed and you think it’s a coincidence or you’ve made up reasons to ignore them. All her life, Ji Mo (Jessie Li) has been an outcast because of her ability to see monsters. She was sent to the psychiatric hospital and she tries to return to a normal life after her release, but she begins to see a Yeti in the supermarket she works at. While working at the supermarket, she meets Meng (Shawn Yue), a monster hunter who reveals that there is indeed a parallel world inhabited by monsters. The two soon become caught up in an event that will change the world. MONSTER RUN is adapted from the young adult novel “Monster” written by A. Lee Martinez, an American fantasy and science fiction author. TI

Children’s body communicates all the time Educate our children to trust their body and we should too. How much do we know about non-verbal communication and body language of our children? When the children’s physical body senses threat or faces something untruth to the body, the body communicates. We just need to understand the language they are broadcasting to us in silence. Body intelligence such as these when nurtured at an early age, can guide our children to count on themselves to protect their lives even when their parents are not around. TI

Genre: Fantasy/Action/Adventure Release date: 24th September 2020 Director: Henri Wong

Rose Osman is a Certified Human Design Professional. She’s a guide for Living Your Design Workshop and coaches others on self healing for anxiety via E-courses and group workshops

Produced by: Derek Kwok, Jiali Huang Cast: Shawn Yue as Meng, Jessie Li as Ji Mo, Kara Hui as Lotus, Tumen as Uncle Ping, Martin Wang as Spade, Shan Qiao voice of Paper, Zhen Wang, Di Yang

Source:

yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses www.roselifecoach.com Sony Pictures Malaysia

Discover your True Self, Inner Power, Potentials and Purpose with Human Design. Visit Facebook Page : Human Design Malaysia for more info.

SEPT 2020 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

travel

Find Your Inner Child at KidZania Kuala Lumpur Coinciding with Tourism Selangor’s Campaign, “Pusing Selangor Dulu”, KidZania KL offers children and adults edutainment at its finest! By Izzbil waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Be a newscaster at BFM 89.9 studio

ince 2012, KidZania Kuala Lumpur with a protruding aeroplane located at Mutiara Damansara has been offering interactive learning and role play experiences for kids and even the young at heart through their more than 60 establishments on site with over 100 activities. In conjunction with Malaysia’s 63rd Merdeka, the award-winning children’s indoor family centre had offered a Merdeka special, “Merdeka GempaKZ” promotion to everyone. The promotion offered all visitors to enjoy a flat-rate entrance fee of RM31 (UP RM95 for kid and RM50 for adult) for all ticket types! All purchased tickets during the promotion period will be valid for visits from now until 31st October 2020. The promotion was in support of

Tourism Selangor’s on-going campaign, “Pusing Selangor Dulu” (an initiative directed to encourage locals to explore Selangor). To further vivify things up, Tourism Selangor had joined forces with KidZania in organising a Media FAM Trip — where participating Media salvaged the opportunity to relish in KidZania’s immersive career role-play activities as their inner child took over for the day! Upon arrival, we first checked in to KidZania Nation as you would take a flight, and got lost into a world of fun from dousing blazing ‘flames’, performing surgery, making burgers or even flying an airplane! KidZania at its core is a sovereign city wholly governed by spirited, like-minded children with the intention of creating a

Children learning to make McDonald’s burgers from scratch

Flight simulator at the AirAsia’s Pilot Training Facility

Members of Tourism Selangor and the media officiating the KidZania’s Media FAM Trip Programme

better community. A community which supports positive ideals and provides endless opportunities for them (imagine Lord of the Flies but in the best-case scenario). Through its fundamental philosophy, ‘Learn Life Today’ — children are inspired by engaging in hands-on interactive experience and realistic role-play in an environment where opportunities abound. From over a multitude of roleplay activities across 60 different renowned establishments to choose from, children are educated on the value of money, the law of exchange and camaraderie among many other takeaways. Ultimately, to better equip them with essential knowledge for their future. It is truly, edutainment at its

finest. Children alone don’t get to have all the fun but there are activities for the adults too – from role play activities to life size board game, karaoke and more! With the pandemic still prevalent and no finish line in sight, it is inevitable but to worry about the wellbeing of your children. Rest assured as KidZania’s utmost priority is to ensure the public health and safety by strictly adhering to SOPs set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and providing a safe and conducive environment for everyone without compromising on the wholesome, fun experience at KidZania. Open daily from 10am, visit KidZania’s official website at https://www.kidzania. com.my/ for more information on KidZania’s amenities, offerings and tickets. TI

Renowned establishments sprawled across KidZania

The Iskandarian ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020 Advertisement

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

LIVE

What is a Heart Attack? By Columbia Asia Hospital – Iskandar Puteri

ur heart is the most important organ in the human body as this organ pumps relentlessly from the day that we are born and doesn’t stop beating even when we are asleep. In fact, our heart pumps about a million barrels of blood in an average lifespan. Therefore, the heart is like the engine of the human body. If anything goes wrong with the heart, all the other organs will also be affected.

The prevalence of heart disease in Malaysia is ever increasing. What used to be a disease of the elderly is now seen much earlier. Nowadays, Malaysians in their 20’s and 30’s are suffering from heart attacks. Heart disease is still the number 1 killer in Malaysia. Almost 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. On average, about 140 persons for every 100,000 people will suffer from a heart attack during their lifetime.

The risk factor for heart disease can be divided into non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors. The non-modifiable risk factors are age, sex and family history. The modifiable risk factors are namely diabetes, hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidaemia and obesity. The typical symptoms of a heart attack are left sided or central chest pain, nausea, sweating, left arm pain and jaw pain. However, some patients like those with diabetes may not have chest pain and only have difficulties in breathing. Women are another group that often doesn’t have the typical symptoms, and they often present with epigastric pain. What actually happens during a heart attack? Our heart has 3 main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle with a diameter between 2.5 to 4mm. A diseased blood vessel can slowly get narrowed over time due to atherosclerosis. In an acute myocardial infarction, the atherosclerotic plaque ruptures and the blood that normally flows within the lumen of the blood vessel is exposed to the lipid rich contents of the atherosclerotic plaque. This causes the blood to form a clot and thus occludes the flow of blood within the blood vessel. Once this happens, the heart muscle cells

will start to die and the heart will become weaker until it finally fails to pump blood. Time is of the Essence Heart attacks can occur at any time, but they usually occur in the early hours of the morning. This is due to our Circadian rhythm. During a heart attack, time is of the essence. Every second that passes results in millions of heart muscle cells dying and the heart getting weaker. Therefore, the most important thing to do if one is suspected to have a heart attack is to call 999 to get to the nearest hospital with 24-hour primary angioplasty. It is important to emphasise here that not all hospitals provide 24-hour primary angioplasty and that only thrombolysis may be done. Primary angioplasty has been proven to be superior to thrombolysis. Columbia Asia Hospital – Iskandar Puteri is one of the hospitals which have been offering 24-hour primary angioplasty since July 2018. Led by Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Dhanan Umadevan, Columbia Asia’s catheterization laboratory is staffed around the clock on standby to provide emergency treatments to patients with acute heart attack. For more information and enquires, please call 07-233 9999. TI

Snuggled in a Crocodile’s Ear? The Alligator Pipefish

nown locally as ‘korek telinga buaya,’ the a l l i g ato r p i p e f i s h is in the family Syngnathidae, a close relative of seahorses. It can be found in the seagrass meadows of the Sungai Pulai estuary, in the western corner of Iskandar Puteri, Johor. Just like seahorses, alligator pipefish wrap their tails around long seagrass leaves (of the Enhalus acoroides species) and sometimes hunts head down for its prey. It has a

not enough information to determine the sources of their trade. It is sold as a popular traditional cure (hailong) for cancer, asthma and impotence. It is also bred for the aquarium trade. Kelab Alami conducts

Serina Rahman long thin snout (for which it is named) and sucks up tiny crabs, shrimp, zooplankton and fish for its meals. It is often well camouflaged in the seagrass

because its colouration will match the green of the leaves or the brown of the substrate (seabed). Also not unlike seahorses, after the female lays eggs (between 60 – 200 at a time), the male will hold them in a brood pouch until they hatch. Alligator pipefish are known to be faithful partners, with the male being the larger in size of the two. This species is ‘data deficient’ according to the IUCN species list as there is

Serina Rahman is the co-founder of Kelab Alami and a Visiting Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. She is also a winner of the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA)

seagrass habitat walks in the seagrass meadows at the lowest tides, during which you might be able to spot this species. But you have to be lucky as they are increasingly harder to spot these days! Log on to kelabalami.weebly.com for more information. TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

WORK

Recruitment Planning Post COVID-19

hough it is way too early to predict what t h e f u t u re h o l d s, we have seen and experienced during the past few months how valuable and strategic the HR function is in the wake of this crisis and how technology collapsed the boundaries between work and home. Companies should take advantage of the current situation to start thinking more strategically when

prepping for hiring in the future, consolidating the strength of its HR function and technology as this is the best time for companies to rebuild a workforce that can weather any storm. Have a succession plan Large companies are more inclined to have proper documentation of succession plans in case of emergencies co m p a re d to s m a l l e r operations. Not having such planning of ten leave these companies unprepared for emergencies and this pandemic has given us the best example that it is utmost important for an organisation regardless of its size, to have at least some sor t of planning in place. Start the hiring patter now

Companies are encouraged to get a head start now rather than scrambling to scale up once the crisis has passed. Instead of trying to fill empty roles later when operations are back on full force, companies’ HR should be actively working to fill the roles that are needed in the foreseeable future to avoid losing valuable talent (and time). This brings us to the next point: Tech savvy This is a good chance for companies to start revamping its hiring process and workforce management with the help of technology. Companies’ HR should realise that being able to offer video interviews at this point of time is crucial. Apart from that, months of remote work or video conferencing during the pandemic has proven that virtual learning and performance management can be quicker and more efficient than the conventional way, though more advance planning is required, it is not something that can be easily achieved by just installing video conferencing apps.

Upping the benefits game This is definitely an area t h a t co m p a n i e s s h o u l d consider addressing more in the long run as the crisis has led employees to be more conscious of their benefits and entitlement. At this juncture, companies may need to be prepared to offer more in terms of benefits relating to its employees’ welfare and wellbeing, from better sick leave policies, comprehensive health coverage to education around workplace mental health since the pandemic has undeniably highlighted why those benefits are important. R e g a rd l e s s o f w h e re hiring currently sits on the company’s to-do list, it is important for a company to acknowledge that having a comprehensive recruitment strategy is an essential component in rebuilding its workforce. After all, the current crisis has foregrounded the truth that people are an organisation’s greatest asset. Nonetheless, if that is not the case for any company that is not currently looking

Shao Min Ng Legal Adviser Meca Employers Consulting Agency Sdn Bhd shaomin@meca.com.my

into rebuilding its workforce, the relevant approach is to have a two-fold mechanism – nurturing and engaging with current employees or even prospect candidates to keep them warm, at the same time understanding the needs of the organisation in the foreseeable future. TI

Digital Resilience in a New World

PwC Malaysia published a survey on technology, jobs and skills

wC Malaysia conducted a survey between April and May 2020 among the Malaysian public to find out how ready Malaysians are in facing the digital world through upskilling. 986 participants responded to the survey.

The key findings indicate that 70% believe technology will change their current jobs in 3 to 5 years while 78% of respondents believe that automation brings more opportunities than risk. 34% are concerned about automation putting jobs at risk. 71% of respondents believe that technological developments will improve their job prospects in the future while 85% would learn new skills or completely retrain to improve their future employability. In terms of

accepting the opportunity to better understand or use technology, 93% of respondents said yes but only 38% say that they are given many opportunities by their current employer to improve their digital skills outside their normal duties. More effort is needed to enable employees to work remotely as only 46% of the respondents are provided with all the necessary tools to be effective when working remotely. Only 41% say that their organisational culture already supports and empowers employees to work remotely should the need arise. Positively, 77% of respondents are excited or optimistic about the role technology can play in their jobs. Most who feel positive are hopeful that technology would allow them to do more interesting work (35%) and enable them to get more done (27%). “It is clear that automation will result in reclassification and rebalancing of work. This will not only alter the types of jobs available but their numbers and perceived value. Some sectors and roles, even entire sections of the workforce may lose out

but other opportunities will be created”, said Benedict Francis, PwC Malaysia Southern Region Leader. “Taking into account the impact of COVID-19, we advise both employers and employees to reflect on these findings, and implement strategies to reassess their workforce capabilities

and reskill their workers to perform in critical roles”, said Manohar Johnson, PwC Malaysia Southern Region Assurance Partner. Follow this link www.pwc. com/my/digitalresilience for the full survey or contact Indra Dipak at indra.dhanu.dipak@ pwc.com TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

INVEST

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

Opportunities in the Bubbles

his year is moving very fast, and we are now heading to the earnings season for the second quarter of 2020. On 14th August 2020, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has announced that Malaysia’s economy had a contraction of 17.1% in the second quarter – June end. This is the worst performance since 1998 during the Asian Financial Crisis. In addition, BNM has lowered its forecast for the economy this year and it’s expecting a negative growth between 3.5%-5.5%. This is partly why the market sentiment has turned bearish the past few days. The other reason could be the super bullish sectors like glove and healthcare has started a sharp correction. As of mid-August, many glove counters have corrected 20% from the peak. Technically, it means that it has gone into a bear territory. For chart pattern

wise (as of the second week of August), you may see that most of them have already formed a bearish engulfing pattern which is a trend reversal signal. With this correction, many gloves companies are still having a Price to Earnings (PE) ratio of 50-100, indicating high valuation (still). Some investors would think the sharp decline of these leaders would lead to a market crash. However, given a rather stabilised and strong US stock market, I believe it is unlikely. So how is the US stock market doing now? As we can see the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) chart on 14th August 2020, the candles have filled both two big gaps that formed in June 2020. The index has become more bullish than a month ago as it has overcome the 27000 level and stood above it. This is in harmony with the US non-farm payroll in July, which increased by 1.763 million and its

unemployment rate fell to 10.2%. Both numbers are better than Wall Street’s forecast. Moving forward, the index is challenging the immediate resistance of 28000 followed by 29000. It is likely to break new highs before the US Presidential Election. One caution though, gold has surpassed the 2000 level, which means the market is prepared for more uncertainties ahead. Since higher index and gold price means higher risks, what should we do? Are we seeing opportunities with lower risks? Opportunities in the Bubbles The answer is ‘yes’, because not all sectors and stock prices have gone up. There are companies which are worth looking into. Net Cash Company with prospects It means a company with

The companies or strategies mentioned in this article are meant for study purpose only. It doesn’t constitute any ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ recommendation. Please consult your financial professional if you want to make any decision. (Source: www.investing.com)

bright future, and has net cash left after paying off all its debts. For instance, Focus Lumber (5197), where its principal activities are manufacturing and sale of plywood, veneer and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Based on its Q1 2020 report, it has cash and cash equivalent of over RM90 million and zero debt. That is 90 cents of cash per share! Its share price on 14th August 2020 was RM1.02, with net tangible asset (NTA) at RM1.68. Acco rd i n g to B u r s a’s announcement, the company has been buying back its shares in the past few months. Furthermore, international lumber price has been rising significantly since April 2020. Therefore, the chances for the company to have better earnings ahead are higher. Another example is Willowglen (0008) which provides technological solutions for infrastructure, businesses, residential, commercial and industrial needs. Willowglen is a laggard in the technology sector, as its peers have advanced to new highs while it is yet to be appreciated. According to its Q1 2020 report, the company has 87 million cash and zero debt. This translates into cash per share of 17 cents. Its share price was RM0.465 on 14th August 2020. D o e s Wi l l owg l e n h ave prospects? Its annual report 2019 has given us some hints: • Willowglen has secured and is implementing a project involving unmanned aerial

Tey Bin Yuen Binyuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’ and ‘Profit from Share Investment’. His books are available in major bookstores in Malaysia, Singapore or online http://www.teybinyuen.com/ profitfromshareinvestment

vehicle for the oil palm industry. It can help to monitor the water, fertilizer, insecticides and herbicides’ needs of a plantation. • It has secured the opportunity to deploy RFID labels and is developing other Industrial Control System opportunities in the Philippines. • The company’s emphasis on R&D has enabled the group to release new products and solutions every year. There are much more information which you can read from in its website. Conclusion As you can see, while some sectors have gone up tremendously, there are sound fundamental companies with bright prospects that are yet to appreciate. The question is only when. TI

Local Bank Remains Committed to Supporting Customers beyond Loan Moratorium Customers who need further financial assistance postmoratorium are asked to contact UOB Malaysia bank

nited Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB M alaysia) has announced that it will continue to assist customers beyond the loan moratorium to help them manage the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses and personal financial situation. With the moratorium due to end in September 2020, customers who need further financial assistance postmoratorium are asked to contact the Bank at the soonest. Their requests will be assessed on a case-to-case basis. The Bank will then work out options to help these customers meet their loan obligations through this unprecedented period.

In March 2020, UOB Malaysia announced relief measures, including a six-month moratorium on loan repayments to provide immediate financial assistance to its individual and business customers in Malaysia affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. UOB Malaysia will continue to review its COVID-19 relief measures for both its conventional and Islamic banking customers to ensure relevant support to help them through post-moratorium. The support includes the option to restructure their financial repayments based on their cash flow requirements and to ensure their financial needs are met. Wong Kim Choong, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia, said, “UOB has always stood by our customers over the years and we will continue to do what is right by them in today’s extremely trying times. We have been proactively working with them to

come up with the right solutions in meeting their cash flow requirements and to ensure their financial needs are supported through and beyond this crisis. “It is uncertain as to how long or how deep the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be. While many customers have been managing better than expected given the circumstances, we know that some customers will require further support. We will continue to engage them over the next few months to discuss the options available so that they will be better positioned for the recovery that will come. We strongly encourage customers to approach the Bank as early as possible, before the loan moratorium ends on 30th September 2020,” said Wong. For more information, UOB Malaysia’s customers may contact their relationship managers, visit the Bank’s website at https://www.uob.com.my/default/contact-

us.page#contact, and contact the 24-hour UOB Contact Centre at 03-2612 8121 or email uobcustomerservice@uob.com.my. TI

Wong Kim Choong, Chief Executive Officer, UOB Malaysia

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

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GSC Cinemas Brings a Sneak Peak of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ to Malaysia

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ith MCO having shutdown a majority of entertainment centres around Malaysia, it’s been a slow build to get back to previous norms. Many movies that were scheduled to launch in 2020 had to be either be pushed, shelved or launched on one of the many online platforms. One such movie was ‘Tenet’, a movie I was looking forward to watching and had the privilege to be hosted by GSC x IMAX at The Mall, Southkey JB – the first IMAX hall in Johor Bahru. With names like Christopher Nolan at the helm directing, I had a lot of expectations for the movie. After leaving the cinema, I was left in a confused state of whether those expectations were met. Let’s get the good out of the way, first, the action scenes. They were the actual engine behind this movie. They were by far the best part of it. With scenes involving some form of reverse chronology action, your mind might struggle to fathom what’s actually happening, but at the same time still enjoy it. Secondly, the music, in typical Christopher Nolan style, had immersive sounds and music to bring you fully into the scenes regardless of if you had any clue what was happening and thanks to IMAX, the audio experience made the scenes come alive. Now for some of the bad, the plot, while trying to be full of ambition was tiring to understand, added in with layers of science and physics that will take me at least to another sitting to actually wrap my head around. The movie doesn’t do the best job of

actually explaining what’s happening. From the opening scenes where our protagonist is somehow being recruited through a test, although we have no idea what the test actually was. Add in a scientist that speeds through an explanation of a gun that fire backwards, weapons that can go inverted like it was a normal day in high school physics class, but somehow the protagonist just seems to understand and hardly seems phased. The common phrase uttered in the movie is “What’s happened has happened”, and you somehow have to just accept it and move on before something else happens and you miss out. The good news is, that at the end of the movie, at lot of things started making more sense. Why certain characters are the way they are and why certain plot lines were explained in such a way. To which I was grateful for, because I was close to calling my ex-physics teacher and asking why we weren’t taught this in School! All in all, I was happy with the overall movie and the IMAX experience, the ending left me somewhat wanting more, as you understand the relationships between the characters. I would definitely suggest going into the cinema not trying to understand so much of what’s happening, but instead just accept that“What’s happened has happened”! Catch the movie Tenet at IMAX at GSC The Mall, Southkey JB (Hall 1) and enjoy the overall movie-going experience. - by Moazan Emran TI

High Time for Some Dim Sums at Thistle Johor Bahru Indulge in some wholesome goodness this Merdeka cum Hari Malaysia celebrations experience in creative Asian and Chinese cuisines, expect a spread of 24 freshly prepared dim sums. We indulged in the sweet, spicy yet savoury Chicken Wu Xiang, Pandan Chicken and Har Kao,

Part of the 23 different dim sums for you to indulge in with complimentary deep fried seabass, special for reservations of 4 pax

he stacks of dim sums have always been a delightful affair with its environment of food sharing among your family and friends, and having a buffet of it has made it even better for any dim sum lover out there. Taking a few steps down the stairs to Thistle Johor Bahru’s Glass Cafe, where the All-YouCan-Eat Dim Sum Buffet is held, a piece of form to pick and choose the dim sum of your liking are

given for walk-in guests. It is tempting to tick all of them, but do remember the hotels’ Terms and Conditions that include no leftovers and no takeaways allowed which is certainly a good policy to avoid wastage of food. Watching what you are eating? The dim sums are separated as fried, steamed and from the wok categories. Specially curated by awardwinning Executive Chef Vincent Yap Gin Kee with 30 years of

Fluffy pao (buns) freshly steamed and have it savoury like char siew or sweet like custard or red bean flavours

the lovely prawn dumplings which became a favourite. The deep-fried seabass with zesty 3-rasa gravy completes the dim sum experience. End the session with sweet desserts with 5

choices from Chinese Pancake, Lemon tart, Mango Pudding and Chocolate pudding panna cotta. The Merdeka Dim Sum Buffet special is available daily (12pm – 2.30 pm) from 17th August – 16th September 2020 at a steal deal of RM63nett per adult and RM33nett per child (6 - 12 years old) and senior citizen (60 years and above). Get a complimentary Crispy Seabass in the choice of Sweet & Sour

Chef Vincent Yap Gin Kee with Thistle’s special Crispy Seabass zesty 3-rasa gravy

calling +607 222 9234 or +6012 789 2092. You can also fly an email to fnbcoordinator.jb@thistle.com. my. More information may be found in Thistle Johor Bahru’s FB page. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Pick up these delectable goodies and straight into your mouth!

gravy or 3-Rasa when you book a table for 4 (terms and conditions apply)! Reserve a table today by

Don’t miss the Fried Kway Teow that goes well with every dim sum

The Iskandarian ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

Several multinational companies (MNCs) in the United States of America and China have expressed their interest in moving 18 their operations to Johor pg 17

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PROPERTY INSIGHT

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Mah Singâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meridin@Medini consists of condominiums, SoVo, hotel and retail shops. Developer award prizes to its winners

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ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

PROPERTY

Foreign MNCs Taking an Interest in Johor America and China have shown a keen interest to move their operations here

everal multinational companies (MNCs) in the United States of America and China have expressed their interest in moving their operations to Johor. According to Johor Menteri Besar

Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Mohammad, the Johor state government has received several inquiries from the two countries especially after learning about the development of various large projects in the state, thus giving them the confidence in terms of infrastructure in Johor. “There are some inquiries by the MNCs based in the US and China who intend to transfer their operations to

Johor. I hope we are ready because when the borders reopen, this will give an opportunity for investors to see for themselves (the progress) of Johor,” Hasni told the reporters after visiting the Sungai Pulai Bridge project. The companies in the US and China are involved in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector as well as information and communication technology (ICT). - by Priya Manikam TI

Charting a new horizon – Johor MB at the Sg. Pulai bridge visit (Pic by Sarah Nur)

Mah Sing Rewards AME to Invest RM25 Million Capex to Build Winners with New i-Stay@Indahpura Workers’ Dormitories ntegrated industrial space solutions dormitories in i-Stay@Indahpura Nearly RM40,000 provider AME Elite Consortium currently 99% occupied, the new Berhad (AME) intends to invest RM25 dormitory blocks would expand our million in capital expenditure to build capacity to attract even more MNCs and Worth of Prizes

All the nine winners from the “Lock & Win Final Countdown”

eading property developer, Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) rewarded nine lucky draw winners of its “Lock & Win Final Countdown” campaign from Johor Bahru with cash prizes close to RM40,000 during its prize presentation ceremony at Ramada By Wyndham Meridin. The lucky draw, which was audited and validated by Deloitte PLT was originally scheduled for Q1 2020 but was delayed due to the Movement Control Order. Approximately 50 lucky winners across Malaysia were selected through a ballot and 9 were customers who purchased properties in Johor Bahru. Lucky winners from Johor Bahru, Ng Hui Ek, 35, a home buyer of Meridin Executive Suites, Medini Iskandar Puteri expressed his excitement as one of the lucky draw winners for the campaign. “This news came as a surprise. I was delighted as I never had any expectations on being picked. I plan to spend this money on the mortgage instalment of my new home. I will definitely recommend Mah Sing’s projects to my friends and family as they offer great value at an affordable price” Mah Sing Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Benjamin Ong said, “Mah Sing has always been holding on to the principal of reinventing affordability. As a result, we managed to gather unwavering support from a large group of homebuyers in the market, which saw over 4,000 eligible lucky draw entries throughout the campaign period. The Movement Control Order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the nation substantially, and as a property developer, we stay true to our mission of enhancing lives by providing added values to our customers when they purchase a Mah Sing home.” Currently, Mah Sing is running its “Eazy to Own campaign”, in partnership with Maybank Islamic HouzKEY, an alternative home financing solution, which enable home buyers to own selected Mah Sing projects easily with a financing plan that is easy on their wallets. - by Moazan Emran TI

two new blocks of i-Stay@Indahpura workers’ dormitories to support the requirements of customers at its i-Park@ Indahpura industrial park. The additional two dormitory blocks would be able to accommodate nearly 2,700 persons in total. Together with the existing dormitories in i-Stay@ Indahpura, the additional blocks would increase the accommodation capacity in i-Stay@Indahpura by 54% to approximately 5,900 persons. Upon completion in 2021, the Group’s enlarged dormitory capacity in i-Stay@Indahpura and i-Stay@Senai Airport City would increase to more than 8,400 persons. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony recently, AME Executive Director Simon Lee said that workers’ accommodation formed an integral part of the Group’s holistic industrial park offering, enabling multinational corporations (MNCs) and domestic companies at i-Park industrial parks to provide their employees with living quarters near their workplaces that are comfortable, modern, clean and safe. “AME has always offered a complete proposition to multinational and domestic corporations: our ability to custom-build their manufacturing facilities at our i-Parks, and accommodate their workforce at our i-Stay dormitories. With the existing

local enterprises to establish their bases in our i-Park@Indahpura industrial park. This expansion reflects the growing popularity of our integrated industrial park as we seek to create a working and living environment that is conducive to their growth”, said Simon. “Moreover, Johor has been consistently ranked as Malaysia’s top foreign and domestic investment destinations, particularly from the manufacturing sector. We endeavour to reinforce this standing by expanding the capacity and features at our i-Park industrial parks, so that the state enhances its appeal to attract topnotch investments from all over the world,” he added. Statistics from Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) reported that Johor had attracted a total of RM11.5 billion investments in manufacturing projects from foreign and domestic enterprises in 2019. This was reiterated in the first quarter of 2020, where Johor’s approved manufacturing projects amounted to RM1.6 billion in total – the third-highest amount in Malaysia in the period. AME awarded the construction contract to Haily Construction Sdn Bhd. Construction will commence in August 2020, with targeted completion in October 2021. Attending the groundbreaking

Crucial Data for an Equally Crucial Strategising

Property.com.my has unveiled its bi-annual H1 2020 Property Demand Analytics which provides an overview of subsale property demand using iProperty.com.my’s user visits and property listings data for sub sale properties in Malaysia with a particular focus on Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor. Presented by Premendran Pathmanathan, General Manager of Customer Data Solutions at REA Group Asia via an online

video conference, the analytics looked at three property types: terrace, condominiums, and service residences. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent Movement Control Order (MCO) which brought real estate activities to a halt for more than eight weeks; the overall H1 2020 national property demand declined by -2.5%. The property market in Johor has been sluggish even before the COVID-19

Workers Dorm i-Stay Groundbreaking ceremony ceremony were Simon Lee, Executive Director of AME and Yoong Woei Yeh, Director of Haily Construction Sdn Bhd. AME currently constructs and operates two integrated industrial parks in Johor: i-Park@Indahpura (Phase 3) and i-Park@Senai Airport City (Phases 1, 2, and 3). Both industrial parks feature custom-built industrial buildings within a well-planned gated and guarded compound, complemented by recreational facilities and workers’ dormitories. Similar to the existing dormitories, the two new blocks would include facilities such as a cafeteria, grocery store and multipurpose hall, as well as services including biometric security system, closed-circuit television, laundry and shuttle bus service. “In addition to adding value to our customers, the workers’ dormitories contribute part of AME’s recurring revenue stream. This stable component complements our construction and property development segments, thus creating a resilient business model for the Group,” concluded Lee. - by Priya Manikam TI

outbreak and it remained subdued in H1 2020. The southern state has the highest property overhang in the country and its narrowing user visits coupled with an influx of listings have pushed the property demand down by -22.8%. The closure of the Johor-Singapore border during the MCO could have dampened user purchasing sentiment and might have also contributed to the double-digit drop in H1 2020. However Premendran said the prospects are looking bright as Rapid Transit System (RTS) is expected to start constructing in November 2020 while terrace

category houses maintain a positive capital growth. Premendran said data in Malaysia is crucial in policy planning and making evidence-based subsidy decisions while developers could benefit from the data to strategise and gauge consumer trends. “It is our intention that the publication be made available for the benefit of all stakeholders so as to align industry players with market sentiments to facilitate better decision making. Once all parties are aligned, we can hope to revitalise the property sector in Malaysia,” said Premendran. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

PROPERTY

The Future of Affordable and Clean Energy Starts Here in Sunway Iskandar Preceding the sustainable cities in Malaysia and implementing United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals

xtending its credential as a Master Community Developer, Sunway Property, a subsidiary of Sunway Group through its southern region development Sunway Iskandar in Johor, tightens its commitment in Green Building and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of Affordable and Clean Energy and Climate Action. Building its cities first from tin mining wasteland more than 30 years back, before it was known as Sunway City Kuala Lumpur today, Sunway Group is equipped with sustainable knowhows since day one and

it now envisions a future with cleaner and greener implementation. This vision is vindicated by Sunway City Kuala Lumpur’s recognition as Malaysia’s first sustainable township by the Green Building Index, which has won two FIABCI Prix d’Excellence and three FIABCI Malaysia awards. The township is also the country’s pioneering lowcarbon city as awarded by the Malaysian Institute of Planners. Following the headquarters’ footsteps, Sunway Iskandar is dedicated to building a sustainable and smart

Sunway International School is powered by cleaner energy using solar panels

integrated city in Johor and has become the first township in Johor to be awarded with the GBI Silver Rating. As part of its continuous effort to make the township a better and greener place, the township has been instilling sustainable practices into various aspects of the development aimed at nurturing a community of socially and ecologically responsible individuals. Sunway Sustainability Approach Sunway Iskandar ’s sustainability projects follow closely on Sunway’s Sustainability Focus Areas: Responsible Business Practises, Product and Service Innovation, Process and Resource Efficiency, Green Initiatives and Giving Back to the Communities. In integrating green technology in its real estate development, Sunway Property with its awardwinning 1,800 -acres Sunway Iskandar made up of 6 precincts and host to

world education institutions alongside many attractions like Sunway Big Box, X Park, Sunway Emerald Boulevard, Sunway Citrine Hub, and coming soon - Sunway GRID Hub. Sustainability in Action Solar PV System, a well-known source of Renewable Energy with emerging technology in the industry especially the commercial sector has started deploying solar PV technology as one of the key green features and an effort to reduce carbon footprint towards decarbonisation. Through this initiative, Sunway Iskandar aims to educate the community through raising the importance of living sustainably and the awareness in promoting reusable energy. The township is balanced between city and nature, as over 40% of the land is designated as green space, making Sunway Iskandar a truly Nature’s Capital City.

Solar panels on the rooftop of Sunway Big Box Retail Park Climate, Energy & Water Sunway Iskandar has over 22% open spaces including green spaces, which is more than the local authority’s mandatory requirement of 15%, while more than 10% of the public spaces are provided with open water or water features that gives a cooling effect to the surrounding environment, reducing overall heat. Environmental & Ecology More than 12,000 trees are being tended to in the development’s nursery. The idea behind them is

that for every tree removed in the development , one or two more are put back in the place. This is in line with Sunway’s commitment towards United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 15 especially. Community Planning & Design Marked its name in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “First Property Customisation and Online Purchase System” in Malaysia, SUNWAY Grid, within Sunway Iskandar has also earned its Silver Rating from GreenRE. - by The Iskandarian TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 97 | SEPT 2020

Maslee Express Opens its 16th Outlet Fresh new concept for fresh groceries at Taman Molek neighbourhood

aslee Express has opened their 16th outlet at Ta m a n M o l e k near Molek Pine apartments on 17th August 2020, officiated by Johor Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) director, Mohd Hairul Anuar Bohno with Tanjung Bintang Chief Executive Officer, Frank Goon Swee Kheong, Maslee Operational Director, Lee Boon Lye and Maslee Express General Manager, Gan Hiong Huat. Maslee’s Food Bank, a joint programme with KPDNHEP Johor was also launched on the opening day, making it the 5th outlet after Maslee Pontian, Maslee Pekan Nenas, Maslee Desaru and Pasarbella Halal Park to host the effort. The food bank allows the community around the area to donate items to the needy families that were listed and recognised by KPDNHEP themselves. The merry and bustling opening of the new

supermarket sees its first tenant, Vburg patisserie, a vegetarian-based bakery that offers vegetarian-friendly baked goods, opening its second store from its headquarters in Skudai. The public may also expect Tea Garden KuuVanChaa as its second tenant to open by the end of this year. Visitors may join Maslee’s very own membership ‘CU OK’ by downloading its mobile application from Apple store and Playstore to enjoy even further reduction of price from its already low pricing. All current and upcoming promotions are also available in a handy application right on

your fingertips now. According to Maslee’s General Manager, Gan Hiong Huat, Maslee would have another supermarket in Taman Daya neighbourhood and is expected to open by the end of this year or early next year. Opens daily from 9:00am to 10pm, Maslee Express Taman Molek is located at Molek Pine 4, Jalan Molek 1/27, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor -https://maps.app.goo.gl/ nxzNKrKDQr6Uvp7x5. For more information, visit Maslee Express Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/MasleeExpress/. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Maslee Express Taman Molek facade on the opening day

PR1MA Paying their Dues to Tebrau Residence

Tuan Haji Mohd Nazri bin Md. Shariff, PR1MA CEO, (centre) with Dato ’Abd Rahman Harun, General Manager of Aturan Prisma Sdn Bhd (APSB) (Left) and Ezlina Adnan, Chief Department of Stakeholders Management, PR1MA (right)

erbadanan PR1MA Malaysia (PR1MA) through a virtual press conference has issued the latest status on Tebrau Residency, one of their four projects currently under construction in Johor. Tebrau Residence consists of 1,284 units of serviced apartments, with three types of units in different sizes from 757 per sqft, 903 per sq ft and 1,053 per sq ft. As of 16th July 2020, a total of 819 units have been sold and 459 units were booked. The progress of Tebrau Residence is currently at 94% completion and in the final phases of its construction, which includes finishing work of each unit including

commissioning work for the purpose of obtaining Certificate of Compliance and Completion (CCC) approval. Completion date of the Tebrau Residency project was announced earlier in February 2020 to be delayed from March 2020 to June 2020. Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), the date was further moved to October 2020 due to many limitations. The new deadline has been announced to the affected buyers in June 2020. “We expect delays in the construction process at the site following the recent implementation of PKP. This involves all PR1MA projects including Tebrau Residence. We expect the delay to take three to four months in line with the Circular from the Public Works Department regarding the extension of time (EOT) which can be given to the contractor for 114 days,” Tuan Haji Mohd Nazri Md. Shariff, CEO of PR1MA said after stating that homeowners will get their keys in January 2021. Compensation would be given in the form of ‘Liquidated Ascertained Damages’ (LAD) to affected PR1MA residential buyers to help ease their current financial burden. More information visit www.pr1ma.my or PR1MA’s official social media platforms. Contact PR1MA at 03-76289898 or email to info@pr1ma.my, open Monday to Sunday, from 9:00am to 6:00pm, exception for Selangor public holiday. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

PROPERTY

Country Garden Moves Up to the 147th Position on Fortune Global 500 List 2020

he 2020 edition of the Fortune Global 500 list was released on 10th August 2020, with Chinese property developer Country Garden (stock code: 2007.HK) ranked 147th based on revenue of US$70.335 billion, moving up 30 places from last year and making it the highest ranking property developer on the list. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the firm has been included in the coveted roster. The Fortune Global 500, one of the most prestigious and authoritative global company rankings, indicates the latest growth trends among the world’s largest companies. In recent years, thanks to China’s national prosperity and economic boom, the country’s firms have become bigger and stronger. Chinese firms once again dominated the list, with 133 of them claiming a place, outnumbering their American counterparts. Five Chinese real estate firms took their places on the list, with Country Garden moving up to 147th place from the 177th position last year. The firm ranked first among the property developers included in the list in terms of revenue, profit and return on equity (ROE). According to available data, Country Garden posted revenue of US$70.335 billion, representing a year-on-year rise of 22.7%. Profit also jumped 9.4% to US$5.725 billion. ROE stood at 26.2%. Country Garden has seen an improvement in its ranking for four consecutive years since its first appearance on the list in 2017. In 2019, the company boasted the biggest upward move for any single

company on the list, a testament to the rapid improvements in its performance. Over the past few years, Country Garden has experienced dramatic growth in a number of indicators, including size and income. Statistics show that the developer took the lead in the real estate sector in terms of growth in sales, revenue and net profit from 2016 to 2019. During the period, the firm’s sales rose 149.8% from 308.84 billion yuan (approx. US$44.4 billion) to 771.53 billion yuan (approx. US$111.1 billion) (full caliber data from a third party), while revenue advanced 217.4% from 153.09 billion yuan (approx. US$22.0 billion) to 485.91 billion yuan (approx. US$69.9 billion). Net profit also jumped 348% from 13.66 billion yuan (approx. US$1.9 billion) to 61.2 billion yuan (approx. US$8.8 billion). Despite market fluctuations, Country Garden has shown strong resilience in business operation. The developer has demonstrated its outstanding anti-risk capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic despite the entire real estate sector taking a big hit from the pandemic in terms of sales. The firm ranked first in the sector with aggregate sales of 321.23 billion yuan (approx. US$46.2 billion) during the JanuaryJuly 2020 period. In addition, with the Chinese government getting the pandemic under control and the gradual recovery of the country’s economy, the developer has posted growth in sales for five consecutive months since March 2020. Of particular note, July sales jumped 27.52% year on year to 54.28 billion yuan (approx. US$7.8 billion). - by The Iskandarian TI

Forest City Golf Resort offering avid golfers’ comfortable stay at the hotel together with spectacular golf courses namely The Legacy & Classic

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