The Iskandarian Oct 2013 Issue

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Official Newspaper

The Iskandarian is a public-private collaborative product of IMSF Roundtable

by IRDA’s Social Development Division

Iskandar Learning Festival 2013

ILF2013 is back after the roaring success of ILF2012 and more insightful tracks are being offered

»pg 7

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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill

We get in touch with CEOs and Chairmen of organisations and drill them with questions »pg 9

email: admin@theiskandarian.com

website/download : www.theiskandarian.com

CIQ: No More Illegal Parking

The Iskandarian Do you have news that needs to be highlighted in Iskandar Malaysia’s FREE Official Community Monthly Newspaper? contact us: admin@theiskandarian.com

Community: No longer can

inconsiderate errant motorists causing inconvenience to other road users at CIQ get off scot-free

By Maisarah & Zarakay

newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

N

Errant motorists illegally double parking at the stretch along CIQ

o longer can inconsiderate errant motorists causing inconvenience to other road users at CIQ get off scot free Motorists illegally double parking their vehicles haphazardly along the road leading to the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) are now feeling the bitter end of their errant behaviour as authorities have begun taking action.

Enforcement officers took to task the errant motorists by issuing summonses after constant complaint from the public.

The main culprits are those working in Singapore,

whereby most of them park illegally and took the bus to work in Singapore. Besides the Singapore bound, checks showed that some of the vehicles were parked by those working in the complex itself.

The vehicles parked by the roadside, around sharp bends and near the roundabout block motorists’ view of oncoming vehicles on top of narrowing down the road, making it a tight squeeze to get to the complex.Those working in the CIQ can park their cars at the nearby City Square shopping mall or Persada Johor Convention Centre, which only charges about RM10 per day rather than risk getting fines of up to RM300 per summons.

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INSIDE

LEGOLAND Malaysia celebrates its 1st Birthday >>PAGE 10

>>PAGE 3

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3rd Year Anniversary OPEN DAY

Pickup points Highlight: Columbia Asia

INFORMATION COUNTERS: • Senai Airport • Columbia Asia Hospital • Regency Specialist Hospital • KFCH • Raffles University Iskandar OFFICE LOBBIES: • City Plaza Tower • Menara Pelangi • Bangunan Pelangi • UDA Angsana Sdn. Bhd. • Menara Landmark • Leisure Farm • KCC The Senai Garden • JBCCCI • IMCCCI • Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) • Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) • Iskandar Waterfront (iwh) EATERIES (F&B): • Annalakshmi • 8Lido • Tutti Frutti • BierHaus HOTELS: • Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel • Thistle Johor Bahru Hotel • The ZON Regency Hotel • Hotel Granada • Traders Hotel • Pariss Hotel Many other participating hotels Gated & Guarded Communities and Others:

Hospital’s healthy celebration

O

n 21st September, Columbia Asia Hospital, Nusajaya celebrated its 3rd year anniversary in a fun and healthy way. Over the last 3 years, the hospital had grown and continued to lead the way towards an efficient and effective healthcare within the Iskandar Malaysia region. Many patients including celebrities prefer Columbia Asia Hospital due to its strategic location, convenience, affordable healthcare, and most importantly efficient and effective healthcare by the medical team.

General Manager, Pn Rahani Yaacob said, “This Open Day” event was not only an opportunity for us to celebrate our 3rd Year anniversary but also an opportunity to thank our Partners, Corporate Clients, Insurance Companies, Third Party Administrators, Individual Patients and those whom we have been working closely with.

A host of activities were organised for both adults and children as a weekend health event for the residents living within the vicinity of Iskandar Malaysia: • 128 blood donors participated in the Blood Donation Drive, supported by Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor.

• More than 100 children attended the ‘Future Profession’ photography session provided absolutely FREE! This is the 1st time such an activity had been organised at the hospital. Children were busily engaged with

Visitors having a fun time at Columbia Asia Hospital’s Open Day “Zoey”, Columbia Asia’s ‘mascot and Clown Entertainment.

• More than 100 patients and visitors participated in the ‘Free Quick Health Check Wellness Desk’ for Blood Pressure & Body Mass Index check, coupled with free consultation and advice to health related matters by qualified and experienced nurses.

• Wide range of promotional health screening and treatment vouchers were sold as many patients and visitors took advantage of the huge discounts offered only for the day especially the “Buy 1 Free 1 Basic Health Screening Package” sold at only RM168.00.

• Several Columbia Asia Hospital’s signature

souvenir items including baseball cap, stainless steel water bottle and coffee mug were sold.

Items were priced between RM15.00 to RM18.00.

• All new membership registrations were also given a free Columbia Asia parrot mascot toy.

• Also in the bandwagon was Café Columbia, a brand extension of Columbia Asia providing a pleasurable culinary and dining experience which was packed with patients and visitors.

All food items were prepared in ‘heart-friendly’ manner for better dietary management, without compromising on taste!

Overall, not only the patients and visitors were happy, but the staff also enjoyed the overwhelming response from the children.

HIGHLIGHTS

O ur P artners

TOURISM CENTRES: • Johor Tourist Information Centre @ JOTIC • Kiosk Pelancongan MBJB @ Jln Tun Sri Lanang • Tourism Malaysia Tourist Information Centre @ JB CIQ COMPLEX & JB SENTRAL

• Taman Molek Zone 3, • Tmn Impian Emas Jln 60-70 • Yong Ming Motors (Tampoi) SINGAPORE: • Tourism Malaysia • Raffles Also available for pick-up at Selected Taxis & Busses And at various Associations Want to become a distribution point? Email us today at: admin@theiskandarian.com

The Iskandarian gaining popularity in neighbouring countries. (inset) Editor, Priya Manikam with Mr. Dent Tran at Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

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

JB North Police IPD 07-556 3122

Ministry of Tourism (Johor) 07-223 3171

Tourism Malaysia Johor 07-222 3590 / 91

Immigration 07-224 4233

JB South Police IPD 07-2218 999

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

Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) 07-233 3000

Please recycle this newspaper after reading. Thank you Published by True Soul Entertainment [14, Jln. Selasih 10, Taman Kemas, 81200, Johor Bahru] Printed by Percetakan Gemilang Sinar/Gan Seng Printing(M) Sdn.Bhd. [No.100, Jalan Tampoi, 81200, Johor Bahru] Copyright of articles, contributions and photos which are published by The Iskandarian is the property of True Soul Entertainment. The Iskandarian does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibilities for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher.

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The Iskandarian

Do’s & Don’ts With Iskandar Malaysia aspiring to reach greater heights, The Iskandarian citizens are key players in helping Iskandar Malaysia reach greater heights, and can do so by first making the change within ourselves. A first class mentality has to be instilled where we accept nothing less than top notch performance in all things. To prepare ourselves for that, here is a quick recommended guideline on the Do’s and Don’ts. This will be a monthly column to showcase the good, the bad and the ugly of fellow Iskandarians.

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YOUTH’S PERSPECTIVE ON

Iskandar Malaysia

The Iskandarian speaks to everyday teens to derive their suggestions and opinions about Iskandar Malaysia. The Iskandarian also invites all youths to share your thoughts with us via email at: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com What kind of entertainment do you prefer?

I like karaoke very much.

What sort of family holiday destination do you usually look forward to?

Currently, I have to say LEGOLAND Malaysia which is located right here in Nusajaya!

LEGOLAND Malaysia here in Iskandar Malaysia is the first LEGOLAND in Asia. As a consumer and member of the public, what are your feelings about this?

I am truly proud and as a consumer I think that it is pretty good as there are a lot of interactive rides that are fun.

regionally and internationally.

How do you see Johor before and now (with the development of Iskandar Malaysia)?

I see better quality in almost everything and an effective system is in place compared to before.

As a youth, how do you see yourself contributing to the growth of the leisure and tourism sector in Iskandar Malaysia?

I believe I am already contributing economically (smiles). At the same time, this also means more job opportunities in these sectors.

What other kinds of leisure projects and developments would you like to see in future?

I would like to see Disneyland come up here.

An inconsiderate driver - Obstructing traffic at Kolam Air -Submitted by Benjamin Naidu (Nong Chik)

Snap your thoughts and send in pictures to our Do’s & Don’ts segment today: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

What does it mean for the youth in Iskandar Malaysia to see so many leisure and tourism products coming up?

Definitely excited as you don’t have to go elsewhere to seek high quality fun and of course we should feel elated that Johor Bahru is becoming a tourist attraction

Jack Tan Age:19

Chellam is an everyday Joe encountering the trials and tribulations of everyday folks. Chellam’s encounters aren’t merely for comic relief but more to instigate mindset change.

Email us if you have any suggestions: newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

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MAH: Johor Games 2013 Highlight: Pulai Group emerged as champions of the MAH (Malaysian Association of Hotels) Johor Games 2013

P

ulai Group comprising Pulai Springs Resort and Pulai Desaru Beach Resort & Spa came together as the strongest team among 17 other hotels and resorts in Johor as they emerged champions and winner of the MAH (Malaysian Association of Hotels) Johor Games 2013 on 3rd September 2013 at Le Grandeur Palm Resort.

Aimed at creating unity within the hotels, sports and tourism industry, the MAH Johor Games 2013, drew a very enthusiastic response from approximately 500 participants. The hotels were divided into 12 teams including Pulai Springs Resort and Pulai Desaru Beach Resort & Spa under the “Pulai Group” flag, the following team with Le Grandeur Palm Resort, Hotel Selesa Pasir Gudang, Sibu Island and Felda Residence Tanjung Leman under the “SFS Group” flag, KSL Resort, Mutiara Johor Bahru, Thistle Hotel, Grand Paragon Hotel, Grand Blue Wave Hotel, New York Hotel, Berjaya Waterfront Johor Bahru.

The event kicked-off with an opening ceremony at Le Grandeur Palm Resort on 20th August 2013, which included an official march-pass by the hotels, led by The MAH Johor Chapter Chairman, also the General Manager of Pulai Springs Resort, Tengku Ahmad Faizal Tengku Mohamed and General Manager’s

from each hotel.

After a mass aerobic warm up and cheerleading performances by the respective teams, the participants geared up for a full day of competition as colleagues and onlookers cheered them on. All showed tremendous determination and spirit while they competed in seven different sports including sepak takraw, netball, volleyball, futsal, table tennis, bowling and badminton. However, after stiff competition, the jubilant Pulai Group emerged the MAH Johor Games

2013 Champions with 16 accumulated points, two gold medals and three bronze medals, followed closely by Le Grandeur Palm Resort for second placing with 16 accumulated points, one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, and third placing to SFS Group comprising Hotel Selesa Pasir Gudang, Sibu Island and Felda Residence Tanjung Leman.

A prize presentation and cocktail dinner was held by the Olympic poolside in the evening on 3rd September 2013.

Bearers of the “MAH Games torch”

representing each hotel, kept the flame ablaze as they passed it on to the hotels’ General Managers to light up an impressive 3m tall MAH Games Torch.

During the closing speech, Tengku Ahmad Faizal said, “this year, we’re proud to note that our 5th year of organising the games has seen a record participation of 17 established hotels in Johor competing for the challenge trophy. This clearly shows that we have achieved our goal with our “Hoteliers Unite” theme”.

Sultan’s Donation

A

personal donation of RM200,000 from the Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has encouraged sponsorship of the third Sultan of Johor Cup Under-21 invitational hockey tournament to a whopping RM1.5 million.

Johor Hockey Association deputy president Manjit Abdullah said the personal donation by the Sultan of Johor not only came as a “pleasant surprise” but reflected the “keen personal interest shown by His Highness”.

Inaugurated in 2011 and named after the sports loving ruler of Johor, the Sultan of Johor Cup is the only U-21 tournament in the world played annually.

The only other international U-21 tournament for juniors is the Junior World Cup which is held every four years.

Sultan of Johor’s RM200,000 donation is the second biggest donation after the Johor State Government who contributed RM500,000. The other main sponsors are JCorp, which is the state government’s investment arm, National Sports Council, The Zon, TNB, Khazanah Malaysia Berhad and UM Land.

pic by Nicholas Vincent

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Few more days before the 10th JB Arts Festival comes to an end

B

angunan Sultan Ibrahim on Bukit Timbalan, Eight Lido and Danga Bay were transformed into merry making festive hotspots for the past month by housing the 10th JB Arts Festival.

The 10th year of the festival continued to entertain locals and visitors with various performances showcasing local talents and various international performers such as Canadian duo Moscowfish, Switzerland’s RadioActive Monkey and Singapore’s Hossan Leong.

Numerous workshops were also held and there was something for all ages to get involved in.

The month-long festival featured more than 70 performances, eight interactive workshops, three competitive events and many other activities.

Paintings, knick-knacks and crafts were also sold at the former administration centre’s car park.

In the mornings, cultural dances are performed by various ethnic groups at the entrance of Bukit Timbalan.

The final day of the festival which will be on the 5th of October will showcase a street party at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee from 8.30 pm onwards and Art for Noah’s Ark will be held at Eight Lido for the whole day.

From the Straits of Penang to the Straits of Johor Interest: Authentic Penang food fare at Thistle Johor Bahru

H

omesick Penangites and hawker food lovers got to indulge in their favourites at Thistle Johor Bahru’s special Penang Food Fiesta which took place from 16th September till 30th September. The 2-week fare was held at the Glass, with a cultural show every Saturday.

The Mini Gurney Drive scene at the Glass made most people nostalgic of the good old days where you enjoyed a plate of Char Koay Teow at the side walk.

Besides that, nothing beats the famous Penang Indian Pasembur with spicy sauce, Nasi Kandar, Sotong Kangkung, the Penang Fruit Rojak with nutmeg and various homemade desserts. It was indeed

a feast for the eyes and palate to indulge in the “Pearl of The Orient” culinary journey.

Many other mouth-watering dishes were served and most of the delicious Penang dishes were prepared by Executive Chef Imran Hamid who hails from the North.

“The Penang Food Fiesta was organised to introduce Penang’s signature dishes and culture to Johorians and also to our hotel guests. It was a great way to bring the North to the South, as Penang is a famous tourist attraction with a name known for the best hawker food in Malaysia,” said Freddie Coleman, the Director of Operations for Thistle Johor Bahru.

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ISKANDAR MALAYSIA LEARNING FESTIVAL 2013

Interest: The 2nd Iskandar Learning Festival 2013 (ILF2013) is a 7-Day eclectic of Learning and Development

F

ollowing the roaring success of the Iskandar Learning Festival 2012, ILFPro and Junior Chambers International (Johor Bahru) are most excited to announce their continued partnership in co-organising the 2nd Iskandar Learning Festival 2013 (ILF2013). This community led event is sponsored by UM Land Berhad, Lafarge, Johor Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and supported by the Johor state government along with Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

The ILF event’s primary purpose is to provide the ‘rakyat’ access to world class learning & development content completely FREE to help spark mindset change in the pursuit of human capital excellence. It also aims to promote continuous learning and global understanding through cross cultural and inter-generational exchange. On hand to ensure a positive outcome of participants and

to provide value-added services, Scope Group Asia, Malaysia Learning & Development Association (MyLead), Kerjaya Sukses and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia were co-opted as strategic partners.

Featuring a forum, various talks, seminars and workshops spread over a week, it caters to a wide range of audience from C-Suites, professionals, HR practitioners, tertiary, school students and just about anyone with a penchant for personal development.

Back by popular demand is The Memory Through Cr8tivity workshop by Lim Teck Hoe- 2002 World Memory Champion, Names & Faces Event Silver Medalist and the Strategic Management Workshop for NGOs by social entrepreneur Faroze Nadar, just to name a few. New and notable tracks for this year are a scenario planning workshop

by Malaysia Foresight Institute, corporate

responsibility forum by ECCE Council and Pemandu, debt management seminar by Agensi Kaunseling Dan Pengurusan Kredit (APKP), responsible citizenry forum by Yayasan1Malaysia and many more.

The idea for this unique event came about in 2011 when stakeholders comprising the public, private and community sectors were convened in a two day workshop to help develop the Iskandar Malaysia Sustainability Framework model which is a big picture look at social responsibility in Iskandar Malaysia.

As an output of the roundtable, stakeholders signed a declaration of support to work on 6 collaborative projects to demonstrate effective partnership towards social development. The ILF is one of six collaborative projects identified by stakeholders for immediate execution.

Volunteers were then sought from among the roundtable participants who were willing to undertake this monumental

task. Enter ILFpro, a social enterprise focused on learning and development. It was activated for the purpose of providing community solutions as part of a larger social innovation strategy for the Iskandar Malaysia community. To overcome its lack of manpower, ILFPro found a partner in the form of Junior Chambers International Johor Bahru; a group of young and spirited Johorians whom are no strangers to volunteerism.

To be held from 7th to 13th October 2013, the Iskandar Learning Festival 2013 will be spread across two separate venues; Berjaya Waterfront Hotel (formerly The Zon) in Stulang Laut and the Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre (IMIC) in Danga Bay. Interested parties are encouraged to confirm participation by registering online at www.ilf2013.com. Seats are limited and privileged to the selected few.

ISKANDAR MALAYSIA ECOTOURISM SUMMIT 2013 Interest: Creating Competitive Ecotourism Clusters and Corridors at the 2nd Iskandar Malaysia Ecotourism Summit 2013

T

he 2nd Iskandar Malaysia Ecotourism Summit 2013 would commence from 8th - 10th October 2013 at PERSADA Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru. A host of keynote speeches and activities have been planned for all participants.

Ecotourism attractions are mostly fragmented and lacking in good accessibility and connectivity. In this light the clustering of ecotourism attractions into regions, corridors or trails is currently viewed as the way forward in enhancing the competitiveness of the industry. Ecotourism clusters and corridors should not only be based on physical connectivity but also business linkages along the tourism value chain so as to nurture creativity and innovation.

This Summit will focus on the theory, prospects and best practices in the creation of dynamic and competitive ecotourism clusters and corridors.

The objective of this summit is to share success stories in developing ecotourism clusters to enhance integration, boost competitiveness and increase yield.

The summit will also provide a platform for the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practice among academics, government officials, industry players and

NGOs. As facilitators, the summit will help foster collaboration and networking among government agencies, industry players, academics, local communities and NGOs involved in ecotourism.

TENTATIVE PROGRAMMES (*subject to change): 8th OCTOBER 2013 • The Summit opens with registration of participants and would welcome the arrival of D.Y.M.M. Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, Chancellor of UTM and Vice Chancellor of UTM, Prof. Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar.

• The Welcoming Speech will be delivered

by Vice Chancellor of UTM, Prof. Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar followed by an Opening Speech and Ceremony by D.Y.M.M. Raja Zarith Sofiah.

• The day would also see a Keynote Address by CE of IRDA, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim on “Beyond Theme Parks and Man Made Attractions: Johor’s Distinct Cultural and Ecotourism Assets”. Several other notable invitees will be delivering their speeches on Ecotourism and the evening would end with a Gala Dinner,

and a Welcoming Speech by Y.A.B. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Menteri Besar Johor.

9th OCTOBER 2013 • Two discussions would take place respectively by Ms. Natalia Pineros Arenas from Columbia and Prof. Amran Hamzah of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

A Panel Discussion on “Clustering and Selling ASEAN as a Premier Ecotourism Destination: Geopolitical Reality, Impediments and Prospects” - will be moderated by Mr. Imtiaz Mugbil, Executive Editor Travel Impact Newswire on the said day as well.

• The summit ends with a closing ceremony

by CE of IRDA, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, followed by a lunch reception. A Technical Tour is also planned to either Sedili Kechil Wetlands at Kota Tinggi, Johor or to Kampung Sungai Melayu, Johor Bahru.

Kindly see below for more details: refer to chart for Technical Tour/Visit 10th OCTOBER 2013 • A Masterclass in Community Based Tourism (CBT) is in place, i.e. a Homestay at Kg. Sinaran Baru / Homestay Sri Gunung Pulai is scheduled.

Seats are limited.For more information, log on to : www.facebook.com/IMES2013

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The Iskandarian Monthly Drill

The Iskandarian aspires to be the voice of the rakyat and with that in mind, our Editor has designated this column to be a monthly feature where we get in touch with CEOs and Chairmen of organisations and drill them with questions that is in the mind of our readers. If you have anyone in mind or would like us to pose a particular question, feel free to drop us an email: admin@theiskandarian.com.

Login to www.facebook.com/TheIskandarian to find out who will be on the next Drill board.

Joining the Drill this month is Director, Freemen See from Catch Power Engineering

Tell us about Engineering

Catch

Power

Catch Power Engineering is a company that provides security services encircling around CCTV, Alarm Systems, Door Access, electronic barricades, control cables and cabling solutions. We also provide PA systems, PABX System and key systems. Simply put, Catch Power is your one stop security system provider.

We are also seen as community guardians since we tend to become among the first line of defense against crime with our monitoring systems becoming the eyes for authorities at the event of a crime having taken place. So besides keeping a safe environment, in many cases we become the eyes and witness that helps curb crime.

How did this unique name come about?

The name came about quite randomly since catching and curbing criminals and criminal behavior is our business and we do it quite powerfully, Catch Power was a no brainer name that came about (laughs). There is no serious story behind it but more of a practical one so that’s how the name came about.

Have opportunities increased since the development of Iskandar Malaysia?

Since the emergence of Iskandar Malaysia, we have seen an increase in business and opportunities. With new housing projects and companies moving into the region, we are getting new businesses and not just basing our clientele on repeated customers.

So business has seen on a rise over the years and giving us more hope of expanding. Security system is a business that is constantly in demand and Iskandar Malaysia’s progress translates as progress for us as well.

How is the level of competition faced in your field?

The level of competition in this business is quite high but it’s the quality of the service that sets us apart from the competition. Competition is needed

in any field of work so I’m glad there is competition because it gives us a reason to upgrade ourselves and provide better services.

What sets you apart from your competition?

We take pride in upgrading ourselves and that sets us apart from our competition.

We constantly upgrade our hardware and equipment to stay ahead and apart from that, our staffs are given basic training and sent for further training as and when there is a need. Skills are an asset and we emphasize on this a lot at Catch Power.

We are also exploring in providing CMS (Centralised Monitoring System) services in the southern region. This system has gained traction in Kuala Lumpur but has yet to see a lot of subscribers in the southern region so we are targeting to provide this system as soon as possible as that will truly set us apart from our competition. As we know, CMS is a world recognised system and with that in place, crime prevention and solving a crime might become easier.

As a SME, what unwanted red tape have you faced that you would like to highlight?

Nothing much as we haven’t faced that much of red tape but SMEs commonly face paperwork setbacks. For instance, not all SMEs equip themselves with corporate profiles and when lobbying for projects, they lose out and think its red tape. Not all paperwork is red tape.

What do you think will help nurture more SMEs growth?

Knowledge is the main subject that is needed to nurture SME growth. The government provides loan like Tekun for entrepreneurs but not all SMEs are aware of the facilities offered. Widening the information reach will definitely be helpful. Besides that, giving some free courses on learning & development and workshop courses will also be a nurturing hand to SME growth. The Iskandar Learning Festival is a fine example of Learning and Development courses given for free for the masses to subscribe to and I think more such platforms should be

Freemen See Director Catch Power Engineering

readily available.

more of us!

A number of SMEs face hurdles when securing loan facilities, have you faced such difficulties?

Any last words?

Not yet but then again, we haven’t applied for any such facilities so I can’t comment on this as yet.

Your business vision for the next 2 years will be…

We would like to expand over the next 2 years with the implementation of the CMS services. That’s our primary vision for now. Many security services claim to give 24 hours surveillance but with the implementation of this service, round the clock surveillance will be a fact with our monitoring staff being given incentives for the crimes that they help prevent or solve. On top of that, we are also looking to migrate from a sole proprietorship company to a Sendirian Berhad company. That’s our 2 years short time vision.

Catch Power getting involved in #SaySomethingNice Campaign is a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) gesture, do you think more SMEs should adopt this gesture and what other CSR related activities do you have in mind?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should be adopted by all SMEs as nothing bad can come out of doing good for the community. If CSR can be done by all layers of SMEs, the community will be much healthier because it’s not just about the scale of the CSR activity but primarily taking the initiative to actually getting involved and engaging the community is very important.

Since this is Catch Power’s first CSR venture, we are very enthusiastic that we will get involved in more CSR work. The scope has yet to be decided upon but rest assured, you’ll be seeing

Safety and security is everyone’s responsibility so be a responsible citizen and help prevent crime to the best of your abilities. The crime index in Johor recorded a 20.69% drop last year compared to the previous year which was equivalent to a reduction of 5,381 cases.

This drop can be outdone with citizens taking a frontal role instead of relying on the police force alone to do their job.

Last year’s SafeCam programme which enabled police to gain access to footage from closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras belonging to the private sector in line with efforts to reduce crime is proof that the authorities are serious about curbing crime. 19,336 closedcircuit television cameras in Johor can be accessed by the police to help them in their intelligence gathering so I believe that the police have their hands full as it is and it is us, the citizens who have to work together among ourselves and with the authorities to ensure that Johor Bahru is a safe and secure haven for all.

“If CSR can be done by all layers of SMEs, the community will be much healthier because it’s not just about the scale of the CSR activity but primarily taking the initiative to actually getting involved and engaging the community is very important”

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1st Year Celebrations and Water Theme Park Interests: LEGOLAND Water Park is set to open on 21st October and it will have more than 20 water rides and over 70 LEGO models

L

EGOLAND Malaysia turned one on 15th September and to kick-off the celebration, they organised a LEGO cake building session with Park visitors who were assisted by the Master Model Builders from the 5th to 14th September comprising of over 300,000 bricks, measuring three metres wide. Visitors were also able to indulge in the real birthday cake which was sold at a reasonable price of RM3 and all proceeds from sales of the cake went to Merlin’s Magic Wand, a worldwide charity for underprivileged children.

On its anniversary, a full day of

festivities were planned including a dance performance, a kids disco party and 3D-LEGO fireworks displays, where bricks appear to be falling from the sky. As a special treat, LEGOLAND also gave free entry to anyone who shared its birthday. Visitors born on 15th September got free entry on the day and were given special rates (RM 90 per day ticket) to bring up to five friends.

Siegfried Boerst, General Manager of LEGOLAND Malaysia said: “We were very excited about the first anniversary celebrations as it had been a hugely successful year for LEGOLAND Malaysia.

In the last twelve months we have added two new attractions and will also be opening our brand new Water Park this October. We have also achieved high visitors’ satisfaction and will continue our efforts to ensure we remain a favourite Park among families in Asia.”

He also added that Annual Pass renewals have started online at the Ticketing Counters at LEGOLAND Malaysia. Those renewing now will enjoy extra validity until December 2014 if their current Annual Pass expires in September, October, November or December 2013. Maybank customers will

also enjoy special offers if they renew now.

Throughout last month, every day at LEGOLAND was like a celebration with jugglers, stilt walkers and unicyclists, magic shows and LEGO building challenges. At one year young, LEGOLAND is growing up fast and plans are already afoot to transform it into a resort comprising a Theme Park, Water Park and Hotel.

The LEGOLAND Water Park is set to open on 21st October and it will have more than 20 water rides and over 70 LEGO models making LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort the perfect family day out.

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M Participating Outlets: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Columbia Asia Hospital, Nusajaya Regency Specialist Hospital U Mall PNB Commercial – Plaza Pelangi, Perling Mall, Pelangi Leisure Mall 5. Danga City Mall 6. Sutera Mall 7. Maslee Express Sdn Bhd 8. KFCH International College, Johor Bahru Campus 9. Galleria Kotaraya 10. Plaza Angsana 11. Thistle Johor Bahru 12. Suria City Hotel, Johor Bahru 13. IOI Mall – Bandar Putra, Kulai 14. City Square Johor Bahru 15. Traders Hotel 16. JBCCCI 17. JCI 18. Southern University College

alaysians embrace their diversity in peace and harmony and often referred to as the melting pot of flavours, races, languages, customs and cultures. A true reflection of Malaysia’s hospitality is seen in the daily lives of people and whatever Malaysians are in their ethnicity; they always have something nice to say about their country.

The 17-day long campaign which ended on Malaysia Day - 16 September 2013, saw participating outlets place the “#SaySomethingNice” posters in their lobbies, waiting areas, schools and information counters to enable fellow Malaysians to say something nice.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and Yayasan 1Malaysia together with The Iskandarian are among the organisations that choose to lend their support to this cause by partnering with Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd who introduced this nationwide #SaySomethingNice Campaign.

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“The #SaySomethingNice campaign is a great way to encourage Malaysians and tourists to be creative in exchanging positive and devoted expressions of the country.

Malaysia ranks as one of the top friendliest country in the world and this is clearly evident during ‘Open House’ on festive occasions and special celebrations like Merdeka and Malaysia Day. There is always something memorable to experience in Malaysia. The more we say nice things about our country, the more it will attract tourists to come to Malaysia,” said Freddie Coleman, Director of Operations of Thistle Johor Bahru.

“This campaign is not just about having wonderful praises for the country, but also saying something nice to each other which helps bring out the passion to help each other and live harmoniously in Malaysia,” added Freddie.

The Iskandarian team would like to thank all participating outlets for going out of their way to make this campaign a success!

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Snapped Up in 6 Hours

Highlight: 500 non-Bumi-allocated houses in Eco World’s Nusajaya project snapped up within 6 hours

E

co World Development Sdn Bhd project in Iskandar Malaysia received overwhelming response from home buyers as it carried out a balloting for its EcoBotanic houses in Nusajaya, Johor.

Out of the 624 cluster homes and semi-detached houses on sale at EcoBotanic on Sunday, the 500 units allocated for the non-bumiputra segment were snapped up by buyers within six hours.

Located just next to EduCity, the region’s upcoming premier education hub and a destination for quality, world-class education, the project will feature other amenities in place within a few minutes’ drive which include the Puteri Harbour Waterfront Development, Medini and LEGOLAND. “We are happy to note that our buyers have given their thumbs up to our maiden project despite our new presence in Iskandar,” said Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chang Khim Wah The cluster homes, with a floor area of between 2,400 sq ft and 3,100 sq ft, are priced between RM900,000 and RM1.3mil, while the semi-detached houses with a 3,400-sq-ft built-up

area are priced between RM1.8mil and RM2mil each.

In the pipeline was the company’s new township in the Tebrau area spanning 246ha, which is expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2014.

The launch of the project was also held concurrently with the opening of the

company’s sales gallery located along the same row as S P Setia Bhd’s Bukit Indah sales gallery.

He said that based on the response received from buyers, the company is confident that it would emerge as one of the leading players in the property sector in Iskandar in years to come.

“As most of us are formerly from S P Setia, it helps to sell our products, as our buyers believe that the company has S P Setia’s DNA in it,” he said.

However, Chang said Eco World is not SP Setia, adding that the company would strive on its own capacity and capability.

The Iskandarian Issue 14 | OCT 2013 Advertisement

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oct 2013

Calendar of Events >> pg4

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scan to visit website

Inside : Live in Spore

ART Through Your Lens Mastering art photography with John Lee on >>pg3

Oct 2013 | Page 2

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Editor ’s Note

Priya Manikam editor@waveslifestyle.com

I

n our August issue, I was raving about Metallica coming to Singapore and this time I am here to give you a larger dosage of the legendary rock band! Our reporters were on site to cover the press conference and concert held late August, and since they could not stop going on about them – I’ve decided to dedicate a full page about Metallica for your reading pleasure!

The recently held #SaySomethingNice Campaign was a big hit and attracted a lot of participation from the young and young at heart. Since the campaign is over, please don’t stop saying something nice to your fellow citizens and keep it going whenever possible! On another note, the 10th JB Arts Festival is coming to an end in a few days and if you are yet to catch hold of any of their programmes or are curious as to what is left, kindly log on to http://issuu.com/verrinlua/docs/ jbaf-2013?e=7369457/4670799 for more details and share with us any pictures you took during the events.

Last month, LEGOLAND Malaysia turned one and this month; ‘splashing’ news is coming your way when they open Asia’s largest LEGOLAND Water Park on 21st October. Keep watching our social sites’ space for more updates and get those bathing suits ready!

As always, for those wishing to share their clothing line or travel tales or like us to review your restaurant/property, drop us a mail at admin@ waveslifestyle.com today and be featured. # SaySomethingNice – Thank you readers for taking your time to read our paper!

O

n 24th August, the legendary rock band – Metallica stepped foot across the sea for thousands of hardcore fans. The band was at Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore for a press conference and LIVE concert that enthralled throngs of people of all ages.

An estimate of 40,000 fans turned up at this biggest most anticipated concert ever held which lasted for over 2 hours.

Formed in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, Metallica have become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, having sold 110 million albums worldwide and playing to millions of fans the world over. Here is a peek into their lives during the press conference…

How do you manage to still look so good?

Guitarist Kirk Lee Hammett said Yoga helps a lot and they visit places like Bali for surfing to keep fit. Since performing at concerts can be tiring, they always have 2 fitness guys to stretch them out during performances and give them nutritional juices to stay fresh and hydrated.

How do you stay current despite being an old rock band?

James Hetfield gave credit to drummer Lars Ulrich for the brains behind keeping Metallica fresh. He is the most tech savvy member of the group and helps control the website and the band’s social media accounts. He also credited the bassist who is the newest member to join Metallica (previously from Ozzy Osbourne’s band and replaced former member Cliff Burton who has

passed away) for injecting new sounds to enhance what Metallica originally was in order to keep the music fresh for today’s generation.

How long do you plan for a set/concert?

Each concert location is required to have a room for the members to practice for at least 30 minutes before opening the show.

Occasionally, we take more time to practice older songs.

What’s new?

A 3D feature film, Metallica Through The Never (Music from motion picture). The two disc CD was actually released by the band’s own record label Blackened Recordings on September 24th and in this music-driven, 3D motion picture event; awardwinning filmmaker Nimród Antal immerses audiences in a bracing, raw and visceral cinematic experience with spectacular live

performance footage of Metallica’s most iconic songs created exclusively for film combined with a bold, narrative story featuring imagery drawn from the band’s trailblazing iconography. This motion picture also gives new insight into what the band has gone through, coming a long way from their last documentary where the band was known to be struggling amidst the release of an older album.

What do you like about Singapore?

They mentioned their fondness for Marina Bay Sands but had no time to visit it as they had to proceed to their next tour venue after Singapore!

Cover Photo: Universal Music Singapore Photography & Reported by: Dee & Manisha Dhalani

Oct 2013 | Page 3

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle

Heal the Anger

L

et’s begin by taking a moment to answer these questions with your heart: • How often do you get angry in a day or a week?

• Does the anger affect your relationship with others?

• Or does the anger bring out any pain in certain parts of your body?

Do you feel uncomfortable to face the truth about your anger right now?

If you do, your ego-mind is denying the presence of anger in you and the next few steps are essential in healing anger.

Be honest with yourself.

1.

The answers you give yourself hold the important key in healing anger. Be aware and accept that the anger has become uncontrollable and this means you acknowledge the presence of this angry energy in you. The attention you give with love will make the anger lose its power over you because it cannot exist in the presence of love.

2. Emotion. Understand that anger is an energy emitting as an emotion. It is normal to feel angry but it is unhealthy

By Rose Osman Personal Motivator & Energy Coach www.facebook.com/ yourpersonalmotivator Twitter:@BucketOfRoses

when you allow it to become your identity; for example “I am an angry person”, which suggests that the anger is you.

This identification is untrue in every level because emotions are not your identity.

Emotions are a body which responds to the thoughts through chemical reactions and is in a form of energy.

3.

Raise

your

awareness

by

practicing conscious breathing with centering thoughts of “I Am Awareness”.

The affirmation creates an opposite energy which will react towards the anger.

Every time you feel angry, close your eyes and be present to feel the anger without thinking of the anger. Feel the energy of awareness without judgment as this allows the anger to heal and transmute in harmony.

Approaching ART Photography P-O-R-T-R-A-I-T-S

P

ORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY is at its peak of popularity today, yet it’s less regarded as an art form. The crafted portrait photograph has fallen out of favour, except as a means of recording special occasions, while everyone with a camera continually and casually takes picture of friends and family.

Portrait photography could be said as a currency of interpersonal exchange we share with our friends and it could be argued that such social photography is not truly portraiture, but simply as means of identification on blogs and social networking websites.

This form of photography can sometimes be regarded as a battle of ego, where on one side is the photographer and the subject on the other side. In some cases, the character and spirit of the subject gains ascendancy as their personality shines from the image. The character is expressed with STRONG VISUAL IDENTITY – which is a portrait bursting with personality captured with the utmost VISUAL VIRTUOSITY. Once we understand the photographersubject relationship, it becomes easier to recognise the difference between snapshots of friends versus a more formal shots of models photographed at a fashion shoot. The former lacks any depth of involvement while the latter is imbued with the photographic encounter.

POSING YOUR SUBJECT – For example where we ask them to rest or pause and these words convey a sense of relaxation and ease, which implies that the “portrait sitter” is comfortable, both with themselves and the photographer.

POSING ESSENTIALS - The fact that your subject has agreed to pose for you, means that you already have the advantage of their cooperation. Many people are reluctant subjects, nervous about being photographed and more often sensitive to the slightest hint that they won’t look good in the picture. Your first task is to establish a rapport and make them feel at ease and give

By John Lee Professional Photographer leejohn59@gmail.com

them clear instructions in an encouraging voice, explaining which direction you want them to look at and how they should place their hands. Examine the face and subtle clues about their inner feelings.

TRANSITIONS - Often good poses lie between two positions. Ask your subject to move smoothly from one pose to another and watch them carefully, look out for body language, the hands and fingers, the angle of the legs, to ensure capturing the appropriate image that you wish.

MANNERED POSING - Visual styles may call for lively poses with exaggerated gesture and position. This is possible with highly co-operative and outgoing subjects. For energetic and rapid changes of pose, allow plenty of room around the subject for movements and take a lot of shots and select the best image later.

TYPES OF PORTRAITS

SMILING PORTRAITS - Most people are taught from childhood to smile for the camera and it’s hard to deter them. However, the viewer can often find undercurrents in the shots.

SELF-POSED PORTRAITS – Subjects which are too young or find it hard to pose upon instructions are best to be left to their own device and you should quietly follow them discreetly, while capturing the shots. Sometimes it applies to adults also.

FORMAL PORTRAITS - Valued for its semblance to objective records, the formal portraits with its unflinching eye contact, can look easy to do but in fact, it takes skill to carry it off persuasively.

POSED LOCATION – Posing subjects in their environment and a useful pointer is that a good landscape composition will also provide a good background for a portrait subject.

STAGED PORTRAITS - You can manage portraits if you create a stage set and use props.

Everything that you introduce into the shots must be dictated by the meaning you intend for the image.

I’d like to end this with a quote which inspired me, “with the gifts from the natural plants and giving it back to the society enhances the beauty of life,” – Eden Er.

The Iskandarian | WAVES Lifestyle Calendar of Events

Oct 2013 | Page 4

1

oct 2013

JB, 1st Oct - 5th Oct 10th JB Arts Festival

JB, 5th Sept - 4th Oct Johor Bahru Lantern Festival 2013

JB, 7th - 13th Oct Iskandar Malaysia Learning Festival (ILF)

JB, 8th - 10th Oct Iskandar Malaysia Eco Tourism Summit @ Persada

Spore, 12th Oct 2013 S’pore Golden Sands Belly Dance Festival @Goodman Arts Centre

15th Oct

Hari Raya Haji JB, 21st Oct LEGOLAND Water Park Opens!

JB, 21st - 24th Oct Asia Pacific Outsourcing Summit

JB, 21st - 23th Oct BioMalaysia & Bioeconomy Asia Pacific 2013 @Persada Johor

JB, 21st - 23th Oct Green Power Conferences @ Puteri Pan Pacific Hotel

JB, 26th Oct 1st Community Initiated Iskandar Malaysia Conference (CIMC1)

Spore, 29th Oct One Republic Live in S’pore @The Colliseum, Hard Rock Hotel

J

Must Visit Places in JB (part 4)

ohor Bahru or JB as it is fondly known to the locals is the Jewel of Southern Malaysia. Many visiting Malaysia often give this city a miss as they think there is nothing interesting to see . We are here to prove them wrong and have come up with a list of the most popular places that can be visited here.

1.

LEGOLAND Malaysia, Nusajaya Tucked in Iskandar Malaysia region, LEGOLAND Malaysia is Asia’s first LEGOLAND and sixth in the world which opened its doors at Nusajaya on 15th September 2012. LEGOLAND Malaysia is perfect for families with children ages 2-12 years old and as well as for the young at heart! There are over 40 attractions that are mostly interactive and do not miss on any of the rides (dry and wet ones) as well as the 4D shows and MINILAND. On site, there are two specialty shops and four retail outlets. As for F & B choices, there are three good restaurants as well as food carts and stands for you to pick from.

LEGOLAND is accessible via a bus service that leaves from Larkin Bus Station. For Singaporeans, it is easily reachable by road within minutes via the Tuas Second Link or by a direct coach service from the Singapore Flyer.

Tickets for a day entry are priced at RM120.00 for adults and RM 90.00 for children aged 3-11 years old with MyKad and it each includes RM10.00 food voucher. Go to www.legoland.my.com for more details regarding special rates and promotions.

Coming soon to this attraction is their LEGOLAND Water Park which is set to be the largest in the world and the first in Asia. In total, the Water Park will feature 20 rides and attractions and over 70 LEGO models. The Water Park is set to open tentatively on 21st October 2013, so keep a lookout for updates via our social sites.

2. Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park, Nusajaya Opened late 2012, this indoor theme park houses the popular SANRIO HELLO KITTY Town outside Japan, The Little Big Club and LAT’s Place all under one roof at Puteri Harbour - further marking Johor Bahru as a world-class tourist attraction.

The SANRIO HELLO KITTY Town consists of various wa l k- t h ro u g h attractions, rides and interactive activities themed after Hello Kitty, while The Little Big Club features lovable children characters such as Bob the Builder, Barney and Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu and Thomas and Friends.

Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and The Little Big Club are separately priced at RM75 for adults and RM 55 for children (both with MyKad) but if you’d like to visit both these parks, you may purchase a combo ticket of RM110 for adults and RM 85 for children. Admission is free for children below 3 years old.

restaurant promises guests’ animations and an unforgettable opportunity to dine in the splendor of LAT’s humour and artistry, enticing the five senses! Do check out http://www.playtime.com.my/ticketprices for terms and conditions and ticket prices and special promotions.

2

At LAT’s Place, guests will be able to enjoy the first ever animated dining experience where our very own homegrown and world’s popular and internationally renowned cartoonist, Dato’ LAT’s famed Kampung Boy (Village Boy) character comes to life. The

Credits: Written By : Priya Manikam Photography By : Nicholas Vincent & Zarakay

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AFTER SPM, WHERE DO I GO? (part 2) College Foundations ollege Foundations are preparatory programmes offered by private institutions. Students who take these programmes will ultimately continue their degree at the same institution, in the same course. Therefore, students who opt for college foundations are usually those who have made up their minds about which course they want to take in the institute/university. Because of this, the programmes are catered towards specific courses and the students are able to complete their whole course of study in a much shorter time.

The structure of the course varies according to the institution that offers it, but college foundations usually take a year to complete, upon which the student will continue with a degree programme. With most college foundation programmes, interested students need to have at least five credits in SPM, preferably related to their chosen course

C

of study.

Due to the fact that these programmes are catered towards specific degree programmes, most college foundation programmes are only recognised at the respective universities that offers it. Students usually have to continue their degree at the same institution where they underwent the programme but there is a slim chance of some of them furthering their studies elsewhere.

Going for a college foundation programme helps a student earn their degree a little bit faster than the traditional pathway of going through a diploma first. This is especially appealing to those who would like to enter the working world a little faster than their peers.

Do note that taking this programme may limit their options later on. Students from foundation programmes are not accepted into IPTAs and are rarely able to switch from one institution from another.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Originating from Switzerland, the International Baccalaureate is considered a diploma programme and runs for the duration of two years. It is said to be a very challenging course, and is recognised by most universities around the world. Students of IB can enrol in any universities and courses in the world.

IB students are required to study for six courses at higher or standard level. Students are to choose one subject each from groups of five academic areas – Group 1 consists of studies in language and literature, Group 2 on language acquisition, Group 3 on individuals and societies, Group 4 on experimental sciences, Group 5 on mathematics and computer science and Group 6 on the arts.

As for the sixth subject, students are allowed to choose either a subject from Group 6 or another subject from groups 1 to 5.

In addition to those six subjects, students are also required to write an extended

essay which has them researching in-depth about a question related to one of the subjects they are studying. Students also have to follow a theory of knowledge course (TOK) which has them reflecting on the nature of knowledge and participate in creativity, action, service (CAS), which requires them to actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks outside of the classroom. Towards the end of the course, students have to sit for written examinations.

In order to gain entrance into an IB course, students need to have obtained above average results in SPM. They need to sit for an entrance exam and subsequently attend an interview. As compared to other pre-university courses, IB involves a wider range of educational skills, since it includes basic education, action and service-oriented activities.

Follow this multiple part series next month

Walk-a-Payung for (Lupus) Patients F or the 2nd time since the first successful event in 2012, Columbia Asia Hospital - Nusajaya jointly organised “Walk-a-Payung” with Persatuan SLE Malaysia (PSLEM) (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) on 29th September at Hutan Bandar MBJBT, Taman Mutiara Rini, Skudai.

A rough estimate of about 500 participants both from patients and the public took part in this charity walk. For a donation from RM30 onwards, participants got a free umbrella, t-shirt, souvenir, lucky draw and free health check.

The role of Columbia Asia Hospital is to garner participation within the Iskandar Malaysia region and help raise funds through better awareness for the association.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as Lupus, is a chronic, autoimmune disorder in which the patient’s body produces antibodies that may attack the patient’s skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. About 90% of SLE patients are women, the majority aged between 15 to 50 years of age, while men and children make up the remaining 10%.

Although more than 10,000 people have been diagnosed with SLE in Malaysia, the disease is still relatively unknown to the man-in-the-street. Besides this lack of public awareness, the disease is not easy to diagnose; this could take months, or even years depending on which organs are

affected.

Due to this lack of public awareness, Lupus patients tend to feel alone and isolated in their suffering and are often in need of social and psychological support.

This need was the main reason for a small group of patients and doctors coming together in 1994 to form PSLEM. Today, the association has grown in numbers to more than 2,600 members with chapters in Sandakan, Penang, Kuching and Johor.

2007, the first Walk-a-Payung event raised funds to start off PSLEM’s free counselling services in major public hospitals where SLE patients receive treatment. In 2008, the event raised money to launch off PSLEM’s SLE Fund, which provides financial assistance to needy patients who require joint replacement or cataract operations.

This year’s campaign objective is to: • Focus on the need for heightened public awareness.

• Improved patient healthcare services.

• Increased research into the cause of and a cure for lupus.

• Enhanced physician diagnosis and treatment of lupus.

• Better epidemiological data on lupus globally.

Members of the public, who are interested to know more about LUPUS may log onto any of these websites: http://www.lupusmalaysia.org/ http://www.lupus.org

Columbia Asia’s General Manager Rahani Yaacob (seated center) kicking off the Walk-a-Payung event

live Congenital Heart Disease in Children (part 2) FREE COPY ISSUE 14 | OCT 2013

Dr. Hew Chee Chin Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgery - Paediatric & Adult Dr. Hew started her career in Cardiothoracic Surgery as a Senior Registrar in 1995.

She was a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at National Heart Institute, Malaysia (IJN) prior to joining Regency Specialist Hospital. Dr. Hew has been consistently performing 350 cases per year and more than 300 closed heart surgeries

page

2. Open heart surgery The surgery involves opening the chest and going on a cardiopulmonary bypass.

These surgeries may be major and complex and recovery depends on the type of surgery performed.

since 2004. Dr. Hew has been doing equal number of adult and paediatric cases and she subsequently performs more paediatric cases.

Treatment and care Treatment is based on the severity of the child’s heart condition. Some mild heart defects do not require any treatment.

Others can be treated with medications, interventional procedures or surgery.

1. Procedures using catheters This procedure allows the repair to be done without surgically opening the chest and heart. The doctor inserts a thin tube into a vein in the leg and guides it to the heart with the help of an X-ray. Once the catheter is positioned, tiny tools are threaded through the catheter to repair the defect.

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3. Some congenital heart defects can be treated with medications that help the heart work more efficiently.

Some children may require multiple procedures and surgeries throughout their life. Although the outcomes for children with heart defects have improved dramatically, some still require ongoing care even after corrective surgeries.

Prevention The exact cause of most congenital heart defects is unknown. However there are some things that one can do to reduce the child’s overall risk of birth defects: i.

Get Rubella vaccine.

ii. Control chronic medical conditions, diabetes must be well controlled before pregnancy. iii. Avoid taking unnecessary

any medications, herbs, dietary

supplements doctors.

without

consulting

iv. Take multivitamin with Folic Acid.

Daily consumption of 400mcg of Folic Acid has been shown to reduce birth defects in brain and spinal cord.

Regency Specialist Hospital provides comprehensive cardiology and cardiothoracic services supported by a team of experienced consultants and a cardiac catheterization lab that comes with modern diagnostic facilities.

We offer wide range of cardiac care covering adult and paediatric cases.

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work

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Managing the Stresses of Making Business Decisions

Management: Decision making in the business world can make or break any organisation hence a critical approach needs to be adopted from the start

I

t can be stressful when you have to make important decisions regarding your business and career. We all want to make the right decisions and this can create a lot of anxiety. As a result, here are some suggestions on how to manage the stresses of making the right decisions.

First, get all of the facts and necessary information to make the right decision. Find out the necessary facts of the situation and study all the relevant information. This is important because you do not want to miss critical

information that

could make a difference in your decision.

Think about what you want and consider the possible outcomes of your decision.

Each decision will lead to new opportunities. Consider the possible opportunities and go from there. Spend some time just thinking about what is it that you want.

Get advice from your friends. It is important to consider other viewpoints other than your own. Ask your friends and relatives on what they think that you should do. These people know you and they can give you additional insights that you may be overlooking.

Take a deep breath to help relax in making your decisions. If you still feel stressed, then get some fresh air or do

something fun to help you relax. You will feel better and gain a fresh perspective on your current situation. This will also make it easier to make the right decision.

Remember that you make decisions all the time.

It would not be the end of the world if you made the wrong decision. You can always reevaluate your situation and do something different. Do not put a lot of pressure on just one decision. You will have other opportunities to correct the situation.

Remember that making a business decision is not a life or death situation. If you make the wrong decision then the next step is to learn from your mistakes and go from there.

Learn what you did right and learn what you did wrong. The key is to not get so worked up

that you do not know what to do. Be patient and eventually you will be able to make the right business decision. Do not let your fears get the best of you.

The decision making process does not have to be stressful. Consider all of the facts and your interest when making a decision.

This should help reduce your anxieties in making those important choices.

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www. managingfear.com/

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invest

ACCUMULATING WEALTH? ¬ Value Investing: the secret of acquiring wealth sustainably

A

friend recently asked me with a puzzled look as to why the market became bullish again especially when there were talks of currency crisis?

When this article was written, the Malaysia Composite Index has returned to 1770, or up 110 points in merely two weeks, a totally different scenario from two weeks ago. So where is the market heading to? And what should we do if the market turns so erratic?

The answer is: stick to VALUE INVESTING. In stock markets, investors use two ways to measure the value of a company.

First, it’s the assets the company owns, and second, the profit it makes. While the company’s asset is important, its earnings must be the primary concern. Imagine this, if a CEO can help his company make millions, is he a valuable employee?

Likewise, if a company can help its shareholders generate tonnes of income consistently, is it a valuable company?

Buying a valuable company is VALUE INVESTING. Therefore, the question you want to ask is not what you should do when the market is erratic; it’s whether the business (counter) that you intend to buy will still

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remain profitable, even if the market sentiment turns bearish.

But will the share price be affected even during the economy downturn?

Yes it would, because market sentiment exists all the time. But even so, it’s temporary and the company is still valuable if it stays profitable. This has to do with the world’s demand. Ask yourself these questions: if the market turns bearish or even collapses, will the follows still happen: 1. W ill people still consume oil, rice and sugar?

2. Will you still use toilet paper?

3. Will patients still visit hospitals for essential treatment?

4. Will doctors still use gloves when they perform operation?

5. Will you still drive on the road and paying toll fees?

If the answers for the above

Tey Bin Yuen is the author of ‘Life beyond the Comfort Zone’. His books are available at major bookstores in Malaysia and Singapore. He’ll be conducting a seminar ‘Profit from Share Investment 5’ on 21 Oct 13. Reach him at contact@teybinyuen.com

questions are an absolute ‘yes’, it means even if financial crisis happened, the companies that offer the above products and services are still wanted and they’d likely to continue performing. So, you’d need to find out more: 1. W hat are the companies?

2. Do they have good track records and growth driver?

3.

Are these companies in healthy cash position and having good management?

Again, if the answers for these questions are ‘yes’, it means that these companies are likely to remain profitable in the years to come.

Hence, even if their share price fluctuates due to market sentiment, their value remains intact and once the crisis is over and market becomes more stable, they’re poised to grow stronger and their share price is bound to rise higher.

In conclusion, market volatility is part of the game of share investment. For one to consistently profit in the long run, you must look at VALUE instead of price. Now let’s say, by the time you read this article and the market turns bearish again, what will you do?

Delegates Urge Malaysians to Invest Investment Outlook: Chamber to chamber relations to help boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation

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haka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Johor Bahru Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI), Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on September 20, 2013 aiming to boost business ties between the two countries.

DCCI President Md Sabur Khan and JBCCI President Dato Loh Liam Hiang signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides, according to information received in Dhaka on Sunday.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Sabur Khan urged the Malaysian businessmen to invest in leather, leather goods, power and energy, food-processing, gas-based industry, telecommunication and agro-based industry of Bangladesh.

Earlier a 10-member trade delegation of DCCI, led by its president, left the capital on September 18, 2013 for

Malaysia to explore business opportunities there.

The DCCI delegation attended the Johor Bahru ASEAN Expo held on 20th September, 2013 at Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

The other members of the delegation are DCCI Director Abul Hossain, Co-convenor Kazi Sharwar Habib, DCCI Member Md. Nurul Haque, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Md. Monium Khan, Mohammed Irad Ali, Md. Kamruzzaman, Lokman Hossain and Syed Ashiq.

The three-day expo, which was participated by 13 countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, offered more than 200 products and services to visitors.

Organised by the Johor Bahru

“Bangladesh exported products worth USD100 million to Malaysia, including USD69 million from ready made garment (RMG) sector while Malaysia exported products worth about USD1.6 billion to Bangladesh during the fiscal year (FY) 2012-13”

Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCCI), the expo, among other things, aimed to promote local products and create business networking between local and international players.

Bangladesh exported products worth USD100 million to Malaysia, including USD69 million from ready made garment (RMG) sector while Malaysia exported products worth about USD1.6 billion to Bangladesh during the fiscal year (FY) 2012-13.

The delegation attended the opening ceremony of Johor Bahru-ASEAN Expo-2013 and they will also attend a meeting with the NRB Bangladeshi living in Malaysia.

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How to pick the true Mao Shan Wang or Musang King durians

There is no doubt that the Mao Shan Wang or Musang King is the most popular and also most prized of all durians now. The texture of the thick Mao Shan Wang flesh is rich and creamy like toasted marshmallows.

On the palate, its flesh tastes slightly bitter with sweet notes. On the nose, its aroma is sweet and mildly pungent without being overpowering.

The Mao Shan Wang seed is flat and quite small. Sometimes the waxy seed peeks out from folds in the slightly glowing yellow flesh. As you can see, the Mao Shan Wang flesh literary undrape itself from the waxy seed.

While there is no question about the Mao Shan Wang’s allure, identifying the real McCoy may sometimes be challenging and frustrating and this article aims to help you avoid fake Mao Shan Wang durians.

Unfortunately, there are still no 100% foolproof methods against being sold a fake.

We can, however, substantially improve our chances by learning more about the Mao Shan Wang.

Only the external identifying features are listed here, as most durians are sold on an “once opened considered sold” basis unless it is obviously rotten or unripe.

To identify a real Mao Shan Wang, check that it has all the following five external features together. Do note that other cultivars may have some but not all five features altogether.

Look out for these five external features in a single durian:

1.

Their thorns are like small pyramids with flat angular sides unlike some other durians with conical thorns.

2. The thorns converge at the base of the stem forming a ring around it.

4. There is a unique brownish 5-arm “starfish” at the base of the durian and the thin, longish “arms” warp the base of the durian and run up to the middle of the shell as if it is trying to hold it together tightly.

3. This durian is mostly oval shaped like an egg or sometimes even a pear. Rarely, it is round like a bowling ball.

Fried Durian Fritters in Johor Bahru

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resh durians are available only when they are in season. So, in between durian seasons what are durian lovers to do? Fortunately for people in Johor Bahru (JB), there is a delicious alternative - the freshly fried durian fritters.

These fritters are actually an excellent way to savour the King of Fruits, in its own right.

The friendly Mr. Seow has been frying and selling fried goodies for over 10 years and he sells a variety of freshly fried goodies at reasonable prices. He is particularly proud of his Nyonya chicken curry puffs.

Mr. Seow also sells fried durian fritters and they are encased in a lighter and thinner crispy crust than Wah Cai’s.

The taste, flavour and aroma of the hot durian flesh are similar to Wah Cai’s but nevertheless, I highly recommend Mr. Seow’s fried durian fritters.

Wah Cai The most famous fried durian fritters in JB is Wah Cai at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah as it has caught the attention of Malaysian and also Singaporean’s various forms of traditional media.

Besides selling his fried durian fritters at the stall, Wah Cai currently also supplies his famous fritters to Singapore food courts!

Wah Cai’s creamy and flavourful durian is encased in a relatively thick and very crispy crust. It’s almost like a large durian perfume capsule. Break the seal and the gush of durian perfume rushes up your nose. That’s a kind of heaven for durian lovers.

Each fritter is priced at RM2.50 and it’s worth every bite.

CSS fried goodies Mr. Seow’s humble stall known as CSS is located on the five food way outside Tai Son Kopitiam at Taman Sri Tebrau and is well known among people in the local neighbourhood. However, unlike Wah Cai, Mr. Seow’s stall is a little under the radar, media wise.

Restaurant name: Restoran Wah Cai Address: 86, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Skudai Map: http://g.co/maps/bsgg6 GPS: 1.522640,103.664664 Hours: Daily 7:00am to 4:30pm No pork, no lard, no Halal cert Restaurant name: CSS fried goodies stall (five foot way outside Tai Son kopitiam) Address: Junction of Jalan Badik 1 and Jalan Badik, Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/oNafD GPS: 1.486233,103.768782 Hours: 5:00am to 12:00pm No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

5.

The “body” of the “starfish” is brownish in colour, flat and bald. It is not pointy or bulging and the thorns do not gather or converge here. In the Mao Shan Wang, the thorns at the base are parted away from the “bald patch”.

Before asking the durian seller to open the durian, look out for the above external features in a single durian, and hopefully we never have to suffer another fake Mao Shan Wang again :)!

play Beriani, Bariani, Biryani or Buryani…?

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hese names with variant of spellings are definitely common to Malaysians, as this dish is popular in Malay and Indian weddings, or ceremonies in Malaysia as well as in other Asian countries.

Why the different spellings is because it is pronounced as such in different languages and dialects. For example, the Malays call it ‘Beriani’, Indians call it ‘Biryani’ / ‘Bariani’ and the Persians call it ‘Buryani’ .The name is derived from the Persian word beryā (n) which means “fried” or “roasted” and was believed to have been invented in the kitchens’ of the Muslim Moghul Emperors. It is very popular in most Asian and South East Asian countries and the Middle East.

Beriani is basically a rice-based dish made of herbs & spices, rice (usually basmati) with chicken, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, seafood, eggs or vegetables.

Ingredients The spices and condiments used in Beriani may include, but are not limited to, ghee (clarified butter), nutmeg, mace, pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves, star anise, coriander, mint leaves, chili powder, turmeric powder, yoghurt, ginger, onions/shallots, garlic, rose water and etc.

The premium varieties include saffron which is used for its aroma and colour.

The Johor Beriani Rice / Beriani Gam

Rice (rooted from Biryani Dum) calls for a few convenient based products such as tomato paste, tomato juice, chili sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, HP sauce, evaporated milk and some even put in a bit of pounded dried shrimp!

The other key ingredient in making Beriani is the rice - Basmati. In Malaysia, “Faiza Moghul Basmati” or “Jasmine Basmati Rice” is synonym for making Beriani but these two are only representing the brand and not the types of the basmati.

Basmati are used because of its unique characteristic such as pandan-like aroma, long grains, fluffy, separates once cooked and has a low glycemic index. To produce superb quality of Beriani, it is compulsory to select good quality basmati rice. By visual, the colour of the rice is yellowish and the grains are slender like a sword shape. Yellowish means the rice is aged properly for 6 months or at least a year but for the premium quality they may age up until two years! The aroma also determines a superior quality basmati.

Styles and Taste Beriani are normally served together with meat and with or without gravy and are also accompanied with Chutney or Raita, Korma, Curry, Dhalca, Acar, boiled egg, or Papadom. For an authentic Johor Beriani Gam, the rice is accompanied with fried boiled eggs, potatoes, Beriani gravy,

vegetable Dhalca, Ayam Masak Merah, and salad made from cucumber, pineapple and onions, or with Acar Buah (made from dried fruits & spices). At times, Sambal Garam Lada (made from fresh red chilies, salt and lime juice) is also served as part of the condiments. In some places, the preparation differs as the meat and the rice are cooked separately and served.

Needless to say that Beriani is a

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classic cuisine and one needs patience and passion to cook it. Selecting good quality ingredients and using the correct cooking methods will triumph a fantastic quality of Beriani!

Chef Mohamad Noorazam Bin Zainal mohamadnoorazamz@gmail.com F&B & Event Management Department KFCH International College Johor Bahru

@home

ISSUE 14 | OCT 2013

T HE I SKANDAR I AN

PROPERTY

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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

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APARTMENTS

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VILLAS

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CONDOMINIUMS

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OFFICE/ RETAILSPACE

Cover Story We are on a quest to find out if alternative living concepts will catch on here as we have come up with several suggestions for you to ponder upon >>page 26

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Alternative Living

(above:) Arial view of Puteri Harbour, (right top to bottom:) caravan, Exbury Egg

By Priya Manikam & Zarakay newsdesk@theiskandarian.com

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many people will be living with you.

he human race traced eons of years ago did not have a conventional house that you commonly see, as they mostly lived in natural surroundings that gave them shelter and protection. Fast-forward to today, many have the luxury of choosing a variety of properties from high rise buildings to landed properties suited to one’s budget. But if you were given an opportunity of moving away from this normality, and seek an alternative living such as on a boat/yacht or in caravans – would you?

We are on a quest to find out if this concept will catch on here and have come up with several alternative livings for you to ponder upon.

•

Location. Whether it is closer to amenities or posh locations , or somewhere quieter and if it will be safe to berth the boat.

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Mooring charges. It would very much depend on the price and size of your boat. The bigger the boat is the more the cost would be to moor and maintain.

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Maintenance Costs.

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Water and Electricity costs

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Gas for cooking or electric option

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Diesel

Boats/Yacht

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Pump out of waste holding tank

Living on your boat or yacht is not an uncommon sight in Europe or even with some rich bourgeoisies in the Middle East.

However, there are several factors – namely costs to consider before embarking on this journey.

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Taxes

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Boat Licenses

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Insurance

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Cost. This includes the type of boat you are looking at and how

After weighing the above possibilities and contacting the relevant authorities for more advice, your decision

making will become much easier. If living on a boat is merely a passion and not a commitment you are willing to make, perhaps you should start off by hiring a boat on a rental basis and test the waters.

Caravans/Trailers Social forums have broached the idea – what if Malaysia had Caravans/Trailers Park? To some the idea may be “cool” to live in a mobile home (or static to the ground) but to many others it is the safety issue which is of a main concern.

Living in a trailer or caravan is considered as life of gypsies and it can be traced as far back as 1800s. At the beginning of the 19th century, more Romani people lived in their caravans instead of sleeping in tents. The caravan offered greater protection from weather conditions and could be outfitted with modern amenities such as wood burning stoves.

Now, these types of “home” commonly exist in Europe, America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Travel trailers and caravans vary from basic models which may be little more than a tent on wheels to those containing several rooms with furniture and amenities and equipment of a home. In the UK, many caravan

insurance companies require additional security features to be purchased such as wheel clamps and electronic tracking devices.

In America, the main reasons for living in trailer parks are because of the lower cost compared to other housing, and the ability to move to a new area more quickly and easily, for example when changing jobs to another part of the country taking the mobile home/trailer with them.

Whether this type of living would catch on or be legally allowed in Malaysia is debatable but perhaps a tourist caravan park could be set up for people to have a feel of staying in a caravan.

Eco-villages/Eco-Homes The Wikipedia perfectly sums up Ecovillages as intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. An Eco-village is often composed of people who have chosen an alternative to centralized electrical, water, and sewage systems and see the breakdown of traditional forms of community, wasteful consumerist lifestyles, and the destruction of natural habitat, urban sprawl, as trends that must be changed to avert ecological disaster.

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welcome on board

Most of these Eco-villages also tend to be more sensitive to the environment and some have solar panels homes (eco-homes) aiming to reduce carbonfootprint. It is a focus on producing and consuming locally, forging meaningful relationships and living as sustainably as possible.

Many initiatives are encouraged such as: reducing energy use, creating sustainable local businesses, localising farming and creating environmentally minded communities. So far, there are Eco-villages all over the world and much closer to home, this concept was founded at Lanjut, Pahang, Malaysia and The Lanjut Eco-Villages projects are undertaken by Ar. KL Lim and The Lim Family.

Exbury Egg In UK, artist Stephen Turner teaming up with a group of architects and engineers created a floating egg-shaped room which is a self-sustaining work space.

The structure built using boat building techniques and local materials features a bed, a desk, a small stove, and a wet room.

The egg will be ‘tethered’ like a boat and will rise and fall with the tide.

The basic nature of the ‘Exbury Egg’ aims

to re-appraise the way we live; to properly consider sustainability and future use of natural resources.

This futuristic idea will probably take some time before reaching our shores but nonetheless a splendid idea to lay eyes on.

Co-Housing Co-housing is an arrangement whereby private dwellings are organised to encourage collaborative living while maintaining individual space. The houses share communal facilities such as workshops, open space, a playground and often a community building where residents can meet and share meals as they wish.

While people who like alternative ways of living have been forming cohousing groups since the Sixties.

This idea has been around in the UK and the workability of the concept is very feasible for our environment.

Pressure on incomes and the rise of the single household particularly, as well as concern for the environment is making Co-housing a trend abroad where groups of homes that pool resources to lower overall costs share areas such as outdoor space, entertainment area, guest accommodation, and more.

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Property Corner

¬ Property Conundrum A.Devadason CA(M), FCCA, MDRT Deva is a partner in the firm of Dason & Dason, Chartered Accountants who specialice in tax advisory and consultancy.

He can be reached at deva@dason.com.my

I

t is hard not to engage in a conversation that does not involve the topic of property these days. While some speak about the opportunities created by the property boom, others lament on how properties are just simply beyond the affordability of a single wage earner.

When deciding on property investment, a clear decision would have to be made from the onset if the property investment is part of a trading strategy or an accumulation strategy.

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A trading strategy assumes that properties are stock-in-trade that are held for a period of time, only

to be sold once the desired price is achieved. There is no emotional attachment to the property and it is held solely for capital gain through disposal.

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Property trading is a fast money spinner where the profits gained on disposal can be used to finance more trades. Often, this strategy also involves funding through heavy bank borrowings unless the trader is moving slowly one property at a time.

Other factors The downside of loans is the risk of entering into an over-committed situation.

Most borrowers tend to service only the interest rather than repay the original loan amount. This is done to manage cash flows in view of the multiple loans taken.

Should the economy take a dive and the properties remain unsold, there will be serious repercussions that may lead to insolvency.

Another matter to consider is the Real Properties Gain Tax (RPGT). Where properties are sold before 5-years of ownership, on disposal, there would be tax payable on any gains made. In cases where the purchase was funded via loan, there could be penalties for early redemption as well.

Accumulation on the other hand, is buying for keeps. The property is seen as an asset that forms one’s retirement portfolio. It is purchased primarily as a source of rental income and become another revenue stream that provides steady cash flow.

The key is to ensure that rental collected is sufficient to cover one’s loan repayment (if any), statutory costs such as Quit Rent and Assessment as well as other incidentals such as minor repairs and facility maintenance fees, where applicable.

The question thus arises, which strategy is better?

This is akin to share market investment. One trade to make gains from margins while another holds to create a

steady dividend stream. Both approaches are correct. However, history has proven that more likely than not, the long term holders tend to have far greater growth in wealth than traders. They profit from a steady income as well as experience capital appreciation when prices go up.

Traders sometimes stretch it out to the point of gambling. Should their guess prove to be unsound and that particular investments ends up losing money, it may wipe out the entire gains made from previous successful trades.

The same rule applies to properties as well because trading sometimes looks like gambling.

My personal preference is the accumulation approach. Having multiple properties that provides cash flow on different dates in a month can be a nice sight when one logs in to an online savings account to check on rentals banked in! In conclusion, whichever approach is taken, let it be based on logical assessment. Emotions and investment are just like water and oil, they just don’t mix.

Happy investing!

Property Investment ¬ Iskandar Malaysia Means Business 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 and +65 97111271

I

n the previous issue, I alluded about the investment cycle in Iskandar Malaysia as having reached the industrialisation and commercialisation stage. This simply means that the super growth sector will now be the industrial and commercial building opportunity.

Property investors of course need to know what industries and where (location).

To appreciate the next stages of Iskandar Malaysia’s development, we compare the historical scenarios of Shenzhen, China.

Although the analogy is not entirely fitting, as Shenzhen and Hong Kong belong to one country, while Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore are not, ceteris paribus, but we can learn by gleaning on Shenzhen’s success story.

Shenzhen’s population exploded within 23 years from 30,000 to 4,700,000 with an average annual GDP growth

of 28 percent. The concentration of activities in the Pearl River Delta region allows for symbiotic economic predominant posture relative to Hong Kong’s economy.

Similarly, Nusajaya emphasises the principles of liveability, public spaces, seafront view and ecological system. By design, Iskandar Malaysia’s zones, cities and regional nexus ensures its single most important industry will be business process outsourcing or BPO, given its complementarity to the global financial hub of Singapore, ahead of Hong Kong and just behind New York and London.

According to Bureau of Trade and Industry and Invest Shenzhen, by 2008, Shenzhen was host to 180 offshore service outsourcing enterprises whose services involved 15 countries and regions. In 2008, the outsourcing contract value topped US $480 million and outsourcing exports amounted to US $310 million.

In the next five years, Shenzhen’s service outsourcing sector will grow by more than 35% annually!

Shenzhen’s service outsourcing business includes many industries, such as software and IT services, finance, telecommunications, logistics, industrial design, IC design and animation design.

View of Shenzhen By now, you can already sense a great similarity in Shenzhen’s and Nusajaya’s focus.

In short, Iskandar Malaysia’s main commercial growth will start to centre on global outsourcing of many multinationals, small and medium enterprises especially those from Singapore.

pic from: Ed Cheong

Investors are best advised to look into special industry zones such as SILC, Medini, Kulai and Kempas. If you are keen to know more about the mega outsourcing potential of Iskandar Malaysia, join us in the 2013 Asia-Pacific Outsourcing Summit happening at Traders Hotel in Puteri Harbour on Oct 21-24 (www. asiapacificoutsourcingsummit.com).

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