IRENE LEONGEditor, writer & media consultantEditorial services and creative solutions

Fiabci Malaysia Property Award 2012 supplement capturing the country’s premier property awards

EduFocus, the monthly Education supplement of theSun

Lifestyle features for theSun’s monthly supplements, Urban Lifestyle and Urban Parenting

Two children’s books available on Amazon.com, Anabella & the Potion of Life and Once Upon a Stardust Dream

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EDITOR

WRITER

AUTHOR

PropertyM A L A Y S I A

AWARD 2012ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2012

TURN TO PAGE S16

Editor: Irene Leong

Real estate prestige and excellence

BY YEE JIE MINjiemin.yee@thesundaily.com

REAL ESTATE developments in the country that embody excellence are recognised and awarded every year around this time.

The milestones it has chalked up over the years surely add to the signifi cance and prestige of the Malaysia Property Award 2012. This year marks the 20th year since the event was established. That means two decades of distinction as the country’s premier property awards—something not surprising given the comprehensive research and organisation put into the judgement as well as its stringent evaluation process.

Held this year on Nov 10, the event, established by the Malaysian Chapter of Fiabci (the international real estate federation), again brought together the country’s foremost property developers in a

> Gold standard for real estate not only nationally but worldwide

black-tie affair that carried much fanfare—and for good reason. Not only were the winners rightly lauded and celebrated; they would go on to represent the country at the international level. Equivalent awards are held by Fiabci chapters all over the world each year, which culminate in the international Prix d’Excellence—the next one to be held in Taiwan next May.

With Malaysian developments having taken a good share of the Prix d’Excellence over the years, the

Malaysia Property Award can lay claim to being the gold standard for real estate not just nationally but also worldwide. And indeed the event is increasingly becoming a harbinger of global excellence.

There are over 60 submissions this year for the categories of Heritage, Master Plan, Offi ce, Residential High Rise, Residential Low Rise, and Sustainable Development. There are also the Property Man and Property CEO categories adding to the excitement

of it all. theSun gets Fiabci Malaysia

president, Ir Yeow Thit Sang, and awards organising chairman, Dr Yu Kee Su to share their thoughts.

Tell us about this year’s submissions and what is different this time round.Yeow This year we received over 60 submissions, which is almost the same every year. Standards are improving all the time because the developers and architects are more

concerned about winning. They also pay close attention to the criteria.

It has been successful every year and people come to the event. Even our own members want to attend mainly because it is a social gathering of the top developers, architects, and engineers in the country.

This year, we are applying for the ISO 9001:2008 QMS certifi cation by Standards Malaysia and UKAS (Public Private Partnership Unit) on the Malaysia Property Award assessment and judging system.

LIFESTYLE Every last Friday of the month

ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 28 2011

Romantic night inBY IRENE LEONGirene@thesundaily.com

IN the mood for love? Need an atmosphere of hedonistic delight for that seduction scene? You know, where you romance your loved one and impress her (or him) with your

good taste in the fi ner things in life. Or maybe you are celebrating your wedding anniversary and you are not averse to epicurean pleasures in bringing that spark back into your relationship.

In these instances, you wouldn’t need to book an expensive dinner at some overpriced fi ve-star restaurant—not when you have a home with sybaritic lavishness and all the trappings of success. All you would need then to complete the “romantic night in” scene: a winning script for the wooing game!

Seriously, it is only natural that the urbanite living the fast life would need ways to recharge and rejuvenate. The more sophisticated among us would be used to living it up in posh restaurants, clubs, and bars—all in the name of unwinding—but surely the place we should be able to readily draw comfort from is home, sweet home. It is the place with the most privacy; no need to put up with noisy crowds, traffi c jams, and long queues.

The home should ideally represent sanctuary to us, carrying all the tools and elements for rest and relaxation—and for enlightenment. Indeed interior decoration has evolved in light of our need to be in touch with our emotions. Decorating used to be plainly visual and memorial but now design is moving towards something that is more about emotions. We seek products with personality that will help bring balance to our lives.

But how best to attain that balance? To each his own: follow your heart in achieving a sense of fecundity in your private spaces. The sentimental soul who

> Follow your heart in achieving a sense of fecundity in your private spaces

MUSIC is a powerful tool that can help set the mood for relaxation—or seduction!

Sexy interior decor is one thing; when the occasion calls for it, you’ll need further inspiration to fuel nostalgia and to be in touch with your emotions. Your choice of music for more intimate moments should ideally get you in the right mood—all exhilarated and ready to think naughty thoughts!

Urban Lifestyle’s selection of oh-so-romantic classics for dreamy evenings:1. Love is Here Tonight - George Benson2. The Look of Love – Chris Botti3. The Way I Feel Tonight – Bay City Rollers4. The Way You Look Tonight – Elton John5. We’re All Alone – Rita Coolidge6. Move Closer – Phylis Nelson7. Touch Me When We’re Dancing – The

Carpenters8. This I Promise you - N’Sync9. I Swear – All-4-One 10. Nobody Loves Me Like You Do – Anne Murray &

Dave Loggins

Top 10 songs for seductive evenings

Sexy ambient musicCREATE a cosy home atmosphere by introducing the healing elements of sound and scent. New age music that is atmospheric in appeal is perhaps the best option for this purpose—for artistic inspiration, rejuvenation, and optimism.

It’s ambient music that is gentle enough for yoga, massage, and medication, yet uplifting enough for dance and even seduction!

Urban Lifestyle’s recommendations for the ultimate chillout:1. Smell of Desire (Enigma) – from Enigma Love

Sensuality Devotion 2. Sweat (Voodoo Warriors of Love) – Chillout

Phase Two3. Silhouettes at Dusk (Thierry David) – Zen Pause4. Sunrise in Paradise (Patrick Kelly) – Beyond the

Horizon5. My Beloved (Nusound) – Sensual Moods6. Love is You (Santana) – Feels So Good: Jazz 7. Neverending (John Adorney) – Beckoning8. Humilitas (Lesiem) – Spiritual Chillout9. On the Crest of a Wave (John Herberman)

– Piano Dreams 10. Canto Della Terra (Sarah Brightman & Andrea

Bocelli) – Symphony

needs to engage in some sort of spiritual enlightenment on a regular basis, for instance, can introduce features that will help him realise this. Small details fi gure prominently: a peaceful decorative fi gurine at one corner or an art piece that fuels nostalgia would do well to set the mood. All it takes to complete the scene perhaps is the right atmospheric music.

Or maybe you are an indulgent parent who values pampering the senses—for both yourself and your kids. Whatever the circumstances, the key to attaining beauty—in terms of interior decorating—is to avoid courteous kitsch (a common mistake among proud homeowners) and to go for elegant simplicity.

This house, located somewhere in Mutiara Damansara, surely embodies all that an urbanite would dream of in terms of haven for shelter and recreation. The house owner embraces technology but remembers to introduce elements that soothe the senses in helping to achieve clarity of mind. A little imagination goes a long way: for instance, the humble corner

with wooden table and stools is a wonderful interpretation of old world charm for a small space.

With an atmosphere like this, date nights could be blessedly homey yet exciting. Think of all the possibilities: you and your loved one admiring the star-studded sky while you sip wine in the jacuzzi; or giving each other a massage while you soak in the rose-scented tub. And surely there is nothing like watching a blockbuster movie in the privacy of your very own home theatre.

Add spice to that special occasion by complementing the cosy decor with scent and sound. No doubt the right kind of music should set the tone for one very hot night…

The ultimate chillout with wine and jacuzzi, anyone?

Visuals provided by iN Publishers, publisher of such magazines as

iN design and Creative Home that are available at leading

newsstands and bookstores. For more details, check out www.iNpublishers.com

Play room with attitude… where much hot action can take place!

Sweet temptation of the rose-scented variety… just the antidote to urban stress.

Blessedly homey and exciting at the same time, this is wonderful interpretation of old world charm for a small space.

KUOK Foundation Bhd, a charity organisation set up by Kuok Hock Nien, has announced this year’s offer of undergraduate awards to help needy Malaysian students.

The awards are for those studying at or applying to public universities in Malaysia and Singapore.

Apart from the usual half-loan-half-grant awards offered each year, the foundation will also offer 10 full scholarships named after Kuok’s late father, Kuok Keng Kang.

The Kuok Keng Kang scholarships, valued at RM12,000 per annum each, will be offered to outstanding students with all-round abilities (for Malaysian public universities).

For the half-loan-half-grant awards, the loan portion is interest-free and repayable by monthly installments after graduation.

The value of half-

loan-half-grant awards are (Malaysian public universities): RM12,000 per annum for Medicine or Dentistry, RM11,000 per annum for Science-based courses, and RM10,000 per annum for Arts-based courses. Where Singapore public universities are concerned, it is up to RM28,000 per annum for Medicine or Dentistry, and up to RM20,000 per annum for non-medical courses.

Closing date for application is April 10.The foundation has been encouraging its

study loan awardees to take pride in repaying their study loans as a way of helping it to fi nance other needy students like themselves. This concept has been well

understood and well received by awardees, resulting in very satisfactory loans collection so far, it says.

For more information on fi nancial aids provided by the foundation, visit the website www.kuokfoundation.com.

Every second Tuesday of the month Editor Irene Leong Tel (Editorial) 03-7784 6688 To advertise email advertise@thesundaily.com

ON TUESDAY / MARCH 10, 2015

Quality UK education a priceless experience> The IDP UK Education Exhibition 2015 features 28 prestigious institutions

OVER the past few years, there has been a steady increase in the number of students studying in the UK. With an education history

spanning over 800 years, UK universities have maintained their international reputation for excellence through stringent quality standards.

Alumni of UK universities have become global corporate leaders, leading politicians, thinkers and professionals with a signifi cant infl uence on world matters.

IDP Destination Head (UK & NZ) for Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea region, Jayanthi Thevarajah explains why the UK is a great education destination.

“Studying in UK for an Honours degree is shorter in comparison to other countries, which can be cost-effective in the long run for parents. Most UK universities are more fl exible in accepting a wider variety of entry level qualifi cations, for example, A-Level and UEC. Professional degrees such as Accountancy, Engineering and Pharmacy are accredited by relevant regulatory authorities that set and maintain internationally recognised standards of professional competence and ethics,” she says.

The UK learning experience allows students independent thought, encourages proactive problem-solving skills, enables development of intellectual skills, and empowers creative and effective thinking. These skills are recognised by employers as the qualities needed to meet the requirements of the global economy and to succeed in a competitive job market.

The UK has been welcoming international students from over 100 countries for generations. It has one of the world’s lowest

drop-out rates due to a comprehensive support system in place for international students. This includes a dedicated international offi ce, international student societies, planned social activities, academic support and a personal tutor.

IDP Education Ltd is the world’s leading international student placement provider, partnering with over 80 UK institutions. Additionally IDP is also the co-owner of IELTS, the world’s most popular English language test. IDP has assisted more than 420,000 international students fulfi l their goal of an overseas education for more than 45 years. It has a network of over 80 international student placement centres, located in more than 30 countries.

Effective April 6, the immigration department of the UK Government, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has announced that it will limit its recognition of English language tests accepted for visa applications to study, work or live in the UK. IELTS will be one of the tests recognised globally for UK visas and immigration.

At IDP Education Malaysia, specialised UK counsellors are trained to assist students to explore education opportunities in UK. In fact, IDP, being at the forefront of the education industry, has invested in technology to help Malaysian students fi nd the best institutions to study in. With access to exclusive innovative software, the student will obtain up-to-date information on the institution of their choice.

IDP Education Malaysia will host the IDP UK Education Exhibition 2015 from March 16 to 20. It will be held in Johor Bahru, Penang and Petaling Jaya.

With over 28 prestigious institutions featured, it will be a great opportunity for students and their parents to meet up with institution representatives and IDP Education Malaysia’s trained and

specialised UK counsellors to discuss the best options suited for their higher education.

Participating institutions will be accepting applications for various courses and UCAS application fees will be waived by IDP.

Admission to the Study in UK Exhibition 2015 is free and students are advised to bring the original and photocopies of their education certifi cates.

The exhibition will be held at KSL Hotel & Resort, Johor Bahru on March 16 (2pm to 7pm), E&O Hotel Penang on March 18 (2pm to 7pm) and Armada Hotel, Petaling Jaya on March 20 (2pm to 7pm).

For more information and to register for the exhibition, visit www.idp.com/malaysia

The UK learning experience allows students independent thought, enables development of intellectual skills, and empowers creative and effective thinking.

Kuok Foundation undergraduate awards 2015

A deserving student receives her scholarship.

ones. I have a vivid recollection of myself getting up from bed

many a night when everyone else in the family had gone to sleep. I would tearfully stare out the window of my bedroom into the darkness outside, my 10-year-old mind asking God why He had brought me into the world to parents who didn’t love me. I couldn’t understand why my parents would favour one child over the other. Insomnia for me started during childhood, and not surprisingly I displayed delinquency in school.

Not surprisingly too I grew into an unhappy, insecure adult suffering from bouts of melancholia. For a long time, I felt my life was on a downwards spiral. It was only much later in life that I was able to look back with an analytical mind, and seriously attempt to rehabilitate myself and resolve my childhood issues.

The birth of my daughter when I was 28 was for me, divine intervention and an act of deliverance as I could then pour all my love on my child. I did—and it made me a stronger, better person. It confi rmed how all along, like everyone else, all I wanted was to love, and be loved.

Today, I do not blame my parents for failing to assure me of their love. They were not villains; they were merely products of their own upbringing and were typical of old-school Asian parents who are not demonstrative in their ways.

But there is no denying the damaging effects of withholding love from your kids and practising favouritism. As evident

in my family, it affected me more badly than my other four siblings—and that is because I was obviously the type of

sensitive child who needed to see physical displays of love from my parents. Not unlike Karen Carpenter.

We are all shaped by our childhood experiences, and early childhood traumas lie at the root of most

long-term anxiety and depression, and many emotional and psychological illnesses. We are

more susceptible to emotional turmoil and psychological disorders when

our foundation years are marked by negativity.

Children need good food and shelter. They need education, and

positive guidance from their elders. But most of all, to thrive, they

need love. Parents attack their child’s emotional develop-

ment and sense of self-worth by failing to provide an environment that assures him of love and safety.

A healthy self-esteem

is a child’s shield

against the

challenges that come

his way in life. Children who are

happy and confi dent are more capable of handling

confl icts and coping with negative pressuresParents, no matter how busy your

life is, remember to hug your children and reassure them of your love. For them, no amount

of fanciful toys can replace your love, although they may not realise it themselves.

lies in meeting another person’s needs. Failing to express love and affection, the report says, qualifi es as a form of abuse.

In her book, Why Love Matters, psychotherapist Sue Gerhardt explains why parental love is crucial in childhood. It is essential

to brain development in the early years of life, particularly to the development of our social and emotional brain systems.

According to Gerhardt, our adult life is infl uenced by infancy despite our inability to remember babyhood, and

in her book, she explains how the development of the brain can affect future emotional well-being—and

lead to such conditions as addiction, anorexia, and a n t i - social behaviour.

If Schmidt’s book is anything to go by, Karen must have felt love-starved

growing up and it didn’t help that her marriage didn’t work out. I

certainly can relate to her story. Even before I turned 12, I

had tried to run away from home three times because

I thought my parents didn’t love me. In my

mind, it was my youngest sister who

received all the attention—all

the chocolates

and toys, and new

clothes when I

would only get hand-

me-down

BY IRENE LEONGirene@thesundaily.com

A BIG fan of Karen Carpenter, I recall feeling very sad to hear of her tragic death from anorexia nervosa in

1983. Recently I felt sad again reading about her life in Karen Carpenter: Starved of Love, The Observer’s 5,000-word excerpt from Randy Schmidt’s revealing new biography Little Girl Blue.

According to the book, Karen had grown up feeling unloved by her mother, Agnes, who favoured her brother, Richard. The wistful singer with the velvety voice had understandably grown up with a lot of insecurities and low self-esteem, no doubt leading to her anorexic state.

Karen’s death highlighted the dangers of anorexia nervosa, but surely it should also point out how damaging it is when we fail to demonstrate to our children the love and affection they need to grow into happy, confi dent individuals.

According to Schmidt’s book, psychotherapist Steven Levenkron told Karen’s parents and brother that she was in need of a more tactile, demonstrative kind of love. But when asked to reassure her daughter of her love at a family therapy session, Agnes was unable to do it, saying, “I’m from the north, and we just don’t do things that way”. Karen, the book says, was crying uncontrollably at that time.

A report by the American Academy of Paediatrics defi nes childhood abuse as “a repeated pattern of damaging interactions between parent and child that becomes typical of the relationship”. Apart from physical, sexual and verbal abuse, this can include anything that causes the child to feel worthless, unlovable, insecure, and even endangered, or as if his only value

ON WEDNESDAYAUGUST 10, 2011

LOVE and its effect on us has become the subject of scientifi c research over the last decade. A growing body of scientifi c evidence shows that the way we are cared for by our mothers when we are very young will determine not only our emotional development but the biological development of our brain and the central nervous system as well.

New data altering our knowledge of child development is emerging from a multitude of disciplines including neurology, psychology, biology, and anthropology. There is more evidence than ever before that mother’s love acts as a template for love itself and has far reaching effects on her child’s development and ability to love throughout life.

At UCLA School of Medicine, Alan Schore who is assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioural Sciences, says a major conclusion of the last decade of developmental neuroscience research is that the infant brain is designed to be developed by the environment it encounters. That means babies are born with a certain set of genetics, but they must be activated through child development—as in early experience and interaction.

Schore believes the most crucial child development component of these earliest interactions is the mother—the primary caregiver. He says, “The child’s fi rst relationship, the one with the mother, acts as a template, as it permanently moulds the individual’s capacities to enter into all later emotional relationships.”

Echoing the same views on the importance of mother-child bonding is Dr Dennis Friedman, an 85-year-old fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and author of An Unsolicited Gift: Why We Do What We Do.

Friedman, who has extensive experience in the psychology of parenting and its long-lasting consequences, has published innovative works on anxiety, stress-related illnesses, and phobias. In this latest work he analyses the role of the mother and how her love and care can determine adult actions and addictions.

Quite possibly a diffi cult read for working mothers, but a great guide for mothers-to-be and those trying to resolve their childhood issues, Friedman offers lessons and solutions. For instance, a baby boy will already conceive that being unfaithful to a future partner is acceptable because of his complicated relationship between nanny and mother. Friedman contends this can be remedied by not allowing a nanny or au pair to care for your son before age one.

Mothers should also refrain from introducing nannies into the house before age one to daughters as it can lead to addiction and other problems because they are left with a “vacuum of need” from their mother. – AFPRelaxnews

> Early childhood traumas lie at the root of many emotional and psychological illnesses

Little Girl Blue reveals the struggles of Karen Carpenter, including how she must have been desperate for her mother’s love.

Mother’s love crucial

Starved of love

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