“We’re A Rock Band Minus The Instruments”

It’s going to be a “FORK”-in good ol’ rockin’ time at PJ Live Arts for the last half of October 2012. Sorry, we didn’t mean to be rude. But they really are called, “FORK“, a Scandinavian a capella powerhouse brought in especially by Gardner & Wife Theatre.

The band is made out of singers/actors Mia, Anna, Jonte, and Kasper, and they’re all set to entertain with contemporary covers and clever vocal arrangements. And get this – without the help of any pre-recording or instruments. But of course, we did say they are a capella after all:

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Lucky us, we got to meet the band just as they arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week. Yay! Lets’ revisit that cozy meet up and find out what they’re all about:

Hi, all! Good to see you in Malaysia. We hope the journey here has treated you well. So, tell us – how did “FORK” meet?

Mia: “We met in the beginning of the 90s. In 1991, I think. The three of us were working on this teenage TV show on national TV back in Finland. We were only teenagers back then too! We became friends and then we wanted to start a group of something that makes music – we ended up with singing. And then at some point, Jonte came along into the group.”

Did you guys have any vocal training prior to this?

Jonte: “Everybody here has just been singing their whole lives. We have been singing all our lives. As in, we were all doing music in various forms. Me and Mia, we’re actors by profession so..yeah.”

So, singing has always been in your family or rather, in your blood? You guys are natural born talents or something!

Jonte: “When we started, we weren’t the best singers. We maybe didn’t sing very much in tune all the time or possess very good vocal control. But we’ve been doing this professionally for the last nine years so we learnt how to better our singing and have more vocal control.”

Growing up, who were your musical inspirations and why?

Kasper: “As a band, we don’t have any musical inspirations. We all have different musical tastes individually and as our repertoire is built based on our different musical tastes.”

Mia: “My first big musical inspiration, like the first ever, has to be Pink Floyd.”

Anna: “I’ve had so many! In my childhood home, there was always music. Constant music playing. I grew up in a very inspirational environment.”

Jonte: “I’ve had many, many, many big influences. My first big inspirations were, I think, Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. It went on from there to ABBA, to Iron Maiden, I mean.. I’ve had the rock phase, the punk phase, the pop phase, the rap phase, everything  – I really listen to all kinds of music”

Kasper: “My big musical inspirations were Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.”

What was your most memorable show and why?

Jonte: “Gosh. We’ve had many, many memorable shows. It’s hard to define memorable when we’ve been performing together for so long. We’ve performed for European royalties, Presidents, and also a Sheikh. We’ve even performed in small bedrooms and at each other’s weddings. Our biggest show when we performed in front of 30,000 at a square in Helsinki. Just a few weeks ago, we were in Germany on national TV and we did a live concert.”

Anna: “And once up in the air! In an airplane above Mongolia while we were on the way to Chongqing.”

Kasper: “That’s why when we say memorable, we would probably think about or remember the worst ones..”

If you weren’t in FORK, what would you most likely be doing?

Mia: “For me I think..I would probably be acting. Or directing a play.”

Jonte: “I would probably be acting too or working with theatre. And probably be doing a bit a music on the sidelines!”

Kasper: “Can I choose? I would be Donald Trump! No, wait, I would be a scientist!”

Mia: “Oh! If Kasper can choose then..I’d be a President!”

Jonte: “I’d just be rich. And if people asked what’s my profession, I’d just say I’m rich.”

Haha! We’ll see you on the Forbes Top Richest list someday then! Alright, here’s a tricky one – what are the top things or rather, must haves that you’d pack when you travel?

Mia & Anna: “Shoes! Right now we have about eight pairs. And we’ll have more when we leave.”

Mia: “Or a book. I mean, I really love my colleagues a lot and we spend a lot of time together but there are times when it’s just nice to be alone with a book. No offence!”

Jonte: “Headphones. And my electric toothbrush.”

Jonte: “Shut up. You pack eight pairs of shoes!”

Mia: “A woman needs to look good all the time!”

Mia: “We also pack Greg. He’s our fifth member – we can’t travel without him!”

Jonte: “I always travel with woolen socks. Thick woolen socks.”

Mia: “Oh yes! We’re used to being in a country that’s cold outside but warm inside. But here, it’s the other way round. It’s so warm outside but the moment you walk into buildings or rooms it’s like, bbrr!”

What’s your greatest music guilty pleasure? Or music you’re probably embarrassed to say that you’ve been listening to or purchased recently?

Jonte: “The last music that I’m embarrassed to say that I purchased off iTunes is Psy. The Gangnam Style! You can’t not like it although it’s a bit stupid and dumb. It’s very well produced music. I also bought Muse’s new album so that gives me a little bit more credibility!”

Kasper: “I purchased David Guetta’s album and I really felt ashamed when I bought it. It took me a week of listening before I could say that the album was absolutely fantastic! And actually, I can still stand up and say that it’s a very good record. But..I’m embarrassed about it.”

What can Malaysians expect from your show?

Mia: “Malaysians can expect an experience that they’ve never had before because I think, as FORK, we combine visuals, music, and humour. And I think that..that makes people smile. Everyone will have a good night and if we succeed, the audience will walk out with smiles on their faces!”

Oh yeah! Can’t wait to catch FORK in action soon. It’s not something we’d want to miss, that’s FORK sure. Also, special thanks to Gardner & Wife Theatre for making this exclusive interview happen. Yay!

For more information, visit the Gardner & Wife Theatre’s website or hit up FORK’s Facebook page.

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Twitter: Pick A Side, Any Side, For #WorldCup

This 2014 FIFA World Cup, Twitter offers you and other fans around the world a front row seat to all 64 matches. Whether you’re on Twitter for iPhone, Twitter for Android or twitter.com, you can easily follow all the matches, players, coaches and more. How? Here’s how!

If you’re already on Twitter, you can support your team and take advantage of the new World Cup features.

You’ll notice that there’s a new right sidebar on your landing page. What it does is display the upcoming matches in your local time. We know, right? How easy peasy did that turn out to be!

You can also “Choose your side”, where you start by selecting the country you’re supporting.

Twitter will then allow you to choose from a number of profile and header photos that represent your country. There’s also the TwitterSports account that globally tracks and shares sports-related tweets from players, fans, and experts, created lists for countries participating in the tournament so you can follow a whole team easily. Subscribe to your favourite ones or pick and choose players from different lists.

And that’s not all! We’ve also found a list of hashtags and players to ensure that you don’t miss any of the World Cup action. As follows:

Most-followed World Cup teams on Twitter (as of early June):

Most-followed World Cup players on Twitter (as of early June):

Additionally, Twitter has also brought back the option of hashflags, a feature introduced in 2010, that produces an image of a country’s flag after users type in a hashtag with a country code.

It works, guys. Even Shakira has tried it:

Twitter’s just unlocked its new World Cup feature – from today country codes become hashflags! Shak #COL #ESP #BRA #FRA #GER #daretodream

Pretty amazing stuff, no? We don’t know about you but it’s just the thing we needed to keep up with the World Cup news. We’ll leave you now with this Twitter video:

Just a few more hours, to the greatest show on Earth, peeps!

Don’t forget to check out our simplified guide to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, educate yourselves with some of the strangest football rituals in the world and have some laughs over this post.


Vice Admiral Holdo Going Kamikaze in The Last Jedi Isn’t A Plot Hole Says Rian Johnson

ONE of the many complaints (and boy are there many) about “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” concerns Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) going full Kamikaze on the First Order.

This scene happens just before the 3rd act at planet Crait, in which Holdo turns The Resistance Cruiser around, sets it to hyperdrive and flies straight into Snoke’s ship at light speed. What follows is one of, if not the most beautifully shot and rendered sequences in all of Star Wars.

While most people love the scene, there are some who claim that it’s a major plothole, questioning why zooming at lightspeed into an enemy ship hasn’t been done before, both by the good guys and the bad.

In an interview with “Slash Film” director of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Rian Johnson had this to say:

I think there’s various ways you can go with it. But it’s not like it was the plan to do this. It’s a spur of the moment thing. It’s this idea that she gets and she sits down and f**king does, and it obviously takes everybody completely by surprise. It takes Hux by surprise. The fact that Hux doesn’t see it coming means it’s probably not a standard military maneuver. I think it was something that Holdo pulled out of her butt in the moment.

The Star Wars canon is one of the more interesting aspects of this franchise, as everything that’s part of the official canon — novels, comics, TV Series, etc — is (supposed to be) taken into account in the overall continuity. While it’s important that story beats do not contradict the established canon, fans need to remember that just because something isn’t part of the canon YET, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be canon now.

Was it previously established in canon that hyper-driving into another vehicle defies the laws of Star Wars physics? No? So, calm your tits people.

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BBM To Be Made Available For Androids & iPhones

BlackBErry CEO Thorsten Heins has announced that BBM would be a multi-platform messaging service.

The BBM messaging service will land on the iPhone and Android this summer with the messaging and groups features. BBM voice, screen sharing, video, and channels will be rolled out later. The messaging service that’s been the center of the BlackBerry universe for so many years will be available on iPhone 6 and later and Android Ice Cream Sandwich and later.

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The move comes at a time when cross-platform messaging service and app WhatsApp has been landing in the top 20 lists of free apps available for Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry. It’s also a shot across the bow of Apple’s iMessages – the service has been fraught with connection issues since its launch in October 2011.

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins told the assembled audience at BlackBerry Live in Florida, “It’s time, to bring BBM to a greater audience”.

Hold on to your BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry fans!


Get To Know The A-List Suspects In “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”

Benoit Blanc is back! And this time, he’s heading to a private Greek island to solve yet another intriguing case. An outlier amongst a wealthy tech bro’s eccentric set of friends, each hiding their secrets, lies, and motivations, Blanc races against time to peel back the the layers in Rian Johnson’s latest whodunnit “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”, premiering 23rd December on Netflix.

Just like the first movie, the upcoming film puts forth a star-studded cast to pique your murder mystery interest! Here’s the cast of colourful suspects in this movie and where you’ve probably seen them before:

1. Daniel Craig, reprising his role as Benoit Blanc from “Knives Out”

Daniel Craig needs no introduction; his ruggedly handsome features and restrained gravitas made him an outstanding 007 — playboy spy, sign me up please! You might have also caught his outstanding performances in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and alongside Adam Driver and Channing Tatum in Logan Lucky.

Reprising his role as the talented and enigmatic detective Benoit Blanc, expect another twisted turn of events as he uncovers the mysteries on Miles Bron’s private Greek island!

2. Edward Norton as tech billionaire Miles Bron

Edward Norton plays tech billionaire Miles Bron, a confident and audacious man who is seemingly supportive of his longtime friends. Bron, a generous host, invites his inner circle to his private Greek island for their annual reunion, where conflict ensues and all hell breaks loose!

Where might you know Edward Norton from? His performances in “Fight Club” and “American History X” helped cement his reputation as an actor who is able to take on difficult and critical roles. Since then, he’s gone on to star in blockbuster films such as “The Incredible Hulk”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, and “Birdman”.

3. Janelle Monáe as Cassandra “Andi” Brand, Miles’ ex-business partner

Janelle Monáe is not only a Grammy-nominated musician, but has also starred in the films “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight”, the latter of which won an Oscar in 2017! She also played a contemporary woman abducted and enslaved in the brilliant “Get Out”-style social thriller, “Antebellum”.

In “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”, she plays Andi, Miles’s ex-business partner who has an innovative and brilliant mind. Andi and the gang go waaaaay back, as the then-unknowns used to hang out at the Glass Onion bar in New York City. Andi, who has an innovative and brilliant mind, also co-founded Alpha with Miles… until the relationship turned sour.

4. Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella, a politician

Kathryn Hahn is a familiar face and has gained prominence through her many supporting roles in a number of movies and TV shows. You may have seen her in “Parks and Recreation” and in “Bad Moms” alongside Mila Kunis and heard her as Dr. Olivia Octavius in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”.

In the upcoming film, the actress plays Claire Debella, the Governor of Connecticut who is currently pushing her campaign for Senate as a proponent of clean energy. However, her association and loyalty to Miles hints that there are lines that she’s not afraid to cross for her own gain.

5. Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint, the head scientist of Miles’ company

As head scientist for aerospace company Alpha Cosmos, Lionel Toussaint is both logical and self-preserving, which is a must when you’re working for a boss as eccentric and unpredictable as Miles Bron.

The dashing character is played by Leslie Odom Jr., who rose to prominence when he originated the role of Aaron Burr in the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton”, which he won a Tony Award for. He has also carved his space within the movie industry through his roles in “Murder on the Orient Express” and as the “King of Soul” Sam Cooke in the critically-acclaimed “One Night in Miami”.

6. Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay, a former supermodel-turned-fashion designer

Known for her bubbly on-screen presence, you’d probably recognise Kate Hudson from rom-coms “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “Bride Wars”, in addition to her breakout role in “Almost Famous”.

Kate Hudson stars as Birdie Jay, a once-iconic model who has reinvented herself as a leading fashion designer for an athleisure brand. A funny coincidence — the actress herself is a co-founder of fitness brand Fabletics IRL!

7. Jessica Henwick as Peg, Birdie’s long-suffering assistant

Wherever Birdie goes, Peg follows. Having been the former supermodel’s assistant for the longest time, Peg is the epitome of a jill-of-all-trades — she’s a minder, social media manager, adviser, and even a troubleshooter to curb Birdie’s most impulsive tendencies.

Peg is played by Jessica Henwick, whom you might recognise as Aimee, the main character’s girlfriend from “Love and Monsters”. She has also starred in “The Matrix Resurrections” alongside Keanu Reeves, and most recently, in Netflix’s “The Gray Man”.

8. Dave Bautista as Duke Cody, a Twitch streamer and men’s rights activist

Duke Cody is a musclebound YouTube influencer who peddles his wares with the help of his girlfriend and sidekick Whiskey.

Best known as Drax from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista has been busy making his name in Hollywood starring in a number of blockbuster films in the past years, including “Dune”, “Blade Runner 2049”, and Netflix’s “Army of the Dead”, just to name a few!

9. Madelyn Cline as Whiskey, Duke’s girlfriend and Twitch channel assistant

At first glance, Whiskey may seem like a gold digger and a social climber who’s just clinging to Duke for clout. But watch how Madelyn Cline portrays this character beyond the surface and owns the character. As the story unfolds, you’ll realise that Madelyn is more than meets the eye!

As the youngest member of the ensemble, the actress is best known for her breakout role as Sarah Cameron in teen drama “Outer Banks”. She’s also had minor roles in hit TV shows “Stranger Things” as Tina, one of the popular girls who hung around Steve Harrington in season 2.

Intrigued yet? Watch this stellar cast peel back the layers of a most mind-boggling mystery in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”, premiering on 23rd December 2022, only on Netflix!

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Shila Amzah Celebrates 28th Birthday With Husband & Fans In Beijing

Malaysian singer Shila Amzah celebrated her 28th birthday in an intimate party with her husband and fans in Beijing, China yesterday.

The singer flew to Beijing a week ago to attend an award ceremony and received 2 awards from the event.

Shila also recently held her 1st concert in Beijing titled “Pull the Distance” concert which took place on 11th August 2018 in Beijing Exhibition Hall Theater.

Shila’s loyal fans celebrated her birthday yesterday with a 3-tier fruit cake in a simple and intimate party together with her husband, Haris Idraki Elias.

According to Shila, this is Haris’ 1st visit in Beijing as well as his 1st time watching Shila performing live in a concert.

After Beijing, Shila will be coming back to Malaysia for her 2nd full-scale concert on 29th September 2018.


Foodgasm Fest 2019 Will Take Place In Subang Jaya This March

Great news, foodies! The annual Foodgasm Fest is back again this year with more food and a brand new theme!

Featuring more than 100 types of food from various local vendors and food trucks, the 2019 edition of Foodgasm Fest will introduce a ‘Market-Look’ Food Festival that caters different food direction – think wet market like fruits and vegetables as well as dry market such as floral and local art and craft.

The 2019 Foodgasm Fest will be more than just food, it will also feature neon lights and art installations, hot air balloons, live performances, fashion, and loads of fun activities such as giant bubbles, colouring sections and other interactive workshops for the little ones!

Set to take place on 2nd and 3rd March 2019 at Tropicana Metropark in Subang Jaya, guests are encouraged to bring along their picnic kit like umbrella, mat, shades, and baskets, as the festival is keeping their picnic tradition alive.

Also, Foodgasm Fest 2019 is going green this year so no plastic bags and straws allowed. This means, guests will also need to bring their own shopping bags and cutleries.

Admission to the event is FREE and if you register HERE, you’ll get a RM5 food voucher, and stand a chance to win a RM600 dining voucher at W Kuala Lumpur.

Details of Foodgasm Fest 2019 are as below:


Cinta Bae Kicap: Astro Under Fire For Showing Local Movie With Racial Slur

This week, Astro came under fire for showing a 2017 local film titled “Cinta Bae Kicap”. Many netizens weren’t happy that the word “Kicap” (translation: soy cause) is a racial slur against people of darker skin tone.

For those that don’t know, “Cinta Bae Kicap” centres on the storyline of a Malaysian girl Suhaila when she brings her African boyfriend home during Ramadan – much to the dismay of her mother, Mak Leha.

Based on the screenshot above, the 2-hour film is scheduled to air this Sunday (7th June) at 8am on Astro Warna. 2 days ago, Thiyagaraja Marimuthu (who has worked in Astro for 3 years) called the company out for being ignorant and insensitive to racial issues in light of the ongoing Black Lives Matter protest in the US.

Likewise, Twitter user Lynn (who works in Public Relations) also tweeted out her disapproval of Astro’s decision to air “Cinta Bae Kicap” especially when the world is so divided right now.

I truly believe that we have enough platforms for us to change mindset and educate Malaysians to be better, top up knowledge and be more inclusive.

But first, we gotta scrap stories such as Cinta Bae Kicap. We have talented filmmakers, script writers – give them the platform.

Time for some education (since some people macam not happy with my tweet but its okay, we all have a different opinion about it) but I share the same views as @IcedNyior https://t.co/iE38G6go7Y

3) 'Kekasih gelap' is generally used to mean scandal/secret lover so the context is weird.

4) As part of the show, they dance very badly to 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. Why this particular song for this particular race? https://t.co/BRqpA1POfK

Astro took notice of the negative feedback and replied that “Cinta Bae Kicap” is relevant now because “it carries a message that love transcends race, religion and colour. It tells the story of a mother who disapproves of her daughter’s relationship with a foreigner but later discovered the kindness of the man the daughter is in love with.”

“While the story want to showcase that message, I think it is also not as simple as that given the current landscape. Just need to be more mindful, create really good stories to inspire others. You guys have the platform. Use it well to drive positive change,” she wrote to Astro.

The actor in question – Kaiho Rikambura – took to Facebook to address the issue. While he agrees that the the title is rather racist, the heart of the story carries “a very good message and that (was) why I volunteered to be part of it“.

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Universal & Six Flags May Take Over Genting’s Outdoor Theme Park

After Disney-Fox pulled out from Genting’s highly anticipated outdoor theme park which was slated to be opened in 2019, Malaysians everywhere are devastated as their long awaited dream has been crushed.

But this may not be the end for the almost completed theme park. New rumours have suggested that 2 companies are considering on taking over the project which was left by 20th Century Fox.

According to insiders via themeparX forum – the platform for construction updates of theme parks worldwide, Universal and Six Flags are in talks of picking up the baton.

The insider who is a crew member of Skytropolis and The Void has confirmed that “plans for 20th Century Fox is entirely cancelled and is abandoned until another company picks it up.”

It is unsure if the rumours are legit, but it would make sense if Universal decide to take over the project considering that Universal Studios Singapore is owned and operated by Genting Group. Thus, it is very likely for Genting to score another deal with Universal.

A post shared by Resorts World Sentosa (@rwsentosa)

Meanwhile, for those of you who may not know, Six Flags is an amusement park company from United States and is the largest amusement park company in the world, based on the number of properties owned.

Back in 2015, there were rumours that Six Flags plan to break into Malaysian market and was seeking a partner to establish the brand here., The Edge Market reports.

The plan however fail to fall through for some reason, but it seems that with Fox World out of the picture, Genting may be interested to work with Six Flags and bring some of its wildest and fastest rides to Malaysia.

There is also an open letter from The Star, addressing to Nintendo director Shigeru Miyamoto, which proposed that Fox World should be replaced with Nintendo Land.

Many agreed with the letter and believed that it will be a great addition here as Genting is already host to Malaysia’s 1st Pokémon Festival.


#MYCyberSALE: Make Way For The Biggest Online Sale In Malaysia!

Alert, alert, Malaysians who love a good deal (or two), this is both great and bad news for those of you who love online shopping!

The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), via the Digital Malaysia announced #MYCyberSALE, the first Government-led online sale in the world. #MYCyberSALE will see the participation of 4,500 merchants featuring more than 225,000 online deals, offering up to 90% discounts from 19th September – 1st October 2014. Said to be the biggest online sale event in Malaysia, the sale will include a total of 250 e-Marketplaces including reputable local and foreign online retailers.

#MYCyberSALE is also promoted by its premium partners Astro Radio, CIMB, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), LINE, Pos Malaysia, and Telekom Malaysia (TM), and supported by PIKOM and the E-commerce Association of Malaysia.

The #MYCyberSALE campaign is an initiative to leverage Malaysia’s rising number of Internet users which currently stands at 19.8 million, representing 66% of the population as well as the increased adoption of smart devices amongst local consumers. Globally, e-commerce is growing much faster than sales at bricks-and-mortar stores as shoppers seek low prices, convenience, faster shipping and wider selection of products and services.

And in case you’re wondering if this is really legit or if it’s safe at all, the online sale is endorsed and governed by the Ministry and regulators such as the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (MDTCC) which oversees the overall e-commerce Act, regulation and buyer protection; the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which oversees regulations around communication and multimedia; SMECorp which governs the participation of Malaysian SMEs; and CyberSecurity Malaysia which oversees the e-commerce and cyberspace security, code of conduct and trust.

Oh, this is going to go down real bad for us. But we like the idea!

For all the great deals in #MYCyberSALE, hit up their website.

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(UPDATE) Siwon Does The #ALSIceBucketChallenge Amidst Screaming Fans

Just like how we were hit by the K-Wave, the #ALSIceBucketChallenge has officially hit South Korea.

Yesterday, South Korea’s most-followed person on Twitter (he has 4.17 million Twitter followers) did his part to raise awareness about ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The K-Pop idol, Siwon Choi (a member of K-Pop idol boy group Super Junior) shared a video where he dumped 2 vats of water on himself in public, soaking his blue button up and white slacks down to his skin. A crowd of screaming fans stood around him recording the challenge with their smartphones and cameras while screaming in support.

He posted his challenge on both his Twitter and Instagram accounts and named/tagged 2 other Super Junior members, Eunhyuk and Donghae. Will they do it? We’ll just have to wait and see!

#SuJu members Eunhyuk and Donghae have taken on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge – together! Watch:

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” was started in July by Pete Frates, 29, a former Boston College baseball player who has been battling ALS since 2011 and it has now become a worldwide craze. It’s actually part of a campaign to raise money in fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks the brain and the spinal cord.

The campaign requires an individual to dump a bucket of ice water on their head. After which, they’re allowed to challenge 3 more people to do the same. If someone refuses, the penalty is donating US$100 to the ALS Association. The stunt has raised millions for ALS so far!

One such person who has suffered from the disease for many years now is none other than the world’s most celebrated brilliant and celebrated physicist, Stephen Hawking.

Through this challenge, more and more people are becoming aware of the disease and social media sites like Facebook and YouTube has seen a huge uptick in uploads over the last week. Check out this one time when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckeberg took on the challenge and tagged..well, find out for yourselves ;)


BSB Says They’d Like To Advise Justin Bieber

Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough has dished out some words of advice for wayward teen idol Justin Bieber urging him to “keep his shirt on” every now and then – and try not to spit on his neighbour, as he has been accused of doing. 39-year-old Howie, who along with his four band-mates are celebrating twenty years in the music business this month, told the MailOnline he believes Justin may come to regret his actions later in life.

Might we add that this is all coming way too soon after Jon Bon Bovi openly called Justin Bieber an a**hole.

In recent months the ‘Boyfriend” singer’s life seems to have been spiraling out of control with the 19-year-old Canadian getting into several scrapes with paparazzi, being investigated by the police after allegedly “assaulting” his neighbour and being caught driving over 100 mph on a Los Angeles, California, freeway.

In light of Justin’s recent incidents, BSB’s Howie said if he met the pop star he would like to help him out:

I think we would try to give him advice. Whether he would take it or not is a completely different thing because everyone has to take their own path. I would probably try to tell him to take a couple of pictures with his shirt on so that in twenty years from now, he’s not going to be upset that had all those pictures without his shirt on.

Oh and don’t spit on your next door neighbour if you don’t have to.

There are certain things you would try to tell him but you know, I haven’t walked in his shoes so it’s very hard to give someone advice.

Some of the new groups that are out there, the Justin Biebers that are out there, you look at them and you feel for them when they make their mistakes. But at the end of the day we all have to make them. It’s very hard for any of us to go in there and tell somebody don’t do this, don’t do that. I think everyone has to go through these experiences, some of those experiences makes them the person they are going to be.

Howie, along with Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell went through their own share of controversy back in the day when they became the best selling boy band in history. AJ, 35, went into rehab twice in 2001 and 2002 battling drink and drug addiction.

And Nick Carter, 33, who joined the band when he was only 12 years old, had his own problems with drugs and weight gain. He turned his life around after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – a potentially fatal heart condition.

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Elianto Make Up To Introduce Durian-Flavoured Lipstick To Malaysians

You may have tasted durian coffee and durian condoms but have you gotten a taste of a durian-flavoured lipstick?

Elianto Make Up recently unveiled its “Elianto Musang King” lipstick on its Facebook page. The beauty product comes in a bright yellow colour, similar to the King of fruits.

According to the Malaysian cosmetics brand, the pesticide-free lipstick has a strong aroma of durian that provides a “sense of satisfaction similar to gobbling a mouthful of Musang King at one go”. Elianto even added that not only will “Elianto Musang King” lipstick make a perfect gift since Malaysians love durian but also because “this scientific marvel is … able to cure hangover and prevent alcoholic blackout”.

“I always had that urge to eat the king of fruit on seasonal basis but now, I can have it on every time and licking my lips with lipstick on can never taste this good,” reads one of the customer’s testimonial.

However, Elianto told The Star that the durian-flavoured lipstick isn’t available in stores yet. “We do have plans to manufacture it but we are only testing the market at this stage,” a rep was quoted as saying.

To all durian-lovers out there, would you try the “Elianto Musang King” lipstick when it goes on sale?


DC Shoes Launches The DC X Cyrcle Collaboration

DC shoes proudly introduces its DC X Cyrcle − a capsule collection collaboration with Los Angeles based art collective Cyrcle. The two innovative artists, Rabî and Davey unlocked their creativities by using bright, multi-coloured camouflage pattern tops with different fabrics in this collection. The collection features five panel caps, crew tee, chino pants and three pairs of shoes, namely Council Cyrcle, Player Cyrcle and Mid Cyrcle.

Putting their passion for skateboarding and unique artistic perspective together, the collection video designed to introduce the launch of their signature product capsule with DC shoes features both DC’s own Josh Kalis and Cyril Jackson.

DC x Cyrcle collection retails from RM129 to RM329 and is available across all DC Shoes boutiques and selected Stadium, Royal Sporting House and Studio R outlets in Malaysia.

More pictures from the collection can be seen below.


Hype’s Now Playing – J.Lo & Iggy Azalea Show Off Their #Booty In New MV

Nicki Minaj ain’t got nothing on J.Lo and Iggy!

Jennifer Lopez’s celebration of butts has arrived! Her “Booty” music video featuring a verse and bonus booty from rapper Iggy Azelea delivers exactly what the song promises.

Unlike Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda“, J.Lo’s “Booty” mostly features glamour shots of her and her assets. It also features Lopez getting some company from Azalea in the video’s steamiest scene proving that these two hotties are proud of their assets and that they sure aren’t afraid to embrace and appreciate another woman’s physique.

We must say, Minaj’s “Anaconda” sure don’t match up to this bootyfest.


Halloween 2012 With The Stars!

It’s Halloween! It’s one of the most celebrated events of the year! Well, at least in Hollywood and other parts of the United States, it is. We spied all over the web and spotted some of your favourite (or not-so-favourite) celebrities’ costumes this year. You gotta hand in to them for putting in so much effort though – costumes, wigs, and other random accessories, you name it, they’ve most certainly thought of it.

Aww. Isn’t Jessica Alba and family looking absolutely picture perfect in their Halloween getup this year? Adorable!

Trust Paris Hilton to come up with the perfect sexy outfit to depict “Alice in Wonderland”. And River as “Mad Hatter”? We can hardly recognize him like that!

Openly gay artiste Adam Lambert. As a vampire. Enough said.

Every year, the beautiful Heidi Klum‘s Halloween costume would top the previous one without fail. This year, she went as “Cleopatra”. Check out the head gear!

Kim Kardashian goes “under the sea” (sorta) this year in her costume. Pretty sure she wasn’t going as Ariel though.

Kim’s supermom, Kris Jenner, on the other hand, is all decked out in her “Wonder Woman” Halloween getup. Nice!

“Pretty Little Liars” star, Lucy Hale, is looking as cute as a button in her unicorn outfit. Happy Halloween to you too, Lucy!

So, which one was your favourite? Voting starts now!

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(UPDATE) #Shell: “Gadis Air Mineral” Feels Disturbed When Men “Molest” Her Posters

Popularly known as “Gadis Air Mineral”, 25-year-old Nor Shafila Khairusalleh’s image is currently featured at Shell petrol stations nationwide as an in-store advertisement.

Although her previous pop-up images, which show her holding a bottle of mineral water, have been removed, Shell continued to use her image for their new ad about its dynaflex technology – one of the company’s efforts to help keep engines clean and protected for efficient running.

In case you haven’t noticed, the new pop-up posters is slightly different from its predecessor. While the previous ads only showed her upper body, the new ones feature her full body.

Since Shafila’s recent re-appearance, many netizens took to social media to share photos of her new ad. However, some customers have taken things too far. In some of the photos, men are seen doing inappropriate acts (such as placing their hand on her chest area, kissing her, etc) to her posters.

According to a report by mStar Online, Shafila admitted that she tries not to feel bothered by these actions. She said, “If little things like covering the eyes, pinching the nose, or hug I can still accept since it’s just a poster…but if it is towards harassment or sexual, I feel that is too far.”

Petrol station supervisor continued, “They may just be joking, but I feel ashamed because that is still myself although it is just an image.”

Besides that, Shafila, who doesn’t plan to sue any of the “molesters”, added that her husband admitted he was distressed when he saw men “molest” his wife’s posters. “But if after this there are others who purposely take photos not to just merely get viral, maybe I will think of something,” she reportedly said.

Shell has stepped up to address the issue regarding the “harassment” of Shafila’s pop-up posters! In an e-mail statement, the company said that they are aware of the disrespectful photos and will remove the standee from all their sites immediately.

“We are aware that pictures of several individuals photographed engaging in distasteful and suggestive acts with a promotional standee at out retail stations are circulating online.

“We do not condone this disrespectful act, which is completely against the culture of Malaysians and Shell’s core values. We urge netizens and members of the public to refrain from sharing these images further.

“The standee will be removed from all our sites with immediate effect.”

What are your thoughts on the men who “molest” Shafila’s posters? Do you think it’s too much? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!

Sources: MMO, Carigold.com / Featured image: MMO, Carigold.com.


#MountKinabalu: More Seismic Stations To Be Installed In Sabah By Year End

15 more seismic stations will be installed in various parts of Sabah, with 5 stations planned to be built on Mount Kinabalu. The stations will be in place by the end of 2016 as part of a move to improve earthquake monitoring activities in the state.

Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Tangau explained that the stations will be located at the west coast (Kota Belud, Tamparuli, Kota Marudu), central area (Tenom district), and east coast (Lahad Datu, Beluran, Kinabatangan).

The seismic monitoring systems will be able to pick up movements on Mount Kinabalu and relay the data to the centre, either at the headquarters in Kota Kinabalu or any other location.

The main operations centre will also be upgraded as part of the improvements. Currently, 13 seismic stations are being monitored by the Meteorological Services Department.

The additional stations are needed as there is still a possibility of a major earthquake in Sabah, especially in Ranau and Lahad Datu, where a magnitude 6.2 earthquake was recorded in 1976. The earthquake was the largest one recorded in Malaysia, but it caused less extensive damages compared to the Sabah earthquake in 2015.

On further earthquakes in Mount Kinabalu, Universiti Malaysia Sabah geologist Dr Felix Tongkul said:

It is unlikely (…) because much of the energy within the FAULT LINES there were released in the magnitude 6.1 temblor a year ago.

Although it’s been a year since the Sabah earthquake, the effects of it continue to be felt by locals. Boulders, soil, and plants that were dislodged along the slopes during the earthquake washed into the rivers, causing water levels at Sungai Mesilou, Sungai Kedamaian, and Sungai Penataran to remain low.

It affects the villagers as the aforementioned rivers are key water sources for them. Mud floods at rivers along Mount Kinabalu’s foothills are also a regular occurrence nowadays.

A monument was also erected in Kundasang in memory of the 18 who perished. The monument was built of granite stones that came crushing down during the earthquake.

The 2015 Sabah earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale and damaged the iconic “Donkey Ears” peak of Mount Kinabalu. The epicentre was 16 km northwest of Ranau but tremors could be felt in Kundasang, Tambunan, Interior, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu, and Kota Belud.

Sources: The Star Online, The Sun Daily, Daily Express.

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Fun Facts: 10 Things You Might Not Know About The “Ghostbusters” Reboot

Ever since “Ghostbusters” – starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and the late Harold Ramis – hit the movie box office in 1984, the supernatural action/comedy franchise has gone on to pave the way for animated TV shows (“The Real Ghostbusters”, “Extreme Ghostbusters”) and video games (“Ghostbusters: The Video Game”).

For the longest time, the script for “Ghostbusters 3: Hellbent” was floating around, with plans to turn it into an animated film. But alas, it was not meant to be. Instead, co-writer/director Paul Feig and his team decided on a new story, new set of characters and an all-female team.

“Erin Gilbert (played by Kristen Wiig) and Abby Yates (played by Melissa McCarthy) are a pair of unheralded authors who write a book positing that ghosts are real. A few years later, Gilbert lands a prestigious teaching position at Columbia University, but her book resurfaces and she is laughed out of academia. When ghosts invade Manhattan, Gilbert reunites with Yates, teaming up with a nuclear engineer, Jillian Holtzmann (played by Kate McKinnon), and a subway worker, Patty Tolan (played by Leslie Jones) to save the world from a mysterious evil and powerful demon known as Rowan (played by Neil Casey) who can exercise control over human forms.”

Before the “Ghostbusters” reboot debuts in cinemas, here are some interesting fun facts about the movie franchise and its cast members:

When news about the female-led reboot was announced, many fans questioned the studio’s decision to forge ahead with a reboot instead of a sequel. As it turns out, the answer was pretty straight forward, Feig just wasn’t keen on the idea of the Ghostbusters passing the torch.

Here’s what the director had to say in regards to the controversy: “This is such an amazing franchise, with 2 amazing movies, but it could just keep going! There’s so many things you can do with it. It just seemed terrible to leave it in a box. And yet, at the same time, there’s something exciting about the idea of bringing it to a new generation, but this time… see an origin story of them. I know some people are like, ‘Why is it not a sequel instead of a reboot?’ I didn’t like the idea, personally, of them being handed technology – ‘Here’s how to do this.’ I want to see it develop!”

So instead of seeing Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Raymond Stantz, Dr. Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddmore handing their gear over to a new team, these 4 independent characters will have to figure out the ghostbusting business by themselves.

2. An all-female squad led by Melissa McCarthy

According to Collider, both Feig and screenwriter Katie Dippold wanted to make sure that the 4 main leads were scientists, “so that they could be funny people fighting the paranormal with science”.

The straight-laced physicist, Erin Gilbert, is played by Kristen Wiig. Melissa McCarthy’s Abby Yates is an expert in paranormal studies while Kate McKinnon is featured as the sassy and brilliant nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzman. On the other hand, Patty Tolan (portrayed by Leslie Jones), joins the team as their guide because of her familiarity with New York.

To quote Christina Radish, Wiig is the vulnerable one, McCarthy is the headstrong one, McKinnon is the weirdo, and Jones is the powerhouse, and it all mixed so well together.

3. Chris Hemsworth plays a funny dumb blonde

Who knew Hollywood’s hunkiest actor, Chris Hemsworth, had some funny acting chops up his sleeves? When Sony Pictures released a featurette centring on Hemsworth’s character, Kevin, we were immediately smitten by his adorably stupid character. As aforementioned, Kevin is basically the male version of Janine Melnitz (from the original “Ghostbusters”), an assistant to the band of ghostbusting young women that nobody wants to work with.

It wouldn’t be “Ghostbusters” without the beloved green ghost Slimer. For those who remember, the gluttonous green glob was actually the 1st ghost caught by the original team in the 1984 movie. Judging from Melissa McCarthy’s expression, Slimer is back and he’s just as disgusting as ever in the “Ghostbusters” reboot.

5. Are the original cast members returning?

All the #Ghostbusters under 1 roof TONIGHT on #Kimmel + @WaltFrazier @AntDavis23 #NBA #GenerationGap and @PostMalone pic.twitter.com/y6VPmRWV5Z

— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) June 9, 2016

Just because it’s a reboot, it doesn’t mean that fans won’t get to see any familiar faces. Several actors from the original film will be making cameos in the upcoming “Ghostbusters”. Dan Aykroyd was the 1st to admit that he filmed a cameo. Bill Murray soon hopped on the bandwagon, followed by Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts. Having said that, they won’t be reprising their roles from the original movie.

6. What does Bill Murray think of the new Ghostbusters?

During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, the comedy icon was asked about his decision to make a cameo in this new version and what he thought of Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy’s performances. (P/S: It was previously reported that Murray had shredded a copy of a “Ghostbusters 3” script, because he flat-out wanted no part in it.)

Here’s what he had to say: “I thought about it for a very long time. Like, many, many months. No, that’s not right. I was seriously thinking about this for years, really … It kept eating at me, and I really respect those girls. And then I started to feel like if I didn’t do this movie, maybe somebody would write a bad review or something, thinking there was some sort of disapproval (on my part).”

“When you see the film, and you’ll delight in the film, it sort of rumbles along in the beginning. You’re going, ‘Oh God, are they going to pull this thing off?’ I felt like a stepfather to the whole thing. There is no quit in these girls. This is a tough movie to pull off, because it’s a big concept. There’s a lot on the plate – there’s a lot of expectation,” he added.

7. Dedicated fan edits Ghostbusters video game into 3rd movie

Although “Ghostbusters 3” didn’t materialise, fans got a substitute in 2009’s “Ghostbusters: The Video Game”. Written by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd, the video game player joins as a new recruit to the team, where the 5-man squad are tasked to face dispersed ghosts all over New York City.

A dedicated fan of the franchise took it upon himself to edit and combine all the story cut scenes with relevant gameplay footage. The result? A 2-hour-and-22-minutes long movie titled “Ghostbusters III – The Video Game Movie”.

8. Fall Out Boy completely revamps the iconic theme tune

Unless you’ve been living under a very huge rock, you’ve probably heard the theme tune to “Ghostbusters”. The rerecorded version of “Ghostbusters (I’m Not Afraid)” by the Fall Out Boy is different from the original Ray Parker tune. As Stephen Silver points out, the beat and riffs are very different. The song also doesn’t use the phrase “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts“.

The 2016 version is basically just a funky update of the original song. Our favourite part of the song will probably be Missy Elliott’s rap verses. Missy is literally rapping about being freaked out by ghosts, and it’s the only part of the track that feels as goofy as the original one.

9. Don’t like FOB’s interpretation? There’s a Japanese version you might like

If Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott’s “Ghostbusters (I’m Not Afraid)” did nothing to excite you, maybe you’ll enjoy the Japanese version by these 4 ladies, whose cover is certainly more faithful to Parker’s original tune. All decked out in Ghostbusters gear, the 4 Japanese comedians – Tomochika, Oniyakko Tsubaki, Naomi Watanabe, and Shizuyo Yamasaki – are seen dancing with colourful proton packs.

We don’t know exactly what they’re singing, but nonetheless, they’re hitting all the right moves. Clearly ghostbusting makes this J-Pop quartet feel good.

10. Who you gonna call for some “Ghostbusters” inspired burgers?

No afraid of ghosts? Then these burgers are perfect if you’re down on doing some belly bustin’. From July till September, a Japanese burger chain called J.S. Burgers Cafe will feature a new themed menu in honour of the “Ghostbusters” reboot.

One of their limited-time exclusive is the G.B. Burger, which has a black bun, a patty smeared with black olive and anchovy paste, beef, tomato, and purple cabbage. If you’re in Japan, do give this ghostly black burger a try but we recommend making sure it’s not haunted before taking a bite.

In the meantime, here’s a compilation of the trailer, clips, and featurettes to get you excited for “Ghostbusters”:

“Ghostbusters” will be released in cinemas nationwide on 14th July 2016.

Sources: Mashable, Cinema Blend (1)(2), Tech Times, Collider, Screen Rant (1) (2), Movie Web, Zap2it, /Film.

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UNIQLO x Disney Introduces New Pixar Vacation Collection

In conjunction with the upcoming release of “Toy Story 4”, Disney continues its collaboration with Japanese casual wear company UNIQLO to launch Pixar Vacation collection for the summer vacation season.

The special collection features some of your favourite Pixar characters from “Toy Story”, “Monster’s Inc”, “Finding Nemo”, “Cars”, and “The Incredibles”.

PIXAR VACATION Collection coming soon. To cerebrate the release of “Toy Story 4” @uniqlo.ut proudly presents a special collection featuring your favorite characters having a fun summer vacation in California. Launch dates and product availability may differ by location. For more information, check your respective countries’ website. #magicforall #toystory4 #uniqlolifewear #lifewear #UT2019

A post shared by  UNIQLO ユニクロ (@uniqlo) on May 16, 2019 at 8:00pm PDT

Also, UNIQLO-exclusive Toy Story 4 collectible will debut soon will also be available as a free novelty item for Pixar Vacation collection!

There are 4 characters you can collect; Woody, Buzz, Alien, and Bo Peep. However, the collectibles will be available in limited countries.

For now, the Pixar Vacation collection will officially launch on 10th June 2019 and is only available in selected stores in the U.S.

However, according to Lee Sharing blog, the collection will also come to Malaysia on 10th June. Let’s hope that it’s true!


Mother Dies Saving Daughter From Robbers At Bukit Gasing

A 52-year-old woman was robbed and stabbed to death by two robbers while she was jogging with her daughter at the Bukit Gasing trail on Saturday.

The deceased, Ong Ai Sam, was with her daughter when they were approached by two men armed with knives wearing full-face helmets at about 4:30pm. The suspects demanded the victim hand over her belongings but Ong shouted to her 17-year-old daughter, telling her to run to safety.

She selflessly blocked the two suspects while her daughter tried to get help from other pedestrians in the area. Sources revealed the suspects stabbed the victim before escaping with her belongings. Ong’s daughter returned to the scene with another woman and found the victim lying in pool of blood. She was rushed to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, but succumbed to her injuries on the way there 20 minutes later.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamad said police are collecting CCTV footage from nearby houses. “We believe the motive was murder. We hope to identify the suspects soon with the assistance of the victim’s daughter and anyone who might have seen the incident”, he said.


X-Men Apocalypse: Oscar Isaac Joins Cast As Titular Villain

The upcoming “X-Men” film has finally found its villain.

Earlier last week, it was reported that “X-Men” director Bryan Singer will recast some of Marvel’s iconic superheroes including Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey. The casting for the new Jean Grey and Cyclops is inevitable as the story is set in the 80s, a decade after “X-Men: Days of Future Past“. Thus, Singer has eyed multiple young actors to join “X-Men: Apocalypse“.

But of course, that doesn’t include the titular villain of the film as Apocalypse is believed to be the first mutant and the oldest mutant in the X-Men Universe.

If you have no interest in learning about the history of Apocalypse, read no further because the description about Apocalypse might contain spoilers for any X-Men film.

There’s no denying that Wolverine’s time travel in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” has helped Singer to fix the timeline even though a new villain will appear in the alternate timeline. The new villain has been shown through the end credits scene of “X-Men: Days of Future Past”. Set in the ancient Egypt, the end credits scene of “X-Men: Days of Future Past” opens with a hooded figure standing on top of a sandY hillside with his arms outstretched while thousands of Egyptian men and women chant “En Sabah Nur” to the boy.

The boy seems to posses a great mutant power as he was seen trying to build the Great Pyramid with his telekinesis power. The camera then pans to his face – grey skin, blue lips, with red eyes – before circling around to 4 mysterious figures on horseback perched on a cliffside to the boy’s left.

However, “En Sabah Nur” is not just any random chant; it is Apocalypse’s birth name that also means “The First One”. He is born with blue lips and gray skins with natural skin markings. Apocalypse is believed to be the first mutant in human history as Kang the Conquerer has traveled back in time as Pharaoh Rama-Tut to stop him from becoming the most powerful mutant in the world. However, Apocalypse’s immortality and superhuman abilities allowed him to survive the attack and even acquire some alien technology left behind by Rama-Tut.

With his abilities and Celestial technology combined, it came as no surprise that Apocalypse is one of the best villains selected by Marvel last year.

The Wrap earlier reported “The Drop” actor Tom Hardy is being considered to play Apocalypse after his outstanding performance as Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises“. He was also rumoured to be Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” and a member of Warner Bros’ “Suicide Squad“. But now, it has been revealed that the “A Most Violent Year” star Oscar Isaac has closed a deal with 20th Century Fox to play the titular villain in “X-Men: Apocalypse”.

Oscar Isaac has previously appeared “Sucker Punch”, “10 Years”, “Drive”, and “The Bourne Legacy” as insignificant supporting roles but his leading role in 2013’s “Inside Llewyn Davis” managed to earn him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The actor also recently joined the cast of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” for an unspecified role.

He may not be a familiar face on the big screen but he is definitely one of Hollywood’s actors that deserve many more awards attention and recognition.

“X-Men: Apocalypse” is slated for release on May 27th, 2016.

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5 Reasons To Love BLACKPINK’s New Mini-Album “Square Up”

After many false alarms, BLACKPINK is finally dropping new music. The girl group’s 2nd mini-album “Square Up” was released today (Friday, 15th June) and features 4 never-before-heard songs.

We can’t say that we love the long-wait for new music, but the new tracks are something worth waiting for.

Aside from the tracks, here’s some other things we loved about their comeback:

1. They will finally be dropping their first physical album.

We can’t be serious, right? Unfortunately, we are.

It’s been 2 years since their debut, but the girl group does not have one physical album to their name. To make things worse, they have only released 5 songs so far. Excluding the Japanese versions of course, but that’s basically the same songs, just in a different language.

The release of “Square Up” means they’ve got 4 more songs added to their discography. 9 songs is still a fairly small amount for a 2-year-old group, but at least we’ve got something.

Not only we’ve got a physical album we can hold on to, we have 2 choices to choose from too!

There’s the black version, which does remind us of a pink tesseract, and a pink version, which looks like a black and pink version of the kueh seri muka. Sorry, that’s just our imagination running wild.

Seriously though, we love how both versions just shout “AESTHETIC” and manages to be so minimalistic yet impressive. We’re not sure which one to get, because black or pink, they’re both equally stunning.

3. The double title track format lives on!

With the exception of “As If It’s Your Last”, BLACKPINK has been releasing double title tracks for every comeback since their debut.

“Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” was supposed to be the sole title track, but the overwhelming love for the audio snippet of “Forever Young” changed YG Entertainment’s decision. The feedback was so positive that the company decided to implement the double title track format for this comeback too.

4. How badass they look in the “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” MV.

We’ve got queen Jennie with her diadem and her pet dog; CEO Lisa with her BLACKPINK lightstick and katana; goddess Rosé with her stunning looks and sultry stares; as well as assassin Jisoo with her black umbrella and flowy dress.

Not forgetting the powerful choreography, which totally got us floored.

We’re not sure what happened but we got hit by their “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du”.

With “Square Up”, every single track is deserving to be the title track.

We have “Forever Young”, which is as hard-hitting as “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du”, with a pretty catchy hook as well. Next up is “Really”, an upbeat song which showcases Lisa’s fast-spitting rap. The real winner is “See U Later”, which starts off slow but evolves into an aggressive track with a beat that will make you dance.

“Square Up” is available for streaming on Spotify and iTunes.

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Sunway Pyramid Implements Emergency Contact Tattoo In Case Kids Get Lost

The long school holidays are approaching and that means that shopping malls and supermarkets are likely going to be filled with people.

It is common that small kids tend to wander off and end up getting separated from their parents. In order to deal with cases of missing children, Sunway Pyramid has announced that they are implementing the Child Safety Emergency Contact Tattoo.

The statement from Sunway Pyramid reads:

“Hey parents! With school holidays coming up, we’ve prepared a Child Safe Emergency Contact Tattoo that can be easily placed on your child’s arm with a damp cloth or sponge. If he/she wanders away in the mall, the emergency contact number on the tattoo can be used to get help from a Concierge staff or Auxiliary Police. To remove the tattoo, simply use baby oil, hand sanitizer or wet wipes. Grab the free Emergency Contact Tattoo at G Floor Main Concierge or LG2 Concierge (near Marrakesh).”

The best part of this? It’s absolutely free of charge and parents can also customised the temporary tattoos with their contact numbers. Personally, we think this is a great idea. Perhaps other malls should follow Sunway Pyramid’s example as well.


MCO: 13 Hotels In Malaysia That Shut Down Due To Covid-19 Crisis

Many industries across the board have been suffering due to the Covid-19 pandemic and extended movement control order (MCO). Sitting at the top of the list are the hotel industry and tourism.

A survey by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) reveal that 15% of hotels in Malaysia may be closing down for good. While some hotel operators shared that they will remain close till year end, others may only resume businesses once a vaccine is found.

In the meantime, here’s a list of hotels that have been affected:

Other hotels that have followed suit include:

10. Swiss-Garden Resort Damai Laut, Perak
11. Swiss-Inn Chinatown Kuala Lumpur
12. Swiss-Inn Sungai Petani, Kedah
13. Holiday Inn Resort Penang

Other popular cafes (such as Hard Rock Cafe Kota Kinabalu) have also been a casualty of the ongoing Covid-19 nightmare. It’ll take awhile before the economy recovers.


#KimJongNam: Police Identifies Murder Weapon As Highly Toxic VX Nerve Agent

Malaysian police has identified VX nerve agent as the chemical which was found on Kim Jong Nam, half-brother to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, when he was murdered.

The findings were published this morning (Friday, 24th February) by the Royal Malaysia Police via Facebook. In the statement, it was explained that swabs were taken from the victim’s eyes and face.

The toxicology test was run by the Centre for Chemical Weapons Analysis at the Chemistry Department, who identified it as ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate (or in simpler terms, VX nerve agent).

It was also stated that VX is listed as a “chemical weapon” under Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention Act Malaysia 2015 and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) 1997.

The other exhibits are currently still being analysed.

According to BBC, who talked to Bruce Bennett, a weapons expert at the research institute The Rand Corporation, a tiny amount of the substance is more than sufficient to kill a person. Bennett continued that a miniscule amount of nerve agent could have affected his nervous system immediately, causing him to first shake and die within minutes.

VX is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations and is a clear, amber-coloured, oily liquid which is tasteless and odourless. It is also recognised as the most toxic of known chemical warfare agents. It is extremely hard to get your hands on it, as production and stockpiling of the chemical exceeding 100 grams per year was outlawed in 1993.

It works by penetrating the skin and disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses. Once inside the body, it leads to uncontrolled muscle contraction followed by death by asphyxiation. VX can be absorbed into the body via inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or eye contact. 10 milligrams of VX is sufficient for it to be fatal through skin contact.

According to previous reports, Kim Jong Nam’s attack happened at around 9am on Monday (13th February) as he was catching a 10am flight to Macau. The victim, who had not gone through immigration yet, experienced a mild seizure at the clinic and was rushed to Putrajaya Hospital. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it.

4 suspects have been detained so far, with Doan Thi Huong, a Vietnamese, thought to be the one who swiped toxin on Kim.

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Kaskade Goes Independent, Starts Own Record Label “Arkade”

American dance music icon Ryan Raddon, better known by his stage name Kaskade, shared a Tumblr post, to let the world know that he is launching a new label designed to satisfy the “dire need for new talent to be brought to the forefront.” The 43-year-old DJ/producer went on to state that his new label “Arkade” would be used to promote “one-of-a-kind” music.

Now, if there’s anyone you’d want to be starting their own label, it would be Kaskade. The man is fully equipped to wear the label boss hat because, in addition to producing and DJing, the US-based icon has also owned and operated a record store, pressed CDs and worked at both a recording studio and a record label. Plus, his years of experience and success serves as a bonus.

The label’s name, “Arkade” is based on Kaskade’s memories from spending time at Dog Ear Records, an arcade-record shop hangout where he spent many after-school hours digging through crates of vinyl through his younger days. Kaskade hopes Arkade will serve a similar purpose in educating listeners on up-and-coming talents.

A website has already been created for the “Arkade” and while there might no be much information on it yet, you can visit it here.

For more on Kaskade, stalk him via these platforms: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram.


Legends of Chima™ Comes to Life At LEGOLAND®

The first new addition to LEGOLAND® Malaysia was announced today with the introduction of a brand new 4D movie experience. The Legends of Chima™ movie uses high impact special effects such as water, wind and smoke to transport 3D to the next dimension and immerse the audience in a fantastical LEGO® world.

The story takes place in the world of Chima, where tribes of animal warriors compete in epic battles for CHI, a mystical energy source of limitless power and destruction. State of the art 3D animation brings the audience right into the heart of the journey as they sweep through dramatic landscapes, flying through the magical waters of Mount Cavora and soaring over the majestic Speedorz Arena of Chima in a high speed chase. A range of special effects synchronised to the action on screen add the 4D element of extra excitement and drama.

The audience follows four young animals as they take a guided tour of Chima with Plovar the Parrot and become entwined in a struggle between good and evil as they help their hero Laval the Lion Prince do battle with Cragger the Crocodile King. The climax of the adventure comes as Laval and Cragger take to their Speedorz vehicles in a supercharged, super-fast race to capture a precious supply of CHI.

Will good prevail or will evil win the day?

The animated movie is part of the introduction of an exciting new range from LEGO and brings key Legends of Chima characters to life. It launches on 20th April 2013 and can be viewed exclusively in the LEGO® Studios at LEGOLAND Malaysia.

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Prior to the movie’s official launch, exclusive pre-screenings will be available for LEGOLAND Malaysia Annual Pass Holders. From today until 18th April they can preview Legends of Chima by booking though the website. A special RM10 deal includes a movie viewing with popcorn, soda plus a LEGO Legends of Chima giveaway.

During this period, guests will also have the opportunity to meet the Chima mascot as it makes regular appearances throughout the Park.

To read out more about our exclusive LEGOLAND Malaysia adventure, click!


#Rain: Top Star Revealed To Have Rejected Offer For “X-Men” Movie

Who knew that Rain (real name Jung Jihoon) was supposed to star in one of the “X-Men” movie? Not us, certainly.

But his “Uhm Bok Dong” co-star Lee Beom Soo revealed the surprising news during an interview with South Korean media Ilgan Sports.

Lee, who is also one of the producers for the film, divulged that Rain was cast in one of the mutant movies, but declined the request. He said, “Rain was actually cast in an ‘X-Men’ movie. They asked him to start filming in July but the filming of ‘Uhm Bok Dong’ was supposed to last until the end of August, so he (stayed) with our movie. I was really thankful for his commitment.”

He also only had kind words for the actor-cum-singer. He spoke highly of him, exclaiming, “I got to discover some new sides of Rain through this production. He’s very genuine and passionate when it comes to acting.”

Rain’s sincerity also shined through, as Lee explained that he changed the way he thought of the top star. “I used to think he was just a celebrity, but I’ve been noticing that he has the aura of an actor,” he expressed.

We’re not sure which “X-Men” movie it is, but according to the timeline revealed, it is highly possible that it’s “The New Mutants“. Filming for the movie is slated to begin in July.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


HONNE Kuala Lumpur Concert Tickets & Seating Plan Unveiled

HONNE is set to kick off their Asia Tour in May y’all! The English electronic music duo will be starting in Taiwan before ending their Asia leg in Malaysia. After 4 years, we bet local fans are more than excited to see members Andy Clutterbuck and James Hatcher in person again.

Their last album, title “Let’s Just Say the World Ended a Week from Now, What Would You Do?” was released in 2021 and it spawned a series of exciting thematic visuals for the singles like “What Would You Do?” feat. Pink Sweat$ and “Coming Home” feat. NIKI. Since their third record came out during the pandemic, fans will be experiencing these songs live for the first time.

“South East Asia is our second home. We love visiting and playing shows there so so much. That’s why we are incredibly excited to announce our May 2023 Asia tour. It’s been too long so this will be a really special one. Loads of music you’ve not heard live yet and obviously your old favourites too :) Can’t wait to see you soon. Andy & James xx,” the duo said in a statement.

HONNE May 2023 Asia Tour dates are as follows:

6th May –  Taipei – Zepp
10th May – Manila – Araneta Coliseum
12th May – Davao – USEP Gymnasium & Cultural Center
14th May – Cebu – Waterfront Hotel Ballroom
18th May – Singapore – Star Theatre
21st May – Kuala Lumpur – Zepp

Local pre-sale will take place from 14th – 16th February at 10am, while general sale will go live on Friday, 17th February at 10am via TicketCharge.


Resorts World Sentosa To Open Oceanarium

On 22nd November 2012 (Thursday) at 10am, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) will open the world’s largest oceanarium. Now, we already know that RWS is also the place where various lifestyle amenities are located such as the popular Universal Studios theme park and a casino. But this one certainly takes the cake!

Dubbed, “The S.E.A Aquarium” (one of the attractions of RWS’ Marina Life Park attractions), it will be home to 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species in 45 million litres of water. So it’s safe to say that you might just be able to encounter a couple of manta rays, hammerhead sharks, and bottlenose dolphins. It’s true!

The oceanrium’s centerpiece if the “Open Ocean Habitat“, whose viewing panel gives visitors the feeling of being on an ocean floor without actually having to go anywhere near an ocean floor. How? It’s flanked by a panoramic viewing area and a seafood restaurant (oddly). And right opposite the “Open Ocean Habitat” are the “11 Ocean Suites” – a place that offers guests a unique accommodation experience.

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Other exciting activities include the “Adventure Cove Waterpark”, which features six water slides plus a wave pool plus a 620m lazy river. And let’s not forget the “Rainbow Reef”, where visitors will have the opportunity to snorkel with thousands of fish.

Daily admissions to “S.E.A Aquarium” are priced at:

One-day admission fees to “Adventure Cove Waterpark” are priced similarly.

For now, opening hours for both the “S.E.A Aquarium” and the “Adventure Cove Waterpark” are 10am to 6pm from now until 7th December. Come 7th December, the official opening ceremony will be marked by a brilliant fireworks display and a series of performance by international performers, including international artiste Sarah Brightman.

For more information, hit up RWS’ website.


#Syabas: Water Disruption To Affect Klang, Shah Alam & Kuala Langat On 30th April

Heads up folks, another water disruption is set to take place at the end of this month again.

As part of their ongoing effort to improve water distribution system in the Klang Valley, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) will be carrying out a few replacement work from 4am until 8pm on 30th April (next Saturday).

Unfortunately, those living in parts of Klang, Shah Alam, and Kuala Langat will experience temporary water interruptions during the 16-hour replacement works. According to Syabas, the affected areas may take up 28 to 88 hours for recovery of water supply, depending on the distance of the premises from the reservoirs.

Water supply in certain parts of Klang and Shah Alam should return to normal in a day or 2, whereas recovery in Kuala Langat may take up to 88 hours. You know the drill, use water sparingly and store enough for use when the water disruption takes place.

Check out the images below to see if your location is affected (click the image to enlarge):

As aforementioned, do make early preparations and store water throughout next week. If your gym or local sports centre isn’t affected, take advantage of it and sneak some showers there.

For more information, hit up Syabas’ website here.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Drink Sensibly This New Year & Win Yourself Zalora & Grab Vouchers

December is a month full of holidays and celebrations, which means we often have a million parties to attend, and plenty of chances to get drunk.

Heineken Malaysia – through its Drink Sensibly platform – has launched a new campaign to remind everyone celebrate safely while you party. Through the campaign, Heineken will also reward you with a ‘Get Party Ready’ gift packs, which include RM100 worth of Zalora vouchers and RM100 worth of Grab rides which can be used throughout the year until December 2018.

Starting this week until the 7th of January 2018, go follow and stalk the Drink Sensibly Facebook page to find out how you can participate in the weekly interactive quizzes and get your hands on the gift pack!

And when you head out for your New Year’s party, make sure you remember to #DrinkSensibly and #EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.


Fun Facts: 10 Reasons Why “Spider-Man: Homecoming” Will Be The Best #SpiderMan Movie

When Sony first announced that they were working on yet another version of “Spider-Man”, we were skeptical. But when British rising star Tom Holland made his cinematic debut as Spider-Man in last year’s “Captain America: Civil War”, our faith was restored.

It was only natural for Sony to team up with Marvel on their first full film collaboration with “Spider-Man: Homecoming”. This time around, we’re seeing Peter Parker as an active yet inexperienced superhero-in-training, juggling high school while being mentored by Tony Stark.

“A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Parker returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May, under the watchful eye of his new mentor Iron Man. Parker tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.”

Oh, but there’s more: Everything from details about the new cast to villain knowledge and Spider-Man’s sick new suit. Scroll down and check out the facts on everything “Spider-Man”. We’ve got loads of ’em.

1. Tom Holland is the youngest Spider-Man yet

Since youth is an integral part of “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, audiences will get to see Peter Parker in all of his awkward, nerdy, angsty glory. Following the events of “Civil War”, Parker is not only discovering the limits of his powers, but also the pressures of balancing life as a high school kid and being a superhero.

“We’ve seen the sort of Norse god, we’ve seen the billionaire, we’ve seen the soldier, now we get to see the kid. And one of the most important themes of the movie is, what would a 15-year-old boy do with superpowers? So, sort of opening act to the movie, you see Peter really trying to discover who he is, what he can do, which is something I feel like we haven’t really explored massively in the previous movies — is seeing Peter make mistakes and try and rectify them and try and learn exactly what he can do,” explained Holland.

2. How Tom Holland found out he was Spider-Man

When casting for Spider-Man in “Captain America: Civil War” was announced, nobody was more surprised by the news than Holland himself. In speaking with Ellen DeGeneres, the young English actor recalled how he found out he had been cast.

He said, “I basically had been auditioning for about 5 months and after my final audition they said, ‘You’ll find out tomorrow.’ Fast forward 6 weeks I was still waiting, still waiting, then one day Marvel just posted on their Instagram, ‘Go to our website to find out who Spider-Man is.’ And that’s it, I just found out online!”

Talk about getting with the times. Lol ;)

3. Tony Stark/Iron Man’s role in “Homecoming”

Ever since it was confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. will be reprising his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in Spider-Man’s solo adventure, fans have been wondering just how significant will his role be. We noticed at least 3 distinct scenes featuring both Tony Stark and Iron Man in the trailer.

Not only will Stark serve as a mentor to Parker, but this is the first “Spider-Man” solo movie where we’ll get to see our protagonist working alongside other heroes. “To have Tony Stark in the movie is like the perfect touch, the perfect amount of Avenger to make this movie really feel like a homecoming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” said Holland.

Besides the aforementioned, Stark is also Spidey’s tech supplier. As shown during the post credit scene in “Civil War”, Parker was trying out the new high-tech suit built by Stark. During his appearance at last year’s San Diego Comic Con, director Jon Watt teased, “Well, the suit that spidey was given in ‘Civil War’ is a Stark suit, so you have to wonder with a Stark suit, what else can it do?”

Writer Marc N. Kleinhenz suggests that the most obvious piece of tech Marvel Studios can come up with is the Spider-Tracer, which allows the web crawler to follow his targets by using tiny tracking devices. Other possible perks may include “bulletproofing, a mask that can allow Peter to breathe underwater, the ability to hover or glide, and additional robotic “spider-arms,” which can be utilised in combat or in exploration”.

5. Uncle Ben will be basically nonexistent

“With great power comes great responsibility” – those famous words were uttered by Uncle Ben. Thankfully, we won’t have to see yet another version of his tragic death. “They talk about that, absolutely. It’s not… it’s not a huge thing that I want to go into too much, but there is an acknowledgment that there was a Ben,” said the filmmaker.

6. Peter Parker has a new love interest and it isn’t Mary Jane or Gwen Stacy

When Zendaya first joined the cast, many thought that she’ll be playing a black Mary Jane Watson. After revealing that her character’s name is Michelle, Zendaya squashed rumours that she’ll be Parker’s onscreen girlfriend. According to Latino Review, Liz Allan (played by Laura Harrier) will be the girl that Peter Parker is interested in.

Liz Allan may not be as popular as Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacey in the list of Spider-Man’s love interests, but she came before them in the earlier comic book series. As per Spidey lore, Peter had the hots for Liz, who was dating schoolyard bully Flash Thompson at the time.

Although we’ve seen 5 live-action “Spider-Man” films on the big screen, they have barely scratch the surface of Spidey’s rogues gallery. This is why we’re stoked that “Homecoming” will be introducing a new villain named Adrian Toomes, a high tech-flying thief better known as The Vulture (played by Michael Keaton).

Betrayed by his sly business partner, the disgruntled inventor and electrical engineer resorts to taking up a life of crime. As one of the web-crawler’s oldest foes in the comics, The Vulture often dons his specially designed flight harness and terrorise the people of New York.

Word on the street has it that “The Vulture will be aided by none other than The Tinkerer (played by Michael Chernus), who will help him build his suit with recovered Chitauri tech from the battle of New York”. He’s a terrible genius that uses his skills in advanced technology to aid other supervillians.

Bokeem Woodbine rounds up the rooster as the 3rd villain, playing The Shocker. The character is known to wear gauntlets that can project devastating vibrational waves of energy.

9. The “Spider-Man: Homecoming” soundtrack is full of puns

Who's ready for your friendly neighborhood you-know-who?@SpiderManMovie @MarvelStudios pic.twitter.com/iSHk4IvVgk

— Michael Giacchino (@m_giacchino) May 19, 2017

Earlier last month, acclaimed composer Michael Giacchino gave fans a sneak peek at the classic Spider-Man theme song. A few days ago, the full tracklist was revealed, giving us an idea of how the story will flow. We like that the OST titles are filled with puns; it reads like something Peter Parker would say ;)

10. Spider-Man’s ultimate goal is to be an Avenger

One of the major difference that sets this Spider-Man apart from previous incarnations is that the existence of The Avengers has given him a significant goal in becoming a full-time superhero.

“I think the difference now is that Peter Parker finally has an all-time goal, and his goal is to become an Avenger. Everything he does, even though he’s doing it for the right reasons, is done so that maybe one day he can become an Avenger and prove himself to Tony Stark. And I think we’ve never really seen Spider-Man with that kind of motivation before,” explained Holland.

With Spider-Man now included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not only does the web slinger get to interact with other colourful Marvel characters, it’ll be interesting to see how he can graduate to the status of bonafide Avenger. The young hero will soon find himself called into action in next year’s “Avengers: Infinity War“.

In the meantime, here’s the trailer to pump up your excitement:

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” is expected to swing into theatres on 7th July 2017.

Sources: Pop Sugar, Games Radar, Joblo, Bleeding Cool, Cinema Blend.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


(Video) The Truth About The Apartment Building In “Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion”

In case you haven’t heard, “Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion” (“Satan’s Slave 2: Communion”) was just released in Malaysian cinemas this week and so far it has received overwhelming positive reviews. The sequel picks up where the first movie left off with the Suwono family now having to figure out the mystery behind their new home.

From the trailer, we can see that most of the movie takes place in an apartment building but did you know that the building itself is possibly haunted? Apparently many Indonesian fans of the movie went to check out the filming location and found out that it’s actually been closed down for many years.

Filming for “Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion”, directed by Joko Anwar, took place in an abandoned apartment building located in Sumber Arta, Bekasi, Indonesia which is about 30 kilometers away from Jakarta. The building in question has been abandoned for about 15 years. There has been no occupants since 2008.

The building went viral after the movie was released and according to Gempak, visitors are no longer permitted to enter the building due to safety reasons. Apparently, many people especially content creators were curious to explore the building after seeing the movie. The management had no choice but to restrict people from entering. However, they are allowed to take photos and videos from the outside.

It’s also been rumoured that the 7th floor of the apartment building is the most dangerous floor due to paranormal activities. It’s been said that a crew member for the “Pengabdi Setan” sequel went up to that floor and experienced something terrifying that everyone agreed to never speak of again. This is however not confirmed.

Even the main star Tara Basro, who plays Rini Suwono in the movie, said that the filming location felt like as though they were being watched by the devil. Yikes! Some content creators managed to capture footages of their time in the building before it was closed off to the public and we can definitely see why visitors are no longer allowed in.

Are you curious enough to explore the building if you have the chance?


(Photos) Shopping Malls In Klang Valley With The Most Stunning Hari Raya Decorations

Who isn’t excited for Hari Raya? From attending wonderful feasts to meet friends and family, there’s plenty to enjoy during this celebration! However, even we can get tired of staying at home and eating all day.

Well, why not take a stroll in our local malls? It will be an opportunity to stretch your legs, enjoy some aircon, and gives you the chance to check out their decorations! In addition to doing more Raya shopping, there’ll also be plenty of Instagrammable places. So, put on your Raya best and get going!

Starting our list is Suria KLCC as it’s all about nostalgia. Don’t you miss seeing the environment of your kampung (hometown)? The sight of your grandparents’ orchard? The fresh fruits you can pick and eat straight away from that orchard? Suria KLCC has done a great job bringing back those fond memories as you walk through the exhibition.

Your parents will also reminisce their childhood of running around outside the house or going into town to buy fruits like durian. The old Proton Saga car model as part of the decoration was a nice touch that will make you remember looking out the window with excitement as you and your relatives arrive at your kampung.

While they’ve quite outdone themselves with the exhibit inside, they have not skimped on the outside. This year, Suria KLCC has created Malaysia’s Biggest Lampu Pelita Replica at the Esplanade KLCC. The lamp shines as a beacon, invoking the spirit and joy of Ramadhan and Syawal.

Fun fact: Malaysia’s Biggest Lampu Pelita Replica has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records 2022.

Speaking of kampungs…. we know your hometown is great and all but your kids would surely love to pay a visit to this particular ‘kampung’ in Pavilion Bukit Jalil. After all, it’ll be a chance for them to drop by and say hi to their TV friends, Upin and Ipin! Of course, they won’t be the only stars there.

Local celebs like batik designer Rasta Rashid, singer-actress Atilia Haron and celebrity couple Dato’ Fazley Yaakob and Datin Azrene, among others, have also set up booths in the central area with curated booths. So, be sure to stop by and check out their offerings! Who knows, you might just find the perfect Raya gift for gatherings.

Ever wanted to travel back in to time to the golden era of the 60s? This Hari Raya, Fahrenheit88 presents ‘Raya Melodies’, featuring the past in an exquisite showcase of legacy and tradition, inspired by the life and work of Malaysian performing icons, Tan Sri P. Ramlee and Puan Sri Saloma.

Bring your parents and grandparents along to relive nostalgic memories of yesteryears against a backdrop of traditional kampung huts infused with contemporary designs.

If you want to celebrate Raya majestically, there is no better place than Avenue K! You can enjoy the recreated Taj Mahal and wander the mini palace to marvel at its Islamic-influenced architecture and design. This is of course, the perfect platform to snap a few OOTDs and family photos. Do make sure your outfits are befitting royalty, of course! And don’t forget to check out their bazaar as well for fashion pieces and delicious treats.

One thing that we love about Hari Raya is the vibrant colours of everyone’s new (and possibly expensive) ‘baju raya’! But if you’re still looking for your ‘baju raya’ then how about heading over to LaLaport BBCC? The shopping mall is going all out with the vibrant colours this year!

LaLaport BBCC is inviting you to experience a Vivid Eid together. Come take in the sights of their colourful lights and gorgeous decor. Not only another place for you to look pretty at and pose in your new ‘baju raya’ but there’s tons of activities and special performances all through Ramadan to get you ready for Raya.

Mid Valley Mega Mall is doing something slightly different than your usual colourful Raya celebration. Going out with all an white decoration with perfect symmetry and intricate patterns. Let this contemporary Islamic design put you in the mood for Raya!

Cherish family bonds with fun activities like personalised greeting cards, ketupat weaving, or try out a tasty new recipe at home! Then, rekindle love and hope this season as you witness harmonious musical performances all through the season.

Is this a mall or a tropical resort? The Gardens Mall is really living up to their name with their Raya decorations this year!  Lounge on distressed jute and bamboo furniture surrounded by lush greenery accented with delicate glass fixtures and accessories.

The Gardens Mall’s Hari Raya décor features a modern yet rustic aesthetic that brings to mind scenes of an escape to a luxury forest retreat. Beneath the shade of palm leaves, don’t forget to snap family photos with your ‘baju Raya’ at various photo spots along the Ground Floor!

EkoCheras Mall is really taking the opportunity to make sure your social media is filled with fun and colourful photos. Have your kids or younger relatives pose with the adorable cutouts at the house and who knows, you can even turn that into a greeting card for your friends and family.

Other than the fun colours and cutouts, EkoCheras Mall’s stalls set-up look like swings that will make you remember the happy days of your childhood when you play with your cousins during Raya.

Come and visit Melawati Mall today and experience their ‘Gaya Raya’ vibes with a stylish Kampung House. The neon lights are a great touch and gives off that vintage vibes that will make your photos perfect for your social media.

Melawati mall is living up to its theme this year and you can ‘Gaya up’ your Raya preparations by exploring stylish clothes, perfumes, beauty products, and delicious snacks at the Raya Bergaya Booth.

Enjoy a cultural feast this Hari Raya at Intermark Mall with ‘Meriah Raya’, inspired by favourite traditional Malaysian art and games including Wayang Kulit, Batu Seremban, Congkak, and more.

Be sure to get that Instagram-worthy Raya shot at the mall’s traditional Malay décor display, adorned with colourful batik and flowers. You can also experience shadow puppetry first-hand by directing your own Wayang Kulit performance at the screen in the Ground Atrium.

Can you believe it’s actually been over 2 years since our last real Raya? Sunway Malls everywhere are making sure that the return of the Raya celebration this year is a special one. They recently launched their unifying theme of ‘Riuh Ria Raya’. The theme will surely get you in the mood for a joyous celebration when you ‘balik kampung’ to your hometown.

The decorations at all Sunway Malls combine both traditional and contemporary elements that bring a colourful and vibrant celebration to life. Along with traditional kampung houses with modern twists, Sunway Malls have also chosen to showcase the skills of Malaysia’s many talented local artists, designers and entrepreneurs throughout its radiant space.

In conjunction with Sunway Malls’ unifying theme of ‘Riuh Ria Raya’, Sunway Putra Mall has launched their celebration of this year’s theme in recent weeks. Come and visit their beautiful decorations and take some photos from inside the house which is surprisingly more spacious than it looks.

While you’re checking out the house and taking photos for your social media, don’t forget to engage in the digital art face painting and an Augmented Reality (AR) experience. If you notice a very colourful car with unique designs somewhere in the exhibition, try scanning the unique QR code and point your phone camera onto the car and watch the Raya artwork come to life!

Da Men USJ will transport shoppers to the urban ‘90s . You might recognise some iconic furnishings, modern batik fashion, and signature Raya delicacies. With plenty of unique festive décor, the mall is the ideal destination for photos to celebrate the season. Bamboo lights and signature wooden furniture are surrounded with traditional bamboo pelita, festive Hari Raya ketupat, and a host of `90s era accessories and electronics!

Now this is something for the people of Negeri Sembilan and West Sumatra. Taking inspiration from ethnic Minangkabau tribes, 1 Utama has set up a 41-feet-high ‘Rumah Gadang‘ with its prominent signature upswept curved roof reminiscent of buffalo horns, intricate floral carvings and vibrant painted designs.

Swaying palm trees are placed around the ‘Rumah Gadang’ to give you that nostalgic kampung-like setting. The Minangkabau-themed kampung decoration will definitely enliven the festive mood and lend a true-to-life traditional Raya ambience.

If you want to feel like royalty, then perhaps try stopping by Setia City Mall. Embrace a dazzling Raya and explore their glowing display at Lower Ground Level (Centre Court). Inspired by colourful & illuminating lights of the festive season, the decor was built to embrace the bright Raya vibes.

If you think staying in KL means you’ll be missing the kampung atmosphere, think again. Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang (MOP KLIA) has chosen to do a rustic but well-loved theme this year. Adorned with motives of the Songket, featuring little touches of a kampung while surrounded with lush greenery, MOP KLIA has certainly captured the serene peace Raya can bring when you reunite with your loved ones in your hometown.

[Notes: Themed ‘Colours of Eid’, Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang (MOP KLIA) is adorned with motives of Songket and its vibrant colours depicting the Raya celebratory mood as it welcomes shoppers to shop for their Raya celebration.]

This mall is nowhere near the Klang Valley, but the decorations are so beautiful that we have to include it as a bonus for this list. This Raya, Aman Central invites you back and to enjoy an enchanting garden experience set amidst the atmospheric of Tropical Paradise.

With the colorful semi-transparent umbrellas along the walkway covered towards the mall’s Central Atrium, this season trail creates a treasure-filled space for families and friends to discover a world in paradise where every turn you’ll find an “Instagrammable” decorated tropical paradise.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Malaysia’s Adele Lim Quits Crazy Rich Asians Sequel Over Pay Dispute

Justice for Adele Lim! It’s evident that Hollywood is still sexist when it comes to women – especially if she’s a woman of colour.

The Hollywood Reporter announced that the Malaysian-born writer has opted out of the “Crazy Rich Asians” sequel due a pay disparity. It is understood that she was offered 8-10 times lesser than her fellow co-writer, Peter Chiarelli, a white man.

The publication reported that Warner Bros. is only offering to pay Lim US$110,000-plus while Chiarelli was offered between US$800,000 to US$1 million. Warners apparently defended their unfair decision citing “the quotes are industry-standard established ranges based on experience and that making an exception would set a troubling precedent in the business”. That’s because Chiarelli had previous movie experiences while Lim came from the world of TV.

The Malaysian Chinese descent, who was the first movie’s only Asian writer, said, “Being evaluated that way can’t help but make you feel that is how they view my contributions“. She believes that the industry often regard women as well as people of colour as soy sauce – “hired to sprinkle culturally specific details on a screenplay, rather than credited with the substantive work of crafting the story“.

Here’s the interesting part, the dispute actually took place last autumn. After spending 5 months searching for another Asian writer to replace Lim, Warner Bros returned to her in February 2019 with a better offer – a salary closer to Chiarelli. Lim wasn’t having any of it.

Chiarelli had offered to split his pay cheque with Lim, but there is a bigger issue that needed to come under the spotlight. “Pete has been nothing but incredibly gracious, but what I make shouldn’t be dependent on the generosity of the white-guy writer. If I couldn’t get pay equity after ‘CRA’, I can’t imagine what it would be like for anyone else, given that the standard for how much you’re worth is having established quotes from previous movies, which women of colour would never have been (hired for). There’s no realistic way to achieve true equity that way,” Lim responded.

To echo commentator Ben Pearson, taking the higher offer would probably had been the easier choice but Lim was willing to forgo it in hopes of equalling the playing field for minorities in Hollywood. Shame on you, Warner Bros.

Filming for the back-to-back sequels is expected to begin towards the end of 2020.


Win The Hunger Games: Catching Fire merchandises

The much anticipated blockbuster Hunger Games has returned and the official trailer is out and is spreading like wildfire. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Donald Sutherland.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts.

Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

In conjunction with the success of the movie, we are giving away movie merchandises: 5 grand prizes consisting of 1. Hunger Games bag, 1 bookmark and 1 planner, 10 consolation prizes consisting of 1 planner and 1 magnet.

2. Tell us what you enjoy most about The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in no more than 20 words.

Send in the answers to bryna@hype.my and include your FULL NAME, IC NUMBER and CONTACT DETAILS now! CONTEST ENDS 30th DECEMBER 2013 at 5pm!