JAN - MAC 2016

E D I TO R S N OT E & C R E D I T S
PUBLISHERS OFFICE
EFY Dot Com Sdn. Bhd
2-3-1 Wisma Pauson,
Jalan Taming Kanan1,
Taman Taming Jaya,
43300 Balakong
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: +603 8962 3528 / 3670
infor@efy.com.my
www.efy.com.my
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Chan Sook Fen
chan.sf@efy.com.my
EDITOR
Priya Rama
priya.lr@efy.com.my

Welcome to the first issue of the EFY Magazine!

How time flies! It was just a year ago that Chan (our CEO) and I had a casual chat about publishing the
EFY magazine. Yes, EFY started off as an online portal, focussing on the real issues that affect our lives
on a daily basis, from lifestyle, business, property and home & living.
However, it was becoming clear that we needed a physical presence to wrangle the hundreds of pages
of content we were creating and trying to manage. We felt it was a good time to start a magazine, and
the idea simply caught fire.

WRITER
Eris Choo
eris.cwl@efy.com.my
CONTRIBUTORS
Basil Foo, Najihah Sani, Shalina Geraldine, Sabrina
Mosbergen, Audrey Wong, Fariza Saidin, Meena
Srinivasan, Ajit Singh, Y.S Siew, Jeremy Wong
EVENTS & MARKETING
Helen Lee
lee.sl@efy.com.my

And here we are today with our inaugural issue! We couldnt be more excited to have made it to this
point. Therefore, please do take some time to get to know our magazine. You will notice the four
categories of articles: Lifestyle, Business, Property and Home & Living.

SALES
Steven Liew
steven.lyk@efy.com.my

When we set out to create the EFY magazine, one thing we agreed on right away was to steer-away
from the glossy images of the too-perfect, product-driven magazines that we all sometimes read.

DESIGN
Mamboart Designs
Third J Two Enterprise

What you will find in the pages of EFY Magazine is a collection of inspired and instructive articles of
real, honest, down-to-earth folks who work hard to live deliberately, but who are not afraid to admit
the struggles they sometimes face. We are honoured to share the lives of so many committed and
thoughtful people in our first issue.
Oh, we have some fun stuff and tricks up our sleeve, and a few surprises, but for that, youll have to flip
through every page of this magazine. Youll find everything spelled out in our table of contents.
Above all, thanks to our writers for throwing in with us - and to you, our first readers, for making it all
real.
I invite you to e-mail me at priya.lr@efy.com.my, and feel free to give your comments on the articles or
simply to share your thoughts. We appreciate your support to our EFY magazine.

CONCEPT & DESIGN

EFY Dot Com Sdn Bhd
COVER CREDIT
Capital Trend Asia Sdn Bhd
PRINTED BY
Ultimate Print Sdn Bhd
Lot 2, Jalan Sepana 15/3,
Off Persiaran Selangor,
Seksyen 15, 40000 Shah Alam,
Selangor Darul Ehsan
ADVERTISING OR GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Tel: +603 8962 3528 / 3670
Email: infor@efy.com.my

I would like to end my note by wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year! February 8th, 2016 marks the
beginning of the year of the Fire Monkey. According to Chinese astrology, the year of the Monkey is
ideal for a quantum leap! Now is the time to shake things up, create change, innovate and take a leap
of faith on a new path.
Happy New Year, everyone!

www.facebook.com/efynews

www.twitter.com/EFYeffie
Priya Rama

instagram.com/efymalaysia

From the Publishers Desk

Happy New Year!
What better way to kick off the year than by welcoming EFYs very first issue! After months of hard work, our dream of having a physical copy of our online portal
has finally come true.
So to the new reader what is EFY? Short for Easy For You, we pride ourselves in being an online publication that focuses on presenting quality and analytical articles.
From property and wealth management to inspiring business and lifestyle stories, youll find all this and more on EFY. Never miss out on whats hip and happening,
as we write about the latest trends, events and launches in town.
Our aim is to provide information and useful tools to our esteemed readers, especially for those wanting to increase their wealth and
improve their lifestyle. We also provide directory listings and discount coupons for all our members through our portal, so that you can
save more on your expenses. Thanks to your tremendous support, we currently have over 100,000 members and fans in our database
in just 10 months. We couldnt have done this without you!
Your input matters, so wed love to hear your suggestions on how to improve your experience with EFY. Feel free to reach out to us
at infor@efy.com.my.
Thank you once again for your strong support, and we hope that you will find our publication useful and informative.
There are two primary choices in life; to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them Denis Waitley
Choose to make your life a happier and more fulfilling one!

Chan

Chan Sook Fen

Publisher / Chief Executive Officer, EFY Dot Com

CONTENTS

12

20

COVER STORY
Amerin Mall & Residence

STAY WHERE?
Melange Hotel

PERSONALITY
Siva Shanker: Pinnacle of Power

14

22

TECH TALK
Gotta Have Gadgets

WHEELS
BMW i8
Ford Ranger

PROPERTY TALK
Seremban: The Next Klang Valley?

15

24

PREDICTION
Year of Monkey 2016

TRAVEL
Sunway Lagoon
The Little Big Club

HOME & LIVING

5 Things Homeowners Should Have
Having The Elderly In Mind

10

16

28

YUMMYLICIOUS
Messed Up Family
Kompassion II

ENTREPRENEURS
Verity Intelligence: Guilty Until
Proven Innocent

EFY CONTESTS
Sing It To Win It
Merdeka Jump

18

30

CHIT CHAT WITH

Ubernising Malaysia
4

DIRECTORY LISTINGS

C OV E R S TO RY

AMERIN
MALL & RESIDENCE
5-STAR Luxury Living At Your Doorstep!

OVERVIEW
A new 608-unit private residential project on
the fringe of Klang Valley is being developed by
boutique property developers Capital Trend Asia
Sdn Bhd (CTA) on 5.1 acres of freehold land.
Located strategically in the heart of the recentlybaptised Cheras South (previously Balakong),
One Amerin Mall and Residence is a new, modern
lifestyle mall cum serviced apartments as the new
icon for the fast changing Balakong town.
Expected to complete by the mid of 2017, sales has
reached 80% to date despite the current challenging
trend.
What was previously a sleepy rubber plantation
village and disused tin mining lakes, Cheras South
today is one exciting location with readily-available
highways such as SILK, LEKAS, Grand Saga CherasKajang, and an MRT station under construction to
be completed around middle of 2017.
A 2013 area study conducted by leading research
company Ho Chin Soon indicates that there is a
population of almost 180,000 within merely a 3km
radius of Cheras and Balakong.
While a 2010 MPKJ study states that a total of
586,000 people live around the area of Cheras,
Balakong and Kajang, with an average growth of 8%
over the next 20 years.

Do the math, and we are looking at a population of

close to 931,000 by 2016, and 1.3 million by 2020.
With 612,000 sq. ft. of gross built-up area that
includes a grocer anchor, an 8-hall Cineplex and
630 car parks, Amerin Mall is expected to be a
hit among mall-goers around the areas of Cheras,
Balakong and Kajang.
Leasing for retail lots and F&B lots will officially start
in early 2016. There are 15 F&B lots over-looking
Sg Balak. Thus, the mall is expected to provide all
the convenience for residents living above the mall.

Shopping Malls Vicinity: Aeon Cheras Selatan,

Aeon Big, Cheras Leisure Mall, Cheras Central Mall,
Mines Capital Mall and also Giant
Major Highways: SILK Highway, Grand Saga
Highway, East-West Link, Cheras-Kajang Highway,
MRR2, and MEX
MRT: The under-construction MRT from Sungai
Buloh to Kajang. Two stations to be located in
Cheras South - Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and
Balakong. Serdang KTM station is about a 15-minute
drive to Cheras South.
Leisure: Selangor Turf Club, Palace of the Golden
Horses and Mines Resort City.
Hospital: Columbia Asia Hospital
Schools: Two international schools, Australian
International School Malaysia and Alice Smith
School. As for local schools, there are Sekolah
Kebangsaan Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Sekolah
Kebangsaan Bandar Tun Hussein Onn 2 and Sekolah
Menengah Bandar Tun Hussein Onn.
Future: The completion of MRT line within Cheras
South is expected to escalate the land price further.
With lands for properties getting scarce, more highrise residential is expected to enter the market.

THE PROPERTY
One Amerin Mall and Residence is a new exciting
modern lifestyle mall cum serviced apartments
sitting above 3 levels with more than 500 car parks
available.
Enjoy the bliss of cosy resort and guarded residences
with all the privileges of a world-class retail &
lifestyle podium right at the doorstep. Its akin to
staying in a hotel-inspired environment every day.

Another highlight is the spectacular view from the Roof

Top Sky Garden on the 27th floor for family gatherings and
relaxation. Imagine garden life in the urban jungle, a retreat
of natural bliss that no other place in the Klang Valley can
boast!
Privacy & security tops the list when choosing a home for
the family. Amerin ensures peace of mind with a privileged
`tenants-only access system to residential units.
Construction began in March 2014, with the mall likely to
be completed by 2016, and the apartments by 2017 or
2018.

HIGHLIGHTS

Modern and sleekly-designed serviced apartments

Posh private entrance segregated from the mall
24 hours-3 tier security services
Private access to the mall section
100,000 sq. ft. of landscaped and club house facilities
40 meter swimming pool
2 badminton courts

Sky garden on 27th floor

Ample private car parks

Amerin shuttle bus service to MRT station

For more info, kindly flip to page 25.

CAPITAL TREND ASIA PROJECTS
Capital Trend Asia Sdn Bhd (CTA) was incorporated in
November 2007, with a strategy to pursue boutique
developments around the Klang Valley for quick
turnarounds.
CTAs first project was a commercial development called
Ukay Boulevard, comprising 21 blocks of 4-storey shop
offices on a 2.5-acre leasehold tract. The RM45 million
project saw a 100% take-up within three weeks of its
launch in 2009.
The companys second project was DImpian Tropika off
Persiaran Impian, SILK Highway, Balakong, near the Mines
Resort city in Seri Kembangan.
DImpian Tropika is a mixed residential development with
a total of 90 units which comprises town houses, terrace
houses, cluster homes, semi-detached and bungalow over
7.4 acres of freehold land.
Launched in 2010, this is a gated and guarded housing
scheme which was completed in 2012. The gross
development value is about RM58 million.

Amerin Residence comprises 608 units of serviced

apartments with club house facilities.

Salient Terrace, another CTA project, comprises 3 units

of double storey freehold shops (35 x 80) in Klang Town.

The high-populated catchment and connectivity

to various highways will lead to more demand for
Balakong houses in the near future.

There are 2 towers of serviced apartments. Each

tower has 304 units from the 8th to 27th floor,
serviced by 4 lifts respectively.

With more developments to be completed in the

next few years, the growth is inevitable due to its
strategic location, sleek and modern design and
facilities, and its low selling prices in view of the
quality and facilities provided.

Sizes vary from 857 sq ft to 1,360 sq ft, 2+ 1 and

3+1 rooms respectively.

CTA has also successfully completed the Melange Hotel

in December 2015. This 7-storey boutique and designer
hotel, located at Jalan Rembia, Off Jalan Tengkat Tong Shin,
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, comprises 42 rooms with a
roof top caf.

CHERAS SOUTH HIGHLIGHTS

Potential: A low entry area with high potential
capital appreciation and rental yield due to its
proximity to KL City Centre (abut 20km), and it
populated residents that support the SME industry.
Rental Yield: Estimated 6%

Car park for the serviced apartment residents is

located on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors.
On the 7th floor is the biggest club house facility of
over 100,000 sq. ft. in space, featuring:

Swimming Pool
Gym
Sauna
BBQ Zone

Yoga Zone
Terrace Garden
Activities Rooms
Badminton Courts

Another lifestyle project under CTAs cap is the Amerin

Hotel JB. This proposed 17 storey, 176-room hotel with
80 car parks at Persisiran Perling 1, Johor Bahru is expected
to be completed by early 2016.
The Johan Setia R&R, which was completed in 2014,
comprises a KFC drive thru, 12 units of leasehold shops
and car park. The R&R is located along Jalan Langat main
road, about 1km off Kesas Highway towards Jenjarom and
Banting, located just opposite Parkland, Klang and LRT 3
final depot. The KFC drive thru has since been popular
with passing vehicles that need refreshment and food.
For more details, visit www.cta.my | www.oneamerin.my |
www.melangehotel.com.my

T E C H TA L K

GOTTA HAVE GADGETS!

PREDICTION

By Eris Choo

2015 has been a turbulent year. Weve seen an

overall slowdown in the economy, and escalating
conflicts in the Middle East, to name a few.

The most comfortable time is expected to be

around autumn from August to October, he
reiterated.

So whats in store for the year of the Fire Monkey?

EFY speaks to astrology master Sherwin Ng on the
prospects for 2016.

Not all is doom and gloom, however.

Ng is the founder and chief at House of Kite and

Weather Light, with over a decade of experience
in the field of astrology and Chinese metaphysics.

CLASHING ELEMENTS
Fire and Metal will be the dominant elements in
2016. As the two oppose each other, the year
ahead will be a tough one.

3
4

MICROSOFT SURFACE
PRO 4

Ultraportable Tablet

Microsoft Malaysia recently launched the Surface

Pro 4 - an ultraportable tablet with the power of
a laptop.
At only 8.4mm thin, the Surface Pro 4 is fitted with
the latest operating system from Microsoft, the
Microsoft 10 Pro with 6th Generation Intel Core
M, Core 15 and Core i7 processor.
It is 30% more powerful and quieter than Pro 3,
runs smoother and is more efficient with up to nine
hours of battery life.
The redesigned Surface Pen that clings tightly to the
device lets you write, draw and mark documents
with precision ink on one end, and an eraser on
the other.
Retailed between RM3,999 (Core M / 128GB /
4GB with pen) and RM9,799, Surface Pro 4 is also
available on Lazada. There are also 8GB and 16GB
versions available.

HUAWEI HONOR 7:

Ng shares his calculations based on the Four Pillars

Energy Map, which is divided into Year, Month, Day
and Hour - each one representing one quarter of
the year.

The first half will be a time of uproar, as it has a lot

of opposing elements due to the Year (Yang Fire /
Monkey) and Month (Yang Metal/Tiger) pillars.

5.2 encasing , fully metallic, with air brushed,

ceramic coating for premium finish
Unlock with smart buttons and gesture-enabled
fingerprint reader, easier single-handed operation
Price: RM1,399
Colours: Mystery Grey and Fantasy Silver
Available at: Huawei outlets and retailers

CHOETECH WIRELESS 3
CHARGER:
Hassle-free charging

Simply place your Qi-enabled smartphones,

tablets or device onto the wireless charging pad
by Choetech. No more bulky chargers or tangled
cables again!
Fastest wireless charging speed, and easy to use
Compatible Models: Galaxy S6/S6 Edge; Nexus
7 2nd Gen/Nexus 4/5/6; LG Optimus Vu2/LG
G2/G4; Nokia Lumia 920/1020/928, HTC
Droid DNA/Rzound
Models Requiring a Wireless Charging receiver:
Galaxy S3-S5, Note; Nokia Lumia 820; iPhone
4-6; Blackberry Z30
Price: RM127.69
Available at: Lazada.com.my

Your Unfair Advantage

FITBIT FLEX:

Sleek and stylish, the latest Honor 7 series device

has both design and function for the cool, urban
user.
Features:
Wake up with a designated voice command, like
Dear Honor, or Where are you for device to
call user to find out its location

Keep track of your active lifestyle with the Fitbit

Flex, a stylish slim, removable tracker that fits on
your wrist in small or large sizes.
Features:
Tracks all-day activities like steps, distance,
calories burned, active minutes, displays daily

Stylish Wristband Tracker

progress towards goal and monitors sleep

Five-day battery life, water-resistant wristband
Wireless syncing : Sync your daily stats on
smartphones, tablets and computers
Price: RM408
Colours: Black, red, tangerine, blue, teal, slate,
navy, violet, lime, pink
Available at: Official retailers such as Radioshack,
All IT Hypermarket stores, A One Plus, iStore,
Harvey Norman and Superbuy.

BLACK BOX
5
DASHBOARD CAR CAM:
A Reliable Witness

Protect yourself on the road with the Black Box

Dual Lens Dashboard Car Camera; not only from
accidents, but against insurance frauds and road
accidents.
Features:
Full 1080P HD Recording : LED Night Vision
and automatic motion detection
Low power consumption, HD video

compression and smooth image processing
Auto off, no touch required; and auto-start with
on-spot play back
2.7 HD Wide Screen LCD with WDR 140
Degree Wide Angle 4x Zoom Lens and 5MP
camera
G-Sensor Enabled Recording starts with any
sudden braking, impact, rapid acceleration or
sharp cornerings
Swivel ball suction mount to attach device to
any flat surface
Price: RM250
Available at: www.dashcam.com.my
*Prices are accurate at time of writing

2016:
A Challenging
Fire Monkey
Year

Fire will try to melt metal, so there will be

adversity and challenges. It is a slow process and
involves a certain amount of pain, he explained.
This clashing of elements will be reflected
worldwide, in terms of economy and stability.
Metal and fire indicates fighting, so Ng predicts
that the year will have its fair share of conflicts and
possible wars.
Whereas the second half of the year, which is made
up of Day (Yang Fire/Dragon) and Hour (Yin Fire/
Rooster) pillars will see the overall situation ease off
a little, as the elements are more compatible.

2016 will be a year of self-discovery and new

discoveries in the world. It will be a good time for
inventions or gaining knowledge, he explained.
It will also benefit those who are specialists in
any field, as these talents will be sought after.
The medical industry and other helping professions
are expected to do well.
Health-wise, people should take care of their
eyes and heart (represented by the fire element),
especially at the peak period around June to July.
The Earth element will be weak in 2016.
Earth is often related to the property market.
While it is a good time to buy, it is not a good time
to sell as you will not get back the same price for
your property, he said.
Moving forward, Ngs advice is not to worry.
A lot of people will struggle, but at the same time,
if they rise to the challenge, many will also do really
well.
An important theme he believes in is Fate versus
Destiny.
Fate is when you react based on your environment
and what happens, believing that you are a victim
of circumstance. Whereas Destiny is creating the
life you were meant to live, by bringing a positive
change to your immediate environment, the people
around you and to transcend your inner limitations.
One should focus on what they want in life, and
stick to it, concluded Ng.

Feng Shui Consultant Expert Master Kenny Hoo reveals his predictions for
2016 the year of the Fire Monkey, in a nutshell.
Zodiac

Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Goat

Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Boar

Love &
Relationship

Very Good
Challenging

Wealth & Career

Health

Good
Very Challenging

Nobleman &
Help from others

Fair

Master Kenny Hoo is the founder

and chief researcher at Good Feng
Shui Geomantic Research

YUMMYLICIOUS

MEET THE

MESSED UP FAMILY
By Eris Choo

At KomPassion II, we learned that Thai food can be

much more than just pad Thai, tom yum and mango
sticky rice.
Helmed by Chef Nikom Kom Uatthong (of My
Elephant fame), the restaurant started off three
years ago at Damansara Kim and is now a staple
among foodies looking for unique and delicious Thai
fusion cuisine.
Their second outlet, KomPassion II, opened its
doors in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in August this year.
To kick off our food adventure, we started off with
Pucuk Paku Salad with Young Coconut (RM20).
Similar to its Malay ulam counterpart, this appetiser
was spiced up with a Thai twist. Crunchy ferns,
shredded crab meat sticks and slices of young
coconut were topped over with crispy almonds,
a smattering of fish roe and a side of coconut
shavings.
Mixing the beautiful colours together was like
creating an art piece, and the blend of spicy, sour
and savoury flavours made for the perfect appetiser.

THE FATHER

THE MOTHER

THE SON

If you havent been acquainted with THE MESSED UP FAMILY, you should go
meet them in person! No need to be afraid. Theyre not psychotic killers or
anything just a range of drinks by CS Fifty One Sdn Bhd (the Societe Family).
Hand-crafted from scratch by co-founders and siblings Choong Kar Wai
and Choong Kar Heng, these giant milkshakes are gloriously messy and just
naughty looking.
Theres The Father, a blend of chocolate and peanut butter with cream, caramel
popcorn, chocolate sauce and biscuits; and The sweet Mother, which comes with
a green tea base topped with crumbly Oreos, whipped cream and love letters.
Or perhaps youd like to meet the bright and sunshine-loving Daughter, with her
milky sweet coconuts (We mean the flavour! What are you thinking of ?), raisins
and whipped cream.
Like father like Son, the last member of the family has hints of chocolate but with
a stronger Nutella flavour, served with mini pretzels and fluffy marshmallows.

THE DAUGHTER

The drinks were inspired by a viral post from Australia, where the messy
milkshake phenomenon has become super popular, said Kar Heng.
We let our imaginations run wild when we concocted the drinks. When we
introduced it to our customers in September, it was a massive hit, said Kar Wai,
adding that there were crazy, long queues for it.
The drinks have been flying off the shelves, with an average of 40 glasses
sold per hour. If Im doing my math right, thats close to 400 glasses a day!
Kar Heng explained.
He added that THE MESSED UP FAMILY will now be available at all of their
existing cafes: Coffee Societe in Publika, Garage 51 and Underground Societe in
Bandar Sunway and Procaffeinating in Petaling Jaya.
The event also saw the unveiling of The Cousin, a new Salted Caramel milkshake
topped with two layers of moist brownies, which will only be available at Coffee
Societe. All of the drinks are priced at RM18.90.
For more details, visit www.facebook.com/CoffeeSociete

NEW KIDZ ON THE BLOCK

DEVOTION CAFE

A new dessert caf in town, Devotion serves

up world famous Taiwanese cream custard
puffs, home baked cookies, speciality teas, juices
and yogurt drinks made fresh every day for a
scrumptious experience.
Lot LG-23, Lower Ground Floor,
Quill City Mall, 1018,
Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur

LIKE MOM BISTRO

10

Next up was the Beef Salad, which has yet to be

officially introduced on the menu; so lucky us to be
one of the first people to try it!
Beautifully seared pieces of tender beef lay on a
bed of fresh lettuce, mixed with creamy chunks of
avocado, thinly sliced carrots, onions, tomato cubes
and chilli.

KomPassionate About

Thai Food

By Eris Choo

Moving on to the mains, we had the house special:

Hang Lay Chicken Curry (RM28), a specialty from
Northern Thailand tweaked to suit local tastes.

curry and Hang Lay chicken curry), white rice and

brown rice topped with fried egg, fried chicken and
fish, and tangy mango salad. It was served with a side
of spicy tom yam soup. The colourful presentation
was pleasing to the eye.

For Chef Kom, three elements had to be present

before a dish was served: flavour, ingredients, and
presentation. The food needs to look beautiful and
has to be flavourful, he shared.

This is a dish that is popular in my hometown of

Chiang Rai. It was originally brought in from India
to Myanmar before reaching Northern Thailand,
Kom explained.

The hot and spicy Fish Special Tom Yum (RM50)

was a welcome addition to our food spread.
Generous slices of mushroom, fish fillet, lemongrass
and tomato floated in a clear broth.

The curry leaned more towards sweet than savoury,

with a strong hint of masala powder, cumin and
coriander.

Spicy food lovers will enjoy this clear, hearty soup,

as it was hot without overpowering the flavours.
We blended fresh belacan and chilli as the base,
Kom explained.

Ending the meal on a sweet note, we had the

Coconut Gelato, Red Ruby and Jack Fruit (RM10).
Creamy and rich, the coconut gelato was milky with
a hint of vanilla. The combination of its sweet, meltin-the-mouth texture paired with chewy red ruby
and crunchy jackfruit was simply divine.

The original version is spicier and sweeter with no

coconut, but Chef Kom has tweaked it to suit local
tastes by including cooking and coconut cream for a
smoother, creamier taste.
The Nasi Campur Special (RM18.90) serving was
generous, with two types of curries (creamy green

Despite the fusion of different ingredients and

cooking styles, the food at KomPassion II still
retains the flavour of traditional Thai cuisine. The
dishes had a predominantly sweet, sour and spicy
taste, enhanced with the heavy use of herbs such as
lemongrass and chillies.

KOMPASSION II RESTAURANT
No.15, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-77317016
Opening hours:
Tues - Sun (11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm)
Closed on Mondays

BUNS & MEAT

Its a really cool name for a burger joint, tucked away at the
corner of Lakefields Sungai Besi. The menu at Buns & Meat
is in a class of its own, from the wicked pork and chicken
burgers to sinfully BBQed ribs and to-die for desserts.
72A Jalan Tasik Utama 7,
Lake Fields Sg Besi,
57000 Kuala Lumpur
03-9055 3378

TAIPEI TAIPEI

A curious combination of both Nyonya food and

Cold Coffee, Like Mom Bistro offers spicy, tangy
and saucy dishes like Nasi Lemak Rendang, Nyonya
Curry Kepala Ikan, Gulai Asam Senangin, Gulai
Ong Lye, Black Bun Burger, and the lesser caffeine
and smoother Cold Brew Coffee.

Taipei Taipeis newest outlet at Cheras Leisure Mall opened

recently, with a menu offering Taiwans most-loved dishes
like Taiwanese-style Marinated Pork Chop with Rice, Sichuan
Pepper Chicken with Rice, Taiwanese Beef Noodles and Pork/
Chicken Spicy Sour Noodles, just to name a few.

E-0-5, G Floor, Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1,

Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
03-6203 9224

Level 1, Lot L1-48-2, Cheras Leisure Mall,

Taman Segar, Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur
03-9133 9838

11

S TAY W H E R E ?

Meanwhile, minimalist lovers will feel right at home

with the Ayu series. Like a beautiful, pure maiden,
the rooms have clean white designs and no-fuss,
basic lines. We were pleasantly surprised at the
corridors design, which was lined with gauze white
curtains. It felt like walking down a wedding aisle!
The fun and playful Manja series featured colourful
rooms and funky shapes, which will be a good choice
for the young at heart and families with children.
From calming blue to funky green and soft pink, pick
a favourite coloured room to spend the night in!

Melange
hotel

Right Smack in the Heart of Bukit Bintang

All rooms are air-conditioned and come with free

Wi-Fi (very important!). There is also an adjustable
hot and cold shower, and complimentary drinking
water and instant coffee or tea for the mornings.
We each picked a room. This writer preferred
snuggling up in a simple Ayu Deluxe Single - cosy
and perfect for solo travellers. Or upgrade to
a Deluxe Queen or King and hog the entire bed to
yourself - your choice.
We also ordered Tauhu Bakar (grilled tofu - RM6 for two pieces) as a snack. Stuffed with chopped
peanuts and slices of vegetables just like Rojak, the tofu was very crispy on the outside and flavourful
on the inside.
With our pants much tighter, we walked off the calories at the nearby shopping district of Sungei Wang,
Berjaya Times Square and Low Yat Plaza. Along the way, youll see many souvenir shops selling cheap
clothing, miniature landmarks, magnets, watches, bags and toys - a good place to hunt for touristy items
to bring back home.
Party-goers can also liven up the night at Changkat Bukit Bintang - KLs premiere party spot - for
a taste of the citys nightlife. There are bars and pubs abound with live entertainment and drinks.

For those in the dark about Jalan Rembia, its a street which is just a block behind the
lively Jalan Alor.

Back at the hotel, we watched some shows on cable TV before slowly drifting off to sleep under the fluffy
duvets and covers. If youre worrying about keeping your personal belongings safe, stuff them into the safety
deposit box in each room.

The newly opened hotel sports more than 40 rooms, comprising Deluxe Single, Deluxe
Twin, Deluxe Queen and Deluxe King options.

Initially, we were a little confused as there were no room numbers on the doors, but
upon further inspection, we found that the numbers were lighted up on the floor in front
of each room.
For a touch of class and formality without compromising on comfort, the Tampan
suites are on point with their wooden furnishing, dark furniture and spacious work tables.
Perfect for the business traveller looking for a quiet environment to get that business
proposal done.

Also try their signature Wantan Mee, which is topped over with crunchy bits of pork lard and vegetables,
all tossed in a dark sauce till silky smooth. Then its on to Round 2 at Restoran Meng Kee Grilled Fish,
which is famous for grilled seafood items done to order. The Portuguese-style Grilled Stingray (RM30)
was a bit of a hit and miss, as the meat was tough and overdone; but the sour and tangy sauce made
up for it.

A dragonfly on the wall is not welcome in most

cases, but at Melange, the dragonflies are cute,
insect-shaped wall lights hanging over the beds.
Before drifting off to sleep, look up at the birds and
bees painted on the ceiling.

By Eris Choo
Elegant and cosy would be the perfect words
to describe the recently-opened Melange
Boutique Hotel, tucked strategically at the corner of Jalan Rembia, Kuala Lumpur.

The EFY team recently checked in for a quick stay to see what the whole deal is about.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a friendly front desk staff, who brought us around
for a tour. The decorations were impressive, as each floor is done based on different
themes - theres one to suit every travellers taste!

wings are juicy, succulent and finger-licking good. It had a caramelised texture and a sweetish taste from
the basted sauce. Simply divine!

EAT, SHOP, PARTY

Just a stones throw away from Bukit Bintang,
Melange is located right at the throbbing pulse of
Kuala Lumpur, where shopping, entertainment and
good food are all just a few steps away from each
other. After checking in, our group of foodies made
a beeline for foodie heaven - Jalan Alor, which is just
behind the hotel (about a five-minute walk).
Decorated with red lanterns, the street is a hive of
activity with the smell of delicious food everywhere,
and smoke from cooking rising up into the night air.
Prepare to be stopped by dozens of restaurant staff
competing to get you to stop by at their outlet as
they shove menu after menu into your face. But
with so many stalls featuring dishes from the major
cultures in Malaysia (and from all over the world!),
we had a first world problem: What To Eat?
A must-try here is, of course, the famous Wong
Ah Wah barbecued chicken wings (RM3.20 each),
which we polished off very quickly. Roasted over
a charcoal fire until crispy and golden brown, the

After a relaxing night, the friendly staff at the front desk gave us a wakeup call, so that our team was not going to
be late for work the next day!
Rooms are available from RM160 onwards. For details and reservations, call
03-2141 8828 or visit www.melangehotel.com.my

MELANGE HOTEL

14, Jalan Rembia, off Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 8828
www.melangehotel.com.my

13

The All-New BMW i8

BMW Group Malaysia recently presented the all-new
BMW i8 to Scott Brown at the CIMB Classic 2015.
The American golf professional made a Hole-inOne on the 199-yard, par 3 on the 15th Hole with
a 6-iron on the first day of competition at the CIMB
Classic 2015.
Retailed in Malaysia at RM1,188,800, the all-new
BMW i8 is the first premium plug-in hybrid sports
car in the world.

WHEELS

Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) as well as a Drive

Module, which combines the World Engine of the
Year 2015 award winning 1.5 litre, three cylinder
combustion engine with Electric Motors.

T R AV E L

Must-Do @

SUNWAY LAGOON
CLEOPATRA

Queen of ancient Egypt and the magnificent Nile, Cleopatra is one of the most famous
female rulers in history and even the most ruthless of men bowed before this legendary
and fearless leader. So, come discover, and uncover, the Myths, Mysteries and Mummies of
Ancient Egypt, in the brand new immersive and interactive adventure!

The combination of BMW TwinPower Turbo and

BMW eDrive Technology enables the BMW i8 to
accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds while
only consuming 2.5 litres per 100km of fuel and
emits only 59 grams per km of CO2.

The 2+2 seater sports car is crafted with a Life

Module passenger cell completely built from Carbon

WORLDS 1ST 5D
WATERPLEXX
SCREAM PARK

Latest FORD
RANGERS
to focus on
safety features

If youre into wacky and spooky science-fiction,

youll be in for a thrill! Experience spine-chilling
sci-fi twist as The Frozen Dead, the parks
preserved inhabitants, are brought to life at the
new Kevil Hill experience, exclusively inside the
Lynton V Harris Scream Park at Sunway Lagoon.
Ford Motor Company and its local distributor Sime Darby
Auto Connexion (SDAC) recently launched the all new
Ranger in Malaysia that features a suite of safety features.
With three models to choose from Ranger XL
(RM91,588); Ranger XLT (RM101,388) and the 3,2L
Ranger Wild Trak priced at RM132,188, it sets a new
benchmark in the pickup truck segment with an unmatched
blend of capability, safety and advanced technology.
Ranger features a class-leading suite of safety features,
including up to six airbags, and driver assistance
technologies like Lane Keeping Aid, Adaptive Cruise
Control and Electronic Stability Control. Rangers suite of
new technologies are complemented by a stylish, smart
and functional new interior, as well as best-in-class waterwading, towing and payload capabilities.

Dive off from a launch tower of an amazing 11 stories in height, then rocket through a thrilling series
of twist and turns of 152 metres in length which can be likened to riding the rapids in a flooding river.
Your raft will plummet into the worlds largest water funnel of 22 metres in diameter and experience
zero gravity, as you shoot up the other side of the funnel to reach the apex of the ride through 4 similar
thrilling oscillations before exiting the flume in one final splashtacular plunge!

Fun Family Fiesta

@ THE LITTLE BIG CLUB!

Looking for a rather different kind of wholesome
family event this coming school holidays? Well, you
are in for a treat with The Little Big Club!
Located in Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya Johor, The
Little Big Club houses lovable childrens characters,
namely Bob the Builder, Barney, Angelina Ballerina,
Pingu and Thomas & Friends.

Under the hood, significant improvements in Fords latest

generation 3.2-litre Duratorq five-cylinder and 2.2-litre
Duratorq four-cylinder TDCi diesel engines, help the new
Ranger deliver up to 12 percent better fuel-efficiency.

It is the first time in the world that the five popular

global characters are housed in a single themed
attraction.

The new Rangers driver-assist technologies included the

e-Locking Rear Differential, Hill Launch Assist, Hill Descent
Control, and Forward Collision Warning, as well as Fords
SYNC 2 connectivity system.

Children can look forward to Bobs Play Structure

as well as the Build with Bob Interactive Playhouse
where they can build houses in Bobsville by doing
brick laying, door and window framing, kitchen and
bath assembly.

So if you are thinking of owning a pick-up soon, head over

to Ford Motor showroom to view or test drive the new
Ford Ranger.

14

VUVUZELA

Bring on the full sensorial overload! Get

wet and be thrilled by 3D visuals, wind,
fog, lasers and ambient lighting. This
unique multi-sensorial 5D experience has
motion seats, which have been specially
designed to get you wet.

Live performances by Barney and friends and a

play set similar to that in the television series is also
another highlight. Head to Angelinas Camembert
Academy where visitors will meet and dance with
a computer generated image (CGI) of Angelina

Ballerina and her friends, Miss Mimi, Vicki, Gracie

and A.Z. who teaches children fun dance moves.
Level 3 features the famous Thomas & Friends
characters such as Bertie the Bus, Harolds
Helitours, Colin Crane Drop and Windmill Ride.
Pingu will excite visitors at Level 2 in a highly themed
attraction with customised games such as Whack-aFish, bowling, basketball and ice hockey.
Located 20 minutes from Tuas 2nd Link, 25
minutes from Senai Airport and 10 minutes from
LEGOLAND.
THE LITTLE BIG CLUB
Persiaran Puteri Selatan,
Puteri Harbour, 79000,
Nusajaya, Johor Darul Takzim
Open daily from 10am - 6pm
Visit www.playtime.com.my or call
1 300 88 FAMILY (326459)

15

GUILTY
INNOCENT

ENTREPRENEURS

UNTIL PROVEN

By Priya Rama

There are many head hunters out there. There are

no barriers to entry, no regulations and just about
anyone can get into the business, he lamented.
On the contrary, the background screening industry
is well regulated. We follow the US standards
as Malaysia lacks in regulations for our industry,
clarified Leow, who is also a sub-committee
member of National Association of Professional
Background Screening (NAPBS).
NAPBS exists to promote ethical business practices,
compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act
(FCRA), equal employment opportunity and state
and international consumer protection laws relating
to the background screening profession.
ENVIABLE GROWTH
Today, with a team of 18, Verity Intelligence is
a name to be reckoned with in the background
screening industry.
We are moving into our 6th year, and have grown
our customer base to 400. Majority are local
financial institutions due to compliance issue and
regulations imposed by Bank Negara Malaysia, he
enlightened.
Our clients also include multi-national companies
(MNCs), and a handful of Malaysian oil and gas
companies, local private schools and international
schools; so our clients are quite diverse,
expounded Leow.
Also on the list are MNCs from the US, UK and
Europe who practise high standards of due diligence
because they have to abide by the Foreign Corrupt
Practise Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act.
In short, we have more than 50 of the top largest
100 companies in Malaysia, and more than 10
Fortune 500 companies, he stated.
Many come to us after burning their fingers hiring
the wrong people, or experiencing employee
fraud, said Leow.
Their clientele also include companies who make it
a point to get their vendors screened. This is a very
sensitive issue as many employees of the vendor will
visit our clients at their premise to get work done.
Like in the IT industry, employees can be
contracted at a customers site where they are
exposed to confidential information. So there is a
due diligence process to screen their contractors as
well, he highlighted.
WHO GETS SCREENED?
When questioned if background screening is only
for top management candidates like CEOs, CFOs
and such, Leow specified, This is the biggest
misconception that most people have with regards
to background screening.

Background check! Two words dreaded by most

people. We all have skeletons in our cupboard, dont
we? That CTOS blacklist, fake degrees, exaggerated
employment history, undeclared bankruptcy, police
record or even that non-existent Datukship.
Pretty much we are all guilty in one way or another.
Yes, guilty until proven innocent by background
check companies like Verity Intelligence.
EFY recently had a chat with Mark Leow, the Founder

16

and Managing Director of Verity Intelligence, who

has been in the business of verifying people and
companies for the past six years.
Admitting that he had always wanted to be in the
business of people, Leow revealed that he was a
head hunter before venturing into this business.
Being an agency that provided human resource
services for IT and banking, many of my clients
began asking me to do criminal, education and

financial checks to verify prospective candidates,

he said.
However, there appeared to be a conflict of
interest. As a head hunter, my job is to ensure my
clients, the job-seekers, get the best job, but as a
background screening company, I had to have the
best interest of my client, the companies, in mind.
When we first started, I knew we had to stop headhunting and solely focus on building this business.

See, you will never know for sure whom youre

hiring or working with. It can be any kind of role,
not just senior management or C-level. Actually
from every level of the company there is always
a risk. The question is what risk low, middle or
high.
It doesnt mean a junior person doesnt have
a higher level risk. If you hire a driver, wouldnt you
want to check the driver? He is driving the boss,
his family and kids, listening to all information,
thus exposed to high risk incidents. So, we usually
encourage our clients to screen every level
regardless who they are, he explained.

The company has low, middle and high level risk

products. We go through these risk profiles with
our clients, understand what their risks are, and let
them get back to us on the level of risk, said Leow.
When asked how due diligence is viewed in
Malaysia, he said that most big boys practise due
diligence, but the same cant be said about SMEs.
SMEs, which make up almost 99% of companies
in Malaysia, still take background screening with a
pinch of salt, he opined.
NEW LAW
However, Leow added that the good news is the
tabling of the Corporate Liability Provisions Act,
which is a new provision that will be included in the
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)
Act 2009.
This is an anti-bribery law, where directors and
management of a company are penalised should
their employee commit fraud.
If an employee accepts a bribe or bribes someone,
the management will be found guilty and fined.
However, the provision is that if management can
show that they have adequately educated their
employee or have a system in place to educate their
staff on anti-bribery measures, then they will be
released.
But the employee will still be fined, he elaborated,
adding that the Act will encourage employers to
educate their employees and hopefully reduce the
occurrence of bribery and fraud.
THE PROCESS
On how background screening takes place without
violating the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
2010, Leow stressed on the importance of getting
consent from the candidate before screening them.
We usually get consent from the employee. This
is part of PDPA. Everything is done legally here.
A consent letter, which spells out each and every
check to be conducted on an employee, is attached
together with the job application form.
When the employee comes for a first face-to-face
interview, they will fill up the job application form
and sign our consent form attached. Our client will
then decide if they want to run a background search
on them, he listed the process.
Verity Intelligence screens for a variety of checks,
namely ID, criminal, civil litigation, bankruptcy,
industrial court, financial checks such as CTOS,
education checks, HR verification and reference
checks, just to name a few.
Our client will send us their resume and we will
run a screening. The data we are screening must
be open source data, meaning legally and publicly
available data. We dont do data that needs to be
bribed to be picked up. Information must be legal.
Thats the essence of pre-employment screening,
emphasised Leow.
A variety of sources is used to obtain information
about a particular person. We purchase most
of the information. For ID checks, we work
with National Registration Department (JPN).
Police checks are through open source data. For
bankruptcy, we refer to Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia.
For directorship checks, we seek Companies
Commission of Malaysias (SSM) assistance, he
revealed.

One wrong
hire can cost the
company between
6 to 10 times the
salary
Another misconception, which Leow also views
as a challenge, is the perception that background
screening is expensive. Its actually very affordable.
If they weigh the cost benefit factor in, one wrong
hire can cost the company between 6 to 10 times
the salary, as opposed to our screening which is
about RM150-RM500 per screening. And for all the
work we do, its very affordable!
At Verity Intelligence, there is only one mantra
followed. Whenever we do our screening, we have
a simple rule that we follow Guilty until proven
innocent. I have personally interviewed people
with fake degrees who still come in for an interview
and give their consent for background checks
despite having a fake degree, he said.
We have even caught doctors with fake PhDs
and Datuks with no Datukships in the first place.
Therefore, we need to be sceptical about everybody
we meet, do background checks and prove their
innocence, added Leow.
When queried about the future of Verity Intelligence
in the eyes of its founder, Leow envisioned, Five
per cent of our revenue comes from foreign
clients, particularly from France, the UK, China and
Singapore. So our aim is to try and expand ourselves
to do more work overseas.

17

C H I T C H AT W I T H

Obviously, there will be more competition, which

means that quality will have to improve, he said.
Growing opportunities for driver-partners would
also contribute to the overall economy, according to
Foong.
Ownership is a very powerful thing. It gives someone
a sense of entrepreneurship, flexibility and incentives
to do better and earn more. The key idea is how to
help people own the cars that they drive, rather than
doing it through operators or paying high effective
interest rates for say, a taxi, he said.We see it as
having a multiple effect in terms of creating smaller
businesses.

PROPER REGULATIONS NEEDED

Despite the Land and Transport Department
confiscating some Uber vehicles this year due to
complaints by taxi companies, Foong is adamant that
they are not illegal per se in Malaysia.
Theres a difference between being illegal and being
unregulated. Right now, we fall into the unregulated
space because the current set of rules was not
designed with this kind of technology in mind.

By Eris Choo

UBERnising MALAYSIA
Ride sharing apps have become all the rage in
many cities around the world, offering affordable
and reliable transport services like never before.
A prime example of this is Uber.

adding that theyve seen excellent growth in the rider

base and driver-partner base since its inception.
Its not just about ferrying passengers and making
money, according to Foong.

Founded in San Francisco, California, the self-dubbed

tech company connects users with smartphones to
drivers who ferry passengers using their own cars. As
of 2015, it is available in more than 50 countries.

It creates good economic opportunities for our

driver partners, and is safe for our riders. We also
want to serve the city, reducing congestion by taking
away the number of cars on the roads during peak
hours. I think in KL, thats a big problem so we are
striving to invest in that, he said.

Uber entered the Malaysian market in 2014 and

is now available in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru
and Penang. Public opinion seems to be largely in
favour of the service, thanks to perceived better
affordability, convenience and reliability compared to
traditional taxis.
This hasnt boded well with many taxi operators, who
claim unfair competition: since Uber drivers are not
required to pay for a taxi license or vehicle rentals.
EFY speaks to Uber Malaysia general manager
Leon Foong on the ride sharing business and how
technology and competition can bring change to the
local transport industry.
We first started in the Klang Valley with our
premium flagship product, the Uber Black. The idea
was that it would become everyones private driver,
using technology to offer good, affordable premium
transportation, Foong explained.
The luxury car service became popular, prompting
Foong and his team to open it up to the masses.
We decided to launch UberX, our low-cost option.
Today, it is our bestselling product, Foong shared,

18

BECOMING A DRIVER-PARTNER
Uber Malaysia has a fleet of over 20,000 registered
drivers, with the majority based in Kuala Lumpur.
They come from all walks of life: ex-taxi drivers, exlimousine drivers, part-timers with flexible jobs and
what Foong dubs casual participants.
They drive from anything around five to ten hours
a week to earn a little bit of extra income. With the
rising costs of living, its good to have that flexibility
and to make that extra income to pay for a holiday or
to buy their children a certain gift, Foong explained.
Top performers earn between RM1,500 to RM2,000
a week, working 10 hours a day, six days a week.
The standard model allows Uber to take 20% of all
fares, leaving the rest for the driver. Transactions
are cashless: all anyone needs is a smartphone and a
credit or debit card.
If you like meeting people, its a lot of fun. This is
why we have executives, VPs, CEOs and even GMs
driving on our system, Foong enthused.
Becoming a Uber driver is a simple (but stringent!)
process.

First of all, one signs up online and uploads the

necessary documents, such as drivers license and the
vehicles insurance cover note. Next, they go to an
Uber center and submit their IC and details for a full
background check.
Once you get a clean bill, theres a quick briefing and
training session to teach driver-partners how to use
the application, and a talk on topics such as basic
expectations that riders have of driver partners.
When we go through the checks, its a full,
comprehensive criminal and driving history of the
individual. For example, we will know if someone has
outstanding summons or was convicted for a crime
even up to 15 or 20 years ago, he assured.
The company works with third party agencies
certified by the government and had a zero tolerance
policy for anything other than clean.

COMPETITION IS A GOOD
THING
As technology such as the likes of Uber come in,
the cost of transportation has also gone down for
consumers. More choice equals cheaper, more
competitive prices.
We see that the overall market grows a lot quicker
once Uber enters a market. This has been proven
across multiple cities that were in, said Foong,
adding that this growth meant more space for new
ridesharing entrants, and more business for taxi
drivers.
By connecting riders directly to drivers, the need for
a middleman is eliminated, creating a greater passed
on to the consumer.

Live The Life Of Your Dreams

Without Going Broke
By Valen Dawson

Foong is optimistic about Uber finally being

acknowledged as a proper, regulated business in the
Malaysian public transport industry.
Throughout our interaction with different
government agencies and regulators, weve come
to realise that Malaysians are very pro-innovation
and pro-competition. We are confident that
eventually, similar to other markets weve been in
such as Australia, Philippines and Mexico, ridesharing
becomes officially recognised and regulated, he said.
Foong thinks that in this case, the public has spoken.
Were creating benefits for hundreds of thousands
of riders and driver partners, and that speaks for
itself. These benefits will be here to stay. Its a matter
of finding a regulated outcome that is focused on
consumer safety and public interest, and using that
to further encourage innovation and competition,
he said.
He added that they were constantly engaging
multiple parties and having productive conversations;
and hopes that they can work in a truly regulated
space in the near future.
On concerns that the taxi industry might be disrupted,
Foong believes that only a small percentage of taxi
drivers are expressing their discontent.
From what we know, many markets have actually
grown once Uber enters a city. Theres more business
for everybody. At the end of the day, players need to
learn how to grow the pie, he said.

One year ago, I sold everything I owned to travel

the world and try to discover my life purpose.
On this journey, I have learned a lot about my
relationship to work, purpose and money.
It made me realize that when I was living in the US,
the greater majority of my money was spent on
stuff .
I didnt feel wealthy even though I was making more
money than the average person does. I felt stressed
out, like I constantly had to keep working because I
had been sold the American dream.
Now that Im rambling around the world without
even a spoon to slurp my soup with, Ive come to
realize, I feel wealthier than ever. This has led me to
ponder What is wealth, anyway?
Without Money Wed All Be Rich.
Blessed unknown
I know that when I spend my time writing the
messages that my soul is pouring forth, I feel wealthy.
I know that when I am deep in conversation with
someone, being completely vulnerable and open,
and staring into their eyes, and seeing the miracle
of that person, I feel wealthy.

Foong shared that under 20 % of people in the Klang

Valley take public transport - way behind cities like
Singapore where the usage is close to 80 percent.

I know that when I am letting go of judgment and

past pain, I feel wealthy. When Im staring at the
sunset, my bare feet being tickled by the sand, my
toes being tickled by the kiss of the salty waves, I
feel wealthy.

I think right now in Malaysia, were not there yet. But

we want to work together with the government to
do that, because the appetite for that is there. We
can extend our technology and expertise to work
together to achieve that outcome, he hoped.

I started realizing that true wealth had nothing to do

with money. I realized that I felt truly wealthy when
I followed my lifes calling. When I was struggling
against my heart, I was causing stress in my body,
and I was letting fear of enough guide my life.

Ultimately, he said, it was about providing the best

level of service to everyone. Were always trying to
improve the experience. Whats good today might
not be good tomorrow, he advised.

However, it does take money to live. I have a lot

of people approach me who want to follow their
dreams, but they are scared to death. What is the
main cause of their fear? They dont want to end
up starving on the streets. So, how can you do what
your heart desires without going broke?

Read the full story on www.efy.com.my

We no longer live life. We consume it. Vicki

Robin
First, you can let go of the conditioning of the media
that tells you what you must own to survive. The
media does a lot to shape our ideas of what we must
own to make it in this world.
I dont need to own a big house like I used to. I dont
need to own as much stuff. I dont need an iPhone.
Really. Ive lived without a Smartphone for a year
now.
Guess what? It really is possible to survive without
being connected to the internet all day. In fact, my
most inspiring thoughts usually come when Im not
connected to Wi-Fi, but instead to my spirit inside.
Second, once you have reduced your bills, spend as
little of your time as you can working to pay those
bills.
If you live with just the basics, you will find that you
dont have to work as hard as you think you do. You
can spend the extra time taking the steps to living the
life of our dreams.
If you have debt, the first thing you must do is work
to pay it off. And, live life in such a way that you dont
use credit cards to pay for anything which depreciates
in value.
I have never owed money on anything which
depreciated in value. This means that the cars I
drove around were at least ten years old and a lot
of the things that I bought were second-hand, but
being responsible with my money gave me the life of
freedom that I was longing for.
Third, trust life. Guess what? Life is pretty awesome.
When you align with your souls calling, life makes
sure you are taken care of.
* This article was originally published on Twedya.com,
source: Twedya http://www.twedya.com re-printed
with permission

19

PERSONALITY
Where I am today
is due to sheer hard work,
determination and
perseverance.
It wasnt an easy
journey. I sacrificed
a lot to get here,
especially my time
with family

My bosses were surprised, albeit pleasantly, and life became a

smoother journey after that.
We tried to pin him down, asking him to point out on what
really caused the change. To which, Siva claimed, Frankly
speaking, I havent got the faintest clue. It just happened. Guess
it was my Aha-moment.
Sivas rise to stardom happened when he was elected the
President of MIEA two years ago. Upon being elected, a
press conference that MIEA held pushed me into the limelight.
I was highlighted in the media as being rather critical of certain
property-related body. The media loves me and vice-versa, as
I felt I had a responsibility in voicing out certain crucial issues
pertaining to the industry Im in.
Which is why, even after he had stepped down as the President
of MIEA this year, he is still being sought out by the media on
comments regarding the property industry.
In addition, Siva is also a prominent speaker who provides talks
on real estate issues and standards, as well as motivation for
MIEA members nationwide.
After stepping down, this is how I keep myself active and busy,
apart from of course running PPC International, he stated.
Siva was also bestowed the Estate Agent of The Year award
by the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents last
April.
When asked about his biggest challenge, Siva admitted it was
finding the right people. It has become very difficult to find
a candidate with the right knowledge and skillset to become
a real estate agent. Oh yes, and attitude! The new generation
seriously suffer from a lackadaisical attitude.

SIVA SHANKER

They cant handle criticism, even constructive ones, and just

walks away if they arent happy, despite the hours we spend in
educating and training them, he lamented.
His biggest fear? Failure, he nonchalantly said.
By Priya Rama

PINNACLE OF POWER
Not many people can claim that their life has come to a full circle. Siva Shanker
is one of them.

The former President of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA)

recently had a heart-to-heart chat with EFY. Touching mostly on his personal
prowess, we decided to stay off the usual professional path to understand what
it truly takes to be one of the most powerful and well respected man in the
Malaysian property scenario.
My life has indeed truly come a full circle, said Siva Shanker, reminiscing the
good old days from his office at Jalan Dang Wangi.
I remember, as a teenager after SPM, wandering the streets just a few blocks
from here, looking for a job. Any job to makes end meet! recalled the CEO of
PPC International Sdn Bhd, a property consultancy company.
After being turned away for the umpteenth time, a job vacancy advertisement
perched on a door caught his attention. Real Estate Agent Wanted, read the
advertisement.

20

Though, at that time, Siva hadnt an iota of what the word Real Estate Agent
meant, he decided to try nevertheless. To his surprise, he was hired and his
journey into the real estate world began. But it wasnt one without thorns!
You wouldnt believe the constant reprimanding I used to get from my seniors.
But I must admit I wasnt really in full form at that time. I made mistakes, analysed
incorrectly and used to get into a lot of trouble with my bosses, he chuckled.
Just as Buddha received his enlightenment under a Bodhi tree, Siva was jolted out
of his slumber and had a 360o paradigm shift, one day.
Come to think of it, I really cant explain the change. Suddenly, from someone
who needs constant pushing, I became this person who had all the facts and
figures at my fingertips. I knew every single property in detail; from whether its
in a promising location, its interior specifications, how many rooms and square
feet, price of the property and how to get there. It was truly unbelievable, he
pointed out.

LONDON

To Invest or Not?
By Chan Sook Fen

With property prices increasing in most

major cities around the world, London is not
an exception for this.
Londoners find it difficult to own a home and
with the rising cost of rent in London city, they
have decided to move out of the city to live.
The question for international property
investor wanting to invest in overseas
properties is:
Will London still be an attractive property
investment place for investors?
Many people are afraid of the property
bubble in London, as the price has increased
up to an average of 9.4% in the past years.

Where I am today is due to sheer hard work, determination

and perseverance. It wasnt an easy journey. I sacrificed a lot to
get here, especially my time with family, mentioned the father
of two young daughters.

Based on an interview between Property

Week & BBC Broadcaster, James Max and
Boris Johnson, Sir Edward Listers right
hand man on property, London will not be
expecting any property bubble soon.

Siva remembers wanting to teach his little girl to ride a bicycle on

one weekend and couldnt make it due to work commitments.
My daughter eventually learnt it from the maid, and when I got
back home, she showed me her bicycle-riding skills. I was so
upset. I wanted to be the one who taught her.

The Greater London Authority has identified

that the capital needs 50,000 new homes
annually to match the population growth,
which now stands at 8.6 million. Yet in year
2014, only 20,000 new homes were built.

Thats when he realised that family time is important and

decided to cut down on his weekend commitments to spend
more time with his family.
After all, if you cant balance work and family, then youre really
not that successful, he stated, before concluding the interview.
As of Jan 2016, Siva has moved on to chart a new path as the
Head of Investments at Axis REIT, a real estate investment trust
which owns and invests in commercial, office and industrial real
estate. However, his involvement in the Real Estate industry,
as well as his speaking engagements at seminars and property
events, will continue.

The rental
market will remain
a hot market to
long-term investors,
as many Londoners
cant afford
to buy
The rental market will remain a hot market
to long-term investors, as many Londoners
cant afford to buy. In the past years, the rent

in London has raised on an average of 5% in

the past years.
The national target is for 180,000 new homes
to be completed annually for the future to
support the population growth in London.
However, a survey by Knight Frank shows
that two-thirds of house builders believe this
is simply unachievable.
This shows that London will still remain
attractive to property investors to invest
in, either for long term or short-term gains.
For those looking for international market
investments, London is a market not to be
missed.
One of the upcoming areas that you would
like to consider would be the regeneration
area in London that is nearby to Canary
Wharf and Stratford.
Canary Wharf was developed to be the
financial district in London similar to Wall
Street in the United States. Properties in this
area has gained a capital appreciation of more
than 37% in the last 5 years.
Major headquarters of banking and big five
financial firms are based there. It is indeed
touted to be the next booming area as the
people working in this financial district will
undoubtedly search for properties within the
vicinity.

About the writer: Chan is an avid property

investor who has years of first-hand experience
investing in local and overseas property market.

21

P R O P E R T Y TA L K
Seremban used to be a sleepy tin mining town, famous for their Malay
Minangkabau culture and siew bao (baked buns). Today, the place is poised to
become a central hub, much like Petaling Jaya or Puchong in Selangor.
As the population migrates south, Seremban has boomed and flourished, with
schools, hospitals and entertainment sprouting up in the area. It seems set to
become the next Klang Valley - but what can we expect from this township of
half a million people?
EFY speaks to Setia Synergy Marketing Sdn Bhd (SSM) co-founder and director
Jason Ooi Ying Hock on the Seremban property market, why people are
moving here, and the overall outlook for Malaysias property sector in 2016.

THE NEXT KLANG VALLEY?

For all the party animals out there, the town is not
short on entertainment and nightlife. Shopping
malls such as Aeon Seremban 2 Shopping Centre
have a vast selection of retail and F&B outlets, while
the Seremban 2 Uptown area is lined with chic
cafes, bars and clubs to keep the younger crowd
entertained.
Some of the hot projects include Bandar Seri
Sendayan, a large mixed development by Matrix
Concept. IJM is also slated to develop a huge project
in town, while Sime Darby has its sights on Nilai.

Ooi is certainly no stranger to property trends in Seremban, having cofounded real-estate marketing company SSM two years ago.

There are more plans in the pipeline. Hilton Group

is entering Seremban 3 with a new mall, which will
come complete with cinema, gym and grocery
store, Ooi explained.

If a developer has a new project launch, we help them to manage their sales
package and provide consultation services, such as advising them on what suits
the current market and the best marketing practices, he explained.

Developments are all moving south. Now is the

best time to buy, he advised.

Although relatively new, the company has managed to capture the Seremban
property market, which is fast becoming a popular choice among homeowners
as a conducive place to live and raise their families, thanks to a lower cost of
living and well-rounded facilities.
In KL, there isnt much land left to develop. Prices have reached their peak,
but it will still grow, Ooi predicted.
KLs high cost of living and expensive properties are drawing more people to
invest in Seremban, where properties can be 30 to 40 percent cheaper than
those in the Klang Valley.
More and more people are choosing to buy properties here, then drive to
KL for work, he cited.

THERE ARE OTHER REASONS TO MOVE SOUTH

Seremban is a complete city with many facilities. Transport wise, there
are major highways like PLUS and LEKAS that can take you to KL within 45
minutes. The traffic jam in the Klang Valley already takes over an hour! he
mused.
Also in the works is a high speed rail that can get passengers to Singapore in
45 minutes.

SEREMBAN:
The Next

KLANG
VALLEY?
By Eris Choo

22

For those planning for their childrens education,

there are many schools and colleges in the area.
Medical amenities are also available, such as the
Tunku Jaafar Hospital, Columbia Asia Medical
Centre and the Seremban Specialist Hospital.

While some Seremban properties have already

reached KL prices, Ooi said that they were still
selling like hotcakes.
The pricing depends on the area and the prestige
of the developer attached to a project. A typical
house without lifestyle amenities and nice designs
costs about RM500,000. Whereas a higher end
house in a good location, equipped with facilities
and built by reputable developers might go up to
RM800,000, he stated.

Another reason why properties are still in high

demand is because people view it as a necessity.
Everyone needs a home. If theyre already renting
an apartment for RM1,000 to RM1,500 per month,
they can already purchase a house to call their
own, he said.
The demand for affordable housing, in particular,
has seen an increase in the last few years. The bestselling properties are those between RM300,000 to
RM600,000. These are the ones that people usually
buy for own-stay, he cited.
While many will be more cautious in spending during
a volatile economy, Ooi believes that an economic
downturn is a good opportunity for bargains.
Developers will include a lot of deals and packages,
such as full down payments, discounts and free
items. This is considered easy entry for first time
home buyers, he said.
Its also an opportunity to build your own
investment portfolio. For example, people can
consider hunting for properties in groups. There will
be a lot of lelong and freebies in a recession; so if
you buy then, you will make a lot of profit when the
recession is over, he added.
Moving forward, Ooi thinks that the demand for
properties will not be affected much in 2016.
The demand will still be there. The biggest
challenge now is getting loan approval, he pointed
out, adding that awareness is needed to educate
society on how to handle their financial wealth.
If you have good records, it will help when applying
for bank loans, he said.

Condominiums are relatively cheaper. A 950 sq ft

condo in town is priced from RM300,000 onwards.

BUYING PROPERTY IN A BAD

ECONOMY
2015 has been less-than-stellar for the Malaysian
economy, with the depreciating ringgit and the
introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Even so, the demand for property has not slowed
down, Ooi shared.
Malaysians like to buy property. One of the main
reasons they are still selling well is because the
general consensus out there is that properties are
safe and will appreciate over time.
For example, if the ringgit depreciates and youve
put your money into a fixed deposit, five years down
the road there might be nothing left. Properties, on
the other hand, can hold the value of the ringgit,
he explained.

If the ringgit depreciates

and youve put your
money into a fixed
deposit, five years down
the road there might be
nothing left.
Properties, on the other
hand, can hold the value
of the ringgit

THE FUTURE
So whats in store for SSM now that theyve done so
well in the Seremban market?
With over 70 people on the team, Ooi aims to bring
it to even further heights. Aside from conquering
the Selangor and Seremban market, they are also
planning to venture into development.
But isnt this terrible timing, seeing that the economy
isnt doing so well?
Ooi sees an opportunity even in dark times. When
the economy is not good, most developers will
plan, stop building and look at the market. But
home buyers will still be there, whether or not they
are developing any projects. We aim to catch that
market segment, he enthused.
Future plans also include moving into budding but
less aggressive areas, just like how they did with the
Seremban market. The strategy has worked so far,
seeing as how SSM is pretty well known in town.
It was certainly a radical change for Ooi, who was
in the music industry before making the switch to
real estate.
Property has always been a passion for me.
I wanted to do something big and make a change in
society, Ooi shared. In music, we didnt do sales
we only faced our students! It took a lot of guts
and courage to talk to people and to gain all this
knowledge, he laughed.

Rules of
PROPERTY
INVESTING
By Pip Stehlik

1
Make instant cash when you buy. Purchase
at a discount so that you can immediately
earn cash at the point of buying.

2
Add value to your property by renovating
and refurbishing it so that you can sell at
a higher price. Use only 3 colours during
refurbishment.

3
Continuously make offers to prospective
buyers. If youre not making offers, youre
not making money.

4
Be embarrassed about your offer. If youre
not embarrassed by your offer, youre
probably pricing your property too high.

5
Have exit strategies. Make sure you have
two exits in every property deal. You can
find out what your most profitable exit
strategy is by asking yourself this question:
are you looking to buy a property and hold
it as a rental (first exit), or sell it off for
immediate cash (second exit)?

6
Always be legal in all your undertakings.
Make sure everything is clearly stated out
in writing.

7
Finally, always, always have integrity in
your dealings.
About the author: A protg of Robert Kiyosaki,
Pip is one of the top property trainers in the US
and Canada. A property investor himself, Pip has
successfully invested in 41 properties and never
looked back! He was recently in Kuala Lumpur for
the National Achievers Congress 2015.

23

HOME & LIVING

Things Homeowners
Should Have

Youve just bought a house.

Congratulations! Now let EFY
guide you through the 5 things
you should look into before
settling in.
By Eris Choo

TOOLBOX

IKEA PS 2014 PENDANT LIGHT

You probably have a hammer, plier and a

screwdriver in your Toolbox, but thats just a
start. These tools and devices are superstars for
household projects and repairs - Philips Screwdriver,
Flathead Screwdriver, Tape Measure, Level, Utility
Knife, Hammer, Putty Knife, Nail Set, Combination
Square, Pliers, Adjustable Crescent Wrench, Wire
Stripper, Hex or Allen Key, Power Drill, C-Clamp
and Flashlight.

The IKEA PS 2014 Pendant Light is truly a sight

to behold. A simple mechanism changes the contour
of the luminaire: pulling the strings changes the shape
of the lamp shade as well as the intensity of the light.

Find them all at lelong.com.my, where prices start

from

PHILIPS VIVA COLLECTION

DIGITAL AIRFRYER
If youre really not into the 3Cs cutting, cooking
and cleaning - why not allow the Philips Viva
Collection Digital Airfryer to do the job for
you.
From frying, roasting, baking and just plain grilling,
the Airfryer is perfect for those on the go! Retails

RM999

at
and is available at all major electrical
and departmental stores.

24

RM100.

When closed, only a small amount of light finds its

way out, while when fully opened, more light spreads
and creates interesting light effects on the wall.

RM199.

This award-winning light retails at

Available in orange & turquoise
& copper versions.

and

silver

NESCAF DOLCE GUSTO DROP

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Are you a coffee-lover? Then the all new NESCAF

Dolce Gusto DROP is ideal for you!

Fire extinguishers used to be red, bulky, dull-looking

and functional. Not anymore with these beautifullydesigned ones by the folks at OSafe Fire Inspection
Sdn Bhd.

With 17 different flavours, NESCAFs latest

multi-beverage system can deliver perfect cafestyle beverages, from Bold Espressos, Indulgent
Chococino, Frothy Latte Macchiato and even
Refreshing Teas.

RM829

Retails at
. Available in dark silver
and red metal at selected household appliance and
departmental stores nationwide.

Combining functionality with beautiful designs, the

extinguishers come in smaller sizes of 1kg and 2kg,
suitable to be placed in homes and even in the car.
Retails between
www.osafefi.com

RM200 - RM300 @

HOME & LIVING

HAVING THE
IN
When thinking of designs for the modern home, we
tend to forget one important thing making it aged-care
friendly.

Its the little details that go a long way in making the home
more conducive for the elderly and their family members,
shared Ooi Boon Seong from PDI Design & Associates
Sdn Bhd.

ELDERLY
MIND
By Eris Choo

Furniture, counters and table tops should have rounded

edges and ample space to allow those in a wheelchair to
move around easily, said Ooi, an interior designer.
Installing hand rails for support and making sure the surface
of the flooring is not rough to prevent falls are just some
of the other ways to make your home aged-care friendly.
If you have a sofa, it should not be too soft as it is difficult
for the elderly to get up, he advised.
Oois designs were among the three Aged Care Living &
Design showrooms at the recently concluded HOMEDEC.
The showrooms, a highlight of the event, are designed to
suit the needs of different stages in aged care living. They
are: Awakening low-care living (40sqm), Style Without
Borders mid-care living (43sqm) and Calm Realisation
full-care living (41sqm).
The Calm Realisation showroom by Majidah Design senior
interior designer Idzam Othman (with microphone in hand)
was drawn from his experience of caring for his late
mother. The unit resembles a specialist hospital unit, but
made as homely as possible.
When you have to care for an elderly person almost
24 hours a day, you will think about things that should be
there to help them go about their daily lives, such as grab
bars in the bathroom, Idzam explained.
He cited an example of having to carry his mother up
from the bed, which required a lot of effort.
Idzams solution was a bed chair, a single bed with a
recliner, which can be propped up into a sitting position
with the push of a button.
Another ingenious piece is the automated armchair,
which can be tilted to help an elderly person into a better
position to stand up.
At the wardrobe area, an attached pole is used to pull
down the bar so that clothes can be grabbed easily. Light
switches are also positioned lower, while in the toilet there
is an emergency panic button.
The unit will not have much loose furniture and there will
only be one cabinet to incorporate a fridge for medicine,
elaborated Idzam.
When youre caring for a person all the time, you will
think of proactive actions on how you can make them as
comfortable as possible through creating and designing
solutions, he added.

26

27

CONTEST

CHRISTMAS
SELFIE

EFY recently organised our first ever

SING IT TO WIN IT CONTEST,
which was a total blast! The prize giving ceremony
was at Backyard Pub & Grill Sri Hartamas.

SING IT TO
WIN IT

Tis the season to be jolly!

We asked our readers to send us
their festive selfies for Christmas.
Here are the winners at the prize
giving ceremony at Kafe Skrin,
Ukay Boulevard.

Winners posing with the judges (from left): Richard Chua,

Gerard Singh, Nicole Ng (1st runner-up), Zoey Hui (champion) and
Rachel Voon (2nd runner-up) and Edmund Anthony

MERDEKA

JUMP

EFYs MERDEKA

JUMP CONTEST in

conjunction with the

58th National Day.
The prize giving
ceremony was at
Sheraton Imperial
Hotel KL.

29

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