ORPHANS, needy children and those growing up in single parent families now have another place to seek help from with the launch of Yayasan Penyayang INS Holdings.

The foundation was launched last Wednesday by foundation chairman Datin Lee Sun Loo, wife of Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, the new Health Minister.

?The foundation marks INS Bioscience’s commitment to corporate social responsibility which has always been at the heart of what the company stands for and strongly believes in.

All smiles: Lee (third from left) launching the Yayasan Penyayang INS. With her are (from left) Yeat, Datin Teh Hooi Tyug, Abdul Majit and his wife Datin Malihah Mokhtar.

?If everyone were to contribute a little to the society, the world would be a better place to live in,? said Datuk Yeat Sew Chuong, Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd founder cum CEO.

He was speaking at the launch of the foundation and a media appreciation night held at Berjaya Times Square Hotel and Convention Centre last Wednesday.

Also present were INS Bioscience Bhd chairman Datuk Abdul Majit Ahmad Khan and Easy Pha-max health ambassador Simon Yam, a Hong Kong actor.

The event was attended by about 200 socialites, representatives from local media industry and the company’s staff.

Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd is the subsidiary of INS Bioscience, which is the marketing and distribution arm of Easy Pha-max brand of health supplements in the local and international markets.

INS Bioscience had donated RM10,000 from the sale of Yeat’s book entitled The Navigator. The book tells how Yeat had risen from poverty and started his business selling char kuey teow at a roadside stall.

?The book was written with the intention to inspire and educate our younger generation on the importance of perseverance and persistence and cultivate the crucial element of entrepreneurship,” said Yeat.

He also donated RM50,000 to the foundation.

Tuesday March 25, 2008

IN the spirit of celebrating a healthy life, Hong Kong superstar Simon Yam added the Health Ambassador of Easy Pha-max to his resume.

Easy Pha-max, a pioneer in the biotechnology industry of herbal health supplement made Yam part of the brand at the unveiling of their six new products: the Ginko B.E, Dan-Shen, Fish Oil Chewable, Saw Palmetto Plus M, St John’s Wort and Pine Bark.

Yam, who is a herbal enthusiast, was more than thrilled to be part of the health brand.

?I am celebrating my birthday today (March 19) with healthy living. It is very important to lead a healthy life and adopt a positive healthy attitude.

?

Wide range: Yam with Easy Pha-max?s new line of products.

?I take two glasses of warm water and a lot of herbs. I have studied about herbs and they are better than chemical-based products.?These herbal-based products can help people maintain good physical shape. To me, health means having a simple life with a clean and clear environment.

?When you are healthy and keep fit, you will be able to take care of your family well. Health is definitely better than money,? he said.

Yam said that he was looking forward to working with Easy Pha-max.

?

A deal: (From left) Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd founder cum chief executive officer Datuk Yeat Sew Chuong handing over the appointment certificate to Adberry Sdn Bhd managing director Simon Wong as Yam looks on.

For Easy Pha-max Marketing executive director Ben Wong, Yam?s appointment was in line with the brand?s philosophy.?Simon symbolises a healthy personality. He is also a person who will be able to share the information with the masses.

?We look forward to working with him on a long-term basis so that we would be able to promote healthy living among Malaysians.

?We are also positive that with the help of advertising and promotional project specialist Adberry Sdn Bhd as the main driver of our brand?s new advertising campaign in 2008, targeted to cost RM10mil, we would be able to reach our target revenue for the year,? said Wong.

Thursday March 20, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: INS Bioscience Bhd subsidiary Easy Pha-Max Marketing Sdn Bhd aims to strengthen its domestic presence by setting up 60 retail outlets in high-traffic locations throughout Malaysia this year.

Group executive director Ben S.T. Wong said the new physical outlets would complement the company’s existing e-commerce retail network and boost brand awareness, especially among the non-Chinese segment.

?At present we have an outlet in Queensbay Mall, Penang but we want to spread our physical presence throughout the country,? he said after the launch of six new herbal supplement products yesterday.

?

Wong said the company would team up with its existing business partners to set up the outlets based on a franchise model.?We have thousands of e-shops owned by our business partners in South-East Asia. We want to offer them this opportunity,? he said, adding that the firm had about 5,000 business partners in Malaysia alone.

Apart from driving local presence, the company would also expand its business partner networks in Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico and the United States.

According to Wong, the strong demand for herb-based products was not just in the beauty industry, but also in the emerging health enthusiast market.

Citing a study by the Malaysian Industry-Government Corp for High Technology, he said Malaysia’s herbal industry, which registers annual sales value of more than RM4.5bil, was expected to double by 2010.

?We hope to have an 8% market share by 2010,? he said, adding that the company would launch six to eight new products every quarter. The company intends to launch 30 new products this year.

At yesterday?s event, Easy Pha-Max Marketing announced the appointment of Hong Kong actor Simon Yam as health ambassador and Adberry Sdn Bhd as advertising and promotion consultant for the company’s 2008 advertising and promotion (A&P) campaign.

?With an A&P budget of up to RM10mil, coupled with Simon Yam as our health ambassador, I am sure we will be able to achieve our targets for the year,? Wong said.

Wednesday January 2, 2008

EVERGREEN Hong Kong Cantopop band Wynners led 20,000 fans in the countdown to the New Year at Stadium Merdeka on Monday night.

Widely known as the Hong Kong Beatles, the ever-youthful quintet got their fans into the party mood as they rocked the stadium with their nostalgic hits.

?

Veteran performers: The Wynners comprise (from left) Kenny Bee, Bennett Pang, Alan Tam, Danny Yip and Anthony Chan. ? Pic by CHAN TAK KONG / The Star

Fans of all ages at the Easy Wynners 33 Anniversary Countdown concert sang along as the group belted out their popular English, Cantonese and Mandarin songs.It was the first time the Wynners had held a countdown concert as a band and it was made all the more special as it also commemorated the group?s 33 years of music-making.

The five-man band, among the earliest superstar groups in Hong Kong during the 70s, performed 52 of their popular hits and made several costume changes during the four hour-long concert.

The ?forever 25-year-olds? opened and closed their concert with Chin Joi Bat Bin (Unchangeable). They also sang their Cantonese hits Pui Jeuk Ta (Accompanying Him), Bat Ho Yi Tou Bei (Unavoidable), Yat Yat Si Hou Yat (Every Day is a Good Day), Chi Jung Dou Hai Pang Yau Hou (Friends are the Best), and Wan Ha La (Let?s Play).

The Wynners staged several sketches illustrating many highlights of their 33-year musical journey, which had the audience in stitches.

They began their musical career in the 70s, singing covers of popular English songs. Dressed in high school uniforms complete with shaggy-haired wigs, they proceeded to sing covers of their favourite Bee Gees hits like I?ve Got to Get a Message to You, Massachusetts, To Love Somebody, First of May and Words. They also sang covers of Beatles hits like Love Me Do, From Me to You, Can?t Buy Me Love and I Wanna Hold Your Hand.

?

Groovy: The famous five performing at their 33rd anniversary countdown concert at Stadium Merdeka on Monday night.

The five also gave solo performances. Anthony Chan Yau performed a rousing drum solo. Bass guitarist Danny Yip Chi Keung surprised fans with hip-hop number, Nei Ji Ngo Ji (You Know I Know). Bennett Pang Kin Sun sang Yi Dang Leung Man (Second Class Citizen) from his first leading role in the movie of the same name. Alan Tam Wing Lun sang his 80s Cantonese hit Ngoi Dik Gan Yuen (Origin of Love) and Ai Shi Wei Yi Yau Qiu (Love is the Only Request), a new Mandarin song from his latest album, Zui Ai Xiao De Ren (Be a Joyous Man). Kenny Bee (real name Chung Chun To) sang Yong Yat Chai Chui Foong (Let It All Go with the Wind).Although the five pursued solo careers, they never formally disbanded; they get together every five years to stage concerts. In February last year, The Wynners reunited for 13 33rd anniversary concerts at the prestigious Hong Kong Coliseum.

At the stroke of midnight at Stadium Merdeka, there was a magnificent display of fireworks and streamers, and everyone sang Auld Lang Syne to usher in the New Year.

Tam, Bee, Pang, Chan and Yip continued to rock after the countdown, with upbeat numbers such as Mung Wan Dik Siu Yung (Dreamy Smile), Heung Cheung, Mun Jeung, Gei Guan Cheung (Sausage, Mosquito Net, Machine Gun), and Ho Ngoi Dik Siu Yung (Adorable Smile).

The countdown concert was presented by Easy Pha-Max and organised by Star Planet.

Thursday November 15, 2007

Unit signs MoU with Dalian firm to boost growth

DALIAN: Banking on the rising popularity of herbal health supplements, Mesdaq-listed INS Bioscience Bhd is confident of sustaining strong earnings growth in the next five years.

To tap the global bio-herb market for better earnings growth, the company?s wholly-owned subsidiary, Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dalian-based INS Xue Ao Pte Ltd, the biggest cordyceps-based products manufacturer in Asia.

Under the MoU, Easy Pha-max would be the sole global distributor of INS Xue Ao?s healthcare supplements. Meanwhile, INS Xue Ao would also market and distribute INS Bioscience?s products in China.

The signing was witnessed by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and government officials, including the mayor, from the Dalian local authorities.

INS Bioscience chief executive officer Datuk Yeat Sew Chuong said the partnership would enable the group?s healthcare products to penetrate the Chinese market, which is projected to be one of the biggest in the world given its population size and its expanding aging group.

?

He added that its product portfolio would be enhanced by INS Xue Ao?s steady supply of a variety of cordyceps-based health supplements.?It is a synergistic partnership. It is a win-win deal,? he told the media after the signing ceremony.

INS Xue Ao?s newly-completed plant in Dalian has the capacity of producing 350 tonnes of cordyceps-based products annually.

Its chief executive Lei Ming said he expected the plant to double its size by end-2008 on anticipated rising demand for cordyceps.

Yeat said cordyceps-based health supplements would be one of INS Bioscience?s core products, besides the wheatgrass supplements. He expects cordyceps-based products to account for 10% of the company?s revenue.

He said the World Bank forecast the global market for herbal products would reach US$5tril by 2050, with Asia constituting 17% of sales.

On the company?s earnings, Yeat said shareholders could expect to see ?encouraging? earnings growth for the financial year ending Dec 31, and years after. ?Shareholders would see revenue growth at a higher rate and an increase in earnings per share,? he added.

Last year, INS Bioscience incurred a net loss of RM12.65mil on revenue of RM23mil. It posted a net profit of RM418,000 on revenue of RM28.7mil for the six months ended June 30.

Yeat noted that the company had plans to transfer its listing status to the main board. However, it had yet to meet the listing requirements.

INS Bioscience owns a plant in Puchong, Selangor. ?The plant is currently running at 40% capacity. There isn?t any plan for us to expand. There is still room to raise production volume,? said Yeat.

He said China or the US would possibly be the destination should the company intend to set up a new plant abroad.

Wednesday November 7, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: INS Bioscience Bhd’s wholly owned unit Easy Pha-Max Marketing Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HEWO Sdn Bhd.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, INS said both companies would combine their respective expertise and resources to become top herbal information provider and herbal products marketer in the world. ? Bernama

Sunday November 4, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: In a bid to boost Malaysia?s position as the region?s herbal hub, a local company has set up a major Internet herb portal to document and provide information on medicinal herbs.

Backed by a panel of seven healthcare experts serving as advisors, www.hewo.com hopes to provide accurate information and advice on how to obtain health benefits from herbs.

The portal, launched yesterday by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim, also sees Hewo partnering with pharmaceutical company Easy Pha-max Sdn Bhd.

The partnership will allow Easy Pha-max access to the information on the site and to enhance its knowledge and develop new products.

Hewo research and business development director, Rachel Ten, said the website would document more than 15,000 plant species, from which more than 22,000 herbal remedies could be derived.

Saturday September 29, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Herbal supplement specialist Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd forecasts a double-digit growth in revenue for its current financial year ending Dec 31 (FY07).

Group executive director Ben Wong said the company expected the increase to be contributed by the sale of its new anti-aging supplements and other core products as well as its improved business model.

He said Easy Pha-max, which is owned by Mesdaq-listed INS Bioscience Bhd, also projected a significant jump in the company?s bottom line from FY07.

?We plan to introduce a new product every quarter under our turnaround business model implemented since May and have launched our online herbal portal last month,? he told reporters after the launch of its new supplement, yesterday.

?

He said the business turnaround plan covered biotechnology, e-commerce (online herbal portal) and online franchise holders.?This allows us to have global outreach with minimal cost. We also foresee that our online franchise holders will rise to 6,000 by year-end from the current 4,000,? he said.

INS Bioscience made a net profit of RM418,000in the first half of the year on the back of RM28.7mil in revenue. Last year, INS Bioscience had incurred a net loss of RM12.7mil on RM23.2mil revenue.

Monday August 13, 2007

Thanks to Easy Pha-max’s newly launched online portal (www.easypha-max.com), customers can now purchase the company’s herbal supplements from the comfort of home and get their orders delivered to their doorstep within 48 hours.

All the 50 products that can be purchased from the company’s distribution agents will also be available in the online catalogue.

These herbal supplements are certified halal by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), the company said.

Easy Pha-max is the investment arm of INS Bioscience Bhd, the first listed bioscience technology company in Malaysia that specialises in the research and development as well as commercialisation of bioscience products.

Monday August 6, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Health food products group INS Bioscience Bhd is investing RM6mil to promote its latest e-store and to generate awareness of the Easy Pha-max brand.

Managed by its marketing arm Easy-Pha-max, the new herbal online portal www.easypha-max.com would be the catalyst to boost the company’s ventures abroad and allow it to penetrate into lucrative overseas markets.

Speaking at the launch of Easy-Pha-max online portal on Monday, group chief executive Datuk David Yeat Sew Chuong said that the online herbal centre would enable consumers to buy products and get advice and facts about herbal supplements online.

“This innovative approach will give us a platform to capture the growing herbal supplement market and reduce distribution costs as the company enters new markets,” said Yeat.

While the Malaysian herbal market is estimated to be worth about RM3bil annually, the World Bank has estimated that the world market for herbal products will reach US$30 trillion by 2050.

?

“Currently, there are 50 products that can be purchased online. We are aiming to make 100 products available online within the next two to three years,” said Yeat.Currently, Easy Pha-max has operations in Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, China, South Africa and the United States of America.

“We will also commit approximately 3.9 % of our turnover for our research across seven centres in China, Japan and Malaysia to develop more products and tackle the top five diseases inflicting Malaysians,” added Yeat.

According to a 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) report, the top five diseases affecting Malaysians are high blood pressure, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Also present were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

Tuesday August 7, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: INS Bioscience Bhd yesterday launched the country’s first online herbal portal with a promise to double the number of products available to 100 in two to three years.

Managed by its marketing arm Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd, www.easypha-max.com would be the catalyst to boost the company’s ventures abroad and allow it to penetrate lucrative markets overseas.

Group chief executive Datuk David Yeat Sew Chuong said all INS Bioscience’s products could now be purchased online.

?We target to make 100 products available online in two to three years,? he said at the launch of the portal yesterday. Also present were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

Yeat said visitors to the online herbal centre would also be able to get advice and facts about herbal supplements.

?

?This innovative approach will give us a platform to capture the growing herbal supplement market and reduce distribution costs as the company enters new markets,? Yeat said.While the Malaysian herbal market is estimated to be worth RM3bil annually, the World Bank has estimated that the world market for herbal products will reach US$30tril by 2050.

Currently, Easy Pha-max has operations in Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, South Africa and the US.

?We will also commit about 3.9% of our turnover for research in seven centres in China, Japan and Malaysia to develop more products,? added Yeat.

As many online herbal portals had sprouted around the world, Yeat said the company’s main competitive edge would be its business model, which uses a business-partner concept to pass on information to prospective customers so that ?we can penetrate the market with greater speed.?

Thursday August 2, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: INS Bioscience Bhd expects its new business model to drive future growth and set the company back on profitability this year.

Chief executive officer Datuk David Yeat said by taking its business online via a newly-launched website to the local market, it anticipated better results in the second quarter ended June 30.

He said the company recorded a net profit of RM53,000 in the first quarter compared with RM26,000 in the previous corresponding period.

?INS Bioscience recorded a net loss of RM12.7mil in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2006, and we expect to turn around this year,? he told a media briefing yesterday.

?

The company changed its business model from multi-level marketing to business-partner concept in August 2006. In June, a website was introduced to its business partners to provide high-tech and e-commerce services.The Easy Pha-max e-store at www.easypha-max.com is managed by INS Bioscience subsidiary and marketing arm Easy Pha-max Marketing Sdn Bhd.

Yeat said the company aimed to build a strong platform for its business partners to expand further, especially overseas.

By making its herbal supplements and information more accessible online, INS Bioscience was expecting to capture 8% of the local herbal market, estimated at RM8bil in 2010, said Yeat, who is also CEO of Easy Pha-max.

INS Bioscience and Easy Pha-max executive director Ben Wong said there were currently 3,500 business partners in its e-store, and Easy Pha-max hoped to have 6,000 business partners by end-2007.

?In future, online sales would contribute more than 70% of the company’s total revenue,? he added.

As part of its new business model, Wong said Easy Pha-max would open 100 concept stores in 2008.

?This year, we will focus on Malaysia. In two to three years, we will divert our business model into building the Easy Pha-max brand at targeted markets like the US, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan,? Wong said.

Easy Pha-max expects overseas markets to contribute 40%-50% to total revenue in three years from below 10% currently.

Meanwhile, Yeat, who is also chairman of IBG Ventures Sdn Bhd, a sister company of INS Bioscience, said IBG Ventures planned to list on Bursa Malaysia or London Stock Exchange next year.