KajoMag

KajoMag is a Borneo-based digital publication exploring culture, heritage, travel and contemporary life.

CARSOME expands operations in Sarawak

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KUCHING, Sarawak, 22 October 2022 – Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, CARSOME, has officially expanded its operations to East Malaysia with the launch of four new inspection centers in Sarawak. This expansion sees CARSOME introducing a new standard of selling cars to East Malaysians and providing them with a trusted and transparent option.

CARSOME expands operations in Sarawak

The inspection centers aim to offer customers a differentiated and hassle-free car-selling experience, through fast payment and worry-free transaction process. Guided by a stringent inspection procedure, every CARSOME Inspection Center will have a skilled professional inspector to conduct comprehensive inspection on the car, to ensure its quality is accounted for to offer the best price in the market.

CARSOME Co-Founder & CARSOME Academy CEO, Teoh Jiun Ee said the expansion to East Malaysia is part of CARSOME’s ongoing mission to solve customers’ pain points, thereby providing Malaysians peace of mind throughout their car selling journey. “The presence of CARSOME in East Malaysia marks a significant and positive milestone for us. Our motivation is to make CARSOME services accessible to all Malaysians as we continue to innovate the used car ecosystem, driven by data and technology.”

With the launch of four new inspection centers in Sarawak – Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu CARSOME now has 49 inspection centers across Malaysia. Leveraging proprietary data and pricing algorithms, CARSOME ensures fair pricing can be determined for every car, underlining its goal to create a trusted and transparent used car ecosystem. Aside from pricing offered by CARSOME, customers can also opt for its e-bidding platform, to get different price offers from its nationwide network of used car dealers.

The launch of the new CARSOME Inspection Center at Kuching was officiated by Sarawak Deputy Premier, Second Minister for Finance and New Economy and Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak, Yang Berhormat Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

CARSOME expands operations in Sarawak

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said CARSOME’s expansion to Sarawak comes at a critical time given that the country is in a recovery phase from the pandemic.

“I believe that CARSOME’s technology driven business model will complement our goal which is to improve the standard of living, grow our economy to provide business and job opportunities and train our people to be resourceful and increase their income level. This is in tandem with the Sarawak government’s plan in implementing its Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) where its people will enjoy economic prosperity driven by data and innovation.”

CARSOME will be supporting used car dealers in digitalizing their operations and ecosystem by introducing its E-bidding Platform and Dealer Financing Program and providing end-to-end support for dealers. By bringing its proprietary technology and software innovation, CARSOME aims to empower used car dealers to seamlessly tap into new trends through digitalization.

In addition, CARSOME hopes through its expansion that it will help stimulate the economy and drive greater growth for the used car market. To do this, CARSOME will create new sales and growth opportunities for used car dealers by establishing partnership deals, while offering bonus rewards and credit lines for long-term business sustainability.  

The inspection centers in Sarawak will serve as among the next steps forward in CARSOME’s growth plans, strengthening its already established footprint in Malaysia. A series of marketing initiatives will also take place in Sarawak offering various promotions for consumers to experience the new standard of selling their cars through CARSOME.  

For more information on CARSOME upcoming promotions in Sarawak, please visit CARSOME website.

About CARSOME

CARSOME is Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform. With operations across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, CARSOME aims to digitize the region’s used car industry by reshaping and elevating the car transaction and ownership experience.

Together with subsidiary brands iCar Asia, WapCar and CarTimes, CARSOME provides end-to-end solutions to consumers and used car dealers across the decision funnel, from car content consumption, car inspection, ownership transfer to financing and other ancillary services, promising to bring trust, transparency and choice  to our customers. CARSOME currently has more than 4,000 employees across all its offices in Asia.

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An Epicurean exBEERience for 200 Carlsberg Smooth Draught Lovers

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An Epicurean exBEERience for 200 Carlsberg Smooth Draught Lovers

SHAH ALAM 27 July 2022 – The Carlsberg Smooth Draught ‘Real Spicy, Real Smooth’ dining exBEERience has been an anticipated affair ever since the news made headlines. As anxious contestants gripped the edge of their seats in fervent excitement, 100 lucky winners and their partners were awarded the coveted prize of experiencing the edgiest contemporary Indian cuisine and Carlsberg’s signature refreshing smooth brew, Carlsberg Smooth Draught, in one fiery night of gastronomic symphony.

Spearheaded by the culinary maven – two Michelin-starred Chef Mano Thevar, the exclusive food pairing event delivered not just star-studded treatment but a four-course meal that brought to life the combinations of spicy Indian cuisine complemented and infused with Carlsberg Smooth Draught. The blend of heat and spice that graciously worked the palate coupled with the refreshing and hoppy taste of Carlsberg Smooth Draught induced a medley of unexplored flavours that took diners on an epicurean journey.

According to Lye Say Hong, “I’m super excited to be able to enjoy the experience of fine dining with Carlsberg! Never in my life have I won a prize, so this means a lot to me. When I first tried Carlsberg Smooth Draught I was intrigued. It was very smooth, which got me going. I fell in love with it! I am very excited to participate in tonight’s event.”

“I’ve personally never tried beer with spicy food before, so my first thoughts were I really want to win this prize. I really love spicy food and I love Carlsberg so when I won, I was over the top. I’m enjoying every single moment of this event and I really want to thank Carlsberg for this superb experience, they really are the best beer in the world!” said Thiban Eaganathan, another lucky winner.

An Epicurean exBEERience for 200 Carlsberg Smooth Draught Lovers

Kicking-off the evening with mouth-watering welcome bites, Chef Mano Thevar initiated diners with fluffy Chilli Cheese Kulcha served with a deliciously creamy Carlsberg Smooth Draught infused butter.

Once guests were seated, they were treated to the culinary performance of Chef Mano and his crew working like clockwork behind the open kitchen. The debut for the evening came in an explosion of layered flavours that encapsulated the senses with an opening snack of Beetroot Chaat, Maitake Mushroom Samosa and Chettinad Chicken Taco or Vindaloo Jackfruit Taco on the vegetarian menu.

For the appetiser, a perfectly seared Hokkaido Scallop submerged in a rich coconut sothi infused with Carlsberg Smooth Draught delivered depths of velvety essence with each mouthful, while non-meat eaters indulged in a beautiful Zucchini Blossom coated with the same sultry gravy.

The mains which offered either Saratoga Lamb Korma, Crispy Amadai or Cauliflower Malabar immersed the tastebuds with spicy earthy flavours blended with Carlsberg Smooth Draught as one of the key ingredients. Each mouthful delivered a magical fusion of hot and piquant cuisine elevated by the refreshing smoothness of Carlsberg Smooth Draught, bringing guests on a mouth-watering joyride. The meal was then strikingly concluded with Rasmalai, a Carlsberg Smooth Draught infused ice-cream, to wash down the heat induced feast.

An Epicurean exBEERience for 200 Carlsberg Smooth Draught Lovers

“This was a really great campaign by Carlsberg. I’ve always been a fan of Carlsberg Smooth Draught, and this was something truly unique. I even got a chance to tap my own beer for the very first time and learn about what goes into the creation of Carlsberg Smooth Draught which was really interesting.

The fact that the food was created by a Malaysian Michelin-starred chef was really the cherry on top of the cake for my partner and I, we were very proud to be part of this experience,” mentioned Ricknesh Kishor, another winner of the dining exBEERience.

The versatility of Carlsberg Smooth Draught delivers endless new and innovative adventures that will allow drinkers to really explore the depths of its flavour. With special thanks to Chef Mano Thevar and The RuMa Hotel and Residences in making the campaign a success, Carlsberg Malaysia now looks to bringing more exciting and contemporary campaigns to the fore.

An Epicurean exBEERience for 200 Carlsberg Smooth Draught Lovers

Visit https://www.probablythebest.com.my/ to find out more about our upcoming promotions in-store and be sure to ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ @CarlsbergMY on Facebook and Instagram for Carlsberg’s latest activities and giveaways.

Of course, as part of living a safe and responsible life, we advocate responsible consumption, always remember if you drink, don’t drive – #CelebrateResponsibly.

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The Hills Kuching hosts FORAGE Food Festival from 22-24 July

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The Hills Kuching hosts FORAGE Food Festival from 22-24 July

Catch the Gastro-Fun at Forage Food Festival!

Kuching, Sarawak – The Hills Kuching is set to host the FORAGE Food Festival from 22nd to 24th July 2022. This landmark gastronomic event will be held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Gastronomy (SAGO) Incubator 2022.

FORAGE @ The Hills is a celebration of Kuching being recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

“Kuching’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy is a testament to the rich natural resources of Sarawak, our talented F&B ecosystem and the unique diversity of cultures of Sarawak,” said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Art Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. “Food is not just a sustenance for us Sarawakians, but a celebration of our unity, our diversity and our sense of community. Forage @ The Hills is a platform to celebrate and showcase this.”

The three-day festival will showcase F&B selections by SAGO’s food-preneurs including new food innovations boasting a diversity of local flavours. In addition, there will be other food vendors, performances by local artists and activities such as workshops, cooking demonstrations, discussions and talks by key local F&B influencers. There will also be a competitions with up to RM5,000 worth of prizes to be won, including an Aglio-Olio Eating Contest, Teh O Peng Relay, Quiz Night and Social Media Creative Content Contest.

A gallery will also display Kuching’s application to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and other highlights including the unique native ingredients of Sarawak, our relationship with food and nature, the evolution of our food culture, and a whole melting pot of diverse cultures and cuisines.

The SAGO Incubator is an 11-week intensive programme that equips food entrepreneurs with the skills and network to grow their food business and succeed in the digital economy. This year’s nine food entrepreneurs were carefully selected from more than 30 applications by SAGO’s selection committee comprised of experienced professionals from the industry. They are Claudia Nasha Chai (The Abraham’s Kitchen), Ezi Firhan (Emillies Diner), Kimberley Ling (Tacos by Bojio), Marthineus Langi Michael (Stardust Cafe), Mohd Rozairie Ramlie (Flip and Fold Grill), Nur Fadzila Sarkawi (Aek Kunyit Manjakani), Nur Shaqhima Hamden (Queen’s Kitchen by Sheemadean), Ooi See Bee (Cloud-99 Ice Cream) and Saw Yee Ken (Billy Goat Coffee). Besides mastering food innovation skills from resident mentor Chef Achang Libat, this year’s nine food-preneurs have also been learning business development and marketing know-how to elevate their food business.

FORAGE @ The Hills is organised by The Hills, WAT Sarawak and Retrospective Discovery in collaboration with the Culinary Heritage and Arts Society Sarawak (CHASS), and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, TEGAS Digital Village, Supreme Group, Pullman Kuching, Green Buddy, Kedey Kamek, SEDC, foodpanda, Suara Sarawak and New Sarawak Tribune.

For more event updates, please follow The Hills on Facebook and Instagram @thehills.kch.

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Celebrating Sabah and Sarawak pride with artistic icons on Carlsberg Special Edition cans

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Celebrating Sabah and Sarawak pride with artistic icons on Carlsberg Special Edition cans
Carlsberg presents Sabah and Sarawak’s special-edition packaging in appreciation of their
beautiful heritage, traditions, and natural wonders

SHAH ALAM, 28 March 2022 – Building on the success of its Gawai and Kaamatan Festivals’ limited-edition packaging last year, Carlsberg Smooth Draught presents six artistically designed special-edition
cans and bottles this year to celebrate the pride of Sabah & Sarawak. The eye-catching mural that perfectly wraps each product centres around bringing people together to appreciate and celebrate the bountiful art and culture of the stunning Borneo islands.

Sporting six unique icons in vibrant colours, the ‘Sabah & Sarawak Pride’ packaging sublimely accentuates the lush local nature and rich culture in an illustrative composition, showcasing a masterpiece of contemporary art and beer. The creative artworks feature icons such as the Orangutan, majestic mountains and Rafflesia of Sabah and the Longhouse, Hornbill and Sape of Sarawak.

Aptly themed ‘Raikan Kebanggaan Sabah & Sarawak’, this campaign pays tribute and recognition to the beautiful culture of the natives, extraordinary wildlife, and amazing natural wonders. Available in 320ml cans and 580ml bottles, these iconic Carlsberg Smooth Draught products are made exclusively for Carlsberg consumers in Sabah and Sarawak and will be introduced in three phases through island-wide consumer promotions. The first two designs were revealed in March, followed by another two in conjunction with the coming Gawai and Kaamatan festivals and the final two to be unveiled towards the last quarter of the year.

“Sabah and Sarawak are both well-known for their diverse people, languages, traditions and festivities, so is Carlsberg, a brand that celebrates, and pays homage to that distinction that the locals carry so proudly. Last year, our first-of-its-kind festive cans in conjunction with the Gawai and Kaamatan festivals had such an amazing reception. This year, we wanted to step it up a notch, by rendering some of the most notable local icons into works of art, using our products as the canvas,” said Stefano Clini, Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia.

Visit https://carlsbergsabahsarawak.com to find out more about promotions in-store. ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ @CarlsbergMY on Facebook and Instagram for Carlsberg’s latest activities and giveaways.

Of course, as part of living a safe and responsible life, we advocate responsible consumption, always remember if you drink, don’t drive – #CelebrateResponsibly.


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Sarawakian architects win ‘Langit’ architecture competition

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Sarawakian architects win 'Langit' architecture competition
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg presenting a plaque to Langit winner Jacinta Yii of Yii KE Architect, as HSL Managing Director Dato Yu Chee Hoe (middle) looks on. Her design collaborator for the contest, Alan Kueh, attended virtually.

KUCHING: An eco-friendly 18-storey mixed-use commercial building design clinched Langit‘s top prize for Sarawakian architects Jascinta Yii and Alan Kueh.

Practising in Kuching and Melbourne respectively, Yii and Kueh’s joint submission included public spaces, offices, apartments, plant nurseries — all designed with inter-generational living in mind.

Judges called the entry “impactful, providing high-density, yet adaptable multi-generational living and
working units”. It was also praised for promoting ideas of sustainable living with urban farming as a
feature.

Langit: Reaching for greater heights in design and living

Langit is Sarawak’s first ever national architecture contest. Hock Seng Lee, in collaboration with Next
Phase (HSL-NP), intends to build one of the winners. The project site is a compact 0.78acres at a strategic
location within Kuching’s central business district.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the results at HSL Tower here on
August 7.

Sarawakian architects win 'Langit' architecture competition
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (middle) with HSL-NP directors (from left) Tony Yu, Simon Lau, Datuk Yu Chee Hoe and Yu Ji.

“The Sarawak Government enjoys a close relationship with architects. This is clear to see in our urban
planning, public parks and institutional buildings. In Sarawak, we know cities are made for people and the
people make good cities. We know that development plans must start from the human level,” Abang Johari said.

“My friends at HSL-NP codenamed this competition Langit because in Bahasa Sarawak, ‘Lang’ means
door, and in Malay, Langit is the sky. We want to reach for greater heights together. I hope Langit will be
the prototype of, not only a new building, but a new way of thinking about development.”

Different strengths, different messages


Second place went to Just Architecture, third place to MOA Architects, and two honourary mentions to UT
Moh Architect and Arkitek LH Wong. Their designs ranged from futuristic vertical farms to 39-storey
skyscrapers.

The third-place winner, MoA Architects, uniquely, is a twin tower designed using a plot-ratio system. This
planning method is similar to those used in regional megacities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and
Bangkok.

The plot-ratio system allowed MOA Architects’ entry to have a large and meaningful public space at the
lower levels.

Cash prizes for the top five totalled RM200,000.

The judging process was anonymous. Jury members comprised Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president Datuk Ezumi Harzani, PAM Sarawak immediate past chairman Ivy Jong, Veritas Architects director Lilian Tay, multi-award winner and conservationist Mike Boon, and developer HSL-NP representative Yu Ji.

Sarawakian architects win 'Langit' architecture competition
Impactful, accessible: Yii and Kueh’s ‘Cloud Forest’ scheme showed the most well rounded solution to the criteria sought by Langit judges. Engaging and refreshing, the design was very relevant to future proofing in the new norm post Covid-19 pandemic, and encapsulated the ideas of sustainable living featuring the concept of urban farming and promoting occupants self-sufficiency with opportunity for public and community engagements at multiple levels.

Challenging convention in the heart of Kuching city

“Many of the design ideas challenge conventional expectations and demonstrated refreshing approaches
in place-making in the context of Kuching. A majority of the submissions displayed clear commitment to
social and environmental sustainability,” said Jong, who was jury chair.

“The shortlisted schemes pushed various aspects of design ideas thinking and juries were impressed by
the creativity, approach and thoughts demonstrated.”

In 2021, there have been just two architecture competitions in the whole of Malaysia. The first was for
design the facade of a train station between Johor and Singapore. That competition, which the Johor
Sultan was the patron, concluded in February.

Langit began in March. Participants comprised some of Malaysia’s best known firms, including TR Hamzah
& Yeang, Design Network Architects, Dr Tan LM and Form Zero — all winners of national design accolades.
HSL-NP is the project site land owner and and competition sponsor.

HSL’s current HQ is the first privately built Green Building Index certified office in Sarawak. Located at the
200-acre La Promenade, it is the only Sarawak development to win the trifecta of awards from developers,
landscapers and architects’ institutes.

For more info, visit langitkch.com, hsl.com.my or search #LangitKch and @hslcn on social media

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Watch Borneo Jazz Festival 2021 free this weekend

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Watch Borneo Jazz Festival 2021 free this weekend
Pete Kallang, Clinton Jerome Chua and Nisa Addina are among the Sarawakian artistes performing during this weekend’s BJF!

Get ready for tonight because the Borneo Jazz Festival Virtual Journey will be starting this 25-27 June 2021 from 6pm to 7.30pm!

BJF 2021 will be a combination of flashbacks to past musical acts that performed at BJF as well as original pre-recorded sessions and interviews with renowned jazz musicians from Sarawak and around the world.

Viewers will be serenaded by a string of jazz musicians including Clinton Jerome Chua, O-Ha Soul Band, Nisa Addina, Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2018 winner Ta’Dan and the “Prince of Borneo” himself – Pete Kallang.

Meanwhile, the BJF2021 Virtual Journey will also feature exclusive interviews with Singapore’s ‘King of Swing’ and Asia’s Jazz Superstar Jeremy Monteiro; Dave Brewer of Dave and the Doodaddies; and John Hammond.

“Covid-19 has shown us how important digital and social media has been for artists to reach out to their audiences and maintain their fan-following throughout the pandemic. After more than a year of watching the international entertainment industry, among others, innovate on how to reach out to their target groups, we look forward to seeing fans and new audiences embrace the Borneo Jazz Festival 2021 Virtual Journey,” said Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor.

“With the BJF 2021 now bringing the Virtual Journey into people’s homes through the Borneo Jazz Festival platform, TVS and Shopee Live there could be more new audiences and jazz lovers locally and from around the world,” she said.

How do I watch it?

Borneo Jazz Festival Virtual Journey 2021
Watch out for O-Ha Soul Band and Ta’Dan!

Through the virtual platform on www.jazzborneo.com, viewers can watch the performances, interviews and flashbacks as well as engage in conversation with other online users throughout the 90-minute events.

Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF) will be viewable on www.jazzborneo.com, TVS and on Shopee Live.

Registrants to the BJF platform will be eligible for the contest giveaways to be held during the virtual events, where you can win free tickets to next year’s festivals, discounts to selected hotels, event merchandise and much more.

Viewers can also enjoy the show on TVS, Sarawak’s very own tv station on Astro (Channel 122) and BJF’s Official Broadcast Partner.

Grab is the Official Delivery Partner for BJF. Those who register and access the musical events on www.jazzborneo.com will be able to order food and receive discounts with a special promo code.

With Shopee named as the Official E-commerce Partner, the virtual experience will also be streamed via Shopee Live, giving access to millions of households across the country to enjoy the showcase from the comforts of their own homes.

Sarawak Tourism Board has opened an official store on Shopee to feature merchandise from BJF. This includes BJF Limited Edition T-shirts, Limited Edition Batik Linut Face Mask, Limited Edition Printed Batik Face Mask, and other attractive products.

To get Limited Edition BJF merchandise, visit https://shopee.com.my/placeborneosdnbhd

Watch Borneo Jazz Festival 2021 free this weekend

“The Renaissance”: A fitting tribute for returning K-pop titans Super Junior

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By Geryl Ogilvy

Super Junior’s latest album “The Renaissance”, released in March after several delays, could not have come at a better time as the K-pop legend celebrates its 15th anniversary.

The 10th full-length album also marked the first that all active members have returned to the group fondly known as SJ or SuJu, especially considering that all members had served South Korea’s mandatory military service.

In South Korea’s tough music environment, where the industry churns out new acts and idols each year, swallowing older groups and artistes, Super Junior has traversed genres, continuing to attract new fans across the globe, maintaining dominance and withstand many others in K-pop history.

No doubt Super Junior, consisting group leader Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun, the group’s “maknae”, are the industry’s veterans, yet they continue to reinvent themselves, appealing to new generation of fans.

They have also been dubbed by the media as the “King of Hallyu Wave” due to their prominent contribution in the Korean pop culture wave.

Renaissance, which means rebirth in French, a revival or renewed interest, is definitely a befitting choice to name their latest album to mark a new era and reintroduced the group to the global K-pop fandom.

The Renaissance

Despite all the hype for a new beginning, Super Junior actually kicked off the new album promo last year with the remake of “Raining Spell for Love” from its 2014 album “Mamacita”, following votes from its fandom, which Leeteuk coined as ELF or “Everlasting friends”.

The group also admitted “Raining Spell for Love”, originally an R&B pop track that expressed a man’s heart after a break up, as one of their favourite. The voting topped the list for the “Song I want SuJu to do a remake of”, beating other strong contenders of hits such as “U”, “Miracle” and “Devil” among others.

The group, debuted on Nov 6, 2005, also released another track “The Melody” on the date to celebrate their 15th anniversary last year.

In December, the group debuted its first monster hit from The Renaissance with the opera-like ballad “Burn the Floor” in a medley of songs performance in The Fact Music Awards, where Super Junior also took home Artist of the Year, Popularity Award, Fan & Star Most Votes, and Fan & Star Choice Award.

The boys then dropped an epic performance in the music video for “Burn the Floor” to give fans a glimpse and feel of their grand return. The song talks about their passionate admiration for their respective lovers and likened the relationship to the sensual dance performance portrayed in the music video.

On March 16, the K-pop legends released current global hit “House Party” to commemorate the official album launch which has been postponed twice.

The song, which talks about life coping with the Covid-19 pandemic in a time where physical contact was taken for granted, has resonated with the audience for its relatable lyrics, with lines like: “Everyone is connected without any physical contact”, or “Let’s put aside our feelings of wanting to be together for a while”, where Super Junior invites their fandom to a virtual “House Party” amid the new norm.

The disco-pop melody of House Party also earned Super Junior an applause from WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who gave his nod to the band for reminding those impatient with the prolonged pandemic to maintain caution.

“Super Junior, you’re on point there. Indeed, we still need to maintain precautionary measures against Covid-19 to protect each other and control this pandemic. Thank you for reminding us through your music,” he tweeted.

Super Junior’s The Renaissance features a total of 10 tracks including “Super”, “Paradox”, “Closer”, “Mystery”, “More Days with You” and “Tell Me Baby”.

Super Junior – from K-pop supergroup to legend status

It’s hard not to define Super Junior as the trailblazer of K-pop supergroup dominating the market today. At a time when most groups typically have five or less members, SuJu debuted with 12 members.

It is inevitable not to recognise the legendary status of Super Junior, which continues to stay relevant in the saturated K-pop market, especially in the past decade with the emergence of wildly popular groups such as Big Bang, EXO, Girls’ Generation, Monsta X and many others.

They are indeed the front runners, leading the way and opening paths to global stardom enjoyed by today’s generations of K-pop artistes, most notably BTS and Blackpink.

Throughout their 15-year career, the group has won many accolades and awards worldwide, topping charts in many countries including the famed Billboard charts on a couple occasion.

In the local front, Super Junior was the best selling K-pop artiste for four years in a row and has earned 13 awards from the prestigious Mnet Asian Music Awards, 19 from the Golden Disc Awards and won “Favourite Artist Korea” at the 2008 MTV Asia Awards.

In 2012, they were nominated for Best Asian Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards and won “International Artist” and “Best Fandom” at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.

Super Junior started off with 12 members when their debut album, “Twins” was released. At the time, they were known as Super Junior 05.

Super Junior initially started as a rotational concept line-up, in which members would experience changes and replaced with new singers each year to keep the group young, fresh and all-rounded. However, the rotational concept was abandoned by SM Entertainment after adding Kyuhyun in the band in 2006. The group was renamed as Super Junior, without the suffix “05”.

When SM Entertainment started the boy band project, Han Geng was the first to be recruited in 2000 following an overseas casting in China. He auditioned against some 3,000 applicants.

That year, Leeteuk, Yesung and Eunhyuk were recruited after auditioning at the company’s annual casting system in Seoul. Sungmin and Donghae became trainees after jointly winning first place in an SM-sponsored contest in 2001, while Heechul and Kangin were recruited along with Kabim the following, where the latter was discovered in Los Angeles by a casting agent. Siwon became a trainee in 2003, followed by Shindong a year later. Ryeowook became a trainee after winning a singing competition just two months before the groups’ debut in 2005.

Han Geng left the group in 2011 following a contract dispute, while Kibum left in 2015 after his contract ended. Kangin left in 2019 and Sungmin has remained in hiatus since 2015.

Since their debut in 2005, Super Junior has produced 10 studio albums, two compilation albums, two EPs and numerous live recordings. So extravagant was their popularity, added with the boys’ talent in producing and writing their own music, members of Super Junior also have standalone releases through solo works or five subunits the group siphoned off at various points in their careers.

How “Sorry, Sorry” changed K-pop forever

https://twitter.com/SJofficial/status/1076991911825559553

Super Junior’s leap to global super stardom would come in 2009 with the release of their mega hit song “Sorry, Sorry”, which became the best-selling single of their career. “Sorry, Sorry”, which was also the name of the album, became the best selling album in South Korea for 2009 within a month after its release.

It also became the best-selling K-pop album in China, Taiwan, Thailand and The Philippines and with the album title track reaching number one in music charts at the respective country. “Sorry, Sorry” stayed number one for 10 consecutive weeks in South Korea and a record-breaking 37 weeks in Taiwan’s K-pop singles chart.

In terms of Hallyu history, many agreed that 2009 was an iconic year, an impactful era in terms of K-pop reaching global audiences. While PSY might have turned himself into a viral phenomenon in 2012 with the release of “Gangnam Style”, many argued that 2009 was the launch pad that made K-pop what it is today.

Nowadays, “Sorry, Sorry” is almost like a rite of passage for newer groups, where EXO, Seventeen, NCT and even BTS, Gfriend and Twice have covered the song.

The group’s follow-up album Bonamana, released in 2010, was top of the chart for 61 weeks in Taiwan.

The group also took part in SMTown Live ‘10 World Tour in Los Angeles, New York City, Paris and Tokyo along with other SM Entertainment artistes, performing outside Asia for the first time. Super Junior’s performances were well received by the media.

They were honoured as Korea’s National Pop Culture Icon for their role in spreading the Hallyu Wave. They were also featured in CNN’s Talk Asia programme, Mexico’s TV Azteca and even the BBC acknowledged Super Junior as the leading icon of the Hallyu effect.

Super Junior went on to receive various recognition worldwide, penetrating Europe, North and South America. The group was selected by Brazilian Hallyu fans as the number-one Korean music act they want to visit Brazil. A magazine in Peru even included all of the members in their top 30 ranked “The Sexiest Men in the World” list.

Super Junior’s global success continued with Mr. Simple (2011) and Sexy, Free & Single (2012). The group also successfully completed three Asia tours and a Super Show 4 world tour in 10 cities including Seoul, Osaka, Taipei, Singapore, Macau, Bangkok, Paris, Shanghai, Jakarta and Tokyo, gathering some 900,000 audiences.

Sexy, Free & Single ranked high on iTunes in several countries including Australia, France, Peru and Japan. It also ranked third on Billboard World Albums. Super Junior also embarked on another world tour, Super Show 5, covering Seoul, then China, Japan, South America, North America and Europe. The tour was also considered the largest K-pop tour in the South American market.

In 2014, Leeteuk and Heechul rejoined the group after serving the military for their seventh album Mamacita, which ranked number one on the Billboard World Albums chart. Super Junior embarked on another world tour and became the first K-pop group to perform 100 concerts worldwide.

In 2015, Yesung rejoined the group for a special album, Devil, which was released on July 16 and became the best-selling album for the week in the United World Charts. In November that year, Super Junior set up their own exclusive label management “Label SJ”, a collaboration with SM Entertainment for the members to manage and produced their own albums, group, subunits and individual activities.

The year also saw Eunhyuk, Donghae and Siwon enlisted in the military. The following year, Ryeowook began his military service followed by Kyuhyun in 2017.

In October 2017, Super Junior released the music video for their new single “One More Chance”, to mark the returning three members from their military service. The group announced the release of their eighth album, Play, on Nov 6 and released the music video Black Suit, as the lead single, which earned three million views in 24 hours.

The album was repackaged in 2018 and the music video of its lead single “Lo Siento” was released. The song, featuring American-born Hispanic singer Leslie Grace, debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales chart, making Super Junior the first K-pop artistes to be featured on this chart. “Lo Siento” also debuted at number two on the World Digital Song Sales chart.

Super Junior also released a special EP, One More Time, featuring Mexican band Reik. “One More Time” debuted at number 18 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart and number 5 at the Latin Pop Digital Song Sales chart, as well as debut at number 4 on the World Digital Song Sales chart.

Super Junior became the first Korean act to enter the Latin Billboard charts twice.

In 2019, Super Junior scored another first in the South Korean music industry by becoming the first K-pop artistes to hold a solo concert in Jeddah.

On May 31 last year, as part of their 15th anniversary celebration, the group headlined an online live event concert organised by SM Entertainment which played to an audience of about 123,000 around the globe. The concert was held following of the cancellation of several concerts and super shows due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Super Junior – Leeteuk (real name Park Jeong-su), Kim Heechul, Yesung (Kim Jong-woon), Shindong (Shin Dong-hee), Eunhyuk (Lee Hyuk-jae), Lee Donghae, Choi Siwon, Kim Ryeowook and Cho Kyuhyun – has definitely achieved an enviable status in K-pop.

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11 entries shortlisted for HSL-NP design competition Langit

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Picking the next best high-rise for Kuching city will be the Herculean task for the judges of ‘Langit’, a nationwide architecture competition organised by Hock Seng Lee (HSL), Next Phase (NP) and Malaysian Architecture Institute (PAM) Sarawak Chapter.

Out of 85 submissions from 112 registrations in total, the jury has shortlisted 11 entries. PAM Sarawak Chapter received 85 submissions out of  112 registrations  in  total, with almost  two-thirds  of its  entries from  outside  Sarawak, including  architecture firms in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.

All entries are anonymous and only identified by a code number to ensure that judging is based only on merits.

Construction specialist, HSL, in collaboration with Next Phase, has also included six additional entries to be part of the free public exhibition at La Promenade Mall.

“The competition gives architects and the developer the opportunity to create the next best commercial high-rise in Malaysia. There has never ever been such a design competition before in east Malaysia. The project sponsors, HSL-NP, will get a great design for this strategic piece of land. More importantly. the people of Kuching will get a great building with some of the best design considerations put in. This is a big advancement for both architecture and real estate development,” said PAM Sarawak chairman Chai Si Yong, who is the competition convener.

The shortlisted entries range from 11 to 39 stories high. They include retail showcases, innovative home- offices and truly world-class serviced condominiums.

“The shortlist are the ones that are customised for the site. They are not generic buildings. They fit their site context. Almost all also offer very well-thought out public spaces. By and large, they are not the kind of development with a guardhouse in front, keeping the public out. Langit must be a building that offers community enhancement. Inner city living is important. Jobs, schools and even good public parks tend to be in the inner city,” said Yu Ji, a representative from competition promoters Hock Seng Lee and Next Phase.

Besides civic consideration and designs with good public spaces, other jury considerations include sustainable design, lessons learnt from Covid-19, and the economic feasibility of the designs.

HSL held this competition because the Group wants to reaffirm its status as a professional-led construction firm, which intends to build Kuching’s next icon.

“The competition will complement our existing projects, and is a signpost of where we want to be in a few years. We want to have the best ideas right from the start. For each of our current real estate projects, we try to make sure there is something outstanding. For La Promenade, it’s to be the best gated community. For Samariang Aman 3, it’s to be one of the most affordable while also making sure we can offer well planned open spaces. For Vista Industrial Park, we’ve started Sarawak’s first Rent-to-own scheme for entrepreneurs,” said Yu Ji, who is also the director of Next Phase.

Where is the future high-rise in Kuching going to be?

The site is a challenging and small 0.78acre at Jalan Tabuan, opposite the Inland Revenue Tax Academy.

It is near Kuching’s central business district areas, a stone-throw from Reservoir Park, the Kuching South City Council and some of Sarawak’s best performing schools. It is also within a kilometer to The Spring Shopping Mall and Sarawak Club.

11 entries shortlisted for HSL-NP design competition Langit

The project is named Langit because, in Bahasa Sarawak, ‘Lang’ means door, while in Malay, ‘Langit’ is the sky.

Langit’s results announcement and prize presentation (cash prizes for the competition total RM200,000) is scheduled for late June.

“A good design will mean sunpath, window placement, cross ventilation and natural lighting will be built better. Quality of life is better. Projects can actually become cheaper. Efficiency is higher. We want to try to build something that will be a relevant many years and decades from now. The best ideas are timeless,” added Yu JI, who will also be one of the five jurors for the competition.

For more info on the design competition ‘Langit’, log on to langitkch.com, hsl.com.my or search #langitkch and @hslcn on social media.







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Recycle a MAGGI® Hot Cup, get another one free!

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MAGGI® has created the MAGGI®Hot Cup Recycling Bin – shaped like a giant MAGGI® Hot Cup and made from more than 3,000 recycled MAGGI® Hot Cups as part of MAGGI®’s efforts to reduce waste and encourage recycling in Malaysia.

These recycling bins will be conveniently placed at selected retail outlets and at MAGGI® roadshows so that consumers can easily recycle their used MAGGI® Hot Cup containers. Upon recycling one clean MAGGI® Hot Cup container at these recycling bins, consumers will each receive one free MAGGI® Hot Cup in return. MAGGI® will be working with Upcycle Shack to collect back the used Hot Cups to upcycle them to produce more recycling bins

Nestlé Malaysia Sustainability Initiative 

As part of global efforts to tackle the plastic waste crisis, Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, declared its global commitments to a waste-free future in 2019, including making all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

On-Pack Recycling Guide Box

  • In 2020, Nestlé Malaysia introduced a harmonized recycling labelling system on all Nestlé product packaging to better educate and encourage Malaysians to responsibly dispose their Nestlé product packaging post-consumption.
  • The on-pack Recycling Guide Box uses simple illustrations to inform consumers on the recyclability of each component in the product packaging, as well as which bin each component belongs to. The labelling system also tells consumers when a certain component is not recyclable, so that they would be able to separate the trash from the recyclable materials easily.
    • Nestlé Malaysia is targeting to incorporate the Recycling Guide Box in at least 80% of all Nestlé recyclable packaging by 2021, with the objective to reach 100% in 2022.

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MAGGI®’s annual Jom Masak & Menang Bersama contest is back!

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The soul of Gawai Dayak is that of family and heritage, enjoyed over a spread of home-cooked local delicacies and favourites. For MAGGI®, it has always been a privilege to hold a special place in the Sarawakian kitchen, whether it’s for everyday cooking or special dishes lovingly prepared during festive seasons.

“At the core of the Gawai Dayak harvest festival lies the story of patience, diligence and hard work. While the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has changed the dynamics of how we live and celebrate these special occasions with our loved ones, MAGGI® hopes to continue to support and be an everyday ally to the people of Sarawak during these challenging times,” says Geetha Balakrishna, Business Executive Officer, MAGGI®, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad.

To kick off the Gawai Dayak celebrations and add some festive cheer this year, MAGGI® will pay special tribute to healthcare and frontline heroes across Sarawak & Sabah by donating 20,000  MAGGI® Hot Cups via Malaysian Red Crescent in May 2021.

“This small gesture of appreciation on our part is our way of saying thank you to our healthcare and frontline heroes for their courage, selflessness, and dedication in helping the nation battle against COVID-19. We also hope to bring a little cheer to everyone with the return of our annual Jom Masak & Menang Bersama contest,” says Geetha.

MAGGI Jom Masak dan Menang Bersama
From second left: Lee Tsuen Fu (General Sales Operation Manager, Nestle), Siaw Siew Tiong (Division Head, eMart).

How to participate in MAGGI®‘s Jom Masak & Menang Bersama contest

This year, the MAGGI® Jom Masak & Menang Bersama contest will start on May 1 and end on June 30, 2021. Participants stand the chance to win RM135,000 worth of prizes including the grand prize – a Mitsubishi Triton 4WD, cash prizes and Tefal woks – as part of the weekly giveaways throughout the contest period.

Prizes include:

  • Grand Prize: 1 x Mitsubishi Triton (4WD) – Worth RM 106,000
  • First Place Prizes: 8 x RM 2,000 Cash Prizes
  • Weekly Prizes: 9 weeks x 9 x Tefal Wok – Worth RM 169 each

How to participate:

To participate, consumers simply have to purchase participating MAGGI® products, and submit the entry and their contact details in one of two ways:

  1. Via WhatsApp: Include name and MyKad No. on the original receipt as proof of purchase, snap a photo and send the photo via WhatsApp to 018-388 2921.
  2. Via Mail / Contest Drop Box: Fill in the entry form with the required details and send the form together with the proof of purchase (to be inserted in an envelope) to the P.O. Box address or contest drop box.

For more information on the MAGGI® Jom Masak & Menang Bersama contest and other campaign deals, visit the MAGGI® website: www.maggi.my or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MaggiMalaysia.


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