EVENTS • NEWS • COLUMNS 6 Upcoming Events 7 Clubs and Associations 9 Expat News 11 Almost Home by Chad Merchant 12 TEG Media KL WINE DINNER 14 TEG Media KL MINGLE 16 Moroccan Vibes at Ha
Trang 1YRO 0DUFK
',6&29(5 025( $%287 <285 +20( $:$< )520 +20(
Trang 3No one questions that the Prime Minister has an overwhelming amount toaccomplish, and the challenges he faces are considerable On top of everything else,
he knows he has to win more support from Malay voters This becomes somewhatharder now that the two major opposition parties (UMNO and PAS) have put asidetheir ideological differences to work together in local by- elections and, of course, arelooking towards the next general election
As a publication with a primary focus on expats living here, we unfortunately havelittle news to share lately which indicates foreigners are seen as a relevant or valuedpart of the way forward for Malaysia In fact, rightly or wrongly, the message seems to
be almost the opposite these days
We have heard stories about expats having unexpected trouble with work permits,and while this is admittedly ‘grandmother research’ and not based on statistically validdata, it does seem as though the immigration department is slipping into its previousrole of primarily leaning towards keeping foreigners out of the country Even thetourism tax launched last year is levied against expats who visit hotels or resorts inMalaysia, despite them working here, paying taxes, and contributing to the country.When the previous government launched the Government Transformationprogramme, they made a conscious effort to keep foreigners advised what washappening, thus communicating that they valued and welcomed them in Malaysia.They even introduced a 10-year renewable visa (the Residence Pass) to encouragetalented expats to stay longer so they could contribute to the economy
There seems less interest in actively encouraging foreigners to come here in any form.The previous interest in soliciting foreign investment seems to have slipped, too, and
we have even heard of companies thinking about relocating to Singapore, which is theopposite of the previous goal of encouraging them to move here
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, which encourages olderforeigners to come and live here, has been an excellent initiative It may not have hadmuch marketing behind it, but the money these people brought with them wascertainly good for the economy For years, MM2H visa applications were handled byImmigration, and usually processed efficiently and in a timely manner Now there is amajor backlog and new applications are being handled by the Ministry of HomeAffairs, which will not even give any indication when they will process them
Obviously, this is upsetting to applicants who expect to be given some indication ofthe time frame for approval The current delay hardly sends a positive message to theinternational community
Even tourists, who can contribute billions to the economy, are not being activelyencouraged to visit Next year, 2020, was designated as Visit Malaysia Year,but there is no sign that it is being heavily promoted Meanwhile,Thailand, which used to lag behind Malaysia in tourist a l wfar surpasses us, with the resultant higher economic be f It’s not clear whether these negative issues are in any w yconnected to recognising the concerns of some Malays b “many foreigners” in the country, but whatever the reasseems to be a step backwards It could, of course, simply
be a matter of other priorities taking precedence For opart, we still feel confident that foreigners can make ameaningful contribution to the new Malaysia, bothwith their money and their skills
Have a good month
Meanwhile,arrivals, nowenefits
way
s about “tooson itplyour
Sarah Anne Lee
Contributing Writers & Photographers
David Bowden, Yukeshwaran Devadas,
Jonathan Di Rollo, Vanessa Gomes,
Helen Gray, Anis Ramli, Sim Ewe Jin
Commercial Director
Bill Cooper
Sales Team
Emily Tang, Olivia Yap,
Sisi Davison, Naomi Bessant
Finance / Admin – Senior Manager
Khoo Poh Lian
Taman Perindustrian Bukit Serdang,
43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
for more information:
Borneo Vision Sdn Bhd (295020 P)
7th Floor, Tower Block
Syed Kechik Foundation Building
Jalan Kapas, Bangsar,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03.2093 9539 / 2094 9664
Fax: 03.2094 9690 / 2094 9670
Email: sales@tegmedia.my
Trang 5The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of Borneo Vision Sdn Bhd The publisher shall not be held liable for any omission, error, or inaccuracy No parts of this publication may
be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s permission.
EVENTS • NEWS • COLUMNS
6 Upcoming Events
7 Clubs and Associations
9 Expat News
11 Almost Home by Chad Merchant
12 TEG Media KL WINE DINNER
14 TEG Media KL MINGLE
16 Moroccan Vibes at Hammam
17 Whisky and Chocolate Night
63 Penang Events
80 MM2H Update
FEATURES • FOCUS: Johor & Iskandar
18 Uncovering the History of Johor
20 Forest City: A Collision of Futuristic
Dreams and Present-Day Bureaucracy
23 A Foodie’s Guide to Johor
25 Sunway International School @ Sunway
Iskandar
27 Excelsior International School
50 The Cuban Connection
52 Art: The Seaweed is Always Greener in
32 Your List of Must-Visit Attractions in Johor
36 The Road to Old Terengganu
40 Bali’s Southern Charms
46 The Culinary Capital of Bali
48 Airline and Travel News
EDUCATION
58 School Snaps
61 Sunway Education: Adaptive Reuse
Towards a Regenerative Heritage
EXPAT INFORMATION
67 Introduction
69 Dining Promos & Restaurant Reviews
76 Services and Shopping
46
18
56
71
TO READ ONLINE OR GET YOUR
FREE COPY OF THE EXPAT
DELIVERED EVERY MONTH,
VISIT EXPATGO.COM CALL 03.2094 9664 OR
FILL IN THE FORM ON PAGE 62.
40COVER ARTIST: ELLIE YONG • STORY PG 52
36
Trang 68SFRPLQJ (YHQWV
Sunny Side Up Market
Celebrating Women
In preparation for International
Women’s Day, Sunny Side Up Market
celebrates women entrepreneurs by
hosting a community market
highlighting over 35 homegrown
businesses by women Join them for
two fun-filled, feel-good days to
support them at Slate, The Row
(beside Sheraton Imperial Hotel)
FoodGasm Fest
Soak up some tropical sun with a fun
picnic and lots of good food! The
FoodGasm Fest is back and better than
ever at Tropicana Metropark, Subang
Jaya with their newly implemented
‘go-green’ rule! Not only will there be an
array of Instagram-worthy food, there
will be no plastic bags and straws for
unsightly littering and environmental
harm Remember to bring your own
chairs, mats, and umbrellas for the best
outdoor experience!
Evelyn Lim Organ Recital
Enjoy a selection of exhilarating organ
works by Dr Evelyn Lim on the majestic
Klais Pipe Organ at the Dewan
Filharmonik Petronas For tickets priced
as low as RM28, her experience and skilland the astounding 2,977-pipe organpresented in an intimate recital setting
is one not to miss
MATTA Fair KL
The ultimate travel extravaganza fair isback! Get amazing deals from hotels,airlines, travel packages and more atgreat values for both business andholiday opportunities Spreading over29,000 sq m at PWTC’s exhibition hall,come and make your dream vacation areality as soon as possible!
Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2019
Organised by the Ministry of EducationMalaysia via the National Book Council
of Malaysia (NBCM), the KLIBF returnsfor its sixth consecutive year! Theevent to be at for the best of Malaysia’sbook industry, come through to fulfilall your book-loving needs at the PutraWorld Trade Centre (PWTC)
MyBalloonFiesta
Celebrate a whole decade ofMyBalloonFiesta! Coming back for its10th year, this one is going to be hot(and not just with all the balloonburners prepping for the big day) And
in conjunction, MyBalloonClub isoffering members exclusiveopportunities to enjoy a live jazz band,gourmet buffet breakfast, balloonrides, and complimentary tickets to theFiesta’s Night Session MyBalloonClubpackage is offered Saturday (30thMarch) and Sunday (31st March)morning only and tickets are availablefor purchase online Limited slots areavailable For more info, check outtheir official website at
by MIA, organized by UnusualEntertainment, and with Star Planet assupporting partner, ticket sales alreadycommenced on 19th January atticketcharge.com.my
Zee Avi + NJWA
The Queens of the Malaysian musicscene are coming together for apower-packed celebration in honour ofInternational Women’s Day DewanMerdeka, Putra World Trade Center(PWTC) will be filled with Zee Avi’ssoulful tunes, and be complementedwith NJWA’s own neo-soul sound that
is making her a rising favourite ininternational airwaves Tickets can bepurchased at airasiaredtix.com
Trang 7&OXEV DQG $VVRFLDWLRQV
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
MALAYSIA
BINGO
Date: First Tuesday of each month
When: 10am – 11am
Where: Little Sisters of the Poor,
3 Jalan 5/96
Cost: FOC
RSVP: eventsdirector.aam@gmail.com
Bring fun and joy to the residents of
“The Little Sisters of the Poor” with this
fun game! Donations for men’s and
women’s clothing as well as small gifts
for bingo prizes are greatly
appreciated
GENTLEMEN’S NIGHT OUT
Date: First Wednesday of each month
When: 6pm
Where: Taps Beer Bar, 1 Jalan Nagasari
COST: Individual
RSVP: eventsdirector.aam@gmail.com
An informal evening for men to
socialize with other expats, sample
some craft beers, great grub, a game of
pool or darts, or just enjoy a chat on
For those looking out to try new lunch
venues and foods like Thai, French,
Indian or even American
Gather for a chat over handicrafts of all
sorts! Quilting, crocheting, knitting,
beading, you name it!
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH WOMEN
Where: Member house rotation in
Bangsar/Damansara area
RSVP: Margaret - 012 344 6880 BOOKER BOOK CLUB
Date: Every six weeks, Thursday When: Lunchtime
Where: N/A RSVP: Carole (thefarrands@btinternet.
com)
PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB
Multi level We organise regulartechnical or creative workshops in theABWM house or go out together on a
‘photo break’
Contact: Harriet - abwmphotoclub@
gmail.com or find on Facebook ABWM Photo Club
-MALAYSIAN AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION (MANZA)
MINI MANZA Date: Tuesdays When: 10am – 12pm Where: Locations vary, KL area Cost: N/A
RSVP: Peita Conway – 012 712 2307,
minimanzakl@gmail.comPlaygroup for children, mingle withother parents
WELCOME TO MANZA MORNING TEA Date: Every 2nd Thursday When: 10am – 12pm Where: MANZA house Cost: N/A RSVP: MANZA house,
+603-2284 7145Meet other newcomers and ‘longtermers’ in Kuala Lumpur forinformation about life in Malaysia andKL
-Å¿ t³U>¶ >>϶>
-¿ _³gÍ°¶ -Ug¿Ï -¿ *>¿³U°¶ -Ug¿Ï t -g>y³
Trang 9DENGUE CASES ON THE RISE
There has been an alarming increase in
cases of dengue this year compared to
last year The disease, which causes
aching muscles and joints and is
typically accompanied by a body rash,
headaches, and fever If is also
common for it to be accompanied by a
pain behind the eyes A test by your
local doctor can quite quickly
determine if you do have dengue and,
although uncomfortable, you can
usually recover within a week or so
However, serious cases can lead to
hospitalisation, and it can potentially
be fatal if ignored, though this is
extremely uncommon The large
majority of dengue cases are, in fact,
asymptomatic or present only very
mild symptoms
Make sure you protect yourself from
mosquito bites, and do not leave
empty containers in places where
water can collect and stagnate, as this
is where the mosquitos can breed The
dengue virus is transmitted to humans
by the bite of the female Aedes
mosquito, particularly A aegypti.
WANG KELIAN: WILL THE TRUTH
BE REVEALED?
The government has decided to set up
a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to
look into the shameful Wang Kerian
affair In May 2015, the Thais
discovered a number of camps on the
Malaysia-Thailand border used by
human trafficking gangs who were
smuggling refugees, many of whom
were Rohingyas from Myanmar, into
Malaysia They found cages which
housed women and men, kept under
armed guard, and even worse,
discovered mass graves and some say
possible evidence of people being
tortured and murdered
The Malaysian police joined the search
and eventually 28 camps and some
150 human remains were discovered
The New Straits Times carried out its
own investigation as they wereapparently not satisfied with responsesgiven by the Malaysian police, anddiscovered that the police were alreadyaware of the camps before the Thaiscarried out raids, but had donenothing They also stated that thepolice destroyed the camps beforethey were subjected to thoroughforensic investigations It also seems anumber of officials and Malaysiangangs were directly or indirectlyinvolved in the trafficking
There is no question that the refugeeswere very badly treated, but the actualcause of death of those who died wasnever properly ascertained or madepublic Despite many people beingprosecuted in Thailand, there was littlesuch action in Malaysia, leading towidespread suspicion in Malaysia thatthere was a cover-up The RCI is meant
to correct that impression
WHEN WILL NAJIB COURT CASE START?
There was a general expectation thatonce the opposition won the electionlast May that former Prime MinisterNajib would be quickly arrested andtried There was, after all,
overwhelming evidence that a lot ofmoney had been stolen from 1MDB, asovereign wealth fund which Najibpersonally headed
However, the new governmentwanted to do things by the book andalso needed to gather their ownevidence, not least because the formerAttorney General had already clearedNajib of any wrongdoing
Najib’s main line of defence,meanwhile, seems to be that he wasnot aware where the various funds hereceived originated from and thereforecannot be held accountable if it isproven they were stolen He has beenvery active in recent months reachingout to Malaysians, often via social
media, to win their support andempathy while continuously makingnegative comments about the newadministration This has been veryfrustrating to many Malaysians,although Najib still seems to have quite
a lot of support from rural Malays whoare strong supporters of the twoopposition parties, UMNO and PAS
GOVERNMENT SETS UP ECONOMIC ACTION COUNCIL
Malaysia’s economy grew at 5.7% in
2017, but slowed in 2018 The finalfigure has not yet been released but it’sexpected to be around 4.7% A similargrowth is expected this year Externaldemand is clearly a factor but Malaysia
is also facing problems with its ownfinances some of it related to theactivities of the previousadministration
To assist in addressing these issuesPrime Minister Mahathir hasannounced the formation of a newcouncil, called the Economic ActionCouncil (EAC) It will advise on the bestpath for the economy and suggestways to strengthen the economy andensure it moves in the right direction.They are also tasked with addressingthe public’s concerns like the rising cost
of living
The council is made up of 16 seniorfigures from the current and formergovernment and the private sector.Prime Minister Mahathir will chair theEAC which includes the outspokenformer International Trade andIndustry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz,
as well as the highly respected formerCentral Bank Governor Tan Sri ZetiAkhtar Aziz
They have a challenging job as it isimportant that a sustainable economicmodel can be firmly established whichcan guide all the government
departments’ actions
Trang 11Ihave always been two people Or
perhaps it’s more accurate to say
I’ve always been part of two
people Not fully either of them,
but possessing some of the traits of
both I’m not entirely a creative
dreamer, but I do have some streaks
of artistic inspiration from time to
time I’m also not entirely disciplined
and logical, but I do operate from a
general platform of pragmatism Just
as the “jack of all trades, master of
none” axiom applies to my skills and
abilities, it also seems to be equally
true of my whole personality! So
when I do have these bursts of
creative or philosophical insight, it’s
always just as surprising to me as it is
when I approach something with
total, objective detachment (Spoiler
alert: Neither of these scenarios
happens very frequently.)
So there I was, sitting at an open-air
breakfast on a recent solo trip All the
elements were in place for inspiration
– a fabulous island, a boundless, blue
morning sky with fluffy clouds drifting
lazily to far-off destinations, the
crashing surf of the ocean just nearby,
and plenty of good food And then I
saw this trio of large seabirds, not
quite flying, but seemingly suspended
in midair, riding the onshore wind
blowing in from the surf I had never
seen anything like it Usually, birds
glide to conserve energy, but they still
move; their position in the sky
changes as they soar in lazy circles
These birds were almost totally
stationary, though They were big
birds, too – in fact, I initially thought
people were on the beach flying kites
– and they somehow seemed to be
holding a static position in the sky It
was amazing – they weren’t flying, and
they weren’t really even gliding They
were just floating there, hovering
somehow At first, I tried to work it out
they hop around on the ground most
of the time, all in a bid to conserveenergy Second, I realised that whilebirds obviously have the incrediblyenviable gift of flight, look at the cost.They have wings, sure, but considerwhat we have instead Arms Hands.When you think of it this way, it’spretty clear who came out better
When humans dream of having thepower of flight, it probably involvessome manner of keeping both arms
and hands and still being able to fly.
What if you were offered the gift offlight, though? Sure, you can fly! Hereare your wings! The price, you ask?Just your hands Who among us would
be so keen to fly then? I can’t imagine
a life without the use of my hands.Even getting through an hour withoutusing my hands would be incrediblychallenging
So like most things in life, there’s atrade-off There’s always anopportunity cost, it seems, and so thevarious evolutionary gifts each speciespossesses comes with a little caveat
No, humans cannot fly, but look at allthat we can do with our hands, surely asamazing and awe-inspiring as anything
a bird can do with a pair of wings
I’ve always been fascinated by flight, abit of a passion that has done
everything from getting me in trouble
in math class (for drawing airplanesduring the lesson) to seeing me buy
my own little four-seater airplane 19years ago and taking lessons of anentirely different kind But you know,
as magnificent as it was learning how
to pilot a small airplane, there wassomething just as special found insitting there at that beachsiderestaurant on a brilliant holidaymorning, marvelling as I watched thoseoriginal masters of flight, effortlesslyperforming their own piloting magic
almost home
TEG Media’s Group Editor Chad Merchant chose to move from the United States to Malaysia in 2008
to experience living in a different country Now, over 10 years later, he certainly recognises those
differences, yet feels, in some ways, almost home Feel free to drop a line to chad@tegmedia.my.
(the logical side of me) – how werethey doing it? They weren’t flappingtheir wings They weren’t beingpushed inland by the stiff breeze
They were staying put I surmised thatthe wind speed was just right to allowthis phenomenon, and as I wasworking it out in my head, a fourthbird joined in, and I found myselfwondering if this was as cool for thebirds as it was for me Maybe this isn’tsomething that they get to do veryoften Maybe it’s one of those special
“aligning of the planets” momentswith wind speed, direction, humidity,and everything coming together justright to permit them to spread theirwings and just remain almostmotionless, suspended magicallyaloft Like us driving to work andcatching every green light and notgetting slowed down by a jam… just areally cool and rare thing Was it likethat for them?
Then the creative side jumped in, Ithink, and I realised that for millennia,mankind has been watching birds
Watching them fly, dive, soar, glide…
watching with wonder and with envy
How incredible it would be to fly! Ican’t imagine in the entire history ofthe human race that there have beentoo many of us who haven’t wantedthis special gift that has beenbestowed almost exclusively to birds
Talk about avoiding the morning jam
on the way to work!
Later on, during that same breakfast,some much smaller and morecommon birds came calling, hoppingaround the empty tables nearby,looking for crumbs and finding farmore And watching them, two thingsoccurred to me First, once again, isthat birds don’t generally fly unlessthere is a real need In the sky, theyglide whenever they can Otherwise,
A Wish for Wings… Or Not
Trang 12restaurant with a selection of wineschosen by Straits Wine Company.
Dinner started off with amuse
bouche of crab aioli tartlets with
Cornichons, and wild mushroombruschetta, paired with an Argentine
El Grill Torrontes The starter was aspring salad consisting of searedscallops and prawns with shimejimushrooms, snow peas, and red radish,herring caviar, and passionfruit salsa.This went with a Spanish Terras GaudaAbadia De San Campio Albarino.For the main course, we had duck legconfit served with red wine poachedpear and a pineapple and gingerreduction With this we had a choice of
an Argentine El Grill Malbec, or SpanishVina Pedrosa Cepa Gavilan Crianza Ourdessert of orange lemon tart servedwith cookie crumble and vanilla icecream was finished off with flair, afitting finish to the hearty meal
Trang 13If you’d like to attend our next Wine Dinner,
please log on to expatgo.com/my/events
or e-mail anne@tegmedia.my for
registration and the latest updates.
See you next time!
1H[W
Trang 14T E G mingle
THE EXPAT WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
Sala Rooftop Bar
Sheraton Petaling Jaya
Lorong Utara C, PJS 52
46200 Petaling Jaya
Our last Mingle went undeterred by thetropical rains, and Sala Rooftop Bar atglitzy Sheraton Petaling Jaya proved itselfthe perfect venue for looking over the citywith all its splendid night lights With Sala’scosy and stylish Mediterranean-themedspace, a night of easy vibes and fun chatterwere made complete with over 65 guests
in attendance
A lovely spread of food such as minisliders, quesadillas, and a build-your-own-nachos bar (all with chicken or beefoptions), along with chicken wings, Pattayafried noodles, rich chocolate brownies, andfresh fruit to top it all off was beautifullypresented The small portions encouragedeveryone to go beyond just one plateful.Guinness Stout, Tiger Beer, Strongbow,and Heineken were offered compliments
of the fine team at Heineken Bhd., and redand white wines were also available.Lucky draw winners received tickets tothe Mini Zoo at KL Tower and Farm in TheCity, F&B vouchers, coupons for L’OréalHair Spa Treatment, and two bottles ofwine graciously sponsored by Sala Bar.The Mingle is always an exciting affairthanks to familiar faces ready to welcomenewcomers to the exciting scene of KualaLumpur, and to catch up with both newand old friends over drinks, food, and goodmusic, all at a great value
Salutations
at Sala
Sala Rooftop Bar
Sheraton Petaling Jaya
Lorong Utara C, PJS 52
46200 Petaling Jaya
Our last Mingle went undeterred by thetropical rains, and Sala Rooftop Bar atglitzy Sheraton Petaling Jaya proved itselfthe perfect venue for looking over the citywith all its splendid night lights With Sala’scosy and stylish Mediterranean-themedspace, a night of easy vibes and fun chatterwere made complete with over 65 guests
in attendance
A lovely spread of food such as minisliders, quesadillas, and a build-your-own-nachos bar (all with chicken or beefoptions), along with chicken wings, Pattayafried noodles, rich chocolate brownies, andfresh fruit to top it all off was beautifullypresented The small portions encouragedeveryone to go beyond just one plateful.Guinness Stout, Tiger Beer, Strongbow,and Heineken were offered compliments
of the fine team at Heineken Bhd., and redand white wines were also available.Lucky draw winners received tickets tothe Mini Zoo at KL Tower and Farm in TheCity, F&B vouchers, coupons for L’OréalHair Spa Treatment, and two bottles ofwine graciously sponsored by Sala Bar.The Mingle is always an exciting affairthanks to familiar faces ready to welcomenewcomers to the exciting scene of KualaLumpur, and to catch up with both newand old friends over drinks, food, and goodmusic, all at a great value
Salutations
at Sala
Trang 15Tag your photos at TEG Mingle on facebook.com/TheExpatMalaysia
1H[W
Date : 14th March 2019 (Thursday)
Time : 7pm – 9pm
Venue : GinRikSha Restaurant & Bar
37, Ground Floor, Plaza Damansara,Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara,
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Prices:
Entrance fee (soft drinks) + food
TEG Members Price: RM30
Non-Cardholders: RM40
Entrance fee (free flow beer) + food
TEG Members Price: RM60
Non-Cardholders: RM75
Entrance fee (3 glasses of wine) + food
TEG Members Price: RM80
Non-Cardholders: RM95
Entrance fee with bottle of wine + food
TEG Members Price 1 PAX: RM95 • 2 PAX: RM115
Non-Cardholders 1 PAX: RM120 • 2 PAX: RM145
Extra glass of wine:RM15
Please note that payment needs to be done during
registration at the venue
Register online at http://mingle.expatgo.com
or call 03.2094 9664
Our next Mingle takes place at Gin Rik Sha Restaurantand Bar in the fashionable town of Damansara Heights.With a beautiful selection of Indian-Fusion food anddrinks, look forward to a night of exciting vibes and
youthful fun No doubt to be a great night for
socialising, so see you there!
Gin Rik Sha
Restaurant & Bar
Our next Mingle takes place at Gin Rik Sha Restaurantand Bar in the fashionable town of Damansara Heights.With a beautiful selection of Indian-Fusion food anddrinks, look forward to a night of exciting vibes and
youthful fun No doubt to be a great night for
socialising, so see you there!
Gin Rik Sha
Restaurant & Bar
Tag your photos at TEG Mingle on facebook.com/TheExpatMalaysia
Trang 16Moroccan Vibes at Hammam
TEG MEDIA’S second collaboration
event with Hammam Spa on 17
January 2019 turned out just as
successful as the previous one This
time the event was sponsored by USJ
Eye Specialist The event was held
exclusively for members of the
Association of British Women in
Malaysia (ABWM), and we had a great
time hosting the ladies at Hammam
Spa in Publika As soon as everyone
had completed their registration and
excited greetings at seeing familiar
faces, the easy and welcoming
ambiance of the spa helped us all to
relax as we looked forward to the day’s
activities Refreshing Moroccan mint
tea was served, and the staff were
lovely and helpful as they ushered the
guests to join the different stations set
up for some delightful pampering
When the spa activities were
completed, everyone moved onto the
medical part of the event USJ Eye
Specialist centre set up areas where
guests could get their eyes checked,
have their eyesight range tested, as
well as be screened for possible
glaucoma The USJ personnel were
professional and helpful as they saw
to each guest’s brief consultation
USJ Eye Specialist founder and
consultant ophthalmologist, Dr Yap
Soon Lek, conducted a very
informative talk on the importance of
eye checks in order to spot glaucoma
in its early stages He provided the
audience with a detailed presentation
and explanation on the early signs of
cataracts, and the treatment options
that are available the specialist centre
Dr Yap also spoke about the various
advanced technological equipment at
USJ, and how they help detect early
onset glaucoma and cataracts In the
event that advanced cases are found,
treatment will focus on corrective
surgery followed by specific after care
He was patient to answer any
questions posed over uncertainties in
treatments, and was very assuring
about the kind of help that patients
would receive at USJ Eye Specialist
events
Dr Yap, being the founder, has a vastamount of experience in his specializedfield as an ophthalmologist, andcataract surgeon, consulting inMalaysia, Singapore, and the UnitedKingdom His impressive credentialsinclude being a graduate of Medicinefrom The University of Edinburgh,Master of Medicine in Ophthalmologyfrom The National University ofSingapore, as well as Master ofOphthalmology from The University ofMalaya He is also a Robert Wilsonmedal winner, a member of The RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Edinburghspecializing in Ophthalmology, and is acertified LASIK surgeon by SingaporeNational Eye Centre (SNEC) andImplantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Thisfully assures his patients that they are
in the best possible care at USJ
Once the medical talk was over,guests were entertained with a livelyand exotic performance by aprofessional belly dancer In additionthe excitements of cheering the bellydancer on, a few of the ladies wereeven pulled up to join her in swayingtheir hips to the music When all thefun activities were over, guests got totuck into a lavish Moroccan buffetlunch ending the event on a trulyhigh note Everyone had a reallygood time, as well as learned a gooddeal on the importance of getting oureyes checked We would like offer areally big thank you once again toHammam Spa, and USJ EyeSpecialist centre for helping us toput the event together We willdefinitely be looking forward to thenext one
Trang 17Whisky and Chocolate Night
It was a great night recently at The Cabinet, Bangsar’s
swanky new whisky and cigar lounge on Lorong Maarof,
when a sold-out gathering of aficionados were treated
to a custom-curated pairing of Japanese whiskies and
artisan single-origin chocolate creations
This event, the first of several this year to be organised by The
Cabinet and TEG Media, featured a range of expressions from
Nikka Whisky, one of Japan’s biggest and most well-regarded
distilleries, and specially crafted creations from Malaysia’s own
Chocolate Concierge
The four Nikka whiskies were paired with specific chocolate
treats, each of which was crafted with a distinctly Japanese
accent The first pairing was a Nikka From The Barrel coupled
with a Whipped Matcha Peanut Open-Shell Truffle, which
set everyone’s palates buzzing The next pair in the line-up
featured as many guest’s favourite, a flavour-packed Sakura
Bon Bon enrobed in White Milk Chocolate Ganache,
complemented by a dram of Nikka Pure Malt The similarly
named but distinctly different Nikka All Malt was up next,
and it paired beautifully with a Yuzu and Honey Dark
Chocolate Finally, the Nikka Yoichi Single Malt was teamed
up perfectly with a Red Miso and Caramel Namaleka with a
Cacao Bloom Garnish
Everyone on hand had a great time and raved about the
quality chocolates from Chocolate Concierge and the superb
ambiance at The Cabinet, not to mention the good value
offered by this exclusive Nikka Whisky pairing If you’re
interested in ensuring you hear about the next
whisky-themed event at The Cabinet, just drop an email to
anne@tegmedia.my and we’ll add you to the list!
theconnoisseurscabinet | chocconcierge
@the_connoisseurs_cabinet | @chocconcierge
Trang 18Uncovering the
History of Johor
There is a saying that states,
“You have to know the past to
understand the present”, and
nowhere is this more
important than here in Malaysia I
moved to Johor Bahru, the capital city
of the southernmost state of Johor, in
2015, and I was surprised to find that
the main road through the centre of
town was named after Wong Ah Fook,
and, that the Heritage Area of Johor
Bahru was named after Tan Hiok Nee,
both of them Chinese! So, I began to
delve into the history of Johor Bahru
to learn more about the relationship
between the Malay Sultans and the
Chinese community here
At first, I thought the story of Johor
Bahru started in February 1819 with the
arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in
Singapore and the signing of the
Singapore Treaty whereby the Malay
rulers of Johor gave trading rights in
Singapore to the British East India
Company in return for a handsome
pension The power of the Malay chiefs
(Sultan Hussein and Temenggong
Abdul Rahman) subsequently waned
under the influence of the British and
in 1824, the Treaty of Friendship and
Alliance fully ceded Singapore to the
British East India Company, leaving the
Sultan and the Temenggong to ponder
life’s ironies Needless to say, they were
not going to let things lie, as they had a
long and deeply entrenched tradition
driving their destinies
Most of what we know about the early
history of Johor comes from the Malay
Annals (the Serajah Melayu), written by
Bendahara Tun Sri Muhamad in 1613
This is considered a semi-historical
document, designed in part to remind
focus: johor and iskandar
people of their place in society, i.e., therelationship between the ruler and hissubjects And it begins by evoking thespirit of Alexander the Great (IskandarZulkarnain), and claiming a directdescendancy from him
By piecing together stories from theMalay Annals with written accountsfrom Chinese and Portuguese sailors,the story goes that the rebellious Hinduprince Sri Tri Buana fled from theSrivajayan capital, Palembang, Sumatra
in 1299 and took over the settlement ofTemasek The settlement was renamedSingapura which prospered for fivegenerations in the 14th century, but wasfrequently attacked by rival Javanese ofthe Majapahit Kingdom and the rulers
of Siam (Thailand) The last Hindu ruler
of Singapura, named Parameswara,abandoned Singapura for the jungles ofthe Malay Peninsula following attacksfrom Siam around 1396
In 1398, Parameswara arrived on thebanks of the Muar River Today the site
of Parameswara’s base at Kota BiawakBusuk (Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizards)has been replaced by the BentayanExpress Bus Station If you look down atthe riverbank, you can still see themonitor lizards!
He moved further inland along theMuar River and eventually settled inMelaka, establishing a trading portfavoured by Muslim traders from Indiaand China The Chinese Muslim AdmiralZheng He frequently traded in Muarand Melaka and under his influence,Parameswara married a Muslimprincess and took a Muslim name,becoming known as Iskandar Shah In
1411, he visited the Ming Emperor Yung
A resident of Johor Bahru, expat Helen Gray recounts a detailed history of
the state’s monarchs in her fascinating walking tour.
Makam Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah
Site of the Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizards
Sultan Hussein’s tomb
Trang 19Lo, who gave him protection against the
Siamese and presented the now official
Sultan of Malacca with gifts, including a
yellow umbrella From this time
onwards, the Malay Sultans have used
yellow as the colour of royalty, but it
was not until the reign of Sultan Abu
Syahid Shah (r.1444-1446) that the
Islamic faith became the official religion
of the Sultanate
As a Chinese tributary, the Melaka
Sultanate expanded over much of the
Malay Peninsula, the Riau Islands, the
northern coast of Sumatra, and
Singapura, and was at its zenith under
Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah I
(r.1477-1488) whose mausoleum is on the site
of his palace in Pagoh
His successor, Sultan Mahmud Shah,
distracted by his love of women, let
corrupt officials alienate local Chinese
traders, and so the Portuguese found
less opposition than expected when
they attacked Melaka in 1511 Sultan
Mahmud Shah fled to Muar where he
built the Kubu Bentayan fort, also near
the current bus station
But despite Imperial China’s protests,
soon Muar was also lost and the Sultan
fled to Bintan, and again to Sumatra
where he died in 1528 His two sons
then established themselves, one as
the Sultan of Perak and the other along
the Johor River, as the Sultan of Johor
The Johor Sultans proved very
successful as maritime traders,
attracting the Chinese market and
rivalling Melaka and Aceh, but wereconstantly at war, repeatedly having tomove their administration up and downthe river Their main fort at Johor Lama
is the best preserved of the Johor Riverforts and has an excellent smallmuseum worth visiting
In 1699, the last of the Melakan lineage,Sultan Mahmud Shah II, was
assassinated His chief minister, theBendahara, took over as Sultan AbdulJalil Riayat Shah IV In 1700, he offeredSingapura to a British merchant,Captain Alexander Hamilton, hopingthe British would protect him againstRaja Kecil, who claimed to be the son ofMahmud Shah II The Captain declinedthe offer and, unfortunately, theBendahara was assassinated Hisnephew appealed for help from theBugis in Sulawesi, who installed him asSultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah
Then throughout the 18th century theJohor Sultans and the Bugis vied forcontrol In 1790, trying to escape Bugisrule, another Sultan Mahmud Shah (III)who became a hunted wanderer, alliedwith Ilanun pirates from Borneo But in
1795, he struck a deal with the Dutchand established his rule in Johor Then in
1806, he appointed Abdul Rahman – ofBugis stock – to be Temenggong ofRiau, seemingly resolving their issues
In 1811, Temenggong Abdul Rahmanmoved to Singapore to set up gambierplantations with 30 Chinese plantersand a number of Malay families And in
1812, Sultan Mahmud Shah died setting
loose a succession dispute, which brings
us to 1819 when Sir Stamford Rafflesseized his opportunity, backingTemenggong Abdul Rahman’s preferredcandidate, Sultan Hussein, in exchangefor a British trading post
In 1824, the British undermined theirposition and their future looked bleak,but Temenggong Abdul Rahman’s sonDaeng Ibrahim restored his familyfortunes by inviting the Ngee HengKongsi, a Chinese Secret Society, tomove from Singapore to Johor toestablish gambier and pepperplantations In 1855, he moved hisgovernment from Singapore to TanjungPuteri in Johor, renaming it an
inspirational Iskandar Puteri Then in
1866, with some brilliant PR work, itbecame Johor Bahru (new Johor) underDaeng Ibrahim’s son, Abu Bakar, a manwith a vision of a modern state
Meanwhile though, Sultan Hussein,unable to move with the times, died in
1835 in modest accommodation inMalacca, somewhere on Jalan Tun TanCheng Lock, and is buried next to theTranquerah Mosque
His son Ali, considered merely theson of a usurper of the throne,struggled to gain recognition as heirand died in debt, often bailed out bythe man he schemed to replace,Sultan Abu Bakar
If you are interested in learning more about the founding of Johor Bahru as seen in its buildings and streets, the author has produced an excellent self-guided tour book, Johor
Bahru: A Walking History Tour,
available from helengray.net.
Kota Johor Lama Museum
Trang 20Forest City: A Collision
of Futuristic Dreams and
Present-Day Bureaucracy
The special economic zone of
Iskandar was established 13
years ago on 8 November
2006 by the state of Johor, as
its main southern development
corridor at the tip of the Malaysian
peninsular Founded under a 2005
government-requested feasibility
study by the country’s sovereign wealth
fund – Khazanah Nasional – the region
was said to be an economically and
socially beneficial development
project According to the Ninth
Malaysia Plan in 2006, Iskandar was
considered to be a high-impact
development plan; since then, the
economic zone has amassed US$47
billion in committed investments
alone, which is around 41% of the
targeted amount that Iskandar aims to
achieve by 2025
Named after the 24th Sultan of Johor,
Almarhum Sultan Iskandar ibni
Almarhum Sultan Ismail, it looks like
the grand old state of ancient
monarchs have joined the frenzied
race of 21st-century modern
development, and it comes in the
image of Forest City – a brand-new
futuristic island metropolis targeted for
completion between 2035 and 2040
Enter Country Garden, a Chinese
property development company
named as one of Forbes Asia’s Fab Top
50 companies, with a market
capitalization of over US$8 billion as of
2014 They have produced over 200
high-end township developments
throughout China, Malaysia, and
Australia, and in these markets
focus: johor and iskandar
long-development value in excess of US$29billion in a span of 20 years
In addition to being anenvironmentally consciousdevelopment with sky-scrapingfuturistic buildings sprouting anabundance of plant life, Forest Cityclaims to be a fully “smart’ city withproperties using the latest
technologies to provide built-insecurity systems with facialrecognition, and 24-hour surveillance
by Nepali Gurkha-trained guards
It will also be the first city in the world
to introduce underground roads to itsmulti-tiered urban living plan This is inthe hopes for the main spaces above
to be pollution-free and uncongested,with the exception of a high-speedelectric rail system as a means ofpublic transport, as well as to connectthe city to Singapore
AN AWARD-WINNING METROPOLIS OF THE FUTURE
Forest City’s admirable plans ofenriching biodiversity and sustaininglocal greenery in a tech- smartsetting have won them the UnitedNations Sustainable Cities andHuman Settlements Awards threetimes to date, as well as seven otherenvironmental design awards! Ithas been reported that there arecurrently no other in-the-plan citieswith their particular blueprint of urbanforests creating a natural barrier tocontrol carbon emissions, as well asbeing equipped with rainwaterconservation systems
With so much focus on maintaining aharmonious balance between modernurbanization and environmentalawareness, it does seem ratherbizarre that the reclamation for thecity’s four man-made islands were
“approved” for commencement in
2014 without a legally requiredDetailed Environmental ImpactAssessment (DEIA)
It was only when Singapore startedasking questions about the potentialeffects the reclamation works wouldcause in their shared coastal waterswith Malaysia that a DEIA permit wasobtained by Country Garden By thenthe damage caused was alreadyapparent Forest City’s landscapedbeach on its first island and extendedcauseway cuts into the country’slargest seagrass meadow, alteringcurrents, and threatening the fragileecosystem’s biodiversity
Trang 21Also deeply affected is the Pulai River
Mangrove Forest Reserve, a RAMSAR
(UNESCO Convention of Wetlands)
site, that has been ripped up to make
way for one of three golf courses
designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus
This is most definitely not an isolated
phenomenon, as certain countries
around the world have been opting to
replace actual nature with man-made
environments amid cries of global
warming destabilization And yet, only
the sparkling new façades prevail, but
at what cost?
THE THREAT OF
ECONOMIC COLONIZATION
In the words of their promotional
video, “A prime model for future
cities,” Country Garden’s US$100
billion project has yet to reach such
lofty heights with what seems to be
caveats cropping up around their
glittery artificial shorelines
They come in the formidable form of
re-instated nonagenarian Prime
Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin
Mohamad, as he openly objected to
the project citing that it wasn’t built
for Malaysians, and that he wasn’t
willing to give out permanent visas for
foreigners looking to buy homes on
Malaysian soil, partly because this was
a project that the current government
had no hand in, seeing as they took
office in a shock landslide win in the
historic May 2018 elections With
accommodations designed for
luxurious living, just a two-bedroom
apartment is said to cost at least
US$170,000, going up to almostUS$1.4 million for a four-bedroomhouse What’s extraordinary is,almost 80% of all units on the firstisland have already been sold tomostly Chinese nationals, whom theproject was primarily marketed to inits initial phases
As soon as reports flooded out aboutTun Dr Mahathir’s aversion to ForestCity, representatives of CountryGarden stated that the PrimeMinister’s words may have been takenout of context, and that they areworking with the current government
to establish proper clarifications onthe matter Reports from a week latersaw Housing and Local GovernmentMinister Zuraida Kamaruddin say thatthey will converge with Country Garden
in hopes of properly understanding theproject before submitting a detailedreport to the cabinet This has beenconsistent with Pakatan Harapan’s
“10 promises in 100 days” pledge
Adding to the predicament is theChinese government themselves,who have clamped down on foreignproperty investments limitingcapital flight in order to strengthenChina’s currency, and stabilize theirforeign reserves This has thrown
a very big wrench into the alreadytroubled project, which now seesChinese nationals who have investedadvanced down payments for theirunits, unable to complete payments
as they now have a US$50,000 limitper person on foreign moneytransfers annually
UNCERTAIN TIMES AHEAD
In a rush to conduct damage control,Country Garden have since closed theirsales offices in China, and “shifted theirsales strategy internationally,” searchingfor new customers in the Middle East,Japan, Thailand, and elsewhere
Conflictingly, they have yet to revealtheir 2017 sales figures and their officialspokesperson have gone on record tosay that they might not continue withthe rest of the development until salesdemands go up again This comesamong rising concerns that the overlyambitious project could very well turnout to be a white elephant sitting in thesouthern corridor
This now definitely serves as acautionary tale for any foreigndevelopment in the country goingforward after the upheaval of the lastgovernment which left a trail ofmonumental debt A great questionpertaining to this would be where arethe contingency plans in both trying toaccommodate local needs as well asinviting foreign investments withoutdestroying anymore natural flora andfauna? What will be the future of ForestCity seeing as Malaysia is currentlyexperiencing a property glut that hasbeen reported to be the worst since the
1999 Asian Financial Crisis?
Tightened by so much red tape andleaving the population with morequestions than answers, it can only besaid that time will tell For now, thetangible image of what the future willlook like must still remain in utopianHollywood flicks
Trang 225DIÁHV AmericanSchool
)LQG 2XW0RUH
Trang 23A Foodie’s Guide to Johor
Romans do but when in
Johor, you better be
ready to eat like a
Johorean While the more
commercialised areas of Johor cater to
the neighbouring country of Singapore,
Johor has quite a few local dishes that
keep the state grounded to its roots
Rich in culture and history, most of
Johor’s popular and signature dishes
have a story to tell
focus: johor and iskandar
long as Johorians can remember, thedish was always prepared withspaghetti
also seen as a tool to not only broadcastnews and entertainment shows but italso brought people together in ahousehold, and for Goh Tong Tor,Kluang Coffee founder, these were thevalues he wanted to instil, hence heused a television set as his brand logo,hoping to produce coffee of the highestquality so that it is seen in everyhousehold, while bringing familiestogether with a good cup of coffee
First time visiting Johor? Vanessa Gomes compiles a list of must-try
Johorean dishes, some of which have a rich history behind them.
LAKSA JOHOR
Most people are familiar with curry
laksa served with yellow egg noodles
and assam laksa, which is served with
thick rice noodles, but a distinctive
feature of the Johor laksa is that it uses
spaghetti instead The spaghetti is
topped with a thick-curry like gravy that
contains a mix of herbs including
galangal, lemongrass, and kerisik (fried
coconut paste), along with ground fish,
dried shrimp, coconut milk, and asam
gelugur (Garcinia cambogia) Adding
texture, colour, and acting as a garnish,
mint leaves, cucumber, onion, white
radish, and beansprouts are placed on
top The dish usually comes with a side
of sambal belacan (dried shrimp paste)
and half a lime, which is to be
generously squeezed all over the
noodles before eating
The history of this dish starts with the
‘Founder of Modern Johor,’ Sultan Abu
Bakar, who was said to be the first
Malay ruler to visit Europe in 1866 and
during his time there, told the royal
chefs to prepare a bowl of laksa Johor
with spaghetti instead of rice noodles
Based on the book ‘Johor Palate:
Tanjung Puteri Recipes’, written by
Kalsom Taib and Hamidah Abdul
Hamid, the Sultan’s trips to Italy
developed his love for pasta and for as
PISANG GORENG
For a true Johorian, no batch of pisang
goreng (banana fritters) is complete
without a side of sambal kicap, a sweet and spicy dip! Sambal kicap is made by blending together chili padi (bird’s eye chilli), garlic, sugar, kicap manis
(sweetened aromatic soy sauce), and
topped with an added sprinkling of chili
padi Sounds like a weird combination,
but Johoreans believe this is the bestway to enjoy sweet, crunchy bananafritters
KLUANG COFFEE
A speciality from the Kluang district, the
‘Television brand’ coffee is well known
to locals Produced by the KluangCoffee Powder Factory, one of thebiggest coffee manufacturers in Johor,the place is open for visitors Somepeople even travel there by the busload
to experience the factory tour The firstfactory was founded in 1966 and waslocated along Jalan Mersing, but waslater moved to Jalan Besar The coffee isbest enjoyed with a side of toastedbuns with butter
Why was it called ‘television brand’?
Television broadcasting began inMalaysia in the early 1960s and at thispoint, owning a television was thedream for families here as it wasconsidered a mark of prestige to ownone back in the day Televisions were
TANGKAK BEEF NOODLES
While you can find Tangkak beefnoodles in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka,the best version of the dish will always
be where it was first served A bowl ofTangkak beef noodles features flat ricenoodles in a herb and meat broth,topped with beef brisket, shin, stomach,tendon, tenderloin, and meatballs Youcan also opt for a dry version of thenoodles, where it is tossed in a sweetand savoury soy sauce mix If you’re not
a fan of all the additional beef bits, youcan also opt not to order the ‘spareparts’ but of course if you don’t try, youwon’t know!
Many beef noodle restaurants havesprouted over the years, but one of theoldest and family-run restaurants isRestoran Kuang Fei (Tangkak BeefNoodle) Having opened branches inMelaka, other parts of Johor and evenKuala Lumpur, the franchise family-runand has been operating for more than
40 years Starting off as a small stallnext to a bus station, lots of peoplethronged the stall for the beef broth,which is said to have originated fromthe Hainan Island in China Until today,this remains a local favourite
Trang 25Sunway International School
@ Sunway Iskandar
Sunway International School (SIS) has
built its over 10-year reputation on
offering one of the world’s leading
curricula from Ontario, Canada Sunway
has “hung its hat” on Canadian
education for good reason By many
measures, both quantitative and
qualitative, it leads the English-speaking
world in terms of student results
THE ONTARIO (CANADA)
CURRICULUM
PISA, the Programme for International
Student Assessment conducted by the
Economic Co-Operation and
Development (OECD) has consistently
ranked Canada ahead of all other
English-speaking jurisdictions in its
assessments of reading, mathematics,
and science for 15 and 16 year olds In
addition, a recent and extensive
qualitative research study conducted by
The Economist, places Canada as second
in the world in preparing students for
the future This qualitative study of
inputs, supports, and pedagogies in
education conducted through
interviews of many of the world’s
leading educators, is another testimony
to the efficacy of Canadian education
Strong foundations in its
world-renowned Early Years Program and in
21st-century educational thinking have
provided Canadian and SIS students
with a springboard to develop critical
thinking skills, work and learn
collaboratively and creatively, be
effective communicators, develop
positive character attributes and
become truly global citizens; the six Cs
of leading edge curricula, as described
by Michael Fullan, a world-leading
educator and advisor to the Ontario
(Canada) Ministry of Education
IB PROGRAMMES
SIS is also an IB World School, offering
the International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma Programme at both Sunway
City and Sunway Iskandar campuses
focus: johor and iskandar
The IB Diploma Programme is perhapsone of the most highly regarded highschool diploma in the world
Universities across the globe highlyvalue students with an IB DiplomaProgramme, often providing advancedplacements up to a full year They knowthat students with an IB DiplomaProgramme come well prepared for thechallenges of university life
Looking at this, SIS in Sunway Iskandarhas recently become an InternationalBaccalaureate Middle Years Programme(MYP) candidate school, with fullauthorisation expected in 2020 In theMYP, SIS Sunway Iskandar will continue
to offer the Ontario curriculum withrequired adjustments and additionswithin the framework of the MYP SISSunway Iskandar has been preparingdiligently to develop the necessaryscope and sequence, complements andconnections between the core Ontariocurriculum and the requirements of theMYP, all the while keeping in mind thatthe IB Diploma Programme is the nextstep for the students at SIS
TWO CONGRUENT AND LEADING-EDGE CURRICULA
This means that SIS Sunway Iskandarwill incorporate two of the worlds’ mostesteemed curricula in its programmeofferings from Kindergarten through toGrade 12, in a seamless, coherent andcongruent manner The Ontario and IBcurricula are both founded on similarprinciples of developing and graduatingstudents who are internationallyminded, critical thinkers and orientedtowards a collaborative mind-set ofshared understandings
Both programmes understand thatwell-being is integral to student successand enhanced by offering a balancedcourse of study Both understand thatconnecting learning in an integratedmanner and applying learning to real
life situations through experientiallearning opportunities deepen studentlearning outcomes
SIS was awarded with the ‘Leader inCanadian Education’ in the Malaysia-Canada Business Council’s BusinessExcellence Award in 2017, and Reader’sDigest Trusted Brand Award in 2018.SIS is part of the Sunway EducationGroup, which is owned and governed
by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation
Come and explore SIS at its Open Day
on April 20, 2019 at both campuses in Sunway City and Sunway Iskandar Visit sis.sunway.edu.my for more info.
A leading-edge curriculum for the 21st century
Trang 27Excelsior International School
Excelsior International School is
located within the City of
Knowledge in a beautiful
forest above the Town of
Bandar Seri Alam, 15km east of Johor
Bahru in the south of Peninsular
Malaysia The purpose-built campus
spreads over 20 acres with a built-up
area of over 320,000 sq ft, allowing
for larger facilities and more space,
enabling a smoother delivery of the
curriculum
The vast campus houses world-class
learning, sporting and recreational
facilities featuring advanced
educational tools, including
Information Technology (IT), Science
and Multimedia laboratories, a
527-seat auditorium, specialist facilities
for dance, drama, music, and art There
are also ranges of sporting and
recreational facilities such as an
Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis
courts, a full-sized artificial-turf soccer
field, and a 400-m all-weather
running track These state-of-the-art
facilities and resources support
Excelsior’s three Pillars of Excellence:
Academics, Sports, and the Arts
To provide the local and expatriate
community with high-quality care and
education, Excelsior International
School recruits highly qualified teaching
talents from around the globe to deliver
focus: johor and iskandar
a truly authentic internationalcurriculum Bringing your kids alongwith extensive learning environmentwhere they get internationalpedagogies and approaches to teachingand learning!
EIS is an IB World School and offers the
IB Diploma Programme in its HighSchool It offers the CambridgeInternational Programmes in itsSecondary School and utilises the IEYCand IPC curriculum framework in theEarly Years and Primary Yearsprogrammes respectively EIS is also aMember School with the US WesternAssociation of Schools and Collegesand the Council of InternationalSchools Students undertake theCambridge Checkpoint tests at the end
of their Primary and Lower SecondaryYears, the IGCSE examinations at theend of Upper Secondary and the IBDiploma examinations at the end ofHigh School
CURRICULUM
In support of the fundamental belief inholistic education, all students follow abroad and challenging educationalprogramme covering Academics,Sports, and the Arts – EIS’s Three Pillars
of Excellence – in an approach thateducates students to becomeindependent, enquiring, creative andenthusiastic learners This holistic
approach means that students,teachers, support staff and allconnected with EIS contribute to thedevelopment of each individual
PILLAR 1: ACADEMIC
The Academic curriculum is delivered in
an interactive way, which allowsstudents to investigate, experiment andgain hands-on experience Thisapproach aims to train students tocollaborate with others, to thinkcritically and to gain confidence in theirown abilities when facing challenges
PILLAR 2: SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Sports are essential to the development
of students of all ages as it serves toenhance any academic endeavour EISprovides a completely inclusive physicaleducation curriculum with a wide range
of recreational and competitive sportingactivity, which allows all students todevelop a healthy, active life, and strongleadership skills
PILLAR 3: ARTS
In performing arts, EIS uses music,dance, drama and theatre to developconfidence and communication skills.These activities encourage theappreciation, development, andunderstanding of local, regional, andinternational cultures, dance, music,and traditions
In fine and visual arts, students learn toappreciate the great masters andthrough the use of painting, pottery,and ceramics to develop their ownindividual skills and confidence
Commited to Excellence
Trang 28ADVERTORIAL
Trang 30Visit: www.ExpatGo.com
Trang 31Now that we’re settling in to 2019, we
hope you’ve managed to take some
trips already or at least have made
some plans to do so soon!
For March, we start off by extending
this issue’s focus on Johor and
Iskandar to a little bit of travel to see
the top attractions there
Heading in the other direction here
in Malaysia, we take a marvellous
road trip up to Terengganu, and enjoy
the wealth of culture and laid-back
traditional villages found along the
way It’s good to prise ourselves out of
the urban jungle from time to time and
explore the delights of rural Malaysia;
a road trip to this part of the Peninsula
is a great way to do just that
Regionally, we visit what is one of
Asia’s most enduring powerhouse
holiday destinations, the Indonesian
island of Bali, checking out the
beaches, the restaurants, and more
Trang 32Your List of Must-Visit
Attractions in Johor
LEGOLAND MALAYSIA RESORT
Malaysia’s first international theme park
opened its ‘layered brick’ gates to the
public just over six years ago – in
September 2012 – in Iskandar Puteri,
Johor It was a great initiative by the
state in its aim to boost the tourism
economy in Johor With over 40
interactive rides, shows, and exciting
attractions, it was the first Legoland
theme park in Asia, and its official
inauguration was conducted by Sultan
Ibrahim Ismail, Sultan of Johor
Legoland Water Park and Legoland
Hotel have since been two more grand
additions, making Johor a much
targeted spot now for family vacations
for both Malaysians, Singaporeans and
many from other parts of Asia
Legoland Malaysia Resort is also set to
launch SEA LIFE Malaysia–the world’s
largest aquarium brand with more than
50 attractions worldwide The SEA LIFE
experience focuses on a voyage to the
depths of the oceans, and exhibits are
designed with children in mind
SEA LIFE Malaysia will also exclusively
focus: johor and iskandar
BY PRISCILLA EMMANUEL
feature the Malaysian rainforest as one
of the special zones, showcasing many
of the creatures from the localrainforest habitat
JOHOR BAHRU’S HERITAGE OLD TOWN
A buzzing hub during the 1970sthrough to the 1990s, the old town ofJohor Bahru is a blend of preservedcultural heritage and modern daybusinesses in pre-war colonial buildings
Akin to Penang’s George Town, andMelaka’s Jonker Street, JB Old Town (asit’s locally referred to) holds all kinds of19th-century charm amid restaurants,cafes and bakeries both old and new
One of them is indeed Johor’s oldestbakery: Salahuddin Bakery, which is 80years old
Among these charming relics iswhat was formerly known as the RedHouse, now painted white as thebuilding has been leased to Let’s Eatrestaurant Historically rich, andsituated on Jalan Tan Hiock Nee whichhas been turned into a heritage street,
it is a highly visited building especiallyduring its heyday when it boasted aneye-catching coat of red paint withwhite trim
As described by beloved Johoreanauthor Peggy Loh, “This 19th-centurybuilding was originally owned by anIndian family and had changed handsseveral times before its present ownerdecided to restore it to its former glory.While Jalan Tan Hiok Nee was declared
a heritage street in October 2009, theowner had the passion and foresight topreserve this pre-war shop-house as aheritage building The historical value
of this building is priceless as it is aportal into the rich and unique history
JOHOR PREMIUM OUTLETS
This was the first premium brandoutlet to open in Southeast Asia in
2011, located in the Kulai district ofJohor Bahru With over 50 international
Trang 33clothing brands alone, the outlet mall
also has a large range of shoe stores,
jewelry, baggage, and accessory
retailers that offer factory direct
discounts of 25% to 65% every day
With a distinctive and upscale mix of
leading designers, quality name brands,
and many family-oriented dining
options, too, the Johor Premium Outlets
setting has marketed itself as delivering
an attractive and pleasant shopping
experience for anyone who visits With
designers such as Kate Spade, Nike,
Guess, Puma, Gucci, Michael Kors,
Brooks Brothers, Hush Puppies, just to
name a few, bargain shoppers are spoilt
for choice!
BAZAR KARAT
Officially known as “JB Bazar” Bazar
Karat (translated to rusty bazaar) is a
night market with all kinds of finds,
such as clothes, accessories, food,
toys, knick-knacks, antiques, and
what have you There are stalls where
you can browse and haggle for prices
It’s quite a famous night market in JB
that doubly serves as a tourist
attraction, given the numerous kinds
of things that are available for sale,
many of them deemed as being quite
difficult to find elsewhere
Being a popular night market, it can
get quite stifling when the crowds
thicken after a certain time, especially
during weekend So you might want
to get there a little earlier to get
your browsing sorted before stoppingfor a meal if something in particularcatches your fancy
JOHOR ISLANDS
Apart from the more well-knownislands like Tioman and Desarucoast, Johor has many glorious littleoff-the-grid islands which offer greatdiving and snorkelling packages forweekend trips These islands areaccessible via speed boat fromMersing jetty, and tickets can bebooked online or via any major hotelsyou are staying in Johor and are quitethe perfect short escape
There are also options to hire boatsfor island hopping to Pulau Aur,Pulau Rawa, Pulau Dayang, PulauSibu, and Pulau Pemanggil PulauRawa has been getting more tourists
of late since they added a beautifulluxury resort, as well as hostel-styledive accommodation Recommendedvisiting times are between themonths of February to November toavoid the east coast monsoon season.Several of these islands (with theexception of Pulau Pemanggil whichoffers deep sea fishing expeditions)also double as protected marine parks
so fishing might not be allowed
Trang 346XQVHW9LOODV, ! ' + ! 7 ) ) 3 , ! $ s - ! , ! 9 3 ) !
Trang 35expat excursions: pahang
Say “I Do” at The Chateau,
Berjaya Hills
The Chateau Spa & Organic
Wellness Resort at Berjaya
Hills debuts La Serre, a most
beautiful and fairytale-like
glasshouse The 6,300 sq ft
glasshouse is the latest crown jewel of
the resort, built specially to celebrate
elegant wedding ceremonies in an
intimate yet lavish setting
Just a 45-minute drive from Kuala
Lumpur or Kuala Lumpur International
Airport, with views of lush greenery
and a French-inspired castle as a
backdrop, The Chateau is strategically
located and praised as one of the top
luxury destinations for wedding
photography The dreamy and
picturesque glasshouse La Serre,
proves to be a highly-sought
destination to say “I do” in a romantic
and stylish wedding up in the hills
As first impressions count, it is no
wonder why La Serre has captured the
hearts of many couples Boasting
architecture of floor-to-ceiling glass
panels, magnificent chandeliers and
uniquely inspired European floor tiles
for the banquet room, the space
inspires a regal and magical feel that
makes for a dream wedding Event
options are able to accommodate up
to 300 seats, or be trimmed down for
an intimate cocktail reception La Serre
will host its first wedding for 2019 in
March
The enchantment of La Serre lies in
the abundance of natural beams of
light, exquisite decorative flowers, and
colour-themed drapes It is a fully
air-conditioned venue equipped with
state-of-the-art audio and visual
systems, ensuring highly enjoyable
social gatherings When dusk falls, La
Serre is lit up in a dazzling display of
majestic chandeliers providing an
ambience of romance and luxury
When it comes to weddings, themenu is a top priority at The Chateau
The chef and his dedicated team willsurprise guests with their finestculinary offerings specializing inEuropean or Asian set menus, ordegustation menus with choice oforganic or non-organic The menu can
be customized as a course by courselunch or dinner – ranging fromappetizers, to mouthwatering mains,
to delectable desserts Of course, ifyou are looking to have a light cocktailevent, delicate canapés and simplerefreshments will be served, orchoose a buffet spread for a bettervariety of international cuisine
The wedding packages are speciallydesigned for couples in mind TheMajestic Chateau wedding packageoffers an unforgettable stay at theJacuzzi Suite; a luxurious romanticroom with an outdoor jacuzzi The
newly minted Mr & Mrs will relax andindulge in a complimentary spasession at La Sante Organic WellnessSpa For guests spending the night atThe Chateau, they will enjoy exploringthe sprawling grounds of Berjaya Hills,having fresh produce from the organicfarm tour and picnic, or taking arelaxing stroll in the Japanese garden.The Chateau’s wedding team will beorganizing day-trip visits to the resortfor soon-to-wed couples to get a feel
of the wedding experience at LaSerre Soon, the resort is planning tohost an inaugural wedding event,featuring top-notch wedding gowns,latest collections, renowned bridalmake-up artists, creative gifts andcard makers, as well as weddingworkshops This event is exactly whatany soon-to-be wed couple needs.There is really nothing less thanbreathtaking when you celebrate yourspecial day with The Chateau, fromthe glamorous glasshouse to the
“seven-star” service! Experience themajestic views of Berjaya Hills, and becharmed with a romantic weddingexperience at La Serre… as someweddings are just meant to bemagical
The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort
T: 609.221 3888 Email: info@thechateau.com.my W: thechateau.com.my
FB: ChateauWellnessResort IG: @TheChateauResort
ADVERTORIAL
Trang 36The Road to Old Terengganu
expat excursions: terengganu
The deep seas off Terengganu’s
shoreline may be rich in oil
and gas reserves, making the
east coast state among the
region’s leaders in the oil, gas and
petrochemical industry, but some
argue that its real treasures are all
found on the mainland
With a documented history reaching
as far back as the second century,
Terengganu certainly has accumulated
a wealth of heritage influenced by the
Langkasuka and Srivijaya kingdoms it
was part of, and the Majapahit, Khmer
and Chinese empires it traded with
Despite modern developments, the
old Terengganu still remains And the
best way to explore it? Via Federal
Route 3 – a roadway that’s around a
hundred years old, but remains one of
Malaysia’s most scenic highways
At 739km long, Route 3 runs alongside
the coast of four Malaysian states from
Johor Bahru, Johor, in the south of the
peninsula, through Pahang and
Terengganu before ending in Rantau
Panjang, Kelantan From here, it goes
on as part of the Asian Highway
Network that ultimately connects Asia
to the upper reaches of Europe
It’s ironic that 20 years after it was built
by the British for economic reasons,
Route 3 would bring the ultimate fall
of the Allied Forces when, in 1941,
Japanese troops used it to swiftly
advance south on bicycles during the
Battle of Malaya
Having served for economic and
political purposes in the past, it must
be said that Route 3 today is best
suited for more leisurely pursuits The
relatively flat and straight two-lane
single carriageway road provides an
easy, scenic drive Traveling
northwards, the South China Sea with
Join Anis Ramli as she takes a satisfying road trip on one of the
earliest-built highways in Malaysia, all in a bid to discover the appealing old-world charm of Terengganu
Trang 37its glittering blue waves in the midday
sun will be your constant companion
– and distraction – on the east Some
sections of the highway run alongside
lush pockets of mangrove forests along
the coastal estuaries, as well
There’s no escaping the countryside
charm of Terengganu, even as the
bigger towns try to shed its pastoral
image with concrete buildings and
foreign franchise retailers Fishing
villages just on the outskirts of towns
speak of the population’s
time-honoured source of income; fishermen
bring their boats ashore on public
beaches; chickens and cows roam
about freely along main thoroughfares,
and many of the wooden homes here
are still built on stilts in a compound of
coconut trees
Even the stretch of road from Kerteh
to Paka, where Malaysia’s oil and gas
refinery activities are based, makes for
excellent night driving As the sun sets,
the huge complex of pipes, steel tanks,
smoke stacks, and gas flutes lights up
spectacularly, resembling a space
station about to launch a rocket ship
CHUKAI
A great way to get to know Terengganu
is through its food, and what betterplace to start than in Chukai (in thedistrict of Kemaman), among the firsttowns you encounter along theTerengganu section of Route 3northwards Kim Wah (also known asKin To Wah) Restaurant is a spartancorner establishment on Jalan Masjidwith an even simpler menu, sellingnothing else but chicken rice It opensdaily from 11 am to 2:30 pm, but itsplates of roast chicken over rice with aside of soy sauce and chili dip oftenrun out by 1pm
One of the enduring legacies of theChinese community in Malaysia is thekopitiam Usually established insmaller towns, but increasinglyfranchised in urban centres, theseold-style cafés are famous for theirAsian coffee (usually thicker and morebitter than its European version) andcharcoal-toasted bread generously
slathered with butter and kaya, a
coconut cream-based jam Kemaman’svery own – Hai Peng Kopitiam on JalanSulaimani – has been enjoying a goodreputation since the 1930s Besidesthe toast, their other specialty is the
typical Terengganu dish nasi dagang,
comprising beautifully steamed ricewith a generous helping of rich tunacurry wrapped in banana leaf parcels
In the evenings, join the locals atPantai Geliga beach for traditional east
coast tea-time treats of satar (fish
cakes wrapped in banana leaves,skewered in threes, and grilled over
red-hot charcoal), keropok lekor (fish crackers), and sotong celup tepung
(deep fried squid) Down it all withfresh coconut juice, served straightfrom the husk!
KUALA DUNGUN
About an hour’s drive north of Chukai isKuala Dungun, a town that onceenjoyed the wealth of its iron oremining activities Nothing much of thisglorious past remains except for thenondescript concrete pillar in the seathat some say was part of the railwayline that transported iron from BukitBesi to Kuala Dungun About 30 kminland, in Bukit Besi, are a few more ofthese legacies – the stockpile buildings,tunnels and chimneys used during thetin-mining days – left by the Japanesewho first discovered the riches withinthe area
Seemingly bereft of any touristattractions, Kuala Dungun is an unlikelystop for those passing throughTerengganu if not for Tanjong JaraResort Despite its modest kampunglocation, the resort, part of the luxury
Trang 38expat excursions: terengganu
YTL property chain, has gained a
worldwide reputation for its unique
architecture and welcome Taking a cue
from its east coast residents, Tanjong
Jara Resort has adopted the spirit of
gentle and humble Malay service and
hospitality Its “Unmistakably Malay”
tagline is reflected throughout the
resort: the Malay palace-like
architecture, the local menu which
features the region’s unique cuisine,
and the age-old Malay treatments at
its award-winning spa
The district of Dungun, especially the
beaches at Rantau Abang, used to be
the calling place of giant leatherback
turtles who return yearly to the
beaches here to lay their eggs In the
1970s, as many as 1,000 leatherback
landings were reported, but these
nesting giants are a rare sight these
days due to modern developments
and human interference However, it is
still possible to view green turtlelandings in other parts of Dungun Theoil-refinery town of Terengganu may
be an unlikely port of call for thesenesting turtles, but the midnight tripsarranged with the local fisheriesdepartment are highly recommended.Complement the experience
beforehand with a trip to the TurtleInformation Centre in Rantau Abangjust 15 km north of Tanjong Jara Resort
to learn about the miraculous journeymade by these gentle marine creatures
to nest and the subsequent fight forsurvival by their young hatchlings
KUALA TERENGGANU
After the tranquil panoramas ofKemaman, Dungun, and Marang, thebustle of capital city Kuala Terengganutakes a while to process Pasar Payang
is the central market where all manner
of trade is conducted It’s the place toget your fish and chicken, fruits and
Trang 39veggies, dried fish crackers, some
fashionable wear, souvenirs, maybe
even your gold jewellery It would
almost be a sin to leave town without
at least purchasing the signature east
coast fabric, batik, here Or indulge in
the Terengganu brocade, a textile of
royal origins made using fine gold and
silk threads
Spend a quick afternoon on the
Terengganu River Cruise, from the
Islamic Civilisation Park jetty, to learn
about the history and development of
the area Then, hop over to Pulau
Duyong to walk within the walls of an
old fortress Built in the 1920s, Kota
Lama Duyong is a traditional
Terengganu house with Greek
Corinthian elements in its columns
and Islamic influences in the
decorative woodcarvings
PENARIK
Continue northwards from Kuala
Terengganu, and you will soon
reach Penarik in the district of Setiu
This serene fishing village has a
unique geographical landscape: a
narrow isthmus of casuarina trees and
coconut groves flanked by the Setiu
River on the west and the South
China Sea on the east It is also the
setting of Terrapuri Heritage Village,
part conservation project, part
boutique guest house, and an ongoing
20-year labour of love by local
entrepreneur, Alex Lee, to preserve
the authentic traditions of the Malay
Terengganu house
Here, guests are accommodated in
hundred-year old dwellings, each one
personally sourced by Lee from
various parts of Terengganu,
dismantled, carefully restored, and
assembled again on this piece of
beach-front land in Kampung
Mangkuk Rich in history and
displaying the refined carpentry and
design skills of highly respected
master craftsmen, each of thesehouses may be the last legacies of afast-diminishing Terengganu cultureand heritage The hospitality by localsemployed from nearby villages isgenuine and unpretentious: at the end
of your stay, you’ll feel you’re biddinggoodbye to friends and family instead
of service staff
BEACHES
With a coastline that runs for 244 km,Terengganu’s beaches are some of thebest and prove to be a great distraction
to those driving along Route 3 There’s
no point resisting the allure; turn offfrom the main road anywhere andcherish the serendipitous discoveriesnot marked on any tourist map
Teluk Bidara in Dungun is a bay nearTanjong Jara Resort where one can
explore the cave and lighthouse onTanjung Api Hill at low tide KualaAbang and Kemasik beaches havesome interesting seaside rockformations on which to perch andenjoy the miles of blue, while Penariktears you in two with the riverwetlands on one side and gorgeousbeach on the other, and the shade ofcasuarinas and coconut palms inbetween the two
The long Terengganu coastline may
be inviting but beware of the strongunder-currents in certain places
Instead, pull a chair beach-side and
munch on keropok lekor as you take in
the views of the nearby islands, listen
to the waves breaking on the shore,and perhaps dream of owning abeachfront property here
Trang 40Bali’s Southern Charms
expat excursions: bali
The world was, in many ways,
still reeling in late 2002 from
the devastating 9/11 terrorist
attacks on the United States
which had occurred a year earlier But
as September 2002 gave way to
October, there was no premonition of
what was to come
On the night of October 12, 2002, a
horrific bombing attack carried out in
the wildly popular tourist hotspot of
Kuta killed 202 people and injured
even more The main bomb, packed
Join Editor Chad Merchant as he recounts the many changes to South Bali
over the past two decades and outlines a brief round-up of six different places to stay and play in this part of the ever-alluring island of Bali
into a white van, was so powerful it left
a crater in the street one metre deepand destroyed or damaged everything
in its vicinity The world was stunned:
Bali was an idyllic holiday island of peaceand happiness, and it was unthinkablethat such a terrorist attack could everhappen here Yet it had The bombing,apart from the death and pain it leftbehind, decimated Bali’s importanttourist industry overnight, and formonths afterward, the streets werelargely deserted For an island sodependent on tourism, it was disastrous
It was into this landscape that I firstvisited Bali in June 2003 My first tripwas confined to South Bali, which atthat time on the west coast, extendedonly just north of Kuta to a town calledLegian The next small village north,Seminyak, offered very little, and wasthe unofficial border of Kuta’s influence
I remember strolling along the almosteerily quiet streets of Kuta and NusaDua, with many shops closed for lack ofbusiness Bali had been turned into ashell of its former self
Oh, how times have changed In theyears since that first fledgling visit,Bali’s tourism numbers have not onlyregained their former strength, they’vewell eclipsed it Apart from a beautifuland well-maintained monumentdedicated to the victims of that terrible
2002 attack, you’d be forgiven forwalking past the former Paddy’s Barsite where it occurred and not evenknowing it Bali has reboundedspectacularly and is today perhapsmore popular than ever before.What was once the fringe area of thenorthern extreme of the Kutaconurbation – Seminyak – is now thehippest, most happening place alongthis stretch of coastline, now considered
as roughly the area’s midpoint, and it’severy bit as congested and jam-packed
as Kuta ever was
I recently returned to Bali for somemuch-needed R&R, and despite thepersistent chaos of South Bali, theisland still managed to deliver just what
I required South Bali is collectively thenexus of tourism on the island, sohaving now stayed at all of its six primeareas, it’s a good time to recap each oftheir strengths and weaknesses We’llstart with the most obvious one – thebeach that made Bali famous – andthen continue clockwise around Bali’sspectacular south
Balinese temple