The Iskandarian May 2017 Issue by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

The Iskandarian

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ISSUE 57 | MAY 2017 FREE COPY Official Newspaper

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

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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill

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The economic circumstances nowadays have caused banks to impose stricter requirements for loan approval - Abd Razak bin Mohd Yusoff CEO, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ)

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Pasir Gudang Highway: The Waiting Game is Back

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Messy repaired potholes that is causing bumpy rides on the highway

3 out of 10 Property Purchases in Johor Transact in... - iProperty reveal buyer data during an exclusive presentation

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The Iskandarian ISSUE 57 | MAY 2017

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streets End of Q1: Iskandar Malaysia records RM227.67b in Investments

he Iskandar Malaysia 10th anniversary in November last year marked the second tipping point of the economic development region. Iskandar Malaysia has surpassed its targets for the second phase of its development and in 2016 also entered its third development phase focusing on sustainability and innovation. The third wave of investments are expected to enhance the whole eco-system in Iskandar Malaysia as the spill-over effects will have higher impact to region’s economy. Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) said Iskandar Malaysia recorded committed investments of RM5.27 billion for the first quarter of 2017, contributing to the total cumulative committed investment from 2006 to 31st March

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2017 of RM227.67 billion. “In this third phase, Iskandar Malaysia will focus on strengthening its soft and hard infrastructure with state-of-the-art facilities provided to the investors whilst at the same time benefitting the Rakyat,” said Ismail at the conclusion of IRDA’s 21st Meeting of its Members of Authority (MoA). As the region’s growth progresses, it will continue to attract more population and visitors working and living in Iskandar Malaysia, and mobility is another area that needs emphasis. In line with this, the public

transportation system for this region will be enhanced by providing efficient and accessible public transport. Iskandar Malaysia will embark on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to accommodate the targeted increase in population of up to 3.0 million by 2025. The first phase of BRT will be ready by 2020. Another important i n f ra s t r u c t u re enabler is connectivity and this will also be the focus in the third development phase as Iskandar Malaysia needs a smart ICT infrastructure to remain attractive to new and existing investors whilst at the same time providing convenience to the people of Iskandar Malaysia in as many ways possible. Iskandar Malaysia is also poised to be the preferred regional logistics hub. Port of Iskandar Malaysia is one of the 5 Big Moves of Iskandar Malaysia Comprehensive Development Plan 2014 – 2025 (CDPii). IRDA envisions to position Iskandar Malaysia as a world-class dynamic logistics and maritime hub in ASEAN and Asia-Pacific.

New Appointment of Giving Life a Members of Authority Second Chance Opportunity

Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

(from left) Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, and Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA holding the IRDA Annual Report 2016 after the Authority members endorsed the production of IRDA’s Annual Report for 2016

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Besides infrastructure, efforts in sustaining urban development are seen through youth empowerment and currently, this has been implemented via Johor International Youth Hub (HAB). The HAB is an initiative that involves the youth of Johor in the whole process of conceptualising, planning, designing, building, managing and eventually sustaining it. This has resulted in greater sense of ownership and belonging amongst the youth for the project. Ismail added that Iskandar Malaysia after the first ten years and moving into its next ten years is not only about attracting new investments; the investments must be inclusive in order for the local communities, businesses and talents to participate and reap benefits from the wealth generated from economic activities. With all these elements in place, the region will, in no time, achieve its vision of becoming a Strong and Sustainable Metropolis of International Standing. - by The Iskandarian TI

he 21st Members of Authority (MoA) meeting by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) welcomed Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia, as Federal Representative and Tuan Haji Mohd Nasir Bin Abd Salam, State Financial Officer of Johor as State Representative following their appointments as Members of Authority. YB Dato’ Azmi bin Rohani, who was recently appointed as State Secretary of Johor also attended the meeting. The MoA was co-chaired by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and Menteri Besar

Johor, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin. The primary responsibility of the Authority includes but is not limited to the setting of strategies, directions and policies relating to the development within Iskandar Malaysia. This is the first MoA meeting attended by both and they shall be the IRDA Members of Authority for two years as stated under Section 8(1)(d) of IRDA Act 2007and are eligible for reappointment for a maximum period of three consecutive terms. At the same event, the Authority members also endorsed the production of IRDA’s Annual Report for 2016. - by The Iskandarian

Ponderosa employs a resident from an old folks’ home

he life expectancy of Malaysian men is about up 72 years of age. For some, having an income to sustain is essential or it’s simply used to curb boredom or loneliness. A resident at an old folks’ home demonstrates that even at the age of 63, he is employable. Ponderosa Golf & Country Resort recently put Zainordin Hamza under its payroll as a Security Officer. “It is a win-win solution for the resort. Manpower shortage is rife in the hospitality industry as many have opted to work in Singapore due to the high exchange rate. This move serves to fill a vacancy gap and at the same time keep the old folks from our Homes, who are still healthy and able, to be gainfully e m p l o y e d ,” said Ivan Teo, the General Manager of the resort. After retir ing at

the age of 60 and with no family, Zainordin was placed by the local Welfare Department under the care of the Rumah Sri Kenangan Old Folks’ Home in Ungku Mohsin. Zainordin often helped around at the old folks’ home so as to not stay idle. “I help to feed and bathe the disabled residents at the home as workers are scarce. And when they die I take it upon myself to clean and dress them ready for the undertakers before they are claimed for burial,” said Zainordin. Zainordin is entitled to a regular salary and like other employees, work eight hours a day with due rest days. He is also given accommodation at the resort’s hostel with transport to and from work, as well as meals. His duty is to be stationed at various guard posts and to monitor and record movement of vehicles going in and out of the resort, and distributing Vehicle Entry Passes. - by Priya Manikam TI

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streets Get Ready for the Third Johor Tourism Award Highlight

More award categories are opened

he third Johor Tourism Award is back and will be taking place by year end with more award categories opened than the previous! “The awards’ ceremony is aimed to acknowledge the contribution and roles of the agencies and individuals that have contributed and helped the Johor State Government in promoting tourism domestically and internationally,” said State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee Chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong to the media after the Johor State Tourism Committee 2017 inaugural meeting. Tee continued that this year’s award categories contested will be coordinated with Malaysia Tourism Awards, and winners of the award will be nominated for 2018 Malaysia Tourism Awards. The awards are doubled to 15 categories more compared to 2012 Johor Tourism Award which were ‘Best Local Tour Operator’, ‘Best Foreign Tour Operator’, ‘Best Tourism Article’, ‘Best Tourism Publication’, ‘Best Hotel Services’, ‘Best Tourist Attraction’, ‘Best Tour Package’, ‘Best Tourist Guide’, ‘Innovative Shopping Centre’, ‘Best Homestay’, ‘Best Spa’, ‘Innovative Restaurant’, ‘Best Travel Documentary’, ‘Best Online Promotion’, and ‘Special Award’.

Nominations will be opened by end of April 2017 and the judging session is expected to commence by middle of June while the awards ceremony is to be initiated in October 2017. In another story, Senai International Airport has made huge progression by achieving 2.8 million domestic and international passengers last year compared to 2.58 million in 2015, and 2.32 million in 2014 especially when there are more direct flights from Johor to several Asian capital cities such as Bangkok, Surabaya, Jakarta, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Ho Chi Minh City. - by Maressa Esa TI

Datuk Tee Siew Kiong announced that the Johor Tourism Awards will be revived

Hybrid Fashion is So Decades Ago!

and wrong like a nous round of dressing up provision today,” said Peter Lee. Peter awed the audience with photographic documents on how our South-East Asian ancestors’ fashion sense boundaries between two cultures (Western and Asian) mainly because of the circulation of a wide array of textiles, garments and secondary market for jewelry. He also quoted Sejarah Melayu, the 15th century Bendahara of Melaka, Seri Wak Raja who had donned in hybrid fashion wearing sarong, jacket and a head cloth, while commoners were depicted wearing expensive clothing of batik, velvet jacket and turning head scarves into a belt with Peranakan style shoes. “Dress codes those days were very flexible as European ladies put on ‘baju panjang’ with skirts. In fact, Batavian wealthy ladies attended events with their slaves carrying a spittoon to show off their ‘sireh’ consumption,” he continued. He advised that it is time to reconcile and rethink the idea of what Euro and Asia fashion means and that it is a bad habit to think of Asian history as very traditional and unchanging, while European history as Singaporean Peranakan scholar and art historian, Peter globalised selves, but instead Lee (left) with President Elect Soroptomist International rehabilitate and embrace Asian South West Pacific Dato’ Anusha (middle) and President of diversity of fashion and culture. Soroptomist International Iskandar Puteri, Nooraini Dato’ - by Maressa Esa TI Mohd Yasin (second from right)

ashion revolves around time or recycled from the past to create a new extravagant trend of clothing pieces. But do you know that our ancestors were far less conservative and more unconventional in their fashion choices? Soroptomist International Iskandar Puteri recently hosted the second talk series on Asia’s cultural heritage entitled ‘Dressing Badly in the Ports: Experimental Hybrid Fashion’ presented by Singaporean Peranakan scholar and art historian, Peter Lee. “Nowadays whenever we dress up, there is a whole sense of how fashion has to be something we do properly. There has been a lot of judging between who puts on a traditional kebaya or saree, or what is right

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streets Time to Change Your Donate a Life Car into a Ford Mustang Mah Sing Group hosted blood a Causes

donation campaign in their southern development

onating blood can be the single most selfless thing you could do for mankind. Your blood, whatever types it is; may make the difference between life and death. Realising its importance, Mah Sing Group recently hosted a blood donation campaign at their southern projects at Austin V Square and at The Meridin @ Medini. The blood donation drive was mainly held to enhance the quality of life of the community, as well as promoting healthy lifestyle. “We targeted around 150 donors today and we are very happy with the turn up,” said Wong Eng Siong, Sales Manager of Mah Sing Properties (Southern),

adding that most of the participants and visitors came from Mount Austin and Johor Jaya areas. Among other attractions on that day included a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator, Blast Fx Core exercise classes and free body measurement and consultation sessions.

On the other hand, children were entertained with colouring activities. “I t is a good opportunity for me to bring my children here and expose them to blood donation at an early age,” said Anuar, who came with his wife and two children. by Hakim Malik TI

Interest

Spot the pink Ford Mustang to win

n conjunction of the upcoming Carlist. my MAA Drive, Test & Buy Event 2017, the largest local grown muscle car dealer, 23 Motors Sdn. Bhd. recently teamed up with Carlist.my and launched a ‘Grand Prix Challenge 2017’ contest roadshow to give away a one-time opportunity of driving home a muscle car from a choice of Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro or a Dodge Challenger! The contest roadshow will be ‘roaring’ across 52 popular locations around the Peninsula with a hot pink convertible Ford Mustang V6 and it will make its final stop at Setia City Convention Centre on 13th and 14th May for the main event that allows prospect buyers to put over 13 popular automotive brand of cars for test drive. “Our goal as an online car marketplace is to help make the car buying process more exciting and convenient by giving customers a one-stop platform that displays both a large

selection of vehicles and the latest attractive deals. This year, we also launched our Carlist. my mobile application that features over 30 brands to select from when purchasing your dream car,” said Country Manager of Carlist. my, PC Gan at the roadshow flag-off. In order to win one of the muscle cars, interested participants can logon to www. carlist.my to purchase any cars that entitle entries to the lucky draw from now until 30th June 2017. Three entries will be given if you purchase any cars valued above RM50,000 via Carlist.my while five entries are entitled for cars purchased from 23 Motors valued between RM50,000 to RM199,999 via Carlist. my and 10 entries for any cars valued above RM200,000 bought from 23 Motors through Carlist.my. For more information on the Drive, Test & Buy Event 2017, visit www.carlist.my by Maressa Esa TI

Participants at the Mah Sing Blood Donation Drive at Austin V Square donating blood for a good cause

Managing Director of 23 Motors Sdn Bhd, Datuk Kaathir Mustaffa (3rd from left), Johor Darul Ta’zim FC footballer Safiq Rahim (left), and Country Manager of Carlist.my, PC Gan (right) at the Carlist.my MAA Drive, Test & Buy Event 2017 contest roadshow flag-off

Broader Coverage for Johor Free WiFi Johor to introduce 49 new WiFi hotspots in rural areas

he Johor State Government is looking at expanding the Johor WiFi to 74 new hotspots this year following the success of the programme that was introduced back in 2016. Johor Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee, Hasni Mohammad disclosed that a total of 49 hotspots will be in rural areas. “At this time, 135 Johor WiFi hotspots are already running in urban areas, under the supervision of the local authorities,” said Hasni, adding that it involves 235,000

* Image is for illustration only

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

Nusajaya Police IPD 07-511 4222

Tourism Malaysia Hotline 1300 88 5050

Johor Tourism 07-223 4935 / 224 9960

JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999

Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171

Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91

Immigration 07-224 4233

Hotlines

registered users. “This year, we are extending the free facilities to rural areas,” he said at the launch of the Johor Rural WiFi project at Dewan Homestay Puteri Menangis, Kampung Parit Puteri Menangis that was launched by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin during his work visit to Pontian. Also present was Pontian Member of Parliament, Datuk Ahmad Maslan and Chairman of the Tourism, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong. - by The Iskandarian TI

Senai International Airport 07-599 4500

Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000

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The Iskandarian ISSUE 57 | MAY 2017

streets Treatment Plant to Improve Sg Segget Water Quality Update

The CSTP can process more than 33,000m3 of drainage and sewerage per day

he Sungai Segget rejuvenation project, under the Johor Bahru transformation plan is a collaboration between Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB). It is currently entering its third phase and the newly completed Combined Sewerage Treatment Plant (CSTP) is expected to further improve the water quality of the river. The CSTP is the first highrise vertical sewerage treatment plant in Malaysia. The 11-storey high building has the capacity to treat more than 33,000m3 of untreated water per day or 150,000 people equivalent. The plant will also help mitigate the flash flood woes downtown. According to IRDA’s Head of Projects and Project Management Office (PMO), Mohd Zam Mustaman, the RM120million plant will process both drainage and raw sewages. “Currently, water from the river is classified as Class IV and hopefully it can be improved to Class II B according to the Department of Environment’s

IRDA’s Head of Projects and PMO, Mohd Zam Mustaman (in white) explaining the processes involved in treating water at the CSTP water quality index by next year,” said Mohd Zam adding that previously, all affluent from residential and businesses near Sungai Segget flows directly into the river but with the CSTP, it will be treated before being released back into the river. Johor State Health, Environment, Education and Information Executive Committee Chairman, Datuk Ayub Rahmat, in a working visit to the PMO said Phase 4 of the project is currently being looked at and will include a second CSTP. “Work on phase three and four will start somewhere between

July and September this year and is expected to be completed by December 2019.” “It will be commenced in stages to avoid affecting road users,” he added. Johor Bahru Mayor A. Rahim Nin, at the same visit also expressed his concern over the community’s littering habit, especially into the river. “We are planning a tighter enforcement on littering in the area once the project is completed,” he said, adding that MBJB is currently in the process of educating the community to overcome this problem. - by Hakim Malik TI

Inter-Border Police Cooperation

he High Profile Policing programme organised by the Depar tment of Crime Prevention and Community Safety, Johor Contingent Police Headquarters will enable a closer cooperation between the state police and their Singaporean counterpart. The programme is aimed to facilitate interaction between community and the police force as well as a channel to voice public opinions, suggestions and comments related to the police service. Johor Police Chief, Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd disclosed that the programme

received positive feedback from the Singapore Police Chief who was represented by Jurong Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Koh Wei Khion. The programme has a lot in common with the one organised by the Singapore Police Force in Woodlands which is to improve policemen omnipresence in dense public areas. “We will organise more programmes similar to this in the future with this partnership,” he said at the closing ceremony. The one day programme also included exhibition booths and traffic summons inspection counter. TI

Johor Police Chief, Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd at the closing ceremony of the High Profile Policing programme in JB Central

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streets

Failure to register is an offense under Registration of Businesses Act 1956

s we move along with time, there are more young entrepreneurs booming and venturing into online platform to expand their businesses, and until March this year, Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) has recorded about 47,198 registered online traders/ sellers and set to receive more numbers in future. The numbers were revealed during the Online Networking Entrepreneurs Carnival (ONE) which was hosted by SSM in partnership with the Malaysian Joint Association of Malay Traders and Hawkers (GAPEMA) that gathered almost 837 online entrepreneurs for industry players’ networking at Angsana Mall Johor Bahru. “We encourage new online merchants to register their businesses with SSM in order to protect consumers’ rights if any frauds occur.

EXCO Ismail Mohamed (2nd from right) launched Online Networking Entrepreneurs Carnival (ONE) with SSM Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner (2nd from left) Apart from that, registered online merchants can benefit in terms of easy loan approval, attend courses and seminars on product improvement and marketing, and be legally protected in case of any court disputes that may happen,” said Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner to the media. Zahrah continued that if online businesses aren’t registered, it is an offense under Registration of Businesses Act 1956 that can be charged with a maximum

RM50,000 fine or two years’ imprisonment or both. In another story, State Committee Agriculture, AgroBased Industry, Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Committee Chair man, Ismail Mohamed said that the State Government is targeting to produce at least 15 to 20 new successful entrepreneurs within two years’ time and can help them via entrepreneurship development allocation such as product improvement, halal certification scheme, and more. - by Maressa Esa TI

RM143,000 Worth of Prizes at Iskandar Puteri Night Marathon Highlight

The inaugural IPNM 2017 attracted more than 7500 local and international participants

The participants of the 42km marathon starting their race

he inaugural Iskandar Puteri Night Marathon 2017 (IPNM 2017) attracted more than 7500 local and international participants to the state administration capital. The event was held to promote Iskandar Puteri and Johor internationally. Divided into four categories; 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km for both men and women, the race offered cash prizes and trophies worth RM53,000 to top ten finishers for each classes.

Participants also stood a chance to win a Perodua Bezza 1.0 and other prizes worth up to RM90,000 in the lucky draw event. Achieving well above the initial expected participations, IPNM 2017 managed to attract more than 600 international runners from all over the world. Participants had the chance to enjoy several focal points of Kota Iskandar from LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort to Educity. “It’s a good sporting event that promotes Johor tourism and

healthy lifestyle for its community and I hope there will be more races of this standard to be held in Johor,” said Amirul Asyraf of Bandar Baru Uda who came with his wife to participate in the 10km run. Also there to flag off the runners was Dato’ Zulkurnain Bin Haji Kamisan, State EXCO for Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage of Johor who is also the Chairman of the Organising Secretariat of Iskandar Puteri Night Marathon 2017. - by Hakim Malik TI

Ponderosa Golf & Country Club Wins Best F&B Award

onderosa Golf & Country Club’s Café (previously known as Golfer’s Terrace) had been named ‘The Best F&B’ among Malaysia’s golf resorts in ParGolf Magazine’s People’s Choice Awards 2017. The award presentation ceremony was held at the Carlsberg Brewery in Shah Alam. “We are proud and happy to receive the award as in the past year; we have been working hard to rebrand the outlet as an affordable place offering good food. Not just a golfer’s café but where people can come to for delicious, authentic Malaysian food,” said Ivan Teo,

General Manager of Ponderosa Golf & Country Club. Chef Zam’s Nasi Ambang Dulang were among the highly acclaimed dishes, having been featured in The Iskandarian newspaper as well as by popular food bloggers such as Johor Kaki and MagisTRATE. Other popular dishes at the Café are Mee Mamak, Nasi Lemak and Penang-style Rojak Buah among others. According to organisers, ParGolf Magazine, the awards were based solely on online voting via www.pargolfmagazine.com by the public and it was open from

December to March 2017. “The purpose of the ParGolf People’s Choice Awards is to recognise excellence and achievements in the Malaysian golf course industry based solely on public voting. All the award recipients are deserving winners as the votes were cast by the end users themselves, i.e. the golfers,” said Suzannah Gun Palmer, the publisher of ParGolf. “We hope that the awards will spur golf clubs to continue improving in all aspects of their operations, thereby elevating the overall standard of the golf industry

in Malaysia,” she added. There are a total of 10 categories and these include Best Greens, Most Challenging, Most

Scenic, Best Maintained, Best Corporate Tournament Venue, Best F&B, and Best Overall Golf Experience. - by The Iskandarian TI

Ponderosa Golf & Country Club team with GM Ivan Teo (middle right) and Chef Zam (middle)

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DRILL streets

Q&A

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Monthly Drill Interview By Editor Razak is a graduate from Universiti Te k n o l o g i Malaysia (UTM), with a degree in Town and Country Planning. He joined YTL Construction Sdn Bhd in 1992. He gained his knowledge in the construction industry there, specialising in the design and construction of the Nucleus Hospital projects. In 1996, he joined Trans Resources Corporation Berhad (TRC) and was involved in the construction of the Hotel Seri Malaysia chains. He was reassigned to TRC Land thereafter, overseeing their property development projects in Klang Valley and Johor. After 13 years at TRC, Razak moved to Pelangi Berhad as the Head of Southern Region in 2007. The company later merged with I&P Group Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). With his extensive expertise in the construction and property development industry, Razak joined Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ), a Johor Government-Linked Company, in May 2015 as the CEO.

common across Johor and Malaysia, be it government or private housing projects.

Where do you envision Johor to be in 5 years from now?

BIO

Tell us the role that KPRJ plays as a State Government-Linked Company We have served Johor as one of the major developers in social and infrastructural projects. The State Government has entrusted us to serve the people of Johor and to help realise its development agenda. With these duties incumbent on us, we will continue to adopt a systematic development plan so that our projects will better serve the people and leave a long-lasting positive impact. Such strategies and plans require us to not only take into account of the current needs of the Johorians, but to also foresee potential areas in need of attention. It is also our pledge to ensure that projects are implemented well and our outcomes are of the best quality. When we contribute to the state’s economy, we are catalysing prosperity for Johor and the wellbeing of its people.

Is the market demographics in Johor different from the rest of the country? The demographics here in Johor are slightly different. Nowadays, we see non-Johorians slowly residing particularly in Johor Bahru. This may be attributed to the recent development of Iskandar Malaysia and PIPC. The inflow of non-locals mainly comprises of both

Abd Razak bin Mohd Yusoff Chief Executive Officer professional and blue-collared workers. Johor is also experiencing an influx of skilled workers from other countries too. Active development is attracting expatriates from Korea, Japan, and China. In addition to these countries, Johor is also observing that Singaporeans too are slowly shifting to Johor Bahru.

KPRJ seems to be the white knight currently with the recent announcement that it will rescue the abandoned five-storey low cost flats project in Taman Setia Indah and the multiple announcements of building affordable housing in the state. What’s the business benefit for KPRJ in carrying out ‘peoplefriendly’ projects? If you look at it in the short-run, a return of investment is not exactly in the picture. However, we have tremendous benefits over the long run. What we can’t get in returns, we obtain it in other forms. In the early years, we conducted a social project that rectified roads in rural areas. In return, we were awarded a piece of land by the State Government. Over the course of our existence, financial assistance was providentially secure and consistent. We continue to receive new projects and construction contracts by the state. We are deeply humbled by the generous amount of trust that is set upon us and are extremely honoured to be part of Johor’s exponential growth.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the capital control affecting the Chinese developers. As CEO of KPRJ, do you have any comments on this since KPRJ has a

Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ) stake in Forest City? Forest City is not confined to only the Chinese market. Country Garden, as the developer is strong and reputable in the industry. That in itself is sufficient to uphold confidence from various stakeholders. Country Garden’s capability and credibility is exhibited by the massive progress it has made over the past two years whereby what started from merely marine land is now on its way to becoming a full-fledged residential area.

End Financing seems to be a major issue with many property developers especially in areas such as Iskandar Puteri and Medini with buyers not being able to secure loans for their purchases. Does any of KPRJ’s projects face this problem as well? If yes, do you see a resolve on this matter anytime soon? Unfortunately, we face the same problem many developers are currently facing. We are taking in applications for RMRJ and Jauhar Kempas, and we can see that acquiring financial assistance is very tough. The economic circumstances nowadays have caused banks to impose stricter requirements for loan approval. It makes financing more of a bankability problem, rather than problems brewing from the developers’ side. Applicants for projects that impose salary-capping and targets of low and middle income households such as RMRJ, experience more struggle in securing a loan due to the selective nature of banks. It so happens that this is a problem

It is undeniable that so many positive changes have transpired. Today, infrastructures in Johor are ample and have brought further convenience to us. Nevertheless, the development in Johor has not yet reached a full stop. Rather, with a bit more developmental input, Johor is poised to become one of the most advanced states in Malaysia. In the future, we are talking about Johor being the next economic powerhouse of the nation. Johor is one of Malaysia’s major contributors in GDP too. The state is envisioned to become a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing and this can be made a reality due to the potential and rapid development that is happening even as we speak. This is also due to the progressive visions of the current leadership, under our MB, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. I could see that in 5 years, Johor will become one of the preferred places to live and work in, be it among locals or even foreigners, with an international standard of living.

What’s in the pipeline for KPRJ for 2017 and 2018? I must say that 2017 and 2018 will be a hectic one for us. We have a handful of projects that we look forward to this year. We are expecting Phase 5 of the SAKJ Project to commence later this year and are currently taking in a large volume of applications for RMRJ. Since it’s official announcement last year, we have 12 ongoing projects with two units already nearing completion. For our RMMJ agenda, we will undertake additional projects in Kampung Tenglu, Kampung Sinaran, Pekan Sagil, and Yong Peng. We will also be looking at a close cooperation with IRDA to improve network within Iskandar Malaysia. We are also looking forward to constructing a workers’ integrated complex in Pengerang.

When you’re not busy being a CEO, what do you do in your leisure time? As the CEO of a state GLC, I commit most of my time to work. It is quite a challenging responsibility leading a private company as well as heading a state department which includes attending State Government functions and the likes of it. Due to these commitments, I must say that my leisure time is quite limited. Therefore, I spend quality time with my family at any chance I could get. Twice a week, I would also make time to play badminton with my fellow peers. They say a healthy work-life balance is the key, and I couldn’t agree more. 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

Encouraging Reading Habits in Johor

A section of the shelves for English novels at the Johor State Public Library which was opened in July 2008 at Jalan Yahya Awal

The old Sultan Ismail Library, opened in 1964, situated between the Johor Bahru High Court building and the Town Council Building

he joy of reading was instilled in me since young when I saw how my parents would sit together in companionable silence, each reading a book or the daily newspapers. At birthdays or Christmas, I used to receive gifts of books which encouraged me to read and explore other worlds within the stories in the books. During school holidays, books were my favourite companions especially on rainy days when we could not play outside. From reading books by Enid Blyton, I got hooked on the mystery adventures of the Five Find-Outers and vicariously lived out the thrills with Fredrick Trotteville, also known as Fatty, and his pet dog, Buster, Larry, Pip and his sister Bets. Together with my sisters’ book gifts, our collection of Enid Blyton books soon expanded with the Famous Five series and the boarding school series with The Naughtiest Girl, as well as those on Malory Towers and Saint Clare’s. With a healthy reading habit, I progressed to reading the classics from plays like ‘Hamlet,’ ‘Twelfth Night’ and ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare,

Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Persuasion,’ Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ to E M Forster’s ‘A Room With a View,’ I found great pleasure in reading the picturesque language of a bygone era. Reading, like watching a movie or documentary, opens up new horizons and helps me gain knowledge beyond my borders that I may otherwise never know and experience if I did not read. But unlike watching a travelogue like an armchair traveler, reading stretches the imagination and compels the reader to picture every phrase and description, in his mind’s eye. In October 1964, Sultan Ismail officially opened the original Sultan Ismail Public Library, situated between the Johor Bahru High Court building and the Town Council building. This library was built through contributions from the Rotary Club as well as the goodwill of generous individuals in Johor Bahru and Singapore. In the 1970s, I often go to this library with my classmates to make use of the reference books to do class projects and study in a quiet and comfortable environment.

The building at Jalan Dato Menteri 1/1 that once housed the Johor Public Library Corporation is now an abandoned site

In those days, information was not available at our fingertips from Google or other search engines and a wider source of information was obtained from reference books in school and public libraries. So in our secondary school years, this library was a frequent destination for afterschool outings not only to complete school projects but also to meet friends. This library no longer exists as it was demolished to make way for other development. From 1984, the Johor Public Library was housed in a historical building located at Jalan Dato Menteri 1/1 at Bukit Gambir, a site between Jalan Yahya Awal, Jalan Gertak Merah and Jalan Mahmoodiah. The building was once known as Sri Gambir, the official residence of Johor’s first Menteri Besar, Dato Jaafar Mohamed. After the Jaafar family moved out, the building was used by Johor Civil Service Club before it was used as a library. The building was vacant since 2004 and has fallen into a sad state of disrepair. Reading was a hobby we shared with our dad and after his retirement, we moved back to Johor Bahru and registered as members at the new Sultan Ibrahim Public Library at Jalan Datin Halimah. Opened in 1988, it was a short drive from our home and convenient for frequent visits to exchange books or to extend the time for borrowing a number of books. My dad and I preferred to read slowly rather than rush through a book so we often had to extend the return dates for borrowed books. After a while, my dad decided that he should finish reading the number of nonfiction books he had so I started to go to the library without him. Alone, I would take my time to select books to borrow. Very often, when the library staffs have not replaced returned books on the shelves, I would also browse through the stacks of books left on the trolleys. The library was poorly lighted in some sections, and I recall with a shudder – the reason why I stopped going to this library. I even wrote in, alerting them about my shocking experience in seeing a pervert lurking by the book shelves! In July 2008, I witnessed the official opening of the new Johor Public Library at Jalan Yahya Awal by then Menteri Besar Johor.

When I told my dad and sister about the range of new books in the spanking new library, we moved our membership there. This library even has an elevator in service so it was comfortable for my dad to go upstairs where the books are stored. There was also a cafeteria on the ground-floor as well as facilities to play board games, use computers and even comfortable seats to relax for a read. We became regulars and enjoyed browsing around the shelves to select the books to borrow. I soon discovered which were the best days and times to visit, preferably when there was less people and more parking spaces available! With a reading habit, no time is wasted when I’m travelling, getting my hair done or even while waiting in the queue to collect prescription medicine at the pharmacy because I can read. On my travels abroad, one of the excursions must be to charity shops and markets to browse for pre-loved books by favourite authors and allocating space and weight to pack them home! So start children in the reading habit while they are young and set an example by showing them your pleasure in reading. Whether it’s the daily newspapers, magazines or books, discover the joy of reading now because it’s a habit that can be cultivated and enjoyed for always. TI

My sister and family, choosing to buy pre-loved books from a street vendor while on holiday in Delhi, India

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Untold Tales of Reality Time to Celebrate Highlight

Three mind-blowing films of culture, missing history and social dilemma

OMAS Freedom Film Fest (FFF) made a comeback this year and its first showcase down-south recently commenced at Southern University College that featured a series of short films entitled ‘Ida’s Choice’, ‘Kisah Ayahku’, and ‘Lak Boh Ki/Drop Nowhere’. As the Freedom Film Fest have been centering ideas around basic human rights and bringing up social issues happening around us as an eyeopener to the audiences, the trio short films produced by local and Singaporean talents exhibited the reality of indistinct stigma of our culture and civil rights that may impact the way of our thinking. The showcase gathered almost 100 audiences who were in awe when ‘Kisah Ayahku’ portrayed the director, Ashleigh Lim’s father’s experience and perseverance in his past life between 1968 to 1974 who was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act for his involvement in the Labour Party which was mistaken to procommunist leanings. “I was inspired to produce this film to fill up the missing pieces of history that happened before

with Hershey’s Johor

Freedom Film Fest Showcase at Southern University College that featured ‘Lak Boh Ki’, ‘Kisah Ayahku’, and ‘Ida’s Choice’ in our country. We may not find these valuable tales in our school textbooks but through short films like this, and I hope it enables the audience to acknowledge and learn something out of it,” said the Muarborn director during the showcase. ‘Ida’s Choice’ exhibited the life and fate of Chow Kit children and depicted young Ida in making her life decisions in the hope to get a better adulthood future apart from dealing with complications such as poverty, drugs, social problems, uncertain jobs, and her surroundings while living with her twin sister and foster mother. It is a stifling situation to accept the stigma is still ongoing

around us, yet overcoming the troubles are distorted; stirring audiences’ emotions to rethink and compare each life’s journey in reaching a perfect happy tale. ‘Lak Boh Ki’ or known as Drop Somewhere in Hainanese that was produced by Singaporean animation director, Ang Qing Sheng illustrated mind boggling and palm-sweating scene of a toddler on his way to get a dropped plush doll on the ledge outside of his HDB apartment window which later left the audiences questioning the reaction of nearby neighbours on the block based on their culture and the way they live their lives. by Maressa Esa TI

he Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY ) joined Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, C h i e f E xe c u t i ve o f Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) who was also a representative of the Menteri Besar of Johor, to celebrate the grand opening of Hershey’s new confectionery manufacturing plant in Johor, recently. Construction of the stateof-the-art plant began in 2014 and was completed in 2016. The new plant supports bringing Hershey’s famous confectionery and snacking treats to consumers across the Asia Pacific region. “Asia is a key focus for growth for Hershey, and we are pleased to have a modern plant up and running in this central location of the region,” said Richard Camacho, Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer, for The Hershey Company. Hershey has invested more than USD 250 Million in the factory located in the Free Industrial Zone in Senai, Johor. The new plant has created more than 200 jobs from production employees to management positions, which has helped strengthen the local

economy. “We are thrilled to have The Hershey Company as our latest business partner operating here in Johor,” said Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA, and as a representative of the MB, adding that the state has welleducated, talented and skilled workforce and the favourable economics of sourcing products from Malaysia. Hershey expects to hire an additional 100 positions to complement its current diverse workforce throughout the rest of 2017. Johor has one of the largest cocoa grinding capacities in the region and in the world with some of the largest cocoa grinders located in Johor. The strategic and centralised location allows Hershey convenient access to countries across the Asia region and Middle East markets. The new Hershey plant in Johor is also a green factory building designed to reduce energy consumption and minimise greenhouse gas emissions. The Hershey Malaysia plant’s products are also JAKIM and MUI halal certified. TI

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Pasir Gudang Highway: From The Waiting Game is Back Cover Delay

Second phase lane expansion to be ready by September 2018

he famous route; Federal Route 17 or the Pasir Gudang highway had made headlines previously for receiving a makeover of lane expansion from four-lanes to sixlane carriageway that was initiated since July 2012. Despite the completion delay for Phase 1 that covered a stretch between Kangkar Tebrau and Plentong interchange, we are yet to see better improvement soon as Phase 2A that spreads along 7.7km route from Plentong to Bandar Seri Alam intersection is currently ongoing and is expected to meet completion in September 2018. Recently, Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin during a briefing session of the Pasir Gudang highway upgrade project at Kampung Baru Cina, Plentong claimed that the cost allocated for this project was approximately RM164.3 million while the whole project which is divided into four phases will cost around RM1 billion.

“I am satisfied with the progress so far as it is 39% complete which is ahead of the schedule compared to the targeted 36%. I hope road users would be patient towards the current changes happening and we are confident that the upgrades can be done on time,” he said. The Iskandarian had spotted several concerns pertaining to safety issues at the Plentong bridge which still lacks proper guardrails and street lights especially at night, compared to our previous observation last year. Motorists and other road users are alarmed by the conditions and have no choice but to slow down at the area to avoid any mishaps. Meanwhile, the same condition reoccurred near the Bandar Seri Alam exit due to improper placement of concrete dividers that acquires a small area on left lane for both directions heading towards Pasir Gudang or Johor Bahru. This is a road hazard as motorists have to slightly maneuver and occupy the right lane

causing close proximities within the other vehicles. A n a d m i n executive, Izzat Syukri Abdul Razak who occasionally commutes on Federal Route 17 on weekdays expressed his disappointment of the imbalanced road structure and potholes which causes hazard to other road users while Lane expansion near Bandar Seri Alam captured in April 2017 commenting that the lane expansion does not better progress compared to the the highway will be completed on past. I always commute from Skudai time by the fourth quarter of 2018 guarantee a smooth traffic. However, Aisyah Mazalan, to Pasir Gudang almost four times and the full completion of the entire a photographer seems to think a week and during peak hours. At 32km highway upgrade project is otherwise. “I have been using the least, the number of potholes is yet another game of wait and see. on the project. - by Maressa Esa & same highway for over 10 years dropping.” We have to see if Phase 2A of Pics by Halik Malik TI and albeit the slow progress, I see

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Humanely Helping How Much to Earn Out Strangers to Live in JB? Concern

ver the years, the issue of foreign migrant workers entering our land has been long debatable especially when they overstay or cause social disputes. But a Singaporean property writer and well known speaker, Khalil Adis, views them from a different perspective. When he was on his regular stay at WOLO Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur (KL), he witnessed real life situations of Nepalese migrant workers’ survival plight on a stranger’s land such as having low salaries, lack of healthcare access, keeping debts to settle to their agents or the authorities and living in a poor cramped dormitory while struggling to keep their jobs’ secured and continuing life. As the workers were doing their jobs to ensure

Despite the bad name most migrant workers receive, they too are humans requiring basic needs the safety, security and house-keeping for Khalil’s stay, he saw honesty and hardworking attitude shown by them which touched his heart to assist them in accommodating to a better living condition. He recently initiated a project of donating mattresses and groceries to the workers as their deplorable living environment related to his past life when he was once homeless in his teen years. Unexpected overwhelming positive responses from Singaporeans and Malaysians had him turn down a few because of his limitation of delivering the task with no transportation except via Uber. To date, he has delivered eight mattresses to migrant workers living in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, and

Prominent speaker Khalil Adis (left) with a happy recipient yet to send 12 more as he welcomes any volunteers in KL to assist him in a ride for completing the task and clearing his backlog. Any volunteers out there would like to give a helping hand to Khalil and the migrant workers, get in touch with “Nepalese in Malaysia Support Group” FB page for more information on the project. - by Maressa Esa TI

CEO of UMLand Seri Austin, KK Wong, flagging of the runners at the International Youth OK (YOK) Color Run 2017

The cost of living in Johor Bahru is roughly 1.86% lower than Kuala Lumpur, compared to living in Singapore which is 102.57% higher than JB

Colourful Run to Break Monotonous Routine

urturing healthy lifestyle within the youth and providing a colourful change in their monotonous daily routine was the drive behind the success of the first International Youth OK (YOK) Colour Run 2017 organised by the Johor Student Leaders Council (JSLC) in collaboration with UMLand Seri Austin, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Johor Education Department (JPNJ) and the State Sports Council (MSNJ). Held in Iskandar Malaysia’s first smart

Opinion

healthy city township at Seri Austin, the five and ten kilometre run managed to attract 1500 schools and tertiary institution students including parents with children and elderly. “Here at Seri Austin, we aspire to promote a healthier lifestyle to the society,” said KK Wong, Chief Executive Officer of UMLand Seri Austin who was there to flag off the racers. Also there was Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA, Vinod Perumal, Executive Officer of MSNJ and Azman Adnan, Deputy Director of JPNJ. - by Hakim Malik TI

ased on www. numbeo.com estimation, one working adult with rent would need approximately RM3,857.99 per month to live in Johor Bahru (JB). The estimation includes one meal at home and two inexpensive meals at restaurants, the commute to work by car, moderate shopping, not going out at night, not smoking or drinking (alcohol), apartment rental and basic utilities. “M y salar y is RM7000 plus and it’s still not enough! If I have a family, then it would be just nice to support my family, but I won’t have

any savings left at the end of the day,” said a Principal of a private academy, currently paying only for food, entertainment, house installment and car expenditures. “I earn RM1800 per month as an electrician’s assistant and it’s definitely not enough to live alone in JB since the cost of living here has been rising but not the salary. So, I think that I would need at least RM8000 to be able to live in JB alone,” laments Low Zhi Cong, an assistant electrician who currently lives with his parents. Another said, “As a newly recruited shop assistant, my salary is RM2500, I think it might be

enough if I were to live alone since I won’t be buying a car or a house.” According to the site, the price of an apartment in town is RM8,599.55 per square metre or if preferred, the average apartment rental is RM1,550 per month depending on the area, food is around RM8.50 for each meal (inexpensive meal at a restaurant) and public transportation (one-way ticket) costs an average of RM2.00 per day. Compared to Kuala Lumpur, the cost of living in Johor Bahru is roughly 1.86% lower, but the cost of living in Singapore is 102.57% higher than Johor Bahru as stated by the website. - by Auston Kim TI

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MAY 2017

E D I S iN

AN O T N I E& K PEEK A T S T MI S E N HO IE LIM L R A CH

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The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

editor’s I note

hope you have rejuvenated after the long weekend thanks to May 1st. We have two more public holidays this month and not forgetting the commencement of the fasting period for the Muslims. This time, we’re featuring a talented Malaysian band – An Honest Mistake and Singaporean based singer-songwriter, musician, producer and artist, Charlie Lim in our Music column. Read on to know more as to what they’ve been up to. Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge.” Be sure to catch this adventure with your loved ones. Heads up foodies, as this month you’re in for a treat as we bring you not one but five (including Ramadan Buffets) various eateries and cuisines to explore! Under our Travel Column, we travel beyond Malaysia to Down Under. Check out what the capital city of Australia has to offer and pack those bags for the upcoming month-end school holidays. As always, for those wishing to share

MUSIC UPDATES

Universal Music Singapore

An Honest Mistake

a l a y s i a ’s ‘An Honest Mistake’ band has been nothing short of impressive ever since their debut in 2008. The band, headed up by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Darren Teh, joined by Leonard Chua on lead guitars, Tomas Tam on bass and Ian Ng on drums, may have seen quite a number of personnel changes ever since their inception, but their penchant for creating catchy earworms has remained the same in fact, it’s evolved. Signing with major label, Universal Music Malaysia in March 2016, the band has just released their debut single, ‘We’re Alright’. The band released their sophomore single as a major artiste on 14th February 2017. The track is called, ‘Everything’ and features Juliann Savard aka Julz from the Philippines. Julz is also the lead singer of pop rock

band, Save Me Hollywood who has often been likened to be the ‘Paramore of Philippines’. After three albums, countless tours including several trips to Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, the band has matured to create a multi-faceted sound that can range from summery easy-core to emotional ballads, and the odd pulse-pounding “screamo” song or two. They’ve shared the stage with renowned international acts like Boys Like Girls, Motion City Soundtrack, and Against The Current to name a few, and the band shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. With more material on the way that’s sure to reflect their ability to go between full-on rock, relaxed acoustic music, and heavy hardcore-influenced tunes, it’s a mistake not to catch the lads of An Honest Mistake whenever they’re in a town near you!

Charlie Lim Releases Single & Music Video ‘Light Breaks In’ From his critically acclaimed ‘TIME/SPACE’ album. Pic credit: Aimee Han

‘

Light Breaks In’ is the final single and music video from Charlie Lim’s critically acclaimed album ‘TIME/ SPACE’. The cinematic music video, directed by award winning cinematographer duo, Jonathan Choo and Rachel Liew, is emotionally stirring and confronts the uncomfortable topic of caring for someone with a mental illness. The narrative of the video is loosely based on the relationship between Charlie’s own father and his late grandmother, who suffered from schizophrenia and depression. “My dad was the eldest in the family, and had to help raise his five younger siblings while taking care of my grandma, whose condition was worsening.” Charlie says. “I’m always in awe of how strong and patient he is.” Following two landmark, soldout shows at The Mosaic Music Festival in 2014 – an achievement never claimed by a Singaporean artist, Charlie Lim has since gone on to establish himself as one of Singapore’s leading singer-songwriters,

performing on some of the region’s biggest stages alongside international artists such as Sigur Ros, Kimbra, BADBADNOTGOOD, Hiatus Kaiyote, Caribou, Lucy Rose, and Snarky Puppy. Charlie premiered ‘TIME/SPACE’ at Singapore’s premier music venue, and sold out the 1600-seater Esplanade Concert Hall – yet another first. The album clinched the top spot on the iTunes Singapore chart within an hour of its release, and his songs have received over 2.5 million plays on Spotify since. The album was later awarded Best Pop Album of 2015. Charlie’s music has since opened doors to the region’s biggest stages – he recently completed a 7-city tour across Asia, including Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Eager fans can rejoice as Charlie is scheduled to release new material later this year. Listen to Time/Space here: http://getmusic.lnk. to/TimeSpace Watch Light Breaks In music video here: http:// bit.ly/2o5xFf5

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 The Iskandarian wishes Happy Vesak Day and Selamat Berpuasa to all celebrants.

Priya

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The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

How to Let Go Off a Painful Relationship? – Part 1

P 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

reviously, I wrote about Abusive Relationships and the energies that contribute to the endless cycle of pain. Today, we are going to explore some valuable tips to help you walk away from any painful relationships; if you choose to do so. First, you have to understand its realistic process that to walk away from a painful relationship takes massive efforts to claim our free will. When one cannot claim his/her free will, they will choose to endure the pain than gaining the courage to walk away. The tipping point is the realisation that everything which happens in our life is based on our own manifestation.

Ask yourself; do you want to be free from a negative relationship? If you feel the truth deep in your body, then these signposts can help you gather your strength to end the suffering.

is empowering. Through realisation, you will see that pain is an expression of the suffering we choose to endure. Once you realise that you can end the suffering, the pain itself will heal.

Realise that having a painful relationship is a choice Although the union between two people are often fated, what happens throughout the journey together is likely through self-manifestation. When two people co-create the journey with aggressiveness, jealousy and manipulation, the result always manifests as pain. To realise that you have the power to choose not to be the victim

Find clarity and courage Clarity is powerful. But clarity doesn’t happen through thinking because clarity is the wisdom of the body. Ever wonder why the more we think, the more we get confused? Once you find clarity within your body, courage will appear. To have these elements flow in your body, you must first decide whether to stay in the relationship and be the victim or to go ahead and claim your freedom.

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

MOVIES PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: SALAZAR’S REVENGE (in Digital 3D)

Source: Walt Disney Studios Malaysia

Genre: Action-Adventure Release date: 25th May 2017 Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Kevin R. McNally, Golshifteh Farahani, David Wenham, Stephen Graham and Geoffrey Rush Directors: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer

his rip-roaring adventure finds down-onhis-luck Captain Jack (Johnny Depp) feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the

helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced. The movie also stars Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as the seawitch Shansa, David Wenham as Scarfield, Stephen Graham as Scrum, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.

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The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Of Calendar

Events

1st May

travel There’s Nothing Like Australia

Labour Day

JB, 1st May Health Expo @ Sutera Mall

JB,5th – 7th May • Today’s Baby Expo @ Danga City Mall • Johor Furniture Fair @ Persada Johor • NSTP myrumah 2017 Property Fair @ Komtar JBCC

JB,6th May • Regency World Health Day @ Bandar Seri Alam • Car Meet & Show @ Giants Plentong Carpark • Mr & Ms. Tourism 2017 @ Mall of Medini Black Box

The Ultimate Arts and Culture Checklist for Canberra Parliament House By Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

10th May Vesak Day

S’pore, 12th – 15th May Savour Food Festival @ Bayfront Avenue, S’pore

JB, 13th May KPJ Puteri Fun Run @ KPJ Puteri Specialist

The magnificent Parliament House

14th May Mother’s Day

JB, 19th May Agroworld Expo 2017 @ Berjaya Waterfront Hotel

JB, 19th – 21st May Home & Property Fair @ City Square JB

27th May Awal Ramadan (tbc)

27th May Semarak Ramadan / Aidilfitri @ Uptown Pekan Rabu

S’pore, 27th May - July The Great Singapore Sales (tbc)

S’pore, 30th May

National Library of Australia

rom impressive national art collections to intimate galleries where you can meet the makers, Canberra sure knows how to put on a show. Get your hit of exceptional arts and culture at some of Australia’s most iconic museums and art galleries. Here are some of our top picks: National Gallery of Australia There are more than 160,000 works in the National Gallery of Australia’s collections, all of which belong to the Australian people. Even if you just see the Australian works, you’ve witnessed some of the creativity that has shaped the nation. But, of course, you should venture further to view Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles. Canberra Glassworks Canberra Glassworks is Australia’s only cultural centre that is wholly dedicated to

Dragon Boat Festival @ Bedok, Kallang 7 DBS Marina, S’pore

Block your dates for this month!

If you need more information on the above mentioned events, drop us an email at: waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Aboriginal Memorial 1987-88, Ramingining Artists, National Gallery of Australia

contemporary glass art, with a workspace for glass artists and a gallery for those interested in the craft of working with this delicate material. Explore exhibitions in its two dedicated spaces, watch art in the making in the Hotshop, sign up for a class, or browse the shop for something to take home. Nishi Gallery Nishi Gallery in the creative NewActon city precinct is a blank space for artists and curators to display all types of visual art and also plays host to some performances. This contemporary gallery is nestled next to Parlour Wine Room, perfect for an alfresco drink afterward. Australian War Memorial Many people consider the Australian War Memorial to be one of the most important landmarks in Australia. Discover the stories of individuals involved in overseas conflicts and connect with events that helped to shape Australia. National Museum of Australia Everything you ever wanted to know about Australia – its history, land, culture and its people are exhibited within the walls of this architecturally stunning museum. Some of the country’s most important historical collections spanning the environment, sport, Indigenous culture and fashion and are under one roof. National Library of Australia Of course there are books, but there’s so much more to Australia’s largest library. Discover what the library describes as ‘the

greatest collection in the world’ relating to Australia and its people. Rare books, magazines, photographs, artworks, maps and oral history… you’ll find it all. In the Treasures Gallery you can see Captain James Cook’s Endeavour journal, an original manuscript of Waltzing Matilda and the landmark papers of Eddie Mabo. Parliament House Take a guided tour of the House and watch democracy in action from the public galleries when Parliament is sitting. While that’s significant in itself, this extraordinary building on Capital Hill offers much to explore and enjoy. Hanging in the Great Hall, the tapestry of an Arthur Boyd painting of eucalypts is truly magnificent. One of the largest tapestries in the world (20m x 9m), it took 14 full-time weavers at the Victorian Tapestry Workshop two years to complete it. All materials were compiled from Visit Canberra. For more information about art experiences in Canberra go to visitcanberra. com.au TI

Australian War Memorial

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live

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Save Space and Live Large with DJ&CO Lifestyle

DJ&CO offers quality, innovative, versatile and flexible designer furniture to the locals

wning designer furniture might mean forsaking functionality for form in most cases, but not so if you look at the ranges DJ&CO is currently offering. Specialising in multifunctional, space saving designer furniture, the homegrown brand by MOCOF Sdn. Bhd. has furnished local homes for five years now. Everything is custom made to order and is at client’s specifications. Juee Teng, Sales and Creative Director at DJ&CO characterised their furniture as unique and functional design pieces. Boldly

incorporating minimal, clean lines with intricate engineering details, the trained industrial designer gets her muse from her travels across the globe. To ensure quality, the makers utilise imported materials from Europe and the United States, but the furniture are locally assembled in their factory. According to Danny Chu, DJ&CO’s Head of Product Innovation, as a testament to their standard, they offer a minimum of five years warranty on all materials and mechanism for their products. “Clients are buying low maintenance furniture with an after sales service package,” said Danny,

The Murano shelves after transforming into a queen sized bed

adding that the furniture are also portable and durable. “Because of the nature of the designs, each spoilt panels can be addressed individually,” said Juee who also provides free design consultations to their clients. DJ&CO’s signature Duo Sofa is a four-seater that doubles as a bunk bed, complete with two full-sized single mattresses. Clad in durable material that is both trendy and comfy, it is washable for easy cleaning. Featuring sturdy construction and mechanism to support loads up to 150kg, the sofa transforms effortlessly in one simple motion. Their Murano wall beds on the other hand can be personalised with either an auto-level swiveling desks, shelves or even a sofa. Engineered for safety and ease of use, the wall bed swivels down fluidly due to its patented gas spring hinges which is certified to withstand 10,000 cycles. “The bed was designed so that children cannot operate it themselves, but easy enough to be handled by elderly and housewives,” claimed Danny. The showroom also houses a collection of designer interior accessories, ranging from lightings to tableware; each with their unique

The Duo Sofa after transforming into a bunk bed quality that earned them a place on the retail shelves. “We are certified sole distributor for Plumen designer energy saving light bulbs, Boskke urban gardening products and Acacia food-safe woodenware in the nation, just to name a few,” added Juee. In line with DJ&CO’s space saving furniture array, their latest addition will include integrated

kitchen furniture that features an advanced self-healing scratch proof laminate; the latest technology in home surface furnishing. Drop by their brick and mortar outlet at DJ&CO lifestyle store at 28, Jalan Maju, Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru or visit www. djco.my for more innovative, versatile and flexible furniture choices and design ideas for your home. - by Hakim Malik TI

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work

The Hotelier’s Story

n this issue we feature Sunny Soo, the General Manager (GM) of Pulai Springs Resort. Sunny comes with 24 years of experience and began his journey as a waiter at Merlin Inn Hotel Johor Bahru after graduating from SAL College in Hotel Management at the age of 20. Within months he was promoted to Supervisor and then later as Captain of a restaurant. After 2 years, his GM advised him to venture into Sales. He took up the position despite the lower salary because he visualised a better and long term career development in Sales and it proved to be a right move. Sunny joined Pulai Springs Resort in 1996 as a Sales Executive. Thereon, it was an upward ride where he became the Manager, Senior Manager and then Director of Sales for the resort’s Johor-based Sales Office. In 2014, the company made him the Director of Operations overseeing the entire resort’s operations, and a year later, as the General Manager. What inspired you to enter the hotel industry? I am told that I’m a “people’s person” and apparently had an approachable, cute and lovable baby face with a gift of the gap! Regardless, I grew to love the ebb and flow of new faces and personalities I come across every day on the job. I learnt from them as they did from me. I learnt to become a leader as well as a team player through them. Whether serving and

entertaining hotel guests, or making new friends with fellow employees, every day at work was fresh, fun and exciting.

In what sections have you worked in within the hotel? With F&B and Sales as my core, I ventured into Banqueting as well as overall hotel operations. In our business, you can progress and climb the ladder from being a waiter, or a dishwasher to General Manager – that’s the unique aspect of the hospitality industry. All you need is dedication and a love for what you do. What are your strengths? My strength is that I am a people manager. Everything I have achieved in my career has been through people. I love talking to people and working with my team here at Pulai Springs Resort. I’m not doing it because I have to but because I love to. Relate ONE example of an incident that made you feel that being a hotelier is the right job for you? A couple walked into the resort one day wanting to meet me, with their children in tow because they remembered how I made their wedding ceremony memorable 10 years ago!

This is not only a personal fulfillment and satisfaction, but much more. It involves a deeper level of emotion and connection with your customers about how a business relationship can turn into friendship.

What do you see as the future for a career in hospitality in Johor? While the current employment outlook seems slower, there is still growth and a real need for experts in the hotel industry. Travel is becoming a more popular pastime than ever before. Flying is made much more affordable and with Johor Bahru seeing all the current and future developments (inclusive of world-class theme parks, commercialism and related infrastructures, etc.) steadily increasing from 2011 to date, visitors travelling for leisure as well as business will grow in tandem. One of our major advantages is the currency exchange between us and Singapore. One night’s stay in Singapore is now equivalent to two or three days’ stay in Johor for the same level of service. This will allow people who travel to Singapore to include a hop over to Johor Bahru for affordable accommodation, food, shopping and entertainment. Therefore, there is a real need for people with good working knowledge of the hospitality industry, with an awareness of all the latest practices. Hospitality and tourism will provide tremendous opportunities for ambitious, young people who enjoy working with people.

What are the opportunities open to them within your own hotel? At Pulai Springs Resort, we’re committed to give all our colleagues room to grow and develop with us. When you join us, it’s not just for a job, but for a career that could take you as far as you want to go, and more! We support and provide worldclass training, encourage and nurture our associates and help them realise their full potential and become the best that they can be. What are your personal words of encouragement for new entrants into the industry? The hospitality and tourism industry offers abundant opportunities for anyone, even fresh graduates without any experience. However, you must like what you do and have a willingness to learn. Do not feel intimidated working at a hotel, and do not be afraid to try out the different areas of work available. It is a perpetual learning curve as the hotel industry teaches us about improvisation, finding solutions, hard work, and dealing with attention to detail. It also shows how you can make a difference to guests with your good service. The reality is; do not think you can become a GM based on a university degree and only a few months of practical experience. There are no short cuts. The only kind of “As” we need in this industry is your Attitude, Aptitude and Ability. If you have it, welcome aboard. TI

Trade Unions: Strength or A Threat?

Victor Gan Kean Woon Managing Director MECA South Sdn Bhd victor@meca.com.my

hen the term ‘trade union’ is mentioned to an employer in Malaysia, it’s normally perceived to be ‘trouble’ and is more often than not opposed within the management team. This however, is not the case in many other countries where the Union plays an important role in bridging the gap between business objectives and workers’ welfare.

The Industrial Relations Act 1967 contain provisions on union recognition, collective bargaining, picketing, strike, lock-outs and etc. In short, these provisions were put in place with the intention of maintaining a harmonious relationship between all parties at the workplace. With that in mind, one may wonder whether the current state of affairs in industrial relations provide a true reflection of the original intention? In my dealings with employers and unions, I sense a disconnection (in most cases) in achieving business success when focus is placed on ‘gaining’. For example, union proposals upon the expiration of collective agreements tend to be an over the top proposal based on their perception of profitability of the

Company, whereas the Company would prefer to measure individuals’ performance in determining rewards. When both parties negotiate hard and are adamant of their views, it would inevitably lead to a deadlock in negotiations, resulting in the Union bringing the employer to court. At this point – are we achieving industrial harmony or are employees suffering as a result of an unnecessary trade dispute? The role of Union leaders should be to understand business goals, challenges and the financial state of affairs of the Company – which in turn is translated to the employees. Employers with Unions should constantly engage and act on the welfare of employees – it is only through this that the relationship will prosper.

This table provides the basic guidelines for employers in

an environment where the Unions are involved:

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invest

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

Has the Bull Lost its Steam?

months. We took the chance to buy 50000 shares of HSSEB at 0.91 per share on 14th April when the market was panic selling, as we saw the war tension as a temporary situation. With the intention to preserve cash, we’ve sold 20000 shares of Hevea at RM1.39 and 20000 shares of Pohuat-wb at RM0.85. With the cash brought forward plus the transactions performed above, and the 6 cents dividend received from Superlon (RM1500 received), our new cash level has gone up slightly to RM26360.

Tey Bin Yuen

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

ecently, while everyone was talking about which counters to buy, the bull seemed to have lost its steam. Since the second week of April, the strong uptrend counters have turned sideways, mainly due to the geopolitical tension arisen in Syria and Afghanistan. To make things worse, pressure has risen after the US deployed an aircraft carrier off the Korean peninsula amid its joint military exercise with South Korea. As a result, gold and the yen rallied to five-month highs while Treasury note approached the lowest levels of the year as investors sought to traditional havens from geopolitical risk. Likewise, oil has surged from the previous low of $48 to $53 per barrel in a few days, which helped the Ringgit strengthen in some way. Domestically, we can sense the ambience of panic selling. On 14th April 2017, the KLCI fell 7.2 points, with losers outweighing gainers at 810 to 171. In such a sudden change of sentiment around the globe, how does our portfolio fare? Let’s have a look at our portfolio:

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.

From the table, since its inception in November 2015, we’ve gained 155% returns till 14th April 2017. Compared to KLCI of 4.5% gain, it’s a much better result. Apart from luck factor, our stocks-pick criteria, such as company’s track record, growth prospect and technical uptrend have helped. Bought HSSEB (0185) On 5th April 2017, The Star paper published an article entitled “HSS Seeks to Transfer to Main Market’. HSSEB is an engineering and project management firm that only listed in Ace

market since August 2016. The company specialises in infrastructure, such as MRT, LRT and highways. More than half of its employees are engineers. Its strong track record in project delivery would enable the company to capture many growth opportunities ahead. According to its annual report (2016), HSSEB has an unbilled order book amounting to RM378.4 million, which will keep the company busy for the next three to five years. With the market riding on the construction boom this year, the company is expected to be awarded more contracts in the coming

Proposed Bonus issue of JHM and Share Split of Superlon In April this year, there were bonus issue proposal for JHM and share split for Superlon. For JHM, it’s a bonus issue of one for one, followed by a private placement, whereas for Superlon, it’s a share split involving the sub-division of every one share into two. What is the indication? While the bonus or share split will create more liquidity for its share trading, it doesn’t change the company’s fundamentals because the valuation remains the same. So if you’re wondering to buy before or after the bonus or share split, I’d say so long as the company’s prospect remains bright, it’s good to invest earlier. But if you’re unclear to the company’s future, it’s better to exit. Conclusion So has the bull lost its steam? It doesn’t matter, because stock investment is about doing the right thing. If you buy on valuation and growth prospect, gaining profit is just a matter of time. TI

Construction Draws Interest from Private Investors in Malaysia

igh levels of private sector investment are expected to drive growth in Malaysia’s construction industry this year, with investors seeking opportunities in the regions of Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) recently forecast growth of 8% for the construction sector on the back of 7.4% expansion last year and 8.2% in 2015. In terms of value, the CIDB expects the industry to see RM170bn ($38.5bn) in investment this year, up from RM166bn ($37.6bn) in 2016. Much of this improvement is expected to be led by private sector investment in mega projects, continuing a trend set last year when more than 70% of 6035 projects were backed by private players.

finalising technical and financial aspects of route’s phase two construction which is expected to begin in 2018 and will run from the towns of Limbang and Lawas in Sabah through Brunei to Sarawak in west Borneo. All 11 works packages having been awarded for the Sarawak section and five of the 35 contracts for the Sabah stretch are expected to be handed out later this year. Of the 11 main Sarawak contractors, some 35 sub-contractors will participate in the project. The most recent of these tenders was awarded to a joint venture (JV) between domestic companies Eastbourne Corporation and Naim Gamuda earlier this month. The JV will undertake work on an 89.4-km stretch between Pantu Junction and Batang Skrang.

Pan Borneo development One of the most significant projects is the Pan Borneo Highway, connecting the states of Sarawak and Sabah on the island of Borneo with Brunei Darussalam. The government is currently

Bolstering international linkages Another major transport link between Malaysia and one of its neighbours is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system connecting Johor and Singapore. The project made ground

at the end of last year as the two countries revealed they were close to agreeing on the construction of a high bridge as a way of joining Johor’s Bukit Chagar terminus station to the prospective Woodlands North MRT station in Singapore. While progress has continued on the MRT since it was announced in 2010, a decision had not been made on how the RTS would connect the two terminuses. “This was a major point: how are we going to cross the Straits of Johor – high bridge, low bridge or tunnel?” Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the media at the announcement. The deal and the decision is expected to be finalised by the end of this year. Diversified property interests While infrastructure projects accounted for close to 50%, or RM82.7bn ($18.7bn), of construction work in 2016 and look set to dominate the sector again this year, residential property development was the second-highest contributor, making up 23% of the total with a value of RM38.3bn ($8.7bn). A close

third was non-residential projects, contributing 22.5%, or RM37.4bn ($8.5bn). Property development could see another strong year in 2017, benefitting from the broadening of investor portfolios, as highlighted by Knight Frank’s third “Malaysia Commercial Real Estate Investment Sentiment Survey 2017”. The report noted that respondents showed increased levels of interest in the states of Sabah and Penang for hotel and leisure development, with the two regions voted the most attractive for the segment. Johor, meanwhile, was seen as being the top region for its logistics and industrial development prospects, as well as health care. Although Kuala Lumpur remained the preferred choice for commercial property projects, Sabah, Johor and Penang all took advantage of waning interest in the capital city this year by registering increases in positive responses of six, three and five percentage points, respectively, on last year’s survey. The survey also pointed to the ongoing MRT and other

By:

infrastructure developments as being factors that will drive property development further. Major sports development adds to project pipeline Although Johor did not register highly for its leisure prospects in the recent Knight Frank survey, the announcement in December that a new Formula One-grade racecourse will be built in the state could help develop its image in this regard. The 4.45-km circuit will be part of the Fastrack Iskandar fully integrated motorsports hub currently in development and scheduled for completion in 2019. The track has received a Grade 1 rating from motorsport’s world governing body, the Federation Internationale Automobile, meaning it has the potential to host Formula One races. A JV between Fastrack Autosports – majority-owned by a Singaporean company with the Johor royal family as partner – and Malaysia’s UEM Land, the motorsports city is expected to cost RM3.5bn ($794m). TI

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education

Uniworld International School Joins Eco-School Programme Highlight

School to go on full gear in achieving Green Flag award

hen many are forsaking the environment, the time has come for us to take a serious look at our actions and Uniworld International School has geared up and established themselves under the Eco-School Programme initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently. Kerry Asia Pacific came into the picture by assisting the school to achieve a recognisable International Green Flag award by mentoring the participants for a long-term collaboration in several

activities such as tree planting, safety awareness, and more. “It is our call to save the earth and it is something that we have to teach our students at a young age for the future generation. Instead of applying the 3R concept, we will now instill 5Rs which are rethink, recycle, reuse, reduce and make it as everyone’s responsibility,” said Uniworld International School Principal, K. Murugasu during the launch programme. Murugasu mentioned that several students will take full participation towards the success

of the programme with an hour dedicated for After School Activity (ASA) by executing daily activities such as recycle sales, watering plants and more for a small start. Kerry Asia Pacific Continuous Improvement Manager, Prabageran Thiagarayah said five members of the corporation will conduct a monthly visit and monitor the school’s Eco Club activities which initiated with planting 50 different trees and herbs in the eco-garden school compound, followed by an introduction to decomposition process and fertiliser production in future. - by Maressa Esa

Uniworld International School with Kerry Asia Pacific team at the launch of Eco-School programme

Gadgets in School? MY SCHOLARSHIP Ministry of Education’s proposal to allow gadgets and electronic devices in schools create worries

he M inistr y of Education’s recent proposal to allow gadgets and electronic devices in schools to help teaching and learning process needs to be further reviewed to ensure that it is beneficial to the educational institutions. Johor State Health, Environment, Education

and Information Executive Committee chairman, Datuk Ayub Rahmat at the launch of ‘Program Kasihi Pekebun Kecil’ in Pogoh Tengah said that thorough study should be done before finalising the move. “Findings might involve teachers and parents as we do not want students to serve as experimental guinea

pigs that will eventually lead to a generation of victims, especially if implementation brings more adverse than beneficial effects,” said Ayub. Recently, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid disclosed that the proposed study will take two months, before his ministry makes any decision. - by The Iskandarian TI

What are the benefits of furthering education? Do you have a dead end job with marginal opportunities for promotion? If this describes you, there is still an opportunity to make a career transition to pursue the job you’ve always wanted. To make a career change however, you will need a higher paper qualification which can be pursued at anytime during one’s working life. Furthering education can open up previously closed doors and lead to better job opportunities. Economic conditions are one of the driving factors for furthering education, and many people enrol in continuing education programmes during recession period. Likewise, during recessions, many workers seek to improve skills to remain hired or find new job opportunities.

The following benefits can be derived from obtaining further education: • C a r e e r advancement and new job prospects. • Increase one’s marketability in the job market. • Develop new skills or knowledge necessary for a career transition. • Great way to learn about subjects of personal interest. Courses taken do not necessarily have to be related to an individual’s job. • Enhance self-image and have positive effects on other aspects of a person’s life.

Why UBA? At UBA, our enrollees obtain accredited qualification at an affordable price with flexible hours and a high passing rate. UBA is a prominent business school in Johor Bahru which has launched their ‘MY SCHOLARSHIP’ campaign. Applicants who desire to create changes in their career pathway can make their submissions to them via email at scholarship@uba. online from now until 10th June 2017. The results will be announced on 9th July 2017 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru. For more information, call +607 333 5111.

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play

Sawadeekap!

ave you been hankering for Thai food lately? Why not take a long drive to Aroi Thai Boat Noodle & Street Food at Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort, Desaru for a very affordable Thai cuisine which comes in a simple but unique concept. As the resort’s second F&B outlet, you can spot a pink Mercedes-Benz 207D campervan parked at the resort’s exit with a small white cottage that opens from 11.30am until 10pm to satisfy your taste buds for some fiery and sour flavours. Priced at RM1.90 per bowl, indulge in Aroi Thai’s best-selling Tom Yum Glass Noodle Soup for an authentic Thai hot and spicy tang made with imported glass noodles coupled with fresh squids and prawn cutlets. Go full stomach with Thai Basil Chicken and Rice splashed with creamy green

curry and treat yourself with Pineapple Fried Rice filled with chunks of fresh pineapples and mixed vegetables cooked together which produces saffron-like texture. You may have tried several normal Thai boat noodle joints, but at Aroi Thai, its Beef Glass Noodle

Soup are prepared with homemade beef meatballs while a bowl of Chicken Glass Noodle Soup is filled with moderate portions of chicken strips that enhances a meaty taste. Quench your thirst with imported Thai Tea which is double-boiled and served either hot or cold of your choice. If not, opt for a fresh

coconut juice or tantalise your taste buds with lemongrass juice. All drinks are priced at RM3.90 each. Guests who hate the scorching heat in the afternoon can dine indoors while at night enjoy your spicy meal with wooden palette dining table setting and sea breeze to cool down the ambience. If normal setups are too boring, hop inside the pink campervan for a different dining experience that can fit up to 7 persons or turn it into a romantic and private eatery space for your partner. If you enjoy golfing, book Tunamaya’s new ‘Stay & Play’ package for 2 persons that include 2 days stay with breakfast and play at The ELS Club Desaru Ocean Course with a round of 18 holes, caddie and a buggy. The package is priced at RM739 on weekdays and RM899 on weekends for local players, while foreigners’ package is at RM908 and RM1108 for weekdays and weekends respectively. - by Maressa Esa TI

Break Your Fast at the First Amari Hotel in Malaysia

his Ramadan, break your fast at the first Amari hotel in Malaysia scheduled to open by mid-May. Their talented chefs are all set to present you Selera Asia at Amaya Food Gallery, Amari Johor Bahru from 30th May to 24th June 2017. The culinary team have come up with a unique concept of a bustling local street scene with live cooking stations for everyone to enjoy. The Selera Asia Buffet from 6.30pm to 10.30pm will serve over one hundred dishes from Western, Thai Indian, and Chinese to authentic Malay favourites this holy month. The price of the Selera Asia Buffet is RM132 nett per adult and 50% off for children from 6 to 12 years old and for senior citizens aged 60 and above. Children below 6 years old eat for free. If you purchase 10 adult vouchers, you will receive 1 adult voucher for free.

The Early Bird Offer is from now until 15th May where you purchase 5 adult vouchers at the price of RM132 nett per voucher and get 1 adult voucher for free. If you are not going back to your home town for Hari Raya, then come celebrate at the hotel and indulge in Hari Raya Hi Tea which is on 25th & 26th June from 12 noon to 3.00pm at the Amaya Food Gallery. It is RM88 nett per adult and 50% for children from 6-12 years old and senior citizens aged 60 and above. The Raya Festive Buffet dinner is on 25th June from 6.30pm to 10.30pm at Amaya Food Gallery and priced at RM118 nett per person and 50% off for children from 6-12 years old and senior citizens aged 50% and above For reservations, call 07266 8888 or email fnbcoordinator.johorbahru@amari.com. Amari Johor Bahru is located at 82C, Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru. - by The Iskandarian TI

Price unchanged since 2013

onderosa’s ‘Aroma Kampung di Senjakala’ Malay buffet priced at RM68 nett per adult; RM25 net per child below the age of 12 years will remain unchanged for the fourth year running since 2013. The buffet spread will feature up to 100 items, rotated over 8 different menus daily. Among the delicacies include the BBQ Station,

Kampung-style Roasted Spring Chicken, Chicken in Bamboo, Chicory-smoked Beef, Whole Roast Lamb, Ice-Cream Goyang, Durian dessert station featuring Serawa Durian, Waffle with Durian Sauce, Bubur Durian and lots more. The buffet period is from 30th May till 23th June 2017. The early bird period will be from 10th May till 29th May 2017 at only RM59 nett per person. TI

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Niniq for a

Taste of Javanese

Niniq Javanese Cuisine [Halal sourced ingredients], 19 & 21 Jalan Molek 3/10, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bharu Open 11am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday Tel: 607 -352 4800 Our resident writer Peggy Loh goes scouting for scrumptious food all over Johor Bahru. Reach her for a review at write2peggyloh@gmail.com

Façade of Niniq Javanese Cuisine at Taman Molek, Johor Baru

iniq Javanese Cuisine is a familyowned restaurant that serves a menu of traditional Javanese food that the owners Jennifer and Angela Ho grew up with. These family recipes that grandmother, Suzanna Hartono, had passed to their mother, Lila Hendra, are now prepared in the menu they proudly serve at the first Javanese cuisine restaurant here. The cuisine at Niniq presents a taste of how the Javanese of Surabaya enjoy their food as the Indonesian archipelago is made up of a myriad number of islands with an equal number of people groups with

culture and cuisines unique to them. While all the fresh ingredients are locally sourced, every effort is made to procure traditional spices and dry ingredients from Java to prepare the familiar flavours in their family recipes. At Niniq, diners are encouraged to enjoy communal-style dining, like how family and friends would share a variety of dishes to eat with fragrant white rice (RM2) or rich yellow rice (RM4). Start with nibbling on emping belinjau, traditional Indonesian crisps, washed down with refreshing chilled drinks like Es Kelapa Muda (RM7), young coconut

Popular picks, [Left to Right] Ekor Goreng, Empek-Empek and skewers of Satay

Familiar snacks like Tempe Tahu Goreng [Top] and Niniq’s Ayam Goreng [Foreground] drink filled with slices of flesh or Es Kelapa Muda Jeruk Nipis (RM8), young coconut flesh in lime juice. Then snack on appetizers like freshly fried Tempe Tahu Goreng (RM9), Empek-Empek (RM15) fried fish cake served with vinegar sauce, and Gado-Gado (RM14) vegetable salad. Ikan Goreng Garuda (RM55), a crispy, deep-fried fish served with chilli-kicap manis or sweet dark sauce, Terong Belado (RM14) – eggplant topped with Niniq’s own belado sambal sauce and Ekor Goreng (RM32) are best savoured with rice. Ekor Goreng, better known as Buntut Goreng in Indonesia, is a more refined description of deep-fried oxtail slices marinated in Javanese spices, served

with a side of traditional ox-tail soup. Rawon (RM22), a beef soup darkened by buah keluak or candlenut, is a comfort food to eat with rice and if you prefer curry, the rich gravy in Udang Kare Java (RM38) tastes just right with yellow rice. While Nasi Goreng Jempol (RM15) is a popular spicy rice meal stir-fried with fresh prawns and chicken slices, you can request for your preferred level of spiciness if you like it hotter. Traditional desserts like warm Kohlak and Es Dawet (RM5 each) will end your Javanese meal sweetly. Kohlak resembles bubur-cha-cha while Es Dawet is their version of cendol! Established in 2005, Niniq Bistro & Bakery, a pioneer in our café culture, continues to serve innovative creations in cakes and breads at The Patisserie by Niniq [Facebook: @ thepatisseriebyniniq] and exciting catering and takeaway menus through Cuizine Gourmet Catering [Facebook: @cuizinecatering]. TI

A choice of traditional desserts like warm Kohlak [Left] and Es Dawet [Right]

The Squares of Sweetness

rom the original fluffy Belgian to fusion waffle, everyone has the tendency to crave for a plate of waffles once in a blue moon and here are some of our favourite picks. Fork & Dagger by Agora (No. 11, Jalan Dhoby, Johor Bahru)

loaded with healthy ingredients such as lemongrass, mint, lychees, asam boi, and lime for a fresh gusto detox. Dining in a big group? Go crazy with Luxury Waffle topped with chocolates such as Kinder Bueno, Hershey Kisses, Ferrero Rocher, Daim, Oreo biscuits, and scoops of ice cream sprinkled with cocoa powder. Their waffles are reasonably priced starting from RM4.50 for classic waffles to Waffle Magnum at RM13.90 and Luxury Waffle is priced at RM25. Homies by Just Want Coffee (Jalan Molek 1/27, Taman Molek) Bet you have come across several Just Want Coffee (JWC) outlets but each has its signature concept and so does Homies that centralises around ‘feels just like home’ especially with the arrangement of the store’s interior decoration and cozy furnishing.

Fork & Dagger Waffle Magnum When you’re in town, head to Fork & Dagger for a plateful of Waffle Magnum topped with four different fruit cutlets and chocolate syrup drizzled on a Magnum Almond Ice Cream Bar! Have it your way to eat the ice cream first or melt it down together with the fresh fruits for a balanced combo of zesty sweetness in the mouth. Thereafter, have a glass of Sweet Herb Lemon drink to cleanse the thick aftertaste. The blue drink itself is

Homies Chocolate Banana waffle

Indulge in their best-selling Chocolate Banana Waffles topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, mousse cream sprinkled with cocoa powder, two banana slices and a bowl of chocolate syrup on the side. The dessert arrangement was made convenient especially for picky eaters that love their food plain and unmixed. Crunch on a hot golden brown waffle that’s crispy yet fluffy and soft on the inside made out of Japanese imported flour. Mix it together with a scoop of vanilla ice cream strewed with biscotti slices to get a simultaneous hot and cold experience. If you arrive on an empty stomach, this delight is certainly fulfilling at the price of RM16.90 per plate. Macha green tea lovers can try the premium Royal Macha Red bean waffle for RM18.90. Shakespeare Milkshakes (No. 9, Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru) Previously an ice cream parlour, Shakespeare Milkshakes now offer variety of desserts and recently introduced an easy grab and go comfort food, known as the Savoury Croffles (a marriage between croissant and waffle). Inspired by Panini sandwiches, Shakespeare’s croffles are wrapped and stuffed with either tuna with olives, turkey ham with cheese, or beef pastrami with cheese. Prepared with local made croissants,

Shakespeare Turkey Ham with Cheese croffle the croffle gets its shape after being pressed in the waffle iron for several minutes. We totally dig this croffle and it makes the perfect Insta moment too. Savour every bite which simply melts in the mouth. The croffles are served elegantly on a wooden waffle rack and there is an option to pair it with a tall glass of Shakespeare’s signature Kinder Bueno Shake to brighten your day. If croffles doesn’t excite you, stick to their sweet waffles such as Salted Caramel Affogato, Chocolate Banana or Uji Matcha. The small savoury croffles are priced at RM8, and sweet waffles are at RM15. The milkshakes start from RM10. Another sweet deal up for grabs is the 15% discount on takeaways on any purchase from their menu. - by Maressa Esa TI

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PROPERT Y INSIGHT

PROPERTY

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

APARTMENTS

VILLAS

CONDOMINIUMS

OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE

Cover: MAPEX 2017 Around 5000 units of both residential and commercial units were offered during the three-day promo with a special discount of RM10,000 for selected properties pg 31

3 out of 10 Property Purchases in pg 30 Johor Transact in...

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MIM Gets New MD/CEO Quick UMLand Seri Austin Reads he Board of Directors of of Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB). IIB, Bagged Masterclass Award Medini Iskandar Malaysia the catalytic developer for Iskandar Benchmark

The developer received the award at the McMillan Woods Global Awards 2017

KK Wong, CEO of UMLand Seri Austin received the coveted award at the McMillan Woods Global Awards 2017

MLand Seri Austin has added another milestone when Chief Executive Officer, Wong Kuen Kong (KK Wong) was awarded the McMillan Woods Global Awards 2017 in the Masterclass category, under Property Development Excellence at the prestigious McMillan Global Awards 2017 held at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, recently. The Masterclass awards target leaders who have aspirations to chart uncharted territories and discover new ways of conducting businesses. The McMillan Woods Global Awards highlight and recognises the achievements of global leading business visionaries across all industry sectors and honours the contributions towards the global economic development. This annual global awards ceremony not only recognises

achievements and successes but further encourages the determination to stay competitive and overcome various challenges globally. The award was presented by Dato’ Raymond Liew, the President of McMillan Global Awards witnessed by Georgina Rinehart from Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd Australia known widely as Australia’s and the world’s wealthiest woman. Also present were Tunku Tan Sri Mu’tamin Tunku Tan Sri Mohamad of Negeri Sembilan Royalty and spouse. “This award is not only for me, but for UMLand Group and Seri Austin because it is an endorsement that we are all on the right track in making success while watching the townships progressing and growing, as well as receiving positive feedback,“said CEO KK Wong. - by The Iskandarian TI

Sdn Bhd (MIM) has appointed Dr. James Tee as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO). James comes to MIM with a wealth of experience in the property development sector, having served as the Executive Director for UOA Holdings Sdn Bhd and UOA Asset Management Sdn Bhd, CEO of GLM REIT Management Sdn Bhd under the Hong Leong Group, and CEO of the Setia Awan Group. Prior to that, he was the Group Chief Operating Officer of Kurnia Asia Berhad. He was educated at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai, Johor and is also a registered Graduate Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia and a member of the Young Presidents’ Organisation. He has also served as the Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian REIT Managers Association. MIM Chairman, Tuan Haji Jamil Hajar bin Abdul Muttalib said, “We are pleased to welcome James to MIM and we are confident that with the broad experience he is bringing, he will further drive MIM’s position of Medini becoming the central

business district for Iskandar Puteri”. James’ appointment follows the recent departure of former MD/CEO Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, who has taken on a new role as President/Chief Executive Officer

Malaysia, is a shareholder of MIM. The other shareholders of MIM include Mitsui & Co., Ltd, and United World Infrastructure, Ltd. Datuk Ir. Khairil said, “IIB is looking forward to working closely with MIM on the development of Medini as the central business district of Iskandar Puteri, and the supporting ecosystem for the township. MIM focuses on co m m e rc i a l d e ve l o p m e nt s including placemaking initiatives to complement the ecosystem, where they have delivered at least 200,000 sq ft of Gross Floor Area (GFA) of office space located in prime areas of Medini. Additionally, approximately 3.7 million sq ft GFA of premier office space will be rolled out within the next 5 years. A multi-faceted destination, Medini is a thriving Smart City envisioned to become the Icon of Future City Living that can nimbly meet changing market demands and investment climate. Existing corporate tenants include multinational c o r p o r a t i o n s such as Frost & Sullivan M a l ays i a Sdn Bhd, ICT s o l u t i o n s provider Huawei Te c h n o l o g i e s (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, corporate services provider V i s t r a Corporate Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and shared services solution provider Courts Solutions Sdn Bhd. - by The Iskandarian TI

Real Life Case Studies Opinion

A.Devadason

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

Unit Trust Schemes Another avenue available with relatively low investment capital would be Unit Trusts. Usually, most funds require an initial investment of RM1,000 followed by periodic top-up’s via Savings Account deductions. It is important to implement a regular top-up programme to ensure averaging out price

The Falling Ringgit – Part Two

fluctuations rather than getting trapped by a single purchase price. Well managed funds are known to deliver in excess of 15% per annum consistently and are able to mitigate the fall in wealth caused by adverse currency movements (as discussed in the previous issue). The choice of fund, investment horizon as well as the strategy employed by the Unit Trust Advisor plays an important part in ensuring returns are generated in a manner consistent with the objective being sought. The Stock Market For those who seek the thrill of

investment and greater autonomy in managing risks, the Stock Market is the place to be. Many punters have been known to generate returns in excess of 50% per annum when things go right. However, when things go wrong and there’s no holding power to retain the portfolio, losses can be highly damaging and this is why, Unit Trusts are a safer route to stock investment. Nevertheless, for those who still want to try their hand in the market, it’s best to be armed with adequate knowledge when investing in stocks. Fundamentalists tend to use financial metrics and ratio analysis to choose their portfolio while Chartists tend to

study patterns and movements to arrive at their decisions. Regardless of the approach taken, it is the person who is able to invest objectively while keeping emotions in check will be the one who ends up doing well in managing his wealth. Conclusion The options above offer the everyday man choices in managing his wealth. The decision however, lies in our hands. Either be a victim of circumstance and complaint on issues that we have zero control over or take mitigating steps to address the situation. As the Greek philosopher Homer once said, fortune favours the brave. Be brave enough to take action and just reward will come in your way. Happy investing! TI

SP Setia Rising High The local media reported that SP Setia’s proposed corporate exercise to acquire I&P Group and expand its land bank received support from investors. It was reported that CIMB Equities Research is neutral on SP Setia’s plans to buy a 343 acre land bank in Bangi, Selangor and proposed purchase of I&P Group, a Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) owned developer. The research house said these are related-party transactions as PNB controls a 55% equity stake in SP Setia, 60% in the Bangi land and 100% in I&P. “We are neutral on these proposals as we expect the transaction prices to be fair, based on prevailing market prices, since PNB is not allowed to vote on this deal.

MACC: Improving Johor Housing System Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will make several recommendations to the Johor government in relation to the state’s housing system. Chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said this was to prevent land scandals from happening again. He added that there were several weaknesses in the current system, especially involving the conversion of bumiputra lots, which could result in abuse of power and graft. “We are in the final stages of identifying these loopholes and once (the recommendations) are ready, MACC will give them to the state government,” he added. Johor EXCO Datuk Abd Latif Bandi was charged recently in the Sessions Court with 33 counts of graft. Among the charges, Abd Latif is accused of having abetted property consultant Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raud to convert bumiputra lots into non-bumiputra lots.

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3 out of 10 Property Purchases in Johor Transact in... Insight

iProperty reveal buyer data during an exclusive presentation during their Johor Developer’s Mingling Night

Premendran Pathmanathan, General Manager Data Services of iProperty. com Malaysia sharing the facts of the market

t was a star-studded mingling night organised by iProperty which brought together the country’s biggest developers, property experts and strategic media players for an evening of

networking and more importantly, to learn the current property trends in Johor. Premendran Pathmanathan, General Manager Data Services of iProperty.com Malaysia, informed

the attendees that 3 out of 10 buyers or 70% property purchases in Johor have transacted in the Iskandar Malaysia region as of September 2016 over a one year period. In total, 12,400 sub-sale purchases were recorded in the state over that same period with 8,400 units being sold in the Iskandar Region while 4,000 units were outside the Iskandar Malaysia zone. He added that 71% of the buying trend was dominated by terrace houses while apartments only had 9% transactions. 80% of purchases were done below RM500,000 which sends out a clear message on the buying trend in the state. The mingling night was kicked off by Haresh Khoobchandani, CEO of iProperty.

Ponderosa Woods Appreciation Night

com Malaysia & Singapore who stressed the importance of the number of audience versus engagement while explaining about online advertising and impressions. Also taking the stage was

CEO of iProperty.com Malaysia Haresh Khoobchandani played host

Bedtel for the Budget-Conscious Travellers

S Ivan Teo, General Manager of Rawhide Sdn Bhd. and Pondersoa Golf & Country Resort

awhide Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Signature Kitchen organised Ponderosa Woods Appreciation Night at Signature Kitchen Lifestyle Gallery @ Danga Utama, recently for Ponderosa Woods’ residents. Located at Taman Ponderosa which is next to Taman Molek (home to Johor Bahru’s vibrant financial hub) and adjacent to Ponderosa Golf & Country Club Resort, it combines the blessings of serenity and luscious greenery with the access and conveniences of modern living without the hustle and bustle of city life. The Appreciation Night included a wine tasting session,

live French cuisine cooking demonstration, photo booth and a lucky draw. Sited on 31 acres of land, Ponderosa Woods is a low density development with easy access to the urban living convenience. The project consists of 122 units and phase 1 opened for sale of 58 of its units. Ponderosa Woods has 3-storey / 3-storey with basement Twin Villas with a built-up area of 4,729-5,894 sq.ft and there is a special “Double wall” feature for cooling ventilation within the house. The master-plan of Ponderosa Woods reserves up to 40% of green areas to promote a new blend of modern lifestyle amidst lush greeneries and impeccably

manicured environment. It also has comprehensive lifestyle amenities within the gated community: pavilion, cycling and jogging paths, barbeque pit, picnic grounds, reflexology area, exercise area, children playground, gazebo and stream and pond for recreational activities. Concierge services are available for residents of Ponderosa Woods and residents will have no worries of cleaning, gardening and maintaining their homes. As for security aspect, there is a multi-tier security feature where each home is equipped with Video intercom system, CCTV and alarm systems for a peace of mind. - by Priya Manikam TI

Emely Poon from Astro Malaysia and Nianci Phang, Consumer Marketing Manager of iProperty.com Malaysia. iProperty Group is an ASXlisted company and is the country’s No.1 property website. - by Edey Suresh TI

tyling itself as a youthcentric hotel that combines comfort with practicality, Bedtel, which was soft-launched early March, is the latest option for students and young travellers looking for a wallet-friendly place to bed down for the night in Johor Bahru. Bedtel is located within the vibrant 3,800-acre township of Bandar Seri Alam that has a population of 80,000. The township is also recognised as a “city of knowledge” by the local authorities for its cluster of more than 10 academic institutions. There are 312 single beds located at separate blocks for males and females and each bed comes with a study table, reading lamp and personal locker. The lobby is designed like a cafe where guests can mingle and socialise

while meeting rooms are available for private group discussions. “Bedtel offer students and budget-conscious travellers a place to stay amid a fun and friendly environment,” said Ng Siew Koon, CEO of UMLand Hospitality. Amenities at Bedtel include key-card access and surveillance cameras at common areas for improved security, 24-hours front desk service, Wi-Fi access throughout the premises, and spacious lounge area with widescreen television, surau, hot water showers and more. Bedtel welcomes both students and adults to stay the night at rates starting from RM30, while monthly and longer-term stays are also possible. More information about Bedtel can be found at www.bedtel.com.my - by The Iskandarian TI

312 single beds with basic amenities included for a practical stay

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MAPEX 2017: Green Light to Buy a Home Now

MAPEX 2017 Committee members at the event launch at Aeon Tebrau City

he Real Estate, Housing and Development’s Association (REHDA) Johor once again organised Malaysia Property Exhibition (MAPEX) 2017 at Aeon Tebrau City witnessing over 30 developers offering wide range of properties to the public. Noting the fluctuation of the economy in the country that may contribute hesitation among buyers to make decisions on property purchasing, REHDA Johor Branch Chairman, Dato’ Ir. Steve Chong Yoon said that now is a good time to invest in the sector especially for genuine house buyers.

“There is still a market for residential units particularly in landed houses that are sold within an affordable price starting from RM300,000 and RM3 billion worth of properties are ready for purchase. Over 20,000 units are to be delivered between 2017 and 2018 with almost 40% to 50% from that being high rise properties,” said Steve to the media. He also raised concerns that banks are too stringent in approving bank loans. He said banks should take into consideration of purchasers’ unrecorded supplementary incomes and

REHDA Johor Branch Chairman, Dato’ Ir. Steve Chong Yoon and Secretary of Johor Bahru City Council, Sidek Paiman at MAPEX 2017 walkabout consider giving out loans thereafter. In another story, apart from the difficulties of bank loan approvals, purchasers were seen in a dilemma to buy a house due to unsuitable locations for affordable homes which were mostly located at the outer skirts of town, while price of properties in the city cannot be cut-rate as the land value costs is higher. As Johor is developing rapidly after Kuala Lumpur, we are foreseeing more impact especially in the Iskandar Malaysia region with the upcoming megaprojects such as High Speed Rail, Rapid

Transit System (RTS) and Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) in creating over 702,000 job opportunities, while 15% of the total will be offered skilled and professional career positions. Also present at MAPEX was Secretary of Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), Sidek Paiman, who claimed that Johor Bahru was recently recognised as the 3rd South East Asia Livable City proceeding upon good quality of living especially in the district itself. “With the acknowledgment achieved, developers should have

confidence in accommodating more commercial and residential lots. We strongly believe that better times will come soon and developers should improve their management quality and build more excellent properties so that the public are confident,” said Sidek. At MAPEX 2017, around 5000 units of both residential and commercial units were offered during the three-day promo with a special discount of RM10,000 for selected properties alongside talk shows on investment, ownership and acreage from industry experts. - by Maressa Esa TI

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