IT training the expat TruePDF march 2019
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THE
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In association with
ExpatGo.com
+L 7KHUH
facebook.com/ExpatGoMalaysia
LOCAL INSIGHT. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.
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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 & Photographers
David Bowden, Yukeshwaran Devadas,
Jonathan Di Rollo, Vanessa Gomes,
Helen Gray, Anis Ramli, Sim Ewe Jin
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Emily Tang, Olivia Yap,
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or
No one questions that the Prime Minister has an overwhelming amount to
accomplish, 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 somewhat
harder now that the two major opposition parties (UMNO and PAS) have put aside
their ideological differences to work together in local by- elections and, of course, are
looking towards the next general election.
As a publication with a primary focus on expats living here, we unfortunately have
little news to share lately which indicates foreigners are seen as a relevant or valued
part 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 valid
data, it does seem as though the immigration department is slipping into its previous
role of primarily leaning towards keeping foreigners out of the country. Even the
tourism tax launched last year is levied against expats who visit hotels or resorts in
Malaysia, despite them working here, paying taxes, and contributing to the country.
When the previous government launched the Government Transformation
programme, they made a conscious effort to keep foreigners advised what was
happening, thus communicating that they valued and welcomed them in Malaysia.
They even introduced a 10-year renewable visa (the Residence Pass) to encourage
talented 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 the
opposite of the previous goal of encouraging them to move here.
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, which encourages older
foreigners to come and live here, has been an excellent initiative. It may not have had
much marketing behind it, but the money these people brought with them was
certainly good for the economy. For years, MM2H visa applications were handled by
Immigration, and usually processed efficiently and in a timely manner. Now there is a
major backlog and new applications are being handled by the Ministry of Home
Affairs, 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 of
the time frame for approval. The current delay hardly sends a positive message to the
international community.
Even tourists, who can contribute billions to the economy, are not being actively
encouraged 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 arrivals,
a
l now
w
far surpasses us, with the resultant higher economic be
f .
enefits.
It’s not clear whether these negative issues are in any way
w y
connected to recognising the concerns of some Malayss about
b
““too
many foreigners” in the country, but whatever the reasson it
seems to be a step backwards. It could, of course, simply
ply
be a matter of other priorities taking precedence. For our
o
part, we still feel confident that foreigners can make a
meaningful contribution to the new Malaysia, both
with their money and their skills.
Have a good month.
J. Andrew Davison
,
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COVER ARTIST: ELLIE YONG • STORY PG 52
THE
EXPAT
FRQWHQWV
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
Her Paintbox
56 In Memory of the Northern Sumatran
Rhino
64 Penang Promenade: Where to Eat on a
Weekend in Penang?
40
18
36
46
56
EXPAT EXCURSIONS
31 Introduction
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
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.
EXPAT INFORMATION
67 Introduction
69 Dining Promos & Restaurant Reviews
76 Services and Shopping
71
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
Filharmonik Petronas. For tickets priced
as low as RM28, her experience and skill
and the astounding 2,977-pipe organ
presented in an intimate recital setting
is one not to miss.
22
nd Mar
Zee Avi + NJWA
The Queens of the Malaysian music
scene are coming together for a
power-packed celebration in honour of
International Women’s Day. Dewan
Merdeka, Putra World Trade Center
(PWTC) will be filled with Zee Avi’s
soulful tunes, and be complemented
with NJWA’s own neo-soul sound that
is making her a rising favourite in
international airwaves. Tickets can be
purchased at airasiaredtix.com.
2
nd – 3rd Mar
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).
15
th – 17th Mar
MATTA Fair KL
The ultimate travel extravaganza fair is
back! Get amazing deals from hotels,
airlines, travel packages and more at
great values for both business and
holiday opportunities. Spreading over
29,000 sq m at PWTC’s exhibition hall,
come and make your dream vacation a
reality as soon as possible!
2
nd – 3rd Mar
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!
12
th Mar
Evelyn Lim Organ Recital
Enjoy a selection of exhilarating organ
works by Dr Evelyn Lim on the majestic
Klais Pipe Organ at the Dewan
6•
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
16
th Mar
LeeHom “Descendants of the
Dragon 2060” World Tour
The King of Chinese Pop graces the
land of Malaysia! Celebrate love,
peace, equality and the future of
ethnicity and tradition with his
dynamic talent of fusing jazz, rock,
Chinese opera, and the blending of
Western and Chinese instruments of
which he is renowned for. Presented
by MIA, organized by Unusual
Entertainment, and with Star Planet as
supporting partner, ticket sales already
commenced on 19th January at
ticketcharge.com.my.
28
th – 31st Mar
MyBalloonFiesta
Celebrate a whole decade of
MyBalloonFiesta! Coming back for its
10th year, this one is going to be hot
(and not just with all the balloon
burners prepping for the big day). And
in conjunction, MyBalloonClub is
offering members exclusive
opportunities to enjoy a live jazz band,
gourmet buffet breakfast, balloon
rides, and complimentary tickets to the
Fiesta’s Night Session. MyBalloonClub
package is offered Saturday (30th
March) and Sunday (31st March)
morning only and tickets are available
for purchase online. Limited slots are
available. For more info, check out
their official website at
myballoonfiesta.com.
29
th Mar – 7th Apr
Kuala Lumpur
International Book Fair 2019
Organised by the Ministry of Education
Malaysia via the National Book Council
of Malaysia (NBCM), the KLIBF returns
for its sixth consecutive year! The
event to be at for the best of Malaysia’s
book industry, come through to fulfil
all your book-loving needs at the Putra
World Trade Centre (PWTC).
& OXE V DQ G $ VV RF LDW LRQ V
ADDRESS BOOK
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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:
Bring fun and joy to the residents of
The Little Sisters of the Poor with this
fun game! Donations for mens and
womens clothing as well as small gifts
for bingo prizes are greatly
appreciated.
GENTLEMENS NIGHT OUT
Date: First Wednesday of each month
When: 6pm
Where: Taps Beer Bar, 1 Jalan Nagasari
COST: Individual
RSVP:
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
manly matters!
LUNCH BUNCH
Date: Third Wednesday of each month
When: 12pm 1.45pm
Where: Venues vary
Cost: Individual
RSVP:
For those looking out to try new lunch
venues and foods like Thai, French,
Indian or even American.
TALKING THREADS
Date: Fourth Wednesday of each
month
When: 10.30am 1pm
Where: Cottage Patch, Jalan Ampang
Cost: N/A
RSVP:
Gather for a chat over handicrafts of all
sorts! Quilting, crocheting, knitting,
beading, you name it!
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH WOMEN
IN MALAYSIA
Book Groups
Day Group
Date: Third Wednesday of the month
When: Morning
Where: Member house rotation in
KLCC area
RSVP: Debra James (debjamfam@
hotmail.com)
EVENING GROUP
Date: Second Tuesday of the month
When: 8pm
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 regular
technical or creative workshops in the
ABWM 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,
Playgroup for children, mingle with
other parents
WELCOME TO MANZA
MORNING TEA
Date: Every 2nd Thursday
When: 10am 12pm
Where: MANZA house
Cost: N/A RSVP: MANZA house,
+603-2284 7145
Meet other newcomers and long
termers in Kuala Lumpur for
information about life in Malaysia and
KL.
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THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
7
QHZV
DENGUE 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 were
apparently not satisfied with responses
given by the Malaysian police, and
discovered that the police were already
aware of the camps before the Thais
carried out raids, but had done
nothing. They also stated that the
police destroyed the camps before
they were subjected to thorough
forensic investigations. It also seems a
number of officials and Malaysian
gangs were directly or indirectly
involved in the trafficking.
There is no question that the refugees
were very badly treated, but the actual
cause of death of those who died was
never properly ascertained or made
public. Despite many people being
prosecuted in Thailand, there was little
such action in Malaysia, leading to
widespread suspicion in Malaysia that
there was a cover-up. The RCI is meant
to correct that impression.
WHEN WILL NAJIB COURT CASE
START?
There was a general expectation that
once the opposition won the election
last May that former Prime Minister
Najib would be quickly arrested and
tried. There was, after all,
overwhelming evidence that a lot of
money had been stolen from 1MDB, a
sovereign wealth fund which Najib
personally headed.
However, the new government
wanted to do things by the book and
also needed to gather their own
evidence, not least because the former
Attorney General had already cleared
Najib of any wrongdoing.
Najib’s main line of defence,
meanwhile, seems to be that he was
not aware where the various funds he
received originated from and therefore
cannot be held accountable if it is
proven they were stolen. He has been
very active in recent months reaching
out to Malaysians, often via social
media, to win their support and
empathy while continuously making
negative comments about the new
administration. This has been very
frustrating to many Malaysians,
although Najib still seems to have quite
a lot of support from rural Malays who
are strong supporters of the two
opposition parties, UMNO and PAS.
GOVERNMENT SETS UP ECONOMIC
ACTION COUNCIL
Malaysia’s economy grew at 5.7% in
2017, but slowed in 2018. The final
figure has not yet been released but it’s
expected to be around 4.7%. A similar
growth is expected this year. External
demand is clearly a factor but Malaysia
is also facing problems with its own
finances some of it related to the
activities of the previous
administration.
To assist in addressing these issues
Prime Minister Mahathir has
announced the formation of a new
council, called the Economic Action
Council (EAC). It will advise on the best
path for the economy and suggest
ways to strengthen the economy and
ensure it moves in the right direction.
They are also tasked with addressing
the public’s concerns like the rising cost
of living.
The council is made up of 16 senior
figures from the current and former
government and the private sector.
Prime Minister Mahathir will chair the
EAC which includes the outspoken
former International Trade and
Industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz,
as well as the highly respected former
Central Bank Governor Tan Sri Zeti
Akhtar Aziz.
They have a challenging job as it is
important that a sustainable economic
model can be firmly established which
can guide all the government
departments’ actions.
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
•9
a lm os t h o me
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
A Wish for Wings… Or Not
I
have 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
(the logical side of me) – how were
they doing it? They weren’t flapping
their wings. They weren’t being
pushed inland by the stiff breeze.
They were staying put. I surmised that
the wind speed was just right to allow
this phenomenon, and as I was
working it out in my head, a fourth
bird joined in, and I found myself
wondering if this was as cool for the
birds as it was for me. Maybe this isn’t
something that they get to do very
often. Maybe it’s one of those special
“aligning of the planets” moments
with wind speed, direction, humidity,
and everything coming together just
right to permit them to spread their
wings and just remain almost
motionless, suspended magically
aloft. Like us driving to work and
catching every green light and not
getting slowed down by a jam… just a
really cool and rare thing. Was it like
that for them?
Then the creative side jumped in, I
think, 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! I
can’t imagine in the entire history of
the human race that there have been
too many of us who haven’t wanted
this special gift that has been
bestowed 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 more
common birds came calling, hopping
around the empty tables nearby,
looking for crumbs and finding far
more. And watching them, two things
occurred to me. First, once again, is
that birds don’t generally fly unless
there is a real need. In the sky, they
glide whenever they can. Otherwise,
they hop around on the ground most
of the time, all in a bid to conserve
energy. Second, I realised that while
birds obviously have the incredibly
enviable gift of flight, look at the cost.
They have wings, sure, but consider
what we have instead. Arms. Hands.
When you think of it this way, it’s
pretty clear who came out better.
When humans dream of having the
power of flight, it probably involves
some manner of keeping both arms
and hands and still being able to fly.
What if you were offered the gift of
flight, though? Sure, you can fly! Here
are 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 without
using my hands would be incredibly
challenging.
So like most things in life, there’s a
trade-off. There’s always an
opportunity cost, it seems, and so the
various evolutionary gifts each species
possesses comes with a little caveat.
No, humans cannot fly, but look at all
that we can do with our hands, surely as
amazing and awe-inspiring as anything
a bird can do with a pair of wings.
I’ve always been fascinated by flight, a
bit of a passion that has done
everything from getting me in trouble
in math class (for drawing airplanes
during the lesson) to seeing me buy
my own little four-seater airplane 19
years ago and taking lessons of an
entirely different kind. But you know,
as magnificent as it was learning how
to pilot a small airplane, there was
something just as special found in
sitting there at that beachside
restaurant on a brilliant holiday
morning, marvelling as I watched those
original masters of flight, effortlessly
performing their own piloting magic.
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
• 11
T EG w ine din n e r
Fiesta at
La Bodega
Celebrated as Kuala Lumpur’s first
authentic Spanish Tapas and Wine Bar,
our last wine dinner was held at the
vivacious La Bodega, at Pavilion. As
anyone will contest to, it’s always a
charming experience dining at La
Bodega. The popularity of the venue
ensured a full house of TEG guests who
turned up right on time to enjoy a
lovely dinner prepared by the
restaurant with a selection of wines
chosen by Straits Wine Company.
Dinner started off with amuse
bouche of crab aioli tartlets with
Cornichons, and wild mushroom
bruschetta, paired with an Argentine
El Grill Torrontes. The starter was a
spring salad consisting of seared
scallops and prawns with shimeji
mushrooms, snow peas, and red radish,
herring caviar, and passionfruit salsa.
This went with a Spanish Terras Gauda
Abadia De San Campio Albarino.
For the main course, we had duck leg
confit served with red wine poached
pear and a pineapple and ginger
reduction. With this we had a choice of
an Argentine El Grill Malbec, or Spanish
Vina Pedrosa Cepa Gavilan Crianza. Our
dessert of orange lemon tart served
with cookie crumble and vanilla ice
cream was finished off with flair, a
fitting finish to the hearty meal.
THE EXPAT WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
La Bodega
Lot C3.06.00 Level 3
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603.2148 8018
12 •
THE EXPAT
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1H[W
If you’d like to attend our next Wine Dinner,
please log on to expatgo.com/my/events
or e-mail for
registration and the latest updates.
See you next time!
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
• 13
T EG ming le
Salutations
at Sala
Our last Mingle went undeterred by the
tropical rains, and Sala Rooftop Bar at
glitzy Sheraton Petaling Jaya proved itself
the perfect venue for looking over the city
with all its splendid night lights. With Sala’s
cosy and stylish Mediterranean-themed
space, a night of easy vibes and fun chatter
were made complete with over 65 guests
in attendance.
A lovely spread of food such as mini
sliders, quesadillas, and a build-your-ownnachos bar (all with chicken or beef
options), along with chicken wings, Pattaya
fried noodles, rich chocolate brownies, and
fresh fruit to top it all off was beautifully
presented. The small portions encouraged
everyone to go beyond just one plateful.
Guinness Stout, Tiger Beer, Strongbow,
and Heineken were offered compliments
of the fine team at Heineken Bhd., and red
and white wines were also available.
Lucky draw winners received tickets to
the Mini Zoo at KL Tower and Farm in The
City, F&B vouchers, coupons for L’Oréal
Hair Spa Treatment, and two bottles of
wine graciously sponsored by Sala Bar.
The Mingle is always an exciting affair
thanks to familiar faces ready to welcome
newcomers to the exciting scene of Kuala
Lumpur, and to catch up with both new
and old friends over drinks, food, and good
music, all at a great value.
THE EXPAT WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
Sala Rooftop Bar
Sheraton Petaling Jaya
Lorong Utara C, PJS 52
46200 Petaling Jaya
14 •
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
1H[W
Gin Rik Sha
Restaurant & Bar
Our next Mingle takes place at Gin Rik Sha Restaurant
and Bar in the fashionable town of Damansara Heights.
With a beautiful selection of Indian-Fusion food and
drinks, look forward to a night of exciting vibes and
youthful fun. No doubt to be a great night for
socialising, so see you there!
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
or call 03.2094 9664
Tag your photos at TEG Mingle on facebook.com/TheExpatMalaysia
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
• 15
events
Moroccan 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.
16 •
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
Dr. Yap, being the founder, has a vast
amount of experience in his specialized
field as an ophthalmologist, and
cataract surgeon, consulting in
Malaysia, Singapore, and the United
Kingdom. His impressive credentials
include being a graduate of Medicine
from The University of Edinburgh,
Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology
from The National University of
Singapore, as well as Master of
Ophthalmology from The University of
Malaya. He is also a Robert Wilson
medal winner, a member of The Royal
College of Surgeons in Edinburgh
specializing in Ophthalmology, and is a
certified LASIK surgeon by Singapore
National Eye Centre (SNEC) and
Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL). This
fully assures his patients that they are
in the best possible care at USJ.
Once the medical talk was over,
guests were entertained with a lively
and exotic performance by a
professional belly dancer. In addition
the excitements of cheering the belly
dancer on, a few of the ladies were
even pulled up to join her in swaying
their hips to the music. When all the
fun activities were over, guests got to
tuck into a lavish Moroccan buffet
lunch ending the event on a truly
high note. Everyone had a really
good time, as well as learned a good
deal on the importance of getting our
eyes checked. We would like offer a
really big thank you once again to
Hammam Spa, and USJ Eye
Specialist centre for helping us to
put the event together. We will
definitely be looking forward to the
next one.
Whisky and Chocolate Night
I
t 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 whiskythemed event at The Cabinet, just drop an email to
and we’ll add you to the list!
theconnoisseurscabinet | chocconcierge
@the_connoisseurs_cabinet | @chocconcierge
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
• 17
focus: johor and iskandar
Uncovering the
History of Johor
A resident of Johor Bahru, expat Helen Gray recounts a detailed history of
the state’s monarchs in her fascinating walking tour.
T
here 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
18 •
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
people of their place in society, i.e., the
relationship between the ruler and his
subjects. And it begins by evoking the
spirit of Alexander the Great (Iskandar
Zulkarnain), and claiming a direct
descendancy from him.
By piecing together stories from the
Malay Annals with written accounts
from Chinese and Portuguese sailors,
the story goes that the rebellious Hindu
prince Sri Tri Buana fled from the
Srivajayan capital, Palembang, Sumatra
in 1299 and took over the settlement of
Temasek. The settlement was renamed
Singapura which prospered for five
generations in the 14th century, but was
frequently attacked by rival Javanese of
the Majapahit Kingdom and the rulers
of Siam (Thailand). The last Hindu ruler
of Singapura, named Parameswara,
abandoned Singapura for the jungles of
the Malay Peninsula following attacks
from Siam around 1396.
In 1398, Parameswara arrived on the
banks of the Muar River. Today the site
of Parameswara’s base at Kota Biawak
Busuk (Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizards)
has been replaced by the Bentayan
Express Bus Station. If you look down at
the riverbank, you can still see the
monitor lizards!
He moved further inland along the
Muar River and eventually settled in
Melaka, establishing a trading port
favoured by Muslim traders from India
and China. The Chinese Muslim Admiral
Zheng He frequently traded in Muar
and Melaka and under his influence,
Parameswara married a Muslim
princess and took a Muslim name,
becoming known as Iskandar Shah. In
1411, he visited the Ming Emperor Yung
Makam Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah
Site of the Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizards
Sultan Hussein’s tomb
loose a succession dispute, which brings
us to 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles
seized his opportunity, backing
Temenggong Abdul Rahman’s preferred
candidate, Sultan Hussein, in exchange
for a British trading post.
Kota Johor Lama Museum
Lo, 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.14771488) 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 were
constantly at war, repeatedly having to
move their administration up and down
the river. Their main fort at Johor Lama
is the best preserved of the Johor River
forts and has an excellent small
museum worth visiting.
In 1699, the last of the Melakan lineage,
Sultan Mahmud Shah II, was
assassinated. His chief minister, the
Bendahara, took over as Sultan Abdul
Jalil Riayat Shah IV. In 1700, he offered
Singapura to a British merchant,
Captain Alexander Hamilton, hoping
the British would protect him against
Raja Kecil, who claimed to be the son of
Mahmud Shah II. The Captain declined
the offer and, unfortunately, the
Bendahara was assassinated. His
nephew appealed for help from the
Bugis in Sulawesi, who installed him as
Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah.
Then throughout the 18th century the
Johor Sultans and the Bugis vied for
control. In 1790, trying to escape Bugis
rule, another Sultan Mahmud Shah (III)
who became a hunted wanderer, allied
with Ilanun pirates from Borneo. But in
1795, he struck a deal with the Dutch
and established his rule in Johor. Then in
1806, he appointed Abdul Rahman – of
Bugis stock – to be Temenggong of
Riau, seemingly resolving their issues.
In 1811, Temenggong Abdul Rahman
moved to Singapore to set up gambier
plantations with 30 Chinese planters
and a number of Malay families. And in
1812, Sultan Mahmud Shah died setting
In 1824, the British undermined their
position and their future looked bleak,
but Temenggong Abdul Rahman’s son
Daeng Ibrahim restored his family
fortunes by inviting the Ngee Heng
Kongsi, a Chinese Secret Society, to
move from Singapore to Johor to
establish gambier and pepper
plantations. In 1855, he moved his
government from Singapore to Tanjung
Puteri in Johor, renaming it an
inspirational Iskandar Puteri. Then in
1866, with some brilliant PR work, it
became Johor Bahru (new Johor) under
Daeng Ibrahim’s son, Abu Bakar, a man
with a vision of a modern state.
Meanwhile though, Sultan Hussein,
unable to move with the times, died in
1835 in modest accommodation in
Malacca, somewhere on Jalan Tun Tan
Cheng Lock, and is buried next to the
Tranquerah Mosque.
His son Ali, considered merely the
son of a usurper of the throne,
struggled to gain recognition as heir
and died in debt, often bailed out by
the 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.
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
• 19
focus: johor and iskandar
BY PRISCILLA EMMANUEL
Forest City: A Collision
of Futuristic Dreams and
Present-Day Bureaucracy
T
he 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.
20 •
collectively, have sold properties to over
1,500,000 homeowners.
Forest City, Country Garden’s longterm development venture in Iskandar
boasts some very impressive ecocentric architecture, promoted as a
green city of the future. The
development will sit on four reclaimed
man-made islands with a total land
area of 1,386 hectres, which is also
equivalent to 150 million sq ft! It is
approximated to be 3x the size of
Sentosa Island in Singapore, 4x the
size of New York’s Central park, and it
should house about 700,000
residents. The mega-project is also
estimated to have a gross
development value in excess of US$29
billion in a span of 20 years.
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.
In addition to being an
environmentally conscious
development with sky-scraping
futuristic buildings sprouting an
abundance of plant life, Forest City
claims to be a fully “smart’ city with
properties using the latest
technologies to provide built-in
security systems with facial
recognition, and 24-hour surveillance
by Nepali Gurkha-trained guards.
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
It will also be the first city in the world
to introduce underground roads to its
multi-tiered urban living plan. This is in
the hopes for the main spaces above
to be pollution-free and uncongested,
with the exception of a high-speed
electric rail system as a means of
public transport, as well as to connect
the city to Singapore.
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
AN AWARD-WINNING
METROPOLIS OF THE FUTURE
Forest City’s admirable plans of
enriching biodiversity and sustaining
local greenery in a tech- smart
setting have won them the United
Nations Sustainable Cities and
Human Settlements Awards three
times to date, as well as seven other
environmental design awards! It
has been reported that there are
currently no other in-the-plan cities
with their particular blueprint of urban
forests creating a natural barrier to
control carbon emissions, as well as
being equipped with rainwater
conservation systems.
With so much focus on maintaining a
harmonious balance between modern
urbanization and environmental
awareness, it does seem rather
bizarre that the reclamation for the
city’s four man-made islands were
“approved” for commencement in
2014 without a legally required
Detailed Environmental Impact
Assessment (DEIA).
It was only when Singapore started
asking questions about the potential
effects the reclamation works would
cause in their shared coastal waters
with Malaysia that a DEIA permit was
obtained by Country Garden. By then
the damage caused was already
apparent. Forest City’s landscaped
beach on its first island and extended
causeway cuts into the country’s
largest seagrass meadow, altering
currents, and threatening the fragile
ecosystem’s biodiversity.
Also 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 almost
US$1.4 million for a four-bedroom
house. What’s extraordinary is,
almost 80% of all units on the first
island have already been sold to
mostly Chinese nationals, whom the
project was primarily marketed to in
its initial phases.
As soon as reports flooded out about
Tun Dr. Mahathir’s aversion to Forest
City, representatives of Country
Garden stated that the Prime
Minister’s words may have been taken
out of context, and that they are
working with the current government
to establish proper clarifications on
the matter. Reports from a week later
saw Housing and Local Government
Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin say that
they will converge with Country Garden
in hopes of properly understanding the
project before submitting a detailed
report to the cabinet. This has been
consistent with Pakatan Harapan’s
“10 promises in 100 days” pledge.
Adding to the predicament is the
Chinese government themselves,
who have clamped down on foreign
property investments limiting
capital flight in order to strengthen
China’s currency, and stabilize their
foreign reserves. This has thrown
a very big wrench into the already
troubled project, which now sees
Chinese nationals who have invested
advanced down payments for their
units, unable to complete payments
as they now have a US$50,000 limit
per person on foreign money
transfers annually.
UNCERTAIN TIMES AHEAD
In a rush to conduct damage control,
Country Garden have since closed their
sales offices in China, and “shifted their
sales strategy internationally,” searching
for new customers in the Middle East,
Japan, Thailand, and elsewhere.
Conflictingly, they have yet to reveal
their 2017 sales figures and their official
spokesperson have gone on record to
say that they might not continue with
the rest of the development until sales
demands go up again. This comes
among rising concerns that the overly
ambitious project could very well turn
out to be a white elephant sitting in the
southern corridor.
This now definitely serves as a
cautionary tale for any foreign
development in the country going
forward after the upheaval of the last
government which left a trail of
monumental debt. A great question
pertaining to this would be where are
the contingency plans in both trying to
accommodate local needs as well as
inviting foreign investments without
destroying anymore natural flora and
fauna? What will be the future of Forest
City seeing as Malaysia is currently
experiencing a property glut that has
been reported to be the worst since the
1999 Asian Financial Crisis?
Tightened by so much red tape and
leaving the population with more
questions than answers, it can only be
said that time will tell. For now, the
tangible image of what the future will
look like must still remain in utopian
Hollywood flicks.
THE EXPAT
EXPATGO.COM
• 21
