The Iskandarian Sept 2014 Issue by The Iskandarian-WAVES Lifestyle

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The Iskandarian ISSUE 25 | SEP 2014

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KDN : PP17797/06/2012(032765) | MICA : MCI(P) 099/06/2013

The Iskandarian, Iskandar Malaysia’s Premier Community Newspaper, is a publicprivate collaborative product by IRDA’s Social Development Division

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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill

We get in touch with organisations’ CEOs & Chairmen to drill them with questions

Property bubble needs a number of facts to happen and one of the most important factor is the general situation of huge oversupply

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Feng Shui Tips Master Ern gives you tips to purchase your pg 31 land

DENGUE DANGER

pg 4

- Dr. Daniele Gambero, CEO REI Group of Companies pg 9

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Johor Kaki Tony takes on Granada’s Olla Restaurant

1 DEA TH IN EVER Y 2 DAYS

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INSIDE 11th JB Arts Festival will kick off on the 5th of September till the 4th of October pg 12

Cruyff Court Iskandar emerges strong in international competition pg 8

Youths of Iskandar Malaysia show up in full force pg 7

pg 4

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The Iskandarian ISSUE 25 | SEP 2014

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Safety a priority at Legoland Concern: Following the incident of celebrity actress, model and television host Nora Mohd Danish Hanif and her family members being stuck in Legoland Resort Malaysia’s hotel lift for over an hour, the management reassures the public that safety is a priority at the resort By Maisarah newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

fter the Instagram posting by celebrity Nora Danish which claimed that herself, her sister Nadya, her pregnant friend Zarema Zainal and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s son Nedim’s bodyguard were stuck in the resort’s ‘disco elevator’ went viral, Legoland Resort Malaysia responded that health and safety of their customers remained their utmost priority. Le g o l a n d s a i d i n a statement that they had contacted the elevator maintenance agency, Antah Schindler to be on site to get the lift back in position. During the whole incident, the guests in the lift were constantly monitored via close-circuit television set (CCTV) to ensure there was no imminent danger to them, it said. “We would like to assure guests that all safety procedures were in place and followed closely.

Legoland Malaysia Resort came under bad light after celebrity Nora Danish’s Instagram post went viral

We understand the inconvenience arisen from the technical malfunction and we thank the guests for their understanding.” Legoland has stressed that this was an isolated incident and visitors were assured that safety remains the company’s utmost priority. “We follow international safety standards and all our

procedures are in compliance with regulations set by the authorities,” it said. Legoland Malaysia Resort Public Relations M anager Deviga Doreraja said they had apologised to their guests. In a written statement, the resort said they had apologised to Nora, her friends and family members. “We faced a mechanical

issue with one of our lifts last night at the hotel and we wish to once again apologise to the family involved over the incident. We are working closely with the relevant parties to ensure the matter is investigated thoroughly. We are currently in the early stages of the process and will update once we have concluded our findings.

IIB: Among Asia’s best Highlight: Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) is amongst top 40 Malaysian companies to work for in Asia

skandar Investment Berhad (IIB) emerged as one of the winners of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for in Asia Awards 2014. 40 Malaysian companies were carefully selected from 220 entries, and the winners were announced at the award presentation ceremony on 20 August 2014 in Kuala Lumpur. This is IIB’s inaugural attempt at the award. “IIB’s success stories are a direct reflection of the competency and commitment of our team in developing Iskandar Malaysia. Our workforce is a united entity; we

strive to nurture it with the best available tools. It is our aim to see IIB as a benchmark organisation in all aspects, and for it to be ranked amongst the top choice employers not just in Johor, but in Malaysia as well.” said Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, the President and CEO. With staff strength of 220 employees, IIB’s beginning can be traced back to mid-2005 when both the federal and state governments identified the need for a focused development approach for an important region in the south of Johor of what is to

be Iskandar Malaysia. Shouldering this mammoth task, IIB formed its workforce by hiring some of the best talents in the country to collectively transform Iskandar Malaysia from concept to concrete. As part of its Human Resources policy, IIB believes in nurturing its in-house talents and place utmost importance on building and retaining them. Many have successfully climbed up the corporate ladder and now hold various important posts within the company and its subsidiaries. Leadership and overall human capability building are taken

seriously through specific modular in-house programs designed for the various categories such as the junior management, middle management and senior management development programs. IIB also supports worklife balance and upholds corporate social responsibility through various initiatives within Iskandar Malaysia. SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd, UEM Sunrise Berhad, KPJ Healthcare Berhad and Malaysia Airline System Berhad were some of the companies named in this year’s award.

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Inside

Insight

GST The readiness of the businesses and the impacts of GST

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WAVES Lifestyle Invisible Designs brought to you by pg 16 Raffles

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MATTA gets down to business Bold: After recently concluding their annual MATTA Fair, the association is now pressing for the Government to act against illegal tour operators By Maisarah newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

ourism and Culture Ministr y Johor has identified several illegal tour operators in the state said it’s Director Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim. He highlighted that most of them operate in the Iskandar Malaysia region to cash in on the booming tourism sector in South Johor. “We are working with the local authorities to identify them as some of these operators are advertised as different businesses,” responded Mohammad Isa at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Johor Fair 2014 at Danga City Mall Expo Centre. MATTA President Hamzah Rahmat called for the Government to take stern action against illegal

pic: John Lee

“Government must be firm and take these offenders to court”

(from left): MATTA Johor Chapter Chairman Kathryn Lee, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong and MATTA President Hamzah Rahmat

Hamzah Rahmat President MATTA

tour operators because they give the industry and Malaysia a bad image. “The issue of illegal tour operators is similar to the neverending problem of taxi touts at the

KLIA, which has been going on for so many years,” he said. “Tourism generates billions of ringgit so the Government must be firm and take these offenders to court, as well as impose higher

The Iskandarian

Do’s & Don’ts The good, the bad and the ugly of fellow Iskandarians.

AEON Tebrau and Bukit Indah seem to be a haven for inconsiderate -Submitted by Agnes Neo parking!

Expose inconsiderate motorists at our facebook rant group: Against Inconsiderate Motorists (AIM)

penalties,” said Hamzah. Meanwhile, state Tourism, Tr a d e a n d C o n s u m e r i s m Committee Chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong who launched the fair, is confident that Johor will achieve

its target of 5.7 million tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014 with the opening of three more international routes via the Senai International Airport (LTAS).

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DENGUE DANGER Concern: The number of dengue cases nationwide has been on the rise with an alarming 101 deaths for the past 8 months of this year By Priya Manikam newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

the top contributors of dengue cases included Kuala Lumpur and engue cases have Putrajaya (4,007 cases and seven reached epidemic deaths), Perak (2,956 cases, seven proportions with 101 deaths), Kelantan (2,898 cases, Council has taken some measures deaths and almost four deaths), Johor (2,632 cases, by organising gotong-royong 59,790 cases between January 14 deaths) and Negeri Sembilan and talks on dengue to create a and August compared to 15,400 (2,360, three deaths). wider awareness to the residents. cases and 31 deaths in the same An additional RM26mil The state environment period last year. In short, that’s budget was approved by the and health executive council an average of 1 death in every 2 Cabinet to help combat the committee chairman Datuk Ayub days for the past 8 months. epidemic. Rahmat said that there had been According to Health In Johor, dengue exists in 18 cases of deaths from dengue Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. rural and urban areas and several thus far and some 4000 taxi S u b r a m a n i a m , S e l a n g o r residential areas have become drivers in the city would help continues to lead as the state dengue hotspots especially raise awareness of the danger with the highest number of cases, during this rainy spells. Taman of dengue fever and eradication which resulted in 44 deaths. Bukit Mewah, Taman Gembira, of Aedes mosquitoes’ breeding Selangor has accounted TNB quarters in Kempas, Kg grounds. Taxi drivers would also for more than half of the dengue Plentong Tengah, Larkin Jaya, assist in educating the public cases so far this year, recording Kampung Kastam and several by distributing booklets and 36 deaths from the 26,441 cases other areas have reported cases. pamphlets during an awareness reported. T h e s t a t e’s h e a l t h campaign which will end in Other states listed among department and Johor Bahru City October.

Datuk Ayub also said that there will be a simple survey for the passengers to fill in during their ride and that the information collected would ascertain if the public are aware about fighting against dengue and destroying Aedes mosquitoes and its breeding grounds. Dengue is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with one of the four dengue virus serotypes. It is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults with symptoms appearing 3-14 days after the infective bite. Dengue is considered a serious viral disease which either forms as dengue fever or the

deadly haemorrhagic fever. The deadly Aedes mosquito primarily bites a person during daytime. They bite multiple people and its peak biting periods are early morning and in the evening before sunset. Dengue is not transmitted directly from person-to-person and symptoms range from mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There is no vaccine or any specific medicine to treat dengue. Therefore, it is vital to take precautions and do not unnecessarily store water that are left stagnant, making it a perfect breeding ground.

Johor Police HQ 07-221 2999 / 07-225 4499

Nusajaya Police IPD 07-511 4222

Tourism Malaysia Hotline 1300 88 5050

Johor Tourism 07-223 4935 / 224 9960

Senai International Airport 07-599 4500

JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999

Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171

Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91

Immigration 07-224 4233

Iskandar Regional

Hotlines

Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000

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Skateboarding and In-line skaters showing off their moves in make shift ramps built along Danga Bay

(Parkour Freerunning) stunts performed by the youths

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pics: Zarakay

Strength in numbers Highlight: Youths’ of Iskandar Malaysia show up in full force in support of Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre’s (IMIC) trendy event By Maisarah newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

skandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) organised an event at Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre (IMIC) Danga Bay for the youths. The initiative was put together to gather the trending interest and activities of the youths. The event was broken into indoor and outdoor with longboarding, skateboarding, inline skating and parkouring taking the centre stage. The indoor event consisted of showcases from Petit Outdoor promoting their wall climbing, REPS Fitness selling their trendy REPS merchandis and Drum Clinic by Kudut Othman among others. The first floor of IMIC was transformed into a Tamiya car racing circuit. “I’m very excited to be

A prayer wall for MAS MH 370 & MH 17 was erected to show consolidarity

here. This is the first time I’m seeing such an event for the youths taking place in Iskandar Malaysia and I’m glad to know that the authorities of the region are sensitive to the youth’s culture and not leaving us out of the equation of development. I’m hoping to see more such events happening at a more higher frequency and I will do my part in spreading the message to have a bigger gathering of youths from all races,” said Alif Azhar who randomly got off his bus ride along Danga Bay after noticing the large number of youths at IMIC. “The event is a huge success but more advertising and promotions must be done to reach the youths in further parts,” said 20 year old Sabri Ali who drove down from Taman Universiti. A total of 18 exhibitors and 7 demonstrators took part in the one day event.

IMIC’s strategic location helped make this event a big hit

Traders: Care for People Community: Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour’s EMBRACE Project treated children and young adults with Down Syndrome and autism to an afternoon of cheer and joy pic: John Lee

raders Hotel Puteri Harbour, recently treated Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) Nusajaya, Gelang Patah, to an afternoon of cheer and joy via EMBRACE, a Shangri-La’s Care for Pe o p l e Pro j e c t . P D K Nusajaya which was the hotel’s chosen beneficiary, caters to children and young adults with Down Syndrome and autism. In line with the Hari Raya celebration, children, teachers and parents

Traders Hotel staff strike a pose with the Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) Nusajaya

from PDK Nusajaya were invited for luncheon at Harbour Café. It was a good opportunity for the children to be outside of the community centre and have a tour outside of their own world. A total of 50 guests were treated to a delightful feast and entertainment throughout the afternoon. Along with the food fair, Sigi Bierbaumer, General Manager of Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour, also gave away duit raya to all the children and young

adults. Hotel staffs also showed their warmest hospitality by serving food to each student who had difficulty walking. The highlight of the afternoon was the singa-long and dance activity where both students and staffs took part in singing Raya songs while some danced along to the music. In addition to the buffet spread, the hotel also provided goodie bags of snacks for the children to take back.

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Cruyff Court Iskandar goes International Acheivement: Young Iskandar Malaysia footballers emerge strong in international competition

ight talented footballers from Cruyff Court Iskandar (CCI) recently got the opportunity of a lifetime, taking their boots to the world stage for their maiden dream appearance at the Cruyff Court World Cup held in Amsterdam, Holland. Despite it being their very first international competition, the team from Malaysia clinched a respectable 4th position at the tournament. Knowing that the boys come from under-privileged backgrounds and under-served schools in Johor, the Malaysian team’s coaches and minders could not have been prouder as they watched the boys soar to achieve their dream of playing against the best of their league globally. President and CEO of Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), Datuk Syed Mohamed Bin Syed Ibrahim said, “IIB is proud to be part of this community initiative that brings together children from under-privilege backgrounds to realise their dreams of representing

Malaysia. This is a huge step forward for these young talents who have done us proud on the international scene and I believe that as we continue to build the talents on our own Cruyff Court Iskandar, the children will benefit tremendously.” The CCI coach of the team, Mohd Shafizan Bin Hashim, said, “All the eight boys worked very hard, pledging their commitment to training for the competition from the first day. Their commitment paid off well as seen by their high level of performance in Amsterdam”. The players flew the Malaysian flag high as they battled heavyweight teams from leading footballing nations Spain, Brazil, England, Denmark, Holland and Israel. The Malaysian team competed against teams in their age-group and gave them a tough fight, coming out not only as proud footballers but also a more experienced and determined group of boys wanting to succeed on the international stage.

Team Malaysia and The Champion, team Denmark

“This is a huge step forward for these young talents ” Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim President and CEO Iskandar Investment Berhad

The activities organised by Iskandar Investment Berhad have a clear and concerted effort in bringing together underprivileged youths to equip them with social and life skills through sports, as well as honing the skills of the sporting community in Johor. The collaboration with Johan Cruyff Foundation has certainly bore fruit with this latest success on the field.

Wheelchair basketball workshop

Before the existence of Cruyff Court, the children had limited access to proper recreational facilities and sports training complex. These pupils have benefited with the best-in-class approach, as we look ahead to the future of Malaysian football. As the dreams for these boys realised, it has spurred the whole community of youths in Johor to aspire and achieve the

IIB spreads some Syawal smiles

skandar Investment Berhad (IIB) recently organised an initiative to share some Syawal cheers with underprivileged children in seven of its eight adopted schools. Its Corporate Social Responsibility unit handed over shopping vouchers worth RM120 to 210 students via their respective school principals. Schools that were included in this programme were Sekolah Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Johor Bahru, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Danga, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Pasir, Sekolah Kebangsaan Senibong, Sekolah Kebangsaan Mohd Khir Johari, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Putih and Sekolah Kebangsaan Rambah. A smiling Muhammad Hakimi bin Zulkepli, age 12, from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Danga, was excited to receive the shopping vouchers. Hakimi planned to buy himself a new ‘baju raya’ as it had been several years since he adorned a new suit. Meanwhile, Nornatasha binti

Saberi from Sekolah Kebangsaan Rambah planned to share her portion with her parents for some food items. “I am very grateful to receive these vouchers, and I want to share them with my whole family,” said the ecstatic Nornatasha. IIB as a catalytic developer of Iskandar Malaysia has been consistent with its sustainable social inclusion programmes, launching continuous initiatives at its adopted schools. Its social inclusiveness initiative via sports and football development, Cruyff Court Iskandar, had just competed in its first World Cup Championship 6vs6 participation in Amsterdam last June, and the team of eight budding players under the 12-year-old category returned home with flying colours. Its social contributions also include the adoption of schools under the PINTAR programme and several other events such as the ISKARNIVAL which will run for the third year this year.

best they can be. Returning back to Malaysia triumphant, the eight talented players can now look forward to playing in the under-16 team for Cruyff Court Iskandar. This brings them another step closer to their dream of being professional football players, inspiring other budding footballers in Malaysia to chase their football dream.

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DRILL

EXCLUSIVE The Iskandarian aspires to be the voice of the rakyat and with that in mind, our Editor touches base with CEOs and Chairmen of organisations to Drill them with questions to hear their opinions and perspectives.

DR. Daniele Gambero

CEO

Monthly Drill

REI Group of Companies

Dr. Daniele Gambero is an expatriate to Malaysia from Italy since early 2000. He is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of REI Group of Companies, a strategic consultancy firm which provides research and market analysis together with a widely differentiated marketing services platform to local developers. His extensive experience includes strategic marketing consultancy to Property Developers worldwide and international properties and businesses valuation. Since 2011, Dr. Daniele Gambero has been actively seen giving public talks in several Property Seminars organised by Asli, PropertyGuru, iProperty, Star Properties, REHDA, University Malaya and other private and public organisations. He also gives editorial contributions to several newspapers and property specialised magazines.

How will the third quarter of Iskandar Malaysia’s property market perform and your thoughts on 2015? By looking at the market’s sentiment till the end of June 2014, the outlook for the second half of 2014 looks like being “step back” and reconsider. This is what the market, in general, is saying to all the professionals involved with the property sector. However, if we look more carefully and in depth at the “Northern Corridor of Affordability” (an area that goes from Kulai and Skudai towards east first, Bandar Dato Onn and Tebrau, and south east later until Pasir Gudang), we can find a number of residential projects selling real houses of 850 sf up to 1,300 sf which are experiencing a good take up from buyers for both investment and own use. However, I’ve

some concerns for the coastal area between the first and the second link with Singapore as too many high density projects have been planned and some are already launched there. The type of product is a typical investors’ choice which at the moment has an outlook of temporary over-supply with possible need of long term holding power. No doubt within the next 10/15 years the value of these coastal areas will remunerate those investors able to hold but the possible risk of extended period of sales and possibly lower final GDV for developers are shadowing the whole Iskandar Malaysia scenario in a negative way. If possible I would like to see a wiser release of development orders with a more rigid regulation by the authorities.

In the Star Property (August 19, 2014 issue), you mentioned the 10 reasons to buy properties in Iskandar Malaysia. Are there also 10 reasons not to buy? I wouldn’t say not buying but buying in a smarter way. If our investors look for residential projects offering liveable density and priced between RM35 and RM550 psf, then there will be no bad surprises. As for industrial projects that are designed to host those Singaporean SMEs that are starting to look for a possible relocation into Iskandar Malaysia it will guarantee a good and long term return on investment. The Malaysian Property Market has been starting to feel the effects of the curbing measures introduced by Bank Negara Malaysia and State/Federal Government. If I can express a wish I would like to see an ease of access to Iskandar Malaysia from our Singaporean neighbours, but I’m afraid I can

only wish it!

There is talk of the property bubble bursting, your thoughts on this?

Property bubble needs a number of facts to happen and one of the most important factor is a general situation of huge oversupply which for the moment, I cannot see. If we carefully look into supply and demand, the only “oversupply” is the higher segment of the residential market while all the others are still within more than acceptable values. What I think we really need is a properly enforced master-plan and master-planners to better regulate the market. Effects of the high supply pressure in the higher segment of the residential market will result in possible readjustment of residential (psf ) values in those areas affected by this phenomenon.

Based on National Property Information Centre’s (NAPIC) first quarter review of the property market, transaction volume and value have dropped 4.5% and nearly 35% respectively against October, November and December of last year. Are we supposed to be worried? I wouldn’t take into consideration a drop in transacted values during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the last one of the past years as an indicative sign that something is going wrong in the market. Between October and November 2013 a number of radical actions have been planned by the Federal Government, Bank Negara and local authorities to be effective with the New Year. All these “speculation curbing” measures

have been setting a much higher volume and values of transaction for the last quarter of 2013 which cannot be taken as a comparative parameter to judge the market’s performance of this year. I’ve seen the statistics of Penang and if we compare the first quarter of 2013 with the same period of this year, 2014 is showing a good increase confirming that the market is still reactive and interested.

Any tips to potential investors intending to purchase Iskandar Malaysia’s properties? I’m always saying in my public presentations and writing in all my articles and columns, the first thing is to do a proper due diligence of the market/ product/developer. Investors should analyse first the CDP (Comprehensive Development Plan) which is available in IRDA’s website to better understand the whole picture. By knowing the sectors or industries that the CDP is planning to have in areas, will allow investors to make a wise and profitable choice. In this moment, industrial developments together with affordable residential products are very safe choices, if in townships, even better. For those investors with a “deep pocket” and without big issues in holding their properties from medium to long term, then the range of choices are much wider and articulated. If any of the readers would like to have a friendly opinion, I will be more than glad to reply to their queries and explain the fundamentals of Iskandar Malaysia. Personally I’m still buying in Iskandar Malaysia which I consider the most ‘Strategically Sustainable Location’ of the whole South East Asian region. of the whole South East Asian region.

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peggy loh

My johor stories Peggy is a regular contributor to NST and actively writes in her blog http://ppunlimited.blogspot.com about matters that are close to her heart. She can be reached at write2peggyloh@gmail.com

Johor’s iconic pepper and gambier plants

hen you drive along the streets in the city and on the expressways, do you notice the designs on the lamp-posts? Look closer and you will see designs of intertwined sprigs of pepper and gambier plants. This motif is repeated (in several variations) on lamp-posts at different locations in the state and is consistently used as a Johor icon. This motif however, has become so common that even many local people may not know the historical significance of these plants. Pepper and gambier have earned a place of honour in Johor because their widespread cultivation played a vital role

in the state’s economy in the 1800s. At that time, Johor was the world’s largest producer of gambier as large plantations were cultivated with pepper and gambier as the state’s economic crops. This is a mind-boggling historical achievement for Johor and it made me think about the strong relationship between the Chinese and Malay communities in the pioneering era. When I saw a set of Chinese couplets displayed in the Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Museum within Istana Gardens presented by the Chinese community leaders to the sultan at the inauguration of the Johor Sultanate, I started to dig into history to find out more.

Attractive motifs that feature Johor’s iconic economic crops – pepper and gambier – on lamp posts throughout the city In the 1800s gambier plantations in Singapore and the Riau Islands were run by Chinese and Malay farmers and the produce was mainly exported to China. Pepper and gambier plants were usually planted together as these plants share a symbiotic relationship and tend to grow entwined around each other. The remains of gambier leaves on the ground act as nutrients or fertilisers for pepper plants while protecting its roots. Europe was a major market and the peak of the gambier trade lasted from the 1830s to 1850s. Gambier had a big market in the British dyeing and tanning industry which resulted in increased prices and encouraged the Chinese to find fresh land for new plantations. In Singapore, the Teochew clan dominated the trade and after about 15 years, when the land they cultivated had become exhausted and

infertile, they cleared more forests for fresh land. In 1844, when Johor’s ruler, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, the father of Sultan Abu Bakar, invited the Chinese from Singapore and Riau to open up land in Johor for pepper and gambier cultivation, Ngee Heng society leader, Tan Kee Soon, led his followers to settle in Tanjung Puteri, the place we now call Johor Bahru. At that time, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim adopted the kangchu system that was first introduced by Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore. As the waterways was the main mode of transport to Johor from Singapore, early settlers arrived by boat up the infamous Sungai Segget into the heart of Johor Bahru. Under this administration, Chinese planters who arrived from Riau and Singapore obtained a permit known as surat sungai from the ruler to cultivate pepper and gambier.

The pepper and gambier motifs are carved into the wooden design at the entrance to the Johor Chief Minister’s office in the Sultan Ibrahim Building at Bukit Timbalan The Teochew clan was the dominant Chinese clan who made Johor their new home and they settled in designated areas to cultivate pepper and gambier plantations in the kangchu system. Kang means “river” in Teochew dialect, while a kangkar is the disembarking point. The permit holders were called kangchus’ or river masters and their plantations were named after them as Tan chu kang or Lim chu kang. Even though the Ngee Heng society started as a quasi-military revolutionary brotherhood that was opposed to the Ching dynasty, their activities in Johor Bahru gradually evolved into valuable social, political and administrative work which contributed to Johor’s early economic growth. Tan Kee Soon was trusted by Sultan Abu Bakar who recognised the strength and solidarity of a brotherhood like the Ngee Heng society but Tan died in 1864 and did not live to see his society legalised by the sultan as an association in 1873. This Chinese association, with its membership opened to other Chinese clans and assigned to take charge of Chinese community affairs in Johor, was the forerunner of the Johor Bahru Tiong Hua Association. Some of Johor’s prominent kangchu’s were Tan Kee Soon, Tan Hiok Nee, Lim Ah Siang and Wong Ah Fook. The roles of these people and the Ngee Heng society in Johor’s history are recognised by roads in our city like Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Jalan Ah Siang and Jalan Ngee Heng. Today, areas in Johor Bahru that were once huge plantations still use names like Kangkar Tebrau and Kangkar Pulai as a legacy of this plantation culture. The Tan chu kang established by Tan Kee Soon in Kangkar Tebrau, is the oldest known Chinese settlement in Johor. Incidentally, Yeo chu kang and Choa chu kang in Singapore, also retained their plantation names even though the sites have been redeveloped into modern precincts. Gambier was traditionally prepared by boiling the young leaves, pressing them to extract juice and then drying the juice concentrate and moulding it into a block, cake or cube form. For a glimpse of how processed gambier looks like, visit the JB Chinese Heritage Museum to see some samples of gambier in the displays. Plantations in Johor sold their

The pepper and gambier motifs rendered in pewter is beautifully applied in the décor of the Johor State Assembly hall in the Sultan Ismail Building, Kota Iskandar

gambier to businessmen in Singapore; the main centre for gambier trade in collecting and exporting the produce until the dawn of 20th century. The introduction of pineapple canning in 1888 resulted in the expansion of the pineapple industry in Johor and the rapid development of the motorcar industry sparked off a very high demand for rubber. By early 20th century, gambier was replaced by pineapple and rubber as the most important plantation crops in this region. So the next time you pass a lamp-post or other Johor emblems designed with pepper and gambier motifs, remember how these humble plants earned its place of honour in this state. While its cultivation contributed significantly to Johor’s economic progress, it also represents the legacy of the strong relationship between the Chinese and Malay communities in Johor.

Pieces of processed gambier in a bowl, cutting tool and gunny sack hook used in the gambier industry are preserved in the JB Chinese Heritage Museum

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Quick Reads

Aftermath of Causeway toll increase Johor has experienced a 5 per cent fall in tourist arrivals from Singapore since the start of August. As a result of the sudden toll increase, the federal government will assess the impact of the toll increase on Johor businesses and will find ways to boost the use of public transport, said the Works Ministry. The increase in vehicle entry fees to Singapore will only affect about one in 10 foreignregistered cars as the rest don’t enter or stay in the city during periods when the fee is charged, said Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. The charges seek to equalise the cost of owning and using a foreign-registered vehicles in Singapore, with that for a Singapore-registered one which has widened in recent years, it said. The Malaysian government is expected to come up with a solution soon that would be a win-win situation for all parties.

news

Asian-Pacific DanceSport Championship 2014 pics: Zarakay

ance turned into genuine sport at the beginning of the twentieth century, when French entrepreneur Camille de Rhynal and a group of superb dancers added competition to this social activity when they converted ballrooms into competitive arenas. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) coined the term “DanceSport” in the early 1980s. While the sport in the composite aspires to be consistent with the generally accepted definitions, dance is to remain the distinguishing artistic mark. The Asian-Pacific title Championship, where each country can nominate a maximum of two athletes each in Latin and Standard categories was contested

Athletes putting up a spectacular performance at the competition

at Berjaya Waterfront Hotel Johor. In the keynote message of the Program Book, Minister of Youth & Sports, YB Khairy Jamaluddin thanked the World DanceSpor t Federation for granting the 2014 WDSF AsianPacific DanceSport Championship Standard and Latin to Malaysia. “I would like to thank the spectators, coaches, participants and the supporters who have been unwavering in their support in making this championship as a remarkable event,” said Khairy. More than 45 top Latin and Standard athletes from Australia, China, Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Macau, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia took part in the competition.

MCN rail matters unlikely to go ahead Interest: MCN’s proposal unlikely to take off as Johor has a few ongoing railway projects and several others in the pipeline

alaysia Steel Works (KL) Bhd (Masteel) and KUB Malaysia Bhd’s joint proposal to build an intercity rail project in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, will probably not take off said a government source. The Government is not expected to accept the RM1.23 billion proposal by Metropolitan Commuter Network (MCN) Sdn Bhd; a 60:40 joint venture between Masteel and KUB. The company had proposed to construct a 30km double-track railway line linking Kulai and Johor Bahru city centre, and a 50km link between Pasir Gudang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas using the existing alignment. Apparently, MCN has not submitted a proposal for the rail project. The project courted

much controversy after Masteel announced in May last year that it had received a letter from the Transport Ministry confirming its agreement to the rail project. Masteel had said the intercity rail system would also be linked to the mass rapid transit system in Singapore. According to Masteel Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Tai Hean Leng Tai, MCN would invest RM300 million in the project, with the remaining RM700 million coming from a government “soft loan”. The project is unlikely to materialise as the Government wanted to focus on the highspeed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and that Johor is also planning to work on the Gemas-Johor Bahru electrified double-track project.

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11th JB Arts Festival is finally here

pic: JBAF

Highlight: Johor Bahru’s unique identity will be highlighted in the 11th year of Johor Bahru Arts Festival (JBAF) themed ‘Pause for the Arts’ By Maisarah newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

he month long JBAF will run from the 5th of September until the 4th of October featuring an eclectic array of international a n d l o c a l p e r fo r m a n c e s, exhibitions, workshops, competitive and creative events which will celebrate the best of arts and lifestyle in Johor Bahru. This year, the Festival Village will be located at Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru while the festival’s main stage will once again be staged on the grounds of the iconic Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim (Bukit Timbalan). Performances this year will also be spread out to the Johor Bahru Performing Arts Centre (JBPAC) at Danga City Mall, Little Red Cube at Puteri Harbour and Eight Lido. The 11th JBAF is jointly organised by the Johor Society for the Performing Arts (JSPA) in partnership with the Office of the Member of Parliament of

“The community needs to come together and make JB a cool place” Suzie Yap Festival Director JB Arts Festival

Johor Bahru, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), Johor Tourism and engagement from Johor Bahru’s community at large. “We hope that the public can truly understand and embrace the meaning of the

The 11th JB Arts Festival will feature an eclectic of performances by international and local talents

festival with its tagline ‘Pause for the Arts’. With the rapid growth that JB faces today, stakeholders and the community need to come together and make JB a cool place to live, work and play and to bring about life, soul and passion,” said Festival Director Suzie Yap. 11th JBAF is sponsored by the Johor State Government, Iskandar Investment Berhad, UEM Sunrise Berhad, Astro, Yayasan Sime Darby, UM Land, Danga City Mall, Little Red Cube and Regency Specialist Hospital. Double Tree by Hilton Johor Bahru is the official accommodation partner

along with MyTeksi as the official carriage partner. “Isk andar Investment Berhad (IIB) is delighted to contribute to the JBAF, which has brought inspiring, challenging and innovative programmes to Johor Bahru for over 10 years. We believe that Johor needs to maintain a strong cultural identity and platform for creative expression with the transformation of the region underway. The arts bring life and soul to a city and this is something at the forefront of our mind as we shape Iskandar Malaysia into a world class liveable city,”

said Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, President and CEO of IIB. MyTeksi is giving its users a RM7 discount for all taxi rides in and around Johor Bahru starting 5th September until the 4th of October. Passengers need to key in the promo code “11jbaf” when making the booking with MyTeksi app to qualify. The promo code is available for two uses from each mobile number during the promo period. For more info on JBAF, contact 019-7169900/0197139900 or visit www.jbartsfest. com and JB Arts Festival facebook page.

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ENDORSED BY

Calendar of Events >> pg 4

Sep 2014

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Movies

PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE (In 3D) & The Equalizer

The Invisible Design Things That Poison Our Relationships Travel:

Pontianak Music

Paul McCartney’s ‘Early Days’ Hits No. 1 on Twitter Trending 140 Chart >>pg 2

SEP 2014 | Page 1

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Editor ’s Note

it ers

e affl R y

n sU

d an k Is

The Invisible Design

Converge with the surroundings If you look hard, you can find a human being camouflaged in front of the pile of logs. The Japanese artist Liu Bolin is the inventor of “the invisible man” which was the inspiration for the Bachelor of Fashion students’ final assignment at Raffles University Iskandar. The students chose a surface in Johor Bahru, and from this point of inspiration, designed and produced a garment. The garment was then painted on the surface, so that the design is lost to view in the background.

Priya Manikam editor@waveslifestyle.com

here are two main events to look forward to in September – the much awaited JB Arts Festival and the Iskandar Learning Festival (ILF) is back in town. Do check our social sites for updates as to its itinerary. Another new addition to the ILF is the inaugural Social Heroes Award. This award is solely created to recognise deserving individuals and organisations who have made a difference in society and peoples’ lives. Well done for that! The students at Raffles University Iskandar have taken their fashion course one notch higher by designing garments that camouflages in local surroundings. See if you recognise any of these familiar backdrops around JB. Rose tackles a new subject in this issue and as for you movie buffs; we have two good ones from Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Malaysia. Tony brings us local treats from Olla Restaurant at Hotel Granada which serves mouth-watering dishes at reasonable prices. In our Travel column; we share with you our FAM Trip to Pontianak, Indonesia courtesy of Xpress Air. Read on to know more about this Equator city. As always, for those wishing to share their clothing line, travel tales, or like us to review your restaurant/property, or want to appear under the Personality column, drop us an e-mail at editor@waveslifestyle. com today and be featured. Last but not least, wishing all fellow citizens a very Happy Hari Malaysia from The Iskandarian team!

Priya

http://inspirationfeed.com/inspiration/artists/30-pictures-of-invisible-man-by-liu-bolin/

Serene Gan (Design) and Joanne Foo Wan Qing (colouring)

Seow Ling Ling (design), Wong Shin Yi, Foo Wan Qing and Shin Nee (colouring)

MUSI C U PD AT ES

Source: Universal Music Singapore

NEW ALBUM “SOMEWHERE UNDER WONDERLAND” by Counting Crows

ounting Crows will release their highly-anticipated seventh studio album titled “Somewhere Under Wonderland” on 15th September internationally on Capitol Records. Known for creating unique and innovative concerts and consistently ranked as one of the

top live bands performing today, Counting Crows are in the midst of the North American leg of their major worldwide tour which will continue through major markets, including their hometown of Berkeley, CA, before concluding in Los Angeles at the historic Greek Theatre on August 17. The European leg of the tour begins November 1 in Birmingham, UK. Counting Crows - Adam Duritz (vocals), Jim Bogios (drums), David Bryson (guitar), Charlie Gillingham (keyboards), David Immergluck (guitar), Millard Powers (bass) and Dan Vickrey (guitar) - have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide after exploding onto the music scene in 1993.

Kuan Shin Nee (Design) and Wong Shing Yi (Colouring)

Paul McCartney’s ‘Early Days’ Hits No. 1 on Twitter Trending 140 Chart

hortly after the release of the music video for Paul McCartney’s “Early Days”, the track shot up to No. 2 on the Twitter Trending 140 chart. “Early Days” reached a high point of No. 1 on the chart momentarily, but was outdone by the new Alt-J track “Left Hand Free.”While McCartney is undeniably a legend, the Alt-J fan base shows more consistent online behaviour. “ E a r l y D ays” i s from McCartney’s latest album, “New,” which was released last October. The song reflects on the early relationship between McCar tney and John Lennon while growing up in Liverpool. Instead of a direct depiction, the video’s director Vincent Haycock por trays McCar tney ’s memory through the story

of two aspiring young musicians set in the 1950s American South. “It’s a memory song for me, about me and John in the early days,” – Paul McCartney The video also includes scenes that feature a jam session between McCartney and Johnny Depp. This is the third appearance Depp has made in McCartney’s videos, including “My Valentine” in 2012 and “Queenie Eye” in 2013.

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The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Things That Poison Our Relationships (pt I)

ll humans and perhaps the entire Universe were born in a state a love. A new born baby doesn’t feel hatred within him/her. Hate or any other feelings only develop as they grow. This proves that we are all capable of love. It is a seed in our existence and it never leaves us or betrays us. Although love is the seed, but to grow in the state of love needs constant awareness. One must have the awareness to know if his/her giving to the relationship has love in it or poison. Once the awareness expands, love will spread widely and easily. On contrary, unconscious behaviours tend to bring poison to the seed (love). Hence, we experience unbelievable

number of divorces, break ups and destructions. In this article, I would like to bring out awareness on what we unconsciously do in our relationship that silently poisons the seed of love. Observe these behaviours whenever we spend time with our loved ones, family and friends or even with a stranger. If we have one of these behaviours, then it is our responsibility to stop doing it, immediately. The need to judge Generally, we enjoy contributing our opinion about someone, a situation or even about anything trivial. Unfortunately, we have never been taught to choose our words wisely

especially when we address our opinion on others. Words that we speak become less valuable, and the people or things that are attached to these words become less valuable too. Therefore, be aware when you judge others as bad judgements that we pass on others will become repetitive images in our mind. When judgement becomes our mental projection on others, how are we going to bring harmony and love into our relationship? Love means pure acceptance of others. When we stop judging and practise acceptance, the whole relationship will start to shift for the better and blossom.

MOVIE pREVIEW PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE (In 3D)

Genre: Malaysia Release date: Voice Cast:

Director: Producer:

Animation/Adventure September 11, 2014 Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie Bowen, Curtis Armstrong, John Michael Higgins, Hal Holbrook, Wes Studi, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Stacy Keach, Cedric the Entertainer, Danny Mann, Barry Corbin, Regina King, Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller, Fred Willard, Captain Dale Dye, Kevin Michael Richardson, Patrick Warburton Bobs Gannaway (“Secret of the Wings”) Ferrell Barron

Synopsis “Planes: Fire & Rescue” is a new comedy-adventure about second chances, featuring a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfire. When world-famous air racer Dusty (voice of Dane Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire-and-rescue helicopter Blade Ranger (voice of Ed Harris) and his courageous team, including spirited air tanker Dipper (voice of Julie Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter (voice of Wes Studi), ex-military transport Cabbie (voice of Captain Dale Dye) and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Malaysia

By Rose Osman

Personal Motivator & Energy Coach yourpersonalmotivator BucketOfRoses

MOVIE pREVIEW THE EQUALIZER

na 25th September 2014 Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour with Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo Written by: Richard Wenk Director: Antoine Fuqua Producer: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington Alex Siskin, Steve Tisch, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, Michael Sloan Executive Producer: Ezra Swerdlow, David Bloomfield Based on the Television Series Created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim * Credits not final Genre: Malaysia Release date: Cast:

Synopsis In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a former black ops commando who has faked his death to live a quiet life in Boston. When he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to rescue a young girl, Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), he finds himself face to face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters. As he serves vengeance against those who brutalise the helpless, McCall’s desire for justice is reawakened. If someone has a problem, the odds are stacked against them, and they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help for he is The Equalizer.

Source: Sony Pictures Malaysia

SEP 2014 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle Calendar of Events

Travel diaries from By Edey Suresh newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

Sept 2014 JB, 5th Sep - 4th Oct 11th JB Arts Festival

JB, 5th - 7th Sep Homefair @ Persada Johor

Spore, 5th - 8th Sep Moonfest @ Esplanade, S’pore

JB, 8th - 11th Sep Regional Annual Science Symposium 2014 @ Persada

JB, 11th - 14th Sep Onebuild Johor Bahru @ Danga City Mall

JB, 13th Sep JB Engineer’s Run 2014 @ Danga Bay

JB, 13th Sep Talent Taster II @ Jln Kolonel Wilson

JB, 14th Sep Malaysia Day Carnival @ Tg. Balau

Msia, 16th Sep Selamat Hari Malaysia

JB, 18th - 21st Sep UEM Sunrise Property Roadshow @ Tesco Bkt. Indah

JB, 19th - 21st Sep Tanjung Leman Carnival

Spore, 21st Sep Formula 1 Grand Prix @ Singapore

JB, 26th - 28th Sep Mom & Baby Expo 2014 @ Persada Johor

If you need more information on the above mentioned events, drop us an email at:

admin@waveslifestyle.com

Pontianak

ne of the longest rivers in the world is the Kapuas River and lying on the banks of this river is Pontianak, Indonesia’s City on the Equator. Located in West Kalimantan, Pontianak is popularly known as the City of Equator as it is the only city located almost precisely on the equator line. Founded in 1771, the mediumsized trading port city got its name due to the story that the founder had seen numerous Pontianak ghosts at the place to be built for the palace which he fought off to keep the inhabitants safe. As an equator city, Pontianak has an equator obelisk to mark the 0 degrees earth latitude called the Tugu Kathulistiwa. It’s free of charge to see this monument which is a 45-minutes drive from the city centre nestled in Kampung Siantan. The monument marking the exact location of the Equator was built by a Dutch geographer and explorer in 1928 using the protected Belian wood. Just 100 metres away from the monument is the banks of the infamous bronze waters of the Kapuas River. Taking a cruise ride on the river, one can see stilt houses along the riverside, bathing mothers and their kids, hardworking fishermen and colourful floating markets. At the edge of Kapuas River lies the Kadariah Sultanate with adjacent Masjid Jamie which definitely poses as a photographic opportunity. Souvenirs are found at Pasar Souvenir or you may want to buy local products at the local markets such as at Pasar Tengah or Pasar Flamboyan. Most of the souvenirs comprise of the Equator Monument key chains or replicas and Pontianak shirts and other accessories.

Pontianak’s Equator Monument located at Kampung Siantan

Sunset view of one of the longest river in the world; Kapuas River

The river jetty is thriving with eateries and a night market. Good place to buy souvenirs

Restoran Raja Uduk in Jalan Teuku Umar offers one of the best grilled chicken meal ala ayam penyet style

Pontianak has so little to offer in terms of entertainment but compensates by offering shopping escapades and mouth watering eateries. Mie Kepiting, or crab mee, a Chinese delicacy is available at most restaurants near the Chinatown in Jalan Gajah Mada. Restoran Raja Uduk in Jalan Teuku Umar offers one of the best grilled chicken meal ala ayam penyet style. The spicy chilli sambal is not for the weak hearted but the selection of drinks help cool down the tantalising heat on your taste buds. Aloe vera is also quite celebrated in Pontianak with huge plantations and a myriad of products done with the plant is up for sale. An architectural must visit is the replica longhouse built for visitors in downtown Pontianak on Jalan M.T. Haryono which displays the wonderful architectural features, intricate stairs’ designs, carvings and ornaments or their culture. Standing at this mega architecture, you can imagine how incredible it must be if you were in the genuine dwelling itself together with some 40 odd families living under one roof. Pontianak’s climate is quite hot and humid so an important tip will be to constantly stay hydrated when travelling under the glaring Pontianak sun. Bring adequate drinking water with you in your travel gear. Pontianak is accessible by air, sea, and land. Supadio Airport is the main airport connecting Pontianak with the rest of the cities in and outside Kalimantan.

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Kunkwan culture friendly centre ¬ The centre of interracial harmony Ms. Sally Khor Seh Lee Principal of Kunkwan

alaysia is a multiracial country with different cultures, backgrounds and languages. Therefore, we firmly believe that national prosperity comes from racial harmony. Firstly, racial harmony is not just racial tolerance. It should be based on mutual respect, understanding, trust and friendship through the establishment of inter-ethnic relationship which influences us to learn each other’s language. Q: Why must we learn a new language? This is because when you are learning a language, it is not just limited to your understanding and memorising the new vocabulary and grammar, but you are also able to learn the ‘Codes of Communication’ as well. These codes are able to guide us on understanding the culture and background of different languages, therefore, misunderstanding among racial groups can be avoided and mutual respect is formed, creating more tolerance among each other. Kunkwan Sdn Bhd, the centre of interracial harmony plays a key role in strengthening multiracial environment as we not only welcome local Malays, Indians and Kadazan students to learn Mandarin,

but overseas students to learn Mandarin too! So far, there are students from Korea, Kenya and the Philippines. Although they come with different culture, background and mother tongues, they are here with the same mission and goal to learn Mandarin. We’re so proud to say that we are all Kunkwanans under one roof as part of the Kunkwan family. We learn and communicate in the same language and at the same time, understand more than one culture and backgrounds. This allows us to build a good relationship with everyone by reducing conflict and misunderstandings among each other.

Q: How does language represent culture? We believe that you cannot really scratch the surface of another race or culture if you are unable to speak at least a bit of their language. For example, in Chinese culture; when you say “谢（xiè）谢（xie) (means: Thank You)” to someone, they will reply “不(bú) 客(kè) 气(qì) (means: do not be so courteous)”. When you visit your Chinese friends’ house, they will also say “不 (bú) 客 (kè) 气(qì) ”, what does it actually mean by the phrase “客(kè) 气(qì)? It means, ‘courteous’. Actually, this reflects the way Chinese people relate to others. The Chinese believes that people

would accept you if you are polite, so when you relate with other people, you must be humble. This is why Chinese people always say “不(bú)客 (kè) 气(qì) (do not be so courteous) which is to make you feel more comfortable and relaxed, so that you can enjoy what the host has prepared for you. Q: How can tolerance be achieved by understanding a language? Language is a key to communication. In our curriculum, we take into consideration about all races and cultural contradictions, fair treatment of our students regardless of race and religion, and we allow them to share their opinions and experiences to us. Kunkwan’s mission is to build a peaceful and harmonious society through language learning which brings enlightenment, professionalism, and unite students with a global view. Therefore, in order to fulfil the concept of 1Malaysia, we take every small matter into consideration, such as by providing a surau for Muslim students, and serving Halal food and beverages as well. In our classes, we provide activities based on the lessons conducted to encourage students to be familiar with the Mandarin sentences and utilise it around the premises. We also use English and Malay languages throughout the lesson to help each student understand a new language. As a result, tolerance and good attitude of learning is achieved.

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Charity fundraiser with some glam Responsible: Care United Johor Bahru recently held a charity fundraiser dinner & dance themed Masquerade Royale Ball in conjunction with Ms Care United Beauty Pageant 2014 pics: Mithil Tawde

By Priya Manikam newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

are United Johor Bahru organised a charity fundraiser with glamour and glitz on 9th August at Persada Johor. The Ms Care United Beauty Pageant 2014 was also held for the very first time and it was an exclusive night of entertainment, auction, prizes and more. Edwin Sumun, famed theatre personality with a co-host from Instant Café Theatre were emceeing the event coupled with some comic innuendos. The chief guests of honour were YB Tan Sri Haji Shahrir Haji Abd Samad, Member of Parliament, Johor Bahru, YB Datuk Dr Hj Abdul Latiff Ahmad, Member of Parliament, Mersing and YB Tuan P. Kamalanathan, Deputy Minister of Education II, and other dignitaries. While guests had a visual feast of beauties on stage, they also enjoyed a gourmet feast prepared by Puteri Pacific Hotel Johor Bahru as well as stood a chance to win attractive prizes in their lucky draw. “Care United believes that every child has a right to education.

“Discrimination, hate and selfishness has never been in our vocabulary” Florence Goh President Care United Johor Bahru

We always believe in motivating, loving & sharing with the underprivileged in the community around us. Discrimination, hate and selfishness has never been in our vocabulary,” said Florence Goh, President of Care United. All sponsorships and donations collected, helped to fund their many projects including the Back-To-School Programme which is entering its10th year, aiming to eliminate poverty by helping needy children get a good education.

The beauty contestants parading their various ethnic wear

The founding members singing the Care United’s song - “WE CARE” , written by Adeline & Stephen

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work The Importance of Mega Trends for Long-Term Sustained Growth

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Manoj Menon Partner & Asia Pacific Managing Director at Frost & Sullivan

¬ Mega Trend 3: Urbanisation (pt I)

ome was one of the first cities in the world to reach a population of 1 million people. This was in the year 5 BC. It took about 18 centuries for the next city, London, to reach a population of 1 million. This trend of urbanisation gathered incredible momentum in the 20th century. The primary reason for urbanization is best explained by the fact that the top 25 cities of the world today account for half of the world’s wealth. While the world population will continue to see continued growth, urbanisationwill happen at an even more frantic pace in the coming decades. By 2020, we expect that close to 60 percent of the world population will live in urban cities. This Mega Trend has impacted businesses, societies and cultures in the last 100 years benefitting many industries such as real estate, infrastructure, and transportation. Frost & Sullivan studies have shown that the rate of urbanisation is much faster in developing countries. We believe that 50 percent of the top Mega

Cities in the world will consist of developing countries by the year 2025. Looking ahead into the next decade, we will see the integration of the core city centre with suburbs and daughter cities resulting in expanding city limits. The figure below shows the development of cities over a period of time. The future impact of the city development on mobility, working life and societies is going to be tremendous. We believe three concepts of urbanisation will emerge: Mega Cities, Mega Regions and Mega Corridors. • Mega Cities: Integration of core city with suburbs and housing over 8 million people and GDP of more than $250 billion in 2025 • Mega Regions: Integration of two or more cities or expansion of city to join with adjoining daughter cities to form Mega Regions housing over 15 million people. For example Johannesburg and Pretoria (forming Jo-Toria). • M e g a Corridor: Urbanisation Corridors connecting two or more Mega Cities or Mega Regions, converging to form Mega

Corridors. These can be 100 km distance and having population of over 25 million living within the corridor. The Hong Kong-ShenzhenGuangzhou Mega Corridor in China has a population of 120 million people.

Mega Cities, Mega Corridors and Mega Regions will be in a continuous race to attract the brightest talent and the worlds’ best companies. As the cities, regions and corridors get crowded; they will put

tremendous pressure on the infrastructure and on the planet. This will drive the trend to the development of Smart Cities. The illustration below defines the various essential components of the Smart Cities of the future.

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ACCUMULATING WEALTH ¬ Discovering Treasures by Reading

the Company Annual Report (pt IV)

ome of my students said that reading annual reports is the ‘driest’ part among investing work. I shared my personal experience that, “You may be right, but this part always makes me the most money”! Therefore, if you’ve been reading our articles on how to interpret an annual report since part 1, give yourself a pat on your shoulder as you’re certainly on the right track. This time we’re going to talk about Cash Flow Statement, so let’s start by asking a few key questions: What is Cash Flow Statement? A company’s cash flow statement tells you the cash flow activities performed by the company. It consists of three

Lam Kwai Soon is a qualified accountant with ACCA qualification, and is a member of Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), the Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He is a Tax Director at Cheng & Co. Taxation Sdn Bhd. (A Member of Cheng & Co Group).

ffective 1 April 2015, Malaysia will be replacing the existing Sales and Service Tax with the Goods & Services Tax (GST) at a proposed standard rate of 6%. It should be interesting to note that Malaysia remains one of the only three countries in Southeast Asia which does not yet operate under a GST system; the other two being Brunei and Myanmar. In some other countries, GST is also known as VAT (Value Added Tax). GST is a multi-stage, valueadded consumption tax on goods and services; although payable by all parties during production and distribution process, businesses, however, do not bear the economic cost of the tax. The cost of GST is ultimately borne by final

portions - Operating, Investing and Financing.

Why is it important to look at Cash Flow Statement? The cash flow condition of the company is like the blood circulation of our human body. Imagine what would happen if one does not have good blood circulation? - He would always feel dizzy. But if the situation worsened, the person could die as a result of lack of oxygen. Similar to a company, if

the company does not have good cash flow management, it could go bankrupt due to insufficient cash to return their debts. Hence, while it’s important for a company to have earnings, it’s more crucial for the company to have healthy cash flow to sustain their business. So how do we look at Cash Flow Statement? Each por tion of the statement explains different aspect of the company’s cash operation: 1) Operating cash flow This is the part that investors are most concerned. It means how much cash the company generates as a result of its operation. For example, if you manufacture a smart phone,

Tey Bin Yuen is the founder of BY Enrich Resources and the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. His books are available at major bookstores in Singapore & Malaysia. He’ll be conducting a one-day course ‘Profit from Technical Analysis’ on 13 Sept 14. Reach him at contact@teybinyuen.com

how much cash do you generate by selling smart phones to your distributors or consumers? Ideally, the profit you make from selling smart phones is the cash generated. But this is not always the case, as your customer might pay you after 30, 60 days or longer, depending on the terms agreed. That’s why a company that has made $50 million in profits does not mean has received $50 million in cash. In addition, you may also want to look if the cash flow generated from operationg has been increased consistently in the past few years. If yes, it means the company has been making money consistently and is financially healthy. 2) Investing cash flow

It shows if the company has bought plants, machineries or lands to expand its business; as the cash is used for investment purposes. 3) Financing cash flow Is it always a good thing if the company’s cash is increasing? Not necessarily, because the company could increase its cash from borrowing money from the bank to fund its expansion and this part tells you how much money the company has borrowed or returned to the bank. Last but not least, let’s wrap up with a final tip - Always see if the company’s cash flow increased consistently with its revenue and profit in the last few years. The cash increased as a result of profit and revenue is the real earning.

Goods & Services Tax (GST) ¬ The readiness of the businesses and

the impacts of GST (pt I)

consumers. In comparison with the current Sales and Service Tax, the taxability base of goods and services of GST is much wider than the Sales and Service Tax. Currently, the Sales Tax is charged by manufacturers on importation of goods; and Service Tax is applicable based on the prescribed services under the Second Schedule of Service Tax Regulations 1975. Under the GST system, supplies of goods and services which are not exempted are now taxable e.g. rental, leasing, gifts etc. These were previously not taxable within the scope of the Sales and Service Tax. There are also businesses who will be much more involved in the GST system as compared to Sales and Service Tax. Currently, wholesale and retail industries need not charge Sales Tax. Under the new GST system, however, their supplies are taxable and if the taxable turnover is more than the prescribed threshold of RM 500,000 then GST will be applicable. Unlike Sales and Service Tax, GST allow claims

Illustration explaining how the GST mechanism works incurred on purchases, expenses and capital assets acquired for businesses purposes to be Input Tax Credit and it is deductible against Output Tax. Input Tax Credit is tax input claimable by businesses registered under GST. Input Tax is GST charged on the purchase of goods and services during business operations; whereas Output Tax is GST charged on goods and services supplied to the customers.

Should Output Tax be more than Input Tax, businesses will pay the net amount; in contrast if the Input Tax is more than Output Tax, the difference will be refunded to the businesses. Under the existing Sales and Service Tax, the taxes are computed based on the sales amount. Hence, any sales or service tax incurred on purchases, expenses or capital expenditures is not relevant and no credit will be given for deduction. Note that the illustration is

merely taking purchases of goods as a simple, working example. In actual fact, GST incurred on expenses and assets expenditures are allowed to be claimed as input tax credit. Input tax is the GST charged on the purchase of goods and services used in the business activity. For more reference, one can refer to The Royal Malaysian Customs Department website at www.gst.customs.gov.my which has a listing of taxable and exempted supplies.

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Johor kaki

Local cuisine at Olla Restaurant, Hotel Granada Tony is a very passionate Johor food blogger. He is fascinated by Johor’s unique culinary heritage created by its melting pot of diverse cultures. He hopes that his writings about the delightful experiences with Johor food and the people behind it, visitors from around the world will appreciate the potpourri of Johor culinary art.

have been looking for Halal Hainanese chicken rice in JB and was glad to be invited by Faizal, the F&B Manager of Olla Restaurant at Hotel Granada to try their popular local dishes.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Udang Sambal Petai

Ayam Percik

Olla Restaurant is spacious, bright, neatly laid out, very clean and comfortable. The key man behind the restaurant is Executive Chef Peter Lim. He was head hunted to help set up this restaurant which took him out of retirement to Johor Bahru. As a true blue Hainanese, Peter is proud to share his Hainanese chicken rice with guests. A good Hainanese chicken rice requires a lot of skill in cutting the bird correctly - with the right grain, correct size and parts to present the chicken’s best flavours

and texture. Here, the chicken meat was tender, juicy, smooth and had that subtle natural chicken flavour that I liked. The aromatic rice was fluffy and the chili and ginger for the sauce was freshly blended. So, if you are looking for good Halal Hainanese chicken rice, you know where to get it now. Chef Peter suggested that we try their Oxtail Asam Pedas which was a creation from Sabah. As I am a big fan of both oxtail and asam pedas, I was eager to try this dish.

The oxtail was stewed with local herbs and spices until tender and was served in a claypot “dry” with additional asam pedas sauce provided in a gravy boat. The gravy was a blend of tanginess, sweetness, and spice. Olla Restaurant is the only place that I know of in JB to enjoy this unique Sabahan dish. We t h e n t r i e d t h e traditional Ayam Percik made with spring chicken and aromatic spices. The flavourful mildly spicy grilled chicken was caramelised and crisp outside while still juicy inside. Finally, we tried the Udang Sambal Petai. The fresh prawns were cooked with crunchy petai beans and local fragrant spices. This popular dish is a blend of sweet, bitter (from the petai), savoury and mildly spicy. The good sized prawns were cooked just right, keeping them succulent. Overall, Olla Restaurant is a good and convenient place to enjoy delicious authentic local dishes in comfort.

Location Restaurant name: Olla Restaurant (at Hotel Granada) Address: 55, Jalan Bukit Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/ oTRDo GPS: 1.482688,103.659197 Hours: 7:00am to 11.00pm Halal

Oxtail Asam Pedas

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New

play New attraction at LEGOLAND

Aberlour Whisky

Attraction: LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display, a new indoor attraction set to open at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort this month

launched

egendary Single Malt Whisky Aberlour, officially debuted in Malaysia as one of the finest single malts being produced. The occasion was marked by the visit of Mr Darren Hosie, International Brand Ambassador of Chivas Brothers Ltd at a handful of unique tasting experiences in the regions of Johor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur from 12 to 15 August 2014. From the moment founder James Fleming began his quest in 1879 to create the best single malt, Aberlour has won an outstanding number of trophies and gold medals. In 1990, Aberlour became the first ever single malt to win the Gold Medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition twice. This award winning streak

continues till today, with Aberlour winning Gold Medals in that competition alone another 13 times in the last ten years. The name Aberlour means ‘the mouth of the chattering burn’ in Gaelic. “There is an almost unparalleled level of detail and fine control that goes into the making of Aberlour’s velvety whiskies. The expert crafting of spirit and cask has given us today a range of single malts that are elegant, complex, yet exceptionally balanced. In fact, it is the same highly experienced team that has seen the distillation

and maturation of the 12, 16 and 18 year old Aberlour whiskies we enjoy today right from the start,” said Hosie. Whisky lovers in Malaysia can look out for the Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured, the Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured and the Aberlour 18 Year Old at selected outlets across the country at a price tag of between RM400 to RM900.

brand new LEGO Star Wars Miniland Model Display is set to open on 6th September in conjunction with the Resort’s second anniversary. The fully airconditioned indoor attraction will be the first octagon shaped standalone complex of its kind in Asia where 2,000 LEGO models from the popular film have been recreated on a scale of 1:20 using more than 1.5 million bricks and will feature seven of the most famous scenes of the Star Wars films. Inside the model display, guests will be able to experience a specially designed pre-screening area for a LEGO Star Wars movie, followed by a chronological walk through the Star Wars timeline featuring the planets Christophsis, Endor, Geonosis, Hoth, Kashyyyk, Mustafar, Naboo, and Tatooine before having a unique photo opportunity at the Hall of Fame starring main characters Chewbacca, C-3PO, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, R2-D2, Yoda and much more. The LEGO models are presented on raised platforms and stand 85cm high. There will also be life-sized LEGO models of C-3PO, Darth Vader and R2- D2 built with more than 80,000 LEGO bricks to greet visitors as they make their way into the model display. Created by dozens of model designers and builders, animation technicians and specialist landscapers, the model display will also feature authentic Star Wars sounds, actions and lighting effects to create a realistic and enjoyable experience for the

C-3PO and other Star Wars figures are featured at the new attraction

whole family. All the models for this project were built in various locations around the world including Malaysia, Germany and Czech Republic. “We are thrilled to present our guests something truly special for our second anniversary. This model display is one of a kind in Asia and we are confident that it will be an inspiring experience for both our guests and fans of the film,” said Mark Germyn, General Manager, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort. According to Germyn, the attraction cost more than RM 6 million to build and is the biggest development at the Park this year. As a catalyst project in Iskandar Malaysia, the Resort will continue to grow stronger in tourism and attract more international visitors by adding a new element annually to ensure guests have exciting reasons to visit.

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PROPERT Y INSIGHT

PROPERTY

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

5 Steps to designing your own home

Unhappy with ready-made houses? Design your own home with our simple 5-steps guide pg 27

APARTMENTS

VILLAS

CBREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Iskandar Malaysia MarketView Condos & Serviced Apartments: Prices and supply skyrocketing and to continue to grow pg 28

CONDOMINIUMS

OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE

Feng Shui Tips by Master Ern

Thinking of purchasing land? Read the must know tips before making your buy pg 31

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Quick Reads

762 Projects in Iskandar Malaysia The Johor state government has submitted 762 projects to be carried out under the 11th Malaysian Plan. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the state government was giving priority to projects that would improve the people’s standard of living. Also in focus is improving the state’s infrastructure which would encourage more business opportunities and entrepreneurship, enhancing the people’s wellbeing as a whole. Datuk Khaled said that Johor’s rapid development and investments would put pressure on the state’s public infrastructures and the state was applying for allocations to mitigate the stress. He added that, “In this year about RM14.9 billion in investments have poured in and we need to ensure that infrastructure such as water supply, roads and public transport are able to support these investments.” He also said that there was a need to build 20,000 residential units under the People’s Housing Project (PPR) and 80 more schools to support the population increase in the next five years.

Mah Sing’s Bandar Meridin East Mah Sing Group Bhd will develop Bandar Meridin East over the next seven years in Pasir Gudang. Having acquired approximately 1,352 acres (547ha) of freehold land for RM430mil, Mah Sing said that the project with an expected gross development value (GDV) of RM5bil will be its largest township so far and is its fifth in Johor since 2000. Mah Sing’s proposed components for Phase 1 of Bandar Meridin East will include 500 units of landed doublestorey link homes that will come with estimated built-up areas ranging from 1,800sq ft to 2,600sq ft and which will be priced from below RM400,000. The entry cost of RM6.81 per sq ft coupled with the deferred payment term of 48 months fastens well with Mah Sing’s strategy.

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5 Steps to designing your own home Feature: Not happy with the ready-made design that houses come in and want to design your own home?

reaming about that cozy, energy efficient, green home that suits your needs perfectly? Or looking for that slick trendy industrial looking home? Finding such a home can be next to impossible. Yes, you can always buy a house and renovate and remodel it into what you like but wouldn’t it be better if you could just design on your own to begin with? Exploring the latter option, we bring you simple steps to doing it yourself: 1. Dare to dream – Before laying the foundation to your dream home, you must first imagine and envision your home to be. The very beginning of this process is about how you define your desires.

2. Seek and you shall find – You will be lost by easily influenced ideas, hence take some time to go out and gather more information for the missing parts of the big picture. Attend open houses and look for homes in the neighbourhoods you like. These outings will have you inspired and

even more directed towards your end results. Don’t forget to take photos of what you like and don’t like. You’ll find more details in the photos than you saw in person and after visiting dozens of houses, they’ll be a great way to recall all the data.

3. Checklist - It’s vital to have a vision for what you want to achieve and to keep things in track, a checklist of things to do and methodology is recommended. Document photos, list quotes, contractors, numbers and anything else associated to your project carefully. Add in your ‘Wish List’ which should mention the items that you really like to have but might be out of the price range. We can achieve those when we have the budget and keeping it in your checklist will be helpful for later modifications. 4. Sketching - Start to work out a simple floor layout including bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, garage, hallways and rooms for entertainment,

study, store and etc. This will help you take your ideas from concept to concrete. If you really have no idea where to start, find some great resources of house plans on the internet. There are websites selling brilliant house plans at affordable prices so buy a few sets of house plan that suit your needs for reference. 5. Professionals – Now that you know what best suits the needs of your dream house in terms of architectural concept & structure, main features and floor layout, it is time to hire a project manager to manage and supervise the project and professionals like an architect, civil & structural engineer and mechanical & electrical engineers to finalise the design for you. With the above mentioned steps, you will also need to keep in mind the costing and loan options that you’ll need to explore. Pick a bank of choice and apply for a land & construction loan and negotiate for terms and conditions in agreement with the bank. All of the above will not work if you don’t already own a piece of land. Transfer and register land ownership at Land and District Offices if you have not done so already before commencing. For more information, please visit official website of Jabatan Ketua Pengarah Tanah dan Galian (www.kptg.gov.my/) or hire an attorney to take care of the legal procedures and contract.

Property Corner

¬ Case Study 4 : The Corner Lot A.Devadason CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialise in tax advisory and consultancy. He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my

n a rising market, property prices race past valuation at such a pace that it becomes a game only the cash-rich can participate. This brings to an interesting case on how a good friend of mine managed to get a shop unit that was being sold for RM 720,000 but only had a valuation of RM 580,000. The Scenario The story begins when he heard from an acquaintance about a single storey corner unit that was on sale. It was located at the same housing scheme where he stayed and the unit was owner occupied

operating his tyre business. He didn’t know who the owner was as the operations were managed by a Supervisor who was unwilling to divulge the owner’s contact details. My friend then contacted the Tyre Retailers Association and managed to pull out the owner’s details and contacted him, and met to negotiate. After much haggling via a mixture of real and fictional financial predicaments, the price was slashed to RM 660,000 - a winwin situation. Influencing factors • The factors that influenced the reduction were the savings for the owner via a direct deal without any property negotiators and the psychological message sent by the buyer when he went to the meeting with his cheque book prominently displayed. • A verbal check with the bank confirmed that maximum valuation is nothing higher than RM 580,000, and loan was

restricted to 85% of that value which translated to RM 493,000. It also meant that he has to raise RM 167,000 as down payment. The problem was, he only had RM 66,000 to spare and was thus short by RM 101,000. The decision is either to walk away from the deal or somehow raise the funds needed. A corner unit is usually difficult to come by, more so if it was in an area that was in high demand and this was such a unit. It will be tough to walk away from a deal like this and have no regrets at all. Closing the deal Somehow, an idea struck. He proposed to the seller RM 66,000 as down payment followed by equal instalments of RM 20,200 for the next 5 months. The Sales and Purchase Agreement will be Conditional where it will be dated only after the completion of the 5th instalment. By then the RM 167,000 would have been settled and

the deal will go through. In the meantime, the owner kept the shop and ran his tyre operations. The buyer managed to get his bank to provide a loan that will only be executed 5 months later. This whole episode is a masterstroke in negotiations where a willing buyer and seller met on a common ground, worked out a unique arrangement and managed to execute the property transfer. Common sense says that sellers are unlikely to give instalments but I suppose showing the determination that he wanted the property badly probably sent the message that the buyer was serious. It could also have been that the seller needed the funds. Whatever the reason, it only shows that if one wants something, all that you need to do is ask and there’s a 50% chance of success. Waive that right and its 100% failure. Therefore, it is thus better to try and fail than to have never tried at all as at least there would be no regrets.

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Property Investment

¬ Iskandar Malaysia Property Sector:

Too Much Supply or Too Little Engagement? Ed Cheong is the Singapore founder of the Iskandar Malaysia Investors Forum and Rafflesland Group of Companies which provides platform for property investors to gain insights and world-class investment strategies. He is contactable at iskandar@rafflesland.com

skandar Malaysia’s property has been positioned as an up market yet affordable residential and industrial alternative complementing the high priced Singapore economic situation. The question now on everyone’s mind is whether the momentum of industrial growth and housing prices sustainable? Given the ferocious

residential and industrial launches the last two years, the action seemed to have died down. No one could have predicted the sudden reversal of fortune even with global uncertainty taken into account. For example, there hasn’t been any major property launches in Singapore other than the mainland Chinese project in Johor Bahru’s Causeway vicinity. Response has been more muted than ever before. Even the much anticipated launch of Peter Lim’s Vantage Bay did not happen as it is the iconic project Singaporeans await. O ther than Isk andar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) repor ting that two conference centers will be built in Iskandar, much less is heard from Medini and Nusajaya.

Although there are still sporadic advertisements by agents of already launched projects there, sales have been really slow. In other words, there were nonevents. From across the Causeway, sentiment on the streets has been at best guarded given the rather unfortunate timing of the recent Causeway toll charge increase. Since the recent changes in additional taxes of RPGT and increased restrictions on foreigner’s purchases, it is understandable that public sentiment gets hit easily with negative news. Moreover, with little data available on housing supply, resale prices and overall pricing indices, Iskandar Malaysia’s property market is at a turning point. The lack of data transparency erodes

thinning market confidence. Iskandar Malaysia does need and deserve a comprehensive database of transactional records, econometrics and pending supply figures so that international market players can invest with confidence. According to press reports, there were 118,191 homes under construction in Johor at the end of last year and another 168,371 planned. Compare this with only 70,000 homes under construction in Singapore, where the population is near double of that in Johor, the supply situation in Iskandar looks worrisome. Another strong signal that all is not right is the slow take up rate of UEM’s Alamas Suites. The cool response to the offering of the leading developer in Iskandar is a telling sign that much needs to be done to regroup lost momentum.

CONDOMINIUMS / SERVICED APARTMENTS: Prices and supply skyrocketing and to continue to grow Review: CBRE’s Iskandar Malaysia MarketView Q1 2014 Report (ptIII)

upply of high-rise units to double within the next few years As at Q1 2014, the existing supply of high-rise residential units in IM stands at 31,082 units, while 28,874 units are under construction, which means that the existing supply will almost double in the next 3 years. Some of these highrise residential projects to be completed within the next 3 years include Setia Sky 88, Tropez Residences, Paragon Residences, Sky Suites @ Meldrum and The Peak (One Temenggong).

Prices similar to Greater KL for some high-rise projects With recent launches priced above the RM750 psf mark and some even breaching the RM1,000 psf mark, prices in Iskandar are starting to reach the level of prices observed in Greater KL high-rise market. Major recent notable headliners like Puteri Cove Residences, D’Pristine, Meridin Suites, 8Scape @ Iskandar, Marina Bay Suites, Wave @ Marina Cove, The Astaka, and Bora Residences are a few of the most sought after schemes in IM. Evidence suggests that the

pool of buyers consists mostly of people from Johor Bahru, with the majority of them working in Singapore. With the high currency exchange rate between the two countries and the control measures imposed by the Singapore government on its local property market, these factors have pushed buyers into IM, channeling money into a blooming market. Wa r m t i e s b e t we e n Malaysia and Singapore have also been vital to increase investors’ confidence in the region. Afiniti Medini is another example of the cooperation between both countries, with Khazanah and Temasek being the investment arms: Afiniti was a big hit as it was quickly sold out after its launch in June 2013. The Avira project is expected to follow the same successful path. On-going price and supply trends not expected to slow down JPPH has also revealed close to 30,000 units of high-rise residences planned for IM but a number of these have not yet been officially launched. This shows that the tremendous growth trend of high-rise residential properties will be maintained in the near future.

There is little point in having developers do another massive exercise to tell potential buyers the good news. It is time now for the authorities to consider convening a road show (without the developers) to update the market and engage investors. What the market wants to hear is housing data and planning, issues pertaining to demand and supply, economic updates and developmental progress of the region. This should be held in Johor, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; the three hubs of stakeholders, investors and followers. Without a concer ted market engagement strategy, the situation can indeed turn down further. It is better to act now when the question is still being asked: Is there too much supply or too little happening?

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Delivering sustainable value Community: Dynasty View Sdn Bhd wholly owned subsidiary of UMLand, contributes toward nation development in Iskandar Malaysia

ynasty View Sdn Bhd (DVSB), a wholly owned subsidiary of United Malayan Land Bhd obligates its corporate responsibility by contributing back to society in various ways. “In line of celebrating Malaysia’s success of 57 years of independence, DVSB believes the philosophy of delivering sustainable value to the rakyat especially Johorians”, said Dynasty View Sdn Bhd’s Chief Executive Officer, Wong Kuen Kong.

Wong said that despite the rapid development of DVSB with its maiden launch of Seri Austin in 2005, DVSB incorporates socially responsible behaviour in the conduct of their business operations, which goes beyond mere compliance or fulfillment of applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This is done by placing a degree of emphasis on practices that takes into account the interest of its stakeholders. Speaking to The Iskandarian, he said, “Aligned with the corporate

culture of giving back to the community, a development by DVSB was recognised as the first Township Role Model in Iskandar Malaysia in relation to the Smart Healthy City and Community Programme from Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)”. “It is our vision not only to complement the efforts of the government in attaining the status of a developed country but also to contribute positively towards society by always delivering high standards in all our undertakings”, said Wong.

Dynasty View Sdn Bhd’s CEO Wong Kuen Kong

Feng Shui: Tips on choosing a land Master Ern Che is the Prinicipal of Erns Feng Shui Sdn Bhd the Acedemic Director of Yijing Fengshui Association Malaysia. She is the fourth generation descendant of the Elderly Wei Qianli and the apprentice for International Grand Feng Shui Master Wong

here are many factors that come into play when choosing the right land to invest. In Feng Shui, we will look for lands which has an abundance of Chi, a balance of Yin & Yang, and identifying potentioal Shars. Chi is the life energy that balances both negative and positive forms in the body. Yin & Yang are the active & passive forces that guides our everyday life. Shars are the demolishing element that is known as the poison arrow, that if not being identified or cured, it will lead to severe financial losses and illnesses.

In today’s urbanisation, if you are searching for a land in a suburban area, familiarise yourself with the shapes of the hills around you. Look at any streams, rivers, harbours, or other waterways. Make sure that they are gently moving and are not stagnant. Check for vegetation growth in the area. If it looks lush and healthy it means there is good drainage and sufficient water and sunlight. Ensure that your property gets sufficient sunlight. It is important to allocate the development of any properties on that land facing south, to allow as much sun as possible to warm the property.

If you are ready to develop the land, you can ensure that all the Feng Shui aspects are taken care of before you begin. This is easy if the section is square or oblong in shape. If the shape is unusual, it can be made to look more regular by the use of outside lights on top of poles. Ponds and waterfalls adds to the overall Chi, as they do on musical wind chimes. Imaginative use of boulders and rock gardens can simulate positivity, increasing Feng Shui and make living a more pleasant experience for the occupants. For more tips on Feng Shui, kindly contact Master Ern at: 012-7683138

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