WR Construction Site Progress as at 17/05/2012

OVR Open Day

Ocean View Residences was finally revealed to the public to experience and see for the first time since its colmpletion. Chic Urban Living is finally here in Butterworth. The event was certainly a memorable evening of celebration, fun and excitement. All the guests were impressed by the final delivered product of Ocean Residences - the latest completed luxury condominium in Harbour Place - Butterworth's first Metrocity.

 

All the guests were treated to a delectable buffet dinner - as promised..

The top management of PJ Development posing next to the scale model of Wellesley Residence - the latest and final residential luxury condominium in Harbour Place.

Apart from the facilities' floor, guests were also given the opportunity to experience the noteworthy Sky Garden which is located on the roof of the condominium.

 

The event ended with a bang as the spectacular fireworks display lit up the Butterworth night sky.

Ocean View Residences Open Day

Superstar eyes Penang property

HONG KONG superstar Simon Yam likes Penang so much that he plans to buy a holiday home for his family on the island. The internationally acclaimed actor described the island as a “beautiful and happy” place during his visit to launch Canon’s ‘Eye on Canon’ showcase at Gurney Plaza in George Town.

“My last visit was about five years ago and I can notice some changes. I hope I’ll be able to find a suitable property here where I can bring my family for holiday. “I can play some golf while there are other scenic destinations like the Butterfly Park for my daughter,” Yam, who is also the camera’s brand ambassador, said yesterday. He also likened the sea here to the one in Maldives. “I notice the sea water is cleaner and there are also new properties around.

The right beat: Yam (right) and Wong sounding the drums to launch the Eye on Canon showcase at Gurney Plaza in George Town

“This city and the happy faces here make me feel very relaxed. “Not only that, the old structures are still maintained which brings back nostalgic memories of Hong Kong in the old times. “For me, Penang is the warmest (welcoming) place in Malaysia. My favourite food here is oh chien (pan fried oysters)!” he said yesterday.

Yam also said he hoped to be able to make a film in Malaysia, preferably a romantic movie. On cameras, the 57-year-old father-of-one, who is also an avid photographer related the loss of his two mobile phones about two weeks ago which contained many precious moments of his daughter as well as family. “I went for a jog and I lost my phones. I was busy then and didn’t have time to transfer the photographs so I didn’t have any back up! “So now, I’ve vowed to use Canon’s Ixus 510HS because I can immediately send photographs via WiFi,” he said.

He also said he has three upcoming films to make including one that also stars Hollywood star Keanu Reaves in the “Man of Tai Chi”. Earlier, camera flash lights flared as eager shutterbugs caught sight of Yam when he arrived. When a fan asked for photographs, he cheekily challenged her for a “scissor, paper, rock” game before she was able to take a photograph with him.

A hardcore fan, Lim Hong Zheng, 26, was also seen wearing a specially printed T-shirt with Yam’s name and image as well as a custom-made puzzle of the star at the session. Yam then invited him to come on stage and gave a special gift. “I’m really flattered that Yam would invite me on stage and even offer to take photographs with me!” the freelance photographer said. Yam later visited the EOS Boutique in Burma Road for another session with fans who took photographs with him and asked for autographs.

The Eye on Canon showcase to celebrate Canon’s 25th anniversary started yesterday and will be held until May 6, from 10am to 10pm daily. Canon Marketing (Malaysia) imaging communication products division director Simon Wong said in line with the company’s corporate philosophy, RM10 from each camera sale at the events in Mid Valley and Gurney Plaza will go to the Yayasan Sunbeams Home for children. 

There are exciting promotions, discounts, instant cash rebates of up to 25% on selected models, purchase-with-purchase (PWP) for lenses on selected EOS models and lucky draws with Canon products worth RM10,000 awaiting visitors. There are also the not-to-be-missed RM25 deal for 25 units of selected camera models. The first 100 early birds to purchase selected Canon EOS models will also receive the Canon limited edition miniature Hansa camera, the very first commercial camera produced by the company in 1936.

Source: The Star Online - 02/05/2012

Spring cleaning can be fun

Nobody looks forward to cleaning the house, but we all know it is essential especially if the festive season is around the corner.. But by getting the whole family involved and building fun into every step, you can make spring cleaning a lot faster and less painful.

Here are a few tips to make the process enjoyable, easy and more profitable:

• Have a plan. Make a list of everything that needs to get done and include smaller, age-appropriate jobs for children. Start by removing clutter, put things back in their proper place, then start a deep clean.


• Turn up the music. Nothing makes time go by faster than loud motivational music. Get everyone moving to the beat or dancing their way to a tidier place. And when getting the house ready to show, change the tune to something more serene and calming.


• Make a game of it. Go skating for dust bunnies, wax on - wax off your windows, Play expiration date detective to clean out the fridge, Alphabetize the spice drawer, hold a sock-matching race. You get the idea... The more fun you make it, the longer the attention span will be for everyone helping.


• Reward for work well done. Stock up on little prizes like granola, chocolate bars, juice boxes or something special and recognize when work gets done (even if it isn't to your high standard). This is a great incentive to help keep the house in tip top shape for showings and open houses too.

What can you do with all the extra stuff you need to get rid of? A garage sale is ideal and can be a way to promote your home for sale by bringing attention to it. Several places in town welcome donations. Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a drag, and it can make moving a lot easier when you lighten the load. Have some fun with your family and incorporate learning into it too!

Based on the article by Thom Gallagher.

OVR Photo Shoot (18/04/12)

Mida's Touch for Penang Industries

IN 1969, the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was established to drive economic growth, urban renewal and development of new townships. The main policies of the early 1970s centred around the establishment and development of free trade zones (FTZs) – the first of which was operationalised in 1972 in Bayan Lepas on the southern side of Penang island. The pioneer investors also played a major part in nurturing the skilled workforce they needed.

In 1989, the PSDC (Penang Skills Development Centre), the first industry-led skills training centre, was set up within the free industrial zones. The PSDC’s tripartite model brings together the best of industry, academia, and government, both state and Federal. This unique model pools resources and management expertise and allows the PSDC to provide invaluable advice and guidance on the latest industrial technological progress, along with up-to-date training and educational programs.

Since 1990, under the leadership of former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the PSDC increased its floor space from 5,000sq ft in 1990 to 300,000sq ft by 2008 on the basis of Federal funding, donations and generated revenues. The Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s (Mida) efforts in the early years, in collaboration with the state government, specifically the PDC, brought globally renowned corporations to Penang’s shores and changed the state’s industrial landscape.

It took quite a convincing by Mida officials to get the corporate giants of the world to give Penang a serious look. These giants have transformed the largely agrarian landscape to a hub for making the most sophisticated products. Among the pioneering MNCs that took the risk of converting the paddy fields in Bayan Lepas into high-tech industrial enclaves were industry leaders such as Intel, National Semiconductor, HP, Clarion, AMD, Bosch and Litronix. The presence of these MNCs has also stimulated the development of local supporting industries such as Pentamaster, Globetronics and Vitrox.

With the rise of local vendors in areas such as equipment making, metal stamping, plastics injection moulding and precision engineering, more foreign companies are attracted to Penang to tap into the supply chain and ecosystem. Industrial development has not only contributed to the socio–economic growth of the island but has also led to the development of industrial areas in Kulim and Sungai Petani. The emergence and excellent performance of the local SMI Cluster in Penang and neighbouring industrial areas in Sungai Petani, Kulim and Kamunting constitute a major attraction for new and existing investors to come to Penang and its vicinity. Also, Bayan Lepas was designated the first MSC Cyber City outside Cyberjaya in 2005, reflecting Penang’s stellar performance as a technological hub.

Mida continues to aggressively promote investments into Penang, both from new and existing, domestic as well as foreign investors. However, in line with the aspiration of the Economic Transformation Programme, the targeted activities have now shifted from manufacturing and assembly activities to more integrated investments, high knowledge, value-added and high technology industries, including the services sector. This focus is now showing results. More and more companies in Penang are undertaking global corporate functions and shared services such as R&D centres, operational headquarters, supply chain, distribution and fulfillment centers and treasury management.

Many of the big names that came to Penang over the last 40 years are still around. But their operations in recent times are totally different from their original investments. This development benefits the local workforce and local companies. The establishment of global R&D functions with new product introduction (NPI) functions within the industries in Penang has paved the way for the transfer of technology from parent companies to the local workforce. The companies, especially the MNCs, also continue to play a major role in nurturing and developing local capabilities by establishing smart partnerships with universities and other institutions of higher learning.

These companies also have assisted the higher learning institutions to develop curricula that address the industries’ skills requirements. As more responsibilities of R&D and NPI are given to the locally incorporated MNCs, Mida has encouraged these companies to create opportunities for local vendors via technical collaboration programs.

In the electronics sector, complementing the technology companies, local electronic manufacturing service (EMS) providers are also involved in the design, development and manufacture of industrial electronic products. These local companies have the potential to grow into major global players. The combination of the Federal and state governments’ investments in a robust ecosystem, especially in the E&E sector, over more than four decades and the strategic foresight of the likes of Andy Grove, the co-founder of Intel Corporation, and the promotional efforts of agencies such as Mida have enabled Penang to become a major node in the global supply chain.

The solid ecosystem will enable Penang to sustain the momentum of attracting investments, both domestic and foreign. With the launch of the Northern Corridor Economic Region blueprint, further impetus is provided for investments into the state as the blueprint anticipates greater synergistic relationship between Penang and its neighbouring states within the corridor and the rest of the nation. All these are a result of continued support from the Federal Government and Mida. Moving forward, Mida will continue to work with the Penang Government to ensure that the state continues to be one of the preferred manufacturing hubs in the country.

By DATUK SERI MUSTAPA MOHAMED International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti)

Star Online