The Iskandarian Feb 2016 Issue by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

ISKANDAR

KDN : PP17797/06/2012(032765) | Singapore MICA : MCI (P) 158/11/2015

M A L AY S I Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian

COMMUNITY

email: admin@theiskandarian.com

NEWSPAPER

website/e-paper : www.theiskandarian.com

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

Official Newspaper

KDN : PP17797/06/2012(032765) | Singapore MICA : MCI (P) 158/11/2015

The Iskandarian,

Iskandar Malaysia’s Official Newspaper, is a synergistic product by IRDA’s Social Development Division & True Soul Media PLT

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian

The Iskandarian Monthly Drill

We get in touch with CEOs & Chairmen to drill them with questions

pg 9

As we progress, the property sector also needs to evolve and innovate to provide much more than just a roof over heads - Benjamin Ong Chin Yee, General Manager – Operations, Johor Eastern & Oriental Berhad – Malaysia (E&O)

email: admin@theiskandarian.com

website/e-paper : www.theiskandarian.com

The Iskandarian Available on Print and Online!

Download The APP iskandar.my ISKANDAR

M A L AY S I A’ S

COMMUNITY

NEWSPAPER

Street lights

The Iskandarian Do’s & Don’ts The good, the bad and the ugly of fellow Iskandarians

the Lack of Them More on pg4 Empty parking lots shouldn’t be the reason to park haphazardly

Inconsiderate parking captured at Persada Johor Bahru

Happy Chinese New Year

2016

read. Like. Share

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

The Iskandarian

Our Friends

streets

PIJ to Build Five Start-Up Incubators Highlight

A good opportunity for young entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses By Amin Khairuddin editor@theiskandarian.com

he Johor Islamic Corporation (PIJ) plans to build another five start up incubators under its Johor Entrepreneur Incubator Project this year, with an allocated cost of RM1.5 to RM2 million to help 100 new entrepreneurs, especially Muslims to start their businesses. Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Khaled Nordin said the project will take six months to complete beginning this January and will involve Bandar Baru Uda, Stulang Baru in Johor Bahru in addition to Pasir Gudang, Muar and Pengerang. “Incubators provide office space, retail space and site

advertising as a new beginning for the state’s entrepreneurs in order for them to start a business while being a reference centre for three years for each participant.” “PIJ will provide low rental rates as much as RM300 a month for the first year before rising it to RM350 per month in the second year, and RM400 in the third year,” said Khaled during the ground breaking ceremony for the Pasir Gudang Incubator in Taman Bukit Dahlia recently. The Pasir Gudang Incubator will house 18 offices on a 0.3 hectare plot of land with Wi-Fi and utilities and is the second start up incubator in the state, after the Kebun Teh facility which is already home to 18 local entrepreneurs.

Mentri Besar Dato’ Khaled Nordin looking at a scale model of the PIJ Pasir Gudang Incubator Also present during for the ceremony was Pasir Gudang MP, Normala Abdul Samad, State Secretary Datuk Ismail Karim, General Manager of PIJ Datuk Abdul Rahman and Chairman of the Youths and Sports Committee, Datuk Zulkurnain Kamisan. Khaled noted that the incubator project in Bandar Baru Uda will involve all communities while the other incubator sites will be specifically for Muslims entrepreneurs as the funds

Subsidised School Bus in 2016 Highlight PEGASUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Pasir Gudang subsidises school transportation for 800 students

Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin giving a certificate to one of the students during the Subsidy Programme

SEND LETTERs or inquiries to facebook.com/theiskandarian admin@theiskandarian.com www.theiskandarian.com

ligible students in Pasir Gudang will benefit from the school bus fee subsidy programme, thanks to the joint initiative by Yayasan Pasir Gudang(YPG) and UMNO Bahagian Pasir Gudang. Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) with YPG under the lead of its founder and chairman, Johor’s Menteri Besar Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin, believe in engaging the community through more programmes and initiatives, especially for the less fortunate and lower income groups.

For selected families with kids going to school in Pasir Gudang, who are earning less than RM400 per capita, YPG and UMNO Bahagian Pasir Gudang are subsidising a total of RM180,000 of the transport fees directly to the proprietor of elected service provider. “Economy has to grow and the people must feel it. We would not leave the lower income groups out. From February to November this year, we are helping more than 800 students from 500 families to cut down their children’s school transportation cost

through 93 registered school bus operators.” “This is the first time an initiative like this is launched in the state. This is to ensure that children receive proper education. There’s no reason not to send them to school. We are easing the burden on the parents,” said Khaled during the launch of the School Bus Subsidy programme in Pasir Gudang recently. A similar initiative was first introduced in Selangor by the state government back in 2013. - by Hakim Malik and Amin Khairuddin TI

allocated by PIJ are disbursed via the Johor Endowment Fund. The Menteri Besar hopes that the participants will use the opportunity provided by PIJ to start their businesses. According to PIJ, the corporation plans to expand the idea to each district but with needed help from local authorities to identify potential premises which could be unsold property, vacant land or abandoned projects to realise the project. TI

Quick Reads

Heavy Penalties for Selling Contraband Ciggies The Customs Department would impose heavy penalties from now onwards to combat the selling of illegal cigarettes and completely banishing its existence in the country. Deputy Director General of Custom Department (Enforcement and Compliance), Dato’ Haji Matrang Suhaili has warned sellers who are caught trading contraband cigarettes shall be remanded and charged under the Customs Act 1967. Shop owners who are currently hiring foreign workers to handle their business and if they are caught in the act of selling contraband cigarettes, they too shall meet severe penalties, imposed with Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) 2007. Customs Department would also co-operate with enforcement authorities to revoke their business licenses. In 2015, 2341 cases were reported which involved 397mil contraband cigarettes being busted, and in a year operation from 2014 to 2015, the Customs Department have sentenced jail to 593 offenders that were charged with distributing and selling illicit cigarettes.

Published by True Soul Media PLT [No.51-B, Jalan Impian Emas 5/1, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Johor Bahru] Printed by Twinstar Synergy Sdn. Bhd. [Lot2A, Jln 13/2, Seksyen 13, 46200, Petaling Jaya, Selangor] 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.

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

Happenings

Recap

streets Sharing with you the happenings from last month

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

Thistle Johor Bahru Geared Up for 2016 Contributions

General Manager of Thistle Johor Bahru, Mr. Rashid Gallyot (centre) with hotel staffs promoting ‘Teddy for Charity’ 2016 project

New

Installation of JCI Iskandar Chapter President

New

JCI Iskandar Chapter Committee being sworn in

pon the successful sales of teddy b e a r s to t a l i n g RM15,000.00, which was used to help the less fortunate children around Johor Bahru since last Christmas, Thistle Johor Bahru (Thistle JB) with the co-operation of Hong Leong Foundation decided to extend the noble act during this Chinese New Year by selling 500 teddy bears worth RM35 each for their line of corporate social responsibility project as a start in 2016. “The hotel staffs are actively engaged in ‘Teddy for Charity’ by competing among departments to sell

the teddy bears and most importantly eradicating poverty through other projects which are coming soon,” said General Manager of Thistle JB, Rashid Gallyot. The hotel has geared up with a line of charitable events for the whole 12 months and donation proceeds will be propelled directly to the respective less fortunate targets. “We will be drafting plans on bringing in underprivileged children to our hotel and give them hands-on experience of being a hotelier. During Ramadan, we will be assisting single mothers on marketing their Hari Raya

cookies and pastries in our hotel,” he added. They will also engage with the Sarawakian Penan Orang Asli in aiding to market their handicrafts sales soon with affordable prices for the guests of the hotel. Blood donation campaign will also be held at the hotel for every three months and they will also participate during Earth Day and Earth Hour. The ‘ Teddy for Charity’ project will go on sale until the end of Chinese New Year. Those interested to donate towards this project, may contact the hotel at 072229234. - by Maressa Esa

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

Street Lights, and the Lack of them Concern

Vandalism, illegal activities among key factors to the lack of street lights

By Hakim Malik editor@theiskandarian.com

treet lights are a crucial component in road safety, according to a research conducted by the Centre for Research in Environmental Appraisals and Management, University of Newcastle in 2003. Another research published in ‘The Lighting Journal (Vol. 68)’ shows that proper street illumination can reduce up to 43% of night-time accidents. Locally here, people have started to complain about the conditions of street lights along several major motorways in Johor Bahru. “At certain roads, you can clearly see the light poles lining the street but not lit up. Clearly there is a maintenance issue here,” said Fathiah Abu Bakar, 27, a sales coordinator at the Grand Blue Wave Hotel who resides in Taman Perling. She has to travel along the Sultan

Iskandar Highway (Route 52) from work almost every night and complained about the lack of street lights at nearly all of the bridges on that route. Checks by The Iskandarian along some routes in the area revealed that the bridges crossing Sungai Skudai and Sungai Kempas on Federal Route 52 was poorly lit. Light poles are evidently present along the road, yet it is still shrouded in darkness. According to the Minister’s Function Act 1969, the Ministry of Works is responsible to plan, build and maintain all federal roads gazette under the Federal Road Act 1959. However, most of it is built and maintained by its implementing agency, the Public Works Department (JKR). The Iskandarian contacted the Electrical and Engineering Department of JKR Johor which revealed that the cause for the lack of maintenance was due to the illegal removal of electrical feeder pillars

along the Sungai Kempas Bridge on Route 52. “We (JKR) noticed that the developer near the area had illegally relocated our feeder pillars and that has caused a big problem for us.” “We are still waiting for the responsible party to clarify the problem,” explained a correspondent from JKR’s office. The developer has not yet responded during the time of publication. Another stretch of road on the same route that was left in the dark is from KM6.5 to KM8.5, a flyover near Bukit Indah junction. JKR indicated that reoccurring vandalism is the main perpetrator for that particular stretch. “That (flyover) is a vandalism hot spot. We regularly go for maintenance rounds after receiving complaints from the locals.” “Every time we did an inspection, it will always be missing cable pieces. Vandals

steal copper cables and sell them to scrap metal dealers in the area. It happens a lot of times and every time we did repairs, it gets stolen again. Sometimes as early as the very next day,” said the JKR correspondent who wished to be known only as Hashim. When asked when the local authorities will take actions on these reports, JKR told The Iskandarian that their department has yet to receive any budget allocation for the current year and forecasted a budget cut due to the current state of the economy. Other motorways with similar problems include certain sections of the Pasir Gudang Highway, which is still under major construction, as well Jalan Tebrau along the Kampung Melayu-Flyover intersection. For any future complaints and more information on street lights maintenance, contact JKR’s Electrical and Engineering department complaint line at 07 – 510 4459. TI

Johor Police HQ 07-221 2999 / 07-225 4499

Nusajaya Police IPD 07-511 4222

Tourism Malaysia Hotline 1300 88 5050

Johor Tourism 07-223 4935 / 224 9960

Senai International Airport 07-599 4500

JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999

Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171

Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91

Immigration 07-224 4233

Iskandar Regional

Hotlines

From Cover

Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000

Please recycle this newspaper after reading. Thank you

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

State Tourism Board to Launch New Initiatives

he state government will implement several new initiatives with the tourism industry to ensure that the state has the potential to dominate the future market and open up greater opportunities for products and services related to tourism. Speaking on behalf of Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Khaled Nordin, the Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee Chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said that the initiative includes breathing new life into the state’s tourism website and introducing mobile apps to market and promote tourism products.

“The latest application is believed to be relevant at this point because all information about our products and tourism promotion can be searched with just one click and it can be carried anywhere,” said Datuk Tee during the closing of Johor Tourism’s ‘Focus Group Discussion’ regarding the state tourism’s strategic marketing plan at Persada convention centre recently. Johor Menteri Besar had explained in his speech that current initiatives such as publication of brochures, tour identification, publicity and the organisation of events will not stop but serve as a complement to the growing effort.

Tee explained that the government intends to develop electronic billboard tourism in stages in all the major locations that have direct flight services to Johor such as KL, Penang, Kelantan and Perak. Tee also mentioned that Johor is the only state with a four year tourism marketing plan and added that the government is in talks with industry players for collaborations in order to spark new creative ideas. “The idea from this collaboration can be used as a guide for the state government to chart patterns for Johor’s tourism, and creating employment and business opportunities for the local residents,” added Tee. TI

Johor Tourism board launches its new Explore Malaysia Selfie competition with three mascots on stage

Not Your Average Real Estate Developer

ountry Garden has a total of 24 kindergartens and 11 schools under its Country Garden Chain Schools programme, with an estimated of 20000 students with more than 2500 teachers and an ever growing number of staffs. The company’s education group is committed in providing high-end international education and high quality bilingual education. The group’s chairman, Yeung Kwok Keung who values quality education, established the Zhongming Charity School fund which utilises RMB25 million over the past 20 years and has sponsored more than 8065 college graduates. The Guohua Memorial High School established by CG in 2002 is

Highlight

Country Garden Holdings plays its part in Guandong’s social development a totally free education programme and has over 500 students from all over China. The school has helped a large number of youths with special talents to achieve their dreams. These children are usually from poverty stricken areas of China. Country Garden has also created a standard and advance training system, an E-learning online studying platform, leadership and freshmen programmes as well as several

other personal development programmes. The company is dedicated to polish the talents of business management and improve and formalise the mechanism of personnel training and job assignments. The company encourages its employees to constantly improve themselves and provides these programmes as an initiative to spark the change in each of its staff. - by Amin Khairuddin from China TI

Students in Country Garden’s IB International School has some of the best facilities in the province

IB International School provides students with ample activities including sports, arts and music classes

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

Sultan Ibrahim to Visit Chingay Procession

PEGASUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL “A SINGAPORE Curriculum School”

Benchmark Nursery to University Foundation Year

Johor ruler will mark as the first state ruler to be present at the culmination of the Spring Festival

iPSLE Singapore International Primary School Examination

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) designated Agent and Examination Centre

IGCSE / A LEVELS GAC / ACT

University Foundation Programme & American College Test Direct entry into GAC Pathway Universities

Founded in 1986 in Singapore, KinderWorld Education Group operates: AUSTRALIA

Pegasus UniCollege

MALAYSIA

Pegasus International School

VIETNAM

Singapore International School Singapore Vietnam International School KinderWorld International Kindergarten Pegasus International College

No. 1, Jalan Tasek, Bandar Seri Alam, 81750 Masai, Johor. (GPS: 1.503000,103.877000) - Tel: (607) 387 8700 Website: http://www.pegasus.edu.my | Email: enquiry@pegasus.edu.my Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm | Saturday 9:00am - 12:00pm

is Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar will be the first Johor Ruler to attend the annual Chingay parade which will mark its 144th year this 28th February 2016. “Sultan Ibrahim who ascended the throne in 2010, will be the first Sultan to attend the parade,” said Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee Chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong during a press conference recently. Tee added that the Sultan had attended the climax of the Chinese New Year 10 years ago when he was the Tunku Mahkota Johor. According to Tee, the

ruler was invited on 11th January when he granted an audience to 16 non-Muslim leaders including leaders from Johor Bahru Tiong-Hua Association and the five main Chinese clans. Tiong-Hua president Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai believes that the actions of the Sultan shows the Bangsa Johor spirit when one embraces all cultures and backgrounds present in the state. “We were surprised t h at S u l t a n I b ra h i m immediately signed his attendance on the invitation letter. “He also informed his personal assistant that he would be joining our event,” said Tey, who was present

during the audience with the Sultan. Chingay is held on the 21st day of the Lunar New Year and is a highly awaited event for the local Chinese community. On this day, the five deities, Hong Xian Da Di (Hokkien), Gan Tian Da Di (Hakka), Yuan Tian Shang Di (Teochew), Hua Guang Da Di (Cantonese) and Zhao Da Yuan Shuai (Hainan) will be carried around the city to bless the people. During the parade, the streets of Johor Bahru city centre will be closed off to traffic. The festivities will start at 7pm, with cultural dances, music and decorative floats will parade along the 10km route. - by Amin Khairuddin TI

Uber Presents the Leng Sisters Interest

An exclusive party for Uber customers at Brazzo Ponderosa

The Leng Sisters rocking it out with Uber at Brazzo Ponderosa

he Leng Sisters were in town for an exclusive one night only party at Brazzo Ponderosa. The basement session was presented by Uber Malaysia who felt the need to treat their top UberBlack riders and customers to wholesome fun time. Partygoers were surprised when they were greeted personally by Leng Yein and Leng Sean

right before their set, with many capitalising on the moment with selfies and friendly chatter. The night went off the hook when the duo began pumping the beats and dropping the bass getting the crowd into a frenzied partying mood. With a stellar party to start the year, we can only wait and guess what Uber has in store for us

in the unforeseeable future. Uber announced in January that they will be lowering fares as much as 15% for Johor Bahru users, but still providing a safe, reliable and affordable method of travel. Under this new breakdown, base fares in JB will be RM1 and consequently 25 cents per minute or 50 cents per reached kilometre. - by The Bushman TI

UMLand Seri Austin Gives Aid to the Elderly

ocal housing developer UMLand Seri Austin (Dynasty View Sdn Bhd) donated RM2000 cash and RM5000 worth of groceries to Sherun Old Folk Home & Handicap Centre in Skudai recently. As part of the company’s CSR programme, UMLand Seri Austin has been annually helping the home since five years ago, for both Chinese New Year and Hari Raya seasons. UMLand Seri Austin’s Chief Executive Officer KK Wong said that the company tries to give back to the community whenever they are able. “We do what we can. May it be donation, food and groceries, we will try our best. We have all our staff

Responsible

Annual aid rendered as part of the company’s routine CSR activity to help bring a smile to their faces,” said Wong. As many as 35 staff from the UMLand Seri Austin Sales gallery cheered up the home which has a mix of 65 Indian and Chinese occupants. According to the founder of the home who prefers to be known as Madam Kala; she originally intended it to be a nursing home but over the years, many elderly were dumped or left forgotten by their families.

“Some here have family members paying us to take care of them but most of them were left here by their families. We are always grateful for contributions because we need to take care of them and give them a comfortable environment,” said Kala. She added that part of her responsibilities includes funerals and hospital bills. - by Amin TI Khairuddin

UMLand Seri Austin Chief Executive Officer KK Wong handing out red packets to residents of the home

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

Phase 4E

Double Storey Terrace 22’ x 90’

MR92 22’ x 90’

MR93 22’ x 90’

5 Bedrooms + 5 Bathrooms

Built-up Area: 2,812 - 3,259 sq.ft

5 Bedrooms + 5 Bathrooms

Built-up Area: 2,671 - 3,212 sq.ft

Price: RM795,000 - RM988,000

Bumi Price: RM675,750 - RM720,800

Price: RM750,000 - RM800,000

Bumi Price: RM637,500 - RM834,700

Easy Accessibility - Less than 2km to popular shopping malls such as Aeon, Giant & Skudai Parade - 4km to UTM, 7km to Second Link, 15km to Senai & Johor Bahru City Centre - 20 mins. drive to LEGOLAND Malaysia, Nusajaya - 20 mins. drive to Kota Iskandar Nusajaya - Within walking distance to schools

Lifestyle Amenities - 64-acre Urban Forest & Recreational Centre with fruit trees, palms and eco ponds - Bustling commercial district with local shops, banks and petrol kiosks - 32km bicycle track & jogging tracks - Primary & secondary schools - Thorburn Chinese Primary School - Police Station & Mosque

Legoland

Columbia Asia

Newcastle University

Kota Iskandar

JOHOR BAHRU SALES OFFICE: No. 21, Jalan Jasa 25, Mutiara Rini 81300 Skudai, Johor Bahru. Tel: 07-558 6080 Fax: 07-558 4080 KUALA LUMPUR OFFICE: 18th Floor, Menara Boustead, 69 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2141 9044 Fax: 03-2143 0075

www.mutiararini.com.my

Website

E-Mail Us at

: salesjb.mrini@boustead.com.my

Enquiry Hotline

07-558 6080

End Financiers: www.facebook.com/pages/ Mutiara-Rini/105259489617767

● Developer’s License: 6737-75/10-2015/0734 (L) ● Advertising and Sales Permit No.: 6737-75/10-2015/0734 (P) ● Validity period : 19/10/2013 - 18/10/2015 ● Expected Date of Completion : September 2015 ● Plan Approval No : (21)dlm.MPJBT(JB) RP/8/24/2013 ● Building Plan Approving Authority : Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah (MPJBT) ● Tenure of Land : Leasehold 991 (Expired 04/09/2911) ● Land Encumbrances : Nil ● No. of Units : 69 units ● Price : MR92 RM795,000 (min), RM988,000 (max), MR93 RM750,000 (min), RM800,000 (max) ● Bumi Price : MR92 RM675,750 (min), RM720,800 (max), MR93 RM637,500 (min), RM834,700 (max) authorities/engineer/ architect and the developer and cannot form part of any offer or contract.

Scan code with smartphone to access our website

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

ALGERIA, BAHRAIN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, COLOMBIA, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, DJIBOUTI, EGYPT, GABON, GHANA, INDONESIA, JORDAN, KENYA, KUWAIT, MEXICO,

ALGERIA, BAHRAIN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, COLOMBIA, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, DJIBOUTI, EGYPT, GABON, GHANA, INDONESIA, JORDAN, KENYA, KUWAIT, MEXICO, MONGOLIA, MOROCCO, MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, NIGERIA, OMAN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, PANAMA, PERU, QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, THE PHILIPPINES, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UAE: ABU DHABI, UAE: DUBAI, UAE: RAS AL KHAIMAH, VIETNAM MONGOLIA, MOROCCO, MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, NIGERIA, OMAN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, PANAMA, PERU, QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, THE PHILIPPINES, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UAE: ABU DHABI, UAE: DUBAI, UAE: RAS AL KHAIMAH, VIETNAM

Coming Soon

Coming Soon Our country reports combine months of on-the-ground research with in-depth expert insight. Be among the first to find out what’s happened in the past 12 months and to read our analysis on trends. Pre-order your 2016 reports today.

Our country reports combine months of on-the-ground research with in-depth expert insight. Be among the first to find out what’s happened in the past 12 months and to read our analysis on trends. Pre-order your 2016 reports today.

“Vital information for anyone considering working in the country” — Financial Times

THE INSIDE EDGE www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com malaysia@oxfordbusinessgroup.com

“Vital information for anyone considering working in the country” — Financial Times

THE INSIDE EDGE www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com malaysia@oxfordbusinessgroup.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

DRILL streets

Q&A

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

Monthly Drill Interview By Editor

Benjamin Ong Chin Yee

BIO

Having worked in China and Hong Kong, Benjamin has returned to Malaysia to helm the Johor Operations at Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O). E&O is a premier lifestyle property development group listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia. Their property development portfolio is spread across four main growth engines spanning major property destinations in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Iskandar Malaysia as well as internationally, in Central London. E&O’s latest partnership is with Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd for Avira, a 207-acre masterplan of wellness-themed development in Medini, Iskandar Malaysia that is premised upon the concept of prolonging quality active years.

Tell us about your humble beginnings. I have been involved in real estate ever since the beginning of my high school days. My father was one of the first batches of government scholars who were offered a Quantity Surveying degree in the University of Reading, UK. I naturally followed in his footsteps. When I was a kid, I started working part time in his company all the way to my university days. I never really had any real vacation. Every summer I would work as an intern in his firm and immediately had the desire to start work straight after graduation and yes, I am a workaholic like him too!

What prompted you to return to Malaysia? Having spent almost 10 years in China, I thought it is probably time to come home. Deep down in my heart I am always a Malaysian first. As my kids spent their earlier years in China, I wanted them to also grow up in a Malaysian environment and learn about our culture. So, heading back was a good choice.

Developers are more included to selling lifestyles than mere property nowadays. What are your thoughts about this growing trend? Nowadays, a phone is not merely to make phone calls, and a watch is not merely to tell time. As we progress, the property sector

General Manager – Operations, Johor

Eastern & Oriental Berhad – Malaysia (E&O)

also needs to evolve and innovate to provide much more than just a roof over heads. Over the years, we have seen some developments labelled as “luxury developments”, simply because they have thrown a lot of money into a project like marble flooring, gold taps, etc. Yet, to withstand the test of time, a house needs more than these aesthetic elements. It needs to be timeless in design, built with carefully-chosen materials, and conceptualised with the wellbeing of the residents in mind. Only then, will the value of the property endure and appreciate, just like a prized vintage watch.

A lot has been speculated about the property market in Iskandar Malaysia, care to share your 2cents about the property outlook of Iskandar Malaysia for 2016? Iskandar has always been one of the brightest spots for development in Malaysia. However, property markets throughout Asia are presently going through a down cycle, and Malaysia is no exception. The key thing to note is that real estate investment is longterm in nature, and on this basis it remains a steady investment and is the best bet against inflation. With Iskandar being a high growth area in Malaysia and with a steady flow of infrastructure developments in the region, I believe that although 2016 may not be a

bullish year, it presents viable investment opportunities to the astute investor.

Your advice to potential investors? One of the first investment mottos that I believe everyone has heard is “sell high and buy low”. Taking the cue from this, the sharp investor would most likely read the current subdued market as a good time to buy. Investors and buyers could look forward to the potential upside resulting from the future recovery of the Malaysian Ringgit, in tandem with the recovery of global oil prices. In picking their investments, property investors should be guided by the brand and track record of the property developer. Once again, we could take a lesson from the enduring value of an exclusive branded watch.

Is Avira’s target buyers locals or Singaporeans? Backed by its unique concept, Avira is well poised to be targeted at discerning buyers locally, in Singapore, as well as in other regional markets such as Brunei, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

What sort of key features are incorporated in Avira to act as unique selling proposition? The thrust of Avira promotes Living in the Heart of Wellness with the desired effect of Prolonging Quality Active Years. Towards this

end, Avira will feature a range of elements that would collectively result in a sustainable, holistic living environment. For example, Avira will tap on the rejuvenating effects of nature by connecting people to the environment. We plan to have a 1.6 km perimeter boardwalk to link residents and the natural mangrove forest, spacious communal linear back gardens, and lush greenery and landscaping following the natural flow of waterscapes and land contours across the development. The heart of Avira will be its expansive 12.5-acre Wellness Sanctuary, giving residents easy access to holistic scientifically-proven wellness programmes right at their doorstep. Avira homes will optimise liveability conditions for dwellers. The layout will give a sense of spaciousness, promote cross ventilation and optimal inflow of natural light. Residents will appreciate the seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, especially the open courtyard that breaks the monotony of walls and concrete. Do not take my word for it, come and see for yourself.

What can we expect to see from you guys in 2016? We will be starting work on our Wellness Centre this year at Avira and be launching Phase 2 of the Garden Terraces towards the 2nd quarter of the year. TI

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

peggy loh

My johor stories

Our resident writer, Peggy Loh, actively writes in her blog www.peggyloh.com about matters that are close to her heart. She can be reached at write2peggyloh@gmail.com

Preserving Art and Heritage at Eh He

welve months ago when I was introduced to Eh He, I had trouble trying to pronounce its name. The concept of Eh He, short-form of Earth Heart, was the brainchild of Art Director, Yap Leong, who took pains to explain it to me. He encouraged me to look closer at the words, EARTH and HEART to discover ART as the consistent element within our earth and heart. He said art is everywhere and beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

Façade of Eh He painted with wall murals for the Petronas #tanahairku project, seen from the corner of Jalan Ibrahim and Jalan Trus

Patrons entering Eh He Art Café from the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee entrance I agreed that the concept was both interesting and intriguing but still couldn’t figure out the right way to say the name. But Yap insisted that it’s simple and demonstrated how it should be pronounced - “Er huh” (as in casual agreement)! When Yap saw the potential in the old shops in the heart of Johor Bahru, he gathered his artist friends together to brainstorm and create something special to preserve art and heritage here. This strategic row of corner shoplots at No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Jalan Trus, have the unique privilege of enjoying three road frontages at Jalan Trus, Jalan Ibrahim and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. These seven old shops are now transformed into Eh He, a destination where art and heritage meets. This area is familiar to me because my dad’s Indian barber, mum’s hair salon and our favourite florist, once occupied the row of shops opposite Eh He. In the 1960’s the vintage row of shops which is Eh He now, was once occupied by traders in electrical items, fabrics and a second-hand bookshop where I was a frequent customer. In the 70’s, there was also a cool shop upstairs for Hallmark greeting cards, gifts and small knick-knacks. Just before Eh He was opened to

the public last year, Yap invited me over for a sneak peek and I had the first glimpse of a massive wall mural by the staircase, painted by Yap’s wife, Pauline See Poh Chen. See told me she took more than two weeks to complete the mural that expressed the artists’ desire for freedom to pursue their dreams. She has a series of paintings that feature birds and other creatures around the figure of a little girl wearing a red dress, holding mythical whales attached to vines clasped in her hands. See is no stranger to art projects as her painting of the JB Chingay with the JB Ancient Temple or Gu Miao as a backdrop, clinched the top prize (mixed media) in the Tanjong Heritage 2013

national art competition. Last year, the Eh He team led by Yap and See, completed Magical Land, a wall mural on the façade of the Eh He building. They were among several local artists who were commissioned to complete wall murals at five sites in JB’s heritage area for the Petronas #tanahairku project between July and August for the national day celebration. While he was busy with Eh He and other art projects, Yap was also the curator of SHOWCASE, an inaugural visual and performing arts exhibition in the 12th Johor Bahru Arts Festival last year. Yap coordinated artists in various genres of art and provided them with a platform to present their talents. Back to my sneak peek of Eh He, Yap said the upstairs section of the building was designed as a gallery dubbed, The Classic Accents Art House, a space dedicated to showcasing the work of homegrown artists. The floor of the old building was reinforced and replaced by new floorboards while the old planks were creatively reused The ground floor of Eh He where seven units of shoplots were as walls and some transformed into a chic little café with curious nooks to chill out were transformed

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

into pieces of furniture. The concrete wall that divided the two shop-lots upstairs is an architectural feature, also carefully preserved and deliberately kept visible through a fiberglass roof to show how local builders adopted this building style which is typically Teochew. While this is a distinctly Chinese building concept, I learnt that this style was more prevalent in the Teochew province in China. I was told that the walls between each unit of the shop-lots peak higher than the building itself because it was a safety feature for protection against fire hazards in rows of buildings. As I observed the close attention to such details, I was encouraged by how Yap and his team are passionately preserving the building heritage in JB. Recently I met Yap again in the ground floor of Eh He which has been transformed into an art café that serves an interesting menu of drinks and meals. Subtle lighting enhanced the art that adorn the walls while wooden furniture was created from old planks that were salvaged from the original building. I was impressed with the layout and seating arrangements, where some tables were created from wooden sculptures that resembled horses! Even at mid-afternoon, the cafe seemed to be a popular hangout. Diners were enjoying all-day breakfasts of local coffee and kaya toast or meals like rice, noodles, pasta and chicken chop with fresh fruit juices and desserts like chendol. Seated in air-conditioned comfort, Yap invited me to sample some items from the menu.

Yap Leong and his wife, Pauline See Poh Chen, with some of the exhibits As I sipped my coffee and nibbled on toast and open-faced sandwiches, I looked around and marveled at what Yap has done to this old building. I remember just a few months ago, while the front section of the ground floor was being renovated, the rear section was used as a gallery for the first Johor Architectural Sketches Exhibition that featured two artists from distinct and different backgrounds – Buz Walker-Teach and Yap Hanzhen. It’s encouraging to see the vision of Yap and his team who have turned old buildings into a modern business. I’m looking forward to seeing more selfmotivated young people move into the city’s heritage quarter to transform old buildings into tourist attractions. TI

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

skandar Investment Berhad (IIB) recently treated their staff to a night of fun in a themed appreciation dinner held at Oasis, Thistle Johor Bahru. The poolside outlet saw over 200 of the catalytic developer’s staffs decked in full pirate costumes, each eagerly hoping to take home one of the Best Dressed prizes. “Opening the year’s calendar with a morale booster for the team is one way to keep the spirit high in a challenging year such as 2016. We appreciate all efforts put in by our Iskandarians in supporting the company’s direction and this event is dedicated to all of them who gave their best to the company regardless of their roles”, said Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, President/Chief Executive Officer of IIB.

streets

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

Iskandarians Let Their Hair Down Fun

200 Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) ‘pirates’ convened by the waters

A BBQ buffet was prepared for the ‘pirates’ to feast on and the much anticipated highlight of the night was the lucky draw with over 30 amazing prizes! Vice President, Corporate Finance, Woo Yuen Mei took home the first prize of Airwheel S3 and Senior Vice President, Internal Control & Compliance, Dzulkeflie Jaapar went back with a brand new Samsung Smart LED TV - both heading the long list of lucky winners. Equally excited were Yusri Wagiyo and

Harianti Affendy who were crowned the Best Dressed for the male and female category, as chosen by the lively crowd. The winners each earned themselves RM500 in cash as a reward for revealing their creativity and sporting personality for the night. IIB’s Human Capital Management team created a crossfunction sub-committee to plan and put together this event, with support from the company’s Sports and Recreation Club committee. All in a day of fun

Over 200 staff were hosted

Over 30 prizes was given out

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets RM500 Million Project to Overcome Water Shortage

t has been recently highlighted that the Federal and Johor state governments are expected to implement the Iskandar Malaysia Raw Water Transfer (PAMIN) project to meet demands for raw water in Johor. Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili said the project is a long-term plan in overcoming the insufficient water supply, especially in

Johor Bahru. The RM500 million project will involve several dams, transfer of raw water and overcome long-term supply issues. He said the project would involve the construction of the Ulu Sedili Besar dam, as well as the transfer of raw water from Sungai Sedili Besar to Sungai Johor, the Layang Dam and the Sultan Iskandar Water Treatment Plant.

LEGOLAND Malaysia Attempts to Set New Malaysian Record Interest

LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort wants you to come and build Monkeys figures

* Image is for illustration only

Puspanesam Home Gets Aid from International Women’s Association

General Manager of Malaysia Book of Records, Helilia Juana Hashim, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab and General Manager of LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, Mark Germyn posing with the Lego monkey replica

L Puspanesam gets a new van

he International W o m e n ’ s Association Johor Bahru (IWA) lends more than a helping hand at Puspanesam Home by recently contributing RM27,000.00 and got RM3500.00 from The International Baptist Church of Bukit Indah (IBCBI) to complete the payment toward the van purchase for the Home at Ulu Tiram, Johor.

The aid didn’t stop there as IWA’s Charity Coordinator came up with the bathroom/shower project for the Home by sourcing for a plumber and contractor. The project cost RM10,500.00 and IWA paid RM2000, and the local church contributed RM 4500 and an anonymous donor paid the rest. The project is almost completed. IWA also gave the

classroom a makeover by cleaning and painting the room donated by Ester Polymer Corp. and brought in desks donated by Grand Banks, a yacht company. Based on a nomination by IWA, Puspanesam Home was one of the recipients of the RM20,000 cash award by Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort via their annual charity golf tournament last year.

EGOLAND Malaysia Resor t is celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year with a record setting attempt to build the most number of monkey replica made of Lego bricks. The effort began on 22nd January 2016 and will continue until 14th February 2016. Guests can be a part of the record attempt to build 2016 Lego monkey replicas when they visit LEGOLAND during this period and will each receive a commemorative Lunar New Year Duplo brick for their efforts. These monkey replicas will then be put on display within the theme park. “Lunar New Year is a special time for our visitors, and we wanted to make sure that they’d be in the mood for this special occasion even at the resort. It’s the perfect opportunity to come and celebrate at the park and hopefully our visitors will help us get into the Malaysian Book of Records with all the monkeys too,” said Mark Germyn, General

Manager of LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort who aims to enter the Malaysian Book of Records for this attempt. Mark accompanied Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia who was there to officiate the event on behalf of YB Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng, Secretary General for Ministry of Tourism and Culture. They then proceeded to experience first hand, building a Lego monkey replica. Speaking to the media, the Director General expressed his gratitude towards LEGOLAND Malaysia and other similar establishments that are helping the tourism sector despite the current economic situation. “We are thankful to proprietors of tourists’ attraction such as LEGOLAND for their effort and initiative to help the government’s goals to promote the country, especially during the festive season,” he said. - by Hakim Malik TI

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

Surfing the Mayhem

Quick Reads

Guidelines on Homestay

Highlight

Monsoon Mayhem celebrated its 10th anniversary at Tanjung Balau, Johor in splashing style By Hakim Malik editor@theiskandarian.com

onsoon Mayhem celebrated its tenth anniversary this year at Tanjung Balau. Established in 2006, it’s the most prominent surfing event in Johor and was once a part of the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) league before it was withdrawn from the circuit in 2014. It was a change in the usual backdrop since the venue changed to Tanjung Balau rather than the usual Desaru beach. The two day event was mainly sponsored by Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Johor and Kejora. With 16

heats in two categories, it attracted more than 40 local and international participants, despite being organised on a short notice. The monsoon season came later than usual and with El Nino plaguing the weather, wave conditions were less than conducive this year. But that did not stop the participants of the Men’s open and Master’s category to rip up some awesome tricks and big moves. “We are thankful to our sponsors, supporters and friends, especially the locals of Kg. Tanjung Balau for their help in realising this event. Despite the short notice, participants come from as far as Japan and Australia,” said organiser Nazir Salih of Bigfoot Industries.

Weather influence leads to less than perfect wave conditions

Erwin Van Putten from Holland judging the Men’s Open Category Local sur fer Didaqt Musaddiq dominated the men’s open, bringing home the RM2000 first prize while Greg Daniel of Australia bagged top prize for the Master’s category. “I’ve been surfing for over 25 years now and spent almost 5 seasons in Desaru. I find the scene here very pleasant; the people are beautiful, friendly and happy. That makes the local scene so inviting for foreigners like us,” said Greg who now resides in Singapore. The competition is also a perfect platform for budding local talents to shine, as Aniq Khailani, 10, illustrated by going against older, more experienced entrants. Furthermore, events such as this are essential in promoting the coastal tourism in the state. “Thankfully, Kejora sees this event as a good opportunity to promote Tanjung Balau as a potential tourist attraction and it helps generate the local economy,” added Nazir.

(from left) Alif Hakimi, Yen, Didaqt and Haikal after their heat

People who have converted their homes in urban areas into “homestays” for tourists will no longer be able to use that term as guidelines will be imposed soon to regulate it. Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee Chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said plans were already in the pipeline to regulate and standardise the homestay segment in Johor. He said many home owners in the urban areas had converted their properties into homestay facilities to cater to customers looking for a short stay. “We will come up with the guidelines for operators of home stays and work closely with the local councils,” added Tee. Currently, there are 21 traditional villages in Johor which had been endorsed as homestay by the Tourism and Culture Ministry and they will come up with a new name for homestay in urban areas.

New Parking System The Star reported that three local councils within Iskandar Malaysia will implement a new parking system for areas under their jurisdiction to replace the coupon parking system. The new system is expected to be implemented in Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), Johor Bahru Central Municipal Council (MPJBT) and Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) by 1st April 2016. “We are finalising the new system as it involves three local councils and we have to take into account the technical issues before implementing it,’’ said Johor Bahru Mayor A. Rahim Nin. Rahim said the new system would be different from the existing coupon system, adding that MBJB would give notice to the company handling the current system to stop printing new coupon booklets. He said effective from 1st April, parking coupons would no longer be valid at the coupondesignated parking lots within areas of the three local councils.

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

Lifestyle Destination at Puteri Harbour

Interest

Highlight

More attractions and Hello Kitty theme rooms to surprise the local and international market

uteri Harbour in Iskandar Puteri has illustrated itself to be the ideal family and lifestyle destination in Malaysia with the launch of ‘Time. Together’. The initiative aims to encourage the public, both local and internationally, to come to Puteri Harbour and spend quality time with family and friends. Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia dignified the launch alongside Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn. Bhd. “This initiative can help address issues faced by families in this fast-moving digital age. It delivers a destination equipped with luxurious but affordable water front dining outlets, attractions and events where families can build and strengthen bonds through quality time

Johor Government Gives Aid to Indian Entrepreneurs

Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab during the signing ceremony of Puteri Harbour ‘Time. Together’ with TAR&H Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin together,” said Burhanuddin. For attracting the foreign visitors, Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour and Sanrio Hello Kitty Town have cooperated to design eight Hello Kitty themed hotel rooms for families and fans of the beloved icon, which will be open to public later this year. Hotel Jen General Manager,

Sigi Bierbaumer, said this initiative could drive more Hello Kitty fans and youth or adult families coming to the hotel. The event concluded with a strait cruise ride for members of the press on board the Black Pearl, one of the latest attractions at Puteri Harbour. - by John Chow Chee Sing TI

More communication is needed to understand the plight of the Indian business community

he Johor state government has allocated RM100,000 grant for the Johor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JICCI), in order to help them with their planned development projects and future programmes. Johor Mentri Besar Dato’ Khaled Nordin said the fund is to help the Indian community to develop their businesses within the state. “We cannot deny the significance of the Indian community’s contributions to the prosperity we have in Johor today. “I hope with this recognition, they will continue to reach greater heights and bring more benefits for the community and for Johor as well,” he said during the JICCI awards night 2015 at Berjaya Waterfront Hotel recently. Khaled explained that it is important for the state government to constantly communicate with the Indian business community

in order to understand the issues faced by them. “ We appreciate their support and commitment to the state as they have contributed a lot to the state’s economic growth. Khaled said the community must continue to stimulate the state’s economy and start fresh with an innovative approach for the economic growth faced in 2016 in order to support the state’s multiple cultural and entrepreneurship programmes. “When our currency is weak, we should not complain but find other ways to solve the problem such as by organising various carnivals, mega sales and many more to attract tourists,” said Khaled. He also reminded the Indian community to facilitate more potential Indian entrepreneurs to help promote Tamil schools as the school of choice as well as encouraging the use of Tamil. - by Amin Khairuddin TI

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

streets

Iskandar Malaysia Bolsters Economic Growth in Johor Highlight

Iskandar Malaysia has shown tremendous economic growth since its conception By Amin Khairuddin editor@theiskandarian.com

mong the five economic growth corridors in the country, Iskandar Malaysia (IM) has been on track with development and progress under the Comprehensive Development Plan, with its ability to attract domestic and foreign investors alike. Johor Trade, Tourism and Consumerism Committee Chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said IM has shown the most economic growth among the five economic corridors in the country. “Despite operating in a challenging and unfavourable economic global economic situation, IM still attracts strong interest from investors,” said Tee during the Community Initiated Iskandar Malaysia Conference 2016 at Thistle Johor Bahru recently.

Also present was Chief Executive Officer of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Datuk Ismail Ibrahim who is confident that IM can attract new investments between RM25 billion to RM30 billion despite the current global economic performance this year. He said with a focus on three sectors namely, health, the creative industry and tourism which can be the catalyst f o r growth this year.

“Although facing an uncertain economic climate this year, sector diversity and industry can drive the investments.” “ The amount of investments last year also exceeded our target. As such, we are confident of meeting the same success in 2016,” said Ismail. Thus far, IM recorded committed investments of RM29.83 billion from January to November last year. He added that the figure for domestic investments rose in 2015 with November seeing an investment of RM111.82 billion making up 59 % of the committed total. TI

Quick Johor Sultan Meets NonReads Muslim Religious Leaders DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has always been known to be partial towards his fellow subjects of various faiths. The Sultan recently opened his palace doors to meet with leaders from 16 non-Muslim religious groups in the state. His Highness met each leader at the palace’s main hall and asked the

representatives about the development and welfare of the respective religious groups. He also advised them to unite all religions under Bangsa Johor. Sultan Ibrahim thereafter hosted a luncheon for his guests, led by Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee Chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong.

Columbia Asia Hospital Welcomes New-borns Interest

A pair of twins among the 11 New Year babies at Columbia Asia

olumbia Asia Hospital welcomed 11 New Year babies at the start of 2016, with a pair of twins among the six girls and five boys born on

the day. The mother of the twins, Minachi A/P Yanathan, 37 years old said that she was the first to deliver her healthy twin baby boy and girl through a caesarean section. The babies weighed in at 2.32kg and 2.41kg respectively. Her 45 year old husband, Damodaran A/L Rajagopal was with her throughout labour and delivery.

New Year babies Both of them said they were grateful that the delivery went smoothly and safe. Both of them were proud and happy as they were blessed with two children after 12 years of marriage. Meanwhile, out of the nine remaining babies, two of them were delivered by caesarean while the rest were all normal births. All babies are healthy and waiting to be discharged.

JPDC Trade and Investment Mission to Japan Benchmark

Johor Petroleum Development Corporation Berhad (JPDC) had successfully organised a working trip to Japan to gain knowledge and exposure

Delegates during the JDPC Trade and Investment Mission to Japan

he Trade and Investment Mission to Japan held from 20th to 23rd January 2016, was true to JPDC’s vision to transform Johor into sustainable, world-class downstream oil & gas hub. JPDC aims to attract and secure potential investors to Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) and a site visit to industrial park to gain exposure, share knowledge and learn from established developments in Japan is a core objective. JPDC’s delegates included Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Menteri Besar Johor who is also

the Co-Chairman of JPDC, Tuan Haji Salehuddin Haji Hassan, Director of Johor Economic Planning Unit (UPENJ) who is also Board of Director of JPDC, Y.B. Ir. Haji Hasni Haji Mohammad, Johor State EXCO Member who is also Board of Director of JPDC, YB Dato’ Kamaruzzaman Abu Kassim, President & Chief Executive, Johor Corporation (JCorp), Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat, Executive Chairman of DIALOG Group Berhad and Mohd Yazid Ja’afar, Chief Executive of JPDC. “ There are countless opportunities that are on offer

in Johor, and we hope to spark interest in joining us to build something truly special and further strengthen ties between our nations, and our visit to Japan also aimed for exchange of ideas and knowledge” said Khaled. JPDC was incorporated on 9th April 2012 as a federal agency wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC). Its main role is to coordinate, facilitate, and monitor the development of PIPC. “Our main focus is to seek investors for the integrated downstream oil and gas (refinery and petrochemicals), petrochemicals and its supply chains. We are also open to other investment interest in opportunities that PIPC offers such as oil trading, small/medium

enterprises, park developer, Centralised Utility Facilities (CUF) and other type of investment” said Mohd Yazid Ja’afar, Chief Executive of JPDC. JPDC took this opportunity to introduce PIPC developments and the business opportunities to the Japanese companies and to cultivate continuous positive relationship between the parties as well as apply the knowledge and expertise learnt in Japan in the PIPC development. PIPC is the largest petrochemical complex in Malaysia measuring about 20,000 acres of land. The project will house oil refineries, a naphtha cracker, petrochemical plants as well as a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals and regasification plant. It is currently the single biggest

national project in Malaysia and an offshoot of the government’s Economic Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Programme (ETP). “J a p a n w a s c h o s e n because the nation is known as a highly industrialised country of Asia. It’s also among the top petrochemicals producer with high demand for petrochemicals and the government encourages its companies to invest overseas. With this, we see a good prospect and opportunity to bring back investment to PIPC” added Mohd Yazid. Among the Japanese companies involved on the mission site visit was Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd, Tonen General Sekiyu KK, ITOCHU, Nippon Ekitan Corporation, Taiyo Oil Co. Ltd and Japan Chemical Engineering & Machinery Co. Ltd. This is the second time JPDC participated in a Trade and Investment Mission, whereby the first mission was held last November in Osaka and Tokyo when JPDC participated in Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Trade and Investment Mission.

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

www.facebook.com/waveslifestyle twitter.com/waveslifestyle

FEBRUARY 2016

iNSIDE

al The modern mamm metropolis of ‘Zootopia’ & Elton John is back!

travel

go local Family staycation at

DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru

FEB 2016 | Page 2

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

editor’s G note

ong Xi Fa Chai readers! May the Year of the Monkey be a lucky one for you in every aspects of your life. February is also the month of love but go a little easy on the wallet whilst wooing your loved ones yea. Iconic Elton John is back with his 33rd album release – Wonderful Crazy Night and it promises upbeat and refreshing hits. British born artist/producer Jack Garratt whose music has quickly been connecting with fans all over the globe has announced his first debut album. Rose continues on why it’s important

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

to be the joyful YOU! Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” is out this month and Sony Pictures Malaysia releases The Mermaid (Chinese) directed by Stephen Chow. We continue with our staycation at DoubleTree by Hilton and in our F&B column, Peggy visits an all new The Terminal Café for some comfort food. Speaking of food, kindly take note that Passionfood Café & Bakery has now moved to a bigger premise at No.71, Jln Serampang, Taman Pelangi. As always, for those wishing to share their fashion collection, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/hotel

MUSIC UPDATES

Universal Music Singapore

WALKING ON CARS

ritish artist/producer Jack Garratt has announced details of his eagerly anticipated debut album.

“Phase” will be released on 19th February 2016 through Island Records. The record features recent single Weathered and previous EP tracks The Love You’re Given and Chemical. It was predominantly recorded at Limbo Studios in London, and produced by Jack, with additional production credits by Mike Spencer (Weathered/ Surprise Yourself), and Bastian Langebæk (Weathered/Worry). Last year, Jack had sold-out every headline show he’d played in both the UK and US, and won over ever-expansive festival crowds across Europe too. As a multi-instrumentalist (everything you see and hear is performed by Jack alone), Garratt’s live show is a fascinatingly confident,

breathtaking display of exactly what makes Jack such a uniquely gifted young musician. It proves that not only can he replicate those genreblending songs on stage, but he can take them one step further – it’s a full spectrum of performance styles. Definitely makes him one of 2016’s hottest prospects. In conjunction with the album’s announcement, Jack is pleased to unveil a brand new track and video from the album - Breathe Life, which premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World on Radio 1. The video was shot in Los Angeles, and directed by Andrew Donoho (Raury/Willis Earl Beal) who Jack also worked with on the Weathered video. Watch the video for Breathe Life here: http://jackgarra. tt/BreatheLifeOfficialVideo

Elton John to Release New Studio Album on Virgin EMI

lton John will release his 33rd studio album, ‘Wonderful Crazy Night,’ worldwide on 5th February 2016 on Virgin EMI Records. The album will feature the infectious and upbeat lead single, “Looking Up,” which was available late last year. ‘Wonderful Crazy Night’ was co-produced by Elton and T-Bone Burnett and recorded at The Village in Los Angeles. John and Burnett oversaw 2013’s acclaimed ‘The Diving Board,’ a top five success in both the UK and US, and the historic 2010 alliance with Elton’s early inspiration Leon Russell, ‘The Union.’ But there are other collaborations on ‘Wonderful Crazy Night’ that connect back to the formative days of his towering career. First and foremost, the new record marks the continuation of Elton’s incredible, inexhaustible songwriting partnership with Bernie

Taupin. The ten outstanding and evocative new co-writes represent the latest fruits of a friendship that now dates back 48 years. ‘Wonderful Crazy Night,’ signals Elton’s reunion with other trusted allies, too. Drummer Nigel Olsson, with whom he’s been working since his late 1960s breakthrough, and guitarist Davey Johnstone (who first played with him in 1971 and became a full band member the following year) are both on board, for the first time since ‘The Captain & the Kid’ in 2006. Five tracks feature appearances by another time-honoured associate, percussionist Ray Cooper, and they’re joined by bassist Matt Bissonette, keyboard player Kim Bullard and percussionist John Mahon. Other highlights on ‘Wonderful Crazy Night’ include ‘A Good Heart,’ ‘Tambourine’ and ‘The Open Chord.’ A superbly live and spontaneous spirit permeates

an album that’s about to become another landmark in an unrivalled catalogue.

TRACKLIST 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Wonderful Crazy Night In The Name Of You Claw Hammer Blue Wonderful I’ve Got 2 Wings A Good Heart Looking Up Guilty Pleasure Tambourine The Open Chord

for a staycation, drop me an e-mail at waves.lifestyle@gmail.com and be featured. For more news, do access www. theiskandarian.com The Iskandarian wishes all celebrants a very Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Priya

FEB 2016 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Four Ways to Be the Joyful You – Part 2

T Personal Motivator & Energy Coach yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses

he beginning of Joyful YOU starts with the mind. The nature of the mind is to serve us powerful tools that connect and manifest the non-physical aspects into physical aspects of life. But the mind doesn’t really do that. It mostly spends time chatting uselessly inside our head. If we personalise our mind as a person, we might not want to befriend this person for his/her incapability to stop talking and constantly finding the need to find problems and complaints. Let’s shift the mind from being the master to the servant. Start by observing

your thoughts, and don’t take all the thoughts seriously. The joy of the emotions is to be balanced. In every happiness, we must endure sadness too. In every like, we must endure dislike. The waves of emotions move up and down in harmony. The only disharmony in this process is our perception towards the emotions. To feel joy beyond chemical process of emotions require us to allow the emotion to exist as it is. We can react or take action when we feel angry but do it consciously. Remember that the beauty of being a human being is the ability to feel emotions.

The joy of the soul is to give love in everything. This is the highest Joy of all. The soul is not interested in fixing situations or people. The reason is that in every awful situation we face, become the redemption for the soul in healing and balancing the energy. To live as a joyful soul is easy. Make peace with every situation. Stop trying to fix situations or people, instead ask, "How do I share my love in this awful situation?" Love which you give from your true Self will eventually heal all kinds of suffering we created from being an un-joyful human being.

An Energy Coach and A Personal Motivator. Rose Osman uses her knowledge and intuitive skills in energy to coach people to live a joyful life through her coaching programmes on personal & career growth, relationship, love and health.

MOVIES Zootopia

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Malaysia

together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything.

Genre: Animated Comedy/Adventure Release date: 25th February 2016 Voice Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore Co- Director: Jared Bush Producer: Clark Spencer

he modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighbourhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live

But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.

The Mermaid (Chinese)

in’s real estate project involved reclamation of the sea, threatening the livelihood of the residents who relied on the sea to make a living. Bearing family secrets, Shan (The Mermaid) was dispatched to stop Hin. During their encounters, they fall in love with each other. Even though Hin stopped the reclamation plan out of his love for Shan, Shan got injured in an accident and vanished into the sea.

Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fantasy/Comedy Release date: 8th February 2016 Cast: Chao Deng, Show Lo, Kitty Zhang and Lin Yun Director: Stephen Chow Producers: Stephen Chow, Jiang Yuyi

Source: Sony Pictures Malaysia

FEB 2016 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Part II - Read Part I on our website!

travel

go local

recently launched their Breakfast Combo on weekdays from 7am – 11am at RM12 nett and Lunch Combo on weekdays from 11am - 3pm at RM14 nett. There is also the After 5 daily from 5pm – 9pm where you can unwind and have a chilled beer for RM12 nett. If combos are not your thing, then opt for pre-packed local faourites such as nasi lemak or mee mamak or grab a sandwich and smoothie. If you bring along your children to dine on Saturdays, there is a colouring activity taking place from 2 - 4.30pm at the Kids’ Corner located at the rear corner of the Food Store. Besides that, the Food Store is well stocked with local food stuffs which tourists may like to buy back and they even sell products made by the residents of Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO). Hi-Tea at Axis Lounge

STAYCATION @

DOUBLETREE by HILTON JOHOR BAHRU Address

12 Jalan Ngee Heng, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor By Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Day Two Makan Kitchen The morning started great after a good night’s sleep on the chosen pillow. My partner decided to go for a swim at the 13th floor and I decided to head to the Jacuzzi and Steam Room which is open from 6am to 10pm. After all that activity, we went down to

Makan Kitchen for a buffet breakfast. Makan Kitchen is an all-day dining buffet restaurant offering Chinese, Malay, Indian, Continental and Pastry delicacies. Being a weekday, I was really surprised that the outlet was busy with tourists and family crowd. Without wasting any time, we decided to try each multiple pots of cuisine! Do not miss out on the various cold cuts to dim sums and steamed pau to nasi lemak with condiments, tosai or bathura with curries and chutneys, mouth-watering pasties and waffles with ice cream! After eating all these scrumptious food, we definitely needed a walk and stumbled upon the Wedding Centre at the 11th floor. Wedding Centre We came to know that this is the only wedding centre inside a hotel in JB and they are busy throughout the year with December being the busiest wedding season. There are 10 versatile event spaces including 2 divisible ballrooms as well as a spacious outdoor terrace function area

Jacuzzi time anyone

perfect for hosting an outdoor wedding or predinner cocktails and refreshments. There are various wedding packages, so do visit their wedding centre for more details.

Breakfast @Makan Kitchen The Food Store After the hearty breakfast and walking around the expansive 11th floor, it was close to our lunch appointment. Feeling full, we opted for light meals from the Food Store at Level 1. The Food Store is open daily from 7am – 9pm. They

Hi-Tea for Two @Axis Lounge It was nearly check out time for us but not before trying their latest launch – the afternoon tea or Hi-Tea for 2 at the Axis Lounge. The Hi-Tea is served every day from 3 – 6pm for RM45 nett per set which is good enough for two or three persons. You get to sit back and enjoy premium Dilmah teas with delicious set of pastries, scones with whipped cream and strawberry preserve, and a selection of sandwiches. Everything is freshly baked and prepared for you and your guest. It is advisable to make prior reservations as it can be quite booked even on weekdays. You may call 07-2686868 to make your reservations. I was informed that the Hi-Tea will be only served at the Axis Lounge and in-house guests are not allowed to have it ordered to their rooms. Overall it was a relaxing staycation in the city, and it was time to head home. An interesting location awaits you in the next issue – so stay tuned for it!

Calendar of Events JB, 1st – 7th Feb 2016 CNY Promotion @KSL City Mall

Spore, 6th – 14th Feb 2016 River Hongbao @Marina Bay S’pore

8th – 9th Feb 2016 Chinese New Year

Spore, 12th -21st Feb 2016 Chinese Festival of Arts @ Esplanade S’pore

JB, 13th Feb 2016 Piala Sumbangsih 2015 @ Stadium Larkin

14th Feb 2016 Valentine’s Day

Spore, 15th Feb 2016 AWT Airline Awards @Pan Pacific S’pore

JB, 21st Feb 2016 Tribute Yazit Search @ Dewan Jubli Intan

Spore, 23rd – 24th Feb 2016 Airxperience Asia @Suntec S’pore

JB, 25th – 29th Feb 2016 Chingay Parade JB

Spore, 19th – 20th Feb 2016 Chingay Parade @S’pore

Block your dates for this month! If you need more information on the above mentioned events, drop us an email at: waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

live

I own you so I own your money! Financial Bully in Marriages - Part 1 Dr. Haliza Zurah Dr. Haliza Zurah is a medical doctor of 8 years of experience hopes to assist the working mothers to balance work, life and emotion. As a representative of JIWA (Johor Intellectual Women Association) she will cover crucial issues involving working mothers and matters relating to women’s rights, education and more.

his isn’t the first time that Sarah is paying off her husband’s debts and household expenses for the past 6 months. Her husband is currently unemployed and doing odd jobs. 2 years ago, she also paid for the household expenses while her husband was in between jobs. Sarah is very disappointed in her husband’s lack of responsibility and she feels loaded with his financial burden. Love keeps a marriage together but statistics show that 60% of divorce among Muslim couples is due to financial constraint. There are 2 common types of married couples when it comes to finance. First, both agree to share the financial burden and set aside a budget to pay the bills, grocery shopping and childcare needs. They even divide on who pays what. Secondly, the husband pays mostly everything and the

wife only assists financially when needed. However, now there is an increasing number of women having a career and some are doing better and becoming more financially independent. So who is responsible for the family’s finance if the wives are earning more? Sarah is an example of a modern young who supports her husband. Women are now allowed to have jobs, so why not make women pay? Women nowadays choose to keep their jobs for various reasons such as to maintain finances at home and help lessen husband’s burden. However, keep in mind that “financial bully” can happen to women during marriage. Some husbands believe that they are authorised to take full control of the family’s finance including their wives salary. “I own you so I own your money too” was Faridah’s ex-husband’s slogan during their 10 years of marriage. Faridah, a banker was only given 10% of her total salary every month for her personal use and the rest was used by her husband to pay their mortgage and daily expenses. Her husband, who was emotionally unstable, started to take control of her bank accounts, ATM and credit cards. Later Faridah realised the bullying was worsening when her credit card bill was mounting and she was behind on mortgage payments. She finally filed for divorce and

slowly recovered from debts. “Regardless of the wife’s earning, the responsibility of household finance still falls on the husband’s shoulder. He needs to provide the basics and only top-ups are done by the wife at her own will,” said Hajah Alina Wong binti Abdullah, Chief Deputy Director of Family Development, Johor Islamic Department. She added, many men nowadays liked to use Islamic terms for their own benefit e.g. nusyuz and derhaka (both mean disobedient) to make their wives obey especially for financial purposes. She advised women to be wise and be discreet of their salary from their husbands and the act is not considered nusyuz. Women need to ensure that their own properties are named accordingly. To those who feel bullied financially, they are advised for a counselling session at any nearby Islamic department. According to www.creditcard.com, there are nine signs of financial bully in marriage. Faridah’s case is a classic example (i.e. dividing the cash unfairly, putting her on an allowance, control over credit cards and demanding to hand over the paycheck). Another sign is scolding the spouse when going over budget and pointing finger to the other person for blame. A husband with traditional views will prevent the wife from earning more because his entire self worth

is wrapped up in his net worth. Instead of increasing his own earnings, a financial bully belittles the size of the spouse’s salary. Controlling the “big money goals” e.g. he saves money for buying his dream boat but mocks her wish for a vacation in Paris. Finally, when a spouse blames the other for debts then takes over the finance without looking through the situation or finding ways to fix it together. To avoid future financial problems during marriage, professional financial advisors usually advice the young couples to discuss household financial management with potential spouse before marriage. They need to set guidelines on their future financial plans. It might be a taboo to discuss this during dating but they may not realise the pitfalls ahead. When a marriage becomes rocky, finance is always the first issue raised. Every woman wishes for an everlasting marriage but when it turns into a hellish one, she needs to take fast actions. Women are entitled to demand on outstanding alimony during marriage or even after divorce. Therefore, the habit of keeping track of expenditure by proper documentation and filing the receipts will definitely be useful. Women should be vigilant on her financial rights. Be wise and protect yourselves from getting bullied financially. TI

Exercise during Pregnancy doctors are concerned that regular maternal physical activity during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, premature delivery, poor fetal growth or musculoskeletal injury. For normal pregnancies, these concerns have not been substantiated.

Dr. Zaharuddin Rahmat @ Mohd.Rawi MBBS (Malaya), MOBGY (Malaya), MRCOG (London), A.M.(Mal), CGO (Mal) Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & GynaeOncologist Gleneagles Medini Hospital

egular exercise and pregnancy appears to benefit both mother and baby in many ways. A healthy woman with a normal pregnancy may either continue her regular exercise regime or begin a new exercise programme. Generally, exercise is safe during pregnancy. Most obstetricians will tell their patients to remain active, as long as it’s comfortable and there are no other health conditions suggesting otherwise. There is a possibility that proper exercise during pregnancy will likely help with weight loss after the delivery of baby. In some cases, some women and

Body changes during pregnancy In the first trimester and during low level exercise, blood pressure and pulse responses are not significantly different from those in the non-pregnant woman but fatigue may be noticed earlier during exercise. During this time, the foetus is undergoing its most important growth including development of organs and limbs. Therefore, a proper balance of nutrition, hydration, exercise and rest is of great importance. The second and third trimesters are accompanied by dramatic changes in a woman’s body. Normal weight gain ranges between 1015kg (22-35 pounds) and is centred around the abdomen and pelvis, which alters both posture and the centre of gravity. Exercises requiring balance and agility may become more difficult due to the change in the pregnant woman’s weight distribution. The use of properly adjusted exercise equipment, a smooth floor surface and aquatic exercises are extremely helpful. Physical exercise during pregnancy Walking is usually safe for everyone. Squatting: Stand with feet & shoulder width

apart and slowly lower into a squat position. Keep the back straight, heels on the floor and knees should not protrude in front of feet. Hold the squat for 10 to 30 seconds, rest hands on knees. Pelvic tilts: Get on hands and knees. Tilt hips forward and pull abdomen in. the back should be slightly round. Stay in this position for a few seconds then relax without letting the back sag. Repeat a couple of times, working up to 10. Pelvic floor exercise helps to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which comes under great strain in pregnancy and childbirth. If pelvic floor muscles are weak, patients may leak urine when coughing, sneezing and strain. Swimming is one of the best exercises during pregnancy. • Yoga strengthens core muscles, eases back pain, and helps patients relax, make labour shorter and more comfortable. Do not do “hot yoga” and do not lie on the back after the first trimester.

• • •

Cycling on a stationary bike is generally safe even if the patient just started an exercise programme. Avoid these types of exercises during pregnancy: • Activities where falling is more likely. • Exercise that may cause any abdominal trauma, including with jarring motions,

•

contact sports or rapid changes in direction. Extensive jumping, hopping, skipping, or bouncing. Bouncing while stretching. Waist twisting movements while standing. Intense bursts of exercise followed by long periods of no activity. Exercising in hot, humid weather.

References: American sport medicine, American pregnancy association, American college of O&G, National health service, UK, The pelvic obstetric & gynaecological physiotherapists group, Mayo Clinic, US.

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

live

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

Understanding Heart Attack been long identified, and 90% of them are preventable. In fact by reducing the risk of heart disease, we are also reducing the risk of developing other diseases. Some risk factors of heart disease:

Dr. Ho Chon Hoo Dr. Ho Chon Hoo is Cardiothoracic Surgeon MD (Taiwan, Cardiothoracic) Surgery (Taiwan Association of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery), Surgery (Department of Health, Taiwan), Cardiovascular Surgery (Taiwan Society of Cardiology)

rior to 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, heart surgery was seen as impossible, with high morbidity and mortality. But now the most common surgical procedure performed on a daily basis all over the world is coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), with mortality and morbidity less than 3 % with excellent long-term result. Coronary artery disease is a common threat to all of us. In America, every 20 seconds there is a patient suffering from heart attack. Although there is a greater understanding of the heart disease today, coronary artery disease is still responsible for the death of thousands of Malaysian annually. The causes of heart disease have

High Cholesterol Level: Accumulation of cholesterol in the arterial wall leads to atherosclerosis (the hardening process of the artery), which reduces blood flow. A rupture in narrowed arteries can lead to the formation of blood clots, blocking the entire artery and causing heart attack. High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure damages arterial walls, causing arterial wall thickening and dysfunction. When it has to pump against higher resistance and pressure, the heart becomes hypertrophic (enlarged) and eventually failure. Besides pharmaceutical options, you can control your blood pressure by reducing salt intake and exercising more. Obesity: Abdominal obesity and a predominance of gut or visceral fat increase the rate of heart attack and diabetes at the same time. Diabetics are two times more likely to develop heart disease. Increased abdominal fat is also part of metabolic syndrome, and is associated with insulin resistance and fatty liver. Strict diet control and exercise are vital in combating obesity. Smoking: Smoking constricts blood vessels,

thus damaging arterial l i n i n g, re d u c i n g blood flow to tissues and finally blocks arteries, leading to heart attack. Besides reducing the risk of heart attack, quitting this habit will also reduce the risks of lung diseases and cancer. Diabetes: Diabetes patients have 2 to 4 fold increase risk of heart attack and have higher death rate when they have one. Patients with diabetes have a tendency of alteration of cholesterol particles which tend to increase LDL cholesterol. Early menopause: Women tend to experience coronary heart disease ten year later than men of the same age. This is due to the protective role oestrogen plays towards the heart. Oestrogen acts on the liver to cause an overall reduction in the total amount of cholesterol in the body. The hormone also tends to specifically increase the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease the amount of bad cholesterol (LDL). This explains why early menopause can increase the risk of heart disease.

Heart anatomy image from Wikipedia

These days, lifestyle changes have exposed younger people to heart disease as well. Start early by establishing good habits including eating a healthy diet that suits our calorie requirements, exercising at least 30 minutes daily, and limiting the intake of red meat and fatty foods are mandatory. Unlike cancers, 97% of coronary heart disease is curable if you receive treatment at the right time by performing coronary artery bypass surgery, PTCA or thrombolytic therapy.

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

invest

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

Accumulating Wealth Adam’s Financial Journey Tips & Tricks

In the Adam Series, we explain how financial planning is being applied in our day to day life as we journey through different stages and challenges

Stay invested amidst uncertainties (Part 3)

f you recalled what happened in January, you’d remember the world stock market had a surprise opening on the first trading day. The Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 243 points, or 6.9% on 4th Jan 2016, forcing the authority to suspend trading for the second time in a week. While the above knee-jerk reaction was linked to poor economy figures, it’s also related to tensions on North Korea’s nuclear test and dispute between Arab and Iran. A month ago, we’re talking about the oil price approaching USD35 a barrel, it has now touched USD29. This has prompted our government to revise the Budget 2016 based on the oil price of USD30 per barrel. No doubt, the weakened Ringgit owing to depressing oil price has made 2016 an even more challenging year. Given the above scenario, how would Malaysia stock market perform? Compared to a month ago, the KLCI Composite Index has showed slight improvement of up by 10 points, or a mere 0.6% from 1623 to 1633 as at 14th January 2016. How about our stock portfolio’s performance? Let’s take a look at our portfolio as at 14th January 2016:

The Wedding Plan

Tey Bin Yuen Binyuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. He’ll be conducting a mini workshop ‘Gain Financial Security through Share Investment’ on 4th March 2016. Collect this article to exchange a ticket worth RM20 for FREE. Reach his team at contact@teybinyuen.com

good news that’s going to be released. To play it safe, I decided to take profit and sell the 30000 shares at 1.17. This gives me sales proceed of RM35,100.00. Add on Hevea Sometimes last month, Hevea was attacked by a few bloggers on various issues. As a result, its share price tanked at 15% in a few days. Fortunately, the management handled the issue swiftly by having a conference call with CIMB analyst and team of institutional investors. Right after communication, CIMB published a report, mentioning they felt the

The companies mentioned above and 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.

There were seven counters bought on 16th November 2015 and one new counter FFHB added on 15th December 2015. The amount invested was RM157,540.00, leaving RM42,460.00 balance of cash. Overall, six out of eight counters went up and we’ve made RM42,640.00 on paper gain. Compared to KLCI with a variance of -1.39% since 16th November 2015, we’ve made 28% return in two months, which is very encouraging. With this result in merely two months, you’d naturally feel tempted to sell, wouldn’t you? Taking profit on FFHB Before we make any decision, let’s take a closer look at the portfolio. One of the main contributors on our return is FFHB. This counter helps us made nearly RM15k, or 72% in a month. While this is an incredible return, it also makes me wonder could the current share price have already factored in the

Brought to you by:

management addressed the issue very well and sensed that institutional investors were comfortable with the explanations. Soon the share price rebounded but perhaps due to the weak sentiment, the share price movement was rather conservative. As such, we bought 8000 shares of Hevea at 1.55 with RM12,400.00 invested. After we sold FFHB and added Hevea, our cash level increased from RM22,700.00 to RM65,160.00 which we’ll update in our portfolio table next month. Conclusion There is no fix strategy to adopt in such a bear market. When you’re sitting on 28% profit, you have more flexibility to adjust your portfolio, whether buying, selling or both, as long as you’re comfortable. After all, it’s not only the money that you’ve made, but also the precious experience and confidence gained through investing in the stock market. TI

dam and Aida have been dating for a while now and he is already a Chartered Accountant while Aida is currently the Team Leader at her bank. They are doing pretty well in their career and are contemplating moving into the next stage of their lives – as husband and wife. Adam was walking past a jewellery shop and stopped to check out the diamond ring he has been eying for the past few weeks. He felt it was about time for them to settle down although marriage expenses can be pretty substantial. Decisively confident that bonus is due within a month’s time, he figured that he could very well charge it to his credit card and by the time the payment is due; his bonus would have come in. He paid RM4,000 (after a good discount) and this was his single largest purchase via his credit card. Adam was well aware of the responsibility that comes with owning a credit card and he has been very disciplined by paying off his credit card bills in full every month. As a rule of thumb, we should never swipe the card if we cannot pay for it in cash. A credit card merely acts as a payment instrument that usually comes with reward points or some other incentives - it is to be utilised as a transitional substitute for cash but not as ‘hard’ cash! Always discipline yourself to pay in full on due dates after charging your credit card(s) or else be prepared for penalties and charges of more than 18 % p.a. With a diamond ring in hand together with a candlelight dinner voucher thrown in, Adam planned a surprise moment for Aida. On the pretext of celebrating his promotion, he invited Aida out for a dinner. As they were about to finish their dinner, Adam graciously presented Aida a bouquet of roses and went on bended knees, with the diamond ring in hand and proposed to her. She accepted immediately with a loving smile. If we think that owning a car is a big commitment, marriage is an even bigger commitment and should be entered into only if you feel capable of handling the responsibilities. With the romance, comes the real issue including managing finances mutually and harmoniously. Be realistic about your wedding plans based on your budget and do not try to live up to the expectations of other people, including your prospective spouse. Like in

The wedding budget

other aspects of your life, have a wedding budget. Aligned to your needs and wants - and most importantly, discuss with your spouse-to-be on how much money both of you can comfortably afford. Adam and Aida sat down together to talk about their expectations of the whole wedding ceremony and decided to work out their wedding budget. They have a better idea of how much they roughly need for their wedding arrangements and believe that the gifts from their guests (normally in cash) would be able to cover a major portion of the dinner costs. Adam has also accounted 10 % under the item called “Other expenses” to cater for any other incidental and unforeseen expenses like costume jewellery, facial, hairdo, and etc. A common legendary French proverb quotes, “Love makes passion, but money makes marriage”. As much as we hate to admit it, money will somehow affect our relationship with each other. For couples intending to tie the knot, it’s best to be very clear about where we stand pertaining to our expectations of marriage. Otherwise, you may end up getting entangled with all the money issues which may eventually strangle the love you have for each other. TI To be continued…

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

play

Comfort Food at The Terminal Cafe

The Terminal Café [No Pork or Lard] G-09, Block A, Plaza Mentari, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru Open daily 10am to 10pm. Closed on Tuesdays Tel: 073305643

Our resident writer Peggy Loh goes scouting for scrumptious food all over Johor Bahru. Reach her for a review at write2peggyloh@gmail.com

Fans of Curry Chicken Hor Fun agree that this thick curry-on-rice noodle dish certainly meets the mark

Take your pick of signature dishes from a menu that resembles a flight information board on the wall of The Terminal Café Most of us enjoy travelling and exploring other cultures and cuisines but if we stayed abroad for longer periods, we often miss the taste of familiar food. The Terminal Café understands this craving and offers a menu of comfort food, both local and western, that’s both familiar and reminiscent of our travel destinations. Designed with an airport terminal theme, the café even has a menu on the wall that resembles a flight information board for diners to order from. While waiting for your

A homemade Nasi Lemak set meal served on a tray, reminiscent of in-flight meals, complete with a chilled pudding dessert meal, browse through well-thumbed travel guides that will inspire you to plan your next travel itinerary. Vivian Ching and her friends who enjoy food and travel, said they started this café with a terminal concept for diners to enjoy food that satisfies like the first taste of favourite food after an extended trip abroad. To remind diners of their travels, some meals are even served on trays, reminiscent of in-flight meals, complete with a chilled pudding dessert. Ching said each main

course order comes with a complimentary pudding dessert. Homemade Nasi Lemak with fried chicken wing, egg omelet, roasted peanuts, sambal ikan bilis and papadam crisp, is a chef’s recommendation. Familiar favourites like Laksa Noodles, Nyonya Assam fish with rice and Curry Chicken hor fun or rice noodles, are also popular choices. Quick-service is part of the terminal concept for travellers who may be in a hurry to catch flights. And to serve meals more efficiently, the café uses order forms for customers to pick their food choices. The All-Day Breakfast platter comes in three sizes for diners to pick choices of either three, five or seven side items. Western main meals like the Terminal Chicken, Fish & Chips, Chicken Chop and

@RM 120.00 nett per person CHINESE NEW YEAR EVE REUNION BUFFET DINNER FEBRUARY 8 th & 9 th 2016 6.30pm - 10.00pm

CHINESE NEW YEAR BUFFET HI-TEA FEBRUARY 9 th 2016 12.00noon - 4.00pm

RM 48.00nett Adult RM 28.00nett

(4-12 years & 55 years old above)

*with complimentary Yee Sang

Grilled Salmon, comes with two side dishes in choices of buttered fried rice, mashed potato, garden salad, pasta, mushrooms or garlic bread among other side items. If you crave for fresh US oysters in halfshells or mussels that you’ve tasted on your travels, just ask if a fresh batch is available. Or indulge in a whole Flaming Chicken resting on a bed of Guinness, drizzled in the chef’s secret sauce. The café also has a menu suitable for vegetarians. TI

For Two 230.00 Table nett

includes 4-course delicious candlelight dinner with a glass of Red or White Wine, romantic music, complimentary heart-shaped chocolates & welcome table signage. Every lady receives a complimentary stalk of rose.

RM 88.00nett Adult RM 48.00nett Child and Senior Citizen

Vivian Ching looks on while tongues of flames rise from the Flaming Chicken when the chef’s secret sauce is drizzled on the whole roasted chicken

220.00 Per Couple

Child and Senior Citizen

*with complimentary Yee Sang

nett

Valentine’s Special Offer in Deluxe Room with breakfast.

*All prices quoted are inclusive of 6% GST (Goods & Services Tax) *Free Parking *Terms and Conditions apply

For more information and reservation, please contact

OLLA RESTAURANT or QUANDO-QUANDO BAR : (+6) 07 231 8805/8806

No 55, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Tel: +607 231 8888 Fax: +607 231 8889 Email: info@htlgranada.com Website: www.htlgranada.com Facebook: facebook.com/HotelGranadaJohorBahru

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

www.causewaylink.com.my/package_tour.php

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

play

Oriental Flavours for CNY at Thistle Johor Bahru

histle JB is offering three tiers Yee Sang Dinner set menus for a table of 10 persons. The RM1088nett Chinese New Year Set Menu comes with Salmon “Yu Sang”, Braised Shark’s Fin with Crab Meat Soup, Smoked Duck Szechuan Style, Steamed Red Snapper with Superior Sauce, Poached Prawns in Chinese Herb Broth, Braised Ling Zhi Mushrooms with Broccoli and Fresh Scallops, Lotus Leaf Rice with Salted Egg and for dessert, Mochi Fruit and Red Bean Mochi. For the RM1188nett menu, diners will get to enjoy an Abalone “Yu Sang”, Twin Happiness Seafood Soup, Chef’s Special Crispy Fried Chicken, Steamed Garoupa with Assam Sauce, Crispy Prawns Cluster with Mayonnaise, Braised Fish Maw with Broccoli and Fresh Scallops, Fried Rice with Duck Meat and to end the night, Mochi Red Bean and Mochi Fruit. The RM1588nett menu features dishes such as Prosperity “Yu Sang”, Four Treasure Seafood Soup, Smoked Chicken with Pepper Sauce, Braised Abalone with Broccoli Oyster Sauce, Wok Fried Cod Fish with Szechuan Sauce, Steamed Aromatic Rice with Chestnuts in Lotus Leaf and Warm Chocolate Lava Cake. The Chinese New Year Yee Sang Dinner is available from 7th February to 22nd February 2015 from 6:30pm to 10:30pm at Fresh Restaurant.

Cheff Loo (left) and Chef Chan with their creations There is a Chinese New Year Reunion Nyonya Buffet Dinner on the 7th February 2016 at Fresh Restaurant featuring delicious Nyonya dishes. The dessert station will have mouthwatering Nyonya and Malay Kuihs and selections of Flavoured Puddings, Assorted Fruit Tartlets, Warm Chocolate Pudding and more. The Buffet Dinner is from 6:30pm to 10:30pm and priced at RM98nett for adults and RM48nett for kids aged 6-12 years old. On 8th February 2016, there is a Chinese New Year Prosperity Buffet Lunch at Fresh Restaurant from 12 noon to 2:30pm and priced at RM78nett for adults and RM38nett for kids aged 6-12 year old with a great selections of hot items. The Chinese New Year

Happiness Buffet Dinner at Fresh Retsaurant starts at 6:30pm with stations serving a variety of local and international dishes. It is priced at RM108nett for adults and RM58nett for kids aged 6-12 years old. On 9th February 2016, the Chinese New Year Good Luck Buffet Lunch at Fresh Restaurant will feature delicacies such as Pasta Penne Arabiata Style, Roasted Chicken Percik, Buttered Prawns, Minute Steak with Creamy Peppered Sauce, Potato Au Gratin, Soft Tofu in Egg Sauce, Stir-Fried Long Beans with Shrimps and much more. The buffet is from 12:00noon to 2:30pm and is priced at RM78nett for adults and RM38nett for kids aged 6-12 years old.

A taste of tradition at Renaissance Hotel JB

Have your reunion dinner at Renaissance Hotel JB

sher in the year of the Monkey with Renaissance JB’s Reunion Chinese feasts from January till the end of February 2016, so gather friends and family for a prosperous Reunion Dinner with three types of specially crafted 9 course Contemporary Cantonese Cuisine. Each set menu is crafted for Wan Li Chinese Restaurant by native Chef Alan and his team to provide guests with a delectable and auspicious reunion dinner. Among the highlights of the menu include the Yee Sang with Salmon, Sliced Abalone and

Jellyfish, Buddha Jump Over the Wall and the Hong Kong Style Steamed Dragon Tiger Grouper in superior soy sauce. Wan Li’s Chinese New Year set menus start from RM158++ to RM258++ per person with a minimum of two person per dine in. Each table of ten will get a complimentary bottle of red or white house wine. Yee Sang Starts from RM78++ to RM138++ and Poon Choy is priced at RM398++ and RM698++ and is available for takeout from 22nd January 2016 until the end of February.

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

@home

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

PROPERT Y INSIGHT

PROPERTY

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

APARTMENTS

VILLAS

CONDOMINIUMS

OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE

Cover: More Affordable Houses Menteri Besar Johor Datoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin launched the RMMJ affordable houses project by MB Group at Taman Desaru Utama pg 32

Johor Bahru to become a metropolis by year 2020

Connect with us on Facebook

Read this article on our website

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

@home

Johor Bahru to Become a Metropolis by 2020 Highlight

The State Government aims to make the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis with a progressive economy By Amin Khairuddin editor@theiskandarian.com

he recently launched strategic plan from 20162020 by MBJB is set to transform the state into a metropolis with space for its citizens to develop and grow with a progressive economy. Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Khaled Nordin explained that by 2020, 70% of the country’s

population will be expected to live in urban areas and large cities. “Our aspiration is to emerge as a metropolis that provides several spaces for its citizens that are creative, knowledgeable and innovative,” said Khaled at the launch of the strategic plan and the City Council Appreciation Night at Berjaya Waterfront Hotel recently. Khaled said he was confident the city will develop faster than other cities in the

country due to the well organised and planned economic growth. He explained that before the city reaches this level, it will face several challenges such as poverty, urban problems, traffic congestion and environmental pollution that will temporarily threaten the quality of life of the citizens. Khaled added that the strategic plan will focus on the administration of the city, develop a vision and proper understanding

of assets, potential and resources. The MB s a i d t hat MBJB should also enrich and empower all existing assets and infrastructures to turn Johor Bahru into a smart sustainable city in the future. He also said that it will be a challenge for MBJB to rebrand the city so that it can be marketed to the world and attract various investments, events and political forums. TI

Menteri Besar Dato Khaled Nordin officiating the launch of MBJB’s new transformation plan

Real Life Case Studies Opinion

A.Devadason

CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialises in tax advisory and consultancy. He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my

y mother often tells me to save for a rainy day. While it’s easier said than done, the very act of making a decision to save is the first step towards a worry-free retirement. The real challenge of course, is sticking to that decision on a consistent basis. Everyone saves at one point or other. Unfortunately, these savings are residuary

amounts after all expenses have been paid off first. Therefore, there is always a chance that on some occasions, when unplanned expenses appear, savings are deferred to a later point in future. While some play catchup by doubling the savings in the following month, other’s just simply give up and live life as though it’s their last day on Earth. This is more prevalent in the younger workforce especially when they have yet to get themselves committed with any financial obligations. Should they carry this unhealthy behaviour well into their greying years, at least there’s the EPF to back them up. But be rest assured that this last sum of money will run out in no-time as unsavoury habits built over decades are hard to change in a short time.

The Two Objections (Part 1) No EPF / KWSP What happens for those of us who are working overseas and are not subjected to compulsory savings schemes such as the EPF / KWSP? Well, I was referred to one such person. Jack has been working in Singapore for the last 10 years and due to his own salary increment and a strengthening exchange rate, his take-home pay is well above RM15,000 a month. Definitely a fancy pay for a 28 year old! The problem is, he has less than RM5,000 in his savings, no properties, no investments but a high amount of outstanding credit card bills for dubious expenses that he’s not proud about. He wanted to turn around his financial situation and was in need of advice. I went through his existing

insurance coverage and it was properly done. The first step of Financial Planning is to protect one’s source of income. Thank goodness this chap had this element well laid out. I suggested to set aside a quarter of his income as savings every month. The rationale is to compensate for the EPF that he has foregone while working in Singapore. This amounts to 23% (Employee 11%, Employer 12%) and I bumped it up to a nice 25%. He baulked at the idea claiming that it was too high. That was the first objection I received. I relented and suggested that the 25% be implemented on the remuneration he would be receiving if he was working on the same job but in Malaysia instead. Information from employment related websites suggested an average salary of RM6,000. TI

Quick Reads

Stake in Bandar Malaysia It was reported that the Johor state government acquiring a stake in Bandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd is expected to generate profits that will be used towards enhancing the wellbeing of the people. Menteri Besar Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that entering the shares acquisition tender as a bidder and subsequently winning it represented an opportunity for Johor. “What is wrong for the state government through Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ) in Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd (IWH) to be involved in a development in Kuala Lumpur? “At least the returns and profits can be brought back (to Johor) and by doing so, KPRJ can undertake things that will provide for the wellbeing of the rakyat,” he said.

Oil and Gas CoopCity at Pengerang The first cooperative based on oil and gas will be set up at Bandar Penawar in Pengerang soon. “C a l l e d Co o p - C i t y Bandar Penawar, it will be modelled after Coop-City at Bronx City, New York,” said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah during a working visit to Johor. The proposed project will be built on a 62.5-acre site and will cost about RM300 million. “We need cooperatives to take part in the development of the Iskandar Region,” he added. Johor has 1,243 cooperatives with some 500,000 members. They own total assets of RM781 million, have an annual turnover of RM542.5 million and recorded total net profits of RM70 million for the year 2014.

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

@home

Property Investment

Quick Reads

Opinion

Weakening Ringgit a Boon for Property The weakening of the Malaysian Ringgit is advantageous for foreign buyers interested in property investment in Malaysia. Chief Executive Officer of UMLand, Datuk Charlie Chia Lui Meng said that Malaysia remains as an attractive location in the Asian region and is able to pull investors from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan. Properties cost a lot more overseas and this drives foreign investors to seek elsewhere. The Ringgit did fall as low as RM4.4080 against the US Dollar last September.

Learn to Invest by Learning to Sing a Song

et me start by reliving the famed lyrical song popularised by Elaine Page in the hit musical, CHESS: “Nothing is so good it lasts eternally, Perfect situations must go wrong, But this has never yet prevented me, Wanting far too much…” You can and must find inspiration and confidence in investment by loving music or other emotive art forms because you can essentially apply the same sentiment in financial investment and there is no need for surprises. Relating back to Iskandar Malaysia (IM), we have seen the turbulent ups and downs in the overall landscape. In less than five years starting from 2010 till today, things have changed a lot. I’m certain there are many of you who are regretting how you have gone in with the crowd and are now stuck. Many more of you are stuck in serious traffic jams increasingly

spending more time thinking of migrating to Singapore to avoid the malaise of wasted lives on the Causeway. But I know one thing that when things become so bad, things change. Foreign direct investments are pouring into IM every quarter. The authorities are doing many things right in enhancing education, housing and transportation. The day will come when the congestions on the Causeway too will be gone. That is certain. However, there are still more headwinds ahead. Commodity prices are down, interest rates are up and business sentiments are so low, you cannot miss a beat. Terror threats are here in South East Asia as the tragic event that happened in Jakarta, Indonesia. Even when the going gets tough, I’m optimistic that the long term picture is even more important.

IM will always be a surprise win because it isn’t the capital city of Malaysia nor is it a scarce island like Penang. But it’s the only connected state in Asia that complements so well the city state economy of Singapore. The Iskandar Regional Development Authority is confident of attracting new investments to the tune of RM25B to RM30B this year alone. These investments will concentrate on three strategic sectors of health, creative and tourism. I particularly like these three sectors being service-oriented and leveraging the service strengths of Singapore. Already tourism and healthcare are the two service industries apart from finance that makes the bulk of Singapore’s gross domestic service growth. The growing travel industry with the expansion of Singapore’s Changi Airport means even more flow over of international traffic to

Ed Cheong Ed is the Singapore founder of the Iskandar Malaysia Investors Forum and Rafflesland Group of Companies which provides platform for property investors to gain insights and worldclass investment strategies. He is contactable at iskandar@rafflesland.com

Johor. With the Rail Transit and High Speed Rail in the pipeline, can you stop to imagine the tremendous possibilities for Johor? I can. I’m certain IM will re-enter the domestic investment lexicon sooner than expected. If anyone is in doubt, go listen again to the song “I Know Him So Well” and remember to stay the course. Know that investment and the love of it is a long game of Chess that you can win. TI

Affordable homes in Desaru by MB Group Highlight

Affordable Homes and New Clubhouse Unveiled at Desaru Utama Carnival 2016

B Group, the developer of Taman Desaru Utama, a major integrated township development in Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi, officially launched the Taman Desaru Utama Affordable Homes (‘Rumah Mampu Milik Johor’, RMMJ). Launched by Menteri Besar Johor Dato’ Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, the RMMJ by MB Group will be located in Taman Desaru Utama, a modern township that was once an abandoned site before MB Group took over in 2006. Once completed, the township will consist of Taman Desaru Utama 1 and Taman Desaru Utama 2, and will stretch across 495 and 470 acres of prime land bank respectively, adding up to over 7,000 residential and commercial units in the entire development. Of this, approximately 740 units will be affordable homes and 2,000 units are single storey terrace houses. “Both projects are idealised to provide a better quality of life to our residents and the families that grow within them. This collaboration with the Johor State Government to provide affordable housing to mid- and lower- income families is a great step forward for Johor. It is also an ideal opportunity for individuals who wish to take a step towards becoming homeowners,” said Dato’ Abdullah bin Haji Yusup, General Manager of MB Group.

Khaled said, like any other project concerning property, the RMMJ requires proper planning and execution. “In view of the economic uncertainty, such project is crucial to ensure the people of Johor benefit from it. The state government will continue to ensure the best solution for our Rakyat.” Taman Desaru Utama is a modern township with great investment potential and job opportunities for the locals located in Peninsular Malaysia’s south east coast, Desaru. Desaru is poised to be the next high-growth epicenter catalysed by the integrated luxury resort development Desaru Coast, Bio Desaru and Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC). The township is wellconnected to Johor Bahru and Senai International Airport, and the location has been a favourite holiday destination amongst both locals and foreigners. As the Johor Government is aiming to reach 60,000 units of affordable homes by 2019, this initiative by MB Group is a stepping stone to making it a reality. MB Group will be launching two types of affordable housings in Taman Desaru Utama, which consists of townhouses and single storey terraces, both with a built-up of 1,000 sq ft respectively. Officiating the RMMJ launch alongside Dato’ Khaled Nordin was Minister in the Prime

Dato’ Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin and Pengerang MP, Datuk Sri Azalina Othman inspect the scaled model of the Desaru Utama RMMJ houses

Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said who is also Pengerang Member of Parliament. In an earlier event in Pengerang on the same day, Khaled said the multibillion Ringgit projects undertaken under the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) and Dialog Group’s development will continue as scheduled as they were unaffected by the low oil prices on the global front.

“The projects will continue as schedule as they involve downstream projects. Despite a scenario of falling global oil prices, it does not become a basis for the Petronas project. Khaled said it was business as usual for Petronas’ and Dialog Group’s investments in PIPC, and even the infrastructure development at the location was progressing with allocations coming from the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government’s allocation for the project continues, as it allocated RM2.2 billion for infrastructure, some of which have been completed or are still undergoing development, to ensure Rapid becomes a success,” he added. The two main investments at the PIPC are US$27 billion (RM119 billion) from Petronas and RM9 billion from Dialog Group-Royal Vopak-State Secretary Incorporated.

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

@home

Country Garden Unveils Forest City Highlight

Sales Gallery now open for public viewing

By Amin Khairuddin editor@theiskandarian.com

ong Kong listed property developer Country Garden Holdings unveiled its ‘Forest City’ development, a smart city nestled on four man made islands off the coast of Iskandar Malaysia. A joint development with Johor’s Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd, the smart city is built upon a 1,386.05ha area and is SouthEast Asia’s first and largest mixed use green development, utilising several units that will be built with vertical greens and rooftop gardens. “Through the unveiling of Forest City, I’m proud to note that Country Garden has completed our transformation of achieving international landmark projects,” said Country Garden CEO Mo Bin, at the “Sustainable Eco-City Development Forum” and Forest City Global press conference in Singapore recently. The project is Country Garden’s largest real estate development outside of China, spearheading the group’s international strategy to create a larger presence overseas. “Rather than another pure real estate project, Forest City is a culmination of our wisdom, knowledge and experience that

brings to life an eco-city of the future in its true sense. “With Forest City, we are offering a perfect mix of luxury tranquillity, urban vitality and proximity in the heart of SouthEast Asia,” said Mo. The first phase of Forest City includes high rise coastal residences, condominiums, retail outlets that will be available for global sale soon in Malaysia, Singapore and China. The sales gallery for Forest City is now opened, allowing visitors to view several condominium show units. Forest City is expected to play an important part in the development of the Iskandar region, with an estimated investment of RM175.8 billion over two decades. The first of smart city of its kind in South-East Asia will be a car-free zone with luscious greenery that is integrated with several smart technologies and amenities. “It represents an unprecedented alliance of two powerhouses in the real estate, financial and construction industries and signals a shifting of the sands for the futuristic township development, “said Executive Director of Country Garden Pacificview Datuk Md. Othman Yusof. The first of its kind mega development

A scale model of the first phase development

From left, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, Datuk Md. Othman Yusof, Nicholas You and Su Bai Yuan in South-East Asia will have eight industries paying focus to healthcare, tourism and education. “Forest City also represents the prefect destination for work, play and live for a global generation in Iskandar,” he added. Also present was Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional

Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim

Development Authority (IRDA). Country Garden is currently in discussion with the Federal government to set up several dedicated entry points aside from the proposed high speed rail link, including a ferry network that would service the waters between Johor and Singapore. TI

From left, Datuk Md. Othman Yusof, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Datuk Phang Ah Tong and Runze Yu

AVIRA Garden Terraces for Luxury Comfort

astern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) has brought AVIRA Garden Terraces located in Medini with line of facilities to be offered for the local and international market. “We have two types of houses to offer for our AVIRA Garden Terraces, bundled with various amenities together with AVIRA Wellness Sanctuary which are coming later this year,” said General Manager of AVIRA Medini Iskandar, Benjamin Ong Chin Yee during his opening speech of the launch. “AVIRA Graden Terraces is a strategically located property based in Medini since the transportation such as High Speed Rail and new Iskandar Coastal highway routes

Highlight

Pretty decent luxury homes with green metropolitan concept in Medini options are available soon upon completion. We are also providing house maintenance for your comfort stay here,” he added. AVIRA Garden Terraces are 3+1 bedroom units that come in two types and both are within 2250 square feet of area for each unit. Upon purchasing, the units are fully fitted with quality electrical appliances, built-in furniture, accesses for swimming pools and wellness activities, Green Café and

more. For those opting for rental options, AVIRA Medini is fully operating the scheme to its units within a price range between RM3,500 to RM4,500 per month. For a surprise, the first 20 tenants can grab a free 1 month rental. AVIRA Garden Terraces are expected to be ready by July 2016 while AVIRA Wellness Sanctuary will open its first phase in 2017. - by Maressa Esa TI

General Manager of AVIRA Medini Iskandar, Benjamin Ong Chin Yee giving his opening speech and presentation on AVIRA Garden Terraces

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016

@home

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian www.theiskandarian.com

Seri Austin Property Outlook 2016 Highlight

Local township developer gives tips and insights into the current property market

Property consultant Dr. Daniele Gambero addressing the crowd

ocal township developer UMLand Seri Austin recently hosted a property outlook conference at its sales gallery for residents and the general public

alike.

The day was broken down into four segments, the first by Chief Executive Officer KK Wong who gave a fair bit of advice in his opening speech to the audience.

“If you have money, you can invest or you can wait. The market is currently at its lowest but it does not mean you should buy anything you see. Research and study developments before you make a decision,” said Wong. The first speaker was feng shui consultant Master Paw who shared her insight on how to create a living space which is in accordance and in harmony with those

who inhabit it. The second speaker, proper t y con sultant Dr. Daniele Gambero gave a seminar on the Propernomy of Iskandar Malaysia as well as the potential economy and property outlook of Iskandar Malaysia. Lorainne Ng from iProperty gave a talk on consumer sentiment, based on the survey report H2 of 2015 while the last speaker of the day, motivational speaker Vincent Ho told the audience about his path to becoming a Millionaire. - by Amin Khairuddin TI

UmLand Seri Austin’s CEO KK Wong

Propernomy by Dr Daniele Opinion

Dr. Daniele Gambero REI Group

REI Group of Companies CEO and co-founder Dr. Daniele Gambero gives presentations on the property market and welcomes feedback at: daniele.g@reigroup.com.my.

he 2014 statistics released by PTPTN is showing the actual size of this issue which needs to be immediately addressed by the authorities to avoid heavy negative repercussions on the next few years’ balance sheets of the country in terms of rise of the debt-to-GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ratio and because of this, possible downgrading of the Malaysian credit ratings. The table below shows a CCRIS report indicating the number of months with defaulted payment (red fields) and can easily explain how banks’ officers will look at it (refer table 1). Challenging Numbers The statistics released by PTPTN in April 2014, gives the actual size of the challenge that the authorities are facing.

Affordable Homes and the Outstanding Student Loan Issue: The Challenge of the 2015 Housing Nation – Part Two

How all these are related to the affordability issue we started from is quite easy to understand. Developers may expect a reduction of more than 400,000 potential buyers who will be wiped out as good and reliable borrowers by the updated information in the CCRIS form. For them, available affordable homes will still remain a dream even though their income and DSR are saying that they can actually afford to buy (refer table 2). Possible Solutions to the Challenging Issue Someone said that there is no problem that does not have a solution and I fully agree with this. In our case, what we need is good and fair cooperation between the parties. PTPTN has been more than reasonable in the past decades allowing minimum repayments and been patiently waiting. It’s now time for them to identify the defaulters and sit down with them looking for practical solutions. The easiest solution might be to cross check with income tax department (LHDA) and define with a three parties’ agreement (employer-employee-PTPTN), and a fixed deduction from the monthly

salary. Public and private entities can easily deduct a minimum and comfortable amount from the monthly pay and transfer it directly to the PTPTN account. Bank Negara should advise banks on how to look at the concerning information on defaulted months in the PTPTN loan payment which has been uploaded in the CCRIS form. For home buyers, a side agreement will allow the borrower to be still able to buy a home and at the same time start the repayment of his/her PTPTN outstanding loan with full and fair satisfaction of all the parties involved.

For the degree holders who have left the country looking for better opportunities overseas, a crosscheck with the Malaysian immigration should result in a possible medium-long term recovery of a good part of their outstanding balance. I strongly hope no one will get hurt by these thoughts which have been coming from basic common sense and fair consideration. If you are lucky enough to live in a country which grants you with a good study loan and career possibility, it’s only logical to repay the favour and punctually “give back”. TI

Table 1

The Iskandarian ISSUE 42 | FEB 2016 Advertisement