Designing Sabah’s Smart Ageing Blueprint: A Research Journey Towards Long-Term Solutions

Over the past year, my work on Sabah’s ageing ecosystem — highlighted in recent Daily Express and Borneo Post features — has led me to examine not only the gaps in our current system, but also the type of long-term roadmap Sabah will eventually need. The first journal, now approaching publication, analyzed structural gaps across governance, community support, caregiver challenges, and rural–urban disparities.

Building on this foundation, I am now developing a second journal that focuses on a Smart Ageing Blueprint for Sabah. This blueprint draws on local realities, regional comparisons, and global ageing frameworks to outline how Sabah can strengthen its systems over the next decade. The manuscript is progressing well, and I look forward to sharing it once the academic review processes are completed.

In recent weeks, I’ve noticed growing interest from various institutions exploring ageing-related themes — which is encouraging. When more agencies start paying attention to the same issues, it signals that the conversation is maturing. It also suggests that ageing is finally being recognised as a strategic development agenda, not merely a welfare topic.

My intention has always been simple:

to contribute research that helps Sabah think long-term, plan cohesively, and build systems that reflect our community strengths.

Multiple voices entering the space is a positive sign. What matters now is that the work ahead — whether by researchers, NGOs, government bodies, or policy institutions — is grounded in evidence, shaped by collaboration, and aligned with Sabah’s unique realities.

As the new administration settles in, I hope that the insights from these studies can add value to broader policy discussions. Ageing affects every family, every district, and every part of our economy. A thoughtful roadmap will help Sabah move from conversation to coordinated action.

I look forward to contributing to this journey as the research evolves, and to supporting a collective effort towards a more inclusive and resilient ageing future.

KDCA and TV Sabah Sharpen the Cultural Vision for Kaamatan 2026 Through a Focused Reflection Session

PENAMPANG, 5 December 2025 — In a gathering that felt both ceremonial and forward-leaning, the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), in collaboration with TV Sabah, staged Kaamatan Reflection Day — a curated platform designed to refine the blueprint, rhythm and cultural direction of the 2026 Kaamatan Festival.

The session brought together the Kaamatan Steering and Coordination Committee (MICC), the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan leadership, Randawi Tavantang Kaamatan representatives, custodians of Bobolian traditions, the Publicity and Communications unit, and cultural ambassadors from traditional houses. At its core, the program aimed to distill the festival’s vision and values, ensuring that next year’s celebration emerges more structured, culturally tuned and rooted in the unifying spirit of the Kadazandusun people.

The day opened with remarks from KDCA Deputy President and Honorary Treasurer, Datuk Joseph Paulus Lantip, setting a tone that was part reflection, part renewal — the kind of moment where heritage meets contemporary cultural ambition.

What followed were four dynamic dialogue sessions, each crafted like editorial think-pieces: exploring the meaning of Kaamatan in modern Sabah, elevating leadership strategies, strengthening the familial unity within the KDCA ecosystem, and mapping a cultural roadmap for Kaamatan 2026 with a distinctly Kadazandusun identity.

As afternoon light settled over Hongkod Koisaan, the fifth and final session unveiled the collective reflection: sharper management strategies, wider youth engagement, fortified cultural content, and a more enduring communication framework for the upcoming festival season.

The program concluded with a closing address by KDCA President, Huguan Siou Tan Sri DSP Joseph Pairin Datuk Kitingan, whose presence lent a sense of gravitas and generational continuity to the moment.

This reflective initiative is poised to become a catalyst, shaping Kaamatan 2026 into a celebration that feels more curated, inclusive and aligned with the aspirations of today’s Kadazandusun community — a cultural festival not only preserved, but thoughtfully re-imagined for a new era.

Source from TVsabah 

KDCA Dan TV Sabah Mantapkan Halatuju Kaamatan 2026 Melalui Sesi Refleksi Berfokus - TV Sabah | Berita Terkini

JUARAGYM REOPENS ON 15 DECEMBER 2025 - Aeropod Commercial Square

The air in Aeropod hums with a quiet electricity. A familiar name is coming home, not as a repeat, but as a refined evolution. On 15 December 2025, at 7AM, JuaraGym reopens its doors — more intentional, more elevated and more deeply rooted in the identity of the community it serves.

For founder Ben Uzair, this move isn’t simply a change of address. It is a return to the soil that shaped him. Tanjung Aru is where his story began, where school mornings paved the rhythm of youth and where early dreams took form. Bringing JuaraGym back here feels less like strategy and more like destiny aligning itself.

The new space reflects that sentiment. Crafted after weeks of shifting, planning and reshaping, the gym stands as a sculpted statement of growth. It is built with the members at its core — those who waited, checked in, encouraged and believed in the journey long before the lights came back on. Their loyalty became the blueprint.

Inside, the environment breathes movement. Training zones flow with purpose. Recovery areas speak of balance. Everything is designed to elevate the modern pursuit of well-being. JuaraGym has always championed strength, but here, strength expands into something fuller. Regular training becomes a ritual for clearer minds, steadier moods, sharper focus and improved long-term health. Wellness is no longer an accessory to fitness; it becomes the architecture.

Yet through all the refinement, JuaraGym retains its unmistakable pulse — that golden thread of community, discipline and shared ambition. The energy that members know so well hasn’t changed; it has only matured.

The reopening signals not just a comeback, but a continuation of the Juara ethos:

Stronger community. Better space. Same Juara energy.

As Aeropod awakens, JuaraGym steps forward — polished, grounded and ready to write its next chapter with the people who inspired it from the beginning.

See you at Aeropod.

— Ben Uzair, Founder, JuaraGym

#JuaraGym #KotaKinabalu #Sabah #TanjungAru #Aeropod #CommunityFirst #CreateYourBestSelf #EndureConquerBe

The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu | Feast Preview Night | 5th December 2025

The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu stepped into the holiday season with the poise of a grand debutante, unveiling not just its freshly revitalized interiors but an entire December moodboard of elegance, warmth, and cultivated celebration. 

The Feast Preview Night became a tableau of indulgence: velvet laughter drifting through the air, conversations shimmering like champagne bubbles, and a sprawling gastronomic display curated for those who appreciate a well-made moment.

 

The hotel’s MarCom team assembled a distinctly modern court of storytellers: media, bloggers, content creators, and press whose digital lenses and editorial instincts captured the night’s aesthetic pulse. A specially invited choir delivered sonic velvet, their harmonies filling the lobby with an almost cinematic glow.

The Christmas tree stood as the evening’s sculptural centerpiece, dressed in seasonal opulence and framed by parcels that echoed the ritual of generosity and the quiet joy of receiving. As the clock kissed 7:30pm, the hotel’s Managing Director, alongside the General Manager, MarCom and Sales teams, gathered for the marquee moment: the lighting ceremony. Their young guest of honor, Ms. Amber, pressed the illuminated screen, and the lobby erupted in a cascade of light and music, as if the building itself exhaled into celebration.

FAVSTYLE Magazine and Mejarasakk Media were among the invited chroniclers, translating the night into imagery and narrative that will live far beyond the walls of the hotel.

With this luminous overture, The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu extends a graceful wish to all. May this Christmas glow warmly, and may the year 2026 arrive bold, brilliant, and beautifully new.

The Editorial Force Reimagining the FAVSTYLE Universe - Alfred Allen Ginsos Editor-In-Chief

This is not Ai generated photo.
Photo by Celebrity Artist Portrait Photographer from Beijing

In every era, a magazine finds a voice — and for FAVSTYLE, that voice carries the unmistakable cadence of Alfred Allen Ginsos. As Editor-in-Chief, he stands at the intersection of vision and velocity, guiding the magazine with an editorial hand that is both exacting and electric. Within the industry, Alfred has become the quiet pulse behind a new creative era, one where style, culture, and ambition are stitched into narratives that refuse to fade.

His approach is unapologetically modern. He treats each issue as a curated journey, sculpting stories that feel intimate yet expansive, polished yet daring, corporate yet undeniably artful. Under his helm, FAVSTYLE has evolved into more than a magazine — it has become a living archive of talent, identity, and contemporary aspiration.

Beyond the editorial realm, Alfred is the Founder and Project Director of The Signature Food Fest (TSFF), a defining pillar under the FAVSTYLE banner. TSFF carries his signature touch: immersive, elevated, and meticulously designed. It is where culinary mastery meets lifestyle theatre, where brands find new rhythm, and where communities gather under the glow of curated experience.

Alfred’s leadership is not loud; it is magnetic. He moves with the confidence of someone who understands both the weight and the beauty of influence. His work shapes conversations, opens doors for emerging creatives, and frames Southeast Malaysia’s cultural momentum through a lens that feels global, current, and undeniably compelling.

This is Alfred’s chapter — sharp, expressive, and in motion. And FAVSTYLE, in all its evolving brilliance, continues to rise in the shadow of his vision.

MISS SCUBA INTERNATIONAL 2025 THE GRAND FINALE IN FULL SPLENDOUR

Director of Operations, Ms. Evelyn Saw, stood poised among the radiant contestants

This year’s Miss Scuba International didn’t simply crown a winner — it staged a global celebration of beauty, purpose and oceanic advocacy. Twenty-two contenders from nineteen nations converged in Kota Kinabalu, each arriving with a distinct voice and a united mission to protect the world beneath the waves.

In a finale shimmering with grace and grounded conviction, three women rose to the surface:

Winner – Anna Dvorakova, Czech Republic

1st Runner-Up – Kimber Lynn Collins, USA

2nd Runner-Up – Anumi S. Oriana, Costa Rica

Their triumphs felt less like victory laps and more like the beginning of new currents, each champion stepping into her role as an international ambassador for the oceans.

As the weekend unfolded, Sunday arrived draped in sunlight. The delegates swept through KK City in vintage cars, the kind that leave a soft cinematic trail — polished chrome, effortless charm, and a touch of old-world glamour that felt straight out of a fashion editorial. What could have been a simple morning drive became a moving tableau of confidence and camaraderie.

Horizon Hotel played host with quiet prestige, framing the event with understated luxury and warmth. Behind every sparkling moment stood the dedicated team and crew, whose meticulous work brought the pageant to life.

At the heart of it all, Director of Operations, Ms. Evelyn Saw, stood poised among the radiant contestants — a portrait of leadership meeting beauty with purpose.

Miss Scuba International remains more than a pageant. It is a platform where women rise not only in their elegance, but in their advocacy. A stage where the future of ocean conservation is voiced, carried and championed — one empowered ambassador at a time.

Merdeka Award Borneo Talk Series - Hilton Hotel Kota Kinabalu

SEED NGO was honoured to be part of the 2025 Merdeka Award Borneo Talk Series, held today within the refined halls of Hilton Kota Kinabalu.

The session, themed “Inspired by Ancestors, Driven by Dreams: You Are the Next Story,” gathered a constellation of Sabahan creatives whose voices continue to shape the region’s artistic landscape.

Guided by the magnetic presence of moderator Freda Liu, the conversation unfolded with rare candor and brilliance. Esteemed speakers Yee I-Lann (Contemporary Artist), Nancy Jullok (Fashion Designer & Founder of P’LO Borneo), Kenji Chai (Graffiti Artist & Illustrator), and Ekin Kee Charles (Film Director & Writer) shared personal odysseys that pulsed with heritage, courage, and unapologetic creativity.

The afternoon became a living tapestry: ancestral echoes intertwined with modern visions, bold dreams sparking fresh possibilities for Sabah’s creative future. It was both a celebration and a reminder that the next story is already rising.

#seedborneo

#MerdekaAward

#BorneoTalkSeries

#SabahanCreatives

The Cono Sur Wine & Food Trail - Asiaeuro East Malaysia

On 2 December 2025, Asiaeuro East Malaysia staged an evening that felt less like an event and more like a curated journey through flavour, style, and indulgence. The Cono Sur Wine & Food Trail debuted with the quiet confidence of a brand that knows exactly who it is: refined, expressive, and effortlessly contemporary.

At the helm was Thomas Cheynel, Export Area Manager, whose presence carried the assured charisma of someone accustomed to navigating vineyards and boardrooms with equal fluency. The night opened with the bright lift of Cono Sur Bicicleta Sauvignon Blanc, a whisper of citrus and cool elegance, before transitioning later into the enigmatic depths of Silencio, its ruby-red tone glowing like an evening gown caught in low light.

The adventure began high above the city, on the Rooftop of Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu. Against a skyline brushed with dusk, guests were welcomed with a menu composed like a fashion editorial: sharp, intentional, and unapologetically luxurious. Then came the transition moment—guests stepping aboard a 40-seater coach, transforming travel into a runway of anticipation.

The next chapter unfolded at Mother India North Indian Restaurant, Oceanus Mall. Here, spices swirled like patterns in couture textiles, each dish carrying the warmth and authenticity of Northern India’s culinary heritage. It was bold, expressive, and delightfully dramatic.

From there, the journey continued to Limau & Linen, where the spotlight settled on the showstopping Duck & Foie Ragu Mille Lasagna. It arrived with the quiet glamour of something crafted slowly, deliberately, and with a whisper of decadence. A dish that doesn’t just sit on the plate—it poses.

The finale brought guests back to Le Meridien, where the Classic Aromatic Four-Hour Braised Short Ribs awaited like a closing look on a couture runway. Rich, tender, and deeply layered, it was the kind of dish that doesn’t just end a meal—it seals a memory.

And then, the parting touch: each guest left with a bottle of Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon, accompanied by a delicate macaron embossed with a bespoke Cono Sur logo, handcrafted by Le Meridien’s pastry artisans. A small luxury, the kind you tuck into your evening like a final accessory.

To our remarkable guests—your energy, laughter, and love for fine wine turned this trail into a night worthy of glossy pages and unforgettable stories. The next adventure is already calling.

#AsiaeuroEastMalaysia #ConoSur #WineAndFoodTrail #KotaKinabalu #LeMeridienKotaKinabalu #MotherIndia #LimauAndLinen