Showcase of Final Year Projects at SUS Academy

 

It was April when I received a query from SUS Academy about connecting their final year student to work on his Final Year Project (FYP) in collaboration with a charity organization in Johor Bahru.

 

The reception counter at SUS Academy,
Menara Landmark, Johor Bahru

The charity organization they had in mind was the Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation or JARO in short, an established brand for beautiful, quality products that are handmade by people with disabilities, which I had featured along with other proudly Johor brands in my third book.

 

Launched in December 2022, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, is the final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books.

 

Over the years, JARO has evolved into an established rehabilitation centre, recognized for its quality training and a unique brand of handicrafts for sale.

 

Event poster for Oh Shift!

JARO actively reaches out to offer the disabled opportunities to be gainfully employed in a creative and productive manner in their workshop with sections for bookbinding, basketry, tailoring and handicrafts.

 

With annual Government grants and public donations, JARO is self-supporting by marketing its products and reinvesting the funds into its daily operations.

 

I am familiar with JARO so it was my pleasure to connect SUS Academy to General Manager, Joseph Roy Arputham, to kick off discussions about this proposed project collaboration.

 

Fast-forward to September when I received an invitation from SUS Academy to their Open Day & Graduation Exhibition 2024 dubbed Oh Shift! that will showcase the Final Year Projects presented by some 20 final year students.

 

The Wild Wonders project in
collaboration with JARO

This showcase will celebrate the creativity of students in the Graphic and Multimedia Design programme that feature work from various disciplines like Illustration, 2-D and 3-D Animation, Photography and Visual Communication.

 

Established more than 20 years ago, Shift Your Sense Academy, better known as SUS Academy, is one of Johor Bahru’s most established digital design institutions that is revolutionizing education by shifting the paradigm in applying a more innovative and creative approach. 

 

The academy’s education programmes include the Bachelor Degree in Graphic Communication Design & Animation and Bachelor Degree (Hons) in Graphic & Multimedia accredited to Griffith College, Ireland and University for the Creative Arts in the UK, respectively.

 

A look at their address reminded me that the Academy was located within Menara Landmark, the tower adjacent to the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel at Jalan Ngee Heng.

 

Lee Wen Chung with his
Eat & Burn brand

Readers, familiar with My Johor Stories, are aware of my connection with this old road because I enjoyed my growing-up years at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng – our grandfather’s house – long before Menara Landmark existed.

 

Until earlier this year, an enterprising warong operator was doing brisk business on what was part of our driveway after our house was demolished to make way for the Jalan Tun Abdul Razak expressway.

 

On arrival at SUS Academy, groups of people were gathered around various exhibits but my eyes were riveted to the eye-catching display dubbed Wild Wonders that featured the familiar JARO logo and rattan products from their basketry section.

 

Wild Wonders is a product series designed by Gerard Tan Li Quan that feature animal patterns with local elements from Johor, used on JARO rattan products, fabric items and as book bindings.

 

Brian Foong Yu Heng with his
Tip-In brand

Gerard explained that his Wild Wonders creations are split into the Wonders series and Wild series.

 

While the Wonders series showcases a mix of natural elements and traditional designs that feature Malaysian animals with intricate patterns, the Wild series highlights the geometry of modern design with traditional flora and fauna.

 

“Wild Wonders is inspired by the wildlife and rich cultural heritage of Johor. We selected animals like Tiger, Tapir, Hornbill and Orangutan that symbolize strength and courage to create unique and fabric designs,” said Gerard.

 

These trendy fabrics in a choice of cotton and satin are turned into cushion covers, chair pads, scarves, tote bags and stylish sashes tied onto rattan baskets woven by JARO’s talented artisans with disabilities.

 

Lecturer Kelly Kee, was pleased with the successful collaboration that Gerard had with JARO to create his range of Wild Wonders designs.

 

Honest Sin Yao with her Ngam Ngam.co brand

She said that when the Academy approached them with their proposal, JARO welcomed the collaboration to develop new designs that will enhance their range of products to better appeal to a wider clientele of different ages.

 

Escorted by Kelly, I had the pleasure to review the exhibits on display where the students shared briefly on the concepts, inspiration and ideas about their FYPs.

 

Along the way, we were joined by English Teacher, Manjit Kaur, who encouraged the students to speak in English to share more information about their projects.

 

Wong Pei Sin presents her
story on Clara's Odyssey

In addition to Gerard, the Visual Communications students who exhibited their FYPs in this showcase were Chong Zhi Yu, Elaine Ma Lee Lin, Ezio Lee Yi Chen, Lee Wen Chung, Honest Sin Yao, Chew Ern Tong, Liew Wai Sheng, Veezard Soong Wei Ming, Stella Ng Chuu Huey, Yu Jun Jack and Brian Foong Yu Heng.

 

The students who created 3-D Animation FYPs were Cinthia Lew, Darren Tay Kia Siang and Edwin Ang Jia En while Tow Zhi Xuan’s FYP was in 2-D Animation.

 

The FYPs in Illustration were by Vivi Tam, Wong Pei Sin and Happy Leong Khai Shuen while the FYP in Photography belonged to Angel Lee Yee Xin.

 

Among the exhibits was an interesting board game dubbed, Flaming Mountain – Journey to the West, created by Veezard Soong that came complete with attractive tokens and guidelines for players to enjoy the game with the Game Master.

 

Cinthia Lew presents her 
Yin Xin Ju hotel concept

Another was the exhibit by Brian Foong dubbed, Tip-In, a basketball brand inspired by the precision of the tip move, dedicated to providing high-quality jerseys and merchandise that aim to encourage more interest in the game of basketball.

 

The Eat & Burn brand for a retro American-style exhibit by Lee Wen Chung caught my eye with a car-themed food truck that serves bagel burgers and milkshakes in a nostalgic setting of auto shows that feature classic cars and American all-time favourite food.  

 

Young storyteller, Wong Pei Sin, presented Clara’s Odyssey in an illustrated storybook with lovely three-dimensional, pop-up features to share Clara’s quest to discover the importance of self-discovery, acceptance and understanding.

 

With SUS Academy lecturers,
Kelly Kee [Left] and Shirley Lee [Right]

NgamNgam.co, a fashion label that gives new lives to pre-loved garments by Honest Sin Yao, presented a range of merchandise that she considers was ngam, Chinese language for ‘on pointe,’ to express one’s individuality.

 

Two young men who are passionate about 3-D Animation, Edwin Ang Jia En and Darren Tay Kia Siang, proudly presented their futuristic fantasy and sci-fi creations dubbed Chapter 23:18 and Echoes, respectively.

 

Meanwhile Cinthia Lew turned her long-standing appreciation of Oriental-style aesthetics into her Yin Xin Ju concept for a hotel with Huizhou architecture as the design foundation.

 

The wide range of exhibits was proof of the talent and creativity among these young people, something that may be honed and applied to a variety of industries.

 

My tour of the exhibits brought me back to Wild Wonders, the unique range of products designed in collaboration with JARO which I thought, has a huge potential to be developed for sale in JARO as well as from exclusive outlets.

 

Wild Wonders by
Gerard Tan Li Quan

Then Kelly was pleased to share that the Academy was already in discussions to take some of the students’ FYPs on a road show to present this showcase to a wider audience for them to appreciate the creativity and potential of their students’ talents.

 

This was an excellent idea to encourage the students with exposure to the public and for a real-world experience to ascertain the potential of their creations in the market.

 

SUS Academy is located at Unit 31-01 Level 31, Menara Landmark, No. 12 Jalan Ngee Heng, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor.

 

Note: Read more about the Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation or JARO along with other interesting My Johor stories like Growing Up in Grandfather’s House, published in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now.

 

My books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline or physically from JARO and YSpace in Johor Bahru.

Of family bonds, feasting and fond farewells

 

As the itinerary of the epic Asian Adventure for my sister, Pearly, and her family was coming to an end, she made an effort to prepare her grandkids with the fact that she would not be leaving with them but was extending her stay in Johor.

 

One for the family album: Photo memento of
92nd birthday celebration at Qing Palace
 

After spending much time together, travelling to various exciting destinations and enjoying many experiences together, the grandkids needed to deal with the temporary separation with the assurance that she should be home in 10 days’ time.

 

“I want to spend more time with my mummy,” I heard Pearly tell her grandkids and while they accepted this reason, it was still a painful parting at the airport Departure gates.

 

After my nephew, Jamie, and his family left for UK via Singapore, my brother and his wife – who hosted their stay in Johor Bahru – arranged to leave for Kuala Lumpur.

 

With me at Legoland on their extended stay

This was because they were responsible for an airport pick-up from KLIA when Aunty Polly and Uncle Steven returned from Sydney after their three-month stay.

 

Once they have unpacked their bags, they will repack another travel bag for a drive to Johor Bahru to meet with Pearly and her daughter, Melanie, whose extended stay here coincided with our mum’s 92^nd birthday in early September.

 

And so it was arranged for my brother and his wife to escort Uncle and Aunty, along with Aunty Sylvia, from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru (again!) to join us for mum’s birthday celebration.

 

Aunt Polly and Uncle Steven checking-in 
at Sydney airport to return to Kuala Lumpur

Meanwhile, I was tasked to make reservations for a special dinner at a Chinese restaurant of our choice and this discussion was shared among the Loh siblings, to coordinate guests, travel time, cake and menu, among other arrangements.

 

When Pearly and her family arrived from the UK in August 2024, Ruby, our eldest sister, was enjoying a wintry time with her sons and grandkids in Perth, Australia.

 

On the first evening Pearly’s family was in Johor Bahru, Ruby and her family joined us via video call from Australia when we sat down for dinner with their grandkids’ great-grandmother.

 

It was the wonder of modern technology that brought our mother’s children, grandchildren and great-grandkids together – virtually – over dinner in Johor Bahru.

 

My sister, Ruby, with son, Aaron, his wife
and daughter, on the flight back from Perth

When Jamie and his family returned to the UK, Ruby and her son, Aaron with his family, were on road trip with farm-stay fun in the region around Margaret River.

 

Aaron and his wife were on leave to enjoy this road trip with his mother but when they saw that Aunty Pearly had extended her stay which would coincide with their grandmother’s 92^nd birthday, Aaron thought that it would be more meaningful if all of his grandmother’s children could be together for this special occasion.

 

As he pondered on this idea, Aaron did not hesitate to check online for flights and the possibility of travelling back with his mother, for this. After all, they were on leave and could possibly make a flying trip via Singapore to be in Johor Bahru for a few days…

 

Using his accumulated Frequent Flyer Points and for a small fee, Aaron was delighted to find suitable flights to fly in with his mother and family, to spring a surprise on everyone!

 

Everyone except me.

 

Aunts and nieces meet again for lunch
at dim sum restaurant
 

One afternoon while I was seated at the dining table, having afternoon tea with our mother, Pearly and her daughter, I received a brief WhatsApp message from Aaron’s wife who said, “Hi Ah Yee,* are you at home? Do you have a few minutes to chat privately please?”

 

When I replied, “I’m here,” it did not take long for my phone to signal a call. I grabbed my phone, retreated into the downstairs bathroom and shut the door for a brief video chat with Aaron and his wife.

 

Their first question was, “Can you arrange more seats at the birthday dinner?”

 

In our hushed conversation – punctuated by much laughter – they confirmed a travel plan to arrive from Perth a day ahead of my brother with the aunties and uncle who would be coming from Kuala Lumpur.

 

Brendon with his grandmother,
exchanging birthday gifts

My task was to prepare the bed linen for them as their flight should touch down in Singapore in the evening and by the time they reached home, it would be close to bedtime.

 

After our surreptitious video chat, it was rather difficult to keep a straight face when I returned to the table but I did and managed to hug this little secret to myself over the next few days.

 

On the day of their surprise return from Perth, I arranged for Pearly, her daughter and our niece to have dinner with my mother and I, so that we would all be in the house when they turned up.

 

Our niece, Amanda, whose parents were in Kuala Lumpur to meet Uncle and Auntie on their arrival at KLIA, was confused when she heard the sound of the auto-gate opening because her parents were the other ones who had keys to this house.

 

I saw that surprised expression on her face but kept silent. Her senses on high alert, she turned to look at the front door the moment she heard it click and saw the door open to reveal her cousin, Aaron and his mother, Ruby, stepping in…

 

Our mother with her sisters,
Polly [Left] and Sylvia [Right] 

She leapt off her chair with a squeal of surprise and pandemonium prevailed as hugs and greetings were exchanged in very successfully staged surprise!

 

It was a delightful reunion and when there was time to catch a breath, Pearly turned to me with a quizzical expression and asked, “Did anyone know about it?” 

 

When Aaron said, “Thanks, Ah Yee,” they knew that I did a good job in keeping my lips sealed for them to successfully spring such a surprise.

 

We reminded each other not to post any photographs in the family chat groups so as to maintain the surprise element for those arriving from Kuala Lumpur the next day.

 

Abigail, my sister, Ruby's grand-daughter,
singing the Birthday Song to great-grandmother

Then arrangements were made for everyone to meet for lunch at our family’s favourite dim sum restaurant the next day. The first to arrive were those in Johor Bahru and the family from Perth, comfortably seated around a large round table.

 

So when my brother, his wife and son arrived along with the aunts and uncle, they could not believe their eyes, pleasantly surprised to see the family from Perth here.

 

[After my brother’s son, Brendon, was born a day after our mother’s birthday, we often celebrated their two birthdays together. With his presence here, we happily anticipated a double celebration…]

 

Meanwhile, I had made prior arrangements with the restaurant and extended invitations to friends of the family to join our mother’s birthday celebration at one of our favorite Chinese restaurants.

 

With mother on her 92nd birthday

So the unexpected presence of Ruby, her son, his wife and daughter here, continued to surprise our friends when they arrived for the birthday celebration. 

 

Our evening kicked off (as always!) with a photo session at the familiar front lobby of the restaurant, to capture special mementoes of our time together.

 

Family and friendships were celebrated with good food in the joyous occasion of our mother’s 92^nd birthday.

 

And when the cake was presented with lighted candles, we sang the Birthday Song that was spontaneously followed by our rendition of an Indonesian/Malay folk song, Burung Gagak Tua!

 

Earlier that day, this song came up in conversation because my mother said that she only had two of her own teeth left to support her dentures.

 

Pearly [Right] and her daughter, Melanie, each
wearing one side of pairs of jade and diamond
earrings, received from grandmother

When I started singing the lyrics, “Gigi nya tinggal dua,” Malay for “she has only two teeth left,” from the Burung Gagak Tua song, Melanie was so intrigued that she did not hesitate to check online for its lyrics.

 

She not only found the lyrics but also the music which she played to help jog our memories for this familiar folk song which we used to sing in our childhood days.

 

So it was simply wonderful to have our aunts joining in to sing Burung Gagak Tua, just as we did to make our own music and entertainment in our growing up years when we lived together in grandfather’s house, once located at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng.

 

[More recollections of Growing Up in Grandfather’s House are documented in the third and final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now.]

 

Birthday lunch for Brendon

Family feasting continued the next day when we gathered again at a neighbourhood café to celebrate another birthday, that of our nephew, Brendon.

 

With the family gatherings behind us, it was then time for farewells. Prior to the dates, I prepared our mother with information about those who would be leaving as she needed to be reminded and reassured.

 

First to leave was Brendon, who had to get back to work in Kuala Lumpur. Then Pearly and Melanie, who returned to the UK after their extended stay.

 

I also reminded her that Aaron and his family with his mother, would be heading to the airport in the afternoon of the very next day to leave for Perth.

 

Our aunts and uncle continued their stay to enjoy favourite local food and spend time with old friends in Johor Bahru before they too left for Kuala Lumpur with my brother and his wife.

 

Enjoying birthday lunch together 

In her old age, my mother is aware of her limits. She was just happy to have her family visit and understand that they have lives of their own. She also accepted the fact that they will eventually leave after a visit.

 

After their return, each one had stayed in touch while Pearly had called and chatted by video again so my mother could feel that she was nearby.

 

My mother agreed that people are now like birds … able to fly from one place to another so quickly. Time also flies, so maybe they will just turn up again very soon.

 

*Ah Yee is the honorific in Cantonese, to address the younger sister of one’s mother.

Whereas, the Cantonese honorific to address the older sister of one’s father is Kumah. [I learnt about this tradition because I am addressed by these two titles.]

Record-breaking success in School Challenge

 

Legoland Malaysia celebrated record-breaking success in their 2024 Asia-wide Legoland School Challenge hosted with 3,700 students who participated with their LEGO creations in the theme, World of Fantasy.

 

Congratulations to the winning teams at the
Legoland School Challenge 2024

In its third year of the highly anticipated annual School Challenge, Legoland Malaysia continued to build on the strong success of previous years and garnered a positive response as it expanded to include schools from across Asia.

 

Over 3,700 students across the region took part in the competition, setting a new participation record with a total of 554 submissions, 50% higher compared to the previous year.

Uniquely designed LEGO trophies
 

The challenge continued to gain international attention with submissions from ASEAN countries like Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines with three new countries – China, Thailand and Laos.

 

The Legoland School Challenge is an annual competition designed to inspire creativity and innovation among students aged seven to 17.

 

Participants are tasked with building LEGO creations in a specific theme and for this year, the theme was, World of Fantasy.

 

A section of the crowd at the prize-giving event

The challenge encourages students to think critically and work collaboratively, in a hands-on learning experience that integrates STEM concepts and creative storytelling.

 

The competition is open to schools from across Asia, making it a platform for cultural exchange and educational growth.

 

These efforts to expand the challenge to reach diverse and international backgrounds further amplified the cross-cultural potential set by the theme for this year's challenge.

 

Johor Menteri Besar or Chief Minister
 presenting his speech at the event

From fantastical and colourful landscapes to dazzling mythical creatures, the young builders weaved immersive storylines in their LEGO creations inspired by global and local folklore.

 

This year, Legoland Malaysia Resort, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri (JPN), donated 50 LEGO sets to schools across Malaysia that might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.

 

With the Ministry’s support in identifying and reaching these schools, more students were empowered to bring their creative visions to life and take part in the challenge.

 

“As a strategic partner, we are glad to support Legoland Malaysia Resort in their ongoing drive to empower teachers and students alike with a positive avenue for hands-on learning, where our young ones can develop more STEM-based skills as well as learn to collaborate with others in a fun and engaging environment.

 

Johor Menteri Besar admiring the LEGO
winning creations in the theme, World of Fantasy
 

We are also very proud of the Legoland School Challenge winners, as they represent the incredible potential of our next generation of leaders, thinkers, and builders in Malaysia.

 

The entries we have witnessed from the students are truly inspiring and we hope to continue supporting initiatives of this nature in the future,” said Deputy Director General of Education Malaysia, Zainal Bin Abas.

 

At the prize-giving ceremony, graced by Guest-of-Honour, the Johor Menteri Besar, the excitement that prevailed among the participants was palpable as they eagerly anticipated the announcement of the names of the 16 winning school groups for their outstanding LEGO creations.

 

Team Star Girls from SK Bukit Damansara,
Kuala Lumpur, Grand Prize Winner in the
Primary School Category, 2024

“We are incredibly proud that Johor is the home of both LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort and the LEGOLAND School Challenge. This event not only showcases the creativity and talent of our youth but also aligns perfectly with our state’s commitment to promoting STEM education.

 

I am especially pleased to see such strong participation from schools across Johor, reflecting the enthusiasm and dedication of our students to engaging in innovative and creative endeavors.

 

As we continue to foster innovation and learning in our schools, events like this play a crucial role in preparing our next generation of leaders,” said Johor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Onn Hafiz Bin Ghazi.

 

Team Five Guys from Campus Rangers 
International School, Grand Prize Winner in
the Secondary School Category, 2024

This year saw a high level of international participation, making the competition tougher than ever.

 

The 16 best LEGO creations that stood out from the rest, displayed a wealth of creativity, imagination, innovation, and technical skill that impressed the panel of judges, who comprised expert LEGO builders, designers, and dedicated lifelong LEGO fans.

 

The winning teams, with their truly outstanding and remarkable LEGO builds – all from Malaysia – rose above the strong international field.

 

Team Stardust from SK Convent
Father Barre, Sungai Petani, Kedah,
Third Place, Primary School Category

In the Primary School Category for students aged seven to 12, the Grand Prize Winner was Team Star Girls from SK Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, who impressed the panel of judges with their dazzling three-dimensional creation dubbed, Chronicles of Unity.

 

Meanwhile the Grand Prize Winner in the Secondary School Category for students aged 13 to 17 was Team Five Guys from Campus Rangers International School, Kuala Lumpur, whose creation titled, East:West was a unique split-scale build.

 

“As an initiative that embodies the essence of our LEGO DNA, learning through play, the Legoland School Challenge is something very close to our hearts.

 

We are delighted to have achieved several new milestones this year, from reaching a record-breaking number of submissions to welcoming new teams from countries across Asia, and most importantly, being able to make the challenge even more accessible to underprivileged students nationwide.

 

Team The Mavericks from SK Kubang
Kerian 3, Kota Bahru, Kelantan,
Second Place Winner,
Primary School Category

We are grateful for the support from the Malaysian government in making this success possible and we hope to continue working together to enhance education in the nation.

 

We are more committed than ever to reaching new heights through this programme and look forward to seeing even more international teams participating next year,” said Divisional Director at Legoland Malaysia Resort, CS Lim.

 

The 16 winning teams were awarded a collective prize pool worth more than RM100,000 that included iconic LEGO trophies, LEGO Play Sets and the opportunity to attend an exclusive LEGO Building Workshop with a LEGO Expert Model Builder.

 

This special workshop allowed all winners to learn from the master builders, honing their creativity and LEGO-building skills.

 

In recognition of the teams’ talent and hard work, the winning LEGO models will be displayed at Miniland in Legoland Malaysia Resort until 31 December 2024.

 

Parents, educators, and students can find out more on the Legoland Malaysia Resort official website about the Legoland School Challenge Initiative and education programmes available at Legoland Malaysia Resort.

 

For the latest updates on promotions and activities in Legoland Malaysia Resort, stay connected via the official website or social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.