#Malaysia: State Government’s Free Smart Bus Service Extended To Sepang & Selayang

Sepang Municipal Council (MP Sepang) president Datuk Puasa Md Taib announced that the trial run of the Selangor Smart Bus service, formerly known as “Bas Selangorku”, will be launched next month in Selayang and Sepang. The state government has also allocated RM600,000 to manage the free bus service.

“The council, along with the State Economic Planning Unit, will monitor the bus service closely during the 3-to-6-month trial period. If the response is good, then we will write to the state government to ask for more buses,” said Puasa in Cyberjaya yesterday.

The Selayang route (30km) will be launched on 1st May and it will start from Selayang Stadium in Bandar Baru Selayang, then proceed to the Gombak police station, Hospital Selayang, Selayang Baru, Batu Caves, Greenwood, and International Islamic University Malaysia, before ending at Gombak’s Putra Terminal at an interval of 30 minutes.

On the other hand, the Sepang route (58.4km) will begin on the 3rd week of May and it will start from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and proceed to KLIA 2, ERL Salak Tinggi, Sungai Pelek, and lastly, Tanjung Sepat at an interval of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

MP Sepang Town Planning officer Ahmad Faizal Roslan said 20,000 passengers, mainly students and senior citizens, are expected to use the service. He also added that the council is currently looking into the possibility of asking passengers to show their MyKad to ensure that only Malaysians use the free service.

Selangor Smart Bus service is a government initiative to help alleviate ever-worsening traffic conditions and is currently available in Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Klang, Ampang, and Kajang.


#PowerRangers: Mid-Credits Scene Confirmed; 2 Original Cast To Cameo

Come next week, fans will be on the go-go to cinemas to watch Lionsgate’s live-action blockbuster, “Power Rangers”.

Here’s a tip for all you moviegoers: Don’t leave before the credits end as they will be a bonus scene. Just like “Kong: Skull Island”, the post-credits scene for “Power Rangers” will help set up the sequel.

During a recent interview with Collider, director Dean Israelite confirmed that the mid-credits scene was purposely added. “There was always going to be a post-credit thing. The only question was whether it comes 2.5 minutes into the credits, or right at the end. We decided to break (the credits) up and go 2.5 minutes in. It felt correct,” said the filmmaker.

As for what will be shown during that bonus scene, rumour has it that it will be about Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger. According to Comic Book, although Tommy may not physically appear, the film’s reference will tease the debut for the character. Perhaps they’ll recover the Green Ranger coin after defeating Rita Repulsa?

In addition, 2 cast from the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” will be making cameos in the upcoming film. They are Jason David Frank and Amy Jo Johnson, who previously played the Green and Pink Rangers, respectively.

Given that their roles are only listed as Cameo Role #1 and Cameo Role #2, the actors’ screen time might be a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it type appearances. We don’t know why the other cast weren’t invited back, but the inclusion of Frank and Johnson will certainly bring a bit of much-wanted nostalgia.

Feel free to get acquainted with the new Power Rangers in our fun facts article here.

“Power Rangers” is expected to debut in cinemas on 24th March 2017.

Sources: Comic Book Movie, Comic Book (1)(2), Game Zone.

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#AuntieAnnes: Halal Certification Denied Because Of Food Item Named “Pretzel Dog”

The interwebs are in an uproar over the halal certification application for pretzel food chain Auntie Anne’s.

According to a Facebook post by Auntie Anne’s Malaysia quality assurance and halal executive Farhatul Kamilah Mohamed Sazali, the application was denied by the Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia (JAKIM) because of a food item named “Pretzel Dog”.

In the post, Farhatul Kamilah stated that JAKIM felt that “Pretzel Dog” should be changed to a more “appropriate name”, and she has suggested a few name changes but the results are still pending. After the new name is approved, all of the menu boards will have to be edited to reflect the change. Subsequently, she will have to submit a new application to JAKIM and hope for the best.

However, she explained that the “Pretzel Dog” was not the sole issue for the rejected application, as JAKIM has asked them to apply for a halal certificate for their Central Kitchen (CK) before the halal cert for the individuals outlets can be issued.

The executive also applied for halal certs for all 45 Auntie Anne’s outlets under one application, but was told by JAKIM that the application has to be done by area zones to ease the auditing process.

Farhatul concluded the post by assuring the public that Auntie Anne’s Malaysia has passed the 1st round of inspections and has paid the fee required. They’re now waiting for the auditing process from JAKIM and will work hard to obtain an official halal certificate.

When talking to Channel NewsAsia, JAKIM’s Halal Hub director Sirajuddin Suhaimee confirmed that “Pretzel Dog” was indeed one of the reason for the rejection of the application, as the panel “could not consider the word dog because it referred to the animal”. He continued, “It is better if they can use ‘Pretzel Sausage’ instead.”

Sources: Farhatul Kamilah’s Facebook, Channel NewsAsia.


Calvin Harris Threatens To Sue Over Nude Pictures & Videos

Remember when Calvin Harris had pretty much everyone drooling over him when he posed in nothing but Armani underwear? Yeah, it looks like he may have done more than that. According to a report from TMZ, the superstar DJ has lawyered up after some naked pictures of him have started popping up.

(Featured image via Calvin Harris – Facebook)

Several media and porn outlets have gotten their hands on the photos and Calvin is willing to take anyone to court if they decide to post them. Apparently, the “Slow Acid” producer has sent both pictures and videos to women without making any effort to hide his face, how kinky of him!

Unfortunately, we doubt we’d ever get to see these images considering the fact that Calvin’s $66 million salary should be able to get him a decent legal team. Also, to all of you who are wondering, a media outlet that obtained some nude pictures said that Calvin has quite the package and those Emporio Armani pictures are most definitely genuine.

We totally get the whole bridge of privacy and somethings are meant to be kept private thing but seriously though, who wouldn’t want to see this man naked? Like for real.


Travis Barker Talks Fear Of Flying

In September 2008, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker survived a horrific plane crash that claimed the lives of four passengers, including his best friends Chris Baker (assistant) and Che Still (security guard). The 37-year-old rocker suffered second and third degree burns in the crash which eventually healed but the impact from the incident has left him scarred for life.

Travis has admitted that he’s too afraid to fly. As a matter of fact, he hasn’t flown again since the accident. Recently, he took an ocean liner all the way to the UK just so that he could take part in Blink 182’s European tour.

He was reportedly set to join band members Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge on their Australian tour too but it appears that his phobia was too much to bear even though he initially contemplated getting knocked out and getting on a plane to Australia. He even considered traveling by Australian carrier Qantas Airways, which never had a crash or fatality.

Travis Barker released a statement via his Facebook page which said:

I’m sorry to announce I won’t be joining Blink-182 on this Australian tour. I still haven’t gotten over the horrific events that took place the last time I flew when my plane crashed and 4 people were killed, two being my best friends. I gave the band my blessing to take another drummer if they still wanted to do the tour without me. I hope to come to Australia again someday perhaps by ship if need be. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a boat that worked with the schedule this time around. Once again I’m sorry to all the fans.

Aww. Even slimmer chance of him ever coming to Malaysia then?

Sources: Huffington Post, Contact Music.

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#ZoukClubKL: LOUD Pres. CASH CASH Supported by G&B + HypeEmBeats

Mixing electro, pop, and dance, the Roseland, New Jersey-based group Cash Cash began with longtime friends Jean Paul Makhlouf (producer, vocals) and Samuel Frisch (producer, DJ). In 2007, a more solid lineup came together when Jean Paul’s brother Alex came on board (producer, keyboards).

The musicians spent a summer working inside Jean Paul’s home studio and emerged with a stack of demos, including a rough cut of the infectious dance number “Party in Your Bedroom”. They came up with the name Cash Cash in early 2008 and signed with Universal. Now an Internet and club hit, “Party in Your Bedroom” also found its way onto their debut release for the label, a self-titled EP that appeared in October. Since then, they’ve also had steady work as remixers for acts like Krewella, Capital Cities, Kelly Clarkson and Bruno Mars.

Their debut full-length, “Take It to the Floor”, followed in early 2009 and was supported by a package tour that also included Metro Station and Tyga. Their second album “Love or Lust” appeared in 2011, self-released by the band and featuring a pair of singles, “Victim of Love” and “Sexin’ on the Dance Floor” (the latter featuring Jeffree Starr). A new single for 2012, “Michael Jackson (The Beat Goes On)”, earned airplay in Japan and the Netherlands, and the band signed to Atlantic’s Big Beat subsidiary one year later.

Their first single for the label, “Take Me Home,” followed in July 2013. Listen to it here:

For more information, hit up Zouk KL’s Facebook page.


The Flash: Movie Ending, Post-Credits Scene & DCU’s Batman Explained

It got nuts, alright! Andrés “Andy” Muschietti’s “The Flash” is now speeding its way into theatres with Ezra Miller helming the film as the titular hero. For those who have had a chance to catch it already, then you may be left with some lingering questions regarding how James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe (DCU) franchise will be moving forward from here. While inspired by the events of the comic-book event “Flashpoint”, Warner Bros’ “The Flash” has enough of its own little twists and surprises to leave us wondering where the DCU is heading, along with who gets to stay in the franchise.

Strap yourselves in as we do a deep dive into the ending and post-credits scene of “The Flash” along with a breakdown of what fans can expect from the DCU franchise moving forward, what’s going to change and what’s going to stay the same. Let’s go!

It’s revealed in the film that the true villain of “The Flash” is well…the Flash. Barry Allen’s older, alternate self, scarred and merged with metal shards, whom we’ll call “Demon Flash”, was the one who sabotaged the DCU’s original Flash to land in the wrong time period. This led him to meet an alternate, younger version of himself, whom we’ll refer to as “Flashpoint Flash”. Flashpoint Flash’s failure to save everyone in the battle against Zod breaks his mind and he swears to travel back in time over and over again until he gets it right. This eventually leads to Flashpoint Flash becoming Demon Flash. We also learn that Demon Flash’s constant meddling with time is causing different universes to collide with each other. We see glimpses of other worlds including one where Nicholas Cage plays Superman!

In any case, Flashpoint Flash realises the errors of his ways and makes the ultimate sacrifice by killing himself, thus destroying Demon Flash in the process. Then in one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the DCU, we see Barry travel back in time to give his mother one last hug before removing the can of tomatoes from her cart, which seals her fate to be murdered as in the original timeline. Thus restoring the status quo. Barry returns back to the present, just in time for his father’s hearing. His father is acquitted on the count of new footage uncovered by Wayne Enterprises. Barry celebrates as Iris West catches up with him to ask him out for dinner sometime. All is well for Barry and just he’s about to reunite with Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne…he is instead greeted by George Clooney’s version of the character.

So without further ado, let’s address the elephant in the room: Is George Clooney really the DCU’s new Batman? In James Gunn’s video announcement for Chapter 1 of the DCU, he said that “The Flash” is the film that resets the entire DC Universe. Therefore, the events of the film lead directly into James Gunn’s new lineup of DCU films and TV shows. So based on Gunn’s statements, we can say with some certainty that the events in “The Flash” are indeed canon. So to answer the question: technically yes. At this point, some of you are probably saying: No way! This must be some sort of joke cameo, George Clooney isn’t our new Batman!

Now, that’s what we thought too. Maybe the Barry Allen we see at the ending is in some other alternate universe. However, if that was the case then Barry’s real father on his true Earth would still be rotting in prison. We don’t think director Andy Muschietti would undercut Barry’s whole character arc just for a joke. Interestingly enough, James Gunn’s new Batman film, “The Brave and the Bold” is based on writer Grant Morrison’s run on the character. “The Brave and the Bold” is set to feature an older Batman going on adventures with his son Damian Wayne as Robin. Furthermore, there’s even been rumours that director Andy Muschietti might be working on it.

Based on Gunn’s statements and the tone of Grant Morrison’s characterisation of Batman along with Muschietti’s possible involvement in the project, it would make sense that we get a less dour, more mature Batman with George Clooney. We already have a more traditional version of the character in Robert Pattinson. So until further notice, George Clooney is tentatively the DCU’s new Batman!

As suspected, Jason Momoa will be reprising his role as Arthur Curry, better known as the Aquaman, post “The Flash”. The scene starts with Barry walking a very drunk Aquaman out of a bar as he tries to explain the multiverse to him. Ultimately, his explanation falls on deaf ears as Aquaman falls face-first into a puddle of water, much to Barry’s annoyance. Aquaman tells Barry that he’ll be fine in the puddle as it’s his home.

It’s a short fun scene but it does confirm two very important things. One, Ezra Miller will apparently continue to play the character of the Flash and two, Jason Momoa will still be Aquaman.

So unless “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is yet another time-travelling, multiversal adventure, then it’s safe to say that our two boys will be sticking around in James Gunn’s DCU. Other actors set to reprise their roles in the DCU going forward include Viola Davis as Amanda Waller and Xolo Maridueña as the Blue Beetle. All in all, “The Flash” has as much heart and humour as it does insane cameos and easter eggs. Though we haven’t yet gotten a chance to see the face of the new Superman of the DCU, we’ve gotten a fairly clear picture of which faces we’ll be seeing a lot more of in the future.


Hoya Leaves INFINITE & Woollim Entertainment

We hate to break it to you Inspirits, but Hoya is leaving INFINITE and Woollim Entertainment for good.

On Wednesday (30th August), Woollim announced that the rapper has decided not to renew his contract and will depart INFINITE. The company stated, “INFINITE member Hoya’s exclusive contract with us ended on 9th June 2017 after being with us for the past 7 years.”

“During discussion of contract renewal in June, Hoya stated that he wished to walk a different path in order to realise his dream. The company as well as his members decided to respect his decision. Since it is a very big decision we gave it much time for thought and discussion. Until we decided that Hoya will be withdrawing from INFINITE and leaving Woollim as per his wish,” Woollim continued.

But don’t worry, Inspirits. The idol group will continue as a 6-member group as Kim Sunggyu, Jang Dongwoo, Nam Woohyun, Lee Sungyeol, L, and Lee Sungjong have renewed their contracts.

The company added, “INFINITE members will do their best for those of you who love them and support them constantly. We will return with better music and activities. We are sincerely sorry to have worried fans with a delayed announcement but we were forced to be very prudent in our decision making since this is a sensitive matter. Lastly, we ask for your unchanging support for the futures of the six members of INFINITE and Hoya.”

26-year-old Hoya aka Lee Ho Won debuted as a member of Woollim’s INFINITE  2010. Known for his sharp dance moves and portrayal of Kang Joon Hee in “Reply 1997”, the Busan-born idol was also part of a subgroup called INFINITE H along with fellow member Dongwoo.

We wish him all the best in his career and hope to see him and INFINITE back on stage again!

Sources: Koreaboo, Soompi, All Kpop / Featured image: Soompi.

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MYPAA Presents Borak Art Series

After the success of the recent Karnival Seni Kreatif Kita 2013 in Pasir Gudang, Johor, My Performing Arts Agency (MYPAA) in collaboration with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) are pleased to announce another upcoming arts initiative with opportunities and platforms to inspire, educate, and energise both the arts community.

With Malaysia’s arts scene at its infancy stage, how do arts organizations and their leaders grow and sustain themselves? Is there an arts eco-system to support the performing arts industry, the public and the private sectors? Borak Arts Series hoping to break boundaries will feature key leaders in the arts and business including artists, curators, critics and other thinkers of national and international standing, coming together to explore these questions.

On the other hand, industry players will also share their insights and experiences on past projects, successes and learnings; to share with the participants their secret recipe of what works and what doesn’t in the business of the performing arts.

Participants will be able to attend this two-day conference and be enlightened by speakers such as Mr. Jung Jae-wal, President of the Korean Arts Management Service, Ms. Collete Brennan of Australia Council for the Arts and many more!

The Borak Arts Series is one of such platforms and channels to help intensify MYPAA’s and JKKN’s educational efforts in developing the local arts industry.  As seats are limited, attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets here. Due to the encouraging support, conference tickets are going at an affordable fee of RM100/pax that includes the two-day conference, lunch, refreshments, networking reception, Tea Networking session, and a 3 delegate kit.

For more information, visit their website.


Samsung Launches 2013 Smart TV Line-Up

Samsung Malaysia Electronics reinforced its technology leadership through the introduction of its new Smart TV line-up that responds to consumer demands for premium design, smarter features, superior picture quality, and larger screen sizes. Samsung’s 2013 Smart TVs allow users to enjoy a more seamless, integrated, and immersive entertainment and viewing experience.

At the launch on Tuesday, Samsung also showcased its new digital audio line-up range to the local market, with new devices that easily turn any home entertainment setup into an optimal sound environment, and feature a number of wireless connectivity enhancements.

The star of the show, however, it the new Samsung Smart LED TV F8000, which was designed to bring the most advanced TV experience ever to consumers. With Smart Interaction, the new Samsung SMART TV’s Motion Control technology can now recognize two handed gestures.

Apart from navigating and moving the cursor, users can now flip pages, zoom in and out of pictures, “Like” a social media posting and rotate an image all with their bare hands. There’s also an upgrade on its Voice Control feature, whereby it now recognizes 390 commands, compared to the 55 commands recognized for the previous model.

Along with the new Smart Interaction upgrade, the TV features a new and enhanced user-interface for Smart hub that makes it easier to navigate and access a wide array of rich content. The new Smart hub categorizes the TV’s content into three different panels that are easily navigated with a flipping motion:

For more information, visit their official website.


Reignite Your SPARK & Unleash Your Inner Party Animal When You Visit Spark Club KL!

We’ve all had that party-like-there’s-no-tomorrow phase, and if you haven’t had yours, here’s your chance! The last few years have put a damper on any clubbing or partying plans, but you no longer have an excuse to miss out on a Friday night full of drinks, dancing and wild fun.

Located at TREC KL, Spark Club is right at the heart and soul of KL nightlife, where the party animals all congregate to celebrate music, dance, life and all the little things in between. And just a few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to experience Spark in all its glory for ourselves during their soft-launch!

Coming into the KL nightlife scene with their guns blazing, Spark Club offers a spacious VIP section and an even more spacious dance floor. The whole club was covered in bright and colourful LED lights and added fog from smoke machines to really complete the ambiance.

But what’s more, the party was opened up by Local DJ, Blink, with an exclusive showcase entitled “Decadence: 10 years of Dance Music”, pumping up the energy in the whole club even more! Even from our table upstairs, we could hear the loud bass of the DJ loud and clear. And, if we wanted to get closer to the action, we had the options of either dancing out on the balcony or joining everyone else downstairs to let loose and get wild.

Of course, we also had our own fair share of drinks. With options such as hard liquor like whiskey, to champagne, along with an assortment of mixers, you can expect to go crazy while you’re at Spark Club. We all sure did!

But just because you missed Blink at their soft launch doesn’t mean you won’t have the chance to go crazy moving forward. Boasting an impressive line-up of the hottest and most anticipated DJs from the nightlight circuit, the party never stops at the Spark club! Every week, they will announce what DJ will be playing at their venue, so you can get hyped knowing that you’re about to have the weekend of your life.

So, what’re you waiting for? Come feel the beat and find out yourself!

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#CNY: 10 Interesting Myths & Traditions About Chinese New Year

Tong tong tong chiang! Soon, we’ll be hearing the sound of Chinese musical instruments everywhere we go. That is because Chinese New Year is only 2 weeks away.

The phrase “Happy New Year” in Chinese is “Gong Hei Fatt Choy” (in Cantonese) or “Xin Nian Kuai Le (新年快乐)” (in Mandarin), which carries the meaning of wishing you good fortune in celebration of the new year.

Chinese New Year is more than just a traditional festival, it’s one of the most important celebration marked by parades, family reunions, and lots of delicious food. The celebration continues for 15 days until the moon is full. In case you’re wondering, this year’s Chinese New Year falls on 28th January.

Although Chinese New Year is generally used as an opportunity to renew family ties, the younger generation these days prefer to spend time with friends or to relax from work. This festivity has many longstanding traditions and there’s a lot to delve into if you’re unfamiliar.

That is why we’ve compiled a list of 10 things about the Chinese New Year myths and traditions.

1. What does the year of the rooster mean?

In ancient times, the gods concurred that humans needed a better method to keep track of the years, so they devised a plan based on a 12-year cycle and named those years after animals. To decide the order of those animals, the gods held a race across the river. As a result, the order of the 12 animals are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram/goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and last of all, pig.

For 2017, it’s the year of the rooster. According to Travel China Guide, “Rooster is almost the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. For ancestors who had no alarm clocks, the crowing was significant, as it could awaken people to get up and start to work. In Chinese culture, another symbolic meaning of chicken carries is exorcising evil spirits.”

2. Why do people wear red and play firecrackers during CNY?

Legend has it that there was once a mythical demon creature named Nian (年, which means year) who would descend upon villages every new year to eat children, livestock, and crops. At the advise of a wise elder, the villages would hang red paper decorations in their homes and red lanterns outside. They would also set fire to bamboo and set off firecrackers to scare the beast away. Firecrackers are also set off during the eve of Chinese New Year to send out the old year and usher in the new.

During Chinese cultural celebrations, dragons are often present as they are held in the highest esteem and are also perceived as bringers of wealth and good fortune. This mythical animal is the embodiment of what Chinese New Year is all about – a celebration of luck and good fortune for the future.

The symbol of dragon also signifies authority and can be seen on robes of the Imperial family and nobility. As the king of all scaly animals (e.g. fish, reptiles, amphibian), this revered creature may be fearsome and powerful but it is also held in awe. Here’s an interesting fact: most dragons are considered aquatic as some are believed to inhibit the heavens.

There’s a huge distinction between the dance of the lion – which normally utilises 2 dancers – and the dragon dance, which requires a team of people to handle different sections of the dragon’s long body.

The lion dance (舞狮) itself can be divided into 2 styles: southern and northern. The southern lion dance tends to imitate a lion’s behaviour such as scratching, shaking of the body, and licking of fur. The northern lion dance, however, has elements of Chinese martial arts or otherwise known as kung fu.

5. Major spring cleaning before Chinese New Year

Get ready to scrub every nook and crevice as homes are usually cleaned from top to bottom to get rid of dirt, dust, and bad mojo from the previous year. It’s important to clean your house before Chinese New Year else you’ll be sweeping away you and your family’s good fortune. Cleaning your home before the festivity also means settling all your unfinished business to start fresh for the new year.

Isn’t it funny that Chinese New Year is right on the heels of the holiday season when you’ve just spent a substantial amount on buying gifts? This makes settling all your debts slightly challenging, but if you want to avoid bad luck for the rest of the year, be sure you don’t owe anyone any money.

As per tradition, red packets (ang pao or hong bao) are filled with money and are given out to children as well as unmarried adults from older to younger. The cash in these packets are known as lucky money as it is given out as a good luck gesture to the receiver. An even amount of money is usually given (with the exception of 4 as the number means death) and not odd, but a RM5 ang pao is pretty common these days.

Among all the traditional Chinese New Year dishes, Yee Sang (魚生) is arguably one of the most popular dishes during annual gatherings with friends and family. This mandatory dish is symbolic of good luck, prosperity, health, and everything auspicious. It is essentially a salad with various ingredients that include raw fish, shredded lettuce, celery, carrot, ginger, and groundnuts – each symbolising a different meaning.

The popular custom of Lou Sang happens when everyone gathers around the dining table to mix the ingredients together while tossing it in the air. The height of the toss is believed to determine the person’s fortune and luck, so remember to toss as high as you can this year ;)

9. Oranges and tangerines for wealth and luck

Another yearly tradition during Chinese New Year is the exchange of oranges and tangerines among relatives, friends, and acquaintances. So why these 2 fruits? Orange in Chinese sounds similar to “wealth” while tangerine is similar to the word “luck”. The bright and vibrant colour also symbolises gold and is associated with good fortune.

Celebrations will usually start on New Year’s Eve (27th January) before ending with a Lantern Festival (元宵節, which means first night of the full moon) – not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival – which falls on the eve of the 15th day where families will come together again.

Another reunion dinner is celebrated with lanterns and oranges. The lanterns are released into the skies to light the way for the new year and also to guide lost or mischievous spirits home while celebrating family relationships.

Chinese New Year is meant to be a joyful time of get-together, but for many single people, busybody relatives will often question and squabble about why the single ones are still riding solo. Yes, it’s typically the aunt with no filter. You know it, we know it, but unfortunately she might not know it.

Tip: Best to answer this species by over sharing – go into the gory details and make the offender wish she’d never asked ;)

Sources: Fact Retriever, Huffington Post, Writers In The Storm, Earth Sky, China Highlights (1)(2), How Stuff Works.

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Coco Lee’s Husband Bruce Rockowitz Breaks Silence After Her Death

It has been two days since we received news about the tragic passing of the well-respected Hong Kong singer Coco Lee (李玟). While some are still in disbelief that the once cheerful soul would take her own life, others are slowly accepting the loss of yet another talented artist and performer from the music industry.

Following her death, many heartfelt tributes have been pouring in from Coco’s celebrity friends. Yet, the three people who are closely related to her have yet to speak up. On 6th July 2023, we got to hear from her husband, Bruce Rockowitz, and his two daughters, for the first time.

Although the late singer’s relationship with her family looked to be perfect on her socials, it wasn’t. Her husband was known to have cheated on her multiple times in their 10-year relationship, and his daughters even supported his actions. Ever since her supposed falling out with her family more than 2 years ago, rumours have it that they were going through divorce procedures.

Yesterday, Coco’s husband and her two daughters, along with her sisters Carol and Nancy Lee, issued a statement announcing her passing. The statement reads, “It is with immense sadness and reluctance that we announce the passing of CoCo Lee, after a long and courageous battle with depression. CoCo passed away on 5th July 2023 at the age of 48, and all her family was by her side.”

“CoCo was warm, kind, and a beautiful person inside and out. She was a multifaceted singer-songwriter, a performer with overflowing talent, and a mentor who cared about the younger generation. She was also a beloved wife, friend, and family member. Her passion and sincerity brought sunshine to everyone around her. The many lives she has touched will miss her deeply, but her influence and radiance will continue to shine on forever. Details of her funeral will be announced at a later time.”

This article is contributed by Amelia Er.


#ThorRagnarok: First Look At Tessa Thompson In Valkyrie’s Makeup

This is it, filming for “Thor: Ragnarok” has officially wrapped and to celebrate the occasion with fans, director Taika Waititi recorded an end-of-shoot clip through Facebook Live.

Besides showing shots of the movie set wreckage, the New Zealand filmmaker also featured “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson (who plays Valkyrie in the film) sans their full costume.

Although Thompson may not be in full costume, we do get our first glimpse at the Afro-Latin American actress in her odd-looking facial makeup. With her hair tied back, Thompson’s face is decorated with a series of intricate symmetrical white lines above and below her eyes.

Of course, those who are familiar with the comic books will notice that Thompson’s portrayal of the Norse character is rather different from the original Valkyrie, who sports blonde hair and blue eyes in the comics.

The video is slightly over 14 minutes, which you can check it out below:

If you’re curious about Valkyrie’s role in “Thor: Ragnarok”, you can read more about it here.

“Thor: Ragnarok” will smash its way into theatres on 3rd November 2017. To find out more on Marvel’s Phase 3 storyline, head over here.

Sources: Screen Rant, Comic Book/ Featured image: Davina Diaries.


#RedVelvet: K-Pop Idol Girl Group To Make Comeback; SM Drops Teaser Images

Since Red Velvet (레드벨벳)’s soulful ballad “One Of These Nights” was released in March, they haven’t been very active in the music scene. But that’s about to change ’cause SM Entertainment has announced that the idol girl group will be making their comeback on 7th September!

The girls’ upcoming mini-album will be named “Russian Roulette” and lucky for us, their label has also released several gorgeous individual teaser images of Wendy and Joy.

In the series of colourful photos, Wendy looks fierce in braided pigtails and thick eyeliner while Joy seems confused in blonde hair and a slightly smudged up look. From the looks of the images, it’s safe to say that “Russian Roulette” is definitely not a ballad.

Just in case you didn’t know, “Russian Roulette” is a lethal game of chance in which a player places a single round in a revolver, spins the cylinder, places the muzzle against their head, and pulls the trigger. These days, the term is used to describe “chance” or “luck”.

You can check out more teaser images in the gallery below:

Previously, it was reported that Red Velvet and SHINee are currently gearing up for their respective comebacks, with both groups in the process of recording their albums.

It will be very interesting to see what Red Velvet has to offer this time around as they will be going up against YG Entertainment power girl group BLACKPINK, who topped most of the Korean music charts with their double title tracks, “Whisper” and “BOOMBAYAH”.

For more information, visit Red Velvet’s Facebook page.

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#ScreamQueens: Fox Releases Full Trailer For Upcoming Horror-Comedy Series

Fox has released a wide range of new shows slated to premiere later this year. From comedies including “Grandfathered” and “The Grinder” to sci-fi mystery-thrillers like “Minority Report”, the studio has now added a new horror-comedy series − “Scream Queens”.

Coming soon on Fox, “Scream Queens” is an American horror-comedy anthology television series created and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan.

Wallace University is rocked by a string of murders. Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges, is ruled with an iron fist, in a pink glove, by its Queen B*tch, Chanel Oberlin  (Emma Roberts). But when anti-Kappa Dean Munsch (Jamie Lee Curtis) decrees that sorority pledging must be open to all students, and not just the school’s silver-spooned elite, all hell is about to break loose, as a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc, claiming one victim, one episode at a time. Part black comedy, part slasher flick, “Scream Queens” is a modern take on the classic whodunit, in which every character has a motive for murder…or could easily be the next blood-soaked casualty.

Brought to you by the producers of “Glee” and “American Horror Story”, the trailer shows a slight combination of the two TV series. “Scream Queen” will star number of crowd favourites including Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Jonas, “Glee”s Lea Michele, the powerhouse four octave vocalist, Ariana Grande and more.

“Scream Queens” is slated for release in September 2015.

For more on “Scream Queens”, log on to their  Facebook page and Instagram.

Source: Comingsoon, featured image via “Scream Queens” Facebook.


Netflix’s “Seoul Vibe” Review: A Fast And Hilarious Crime Comedy With A Korean Twist

Everybody wants a piece of the 80’s these days. Whether it’s the fabulously hilarious wrestling comedy series “Glow”, the gritty crime thriller “Mindhunter” or one very expensive loveletter to “The Goonies” and classic horror films with “Stranger Things”. It was the era of funk and soul. A simpler time when DVD players were a marvel and style was the name of the game! Director Moon Hyeon-seong, best known for his detective comedy film “The King’s Case Note” is looking to get in on the action too. Set in the late 1980s, his film “Seoul Vibe” follows a ragtag group of South Korean racers who must tear through the streets of Seoul to take down an illegal money-laundering organisation. All while the Seoul Summer Olympics is going on in the background.

Moon Hyeon Seong has shown that he’s able to do gripping sports films with “As One”, and comedies with his previous works. So we’re curious to see how he’ll fare with a crime, street-racing caper with “Seoul Vibe”. Will he bring fast fury on screen? Can it keep up with the likes of the “Fast & Furious” films? Let’s find out!

While “Seoul Vibe” is definitely an ode to the American craze in South Korea during the 80’s, the film is anything but a cheap knock-off of American street racing films. What sets the film apart from its western counterparts is the the inclusion of a theme that is quickly prevailing in South Korea: disillusionment with the Korean Miracle. We won’t bore you with the details. Basically, South Korea saw rapid economic growth due to the nation’s adoption of state-led capitalism. One of the major watershed moments of the phenomenon that open the way for South Korea to be viewed as an economic powerhouse in East Asia was the Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988.

Beneath the homages and celebration of the film’s love for 80’s’ American-inspired South Korean aesthetics, Moon Hyeon-seong’s film has something to say about the rampant corruption that took place within the national reconstructing of the Korean economy. This particular moment of history provides a rich and fascinating backdrop to the high-octane rubber burning antics of speedracer Dong-wook and the Sangedong Supreme team. Don’t get us wrong, “Seoul Vibe” is still very much a five-man-band racing film in the vein of “Baby Driver”. It just has a little more going for it than the average film about a race crew going undercover.

One thing that “Seoul Vibe” absolutely nails without a shadow of a doubt is the on-screen camaraderie between all five members of the Sangedong Supreme team. Do they embody certain stereotypes like the smooth-operator, the tomboy and the sweet grease-monkey? Yes but damn it, we they’re just such a lovable bunch that you’re willing to just roll with it. They even have their very own Mr. Nobody in the form of their government handler, Attorney Ahn. This by large thanks to writer Sua Shin who manages weave genuinely funny moments of levity in between criminal drama. They’re an utterly adorkable crew who each have their own unique moment to shine.

One minor criticism we have for the film though is its bloated runtime of a little over two hours. There are some pretty endearing moments chronicling the the team’s rise with each successful ride with some sick montage sequences That being said, we can’t help but feel the film could have trimmed off a bit of weight. Or at least dedicate more screen time to fleshing out the team’s past or showing some sweet, sweet vehicular action. The espionage aspect of the film is done with a lot of panache and fun, especially when it comes to John Woo-Sam, or John Bond, as the unlikely casanova would prefer to be called.

As for the actual street races and car chases in the film, they’re tonally different from the ones you’d see in the “Fast & Furious” films. They aren’t trying to dazzle you with over-the-top spectacle or make you bite your lip off with brutal metal on metal carnage. It’s all about the sick drifts and quick maneuvers baby! Think “Initial D” or “Baby Driver”. There are multiple quick flashes and changes in perspectives that’s meant to connote the speed of the vehicle and reflexes of the driver. All set to some pretty funky 80’s bops currated by Woo-Sam himself. Long after the credits roll, we’re still humming Run-D.M.C.!

What really sells the entire film though are the performances by the main cast of five. Characters like Yoo Ah-in’s Woo-Sam and Ong Seong-wu’s Joon-ki are hilarious as the DJ and handyman to the team. Bringing levity and good bit of scondrel humour to the whole affair. Lee Kyu-hyung serves as the old soul of the crew with lovable paternal charm as Bok-nam. Our favourite has got to be Park Ju-hyun’s Yoon-hee though, proving herself to be a colourful character of many talents! It’s all anchored by a spirited performance Yoo Ah-in as the moody but ultimately noble smuggler Dong-wook. Watching him slowly unravel his defences in the name of *shudders with cringe* family makes him a layered and intriguing protagonist. Like a well-oiled Hyundai Grandeur, the cast chemistry is firing on all cylinders!

Supporting cast member of Oh Jung-se as Attorney Ahn acts a amusing foil to the team’s worldly ways with his dry wit and sardonic remarks. The villains of the film, though, leave much to be desired. Moon So-ri does a decent enough job as the sly Ms Kang but Kim Sung-kyun’s Director Lee is hammy, tired cliche. We get it, you’re a power-crazed, violent erratic gangster, you sit with Tuco over there!

Moon Hyeon Seong’s “Seoul Vibe” is a infectiously fun romp with old-school rubber-burning action and electrifying performances by the main cast of five. In spite some need of polish and a little bit of motor oil, we can definitely see this property going the distance. It’s got all the makings of a great ragtag criminal comedy franchise. We sincerely hope that Moon Hyeon Seong and company return for another round of fast fun! Also please, please bring back Song Min-ho’s Galchi! The rapper’s got some acting chops on him.

Be sure to check out “Seoul Vibe” on Netflix on 26th August!

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Moon Hyeon Seong's "Seoul Vibe" is a infectiously fun romp with old-school rubber-burning action and electrifying performances by the main cast of five. In spite some need of polish and a little bit of motor oil, we can definitely see this property going the distance. It's got all the makings of a great ragtag criminal comedy franchise.


Criticised For Singing Off Key, Malaysian Singer Fish Leong Explains

On New Year’s Eve, Malaysian singer Fish Leong (梁靜茹) was invited to perform on Hunan TV’s New Year’s concert.

The 40-year-old award-winning singer performed 3 songs during the event but her performance was hugely criticised for singing off key and going out of tempo. The hashtag #FishLeongGoneOutOfTempo also trended on Weibo.

Yesterday, Leong has finally decided to address the incident on her Instagram and explained what actually went wrong that day.

According to the singer, 30 seconds before she went on stage, she realised that something’s wrong with her headphone receiver as she was unable to pick up any sound.

As the team urgently trying to get a replacement of her headphone receiver, Leong had to guess the entire 8-minute reverb tempo.

She said that every step she made was nerve-wrecking. “If you were at my place during that time, you will understand how difficult it is,” she said.

Netizens also complained that she started singing before the song even started, but Leong explained that she was just humming before the song starts, and this is something she always does before singing a song.

A post shared by 梁靜茹 Fish Leong (@fishleong616)

“Humming during the intro helps with my live singing as I am able to do a mic check to ensure that the sound is properly deliver to my headphones,” she wrote.

Leong admits that her performance that night was not as good as her rehearsal, but it’s not that bad either. “I promise to improve,” she added.


#SNSD: Girls’ Generation Is Scheduling 3 MVs For Their Biggest Comeback Ever

SNSD Girls’ Generation‘s upcoming comeback is so big, it could very well be their biggest ever. Not only will they be releasing a new studio album, it has also been revealed that they’ve got not one, not 2, but 3 (T-H-R-E-E) music videos lined up to knock SONEs off their feet!

On 27th June, it was rumoured that the now 8-member K-Pop idol girl group’s comeback has finally reached its final stages with the completion of their music video production. You might have seen SNSD member Tiffany dropping hints and uploading pictures on Instagram from the shooting location in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Helmed by Johnny Brothers’ director Hong Won Ki, the filming took place between 10th – 14th June.

Known for his visually stunning music video productions, Hong Won Ki previously impressed with Seo Tai Ji‘s “Moai” in 2009. His resume also includes working with artistes such as TVXQ‘s “Something”, BEAST‘s “Shock”, SECRET‘s “Madonna”, f(x)‘s “Rum Pum Pum Pum”, and more.

Fun fact: Hong Won Ki worked with SNSD Girls’ Generation for their music videos “The Boys” in 2011 and “I Got A Boy” in 2013.

No specific date has been set for the girls’ comeback yet but what we do know is that their comeback is scheduled for sometime in July. The last time SNSD Girls’ Generation planned a summer comeback, it was way back in June 2009 when they released “Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)”. Considering the fact that they’ve got 3 music videos lined up (does this mean 3 title tracks too?), the South Korean hotties might just outdo themselves this time around ;)

We’ll leave you now with their latest release, “Catch Me If You Can”:

Let’s not forget that there was also a leaked “Catch Me If You Can” version which includes former member Jessica Jung here.

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Hype’s Weekender: #RIPRobinWilliams Tribute + #worldstagemy + Color Run #happiest5k + MORE

The world has recently lost one of its greatest Hollywood icons of all time as the legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams passed away on Tuesday morning. A number of tributes have surfaced on the Internet and the award-winning Broadway actor James Monroe Iglehard had even led the crowd to pay tribute to the late star at the Broadway’s Aladdin. Plus, a tribute video that has compiled a number of clips with Robin Williams in characters has gained more than 5,000,000 views as it featured his touching graduation speech from the movie “Jack”.

Thank you for everything, Robin Williams. We will remember you always and may you rest in peace.

In conjunction with the release of the Boys Republic Tour Repackage (CD+DVD), Universal Music’s first ever K-Pop idol boy group Boys Republic recently met with their fans for an autograph session at Speedy Video, Sunway Pyramid on August 15th. Although the event started at 8pm, some excited fans were spotted queueing for the autograph session as early as 10am in the morning. Oh, did we mention that some fans were even chosen to take selfies with the boys as well? Oh yes, the jealousy is strong!

MTV World Stage in Malaysia 2014 definitely exceeded our expectations as the performers rocked the stage with electrifying performances to a live audience of over 10,000 fans. Thai-American hip hop group Thaitanium set the crowd’s energy level as they kicked off the night with 11 upbeat tracks including their latest single “Wake Up (Bangkok City)”. K-Pop idol boy group Boys Republic finally revealed their “girlfriend” and serenaded the lucky fangirl during their first performance for “Dress Up”. The crowd later gave a warm welcome to our homegrown talent Yuna as she kicked off her performance with her hit song “Falling”. After the soulful singer wrapped up her set with “Come Back”, American rapper B.o.B effectively brought the house down with his energetic performance and even interacted with the fans by exchanging high fives and snapping selfies with them.

B.o.B dedicated global hit song ““Airplanes” ft. Hayley Williams of Paramore in memory of the lives that were lost in the #MH17 tragedy. The crowd also observed a moment of silence before the performances at MTV World Stage in Malaysia 2014:

4. Chanyeol’s remake MV of H.O.T’s “Light”

K-Pop 90s MVs has been put in the limelight once again as the K-Pop idol boy group EXO will remake the MVs in their new reality program, “EXO 90: 2014”. EXO-K rapper Chanyeol is the first member to be featured in the music video and his remake of H.O.T’s “Light” has been released. Previously, Chanyeol promised that he will shave his head if the show doesn’t achieve a 40% viewer rating. Well, we wouldn’t want him to shave his head so let’s just hope that the viewers are enjoying it!

Our Sunday was officially made awesome, all thanks to the craziest colour attack at Color Run Malaysia 2014! Thousands of participants aka Color Runners were plastered in colours as they ran through the race course with coloured powders poured on them at various points. Dubbed as “The Happiest 5k on the Planet”, the Color Run KL was brought to us by CIMB Bank to promote a healthier and happier lifestyle by bringing the community together in this fun-filled run. Some of the participants were even spotted decorating themselves with tutus and crazy afro hair, adding a touch of randomness to the running event.

By the time the participants crossed the finishing line, a party was held for the Color Runners as they continued to spread the happiness at the Finish Festival. With the massive colours thrown in the air, the vivid colour combinations created a beautiful scene at the festival.

You can also check out the official images of the running event at The Color Run’s website!

And that’s a wrap for the week! Don’t forget to check out our exclusive interviews with DJ Mat Zo and The Voice Indonesia’s Billy Simpson as well as our review on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! They are absolutely amazing and you’d want to know more about them.

Hit us up on our Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram for more daily updates.


#MissonImpossible5: Paramount Releases New Majestic Posters For “Rogue Nation”

A slew of character posters for “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” have been released and we gotta say, they look pretty majestic.

Paramount released 6 character posters for the movie yesterday (3rd June), featuring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg all dressed up in their spy garbs. Additional details about the characters were not revealed, but the phrase “Go Rogue” can be seen plastered onto the centre of all the posters.

The movie will see Cruise reprising his role as the fictional undercover agent, Ethan Hunt. Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames will also return as William Brandt, Benji Dunn, and Luther Stickell. Newcomers include Rebecca Ferguson and Alec Baldwin, with the former taking the role of the female lead named Ilsa Faust while the latter will be playing the head of the CIA who will presumably supervise Hunt’s operations.

Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” will see a reunion between director Christopher McQuarrie and Cruise, as they both worked together on 2012’s “Jack Reacher”, the movie adaptation of Lee Child’s 2005 novel “One Shot”. The production on the 5th instalment of the popular spy movie franchise will be overseen by J. J. Abrams (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”), Bryan Burk (“Star Trek”), and Cruise himself, with a script written by Drew Pearce (“Iron Man 3”).

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” will see its release on 31st July worldwide.

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#LadiesCode: K-Pop Group Involved In Crash, EunB Passes Away

Earlier this morning, it was reported that Ladies Code (레이디스 코드), a South Korean idol girl group formed by Polaris Entertainment in 2013, has been involved in a car accident.

The group, consisting of leader Ashley and members RiSe, Sojung, Zuny, and EunB were in a vehicle traveling near Youngdong highway towards Incheon in Seoul when the crash happened. Initial investigation suggest that the said vehicle, a van, may have slipped and ran into a protective wall due to the rainy roads. The van was carrying a total of 8 people (including the driver) at that time.

As a result of the accident, 21-year-old Go EunB passed away. She was taken to the St. Vincent’s Hospital in Suwon but she did not make it. At time of writing, 2 of the 4 other members who were in the car, Sojung and RiSe, suffered severe injuries. The other 2 members, Ashley and Zuny, as well as 2 stylists, sustained minor injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

As more news coverage is now surfacing in relation to this tragic accident, it has been revealed that two members, Sojung and RiSe, are currently in critical condition while the remaining two members and two stylists have sustained minor injuries.

Polaris Entertainment has since released a statement which read:

Near Suwon around 1:30 AM, the car that Ladies’ Code had been riding in after finishing up their schedule in Daegu experienced a problem where the back wheel came off. With the back wheel coming off on the rainy road, the car ended up spinning several times before hitting the guard rail. Due to this, EunB tragically passed away.

Currently, RiSe is in critical condition and Sojung is receiving treatment for her injuries. The other members and the manager and stylist have no big injuries… The members will be transferred from Suwon to a hospital in Seoul, and the location for the wake [for EunB] has not yet been decided on.

Our company employees are also currently in great shock and are experiencing sadness that cannot be expressed in words. We offer our apology to the fans and all those who have also been greatly shocked, and we hope that many can pray for the speedy recovery of the members.

Our thoughts and prayers are with EunB’s family, friends, fans, and loved ones.

Police are still investigating the case.

More to come as and when we get more news.


Cecil Hotel Water Tank Death: Was Elisa Lam Haunted?

Over three months since the death of Canadian tourist Elisa Lam, the truth remains elusive. The 21-year-old was found dead in the rooftop water tank of Los Angeles’ Cecil Hotel, after maintenance workers investigated the cause of low water pressure in the building’s supply.

As the few mysterious details of Elisa Lam’s death began circulating on the Internet, a number of conspiracy theories surfaced, including reports of the hotel’s long history of suicides, murders and unsolved deaths. Now, posts on a Chinese social networking site have muddied the waters further, with an unidentified person credited with this comment:

The post was shared on a Facebook page belonging to Liu Xinnan [translated from刘新楠]. Xinnan claims to be a student of China’s Tianjin Polytechnic University.

Amateur investigators, such as those on a forum called My Death Space are skeptical and rightly so. For one thing, if true, it remains to be seen how the unknown poster knew Elisa Lam was in the water tank in the first place. And would not a more direct appeal to hotel security or staff or police been the easier choice? At this point the more probable explanation is that the post is a hoax, manufactured by altering the date and time of the post.

Footage from a security cam video in the elevator showed Elisa Lam behaving strangely on the last day she was seen alive. The young woman almost appeared to be hiding from someone or something. Check out the video released by the Los Angeles Police:

[youtube id=”Zq4LmWiDiC0″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

The autopsy result proved inconclusive and a toxicology assessment was subsequently called for; that report has yet to be filed, even though the investigation began in February.

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#JPJ: Abuse The Emergency Lane & Be Fined Up To RM2,000 Or 6 Months’ Jail

Under the law, emergency lanes are meant for emergencies, not to speed up your travelling time.

It was reported that 2 motorcyclists died in an accident along the North-South Expressway at KM228 near Ayer Keroh, Malacca on Sunday (22nd May) at 4:30pm. The ambulance was dispatched in 20 minutes but it took them about an hour to arrive at the scene, simply because vehicles were blocking the emergency lane.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) Enforcement Division chief Datuk V. Valluvan said that 91 vehicles blocked the way of an ambulance along an emergency lane heading to the accident scene. According to a video recording, 7 out of the 91 vehicles were identified and they will be will be taken to court.

“We are going all out to investigate the matter and offenders will not be issued a compound (which is usually RM300) but directly charged in court under Section 53 of the Road Transport Act 1957 which carries a maximum fine of RM2,000 or 6-month or both,” Valluvan said to reporters after a dialogue session with Johor state JPJ enforcement officers on Thursday (26th May).

He added that such strict actions was necessary because the abuse of emergency lanes are getting out of hand, particularly on highways during peak hours.

What do you think about people abusing the emergency lanes? Let us know in the comments below!

Sources: The Star, Free Malaysia Today, The Sun.


BLINKS Successfully Got YouTube To Take Down Namewee’s Music Video

BLACKPINK fans otherwise known as BLINKS are rejoicing as another victory has been won for the K-pop fandom. On 28th May, Malaysian singer-rapper Namewee (黃明志)’s song “You Know Who Is My Father?” incited BLINKS’ rage.

The backlash started when fans noticed a line in Namewee’s lyrics that “disrespected” the group. After weeks of spamming the comments and reporting the music video, YouTube has finally taken it down. The controversial artist isn’t backing down completely however as he recorded a reply for BLINKS.

The rallying cry to shut down the video was fueled by the theme of respecting women and respecting BLACKPINK. Namewee claimed that the song was supposed to be about the European cup and the life of rich folks in Malaysia. However, fans were more focused on the line “Always look at BLACKPINK and masturbate”. The line caused fans to spam the comments and report the music video. Eventually, YouTube removed the video which had over 5 million views. As Namewee said, “You win! You win liao!”

The controversial artist took the chance to explain his side of the story. Namewee stated he loved the K-pop group too and quick to show off some dance moves he learned from their songs. “Of course I respect them!” he exclaimed. According to Namewee, the video was meant to showcase the “patterns and lifestyle” of “the sons of Datuks”. “There is nothing to do with respecting women or respecting BLACKPINK,” he stated. “I don’t know why you (are) so angry?”

Although the original music video was taken down, the lyric video still remains. Namewee also uploaded a “revised version” on 15th June. The line was changed to “Always look at Black Pimp. Always masturbating.” Additionally, he made it clear that the song was focused on the European cup.

Namewee acknowledged that the song was taken down because of BLINKS but did not intend to apologise for it. “We have made many changes to it, not because we admitted that we were wrong, but we want the work to be seen by more people, so we must first avoid those “faeces“…” he wrote in his post on Facebook.

BLINKS may have successfully removed Namewee’s video from YouTube, however it is uncertain if they actually ‘won’. Namewee may have conceded the loss of his 5 million views video but has yet to offer an apology, as demanded by BLINKS.

You could perhaps term this as a pyrrhic victory; neither side truly won.


#Fitness: Find Your Center With These Amazing (& Free!) Yoga Classes Online

There are many reasons why people’s interest in yoga practice have skyrocketed over the years. There are numerous physical and mental health benefits from yoga.

Besides being a great way to focus on meditation and concentrated muscle movements, yoga also helps with blood pressure, pain management, and anxiety. It’s amazing how a little quiet time between a yogi and a rubber mat can change the person’s life.

Of course, not everybody has the luxury of attending regular yoga sessions at a local studio or gym, especially when life gets in the way. Not to mention, the monthly fee that you’ll have to fork out. Luckily for you, the internet is a treasure trove of amazing workouts.

There are plenty of routines and options for all yoga practitioners (regardless whether you’re a seasonal or beginner). However, many web videos are secured behind a paywall. Finding free and good yoga classes online is not impossible, you just have to spend some time searching.

So don’t fret if money, time, and location have prevented you from your regular yoga practice. Lucky for you, we’ve managed to compiled some of the best websites and YouTube channels that lets you workout for free through a series of video guides.

So the next time you’re motivated to get on the mat for a yoga session, these online classes are just a click of a button away!

“Do Yoga With Me” has a library full of videos containing yoga classes, tutorials, explanations of poses, breathing techniques, and anatomy. Before viewing a video, you can check out what level the class is (e.g. beginner, intermediate, advanced), the duration of the session, props requirement, and a link to the teacher’s bio.

The variety of yoga styles includes: Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Kundalini, Ashtanga, and prenatal classes. Those with difficulties calming your monkey mind for meditation can also check out the site’s audio guide to help turn off the chitta (subconscious mind) and into a relaxed zone.

Most suited for: Intermediate-level and experienced yogis who want to broaden their knowledge on new breathing techniques, meditations, and yoga styles.

If you’re more of an at-home yoga person, look no further than Adriene Mishler’s “Yoga with Adriene” YouTube channel. Known for her approachable demeanor and clear instruction, this Austinite approaches health and wellness with a sense of humour and playfulness that makes her instantly likeable.

Whether you’re feeling like working up a sweat or just want to take it easy, Adriene has a series of sessions to suit every mood and goal. Videos such as “Yoga for Anxiety and Stress”, “Yoga at Your Desk”, and “Yoga for Bedtime”, range between 20 to 30 minutes. Our recommendation for starters? Her “30 days of Yoga” series is a good place to start.

Most suited for: Beginners; If you’re not too serious about yoga

Don’t get turned off by the fact that this site requires you to sign up for free. It’s a fast and easy process. Once registered, you can browse through their online classes, all filmed outdoors on scenic locations like Zanzibar (East Africa) and Andalusia (Spain). “Be More Yogic” works with a minimal list of instructors – 6 to be exact – so it’s easy to follow your favourite guru.

Thanks to the short classes available, it’s easy to pick up poses such as forward bends, which is a great sequence to help you during long flights. Although there are also great full-length classes to advance and challenge yourself, “Be More Yogic” offers shorter clips on specific classes to help you master tricky poses such as the tripod headstand or the crow pose.

Side note: Premium membership will give you access a larger selection of classes.

Most suited for: Curious dabblers who are interested to try out a few different workouts before committing

Fitness personality Sean Vigue is known for his power yoga and pilates tutorials that are geared towards the male crowd. Don’t worry dudettes, this YouTube channel isn’t exclusive to yogi dudes only. Vigue tends to focus more on core exercises as well as body weight and fat burning work outs. His videos range from 5 minutes clips for targeted muscle groups to his 20 to 40 minutes flow.

Most suited for: Yogis who want to work more on core strength

To all seasoned yoga practitioners, if you’re looking for something more challenging than your daily exercise, look no further than “Fightmaster Yoga”. This YouTube channel is managed by YogaWorks teacher Lesley Fightmaster, who uploads a new class consistently every Monday.

In addition to her 90-day yoga program to help you cultivate a healthy yoga habit everyday for 3 months, the channel also has yoga playlists for HIIT and cardio, strength-building, flexibility, and stretching. For newbies, there’s also the beginner and intermediate programs, as well as gentle yoga and meditation videos.

Most suited for: Yogis who want hard core and sweat-inducing sequences.

On the contrary, if you are more at ease with simple and calming yoga sequences, the “Yoga by Candace” YouTube channel offers tons of information about yoga, wellness, and lifestyle content. The video content has routines that guide you from pose to pose with control and purpose. Although most classes are intended for regular yogis, instructor Candace Moore does offer modifications for beginners.

Most suited for: Practitioners who prefer simple and slower sequences

If you dread searching through websites and rummaging through YouTube for tutorials, then YOME (short for Your Home For Yoga) is your time saver. The site contains a library full of videos categorised by practice level, style, and even customised classes (for people with knee pain, PMS, asthma, constipation, and more).

Most suited for: Those who want to explore different routines everyday

Known for her practice in traditional Ashtanga yoga, Kino MacGregor has over 15 years of experience and has traveled to Mysore, India numerous times to further her understanding. Her approach is unique in the sense that she creates a space dedicated to the integration of yoga, holistic health, and consciousness to help her students expand and deepen their understanding of yoga and life.

Most suited for: Yogis who want to explore more than just the physical benefits of yoga

With all these yoga information at your fingertips, we recommend saving this post for later and slowly explore all the amazing outlets listed above. Yoga practice is portable and it doesn’t belong to a specific yoga studio, teacher or style. Just make your practice your own and it’ll begin to flourish.

Sources: NY Mag, Ashtanga Yoga, Yogi Approved, Daily Downward Dog.

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2021 Academy Awards: East Asian Talents Win Big On Hollywood’s Massive Night

It’s the glitz. It’s the glam. It’s the Academy Awards fam.

The night we’ve all been waiting for, the crowning glory of the awards season, was executed in style as the celebration of yesteryear’s films reached its summit. Having been postponed for two months due to the pandemic, the Oscars finally took place with Covid guidelines in place. Once filled to the brim with members of the industry, the red in the hall seemed a little muted, as social distancing made for a more relaxed party.

“Nomadland” was ostensibly the biggest winner of the night, taking home three golden statuettes including the coveted Best Picture. “Mank”, “Judas and The Black Messiah”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, “Soul”, “Sound of Metal” and “The Father” didn’t do so shabbily either as they all pulled away with two awards each across the various categories.

“Nomadland” director, Chloé Zhao, made history as she became the first woman of colour to prevail in her respective category. The 39-year-old helmer was clearly elated, as she is also recognised as the second woman to win Best Director after Katheryn Bigelow won for “The Hurt Locker” in 2009. Speaking backstage, Zhao had nothing but gratitude for her Oscar as she followed up with a cheeky request for Bigelow’s email so she could get in contact with her predecessor.

It was a big night for South Korea as well as “Minari” actress Yuh-Jung Youn (윤여정) bagged the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Youn is now the first and only Korean performer to have won an Academy Award in acting. With Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” being the top dog last year, it seems like we have not seen the last of an elite Korean invasion in the tinsels of this town.

In a surprise upset, the last prize of the night went to Sir Anthony Hopkins for his role in “The Father”, who bested the late Chadwick Boseman, a clear favourite to receive the prize for his performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. This was Hopkins’ second Best Actor Oscar, with his first being 1990’s “The Silence of The Lambs”. At 83 years of age, Hopkins is the oldest performer ever to win in the acting category.

In another segment, actor Tyler Perry was granted an honorary Oscar for his efforts in the industry. In his moving acceptance speech, the “Madea” actor addressed the concerns of fuelling hatred within society.

A post shared by Tyler Perry (@tylerperry)

“My mother taught me to refuse hate. She taught me to refuse blanket judgment. And in this time, and with all of the internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour news cycle, it is my hope that all of us will teach our kids … just refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody.

However, not all of the night was meant to go down in glamorous fashion. Indeed, the most WTF moment of the night sprang from “Judas and The Black Messiah’s” Daniel Kaluuya right in the midst of his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor. In the barrage of gratitude, the uttering of a suggestive line sent the audience into painful groans as his sister buried her head into her hands and his mother was seen visibly perplexed.

“Tonight, we’re gonna celebrate life man. We’re breathin’, we’re walkin’. It’s incredible. It’s INCREDIBLE. Like, it’s incredible… My mom. My dad. They had sex! It’s amazin’. Like you know, I’m HERE!”

Kaluuya later went backstage to explain that it all felt natural to him while he was accepting the award, stating that it was obvious that his parents had to mate in order to conceive him. Nevertheless, he did wince at his decision when the idea of his mom texting him after the show was brought to light. Certainly, a wild moment that will live on in infamy. It’s time for you to “get out” of there, Mr Kaluuya. Get out, before its’ too late!

Of course, we couldn’t leave you hanging here without the full list of winners. So, here are the glorious victors of the 93rd Academy Awards (marked with an *):

There we have it! The awards season of 2021 have finally bowed out but that’s not to say the party is over. If there’s one thing that the pandemic has revealed is that art, cinema, in particular, refuses to be halted. Despite schedule shuffles and delayed productions, we’ve got a whole barrow of reels just waiting for us to watch them this year. Certainly, we’ll have the best martinis to taste in Tinseltown for the rest of the year. Til’ next time.


Canon Welcomes New “Baby DSLR”, The EOS M

Just this week, Canon, a world leader in digital imaging announced their first digital single lens non-reflex camera, “EOS M”.

The all new EOS M introduces a revolutionary interchangeable lens camera in compact form factor. Yes, this means that the Canon EOS M model offers flexibility of an interchangeable-lens system while maintaining its “mini in size” without compromising quality. Hence, it is said to be the Canon’s biggest breakthrough yet – to be able to contain an EOS System in a compact, slim and lightweight body.

This means that the EOS M is by far the most accessible EOS camera providing the same level of photographic brilliance of a DLSR. It still bears all the hallmarks of the EOS heritage of ergonomic design and technological excellence. The EOS M is also constructed with the same high-tech components found in EOS DSLRs.

Oh, also, for the more experimental photographers, the EOS M can apply a series of fun “Creative Filters” such as Grainy/Black & White, Soft Focus, Toy Camera, Miniature, Art Bold, Water Painting, and Fish-eye filters.

Best of all, just as the EOS M is capable of taking great photos, it can also shoot amazing professional Full HD videos. We’re talking, shooting a video at a high ISO of 6400. Super sharp details in every frame? From this little thing? Believe it.

Goodness! We want a piece of that. Or rather, all of that!

The EOS M and its pricing information will be available from October 2012 onwards. It’s priced at a RRP of £769.99 according to UK’s PC Advisor, if that’s anything to go by. Just saying!

Meanwhile, stay tuned to Canon’s official website for more information.

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After The Ellen Show, Malaysian Star Henry Golding Appears On The View

After becoming the becoming the 1st Malaysian to appear on “The Ellen Show”, travel host-turned actor Henry Golding has been invited to another famous talk show, “The View”.

Similarly, Golding also became the 1st Malaysian to appear on the Emmy-winning daytime talk show where he talked about his debut movie “Crazy Rich Asians” where he plays the male lead Nick Young, a Singaporean man living in New York.

A post shared by Henry Golding (@henrygolding)

The 31-year-old actor who is of Malaysian Iban and English ancestry was interviewed by the hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Paula Faris, Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin.

In the show, Golding discussed about issues on his racial identity which many – especially fans of “Crazy Rich Asians” book – deemed that he is not Asian enough for the role.

British-Malaysian actor @henrygolding says the controversy over his casting in #CrazyRichAsians is "a conversation that should be seen" because it shows "we want our films to tell authentic stories now." pic.twitter.com/X37pTaECOz

“There were sort of outcries of whitewashing, but, you know, I don’t have hate for that,” Golding told The View. “I think it’s definitely a conversation that should be seen because it kind of just shows the studios that we’re watching [that] we’re very aware of how we want our films to tell authentic stories.”

“The one thing that I learned very young was to own my identity. And, I knew, I’m Asian through and through. There’s nothing I needed to prove. So when that came up, I wasn’t heartbroken or just sort of shield away from it. I think the best way to fight that sort of stuff is opening a dialogue. And that’s what we did,” Golding continued.

Also starring Contance Wu and Michelle Yeoh, “Crazy Rich Asians” is a romantic comedy movie adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s novel of the same name.

The movie is directed by Jon M.Chu and will be released in Malaysian cinemas on 22nd August 2018.

After “Crazy Rich Asians”, Henry Golding will be seen in Paul Feig’s “A Simple Favour” where he stars alongside Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.


MOA Celebrates Malaysia’s First Ever ‘OLY Day’

The Malaysia Olympians Association (MOA) has successfully organised the ‘OLY DAY 2022’ on the 20th of May at LOOP KL. The MOA is an affiliate of the World Olympians Association (WOA) and is recognised by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

It is essentially a non-profit sports promotion and development group based in Malaysia with members who have competed in Olympic Games and are hence known as Olympians. The MOA strives to bring together all previous and present Malaysian Olympians to provide platforms that will help the country achieve sporting glory.

“OLY Day is a new concept designed to engage with existing and new Olympians, it is to harness the Olympic moment and unite Olympians at National level”, quoted from WOA President, Joel Bouzou OLY.

OLY Day commemorates Olympians, connects them to the National Olympians Association (NOA) and Olympian community, and encourages young people to participate in sports and live the Olympic Values.

A post shared by Malaysia Olympians Association (@my_olympians)

At the event, the MOA emphasised the importance of the Safe Sport Act. All sports should be played in a safe, healthy, and secure setting, according to the MOA. This is particularly important to MOA and the athletes who are always competing on the battlefield and fighting for the honour of our country.

The MOA president, Noraseela Mohd Khalid OLY mentioned, “The Safe Sport Act was presented in the Dewan Rakyat recently by the Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, should be a priority to get approval and passed by the parliament. Sport is for all. Not only it plays a huge role in uniting people but also leads them to a healthier and meaningful lifestyle.” The MOA promotes goodwill, understanding, and friendship among people by assisting, encouraging, and inspiring the country’s youth to develop and strive for success while adhering to the Olympic values and ethics.

The centrepiece of the occasion was the awarding of OLY pins and certificates to new and returning Malaysian Olympians. The pins and certificates are more than just awards. They are a public acknowledgement of the Olympians’ years of hard work, devotion, and support of the Olympic principles.

The event successfully concluded with the attendance of the current and senior athletes. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Jegathesan Manikavasagam, Dato’ Razif Sidek, Datuk Leong Mun Yee OLY, Cheah Soon Kit, Ong Ewe Hock and many other athletes are a few of the athletes who attended. Check out all the former and present Olympians after receiving their certificate and OLY pin below:

A post shared by Brian Lee Actor & LikeMedia 🧧 (@brianlkl)

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Latino Boyband CNCO Coming To Kuala Lumpur For Tour?

CNCO (pronounced seen-co) has been burning up the music charts with their irresistible Latin flavour.

Recently, Sony Music Malaysia teased a shadowed picture of the band. Malaysian CNCOwners (what their fandom calls itself) instantly recognised the image as the cover for “Se Vuelve Loca”.

A post shared by Sony Music Malaysia (@sonymusicmy)

The boyband consist of members Christopher Velez (from Ecuador), Richard Camacho (Dominican Republic), Zabdiel de Jesus (Puerto Rico), Joel Pimentel (Mexico), and Erick Brian Colon (Cuba). They won a 5-year contract with Sony Music Latin after coming out on top as the winners of Univision’s “La Banda”.

Since establishing themselves as the best new artist to watch, CNCO has gain a wider fan base after featuring Little Mix on their hit single, “Reggaetón Lento (Remix)”. It peaked at No.5 on the UK charts. Needless to say, CNCO also has a large following in Malaysia. Are y’all excited to see them in person?

The exact date of CNCO’s visit to Kuala Lumpur hasn’t been revealed yet. So stay tuned to this page for more updates.


Anne-Marie To Perform In Kuala Lumpur This July?

Is pop breakthrough artist Anne-Marie coming to Malaysia for a showcase?

Yesterday (Tuesday, 16th April), Warner Music Malaysia dropped a blurred image of Anne-Marie’s “Speak Your Mind” album cover. “Set your alarms“, the label teased.

A post shared by Warner Music MY International (@warnermusicmalaysia)

We’re not quite sure whether the 28-year-old pop star will be here for a concert or showcase, or maybe something else. However, Warner Music did reveal that fans can expect Anne-Marie to be in town in July.

In case you don’t know, the “Friends” singer recently brought her “Speak Your Mind” tour to Singapore and Hong Kong last week where she performed at Capitol Theatre and Macpherson Stadium respectively.

Warner Music has finally shed light on the pop star’s upcoming show in Malaysia.

Stay tuned to this space for further updates.


Is CJ ENM Planning To Re-launch IZ*ONE? Here’s What We Know

Rejoice WIZ*ONEs, IZ*ONE might be getting back together real soon! For those in the dark, it has been confirmed earlier on 18th June that most of the members’ individual agencies have expressed their agreement to re-launch the group!

Reports began circulating soon after, suggesting that the entertainment companies representing the 12 members of the group are currently discussing with CJ ENM Entertainment in regards to the possibilities for their impending comeback. The latter company later confirmed all the rumours.

In light of the recent news about IZ*ONE’s future group activities, industry insiders have looked further into the details surrounding the girl group’s potential project return to activities. Earlier today, Star News reported that CJ ENM has been in discussions with various companies since May.

In addition, the South Korean news outlet also came up with a full report containing information on CJ ENM’s proposal for IZ*ONE’s full-group return. Among the company’s plan for the “Produce 48” winning group include to hold concerts in both South Korea and Japan, as well as to release two digital singles.

The media portal pointed out, however, that based on the content of the proposal, CJ ENM might not be aiming to make IZ*ONE as a permanent group. But rather, they are planning to sort out temporary group activities for them until the plans for the 12 members at their respective home labels are finalised.

One rep of an agency signed with an IZ*ONE member told Star News, “It’s true that CJ ENM came up with the offer earlier in May, but that’s exactly what it is; just an offer. Nothing has been worked out still,” indicating signs of potential disputes between the different agencies of the members.

The same portal also claimed that despite CJ ENM’s supposed plan to keep their extended promotion offer from clashing with each agency’s own plans, IZ*ONE’s return to promotions as a full 12-member group is “highly unlikely”. In this case, Star News stated that many of the “Panorama” singers’ respective agencies have very different plans in the works.

A post shared by IZ*ONE 아이즈원 (@official_izone)

Still, it’s safe to say that nothing has been set in stone so far. It seems like fans have to keep their eyes peeled on the updates regarding IZ*ONE’s return to the K-pop scene.

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#DentsuUtama: Agency Rejects Plagiarism Accusations, Returns All Kancil Awards, Quits 4As

After being accused of plagiarising a 21-year-old European design student’s work for a WWF ad campaign titled “Cross River Gorilla” which went on to win a Silver Award for “Outdoor Advertising” at Malaysia’s Kancil Awards, it opened up a can of worms for local advertising agency Dentsu Utama.

The news quickly led to an investigation by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As), which resulted in the disqualification of a number of Kancil Awards won by Dentsu Utama.

Hey, @dentsuaegis @WWF I think you may have blatantly copied my design in your award winning poster. pic.twitter.com/2XUTF65CkW

— Tom Anders Watkins (@TomAnders_) December 29, 2015

Marketing Magazine quoted Creative Council Chairman and CEO of Leo Burnett Tan Kien Eng as saying, “This action is being taken to remedy a contentious situation while upholding the principles of eligibility for the Kancil Awards.”

According to him, all awards won in relation to the creative work – an anti-poaching WWF (Indonesia) campaign titled, “Cross River Gorilla” and a Web Privacy Watch internet privacy awareness campaign titled “Professional Man” – will be disqualified given the sufficiently close similarities. On top of that, the original creators also shown proof that their works were posted much earlier than Dentsu Utama’s entry submissions.

Note: “Professional Man” appeared to contain “almost identical images” to an optical illusion piece titled “The Architect” by Swedish artist Erik Johansson.

“The decision to disqualify the awards for both creative works was taken after we had explored all possible scenarios. In the end, the facts were overwhelmingly in favour of the original creators,” Kien added.

But Dentsu Utama wasn’t going to take this sitting down, no siree! The agency decided to not only return the recent awards, but all 71 Kancil awards that it has ever won – including “Agency of the Year”. On top of that, Dentsu Utama and its representatives have also resigned from the 4As with immediate effect.

The agency’s official response to Marketing Magazine reads:

“On 29 December, Dentsu Utama was accused of plagiarism, a claim it strongly disputes. Responding to these accusations, Dentsu Utama began an internal investigation into this allegation, supported by independent legal advice.

The conclusion was that such accusations are unfounded.

Throughout this period, Dentsu Utama has been openly cooperating with the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents (4As) on this issue. Dentsu Utama, without being given the opportunity to defend itself, has now been informed that eight of the Kancil awards related to the WWF Anti-Poaching Cross River Gorilla and the Web Privacy Watch – Professional Man campaigns won in December 2015 will be revoked.

A decision which we believe is unsupported.

As a result, Dentsu Utama and its representatives will resign from the 4As with immediate effect. Dentsu Utama is also returning all 71 Kancil awards including Agency of the Year (AOTY).

Dentsu Utama will continue its dialogue with the individual artists on this issue and continue to support its opinion that the allegations are unfounded.

No further statements will be made at this moment in time.”

Upon hearing the news, Organising Chairman of Kancil Awards 2015 and Group CEO of FCB Kuala Lumpur T. Renganathan told Marketing Magazine, “It is regrettable but I can understand their position.”

The recent annual awards event was the 20th anniversary of the Kancil Awards. The slew of awards won by Dentsu Utama helped the agency cinch the “Agency of the Year” title at the Kancil Awards 2015.

Sources: Dentsu Utama’s Facebook page, Marketing Magazine (1), Marketing Magazine (2), Kancil Awards’ website, Mumbrella.

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Hype’s Review: Insidious: Chapter 2

Smiling mannequins, black-dressed brides and a creep singing about tiptoeing through tulips sure caused a lot of people sleepless nights after watching Insidious. Released just in time for Halloween, Insidious: Chapter 2 starts with the cold, dark and eery feeling the first one left off with.

Revolving around the mystery left by the first movie, Insidious: Chapter 2 shows that the Lambert family are still being haunted and that body of Josh Lambert is possessed. After the incidents that took place in their house, The Lambert family moves to stay with Josh’s mom but it’s not long before they realise that they are still being haunted. The movie sees a shocking and slightly unexpected twist to the plot, the tone of Insidious: Chapter 2 was slightly cheesy but still as sensational.

Lose ends left behind from the first movie are tied up as the backstory and history behind the characters are explained in this movie. The coinciding plot made the movie feel like a horror thriller as it keeps you at the edge of you seat with its darkness and out of the blue pop up scare moments. A fast-paced ride through a world that was a left a mystery with the ending of the first movie, Insidious: Chapter 2 is a straight-horror movie that is extremely satisfying.


New Covid-19 Cases In Petaling Jaya, Kepong & Jalan Sultan Ismail

Covid-19 cases in KL and Selangor are popping up day by day and today (12th October) is no different.

3 Damansara (formerly known as Tropicana City Mall), Fadason Business Centre, and MBSB Bank by Jalan Sultan Ismail has all recorded a Covid-19 case each.

The mall in Petaling Jaya released a statement that one of its security personnel from the mall’s fire command centre tested positive for the virus. Despite the staff not reporting for duty since 9th October, the mall immediately took action by performing deep cleansing and thorough sanitisation after receiving the news.

The statement also said, “We will conduct another round of deep cleaning and thorough sanitisation of the public areas within the mall and office tower after closing hours tonight.” Employees that had contact with the staff have tested negative but will remain in self-quarantine for 14 days as a precaution.

In Kepong, a resident of Fadason Business Centre has also tested positive for Covid-19. The news unearthed after, DAP Kepong Action Team Facebook page, posted a notice from the management of Fadason Business Centre informing one of their block B residents had tested positive for the coronavirus.

“The management has carried out a thorough cleaning at the common areas and arranging for the thorough disinfection/sanitising particularly on the possible affected area,” stated in the notice. Further adding, “In the event you experience any symptoms, please seek medical attention at the nearest hospital immediately.”

Elsewhere, MBSB Bank Sdn Bhd based at Kenanga International, Jalan Sultan Ismail has confirmed that one of its non-customer facing staff had tested positive for the virus. The staff is currently being treated after contracting the virus from a family member.

According to The Edge Markets, MBSB said in a statement, “All MBSB Bank employees at Kenanga International have been asked to revert to working from home.” It also said, “MBSB Bank is taking extra precautionary measures, and will be closing its occupied floors and its branch at Kenanga International to facilitate a thorough sanitisation on 12th October, 2020 (today).”

There is a total number of 561 new Covid-19 cases reported in Malaysia yesterday (11th October), followed by two fatalities which brings the death toll to 157.


#Tablo: Rapper Drops Hints On Solo Album Release & Epik High’s Comeback

Apparently, Tablo could be working on a solo comeback.

Tablo (real name Daniel Armand Lee Seon-woong), who is also leader and rapper for Korean hip hop group Epik High, last released a 2-part solo EP back in 2011 titled, “Fever’s End”.

It was at a time when Epik High went on hiatus after fellow member DJ Tukutz enlisted in his mandatory military service. As such, both Tablo and Mithra Jin took time off to focus on their solo projects.

As soon as DJ Tukutz returned, Epik High made a comeback in 2012 after a 3-year hiatus, with the release of their “99” album.

Then, in 2014, they released “Shoebox“, an amazingly successful album which included their chart-topping hits “Happen Ending” and “Born Hater” as well as Tablo’s collaboration with BIGBANG‘s Taeyang, “Eyes, Nose, Lips“.

And that was probably the last time we heard anything solid from Epik High or Tablo.

Tablo has since gone on the down low as he has started managing his own independent hip hop label, HIGHGRND. One of the first few artistes that he has taken under his wing is none other than YG Entertainment’s adorable “maknae”, Lee Hi, who is said to be working on her comeback album.

But he hasn’t forgotten all about his own solo projects or Epik High’s ;)

The artiste hinted that he’s working on releasing more music this year as well as next year. On 25th August, he announced on his Twitter account:

Which sparked speculations that there could be an Epik High comeback in the near future.

Moreover, when a fan asked if he had plans on releasing a solo album, Tablo replied:

Alright, Tablo. You got our attention. We want more details ASAP please :)

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MAE: Get To Know Maybank’s New Digital E-Wallet Account

Looking for next level simplicity? As Maybank suggests, “It’s gotta be MAE”.

MAE, which is short for Maybank Anytime Everyone, is Maybank’s brand new e-wallet with additional banking features for better convenience. It’s a virtual account separate from the primary Maybank account.

Fret not if you’re don’t own a Maybank account, you can still take advantage of the features on MAE. All you need to do is top up your e-wallet from any bank account. You will also need to enter the following details: full name, IC number and other information.

Through the “Money In” and “Money Out” functions, MAE allows you to request money and the convenience of the “split bill” function with the former. The latter can be used for daily expenditures such s mobile top-ups, buying movie tickets and flight tickets, paying via QR Pay as well as other contactless payments.