Empress by Boon, San Francisco’s newest, must-visit epicurean destination opened in the heart of historic Chinatown, helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon. Armed with nearly 30 years of expertise in the culinary world, Malaysia-born Chef Boon is best known as the long-time executive chef of upscale international Chinese chain Hakkasan.
Empress Tea Room
Old-meets-new in this expansive 7,500 square-foot space remodelled by UK firm Atelier LLYS; it features contemporary elements dotted with repurposed fixtures from its legendary predecessor, Empress of China, such as its exquisitely carved panels and the original wooden pergola. Multiple dining rooms, the tea lounge and the bar accords diners breath-taking vistas of the city’s skyline from downtown to the Bay from three vantage points at this 156-seater rooftop restaurant.
Michelin-starred Chef Ho Chee Boon @ nottophotosCrispy Quail with chili garlic @ Cherylynn N
With the opening of his namesake restaurant, Chef Boon is excited to create and introduce his culinary perspective of elegant and modern Cantonese delights by combining traditional techniques with fresh, organic ingredients from the restaurant’s own farm in Gilroy, California. He surmises that it is “the perfect way to offer a farm-to-table experience like no other in San Francisco, aside from serving great food, providing attentive service and a lively atmosphere.”
W Maldives, in partnership with Cercle, the French media company known for filming and broadcasting music performances in some of the world’s most awe-inspiring places, recently hosted an unforgettable live concert at Gaathafushi – the private castaway island, a stone’s throw away from the resort.
FISH deckIsland Aerial view
The 75-minute set featured a magnificent performance by Berlin-based electronic singer-songwriter Monolink, renowned for combining melodic techno with dreamy guitar-led folk. The island’s pristine white, sandy secluded beach and turquoise lagoon served as the stage.
Cercle organises, films and broadcasts concerts in carefully selected locations around the world and is dedicated to promoting artists, great aesthetics, cultural heritage and nature through the facets of electronic music and video. Amongst the most jaw-dropping musical performances locations filmed included a hot air balloon above Cappadocia, Turkey, the Mont Saint-Michel Island in France and Glacier 3000 in the Swiss Alps.
Gaathafushi Island at W Maldives now joins this list of iconic locations, becoming the first hotel to serve as the site of a Cercle show following the likes of the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids of Giza & Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni.
Relive the performance on Cercle’s YouTube channel.
Sunway University invites future engineers to participate in its new programmes aimed at producing engineers with future skills
SUNWAY University touts immense growth in education, research, talent development, and contribution to society on both national and global grounds.
Entering a new decade of continued success and high growth, the university extends its programme offerings to a new area of strategic importance in the field of engineering.
Sunway University Engineering Programmes Development director Associate Prof Ir Abdul Aziz Omar said the programmes are designed to nurture future engineers to build a technology-enabled world.
“We are offering a new line of curriculum in addition to the fundamental principles of engineering to produce engineers with future skills,” he added.
Sunway University will be introducing two inaugural Bachelor of Engineering with honours programmes in electronic and electrical engineering scheduled for August 2021, and in chemical engineering in March 2022.
School of Engineering and Technology – YouTube
Gearing up towards a modern society The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the world and the university found that science, technology, and engineering including electronics, communications and computing have been pivotal in introducing innovative and efficient solutions tools to mitigate any damage incurred.
This would also contribute to the protection of society, provide healthcare with advanced life-saving equipment and tools as well as diagnostics and data processing facilities, greatly support the economy, and enable the continuation of education.
The new engineering programmes at Sunway University aim to employ the latest innovative teaching methodologies and approaches that would expose students to the latest theories, engineering practices, equipment and tools in solving complex engineering problems.
Through strong industry links and focus on real-world problems, its engineering programmes would not only equip students with strong technical know-how but with hands-on practical exposure as well.
One University With A World of Opportunities – YouTube
To further support the delivery of the programmes, Sunway University has invested in brand-new laboratories and high-quality equipment along with highly capable academics in the School of Engineering and Technology that have advanced professional qualifications, diverse international exposure, strong research portfolios and extended successful education records to enhance students’ learning experience.
How future engineers could benefit Both programmes have received provisional accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) Malaysia and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as well as approval from the Higher Education Ministry.
Upon graduation, students would have the opportunity to register as graduate engineers with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) while preparing themselves with adequate professional experience and other requirements set by the BEM.
This professional engineer qualification is internationally recognised through the Washington Accord of the International Engineering Alliance, a global organisation that establishes and manages internationally bench-marked standards for engineering education and expected competence for engineering practice, where BEM is a signatory of the accord.
The programme would not only equip students with a strong technical foundation but also with advanced engineering knowledge and the ability to implement and apply them in practice, with extended soft skills and management capabilities.
The upcoming electronic and electrical engineering programme would open doors to varied career options such as electronics, telecommunications, robotics and industrial automation, computer engineering, power systems, medical electronic equipment, among others.
It would also introduce graduates to other sectors of the economy, research, academia, services, defence and government as digitalisation has made its mark in the modern world.
Meanwhile, the programme is open for registration, with scholarship opportunities available including the inaugural bursary for the first student cohorts.
For more information on Sunway University’s programmes, visit university.sunway.edu.my.
Prof Ir Abdul Aziz Omar Sunway University Engineering Programmes Development Director Associate
by Dr Tan Kenny – Consultant Neurologist & Physician
(Subspecialty in Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders)
Having sudden facial or limb weakness and numbness? Sudden slurred speech or drooling? Sudden blurred vision? Is that a concern? What is going on with your body?
Stroke is preventable and treatable. It is important to recognise early stroke symptoms and BE FAST to act during the golden hour so that immediate emergency stroke treatment can be initiated to reduce brain injury.
Stroke occurs when there is reduced blood supply to the brain. In general, stroke can be classified based on the etiology of reduced blood supply, i.e. ischemic (blockage) and hemorrhagic (bleed). Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. Symptoms suggestive of stroke include sudden poor balance, visual problems, face or limb weakness or numbness, speech difficulty. An easy acronym to remember is BE FAST (Balance Difficulties, Eyesight Changes, Face Weakness, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulties, Time to call for help).
Around 2 million brain cells die every minute during acute stroke, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Thus, it is pertinent to identify stroke early so that the necessary medical treatment can be implemented.
Upon reaching the hospital, the neurologist will initiate emergency stroke assessment to establish the diagnosis of ischemic stroke before initiating acute stroke treatment. One such treatment is thrombolytic therapy, i.e., administration of a ‘clot buster’ medication to dissolve blood clots that have blocked the arteries in the brain causing stroke, in the hopes of breaking the clot to reperfuse and return blood flow to the affected brain cells. To be effective, the therapy needs to be initiated as soon as possible within the golden hour (4.5 hours from the onset of symptoms), before permanent irreversible damage has occurred.
For ischemic stroke patients who arrive beyond the treatment window period (>4.5 hours) and not suitable for acute thrombolytic therapy, appropriate investigations and medical treatment to stabilise patient will be initiated i.e. blood thinners, blood pressure and blood sugar control. The first three months after a stroke are the most important for recovery as patients will see the most improvement. Thus, besides providing best medical treatment, patient will require neuro-rehabilitation i.e. physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Stroke can be debilitating but the bright side is it can be prevented and may be attributed to modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
In Malaysia, hypertension was the most common risk factor followed by diabetes mellitus. Modifiable risk factors are the focus of primary prevention and they include the following risk factors:
a) Lifestyle, i.e., smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity.
b) Metabolic, i.e., hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity (measured by high body mass index or BMI)
c) Environmental, i.e., stress, air pollution.
Many are not aware that stroke can recur. The recurrence rates are 3-4% in the first month and 12% in the first year after a stroke. This emphasises the importance of secondary stroke prevention, and this may involve medical interventions including anti-platelet therapy, anti-hypertensive treatment, cholesterol and blood sugar control. Besides compliance to medication, lifestyle modification plays a vital role.
It is recommended to maintain an active lifestyle by exercising 30 mins daily or at least 150 mins per week, stop smoking, avoid heavy alcohol drinking and healthy diet. Mediterranean diet (low glycemic with high intake of vegetables) supplemented with nuts, diet high in fruits and leafy green vegetables are beneficial. It is also recommended to follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet) to reduce blood pressure, emphasising on high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods, legumes and nuts, and low intake of sodium, sweetened beverages, and red and processed meat.
In Malaysia, there is still lack of awareness in regards to recognition of stroke symptoms and the significance of time-sensitive stroke treatment. As a result, delay in early intervention may lead to prolonged hospital stay and increase of stroke-related morbidities and mortality. BE FAST to ensure better outcome as time loss is brain loss in acute stroke. Stroke strikes fast, so should you.
Dr Tan Kenny is a Consultant Neurologist and Physician at LohGuanLye Specialists Centre. He has vast experience in diagnosing and managing stroke, dementia, headaches, Parkinson’s and various other neurological conditions. He established the emergency neurology stroke service at LohGuanLye Specialists Centre and obtained the World Stroke Organization (WSO) Angels Award Platinum Status for the hospital’s stroke service. He is committed to creating awareness, education and holds the position as the Medical Advisor for the Penang Parkinson’s and Rehabilitation Association.
How a series of sleep loss impacts mental & physical wellbeing Three consecutive nights of sleep loss can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health and cause both to greatly deteriorate. Sleep deprivation can lead to an increase in anger, frustration, anxiety and a weakened immune system and amongst others.
A new study published in Annals of Behavioural Science looked at the consequences of sleeping fewer than six hours for eight consecutive nights – six hours is the minimum duration of sleep that experts say is necessary to support optimal health in average adults.
Lead author Soomi Lee, Assistant Professor in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida, found the biggest jump in symptoms appeared after just one night of sleep loss. In a study by the University, the number of mental of physical problems steadily got worse, peaking on day three. At that point, the research showed that the human body has gotten relatively used to repeated sleep loss. But all that changed on day six, when participants reported that the severity of physical symptoms was at its worst.
Many of us think that we can pay back our ‘sleep debt’ on weekends and be more productive during the week. However, results from this study shows that having just one night of sleep loss can significantly impair your daily mental abilities and functioning.
Data provided by the Midlife, included a study of nearly 2,000 middle-aged adults who were relatively healthy and well-educated. Among them, 42 percent had at least one night of sleep loss, sleeping one and a half hours than typical routines.
They recorded their mental and physical behaviours in a journal for eight consecutive days, allowing researchers to review, how SLEEP LOSS causes wear and tear on the body.
Participants reported a pile-up of angry, nervous, lonely, irritable and frustrated feelings as a result of sleep loss. They also experienced more physical symptoms, such as upper respiratory issues, aches and pain, gastrointestinal problems, and other health concerns.
These negative feelings and symptoms were continuously elevated throughout consecutive sleep loss days and did not return to baseline levels unless they had a night’s sleep of more than six hours.
About one third of adults sleep less than six hours per night. Once that becomes a habit, it’s increasingly difficult for your body to fully recover from lack of sleep, continuing the vicious cycle of worsening daily wellbeing, which could impact one professionally.
A previous study led by author Sommi found losing just 16 minutes of sleep could impact job performance. Her previous findings also showed that minor sleep loss can decrease daily mindfulness, which is a critical recourse for managing stress and maintaining healthy routines.
So, I would advise the best way to maintain a strong daily performance is to set aside more than SIX HOURS of SLEEP NIGHTLY.
Bold. Focus. No nonsense. Always thinking out of the box. These are common descriptions of Kenny Teoh, founder and managing director of Hectarworld Group.
From humble beginnings in Taiping, Kenny moved to Kuala Lumpur during his teenage years with his mother and younger sister after the passing of his father and elder sister, seeking a brighter future in the capital city. Kenny had to work as a part-timer in various jobs while pursuing his studies in economics and IT as he strongly believed that education is the key to success and the best solution out of poverty. Finally after years of hard work and perseverance juggling work and studies, he successfully obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Hons), Diploma in IT, Economics and Business Administration.
After graduation, Kenny was hired by an ICT MNC for an entry-level job and quickly rose through the ranks after working with a few top 500 Fortune MNCs. Within a short period of time, he was overseeing Asia and Oceania regions. It came as a surprise to many when he decided to resign from his high-flying position after 8 years – because deep inside, he knew that this was not the dream that he was chasing. He left this comfort zone and joined the real estate industry where he started from the bottom again – as a real estate negotiator. Coupled with his never stop learning attitude, he continued his studies to pursue his Diploma in Real Estate Agency by BOVAEP. It was not long before he started his real estate company and other real estate related businesses, bringing with him his years of vast managerial experience and innovative, technology driven approach.
Under Kenny’s leadership, Hectarworld Group has now involved into everything real estate related – including real estate agency, property management, training and education, end-to-end real estate investment services and co-development with property developers. With some 1000 members and staff, the Group is able to provide service coverage in the northern, central and southern regions of West Malaysia, together with a service delivery team in Australia and affiliates in Singapore.
Kenny envisions to make Hectarworld Group the leading real estate company, a fully-integrated real estate investment and development firm. It is also in his goal to bring the Group to the next level – by expanding its wing to the South East Asia region in the near future.
LIM MIAN FOO Deowa Academy Founder, doTERRA Malaysia Founder, Presidential Diamond doTERRA Wellness Advocate, Certified Aromatherapist
Before I encountered doTERRA, I had already established a thriving business that dealt with flowers and decorations. I started this floristry business because of my deep passion for beauty and nature. It was a business that happily married my love for Mother Nature and my desire to make people happy through beautiful creations. So, when doTERRA entered my life, it was a natural transition as it combines both making people happy through beauty and creating a blissful healthy life for others through the same avenue – Nature. doTERRA has made my happiness even more meaningful and complete. Helping people to alleviate pain is so much more rewarding for me than making them happy only through beauty. Perhaps being an already established businessman for almost 20 over years has made it easier for me to share the the effectiveness and benefits of essential oils instead of just selling it as a product. I am elated whenever I see the happy faces of people that I have shared doTERRA with.
On this journey, one of the challenges I faced was sharing the correct usage of essential oils. Nowadays, a lot of people think that fragrance oils and essential oils are the same. Upon setting out on my mission, I have studied and conducted extensive research on the benefits of essential oils on the body, mind, and even internal healing (emotional issues).
“The main source of success is to focus on your Effort.“
Whenever I venture into anything, I always have a plan and set my own goals and target. So i applied this when I started my doTERRA journey. In this industry, duplication is very important. In this culture of duplication, the way you work-lead by example and others will follow, this makes everything much easier. One of the biggest keys to building a successful business in this industry is to understand those we serve. Getting to know my clients better has made it easier for us to work together. In 2018, a few business partners and I established DEOWA Academy. The purpose of DEOWA Academy is to provide comprehensive support towards my team members’ education of essential oils and career development.
On this amazing journey, sustaining my Passion is essential, which sometimes can be a hurdle. Without Passion and Patience, this journey would have been much more difficult. Passion and the absolute belief in the benefits and efficacy of doTERRA products keeps me going. Especially when I hear great life-changing testimonials from people I served. Since I found out that I could help people become more healthy and joyful through my sharing, doTERRA has become a huge passion of mine. The sheer joy and pleasure of enabling people to have greater quality of life can never be expressed in mere words, it is one of the greatest rewards I have received on this journey. In addition, putting in Effort brings Success. Whenever we want or need something, we have to put in the effort to achieve those goals. Being a doTERRA entrepreneur has not only brought me success but has also enhanced my love towards sharing it with others.
Believing in the products we share is the best way to be successful. Belief brings Energy and Creativity. It will allow you to succeed in all aspects of your life. My strong belief in doTERRA and passion to share it with others has enabled me to run this business successfully with heartfelt joy. I confidently believe that this journey is not at its end, but it’s just a beginning! I will continue to share the Love of doTERRA by “Changing the world one drop, one person, and one community at a time.”
Andus Low Stop Saying ”I wish”, Start Saying “I Will”.Chia Pei Shan When you can find a why, that makes you cry, you’ve found a why that will make you fly.Katherine Yu Don’t Forget Your Original Intention, Follow Your Heart and Continue to Live Your Dream!
Jimmy Foo Never Limit Your Challenges, Challenge Your Limits!Jocelyn Teh Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.
ZANG TOI is a renowned Fashion Designer who has built a tradition of elegance for over 20 years. Zang was born and raised in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia. He landed in New York City at the age of 20 where he studied at the distinguished Parsons School of Design. Zang is one of the first Asian designers championed by the U.S Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.
Since then, Zang’s work has been featured in many major publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair etc. Not only has he dressed Hollywood celebrities such as Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and many others, he has also created luxurious wardrobe for philanthropists and royalty including Melinda Gates and Saudi Princess Haifa Bandar Al Saud.
Today, after 28 years of being in business, the designer opens his first flagship boutique at 1046 Lexington Avenue, New York City. The world continues to recognize Zang’s passion for timeless beauty as he builds on a strong tradition of elegance.
Who is Zang Toi in your own words? Zang Toi is a free thinker who leads his own creative path.
Have you ever thought of becoming a fashion designer in your younger days? No, I have always thought that I might become a fine artist, architect, or an interior designer.
If you were to choose again, what career would you choose and why? I would choose interior design, as I am obsessed and passionate about historical interior designs and recreating them in my own modern way.
What does it take to be a fashion designer? Formal Fashion design training, dedication, and hard work.
The fashion industry is among the greatly affected industries because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Were you affected and how did you manage 2020? I was affected like the rest of the fashion industry. Fortunately, with perseverance and extreme hard work, I managed to stay above the water.
Would you encourage the new generation to take up fashion design? Why? Absolutely, one must not only have the talent and passion, he or she must also be willing to put in hours of hard work to be successful in this, or any industry. It is a 24/7 job.
How do you see today’s fashion industry, including the designers and creatives, compared to the good old days? Today’s fashion industry is more about fast fashion and instant gratification. The new generation are less concerned about the quality and craftsmanship.
How do you find the Malaysian fashion industry compared to the fashion industry in the USA? I am unable to comment on this since I have been away and abroad for the last 42 years.
Many say that fashion designers make good money and fame, what are your thoughts on this? I agree, but remember what I said earlier about putting in hard work and that it is a 24/7 job?
How do you judge success? Success is in the eye of the beholder. It has never occurred to me to judge success.
Has Zang Toi achieved the goals he set when stepping into the fashion world? I think I am fortunate enough to receive attention and great press for my work while maintaining the love and support from my loyal clients.
What is the secret of being Zang Toi? The secret is being my happy self and treating people the way I want to be treated.
Is there anything else you would like to add? Be happy, be kind and be generous.
Born to a modest family, Coach K was a timid boy and today he is the founder of Wisdom Woods®, a company that offers learning and coaching programs for all ages. Prior to that, he accumulated years of leadership experience in the corporate world, having been a Group CEO, COO, GM, managing and setting up businesses in multiple industries, including logistics, property development, software engineering, business consulting and education. Other than having Masters of Science, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), he is an internationally certified Trainer and Coach by several International Boards. Due to his diverse background, he has been invited to speak in areas including leadership, business, logistics, economics, IT, mental health and education. He is active in community service, currently serving as the President of the Penang Symphony Society, the Vice President of The Society of the Logisticians, Malaysia, the Penang State Staff Officer (Training) of St John Ambulance of Malaysia and many others. He has also created many learning programs. Amongst the bigger ones include 5P Self-Leadership, 5R Leadership Framework and even a full set of Children’s Leadership Program.
What’s the story about you being a timid boy? When I was a boy, I feared many things, especially loud noises and being around people. That’s why, even until I was 10, I didn’t like Chinese New Year because there were too many people around. Whilst most children would be having fun, I would hide away in my Grandma’s room every night due to the noise of the firecrackers and fireworks.
Oh… but today you are in a profession that talks to many people. What happened? I was in Kwang Hwa Standard 5, when Cikgu Tan suddenly asked me to memorise an Essay. Memorising was easy for me but she then asked me to recite in front of the class. My whole body was shaking and sweating! I got through it with great relief until she added, “You’re joining the Malay Speech Contest.” Immediately, I stood there frozen for a while! I had no choice because I had no courage to even say ‘no’.
How did that change you? Being an obedient student, I just followed every single instruction to prepare for the contest. Contest day came and I ‘accidentally’ won. What I won was not only a contest but an important pivot in life, where I started to believe in myself. Since then, I started taking part in speech contests for all languages and continued even through Secondary School, having won Zone and State Championships. I continued to be vocal when I received a scholarship to study in Australia. Being the National Convenor of NLC, a national union for about 200,000 international students in Australia, I spoke in Conferences including Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, IDP Australia, ISANA and even invited to speak in the Australian Senate Committee Hearing about a new Bill.
You obviously had great perks in Corporate. What made you start Wisdom Woods®? I am thankful that throughout my career, I discovered I like helping people grow. When I was involved in setting up an international school, that was the final confirmation for me that I really enjoy growing talents. I believe strongly that everyone has talents and Everyone Can Learn. Therefore, just like the mysterious forest, I hope that Wisdom Woods® can be a place for everyone to keep learning, uncover talents and grow wisdoms.
SYED AIDID SYED MOHAMAD Managing Director of EGLOW SDN. BHD.
The history of the notable Aidid family is intertwined with the founding of Penang in 1786,
when Sir Captain Francis Light invited Tengku Syed Hussein Aidid, a wealthy Yemeni merchant prince from Acheh to help establish a colony in the then, backwater island of Penang. More than 200 years have passed since the founding of Penang and the Aidid family continues to contribute to the transformation of the island. Penang today has transformed it is very much into a major hub for tourism and manufacturing in Asia and the Aidid family are very much in the forefront of these industries.
“Penang today has transformed itself into a major hub for tourism and manufacturing in Asia and the Aidid family is very much in the forefront of these industries。”
Syed Aidid, the scion of the Aidid family, continues to contribute to the artistic landscape of Penang by being actively involved in the growing F&B scene in Penang as well as the manufacturing of LED lights. Born and bred in Penang, Syed Aidid Bin Datuk Syed Mohamad is the only son of Penang’s favourite son, Datuk Syed Mohamad Aidid, a very successful businessman and a prominent leader of the society. Educated in Penang Free School in his early years, Syed Aidid Bin Datuk Syed Mohamad then pursued his studies in the UK for 8 years, in Arts & Design and subsequently in Business & Management. Rather than returning home to helm the sprawling business empire of the family, Syed Aidid followed the rites of passage of his predecessors by building his own business ventures. Today, Eglow Sdn. Bhd., a successful LED lights manufacturing firm, Mindcraft Production & Inspiraz Events, an event and production firm, as well as a chain of restaurants under the Proud & Loud Group, notably the Safe Room and other business ventures are the results of the resilience and determination as well as hard work that were put in by Syed Aidid over the years.
Striving to add to the family legacy, Syed Aidid hopes that he can further grow his plethora of businesses as well as contribute to the growth and everchanging landscape of Penang. Syed Aidid also hopes to contribute back to the community and to the state of Penang that has been kind to both his family and himself by being actively involved in various organisations and associations. Such roles include being the Deputy Commander of St John Ambulance, Southwest District- Penang, Committee Member of The Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s Property Development Management Committee (PDCMC), a director of Penang Tourist Centre Berhad, to name a few. Syed Aidid, representing the youth voice of Penang as well as the Bumiputera community, and look forward to earnestly contribute towards the transformation of Penang into the future.
“Syed Aidid hopes that he can further grow his plethora of businesses as well as contribute to the growth and everchanging landscape of Penang.”
EZ MALAYSIA.NEWS 