All posts by EZ Malaysia

Uncovering Bookbindings The Beauty and Workmanship of Handmade Islamic Manuscripts

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

by Adline Abdul Ghani

*19th century Quran from Iran, depicting Fath Ali Shah Qajar and son Mohammad Shah Qajar.*

Typically, when studying a manuscript, the focus is on what’s in the book, rather than what’s on the outside. After all, as the old adage goes, we must “Never judge a book by its cover.” However, here’s an exhibition that invites you to take a closer look at the covers of books, instead of their contents. Simply called “Islamic Bookbinding,” the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia’s (IAMM) latest temporary exhibition showcases 70 artefacts that comprehensively portray the beautiful elements of bookbindings from around the Islamic world.

MindPhilosophy1 — 18th century Quran from Iran with a protective pouch.

MindPhilosophy2 — 18th century Quran from Iran, adorned with multi-coloured gems.

Opened to the public on 8th May, the exhibition begins by tracing the history and types of bookbinding. This is followed by a look at the intricate designs and techniques, as well as the constituting elements that form a bookbinding. The objects displayed are beautifully-handmade, most from leather, lacquerwork and textiles. Some specimens show their age and evidence of frequent use, while others are perfectly-preserved time capsules.

Overall, the exhibition hearkens back to an age where bookbinding was a treasured artform in royal ateliers. Besides their practical function, book covers were ornamented with fine tooling, stamping, gilding and painting to showcase the status of the owner. Some manuscripts are also equipped with additional housings, such as boxes, pouches and slipcases. And then there are those that are so sumptuously decorated with gemstones, they have to be seen to be believed!

The highlights of the exhibition are several rare masterpieces, such as a pair of royal Qajar lacquered book covers, depicting Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797 –1834) and his son Mohammad Shah Qajar (r. 1834 –1848). Another outstanding piece is a Qur’an binding from the East Coast of the Malay Peninsula, featuring red Moroccan leather and elaborate tooled decorations with a central medallion.

MindPhilosophy3 — *19th-20th century Quran from the Malay Peninsula, featuring bright red leather and gold tooling.*

Bookbinding is a topic rarely featured by art institutions, and this pioneering exhibition takes it a step further. It is the first exhibition of its kind to showcase a little-known and almost forgotten part of Malaysian heritage – the art of local bookbinding. Unique emphasis is given to local bindings made from textile that show detailed stitching of the endband placed over the spine.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the IAMM has produced a special catalogue of the same name, featuring artefacts from the museum collection, which will no doubt be a valuable reference on the subject. In addition, the IAMM’s Education Department has lined up a variety of public programmes, including lectures and hands-on workshops for adults and children, throughout the exhbition’s eight-month period.

For further information on this exhibition and its public/ educational programmes, please visit iamm.org.my.

EZ 47 - Breathing Space, EZ 61 (2)

In Good Stead 受益无穷

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Simon Angrove

Director of Operations, Pullman KLCC Hotel

Creating consistency in customer service is the key. We can’t afford to have a bad day

There are forces that move the world, and likewise in KL city, Malaysia, there is Simon Angrove, director of operations who is moving and shaping things at the Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel and Residences.

An Australian citizen who arrived six months ago with his family, Angrove has worked with leading hotel brands in Australia and Asia. “The Accor Group is a family. As we do for our guests, we treat our staff the same, like family. It’s all about making people feel welcome and valued. The company is growing by the day, particularly in this region – Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. With 119 properties in the world and 20,000 employees with the Pullman brand, we are really looking forward to give Pullman a great representation in Malaysia.”

Overseeing the big renovation project with a lifespan of 18 to 24 months, Angrove is well ahead of schedule. “We are currently doing the guest rooms and club lounge, then moving on to public areas, lobby and restaurants and finally, speciality dining.”

“The Pullman brand is young, funky, intense and edgy, very much about state-of-the-art connectivity and comfort, which serves our typical age demographic of 25 to 45, exceedingly well.”

One of the biggest challenges for Angrove is customer service. “We want to get customer service right every single day. If I have done my best, put hand on heart and say that we’ve gone above and beyond, then I can sleep well at night. Creating consistency in customer service is the key. We can’t afford to have a bad day.”

“For me there are three simple strategies in running a hotel – teamwork, leadership and initiative. Everyone has an important role and no one should be better than the other.”

打造连贯性的客户服务是非常关键的，我们尽量杜绝负面状况。

这世上总是有强大的力量试图改变和塑造事物，而在马来西亚吉隆坡 – 铂尔曼 (Pullman) 吉隆坡市中心酒店及公寓任职运营总监的 Simon Angrove 正是其中佼佼者。

这名在6个月前与家人抵达吉隆坡的澳大利亚人，也对于这家澳大利亚和亚洲领先酒店品牌的任命感到荣幸。“雅高集团 (Accor Group) 是一个大家庭。正如我们为客人所做的，还有对待员工的态度，皆以家人方式相对，这是让人们觉得受到重视和爱惜。公司的业务也日益增长，特别是在马来西亚，印尼和新加坡等区域。我们在全球拥有119家酒店，2万名员工与铂尔曼品牌共同并进，我们非常期待铂尔曼在马来西亚的活跃表现。”

而他所负责监督的长达18至24个月间的大型装修计划，目前提前完成。“我们正在进行整修客房和俱乐部休闲室，然后就是公共空间，大厅和餐厅，最后是特色餐饮处。”

“铂尔曼品牌集年轻、时尚，激情和前卫于一身，也具备最先进的连通性和舒适性，尤其是为25岁至45岁的典型青中年客户群提供了最佳服务。”

Simon Angrove 认为所面临的最大挑战之一就是客户服务。“我们希望每天都能获得客户满意回馈。如果我已经尽了全力，我将把手放在心上，说我们已经超越了，一夜安眠。打造连贯性的客户服务是非常关键的，我们尽量杜绝负面状况。”

“对我来说，运营酒店有3种简单的策略 – 团队协作，领导力和主动性。每个人都将发挥重要性，没有人会完全占优势。”

By Billie Ooi-Ng Lean Gaik

EZ 47 - Breathing Space

George Town Festival turns 8 乔治市庆典迎向8周年

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

A city at the heart of Penang is celebrating its eighth year festival dedicated to its inauguration as a UNESCO Heritage Site.

BreathingSpace2 — Anthar Agni theater show from The Temple of Fine Arts, Singapore

BreathingSpace3 — The Manganiyar Classroom a theater directed by Roysten Abel from India.

Endorsed by the Penang State Government, George Town Festival (GTF) is a month-long celebration of the arts, culture, heritage and community. It is growing into a major Asian Arts event, as quoted by International New York Times.

This year, GTF will run from 28 July to 3 September together with its satellite event Butterworth Fringe Festival (BFF) on 12 August and 13 August. Making a comeback for the third year, BFF is a two-day street festival consisting of local and international acts.

Executive director Joe Sidek, believes George Town is emerging as a crucible of an artsy and contemporary city, giving local artists a hub to nurture their talents, as well as providing them a global platform.

With more than 100 events, GTF transforms the city into a universal stage where different arts from traditional to contemporary, local to international converge. Through art, design, photography, film, music, dance and drama, GTF aspires to present the stories that make-up George Town’s identity today.

Many programmes, both local and imported will be announced in the following weeks.

槟城乔治市迎来作为联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产的第八年庆典。乔治市庆典（GTF）由槟州政府赞助，这是为期一个月的艺术、文化，古迹和社区庆典。由于“国际纽约时报”的引用，目前也慢慢延伸为亚洲艺术盛会。
今年，GTF将于8月28日至9月3日之间展开，其中8月12日与13日将进行卫星活动Butterworth Fringe Festival（BFF），这是由本地和国际组成的两天街头艺术呈现，也是BFF第三年卷土重来，。

这项庆典执行总监 Joe Sidek 认为，乔治市逐渐形成深具艺术气息和当代城市的熔炉，作为培育或发掘当地艺术家才华的中心点，并提供一个全球化的平台。

GTF编排了100多个活动项目，藉由不同的艺术形式，从传统到当代，本地到国际的层次将城市转换为环球舞台。通过艺术、设计、摄影、电影、音乐，舞蹈和戏剧，GTF渴望展现今天构成乔治市风貌的故事。

多项本地和引进的节目编排方案将在接下来的数周内公布。

For more updates, log onto 欲了解更多新资讯，请浏览mypenang.gov.my/vpy

Email : info@georgetownfestival.com

EZ 47 - Breathing Space

義香在澳大利亚飘香 Ghee Hiang in OZ

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

There were 200 guests who turned up at the ‘Right Oil Great Health’ event. Organised by one of the world’s leading sesame oil company, this was the first time this proud heritage brand of over 160 years held its first event in Australia sharing with the public why it is important to use good quality sesame oil. “There are a lot of brands in the market but for the sake of a healthy family, one must choose wisely as sesame oil of inferior quality contains high stearic acid that will lead to cardiovascular disease,” said Ch’ng. Meanwhile, invited guest speaker Dr Mecherl Lim elaborated on the antioxidants, vitamin E and Omega that are vital for our youth and health. The night ended, with a high note when Melbourne’s popular restaurant, Wonton House Secret Kitchen, handshake on an Memorandum of Understanding pledging to use Ghee Hiang sesame oil in all their kitchens.

作为全球领先公司，同时扬着160年历史旗帜的传承芝麻香油品牌 -义香 (Ghee Hiang)，这令人自豪的悠久老品牌首次飞跃澳大利亚，与大家分享使用优质麻油对于人体健康起着关键作用。而逾200位嘉宾出席了这项“优质油保健康”活动。该品牌经营者庄学腾认为，市场上有无数品牌，但为了家庭的健康，必须做出明智选择，因为质量差的麻油含有高硬脂酸，会导致心血管疾病。同时，大会邀请嘉宾 Mecherl Lim 博士阐述解析人体维持青春和健康常驻的抗氧化剂，维生素E和不饱和脂肪酸的资讯。另外，墨尔本热门的中餐厅-正斗 (Wonton House Secret Kitchen) 也与义香握手签署备忘录，将会在所有厨房里都用上义香麻油。

EZ 47 - Captains & Legends

Passion Instills Greatness 激情灌输绚烂

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Dato’ Elaine Kang Siew Lay

Artiste

“Singing is my passion and age has nothing to do with it. I still love to be on stage and share my voice.”

When hard work bears result to a life-long pursuit for passionate things in life, Dato’ Elaine Kang has more than a few words of wisdom up her sleeve. This entrepreneur and artist has fought through 37 years being in the industry and through persistence survived longer than many other artists that have come and gone over the years. Her artistry has not only been the ‘soul’ of her existence but has truly been the backbone where her core values – humility, confidence and dignity – are challenged notably in the public eye as well as in self-reflection.

Dato’ Elaine Kang is a Malaysian songbird famous for her ballad and pop songs. Her singing career saw her being selected by ex-Prime Minister Tun Mahathir, together with Yusni Hamid and the cultural group to perform at his very first official visit to China.

On the question on how she had survived in the entertainment industry, her simplistic answers were eloquently charming and rang truth to her role as a public figure. “The Malaysian music industry is especially small for a Chinese artist. So, in order to achieve and maintain the standard of my work, I had to double up my efforts. I’ve never been ashamed to ask when in doubt and I am a perfectionist when it comes to work.”

Over the years, her life in the public eye has not only inspired many others but gained her fans that have truly supported her tenure. While she is giving back through charity concerts and writing an advice column in a Chinese newspaper, she demands absolute discipline and perfection no matter what circumstance and is especially so when she is performing live.

“There is no business like show business. When you are on stage, there is no NG [No Go/Cut], no ‘Take Two’. So, it can only go right or wrong.”

“There is no business like show business. When you are on stage, there is no NG [No Go/Cut], no ‘Take Two’. So, it can only go right or wrong. The profession that I have chosen to take up demands persistence and strength and without the support of my friends, family and fans, I would have been in a very different place.”

Having to compete with talents from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, she finds that many Malaysian artists now faced with the challenge of having to produce an album with a small budget in comparison to other livelier markets in the region.

Dato’ Elaine Kang takes pride in the experiences she has gained through the years. She was involved in the process of producing concerts and felt that artists nowadays are deprived of such knowledge. “While they are able to sing and perform, some are also songwriters to their own music. The younger generation is extremely lucky in a sense that they have the labels and management company plan their schedule. Although this a blessing, many are not able to see the process from recording an album, promoting a concert to managing a press conference.”

“In order to be successful, you must be psychologically and emotionally strong-minded. No one can decide your future but yourself. In reality and in life, you will always face challenges, so strong-mindedness will push you forward. Loving yourself and having the confidence also helps.”

While she is still actively involved in live performances, Dato’ Elaine Kang is also a very much entrepreneur at heart. Over the last 8 years and alongside her passion for singing, she also owns a jewellery business. Self-taught, she designs mini masterpieces using diamonds, gems and colourful stones.

“没有像演艺事业这样的工作。当你在舞台上，无法NG [中断]，没办法再来一次。因此，只能直接走向对或错。”

作为在行业中历经了37年风风雨雨的企业家和艺人，拿督江梦蕾这朵铿锵玫瑰愈加散发智慧自如的芬芳。努力工作成为她终身追求生命激情的时刻，比起许多年来犹如过江之鲫来来去去的艺人，她的坚持彰显了一股韧劲，艺术性不仅是融入她的灵魂之中，而且真正作为核心价值观 – 谦卑，信心和尊严 – 勇于面对公众眼光审视和自我反思的挑战。

江梦蕾是以民谣和流行歌曲而知名的马来西亚歌手，当年名气如日中天的她也曾经伴随着前首相敦马哈迪、Yusni Hamid 与文化团体首次以官方形式访问中国。

关于如何在瞬息万变娱乐圈幸存的问题，她简单的回答聪颖而迷人，也是她能够成为公众人物的真相。“马来西亚乐坛对于华裔歌手而言发挥的空间特别小。所以为了达到和维持工作标准，必须付出加倍努力。遇到疑问时我从来都不耻下问，在工作上我也是完美主义者。”
而多年来，在公众的眼中她的人生不仅激发了许多人，而且也拥有一班真正支持她的忠实歌迷。当她通过慈善音乐会回馈社会，并在中文报章上撰写咨询专栏，在任何情况下，她坚决要求绝对的纪律和完美，表演时刻更是。

“没有像演艺事业这样的工作。当你在舞台上，无法NG[中断]，没办法再来一次。因此，只能直接走向对或错。我选择以坚持和力量来接受职业考验，当然，如果缺乏朋友，家人和歌迷的支持，我可能会位于非常不一样的处境。”

而当她不得不与来自中国、香港、台湾，韩国和日本的艺人进行竞争，从中也发现许多马来西亚歌手皆面临着唱片专辑制作预算限制的困境，尤其与该地区其他更活跃的市场相比。

“年龄无法阻扰我唱歌的热情，我依旧热爱在舞台上分享我的声音。”

江梦蕾也为自己常年来累积的经验感到自豪。尤其是参与制作演唱会的过程，她认为现在的歌手被剥夺了类似体验。“即使他们能歌善舞，有些也是自行创作歌曲。年轻一代歌手非常幸运，因为拥有标签，还有管理公司为他们规划安排。虽然这是一种幸福，但其中许多人无法亲自参与录制专辑的过程和筹备演唱会的宣传发布会等。“

“欲迈向成功，你必须在心理和情感上强力自主。除了自己，没人可决定你的未来，坚强的意志才能推动往前走，要懂得自爱，当然信心也是一大助力。”

即使她仍积极参与舞台表演，江梦蕾也充满了作为企业家的野心，过去8年里，除了持续对歌唱的热情，她还拥有本身的珠宝生意。具备天赋的她透过自学使用钻石、宝石和五彩斑斓的矿石等设计出迷你杰作。

by Monica Tong

EZ 47 - Captains & Legends

The Mother & Daughter Sorority 母女联谊会

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Datin Peggy Khoo (Executive Director of ARITA PLASTICS)

Joyce Lim (Director of ARITA PLASTICS)

“You must have passion in everything you do. In some ways, we are strict with her [Joyce] because she may eventually lead the company one day. However, she is still new to the business and we treat her like we would treat any freshies in our company. I’m glad that she is willing and seems to be a fast learner as well.” commented Datin Peggy Khoo.

“My parents wanted me to improve and the only way to do that is the freedom that they have willingly let me try and learn through assisting them in decision-making processes in the marketing and the management side of the company. Their willingness have opened many doors for me.” said Joyce

Whenever we hear of family members working together in a family-run business, there is almost an immediate bliss that transcends peace as well as orderliness not many can achieve. In our day-to-day grind to live a life as best as we could, relationships have been a constant challenge to many especially with family members in a family-run business.

The first instance of meeting these two women struck a cord that transcends an air of class and superiority. While one may prevail in wisdom and experience from being in the business for almost two decades the other strengthens in youth and energy. The mother and daughter story of Datin Peggy Khoo and Joyce Lim speaks not only of combined efforts but truly embracing a relationship that works both in their homes and also for a family-run business.

When Joyce graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University, Australia six years ago, there were already discussions revolving around her joining the family firm. Since then, she has led and represented the company in implementing the newest ISO system 9001 and 2015.

“I knew what I wanted when I first joined the company. In order to learn different functional parts within the company, I was allocated to different departments and started from the very beginning. The idea is that I would learn from every department especially in marketing involving purchasing, production planning, and quality management system (ISO),” said Joyce.

If there is one thing on how they define the success and longevity of the company, it is definitely through hard work as well as the passion for the industry. With over 30 years being in the manufacturing sector of the plastic industry, ARITA PLASTICS is one of the pioneers in producing extruded plastic sheets. The company has grown to become a major exporter and is an OEM partner and trader with more than 20 years of experience.

Datin Peggy Khoo started the manufacturing business in 1978 with her husband who also holds first-hand experience in running a company. This meant that Joyce is also on the receiving end of two successful entrepreneurs that has led a company for more than three decades.

“The advantages to being the daughter is enormous,” laughed Joyce. “Even at the initial stage of joining the firm, I felt that my voice was heard. I would probably not stand a chance to voice out my opinion if I’m not at a certain position in the company. They were open and that led me further to more opportunities; whether it is on socialising at networking events or taking the initiative to introduce me to their clients.”

The husband and wife company has expanded since 1978 and with over 70 staff on the payroll, it has been through its own challenges. They have no qualms in knowing that their children may leave the company one day and take each day as it comes.

“It is definitely a choice that they [the children] have made when they decided to join us. If they will ever leave one day, we are definitely open to exploring. We have staff and stake shareholders who have been with us for over 20 years, so, there are definitely a lot of talent to explore there,” said Datin Peggy Khoo.

These two ladies seem to have it in their strive; a two-way communication that is proven successful so far. On one hand, this relationship is an aspirations to the younger generation to go for the catch and be successful. On the other hand, we see the mother hand, nurturing at the same time plays a vital part in appropriate decision-making and well-devised processes for execution. Are there any betters ways for a mother and daughter relationship?

“你必须对自身所做的一切充满激情。我们对Joyce在某些方面显得严苛，因为总有一天将是她领导公司。然而，她还是业务新手，我们对待她像公司里任何新人一样。但我非常欣慰她很愿意学习以及快速上手。”拿汀邱碧意说。

每当我们听到家庭成员们在同一个家族企业里共事，几乎立即感受到一种超越和谐的幸福，这也是许多人无法达至的秩序感。在我们日复一日尽最大的努力去营造美好生活，对很多人来说人际关系是一个持续的挑战，特别是与家庭成员在家族企业中共处。

与这两名女性会面的第一印象是超越阶级和优越感的亲密联系。其中一位在商业领域拥有20年以上的智慧与丰富经验优势，另外一名则胜在年轻朝气和精力充沛。拿汀郑碧意(Peggy Khoo)与Joyce Lim，这对母亲与女儿的故事不仅叙述她们共同的努力，也实际拥抱她们的家还有家族企业。

6年前，当Joyce毕业于澳大利亚迪肯大学(Deakin University)获取商业学士学位，环绕着她加入家族企业的讨论正式开启。那时，她已经领导着与代表公司实施最新版质量管理体系ISO系统9001-2015。

“我刚加入公司就知道自己想要什么。而为了深入了解公司各部门构造，从一开始我被分配到不同的部门。我的想法是从每一个部门中学习，特别是市场营销，还有涉及采购，生产计划和质量管理体系(ISO)。”

如果要定义一家成功与长远的公司，肯定包括辛勤耕耘以及对行业的热情。而Arita集团拥有超过30年在塑料制造业的经验，也是生产高端挤压塑料板材的先驱，公司成为主要出口商，具备逾20年的代工生产(OEM)合作伙伴与贸易经历。

郑碧意是在1978年涉足制造业，并具备携手丈夫拿督林廷晖开始经营一家公司的切身经历。这意味着，Joyce是身为掌控一家逾30年历史的公司、两名成功企业家之接班人。

“作为女儿的好处数之不尽。”她笑道。不过，即使加入公司的初期，她感觉自己的声音有被聆听。“如果我不在公司的某个职位，我可能就没有机会发表意见了。他们为我提供很多机会的窗口，让我能更跨前一步；而且无论是在社交活动或一些场合，也主动把我介绍给客户们。”

自1978以来，这家夫妇创立的公司加速扩大，拥有逾70名员工，且历经自身挑战。他们不确定自己的孩子可能哪一天会离开公司，抑或这一天随时到来。

“如果孩子们加入我们，这是他们的选择，至于要离开，我们肯定会开放探索。而我们的员工和股东们在过去的20年与我们一起并肩作战，所以，具备很多勘察人才的机会。”郑碧意说。

这两名女性似乎都以本身能力奋斗着，也是至今为止确认相当成功的双向交流。另一方面，这种关系让年轻一代更勇于追求成功的志向。此外，我们可看到母亲在一手栽培的同时也采取适当决策，而精心策划的执行过程也起着关键作用。还有比这种母女关系更好的方式吗？

by Monica Tong

EZ 47 - Cover Story, EZ 61 (2)

A New Chapter & Passion for Learning 学习激情的新章

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Professor Stephen Doughty

President & CEO of Penang Medical College (PMC)

CoverStory3 — Professor Stephen Doughty, attended INPenang Awards 2017 to receive the INPenang Best Medical College/University Award

“I always had a desire for discovering new knowledge. My undergraduate degree included 2 years of research work and that led me to undertake my PhD in Oxford in computational chemistry and Computer-Aided Drug Design.”

When Professor Stephen Doughty moved to Malaysia with his wife and five boys all between the age of 1 and 10 about 12 years ago, it was the beginning of an exciting journey dedicated to the pursuit of helping establish a new learning institution and sharing of knowledge. Apart from taking up a new role as the Dean of Faculty of Science, then progressing up the ranks to being Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus in Kuala Lumpur, it was also the start of a new life away from home – the UK, friends, and family. As with any move to a new country, this family of seven has set themselves up with a cross-border challenge – embracing the whole Malaysian experience from getting accustomed to the relentless tropical weather, learning its culture and language to tasting the variety of delectable cuisines Malaysia has to offer.

12 years later, Professor Doughty joined Penang Medical College (PMC) as its fourth president in September 2016. Stephen joined the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham in 2001 having previously worked at the University of Bradford, UK. His research interests are focused on molecular modelling and computer-aided drug design with a particular interest in modelling proteins for rational drug design.

“I always had a desire for discovering new knowledge. My undergraduate degree included 2 years of research work (which isn’t normal!) and that led me to undertake my PhD in Oxford in computational chemistry and Computer-Aided Drug Design,” said Professor Doughty.

A strong believer in pushing back the boundaries of knowledge and undertaking new research to answer questions that have yet to be explored, Professor Doughty continues to actively research and publish new findings. “ this is what has kept me in academia and drives my desire to want to see PMC flourish as a university, where the whole community is engaged in the pursuit of acquiring and developing knowledge.”

“We want to establish ourselves as the place to come to for Penang’s human capital needs in supporting services like medical tourism.”

Professor Doughty has high expectations and sees great potential for PMC. Celebrating its 20th year as a medical institution in 2016, it is the beginning of a new chapter – not only is it affecting people who are connected to PMC but also its communities surrounding the institution. He believes that academic institutions must be contributing to society both globally in terms of expanding knowledge and also locally in terms of enhancing the lives of those communities in close proximity to PMC.

“I see it [PMC] growing in the next 10 years as we continue to develop new courses. We want to establish ourselves as the place to come to for Penang’s human capital needs in supporting services like medical tourism. The areas that we could move into are not only in providing doctors but also support and healthcare staff as well as area such as computer scientists for healthcare and research purposes.

Wholly owned by RCSI and UCD, PMC has been internationally recognised since 1996 and was rated by House Officer Performance in Malaysia 2009 – 2011, the Institute for Health Systems Research Malaysia, as among the top medical schools in preparing graduate doctors for their early careers. With plans to upgrade the college status to a university as the next step, it wishes to enhance students’ learning experience with plans to develop new courses as well as expand the physical infrastructure that now houses 500 students. Apart from keeping abreast with developments of lecturers and students, they are also placing importance in attracting the best quality staff and maintaining a good relationship with their partners.

“我们想建设自身作为槟城人力资本需求的定点，用于支持类似医疗旅游服务。”

约12年前，Stephen Doughty 教授与妻子、还有5名1岁到10岁的儿子们移居到马来西亚。这是激奋人心旅程开始，他致力于搭建新的学习机构和知识分享。除了扮演理科院院长的角色之外，还在马来西亚诺丁汉大学吉隆坡校区担任副校长（教学与学习）。另外，这也是他们远离家乡英国，朋友和家人，开展新生活。不过，与任何国家的新移民一样，这个七口之家已征服跨界挑战 – 体验马来西亚的整体生活，首先习惯热带天气，学习其文化和语言，品尝各种多元食物。

Doughty教授在12年间也持续前进，直至2016年9月他加入槟城医学院（PMC）担任第四任院长。另外，他于2001年加入诺丁汉大学药剂学院，此前曾在英国布拉德福德（Bradford）大学工作。他的研究兴趣集中在分子建模和电脑辅助药物设计，特别关注用于合理药物设计的蛋白质建模。

“我一直渴望发掘新的知识。本科学位包括两年的研究工作（这非正常状态！），导向我在牛津获取计算化学和电脑辅助药物设计博士学位。”

Doughty教授强烈支持推进知识界限，持续积极钻研和发表新的成果，不断进行研究以回答这个有待探索的问题。“这正是我留在学术界的理由，我希望看到槟城医学院进阶成为大学的驱动力，而整个社会都在追求获取和发展知识。”

他对于槟城医学院抱持很高的期望和预见它的巨大潜能。2016年，槟城医学院作为医疗机构庆祝成立迈向20周年，这是新一章的开端——不仅影响到与医学院相关的人，也带动该机构周围的社区。他认为，学术机构在扩大知识的同时，也必须在全球范围内对社会做出贡献，包括提升与医学院密切相关的社区生活水平。

“随着我们持续开发新的课程，未来10年槟城医学院将会不断增长。我们想建设自身作为槟城人力资本需求的定点，用于支持类似医疗旅游服务。我们涉足的领域不仅仅是提供医生，包含技术支持和医务保健人员，甚至还有电脑科学家等聚焦卫生保健和研究用途的领域。”

自1996年起，由爱尔兰国立大学皇家外科学院（RCSI）和爱尔兰皇家内科医学院（UCD）全资拥有的槟城医学院早就获得了国际认可，也被马来西亚卫生系统研究所依据2009-2011年度马来西亚住院（实习）医生表现，评价作为早期职业准备的最顶尖医学院。随着计划将医学院的地位提升到大学阶级，院方将加强学生的学习经验，策划开发新的课程，扩展目前500名学生的物质基础设施。而除了讲师和学生的发展要跟上，同时也重视吸引优秀的员工，并与合作伙伴保持良好的关系。

by Monica Tong

EZ 47, EZ 61 (2)

Penang Fashion Week 2017 槟城时尚周

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

The Penang Fashion Week 2017 at Gurney Paragon Mall ended at a high note with 27 runway shows featuring local fashion favourite Eric Choong and Bon Zainal, Illiza Ho (Taiwan), Richard Li (Hong Kong) and Mo Hom (Myanmar). Other international brands included Tanya Stevens AHNDE, La Martina and Kate Spade New York. Penang State EXCO for Tourism Development & Culture YB Danny Law Heng Kiang, Malaysian fashion icon Jimmy Choo, Hong Kong celebrity Grace Wong, international model Tuti were among the VIPs who attended this fashion feast with the theme ‘Colours of Spring & Summer’.

在葛尼百丽宫广场举行的2017年槟城时尚周在喝彩声中圆满落幕，而多达27项时装走秀包含国内外时尚界佼佼者如宗柏伸 (Eric Choong)、Bon Zainal、Illiza Ho（台湾），李国华（香港）与 Mo Hom（缅甸）等设计师的精心杰作。至于参与的国际品牌包括 Tanya Stevens AHNDE、La Martina 和纽约 Kate Spade。槟州旅游发展与文化委员会主席罗兴强行政议员、马来西亚时尚典范人物周仰杰、香港艺人王君馨，国际名模Tuti以及其他贵宾也出席这个主题为“春夏的颜色” 之时尚盛宴。

Beyond Boundaries, EZ 47 - Beyond Boundaries, EZ 61 (2)

Standing The Test of Time 鼎立于时间洪流

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

The Woo Hing Brothers Rolex Boutique in Penang, whose origin dates back to 1950s, remains a preferred and trusted choice amongst customers when it comes to purchasing the world-renowned brand’s luxurious and popular timepieces.

Located at the intersection of Campbell Street and Cintra Street in the heart of George Town, it continues to thrive under the dynamic leadership of the father and son team, Austen and Kevin Wong.

The present-day modern market is currently dominated by large retailers and online stores and such family businesses are a rarity. But they have been able to punch above their weight, going head to head with the bigger entities by building up customer loyalty with an ethical and sincere heart approach and treating each and every customer as a most important one.

“When it comes to buying and servicing a Rolex watch, we are privileged to be the first choice because customers know the level of service expected from us.”

“The world has become very connected, so information about watches and specifications are readily available online. People come to us more informed, and have a good idea of what they want.”

“Our role is to help them understand what they are buying, guide their choices and make those difficult decisions easier,” said the younger Wong, who worked as a human resources consultant in Melbourne until 2014, when he decided to join the family business.

Austen, who was delighted with his son’s decision to come on board, said, “After devoting so many years to this business, it’s fantastic knowing there’s someone in the family to carry it further.”

“It’s a new era of engaging with customers. While we frequently discuss on strategy and operations, he is the one who ultimately calls the shots now. The foundations have been laid for his gradual takeover.”

And it is an experience that Kevin finds highly satisfying. He added, “Having the privilege to participate in a family business such as this is rare. We both spend a lot of time at work finding ways to improve processes, and when certain opportunities appear we share ideas on how to make it work.”

Inside the newly renovated Woo Hing Rolex Boutique, visitors are enveloped in an atmosphere inspired by water and the sea. This evokes the essence of Rolex, which in 1926, invented the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch.

A wall of illuminated laser-etched Aqua glass with a gently undulating wave motif provides a focal point, while the gold-effect Rolex crown, an iconic symbol of the brand, decorates the entrance, walls, and display cases. Adding further sophistication are the polished walnut wood cabinets, bronze detailing and Crema Marfil marble floor. It all comes together to create a customer experience that is as luxurious as the watches on display.

Kevin also points to their unparalleled watch expertise and after-sales service, cultivated over six decades of working with Rolex, as factors in their longevity.

坐标在槟城的“Woo Hing Brothers Rolex Boutique”劳力士精品专卖店，这家起源可追溯到上世纪50年代的世界闻名奢华时尚品牌的名表商店，横跨新世纪后依旧是顾客首选和信赖的抉择。

位于乔治市中心新街 (Campbell Street) 和日本横街 (Cintra Street) 的交汇处，由父子兵团 – Austen与Kevin Wong掌舵下的名表专卖店，业务仍昂扬向上。

在如今由大型零售商和网店主导的现代市场，类似家族企业非常罕见。但他们能够以超卓实力，透过强烈的职业道德和真诚的心建立客户忠诚度，将每位顾客视为最重要和唯一的，与更大的实体行业环境进行正面交手抗衡。具备无与伦比的腕表专业知识和体贴的售后服务，尤其是与劳力士合作历经漫长的60年，这也是他们屹立不倒的原因之一。
“当涉及到购买和维修劳力士手表时，我们有幸成为第一选择，因为我们的服务水平绝对能满足客户需求。” Kevin自豪的说。

“在互联网连接的世界，关于手表和规格的信息在网络上无处不在。而人们通过咨询我们并了解情况，也更有概念他们想要的是什么。”

“我们的角色是协助向客户解析他们所购买的商品，引导他们的选项，让抉择不再艰难。”年轻的Kevin曾在澳大利亚墨尔本任职人力资源咨询顾问，直至2014年，他决定加入家族企业。

父亲Austen对儿子的参与欣喜不已。“在这个业务投入多年以后，知道家里还有人愿意接棒，非常的美好。”

“这是一个与客户频密交流的新时代。虽然我们经常议论各种策略和行动，但他是最终发号施令的人。目前也为他的后续接管奠定了基础。”

而Kevin对此经历感到非常满意。“有幸参与类似的家族企业是相当罕见的。我们耗费大量时间寻找提升工作进程的方式，当出现某些机会的时刻，我们会彼此分享解析可行之道以促进推动。”

在他们重新装潢设计的劳力士精品专卖店，参观者将被海洋与水的神秘世界激发的氛围笼罩着。这也带出劳力士品牌的精粹：劳力士在1926年推出全球首枚防水腕表 – 蚝式表 (Oyster)。

一堵被照明的激光蚀刻水玻璃幕墙，还有作为焦点的柔美起伏波浪图案，至于金色闪耀的劳力士皇冠，这个品牌的标志性象征，也装饰了入口、墙壁和陈列柜。另外，抛光的精致胡桃木橱柜、青铜细节设计和西班牙米黄的大理石地板，所有元素汇聚也打造与展示的腕表一样奢华的客户体验。

Woo Hing Rolex Boutique
96 Lebuh Campbell, George Town,  10100 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel : +604 261 5287 • Monday – Saturday : 10:30am – 6:30pm • Sundays and Public holidays closed

EZ 47 - People Culture

Celebrating The Best of Malaysian Film 庆贺马来西亚好电影

June 30, 2017 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

As the official timepiece sponsor of the 2017 Malaysia International Film Festival, Jaeger-LeCoultre, the reference in Swiss fine watchmaking, offered its iconic Reverso watch with a commemorative engraving to the Best Film selected by the Jury of the Festival. The Reverso Grande Taille was awarded to “Singing in Graveyards” with the award accepted by Director/Producer Bradley Liew. On its case-back of the Reverso watch carried a personalised special lacquered engraving hand-crafted by Jaeger-LeCoultre artisans with the logo of the Malaysia Golden Global Awards. The brand has been the official partner of the various film festivals around the world, such as the Venice International Film Festival, Shanghai Film Festival and many other prominent festivals.

作为2017届马来西亚国际电影节的官方赞助商-瑞士精工制表品牌积家 (Jaeger-LeCoultre)，为了纪念电影节评审团的抉择，将特别版的 Reverso Grande Taille 系列翻转腕表授予 “Singing in Graveyards” 这部电影的导演兼制片人廖忠权 (Bradley Liew) 。而这腕表背面拥有积家工匠特殊手工雕刻马来西亚金环奖标志。积家一直是世界各地许多电影节的官方合作伙伴，如威尼斯国际电影节，上海电影节和无数闻名的盛会。