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After 117 yrs of doing business in M’sia, Siemens launches new HQ & experience centre in KL

The year was 1847 when Siemens first got its start. It took a couple of decades, but the German company eventually made its way into Malaysia.

Specifically, it was 1899 when Siemens & Halske first sent representatives to explore opportunities in the Straits Settlements. It took nearly another decade in 1908 until Siemens made its first recorded sale in Malaysia. 

So many things have happened since. Siemens began supplying products to Malaysia from 1967, and the Siemens Semiconductor Group eventually set up its first factories in Melaka and Penang, creating some 1,500 jobs, contributing greatly to the country’s economy.

117 years since its first recorded sale, Siemens Malaysia has now launched its HQ at The MET, a certified green building in Mont Kiara, marking yet another significant milestone of the company’s history in Malaysia. 

But you may be wondering…

Who’s Siemens? 

Having been around for so long, it’s not surprising that some people may be confused about what exactly Siemens does. That’s because they do a lot. 

In their own words, Siemens Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SMSB) is a leading technology company with “comprehensive products and solutions, and emerging technologies for various markets in the Malaysian economy, under its Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure businesses.”

It focuses on the areas of intelligent infrastructure for buildings, grids and distributed energy systems, more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, as well as automation and digitalisation in the process and manufacturing industries. 

The company creates technology with purpose, adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for Malaysians.

“Drinking our own champagne”

Siemens has long been a proponent of sustainability, and the move to The MET—a certified green building—is a representation of that. It shows the company’s commitment to scaling sustainability impact in its core operations. 

“This is about walking the talk,” Tindaro Danze, President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia stated. “We’re not only providing a state-of-the-art work environment for our employees, but also demonstrating our commitment to decarbonisation through the choices we make—right down to the environment we operate in.”

The new headquarters is equipped with Siemens’ proprietary Building X digital platform that runs applications to manage building operations. 

It empowers data-driven decisions to improve sustainability, operations, and performance by optimising areas such as energy use, user comfort and safety, maintenance and security.

A centre of innovation 

Aside from the office, the Siemens location is also home to SXEC—the Siemens Xcelerator Experience Center. 

We got to experience the centre ourselves, which is typically visited by customers of Siemens so they can explore, experience, and collaborate with Siemens’ cutting-edge technologies in an immersive and dynamic way. 

The SXEC center also functions as a central hub for customers to explore, experience, collaborate and network in a dynamic environment alongside industry peers.

The space features some of Siemens’ top digitalisation solutions, including digital twinning (also known as virtual commissioning), augmented reality solutions, virtual reality simulation for training purposes, and much more. 

Shaping the future of our nation 

Looking back, there’s no doubt that Siemens has been a part of core developments in our country, such as our LRT systems and semiconductor landscape. 

And they’re not stopping there. Beyond tech developments, they’ve also invested into key CSR initiatives. Specifically, they are focusing on youth education and STEM engagement.

For one, there’s the Girls in Engineering & Technology programme. In collaboration with the Girl Guides Association Malaysia and STEM Academy Malaysia, Siemens will mentor young women aged 13 to 17 by providing access to hands-on workshops, engineering tools, and software simulations. 

Secondly, there’s the STEM Edge Competition 2025. This is a national engineering challenge where students apply Siemens’ industrial design software and AI tools to solve real-world digital challenges. 

The programme will be co-organised with STEM Academy Malaysia, led by Principal Charlene Ong.

“These initiatives reflect our effort to inspire and equip the next generation,” CEO Danze said. “The global battle for talent starts at home, and we must begin by breaking down outdated stereotypes—especially those that prevent girls from entering STEM careers.”

With its new headquarters and social investments, Siemens Malaysia reinforces its role not only as a technology leader but also as a purposeful contributor to the country’s sustainable and inclusive future.

• Learn more about Siemens Malaysia here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: A powerful AI computing solution for enterprises, by this M’sian biz with NVIDIA & Dell

Featured Image Credit: Siemens Malaysia

This M’sian left a 10-yr career to build a pineapple tart biz using his mum’s 40+ Y/O recipes

Many of us would do much in the way of carrying on the family legacy, sharing the teachings and stories of our parents with our children and grandchildren.

After all, is that not how progress is made?

David Wong, however, takes it one step further.

From home kitchens and family recipes

“My earliest memory of baking goes back to when I was around 9 or 10, helping my mother prepare pineapple tarts for Chinese New Year,” said David.

Since his days of cutting dough strips to form the lattice topping of those tarts, to pursuing a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management, David has always been guided by a deep love for his mother and the traditions they shared.

“Though I didn’t go into the hospitality line immediately, I built a strong career and climbed the corporate ladder wearing many hats. But over time, I felt a growing disconnect—I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life in a job that didn’t align with my passion,” shared the 51-year-old.

After 10 years working in property development, David left his career behind and returned to the kitchen, starting small by baking from home and reconnecting with the joys and values his mother had passed down, before being further inspired by a trip to Taiwan where he learnt about square pineapple tarts.

And so, David launched Baker Dave in 2012, a small bakery with a total capital of RM300,000, sourced from his family and business partner, which went into covering rental, renovation, and setup costs, plus sustaining operations for a year, which included staffing, supplies, and overheads.

Two years later, David rebranded his business to Nooks by Baker Dave, a bakery-cafe which he started with just one team member—a deaf and mute worker who David said was “sent into his life by the Almighty,” as it taught him patience, humility, and the value of leading with compassion, shaping the way he runs his business today.

The cafe quickly gained a loyal following of regulars, who David claimed to include mid-level professionals, local artists, politicians, and even royalty.

A tribute of love

Finally, in November 2019, David renamed his cafe to Swee Bee, a tribute to his now 76-year-old mother’s legacy, and the values and lessons she’s passed down that have shaped David’s life and career.

Throughout these transitions, however, Swee Bee has always been an ever-present figure guiding David through his ventures and operations.

“The base recipe of our pineapple tart is 100% my mother’s original—the very one I learnt at her side as a child. I’ve kept it almost entirely unchanged, with one small tweak: I removed the star anise and cinnamon from the pineapple paste.”

“While they were part of her traditional recipe, I found that the spices didn’t suit the wider palate, so I made the call to simplify the flavour. Everything else—from the dough to the texture of the filling—remains as she taught me,” he said.

Another major change is the shape of the pineapple tart itself: square, representing a first in Malaysia which got the brand listed in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The square isn’t just a visual novelty—it’s rich with meaning. In Chinese culture, the square symbolises stability and wealth and also represents the four corners of the world: North, South, East, and West. 

As a proud Malaysian Chinese, this symbolism resonates deeply with me. The Chinese community is spread across the globe, yet no matter how far we go in search of success, we always return home—for reunions, for love, for tradition. 

That homecoming, that gathering, is symbolised by a circle within the square—the family reunion at the heart of the world.

Spreading the love

The brand’s recognitions don’t just end there though, with Swee Bee’s pineapple tarts earning a gold medal at the Malaysia Culinary World Cup. They were also part of the world’s largest cooking competition, listed in the Guinness World Records.

“These accolades are not just wins—they’re a testament to the dedication, craft, and quality we bake into every batch,” David added.

Since receiving these accolades, the brand has grown significantly, now participating in trade fairs, collaborating with various media from Sin Chew Daily to Astro, and becoming a household name around the country.

“I want people to know that Swee Bee is more than just a name or a brand. It’s a tribute to my mother—the woman who sparked my love for baking and instilled in me the values of hard work, precision, and deep respect for tradition. Everything I’ve built today carries her spirit, her strength, and her warmth.”

“Today, her name on the signboard means more than just branding, it’s a daily reminder of where this journey began. Her values, her recipes, and her life lessons continue to shape how I craft each tart, how I lead my team, and how I treat every customer. It’s a living legacy, one that I’m honoured to carry forward.”

• Learn more about Swee Bee here.
• Read our other F&B stories here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Swee Bee

This S’wakian quit engineering to pursue F&B, now his Kuching restaurant has expanded to KL

Located in SS4, Oregano Cafe is a cosy fusion restaurant created by an ice cream cafe by the name of Affogato. 

Interestingly, though, Affogato is not in the Klang Valley area, but in Kuching, which is where the OG Oregano is still standing today. 

Behind Oregano is Hamizan Zaidi (Mizan), who also hails from Kuching, Sarawak. 

“Food has always been a big part of my life,” Mizan expressed. “I’ve always had a soft spot for cafes and how they create space for community and inspiration.” 

Although his passion for cooking and baking has always been strong, he opted to study geological engineering. 

Post-graduation, he began his career in construction, working as a project engineer for about a year. 

But he soon realised that that construction just wasn’t something he could see himself doing in the long run. Thus, he decided to resign and start his first cafe in 2019.

A sweet start 

His first cafe, named Affogato, opened its doors in April 2019.

“As a coffee and ice cream lover, I thought what better way to bring those two passions together? Affogato became a space where I could be creative, experiment with new baked goods, and rotate weekly specials,” he told Vulcan Post.

“Being able to do something I love while making a living out of it was the motivation I needed to start the business.”

From there, came Oregano Café. Established in 2021, the business was somewhat “forced” by the pandemic. 

Given the uncertainty of that era, Mizan was rethinking his business model and realising that ice cream alone wasn’t sustainable. Thus, he started experimenting with more savoury offerings. 

That naturally evolved into what is now Oregano. 

Offering comfort food with a twist, Oregano’s signatures include fusion pastas that incorporate local ingredients such as bunga kantan, daging salai, gula apong, and more. 

Dishes are developed inhouse, curated collaboratively with Mizan and his small but passionate kitchen team. 

From Kuching to KL 

After five years running his F&B brands in Sarawak, Mizan decided it was time to expand. 

“Opening in KL was a big leap, but it felt necessary to grow,” he expressed. 

After all, he had always dreamt of bringing the team’s story to a larger audience, and KL looked to be the perfect platform. Believing in their solid following that also included KL-based customers, Mizan felt validated to take the next step. 

To kickstart Oregano, Mizan himself moved to KL, though he flies back to Kuching as often as he can. He does this in part to keep quality consistent across his outlets. 

“Consistency is always a challenge, but we focus on clear SOPs, proper training, and a strong team culture,” he explained. “I make it a point to stay closely connected with both teams to ensure that our vision and values are felt throughout the entire operation, not just by the management.”

Consistency is key when it comes to quality as well as brand identity. However, even though both Oregano outlets offer fusion pasta, the menu does deviate slightly. 

In the KL location, Oregano serves up Sarawakian dishes such as Sarawak Laksa and Mi Kolok, a wholesome reference to the business’ roots. 

“We also adjust seasonal items depending on ingredient availability, as some items we use in Sarawak aren’t as easy to source in KL,” Mizan added. 

Compared to Kuching, though, KL is much more fast-paced, competitive, and expensive. One big challenge for the team was figuring out how to stand out in a very saturated market. 

“As a relatively unknown brand here, we had to learn quickly how to market ourselves and build relationships within the local scene. Financial pressure, especially post-pandemic, was very real,” he said. 

To introduce their brand to a wider audience, the team has participated in events and pop-ups while collaborating with other brands. 

And of course, they focus on doing what they do best—serving good comfort food with soul, maintaining a strong brand identity, and offering great service. 

“We don’t try to be everything to everyone, which helps us stay grounded,” Mizan said. 

Looking ahead

Especially due to the expansion, the Oregano team hasn’t quite arrived at its break-even point just yet. But Mizan reports that they’ve made steady progress and have been learning a lot along the way. 

“The KL market is competitive and high-cost, but we’re confident that with the right strategy, especially around marketing, collaborations, and customer retention, we’ll get there one day,” he shared.

Looking ahead, the founder aims to stablise the KL outlet and build stronger brand visibility. From then onward, he has dreams of expanding into the retail market by launching Oregano’s own line of sauces, spice blends, and ready-to-eat meals. 

“The strategy is to stay resilient and by having a very solid team,” Mizan said. 

• Learn more about Oregano Cafe here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Oregano Cafe

“The money is staring at us”: Lim Tean on how PAR plans to fund free healthcare & education

As the 2025 General Election heats up, political parties across Singapore have unveiled their manifestos, each outlining plans to address pressing national concerns—and chief among them is the rising cost of living.

Among the boldest proposals so far is that of the opposition coalition, the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR)—Secretary-General Lim Tean pledged that, if elected, PAR would introduce free education, free school meals, and universal healthcare for all Singaporean children.

“It is disgraceful that a so-called First World nation cannot afford free education and free healthcare for its people,” he said in a recent rally.

But how exactly does the party intend to fund such ambitious policies, if they hypothetically were to form the next government? In a live stream with The Daily Ketchup last Friday, Lim addressed these questions.

Working with the budget

According to Lim, Singapore will not have to “tax people further” and “dip into the reserves” to provide free education, school meals, and universal healthcare for all Singaporeans.

“If you know how to count, if you know how to add and subtract, then you can work with the budget,” he said. “The money is staring at us.”

So, where would the funds come from? Lim points to CPF returns.

Lim explained that while the government reportedly earns around 6% on CPF investments, it pays citizens a maximum of 4%. “You have something like, S$13.5 billion between what they earn and what they pay out,” he claimed.

He also added that the government allocates large sums—such as the S$25 billion in the last budget—to endowment and special funds meant for future spending, which could instead be redirected to meet the needs of today’s citizens and potentially fund free education and healthcare for Singaporeans.

“Singapore is the only country in the entire OECD that [does accounting] this way… and I see that as a bad thing,” he said.

They say every generation must be responsible for its own expenses. Then why are you taking the monies earned in this generation and storing it away for future generations, and thereby depriving this generation of what they can enjoy?

Lim Tean, Secretary-General of the People’s Alliance for Reform

Moreover, Lim added that many Singaporeans are growing “increasingly unhappy” as the country’s vast reserves are being saved for a future they may not be part of.

“Our total fertility rate (TFR) is a disastrous 0.97%—so who are we keeping the reserves for? Basically, for new citizens, aren’t we?” he said, pointing out that the foreign and locally born populations are now close to equal in number.

Ideas are one thing, but execution is another

The idea of free education and healthcare is undeniably appealing—but executing such policies is a different ballgame altogether.

Take the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), for example. The NHS offers free healthcare to all citizens, yet it also grapples with well-documented challenges: long waiting times, staff shortages, and strained resources are just a few of the systemic issues that have plagued the service for years.

When asked how PAR planned to overcome similar challenges if the party manages to implement its policies, Lim did not go into specifics.

However, he claimed that Singapore, with its smaller population compared to the UK, can navigate these issues more effectively.

Singapore can certainly do better than [the NHS]. Don’t forget—Britain has 70 million people, [and] Singapore has six. So I think Singapore will do a lot better than Britain.

Lim Tean, Secretary-General of the People’s Alliance for Reform

That said, Singapore—which already heavily subsidises healthcare (though Lim argues it’s far from sufficient)—is itself grappling with hospital bed shortages, a lack of healthcare professionals, and increasingly long waiting times in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic hit its shores.

-//-

Lim is contesting Potong Pasir SMC, and is in a three-way fight against the PAP’s Alex Yeo and Williiamson Lee from the Singapore People’s Party.

In the live stream with The Daily Ketchup, you can find out more about his personal journey and what led Lim to enter politics, among other topics. Watch the full video here:

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Four constituencies where even PAP ministers will face a tough fight

Featured Image Credit: Screengrab from The Daily Ketchup

MITI allegedly “stole” an agency’s design—here’s what creatives can do to protect their work.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to be used or construed as legal advice in any manner whatsoever. All articles have been scrutinised by a practising lawyer from Tristan & Partners to ensure accuracy.

Last week, designer Fey Ilyas took to social media to allege that the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) had “stolen” his creative agency’s concept for the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka without compensation or credit. 

At the time of writing, the post has already gotten over 34,000 likes on Instagram, a sign of the general public’s support of the artist’s claims. 

Here’s what happened. 

“Plagiarism by adaptation”

“The Malaysian Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka is built on stolen creative work,” Fey’s post claims. “Our proposal was appropriated by MITI Malaysia without acknowledgement or compensation.” 

Fey went on to claim that MITI had engaged his company Current Media Group (CMG) as creative consultants in 2022 to develop the concept, theme, narrative, and architectural direction for the 2025 exhibition. The post also shows proof of their proposal decks, which was allegedly proposed to MITI in September 2022. 

“They used our concept. And we prepared the papers, presentations, and submissions documents that got it approved,” Fey elaborated. 

Screenshots of the official Expo 2025 website and the Malaysia Pavilion’s official website showed the same copywriting that Fey’s team had prepared in their proposal. 

Fey argued that the similarities between their proposal and MITI’s official statements are not “coincidental similarity” but a “deliberate reworking of the core idea and intent behind our theme, trimmed down but unmistakably ours.” 

The creative agency also claimed that MITI had used their architectural direction, which was created in collaboration with Japanese architectural firm Kengo Kuma & Associates. 

“We introduced them directly to MITI, crafted the architectural design brief, and actively facilitated the collaboration between both parties,” he said. 

The post alleges that the team worked under tight deadlines for eight months, but then were suddenly dropped in January 2023, and that their work was put up for an open tender. 

“We get it—sometimes plans change. Ideas get scrapped. New directions are taken. If MITI had decided to start over and called for new proposals in their tender, we wouldn’t be here. We would’ve respected that,” the post reads. 

“But that’s not what happened. They continued using the work we developed, and to this day, refuse to acknowledge or compensate us for it.” 

Fey claimed that they’ve met with Tengku Zafrul and the Expo secretariat, and have sent multiple letters including a letter support from Kengo Kuma & Associates addressed directly to the minister. 

“When I tried to speak up publicly, I was blocked by Tengku Zafrul and restricted by the official Expo 2025 Malaysia Instagram page,” he claimed. 

Fey said that they finally received a response that MITI will not be paying them due to a lack of procurement records. 

“We’re not asking for applause,” Fey wrote. “We’re asking not to be stepped on.” 

MITI is investigating

On April 26, MITI released a statement regarding the allegations. 

They acknowledged the allegation pertaining to the Malaysia World Expo concept creation, and stated that MITI is currently “undertaking a thorough investigation to gather and ascertain all relevant facts concerning the allegation made by an individual on social media.” 

“We take this matter very seriously and reserve all our legal rights. MITI remains committed to the highest standards of integrity and compliance in all its dealings. We will take the necessary legal action if and when necessary,” they said. 

How you can protect your work

To understand potential legal repercussions of the situation, we spoke to Tristan Ng, a practising lawyer from Tristan & Partners. 

“Yes, the use of the Expo designs may be considered an infringement of copyright,” he said. “Such designs or concepts may be deemed as literary works which are works eligible for copyright.”

According to Tristan, for infringement of copyright, as long as the work is reproduced or used without the original author/owner’s permission, it is already an infringement. 

“In my view, such proposals may fall under reports or memorandums which is covered by copyright law,” he claimed. 

“If the works are covered under copyright law, the original owner or author may bring a civil action against the wrongdoer seeking for damages, accounts for profit, or an injunction to stop the works from being used further.”

If you’re a creative who has applied for a job or project, you might have experienced preparing and submitting slide decks or documents as proposals or examples of your work. 

But in these situations, how can you ensure that your work won’t be stolen or appropriated?

According to Tristan, there are a few steps you can take: 

1. Have an agreement with the person you are presenting.
2. In such an agreement, include an IP Clause laying down your ownership on all the documents or concepts.
3. If possible, have parties sign a non-disclosure agreement and bind them to confidentiality.
4. Limit disclosure by stating that you will share your full work once an agreement is formalised.
5. Ensure all communication between the author and the party he pitched to is captured in writing.

As creatives ourselves, we empathise with the plight of plagiarism. To other creatives in the field, be sure to take the necessary steps to protect your own creativity and work.  

• Learn more about MITI here.
• Read more legal articles we’ve written here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: Fey Ilyas / MITI

This 70 Y/O M’sian makes unique watches that marry Swiss precision with local culture

From pursuing mechanical engineering in university to running his own watch business with his son, Tuan Haji Zainal Mohd Ali has come a long way since his beginnings in Melaka.

Now, with his sight on the global stage, the septuagenarian hopes to raise the local horology scene with it, without compromising his brand, Fateh Watches’ distinctly Malaysian heritage and identity.

Early hours

Upon completing his academics in mechanical engineering, Tuan Haji Zainal received an offer to undergo professional watchmaking and design engineering training in Geneva, Switzerland.

He then made quick work of his professional watch certification, becoming a consultant for Chinese brand Mei Hua Time Piece before contributing to the manufacturing and quality compliances of a slew of high-end brands such as Longines, Omega, Tissot, Dior, and Fossil, among others.

In 2016, however, the watchmaker turned his sights towards the local horology industry, founding Fateh Time Piece Trading and introducing Malaysians to the Fateh Watches brand with a distinctly Malaysian timepiece.

Setting the clock moving

While performing Hajj in Mecca, Tuan Haji realised a personal challenge: the time-zone difference made it difficult to stay in touch with his family back in Malaysia.

Thus, out of a need for connection and love for his family, Fateh Horology unveiled its first design, Discovery I; a watch that featured two separate time displays, one moving clockwise, and the other counter-clockwise within a single watch. 

“Discovery I became more than just a watch, it was a manifestation of purpose, a bridge between legacy and innovation, and the very foundation of what Fateh Horology would become,” said a spokesperson for Fateh Watches to Vulcan Post.

In the beginning, Tuan Haji sold watches by setting up booths beside shopping malls and participating in local events where he could showcase his early creations to the masses.

Since then, the Fateh brand has evolved significantly, from opening physical spaces in Shah Alam and Cyberjaya to having the torch handed over to Tuan Haji’s youngest son Muhammad Fitry, who now serves as Design Director at Fateh Horology Sdn Bhd., established in October 2024. 

Carrying the torch

Fitry continued his father’s operations, selling watches beside mosques, directly at car showrooms and offices, and through open-booth events. 

But beyond just continuing the journey, Fitry took the initiative to carry the vision forward, immersing himself in joining business networking communities, attending entrepreneurship programmes, and receiving business coaching to bolster his understanding of marketing and strategy.

This initiative by Tuan Haji’s successor was what took the business to the next level, allowing Fateh Watches to gradually expand their reach across Southeast Asia and into international markets, which make up five percent of the business’ current customer base.

Despite this growth into other regions, Fateh has never compromised on its Malaysian identity, even amplifying its uniquely local elements more and more with every watch.

“Every model we create incorporates elements of Malaysian heritage, be it traditional motifs, national symbolism, or locally inspired design language, making each timepiece not just a watch, but a story of our roots,” they said.

Fateh Watches’ latest release, the Strata Edition 01, stays true to this, featuring a refined Songket Bunga Raya pattern and 14 sunray lines on the dial representing the states of Malaysia, a subtle nod to Malaysian diversity and unity.

Priced at RM3,199, the watch features Swiss movement, powered by the renowned SW240 Swiss Engine, and glow-in-the-dark elements for ease of use in dark environments.

With their timepieces being developed entirely in-house, from material selection to final assembly, Fateh Watches has taken full advantage of their level of control on their final product, steadfastly preserving their watches’ Malaysian soul and marrying it with state-of-the-art Swiss precision engineering for an exclusive, quality timepiece.

As such, each Fateh model is only released in limited quantities, carefully crafted with attention to detail—preserving exclusivity and emphasising quality over mass production.

“These differentiators allow Fateh Watches to not only compete but to lead as a pioneer in Malaysia’s emerging horology industry.”

Engineering an industry

Although Fateh Watches has shown impressive growth in recent years, from receiving the prestigious Malaysia Good Design Award for two consecutive years, to developing a sales gallery and flagship boutique, the brand expressed that their sights remain on raising the young local horology industry to global standards.

“At Fateh Horology, our vision for the future is to establish Malaysia as a respected name in the global horology industry not just as a brand, but as a creator of meaningful, high-quality timepieces rooted in culture, innovation, and craftsmanship,” they said, adding goals to increase their international customer base to 20% within the next three years.

“Ultimately, our focus is to build a strong, sustainable brand that contributes to the growth of the horology industry in Malaysia while leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation.”

Indeed, with plans to establish a Horology Institute in Malaysia to “nurture the next generation of local watchmakers and artisans,” and a private showroom to host curated events and exhibitions, Fateh has proven its commitment to fostering the Malaysian horology scene and raising local talent throughout its decade-long story.

“This journey is deeply personal for us—it’s rooted in family, legacy, and national pride. And while we’re still growing, we hope to inspire others to dream big and believe in the power of building something meaningful from within our own country.”

“As a proudly homegrown brand, we believe that Fateh Horology represents a new chapter for Malaysia’s horology industry. We’re not only creating timepieces, we’re building an ecosystem for design, innovation, and local craftsmanship.”

• Learn more about Fateh Watches here.
• Read our other startup stories here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Fateh Watches

GE2025: From jobs to housing, where does each party stand on bread-and-butter issues?

Over the last two weeks, the different political parties in Singapore have been pushing out their manifestos. 

If you don’t know what a manifesto is, it’s essentially a public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate.

In their manifestos, the parties outlined their political beliefs and proposed some key policies, and it’s clear to see that bread-and-butter issues like financial security, jobs and housing matters remain a centrepiece.

Here’s an overview of where the different political parties stand on these issues:

1. Cost of living

2. Jobs & workforce

3. CPF

4. Healthcare

5. Housing

6. Parenthood & education

Check out our GE 2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Four constituencies where even PAP ministers will face a tough fight

Featured Image Credit: HR in Asia / The Sun Daily / The Online Citizen / Ministry of Communications and Information

GE2025: Four constituencies where even PAP ministers will face a tough fight

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

With the General Election just a few days away, it’s clear that different constituencies present a different challenge for incumbents from the PAP, WP and PSP.

The ruling party has the advantage of being able to field cabinet ministers, who run the country and are visible in the media on a regular basis.

But it would be a mistake to think that it means that their fight for re-election is going to be easy—at least not in all cases.

Here are four constituencies where heavyweight PAP ministers will face a stiff challenge from the opposition:

West Coast-Jurong West GRC

Abandoned by his senior colleague, who ended up in jail for accepting expensive gifts from billionaire Ong Beng Seng in breach of the law, the PAP anchor minister in this constituency is Desmond Lee.

As I wrote in a previous article, he must be one of the more unlucky candidates, as he is defending the most narrowly contested constituency in 2020, while being let down by S Iswaran.

At just 48, Lee likely has a long political career ahead, but this campaign won’t be easy. He’s up against Progress Singapore Party’s Tan Cheng Bock, who is contesting in his Western stronghold once again.

The constituency boundaries have shifted slightly in PAP’s favour, but the fallout from the Iswaran saga could dent voter confidence, making this one of the most high-stakes battles of GE2025.

East Coast GRC

This was another closely contested constituency in 2020, albeit modified this time after absorbing Joo Chiat from Marine Parade.

The new PAP anchor minister for this constituency is Edwin Tong, who heads the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, and is also the Second Minister for Law.

Workers’ Party put up a surprisingly good fight here five years ago, scoring 46.6% against a team helmed by Heng Swee Keat himself.

And while DPM Heng is retiring, WP has also had to let go of Nicole Seah (who led the team last time) due to the extramarital affair with Leon Perera, which rocked the party in the last term.

However, PAP shouldn’t expect an easy contest, as Minister Tong will face Yee Jenn Jong, a WP veteran who once lost the Joo Chiat SMC by just 388 votes (in 2011) and served as a Workers’ Party NCMP until 2015.

Considering past trends of gradually narrowing gaps, the result could be very close this year—perhaps even closer than in 2020.

Punggol GRC

This is the constituency you would probably want to devote the most attention to this year, after the Workers’ Party decided to field its star candidate for this election, senior counsel Harpreet Singh, here.

Given the proximity to Sengkang, which WP won last time, the party will be hoping to upset the PAP, which deployed DPM and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong to anchor the team at the last minute, replacing retiring Teo Chee Hean.

If that proves to be insufficient, losing both DPM Gan and hugely popular MP and Senior Minister of State, Sun Xueling, could be one of the most painful blows the PAP could suffer this election.

On the other hand, if it wins, it would be a sorely disappointing defeat for WP, which has placed much hope in Harpreet Singh.

It will be the proving ground for the electoral strategies of both parties.

Tampines GRC

Finally, a tactical move by the Workers’ Party: sending Faisal Manap, the Vice-Chairman of the Workers’ Party and an MP speaking up often on Malay Muslim affairs, to lead a team against the PAP’s Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Masagos Zulkifli, who has anchored the area for the ruling party for nearly 20 years now.

Given the higher proportion of Malay population in the area (at 23.6%, as reported by The Straits Times), hot-button issues—including the war in Gaza and Singapore’s stance on it—may dominate the electoral discourse here.

With controversies swirling about the topics of race and religion being used in this election, the outcome is difficult to predict.

What works in PAP’s favour is the fact that the constituency is up for a four-cornered fight, with People’s Power Party and National Solidarity Party contesting it as well, which is likely to lead to some dilution of the opposition vote.

WP is probably risking more than the PAP, given that it sent one of its highest-ranking members out of the safety of Aljunied GRC, and if he fails, it would likely put him out of politics for at least five years, if not permanently.

Notable mention: Chua Chu Kang

While nobody expects CCK to be a particularly close race, the last-minute exchange of ministers, with Tan See Leng being moved from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights after it became clear it was a walkover, and DPM Gan moving to Punggol, may sour some voters slightly.

And the PAP is up against PSP here, which was a new brand in Singapore politics five years ago, but has since managed to establish itself, chiefly through the outspoken NCMP, Leong Mun Wai.

While it doesn’t field any particularly strong names here—reserving them for the close fight in the West Coast—the party name alone could attract more voters this time than in 2020.

High risk, high reward

As you can see, not even big names with impressive careers are immune to outside challenges. That said, the opposition parties face more risks this year than they usually do.

While the PAP is risking the careers of a few of its ministers, PSP is keeping its eggs in one basket on the West Coast, keeping Tan Cheng Bock, Leong Mun Wai, and Hazel Poa on the same team, rather than trying to leverage their popularity to challenge the ruling party elsewhere.

Together, they may attract more voters, but if they fail, they will all fail together and may no longer retain their NCMP positions if the race is not as tight as in 2020.

WP, on the other hand, has put its Vice-Chairman’s career on the line in Tampines, while making a last-minute gamble with Harpreet Singh—whom it invested so much time and effort in—moving him from Marine Parade to Punggol GRC only to face a strong PAP response just minutes later.

Whatever the outcome, some big names from either side may be forced to leave politics when the votes are counted on May 4.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: Handwritten names and empty stages: How GE2025 took an unexpected turn

Featured Image Credit: ELD/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

Can businesses legally ban or turn a customer away in Malaysia? Here’s what the law says.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to be used or construed as legal advice in any manner whatsoever. All articles have been scrutinised by a practising lawyer from Tristan & Partners to ensure accuracy.

If you’ve been around the internet in any capacity, then you’ve no doubt at least heard “Karen” be used as a slang term before.

Rather unfortunately for those actually named Karen, the word has entered English dictionaries as an insult to anyone who showcases entitled behaviour through public displays of criticism and complaints. And, notably, not of the civil kind.

Businesses tend to be the most frequent “victims” of these kinds of individuals.

But would they legally be able to refuse their services to them, or anyone for that matter, under any circumstances?

A “fundamental liberty”

Unlike the last few articles in our legal column, there actually wasn’t an immediate clear answer to this one.

A quick Google search would point you in the direction of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 as well as the Registration of Business Act 1956, however, neither of those actually cover our topic of discussion.

For that, we’ll have to look all the way back to article eight of our Federal Constitution, which touches on equality.

Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, states the following:

Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.

In other words, so long as you’re not turning down a customer based on their gender, beliefs, colour of their skin, or country of origin, you’re good to go.

You can bid adieu to the troublemakers who take “the customer is always right” a little too seriously.

But that brings us on to another interesting question: what happens when you violate the constitution?

Not quite the same, but…

The Federal Constitution actually makes no reference to the punishment dealt in cases such as these.

But what we can do is look at a certain instance from the past.

Back in 2014, Malay Mail reported on a case where a woman, Noorfadilla Ahmad Saikin, sued the government for refusing to employ her as a temporary teacher in light of her pregnancy.

She was awarded RM300,000 in damages for a breach of her constitutional right to gender equality. Additional fees were also charged to account for her loss of earnings, EPF, EPF dividends, compensation for “pain and suffering,” as well as costs.

This, Noorfadilla’s lawyer Honey Tan noted, was a first for the country as prior to this, damages paid for breach of constitutional rights had “never” been dealt before.

But that being the case, she would later add that “Malaysian courts refuse to hold private actors like companies liable for breach of constitutional rights.”

In particular, she made reference to Beatrice Fernandez’s case where Beatrice had sued her former employer, Malaysia Airlines, for firing her after she became pregnant and refused to resign.

“To date, the courts are following the decision in Beatrice Fernandez that held that citizens can only bring a claim for breach of constitutional rights if the party doing the discrimination is a public authority,” she explained.

The golden rule

It goes without saying, of course, that this by no means is any excuse for businesses to suddenly swing things in the opposite direction.

Practically speaking, a business that treats themself as king won’t last for very long as potential customers would simply flock to competitors instead.

If a customer is respectful, then treat them with respect (even if they are a bit clueless and holding up the line a bit).

If they aren’t? Show them the door.

It’s as the saying goes. Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

• Read other articles we’ve written law here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: @DFEfiercefun (X) / Images used under licence from Shutterstock

This SS2 cafe was recognised as the “best” coffee shop in Malaysia. Here’s their story.

A couple months ago, a new global award took the world of coffee by storm—The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops. 

One Malaysian business emerged in the top 10 of that list of 100, sitting at ninth in the world. 

And that business is ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha in SS2. 

A master brewer 

Shaun Liew is the co-founder of ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha. But he’s not just that. 

The man also runs his own roastery, Curate Coffee Roasters. His coffee career was built upon his accolades as Malaysia Brewer’s Cup Champion 2017 and 2019. Apart from that, he’s also a graduate in both Masters and Degree in Hospitality Management. 

And before entering the specialty coffee industry, Shaun was actually a university lecturer, teaching food & beverage operations and event management. He was also previously a co-founder of popular F&B brands Yellow Brick Road cafe and Wizards at Tribeca.

Today, of course, he’s focusing on his core businesses, ONO & Curate Coffee Roasters. Yet, outside of ONO, Shuan still gets the odd cafe and restaurant consultancy job as well. 

Onto ONO 

ONO got its start back in December 2021 when the local cafe industry had been booming, with new shops mushrooming everywhere across Malaysia. 

But this period also saw many businesses closing down, including Shaun’s. 

“During that year my previous business partners and I decided to sell off our business (Wizards at Tribeca) as it was financially heavy to sustain the business in an uncertain future,” Shaun explained. 

It was a time marred with several lockdowns, which severely impacted dine-in restaurants and eateries, especially those without many neighbourhood crowds. 

“At that time, I needed to chart out my own career path for my own future,” Shaun explained. 

Coincidentally, a friend—Syun, the co-founder of Niko Neko Matcha, who was a supplier for Shaun’s other businesses—had approached him. 

Syun asked Shaun the fateful question of whether he’d be keen to open a cafe with him. Here, they’d focus on specialty coffee and matcha, both executed at the same level. 

After all, Syun was good at matcha, and Shaun was good at coffee. Why not combine both their expertise and start a shop offering the best of both worlds? 

Seeing an opportunity to create something new, ONO was created. 

The story of ONO 

According to Shaun, the word “ONO” means “you” in Japanese. This reflects ONO’s mission of creating a memorable experience through great food and drinks for their customers and team. 

Shaun pointed out that their Instagram handle is @story.of.ono, referring to the “story of you.” 

“At our store, we do our best to understand our customer’s preferences and recommend to them what we feel is the best to match that preference,” he explained. 

“We want to connect as much as we can with our customers and also be able to build a positive relationship which could in turn [make them] regular customers at our store.”

Initially, ONO only served specialty coffee and matcha, as well as signature drinks and Japanese sandos (sandwiches). As time passed, market demands shifted, with more people seeking hot foods and desserts. 

True to their ethos of connections, they hired a head chef to curate a more wholesome menu, while adding more seats to accommodate a larger capacity. 

But adding to the menu means nothing without consistency and quality. That’s why ONO prioritises comprehensive training, ensuring the whole team is always aligned with the business’ values and direction. 

To be one of the best

Creating ONO, the vision had always been to become one of the best cafes in the world offering both good quality specialty coffee as well as matcha.

This ambition, it appears, has culminated in the cafe’s recognition by the World’s Top 100 Best Coffee Shops Award 2025, where they were crowned as the ninth best in the world and second best in Asia. 

“This gave us the validation despite being one of the younger cafes which were awarded as the Top 100,” Shaun expressed. 

Of course, the journey doesn’t end with the award. From here on out, ONO will strive to continue to do their best, continually improving with the future in mind. 

Shaun humbly and gratefully acknowledges the award, but definitely believes that there’s still plenty of room to grow and become better. 

“To me, continuous improvement is what makes us better every day and we will continue to do our best to become the best in the world in the near future,” he said.

Up against a robust scene

The fact that the list mentions not one, not two, but three Malaysian coffee shops is a testament to the cafe culture in Malaysia. Visiting cafes and drinking curated beverages has become a way of life here, and due to that, competition has become fiercer. 

Quality, Shaun believes, is still the ultimate factor for standing out. “In the end, if a cafe is able to deliver consistent quality products and service, this is what drives people to come back because they won’t be disappointed.”

Of course, there are other things too, like a unique offering (such as ONO’s combination of both high-quality coffee and matcha drinks) and a strong branding. 

Like many F&B businesses, though, one big deterrent is still labour. Even the best coffee shop in Malaysia has a hard time locking down quality talents, it seems. 

“Many of us find that the locals do not fancy being part of our industry. Even if they do, they only want to be part of it for a very short time before jumping to a different or similar industry,” he explained. 

They have their reasons, of course, and Shaun knows it. For one, he understands that it could be due to the high stress levels involved as well as the pay. 

“To overcome this problem, we do our best to treat our team like a family,” he said. “Provide them a better work-life balance. Give them proper training and guidance. Pay them well and also most important is to take care of the team’s welfare.”

So, what’s next for ONO, now that they’ve been recognised on a world stage? Well, things appear to be business as usual for the team. 

They do intend to expand their existing kitchen though to offer more food offerings.

“We will also look forward to another outlet, maybe next year?” Shaun mused. “It all depends on the market situation.”

• Learn more about ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha

Ong Ye Kung: Singapore must be decisive, but with checks & balances

It was just yesterday (April 23) that the candidates for the general elections were announced, and things are heating up.

From a shocking walkover to multi-cornered fights, Singapore is expecting fierce contests between political parties for potential parliamentary seats, with numerous factors influencing the outcome.

Singaporeans are concerned about the US tariffs

An issue that has dominated headlines leading up to GE2025 is the US tariffs, which have since significantly disrupted the global trade system. However, some believe that the average Singaporean might not understand its impact.

Singapore’s Minister of Health, Ong Ye Kung, who previously served as the Deputy Trade Negotiator behind the Singapore-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), shared his worries on a live stream with The Daily Ketchup.

Mr Ong started by saying that the introduction of the tariffs had raised questions on whether the rules of free trade are bound to change and how the international trade system will continue to operate, which is highly dependent on how other countries respond to it.

However, it brings a “long period of uncertainty,” which directly affects the global economy and job market.

“I am hearing from several sectors that people are saying that things are slow. There’s no investments [coming in], people are holding back, even real estate agents are telling me that it’s hard to see transactions.”

As Singapore is heavily reliant on trade for its growth, the city-state plays an active role in the international ecosystem. This creates a domino effect that encourages other world leaders and trade ministers to understand the overall sentiment and engage in free trade.

Checks and balances are necessary in Parliament

Navigating global issues is often complex, and Singaporeans look to their country’s leadership for guidance and direction.

However, as the city-state has a dominant party, the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has held the majority for decades, some have questioned whether the Parliament lacks diversity in views.

Mr Ong, who is currently running under the PAP as an anchor minister for Sembawang GRC, shares the same sentiment.

“If any parliament is just one party, surely there is a lack of diversity. Nobody will argue against that,” he said. “So, therefore, I think we have to embrace the fact that people want some different views.”

In GE2020, Singapore witnessed a surge in opposition voices in Parliament, with the Workers’ Party securing 12 seats and the Progress Singapore Party gaining two seats under the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme.

Reflecting on the performance of the previous Parliament, Mr Ong believes that the politics has been “stable” and there is discourse amongst different members.

On one hand, I feel that the PAP can still be decisive, we can still adapt, we can still move quite fast for a small country. On the other hand, we can’t push things around and bulldoze things, because there is a check and balance, so much so that these days, when we put out a legislation, we have to think about what the opposition would say.

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung speaking on a livestream on The Daily Ketchup

Impact of the opposition getting 1/3 of the seats

Some netizens have also spoken out online, expressing the need for a stronger opposition in Parliament, with the hopes of them occupying one-third of the seats. However, Mr Ong remains wary of having more opposition voices, as that could result in an adverse outcome.

On the livestream with The Daily Ketchup, he explained the opposition will continue to be loyal, but once they occupy one-third of the seats, they might harbour a new ambition to become the majority party in Singapore and obstruct the current government.

Over the years, the world has seen cracks in democratic countries, notably the US and the UK, which are marked by political turmoil. A global watchdog warned in its report that the US could lose its democratic status, and 63% of the UK’s young adults believed that democracy is “in trouble.”

However, the US and the UK are global superpowers, with populations and geographical size vastly larger compared to the tiny red dot, which implies that there is a high probability that Singapore may not survive similar levels of chaos experienced in larger and more mature democracies.

Chaos doesn’t work for us, we are already small and that’s a disadvantage. If we are small and chaotic, finish lah! At least be small and decisive, but with checks and balances.

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung on The Daily Ketchup podcast

-//-

During the live stream, Mr Ong also spoke about a range of other topics—including some lighthearted ones, such as his MBTI personality type. You can catch the full stream here:

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: Handwritten names and empty stages: How GE2025 took an unexpected turn

Featured Image Credit: The Daily Ketchup

GE2025: Singapore could have 4 parties in the Parliament, as SDP tries to break the dry spell

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

In 2020, Singapore saw a third party enter Parliament, with the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) securing two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats after narrowly losing to the People’s Action Party (PAP) in the tightly contested West Coast GRC.

This year, another surprise could be in the works, as the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is aiming to end its nearly 30-year absence from Parliament.

It put up a strong showing last time—Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan garnered over 45% of the vote in Bukit Batok SMC, while Chairman Paul Tambyah did even better with 46.27% in Bukit Panjang.

An early blow came when Bukit Batok was removed from the electoral map, but Chee’s move to Sembawang West still leaves him with a shot.

Two seats in contention

SDP is fielding 11 candidates across four constituencies for GE2025, but a win in Marsiling-Yew Tee—held by Lawrence Wong—or in the three-way battle in Sembawang, against Minister Ong Ye Kung’s team and the National Solidarity Party (NSP), looks like a long shot, especially with the opposition vote likely to split.

This is likely why SDP’s top two—Chee in Sembawang West and Tambyah in Bukit Panjang—are both contesting in single-member constituencies, setting up direct, one-on-one fights with PAP candidates.

After earlier, underwhelming attempts to take on GRCs, the party shifted tactics a decade ago—and saw their results improve.

In 2015, their team in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC managed to secure just 33% of the vote. But five years later, individual performances jumped by more than 10 percentage points.

This time, Paul Tambyah is aiming to narrow that gap even further in a rematch against PAP’s Liang Eng Hwa, who won the last round with a slim 7.46% majority.

Chee Soon Juan’s strategy is harder to read, but his trajectory has been upward—from 38% in his 2016 by-election debut against Murali Pillai, to 45.20% in 2020.

With his former constituency dissolved, Chee Soon Juan has moved to Sembawang West, where he’s up against a relatively new face in the PAP lineup: Poh Li San—a former aide-de-camp to President S.R. Nathan and RSAF helicopter pilot, who entered Parliament as a Sembawang GRC MP in 2020.

Though she heads the PAP’s Sembawang West branch and was a grassroots volunteer in the area before becoming an MP, this will be Poh Li San’s first time running as a standalone candidate, against a well-known, if thus far unsuccessful, opposition figure.

It could be a tight race.

Direct victory is not necessary

What’s important to note is that neither of SDP’s frontrunners needs to win outright to enter Parliament. Under the NCMP scheme, opposition parties are guaranteed at least 12 seats, even if they don’t win any constituencies directly.

In 2020, after the Workers’ Party secured 10 elected seats, the Progress Singapore Party filled the remaining two NCMP spots thanks to its narrow loss to the PAP in West Coast GRC.

However, neither party can be certain of retaining those positions. WP’s team in Sengkang has been shaken by the Raeesah Khan scandal, while PSP’s Leong Mun Wai was hit with a POFMA correction order last year.

Tan Cheng Bock’s support for outsider Tan Kin Lian in the 2023 presidential race may not have helped either, even as the PAP contends with the fallout from the S. Iswaran scandal.

If other opposition parties falter, it could open the door for either Chee Soon Juan or Paul Tambyah to clinch at least one NCMP seat, especially if their contests against the PAP are tighter than before.

In fact, both came close to meeting the threshold for best-performing losing candidates five years ago.

While most attention is on the Workers’ Party’s showdown with the PAP (some eyes are turning to the West too, to see if PSP can outperform its last showing), the Singapore Democratic Party shouldn’t be counted out for a surprise of its own.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Punggol GRC is the Workers’ Party’s biggest opportunity but also the toughest fight

Featured Image Credit: The Singapore Democratic Party/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

GE2025: What is a sample count and is it even accurate?

Singapore is well into the election season and is set to hold its general election (GE) on May 3.

Now that we are about a week away from Polling Day, here’s an explainer on a sample count—what is it and how does it differ from the election result? 

After all the votes are cast, Singaporeans will be anticipating the results of the election. However, before the votes are counted, a sample count is performed first.

What is a sample count?

A sample count provides an early indication of the possible election results.

After voting closes, ballot papers from the islandwide polling stations will be put in sealed boxes and transported to counting centres. 

A counting assistant picks up 100 random ballot papers from each polling station and counts the number of votes for each candidate or group (in the case of GRCs). 

The votes will then be added up and weighted according to the number of votes cast at each polling station. 

The results from the sample count will then be disseminated to the media and published on the Elections Department (ELD) website.

Why do we need a sample count?

The sample count aims to prevent unnecessary speculation and reliance on unofficial sources while the counting process is still underway. 

GE2015 marked the first time the sample counts were released to all the Group Representation Constituencies and Single-Member Constituencies. 

Prior to that, sample counts were conducted for internal use by the ELD only. In the 2011 election, candidates could request for the sample count to be made known to them. 

Releasing the sample counts to the public is even more relevant for the GE2025, when a large population of the electorate is more networked and media-savvy. This could lead to the proliferation of unreliable information. 

How accurate is a sample count?

In the 2015 elections, sample counts closely mirrored the final results, with discrepancies ranging from 0 to 3%.

Similarly, in GE2020, the deviations between the sample counts and final results were also relatively small—mostly falling within 0 to 4 percentage points. 

Hence, if one political party is ahead by a larger margin, it is highly likely that they will take the constituency.

If the difference in votes between candidates contesting a constituency is 2% or less, an automatic recount will be carried out. Previously, candidates or counting agents had to apply for a recount.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and more here.

Also Read: GE2025: What happens if you don’t vote on Polling Day in Singapore?

Featured Image Credit: Petir.sg/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

An ode to my fave K-BBQ spot in Ara Damansara, who won’t reply to my interview questions

One fateful day five months ago, I came across a post promoting a new Korean restaurant by the name of Jojo Sikdang in Ara Damansara. 

The food looked good, and I frequent that area, so it was a no-brainer to try. At the same time, I wanted to reach out and have an interview with the founders, curious to know more about the business I was patronising.

After getting in touch with their team, I sent out my interview request. Sadly, I haven’t been able to maintain contact. And yet, every now and again, I’ll message them a little follow up, in hopes that they would reply. 

In this period of waiting, I’ve visited Jojo not once, not twice, but four times. Heck, I even went for my birthday celebration. 

And despite not knowing it was my birthday the next day, the kind storeowner gave us some 서비스 (seobiseu)—dishes on the house—saying that it paired well with the makgeoli (rice wine). It was silken tofu with grilled kimchi and pork. Insane pairing. Devastatingly delicious. 

Moved by this kindness, I feel compelled to tell you about this busines—even though they won’t tell me about themselves.

Here’s what I know 

One unique menu item at Jojo Sikdang’s offerings is its kkot sam—thinly sliced pork belly shaped into a flower. 

Jojo might just be one of the only places in Malaysia that offers the dish. Now, it’s nothing too different from the usual pork belly, but it’s certainly just as thin, delicate, tender, and delicious as good pork belly typically is—but more on the food later. 

The owners appear to be a couple from South Korea, with the lady boss having appeared on social media content. Meanwhile, the husband is someone I’ve encountered multiple times in the store. 

The uncle is always attentive and present, and often jokes with us (such as when my friend did some cool party tricks with the soju).  

While the team hasn’t replied to my interview questions, they have mentioned that it’s a family business. From there, I learnt I was liaising with the owner’s daughter, but that’s the extent of all the factual information I have.

In my four visits there, I’ve always encountered the same few waitstaff, which to me shows that turnover rate isn’t high so hopefully conditions are decent. They’re always super helpful, too, stepping in unprompted whenever they spot us struggling. 

About the food 

Sentiments also appear to be varying online, with some saying they dislike the food or find the meat too thinly sliced.

Taste is subjective, though, and my taste says that Jojo Sikdang offers some of the best Korean food I’ve had. And I just went to Korea in March.

Their meats are served with a tray of refillable sides (or banchan), including kimchi, jeon (pancake), garlic, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), lettuce, and perhaps most unique is the pajeori, which is a spicy green onion salad. 

Instead of wrapping a lettuce around the meat, you can wrap the salad with your meat for a refreshing, slightly tangy bite. 

The flavour of the (refillable!) kimchi is to my liking, but again, that’s pretty subjective. I wish I could tell you that it was fermented using generations-old recipes, but alas, I know nothing of the history of the business.

Now, to address some concerns. Why use foil? Well, Jojo Sikdang uses it to keep the meat tender and juicy and to prevent charring. 

(Not to sound pretentious, but local places in Korea also use foil—it’s perfectly “authentic” in casual contexts.) 

Beyond their classic kkot sam (RM27), other signature cuts include the kkot moksal (thinly sliced pork shoulder), and one of my favourites, the yangnyum moksal (soy sauce-marinated pork shoulder) which is priced at RM28. 

Note that getting two servings of meat gives you a small discount. 

I also really, really recommend their kimchi jiggae (kimchi soup), which is umami and salty, but not spicy. It’s RM25 and comes with a fair amount of pork. Perfect with a bowl of white rice (RM5). 

The RM18 steamed eggs are also delicious—fluffy and bursting with cheese. 

If you drink, they have some decent offerings, too. For RM28 each, they have Cass beer, perfect for lager lovers, as well as Korean classics soju and makgeoli. 

There’s also a unique lemon soju (RM33), which isn’t flavoured soju like you might think, but straight up just plain soju mixed in with lemon juice inside an aluminium kettle. There’s also cucumber soju, which I haven’t tried but believe is the same concept.

I wouldn’t call this pricing “affordable,” but I do think it’s good value for your money. It’s a nice environment with friendly people and delicious food. What more could I ask for?

Call me, maybe 

The truth is, I do feel sidelined by the fact that Jojo Sikdang forgot about (or has elected to ignore) little old me. 

What’s in it for me? Well, I’m not sure. More than curiosity, I just believe that their story is worth being told. 

Here at Vulcan Post, we often share stories of Malaysian startups and SMEs. Now and again, though, these small businesses would tell us that they don’t feel like they’re big enough to talk to the media. 

So maybe this article is a cry into the void to go against that thought. Perhaps it’s an occupational hazard, but I really believe there’s always a story somewhere, you just have to find and tell it. 

Yes, these businesses don’t owe me anything. Still, I hope that perhaps one day, I’ll get to share the stories behind businesses such as Jojo Sikdang. 

• Learn more about Jojo Sikdang here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: Jojo Sikdang

How this M’sian ended up opening a fresh pasta bar on the 3rd floor of a a PJ office building

The third floor of an office building in PJ might seem like an unlikely spot to find freshly made pasta, but that’s exactly where you’ll find San Lou Pasta Bar. 

Behind the pasta bar is 32-year-old Stephen, whose journey in F&B started a long time ago. 

Growing up in Mentakab, a small town in Pahang, Stephen was surrounded by food. His family has always been in the business, with his grandparents running a catering service and school canteen, while his parents sold satay and chicken rice. 

“I started helping out when I was just seven,” he said. “Growing up surrounded by food didn’t just teach me recipes; it ignited a passion that shaped my entire journey in the F&B industry.”

It was no surprise that he took up a culinary diploma and went on to work at Basilico, an Italian restaurant in Singapore’s Regent Hotel. 

His entrepreneurial journey only began after returning from Singapore during MCO, though. 

Back in his hometown, Stephen began selling door-to-door bento deliveries, and later expanded to selling ready-to-eat foods such as frozen meat rolls, burger patties, and stuffed dou pok at his hometown’s wet market. 

From there, he opened a stall at a hawker centre serving pork burgers and simple cafe pastas like bolognese and cream carbonara. 

“Only to discover my hometown’s aunties and uncles were strictly Team Wanton Mee, not Team Pasta,” he said. 

Believing in his vision, though, Stephen moved his operations to Kuala Lumpur. With a condo-kitchen setup, he sold frozen food and bento deliveries to offices. 

Bit by bit, demand grew, and he upgraded into a proper kitchen space at Infinity Tower. It was originally meant to be a central kitchen, but things suddenly changed when MCO officially ended and dining trends shifted. People were out and about, sick of deliveries and home cooking. 

“I faced my toughest challenge yet. With limited capital, all the equipment I’d bought for the central kitchen, and a whole lot of unwillingness to give up at that point, I made my final pivot with one thought in my head: ‘Die jiu die la—better than nothing!’”

So, Stephen locked in and focused on what he knew best: pasta. 

Offering a local twist 

Drawing from his experience at Basilico, Stephen transformed the space into San Lou Pasta Bar.

The spot specialises in Asian-Italian fusion pasta cuisine, balancing authentic Italian techniques with local inspirations. 

One of their best sellers include the Kambing Stew Rigatoni, which reimagines Stephen’s grandmother’s lamb chop recipe in pasta form. 

“As a Malaysian Chinese running an Italian restaurant, I realised simply claiming ‘authenticity’ might not convince everyone,” he shared. “So instead, we celebrate both worlds with our slogan: ‘preserving heritage, embracing local,’ where my culinary training meets my cultural roots on every plate.”

Some other interesting menu items include the Burrata Bingsu, 8 Spices School Prawn, and Chili Crab pasta, amongst other starred dishes. 

About 80% of the menu is handmade, Stephen revealed, from their signature tagliatelle and tortelloni pastas to all the sauces. 

Making things fresh also means costlier operations, though. This is especially the case since San Lou uses key ingredients that are imported from Italy. 

Despite this, the team endeavours not to raise their prices frequently. 

Stephen explained, “When setting our menu prices, we intentionally keep them more economical and friendly—partly because our restaurant ambience isn’t fancy or atas, but more importantly because we genuinely want to serve good pasta that remains affordable for everyone.”

A dedicated service

Since San Lou’s location was initially meant to be a central kitchen, it’s not really the most suitable spot for a restaurant. 

There are challenges such as less footfall, which not just affects customers but also labour.

Seeing the silver lining, Stephen shared, “But over time, we’ve realised some customers appreciate our unconventional location. Many tell us they enjoy the experience of discovering what feels like a hidden spot in the city.”

Fresh pasta has become quite a popular undertaking in Malaysia, though, from roadside stalls to kiosk-styled stores offering it. 

But Stephen believes that San Lou’s promise of genuine homemade care at fair prices makes them stand out. 

“Every detail—from the food and service to the cutlery customers use—reflects our dedication,” he insisted. “We polish our cutlery daily, and only serve dishes made fresh. If the quality of any ingredient falls short, we won’t use it.” 

The team also takes pride in their service: Every dish is thoughtfully explained so guests can fully appreciate what they’re enjoying and the effort behind it. 

“From start to finish, we aim to deliver an experience that’s both heartfelt and high-quality, because we believe that’s what truly makes a place special,” he determined. 

Not in it for the dough

Currently, the San Lou team comprises five dedicated members including full-timers, part-timers, and family members. 

As time goes on, though, Stephen has every intention of expanding the team. He’s specifically looking to hire two key talents—a full-time front-of-house staff to enhance service, and a full-time kitchen staff to strengthen their kitchen team. 

But like most F&B businesses, manpower is a struggle. 

“There are days we even rely on family members to pitch in,” he pointed out. 

“But this makes our customer loyalty even more meaningful: My proudest achievement isn’t just surviving, but that over 70% of our customers are return guests who bring friends and family. When people come back for your pasta—not just once, but repeatedly—you know you’re doing something right despite the hurdles.”

With a stronger, more permanent team, Stephen has ambitions to expand San Lou. This involves not just expanding their menu, but also the restaurant’s facilities and atmosphere. 

Evolving from his humble bento deliveries, he now hopes to deliver authentic Italian cooking with localised flavours to the masses.  

• Learn more about San Lou Pasta Bar here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: San Lou Pasta Bar

These M’sians hope to make tuak our national liquor by bringing them into Klang Valley bars

Over the years, my drink of choice has evolved significantly.

From the broke college days of vodka and coke to having a glass (or two) of Moscato every other night, my choice of poison has reflected my state of life, being a loyal evolving companion throughout my journey (you might see this as addiction, I see it as growth).

The latest development? Tuak!

A sweet yet subtle liquor that offers complex flavours and a smooth drinking experience, quickly making it my go-to drink at bars and speakeasies, it eventually led me on a search for the best tuak out there.

Enter Tuak Alus

I first learnt about Tuak Alus at one of their pop-ups held at The Row KL.

“Would you like to try our tuak?” said the seller, offering a selection of three flavours.

And how could I say no to free drinks? (Please note that I am not an alcoholic. I just like good booze, there’s a difference.)

As I had always liked pandan I had chosen to go with that first.

Even before taking a sip from the plastic shot cup it was poured into, the delightful tropical and creamy aromas of pandan wafted up my nose, adding to the complex flavours of the rich and sweet yet boozy rice wine.

The same delights were imparted by Tuak Alus’ two other flavours, Indu and Laki, offering a sweet palm sugar profile and a stronger boozier flavour respectively.

And although I was already rather familiar with the Sarawakian liquor, Tuak Alus’ complex notes enticed me enough to pitch their story to my editor, which is why you’re currently reading this.

Humble beginnings

First founded by three friends (two Sarawakians and a self-proclaimed tuak lover), Tuak Alus came about from a feeling of homesickness.

“Tuak Alus began with a shared commitment to recreating the taste that held endless memories during Gawai. Coupled with a fiery passion for Sarawakian culture, we felt the world needed to experience this traditional drink too,” founders Ayden Chong and Raffly Langi told Vulcan Post.

Before founding Tuak Alus, Ayden was in marketing before switching over to recruitment, which he’s been doing for the past five years, along with a side gig running a durian and coffee business.

Kuching-born master brewer Raffly, however, holds a much different story. He was working as a service engineer since 2014 until being retrenched during the COVID pandemic led him to fully commit to Tuak Alus.

“It all started in a condo room with just the passion to brew and R&D a high-quality tuak here in Semenanjung,” said the founders, adding that a mere RM1,000 was invested as capital from their own savings.

“After countless R&D sessions (and drunk ones too), we developed our own yeast strain that gives Tuak Alus its smooth yet strong taste. In Iban, Alus means ‘smooth’—and that’s how the name came to be.”

“We shared it with friends and family, and soon, people began requesting more and buying from us. That’s how we began building the brand from scratch,” said the duo.

Soon enough, the brand began serving cocktail bars, wedding events, and even Borneo-themed festivals, like the Harvest Festival events.

Thus, they officially set up Tuak Alus and opened a shared office space in Kuching. Here, they work on selling tuak that is brewed with locally sourced ingredients that support the communities there.

Keeping the pace

Since their early days, Tuak Alus has gone from participating at events via pop-up booths to delivering their products across the country.

Despite tuak being a lot more accessible in bars and restaurants across the peninsula, the duo remarked on the growing competition as part of a close-knit community, supporting each other with ideas and solutions to grow tuak as a category.

And although the brand has been successful in bringing tuak to a diverse audience, their sights remain on the communities that carry on the legacy of the indigenous Sarawakian population that first made the drink.

From hosting pre-Gawai celebrations to Bornean dinners, Tuak Alus has proven itself as not just some business hoping to capitalise on indigenous cultures, but also as an honest move to preserve and inject Sarawakian tradition into an increasingly homogenous society.

“We’re not just selling rice wine—we’re representing Borneo’s heritage and culture, passed down through generations. Our recipes are adapted from family traditions, refined through years of R&D.”

Looking forward, the duo hopes to eventually open a physical experience store, where people can see how they brew and learn about the process firsthand, with further plans to expand their reach to neighbouring countries.

They have also just recently started making deliveries to customers in Klang Valley and beyond, taking the Sarawakian liquor to more communities around the country.

“Our goal is to be in more bars and create unique tuak-based cocktails. We want to promote tuak as a signature drink of Malaysia’s indigenous tribes, especially from Sarawak.”

“Our slogan is: Sarawakian Tuak, made for the world, and we hope for tuak in Malaysia to be on par with Japan’s sake, Korea’s soju, China’s baijiu, and Russia’s vodka,” said Ayden.

• Learn more about Tuak Alus here.
• Read our other stories on the F&B scene here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Tuak Alus

Handwritten names and empty stages: How GE2025 took an unexpected turn

Nomination Day for GE2025 will likely be remembered as one of the most eventful in recent memory—defined not by spectacle or fiery speeches, but for the quiet calculations, last-minute reshuffles, and one particularly unexpected walkover that reshaped the electoral map.

Behind the scenes, both the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP) engaged in a series of coordinated moves that suggest a more fluid and competitive political environment than in years past.

A surprise exit in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights

Perhaps the most surprising development came in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights (MPBH) GRC, where the WP—long seen as preparing for a contest—ultimately did not field a team.

Supporters who gathered at Kong Hwa School on Nomination Day, expecting a contest, were left surprised when no WP candidates appeared.

As a result, the PAP team, anchored by Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, won by walkover. It was the only uncontested constituency in this election, and the first walkover since 2011.

WP chief Pritam Singh explained the decision as a difficult one, citing the redrawing of electoral boundaries and the need to focus limited resources.

Still, the late announcement drew criticism, including from other opposition parties who suggested they might have contested had they known sooner.

Punggol emerges as a key battleground

Where WP pulled back in MPBH, it doubled down in Punggol GRC—a new constituency formed near its stronghold in Sengkang.

The party fielded senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal, one of its most high-profile new candidates, alongside three other first-timers.

It was a bold move in a constituency with no prior contest history, but clear strategic potential.

The PAP responded in kind. At about 11:20 am on Nomination Day—less than 40 minutes before the deadline—Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong arrived at Yusof Ishak Secondary School to file his nomination.

Notably, according to a report on Straits Times, his name was handwritten on the nomination papers, a sign of how last-minute the decision was.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan had initially been slated for Chua Chu Kang GRC. His late switch signals the weight the PAP places on defending Punggol, especially with the retirement of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, who had anchored the area.

Known for his steady hand during the COVID-19 crisis and his new role as chair of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, Deputy Prime Minister Gan brings both national stature and experience to the slate.

He is joined by Sun Xueling, a well-regarded incumbent whose personal appeal and strong ground presence could prove influential in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races of this election.

East Coast isn’t the fight this time

Compared to the high-profile shifts in Punggol, the PAP’s approach in East Coast GRC was noticeably more restrained.

Minister Edwin Tong leads a seasoned line-up, joined by Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, long-serving MP Jessica Tan, and new candidate Hazlina Abdul Halim.

It’s a team that reflects stability over spectacle—experienced, consistent, and largely familiar to residents on the ground.

There had been considerable speculation that the WP might make a bold play for East Coast, potentially fielding senior counsel Harpreet Singh or even party chief Pritam Singh—moves that would have raised the stakes significantly.

But the WP instead chose to field veteran Yee Jenn Jong, also a steady figure with prior campaign experience in the constituency.

The PAP appears to have accurately gauged this and calibrated its team accordingly—experienced, but without redeploying heavyweight ministers.

What the last-minute moves say about this election

The PAP’s decision not to field a Cabinet minister in the Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC—traditionally a given for each GRC—reflects a shift in strategy.

With limited leadership bandwidth and multiple constituencies requiring reinforcement, the party made pragmatic calls, reallocating ministers where needed most.

These moves were not random. In recent weeks, the PAP had already repositioned key figures: Indranee Rajah from Tanjong Pagar to Pasir Ris–Changi, and Law Minister K. Shanmugam leading a revamped team in Nee Soon GRC.

The final set of deployments—many revealed only hours before nominations closed—point to a dynamic campaign strategy shaped by close tracking of WP’s potential plans.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, addressing the press after nominations, acknowledged the complexity of the moment.

“I fully expect this election to be a tough contest,” he said. “My team and I will work very hard to make our case to Singaporeans and to win every vote in this changed world.”

For both major parties, GE2025 presents significant tests.

PM Wong leads the PAP into its first election under new leadership, at a time of global economic uncertainty.

For the WP, the campaign unfolds under the cloud of Pritam Singh’s ongoing appeal against a recent court conviction.

The next nine days of campaigning will be crucial, especially for candidates introduced or reshuffled at the last minute, who must now work quickly to establish rapport with residents.

What Nomination Day made clear is this: Singapore’s political landscape is evolving. Strategic ambiguity, tactical shifts, and constituency-by-constituency battles are becoming more prominent.

Now that the election season has begun, both parties must convince voters that their calculated choices were the right ones.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Punggol GRC is the Workers’ Party’s biggest opportunity but also the toughest fight

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Workers’ Party

She grew her home-based biz into a cafe that catered IU and SUJU’s S’pore shows, here’s how

She had a career in the skies, but it was lost overnight when COVID-19 hit.

Instead of feeling demoralised, Chanel Li decided to turn to something she had enjoyed from a young age—baking—as a way to tide her through the tumultuous period.

From her home kitchen, she started Whisking Bakes in 2020, selling basque burnt cheesecakes—a dessert that surged in popularity during the pandemic.

However, as the hype died down, the business began losing its traction. At its lowest point, Whisking Bakes only received one order per week.

Unsure of how to move forward with her business and career, Chanel decided to take a two-month break to recalibrate and explore new ideas—one of which led to her first major breakthrough just as the Chinese New Year period approached in February 2022.

Her experimental bake, orh nee (yam paste) tart balls, sold out within minutes of launching order slots and continued to grow in popularity.

Despite this, Chanel didn’t plan to turn Whisking Bakes into a full-fledged business, as she still considered returning to the aviation industry at that time—until an interview with Mothership had her phone “exploding” with DMs, calls, messages and enquiries.

To cope with the demand, she took a leap of faith and opened a commercial kitchen located at Tai Seng in August of the same year. “After all, I was only 23 with nothing to lose,” added Chanel.

Opening a cafe

According to Chanel, the cost of opening her commercial kitchen amounted to S$30,000, funded by her earnings from her home bakery. To cut costs, she undertook the majority of the renovations herself, with the help of her husband and family.

However, after just shy of a year, she soon decided to move out of the commercial kitchen due to frequent power trips that hindered her operations, and to search for a bigger space that could accommodate a dine-in cafe.

Although she eventually found a shop space at Lavender, the path to opening was anything but a piece of cake. Her landlord had forgotten to submit a specific document when seeking approval for the cafe’s operation, resulting in a month-long delay.

Chanel also had to confront her inexperience in running a cafe, so she spent time observing how different businesses operated. She even took on a part-time barista role at Lola’s Cafe to learn the ropes, as well as a barista course at Common Man Coffee Roasters.

Armed with new skills, she opened her cafe in August 2022, specialising in taro desserts.

But then came another challenge: the layout of the cafe left her team working in cramped conditions, and the location itself made it easy for customers to miss the store, which resulted in a drop in sales.

This led Chanel to make another hefty gamble—to renovate the entire cafe once more, which she claimed cost an additional S$55,000.

While she admitted it was a significant investment, it was a strategic move to support the brand’s growth in the long term. She also took the chance to rebrand the cafe, expand its menu, and improve the overall ambience.

After a month-long renovation, the cafe opened its doors once more—this time under a more fitting name: Cafe Lilac.

Baking for music superstars and K-POP idols

According to Chanel, it took Cafe Lilac about six months to break even, and the business has since grown to become a six-figure venture.

Along the way, she’s also had the rare opportunity to bake for music superstars including IU, Super Junior, and Joker Xue.

All it took was a single message from Chanel to a concert organiser, offering to prepare a dessert table for IU’s two-day concert in Singapore last year.

“Being a K-pop fan, I know concerts often have cakes or desserts for the idols. I did it without much expectation, but one day, I received an email back, getting the thumbs up from the organisers,” she explained.

With a strong desire to give the best impression possible, Chanel and her team went “all out” in their preparations, from crafting detailed decorations to hand-piping a cake that matched her album cover.

Their dedication impressed the concert organisers, which helped them land more concert deals.

The cafe also received attention from the artistes’ fan clubs, who began partnering with Cafe Lilac for fan cafe events and concerts. These collaborations helped them secure numerous opportunities in 2024, with more to come this year.

It takes “a lot more than good food” to survive

While having a niche in taro desserts and drinks has helped the business stand out in the competitive F&B scene, it has also turned out to be a double-edged sword for Cafe Lilac. It loses out on a significant portion of the Singaporean crowd who simply don’t enjoy taro.

Ensuring that the business remains relevant has become an ongoing challenge for Chanel, who has observed the rapidly shifting preferences of consumers. “I think it takes a lot more than just good food [to survive.]”

Hence, Cafe Lilac is looking to expand its non-taro menu to cater to a wider audience, including those who are not huge fans of taro.

As for her long-term goals, Chanel states she doesn’t want the business to grow “too much.” While this seems contradictory to what many entrepreneurs strive for, she explained that her focus is solely on creating desserts her customers enjoy and building a company that journeys alongside its staff.

I don’t wish for us to become a multi-million dollar company where each staff [member] is just a part of the machine. I hope that everyone who works with us gains something out of the experience and achieves what they want in life.

Chanel Li

Now 27 years old, Chanel has always operated the business on a whim. While the journey was far from smooth, one thing is for sure: her hard work has borne some sweet fruits along the way. 

• Learn more about Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes here.
• Read more stories we have written on local businesses here.

Also Read: How this S’porean duo grew their bakery from beyond the home kitchen to 3 outlets & a cafe

Featured Image Credit: Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes

GE2025: Punggol GRC is the Workers’ Party’s biggest opportunity but also the toughest fight

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

When the PAP unveiled its Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC slate just two days before Nomination Day, I noted that the lineup was so formidable that the Workers’ Party might rethink going head-to-head.

And yesterday, Singapore’s largest opposition party did just that—surprising many with a last-minute pivot.

Instead of contesting Marine Parade, it fielded its star candidate, senior counsel Harpreet Singh, to lead the charge in Punggol GRC.

The move came as a huge surprise to many voters in the East. Harpreet Singh had been seen on party walkabouts in the area over the past two to three years, fueling speculation that he would contest Marine Parade—or, if not, East Coast GRC.

A unique opportunity?

Back in March, after the EBRC report was released, I noted that the newly redrawn Punggol constituency appeared to be an appealing target for the Workers’ Party—its close proximity to Sengkang and similar size and demographics made it a natural fit.

It’s clear the WP leadership saw the same opportunity and made the calculated decision to contest Punggol—though it came at the cost of abandoning voters in the East Coast.

It’s a bold and contentious move, especially after years of groundwork and public signals pointing toward a run in Marine Parade. If it pays off, though, the party could strengthen its foothold in the North-East region.

Still, voters in Marine Parade may feel let down, and many Singaporeans might view the sudden switch as unfair. After all, expectations had been built.

That said, PAP’s team in that particular GRC might have spooked the Workers’ Party, which doesn’t want to see Harpreet Singh lose—or at least not without a good fight.

The problem is that the fight in Punggol is not going to be easy either.

PAP responds with Gan Kim Yong

In response to the unfolding developments, the PAP swiftly reshuffled its slate, moving Tan See Leng from Marine Parade to Chua Chu Kang, where he steps in for DPM Gan Kim Yong, who has been deployed to counter the Workers’ Party challenge in Punggol.

Tan is now tasked with filling the shoes of Teo Chee Hean, who retired from politics this year, leaving the area without a heavyweight anchor. But it remains to be seen whether he’ll prove to be a formidable opponent for the Workers’ Party in this battleground.

Somewhat unusually, the PAP’s strongest asset in Punggol may not be a heavyweight minister, but Sun Xueling, whose likability is hard to rival.

Soft-spoken and warm in demeanour, the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development is known for her relatable presence—she even reads children’s books online in her spare time. She’s an MP whom few Singaporeans would want to see exit Parliament.

That’s partly because much of the opposition’s appeal lies in discontent with certain policies and personalities. But Sun isn’t one of them—she’s largely free from controversy, making her a difficult figure to campaign against.

Now paired with DPM Gan Kim Yong, who also serves as Minister for Trade and Industry and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the PAP has reinforced its frontline with a high-powered duo.

From a tactical standpoint, Punggol presents a high-upside opportunity for the Workers’ Party.

Its adjacency to Sengkang, coupled with a relatively young and diverse demographic, makes it fertile ground for opposition inroads. However, the PAP’s response—deploying both a well-regarded incumbent and a senior national leader—raises the stakes considerably.

For the WP, this is not just a high-reward contest; it is also the most formidable team they will likely face this election.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: From candidate switches to even a walkover, here are the key surprises from Nomination Day

Featured Image Credit: Workers’ Party/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

[This is a sponsored article with Ninja Mart.]

Even in this day and age when ecommerce is increasingly contributing to Malaysia’s GDP, the importance of having an in-store presence cannot be understated.

It’s that emotional connection of being able to see and touch the packaging in person that can help customers envision the product as part of their lives, leading, hopefully, to a purchase.

But getting your product on store shelves in the first place can be a whole challenge in and of itself.

Especially with small retailers who often fall outside the reach of traditional distributors, establishing trust can take time. Even for big name brands, a new product is still a leap of faith that not many retailers are eager to take from the outset.

And that’s where Ninja Mart steps in, a distribution solution by Ninja Van designed to seamlessly connect brands with retailers.

From urban to rural areas

Ninja Mart was launched in 2018 with a particular focus on getting fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) to rural and semi-urban areas. Think perishables in high-demand such as snacks, coffee, and home care products.

They specialise in general trade (GT) with over 38,000 partnered grocery stores, mini-marts, and independent retailers. This, Ninja Mart tells Vulcan Post, also includes petrol station convenience stores, traditional sundry shops, and warungs.

Rural areas in particular operate on a van sales model to prevent overstocking, as opposed to the pre-order and delivery system employed in urban and suburban areas.

Dictionary time: Also known as direct store delivery (DSD), a van sales model is a distribution method where suppliers deliver goods directly to retailers. In Ninja Mart’s case, this is done through their weekly visits, where Ninja Mart salesmen will bring along grocery items with them on their weekly visits to partnered retailers, where the retailers can then make a purchase on the spot based on their store’s specific demand.

Source: Law Insider

In connecting FMCG brands with as many points of sales as possible, Ninja Mart noted that this strategy allows products to reach a larger market potential at a lower cost.

And to boost brand visibility, they also run campaigns for brands which come packaged with a variety of services.

More than just a promotional push

The most recent example of Ninja Mart’s campaigns is their Kongsi Rezeki, Kongxi Huat! Campaign, which ran from January to March, 2025.

It was a collaboration with a total of 17 FMCG brands. At the end of the campaign, Ninja Mart saw a reported average 37% sales increase with partnered brands reaching over 8,500 independent retailers nationwide.

Among the participants is a household name to many, Julie’s. In their case, Julie’s wanted to make a push for their Choco More series.

There were also companies like Cricket Lighters, who were struggling with maintaining pricing hygiene due to distribution issues. They were looking for a solution to stabilise their supply chain.

The success of this campaign, as Julie’s and Cricket Lighters testified, came down to several strategies that Ninja Mart employed:

1. Spend & win campaigns

Conducted on the Ninja Mart app, the idea of this strategy was to reward retailers for actively selling the products of partnered brands.

Sales would translate into tickets, and the more tickets a retailer accumulated, the higher their chances of winning prizes. This included an iPhone 16, a PS5, massage chairs, and TVs. 

The end result was boosted product shelf visibility and sales as retailers now had a strong motivation to prioritise partnered brand products. This in turn strengthened brand-retailer engagement.

2. Brand focus weeks

As the name implies, brand focus weeks involved the offering of time-limited promotions for partnered brand products.

Julie’s, for instance, ran promotions which allowed buyers to mix and match their selections. Cricket Lighters on the other hand offered bundle deals with their products. 

This, in conjunction with Ninja Mart’s custom point of sales materials (POSMs) including tailor-made buntings, posters, and wobblers, helped products stand out on store shelves. 

The strategy turned out to be especially effective at sundry shops and mini-marts, where customers would often be overwhelmed with options.  

For those on the fence, it helped that goodie bags and free samples were up for grabs too.

3. Urban Brand Tours

Ninja Mart also hosted on-ground engagement sessions for brands and retailers to have a closer relationship.

Brands like Julie’s and Cricket Lighters were given the chance to directly observe how Ninja Mart’s sales team communicated with retailers, providing insights into pain points that retailers may have.

This strategy, according to Ninja Mart, allowed brands to better understand the day-to-day challenges faced by their end customers, which aided in building stronger brand-retailer relationships.

4. Data-Driven Brand Collaboration

Tying all that together were Ninja Mart’s monthly performance reports which came with actionable insights for brands to better their overall business strategies.

This included:

• Sales data with product performance by region, store type, and Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) which allow brands to pinpoint high-performing outlets and underpenetrated markets
• Market coverage insights which showcases how effectively products were able to reach target areas
• Retailer feedback which includes input about pricing, consumer preferences, stock availability, and even competitor activity

With these pieces of information, Julie’s and Cricket Lighters were thus able to adjust their marketing and stock strategies, as well as craft long-term strategic growth plans

Empowering brand scaling

Raymond Kwan, General Manager of Julie’s, noted that through the Kongsi Rezeki, Kogxi Huat! Campaign, their Choco More biscuits were able to reach over 1,000 retail outlets across Klang Valley, Melaka, Seremban, and Sungai Buloh.

“With Ninja Van managing logistics and execution, we engaged more effectively with retailers and reached new consumers,” he added.

Likewise, these sentiments were echoed by Darren Loo, Chief Operating Officer of Cricket Lighters Malaysia. He highlighted Ninja Mart’s communication skills in particular, which led to seamless on-boarding.

“We look forward to future growth together with Ninja Mart and a successful partnership ahead,” he said.

Whether a global player or a local brand trying to scale, Ninja Mart seeks to provide a flexible, inclusive model that works for brands of different sizes and maturity levels, they told Vulcan Post.

With campaigns also targeted to specific needs and not just festivities, their services might be the breakthrough you’re looking for.

• Learn more about Ninja Mart here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Ninja Mart

American names, Malaysian pride: Why these 6 local brands use names referencing the US

If you’ve been reading the news for the past couple of years, then you might’ve gotten the idea that the general opinion of America isn’t exactly the best at the minute.

Take for instance the Israel-Palestine conflict which lit the spark for many Malaysians to boycott big name American brands such as Starbucks and KFC, forcing outlet closures nationwide.

There’s also, of course, the tariff-fueled antics of the USA’s current president, who I’m sure needs no introduction at this point.

But regardless of your stance on the matter, I think there’s one thing that we can all agree upon: The last people that should be caught in the crossfire are local businesses.

With that, here are six Malaysian businesses that just so happen to have American names.

1. Chicago Chicken City (CCC)

CCC is a business that we’ve covered before here at Vulcan Post, both as an article and video. With that, we actually have some personal insight on the meaning behind this local fast food chain’s name, straight from founder Adrian Chin himself.

“The name ‘Chicago Chicken City’ was chosen because it evokes a sense of familiarity and authenticity tied to the Western heritage of fried chicken,” said Adrian in our interview with him back in February.

Adding to that, he believes Chicago as a city embodies “energy,” “vibrancy,” and a “bustling urban lifestyle,” all qualities that he wants to exude with his brand.

That being said, CCC’s founder also noted, however, that their menu is rooted in local tastes and preferences.

2. The Manhattan Fish Market

Although I may be allergic to fish now, The Manhattan Fish Market holds a special place in my heart as it was a chain my grandpa would take me to a lot when I was younger.

But as it turns out, it wasn’t always called that.

The Manhattan Fish Market actually started off as a franchise of a New Zealand fish-and-chips eatery called The Fish Shop in 2002. When the New Zealand-based company withdrew their support from Malaysia, however, local outlets scrambled to reinvent themselves in order to entice more customers.

That’s when George and his other two co-founders, Dickson Low and Jeffrey Goh, made the decision to rebrand to The Manhattan Fish Market.

Inspiration came from what George noted in an interview with Options to be “the two biggest fish markets in the world, namely the Tsujiki Fish Market in Japan and Fulton Fish Market in Manhattan.

The rebrand worked, revenue was said to have doubled, and the business became a franchise of its own.

3. San Francisco Coffee

San Francisco Coffee’s name has a pretty straightforward origin. Its founder, Robert Boxwell, was from San Francisco.

According to an article by WargaBiz, Robert had come to Malaysia on a business trip for Petronas.

Noticing that the local coffee scene at the time was a little lacking, he decided to open the business in 1997.

San Francisco Coffee was then taken over by Abdul Rahim Zin amidst the 2008 global financial crisis.

4. Big Apple Donuts & Coffee

Perhaps not the most obvious example, but “the Big Apple” is actually a nickname for New York City.

Our Big Apple was founded in 2007 by Mike Chan, with its logo and concept being inspired by the “American way of life” where “people take great ideas in a free spirited fashion.”

They wanted to go big on everything from the artistry of their donuts to the flavours that they pack.

And what better way to reflect that than with the nickname of America’s largest city by population?

Do note however that this information comes from their old “About Us” page under “Logo Rationale.” This page was up from 2009 to at least 2023, but none of this is mentioned on their current one.

5. NY Steak Shack

Operating under parent company Revenue Valley alongside The Manhattan Fish Market and Tony Roma’s, NY Steak Shack was founded by two local entrepreneurs in 2014.

Why they named it after New York, then, is because much like us, the city is a multicultural hotspot home to a 37% foreign population with over 200 different languages being spoken.

This naturally lends itself to a vast array of food choices which NY Steak Shake seeks to emulate, bringing the Big Apple’s flavours to home soil.

Which explains why they do quite a bit more than just steaks.

6. US Pizza

Doesn’t get more in-your-face than this one.

Founded back in 1997, US Pizza was started by Donald Duncan, an American who had previously worked at a pizza restaurant in Missouri.

Having developed his own recipe for dough and sauce, Donald would open US Pizza’s first (and for the longest time only) outlet in Penang after five years of working at that establishment.

He then sold the business in 2015 to Jeremy Hiew, who expanded it into the 86-outlet-strong franchise that it is today.

As for the name? That is simply a reference to the country where US Pizza’s signature recipe and Donald himself originated from: the United States (US). It does not stand for the word “us,” contrary to a now retracted claim independently made by one of the company’s outlets.

Why do we use Western names?

In short, two local businesses have American-coded names because it calls back to their origins. The other four do so because they’ve been inspired by what the American people have built for themselves in their respective home states.

It’s not a matter of ideals, or promoting the US. Perhaps it does speak to the psychology some Malaysians have whereby “west is best,” but these days, shopping and supporting local has become more and more fashionable and encouraged.

So the next time you spot one of these brand in the wild, be sure to remember that they’re not as foreign as they sound. Rather, they’re proudly Malaysian businesses.

• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: The Manhattan Fish Market / US Pizza / KL Gateway Mall

GE2025: Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will be a walkover after WP no-show

​In a notable development for Singapore’s General Election 2025 (GE2025), the newly formed Marine Parade–Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC) will be a walkover, with the People’s Action Party (PAP) securing the GRC unopposed.

This is the first walkover since 2011, when the PAP team led by then-minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew clinched Tanjong Pagar GRC.

This outcome follows the absence of opposition candidates, including those from the Workers’ Party (WP), who were previously speculated to contest in this GRC. ​

The WP has contested in Marine Parade since GE2015; however, it appears that the party has decided that its best chances for victory lie in fielding strong teams in Punggol GRC and Tampines GRC, instead of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

PAP has also pulled another surprise move, with the replacement of Tan See Leng, who was originally slated to be part of the Marine Parade team, with new candidate Goh Pei Ming, a former chief of staff at the Singapore Armed Forces. 

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Here are all the key highlights on Nomination Day

Featured Image Credit: Goh Pei Ming/ PAP/ Diana Pang

GE2025: From candidate switches to even a walkover, here are the key surprises from Nomination Day

It’s Nomination Day today (April 23), and it has been filled with key changes and last-minute swaps.

Here’s a quick breakdown of all the key highlights:

1. Multi-cornered fights

Tampines GRC:

Radin Mas SMC:

Sembawang GRC

Ang Mo Kio GRC:

Potong Pasir SMC:

2. Shocking switches

Chua Chu Kang GRC

Punggol GRC

East Coast GRC

3. Walkover at Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC

GE2025 saw a walkover at the five-man Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC today, as no opposition party’s papers were put up for the constituency.

This marks the first walkover since 2011, when the PAP team, led by then-Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, clinched Tanjong Pagar GRC.

4. DPM Heng Swee Keat & Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s retirement from politics

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the retirement of two political veterans: Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

“Both could have continued, but they chose to step aside to make way for leadership renewal. I am deeply grateful to them, and I thank them for their many contributions,” wrote PM Wong.

DPM Heng Swee Keat, who has been in politics for 15 years, urged residents in East Coast GRC to provide their strong support.

The new East Coast team consists of Mr Edwin Tong, Singapore’s current Minister for Culture, Community and Youth; Mr Tan Kiat How, Ms Jessica Tan, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, who has a 33-year tenure in parliament, had previously announced that he would not be running for the election under the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, although he mentioned that he remains “available to contribute.”

Mr Teo has since passed the baton to Singapore’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, Mr Desmond Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Valerie Lee.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Featured Image Credit: Lawrence Wong via Instagram, Workers’ Party via Instagram

Also Read: GE2025: Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will be a walkover after WP no show

Coffee as a preworkout? Here’s why this M’sian holistic wellness centre recommends it.

[Written in partnership with RENN Asia Wellness, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

If you can’t tell by my coffee reviews and coffee comparisons, I’m a huge coffee fan. I wouldn’t go so far as to say addict, but I’m certainly an… enthusiast. 

That’s why I was particularly thrilled to hear that coffee is actually healthy. 

Now, I’m not here to be some random stranger on the internet echoing unproven sentiments of how chugging coffee is good for your health. Because it’s not. Yes, like many things in life, coffee’s health benefits come with terms and conditions. 

So, we got Jonathan Chew, the founder of RENN Asia Wellness, a holistic wellness centre in KL, to shed some light on the topic. 

It’s nutritional and functional 

As a Nutritional and Functional Medicine (NFM) practitioner, Jonathan advocates “Nutritional Functional Food.” As the term implies, these are foods that are nutritional and functional. 

Specifically, to be classified as a Functional Food, an ingredient should:

• Provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition
• Contain bioactive components with scientifically-backed effects
• Not harm the body when consumed in reasonable amounts

“In the eyes of NFM, foods are evaluated not just for calories or macros, but for bioactive compounds that influence health at the cellular level,” Jonathan elaborated.

To him, coffee certainly fits this bill because it contains:

• Chlorogenic acids, which are anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitising
• Polyphenols, which support gut microbiota and reduce oxidative stress
• Trigonelline and niacin (B3), which boast neuroprotective benefits

Coffee isn’t the one special ingredient that has nutritional properties, though. Other NFM ingredients include turmeric, mushrooms, fermented foods, seaweeds, matcha, and many more. 

“These are common functional foods we advocate for every client at RENN Asia Wellness,” Jonathan said. 

From work to workouts 

Beyond just being a good stimulant to add energy (and that bit of happiness to our lives) though, Jonathan touts coffee to be a great pre-workout alternative. 

But really? Why coffee instead of the many pre-workout options in the market that are literally designed to be consumed… pre-workout?

“Coffee, especially when consumed black, is a whole-food extract, not a cocktail of synthetic stimulants and artificial sweeteners,” Jonathan argued. 

“Most commercial pre-workouts are highly processed and often come with excessive stimulants, artificial sweeteners or colours, and hidden proprietary blends that mask exact dosages.”

On a financial level, coffee is also just a more sustainable option. 

But mind you, it’s the caffeine doing the heavy lifting, so drinking anything decaf is kind of moot. 

“However, decaf still contains antioxidants and may support general well-being—but not in a pre-workout context,” Jonathan added. 

To that end, though, you might be wondering whether other high-caffeine drinks such as matcha work the same. 

“Yes… and no,” Jonathan said. Let him explain. 

Matcha, like coffee, has caffeine, but also something called L-theanine, which promotes calm focus. It also has more EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) which is an anti-inflammatory, thermogenic chemical. It’s also gentler on the gut with a longer energy curve.

“So while matcha can be a great alternative pre-workout, especially for those sensitive to coffee, its mechanism is subtly different. It boosts endurance and focus without the adrenal spike,” he explained. 

In other words, it works—just not in the same way. 

But let’s not get it twisted

Of course, coffee isn’t just some magical miracle substance (cue Demi Moore). 

Like Jonathan says, “It’s important not to romanticise coffee as universally beneficial.”

Risks include overstimulation, which will lead to insomnia, anxiety, and palpitations—a nightmare concoction especially prior to a workout. 

Too much caffeine can also cause adrenal fatigue in those already stressed or depleted and increase stomach acidity, leading to reflux and gut lining irritation.

Plus, there’s the issue of dependence and tolerance, which means you may eventually require more for the same effect. 

And it’s not just a matter of needing more coffee. According to Jonathan, it’ll desensitise adenosine receptors (resulting in less restful sleep), lead to habitual use masking deeper fatigue, and cause withdrawal symptoms (meaning more fatigue and irritability).

“Continuously upping your dose is not sustainable,” he said. “It’s like yelling louder to wake up a tired body when what it truly needs… is rest and nourishment.”

The best way to drink your coffee

And of course, not all coffee is made the same. I’m not talking about the type of origin, roast, or extraction method (though that matters greatly when it comes to flavour profile). I mean, you can’t just drink a vanilla bean latte and think it’s perfectly healthy.

It’s best to go black with your coffee, meaning no milk or sugar to avoid insulin spikes and preserve fat-burning. So no, no kopitiam kopi for you before a workout. 

But if that gets boring, you could opt for plant-based milk (dairy can blunt the antioxidant absorption of coffee), or even add a bit of coconut oil or ghee, which Jonathan says can provide sustained energy without disrupting function.

Jonathan also shared that 30 minutes before a workout is ideal. In terms of volume, he suggests 100 to 200mg of caffeine (one to two espresso shots).

Another cool tip is to take occasional caffeine breaks to reset tolerance. Oh, and avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach if it causes distress. 

So, if you want to leverage the healthy properties of coffee, be sure to take it in moderation, and take it with the above knowledge in mind. 

• Learn more about RENN Asia Wellness here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about RENN Asia Wellness here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a cool concept, I just wish it could do more

The future is now, with health tracking literally at your fingertips (well, almost).

I’m talking about the hot new wearable in town—the Samsung Galaxy Ring. 

I was excited. Finally, something new to review that wasn’t another phone or watch or earbuds. I had expectations, but most of all, I had questions. 

Would this ring have a place in my life?

Looks matter…

When it comes to wearables. Sure, functionality is first and foremost for many of us, but surely few of us want to be caught wearing something ugly… Right?

On the topic of looks, I find the Galaxy Ring to be a bit too masculine for my tastes. The glossy gold variant we got made me feel like a taikor (I was just missing a chunky gold chain around my neck), so if you’re not going for that look, perhaps the matte Titanium Black or Titanium Silver would be more reserved.

One thing that does bother me a bit regarding the sleek titanium finish of the ring is how easily it seems to tarnish. Much like a shiny phone screen or back, fingerprints are unavoidable, and I’m not equipped with the right kind of tools to properly polish the surface. 

My hands are on the drier side, and even I’m leaving marks on the ring, so to whoever typically has oiler or damper hands and is bothered by fingerprints—stay strong, soldier.

The ring comes in sizes 5 to 15, and can weigh up to 3.3 g depending on size. It’s decently comfortable, and you can ignore its presence for the most part, even when sleeping. 

Where I ran into problems with the ring was when washing my face, showering, or doing the dishes. Its water resistance wasn’t the issue—it has an IP68 rating—but rather its chunkiness, which would dig into the skin of my face or body, and would clink a little too much against my dishes.

And if you’re not used to wearing rings like I am, just be careful if you wear glasses because I’ve bumped the ring into mine more than once, with at least one scratch on the lens courtesy of it. 

Keeping a pulse on my health

Some parts of my health, at least. Namely, the Galaxy Ring tracks sleep, stress, heart rate, steps (and calories), and supposedly menstrual cycles too (by way of body temperature).

Some of these metrics combined then give you your daily energy score, which points out areas of improvement or what health things you did well in. 

As someone who doesn’t wear wearables on the regular, I usually just rely on my phone to tell me my steps, but I do enjoy the occasional wearables review when I get more insights on my health through a smartwatch, or in this case, a ring.

I found the ring’s sleep tracking to be pretty accurate, with my own experiences of waking throughout the night reflected in my Wearables/Samsung Health app.

However, the stress tracker doesn’t quite tally with how I feel at times. There have been several times where I felt as though I was pretty stressed and manually started measuring my stress levels, only for the ring to tell me that I was in a relaxed or low stress state. Hmm.

I’m not a menstrual tracker by any means, preferring to live life on the edge, but I did it for once in my life thanks to the ring. Its prediction of my next cycle was off by a day, which was pretty good considering it only had data from last month to work with.

I would say that my cycles are quite consistent and predictable even without a tracker though, so I do wonder how well this would work for someone with irregular cycles.

Other than those features, the Galaxy Ring doesn’t do too much at this point in time. I suppose some people could benefit from the double-pinch gesture, which gives you remote camera control and turns off your alarm.

Since the S Pen no longer has Bluetooth support from the S25 series onwards, I could see the ring being useful for snapping pictures remotely. Unless you already have a Samsung Galaxy Watch that supports that functionality, of course.

Where the Galaxy Ring wins over the smartwatches though is in its battery life, which claims to last up to seven days on a single charge, and best of all, it supports fast charging. 

This means that it only has to stay off your finger for just over an hour before you can take it on another one-week spin. 

If you wear the ring in tandem with a Galaxy Watch, the battery lasts even longer as the watch can take over some of the ring’s sensor functions.

Verdict

The Galaxy Ring is truly an interesting piece of technology, but in its current form, I can’t see it being a necessary part of my lifestyle.

There’s just more that I would want from a wearable, not just in terms of health tracking but as an extension of my phone. 

The ideal Galaxy Ring for me would be one that also allows me to turn off timers (useful for when my hands are busy cooking or cleaning) and to pick up and end calls, alongside more health-tracking features.

Even better if it could do all of that and be hosted in a daintier body. 

If you’ve realised that smartwatches aren’t for you, though, perhaps the RM2,099 Galaxy Ring might be the more stylish, health-tracking wearable you’ve been looking for all along, albeit at a more premium price tag.

• Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Ring here.
• Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Joey Sofa’s performance in REXKL was the most creative furniture showcase we’ve seen sofa…r

[Written in partnership with Joey Sofa, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]

Over the weekend, we attended an event at REXKL. Before even stepping into the space, we were handed black satin blindfolds to put on.

With our blindfolds on, we were guided by a gentle hand and a friendly voice motivating us to take each step down the short flight of stairs into the open yet warm space on the first floor of the building.

“Come on, you can do this!”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

“Good job, I’m so proud of you,” the person said to my unseeing self, before leaving me to guide the next attendee at the space’s entrance.

As sus as the whole interaction sounds thus far, don’t get the wrong idea—we were actually there for Joey Sofa’s latest event, held in collaboration with Rexperience.

Minutes later, we were prompted to remove our blindfolds, and the collection of micro-influencers clad in trendy getups that formed the audience were treated to a space made vibrant by scenic projections and sofas in an array of colours.

At the front and centre sat a lady in white, reading on a Joey Sofa as the audience took their seats on other ones that faced her.

Then came the music.

A sofa for different moments in your life 

The modular Joey Sofa can be customised into four different orientations, fit for multiple social settings and sleeved in one of eight vibrant colours of corduroy.

Sitting in Colour represents one of the brand’s first forays into the experiential space since the Joey Sofa’s launch about three months ago.

Lacking a brick-and-mortar store, the Joey Sofa brand has relied on taking over physical spaces to give interested audiences a feel for their comforts, only this time, they took it a little further.

As the soft ambient music played, a man joined the woman on the couch, backdropped by a view of ocean waves and the setting sun. 

With the duo dancing the story of love and its comforts and conflicts, the walls of the Rexperience space shifted too through various natural scenery; from a bright sun against an orange sky to a snow-white icy waterfall, to a cacophonous green forest.

Indeed, the projections reflected the eight colour options of the Joey Sofa interspersed throughout the hall, which comes in Seashell (light grey), Beach (beige), Sunset (orange), Peony (pink), Mist (blue), Sage (light green), Forest (dark green), and Stone (dark grey).

In each act the duo would change the orientation of the Joey Sofa, from the classic couch to conversation pit to a flat bed, showcasing the versatility and ease of use of the sofa, before ending the performance laying on the ‘movie’ orientation, with pink flowers and petals floating in the background.

“Sitting in Colour, this show, is our little love letter to all the shades of comfort. At Joey, we believe that comfort is not just sitting or sleeping; it’s a feeling, a vibe, a little piece of home that you carry with yourself. It’s an unspoken language that connects us all.”

– Joey Tan, co-founder of Joey Sofa

My review? The performance was a heart-pulling display of the comforts of love, and it did well at incorporating the Joey Sofa into the story.

Sharing the moment

“We wanted people to come and truly experience the colours [of the Joey Sofa]. Like the pink flowers for the ‘Peony’ sofa and the jungle visuals for the ‘Forest’ sofa, we wanted people to really sit in colour and be taken away, on an experiential journey through the different shades of the Joey Sofa,” said Joey.

As such, after the performance, audiences were free to enjoy and modify the sofas to different orientations, for a full feel of the product.

“We were inspired by the reception of the pre-launch giveaway, which received about 5,000 to 6,000 shares, which was presented in the form of a moodboard. We wanted to turn that into an immersive experience,” said Winson Chong, another one of the co-founders.

Beyond the performance, guests were also given the chance to take their “Glow Portraits” to “capture their vibe,” share a message at the “Wall of Colour,” and even take home an embroidered pouch that we got to customise with our initials.

All in all, Sitting in Colour proved to be a fun experience that perfectly displayed the features and beauties of the Joey Sofa.

Currently selling for RM2,995, with the option to split the cost into 24 monthly installments with zero interest, the Joey Sofa offers consumers a relatively affordable product, built to last with its highly durable corduroy fabric, rating 75,000 on the Martindale scale.

Dictionary time: Essentially, the Martindale scale is a measure of the durability of textiles, especially those used for upholstery. According to JustFabrics, scores under 30,000 are best for domestic use, while those above 30,000 can be used for heavy commercial use as well.

Take a seat for yourself

For the next six months, the Rexperience space will be populated by the Joey Sofas, offering visitors a hands-on experience of the modular product, and the visual performance would also be played as an interlude between Rexperience’s regular programmes.

If you’re looking to see just how well they fit into your homes, however, the Joey Sofa offers customers a 99-day home trial, with an easy return process if you change your mind.

“This collaboration marks a bold new step for Joey Sofa as it moves beyond the home and into the world of design, creativity, and community, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came, lounged, and shared this moment with us,” said Joey.

Indeed, this latest event under Joey Sofa is a testament to the founders’ commitment to being a trailblazer for the industry. Similar to their other venture, Joey Mattress, it seems that the duo are constantly looking for opportunities to redefine just what it means to be a furniture business.

• Learn more about Joey Sofa here.
• Read our other startup stories here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

All Image Credits: Vulcan Post

He quit auditing to pursue F&B, now his health food biz is set to make RM4.5 mil this yr

Even before he co-founded Agrain, Kee Wei has always been quite the high achiever. 

Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Kee Wei completed his A-levels at Abbey College, Cambridge, obtaining 1A* and 2As. Continuing his studies in the UK, he pursued a degree in Accounting and Finance at the University of Warwick.

He said, “I picked the course because I loved numbers, I loved money, and I thought this degree seemed like the most straightforward path to both!”

After graduating, Kee Wei started his career at one of the Big 4 accounting firms in KL. Steadily, he climbed up to Audit Assistant Manager. 

“I didn’t hate the job, and I loved my team,” he mused. “But the rigid corporate environment, the layers of hierarchy, the repetition, etc., just didn’t feel like me and definitely not something that I look forward to after waking up.”

After years of preparing balance sheets and P&Ls for other businesses, Kee Wei realised he wanted to create something of his own. 

Joining hands 

On the fateful night of his 25th birthday, right after he made a wish to own a business one day, Kee Wei received a phone call from his cousin Jason, whose friend was looking to sell off a café business. 

Seeing it as a sign, Kee Wei took on the opportunity. This business was The Townsmen, a now defunct café. 

At the time, Kee Wei juggled full-time auditing and operating a café. It was a huge toll, but it taught him everything he needed to know from registering a company with SSM to managing payroll. 

“It was raw, intense, and hands on—thinking back, it felt like a crash course for entrepreneurship,” he recalled.

It was this experience that really led him to start Agrain. 

Remember cousin Jason? Well, back in 2016, Jason had launched a healthy burger brand called HALE. While it found traction with expats, it didn’t quite click with Malaysians. 

But Jason, his friend Kendrick, and Kee Wei believed locals were growing more and more health conscious, and wanted to reimagine what healthy food could look like for Malaysians. 

“What if we took the concept of mixed rice?” they wondered. With this, Agrain got its start in 2018. 

Bumps along the way 

The vision was clear: becoming the McDonald’s of healthy food. They envisioned a fast-casual chain offering delicious, healthy meals at affordable prices. 

More than good prices, they offer good value—100% real ingredients, made from scratch, no MSG, no preservatives, and no processed food. 

Agrain also believes they were the first in Malaysia to offer a macro calculator for every ingredient on their menu. Their website even lets users calculate their BMR and BMI. 

With their efforts, business grew fast. In year one, they were already up to five stores. At their peak, Agrain grew to eight stores and a central kitchen. But then, COVID hit. 

Their customer base of corporate crowds disappeared overnight, and so did the revenues. The pandemic humbled them, bringing the team back to ground zero. 

“At one point, we had to downsize massively just to stay afloat. And through that, I realised: I would rather run 10 profitable stores than 100 unprofitable ones. Quality over quantity. Value over vanity,” he decided. 

Kee Wei calls this their “massive reality check era”—an era that ultimately taught them lifechanging lessons. 

Specifically, the team learnt to operate lean. That meant fewer people, decentralised ops, data-driven menus, and a laser focus on what customers want, instead of what the team thinks is cool.

A new way to grow 

Changing things up, Agrain now expands by way of joint ventures, and their newest Mutiara Damansara is a testament to that. 

“Our first JV partner is actually a loyal customer of ours who believed so much in what we do that she decided to partner with us to fuel up our expansion plans,” Kee Wei explained. 

She funded 100% of the setup capital expenditure, while Agrain retained a majority stake in the newly formed JV company, allowing them full control of the brand. 

“We also prioritise distributing a greater share of dividends to our JV partners once profitable—it is our way of showing we are just as invested in the store’s success, if not more,” he said. 

With this model, Agrain is going all in on lean operations, speed-to-market, and control at the ground level. 

Profitable ag(r)ain

Speaking to Vulcan Post, Kee Wei was proud to share that Agrain is profitable—again.

“We suffered a heavy total RM2.5 million loss over the three years of the pandemic. But we are now back, stronger than ever,” he expressed.

For their latest financial year (2024/25), they expect to close RM4.5 million revenue, all with just two outlets. Kee Wei also reported around 30% year-on-year revenue growth and around 50x the profit amount from the previous financial year. 

With these positive figures, the former auditor aims to expand within Klang Valley using the JV model with like-minded partners. 

“Our north star is to have 50 stores across ASEAN,” he said. “We want Agrain to become a household name across the region—the Sweetgreens of Southeast Asia.” 

It’s not glamorous, but it’s worth the ride

After more than six years of running Agrain, Kee Wei has learnt (and unlearnt) a lot of lessons. 

Coming from a finance background, he used to believe that numbers could tell him everything. But in F&B? That’s not always true. 

For one, numbers alone don’t drive customer experience or culture. Sometimes, a marketing campaign might show a negative ROI in month one—but by month three, it’s what brings customers back time and again. 

“If you make decisions purely based on spreadsheets, you miss the human element that drives a F&B business,” he commented.

Over time, Kee Wei has also learnt that the angriest customers are often the greatest teachers. The nastier it gets, the more excited the co-founder seems to get. 

“Of course, the harsh language used at times may hurt you, but putting emotions aside, it is actually a shortcut to figuring out what was broken and how to fix it fast,” he shared. 

But he’s also grown to have healthy scepticism—he doesn’t just reflect on what is going wrong, but also what is going right. 

That, he shared, is how he keeps evolving. 

For others who may want to follow him in this path, Kee Wei has pearls of wisdom to share.

First, don’t come into F&B to make a quick buck. 

“F&B isn’t glamorous. It is a battlefield. You will face unpredictable operations, emotional rollercoasters, and razor-thin margins,” he emphasised. 

Secondly, listen to the experts. Then trust yourself. 

Especially if you’re like Kee Wei and coming from a different background, you don’t know everything. But that’s okay. 

“Learn from those who have been through the fire. But don’t lose the voice in your head. Your instinct still matters,” he shared. 

And lastly, be present and enjoy the ride. 

“Don’t obsess over where you would rather be that you forget to focus on where you are,” he advised. “F&B is a long game. You can’t possibly win tomorrow if you are not paying attention to today. And remember—tomorrows aren’t guaranteed.”

• Learn more about Agrain here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: Agrain

How this Changi farmstay keeps things buzzing with their bee colonies & nature experiences

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his landscaping business, Country Cousins, Clarence Chua was faced with an urgent need to relocate his foreign workers.

His search led him to a shophouse in Siglap—which, by chance, came with an empty rooftop.

Immediately, a flood of ideas rushed to his mind, and together with his wife, Candice Li, he decided to turn it into a rooftop garden.

It was during this process that he discovered a nest of bees when moving an old garden shed.

“I knew nothing about bees then, so I got someone to shift it, but he was not able to come on time. So I tried to shift the bees myself.”

Several bee stings later, he successfully relocated the hive, but despite the painful experience, something else had taken root: a budding fascination with bees. 

Determined to learn more, he started teaching himself—online and by trial and error—how to rescue and keep bees, eventually offering bee relocation services.

After being encouraged by a friend, he decided to pivot and start The Sundowner, offering rooftop farm experiences at Siglap—but that was just the beginning.

As The Sundowner grew in popularity, the business expanded its offerings, with the House of Melissa Evelin farmstay being its newest addition.

Building a new home

The idea for the House of Melissa Evelin came when Clarence and his wife realised that their rooftop space was too small to accommodate larger groups.

This prompted a year-long search for a new location that could house a larger apiary.

“We searched across shopping centres, empty rooftops, even existing farms. Many landlords were afraid of our bees,” lamented Clarence.

That was until the Civil Service Club reached out to them—coincidentally, they were looking to offer nature activities to guests at their Changi Village chalet.

Seizing the opportunity, the couple said “yes” to the offer and began transforming the chalet into a farmstay in 2024.

Despite the potential for a million-dollar renovation, they managed to complete the project within S$80,000, which included a small investment from an investment banker friend.

Clarence clarified that he initially sought out contractors, but was shocked by the quotations he received. “The quotes from contractors were just too high—If we went with them, we would have spent five times the amount!”

He decided to—quite literally—take matters into his own hands and DIY different parts of the project, from carpentry to painting, to save costs. Together with a group of part-timers, the chalet was successfully revamped, and the House of Melissa Evelin launched just two and a half months later.

If two and a half months seems like a short time, that’s because we knew exactly what to do, as we had built up The Sundowner from scratch in the same way four years ago. 

Besides air conditioning, electricity, and plumbing, we did most things ourselves, so the main obstacle was inexperience. Who [among us] has ever built a hotel before? But we had the can-do spirit to just try.

Clarence Chua, co-founder of The Sundowner and House of Melissa Evelin

Sustaining itself in nature

At this point, you might be wondering: Who is Melissa Evelin?

She’s actually a fictional character created by the couple, who is a British naturalist and traveller—a story that plays into the colonial-style interior of the chalet.

The farmstay opened to much fanfare, with, according to Clarence, full bookings almost every weekend since last Christmas. It continues to see “strong, growing demand.”

Many of its customers also overlap with The Sundowner, as both businesses cater to the same target market—young families with more disposable income.

However, with any business in Singapore, the pressure to earn amid rising costs is one that many entrepreneurs continue to grapple with, especially when it comes to rental costs.

Located in less central areas, The Sundowner and House of Melissa Evelin benefited from more affordable rents, which allowed them to grow their audience sustainably.

“In contrast, if we wanted to start an unproven business, for example, in Orchard Road, and rely [on] its prestige to attract a crowd, we would have failed for sure, due to high rent. And the landlord will just be laughing all the way to the bank,” explained Clarence.

Currently, staffing also accounts for 20 to 30% of their costs; however, unlike other hospitality businesses, they intentionally avoid maintaining a roster of full-time employees, with only one full-time staff member on their team.

When asked about their decision, Clarence shared that one key concern is the risk of not being able to sustain full-time salaries during periods of lower demand, which might lead to layoffs.

This helps the business remain flexible and maintain healthy profit margins of around 15 to 20%.

Pursuing the green dollar

The House of Melissa Evelin reached operational breakeven in March—a milestone Clarence credits to the business’s adaptability. But the journey is far from over.

To drive continued growth, the team has introduced weekday discounts to boost off-peak stays and developed a suite of new activities that could cater to large group events, such as weddings and birthdays.

They are also supported by the SG Eco fund from the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment, which offers financial support for their permaculture tours and nature experiences.

Looking forward, although the House of Melissa Evelin currently operates on a short-term lease due to potential future plans for the area by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Clarence hopes that The House of Melissa Evelin can continue offering their farmstays and experiences in Changi in the long run, and play a part in conserving the area.

Pure commerce is not green. We believe that combining doing good for nature, with attracting locals tourists to do the same, is a way towards a profitable future. It’s more about passion than profit. 

We cannot take this concept and simply transplant it to another neighbourhood in Singapore. The vibe and narrative is just off. We hope this will show to [the] SLA the value of conserving these seafront chalets, instead of razing this area of natural and cultural history.

Clarence Chua, co-founder of The Sundowner and House of Melissa Evelin

• Learn more about House of Melissa Evelin here.
• Read more articles we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: How this Singaporean built his own hotel brand using decommissioned city buses

Featured Image Credit: The House of Melissa Evelin

Astro is giving marketing support worth RM3 million to 200 F&B bizs under BIZone

We recently had a query: Can Malaysian businesses just play any music or show they want to on their premises? 

The short answer is a resounding “no.” The longer answer though, you can read here.

But you might be wondering—what about those mamaks or bars that play football matches? How can they (legally) air that content?

Well, one solution they could be using is Astro’s BIZone.  

In the zone with BIZone

Launched in 2024, Astro BIZone is a simplified pack for F&B outlets. It allows commercial establishments to air sports (and certain other content) on their screens. 

Specifically, BIZone provides a full suite of live sports coverage as well as entertainment content, including the biggest sporting events such as the Premier League, BWF Tournaments, Liga Malaysia, Sepak Takraw League, Formula 1, MotoGP, NBA, cricket, and tennis. There’s also 25 non-sports channels. 

Ensuring fairness, the pack also offers transparent pricing tailored to different business types and seating capacity.

A RM3 million rewards campaign 

A lot of businesses, especially SMEs, might find it difficult to invest in a solution like BIZone, despite Astro’s statistics showing that customers tend to stay in a store where content like sports is playing on the TV. 

BIZone’s newly announced initiative might sweeten the deal, though. To bolster the growth of SME F&B outlets, they have introduced a marketing support campaign with RM3 million’s worth of value. 

Through this, a total of 200 F&B outlets will be selected as winners to receive a share of the RM3 million’s worth of marketing support throughout the campaign period. 

The selection of winners will take place every month through a draw conducted by appointed Astro representatives. 

Eligible outlets stand a chance to gain the following marketing and media support: 

• Sports Watch Party: An all-expense-paid live sports screening experience hosted at the customer’s outlet, designed to draw crowds and turn any match night into a major event.
• Meet & Greet: Appearance by a top-tier celebrity or influencer, generating buzz, footfall, and memorable customer experiences.
• Food Review: Exclusive content creation by popular food reviewers or social media personality, spotlighting customer’s outlet and reaching thousands of foodies. 
• Astro Radio Ads: Customer’s outlet featured on any one of Astro’s leading radio stations targeting millions of listeners, thus building awareness across diverse audience segments. 
• TV Spots: Customer’s outlet showcased on Bulletin Awani or Borak SeeNi, tapping into Astro’s extensive national viewership for maximum reach.

This campaign is open to all F&B and commercial outlets that sign up for, renew, or upgrade their BIZone TV pack within the campaign period of April 7 to October 17.

Good for business 

Tan Sian Tuang, Head of Enterprise and Broadband Business, Astro said, “Through this campaign, we want to enable F&Bs to leverage the power of strategic marketing to achieve their business objectives.” 

The company wants to show how BIZone is a powerful business multiplier that delivers real value by driving footfall, increasing customer engagement, and enhancing brand value. 

Beyond the marketing support, though, BIZone does sound like a good solution that F&B businesses should consider. 

It might be an investment, but some businesses have been slapped with hefty fines for not following the proper channels when it comes to in-store entertainment. 

For one, it was reported that year that a nasi kandar chain had to pay Astro over RM200,000 for unauthorised broadcasts. 

Maybe this is one reason why BIZone has already demonstrated substantial growth since its launch last year, experiencing a 34% year-on-year increase in new customers, significantly outpacing the approximate 5% year-on-year base growth. 

Astro shared in a press release, “With a potential market size of 14,000 establishments, BIZone is steadily gaining traction. This growth in customer acquisition highlights its value as a business solution for F&B and commercial outlets across Malaysia.”

• Learn more about Astro BIZone here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Astro BIZone

ASUS Zenbook A14 review: Lightweight, long-lasting, with lightning speed. What’s not to love?

For the past month, I had the chance to test ASUS’ latest offering under their Zenbook lineup, the ASUS Zenbook A14.

Even before receiving the product, I had my reservations against this new, ultralight laptop.

After all, aren’t laptops already pretty light? I’ve had no problem taking my Surface Pro 7 around for the past five years, and that thing already weighs not much more than the A14 despite being released in 2019.

Even friends and colleagues seem to be having no problem bringing about their hefty gaming laptops, decked with the most powerful processors and graphics cards.

As such, I had thought that the lightness of the A14 would be doing little in actually proving itself to be a standout laptop of its class.

I was wrong

From the second I had taken the laptop out of its box and onto my hands, its 899 g felt closer in weight to a notebook than a standard laptop.

Indeed, carrying the A14 around was never a hassle, and I immediately noticed the lightness of my laptop bag the first time I brought it home.

I decided to use the A14 as my daily driver for the next month or so, switching from my now two-minute battery life Surface Pro 7.

From carrying it around at events to actually using it lap-top in crowded hospital lobbies and car service centres, the A14 proved itself to be a practical work companion for the ever-moving professional with its lightness, build, and extended “edge-to-edge” touchpad which got me leaving my mouse at home.

The laptop also features a Ceraluminum build, a signature ASUS material composed of aluminium and ceramic which ASUS claims to be “lightweight, scratch resistant, shock resistant, and smudge-free,” a statement I found for the most part, to be true.

I know, I know. It’s only been a month. But as an excessive palm sweater who likes to keep his nails moderately long and is clumsy, I had half expected the laptop to show signs of wear, despite promising my editors that I would do my best to keep it looking its best (it is a review unit, after all).

By the end of the month, however, the A14 showed no scratch, held no stain, nor bore no tarnish, still true to the pretty brown beige colour it came in—Zabriskie Beige, ASUS calls it.

Moving on to its keyboard, the A14 provided a smooth and soundless typing experience, just the way I like it (maybe not for you mechanical keyboard users who want everyone to know just how much you’re typing, though).

“It feels like a MacBook,” said a writer friend, an Apple loyalist who has stuck to Apple laptops due to its keyboards and typing feel.

What about what’s under?

With it being a new product, I had high expectations for its overall performance in handling my day-to-day tasks, the most technically demanding of them being having up to 30 browser tabs running at any one time.

And for the most part, the A14 delivered.

Through the time I’ve had with the laptop, I noticed no performance issues, be it stutters or complete crashes. Then again, I’m not running Premiere Pro or Elden Ring on it, but with its Snapdragon X processor and 32GB or memory, you should be good to take it a little further.

With its claimed battery life of 23 hours, the A14 works great for those who like to work on the go, further bolstered by its Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, which ensures no performance losses when using the A14 unplugged.

Even if the laptop ran low though, its 65-watt type-C fast-charge adapter made charging quick, even working for other devices with a type-C port and fast-charging capabilities.

Along with two USB-C ports, the A14 is also fitted with a HDMI port, a headphone jack, and a USB-A port.

The camera, however, was… fine, not really standing out from other laptop’s cameras, but it did do its job.

Now, let’s talk about what every tech brand loves shouting about, the “new” AI features, including ASUS with Microsoft’s assistant, Copilot.

In short, that did not work for me. Whether this was a laptop problem or a software problem, I don’t know, but as someone who does not use AI programmes, it didn’t really affect my workflow.

That said, ASUS claims that the A14 was built around giving users seamless access to AI models, from live captions to transforming sketches into pieces of art to even upscaling images, so if you find yourself going through third-party apps to do those tasks regularly, the A14 and Copilot might just help streamline your workflow greatly.

To sum it up

The A14 is a great laptop. It did wonderful at handling my writing and researching tasks and it would probably do well for a lot more too, given that it boasts the latest technologies and features in the tech world, from an upgraded processor to a more efficient battery.

That said, does it justify its RM4,999 price point? I think it does, especially for those who prioritise portability, AI productivity features, and aesthetics.

• Learn more about the ASUS Zenbook A14 here.
• Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025