Magazine November 2019

SLINGERSBUZZ ISSUE: NOVEMBER 2019

Top Top of of the the BUZZ! BUZZ!

Film Federation K-pop Dance Savings Plan Inktober 2019 Bubble Tea Urban Walks

SLINGERSBUZZ

EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Justin Victor CO - EDITORS Teh Sue Ee, Ong Yi Lyn ONLINE EDITOR Nizar Faizul MAGAZINE DESIGNER Angeline Loh WRITERS Ong Yi Lyn Teh Sue Ee Nizar Faizul Lavinia Koh Zahra Alhadad Ahmed Rasheed Vijay Guna Saarah Aniz Daden Tan Jun Han Taylor Woo

Slingers Buzz is a lifestyle magazine produced by Taylor’s University’s journalism students as part of their Newspaper and Magazine Production module. This magazine is reflective of our interests and passions, and we want to share this with our fellow students. We feature content on community, culture and current affairs, and the breadth of topics for this issue ranges from food recommendations, travel locations, K-pop dance, the global #MeToo movement and more.

CONTENT PAGE 2

Jane’s Walk KL: An Urban Discovery through Local Neighbourhoods

PAGE 5

Taking the Road Less Travelled: Budget Destinations in Malaysia

PAGE 10

Film Federation: Film’s Not Dead

PAGE 11

Yvonne Ten: With Determination, ComesSuccess

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The Surprising Specificity and Community of Covering K-Pop Dances in Malaysia

PAGE 14

Arts and Culture In and Around PetalingStreet

PAGE 16

Like, Subscribe, hit the notification bell!

Your guide to becoming a YouTube sensation.

PAGE 18

How to deal with negative peer pressure

PAGE 19

Inking up for Inktober

PAGE 20

Urbanscapes Guide To Fashion

PAGE 22

How bubble tea can affect your health and ways to make it healthier

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I don’t need savings plan. Or do you?

Jane’s Walk KL: An Urban Discovery through Local Neighbourhoods By: Ong Yi Lyn

W

hen we speak of travel or discovery, we often think of places beyond the neighbourhoods where we live and work in. Nonetheless, these neighbourhoods are formed through the collective efforts of those past and present who inhabit the area, and at times, could provide for interesting experiences if we are willing to look. Jane’s Walk KL, an offshoot initiative of the global Jane’s Walk movement is attempting to do just this – by bridging the disconnect we have with our places of living and working, through a series of urban walks organised and led by the community, for the community.

But what exactly is Jane’s Walk, and who is Jane?

Jane’s Walk is a global movement to commemorate Jane Jacobs (1916-2006), and its website describes her as a “writer, urbanist and activist who championed the voices of everyday people in neighbourhood planning and city-building.” This brings us to Jane’s Walk KL. Started by Yasmin Ahmad Munir Lane, 29, and Awatif Abdul Ghapar, 29, the former found out about the movement from a friend while she was doing her Masters in urban

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planning in London. Once back home, she linked up with Awatif and together they brainstormed for the very first edition of Jane’s Walk KL in Sentul, which happened in May this year.

“It was an area I had visited a few times and always loved, was intrigued by the new developments in the area and how it affected walkability,” shares Yasmin, who is currently a Senior Executive working with Urbanice Malaysia, an urban think tank set under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. The Sentul walk covered different places of worship including a gurdwara, mosque, Buddhist and Hindu temple, as well Dignity, a school for underprivileged children in Kuala Lumpur.

thing for the city, and to learn from the collective experiences,” she continues.

There is usually a limit of 15-20 people per walk and according to Awatif, the response has been quite overwhelming with slots for the walk filling up within two to three hours once they announce it on Instagram. The participants are also from rather diverse backgrounds, with a mix of Malaysians and non-Malaysians - mostly in their 20s-30s, and on the rare occasion, “aunties and uncles in their 50s.”

The wellbeing of life in cities and walkability are issues close to Yasmin’s heart both professionally and on a personal basis, and she thinks that it is important to get the conversation going about just how walkable our city is. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about safety, the weather, which I’m not disregarding,” says Yasmin.

Rahul Lewis, 35, who is from India but currently based in KL, joined the last Jane’s Walk in October. He found the entire experience interesting and educational, and is eager to participate in further editions of the walk. “A local showing you around a neighbourhood is always welcomed and exciting.

A local architect showing you around - even more so. You gain some knowledge through the history about simple otherwise overlooked buildings and structures. You see potential in ignored uninhabited spaces,” says Rahul.

“But if we don’t start walking, exploring and demanding better safer streets, we’ll never get it. It’s important to build a community of people who want the same

The October edition of Jane’s Walk covered Seapark and Taman Paramount (adjoining neighbourhoods nestled between the larger SS2 and

Yasmin (in light > pink blouse) leads the walk from Taman Paramount to Seapark, with the route cutting across residential houses and shop lots. (Source: Ong Yi Lyn).

Seksyen 14 areas), and was led by Chian Quah, director of architectural firm Studio-Asean who grew up in the area and eventually set up his company base there as well. He had reached out to Jane’s Walk KL to help organise the walk.

The inclusion of locals is something Yasmin and Awatif tries to actively do in the spirit of Jane’s Walk. It is a good way to discover unseen aspects of the neighbourhood and to also connect with the neighbours.

Awatif agrees, saying, “It’s the places, the people and the whole idea of walking to explore a new place that keeps my excitement going after each walk.”

“When we did the walk in my own neighbourhood in Sungai Way, we did the same: spoke to neighbours, shop owners and more to get their feedback, oral

stories and also to let them know and invite them on the walk,” explains Yasmin. Research helps Yasmin and Awatif to gather interesting stories and a recce beforehand is important to scope out the best routes and safest crossings for the walk.

There have been five editions of Jane’s Walk so far, and a new team member, Charmaine Wong recently joined the duo in curating the walks.

The 2018 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs projected that 68% of the world population would live in urban areas by 2050. In fact, The Guardian did a survey and asked its readers for stories of their urban walking experience. One respondent, Bert Thompson, 62, states that “When you walk through a city you are always walking through time as well as space.”

Jane’s Walk KL is currently a self-funded initiative as there is very little cost involved. However,

Awatif mentioned that a strong advocate would probably be needed to help support them if the initiative were to be scaled up. “Having said that, we have been fortunate to receive support in terms of individuals from certain areas or organisations who have been willing to help guide and provide meaningful sharing during our walks,” she opines.

The concept of urban walking is slow to take root, but one that has undoubtedly opened the eyes of those who partake in it to new ways of viewing their neighbourhoods. Yasmin thinks that it would be great to have more Jane’s Walks group in Malaysia, for example, Jane’s Walk Taiping, Jane’s Walk Kuching or Jane’s Walk Tanjung Malim. But for now, Jane’s Walk KL will continue as they have and plan for the next walk, which is scheduled to happen at the end of November. As Yasmin reflects, “It’s up to us to push the limits as to what’s an appropriate, walkable and safe city for everyone.”

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Taking the Road Less Travelled Budget Destinations in Malaysia By: Teh Sue Ee & Nizar Faizul Rejoice! The semester break is upon us soon. It’s time to kick back and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. Your efforts have paid off and you would definitely need some time to unwind. Why not take a trip somewhere local? Places like Penang or Pulau Redang is teeming with tourists, so why not enjoy your time somewhere quiet for a change? Here are some unique travel destinations in Malaysia for you to pack your bags and satisfy your wanderlust!

BENTONG, PAHANG Bentong is well-known for its ginger, but do you know that it is also known for hot springs?

An hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, Bentong is a small town nestled in Pahang.

Bentong Kolam Air Panas is located approximately 2km from the highway toll, and it is open to the public for free entry. The pool is separated into two sections, in which the smaller section holds warmer water while the other is slightly cooler.

Chamang Waterfall is also known as Lover’s Waterfall, and it is a picturesque spot to take splendid photographs for memory keeping. While tourists are allowed to swim by the waterfall, they should do so at their own risk.

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START

Next up, check out the farmer’s market for the freshest Bentong ginger and also street food! Notable things to buy are kampung durian, ginger, and tau fu pok.

Walking around the market, you may perchance upon some local street food that is worthy of drooling over. Head on to Thong Kee Kopitiam for delicious kaya toast and a cup of white coffee, or slurp up sweet taufufa that masks a tinge of heat from the Bentong-famous ginger sugar syrup. If you’d like to try something savoury, walk over to Yuen Kee Cafe to try the wan tan mee from Hooi Ji and yong tau fu at Lan Ji Mix Rice stall is worthy of a second serving.

Your trip would not be complete without checking out Bentong Walk. Open during the weekends, the quiet town transforms into a bustling night market that exudes the cultural diversity of the townsfolk of old Bentong. Take this opportunity to slowly explore the small town, you may chance upon many street art murals that are Instagramworthy!

SEKINCHAN SELANGOR Situated 100km away from Kuala Lumpur, Sekinchan is one of Malaysia’s major rice producers in Malaysia. On top of that, there is also a small fishing village that hauls in the demand for fresh seafood. An array of colourful fishing boats line up the port when the fishermen bring in their catch of the day, and it really is a colourful sight to see!

On your ride to Sekinchan, you’ll pass by rows upon rows of paddy fields. This would be a new sight for a city-dweller, so seize this chance to take in the view and also capture some nice pictures.

Do note that the best time to visit Sekinchan would be before the harvest season, either June or December.

A trip to Sekinchan is not complete without visiting the iconic Sekinchan Wishing Tree. Draped in red ribbons, the tree stands towering by Redang Beach. You can obtain a ribbon in which you write down your wishes from the nearby temple by giving a small donation, and then try your hand at throwing your ribbon on to the tree! Not forgetting Redang Beach, which was featured in a Hong Kong TVB drama, it boasts multiple activities to do such as kite flying, playing with giant bubbles and so on.

A word of advice - make sure that you bring a pair of slippers as the beach is quite rocky, unlike sandy beaches.

Being a small fishing village, Sekinchan boasts good seafood cuisines with traditional Chinese cooking influence. Famous restaurants such as Restaurant Loong Hua and Cha Po Tion are all-time favourites, however, it could get crowded. Another tip would be to visit literally any other restaurant in the vicinity of Sekinchan as it is always guaranteed that you will be served only the freshest seafood with a great price.

Stock up on rice as you visit the Paddy Processing Factory and Gallery. When you pay the entrance fee (RM5), you would receive a small packet of rice as a token of appreciation. Make use of your time there to learn about the rice plantation process.

Albeit small, it is interesting to see how a staple food source for Malaysians are treated and handled before being put onto our plates.

SETAPAK, KUALA LUMPUR Setapak is a wonder in its own. Setapak literally means; “a stone’s throw away” a nod to its prime location for only being 6km away from the city centre. Originally a small tin-mining settlement, it has since become an enclave within greater Kuala Lumpur. Setapak is suburbia surrounded by rows and rows of shophouses. Picking up cues of city development which consumes the landscape of Setapak, the area has transformed into a wonder where the opportunity to explore is around every corner.

Nestled in between shophouses, the Seven Fairies Temple in Setapak is an interesting place to visit. Founded in 1931 by Xie Menjing, it is a temple, a house of worship. For the lovebirds, the Seven Fairies Temple is the place to go if you want blessings for a future marriage.

Being a suburb in the city, Setapak is known for its bustling food haven for those looking for great food on a budget. Lovers of hokkien mee must try Aik Yuen Hokkien Mee located on Jalan Pahang.

A popular eatery among locals, the noodles would definitely give your tastebuds a workout.

On top of that, those who have a fondness for Northern Malay food should also try Hayaki Kopitiam. Famous for its authentic Kelantanese cuisine, it is not a surprise that it is a hit among the locals. Their Nasi Kerabu Ayam Percik gives you a taste of Northern East Malaysia on the Selangor West coast.

A stone’s throw away from the city centre also means a stone’s throw away from other neighbouring districts. Adventure thrill-seekers can go on a hike at Bukit Tabur, located just 10 kilometres from Setapak. Bukit Tabur is the iconic backdrop of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, and there are a variety of trails that hikers can try, differentiated by the level of difficulty. However, one should take caution and be well prepared when hiking these trails. But we all know, thrillseekers love an adventure, and Bukit Tabur is definitely a hike worth the hype!

Plan your trip with the help of travel bloggers, such as Malaysian Flavours, authored by duo Summerkid and Summergirl. Their Bentong and Sekinchan 1 Day trip is packed with useful information and local’s tips, and their cafe reviews in Setapak that are worthy to try. Those who love a food hunt, do take a look at vkeong, a travel blog that focuses on food reviews across Malaysia.

Where will the road take you? Be off now, and explore greater Malaysia!

END

TRAVELLING

IS EASIER

WITH A LIGHTER

SUITCASE

FILM FEDERATION: FILM’S NOT DEAD By: Lavinia Koh

F

ilm Federation, an online film camera supplier, is dedicated to the vision of rescuing film cameras since 2013 and was founded by two individuals who took hold of the Each roll of film has a It is a welcoming sight to see opportunity to start something bigger than themselves when different result, which leads to film companies that went out film photography was slowly new abilities, discoveries and of of business during the switch course, surprises. from film to digital back then, gaining Traction. resurrecting recently, bringing “It is the most rewarding thing back more choices of films Founders Marcus Taz and Rachel Yap, who is now the Chief I can do,” Rachel commented. to the market due to the everExecutive Officer (CEO) and As the CEO of Film Federation, increasing demand of films.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) Marcus hopes that in the of Film Federation respectively, Marcus cannot disagree that there was a time when film was coming days, there will be more started Film Federation with fading out but “today, film is not shops selling and developing a dream of promoting film photography to a broader dead thanks to the huge demand films as there once were, with Malaysian audience, cultivating and support from directors, companies like Kodak, Fujifilm, Sakura resurrecting a love of photographic art and photographers and actors who and are looking for the uniqueness discontinued films. hopefully, to build a culture colour films produce.” within film photography itself.

But as millennials, you can start You would be surprised that by lending your extra cameras However, Film Federation’s most blockbuster movies are to a friend or two for “we all main objective would be to shot on film, such as Dunkirk have to do our part to share the restore the old and forgotten cameras by overhauling and (2017), Interstellar (2014) and love of film photography.” repairing them, giving these the most recent iconic film, Joker cameras a new lease of life to (2019) that was shot digitally Let’s keep film alive! recreate stunning pictures as it but then transferred to film in post-production. once did for its new owner.

Rachel believes that the beauty of film photography lies in its process.

“It is about being in the moment, to slowly composing your picture, finding the perfect moment, understanding your subjects, sending your films to develop, and surprising yourself with the outcomes.”

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Yvonne Ten – With Determination, Comes Success By: Nizar Faizul

and live a prosperous life is often to pursue a career in the science stream.

However, what keeps Yvonne on track is her determination.

“Hard work will always pay off, no matter the circumstances. The key is to believe in yourself.”

“My first few years in the industry as a fresh graduate was not a walk in the park,” says Yvonne. She further elaborates that staying on top of her game and being open to the challenges of clients demand is the secret to staying relevant.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, Yvonne Ten, 33, found drawing to be her hobby and is now living her dream as a graphics designer and illustrator.

Meeting her for the first time, with pictures of her work still fresh in mind, it is a wonder to me how artists like her see the world.

Her soft voice and small stature greatly contrast her artwork, which features a wealth of colours and bright colour palettes that seem to magically complement each other.

“My artwork is all very colourful” quipped Yvonne and her work speaks for themselves.

“Determination is what makes things successful.”

“Art is always evolving and you have to evolve together with art.”

Notable works by Yvonne include prominent clients such as Petronas, Toyota, and many more. Her key to success she She had graduated says is to have confidence and from The One Academy of to dare to dream.

Communication in 2014 with a degree in Graphic Design and She strongly believes that her Illustration, and ever since then, creativity, sheer determination she has laid down her mark one and relentless pursuit of her art piece at a time. dreams have worked wonders for her and she is keen on “It was not always a bed spreading the message to others of roses and it never will be.” to break boundaries and pursue laments Yvonne, commenting on the unthinkable. our Asian culture that is still very focused on the sciences and often forgoes the world of arts.

“I can’t blame my parents for When asked about how her thinking the same and they were foray into the world of arts of course not keen on me pursuing begun, Yvonne said it had arts.” Yvonne elaborates that in always been her passion since emerging economies such as young, but it was never an easy Malaysia, the only guaranteed way to have financial stability journey.

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The Surprising Specificity and Community of Covering K-Pop Dances in Malaysia By: Zahra AlHadad

“I love this community because we all at the very least love one same thing,�

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Every other month, in a local neighbourhood mall around the Klang Valley, there is a Korean culture festival being held. It is a pretty regular occurrence, especially in the last couple of years since the rise of popularity and interest in Korean culture. It is usually done over weekends, and more often than not, there’s a stage. A stage for dancing, specifically.

You may catch it when it happens - a Korean pop music dance cover competition. It always happens during peak mall hours, noon to around dinner time. A minimum of 15 to almost 40 groups sometimes, performing to their favourite K-pop songs.

To any normal onlooker, it may seem like these people are just having fun: wearing interesting costumes, following popular foreign trends, and dancing to routines they’ve memorized. However, it goes much deeper than that.

Behind these groups of people who seem like they’re just having fun dancing is hours upon hours of rehearsals, at least hundreds of ringgit spent on costumes, and a sharp competitive spirit and hierarchy.

The community of people dancing to K-pop songs are a legion of people determined to pay homage to their favourite artists. It’s a completely different battlefield compared to more typical dance competitions like street dance. Where creativity and breaking out of the mould is rewarded in other dance events, a heavy part of the judging criteria in these dance cover competitions is to completely imitate and emulate the artists they are covering.

From the movement to the angles, and even down to their facial expressions - they essentially aim to ‘become’ these figures on stage. When people watch these performances, they expect to see the idols of the song every second they are on stage. Some groups even hire instructors at hundreds of ringgits per week in hopes that they can help transform their dance teams into pseudo idol groups.

Of course, things weren’t always this intense. Back when K-pop was only just growing in popularity, things were much more easy-going and competitions weren’t organized in abundance. People were (mostly) doing it all for fun, but things have developed way past that.

“Everyone is so well-prepared now compared to when [we] started,” Jam Jien, a member of long-running cover group Kingsmen, recalls, “New teams can top older teams - it’s made us want to improve even more now.”

^ 12 member cover group

Valerinx in action on stage covering ‘Butterfly’ by girl group LOONA

The Kingsmen group are best known for representing Malaysia at the 2017 KBS Changwon K-pop World Festival and have been involved in the scene since 2016. They sit somewhere among the top of the community’s hierarchy, along with other groups like IMMIX, Virus Ladies, and GNClat.

Though there seems to be an established community of K-pop dance coverists, there is also close to no gatekeeping. Anyone is allowed to join and establish groups to compete with. Some people even started dancing because they wanted to copy K-pop dance routines and naturally got into competitions because of this. Others joined because they found an easy platform to start performing through their interest in Korean culture.

Tang Yuen, a member of notable new cover group, Valerinx, echoes this sentiment. “I just wanted to perform on stage. This is the first K-pop dance crew I joined and I’ve wanted to try joining these kinds of competitions.”

It’s an open space for people with this shared interest to come together to share their love with a healthy dose of competition and hard work. In the end, all anyone really needs to join the close community is to love one thing.

“I love this community because we all at the very least love one same thing,” Jam notes, “And that is K-pop.”

Arts and Culture In and Around Petaling Street By: Ong Yi Lyn

P

etaling Street or also known as KL’s Chinatown is a bustling haven of fake products, cheap eats and dingy tattoo parlours – mostly catering to the tourists and migrant workers that flock there every weekend. Beyond the bright neon lights and piquant aromas of the street, signs of gentrification have gradually hit the area in recent years, bringing in a new stream of businesses in the form of event spaces, eateries and galleries that mixes the old with touches of modernity. Take a stroll at some of the spaces listed below and rediscover the area in a completely new light.

The Godown Located along Lorong Ampang, this brand-new art space has since played host to a series of art exhibitions and some of the town’s hottest events, the latest one being the venue for URBN.SENI, which is part of the Urbanscapes creative arts festival. While not within the immediate vicinity of Petaling Street, The Godown is only about a fiveminute walk from the Masjid Jamek LRT station and you will soon see an industrial-looking structure peeking out among the trees near an open parking lot. This refurbished old Dutch warehouse with a checkered history is a good starting point for a day out in KL.

^ The Godown used to be an abandoned Dutch warehouse

among its many incarnations but now functions as an event space for the creative arts (Source: The Godown).

REXKL

^ REXKL is an up and coming space where food, music, fashion and more converge to create an exciting hub for those wandering around Petaling Street to experience (Source: David Yeow).

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From The Godown, take a brief 10-minute stroll past Medan Pasar and onwards into the heart of Petaling Street where REXKL is. This former single screen theatre situated on Jalan Sultan was Rex Cinema in its heyday. Now, the building with its stripped-back aesthetics houses trendy bars, food vendors, a massage parlour operated by the blind and even a social enterprise hub (Destination: GOOD by AirAsia Foundation), with regular markets, talks, screenings and more held during the weekends. REXKL’s new lease of life has certainly made it a bustling spot for those seeking an alternative form of weekend activity.

Drop by, get a pint of Fizzy Toddy from Modern Madness, some freshly baked Chinese pastries from Bunn Choon and have a chill afternoon with your family or friends.

Jao Tim

^

Jao Tim is the perfect spot for those interested in an afternoon of upbeat jazz music and swing dancing (Source: Jao Tim).

Fancy some live jazz music while you sip on a cup of creamy cappuccino? Then head on down the road towards Jao Tim, a calm oasis of wood and bronze located on the second-floor of a pre-war colonial shophouse lining Jalan Sultan. Customers push past the gilded, elevator doors greeting them into an art deco inspired interior, where as they descend up the stairs, a resplendent concierge desk complete with pigeon-hole cubby that mimics a hotel reception from bygone days, functions as the ordering counter for Jao Tim. Every alternate Sunday (or depending on schedule), there is a jazz jam session for anyone who wants to play music or sing some snazzy tunes. The sessions have grown such a following that swing dances usually happen in synchronicity with the live tunes too!

Kwai Chai Hong If you’re looking for something more “on the street”, then Kwai Chai Hong would be right up your alley! Just off Petaling Street near the Gurdwara Sahib Polis is Lorong Panggung, which was also known as Kwai Chai Hong in the Cantonese dialect. Although the name translates into either “Ghost Lane” or “Little Demon Alley”, the space is far from terrifying and has been transformed with brightly painted murals depicting traditional activities of the early Chinese community. A red wooden bridge with lanterns was built and props placed near the murals for the Instagram crowd; for those looking to spend a dime, there are a variety of pop-up stalls selling trinkets and local snacks. Many of the surrounding shops with back doors opening up into the alley have also been refurbished and now spot chic bars, dessert shops and modern kopitiams.

^ Instead of ghosts or demons, one can find the perfect

backdrop of brightly painted murals and colourful lanterns for their Instagram at Kwai Chai Hong (Source: Ong Yi Lyn).

Like, Subscribe, hit the notification bell!

Your guide to becoming a YouTube sensation.

By: Ahmed Rasheed

in the waters of YouTube stardom for four years.

“I love talking and at first I used to enjoy talking to myself at mirror and express myself, then I started with my phone by vlogging wherever I go and all. Then I decided why not try to start a YouTube channel and let people listen to me.”

From a passion to express herself, Karisham’s channel KarismaJuniorTV has evolved from a person blog to recently feature make-up tutorials, narrowing down her focus to something she really enjoys.

“I usually post what people like to see and I have multiple ideas to brand my YouTube channel.

I’m not into specifically one, I like to talk about makeups, what’s going on my life etc.” she said.

Making your channel specifically targeted towards a niche audience that is easily identifiable is one of rule of thumbs experts advice when venturing into YouTube content creation.

For Limkokwing post-grad design student Syarif It maybe surprising for some that the highest Ahmad, this was exactly what he did. “I work on earning YouTuber of 2018 was an eight-year-old! a number of design project and often record my Reviewing toys with his parents, Ryan ToysReview screen during projects. Having gone through a is listed by Forbes as worth USD 22 million having lot of YouTube tutorials myslef, and learning that amassed over 25 biliion views and his own line How To content is one of the top three genres of YouTube, I thought why not edit it out to simple of collectibles now sold at multiple stores. tutorials and try it myself,” he said.

Having started his channel at the age of four, Syarif’s channel is slowly amassing popularity, the success of Ryan brings in a rush of aspiring YouTubers who not only take vlogging as a hobby and he says consistent uploads and giving a but as a serious career path. According to Business guarantee to his viewers of uniformity is something Insider Malaysia, the top 10 YouTubers under the he experienced as a key factor in getting viewers. age of 11 has made over USD 60 million over the “You need to have at least 1000 subscribers past year. to your channel to even be eligible for a payout These sheer numbers aren’t shocking as late by YouTube. My current target is to reach that millennial and Gen-Z’s have grown up in the number, and while working on my viewership, so flurry of the social media wave. On average, that I can make it a profitable hobby,” he said.

Gen-Z members spend 17 hours a day looking Syarif says he has gained a lot of credit points at screens. 52% of Millennials visit YouTube every from Google, the parent company of YouTube day, and an astounding 72% of Gen-Z members and uses a lot of this credit to cross promote his do so as well. content on various web projects he works on.

These numbers reflect the potential for young For Karishma, her marketing strategy is artists to make an early mark on being a social cross promotion of different social platforms or media influencer, and here at Taylor’s University, doingtraditional marketing stunts to gain followers. we have a good number of aspiring YouTubers.

“I post it at my Instagramto promote myself or I’ll One of them is final-year broadcast student post out giveaway to my subscribers to get their Karishma Karunakaran, who has been dabbing attention,” she said.

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So, what is the best way to get YouTube stardom and make money while at it? In a nutshell and here’s a gist of what most experts agree on; 1. Be confident! Believe in goals and have confidence is how you present yourself and your content 2. Develop your channel’s goals and content towards a niche and map it out 3. Mind your search engine searchability, use hashtags etc to attract audience 4. Be consistent, Be uniform and again, BE CONSISTENT! 5. Keep it simple, get to the point!

6. Be welcoming, be engaging, be accessible 7. Learn from your analytics and experiences There you go, seven simple steps to pave your way to YouTube stardom! Who knows, the next PewDieDie or Jake Paul might just be right here from the Lakeside Campus!

< Karishma’s first

broadcast dubbed “first time, lame though, don’t care #karshpinky”

KarismaJuniorTV > now features make-up tutorials including glam, every-day and even SFX makeup.

In this modern world, it is normal for teenagers and young adults to have the urge to fit in and feel like they are part of a group. Peer pressure is a common social issue among students whereby they would do anything to fit in and be accepted or respected in a group.

Some negative examples of peer pressure are: having the need to dress in a certain way to fit in, letting others copy your homework, consuming drugs and alcohol with ‘friends’ and more.

How to deal with negative peer pressure By: Vijay Guna

PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELF Ask yourself questions like ‘How am I feeling about this?’ or ‘Am I okay to do this?’ When you don’t feel right about a situation, it probably isn’t.

Although it takes practice standing up to peer pressure, remember that you are in control and you have a choice.

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Not only is it bad for mental health, but someone who is influenced by the negative peer pressure would feel like they have to give in to peer pressure, which would result in them feeling distressed and guilty for acting in a way that is at odds with their mindset.

Here are some approaches that could help in dealing with negative peer CHOOSE THE RIGHT pressure: PEOPLE

Spend time with people who respect your decisions and would not pressure you to consent with his or her unfair demands.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR FAMILY Talk to your family or other trusted family member. Tell them what is going on and ask for advice.

LEARN TO SAY ‘NO’ Learn to say ‘no’ to avoid people or situations that don’t feel right for you and leave it when things get out of control.

Be true to yourself.

Inking up for Inktober By: Teh Sue Ee

To many, October marks the start of autumn.

Falling leaves, spooky decorations, pumpkin carving, chilly weather…the list goes on. It is also a season for change, for new beginnings, for new inspirations too. To artists and creatives around the world, October is the month of exploring their artistic abilities and leaving their creative comfort zones.

Inktober is a month-long creative journey to become a better artist. It is the brainchild of Jake Parker who started this art movement in 2009, and since then, it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon in the art community.

“I created Inktober in 2009 as a challenge to use hashtags #inktober and #inktober2019. improve my inking skills and develop positive Participants are encouraged to post their drawings drawing habits,” wrote Parker on his blog. daily, or every other day as long as all the prompts In a video interview with BBC, Parker notes that are finished by the end of the month. it is relatively easy for anyone to participate in Malaysian artists are jumping on the bandwagon this event. “Everybody has access to a pen and too, with both big names and hobbyists alike paper is just as easy to get access to, and that’s participating in Inktober. all you need to create your art for Inktober.”

Josephine Toh is a businesswoman, an avid The rules of Inktober are relatively simple - draw journaler and a watercolourist. To her, staying something in ink, post it to your social media, committed posed the biggest challenge to completing Inktober. “The way we choose to spend our time, in the 10 mins you have it can be used to reply to an email or watch a YouTube video. The mind has a wonderful way to create excuses so I had to constantly keep myself in check.”

Tiana The Looming Morrow opined that time management is vital to be successful in completing Inktober. “You might think you will quickly draw something small for today’s prompt, but end up spending a few hours on one drawing. My tip - try to research ideas for prompts when they are published, which usually happens before October. Maybe even make simple sketches in pencil to save time for inking.”

^ The prompt list for Inktober 2019 is used as a guide to allow

artists to create art out of their traditional methods and comfort zone. Therein lies a single prompt for the entire month of October. (Source: Jake Parker, www.inktober.com)

“It is a great opportunity not only to challenge yourself but also to make new friends and find new people interested in your art. Personally, I have found new clients, have met some amazing artist pals thanks to Inktober, and we keep in touch until now.”

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Urbanscapes Guide To Fashion By: Saarah Aniz

F

ashion is ever-evolving, styles tend to progress and regress, old becomes new, what was once out of fashion ends up being in fashion and on high demand. The approach for event styles has taken a quirky over-the-top presence, especially here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For events such as Goodvibes and Urbanscapes, how one dresses is a big part of the experience. This year, the Urbanscapes festival takes place over nine days across multiple city spots here in KL, with the ‘Unlimited Grooves Festival’ happening on the 20 and 24 of November.

Last year, the sense of style present wasn’t in my opinion to the standard that you would witness at other festivals such as Good Vibes, but hopefully this year, that changes. The fashion trends this year are far more daring and risque - such as biker shorts with blazers, animal prints, boiler suits, puffed shoulders, neo-gothic, fanny packs or even bucket hats, just to name a few. 2019 sees Urbanscapes vibing to uprising bands such as Boy Pablo, Taiwanese synth-pop band Sunset Rollercoaster and many more; you’d want to ensure you were dressed up to par. It is an art-filled event, and where there is art, the opportunity for iconic Instagram photos means that festival-goers will without a doubt want to show off their fashionable style at the event. Here are a few looks you may want to consider:

Labelled as the most beautiful woman in the world, Bella Hadid is a style icon. Leave it to this fashion queen to amaze us with the festival looks throughout her daily life. Biker shorts doesn’t have to be just athletic clothing. The comfort and functionality that comes with these shorts paired with a blazer can give you a look that is comfy yet elegant. Finally, finish it off with the right accessories such as a fanny pack, and you’d be catching eyes.

< Bella Hadid

(Source: Pinterest)

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Vanessa Hudgens’ Coachella outfit tells us that bohemian chic is definitely a look. Incorporate the right accessories and you could have a look as fierce as hers - complete with a gothic flair. Throw on a pair of black shorts, a kimono paired with a black bralette, finish the look with a hat, and you’re ready.

< Vanessa Hudgens

(Source: E News! Online)

For the boys, typically anything you wear would suffice as a “look” for the festival, but if you’d want to step out of your comfort zone and try a look that is slightly risque, here are two looks you should consider for Urbanscapes 2019: Austin Butler clearly takes a more minimalistic and comfortable approach to festival looks, but even so, he still looks good. Pairing anything you wear with a hat, a necklace, sunglasses or even a different pair of shoes could potentially spice up your appearance from being an everyday look to a festival-ready look. Take a chance and add something!

Austin Butler > (Source: Pinterest)

Another look worth trying is anything printed.

The best shirts for a festival are the ones that are decorated with vivid graphics. Have them loosely buttoned, and these shirts can be so comfortable, you’d be thankful after the festival that you still feel just as stylish. < Printed shirts

(Source: Pinterest)

And with these tips, you would definitely stand out this festival season and all festival seasons to come!

How bubble tea can affect your health and ways to make it healthier By: Daden Tan JunHan Bubble tea remains as one of Malaysia’s favourite drink; known for its sweet and chewy pearls.

People are eager to get their drinks even if they have to queue for more than 30 minutes. The trend of bubble tea in Malaysia spreads through the country like wildfire:creating well-known bubble tea streets in Klang Valley such as in SS15, where the popularity of bubble tea shops creates traffic congestion within the area.

Bubble tea is certainly attractive to people because of its boba toppings. The toppings are found at the bottom of this drink and it is often made of chewy tapioca which you could have a drink and a snack at the same time. To top it off, the drink is then added with additional flavours such as flavoured syrup or fruit syrup with loads of sugar into it. The alarming sugar content can pose a great risk for diabetes and heart disease. They are also high in carbohydrates and lack all the essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fibres, etc. Unlike other healthy tea drinks, bubble tea is not for those who want to lose weight.

Bubble tea has a potential impact on people’s health and has largely slipped under people’s consciousness. The following details are wise objectives to look at the contents of the popular drink and consider to not take the drink frequently.

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Very high sugar content Studies by students enrolled in the Applied Food Science and Nutrition diploma course at Temasek Polytechnic Singapore found that 500ml cup of brown sugar bubble milk can contain around 92g of sugar. The amount is about three times more than the amount of sugar in a 320ml can of Coca-Cola. They have clearly shown that the number of sugar content in a bubble tea could lead to high risk of diabetes. As the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends, the maximum amount of sugar that we are allowed to consume per day is 25g.

High-calorie pearls Edison Goh, Teatime bubble tea owner in Johor Bahru mentions that the pearls, which forms a large part of the bubble tea appeal, are made of tapioca starch added with brown sugar, milk, honey and egg yolk. The pearls are shaped to circular form and typically fried in hot water, which creates a venture of more added sugar. They are purely carbohydrate with no significant vitamin contents, and it could significantly increase the calories to each cup of the bubble tea.

Non-dairy creamer containing trans fat Continuing on from the study conducted by students from Temasek Polytechnic, it is found that bubble tea creamer contains trans fat. The transfat which dilutes with the drink increases the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol. The trans fat in the bubble tea creamer increases bad cholesterol level and lowers our good cholesterol level.

The number of health concerns associated with drinking liquid with high sugar content are numerous. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad has also mentioned the health affects of bubble tea to in an interview with the Star, saying that“Malaysians must be proactive in taking care of their own health and educate themselves about the sugar content of the food and beverages they choose to consume.”

Hence, these warnings are intended to prevent health problems among Malaysian citizens. ^ Bubble Milk Tea delivers

high sugar contents to its consumer - but are they aware of it?

There are indeed steps to take if you want to enjoy this bubble tea drink in a more healthier manner. These simple steps below can be followed to create a healthier bubble tea drink!

1. Request for your bubble tea to be of low sugar level.

2. Avoid adding brown sugar or syrup in the tea.

3. Request for low-fat milk if it is available.

4. Do not include additional toppings such as chocolate chips, coffee jelly or other sugary toppings.

5. Finally, limit your drinking time to once a month or maybe a few months at a time.

That’s how it works. It’s not something you can’t drink at all,just be mindful of your intake. Today, you may be lining up for bubble tea milk, but who knows tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, you could be in the hospital because of diabetes or related health risks!

I don’t need savings plan. Or do you?

By: Taylor Woo

“I don’t need a savings plan. It’s so pointless.” That’s what people in their 20s think. Wrong.

Ask an old man now if he wishes he got a savings plan when he was younger, I bet you his answer would be a ‘yes’, but it’s too late for him now because he’s old and he can’t go back in time now, can he? Ask a millennial now, their answer would be “no.” That’s because most millennials want to get rich quick. They don’t want to wait 10 years to be able to drive a Lamborghini. They want to be able to drive it now.

Sometimes, we really have to ask ourselves. How long does easy money last? Definitely not long.

There are so many things to take into consideration about our future: like our kids’ education, our home, retirement and so on. However, just because you get a savings plan doesn’t mean you don’t need to work hard anymore. Everyone should work towards their goals and aspirations. A savings plan is like insurance. It is a safety net for whatever happens.

People are sceptical about it though. Why should they get a savings plan when they can save for themselves? Why should they wait 10 years to get rich when they can get rich now? Financial advisors, Reynard Lee and Calvin Chew, from Boss Wealth Advisory, are here to answer these questions and guide us.

WHY SHOULD I GET A SAVINGS PLAN? Lee: Because in this day and age, especially in Malaysia, inflation rates are too high. Salaries are stagnant, but living costs continue to rise. This will lead to poor financial management as well as inconsistency of saving.

Without savings, one cannot sustain their future and only aim to make ends meet.

WHY DO YOU THINK A PERSON HAS TO GET A SAVINGS PLAN INSTEAD OF SAVING FOR ONE’S SELF?

Lee: For the age group of young adults, temptations are everywhere, especially in the era of digital media. Surely, it’s good to have personal savings but it comes back to how personal savings is liquid.

Without a means of having force savings, one can easily overspend or overcommit Chew: First of all we must which in turn will disrupt their understand that EPF is never chances of future proof financial sufficient for our retirement in planning. the future. That is why we have to bolster our retirement with Chew: Savings plans grow at savings plans which are certain averagely 4.5% per annum whereas savings in the bank and guaranteed. gives you close to 0% unless you opt for savings in fixed deposits which is bound to fall in the coming years. Saving plans also have an auto-save feature which automatically saves for you in the case of critical illness (total permanent disability).

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HOW DOES THE SAVINGS PLAN BENEFIT ME? Lee: There are many ways to look at this, as people have many needs with their money.

Money is a powerful tool, but many succumb as a slave to it.

By having a savings plan as a means of forced savings, one can contribute with certainty that at the end they would have a huge sum in reserves. Whether it’s for retirement purposes, children’s education or even luxurious living. The sky is the limit.

Chew: Saving plans come with a death payout benefit. In the case that if the saver dies, this payout will be given to his/her nominees.

HOW DOES A SAVINGS PLAN WORK? Lee: Much like traditional personal savings, one can contribute an amount to saving plans. The only difference is saving plans work as a lockdown of that money for a certain time

by GLICs (Government LinkedInvestment Companies). From there, these funds are used for conservative investments to grow in interest.

Chew: Different saving plans have different terms. You can choose how long to contribute from a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of 30 years. The payout will be based on the terms and plan that you have selected.

WHY DO MILLENNIALS NOT FIND IT IMPORTANT? Lee: Once again it comes down to an individual and their needs.

Some might already have saving plans bought by their parents, which in turn might not be a priority to them. And there are others who are consumed by instant gratification, who struggle to set aside money every month. This is where we step in as Financial Advisors to expose them to the importance of saving.

Chew: Yes most millennials don’t feel the need for a savings plan because their parents have already planned out their finances since young but it is the young adults that see the importance of self-planning and achievement that realises the benefit of such plans.

Reynard believes > that people shouldn’t succumb as slaves to money.

HOW DO I KNOW IF A SAVINGS PLAN IS RIGHT FOR ME? Lee: My clients range from young millennials to older generations.

People who engage in my services are normally aware of their current financial situation.

Examples of people who I work with most are business owners, young and old. Most of them engage with me because they are aware of the risks posed in running a business. Some look into financial security, others value the growth of business and money.

Chew: Clients that buy from me are usually concerned with their future in the sense that they understand that wealth can come and go as easy as 1,2,3.

Clients that don’t buy from me are usually people that have higher risk appetites and have money to lose.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT SAVINGS PLAN FOR MYSELF? Lee: Much like the needs of people with their money. There are many choices and options in saving plans. Some might require insurance-based savings and others would consider higher interests. It all comes down to one’s particular lifestyle and choosing a plan that is based on it.

Chew: Consult an advisor that listens to and understands your current situation and future aspirations.

Start now when you have the chance. Savings plans require time to mature and you’re not getting any younger. People who adopt the habit of saving earlier worry less about their futures and are able to focus on their goals and aspirations.

The key to financial freedom is to first understand the value of money and how it can help us achieve great things. Money is a powerful tool but no one should be a slave to it.

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