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The Iskandarian is a public-private collaborative product of IMSF Roundtable by IRDA’s Social Development Division
ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2014
ATF 2014 is all set to welcome over 1,600 delegates with 500 ASEAN exhibitors and 500 international buyers pg 6
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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill
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INSIDE
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak officially launched Traders hotel and Legoland Resort hotel at Traders Hotel in Nusajaya
VMY2014 : Are We Ready?
Affordable living showcased at ISKARNIVAL >>PAGE 28
Headline: Visit Malaysia Year 2014 has kicked off and are Johorians geared up to welcome the year long endeavor? By Maisarah & Zarakay newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
T
he opening of Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour Indoor Theme Park and LEGOLAND Resort Malaysia reflects the success in developing Iskandar Malaysia as a tourism and business
destination, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the recent launching of Traders Hotel and LEGOLAND Hotel. Since its opening in June, Hotel Traders and Puteri Harbour Indoor Theme Park have received 90,000 visitors, while the Legoland Malaysia Theme Park, since its opening more than a year ago, has played host to about two million
visitors. Iskandar Malaysia has recorded committed investments of almost RM130 billion in various sectors as at October. Of the total of RM129.44 billion investments, 35 per cent are from foreigners. Continued on page 10
>>PAGE 3
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Christmas Charity Luncheon
Pickup points Community: Thistle Johor Bahru and The Iskandarian co-hosted a Christmas
charity luncheon on 22nd December for the children of Grace Covenant Community
INFORMATION COUNTERS: • Senai Airport • Columbia Asia Hospital • Regency Specialist Hospital • KFCH • Raffles University Iskandar OFFICE LOBBIES: • City Plaza Tower • Menara Pelangi • Bangunan Pelangi • UDA Angsana Sdn. Bhd. • Menara Landmark • Leisure Farm • KCC The Senai Garden • JBCCCI • IMCCCI • Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) • Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) • Iskandar Waterfront (iwh) EATERIES (F&B): • Annalakshmi • 8Lido • Tutti Frutti • BierHaus HOTELS: • Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel • Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel • The ZON Regency Hotel • Hotel Granada • Traders Hotel • Pariss Hotel Many other participating hotels Gated & Guarded Communities and Others:
I
t was an afternoon filled with glorious food, and fun activities together with lots of joy in the Orchid Ballroom of Thistle Johor Bahru with the children of Grace Covenant Community who were treated to traditional roasted turkey and log cakes among other delicacies on the buffet spread. To add to the fun, ‘Charlie Chaplin’ was invited to distribute his own creation of twisted balloons much to the delight of the children. The young ones were all excited when they had to decorate their very own gingerbread man with the guidance of General Manager of Thistle, Mr Edward Kollmer together with his team of chefs. It was all smiles when the children proudly showed off all their completed gingerbread men in the photo shoot session. Apart from their creativity, the children showcased their dancing talents by taking to the stage and performed to the tunes of Christmas carols. The highlight of the day was the grand entrance of Santa Claus and Santarina. Both were swarmed by the children as they made their way towards the stage while distributing jelly beans. Any Christmas celebrations would not be complete without presents. The kids received from Santa Claus and Santarina; goody bags prepared by Thistle Johor Bahru and school bags contributed by three kind readers of The Iskandarian. On reflection to this very heart-warming and successful Christmas charity luncheon which
(from left) Marco De Souza, The Iskandarian’s Chief Marketing Officer and Thistle Johor Bahru’s General Manager Edward Kollmer handing out goodies to the children of Grace Covenant. brought a bright glow to the children’s faces, Mr Edward Kollmer said, “Thistle Johor Bahru believes that it is our social responsibility to play an active role in the communities where the hotel is located. We engage our staff and community partners in determining how our resources, talents and skills can best meet the local needs. It brings us delight whenever we are able to bring joy to all Malaysians in need through meaningful events like this. We aspire to cater to all major festivities related to multi-racial Malaysia in true 1Malaysia spirit as
shown from our previous engagements. Thistle together with The Iskandarian will continue to support Grace Covenant Community Care.” Chief Marketing Officer of The Iskandarian, Mr Marco De Souza also added, “The Iskandarian being the official Iskandar Malaysia newspaper for the local community is honoured to have Thistle Johor Bahru as a partner in extending festive cheer to the under-privileged. Hopefully, we can cover more communities through other festive celebrations in future.”
HIGHLIGHTS
O ur P artners
TOURISM CENTRES: • Johor Tourist Information Centre @ JOTIC • Kiosk Pelancongan MBJB @ Jln Tun Sri Lanang • Tourism Malaysia Tourist Information Centre @ JB CIQ COMPLEX & JB SENTRAL
• Taman Molek Zone 3, • Tmn Impian Emas Jln 60-70 • Yong Ming Motors (Tampoi) SINGAPORE: • Tourism Malaysia • Raffles Also available for pick-up at Selected Taxis & Busses And at various Associations Want to become a distribution point? Email us today at: admin@theiskandarian.com
IRDA’s Iskandar Malaysia Sustainable Communities (IMSC) Committee Appointment that will work on the deliberate expansion of the social economy (pic by Zarakay)
Hotlines Johor Police HQ 07-221 2999 / 07-225 4499
JB North Police IPD 07-556 3122
Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171
Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91
Immigration 07-224 4233
JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999
Nusajaya Police IPD 07-511 4222
Tourism Malaysia Hotline 1300 88 5050
Johor Tourism 07-223 4935 / 224 9960
Senai International Airport 07-599 4500
Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000
Please recycle this newspaper after reading. Thank you Published by True Soul Entertainment [14, Jln. Selasih 10, Taman Kemas, 81200, Johor Bahru] Printed by Percetakan Gemilang Sinar/Gan Seng Printing(M) Sdn.Bhd. [No.100, Jalan Tampoi, 81200, Johor Bahru] Copyright of articles, contributions and photos which are published by The Iskandarian is the property of True Soul Entertainment. 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.
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The Iskandarian
Do’s & Don’ts With Iskandar Malaysia aspiring to reach greater heights, The Iskandarian citizens are key players in helping Iskandar Malaysia reach greater heights, and can do so by first making the change within ourselves. A first class mentality has to be instilled where we accept nothing less than top notch performance in all things. To prepare ourselves for that, here is a quick recommended guideline on the Do’s and Don’ts. This will be a monthly column to showcase the good, the bad and the ugly of fellow Iskandarians.
YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVE ON
Iskandar Malaysia
The Iskandarian speaks to everyday teens to derive their suggestions and opinions about Iskandar Malaysia. The Iskandarian also invites all youths to share your thoughts with us via email at: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com What is your opinion about the developments that have been happening in Johor especially with Iskandar Malaysia’s involvement? I’m very happy to see that the developments in Johor are much better than before. Iskandar Malaysia will make Johor a prosperous region. Do you think that all these developments are going to bring more job opportunities for the Gen Y? More developments equate to more job opportunities but I’m not too sure if the Gen Y category has enough experience to handle the difficulties that arise in their jobs. What do you feel is lacking in JB? There are not many leisure facilities such as the library, roller skating parks, public swimming pool, bowling alleys and volleyball court.
Good job by our local council cleaning up the aftermath of Christmas celebrations -Submitted by Stanley Lim (Setia Indah)
Snap your thoughts and send in pictures to our Do’s & Don’ts segment today: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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How do you think is the best way to get youths involved in cultural and heritage programmes? I think the best way is by organising some photo shoot competitions and cultural themed quiz events. In your opinion, what can be done to
preserve the Johor heritage? By maintaining and checking heritage sites regularly and it is also important to let residents know the existence of such heritage sites via the media at least. Do you think with the emergence of LEGOLAND Malaysia, its Water Park and Puteri Harbour Indoor Theme Park has now put us on par with international standards? I think we are now beginning to develop and step forward but I don’t think we are on par yet with international standards. Any suggestions for more improvements in the future? I hope that Iskandar Malaysia will develop some economical leisure activities and there should be more improvements on the public transportation system.
Ng Kai Chee 1st Year Bachelor of Fashion Design, Raffles University Iskandar
Chellam is an everyday Joe encountering the trials and tribulations of everyday folks. Chellam’s encounters aren’t merely for comic relief but more to instigate mindset change. Email us if you have any suggestions: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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A Knockout Affair
Community: The Ultimate Beatdown Fight League – Malaysia’s first and longest-running mixed martial arts promotion was held at KSL City Mall Hotel & Resort
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he partnership with KSL City Mall Hotel & Resort, The Ultimate Beatdown promotions’ latest effort to bring its mixed martial arts platform to a higher level saw nearly 1000 spectators witnessing international standards martial arts in action. Dubbed as ‘Ultimate Beatdown 13: Road to Glory’, the tournament was the first of its kind at the professional mixed martial arts level. The caged tournament showcased a total of 30 matches comprising of kickboxing, grappling, amateur MMA and professional MMA bouts. The “Road to Glory” tournament was held over a series of events, eventually culminating in the final event of the tournament where the finalists squared off in their respective divisions to compete
for the Ultimate Beatdown championship titles. Among the competitors for Ultimate Beatdown 13 included Brad “The Vanilla Gorilla” Robinson, an Ultimate Beatdown veteran and television personality, Jun “The Minion”, a popular Filipino fighter who won his Ultimate Beatdown debut in under 30 seconds via submission, Kenny Yap, Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts tournament champion and Malaysian FC veteran, and a slew of other well-known fighters both locally and internationally. The Ultimate Beatdown will return this year, packing more than a punch and serving more knockouts so make sure to be there to witness history in the making. For more information, follow them on https:// www.facebook.com/UltimateBeatdownJB
Pics by Zarakay, Nicholas Vincent and Theenoth Sangrapandian
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ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014
Interest: ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 (ATF 2014) which is to be held in Sarawak will be a cooperative effort to promote ASEAN countries as a tourism hub
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ost city Kuching, Sarawak is all geared up to welcome over 1,600 delegates which includes some 150 ASEAN tourism ministers and officials, 500 ASEAN exhibitors, 500 international buyers, 100 international and local media as well as 100 tourism trade visitors. The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 will explore the sustainable development of tourism and look at how our tourism initiatives and plans can further support the industry. ATF 2014 marks the 33rd anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981. Among the panellist of the forum will be Aireen Omar CEO of Air Asia, Sumit Srisanthitum Operations Director of Bangkok Mass Transit System, Farriek Tawfik Director for Princess Cruises and Regional Director for The Asia and The Pacific, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Mr Xu Jiang. As the annual convention of the ASEAN tourism industry, ATF promotes the exchange of ideas, review of industry developments and joint formulation of recommendations to further accelerate the growth of ASEAN tourism. ATF aims to project ASEAN as an attractive, multi-faceted single destination while creating and increasing awareness of ASEAN as a highly competitive regional tourist
destination in the Asia Pacific. Ultimately the forum aims to attract more tourists to ASEAN member countries and strengthen cooperation among the various sectors of the ASEAN tourism industry. “l hope that delegates of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 will make time to enjoy Malaysia’s natural attractions before or after the meetings. With 2014 being a Visit Malaysia Year, this would be a great time to explore all that the country has to offer,” said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. In a cooperative effort to brand and create awareness of Iskandar Malaysia as a premier tourist destination, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) in collaboration with Johor Tourism and the Theme Attraction & Resorts team will be creating a strong presence at ATF. The main message to be conveyed is “Family Fun Holidays”. Other industry players including LEGOLAND Malaysia, Pulai Springs group, Desaru Coast, Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park, SN Vacation, New Asia Holidays, KSL Resort Hotel and Grand Sentosa Hotel would be attending and together will be selling the Johor brand. Iskandar Malaysia will showcase a myriad of activities from shopping, theme parks, golfing and retreats.
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Granada Turns One
H
otel Granada Johor Bahru just turned one and to mark their first anniversary, they will be running a series of promotions including RM238.00 nett for their Deluxe Room (promotion period valid for 1000 vouchers) inclusive of breakfast. The four star hotel has each room tastefully designed in modern amenities
with space to work and unwind with free Wi-Fi access given to all rooms. Banquet facilities can house up to 180 people at any one time at its function rooms. It’s usage can vary from corporate affairs to mid size gatherings giving you a perfect solution to your event needs. For more information, visit www. htlgranada.com
Junior Chambers International Johor Bahru 24th Installation with President Grace Lo being installed by former President Fu Yee Woei
Tantalising the Tastebuds at Fabulous Food 1Malaysia
Highlight: The fifth edition of the annual Fabulous Food 1Malaysia displayed a wide variety of Malaysian delicacies
Y
B Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, Chairman of Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade & Consumerism Executive Committee officially launched the annual event along Jalan Dedap 25, Taman Johor Jaya. The three day festival was jointly organised by The Federation of Malaysia Hawkers Association and Persatuan Peniaga-peniaga Kecil Pasar Lambak Johor Selatan and hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Themed ‘Taste of Unity’, the festival celebrated Malaysians love for food and the joy of sharing the taste of Malaysian unity with the world through a fusion of our cuisines. More than 250 hawker centers and food courts with over 15,000 hawker stalls participated in the festival. Hawkers from all races worked together to impress the locals and foreigners with their cooking skills and unique recipes. The festival also had a delicacy themed photography competition to attract shutterbugs to fill the festival. “It is a delightful sight to see
YB Datuk Tee Siew Kiong meeting and greeting the hawkers at the festival photography enthusiasts honing their skills to capture the best moments available at the festival,” said Dato’ Lee Teong Chwee, JP, President of The Federation of
Malaysia Hawkers Association. “The festival will be held concurrently in 13 states and at 18 locations in total. At Jalan Dedap, there
(pic by Zarakay)
are more than 260 hawker stalls which have come together to create a hawker street that stretches 1km making this festival truly amazing,” added Dato’ Lee.
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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill The Iskandarian aspires to be the voice of the rakyat and with that in mind, our Editor is touching base with CEOs and Chairmen of organisations to Drill them with questions to hear their perspective.
Joining this month’s Drill is Mr.Micheal Bay, Chief Executive Officer of Rina Balinese Resort; an exclusive retreat located at Lot Jaya 6, Kampung Seelong Jaya,, Jalan Seelong, 81400 Senai, Johor. He is also the Treasurer for the Johor Chapter of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH). We caught up with Micheal to hear more about his resort and about his take on the current tourism sector in conjunction with Visist Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014) Tell us more about your establishment Rina Balinese Resort was launched in July 2007 and the idea behind this resort comes from Mr Robert Lew our President. His wife originates from Indonesia and hence the detailed boutique Balinese spa concept. The primary idea is to keep things close to nature, that’s our philosophy. We want to present to our clients a relaxing environment and in that pretext, we have planted a lot of fruit trees, aromatic plants and farm animals. Most importantly, our entire resort’s water supply is by underground spring water. Showers, pool water and even water for consumption is from the same pure and fresh spring water. We are different compared to other resorts because we don’t take walk- in customers and our clientele is all based on pre bookings as we prefer to keep our clientele exclusive and niche. Security is also a very important aspect and we safeguard the wellbeing of our customers with utmost priority.
Why this obscure location?
One of the reasons is because of the natural spring water in which the entire resort is built over this gift. We acquired the land in 2005; the place was a jungle originally and it took us 2 years to develop the place. Our lot is the only commercial plot in the area as all the other plots have been rezoned and designated as industry land. Another reason for keeping the resort ‘hidden’ from public eye is to maintain our exclusiveness as we want our guests to feel comfortable without their privacy being pried on.
With theme parks springing up all over the region, is there a spill over effect experienced?
Micheal Bay CEO of Rina Balinese Resort Treasurer of Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor Chapter
As a matter of fact, we have actually experienced the spill over effect. With the opening of LEGOLAND Malaysia, we saw almost a triple in our sales last year. Of course the steam has blown off abit but nonetheless the spill over effect is definitely there. From MAH’s point of view, yes I believe all hotels have benefitted from the emergence of the theme parks.
What is your occupancy rate?
them have failed to translate into solutions so we’re left in a limbo because of this. The tourism bodies can help by giving supporting documents but the relevant authorities are the ones with the power to resolve our particular predicament. Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014) is here and a more proactive approach to help the tourism industry players is needed. Also, with the electricity hike next year, it’s going to be tougher for businesses to sustain and persevere through the changes.
Well we have our low and high seasons like every other hotel and resort. The year end season is obviously the peak period with Are the state and federal tourism high occupancy rate. The school holidays bodies supportive? and the public holidays are good peak seasons. Weekdays are slow and to try to Yes they are extremely supportive! A lot of counter this, we run assistance and promotions promotions online to are being done by give more awareness them and I have no “I think the to our resort. complaints. I can only hope for the other Johor market is government bodies Some quarters still underpriced to be as helpful and have expressed that compared to Melaka, take up frontal roles in budget hotels are helping VMY2014.
putting up a stiff competition for the big players, what is your take on that?
KL and other states”
We are quite niche establishment so we are not really affected by the budget competition. I agree that the game plan has changed for the bigger players since the mushrooming of budget hotels but our resort being exclusive in its nature is not really feeling the impact.
What about in terms of pricing, is the Johor market competitive enough or are we over/under pricing ourselves? I think the Johor market is still underpriced compared to Melaka, KL and other states. We are still very much cheaper. Well as an association, we can propose for a price increase but at the end of the day it still depends on the owners of the establishments to take up the suggestion or not. I think in Johor, everything is very expensive except the room rates (laughs).
What are the challenges that you face?
For our resort per se, the main challenge we’ve been facing is access roads leading to our establishment. We come under the jurisdiction of Majlis Perbandaran Kulai (MPKu) and our numerous requests to
Are you benefitting from the growth of Iskandar Malaysia? Our resort is unfortunately situated right outside the border of the five flagship zones of Iskandar Malaysia but regardless, we have and are benefitting from the developments of Iskandar Malaysia. For instance, the construction of EDL has enabled our customers from Singapore to come to our establishment in a faster and smoother way. The approximate time from the Causeway to our establishment is about 30 minutes now thanks to the EDL. The non EDL path will take atleast 45 minutes or so. Another instance is like what I mentioned earlier about the opening of LEGOLAND Malaysia helping to triple our sales. In terms of infrastructure, everyone is benefitting from the growth of Iskandar Malaysia. The spill over effect is definitely eminent. We are the official food caterers for Pinewood Iskandar studios which is a product of Iskandar Malaysia so yes, we are directly and indirectly benefitting (laughs).
Your vision for VMY2014?
Our intention and vision is to reach out to as many people as possible even though we are niche and exclusive, we want to be known among more people. We strive
to promote a healthy lifestyle and our personalised services of traditional firewood features, pure and fresh spring water usage and the natural surroundings of greeneries that allows the tranquillity of life to manifest itself to the fullest has to be experienced by all. A full fledged promotion of our spa facilities is also pipelined. I think generally, the spa word and world has been adulterated with hanky panky practices and we want to change the mindset and keep spas as true to its pure form as possible. The tourism bodies are to be applauded because they are working hard in trying to clean up the image of spas. We’ve been in the spa industry since 1995. We’ve got 5 other establishments under our R&R Group; Rina Balinese Resort, our catering division, our spa division, our skin care division to name a few.
The state will be taking part in ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 (AFT2014) in Sarawak next month; do you think it will be beneficial? Yes I’ve heard and again the tourism bodies are doing a great job in promoting our products. I’m hoping that by taking part in ATF2014, we can entice more tourists and visitors to come over and bring more business.
What’s in store for 2014?
We are launching more rooms, currently we have 13 rooms. We are promoting our spa and are upgrading our current services and promoting meeting and seminar facilities as well. We take a lot of pride in our services for instance we say we want our guests to bask in nature and to keep this experience authentic, we actually grow our own lavender plants and the aroma therapy experienced in all our rooms is not artificially incorporated. We grow 2 out of the 29 lavender species in our very own garden. Our meeting and seminar facility is open to all upon pre booking. We can easily accommodate up to 80 pax and our facility comes equipped with PA systems and other amenities. The difference here will be you go for your meetings or conference and you step out back into nature once you’re done, taking away all the stress! Here at Rina Balinese Resort, our primary objective has always been and will always be to keep things pure and close to nature as possible and with that, we want to transport our guests to a state of tranquil bliss.
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Diabetes drive at Galleria@Kotaraya organised by RELA and other NGO’s to promote awareness about the illness. Free screening services were provided by Regency Specialist Hospital. (pic by Zarakay)
Johor Set to Benefit from the Tenby Touch
from cover page
Community: Tenby Schools reached another milestone in its continuing expansion with the official opening of its first purpose-built campus in Setia Eco Gardens
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he latest addition to the Tenby Schools Group, Tenby International School, Setia Eco Gardens (TISSEG) are clebrating their 1st anniversary in January 2014, offering an international student centred programme for Early Years, Primary and Secondary students. With the provision of modern facilities, teaching and learning at TISSEG is set to be tremendously exciting and inspirational. The school is equipped with air-conditioned classrooms, specialist laboratories, a modern library, an expensive art block, a sports complex that includes a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts and other educational facilities. The classrooms are fitted with interactive white boards, a necessary learning tool in today’s technologically infused environment. Staffed by qualified and experienced teachers, the school is led by Principal David Wakefield who has vast experience in international education. “Our teachers and students have
responded magnificently to working and studying in a brand new school,” said Wakefield. “Together, Malaysians and nonMalaysians have already created a warm, welcoming and supportive atmosphere throughout the school,” he added “Tenby Schools from its inception in Ipoh by David Palmer, Dato’ Bill Davidson and Dorothy Nelson-Doig is a place to keep their families together; a place to educate their children in a caring and safe environment. Their aspirations for their children were embraced by my late father Dato’ KK Lim who wanted to keep his family together in Ipoh, especially his grandchildren,” said Dato’ Lim Si Boon, in his role as the official representative of Tenby Schools and as a Director of Tenby Educare Sdn. Bhd. Aside from consolidating its nationwide presence, Tenby’s campus in Johor Bahru aims to create an environment that welcomes and promotes interaction between students of all nationalities.
T
he manufacturing sector contributed RM45.68 billion, followed by properties (RM33.66 billion), government spending (RM8.31 billion) and others, including utilities, emerging technologies, tourism, education, healthcare, finance, logistics, retail and industry (RM41.78 billion). “A lot have been achieved but much more needs to be done if Iskandar Malaysia is to achieve its 2025 target of having a population of three million, 1.46 million jobs and a cumulative investment of RM383 billion over 20 years,” said the Prime Minister. “The federal government is committed to ensuring the success of Iskandar Malaysia and we are working
with the Johor government, the private and public sectors, and the people of Johor to ensure the economic region’s growth,” he added. With so much going on in Iskandar Malaysia, locals have indicated that they are happy with the happenings and are ready to embrace VMY2014 as well. “I am very excited with all the buzz about Iskandar Malaysia and now VMY 2014 will help bring more business to our region. 2014 is predicted to be a rough year since we will be experiencing price hikes and also an increase in the electricity tariff but to bring balance to it will be the VMY 2014 promotions that should bring more tourists and help ease our livelihood,” said a hawker operator at Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
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80,00 Strong at ISKARNIVAL 2O13
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Social: More than 80,000 Johorians thronged the two-day carnival for the rakyat held over the weekend of 7-8 December 2013 at Dataran Mahkota, Kota Iskandar in celebration of Iskandar Malaysia’s continued progress
Johor State Secretary Dato’ Hj Obet bin Tawil (right pic & bottom pic) during his walkabout at ISKARNIVAL 2013
W
ith the theme, “1Impian Raikan Bersama!”, the twoday carnival underlined the numerous benefits and opportunities generated by Iskandar Malaysia thus far and the social inclusiveness that is fundamental to its growth and development. Highlights of the free-admission carnival opened to the public of all ages included a career fair and affordable homes showcase, giant playground, local food festival and concert with some of Malaysia’s most popular artistes. ISKARNIVAL was jointly organised by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (”Khazanah”), UEM Sunrise Berhad (“UEM Sunrise”) and Iskandar Investment Berhad (“IIB”) to showcase the opportunities available for locals in the booming region of Iskandar Malaysia. Iskandar Regional Development Authority (“IRDA”) and the State Government were in support of the event, which was held at the state’s administrative centre of Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya. ISKARNIVAL is a continuation of the successful Karnival Nusajaya which was held in September last year. As part of the outreach programme and with the support of IRDA, a total of 1320 people were also shuttled in 33 buses from 17 villages in Tanjung Piai, Kulai, Johor Bahru, Pasir Gudang, Gelang Patah, Tebrau and Pulai to join in the festivities. Visiting the ISKARNIVAL site, the Johor State Secretary Dato’ Hj Obet bin Tawil, accompanied by the senior
management members of the organisers (KNB, UEMS and IIB) took the opportunity to meet with the visitors. At the Career Expo, he was seen addressing the exhibitors and was thrilled at the number of opportunities offered during the event. ISKARNIVAL saw the support of over 400 government officials from various areas including PDRM, RELA, Bomba, SUK Security and many others. The career expo saw the participation of over 40 companies offering more than 2,000 immediate job vacancies in Iskandar Malaysia. A total of approximately 4,300 resumes were physically submitted while many more were submitted via online. Other activities at ISKARNIVAL included fun-filled games and thrilling rides for the whole family. A section of Dataran Mahkota was transformed into a giant playground featuring ten giant inflatables for children and adults. The playground also included an extreme games section and an action zone for the more adventurous such as flying fox and artificial rock climbing wall, while sportier types enjoyed over 20 skills games such as golf and darts. The ISKARNIVAL Food Festival featured the best of Johor’s local delicacies including Mee Bandung, Briyani Gam, Laksa Johor and Otak-Otak, as well as cooking demonstrations by top local chefs throughout both days. The demonstrations of culinary skills by Malaysian Masterchefs and cooking stars Dato’ Chef Fazley Yaakob, Syura, Izyan Hani, and Ari Malik proved very popular among food enthusiasts
drawing in a large group of onlookers. A total of 38 vendors took part at the food fest. The free concerts which featured a line-up of some of Malaysia’s most recognised artistes were a major highlight of ISKARNIVAL. Eighty five locals were given opportunity to showcase their talents including local bands, buskers, marching bands and dancers from Yayasan Warisan Johor. Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza had many
(Pics by Zarakay)
singing along as she took to the stage on Saturday afternoon. The crowd was strong at rousing performances by Najwa Latif, Black, HyperAct and One Nation Emcee. The event ended on a high note with performance by Amy & Search. Johorians themselves, the wet Sunday certainly did not dampen the spirits of the visitors armed with umbrellas and ponchos braving the afternoon rain to watch an amazing performance by the favourite Malaysian rock band.
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Up Close with Shane Filan Bangkok : The City Of Angels Movie Reviews RoboCop and Delivery Man >>pg3
Jan 2014 | Page 2
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
Editor ’s Note
Priya Manikam editor@waveslifestyle.com
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new month and new tidings await you. For all you movie buffs out there, we have included reviews from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Malaysia and Sony Pictures Malaysia. The much awaited RoboCop movie which most of us grew up watching, is hitting the Malaysian screens on 30th January. We will be sharing the trailer and movie stills in our social sites, so stay tuned for that! Shane Filan – the lead singer of the former boyband Westlife fills our Personality column and our stringer, Sugenya has the scoop you don’t want to miss. Our cheerful motivator; Rose tells you how to move on in life now that the New Year has begun and Tony has once again set out to tantalise your taste buds with a local favourite dish; Nasi Ambeng – Yum! 2014 is also the Visit Malaysia Year and we did our part by sharing a five parts’ series of “Must Visit places in JB” last year. If you have not been to any of the places mentioned, it is perhaps the time to do so and share with us your snaps in our social sites. This time, we bring you a short travel series from the Land of Smiles – Thailand. As always, for those wishing to share their clothing line, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/property, or want to appear under the Personality column, drop us a mail at admin@waveslifestyle. com today and be featured. Advance Thaipusam and Chinese New Year wishes from The Iskandarian-WAVES team!
Up close with Shane Filan
Reported & Photography by Sugenya Manogaran Cover & Showcase Photography by Amos Wong (UMS)
Universal Music Singapore and AMPED presenting Shane Filan at press meet and music showcase of his latest album ‘You And Me’ at Zouk, Singapore Universal Music Singapore and AMPED recently presented a showcase featuring Shane Filan, lead singer of former boyband Westlife of his latest album ‘You And Me’ on 10th November 2013 at Zouk, Singapore. The Irish singer-songwriter performed to a crowd of over 500 fans who enthusiastically sang along with him. His next single from the album ‘Knee Deep in my Heart’ was also revealed. On 11th November, a press conference was held at The Park Royal Hotel, Pickering, Singapore and Sugenya has the scoop for all you die-hard fans! How does it feel to be back as a solo artist? You know what; it’s actually new and fresh for me. I would say that everyday is different and now you’re on your own and you get used to that fact pretty quickly. But so far, travelling around the world and getting to sing alone for my first album is really kind of cool and special for me. We had this exclusive showcase with you at Zouk and how did you feel about performing here? Zouk is an amazing and great venue for starters. It was my first showcase in Singapore and there were about 800 people and it was a pretty big showcase. It is nice to have the atmosphere where you are up on stage on your own and getting used to it. All I could
feel was just happy faces in the audiences, everyone was singing along to my songs which were pretty cool as they knew the words to all the songs. That was a good sign. The only thing surprising about you is that why didn’t you do it sooner? I have been asked that question a lot, and I will be like why would I want to do a solo album? For me, I love being in Westlife. Westlife was an amazing band and one of the biggest in the world. We got to do 12 albums in 14 years, and we enjoyed every bit of it. We were really good friends and still are and that’s probably the main reason why we stayed together for so long. But when the band decided to split, I had to make a decision about what I wanted to do in the future. For me, singing is the only thing I wanted to do. Can you share with us some of these songs you have written for this album? When it came to writing songs, it was a very new thing for me. I did not know if I could even do it and was nervous about it. I then started writing honest songs and true stories, and found it really easy to write about my wife. I want to lift people’s hearts, and hear them say, “That’s a beautiful song”. Basically, it’s love letters with music. How do you balance your family and career?
DELITUNES Universal Music Singapore proudly opened DELITUNES from 3rd – 31st December 2013 at Level 1, Front Plaza, outside Plaza Singapura. The first ever Deli-inspired music store was located near the mall’s main entrance and was a one-of-a kind shopping experience. Music lovers and friends were all invited to gather, find great deals and listen to awesome music.
DELITUNES showcased an extensive selection of latest CD and DVD albums, vinyl releases and official artist merchandise which were on sale from artists such as The Beatles, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and more! It was a perfect one-stop store for all music lovers. Source: Universal Music Singapore
My family understands that my career has started off and I’m going to be busy. My kids are a little young to understand where I am going but they should be alright as long as they get new sweets or toys when I get back! My wife is amazing and she tells me, “You go and sing…I will handle the rest”. The boy bands of today are quite different from the bands back then. You have One Direction and The Wanted now. How do you think Westlife would have fared if they have debuted at the same time as these bands? I think we would have done very well. Yes, it is a different time and obviously social media is a huge thing now. I don’t know how well we would have done, but I am sure we would have been up there with all of them. I think the music today is brilliant; it’s different from pop music. These bands have it all, and they work very hard. No matter what year or decade we are in, there is always room for boy bands, because that always gets the girls to scream! Can we expect a full blown concert any time soon? Maybe not soon, but I definitely want to do a concert in Singapore with my own band. I will be doing a tour in UK in February or March and hopefully come here to perform in the near future.
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The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle
Why and How to Move On? (Part 1)
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e have so far welcomed the Year 2014 with joy, hope and excitement. The year has moved on but have we? How many of us have really moved on? The most important question is what ‘moveon’ is and why it is important to us? Many people interpret ‘to-moveon’ as avoiding the matter and focussing on others matters. Unfortunately, this is a false interpretation of ‘move-on’. Avoiding is pretending the matter never happened. If you put this false interpretation in a break-up situation, you will understand
why some people still feel the emotional pain from a break-up even though he or she has already moved-on for many years! In the level of energy, the pain remains inside because we have suppressed and ignored it. It didn’t get the time to heal and transmute and this pain will attract the same energy into your life and accumulate from time to time. Have you ever wondered why some people keep on facing the same conflicts in their life? A simple reason is that; in Law of Attraction, same energy attracts same energy.
By Rose Osman Personal Motivator & Energy Coach www.facebook.com/ yourpersonalmotivator Twitter:@BucketOfRoses
So, how do we move on from emotional pain? Acceptance. Understand and accept that the pain we are feeling right now is here to serve us. It may sound ridiculous to our minds but acceptance gives us inner strength. This is more powerful than denying the pain. Try and honour the moment through your mind without judging the pain as bad or negative.
MOVIE REVIEW Delivery Man
Acknowledgment. When we accept the pain as it is, we are telling the pain “I feel you”. Although pain doesn’t have a body like human or animal, it still has emotions. Acknowledgement is powerful because it comes with love and healing. Some people have asked; “Won’t loving the pain make the pain remain because we love it?” The answer is no because Love Heals.
MOVIE REVIEW ROBOCOP
Genre: Comedy Rating: PG-13 Running time: 105 mins Cast: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders Ken Scott Director: Producer: André Rouleau Executive Producer: Ray Angelic, Scott Mednick, Mark Sourian Screenplay by: Ken Scott The original screenplay “Starbuck,” written Based on: by Ken Scott and Martin Petit Malaysia Release date: 1st January 2014 Synopsis DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment presents; “Delivery Man” starring Vince Vaughn as an affable underachiever David Wozniak, whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.
Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Malaysia
By Mateo Anderson Director: José Padilha Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L Jackson, Abbie Cornish Malaysia Releasing Date – 30th January 2014 OmniCorp, the company that manufactures robots to be used all over the world can’t place a single unit in America, which makes them lose lots of money. That’s when OmniCorp decides to move forward without breaking the law by putting a man inside the machine. Joel Kinnaman was selected to embody the iconic character of Alex Murphy/ RoboCop on the big screen, a cop turned robot after being fatally injured in an explosion. This remake of the iconic film that Paul Verhoeven shot in 1987 about a cyborg cop that patrols the streets of a futuristic Detroit in the name of justice is to be released as RoboCop. Filmmaker José Padilha (Elite Squad) has been the man chosen to reintroduce this character to audiences all over the world, when the science fiction that the original movie depicted in the 80’s is actually now closer to science than to fiction.
Source: Sony Pictures Malaysia
Jan 2014 | Page 4
The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle Calendar of Events
From the Land of Smiles … Thailand (part 1) By Priya Manikam & Mithil Tawde editor@waveslifestyle.com
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jan 2014 1st Jan Happy New Year!
JB, 1st - 3rd Jan New Year 2014 & My Library Promotion @ Sutera Mall
JB, 3rd Jan Hackerspace JB @ Tmn Serene
JB, 11th Jan Creative Connection with Arty Party & AGAS @JARO
JB, 12th Jan Havok Asian Tour @ Stopzone Gig Hall, JB
JB, 14th Jan Prophet Muhammad Birthday
JB, 17th Jan Thaipusam
Spore, 24th Jan - 2nd Feb Logos Hope @VivoCity, Sg
Spore, 25th Jan Laneway Festival @ Marina Bay
31st Jan - 1st Feb
Happy CNY!
loser to home, and can be reached by major airlines or by rail from Singapore, Bangkok is the bustling city of Thailand. Our journey from the airport via the Airport Rail link to Makassan City Air Terminal and taxi to Amari Atrium Hotel was effortless (and a load less on the pocket) because the transportation system is quite efficient in Bangkok. There is the MRT, BTS, metered taxis, tuk tuks, buses and boats that can get you to your destination swiftly. After checking in, we wandered near the hotel for some local food and were left not disappointed as there was a hawker lady selling “Spicy Chicken with rice”. A simple bowl of steamed rice with chicken cooked in chilli (yes, it was very spicy) and longs beans could fill you up for 40 Thai Baht (RM4), but do remember to tell them to tone down the spiciness. The next morning, after a scrumptious buffet breakfast spread, we geared up to see the top highlights of Bangkok.
Day One: The Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo) Wanting to experience the journey as a local, we took the MRT near the hotel and transferred onto the BTS skytrain and alighted at Saphan Thaksin stop. Head downstairs to Sathorn pier/Central pier to get on to a boat. Do not buy the 150 Thai Baht ticket but instead wait for the normal boats coming from the left that has either an orange or green flag and you pay the fare on board which will cost you about 15 Thai Baht (RM 1.50) – bargain right?! The boat ride brings you along the Chao Phraya River and along the journey you will see the Memorial Bridge and the scenic Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Get off at Pier 9 and follow the signboards leading to the Grand Palace. Note: There will be scammers saying that the palace is closed. Pay no heed to that and continue walking. At the entrance, there is a fee of 500 Thai Baht per person and it covers the palace, the Emerald Buddha temple and Queen Sirikit Museum of Textile. Inside, the palace grounds are massive and it has unique structures and architectures gleaming of gold. You
are allowed to take pictures except for certain exhibits of the King. Next, was the Temple of Emerald Buddha and you are not allowed to take any photographs inside but may do so from outside. The renowned Buddha is carved from a single block of fine jade and regarded as the most highly revered Buddha image to the Thai people. It is open daily from 8.30 am – 3.30 pm. Formal and modest clothing is adviced for both male and female tourists. Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) After embracing the massiveness of the Grand Palace and the angelic Emerald Buddha, we took a stroll towards Wat Po, passing rows of hawker stalls selling intricate Buddhist lockets. There is an entry fee of 100 Thai Baht (RM10) and you will get a free mineral bottle. Wat Po was founded in the 16th Century, and is the oldest and biggest temple with the largest number of pagodas. It houses the Reclining Buddha which is 46m long and 15m in height and is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. As it is a place of worship, do exercise modest dressing.
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AFTER SPM, WHERE DO I GO? (part 5) Form 6/ STPM Form Six teachers have been briefed on the new modular system; another expected result of the new system is that it will empower teachers, enabling them greater creativity and innovation in teaching. The new system took about six years to develop and implement. The Ministry of Higher Education together with the Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC) studied various syllabi of different examination bodies - University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, International Baccalaureate Organisation, Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia, and Singapore Examination
and Assessment Board to name a few — and used what they learned to formulate a system that works in the Malaysian context. While the new system makes the STPM more manageable for students — the fact that students can re-sit modules will increase the passing rate, the standards and quality of the STPM will nevertheless be maintained. Students are required to take a minimum of four subjects and a maximum of five, which includes the compulsory subject Pengajian Am. In addition, students are also required to take the Malaysian University English Test (MUET). STPM uses the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) system, where the average of the top
four subjects are rounded up to two decimal points. The programme is open to all who sat for the SPM examinations and is usually automatically offered to those who didn’t get a place in the public institutions of higher learning and matriculation. However, candidates who did their SPM privately, or in private schools are required to register separately at a government school. Students who sat for the UEC are not eligible to enter the programme. For a long time, Form 6 or STPM was not a popular option amongst students, because it was considered one of the toughest programmes, and also because they had to remain in schools and put on uniforms.
However, taking into account that the programme is the cheapest pre-university option (basic fee is only RM120.00, with additional RM90.00 per subject); it is actually a very good option for those who did not get a place in public universities and cannot afford to pay their way through private institutions. This is also a great avenue for students who want to eventually continue their studies in private institutions of higher learning. Bearing in mind that PTPTN does not offer loans for pre-university programmes, students can enrol in Form 6, and once they’ve completed their studies, enter the institution of their choice and apply for PTPTN to fund their degree. Follow this multiple part series next month
Hospitality on Demand Hospitality: With the fast paced growth of Iskandar Malaysia and the southern region, hospitality should not be seen as playing a second fiddle in the service industry By Murni Mat Nasri Lecturer, KFCH International College
It is no wonder that one of the key economic activities in the state is hospitality. Due to its unique location and proximity to Singapore, Johor has long become the tourist he people of Johor have very and shopping destination of Singaporeans. strong identity and are proud The state boasts virgin natural of their traditions and heritage. environments, pristine beaches and One example of such tradition fantastic islands, suitable for visitors who is the entertainment of guests. are looking to unwind and refresh their Children and youngsters are nurtured and minds and bodies without breaking the trained by their elders to be hospitable, bank. Visitors are guests to the state who no questions asked. No guests should should be entertained and celebrated, as per feel unwelcomed in a Johor household. the Johor tradition. Hospitality, it seems, is second nature to the In effect of this, job opportunities are people of Johor. created for the benefit of the local people. In addition, within these few years we have witnessed the developments of many new and modern tourist attractions such as LEGOLAND Malaysia, Visitors are guests to Hello Kitty Town, The Little the state who should Big Club and not to mention Puteri Harbour with its be entertained and luxurious living and thriving celebrated, as per the night life, spurring many new accommodations ranging from Johor tradition five star hotels and resorts that provide world class services,
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to budget hotels suitable for the more adventurous backpackers and are easy on the middle class travelers’ pockets, to cater to the increasing number of visitors to the state. At the heart of this thriving industry is KFCH International College, located at Bandar Dato Onn. Bandar Dato Onn is one of the three education nodes of Iskandar Malaysia, after Educity and Bandar Seri Alam. It offers various programmes that are in sync with the general pathway of the hospitality industry of the state. They are; Diploma in Culinary Arts, Diploma in Restaurant Management, Diploma in Hotel Management, Diploma in Tourism Management and Diploma in Event Management. These core programmes are uniquely designed and are highly focused on industrial involvement. At KFCH International College, we are trying to tap into and expand the hospitality traits deeply rooted in the tradition of the Johor people, polish it to achieve world class level that culminates into well trained graduates of hospitality programmes.
The collaboration that this institution forged with other respected names in the hospitality field is proof of its commitment to empowering its students and preparing them for the real world. With its vision to be the leading educational institution in the Southeast Asian region, KFCH International College strives to produce quality new generation of hospitality industry players, as part of its societal commitment to the people of Johor as well as those from other states. The programmes that it offers are aimed at nurturing well rounded professionals that will certainly be in great demand. The students undergo practical training stint with professional industry players around Johor and Malaysia for that hands-on experience, which is fundamental in this area. KFCH International College also boasts of highly trained and skilled staff members, following syllabus that are in accord with industry requirements. For more information regarding KFCH International College, kindly contact us at 07 360 1800 or visit our website at www.kfch.edu.my
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When Your Boss Stresses You Out
Management: You like your job, but your boss gives you a hard time. What can you do if your current boss stresses you out? There are many things an employee can do to solve this problem.
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irstly, try to do more than what is expected from you at your current job. Try to get things done ahead of time and help out your co-workers. Your boss and co-workers will notice and give you more respect. Another useful pointer is by trying to reduce any potential conflicts. If you see trouble coming, try to catch it earlier before it becomes an argument. Use your problem solving skills to prevent any arguments. Remember - communication is the key in preventing conflicts in the work place. When you converse with your boss, try to focus on his interests. If your boss likes golf, then ask him about his golf game or talk about your golfing stories. Talk to your boss regarding his interests and your boss will appreciate it. Talk with your boss about your problem. If you can, ask your boss questions on how everything is going. Ask him if you need to improve on anything.
Take the initiative and ask for possible suggestions for improvement. If nothing works, then change departments or find another place to work. There are many different jobs and places you can work so do not feel limited to just your place of employment. People change jobs for various reasons so do what is best for you. Everybody has to deal with a not so great boss. The key is to find ways to reduce any conflicts. Open communication is very important. Be flexible and try following the suggestions. Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http:// www.managingfear.com/
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ACCUMULATING WEALTH? ¬ Discover the Power of Leveraging using Warrant
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or years, the intelligence of children appeared to be correlated to the intelligence of their parents. Today, we’re going to discuss the relationship between a mother and child in the stock market. Let me be more specific: it’s the ‘mother share’ and her child as – ‘the warrant’.
will become worthless. Due to its limited time frame, warrant is perceived as a higher risk financial instrument compared to shares. But does it offer a higher return? Yes, much higher. But here is the good news: you can eliminate its risk without compromising its high return.
What is Warrant?
There are three ways:
A company warrant is a security that gives the holder the right (not obligation) to buy the company’s shares at a fixed price for a given period. The reason we illustrate the warrant as a child is because it’s issued by the mother company. For example, ABC Company with the market price of RM 1.60 issued a warrant called ABC-WA that will expire in five years. If the exercise price (strike price) of ABC-WA is RM 1, the warrant holder will need to pay RM 1 to convert ABC-WA to the mother share; ABC. If he doesn’t convert in five years, the warrant
1. Invest warrants during positive market sentiment In the stock market, investing in the right time is crucial in getting the desired results. If the market sentiment is weak, it’s unlikely for the stocks to perform well, let alone their warrants. 2. Invest the warrant with good ‘mother share’ value Always remember this: the child likes to follow the mother. The warrant’s price, whether it’s going up or down, will always follow the
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Tey Bin Yuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. His books are available at major bookstores in Singapore & Malaysia. He’ll be conducting a seminar ‘Profit from Share Investment 6’ on 26 Jan 14. Reach him at contact@teybinyuen.com
mother’s share price. So what drives the mother’s share price? It’s the VALUE. A company will only have value when it creates value. Ask this question: Does the company offer a bright earning visibility in the future? If it does, it’s likely to create higher value for the shareholders. 3. Invest the warrant with value A warrant is valuable when it’s in the money – when the exercise price is below the mother’s share price, plus a time value. From the earlier example, ABC’s share price is RM 1.60, and its exercise price is RM 1, therefore: Value of warrant = Current share price – exercise price + Time value = 1.6 – 1 = 0.6 (assuming time value is 0) This means the warrant should be trading at around RM 0.6 or higher, as we’re yet to account for the time value.
When the warrant is in the money, it’ll move in tandem with the ‘mother share’. For instance, if the share price moves up 40 cents from RM 1.60 to RM 2, it’s a 25 per cent gain. But for the warrant to move 40 cents from RM 0.6 to RM 1, it’s a 67 per cent increase. Do you see the power of leverage? Remember this: It’s only during sunny days (positive market sentiment); the children (warrants) will follow their happy mothers (quality mother shares) to go for a family outing and have fun (making profit).
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Johor Ayam Penyet
Mama Zai Ayam penyet is actually a popular Indonesian dish where the fried chicken is smashed to make it softer and served with some condiments. Mama Zai is one of the ayam penyet stalls recommended by my Facebook fans, so I made a trip to try it. It is one of the stalls at the popular food court at BESTMART, Nusa Bestari. Mama Zai also sells roast chicken, black pepper chicken, and sambal chicken. They all looked very appetising, and I hope to try all of it on my next visit! I like this cosy food court in BESTMART as it is not too big and is bright and well maintained. Parking is not too difficult (just be patient) and it is free. Business at Mama Zai is brisk especially during lunch. We ordered a nasi ayam penyet set and requested for the thigh piece. The fried chicken thigh was crispy on the outside, relatively dry but still slightly moist inside. There is some natural sweetness as this is made from chilled chicken and well marinated with curry spices. The set costs RM6.50 which we thought is very
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reasonable. Mama Zai’s sambal is a big winner for me. It is savoury and spicy with tangy hints from the squeezed lime. The sambal has an interesting mouth feel as it is wet, thick and pulpy - the chili peppers are pounded (not grounded or blended). An average nasi ayam penyet is often let down by the quality of the rice but it not the case here. Mama Zai’s excellent oiled rice is made from good quality grains. The fragrant very lightly oiled rice is firm yet tender and they separate easily. I will surely be stopping by this food court again to try out the other dishes and stalls. Restaurant name: Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari) Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i GPS: 1.495875,103.655097 Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds) Halal
LC Catering at Taman Melodies While looking for the best ayam penyet, I realised that there are many ways to fry a good chicken leg! Each style has its own appeal and LC Catering’s style of ayam penyet has its own fans – including me. At LC Catering, the fried chicken is not battered and there are no fried crummy bits scattered around. When there is an order, the fresh chicken leg is precooked in coconut milk and deep fried without any batter and skin. The skinless leg is fried until golden brown and forms a stiff crispy outer layer. Overall, the meat is fairly dry, though there is still some moisture remaining inside and there was hardly any excess oil on the chicken leg which is a plus point. The chicken’s flavours were slight. I ripped the quite dry meat easily off the bones and scooped the sambal chili with it much like the way we eat keropok or fries. The outer layer was a little stringy but personally, I find this style likeable
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and there are people who prefer this over others. The sambal chili is a key element in an ayam penyet set. Here, the sambal was pulpy, tangy from the fresh limes, and mildly spicy for my taste buds but slightly savoury from the belacan (dried fermented shrimps). The set came with sides of fried tempeh and tofu which were of an average taste. However, the greens were fresh with my favourites of crunchy kacang botol, long beans and a stalk of fragrant leafy green. This ayam penyet dish is definitely another winner. Restaurant name: LC Catering Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC GPS: 1.490226,103.766871 Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am Halal
@home
ISSUE 17 | JAN 2014
T HE I SKANDAR I AN
PROPERTY
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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS
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APARTMENTS
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VILLAS
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CONDOMINIUMS
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OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE
Cover Story Good news for real buyers as the ban on DIBS and the hike in RPGT will instigate a decrease in speculators investing in the property market >>page 25
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Bank Negara Malaysia: Good News for Real Buyers New Measurement Formulated Interest: How will the ban on Developer Interest Bearing Highlight: A new interest rate framework is being
planned to replace the base lending rate (BLR) as the current reference rate is losing relevance
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ank Negara Malaysia will outline its new framework for the country’s base lending rate (BLR) early this year as the current BLR reference rate is losing its relevance, according to Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said Bank Negara would issue a consultative paper outlining the new reference rate framework to the industry in early January, as it needs to adjust and progress towards better serving the economy. “This is part of the continued evolution of our financial system to which the industry needs to adjust and progress to ensure that it better serves the economy,” Zeti said in her speech at the launch of the Asian Banking School. She said, “As the Malaysian economy continues to transform, it is imperative that the banking sector continues to meet its objectives.” “Improving the efficiency of this intermediation process throughout the entire economic cycle needs to be an important part of this agenda,” she added. She noted that the BLR has become less meaningful as a basis for pricing loans, pointing out that retail lending rates on new loans are at a substantial discount to the BLR.
Scheme (DIBS) and the hike in real property gains tax (RPGT) reflect in the market? By Alan Wee newsdesk@theiskandarian.com
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“It reflects other costs, overhead costs and others. So the new framework will be more related to the funding cost, especially the marginal funding cost, which is actually how banks are pricing their loans,” she said. “In general, such a reference rate needs to serve three important roles. First, it needs to allow banks to vary the floating lending rates to reflect changes in funding costs. “Second, the reference rate needs to reflect changes in monetary policy. And third, the reference rate should be a basis for the pricing of retail loans,” Zeti said.
ith ban on Developer Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS) and the hike in real property gains tax (RPGT), it is speculated that more properties might go under the auction hammer. This speculation arises due to the fact that many property buyers bought their premises in the pretext of investment and are now caught between a rock and a hard place due to RPGT and DIBS. The announcements on the new real property gains tax (RPGT) rates and banning of the Developer Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS) came during Budget 2014. If there is a slowdown in the property market and buyers who bought properties with DIBS are not able to service their loans and end up under the hammer, they would not even be able to repay their debts after the property is auctioned off and banks would not be able to recover the full loan amount. The banning of DIBS should stabilise the property market and bring speculation to a more realistic level, as property prices would be more reflective of the market value. Analysts say that the market has slowed down to a more moderate level and a saturation point should be visible by this year. This is of course good news to buyers who want to purchase a home for liveability
purpose. First time house buyers will be able to buy into properties finally. The ban on DIBS was to prevent developers from incorporating interest rates on loans in house prices during the construction period. This means financial institutions are now prohibited from providing final funding for projects involved in DIBS. The current RPGT rate is 30% for gains on properties disposed within the first three years, while disposals in the fourth and fifth years are increased to 20% and 15% each. No RPGT is imposed on Malaysians selling their properties in the sixth year. Companies however will be taxed 5%. For foreigners, RPGT would be imposed at 30% on the gains from properties disposed of within five years, and 5% for disposals in the sixth and subsequent years. National House Buyers Association (HBA) has been urging the Government for many years to take measures to look into the steep rise in property prices to avoid a ‘homeless generation’ as current property prices are far beyond the reach of many low and middleincome families in urban and suburban areas. Under the previous RPGT, speculators could purchase properties from property developers upon their launch and then flip these properties on completion (after two years) and having to pay 10% (i.e. within the 3rd to 5th year). Buyers of residential property could seek a once-in-a-lifetime exemption from the tax.
Property Corner
¬ The Second Loan A.Devadason CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialice in tax advisory and consultancy. He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my
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recollect that in Year 2002, there was an exemption on stamp duty for property transactions to reduce the overhang that was plaguing the nation. Developers were stuck with properties that just could not be sold as many potential buyers; especially the ones who speculated just before the Asian Financial Crisis were still licking their wounds. Genuine buyers also shied away as the weak economy either made it difficult to raise the 10 per cent down payment or be very cautious in their spending. Interest rates were in the BLR + X% range and double storey houses could
still be purchased below RM 200,000. The second loan The situation is in stark contrast today. Locations such as Nusa Bestari, Bukit Indah and Horizon Hills are retailing double storey units at nothing less than RM 650,000. Once in a while, units do come at lower prices but these tend to be rare and far in between. An opportunity lay for early buyers to use their timing advantage and finance the purchase of a new unit. Rather than struggle to raise fresh funds for the inflated 10 per cent down payment, one just has to use their existing property to grow the asset portfolio. For example, a double storey house was purchased for RM 200,000 in Year 2002 with an initial loan of RM 180,000 and a monthly instalment of RM 1,200. Assuming the valuation has risen to RM 600,000 today, banks would be willing to lend up to 90% of this amount which translates to RM 540,000. Let’s say the original loan has now
reduced to RM 105,000. The owner can now apply for a maximum of RM 435,000 in cash as a second loan on the same property. These funds can now be used to finance the purchase of new properties. Theoretically, this scenario is only possible provided ones’ credit history with the bank is good and current income is capable of handling the increased instalment from the original RM 1,200. Increased loan Now there will be 2 loans to service on the same property. Depending on the bank, the increased loan can either be charged at a rate that is similar to normal housing loans or as a collateralised personal loan. If it’s treated as an increased housing loan, interest rates are relatively lower but the bank is likely to demand a valuation report as well as a fresh set of legal papers so as to register a new charge on the property. This process can take slightly over a month and fees alone can take up to 2 per
cent of the new loan amount. Where the new loan is taken as a collateralised personal loan, only stamp duty will be imposed for the extra loan and in most cases, valuation report can also be waived. In essence it is a personal loan but with the property as collateral. Interest rates are thus lower than a regular personal loan but higher than housing rates. The only drawback of the 2nd loan approach is that the borrower is stuck with the same bank as the loans cannot be split between separate lenders. This may not be the most efficient form of financing as the original loan could be on a BLR + X% basis while the increased loan may be on BLR – Y% basis. Where needed, the property can be refinanced with a new lender who may offer a more cost effective package. Many people are unaware that monies can be taken out on their appreciated property this way. When used properly, this avenue can be used as for cash flow management and capture opportunities as and when they arise. Happy property shopping!
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Affordable Living Showcased at ISKARNIVAL 2013
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he Property Showcase was a big hit with the locals who visited ISKARNIVAL and eager to learn more about the range of different affordable housing projects on offer in Iskandar Malaysia. Over 18 companies showcased their projects at the Property Showcase, including developers of affordable housing and lending banks. Prima Affordable Homes (PR1MA) gave a series of helpful and informative seminars, which were attended by locals looking for advice on financing and purchasing housing in Iskandar Malaysia. In addition to the affordable home showcase, the property showcase kicked-off the ‘Discover Iskandar Malaysia’ Campaign by IRDA and iProperty Malaysia. The Campaign is hoped to enhance the merits of Iskandar Malaysia and its future. Talks on public interest issues such as ‘The impact on real estate in Iskandar Malaysia following recent 2014 Budget announcement’ and other areas of interest were also held.
JB: Rose Of The South But Beware The Thorns! Steve Cowen A local business owner who specialises in helping clients to get the most from their website and online marketing activities. He is also the Principal of the leading locally owned International School in JB. You can learn more about Steve and contact him directly at my.linkedin.com/ in/stevejcowan/
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’m a foreigner living in Johor Bahru (JB) and over the decade or so that I’ve been in Malaysia, I’ve heard so many disparaging remarks about living in JB. The ‘Wild West at the end of the world’ as some of my apparently sophisticated friends have referred to it, but I’ve grown immune to their taunts. According to them, they have more shiny buildings, more ‘real’ International airports, cool bars and restaurants, cleaner beaches, bigger and better everything than JB has. Basically, for civilisation, culture and cool, JB is and never has been the place to be - according to what I’ve been told. However, isn’t the pace and style of JB life part of the reason why people – locals and incomers – are pretty content with being here? And hasn’t the success of Iskandar
Malaysia (IM) and the projects that they’ve served up so far only served to amplify the feeling that Johor and its environment is a pretty sound place to live, work and play? For me – and for many foreigners like me - JB has always had enough positive attributes to outweigh the downsides, although some remain well hidden until you’ve been here a while. For instance, my neighbourhood still has a unique ‘Kampung feel’ about it and a sense of community that is all too rare nowadays. But I question whether the speed of change is threatening what makes JB such a unique place to live. I wonder whether there should be a note of caution applied alongside the understandable enthusiasm for what is happening in double-quick time throughout the region, a slight ‘dab’ of the handbrake to return things to a slightly lesshyped reality. See, I sense that the current ‘JB story’ is so uncritically positive, that everything and everybody is singing the praises of development so deafeningly, that maybe it is just too good to be true. I don’t want to rain on the parade or be too Scrooge-like, but I do see cracks in the façade, potential danger points that need to be recognised and addressed. And it would be better to do so sooner rather than later, because who knows when it becomes
(part 1)
too late? As examples, let me highlight a few areas of concern; starting with schools. Go back a few years and there was only one International school in JB. Now, there are loads of them, with many more piling in. I hesitate to suggest it, but it really is like a Wild West-style Gold rush (in more ways than one, as I’ll demonstrate in a moment)! Has anyone considered just where all the children are going to come from to fill the classrooms? Obviously, finding a school for their youngsters is one major factor that parents consider before deciding where to live. Equally obvious is that there are now plenty of schools to choose from in JB, which is great, but they are all fighting for the same (relatively limited) supply of students. The fact that this is happening is crucially important to the future development of IM and JB. Sadly however, aside from a very small minority, almost every International school seems to be here to grab their slice of the pie, to make money in other words. What happens to the students when this or that school doesn’t make enough profit to keep the owners happy?
Remember, these are not philanthropic organisations dedicated to the education and welfare of their darling pupils, come what may. Instead, they are money-making ventures, almost all of which are owned by outsiders. They are businesses and like all businesses, they must make a healthy profit to stay afloat. When they don’t, they close the doors for good, perhaps leaving a few hundred kids marooned. Sure, there are other schools to absorb the overflow, but how do the parents feel about it and how does it reflect on the region? Also, as someone who has been actively involved in the International school scene in JB for many years, I have serious reservations about the quality of teaching in any school driven by profit. It’s a sad but obvious fact that where profit is #1, costs – including salaries – are sliced to the bone, and why should schools be any exception to this rule? The result? Cheaper and poorer quality staff and these are the people who are educating your kids! How long can a situation like this continue before something gives? Not long, right? And how is it going to reflect on the region when this stuff hits the fan? to be continued
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Property Investment ¬ Foreign Perspective Ed Cheong is the Singapore founder of the Iskandar Malaysia Investors Forum and Rafflesland Group of Companies which provides platform for property investors to gain insights and world-class investment strategies. He is contactable at iskandar@rafflesland.com or +65 97111271
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eason’s Greetings to all Iskandarian Investors from Hanoi, Vietnam. I write this month’s article from Hanoi, Vietnam, where I melded my personal interests in Vietnamese arts with a personal look into the economic development of the country. My work and personal voyages are frequently across Asia and Europe where I keep a keen lookout for the micro economy and lives of people and opportunities. I am sure Jim Rogers, the famed investor based in Singapore, would approve of my researchbased travels and writings as he does much of the same too! The last time I visited Vietnam was with Temasek Holdings and Keppel of Singapore. On an official mission visit, we got to know the macro policies and
directions of the country strategically. At that time the property sector was red hot with Keppel making huge moves into Ho Chi Minh City. Today, the mood in Hanoi is still buoyant, the people on the streets positive and outward looking. But the country has suffered one of its worst financial crisis with a crushing currency devaluation and capital outflow in the mid to late of the last decade. Recovering from the overheating, the current focus has remained intact in manufacturing and textile although the property sector is still languishing after a bust. However, many Singaporean and Malaysian developers have suffered significantly with their rush into the burgeoning 80 million population market with real wages dropping in a rising inflation cycle. I hope the Vietnamese episode above will encourage our readers to analyse for themselves the boom-bust cycle and relate back to their home market. Without careful and often hard fiscal and monetary stewardship, emerging markets are prone to shocks due to global capital dislocation. Iskandar Malaysia (IM) investors should take heart that the recent property measures are meant to keep the market
even keel. The Malaysian government is also taking necessary and even unpopular steps to tackle the country’s current account and also unsustainable debt ratios by broadening its tax base and expenses. However, the timing and forms of such measures must be calibrated carefully to avoid additional burden on the public, as such prudence is needed to stop crushing consequences on the real economy. The overall investment market will be healthy only with jobs, standard of living, consumption power and wages remaining healthy. That is the overriding concern of people, government and investors. The good news is that foreign direct investment into Malaysia continues to accelerate with the banking sector remaining robust with a positive outlook issued by rating agencies. With such outcome, I don’t foresee any property bust in IM nor in the overall Malaysian market. Activities will slow down as intended with overall returns keeping pace with inflation and borrowing costs. IM will lead in capital appreciation with the vast Singapore-based international investor community. Which means we should stay positive, grateful and maintain the course!
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Houses for Veterans The Johor state government has allocated 211 of the 1,055 medium low-cost affordable houses in Taman Mutiara Rini here for former Armed Forces (MAF) personnel. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the project, developed by Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd, will see the construction of 748 semi-detached houses priced at RM220,000 each. The remaining 307 units are terrace houses pegged at RM80,000 each. All the houses will be completed by this year. Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd, a member of the Boustead Group, was launched in 1996 and since then the company has successfully completed the development of 152ha with 7,000 homes of various sizes and designs. Boustead Holdings Bhd chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali Che Mat said the affordable housing in the state is in line with the federal government’s vision to provide homes for low-income earners.
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The Iskandarian Issue 17 | JAN 2014 Advertisement