Nicky Cheng: Malaysian designer shines in New York

Backstage peek: Cheng showing Shields’ dressing room at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York.

NEW YORK: Malaysian interior designer Niki Cheng can now add Hollywood actress Brooke Shields as one of her many fans.

Cheng decorated the backstage room for the star who is now taking the lead female role in the Broadway play, The Addams Family, being staged at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre here.

“Yes, I did Brooke Shields' backstage dressing room and also gave furniture from my store for the dressing room,” she said.

Apparently, the Lipstick Jungle star had screamed in delight when she first saw how the dressing room had been refurbished.

Cheng and her husband own BoConcept New York which offers a wide range of customised and affordable furniture and accessories.

They are making a mark on New York's urban lifestyle despite the stiff competition and constantly changing consumer taste.

Born and raised in Tanjung Tualang, Perak, Cheng attended Ungku Omar Polytechnic in Ipoh. She also obtained a diploma in interior design from the Malaysian Institute of Art.

“My background in designing combined well with my husband's business acumen, resulting in a fast-growing and highly successful BoConcept venture.

“Business has increased 10-fold and we have eight stores in the New York region now,” she said.

Her Taiwanese husband Shaokao Cheng was raised in Japan but educated in the United States where he obtained a Masters degree in electrical engineering from John Hopkins University.

Eventually, the husband-and-wife team decided to establish BoConcept New York, which is part of a retail furniture chain in Denmark.

The Danish group, according to Cheng, has established 340 outlets in more than 50 countries.

Cheng seems to have impressed her clients with her humility. She has used many platforms along with her husband to showcase their products, television being one of them.

BoConcept New York's furniture has been featured on shows such as NBC's The Apprentice, Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

In 2009, BoConcept New York was honoured by the City of New York as the recipient of the Neighbourhood Achievement Award, Small Business of the Year for improving the neighbourhood and its commitment to the community.

*Taken from NST Online

Fourth Series of Malaysian Bank Notes

KUALA LUMPUR: THE RM20 banknote has made a comeback after a 16- year absence, with the launch of the latest currency series by Bank Negara Malaysia.

The fourth series of the currency will see newly designed banknotes in denominations of RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50 and RM100.

These notes will carry enhanced security features, including shadow image, clear window, watermark portrait with pixel and highlighted numerals.

They will also have additional features such as colour shifting security thread, micro lens thread, perfect see-through register, coloured glossy patch for public recognition and tactile identification for the visually impaired to identify the notes.

Although the new banknotes will be in circulation only from the middle of next year, the RM50 note, however, is already in circulation.

The new RM1 and RM5 are polymer notes, while the others will remain paper-based.

Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Finance Minister, yesterday, the new series will also have new coins minted in denominations of 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen.

The coins will be in circulation from next month.

Themed "Distinctively Malaysia", the new series incorporates elements of the nation's natural treasures, culture and heritage.

All the banknotes retain the portrait of the nation's first Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Tuanku Muhammad and the national flower hibiscus.

The reverse sides of the banknotes feature the wau bulan for the RM1, the rhinoceros hornbill for the RM5, Rafflesia for the RM10, hawksbill and leatherback turtle for the RM20, oil palm and biotechnology for the RM50 and Mount Kinabalu and rock formation of Gunung Api valley for the RM100.

The new series will circulate with the existing series, which will be eventually phased out.

The bank has also given six months to vendors of cash machines to calibrate their machines for the new notes.

In conjunction with the launch, Bank Negara is issuing commemorative bank notes in two types of collections.

There are 500,000 sets of RM1 and RM5 priced at RM15 each while another 500,000 sets of RM20 will be sold at RM30 each.

They are for sale at its headquarters here and its branches in Penang, Johor Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

*Taken from NST Online

Nicol David most successful Malaysian sports icon

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hailed national squash queen Datuk Nicol Ann David today as the country's most successful sports icon, saying her ability to defend the world title for six consecutive years is unmatched.

Speaking to reporters after receiving a courtesy call by the World No. 1 squash player at his office here, Najib expressed the hope that her success would spur other athletes to similarly excel in their respective sports.

"On behalf of the government and the people Malaysia, I would like to extend heartiest congratulations to Nicol," he said.

Present were Nicol's parents, Desmond David and Anne Marie David, as well as CIMP Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

"Nicol should be made a role model because she is the most successful sports icon in our country's history," he said.

He wished Nicol all the best and more success in the future, and said that it would set a high benchmark for the country's sports, especially in squash.
Nicol described the meeting with the prime minister as a truly meaningful event for her and her parents.

"It was a great honour for me and family to get the recognition from the government and Malaysians. Thank you for the all support," she said.

*Taken from NST Online.
*For Nicol Ann David's biodata click here.