Latest news with #Cheah
New Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Senior Citizens Bill must be prioritised, says coalition on ageing
KUALA LUMPUR: The Senior Citizens Bill, which has long been overdue, must be given priority and tabled for debate as soon as possible, said the Malaysian Coalition on Ageing. Coalition chairman Cheah Tuck Wing said while existing laws protect women and children, there is still no specific legislation aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of senior citizens. "The population of people aged 65 and above is rapidly rising, expected to reach 15 per cent by 2040. This means our country will become an aged nation, yet many measures, including legislation to protect them, are still not in place," he said when contacted today. He added the coalition fully supported the Malaysian Bar's call for the government to immediately table the bill to protect Malaysia's ageing population. He added government hospitals have reported many cases where families admit their elderly relatives and then disappear. Hospital Kuala Lumpur, for example, recorded 358 abandonment cases in 2023 and 166 cases up until May last year, he said. "Hence, the proposed bill, which includes legal action against adult children who neglect their parents, is essential in restoring a sense of filial responsibility. The bill must be comprehensive, with care-centric supporting programmes to address the real-life challenges faced by caregivers," he said. He added financial hardship and the strain of 24-hour caregiving often lead to family conflicts, which could be a driving factor behind many abandonment cases. As such, he said the government must implement care centric supporting services to alleviate the hardship faced by filial caregivers. "Firstly, special financial support must be given to caregivers from B40 families and retirees in the M40 group who are taking care of them elderly parents with moderate to severe health problems. "Second, public healthcare and trained manpower. Specialists in geriatric medicine, rehabilitation facilities and welfare programmes for elderly must be upgraded. Currently, we only have 67 geriatric specialists in hospitals and private practice and the ratio is one doctor to 40,000 individuals above 65 years old. "Thirdly, there must be close collaboration between the government and non-governmental organisations in the community to provide support for family members with elderly care responsibilities. "Community based services could focus on providing help and support to caregivers either through daycare centers or home visits by nurse and health aides." Cheah said the successful Senior Citizens Activity Centres, established by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in partnership with other government agencies and the non-governmental organisations, should serve as a model for developing community-based care institutions in selected districts. One such area is Lubok Antu in Sarawak, which has the highest percentage of citizens aged 65 and above in Malaysia. "It is imperative that the government implement strategies to address the problem of elderly abandonment, especially given the limited number of beds available at the 10 federally funded old folks' homes and two homes for the chronically ill in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as the five state-funded old folks' homes in the Borneo states," he added. Earlier today, the Malaysian Bar called on the government to urgently table the bill to safeguard the country's ageing population.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
How beauty giants are battling it out for Australian shoppers
To this end, Wesfarmers has been expanding its beauty offerings in Priceline and a new dedicated beauty store atomica, while Adore Beauty launched its first bricks-and-mortar store in Melbourne last year after 25 years in business. Dr Marian Makkar, a senior marketing lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, says differentiation is a key challenge for multi-brand retailers. Exclusive brand partnerships and a warm, bespoke customer service experience with an emphasis on bricks-and-mortar retail are central. 'When you go into the retail space itself, you want to feel like an exclusive customer,' she says. For Mecca, staff training is an essential part of the offering, with the brand investing four per cent of turnover in education. Loading 'Our team members are true beauty experts – deeply knowledgeable about our brands, products, and application techniques – and skilled at sharing that expertise in a warm, engaging, and high-touch way,' the company told this masthead. While Sephora's two main competitors in Australia – Mecca and Priceline – are Australian-owned, Cheah thinks its international positioning gives the brand an edge. 'We go back to the profile of our consumers, and they're more well travelled. The fact they come to Sephora, they can shop anywhere in the region and they will still be able to earn points,' she says. 'We bring global brand equity and exclusive brand partnerships.' Makkar attributes Mecca's success in part to its high concentration of exclusive brands (around 80 per cent). It appears to be working, with revenue growing from $971,523 in 2022 to an estimated $1.3 billion for the 2025 financial year. Sephora was unable to say what percentage of its more than 500 brands were exclusive, but it's clear that it's a strategy pivotal to retailers' success, at a time when consumers can order online or buy in store. This month, Sephora will add Lady Gaga's Haus Labs to its stable of Sephora-only brands in the Asia-Pacific region, which also includes Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Rihanna's Fenty Beauty. First launched in 2019 on Amazon, Haus Labs relaunched in 2022 with Sephora. Cheah thinks this has been key to it becoming one of the highest-earning celebrity beauty brands today. 'With all due respect to Amazon, I think Haus Lab's story is better communicated [at Sephora], and I think the brand appreciates that out of us as well,' says Cheah. In today's oversaturated market of celebrity beauty brands, it takes more than a famous face to move product. 'Consumers today are so savvy. They won't spend money on products that don't work, no matter how inexpensive they are,' says Cheah. She thinks Haus Lab's focus on 'clean beauty' (defined by Sephora as products free from ingredients such as phthalates, sulphates and parabens), skincare-based make-up and focus on social issues (a portion of every sale goes to support Gaga's charity, Born this Way Foundation) have all contributed to its success. In June, Sephora and Haus Labs will create 31 activations across Australia in line with Global Pride Month. Cheah says Haus Lab's foundation is the top-selling foundation in US Sephora, with similar hopes for the Australian market. Sephora has made a concerted effort to support Australian beauty brands too – most notably Ultra Violette, a sun care brand that's seen rapid success since launching in 2019. Loading Ultra Violette is sold exclusively in store at Sephora Australia, and has recently entered into the US and Asian markets, again with the help of Sephora. But securing that coveted 'exclusivity' can be tough – Ultra Violette is also available direct from its website and on The Iconic. Cheah is pragmatic. 'A brand deserves to have the brand available to consumers in the way they would like to be. We cannot put a frame around that,' she says. 'In some cases, like Ultra Violette, we would love for them to just be in Sephora and only in Sephora because that gives them a greater marketing edge as well with us.' Indeed, when brands have the ability to go direct to consumer, why enter an exclusive partnership with a retailer like Sephora? Cheah says a partnership offers a brand access to their global supply chain, consumer data, merchandising and advice on product development. And she thinks having multiple fronts in different retailers can confuse shoppers about a brand's messaging. From a consumer standpoint, Makkar says multi-retailers offer convenience for busy shoppers. 'People are looking for a one-stop shop … you have options all the way from Australian brands, all the way to international brands.'
The Age
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
How beauty giants are battling it out for Australian shoppers
To this end, Wesfarmers has been expanding its beauty offerings in Priceline and a new dedicated beauty store atomica, while Adore Beauty launched its first bricks-and-mortar store in Melbourne last year after 25 years in business. Dr Marian Makkar, a senior marketing lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, says differentiation is a key challenge for multi-brand retailers. Exclusive brand partnerships and a warm, bespoke customer service experience with an emphasis on bricks-and-mortar retail are central. 'When you go into the retail space itself, you want to feel like an exclusive customer,' she says. For Mecca, staff training is an essential part of the offering, with the brand investing four per cent of turnover in education. Loading 'Our team members are true beauty experts – deeply knowledgeable about our brands, products, and application techniques – and skilled at sharing that expertise in a warm, engaging, and high-touch way,' the company told this masthead. While Sephora's two main competitors in Australia – Mecca and Priceline – are Australian-owned, Cheah thinks its international positioning gives the brand an edge. 'We go back to the profile of our consumers, and they're more well travelled. The fact they come to Sephora, they can shop anywhere in the region and they will still be able to earn points,' she says. 'We bring global brand equity and exclusive brand partnerships.' Makkar attributes Mecca's success in part to its high concentration of exclusive brands (around 80 per cent). It appears to be working, with revenue growing from $971,523 in 2022 to an estimated $1.3 billion for the 2025 financial year. Sephora was unable to say what percentage of its more than 500 brands were exclusive, but it's clear that it's a strategy pivotal to retailers' success, at a time when consumers can order online or buy in store. This month, Sephora will add Lady Gaga's Haus Labs to its stable of Sephora-only brands in the Asia-Pacific region, which also includes Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Rihanna's Fenty Beauty. First launched in 2019 on Amazon, Haus Labs relaunched in 2022 with Sephora. Cheah thinks this has been key to it becoming one of the highest-earning celebrity beauty brands today. 'With all due respect to Amazon, I think Haus Lab's story is better communicated [at Sephora], and I think the brand appreciates that out of us as well,' says Cheah. In today's oversaturated market of celebrity beauty brands, it takes more than a famous face to move product. 'Consumers today are so savvy. They won't spend money on products that don't work, no matter how inexpensive they are,' says Cheah. She thinks Haus Lab's focus on 'clean beauty' (defined by Sephora as products free from ingredients such as phthalates, sulphates and parabens), skincare-based make-up and focus on social issues (a portion of every sale goes to support Gaga's charity, Born this Way Foundation) have all contributed to its success. In June, Sephora and Haus Labs will create 31 activations across Australia in line with Global Pride Month. Cheah says Haus Lab's foundation is the top-selling foundation in US Sephora, with similar hopes for the Australian market. Sephora has made a concerted effort to support Australian beauty brands too – most notably Ultra Violette, a sun care brand that's seen rapid success since launching in 2019. Loading Ultra Violette is sold exclusively in store at Sephora Australia, and has recently entered into the US and Asian markets, again with the help of Sephora. But securing that coveted 'exclusivity' can be tough – Ultra Violette is also available direct from its website and on The Iconic. Cheah is pragmatic. 'A brand deserves to have the brand available to consumers in the way they would like to be. We cannot put a frame around that,' she says. 'In some cases, like Ultra Violette, we would love for them to just be in Sephora and only in Sephora because that gives them a greater marketing edge as well with us.' Indeed, when brands have the ability to go direct to consumer, why enter an exclusive partnership with a retailer like Sephora? Cheah says a partnership offers a brand access to their global supply chain, consumer data, merchandising and advice on product development. And she thinks having multiple fronts in different retailers can confuse shoppers about a brand's messaging. From a consumer standpoint, Makkar says multi-retailers offer convenience for busy shoppers. 'People are looking for a one-stop shop … you have options all the way from Australian brands, all the way to international brands.'
The Star
15-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Doc honours supportive mother and in-law with dose of gratitude
(From right) Dr Lee looking on as Cheah, Lee's daughter Priscilla Ang and Low share a light moment after a Mothers Day meal at a cafe in Jalan Pahang, George Town. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star HAVING a support system is vital for working mums, when it comes to raising children. For George Town doctor Joyce Lee, 36, she relies on her mother Low Cheoh Ean, 59, and mother-in-law Cheah Lan Yook, 73, to help raise her two-year-old daughter. Their presence has made life and work easier, Dr Lee shared. 'Being a medical doctor, I work long hours and need help raising my daughter. 'With both my mother and mother-in-law around, I don't have to worry about my daughter's needs. 'They even make sure I come home to a warm meal and this gives me space to spend quality time with my daughter,' she said. Dr Lee, whose husband works in Singapore, said her mother-in-law made sure she got enough rest after work. So, as a gesture of gratitude this Mothers Day, Dr Lee bought flowers for Cheah and Low. 'My husband also took them out for a high-tea meal and some cakes. 'We usually plan the day to involve more than one outing,' she said, sharing that the family would also celebrate with a dinner. Cheah, a retired technician, feels like she has found a daughter in Dr Lee. 'My son is an only child and when he got married, I gained a daughter. 'My daughter-in-law's job is demanding and I want to help her out. 'I was working for more than 30 years, so I understand the demands that come with a career. 'I just want her to be able to rest when she is home,' said the doting mother-in-law. Cheah joked that since her son was overseas, she would see her daughter-in-law more often than her son. 'He comes home every week or two, but I see my daughter-in-law every day. 'She comes to my house daily to pick up my granddaughter. 'This means I get to spend time with her as well. 'It is like having my daughter with me,' she shared. On Mothers Day, many people were seen carrying boxes of cakes and flower bouquets to celebrate their mothers. The celebration honouring mothers, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society was founded by American activist Anna Jarvis on May 10, 1908. Jarvis did so in memory of her mother who had expressed a desire to establish such a holiday before her death. She had also wanted to set aside a day to honour all mothers because she believed 'a mother is the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world'. The occasion is now celebrated on different days all over the world, most commonly in March or May.
The Star
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Malaysian designer Shaleen Cheah on crafting elegant, expressive fashion
Long before her label became a name whispered in Dubai's fashion circles and her pieces found their way into the wardrobes of the style-savvy, Shaleen Cheah's relationship with fashion was deeply personal. 'My journey into the fashion world was completely unplanned. I've worn many hats but fashion was a love I never actively pursued until it became impossible to ignore,' says the Malaysian fashion designer. A calling that grew stronger with time, the mother of three finally took the leap and launched her eponymous label in Dubai in 2018. The journey that began with making her own clothes to creating custom pieces for close friends blossomed into a full-fledged brand, rooted in luxe resort and occasion wear. Shaleen Cheah's label is beloved for its spirited prints, expert tailoring and a certain free-spirited sophistication. Photo: Shaleen Cheah Today, the label is beloved for its spirited prints, expert tailoring and a certain free-spirited sophistication that has found resonance from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai and beyond. It was encouragement from friends who believed in her vision and shared her work that opened the first doors. 'From there, strangers began to take notice, drawn in by the authenticity and passion woven into my designs,' says Cheah. Rich with intention and emotional resonance, her designs began to speak for themselves. Today, Cheah continues to create from a place of joy and self-expression. 'In hindsight, I realise this is what I was always meant to do,' she says. 'The joy I find in building my brand and creating designs is immeasurable, and I truly hope that passion shines through in my work. Fashion isn't just a career for me, it's a vibrant expression of who I am.' As her brand continues to grow, Cheah expresses amazement at seeing it resonate with a wider audience, connecting with people who appreciate the love and dedication behind each piece. 'It's a journey that fills me with gratitude, and I can't wait to see where it leads next,' she says. Read more: Malaysian fashion designer Fern Chua talks about her 10-year journey with batik What are you up to nowadays in terms of your fashion line or otherwise? Currently, I am deeply immersed in curating my latest summer collection, inspired by the tropical season of Asia. This collection embodies the vibrant colours, intricate patterns and rich textures that reflect the diverse landscapes and cultures of the region. I am also exploring collaborations with local artisans to incorporate traditional crafts into modern designs, supporting both craftsmanship and sustainability. Beyond my fashion line, I look forward to the upcoming summer holidays where I get to pause, reflect and reconnect with my family. Balancing work with quality time with my favourite people is what makes the tough days worthwhile. Tell us about your design process, aesthetic, and creative evolution. Designing a collection is a multilayered process that begins with extensive research and mood-boarding. I immerse myself in the chosen inspirations, exploring themes that resonate with the essence of slow fashion. Once I have a clear concept, I sketch and develop prototypes, focusing on the practicality and longevity of each piece. My design aesthetic is characterised by timeless silhouettes, rich textures, and a harmonious colour palette that reflects the natural world. Over the years, my creative vision has evolved to emphasise not only aesthetics but also the stories behind the materials and craftsmanship, ensuring that each piece is not just worn but cherished. Shaleen Cheah's designs are beloved for their spirited prints, expert tailoring and a certain free-spirited sophistication. Photo: Shaleen Cheah How would you describe your personal style for different occasions? When it comes to describing my personal style, I embrace a philosophy that transcends fleeting trends. I gravitate towards classic silhouettes, allowing them to serve as a timeless framework for the vibrant colours and playful prints I adore exploring. My wardrobe is a celebration of femininity, designed to honour and highlight the beauty of the female silhouette. I do not believe in sticking to one trend or style as fashion is a way to express yourself and shouldn't be taken too seriously. Have some fun! Ultimately, my style is a reflection of who I am — bold, joyful, and proudly feminine. As a mother, what values and principles do you hope to pass down to your children? I strive to instil values of creativity, resilience and mindfulness in my children. I want them to appreciate the beauty of craftsmanship and understand the significance of ethical consumption. I emphasise the importance of making thoughtful choices, whether it's in fashion or daily life. I hope to encourage them to pursue their passions while being mindful of their impact on the world, always fostering a sense of responsibility and creativity. How important is it for Malaysians to create their own homegrown labels? It is incredibly important for Malaysians to establish their own homegrown labels. Our rich cultural heritage and diverse influences provide a unique foundation for creativity and innovation in fashion. By creating local brands, we can celebrate our identity, support local artisans, and contribute to the economy. For those starting out, my advice is to stay true to your vision, embrace authenticity, and focus on building a sustainable business model. Collaboration with other local talents can also amplify your reach and impact. Read more: 'Just do you': How Malaysian designer Bernard Chandran fashioned his success What do today's youth look for in fashion, and how is it different from past generations? Today's youth are increasingly discerning and value-driven in their fashion choices. They prioritise sustainability, ethical production, and transparency from brands. This generation is more informed and socially conscious than previous ones, often seeking to align their purchases with their values. Unlike past generations, who may have placed a greater emphasis on brand prestige or trends, today's youth are more inclined to support brands that resonate with their beliefs and contribute positively to society. This shift signifies a hopeful evolution in the fashion industry towards more responsible practices.
