Langkawi, the great Island of Malaysia

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands (an extra 5 temporary islands are revealed at low tide [1]) in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of some 45,000, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Langkawi is also an administrative district with the town of Kuah as the capital and largest town. Langkawi is a duty-free island.

The name "Langkawi" is believed to be related to the kingdom of Langkasuka, centred in modern-day Kedah. The historical record is sparse, but a Chinese Liang Dynasty record (c. 500 AD) refers to the kingdom of "Langgasu" as being founded in the 1st century AD. 'Langkawi' mean's Eagle Island, it may be noted, and indeed there is a great abundance of eagles in the area. In Kuah, there is an eagle monument in Eagle Square which commemorates the origin of Langkawi's name.

Langkawi is also the site of the Mahsuri legend. The legend speaks of a young woman who was accused of adultery and was executed by the public despite her pleading innocence. Mahsuri, before her death, made a curse on the island for seven generations of bad luck. Langkawi eventually came under the influence of the Sultanate of Kedah, but Kedah was conquered in 1821 by Siam and Langkawi along with it. The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 transferred power to the British, who held the state until independence, except for a brief period of Thai rule under the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II. Thai influences remain visible in the culture and food of Langkawi, while Thai language is still understood by many on the island.

Langkawi was the site of the Langkawi Declaration, issued by the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations and making environmental sustainability one of the priorities of the Commonwealth.

On June 1, 2007, Langkawi Island has been given a World Geopark status by UNESCO.[1] Three of its main Geopark components are Mount Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Geoforest Park and Pulau Tasik Dayang Bunting (Island of the Pregnant Maiden Lake).

Sheltered by the mountainous backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi escapes the northeastern winter monsoon entirely and enjoys sunny skies when the eastern provinces are flooded. Coupled with natural white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage and craggy mountain peaks—but hampered by inaccessibility—the island was at one time touted as "Malaysia's best-kept secret".

Langkawi remained a sleepy backwater until 1987, when the island was granted tax-free status with the intention of promoting tourism. Subsequently the island's airport was upgraded and ferry links were increased.

Beginning 1990s, Langkawi competes with nearby Penang for the title of Malaysia's largest tourist draw. Resorts and 5-star hotels line the beaches and in the winter high season, direct flights land from as far as Europe and Japan.

Besides being tax-free, the beach and eagle, another attraction in Langkawi is the Cable Car to the tops of Gunung Mat Cincang at 705 m above sea level. Galeria Perdana a collection of over 2500 gift to the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Mahathir Mohamad.

Langkawi is affected by the milder western monsoon (May-September), and while diving is possible at Pulau Payar, water clarity tends to be poor.

Langkawi used to be the starting point of the annual international cycling race Tour de Langkawi cycling event, however after 2000, Langkawi was omitted from the race itinerary. Langkawi also hosts the biennial Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show (LIMA).

Transportation:
From the Kuah jetty, there are high-speed ferry connections to Satun in southern Thailand, Pulau Payar, Penang, Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis in the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia. Star Cruises ships dock at the Awana Porto Malai harbour on the west coast of the island. Malaysia Airlines has daily flights to Langkawi whilst AirAsia flies from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. SilkAir flies to Langkawi from Singapore and there is a Penang-Langkawi flight route operated by Firefly airline. The Langkawi island has a well developed road network. Taxis and car rentals are available at the Langkawi International Airport.

(Source:Facebook Langkawi Group)

Club Mediterranee sees Asia-Pacific as growth region

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on September 22 2009)

PARIS-LISTED Club Mediterranee plans to set up more ski and beach resorts and is targeting Asia-Pacific as a growth region.

Club Med vice-president of marketing and general manager of commercial for Asia-Pacific, Olivier Horps, said it is looking to open three resorts in China and one in Japan within the next three years for more than RM150 million.

"We are looking at management contracts and setting some up on our own with developers. Our aim is to be one of the biggest ski and beach resort operators in China and Japan," he said in an interview.

Club Mediterranee is the world leader for ski resorts with 23 properties, the bulk of which are in Europe.

"We find that Asia-Pacific is less affected by the current economic crisis and people from worldwide have continued their vacations in this region. So we believe there is potential for us to grow," Horps said.

Club Mediterranee has 10 resorts in Asia-Pacific, of which two are in Hokaido and Kabira, Japan, two in Mauritius, and one each in Malaysia, Bali, Maldives, Phuket, Bintan and Australia.

Worldwide, it has a total of 80 resorts, which hosted a combine 1.36 million customers in 2008, representing a growth of 2.8 per cent.

Horps said its resorts in Asia-Pacific are expected to close the year with 60 per cent occupancy.

Last year, its Asia-Pacific operations earned Euro200 million (RM1.02 billion) contributing 12 per cent to Club Mediterranee's global revenue of Euro1.5 billion (RM7.68 billion).

"This year, we hope to maintain the revenue for our business in Asia-Pacific. In the current context, maintaining is already good. It has been a rough year with the economic crisis first, and then influenza A(H1N1).

"What we see is more late bookings. People are planning their holiday on shorter notice," he said.

At group level, revenue will decrease slightly but Club Mediterranee is expecting to do better than its competitors, Horps said.

Its net profit for fiscal 2008 was Euro2 million (RM10.24 million), as compared with a loss of Euro8 million (RM40.96 million) in 2007.
(END)

Club Med may set up another village here

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on September 22 2009)


FRENCH-BASED Club Mediterranee, which operates the Club Med resort chain, may set up another village in Malaysia if it gets the chance to take over an existing property with a management contract.

Club Med vice-president of marketing and general manager of commercial for Asia-Pacific, Olivier Horps, said having a second resort in Malaysia would help to boost its revenue for Asia-Pacific.

"We may look at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah as a second destination. It could happen soon if there is a proposal from somebody," Horps told Business Times in an interview.

He said currently, a lot of foreigners are travelling to Malaysia and staying at its sole resort here, the Club Med Cherating in Pahang.

Club Med Cherating, which was set up in 1979, is poised for further development, having last been refurbished at a cost of RM30 million in 2004/2005.

The refurbishment had helped increased its occupancy rates from 50 per cent in 2004 to between 60 per cent and 65 per cent.

The resort, which has about 700 beds, looks at the number of beds instead of rooms to gauge its occupancy.

It now sells each room from RM550 per person per night, inclusive of accommodation, three meals, snacking and free flow of alcohol and non-alcohol beverages and entertainment.

"We review our (room) prices each year. The only time we raised room rates by a higher percentage was recently, when we included the two-day/one-night stay package with free-flow of beverages and dining.

But it has improved our sales volume," Horps said.
"We will make investments this year to add environment-friendly activities, instead of increasing rooms. We plan to create a new path in the jungle. We have cliffs looking into the sea and may create new activities there," Horps said.

Club Mediterranee, set up in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, has 80 resorts in its global portfolio with Malaysia being the first country in Asia-Pacific to have a Club Med resort.

(END)

What are developers thinking?

By Sharen Kaur
Property developers are adjusting their business plan for next year as the economy improves. The first 7 months of the current year saw developers launching incentives such as the 5/95 package, free S&P and legal fees, and zero interest during construction. Transactions were quick for properties in up-market areas thanks to the discounts and goodies offered. And those who were holding on to their property purchase plans may regret now as they will be paying more than they should have if they had bought the properties earlier. This is because, developers are thinking of scrapping the discounts, and raising their prices. 

For example, a property which costs RM400,000 in July, may now sell for RM430,000 and buyers would have to pay for legal fees and S&P. It is heard also that banks are cautious on their lending and loans may be hard to come by.

During bad times, every business owner would try to offer the best to win customers. Now, customers would have to go looking for the best,which is going to be time consuming.

Hot areas for properties currently - Bangsar, Damansara, PJ, Taman Seputeh, Sentul

National Day of Mexico

By Sharen Kaur
The Mexicans just know how to celebrate their national day. Wine, Champagne, Food...its all things common and the best on the list.

I was invited to celebrate the National Day of Mexico at the 5-star Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today. It was amazing because I met many wonderful people...that's what i call good networking

Abu Dhabi,Qatar bright spots in Mideast market

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on September 14 2009)

EVERSENDAI Group said the outlook for the Middle East construction market remains bleak, though there are some market opportunities for infrastructure projects.


Founder and managing director Datuk A.K. Nathan said while there are fewer jobs in the Gulf region, and competition is stiffer than before.
"While the market in Dubai has slowed due to effects from the economic crises, activities are still vibrant in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. In the first seven months of the current year, we have won contracts worth RM500 million in Abu Dhabi and Qatar," Nathan told Business Times.

The contracts are to build a convention centre and the Nakilat Shipyard in Qatar for Qatar Petroleum, a high-rise corporate tower in Abu Dhabi, dubbed Capital Gate, and Dubai Pearl, a luxury condominium development.

Nathan added more projects are coming on stream in the Middle East worth a few billion ringgit and as such Eversendai is geared on getting more jobs.

Eversendai's on-going projects include building the New Doha International Airport, a contract worth RM420 million awarded by SO JV, and the 84-storey Dubai Tower project worth RM125 million awarded by the Al Habtoor/Al Jaber joint venture.

Eversendai, set up in 1984 builds steel structures that are transformed into dazzling buildings that famous architects design.

The group gained recognition when it completed Tower 2 of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur in 1988.

Its entry into the Middle East was through the Burj Al Arab hotel project in Dubai, which it was awarded in 1995.

Burj Al Arab became the company's signature project and helped promote Eversendai. Since then, Eversendai has completed 50 projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

They include buildings such as the Dubai Mall, Rose Tower, Emirates Towers, Ski Dome, Burj Dubai, Dubai Festival City and the Qatar Science and Technology Park.

(ENDS)

Eversendai expects net profit to hit RM90m mark

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on September 14  2009

EVERSENDAI Group expects net profit in its current financial year to reach the RM90 million mark, helped by cost- cutting measures and consolidation of its business.

For the year ended December 31 2008, Eversendai posted a net profit of RM71 million on RM797 million in turnover.

This year, Eversendai is expecting record profits, on the back of RM900 million in revenue, largely backed by recently secured contracts worth RM500 million in the Middle East.

The company is also bidding for new jobs in the Middle East to replenish its RM1.5 billion order book.

"Even though the market is bleak, Eversendai is able to withstand the crises and do better than in previous years," its founder and managing director Datuk A.K. Nathan said.

Thus far, Eversendai has won contracts to build a convention centre and the Nakilat Shipyard in Qatar for Qatar Petroleum, a high-rise corporate tower in Abu Dhabi, dubbed Capital Gate, and Dubai Pearl, a luxury condominium development in Dubai.

Nathan said Eversendai had consolidated its business and restructured the group's operation six months before the crises hit world markets last year.

"We were fortunate to do that before the turmoil. That has helped us to ride out the storm," he told Business Times in an interview in Kuala Lumpur.

For example, Eversendai has been buying steel materials for its projects in advance, which are kept at its 100,000 sq m storage yard in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates.

"There is less concern on price fluctuation when we stock up steel a year in advance for the fabrication of structures for buildings," Nathan said.

Eversendai, set up in 1984, employs 6,000 people in Malaysia, India and the Middle East and is looking to hire more professionals as it seeks to expand its business.

"While there is stiffer competition in the Middle East, we are leveraging on our reputation to complete projects within schedule, without comprising on quality and safety. We expect more work later this year," he said.

Eversendai has fabrication factories in Dubai, Sharjah, Qatar and Malaysia with a combine capacity of 120,000 tonnes of fabricated steel per year.

Nathan said presently, the factories are running 24/7 to keep up with the group's workload.

(ENDS)

A classic collection

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on July2 2008)

IT was great having dinner at the Selangor Sikh Union's Kelab Aman, the country's oldest Sikh sports club with a clubhouse serving typical and tasty Punjabi food. SHAREN KAUR has the story.

Kelab Aman, which literally means `Peace Club', is the home of the SSU, the first Malaysian Sikh non-religious organisation founded circa 1920.

The two-storey club with a football field is located behind Empire Tower at Jalan Tun Razak, near the Bangladesh Embassy, off Jalan Damai, Kuala Lumpur.

It was once the site of a tin mine and in 1968 more than 4,000 lorry loads of earth were used to fill the pit before groundwork could start.

The club was officially completed in 1974 and remains the site for the Sikh community's cultural functions, carnivals, hockey, cricket and other sports.

It is also popular among the Sikhs and other communities who gather to celebrate weddings, engagements, birthdays, and corporate dinners at its 500-pax hall on the first floor.

While you're there, you'll find it a friendly, family-oriented place, offering ample parking FOC.

There's a full-bar and dance floor downstairs, but the crown in this jewel for me really is D'Aman Northern Indian Restaurant which serves authentic North Indian cuisine, a complete menu offering the community's
famous chappati (leavened bread), saag (spinach), aloo gobi (cauliflower and potato) and good, old susu lembu (cow's milk).

If you dine at night, you might get to see the brightly lighted field when games go on.

D'Aman, owned by husband and wife team Gurdev Singh, 32, and Jaspreet Kaur, 28, does not offer just an extensive menu for daily diners but acts as a one stop centre in event management.

Jaspreet tells me that D'Aman caters food for events at the club and works closely with Classic Floral Services for the decorations, while Gurdev runs a company known as MDJ Sound and Light, providing lights, a comprehensive sound system and live entertainment.

"The fun about establishing our base at Kelab Aman is its popularity among those who are always looking for something new to add to their celebration in terms of exotic food and stylish decoration.

"The non-Sikhs who come here love Punjabi food, hence their decision to host events here," added Jaspreet.

Gurdev said that the club is also strategically located making its appeal more unique.

While competition is no threat to them, Gurdev is a firm believer in offering value-for-money.

The food is reasonably priced. A nice bowl of saag and chappati for two people would cost RM7.40. Adding a piping hot masala tea and cold mango lassi to that would bring the bill to RM12.20 and you know why the place is often patronised.

Jaspreet suggested we taste the house specialties - butter chicken, dhall tarka (lentil gravy), saag (with cottage cheese), tandoori chicken, garlic and Kashmiri naan and mix vegetables Punjabi-style.

The saag which I had first was creamy and simply melted in my mouth, and when I ate it with the naan, it was heaven on earth.

The naan was warm and soft. But if you take just the Kashmiri naan, you may end up eating it on its own as it's superbly made with kismis (raisins), and dusted with lots of almond and cashew nut powder.

Next, I had butter chicken with naan, which you could also eat with jeera rice or chappati but naan for me was the better choice.

The butter chicken, which according to Jaspreet is one of the best sellers at D'Aman, was creamy with perfect texture and flavour.

Jaspreet was reluctant to disclose the ingredients adding that it was traditionally a family recipe but after trying a few spoons myself, I could say there was pure butter and a few different masala mixtures in it.

I had tandoori chicken next. As you take each bite, you just want more as its perfectly done and not too spicy, either.

The Punjabi-style mixed vegetable was a sure thing, which passed my test in terms of freshness, colour, aroma and presentation.

The vegetables - cauliflower, long beans, capsicum, carrot and potato - was not overly cooked giving you that added crunch as you savour it.

Finally, I enjoyed the mango lassi with mango pulp from India and yoghurt. Sugar-free, it was not too heavy and quite thirst quenching after a long day.

Call 012-601-1385 012-601-1385 or email dpspices@gmail.com for reservations.

(END

The Naza siblings

By Sharen Kaur


THE Naza Group of Companies was founded by the late Tan Sri Nasimuddin Amin in 1974.

It has 14 business divisions, namely motor trading, motorbikes, properties, manufacturing, transport services, machine tools and parts, engineering, plantation, cigarette distribution, credit and leasing, water crafts, insurance agency and hotel operation.

Nasimuddin was one of the finest examples of a New Economic Policy Bumiputera success stories.

Born on Jan 25, 1955, Nasimuddin studied at Sekolah Menengah Tuanku Muhammad in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

He began his automotive business at the age of 21 with a capital of RM80,000 he had accumulated by working for his father who was in the contracting business.

He made his first million a year later by applying for government-issued Approved Permits (APs) to import used cars from Japan.

The Naza Group is now known for its car-making businesses with South Korea's Kia Motors Corp, and more recently, PSA Peugeot Citroen of France.

It also distributes exotic marques like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, Bentley and Ducati.

In August 2005, Naza Group opened its doors to a new automotive showroom in Petaling Jaya, dubbed Naza Auto Mall, which became its landmark.

Nasimuddin's five children, aged 23 to 32, are involved in the operation of Naza Group.

They are SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin, Nur Diana SM Nasimuddin, SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, SM Faliq SM Nasimuddin and Nur Nadia SM Nasimuddin.

Nasarudin and Faisal are both joint group executive chairman of Naza Group. They are also group chief executive officers of several businesses under the group.

Faliq, 24, the youngest of the three brothers, is group managing director of Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd (formerly, TTDI Development Sdn Bhd).

Naza TTDI's on-going projects include the RM4 billion Platinum Park in Kuala Lumpur, Laman Seri in Shah Alam and TTDI Plaza in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Faliq has plans to grow Naza TTDI and take it to new heights. One of the plan is to have a back door listing for the company, soon.

Diana is a director of Naza Group and Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. She holds a Masters in International Market, and a Degree in Business Studies and Information Management.

Nadia, who has a degree in management studies and is the youngest of the five siblings, heads the hotel division, and the food and beverage business of the Naza Group.

The 23-year-old is looking to do her Masters in Hotel Management in Switzerland, after building her hotel empire in Malaysia.

The division currently owns and manages a hotel each in Johor Bharu, Penang and Malacca, called Naza Talyya Hotel.

They are three and four star properties with around 130 rooms each.

Nadia is planning to include a collection of four and five star properties, and boutique hotels in its existing portfolio.

Each hotel category will be branded differently, but under the Naza umbrella.

Naza Group also holds the franchise to operate Howard Johnson in Torrance and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro, Los Angeles.

(ENDS)

To have it wine or no

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on January 30 2007)

IF you love premium Australian wines, do try the boutique wines from McLaren Vale, South Australia, produced by Ulithorne, an old, small family-owned vineyard situated in the premier wine region of McLaren Vale.

Its hilly, terraced and contoured vine rows overlook the sea and the custodians of this land are Sam Harrison and Rose Kentish, who aim to consistently produce exceptional quality wine from vines that are more than 30 years old.

Rose was in town recently to introduce five famous wines from the region. At the dinner held at Chynna @ Hilton Hotel KL, she proudly had the wines served and I felt they were better enjoyed before or after dinner, rather than during meals.

Recently, there have been a deluge of wine dinners, pairing vintages with just about anything you could cook. With some wines, however, I feel that a nice cheeseboard would have sufficed.

The wines that evening were paired with Chinese cuisine. For starters, we had a Cabernet Shiraz 2005 with smoked abalone and mushroom roll, wok seared chicken with champagne skewer, and crispy prawn tossed with iceland sauce, followed by Frux Frugis Shiraz 2004, with honey glazed grilled salmon fillet and shaves coconut jelly.

The Cabernet Shiraz is a very elegant drink, the punchy Cabernet fruit dominating and the palate showing great depth from the blend of varities.

The deep plum-purple Frux Frugis meanwhile explodes on your palate offering scents of vanilla, minty blackberries, figs and plums. It has sensational concentration and leaves a slightly vinegared after flavour.

The longer bottled, the more promise it has.

Pairing the salmon with the Frux Frugis just didn't do the trick as the slightly sweet flavours had overpowered the fine taste of the wine. The starter, however, passed the test.

Next we had Frux Frugis Shiraz 2003, a beautiful vintage, lovely deep red with preserved cherries on the nose and a long, silky palate with heaps of flavour, paired with stewed beef strip loin with rum and red
coarse rice.

The Frux Frugis 2003 unfurls in the glass beautifully; at first a liquoricey, dense spice slinks around dark plumy-prune characters, with hints of cedar, and then the plum becomes more plush and aromatic with
time.

The wine exhibits a complex nose of ripe berry, spice and fine oak notes. The palate has intensity and length with ripe fruit flavours giving the wine a slightly sweeter taste. Not a beef person, I had the wine on its own but was told that pairing with the stewed beef gave a strong vinegared aftertaste.

Moving on, we had the Frux Frugis Shiraz 2001, which had been paired with pan grilled lamb cutlet with crushed pistachio and assorted vegetables in black pepper; not too bad except for the sauce, which again
was sweet and had offsett the taste of the wine at the start.

The Frux Frugis 2001 is near perfect in balance and concentration. I was impressed with the wine as it had heaps of rich, black berry fruit, a touch of pepper and smoky oak. The palate has intensity and length with
ripe fruit flavours, balanced acidity and well integrated oak flavours.

For dessert, we had sweetened custard cream stuffed in rabbit-shaped dumpling and bird's nest tart and black sesame ice cream, served with Flamma Sparkling Shiraz 2005.

Mix and match is an acquired taste for sure. The Flamma is harmonious, its aroma vivid and uplifting with mulberry, dark plum, coffee bean and nutmeg. The palate offers lovely fruit flavours that have real length and
structure.

Kentish said this is a great celebration drink in Australia. "We deliberately produce the Flamma to be a drier style of Sparkling Shiraz, that lets the fruit shine through and offer powerful flavours for food matching without any overt sweetness."

The wines were presented by The Red and White Vintage Sdn Bhd, a fine wines specialist, together with Hilton Hotel KL, which is currently promoting the Ulithorne wines at its outlets.

(END)

Fresh air on the highlands

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on May 17 2008)


SHAREN KAUR talks to Krishna Badhur and learns how he built his career from scratch, hit rock bottom and finally became manager of one of Malaysia's oldest and most cherished highland hideaways.

This pleasant, dynamic man landed his first job as a front office receptionist at Regent Hotel Kuala Lumpur (now Parkroyal) when it was located at the intersection of Jln Sultan Ismail and Jln Imbi, after completing a hotel management course. He soon became a tour manager and then got promoted to duty manager.

Lots of hard work, dedication and sheer preseverance later, he was made assistant front office manager, before finally assuming the post of front office manager, all in 12 years.

"When Parkroyal took over after the Regent relocated to Jalan Bukit Bintang, the company retained me in the same position," Krishna said. "After a year, I ventured into the food business but things didn't work out well."

"A year later, I joined Crown Princess Hotel and then moved on to Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, which is under HPL Hotels and Resorts," he added. "Within the HPL Group, I had an opportunity and experience to
manage Casa Del Mar in Langkawi for two years and also worked in more challenging countries like Myanmar and Bhutan."

But that's history. For the last five years, Krishna has been managing The Lakehouse in Cameron Highlands and is quite happy to stay in these cool climes for a while.

He admitted there were challenging times during his various stints, working irregular hours and having to balance his time between work and family. The hardest was when he hit rock bottom when he ventured into the food business.

"I've learnt many things, understanding people's needs and being able to fulfill their expectations, and I find this is the most satisfying," said Krishna.

"I had the opportunity to learn and understand the laws of nature when I had failed in my food business," he recollects, and is emphatic when he says: "When you hit rock bottom, the only course is to move up."

"I've also learnt that failure is only a passing tide and that there is ample opportunity to derive from this."

So, what is Krishna Badhur doing for the 18-room Lakehouse in Cameron Highlands, which was acquired by the HPL Group, helmed by tycoon Ong Beng Seng, in 1989?

"I want to position the brand as one of the most reputable destinations around and ensure that guests go home with a memorable experience," he said.

The Lakehouse is located about 1,000 metres above sea level between Ringlet and Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia's popular hill resort, about 200km north of Kuala Lumpur.

It was built by Colonel Stanley Jack Forster, of the British Army in 1970, and is a splendid Tudor-styled boutique resort complete with artifacts from Europe.

Set in an area dubbed `The Valley of Eternal Spring', this idyllic country house rests on a hill, surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, overlooking rolling hills, verdant woodlands and a tranquil, albeit man-made, lake.

The nicest feeling about being at The Lakehouse is the calm, serene ambience within, and lush greenery and soothing sounds of insects from the nearby jungle, birds chirping all day, running water, and a nice little Hindu temple sitting on a hillslope within the compound.

The temple is owned by The Lakehouse and built in 1992 after a passing monk visited the place to relate that an elephant deity had wanted to sit up there. Krishna says that the management decided to build a small
shrine to keep the harmony of the place.

Forster passed away in 1984 at a time when the HPL Group was scouting for a property and came across The Lakehouse by coincidence. It was up for sale, and HPL bought it lock, stock and barrel.

The interior was refurbished in 2005 when bathroom tiles and ware, fabrics and carpets were replaced and paint work done.
"It used to be plain Tudor-style black and white inside, but now there's pink and cream so it doesn't exude a dull, monotonous character," Krishna said.

Well, if you're a writer or a retired couple longing for peace and quiet, The Lakehouse is just the place. It does not offer television sets or a pool to laze in to begin with.

There are other things you could do; spend time at the Reading Room where you could sit by the log fireplace and enjoy some quiet time, or play Scrabble or other board games over a glass of wine at the Highlander Lounge, also a lovely, romantic place to snuggle up in the chilly evenings.

Or simply just sip on English tea and scoff warm scones at the al fresco Lakeview Terrace. The scones are warm and the nicest I've had, and they go very well with the rich, pure strawberry jam and perfect whipped
cream.

Otherwise, you could just relax in your room if you want all day and order room service.

The Restaurant, the resort's most popular dining area, offers some good local and western dishes, courtesy of Chef Edmund Ling, who has been mannning the kitchen for 17 years.

Whilst you are there, don't forget to pick your favourite wine from the display table at the entrance, where vintages from around the world are arranged neatly and attractive, too. Each bottle costs RM150 and above.

All rooms and suites are comfortably and elegantly decorated in the style of a bygone era. Lush and quaint furnishings form a wonderful backdrop at The Lakehouse where four-poster beds, winged chairs, antique
cupboards, table fans and fresh flowers from the garden complete its old world charm.

There are 11 deluxe rooms (RM582 nett each), three junior suites (RM679), three family suites (RM800) and even a honeymoon suite (RM922), all inclusive of breakfast.

You also breathe fresh air because none of the rooms are air-conditioned. There's netting on the windows to keep pesky mosquities out.

Finally, when you do go to The Lakehouse, get it to book you some tours to the Boh Tea plantation and factory, strawberry farm, vegetable farm, bufferfly garden, Orang Asli village and to the highest peak at Mount Brinchang.

"We offer some good packages which cover meals, accomodation and tours, but at the end of the day, it's the service level that makes everyone feel at home," added Krishna.

Call 05-495-6152 05-495-6152 or log on to www.lakehouse-cameron.com.

(END)

A wine story

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on June 17 2008)

DRINKING a glass of wine a day may keep the doctor away but drink moderately and stick to the red if you want to benefit.

Red wine is good because of the high concentration of antioxidants. Reds also contain resveratrol, a substance proven to repair damaged cells and help prevent cancer.

Resveratrol also helps to thin the blood, which protects you from heart disease.

"It's better with a meal and I have a glass every night so I sleep better. Wine contains some level of alcohol so drinking a glass a day is just fine," said Carlos Spoerer, export area manager for Chilean produced
Morande wines, who was here on his eight visit.

The casual event was the Morande wine tasting evening at popular Sri Hartamas nightspot Backyard Pub and Grill.

Spoerer noted that almost 80 per cent of world consumption for wines are reds.

In Malaysia, red wines have to be slightly chilled for 15 minutes, bringing the temperature down to 18-20 degrees Celsius and the whites for at least 45 minutes to level it down to 10.

A good quality wine should also have above 12 per cent alcohol level and the Morande wines are nicely above 13.

Morande wine is the result of the efforts of Pablo Morande, a traditional winemaker, who discovered conditions for producing white vine-stocks in the Casablanca and Maipo Valley more than 10 years ago,
unique in Chile, and similar to those found in the Carneros area of California.

According to Spoerer, Maipa is more popular for producing reds while Casablanca's cooler climate is famous for whites.

Morande also makes Reserva and Gran Reserva wines where oak aging is involved.

These are available in Malaysia for RM120-RM140 and RM180-RM200 per bottle respectively, distributed exclusively by Cave and Cellar.

"Morande is more French influence in the way it grows the grapes and do the wine," Spoerer said.

"In our winery, we are focused on both volume and quality. In the case of Sauvignon Blanc, we use high quality grapes," said the 31-year old connoisseur who has been promoting the Morande wines worldwide for more than five years.

At the wine tasting, Spoerer introduced Morande's proudest wine, Pinot Grigio 2006.

"We are the first and only winemaker producing this wine. It's a good work of wine that is a bit sweet and fresh, making it suitable to have with Thai dishes that are not too spicy.

"It's also good to have with grilled fish without the sauce as this is a light wine," he explained.

The Pinot Grigio is pale pinkish and full-bodied with distinctive touches of grey. In the nose, the wine is fruity with aromas of red apples, dried flowers and spices.The fruit comes from the El EnsuenoVineyard in Casablanca.

Next, we had Sauvignon Blanc 2006 to sample, a pale yellow wine with distinctive touches of green; delicate and very bright. The wine offers the nose intense aromas of pineapple, herbs, lime grapefruit and lemon
grass.

It is tasty and light-bodied, with a flavour of citrus fruit and the perfumes of white flowers.

Spoerer suggested to have salads, sushi and fresh seafood accompany this wine.

The fruit for this wine also comes from the El Ensueno Vineyard in Casablanca making it an ideal aperitif or something to receive guests at home with.

The Grand Reserva Chardonnay 2005 was equally fabulous; in the wine barrels for a year before it bodied.

This is a shining golden-yellow and olive-green wine offering aromas of tropical fruits in the nose, with evident notes of papaya.

Its ageing in wood adds an attractive aroma of vanilla and roasted hazelnuts.

In the mouth, there is the taste of tropical fruit and the toasted flavour of the wood, ideal to accompany strong seafood and highly-flavoured, somewhat oily fish, such as a good smoked salmon, tuna and white poultry meat.

A shining wine, with colours of rubies and rosewood offering notes of dried rose-petals, strawberry jam, black tea and spices, ended up my favourite; the Pinot Noir Reserva 2006, which, in the mouth is light,
delicate, fresh, elegant and feminine, with fruity, seductive flavours.

"It has good persistence and a long, pleasantly refreshing finish. This wine should be drunk fresh in order to enhance its elegance and flavours.

It's ideal for oily fish such as salmon, cod and sea bass, in addition to pastas and cheese," said Spoerer.

The Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2005, perfect for cheese, red meats and spicy pastas, is another popular wine, an intense, violet-red wine with touches of ruby. In the nose, it offers elegant aromas of ripe red fruit,
plums, vanilla and jam.

It is very tasty in the mouth, with plenty of fruit, spices, chocolate and caramel.

This wine has very good structure and body, with long persistence and broad tannins.

The last wine, Merlot Gran Reserva 2005, which usually does not enjoy my favour, was a fantastic wine, in French oak barrels for 18 months.

A deep-red, intense wine with hints of ruby, the wine was elegant in the nose, with aromas of fresh herbs, black pepper and red fruits.

It is a medium-bodied wine with pleasant, complex flavours, smoothness and sweet tannins, perfect to combine with pastas, white meats, cold meats, matured cheeses and soups.

"The fun thing about grapes is that they have the capacity to reproduce flavours and aromas that belong to all the components of nature.

"That is why when you smell a wine, it smells of a certain aroma and flavour," noted Spoerer.

"Hence, whether you like the Morande wines or not, you know they have been well done right from harvesting to bottling."

Backyard Pub, owned and managed by Jerry Chong, has also earned a reputation for heart meals. While you're at Backyard, order the spicy mutton peratel, veravel or cutlets, all very nice with these wines, or
its Indonesian fried rice, mamak mee and mee jawa.

The stage, music director being Edmund Anthony, boasts some great talents, nightly, the star-studded list including Raymond Cheah (Sunday), Mark Renesh (Monday), Gerard Singh and Simon Justin Leo (Tuesday), Mizan's Click (Wednesday), Zarsadius Brothers (Thursday), Retro Edge (Friday) and Big Game, starring Gerard Singh, Raymond Cheah and Simon Justin Leo (Saturday).

Also popular and well-patronised are its two pool tables, and Saturday night barbeques.

Backyard Pub is located at Jln Sri Hartamas 8, Tmn Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

For more, call 03-6201-0318 03-6201-0318 or log on to its website, www.backyardpub.com.

(END)

Its a Swiss temptation

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on July 25 2008)

SWITZERLAND may be far and an expensive place to go to. Besides skiing and enjoying the snowy Alps and cheesy delights, the real attraction is the food, which you could also get at Chalet, a fine Swiss restaurant at Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur. SHAREN KAUR has the story.

It's a pleasure dining at The Chalet, one of the oldest places in Kuala Lumpur. Running at 35 this year, it is as old as the hotel.

Since it was established, it has undergone a minor refurbishment that took place more than 10 years ago to change the white brick wall to cigar smoke finishings.

The restaurant displays a private lounge and bar, with a wine cellar that boasts some 500 wine labels amid dim lightings.

To me, the Chalet is a classic place and the atmosphere is superb to dine with your loved ones, or enjoy a birthday treat with family and friends.

If you are craving for sentimental value, then you wouldn't mind if dining here does burn a hole in your pocket.

According to executive chef Jochen Kern, who has been in charge od the food at the Chalet since July 2006, the structure of the restaurant, which has diplays of burnt timber all over, is exactly like a Swiss outlet in Switzerland.

"When you are at Chalet, it's like sitting with your partner in a forest, away from everyone, just the two of you enjoying the warmth and inviting surroundings, and even though it is empty, people still walk in to enjoy the serenity," Kern said.

"Whether you have been dining here, 10 years earlier or now, the place and food is still the same. We try to maintain its originality," he added.

Kern, who was born and raised in Braunschweig, Germany, has been a chef for 43 years working in international-class hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

He started at 15, cooking whatever came to mind at home. Now he cooks everything but places more emphasis on ethnic and seafood dishes.

Kern recently earned the professional title, Master of the Trade, which certifies him as a master instructor of the culinary arts and entitles him to test and certify chefs and cooks for various culinary degrees.

He recently conducted exams for official certification on behalf of the German Government in Hong Kong.

Kern is also the founder and president of the Cordon Noir Gourmet, a worldwide non-financial gastronomic club for fine food connoisseurs.

The Chalet, meanwhile, is famed for its award-winning cuisine and unique atmosphere, having delighted epicureans with a potpourri of regional Swiss continental specialities and cultural heritage, evolving over the centuries around a variety of seasonal home produce.

A mutiple Tourism Malaysia Gold Award winner (for Best Frontline Service in 1996/97 and Best Restaurant-Western Cuisine in 1993 and again in 1996/97), the Chalet's menu offers traditional Swiss continental fare such as the Raclette Valaisanne (RM58) - melted Swiss cheese with baby potatoes and homemade pickles.

"Raclette is very aromatic and spicy. I use leib, a whole body of cheese, which I scrape slowly over fire," Kern explained. "The cheese, as it falls onto a plate, is melted down in the process, and because of the melting process, the cheese is slightly brown at the top offering a slightly roasted flavour."

Connoisseurs can also enjoy the finest colossol caviar, fresh oysters and a variety of classic Swiss fondues including the famous Fondue Vaudoise au Appenzeller (bread cubes dipped in melted cheese enhanced with kirsch and wine), Fondue Bourguignonne (a classical preparation of beef tenderloin in hot oil), Fondue Terre de Chine (cubes of chicken and veal braised in vegetable stock flavoured with allspice) and Fondue d'

Emmenthal aux Cepes (fondue of Swiss emmenthal with pan-fried cepes and garlic).

The exquisite dishes complement with a wide selection of fine wines available from the Chalet, and an appetiser buffet of smoked salmon, fresh oysters, organic salads, seafood and cold cuts.

Chalet still maintains its dessert trolley featuring delicious cakes, fruit pies, puddings, imported fresh fruits and an extensive cheese board.
Apart from the selections on the dessert trolley, Chalet is renowned for its `dancing' dessert - the Sabayon Da Chalet (RM38).

This delightful Swiss dessert is special in the way its done and served. For one, there is a lot of rock and rollin' fun when the staff twist and turn to live music from the band members (New Faces) as they prepare the dessert. The result is simply delicious and creamy.

Another interesting thing here is the Caesar Salad (RM34), which is no plate of ordinary greens as its sharper in taste. The ingredients for this include fresh garlic and lettuce, egg yolk, mustard, anchovies, lemon juice and parmesan cheese, dashed with black pepper and olive oil.

"These are common ingredients for Caesar Salad in the real world. This is real stuff," noted Kern.

Preparation for the salad is done live for diners who can watch and request for items they don't want on their plate.

Chalet is also famous for its Cream of Wild Forest Mushrooms (RM28), uniquely served in a giant roll. The big round roll, filled with creamy mushroom soup, is cut at the top, allowing you to scoop the piping hot soup, which has generous helpings of minced mushrooms.
Chalet also serves grilled Australian Wagyu Beef Tenderloin priced at RM340, and Broiled Cod Fillet Verzaska for RM76, which are Kern's favourites.

(END)

The food's sailing

By Sharen Kaur (Published in NST on August 20 2008)

THE SHIP is not just a sailing vessel but a place to have good steak and fresh seafood. Founded by the late Foo Hee Hoon and Foo Hee Loon, the first outlet was opened at Jalan Bukit Bintang in June 1972.

Thirty-six years later, there are now six outlets with the same concept at Jalan Sultan Ismail, Damansara Utama, Dang Wangi, with two in Penang - Batu Ferringhi and Sri Bahari with more to come.

The Ship's appeal is in its signature look. You cannot miss it from outside as its frontage is the facade of a full-blown hull of a Ship, right in the heart of town!

On the inside, the allure is enhanced by the use of colour and tone, giving the place a warm and cosy feel, complemented by the generous use of Meranti wood on the ceilings and walls.

The exclusively designed wooden furniture, lighting, pictures, artifacts and decorations lend to the charm of the nautical theme. The service crew, donned in nautical uniforms perfect the picture, complemented by the quality of food, level of service, ambience and dining experience.

The menu is a treasure trove of delectable dishes with secret recipes created and perfected over many years, and passed down the generations of the Foo family.

But one thing is for sure, having a meal at The Ship is still the same as when you first had it 10 years ago. Area manager Steven Yoon said: "The heritage and quality of food and service has kept The Ship sailing for more than three decades," adding this wealth of knowledge and expertise has been carefully preserved and passed down to the current generation.

Among the favourites on the menu are Oysters Rockefeller, baked with butter spinach and finely chopped turkey bacon. For oyster guzzlers who prefer it au naturel, it is easy to go overboard with the air-flown New
Zealand oysters on half shell, chilled and served with cocktail or tabasco sauce.

Still greatly savoured are the delicious escargots burguinonne - French snails baked in Chablis garlic sauce. The secret is in the sauce, a combination of cream, garlic and wine. Having it with warm rolls and margaritas or other liquor makes for an endless evening.

"The recipes for all the dishes belong to The Ship, so the taste is always consistent even when new chefs come onboard," added Yoon.

From the soup tureens come a variety of piping hot, in-house made fresh soups like the rich and creamy US seafood chowder, or the aromatic French baked onion soup made with beef stock and a generous amount of sliced fresh onions to give it a bite and almost broth-like consistency.

I had tom yam soup, popular among the locals and heating up with the foreigners, who look for something spicy and sweet on the tongue.

And, being a steak house, taking centre stage was the range of steaks.

The different prime cuts of beef, rib-eye, sirloin, T-bone, fillet mignon are done to your preferred taste, and served as is, or with a selection of home made sauces.

The eight varieties of tasteful sauces include black pepper, BBQ, garlic, Bombay (similar to mango chutney), brown, chamberfin (red wine, mushroom and brown sauce mix), vodka (vodka, white cream and other
ingredients), and kebab (ginger-based chilli) sauce.
Voon said one of the more popular steak and house specialty is black pepper steak. The fillet steak is grilled to perfection and garnished with the rich-in-flavour black pepper sauce, along with fries and vegetables.

For a rivetingly delicious meal from the first bite to the last, the fillet steak flambe with mushroom sauce will be an excellent choice. The meat on its own is tender and moist, and the mushroom sauce complements it delightfully without masking the natural flavour.

The Ship's roasted lack of lamb is also an excellent choice. While it is served with kebab sauce, ask for black pepper sauce, to mix and spice up the flavour.

The other best selling item is Phoenix neptune combo which comes with tiger prawns and chicken topped with gravy, and served on sizzling hot plate with corn-on-the-cob and frieson the side and a salad bowl. I loved it but it was better with the exquisite black pepper sauce, which goes well with almost any dish you have.

"The food is all about the spices and flavours, which have been maintained. Other than that, a piece of meat is just a piece of meat," added Yoon.

The desserts are lovely. Your finale may be Cringpe Suzette, a typical French dessert and tiramisu which is part of the enchanting charisma that The Ship continues to offer.

After your meal, adjourn upstairs to The Funtheque for drinks, entertainment and music, and witness the amazing performances by the Sexy Diva who take centre stage on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, who perform two sets at 10.45pm and 12.45am,

The action continues on the other evenings with Gigolo Nite on Mondays, Hospitality and Service Nite on Tuesdays, Ladies Nite on Wednesdays, Automobile Nite on Thursdays, Pirates Nite on Fridays, Island Party Nite on Saturdays, and Rock Nite on Sundays.

For more information call 03-21443605 03-21443605 or checkout the website at http://www.theship.com.my/.

(END)

Escape to the hills to de-stress

By Sharen Kaur (Published in Travel Times, NST on April 14 2009)


IT had been a long time since my girl pals and I had fun at a hill resort. I can vaguely remember the resort now but it was in Cameron Highlands and there was never a dull moment as there was so much to do.

While shopping wasn’t on the list, there was adventure and learning… and a few other things I loved, like having cosy meals and chit-chatting way into the night.

Now, after more than 15 years, I made a trip to Berjaya Hills in Pahang with a bunch of girls. The experience was a little reminiscent of that holiday in Camerons except that this time, I travelled with former Miss Malaysia/Universe Elaine Daly, her girlfriends — talent manager Geetha Anandarajan and executive Diana Lian — and two other female journalists.

We were going to explore the beauty of the hills. There was such a blast to begin with! We dined under the moonlight, rode horses, treated ourselves to the spa and toured a garden full of flowers.

As we were all looking to de-stress, the 32-year-old Elaine from her hectic life as a model, actress and host, and we, from our hectic assignments or otherwise a routine lifestyle, the moments spent together were full of laughter and joy. And tears sometimes, too, as we laughed ourselves silly.

Elaine, host of television programme Malaysian Dreamgirl, is very fond of Berjaya Hills which is set within a 150-million-year-old tropical rainforest. As it is only 45 minutes by car from Kuala Lumpur, we didn’t spend a lot of time travelling.
While the beauty of the lush hills drew Elaine and many other visitors, the main attraction remained Colmar Tropicale, the French-themed resort in Colmar Square.

The castle-like resort is set in the fairytale environment of a French village and is an enchanting and refreshing haven for a quick getaway and a perfect place to de-stress.
Berjaya Hills also has a Japanese Village, the first of its kind outside Japan. It features a Japanese garden and attractions such as a Japanese tea house, Tatami Spa and botanical garden.
So you can find a little bit of France and Japan perched on a hill in the Malaysian rainforest.
Japanese Experience
We arrived at Colmar Square at 1.30pm. After checking in, we settled down to lunch, a tantalising spread of piping hot pastas and pizzas fresh from the oven.
Then without wasting much time, we decided to visit the Japanese Village. We started with a 45-minute walk at the botanical garden with towering trees, ferns, orchids and some rarely seen plants.

The walk took us through a rustic gateway and a winding Japanese footpath to a beautiful garden and waterfall and over a bridge spanning a koi pond.

From the chumon (entrance gate) to stone lanterns, from wood roofing shingles to tatami mats, and countless other artefacts, we took a liking to the Japanese Garden immediately and immersed ourselves in its aesthetic beauty.

Then we entered the tea house, where we sipped warm Japanese tea before going to the Tatami Spa, located deep within the rainforest.

Tired from walking for over an hour, we couldn’t wait to indulge in a range of body treatments, from scrubs to aromatherapy massages, which we could do either in the calming indoors or the invigorating outdoors. For the sake of privacy, we opted for the indoors and for the next two hours, surrendered to the sensual Sabuko Na (simplicity) and Amayakashi (pamper) spa treatment.

Mixed Flavours
By 7pm, we were done and hunger pangs hit us. So after a quick shower, we met at La Orient for some really nice Indo-Chinese and French cuisine.

La Orient is across from Le Vin Wine & Cigar Bar, where we would adjourn to later for some fine French wine and to reminisce about the beautiful things that had happened in our lives.

But we decided to end it early so that we could get enough sleep and be ready for the next day’s adventure – a half-day picnic ride on the horse trail.

Horses And Picnic
After an early breakfast, we met equestrian manager Lorraine Bottreau, a qualified rider, trainer, coach and judge from Argentina.

She gave us a few minutes of briefing on horse riding. The resort offers customised riding for one to see and experience the splendour of the resort area. The customised packages depend on whether you are a novice or an experienced rider.

Since it was a first experience for all of us, we started with 30 minutes in paddock before heading off on the road and countryside.

An hour into the journey, we stopped at a scenic picnic spot for lunch. We fed the horses with hay and apples, which was fun despite the scorching heat. The three-hour trip left us exhausted but we had an amazing time.

Bottreau said horse riding was a very specific activity that de-stressed the mind and built one’s confidence. “It is a progressive form of therapy,” she added.

We certainly came away totally rejuvenated. Stress and worries of work simply melted away and leaving was simply hard to do.

Contact
For a similar refreshing outing, call Berjaya Hotels & Resorts at 03-2149 1828 03-2149 1828 to package something for you.
  (ENDS)

Malaysia's property market is improvement

By Sharen Kaur

MALAYSIA'S residential property segment is improving, albeit at a moderate pace. While the effect from the global Financial Crisis had trickled down on the market last year and in early 2009, the situation is seen to be improving, especially in the second half of the current year as countries worldwide took to launching stimulus packages to uplift their respective economic.

Because of the financial meltdown, interest on luxury condominiums in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) had weaken with property prices declining by 15-30 per cent from its peak more than a year ago.

But James Wong, director of VPC Alliance Realtors (KL) Sdn Bhd, an international real estate valuer said this is no longer the case now. Having said, he believes the market for luxurious condominiums in KLCC has not bottomed out yet and prices were expected to drop further this year by 10 per cent more due to weak market sentiments.

But even then, the drop will not be as hurtful as in Singapore where a prime property in Orchard Road worth S$3,500 (RM8,365) per sq ft, is now 45 per cent less. Prices of properties in other neighbouring countries such as Hong Kong and China have also dropped similarly.

"Malaysian properties are still far less cheaper than neighbouring countries and this has attracted many buyers from overseas markets. In Singapore, two luxury condo projects launched in 2008 were priced at S$2,900 and S$3,500 psf, respectively. In Kuala Lumpur, our most upmarket condominiums had peaked at RM2500 psf."

"But compared to Thailand and the Philippines, our pricing may be only about 5 per cent lower but for Indonesia, the price of properties are lower than Kuala Lumpur. So luxury properties in Malaysia are still a better bet," James said.

James said although there was new supply of 1,500 condominium units in 2008, and another 4,000 more expected this year, transactions had been slow and the trend may continue for the rest of the year.

"The secondary residential market in KLCC is now weaker due to the high supply. And, to a large extent, these properties are purchased based on speculation, and for investment," James said.

James cautioned investors adding that if one is buying a property for occupancy, then it was still a good time to do so. However, if you are buying for investment or speculation, it was more advisable that you don't as the market was still heading downwards, he said.

"The best time to make an investment would probably be in the fourth quarter of 2009," added James.

In general, some 30 per cent of properties within the KLCC enclave are purchased by foreigners, either to stay, or as an investment.

Locals meanwhile, buy luxury properties at the KLCC area mainly to lease to expatriates who are in Malaysia for work.

But since the US-led subprime crises, employees of these expatriates are asking them to stay in cheaper properties in Kuala Lumpur, which has now affected rental yields.

James said the leasing market for properties in the KLCC area will continue to stay weak.

"Peak rentals in Mont’ Kiara was RM3.50 – 4.00 psf but it is now experiencing a 10 per cent drop. With economic slowdown including retrenchment and pay cuts, these have affected the expatriate market for leasing," James said.

Nevertheless, despite the slow market, James said there was still a mix of locals and foreigners buying, but on a cautious note.

He said foreigners that were buying are those mainly from Asia and the Middle East and Europe, including expatriates working locally who have made Malaysia their second home.

To woo foreign buyers, some developers have taken to holding road shows in Europe, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, India and Australia to take advantage of the competitive pricing.

James said there are foreigners who are buying to participate in the Malaysia My 2nd Home Programme, which has been less affected by the global crisis.

Likewise, James said the luxurious condominium market in Mont’ Kiara and Sri Hartamas was also experiencing a drop in prices.

"Buyers are spoilt for choice with another 2,000 condo units entering the Mont Kiara/Sri Hartamas market in 2009," he added.

James said landed residential properties in popular hotspots such as Damansara, Bangsar, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Desa Park City, Bandar Utama and parts of Puchong continues to be resilient with property prices still holding.

This was due to the limited supply and stronger demand in these choice locations.

En bloc deals were also slow to come, he said, adding that the last deal that took place involved Korean investors in early 2008. Since then, such purchases have not been repeated, he noted.

Government initiatives introduced recently is getting buyers back into the market.The most recent was the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, that all property transactions, including those between foreigners and non-Bumiputeras, will no longer require Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) approval.

The FIC approval will only be required for property transactions which involve a dilution of Bumiputera or government interest for properties valued at RM20 million and above. For example, a dilution of Bumiputera interest refers specifically to the instance where a property currently majority held by Bumiputeras and as a result of a transaction ceases to be owned by a majority Bumiputera entity.

Transactions no longer requiring the FIC approval fall into two categories, with the first relating to any transactions involving sale by non-Bumiputera or foreign majority interest. Secondly, any transactions involving purchase by Bumiputera-controlled entity and this will include a Bumiputera-owned company acquiring property from another Bumiputera-owned company.
This deregulation was expected to facilitate greater property transactions and investments, including acquisitions of commercial properties by foreign interest.

Datuk Mani Usilappan, former director general of the valuation and property services department, Ministry of Finance Inc, said developers may face tough times selling residential blocks with strata titles in the Klang Valley, unless they have buyers with money in their pockets.

Although there are available properties in the Klang Valley, there have been no real buyers in the past one year despite property prices in Kuala Lumpur dropping by 15-20 per cent since a year ago.

"We have small price bubbles in the KLCC and Mont' Kiara area, but there is no major asset bubble. So buyers in general should not worry too much," Mani said.

Asset bubble is a situation where the prices are not underscored by sustainability in terms of income or demand.

Mani said he does not foresee property prices dropping beyond 30 per cent as it did during the crises in 1980s. Property prices then fell by 40 per cent.

Malaysia Property Inc was established recently to promote Malaysia as a property investment destination and it will definitely heighten interest among foreigners. Properties around the KLCC area are expected to be the biggest beneficiary from this initiative.

     (ends)

Man of Steel

AFTER the unwavering eye contact that got the man up and running, and with a few billion ringgit worth of jobs done since, his Eversendai group of companies today has in hand contracts worth over RM2.5 billion, writes SHAREN KAUR. (Published in New Sunday Times).

You could say that he is into the nuts and bolts of the building industry and he is literally up there in what he is doing.

Datuk A.K. Nathan, 52, has been involved in the world's tallest buildings twice, first with Malaysia's sparkling jewels, the Petronas Twin Towers, and now with United Arab Emirate's pride, the Burj Dubai.

Nathan and his company, Eversendai Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, first handled Tower 2 of the Petronas Twin Towers for Korean contractors Samsung.

The Twin Towers, the tallest in the world from 1988 till 2004 at a regal height of 452 metres, have since been overtaken, first by the 508m tall Taipei 101 in 2004 and, now, the Burj Dubai which stood at 629m in April and is still growing.

Nathan's company builds the steel structures that will be clad by concrete and glass to be transformed into dazzling buildings that famous  architects design.

It all started modestly in 1982 when Nathan constructed a temporary steel platform at the Dayabumi Complex in Kuala Lumpur for the Japanese contractor and today Eversendai is among the leading structural steel companies in the world.

The Eversendai Group today is involved in turnkey structural steel construction for high rise building, heavy industrial plants, stadiums and bridges, airports and other infrastructure projects.

Under its belt currently are contracts worth over RM2.5 billion, to provide steel structures for some of the world's most beautifully designed buildings, most of which are in the Middle East.

The Burj Dubai is not the only prestigious job in Dubai. Eversendai has recently won a RM100 million job to build the structural steel works for Trump Tower, part of the Trump hotel and tower project in Dubai, which is estimated to cost RM1.9 billion.
The hotel and tower project is being developed on the Palm Jumeirah, one of the artificial islands being developed in Dubai.
Eversendai's other contracts in Dubai are for Dubai Mall (the world's largest mall),
Princess Tower, Ananthara Tower and Tiara Towers. The other Middle East contracts are the Feature Tower and Al Shams Sky Tower in Abu Dhabi, and the New Doha International Airport and Dubai Tower at Doha, Qatar.
But before all these projects, Eversendai had completed more than 100 notable jobs in Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand worth billions of ringgit.

In the Middle East alone the company had completed more than 35 prestigious jobs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Among the prestigious projects were the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Emirates Tower, Dubai Airport Control Tower, Rose Tower, Rose Rotana Suites Hotel, Ski Dome, Dubai Festival City, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Khalifa Olympic Stadium, and Kingdom Trade Centre.

"Eversendai was built from zero base and with no partners involved," says Nathan in a recent interview in Kuala Lumpur.

And he did not have any knowledge or experience in the business of steel construction either.

The multi-millionaire Nathan is neither an engineer by training nor does he have a degree in related fields. Just like the steel he works with, Nathan was moulded into shape by the experience he has gone through in life.
"I owe my achievements to my struggle in life and having a good circle of friends.
"My struggles have contributed to my success," says Nahan who is married to Puspawathy.

"I have seen the worst in the 30 years I spent climbing the ladder of success."
He was 15 when his father, a newspaper agent, sent him to Chennai, India, in 1971 for his secondary education and five years later, when he was doing pre-university studies, financial problems forced Nathan to return home.
He found a job as a machine operator with a printer and when he was 22, branched into selling insurance.
"I was so `raw' and I had a hard time approaching people," recalls Nathan, whose son Narish Nathan, 25, an IT and Management graduate, works with him. Daughter Shamila, 24, is a lawyer.
"I was very reserved but I had a burning desire to be successful and I pushed myself ahead." It was a short stint in insurance but it gave Nathan confidence and it was something that served him well in the years to come.

"I tackled the intricacies of the construction business to a level which impressed engineers and other professionals."

Nathan's entry into the construction sector came about by accident. His brother, a contractor, landed a steel support contract for the Dayabumi project that he could not handle and passed on the job to Nathan.
Nathan hired a company to help him do the job and when it was not to his satisfaction, undertook the job all by himself with the help of an experienced supervisor and other workers.

But Nathan's biggest break came in 1983 when Nippon Steel Corp gave him a steel structural contract for the Malaysian National car plant (Proton factory).
"I met Mr Tameshi Yamaki who was the Nippon Steel project manager. At the interview for the job, he looked me straight into the eyes and I did the same. I was awarded the job.
"Two months later, I asked him why he gave me the job since I hardly had any experience and I was young, 27 years old then.
"Yamaki said when he looked into my eyes, he knew he could trust me with the job. I guess it's true that the eye is the window to the soul."

Nathan says he owes his success to the Japanese work culture - discipline, work ethics and the desire to acquire knowledge.
"Yamaki was hard on me and made me realise that you need discipline to bring out the best in yourself.
"Yamaki so inspired me that the company's name is also named after Sendai, the town he was born in.
"Sendai means thousands of generation in Japanese. I liked the sound and meaning of it so I added the word `ever' to name my company."
Nathan went on to get a few more contracts but recalls "almost giving up" when recession hit in the mid 1980s.
"I was in a desperate state as I did not get paid for some of the jobs I had done. There were no projects coming and I lost almost everything I had.

"I went to Singapore. I thought I would never return to Kuala Lumpur but the KL Tower project brought me back.
"My greatest pride is in having worked on the Petronas Twin Towers.

"I was involved in the construction of Tower 2. Work on Tower 2 began three months after Tower 1 but I'm proud to say that I completed Tower 2, 10 days ahead of Tower 1."

Nathan says he wanted very badly to work on the tallest building in the world.
"I'm a Malaysian and I wanted very badly to work on this project. I lobbied very hard to get the job," says Nathan who is married to.
The managers of the Korean company that building Tower 2 were not convinced of Eversendai so Nathan invited them to check out his work on the 66-storey Republic Plaza in Singapore.
"I drove them to Singapore. In the 5through hour-journey I had the time to make my pitch and we were already on friendly terms when we arrived in Singapore.
"But what I did for the Republic Plaza impressed them so much so they came along with me my Singapore office and we signed the deal."
Nathan is a fighter who doesn't give up easily.
"When I target a project, I work hard at it. I use the power of the mind to conceptualise things.
"You are what your mind conceives."
Nathan says his most challenging moments are when he is presented with a complex structure. "It's an exhilarating challenge and I enjoy theexperience."
Nathan was initially reluctant to work on the Burj Al Arab project as it was in the Middle East and he didn't know the territory.
"But when I found the structure so sophisticated, I agreed to do the job.
"You could say that the building is a perfect example of the term `an architect's dream an engineer's nightmare'."
Eversendai used about 100 tonnes of electrodes for the project while some structures measured as high as 180m and about 90m long."

Burj Al Arab, built on a man-made island about 200 metres from the seashore, stands at 321 metres and was the world's tallest hotel structure at that time.
"It's a wonder project. But there are more wonder projects that I am working on currently and coming up in the future. It's easy now to erect the structures with smart planning and innovative construction."
Nathan's reputation has spread and he is also known in India and North Africa where he has been approached to provide steel structures for large projects.
"I have not worked on any projects outside the Middle East as my hands have been tied with jobs there."
But Nathan is not one to give up a challenge.
(END)