Category Archives: EZ 43

Colourful Dreams Floating in the Air 台湾台东国际热气球节 : 梦想升空

Since year 2011, many colourful and vibrant hot air balloons can be seen floating in Taitung City’s stunning blue sky every summer. Those amazing balloons carry passengers slowly in the air, soaring above the mountains, fields and lakes, bringing them closer to the sky for a breathtaking 360 degree view of picturesque beauty.

Travel to Taiwan and you will have a whole summer to ride one of these colourful hot air balloons and have your dreams come true! Taitung Taiwan International Balloon Festival is coming to its 6th year in 2016. It will kick start on 1 July and end on 7 August. In 2014, BBC named it as one of the Top 10 Hot Air Balloon Festivals around the world. One of Taiwan renowned magazine Common Wealth also appraised this as one of the Top 5 festivals in Taiwan.

Although the main event takes place in Luye Gaotai township, a series of other activities such as the fantastic Night Glows concert will take place across different towsnships such as Jhihben hot spring area at Beinan Township and Dapo Pond at Chihshang Township. While at Sansiantai at Chenggong Township and The Aurora Garden at Taimali Township, you can enjoy the Morning Glow. Be it in the daytime or at night, those performances are promised to bring upon great and memorable experiences to the audiences.

Due to the wind direction and safety concerns, hot air balloon rides are only available in the early morning and evening. If you are planning to visit the festival, please make sure you log on to their official website (balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/index.asp) to have its latest updates. Once you come to beautiful Taitung for the hot air balloon festival, remember to pamper yourself by staying for a few more days and embrace this lovely land.

从2011年开始,每年夏天,都可以见到五彩缤纷的热气球翱翔在台东蔚蓝的天空中,以极慢的速度飘浮在空中,让游客可以用360度全视野悠哉地俯视并享受台东独特的山脉溪谷、农田原野及水塘湖泊之美。

这个已经迈入第6个年头的台东国际热气球节,早在2014年就被BBC评选为世界十大热气球节,且被台湾知名的《天下杂志》评选为台湾五大金牌活动之一。今年的台东国际热气球节将从7月1日开始知道8月7日始结束,让这个美丽梦幻延续了整个盛夏。这场国际热气球嘉年华会虽然以鹿野高台为中心,但是延伸活动光雕音乐会却拓展到台东不同乡镇如卑南乡知本温泉区、池上乡大坡池等举行,而在成功镇三仙台和太麻里乡的太麻里曙光园区则会举行日出光雕音乐会,让热气球在白天与黑夜两种不同感觉的大自然布幕中欢歌起舞。

由于风向以及安全因素考虑,热气球只在清晨以及傍晚才可以升空,所以远道而来的游客请务必先到官网(balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/index.asp)查询活动咨询。而当你来到美丽梦幻的台东,除了追逐那与梦幻一起升空的热气球,也请腾出几天假期,让你的身心安顿在这片美丽乐土上,一起感受台东的漫活乐趣。

Dala’il al-Khayrat Prayer Manuscripts From The 16th To 19th Centuries

One of the most celebrated manuscripts of the Islamic world is the Dala’il al-Khayrat, which means Waymarks of Benefits. It is a famous collection of prayers for Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which was written by the Moroccan Sufi and Islamic scholar Muhammad Sulaiman al-Jazuli ash Shadhili, who died in 1465. Alongside the prayers are beautifully-illuminated pages decorated in colourful pigments and gold leaf.

Since it was first inscribed, the Dala’il al-Khayrat has inspired calligraphers, illuminators and painters of court ateliers from around the world. They take great pains to reproduce these sumptuous illustrated and illuminated manuscripts and in the process contribute to its rich and diverse heritage.

In order to reveal the outstanding history and artistry of the Dala’il al-Khayrat, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur is showcasing an exhibition entitled Dala’il al-Khayrat: Prayer Manuscripts From The 16th To 19th Centuries.  The exhibition showcases the museum’s own collection of some of the finest Dala’il al-Khayrat copies from its native land, Morocco, to as far as East Turkistan and China.

The exhibition is divided into several sections, beginning with the history of the Dala’il al-Khayrat and its author, Imam Al-Jazuli, whose ancestry can be traced to Imam Hassan ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Among the highlights are exquisite Moroccan copies and a rare monumental single-page Dala’il Al-Khayrat signed by Alhafiz Mahbub Muhammad. The exhibition enables visitors to uncover the contents of the Dala’il Al-Khayrat and appreciate its content, the 8 ahzab (days of recitation) and other main elements.

 Meanwhile, a special section of the exhibition teaches visitors how to distinguish the regional characteristics of the Dala’il al-Khayrat, showing beautiful masterpieces from North Africa, Central Asia, Turkey, Indian Subcontinent, China and South East Asia. The most beautiful part of these manuscripts are the illustrations of the two holiest sites in Islam – the An Nabawi Mosque in Madinah and Al Haram Mosque in Mecca. At the beginning of this section, Imam Al-Jazuli wrote: “This is the description of Al-Rawdah Al-Mubarakah (the Blessed Garden) in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is buried, together with his two companions Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA)”. In reference to this passage, illuminators and painters of subsequent centuries have been encouraged to add an illustration, which later became the focal point of the Dala’il al-Khayrat.

Last, but not least, is a dedicated section for Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and an explanation for the tradition of praising the Prophet, as well as other living Islamic traditions that are still being practiced today. In conjunction with the exhibition, the IAMM has published a comprehensive catalogue featuring these celebrated manuscripts. Showcasing more than 100 artefacts from the IAMM collection, the catalogue unveils the beauty and intricacy of the pages of the Dala’il al-Khayrat and other related artefacts.

The Dala’il al-Khayrat exhibition will be on display for four months at Special Gallery 1 of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia from 11th March 2016 until 31st August 2016.

Taking Eye Care to Another Level

Leading an established market leader in refractive surgeries is no easy task but for a determined and visionary young woman, it is a challenge worth taking. Sandy Tan joined Optimax Eye Specialist more than two years ago and today, she is leading the organisation as its Chief Executive Officer with exciting plans to further enhance the Optimax brand.

INPG55-02.pngShe is a law graduate and was also an image consultant in the fashion industry. Today, she is leading Optimax Eye Specialist to greater heights with its own full fledged specialists hospital in Kuala Lumpur that is coming up in a few years’ time.

It could be said that Sandy Tan was born into a world of privilege as the eldest daughter of Optimax founder Dato’ Tan Boon Hock but the position she held today speaks more of her capabilities in leading the organisation than her station in life. The eloquent 30-year-old has big dreams for the company and she is diligently working her way towards achieving it.

“In 10 years, we will be a full fledged hospital providing health care with the latest technology and the best in customer care,” she said of her vision for Optimax Eye Specialist. Even now, plans are underway to construct an Optimax Eye Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, just 10 minutes away from the headquarters in Mont Kiara.

Sandy first started her full time career in Optimax more than two years ago after brief stints in banking and the fashion industry. She first gained experience as a Capital Market and Equity Department Executive before becoming an image consultant and later, a buyer at homegrown fashion label British India where she honed an acute and irrefutable sense of marketing.

She joined Optimax as the Head of Marketing and this is one decision that she does not regret as she found it an exciting experience that sets the pace for her to assume her current role as the Chief Executive Officer. “I grew up learning about Optimax from my father when he came home and talked about work, so working here is an easy transition from my previous jobs,” she said.

She does not see her young age as a deterrent in fulfilling the heavy responsibility of leading Optimax but instead sees it as an advantage as she could work out marketing and branding that appealed to the younger generation. “Optimax has been around for 21 years so it is time to make it trendier now to appeal to the younger generation,” she said.

This was how the cute round-eyed blue Opti – the Optimax mascot – was introduced last year. It is one of the marketing methods, along with a comprehensive social media presence, introduced to push the Optimax brand further amongst the young and old.

Optimax today is a leading eye care specialist centre that provided eye care services from eye examination to laser vision correction. It is ISO certified and it is the recipient of Frost and Sullivan Award under the Eye Care Centre (Lasik) category. The eye care centre has served 100,000 satisfied patients to date with its team of in-house engineers and doctors specialising in vitreoretinal, cornea treatment and paediatrics.

Optimax, which adopts the Vision For Life programme and offers a lifetime warranty for patients, now has a private eye specialist hospital in Penang with two more centres in Sri Petaling and Ipoh.

However, it is not all about dollars and cents for Sandy when it comes to running Optimax. Corporate Social Responsibility is as important as growing the brand. “We do a lot of charitable programmes and we are starting a foundation to do Lasik for the poor,” she said. Optimax has also provided over 200 free cataract operations for poor patients. Optimax is also one of the sponsors of the WAKE program hosted by Agape Vision and regularly offers free eye checks to residents of various orphanages and old folks homes in the country.

Also, there are plans underway to collect preloved glasses disposed by Optimax clients and donate these glasses to orphanages and old folks homes in Penang. “Some of our clients who have their vision corrected do not need glasses anymore so we will collect all these glasses, change the lenses and donate it to children and senior citizens in those homes,” she said.

It is without a doubt that under Sandy’s leadership, Optimax Eye Specialist is heading towards a bright future as a company with a heart and an eye for the future.


OPTIMAX EYE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL (PENANG)
223, Jalan Masjid Negeri, 11600 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +604-282 3522 Email: penang@optimax.com.my
Business Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm

Debunking Breastfeeding Myths

“While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the best choice for baby. – Amy Spangler”

There is plenty of helpful information about breastfeeding as well as plenty of misinformation that would hinder successful breastfeeding. Below are some common myths that need to be corrected.

Myth 1 – Breastfeeding will come naturally

Breastfeeding is natural and normal but not necessarily easy! 92% of new mothers had at least one concern on the third day of breastfeeding (eg. poorlatching, low milk supply, breast pain) (Pediatrics 2013). Unfortunately, most mothers are discharged 2 days after delivery and the period immediately after delivery is the most challenging for breastfeeding. Mothers can get help from a breastfeeding support group or a lactation consultant.

Myth 2 – Pain is normal

Breastfeeding is not always painful. There may be an initial tingling sensation but if baby is properly latched, it should not hurt. Mothers are taught holding positions for bottle feeding. Try reclining with the baby’s weight against the mother’s body.

Myth 3 – Need to top up as your milk supply is low

For the first 3 to 5 days after delivery, mothers do not produce much milk but they produce a thick concentration of liquid (colostrum) that the newborn needs. At birth, the fullterm newborn’s stomach is the size of a marble (5 ml) and grows gradually in a week to the size of a chicken’s egg (20ml).

As a lactating mother’s breast is always making milk, thus the emptier the breast, the faster milk is produced to replace it. If a mother consistently waits until her breasts ‘fill up’ before she nurses, her body may get the message that it is making too much milk and may reduce the total production.

Myth 4 – Your new born will feed every two to three hours with each feed lasting for 30 minutes

Frequency of feeding will vary according to the mother’s milk supply, storage capacity and baby’s developmental needs. Growth spurts and illnesses can temporarily change baby’s feeding patterns.

During breastfeeding, the initial portion of the breastmilk (foremilk) has a lower caloric level compared to the latter portion of the breast milk (hindmilk), which is higher in fat content. Hence, putting arbitrary limits on frequency and duration of breastfeeding may lead to inadequate caloric intake. In other words, milk production has been shown to be related to feeding frequency, and milk supply declines when feedings are infrequent or restricted.

Myth 5 – Never wake a sleeping baby

Newborns should be awakened to drink, if necessary, at least 8 times a day. In fact, newborns who experience early skin-to-skin* contact immediately after birth for at least one hour (‘The Golden Hour’) are more likely to latch on well, especially if the mother did not receive medication during the labour or birth. It has been shown that separation, results in delayed response to feeding; exhibiting shutdown behaviour which in turn can affect feeding. (*baby naked, not wrapped up in blanket and place on mother’s chest or abdomen)

Myth 6 – A bottle or pacifier can create

nipple confusion

It is not so much ‘confusion’ but ‘preference’! Even though it would be easier to suck milk from a bottle compared to suckling from the breast, early introduction of a bottle or pacifier before breastfeeding is well-established is discouraged as breast and bottle feeding require different oral motor skills. Rubber or silicon nipples provide a type of ‘super stimulus’ that can result in inappropriate sucking technique on the breast when babies switch between breast and bottle.

Myth 7 – You cannot breastfeed if you had

breast surgery

Women with breast implants have been able to lactate successfully especially if incisions were made on the underside of the breast. Women with breast reduction may have more difficulty especially if the nerve endings around the nipple have been cut. (American Soc. of Plastic Surgeon, 2011)

Myth 8 – Breastfeeding helps to lose weight

Breastfeeding helps to lose 300-500 calories per day but your body needs energy (read: calories) to create breast milk. It is recommended that a few hundred extra calories are taken during the breastfeeding period.

Breastfeeding mothers may actually gain weight as many of them commonly experience ravenous hunger while feeding. Together with hormonal (prolactin) changes it can lead them to hang on to pregnancy weight or gain more weight. Hence, mothers should try improving the quality of the food and snacks and keeping up with fluid intake for weight control.

Myth 9 – Women who breastfeed get less sleep

Sleep deprivation is an inevitable part of having a baby which begins during pregnancy, when sleep needs may increase due to discomfort and frequent trips to the bathroom which interfere with a full night’s sleep. This is compounded in the postpartum period.

Studies have shown that not only do breastfeeding mothers get more sleep, but the sleep they get is of better quality when baby is in proximity to the mother. It was shown that breastfeeding mothers who bedshare got the most sleep. Mothers who were bottle feeding got the same amount of sleep whether their babies were with them or in another room. (Quillin & Glenn 2004).

Myth 10 – Breastfeeding is birth control

Breast feeding can be an effective birth control ONLY if certain conditions are met: such as baby is younger than 6 months of age, exclusive breastfeeding (no supplemental feeds of water, formula) only, mother has not started having periods. With these factors, the mother has a more than 98% protection against pregnancy.

As soon as there is a decline in breastfeeding, due to the baby eating supplemental feedings or nursing less often, the contraceptive protection decreases.

‘Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day. The reality is that all women can breastfeed, have enough milk for their babies and learn how to overcome problems both large and small. It is almost always simply a matter of practical knowledge and not a question of good luck.’ – La Leche League

Relationship 亲情牵心

PINKGUY Gallery hosted Asian sculptor Chng Huck Theng’s bronze work for the second time entitled ‘Relationship’. 

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Relationship

The exhibition was probably the first of its kind in Malaysia where there was only one artwork on display and it was kept in an exclusively handcrafted blue wooden box specially designed to keep the bronze sculpture. Guests were kept wondering if there was an exhibition as there were no signs of sculptures being displayed like the previous one. The official unveiling of the sculpture was by none other than the Director General of National Visual Art Gallery Malaysia Dato Dr Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa. The gallery managed to secure ten pieces from a limited edition of seventeen for this exhibition. Owner of PINKGUY Gallery Winson Loh said that he always has confidence in Chng’s work as it is not only unique but it carries meaning. Eighty percent exhibited were collected on the night.

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Collector : Dr Alan Lu (center)
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Collector : Tony Hii with his wife
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Collector : Miew Kee & Boon Siong
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Collector : Vincent Lee, Mr & Mrs C.H.Lee
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Collector : Rory A Coughlin
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Collector : Jonathan Chow
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Mr Kong Kin Ong

Inspired by the fact that an ordinary civilian plane MH17 could just be shot down from the air by a missile even when it was unprovoked, Ch’ng was saddened by the unfortunate incident but he chose to reflect his feelings and emotion by creating the sculpture ‘Relationship’ which captures the essence that reminds people not to take life or relationship for granted as it may be here today and gone tomorrow. The sculpture depicts an old man and a little girl standing on a wreckage looking up to the sky, wondering what they would have done otherwise if time could be reversed.

Living life, loving someone and caring for others only make sense if they are still alive. Regretting after everything has gone is meaningless.

PINKGUY画廊举办亚洲当代雕塑家庄学腾 2016年第二次青铜作品展 “亲情牵心”。

这是马来西亚首次举办的特别展出,因为会场只有一个艺术作品。有一个特别设计的蓝色木箱,把独家手工制作的青铜雕塑保存在内。它引起参观者的疑惑和怀疑,这场展览会是否真在进行中?因为这不像马来西亚国家视觉艺术画廊总监拿督莫哈末纳吉博阿末达瓦博士主持开幕礼,画廊在十七项限量版作品中,收藏了10项。另外,策展人 Winson Loh非常喜爱庄学腾的作品,其中八个雕塑也已经找到买家了。

一班普通的民航机MH17也可能只因一个无端发射的导弹,而在半空中被击落下来,这宗不幸的事件让庄学腾感到非常难过,于是他选择通过雕塑创作“亲情牵心”,反映出他的感情和情绪,提醒人们别认为生命或亲情是理所当然的,因为它今天在这里,但明天可能就离开了。此雕塑作品描绘一个老人和一个小女孩站在残骸上仰视天空,思考如果时间可以逆转,他们将会做什么?

人生在世,唯有活着,爱人和关心他人才有意义。一切逝去后才来遗憾,是毫无意义的。

Whistler’s Mother in NGV “惠斯勒的母亲”

Some may have only seen the Whistler’s Mother before in the movie Bean (1997) when Mr. Bean accidentally sneezed on it and eventually destroyed it. Thankfully it was just a fiction and Australians still have the opportunity to be up close and personal with the genuine painting in National Gallery Victoria (NGV) for three months, starting from 26th March. The Whistler’s Mother is one of the most important paintings in the world that made its debut down on loan form the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in exchange to lending NGV’s Pierre Bonnard’s Siesta (La Siesta) from 1900 as part of a cultural exchange program.

web4.jpgThe artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler was born in Massachusetts in 1834 and moved with his family to Russia when he was 10 years old. He was trained as a painter since 1855 and ‘Portrait of the artist’s mother’ was painted in 1871. It was a controversial painting then and only became popular in 1934 when President Franklin Roosevelt devised a modified design of the work for a Mother’s Day stamp. Today it is an iconic painting, recognised alongside Mona Lisa and The Scream.

The purpose of NGV having this exhibition was to encourage viewers to see Whistler’s work afresh, highlighting what is so intriguing and mysterious about this magnificent work. It was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for those who love art and appreciate culture.

web2web3web5.jpg看过1997年电影“憨豆大灾难”的观众可能会记忆犹新,憨豆先生不小心打了个喷嚏就将名画“惠斯勒的母亲-Whistler’s Mother”摧毁了。值得庆幸的是这仅是一个虚构的剧情,澳大利亚人仍然有机会自3月26日开始,3个月内在维多利亚国家美术馆(NGV)与这幅名画亲密接触。

“惠斯勒的母亲”是世界上最重要的画作之一,而这幅画作首次亮相展出是以交流形式从巴黎奥赛博物馆借出,NGV以提供另外一幅法国画家Pierre Bonnard’s在1900年的名画 “La Siesta”作为文化交流项目的部分。

艺术画家詹姆斯惠斯勒出生于美国马萨诸塞州。在1834年,10岁的他与家人搬到俄罗斯,在1855年他受训启发后成为一名画家,并在1871年完成”画家母亲的肖像”这个杰作。而这幅极具争议的画作会广大流传是在1934年,美国总统Franklin Roosevelt将画作设制为 母亲节邮票印章。今天,它成为名画之一,与“蒙娜丽莎”和“呐喊”并肩齐驱。

NGV举办这项展出是为了鼓励观众目睹这名艺术家的美好作品,展现这幅作品迷人和神秘之处,无疑是为艺术爱好者提供鉴赏的黄金机会。


Image(s) courtesy of NGV

A Feast Fit for an Emperor 帝王式 饕餮盛宴

Not every loving couple has a remarkable wedding story to tell but the least most would have wanted to receive the blessings from their families and friends. Hence the grand wedding dinner that usually falls on the night after the wedding ceremony is a big deal simply because all invited family members, friends and associates will gather to witness this love story. Usually this is the part where the food served is usually not up to expectation and the guests are left to go home with a bad impression.

The Maple Palace restaurant in Penang is one of the few five stars Chinese restaurants that has the reputation of serving fine Chinese cuisine and making sure all guests are well served.

This luxury bungalow style restaurant has ample carparks on ground floor making parking easy and easy access for customers with all ages. Adding to this is the classy interior environment, the owner and also chief chef Loy Tan has a reputation to select only quality ingredients making sure that all guests are pampered with a feast fit for an emperor.

web2web3即使不是每一对配偶皆有非凡婚礼故事,但起码他们最想得到家人和朋友的祝福。而盛大的晚宴通常在婚礼仪式结束后的夜晚,所有受邀的家庭成员,朋友与伙伴都会聚集在一起见证爱情故事。这时就严重考验奉上的菜肴餐点质量,通常在没有达到预期的情况下,客人们离开时会残留坏印象。

美宝阁作为在槟城珍稀的五星级中餐厅,东西方精华融汇的传统中餐远近驰名,赢得食客们一致称誉。

这家奢华别墅风格的中餐厅拥有充分的地面停车场,让客人感受称心便利。另外,优雅舒适的室内用餐环境,餐厅主人兼总主厨Loy Tan为客人们精心挑选高品质食材,确保大家沉浸在帝王式饕餮盛宴。


For more information or to make reservations, please call or visit website
预知更多详情或预约,请拨打以下号码或浏览网站
+604 227 9690 / +604 227 4542 | http://www.maplepalace.com

A Place To Call Home 完美家园,人生羁绊

Strategically located in one of Penang’s last prime address, the up-and-coming Botanica CT Phase 5C project is a beautiful and stunning township development containing both bungalows and semi-detached, well integrated with Prince of Wales Island International School, commercial village and medical centre etc serving the needs of its resident population. Appointed for its interior design, Splendid Interior Decor and the team responded to the changing taste of today’s consumers making sure that every design benefit both loving couples and families with most of the decorative items specially handpicked, making this the perfect place to call home. A combination of natural lighting from the ceiling window matching with harmony natural colour distinctively provide a spacious and warm environment.

web4web1.jpgweb2.jpgweb3.jpg即将登场的住宅综合发展计划 Botanica   CT   Phase   5C,除了策略性的坐落在槟城最后自然区域,这个令人惊叹的别墅与半独立房屋优美乡镇结合发展项目,加上地点临近槟城威尔士王子岛国际学校,商业村,医疗中心等,完善的设备完整供应居民所需。而别墅的室内设计环节重任落在 Splendid Interior   Decor团队身上,为了顺应当今消费者的品位变化,他们确保每一项设计都符合恩爱佳偶与家庭的爱之氛围,大部分的装饰件皆由他们的团队亲自精挑细选,打造完美家园,羁绊所在。至于集合自然光的天花板与窗户组合,还有和谐柔美色彩也营造了宽敞、温馨的舒适环境。

预知更多详情,请电邮至以下电子邮箱
For further information, email : splendidinteriordecor@gmail.com

ICHI MEDIA Discovering Luxury 毅际媒体极致奢华

Oo Lean Hooi
Partner Business Development Director of Ichi Media

20 years of experience in the media industry prompted Oo Lean Hooi to combine editorial with marketing, whereby he managed to secure the profitability while expanding his network to include various experts and professionals from different industries. This is also the best strategy for the traditional media to keep up-to-date and stay competitive with the social media.

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He joined Ichi Media believing that media should not be conservative but innovative and dare to change, only then it will better develop the business and expose the company to a wide variety of opportunities. He is tremendously passionate about the growth and expansion of the media, thereby devoting much time and effort to ensure its success. In fact, he always desires for transformation and breakthrough, constantly craving to create the extraordinary. Take for instance, when he led a Chinese magazine team on an Australian tourism project, he broke the rules and presented it bilingually. Needless to say, the feedback was indeed overwhelming.

Ichi Media promotes the fabulous and luxuries in life, while being the frontier of branding and creating competitive platform for the best. With diversified strategies, Ichi Media also promotes cross-platform branding where publishing, digital and business networking come in one to achieve optimum results.

On 30th July 2016, Ichi Media will collaborate with CHTNetwork to organise the first Red Carpet Gala Dinner in Butterworth, “The North Banquet 2016 – The Host and The VIPs” at Sunway Carnival Convention Centre, established to identify the influential personalities as hosts and provide them a platform to invite their VIPs and express their gratitude to them. Meanwhile, it will also be an evening of extensive networking and business opportunities. Besides a renowned Celebrity Chef from Thailand, the momentous occasion will also feature jewellery presentation, hairstyling show and charity auction.

In the near future, Ichi Media is going to publish exclusive magazines. Projecting for next year, Ichi Media plans to work on different projects including Expo, workshops, art exhibitions and more while contributing to the growth of local tourism and economy.

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投身媒体业20年经验,练就了余联辉擅长将编务与行销搭配走在同一条路上,利益不减,还认识更多不同领域专业人士,这个做法是目前纸媒面对广告大幅度锐减,社交网络大受欢迎,最好的进攻策略。

加入毅际媒体,因为他认为媒体业不该墨守成规,跨大步的改变才能为公司带来更多的业绩,并开拓不同的市场。由于他相当热爱媒体的生活,将工作与兴趣结合,让他有更充裕的时间来进行策划及有效进行。他时常都会突发奇想,总是希望可以做出不一样的东西。之前在以华文为媒介语的杂志工作时,他就打破传统格式,用中英撰写方式为澳洲旅游局制作旅游手册,并得到很好的回响。

毅际媒体的成立,是为传播生活中的一切美好与奢华,走在品牌的顶尖,打造华丽的竞争平台。他与伙伴们将致力将品牌营销多元化,并跨平台打造不同凡响的品牌气势,提供出版、网络及商业交流於一体的便利,让客户建立品牌口碑事半功倍,也有更效果。

今年7月30日,毅际媒体将与CHTNetwork合作於北海双威会展中心举办一场前所未的地毯式北马鸿宴 The North Banquet – The Host and VIPs ,目的就是让客户们有机会成为主人家,设宴感谢他们的贵重顾客外,同时还可籍此机会认识其他商场上有机会合作的人士。这场盛宴不只有星级厨师,还有珠宝、发秀及拍卖会。

未来,毅际媒体会出版独家限有的品牌杂志外,明年会举办展览会、工作营、艺术展览等等,在为国家推动旅游发展同时,并刺激经济成长。

Generating Value, Creating Wealth through Property 以房产创造价值,缔造财富

Dato’ Sri Dr Vincent Tiew
Managing Director of Andaman Property Group

The property industry may be a competitive field but in its short 11 years in the market, the Andaman Property Group has racked up numerous prestigious awards and is on its way to achieve RM5 billion in development value. Right at the helm is Managing Director, Dato’ Sri Dr Vincent Tiew, who has led the group to achieve its phenomenal growth in the past 7 years.

Screen Shot 2016-08-11 at 10.27.29 AMAndaman Property may not be a public-listed company but in the past 11 years, it had racked up accumulated sales of RM3 billion. This is an achievement that astounded many in the industry, including public-listed developers. “We are heading towards RM5 billion before 2020 and that year will be our 15th year anniversary,” Tiew said.

The energetic 40-year-old himself has a string of awards that included the Young Entrepreneur Award 2015 by The Malaysian Australian Alumni Award, the Entrepreneur Par Excellence 2016 and Corporate Champion of The Year 2015 by McMillan Woods Global Awards, Creative Young Entrepreneur Award 2015 by Junior Chamber International Malaysia and Young Property Leader of The Year 2015 and Property Entrepreneur of The Year 2015 and Outstanding Philanthropic Individual of the Year 2014 amongst many others.

Andaman Property primarily has developments in five areas; Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The uniqueness of this developer is that it strongly believes in its “Generating Value, Creating Wealth” philosophy where it sells its property at lower than market value and create wealth for its buyers. “We adopt Rober Kiyosaki’s style and we also advocate Warren Buffet whose philosophy is value in investing,” he said. The developer is confident that it could give value and create wealth for those who invests in its properties.

The developer is able to keep its prices low because of its minimal gearing as it does not take up bank loans to finance its projects. This means it is already different from other developers as it does not have to contend with loan interests. “Our mindset is different, we have minimal gearing and we believe in smooth sails for every project we undertake from smooth construction to completion and we sell it fast because we have below market price strategy. We want clear cut profit, we want clear cut savings, and we want clear cut value for money for the buyers,” Tiew said.

web3web4As for profit, Tiew said their expectations of a return for each project is not very high. “We don’t force ourselves to get at least 20% return, we are just as happy with 12% profit and this is how we manage to maintain our prices low unlike a majority of developers, especially the public listed ones, who had to aim for higher profit because they have loans to pay up and had to answer to their minority shareholders,” he said. “We optimise, we don’t maximise,” he added.

That is not all, the Andaman Property adopts a blue ocean strategy, making it the market leader in places that were previously not in high demand. Using this strategy, they are able to keep the land cost low and generate high return on investment. “We go to places most developers are yet to explore because we have no pressure in choosing and that made us very selective when we embark on a project,” he said.

Sometimes, the developer may only launch two projects per year and this is because they do not rush into deals, do not fight with other developers to grab for land and they pick the land bank that is cheaper and not high in demand. “Our Andaman strategy is just in time, JIT, so when we sign up to buy, within 12 months we will launch the project,” he said.

Another secret to the group’s success also partially lays with its almost 100 hardworking staff whom the company rewarded with bonuses, incentives, profit sharing and annual trips that averaged between 12 to 60 months per employee. “No other developer can give more than 12 months each year like what we’ve been doing in the past three years and each year, we have a minimum of three company trips for all staff, even the office boy, our receptionist and tea lady,” he said.

It is no wonder that Andaman Property garnered the Best Employer of the year 2015 and Most Promising Award 2014 by SOBA, STAR Outstanding Business Award. “This is because our motto is to work hard, play hard so when I start to build the company back in 2010, I built a new culture structure to reward the staffs that the shareholders agreed to,” he said.

Andaman, with an annual sales turnover of RM500 million, is also known as the Guaranteed Return Rental leader in the market and is now undertaking a new business model in project management. It takes up project management contracts from other developers and land owners on top of penetrating new market segments and continuing with new land development projects.

Next up is the property management project it had undertaken for the developer and landowner of Arc Ampang Ukay. Covering some 80 acres of land, the project will feature quality residential and commercial offerings. “We also hope to be public listed one day,” he said.

web6.jpgThe property industry may be a competitive field but in its short 11 years in the market, the Andaman Property Group has racked up numerous prestigious awards and is on its way to achieve RM5 billion in development value. Right at the helm is Managing Director, Dato’ Sri Dr Vincent Tiew, who has led the group to achieve its phenomenal growth in the past 7 years.

Andaman Property may not be a public-listed company but in the past 11 years, it had racked up accumulated sales of RM3 billion. This is an achievement that astounded many in the industry, including public-listed developers. “We are heading towards RM5 billion before 2020 and that year will be our 15th year anniversary,” Tiew said.

The energetic 40-year-old himself has a string of awards that included the Young Entrepreneur Award 2015 by The Malaysian Australian Alumni Award, the Entrepreneur Par Excellence 2016 and Corporate Champion of The Year 2015 by McMillan Woods Global Awards, Creative Young Entrepreneur Award 2015 by Junior Chamber International Malaysia and Young Property Leader of The Year 2015 and Property Entrepreneur of The Year 2015 and Outstanding Philanthropic Individual of the Year 2014 amongst many others.

Andaman Property primarily has developments in five areas; Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The uniqueness of this developer is that it strongly believes in its “Generating Value, Creating Wealth” philosophy where it sells its property at lower than market value and create wealth for its buyers. “We adopt Rober Kiyosaki’s style and we also advocate Warren Buffet whose philosophy is value in investing,” he said. The developer is confident that it could give value and create wealth for those who invests in its properties.

The developer is able to keep its prices low because of its minimal gearing as it does not take up bank loans to finance its projects. This means it is already different from other developers as it does not have to contend with loan interests. “Our mindset is different, we have minimal gearing and we believe in smooth sails for every project we undertake from smooth construction to completion and we sell it fast because we have below market price strategy. We want clear cut profit, we want clear cut savings, and we want clear cut value for money for the buyers,” Tiew said.

As for profit, Tiew said their expectations of a return for each project is not very high. “We don’t force ourselves to get at least 20% return, we are just as happy with 12% profit and this is how we manage to maintain our prices low unlike a majority of developers, especially the public listed ones, who had to aim for higher profit because they have loans to pay up and had to answer to their minority shareholders,” he said. “We optimise, we don’t maximise,” he added.

That is not all, the Andaman Property adopts a blue ocean strategy, making it the market leader in places that were previously not in high demand. Using this strategy, they are able to keep the land cost low and generate high return on investment. “We go to places most developers are yet to explore because we have no pressure in choosing and that made us very selective when we embark on a project,” he said.

Sometimes, the developer may only launch two projects per year and this is because they do not rush into deals, do not fight with other developers to grab for land and they pick the land bank that is cheaper and not high in demand. “Our Andaman strategy is just in time, JIT, so when we sign up to buy, within 12 months we will launch the project,” he said.

Another secret to the group’s success also partially lays with its almost 100 hardworking staff whom the company rewarded with bonuses, incentives, profit sharing and annual trips that averaged between 12 to 60 months per employee. “No other developer can give more than 12 months each year like what we’ve been doing in the past three years and each year, we have a minimum of three company trips for all staff, even the office boy, our receptionist and tea lady,” he said.

It is no wonder that Andaman Property garnered the Best Employer of the year 2015 and Most Promising Award 2014 by SOBA, STAR Outstanding Business Award. “This is because our motto is to work hard, play hard so when I start to build the company back in 2010, I built a new culture structure to reward the staffs that the shareholders agreed to,” he said.

Andaman, with an annual sales turnover of RM500 million, is also known as the Guaranteed Return Rental leader in the market and is now undertaking a new business model in project management. It takes up project management contracts from other developers and land owners on top of penetrating new market segments and continuing with new land development projects.

Next up is the property management project it had undertaken for the developer and landowner of Arc Ampang Ukay. Covering some 80 acres of land, the project will feature quality residential and commercial offerings. “We also hope to be public listed one day,” he said.

web5.jpg纵然房地产行业是竞争激烈的行业,但在十一年来,安达集团(Andaman   Group)  除了业务战绩喜人,荣誉与奖项不断,并将在未来力求实现50亿令吉的开发价值。而安达的董事经理-拿督斯里张孙通博士更是在这7年来披荆斩棘,带领集团业绩迈向高增长。

即使非上市公司,但安达集团十一年累计销售额30亿令吉,这个数字震惊业界,即使是比对上市发展商的成就也有过之无不及。他们在2020年之前,也即是集团庆15周年之际将朝着50亿令吉目标迈进。

这名40岁精力充沛的企业家个人也获奖无数,包括马澳杰出校友奖颁发的“年轻企业家奖”,由McMillan Woods Global大奖颁发的“2016年度卓越企业家奖”,“2015年度企业冠军奖”,由马来西亚国际青年商会颁发的“2015年创意青年企业家奖”,还有“2015年度年轻产业领袖”,“年度产业企业家奖”和“2014年度杰出个人慈善奖”等等。

安达集团有5个主要的发展地区:霹雳、森美兰、柔佛,吉隆坡和雪兰莪州。该集团的独特性在于坚信贯彻 “创造价值,缔造财富”的理念,并且主张以比市价低的方式销售房产,为购买者创造财富。

“我们采用《穷爸爸、富爸爸》作者Robert Toru Kiyosaki的观点,我们也主张Warren   Buffet理念,鼓励价值投资。”而作为发展商,他们有信心为投资产业的人们提供赚钱机会。

而发展商能维持低廉房价,也必须保持较低的负债率,不会向银行大量贷款支持发展计划。这也意味着,他们在贷款利息方面的抗衡点与其他发展商不同。“我们的心态不一样,负债率比较低,在开往每一个计划项目,从建设顺利到承接完成,很快就销售一空,因为我们有低于市场价格的策略。除了明确的利润和节约,希望为购房者的钱找到明确价值投资。”

他们对每个项目计划回报的期待度并不是很高。“我们不强求至少要拿到20%的回报率,即使只有12%的利润一样快乐,这是我们保持价格的管理方式,而其他多数的发展商,尤其是上市公司,都是瞄准更高的利润,因为他们必须支付贷款,还要应对股东。而我们是优化,但不最大化。”他补充说。

安达集团还采用蓝海战略,开创无人争抢的市场空间,超越竞争意识。除了策略性保持土地成本低,然后产生较高的投资回报。“我们去的地方都是大部分发展商尚未探索到的,使我们开发项目计划时没有面对选择的压力。”

web7web8.jpg发展商有时每年可能只推出2个项目,因他们不急于交易,而且不与其他发展商抢地,安达选择的土地储备较为便宜,需求不高。“我们的战略是及时,JIT(准时制),所以在签署购买12个月内,我们将推出发展项目。”

至于集团成功的秘诀也因拥有近100名努力工作的员工,他们平均规定利润分红,每年旅游福利,员工将获得12至60个月丰厚奖励金。“没有其他发展商发给员工12个月以上的奖金,过去3年,我们都一直实行,最少有3次公司旅游奖励给予所有员工,包括杂务,接待员和茶水工。”

这也是安达集团为何取得 “2015年最佳雇主奖”和“2014年最有前景奖” ,由星报杰出商业大奖颁发。 他们的座右铭是要努力工作,潜心玩乐,所以当他在2010年成立公司后,建设新的公司文化结构,征得股东同意奖励员工。

安达集团的年营业额为5亿令吉,也被称为市场上租赁回报保证的领导者,承接着项目管理的新商业模式,从其他发展商和土地所有者项目管理合同上渗透到新细节市场,并持续新的土地发展计划。

紧接着产业管理计划,作为发展商和土地所有者接手掌管Arc Ampang Ukay项目,这个占地约80亩的土地,将发展建设高质量住宅和商业产品。“我们也希望有公开上市的一天。”他说。