Latest news with #Seet
The Star
04-08-2025
- General
- The Star
Mastering the art of giving
Calm stroke, big impact: Seet showing her Chinese painting at an exhibition at Laman Seri Harmoni 33 in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star Painting hobby turns into mission to help others KUALA LUMPUR: From elegant brushstrokes that clear the artist's mind to meticulously-crafted paintings that instil calm in their audience, the beauty of traditional Chinese ink painting inspired one Malaysian to give back to the people. Having worked as a quantity surveyor in Melbourne, Australia, for years, Audrey Seet first began her journey towards mastering Chinese ink painting in 2017 after seeking a hobby to distract herself from work burnout. 'The challenging but very expressive strokes of each brushwork I made were almost therapeutic as I felt my mind clear itself from all the daily stress of work life. 'It not only allowed me to return to work with a clear mind, but also helped me to develop a better connection to nature and appreciate the little things in life. 'This relaxed state also made me more caring and thoughtful, which eventually led me to use my art for the greater good,' she said in an interview yesterday. Having studied under the guidance of many professional art teachers, the now 62-year-old has since turned her mastery of the art into a way to raise funds for the less fortunate and support local education in Malaysia. She began her dream earlier in April this year by selling her beautiful works of art in an exhibition in Melbourne, where she raised RM20,000 from the sale of four paintings that were then donated to Manna Food Bank. 'The massive turnout gave me a lot of confidence, and I then decided I needed to do one in my home country as a way of giving back to society,' said the Gombak-born Seet. Her newest exhibition, named Discover 'Colours Unbound', showcases 120 pieces of art from both herself and her teachers at Laman Seri Harmoni 33 (LSH33). The exhibition ends today. The diverse variety of work features many recognisable intricately drawn shapes from flowers of various shapes and vibrant colours to scenic locations to various animals like fish, rabbits, pandas, and tigers. She said proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the nearby SMJK Chong Hwa in Gombak to support its development to improve education for students.
The Star
31-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Penang art installation urges you to release your 'unspoken' truths
Have you ever felt burdened by the stresses of life and the world around you? You're not alone – according to the 2023 Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index, among Malaysians aged between 15 and 30, three in 10 had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, while one in 10 suffered from high stress. If you feel the need to release your pent up emotions, this is your last weekend to check out Unspoken, an art installation and participatory project that shines a light on the stigma surrounding mental health taking place at Coex @ Kilang Besi, Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang. Visitors are asked to pick a ceramic piece from the display, write or draw what's been weighing on their minds, then smash it to symbolically release their troubles. After choosing one of the ceramic objects from the display, participants can write down or draw whatever emotions or experiences they wish to release. Silent struggles James Seet and Clay Loo, two ceramic artists, were tapped to oversee the project, which runs until Aug 3. Seet, who conceptualised the project, says that Unspoken grew out of his interest in how people carry silent struggles. 'We live in a society where mental health is still a taboo subject, and many keep their pain hidden," says Seet. 'I wanted to create a safe space where those feelings could be released physically and symbolically. Smashing ceramic utensils became that act of catharsis – an invitation to break the silence, literally,' he adds. 'For me, it was also about giving back – helping people express themselves and feel heard, even in such a simple yet powerful act,' says Loo. — Handout For Loo, when he first heard about the project, he immediately knew that he wanted to contribute to it. 'It felt like a meaningful way to engage with society. Social practice art is about creating art together with the community, and this was a chance to do exactly that. For me, it was also about giving back – helping people express themselves and feel heard, even in such a simple yet powerful act,' says Loo. The ceramic pieces are shaped like kitchen utensils, ordinary objects representing the mundane routines of daily life. After selecting one of the pieces from the display – which could come in the form of a cup, teapot, trinket box and other objects – participants are gently guided by Loo through the process of writing down their feelings and ultimately smashing it in a private, designated area. 'Hear Me, Set Me Free' by Seet and Loo. The sculptures made from the broken ceramic pieces will be displayed in an exhibition at Coex @ Kilang Besi in November. Seet adds that he and Loo will take the smashed ceramic pieces and put them together into new artworks co-created by those who took part in the experiment. These works will be on display in an exhibition at Coex @ Kilang Besi from Nov 1 to 16. 'Reassembling the fragments into sculptures gives those 'unspoken' voices a second life, turning brokenness into something whole and meaningful,' says Seet. Judgement-free space So far, the response has been a positive one – 'overwhelming and deeply moving,' according to Seet. The installation averages around 50 participants a day each weekend and over 200 people have taken part over two weekends of the smashing sessions. 'People have shared how liberating it felt to write down something they've never told anyone, then smash it as if letting that weight go. Many have expressed gratitude for having a space where mental health isn't judged, but acknowledged with empathy," says Seet. 'Many have also said that it was surprisingly satisfying to express their emotion in this manner, similar to screaming their heart out from atop a mountain. Some even teared up after smashing their ceramic piece,' he adds. 'Many have said that it was surprisingly satisfying to express their emotion in this manner, similar to screaming their heart out from atop a mountain,' shares Seet. If you're not in Penang, rest assured – there are plans to bring Unspoken on the road. Seet says he hopes to show the resulting sculptures in a travelling exhibition to spark conversations about mental health in different communities across Malaysia and beyond. 'The aim is to show not just the brokenness, but the beauty of coming together through shared experiences. Turning the negative into positive. We hope to bring it to various public spaces locally and abroad, so it's accessible to everyone,' he concludes. Unspoken is showing at Coex @ Kilang Besi, Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang until Aug 3. Open: Friday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Free admission. Instagram: @jamesseetart.
Business Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
New S$30 million members-only club Vanta to open in MacDonald House
[SINGAPORE] New members-only club, Vanta, will open in MacDonald House in December, after a S$30 million renovation. The club, which will span 16,000 square feet across two levels in the national monument, is initially targeting 1,000 members, with plans to gradually expand to 2,000. Touting itself as 'Singapore's most influential private members club, designed for the city's most discerning elites, visionary industry leaders and global influencers', its facilities will include a main salon, mezzanine, private dining rooms and a state-of-the-art golf simulator. Michelin-starred Canadian chef and TV personality, Alvin Leung (also known as 'Demon Chef') of Hong Kong's Bo Innovation, will curate the club's culinary programme. Meanwhile, a whisky, wine and sake programme featuring tastings of spirits, masterclasses with distillers and sommeliers and an immersive exploration of sakes is set to be a cornerstone of the club's identity. In addition, Vanta will hold art exhibitions, talks and cultural salons. Michelin-starred Canadian chef and TV personality, Alvin Leung, will curate the club's culinary programme. ILLUSTRATION: VANTA The club's chief executive officer, Wayne Lin, is a Chinese national with two decades of experience in the food and beverage (F&B), luxury hospitality and entertainment sectors in Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Guangdong, said Joanna Seet, Vanta's chief marketing officer. 'We've designed this club for individuals who are actively shaping conversations and leading change across industries,' said Lin. 'It will be a place where connoisseurs, especially those with a passion for whisky, wine and sake, can connect, collaborate and define what's next for business and culture.' A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Vanta's chief operating officer is Singaporean Andrew Carver, who launched nightclubs including Throne in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and Dom in Marina Bay Sands and Johor Bahru. 'While his roots are in nightlife, Andrew now contributes his operational expertise to helping elevate every aspect of the Vanta club experience,' Seet told The Business Times in response to queries. 'Vanta is positioned first and foremost as a luxury private social club, distinctly different from a nightlife concept.' Seet said the club will be centred on people and meaningful programming in a 'refined environment' for professional networking, cultural engagement and world-class dining. Vanta's partnership and business development director is Alex Chew, co-founder of members-only club, Madison Rooms, which opened at Coleman Street in 2016 but went into liquidation in 2019. Chew, whom Seet says has been instrumental in shaping Vanta's F&B programme, is also the former owner of one-Michelin-starred The Kitchen at Bacchanalia. The club has a joining fee of S$6,000, which will be waived during pre-opening, plus an annual fee of S$6,800. There are no monthly fees. Seet said Vanta's community will be 'carefully curated' to ensure a balanced mix of 'influential leaders' across all industries. Vanta's entry into the local members-only club scene comes on the heels of the collapse last month of another club, 1880. Since then, both Mandala Club and 67 Pall Mall have announced expansion plans, while the landlord and staff of the former 1880 will reopen it under a new name next month. Operators say private clubs are profitable businesses, with the debt-laden 1880's failure attributed to its aggressive expansion to Hong Kong and Bali.
Business Insider
29-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Maybank Keeps Their Buy Rating on CSE Global (CSYJF)
In a report released yesterday, Jarick Seet from Maybank maintained a Buy rating on CSE Global (CSYJF – Research Report), with a price target of S$0.70. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter According to TipRanks, Seet is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 20.6% and a 75.61% success rate. CSE Global has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $0.53. The company has a one-year high of $0.47 and a one-year low of $0.26. Currently, CSE Global has an average volume of 454.
New Straits Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia holds strong as regional data centre investment hotspot
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains an attractive destination for data centre-related investments in the region, despite geopolitical risks and rising demands on energy and infrastructure capacity. JLL Malaysia Director of Data Centre Transactions Kent Seet Tiong Hong said this puts the country in a favourable position compared to many of its global peers, which are facing similar pressures amid tightening regulations and rising costs. He noted that Malaysia remains a very suitable location for building data centres, supported by several factors. According to him, factors such as being free from natural disasters, having a sufficient supply, and having lower energy and water costs compared to other countries are key attractions for data centre development. Furthermore, he said, in terms of the political situation, Malaysia has a stable government, and government agencies are also actively promoting data centres. "Another advantage is our workforce. Our workforce is proficient in English compared to other countries," he said at the sidelines of the Bursa Malaysia–HLIB Stratum Focus Series, themed "Data Centre 2.0: The Ecosystem and What's Next for Malaysia?" held recently. In his presentation, Seet highlighted that Malaysia's data centre capacity is projected to expand significantly, growing more than threefold based on current projections. He said that as of the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25), the country has completed an estimated 522 megawatts (MW) of capacity, with 1,250 MW under construction and over 3,750 MW in the pipeline. He also pointed out that Malaysia's completed capacity of 522 MW places it ahead of key Southeast Asian peers such as Indonesia (270 MW) and Thailand (140 MW), although it remains behind Singapore, which has 1,000 MW. He noted that in Greater Kuala Lumpur, key data centre locations include Cyberjaya, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Petaling Jaya, Sungai Buloh and Puncak Alam. He said among them, Cyberjaya has the largest footprint, with 90 MW completed, 320 MW under construction, and 950 MW in the pipeline. However, Seet said land acquisition is beginning to slow down, largely due to the rising cost of land in prime locations. He added that constrained utilities and the lack of ready land in established data centre locations, driven by overwhelming demand, have led to the flow of data centre investments into new industrial areas such as Sungai Buloh, Puncak Alam, Kulai, Ulu Tiram and Iskandar Puteri. Commenting on the impact of the revised electricity tariff set to take effect from July 1, 2025, to Dec 31, 2027, Seet believes it will not dampen investment interest in data centres in the country. In fact, he said the adjustment could help curb speculative activity by ensuring that only serious and committed players remain in the market. However, he acknowledged that operational costs will rise, as electricity tariffs make up a significant portion of data centre expenses. "To what extent it will impact them (data centres), I think it is still manageable. "I believe it will not reduce investments coming into Malaysia. If anything, it will curb speculators, which is a positive development. "Hence, only quality players will continue to grow," he said.
