The Iskandarian November 2016 Issue by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

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The Iskandarian ISSUE 51 | NOV 2016

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Properties in Iskandar will never depreciate in the long term despite the current political scenario and economic - Jim Woon challenges General Manager, Horizon Hills Development Sdn Bhd

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Singaporean driver parked obstructively at the already congested Jalan Trus Menteri Besar Johor Dato’ Khaled Nordin and IRDA Chief Executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim (second from right) during the site visit at Sungai Segget

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Iskandar Malaysia Upbeat about Budget 2017

n a media statement released by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Chief Executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim said that he was thankful to the federal government for the RM 2.1 billion allocated for the development of infrastructure and socio-economic development of the economic corridors. Th e a l l o c at i o n wa s announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who also acts as the Finance Minister, at

the Parliament House during the tabling of the Budget for 2017. “Iskandar Malaysia turns 10 this 4th of November and in conjunction with the maturity of the region’s development, Iskandar Malaysia will continue to provide benefits to the people and urge the public to continue to participate in the economic spin-offs in Iskandar Malaysia,” said Ismail. “Iskandar Malaysia is committed to providing public transport infrastructure such as Bus

Rapid Transit (BRT), Rapid Transit System (RTS) and High Speed Rail (HSR). These facilities certainly enhance the value of investments in Iskandar Malaysia and most importantly, it benefits the people,” added Ismail. Iskandar Malaysia also welcomed the efforts of the government to allocate RM536 million to upgrade hospital facilities and cardiology equipment in several hospitals including the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in

Johor Bahru or Flagship A, Iskandar Malaysia. All the agendas help make Iskandar Malaysia a smart metropolis that includes the economic, environmental and social in its development. It is our goal to ensure inclusiveness in Iskandar Malaysia and to be beneficial to the people not only in this region but also the entire country,” said Ismail. *(The above excerpt is taken from IRDA’s media statement)

Johor Future 2016 Starts Now

nother State Government initiative to help the people in need via Johor Future 2016 was launched in Kg. Kuala Masai to inculcate volunteerism, empathy, responsibility and community service in participation of Johor youths. Officiated by Menteri Besar Johor Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the Johor Future 2016 is categorised into three namely; Johor Future Home, Johor Future Run, and Johor Future Cycling that will take place in 56 State Assembly areas

PEGASUS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

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“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

Community

Inculcating volunteerism and healthy lifestyle in Johor. The Johor Future Home targets to repair five homes in each area from groups of poor, single mothers, elderly, disabled, and orphans whom are eligible. The repair works will include repainting and restoring minor facility damages or caused by other disastrous events. “We believe that

programmes as such, enable us to reach achievement of the community that forms strong, powerful personalities and the advancement of social position. It also creates awareness and interest among the various members of society especially the youth to participate,” said Khaled. An allocation of

Khaled Nordin shared the work with the volunteers RM488,000 will be distributed throughout the Johor Future 2016 programme and repair works for each home selected will cost less than RM500. As for Johor

Senai Airport City Diamond Interchange

enteri Besar Johor Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin officiated the new Senai Airport City and Bukit Amber Interchange at KM10.95 (exit 254A) of the North-South Expressway in Senai in an event hosted by Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd (SACSB) Launch of the new interchange will enhance the connectivity by providing a direct access from Senai Airport City to North-South Expressway leading to Malaysia-Singapore

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Jolly Deepavali Charity Dinner for SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai

I 2nd Link (Linkedua) and Johor Bahru City into Singapore and also linking to Senai-Desaru Expressway towards Pasir

Gudang, providing convenient access to Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Johor Port. - by The Iskandarian TI

The next 100 years of Medini Iskandar

he Malaysia Biennial 100YC: Medini 2017 was launched by Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA together with the collaborators Nextdor Property Communications, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) as well as master planner Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIM). “As Medini is poised to become the smart and connected CBD for the region, we felt that a research collaboration with Nextdor

Future Run and Johor Future Cycling, it targets a p p rox i m a t e l y 1000 participation from each area to exercise healthy lifestyle and maintain activeness. by Maressa Esa TI

and RMIT would help us chart out a realistic vide of the development by exploring the physical, virtual and the nascent spatial conditions of this future 21st century city. This blends in very well with our aspiration of making Medini the icon of future city livings,” Medini Iskandar Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ir Khairil Anwar Ahmad. The Malaysia Biennial 100YC is a research model for a future driven sustainable urban development that will bring together visionaries, progressive

international architecture schools and the world’s most recognised architects, planners, engineers and urbanists, all with a goal to showcase research on the inevitable growth of Medini. Tom Kovac, the Malaysia Biennial Artistic Director added that the project will collaborate with design researchers from around the world to investigate key challenges and propose solutions for the city of Medini, bringing innovative design solutions through this collaborative platform. TI

n conjunction with Deepavali, Pulai Springs Resort hosted a merry gleeful night of Deepavali Charity Dinner for 25 underprivileged children from SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai to give back and ease the burden of the families preparing for the festive celebration. Dressed in their traditional Indian costumes, the children aged between 7 to 12 years old alongside their parents and guardians including the resort’s staff enjoyed the night with several activities such as traditional Indian dance performances by the children, games like musical chair and fast drinking, giveaways and more. The resort’s General Manager, Sunny Soo believes that the hotel’s main objective is to remember the less fortunate children during this season of giving and sharing and to be a part of a wonderful Deepavali celebration with them. At the end of the event, each child was given money packets while their families and guardians received goodie bags consisting food necessities which will assist them for the Festival of Lights. TI

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Appreciation lunch for volunteers and staff of JARO

oubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru had organised a well deserved lunch for 50 volunteers and staff of Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) at the hotel’s Makan Kitchen restaurant, recently. The hotel wanted to continue its efforts by creating awareness and advocacy for this local charitable organisation as they continue to provide a platform for JARO to sell their handcrafted products since the hotel’s opening in 2014. “Throughout October, we celebrated our “Global Month of Service” and took this opportunity to specifically focus on the local community and embrace our existing relationships with JARO and the Rohingya Refuge community. This year, we have also embarked on providing support to Kechara Soup Kitchen, which will see us provide food to them to feed Johor Bahru’s homeless,”

said Simon McGrath, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru. On 28th October 2016, the hotel had a ‘City Clean Up’ activity to set a positive example to the society with their team members picking up litter in the city centre to protect and preserve the environment.

Culturing Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship amongst Johorians

r e a t i v i t y , innovation and entrepreneurship are the three most sought after qualities in being valiant through the current economy. Menteri Besar Johor, Dato’ Khaled Nordin was sure that Johor Entrepreneurship and Innovation Day 2016 (JEnID 2016) will provide a wider dimension in the entrepreneurial facade in Johor. “Innovation and creativity should be a part of our mindset as a community at all level and fields. This should be our goal if we want to emerge as a new economic force in the country,” said Khaled.

“Since three years ago, a lot of our initiatives have been introduced to promote entrepreneurial growth in Johor. With growth comes job opportunities and with it comes income and the stability it creates,” he said adding that the programme is a good platform to create a synergy between experts and industries in order to further develop our commercial products in the market. He said this after launching the Johor Entrepreneurship and Innovation Day 2016 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai. It was the first time they combined three annual UTM programmes under JEnID 2016.

Also present was UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) UTM cum Chairman of the programme, Prof Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail. M o re t h a n 8 0 competitors showcased their developments and innovations to the public and juries for a shot at the RM50,000 research grant grand prize sponsored by the Office of the Menteri Besar of Johor. The event also saw innovations from school children and local players in the manufacturing, food, construction and digital service industry. - by Hakim Malik TI

Modern Gelang Patah Bus and Taxi Terminal for Public Convenience

he new look of Gelang Patah Bus and Taxi Terminal shows a continuous effort made by the state government to improve the living standards of local residents. Menteri Besar Johor, Dato’ Khaled Nordin said the terminal is currently the only one of its kind because it is being built with the most advance and latest design. “I am hoping that both local authorities and commuters will cooperate together to take care of this public facilities provided by the state, as the terminal will benefit everyone in a long period of time,” said Khaled during the opening ceremony of Gelang Patah Bus and Taxi Terminal at Iskandar Puteri, recently. Also present was President of the Johor Bahru Central Municipal Council (MPJBT), Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim and Chief Executive Officer of Johor Public Transport Corporation (PAJ), Suhairi Bin Hashim. The Gelang Patah Bus and Taxi

Terminal with an area of 1.7 acres started its construction in September 2014 with a total of RM6.8 million in cost. It was fully completed in August 2016. The terminal is currently having more trading areas of shop lots and food stalls, new toilets, ticket counters and also a large parking space for buses and taxis. On the same occasion, the MB also officiated another two initiatives regarding public transportation which is the TransJohor Bus service and Johor Public Transport Masterplan. The TransJohor Bus is an inter-district bus service which will connect every main cities around Johor including Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Pontian, Kota Tinggi and Mersing. The Johor Public Transpor t Masterplan will be the main guideline for state government to determine the direction of public transportation until year 2045. - by Syakirin Daud TI

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he state government and IRDA is serious on the rejuvenation project of Sungai Segget, adding that flood simulations have also been conducted to find out if the project can cope with any flash floods that could occur in the city. Menteri Besar Johor, Dato’ Khaled Nordin said the simulation was to ensure the project can accommodate large quantities of water, giving a guarantee of nonrecurring floods in the area. “This project will be built in three phases that involves the construction of the Central Sewage Treatment Plant (CSTP) in the first phase, the construction of the Flood Retention System (FMS) in the second phase, as well as the landscaping works that will

decorate the length of the project in the third phase,” said Khaled during his latest visit to the site. Phase 1 and 2 of the rejuvenation project will be completed by the end of this year. Landscape works and beautification will begin next year and will be completed by the end of 2017. The project will rehabilitate the 1.45 kilometre waterway with several water features and landscape to become an attraction for those in the city centre. Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) Datuk Ismail Ibrahim said water will be purified in several stages, utilising advance technology and methods, before flowing back into the river. “At the head of the Segget

River, we have placed several flood monitoring systems using SCADA technology to ensure the water level can be monitored and controlled automatically during the monsoon season and high tides,” said Ismail during a press conference at the IRDA Transformation Office. According to the officials, the Federal Government has allocated RM280 million for the project, with RM240 million being spent on Phase 1 and 2 of the rejuvenation project. It was also revealed that Jalan Wong Ah Fook will return to its three lane self by the end of the year with one lane dedicated to public transport vehicles, to ease the traffic woes in the area. - by Amin Khairuddin & Edey Suresh TI

700 Young Entrepreneurs Attended Sehati Programme

alaysian Global Innovation and C re a t i v i t y Ce n t re (MaGIC) in collaboration with Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) organised a SEHATI programme at Kilang Bateri and it was attended by 700 youths and young entrepreneurs who are keen in to participate in the social entrepreneurship sector. SEHATI is a bilingual talk fest featuring local social entrepreneurs who will share their journey and challenges in running their social enterprise. The programme is currently being conducted via roadshows to 12 states in Malaysia.

ollowing the spirit of Deepavali season, Johor Cerebral Palsy Association (JCPA) organised its annual Deepavali event for kids and adults with cerebral palsy disorder. Over 120 students from Johor Cerebral Palsy Special Education School (JCPSES) wearing their new colourful traditional Indian dress joined the celebration with enjoyable activities including dancing, percussion performance and birthday cake cutting. The event was also attended by their parents, teachers, and trainees. JCPA Honorary Secretary, Ir Mohd Khir said he was very happy to celebrate the event together

“Our focus in Iskandar Malaysia is not only on hard infrastructure but also soft infrastructure. Youth is one of the areas that we need to give significant attention as they are our future leaders for this region,” said Datuk

Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA. SEHATI aims to create awareness and spark interest on social entrepreneurship through knowledge- and experience-sharing by local social entrepreneurs. TI

Deepavali with Underprivileged Children with the kids and adults with cerebral palsy disorder as they also have the right to feel the excitement like normal people. “We have an amazing culture in our country. Let us put aside any differences regarding race and religion and continue this good work in the future to provide a better life for these special children,” said Mohd Khir during the event at

Cerebral Palsy Hall. After enjoying scrumptious food prepared by JCPA, each student received goodie bag and “Ang pau”. - by Syakirin Daud TI

Digitally Prepping Johorians for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

t is the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution, where digital technology is a big cog in the world’s economy. By the year 2020, digital economy is expected to make up 18% of the country’s GDP. In line with this, the state through Entrepreneur Development Centre of Johor (EDC) organised Johor Mahir Tech, a programme which provides information and raising awareness of the opportunities in the digital economy skills. With 20 exhibitors including government agencies and higher learning institution such as Les’ Copaque Animation Academy and Limkokwing University, the two day event at Komtar JBCC managed to attract more than 4000 visitors. Menteri Besar Johor Dato’ Khaled Nordin, during the launch pointed out the importance of investing in talents within the state and nurturing locals in the various fields. “We would not only focus on

the academically excellent to find these talents since we belief that each individuals are unique and full of potentials,” said Khaled. He also stressed that community always confuses digital lifestyle with digital skills. Being social media savvy and playing computer games do not make one more employable. “The employment market needs more than just a lifestyle, it needs real digital skills such as coding, programming and designing,” he said adding that the digital wave is inevitable and it is changing the landscape of everyday life especially for the millennials. Johor Mahir Tech is the brainchild of the MB to strengthen skill based economy and to create a skill hub in Johor. The programme is within the framework to empower youths in Johor to address the ever rising cost of living as well as elevating the youths’ skills and expertise to a higher level. - by Hakim Malik TI

Johor State Secretary, Ismail Karim with Menteri Besar Johor Dato’ Khaled Nordin posing with iconic animation characters Upin & Ipin at Johor Mahir Tech 2016 in Komtar JBCC

SL1M Comes to Johor

raduates and jobseekers flocked to the 1Malaysia Training Scheme (SL1M) which was held at the Persada International Convention Centre over the period of two days. This marks the first time the event was held in Johor with the participation of more than 120 government linked and private companies. Director General of the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Dr. Rahamat Bivi Yusoff, said the programme is expected to assist the graduates to be more competitive and have the necessary qualities that employers seek. “This is because most employers or companies prefer experienced graduates, which

leads to fresh graduates from public and private universities to become jobless.” “SL1M is a programme that provides training to university graduates to get a job, thus increasing their value,” she said at a press conference after the official launch of the initiative. Rahamat added that the government started SL1M back in June 2011 and so far as many as 93,000 people have benefited from the initiative. Also present at the launch were State Secretary of Johor, Datuk Ismail Karim, President and Chief Executive of Johor Corporation, Datuk Kamaruzzaman Abu Kassim and Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Datuk Ismail Ibrahim. TI

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Tourism Malaysia Hotline 1300 88 5050

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Million Dollar Feet: In Search for International Skills Opportunity

A platform for youngsters to play with top European Football club

Head Coach, Steve McMahon, addressing young footballers on the importance of close control with the football

fter their successful drills and trials’ programme in Penang, Pahang and Sarawak, Million Dollar Feet (MDF) finally hit Johor in a continuous quest to seek local talented young footballers. MDF Head Coach who was a former England player and also a Liverpool legend, Steve McMahon said the programme is the best opportunity for youngsters with enthusiasm in football to expose their talents into the international football

arena. “I believe we will have at least two or three excellent players from this state to be chosen by the end of this programme. We will bring them to the grand finals in Kuala Lumpur,” said McMahon during the programme at the field of Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru. Also present was the MDF Football Director, Peter de Kretser. More than 500 local participants aged from 11 to 14 years old had turned up in the programme to show their

skills and prove that they are worthy to be the selected. The MDF final selection was held on 23rd October 2016 at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Two outstanding players from the shortlisted list will be sent to the United Kingdom for 10 days, all expenses paid. “They will undergo trainings in the United Kingdom before taking part in a trial match in front of selected scouts from top European football clubs,” added McMahon. - by Syakirin Daud TI

Indian Youths Step up their Game with Skills Training Highlight

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Training to improve the quality of life for the Indian youths

he second installation of the Indian Youth Intervention programme came to a close with 91 Indian youths participating in the joint initiative by the YPJ Education Group (KPYPJ) and the Johor Skills and Technical College (JSTC), recently. The programme was held to improve the quality of life for the Indian youths in the state through educating various skills to help prepare them better for their respective industries. This year’s programme is held from the 28th of September till the 19th of November with seven different courses offered, including Audio Management and a Mechanical Automotive course on top of

making cakes and pastries, CCTV Installation, Hair Styling as well as Health and Safety Officer training. An estimated amount of RM300,000 was allocated to YPJ for the cost of the programme which includes food, tuition fees, lodging and other items for each participants. The closing ceremony was held at Granada Hotel Johor with the state Chairman of Solidarity and Human Resource, YB R. Vidyananthan Ramanadhan presenting the trainees with their certificates for completion of the programme. Also present at the launch was Chief Executive Officer for KPYPJ Abdul Razak Mohd Saad and YPJ General Manager, On Jabbar. by Amin Khairuddin TI

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Bringing Society closer to Architecture Highlight

Department of Architecture UTM organised JBcityEX 2016 to expose students’ works and designs to the public

rchitecture plays a significant role in society as it provides the physical environment we live in. In an attempt to create a better engagement with the society, the Department of Architecture in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) collaborated with Think City, a community-based urban regeneration body to organise the JBcityEX 2016. The exhibition held at Alicafe Specialty Coffee in Jalan Dhoby

brought architecture closer to society. More than 30 architectural master and degree students participated in the event which exhibited the work of 20 undergraduates and post graduates’ designs of the city. The event also encompassed a presentation of six master’s degree students’ papers and a ‘Goreng Pisang’ forum session on discussing the development of Johor Bahru. “I really appreciate the participation from the students and the general public and we

hope to better integrate the society in designing the future of the city,” said Amirul Hakim Jamil, Project Director for JBcityEX 2016. Also happening on that day is the launch of the collaboration between the department and Think City for next year’s annual Architecture Workshop aptly dubbed “30” in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the international event which expects participations from Singapore and Indonesia. - by Hakim Malik TI

A presentation of students’ research and thesis to the public and fellow coursemates at JBcityEX 2016

Slide of Happiness Interest

Hutan Bandar MPJBT turned into giant three lane slide

he world’s sensational Spritzer’s ‘Slide the City’ by Monkey Theory Sdn Bhd slid into Hutan Bandar MPJBT with crowds from all walks of life flocking and reliving their childhood memories of slip and slide along 300 meter three-lane slide despite the scorching heat. In order to avoid crowd cramping in lines, the slide was opened at four different wave times

and every guests were entertained with water guns war and getting wet while queuing their turn albeit the hot sun. A special free slide session was opened to 60 orphans from Joshua Home and Shafar Orphanage and Welfare Association to let them enjoy the slide of happiness. “I’d say that ‘Slide the City’ is a great tourism activity as it encouraged families to spend time

The girls from Pertubuhan Kebajikan and Rumah Anak Yatim Shafar together with the team from Monkey Theory

together over the weekends as the event catered to both the young and adults. Overall, it was a great event. The staffs were awesome and helpful in pushing or pulling us when we got stuck and I just could not stop laughing the entire time while sliding,” said an Associate Research Nurrafidah Mohammad Rashid when interviewed. A production planner Nuratiqah Norhahim who came with friends expressed joy in hope to get extension of days for the slide since it was their first time taking part and everyone seemed to treat others like family even though they were strangers especially during the water gun war. Other activities were also happening with an array of food truckers selling several meals, photo session, GoPro quizzes and giveaways, tug-ofwar, ‘Dunk Me’, Spritzer Tinge ‘Upside Down’ house, kids’ mini pool, exhibition booths and more. - by Maressa Esa TI

A Quest for Healthy Heart Lifestyle

Regency Specialist Hospital held Pedal Quest 2.0 fun ride in conjunction with World Heart Day 2016

n conjunction with World Heart Day 2016, 400 cyclists participated in Pedal Quest 2.0 organised by Regency Specialist Hospital. Flagged off in front of the Johor Bahru Municipal Council building in town, the fun ride managed to attract seasoned riders and families to ride along the 10km route.

Spearheading the pack was Gan Boon San, Chief Executive Officer of Regency Specialist Hospital along with VIP guests A.Rahim Nin, Mayor of Johor Bahru and Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA). Gan e x p re s s e d his gratification with the turnout of

the event on that day and plans to organise similar events to benefit the public as well as raising health awareness. Kids colouring contest, Zumba, blood donation drive, CPR demonstration and free health screening and consultation for the public also took place at the event. The Regency World Heart

(from left) Suhaily Abd. Hamid Head of Social Development IRDA, Kelen Leong, Chief Operating Officer of Regency Specialist Hospital, Gan Boon San, Chief Executive Officer of Regency Specialist Hospital and Abdul Latib Omar, General Manager of Swiss Inn Johor Bahru with the finisher medal for Pedal Quest 2.0 at the press conference Day 2016 Pedal Quest 2.0 was a result of collaboration between Regency Specialist Hospital, Johor Bahru Municipal Council and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority in conjunction with the JB

Wake Up! Car Free Day. It was also supported by the Ministry of Health, Happy-riders Connect, Johor Bahru Police Contingent Headquarters and Swiss Inn Hotel. - by Hakim Malik TI

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Monthly Drill Interview By Editor Launched in 2006, Horizon is renowned to be one of the best golf course residential townships in Johor Bahru where Jim and his team played a major role in ensuring the success of it. Coming up through rank and file, Jim Woon and team has seen the development of Horizon Hills from the early days and gotten involved in the product development and promotions. Jim’s core areas are in market research and analysis, township and product development, revenue generation and staff development. Among his achievements, Jim and his team has met the yearly sales target of Horizon Hills for 7 years in a row and has also achieved over RM1billion in sales in a single financial year.

economic growth corridor will take shape as planned. Moreover, our state government has been constantly working closely with the public and private sectors to ensure Iskandar’s success by setting up many upcoming attractions in Iskandar Puteri.

BIO

What are the new and upcoming products offered at Horizon Hills?

Jim Woon

General Manager

Horizon Hills Development Sdn Bhd

You have 25 years of experience in the property market, how has the experience been thus far? I joined Horizon Hills in 2007 as a Senior Manager of Sales & Marketing. During my involvement in the property industry, it’s all about learning process where I not only learned from the senior staffs, but also from the juniors. It was about dealing with different generations, i.e. the babyboomers, gen-y and gen-x and balancing the generation gap. I believe in working together as a team and with this notion we built Horizon Hills as what it is today. The team of Horizon Hills is the people behind its success stories and I always emphasise on ‘Gamuda Core Values’ which is to take personal ownership, walk the talk, adopt an open honest communication, demonstrate real teamwork and empowering and developing people.

The general perception is that Horizon Hills is for foreigners, so do locals buy up your properties as well? Despite the general perception, Horizon Hills’ buyer profile to date consists of 60% locals. This is then followed by 30% Singaporean buyers and 10% foreigners from countries such as Japan, Korea, China, United States, Australia, UAE, Indonesia, Brunei, India, Norway, Italy, Netherland, Germany, New Zealand and so on.

Jointly developed by Gamuda Land and UEM Sunrise, Horizon Hills claims

to be a safe haven. How safe is the development in terms of security? The entire township is protected by a comprehensive security system, creating peace of mind and providing homeowners a safe family environment. There are perimeter fencing with anti-climb & cut-resistant, CCTV, motion sensors and spotlight, single entry/ exit gates for residents/visitors. We also emphasise on patrolling and have adopted the panic button system and fully integrated home security system. To further cement our commitment towards security, Horizon Hills is also the pioneer of ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)’ in Iskandar Malaysia that implements several security measures from day one in the master planning to create a sense of security among our residents. We have neighbourhood clusters where houses are built and designed in cluster forms that minimises vehicular traffic which also ensures community safety. There are adequate safety lighting and sightline, where spaces are illuminated to enable people to see, be seen and be safe. Areas have ownership of space and entrapment spots that minuses the presence of unmonitored places is the design of public spaces and we also have movement predictors used in a positive way to direct

user movements, landscape such as golf edges, parks, natural hills, lakes which acts as safety barrier and traffic calming devices such as cul-de-sac, interlocking pavers and pedestrian safety.

What’s your opinion about Iskandar Malaysia’s property market currently? “Iskandar Malaysia is to Singapore what Shenzhen is to Hong Kong”. Malaysia and Singapore governments are collaborating to ensure its achievement which makes Iskandar Malaysia a very exhilarating prospect in the long term. It is expected that people from different countries are likely to gather and stay in Iskandar region in the future due to its continuous increase of multifaceted lifestyle. Properties in Iskandar will never depreciate in the long term despite the current political scenario and economic challenges. For the coming year, property investors and home buyers should take this opportunity to invest in real estate, as real estate investment is more under control than stocks or bonds. Unlike many securities, including stocks and bonds, real estate investment has plenty of opportunities for making big gains. Fu r t h e r m o re, t h e Fe d e ra l Government has remained its commitment to Iskandar Malaysia to ensure Malaysia’s first

We have a few lined up in the pipeline such as the 20 x 70 Link Houses which is located in the new precinct, two and three Storey Boutique Offices for our commercial area, 3 tower Condominiums with full facilities and landed villa as well as Commercial Land. More choices are under construction and completed landed houses such as Super Link, Cluster Homes, Semi-Detached and also Bungalow units are available for sales now.

How dense is the development of Horizon Hills? Horizon Hills is a low density gated development spread over 11 different distinctive precincts in Iskandar Malaysia with a ratio of 5 homes per acre, i.e. total area of 1,200 acres with 6,000 residential units. Low density neighbourhoods with large areas dedicated to parks, fields and waterways also creates an environment which today is much sought after in this vicinity. One with nature with open green spaces all around, the dedication to residents continues with a signature clubhouse of international standards catering to the needs of the community. With all this in place, Horizon Hills has positioned itself as a development which values premium quality, security and lifestyle.

Do you think the property market will slow down in 2017 or is it business as usual? Johor property market has been one of the hot issues for this past 1-2 years. As Horizon Hills is strategically located in Iskandar Malaysia with good accessibility and connectivity infrastructure to all the major highways i.e. Coastal Highway, Tuas Second Link Highway, North-South Highway, Pasir Gudang Highway, the demand and response is still positive. The emergence of Iskandar Malaysia as an iconic development of the future with promising investment opportunities continues to draw the attention of global players. The confidence will be in the projects that follow the infrastructure and are surrounded by catalyst development within Iskandar Malaysia. TI

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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

Escape to the movies

The former Capitol at the corner of Jalan Station and Jalan Meldrum was demolished and later reopened within the Merlin Tower, a building rebuilt on the same site

t may be hard to imagine now but there was a time when the only affordable public entertainment in Johor Bahru was going to the movies because only the affluent could afford to own a television. Movies are a popular entertainment choice because it’s an avenue to unwind and escape into another realm, even for a while. Enveloped in dim darkness, it’s perfectly all right to cheer for the underdogs, scream aloud at shocking scenes or shed tears at tender moments. But there’s simply something magical about watching movies on the big screen. Many will fondly remember their first date of going to a movie after a meal because couples, getting to know each other, could enjoy being with their date for several hours without trying to impress or make intelligent conversation! The movie halls of today are small compared to former movie theatres that were stand-alone landmarks built with adjacent parking lots. Theatre locations were within convenient walking distances and as few people owned cars then, there was sufficient parking space. JB’s first cinema was the SinoEnglish theatre at the corner of Jalan Trus and Jalan Dhoby, opposite Hua Mui Restaurant. A few concrete steps are the only evidence left of this theatre today. The Capitol at Jalan Station was a premier theatre popular for screening Chinese movies. During an era when operas were made into movies, this attracted hordes of fans who enjoyed watching their favourite stars perform opera on the big screen. Besides Chinese movies, Capitol used to screen coloured, talking movies, mostly American Western or cowboy

movies and blockbusters like The Greatest Show on Earth. The Capitol boasted of a stage which often hosted live shows by visiting opera stars from Hong Kong to promote opera movies by performing an excerpt of the film in a live show. In addition to large billboards displayed outside the theatre, publicity

The former Cathay at Jalan Bukit Meldrum was demolished to make way for the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex for coming movies and stage shows were also done by distributing printed flyers. Publicity flyers, commonly cut in landscape format with one-colour printing, were distributed by a vendor who walked around to shops, businesses and homes in town. My siblings, cousins and I, who stayed with our grandparents at Jalan Ngee Heng during our school-going years, used to be fascinated by these flyers received in the letterbox. They were printed mainly in Chinese with brief English or Malay translations but we understood enough from the interesting pictures.

Our grandparents, who were opera fans, made it a point to attend the live shows whenever Hong Kong stars came to perform. These thung thoi shows were very popular and the theatre offered freeseating on a first-come-first-served basis. But if our grandparents were to walk from Jalan Ngee Heng to Jalan Station, their favourite seats might have already been taken. So, grandfather (Ah Kong) used to have an arrangement with the theatre manager, James Ho, to reserve their seats by tying a handkerchief to indicate that two seats were booked! At that time, tickets cost RM2 for upstairs seats while the best seats downstairs were only RM1.25 and prices ranged between RM 1 and 65 sen for seats closest to the screen. Even though Capitol didn’t have air-conditioning, it was popular until it was demolished in 1972. Later, a cinema hall by the same name was reopened within the Merlin Tower building. At the same time, two of the most important landmarks along Jalan Wong Ah Fook were the Rex and Lido theatres. Rex, the older of the two, was ventilated only by ceiling fans. Audiences flocked to the adjacent Lido when it opened as a modern airconditioned theatre and this probably forced the owners of Rex to upgrade and install air-conditioning! On Saturday morning, if we finished our chores early, Ah Kong would take his grandchildren for a morning show at Rex or Lido. The cheap seats for matinee and morning shows were just 80 sen and if the show was popular, we would end up with tickets for the dreaded first row seats! These were the most uncomfortable seats in the house because we had to sink deep into the seats to angle our heads almost horizontal to watch the screen. Thankfully, this didn’t happen often because we always tried to walk to the theatre on time to get good seats! Perched on a hillock on Jalan Bukit Meldrum was the Cathay and we were sorry to see it demolished to make way for the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex. A nearby row of shops that served food conveniently provided meals before or after shows. Here, a popular laksa

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The former Lido was built next to the older Rex along Jalan Wong Ah Fook on the site opposite present-day KOMTAR JBCC noodle adopted its name from the theatre and is known as Cathay laksa to this day! While all the other theatres were demolished in the 1990s, Broadway at Jalan Segget, popular for screening Tamil movies, is still in business. In those days, tickets were bound in booklets and various priced tickets were usually identified by different colours. The lady at the ticket counter was a familiar neighbour and she would mark our tickets with a thick red pencil before tearing it off from the counterfoil. In the lobby was a snack stall and Ah Kong would let us choose our favourite treats and we would select Mentos mints or Roundtree fruit gums while he picked Hacks cough-drops. It also sold a range of soft drinks, crisps, chewing gum and cut fruits on sticks. A kacang puteh man and his parked bicycle would offer a choice of toasted nuts and sometimes we bought our pick of nuts wrapped in paper cones made from paper recycled from old telephone directories! If popcorn is the staple snack for modern movie-goers then it must have replaced kuaci (melon seeds). Our movie watching experience was always punctuated by click-clicking sounds and at the end of the show we would walk gingerly out of the theatre, crunching piles of kuaci shells underfoot! *(Pictures courtesy of the Johor Bahru Tiong Hua Association) TI

A collection of old movie theatre and circus show tickets with publicity flyers, seen at the Johor Bahru Kwong Siew Heritage Gallery

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The Naratif of Iskandar Malaysia

IM Shorties, the New Film Competition in Town Highlight

I Visitors to ISKARNIVAL Naratif had the chance to see several artists do their magic

aratif, the second instalment of ISKARNIVAL 2016 displayed the elements of conceptualisation and storytelling and many flocked to see the events planned for two days at the Mall of Medini, Iskandar Puteri. Over 1200 events and 600 talents were showcased over the course of the weekend promoting numerous forms of storytelling including poetry workshops, forums, exhibitions spanning across contemporary ‘cult’/ural’ and traditional performances, among them Wayang Purwa, the Javanese version of Wayang Kulit as well as a traditional take on the Star Wars trilogy. Visitors took part on several hands on activity sessions as well as the art installations including the displayed works of local artist, Adeputra Masri. Spoken Words, an open mic poetry

session featured India’s Nupur Saraswat, Elaine Foster, Illya Sumanto and Sheena Baharudin with a contrasting Pondok Puisi session with Fazleena Hishamuddin and Wani Ardy for a truly bilingual experience. In line with the theme, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar of Khazanah also launched the Naratif journal, a bilingual collection of written works by several local authors curated and edited by Yana Rizal and Pauline Fan. Other activities at the festival were several DIY Workshops including postcard making, badge workshops as well as pop-up card making. The final instalment of the ISKARNIVAL 2016 will be held on 12th and 13th November 2016 at Puteri Harbour with ‘Sama-Sama’ as its theme. - by Amin Khairuddin, Photos by Hakim Malik TI

IRDA and Khazanah Malaysia launches Johor’s very own short film festival and competition

n conjunction with the ISKARNIVAL Naratif and Iskandar Malaysia’s 10th Anniversary, a new short film festival called IM Shorties was launched by Managing Director of Khazanah National Berhad Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar accompanied by Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) Datuk Ismail Ibrahim and CEO of Pinewoods Iskandar, Rezal A. Rahman at Medini Mall, recently. An initiative to promote the interest of filmmaking in Johor, the competition is coorganised by Pinewoods Iskandar and supported by FINAS, Horizon Hills, Gleneagles

Medini as well as LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort. There will be several categories where aspiring filmmakers from all walks of life may enter and stand a chance to win cash prizes. Each month leading to the final screening in January 2017 will see the presence of on the ground events including filmmaking workshops and forums as well as free indie movie screenings for all to see. Wait for more announcements from the organisers on contests and event details or maybe join the competition yourself!. -by The Iskandarian TI

Local indie films were screened during the launch of IM Shorties in line with the film festival theme

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Deepavali Hi-Tea in Bangsa Johor’s style

nity in Bangsa Johor was pictured during a Deepavali H i-Tea organised by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society’s (MRCS) National Committee for Community Services, recently at Holiday Villa where all races gathered and performed various songs and entertainment in conjunction of Deepavali festival. Graced by the Royal Adviser of Malaysia Red Crescent

Society, HRH Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah together with HH Tunku Idris Sultan Ibrahim, and HH Tunku Tun Aminah, the charity hi-tea event was held to distribute aids to almost 150 families from the low-income group and 45 children from SJK(C) Tampoi, SK Ladang Pendas, SJK(T) Desa Cemerlang and Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind for their Deepavali celebration preparation.

“We as an organisation operate in applying humanity values and to reduce the people’s burden especially in conjunction of the Festival of Lights. We do not only help families from Johor but also families from Sarawak and Phillipines who are living in the state and we do it in Bangsa Johor way; unity and togetherness,” said Deputy Chairman of MRCS, Datuk Mohd Rashidi Mohd Noor in his speech. - by Maressa Esa TI

Plenitude Sdn Bhd donated RM50,000 to the beneficiaries of 150 families from the low-income group and 45 children from four various schools

First Phase of Forest City Commercial Street Opened Interest

Grand opening this November with discounts for shoppers

Commercial Development General Manager of Forest City, David Cheung and Country Garden Vice President Runze Yu checking out the goods at the Secoo outlet.

orest City opened its doors to the first phase of the Harbour Commercial Street, a dedicated shopping centre within the Forest City development area which will house a wide range of local and international brands under one roof. Commercial Development General Manager of Forest City, David Cheung said the presence of the Secoo store at the Harbour Commercial Streets is the first move by the China luxury goods online reseller to gain a foothold in the Southeast Asian Market. “The commercial area is connected

to the other Forest City developments, such as the Phoenix Hotel, Fun Fun Park indoor zone for kids, as well as a myriad of food and beverage outlets and duty-free stores opening soon,” said Cheung. The grand opening will be in November and shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 40% on selected items offered by retailers storewide for the next two weeks. “We expect to get 1,000 visitors a day and it is estimated that another 50 more retails outlets will open for business here by next year,” added Cheung. - by Amin Khairuddin, Photos by Hakim Malik TI

* Image is for illustration only

Care United’s Back-to-School Causes

The annual programme to benefit 5,500 underprivileged students

are United Johor Bahru has shown its commitment to the society for the 12th year with their Back-to-School Programme held recently at Kompleks Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat, Johor Bahru. The event was made possible thanks to the support of members, sponsors and its fund-raising activities throughout the year. Sharul Amal Johari, Executive Manager of Yayasan Pasir Gudang also graced the event. 5,500 underprivileged students aged 6

to 17 years from various schools and children’s homes mostly from across Johor received the Back to School Kits which contained vouchers from Giant worth RM80 for school uniforms to start the new academic year as well as goodie bags containing stationery and bottled water. For the year 2016, a total of 1,000 Back-to-School kits will also be channeled to Yayasan Pasir Gudang. Every recipient of the kit is vetted and selected under stringent rules and

Yayasan Pasir Gudang recipients at the Back-to-School Programme regulations implemented by Care United Johor Bahru, where the applicant’s family or guardian’s background and income level is assessed before granting the application. This is to ensure that every candidate is worthy to receive the kit, and students receive what they need most from this programme.

Care United will be having their ‘Golden Years Celebration’ next on 19th November 2016 for 300 underprivileged seniors from old folks homes across Johor Bahru. For more information, contact Care United Johor Bahru at 607-357 6899. - by Priya Manikam TI

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Food Trucks Mushrooming in Medini Highlight

More than an attraction: Ready and fast meals available for patrons around Iskandar Puteri

an’t get enough of food trucks in Johor Bahru? Head down to Medini for five more options such as Laksa KING, Diesel Boy, I-Shell Out, Tacoloco. MY, and Smalta Ice Cream Co. Medini Food Truck was recently launched and graced by State Exco of Education, Information, Entrepreneurship Development, and Cooperatives, Datuk Md. Jais Sarday and Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIMSB) Executive Vice President of Development Planning, Mohd Zamani Razali at Central Piazza, Medini 7. “As Medini Iskandar

Malaysia thrive as a city, we have the opportunity to use the idea of ‘placemaking’ to shape the community by providing food truck as an attraction which will certainly make Medini as a destination rich with social and economic activities. We also have the opportunity to assist talented entrepreneurs build their business in the food and beverage industry. We are pleased to support the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) such as food trucks, enabling to increase the participation of local people in the development of Medini,” said Mohd Zamani during the launch.

Datuk Md. Jais Sarday stated that all food truck operators are licensed under Hawker (MBJB) ByLaws 1981 which is applicable in each local authorities in Johor and urged to keep their premises clean and hygienic. Al m os t 350 MIMSB stakeholders and several students of SK Medini attended the launch and indulged in the food trucks’ spread available from all five food truck operators who won in Medini Cooking Challenge that was held in May this year. Meanwhile, guests can try different flavours at the Medini

Food Trucks daily between 12pm to 2.30pm and 4.30pm to 8pm at Jalan Medini Sentral 5 and Medini 7 The Park. All five food trucks serve

Western, Mexican, Asian, and local cuisines together with desserts and beverages on the go. - by Maressa Esa. TI

State Exco of Education, Information, Entrepreneurship Development, and Cooperatives, Datuk Md. Jais Sarday (centre) launching the Medini Food Truck

PWC’s Inter-Firm Bowling Tournament Interest

What better way for accountants to mingle then with bowling?

n a change of environment, 36 participants from several accounting and auditing firms in Johor joined in the fun at PWC’s Inter-Firm Bowling Tournament held at Today’s Mall Bowling Alley. This new incarnation of the event was revived two years ago and is a part of PWC’s Accounting Firm Games which includes badminton, futsal, basketball and of course bowling for accounting firms within the region of Johor. “The games are organised to bring all the accounting firms together. We should get to know one another, have better communication and have a good time while doing it,” said Benedict Francis, Senior Executive Director of PWC Johor. As many as four members per team

from several accounting firms including Delloite, E&Y, SQM, NLT and KTP took part in the tournament where defending champions PWC came out tops for the 2nd year running. - by The Iskandarian TI

The PWC team in their colours competing with several other accounting firms from the Johor region

Developing an Intelligent Transport System for Iskandar Malaysia Highlight

University of Reading Malaysia hosted a workshop to identify key challenges, solutions and plan of action for Intelligent Transportation Systems in the region

he University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM) with UK based Future Cities Catapult (FCC) hosted the “ITS for Sustainable Transportation in Iskandar Malaysia workshop” to develop an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) strategy for the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA). The event attracted leading transport related stakeholders in the region including the Ministry of Works, Malaysian Highway Authority, Land Public Transport Commission, and Johor Economic Planning Unit. It also involved leading UK companies and SMEs with experience in developing and deploying sustainable transportation systems along with UoRM academics to add their expert knowledge to the discussions. The workshop focused on identifying

key transportation challenges in the Iskandar region, the potential ITS solutions and an action plan for enhancing the region’s transportation system. The Centre for Intelligent Places at the University of Reading is working together with FCC to spearhead the eight months project which focuses on establishing an ITS blueprint for Iskandar Malaysia, and fostering collaboration and partnerships between Malaysia and the UK. The project will lay the foundation for future international cooperation between the two countries in the field of transportation solutions and is created under the Prosperity Fund, a global funding programme created by the UK government to help promote economic and sustainable growth in emerging economies. - by Hakim Malik TI

More Green Spaces for Johor

he State Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Bandi said that Johor plans to have more green spaces in the southern part of the state especially in the Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor. He said the state government was already in the planning stages to open two public parks in Iskandar Malaysia. Abdul Latiff explained that the two parks will be the 135.16ha Regional Open Space near Horizon Hills as well as the 68.79ha Linear Park that stretches from Eco Botanic to Kota Iskandar.

“We want to create conducive living environment in Iskandar Malaysia to ensure residents to have a quality life including green spaces for them to enjoy outdoor activities,” said Abdul Latiff during the press conference at the opening of the Symposium on Planning and Property Investment in Southern Johor 2016. He added like how the New Yorkers have Central Park, Johor should also have its own version for its people. Developers will have a big role to play in providing areas in their projects to be turned into green spaces as required by the state government. - by Amin Khairuddin TI

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NOV 2016

iNSIDE Billy Lynnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e Long Halftim Walk

travel

go local

Tunamaya Desaru Staycation - Pt 2

+ What do we know about love?

NOV 2016 | Page 2

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

editor’s I note

t’s an important month for us as we once again celebrate unsung heroes in the third Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA). Hope you have nominated well as we look forward to a bevy of deserving recipients again this year. On the Music front, we have a hot one from THE WEEKND – where his latest single “Starboy” featuring Daft Punk has already amassed over 17 million streams globally and 6.5 million streams in the United States. His full length album will be out on 25th November 2016. Also, best new artist – DNCE debuts their brand new single “Body Moves”

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

on 18th November 2016. As we Johorians are having a long weekend this month, why not take a drive to Tunamaya Desaru Resort for a staycation complete with some relaxation or adrenaline pumping activities. This month, Peggy enjoys the culinary creations of two chefs instead of one at Big Bro 2 (Non-Halal), located at Seri Austin. I bet Inferno kept us on our toes last month and this time, Sony Pictures Malaysia brings us another good one from Director Ang Lee where Private Billy Lynn tells his story after a harrowing Iraq battle in Billy

MUSIC UPDATES

Universal Music Singapore

“Starboy” Featuring Daft Punk Arrives New single “Starboy” by THE WEEKND captures “biggest opening weekend in streaming history”

cademy Award-nominated, GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum alternative R&B; THE WEEKND makes history yet again, capturing the record for “Most Release Weekend Streams Ever” with his brand new single “Starboy” featuring Daft Punk. It’s the title track and first single from his megaanticipated fourth full-length album Starboy [XO/Republic Records], arriving on 25th November 2016. “Starboy” amassed over 17 million streams globally and 6.5 million streams in the United States alone, shattering the previous record in the process. Meanwhile, at radio, “Starboy” stood out as the “One Week Most Added Record of All Time in North America,” becoming #1 Most Added at Top 40, Rhythm, Urban, and Hot AC— yet another history-making accolade. This sets the stage for “Starboy” to become one of the biggest albums of

2016. On 1st October 2016, THE WEEKND took the stage as the musical guest on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live where he performed “Starboy” live for the very first time. THE WEEKND’s last album, 2015’s “Beauty Behind The Madness” recently received an RIAA triple-platinum certification for cumulative sales in excess of 3 million. Throughout this incredible journey, THE WEEKND became the “First Male to Simultaneously Top Billboard’s Hot 100, Top 200, and Artist 100,” the “First Artist to Ever Simultaneously Hold Top 3 Slots on Billboard’s R&B Chart,” and the “First Artist Ever Recorded By Mediabase to Cross 300 Million in Audience Within One Week.” The album proved ubiquitous at radio. “Can’t Feel My Face” peaked at #1 on Top 40, reaching an audience of 4.19 Billion. “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”

also went to #1, playing to an audience of 4.2 Billion, while “The Hills” landed at #2 and hit an audience of 3.69 Billion. Cumulatively, the audience exceeds 14.6 Billion-plus for songs from “Beauty Behind The Madness”. Fans, critics, and the industry at large have recognised this inimitable talent. He took home two GRAMMY Awards [“Best Urban Contemporary Album” for “Beauty Behind The Madness” and “Best R&B Performance” for “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”] out of seven nominations. He won eight Billboard Music Awards including “Top 100 Artist,” “Top R&B Artist,” “Top R&B Album” for “Beauty Behind The Madness”, “Top R&B Song” for “The Hills,” “Top Song Sales,” “Top Radio Songs,” “Top Streaming Songs,” and “Top Streaming Song (Audio)” for “The Hills.” “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)” even garnered THE WEEKND his first ever Academy Award nomination in the category of “Best Original Song.”

DNCE releases new single “Body Moves”

resh off their win for “Best New Artist” at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, DNCE debuts their brand new single “Body Moves” on 18th November 2016. The video, which made its global

broadcast premiere across MTV platforms, was directed by Hannah Lux Davis (Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj), and also stars model/actress, Charlotte McKinney, as frontman Joe Jonas’ love interest. DNCE is frontman Joe Jonas,

bassist & keyboardist Cole Whittle, guitarist JinJoo, and drummer Jack Lawless. Pre-order their self-titled album now on iTunes & instantly get 4 songs including ‘Cake By The Ocean’ and ‘Body Moves’ - Link: http://getmusic.lnk.to/dnce

Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. As always, for those wishing to share their fashion collection, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/hotel for a staycation, drop me an e-mail at waves. lifestyle@gmail.com and be featured. For more news, do access www.theiskandarian. com

Priya

STAR

NOV 2016 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

What Do We Know About LOVE? – Part 1

Rose Osman has intuitive skills in hacking potentials in human energy for success and healing. She coaches through One-toOne sessions, group sessions and via E-courses on Udemy.com.

yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses www.roselifecoach.com

or generations, we learn that Love is about two people having a relationship and marriage. If the relationship fails, we get an expression saying ‘Love is hurt’. And if the relationship goes well, we hear ‘Love is beautiful’. We are conditioned to see that Love has two sides. We believe that Love is an element outside of us and therefore, we need to seek it and have it, which makes Love as an object to possess. Is that what Love is? What if Love is not out there to look for? Is it possible that Love is not a sexual energy between two people but an essence of healing for oneself and also for the

world? Not many of us deeply understand Love because Love has many levels. Let’s categorise it into three levels and see which level of Love you are experiencing right now. Level 1: Human Love This is where we begin… Human Love has polarity. It divides us. The feeling of separation makes us feel that Love is an external object to seek. We use chemistry attraction to help us unite with the ‘right ones’ (or it may not always be the right one).

This is Love of the Root and Sacral Chakras. It is used for reproduction of human species. It has biochemical processes involved. We can find the energy of lust, desire, excitement, protectiveness and jealousy in it. Human Love involves a small group of people, which usually starts as a couple, and it may extend to a family. The duality of Human Love is Fear. Whenever we feel Love, we also feel the fear of losing it. In this level, Love requires a sense of security. That is why individuals who are in Love desires to get married. It’s also the reason of overprotectiveness towards children or spouse.

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.

RBOY

MOVIES Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Genre: Drama Release date: 10th November 2016 Cast: Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker Garrett Hedlund with Vin Diesel and Steve Martin Directors: Ang Lee Producer: Marc Platt, Ang Lee, Rhodri Thomas, Stephen Cornwell

hree-time Academy Award winner Ang Lee brings his extraordinary vision to Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel. The film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, the film reveals what really happened to the squad, contrasting the realities of the war with America’s perceptions. Lee used new technology, shooting at an ultra-high frame rate for the first time in film history, to create an immersive digital experience helping him dramatise war in a way never seen before.

Source: Sony Pictures Malaysia

NOV 2016 | Page 4

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travel

Staycation at Desaru Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort Fresh sea breeze every morning at your doorstep at Desaru Tunamaya - Part 2 Jet ski ride By Maressa Esa waves.lifestyle@gmail.com Day Two continued – Spa vs. Extreme Watersports After a heavy lunch, it was time to relax with an amazing traditional Thai massage located at the resort’s spa centre adjacent to the lobby. Kai, the Thai masseuse spoiled us with a full body oil massage in a sea

Get your meat at the Saturday night BBQ

view massage room. She used soft and firm touches and alternated with her elbow at the back of the body for better blood circulation process. Guests can step into the spa centre that opens daily which also provides foots massages from RM59, and full body massages are from RM69 to room service massage with an additional RM30 charge. We then headed back to our room for a short shower before an extreme adventure of parasailing and jet-ski ride provided by Seahorse Watersports. Ready in our swimsuits at the beach, the parasailing instructor carefully briefed us on safety while other assistants geared us up with the flying equipment. Our hearts were thumping and we ran for several metres and up and away we flew with screams to overcome our height phobias and fear! We were 200 metres high up in the sky with gorgeous scenery. Guests will be teamed up with a parasailor to steer and he would also sing for you while flying to curb those jittery nerves! Jet-ski ride was up next for another

half an hour. Apart from the two watersports activities we did, Seahorse Watersports also caters Banana Boat ride, Viper and Band Wagon for guests and anglers have an option to go on a fishing trip. The last night of feasting at Pawana Restaurant Pawana Restaurant has several promotions for foodies to dine over the weekends. We recommend getting stuffed with ‘Saturday Night BBQ Platter’ for a big plate combo of lamb, beef, frankfurter, chicken, satay, and side of baked potato with corn for a price of

Saturday night BBQ session at the resort lawn RM45 nett, open for resort guests and public. At one corner, there is a stall which is a hotspot serving Penang Hawker Food. Having a small room left for some local delicacies in our stomachs, we queued not once but twice for the freshly cooked ‘Penang Char Kuey Teow’. Also try the signature ‘Pasembur’ or go for an icy dessert of Air Batu Campur available in their ‘Penang Hawker Food Promo’ at RM38 for adults and RM20 for children, available every Fridays and Saturdays. On our way back to the room, we stumbled upon Ombak Bar & Bistro where guests were enjoying a karaoke session. As a whole, we loved the resort and ambience of the overall trip. If you’re planning for a short and sweet escape to Desaru Tunamaya, Standard Twin room rates including breakfast starts at RM260 per night and their spacious Junior Suite is at RM1000 per night. So, pack your bags and get going!

Parasailing 200 metres in the sky

Calendar of Events JB, 31st Oct – 6th Nov 2016 Johor Sultan Cup @Tmn Daya Hockey Stadium

Spore, 4th – 5th Nov Singapore River Festival @ Clarke Quay

Spore, 1st – 2nd Nov

Spore, 4th – 6th Nov

Singapore International Robo Expo @Marina Bay Sands

Heart Mind Body Festival @ Suntec Singapore

JB, 3rd – 9th Nov

JB, 5th – 6th Nov

Sail Malaysia Passage to Langkawi @Puteri Harbour

Johor Motocross Series @ Hutan Bandar Kulai

JB, 6th Nov Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar

Spore, 8th Nov Malaysia Fest 2016 @ Singapore Expo

JB,11th -13th Nov 2nd Johor Furniture Fair @ Persada Johor

JB, 12th – 13th Nov ISKARNIVAL Sama-Sama @Puteri Harbour

JB, 18th – 20th Nov JB Film Festival

JB, 25th – 27th Nov Mom & Baby Expo 2016 @ Persada Johor

JB, 30th Nov – 4th Dec Malaysia Junior Badminton Talent Search 2016

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

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Photography Enthusiasts Gathered for Photography Workshops

ver 120 photography enthusiasts gathered in Johor Bahru recently to learn from Andrew Boey, a renowned commercial photographer, movie director, photography trainer and also the founder and director of the Nikonian Academy in Kuala Lumpur. Andrew, who conducted two complimentary workshops as part of the I.M. klik 2016 photography and short video competition, was assisted by his two senior trainers at the academy, experienced photographers Ong Woei Min and Agilan Palani. The first workshop which was held at the Mall of Medini was opened to the public and also kicked off the I.M. klik 2016 competition. The second workshop

held at EduCity Multi Varsity on was deemed more intense as the full day workshop incorporated both theory and practical sessions for the participants. “This is our third year of organising I.M. klik, and I must say it was the most fun to plan! When we were preparing for it a few months ago, we decided to take the education in the workshops two notches up. As a result, we produced a whole new series of photography and videography programmes which included the creation of two new videos that would accommodate the most seasoned participants as well as the new ones”. “Judging from participants’ takeaways from the two workshops, the efforts put in these new

Andrew Boey addressing questions from participants

curriculums were clearly paid off as they were intensively involved and genuinely enjoyed the lessons. We look forward to receiving this year’s submissions which I am sure would push the creativity frontier to a whole new limit,” said Andrew. In the ‘12 secrets to amazing pictures’ workshop, Andrew conveyed that a ‘natural-born photographer’ is merely a myth, but rather, professionals adhere to 40 compositional rules that simply make their photos impressive. The workshop covered 12 of the essential rules such as the Rules of Odds, Triangles, Diagonally Opposed, Rule of Up, Starburst, and Contrast in Motion and Layers. Additionally, in the ‘Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts in Photography and Videography’ workshop, Andrew and his team went over the areas of picture file formats, ‘true-stops’ in lighting and exposure, postprocessing, camera flashes, lenses and specifications, pivoting vs tilting, the rule of the ‘Cube’ and the trick of ‘high ISO’ for faster shooting. He continued sharing 10 more important foundational rules in videography that included areas such as transitions, camera movement, background music, audio acquisition, techniques of story-telling, choice of BPM and

Workshop participants posed at EduCity Multi Varsity after the practical session film pace – all aspects that would be observed in the judgement process of the short video category. I.M. klik 2016 photography and short video competition was launched at ISKARNIVAL Kreatif on 17th September 2016 and was closed for submission on 20th October 2016. The winners will

be announced and honoured at ISKARNIVAL Sama-Sama, happening from 12th to 13th November 2016, at Puteri Harbour, Iskandar Puteri. Winners stand a chance to win a total of RM35,000 in cash prizes in the annual competition organised by Iskandar Investment Berhad.

Nikonian Academy trainer, Ong Woei Min (second from left) demonstrating best picture scenario during practical session

Iskandar Puteri

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5 Practices in Our Culture that Compromises Women’s Value 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 JEIWA (Johor Empowerment of Intellectual Women Association), she will cover crucial issues involving working mothers and matters relating to women’s rights, education and more.

ur society has evolved with time which includes changes in women’s role. Women have developed a sense of independence and credibility which allows them to become more productive in the society. However, there are certain actions or things we say that are very much embedded in our culture that denies their rights and compromises their dignity. We may not realise it but these actions are influential on their personal growth and identity development, especially among the adolescent girls. Staying beautiful for men Women are encouraged to stay beautiful and in shape so that the husband will remain in the marriage. We must instil the idea that women are beautiful in any way. Instead of women finding ways to keep their men, we need to teach men to stay faithful in

marriages. Keeping fit means staying healthy and a person with a healthy body will have healthy mind. Cooking for a man’s stomach We have heard many times that young women need to learn how to cook so she can feed her husband in the future. We hold tightly to the principle of “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. Undeniably, a woman’s cooking (as mother or wife) can give good memories to the family members but there are various other reasons for a woman to take up cooking skills. Instead of promoting men as the mainstay reason, cooking can be a form of a therapy. Food can make either gender happy. Cooking skills can be beneficial for her own convenience so she doesn’t have to depend on others and we need to stop telling women to cook for men and keep it gender neutral. Never ladies first It’s not uncommon to see women serving the food and letting men eat first and once they are done eating, women will clean up and finally enjoy the meal. This concept subtly teaches women to put men before them and become a second class component in the society. Nowadays, women juggle different roles including as a wife, mother and career women and therefore, they should be

respected and treated similarly well. In situations that don’t require priority of gender (prayer is an exception), we should allow men and women to be equal. Men and women should be allowed to sit and eat together. Silence means agreeable This concept commonly applies to women as many people believe that when women keep silence, they are shy to verbalise their opinion but agree to the subject. It basically denies basic human rights – freedom of speech. This concept is deeply rooted in our culture prohibiting women from having their own opinion even from important decision making. The culture believes that women’s thoughts are less valued because they are not born to lead men. But many have not realised that modern women have advanced so much that men need to catch up. Michelle Obama stated that “Strong men - men who are truly role models - don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful” – which include freedom of speech. Boys will be boys It begins when boys disrespect girls in schools and this behaviour is acceptable by our culture because they are just expressing their masculinity. Allowing them to disrespect the opposite gender will

d e v e l o p them with toxic masculinity and chauvinism as they grow up. We should never tell girls to accept any bad treatment from boys and girls deserve to be respected even from a young age. Women deserve better treatment than how it’s currently practiced. Nurturing our children with positive attitude towards women will help in developing new generation of women with independence and sophistication. They have full rights to be treated with respect and stand to their own decisions. Their value should never be exploited in exchange with the tradition or culture. TI

CH RONIC OB STRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEA SE PREVENTION

The best way to prevent COPD is not to start smoking or quit smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Quitting can help prevent complications and slow the progress of the disease. Also should avoid exposure to the lung irritants mentioned earlier. DIAGNOSIS

Article by: DR SITI KAMARIAH BT OTHMAN MD (USM), MMED Internal Medicine (USM), FELLOWSHIP IN RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (MALAYSIA), CONSULTANT GENERAL & RESPIRATORY PHYSICIAN, GLENEAGLES MEDINI HOSPITAL

COPD

COPD is a term used to describe chronic air flow obstruction that is mainly associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In a normal healthy breathing, air moves in and out of the lungs to meet the demands of the body and this is impaired in COPD. Patients with COPD may develop chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Symptoms may be minimal early in the disease, but tend to worsen with time. COPD is a major global health problem that causes significant disability. It is the 5th biggest killer worldwide. COPD is mainly caused by smoking, but long term exposure to other irritants may also contribute to COPD e.g. outdoor air pollution and passive smoking.

To understand COPD, it helps to understand how the lungs work. The air that breathed in goes down into tubes in the lungs called bronchial tubes or airways. Within the lungs, bronchial tubes branch into thousands of smaller, thinner tubes called bronchiories. These tubes end in bunches of tiny round air sacs. When air reaches the air sacs, oxygen passes through the air sac walls into the blood of the capillaries. At the same time, carbon dioxide (a waste gas) moves from the capillaries into the air sacs. This process is called gas exchange. The airways and air sacs are elastic (stretchy). When breathed in, each air sac fills up with the air like a small balloon. When breathed out, the air sacs deflate and the air goes out. In COPD, less air flows in and out of the airways beacuse one or more of the following: The airways and air sacs slows their elastic quality and the walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed. The walls of the airways also become thick and inflamed and the airways make more mucus than usual, which can clog them.

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS Signs and symptoms Patients typically present with a combination of signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Symptom include the following: -Cough -Breathlessness, mainly on exertion -Wheezing -Chest tightness The sensitivity of physical examination in detecting mild to modereate COPD is relatively poor, but physical signs are quite specific and sensitive for severe disease. Findings in severe disease icludes barrel chest, diffused decreased breath sounds and prolonged expiration.

Chronic Bronchitis: In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly irritated and inflamed. This causes the Risk factors lining to thicken. Lots of thick mucus forms in the The main risk factor for COPD is smoking. Most people who have COPD, smoke or used to airways, making it hard to breathe. smoke. People who have a family history of COPD are more likely to develop the disease if Emphysema: In Emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs they smoke. Long-term exposure to their lung (alveolar) are damaged. As a result, the air sacs lose their irritants include second-hand smoke, air shape and become floppy. This damage also can pollution, and chemical fumes and dust from destroy the walls of the air sacs, leading to fewer and the environment or workplace. Most people larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones. If this happens, who have COPD are at least 40 years old when the symptoms begin. the amount of gas exchange in the lungs is reduced.

The formal diagnosis of COPD is made with spirometry. During this painless test, a technician will ask the patient to take a deep breath in and blow as hard as possible into a tube connected to a small machine. The machine is called spirometer. The machine measures how much air the patient breathes out. It also measures how fast a patient can blow air out. TREATMENT COPD has no cure yet. However, lifestyle changes and treatments can help patients feel better, stay more active and slow the progress of the disease. 1. Quitting smoking is the most importnant step to treat COPD. 2. Brochodiators inhalers helps to relax the muscles around the airways. This helps to open airways and makes breathing easier. 3. Vaccination (influenza and pheumococcal). 4. Pulmonary rehabilitation. Rehab may include nutrition and psychological counseling. 5. Oxygen therapy.

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Sharing Sessions for Poly Students

he Creative and Visual design department of Ibrahim Sultan Premiere Polytechnic in Pasir Gudang organised the annual Event Management Seminar, with experience sharing sessions by experienced players in their respective industry, recently. 240 students from Industrial, Fashion and Graphic design school had a chance to talk to several speakers from the fashion, graphic and education industry in regards of event management. The event which was held simultaneously in four venues around the campus was part of the students’ curriculum syllabus. It helped exposed them to the reality of the working world and to

prepare them for their own career path. Ida Azlina Mohd Ali, Managing Director of ALPHAedu, a Johor based English education consultant was among the speakers invited on that day. She shared insightful information on managing educational events such as motivation camps to the Ministry of Education’s standards. Students were also exposed to the aspects of planning an event, the procedures of conducting and operating an event and also assessing measuring and event’s success. “This is a good programme to expose the students to various job alternatives in terms of event management as the employment market is competitive nowadays,”

In Search of the Next Badminton Champion

Ida Azlina Mohd Ali, Managing Director of ALPHAedu speaking to the students of Industrial, Fashion and Graphic design school, Ibrahim Sultan Premiere Polytechnic said Ida adding that the fundamentals of managing an event is the same and applicable to different types of event. Ibrahim Sultan Premiere Polytechnic is one of three premiere polytechnics in

the country that offers Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Degree courses equivalent to a Malaysian public university. It also only accepts students who obtained excellent results in SPM.- by Hakim Malik TI

MoU Set to Support and Nurture the Growth of Pharmacists Highlight

University of Reading Malaysia and AM PM Pharmacy signed MoU to help develop pharmaceutical field in the country Students from SJKT Taman Tun Aminah, winner of Piala SMC 2016 Johor state level qualifiers at the prize giving ceremony

10 students from 27 Tamil schools in Johor participated in the recent Piala SMC state level qualifying round at Perling Badminton Academy. The qualifiers were held nationwide throughout October while the Grand Finals will take place on 19th November 2016 at the Lee Chong Wei Sports Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The national tournament organised by Sri Murugan Centre (SMC) helps expose and make Indian students more involved in sports. It also looks to highlight the talent in them at an early stage. The competition was divided into three respective categories which are the boys’ singles, girls’ singles and boys’ doubles. The Johor qualifiers saw SJKT Taman Tun Aminah taking home the RM1000 top prize while SJKT Masai bagged the runner-up’s

RM500 reward. Both teams will be representing Johor to the National level where 18 teams will battle it out and stand a chance to grab the top RM5000 prize. Also there to present the awards and prizes were YB Datuk M. Asojan, Johor State MIC President along with SMC Youthcore President Surain K and the Director of the Piala SMC, M. Navaganesh. SMC is planning to expand the tournament bigger for next year and eventually organise an open tournament for all Malaysians by 2018. Sri Murugan Centre is a nongovernmental organisation founded in 1982 by Dato Sri Dr. M. Thambirajah to help Indian students in academics, as well as to enhance their community engagement. - by Hakim Malik TI

niversity of Reading Malaysia (UoRM) is the first overseas campus of the University of Reading UK, which is ranked in the top 1% globally. With their newly launched MPharm 2+2 programme, UoRM and AM PM Pharmacy had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to nurture collaboration in the area of public health science locally. AM PM Pharmacy has been a big supporter of UoRM since 2013, and that led to the development of the MPharm 2+2 degree programme. “The University of Reading Malaysia School of Pharmacy is delighted to formalise our relationship with colleagues from AM PM Pharmacy,” said Dr. Samantha Weston, Head of Pharmacy at UoRM. “These friendships will continue to support and nurture the growth and education of our future pharmacists, right

here in Malaysia. The staff and students of Reading School of Pharmacy Malaysia would like to extend our extreme gratitude and thanks to AM PM Pharmacy for all their help and support over the years,” said Dr. Weston adding that both organisations share a mutual interest in the fields of research, training, development and dissemination of knowledge. MPharm students will benefit from the training facilities and placement opportunities given by AM PM Pharmacy, while UoRM will offer employees of AM PM Pharmacy continuous professional development training. The University of Reading Malaysia believes the agreement sets the ground for longer-term university-community pharmacy partnerships. To apply for the MPharm 2+2 degree, visit www.reading.edu.my/apply - by Hakim Malik TI

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Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

An Eventful month

Tey Bin Yuen Binyuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. He’ll be launching his second book ‘Profit from Share Investment’ on 3rd Dec 16. Pre-order his book with super early bird discount at http://www.teybinyuen.com/ profitfromshareinvestment/

urrently, the world is watching the most unprecedented presidential election in the world. If you believe one candidate stands a much higher chance, think again. In June this year, nobody thought BREXIT would happen. But what’s the result? That aside, we’re seeing some trends forming recently. First, crude oil started climbing back to $50 per barrel after Russia said it supports efforts by OPEC to cut production. Second, the USD against the Ringgit has strengthened to above RM4.15. In contrast, The British sterling fell to its lowest level in three decades. Domestically, the KLCI is still under the MA200 support. Will there be any chance for a pre-budget rally? And how would all the news affect our portfolio so far? As at 14th October 2016, we’ve made a paper gain of 56% since the inception of our portfolio in November 2015. This is above the 0.2% compared to KLCI. One reason for this result is that we’ve been proactively managing the portfolio. For instance, we’ve performed three transactions recently.

Disclaimer: 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.

Sold AIRASIA (5099) On 11th October, we sold 20000 shares of AIRASIA at RM2.82. There are two reasons for this decision: 1. The strengthened USD and oil price recently aren’t favourable to Airasia, as it makes the cost and profits more unpredictable. 2. Seeing the possible volatility ahead, we decided to take profit. The sale of AIRASIA gave us proceeds of RM56400, including a profit of RM23200 (entry price was RM1.66) Sold MFLOUR (3662) There was a price action on 7th October,

where Mflour fell 6 cents with a strong bear candle. Not only it dropped below our entry cost at RM1.46, it has gone below the MA50 line, which is an important support. The above signs have led us to exit Mflour on the next day’s opening, where we sold 25000 shares at RM1.42. We made a loss of 4 cents, which is equivalent to RM1000. The sales proceed is RM35500. Bought ILB (5614) Integrated Logistics Berhad (ILB) has been providing logistics services since 1973. It has a major centre of business in China and logistics warehouse facilities in Dubai. There are a few reasons that ILB caught our attention:

Adam’s Financial Journey

1. According to the ILB Annual Report 2015 released on 7th March 2016, ILB bought back 3,378,900 of its own shares at RM0.787 per share in 2015. 2. In March 2016, Bursa Malaysia announced that ILB has entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire five adjoining parcels of Freehold Vacant Agriculture land measuring a total of approximately 31 hectares. The rationale of the acquisition is to undertake solar energy venture. 3. According to ILB’s quarter 2 report 2016 released on 29th August 2016, its cash level stands at RM107 million. With a Total Equity of RM341,940,000 and shares issued of 178 million, ILB’s NTA stands at RM1.92 / share. Seeing the downside risks and low valuation of ILB, we’ve accumulated 60000 ILB shares in September with an average price of RM0.81. This translated into an investment of RM48600. With cash of RM27150 brought forward and the transactions performed as abovementioned, our new cash level has increased to RM65050. Conclusion Investing in the stock market is like doing a business. While there’s no guarantee you’ll win, there are strategies to put you in a safer position such as reduce the number of companies you invest in and increase your cash level. TI

Brought to you by:

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 The Empty Nest – Part One

other obligations have been fulfilled, especially funding their children’s education. This is understandable as people tend to prioritise their needs on an urgency basis and may not have enough time to save up for their retirement. We may be able to catch up on all those books that we’ve not been

takes time to build wealth and for the power of compound interest to work effectively, even longer time is needed. Therefore, many rely solely on their EPF savings, which may not be sufficient. Of course, the best time to start planning for your retirement is as soon as

Retirement Fund Many people don’t really think about planning for their retirement until all their

able to read but may not have the luxury of time to catch up on our retirement savings. It

you start working. You should be saving at least 10% of your income into a separate

dam and Aida can finally give a big sigh of relief now as both their children, Alisa and Aiman are living on their own and the home is quiet once again. Adam was browsing through some brochures on holiday packages while Aida picked up one of her favourite novels. She really haven’t got the chance to finish reading a novel since the day Alisa arrived but now, she’s planning to catch up on all her “lost times”. Adam was planning on taking his dear wife for a cruise and what better time than now to go for their long-deserved holidays. Adam and Aida are in their late 40’s now and have a couple more years to retirement. One of the greatest financial burdens was lifted from their shoulders as both their children have graduated and are already working overseas. Now, they’ve only to think about their own retirement fund.

retirement fund (apart from your EPF) and allow it to grow throughout the years. Most people, especially parents, have the tendency to break this “piggy bank” to fund their children’s education. If it’s a choice between their children’s further education and their own retirement, most parents may opt for the former, and sacrificing their own retirement goals. So, how should we then manage our finances during this phase of our life, especially if we’ve not saved up much for our golden years? Let’s take a look at some of the strategies: • Re-budget – We should continue with our habit of having a budget and more importantly, sticking to it. At this phase of our life, we should have a clearer and more accurate picture of what our retirement lifestyle is going to look like. Therefore, we should review our budget and make the necessary adjustments to better reflect our post-retirement lifestyle, taking into consideration inflation and other emergencies. We’ll take a look at other strategies in the next issue. TI

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Two Chef Treat at Big bro 2 Big Bro 2 cafe [Non-Halal], 28 Jalan Seri Austin 1/1, Taman Seri Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru. Open daily 5pm to 10.30pm. Tel: 6016 - 7550868 Our resident writer Peggy Loh goes scouting for scrumptious food all over Johor Bahru. Reach her for a review at write2peggyloh@gmail.com The brothers have created a menu which is pleasing the palates of diners, many who have become regulars while some even travel from across the city to dine there! Big Bro 2 is a family-friendly café with a no-frills approach, furnished with long wooden tables for convivial dining as they aim to revive the kopitiam concept where regulars, familiar with the routine of self-service, can help themselves to the drinks before putting the items on the bill. Diners may select from canned and bottled soft drinks and beer or homebrewed

Façade of Big Bro 2 at Taman Seri Austin

rothers, Brian and Sam Soon, grew up observing how their father ran a successful bak-kut-teh business and they not only inherited his enterprising spirit but also his culinary skills. After years of pursuing their individual culinary careers, the brothers decided to join forces by pooling their skills and experience in Big Bro 2, where diners can enjoy the culinary creations of two chefs instead of one.

A serving of Pork Combo comes with a slice of pork chop, plump sausage, bacon strips and freshly made potato mash on a bed of sautéed spinach

Dessert of smooth Crème Brule topped with marshmallows Chef Brian Soon presenting Ubud-style Babek (duck) with a side of perfectly steamed ladies fingers with spicy sambal terasi dip and fresh lime slices herbal tea that are chilling in an open ice trough. If you enjoy drinks “on the rocks” then use the stainless steel mugs, hung from a rack, to take ice-cubes from the freezer box. Western food menus are written on two broad boards in two languages – English and Chinese – displayed at the back of the dining hall. Their competitive prices must be another attraction about dining at Big Bro 2. Diners can savour main course items like Angus Ribeye, Lamb Rack and Pork Knuckle to Pork Ribs and Chicken Cordon Bleu, without burning a hole in their pocket.

There are also light meals like Fish & Chips, Chicken Ala Picatta, Pork Chop and Carbonara or Aglio Olio pasta for small eaters. The Pork Combo is a popular choice as it comes with a slice of pork chop, plump sausage, bacon strips and freshly made potato mash on a bed of sautéed spinach. “Spinach is one of my favourite vegetables and we decided to use these fresh greens to complement our meat dishes,” said Chef Brian. New items are often introduced so diners can enjoy Chef’s favourites like crispy Ubud-style Babek (duck) served with a side of perfectly steamed ladies fingers and spicy sambal terasi dip. Then end your tasty meal sweetly with dessert choices like Chocolate Lava and Crème Brule. TI

Thistle Johor Bahru’s Food Rendezvous Food-venture

Be prepared to indulge in an unforgettable gastronomical journey

ith the recent Deepavali and Halloween celebrations, Thistle Johor Bahru (Thistle) went on an extra mile and added several new promotions to tempt the taste buds of their guests and patrons. Bring your appetite to Oasis Restaurant for their very “Big Bites” promotion, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm, every Tuesday to Sunday where you can indulge in a 3-course Western food menu at RM125 nett per person. Start off with either a refreshing ‘Watermelon Salad with Shrimps’ or ‘Deep-fried Smoked Salmon Balls’ appetizer. For the mains, indulge in good ol’‘Southern Style Fried Chicken’ which is deep fried and served with corn cream cheese muffin and spicy chocolate pomodori sauce. If that sounds good, wait until you taste their off-the-bone ‘Australian Beef Ribs’ served with mashed potatoes, buttered seasonal vegetables and garlic bread or go the South Louisiana way with ‘Seafood Gumbo’ consisting stewed prawns, mussels, squid, crabs and green

bell peppers and ladies fingers served with a side of buttered rice. End the meal with a fudgy ‘Chocolate Brownie’ or try the heavenly ‘Chocolate Parfait’ topped with cream and strawberry puree sauce. If you cannot handle these huge “Big Bites”, then opt for their ala-carte menu instead. If you wish to savour authentic home-cooked meals, head over to the Glass Restaurant where the hotel’s award-winning Chefs’ dishes are being featured. The talented Chefs had won the hearts of the judges with their mouth-watering dishes such as ‘Southeast Asia Coconut Chicken Curry’ which had the right kick of spice and flavours or dig into a hot bowl of ‘Fish Curry

Nenas’. Executive Chef Mahmood who took gold under the Malay Traditional Ethnic Ketupat & Rendang Challenge at the recent Chefs’ Competition 2016 Penang International Salon Gastronomique held in Penang had won us over with his unique recipe of ‘Red Bean Ketupat’ passed down by his great grandfather. Savour it on its own or with his featured B e e f Curry. All three of the award winning dishes are served with a side of rice / ketupat and is reasonably priced at RM25 nett. The restaurant serves these dishes daily from 12 noon – 10.00pm.

There is more at Thistle as they have newly introduced three Afternoon Tea sets at a cool RM35 nett per three-tier set at Steps, daily from 2pm – 6pm. The English Afternoon Tea comes with Fruit tartlets, Scones with butter and jam and French pastries. If you prefer something local, opt for the Malaysian Afternoon Tea which serves classic favourites such as Man Tau with peanut sauce and chicken floss, Apam cake with peanut butter and Jemput-Jemput Pisang. For something more exquisite, try their Savoury Delights set which comes with Smoked Salmon Bruschetta, Quiche Lorraine and Curry Puffs. If you still prefer the good old buffet – then Steps Lounge serves an English Afternoon Hi-Tea at RM25 nett every Sundays to Thursday from 2pm – 6pm. The buffet consists French pastries, Chicken pies, Sausage rolls, Chicken puffs, Fruit tartlets, Mixed sandwiches, Savouries, Fruits and Coffee or Tea. For all promotions, you may make your reservations at 07-2229234. - by Priya Manikam, Photos by Maressa Esa. TI

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Sweet Death by Cakes Temptation

Forget about your sugar rush when you try these scrumptious cakes

f you’re tired of the same bakeries, fret not as you can now venture to our top picks of cake cafes such as Petals & Bakes, Pink Daisy Café & Bakery, Bake N Frost, Spatula N Senduk, and Pot’s to give in to your sugary temptations.

Pink Daisy Cakes & Café

the café is run by friendly home baker Keary Irama Mohd Zin and her husband. Relax in a homely ambience and choose from a line of butter cakes served at room temperature, along cookies, brownies, and cinnamon rolls. We highly recommend the moist ‘Pandan Gula Melaka’ cake, enriched with ‘Onde-Onde’ essence, topped with coconut bits as though you’re indulging in the real kuih. Closed on Fridays, Operation hours from 3pm-10.30pm.

Petals & Bakes

Oreo Cheesecake by Pink Daisy Cakes & Café

Chocolate Sail custom cake by Petals & Bake Founded by petite 26 year old twins Suraya and Sarah Halim, Petals & Bakes is known for their signature Chocolate Sail custom cakes for occasions while their dine-in menu would be the Nutella cake series. The ‘Nutella Torte’ cake is a big winner, made with premium Belgium chocolate and have it with a hot Latte. Petals & Bakes custom cakes price starts from RM65 while cake slices are priced between RM8 to RM12. Located at Nong Chik Heights, Closed on Mondays, 9am-10pm.

GATHERING

If you’re looking for a spot to relax, chat and dine, Pink Daisy Cakes & Café has it all at Taman Perling. Former technical writer Nur Farhanah Mohd Razali who is self-taught in baking, caters an array of American style butter cakes and her ‘Oreo Cheesecake’ made its way to our liking with pure Oreo flavour, drizzled with chocolate ganache. Hands-on baking and cooking classes are also available for those 13 years old and above and for kids from 5-12 years old. Pink Daisy’s whole custom cakes starts at RM90 and cake slices starts from RM9. Closed on Sunday & Monday, Operation hours from 12pm-7pm. Bake N Frost Bubbly baker Lis Mohammad welcomes guests to her café located at Adda Heights with her one price spread of continental sponge cake slices at RM9.90. We went for two of the best cakes – The sweet and savoury ‘Mango Cheesecake’ and a rich expresso flavoured nutty ‘Mocha Walnut

MEETING

Mango Cheesecake by Bake N Frost

Pot’s

cake’. 10% discounts are given every Thursdays and Saturdays for all cake slices. Baking classes are also available for adults every Sundays. Custom cakes for birthday parties are also available from RM90 per whole cake. Closed on Sundays, Operation hours from 12pm-10.30pm. Spatula N Senduk Toblerone Cheesecake by Pot’s

Pandan Gula Melaka cake by Spatula N Senduk Stepping two blocks away from Bake N Frost,

RELAXATION

Located in Southkey City, Klux and her team produces fresh homemade premium cheesecakes daily for the café and custom orders. Pot’s best-selling ‘Toblerone Cheesecake’ is a wonder that melts in your mouth! Toblerone chunks mixed with creamy cheese and topped with a Maltesers ball definitely has you coming back for more. Get notified through their social media for 20% discount on cakes. Pot’s cakes are fixed at RM12 per slice. Closed on Mondays, Operation hours from 4pm-12am. - by Maressa Esa TI

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PROPERT Y INSIGHT

PROPERTY

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

APARTMENTS

VILLAS

CONDOMINIUMS

OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE

Cover: Foon Yew High School to open in pg 33 Bandar Seri Alam

iProperty Mingle Night and Forest City honoured by Frost & Sullivan

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iProperty Commingles Damansara Realty Property Developers Berhad Signs MoU with Country Garden and Realtors

he highly anticipated i Pr o p e r t y ’s mingle night held at Gallery Wine & Dine was a big success with real estate agents rubbing shoulders with representatives from prominent property developers in the country. The evening of socialising, was attended by over 150 guests who comprised some of the country’s biggest developers, property experts and realtors. iProperty.com Malaysia prides itself as the country’s No.1 property website.

Founded in 2007, iProperty is an ASX listed company which owns portals in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Hong Kong Region and a leading portal in Singapore. Serving 30,000 property agents and 400 developers, the company offers property listings, news updates and property related information. Earlier this year, Rupert Murdoch’s REA Group completed its acquisition of iProperty Group. The mingle night featured market report presentations and shared the current

trends and consumer data. “I think the mingle nights are fantastic and there is a lot of passion in the room. The mingle night is not just for Johor but we’ve been having it in other states as well and the response has been amazing,” said Kul Singh, Country Manager from REA Group. “It is part of our role as the No.1 property website in the country to help networking among our clientele and help them broaden their reach,” added Kul. - by Edey Suresh TI

iProperty puts together another well attended mingle night giving opportunity to real estate players and housing realtors to meet

The Regional President of Country Garden (Malaysia) Fu Jinling and Vice President of DBhd, Datuk Daing A Malek during the MoU signing ceremony at Forest City

amansara Realty Bhd (Dbhd) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China developers, Country Garden Holdings (CG) to develop a 21.44 hectare township in Tampoi, dubbed as the Central Park. The project will be developed with the help of DAC Properties Sdn. Bhd. (DAC Properties) with 30% will be owned by DBhd while the remaining 70% will be owned by Country Garden and will begin development in the fourth quarter of this year. DAC Properties will develop Central Park over the next eight years with the first phase expected to launch as early as the first quarter of next year. Located ten kilometres from Johor Bahru, Central Park will

include residential and commercial units as well as several amenities. Regional President of Country Garden (Malaysia) Fu Jinling said his party is confident in the development of the project, and that it will become an international metropolis, adding that he is proud to be a part of the transformation itself. “Malaysia is always our key market because we see a lot of potential, especially in Johor Bahru that is surrounded with mega developments of the future,” he said. Fu said that during the signing ceremony between DBhd and Country Garden that was held at Forest City. Also present during the event was Vice President of DBhd, Datuk Daing A Malek. - by Amin Khairuddink TI

Real Life Case Studies Opinion

The Will – Part Two

CA(M), FCCA, MDRT

Will is the Testator’s final instructions that are expressed in written form. The following are some matters that need to be thought of when getting a Will done. Item 3 - Minor Children (continued) Think about who loves your children as much as you do if you and your spouse are not around anymore. Where possible, nominate 3 parties who can substitute each other should the unwanted occurs. Also think about leaving some money to these Guardians so that their out-of-pocket expenses can be reduced since they would

now be inheriting your children. Think that it’s a blessing that someone is willing to look after them and the last thing you want is to cause them financial hardship. Item 4 – Dividing your assets While it’s easy to say that “all my assets are to be divided equally”, in practice it may not be always true. Some items are simply not divisible, for example, motor vehicles and the law simply does not allow for shared ownership. Others can be divided but may cause complications later. For example, matters involving property where one party may want to sell while the other may want to hold on due to sentimental reasons. Sometimes, it’s best to just liquidate these assets and divide the proceeds among the beneficiaries. Should any party

wish to own it, then that party may purchase it just as any 3rd party would have. T h e r e could be situations where the Testator may want to assign a specific item to a single person only. For example, one may want to leave behind some rare coins to a favourite nephew. This must be clearly spelled out to avoid confusion when distribution occurs. Item 5 – Unborn Children and Anticipation of Marriage Sometimes, a Will is done when one does not have any children. However, this can be mitigated when planned in advance and rewriting costs can be minimised when the time comes for the

Budget 2017: Better Financing for Pr1ma The 2017 Budget introduced a new end-financing scheme for the 1Malaysia People’s Housing programme (Pr1ma). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said through the scheme, financing will be easier and more accessible to buyers with a total loan of 90% to 100% while loan rejection rate will be reduced drastically. The scheme is a collaboration between the government, Bank Negara Malaysia, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and four local banks, namely Maybank, CIMB, RHB and AMBANK. In addition, Najib also announced that stamp duty exemption would be increased to 100% on instruments of transfer and housing loan instruments, to help reduce the cost of first-home ownership, compared to 50% at present. However, he said, this exemption is limited to houses with the value of up to RM300,000 for first home ownership only, between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2018.

Need for Alternatives – BNM

A.Devadason

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

Quick Reads

Testator to have children. On the same note, when a Testator is about to get married in the near future, the future spouse can be taken into account so as to ensure that it does not get nullified by virtue of matrimony. When planned properly, Wills can be done in an economical manner without unnecessary rewrites. Talk to your trusted advisor and I am sure a tailor made solution can be prepared. Here’s wishing everyone a pleasant financial planning experience both in Life and Death! TI

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has insisted that increasing access to financing is not the way to resolve the affordable housing issue. Developing alternatives to home ownership, including a well-functioning rental market, should be a policy priority. “Providing a viable route to help low-income and early career individuals onto a path towards eventual home ownership and better enforcement is also critical to prevent the abuse of schemes intended to assist specific household segments to own or rent homes,” it said in a statement. BNM said that policy measures to ensure access to credit must be pursued with concern for the protection of home buyers from financial hardship leading to foreclosure and poorer welfare.

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Property Investment Opinion

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

s we fast approach the end of this year, I wish to write about the various events and developments which will make the year a celebrated one for Iskandar Malaysia investors. By December 2016, the United States of America would have chosen its new president. As with past presidential elections in America, the few months after will be calm and holiday-spirited. Although we have a

Good Year for Iskandar Malaysia

much more contentious election than ever before, I have faith that the most dynamic democracy in the world will produce a better America for the world. Asia, in particular South East Asia, has always been dependent on the prosperity and direction that America takes. I personally believe that the next US President will steer their economy carefully and progressively contributing to a better Asian-American era. We have witnessed some traumatic events around the world like terrorist attacks and also the sudden exit of Britain from the European Union. Americans in general are cognisant of the volatility of the current global security and economic situations. The European community continues to thrive without Britain with the Euro currency having appreciated much against the British pound since June. We have a lot more economic challenges ahead in

terms of global deflation and also rising unemployment among the young. However, I have much optimism that the leaders in Europe will ride out these challenges. Over in South East Asia, although commodity prices continue to slump, we are seeing more OPEC actions to curb oil exports which contributes to better economic returns in the oil and gas sectors. Shipping continues to slump with many bankruptcies in the news of late. But I see rising profits in air travel and tourism which will contribute towards greater receipts in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Vietnam and Cambodia too are enjoying greater prosperity. Indeed Asean as a region is benefitting from the influx of more tourists from Europe and China. Property investments will continue to slumber with global economic uncertainties. But existing stock of investment properties will thrive as new supply dwindles. Iskandar

Malaysia will enjoy robust rentals as along as the Singapore and Malaysian economies continue their moderate projections. Iskandar’s infrastructure developments are seeing tremendous growth which will impact the region positively making it a very strong magnet of talent and industries. I am optimistic that the region will continue to prosper and lead to much a higher standard of living for all Johorians. With better amenities, hotels and resorts, its tourism industry will continue to boom. Its oil and gas sector will continues to grow with Petronas taking the lead in developing the western side of Johor. Many community events and activities have started to generate excitement for the locals and foreign visitors as well. We are seeing the results of the state authorities’ focus in responding to the challenges in making Iskandar Malaysia a vibrant community. TI

Forest City Honoured Foon Yew High School to open in Bandar Seri Alam Development

Education closer to home

community as it helps parents send their children to schools that are closer to their homes,” said Dato’ Sri Liow to the media. UMLand Executive Deputy Chairman, Dato’ Ng Eng Tee expressed that the developer has positioned itself as a major education hub in Iskandar Malaysia in 2012 to contribute to nation building and development through education with its 8 iconic premier universities and schools namely Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Masterskills College of Health Science, Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM), Sekolah Seni Malaysia, Pegasus Internation School, Excelsior International School and Japanese School. As a start, MCA and Johor Bahru TiongHua Association both donated RM1.5 million towards the development of the school which accumulated to RM50 million worth of cost. Foon Ye w High School is projected to cater to a capacity of approximately 5000 students f ro m a ro u n d Minister of Transport, Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai graced the announcement of Bandar Seri Alam Foon Yew High School Seri Alam with Tong Sing Chuan, Foon Yew High School residential area. Management Committee Chairman (third from right) by Maressa Esa TI

nited Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand) recently announced Foon Yew High School Seri Alam as another development to fulfill their job scope for Malaysian education sector in Bandar Seri Alam (BSA) township which is also known as City of Knowledge. Graced by Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) President and Minister of Transport, Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, the third 23-acres Foon Yew High School branch will be located in Bandar Seri Alam and expected to meet completion in three years’ time. “Our education system is dynamic in which we allow different streams to ensure our children are exposed to various streams of education. This development has received warm welcome especially from the Chinese

orest City was recently awarded with the prestigious award during the annual Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards banquet, held at the Conrad Centennial Hotel in Singapore. Melvin Leong, Associate Director, Energy & Environment Practice, Asia-Pacific at Frost & Sullivan said that Forest City is the most innovative property development project by Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV), which is an associated company of Country Garden Holdings, one of the leading urban master planners in the region. “This new smart city features technologically advanced construction methodologies in reclamation and futuristic living ideas. One of Forest City’s key innovations is visionary mobility that has encompassed multi-level underground car parks and roads,” he added. Leong also said that the development is expected to become a pioneer in smart living solutions whilst benefiting the region with its role in socio-economic growth. “Forest City is also a model development

that promotes ecosystem balance and houses vertical greening systems and energy efficient buildings,” he added. 2015 and 2016 have been a rather significant period in the Asia-Pacific property development industry. “Property developers across the region are competing fiercely with unique projects and developments that offer prospective customers value in quality and price. As a result, the industry is witnessing an increase in cross-border transactions from property buyers, building material vendors, and other participants across the property development value chain,” said Leong. “We are humbly honoured that Forest City has been selected to receive such a prestigious recognition by Frost & Sullivan. We are glad to be the pioneer developer that incorporates vertical greening system as well as smart city design in Southeast Asia. This mega development is expected to fuel economic growth of Iskandar region, the main Southern development corridor in Johor,” said Datuk Md Othman Haji Yusof, Executive Director of CGPV. - by Priya Manikam TI

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Khalil Adis Khalil Adis was the former editor of Property Report and he has written for PropertyGuru, iProperty. com, Yahoo! Singapore/ Malaysia and various newspapers. Renowned for his independent views and insights, Khalil has given talks at various expos and at property launches. He is also on the judging panel of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia). Fact 2: Integrated mixed-use development Billed as “Johor Bahru’s new central business district”, the massive masterplan will occupy 11.85 acres of freehold land – approximately the size of nine international football fields. When fully completed in 2021, One Bukit Senyum will have a gross floor area of 6.3 million sq ft. Phase one comprises The Astaka - two luxurious residential blocks with a total of 438 units. It is currently the most expensive in the market. Priced at around RM1,400 per sq ft, it has set a record price for Iskandar Malaysia. The residential

@home Move Over KLCC, Johor Bahru City Centre is Fast Catching up as Malaysia’s Next Economic Powerhouse – Part Two In-Focus

Final four facts you need to know about One Bukit Senyum

towers are iconic as well. At 65 and 70 storeys, respectively, they are tipped to be the tallest residential towers in Southeast Asia. Fact 3: New home for Johor Bahru City Council, Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB) Meanwhile, phase two will comprise MBJB’s new headquarters called Menara MBJB. Slated for completion by 2019, the 15-storey Menara MBJB will have a gross floor area of approximately 445,848 sq ft and 558 car parks. The ground breaking ceremony comes four weeks after Astaka signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to construct and develop the 15-storey tower, which will be sold to MBJB. A sale and purchase agreement is expected to be concluded this year. Fact 4: A new KLCC in the making One Bukit Senyum may well rival KLCC with world-class architects at its helm - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) from the United States. The firm is responsible for some of the most iconic developments such as

the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Phase two for One Bukit Senyum will welcome a 450-room five-star hotel, 1012 units of branded residences, 254-key serviced apartments, a high end shopping mall measuring some 1.5 million sq ft shopping mall and a Grade A office building. Astaka expects to obtain preliminary regulatory approvals for phase two by the end of 2016. Fact 5: Banking on the enhanced connectivity from Singapore and the investment spillover impact Amid the lull market, the developer is forging ahead by banking on two infrastructure projects that will enhance connectivity to and from Singapore - Johor-Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System and the High Speed Rail projects expected to be completed by 2019 and 2026 respectively. Johor is already setting its sight to welcome some five million visitors by 2016. Data from Johor Immigration Department showed that in 2015 some 620,000 and 290,000 Indian and Chinese tourists visited Johor

respectively in 2014 - mostly by using Singapore as a transit point. With Singapore already a hub for international travellers, the potential spillover impact from the enhanced connectivity will be many folds spanning from property to tourism. Including Singaporeans, it could well hit beyond the six million mark. This has explained the various rejuvenation projects in JB Old Town and Sungai Segget. “We believe major projects such as the Johor-Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System and High Speed Rail will raise capital values of properties in the region and also increase demand for our development. In view of these developments, we are expecting the gross development value of One Bukit Senyum to increase and we will update shareholders in due course,” said Dato Zamani. Challenges When asked at its press conference if Singapore is still an important market for Astaka Holdings, Dato Zamani reaffirmed this. “Singapore remains an

important market. A lot of the things that you see today are made possible due to the support of the federal government, Tuanku and the state government. All the skepticism we had faced before have now been answered,” he said. 10 years down the road, however, Iskandar Malaysia is facing a new set of challenges. Perceived oversupply in the property market. For instance, according to first quarter of 2016 data from the National for Property and Information Centre (NAPIC), it showed that Johor has the most number of units launched as well as the most number of units unsold. The state recorded 8,605 launches, of which 2,663 units worth RM1.7 billion have been left unsold. Collectively, these factors have spooked Singaporean buyers despite the strong Singapore dollar. While Iskandar Malaysia remains the top performing economic corridor in Malaysia, the various issues must be addressed by the various stakeholders in order to win back Singaporean investors. TI

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