How to protect your car's timing belt to make it last longer?

First of all, what is a timing belt and why is it important to your car engine?

It is basically a belt -- typically rubber with high tensile fibres -- that synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft in the engine so that the valves open and close at the proper times during each cylinder's intake and exhaust strokes, so that the engine of a vehicle can run. In other words, the timing belt keeps the camshaft and crankshaft of the car engine turning at the correct rate.

How to protect your car's timing belt to make it last longer?

It is such a critical part of the engine that if the timing belt breaks, the engine will simply no longer work. This is actually the best case scenario. 

Because in some engines, one or more valves may be stuck when the belt snaps, while the pistons will move upwards forcefully, crashing into the open valves. So, your engine will likely suffer from some broken valves and pistons. Worse yet is that the engine may be ruined altogether. This happens if the valves and rods push through the engine cover, while the pistons crash through oil pans as the crankshaft twists and breaks. 

One or more valves may be stuck when the belt snaps

All in all, it can be bad and expensive news if the timing belt breaks. That is why car owners are recommended to change their timing belts at regular intervals to prevent breakage and slippages.

While changing the timing belt is unavoidable, there is a way to protect it so it can last longer, thus reducing the need for frequent replacement. As with most everything in life, maintenance is key. For the timing belt, all it takes is a few sprays of the WD-40® Specialist™ Automotive Belt Dressing. It penetrates the cord fibers of the belts to restore pliability and flexibility, and helps to eliminate squeaking and slipping.

WD-40® Specialist™ Automotive Belt Dressing

To apply, start the engine. Then pick up the can of WD-40® Specialist™ Automotive Belt Dressing with its yellow straw attached and shake it well, before spraying the product lightly on the inner working surface of the belt -- near the smallest or upmost pulley. Avoid spraying on the pulley directly.

Then, let the engine run a few minutes for the dressing to set. The solution can be reapplied if needed. These simple steps are all that is needed to give your timing belt a longer life span. To know more, check out the Specialist™ automotive line-up at https://wd40.asia/. 

MYFREEVIEW Digital TV Broadcast To Undergo Frequency Restacking

MYTV Broadcasting Sdn Bhd (MYTV) will conduct a restacking frequency exercise for digital TV broadcast at Bukit Fraser and Gunung Ulu Kali transmitter in Pahang Darul Makmur.  

Currently, digital TV broadcasts are transmitted via 2 frequencies at each station. This frequency rearrangement process involves changes to the second frequency only and will be performed from 1.00 am to 6.00 am at the following transmission stations:

Frequency restacking exercise will start from 1.00 am until 6.00 am on the following date:-

No	Transmission Station	Date	Old Frequency		New Frequency
			First Frequency	Second Frequency	First Frequency	Second Frequency
1	04/02/2020	Bukit Fraser	CH45 (666MHz)	CH49 (698MHz)	CH45 (666MHz)	CH43 (650MHz)
2	06/02/2020	Gunung Ulu Kali	CH45 (666MHz)	CH49 (698MHz)	CH45 (666MHz)	CH43 (650MHz)

Viewers are advised to put their decoders or integrated digital television (IDTV) on standby mode.  

If you are having trouble receiving signals after this frequency exercise, you will need to re-scan your decoder or IDTV in order to get a new frequency.

If a manual re-scan is required, viewers can refer to the list of new frequencies on the following link: https://www.mytvbroadcasting.my/pdf/Lists-of-frequency.pdf . We will update all information on this exercise through MYTV’s Facebook page or website. 

Should you require help, please contact the MYTV Customer Careline at 1800-18-1088.

BMW Malaysia Urges More Partners to Support Child Car Seat Subsidy Programme with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation

Over 25,000 parents have registered for the first phase of the subsidised infant carrier car seats in just two weeks, demonstrating an urgent need for child car seat subsidies for low-income level households.

BMW Malaysia Urges More Partners to Support Child Car Seat Subsidy Programme with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation

Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Malaysia said, “There is an urgent need for us to come together and take action. The overwhelming response to the first phase of the subsidy programme shows that more parents are now aware of the need for child car seats and are quick to adopt its usage given the opportunity. As such, to all partners and companies who have the means to help subsidise these infant carrier car seats, we welcome you to join in the subsidy programme to prioritise child safety in cars for all.”

The subsidy programme was introduced as part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative. In its first phase, BMW Malaysia, Childline Foundation and Safe ‘n Sound made 150 units of the snskidz Ace infant carrier car seats available at a subsidised price of RM 100 each for parents in the B40 income group. Registration for the subsidy programmed opened 2nd December 2019 and have received over 25,000 registrations in the course of two weeks.

The infant carrier car seats were recently presented to parents from the Klang Valley region, while the remaining seats will be sent to recipients across the nation. The rear-facing infant carrier car seat, which retails at RM199, can be used from birth to 13kg and carries the ECE R44-04 certification. 

Interested parties can be part of the subsidy programme by writing to bmw@voxeureka.com with the name of the participating company and the amount of subsidy (in Ringgit Malaysia) they would like to commit by 13th February 2020. 

The subsidy programme is in line with the Malaysian Transport Ministry’s move to enforce the usage of child car seats starting this year. To encourage the adoption of child car seat usage, drivers will not be penalised for the first six months of enforcement but will receive warnings to install the seats.

“With the festive period just around the corner, we also want to remind parents to ensure their children are in the right child car seat, be it for the long or short distance; and we wish everyone safe travels this Chinese New Year,” Ambi added.

Crypto Exchange Luno Partners With Shopee

Luno and Shopee announced an exciting new partnership today signaling the first such collaboration between an e-commerce player and a crypto platform in Malaysia. As a result of this collaboration, Malaysians now have access to deals, discounts, and vouchers on Shopee which they can purchase and convert into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum on the Securities Commission- regulated crypto exchange platform, Luno.

Crypto exchange Luno announces partnership with e-commerce platform Shopee

“Being a regulated exchange allows us to explore new ways of expanding access to crypto for users in Malaysia. An innovative approach is to leverage the breadth and depth of e-commerce players like Shopee. We expect this effort to drive massive awareness and adoption, making it easy for users on Shopee to access crypto and begin their investment journey. We certainly look forward to working closely with Shopee on further groundbreaking projects,” said Aaron Tang, Country Manager of Luno Malaysia.

The London-based company intends to leverage Shopee’s large user base to create awareness and attract new customers by offering a RM 15 Bitcoin voucher at only RM 1. That, along with other attractive vouchers available on Luno’s official store on Shopee, is a decisive step to bring cryptocurrencies into the mainstream.

“One of the key reasons why we, the leading e-commerce platform in Malaysia, are able to stay ahead is because we strive to make our product assortment as wide and accessible to all. In 2019, Shopee enabled the purchase of properties, cars, F&B deals and more on our platform. In January 2020, we are now giving our users the opportunity to try their hands at cryptocurrency through this collaboration with Luno,” said Kenneth Soh, Head of Shopee Mall, Shopee Malaysia.

The Chinese New Year (CNY) promotion will run on Shopee until February 10th, 2020 and include voucher deals as low as RM 0.88. Vouchers are available for new and existing customers. Additionally, and as part of the CNY celebration, Luno is offering discounted trading fees, lowered 0.2% for all customers until March 31st, 2020; as well as an ongoing trading competition.

Potential Carlsberg Millionaire Consumers Get Smooth Start To Year Of The Sheep

For lucky Carlsberg consumers, 2015 is proving to be a lucrative start as seven potential millionaires sailed smoothly into an unexpected windfall of cash prizes worth RM13,888 each thanks to the brand’s Chinese New Year promotion. 

This definitely marks a smooth start to the Year of the Sheep for the seven finalists as they now gear up to compete against 31 other ‘Carlsberg Millionaire’ hopefuls to take home RM1 million in cash come March.

Wong See Min gives us his biggest smile as he displays a large bottle of Carlsberg and the bottle cap which put him in the running to become the 'Carlsberg Millionaire'

Among the seven was Chooi Siew Pan, 39, hailing from Perak, who said, “I have been a supporter of the brand in Malaysia for over 10 years and that’s why I am grateful to Carlsberg for giving me a smooth beginning to the year with this cash prize! Carlsberg is always a part of every gathering with my friends and this has really helped us develop a strong bond. For sure, I am sharing this special ang pow and good fortune with them.”

Lee Yong Keong, 43, a Selangor resident, said, “What’s most important for me is for my business to run smoothly and generate as much income as possible! To have won the RM13,888 cash prize means I can definitely look forward to better times in the Year of the Sheep, which will be even greater if I end up winning the one million Ringgit!”  

Thirty-seven-year-old Tan Kim Guan from Malacca also has hopes for a smoother year ahead. He said, “I won this when I was out with friends and I was very surprised to receive such good luck! For me, a good lunar year would be for my friends and family to enjoy a healthier life and for myself to have more than sufficient earnings. This cash prize will be shared with them all and I plan to also give back to charity.”  

Wong See Min, 40, also from Perak, said, “I have been a Carlsberg supporter for as long as I can remember and this is my second time winning great prizes. Previously, I also participated in Carlsberg’s ‘Are You Fan Enough?’ contest which won me a trip to Europe to catch the semi-finals of the Euro 2012! I seem to get lucky when drinking Carlsberg and hopefully this time round Carlsberg will give me a smooth year by making me its first millionaire!” 

See Seng Hong, a potential 'Carlsberg Millionaire' poses with a large bottle of Carlsberg and custom 'ang pows' from the brewer..

Other winners who also received the windfall of RM13,888 from Carlsberg are Chua Boon Siang, 39, Lee Hin Hee, 43, and See Seng Hong, 64.  

Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia, Henrik Juel Andersen, said, “With the Lunar New Year quickly approaching, Carlsberg Malaysia is encouraging our consumers to put 2014 behind them to embrace new beginnings and fresh opportunities in keeping with our message for 2015, Smooth sailing in a year of abundance. We are giving our consumers an especially auspicious start to 2015 as finalists in our consumer promotion will each receive ang pows worth RM13,888 and one will take home one million Ringgit, as reward for enjoying some of Carlsberg Malaysia’s best loved brews this festive season.”

Until February 28, 2015, consumers who enjoy any large bottle of Carlsberg, Asahi Super Dry or Royal Stout at participating restaurants, food courts, hawker centres and coffee shops just need to look out for the Chinese character for ‘Smooth’ (順) on their bottle caps in order to be in the running to win a RM13,888 cash prize. Alternatively, consumers who purchase a 24-can Carlsberg Festive Pack from participating supermarkets and hypermarkets simply need to check for the congratulatory message printed at the base of the tray to discover if they will be walking away with RM13,888 in cash and a chance at the Grand Prize. Consumers who purchase a 24-can Carlsberg Festive Pack also stand to win shopping vouchers worth RM200 to kick start a prosperous lunar new year.

All 38 winners of the RM13,888 cash prize will attend a special celebratory event in Klang Valley to find out who amongst them will become the first ever Carlsberg Millionaire and receive the Grand Prize of RM1,000,000 in cash and sail smoothly into the new lunar year with Carlsberg.

For more information on the Carlsberg Millionaire Contest and other festive activities lined up, visit www.carlsberg-cny.com.my or www.facebook.com/CarlsbergMY.

Nu Lifestyle Joins hands with Malaysian Red Crescent Society in OPS Banjir

Just another sharing from one of the many emails I get daily. For a good cause, check out what Nu Lifestyle is doing in collaboration with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society in OPS Banjir.

Nu Lifestyle Sdn Bhd is working with Malaysian Red Crescent Society to provide monetary support to the national rehabilitation program. Nu Lifestyle, known for its vinegar kiosks called VinegPlus, will be holding a 3-day charity sales from 23 to 25 January, where 100% of the proceeds will go to flood victims via Malaysian Red Crescent Society. 

 Letter of authentication from Malaysian Red Crescent Society of its participation in this relief initiative

VinegPlus kiosks offer natural fruit vinegar beverages that help promoting a balanced diet. For a taste of the refreshing vinegar drinks while doing our bit to help those in need, kindly visit any of the following kiosks:

1. Publika Mall - UG Level 
2. Jaya Section 14 Shopping Mall - L1 Level, K1
3. Tropicana Mall - LG Level 
4. Mid Valley Megamall - LG Level 
5. Penang Gurney Paragon Mall - LG Level 

Nu Lifestyle, through VinegPlus Kiosks, aims to raise no less than RM30,000 for the cause.

Astro On-The-Go Now Available For Android Devices

I've been enjoying Astro On-The-Go for the past month or so on my iPhone and iPad, and it's definately good news to share that now the app has gone live on Android devices as well. Spread the love, and enjoy selected Astro channels on your favourite device.



Screenshot of Astro On-The-Go’s User Interface on Samsung Tab 10.1 & Samsung Galaxy S3

Following the successful launch of Astro On-The-Go for iOS devices, Android users can now rejoice, as the Astro On-The-Go application is now available in Google Play for free starting with selected Samsung devices. For Astro customers with Android devices to enjoy the Astro On-The-Go experience, Astro has extended the preview period for Astro On-The-Go to all Astro customers.



Astro On The Go on Samsung Tab 10.1 - Channels


The latest update for Astro On-The-Go application now includes 8 additional radio channels; Radio Hitz, Radio Mix, Radio MY, Radio Sinar, Radio Era, Radio Gegar, Radio THR Raaga and Radio Lite. iOS users are encouraged update their current Astro On-The-Go app to Version 2.7.2. via the Apple App Store to enjoy the new radio channels.

The Astro On-The-Go app is available for download for free via the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. Astro On-The-Go is currently available for the following Samsung devices;·        

• Samsung Galaxy S II (OS 4.0 and above)      
• Samsung Galaxy S III (OS 4.0 and above)      
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus (OS 4.0 and above)       
• Samsung Tab 10.1 (OS 3.2 and above)       
• Samsung Tab 7.7 (OS 3.2 and above)    
• Samsung Tab 7 Plus (OS 3.2 and above)        
• Samsung Tab 7.0 (OS 3.2 and above)      
• Samsung Tab 8.9 (OS 3.2 and above)      
•  Samsung Note (OS 4.0 and above)

For more information or to register for Astro On-The-Go, please visit www.astro.com.my/onthego.

Astro Celebrates The Best of 1Malaysia with 56 New Premiers

Astro celebrates the best of Malaysia with over 160 titles of which 56 are new premieres across various channels on our platform in conjunction with Malaysia’s 55th Independence day celebrations. The NEGARAKU campaign which will run from 15 August to 17 September, 2012 will include a new dedicated channel, My Hometown (Channel 318) celebrating Malaysian hometowns featuring videos submitted by Malaysians nationwide.

Passage to Malaysia - Feast in the East


Vincent De Paul, Vice President, News, Content Group, Astro said “Astro brings the best of Malaysia through a wide variety of content, on air and online to match the diverse taste of our viewers this Merdeka. Young and old, city or ‘kampung’ all Malaysians will find their favorites amongst the programmes offered through our strong partnerships with global media networks alongside our own local channels to celebrate the Merdeka spirit”

Siti Nurhaliza on BIO

From 15 August to 17 September 2012, Malaysians will have the opportunity to catch premiere local titles such as ‘Era Kegemilangan Sukan Negara (Era 50an – 90an)’ on Astro Arena (Channel 801), ‘Agenda Awani - Banyak Etnik, Banyak Budaya & Satu Bangsa’ on Astro Awani (Channel 501), ‘Behind the Dialect Groups’ on Astro AEC (Channel 301), ‘The evolution of Music in Malaysian Tamil Films’ on Astro Vellithirai (Channel 211) and many more.

Special Forces Malaysia GGK


Malaysia’s rich diversity and culture will also take center stage on Astro’s international channels. Leading the lineup are ‘Inside: Istana Negara’ on National Geographic Channel (Channel 553), ‘Revealed: Malaysia’s Majesty – Twice a King’ and ‘Eye on Malaysia 2: Royal Carver’ on Discovery Channel (Ch 551), ‘Passage to Malaysia: Feast in the East’ and ‘Art and About’ on TLC (Channel 707), ‘Siti Nurhaliza’ on BIO (Channel 731), ‘Special Forces: Malaysia GGK’ and ‘Last Journey To Sarawak’ on HISTORY (Channel 555).

King Taking Oath



This year, Astro brings back memories to many Malaysians and at the same time, inject a sense of history and pride in the younger generation through a new dedicated channel, My Hometown (Channel 318) from 31 August to 17 September 2012 as part of the NEGARAKU campaign. My Hometown invites Malaysians to celebrate unity in our diversity by sending in their own unique videos on what makes their hometowns distinctive and unforgettable to be shown on My Hometown (Channel 318). As part of My Hometown, Astro introduces My Hometown Short Films, a project featuring 14 short films, each covering 14 states in Malaysia and directed by 14 young film directors who will tell a story about his or her hometown.

Astro's Negaraku Schedule Aug 2012



Astro's Negaraku Schedule Sept 2012



Viewers can log on to www.astro.com.my/NEGARAKU for the schedule of the special NEGARAKU, programmes starting from 15 August till 17 September, 2012. For more information on My Hometown, log on to www.astro.com.my/myhometown.

Asian Food Channel "Back To The Streets"

On Tuesday, July 24th at 9.00PM, The Asian Food Channel (AFC) will premiere its first ever, fully produced Malaysian travelogue, airing regionally in Asia to more than 45 million AFC viewers in ten different territories. Viewers in Malaysia can catch the AFC Original Production nationwide on Astro channel 703.

The twelve-part series (12x30mins) which was created in collaboration with BERJAYA University College of Hospitality (BERJAYA UCH), and features two bubbly and charismatic hosts: Malaysian celebrity chef, Chef Malcolm Goh and Malaysian radio DJ and host, Ms Tham Zher Peen. They play the role of secret agents, going undercover on the streets of Kuala Lumpur searching for local culinary delights. On their mission, they interact with stall operators and cooks, trying to get them to share their priceless nuggets of culinary knowledge, food insights and even to divulge their cherished trade secrets.

With the valuable information gathered, Zher Peen and Chef Malcolm rushes back to BERJAYA University College of Hospitality’s Kitchen, where Chef Malcolm, with the assistance of Zher Peen and his students, they utilize the knowledge that he has learned “on the streets” to create his own inspired variations of the dishes.

Maria Brown, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the Asian Food Channel is delighted with the premiere of another successful AFC Original Series Production, “The Asian Food Channel is fortunate to have a large and very loyal following in Malaysia, a large percentage of whom, have expressed the hope that AFC would further feature the amazing cuisine that is available across the country. We really saw this as an opportunity to explore the rich culinary heritage that is present in Malaysia and at the same time, showcase Malaysian local talent pan regionally and even globally. Chef Malcolm and Zher Peen can only be described as a “passionate and dynamic duo" and I strongly believe that they will capture the hearts of all our AFC viewers easily.”

BERJAYA UCH Chief Operating Officer, Mae Ho remarked, “It has been a great pleasure working alongside Asian Food Channel, and we are very excited to see how AFC viewers will react to this AFC Original Production. BERJAYA University College of Hospitality has always been a strong supporter of promoting, as well as educating the people about Malaysian cuisine. We are extremely proud to witness how far Chef Malcolm, who is one of our own Culinary Arts Supervising Chef has come. An innovative and forward-thinking University College with substance begins with the drivers behind the education wheel. I am proud to say that the education drivers who are steering this University College are all moving towards the vision of BERJAYA UCH – to ‘Inspire Lives and Widen Horizons’.”

Chef Malcolm is no stranger to camera, he first saw his television career come to life when he starred in another AFC Original Production, Great Dinners of the World, which featured him and three other highly talented Asian chefs as they travelled to France and Scotland where they cooked for guest lists full of society elite and even the royalty. When he is not in front of the camera, Chef Malcolm works as a Supervising Chef at BERJAYA UCH where he conducts theory and practical classes for students majoring in Culinary Arts.

Zher Peen too has had her fair share of stardom; She is not only is the host of 8TV Quickie, a 15-minute variety show, she is also a celebrity DJ at Fly FM where she hosts Fly30, a 3 hour radio programme that airs daily. In addition, she has also been featured in campaigns for international brands such as Converse, Levi’s and Nike.

Catch the premiere of Back to the Streets, exclusively on the Asian Food Channel, Tuesday 24th at 9.00PM on Astro Channel 703. For more information about the Asian Food Channel and its programmes, please visit www.asianfoodchannel.com

Heineken Launches New Iconic Bottle

Heineken is proud to announce the launch of its new iconic bottle, featuring innovative details that provide a contemporary appearance and enhance the overall drinking experience.

The launch is part of a global roll-out, streamlining Heineken’s visual identity and making the brand even more consistent and recognizable in all 176 markets worldwide. The new design stamps Heineken’s progress together with consumer’s sophisticated taste and also solidifies Heineken’s position as the market leader in the international premium beer segment.



Heineken Launches New Iconic Bottle



Heineken New Iconic BottleThe bottle features an embossed curve, inspired by the label ‘racetrack’, on the neck and back. The back of the bottle features the same curve motif, set above an embossed Heineken logo and the iconic star. The curve acts as a thumb groove and is perfectly placed to meet the drinker’s fingers which add tactility and grip as they grasp the bottle whilst keeping the beer to stay cooler. Additional bottle updates include a slimmer body accentuating the bottle’s premium feel and an elongated appearance emphasized by both vertical neck branding and a higher label position.

As the world’s No. 1 international premium beer, Heineken understands it’s the small details that make the difference. The introduction of tactile elements further reaffirms Heineken’s quality and authenticity in the mind, and on the fingertips, of the consumer throughout the entire drinking experience.

Yap Swee Leng, Marketing Director of Guinness Anchor Berhad (GAB), comments: “We know our drinkers notice small details, which is why Heineken has dedicated so much time to this design update. Every single element has been carefully considered to ensure our drinkers feel a subtle but significant difference.”


Celebrating Heineken FansTo celebrate the launch of its new iconic bottle, Heineken is flying down renowned Dutch DJ, Ferry Corsten to Malaysia for an exclusive invite-only party on 11 July 2012 at KL Live. To score invites to this exclusive event, consumers are encouraged to visit Heineken’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/heineken.



Dutch DJ, Ferry Corsten brought to you by Heineken



The launch party kicks off an exciting campaign dubbed the Heineken ‘Progressive’ Tour that will see exclusive events held nationwide and also Heineken’s well-known music programmes: Heineken Green Room & Heineken Thirst slated in the last two quarters of the year.

Swee Leng added: “We put our consumers at the heart of everything that we do. With a unified visual identity in packaging globally, truly calls for a celebration to our fans.”

To be part of Heineken’s exciting calendar of events, log on to www.facebook.com/heineken or www.heineken.com/my for more information.

Fact box for Heineken's New Iconic Bottle

CAPS OFF TO QUALITY
The bottle caps all now have QUALITY written on them.

A SALUTE TO STANDING TALL
A longer neck gives the bottle a slimmer and more modern shape. It also proudly bears the Heineken name. The neck then leads to a strong and manlier shoulder.

DEDICATED TO PRECISION
The thumb groove is an added feature that encourages you to hold the bottle with a better grip, and allows the beer to stay cold longer.

A CELEBRATION OF LASTING IMPRESSIONS
The embossed logo gives the bottle a stamp of authenticity and class.

IN HONOUR OF CLARITY
A transparent label lets you see your beer clearly. It also sits higher, emphasising the shoulder.

Yamaha Creating "Kando" With Key Players From The Music Industry

Yamaha Music Malaysia is committed to help develop the talent and experience of all levels of musicians in Malaysia – be it young children embarking on their musical odyssey, or seasoned professionals with international acclaim. In recognition of this, Yamaha Music Malaysia recently signed Ambassador agreements with notable Malaysian and Malaysia-based musicians, each supporting the development of the musicianship landscape right here in the nation.

Yamaha Distributors Network

Held at their recent Distributor Network Conference at the Sepang Gold Coast, the signing ceremony involved the musicians outlining to the distributors why they were behind Yamaha, followed with a short performance by several of these talented individuals.

Kando, signifying an inspired state of mind, embodies Yamaha Music Malaysia’s philosophy to enrich the quality of lives for people around the world via their high quality products. This pledge to improve and inspire music enthusiasts everywhere was highlighted at the endorsee agreement signing ceremony held at the luxurious Golden Palm Tree Resort.

Yamaha Music Malaysia aspires to support all levels of musicianship, and they intend to do this by collaborating with passionate musicians whose influence would arouse and motivate budding virtuosos to create music—all with the help of some very high quality instruments. Draped in the pink and lavender hues of the evening as twilight sets in, the ceremony witnessed a gathering of prominent artistes including keyboardist Aubrey Naga Suwito, guitarists Jamie Wilson and Aznan “Nan” bin Alias, drummer John Ashley Thomas, bassist Halizor “Fly” bin Hussein, and representing independent rap-rock band Pop Shuvit, members Jeddiah “JD” Wong and Nazrin “AJ” bin Mohd Nasir.

Fly and Jamie entreating audiences to an upbeat performance

Aubrey Naga Suwito has been actively involved in the music industry since 1988 as a songwriter, producer, music arranger, and music director to some of the nation’s most distinguished performers such as Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza and M Nasir. Malaysians would be familiar with his tour de force Gemilang that he wrote for Malaysian Idol winner Jaclyn Victor in addition to his involvement with sensational reality television competitions—Akademi Fantasia and Jangan Lupa Lirik, to name a couple— which earned him nationwide fame and recognition. But Aubrey Suwito’s achievements do not end with the local scene, for his music arrangements can be found in the albums of international performers, namely Jacky Cheung, Sandy Lam, and Tanya Chua.

Hailing from down-under Australia, Jamie Wilson is a resident guitarist who has performed alongside music legends such as Joe Walsh of The Eagles and Clarence Clemes from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Having studied classical guitar as a child, he made his first formal appearance at the Sydney Opera House at the age of 16, then moving on to win the title of “Australia’s Best Young Guitarist” at MTV Australia National Guitar Challenge two years later. In Malaysia, Jamie Wilson is one of the region’s top session guitarist to have worked with the likes of Richie Ren, Eason Chan, Wang Lee Hom, Fann Wong, Afdlin Shauki, and many more.

“This event is great, I mean, I get to see all these people who appreciate music as much as I do and I love Yamaha’s guitars. They’re really comfortable to play with and I must say, one of the easiest. I felt completely at ease with them,” he remarked.
 

Mr. Okazaki welcoming guests

Aznan bin Alias, affectionately known to his admirers as Nan, is frequently spotted hitting the local music scenes with his prowess playing the guitar. Sporting an affable demeanor, he is easily approachable by friends and fans alike despite having performed alongside big names in the music industry, most notably Fish Leong and Ella. In addition to his love of performing, Aznan has also been a music director to M
Nasir since 1997 and produced albums for Dia Fadillah, Amir Yusoff, and Coda.

John Ashley Thomas kick-started his career on the drums at the tender age of 8. Since then, he has toured with the Blue Note Circuit in Japan with Mowtown legends The Three Degrees and collaborated with Grammy award-winning flautist, Nestor Torres. A frequent player at numerous jazz festivals (Arts Alive, Jarasum International Jazz Fest), John Thomas has performed with premier jazz-Latin-funk musicians like Steve Thornton, Jiro Okada, and Yu Quan. A formidable percussionist, he has been acknowledged as a promising musical talent by Malaysia’s Ministry of Cultural and Arts.

Aside from being a lecturer at ASWARA, Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan, Halizor “Fly” bin Hussein has been rocking the bass for RTM Orchestra and the Petronas Performing Arts Department Concert. Halizor has been associated with a myriad of local artistes like Anuar Zain, Zainal Abidin, Misha Omar, and Faizal Tahir while also being actively involved with international music festivals. His latest project is his own jazz-fusion called “The Phunk Mob Experience,” conceived with John Thomas, Tok Khon and Wan.

Pop Shuvit is a Malaysian independent rap-rock band, comprising Moots! (vocals), JD (guitar), AJ (bass), Rudy (drums) and Uno (turntables). Having already established a sizable fanbase in Asia—notably in Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and Singapore—they are known for their adrenaline-packed live shows and eclectic
blend of hip hop and rock. It comes to no surprise then that they are being touted as Asia’s leading Hip Hop Rock band. Their debut album Take it & Shuvit broke new ground when their first single Skaters’ Anthem was released exclusively on the Internet and became one of the most downloaded local songs in Malaysian music history. The hype and street buzz from the track caught the ears of ESPN, who in turn licensed the track for use in their Summer X-Games broadcast that hit millions of households worldwide. As further credit to Pop Shuvit, ESPN played their music videos and tracks off the album throughout the duration of competition.

  

Managing Director Mamoru Okazaki addressing to the guests and the media

“The great thing about Yamaha is that it’s very accessible,” commented JD, present alongside AJ. “Sure, there are many other brands out there that supply musical instruments. But none of them, I think, accommodate both entry-level players and professionals quite as well as Yamaha.”

The Yamaha Corporation in Japan has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of a full line of musical instruments since its genesis in 1887. In addition, Yamaha is a leading producer of audio/visual products, semiconductors and other computer related products, sporting goods, home appliances and furniture, specialty metals, machine tools, and industrial robots.
 

The various heads of Yamaha in the company of talented musicians

With 94 subsidiaries and representative offices in overseas markets—in addition to numerous related companies in Japan—Yamaha continually promotes and supports music education amongst aspiring musicians, and this is reflected in the establishment of the Yamaha Music Foundation in 1966. Since then, Yamaha Music Malaysia has spread its philosophy in music education throughout the nation by means of its music schools, nurturing the young and fostering positive growth.

*Press Release from Yamaha Music Malaysia*

Taylor's College Nurtures Talent Of Young Refugees

Taylor's College recently held the ‘Everyone Has Hope’ exhibition at The Cube Gallery, Ampang, which showcased photographs taken by nine Burmese refugee youths over an eight month period. Initiated in 2009 by Taylor’s College's Canadian Pre-University (CPU) programme, ‘Everyone Has Hope’ is an annual photography project involving Burmese refugee youths aged between 13 and 16 years old living in Kuala Lumpur. This project aims to teach Burmese refugee youths from the Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR) Learning Centre to utilise the art of photography to document their daily lives and experiences.

Marina Mahathir (front row centre) with "Everyone Has Hope" team.

The launch of the photo exhibition was well attended by members of the public, Taylor's College students and staff. The guest speaker for the event, Yang Berbahagia Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, applauded the initiative and encouraged Taylor's College to continue organising more of such activities. The ‘Everyone Has Hope’ photo exhibition was open for free public viewing from 15 to 27 April 2012. More than 200 photographs were showcased at the exhibition which gave visitors the opportunity to not only view but also support these Burmese youths by purchasing the photographs. The opening night successfully raised a total of RM3000 from the auction of the photographs which ranged from RM25 to RM500. The proceeds benefited the ACR Learning Centre and used to aid with the programme’s operating costs that includes field trips, cameras and educational materials.

Inspired by the American documentary, ‘Born Into Brothels’, this photography project attempts to bring to light the realities faced by the Burmese refugees living in transit in Kuala Lumpur. Taylor's College CPU teacher and founder of the "Everyone Has Hope" project, Mr Colin Boyd Shafer explained that the project’s mission is to provide an avenue for self-expression through art for the Burmese youths and, at the same time, raise awareness amongst the public of their plight as refugees.

These youths are naturally inquisitive and creative and through this project, we want to nurture and promote these qualities. The exhibition features selected photographs that were unique, enlightening and offer realistic depictions of life as a refugee child in Malaysia. The chosen photographs served not only to illustrate the despair felt but also portray victory of humanity over harsh times,” he further added.

He also mentioned, CPU students chose to volunteer for the project as part of their 10-hour community service requirement. However, once they were aware of the refugee situation, they continued helming the project in the hope of creating a difference in their lives. The project has provided many students with real hands on learning experience, and it has allowed local students to mix with disadvantaged youths living in this country”. With the help of CPU staff and local professional photographers, CPU students volunteered their weekends to the Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR) Learning Centre.

Apart from helping the Burmese youths to detail their lives through photography, the CPU students also exposed them to different subject matters such as singing and fine art. Other activities included field trips to well-known Malaysian attractions such as the Kuala Lumpur Zoo and Batu Caves, visits to prominent photography displays such as the recent

World Press Exhibition and attending a workshop by New York Times photographer Justin Mott.
Since its inception two years ago, the "Everyone Has Hope" project by CPU involving its staff, students and local photographers has successfully raised a total of RM15,000 for the ACR Learning Centre.

For more information on Taylor’s College Subang Jaya, 

call 03-5636 2641, email taylorscollege@taylors.edu.my or visit www.taylors.edu.my.