theinkSlingersThursday, 23 April 2015 • IS#26:230415(1) • For internal circulation only

Time planning to avoid crowded buses Page 6

NEWS

Whale you save the Narwhals? Page 7

FEATURES

Creative art movements for change Page 10

NEWS

FEATURES

Students spread love through post-it notesBy TRECIA TAN SHU HUI

Lai smiles upon receiving an inspirational note after a long day at work.

SUBANG JAYA: A group of Taylor’s University (TU) students left inspirational post-it notes on about 60 lecturers’ and staff members’ car windscreens recently.

The project was part of the Taylor’s Revo (TR) – short for revolution – initiative which aims to make a difference on campus by spreading love, according to a TR member Choe Le Ann, 21.

“We took an hour to cover the car park on the lower ground of Block C, D and E, before the lecturers and staff members left the office,” the Finance and Economics major said.

She added that the TR team also left some of the notes on staff members’ desks in the SHINE Award Centre.

All the post-it notes, distributed on 9 April, contained encouraging quotes with a “#TaylorsRevo” sign-off.

Taylor’s Business School Banking and Finance, Finance and Business, and Finance and Economics Programme Director Malarvilly Ramayah was one of the lecturers who found a note on her windscreen which said, “Teach because it will change the world.”

“I don’t know who did it, but I believe it is an appreciation from students.

NO LONGER TAKING THE BACKSEAT: Taylor’s University students and members of The Backseat Affair (from left) Irwin Lim Zhi Xian, Mohamad Haris Mohamad Subki, Annabel Michael and Darren Lee Jun Weng celebrating their win in the Superstar Me talent contest. Source: The Backseat Affair

Full story on page 2

Rising star and Yuna protégé from TU Page 12

“I feel very good receiving the note and it motivates me to do more for the students,” she said.

TU ICT System Administrator Barnabas Lai Meng Kin also received a note which said, “Life is always better when you are smiling.”

Lai said it was very thoughtful of TR to take the time to do this project.

“After a long day at work, I got into my car and started the engine before

noticing there was a piece of paper stuck under my wiper.

“I got down from the car to investigate and realised it was a short, sweet note, and it left a smile on my face,” he said.

The TR team did a similar encouragement project last December when they gave out exam survival kits to students who stayed back on campus to study for their finals.

2 NEWS April 2015

Audience participates in EPIC cook-offBy MOHAMED KHAIDIR MOHAMED ZARAAI

Taylorians win talent contest

EditorTrecia Tan Shu Hui

Deputy EditorMary Christina Britto

Chief Sub-EditorNur Farahain Abdul Mutalib

Layout EditorPrethiba Esvary Subramanian

Online Editor

Nadia Ahmed Abdalla

WritersBegaiym Dzhanova

Cindy JunovicaFelicia JulinLee Jia Ann

Lim Weng EuMalik Ridhwan Zaihan

Mohamed Khaidir Mohamed ZaraaiSalim Hamood Al-Afifi

Shazwani Che RahimSim Pei Xuan

Vincent Wong Yew SingWong Sow Yee

Visit us atwww.theinkslingers2015.weebly.com

Write to us at

theinkslingers@taylors.edu.my

PrinterC&T Graphics

Mr. Ng Hock Swee AS 82 (1st Floor)

Jalan Hang Tuah 4Salak South Garden

57100, Kuala Lumpur

Contact Number+603 7981 2250

016 277 8201

theink Slingers

By VINCENT WONG YEW SING

SUBANG JAYA: Four Taylor’s University (TU) students emerged victorious in Superstar Me, a talent competition organised by AXN and Great Eastern Life in association with Asia’s Got Talent.

The band, which is called The Backseat Affair, took home a grand prize of RM5,000 and a pair of tickets to watch the live performance of Asia’s Got Talent in Singapore.

“We did not expect to win as we just wanted to test ourselves to see how far we would go,” Mechanical Engineering major and percussionist, Darren Lee Jun Weng, 21, said.

The band also comprises American Degree Programme student and guitarist Irwin Lim Zhi Xian, 19, Diploma in Mass Communication student and lead singer Annabel Michael, 19, and Foundation in Engineering student and percussionist Mohamad Haris Mohamad Subki, 19.

Only 30 out of 400 contestants made it to the final round of the contest, which took place at Sunway Pyramid on 5 April. The group delivered a cover of Ariana Grande’s “Love Me Harder” in the finals.

Annabel said they had an amazing experience participating in the contest.

The band received positive feedback from the celebrity judges – Ning Baizura, Henley Hii and Poova Plachciak.

“Ning Baizura told us, ‘You have a nice voice and you should all make an album together.’ “Her comment meant a great deal to us,” Annabel said.

The four friends, who met in TU Music Club, formed the band in February this year and have played six gigs since then.

“We hope to grow as a band, especially after receiving positive comments from the judges during the finals,” Annabel said.

Oon is demonstrating to his team members on how to extract vanilla beans for the ‘magical’ ice-cream.

SUBANG JAYA: It was a huge surprise when the audience participated in the Culinary Champions Cook-off between MasterChef Malaysia Arshad Zamir Mohd Azmi and Olympiad Chef Ashwin Nicholas Oon, at Taylor’s University (TU) on 4 April.

The cook-off required the champions and their team members to prepare a dessert consisting of ‘magical’ ice-cream and to microwave a sponge cake garnished with fruits.

Public Relations and Marketing major Nabila Puterina, who was in Oon’s team said, “I thought we would just watch them cook, but then we got to cook with them.”

While Oon, 22, was teaching his team members how to make the ice-cream, he said, “The ice-cream is ‘magical’ because we make it using dry ice.”

The team had 30 minutes to make and plate the dessert in both Thyme and Tarragon restaurants’ kitchens.

Oon’s team won the cook-off with

their dessert, called Colourful Island, which was made out of passion fruit, blueberry and chocolate chili ice-cream.

Oon, who enjoyed the competition said, “I do like teaching and I am looking forward to becoming a lecturer.”

Oon was the winner in the first International Young Chef Olympiad 2015, held in Kolkata, India last January.

This August, the Diploma in Culinary Arts student will fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil for the WorldSkills Competition.

Secondary school students and leavers including Taylorians, joined the cook-off during the E.P.I.C event, organised by TU School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts.

Besides the Culinary Champions Cook-off, E.P.I.C event also featured two other activities – Mixology Mocktails with a Twist and Fine Dining Etiquette.

The next E.P.I.C event will be held on 25 April.

E-Waste collection to help underprivilegedBy VINCENT WONG YEW SING

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) International Association of Students in Economics and Management (AIESEC) club recently launched a campaign to collect e-waste.

The campaign was conducted under AIESEC’s project management department called Techcycle Tech4ALL.

The club organised the campaign in collaboration with NGO Sols Tech, to do their bit in decreasing landfills and e-waste pile ups.

According to Techcycle Tech4ALL project manager, Cherry Novalia, the purpose of the campaign was to encourage people to recycle their unused technological devices and to help the needy and underprivileged community.

“The underprivileged children in Malaysia do not even have the most basic of technologies and proper facilities such as computers.

“While some children might have computers, they will probably have to share one unit among 20 children.

“That is why we decided to partner with NGOs to counter the issue,” the 19-year-old Public Relations and Marketing major Cherry said.

According to Cherry, electronic devices such as handphones, anti-radiation screens, processors, laptops, CPU, laptop chargers, earphones, calculators, coffee makers, webcam, speakers and even air-conditioners were collected from the campaign.

The collected e-waste will be sent for repair at Sols Tech, a registered Microsoft refurbisher.

Cherry said, Sols Tech will focus on getting components from other e-wastes to revamp computer monitors and CPUs.

“These items will then be donated to a children’s home,” she said.

For devices that cannot be repaired, Cherry said her team will try to find an environmental-friendly alternative to recycle the electronic scraps.

“We will probably have to find second-hand electronic shops that might find a use for those devices, but it largely depends on our market research,” she said.

NEWS 3April 2015

ADP students raise RM3k for SPCA’s new shelter

The installed speed gates will be activated this June, and will require a valid student or staff ID for entry, to ensure the safety of students and staff.

SUBANG JAYA: Speed gates have been installed in Taylor’s Unversity (TU) library, and will be activated this June for the safety of the students and staff.

“Outsiders will not be able to enter the library without a valid student or staff ID once the speed gates have been activated,” Chief Librarian Jefrina Jamaluddin said.

Jefrina raised her concern for the safety of the students and staff members as the library opens until 9pm on weekdays.

“There have been occasions where suspicious-looking people were spotted in the library as they look mature for a student and they are dressed in disguise with a cap on.

“I would like the students and my staff to feel secure when they are in the library at night, especially since TU is an open campus,” she said.

TU library installs speed gates for safety

TU takes first place in Gender Equality ColloquiumBy LIM WENG EU

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s Law School student Joash Nicholas Ong won the grand prize of RM700 in the first

SUBANG JAYA: The Leo Club of Malaysia raised RM3,000 for Limbs for Life, an organisation that provides free prosthetic limbs for patients who have undergone amputation surgeries.

Taylor’s University (TU) Leo Club collaborated with the Leo Clubs of SMK Assunta and SMK Seksyen 4 Bandar Kinrara to organise the Leo Charity Carnival 2015.

Themed ‘Circus of Dreams’, the event was held at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus on 4 April.

“This charity event is a good initiative because it gives the amputees hope,” Limbs for Life Administrator Wong Junling said.

“Just because they’re amputated, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a dream to look forward to,” she said.

The carnival’s Organising Committee President Samantha Ong Kit Yee said, “We fell short of the RM10,000 fundraising goal, but I’m glad we can still sponsor at least one prosthetic limb to give someone a new life.”

A prosthetic limb costs around RM2,800, according to Ong.

The carnival had a total of 22 booths selling food, beverages, games and sponsored items, as well as entertaining performances and acts such as singing and beatboxing.

Lucky attendees also got to walk away with goodies such as earphones, speakers and powerbanks from the lucky draw session.

Leo Club’slions giveamputees new hopeBy WONG SOW YEE

SUBANG JAYA: American Degree Programme (ADP) students met their goal in raising RM3,000 for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) at the Furry Tails charity event.

ADP Public Relations students organised the event to raise funds for a cattery for SPCA’s new shelter, which is still under construction.

One of the booths at the event was Meow-nicure, a nail painting and hand pampering booth, which managed to collect about RM300 out of the total amount raised.

Even male customers joined the hand pampering session.

By LEE JIA ANN

Joash Nicholas Ong (right) accepting his prize from Meera Samanther of the Association of Women Lawyers (AWL).

Gender Equality Initiative Colloquium 2015 at Taylor’s University (TU).

Ong, 21, swept the judges and audiences away with his presentation on a Draft Gender Equality Act.

“I actually did not expect to win first place,” Ong said.

Ong’s presentation touched on gender discrimination in the learning environment, which occurs from early on in life till one’s working life, which Ong termed, ‘Occupational Bias’.

Ong said the motivation for the presentation idea came from his experiences when he was young.

He said he enjoyed the Humanities and the Arts more than classical Sciences and Sports, and he faced criticism for being interested in subjects that were feminine or considered inappropriate for men.

During his presentation, Ong said, “Gender inequality is a problem that should not exist in democratic nations. I see no reason why it still does.”

Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) and the Malaysian Bar organised the colloquium as part of their year-long plan to raise awareness about gender discrimination that occurs in the learning environment.

The judges said Ong stood out among the competitors because his presentation idea was similar with the ideology of AWL.

Taylor’s Law School Dean Harmanhinder Singh Iqbal Singh said eight out of 11 participants made it to the finals.

The finalists of the competition consisted of law students from INTI International University (INTI) as well as Taylor’s students.

Harmanhinder Singh said the event had exceeded his expectations and he was delighted with its success.

He added that the Gender Equality Initiative 2015 would be a year-long activity with several private institutions taking turns to host an event.

Lim Hui Mei, 19, who was in charge of the “Meow-nicure” booth, said, “We thought that the manicure booth can attract female students to donate to SPCA while getting their nails done.”

Public Relations and Marketing major Ainaa Aiman Mashrique, 19, who participated in the Meow-nicure booth, said, “The event is a great cause and people should treat animals the same way they treat human beings.

“This is because the lives of animals are equally important.”

As part of their class project, the PR students manned several booths, including carnival games, food and drink

booths at the event on 8 and 9 April, in front of the Student Life Centre.

By TRECIA TAN SHU HUI

Participants during the pamper session at the Meow-nicure booth.

She said the installation of speed gates would protect TU students’ library privileges such as seating and resources, especially during exam period.

“When outsiders use the library, they deprive the students of their privileges.

“Our main concern is our students and staff, and we would like to serve them better,” she said.

The installation of speed gates is a response to the feedback received through the Library Online Survey, and as shared by Taylor’s University Student Council, regarding the usage of library facilities by outsiders, Jefrina said.

“We don’t know the exact number of outsiders who have used our library as we identify them only when we carry out spot checks,” she said.

She added that there are bound to be outsiders every time her staff conducts a spot check.

4 NEWS April 2015

SUBANG JAYA: The Clash of Tribes sports carnival, organised by Scholars@Work, is open to all and will be held at Taylor’s University sports complex on 23 May.

It is an obstacle course whereby teams are required to finish certain challenges such as Quidditch, Squat Soccer, Water Sliding, Balloon Baseball and Hackball.

“We promise to give a twist from normal sports events,” Event Organiser Chairman Thiiban Thuraiveloo said.

Tickets are RM5 for scholars and RM10 for non-scholars, and will go on sale from 20 April to 15 May in front of Student Life Centre.

Sports carnival open to all

TU fights verbal bullying with inkSUBANG JAYA: The grand finale of the four-week long INKED awareness campaign will take place on 8 May at the Amphitheatre in Taylor’s University.

Initiated under the Taylor’s Management Programme, the campaign aims to shed light on the severity of the effects that verbal bullying has on its victim.

Throughout the campaign, participants spray painted the hurtful words they have received in their lifetime, onto a canvas.

Organising committee member Elisha Yeo Hui Shien, 20, said, “The participants splashed away their baggage of being called negative words, to make way for positivity.”

IN BRIEFFood court expands meal selectionBy SIM PEI XUAN

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University’s (TU) Arena Food Court is currently expanding its meal selection with the addition of three new food vendors in this month.

Arena Food Court Supervisor Lau Choong Ming said, “We are currently bringing in more tenants to improve the meal variety.”

The food court now offers meal choices from three main meal stalls, which include Malay, Chinese and Middle Eastern food.

Apart from main meals, customers can enjoy different types of beverages, as well as light snacks from the new waffle vendor.

Taxis receive same number of passengers after fare hikeBy PRETHIBA ESVARY SUBRAMANIAN

TU students who use the taxis quite regularly, admit to feeling the pinch after the fare hike.

“We are also looking into bringing new snack vendors such as a bakery,” Lau added.

Lau said the cheapest price for a meal of rice, meat and vegetables is now about RM6.

Students can also opt to use the Woogle Infinity Card – a cashless prepaid transaction card – to obtain five percent discount on all purchases.

A quick survey by The InkSlingers with a number of students revealed that many do not visit the food court regularly because there is a lack of awareness on its improvements.

Diploma in Education student, Khoo Ying Shan, 19, said, “I remember

there were very few stalls and the food sold were similar, so I rarely think of going there for meals.”

“I didn’t know there would be improvements. I would certainly visit it regularly if there are more cheap meal options,” Khoo said.

Public Relations and Marketing student Wilson Ong Wei Sheng, 22, said, “When I last visited the food court a few months ago, there wasn’t much to choose from, that’s why I never went back again.”

“I’m really looking forward to more improvements by the management in the future and perhaps it can be my new regular lunch spot,” Ong said.

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University is now running its annual Library Online Survey until 4 May, to gather students’ feedback to improve its current services, resources and facilities.

“We are basing students’ responses to ask for fund allocation to do certain improvements in the library,” Taylor’s University Assistant Library Manager Susan Zachariah said.

“Whatever the students feel we should improve, it will be taken on board as we are always aiming to ensure the library and its services are the best it can be for our students,” she said.

Launched on 6 April, the survey is running concurrently at Taylor’s College Subang Jaya and Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas.

Students stand a chance to win prizes by participating in the survey, which can be found on: www.taylorslibrary.taylors.edu.my.

Khoo (right) giving the Middle Eastern stall in the food court a try after finding out about its improvements.

Online survey for TU Library’s future improvementsSUBANG JAYA: Despite the taxi fare

hike last month, business is the same as before for taxi drivers plying the routes to and from Taylor’s University.

Taxi driver Yau Wong Liu, 62 said, “Business is the same even after the fare hike because people who regularly use the taxi still need our services.”

Arokiasamy Kitchan, who has been a taxi driver for 10 years, said he is earning slightly more after the fare hike.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) announced last month that taxi fares are now RM0.25 per 200 metres, whereas the fare before was cheaper at RM0.10 per 115 metres.

SPAD said the approximate fare for budget taxis, which cover a distance of 5km and 10km, have increased by 23 percent and 31.5 percent respectively.

The Star reported that prior to the hike, a taxi caught in traffic could cost up to RM17, whereas nowadays it could cost up to RM25.

In light of this, some taxi drivers at Lakeside Campus stated that they did

not mind sitting through the daily traffic congestion at the university.

Taxi driver Marimuthu Thangarajoo, 40, said it was more worth it to carry a passenger on board than to wait for the congestion to ease.

While the hike may be a blessing for taxi drivers, students who use taxis regularly would feel the effects of it.

Human Resource Management student Abby Hussaein, 21, who lives in Kepong, said each trip using the taxi could range between RM40 and RM55 after the hike.

However, Computer Science student Yap Yong Shen, 19, said he does not feel the pinch because he only takes the taxi once a week.

NEWS 5April 2015

By CINDY JUNOVICA

Taylor’s University Uni Gym aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among students with its revamped facilities.

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) Uni Gym renovated the workout ground and will add new workout equipment for its members.

Gym Manager Calvin Samuel said there were complaints regarding loud thuds from the dropping of dumbbells.

“We decided to renovate the floor by thickening and strengthening the rubber so the noise will no longer be a nuisance for the people downstairs,” he said.

Calvin added that they have increased the amount of sessions for training classes such as Zumba, Fit Camp and Fit Core.

“We offer more choices to our members so they can attend sessions that fit their schedules or to those who simply want to do extra exercise,” Calvin said.

Calvin said he is still waiting for approval to add new fitness equipment such as squat rack and bench press to provide gym members with a better workout experience.

Since the implementation of GST on 1 April, the fee has been raised to

Uni Gym revamps for better services

The monthly season parking grants multiple entries and exits of the area.

Student season parking draws mixed reactions

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) students have mixed opinions on the new season parking at Zone J, implemented since 1 April.

By SIM PEI XUAN

SUBANG JAYA: Students will be able to experience the life of a refugee through “Into the Unknown”, which is a maze simulation designed mainly out of tables and softboards.

The three-day long event organised by the Taylor’s University’s Talent Management Programme, will be happening from 27 to 29 April inside the Student Life Centre (SLC).

Project manager Soo Hui Qing, 22, said, “Through the simulation game we want to let the participants experience

Maze to raise refugee awareness among Taylor’s University studentsBy LEE JIA ANN

the situation of a refugee and what they are going through, besides just listening to the explanations from us.”

Themed on war, discrimination and loss, the maze is the grand finale to a month-long event which began with the community project, Borderless, a refugee awareness booth situated in front of the SLC.

Through the Borderless event, students who visited the booth were able to obtain information from the project managers regarding refugee awareness,

and purchase customised merchandises such as badges and t-shirts.

At the same time, visitors of the booth were able to participate in interactive activities such as “Sugar Cubes”, whereby they could write positive messages for the refugees.

Project manager Yap En Xin, 21, said, “All funds raised through the sale of the merchandise will go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help the refugees in terms of welfare.”

“It is a good idea, because it costs the same amount of petrol money that would have otherwise been spent on searching for parking space,” Public

Relations and Event Management student Jackie Chua Lyn Hwa, 23, said.

“My worst parking experience (before the season parking implementation) was when I came to campus at 10am for a 12pm class, waited in line for two and a half hours for a parking slot, and ended up late for class,” Chua said.

The outdoor season parking area next to Syopz Mall has a capacity of 360 parking bays.

For a monthly fee of RM100, students have valid access which grants multiple entries and exits of the area.

Computer Science major Lor Jia Shen, 20, said, “I registered for the season parking pass because when it comes to a new semester, parking spaces will definitely be filled up very quickly.”

“It takes a significant amount of time to set foot on campus if one parks in the free parking zone, compared to the season parking area,” Lor said.

However, Food Science and Nutrition student Reuben Loh Zhu Wen, 22, does not agree with the implementation of season parking as he used to park at Zone J before it was converted into a season parking area.

“I disagree with season parking because it is quite costly considering the poor conditions of Zone J,” Loh said, adding that it was the reason why he decided to park further away now.

Public Relations major Yong Kah Kin, 22, said the season parking was considered unfair to those who could not afford to pay for it.

RM95 for trimester and RM380 for annual admission.

“Despite the price surge, the number of registrants remain constant and students are still coming in to join Uni Gym,” Calvin said.

Broadcasting major Ariel Ezra Bezaliel, 21, said, “RM95 is still

considered very affordable compared to the prices of other gym centres, which cost almost thrice as much.”

“When I finish my classes, I can just walk there and exercise straightaway, which is very convenient,” he said.

Uni Gym membership was opened solely to TU students previously, but

it is now opened to Taylor’s College students as well, according to Calvin.

“At the end of the day, the main objective of Uni Gym is to promote health awareness.

“ We hope to influence Taylorians to join the gym for a healthier lifestyle,” Calvin said.

6 NEWS April 2015

Students advised to plan their time to avoid crowded buses

‘900 seconds’ features societal concerns

Students unaware of iKad

The period between 9am and 2.15pm is when the bus crowd is lesser compared to that during peak hours.

By PRETHIBA ESVARY SUBRAMANIAN

By PRETHIBA ESVARYSUBRAMANIAN

By NUR FARAHAIN ABDUL MUTALIB

SUBANG JAYA: Students are advised to familiarise themselves with the Taylor’s University (TU) shuttle bus schedule, so that they can plan their time well and avoid overcrowded buses.

TU Wawasan Sutera shuttle buses Supervisor Abdul Mukmin said, “For example, some students who live at Suriamas and have 8am classes would try and get on the 7.30am bus, which would naturally be crowded.

“These students could actually take the 7am bus, which would be less crowded, or they could wait for the Taylor’s shuttle bus which starts at Mentari Court and passes through the Suriamas and Ridzuan apartments,” he said.

He added that the bus from Mentari is usually not full as there are not many students living in Mentari court.

International Business and Marketing student Kauser Parvin Nipa, 21, however said it was an inconvenience for her to wake up early in order to take the earlier bus.

Kauser, who stays at My Place apartment in SS15, takes the 7.30am bus daily from the bus stop opposite Maybank, SS15.

She said, “I’d prefer for the management to provide more buses, than me having to wake up earlier.”

According to Taylor’s Administration Senior Manager Amir Hamzah Abdullah, the university has indeed secured an additional bus early last year to ease the overcrowding issue.

TU Student Council Campus Welfare Director Lum Kit May stated that the 2013/2014 student council had received

feedback from students about this matter through the council’s VOICE campaign.

“The council had then approached the Taylor’s management to highlight the issue,” she said.

Amir added that they had paid RM4,500 as part of a contract with Wawasan Sutera for the additional bus.

“This bus serves as a standby bus on top of the existing six shuttle buses.

“It is on standby from 7am to 9am and from 4pm to 7pm,” he said.

Amir said the seven buses are actually sufficient to withstand the current capacity of students, and that the Wawasan Sutera shuttle buses could hold 44 sitting and 22 standing students.

When asked about the possibility of adding more buses, Amir said at the moment, they do not see a need for that.

A group performing as part of the “900 Seconds” project held on 9 April.

SUBANG JAYA: American Degree Programme (ADP) students performed several plays on current societal issues under their project, “900 Seconds”.

The class representative, Shuhaib Haji Nawawi, 18, said, “Each group had 900 seconds to perform and convey the message of their play.”

Shuhaib described the distinctness between the plays under “900 Seconds” and their previous plays as a fun yet challenging experience.

“This is because we had to amp it up by performing on current societal issues,” he said.

The play was meant to be a medium to spread awareness regarding societal issues, such as online dating, mental illness and inferiority complex.

He said, “We are involved in every step of the play, including devising story ideas, script and choreography.

“We also had to conduct research by scanning articles in newspapers regarding societal issues, and to create a storyline from there,” Shuhaib said.

He added that School of Liberal Arts and Sciences has always been coming up with unique performance ideas for the ADP students.

“This time around, it’s no different as ‘900 Seconds’ received positive responses from staff members and students,” he said.

Shuhaib added, “It’s a different experience for us because we were assigned to groups and we were not allowed to choose our group members.

“So another challenge we had was to work with people we aren’t familiar with,” he said.

“900 Seconds” was showcased on 8 and 9 April, and will be showing again on 28 April at the Experimental Theatre from 4.30pm till 6.30pm.

SUBANG JAYA: Many international students in Taylor’s University (TU) are not aware of the existence of the foreign student identification card, iKad, and the process involved in getting one.

Newly-enrolled students Firmin Rieu, 21, and Lucy Kuhn, 23, from France, as well as Iliass Malehou, 22, from Belgium, stated that they did not know about the iKad.

Some existing students, who are currently in semester two or above, also do not know about the iKad, or have yet to receive it.

Second-year Human Resource Management student Abrar Hasan, 18, said, she had not received her iKad even though she had been in Malaysia since the end of 2013.

The Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) implemented the iKad system, whereby the card was issued to students who had received their student passes after 1 July last year.

According to EMGS, existing students can apply for an iKad when they renew their student pass.

TU International Office Senior Executive Zalina Kamarudin said, “The processing of the iKad will begin once their student pass has been endorsed.”

She added that the validity of the iKad will be in accordance with that of the student pass.

Zalina advised students to approach the International Office to further inquire about their student pass and the process of applying for an iKad.

For further details, visit http://educationmalaysia.gov.my/index.

7April 2015 NEWS

TU wins international culinology competition

Taylorians reach out to save NarwhalsBy CINDY JUNOVICA

By MOHAMED KHAIDIR MOHAMED ZARAAI

TU toilets should be shared responsibilityBy MARY CHRISTINA BRITTO

Pang Jia He, 20 (right) and Tan Den Jie, 20 (second right) selling the whale plush toys at the Whale You Save Me campaign. Photo Credit: Huang Wei Ying.

Team Ace and their teacher advisor, Dr Chong Li Choo (second from left), with their award-winning product - Barbequed Shrimp and Rosemary Biscuits party pack.

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) Diploma in Communication students managed to raise RM3,000 for the Whale You Save Me campaign.

In collaboration with local NGO World of Wallie, the campaign aimed to raise funds to protect a type of mammal called Narwhal, from extinction.

Campaign organiser Nur Nadiah Ariffin said, “What we had in mind was not only to collect money, but to also educate the public about the importance of saving the mammals.”

Holding onto the motto of “Save the Narwhals, Save the World”, team member Cassandra Anne Sebastian, 21, said whales are going to be the first animal species to die when global warming hits its worst.

“Also, Narwhals are one of the endangered species and we believe that it’s part of our responsibility as humans to save them,” she said.

The students sold cupcakes, popsicles and Wallie plush toys to share the love of these creatures.

SUBANG JAYA: For two consecutive years, Taylor’s University (TU) culinology students won second place in the Student Culinology Competition 2015 held in New Orleans, USA.

The winners were from Team Ace, which comprises Goh Wu Dong Yan, 22, Ernie Sagim, 23, Helena Gunawan, 21, and Wilbert Lie, 22.

Team leader Goh said their biggest competitors were the champions from Johnson and Wales University.

“Last year they beat us and this year I want to beat them,” Goh said.

During the competition, they transformed a restaurant menu to a manufactured food product.

The restaurant menu was Barbecued Shrimp and Rosemary Biscuits, created by Food Network star and Celebrity Chef, Emeril Lagasse.

The team successfully transformed Lagasse’s menu into a frozen party pack of six portions.

Culinology Programme Director Dr Chong Li Choo said, “In culinology, every change and step in creating a recipe needs justification.

SUBANG JAYA: The upkeep of toilets should be a collective effort between the students and the management, according to Taylor’s University (TU) Facility Management.

“I think if the students and management make an effort, the cleanliness of the toilet facilities can be better for both parties,” said TU Facility Management Housekeeping Manager Aravinthan Letchuman.

International Business major Lubna Malik, 23, said she could find leaky faucets, stained toilets, empty soap dispensers, moss-covered walls, rust-stained sinks and broken flushes in the campus toilets.

Some of these issues were maintenance related, while others were caused by the misuse of toilet facilities.

TU Facility Management Operations and Engineering Manager Pravin Murugaiah said, “We face a lot of issues and the university is continuously replacing flushes and toilet seats.”

“For some reasons, students squat on the toilet seats and this affects the durability of the seats,” he said.

Pravin added that TU Facility Management would make sure a dedicated cleaner, whose sole responsibility is to ensure the cleanliness of the toilets, is assigned for every floor.

With a student base of about 13,000, TU has a total of 93 toilets for students, 34 of which are able to accommodate handicapped individuals, Pravin said.

“Through this event, we are able to interact with the public directly, providing them with better comprehension of this matter,” Nur Nadiah added.

As part of the campaign, the crew set up a Facebook page and Instagram account to extend the message to a wider range of people via the hashtag #WallieTheWhale.

The fund raised will be given to wildlife charity Whale Dolphin Conservation (WDC) to protect Narwhals globally.

SUBANG JAYA: Crimson FC, Taylor’s University’s (TU) ladies futsal team plans to recruit more members after winning the recent Impact Futsal tournament.

Team Captain Shirhla Jane Anak Sanggop, 19, said, “Our plan is to introduce activities such as participating in closed tournaments which will help motivate new players to join our team.”

According to Shirhla Jane, the team currently consists of 15 to 20 members.

Mechanical Engineering major Kevina Runghen, 23, recently joined the team after receiving a warm welcome from the team during orientation week.

“I wanted to be a proper futsal player because I had not really gotten the opportunity before,” new member Runghen said.

Co-captain Nur Nadiah Ariffin said, “Everyone is welcome to join Crimson FC for tournaments and train with us.”

Crimson FC plans to recruit more membersBy LEE JIA ANN

Culinology involves chemistry and microbiological reaction.”

She said TU is the only university that offers Culinology course in Asia.

8 April 2015FEATURES

Making the most out of BB1MBy TRECIA TAN SHU HUI

Advertising major Kelvin Yap, 23, purchasing books using BB1M.

STUDENTS have been facing the what-to-have-for-lunch predicament every day on campus, but with the start of a new academic year at Taylor’s University, comes yet another age-old dilemma – what to do with the 1Malaysia Book Voucher (BB1M)?

Many leading bookstore chains in Malaysia are offering attractive promotions to entice students to

Career hunting with JobStreet and LinkedInBy MOHAMED KHAIDIR MOHAMED ZARAAI

CONVOCATION ceremony is a memorable event for all university graduates. Unfortunately, the excitement is inconsequential, if the graduates are jobless on the biggest day in their life.

For undergraduate students, their final semester resembles the final book in a saga. Convocation will be held in November and it is crucial to kick-start their career in August - if they do not consider a gap year. Thus, it is essential to start hunting jobs by using JobStreet and LinkedIn.

Rajeshwari Kanasan from Human Capital department in Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) Malaysia said, “There are lots of vacancies available in JobStreet for fresh graduates.”

Rajeshwari, 28, has five years experience in the human resource industry. She also used JobStreet when she graduated in 2009.

On JobStreet, the main page displays a job posting list selected based on the person’s study field and interest. It is known as LiNa Daily Jobs.

PwC Malaysia Human Resource Executive and Recruiter Muhamad Helmy Abu Bakar, 27, mentioned, “When the employers put one or two years experience in the job posting, it means that they want a fresh graduate.”

He said employers cannot put ‘no experience’ in the job posting section.

Public Relations and Event Management final semester student Wendy Chok Li Yin, 23, updating her LinkedIn profile.

spend the vouchers at their outlets.To ease your troubles of searching for the perfect way to spend your RM250 BB1M vouchers, here is a compilation of the perks offered: 1) MPH

Out of all the bookstore chains on the list, MPH offers the lowest minimum purchase for BB1M rewards. Any amount spent using the vouchers will entitle the customers to a two-year MPH Readers’ Circle membership and a chance to win a Proton Iriz.

Besides these benefits, customers will receive a RM5 voucher for every RM50 spent. Meanwhile, for RM150 spent in a single receipt, customers can receive vouchers worth RM15 and an additional gift of either a tote bag or a tumbler. The reward for spending all RM250 worth of BB1M in one receipt would entitle the customer to a RM50 voucher and either a tote bag or a tumbler.

The promotion offered by MPH Online however, is different from its physical outlets.

If you already know the titles you are looking for, you can purchase them online and pay with BB1M upon delivery. Spend RM150 and you will receive a MPH tote bag, a one-year MPH online membership, and free delivery nationwide.

2) Popular Popular bookstores are well known

for their wide selection of Chinese titles, although they do stock up new English releases and bestsellers as well.

Customers will be rewarded with a RM5 voucher if they spend RM100; a RM10 voucher and a membership card if they spend RM150; a RM50 voucher and a membership card if they spend RM250 in a single receipt.

The membership card is valid till 31 May next year.3) Kinokuniya

Being one of the largest bookstores in Kuala Lumpur, Kinokuniya houses a vast collection of titles, including Japanse books, that will allow bibliophiles to browse to their heart’s content.

Like other bookstores, Kinokuniya follows the guideline provided by the Ministry of Education to a certain extent whereby it does not allow its customers to purchase non-academic books using BB1M. But rest assured that most titles under the literature section are still able to be purchased as Kinokuniya only considers genres like romance and graphic novels ‘non-academic’.

If RM200 is spent in a single receipt, customers are eligible for a RM20 rebate in the form of cash voucher which can be used for the next purchase.

4) Times There may be only five Times

bookstore branches in KL, but the variety of books that they offer can hardly disappoint. One is able to find a wide range of book selection here.

Customers will get a RM10 voucher if they spend RM100; RM20 voucher if they spend RM150; and RM50 voucher as well as a two-year membership if they spend RM250 in a single receipt. 5) Borders

Non-book lovers, rejoice! Borders is the only bookstore chain on the list that allows its customers to use BB1M to purchase stationery as long as a minimum of RM50 is spent on books.

Customers will get a RM20 gift voucher if they spend RM150 in a single receipt and an additional free preloaded Starbucks card worth RM20 if they spend RM250.

These are the benefits that are being offered by the major bookstores in KL which you can choose from.

So, plan your purchase before you embark on your book shopping trip.

Here’s a tip: bring along your 1Malaysia Student Discount Card (KADS1M) to enjoy an additional 10 percent off your total purchase.

Don’t you just love the perks of being a student?

Before applying for the job, complete the Jobstreet resumé first with information such as experience, education and skills. It is advisable to include a profile photo for the finishing touch. The photo must be professional and sophisticated to attract the employers to view the resumé.

After creating the resumé, click the job posting, read the job description, and click ‘Apply Now’. The applicant needs to pitch themselves to their employer in 300 characters before sending their resumé to them.

LinkedIn is also an ideal tool to find jobs and build connections.

Training and Quality Improvement Manager at Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur Jon Teoh Woei Zhung said, “I use both JobStreet and LinkedIn to recruit employees. But, I prefer LinkedIn more than JobStreet because you can see a full resume on the LinkedIn profiles.”

Rajeshwari supported Teoh’s point. “Headhunters use LinkedIn to hunt candidates. JobStreet has thousands applicants and employers won’t screen all CVs,” she said.

To get started, sign up for a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn and Facebook have the same mechanism. It serves as a social media. The first step is to update the LinkedIn profile. It works as a resumé.

Users can search available jobs in the search engine. Click the job post, click ‘Apply’ and submit the LinkedIn profile to the employer.

LinkedIn is not just the platform for the users to apply jobs but also to add connections with the professionals. Users can add connections with people who work in big or small organisations.

Building connection matters because it is a stepping stone for LinkedIn users to build rapport with professionals from various companies.

It is easier to add connection using LinkedIn mobile version.

In the search engine, type the name of a company under the ‘People’ category, and a list of names of who work in the company, appears.

Tap the ‘+’ button at the right of the names list to add them as connections.

Rajeshwari added that JobStreet is suitable for fresh graduates while LinkedIn is for experienced hire. “Fresh graduates can have a LinkedIn profile for networking. You can add recruiters and potential employers on LinkedIn. There are chances for the recruiters to view your profile.”

9April 2015 FEATURES

Coffee and breakfast, just around the cornerBy SIM PEI XUAN

HOW do you like your coffee? Or rather, where do you seek your coffee?

While large commercial coffee places remain a familiar attraction on campus, those seeking an artisanal alternative need not look too far.

Just around the corner of The Boardwalk at Syopz beside Ambank, you can find coffee beyond the transparent shopfront of Aspresso, a café newly opened in mid-January.

Upon entry, I was greeted with a friendly smile from the barista who beckoned me closer towards the menu on the wooden-panelled counter.

Designed with a minimalistic appeal, the café has a cosy atmosphere and light background music. Top that with complimentary Wi-Fi, it serves as the perfect assignment spot.

All-day Breakfast Platter is the only main course available at the café. On the bright side, it is customisable. Customers can pick either three items (RM9), five items (RM13) or seven items (RM16) from the menu. I opted for chicken sausages, beef bacon, omelette with mushrooms, potato rösti and salad.

I was pleased to find that every set comes with two slices of toast accompanied with butter and jam, but less pleased when the bread turned up white, soft and seemingly untoasted. The meat was decently tasty, but the beef bacon appeared to be rather dry. Other items in the Breakfast Platter were decidedly satisfying.

Despite the lack of meal choices, Aspresso compensates with a wide

Aspresso Coffee + Breakfast8am – 8pm Monday – Saturday

Creative alarm clock apps to help you wake up on timeBy TRECIA TAN SHU HUI

FOR many people, getting up in the morning is a tiresome affair. It requires much willpower to break free of the comfortable chains of your warm bed every morning.

Students especially face this struggle when they have to wake up for 8am lectures or to arrive at campus early for a good parking spot.

To make the waking up process easier and less boring, you can check out these free, creative alarm clock apps that can replace your phone’s built-in alarm.1) Shake-it Alarm

This app is merciless because it does not allow you to snooze or decrease the volume of the alarm, and turning off your phone is not an option as well. Trust me, I tried.

The only way to turn off the alarm is to either shake your phone vigorously or shout at it loudly – depending on which option you selected – until the on-screen meter fills up. By then, you would have already shaken off your morning grogginess.

Shake-it Alarm is so effective for a serious snoozer like me that I

contemplated removing my phone battery once, but decided against it because it would have defied the purpose of the app.

Another function of the app is it will send a text message to an emergency contact of your choice, requesting for help to wake you up if you do not turn off the alarm within 10 minutes.

This app is only available on Android. For iOS, try out an alternative app – Wake N Shake.2) AlarmMon

If you don’t wake up on time, your virtual character, Bready, will die in an explosion after being left in the toaster too long. The loud timer and explosion will keep on ringing until the alarm is turned off when you pull down the toaster handle.

This is only one of the many quirky alarm options provided by the colourful and cute app. There are several virtual characters you can choose from, each having a different ringtone and game scene to keep things lively.

The app also rewards you with virtual coins, which can be used to download

more characters, if you wake up within 30 seconds after the alarm rings.

This app is available on both Android and iOS.3) Alarmy (Sleep If U Can)

If you are one of those people who are often late to class because your five more minutes of sleep tend to end up being two more hours, this is the right app for you.

Alarmy forces you to get out of bed in an innovative way through a photo matching system. You have to first register a location where you want to turn off the alarm by taking a photo of it, and this is usually far away from the comfort of your bed so you won’t be tempted to crawl back under the covers. For example, the bathroom would be a good location.

When the alarm goes off, you will have to snap another photo of the registered area to stop the ringing.

This app is available on Android for free, but will cost USD 1.99 for iOS.4) I Can’t Wake Up! Alarm Clock

This app is equipped with eight different wake-up tasks that require you

to solve puzzles, problems, or equations in order to disable the alarm.

It was extremely stressful having to solve math equations when the alarm volume was gradually increasing in the background the longer I took to complete the task. I have to admit that this app is effective because I was wide awake by the time I succeeded in shutting off the alarm.

Besides the math task, there are other wake-up methods such as rewriting lines of text, repeating a randomly generated click sequence, and playing matching games. The difficulty level of the tasks can be changed based on your own personal preference.

This app is available on both Android and iOS.

Some people just need a simple nudge to wake up from a deep slumber; while others won’t wake up for anything short of an earthquake.

No matter which type of sleeper you are, with these creative (or some might say annoying) alarm clock apps, waking up in the morning will never be the same again.

Aspresso’s comfortable ambience makes it a perfect spot for casual gatherings.

selection of beverages including coffee, tea, juice and ice-blended beverages.

The café takes pride in its house blend “Cool Kids”, a blend of Ethiopia Sidamo, Brazil Cerrado and Columbia La Guamera coffee beans, freshly roasted by local home coffee roaster Seraph Awaken. The taste of this blend is described to have hints of berry flavour and a nutty and chocolatey taste.

Aspresso’s Americano comes with a mild aroma, light colour and clear opacity, but its dilute appearance is not to be mistaken for its taste. The first sip of my hot Americano (RM7.50) was a

refreshing impression of acidity rather than bitterness, with regards to the light roasting profile which brings out the original flavour of the coffee beans.

There is a different menu for desserts daily, and all desserts are homemade by the café boss herself. The barista recommended me to try the Chocolate Mousse (RM10), one of the café’s popular sweet treats.

Topped with a layer of chocolate drizzled with caramel, the cake was alternately layered with chocolate mousse and chocolate sponge, creating a soft combination of moist and dry

textures. Whilst it tasted moderately rich in chocolate, the mousse was a little too light and airy for my preference in terms of texture.

Nevertheless, Aspresso is not just breakfast and coffee. It is about creating a comfortable ambience and brewing the best for its customers.

I, for one, would not mind taking another turn around the corner to seek out this café.

Inspiring change through visual and art

Curator Sunitha Janamohanan explaining the artwork in the exhibition to visiting students.

By SIM PEI XUAN

ON the last day of the 1,600 Pandas World Tour in Malaysia last January, a little clay tapir appeared guerrilla style amidst the papier-mâché pandas, blending into the sea of black-and-white creatures accompanied with the hashtag #tapitapir.

Such clever placement of the Malayan animal alongside its witty tagline – “what about tapirs” – managed to garner public attention and generate social media buzz to spread awareness on the conservation of wildlife in the local context.

The TapiTapir was one of the creative art projects exhibited at the “Picturing Change – Visual Culture and the Art of Advocacy” exhibition at the White Box, Publika from 1 to 14 April, as part of artACT!, an initiative by MAP to promote change and activism through various forms of art.

“The purpose of this exhibition is to show how visual communications and creative ideas have been used to propagate ideologies and values in society; we want to show a bigger broader picture by gathering art since

the historical times before independence till today,” MAP Manager and Curator Sunitha Janamohanan said.

Exhibits comprised propaganda posters from the 1960s and 70s including pro-communist, anti-communist and nationalistic ideals, to present day street art, advertisements and campaigns which aimed to spark social consciousness or give voice to current issues.

Displayed right beside the entrance was a wall full of identical red posters bearing the face of national badminton champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei, but with alternating words “JAGUH” (champion) and “PENDATANG” (immigrant) on each poster.

The simple yet powerful visuals initiated debate on the question of citizenship rights in 21st century Malaysian society.

“We want to show how the bigger thinking of ordinary people can create conversation of individual voices,” Sunitha explained, saying that the recreated street art was originally seen in a Bangsar alleyway, and provoked response from the public whereby some people deliberately tore down some of the offending “PENDATANG” posters in protest.

Another memorable exhibit was a lightbox with the iconic grayscale picture of Merdeka Day 1957, but the historical moment was re-imagined with the pink collage of an ordinary woman taking the place of Tunku Abdul Rahman, demonstrating Malaysian women as unsung heroes throughout the process of nation-building.

Kew Li Wen, 22, who finds gender equality a significant issue in current society said, “I am inspired by the

creativity displayed as it makes me reflect on the position of local women in our nation’s history.”

The University of Malaya International Relations student visited the exhibition on a field trip for her Gender Studies class, and found it to be an eye-opening experience.

“I never thought all these urban and pop-culture images could talk to us and make us think deeper about existing social issues,” Kew said.

Apart from local issues, the exhibition also highlighted worldwide problems by showcasing The Poverty Line, a collaborative project between

Stefen Chow and Hui-Yi Lin which examines the meaning of poverty in different countries.

The campaign encouraged public participation by allowing individuals to create their own images that show the amount of food a person at the poverty line could buy within a day in Malaysia, with only RM7.

Taylor’s University Public Relations major Sharon Leow Hsin Yuek, 22, said, “I find that the exhibition truly resonates with the name ‘artACT!’. The artworks shown express voices of change and effectively portray a deeper significance about our world.”

The street art featuring posters of Datuk Lee Chong Wei with the words “JAGUH” (champion) and “PENDATANG” (immigrant) sparked controversy among the public.

Four library books to lift your spiritsBy LEE JIA ANN

IN conjunction with World Book Day on 24 April, here’s a compilation of four books to boost your spirits and inspire you daily. Best part is, you can find these reads in the Taylor’s Library. Just look for the Psychology rack labeled 150-158.7, located on the second floor.1) Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken by Mike Robbins

Consider this book your own personal cheerleader that cheers you on to achieve the things you want in life. The idea of it is to overcome fears you may have and to be the best that you can possibly be. An example illustrated by the author is the five principles of authenticity – to know oneself, transform your own fear, express yourself, be bold, and lastly, celebrating who you are as a person.2) Happiness in Hard Times by Andrew Matthews

While most might not be inclined to pick up this book due to the cliché

title, it is actually a rather good read, especially for those who are seeking for a little extra joy in their lives. The author writes in simple English which makes it easy to digest, even in one sitting. You would find quotes such as “Do I have enough food for today” and that alone may be enough to prompt you to be grateful for the things you have. 3) How to Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono

You may be excused if you picked up this book solely for the beautifully illustrated cover, because this writer did just that. The book is in essence a how-to book, with the first few chapters beginning with those two words. “How to Listen”, “How to Disagree” and “How to Agree” will help those who have trouble with these areas. Whether you’re headed to a clubs’ and societies’ party soon, or a small gathering with close friends, this book provides situations in

which social interactions will occur, and how to carry out conversations.4) How to Simplify Your Life: Seven Practical Steps to Letting Go of Your Burdens and Living a Happier Life by Werner Tiki Kustenmacher and Lothar Seiwert

This book is a guide to simplifying the seven aspects of your life, which are your things, finances, time, health,

relationship, life partnerships, and finally, yourself. The book is full of practical advice and it is not necessary to read from cover to cover, as you can find specific areas of your life that you would like to simplify. Seeing as GST was implemented earlier this month, the chapter “Simplify your finances” will most definitely come in handy for every reader out there.

These four motivational books can be found in Taylor’s University library.

10 April 2015FEATURES

11FEATURESApril 2015

Introvert and extrovert traits you may not knowBy PRETHIBA ESVARY SUBRAMANIAN

“SHYNESS is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not over-stimulating to an individual.

“Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not,” Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking author Susan Cain said.

I think we can all agree that there are some facts about introverts and extroverts which we are familiar with.

But what about some of the uncommon qualities of these two personality types which society may have overlooked?

Taylor’s University Counselling and Psychological Service (CPSC) Head Marian Arumugam shared some of the uncommonly known traits that introverted and extroverted Taylorians may possess.INTROVERTS1. They are quietly confident and assertive when required.

According to Marian, introverts bring out this side of their personality when a situation demands for it. She relayed that one of her colleagues, who is known to be rather introverted, would occasionally demonstrate a more confident side and be more assertive when she has to be.

Cain stated that some of the most influential leaders in the world such as Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt were introverted.

Yet as leaders, they were confident and assertive when it came to bringing about a transformation in their people and country.

2. They may possess good social interaction skills.

Marian said, “Introverts can be skilled at interaction. The only difference they have with extroverts in regards to this is that they may not be as loud.”

She explained that introverts normally take the time to listen and analyse pieces of information. So, when they do interact with others, they tend to have unique ideas and are polite when speaking as they have a higher self-awareness than extroverts. EXTROVERTS1. They are constantly on a treadmill.

Marian said, “Extroverts are almost always on a high.”

Based on her past experiences with clients, some of the extroverts that come in to see her are high achievers and are good at engaging with people, she said.

Riding the rolling waves of Pulau TiomanBy MARY CHRISTINA BRITTO

THE sun shone brightly across the sky onto the shimmering water, which morphed into blue-green waves that pelted the shore. In the water, surfers clustered together, each eager to catch a wave.

Surfing is incredibly fun and presents many with an excellent way to keep in shape. As a result, the sport is well accepted and gradually gaining momentum in Malaysia, especially in Pulau Tioman.

The locals have hosted the Tioman Surf Competition for four years so far.

Tioman is situated 32 kilometers off the state of Pahang, and is accessible by ferry from the town of Mersing, Johor.

This picturesque and serene island is the ideal place to visit if you want to experience some of the best waves that make their way to the Malaysian shores.

There are eight main villages scattered around the island. Kampung Juara is where most of the action can be found.

A wide range of accommodation is available along this stretch.

I explored the ‘Beach Shack’, as this is the place that rents out surfboards, but more importantly, it is run by a surfer with over 30 years of experience in surfing – Timothy Brent.

Brent, who settled in Kampung Juara after discovering the waves, said there are four surf spots at the island.

“The best time to surf on Kampung Juara beach is during the monsoon from November to February, when there are nine foot waves,” Brent added.

Surfing comes in several variations such as body boarding, paddle boarding amd body surfing.

Many consider body surfing to be the purest form of surfing, as the surfer’s body moves in sync with the waves without the use of a surfboard. The experience is one of a kind.

The waves in Kampung Juara beach are daunting for a beginner to tackle, but once confidence is built, a sense of freedom is experienced.

“Standing up on the board is the best feeling ever; it’s like you’re floating. You feel the power of the wave pushing you,” surfer Basel Hamadeh, 31, beamed.

Basel had been surfing here for three years. “When you head out, be a bit careful, the undercurrent is strong and can pull you out,” he cautioned.

Surfing is not the only thing you can dabble with, as Pulau Tioman has many prime diving spots you can explore.

The island itself is also home to a variety of wildlife which includes animals such as the slow loris, red giant flying squirrel, mouse deer.

In the tropical rainforest, you can find exotic plants like the world’s biggest flower – Rafflesia.

If you have a break of some length, grab a surfboard and go to Tioman. It may not be the monsoon period, but that’s a good thing. I am sure you would not want to learn to surf to the tune of the monsoon’s nine foot waves.

“Surfing is pure freedom. It makes me believe in magic,” surfer Matheo Laruccia, 24, said.

A surfer riding the waves of the beach on Pulau Tioman.

Because they are constantly around people, they feel as though they have a certain expectation to live up to and they are also less self-aware.

“It is important for them to practise caution. The reason being that if they face a drop in energy level, it could be a massive one,” she said.2. They may lack certain social skills.

One may think that extroverts, being the people-person that they are, would score top marks when it comes to having good social skills.

Marian explained, “In a social situation, extroverts are known to overshadow the others.

“They may also show less respect for others without realising it when it comes to receiving opinions.”

However, she added that it does not apply to every extrovert as each individual is different.

Nevertheless, Marian and Cain agreed that no one individual is a complete extrovert or an introvert. They are merely more inclined towards one or the other.

Marian explained that it all boils down to the level of stimulation or arousal one gets from a situation and a type of activity.

This stimulation also depends on the people they are with, their surrounding environment, their depth of interest and perception.

Marian said, “It doesn’t matter whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, if you have even a little sense of humour, you will be able to overcome the obstacles that life has to offer.

“If you are emotionally-resilient, you will reach your goals, no matter which of the two categories of personality you incline to more.”

According to her classmates, Public Relations and Marketing major Hoy Kar Mun, 23 (left) is an introvert. However, when in a small group and when given the opportunity, she can be seen voicing her opinions.

Bil Musa - not your typical studentBy WONG SOW YEE

theinkSlingersFEATURES

April 2015

TAYLOR’S University has something new to be proud about – Broadcasting major and singer-songwriter Nabilah Musa, who has been referred to as a Yuna protégé by TimeOut KL.

Going by the nickname Bil, she launched her first EP at The Bee, Publika on 5 April. The artiste is signed under Yuna Room Records label, doing what she really loves – music.

She released six tracks including “The Beach”, a song that is often played on local radio. She recorded that song in English and French. During the launch, she also sang “Can’t Have You”, an unreleased tune from her EP.

She describes herself as an introvert at most times. Despite being shy and preferring to do things on her own, she cannot really sit still and tries to keep herself occupied. She enjoys facing new challenges to keep her agenda fun and interesting.

With all the kinds of responsibilities she has taken on, she definitely faces a common issue that many students can relate to – balancing their life right.

Despite the different agendas she has to juggle, discipline is definitely one of the required skills. With that, Bil has some tips and ideas to share on how to

live happier by learning to manage daily schedules efficiently.

The first skill she has mastered is journaling. Bil thinks it is vital to properly write down your daily nitty gritties just to check off important dates.

“Buy a journal. It helps you to be tightly aware of your deadlines and other things you need to complete at different dates and times. Remember to plan 10 steps ahead,” Bil says.

Second, Bil has a clean diet programme. Since there are not many eateries out there which cater to healthy meals, Bil takes the effort to bring food from home. That also saves time from having to queue up for food and having to wait for the meal to arrive.

Bil suggests, “Easy, quick and healthy food can be made from chicken breast, fish and nutritious snacks such as boiled eggs, nuts and fruits.”

Last but not least, to ensure a balanced life is to have good friends, Bil says. Having great classmates helps her to stay in the right mindset as her

Furious 7 after Paul Walker’s unexpected passing

The final scene of Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in F7. Source: Universal Pictures

By CINDY JUNOVICA

THE Fast and Furious crew bid farewell to Paul Walker in a way that left his family and fans with a bittersweet feeling. His character, Brian O’Conner was seen driving off, ready to explore the unexplored.

When Walker unexpectedly passed away during the production of Furious 7 (F7), it was a shock to his family, friends, co-stars, and his fans. Still, the movie had to go on.

According to Washington Post, instead of cutting out Walker’s remaining scenes in the movie, director James Wan decided to carry on with the filming by using Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) and body doubles to finish the rest of his unfinished scenes.

The question is, even with the use of sophisticated CGI to bring Walker back to life, will F7 be the same again without his real presence?

Public Relations and Marketing major Wilson Ong Wei Sheng, 22, said, “It was a mixed feeling to watch Paul Walker again.

“I’m happy that I got to see him taking on his character as the cool Brian O’Conner. At the same time, it was sad

knowing that this would be the last time I’ll see him on screen, in the series.”

Apart from all of the over-the-top action sequences, explosions, attractive women, extravagant parties and gorgeous cars, F7 was, is, and will always be shadowed by Walker’s untimely death.

The director decided not to ‘kill’ O’Conner in F7 and portray his retirement from the racing world instead. It is comforting that fans are still able to see Walker’s charming smile in the end and witness his happily-ever-after moment with his wife and son – the joy he truly deserves.

Interactive Multimedia Design student Albert Aristyo, 21, commented, “It’s the best way to remember him, watching him going off into the sunset with his family and living happily rather than making him die in the car crash again.”

The decision was really the best for all worlds; fans see Walker in his most iconic role, the filming could proceed without disruption of the storyline, and no one has to feel like he was disrespected.

To top it all off, the movie wrapped up with the memorable and heartwarming scene where Walker and his co-star, Vin Diesel bid their farewell. Fans around

Bil Musa’s key to balancing her career with studies is good time management.

the world discreetly wiped their eyes while sobbing inaudibly during this final scene. No shame, all of us did.

friends always keeps her updated with assignments and important notes she may have missed out on during classes.

Her experiences throughout this musical journey right up to the EP launch had more liberating experiences than difficulties, according to her.

“I loved going to the studio after classes and staying there late. The only bad moments were when I had to rush to complete my assignments.

“Other than that, meeting all different musicians and seeing them add a touch of themselves into my songs was a very good experience,” she says.

It certainly took a lot of courage from this young lady to get to this point in her life. At the moment, Bil is focusing on promoting her EP and is trying to do as many shows as possible. She will also be working on the various ideas for her upcoming singles.

We do not know what the future will hold for this young and talented artiste, but we will be sure to keep a lookout for her future endeavours.

The montage scenes of Walker and Diesel with the whole crew, accompanied by Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” from the soundtrack, definitely left a huge emotional impact and stole the hearts of the audience.

Hospitality and Management student, William Chu, 20, confessed, “I felt that the final scene was very natural and it was exceptionally touching.

“I don’t know if this will be the last of the Fast and Furious series, but if it is, F7 is the best one so far.”

Walker might be gone, but his memory will remain forever in every one of his family, friends, co-stars, and fans’ hearts.

Walker himself once said, “If one day the speed kills me, do not cry because I was smiling.”

If one day the speedkills me, do not cry

because I was smiling.“ “