The Iskandarian March Issues 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 103

Encouraging and Developing the Next Leading Johor Youth

MAR 2021

Sunway Property’s revamped city

Page 3

Accumulating Wealth

Monthly Drill with Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, CEO of Iskandar Investment Berhad

Spring Cleaning your Portfolio

Page 17

Page 13

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How Can Johor Stay Sustainable and Economically Secure? farmer in Iskandar Malaysia. Iskandar Learning Festival (ILF) This year-long informative and educational festival through numerous online sharing sessions is aimed at improving people’s awareness and skills. E-commerce, smart cities, jobs, tourism, human resources, leadership, capacity building, and unique sectors are among the topics addressed. For more information on the Iskandar Malaysia 15-Year Commemorative Campaign or IM15CC, please visit www. iskandarmalaysia.com.my/IM15CC. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Back to School

Datuk Haji Ir. Hasni Mohammad, Menteri Besar Johor and Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) during the launch of Iskandar Malaysia 15-Year Commemorative Campaign (IM15CC) and SECURE@IskandarMalaysia via an online conference

skandar Malaysia had launched its 15-year campaign ‘Iskandar Malaysia 15-Year Commemorative Campaign’ (IM15CC) and the ‘SECURE@IskandarMalaysia’ initiative to help the rakyat and small businesses preserve their economic recovery. “15 years ago, Iskandar Malaysia was earmarked as the economic corridor for the southern region and as the first, out of five, to be created in Malaysia mainly due to the location and the abundance of resources that the state of Johor can offer.” “Today, I believe Iskandar Malaysia has proven itself to be capable of reaching its vision of becoming a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing, with the teamwork and support from all the players,” said Datuk Haji Ir. Hasni Mohammad, Menteri Besar Johor at the online launch. According to Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), “The campaign is not a celebration, but an inspiration based on the past 15 years of development and achievements of the region”. With some of the biggest foreign investors coming from China, USA, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Spain, India, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France and ASEAN countries, Iskandar Malaysia recorded a total cumulative investment of RM337.3 billion. Since 2006, these investments have led partly to the development of more than 800,000 jobs and 95,000 SMEs in the country. Iskandar Malaysia has taken measures to ensure that not only small businesses and individuals survive through the pandemic but even afterwards. Their recovery and survival can be maintained for a longer time. www.facebook.com/theiskandarian

SECURE@IskandarMalaysia (Sustainable Socio-Economic Recovery) Initiative in Iskandar Malaysia. It is a set of programmes to help the socio-economic recovery of Iskandar Malaysia’s population and small and medium-sized enterprises across three areas: capacity building, reskilling and upskilling, and funds and grants. Applicants may search for the right programme under this initiative to help them recover and retain their livelihoods from reskilling and upskilling technical skills, developing soft skills to having the requisite grants and funds to support their companies. IM Makmur programme This programme focuses on minority communities, such as single mothers, orphans, fishermen, people with disabilities, elderly people and indigenous people, to help them address income barriers. This includes support for their children’s employment-based and entrepreneurial skills and tuitions.

ll school students beginning with preschoolers, Standard 1 and 2 will return to school on the 1st of March 2021 to familiarise them with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). During a press conference, Senior Minister for Education Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said the rest of the primary students will return to schools a week later on 8th March including international schools. As for secondary school students, they will commence their in-person lessons later on either 4th or 5th April depending on the states. For instance, Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will start on the 4th of April 2021. The delay is due to logistic reasons as a result of the ongoing Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams that will end by 25th March held at the school halls and classrooms with SOPs in place. According to Mohd Radzi, the arrangement applies to all government and private schools registered with the Ministry. The COVID-19 pandemic that struck the nation in 2020 has disrupted the education system to date, and in most cases, online learning opportunities were not available making learning a challenge. - by Priya Manikam TI

Iskandar Malaysia Employment Grant A way of helping local companies retain existing workers and hiring new ones for up to 6 months by salary grant matching. Iskandar Malaysia Urban Farming Urban farming is becoming increasingly common and the Iskandar Malaysia Urban Farming programme can be looked forward to by interested parties. Either through the outdoor integrated farming concept, the indoor farming system or the hi-tech modular vertical farming with IoT solutions, there are several options for becoming a modern

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Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, Education Minister (Image courtesy of Dr Mohd Radzi Fb page)

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THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

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NEWS

TOP Campaign Empowers 420 Orang Asli Students

he start of the 2021 school year is like no other with Malaysia in a State of Emergency to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Our nation is striking a delicate balance between protecting the well-being of the population whilst ensuring that the next generation receives the best education possible despite the economic impact the pandemic has had on communities such as the Orang Asli. The Orang Asli population have been among the hardest hit economically, and the recent floods in Johor, Pahang and Perak have further disrupted incomes while the fear of their children possibly contracting COVID-19 weighs on them. Despite these setbacks, Orang Asli families are eager for their children to continue schooling for a better future. TOP, the Putra Brand Award 2019 Platinum winner for the household product category, ‘Brighter Future with TOP’ charity fund-raising campaign, supported by TESCO and JAKOA arrived right on time to empower 420 Orang Asli students from six schools in Pahang, Perak and Johor with back-to-school essentials including

two reusable face masks per child for COVID-19 protection, and TOP powder detergent to hygienically launder their uniforms in the 2021 school year. The funds collected exceeded expectation equipping an additional 60 students from the initial target of 360 students. Southern Lion Sdn Bhd, Marketing Manager (Fabric Care Division) Ling Ai Li thanked TESCO, JAKOA and the brand’s customers for supporting a brighter future for Orang Asli children even in these difficult times. Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Head of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Hanim Hamdan said that the leading retailer fully supported the campaigns goals and choose to add value by contributing water bottles and food containers to help Orang Asli students comply with COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) of physical distancing. The Orang Asli primary schools receiving back-to-school essentials include SK Kampung Kudong a high-achieving Orang Asli school in a forest reserve in Bekok Johor, SK Pos Dipang in Jeram, Perak that has shown exceptional spirit

in rebuilding from landslides, floods and other tragedies, and the isolated SK Terisu, in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. Orang Asli students from SK Kenering, SK Pahit and SK Batu 4 in Perak were also recipients. Despite restrictions on interstate travel and flooding in some areas, the JAKOA’s team arranged and delivered 150 cartons of back-to-school essentials of new uniforms, shoes, socks, school

bags, stationery sets, pencil cases, colour pencils, exercise books, water bottles, food containers, two pieces of reusable face masks and a 750gm pack of TOP Super Hygienic Powder Detergent for each child, as well as art supplies and ukuleles for the school. The contribution serves to protect the children from the COVID-19 virus, motivate them to attend school and ease some of their parents’ financial burdens. TI

A Brighter Future with TOP - Southern Lion Sdn Bhd, Senior Brand Manager (Fabric Care Division) William Bee (left) and Marketing Manager (Fabric Care Division) Ling Ai Li (right) are among the TOP team packing back-to-school essentials for 420 Orang Asli students

“In The Arms Of One Who Cares”

Malaysia En Route to Effective Establishment of Herd Immunity

Johor Insists on a Travel Bubble with Singapore

alaysia government will be extending the National Immunisation Programme COVID-19 to all foreign nationals living in Malaysia which will begin by the end of February. The vaccination will be given at no charge under the programme. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin, who is the joint chairmen of the Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Committee, said in a statement on 11th February that this was agreed at a Cabinet meeting on 10th February 2021. All classes of non-citizens residing in Malaysia will be included though priorities will be given to Malaysian citizens first. Further details and vaccination schedules will be subsequently provided for foreign nationals. The decision was taken after taking into account that an environment that is secure and free of COVID-19 in the world can only be accomplished if, during this pandemic, as many people as possible obtain free vaccination on humanitarian reasons. It is in line with the ‘Protect Oneself, Protect All’ theme of the programme and the assumption that “no one is safe until everyone is safe,” the joint chairmen said. According to them, the decision was also taken after having seen the large number of cases from clusters of foreign staff and the high cost of treating and quarantining patients with COVID-19 as a consequence. In the declaration, they said, “Foreign workers are also part of the community and have contributed to the economy of the nation.” They added that the decision also took into account that Malaysians living abroad were given the same treatment by certain countries. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

CIQ during MCO - Image by Kyaizee Mohd

ccording to Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Mohammad during a virtual press conference, “In the interest of the industry and economic activities of the state, the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) ought to be continued as Singapore is also a stakeholder”. “We respect the decision of Singapore, but we will give a request on the matter to the Federal Government since the decision includes the governments of two countries. Accordingly, I have referred the matter to the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.” He said it is also expected that Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will discuss this matter further with his counterpart from Singapore. Hasni also said the congestion

issue at the Causeway and Second Link due to the mandatory rapid testing for COVID-19 by Singapore on all commercial vehicle drivers would be part of the recommendation to the Federal Government. “To ease the congestion at the two land links, Johor can do the testing at our side and maybe Singapore can absorb the payment as they are also bearing the cost for the testing at their entry points,” he said. Operating hours at the Causeway could be longer than the existing 12 hours between 7am and 7pm to help ease the congestion. The Singapore government declared on 30th January that it would suspend the RGL with Malaysia for three months, beginning on 1st February 2021 along with the Republic of Korea and Germany. In a statement, the home ministry of the island republic reported that its government had periodically checked its border measures to handle the danger of imports and local transfers of COVID-19 from travellers. “At the end of the suspension period, Singapore will review the RGL arrangements. Travelers who have already been approved under these RGLs to enter Singapore will continue to do so,” it said. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

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ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

THE ISKANDARIAN

Indonesia - Malaysia Green Lane: A New Hope in the New Normal?

rime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has secured the Reciprocal Green Lane/Travel Corridor Arrangement (RGL/TCA) deal with Indonesia, an initiative which was one of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) recovery plans that was planned since July 2020, according to MOTAC Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. MOTAC had held consultations with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to the four-eye meeting between the leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia to explore possibilities for travel bubble agreements with neighbouring countries during this COVID-19 pandemic situation. Nancy stated that many countries were listed for the intent, including Brunei, Singapore and Thailand, as well as Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, as the World Health Organisation recognised these places as safe. “However, its implementation is subject to bilateral discussions and considerations on health, immigration, data tracking, and ongoing monitoring by the relevant agencies in both countries,”

she said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers president, Francis Teo said the opening of borders between Malaysia and Indonesia would facilitate the movement of business travellers between the two countries. In his address, Teo said that aspects of the plan will need to be clearly determined in order for the RGL/ TCA to function as it is enforced until the pandemic situation in both countries progresses. “Our members include 29 convention centre operators located in major cities in the country. We have proposed to work with the government by designating these participating venues as temporary mass vaccination centres during the vaccination delivery. The association is willing and prepared to work closely with the government to ensure the success of this vaccination drive. We hope that through this collaboration, we can facilitate the government’s goal of providing vaccination to 70% of the population, which is equivalent to 23 million Malaysians,” he said. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

NEWS

Encouraging and Developing the Next Leading Johor Youth

duCit y Leadership Summit 2021 (EdLeadS) featured Johor’s Chairman of Tourism, Youth and Sport Committee, Datuk Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi in a webinar session titled “The Johor Story - Youth Leadership Development, A Perspective from Progressive State”, exploring the various youth development initiatives with guest panel; EduCity’s Student Senate First President, Sarah Shevaun Ritikos. The hour long session discussed on the importance to develop leadership in every youth and how it could play a vital role later in these youths’ life. Onn Hafiz shared about the youth initiatives under the state government which includes Iskandar Malaysia apprenticeship, career moves, Xtif Johor, Entrepreneur Enhancement Programme, Johor Sports Masterplan, rebranding of Institut Dato Onn and Southern Volunteers programme that calls for the youth to move the faithful works of charity all over Johor. When asked if the Southern Volunteers programme would work with local NonGovernment Organisations, Onn Hafiz said there are a lot of NGOs and individuals that would like to come onboard to step up to the plate when it comes to leadership. Not just by leading but by helping others as well. The Southern Volunteers platform

helmed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Idris ibni Sultan Ibrahim are open to interested parties in joining them to help out at each district. EdLeadS 2021 over the course of 5 LIVE series have garnered 1,035 views with 1,175 registrations from over 30 institutions. The universal topics engaged the attention of learners and leaders all the way from Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, India, USA, UK, Peru, Germany, Oman and even Egypt. This series which concluded on the 11th of February 2021 is supported by Malaysia’s Ministry of Education. TI

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THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

NEWS

Breaking The Quarantine’s Dull Sweat at Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium

t has come to Yayasan Suria JB’s founder, James Ho’s realisation that there is a need to help Johor’s quarantine centre after he underwent quarantine period himself, returning from his 13 days of non-medical volunteer mission in Semporna, Sabah. While the basic needs of food supplies are met, there is the need of emotional and mental support being in an enclosed space with strangers, apart from friends and family members. This is supported by Ihsan Johor’s CEO, Farrah Faridah Baptist in her Facebook share where she stated that the centre’s personnel asked the volunteers if there are any activities that could be done to put some cheer in the environment. They had so much time but so little to do. 14 agencies, including 2 NonGovernment Organisations that are

past recipients of Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA), Ihsan Johor and Yayasan Suria JB had made up a total number of 160 personnel that had come together to do some aerobic exercise daily and birthday parties for the patients accordingly. Jointly coordinated with Malaysia Youth and Sports Ministry, the daily aerobics were held by professional coaches tailored for recovering patients to stretch their joints and also to boost their morale. Ihsan Johor together with Yayasan Suria JB has supplied RM5K worth of ‘goodies’, ranging from fridges, bread toaster, banquet tables, pails, Mandarin oranges, bread & buns, mineral water, packet drinks, Milo, bread, kaya, and etc. The cause was supported by agencies like NADMA, MOH, PDRM, APM, RELA, JKM, ATM, BOMBA, MEDIVEST, Department of Information, SAJ and

Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG). Ihsan Johor and Yayasan Suria JB are welcoming any fitness instructors to help organise the daily activities. Interested parties can head to https:// www.facebook.com/IhsanJohorRangers/ for more details. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Ihsan Johor CEO, Farrah Baptist and Yayasan Suria JB’s Founder, James Ho with their volunteers, running their commitment to the Pasir Gudang quarantine centre

MRT Corp Unveils Winning Design for the Johor BahruSingapore RTS Link Station

ass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) unveiled the winning design for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) Project’s Bukit Chagar station. The modern and futuristic design, dubbed “The Integration of Two”, was inspired by the historical and intertwined relationship between Johor Bahru and Singapore which had existed for centuries and will now be further enhanced with the RTS Link between Johor Bahru and Singapore.

The design was the Grand Prize winner of the PAM+MRT Corp RTS Link Station Façade Design Ideas Competition, organised jointly by MRT Corp and Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), which ran from 23rd November 2020 till 25th January 2021. Johor Bahru-based architect Ar.Chin Yee Chong from SM Architects Sdn Bhd submitted the winning design which allowed him to take home RM250,000.00 in prize money. The competition was the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. His

Majesty was the Patron of the competition and Chairman of the Jury Panel. A total of 91 submissions were received and a total of 10 designs were then shortlisted for the final judging which took place on 8th February 2021. - by Priya Manikam TI

Will We Travel Again Like the Good Old Days?

kademi Sains Malaysia (ASM) had organised a webinar titled “The Aviation Industry: Taking Us to the Skies Again” as a part of their Road to Recovery Series Season 2 on 23rd February which was also broadcasted in the organiser’s Facebook page. Riad Asmat, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia relayed in the webinar that he is keeping an optimistic perspective about bouncing back for the aviation and travelling industry while also noting that the practise would not be like how it used to be and the world has to adapt to the new ways of doing things. On COVID-19 vaccination passport that was proposed by International Air Transport Association (IATA) and should it be globally imposed as an SOP in aviation industry, Mohsin Aziz, Director of Pangolin Investment Maybank, included his commentary that such concept is not new citing it had been done for prior vaccination 30 years ago. Should it be back, it should not be viewed with reservation with computer systems today that would make implementing it easier and without prohibitive cost. The webinar is the first episode of the second series of the webinar and the public could watch the whole discussion in Akademi Sains Malaysia’s Facebook page. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

Pic courtesy of MRT Corp

HSR Termination: Johor’s Connectivity and Economic Perspective – Part Two Impact on economic activities and property he termination of HSR plan would have a greater impact on the development within Iskandar Puteri area. Medini Iskandar is poised to be the second CBD of Johor Bahru is located in Iskandar Puteri. The state government will now need to re-think on a new model to attract business activities and connectivity in the area. Already struggled with oversupply and lack of advertisement, Iskandar Puteri should not be a ghost town with a city-standing status. Township developments such as Puteri Harbour, Medini and Gerbang Nusajaya will struggle to find buyers and investors. Newlylaunched properties are estimated at RM600,000 to RM1 million which is not average property prices for Johorean due to its proximity to the

future HSR station. The properties in Iskandar Puteri are mainly targeted to the Malaysian semi-professional to professionals or Singaporeans. This objective will probably go down the drain. The same thing will bound to happen to Bandar Universiti Pagoh and Pura Kencana township. Both are within the vicinity of the proposed Muar and Batu Pahat stations. The property developers and banks have to come out with new incentives such as Rent-To-Own, 12-months free installment or lower deposit fees to cater to domestic buyers. Better plan for Johor and Iskandar Malaysia? With the Rapid Transit System (RTS) project on the way and expected to commence by end of 2026, Johoreans could rely on this mode of transportation in the future. Even without the HSR, the RTS project could facilitate

people movement and boost economic activities between Malaysia and Singapore. Although the termination of HSR would negatively impact several areas in Johor, Johor Bahru could remain as the largest contributor to the economy in Johor. The Gemas-JB Sentral double tracking railway project is also something to be excited about. The construction is in steady phase and is scheduled for completion by late 2022. This project could be the next big thing in terms of KL-JB connectivity. The project will reduce the time travel from 7 hours to 3.5 hours. This project may replace the grief over HSR. Budget 2021 could also be used as the catalyst to improve the connectivity in Johor especially in Iskandar region with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The lead operator and contractor have been appointed and therefore, this project should

not be a white elephant. BRT system would greatly benefit Johoreans who wish to commute by public transportation. Once operational in 2023 – 2024, this project will be the backbone and success story of Iskandar Malaysia. Conclusion The termination of HSR is causing a huge loss to Malaysia especially Johor due to its proximity and reliance towards Singapore. The truth hurts but Johor should take this opportunity to adjust on new models and incentives to boost domestic connectivity and economy instead. This HSR termination should not hinder Johor to become the second biggest economic powerhouse after Klang Valley. *The facts and views expressed are solely that of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of the editorial board. TI

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

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

THE ISKANDARIAN

NEWS

Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad President / Chief Executive Officer Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB)

MONTHL

Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad is presently the President/Chief Executive Officer of Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) where he oversees the strategic planning and development of catalytic and commercial projects by IIB in Iskandar Malaysia. His current role includes forming collaborative efforts with federal and state agencies, global partners, other key players, and stakeholders.

DRILL

Datuk Khairil first joined IIB in 2007 as the Head of Procurement and in 2008 he became the Head of Educity Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, where he was responsible for crafting the strategic planning and developing the masterplan of EduCity, Asia’s first integrated education hub. In June 2012, Datuk Khairil was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of IIB. Datuk Khairil was then appointed as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a position he held from June 2013 until October 2016. Datuk Khairil has over 31 years of experience in project management, construction, engineering design, property development and credit management and has been involved in the development of Iskandar Malaysia for over 10 years since 2007. Datuk Khairil is a Professional Engineer and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA in 1984 and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in 1993. Datuk Khairil has also attended leadership programmes at Harvard Business School, International Institute for Management Development (IMD) of Switzerland and Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). In view of the many of Khazanah-owned companies in IP, what is the role of IIB? Since our inception in 2006, IIB has played a key role as the strategic developer of catalytic projects aimed at stimulating long-term development of Iskandar Malaysia, with focus on high impact projects in key promoted sectors namely education, tourism and leisure, creative, logistics, and healthcare and wellness. In recent years, IIB has evolved into a strategic investment holding company including coordinating Khazanah linked companies in Iskandar Puteri in order to establish a robust economic zone with a vision to establish a sustainable and inclusive metropolis. Is Iskandar Malaysia still a vibrant attraction to talent and investors? Absolutely. Together with various Khazanah linked companies in Iskandar Malaysia, IIB continues to invest and develop high-impact projects in the education, tourism and leisure, creative, logistics, GBS Iskandar, and health and wellness sectors to cultivate an attractive investment destination and a vibrant, liveable region. To date, IIB has developed and successfully delivered several catalytic projects in Iskandar Puteri including 7 major infrastructure projects under Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9. On top of that, the state government’s plan to establish Medini as the Johor Digital Hub as announced in the Johor 2021 Budget, is timely as Medini is now ready with comprehensive built infrastructure. Tell us more about Iskandar NEXT Iskandar NEXT (New Economy Experience & Talent) marks another key milestone for IIB in attracting businesses to Iskandar Puteri. Launched in October last year by the Menteri Besar of Johor, YAB Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni bin Mohammad, this initiative is designed to be a publicprivate partnership programme to support the state’s agenda in creating job opportunities for Johoreans and reinstate investors’ confidence in Iskandar Malaysia. Two months after the launch, we are proud to see the first collaboration between IIB’s subsidiary IIB Ventures Sdn Bhd, DHL and Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) to

jointly establish the Drone and Robotics Zone in Medini, called DRZ Iskandar. We look forward to announcing more new initiatives under the Iskandar NEXT umbrella. Under the Iskandar NEXT programme, we look forward to establishing a drone academy in Medini in Q1 2021. There is a lot of excitement about DRZ Iskandar (Drone & Robotics Zone Iskandar). Will this help drive investments and create more jobs for local talents? IIB is very excited with the announcement of DRZ Iskandar as the first Drone and Robotics Zone in Southeast Asia as it will boost digital innovation in Iskandar Malaysia. We are proud to collaborate with esteemed partners, DHL, a global leader in innovation, Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC), MDEC as well as domestic and international partners to jointly grow and develop the DRZ Iskandar ecosystem, thus positioning Iskandar Puteri as a primary destination for the drone and robotics industry as well as driving investments and creating job opportunities in Johor. Recognised as part of the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the DRZ Iskandar initiative helps us meet several goals. Apart from job creation, it can also upskill local talents and move them higher up in the technology value chain, thus creating greater socio-economic impact. Share with us the latest happenings at EduCity Just last year we launched EduCity 2.0, to change the landscape of education and position EduCity as a brand destination among other global players. One of the initiatives under EduCity 2.0 is Perantis Iskandar, a scheme to revive the economy via human capital development. Modelled from Germany’s Apprenticeship programme, the programme is designed to meet industry’s demands and needs via reskilling and upskilling initiatives. EduCity had organised various key events which are essential in their brand campaign in Q1 2021. The year has had a positive start. We are also excited to share that EduCity Hub will feature new

F&B tenants, on top of the two recently launched cafes, Del’s Kitchen and August Cafe. In 2021 The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) will be opening their new campus in EduCity targeted at enrolling 6,000 students, which will increase the vibrancy of EduCity. What is the recovery strategy for Medini & Iskandar Puteri post pandemic? Our priority is to protect our existing investments in real estate and start the virtuous cycle of attracting new investors and increasing our asset values. We aim to create a more resilient circular economy and to attract investments in industries which are relatively recession proof such as integrated healthcare, food security and renewable energy. This will in turn create new high-income jobs and develop new talents. To revive the tourism industry, we are working closely with the state government through the recently established Iskandar Puteri Tourism Action Council (IPTAC).

So far, various sets of incentives have been granted by the federal and state governments to attract investors to Medini, and the state government’s announcement to position Medini as a Johor Digital Hub will also boost this township to become an ideal destination that focuses on digital innovation, emerging economies, and talent development. Moving forward, what will be among the new normal adopted by IIB both internally and externally? Under the theme of sustainability and inclusivity, IIB is always working towards ensuring equitable growth for all, especially our surrounding communities. Apart from helping to stimulate the business community in Iskandar Puteri, IIB has also invested heavily in giving back to the community in Iskandar Malaysia through our various corporate social responsibility initiatives. TI

Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad

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Watch Disney’s Raya & The Last Dragon

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

M U S I C U p d at e s

editor’s note

MAR 2021 | Page 2

Welcoming Iman Fandi to the World of Music By Universal Music Singapore

Priya Manikam waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

How many of you grew up idolising Singapore football star Fandi Ahmad in your younger days? I sure did! But little known to others, he has a daughter who is all-grown up now, and is a superstar in her own right. Check out Iman Fandi – the rising star in the music industry with her debut single. So Disney decided to roll out Raya and the Last Dragon this month. In this tale, a lone warrior, Raya, must track down the legendary last dragon to stop an evil force that has returned after 500 years to once again threaten her homeworld, Kumandra. With lots of uncertainties out there regarding outdoor dining in people’s minds, we have decided to share some easy recipes from Ayam Brand Malaysia that you can easily prepare at home. Do try out the recipes and share with us the outcome and photos. While most places may be inaccessible physically, virtually all is not lost. Welcome to this new norm that we’ve been accustomed to by now. In line with this, the Johor Heritage Foundation (YWJ) has created a virtual museum for all cultural buffs out there. Flip over to our Travel column to learn more about it. 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 would like to wish all the dynamic ladies out there a very Happy Women’s Day!

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he w o r l d ’s leading music label presents yet another spellbinding multi-hyphenate talent gifted with a gorgeous voice and compelling songwriting flair. As Iman Fandi takes her place in the UMG roster that boasts some of the most celebrated names in the tapestry of modern Singaporean music with the likes of Yung Raja, Fariz Jabba and ALYPH, she is poised not only for an illustrious music career, but to be the next female popstar in a new generation of young Singaporean talents. The only daughter of Fandi Ahmad, Singapore’s most beloved and renowned sports icon, Iman Fandi is no stranger to being a public figure and performer. In the public eye since she was a child, the 20-year-old has grown up with an intimate understanding of the dedication and hard work required in the honing of her craft. With her various accolades as an athlete, model and influencer, she has turned heads with a spirit that is singular, defining and so utterly compelling. Iman Fandi grew up with a rich and diverse musical palette but her latter-day influences orbit the showstopping pop and R&B likes of The Weekend, Rihanna and Beyoncé. Iman started her career in the media when she was 11 years old. Model, actor, athlete, and now singer, the

20-year-old is dominating the media industry with nothing off limits. Her musical journey will display a sense of purpose and integrity that will, undoubtedly, affirm her place of prominence in a generation of musicians who will steer the needle of pop culture. “The main reason I write and release music is so that people will know they’re not alone in feeling a certain way”, says Iman Fandi as she outlines her mission as an artist. This empathy comes from a place of empowerment and determination: “I want to be better. I also want to branch out and explore territories outside of Asia. I love experimenting and trying new things and I feel that being signed to the biggest label in the world will push me to do my very best, and more.” On 19th February 2021, her debut single “Timeframe” written by her, produced by Singaporean hip-hop luminary Flightsch and mixed by 13-time Grammy-winning engineer John Hanes, who has lent his expert touch to numerous records by pop’s A-list such as, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, will make her aims and intentions clear. Simon Jerome Nasser, Managing Director of Universal Music Singapore, celebrates his joyous reception of Iman Fandi’s signing, “Once in a while, a star comes

along whose qualities cannot be compressed into a few words. Iman Fandi is that star”, adding that, “She is literally born to be the voice of her generation”. “Timeframe” will be followed by what he assures will be a “stellar EP” and a slew of live dates will bolster the label’s commitment “to elevate her career to greater heights”. E c h o i n g h i s s e n t i m e n t s, producer Flightsch shares, “Iman Fandi’s a hidden gem” and that her “determined focus on writing powerful and meaningful songs that paint vivid stories”, affirms that she has all the makings of a great artist. Music for hope, inspiration, awe and healing – Iman Fandi aims to deliver on all counts with a distinction that is timely yet timeless, smoulderingly personal yet universally destined. “Timeframe” and its visual statement in the form of a well-conceptualised music video, are just the beginning of her exquisite bloom. Music has always been a love of hers. Born on R&B and bred on Pop, the songstress draws inspiration from singers spanning from Sam Smith to Trey Songz. With such width of musical palate, there is much to be expected from this singer’s repertoire to come. 2021 is Iman’s year and music is yet another industry the artist will take by storm. Time to Frame Singapore’s new icon – Iman Fandi. TI

MAR 2021 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

m O V I E u p d at e s

US AGAIN

By The Walt Disney Company Malaysia

“

Us Again,” the first new theatrical short from Walt Disney animation studios in five years, set for 5th March debut in theaters worldwide with “Raya and the Last Dragon;” short will premiere on Disney+ in June “Us Again,” a vibrant and original new theatrical animated short from director Zach Parrish that brings together dance, music, emotional storytelling and inspired animation, is set to debut exclusively in theaters worldwide beginning on 5th March, playing on the same bill as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (WDAS) newest animated feature, “Raya and the Last Dragon.” The film is Disney Animation’s first new theatrical short since the 2016 release of “Inner Workings,” which accompanied “Moana” on the big screen. “Us Again” is scheduled to make its streaming debut in June on Disney+. Set in a vibrant city pulsating with rhythm and movement, an elderly man and his young-at-heart wife rekindle their youthful passion for life and each other on one magical night. The years fade away as the joy of dancing propels them across the exciting cityscape of their youth and revives fond memories and ambitions. “Us Again” is told entirely without dialogue and set to an original funk and soul musical score reminiscent of the mid-60s. TI

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

alt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” travels to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world — it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well. Raya and the Last Dragon features the voices of Kelly Marie Tran as Raya, a warrior whose wit is as sharp as her blade, and Awkwafina as the magical, mythical, self-deprecating dragon named Sisu. Characters also include a street-savvy 10-year-old entrepreneur named Boun, the formidable giant Tong and a thieving toddler Noi with her band of Ongis. Raya and the Last Dragon” is inspired by the cultures and people of Southeast Asia – throughout the making of the movie, filmmakers worked closely with the Raya Southeast Asia Story Trust, which consisted of expert consultants from the region. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada and produced by Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho, Raya and the Last Dragon will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on 5th March 2021. TI

Are You Being Judged for Having COVID-19? - Part 1 When a friend of mine told me she has COVID-19, my first reaction was shocking. In the millisecond, I wanted to know how she got it. When I heard she caught it because of her carelessness to protect herself, my respond shifted into a furious mode. “How could you be so careless?” I threw the question to her. In her sadness and frustration, she said to me, “You are like everyone else, judging me because I got COVID-19!” That statement slapped me into reality. I should respond compassionately, and not with judgement and anger. However, I know why my first reaction was noncompassionate. According to my friend, almost everyone in her list of friends and family reacted the same way. The judgement and anger didn’t happen to her alone. Last year, a friend of mine shared the same reaction when she found out her husband caught the virus while treating a patient in the ICU. He got infected despite the protection he had from PPE equipment and following protocol. Both of us could see where her anger came from, and we reflected on that. We acknowledge this anger is not an isolated expression in an individual. It is a collective behaviour towards the virus. We view the virus as a threat that takes away our freedom in life. Therefore, our first reaction towards the virus is anger and judgement. For more than a year, COVID-19 changed our financial and economic freedom, and social interaction and intimacy with others. Many people also lost their jobs and income. We also experienced social disturbance within families, societies and politically. At the same time, we are trying to survive this. We ought to get angry and be judgmental, but we can’t express our rage to the virus. That would be expressing emotion to the wall. The anger and judgement need to be heard, and who is the best receptor of our rage? TI

Release Date: 5th March 2021 Genre: Animated fantasy adventure Voice cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina Directed by: Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada Co-directed by: Paul Briggs, John Ripa Produced by: Osnat Shurer, Peter Del Vecho Writers: Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim

Source:

The Walt Disney Company Malaysia

Rose Osman is a Certified Human Design Professional. She’s a guide for Living Your Design Workshop and coaches others on self healing for anxiety via E-courses and group workshops yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses www.roselifecoach.com Discover your True Self, Inner Power, Potentials and Purpose with Human Design. Visit Facebook Page : Human Design Malaysia for more info.

MAR 2021 | Page 4

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

travel

Miss the Museums? 3 places in Johor worth knowing that you can visit virtually at the comfort of your homes By Norfy Shafeq waves.lifestyle@gmail.com

Johor’s fist Menteri Besar Dato’ Ja’afar Mohamed portrait hung in the museum and presented virtually on the museum’s Facebook

e have had our fill on the western world’s museums that are available for a virtual tour, how about the ones in our homeland - Johor? Heard of the standing keris mystery? Do you know what a Graflex Compact camera aged 115 years old looks like? All those are among the various historical artefacts and cultural heritage found at the Museum of Figures, Kota Tinggi Museum

and Mersing Museum, in Johor. The Johor Heritage Foundation (YWJ) has created a ‘virtual museum’ to give a different angle for the wanderlust, and some of the artefacts are already online in social media platforms including their Instagram, Facebook, websites and YouTube. YWJ Director, Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim said the idea of producing video of artefacts, weaving art, Johor figures and dishes began since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020 and covered 8 segmentations namely Johor Celik Sejarah (History-Literate Johor), Johor Peka Bahasa (Literature-Knowledgeable Johor), Johor Heritage Dishes, Johor Renowned Figures, Artefacts of The Week, The Clothing of Johor, Cultural Arts and Johor Artistes. Collection of old artefacts The video is part of the materials on display from three museums and galleries operating under YWJ, namely the Museum of Figures, Kota Tinggi Museum and Mersing Museum. “Only selected artefacts are on display because most of the artefacts are over 100 years old and have a high aesthetic value and have not been released yet,” said Sharil. Museum of Figures Museum of Figures in Johor Bahru has videos of three Johor figures that have contributed in various fields. Among them, veteran composer,

One of the artefacts in the museum that is presented in the video

Consul General of The Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahry, Sunarko during his physical at the Johor Figure Museum pre-MCO in 2020 Johor maestro, the late Omar Taib in the 1970s era and quite synonymous with the continuous fresh song “Rindu Bayangan” sung by Carefree, as well as the Raya song sung by Aman Shah entitled “Kepulangan Yang Dinanti”. The video of the Johor writing artist, the late Mohammad @ Mokhtar Talib or better known as Pak Matlab, was an expert in Jawi writing until he was named the ‘Jawi Fighting Figure 2008’. Pak Matlab produced more than 400 books in various fields, especially in Jawi and children’s writing. Johor Weaving Gallery For the Johor Weaving Gallery, there is a video of Johor Yarn fabric, which is a woven Johor patterned Muar woven patented under the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO). YWJ is currently researching some artefacts for video production to give viewers a real picture. Sharil Nizam said, among them 300-year-old mace from the 13th century used by maritime pilots. “This mace was among the artefacts found. In addition to spear points, dagger points and cannons found along the Johor Kota Tinggi River, in 1996 during archaeological studies. We will also produce a video on gambus seludang belonging to Pak Lomak”, added Sharil.

Since its implementation, YWJ has received positive feedback from internet users. Coupled with the quiz and puzzle initiative offering exclusive prizes from YWJ, the organic reach for each post on the department’s official social media has increased by an average of at least 10,000 access. The number of followers on the department’s official social media has also increased since the introduction of this virtual endeavour. In order to start your virtual journey, visit www.ywj.gov.my. Also check out their social media for more videos, facts and information: Instagram: yayasanwarisanjohor YouTube: Yayasan Warisan Johor Facebook: YayasanWarisanJohor TI

Johor Figure Museum plaque in front of the entrance door

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

LIVE

A Gigantic Mural to Greet You A tribute to frontlines for their effort and dedication in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the mural is under the initiative of MOTAC break the COVID-19 chain more effectively and continuously through the mural painting themed COVID-19 awareness. It is also to commemorate the services of the country’s frontliners against COVID-19. The agency has selected Johor local artists for the programme. Two Johor talented artists, Iskandar Noor Rahim (AKEEM) and Muhamad Razali bin Abd Aziz

(TRUSK ALI) were appointed by the National Art Gallery in completing this effort from 26th January 2021 to 4th February 2021 to paint a 500 x 21 feet mural. The artists will be painting vibrant, outdoor mural that captures not only the devastating impact of the virus, but it also shows the hope of the country in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. The full mural will be unveiled by Ministry of

Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia at a later date. Incorporated in Malaysia in 1996, international private hospital company Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd opened its first hospital in 1997. Today, Columbia Asia offers 19 operational medical facilities across Asia with 13 in Malaysia. For further information, please contact Columbia Asia Hospital – Tebrau at + 60 (7) 272 9999. TI

Mural - Artist, Trusk Ali at work

ork is underway on a 500 feet mural painting at Columbia Asia Hospital-Tebrau façade in conjunction with the ‘COVID-19 New Normal Culture Campaign’ under Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia 2020. This programme involves 5 Zones namely Borneo Zone, Northern Zone, Southern Zone, Central Zone and East Zone. Columbia Asia Hospital – Tebrau is delighted to be a part of the programme representing the Southern Zone. The Programme is also jointly organised by the National Disaster Management

Agency (NADMA) under the Prime Minister’s Department. The National Art Gallery which is an agency under MOTAC has been responsible for the implementation of this programme. Both the agency and the hospital have come together to conceptualise the idea for the mural and at the same time to main the hospital’s corporate image and objective. The objective of this mural painting programme also aims to convey a message to the community and the general public by commemorating all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the Ministry of Health and the authorities to

Group photo with doctors and the management team of Columbia Asia Hospital-Tebrau

Have You Ever Eaten a Pearl Conch?

ou might know them as siput gong-gong, a popular seafood best boiled simply with lemongrass, and ginger. The name ‘gong-gong’ actually came from the sound of a dog’s bark; the species used to be known as the ‘dog conch’. But have you ever seen one close up and alive? Pearl conches live in seagrass meadows, and are most active in the evening (when they are often picked up by humans at the low tide). When stressed, they are

known to travel from a shallow seagrass bed to deeper waters. During the day, they often bury

themselves in the sand or silt and disappear. A close look at a live pearl conch will reveal a pair of eyes on eye-stalks. It also has a long proboscis (snout) that it extends to explore its surroundings and hunt for food. If you pick up this creamygolden, smooth but relatively thick-shelled snail, and put it gently on your palm, it might extend a claw-like appendage to help it move or flip over. That ‘claw’ is actually an operculum

Serina Rahman

(a knife-like plate that seals its shell tight when it retracts). Pearl conches eat algae and detritus (natural waste or debris) and live for about 2 years, if they are not collected by a human hunter. Their only other predators are cone snails, volutes (kilah) and monkeys in the coastal shallows. Kelab Alami conducts guided seagrass tours that allow you to meet and examine these fascinating creatures up close. 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 103 | MAR 2021

WORK

Key Features in the Latest Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2020

he long-awaited Industrial Relations (A m e n d m e n t ) Ac t 2020 (Amendment Act) which was gazetted on 20th February 2020 finally came into force on 1st January 2021. The enforcement however, does not include the provisions on sole bargaining rights and essential services amendments. The Amendment Ac t introduces significant changes to several provisions and removed certain powers from the initial Act. Below are key features of the Amendment Act: Unfair Dismissal The Amendment Act introduces new sub paragraphs under Section 20 (unfair dismissal) to allow an employer and an employee to be presented by anyone except a lawyer during the conciliation process in the Industrial Relations Department, subject to the permission of the Director General. This will make the conciliation meetings

more thoroughly discussed by represented parties. Moreover, unfair dismissal complaints will no longer have to go through the Minister for it to be referred to Industrial Court. In other words, unfair dismissal cases that are not settled during the conciliation process at the Industrial Department will be referred to Industrial Court without filtration from the Ministry. The Amendment Act now allows unfair dismissal cases to continue proceeding even after the death of the claimant. The Industrial Court are also allowed to provide back wages and/or compensation in lieu of reinstatement to the nextof-kin. Previously, each case is considered as a personal claim, therefore it will be automatically struck out upon the death of the claimant. The Amendment Act also allows next-of-kin of mentally disabled complainant to make an application at the High Court to obtain order for guard ad

litem (Court appointed guardian) to represent the complainant. Previously, unfair dismissal proceedings under the IRA are only entitled to private sector employees. The Amendment Act now extends the scope to claim for unfair dismissal to employees of statutory bodies. The scope of employees is prescribed by the Ministry in the gazette. Industrial Court & High Court The Amendment Ac t empowers the High Court to hear appeal cases from the Industrial Court in the same manner as hearing an appeal case for a Sessions Court decision. As such, the appeal application must be filed within 14 days from receiving the award. Previously, an aggrieved party may only file a judicial review which is limited to the decision-making process rather than full review of the substantive merits of the case. This application does not abolish the application for a judicial review, however the High Court will more than likely

to entertain appeal cases rather than a judicial review due to its speedy process and remedy. The Industrial Court can now impose interest at the rate of 8% per annum or lesser, depending on the case and decision of the judges. The Amendment Act also increased the penalty for non-compliance to a fine not exceeding RM50,000.00. The Amendment Act has now abolished the punishment of imprisonment term for offences relating to illegal picketing, strikes and lock-outs. However, it has increased the penalty for such offences to RM5,000.00

Dzulfadhli bin Lamin Lead Consultant MECA South Sdn Bhd dzul@meca.com.my

Conclusion There are several other important provisions introduced in the Amendment Act that employers need to be aware of to be updated with the latest industrial practices i.e. Trade Union recognition processes, Ministerial powers and etc. Not to mention the saved provisions (not yet enforceable) which would bring a huge impact

to the industrial relations and litigation practices in Malaysia in the near future. TI

48% of Respondents Want Flexible Work Arrangements after the Pandemic

8% of local respondents want a combination of working from home and the office after the pandemic. A further 14% of respondents want to work-fromhome permanently. The Randstad Workmonitor survey highlights the greatest concerns and challenges candidates are faced with. The survey was conducted in October

across 34 markets around the world, with a minimum of 400 respondents in each market. Fahad Naeem, Head of Operations at Randstad Malaysia said, “Flexible working policies can help reduce stress levels and boost morale, as employees are able to find a way to strike a balance between their work and personal lives. However, remote working can also cost

the organisation its culture as it can be difficult to foster relationships and replicate the energy required for effective collaborations. Companies will need to take small steps towards finding a balanced strategy that can both retains its culture and meet employees’ expectations.” In response to the pandemic, many employers have sped up on developing their technology

capabilities to equip their staff with adequate hardware and software for remote working. More than four in five respondents (82%) feel they have the equipment and technology to deal with the digitalisation in their job. Work-life balance includes receiving support for physical and mental health Eight in 10 respondents feel that their employer is supporting them mentally and emotionally through the pandemic. This sentiment is slightly lower among the mature workers, with 74% of respondents aged 45 to 54 years old feeling supported by their employers. According to Naeem, “Limited social interactions and heightened fears about the virus can raise serious health issues. This could also be exacerbated by the blurring lines between work and life which may result in what feels like a long continuous day. Employees are therefore more likely to go to their managers for help and guidance to manage their stress levels during such extraordinary times. Companies

that take the effort to invest in their employees’ health will see an increase in work productivity, reduced absenteeism as well as higher engagement levels at work.” He added, “Ensuring good mental and physical health is an organisation-wide effort. Employees need to raise the issues they face so that HR teams can invest in the right programmes and healthcare packages to boost employees’ well-being. For example, the younger generation can be involved in driving mental health awareness campaigns to destigmatise it, which would encourage more of their colleagues to speak out and seek professional help.” One in three respondents wishes that their employers would provide employee assistance programmes post-COVID-19. One in two respondents expects their employers to have good health policies and safety protocols (52%) and access to health insurance (51%). - by Randstad Malaysia TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

INVEST

Accumulating Wealth Tips & Tricks

Spring Cleaning your Portfolio

o we just had a peaceful Chinese New Year, and although we were not allowed to visit friends, seeing the COVID-19 cases decreasing lately, I felt relieved. I would not have expected this when hearing the 5000 cases reported in a day. More positively, we can see countries like US and UK’s cases have declined significantly. Many have started to believe the vaccines are working and the world is on its path to economic recovery. There are a few signs to observe that the worst could be over. First, the crude oil price has increased steadily from around $50 to $60 / barrel in merely a month. Although the U.S index had a correction toward the end of January 2021, it quickly resumed the uptrend and continued breaking new highs. At the time of writing, almost all the stock indexes around the globe are bullish. In addition, the broad upswing in commodity prices since the past few months is another sign of returning demand. More Wall Street analysts have shared that we are at the beginning of commodities super cycle, owing to the unprecedented monetary and fiscal policies. Moreover, companies with recovery themes, such as banks, energy, theme parks, and airline share prices have been moving north, too. Assuming there are no destructive black swan events

occurring, we could be in the beginning of spring. So how do we welcome the arrival of spring? Through spring cleaning! Like what we usually do for our loving homes, we need to spring clean our stock portfolio to enjoy a better return. So how do we do it? Before we get our hands dirty, let us have a look at a chart that depicts a possible spring. This is the Crude Oil WTI Future price chart up to the 15th of February 2021. Clearly, the oil price has commenced an uptrend since mid-November 2020. You can see the bull has emerged stronger when the candles are seen moving away from the pink (MA50) and golden lines (MA200). The recent breakout above $54 since February 2021 has further confirmed the market confidence. After an aggressive run for

nearly two weeks, it would be healthier for the bull to take a breather and settle below $60. If this happened, the immediate resistance would be at $60 followed by $65. Spring Cleaning your Portfolio The rationale is similar to our home spring cleaning. You just have to be aware of what you have, and decide what to keep or throw. It works differently in trading and investing. If you are a trader, consider cleaning up (sell) your stock if the below scenarios have occurred: 1) A downtrend has formed and the candles have moved below the MA50 line. 2) Share price has broken a critical support, such as the previous low, a round number or a gap.

3) The short and mid-term moving average (MA) lines, such as MA8, MA10, MA30, MA50 is trending downwards. It simply means there are more sellers than buyers. 4) Your counter is already in losses which are above your risk level. If you are an investor, consider cleaning up (sell) your stock if the below scenarios have occurred: 1) The company’s prospect is no longer as bright or has become unclear. For instance, the pandemic has affected many food and beverage companies. Although we believe the pandemic will go away one day, no one knows when. 2) The earnings have been below market expectation for more than two quarters without justified explanation. As investors, we understand there

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 are uncertainties that would affect company’s earnings. However, if the disruption is prolonged and the management cannot resolve, it is not a good sign. 3) When you have found a better investment. Investing is a probability game. You want to invest in companies with lower risks but higher chances of return. For example, if you have found company B with much higher earning visibility than company A, you know which one to choose. 4) The counters you have are out of theme. Instead, select the counters with theme especially when it’s at an earlier stage. For example, energy, travel, banking industry are themes for economic recovery. Conclusion

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)

Here is the good news; you do not have to wait for spring to do spring cleaning. To gain better outcome, I encourage you to do it more regularly. TI

Sustainable Investment: UOBAM (Malaysia) Launches its First Shariah-Compliant ESG Fund The United-i Asia ESG Income Fund combines Shariah principles and ESG considerations to invest in companies that do well by doing good

OB Asset Management (Malaysia) (UOBAM Malaysia) had launched the United-i Asia ESG Income Fund (UiAIF), which seeks to provide retail investors with income dividends and capital appreciation over medium to long term through sustainable investments. The fund invests in a diversified portfolio of equities and debt instruments issued by companies across Asia (excluding Japan) region that comply with Shariah principles and adopt environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their business models and practices. As both Shariah principles and sustainable investing promote governance stewardship and value creation, combining these approaches will create a stronger

portfolio for investors’ long-term benefit. Shariah-based investing prohibits interest, security lending and short-selling. It also incorporates negative screening to exclude sectors such as tobacco, alcohol and breweries, weapons and armaments, as well as other non-halal products. This will be complemented by sustainable investing that uses positive screening as a means of selecting the best performing companies that offer environmentally-friendly products

Lim Suet Ling, Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Malaysia)

and services, or have socially-responsible business practices. Lim Suet Ling, Chief Executive Officer of UOBAM (Malaysia), said, “The launch of the UiAIF is timely as the COVID-19 pandemic has given everyone a good reason to reassess the importance of being sustainable in what we do and how we invest. With the disruption to our daily activities, from where we go to how we interact with others, come opportunities to reimagine what is possible to ensure that create a better future. “To help businesses advance responsibly, we also engage with our portfolio companies to help improve the sustainability of their practices. We will continue to offer more ESGfocused funds that will align with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals so that together with our partners and investors, we will forge a sustainable future for all,” she added. With sustainable investing becoming a major force across global financial markets, UOB Asset Management is committed to providing sustainable investment solutions to creating long-term returns for investors

across Asia. In January 2020, UOB Asset Management Ltd, the parent company of UOBAM (Malaysia), became a signatory of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, which was developed by an international group of institutional investors to encourage the increasing relevance of ESG issues to investment practices. The UiAIF is suitable for retail investors who have a moderate risk profile. It is available in Malaysian Ringgit, Australian Dollar and US Dollar with an initial minimum investment of RM1,000, AUD1,000 and US$1,000 respectively. UOBAM (Malaysia) is the manager of the UiAIF, while UOB Islamic Asset Management Sdn Bhd is the investment manager. The UiAIF is available for subscription at selected distributors nationwide. For more information, please visit www. uobam.com.my. *The facts and views expressed are solely that of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of the editorial board. Please consult your financial professional if you want to make any investment decision. TI

THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

4 Ways to Not Let Light Pollution Affect Us

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DOODLE

t is thanks to the invention of electronic light bulbs and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) advancement of it in the recent years that humans could manoeuvre the world at night much effectively. However, everything that is manmade comes with its own consequences. According to Jari Lyytimäki from Finnish Environment Institute in Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) 2015, the rapid increase use of new lighting technologies, in particular LED may either increase or reduce disturbing and ecologically harmful outdoor night-time light pollution. Light pollution is a novel environmental issue widely affecting ecosystems, human cultures, societies, health and well-being of individuals. For example, a BBC documentary has captured the moment of freshly-hatched baby turtles in Terengganu that got confused with nearby artificial lights to moon reflection on the sea and ended up making their way to the town instead of the sea. Excessive exposure of light in the night disturbs a human’s circadian rhythm that controls our body clock that determines when we should rest and be energised or stay awake. What can we do to minimise light pollution? Here are some simple, do-able solutions: Optimise the Use of Bulbs Use optimum amount of bulbs to light up your home and surrounding areas. This will help conserve the energy and limit the extent of light from disturbing

other ecology around you. Motion sensoractivated lights are great to avoid wastage from possible, or forgotten to switch off the lights situation. If You Must Use Outdoor Lights/Lamps Cover the top of the lights/lamps so it targets only the sides and not upwards, to the sky. Never use glaring lights like spotlights as it penetrates the sky and mimics the daylight, contributing disturbance to light pollution. Use the Correct Bulbs Are you using eco-friendly LED bulbs? If you are, great but let’s make it even better by using warm lights, as it saves more on energy and reduces illumination. Use bulbs of CCT < 3,000 K, S/P ratio < 1.2 to minimise blue emission. Let Your Local Leaders Know About Light Pollution Tucson, Arizona in the US has improved the quality of their city’s night sky by implementing a massive policy that reduced its light pollution greatly by 2019. Originally, in 2012, the city leaders issued an outdoor lighting order requiring fully shielded lighting and limiting the total light produced at night, in particular in natural areas and areas near astronomy sites. Are you ready to save the dark night sky by reducing light pollution? Let us know if you’ve been aware of this or have extra tips to save the night. Check out on the level of light pollution in your city via https://www. lightpollutionmap.info/ - by Norfy Shafeq TI

What’s For Tea? Craving something savoury? Try baking these Saba Pastry Muffins that is packed with Omega 3 goodness which is easy to prepare for the family. Method Roll out store-bought puff pastry dough, use a bowl to cut out circles, place in a muffin pan then fill with Ayam Brand Chilli Saba or Ayam Brand Saba Mayo, topped with sweet corn, sliced green chilli and green onion. Bake until golden brown, and it is ready to serve. Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes. Serving: 12 pax.

Saba Pastry Muffin All good afternoon tea deserves top-notch tea or coffee but how about serving hot chocolate instead? With unpredictable rainy weather, a steaming cup of goodness will surely win anyone’s heart like a warm hug in a mug! Method Continue the tradition but make it healthier with a unique East meets West spin with Loco for Cacao. Combine 80ml of Ayam Brand Coconut Super Light with hot chocolate powder of your choice, 20ml of vanilla syrup and 10ml of cinnamon syrup. Be extra and garnish with toasted coconut. Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes. Serving: 4 pax.

Loco for Cacao

ea-break or in a more sophisticated world known as the afternoon tea is something we Malaysians look forward to. Apart from a having a scrumptious lunch, come late afternoon, the tummy starts growling and our mind wanders on what to have for tea. In trying to stay safe at home, here are some recipe ideas courtesy of Ayam Brand Malaysia using their products and other easily available ingredients in your pantry. Have a go and tell us how it turned out. For more quick and easy delicious recipes from Ayam Brand, browse through https://www.ayambrand.com.my/recipe/recipes-video.html. Happy exploring and cooking! TI

The Iskandarian ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) prepared a series of Virtual Chinese New Year Open House Events via its Facebook platform, encouraging 18 everyone to celebrate the auspicious Year of the Ox at ”Home With Mah Sing” pg 16

PROPERTY

PROPERTY INSIGHT

@ home

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

APARTMENTS

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OFFICE/RETAILSPACE

Skymind Innovation City to accelerate the state’s digital endeavour pg 16

Read this article on our website

Sunway Property’s revamped city

RTS benefiting the property market in Johor

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THE ISKANDARIAN

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

Skymind Innovation City to Accelerate the State’s Digital Endeavour

kymind, a global leader in AI technology, plans to bring its global experience and change the landscape of cities in Malaysia by developing Skymind Innovation City. Skymind Innovation City’s primary focus is to boost the economic and living standards of a city using AI innovation components. Skymind focuses on empowering companies to develop their own AI applications By providing companies with tools to be innovators in their industry as well as build a stronger AI ecosystem. Currently, more than 350 of Fortune 500 companies globally use Skymind technologies including IBM, Huawei and NASA. At the Digital Fujian (Changle) Industrial Park in Fujian Province, China, Skymind has deployed its AI innovation components. The emergence of components of Skymind Innovation has accelerated and made way for a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem in the sector, where talents are educated and upskilled under Skymind’s Talent Development programmes and AI companies have joined the sector and developed their digital innovation bases. How Skymind Cultivates AI Skills Skymind deployed its AI Innovation elements in Digital Fujian in 2018. Thousands of AI skills have been trained by the ecosystem, incubating more than a hundred start-up firms. Skymind has drawn local and international enterprises to set up their own AI R&D bases to future proof their businesses. The growth in land values that Skymind and the ecosystem has increased more than four-fold since its inception. “We create value for cities’ development, and we have successfully done so in Digital Fujian. It is a fully functional AI City that is able

to generate considerable economic impact. We will bring components that we have built globally over to Malaysia and eventually to the region, localising the innovation to better suit the regional’s ecosystem,” said Shawn Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer, Skymind Global Limited. Eow Wan Lin, Managing Director of Skymind Future Cities said, “Skymind Innovation City aims to become one of the top cities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. To ensure the success of this vision, we are working closely with several strategic partners such as IIB Ventures.” In Line with State’s Digital Agenda “Skymind Innovation City is aligned with Johor state’s Digital Agenda and complements Medini with diversity of innovation programmes to provide participating companies a vibrant ecosystem for growth, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship as Johor Digital Hub and the location for Digital Innovation, emerging tech and digital talent development,” says Zulfiqar Zainuddin, the Managing Director of IIB Ventures Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Iskandar Investment Berhad. Apart from IIBV, Skymind will be collaborating with more strategic partners locally and globally to innovate in Skymind Innovation City. Skymind Innovation City will focus on three main hubs namely; the Talent Hub for AI Talent Development, The Innovation Hub for enabling technology and AI Innovators and the Regional R&D Hub for research and development of AI applications. To understand more about the Skymind Innovation City at Iskandar, please visit www. skymind.city or www.youtube.com/channel/ UCeAgQlcxhFysVtHGT77ohQQ. - by Norfy Shafeq TI

PROPERTY

Ox-picious New Year with Mah Sing’s Virtual CNY Open House

Prizes worth up to RM2,800 at “Home With Mah Sing”

s one of the leading property developers in Malaysia, Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) had recently prepared a series of Virtual Chinese New Year Open House Events via its Facebook platform, encouraging everyone to celebrate this auspicious Year of the Ox at “Home With Mah Sing”. The audiences who registered for the programme not only received a free zodiac report but also stood a chance to win a grand prize worth RM2,800. Mah Sing’s Chief Operating Officer, Benjamin Ong said, “During this MCO period, we hope that the public will stay at home yet enjoy what Mah Sing prepares for them at the comfort of their own homes including a virtual

tour of our project.” Mah Sing’s Meridin East’s latest project, Acacia Double-storey Link Homes has been receiving overwhelming response from the public. Its 22’x70’ land size is larger than most of the products offered in the market, making it perfect for multi-generational living. Acacia also comes with its own private park, enabling residents to carry out their recreational activities with a peace of mind. Meridin East township consists of more than 500 acres of lush greenery, and it comes with two 9-acre lakes with family parks, 16km jogging & cycling track, children’s playground, basketball court, and various family-friendly facilities. From only RM1,150 per month, you can now own a home in a community perfect for the well-being of your family. In the southern region alone, Mah Sing Group has well established themselves with 7 developments which includes landed residential, high rise residential, commercial, retail, and industrial properties. Focusing on developing affordable properties, Mah Sing’s developments have always been well received by the market. For more information, please call 07 291 3230. TI

How Will RTS Impact the Property Market? – Part 3 RTS Benefiting the Property Market in Johor

he RTS Link is expected to act as a stimulant of sor ts to spur more interest in the Johor Bahru property market. Properties within a radius of 5 km from the station will attract a lot of attention from investors. Residential houses including service apartments have actually seen better pick-up around the proposed station site since the last 2 years. Those that have enjoyed such effects include Tri Towers, Twin Towers, Suasana

and SKS Pavillion. Others which will see increased demand include those along Jalan Bukit Meldrum like R&F Princess Cove Residences, Skysuites, Sky Habitat and V-Summerplace. Connectivity between Johor and Singapore will be enhanced. The “effective distance” between the two countries will be shortened once the congestion issue is resolved. A few hours trip via the existing causeway during the peak hour will become as short as 3.6 minutes. Residential developments in JB especially in the city centre within close proximity will

The layout for RTS Link project - Picture courtesy of MRT Corp

attract demand from various groups i.e. Malaysians working in Singapore, Singaporeans capitalising the relatively lower cost of living in JB and investors. Houses and housing lands nearby are likely to be acquired and rezoned for commercial use. Imminently are Kim Teng Park and Serene Park which are in the immediate neighbourhoods. The success of the RTS Link will in the long run necessitate an urban renewal exercise within the CBD of JB. This is in line with the transformation plan of the CBD mooted by IRDA. Commercial developments such as retail and office will get a boost in demand as a result of better connectivity. Some companies in the republic down south might set up businesses in JB to capitalise on its lower cost base once the nightmarish congestion on the causeway is resolved. Nevertheless, other factors such as government policies and socio-econ-political dynamics will come into play in attracting these businesses. Shopping centres nearby

such as JB City Square, JBCC Komtar, R&F Mall and Galleria Kotaraya will see increased footfalls as many passengers alighting from the trains are expected to shop here. Coronation Square when completed will also gain traction. Purpose-built offices are likely to benefit with relocation of offices to spaces near the station. It would not be unrealistic to anticipate some office demand from Singapore to JB. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to see the need to decentralise their activities within a particular locality. With improved connectivity, certain office works can be relocated from a more costly Singapore to a cheaper city like JB. Buildings that will gain from this phenomenon include JB City Square, JBCC Kotaraya, Menara Landmarks and offices to be completed within Coronation Square. With improved last mile connectivity, the spillover effects will be felt in the other satellite and suburban areas in

Iskandar Puteri, Tampoi, Skudai, Tebrau and Ulu Tiram as well as Pasir Gudang. What is important is the availability of connecting modes of transportation such as taxis, stage and shuttle buses and e-hailing vehicles to these destinations within a reasonable time and cost. In preparation of all these demands, the BRT will be rolled out by IRDA connecting this major transportation hub to all the outlier areas. TI

Sr Samuel Tan Executive Director KGV International Property Consultants

ISSUE 103 | MAR 2021

THE ISKANDARIAN

PROPERTY

Sunway Property Disperse Its Community Development Expertise at Sunway City Iskandar Puteri

a s t e r Communit y D e v e l o p e r, S u n w a y Property, got down to 2021 with major plans of its own beginning with the announcement of its revamped township – Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, Johor, one of the major self-sustaining integrated city and community growth for all to call home. Sunway Proper ty encourages the community of Sunway City Iskandar Puteri to live every dream, learn without limits, receive work-life balance and play beyond imagination by cultivating a family-like community while being determined to acquire many more achievements along the way to be shared

with the community. The self-sustaining integrated city consists of six precincts, namely The Lakeview, The Capital, The Parkview, The Riverside, The Seafront and The Marketplace. Each precinct offers a wide range of amenities and facilities such as a theme park, retail malls, education hub, medical city, and many more. Sunway City Iskandar Puteri also concentrates on education, entertainment, recreation and leisure amenities fo r its homebuyers. The first amenity development that the group undertook for this township is the Sunway International School, offering Canadian (Ontario) School Curriculum from kindergarteners to Grade

10 followed by Sunway Big Box, the first retail hybrid park; XPARK Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, the biggest adventure sports; Sunway Emerald Boulevard 88 and Sunway Citrine Hub. Sunway City Iskandar Puteri offers an excellent architecture balanced with the beauty of nature, encompassing

acres solar and farm beside the XPARK. The development is located at Medini, Iskandar Puteri and connected to Johor Bahru city and is just 5km away from the Tuas Checkpoint. With potential l i va b i l i t y, S u nway ’s community here will have a population of 140,000 people.

will build a sustainable community and address food security through every day innovations. SJK (C) Cheah Fah

40% greenery within the development. The development is one of the prime locations for property-buyers in the Southern region where the city meets nature. Rebranding Sunway City Iskandar Puteri is only just the beginning of the grand plan with an undergoing research and development to set up 9.7

Developments Underway: Solar and farm Aligning as per the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the activities here includes an indoor café, semi-indoor golf, indoor hydroponic and outdoor farming where visitors are able to purchase their ticket and pluck their own vegetables which

Comprising of 2 academic blocks, the school has a total of 24 classrooms with learning amenities and facilities such as science lab, computer lab, arts room, life skills workshop, football field and indoor badminton and basketball courts. It also features a fully covered, high roof, open space concourse located at the heart of the school. Slated to open in January 2022. Sunway Hotel Big Box Completing in 2021, the hotel is integrated with Sunway Big Box

Retail and Offices, and has 13-storey square tower style with 288 rooms. Equipped with an infinity pool, gym, all-day Dining / Coffee House, roof garden with panoramic vistas, the layout is creative with unique use of space and innovation. Sunway Maple Residence Duo living lifestyle concept and multigenerational living with affordable price range makes it suitable for first time home buyers. Launching in 2021, there is no price restriction for foreigners. For more information on living your best life in Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, please visit www. sunwaycityiskandarputeri. com. TI

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