Thursday, June 5, 2014

Classy and Modern

By Chuah Bee Kim

ELEGANT LOOK: MyDezigner Label boutique offers chic and trendy clothes and Muslim attire

JOHOR BARU: FOR those looking for designer wear that screams class and modern casual, head down to MyDezigner Label (MDL), a newly-opened boutique in Bandar Baru Uda here.

The boutique, located at No 39, Jalan Padi Emas 1/3, is a branch of MDL in NEO Damansara in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Owner Nora Zakaria, 47, said her daughter Muniera Syaza Johari, 22, is also one of the partners of the boutique.

Nora Zakaria (centre) with her daughter Muniera Syaza Johari (left) and Ain Abd Majid operate MyDezigner Label boutique.

Another partner is Ain Abd Majid, 34, who is known for having founded the Label Hijau Gallery which specialises in Islamic clothing for women.

Nora, who has her own NORA of Galeri Muslimah label, is also well-known in the fashion industry as her fashionwear has found its way into markets in Singapore, Doha in Qatar and Dubai in United Arab Emirates.

Nora said her daughter Muniera Syaza, who graduated from Raffles College, designs for the young and trendy.

"She is a very creative girl and her designs are modern and chic. The younger clients love her creations.

"As for me, I did not graduate from any fashion course. After I got married in 1991, I was encouraged by my husband to start a business.

"So, I opened a shoe shop in Kuala Lumpur. Although business was thriving, I was not satisfied. It just did not bring me the satisfaction that I was craving for.

"Most of the shoes that I sourced from a supplier were of the same design. Soon, life got monotonous," she said.

Nora said her boredom prompted her to take up sewing lessons.

"In 1996, I was ready to open a tailoring shop and the orders started pouring in, some from prominent designers."

After several years, her husband opened a factory for Nora to mass produce tudung and clothing for Muslim women.

Nora, who idolises renowned fashion icons Yves Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten and John Galliano, got her own designer label (NORA) last year.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

YB Michael Tay

Kamal relating his story to Yang Berkhidmat Michael Tay.

By CHUAH BEE KIM

TRAPPED: Loan sharks continue a borrower’s cycle of debt by getting their counterparts to make irresistible offers

JOHOR BARU: KAMAL (not his real name) borrowed RM400 from a loan shark two months ago. He claimed that he has since paid about RM5,000 in interest for the sum he borrowed.

Michael Tay, the newly-appointed Johor MCA bureau of coordinating government affairs chairman, said that loan sharks are now using a tactic where they will get their friends to conduct "follow-up sessions" with the borrower.

Tay said after Kamal had paid the first loan shark RM200 in interest for the sum he borrowed, he received a call from another loan shark who offered Kamal more money to run his business.

Kamal accepted the offer. After that he received calls from three other loan sharks who made Kamal the same offer.

Kamal took all their offers and could only pay the interest.

Tay said Kamal, a 28-year-old kuih seller, had borrowed the money to diversify his business as he wanted to sell shoes.

Kamal had wanted to settle the loan early but was told by one of the loan sharks that there was no need to rush.

"The loan sharks want the borrower to take his time, so that they can make money from the interest," said Tay.

"Kamal had also paid RM6,000 as down payment for a van for his business venture. Unfortunately, the deal went sour and Kamal ended up losing the down payment and the van."

Tay said he would help Kamal by talking to the loan sharks, but advised victims like Kamal to be wary of turning to loan sharks for help.

"It is always wise to live within your means. So many people come to me telling me that they are being hounded by loan sharks.

"I can only help by acting as a mediator between both parties," he said.

Tay also urged the public not to listen to advice from their "friends" who may be earning an interest from the loan sharks.

"Take Kamal for instance, he was advised to get help from a loan shark when his business slowed down.

"I'm not saying the friend is getting a commission, but it is a well-known fact that an Ah Long pays between five and 10 per cent to anyone who introduces a client to them," Tay said.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Get To Know Johor

Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar visiting the booths with JCorp president and chief executive officer Datuk Kamaruzzaman Abu Kassim (left) as Urusan Kulim Nursery Bhd director Norlukmal Mat Ghani (right) talks about his products. Pic by Mohd Azren Jamaludin

The story on the upgrading of Sungai Johor. Yes, the assignment that led me to discover Kampung Makam (Tomb Village) that Saturday.

JOHOR Corporation (JCorp) and the state government will jointly develop Sungai Johor into a prime eco-tourism destination in the state.

Kota Tinggi District Officer Mohd Osman Noorazam said the upgrading works of Sungai Johor, which is in the initial phase of the Kota Tinggi Transformation Plan, is expected to start this year.

"We have a budget of RM2.4 million to develop Sungai Johor, as well as for beautification efforts to upgrade the city's landscape which includes lighting up the area with more street lamps.

"Among the projects under the Kota Tinggi Transformation Plan is to develop fishing activity in Sungai Johor.

"Also included in the Kota Tinggi Transformation Plan is the development of the Kulim Eco Trail Retreat, an eco-tourism destination that can accommodate up to 200 visitors in Ladang Basir Ismail," he said.

Meanwhile, this story is on the upcoming Explore Johor Fest which will be held from June 6 to June 8 at the Senai International Airport.

By Ben Tan

JOHOR BARU: The Explore Johor Fest exhibition which will held for the first time, is scheduled to have a big impact on the various destinations in the state.

The inaugural event will take place from Friday to Sunday this year at the Senai International Airport here.

The event is aimed to provide the opportunity for visitors to know and appreciate Johor's natural beauty and locations such as beaches, islands, waterfalls and national parks.

It also acts as a guide to allow potential tourists to plan their stay in Johor at these exciting destinations according to their budgets.

Johor tourism, domestic trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said tourists to Johor can make smart choices based on the information and tips during the exhibition.

"At the same time, the exhibition also aims to educate potential tourists on what is on offer at tourist destinations such as lodging and food," he said recently.

Tee said the exhibition will be joined by several companies and 11 tourist clusters such as theme park operators, hotels, resorts and tourist destinations from the state.

"At the same time, visitors will also get to enjoy food and delicacies from the various districts in the state by chefs from several renowned hotels.

"In addition, there will also be cultural performances, local handicraft exhibitions, and also a lucky draw," he said.

The state government, together with the Iskandar Malaysia Public Transportation authority will provide free bus service to the public during the entire exhibition period.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the state government will also launch the Johor Tourism Master Plan by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The writer of the story, Ben Tan, is not in this picture as he was busy writing the above story.

We were also very busy but we took a breather with a selfie. That's me with my colleagues Halim Said, Norbaiti Phaharoradzi and a special guest.

Have a good day everyone!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

A Delightful Dark Fantasy

Maleficent is a visual treat.

An old tale told anew, the film questions the existence of true love. Once a good fairy, Maleficent's heart was stolen and then shattered by a peasant boy who later also stole her wings. He did this because he wanted to be a king.

Blinded by rage, hatred and a thirst for revenge, Maleficent cast a dark spell on the king's newborn child. However, Maleficent grew to love the baby girl and watches over her as the child grows up. She even tried to revoke the curse but words once uttered could not be taken back.

Does true love exist? It sure does.

The peasant boy ascended to the throne but his days were filled with torment because of his wrongdoing. The evil that one does will always come back to haunt the evildoer, so why waste our time and energy to harvest the seed of hatred?

And when Maleficent found love once more, her forest kingdom became a beautiful place again which shows that when your inner world is at peace, your environment will transform.

I love Maleficent

and the salted popcorn.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Thumbs Up!

31 May 2014

Teluk Intan: BN wins back

TELUK INTAN: Barisan Nasional wins back the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat after losing it to DAP in two previous general elections namely in 2008 and 2013.

Datuk Mah Siew Keong wrestled back the seat for the coalition with a majority of 238 votes after garnering 20,157 votes, defeating DAP’s greenhorn candidate, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.

The 27-year-old law graduate, who until recently served as the political aide to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, garnered only 19,919 votes. There were a total of 543 rejected votes.

Mah who is also Gerakan President previously lost the seat to late Seah Leong Peng of DAP who died of cancer on May 1.

In the 2013 general election, Seah won with a majority of 7,313 votes after garnering 27,399 votes defeating Mah who garnered 20,086 votes. Independent candidate K.Moralingam only received 279 votes. Total voter turnout then was 80 per cent.

However, for this by-election, total voter turnout was below the Election Commission’s projection of at least 70 per cent voter turnout.

Only 67.4 per cent or 39,850 of the 59,927 ordinary voters turned up to vote when polling closed at 35 polling centres for the Teluk Intan Parliamentary by-election at 5 pm.

DAP’s over confidence and the Dyana factor had failed to impress voters to win the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat.

Political pundits also attributed BN’s success to the return of support from the Chinese community and frustrations towards DAP for not being able to bring much progress to Teluk Intan in the last six years.

The result was announced by returning officer Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad at Sekolah Menengah Abdul Rahman Talib, which had been turned into the by-election’s vote tallying centre, about 9pm.

The election process went on smoothly although there were rumours of commotions between supporters of both political sides at some polling centres.

Tomb Village, Kota Tinggi

I was supposed to go to Ulu Tiram but my Waze brought me to Kampung Makam instead. I wonder what this symbolizes, you know, finding Tomb Village. But I'm glad to have stumbled upon such a beautiful place that is rich with the history of the Johor Sultanate.

The main feature of the village is the Tomb of Sultan Mahmud Shah, who was the last ruler of Johor who had descended from the Sultans of Malacca.

Legend has it that In 1699, during the reign of the Sultan, pirates were attacking southern Johor, from Mersing to Pulau Penyengat and Riau Laksamana (Admiral) Megat Seri Rama, known as Laksamana Bentan, named after his origin, Bintan Island, was ordered to stop the menace. He left behind his beloved pregnant wife, Dang Anum, to fight the pirates.

His absence presented an opportunity to a former palace officer, who was jealous of Megat Seri Rama, to plot against him. Wan Anum eagerly craved a piece of jackfruit, taken from the palace orchard, that was on its way to be presented to the Sultan. The penghulu or the head of a sub-district, who was sending the fruit to the palace sympathised with Dang Anum. He stole a piece of jackfruit and gave it to her. The Sultan, who noticed that the fruit had been cut, before he tasted the fruit, was so angered with the penghulu's action. His thoughts were also poisoned by the jealous palace officer who said that Dang Anum's action had obviously brought shame to the Sultan, leaving the Sultan to eat the rest of the fruit after her.

The Sultan ordered that Dang Anum be brought to the palace. Desperate for her life and that of her child, Dang Anum told the Sultanthat the fruit that she ate was for her child. The Sultan asked for proof and that her belly be cut open.

The murder was kept a secret but Laksamana Megat Seri Rama found out about it upon his return.

One day on a Friday afternoon, during Friday prayers, while the Sultan was lifted up (julang) by his men, he was ambushed and stabbed to death by the Laksamana. Before he drew his last breath, he cast a curse which forbade the sons of Bintan to touch the grounds of Kota Tinggi for eternity. If not, all of them will vomit blood to death.

Sultan Mahmud Shah, known then as Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang, was buried in Kampung Makam, while Laksamana Megat Seri Rama at Kampung Kelantan, also in Kota Tinggi. To this day, people still believe that the curse still exists and most Bintanese still feared to come to Kota Tinggi. However, some say the curse would last only 7 generations. - source Wikipedia

The village today attracts a lot of anglers. A villager told me there are ikan keli (catfish) and prawns in this part of the Sungai Johor.

Boat rides can be arranged at RM10 to RM40, RM50 or RM60 per person depending on the type of boat, the villager told me. Forgot to ask whether a life-jacket will be provided for the ride. Better to be safe than sorry. Anyway, maybe I'll come back here another day to try the boat ride. Another question, got crocodile or not?

Now you see why I don't get out much.