Countdown celebrations taking place

Countdown celebrations taking place at various spots in the Klang Valley

Dazzling: Tourist and locals will be delighted by the light and fireworks showcase at i-City in Shah Alam.

THE time has come for the much-anticipated New Year’s Eve countdown and there are lots of places for everyone to take part in the revelry. StarMetro has compiled a list of places that will be organising fireworks displays and parties.

Publika

Starting from 3pm, The Square in Publika, Kuala Lumpur is having a fireworks display and various performances to cap the year off. Performing artistes such as Bunkface and Dina Nadzir and hosts Baki Zainal and Nadia Nazir from 8TV will help revellers get into the festive mood. Stilt walkers, street magicians, clowns and fire-eaters will be parading around the mall, too.

Visitors can participate in the Publika Facebook Masquerader Photo Contest; or dress up and be spotted for the Best Dressed Masquerade Competition; or show your dance talent at the Masquerade Open Dance Competition to win gadgets, vouchers, CD hampers and cash prizes.

SohoKL

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at SohoKL, Solaris Mont’ Kiara today from 7pm till 1am. Enjoy live and entertaining musical performances, which vary from K-pop, Latin to the Middle Eastern. At midnight, revellers can welcome 2013 with a beautiful display of fireworks. There are exciting giveaways all night worth RM20,000 during lucky draw sessions and games. Food stalls are located near the stage area and seating on the streets is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sungei Wang

Join in the fun and excitement as various performances and activities such as buskers walkabout, cheerleading, and fire and robotic dance performance await revellers. The celebration kicks off at 6.30pm while the street party concert featuring 12 local and international artistes such as Fama and Peter Pan starts at 9.30pm There will also be a fireworks display to usher in the New Year. The events are slated to take place at Sungei Wang Plaza’s main entrance and open-air car park.

KLCC

This year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations themed “HEADL12NERS” will showcase a riveting video presentation of spectacular images that have struck a chord with audiences worldwide. These images will be projected on to a giant water screen at the KLCC Lake Symphony Fountain. The show starts at 9pm, followed by the New Year countdown and fireworks display at midnight.

Unique idea: Unforgettable images with fascinating lights and sounds along with the Lake Symphony Fountain show will enthrall visitors at KLCC. Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Visitors at Pavilion KL will enjoy live performances, street buskers, free party packs and various food and beverage promotions at street bistros and cafes in the mall, from 9pm to 1am.

Genting Outdoor Theme Park

Genting is having stage activities and fireworks display at the Merdeka stage. The entrance to the theme park is free today from 10pm onwards.

Fireworks are subject to weather conditions, if weather conditions are bad, the fireworks will be postponed to the next day at 8pm.

Mutiara Damansara

Grammy Award winners and R&B pop group All-4-One is at the Mutiara Damansara Commercial Centre to usher in the New Year with local artistes Reshmonu, Atilia, Elvira Arul, Nadhira and Malaysia’s own beat-boxing sensation Shawn Lee.

Dance champions Elecoldxhot will perform its signature feet-thumping performances. At midnight, partygoers can expect an extravagant display of fireworks.The party starts from 7pm till midnight.

Subang Jaya

Residents of Subang Jaya can look forward to an exciting New Year’s Eve at the Subang Jaya Community Fire & Rescue Depart-ment in SS17.

There will be a countdown celebration starting from 9.30pm to the wee hours of the morning.

Activities such as Christmas carolling, entertaining performances and lucky draw are just some of the things in store for revellers.

Sunway Pyramid

Enjoy the festivities at Oasis Boulevard with vibrant parties at the various outlets with live music and family entertainment, followed by a display of fireworks over at Sunway Lagoon.

Putrajaya

Visitors can look forward to a star-studded evening of entertainment during the Ambang 2013 Putrajaya, which will begin at 8.30pm today.

The evening’s line-up of performers include Datuk M. Nasir, Mizz Nina, Jamal Abdillah, Datuk Hattan, Ramli Sarip, Hujan, Wings, Stella Chung and Magen.

It is held in Persiaran Perdana, Presint 3, beside the Palace of Justice.

It will be broadcast live on NTV7 from 10.30pm to 1am with live streaming on www.ntv7.com.my/ambang2013

IOI Boulevard

Those in Puchong can join the countdown party at The Palette at IOI Boulevard today at 8.30pm.

The event highlights include live performance by Suki Low, lucky draw and exciting contests. The event will also culminate in a fireworks display to usher in 2013.

i-City

In conjunction with the day-long “Karnival Sayangi Selangor”, there will be a concert by Malaysian artistes including Alyah, Logeswaran, Black and Modread, and Fiq at 8pm followed by a fireworks display.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Counting down under the stars

Counting down under the stars

LIVE IT up under the stars as KL Tower counts down to the New Year with an extra special gig.

KL Tower

2, Jalan Puncak, off Jalan P. Ramlee, KL

Bringing the finest exports from across the globe and the future sound of dance music, here comes the party to end your 2012 – TWELVE 13.

On this night, march your way down to KL Tower with your fellow comrades to witness the top rising names on their dance music debut performances in Malaysia and experience the best sounds at this biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in town.

On top of the bill, Kuala Lumpur welcomes for the first time Moldova’s Andrew Rayel (#77 in DJ Mag Top 100 2012) who broke into the scene through his first Tune Of The Week on A State of Trance, Aether.

Also featuring will be Colombia’s DJ KhoMha, labelled legendary EDM specialist magazine DJ Mag and signed to Markus Schulz Coldharbour Recordings.

Two up-and-upcoming Dutch trance DJs already making their presence known on trance superstar Armin van Buuren’s record label imprints also join the festivities — Ruben De Ronde of A State Of Trance label and Wezz Devall who is signed to Armada Music, along with DJ Eco from the US, also signed to Armada Music.

Australia’s #1 trance DJ of 2012 DJ MaRLo will also be returning to KL to join Malaysians misterAriffin, Chukiess and Leey Houdini from 5pm till late night. Tickets are priced at RM128 (presale) and RM158 (at the door). Get your tickets now online at www.AirAsiaRedtix.com, or visit all Rock Corner and Victoria Music Centre outlets in the Klang Valley.

Twelve 13 is organised by Duago International. For details, visit www.twelvemalaysia.com.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Pandas coming to Putrajaya

Pandas coming to Putrajaya

In June, Malaysians rejoiced at a piece of good news — two giant pandas will be loaned to our country for 10 years to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The two cuddly cubs — Feng Yi (female) and Fu Wa (male), both six years old — are set to arrive in Malaysia from China next year to begin their longest stay away from home.

They will be living in a 1.13ha of air-conditioned enclosure at the Wetlands Park in Putrajaya. Bamboos will be planted on another 6.07ha for their consumption, which come up to about 20kg a day.

Since pandas are regarded as national treasures for China, the loan was welcomed as a significant boost to bilateral ties between China and Malaysia.

To-date, there is a total of 342 pandas living in captivity, including 20 pandas that are settling outside China. Malaysia is the 13th country to be hosting China’s pandas.

Both Feng Yi and Fu Wa were born at the Wolong nature reserve and panda base in Wenchuan, Sichuan.

After the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, the pandas in Wolong base were evacuated to the Bifengxia base in Ya’an, also in Sichuan, to make way for the rebuilding of Wolong.

Feng Yi and Fu Wa are no strangers to assisgnments away from home. They were among the eight pandas that took part in an exhibition at Beijing Zoo from June to December 2008 in conjunction with the Beijing Olympics.

A year after returning to Bifengxia, Feng Yi was placed at the Guilin Zoo in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region while Fu Wa was at the Changyudong panda museum in Zhejiang province’s Wenlin city for two years.

Besides bamboo, Feng Yi and Fu Wa’s favourite foods are corn bread, apple and carrot.

Malaysians who are excited aboout the pandas’ arrival can participate in a naming contest organised by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry on its website (www.nre.gov.my/Malay/Pages/panda.aspx).

The contest will end on Dec 31 and the results will be announced next year.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Snowman lands in i-City

Snowman lands in i-City

Colourful bulbs: More than a million LED lightscapes provide myriad colours in i-City’s City of Digital Lights.

ONE of the must-see attractions in the Klang Valley this festive season are the Christmas lights display at i-City in Shah Alam.

More than a million LED lightscapes provide myriad colours at i-City’s City of Digital Lights. This is known as the first and only place in the country with such a feature.

About RM5mil was spent on the decor, which will stay until they change the theme for Chinese New Year.

i-City has to-date invested RM50mil to create this 25acre theme park within the i-City development that is organised into four precincts; known as City of Digital Lights, SnoWalk, WaterWorld and FunWorld.

At the digital park, there is also a 15ft Christmas tree and snowman displays.

Throngs of people have visited i-City to see the vibrant LED lights which are strewn around the trees and animal displays.

In keeping with the Christmas season and feel, the public can also visit i-City’s Snowalk — a 50,000 sq ft Arctic Environment with winter rides such as tobogganing, slides, winter futsal and other adventures.

~News courtesy of The Star~

適耕庄春节文化街暨迎春晚会

適耕庄春节文化街暨迎春晚会‧1月19起逢週末日举行

適耕庄【Sekinchan】新村將於1月19日起至2月8日的每逢星期六及日，傍晚6时至晚上11时，在该区商业中心举办第二届的“癸已年春节文化街暨迎春晚会＂，与本地村民和外地人共庆华人农历新年，星洲日报是这活动的指定媒体伙伴。

大会总筹王和伦表示，今年，大会除了如去年一样设有年货市集让大家办年货外，也增设了美食街，以向国內外游客推介適耕庄道地美食，满足饕客的味蕾。

他说，届时在年货市集消费超过预定数额的民眾，也有机会参加幸运抽奖，贏得丰富奖品包括3份双人澳洲地接旅游配套（不包机票）、9份6人上海地接旅游配套（不包机票）、黄金烧猪及40份由著名品牌虹桥所赞助，价值138令吉肉乾肉鬆礼品等。

他在新闻发佈会上感谢企业家赞助今次活动，包括首要赞助商Forest Sport和嘉联发展有限公司；赞助商旺庄豪苑、EITA及全利资源有限公司等。

60档年货美食摊位

同时，活动摊位主任潘嫦娥也表示，今年的年货和美食摊位都有60档，比去年增加20档；目前已有80%的摊位被申请，剩下的摊位不多。若有兴趣加入年货或美食售卖行列者，可於明年1月1日前，致电联络潘嫦娥（012-3706242）或叶老师（013-3215866）报名。

出席新闻发佈会者包括瓜雪及沙白县福建会馆署理会长郑益兴、活动宣传主任王盛潮以及本报乌雪及巴生滨海区经理郭富广等。

带动適耕庄旅游经济发展
——活动副总筹兼育群校友会会长潘来云

“適耕庄举办此项活动，主要是为了让当地人和外地游客能在新春期间，感受到不一样的中华传统文化气息和温馨场面，同欢共庆，並且也有助带动適耕庄的旅游经济发展。＂

传承文化人人有责
——大会主席暨適耕庄潮州会馆会长谢名峰

“虽然第一届的春节文化街暨迎春晚会在筹办时，遇到来自多方面的压力，但最终在各造的互相扶持下总算成功举行。

今年，大会更延续传承中华文化的坚定信念，续办这项活动。

传承中华文化，大马华裔人人有责，因此希望类似活动能在我国发扬光大，朝希望迈进。＂

介绍適耕庄道地文化
——適耕庄客家公会副主席蔡燕伦

“春节文化街暨迎春晚会除了有助提昇適耕庄知名度之外，也顺道向旅客介绍適耕庄的道地文化、人才、组织及风土民情，尤其也打造了一个平台，让各社团发挥所长、互相配合，把活动搞得有声色。＂

传承中华文化免失传
——瓜雪及沙白县福建会馆会长郑庆荣

“上述活动除了可以带动適耕庄的旅游商业活动外，最重要是能够传承中华文化，让大家瞭解华人过年的意义，並把文化代代相传，以免失传。＂

华团组织团结联办活动
——適耕庄仙法师公庙理事会副主席王盛壁

“这项活动不仅可以让適耕庄热闹起来，更能让地方上的华团组织团结一致地来联办活动，向世界宣传適耕庄，让更多人认识大马的渔米之乡。＂

適耕庄癸已年春节文化街暨迎春晚会

日期：从1月19日起至2月8日的每逢週六、日
时间：傍晚6时至晚上11时
地点：適耕庄商业中心
联办：適耕庄华团联谊会（今年以適耕庄潮州会馆为首）
平面媒体伙伴：星洲日报

適耕庄癸已年春节文化街暨迎春晚会活动时间表：

第一週： 1月19日（週六）和20日（星期日）序幕
第二週： 1月26日（週六）和27日（星期日）文化
第三週： 2月2日（週六）和3日（星期日）蜕变
第四週： 2月8日（週五）迎春

节目內容：

1） 闻名海外暨获奖无数的“吉隆坡光艺龙狮体育会＂呈献高桩舞狮和廿四节令鼓
2） Astro欢喜台台柱黄一飞与喵喵组合献歌舞
3） 大马原创音乐元老周金亮带来本土创作
4） 亚洲著名魔术大师表演
5） 音乐才子適耕庄之光汤小康高歌
6） 2012年第四届世界国术锦標赛太极冠军演出
7） 適耕庄音乐学院live演唱会
8） 嘻哈热舞
9） 体操表演
10） 红毛港乐团live演出
11） 儿童舞蹈
12） 春节时装show
13） 烟花大匯演

（星洲日报／大都会）

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

GO-KL Green Line to serve more routes

GO-KL Green Line to serve more routes

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has announced route changes to the GO-KL Green Line, beginning today.

In order to expand the service to new areas frequented by public transport users, SPAD has approved new routes to the Green Line.

The Green Line now starts from KLCC, Jalan Ampang and ends at Citibank, Wisma Atlan, KLCC Jalan Ampang.

It passes Jalan Sultan Ismail (Hotel Concorde, Life Centre, Wisma Genting), Jalan Raja Chulan (Pavillion, Hotel Prince), Jalan Imbi (Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Sakura Restaurant, Berjaya Times Square), Jalan 1/77B, Changkat Thambi Dollah (SMK (P) Bandaraya), Jalan Sultan Ismail (Bukit Bintang Plaza, Wisma Genesis, Menara KH), Jalan P. Ramlee (Wisma Rohas Perkasa), Jalan Pinang (Grand Hyatt Hotel), Jalan Kia Peng, Persiaran KLCC (KLCC Convention Centre, Traders Hotel, Menara ESSO), Jalan Binjai (Menara Felda, the Binjai, Intercontinental Hotel).

The old route was from Jalan Ampang, KLCC and passed through Bukit Bintang through Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Raja Chulan, and returned to Jalan Ampang, KLCC.

SPAD hopes this change will benefit more public transport users around the Kuala Lumpur Central Business District.

To-date, the average number of GO KL users are 14,000 per day for both Purple and Green Lines.

~News courtesy of The Star~

免费巴士服务‧GO-KL新路线明开跑

免费巴士服务‧GO-KL新路线明开跑

免费巴士服务GO-KL城市巴士的新路线將本星期五开始。（图：星洲日报）

陆路公共交通委员会（SPAD）宣佈將於本月7日（星期五）开始执行免费巴士服务GO-KL城市巴士的新路线，包括安邦路、苏丹依斯迈路、拉惹朱兰路、燕美路、比南利路、檳榔路、朱嘉炳路、敏惹、1/77B路及柏西兰城中城路。

该免费巴士服务於早前开始推行，而“绿色路线”的免费巴士是从安邦路开始，通过比南利路直达武吉免登，然后再经过拉惹朱兰路返回安邦路。

此外，该免费巴士服务將会拓展服务路线於多个新地区，而这些地区主要是已被鑑定为有潜质成为公共交通使用者的“据点”。

该会希望有关措施可以提供更多的便利予吉隆坡商业中心的公共交通使用者，目前每天平均有1万4千人使用该免费巴士服务，即平均有7千人使用“绿色路线”。

（星洲日报／大都会）

打造吉隆坡成购物天堂

黄燕燕：很多商品免税‧打造隆成购物天堂

旅游部长拿督斯里黄燕燕表示，旅游部一直与財政部商討减低各种货品的税务，最终目標是將吉隆坡打造成购物天堂。

她说，我国很多货品已经免税、免税、再免税；一年3次的购物嘉年华成功打造吉隆坡成为购物天堂，商品价钱更是无人能比。

她指出，我国的购物嘉年华与外国不一样，外国的购物嘉年华是跟隨私人企业而定，而我国的购物嘉年华则是政府规定，因此一年一定会有3次购物嘉年华。

最佳购物城市
隆全球第4名

“为了能够將吉隆坡打造成购物天堂，政府特別从城中城至武吉免登建造高架行人走道；而我国多元文化的色彩，也成功吸引旅客前来我国度过各种节庆。＂

黄燕燕昨晚在新山柔佛再也花园主持2012年“一个大马‧食全食美＂街头美食节推展礼后，在新闻发佈会上说，吉隆坡在“全球最佳购物城市＂票选中荣获全球第4名，虽然在服务及交通便利上略显不足，不过在价格及多样化项目却荣获高分，不足的地方，旅游部將会尽力改善。

盼小贩提昇环境卫生

她指出，一个大马美食节已经迈入了第4年，旅游部不需要“砍树＂来吸引旅客到来，只需要通过美食旅客自然会找上门。但她仍希望小贩们能够提昇环境卫生，这才能打造世界级的街边小吃。

她也说，我国的火车服务不单是普通的公共交通设施，它也可成为旅游卖点。旅游部也会在火车站设立民宿，让旅客能够体验不一样的旅程。

出席者尚有柔佛旅游及国內贸易委员会主席拿督何襄赞、全国贩商总会总会长兼一个大马街头美食节筹委会主席李中永、柔南流动小商公会会长兼柔州街头美食节筹委会主席姚文春等。

（星洲日报）

Time for Look Out Point restaurants to move

Time for Look Out Point restaurants to move

Danger site: Ampang Look Out Point restaurant owners have been told to remove their belongings from the area next week.

RESTAURANT operators at Look Out Point (ALOP) will have to remove their belongings from the area next week, Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said at the full board meeting.

“They will be supervised by Tourism Selangor when they move their belongings. The slope at ALOP has been stabilised. We have stationed 15 enforcement officers there on three shifts, 24-hours daily, ” he said.

He also said Taman Koop Cuepacs 3B would be closed to the public beginning today. Only residents can access the road now.

“Residents have requested for the road to be closed to outsiders due to heavy usage,” explained Hassan.

Meanwhile, a month has passed since the issue of houses being turned into hostels was raised in last month’s full board but the council has yet to come up with guidelines or solutions.

MPKj councillor Arut-chelvan Subramaniam had raised the issue during the previous full board meeting and was given the same reply, that the council would study how the Petaling Jaya City Council and Subang Jaya Municipal Council had dealt with similar problems in their jurisdiction.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Tune Hotel celebrates fifth anniversary

Tune Hotel celebrates fifth anniversary with new look

TUNE Hotel, which recently celebrated its fifth year anniversary, has embarked on a new project by redesigning its very first Tune Hotel, the downtown Kuala Lumpur Tune Hotel.

Speaking to the media during the anniversary party, Tune Hotel commercial director David Lusteaux said the rebranding exercise was in line with its target market — young travellers on a budget.

“We are changing our design to suit the young market who are trendy and hip with urbane sophistication,” he said.

Tune Hotels Downtown Kuala Lumpur manager Shireen Jasin said the new look of the designs take on an urban contemporary flair, with a clean decor, emphasising on the colour elements of red, white and black, which represent the corporate identity colours of the Tune Group.

“Over time, all the current Tune Hotels will slip on the new look and all new hotels in development will have the new design and brand,” she said.

She added that Kuala Lumpur was voted to be the second best shopping city in Asia Pacific, according to Global Shopper Index.

To further celebrate its fifth anniversary, Tune Hotels has tied up with Gua, a lifestyle and entertainment portal.

Collaboratively, Tune Hotels and Gua celebrated their anniversary recently in a star-studded event attended by actor, model and VJ Nicholas Saputra.

Nicholas flew in from Indonesia specially to support the event held at the newly refurbished Tune Hotel Downtown Kuala Lumpur.

The savvy world traveller said: “I look for hotels in prime locations, which is why I like Tune Hotels, especially because of its location and services.”

Guests were also entertained by homegrown celebrities such as Awan Band, Amanda Imani, Imran Ajmain, The Vella, Mira and Ika.

~News courtesy of The Star~