IT training the expat TruePDF february 2019

THE

YRO  ‡ )HEUXDU\ 

',6&29(5 025( $%287 <285 +20( $:$< )520 +20(

In association with
ExpatGo.com

9KUJKPI CNN QWT TGCFGTU
C JCRR[ CPF RTQURGTQWU
NWPCT PGY [GCT



+L 7KHUH
facebook.com/ExpatGoMalaysia

LOCAL INSIGHT. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.
Group of Companies
Borneo Vision Sdn Bhd (295020-P)
Borneo Vision (MM2H) Sdn Bhd (735406-W)
TEG Digital Sdn Bhd (286845-U)
Tri-Concepts Sdn Bhd (204389-P)

tegmedia.my

Publisher
J. Andrew Davison
Group Editor
Chad Merchant

Production Editor
Joanne Tan
Assistant Editor
Priscilla Emmanuel
Graphic Designer
Teh Ee Zin
Staff Writer
Sarah Anne Lee
Contributing Writers
David Bowden, Rosalyn Ding,
Paula Tan
Commercial Director
Bill Cooper
Sales Team
Emily Tang, Olivia Yap,
Sisi Davison, Naomi Bessant
IT Director
Rusli Arshad
Web Developer
Mohamed Azman
Senior Digital Designer
Rozalin Mahmood
Events Manager
Antoinette Perera
Distribution
Suriah Ali
MM2H Manager
Farzana Ali
Finance / Admin – Senior Manager
Khoo Poh Lian

printer
BHS Book Printing Sdn Bhd (95134 K)
Lot 4, Lorong CJ 1/1 B,
Kawasan Perindustrain Cheras Jaya,
43200 Cheras, 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:
or

Asia’s share of the world’s gross domestic product was around 15% in the 1970s when I
first came to Asia, but has now doubled to over 30%. While many countries in Asia
have enjoyed strong economic growth, China, and to a lesser extent India, have been
the two powerhouses which have driven this major increase. When I first came to Asia
in 1970, Japan was the big regional player but things have changed a lot in the interim.
When China opened up its markets in the late ’70s, they were able to achieve
exceptionally strong annual economic growth, which has brought their economy
closer to the size of that of the United States, and it is predicted to pass them within
the next decade. China has seen tens of millions of its citizens lifted out of poverty
into the rapidly growing middle class, and a sizable group of very wealthy people has
been created, too.
Their large and increasingly affluent population has attracted a lot of foreign
investment, which has helped fuel economic growth. The government has also

invested a lot of money in the domestic economy, including in its infrastructure. By
contrast, the United States struggles to maintain and modernize its infrastructure with
the related negative impact on its own economy.
China is now playing a much larger role in the international stage. They have laid claim
to most of the South China Sea, despite protests from various Asian countries and the
United States. They have occupied and developed various uninhabited islands within
their so called ‘nine dash line’ and turned them into military bases. Despite all the
opposition, no country has been able to stop them and their sovereignty seems
increasingly close to becoming a fait accompli.
Their ambitious “One Belt One Road” plan has many billions of dollars invested in
overseas ports, roads, rail and telecommunications projects aimed at creating strong
trading links to Europe and Africa both by land and sea. Their declared intention is to
develop “effective regional connectivity”. Others see it as a push for global economic
domination. In recent years, China has invested heavily in many African counties in
order to tap into their abundance of raw materials. Several African nations are now
facing similar problems to Sri Lanka as they struggle to pay back the debts they have
incurred with China. Sri Lanka was the first to fail and were forced to lease back the
port that China built, for 99 years, to clear its debt.
It is worth noting that while the United States has spent many billions of dollars in
defence (and on wars), not to mention the loss of trillions of dollars from the poorly
managed 2007/8 financial crisis; China has avoided these costs, leaving it more funds
for more productive investments. So far, China has stayed away from costly overseas
military campaigns. They insist they are committed to peaceful coexistence, but they
are undertaking a major modernization of their military, and in 2017, they set up their
first overseas military base in Djibouti, although they call it a ‘supply base’.
Closer to home, Mahathir has clearly expressed his concerns
ncerns about
too much dependence on China’s investments in Malay
ysia. He wass
equally forceful with his comments about not allowing

l e
g large
numbers of Chinese to settle in the massive Forest City
y
development in Johor which has been heavily marketed
o
ed to
mainland Chinese.
It remains to be seen exactly what China’s long range plans
pl
are, but there is no question that their growing econom
mic
and military strength will have a major impact on Asia
and the rest of the world in the years ahead.
Happy Chinese New Year for those
who celebrate it – enjoy the holidays.

J. Andrew Davison




,1
,9 Ä՚‘

6"1
Äuº

COVER ARTIST: KIM II TAE • STORY PG 52

THE

EXPAT

FRQWHQWV

EVENTS • NEWS • COLUMNS
6 Upcoming Events
7 Clubs and Associations
8 MM2H Update
9 Expat News
11 Almost Home by Chad Merchant
12 TEG Media KL WINE DINNER
14 TEG Media KL MINGLE
16 Johor Young Photographer’s Contest
66 TEG Media PENANG MINGLE
FEATURES • FOCUS: Cities of Peninsular Malaysia
18 Expat Extracts
20 Genting Highlands and the Man with the
Midas Touch
22 Ipoh Finds Its Feet
26 Cherating: Malaysia’s East Coast Escape
52 Art: All that Glitters Is Not Just Gold... It’s
Also Art
54 Books: How to Save a Country
55 Health: Four Ways to Help an Anxious
Person Calm Down
56 Malaysia’s Endangered Elephants
EXPAT EXCURSIONS
29 Introduction
30 Melaka: A Spice-Infused Heritage

34 Melaka’s Cultural Medley
38 Books: Borneo, A Blue Skies Travel Guide
39 An Organic Retreat at The Chateau,
Berjaya Hills
40 Thai Islands: A Karst of Thousands
46 Ahead of the Sun
50 Airline and Travel News
64 Penang Promenade: Workshops to
Check Out in Penang

30

26

40

46

56

EDUCATION
60 School Snaps
63 Sunway Education: University-Industry
Collaboration in Hospitality Education
EXPAT INFORMATION
69 Introduction
71 Dining Promos & Restaurant Reviews
76 Services and Shopping

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 67.

ERRATUM
In the December 2018 issue, due to a
confluence of mix-ups and various
problems which occurred at the
production stage, we inadvertently ran
two versions of the same article in the
issue. This error is very much regretted.

64

The 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.

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

•5

8 SF RP LQJ ( YH QW V

9

-10th Feb
Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
2019
Coming back for its fourth annual run,
the fiesta is once again ready to
welcome over 100,000 visitors from
all over the world to the island of
Penang. Around 15 professional
ballooners will be performing and
giving rides, offering majestic views
and an unforgettable experience. The
event will also host ‘night glow’ shows;
and you just might have the
experience to walk inside the
humongous balloon itself during their
special ‘cold-inflation’ sessions!

14

th-20th Feb
The Handlebards’ Twelfth Night
Presenting Shakespeare’s hilarious
comedy like you’ve never seen before,
the Handlebards production of Twelfth
Night is not one to miss! As the world’s
only cycling theatre company,

incredible energy, whirlwind physical
theatre, clever improve, and eyepopping costumes will make even
those not keen on studying
Shakespeare love this interpretation.
Tickets to the show at PJ Live Arts are
available on their Facebook event
page.

23

rd Feb
KL Highland Games 2019
Enjoy some Scottish revelry right in
the heart of Kuala Lumpur! With
traditional highlander events such as
caber tossing, shot putt, and the more
modern junior rugby tournament; have
a fun day out with the whole family at
Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country
Resort. Listen and dance to live music
and enjoy marching band
competitions from 8AM to 8PM. This
event is kid-friendly.

23

rd Feb
Night Walk in FRIM Forest
Explore the majestic rainforest at night,
when all sorts of nocturnal creatures

stir. The Night Walk Programme is
designed to educate people of all ages

6•

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

artists and handicraft masters. In
conjunction with National Craft Month
that has been observed every March
since 1994, the Ministry of Tourism has
hailed the event annually in honor of
those who have dedicated their time
to keep the many unique cultures and
heritage of Malaysia alive through their
art.
on biodiversity and the behavioral
habits of the rainforest, and will foster
a greater sense of appreciation towards
Mother Nature. Check out their
Facebook page for tickets.

23

rd & 24th Feb
BLACKPINK Live in Malaysia

2019

Korea’s latest sensational all-girl group,
BLACKPINK will be performing at the
Malawati Indoor Stadium, Shah Alam
as part of their In Your Area World
Tour! Due to high demand, the K-pop
group has also added another show to
their Malaysian leg, bringing their
famous hits like DDU-DU DDU-DU
and Boombayah to local fans. Tickets
are available at macpiepro.com.

28

th Feb - 10 Mar
National Craft Day 2019
Head on down to the humble
Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur (KL’s Craft
Complex) to support Malaysia’s local

28

th Feb - 4 Mar
Pasir Gudang World Kite
Festival
The skies of Johor will once again be
decorated with hundreds of kites from
all cultures, including Malaysia’s very
own wau kites; crescent-shaped kites
made of crepe paper and bamboo
sticks. Visitors will be treated to a

kite-making workshop, giving a chance
to participate in the flying
competitions!

Whole month
Perak Museum 1883-2018 135th
Anniversary Celebration
Featuring over 3,000 exhibits and
10,000 artifacts of early Southeast
Asia, the first museum of Malaysia
turns a 135 years old! From the ancient
wildlife that roamed the jungles of
Malaya, to the skulls and instruments
of the tin mining revolution, learn all
about Malaysia in one comprehensive
tour.


& OXE V DQ G $ VV RF LDW LRQ V

ADDRESS BOOK

g³ƒU>
¶¶”Uƒ>¿ƒ” ”t >Š>϶ƒ>
>ƒŠ[ gLgµ¸ƒ¡_ƒµgUÁ”µ¦>>Jy>ƒŠ¦U”
7gL[ >gµƒU>>¸¸”Uƒ>Áƒ””tÓ¦U”

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
MALAYSIA
Bingo
Date: Every First Tuesday
Time: 10am – 11am

Venue: St. Xavier’s Home for the Elderly
Cost: NA
RSVP:
This charitable morning brings fun and
joy to the residents of “the Little
Sisters of the Poor” with the game of
Bingo! We always have a need for
small gifts as bingo prizes as well as
donations of men’s and women’s
clothing.
Coffee Crew
Date: Every First Wednesday
Time: 10am - 11:30am
Venue: illy café, Level 1, Suria KLCC
Cost: Individual
RSVP:
Arriving in KL can be overwhelming at
first, but the AAM is here to help. This
informal social group is designed to
help expats newly arrived in KL. Coffee
and friends make the perfect blend!
The Happy Hour(s) Gang
Date: Every Second Friday
Time: 6pm onwards
Venue: To be decided
Cost: NA
RSVP: eventsdirector.aam@
gmail.com
A fun group who are always on the
lookout for the best Happy Hours in

town! Stop by and say hello the
second Friday of every month.
Wine & Dine
Date: Every third Saturday
Time: 7pm onwards
Venue: To be decided
Cost: Individual
RSVP: eventsdirector.aam@
gmail.com
We will explore a new dining
experience on the third Saturday of
each month. Sometimes with fine
wines, sometimes not-so-fine wines,
and sometimes no wine at all! But we
will always have a great time!
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH WOMEN
IN MALAYSIA
Painting
Date: Every Thursday
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm
Venue: ABWM House

Cost: RM130
RSVP: James - +6012-298 6718
Join James Phua’s art classes every
Thursday and unleash the creativity
within, as well as get the chance to
meet like-minded people.
Learn French
Date: Negotiable

Time: Dependable
Venue: At your choice of venue
Cost: NA
RSVP: Delphine, +6 012-231 3919
Learn how to speak French with a
native French speaker! Group lessons
or one-to-one sessions available to
suit your level.
MALAYSIAN AUSTRALIAN NEW
ZEALAND ASSOCIATION (MANZA)
Welcome to Manza Morning Tea
Date: Every second Thursday (June 14)
Time: 10am – 12pm
Venue: Manza House Cost: NA
RSVP: Contact Manza House at
+603-2284 7145
MANZA provides information for new
members about life in Malaysia and
KL. Come along and meet other
members including newcomers and
‘long termers’.
Manza Quilter Group
Date: Every Monday
Time: 10am - 12pm
Venue: MANZA house (1st and 2nd
Monday) member house rota (other
Mondays)
Cost: Free for members, RM10 for
non-members
RSVP: MANZA house,

+603- 2284 7145
A fun morning of chatter, stitching
and inspiration! Please check dates
and times of activities regularly, as
details may change.


¶¶”Uƒ>¿ƒ” ³>U” ”g _g >Š>ƒ¶ƒg
Ãw\ >Š>
ẫ>>á ,>ể>\ 
>[ >tƯẫ>>Jy>ƯU
7gL[ >tẫ>>ƯU

ảảU> t ả 7g  >>ẽả>
ll\ >> /gà>ág l >yá>à\ 
/g[ Ưầầlw wwẳ 7gL[ >LẹƯUƯể
ả >>ẽả>
>Lg t
gUg
w à
>á U\ 7á> -g>yà

àg_yy\ wầ >>
Ă>y\ uwu 
/g[ Ưầẵ ẳlw >ề[ Ưầẵ ẳl

>>_>
ảảU> t >>ẽả>
Uắ
>>_> y
áá\ ẳ à\
g>à> /> E />\ ầẳ >> /ẫ ,>ì>\ 
7gL[ U>>_>áƯU
g> -g>y -Ugẽ "t >> 

*Ư"Ư ề ẳẳ\ >> -ẫ>\ *g>y >ể>
>[ tJyááƯUƯể
7gLág[ yááƯUƯể
ggU -Ugẽ t >>ẽả>
6> *ẫà> *ẫà\gàL>y
Ă>y à\ 
/g[ á\ ầƯẳẳầ u
>[ áyàgUJ>ƯU
7gL[ t>UgLƯUắàggá>>ểá>
g>> 7gả
ảảU> >>

*Ư"Ư ề ầẵ >> -ẫ> *g>y >ể>
>[ ẹ>ẫJy>ƯU 7gL[ ẹ>ƯUắéầ
>>gảg
L
ầ\ >> ắlẵ\ tt >> />> -gĂẫg\
/>> -gĂẫg\ 
/g[ Ưầầẳw ầầẳw >ề[ Ưầầẳw ulw
7gL[ UƯàyƯể

L>ả UgẵUgẽ
L
>[ tJULà>áƯU
7gL[ ULà>áƯU
>>ẽả>
ả>> g <g>>_
ảảU>
l\ >> /gĂá\ >yá>à\ 
/g[ Ưầầlw ẳwu >ề[ Ưầầlẳ ẳu
>[ >ì>tUgJy>ƯU
7gL[ >ì>Ưày
/g >>ẽả>
gẵ

>[ Ăàgá_gJUyƯày
7gL[ UyƯày
> 7gả
ảảU> t >>ẽả>
>[ UẫU>áƯẹ>Jy>ƯU
7gL[ >ẹ>Ưày
/g ,ẽ> -Ugẽ t - gyg
>[ U>g Uégà Ê -gUÔ
ẹgL>ágàJáygàygá>>ểá>ƯU
7gL[ áygàygá>>ểá>ƯU
-U>_>è> -Ugẽ >>ẽả>
-ẫg \ \ -
\ ầlu >> >>àt\ >yá>à
>[ tJáU>_>é>áUgể>>ểá>ƯU
7gL[ áU>_>é>áUgể>>ểá>ƯU
-
tU>ả >>ẽả>
>[ á>>>ểá>J>ƯU
/g[
>ể *àểà\ Ưầ ẳlu
-Ô
_gả -Ugẽ
*" ề ẵầ\*ẫ_ẫ*á "tUg\ uuẳầ 
7gL[ áá>ágƯU
- *>Uả -Ugẽ t -g>y
-ẫg \ \ >yá>à -ĂĂy
gàg\
ầlu >> >>àt\ >yá>à\ Ư
>[ ágUàg>àểJáĂ>áUƯày
7gL[ áĂ>áUƯày
>UgL[ t>UgLƯUắyàẫĂáắáĂ>áU
-g_ả 7gả
_U>>
ảảU>

>[ ẫ>>ẫĂẫàJáẹg>Ưày
7gL[ áẹg>Ưàyắẫ>>ẫĂẫà
/ả >>ẽả> g_ả
ảảU>
/g[ á ẫtgà -gểẫé>\ Ưẵ wlẵ

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

7


mm2h

Malaysia My Second Home Programme

T

he Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme
has proven to be a popular initiative by the
Malaysian government. Launched in 2002, the
programme has attracted people from all over the
world with China, Japan, Bangladesh, and the UK topping the
list of nations whose citizens have been approved under the
programme. Altogether, some 35,000 applications have
been approved in the 15 years or so since it started.
The government has not promoted the programme all that
heavily, so people often hear about it through word of
mouth. It is primarily aimed at people who want to retire to
Malaysia, as employment in the country is not encouraged

under the programme, although it is possible to work for a
local company for up to 20 hours a week with approval.
Applicants must show a monthly income in excess of
RM10,000 (equivalent in foreign currency) and show liquid
assets in excess of RM350,000 (RM500,000 if aged under
50). Upon approval, visa holders must place a fixed deposit
in a local bank of RM150,000 (RM300,000 if under 50).
Many people are attracted by the low cost of living, warm
weather, friendly people, great food, and the fact the
Malaysian government does not tax overseas income. Upon
approval, MM2H applicants receive a 10-year visa which is
renewable.

8•

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

It should be noted that there is no requirement to buy
property in Malaysia or indeed even to relocate here. In fact,
some applicants from troubled countries only apply so they
have a place to relocate should they feel problems in their
own country are getting worse.
The most popular places MM2H visa holders choose to live
are Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Other places which have
attracted visa holders are Ipoh, Melaka, Sabah, and Johor.


QHZV

MALAYSIA WILL HAVE A NEW KING
Malaysia has a unique system of
monarchy, courtesy of the departing
British, whereby the position of king
(Yang di-Pertuan Agong) changes every
five years. It rotates among the various
nine Sultans in a prescribed order. The
position is largely ceremonial, though
the king does have some limited
powers of note.
The Sultan of Kelantan became king in
2016, by all intents for the usual
five-year period. However, he took a
leave of absence at the end of last year,
supposedly to recover after hospital
treatment. What was widely reported in
the international press, though, was that
he married a young Russian woman.
In January, he announced that he was
stepping down from the positon, the
first king not to complete his assigned
five-year period. There was speculation
as to the reasons, but the authorities
took a very serious view of people
making comments or assumptions
about the king’s resignation, media
reports were blocked or ordered
removed, and several people were
investigated because of their social

media postings. Clearly, free speech
has its limits in Malaysia.
The Pahang royalty are next in line for
the throne, but the Sultan of Pahang is
apparently quite frail, so he has
abdicated in favour of his son, who is
expected to be installed as the new
King of Malaysia.
VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2020
Given the many natural and manmade attractions of Malaysia
combined with the weak ringgit,
tourists should be pouring into the
country in ever-increasing numbers,
but it’s not happening. Tourist arrivals
to Malaysia in recent years have in fact
slowed after years of strong growth.
Largely because of the many visits to
Malaysia by Singaporeans (who
account for nearly half of all foreign
tourist arrivals), the country enjoys high

tourist numbers and was once in the
top 10 most-visited countries in the
world. Tourist arrivals in 2010 were
around 24.6 million, but seven years
later in 2017 they had only grown to
25.9 million. By contrast, Thailand, a
country routinely beset by natural
disasters and political strife, grew their
tourist arrivals from 15.9 million in

2010 to a staggering 35.4 million in
2017. The problem here is even more
pronounced now because there has
been a surge in the number of
available hotel rooms (now over
292,000 nationwide). Malaysian
hotels ran about a 60% average
occupancy rate in 2017.
Many people blame the lack of funding
for the tourism ministry for the slow
growth. Indeed, 2020 has been
designated Visit Malaysia Year, but it
seems the government is not willing to
put much money behind it. The 2019
budget speech made no mention of
any special allocation to the Tourism
Ministry, and our company (TEG
Media) has received no advertising
bookings to help us promote it. Several
years ago, we always received support
from Tourism Malaysia, which enabled
us to actively promote Malaysia.
While there may well be other reasons,
it does seem Malaysia is suffering from
a lack of marketing funds. Given
Malaysia’s economic challenges, it is
surprising the government is not
making a bigger effort to grow tourism
and the billions of dollars that tourists
bring with them. For example, tourists

to Thailand spent in excess of US$50
billion in 2017. This compares with
Malaysia, which reported tourism
receipts at just US$20 billion, 45% of
which came from Singaporeans. The
lower average spend is probably
attributable to the lower hotel costs in
Malaysia, as well as shorter visits by the
many Singaporean visitors.
As a result of all this, Tourism Malaysia
has reduced their original projections
of 36 million arrivals during Visit

Malaysia Year 2020 down to just 26.4
million. Ironically, Thailand seems to
be confident of reaching or exceeding
36 million arrivals in 2020.
This is all rather sad when Malaysia has
some good news to spread and there
are many reasons for tourists to come
here, not least value for money –
always a compelling selling point.
CORRUPTION IN MALAYSIA
A survey TEG Media conducted among
expats in 2013 revealed that expats at
that time felt corruption was at its
worst in the government. They also
felt it was getting worse, not better,
despite the apparent attempts to fight
it more aggressively. Subsequent

events seem to support that view. The
last few years have seen an
unprecedented number of senior
figures arrested for corrupt practices.
Ironically, members of the previous
government which initiated this
crackdown on more senior corporate
and government employees are now
being rounded up themselves for the
same sort of offences.
It seems evident that at the very
highest levels, corruption was accepted
and appears to have almost been a
common practice. It is hard to believe
that there was not widespread
knowledge of these corrupt practices
among the country’s former leaders,
although many now claim ignorance.
The anti-corruption bodies in Hong
Kong and Singapore have been highly
effective in reducing the level of
corruption in those two counties. It
seems that Malaysia should try harder
to identify why they have been so
much less successful at reducing
corruption here. There does not seem
to be any current campaign explaining
to Malaysians the high cost to society
of corruption and why they should be
diligent in both resisting it and

reporting any cases they observe.

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

•9


10 •

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM


a lm os t h o m e
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

The Content of Character

I

n his iconic, seminal 1963 speech,
delivered at the National Mall
during the March on Washington,
Dr Martin Luther King said a great
many things about the state of things

in the United States at that time. But
as his stirring speech approached its
climax, he delivered the phrases that
have been etched into the nation’s
collective memory. “I have a dream,”
he said, “that one day this nation will
rise up, live out the true meaning of its
creed: ‘We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created
equal.” He went on, the oratory
reaching a sermon-like crescendo: “I
have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation
where they are judged not by the
colour of their skin, but by the content
of their character.”
That’s the part that always sticks with
me. So much of the speech was about
very specific race relations between
black and white Americans, which was
of course what drove the March on
Washington in the first place. But this
part was so universal, applicable in any
society. Judged not by the colour of their
skin, but by the content of their
character.

Fast-forward three or so decades to a
very different setting, and to a searing
speech delivered by a president. Not a

real president, mind you – but a
fictional one, portrayed by Michael
Douglas in the 1995 film The American
President. In a response to a fusillade of
attacks on him by his political
opponent, President Andrew Shepherd
remarks that it has been suggested
that “being president of this country is,
to a certain extent, about character.”
He then goes on to say, “I have been
[in this office] three years and three
days, and I can tell you without
hesitation: Being president of this
country is entirely about character.”
Wise words, indeed. A poll taken in
2016 by the Pew Research Centre

showed that 84% of the people in
Germany, France, Great Britain,
Canada, and Sweden believed that the
US president would “do the right thing
in world affairs.” One year later, that
number plunged to 16% in a repeat
poll. To explain such a steep drop, one
need only consider the character of
the man in the Oval Office in 2016 and
the character of the one there in 2017.
President Shepherd had it right all
along. Being president really is entirely
about character.

Though certain specific traits of a
person are simple enough to identify
and point to – honesty, stubbornness,
shyness – defining character as a
general construct isn’t as easy. It’s
certainly more than integrity, but a
fundamental regard for truth and fact
obviously play a big role. To me,
character also encompasses
compassion, goodwill, reliability, and a
well-established (and functional)
moral compass. Respecting others.
Not being guided by selfish interests.
And just as the Pew poll revealed:
doing the right thing.
Even companies are not immune to
this, as the character of a company is
oftentimes set by the character of the
person or people at the top. Outside
of politics (but increasingly getting
mixed up in it), one company that’s
continuing to struggle with regard to
its character is Facebook. Recently, the
social media giant was once again
embarrassed by news of its misdeeds
– this time, the fact that Facebook
gave third-party company access to its
users’ private messages! And yet once
again, Facebook issued the same old
mea culpa they’ve given every time

they get busted: “We’re sorry, we know
we have to do better, must regain
trust, blah blah blah.” Look, clearly
they’re in the business of mining
personal data from their users and
then selling that data freely. This is
what they do, full stop. Any notion
that they are a “community” or some

sort of docile social network is a
complete illusion. The company and
its senior executives appear to be
bereft of character. They will sell out
their users in a heartbeat because that
is their business model. Your personal
data is their only product.
Frankly, given the parade of data
breaches, blatant sharing of personal
photos and data, and disturbing reports
about Facebook’s business practices
that we’ve seen over the last few years,
it’s surprising that more people aren’t
dropping them. The fact that Facebook
has used its vast resources (which it
accrued courtesy of selling your
personal information, mind you) to
acquire other platforms like Instagram,
WhatsApp, and Oculus probably
means things will get worse before
they get better. It’s also worth noting

that the founders of all three of those
large platforms mentioned, along with
some other smaller companies’
founders, have all left Facebook
following the takeovers. CEO Mark
Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg
have been the public faces of the
carousel of problems plaguing
Facebook (one count had the scandal list
at 21 for 2018 alone), and, largely because
neither has much credibility of character
remaining, they have both failed in their
attempts to convince investors,
congressional panels, and the public
that they weren’t aware of the extent of
the problems with the company and
that they would ensure things would be
improved. Facebook’s stock price has
fallen in lockstep with this failure.
The simple truth is, whether it’s in
public government, private business,
or personal relationships, character
matters. We make our choices on who
to do business with, who to spend our
free time, who to cast our vote for... all
based on this assessment. It’s
something that transcends race,
gender, and social strata, and Dr King
recognised it decades ago – the pivotal
importance of our character.

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 11


T EG w i n e d i n n e r

Dinner at the
Gateway
TEG’s last wine dinner was held at one
of the city’s latest additions to the bar
scene; 10KL, located at KL Gateway
Mall. 10KL, The restaurant is decked out
in a modern lounge setting, and is
adjacent to a sports bar, hostess bar,
and speakeasy. Having both al fresco
and indoor dining areas to choose from,
our dinner guests opted to enjoy their
meal outside.
We started the meal with a delicious
freshly roasted asparagus soup, cooked
with heavy cream, and served with cep.
The soup was served alongside an
Argentinian Familia Zuccardi Santa Julia
Viognier. For the appetiser, we had
torched scallop with cauliflower purée
and sauce Veronique, paired with an

Australian Chardonnay .
As for the main meal, guests had a
choice of either the Wagyu beef
rib-eye, or the Gindara Saikyo. The
Wagyu beef rib-eye was beautifully
charcoal grilled to preference, and
served with pumpkin hash, and jus. It
went with a Chilean Luis Felipe Edwards
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon. The other
main, Gindara Saikyo, a grilled fresh
black cod marinated in miso and haji
kami pickle, was paired with Luis Felipe
Edwards Pupilla Rose from Chile.
Dessert consisted of a classic
cappuccino mousse, served with a
strawberry compote, kiwi glaze, and a
choice of coffee or tea.
The great food and service saw
everyone who turned up having a really
nice time, that some even decided to
stay on and enjoy the live band at the
adjoining bar for more drinks and a
dance or two.

THE EXPAT WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
10KL
LG1-10, LG1-11, Central Piazza,
KL Gateway Mall,
59200 Kuala Lumpur

12 •

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM


1H[W

Sensational RED
Our next wine dinner will be held at the
fabulous new Pullman Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
The restaurant featured, is RED; an evolution
in Chinese cuisine with a modern, stylish
and innovative approach, with a menu
that’s bound to dazzle. With a chic dining
atmosphere, this will be a night to look
forward to, so don’t miss it!
Date : 20th February 2019
Time : 7pm – 10pm
Venue : RED Chinese Cuisine
Pullman Kuala Lumpur
City Centre, Jalan Conlay,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Price : RM170 Members /
RM195 Non Members

Please kindly note that reservations are required
and seats are reserved for you, so last-minute
cancellations and/or no-shows may still be

charged. Please advise of any cancellation at least
48 hours prior to the dinner so that the seat(s) can
be released for others. Thank you!
To register:
email
or call 03.2094 9664

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 13


T EG m ing le

French Riviera
Vibes at Nizza
The previous Mingle was held at Nizza, a
Mediterranean restaurant in Sofitel Kuala
Lumpur. With their large open and airy
space, guests had a pleasant time at the
Mingle, and the turnout was really good.
A few of them chose to stay on after the
event, too.
The finger food and canapés served
consisted of smoked salmon and
asparagus quiche, cucumber and cream
cheese mini sandwiches, mushroom
ragout vol-au vent, spicy chicken and

avocado burritos, warm mini apple pies,
and mocha mousse in a chocolate cup.
Drinks available for the night were
Guinness Stout, Strongbow, and Tiger
beer, and they were sponsored by
Heineken Malaysia Berhad. There were
also choices of red and white wines.
For the lucky draw, we gave away a
couple of F&B vouchers, entrance tickets
to the Mini Zoo at KL Tower, and Farm in
The City, as well as a 2D/1N stay at
Parkroyal Service Suites Kuala Lumpur.
The Mingle is a fun opportunity to meet
new people, catch up with familiar faces,
and to just have a great night socializing
over drinks at a great price. Bring your
friends and join us for the next one!

THE EXPAT WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
NIZZA
Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara
Tel: +603 2720 6688
Fax: +603 2720 6618

14 •

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

1H[W

Rock out at Rock Bottom
Our next Mingle will be at Rock Bottom Kitchen and
Bar, in the heart of Bangsar. Many are no stranger to
this buzzing locale of great food and live music, and we
will all be looking forward to a swell time. See you
there for drinks and pumping tunes.
NEW PRICES FOR MINGLES

As a result of continued price increases in the market,
mostly for wine, we have had to adjust some of the
prices for our monthly Mingles. We have kept the
increases as modest as possible, and feel that the
Mingle still represents one of the very best value-formoney regular social events in Kuala Lumpur. As
always, TEG Card members enjoy discounted pricing,
so do consider signing up. We have also added an
option for wine drinkers to purchase a full bottle and
two entries, each inclusive of food, so bring a friend,
share a bottle, and enjoy the company!
Date : 27th February 2019 (Wednesday)
Time : 7pm – 9pm
Venue : Rock Bottom Kitchen and Bar
3 & 5 Jalan Telawi 2
Bangsar Baru
59100 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

Register online at
or call 03.2094 9664

Tag your photos at TEG Mingle on facebook.com/TheExpatMalaysia

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 15


events

Precious Family Moments
Captured by JB’s Student
Photographers

T

he lovely grounds of Avira
Garden Terraces were once
again filled with the jovial
chatter of parents, students,
and teachers, all enjoying a relaxing
afternoon looking at the amazing
talent on display in the Johor
International Schools Young
Photographer’s Contest.
Organized by Eastern & Oriental (E&O)
and TEG Media, the Young
Photographer’s Contest is a threemonth long photography competition
in which students of Johor’s
international schools are invited to
submit self-shot photographs around
the year’s theme of ‘Precious Family
Moments.’ Fifty of the best pictures
were selected to make up an exhibit at
the Avira Sales Gallery. This round

16 •

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

featured professional photographer
Daniel Ooi as judge.

Guests had a whale of a time at the
luncheon spread, which was
accompanied by other engaging
activities curated for even more
precious family moments. Among
them were the ‘Colour Alive’ event by
Crayola to encourage young creativity
and a photography workshop to
educate more about the art of
capturing an image. An additional
exhibition and workshop featuring the
national wau kite was also featured.
We thank E&O Avira Sales Gallery,
sponsors, and volunteers, along with
the international schools who
supported this initiative for
encouraging young talent, and we
hope to see more in the next


competition. Congratulations to the
winners and all who participated!
SENIOR WINNERS (AGE 13 – 18)
Champion: Paris Maree Coulson
Second: Amrit Fernando
Third: Ainna Farhana Binti Zaini
JUNIOR WINNERS (BELOW AGE 13)
Champion: Alexandria Al Puteri
Second: Arjun Anjayana Krishnan
Third: Miqhail Al Azim Bin Mohammad

Khairul Nizam
Most Voted Online: Asyirah Sofiah
Photo of the Day: Amrit Fernando
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
1. Marlborough College Malaysia
2. Excelsior international school
3. Sunway International school Johor
4. Crescendo Help International
School Johor
5. Sri Utama School
6. Tenby Johor
7. Sri ARA school

Jointly brought to you by

Supporting sponsor

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 17


THE

EXPAT

H[WUDFWV

Want to see who’s sharing this foreign land with you? Get
acquainted with this sampling of expats! If you’d like to see yourself
on these pages in a future issue, we’d love to hear from you. Just drop
us a line at and request a questionnaire.

Name: Brad Hogarth
Home Country: Australia
Designation:
Advert/Commercial Film Director
Marital Status: Married
What brought you to Malaysia and
how long have you been here?
I came to Malaysia to work in the film
industry in 1991.
What do like and dislike most about
living in Malaysia?
I love the weather, my wife and kids,
and the vegetarian food here,
especially petai, tempeh and rawa tosai
(doh, I said it… the food!!). Also the
beaches, the opportunities, the rapid
pace… But even after 25 years, I still
detest durian, ikan bilis and traffic jams,
I have accepted ice in beer, chili pedas,
driving up close and personal, driving
on any side of the road and the haze.
I’m such a cliché ‘guai lou’!
What is your favourite holiday
destination in Malaysia or in the
region?

The East Coast of Malaysia… Back in
1991 when Don Banard (another expat)
and I began surfing the unknown
monsoon surf of Terrenganu. It wasn’t
known as a surf paradise but the waves
were and still are decent enough to get
a surf fix.
Every endeavour begins with a sense
of adventure. But for two expat surfers
residing in KL, our monsoon season

surf trips were looked on by others as
lunacy. Waking up at 4am to battle the
truck and bus drivers on the old Karak
highway, numerous forays onto the
muddy shoulders, and floods, the
locals thought we were crazy. We even
taught some locals to surf, the first
being Short Din (Cherating windsurfing
instructor), and Kamarul (older brother
of Malaysia’s famous surfer Mamat). It’s
amazing how much the surf scene has
grown since then.
Describe a memorable eating
experience you have had here.
Eating is always memorable for me, so I
don’t have one that stands out, if you
don’t mind.
Do you own property here? If so,
where?

We do own a property in downtown KL;
it is somewhere I’d like to think we could
retire to.
What do you miss most about your
home country?
The surf. And family.

How long do you plan to stay in
Malaysia? Where would you like to go
next, and why?
Indefinitely, as it is where I now call
home. I’ve lived here longer now than I
have in Australia.
Is Malaysia a good country to raise
children? Why?
Yes, it’s relatively safe and full of
opportunity.
Is Malaysia a good place in which to
work and do business? Why?
Yes it is, as it is conveniently located
when working with other countries in

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

Name: Gabriel Bonnin Roig
Home Country: Spain
Designation: Chef
Other Countries You’ve Lived in:

Brazil, Singapore
What brought you to Malaysia?
Actually I did not plan to live in Malaysia
when I arrived Asia. I was working in
Tapas Club Singapore with the founders
Chef Jose and Chef Manu. It was a last
minutes plan to assign me to assist a
new branch in Malaysia.

What advice would you give to a
newly arrived expat?
Be patient and listen, embrace the
differences you encounter, and learn.

To s ee m ore p i ct ure s and a rticle s fe aturing E xpat Extrac ts

18 •

Asia. Also the cost of living is cheaper,
and culturally it is more diverse so you
get to experience more Asian cultures.
The “Truly Asia” motto rings true from
my perspective.and the people here are
just great.

What do you like and dislike about
living here?
I love Malaysia so much and this is out
of my expectation. I really like the local
foods here and Malaysians are friendly

and kind. This is what makes me feel
like home. The only thing I dislike about
Malaysia is the traffic. It takes time to
travel to another destination, even
though just a short distance. It’s been
only four months since I arrived in
Malaysia, so there are still more places
for me to explore in my to-do list!
Describe a memorable eating
experience you have had here.
As I mentioned, I love the local food so

please visit expatgo.com/interviews


much and I have discovered some
places where I could visit every day,
such as Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang.
There are some restaurants in Jalan Alor
that really impressed me, and it’s where
my team and I have bonding time.
However, the most memorable eating
experience I had here was authentic Si
Chuan Hot Pot in Kota Damansara
which is owned by a woman from
China. Lastly, my go-to breakfast every
day before I go to work, is nasi lemak.
Always the best way to start the day.
What do you miss most about your
home country?

When you stay far away from your
home, what you’ll miss the most is your
family, friends and food. But my team
in Malaysia is taking good care of me
and I have made some friends here.
They help me to adapt well to the
country and its cultures well. Even
though I’m missing my home country, I
have taken Malaysia as my second
home. I do however, really miss my
dog, Liamp, who I left with my parents
before leaving to work overseas. I also
miss riding my Harley Davisdon
superbike. I would say my bike is just
like my girlfriend. I miss spending time
with ‘her.’
What advice do you have for a newly
arrived expat?
My advice to them is to make friends
with the locals, and try to understand
the history and character of the place. I
would definitely advise them to enjoy
the local foods and visit the street
markets. To be honest, I’m very lucky to
have my colleagues take me around
Kuala Lumpur. At the same time, they
have taken good care of me and make
sure I did not miss anything interesting
here. I’m so grateful to have them in
Malaysia, and I hope I can take them

around Spain one day!
How long do you plan to stay in
Malaysia? Where would you like to go
next, and why?
I am not thinking about leaving Malaysia
just yet, as I just arrived less than six
months ago. It depends on the growth
of the company, and if they are happy
working with me. Ideally, I would stay
permanently in Malaysia, as I had

always wished to work in an Asian
country since I was young. I am
extremely grateful that I am fulfilling
my dream now. Always work hard and
never give up.
Is Malaysia a good place in which to
work and do business? Why?
Spanish cuisine is a great business
opportunity especially in Malaysia, as it
is still a fairly unexplored scene here.
However, there’s already some good
Spanish restaurants, but we would like
to contribute, and educate people
about Spanish cuisine. It’s so much
more than tapas and cold cuts. We have
been receiving great feedback from
both local and foreign customers, so
that motivates me to work harder.

What is your favourite holiday
destination in Malaysia or in the
region. Why?
I absolutely adore Terengganu’s islands
– Pulau Redang to be more specific. On
my first visit there, I was taken aback by
the clear blue waters and pristine white
sand. I felt like I’d landed in the
Maldives, not Malaysia!
Describe a memorable eating
experience you have had here.
Having my first bite of myBurgerLab’s
burgers was definitely an enriching
experience. Their utilisation of Malaysia’s
various blend of flavours in burgers was
unlike something I’d ever eaten before.
What do you miss most about your
home country?
The food! I may have become
accustomed to Malaysian food and do
crave for roti jala and Maggie goreng
when I haven’t had it in a while, but
there’s just nothing quite like food from
back home in Pakistan.

Name: M
Myra
ra Mitha
Home Country: Pakistan
Company: Jirnexu

Other Countries You’ve Lived in:
Brunei
What brought you to Malaysia and
how long have you been here?
My father initially relocated our entire
family to Malaysia back in 2009, after
receiving a job offer from IMU. While
my family left Malaysia for Brunei about
two years ago, I continued to reside in
Malaysia. All in all, I’ve been here going
onto 10 years now.
What do like and dislike most about
living in Malaysia?
I like Malaysia’s diverse landscape; I’ve
come to believe that the amalgamation
of different cultures here has
significantly contributed to the person I
am now. That, and the overall quality of
life Malaysia has to offer. I’d say the
weather is one aspect of Malaysia I
vehemently dislike – I miss cool winters!

What advice would you give to a
newly-arrived expat?
Don’t be afraid to mix with both
Malaysians and other expats from all
backgrounds. You’ll gain a better
understanding of the world and its
cultures once you do, and it’ll help to
broaden your mind in the long run –

you can count on it.
How long do you plan to stay in
Malaysia?
I’d love to settle down permanently in
Malaysia, since I’ve come to look at the
country as more of a home for me than
even Pakistan. Unfortunately, however,
Malaysia doesn’t offer foreigners the
kind of opportunities I’m looking for,
such as citizenship. If only! I plan to
move onto Australia or New Zealand
after Malaysia, perhaps after a couple
more years here.
Is Malaysia a good country to raise
children? Why?
Definitely! The country’s diversity allows
for the best possible growth in
perception and outlook on life for
children – if they are enrolled in
international schools, of course.

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 19


focus: cities of peninsular malaysia
BY PRISCILLA EMMANUEL

Genting Highlands and the
Man with the Midas Touch
There once lived a man born in a
humble village in 1918, that sat in the
mountainous county of Anxi; a
southeastern Fujian province in China.
He was the fifth child of seven
children, and he led a fairly sheltered
and quiet life with his family, while
the rest of the country suffered
through great turmoil in the wake of
the Chinese Revolution of 1911, that
ended 2000 years of imperial reign.
His name was Lim Goh Tong (Tan Sri),
a name that would later be
transcribed in Malaysia’s history of
entrepreneurial legacies.
Tan Sri Lim came to Malaya at the age
of 19 while China was in the troubled
throes of civil unrest. He started out as
a carpenter and went on to become a
building sub-contractor, all before the
onset of World War II and the Japanese
Occupation. Having survived several
near-death experiences during the
occupation, Tan Sri Lim was forced to
go back to his roots of farming to
survive the war. Frustrated with the
turn of events and the life he was

forced into – one which he thought he
had left behind – Tan Sri Lim decided
to try his hand at petty trading
instead, involving scrap metal and
various hardware.
This proved to be a deeply sagacious
decision because with the end of the
Japanese Occupation came the dire
demand for heavy machinery to be
used in mines and rubber plantations.
This was where Tan Sri Lim earned his
first fortune, catapulting him into the
ever-lucrative development and
construction industry.
GENTING HIGHLANDS: A HISTORY
A dreamer at heart, Tan Sri Lim was
having dinner one night in Cameron
Highlands, enjoying the crisp cool air,
when he envisioned having a similar
recreational destination much closer to
the capital of Kuala Lumpur. It was
during a time of industrial growth

20 •

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

several years after independence, and

as Malaysia’s GDP rose steadily, the
business opportunities that a
recreational hill resort would bring
were tempting enough for the shrewd
businessman to invest literally all of
his money into creating it. Though it
also seems quite romantic, with his
love of the mountains still running
strong in his veins, Tan Sri Lim sought
out his prized peak, and found it on
the summit of Mount Ulu Kali, at
Genting Sempah.
Nestled on the border of Selangor and

Pahang, in the Titiwangsa mountain
range, the venerable entrepreneur
successfully obtained approval for the
isolation of 12,000 acres of land from
both the Selangor and Pahang state
governments, to begin building his
hilltop getaway.
This started quite a daunting journey of
modern development in 1965, when
Genting Highlands Berhad was set up
amid cries of caution and general
concern that the entrepreneur had
invested heavily in something deemed
too far-reaching. Even so, with the

construction setbacks and health
problems which plagued the
businessman, the project was
considered “completed” in 1971.
However, it took another 30 years of
continuous expansion for Genting
Highlands to evolve beyond its original
idea of a hilltop hotel with basic tourist
facilities, and another two decades in
the technological age to attain the
monolithic status of what the Genting
Group and Resorts World Genting is
today. Diversifying into a plethora of
mainstream industries such as oil palm
plantations, property, paper, power
generation, oil and gas, as well as the
cruise ship industry; the Genting name
has reached monumental heights of
international recognition and
exorbitant wealth.
THE GAMING PIONEER
The main reason why Genting
Highlands was granted a casino license
was because Tunku Abdul Rahman

himself witnessed Tan Sri Lim’s tireless
efforts in wanting to contribute to
Malaysia’s tourism industry without any
financial aid from the government
whatsoever. Ultimately, the decision to

grant the gaming licence enabled the
Genting Group to amass not only
wealth, but over 52 years of experience
in developing, operating, and marketing
casinos and integrated resorts all over
the world, namely in the United States,
the Caribbean, Australia, Philippines,
Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
The Genting Group is listed on the
main board of Bursa Malaysia’s stocks,
and as of 2017, had a market
capitalization of US$37.87 billion.
RESORTS WORLD GENTING
Boasting a 5-star leisure resort and six
hotels – one of them being the
‘World’s Largest Hotel’ (First World
Hotel) – exciting theme parks, two
state-of-the-art cable car systems, a
sprawling Premium Outlet space,
SkyAvenue Mall, the Chin Swee Caves
Temple, and Arena of the Stars
performance venue; these are just the
attractions that are within Resorts
World’s vicinity. Of course, just like
most sizeable, successful and long
withstanding tourist development
magnets, Resorts World Genting is not
without its share of business crises and
accidental tragedies. These include
reports of financial family feuds within

the extended Lim family being fought
over in court, and the 2013 Genting
Highlands bus crash. Even the Group’s
largest hotel comes rife with macabre
tales of the supernatural.
In late 2018, news broke of Genting
Malaysia filing a billion-dollar lawsuit
against newly merged Fox
Entertainment and Disney for
allegedly backing out of the muchanticipated 20th Century Fox World
movie-inspired theme park, that was
set to be the first in the world.
Conflicting reports from both sides
cited weak currency rates,
development delays, and the fact that
Genting being in the casino industry
would clash with Disney’s strong
“family friendly” image. With that
being said, one can only marvel at the

pettiness that was so unnecessarily
displayed over licensing agreements,
when all parties involved were looking
to gain the same thing: more money.
A HOPEFUL FUTURE
The formidable character that he was,
the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong most
assuredly would have pulled his board
together and come up with
contingency plans of every imaginable

sort. And there is little doubt that that
is exactly what his son and successor,
Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, has already done
in terms of turning the whole theme
park debacle around. In fact, a
brand-new indoor theme park called
Skytropolis Funland, spanning nearly
7,000 sq ft, was launched on
8 December 2018, with all new rides
and attractions, as well as The VOID, a
US-based operator of unique, fully
immersive virtual reality experiences,
featuring ‘Star Wars: Secrets of the
Empire’ and ‘Ralph Breaks VR.’
Locals have quite an unshakeable pride
in what is considered a truly Malaysian
company. As massive and as
successful as the Group has become, it
is still undoubtedly Malaysian to the
core, and with all that the country has
survived, it will surely still see us
making our weekend trips to this
once-empty looming hilltop, ready to
escape our daily stresses, and wind
down with some fun, even if it means
ghost hunting... because after all,
they’re our ghosts, too.

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 21


focus: cities of peninsular malaysia

Ipoh Finds Its Feet
More than just a town of white coffee and great noodles, Ipoh is
increasingly flexing its modern muscle as a legitimate tourist destination.
Travel photojournalist David Bowden visits the Perak capital city once
again and finds the tourism evolution there in full swing.

I

n tourism terms, Ipoh is best
described as a later developer. It is
often overlooked as a holiday
destination, but one gets the
impression that things are changing as
more and more people become aware
of its tourism assets and increasingly
appreciate just how close Ipoh is for a
weekend getaway.
Most KL travellers probably drive past
Ipoh on their way north to Penang (and
the inverse is also true), and few would
therefore consider it as a holiday
destination. However, recent
developments have injected new zing

to ensure Ipoh is a more viable
proposition for a weekend escape,
especially as it is just a two-hour drive
north of Kuala Lumpur, and a bit closer
for Penangites.
Ipoh’s reputation as a tin town is well
known, but tin alone probably isn’t
something that will motivate visitors to
travel to what is Malaysia’s third-largest
city after Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Tin was discovered in the 19th century
and it made some people in Perak’s
Kinta Valley very wealthy, as seen by
the many large bungalows located in
parts of Ipoh. Fortunately, heritage has
been recognised by many as an
important ingredient in the tourism
equation and now Ipoh is achieving
recognition for its historic assets.
HERITAGE HEARTLAND
A close inspection of Ipoh’s historic
town centre reveals many fascinating
aspects of the city’s past and of the
wealth that was generated through the
discovery and subsequent mining of
tin. Arguably the finest building in the
city is the railway station which is the
second such station to be built on the
site. The first station opened in 1894,

22 •

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM


Weekend market, Concubine Lane

while construction of the second and
current station commenced in 1914
and was only completed in 1917 due to
difficulties in sourcing some materials
during WWI. Built along the lines of
Moghul architecture, it opened as the
Perak Railways Building. The station
celebrates its centenary this year, and
while the exterior remains mostly
untouched, the interior has been
modernised and made more
functional for travel in the 21st century.
The old hotel within the station
appears to have closed, but hopefully
an entrepreneur will come to its rescue
and renovate it back to the grand hotel
that it once was. While new hotels
have more recently opened in Ipoh,

the Railway Hotel was once the place
to stay in the grand era of railway

travel.
Just down the road, past the High
Court, another fine establishment in
the Royal Ipoh Club is located
overlooking the extensive playing
fields or the Padang Ipoh. This
Tudor-style building is of a similar
architectural style to the Royal
Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, opposite the club on Jalan
S. P. Seenivasagam is the imposing
three-storey St Michael’s School, which
is another historical building of
national significance. The school
features decorated gables and
wide-arched verandas running the

length of the building.
Apart from its man-made architecture,
nature’s hand is celebrated here, too, as
Ipoh is famous for its tree-covered
limestone hills which ring the city.
Some caves within the hills have been
converted into Buddhist and Hindu
shrines, with Sam Poh Tong, located
7km south of Ipoh, the district’s largest
cave temple. It is worth travelling here
to visit the colourful temple and to
stock up on fresh pomelo from one of
the nearby stalls.

HIP AND HAPPENING IPOH
The neighbourhood lifestyle hub
centred on Sekeping Hong Heng
coffeeshop in the historic centre of

THE EXPAT

EXPATGO.COM

• 23