The Iskandarian February 2021 Issue by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

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

ISSUE 102

Are We in COVID-19 News Fatigue?

FEB 2021

Decline But Not Crashing: iProperty

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Accumulating Wealth

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Spot the Sponge!

Threats and Potential Sectors in 2021 (Part 2)

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Food Aid Coordination and Centre for the Homeless Better coordination of efforts in providing aid for the homeless people

oncerned about the fate of the homeless in Johor Bahru City, the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) together with several government agencies such as the Social Welfare Department (JKM), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAIJ), Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) and non-governmental organisations such as the Red Crescent Society (PBSM) as well as the NGO Alliance for Homeless Feeding have worked together to help and reduce the burden of people with no residence by providing daily food assistance at Laman Tun Sri Lanang and the city area. The Issue of Food Waste

The NGOs have taken a pledge to ensure cleanliness is maintained in preparation of the meals in the service area

There are a total of 200 - 250 homeless people in downtown Johor Bahru who needs continuous food assistance. PBSM reported that on New Year’s Eve 2020, 3200 food

packages ended up to waste due to lack of coordination. Moreover, Merlin Hoo, Head Coordinator for Kechara Soup Kitchen Johor said, “From our observation, there is currently an over-distribution of food, caused by kind individuals who mean well but have unknowingly caused disruption”. MBJB to Open a Centre for People without Residence In addition, the state government has initiated an initiative to help the homeless by providing a Johor National Homeless Transit Centre in Larkin. Apart from food assistance, the majority of them also need psychological treatment, support and skills. This comprehensive intervention measure is one of the solutions to help the homeless. The Centre is expected to be completed by 2022, and MBJB welcomes cooperation from government agencies and any non-governmental parties to jointly achieve this objective. Meanwhile, Johor Women, Fa m i l y a n d Co m m u n i t y D e ve l o p m e n t Co m m i t t e e

chairman Zaiton Ismail said that only the Laman Tun Sri Lanang area will be permitted for street food feeding, otherwise the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) will issue a compound of RM250 on individuals or NGOs who distribute food in other areas. In a press statement, Zaiton Ismail said that NGOs who wished to operate will need to apply for permission through forms made available at the Johor Bahru District Office from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) or through their website: https://portalbencana. nadma.gov.my. Once approved, the form will need to be submitted to the Johor Bahru District Office for a consent letter to be issued. The consent letter will then need to be submitted to PDRM to obtain approval. Upon approval, NGOs or individuals who wish to participate in providing aid must inform the Johor Social Welfare Department (Mr Dafi 012-799 9067) and Red Crescent Society (PBSM) (Mr Rosley 018-768 5034) for further instructions. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Will You Be Vaccinated This February or Waitlisted?

rime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Ya s s i n declared that the country is scheduled to receive the Pfizer vaccine in the first step by the end of February. The PM said the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of the Ministry of Health had approved the registration of the vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. COVID-19 National Vaccination Plan Muhyiddin said that some 60 to 70% or between 20 and

23 million of the Malaysian population should be vaccinated in order for Malaysia to achieve herd immunity. “At the moment, the government has signed an early agreement with the Covax facility provider Pfizer and AstraZeneca, for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine, and to guarantee that the vaccine supply would reach a total of 40% of the population,” he added. At the same time, the government is now in the final step of negotiations with Sinovac, another Chinese

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manufacturer, CanSino Biologics, Russian Gamaleya Institute, the manufacturer of the Sputnik V vaccine to boost the availability of vaccines to 80% of the population or 26.5 million individuals, he said. Sp ecial Committee on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) Earlier, on 8th January 2021, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba announced that Malaysia wants to fine tune the procurement of vaccines through the Special Committee

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on the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JK JAV ) currently working on the COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme. The JKJAV meetings were chaired jointly by the Minister for Research, Technology and Innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin. In an update through his website on 14th January 2021, Khairy explained, “No country receives their entire order in one shot. The delivery is staggered based on a quarterly schedule. For our Pfizer order we will receive 1 million doses

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in Q1 2021, 1.7 million doses in Q2, 5.8 million doses in Q3 and 4.3 million doses in Q4. The delivery of our orders with other manufacturers will also be staggered. This is the reality of global manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines and demand outstripping supply.” He also added that, “A February delivery schedule does not mean everyone is vaccinated in February. In fact, Malaysia’s vaccination plan will span 18 months.” So only time will tell, and keep your eyes and ears open for more updates. TI

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THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

NEWS

Special Government Package Aid for MCO 2.0

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ince the outbreak of the COVID-19 early last year, the Government has implemented four economic stimulus packages worth RM305 billion or more than 20% of GDP to help the people, businesses and protect the economy. These economic stimulus packages have involved RM55 billion of fiscal injections by the Government. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mentioned that through the Ministry of Finance’s LAKSANA Agency’s observation, 53 Ministries and Government agencies helped over 20 million people and 2.4 million businesses to receive benefits from the previous economic stimulus packages. Also supporting the economic recovery effort is the 2021 Budget announced on 6th November 2020, which provides the country’s largest allocation with RM322.5 billion. Here is the list of aid that was announced through a live broadcast: 1. RM15 billion Pakej Bantuan

Gleneagles MEDINI

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (PERMAI) aid package. 2. Twe nt y- t wo P E R MA I programmes, focused on three key targets. 3. Three agreements with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers were signed by the Government, the first batch scheduled to arrive by the end of February. 4. In the first quarter of this year, a one-off assistance of RM500 will be paid to all health frontliners and RM300 to other COVID-19 frontliners. 5. Transparency of vaccine procurement, based on the National Immunisation Programme by the Special Committee on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee. 6. The National Consultative Council for Islamic Affairs has agreed that the use of the COVID-19 vaccine is appropriate and that the mentioned groups must take it. 7. JKM is introducing the Food Basket Programme to provide essential RM100 food products for each qualifying household. 8. Private hospitals on board

Iskandar Malaysia’s Bubble Travellers?

skandar Malaysia (IM) has outlined bubble travellers, hard and soft infrastructure and talent reskilling initiatives to assist in economic recovery from the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, also coChairman of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) said during the IRDA Members of Authority (MoA) meeting, “I am pleased to see that IM has taken the efforts to reinforce its focus on high impact initiatives that will not only support survivability but also continuously boost our economy and protect the lives and livelihoods of the rakyat.” “IM should explore the opportunities in modern farming as it could turn Johor into the biggest food producer in the country,” he added. Meanwhile, Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Mohammad, also the coChairman of IRDA, said, “With the initiatives presented by Iskandar Malaysia, we hope the local economy will get the necessary boost from the growth of local talents and businesses.” Talent Reskilling Iskandar Malaysia Talent

Innovation (IMTI) programme has been designed to carry out on-the-job training. The programme will also ensure less dependence on foreign workers. The Human Capital Development Programme for Iskandar Malaysia Promoted Economic Sectors will focus on niche and required programmes to cater specifically to talent needs. Bubble Travellers As a Smart City, Iskandar Malaysia through bubble travellers’ initiative is targeting individuals who could contribute towards the local economy. Basic infrastructure, primarily a super high speed, flexible and open-access communication network, remains the key agenda for the region to pursue. The Technopreneur Incubator Programme seeks to hone fresh graduates and unemployed graduates to become technopreneurs. Ismail also said for the 2020 financial year, Iskandar Malaysia is expected to record RM24 billion cumulative investments from January to December. The promoted sectors contributed 43% to the total investment recorded last year. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

have dedicated RM100 million for this reason to receive, treat COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients to lighten the burden on the public health system. 9. Special tax relief for the purchase of mobile phones, computers and tablets up to RM2,500 extended to 31st December 2021. 10. Payment for the final stage of BPN 2.0 will be expedited, beginning on 21st January 2021. 11. Free 1GB data for the public from January to April for educational purposes. 12. The Wage Subsidy Programme 3.0 is expected to help 250,000 employers who hire more than 2.6 million workers with an additional allocation of RM1 billion. 13. Enhancement under PERKESO of Wage Subsidy Programme 3.0, whereby all employers operating during MCO are eligible to apply irrespective of the sector. 14. PPTN: Borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic may apply for a three-month moratorium on repayment of loans until 31st March 2021.

15. A one-off RM500 financial aid to tourist guides, taxi drivers, school buses, tour buses, hire cars and e-hailing vehicles. 16. The government allows foreign- owned companies operating in Malaysia to receive guarantees under the Danajamin PRIHATIN Guarantee Scheme (SJPD), provided that 75% of their workforce is made up of local employees. For more information on all the initiatives and assistance available in the 2021 Budget Benefits, visit http://belanjawan2021.treasury.gov. my/manfaat/index-en.html portal. by Norfy Shafeq TI

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the announcement of the package Aid for MCO 2.0

KPJ Provides COVID-19 PCR Tests for Social Heroes

fter extreme flooding caused by a persistent heavy downpour hit the state of Johor, Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) Winners Network, consisting of more than 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and nongovernmental individuals (NGIs), worked collaboratively to provide emergency response to help victims evacuate and help postflood cleanup in areas where flood water had receded. As Coronavirus risk is still out there, KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital partnered with IMSHA to fund COVID-19 RT-PCR swab tests for those with exposure in red zone areas to ensure the safety and health of the NGOs and NGIs. “We care and appreciate the volunteers by providing them with the RT-PCR COVID-19 test to help the flood victims,” said Noor Haslina Harun, Chief Executive Officer of KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how humanitarian works are now carried out. Aid providers must function under stricter circumstances, stick to social distancing SOPs, wear facemasks, face guards, PPE and remain sanitised. “It is essential to provide

vulnerable people with uninterrupted humanitarian assistance, but the challenge is to ensure that it is done while remaining committed to strict SOPs that are essential for controlling the spread of COVID-19,” said Edey Suresh, Founder of the Social Hero Foundation and IMSHA, welcoming the cooperation of KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital. Dr Ng Kim Fong, President of Persatuan Doktor-Doktor Johor, who has successfully partnered with several IMSHA Winners Network of NGOs and NGIs, helped to introduce the collaboration. Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor, Yayasan Kebajik an Sur ia, AmalTeam Johor, Kechara Soup Kitchen and Jewel were among the NGOs who took the RT-PCR test. TI

Dr Ng Kim Fong from Persatuan Doktor Doktor Johor assisted the PCR Test exercise for IMSHA NGOs/ NGIs at KPJ Dato Onn Specialist Hospital

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.

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

NEWS

Are We in COVID-19 News Fatigue? The pandemic has shifted journalism in South East Asia, from delivering the news to click-bait headlines. So what’s in store for 2021?

he media scene has been changed unequivocally by COVID-19. When countries went on quarantine to contain the virus, a new newsgathering and news reporting method had to be adapted and reformed by organisations and newsrooms. But what can we expect for a year such as this one? Would it be appropriate for journalists to

continue adapting to a new change, or will things return to what they were pre-COVID days? Telum Media Webinar of ‘Journalism in Southeast Asia in 2021: What Should We Expect?’ opened this for discussion with Marites Vitug, Editor-at-Large of Rappler, Kamarul Bahrin Haron, Editor-in-Chief of Astro Awani, Stephane Delfour, Director for Southeast Asia at Agence FrancePresse, Walter Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief of Mediacorp, and Zulfiani ‘Uni’ Lubis, Editor-in-Chief of IDN Times to share their insights for journalism in Southeast Asia in 2021 with participants from all over the

Would 2021 be any better? Telum Media spoke to South East Asia’s key media spokespersons virtually on what to expect next

region. Inequality across different nations, the importance of fact-checking, the relevance of press releases in this age, and how COVID-19 will still be a crucial topic this year are the main highlights mentioned by different panel members. “COVID will remain in the top topics of this year,” says Stephane Delfour, as the return of tourism and vaccine is adjacent to the virus. As long as the ultimate solution has not been reached, the issue persists to be common and is in demand for the new year. As Telum bridges the Public Relation with the media, the questions on what would catch the editor’s eye when they blast press releases on behalf of clients were naturally raised. Walter Fernandez explained, “It is essential for PRs to link the current situation or public interest, with the brand they are trying to promote. You need to understand the basics to pitch the story,” he said as he emphasised the importance for PRs to understand their target audience when sending out press releases. “Please be mindful of what is happening around the world. The reality is we do not have the bandwidth to cover other events,” he added, citing mindfulness on event coverage limitations since journalists are also human and are exposed to risks of infection.

“For 2021, it’s like a second season of 2020. It’s really the pandemic year in Indonesia, and we are still on the first wave”, Uni Lubis said, painting a picture on the situation in the country. “It’s been more than ten months, and people get pandemic fatigue, including journalists.” She shared that while journalists and the media play a significant role in educating and informing about COVID-19, journalists are tired because they feel that what they have done is insufficient. When it comes to the pandemic, the media industry has always relied heavily on one’s own nation’s policy. “We need to hear from leaders in different sectors who are able to propose solutions that provoke us into thinking, encourage discussions and enhances clarity,” says Rappler’s Editorat-Large, Marites Vitug on the thoughtleadership process. Kamarul Bahrin Haron shared that regarding press releases, newsrooms are flooded with it and said that, “Content is the way to go. Content that touches the heart. I do not look at press releases, I look at solutions. Stop sending us announcements. Send us content.” Catch the hour-long full discussion, made viewable for the public at Telum Media’s website for more depth and extended sub-topics from each key highlight mentioned. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Youth Empowerment through Tengku Mahkota Ismail Youth Hub (TMYIC)

he recent launch of ‘Tengku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre’ (TMIYC) by His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Mahkota Johor, is expected to further support and strengthen the youth empowerment agenda in Iskandar Malaysia. “We wish to congratulate HRH Tunku Ismail on the launch of the youth hub, which is located in Hutan Bandar Johor Bahru. As a region that values and believes in the importance of youth empowerment in its development, we trust that His Royal Highness’ interest, aspiration and leadership in Johor’s youth agenda will boost the development of young Johoreans, specifically, and Johoreans in general,” said Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional

Development Authority (IRDA). “The youth hub was completed in July 2020 since its construction in 2015, and from 17th December 2020 onwards, Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) graciously took over as the new management of the youth centre/hub,” said Datuk Ismail adding, various federal and state government agencies and particularly the youth community in Iskandar Malaysia have been involved in the planning, design and construction of the youth hub. What to Look Forward to at the Hub? • The youth hub is envisioned to be the place to empower youths; focusing on lifestyle, creativity, entrepreneurism and volunteerism. The facility is a platform to gather, educate, engage and network.

• When it was softly opened in 2017, more than 6,000 visitors visited and utilised the various facilities offered at the youth hub where more than 4,500 youths were involved and participated in various youth programmes at the venue in that year alone. • The youth hub is an important piece of Iskandar Malaysia’s youth development strategy. The strategy focuses on crafting and executing many youth development programmes to complement the national and state youth agenda. Apart from the youth hub, some of the key programmes include Pusat Orang Desa Iskandar Malaysia (IMPOD) where more than 5,000 youths have been positively impacted by programmes under IMPOD, Iskandar Malaysia Youth

Empowerment Fund (IMPOWER) and Johor Youth Hub. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

HRH Tengku Mahkota Ismail with Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Mohamad during his visit at TMYIC, Johor Bahru – (Image courtesy of HRH Crown Prince of Johor Facebook page)

100 Underprivileged Families Receive Food Aid Care United Johor Bahru synonymous to aiding the public with their regular food aid drive has eased the burden for selected families in PPR Melana Indah (Taman Perling)

uring these traumatic times, Care United Johor Bahru (Care United) continues to rise to the challenge and provide assistance to where it is needed the most. At the start of the year, Care United

Contents of Food Aid placed inside recyclable tote bags for the 100 recipients

conducted its first Food Aid for 100 underprivileged families in PPR Melana Indah (Taman Perling). Annually, Care United has continued to provide Food Aid to this community who values any assistance given in meeting their needs. The Food Aid hamper was valued at RM55.00 per recipient and contained everyday essentials such as rice (5kg pack), canned sardine, evaporated milk, cooking oil (1kg), Milo (1kg) and 2 packs of rice vermicelli. Care United has allocated a sum of RM5,500.00 for

this Food Aid, and despite rising costs, it is hoped that this Aid helps the families to reduce their household expenses. Care United is thankful for the continued support of donors and they hope other corporate partners will continue to support this community work done by Care United Johor Bahru throughout the year. Care United is a tax-exempt NGO and all donations of RM51.00 and above are tax deductible. 100% of the donations are channelled towards its projects. For enquiries on how

you can assist, call Care United Johor Bahru at 607-3576899 or visit them on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/CareUnitedJB.- by Priya Manikam TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

NEWS

Kick-start the Year with International Leadership Skill

Be a part of international leadership webinar with EduCity Iskandar

he inaugural Educational Leadership Summit 2021 (EdLeadS 2021) hosted by EduCity Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (EduCity Iskandar) has commenced from the 11th of January and will go on until 11th of February 2021. EdLeadS 2021 will be conducted in ten (10) webinar series for student leaders from higher education institutions (HEIs) under the theme of ‘Leadership Exploration and Growth (L.E.A.D)’ where 2,000 participants is

anticipated from local and international HEIs from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Singapore to Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, Libya and United Arab Emirates. Wan Ahmad Saifuddin Wan Ahmad Radzi, Managing Director of EduCity Iskandar, said “EdLeadS 2021 is a free virtual webinar that provides as a platform for emerging generations of future leaders to develop crucial knowledge, values and skills through the sharing of experience from world-class sports-related individuals and industry leaders.” As part of the EduCity 2.0 plan, Wan Ahmad said that partnering with foreign entities such as Sensible Soccer is an ambitious plan of the city of education to introduce more invaluable material for students of EduCity. International speakers such as Mike Phelan, Manchester United Director & Chairman of Sensible Soccer / Assistant Manager, David Horrocks, Sensible Soccer Director, and influential speakers from Lenovo, Maybank, and many more are among the presenters. Participants

will be able to engage with the speakers through a Q&A session, post a presentation session, and win prizes and awards along the way. “Through sports, together with the development of communication and team building, we can develop leadership skills that enable students to act effectively as leaders. Some sports also help participants to learn to treat opponents with respect, consider strengths and weaknesses, develop winning strategies and efficiently manage time. Playing sports also helps students build trust and make fast decisions that are important to excel in any position of leadership. Sensible Soccer is a unique company that puts theoretical philosophy and applied experience together, and we are delighted to collaborate on this upcoming webinar with EduCity Iskandar,” said Mike Phelan. Students from public and private or local and international higher learning institutions are invited to register at https://edleads.educity.com.my/. All participants will receive electronic certificates. TI

Randstad Malaysia’s 2021 Market Outlook & Salary Snapshot Report

andstad Malaysia has released the 2021 Market Outlook & Salary Snapshot Report that takes a detailed look at the economic climate and recruitment landscape in 2021. The annual report aims to provide companies and employers with local business and talent market intelligence to guide their long- term hiring strategy. Jaya Dass, Managing Director for Randstad Malaysia and Singapore said, “Organisational technology readiness was a critical focus in 2020, and it will continue to be for the years to come.

Companies’ increasing focus on digital transformation will drive talent demand and shape the local workforce in 2021. There will be demand for highly specialised talent, particularly in areas such as Internet of Things, software development, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, robotics, project migration and change management.” “COVID-19 will continue to impact business and consumer confidence, and Malaysia’s growth will depend on both the recovery of global powerhouses and domestic market performance. With

change and innovation as a constant, companies must stay agile and find new pockets of growth in 2021. As a global talent recruitment agency with a strong local market focus, it is important for us to start putting people to work so that we can achieve recovery and growth together,” Dass added. This market outlook report provides labour market intelligence, talent analysis and salary snapshots to anticipate in 2021 for key industries such as Technology, Manufacturing and Construction. For the full report and analysis, visit www.randstad.com.my. TI

Maybe the Good Old Method Works Better? Loaded with Information Newspapers offer a rich source of information for one to expand their awareness. It can be used to help curriculum-wide learning, foster higher-level thinking ability, and facilitate lifelong reading habits.

nglish is the second language in Malaysia and is predominantly important especially in education as references to knowledge in the world is made available in English. In a virtual meeting held by Rotary Club of Puteri Lagoon Johor Bahru, Associate Professor Dr Hariharan N Krishnasamy, a senior lecturer

at Universiti Utara Malaysia, shared how newspapers could supplement and complement the textbook with the amount of knowledge it holds on a daily basis. The almost perfect way to learn a second language, such as English, is to read the newspapers and here are the reason how the old school method is the best way.

Establishing and Recognising What a Good Read is Newspapers are driven by words to deliver news – be it in physical or virtual forms, which require good usage of the language to deliver its points. The language is what makes the content interesting. Any site can host contents that may be interesting but the grammar might be poor.

Newspapers are arranged thoughtfully and that is the advantage of consuming newspapers. Establishing Thinking Skill

Cr i t i c a l

In the height of fake news awareness, it is important to establish critical thinking skills. Students can learn biases and recognise them by reading newspapers and be critical of what they are reading. Balance between the pros and cons, debate on the headlines or offer alternative ideas for example. The information should be reliable, credible and highly accurate in order for one to do this and newspapers hold the answers to this. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Which News on Natural Disaster is True?

e have previously shared on how to detect fake news and what to do when you come across any, not to mention the consequences of sharing fake news under legal perspectives before. Now, to further not fall into the brethren of timely fake news, here are some websites and applications to help you do a thorough check before sharing that news you may have just came across of. Off late, flood tragedy has produced some unwanted or recycled news from the past; so let us go through on how to ensure if the natural disasters as circulated in the social media really did happen. Here are 4 legitimate platforms to refer to: Department of Information, Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JAPEN) It is one-stop to any information regarding the national’s happenings. You could clarify and even update on news or information that were fake and made rounds in the internet via JAPEN Facebook’s page and JAPEN Johor page. MET Malaysia’s MyCuaca app Malaysia’s Ministry of Environment and Water (MET)’s Meteorological Department website frequently updates about the weather, complete with real time report. Install their MyCuaca application to get updates – available on Apple Store and Google Play or visit MET website https:// www.met.gov.my/home. MyPublicInfo Banjir MyPublicInfoBanjir or flood public information Malaysia is originally a one-stop information website for any flood issues and happenings including reliefs and locations of shelters. The website is now made handy in a compact application with the same name. Download MyPublicInfoBanjir in Google Play or App Store. National Security Council (MKN) Facebook Page Always updated, aware and concise with their information, MKN consists of state-based pages to reach and address specific areas and concerns too. Check out their socmeds for details. JKR Malaysia and your PBT (City Councils) social media Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR Malaysia) updates about routes on where to go and not to go all over Malaysia with branches of states to ensure road users and citizens are safe and sound. Do check out https://www.facebook. com/jkr.malaysia or JKR Johor: https://www. facebook.com/JabatanKerjaRayaJohor/. Alternatively, updates on local happenings are usually posted in the local authorities’ social media. So stay informed, and only share legitimate news to others. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Flood in Johor (Image courtesy of Bernama)

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ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

NEWS

HSR Termination: Johor’s Connectivity and Economic Perspective – Part One

An artist’s impression of the High Speed Rail station in Batu Pahat, Johor for the terminated project (Photo courtesy EDELMAN vis The Straits Times)

Overview t was July 2016 when Malaysia and Singapore witnessed the MOU to build an ambitious project: KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR). The project was supposed to reduce the time travel from 4 hours to only 90 minutes with hassle-free immigration checkpoint. A follow up agreement was signed by both governments reflecting

a strong desire to implement the project by the end of 2016. 2017 marked a the new chapter for both governments when Singapore announced SG HSR a wholly owned subsidiary company while Malaysia formed MyHSR to jointly appoint an international operator for the project through an open international tender. The HSR plan was a hit that investors and buyers snapped

several empty lands within the vicinity of the proposed HSR stops namely Bandar Malaysia, Putrajaya, Seremban, Melaka, Muar, Batu Pahat, Iskandar Puteri and finally Singapore. The excitement was shared by Malaysian prominent developers such as UEM, Genting and Sime Darby to develop self-sustaining townships around the area. In the meantime, Singapore

acquired Raffles Country Club and Jurong Country Club to house the HSR terminus and propose a second CDB district in Jurong Lake District. The initial operation of HSR was expected to start by 31st December 2016. 2018 sees the project in a limbo when Singapore and Malaysia signed a new agreement to postpone the construction of the project to the end of May 2020. By early 2020, the “Sheraton Move” oversaw the ousting of the Malaysian coalition government and a new prime minister was appointed. The unprecedented political crises consented Malaysia and Singapore to defer the project until the end of 2020. On 1st Jan 2021, Malaysia and Singapore announced that the project would be discontinued after the agreement lapsed on 31st December 2020. Huge loss connectivity

fo r

working in Singapore, this would hamper the people’s movement to and fro Singapore by relying on current state of commuting - personal vehicle or public transportation. While public transportation in Johor is improving nowadays, the HSR project was supposed to be a relief especially for the bluecollared workers who commute every day to Singapore. *The facts and views expressed are solely that of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of the editorial board. TI

J o h o r ’s

Surely the terminated HSR project was not well-received by Johoreans. The entire project was supposed to house 3 welldesigned stations in Johor alone, by connecting Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri before proceeding to Singapore. The initial plan was that there will be a shuttle service from Iskandar Puteri to Singapore with its own immigration checkpoint. With thousands of Johoreans

Wahab Jumrah Wahab Jumrah is currently an Assistant Manager within the Legal and Corporate Governance Department at Vistra Malaysia. He was a legal practitioner in Raja, Darryl & Loh before moving to Johor to work as an inhouse counsel. He can be reached at Linkedin

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Pepsi Rocks the Cola Industry with “Pepsi x BLACKPINK”

P Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Despite keeping up the enthusiasm for the New Year, it looks like we Malaysians had to face lots of challenges no thanks to “Mr.C”, and ourselves to be blamed as well for being complacent. But will February spell as a better month for us, especially with talks of vaccine being rolled out albeit in stages? Only time will tell. On the local front, JOOX, Asia’s music platform launched hip hop beats to ride the hip-hop wave in Malaysia by featuring hiphop/R&B duo - GARD WUZGUT’s exclusive album titled “Lebuhraya Slatan”. Meanwhile, K-pop gal group BLACKPINK collaborated with Pepsi as its latest brand ambassador. Sorry that I don’t have any good news on the Movie front yet, but instead I do like to share about a heart-warming book written by a Malaysian writer, Juliana N. Chang. Catch up on some reading if you’ve not started on any. As Chinese New Year is around the corner, we’d like to share some delicious traditional food from Impiana Hotel Senai. With unpredictable COVID/MCO situation in the state, Impiana offers all these goodies via delivery as well for those who prefer to dine in safely at home. Flip over the pages to know more. Although travel plans may have halted for a bit, but if you liked what you read about the things you can do at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas in our last issue, turn the page over for the final part and make your reservation plans for an escapade like never before. 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:// waves-lifestyle.com/. The Iskandarian wishes all celebrants a very Happy Chinese New Year!

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

FEB 2021 | Page 2

epsi, a trend-setter of youth fashion and culture, officially announced one of the world’s most popular K-Pop girl groups, BLACKPINK, as its newest brand ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region. Consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, BLACKPINK joins hands with Pepsi for their “Go All In For What You Love” campaign to encourage the Generation Z to be bold and push the boundaries of possibility when it comes to pursuing their passion in life. Salman Butt – Senior Marketing Director, APAC of Pepsico, said, “We are excited to welcome international K-Pop group, BLACKPINK, as brand ambassadors for our latest campaign launch in Malaysia and Singapore. BLACKPINK perpetuates a uniquely youthful attitude and zest for life that perfectly embodies the Pepsi brand and we envision music lovers and fans of BLACKPINK in Malaysia and Singapore to be absolutely thrilled as Pepsi brings their idols closer to our shores. BLACKPINK’s touching story of grit, tenacity and resilience

By Waves Lifestyle over the years to realise their dream ultimately put them on the road to stardom, and that is exactly the admirable traits that can resonate with the younger generation and inspire them to emulate their idols. Our latest campaign will be all about encouraging the younger generation to pursue their dreams and set them on the right path towards finding their inner strength and boldness they never knew they had.” Fur ther cementing this collaboration is a stirring ad film coproduced by Pepsi together with BLACKPINK – a bold and incisive record of the work and life of the four group members. Jennifer Lee, Beverage Marketing Lead of PepsiCo added, “Pepsi x BLACKPINK will be launching limited edition Pepsi products in all participating 7-11 outlets in Malaysia and Singapore, where the four BLACKPINK personalities will be significantly featured on the collaboration products, with a distinct visual language expressing a daring and bold attitude. On top of that, we will also be launching a 360-degree

marketing campaign to raise brand awareness through various media platforms. Expect to see more surprises revealed from mid-January 2021 onwards with exciting giveaways and a whole lot more, so stay tuned to our social pages for more updates.” For further information, please visit their social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube: Pepsi Malaysia. TI

JOOX Launches Hip Hop Beats to Ride the Hip-Hop Wave in Malaysia

ith the rhythm and rhymes of hip-hop staying hot and fresh in the Malaysian music charts, JOOX – Asia’s most dedicated platform rolled out JOOX ORIGINALS – Hip Hop Beats, a brand-new series that will surely keep Malaysian hip-hoppers bouncing to the beat! Malaysian music fans definitely love to keep the vibe alive, an exclusive album titled “Lebuhraya Slatan” by GARD WUZGUT is coming to celebrate the series’ launch. JOOX continues to serve up the best of hip hop music to Malaysia, garnering more than 810,000 plays by the genre’s fans in the country over the past year. The flow won’t stop there, as JOOX guarantees to deliver more jams in JOOX ORIGINALS – Hip Hop Beats. GARD WUZGUT is a hip-hop/R&B

duo formed in 2018, producing music that is defined by catchy beats, flavorful bass grooves and smooth synth lines. Leading up to this exclusive full-length release, GARD WIZGUT has recently produced an EP that introduced their music to Malaysian hip hop lovers. Angie Tan, Head of JOOX Malaysia, said, “Hip-hop is one of the country’s most beloved genres, as evidenced by its chart-topping performance in JOOX Malaysia. We are proud to be launching Hip Hop Beats under JOOX ORIGINALS to deliver the best and hottest tracks to local music fans, as led by red-hot hip-hop duo GARD WUZGUT. Stay tuned to JOOX, as we hope to deliver more local and international music to Malaysian fans throughout the New Year.” Since its launch five years ago, JOOX has been giving music fans great hits from local artists and bands such as Dayang Nurfaizah, Sophia Liana, FML and Zizi Kirana, among others through the introduction of JOOX ORIGINALS Super Producer series and Hip Hop Beats series. Next in line for JOOX ORIGINALS is the ‘Gegaran Band’, which will have their exclusive release on JOOX. Never miss a beat of the latest and the hottest tracks, not just in hip-hop but across all music genres from JOOX’s

music library from all over the world! Enjoy your favourite music and live performances anytime, anywhere by downloading JOOX on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Download now to start your premium music journey today! TI Here’s the song list of the exclusive album “Lebuhraya Slatan” on JOOX:

FEB 2021 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

B O O K R EV I EW

‘The Puppy or The Plants’ New book by Juliana N. Chang tells stories of dogs’ unique reactions towards the people who love them

By Waves Lifestyle

alaysian-born author Juliana N. Chang’s late father inspired her to write a book when she was 15 years old. After he passed away, she started to reflect on the things that had been fulfilled and not fulfilled in her life. She wanted to celebrate her father’s life by remembering many of his advice

and his nature to be kind to animals. It is for this reason that she released her book, “The Puppy or The Plants” (published by Partridge Singapore). This book is about Angie, a full-time loving mother of two squabbling children who adopts a puppy from her mother’s pet dog’s litter. The puppy they named, Huan Huan, which means happy, has become the peacemaker to a homemaker. Now, she needs to deal with a dog that is growling in the manger. Fortunately, she has all the supportive canine lovers around her. They all share wonderful experience of their magnificent, furry fourlegged best friends. Dogs of the same street bark alike. “This book is informative and entertaining at the same time. It can be very emotional to read because almost every story of humans and their pets are real,” says Chang. “The dogs are intuitive and thinking like humans. Although the dogs can’t talk, they can express it, if only humans are sensitive enough to find out.”

The publication of “The Puppy or The Plants” aims for readers to learn to treat dogs with love and kindness, especially the ones they keep at home because these pets are highly intuitive. This is a story of stories about dogs and most of the dogs are from real experience either of the author’s or from the people she knows. About the Author Juliana N. Chang is a full-time mother of two young children, a wife of an ordained clergyman and a former trained teacher living in the city of Kuching, Sarawak, the Federation of Malaysia. She is a homely person who loves to cook, bake, clean and take care of her pet dogs. TI “The Puppy or The Plants” By Juliana N. Chang Softcover | 5 x 8in | 142 pages | ISBN 9781543761467 E-Book | 142 pages | ISBN 9781543761474 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Japanese Film Festival Cancelled Announcement made from organisers due to the escalating COVID-19 cases in the nation

he annual Japanese Film Festival, JFF 2020 PLUS ONE which was set to return late January till February 2021 is now cancelled. The proposal to cancel is unfortunately due to the high new daily COVID-19 cases and the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in several states. Therefore, The Japan Foundation, Kuala

Lumpur (JFKL) has come to the decision to cancel this much anticipated festival af ter much consideration and stands firm on the belief that it is best to safeguard the safety and health of its loyal fans and moviegoers. “We have put in our best effort to run the annual festival at GSC, including postponing it three times since October

2020”, said a statement from JFKL. General information on the festival is available at jfkl.org.my/events/jff2020 and gsc.com.my. The Japan Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 1972 with the purpose of promoting mutual cultural exchange between Japan and other countries. The Kuala Lumpur office was

established in October 1989. The primar y objective of JFKL is to d e ve l o p m u t u a l understanding between people through culture and language within the region. The office also facilitates and supports the exchange of personnel and experts who work in the fields of Arts, Culture, Humanities and Social Sciences. Do stay tuned for further updates. TI

How COVID-19 Transformed Our Intelligence – Part 2 Do you realise that COVID-19 has changed our economic playground? Most businesses that operate based on the old systems have begun to suffer from the lockdowns. Organisations that run through physical offices are now looking at the possibility of having virtual offices. We had dismissed working remotely from home but have begun to accept that it might be a productive approach to sustain businesses. What we are experiencing is our immune system strengthening its survival through material approach. COVID-19 has transformed how we operate economically. There is no way for us to turn back to our ‘normal’ life as we knew it. Our immune intelligence will continuously be surviving forward by learning from the past. As we move forward, our economic playground will be different. Ideally, it would be wise to stop developing shopping malls and commercial buildings. Instead, invest in a digital structure and human capital that covers all aspects of life from education, medical support, retail, and more. The other transformation this pandemic brought us is changing how we bond socially. Before COVID-19, our primary focus is mostly on the material world. Although we have our physical freedom before COVID-19, we have not appreciated the bonding with others until the virus changed our lives. Do you realise how much we value intimate bonding on the emotional and spiritual level with others these days? As we do so, our immune system is gathering information as a group and collectively. We cannot survive COVID-19 alone, but we can through humanity. What drives us to survive as human species? The real intelligence behind our survival is the immune system. It protects us individually, tribally, and collectively. If you notice, COVID-19 has broken all aspects of our life, but here we are, moving through the threats and dangers intuitively. The question is how much we appreciate our immune system knowing our survival is not entirely intellectual, but body consciousness that rules through instinctive intelligence and intuition. TI

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.

FEB 2021 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

travel

7 Things You Must Try at Anantara Desaru With Your Family – Part Two By Edey Suresh waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

A must try at Turmeric! The Chu Chi Goong Mungkron is a rock lobster dish stewed in Thai red curry, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaf and Thai sweet basil

with naturalist Along who is available from Friday to Monday and available on special request on Wednesday and Thursday. Along who originates from Langkawi is very passionate about nature and can provide insightful details on the birds, plants and other wildlife in the vicinity. There are over 30 species of herbs and flowers at the resort for you to learn about. Along will usually end her session by telling you the beautiful story of ‘Pokok Penawar’ (Scaevola Taccada) in which the town of Bandar Penawar is named after. The flowers of the penawar plant are symbolised in the Desaru Coast logo and corporate identity.

experience here symbolises balance as you sense the balance in the mood, in the food and in the overall ambiance. The lavish line up of meals leaves you wanting for more and the experienced and friendly staffs make the dining experience a memorable one.

7. Water Sports Use this opportunity to explore the seas of Desaru with non-motorised water sports on a Hobie Cat or paddle at your own pace on a stand-up paddle board. Windsurfing or kitesurfing is also available for those of you who prefer more action!

4. Cinema Under the Stars Knowing the importance for relaxation after a fun day in the sun, the resort will be playing classic and award-wining holiday movies from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Herbs Garden on selected nights. This is the perfect way to end the day with the family with some popcorn and family time under the sky.

‘Pokok Penawar’ (Scaevola Taccada) where Bandar Penawar is named after

2. Nature Walk Did you know that Desaru, located in Bandar Penawar is rich in herbs and natural health remedies? At Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, you can get to know more about all the medicinal plants located all around the resort in a brisk nature walk

Naturalist Along will keep you well informed about the herbs and plants around the resort

Movie time with the family with some popcorn under the stars

6. Must Eats Turmeric Restaurant offers a splendid breakfast buffet which is available daily with comfortable seating inside and outside near the pool. You can opt to have your lunch here as well. The restaurant serves rich culinary buffet and ala carte delights with intriguing flavours of exquisite Malaysian, Thai and Western cuisines. Enjoy cooked-to-order dishes from live cooking stations as you dine on a terrace overlooking the lagoon pool. I highly recommend ordering ‘The Chu Chi Goong Mungkron’ which is a rock lobster dish stewed in Thai red curry, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaf and Thai sweet basil! Sea.Fire.Salt is all about serving customised culinary finesse from cocktails with spicy chilly to seafood platters served on Himalayan salt blocks. The choices are fresh, and the taste is a constant blend of spices, salt and sweetness. A dining

This wraps up the 7 must do things at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas for

you and your family. The resort offers the ideal gateway for city dwellers looking to getaway to fresh air, gorgeous environs and customised wellness experiences. It offers abundant greenery for guests to meditate or perform their workout routines, a pristine beach to take long sunrise or sunset walks, and in-room tranquillity to wind down. Book your stay today via their official website - https:// www.anantara.com/en/desaru-coast for special offers and enjoy paradise! TI

Indulge in customised culinary finesse to cocktails at Sea.Salt.Fire

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

LIVE

Tabata Workouts in the Safety of Your Own Homes An effective alternative exercise regime for home workouts

ith the unpredicted situation of the CO V I D - 1 9 pandemic in recent weeks, many of us might want to look for alternative exercise programmes which are safer and more flexible for us to get involved in. To maintain our fitness levels while adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in maintaining social distancing, we could opt for a range of solo-type of workouts like cycling, running or walking. Thankfully, there is also a huge range of online fitness programmes which can be done safely in the comfort of your homes. In recent years, one of the most popular type of home workouts is Tabata. Tabata workout involves short bouts of intense body movements such as squats, push-ups, planks involving simple tools like resistance bands, stability ball, dumbbell or kettlebell, but you don’t have to have these tools to try out beginner’s Tabata. Usually, they

are done for 20 seconds for every eight rounds with a short break of 10 seconds between each round. One of the best plus points of Tabata for me is that I don’t need to invest in any special or expensive equipment to start my own Tabata training. Suitable for even beginners, Tabata workouts are said to be very effective in weight loss and building endurance, burning calories even after the exercise is over. It is also said that Tabata has aerobic and anaerobic benefits, something running or cycling cannot achieve. However, experts have given a word of caution to those who have high blood pressure or heart problems – therefore, it will be wiser to consult the doctor first before trying out the Tabata exercise regime. There are countless Tabata trainers with training videos made for subscribers to follow the exercise regime, accessible anytime and anywhere which is very useful for us during this time of restricted movement to curb with the pandemic spread.

Personally I subscribe to a channel on YouTube called “TabataSongs” because of its catchy tunes and energetic trainers. Seeing the trainers doing the workouts wholeheartedly (in the midst of muscle strains) motivates me to

follow the exercise programme along, although not as fast and fit as the trainers in the videos of course! With our without lockdowns, do get those muscles moving and stay fit for it will not only

benefit you physically but mentally too. - by Steffi Tan TI *The facts and views expressed are solely that of the author/ authors and do not necessarily reflect that of the editorial board.

Let’s do some workout (Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash)

SPOT THE SPONGE!

opularly referred to as Sponge Bob – sponges are the real deal! They are animals that grow in all shapes, sizes and shades – but remain fixed in one spot (unlike the cartoon). A sponge’s body is made of cells, but it has no nervous system, brain, heart or muscles. Of the more than 10,000 species worldwide, some can grow larger than a human. Sponges are filter feeders – they take in water through the tiny pores across their body, and filter out their meals

of bacteria, then the water is passed back out again through the big hole in their centre.

Some sponges can pump up to 10,000 times its own volume. This means that a sponge the size of a milk bottle can pump enough water to fill a small swimming pool! Other species have fine tentacles that can trap tiny crustacea and plankton. Sponges are interesting because they can reproduce in several ways. Some create new buds (or those that break off accidently) can grow into new whole sponges. Yet other species release sperm which

Serina Rahman

are then captured by other sponges; the sperm cell is passed on to egg cells, then both attach to a larvae that swims off to settle and grow into a new sponge. Some release both sperm and eggs, which attach to each other outside the sponge before settling down to grow. Kelab Alami conducts guided habitat immersion tours that allow you to meet and examine these fascinating creatures. Log on to kelabalami.weebly.com for more information. TI

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 102 | FEB 2021

WORK

“Excuse Me Boss, I am Entitled to More Bed Space”

reviously, only employees employed on estates were covered under the Employees’ M inimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act). The new amendment, the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities (Amendment) Act 2019 (Amendment Act) which came into force on 1st June 2020, has now expanded the coverage to include ALL employees in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan. Why is this important? The Amendment Act sets out minimum living standards for workers in all types of hostels/ dormitories. Now it has clarified specific standards, including measurement standards and has taken more responsibilities to employers. Failure to comply with the standards of the Amendment Act will be deemed as an offence and if convicted, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000 and/or jail term not exceeding 1 year. Here are some highlights that employers need to take note of;

1. Accommodation Under the Amendment Act, a bedroom should have a minimum floor area of 3.6 square metres, and a dormitory should have a sleeping area with minimum floor area of 3 square metres for each employee. Employers and centralised accommodation providers need to provide these items to every employee: • A single bed measuring not less than 1.7 square metres. And if a double-decker bed is provided, the space between two beds shall not be less than 0.7 metres; • A mattress at least four inches thick, a pillow and a blanket; • A locked cupboard (measuring a minimum 0.35 metres long, 0.35 metres wide, 0.9 metres high).

accommodation providers are accountable to provide the following: • A separate accommodation to employees of the opposite gender; • Take fire safety measures in accordance with the relevant written laws; • Ensure that the electrical wiring systems comply with safety requirements in accordance with the relevant written laws; • Ensure that the employees receive the necessary medical assistance; and • Take preventive measures to contain the spread of infectious diseases as ordered by the Medical Officer of Health, including immunisation against

any infectious disease. 3. Rental Charges The Amendment Act allows an employer to collect any sum for rent or charge in respect of accommodation provided under the new Part IIIa. The sum for rent or charge shall be collected by way of deduction from the salary of the employee (see Section 24G). 4. Accommodation must be certified The Amendment Ac t provides that all accommodation to employees must be approved with a Certificate for Accommodation (COA) issued by the Department of Labour of

2. Health & Safety We have been hearing news on employers being charged for failing to provide a safe living environment (especially during the current COVID-19 outbreak). Under the Amendment Act, employers and centralised

Dzulfadhli bin Lamin Lead Consultant MECA South Sdn Bhd dzul@meca.com.my Malaysia. The application must be made before the accommodation is ready to move in. There are more key changes in the Amendment Act that employers need to be aware of, especially when we are seeing a rise of COVID-19 cases at workers provided accommodation areas. For further enqueries or understanding, seek consultancy from the relevant authorities or you can get in touch with our consultants to be updated on the changes in the Amendment Act. TI

EDUCATION Adapting and Enabling a More Inclusive E-Learning Environment

alaysia still faces constraints with its e-learning environment, a new norm that is hardly accepted by the public school system as opposed to the private sector. Efforts from ministries have been inconclusive, leading to poor planning and implementation, while private institutions are trying their best to roll out digital solutions. On top of that, e-learning still excludes

some of the student population in a problem known as the ‘digital divide’ wherein urban and private schools have more benefits and internet access as compared to suburban and rural schools. According to a study by Khazanah Research Institute (KRI), the level of e-learning adoption is closely linked to the country’s level of development, as 90% of high-income countries have introduced some form of

e-learning before the pandemic. Malaysia’s e-learning capabilities at a school level are still in its infancy. The recent spike in COVID-19 cases caused schools to close once again, showing that the current methods of e-learning should be improved to be systematic, effective and accessible to all students. Since March 2020, public and private universities have halted their new student intake as they try to provide a stable and conducive e-learning platform. Many of these universities have realised that in order to provide a seamless and uninterrupted learning experience, they must invest in digital platforms that can be utilised by the student body and the teaching staff. For example, they need to choose the right video conferencing app that would allow classes to be taken online at ease. In choosing the right app, there is a long list of things that students and teachers do not want to experience. Are they encountering lags? Is the video quality faulty? Is your app taking a long time to load? These KPIs are all measurable. There are a series of tests conducted by

MOZARK on video conferencing platforms, which can help institutions pick the right apps that can work smoothly for all the students and teachers, no matter where they are. A user’s online experience is not the sole responsibility of network providers and this has been a common misconception that MOZARK needs to explicate. As an expert in analytics, we configure the applications to work together with the network operators or regulators to guarantee an excellent user experience. With so many platforms and tools accessible for e-learning, universities must consider all possible options and evaluate their capacity to deliver a seamless experience for the students. MOZARK’s network monitoring solutions can help measure network experience and help Internet Service Providers (ISP) by testing real end-to-end experience as well as continuously monitor the application and device experience to identify any bottlenecks in their networks to improve overall connectivity. As Malaysia embraces and

moves towards the industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0), the advantages of technology are exploding. With this, the Ministry of Education (MOE) should collaborate with application/ software developers, internet service providers and QoE testers to bring them to Digital Experiences platform like MOZARK and ‘Digitally Transform’ the education sector. TI *The facts and views expressed are solely that of the author/ authors and do not necessarily reflect that of the editorial board.

Saravanan Manickam Chief Operating Officer MOZARK Sdn. Bhd.

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

INVEST

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

Threats and Potential Sectors in 2021 (Part 2)

he global stock market kicked off the year 2021 on a steady note. This is despite the unprecedented chaotic scenes ever: a forceful riot at the capitol which led to the impeachment of the US outgoing President Donald Trump, the soaring COVID-19 cases plus the highest number of death tolls worldwide. The good news is, investors do not seem to be affected by these dramas. At the time of writing, the three main US indexes have broken new highs and remain bullish. Likewise, in Europe and Asia, you can see their stock indexes are continuing to be upbeat. Perhaps, the markets have factored in the recovery with the help of vaccines. Locally, Malaysians have been going through a tough time since the beginning of 2021. First, the

termination of KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) and second, the reinforcement of another MCO followed by the surprising declaration of State of Emergency. On 16th January 2021, there were 4029 COVID-19 cases reported on a single day and the overall infection in Malaysia has surpassed 150,000 cases. It is a mixed feeling seeing the worsened public health situation with the performing stock market. Does the bull still have legs? Let us look at some facts and begin with the US stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) chart on 15th January 2021 broke new highs in November 2020 and it has been moving steadily. However, the bull would take a rest if it has run for a while. A healthy correction could be expected with an immediate

support of 30500 followed by 30000 level. What would happen afterwards? I believe the uptrend would resume based on the following reasons: 1) The US market is still flooded with liquidity and President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled a $1.9 trillion stimulus package to jump start the economy. 2) Interest rate is near to zero and the FED has recently signalled that they are willing to let the inflation rate run above 2%. This means investing in stocks is a much better idea than holding cash. 3) Gold price has fallen more than 10% from its peak and showed weaker momentum, indicating the market perceives lower risk currently. 4) The recovered crude oil price to above $50 per barrel

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. (Source: www.investing.com)

implies a more positive economy outlook. Potential Threats Despite all the bullish signs, one should be cautious as there are underlying threats. Firstly, the higher the market indexes mean the higher the valuation. If the growth does not catch up with the high price to earnings (PE) ratio, price may fall. Whilst everyone likes their stock prices to skyrocket – the higher the price, the higher the risks. The good news is; bull generally climbs amid fears and worries. As long as there are still plenty of uncertainties in the year 2021, the bull would continue to run. Secondly, although more countries have commenced the vaccination process, it looks like the virus has mutated and spread faster. So far, there is no evidence suggesting that the vaccine is effective to the variant. Time would tell. Thus far the market has behaved positively in anticipation to the effective vaccine. What if the vaccine is not as effective and the variant is more evolved? Not to forget, with stricter global lockdowns in place, it is hard to believe the economy would recover as soon as expected.

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 the National Libraries in Malaysia and Singapore or online via http://www.teybinyuen.com/ profitfromshareinvestment electronic appliances and home consumption. Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) The reason that Malaysia’s EMS sector continues to perform is because more companies seek to diversify their supply chains to Southeast Asia. This trend has become clearer since the trade war that started in 2018. There are a few EMS companies in Malaysia such as VS Industry, ATA, SKPRES and SCOPE. If you read their quarter reports, you would learn that they are poised to clinch new customers or secure new orders from existing customers. In preparing to cope with higher demand, they are in the midst of capacity expansion.

Potential Sectors

Conclusion

Nevertheless, some sectors could still perform amid all the challenges. The next sector is related to growing trend of global

So the world is never short of threats every year, just as it is never short of opportunities. As investors, let us be mindful of both. TI

UOBAM (Malaysia) Launches United Great Dragon Fund The fund aims to provide returns by investing in Chinalisted companies that ride on technology, innovation and other long-term growth trends

OB Asset Management (Malaysia) (UOBAM Malaysia) launched the United Great Dragon Fund to provide retail investors with access to China-listed companies set to become the future growth drivers of China’s economy. The fund invests primarily in UOB Asset Management Ltd (UOBAM)’s United China A-Shares Innovation Fund (Target Fund), which focuses on companies in China’s A-shares market. These companies are likely to be major beneficiaries of technology, innovation and long-term growth trends such as rising consumer affluence and growing urbanisation. Lim Suet Ling, Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Malaysia), said, “China offers longterm potential for Malaysian investors who seek to capitalise on its growth opportunities. The country is forecast to replace the United States as the world’s largest economy by 2028

as it shifts from an export-driven economy to one that focuses on high-growth industries driven by technological advancements. This shift is characterised by increasing domestic consumption and the development of higher value-add sectors such as healthcare equipment, industrial automation, new energy vehicles, biotechnology, software and advanced materials, tourism and entertainment. “We believe the future of China is all about innovation. For example, biomedicine and high-end medical equipment are among the 10 key industries identified in the ‘Made in China 2025’ plan, which aims to transform these industries into self-sufficient and globally dominant players. Almost six years after the plan’s launch in 2015, one of the country’s key and most visible achievements in biomedicine is the development of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been used on the country’s high-risk groups since July 2020,” said Suet Ling. The United Great Dragon Fund is suitable for retail investors seeking returns over the medium and long term. The fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing a minimum of 90% of its net asset

value in the Target Fund and the balance in liquid assets such as money market instruments and deposits. Previously, China A-shares were open only to China-based investors but the government recently relaxed its restrictions on foreign ownership to global institutional investors. With the United Great Dragon Fund, retail investors can gain greater access to China’s growth opportunities via its A-share market. Suet Ling said, “As China is poised for a new growth phase, the China A-shares weightage in emerging and global indices such as the Morgan Stanley Capital Index (MSCI) will likely increase significantly over the next five to seven years. We estimate another US$300 billion to US$400 billion of inflows into China A-shares if MSCI’s inclusion ratio for these shares is increased to 100% from the current 20%. The increase in the inclusion ratio will see the free float of China A-shares owned by foreign institutional investors grow to 17% from the current 3.5%. This will give Malaysia’s retail investors access to new growth opportunities otherwise only available for institutional investors.” The United Great Dragon Fund is available

in Malaysian Ringgit, Chinese Renminbi and US Dollar with an initial minimum investment of RM1,000, RMB1,000 and US$1,000 respectively. UOBAM (Malaysia) is the Fund’s manager, while UOB Asset Management Ltd and Ping An Fund Management Company Limited are the management company and sub-manager of the Target Fund respectively. The fund is available for subscription at selected distributors nationwide. For more information, please visit www. uobam.com.my - TI

Lim Suet Ling, Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Malaysia) says, “China offers long-term potential for Malaysian investors”

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

Gordon Ramsay to Launch First Restaurant in Malaysia

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unway Resort, the spectacular flagship of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Gordon Ramsay Restaurants to open the worldrenowned, multi-Michelin starred chef’s first-ever restaurant in Malaysia, marking the start of an exciting new era of international gastronomy for the country. Under the historic collaboration, guests at Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, the iconic lifestyle destination, will be treated to a blend of culinary brilliance and electric entertainment at Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill – the concept’s first location outside of London. Scheduled to open in June 2021, it will be the signature dining destination at Sunway Resort, which is currently undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation that will excite guests and elevate the entire Malaysian hospitality sector. Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill will create an inviting atmosphere for all-day dining, from breakfast and lunch through afternoon tea to evening dinners and cocktail hours. There will also be the opportunity for private dining. With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the Sunway Lagoon, the views will be spectacular. Diners can select from an impressive menu, specialising in premium ingredients and exceptional flavours including the prime cuts of the finest meat, locally sourced and dry-aged in-house, as well as the very best elements from Gordon Ramsay’s world-famous signature dishes. The world-renowned chef, restaurateur and star of must-watch shows such as Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, and MasterChef

US, Gordon Ramsay has a collection of acclaimed restaurants in the UK, Europe, US and beyond and holds seven Michelin stars. This exciting new partnership marks the first international opening for Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill outside of London. Andy Wenlock, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants’ CEO, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with the Sunway Group as we expand our Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill concept into Malaysia, and very much look forward to sharing our wonderful menu and famed guest experience with local and international diners in 2021.” The unveiling of Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill forms part of the transformation of Sunway Resort, which is being completely reimagined under a seamless and sustainable vision for the future. New family facilities, specialist rooms and suites, and exclusive lounges will be empowered by cutting-edge technology, such as smartphone key entry, motion sensors, live online fitness coaching, and chromotherapy showers, all integrated into the guest experience. TI

Global culinary sensation Gordon Ramsay all set to open his restaurant by mid of the year

May Your Dreams Come True This Chinese New Year at Impiana Hotel Senai Amidst the merriment, we’d like to impart 3 important tips for a safe and successful family reunion dinner this year basic safety precaution is to always wear a mask, sanitise or wash your hands with soap and water and keep your distance from people who are not living under the same roof as yours. Four Seasons Platter delighting your table as the entree

hinese New Year is around the corner and the most important part of it is the reunion dinner which is best to be planned way ahead, especially in this unpredictable time. It is also wise to celebrate this festive as intimate as possible – only with your immediate family or close friends if families are far. Some celebrate this occasion at home by cooking traditional dishes, whereas for those who are pressed for time to cook elaborate meals, hotels may be a good option. We bring you a solution from the latter, namely Impiana Hotel Senai.

Look for a Safe Place to Dine Another measure to look at is whether the place you are going to is safe and aware of the need to clean the surfaces frequently. Be rest assured that Impiana Hotel Senai was granted the Clean & Safe Malaysia’s Hygiene & Safety Label, and therefore, this should be a good choice if you opt to dine-in there this

coming Chinese New Year! Choose the Talk of Town Meals ‘The Saugong Chinese Set’ has 8 courses of meals inclusive of desserts for 8pax per table. The ‘Four Seasons Platter’ with crab fritters, seafood vegetables, and rolls are great as appetisers - the perfect bites to nibble on while you are having cheerful conversations. Then, the warm, Szechuan Hot & Spicy Soup gets to your heart, a perfect time to reminisce the past for a little. Alternatively, you could get the Chicken & Crabmeat Soup or Double

Basic Hygiene in Pandemic During this pandemic, the

Salmon Yee Sang platter served by option - a must for dinner

Boiled Small Abalone Soup for the other two sets. In order to greet the Lunar New Year in high spirits and usher luck, don’t forget to have the Salmon Yee Sang on the

A sure family favourite, Crispy Roasted Chicken

side, priced at RM88 nett! The Saugong Chinese Set Menu is available for reservations until the 10th of February 2021, prince ranges from RM688, RM838 and RM988 that includes mouth-watering classic dishes such as Hong Kong Steamed Red Snapper, Crispy Roasted Chicken, Wok Fried Prawns with Oats and more. If no restrictions are in place, you can opt to dine in at Level 9 Executive Lounge, Tiffin Restaurant or at the hotel’s pool

side! Due to social distancing purposes, seats are limited so reservations are required to be made 3 days prior to your preferred date. Alternatively, if you prefer to have all the fanciness but in a more cautions environment of your home, delivery service of the sets are available on the same day of order and charges will vary depending on your location. Call +607 595 8898 or WhatsApp +6016 713 4590 or email at fnb1.ihs@impiana. com to book your table or for delivery rates and timings. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

How to get the children to eat their vegetables - Double Mushrooms with Nai Pai

The Iskandarian ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

Recipient of Best Industrial Development in iProperty Development Excellence Awards 2019 - Frontier Park gets a nod from Johor Exco and Invest Johor CE as 18 a new-age industrial park pg 16

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Mah Sing Group Berhadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Double Storey Link Home, Acacia Phase 2 - high quality and affordable pg 16

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THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

PROPERTY

Acacia 2 @Meridin East Launched Virtually

Mah Sing’s Acacia 2 in Meridin East with Benjamin Ong, Mah Sing CEO beaming (middle)

ah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) recently held its first virtual official property launch — “A House that Listens to You” of its latest Double Storey Link Home, Acacia Phase 2 in its largest township development, Meridin East. The virtual launch encompassed programmes like “Show Unit Walkthrough with Social Media Influencer Jazmin Lee” and “Homely-Feeling Interior Design with a Small Budget” through its Facebook Live had successfully reached the attention and engagement

of many. Mah Sing also hosted the “An Introduction to Smart Home” sharing session since it also offers Smart Home System Package to all new purchasers in the month of December, as part of its HOC Plus Campaign. Acacia Double Storey Link Home has a land size of 22’ x 70’, built-up of 1,838 sq.ft, and priced from RM498,000, with 4 bedrooms & 3 bathrooms. To date, Mah Sing’s Acacia 1 and 2 achieved over 80% take up. “We are proud to provide not only affordable but highquality houses to ensure the value invested on us worth it,” said Mah Sing’s Chief Operating

Officer, Benjamin Ong Chin Yee. Buyers also stand a chance for easy entry of up to 100% financing and lower monthly instalments through Mah Sing’s Eazy to Own Campaign instrument, Maybank Islamic HouzKEY. Located in the new city of Pasir Gudang, Meridin East is a 1,313-acre Freehold Green Township. Its 500 acres of lush greenery is accompanied by two 9-acre lakes, 16km jogging and cycling track, children’s playgrounds, basketball courts and etc. To date, more than 900 units of houses were handed

The low bank interest rate also enables purchasers to own Acacia Phase 2 from only RM1,150 per month. The unifiready development is due to complete in Q4 2022. For more information,

Mah Sing team speaking to an interested customer

Product briefing by Benjamin Ong, Mah Sing CEO

Frontier Park Emerges as a NewAge Industrial Park in the Region B Land had recently hosted a working visit for Datuk Mohd Izhar bin Ahmad, Johor Exco for Investment, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources, and Invest Johor Chief Executive Mohd Masni bin Wakiman to Frontier Park in Desa Cemerlang, Johor Bahru. WB Land’s General Manager Kevin Woon and team briefed Datuk Mohd Izhar and Mohd Masni at the Frontier Gallery on the latest investments in Frontier Park as well as the progress of the new access to the East-West Link, a Federal Government project. The visit ended with a tour around the new-age industrial park followed by lunch with all SOPs in place.

over to purchasers, with more than 50% occupancy rate. Around 400 units of houses will also be completed and handed over to purchasers in 2021, which further strengthens Meridin East’s position as one of

Challenging the limits by driving innovation in designs and flexibility, the latest project, Frontier Industrial Park was awarded the Best in Malaysia award for its integrated focus and world-class amenities. In December last year, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan officially opened Johor’s first workers’ hostel that is certified under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act (Act 446) at Frontier Park Hostel. The five-storey hostel which is now fully occupied, boasts of recreational, canteen and commercial facilities such as food stalls, mini-mart and retail shops that more than meet the basic needs of the workers. - by Priya Manikam TI

Johor Exco for Investment, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources, Datuk Mohd Izhar bin Ahmad on a working visit to Frontier Park (Image courtesy of WB Land)

the most livable townships in Pasir Gudang. Buyers had the opportunity to leverage on the HOC 2020 under the PENJANA Plan, which included stamp duty exemption on the instruments of transfer for residential properties limited to the first RM1million of the home price and full stamp duty exemption for loan agreement.

call 07 291 3218 or visit Meridin East’s sales gallery to explore the scale models, landscape models, and show units located right at the site of the actual project. The Sales Gallery is operational daily from 10am to 6pm. Alternatively, buyers are also welcomed to visit Acacia’s website at https:// bit.ly/AcaciaME. - by Nurfarahin Zahiridin TI

Country Garden Forest City Continues to Amaze at a Global Level Standing out among the 2020 Asian Townscape Awards international participants

he winners of the 2020 Asian Townscape Awards was recently announced, and the “Water Cycle System & Sponge City Concept” of Country Garden Forest City has again won the 2020 Asian Townscape Jury Award, demonstrating the international community’s great appreciation of Forest City’s efforts towards sustainable ecological development. The organisers had announced a list of winners in a virtual format since its debut. Atsushi Koresawa, Director of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Fukuoka, Japan, said he was deeply impressed by the high standards of all applications in 2020. “All of them have demonstrated people-centered and sustainable-driven approaches to improving the quality of the environment in their neighbourhoods and communities,” he said. Forest City has celebrated its 5th anniversary since its launch in 2015 and the company has undergone its business transformation from a city developer to a city operator since then. It’s now on its way to developing Forest City into an environmentally friendly and multicultural integrated city. As a proponent of Sponge City, Forest City has built 4 sewage treatment plants with a total capacity of approximately 170,400 P.E. Following an advanced

Forest City won the coveted 2020 Asian Townscape Jury’s Award ecological sewage treatment system and a wetland treatment system, the quality of the effluent is able to meet the CLASSIIB standard, which is higher than the discharge standard in Malaysia. Sato Masaru, Chairman of the ATA Judgment Committee, said the Judgment Difficulty Level was the highest in 2020, so the Committee adopted a two-dimensional Judgment Standard, evaluating submissions on a physical scale as well as on a time scale. “All cases had important themes and made excellent efforts and I believe that we are doing what is necessary and valuable for all Asian countries and the next era.” The Asian Townscape Awards were jointly established by the Asia Pacific Office of UN-HABITAT, the Asian Habitat Society, the Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Centre and the Asian Townscape Design Society in 2010. 118 cities or projects in 12 countries or regions have won the Asian Townscape Awards of the year after 11 years of development. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 102 | FEB 2021

PROPERTY

RM100 Million of Latest Investments in Medini Iskandar

he Sankyu Group, a Japanese Conglomerate, is expected to develop its first training centre for human resources outside of Japan. The centre is set to begin operations in 2022 in Medini Central Business District in Johor. The groundbreaking ceremony held in the Medini Central Business District (Medini CBD) was officiated by the Mayor of Iskandar Puteri, Dato’ Salehuddin Haji Hassan, SANKYU Southeast Asia Holdings’ Managing Director, Junichi Matsumura; Chairman of Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIMSB), Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, and Head of MIMSB, Mohamad Zamani Razali. “Malaysia continues to be a strategic hub in the region for SANKYU; this is

evident in our continuous investments and developments of critical infrastructure in the country,” said Junichi Matsumura. Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), welcomed SANKYU’s latest undertaking. “MIDA is optimistic that this training centre in Malaysia will bring positive economic benefits in terms of job creation, transfer of technology and know-hows through training which will ultimately create new opportunities for local businesses and vendors. The Medini CBD received recognition from the state government and Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni

RTS Gets Virtual Public Inspection

rom 15th January until 15th April 2021, the public can view all relevant documents and materials pertaining to the RTS such as the station site context plan, alignment plan and profile, rolling stock and details on land that may have to be acquired to make way for the project. The public inspection is a requirement under the Land Public Transport Act 2010’s Section 84. The public can provide feedback or file objections using the online public objection form on MRT Corp’s website - at www.mymrt.com.my. MRT Corp has also intended to open two locations for physical public inspection – at the Agensi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (APAD) headquarters and in KOMTAR JBCC in Johor Bahru. TI

Mohammad as Johor’s Hub for Digital Technology and Emerging Technologies. CBD also obtained funds to accelerate its strategic hub’s development. Meanwhile, Dato’ Haji Salehuddin is pleased with the groundbreaking as SANKYU Group has been a long-time investor in Malaysia since the 1960s with businesses all over Malaysia. Head of MIMSB, Mohamad Zamani Razali said, “The groundbreaking ceremony marks an important milestone for Medini, as we continue to attract many prominent and reputable tenants,” citing that SANKYU is the first of many developments that have been working hard under the Iskandar NEXT initiative

which focuses on the new economy, experience and talent. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Groundbreaking ceremony - (middle) Kazuhiko Horiguchi (Director or Sankyu Southeast Asia Holdings) with the representatives from Kajima (M) and Sankyu (M)

Decline But Not Crashing: iProperty

Property.com.my unveiled the 2020 Property Demand Analytics, mainly focussing at four property types: terrace house, condominiums, service residences and apartments. The Analytics was virtually presented by Premendran Pathmanathan, General Manager of Customer Data Solutions at REA Group Asia that also included apartments for the first time. The analytics shows that user visits to iProperty.com.my was at its lowest point in April 2020 after the MCO was imposed. It has since recovered as pent-up consumer demand pushed buying interest past new heights. As of December 2020, unique visits for sub-sale property listings saw an upward recovery of +85%. Similar trends have also been observed for home loans. Johor recorded a double-digit decline across all property categories. However,

terrace houses recorded capital gains as most of the home buyers in Johor still prefer landed homes. The construction of the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) has recently begun too. Iskandar Puteri is the most in demand area in Johor with +118.6% growth in demand. Kluang has recorded the secondhighest growth in property demand for properties between RM100,000 to RM150,000. Muar and Batu Pahat have several residential projects in the pipeline. Commenting on the Demand Analytics, Premendran said, the property market is reliant on the country’s economy and that COVID-19 has changed the way everybody lives and works. Under Budget 2021, the government has increased stamp duty exemptions to the secondary market. It would therefore, help to ease home loan repayments by gradually reducing the Overnight Policy

Rate (OPR) and reducing the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) allocation. More information and details are available in the iProperty.com.my 2020 Portal Demand Analytics via www. iproperty.com.my/newsroom. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Premendran Pathmanathan, General Manager of Customer Data Solutions at REA Group Asia briefing on the surface of what is included in 2020 Property Demand Analytics

How Will RTS Impact the Property Market? – Part 2 Advantages and Disadvantages of the RTS Link Public transport which is smart and efficient will help boost economic activities and elevate Johor Bahru’s status as a focal point for development in the region. The RTS Link will be the first light rail transit system to be built in JB, a major gateway into the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore, it is pertinent it is built according to schedule and international standards. The primary benefit of the RTS Link is it being a confidence booster to an otherwise sagging economy. The prospects offered during the construction and operation stages give rise to more job and business opportunities. It also renewed hopes of more buyers investing into the property market in JB. Apart from easing the Causeway congestion, it will

improve connectivity, foster people-to-people ties and generate shared economic and social benefits to the region. The offering of a comfortable, affordable and modern form of travelling is a desirable feature in today’s modern vehicular mobility. The project would bring a positive economic impact to industries such as tourism and real estate, especially in JB. We expect more hotels and shopping malls to be developed in JB once the passenger ridership numbers increase. Due to the lower operating cost here, the hotels here will also see increased MICE activities especially from Singapore. It will create a rail infrastructure between Malaysia and Singapore that is efficient, cost-effective and integrated with the public transportation system of both countries. The RTS Link project will expand

the supply chain and develop the rail technology industry in Johor and provide jobs with the depot in Wadi Hana. About 1,500 jobs are expected during the construction period while 150 supporting industries will benefit downstream from activities directly or indirectly. Other indirect benefits include more consultancy packages for the locals, opportunities for contractors and civil works. About 40% of the total infrastructure construction cost will be allocated to Bumiputera contractors, including those from Grade 1 to Grade 6 from Johor. In a gist: Pros: • Help ease congestion. • Enhance trade, business, people movement, logistic / supply chain between the two countries. • Serve as a catalyst to revitalise JB city centre

development and JB transportation network. • Especially convenient for those who needs to commute daily, i.e. students and workers as well as some day-trip shoppers from Singapore. • Property developments within close vicinity to the RTS station will benefit. Cons: • RTS solves the travellers’ congestion issue on the causeway but their point-to-point transfer from homes to JB RTS station and from Woodlands North RTS station to workplaces / schools is another set of problems. • Insufficient car parking lots might be aggravated if more travellers choose to park nearby the RTS vicinity in town. • RTS is using the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system instead of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. LRT typically operates on small train carts and narrower

track with smaller capacity. This might give rise to scalability issues when the system needs to be upgraded in the future. • Due to the convenience offered, there is always a possibility that more Malaysians will opt to travel and work in Singapore, causing a further brain-drain and manpower shortage in Johor. TI

Sr Samuel Tan Executive Director KGV International Property Consultants

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