The Iskandarian E-Paper April 2019

KDN : PP19356/08/2018(034949) | Singapore MICA : MCI (P) 109/12/2018

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

NEWS COLUMNS

PROPERTY

CEO DRILL

First International Dragon Boat Regatta

Community Participation to Curb Dengue

Managing Director of CI Medini

NEWS/ PG13

NEWS/ PG29

NEWS/ PG9

the

ISKANDARIAN ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 | FREE COPY

www.facebook.com/theiskandarian

First Ever E-sports League in Johor

email: editor@theiskandarian.com

website/e-paper : www.theiskandarian.com

Read on pg11

Read on pg7

Read on pg6

Johor Sultan’s Birthday Honours List AMERICAN, BRITISH, CANADIAN, IB, IGCSE, A LEVELS, IB DIPLOMA

8th

Preschool, Primary and Secondary School, Pre-U, and Boarding

13 APR 2019 RENAISSANCE JOHOR BAHRU HOTEL 11 AM - 4 PM

www.pisf.asia REGISTER NOW!

Organiser

Supported by

Get a copy of the latest edition of the Education Destination Malaysia: Guide to International & Private Schools!

02

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

THE ISKANDARIAN

Our Friends

Need for Hospital in Pasir Gudang His Majesty the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has called on the government to immediately step up enforcement and control against all factories using toxic chemicals

I Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

news

n light of the recent chemical dumping incident in Pasir Gudang, Johor, His Majesty the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said that with the Sungai Kim Kim incident affecting so many residents, he felt there was an urgent need to build a government hospital close to the area.

“I believe Johor is among the largest contributors to the federal government ’s income. Therefore, it is only appropriate and fair that more allocation for development is given to Johor, especially for the upgrade of healthcare facilities, public transport and highway networks,” said the Johor Sultan in his speech to mark his official birthday ceremony at the

Dewan Singgahsana Istana Besar on 23rd of March 2019.

The speech was carried by the Royal Press Office (RPO) on the Sultan’s official Facebook and Instagram handles.

“I hear that this was already being planned by the government. Therefore, I hope the (hospital) construction will be carried out soon,” added His Majesty.

Sultan Ibrahim also expressed his sadness over the action of irresponsible parties which dumped chemical wastes into Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang.

He said they not only polluted the river and the environment, but also affected the lives and health of residents in the Pasir Gudang area.

In order to ensure that the incident never

Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar delivering his speech at the Sultan of Johor Birthday Celebration at Dewan Singgahsana of Istana Besar (pic: Royal Press Office)

happens again, Sultan Ibrahim instructed the state government to quickly implement an integrated control and enforcement action against all factories which use hazardous chemicals.

Johor MATTA Fair 2019 To Be Held at Capital City Entertainment Mall The annual premier travel fair combines the fun of indoor theme parks this April

J

SEND LETTERS OR INQUIRIES TO

facebook.com/theiskandarian editor@theiskandarian.com www.theiskandarian.com

ohor MATTA ( The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) Fair 2019 is coming to you on 5th till 7th April at a new venue; the Capital City Entertainment Mall, in Tampoi, Johor Bahru.

The 3-day fair is expected to have 150 booths comprising 4 State tourism Johor MATTA Fair 2019 Organising Committee organisations; Tourism stand a chance to win a Travel Johor, Tourism Melaka, Tourism Perak and Kuala Lumpur Voucher. The grand total of Tourism Bureau, 2 national Tourist both categories’ prizes is worth Organisations; Taiwan Tourism RM88,888.00.

Visitors can also look Bureau KL Office and Japanese Kochi Visitors & Convention forward to Kochi Prefecture’s Association along with 29 travel Japanese cultural dance agencies, 7 theme parks, hotels performance on stage for the & resorts and 10 travel related entire three days duration or join in the fun to make your own services.

Kathryn Lee, the MATTA Taiwanese lantern, postcard Johor Chapter’s Chairman said painting, winter melon tea during a press conference that with tapioca ball and devilled the fair is organising their first eggs hosted by Taiwan Tourism nightly lucky draw for both Bureau.

The Johor MATTA Fair visitors and purchasers daily at 9pm. Visitors could win exclusive 2019’s entrance is free for tickets from Malaysia Airlines children aged 12 years old and and for purchasers who spend below and is as low as RM3 for RM500 and above, they would adults. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

“Any factory which fails to follow regulations on the management of safety and the environment must be closed down immediately.

“And in the longterm, I want the government

to review all the industries that are operating in Pasir Gudang by closing or relocating industries related to gas and explosive chemicals that can endanger residents in the area,” he added. - by Edey Suresh TI

New Fishy Residents Make Their Way To SEA LIFE Malaysia

S

cheduled to open its doors to the public in April 2019, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort’s latest attraction, SEA LIFE Malaysia is one step closer to completion as it welcomes 23 species of fishes to its exclusive Malaysian Rainforest habitat zone. This is just the tip of the iceberg as SEA LIFE Malaysia is expected to house 13,000 Kristian Griffin (Manager of SEA LIFE marine creatures from 11 Malaysia), informing the Junior Rangers, different habitat zones and the functions of a quarantine room these larger fishes will be brought in once the first group of stumble upon the largest flower in fishes are accustomed to the new the world, Rafflesia as you traverse environment. Also, SEA LIFE Malaysia through the Malaysian Rainforest will be the only interactive aquarium zone!

To commemorate the launch in the region to incorporate a fun and of SEA LIFE Malaysia, all MyKAD unique twist using LEGO elements!

The aquarium aims to holders are eligible for an early cultivate the importance of marine bird promotion for its brand new life conservation amongst visitors, annual pass which is available for especially the children through a limited time only. For the price of interactive experiences such as a one-day combo ticket at RM263 hands-on tutorials. To name a few for adults and RM209 for kids (3-11 of the key habitat zones that will years old), Malaysians are granted be featured at the aquarium aside all-year-round, unlimited access to from the Malaysian Rainforest are LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park the Tropical Stingray Bay, Coral and SEA LIFE Malaysia once it opens Reef, Ocean View, Johor River and its door in April 2019. All information Ocean Tunnel. All these zones have and purchase options are available at distinctive features that are ought to LEGOLAND’s official website (https:// be marveled at. For starter, you might www.legoland.com.my) - by Izzbil TI

Published by True Soul Media PLT [No.51-B, Jalan Impian Emas 5/1, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Johor Bahru] Printed by Twinstar Synergy Sdn. Bhd. [Lot2A, Jln 13/2, Seksyen 13, 46200, Petaling Jaya, Selangor] Copyright of articles, contributions and photos which are published by The Iskandarian is the property of True Soul Media PLT. The Iskandarian does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibilities for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher.

03

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

TEDxUTM 2019: Learning To Unlearn the Mainstream

Drew Binsky sharing his travelogue around the world

T

EDxUTM 2019 was recently held at the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying Convention Hall, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Being its third year holding the talk since 2017, this year’s theme was ‘Thoughts in Resonance’.

Extending their original intention to bring in ideas worth spreading to their local community, TEDxUTM had invited Country Garden’s Ng Zhu Hann, UTM’s Dr. Ramesh Zaidi Rozan, Dr. Vanlal Thanzami, Greenman Matthias Gelber, Ir. Ammar Mohd Rashid, travel vlogger Drew Binsky, Warren Mak, Lenna Lim, Saran Mutang Tagal and Karen Foo. Drew Binsky, the Youtube travel sensation talked about travelling and getting out of his comfort zone and Country Garden

Malaysia’s Chief Strategist’, Ng Zhu Han took the stage right after to share about the ratio of hard work and luck, striving for excellence and bigger challenges.

Forest City Resort by Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd was also the accommodation sponsors for the speakers of the event.

Dr. Vanlal Thanzami enlightened the audience on social media and cyberbullying. UTM’s Xcite Director, Dr. Ramesh Zaidi shared his success story of facing multiple rejections to enrolling into tertiary education.

Meanwhile, the activities prepared right outside the hall was just as exciting, with J Empress Bakery Studio holding its cupcake decorations all day, using fondant icing to make a graduation cap professionally guided by their pastry chef representative.

Actress Lenna Lim shared her journey on changing her path from music to acting and has since built a prolific profile in her career.

Warren Mak helped the youth see how to manage their finance from the beginning of their career and Greenman Matthias Gelber suggested how to fix our habits as hotel guests by being a lot greener by sharing 5 simple tips.

Ir. Ammar shared quick tips on how to impress employers when

students graduate and are in the job hunt run. Whereas, Saran Mutang Tagal of Lun Bawang heritage shared the risks of changing her career in law to pursuing her passion and opening a DIY crafting business.

Finally, Karen Foo the motivational speaker prepared students on how to accept failures before achieving that one goal in mind and the importance of perseverance in attaining success.

Other activities outside the hall included Makeup Class by Mary Kay partners, Board Games Exhibition by Austin Heights’ Gen Board Game Cafe and Crazy Bull Ride from Paradigm Mall.

The TEDx talk event ended well with a networking and photo session. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Decorating pastry with J Empress Bakery Studio

news An Engagement of Potentials at Breakfast Talk on Halal Industry

J

ohor State Investment Centre together with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Malaysia organised a Breakfast Talk on Halal Industry at Amari Johor Bahru hotel.

Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, the Executive Chairman of PwC Malaysia, said during his welcoming speech that the talk intended to highlight the latest updates in the Halal industry, business opportunities and the latest development in infrastructures at Iskandar Halal Park, formerly known as Johor Halal Park, a subsidiary of UMLand Bhd which focuses in developing the Halal Sector.

Jimmy Puah Wee Tse, the State International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee Chairman in his welcoming speech told the attendees, “According to SME annual report 2007, the United Nations has even cited Malaysia as the benchmark of halal industry.

This is because we have one halal standard adopted throughout the country which resulted in Malaysia’s standard basis of development of the world’s halal food.” “ The growth of the halal industry continues to be phenomenal at the global level as halal is fast becoming the new benchmark for quality, health,

Exco Jimmy Puah and Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Executive Chairman of PwC Malaysia

hygiene and safety and a lot of countries has tapped into the halal market as a national strategy and recognising its immense potential”, said Ahmad Lokman Ibrahim as the CEO of Iskandar Halal Park in ‘Gateway to The Global Halal Market’ segment of the seminar.

Kerry’s Process and Technical Manager, Aidarafidah Amran, shared the experience of the company in global food ingredients in the ‘Halal Journey’ section where she said they took more than 20 years to perfect their halal research and development and spent around RM60,000 for halal certification, knowing the exorbitant potential outcome by investing in the halal manufacturing industry. - by Norfy Shafeq TI IKEA stores: Damansara l Cheras l Tebrau l Batu Kawan • Tel: 03-7952 7575

UTÅKER stackable bed

(Mattresses are sold separately)

599/2pcs

RM

© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2019 (Company No.1074617-K)

Home.

Where odds are stacked in your favour.

One moment it’s a sofa. The next, two beds. No magic, no trickery. Just good old, smart design behind UTÅKER - the stackable bed that pulls double duty to be the hardest working space-saver in your home. Visit our stores or IKEA.my for more inspiration.

Make Home Count

SIMESTED rug, high pile RM699 L200×W200cm.

White/red.

Shop online 24/7 at IKEA.my

BSD1800402_MY_FY19L3B1_UTÅKER_Iskandarian_168(H)x260(W).indd 1

ROSALILL curtains, 1 pair RM69 L250×W145cm.

White/blue.

MALFORS foam mattress, firm RM399 L200×W90cm.

White.

KVISTBRO storage table RM129 Ø44, H42cm.

Dark blue.

VENCHE cushion cover RM19.90 L50×W50cm.

Blue.

IKEA.my

15/3/19 4:53 PM

04

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

Colourful Temple of Fine Arts Carnival 2019 The two-day carnival was held to aid the TFAJ’s building fund

Face painting at work

T

he Temple of Fine Arts Johor Bahru (TFAJ) organised a two-day carnival at Persatuan Cerebral Palsy, Johor in efforts to collect funds in developing their own building.

There was never a dull moment at the carnival, with various activities from dance and music performance to henna and face painting and arts and crafts for the children, as well as a selection of vegetarian delicacies for visitors to indulge in. All this was possible with a mere purchase of RM20 coupon book.

The people thronged the various

food stalls, jumble sales and activity booths, and there were also fun games on site for families to enjoy including competitions where participants stood a chance to win prizes like plush toys.

The children of the Temple of Fine Arts also delighted spectators with their dance performances.

Dr. Ramakrishnan Suppiah, Executive Chairman of Consumerism, Human Resources and Unity was greeted by dancers upon his arrival. In his opening ceremony speech, Dr. Ramakrishnan said he believes classical art is one of the greatest fundamentals to build character, and encouraged the youth to practice it.

He noted on TFAJ’s efforts to raise funds for a new building which would cost around RM4.4 million and will look into aiding it through the means of the State government’s effort and private establishments’ as sponsors.

More information on how to make your donations to the Temple of Fine Arts Johor Bahru’s new building is via its official site - http://www.tfajb.org/donations-for-thenew-building.html. All donations will receive tax-exemption receipts. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

news

Bringing Students Together Through Cultivating of Love for Greens Sri Ara International School and Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind collaborates with ‘Love Gaia’

C

aring for Mother Nature benefits the future, and teaching the children to care for it achieves two aims at once.

Love Gaia is a collaborative project between members of Soroptimist Iskandar Puteri (SIP), the teachers and students from Sri Ara Private International Schools and the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind in Johor Bahru where they will plant some seeds at Princess Elizabeth School’s vacant land.

It first begun from growing beds for organic farming to setting up a rain harvesting system, constructed by students of Sri Ara by using simple materials; a 200 gallon tank and piping materials.

According to Princess Elizabeth’s Principal, Mohd Dini Karim, the project has been so well received by the students of the school that they rather stay at the hostel in weekends to tend to the vegetable plots and prepare even more plots.

Sri Ara and SIP then paid a visit to the school together with Pantech Group Holdings Berhad to check the harvest before holding a simple ceremony of handing in

Having fun harvesting the green chillies

their donations for the project.

Sri Ara’s Headmistress, Fatimah Osman said the project has benefited the children of Princess Elizabeth School as they enjoy the feel of lush in their garden.

Fatimah also suggested that the vegetables should be sold to help fund the repairs and paintwork around the school. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Curfew for Teens: Is Malaysia Ready?

I

f you look up the word Curfew in any dictionary or Wikipedia, you may be granted a general definition of; “A local rule, or law, imposed upon a population that requires them to be off the streets after a particular time of day, commonly at night or in the evening”.

While, this practice of imposing a curfew law is actually not something new especially with a history that dates back as far as the 10th Century within the Western societies, curfew laws today may not be of the same practical objectives as it was in the past. In the past, curfew laws are generally imposed for the safety and control of the population, regardless of age and status, making it more commonly enforced by higher authorities during the times of war or political

riots.

However, in today’s world, though safety is still an objective, curfew laws are more commonly proposed towards the idea of keeping youngsters off the streets at night as to curb both crime rates and misbehaviour praxis among the young generations. It may be imposed by the local authority or a household leader, in hope to build a healthier and better generation of good virtues among its young people.

Curfews may be more customary in some countries than it is in other countries. For example, in the United States almost all of their districts have imposed their own curfew laws on their teens. This may also be true for Australia, Britain, Germany, Iceland or Thailand where such curfew laws have relatively

been practiced since early 2000.

However, when Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Dr Wan Ismail raised a matter in the Cabinet Committee meeting on Eradicating Drugs (back in January), about implementing a curfew law for those under 18 as an effort to curb social ills among teens, particularly glue sniffing that is gaining in rates, most Malaysians were sadly not too keen on the idea.

According to a quick online poll prepared by The Star, approximately 1400 respondents opposed the idea (49%), in which many suggested for more efforts to be given towards education approach and greater awareness, rather than establishing arbitrary or restrictive laws, criticising the government as being starved for ideas as matters on violating the

human rights of children were raised.

Meanwhile, only about 34% of the respondents shared their agreement on the idea, commenting how children has no business nor reasons to be out in the streets so late at night, leaving around 17% respondents having mixed feelings where, though they think the idea seems beneficial, they questioned the practicality of the idea in Malaysia at present.

A respondent, Vincent Cheong, shared, “It is a good curfew law but do we have enough policemen to handle such cases, especially since crimes and social ills are increasing?”

Still, besides addressing the authorities’ serious consideration on issuing the curfew law for those under 18, the DPM also spoke

on the concerns of the idea. She said, “We are looking at this policy practised by Iceland as it is a model that we can emulate. It may not be easy to implement but we feel this is necessary and can definitely help prevent young people from being involved in negative activities.”

“It is still at the proposal stage.

We have yet to figure out the punitive actions and educational elements that we want to have as part of the law. But what is for sure is we need to ensure our future generation is not addicted to psychotropic products and glue sniffing”.

So, is Malaysia ready for such a law? If it is, let’s hope for a proper implementation and support from both the government and the people as to build a healthier world for generations to come. - by Norra Ruslan TI

05

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 Advertisement

06

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

Johor Sultan’s Birthday Honours List

(from left) KPRJ’s CEO Dato’ Mohd Noorazam Osman and Deputy State Secretary (management) Dato’ Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim

T

unku Mahkota Johor’s wife Che’ Puan K haleeda Bustamam heads the state’s honours list in

conjunction with the Johor Ruler’s birthday celebrations.

Khaleeda was awarded the Darjah Kerabat Pangkat Pertama (DK I)

by Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.

Five individuals were presented with The Most Exalted Order of The Sultan Ibrahim Johor Second Class Dato’ Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor (DMIJ), which carries the title Dato’.

The recipients are Director of the Johor Islamic Religious Depar tment Md Rofiki A. Shamsudin, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) Chief Executive Officer Mohd Noorazam Osman, Johor Islamic Religious Council Chief

Lekha Nandey from Malaysia Red Crescent was awarded the Pingat Sultan Ibrahim Pangkat Kedua (PSI II)

Executive Officer Mohd Noh Ibrahim, the ruler’s private secretary Jaba Mohd Noah and Deputy State Secretary (management) Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim.

Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) winner, Lekha Nandey from Malaysia Red Crescent was awarded the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Medal Second Class (PSI II). - by The Iskandarian TI

Tunku Panglima Johor to Make Racing Debut

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar officiated the event

H

H Tunku Panglima of Johor, Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim will make his debut as a motorcar racer at the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia series from 6th – 7th April 2019 at the Sepang International Circuit.

The Johor prince will race in a Mercedes Benz AMG GT3 for Johor Motorsports Racing, managed by Australian outfit Triple Eight Race Engineering. Partnering him will be fellow Johorean and Malaysian racing ace, Jazeman Jaafar.

Tunku Abdul Rahman unveiled his team car, which depicts striking Johor livery on its side, at a ceremony attended by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and the rest of the royal family.

“I am very excited and really looking forward to doing my best in this series.

The support from my family has also been amazing,” said Tunku Abdul Rahman.

“I am also very proud about this moment because my late grandfather, Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, was an avid racer too, winning the 1960 Johor GP, also in a Mercedes,” added Tunku Abdul Rahman.

He said it also felt good to be racing for Triple Eight – the most successful racing team in Australia – with fellow Johorean, Jazeman, alongside him.

The Johorean pair will be joined by experienced European Blancpain GT champion, Shane van Gisbergen. The 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia is an auto racing series for GT3-spec and GT4-spec cars.

The season will be run over six race weekends consisting of two, one-hour races each. The first four rounds will start with Sepang from 6th – 7th April. Pre-season testing will also take place in Sepang in the days leading up to the race weekend.

The series will then move to Buriram in Thailand (11th-12th May), Suzuka in Japan (22nd – 23rd June) and Fuji also in Japan (6th7th July).

The Korea International Circuit in Yeongam will host Round 5 on 3rd-4th August, while Shanghai, China will close the season with races on 27th-28th September 2019. - by Edey Suresh TI

news

Iskandar Puteri to set its first Virtual Reality Centre with South Korean KT Corporations

Joint Venture between IIB and KT Corporation to spearhead the development of AR/VR in Medini

I

skandar Innovations Sdn Bhd, a member of Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) group of companies and KT Corporation from South Korea are working on building Iskandar Puteri’s very first Virtual Reality Centre as an addition to the existing international theme parks like LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort and Puteri Harbour Theme Parks - Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Thomas Town.

During the Joint Venture document exchange ceremony, it was announced that the VR Centre will be opened to the public

by Q3 of 2019.

Jimmy Puah, Chairman of International Trade, Investment and

Utilities Committee of Johor said, “The state government is delighted to welcome another FDI into Johor, and we are committed to support and facilitate both local and foreign investors. As we have modern infrastructure, easy accessibility, abundance of resources and strong government support, I hope government agencies and the private sectors can collaborate and collectively promote investments to Iskandar Malaysia.”

Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, President/Chief Executive Officer of IIB said they have listed five main components in the long-term plan to position Iskandar Puteri as a digital nexus - VR Theme Park, Education, Esports, Research and Development and Marketplace.

Meanwhile Vice President of KT Global Business, Head of Global Strategic Investment, KT Corporation, Kwon Oryung is looking forward to put their utmost effort in catalytic projects and other businesses in Malaysia by providing various ICT technologies to IIB. KT Corporation will design, build, supply, install and commission the VR Solutions for the VR Centre of Excellence while IISB will handle the business set-up, solutions and the overall operation and funding.

This partnership between IIB and KT Corporation is expected to spearhead the development of AR/VR in Medini, the up and coming Central Business District of Iskandar Malaysia. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

PGM ADT Johor Championship 2019

J

apan’s Kazuki Higa clinched his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title with a superb seven-under-par 65 in the final round of the PGM UMW ADT Championship.

Higa cruised to a six-shot victory at the Le Grandeur Palm Resort Johor after four days of competition.

Le Grandeur Palm Resort is the first golf club in Johor to host the PGM Asian Development Tour (ADT) Championship.

This is the fourth year that the golf resort is hosting the tournament.

This year, a total of 114 participants

PGM ADT Johor Championship 2019 at Le Grandeur Palm Resort

from around the world took part in the RM225,000 prized tournament. - by The Iskandarian TI

07

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

news

The Heroes of Pasir Gudang Crisis Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards winners work hand in hand to provide aid for the victims and first responders of Pasir Gudang toxic fumes crisis

#MealsOnUs team with MAH Johor Chapter Chairman Ivan Teo, IMSHA Chairman Thanam Visvanathan-Suresh and the staff of HSI

B

ased on a report by the D epar tment of Environment (DOE) in 2017, a total of 51 rivers nationwide are deemed as polluted.

57% or 29 of those rivers or are in Johor making us the State with the most number of polluted rivers in the country.

The Sg. Kim Kim river toxic waste dumping incident in Pasir Gudang here forced a total of 5,848 people to seek treatment after being exposed to very high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said out of the total number of victims, 951 were warded and 25 ended up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The toxic pollution had also forced the closure of all 111 schools in Pasir Gudang until the 31st of March.

In 2017, a Swedish journal published the background levels of VOC in schools in Johor Bahru and even then, the VOCs were already identified as risk factors for ocular (eye) and throat symptoms, fatigue and headache amongst the JB school children. For example, the indoor and outdoor levels of benzene detected were 4.6 ug/m3 (1 ppb) and 5.1 ug/m3 (1.6 ppb), respectively. Even then, 50% of the indoor and outdoor benzene levels in schools already exceeded the European Union standard of 5.0 ug/m3. Most of these VOCs came from outdoor sources, notably

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

from transportation sources - (https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/ S0048969717304734?via%3Dihub).

Emerging from this crisis are the unsung heroes who worked tirelessly to treat victims, provide medical aid, food and essential items to the victims and first responders of the crisis in Pasir Gudang.

The heroes were there to care and comfort distraught victims while helping to prevent others from getting sick by sourcing nationwide and to neighbouring Singapore to provide the right protective masks to the residents.

The heroes were also busy getting daily meals organised for the victims, next of kin and uniformed personnel.

Most of the heroes, who were on the ground, risking their own health and safety, are winners of the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA).

The awards’ programme was established in 2014 by The Iskandarian Newspaper and IRDA in an effort to spot, recognise and empower selfless individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the community through impactful and meaningful community services.

At Ground Zero – Red Zone The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia’s Response and Relief Team (IMARET) were among

the first to be at the Red Zone.

They sent volunteer doctors and paramedics to the crisis centre at the Pasir Gudang Stadium to work hand in hand with Johor Bahru District Health Centre to provide emergency first aid to victims.

(IMARET won IMSHA in 2018 for the Disaster Relief organisation category). Also sending volunteer doctors, nurses and paramedics to the red zone was Mercy Malaysia.

(Mercy Malaysia won IMSHA in 2014 for the Disaster Relief organisation category).

Johor ruler His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar pledged RM1 million to help the crisis situation and as the Royal Adviser to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah sprung into action and activated the Malaysian Red Crescent to provide aid and supply of over 1000 packs of food per day for victims and first responders.

(Malaysian Red Crescent won IMSHA in 2015 for the Disaster Relief organisation category).

The Johor Relief Organisation or widely known as Ihsan Johor were known for building houses for the less fortunate with the help of volunteers. However, their involvement in providing aid in Lombok gave them a new direction. Known as Ihsan Johor Rangers, the organisation’s troop of volunteers worked relentlessly at Pasir Gudang, deploying over 200 volunteers to distribute 8940 masks which they purchased by raising RM26,775.28 via crowdfunding to the residents surrounding the crisis area. (Ihsan Johor won IMSHA in 2018 for the Social Innovation organisation category).

Aaduka Fairuz and his band of Sahabat Johor DT volunteers who are more focused on environmental issues mobilised themselves from Pontian, Johor to help with masks, food, and basic

needs distribution to the victims and residents. Aaduka’s WhatsApp group, titled ‘Pray for Pasir Gudang’ attracted few hundred members and quickly became the communication channel for many to obtain first hand information.

(Sahabat Johor DT won IMSHA in 2018 for the Environmental Preser vation organisation category).

Project #MealsOnUs While most of the heroes were working around the clock at the red zone, IMSHA winners consisting of JB TRACERS (2017 IMSHA winner for Public Safety organisation category), Johor Truck 4×4 (2017 IMSHA winner for Disaster Relief organisation category), Kechara Soup Kitchen (2014 IMSHA winner for Poverty & Hunger Relief organisation category) with the support of Yvonne Loh, Secretary of Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor Chapter and IMSHA Leadership Council Judge swiftly came together to give food aid to the first responders involved.

Razali Tompang, the administrator of JB TRACERS initiated the #MealsOnUs project.

He roped in Abdul Zanar Khamis to join in as the Ground Relief Command to coordinate with Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) while Yvonne Loh, got in touch with hoteliers around Johor to send in support. In total, 31 hotels came forth to do their part in providing lunch and dinner for the first responders while fast food chain Marrybrown provided breakfast for three days till stand down order.

Food delivery from the hotels to HSI was organised by Jamilah Zainal from JB Trucks 4x4 alongside Merlin Hoo of Kechara Soup Kitchen and a group of volunteers known as Causeway Riders.

Over 4000 packs of food were delivered till the stand down order was issued. The hotels that

lent their support to this project are Amari Johor Bahru, Thistle Johor Bahru, Puteri Pacific Hotel, Swiss-Inn Johor Bahru, Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, New York Hotel, Somerset Puteri Harbour Iskandar Puteri, Pulai Springs Resort, Mutiara Johor Bahru, Grand Paragon Hotel, Ponderosa Golf & Country Resort, Silka Johor Bahru, Hotel Granada Johor Bahru, Millesime Hotel, Lakeview Terrace Resort, Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort, Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa, Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru, Good Hope Hotel, Pinetree Marina Resort, Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, LEGOLAND Hotel, Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru, Country Garden Forest City Golf Hotel, Trove Johor Bahru, Baguss City Hotel, Impiana Hotel Senai, Amansari Residence Resort, Seri Alam and Amansari Hotel Nusajaya.

Corporate Responsibility Upon hearing that the IMSHA winners were in the thick of the action, many corporate entities came forward to do their part.

Among the corporate companies that came forward to assist the IMSHA winners are Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ), Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), Sunway Iskandar, UMLand Seri Alam, Marrybrown and Gleneagles Medini.

Citizens of Johor can sleep better knowing that not merely one hero but dozens of them are looking out for the wellbeing of everyone without fear or favour, without discrimination of any kind and without expecting anything in return.

The 6th edition of Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) is now open for nominations. Spare a minute to nominate your hero at https://goo. gl/forms/GzWMFijJGFSUdYEu2 and follow their social media pages for updates. - by Edey Suresh TI

08

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

news

Hard Rock Heals Foundation Awards Grant to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Cahaya Surya Bakti Hard Rock International funds music programme at Johor’s refugee schools

USD5000 mock cheque presented to Soraya Alkaff (left) of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Cahaya Surya Bakti at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast

H

ard Rock Heals Foundation through Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast (HRH Desaru Coast) has connected with Pertubuhan Kebajikan Cahaya Surya Bakti that houses three refugee schools for Rohingya children, with a grant of USD5000 (about RM20,439) to fund students’ music-based education that include lessons, instruments, performance opportunities and even pursuing a music study scholarship.

In the course of 12 months, 150 students will attend monthly music lessons at HRH Desaru Coast and be taught by experienced music teachers including the hotel’s band members and staff. The hotel will provide a place for the students to have performing opportunities, and a 1-year music scholarship to learn an instrument which will be given to two best performing students.

“More than means of expression, music connects people and cultures.

Working closely with Pertubuhan Kebajikan Cahaya Surya Bakti, we at HRH Desaru Coast hope to provide a platform for the students to discover the power of music

and to inspire the love for music. We are very excited to begin our partnership with them and together, continue working towards inspiring and building hope through music,” said Peter Wynne, Area Vice President of Operations (APAC), Hard Rock International.

Soraya Alkaff, the Founder & Executive Director of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Cahaya Surya Bakti said, “By working closely with HRH Desaru Coast, we are glad that the children are given valuable opportunity to learn music as part of their school curriculum. This exposure and skills learnt will be very useful for the children in the future and impart good virtues in their growing up years.”

The Hard Rock Heals Foundation was created by Hard Rock International in 2016, aiming to contribute positive means to people and communities through music.

Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast is one of the select 50 grant recipients to extend their effort and mission.

For full list of grant winners and more information on Hard Rock Heals Foundation, visit: http://www.hardrock.com/ healsfoundation. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

09

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

drill

MO N T H LY DR I L L w Intervie by the Editor Located at Medini Zone C in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, CI Medini Sdn Bhd is an affiliated company within the Creed Group, a real estate firm from Japan founded in 1996, specialising in principal investment and property development. Managing Director Takeshi Matsukata is responsible for the overall management of CI Medini. Matsukata has over 20 years of experience in various aspects of property development ranging from land acquisition, planning, entitlement process, sales and marketing, customer service, finance as well as overall development management in the USA before joining CI Medini in 2015. Matsukata earned a B.A. in Business from Keio University (Tokyo, Japan).

city. Khazanah’s role in developing Medini influenced our decision to invest and build commercial real estate in this township.

What are the development plans for the 82 acres of land you own in Medini?

It will be a mixed development for commercial and service apartments designed to cater to both local and international buyers. The guiding principles of the development blueprint are set to establish CI Medini as the preferred investment destination for international and local retail and institutional investors.

Tell us more about CI Medini and what attracted you guys to Iskandar Malaysia?

Sunsuria Medini Sdn Bhd started its property development in Medini, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, under Sunsuria Group in 2013.

In November 2014, Creed Group joined Sunsuria Medini Sdn Bhd as a joint venture partner. Subsequently, the company name was changed to CI Medini Sdn Bhd in November 2015 when Creed Group became the 100% owner of the company. Creed has invested outside Japan since 2005 and has projects in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

We were the first developer to build shop-lots in Medini and the plans we have for our land area encompassing 82 acres in Medini Iskandar Malaysia is for it to become a modern sustainable city of international standing to create a high quality, integrated, uniquely enriching, efficient and secure environment.

We were attracted to Medini for its location being close to the Tuas 2nd link and future High-speed Rail (HSR) station as well as various incentives provided by the federal government as a special economic zone as well as the comprehensive master plan for a balanced development as a new

Tell us more about your projects CI Medini’s commercial properties are known as The IONS. ION1 (104 units), ION2 (106 units), ION3 (32 units) and ION4 (75 units) consists of both retail shops and offices. This development is strategically located about three minutes’ drive from the Second Link Expressway, theme parks, the Mall of Medini and Educity.

We are currently developing multi-level stratified shops with unique walk-in feature from the connected parking structure and are also planning for a service apartment project targeting young families.

However, the start date will be determined subject to improvement of the market condition.

When we think of Japan, we think of the words smart, clean and sustainable. Tell us more about the sustainable elements at CI Medini We are incorporating green building

Director

Takeshi Matsukata Man a g ing Dire c tor C I Me dini

designs in our projects going forward, we are incorporating in our projects. Seamless connectivity between the dynamic and lively commercial precincts and the exclusive urban retreats of the tree-lined residential zones will further enhance our vision of becoming a modern sustainable city of international standing and the overall experience. Uninterrupted views from the iconic residential towers are complemented with inspiring inward-facing views of the landscape canopy and vibrancy of the central “heart”.

What are your thoughts on Medini’s progress as a whole?

The area is finally taking its shape by completed residential units, offices, restaurants and shops. Construction of the MBIP office is well underway and scheduled to be completed next year as well. I am staying in Medini and it is very comfortable and convenient with necessary services in the area. Roads are wide, well planned and there are no traffic congestions around here. It is a very balanced township, with all the necessary elements to enhance its liveability. This is largely because of the master developer, Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIM).

MIM started developing Medini on a clean slate and everything is well planned.

Moreover, the Malaysia and Singapore governments are leading the key property projects in this township. Their involvement says a lot about the support given to Medini and is a compelling reason for local and

foreign developers to invest in Malaysia.

Currently, the property market is sluggish and the outlook seems uncertain. What are your strategies for CI Medini to remain vibrant in slow times?

We are watching the market carefully and looking for niches that we can explore. We are also planning to organise more place making events to make the area more vibrant.

Medini is already the main destination for business, healthcare, education, industrial and tourism within Iskandar Malaysia and I believe the key developers of Medini remain committed to the long-term vision of the township and expects demand to pick up once the overall property market recovers.

Medini is a work in progress. It is not a finished product, but its outlook is very promising. Once the economic environment improves, more changes will take place.

What does Matsukata do when he’s not working? Do you indulge in any hobbies?

I try to exercise by climbing stairs and walking. Also, I try to read more books in my spare time.

10

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

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

A passion to document Johor royalty for posterity

The author, Ahmad Fadhli Syed Hassan, sharing with the audience about his book-writing journey

I

n 2017 I met Ahmad Fadhli Syed Hassan as an invited guest at an event.

He was aware that I was working on my book project and did not hesitate to tell me that he was doing extensive research into the Johor royal family for his book project on the late Sultan Ismail.

For him, it was a dream come true when his book, Almarhum Sultan Ismail Johor 1894 – 1981, a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) publication, was launched in Batu Pahat, Johor in conjunction with His Majesty the Johor Sultan’s 60th birthday in November 2018.

It was indeed a memorable moment because his manuscript had gone through meticulous review by his mentor and advisor, UTM Associate Professor Dr. Kassim Tukirman, editor Lim Swee Tin, historian Datin Patricia Lim and others, and finally by the Johor Royal Court Council president, Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli.

He will never forget that moment when his book was presented to the Sultan of Johor and how it received His Majesty’s

royal approval.

Recently, I attended Bicara Karya, a talk held in UTM where the author discussed his book writing journey and shared some of the highlights of his experience.

The event moderator, Dr. Kassim, presented a brief introduction before the author addressed the audience and replied to queries in the Question & Answer session.

Ahmad Fadhli attributed his interest in the Johor royal family to the influence of his great-grandfather, grandparents and granduncles who worked with the Johor royal family and left a legacy of old photographs and documents in their family home at Jalan Wadi Hana.

His late grandfather, Haji Daud Haji Abdul Hamid was an Under Secretary with the Johor government while his late grandmother, Khadijah Haji Ahmad, better known as Cikgu Jah, was an Inspector of Religious Schools and a religious teacher to the royal family in the 1950s. Whereas, his grandmother’s brother, Mohd Mahir Haji Ahmad, who worked with the Johor Information Department, was often the Master of Ceremony for royal events.

Mohd Mahir was also in the editorial team that published the souvenir book to commemorate the royal wedding of then Tunku Mahkota (now Sultan Ibrahim) to Raja Zarith Sofia in 1983 and another souvenir book for the installation of Sultan Iskandar as Agong in 1984.

He fondly recalls that another granduncle, Mohd Aris Haji Ahmad, a former classmate of Sultan Iskandar, had settled in the UK and became the first Malay mayor of Windsford in Vale Royal, Cheshire.

Portrait photographs of the late Sultan Ismail of Johor, as Tunku Mahkota Johor [Left] and as Sultan dressed in Malay attire [Right]

His greatgrandfather, Haji Ahmad Yaakub, an Inspector of Religious Schools, was so skilled in cooking that around 1956 to 1958, he was tasked to prepare wedding banquets for the royal family, sometimes for up to 5,000 guests!

Haji Ahmad was the author of two recipe books that featured Johor Malay cuisine, namely Medan Selera

news

and Hidangan Terpilih in 1958.

His grandfather was also involved in the publication of a souvenir book to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee reign of Sultan Sir Ibrahim of Johore (then).

Since childhood, Ahmad Fadhli would admire the collection of old photos, souvenir books, invitation cards and newspaper cuttings on Johor royalty and his The author, Ahmad Fadhli Syed Hassan [Left] on a tour of family members. photo exhibits with guests [Right to Left] UTM Library, Chief As he grew Librarian, Noraziah Sharuddin, UTM Associate Professor Dr. older and could read Kassim Tukirman and Peggy Loh the photo captions, Ahmad Fadhli started what he described, “to on His Royal Highness. learn through pictures” and this sparked his He shared his ideas with Dr. Kassim interest to seek a career in publishing books, and even created a mock-up of his book for particularly on the Johor royal family. discussion.

An old photo of his grandfather, Armed with Dr. Kassim’s advice, smartly dressed in the Johor Civil Servant Ahmad Fadhli plunged into further research uniform, made a strong impression on him to prepare his manuscript. and he would often ask his mother, “Who is Looking back, it had been an arduous this?” journey while he patiently arranged for his He was probably about eight when manuscript to be reviewed and approved by his father drove them pass Film Star Photo relevant authorities, starting with Dr Kassim, Studio and he saw a photo of someone step-by-step until it received final approval wearing a similar uniform, displayed in the from Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli. showcase.

When we met again recently, Ahmad In 1992, his father – a Lecturer with Fadhli gave me a copy of his mock-up book, a teachers’ training college, was awarded an item which marked the first step towards the PLP Long Service Award and his official making his dream come true, in his bookphotos were by Mr. Wee, a photographer writing journey. from Kedai Gambar Rezeki, a shop in Larkin.

“So what’s next?” I asked and Ahmad When he was 13, Ahmad Fadhli was Fadhli strongly hinted about his next book keen to get some photos of the Award’s project, the Diamond Jubilee celebration of recipients on the occasion of Sultan Iskandar’s Sultan Sir Ibrahim (1895 – 1959). birthday.

Book orders for Almarhum Sultan He took his father’s suggestion to go Ismail Johor 1894 – 1981, can be made via to Mr. Wee, who should have a collection of www.booksonline.my while e-books may be such photos for sale, but Ahmad Fadhli was purchased from www.e-sentral.com. TI disappointed to find only three photos.

He then remembered Film Star Photo Studio and it was the start of his friendship with Mr. Heng, the royal photographer, who had a collection of good photos since the 1960s.

He would save his pocket money to buy photographs for his collection and because he was such a regular, Mr. Heng was happy to offer him photos at special discounted prices.

After Ahmad Fadhli completed his Degree in (Archive) Records Management, he also obtained his Teaching Diploma and became a Primary School teacher, in charge of the Library, for three years.

He then joined UTM as Publications Officer and his first project was as co-editor for Seiring Mengukir Kegemilangan 30 Tahun UTM di Negeri Johor, a souvenir book published in commemoration of UTM’s 30th anniversary.

While working on this project, it occurred to him that the late Sultan Ismail A UTM publication on the late Sultan Ismail of Johor (1894 to 1981) by Ahmad initiated the establishment of UTM and Fadhli Syed Hassan discovered an opportunity to publish a book

11

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

UTHM Aeronautics’ Fly For Heart to Include Everyone

Fly For Heart symbolic submission of fund for the closing officiation

U

niversiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)’s Aeronautics department held a community engagement programme recently called the ‘Fly For Heart’ at Senai International Airport and Le Grandeur Palm Resort. Senai collaborated the event together with Iskandar Malaysia Youth Committee, Terbang dan Teroka, Elite Flying Club, Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), Johor Education Department, Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), Hospital Permai, Persatuan Rakan Celik P.I.P.I and Persatuan Sindrom Down Negeri Johor (Hati).

The programme was supported by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) through Iskandar Malaysia Youth Empowerment Fund (IMPower) as its aim is in line with the government’s call for making education and technology to be available for all. 20 volunteers, including 20 Seletar youths and 20 children of special needs were involved in this project.

Fly for Heart is an effort to bring special needs children and the Orang Asli youths to experience flying, something that is considered a luxury and for some,

just outright impossible. According to Persatuan Celik P.I.P.I’s (Pn) Perema who is an occupational therapist, the NGO joined hands with HSA specialists’ to design a training programme for the special needs children which took 3 months to complete.

“Children with special needs are highly sensitive to altitude, noise and imbalance which would make them anxious”, said Dr. Phua from HSA. The training came in the form of games that helped them understand flying environment such as Aviation Joy Series Jigsaw Puzzle, Save our Pilot, Pick & Paste and Plane Hurdles contest.

As for the Seletar youths, they were given lessons on interactive flight education, drone exhibition, remote control plane simulation and paper plane’s contest.

Exposing them to this various aero-education and experience would encourage them to see the world is a lot further than their usual surroundings.

PIPER PA-28, an aircraft from Elite Flying Club was flown in for an hour for each session as the programme’s main activity.

Dzulkarnain, Chairman of Persatuan Celik P.I.P.I said the children had fun and were hoping for it to become a fixed programme so more youths could get the same chance.

Fly for Heart concluded after Senator Dato’ Isa Ab. Hamid officiated the closing ceremony at Le Grandeur Palm Resort by submitting a cash replica that was passed to him by using a remote control drone, into a Fly for Heart “mock-up bank” with JAKOA, IRDA, HSA’s representatives and the Dean of Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

news Iskandar Malaysia to Fight Climate Change under Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) Over 100 participants from around the globe were trained to combat the climate change

I

skandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Secretariat of Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) hosted the inaugural GCoM event in Iskandar Malaysia as it is fast becoming a global leader in climate action.

Held for 3-days, the event was an extension of the outreach that previously took place at the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur in February 2018.

The first from overall four trainings are scheduled to take place in Malaysia within 2019.

GCoM is a platform for international alliance of cities and local governments that shares the long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action in fighting the worrying climate change and also to move to a low emission and resilient society.

Aligning with the Paris Agreement on climate change, the EU is supporting the implementation of the GCoM in Asia through the International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme. “ We will ensure significant involvement together with the over 9,000

cities around the world in the fight against global warming and climate change,” said Tan Hong Pin Chairman of State Local Government, Science and Technology Committee.

Iskandar Malaysia’s development continues to be guided by the Circle of Sustainability, a holistic and resilient ecosystem where economic, social and environmental agendas are of equal importance and receive equal attention.

“With this in mind, the Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Society (LCS) Blueprint was developed to reduce Iskandar Malaysia’s carbon intensity by 58% by 2025 compared to the 2005 level, and create a greener, more sustainable yet economically dynamic environment,” said Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA. The GCoM training was provided to 60 representatives from local governments and authorities in Malaysia. The activity was supported by IUC Asia and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre as well as the United Cities and Local Government in Asia-Pacific, the CDP Network, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and UN Habitat. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Esports Johor Debut its First Ever E-sports League in Johor As the esports community starts to thrive, so does the support

Professional teams compete just like in other types of pro sports

E

sports Johor hosted its first ever e-sports event, the Johor e-League Challenge 1.0 (JeLC 1.0), presented by the Johor online eSports community, esportsjohor.com. The tournament, powered by Capital City, a one stop entertainment mall with the largest indoor theme

park in southeast Asia-MCM Studio, consists of six chapters of competition with different types of games and a single event for the Grand Final Chapter.

The eSports community has flourished in recent years creating a new demand for eSports content, online streaming

services and eSports tournaments.

Realising the impor tance of having a long term and continuous tournament to cater these demands, the online Johor Esports community, esportjohor. com is taking a step ahead by organising the Johor eLeague Challenge 1.0. The league first kicked off on 23rd of February 2019 with Chapter One: PUBG Mobile followed by Johor ELeague Chapter III Mobile Legends #1.0 on the 30th of March.

“With this great, user friendly and very relevant platform together with our idea on how to mix streaming, esports information, leader boards and tournament schedules, we have the prerequisites to attract attention from this rapidly growing audience,” said Dr. Haji Mohd Azlan, Founder of esportsjohor.com.

Apart from PUBG Mobile, the other 5 chapters that will be hosted are FIFA 2019, Mobile

Legends, PES 2019, Tekken and DOTA 2. The Final chapter will be organised in November 2019 expecting to be the biggest esports event in Johor.

As the official venue, Capital City is committed to supports the community by dedicating areas in the mall to be the Johor Esports Hub. “To show

our commitment, apart from sponsoring the league, we are also offering a long term venue in Capital City for the use of the e-Sports community for free,” said Jenson Siow, Assistant Manager for event at Capital City.

The next PUBG Mobile Challenge 1.1 will be on 6th April 2019. - by Moazan Emran TI

Selection of the groups for the tournament

12

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

news

Sisters Helping Sisters

Synergising PR Efforts towards IR 4.0

I

n response to the recent backlash in various mediums of mass media or even certain governmental public relations units, the majority are facing monumental problems when it comes to conveying the message to the public, causing misinterpretation and misinformation.

“Good or bad publicity is still publicity”, some PR practitioners might say. However, in the grand scheme of things, it is always best to get the right message across, if possible, the whole truth. This is evident in most factual present cases such as the rapid developments and movement towards the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

What the industry players want to know and benefit from IR 4.0 rests solely on the proper dissemination of information throughout the process. Nowadays, minute mistakes or setbacks can cause the “butterfly effect” to work its mysterious way and cause economic catastrophes as well as business failures.

The Institute of Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM) had held a forum on public relations to address IR 4.0 and how to synergise

efforts in enlightening the populous on the impending fourth wave. The sluggish impressions and engagements in regard to IR 4.0 shows how poor the PR work was executed, which in a way, is worrying.

The forum encouraged input about the changes in operating landscape of the PR practitioners from all sectors – government, GLCs, corporations, NGOs, academia, media, as well as influencers.

“Malaysia’s failure to respond adequately to the challenges and opportunities presented by IR 4.0 will erode the country’s ambition to join the ranks of the developed countries and also impact its competitiveness among its immediate neighbours,” concluded Dr. S. Ramakrishnan, Chairman of the Johor State Consumerism, Human Resource and Unity Committee, in his keynote speech.

The launch of IPRM Johor Chapter was also commenced during the forum where ProTem President, Dr. Sankaran Ramanathan was given the mandate by IPRM National Chairman, Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman to spearhead the realignment of the PR industry in the southern region. - by Harish Mustak TI

SIP President Nooraini Yasin witnessing the cheque presentation to sponsor five refugee students

S

oroptimist International Club of Iskandar Puteri (SIP) had celebrated its third year anniversary at Sweetwater Mediterranean Restaurant in Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru which saw the official handover of Charter President Nooraini Yasin to incoming President YM Tunku Fatimah Faridah Osman Ahmad and a slideshow presentation of past year’s activities.

“Soro” is Latin for “sister”. The club, a worldwide volunteer service organisation for professional and business women, focuses on education, environment, and women empowerment. Adopting an award-winning programme from their sister school in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, SIP

teaches Personal Safety Training to students to learn about their bodies in a fun but respectful way of recognising their own feelings and their own bodies.

SIP also works with a refugee school and organically grow vegetables, harvest rainwater, and compost – all from scratch!

Nooraini Yasin, in jest, said that their make-up and zumba classes help reduce the bickering that occurs in a woman’s shelter home – they could be arguing over something at the home, but all come together in harmony during classes!

“We need to help vulnerable children and educate them on what their rights are,” said Tunku Fatimah at her thank-you speech, thanking guests for coming and welcoming collaborations for a better future.

A cheque of RM5500 was handed over from SIP to CSB Rohingya Learning Centre – Kempas to sponsor five Rohingya refugee students. The amount will be sufficient to sustain the students for one year.

The event carried on with dinner and dessert in a casual and cosy atmosphere with women sharing ideas and catch-up sessions. - by Salamahafifi TI

Johor Targets European Tourists

J

ohor will be going all out to pull in tourists from Europe who have a penchant for sandy beaches, delicious food and unique local culture - all of which the southern state is rich in.

Johor Women Development and Tourism Executive Committee chairman Liow Cai Tung said Johor has massive potential and existing attractions to fulfill the needs of European tourists. The European market has

a huge interest in food, beaches and culture, which makes Johor the choice destination for them.

“We have beautiful islands off the Mersing coast, and Johor Bahru was named one of the top destinations for local food by Booking.com, we have a rich sultanate history and culture which definitely makes Johor an attractive destination.

“Due to Johor’s geographical and

strategic location, we want to target European tourists who travel to Singapore by attracting them here to extend their stay in Johor,” said Liow.

Liow was part of the Malaysian entourage at the world’s leading travel trade show ITB Berlin (Internationale TourismusBörse Berlin) held last month in Germany.

Liow also said that the state will work closely with Malaysia Association of Travel

Agents (MATTA) on tapping tourists who travel to Singapore, adding that it would be part of the state’s efforts for the Visit Johor 2020 campaign.

She added that in 2018, Johor recorded 15.8 million visitor arrivals compared to 14.4 million in 2017, where Singapore remains the top visiting country followed by Indonesia and China. - by The Iskandarian TI

13

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

20-cent Into the Pockets or 20-cent Out for the Earth?

What are we actually paying for with the 20-cent?

P

lastic pollution is definitely a global co n u n d r u m t h a t has been scourging primarily the marine biodiversity as some of the mismanaged plastic waste ends up in the ocean. In the same vein, according to a study from 2015 in the Science Magazine, Malaysia is ranked 8th country with mismanaged plastic waste globally. Though it poses as a dilemma, it is heartening to know that the Malaysian government h a s b e e n p ro a c t i ve l y implementing measures as of recent to reduce the usage of plastic which consequently, will reduce the amount of plastic waste produced by the country. For instance, Malaysia has drafted a roadmap that aims to abolish single-use plastic by 2030. However, the efficacy of these measures are yet to be clear as they are still in its grassroots stage.

It is undeniable that the implementation of plastic bag ban for retailers has proved its effectiveness in reducing plastic bag usage purely based on the observation of the increasing

numbers of consumers carrying their own bags for shopping purposes but yet, there are still suggestions on increasing the 20-cents charge per plastic bag to 50-cents to further discourage certain consumers that are probably not as price-sensitive or possess a higher propensity to resort to convenience.

However, the question is “where does the charge for plastic bags go?”. It is imperative to ascertain the channeling of the charge to determine whether it is being reinvested in state funds to support the cause or is it just pure profit for retailers? If it’s the latter, are these proceeds being used to mitigate costs and maximise profits, or to carry out CSR initiatives to further corroborate the cause?

The estimated cost of manufacturing plastic bag is at 3 cents each in Malaysia. This indicates that retailers stand to reap a gross profit of 17 cents per piece. The figure may seem non-existent, but this profit is at the expense of ill-informed consumers. A policy that is meant to be a deterrent to a conundrum has now become

a source of income for retailers and a burden for consumers.

Due to lack of information and transparency, we can only assume that the gains from the charge are being pocketed by the retailers.

If that assumption holds, these proceeds should be utilised to further corroborate the cause such as donating to organisations that specialise in marine conservation or engage in R&D to strengthen bio-degradable bags and to produce better methods of recycling plastic waste. Another suggestion is that retailers should incentivise consumers that carry their own bag by granting cash rebate or offer giveaways (could also be a mean for retailers to manage inventory by clearing dead stock). As we all know, if the cause of the conundrum cannot be eliminated then the magnitude of the repercussions should be ossified and this burden itself should not only be placed onto the shoulders of consumers but also entities that have higher capacity such as retailers and government. by Izzbil TI

news Johor Tourism to Host Johor’s First International Dragon Boat Regatta 800 participants from all around the globe are expected to flock to Kota Tinggi, Johor

J

ointly organised with Harlie Venture, Johor Tourism will be hosting the very 1st Johor International Dragon Boat Regatta at Laman Tun Sri Lanang, Sungai Johor, Kota Tinggi, Johor, on 27th to 28th April 2019 from 8am to 6pm.

There are 8 categories to be competed in the 200 metres length of the Sungai Johor. These include International Premier Men with a crew of 12, Johor’s First International Dragon Boat Regatta International Premier Men bunting release Association (MASCA) would be judging 6’s, International Premier Women 6’s, International Premier Mix the selection on 27th April 2019.

800 people from 35 teams 12’s, International Masters Open 12’s (crew members’ birth year to qualify is 1979 and including locals and internationals have below), International Premier Junior Men registered for the competition. Some are 12’s (crew members’ birth year to qualify coming as far as from the US, Netherlands is in between 1996 to 2006) and Malaysia and even Zimbabwe among others.

The 1st International Dragon Boat Closed Government Agencies Mix 12’s Regatta is looking at promoting Johor as (army included).

The event would see a qualifying an international host for water sports as round for Women 6’s category to represent well as stimulating the local’s economic Malaysia for the coming SEA Games 2019 growth by keeping the accommodation to be held in Manila, Philippines from for the competitors within the proximity November to December. Malaysia Canoe of the event’s venue. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

CITARASA MUHIBAH Buffet dinner is available from 7th May – 3rd June 2019

Dine More & Save More

Purchase between 7th May to 3rd June 2019

RM 108 nett per adult RM 63 nett per child For more information and reservations, call +607 530 6837 or email to fnb.puteriharbourjohor@frasershospitality.com

SPECIAL

FOR THE “ISKANDARIAN”

• ONE dines FREE with 6 paying adults • Valid from 7th May – 3rd June 2019 • Original advertisement must be present at time of purchase • Limited to ONE customer per visit

14

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 Advertisement

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

A P R 2 0 19

INSIDE

on Exclusive Singapore 2019 w o h S t h c Ya

APR 2019 | Page 2

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

editor’s W note

e’re nearly through with the first quarter of the year and an unfortunate crisis that struck fellow Johoreans was the Sg. Kim Kim toxic pollution in Pasir Gudang which saw how the negligence of some could cause a disaster yet striking a cord with humanity when many including IMSHA winners and Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor Chapter who came forward to assist the first responders with food aid and masks. In times like this, we need to be grateful and thankful that at least compassion still exists.

On a lighter note, the Singapore

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Yacht Show 2019 will return to ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore for its ninth year. Read our feature story to learn more of the event.

Much awaited movie of the year; Avengers: Endgame comes to the big screens this April! Will the fractured Avengers get back up and face Thanos or what will happen in this grand conclusion?

On a spookier note, Pet Sematary is back to unleash an unfathomable evil!

Back to local travels within the region, our writer Yani explores Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru for a weekend getaway.

As always, for those wishing to share their fashion collection, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/hotel for a staycation, drop me an e-mail at waves. lifestyle@gmail.com and be featured. For more news, do access www.theiskandarian. com The Iskandarian wishes all celebrants a very Happy Good Friday & Easter.

Priya

Feature

Set sail for the Singapore Yacht Show 2019

Countdown to the 9th edition of Asia’s leading yachting event set to impress with world-leading yachting brands showcasing stellar line-up of regional premieres

By The Iskandarian

By ONE15 Marina Sentosa Cove / Zen Lee Creative and will house a 10 metre-long floating swimming pool and live demonstrations of the latest personal watercraft including jet skis, submersibles, inflatables, day boats, fishing equipment and drones.

Taking a breather at the SYS will also be an indulgence as there will be

G

et ready to drop anchor at the Singapore Yacht Show (SYS), when Asia’s premier boating and luxury lifestyle event returns from 11th – 14th April 2019 for its ninth year at the prestigious ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore.

Heralded as the region’s must-see event for nautical lifestyle enthusiasts, the four-day event gives visitors an unrivalled opportunity to discover more yachts than displayed anywhere else in the region. The Show also brings together superyacht builders, product manufacturers and a whole raft of luxury lifestyle brands displaying the latest product innovations, design concepts and product launches.

Simpson Marine will present a 14-strong line-up featuring the flagship of the Sanlorenzo’s SD line, the Sanlorenzo 126 superyacht, as well as the Monte Carlo Yachts 96; a timeless classic with modern flair. Princess Yachts, with local dealer Boat Lagoon Yachting, will present a fleet featuring three regional debuts including the Princess F45, the latest addition to the Princess flybridge range.

Ferretti Group also returns to SYS with local dealer Hong Seh Marine

to display some show-stopping models, including the FY920 maxi flybridge making her Asian debut in Singapore.

Sunseeker will present two yachts, including the stunning new Sunseeker 76 which will be making her Asian premiere at SYS. Marine Italia, the Singaporebased dealer for Azimut Yachts, will be showcasing the 2018-launched semicustom model, the Azimut Grande 25.

Fans of sleek and sport lines will certainly be impressed!

Specialist multihull builder Fountaine Pajot will be presenting three catamarans, two of which will be making their regional premieres – the new MY40 motoryacht and the Alegria 67 that redefines luxurious comfort.

Exhilarating Events and Activities to See and be Seen at!

In addition to these global showcases, the Singapore Yacht Show will also deliver a truly immersive experience for those looking to discover the yachting lifestyle through a series of high-octane events and activities.

Kicking off the Show on 10 April is the dazzling SYS2019 Gala Evening & Awards (Asia Boating Awards), a prestigious black-tie event that will bring

together the biggest names in the global yachting industry and special VIP guests to celebrate the glamour of the 1920s at the stunning Capitol Theatre.

Adrenaline junkies will find their place at the Floating Leisure Hub, which will be located in the middle of the marina

a wide-range of outstanding food and beverage options to discover, as well as the latest offerings from bespoke jewellery designs, fashion items and artwork to peruse.

Prices start from SGD22 for an advance single day pass, and SGD154 for the VIP pass (which includes access to SYS VIP Lounge with complimentary F&B and fast-track entrance to the show) which can be purchased from the Singapore Yacht Show website, https://www.hapz. com/exhibitions/SYS-2019-tickets TI

APR 2019 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Hack Your Stress – Part 2

W Rose Osman is a Certified Human Design Professional.

She’s a guide for Living Your Design Workshop and coaches others on self healing for anxiety via E-courses and group workshops

yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses www.roselifecoach.com

henever you have excessive stream of thoughts about your life, try listening to music or watch movies. Music can help to stimulate your brain to relax while letting the pressure to flow naturally. You can also channel the pressure into movements like writing, sketching or doodling.

Emotional Stress Unlike mental stress, emotional stress is about dealing with unleashed desires, moodiness and pressure to connect with others.

Often, emotional pressure leaves us in a state where we have no clarity about life. When these feelings don’t have an outlet to manifest its expression, we would feel stressed. Untreated emotional stress can turn one into anger, resentment, feeling disconnected and sad.

There are a few ways to channel emotional stress. Talk about your feelings with the right people who could help you translate the energy into communication. This way, not only you get to channel the energy into a different form but the

feelings get recognised in a healthy way. The other way is through physical intimacy. A healthy sexual activity or a simple physical touch such as hugging and cuddling can serve as a bridge; so the stress can be released.

Physical Stress Our body is built to deal with the pressure that we feel around us.

Through this pressure, we have our inner energy to live in this life.

Our body naturally knows how to channel the pressure. It normally happens through movement.

Given our lifestyle today, physical movement are often taken for granted. When the physical stress builds up, the pressure may turn into body pain. Furthermore, with mental and emotional stress adding into the body; only physical movement can help us maintain the stress at a healthy state.

Routine exercises are the best stress reliever we have. It is also applicable to all forms of stress. Another stress reliever is Conscious Breathing and it is effective for mental stress. Try it out today! TI

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

Genre: Action-Adventure Release date: 24th April 2019 Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Producers: Kevin Feige Executive Producer: Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau and Stan Lee Screenplay by: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely

B

ased on the novel by Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When a tragedy strike, Louis turns to his unusual neighbour, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) sets off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences. TI

Cast: Multiple cast including Brie Larson, Bradley Cooper, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlet Johansson

T

he grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to

twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”

View trailers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ MarvelMalaysia/videos/782287692141585/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/_WwcWQj37lI TI Genre: Supernatural-Horror Release date: 5th April 2019 Directors: Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer Producers: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Steven Schneider, Mark Vahradian Screenplay by: Jeff Buhler Cast: Jason Clarke, John Lithgow, Amy Seimetz, Jeté Laurence, Hugo Lavoie and Lucas Lavoie

Source:

The Walt Disney Company, Malaysia

Source:

Paramount Pictures Malaysia

APR 2019 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

travel 019 R 2 AP

dar Calen ts n of Eve

1st April – 12th May World Gourmet Summit @ Singapore

5th – 7th April Johor MATTA Fair @ Capital City Entertainment Mall

5th – 7th April

A Weekend at Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru Deluxe Standard Room with specially added touch of sketches by Hanzhen Yap

Homefair 2019: Raya Sale @ Persada Johor

By Yani Sukaimi waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

6th April • • • •

X-traordinary Run 2019 @ MBJB Time Together Charity Run @ Spring Labs at Eco Spring Johor eLeague Chapter 1.1 PUBG Mobile @ Capital 21, Captial City V=iRun2.0 @ Stadium Azman Hashim, UTM

6th – 7th April Rollick: A Music Gathering @ 11F, Jln Mariamah

7th April Sunday Pool Party @ Hard Rock Hotel

11th – 14th April Singapore Yacht Show @ ONE 15 S’pore

12th – 13th April

I

was looking for a place to relax and unwind last weekend and was glad that Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru offered me the best. The property opened its doors last July in the vicinity of Iskandar Malaysia region, and is ideally located near LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort and Puteri Harbour, with easy access to local fresh seafood at “Kampung Sungai Melayu”.

Ramada Meridin is about 30km away from Senai International Airport, making it easy to fly in or out of the Southern Peninsular of Malaysia.

As soon as I arrived, I was mesmerised by a huge roof that looks like a traditional Malay male headgear right in front of the hotel lobby. Under that huge roof, on the right side is the hotel’s Grand Ballroom that can fit up to 1000 people at one time with a combination of 3 halls,

bed and two single beds which comes with a lively living room and a kitchenette. Every room has an individual Wi-Fi connection and passwords with no restrictions to keep you stay connected.

As I strolled around the hotel, I’d say I love their outdoor space with the infinity pool that has fantastic views, and their restaurant that comes with two types of kitchen, Deli’s Kitchen specifically for local dishes and R’s Kitchen that serves

Head to Wyn Lounge to unwind – Open from 5pm till late night

2nd JB Itl Chess Championship 2019 @ Dewan Muafakat Taman Adda Height Infinity pool where guests can enjoy splendid views of the surrounding city while swimming

13th April Private International School Fair @ Renaissance JB Hotel

13th – 14th April HSBC World Rugby Sevens 2019 @ National Stadium S’pore

14th April Tamil New Year

19th April Good Friday

The Grand Ballroom can fit up to 1000 people with a combination of 3 halls

19th – 21st April Baby Fair S’pore @ Singapore EXPO

26th – 28th April Heart, Mind Body Festival @ Suntec Convention Centre, S’pore

27th April – 5th May Singapore Garden Festival 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

whereas on the left side is the meeting rooms and event space for rent. Right in the middle between both sides is a huge open space for guests to mingle prior to an event. It’s also definitely an “Instaworthy” spot for the hotel guests.

While going on a tour of the hotel rooms, I noticed that every room has drawings and sketches on the wall which is a specially added touch by an autistic child, Hanzhen Yap, who has earned a name in Johor Bahru. Rooms at Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru consists of Deluxe Standard with one queen bed, Classic Suite with a king bed and Premium Suite with one king

international cuisine. All these are located on level 5 of the hotel, where it offers views of the surrounding city. Also located on the same floor are the Skyview Outdoor Gym, a Meditation Deck, an Outdoor Reflexology, Infinity Aqua Gym and a Kids’ Playroom with childcare facilities which is a definite plus for parents!

For the night birds, head to the Wyn Lounge located in front of the hotel lobby near the main elevator. The Lounge is open from 5pm till late night for hotel guests to have a drink and unwind while enjoying live music performance on stage.

After a goodnight’s sleep, the next morning before checking out, I had my breakfast at the Delish Restaurant. Serving traditional breakfast fare that’s local and authentic from the region and country, Delish Restaurant give guests a unique localised hotel dining experience. This hotel keeps a quality breakfast that can significantly increase the value of a hotel stay and guests’ overall satisfaction with their experience.

For more information and reservations, check out Ramada Meridin Johor Bahru’s official website at https:// ramadameridinjohor.com TI

19

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 Advertisement

Amansari Hotel Nusajaya

S

tanding at 18-storey tall, right smack in the middle of Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Amansari Hotel Nusajaya is an ideal spot for you to unwind in between work and playtime in the Iskandar Malaysia region.

Getting here is a breeze as distance to and fro major transportation hubs such as the 2nd Link CIQ Complex, Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru CIQ Checkpoint and Larkin Sentral are less than a 30 minute drive away, and yet close by to GP Sentral Bus Terminal and Puteri Harbour International Ferry Terminal.

Clusters) and Gelang Patah Town.

Indoors, enjoy the comfort of spacious rooms ranging from Superior, Deluxe, Family Suite and Executive Suite, to fit your relaxation preferences. The rate starts at RM178 per night inclusive of complimentary breakfast, and sales and services tax.

Amansari Hotel Nusajaya is also the perfect choice to host your events or work seminars. They offer 3 different capacity meeting rooms as well as a multipurpose hall that would seat up to 300 pax. Other amenities include a gymnasium, cafeteria an open lounge to

Amansari Hotel Nusajaya is also very near to various popular attractions for family, namely the LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, Puteri Harbour Indoor Family Theme Park, Sireh Park as well as Poresia Golf & Country Club and Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club. All your shopping needs are taken care of as shopping centres such as the Mall of Medini, Aeon Bukit Indah and Johor Premium Outlets are within close proximity. Within a 10km drive from the hotel would take you to EduCity, Kota Iskandar, SiLC (Southern Industrial & Logistics

unwind and a prayer room. Ample of parking spaces are available, and with a 24-hour reception and security services, you and your guests can stay at ease.

Get in touch with Amansari Hotel Nusajaya for your next stay or event.

Amansari Hotel Nusajaya Address: Jalan Persiaran Nusa Puncak, Taman Nusa Puncak, 79200 Iskandar Puteri, Johor Tel. No.: +6 07 869 1168 Fax No.: +6 07 509 5198 Email: info.nj@amansarihotels.com FB: facebook.com/amansarinusajaya

Book Now

20

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

live

Not a Death Sentence

D

efinition of cancer almost always will include phrases like “uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the body that can invade surrounding tissues and spread to distant structures and organs…”

Whatever the definition may be, clinically or in laymen’s term, cancer has always been associated with death, misery and suffering in the minds of the newly-diagnosed.

Unlike the diagnosis of hypertension or a cardiovascular disease or diabetes, these diseases are usually well accepted by the newly-diagnosed without the fear of death, misery or suffering in our minds. Little that we know that CVS diseases is the leading cause of death and that diabetes can be a life-long disease requiring intense treatment and selfcontrol. Let alone the misery leading to its complication.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia in its Press Release on the Statistics on Causes of Death, Malaysia, 2018 revealed that Cancer lies 5th amongst the causes of death in Malaysia with 2.4-2.7% in the male population. Death related due to cardiovascular disease (mainly ischaemic heart disease) was the main cause of death at 15.3-16.0%. These findings tally with the report from WHO 2018 Global Health Estimates of 2016 stating that the number one cause of death globally is related to cardiovascular events rather than cancer. And yet, the stigma of death and suffering seems to be attached to cancer illness.

The success of any particular treatment of cancer depends on many variables. Apart from the clinical features of the disease (the main factor), factors like the attitude of the patient as well as the next of kin or caregiver are also important in ensuring

the success of any treatment that has been planned for the patient. It is therefore very important that patients are given proper understanding of their disease and the treatment which is key towards cancer cure.

Optimal cancer treatment is often linked to efficient clinical management of the disease. Most importantly, in an effort to achieve efficacy and efficiency of any particular treatment, a guideline of the overall treatment policy for each individual patient should be outlined from the start.

With this approach, an individual with cancer will and should be managed by a team of multi-disciplinary cancer care providers. For example, in the Hospital setting, the Tumour Board Committee should be the centre of the patients’ medical and clinical management

with inputs from related healthcare providers With the many changes and development in the arena of cancer treatment over the past few decades, there is always something that can be given as treatment to all patients. Treatment is usually given with the aim of cure for the majority of patients but sometimes this may not be possible especially with advanced disease. In which instance; palliative treatment is usually the intent of treatment.

Whereas the holistic treatment of cancer should actually begin at home, and the choices for treatment at the hospital depend on many factors like the staging of the cancer, its histological features and surely, the patients consent to treatment. There are many different kinds of treatment that can

be given including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted and immune therapy and many others. In almost all cases, treatment is usually a combination of two or more of the above treatment modalities and is usually never the same for all patients.

Cancer treatment usually involves delivery of repeated treatments scheduling and can be a long and tiring journey.

Treatment compliance and adherence to scheduled hospital visits are some areas of concern that can affect the completion of treatment. The main reason to this is patient’s inability to tolerate the various side effects of treatment. Although many different methods of intervention are available to minimise those side effects, many other non-clinical factors can also help to improve treatment compliance. This includes psychosocial support and encouragement especially from the next of kin and other family members.

Financial competence is another issue.

Cancer treatment is none but expensive and can be a burden for all. Provision of affordable and modern cancer treatment facilities is indeed a big challenge for both the government as well as the private enterprise. Compulsory health care insurance is one method of trying to solve this but its implications need to be identified and addressed correctly before it can be a success.

There are many areas that still need to be addressed and many more will appear as we move on with time for betterment of cancer treatment. Remember, there is always something that can be done for all patients that have been diagnosed with cancer and it is surely NOT the end of the world ; as ‘cancer’ is just a word, not a sentence and definitely, definitely NOT a death sentence. TI

NEW SERVICE

CANCER CENTRE

with RADIOTHERAPY @ Gleneagles Medini Hospital Your Healing Journey Begins Here

+607

+6

560 1000

017 847 1000

WhatsApp Appt.

General Line

+607

560 1111

Emergency

www.gleneaglesmedini.com.my

21

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

MBJB is 25!

Its Silver Jubilee was celebrated with a Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and informative booths

Palm scanning to mark the official opening ceremony

1

st January 2019 marked as the 25th year for Johor Bahru to be granted a city status; forming Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) too. The silver jubilee ceremony was officiated

by Director General of Malaysia Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), Dato’ Dr Mazlan bin Yusoff, Mayor of Johor Bahru town Dato Haji Amran, Johor Bahru District Officer Haji Mohammed Ridha, and Mayor of Iskandar Puteri, Dato’ Haji Adib Azhari bin Daud.

The four-day event from 28th February till 3rd March 2019 saw about 35000 visitors. MBJB had their own rows of booths to share information and showcase their achievements for the past 25 years, right from old

communicating equipment to old-school lavatories!

A variety of activities was catered for every one of different background interests such as e-sports championship to mini zoo, pre-school colouring competition, cycling on a Car Free Day Saturday, quizzes, concerts by prominent artists, and more!

Highlight of the event was the Hot Air Balloon, raised sixty feet into the air overseeing Singapore and wonderful Johor Bahru. It was scheduled to fly for only two days with a capacity of 60 tickets sold per day but due to unfavourable weather conditions on the first day, it only flew on the second day.

Dato’ Dr Mazlan, at the opening ceremony, shared a story of how a city in Columbia; Medellín, was synonym with criminal activities and infamous names. However, in 2013, it was named as The Most Innovative City by Wall Street Journal thanks to the development of the city and the leadership of its mayor. He likened the city’s change and inspiration to Johor Bahru: architecturally meticulous, innovative, and having hardworking citizens who play a part in changing the whole landscape.

“You have the right to be proud of all your achievements,” he concluded. by Salamahafifi TI

live

Food Integrity and the Halal Industry

A

gecko completely fried and coated with seasoning powder was recently found in a half-eaten bag of a famous premium chips. A little while back the nation was shocked by worms found in canned sardines. No matter what caused the contaminations, food safety outbreak can leave a devastating impact.

Plummeting share price, bad media coverage, closure by the Ministry of Health, these are some of the worst outcomes the company will be faced with.

The market research conducted

by Centre for Food Integrity (CFI) in 2018 revealed that 59% of consumers rank food safety as their top concern. This has driven food companies to be more transparent and produce food in a safe and clean environment. Companies are also recognising the need to have an effective risk management program in place, in particular, where they are reliant on a complex supply chain. Increasingly, food producing or handling companies are developing and establishing crisis management plans to restore consumer confidence, safeguard their brand, minimise disruption and resume normal business conditions quickly in the event of a food related crisis.

In the gecko case mentioned above, the contamination might be caused by negligence in following standard operating procedures or the lack of internal controls.

Josephine Phan Food Supply and Integrity Services Leader, Partner, PwC Malaysia

All these do not only affect the general food consumers but also has a direct impact on our Muslim consumers with regards to halal. Trust is a valuable asset for halal food and other halal related companies. In this instance, consumers are not just placing their trust in the authorities’ endorsement label or logo but also on their perceptions on what the company is doing in producing safe food or products for the market.

The halal industry has garnered huge interest over the years, not only from Muslim countries but non Muslim countries as well. Halal industry in Malaysia has grown rapidly in recent years, with RM208.2 billion of gross output in 2015. As more and more companies venture into the halal business, consumers and industry players choose halal certification as an indicator of adherence and endorsement of good halal practices.

In light of the growing demand for halal food, the Malaysian government is keen to establish the country as an international halal hub and has taken measures to support the halal industry, such as setting up halal industrial parks with special incentives for both the operators as well as the industry players.

There are also other halal tax incentives to encourage companies to engage in halal related businesses and obtaining the halal certification. TI Dhaliff G. Anuar Halal Industry Strategic Development & Internal Audit, Manager, PwC Malaysia

22

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

invest

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

C

Time to Accumulate Good Businesses

ompared to an eventful 2018, the first quarter of 2019 has appeared to be more peaceful. Even though there are uncertainties around the globe, volatility for the stock market has greatly subsided.

With market stability, would you be wondering if it is a good time to buy? In this issue, let us see what the opportunities are.

First, let us look at the macro condition. Although economists have reckoned the global economies will slowdown in 2019, the market has factored in this expectation. Most stock market indexes at this juncture, is way above the Moving Average 50 or 200 (MA50 or MA200), indicating the midterm stability. While China’s industrial output has slowed with rising unemployment, Shanghai Composite Index has gone up 20% since 2019. In Malaysia, we can see the steel, and oil and gas sectors going up. This is related to the implementation of antidumping duty to Vietnam and China for the steel industry, and the steadily rising crude oil price plus the higher PETRONAS capex for the oil and gas sector.

With a more conducive investing atmosphere, is it good timing to accumulate quality businesses? The answer is yes if the price is right. To discuss deeper, let

us look at our portfolio performance on 14th March 2019:

significantly affected the company’s operation throughout

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

The portfolio has showed a gain of 215% since November 2015.

While the overall portfolio remains conservative, we added two more companies as both of them has shown bright prospects.

Bought NOTION (0083) Notion manufactures and sells precision components, tools and other related products. It consists of three segments, namely hard disk drive (HDD), automotive and engineered products, which contributes 49%, 33% and 18% to the company’s revenue, respectively. There are five reasons why I picked Notion: 1. Notion is in the midst of recovery after a fire incident that happened in October 2017, which had

FY2018. However, the company has received an insurance claim of RM159 million despite a writeoff of nearly RM50 million for the property, its plant, equipment and inventories.

2. Owing to the fire incident, Notion’s share price has fallen to RM0.59 from RM1.20. For a company that manufactures and sells products with global demand, the temporary setback has offered investors a bargain price, especially with its book value of RM1.20 per share. The recent poor quarter earnings are due to a drop in sales, weaker USD, and higher expenses in the amortisation of newly acquired machineries, which again, is temporary.

3. Most importantly, the company is

growing. According to its FY2019 Q1 report,“There is evidence of growth recovery in HDD and automotive.”

Moreover, the company expected increased orders in HDD spacers in the near future plus a strong autobraking segment. Furthermore, Notion has received request for quotation (RFQ) from many MNCs and have expected some of them to turn into significant orders in the coming months.

4. Notion has strong balance sheet.

It has net cash of RM35 million, which translates into cash per share of RM0.10, which is very attractive with its current share price of RM0.59.

With this low risk but possible high return scenario, we bought 60000 shares of Notion at 0.58, amounting to an investment of RM35100.

Bought FPGROUP (5277) FoundPac Group is involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of precision engineering parts, namely stiffeners, test sockets, hand lids and so on. There are at least three highlights here: 1. Its products are used in the test processes of integrated circuits that are used in electronic home appliances, which has a steady demand worldwide. This means its growth is likely to be sustainable.

2. FoundPac achieved historical high

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 .

revenue in Q2 FY2019 at RM11 million. The company has hinted it would achieve strong double digit growth for FY2019.

3. Based on the company’s FY2019 Q2 report, it has a net cash of RM36.7 million, zero borrowing and a dividend policy of at least 30% of net profit.

We bought 120,000 shares of FoundPac at RM0.30, amounting to RM36,000 of investments.

With the above two investments, and cash brought forward and dividends of RM1650 received from JHM and Ranhill, our new cash level is now at RM45,715.

Conclusion Successful investing is about buying good quality business at the right price. It also takes time, discipline and patience. Let us now follow through these companies with patience and discipline. TI

23

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

FAQs on Sexual Harassment – Part One

S

exual harassment is an ongoing problem that companies face.

Today, more cases have been brought forward under the public spotlight, and I’d like to discuss some of the frequently asked questions about sexual harassment in the workplace.

Q1. What is the definition of sexual harassment?

A: Under S.2 of the Employment Act 1955, sexual harassment is defined as “any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature directed at a person and which is offensive or humiliating and which arises out of and in the course of his employment.”

This definition is affirmed in the Ministry of Human Resource’s Code of Practice for the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace via Article 4; “A n y unwanted conduct of a sexual nature having the effect of verbal, non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical harassment: (i) That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as placing a condition of a sexual nature on her/his employment; or (ii) That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as an offence or humiliation, or a threat to her/his well-being, but has no direct link to her/ his employment.”

Q2. What law governs sexual harassment?

A: There is no law per se that governs sexual harassments.

Under S81 EA 1955, it governs sexual harassment as a serious misconduct and puts a mandatory obligation on employers to investigate any complaints of sexual harassment.

Q3. Who can make a complaint of sexual harassment?

A: Under S.81A EA 1955, a complaint of sexual harassment can be made by an employee against another employee, an employee against an employer, or by an employer against an employee.

Q4. Where can situations of sexual harassment take place?

Cassandra Priyanka Pius Consultant Meca Employers Consulting Agency Sdn. Bhd. cassandra@meca.com.my

A: I t can take place in occasions like at workrelated social functions and or in the course of wo r k a s s i g n m e n t s, a t conferences or training s e s s i o n s, d u r i n g wo r k related travel, in the office, through the phone or other electronic media.

Q5. What do I do as an employer once I receive a complaint of sexual harassment?

A: Under S.81B EA 1955, th e employer h as on obligation to inquire into the complaint, and may only refuse to do so if the complaint has been previously inquired into, is frivolous or vexatious in nature.

Q6. What if I have very little evidence?

A: One of the major issues employers have in investigating a complaint of sexual harassment is the lack of evidence. The situations often tend to be a matter of he said/she said and witnesses are scarce or none x i s t e n t . N e ve r t h e l e s s, employers must still investigate and compile evidence.

Q7. What do I do with the accused during the investigations being carried out?

A: The employer can suspend the employee under S.14 (2) EA 1955 but it must be on half pay for a period of 14 days for those under the Employment Act unless there is a provision in the Employee Handbook for it. If the investigation continues beyond 2 weeks, the suspension would have to be on full pay. TI

work

24

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

play

“Mai Makan-Makan” at Renaissance Johor Bahru

soduku

Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel welcomes the holy month with delectable offerings to break-fast at Café BLD “Mai Makan-Makan” dinner buffet is priced at RM165 nett per adult and RM78 for children aged 5 to 12.

Early bird promotions are open till 8th of May 2019 where diners are entitled to complimentary vouchers with a purchase of a minimum 10 vouchers. Terms and conditions apply.

Always nice to help the service crew

every month The Iskandarian shares what you should and should not be doing in your communities.

Scan QR Code

for the solution

DOODLE

A flock of Ayam Golek for the munching

C

afé BLD at Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel (Renaissance JB) is offering their ever-popular buka puasa buffet spread which will run from 8th May to 3rd June 2019, featuring local favourites with a splash of flavours from around the world.

The highlight of the sumptuous “Mai Makan-Makan” buffet spread is the succulent Lamb Quzi, a popular house specialty that goes great with its accompanying gravy over Mandy rice.

Chef’s creation of an assortment of Malaysian kampung dishes include Bubur Lambuk, Nasi Briyani Arab, Ayam Percik, Ayam Golek, Rendang Daging, Gulai Kampung, Udang Goreng Rempah, Soto Ayam, Mee Rebus, Sup Ekor, Lemang and Lodeh, and many more.

Purchase date: 1st March 2019 to 8th May 2019 Dinner date: 8th May 2019 to 15th May 2019 Purchase 10 vouchers and get 3 FREE Purchase date: 1st March 2019 to 15th April 2019 Dinner date: 8th May 2019 to 3rd June 2019 Purchase 10 vouchers and get 2 FREE Purchase date: 16th April 2019 to 8th May 2019 Dinner date: 9th May to 3rd June 2019 Purchase 10 vouchers and get 1 FREE Standard Chartered Bank card holders can enjoy 15% discount, whereas 20% discount applies for Club Marriott Members.

For more information or reservations, please contact +607 3813312 / +607 3813317 or email to rosliza.lazim@renaissancehotels. com /evelyn.soh@renaissancehotels.com. - by Harish Mustak TI

Find Dining with MAGistrate.my

Champor There was always something brave and resolute about Chef Mui, as we admire his courage to physically move from a small, nondescript corner single-storey shop lot in JB’s oldest residential area to a sprawling factory space in a new development at Iskandar Puteri. However, some things remained unchanged - his passion to educate diners on new ways to appreciate local fresh produce; his attention to detail, not only in food preparation but also in plating and presentation, and his pride and patience in taking time to explain every single dish he served, simply distinguishes Mui’s touch in Sprout and Champor, from others.

Deriving inspiration from a Malay expression, which

Fine “factory food” unlike anything you’ve ever tasted may be loosely translated as “mix and match”, Champor continues his humble takes on the lunch menu with a hint of local or Asian twist on both the foods and drinks. For a start, we enjoyed the homemade spicy soda with its tell-tale slice of red chilli in the drink, and found the cooling Baked Beetroot with Tofu salad particularly refreshing in this weather, while the Pumpkin, Ginger and Curry Soup is as comforting as having mamak all in a bowl!

Carnivorous rejoice, for Mui’s rendition of the Nasi Lemak Burger, albeit without the nasi or rice ingredient, is probably the next best thing after nasi lemak itself, so much so that we tapao (take home) some more for our family! Pasta lovers will fall in love with this Spaghetti tossed in Miso Dashi Sauce, and we recommend adding on cubes of house-cured salmon for more bite. The Roasted Flank Steak with Couscous and Pineapple Salsa that comes with a side of Rendang Sauce and a crispy Papadam also fully reflects the spirit of Champor!

Chef Mui can be spotted moving about with dexterity and artistry, a sight to behold as he exchange places between the oven, stove and various spots among his team.

Finally, we round off the meal with Mui’s popular dessert choice of Banana Sponge baked with olive oil, Roasted Banana Sorbet and Peanut Butter Mousse with Crushed Peanuts, as well as the Coconut Panna Cotta, Gula Melaka Sponge, Pandan Coconut Cream and Puff Rice.

Glad to have you back, Mui, and we cannot wait to visit the new Sprout (dinner only) to see how you continue to create a delightful dining experience for discerning diners in this new area.

For full review, visit: https://magistrate.my/champorjb/ No. 29 Jalan SILC 2/3, Kawasan Perindustrian SILC, 79200 Iskandar Puteri, Johor 11.30am to 3pm [Lunch] daily. Closed on Sunday. +6018-319 4885 https://www.facebook.com/champor.jb/ NO PORK NO LARD

25

FREE COPY

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019

PROPERTY INSIGHT

ONE15 Marina Development Berhad commenced construction of ONE°15 Marina Puteri Harbour pg 27 Malaysia PROPERTY

@ home

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

APARTMENTS

VILLAS

CONDOMINIUMS

OFFICE/RETAILSPACE

International Cultural Town (ICT) The concept of this design is inspired by the ancient charm of Oriental Ming and Qing Dynasties pg 29

Read this article on our website

Mah Sing

Sunway Iskandar

Medium Cost Shop (Mcs) Balloting For New Property in Meridin East

300 Cycled Around Iskandar Puteri for Sunway Iskandar and Rotary’s End Polio Ride 2019

Connect with us on Facebook

26

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 Advertisement

27

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

@home One More Step to Living in a Johorean Dream Home

8

08 eligible applicants consisting of 50% Malays, 30% Chinese, and 20% Indians and others Johorean races received offer letters to Bangsa Johor Dream Homes at an official ceremony in the Johor Land Mutiara Complex in Bandar Dato’ Onn. Gracing the ceremony was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim officially representing His Majesty, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, who also handed over the official offer letters to the second phase of qualifying recipients.

Flashback to March of 2017, when His Majesty, the Sultan of Johor graced and officiated the pre-launch of the Rumah Impian Bangsa Johor (RIBJ) where over 350,000 of his subjects flooded the registrations to own a dream home in Johor, which were subject to

stringent vetting processes, to ensure that only the most eligible applicants receive the offer.

The RIBJs are located in Bandar Dato’ Onn (BDO) and Bandar Baru Majidee, (BBM) Johor Bahru.

The project in BDO will see the construction of 29 units of two-storey individual homes for Type A, 156 units of two-storey twin houses for Type B, 100 units of two-storey cluster homes and 203 units of two-storey terrace houses for Type C and Type D respectively. Located on a 52.7 acre plot of land, the BDO project is expected to be completed in 2020.

Whereas, the BBM project will have a three-room apartment complex with a total of 320 units that is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 with it being about 90% completed at this time.

Both RIBJ projects in BDO and BBM

are carried out by Johor Land Berhad (JLand) as the authorised contractors by Johor Corporations (JCorp). In collaboration with the state government, these developments are in response to the initiatives taken by the Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor (YSIJ) to build homes for Johoreans.

The Sultan of Johor through the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation (YSIJ) wishes to ensure that every Johorean is able to own a dream home in the state at affordable prices.

Applications were closed in November 2018 where 35 applicants received their offer letters for the first phase.

Also in attendance were Dato’ Haji Azmi Rohani (Johor State Secretary), Sr. Haji Dzulkefly Ahmad (Johor State Exco for Housing and Rural Development), Dato’ Kamaruzzaman Abu Kassim (President and Chief Executive of JCorp, Fadhly Suffian Laili (YSIJ Chief Executive Officer), and other state

HRH Tunku Ismail Ibrahim handing over the offer letter to the qualified applicants

officials.

The RIBJ project will not end here with similar developments coming up state-wide.

Since the announcement of the RIBJ project in Mersing, Johor last November, soon to be launched will be the RIBJ project in Batu Pahat district at Taman Mutiara Gading, Johor which will feature 210 terrace units being built. - by Harish Mustak TI

Medium Cost Shop (Mcs) 300 Cycled Around Balloting For New Property Iskandar Puteri for Sunway in Meridin East Iskandar and Rotary’s End Property group Mah Sing held a balloting event in Polio Ride 2019 Iskandar Puteri

The joint effort hopes to banish Polio

A

balloting event was held recently in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, by Mah Sing Group Bhd to decide on the fate of 50 1-floor medium cost shophouses that are located in Meridin East Phase 1, in Plentong, Johor Bahru, worth RM200,000 each.

In attendance were Haji Mohd Radzi bin Haji Mohd Amin - Head of Department, Office of Johor State Secretary, Housing Division, and Ng Jui Eian, Senior General Manager for Mah Sing Project Development.

The ballot was done using a new system to increase randomness in the selection of candidates. “I believe this system is the best at the moment, as before this, we used a merit system to determine who the candidates were. As many were not happy with it, we had decided to think of a better idea, and this was what we arrived at, “said Mohd Radzi.

In attendance were 177 candidates of different races hoping to score a lot.

The breakdown of invited candidates was 66 Malays (54 in attendance), 128 Chinese

Participants at the ride event

One of the lucky candidates

(101 in attendance) and 22 Indians (22 in attendance). In addition to those selected, 3 others were selected for every ballot as a backup in case those that won their slot couldn’t follow through.

The size of each shophouse is 1200sqft and located at Phase 1 of Meridin East, Plentong, Johor Bahru. - by Moazan Emran TI

E

nd Polio Ride 2019 which took place mid-March saw around 300 participants cycling around Iskandar Puteri for a fun ride. Participants were flocking to Sunway Iskandar International School to register as early as 7am before assembling at the flag-off point at the foyer.

Jointly organised by Sunway Iskandar and Rotary Club of Johor Bahru Sentral, Puteri Lagoon Johor Bahru and Bandar Seri Begawan, the fully-sponsored annual charity event raised awareness to clear Polio off to

extinction and also collected donations for the cause.

Registration was free for all and the routes were split into two; VIP section and Power section. The VIP section was mostly attended by family with children as young as 10 years old and beginner cyclists where they cycled around 9km of the journey. The Power section’s group were mostly seasoned cyclists and its route stretched further than 17km.

Both the groups were flagged-off at 8am, led by CEO of Sunway Iskandar, Gerard Soosay and they were closely monitored by volunteer marshals from Happy-Riders Connect members.

The finale saw cyclists returning back to the registration counter in the school to receive their medals and refreshments. The event ended with lucky draw for participants who had donated RM10 per ticket.

Proceeds collected during the event would go to Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus Fund and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation by two-to-one. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

ONE°15 Marina Puteri Harbour Malaysia Groundbreaking Ceremony

S

UTL Enterprise Limited and UEM Land Berhad through its subsidiary UEM Sunrise Berhad has ventured together as ONE15 Marina Development Berhad and commenced a construction of ONE°15 Marina Puteri Harbour Malaysia on 14th March 2019, graced by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar accompanied by Johor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Haji

Osman Haji Sapian and the Johor state government’s delegation.

SUTL Enterprise Executive Director and CEO, Arthur Tay said, “We look forward to the marina becoming fully operational and attracting waterfront enthusiasts and yachts from all over the world. The upcoming marina will greatly complement our existing ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove in Singapore and create a

new buzz for the region’s boating community and all who enjoy life one degree better in a safe and secure private club setting.”

UEM S u n r i s e ’s Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib mentioned that the expansion and development of a world-class marina in Puteri Harbour will add to the vibrancy and attractiveness of Iskandar Puteri and

contribute towards transforming Iskandar Puteri into a truly sustainable community.

For those interested, a sales gallery would be up soon at Puteri Cove Residences in May 2019 with interactive elements to be expected. ONE°15 Marina Puteri Harbour Malaysia targets Singaporeans, Malaysians and expatriates in Johor who enjoys waterfront lifestyle. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Haji Osman Haji Sapian with SUTL Enterprise Executive Director and CEO Arthur Tay, Dato’ Haji Azmi Bin Rohani

28

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 Advertisement

29

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

Iskandar Seafront Assets Unveil International Cultural Town (ICT)

@home

The concept of this design is inspired by the ancient charm of Oriental Ming and Qing Dynasties

Lindy Tan presenting the concept behind Iskandar Seafront Assets’ International Cultural Town (ICT)

T

he Forbidden City in Beijing, China, with its landscaped gardens, buildings with nearly 10,000 rooms featuring fine furniture and traditional works of art are a priceless testimony

to Chinese civilisation during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Tr a d i t i o n a l Chinese design has a history going back about 5,000 years and follows a philosophy that has a deep connection with the past and plays

a momentous role in forming the identity of the Chinese.

Imagine having a city modeled in that fashion while blending with the modern vitality of the Western Renaissance.

Imagine no more as Iskandar Seafront Assets unveiled an International Cultural Town (ICT ), an East meets West development that will showcase all of the above.

S t rate gi c a l l y l o c ate d between Flagship A and B of Iskandar Malaysia, ICT will be facing the Coastal Highway and will be easily accessible via the North-South Highway, MalaysiaSingapore Second Link and Skudai Expressway.

ICT will cover a total land area of 35acres and a building area of 340,000 square meters.

Using the courtyard group or block layout, ICT will combine multi-level special catering to entertainment performances, cultural creativity and business reception points.

ICT aspires to be an Instagram

The components of International Cultural Town (ICT)

friendly fashion hub, the next entertainment bay, trend port, night city and overall one stop attraction for Iskandar Malaysia.

“We will be offering 24-hours of one-stop services cover ing the themes of shopping, food & beverage, leisure, entertainment, business, culture, nightlife, tourism, and others,” said Lindy Tan, the official representative of Iskandar Seafront Assets.

Phase one and two of ICT will revolve around the traditional Chinese theme and will be known as the Dragon Valley Oriental and Dragon Valley Shops respectively.

Phase three will introduce the Dragon Valley Oriental Hotel while Phase four will be the Renaissance Themed Commercial outlets.

Phase five and six are reserved for commercial and mixed-use development.

“One of the features, Loon Square will have 15% shopping, 10% entertainment, 20% accommodation, 30% food, 20% leisure activities and 5% for other needs. We will introduce the One-Stop Malaysian Food that will feature a collection of Malaysia’s culinary ‘pride’ as an interesting highlight of ICT,” added Lindy. - by Edey Suresh TI

Community Participation to Curb Dengue UMLand Seri Alam organised community led cleaning aimed at preventing the spread of dengue

UMLand Seri Alam team with their partners for the event

W

ith the alarming increase of dengue (denggi) cases, Seri A l a m Pro p e r t i e s organised a community led gotong-royong cleaning event in their township.

The event was held in collaboration with Regency Specialist Hospital and supported

by Majlis Perbandaran Pasir

G u d a n g, S o u t h e r n Wa s te Management Sdn Bhd and COMBI (Communication for Behavioural Impact, an NGO which actively educates and promotes dengue prevention programmes).

Jabatan Kesihatan Daerah Johor Bahru recently released the number of denggi cases in the State and the numbers have increased from 508 cases to 973

cases for the first four weeks of 2019 compared with the same period last year.

“Realising the pandemic and the responsibility of eradicating aedes mosquitoes is not merely the government’s responsibility alone. The idea to organise another gotong-royong was mooted not only to create awareness to the public but also as part of our outreach effort to the community. This is also in line with Bandar Seri Alam being a Smart Healthy City where we emphasis on these key elements to make our township sustainable for current and future residents”, said KK Wong, Group Director of Townships, UMLand.

He further added that, “The area of Jalan Bayu was chosen as the gotong-royong venue as there have been a number of denggi reported cases in the area. As part of cleaning-up the neighbourhood, a fogging exercise will be carried out by the developer as an additional measure to curb the

rising denggi cases.”

Together with the support from the government and authorities, the developer hopes to increase public understanding on the importance of denggi prevention action within their

surroundings to make the township healthier and safer for the residents.

More than 100 people turned up for the gotong-royong initiative by Bandar Seri Alam. - by Edey Suresh TI

Aedes mosquitoes breed in standing water generally in artificial containers

30

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

@home

Celebrate Sunway Iskandar’s 5th Year Anniversary with SUPER 5 PLUS Own that dream home and stand a chance to win a Lucky Draw prize worth up to RM200k

S

unway Iskandar is celebrating its 5th year anniversary by offering ‘Super 5 PLUS’ home ownership scheme where 95% financing is guaranteed and eligible buyers need to only pay 5%. Alternatively, buyers can also place a deposit of RM5000 to own a unit.

The Super 5 PLUS provides free financial health check that will help aspiring homeowners in their financial credibility. It is a quick and easy way to assess purchasers’ financing standing in order to own their dream home. Buyers will also enjoy a flexi instalment plan up to 6 months for all the completed projects.

In addition to the government’s waiver of MOT (stamp duty) for first time house buyers, Sunway will absorb the stamp duty for the transfer of ownership for properties above RM1mil. This pack of the Super 5 PLUS scheme is valid till 30th June 2019.

In addition, any units purchased under the Super 5 PLUS

scheme in 2019 will be eligible for Lucky Draw prizes worth up to RM200,000 (total value) and that includes booking, SPA signed and stamped in 2019. For SPA signing within 60 days from date of booking, cash prize giveaways are available. The Lucky Draw is valid till 31st December 2019.

Participating Projects Sunway Citrine Lakehomes, Sunway Citrine Residences, Sunway GRID, Sunway Emerald Residence and Sunway Lenang Heights are the participating Sunway projects in the Super 5 PLUS scheme.

Sunway Citrine Lakehomes is the new Phase 3 Link Homes within a gated and guarded community and surrounded by conveniences of being located just beside Citrine Hub. The landed development next to Seafront Precinct is approximately 5km away from Tuas Second Link. There is no price restriction on foreign purchase and a Special Medini incentive (no RPGT or restriction on foreign ownership) is an added perk.

The Sunway Citrine Residences offer luxurious units in 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms and dual key configurations. Next to 20-acre Emerald Lake Garden, the units offer a welcoming layout, soaring ceiling, recreation and service amenities at your convenience.

Sunway GRID derived its name from construction gridlines, as it is built with the idea of maximising building and layout efficiency, giving you both office and residential unit that is set to become the next urban hotspot in Medini Iskandar.

Sunway Emerald Residence at the Lakeview features urban retail shops and inspired lakeview living with the perfect balance of greens and blues. The Emerald Collection brilliantly integrates work, learn, live and play.

Sunway Lenang Heights is for buyers who want to have some exclusivity in life. The charm of lowdensity residential development and its built of strictly bungalow and semi-D homes, with lush greenery, open spaces, beautiful

parks, low density as 5 units per acre and a 2.6km cycling track makes it a worthy buy.

Sunway’s Success Sunway Iskandar will launch Phase 3 of Sunway Citrine Lakehomes linkhouse and linkcluster in Sunway Iskandar worth RM100 million in GDV and landed residential units in Sunway Lenang Heights with a GDV of RM160 million.

Proper ty investments currently under construction are the expansion of Sunway International School, Sunway Big Box Village, Big Box Office, and Big Box Hotel worth RM445 million in total.

The 24-acre Sunway Big Box Village will be the first large format retail village in Malaysia and Singapore. Unlike other retail centres, the Sunway Big Box Village will be designed in an open concept making it an all-new retail experience. It will encompass 500,000 sq ft (GFA) in retail space, and will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2019.

Adjacent to Big Box Village is Sunway XPARK, a 32-acre unique leisure component which was open early this year. The XPARK provides sports such as archery, kayaking, go-kart, paintball, wall climbing, ATV, badminton, futsal and glamping amongst others.

Sunway Citrine Hub is also fast becoming the heartbeat of Sunway Iskandar. To-date, the 71,000 sq ft (NLA) Sunway Citrine Hub is 100% tenanted with tenants such as the first Jaya Grocer in Johor, Starbucks, Mr DIY, 7 Eleven, Awesome Brew, Heaven’s Door Bistro, Morganfield’s, Sushi House, Awesome Brew Café, The Story juice bar, EMERALD CUT hair Saloon, TUEMSAE Korean restaurant, Pizz@, Pasta, Burger and Salad, MeBooks, Starbucks, VOiD (A wine and tapas bar), the first Sunway Pharmacy in Johor, and many more.

Make the first step to owning a new unit by giving a call at 6017-286 7286 / 607-509 6575. The Super 5 PLUS scheme is subject to terms and conditions. by The Iskandarian TI

31

FREE COPY | The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 www.facebook.com/theiskandarian | www.theiskandarian.com

Forest City Unveils “Readlife”, the First Smart Community Digital Library in Malaysia

@home

Zureli Green Talks Series in Medini City Help Businesses Go Greener

Z F

orest City recently collaborated with OverDrive, the world’s leading digital content provider to build the first smart community digital library called “Readlife”, which was officially launched in Malaysia in January 2019. Readlife is a digital library based on a cloud deployment model.

It offers free digital reading services through Forest Life, a Forest City Smart Community App. App users can borrow eBooks anytime, anywhere and enjoy the ultimate experience of seamless global access.

The Readlife digital library is able to provide original books in numerous categories ranging from Literature, Encyclopedias, Biographies, Philosophy, Art, Children Books and etc., and in languages such as Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese.

In future, Readlife will continue to offer a wider choice of popular and latest titles for readers to choose from.

In addition to a wide selection of international book titles, Readlife also features a series of audio books with human voice overs from professional actors and presenters in their native languages. With human voice overs, the read-along eBooks offer a distinct reading experience to enhance language learning for readers. It will be a

perfect learning tool for readers who want to learn English, especially for those who want to improve their pronunciation.

As the first smart community digital library in Malaysia, Readlife aims to provide convenient and fast digital reading services for visitors and residents around the world, and to meet the reading needs of different groups of people in Forest City.

Ng Zhu Hann, Director of Strategy of Forest City and Country Garden, said, “The digital library is part of the innovation of smart community development in Forest City. It also reflects that we are concerned about community development. Readlife brings value to the community by creating a vibrant and diverse culture and a treasure trove of knowledge to support business and commercial activities in Forest City.”

Since the inception of the project, Forest City has been committed to achieving a smart eco-city vision to provide a diverse range of smart community services. An O2O-based community APP called Forest Life was also launched earlier – integrating community services, e-commerce and entertainment services - to offer smart lifestyle solutions in Forest City. - by Priya Manikam TI

ureli has partnered with Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIM) to co-host a series of nine business-tobusiness (B2B) events in 2019 called ‘Green Talks with Business’. The talks will be held on monthly basis for targeted and tailormade seminars for specific industry sectors with focus on sustainability, green technology and eco-friendly products. The first Green Talk on Food & Beverage industry was held in Medini City mid-March 2019.

The concept of ‘Green Talks with Business’ is to facilitate discussions between industry and suppliers of these solutions which can address some of today’s environmental problems. Those involved in this dialogue include relevant NGOs, innovative start-ups and government agencies which are addressing social, environmental and economic sustainability.

This series was launched in August 2018 in Iskandar Puteri and has proved itself as a fantastic way of engaging various businesses in the green dialogue.

“The aim of these focused B2B networking and marketplace events is to encourage eco-friendly and sustainable practises by the industry. The implementation of which, not only reduces negative impact on the environment but also helps businesses save costs and address the evolving buying habits of customers due to increasing awareness on environmental issues globally.

For the 2019 series, which will be held in Medini City, we are excited and honoured to be partnering with MIM, who are also vocal about green and sustainable living”, said Dr Sharan Sambhi, Events Director of Zureli in Malaysia.

Dr James Tee, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of MIM added, “Zureli’s

Sustainability Chat entitled Towards Zero Wastage of Food by the emerging innovative green company/ social enterprise and NGOs

‘Green Talks with Business’ is aligned with our vision of creating a smart, green and sustainable city. As the master developer of Medini City, we are constantly looking for ways to educate our growing community on the importance of incorporating sustainable values in our daily lives.”

Sustainability is becoming an important part of strategic planning and corporate social responsibility for many companies. Today’s consumers are increasingly concerned about green issues and are more likely to engage with businesses that are perceived as sustainable.

Most SMEs and corporate companies have a sustainable policy in place, and ‘Green Talks with Business’ helps them to implement them.

There will be nine events, which will be held in Medini City until November this year, targeted to different industry sectors namely food and beverages (F&B), facilities and hotel management, landscaping, construction, consumer goods, food manufacture, supply chain, interior design and industrial operations. - by The Iskandarian TI

Borrowing Basics – Part Two

B

orrowing for the right reasons can help enhance your overall net worth.

Now that you know why and when you should borrow, let us look at the sources of borrowing.

your rights.

Browse the website of BNM www.bnm.gov.my for a complete listing of LFIs.

Common Sources of Borrowing There are various financial institutions in Malaysia that provide financing. The following are the most common sources of borrowing:

Co-operatives Co-operatives are regulated by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism (MDTCC). Members of the cooperatives may borrow from their co-operatives based on their eligibility and other criteria set by their management.

Licensed Financial Institution (LFI) LFIs include commercial banks that are licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to provide credit facilities to the public. You are strongly advised to borrow from LFI as there are rules and regulations in place to safeguard

Licensed Money Lender (LML) LMLs are lenders licensed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to provide loans to the public. However, unlike licensed financial institutions, they cannot accept deposits and their rates are normally higher than LFIs. So, it is advisable that you

always check the rates offered by these LMLs before taking a loan.

Unlicensed Money Lender (UML) UMLs are illegal and commonly referred to as ‘Loan Sharks’ or ‘Ah Longs’. You should never borrow from UMLs. UMLs offer unsecured loans at very high interest rates with vague and strict terms and conditions.

These UMLs resort to threats and violence on people who cannot repay their loans.

Islamic Banking Islamic banking is a banking system licensed by BNM that follows Shariah (Islamic laws) principles, which prohibits Riba (collection and payment of interest), Usury

(the act or practice of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest), trading in financial risk and Haram (unlawful) business ventures.

In Malaysia, we have the opportunity to choose between conventional and Islamic banking systems.

Contrary to what some people might think, Islamic banking is for all individuals regardless of their religious beliefs.

I s l a m i c banking operates according to Shariah rules on transactions, known as Fiqh alMuamalat. The basic principles of Islamic banking are the sharing of profit and loss and the prohibition of Riba. Some common concepts

Gunasegaran Munusamy Head AKPK Johor Bahru Bangunan Bank Negara Malaysia

used in Islamic banking include par tnership (Mudharabah), safekeeping (Wadiah), profitsharing (Musharakah), cost-plus (Murabahah) and leasing (Ijarah).

Islamic banking products in Malaysia are monitored by the Shariah Advisory Council set up

by BNM in addition to the bank’s own internal Shariah review committee. TI

32

The Iskandarian ISSUE 80 | APR 2019 Advertisement