Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Tatler Malaysia

Sonia Cheng, CEO of the Rosewood Hotel Group, graces the cover with her team in Hong Kong as they celebrate the opening of the city’s first Rosewood property. She shares some of the fascinating stories behind her biggest project yet. The cover story features award-winning newscaster Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who talks about her journey into motherhood late in life—and with twins, no less. A special men’s section features an updated list of the Philippines’ most eligible bachelors. Haidan Lin, Wei Han, Rongrong Ye, Yihui Zhang, Yue Shang and Chenzhao Gao are members of F Lady, an interactive business and investment platform tailored to female entrepreneurs. They talk about its unique vision of bringing together female leaders. Nancy Ong, Mervin Wee (above), Kimihisa Abe and Chloe Ng are the recipients of the…

“YOU MUST try our hotel’s specialty,” urged Andrew Khoo, the new executive chairman of Malayan United Industries (MUI), pushing a plate of chicken rice handrolls towards me during our interview at the Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur. I took a bite and was pleasantly surprised by its authentic flavours. Khoo cheekily reveals that the dish is a modern twist of his father’s favourite food—Hainanese chicken rice. “I worked with our hotel team to honour my father’s legacy, but presented it as a handroll option to cater to our adventurous guests,” explains the passionate corporate captain who helms the 50-year-old conglomerate after his father stepped down as head honcho last year. With investments in retailing, hospitality, property, F&B plus financial services, MUI is transforming under Khoo’s leadership. The company is concentrated on…

After a Cinderella-themed wedding, Jim Tan and Enya Chen put their love for Disney on display again with a Tsum Tsum themed party for their firstborn Evan Tan’s 100th day celebration at Curate, Four Seasons Hotel KL. Adults and children alike were entertained by carnival games with Tsum Tsum characters as prizes to be won. Proud grandparents Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon and Puan Sri Shirley Law treated their guests to a multi-cuisine buffet lunch. THE INSIDER Also included in the gift bag were cookies designed after iconic Disney characters…

THE BAG We are all about bags that are more than just a case for your knick-knacks—ideally also playing the part of stunning accessory seriously. This ’70s punk-rock inspired Versace bag from the house’s pre-fall collection hits all the right notes with its embellished gold pins featuring a variety of the maison’s logo. The sunny yellow shade definitely makes this piece a standout one too. THE LOOK Borrowing from the traditional South American poncho, this Gucci pre-fall set lends an ala-Mexicana flair to the Italian brand, especially with this lavish logo-printed mantle. With the ribbon-sashed sun hat and elaborate pearls, the photographs by Harmony Korine for the lookbook’s images enhances the fictional story of a tourist wandering around in a European town. Not forgetting the animalistic accessories such as a…

“When a person wears Kulet, you notice them as a whole, not just their shoes” Describe your personal style. I tend to go for something laid-back, and prefer solid colours, but having said that, I’ve been experimenting with prints recently. Plus, right now I’m loving the asymmetric one-shoulder look as well as draping. Skirt or pants? Pants. Do high heels or flats dominate your wardrobe? Flats, I wear them daily. Heavy or light make-up? Light. What fashion item would you take if you were stuck on a desert island? Sunglasses. Where do you look for inspiration? It really comes from anywhere, but I love looking for inspiration from everyday women. Modern or classic? I always go for the classics.…

WHILE THE whole world watched the live telecast of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they took their walk on the moon on July 21, 1969, Omega was probably praying that the Speedmaster Professional watches that accompanied the men would survive this historic journey as well. In truth, only Aldrin had his Speedmaster on his wrist as Armstrong had left his on the spacecraft. That made his watch the first watch to walk the moon, and it became known as the Moonwatch. Alas, Aldrin’s watch was lost upon its return to Earth. But how did the Speedmaster arrive at this juncture? Launched in 1957, the Speedmaster chronograph was favoured by the US Air Force pilots. One of them, Walter Schirra, would go on to become an astronaut, who took his…

SUPERSIZED STYLE Heavy-duty earrings steal the show when it comes to championing colour. Wear them to inject a playful edge into an otherwise modest look STANDOUT SUITE More is more on the jewellery front this season GARDEN VARIETY Be influenced by something that’s both nature-inspired and playful, like these pieces, which give the magpies among us plenty of reason to rejoice…

In 2009, when founder and president of The Melium Group, Dato’ Seri Farah Khan, and managing director of Malaysia Tatler, Florence Fang got to talking about their company’s 20th anniversary, both longtime friends had a shared desire on their minds —to give back to society. Along with seven other successful women, this passionate group pooled their resources together to create what is known today as, The Melium Group and Malaysia Tatler Charity Auction. When asked what was the inspiration behind the joint venture, Florence had this to say: “Dato’ Seri Farah and I wanted to do something for the underprivileged, and we wanted it to be something big, so that’s how the idea came to be.” And instead of an annual affair, it was Dato’ Seri Farah who suggested the…

THE JOY LUCK CLUB BY AMY TAN Exploring the profound relationships between mothers and daughters, this novel is an instant classic as it unravels the stories of four Chinese women, who are immigrants to San Francisco, and their American-born daughters. An in-depth look into the connection shared between two very different generations, the book is a rabbit-hole into the issues of cultural identity, familial expectations and unspoken secrets. THE HANDMAID’S TALE (TV SERIES) Adapted from the dystopian novel by author Margaret Atwood, the series follows the journey of Offred (Elisabeth Moss) into a future wherein a totalitarian state subjects fertile women called ‘Handmaids’ into childbearing servitude. The show highlights the strength of a woman, portrayed by the protagonist, who is a mother battling her fears for the sake of reuniting…

My philosophy in life THE JOURNEY TO SELF-LOVE STARTS WITH A MINDFUL MEAL 1 WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY? My husband—everything he has achieved is the result of good morals and honest, hard work. His decisions have never been affected by fear of the unknown. He keeps me humble and motivates me beyond measure. 2 GUILTY PLEASURE Vegan ice cream and watching bird videos on Youtube with my cats. I end up watching the birds long after the cats leave. 3 TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING VEGAN Stay optimistic, open-minded and do your homework. Listen to your body, take your time, and remember that every little effort makes a big difference! Check out my websitedavinadavegan.com and follow me on Facebook and Instagram @davinadavegan for tips, recipes and…

1 MAGAZINE APEROL, ROSEMARY, HONEY, LEMON, SALTED PLUM, GINGER ALE Furious rattling from a cocktail shaker results in a salted plum drink reminiscent of Chinese suan mei tang. 2 INTAGLIO MIDORI, LYCHEE, LIME, SUGAR, SPARKLING Most Midori cocktails have monikers that fetishise the Orient (Geisha Delight and Japanese Slipper, for example), whereas Folio’s is named after a printing technique. Melon and lychee commingle in this juicy cocktail. 3 EXPOSURE DOLIN BLANC, ELDERFLOWER TONIC, LAVENDER BITTERS Some speculate that the first cocktail ever invented consisted of vermouth, water, sugar and bitters. An homage to the ‘Adam of cocktails,’ the Exposure has a nice salinity that makes for easy sipping. Lavender bitters liken the drink to aromatherapy in a glass. 4 HUE DOLIN BLANC, DILL, WATERMELON, LIME, SODA Hue sees dill-infused Dolin…

Malaysian Aids Foundation (MAF) hosted a #GirlPower charity gala dinner to celebrate successful women. The evening started with a welcome speech by MAF’s chairman Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman. Guest-of-honour Hannah Yeoh pledged RM10,000 to the cause in her speech. After that, four ladies including Lee Jim Leng and Datin Mina Cheah-Foong took the stage to engage in a forum about empowering the HIV-afflicted with dignity. The evening wrapped up with a charity auction. THE INSIDER It was announced that Malaysia is the first nation in the western Pacific region to be certified as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis…

NOW HERE’S a person who really loves her job. Like a luminous ray of hope, Dr Helena Lim helps to provide a solution for the problems her patients face. However, she refuses to see it that way, and likens herself to a coach, or team member, rather. “When they come to see me, we all establish that we have a common goal, or a mission to accomplish—which is to help them conceive,” she said. “I look upon a patient’s success as our victory and similarly, their defeats are mine too.” She then shared an incredible story of one of her patients. “There was this one lady, who after 10 years of infertility, and having been told by five doctors that she will never get pregnant, finally gave birth to a…

The grand ballroom of Four Seasons Hotel KL was abuzz as fashionistas around town gathered for a sneak peek of Alia Bastamam’s Atelier & Bridal 2019/2020 collection. Among the familiar faces in the crowd were Ahmed Feruz Zainul Abidin and wife Fyza Kadir, Awal Ashaari and his other half Scha Alyahya as well as fellow designer Melinda Looi. THE INSIDER The two new collections were inspired by female characteristics the designer relates to —sensual liberty and pure innocence…

1 PURPLE PASSION This look from Ermenegildo Zegna’s runway has an undeniable forwardness in terms of dark colours, abstract patterns and its mix of textiles. 2 SUNSET BOULEVARD Inspired by the palette of an LA-sunset, the Rimowa x Alex Israel collaboration transfers the colours of Israel’s paintings like Sky Backdrop onto its first-ever collection of colour-graded suitcases 3 WHITE WASH Emphasising wholly on comfort, these Geox sneakers are equipped with aeration technology that not only eases movement but is also undeniably modish. 4 TRUE BLUE You can’t go wrong with Louis Vuitton’s signature Taïga leather, especially in the form of a blue monogrammed wallet that’s stylishly rugged. 5 GO NEUTRAL The Jimmy Choo beige backpack is literally star studded, with pink stars, which adds an element of fun and some…

Forty years ago, I bought a second-hand Volkswagen van and, with my wife, drove out of Switzerland. We crossed the unstable and at times dangerous lands of Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. Our destination was Nepal. This relatively small country has always drawn the attention of the world, whether for the majesty of the Himalayas, the fascinating story of Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, the first men to reach the top of the world, or the legacy of the Gurkhas, those soldiers known as the bravest of the brave. In the 1970s the Kathmandu Valley was a favourite destination for Western backpackers and an iconic place for the hippie movement. Ravi Shankar’s music, yoga and meditation along with fresh air and free marijuana were part of a magical cocktail. Walking…

THE BUTTERY rich scent of ghee and coconut wafts through the air drawing out nostalgic memories. Worked beneath the deft hands of chef Carrie Scully, ingredients take the form of delicate seashells—a tribute to her Penangnite roots and a childhood spent by the sea. The dessert itself pays homage to her grandmothers, she explains, as well as her part Indian and part Thai heritage. Combining the sweetness of Thai mango sticky rice and halwa with the milky nuttiness of the coconut burfi, we revisit Carrie’s childhood through our taste buds. Intriguing flavours and a meaningful plating make for the best dessert—for both heart and stomach. And not to mention, perfect as a treat for mum. MANGO HALWA Ingredients 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) 10g chopped pistachios 100g semolina 1/4 cup…

DECLINING BIRTH RATES in our country is a cause for concern. In fact, Malaysia’s Selected Demographic Indicator noted that our national fertility rate is the lowest it has ever been in the last 55 years. Probably due to a cultural shift, as women delay having children—some citing the increasing cost of living as a worry to being able to provide the right quality of life for their children. For some, its a question of choice, but for others, it’s a medical condition. Being diagnosed with infertility can be a source of heartbreak for those wishing to have children, making them feel like a failure for not being able to conceive. However, with the advances in technology, plus better scientific knowledge and options, ‘infertile’ women now have a better chance at…

JUST A SPOONFUL A socialite was so inebriated during the launch of a new establishment that she made a show of herself —by stomping to the buffet table, grabbing a serving of fried rice and gobbling it down in front of others. FASHION POLICE An entrepreneur-cum-fashion designer was reportedly in hot soup after she was caught buying cheap clothes and material in bulk, then selling it back in Malaysia at exorbitant prices for high-end consumers—just by changing the labels and adding ‘special’ sequins. Erratum In the article Regal Regale, published in our April 2019 issue, there was an error in addressing Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman’s predecessor and brother. Tuanku Munawir Tuanku Abdul Rahman was succeeded by Tuanku Ja’afar, who became the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, and…

MANGA EXHIBITION THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON MAY 23 TO AUGUST 26 The largest exhibition of manga ever to take place outside Japan charts the visual narrative art form’s origins and meteoric rise in popularity across the globe, examining its cultural influence and how it inspired other media. britishmuseum.org LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN DRAWING THE QUEEN’S GALLERY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON MAY 24 TO OCTOBER 13 The largest exhibition of the Renaissance master’s work in 65 years, which marks the 500th anniversary of his death, will showcase more than 200 of his greatest drawings from the Royal Collection. rct.uk VENICE BIENNALE VENICE MAY 11 TO NOVEMBER 24 This year’s central exhibition, May You Live in Interesting Times, is curated by Ralph Rugoff, director of the Hayward Gallery in London. The…

FIZIWOO C/MEO COLLECTIVE RED LANTERN…

IN THE GUESTROOM of his house, in 2012, Jason Ang founded Fotobox Co after developing the first prototype of Fotobox—a revolutionary, patented photo-taking device inspired by old-school photobooths. However, Fotobox not only captures and prints photos on-the-spot, it also allows users to view digital copies online, and share it on social media accounts right away. At that time, Instagram was becoming a huge hit in Malaysia, paving the way for Ang to conquer an untapped space. Fotobox’s unique technology piqued the interest of companies like Heineken, who were eager to experiment with visual engagement on social media. Soon, Fotobox Co was engaged in major events around town, riding on the coattails of the trending digitisation of media, marketing and communications. Ang was quick to catch on that Fotobox Co’s success…

This special anniversary party saw the KL Tower light up in Barbie’s signature pink as VIP guests from Tourism Malaysia, KL Tower and Mattel Southeast Asia gathered at the outdoor venue to celebrate the milestone. Inspiring industry leaders like Datuk Mazlan Othman, Datin Winnie Loo and Datin Vivy Yusof addressed the crowd before the night kicked off with a lively fashion show unveiling 60 limited edition Barbie dolls held by young girls from the Amber Chia Academy plus six adult models from Limkokwing University. THE INSIDER In her speech, Datuk Mazlan lightheartedly called on Mattel to release a grey-haired Barbie doll to champion diversity…

Bringing spring to our tropical shores is the new luxury bag line-up by Louis Quatorze. The Eclat Bag and Lys Bag were introduced in its charming and cheerful form at Metrojaya, Midvalley Megamall and the gorgeous designs were an instant hit. Combining casual chic and refined elegance, Louis Quatorze retains the beautiful Versailles culture with a blend of modernity exhibited through its collection of small leather goods and handbags.…

1 GOING BOLD Radiating sophistication, this Dior ensemble harmonises a black sleeveless top and a tropical sequined red skirt with a structural leather belt. 2 SECRET GARDEN Riding on the floral trend, this Alexander McQueen bag blooms with detailed embroidery complete with a metallic chain for that classic punk look. 3 STAR FLOWER This delicate Jimmy Choo keychain is made from layers of cut-out floral patterns The design catches the eye thanks to visual pop of colours plus the star-studded diamond centre. 4 SUN-KISSED A turquoise sunhat from Michael Kors with floral embellishments sets a cool tone for spring. 5 GOLD BLOOMS Van Cleef & Arpels intertwines ornate floral designs featuring pink and white diamonds in this elegant gold bracelet. 6 FRINGE BENEFITS This pair of gladiator boots by Longchamp…

How would you describe your own style? In the past I was more experimental with my style. It depended on my mood, but now I think I know myself better and what works for me, so I go for a more relaxed silhouette and shapes which complement my body type. What is your definition of good taste? Taste is very subjective, and ‘good’ means different things to different people. For me it means wearing something that’s best suited to your lifestyle and meets your personal aesthetic standards. How many shoes do you have in your wardrobe? I try not to count! Straight or curly hair? Natural and wavy. Fully made up and dressed down or fully dressed up with no make-up? Fully dressed up with no make-up…. embracing natural beauty…

ENGRAVE IT Sometimes a little goes a long way. Make it personal and sentimental for your mother with Lancôme’s complimentary engraving service for its Spring fragrance, La Vie est Belle—which has an incredible scent with depth and complexity. NATURAL IS BEST Bobbie Brown partnered with fashion designer Ulla Johnson, to create a limited edition collection of sheer blushes, creamy highlighters, shimmery eye shadows and lip colours to enhance your mother’s natural beauty. BRILLIANT GEM Clé de Peau Beauté’s La Crème is a multi-benefit moisturiser that combines various botanical elements for an unrivalled youthful radiance, to keep your mum looking her best. GOLDEN LOCKS Make this Mother’s Day memorable with the limited edition Dyson Supersonic 23.75 karat gold hair dryer. A first of its kind, each hair dryer cap is meticulously…

IN 10 YEARS, The Melium Group and Malaysia Tatler co-hosted two charity auctions and raised a grand total of RM5 million. On June 15, the two luxury powerhouses are joining forces once again to organise the third edition of the charity auction, to be held at the St Regis Kuala Lumpur. As before, 100 per cent of the proceeds will be contributed towards notable NGOs and shelter homes in Malaysia. This year, larger-than-life investment banker and former 2014 committee member Lee Jim Leng became a co-chairwoman for the first time, together with organisers Dato’ Seri Farah Khan and our own Florence Fang. “When Dato’ Seri Farah recruited me five years ago, she said, ‘One cannot be too busy to do good for others’. Her words resonated with me. So, I…

IN TAPAI: Travels & Guilty Pleasures of a Fermented Malaysian by Hishamuddin Rais, the flaneur and food lover insists that, “A Malay meal without ulam is just like the French having one without wine.” So it’s interesting that Frenchman Eric Olmedo is putting his backbone into reminding us Malaysians of our ‘forgotten salad.’ Why ulam, a traditional salad comprised of leaves and herbs eaten raw or blanched, when it could have been lauk-pauk, kuih-muih, or a multitude of other dishes particular to the Malay Peninsula? “Sorry to be an alarmist,” says the affable sociologist. “But Malaysia, Vietnam, and to a lesser extent, Cambodia, are facing a public health crisis. In these three countries, which constitute my team’s fieldwork, the increasing prevalence of overweight and obese citizens from 1990 to 2013…

“I believe it is an engaging book, which hopefully will be a catalyst for real change” Tell us about the process of writing 30 Days and 30 Years. To overcome the seemingly daunting task of a big challenge, I first set a structured process to write something regularly—essentially to create a habit. And I seek out and get guidance from a coach for regular feedback and accountability. Plus I also relied on existing materials from notes and past presentations I’ve done. There is a section in the first few pages of the book where readers can write down their goals or dreams. How does this help them? It was put that way to increase the utility of the book. My goal is not just to tell a story, but to…