theexpat-march-2012

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Suite 9.03, 9th Floor, Menara Hap Seng, Letter Box No. 55, Jalan P Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 2145 6123 Fax: +603 2145 6130

J. Andrew Davison
A
s a young man, I was taught that remaining loyal to one company and enjoying
lifetime employment was the only way to go. In fact, I spent 25 years with an
American multinational before deciding I wanted to be an entrepreneur.
In the intervening period, there has been a major shift in people’s views. Whereas potential
employers would once be very concerned if they saw several different companies listed
on your resume they now will probably see it as a plus, unless you changed jobs too
frequently.
Of course, companies have contributed to this situation by hiring and firing with impunity.
The multinational for which I worked downsized several times in response to economic
slowdowns only to hire rapidly when things improved. Quarterly profits were more
important than lifetime employment.
As a small business owner, there is no question that losing key employees is disruptive
but it is unrealistic to expect all your staff to spend their careers with you. In fact, we have
been very fortunate. Most of our senior local staff have chosen to stay with us as the
business expanded.
Our accountant, Poh Lian has been keeping excellent records and a tight control over the
purse strings almost since I started the company. It’s not always a popular job, but it is a
critical one. Our websites have been a critical component of our extended international
reach. Our webmaster Rusli, who built them all, has just completed ten years with us.
Anne Perera is another person who joined us in our early years and now ensures that our
monthly Mingles and Wine Dinners go smoothly. Zana, our MM2H Manager, joined us as
a teenager and left for University in Australia, returned to us and then left again before
rejoining us as Manager of our visa services. This time she promises to stay. Kim, our Art
Director, has also been with since we started expanding our publications beyond The Expat
newsletter. She continues to do a superb job ensuring our magazines are well designed and
delivered on time. Marybeth is our longest serving expat and has been making a strong
contribution for many years. She was our Editor for a while and is an important contributor
to our editorial efforts, both as a regular writer and a key member of our Editorial
Committee. She also has a substantial list of satisfied advertisers who she looks after.
The one senior job where we find people do keep changing is the Group Editor. While it
has the advantage of giving us fresh input it is always sad to see someone who has played
an important role in our development move on to greener pastures.
Will Citrin has been with us for just over two years and did an excellent
job helping build our portfolio of publications which now consist of ten
different titles. The job has many challenges and pressures but he always
managed to maintain a calm disposition and ensure things were done
on time.
Clearly we were not alone in recognising Will’s talent and he caught the
eye of people with deeper pockets than us. We would like to thank him
for everything he contributed, not least his continued good humour.
We are sorry to see him go and wish him every happiness and
success in the future.
Have a great month.
.
HITHERE!Publisher
J. Andrew Davison
Consultant Director
Marybeth Ramey
Group Editor
William Citrin
Assistant Editor
Sarah Rees
Staff Writer
Milan Sadhwani
Art Director
Chai Siew Kim
Senior Graphic Designer
Charles Lee
IT Director
Rusli Arshad
IT
Rozalin Mahmood
Saiful Safuan
Media Director
Timothy Mcvey
Commercial Director
Bill Cooper
Project Development Director
Nick Davison
Business Development Director
Zareena Alwee
Sales Team
Olivia Yap, Emily Tang
Joey Tan & Jessy Lou
Events Manager
Antoinette Perera
Membership Manager
Michael Thorp
Distribution
Suriah Ali
MM2H Manager
Farzana Ali
Finance / Admin – Senior Manager
Khoo Poh Lian
Group of Companies
Tri-Concepts Sdn Bhd (204389-P)
JADManagementServicesSdnBhd(286845-U)
Borneo Vision Sdn Bhd (295020-P)
Borneo Vision (MM2H) Sdn Bhd (735406-W)
Hemsworth Limited (536626)
TEG Singapore Pte Ltd (200920711M)
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8 THE EXPAT WWW.EXPATKL.COM
The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views
of Borneo Vision Sdn Bhd. The publisher shall not be held liable for
any omission, error, or inaccuracy. No parts of this publication may be
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30-32
77...
78...
CONTENTS | MARCH 2012 VOLUME 174
60-61
EVENTS
11 Events
13 Clubs and Associations
17 Expat News
24 Around The Expat Group
28 Expat Extracts
COLUMNS
19 Musings from Malaysia by William Citrin
21 My View by Marybeth Ramey
23 Rees’ Pieces by Sarah Rees
98 Locally Yours by Lydia Teh
FEATURES
30 And the Winner is...Tourism Awards 2011
35 Ambassador Profile: South Africa
36 InvestKL – Taking a Leap
39 Profile - Artist Charlotte Donvang
41 Talent Corp News - The i-PASS
56 Business Profile - Kewlox cabinets
58 Property – What it means to be Green
60 Expat Homes
96 Food Courts - Best of the Bites
THE ARTS
44 Artist Profile - Shahar “Shaq” Koyok
66 Expressions 2012 - International Talent Show
TRAVEL & TOURISM
48 Ipoh – Adventures in Tin Town
50 Nepal – High Altitude Adventures
52 Expat Airline Travel and News
54 Japan - ‘Old Kyoto’
EDUCATION
63 School Snaps
PENANG PROMENADE
68 Jungle Gyms
69 What’s On
Plus 30 pages of EXPAT INFORMATION
73 Dining Promos
75 Restaurant Reviews and Dining Guide
82 Shopping and Services
94 The Expat Directory
97 Bulletin Board
The Expat
Card Monthly
Specials
page 80
24-27
50-51
Cover:
SHAHAR KOYOK

WWW.EXPATKL.COM THE EXPAT 11
MARCH EVENTS
3- 18 March
The KK Food Festival returns to the
city below the winds for the second time,
offering foodies 16 days of special festival
menus at some of the best restaurants in
the city. The Festival Magazine will provide
you with all the knowledge you need, and
various fringe events and special parties will
enhance this fortnight of foodie fun! Visit
www.KKFoodFest.com for more details.
8- 11 March
The percussion group HANDS will be
celebrating their 15th anniversary with a
three-day event and will see drummers
from countries such as Thailand, Taiwan
and Japan collaborate at klpac for a
spectacular festival that will delight
percussion fans. Tickets can be purchased
by calling 03.4047 9000.
10March
The I LOVE ME health conference
is an annual free one day conference
for women, held in conjunction with
International Women’s Day that will
take place at Cititel Hotel, Mid Valley
City. Hosted by the Obstetrical and
Gynaecological Society of Malaysia
(OGSM), I LOVE ME is part of the society’s
outreach programme. To register, go to
www.ilovemeconferences.com.
10- 19 March
The World Press Photo Exhibition
11 will move onto Penang Town Hall
during its world tour, showcasing a striking
collection of over 160 award-winning press
photographs from all over the world. Visit
www.worldpressphoto.org/events for more
details.
10March - 15 April
The Grand Prix race will be
preceded by the Malaysia Grand Prix Sale
(MGP) that will dish out a whole range of
goods at prices that will excite visiting F1
enthusiasts, as well as shoppers. Shopping
malls and department stores around the
Klang Valley will be offering great bargains
and promotions and the shopping fever
is expected to spread to Penang, which
will be joining in with its own version
of the MGP sale and activities. For more
information, visit www.tourism.gov.my.
15- 31 March
UK-based Blunderbus Theatre
Company will be coming to town this
month with their much talked about
children production called “The Owl
Who Was Afraid of the Dark”, based on
the best-selling children’s classic by Jill
Tomlinson. Come down to PJ Live Arts,
where there will be morning and evening
shows with school rates and packages
available. For more details, visit www.
gardnerandwife.com.
17- 18 March
The Malaysian Philharmonic
Orchestra presents distinguished conductor
Claus Peter Flor in the concerts themed
English Treasures with works by Vaughan
Williams and Elgar. The concert will take
place Saturday, 17 March at 8.30p.m and
Sunday, 18 March at 3p.m. For tickets, call
03.2051 7007 or visit www.dfp.com.my
21- 24 March
The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr
(abridged) is a fun parody of the 36 plays
written by William Shakespeare. Expect
silly-antics and 43-second versions of Hamlet
in this play performed by just three actors.
The play runs at Kuala Lumpur Performing
Arts Centre on 21-24 March at 8.30pm and
25 March at 3pm. Visit www.klpac.org for
more information, tickets cost RM48 (adults)
and RM28 (students)
23- 25 March
The Magical 1Malaysia Festival
will be bringing magicians from all over
the world to KL Convention Centre for 3
days of magic lectures, shows and during
the gala evening the Grandmaster Merlin
Awards will be presented for the ﬁrst time
ever worldwide. Catch the likes of Jay
Scott Berry, Mahdi Moudini and Johnny
Thompson among many other international
magicians for this unique and exciting
magic event. Visit the website www.
magical1malaysia.com for more details.
23-25 March
The world’s spotlight will be
on Sepang as the Formula One World
Championship ‘Petronas Grand Prix 2012’
roars into Sepang International Circuit.
Aside from the rush and exhilaration of
the races, the circuit will be a thriving area
of stalls while the capital will host various
exhibitions and spin-off events. Visit www.
malaysiangp.com.my to get details and
buy tickets.
31March - 1st April
The Malaysian International Shoe
Festival will take place at the Putra Trade
Centre and will aim to create a valuable
platform to showcase and promote all
kinds of quality footwear and related
products, while allowing shoe shoppers
to embark on an exciting shopping
extravaganza. For more information, please
visit www.malaysiafootwear.com

Magical 1 Malaysia:
The Art of Wonder
F
rom 23 to 25 March, over a dozen
of the world’s finest magicians
will descend on Kuala Lumpur for
what promises to be the largest magic
event ever held in Southeast Asia – a
three day magical gala called the Magical
1 Malaysia Festival. The producers of
this magical event are the dynamic duo
Jay Scott Berry, hailing from Vegas and
Mahdi Moudini, an Iranian who has now
settled in Malaysia.
There will be two major shows for each
day of the event, one a matinee show at
3p.m called the All-Star Magical Matinee
and another show at 8p.m called the
Concert of Illusions. Outside the main
hall, the venue will be staged for a whole
carnival of magic wonders – booths
for close-up magic, tools for aspiring
magicians, magic dealers, a chance to get
the magicians’ autographs, balloons, face-
painting and other amazing attractions.
Aside from the major shows, there will be
lectures from four leading performers of
the art – award-winning Michael Ammar,
world-renowned levitator Dirk Losander,
multi-talented Rafael Benatar and bubble
extraordinaire Tom Noddy. They will lead
workshops and talk about all aspects of
magic. Another notable performer who is
poised for the line-up is Christopher Hart,
most famous for his role in the Addam’s
Family starring as the “Thing.”
At the launch of the Magical 1 Malaysia
Festival, notable magician Jay Scott Berry
talked about how this event is an end
result of a dream that culminated after
3 years of planning. Jay has been a
fan of magic since he got a magic kit
at the tender age of 5 and moved to
Hollywood right after high school. The
magical showcase has attracted a fair
bit of attention from the community
of aspiring magicians around Malaysia,
as well as nearby countries such as
Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and has
even garnered enquiries from as far
as Las Vegas, Jay’s hometown back in
America. Jay says that the beauty of
magic is that it can entertain all ages, as
it is the art of wonder.
Jay wowed members of the media when
he produced a multi-coloured streamer
and an orange ball seemingly out of
thin air; a mesmerizing performance
to watch. He is a fan of close-up
magic, which he says is the purest and
truest form of magic and which will
very much be a part of the upcoming
show. The Magical 1 Malaysia Festival
venue, Plenary Hall at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre, will be large enough
to accommodate a big crowd but will
also feature huge screens to showcase
the close-up magic being performed
on stage.
Jay Scott Berry is also an award-winning
music producer and some of his music
will be featured during the show, along
with visual treats which will make the
entire show a multimedia spectacle,
combining the art of magic with the
wonders of technology – where the
boundaries of performance art will be
pushed and stretched.
“Magic gives you a moment of wonder,”
says Jay who confesses to using magic
to distract kids at the supermarket lines
when he witnesses them crying on their
mother’s shoulders.
When asked why Malaysia was chosen as
a host to this world-premiere event, Jay
heralded it as perfectly appropriate as it is
in the heart of Southeast Asia and is very
accessible to travelers and tourists. This
show expects to be the first of many which
will continue to grow and build from
here. Perhaps the most anticipated part of
this three-day event is the Merlin Awards
whose Hall of Fame includes magicians
like David Copperfield. This award is
something like the Oscars for magicians
and has got everyone wondering who will
be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame
for the Grandmaster Award. Discussions
for next year’s Magical 1 Malaysia event
are already underway.
Ticket prices range from student price
of RM98 to VIP at RM 398. Tickets are
now on sale at Ticketpro.com.my. For
more information, visit the official
Magical 1 Malaysia website:
www.magical1malaysia.com
and you can also check out their
facebookpage at www.facebook.
com/M1MFestival
BY MILAN SADHWANI

CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS
AAM
AAM Events, March 2012
Bingo at Little Sisters of the Poor
Date: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 Time: 10am –
11am Venue: St. Francis Xavier Home for the
Elderly Cost: N/A RSVP: E-mail aam_kl05@
streamyx.com Description: Every first
Tuesday of the month, you can help spread
the joy in this home for the elderly with a
game of bingo! We will bring prizes for the
winners. The bingo morning is one of the
highlights of the month for the residents.
First Fridays
Date: Friday, 9 March 2012 Time: Noon – 2
p.m. Venue: Ben’s @ Pavilion Mall, Level 6
Cost: Price of own food and drinks RSVP:
E-mail aam_kl05@streamyx.com by Thursday,
8 March Description: This monthly social
activity is especially for newly arrived expats
and provides an opportunity to ask questions,
gather information and to meet and relax
with new friends over lunch.
Walking Tour of Kampung Baru
Date: Thursday, 8 March 2012 Time: 9:30
a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Venue: Meet at Kampung
Baru LRT station Cost: RM60 (Members);
RM75 (Non-Members) RSVP: E-mail aam_
kl05@streamyx.com by Thursday, 1 March
Description: Join Angie Ng from Heritage
Travel for a walking tour of Kampung Baru –
the only remaining Malay settlement in Kuala
Lumpur. The tour ends with a traditional
Malay lunch at a local restaurant.
Vietnamese Cooking Class
Date: Friday, 9 March 2012 Time: 10 a.m.
– 1 p.m. Venue: AAM Villa Cost: RM70
(Members); RM85 (Non-Members)
RSVP: E-mail aam_kl05@streamyx.com by
Friday, 2 March Description: This class
will teach you how to make Vietnamese
standards. Class includes demonstration,
recipes, and lunch.
Batik Painting with Sam Karuna
Date: Monday, 12 & 19 March 2012 Time:
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Venue: AAM Clubhouse
Cost: RM200 (Members), RM230 (Non-
Members) RSVP: E-mail aam_kl05@streamyx.
com Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Description: A dedicated artist and teacher,
Sam has shared his basic and fine techniques
in batik painting with more than 8,000
students throughout Malaysia since 1989.
Besides learning the complete process of
batik painting, the students take home a
work of art, suitable for framing.
Coffee Morning and Annual
General Meeting
Date: Thursday, 15 March 2012 Time:
10a.m. – 12 p.m. Venue: AAM Villa
Cost: N/A RSVP: E-mail aam_kl05@streamyx.
com by Wednesday 14 March Description:
The Annual General Meeting will be held
prior to this month’s coffee morning to vote
in the 2012 Board of Directors.
Chow Kit Market Tour
Date: Tuesday, 20 March 2012 Time: 9:30
a.m. - 1 p.m. Venue: Chow Kit Market
Cost: RM60 (Members); RM75 (Non-
Members) RSVP: E-mail aam_kl05@streamyx.
com by Monday, 12 March Description: Join
Address Book
American Association of Malaysia
Address: Unit G-3A Villa Seavoy
7, Lorong Titiwangsa 8, Taman Titiwangsa, 53200
KL. Tel: 03.4021 4367 / 4368
Web: www.klamerican.com
Email: aam_kl05@streamyx.com
Association Francophone de Malaisie (AFM)
34, Jalan Dutamas Raya, 51200 Kuala Lumpur
Email: afm.kuala@gmail.com
Web: www.afmkuala.com
Association of British Women In Malaysia
(ABWM) Address: 88, Jalan Terasek 8 Bangsar
Baru 59100, KL. Tel: 03.2284 4407
Web: www.abwm.com.my
Canadian Association of Malaysia
Address: CAM Mailing Address c/o Canadian High
Commission, 17th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207
Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Web: www.canadians-in-kl.com
German Speaking Society Of Kuala Lumpur
(GSSKL) P.O. Box 707, Jalan Sultan, 46670
Petaling Jaya. E-mail: info@gsskl.com.my
Website: www.gsskl.com.my
International Women’s Association –
Kuala Lumpur (IWAKL)
Address: P.O. Box 269 Jalan Sultan 46670 Petaling
Jaya, SDE. Web: www.iwakl.org
E-mail: iwakl@iwakl.org
Ibu Family Resource Group
78 Sri Hartamas 18, Taman Sri Hartamas, KL.
Tel: 03.6211 0666 Web: www.ibufamily.org
E-mail: ibu@ibufamily.org
Japanese Club Address: 2, Jalan 1/86, off Jalan
Taman Seputeh, Taman Seputeh, 58200 KL.
Tel: 03.2274 2274 Fax: 03.2274 3584
Web: www.jckl.org.my
KL Cobras Ice Hockey Club
Contact: info@klcobras.com
Website: www.klcobras.com
KPC Melati Indonesian Women in Mixed
Marriages Web: www.kpcmelati.org,
Email: info@kpcmelati.org
Contact: Rika O’Hanlon 017.601 7718
Malaysian Australian New Zealand
Association (MANZA)
Address: 38, Jalan Tempinis, Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03.2284 7145 Fax: 03.2287 7151
Email: manzaoffice@gmail.com
Web: www.manza.org
Malaysian Culture Group
info@malaysianculturegroup.org
www.malaysianculturegroup.org
South Africans in Malaysia
Contact: Mrs Dorne Sherwood,
email: dorne_roos@hotmail.com
H/P: 012.9168506
Latin American Ladies Association
Web: www.damaslatinas.com.my
Email: dlm@damaslatinas.com.my /
grupodamaslatinas@gmail.com
The Royal Society of St George
William Addington (President)
E-mail: Michael McIver (Hon Sec)
webmaster@stgeorgesmalaysia.com
Web: www.stgeorgesmalaysia.com
Scandinavian Society Malaysia (SSM)
Scandinavian Society Malaysia
Suite 303, F139, BSC, 285 Jalan Maarof,
Bangsar 59000 Kuala Lumpur
Email: info@scandinaviansocietymalaysia.com
Web: www.scandinaviansocietymalaysia.com
Swedish Women’s Educational Association
Web: www.swea.org/kualalumpur/
E-mail: kualalumpur@swea.org
St. Andrew’s Society PO Box 6210, Pudu Post
Office, 55720 KL. Web: www.ssas-online.com
Turkish Malaysian Friendship Association
Contact: Ms. Nilufer Senyuva 019.396 4086
Angie Ng of Heritage Travel for a two-hour
walk through the famous Chow Kit Market.
It is one of the oldest wet markets in KL. The
tour concludes with lunch at a roti canai stall.
Lunch Bunch
Date: Wednesday, 21 March 2012 Time:
Noon – 1pm Venue: Tatto’s Cost: Cost of
own food and drink RSVP: E-mail aam_kl05@
streamyx.com by Tuesday, 20 March
ABWM
Tuesday morning coffee mornings at 10am at
the ABWM house with the first Tuesday of
the month being especially relevant to new
comers. All welcome every Tuesday morning!
In March we have a visit to the Guinness
Anchor Brewery, full details available from the
house. Add: 88 Jalan Terasek 8, Bangsar Baru,
59100 KL Tel: 03.2284 4407
CAM
The Annual General Meeting
When: Sunday, 18 March, 5:00 p.m.
Where: Function Room, The AVARE, #2
Lorong Kuda, Off Jalan Tun Razak, KL
MANZA
MANZA Drinks Night 2012 AGM at “Out
of Africa”
At 7pm sharp, the AGM will commence.This
is the time when you can vote for your friends
to be on the committee. After the AGM, we
will all move out to the courtyard and continue
enjoying our happy hour priced drinks, and
delicious array of complimentary food cooked
by the Out Of Africa Chefs! Please have your
nomination/s to MANZA House by, Monday,
March 5th, 2012 before 3pm.
Where: Out Of Africa - Kelab Syabas, 1 Jalan
Lorong Sultan PJ When: Wednesday, March
14th, 2012 - 6.30pm – 10pm RSVP: MANZA
by Friday, March 9th, 2012
KLOGS (KUALA LUMPUR’S OTHER
GOLFING SOCIETY)
The KLOGS gentlemen golf group meet on
the third Wednesday of each month, playing
prestige courses in and around KL.
For details please email ‘El Pres’ at: mike.
maxcon.smith@gmail.com
KL COBRAS ICE HOCKEY CLUB
Day, Time: Mondays at 9:30pm at Sunway
Pyramid. We have over 50 players who
participate in our league. The Cobras also
play in tournaments around Asia Pacific, and
have regular social and charity events.
Contact: info@klcobras.com
Web: www.klcobras.com
SOUTH AFRICANS IN MALAYSIA
South African Coffee Morning!
We meet every second Thursday of every
month. Call or email Dorne Sherwood at
012.916 8506 or dorne_roos@hotmail.com
SWEA SWEDISH WOMEN EDUCATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
March:
6 Coffee morning (UNHCR)
13 Field trip to Nilai
21 Baking class
26 Visit to the Wilaya Mosque followed by a
lunch in Publika

In recognition of the Malaysian Government’s plans to attract more
foreigners to Malaysia and liberalise the rules on visas and work permits,
we are introducing this news section to keep resident and prospective
expats updated on news affecting them working or living here.
Expat News
CRIME RATE FALLING
The Government has announced that
there was an 11% drop in the crime
rate in 2011. Crime reduction is an
important component of the Government
Transformation Programme and it is clear
that some of their initiatives are working.
Many expats living in KL have commented
on the more visible police presence in
recent years, with a lot more police cars
and motorbikes patrolling the streets.
It has been a deliberate policy of the
Government to reduce the number of
desk-bound police and get them out on
the streets, particularly in crime hot spots,
and therefore it is unsurprising that this
move has had the most impact on street
crime, which fell by an impressive 39% in
2010 and a further 35% last year.
These drops in the crime rate do not
mean Malaysia is safe, but it does mean it
continues to be one of the safer countries
in the world.
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL TO PARTNER
WITH PETRONAS TO EXTEND LIFE OF
OIL RESERVES
No one knows how much oil is left in
the world and there are many views on
when production will peak and begin the
inevitable decline; some people think it
may happen in the next couple of years
while others believe it could be as many as
thirty years away.
One important factor is the cost of
extraction, as there are still some areas
with substantial reserves which are not
economical to extract at current oil prices,
but this could change as prices rise.
Indonesia, a country with similar reserves
to Malaysia, became a net importer of oil
in 2005 and while Malaysia was projected
to become a net importer in 2014, some
recent discoveries may extend that date.
Accessing previously uneconomical oil
reserves off the coast of Sarawak and
Sabah will now become possible under
an agreement recently signed between
Royal Dutch Shell and Petroliam Nasional
(PETRONAS). The two companies have
agreed to jointly invest US$12 billion over
the next 30 years to extract more oil from
these reserves and probably extend their
life beyond 2040.
INVESTKL FEELING CONFIDENT
InvestKL, which is charged with attracting
100 of the world’s largest corporations to
set up regional operations in Malaysia by
2020, is feeling bullish on reaching their
targets.
Their CEO Zainal Amanshah reports
that so far Malaysia has attracted six
major corporations to set up regional
operations here. While he admits many of
these were the result of efforts by other
entities before his operation was fully
set up, Amanshah has seen considerable
interest among other major companies.
He feels that the target of reaching 100
major multinationals to set up regional
operations here by 2020 is quite realistic.
This month we carry an interview with this
highly motivated and charismatic CEO and
explain more about the work of InvestKL in
a two-page write up which can be found
on page 36.
ECONOMIC GROWTH EXPECTED TO
SLOW THIS YEAR
Not surprisingly, Malaysia’s economic
growth is forecast to slow this year. The
fourth quarter of 2011 was showing signs
of a slowdown as growth fell from 5.8 per
cent in the third quarter to 5.2 per cent in
the fourth quarter, resulting in a full year
growth of 5.1 per cent.
The outlook for 2012 is for a continued
slowdown, but this is expected to be
somewhat mitigated by an encouraging
growth in domestic demand. As usual,
economists have widely different
projections: The Business Times showed
forecasts from leading financial institutions
and research bodies which ranged from a
high of 5.5 per cent to a low of 2.7. The
average of all the projections came to
around 4.1 per cent
Clearly the significant economic problems
in both Europe and the United States will
have a negative impact on this part of the
world, but the continued growth in the
Indian and Chinese economies combined
with the rapid increase in consumer
demand in Asia will help offset this.
‘APPROVAL TO WORK VISA’ FOR EXPAT
SPOUSES
Two years ago the Malaysian Government
eased their fairly hard-line policy on
spouses working. Many countries in Asia
do not like expat spouses joining the work
force and Malaysia was no exception
but, as part of their move to open up
Malaysia to skilled foreign workers, the
Government changed the policy for
spouses looking for work.
Expat spouses no longer have to go
through the rather arduous process of
surrendering their dependent visas and
applying for a work permit if they find
employment in Malaysia, instead they can
request an endorsement to their existing
visa stating that they are allowed to work.
It seems that most companies are not
aware of this new facility and we would
love to hear from any expats spouses who
have received the endorsement and would
be willing to share their experiences in
applying for it and the types of jobs for
which it was approved.
If you are looking to apply for
endorsement we can help; just contact
Zana on e-mail at zana@theexpatgroup.
com or telephone on 03 2094 9664.

An Invitation to Explore
THE BEST OF BRITISH BOARDING AND
DAY EDUCATION IN 90 ACRES OF MALAYSIA
I N F O R M A T I O N E V E N I N G
6:30pm, 5 March 2012
Bankers Club, The Library, Level 22
Amoda Building, 22 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur
Go to our website to learn about the school and to register your interest
in attending the information evening.
O P E N I N G A U G U S T 2 0 1 2
Senior School: Preparatory School: Day for children aged 4-11
www.marlboroughcollegemalaysia.org
IN
F
O
R
M
A
T
IO
N
E
V
E
N
IN
G
5
M
A
R
C
H
2012

MUSINGS
FROM
MALAYSIA
My wife probably thinks I’m having an
affair but, truth be told, I am in love
with the city, with the schizophrenia of
its streets: a simple turn can take you
from familiar uber-sleek-skyscraping-
modernity to a kampong with crazy
chickens roving around, songbirds
crooning in their cages and kids doing
impossible bicycle flips in the air and
kicking a rattan ball and then another
turn can bring you to a thick jungle or
a street of crumbling shophouses with
the smell of noodles and incense and
old Chinese men playing mahjong in
undershirts or a lane lined with garlands
and garish statues of Hindu gods and
people smashing coconuts at the ground
and men on motorbikes whizzing by
calling out for bread or old newspapers.
Kuala Lumpur with its fascinating
juxtapositions is so many worlds within
worlds – and I belong to none of them.
I just keep rambling blind through the
city (resisting the impulse to whip out my
iPhone and use its GPS to find out exactly
where I am). As my body moves, so does
my brain and I think about big things: life,
love, loss…
I know I am lost when people start to
stare at me. And I do what any member
of the male species does when he is
completely lost: I pretend I know where
I’m going.
One time a shady Malay man sitting
smoking by the side of the road tried to
stop me.
“You pergi mana?” he asked me in a
ravaged voice.
“I’m going nowhere,” I thought to myself,
“I’m home.” And I kept on walking.
The Lost Life
compass, I used the angle of the sunlight
and the sound of the river to make my
way home.
I discovered that when we are lost we find
out about the world, and ourselves.
And as I got older, I roamed further and
further from home. My girlfriend at
university grew up in the rainforests of
Belize, and one summer vacation I went
there with her to meet her folks. My mom
screamed – just as she did all those years
go on the beach in Florida – when she
got the phone call from me from some
nameless village of clay and rust, saying
how I urgently needed an air ticket home
because my girlfriend’s dreadlocked father
– after drinking coconut wine and smoking
something – threatened to turn himself
into a tiger and devour me. He chased
me with a machete out of the jungle
compound and onto a dusty and deserted
road and I had to find my way in the
darkness to salvation (i.e. a telephone).
And then there was the phone call – less
of a surprise I suppose – informing my
parents that I would be following another
female and moving to Malaysia.
I guess I was fated to be an expat; this
nomadic existence suits me because
we expats – metaphysically (and often
physically) speaking – are lost. If we take
one step beyond our perfect expat bubbles
of work, home, club and mall, we find
ourselves adrift in a foreign reality.
Sometimes my somewhat settled way
of life here in Malaysia (a steady job,
mortgage and three little monsters at
home) begins to unsettle me. At these
times, I take a long walk. Equipped with
only toilet paper and an umbrella, I wander
lonely as one of Wordsworth’s clouds
around Kuala Lumpur.
I’ve been lost my whole life.
My very first memory is of being lost: I
was four and on a crowded public beach
in Florida. I was walking with my mom by
the water, searching for shells washing
up in the waves. I meandered away from
her and drowned in the dizzying sea of
glistening, scantily clad humanity scattered
on the sand. I was lost.
Conventional wisdom says that when you
are lost you should stay where you are
until you are found, and maybe I should
have stopped and dropped to my knees
in the sand and wailed until my mother
rescued me. Maybe my life would have
been completely different.
But I kept going. Although the tears
were streaming down my face and my
knees were shaking, there was something
electrifying about being lost, like a baby bird
that is dropped into the air for the first time
and discovers that it can fly instead of fall. I
kept wandering and wandering, wondering
how far I could go. Eventually, luckily, some
benevolent blue speedo-ed soul took my
tiny hand and led me to a lifeguard who
scooped me up and carried me up atop his
wooden perch, asked me my name and
then blared it into his megaphone. And
then I saw my mom running and screaming,
coming to claim me.
From that moment I fell in love with being
lost, with the intoxicating fear and freedom
of it. This wanderlust became a leitmotif, a
recurring theme in the symphony of my life
and I seized any opportunity – school field
trips, grocery store outings, family vacations
to Disneyland, etc. – to make myself
disappear into the unknown. I remember
I used to ask my brother to blindfold me,
bring me deep into the woods behind
our house and leave me there. Without a
Sadly this issue will be my last as editor of The Expat, as I am
moving on to another job with a new company. I would like to
thank Andy for giving me the opportunity to work on an amazing
portfolio of publications, the team at The Expat Group for their hard
work and dedication, and the readers for their support. I will still be
living and working in KL, so if you see me feel free to pat me on the
head and say hello – William Citrin

MY
VIEW
Waving Good-bye to
(sob, sniff) William
An award winning writer, Marybeth is The Expat Group’s
Consultant Director and has lived in Malaysia for 13 years. Her
adult children grew up in Malaysia and now reside in the USA
along with her grandgirl, Raya-Rosine. She welcomes your
feedback @ consultant@theexpatgroup.com
Two and a half years ago, my American
patriotism was at an all time high; I hadn’t
really realised just how much I missed the
cultural aspects nor the people until I met
the first American I would ever work with
in Asia. Best of all his job scope and mine
were tightly interconnected meaning we
would be spending a lot of time together.
William Citrin as most of our regular
readers know is our Group Editor. When
a company manages to snag as prime
a catch as Will, we are always deeply
cognizant that he will not be staying for
too long as other; larger companies will be
soon encircling his waters and throwing
out hooks to him. Which is what has
happened, making this March issue of The
Expat and the March/April issue of Senses
of Malaysia, his last. It is hard to feel sad
for him though because he is brilliant
and will rise through the corporate ranks
quickly but it is easy to feel sad for me and
my colleagues and you too I am sure, his
readers.
Will’s presence made me remember
so much about what I loved about my
country. One of the first times I ever heard
anyone at the office actually laugh out
loud at a comment of mine, was Will
chuckling with genuine amusement over
my ‘puzzled’ query whether or not we
were in an elevator due to the Musik
nature of the type of music we could hear
coming from someone’s computer.
The Chinese, Indian and Malays at TEG
have never seemed to be at all tickled,
never snorted soda through their nose nor
ever choked on a piece of roti canai by
my sense of humor, nor I by theirs, even
though I have really tried to find their
funny. While I am standing there almost
overcome by my sharp, rapier wit and
trying to tamper down my laughter, all the
Malaysian faces staring at me would be
wooden.
However, fellow Yank Will, gets me. And
that is an incredible performance motivator
that lift my spirits all day long at the office.
We can, and naughtily do, roll our eyes
over comments made at meetings; share
massive venting sessions and gossip til
the day (and night) are gone about how
different and sometimes strange people
and things can be here. This has been
my missing link... a comrade in arms who
knows “where I come from” and therefore
an instant bond is established.
Will wasn’t sure in the beginning if he
could write a good column that would be
appreciated and enjoyed by our readers
from over 103 countries. But, never one to
be a slacker, he wrote his first few in which
he got many appreciative comments for.
Then he, a bit dangerously knowing my
own ego, became such a great columnist,
that he was getting more fan email than I
was. (fyi-marybeth@theeexpatgroup.com)
Column writing fits Will like a snug bug
in a rug. Writing articles and features is a
different animal altogether but of course
he excels there too.
Hard not to excel articulating the beauty
and wonders of Malaysia-land when you
have a Master’s Degree from Columbia
University in English Literature, right?
The word I always use to best sum him
up and he agrees with, is “unflappable”.
Literally nothing upsets this man. And
believe me, he works in a potentially
very upsetting environment simply due
to the dozens of different deadlines we
have plus some of our more “interesting”
staff. He strolls around each section of
our 7th floor office, hands in his pockets
and the particles in the air around him all
seem to calm down. We used to be quite
a high strung bunch in the editorial and
design department before our unflappable
William appeared on the scene. Now we
take the time to stand back and just have
a laugh about the glitch or problem and
somehow find we have more time than we
did before. Not to mention his hilariously
funny patience with his three boys under
age 7. You really do have to see it to
believe it because we are talking 3 Young
Boys Under 7 here.
He is also a genuinely wonderful and
thoroughly loyal friend, not just to me but
to all of us and even to the people who
have gone on to other jobs during his
tenure as they still go to lunches, Expat
Mingles and events together. He is the
one I call when I think someone is hiding
in my closet when I come home and also
the one I call when I want to make a major
decision. I’ve told him juicy personal things
I’ve never told a soul and felt the better for
it. He gives solid and inspired advice and is
the type of pal you know you can always
count on.
I know without any doubt that he will stay
in touch with us all as he is only working a
few kilometres away. Meeting people like
Will as an expat, to me, is the very best
part of expat-dom.

Andrew Dalton
Principal
p
-
-
- -
-

You know this man. You’ve seen his type before. He waltzes up a
good 2 minutes after you have pressed the button to call the lift
and yet he presses the button again. Then, without so much as a
side-look in your direction, he determinedly manoeuvres himself
into the prime spot in front of the doors. You barely have time
to tut when the lift arrives, spewing out shuffling office workers,
bouncing children and laden shoppers. But this man is something
of a Moses, striding against the tide of people to get his position in
the elevator before it is even empty.
I witness this miraculous inconsideration daily, and depending on
my mood, my reaction can range from tight-lipped fury to a sleepy
shrug. But, in my more thoughtful moments, I can watch this man
– or woman - standing proud beside the lift buttons, moving not
one inch for anyone trying to push their floor button and muse
that they seem blissfully unaware of having caused offence.
And the question I ask myself is why do human beings find
negotiating elevators with grace so difficult? Even if people aren’t
blindly arrogant like the button-hogger, everyone possesses a
tottering awkwardness in a lift that has made these journeys an
experience to be endured.
After 18 months of condo living, forced to think on my feet each
time the lift doors slide to a close, I feel I have accumulated some
survival tips that can make it more manageable, and I want to
spread the word.
Positioning is a classic area of trouble. All of us inwardly titter at
the poor person who enters an already packed lift, where the
challenge becomes trying to position oneself equidistant from
every single person without having your nose to the door.
To avoid this case of marooning, enter the lift swiftly and get a
patch in the corner by the doors, but if this fails, any wall will do.
This will also assist in minimising the chance of the sweaty man
from the gym getting too close.
Conversation is always a tricky one. Every condo building has those
friendly, chirpy people who sing a merry “good morning” to you
in the lift, leaving you with a charming feeling of camaraderie but
Survival on the Up
there is no call for the slightly sinister middle aged man with lanky
hair that leers at you and asks suggestive questions like “So you
live alone?” as you nod and smile and desperately count floors.
For all of the above, the fail-safe reaction is a neat, uncommitted
smile and then a quick drop of the eyes otherwise, believe you me,
you may have an unsavoury friend for life.
Of course there will be people that you want to talk to, but still
caution is required. Do you talk to each other even when the lift
is busy, knowing full well that your audience will be listening and
scrutinising this small snapshot of your life? I tend to plough on
with my conversation regardless, although would advise speaking
a little faster in the hope that those with English as a second
language may miss some of the details.
There is also the challenge of timing your chat to end as your friend
reaches their floor, otherwise there are awkward silences or, even
worse, that dithering, hasty attempt to complete the conversation
as the doors snap shut between you. I try and keep some “back
up” phrases to fill the gap, and a cheery wave serves as a good bye/
have a good weekend if the doors are shutting on your talk.
Finally, elevator survival is all about attitude. These experiences may
produce tricky social situations and cause irritation after a long
day, but prevent yourself sinking into miserly misery and focus on
the joyous ways in which these little incidents can enrich your life.
Secrets ripe for discovery! People ripe for observation!
I have caught sight of the wrinkly Aussie man with unnaturally dark
hair accompanying a rather masculine woman back to his room; I
have watched disapprovingly as the portly man who spends his life
on the cross-trainer smuggled in a bag of greasy fries and burgers
from McDs for his dinner; I have even met an author of a book I
loved. Surely this is far more enjoyable than ambling up the garden
path and unlocking the door of an empty house?
So next time you groan at the thought of a packed lift in the
evening after work, arm yourself with your survival tips and try to
think that, when you push that button, you are not only waiting
for the lift to arrive, you are waiting for life to begin!
REES’
PIECES
Sarah Rees has had the privilege and pleasure to work
closely with Will Ciitrin in her role as Assistant Editor,
and his guidance, humour and orangey chewing gum
will be sorely missed. Good luck in your next adventure,
Will. Send her your thoughts and chewing gum
recommendations to sarah@theexpatgroup.com
FORGET NEGOTIATING THE ROADS OR AVOIDING EYE-WATERING CAB FARES; ELEVATORS
ARE BY FAR THE MOST TRICKY TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE TO BE NEGOTIATED. SARAH
REES HAS SURVIVED 18 MONTHS OF LIFT EXPERIENCES, AND IS WILLING TO AID OTHERS
ON THE JOURNEY TO ASCENSION SUCCESS.

AROUND THE EXPAT GROUP
On the House
Chuffing along into the year of the dragon, we had a festive, CNY wine dinner at
House @ G Tower, complete with Yu Sheng and the clamour of celebratory cymbals.
Contemporary chic, combined with festive flair and an abundance of wine made it
quite the evening.
Canapes of Truffle pockets and mini quiches, punctuated with a lusciously floral,
Orvietto Classico 2009, commenced this night of treats. Ushering in the New Year
with a prosperity platter of Hamachi, (raw fish) salad, the Santa Christina Pinot
Grigio was an extraordinary balance of glorious, tangy sweetness. Beef Goulash, a
hearty combustion of tender beef cubes in a rich tomato stew, was followed by a
main course of Norwegian Salmon accompanied by celeriac puree, red beetroot and
red wine butter sauce. The Wyndham Estate 888 Cabernet Merlot was particularly
enjoyable with rich berry flavours phrased with oak and cedar accents, and ripe, grape
tannins that imparted length and texture. Hot and fluffy apple strudel, paired with
vanilla ice cream and Graham’s fine ruby port was the perfect cadence to a sumptuous
feast. Its full-bodied youthful freshness and intensely aromatic,
cherry undertones leave a recognisable Graham hallmark.
Long after the food and wine were gone, the happy
conversations carried on and the dinner party made its way
down to the bustling bar on the lower level. House @ G Tower
is a versatile destination, with just the right mix of food, drinks
and music. Join us at the next wine dinner! By Tina Ng Frey.
TheExpatWouldLikeToThank:
House @ G Tower, KL
G02 & LG02-04, GTower,
199, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03.2164 4424

Next Time:
Date : 22 March 2011 (Thursday)
Time : 7pm to 10.30pm
The Event : Sit down dinner
Address : 1919 Restaurant
A15A, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng
50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Price : RM120 (Expat Card, MM2H
and Wine Club Members)
RM145 (Non-Members)
Go Back in Time with
1919
Having received rave reviews in Ipoh and
becoming a landmark in the mining town,
1919 decided to open another outlet right in
the heart of Kuala Lumpur on Jalan Yap Kwan
Seng, where towering skyscrapers and the
familiar twin towers are in full view.
1919 has received the same response, and
they haven’t wavered in their quest to serve
unforgettable Asian cuisine.
Relics of the past are scattered all around the
huge and plush dining area and the stories
of 1919 are scrawled on posters and hung on
the wall for all to read.
1919 specifically caters to large groups
with their large sturdy wooden tables and
dim lighting, making it a perfect place for
intimate meals as well.
The Wine Dinner at this venue would be an
incredible night out, with fantastic food, a
cozy ambience and perhaps a bit of education
too on the Roaring Twenties and the
aftermath of World War I.
For reservations, please call Anis at
03.2094 9664
View more pictures of the The Expat Mingle at our Facebook page:
facebook.com/theexpatmalaysia

AROUND THE EXPAT GROUP
TheExpatWouldLikeToThank:
Riblee’s Restaurant
Wisma CKL 41-1, Jln 23/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas, KL.
Tel: 03.6201 0180
W I N E S
SINCE 1698
Of Porcine and Mingles
Finding a place for a crowd of expats with great food and drink as well as an alluring
atmosphere is no easy task, but The Expat Group succeeded again – this time for
a Mingle at Riblee’s in Desa Sri Hartamas. It was a great night with lots of ﬁnger
foods to munch on, giving Mingle guests a chance to sample a wide selection of the
restaurant’s offerings.
Appetizing appetizers abounded – deep fried risotto spinach croquettes,
mini samosas, spring rolls, pork satay, tandoori pork ribs, angel-hair pasta and the
classic American baby ribs (a signature dish at Riblee’s).
There was plenty of merrymaking, catching up with old friends and making new
ones. The lovely Guinness Stout was sponsored by GAB and the wines were provided
by Cronier Wines. Don’t miss out on our next Mingle, reserve a
spot for yourself now! By Milan Sadhwani

Register online at
www.expatkl.com/mingle
or call 03.2094 9664
Limited space only.
Please book early/register online
to avoid major disappointment!
Another event by
Jointly brought to you by
Date: 13 March 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Venue: Bedroom
Lot 6.01.03 & 6.01.04, Level 6
Pavilion KL Shopping Mall,
No. 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Regular Entry
Free Flow Beer + Fingerfood
The Expat Card Holders: RM40
Non Card Holders: RM55
Add on Wine Option
Free Flow Beer +
3 Glasses of Wine + Fingerfood
The Expat Card Holders: RM50
Non Cardholders: RM65
@
2 Hours of Tantalising,
Fascinating Encounters!
An opportunity to meet,
mix and mingle with new friends.
®
View more pictures of the The Expat Mingle at our Facebook page:
facebook.com/theexpatmalaysia

Expat Extracts
What brought you to Malaysia and
how long have you been here?
My husband visited a friend here in
2005 and loved it. So when a job
opportunity arose in 2008, we decided
to move to KL with our son. 4 years on,
we’ve added a second boy and a new
business.
What do you like and dislike most
about living in Malaysia?
I love the mixed culture in the food,
clothes, and holidays being celebrated. I
hate being answered “can can” when they
so obviously can’t do it!
Name three typical weekend activities
that you enjoy.
Taking the kids to the Butterfly Park,
meeting with friends by the pool, and a
quick trip to Singapore.
Name: Stephanie Assar
Home country: France
Designation/Industry/Company: Colour & Image Consultant for House of Colour KL Sdn. Bhd.
Marital status/Number of children: Married with 2 boys
Other countries you have lived in: Scotland, Switzerland & Italy.
What is your favourite holiday
destination in Malaysia or in the
region. Why?
We’ve never been to the same place twice,
but we loved Tioman.
What do you miss most about your
home country?
Seasons!
What advice would you give to a
newly-arrived expat?
Find people who have been here for a
while… you will need a guide!
How long do you plan to stay in
Malaysia? Where would you like to go
next, and why?
Since I have my own business here now,
I would think for a few years. I would
love for House of Colour to become a
household name and eventually sell it and
start over in another country… but I have
no idea which one yet!
Is Malaysia a good country to raise
children? Why?
The help you can get here makes a huge
difference: whether it is a nanny to look
after your kids or a maid who takes care
of the house so you spend more time with
them… having children is less stressful here.
Is Malaysia a good place in which to
work and do business? Why?
The mixed community of locals and expats
makes Malaysia (or at least KL) a very
good market for me. There are a lot of
opportunities to do business here but you
have to be really patient… things tend
to move a lot more slowly than what you
might be used to.
About a year ago, I went to an
international raw vegan culinary training
course in California where I met my friend,
Emily, who is the owner of LivingFood
Cafe. She asked me to come over and help
open up her business and the next thing I
know I am booking a flight to Malaysia!
What do like and dislike most about
living in Malaysia?
What do I dislike about KL.... hmmm that
would have to be traffic, traffic and oh
yeah MORE traffic. There are no rules
to the road here and you have to be so
aggressive not only while driving but as
a pedestrian as well! And I don’t really
care for all of the pollution. However, I do
enjoy how centrally located KL is and you
can jump on a plane and be in a fun new
destination in a few hours.
Name: Ali Cavedo
Home country: USA
Designation/Industry/Company: Living Food Cafe
Marital status/Number of children: Single
that you enjoy.
I heart Bangsar. I also enjoy going to the
local markets and playing tennis.
region. Why?
I have only been in Malaysia for a short
time but there are SO many places I would
love to visit!
Describe a memorable eating
experience you have had here.
I have been eating like a queen since I have
been in Malaysia. One of my most favorite
moments so far was a huge dinner of
friends and family sharing a steamboat of
fresh vegetables and noodles.
Do you own property here? If so,
where? If not, why?
I do not own property.
home country?
I miss friends and family and public
libraries.
Beware of the durian!
Is Malaysia a good country to raise
children? Why?
Raise kids?! I’m still a kid!
Is Malaysia a good place in which to
work and do business? Why?
As far as I can see, Malaysia has been a
wonderful place to do business. It feels
like a very transient city and I have really
enjoyed meeting so many new people
from all over the world.

Since working in Thailand and China
I’ve been trying to get back to Asia since
2008. I was just about to delete all my
“Spam” emails in late September 2011
when I noticed an email about “teaching
golf in Malaysia”. A few phone calls and
emails later I was out here living and
working within about 3 weeks. Thank you
Dean!
What do you like and dislike most
about living in Malaysia?
I LOVE the weather. Every time I feel a
little bit hot and bothered I look at the
date on my watch and think what it’s like
in England for most of the year. I hate the
cold wind and rain, give me hot sunshine
any time! The only things I dislike are the
things I will never be able to change so I
try not to worry about them too much.
that you enjoy.
Errr, how about “work”, “work” and
“work”...?
Saturdays and Sundays are a golf coach’s
busy days; we are basically available in
people’s leisure time.
region. Why?
It’s Thailand without a shadow of a doubt.
I lived and worked there for 3 years and
have many friends in the expat community.
It’s easy to get to from here and much
cheaper than KL for socialising.
Describe a memorable eating
experience you have had here.
I absolutely love going in a small crowd
to the hawker stalls and sharing a load of
dishes. I’ve eaten at some great restaurants
Name: Parwaiz Win
Home country: Germany/Burma
Designation/Industry/Company: Director/Professional Photography/Winning Pose Photography
Marital status/Number of children: Married
Other countries you have lived in: US, Pakistan, Thailand, Burma, Germany and Qatar
What brought you to Malaysia and how long have you
been here?
My parents and I migrated here in 1979 when I was only 6 years
old. I then left for the USA for studies in 1990 and only returned
back to Malaysia sometime in 2004.
What do you like and dislike most about living in Malaysia?
I don’t just like but I love the people, the different cultures and the
variety of food available. Dislikes...trafﬁc.
Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
A weekend with my wife in Genting; a road trip to Penang; my
wife and I also regularly check-in into one of the many hotels
downtown to enjoy the weekend together and to just order
room service.
What is your favourite holiday destination in Malaysia or in
the region. Why?
In Malaysia, my wife and I love Penang. In the region; Thailand will
be our choice.
Describe a memorable eating experience you have had here.
Stadium Negara at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng. The black pepper crab is
fabulous and my wife will vouch for the chicken wings.
What do you miss most about
your home country?
Family, but we have made friends here in
Malaysia that will last the test of time.
What advice would you give to a newly-arrived expat?
Malaysia is a young country; don’t judge and compare. Be open to
new experiences and your stay here will be great!
How long do you plan to stay in Malaysia? Where would
you like to go next, and why?
My wife and I are leaving for the Middle East soon but because I
have family here; we will always come back here.
Is Malaysia a good country to raise children? Why?
We don’t have children yet but I know many expats alike who
have raised the children here are very happy with all that
Malaysia offers.
Is Malaysia a good place in which to work and do business?
Why?
Personally, Malaysia has been good to both me and my wife.
Hence, we have very little complaints.
Name: Ian Ashenden
Home country: Falmouth, Cornwall, England
Designation/Industry/Company: British PGA Golf Professional,
Senior Golf Coach, MST Golf Academy, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club
Marital status/Number of children: I have been separated for 2 years and we are going through, thankfully, a very
amicable and painless divorce. I have no children.
Other countries you have lived in: Thailand, Saudi Arabia, China, and spent 7 years travelling with the Royal Navy.
around the world but some of the roadside
food here is just fantastic.
Do you own property here? If so,
where? If not, why?
No. I don’t think I would be comfortable
making such a large investment in a
foreign country just yet. I’ve invested a fair
bit already in the local pub if that counts??
home country?
As I write this my Nan is 95 years old and
suffering with what looks like terminal
cancer, it’s tough not being able to pop
round and see her.
If you want to know if the girls REALLY
think you’re awesome, stop buying them
drinks and see if they’re still all over you...;)

MALAYSIA TOURISM AWARDS
T
he Malaysia Tourism Awards
celebrate Malaysia as one of the
top world tourism destinations
while appreciating the contributions many
tourism industry players make. The gala
ceremony was recently staged in the
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and was
graced by the newly-appointed King and
Queen; Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku
Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Yang
di-Pertuan Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku
Haminah Hamidun.
Also present at the black-tie event were
the Honourable Minister of Tourism
Malaysia Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen; the
Malaysia Tourism Ambassador in London,
Dato’ Professor Jimmy Choo OBE and
Malaysia Food Ambassador, Chef Wan.
Now in its 17th year, a total of 35 awards
were presented to the best of the best
in the local tourism industry who have
contributed substantially toward the
country’s tourism development.
It was indeed a proud moment for all
those associated with The Expat Group’s
Senses of Malaysia magazine as it was
awarded the most innovative international
tourism publication for the second time
in a row. This award acknowledges the
effort put into publishing what is now
recognised as the leading travel publication
in the country, read extensively around the
world thanks to being carried globally on
Malaysia Airlines.
The other award categories included
Innovative Tourist Attractions, Innovative
Shopping Outlets, Innovative Homestays
and Innovative Spas. Nominations were
submitted in early 2011 and the winners
were selected by a panel of judges
appointed by the Ministry of Tourism.
Here is a run-down on awards that have
greatest interest to The Expat readers.
Best Five-star City Hotel – Mandarin
Oriental Kuala Lumpur
This award is invariably a tribute to the
staff at the Mandarin Oriental for their
dedicated efforts and commitment
towards fulﬁlling the hotel’s mission of
completely delighting and satisfying its
guests. Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
occupies a prime location immediately
adjacent to the retail gold mine in Suria
KLCC and the architecturally impressive
Petronas Twin Towers. The restaurants,
bars and spa also make the hotel a ﬁtting
and deserving winner.
And the Winner is …
HELD BI-ANNUALLY, THE MALAYSIA TOURISM AWARDS BEGAN IN 1987 AND ARE
CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST ACCOLADE GIVEN IN RECOGNITION TO THOSE WHO EXCEL
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY’S TOURISM INDUSTRY. HERE, VETERAN TRAVEL
WRITER DAVID BOWDEN SHOWCASES SOME OF THE RECENT WINNERS OF THESE
ILLUSTRIOUS AWARDS
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Best Five-star Resort – Shangri-la Rasa
Ria, Sabah
I can remember being one of the first
guests in this resort and having been
bowled over by everything I saw and
experienced. Facilities were outstanding,
beachside views were refreshing and
uninterrupted across the South China
Sea and the staff were brimming with
enthusiasm. For those who travel through
the wilds of Sabah, the Shangri-la Rasa
Ria makes a great place for some rest and
boasts a fabulous restaurant called Coast,
a soothing spa, challenging golf on the
adjoining Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club
with distant views of Mount Kinabalu and
all this, just 45-minute’s drive from Kota
Kinabalu Airport.
Innovative Spa – Spa at Four Seasons,
Langkawi
It probably comes as no surprise to
discerning travellers that the finest spa
in the country is located in one of the
finest beachside resorts. The name Four
Seasons says it all and lazing about the
architecturally-impressive spa in the Four
Seasons Langkawi is about as good as
it gets. Therapies here borrow the best
from the West and East and blend it all
together to create a uniquely Langkawi
product. It’s hard to pass up on their Urut
Melayu traditional treatment that involves
firm, long massage strokes with just the
right kneading and palm pressure. Choose
a massage oil such as Om to ensure that
you become putty in the hands of the
right therapist.
Best Four-star City Hotel – Holiday Inn
Melaka
The Holiday Inn Melaka is a little surprise
awaiting all those who head to this
UNESCO World Heritage Site destination.
The 275-room Holiday Inn is the
contemporary face of Melaka with vibrant
and colourful artwork adorning the walls
to offer guests a soothing, resort-styled
setting. I can imagine families travelling
here to enjoy the pool, stay in stylish and
well-appointed rooms and, to dine in
some inviting outlets. Add to the mix the
urban oasis of the Tea Tree Spa and the
Club Lounge overlooking the pool and
you have a charming resort in an historic
urban setting.
Best Four-star Resort – Golden Sands
Resort, Penang
The 387-room Golden Sands Resort
Penang received their award soon
after having completed a RM50 million
redevelopment programme. Perhaps it
was the refurbishment which contributed
to winning the award but anyone
who has stayed here would know
that it probably had more to do with
the beachside location and a level of
service that has been perfected over the
years. The award is affirmation of the
hotel’s positioning as one of Malaysia’s
leading family resorts and the signature
restaurant, Sigi’s Bar and Grill on the
Beach, rarely fails to impress.
Best Three-star Hotel and Below –
Cititel Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur
Anyone who has been part of the
weekend traffic jam around Mid Valley
knows too well that this is one of the
most popular retail areas in Kuala Lumpur.
With the growing trend for hotels to be
attached to shopping malls to ensure
they become one-stop destinations, it’s
not surprising that the Cititel Mid Valley
Kuala Lumpur is the nation’s best value-for-
money hotel. If the shopping isn’t enough
distraction there are restaurants, cafés,
bars and cinemas scattered throughout
Mid Valley Mega Mall and the Gardens
Mall.
Eco Excellence – Mount Mulu National
Park, Sarawak
Covering almost 550km2, Mount Mulu
National Park is one of Sarawak’s largest
natural expanses of rainforest and named
after the state’s second highest peak
at 2,376m. It was opened as a national
park in 1985 and while the high country
is the park’s most obvious feature, Mulu
also attracts those who want to explore
its spectacular subterranean system of
caves. Now a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, two caves here head the list of
Mulu “firsts”. Deer Cave is reportedly
the world’s largest natural rock chamber
and Clearwater Cave is the longest cave
system in Southeast Asia. A recently
constructed aerial walkway through the
rainforest canopy is the largest of its type
in the world.
Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort, Sabah Spa at Four Seasons, Langkawi

Eco Merit – Danum Valley
Danum Valley and the adjoining Maliau
Basin are two of Sabah’s remotest
protected areas but accessible from
Lahad Datu Airport via flights from Kota
Kinabalu. Both have a “lost world”
setting with the Maliau Basin having been
“discovered” in 1947 and, amazingly, only
first explored in 1988. It is as isolated as
it gets but five-day treks are available into
this pristine rainforest and the majestic
Maliau Falls. Danum Valley is slightly more
accessible but only just. A canopy walk and
night safari adds to the adventure.
Melaka River Cruise
Melaka (or Malacca) is a popular day
visit destination from Kuala Lumpur but
there are many attractions and first-class
accommodation to justify a visit of several
days. The Melaka sultanate was founded
in the 15th century and became one
of the world’s greatest trading centres.
During its history, Melaka was influenced
by the Portuguese, Dutch and British as
well Asian traders. The Melaka River is a
historic landmark and it’s possible to go on
45-minute river cruises with regular daily
departures from 9am to 11pm depending
upon the tides.
Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh
Theme parks are always a winner with
kids and if water is added to the equation,
kids will want to come back time and time
again. Located in the rounded limestone
hills that surround Ipoh, therapeutic
subterranean mineral water features in
both the theme park and the associated
spa. In addition to the slides and glides in
the water park, there’s an adventure park,
team building area, ponds, hand’s-on zoo
and a tiger valley. The park is open from
Monday to Friday (except Tuesday) from
11am to 6pm and the weekends and
public holidays from 10am to 6pm. There
is also a night area that remains opens
until 10pm.
Nite @ Museum
There is some similarity with the movie
Night at the Museum and this innovative
incentive programme offered by the
Melaka Museums Corporation and Naza
Hotel Melaka. The programme combines
a night river cruise on the Melaka River, a
river walk and then the piece de resistance
being a stay in the replica 16th century
Portuguese ship known as the Flor de
la Mar that forms part of the Maritime
Museum. This activity is great for team
building for groups of up to 40 people
and with a little bit of luck; some of the
displays may spring into life after the lights
go out.
Shopping – Sunway Pyramid, Kuala
Lumpur
Should shopping ever become an Olympic
event, Malaysia would win hands down.
With so much choice, it’s easy to see
why shopping is high on the list of most
Malaysian’s recreational activities and for
many tourists; value-for-money shopping
helps as does a range of what are called
lifestyle choices – movies, restaurants,
recreational activities and a “hook” to
bring in the shoppers. The hook in Sunway
Pyramid is Sunway Lagoon Water Theme
Park that adjoins the shopping mall as well
as the mall’s ice skating rink.
Shopping – Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur
The comments above about Cititel Mid
Valley Kuala Lumpur are applicable for
this shopping award to Mid Valley. The
adjoining premium mall of the Gardens
also adds to the appeal of Mid Valley
as it means shopping for all budgets is
provided. Valet parking here is important
for those who don’t want to join the
inevitable weekend parking queues. Mid
Valley is popular for its sheer size as well as
its offering of quality outlets.
Homestays – Walai Tokou, Kundasang,
Sabah
Walai Tokou is located just beyond the
main entrance to the famous Kinabalu
Park on the road from Kota Kinabalu to
Ranau in Sabah. Here six families have
pooled their resources to offer rooms to
travellers within their homes in the village
of Kampung Sinisian near Kundasang. The
numbers of rooms in each house varies
from one to six with a common shower
and toilet facilities, and most visitors come
for three-day, two-night packages that
include all meals. Villagers will ensure that
you learn elements of the local culture
such as cooking, farming, dancing and
playing bamboo musical instruments, and
visitors enjoy locally-grown strawberries
and tea from the Sabah Tea Garden.
Melaka River Cruise Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur
Sunway Pyramid, Kuala Lumpur

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U
pon meeting the jovial and laid-
back Thami Mseleku - the South
African High Commissioner in KL
- it would be easy to assume that he is an
“old hand” on the ambassador scene, with
his diplomatic and welcoming demeanour.
It was surprising, therefore, to hear that
this posting is his first, marking a sizeable
shift in a life that has already been quite
extraordinary.
Mseleku is one of the men who helped
shape the new democracy of South Africa,
and was invited – quite unexpectedly
in his eyes – to join Nelson Mandela’s
government when the charismatic leader
finally emerged from incarceration to take
up the presidency and herald in a new era
for South Africa in May 1994.
“As Mandela was being released I thought
‘ok, now I can be a free citizen; free
from harassment, free to go back to my
life’. I never dreamt I would be called for
government!” chuckles Mseleku good-
naturedly. However, once he begins to
elaborate on his intriguing story, it doesn’t
seem so mysterious that this “nice young
man from the townships” would catch the
eyes of the new government.
He lists his first passion as teaching, and
his career blossomed after he completed
his Masters in Applied Linguistics in the UK
and returned to South Africa to work as
a teacher; a position he was undertaking
with pleasure during the final struggles
for the end of apartheid. “Interacting with
young people in terms of learning and
teaching is my passion; I would have loved
to have stayed in education. But,” Mseleku
says, with a shrug and a smile, “that is not
where I am.”
There is no hint of regret. Mseleku’s
desire to see a change for his country was
instilled within him long before teaching
became an ambition. “Getting that
apartheid government out and having a
day of freedom in our lives: those were
our dreams”. When it finally happened,
Mseleku was among the many stunned
with disbelief. Even now, the pride at
his country’s achievement and his own
small contribution makes him beam
with pleasure. The invitation to join the
government – when it came soon after -
was beyond a dream.
“It was a huge challenge – very scary
indeed. We couldn’t fail the generations
that had been fighting for so long!” The
invitation called for his own personal
interests to be put to one side, but
it was a sacrifice worth making. “It’s
such an honour to be asked to make a
contribution; it’s an honour that surpasses
your own ambitions,” he says.
A decade followed, and Mseleku remained
at the heart of government, moving from
education into health at the President’s
request and trusting wholeheartedly in
the latter’s appraisal of his abilities. “It is
recognition of what people think I may be
able to contribute in that area,” he says,
“it’s fulfilling.”
Thus, when the current President Jacob
Zuma called Mseleku into his office
and announced that he was to be High
Commissioner in Malaysia, Mseleku was
as open-minded as ever. “I was looking
forward to it;” he says, “I was happy to
have the chance to have a change and
learn something new!”
With his enthusiasm and two of his four
children in tow, Mseleku arrived in KL and
was, like so many foreigners, hit by the
heat. “It was 6.30am and it was already
26 degrees; that’s too much!” he laughs,
but as he talks it is clear that life in KL
has offered a release after a life lived
in heightened circumstances, and he has
enjoyed exploring the city with his two boys.
“You know you can survive in a place if your
kids are happy,” he says, “and they love it!”
Weekends are spent driving the children to
visit their various friends and negotiating
the road system – “if you know where you
are going it’s great, but if you miss one
turn you’re gone!” – and when I question
whether he gets time to escape from his
work, he just laughs jovially.
“Even as I do it [the job], I switch off,” he
says enigmatically. “I love music. I live the
spirit that Africa sings all the time: even as
Africa dies, Africa sings, I am the epitome
of that! If I can get into the car, put on
some beautiful music; that is my release.
From one meeting to the next I have
already done my cathartic thing.”
When I enquire as to what he hopes
to achieve during his time in Malaysia,
Mseleku admits that already - in his brief
15 months in Malaysia - he has let go
some of the pressure that he has been
carrying since that important invitation
from Mandela in 1994. “I will certainly
leave Malaysia a less-stressed person,”
he says, “but I would hope that my
experience here would have given me
ground to make a better contribution
wherever I will be finding myself next.”
As always, his own personal goals pale in
the face of his ambitions for his country
and for his role in helping it on the road
to success. “I am always happy when I am
serving my government,” he says.
So what will be next? He shrugs and
laughs his booming laugh once again.
“The President will decide,” he says
mysteriously.
A diplomatic answer, but delivered with
pride; Mseleku is an extraordinary man.
AN AFTERNOON WITH THE AMBASSADOR
BY SARAH REES
A Selfless and
Successful Life

INVESTKL
T
ucked inside a small ofﬁce in KL
Sentral are a team of people who
are transforming KL and the Klang
Valley into a regional hub to rival the best
in the world. “Nothing can stop us,”
declares Zainal Amanshah, the CEO for
InvestKL; an operative set up in line with
the Economic Transformation Programme
(ETP) that will see the country becoming a
high-income nation by 2020.
The ETP is a comprehensive plan, put
into place by the government, that is
working to accelerate economic growth in
specialised areas, outlined as the National
Key Economic Areas (NKEA). The 12
NKEAs have been identiﬁed as the key
sectors that will help Malaysia achieve its
goal and where there are ample business
and investment opportunities to help
boost the country.
The NKEA include one geographic
area – Greater Kuala Lumpur – and
11 key industries which are ripe for
investment and will provide superb
opportunities for those with
capital to invest. These
11 comprise Oil, Gas
and Energy; Financial
Services; Wholesale
and Retail; Palm Oil;
Tourism; Electronics
and Electrical; Business
Services; Communications
Content and Infrastructure;
Education; Agriculture; and
Healthcare.
Within each of these
areas there is a list of
projects – totalling 131 and
known as Entry Point Projects
(EPPs) - which will support
faster economic growth. Under
the NKEA of Greater KL, the
key project is the task of attracting 100
major multinational companies to set up
regional operations in the Greater KL area
by 2020; a task that has fallen to InvestKL.
The man charged with leading this effort
is Zainal Amanshah and he has been
building a team of enthusiastic skilled
people to support him. If his enthusiasm
and drive are anything to go by, the
ambitious goals are well within reach.
“The capital city is the catalyst for
growth,” says Zainal, “and we are very
excited because there are such a lot of
opportunities within KL.” The team has
only been in existence since June 2011, but
already they are taking on their roles with
relish, entering into talks with businesses
overseas and already operating in Malaysia
in an effort to persuade them to invest
further and make KL their regional hub.
“It’s actually a very appealing
proposition,” Zainal explains, listing KL’s
assets as its liveability and its relative
cost-competitiveness regionally and
internationally. There is also an already
bustling business scene in Malaysia to rival
nearby Singapore, the latter of which still
receives a lot of the market interest. “Every
country has its strengths,” Zainal admits
diplomatically, “but there is a lot of activity
here in KL and we have found that many
businesses already have capital to invest
but they have not decided exactly where
to invest it. We offer advice and guidance
to explain why Kuala Lumpur makes good
business sense.”
Zainal and the team’s job is made easier
by the fact that there are many key
sectors ripe for investment, and the eleven
industries highlighted by the list of NKEA
offers a superb choice for those looking to
set up regional hubs or regional centres for
Taking a Leap for a Brighter Future
THE GOVERNMENT’S AMBITIOUS PLANS TO TRANSFORM
MALAYSIA INTO A HIGH-INCOME NATION BY 2020
ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO FRUITION THANKS TO
INVESTKL. SARAH REES MEETS THE TEAM AND SHEDS
SOME LIGHT ON THEIR WORKINGS AND HOW THEIR
CONTRIBUTION WILL MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
Zainal Amanshah,
the CEO for
InvestKL

excellence in such industries as financial
services, Islamic finance; creating global
business outsourcers or even setting up
a regional manufacturing hub. The team
have already seen a lot of interest in the
engineering sector, and various companies
have been persuaded to expand their
businesses into regional centres based in
KL and the surrounding areas.
In addition InvestKL also works with the
Malaysian government to remove inhibitors
and, in their words, “cut through the red
tape” to make business opportunities
more readily accessible. “I report to three
government ministers,” explains Zainal,
“and they are excellent; very supportive.”
InvestKL are able to support the businesses
through every step of the bureaucratic
process while they set up. “If there is a
real business to opportunity and it is easy
to do business, then that’s a very powerful
combination,” argues Zainal. And the
proof is in the pudding; already, in just 6
short months, InvestKL has ticked off 6 on
its path to 100 multinationals by 2020.
“Only 94 to go!” laughs Zainal.
But the InvestKL team are not just
glorified marketing people, showcasing
KL to the business world. Once businesses
have made the commitment, InvestKL
continue to offer support and ease the
process, assisting in removing whatever
obstacles may come in the way. Recently,
the area of difficultly has been the
availability of talent.
“Malaysia actually has a lot of talent,”
says Zainal, “but the challenge is keeping
it here or bringing them back!” Many
highly skilled Malaysians have moved
overseas and now we are luring them back
to via incentives. The Returning Expert
Programme, organised by TalentCorp,
offers benefits to the returning talent such
as a lower tax rate and tax exemption on
all personal effects brought with them
into the country. InvestKL are also working
towards raising the standard of the local
graduates already in the country to meet
multinationals’ needs.
“Businesses structure themselves
differently today than in the past and
we have to ensure we address their
needs” explains Zainal. “We found
that some businesses found their new
Engineering graduates lacking in real
business experience so we have set up
various up-skilling programmes and talent
development programmes to help the
companies train their fresh grads.” Not
only does this aid companies in filling
positions and tempt more to set-up their
hubs in KL, it will also ensure that there are
more jobs to attract qualified Malaysians
back and to enhance the talent pool.
The increase of job opportunities will
also catch the eye of foreign talent, and
Zainal encourages the diversity. “There is
a nice blend of expats and locals here,”
he comments, “and we are finding that
the expats who come don’t want to
leave!” The safety, comfort and cost-
competitiveness of the country that
attracts the businesses also attracts the
foreign workers, and many are now
making Malaysia their home thanks to the
Residence Pass and the MM2H visa.
InvestKL are already making huge efforts
to help push the country along the path
of global transformation, and Zainal likens
his and his team’s role to bungee jumping.
“Our team will be stretched like it’s never
been stretched before,” he says with a
calm smile, “but the results we are seeing
prove we are on the right path.”
Indeed, it is the obstacles and unforeseen
challenges that Zainal thrives on and that,
after two decades in the private sector
prior to this role, he is more than capable
of handling. “The most interesting part
of my job is making changes. Some of
the methods are very outdated so we are
constantly working to improve things, to
make things better.”
“I think it’s very interesting,” he says
finally, “this is like national service. I get
to contribute to my country!” Zainal’s
enthusiasm is contagious. He leaves you
in no doubt that InvestKL will achieve its
targets and make a significant contribution
to a brighter future for Malaysia and
Malaysians.
For more details on InvestKL and
their role in making the ETP a
reality, visit their website at
www.investkl.gov.my

D
anish Artist Charlotte Donvang
is not your normal artist… and
her recent exhibition at Hotel
Equatorial Kuala Lumpur was something
entirely different too! The exhibition called
“COLOURS OF LIFE - A Celebration of Life,
Art and Culture” (on top of displaying her
art work) also covered a series of events
portraying different angles of life, art and
culture, thereby illustrating some of the
many colours the artist believes a human
life consists of.
At the opening evening with some 60
people attending, Charlotte Donvang
surprised the guests by attempting to bring
to life one of her paintings in a beautiful
potpourri of music, poetry and dance. The
stunning and touching performance was
created by Charlotte herself together with
fashion designer/dancer Nila Palacios and
make-up artist Vanitha Murthi.
Charlotte Donvang was born in Denmark
and although living in Kuala Lumpur
and having exhibited several times, this
exhibition was her first major mark on the
Malaysian art scene.
“To me, colour is energy and energy is
life,” says Charlotte Donvang. “What
I do ultimately evolves around energy
because that’s how we translate all things
in the universe on a subconscious level,
including the colours in my art work. That
is also why using art and the colours in
art is so very powerful to speak across
the barriers of culture, age and gender.
As a matter of fact, my mission in life
is to enlighten people about the true
powers of colour and how it can actually
help us, significantly, in our lives”. To this
end, Charlotte does transformational
workshops about colours and creativity.
The exhibition and associated events
including talks such as “Why Colours Are
More Important Than We Think”, Eat
Your Colours Alive” and “Social Media
for Social Good” all supported Yayasan
Sunbeams Home for abandoned, abused
and orphaned children.
The exhibition intended to show the
versatility of expressions linked to different
aspects of life; from what we think
about ourselves, how we do things, how
we react to situations, our behavior in
relation to other people and, not least,
our purpose in life. These are all questions
that Charlotte feels are some of the most
important subjects to establish in life and
she hopes that with her artwork she can
make us question our own life and help us
think of how we, ourselves, influence our
own lives.
“I believe that art is a part of life and it
should be available to all walks of life. By
exhibiting at a hotel my art will be seen
by more people than in many galleries, for
the simple reason that people can, and
will, just be passing by at any hour of the
day. By encouraging different expressions
through the many associated events, as
well as the actual colours in the art, I
believe that I can express a much broader
variety of colours of life than would
otherwise be possible. The art, I believe,
is also very much to reach people with my
messages,” says Charlotte Donvang.
The event programme covered two topics
by the artist herself. She conducted a free
interactive talk “Why Colours Are More
Important than We Think. The Why’s and
the What Colours are about”.
She also led “Playshop for Adults: How to
Relax through Creative Expression”, which
is a creative session coloured with input
about colours, creativity and relaxing in a
hectic lifestyle.
Other activities include “Eat Your Colours
Alive” by Nutrional Consultant and Raw
Food Expert Elke Wollschon, “Social
Media for Social Good” by Social Media
Expert Lena Lim and “Creating a home
sweet home” by Vasthu Sastra, author,
columnist, international speaker, radio and
television personality on metaphysics and
ancient Indian wisdom, plus a number of
Traditional Chinese events such as Guquin
Chinese Instrument Performance, Chinese
Tea Art, Stone Chop demonstration as well
as Calligraphy demonstrations.
PROFILE
A Flamboyantly Colourful Artist
ABOUT CHARLOTTE DONVANG
Charlotte Donvang comes from a
line of artists and was taught art
since childhood. Her whole life has
evolved around creative expressions.
She was born in Denmark and has
also lived in England, Thailand
and Malaysia.
In adult life, Charlotte has always
worked creatively, with jobs in
advertising, business and as an
entrepreneur.
She is a Reiki Master and energetic
colour healer as well as a trainer
and speaker. She has been trained
by a Chinese Doctor in Tuina, Quasa
and cupping and is continually
developing herself through studying
metaphysics, ancient secrets and
healing techniques. Her focus in
life is colourful art and the power
of colours.
Charlotte has exhibited several times
in Malaysia as well as in Denmark.
For more information, visit
www.donvang.com

TALENTCORP NEWS
BY SARAH REES
T
here can be few expats that have
not heard the chatter about the
i-PASS – the new identification card
for working expats – and the scramble to
get them has proven just what a superb
initiative they are. Both the cyber and
the real world conversations swirl with
rumours about these cards and cries of
‘where’s mine?’ mingle with grumbles of
bewilderment about what these i-passes
are and what they do. We hope that this
article will help clear up the confusion.
First, a bit of history: The i-PASS was first
unveiled in 2011 to replace the i-Kad, an
identification card first introduced in 2007
by the Home Ministry and the Immigration
Department for all foreign workers,
expatriates and their spouses, and students.
The i-Kad was phased out from 2010,
and the golden i-PASSes arrived in their
place, and are available for all foreign
workers holding an Employment Pass.
That said, before expats go rushing off
to immigration with open hands, it is
worth noting that the cards will only
be issued upon issue or renewal of the
Employment Pass. Those who are already
on Employment Passes will have to wait
until their renewal date is up before they
can get their i-PASS.
As of September of last year, a pink version
of the i-PASS was created and the very
first one made its way into the open hand
of Stuart Dean (pictured centre), the CEO
of General Electric ASEAN, who, after a
decade spent in Malaysia, was thrilled at
the benefits that this nifty little card has
brought him. “The i-PASS has helped me
tremendously,” he said. “My role requires
me to travel extensively 75% of the time
and the i-PASS really facilitates my mobility.”
You may be wondering how a small card
can make a high-flying CEO’s life easier, but
these new cards are vastly superior to their
predecessors, containing a Quick Response
Code that can be scanned into a smart
phone for speedy identification while the
card can be used instead of a passport as
an identification tool. i-PASS holders are
also exempt from filling in an embarkation
card when entering the country, and for
someone like Dean, who has been zipping
in and out for the past ten years, it is a
hugely welcome addition to his wallet.
Both colours of i-pass share the same nifty
features, so why the colour difference?
The i-PASSes for Employment Pass holders
are gold, but the pretty pink version was
given to Dean because he is, like 542
other expats, the holder of a Residence
Pass-Talent.
The Residence Pass-Talent is a fairly new
scheme that offers a ten-year renewable
pass for highly-qualified expatriates,
allowing them to live and work in the
country for various employers without
having to re-apply for a work permit. The
Residence Pass-Talent is a joint product
of Immigration Department of Malaysia
and TalentCorp; the latter of which is an
organisation set up to encourage and
retain talented workers in Malaysia to help
boost the pool of talent in the country.
Edwin Raspe was one of the first expats
to get approved for a Residence Pass-
Talent, and cannot speak highly enough
of the difference it has made to his life
in Malaysia. “Labour mobility drives
innovation and the Residence Pass
enables and stimulates this mobility on
the expatriate knowledge worker level. To
me, having a Residence Pass means that I
can do what I really like and want to do:
help technology companies in Malaysia
professionalise their software development
and IT recruitment processes,” says Raspe.
Rohit Chadha, GM of Bumi Armada
Berhad, is also a Residence Pass-Talent
holder and upon receiving his pink i-PASS
last year, was thrilled with the difference
it made to his life. Like Dean, Chadha
found that the i-PASS “has simplified
my travel in and out of Malaysia and has
been such a convenient tool for me and
my family.” When zipping around West
Malaysia, Chadha can travel passport-free
and doesn’t need to continually fill in
embarkation cards.
Those expats holding the Residence Pass-
Talent will be contacted, if they haven’t
been already, by TalentCorp, who will have
handled all the processing and collection
of the i-PASS. Any new applicants receiving
their Residence Pass-Talent will get their
pink i-PASSes in the near future, while
anyone receiving a new or re-issued
Employment Pass will get their gold i-PASS
simultaneously.
While some may have a fair wait until the
can get their hands on an i-PASS, there
can be no doubt that these cards are
set to make life easier for expats living
and working in Malaysia and is a superb
initiative that must be applauded.
For more information on TalentCorp
and the Residence Pass-Talent, visit their
website at www.talentcorp.com.my.
For more information on the
Employment Pass, visit
www.imi.gov.my.
Setting the Record
Straight on the i-PASS
Stuart Dean (centre) recieves his new i-PASS from Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Mahmood Adam,
Secretary-General, Ministry of Home Affairs (left) and Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan,
Chief Secretary to the Government (right)

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SENSES OF MALAYSIA SUBSCRIPTION:
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Alternatively go to www.sensesofmalaysia.com and sign up online.
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to education, from world music to flora and
fauna, horse riding to golf. It also covers
other aspects of life in Malaysia including
property, foreign investment, the Malaysia
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Limited-time
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SPECIAL OFFER
RM9,999.
Apart from sailing around the picturesque islands and perhaps
having a go at the helm, you can visit the pristine beaches, try out
their kayak, go snorkeling or even do some ﬁshing. Overnight they
will anchor in a secluded, calm corner of the archipelago.
The all inclusive price of RM9,999 is a considerable reduction off
their usual price and includes:
6 pm on day three.
D
avid and Gudrun Bradley, who are good friends of
in Langkawi. They offer charters for people who enjoy being on
the water. David has been sailing for many years and recently
Yachtmaster Captain.
arrivals which has been driving up hotel rates on the island. In fact,
islands and be wonderfully pampered in the process. David and
Special Offer for Expat Readers
Enjoy the Beautiful Islands of Langkawi

I
first met Shaq, the only Orang Asli in
Malaysia with a Bachelor’s Degree, a
few years ago. I sensed as soon as I
saw his work that he would quickly soar to
the top in the art world and indeed he has.
He has been exhibiting in Melbourne and
has already sold his paintings to several
internationally prominent art collectors.
Shaq has accomplished what amounts to
a new art genre. He calls it “Stream of
Consciousness” and in finding this label
did not wish to specifically indicate either
the subject matter or the technique….but,
rather, the Artist’s Process of Creating.
THE ARTS
BY MARYBETH RAMEY
1.
3.
5.
4.
2 .
The Artist Profile of
Shahar (Shaq) Koyok
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
1. Seeking Restitution 2011
Media | Acrylic on canvas
Size | 92 x 92 cm
Price | RM7500
2. Mesmerized 2011
Size | 122 x 92 cm (2 panel)
Price | RM20,000
3. Fear of Historical Injustice 2011
Size | 61 x 122 cm
Price | RM8000
4. Disturbed 2011
Media | Charcoal & acrylic on paper
Size | 102 x 79 cm
Price | RM7000
5. Wish 2011
Size | 81 x 81 cm
Price | RM8000
Shaq explains that this technique/style/
genre came about during a period of
angst in his life. One day he found himself
picking up a brush and stroking the canvas
here and there and feeling an odd flow
of energy seeking to find its way onto the
canvas so he grabbed colors – not colors
that made any logical sense – just colors.
Something deep inside him was seeking
expression and it was as if he had no
idea what was coming or what was
being created…..it was all happening
from somewhere deep inside his sub-
conscious mind.

6. 7.
6. Deﬁant 2011
Size | 92 x 122 cm
Price | RM9900
7. Doubt 2011
Size | 92 x 92 cm
Price | RM9000
8. Unacceptable 2009
Size | 69 x 88 cm
Price | RM8500
9. Seduction 2010
Media | Mixed media on paper
Size | 79 x 109 cm
Price | RM17,500
10. Ancestor Spirit 2010
Size | 46 x 46 cm
Price | RM3200
11. Marginalized 2011
Media | Oil on canvas
Size | 122 x 122 cm
Price | RM16,000
As he explains it: the feelings were
ﬂowing out and through his brush.
The usual careful and meticulous color
blending which has been a trademark of
Shaq’s work was absent. The images that
came onto the canvas were unusual and
unrecognizable to even the him, but still
he was driven and inspired to move the
brush and apply the color; he allowing
his hand to move freely over the canvas
while slowly images appeared where only
blotches or lines existed, slowly the image
was revealed and from what was within
his hidden consciousness came visions
of meaning and – in the end – came
once again Shaq’s essence came shining
through. As is usual in his art….the soul
is always there; but Shaq says that in this
genre the interpretation of the message is
left to the eye of the beholder. Whatever
was Shaq’s purpose or message or reason
this does not so much matter as does the
need for his art to reach out and touch the
viewer’s own soul in some personal and
meaningful way.
His abstract art has been created in such a
random style and yet brought - through all
the unusual shapes, techniques, coloration
– a deep and sensitive image guaranteed
to touch the viewer’s heart and mind.
Somehow by allowing these canvasses
to be painted, Shaq has found that his
personal darkness has lessened. He is
back into a much more positive zone
and you will see evidence both of his
original exceptional technique interspersed
and intertwined with his Stream of
Consciousness technique. He seems now
to have control as to when and how to
utilize either or both in the expression of
his message.
If you are interested in meeting Shaq while
he is in Malaysia before he leaves for a
month long exhibition tour in Canada, or if
you are interested in purchasing any of the
paintings displayed here, please contact
Marybeth Ramey at
marybethramey@gmail.com
8.
9.
11.10.

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Whether it is people or buildings, food or
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theexpat-march-2012

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