The Iskandarian E-Paper May 2020 by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

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ISKANDARIAN

Iskandar Malaysia’s Official Newspaper is an effort by True Soul Media PLT & Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)

ISSUE 93

Breathing Right

MAY 2020

WWW.THEISKANDARIAN.COM

Monthly Drill

Late diagnosis of lung cancer results in higher mortality rate Page 12

Housing Loan Deferment

Accumulating Wealth

Page 20

Page 14

with Cheryl Lim Pei Shi from AME Development Sdn Bhd

Dealing with the Unknown

Page 5

Take Me To: A Childhood Cancer Project Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the whole wide world early 2020, we’ve all underwent lockdowns and adapted to the new normal way of living by practising social distancing. However, during the lockdown period, getting supplies became difficult for some, even for hospitals that housed not only those who are suffering from the coronavirus disease but also their other warded patients, especially those with terminal illnesses. Having this thought in mind, ‘Take Me To: A Childhood Cancer Project (TMT)’, a nonprofit project that provides weeklong, cost-free vacation to families with children suffering from the last stages of terminal cancer; an effort made come true by a 14 year old Marius Madsen, also known as ‘Abang Lego’, started raising funds through Facebook and connected with SimplyGiving website since February to provide care packages to children warded in hospitals. Huggies Malaysia joined hands with TMT and all care packages were distributed to the Oncology Paediatric Wards at 3 main hospitals that TMT have been in touch with closely since

the beginning of their project - Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor, Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Terengganu. TMT is still raising funds to ensure that supplies are enough monthly and interested parties may get in touch with them at www.facebook.com/ achildhoodcancerproject/ or donate through SimplyGiving https://www.simplygiving. com/appeal/childcancersupportpackage by Norfy Shafeq TI

Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Brings Hope to Johorians

government-appointed representatives must first identify target groups and complete forms on their behalf. The forms are then keyed into the e-Ihsan Johor system for processing before the money can be released and electronically transferred to qualified applicants. Applications for the

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assistance were being carried out by agents appointed by the state government, including assemblymen, local councils and district officers. “We will help those from the M40 group and not just focus on the B40 group,” said Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad during a live conference on Facebook. by Edey Suresh TI

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Coming Back from Singapore?

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Pic by - Kyaizee Mohd

he Johor state government has announced that it will be providing either RM250 or RM500 in one-off assistance to those who do not qualify for existing welfare schemes like BPN or Bantuan Sara Hidup under its Bantuan Ihsan Johor scheme. The aid distribution is a seven-step process where

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

NEWS

Key Hotspots Undergo Sanitation SEND LETTERS OR INQUIRIES TO facebook.com/theiskandarian editor@theiskandarian.com www.theiskandarian.com

Our Friends

Preventive measures at the public market and the Larkin Central Bus Terminal

ohor Bahru City Council (MBJB) in conjunction with the Fire and Rescue Department, as well as Johor Bahru Health Department and Larkin Sentral Property Bhd has executed decontamination process at the Larkin Public Market (Pasar Awam) and Larkin Central Bus Terminal on 6th April 2020 as one of the efforts to prevent further COVID-19 outbreak in the state. Present on the sanitising day was Mohd Izhar Ahmad, Chairman of State Investment, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperative and Human Resources Committee and the

Disinfecting Larkin Public Market Larkin Assemblyman. The operation which involved 90 members had covered the Larkin Sentral area to disinfect surfaces that are potentially prone to contamination, and

Social Heroes COVID-19 Ground Report

Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

ocial Hero Foundation’s (SHF) initiative Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA), with their Winners Network of around 60 Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and 60 Non-governmental individuals (NGIs), quickly saw many of their Hero organisations and individuals from the IMSHA Winners Network mobilising aid to help disadvantaged communities such as the poor, the stateless, the homeless and refugees in the city. The aid rendered is in response to the Nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) from the 18th of March in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation has published their first report on the work being carried out by the heroes for the first and second phase of the MCO from the 18th of March till the 10th of April 2020. There will be a follow up report

were done as per the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) public place sanitation guidelines. 40 service contrac tors, management representatives and Larkin Sentral Waqaf Brigade also

after the MCO period as well. The report aims to create awareness as well as the financial impact undertaken from the NGOs and volunteers. “Our winners have done phenomenal work during the MCO period. Not only have they worked hand-in-hand with government bodies to provide much-needed aid, they have also played a critical role in closing the gap of disparity by collaborating effectively with each other. The synergy and pooled resources has enabled them to serve the needs of those who may otherwise have been left in destitute,” said Thanam Visvanathan– Suresh, Chairman of IMSHA. The report also provides a moving forward strategy in the form of a Humanitarian Response Plan. The plan proposes a collective intelligence approach with data sharing and a Support Fund to raise finances to address immediate needs. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been included in this awareness report to emphasise the need for purposeful partnerships. The report is available at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/socialheroawards - by The Iskandarian TI

joined in the operation, briefing and explaining on the sanitation process to the contractors when they disinfect public interest places such as the Larkin Sentral Bus Station, the market and the surroundings from time to time to ensure it is always clean and safe for patrons. On a normal given day, both the Larkin Public Market and Larkin Central Bus Terminal are usually very crowded with patrons and passengers; therefore, sanitation process is highly welcome. As of 5th April 2020, 51 mosques, 42 prayer rooms, 5 public markets (daily basis), 5 public parks, 19 bridges and 255 bus stops have been sanitised by MBJB. The disinfecting works will be carried on continuously to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Johor Bahru city and its residents. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Dry food being handed out to underprivileged families

Volunteers helping to sew PPEs for the frontliners

Published by True Soul Media PLT [No.51-B, Jalan Impian Emas 5/1, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Johor Bahru] Printed by Percetakan Osacar Sdn Bhd [No. 16, Jalan IDA 1a, Industrial Desa Aman, Taman Desa Aman, Kepong, 52200 Kuala Lumpur] 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.

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

Red Crescent Sends Medical Aid

he Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) has donated a ventilator and personal protective equipment (PPE) to Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang, Johor in aid of COVID-19 response through the #responsMALAYSIA initiative. HH Tunku Temenggong of Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the Chairman of the MCRS National Committee for Community Services and Health, graced the handover ceremony of the ventilator and PPEs to the hospital’s director, Dr. Hjh. Azura Abu Bakar. The medical items worth RM70,000 were channeled through the MRCS’s #responsMalaysia initiative - a movement to gather corporations, NGOs and communities to come together to participate in a coordinated and meaningful way to alleviate the devastating effects of COVID-19. Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom

will receive 1 ventilator worth RM49,500, 1 carton of N95 masks and protective gowns, 2 cartons of gloves and protective masks and 500 units of face shields to be used by its medical staff for their protection as they man the front lines. Also present during the handover ceremony were MRCS Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Community Services and Health, Dato’ Hj. Mohd Rashidi Mohd. Nor, and MRCS Secretary General, Dato’ Sayed Rahman Sayed Mohd. Prior to this presentation, the National Committee had also donated a ventilator to Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru together with various PPEs to the tune of RM75,000.00. For general information and enquiries on #responsMALAYSIA, please call Karl Dass Reddy at +6019-645 2774 or Jaya Maruthan (+6013-354 0097). Alternatively, visit www. responsmalaysia.com for more details. - by The Iskandarian TI

HH Tunku Idris Iskandar (middle) at the handover ceremony (Pic credit: Royal Press Office)

Aid from Brothers in Arms

n the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Persatuan Doktor-Doktor Johor (PDDJ) stepped in to provide aid to their fellow frontliners by supplying much-needed PPEs to various hospitals in Johor. The contributions include 57,500 pair of gloves, 56,677 N95 face masks, 30,100 face masks, 21,634 face shields, 2915 isolation gowns, 1,838 boot covers and more. Medical equipment donations in the form of 6 automatic beds, 42 intubation box, 20 blood pressure set, 2 cardiac tables and 2 emergency trolleys were also handed over. Apart from that, 4300 raw materials were ready for the volunteers from the association to be made into PPEs. As of 24th April, PDDJ managed to donate 40 different categories of supplies to 12 different places all over Johor and even extended as far as Melaka. Benefactors of the donation includes Hospital Sultanah Aminah JB, Hospital

Health Minister, Dr Adham Baba (right) with Dr Ng Kim Fong Sultan Ismail JB, Hospital Kluang, other hospitals in JB, the Batu Pahat district, Royal Police of Malaysia (PDRM), Johor Bahru Public Health Laboratory (MKAJB), Johor Bahru District Health Office (PKDJB), Kluang Prison, Muar district, Kulai district and Melaka. The medical supplies donations were handed by PDDJ’s President, Dr Ng Kim Fong, to the Director of Johor Health Department, Dr Aman bin Rabu and were also inspected by Health Minister, Dr Adham Baba. Interested parties could help contribute to aid the healthcare workers through PDDJ’s at www.facebook.com/ PersatuanDoktor2Johor/ - by Norfy Shafeq TI

NEWS

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

NEWS

Coming Back Welcome to the from Singapore? New World of Learning Gather all your gadgets and apps at fingertips and your sanity too!

f you are a WFH (work home home) parent with homeschooling children due to the continuous lockdown we’re facing; no thanks to Mr. C, continue reading and yes, welcome to my world! So, a little bird told me that WFH, homeschooling, e-learning and so on is here to stay for a little while to keep us safe from the deadly virus that we’re all so familiar now like a daily mantra (yes, no prizes for guessing)! For a person who is very familiar with WFH situation, it’s no secret of the few challenges we face daily managing between home and work and keeping a steady “separate” lives under one roof. What seemed like a piece of cake to handle started to crumble when children are thrown into our lives – worst if they are toddlers or school-goers who are now stuck in a unique situation of learning from home with parents as their teachers! It is a nightmare not only to

the children but parents too as we’re now stuck in a situation of juggling between WFH, chores, cooking and teaching. I dare say we are superheroes too wearing many different hats and keeping sane at the same time! So you think, well it can’t be that bad right? I just need to follow the millions of instructions thrown at me opening the various gadgets and apps – easy peasy! That’s where you’re wrong. I discovered the hard way that my child needs assistance as the subjects he was comfortably learning in school had to end abruptly because of the naughty virus; so that only meant one thing – we had to take over the teaching process so the child can understand it first, then set about on completing the tasks as instructed by the teacher/s. Remote Virtual Learning Environment, communicating to friends and teachers via other online platforms has now become the child’s best friend. But it seems a little taxing when parents are now main subject teachers, language teachers, PE master, Music maestro, Art teachers and so on with only a little help from the teachers who are not fully engaged

online in real time like how they would if the child was taught in school. Perhaps, synchronous lesson delivery (where students and teachers are required to be engaged on the same task at the same time) would be of greater help to us but it may be difficult to be achieved virtually when the learners are younger children in either kindergarten or early key stages (primary). Many say – welcome to the new normal of learning. Though it is wonderful that children’s learning journey is not disrupted thanks to technology, but do we want this sort of new normal to stay in the long run without teachers and classmates by their side, physically? I don’t for sure. However, the one thing this crisis has taught me is to adapt to changes and we’ll come out stronger than before, including our young ones being more prepared to whatever else the world would face in the future. - by Priya Manikam TI *The views expressed are opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of the newspaper’s owners and editorial board.

alaysians who want to come back from Singapore will need an entry permit from the Malaysian High Commission in the island republic. Johor health and environment Exco R. Vidyananthan said those applying for the permit need to provide their name, identity card number, passport number, departure date and documents such as a copy of their working pass, long-term pass, permanent resident pass or students pass. “All of the documents must be emailed to the Malaysian High Commissioner in Singapore at stmsg@mhc.org.sg at least two days before the date they plan to travel back to Malaysia. The entry permit will be emailed to them and they will need to show the document to Malaysian Immigration officers when entering the country,” he said in a statement on the 26th of April. On the same day, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri

Yaakob said during his live press conference broadcast that a maximum of 400 Malaysians will be allowed to return home from Singapore every day through the Johor Causeway and MalaysiaSingapore Second-Link to avoid congestion at entry points. “The other SOPs are as per usual, where Malaysians returning will have to undergo the mandatory quarantine period at the designated quarantine centres for 14 days,” he said. In Singapore, the circuit breaker has been extended until 1st June - by The Iskandarian TI

Meal served at one of the quarantine centre

Health Dept: Drive Thru Meds

djusting to the MCO, those with chronic illnesses who require their medication can get them through safe measures put in place by the Johor state government. Johor health and environment Exco R. Vidyananthan said to enable medication to be easily dispensed to patients, the state health department had initiated value-added services such as sending them via post and setting up drive-through pharmacies. “For those requesting for medication to be sent via post,

the government will bear the costs until 30th June,” he added. The locations in Johor Bahru are at Mahmoodiah Health Clinic, Sultan Ismail Health Clinic, Taman Universiti Health Clinic and Persiaran Tanjung in Tampoi Medical Supplies Centre. In Kulai, it is at Kulai Besar Health Clinic, in Segamat at Segamat Hospital and Segamat Health Clinic, in Batu Pahat at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital, in Muar at Sultanah Fatimah Hospital and Maharani Health Clinic while in Kota Tinggi it is at Sg Rengit Health Clinic. - by The Iskandarian TI

Goods Supply and Prices Checked at 2772 Premises State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) is keeping a watchful eye

s of 28th April, 2772 premises were checked by the State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) comprising of 2335 grocers and supermarkets, 283 wholesalers and 85 factories to ensure there is adequate

supply of basic essential items. In addition to monitoring the supply of controlled goods such as sugar, cooking oil and wheat flour, the inspection also looked into basic necessities such as dry goods, fresh goods, ready-made goods, drinks and other essentials. Supply of items including rice, bread, milk powder, sardines, cookies, instant noodles, fresh chicken, eggs, coffee, tea, vegetables, face mask, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, diapers, medicine among others were inspected.

Based on the ministry’s inspection, there were no price hikes reported and all businesses adhered to the rules and regulation imposed. The ministry however urged the public to channel information or complaints on lack of supply or price increase throughout the MCO to https://eaduan.kpdnhep.gov. my, call 1-800-886-800 or email e-aduan@ kpdnhep.gov.my The public can also use the Ez Adu KPDNHEP app, call 03-8882 6088/6245 or WhatsApp 019-279 4317. - by Edey Suresh TI

Officers were mobilised to inspect the availability of goods and ensure no price hikes were found

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

NEWS

M O N T H LY D R ILL EXCLUSIVE Cheryl Lim Pei Shi is the Director of Property Development Division at AME Development Sdn Bhd, where her primary role includes sales and marketing strategic planning, conducting presentations, planning and organising events in relation to marketing and publicity launches, organising site tours and exhibitions, and submitting the necessary information for various awards and accolades for the property development division. She is also involved in negotiating commercial terms including pricing and technical specifications and liaising with the project management teams on the completion and delivery of properties. Cheryl joined AME Development as a Marketing Administration Executive in August 2011 and was promoted to the position of Assistant Marketing Manager in March 2012, before being appointed as the Marketing Director in February 2013. In October 2018, Cheryl was appointed as the Alternate Director on the Board of AME Elite Consortium Berhad, the investing holding company of AME Development Sdn Bhd. AME Elite is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. AME Elite Consortium Bhd (which AME development is a part of) was public listed last year. Share with us the journey of a Johor-based company achieving this proud feat Our journey in the past 25 years has been nothing short of exhilarating! We have not only extended the breadth of our scope of services, but more importantly emerged to be the preferred industrial space solutions provider for many domestic and international companies through our i-Park industrial parks. In 1995, we provided design-and-build for industrial spaces as a main contractor for local and international clients. We paid close attention to our clients’ industryspecific requirements, and witnessed them undergoing the process of setting up and settling in, including the tedium and hassle of administrative regulatory paperwork, liaison with authorities and frequently delayed timelines. This sparked the idea of developing a well-managed full-service industrial park where customers could collaborate with an experienced designer-and-builder to construct the building according to specific requirements, benefit from the installed utilities infrastructure, and leverage on our regulatory network with authorities to commence operations on time. Today, we have succeeded in building three highly-regarded i-Parks, some of which have even been recognised by international platforms like FIABCI World Prix due to our outstanding quality. We have also attracted clients from various countries, such as the United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore, and others. Tell us more about your award winning i-Park Our award-winning i-Parks combines a tranquil resort-concept with a gated and guarded industrial park to provide a soothing sanctuary amid natural surroundings for a wholesome and safe

work environment. We started with i-Park@ Indahpura in 2011, which quickly gained popularity and won multiple awards due to its innovativeness. Encouraged by its overwhelming success, we set out to develop i-Park@Senai Airport City in 2017, as we sought to continue setting new benchmarks among Malaysia’s industrial parks. All the features we have invested in go beyond the needs of nextgeneration enterprises from Malaysia and internationally. Our typical clientele desire a premier address that not only meets their latest industrial space requirements for long term business growth, but also attracts the modern workforce who desires to immerse themselves in the best of work, play, and lifestyle balance. The attractive amenities at our i-Parks include a clubhouse, gymnasium, swimming pool, outdoor sport facilities, jogging track, cycling lanes, comfortable and wellmanaged i-Stay workers’ accommodation, versatile offices and a commercial hub.

Director

Cheryl Lim Pei Shi Dire c tor of Prop er ty D e velopment Div ision at AME D e velopment S dn Bhd design, nature, as well as environmental sustainability. The buildings at our industrial park are not only situated amongst lush greeneries and a host of lifestyle amenities, but also are designed based on green building concepts with environmentally friendly features such as rain water harvesting and emissions monitoring. As the modern workforce strives for a balance between work, lifestyle, and sustainability, we also believe that our i-Parks are best positioned to enable our global customers to attract the best of talents.

You have managed to secure a mix of sectors to be based at i-Park, what’s your secret amid challenging markets? The key component is that we take the time to listen to our customers’ unique requirements. While we have deep understanding of the industrial space and business requirements across many industries, our ability to cater to their customised requirements and provide a solution places us in a unique position to offer our clients the best level of service quality, innovation, and execution. We take on the role of a friendly partner that strives to ensure that they continue to succeed and grow.

With share prices fluctuating due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, is there a recovery plan being put together by your team? Rather than worrying about our share prices which is largely reflective of the regional markets apart from Bursa Malaysia, our core focus at this critical juncture would be to ensure that the entire Group is engaging with customers and employees in a proactive manner to maintain a safe and secure environment for all. In the mid-term we will still execute our growth strategies, such as expanding our i-Parks not only within Johor but also to various parts of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as increasing sales and marketing activities in Malaysia and internationally to grow our client base. Of course, apart from enhancing our business fundamentals, having a good communications plan to guide our interactions with existing and potential new investors is also important to share price performance, and we would continue to engage in transparent and insightful communication with the investing public.

AME Development is known for synergising nature and work. What motivated this concept? We believe that the modern workforce would thrive best in an environment that integrates the elements of modern

What are some of the notable awards received or CSR projects AME Development is involved in? Over the years, i-Park@Indahpura and i-Park@Senai Airport City developments have clinched numerous awards notably the

World Silver Winner in Industrial Category at the prestigious 2019 FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards, Malaysia Property Award 2018 (Industrial Category) by FIABCIMalaysia, Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award 2018 by Edge Property and Platinum Winner for “Most Conducive Workplace” for 2016/2017 by The Iskandar Malaysia Accolades. What’s in the pipeline for 2020 and 2021? We strive to continuously bring in new innovations and set new benchmarks in our industrial parks in becoming a worldclass leader in this space. Having built considerable successes with our existing i-Parks, we are now raising the bar with Phase 3 of i-Park@Senai Airport City. The latest phase offers the same exemplary service to our clients, but stands out from its predecessors with new detached factory designs and enhanced range of amenities. We would also expand our existing i-Parks in Johor by acquiring new landbanks in their vicinities, just as we did for Phase 3 of i-Park@Senai Airport City, and recently with Plot 108 at i-Park@Indahpura. We also aim to bring the i-Park brand beyond Johor and into various parts of Peninsular Malaysia, and are currently working on identifying suitable landbanks in notable areas such as the Klang Valley and other key industrial hubs. What do you do in your free time? I enjoy taking part in various sports and recreational activities sprouting from the flourishing i-Park community. My favourites are yoga and rhythmic cycling, which are reinvigorating after the end of a busy workday. I am also interested in podcasts and webinars in the areas of leadership and innovation as it helps me develop a stronger skill set to lead our strategic marketing and planning team, so that the Group can reach the next heights. TI

The Iskandarian ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020 Advertisement

s e i v Go on an adventure with Artemis Fowl!

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Music Updates

editor’s note

MAY 2020 | Page 2

UMG Introduces blackbear By Universal Music Singapore

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

appy Labour Day from home everyone! This is probably one of those rare moments where you don’t have to look forward to any public holiday leaves as it is now granted to you on a platter in the comfort of your homes to enjoy a long weekend doing the stuff you please. For those who’ve been working hard juggling between WFH, kids and chores, well sit back and think of something fun to do instead – you deserve the break! Disney presents ‘Artemis Fowl’ this month – Descended from a long line of criminal masterminds, 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl finds himself in a battle of strength against powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance. The beginning of the month is still the fasting season for the Muslims before it ends with Hari Raya celebrations by the fourth week of May. As we still face a unique situation, fret not as our hoteliers and the local bazaars have come up with buka puasa e-bazaar for you to enjoy all your favourite goodies safely at home. Talk about technology! Our travel plans may be halted for a while, but not our globetrotting minds. When the time is right for us to pack our bags and head somewhere, go on a magical culinary tour where you would not only feast with your palate but your eyes too. 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 and https://waveslifestyle.com/ May celebrates workers/employees, mothers, teachers and Hari Raya too. The Iskandarian team would like to extend our wishes to every celebrant out there.

Priya SEND LETTERS OR INQUIRIES TO www.facebook.com/waveslifestyle www.waves-lifestyle.com Waves.lifestyle@gmail.com Waves Lifestyle

ince first crashing onto the scene in the mid-2010s, multi-platinum-selling singer/songwriter/producer blackbear has continually turned heads and defied all expectation, effortlessly mixing his hedonistic hell-raising and maniac humour with deeply heartfelt emotion. Hyper-creative and massively prolific, he’s also collaborated with

the likes of Pharrell Williams and Linkin Park, and brought his topnotch songwriting skills to Justin Bieber’s six-times-platinum single “Boyfriend.” And in his unflinching honesty about his own demons and depression, blackbear creates a powerful sense of solidarity— ultimately moving forward with his longtime mission of “inspiring everyone to be more unapologetic about who they are.” Showing no signs of slowing down, blackbear recently joined in a series of exciting collaborations, including Marshmello’s epic 2019 single “Tongue Tied” (also featuring Yungblud). Additionally, he is set to return with a new body of work this year that pushes his brilliantly warped artistry even further. The first glimpse at his latest metamorphosis, the fantastically zeitgeisty anthem “hot girl bummer” dropped in August 2019, reaching

#5 at Top 40 radio and earning platinum certification from the RIAA — eventually emerging as blackbear’s most successful smash since 2017’s double-platinum “do re mi.” TI

Fariz Jabba and omarKENOBI Collaborate for the First Time

riple-threat Fariz Jabba collaborates with producer and rapper omarKENOBI for the first time on “Kalah”. Following Fariz Jabba’s hit single “Masa”, a track that shook his fans and garnered 2.5 million Spotify streams and almost 1.5 million YouTube views, “Kalah” is poised to supersede the former’s success. In “Kalah”, the message is clear and the order is tall: Fariz Jabba and omarKENOBI never lose. With the release of “Masa”, Fariz Jabba began building his artistry beyond rap. The organic success of the single put doubts about Fariz Jabba’s foray into singing to rest. “Kalah” moves further to fortify his artistic convictions: a chorus unfazed,

resounding with self-assuredness. “We decided we weren’t going to think twice about how we felt when we wrote the lyrics, so the silly and witty lines in the song are my most honest thoughts,” confessed Fariz Jabba. So is the chorus’ bold assertion. This confidence does not come unearned, but rather from an attitude the artiste applies throughout his work and life: “No matter how much life tries to knock you down, admitting defeat is not an option!” Fariz Jabba has not and will never lose. omarKENOBI, who produced and raps on the song, created the beat for “Kalah” in his home studio with Fariz Jabba. The trap-inspired hip hop track was fashioned from his uninhibited and unapologetic

artistic liberty. “What started out as a fun song for Fariz and I turned out to be something a lot bigger. Creating ‘Kalah’ was one of those moments of pure unadulterated fun and I was so excited when I found out the release was a go,” shared omarKENOBI. “Kalah” is the second solo release for rapper omarKENOBI, who has featured on singles by Sam Rui, Emir Hermono, and Fauxe. The synth-driven track, which is built on the unabashed creativity of both rappers, will resonate with listeners for its honesty and candour - what you see is what you get, and what you get is a winning tune. Listen to ‘Kalah’: https://lnk.to/ KalahPremiere TI

MAY 2020 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Six Steps of Adaptation (Part 1)

othing is permanent. Life changes. It always has. When changes appear drastically, it can pull us out of our comfort zones. This is where our mind steps in into a new territory. It can either gather information to move forward or it can go blank and not know what to do. Here, we may experience a certain degree of mental panic and this is what happened to most Malaysians during the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. When the government announced a Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18th March, most aspects of our social life had to undergo a drastic change. If we reflect on our social lives, it is commonly related to food, work, education and leisure. The first two are highly associated with our survival and that would explain the panic and chaos we experienced for the first few weeks of the MCO. But, at this point, are you still trying to cope with the drastic changes happening in your life? If you experience difficulties to cope with the situation regardless of family, work, learning or business; you may want to try these six steps of adaptation. Being humans, we have an inner strength to adapt to extreme changes. You can follow these six steps or find one that suits you.

Genre: Action-Adventure Release date: 28th May 2020 Director: Kenneth Branagh Produced by: Judy Hofflund, Kenneth Branagh Screenplay by: Conor McPherson

Step One - Stay Calm It is not as easy as we say it. When drastic changes happen in our lives, it affects the foundation and security that we have. The first response we would get is fear. Even though fear has its purpose, staying calm gives us the strength to measure our situation from all angles. Taking this step gives our body protection from panic and exhaustion. Step Two - Find Our Balance We certainly could not help but feel emotional with the changes. The emotions can be manifested in the form of anger, nervousness or panic. Finding our balance simply means not wasting so much energy on feelings. Even though expressing feelings is good, but to be drained by it is unnecessary. TI

Executive Producers: Angus More Gordon, Matthew Jenkins Based on: Eoin Colfer Cast: Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, with Josh Gad, and Judi Dench

isney’s “Artemis Fowl,” based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer, is a fantastical, spellbinding adventure that follows the journey of 12-yearold genius Artemis Fowl, a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he seeks to find his father who has mysteriously disappeared. With the help of his loyal protector Butler, Artemis sets out to find

Source:

him, and in doing so uncovers an ancient, underground civilisation — the amazingly advanced world of fairies. Deducing that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to the secretive, reclusive fairy world, cunning Artemis concocts a dangerous plan — so dangerous that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the all-powerful fairies. TI

The Walt Disney Company Malaysia

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

MAY 2020 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

travel

Cooking Class on a Holiday? Think beyond Thailand for cooking classes; for the world is like an oyster waiting for you to explore it

By Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

acations that incorporate culture and culinary experiences have grown in popularity in recent years, with cooking classes and foodrelated activities providing opportunities for avid travellers to dig deep into a destination’s culture and flavours beyond the confines of sightseeing. However, travellers tend to associate cooking classes particularly with vacations to Thailand, but there’s certainly more than that on offer. As understanding a new culture is best through its food, here’s a list of captivating culinary experiences around the globe when the time is right to travel again!

under the guidance of a local expert. Compose Traditional Health Tonic in Indonesia At Capella Ubud, resident Jamu Specialist, or ‘Mbok Jamu’ will guide guests through the complex medicine and fascinating history, beginning with a trip through the rice paddies to a local fa rmers’ hut, where guests will compose the celebrated health tonic, using an ancient recipe which has been passed through the generations. Now a millennial health fix go-to, Jamu has been embedded in Indonesian life for centuries.

himself will accompany the group for a local meal at the brewery. Explore Croatia’s Vineyards and Countryside Embark on the unique culture of Croatia and Slovenia, with trips that incorporate its bustling cities, scenic countryside and the country’s varied local cuisine. Guests will The magnificent Machu Picchu in Peru Isidro Fish Market to meet local Chef Gonzalo for a private cooking lesson where they will learn how to prepare a typical Peruvian meal as well as the national drink, a Pisco Sour.

Learn the Art of Soba Making in Japan Sample beer at Capella Breidenbacher Hof Jamu is believed to have otherworldly healing powers

Learn to make soba noodles in Japan Curated and led by Walk Japan, the Kunisaki Retreat is a 7-day, 6-night guided tour centred on the spiritual Kunisaki Peninsula. Aside from immersing into Japanese culture of past and present, venturing through ethereal scenery and sleepy hamlets, travellers will also have the opportunity to dabble in the art of soba making. Soba noodles have a long history in Japan, and is part of washoku – traditional Japanese cuisine culminated across centuries of cooking practices. During their stay in Fukiji, guests will be taught to knead and roll out soba dough before cutting it into noodles CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY 2020

The herbal medicine is made up of natural ingredients, such as roots, bark, flowers, seeds and leaves, and is believed to have otherworldly healing powers. Guests can take away a bottled version of their concoction to enjoy within three days. Sample Beer from the Finest Breweries in Düsseldorf At Capella Breidenbacher Hof, Düsseldorf, guests can embark on a tailor-made tour through the picturesque old town where they are privy to an exclusive behind-thescenes of some of the city’s finest breweries. Drinking ‘Altbier’, the indigenous beer of Düsseldorf, is arguably the city’s most prominent tradition, harking back to over 3,000 years ago. After the tour and a couple of samples along the way – the Master Brewer

1st May

H A P P Y LA B OUR DAY

10th May

have once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the art of foraging for truffles from locals and hear stories behind traditional Croatian cuisine. Wine enthusiasts will also enjoy a private tour of the family-owned Kozlovic winery from one of the family members, before tasting the delicious vintages. Food lovers can indulge in the freshest Croatian oysters in Ston before heading onto the historical city of Dubrovnik. Experience a Feast in Lima Peru’s bustling capital Lima is fast becoming the food capital of Latin America, and it is home to an impressive selection of Michelin-starred restaurants. Peruvian cooking combines traditional practices with local ingredients, fusing together the country’s rich biodiversity and culture to shape its food. Venture into the vibrant Surquillo Market, one of Lima’s best food markets, before journeying onto the San

Enjoy World-Class Cuisine in South Africa As pioneers in low-impact luxury safari, Singita has phenomenal culinary programmes that showcase the heart owf Africa and safari. Menus follow a farm-to-table ethos and chefs use local, seasonal ingredients from the lodge’s on-

Lunch Spread at Singita Serengeti House in South Africa site vegetable gardens, nearby farmers and small enterprises – Singita supports the community as part of their 100-year purpose, as well as ensure guests worldclass cuisine. Alongside Singita’s food offerings, guests will enjoy premier wine from Singita’s extensive cellar, from South Africa and further afield TI

23rd – 24th May

16th May Happy Teacher's Day

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

LIVE

Tube Anemones: Flowers of the Sea…

n Mukim Tanjung Kupang, the locals call them ‘bunga’ but they are otherwise known as tube anemones. They are not actual anemones, but are in the sub-class Ceriantharia: falling in between corals and anemones. They live in a long leathery tube that is buried about 2 feet under the seabed, but

their tentacles can come out to trap food. Some anemones can retract (or pull back) their tentacles when surprised, others retract them at the low tide to retain moisture within their tube homes. If a tube anemone loses its tentacles to a predator, it can grow them back. Some nudibranchs like to dine on these invertebrates.

Tube anemones’ tentacles have two layers – the outer ones are used to trap food, and the inner ones pass the food along to its mouth (the central cavity). These animals come in myriad colours and often seem electrified against the substrate. Their tentacles have stinging cells which help it to entrap small fishes and zooplankton. Some tube anemones like to live in sandy substrates while others like to live in the softer

for more information

Serina Rahman

substrate around seagrass, but they prefer areas with strong currents as it helps them catch their prey. This species is also often used in aquariums because of how weirdly beautiful they look. Kelab Alami runs guided habitat walks in our seagrass meadows during the low tide; this lets you get up close and personal with these amazingly striking creatures in the wild. Log on to kelabalami.weebly.com

Serina Rahman is the co-founder of Kelab Alami and a Visiting Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. She is also a winner of the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA)

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

LIVE

Breathing Right Health

Late diagnosis of lung cancer results in higher mortality rate

ccording to the Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report 2012-2016, lung cancer is the third commonly seen cancer in the nation, accounting for at 9.8%. The same report cites colorectal cancer as number two at 13.5%. However, the survival rates for both are vastly different despite the marginal difference. The Malaysian Study on Cancer Survival (MySCan) 2018 notes that there is a 51.1% chance of five-year relative survival for colorectal cancer but for lung cancer, it is only 11% – the lowest recorded. It is not just in Malaysia where this is evident; globally, the prognosis for stage IV lung cancer is poor where the survival rate is only around 5%. Why the difference? Evidence points to a late diagnosis in lung cancer, and that makes all the difference between surviving the cancer or not. In Malaysia, only three to four percentages of those diagnosed with lung cancer are in Stage I but up to 90% are already in Stage III or Stage IV. Even those with the most symptoms are only diagnosed when their cancer is at an advanced stage, says Dr Ronald Lim Chor Kuan, Respiratory and Internal Medicine Specialist, specialising in lung cancer from Regency Specialist Hospital. “This disease causes very limited symptoms and may even be asymptomatic at the early stage, resulting in difficulty in early diagnosis.” Symptoms of lung cancer include cough, chest pain, hemoptysis and shortness of breath, loss of weight or appetite, which many would brush off as a prolonged cold, adding to the reasons why lung cancer is often diagnosed too late. Also, patients’ reluctance to have these symptoms checked out – like a persistent cough – can delay the diagnosis as well. Despite it being caught late, one of the risk factors for lung cancer is something that can be avoided early on before it impacts your health: Smoking. It’s a well-known fact that cigarette smoking can lead to lung cancer – whether you are the one smoking or if you are exposed to secondhand smoke. “Approximately 85 to 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by voluntary or involuntary cigarette smoking. There are also a 20 to 30% of increased risks in lung cancer from secondhand smoke exposure associated with living with a smoker. Thus, both active and passive smokers carry the risks of developing lung cancer,” says Dr Lim. Therefore, it is essential for you to snub out that cigarette and make it a point to quit for your health’s sake. In fact, the smoking ban in eateries

ith the Movement Control Order (MCO) being extended to 12th May 2020 for now, some of us might feel a heightened sense of anxiety and worry on what will happen during and beyond these uncertain times. There have been several tips and advice given such as finding a new hobby, engaging in meditative exercises, maintaining connection with friends and loved ones through online platforms, trying new recipes, and many more other self-care techniques. Another useful way to improve our well-being is getting involved in pro-social effort that benefits and contributes to the community, as suggested by a recent research. Recently, a Facebook platform “Caremongering Malaysia” has been created to provide opportunities for Malaysians to

and restaurants drive the point towards increasing public awareness on the dangers of direct or indirect smoking. There are also other risk factors for lung cancer, such as family history, existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary tuberculosis, exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, chromium, silica, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diesel exhaust. Think you’re safe in your home away from all these dangerous elements? Think again: “Never forget of indoor pollutants too as it is a major risk factor for lung cancer in women who’ve never smoked before living in several Asian regions,” says Dr Lim. The fact is anyone can get lung cancer, whether it is because of your lifestyle choices or genetic predisposition. Treating the Cancer Lung cancer can be categorised into two types – Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) accounting for 15% of the all cancer cases, and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 85%. The type you have will determine the kind of treatment you’ll get. There have been lots of breakthrough improvements in the management of NSCLC, whether it is target therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy as well as antiangiogenesis therapy. Yet, the treatment efficacy and prognosis for SCLC remains unsatisfactory. “SCLC is a rapid growing cancer cell type with shorter tumor doubling time. Recent two studies added immunotherapy to the standard first line chemotherapy regimen – platinum and etoposide. The treatment arm with added immunotherapy shows significantly prolonged overall survival as compared to chemotherapy alone – these are encouraging results and introduce a new page to the treatment of SCLC, which before 2019 had limited treatment options,” says Dr Lim.

Your doctor will also select the correct treatment according to your cancer stage. For Stage I and Stage II – which are considered as early stage lung cancer – surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment. “Depending on the size and location of the cancer, there are different ways of surgery. For medically inoperable patients, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is also a choice of treatment”, adds Dr Lim. For stage II disease, neoadjuvant chemotherapy follows by surgery or surgery follows by adjuvant chemotherapy is the optimal treatment option. While lung cancer is mostly diagnosed at a later stage (Stage IIIB, IIIC or Stage IV), making it difficult to be treated effectively, its treatment has entered a new era of personalized medicine since the discovery of oncogenic driver mutation. “At present, lung cancer is one of the most successful personalized treatment-based cancers among all cancer type. Therefore, the best and effective treatment for advanced lung cancer is to choose the right drug for the right person and target at the right timing,” explains Dr Lim. You don’t have to wait till it’s too late to get a diagnosis though, especially if you are in the high-risk group. Data shows that low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in those aged more than 55 year-old who have more than 30 pack-year history of smoking, or those aged more than 50 years-old who have more than 20 pack-year history of smoking with addition risks factors that increase lung cancer, picks up lung cancers earlier, thus reducing mortality. “LDCT has been shown to reduce the relative mortality of lung cancer by 20%, in the National Lung Screening Trial in United States,” says Dr Lim. However, like many diseases, it pays to start early to reduce the risks of lung cancer, many of which you can take your own initiative to do so. If you’re smoking, make a concentrated effort to quit smoking. It can be hard for the first few months but after that, your lungs will thank you for it. Also, if you are surrounded by secondhand smoke, walk away – you have the right to not inhale it. With everything else, eat in moderation, exercise regularly, and go for regular health screenings if you’re in a high-risk group. - by Regency Specialist Hospital TI (Sources:

https://lungcancer.net.my/Article_HCP/MNCR%202012-2016%20 FINAL%20(PUBLISHED%202019).pdf)

Taking care of yourself by contributing to others What you can do for others during Movement Control Order? offer or seek for help during this pandemic season. The most interesting thing about the portal is reading the experience of the “caremongers.” Even though some of them feel down emotionally and tired physically during this MCO season, they felt they have done something important at the end of the day by coordinating the charity movements online or delivering bags of

http://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Laporan/

Umum/Malaysian_Study_on_Cancer_Survival_MySCan_2018.pdf and

groceries to communities who need them most (with permission from the authorities). Perhaps it is by helping others that some could shift their focus on the sense of isolation caused by MCO to the satisfaction of connecting with and creating a supportive community for the well-being of self and others. Closer to home crusading with their charity efforts is the Iskandar Malaysia social heroes (IMSHA). Find out more about their efforts via: https://www.facebook.com/ socialheroawards/ On the other hand, for people who are stressed and might benefit from a conversation with a helpline, call Befrienders Johor Bahru, contact 073312300 or sam@befriendersjb.org. (The organisation operational hours during MCO are from 1pm to 12 midnight daily.) - by Steffi Tan TI

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

WORK

Cost Cutting and Retrenchment: To Reduce or Not To?

n employment contract is an agreement where the employee offers his service in exchange for salary to be paid by the employer. Along with it comes related details such as number of working hours, allowances payable and benefits which are to be agreed upon by both parties to form the terms and conditions of the employment. If there are any changes to be made to the contract

of employment, the employer is required to obtain the employee’s consent. The consent is paramount, as the change in terms of employment amounts to a variation of contract. Consent equates to knowledge of the changed terms and agreement to abide by those new terms of employment. Based on the current climate in Malaysia that has been engulfed with the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein the whole nation is under a Movement Control Order (MCO) since 18th March 2020, many business enterprises had to rethink the survival of their organisation moving forward during and post MCO. As such, the Company has embarked on cost cutting measures such as pay cuts, unpaid leave, half-pay leave or “persuasively” requesting employees to utilise their annual leaves. Such persuasive requests amount to a variation of contract and therefore, consent must be obtained prior to the enforcement of the varied terms. This rule applies across the board inclusive of contractual benefits such as fixed allowances. This position has been crystalized with our Labour Department pursuant to their FAQs dated 31st March 2020. To ease the process of securing consent, it is important that employees understand the reason behind the request so as to manage their expectations,

the financial situation of the Company and the ability of Managers to convey this concern to their subordinates. This is why MECA advice employers to undertake a communication session and be transparent in terms of the Company’s finances and business condition. We personally would emphasise on informing the employees that the exercise(s) is important to ensure the boat stays afloat and at the end of the day, everyone remains employed. Be sure to allow employees to ask questions as well. The affected employees’ consent should be obtained in writing. As an employment contract is a personal contract between an employer and an employee, the Company should obtain employees’ individual consent. The nagging issue that plaques this requirement is, ‘What if some employees do not provide their consent?’ S o, you have 2 choices here. One is to only implement the cost reduction on consenting employees. Second is to proceed with the majority votes. As this is done with bona fide intention of keeping the Company in business and everyone remains employed, we believe this is a strong basis to allow the cost cutting exercise by way of majority vote. This point of view was reiterated in the case law of Penas Realty Sdn Bhd -V-Chee Yew Kong (2002) 3 Ilr 13. Facts of the case Before 1997, the company was doing very well in its business. The company is involved in the construction of residential and commercial properties. In 1997 the whole country was faced with an economic downturn and the construction industry was badly affected. In order to keep the company afloat, the company came up with a cost-hyphen saving plan. The company tried not to reduce their staff but to reduce their overhead cost. One of the ways to reduce cost was to reduce the staffs’ salaries. The claimant however refused to consent to the reduction of 25% of his salary. The claimant was the only one in his department of about 100 staff who refused to consent. The company then gave the claimant two options, the first was to agree to the salary deduction and the second was to go for early retirement and accept ex gratia payment. The claimant then signed the early retirement letter and accepted the ex gratia payment. But the claimant

Ranita Markandan Legal Adviser Meca Employers Consulting Agency Sdn Bhd ranita@meca.com.my

later claimed that he was forced to sign the said letter of early retirement. Decision The court has to take cognisance of the economic situation at the material time. The company had enjoyed economic prosperity and unilaterally offered generous perks, benefits and salary increases to its staff. But 1997 saw a dramatic change in the economic situation of the country. Even Government servants had agreed to their pay deduction in order to cushion the drastic impact of the economy. The company in tandem with the financial crisis came up with their survival plan in order to survive the impact. In Harris Solid State (M) Sdn Bhd v. Bruno Gentil Perera & Ors [1996] 4 CLJ 747, his lordship Gopal Sri Ram JCA at p. 766 had this to say: “An employer may reorganise his commercial undertaking for any legitimate reason, such as promoting better economic viability, but he must not do so for a collateral purpose, for example, to victimise his workman for their legitimate participation in Union Activities whether the particular exercise of managerial power was exercised bona fide or for collateral reasons is a question of fact that necessarily falls to be decided upon the peculiar circumstances of each case.” The court does not see any element of mala fide on the part of the company. In all probabilities it is inherently apparent the company was only adopting a proactive stand to create a win-win situation for the company and the employees. The company had to consider the staffs’ welfare of the whole company instead of a selected few. The unabated economic slowdown would adversely affect the company’s survival. In the event of a closure the whole 200 staff of the company could face a bleak future. MECA’s take from the above decision is that the Industrial Court would take cognizance of the Company’s past conducts towards its employees’ wellbeing, the current economic situation and the Company’s prerogative to organise its business structure as the Company deems fit. When your cost cutting exercise involves reduction to employees’ salary, the Labour Department makes it mandatory for Companies to inform them through the submission of the PK Form. During the MCO period, submissions were allowed to be made via email to the nearest Labour Office. TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

Dealing with the Unknown

inally, the US had decided to lockdown the whole countr y, so as most countries around the world due to COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of writing, there are over two million COVID-19 cases reported and over 200,000 people lost their lives from this global outbreak. At the same time, over 16 million Americans have lost their jobs and more enterprises are expected to go bankrupt. To salvage the situation, the Federal Reserve took additional action on 9th April 2020 to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support the economy. While the US death tolls have seemed to stabilise by mid-April, some countries seemed to get worse. In Malaysia, the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced for nearly two months has seen the spread more contained. On the flipside, the prolonged shutdown of business activities has caused dilemma to many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially retailers. The world is moving into a recession that would be more severe than the Great Depression, and no doubt, we are facing a major health and financial crisis. Unlike any other financial crisis, people’s personal safety matters this time. Now, if you asked a CEO of a big or small company, he would tell you that it is very difficult to forecast their companies’ prospect. So what can we do? What can investors do? I guess the answer is ‘stay away’, unless you know the company very well. If the leader of the company doesn’t know what would happen, who else would know? Even if the company has strong fundamentals, it could change. A storm like COVID-19 has changed people’s lifestyle and the global economic landscape. This

means some companies would no longer be serving the needs of their customers as before, and its prospects have changed. Nevertheless, there are opportunities around in either good or bad times. I believe a company can survive and thrive if it possesses the traits below: a) They are in the global business, which means they are doing export or serving clients from all over the world. It shows their competitiveness. b) Their products and services are always wanted as they’re on the mega global trend, such as 5G, big data, automotive LED, aerospace, automation, home appliances, online payment, artificial intelligence, medical equipment and so on. c) They have a strong balance sheet. For instance, Scicom, JHM, D&O, KGB, FPgroup, LCtitan, Penta, Frontken, Dufu, Zhulian. If they have good records in paying decent dividends, that is even better. d) Some of them had survived through 2008 subprime crisis and are still growing afterwards. It shows their resilience and the ability to thrive after the turbulence. Companies mentioned above are only examples. They would recover (or might not) at a different pace. It depends on their business model and the market they serve. If their customers were badly hit, you would expect longer recovery time. So there is plenty of homework to do, such as study in-depth for the potential companies, read their quarterly and annual reports and attend their AGMs and ask the management questions. Trading may be an option Since the market and the business outlook is unclear, it

INVEST

Principal’s Perspectives on What Malaysians Can Expect from the Stimulus Packages

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

would be better to go for short term (trading). The advantage of trading is that you only focus on the technical chart, rather than spending much time knowing the company thoroughly. Since the market sentiment is much affected by the US stock market, it would be helpful to look at the S&P 500 charts. Below is the S&P 500 technical chart as on 14th April 2020. You can see it has rebound strongly from 2200 three weeks ago to 2846 on 14th April 2020. So will the S&P continue to go up? Most people would say ‘no’, considering the bleak economy outlook. However, stock market is not the economy, it is the barometer of the economy, and it moves six to nine months ahead of the economy. For the market to be stable, the index will need to stand above the Moving Average 50, which is the pink line in this chart. Therefore, can the S&P 500 continue sustaining above the pink line? Only time will tell. Conclusion To deal with the unknown; let us make things simple – observe the chart and feel the market emotion. From there, we would make better trade knowing the market emotion is more favourable. TI

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.

he Pr ime M inister recently announced the PRIHATIN Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package amounting to RM260 billion (inclusive of the RM20 billion in the initial package announced on 27th February 2020) and the SME incentives in a bid to soften the impact of the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) and increase cashflow to prevent the collapse of Malaysia economy. The RM260 billion stimulus is equivalent to 17% of GDP compared to the 8% of GDP (or RM67 billion) package introduced during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Direct injection from the Federal Government amounted to RM35 billion or 2.3% of GDP. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) projected for the stimulus package to add 2.8% to GDP. The primary focus of the stimulus package is as follows: 1. RM126 billion to sustain private consumption and confidence 2. RM111 billion to preserve the viability and alleviate insolvencies of domestic business entities, with focus on small and medium sale enterprises (SMEs) 3. RM3 billon to strengthen the domestic economy Larger budget deficit The Minister of Finance highlighted during an interview that the budget deficit would be capped at 4% of GDP. This is lower than the estimated 4.9% of GDP in the information released by the Prime Minister Office. In the Budget 2020 announcement in October 2019, the projected budget deficit was 3.2% of GDP. The lower budget deficit of 4% of GDP is due to mitigating measures such as: 1. Redirecting RM2 to RM3 billion from the original Budget 2020, previously provisioned for Visit Malaysia Year 2020 and etc., and, 2. Po t e n t i a l l y higher dividends from Government-Linked Corporates (GLCs). The reallocation exercise will have to go through due process as the Parliament has passed Budget 2020 at end of 2019. Rating agency, Standard & Poor, on 26th March 2020 reaffirmed Malaysia’s “A-” sovereign rating

Munirah Khairuddin Chief Executive Officer Principal Asset Management Berhad and maintained a stable rating outlook, indicating acceptance of temporary fiscal expansion. Fitch and Moody’s, however, have yet to release their opinion on the matter. Risk to fiscal outlook now is the duration of COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. What is our investment strategy? BNM when it released its Annual Report for 2020 on 3rd April, guided that GDP growth for the year will range from +0.5% to -2.0%. It would be reasonable to expect a contraction in GDP especially in 1H2020. This would capture the impact from the COVID-19 outbreak globally and Malaysia’s containment policy. The Government is likely to fund a portion of the RM25 billion direct injection from the domestic bond market. The rest would come from higher dividends from GLCs and spending reallocation. This is a balance that policymakers would need to strike with an eye on future funding and responses from rating agencies. In addition, the probability of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) cutting rates in 2Q2020 has increased. This is because fiscal measures need up to 6 months to take effect. Malaysia, to some extent, has some room to manoeuvre because: 1. Interest rates could be lowered further, 2. Balance sheets of corporates are generally healthy, 3. No presence of any asset price bubbles, and 4. Little mismatch between foreign debt and cash flows For further complete reading of this article, visit www. theiskandarian.com – Business section. TI

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

THE ISKANDARIAN

PLAY

LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Keeps Families Entertained at Home with 30-Day LEGO Challenge

Sudoku

L Be Responsible and dispose your face masks in the rubbish bin Scan QR Code for the solution

DOODLE

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

EGOLAND Malaysia Resort (LMR) recently launched its 30-Day LEGO Challenge on social media, inviting families to build various LEGO creations based on daily themes. By joining in on the daily challenges, families have a chance to stretch their imaginations and win exclusive LEGO themed prizes. The LEGO Challenge will take place until 5th May as it is one of the many ways families can continue to enrich the lives of their children while spending quality time together. The challenge, so far has received an overwhelming response with over 5,000 entries to date. During the challenge, LEGOLAND’s LEGO Builders Panel will select six winners based on overall coolness, originality and the best use of LEGO elements. Prizes range from exclusive LEGO sets and LEGO themed giveaways. There is even a surprise prize for all participants. So far, some of the most creative themes for the 30-Day LEGO Challenges included creating the coolest new dinosaur that ever existed, the coolest thing you can create with 50 bricks and the best LEGO Sandwich ever! After the LEGO Challenge has been completed, LMR has lined-up many more interactive activities that families can engage in including: • The LEGO Build Tips & Tricks –

LEGOLAND will be releasing a series of videos with tips and tricks from LEGO Builders on how to build some of the most creative builds at home • Bring Back The Awesome Giveaway – LEGOLAND will be running a giveaway where winners will walk away with some exclusive LEGO sets. Participants simply need to share their most awesome memories from their last visit at the resort and stand a chance to win. • LEGO Themed Digital Puzzles and Interactive Content - To be announced on socmeds. For more updates, promotions and stay at home activities by LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, please visit: https://www.facebook. com/LEGOLAND.my - by The Iskandarian TI

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The Iskandarian ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

What is AKPK’s role in assisting business owners and employees of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the business pg 18 slowdown PROPERTY

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ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

PROPERTY

AME Donates 100,000 Face Masks AME Elite Consortium Berhad donate face masks to Johor State Government for COVID-19 frontliners

ntegrated industrial space solutions provider AME Elite Consortium Berhad provided medical face masks to be distributed to healthcare workers and public officials to ensure their health and safety. The masks which were handed over to the Menteri Besar of Johor, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Bin Haji Mohammad were meant for the protection of frontline healthcare and

public officials battling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “The global COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the lives of all facets of society. Every assistance is impactful, hence we are playing our part to protect the health and safety of our medical frontliners and public officials, so that they are able to focus on their critical tasks of serving the community and those in need,” said Kelvin Lee Chai, Group Managing Director, AME Elite Consortium Berhad. The face masks will be allocated by the Johor State Government to various public hospitals and public enforcement

Kelvin Lee Chai and Simon Lee Sai Boon from AME Elite Consortium Berhad handing over the masks to the Menteri Besar of Johor, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Bin Haji Mohammad agencies in Johor. “In order to help our frontliners succeed, we recognise the need to unite our efforts and stand in solidarity. We have always sought to improve the lives

of the communities around us, and would continue to help contain the widespread effects of COVID-19 in our vicinity to overcome these trying times together,” added Kelvin. - by The Iskandarian TI

AKPK Supports SMEs What is AKPK’s role in assisting business owners and employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the business slowdown arising from, but not limited to, COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia?

n order to curb the spread of COVID-19 that struck nationwide, the government had imposed the Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18th March 2020 till 12th May 2020 (*at the time of writing). However, what stemmed from this economic wise is that the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were badly affected causing many business owners to shut down their businesses, or layoff staff. Some businesses had also experienced a slowdown at the onset of the pandemic itself due to lack of demand locally and globally. So what is being done to “safe” the day? Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), an agency set up by Bank Negara Malaysia since 2016 is offering assistance to business owners and employees of SMEs affected by the business slowdown arising from COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. SMEs are crucial in our country’s strategy to become a high-income nation. They contribute about 40% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Unfortunately, the SMEs are now adversely affected following the coronavirus pandemic. Laudably, the stimulus package announced by the Prime Minister is a great step to assist SMEs to stay afloat without substantial liabilities and without having to lay off employees. However, Nor

Fazleen Zakaria, AKPK’s General Manager of Operations observes that it will take a while before the aid makes a real difference on the ground. While that happens, SMEs may not be able to pay salaries due to lack of sales and possibly closure of businesses. They may resort to use of credit cards to support their fixed costs, and only make minimum payments on the cards when due. The inevitable burden from the loans could be devastating down the road. As a lead agency that oversees and rehabilitates financially distressed individuals, including sole-proprietors, AKPK is equipped to help individuals manage their money wisely, so that they spend within their means and achieve their financial goals— resulting in a positive lifestyle change. To achieve this, AKPK outlines five (5) proposals to support financially distressed business owners and employees of SMEs: 1. Financial review and counselling Conduct a thorough review of the individual’s cash flow position to provide practical advice on money management to help control spending and debt management via financial counselling and advise services. During the counselling sessions, options will be made available for individuals to consider in managing their finances better. Examples of counselling options include: (i) recommending a change in lifestyle by reducing certain expenditure (such as entertainment) which is not necessary; and (ii) in extreme cases, recommending liquidation of assets to allow some extra cash during the difficult period. AKPK leverages on its strategic partners, including governmental and

non-governmental organisations, to offer counselling at workplace. For example, AKPK collaborates with Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) and JobsMalaysia to identify new job opportunities for retrenched employees. 2. Enrolment in Debt Management Programme Enrol individuals into AKPK’s personalised programme, DMP, and provide eligible borrowers with solutions to their financial situation. From there, they will be able to reschedule and restructure their various types of loans such as housing, hire purchase and personal as well as any outstanding credit/charge card balances. AKPK is tasked to proactively help individuals take control of their financial standing and gain peace of mind. Based on our statistics: • A majority of people (69.9%) who seek help in regaining control of their finances are between 30 to 50 years of age. The remaining is made up of those below 30 years (13.7%) as well as those above 50 years (16.4%). • Out of the approximately 315,000 individuals enrolled in DMP, 36.8% of them admit that they encountered money problems due to poor financial planning. This fact is a strong indication of the importance of financial education that we hope could create a more resilient household sector as well as a sound and robust banking system. 3. Delivery of financial education modules As the lead agency for financial education in Malaysia, AKPK has financial education modules that can be tailormade to the needs of SME business owners and employees. Currently, there

is the entrepreneurial module that was developed for AKPK’s partner, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), to educate the ‘sahabat’ of AIM on prudent spending and careful budgeting that has helped them both personally and in business. There is also a special retrenchment module in view of AKPK’s strong engagement with JTKSM for employees who have been made unemployed. 4. Voluntary Arrangement (VA) Service There is also an additional service called Voluntary Arrangement (VA) pursuant to the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Act 1967. This rescue mechanism acts as a final option for a debtor to negotiate a feasible repayment plan with creditors in order to avoid from being declared a bankrupt. The debtor will appoint a nominee to act as an independent professional to oversee and try to structure a debt arrangement compromise with all the creditors. In this ‘second-chance’ scheme, AKPK acts as a nominee which allows a debtor to enter into an instalment plan as agreed upon by all parties involved. 5. Lifestyle Change programmes Collaborate with the relevant authorities to develop and promote a lifestyle change for the business owners and employees. Over the years, AKPK partners with many governmental and non-government agencies to achieve its objectives in helping financially distressed individuals. As an agency set up by Bank Negara Malaysia, AKPS’s main services are Financial Education, Financial Counselling and Debt Management Programme. You can obtain more information about AKPK at https://www.akpk.org.my. TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

PROPERTY

Community Support: Sunway Property Extends Aid to Local Councils, Police and Public Healthcare Institutions

ollowing Sunway Group’s commitment of RM34 million in aid which will reach 40,000 beneficiaries nationwide including COVID-19 patients who have lost their jobs, public hospitals and its healthcare frontliners, affected nonessential tenants in Sunway’s malls, and contributions to B40 communities, Sunway Property’s regional teams has worked to extend additional aid to state and city councils, the police force and local public healthcare institutions who are working to combat COVID-19 within the local communities in support of their tireless fight to end the spread of the pandemic. On 7th April 2020,

Sunway Berhad Executive Director and Property Division Managing Director, Sarena Cheah had handed over Sunway Berhad’s RM1million donation to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the national COVID-19 fund. “ Today we stand in solidarity with the communities we serve against the largest challenge faced by humanity in recent history. While we are all doing our part by staying at home, our hearts go out to all the selfless heroes and frontliners who are fighting for us during these trying times,” said Sunway Property. To date, Sunway Property’s additional initiatives have benefitted another 3,500

Sunway Property Penang Assistant GM Fong Choon Fuoi handed over 6,000 face masks to Dato’ Ar. Yew Tung Seang, Mayor of MBPP, accompanied by Nicholas Theng, Councillor of MBPP

beneficiaries in various communities nationwide. In the Klang Valley, Sunway Property has worked with the Petaling Jaya City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, MBPJ) to distribute food to communities in need and frontliners as well as the Kota Damansara Legislative Assembly to distribute hand sanitisers to frontliners. The aid to MBPJ had benefited the PJ City Food Bank which had distributed food to the urban poor, orphanages, organisations for the differently-abled, senior citizen homes and single mothers throughout the city as well as food to the frontliners in University Malaya Medical Centre. The Kota Damansara Legislative Assembly had distributed hand sanitisers to frontliners around Kota Damansara including Neighbourhood Watch groups (Rukun Tetangga), Residents Associations, Village Chiefs (Ketua Kampung) and private security personnel in residential areas who are on patrol duties. In Johor, Sunway Property has extended support to the Iskandar Puteri District Police

Headquarters and Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) to supply items needed for ongoing security and healthcare operations. The private security personnel and law enforcement personnel received face masks and sanitisers while the HSA received face masks, hand sanitisers and infrared forehead thermometers. Harvest from Sunway Property’s organic farms in Ipoh, Perak is now committed to serving healthcare professionals and patients in the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital. The twice weekly deliveries will benefit the patients’ with specific nutritional needs as well as the healthcare professionals until 14th April 2020, which has been set as the end of the second phase of Movement Control Order. Currently about 750 patients and healthcare workers are benefiting from the deliveries which are carried out twice a week. More than 130 kgs of vegetables have been delivered so far. In Penang, Sunway Property is working with the Mutiara Food Bank under

Malaysia PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin receiving RM1mil mock cheque for COVID-19 Fund from Sunway Berhad Executive Director & Property Division Managing Director Sarena Cheah the Penang State Welfare Department to contribute groceries to the underserved community and families which need them the most. Sunway Property Penang also contributed face masks to the Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang council for distribution to the frontliners. Sunway Property’s staffs are also donating to the #Sunwayforgood Fund which has been established by Sunway employees. The Fund intends to provide Sunway’s frontliners with additional support as well as benefit more B40 families around Sunway’s communities. For more information on Sunway Property’s initiatives and useful family

tips, please follow Sunway Property’s Facebook https:// w w w.facebook .com/ SunwayProperty/ TI

Sim Hoon Seng, Senior Manager, Project Management, Sunway Iskandar (from right) handed over face masks, hand sanitisers and thermometers to Abd Halim bin Hj Jamil, Head of Medical Social Work, Hospital Sultanah Aminah JB

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 93 | MAY 2020

PROPERTY

UMLand Donates to Johor COVID-19 Fund United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand) has donated RM50,000 to ‘Tabung Bencana Negeri Johor’ which will provide aid to medical frontliners and the community amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

he contribution by UMLand will be utilised to purchase additional Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as well as providing food supplies and medical aid to low income families during this period. The initiative is spearheaded by “UMLand Cares”, the corporate responsibility arm for UMLand Group.

Menteri Besar of Johor, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Bin Haji Mohammad and representatives from UMLand

Recognising itself as a facilitator in infrastructural and community development, UMLand’s CSR efforts aim to create a cohesive and sustainable living environment for all. “As a responsible corporate entity, we

hope to give our assistance wherever and whenever possible. Whilst facing a global pandemic, we would also like to stand by the side of our frontliners to combat this outbreak together. Their contributions and sacrifices have allowed us Malaysians to be safe while they tirelessly take on the full brunt of the battle to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said KK Wong, Group Director of Townships, UMLand. “We are facing an unprecedented time and we understand that many individuals and families are also greatly affected due to the recent restrictions. As difficult as the

iProperty.com.my Provides MuchNeeded Assistance to Property Agents

Housing Loan Deferment

n 1st April 2020 we were given a “once in a lifetime” loan instalment deferment by our Government and banks until 30th September 2020. No doubt, the circumstance behind this “gift” is dire and grim. However, even the worst of situations has its advantages. Although interest is accrued into the outstanding balance (except hire purchase), the impact is likely to be insignificant through increased instalments (when repayment resumes) or added tenure. So what do we do with the additional cash in hand? The following can be considered:a) Reflect on your living expenses and see whether any excesses can be trimmed. Aim to accumulate at least 3 months of cash reserves. Better yet, go for 6 months!

b) Settle other high interest bearing loans such as credit cards, personal loan, cash advances, and etc. c) Anything that costs higher than your mortgage loan should be “attacked aggressively” with the cash in hand. d) Just simply save the amount and at the end of the loan “honeymoon”, if there’s no reduction in income or retrenchment, pay into the outstanding mortgage in one lump sum. e) For those who are financially unaffected, just continue with the instalments by updating your Bank of your intention to opt in. f ) Consider investing into Unit Trusts or Stocks. Prices are beaten down so badly that good companies are going for unreasonable prices. Go for dividend paying counters. These should provide you a good start towards creating a post retirement income. However, a word of caution, it is wise to get proper advice from a qualified Financial Advisor who can assist you

situation may seem, it is only natural for us to work together and win the battle against this global pandemic. Thus, we hope that our contribution will not only be able assist the government efforts but also to ease the burden of those affected. Together, we shall prevail,” added Wong. UMLand’s award winning township – Seri Austin is among the inaugural winners of the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) in 2014 for their CSR efforts. The developer prides itself for carrying out meaningful CSR activities over the years. by The Iskandarian TI

i Devadason CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialises in tax advisory and consultancy. He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my in stock or Unit Trust selection as well as price mitigation strategy. Prices can suddenly go down and if all your capital has been invested at one go, you can be stuck for a long time. On a positive note, the rate of COVID-19 recovery has been encouraging so far, indicating that measures being put in place are yielding results. However, only time will tell whether this is true or just a temporary blip. Let’s continue to abide and co-operate with the authorities. Let’s be the change we want to see in the world. We lead by action rather than just words. Be strong. Be resolute. **The facts and views expressed are solely that of the author/ authors and do not necessarily reflect that of the editorial board. TI

Property.com.my have announced an assistance plan in an effort to help its partners, especially property agents, that are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia. The initiative, #iPropertyCares support, is provided to its active property agents during these difficult and unprecedented times, until 1st May 2020 on a complimentary basis. The #iPropertyCares provides its active property agents with the following: • All current active Premium and Featured listings will be extended to 1st May 2020. • All new Premium and Featured listings created between now to 1st May 2020 will get an additional 30 days extension from listing expiry date. • All account subscriptions that are due for expiry between 26th March to 30th April 2020 will automatically expire on 1st May 2020. • New sign-up accounts activated in the month of March and April 2020 will be extended for another one month. The support provided to the agents is meant to garner more exposure and, at the same time, allow property agents more time to bridge into a new way of business, maintaining their presence to high-intent property seekers. iProperty.com.my initially announced the #iPropertyCares support to its property agents when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was first imposed from 18th March till 31st March 2020. Thereafter, the government announced the extension of the MCO and iProperty.com. my subsequently extended it from 1st April to 1st May 2020. “The impact of the COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented conditions for the local property market. Our partners, specifically property agents, were affected by it. Due to the MCO, any viewing of properties between agents and buyers could not be done as well, and our partners remain front-and-centre in all of our thinking. In the spirit of true partnership, we want to help our partners with unconditional support and understanding. We hope through the #iPropertyCares support, all our partners can gain more exposure,” said David Mawer, General Manager of iProperty.com Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The #iPropertyCares support is initiated with the aim to provide property agent customers as well as developer and media customers with innovative tools and services that can help their businesses in these changing times as more potential homebuyers look online for their property needs. For more information on the support, property agents can contact their iProperty.com.my account manager or alternatively contact the customer service team via phone +603 6419 5188, WhatsApp +6017 943 9107 or email customercare@iproperty.com.my, Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm. TI

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