Char Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow

‘Char Kway Teow’ or ‘stir-fried ricecake strips’ is arguably one of the most popular dishes among Malaysians of all races. The name is derived from the Hokkien term for ‘fried’ which is ‘char, while ‘kway teow’ refers to the ‘flat rice noodles’, which is the main ingredient.



The latter is stir-fried over very high heat with light or dark soy sauce, chili, while prawns, deshelled cockles, bean sprouts, chinese chives and eggs.

Among the chinese community, the char kway teow is traditionally stir-fried in pork fat with crisp croutons of pork lard and serve on a piece of banana leaf or plate. In some instances, slices of chinese sausage and fishcake are added to accentuate the taste.

Originally conceived as a poor man’s food, mostly consumed by laborers, farmers, fishermen and cockle-pickers, the dish has today evolved into one of the most-loved dishes among Malaysians – but with certain ingredients omitted to adhere to ‘halal’ guidelines of muslim community.

As the dish became more widespread, many cooks have come up with their own versions of ‘char kway teow’ but with the same essential ingredients ‘Char kway teow’ was said to have its origins in S.E.Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei) but the common consensus is that ‘Penang char kway teow’ tops the list when it comes to taste and originality.

In Kampar, Perak, the dish is cooked with cockles but no prawns, unless on request. In East Malaysia, other ingredients are used in the cooking eg beef, onions, sweet soya sauce etc.

There are also so-called ‘gourmet versions’ of char kway teow, especially in Ipoh, Penang, Taiping and even the Klang Valley, where seafood, crab meat and even duck eggs are added to suit discerning tastes.

~Info courtesy of Tourism Malaysia~

AirAsia increases flights to Kunming, China

AirAsia increases flights to Kunming, China

AirAsia will be increasing flight frequencies to Kunming, through their Kuala Lumpur-Kunming and Bangkok-Kunming flights.

Daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kunming will be increased to 14 times weekly starting from December 19, 2017.

While, daily direct flights from Bangkok to Kunming will also be increased to 14 times weekly commencing from January 16, 2018.

To celebrate the occasion, AirAsia is offering all-in fares as low as RM179 from Kuala Lumpur to Kunming.

"Due to the rapid growth of China's civil aviation, we are seeing more travel demands from the Chinese. Adding flight frequencies is one of our commitment to grow the China market and we hope more people can easily access air travel with our low fares," said AirAsia head of commercial Spencer Lee.

AirAsia currently operates 14 weekly one-way flights into Kunming Changshui International Airport.

Besides flights from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, AirAsia has recently launched daily direct flights from Phuket to Kunming that will commence on 1 February 2018.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Fanning new life into Terengganu batik craft

Fanning new life into Terengganu batik craft



Beautiful batik: Maryam showing off some of the items for sale at a pop-up booth in Publika.

It was while she was miles away from the country that Maryam Samirah Shamsuddin developed a love for one of Malaysia’s traditional crafts – batik.

Maryam, who is now in her mid-30s, said that she started collecting and learning about batik when she was studying in Britain.

“You miss home and Malaysian items are not accessible, so you start to dig around to find stuff that reminds you of home,” she said.

This love for batik led her to start Cotton and Sago, a social enterprise aimed at helping Kuala Terengganu’s batik artisans, over a year ago.

“At first I read about batik online and learnt how to differentiate the designs of each maker.

“Then I went to Kuala Tereng­ganu and found out that the number of batik producers had shrunk.

“In the 90s, they had over 300 batik artisans, but three years ago, when I visited, they had less than 10 who were still active,” she said, adding that hand-block batik manufacturing is a dying industry.

She said that the slowdown could be due to the fact that artisans were earning very low wages, which led to the younger generation’s reluctance to enter the trade.

“They were earning about 80 sen per sarong!” she added.

Seeing this situation, Maryam set about to create an enterprise that was not only focused on marketing the traditional hand-block batik, but one that will help create a sustainable future for the artisans.

She said that being a social enterprise, Cotton and Sago also tries to help raise the price of the batik products so that artisans can earn more.

“Now it is possible for them to earn a wage of RM1,000 per month, compared to about RM500 a month previously,” she said.

The profit that the enterprise earns, she said, is channelled into training and upskilling the artisans, including teaching them business skills.

Maryam said that there is a need to help revive the Terengganu traditional hand-block batik industry, as it is fast losing its skilled artisans to age.

“There is only one traditional blockmaker left in Terengganu. Now we have invested into getting a few young apprentices to learn from him,” she said.

“Otherwise there is only Pok Ya (Zakaria Ismail) and he is in his 60s.”

The tradition of producing batik needs to be preserved as batik tells the story of Malaysia, she said.

“The history of batik itself is about Malaysia. There is a theory that (the act of wearing) batik was a replacement for tattoos when Islam came into the country.

“The technique itself came from India. The (usage of) pastel colours came from the Chinese traders’ influences.

“Batik is a canvas and every culture that crosses our (country’s) path leaves a bit of its touch on it.”

~News courtesy of The Star~

Not just ‘plane fare’ at KLIA

Not just ‘plane fare’ at KLIA

Tourists and other visitors can now enjoy some of Malaysia’s tastiest foods and sample the country’s rich culture at the KL International Airport.

At Anjung Malaysia, located at the KLIA departure hall on Level 5, they can savour delicacies such as nasi lemak, Ipoh noodles, ais kacang and rojak.

The new attraction also features a cultural showcase that includes traditional games of congkak, batu seremban (five stones) and dam aji (checkers) for guests to have a go.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai praised the initiative by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to set up Anjung Malaysia.

“This initiative will go a long way in providing our airport users with a memorable experience and will help create a lasting impression of our national pride.



Malaysian experience: Models posing at Anjung Malaysia.

“I am also pleased to see that Malaysia Airports is making continuous efforts to enhance not just the physical aspect of the airport but also to ensure that the emotional attachment to Malaysia remains strong,” he said.

Liow said the new facility will not just be a tourist attraction but also an avenue for local entrepreneurs to promote their products and goods to international visitors.

This is in line with the Govern­ment’s initiative to boost small and medium enterprises, as outlined in the 11th Malaysia Plan, he added.

Liow said the transportation sector has a role to play in helping the country meet its target of 26 million tourist arrivals by 2020.

“Other than the quality of our physical infrastructure, we must strive to provide a differentiating factor and unique experience to tourists,” he said.

MAHB managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said Anjung Malaysia showcases some of the things Malaysians are proud of about their country.

“We hope our endeavour to highlight the unique and warm Malaysian experience will contribute to strengthening Malaysia’s position as a country with a premier aviation hub,” he said.

MAHB senior general manager of commercial services Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz said the concept would be introduced at four other airports – KLIA2, Kuching, Langkawi and Penang.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak



No visitors will leave Malaysia without tasting our very own Nasi Lemak. Hot cooked rice with pandan aroma steamed with coconut cream goes heavenly well with sizzling spicy sauce or “sambal”. 

Generous sprinklings of roasted peanuts and salty dried anchovies with a hard boiled egg perfect this dish. 

A platter of everything good all wrapped up in banana leaves to further enhance its unique taste. Nasi Lemak is truly a national heritage of Malaysia.

~Courtesy of Tourism Malaysia~

Expect more rain until January, says weatherman

Expect more rain until January, says weatherman

The start of the northeast monsoon today will bring more rain to the east coast of the peninsula and parts of Sabah and Sarawak.

The wet season is expected to last until January.

MetMalaysia director-general Alui Bahari said the northeastern winds from the South China Sea will mark the start of the monsoon season.

“Right now, the winds are still from the southwest, they are variable, but by tomorrow, they will persist from the northeast,” said Alui when contacted yesterday.

He said an episode would range between three and four days of moderate to heavy rain.

This monsoon season is expected to see four to five such episodes.

MetMalaysia has its own colour coding for rainfall, with yellow indicating heavy rain is expected within the next one to three days, and if there is continuous rain, it will not last for more than six hours and the rainfall will be less than 60mm.

Meanwhile, orange indicates continuous heavy rain that will exceed six hours and rainfall collection of at least 60mm while red shows continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day.

Alui said the department would also be monitoring wind speeds and wave heights, as monsoon winds could whip up waves.

For the day’s weather forecast, log on to www.met.gov.my/in/web/metmalaysia/forecasts/general/country.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Electric Train Service provides smooth ride from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis

Electric Train Service provides smooth ride from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis



Commuter Vincent Khor feels the interior of the electric train operated by Malayan Railways is comfortable and cosy. There are even power sockets under the seats.

I was very excited about taking Malaysia’s Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Arau, Perlis, for the very first time.

It was probably the best decision I made on this trip – to travel by electric train instead of car or plane during the Labour Day weekend in April/May, to participate in the Perlis Marathon.

I bought my Malayan Railways ETS train ticket online.

When I fly, I prefer an aisle seat in the centre of the plane. I decided to make the same seat selection for the train ride. From the online ticketing system, I couldn’t tell if the seat I had chosen was facing the direction the train would be moving or the other way around. And I also couldn’t tell if the cafeteria was in the same coach.

What I was looking forward to was a nice, cosy seat with peace, quiet and privacy so that I could get some sleep. I needed some rest ahead of the marathon, which was held exactly one minute past midnight on the day I arrived.

While waiting for the train, scheduled to depart KL Sentral Station at 7.05am, I bumped into so many runners, some of whom I knew. They were also planning to take the same train and take part in the same marathon.

As I was about to board, I saw Kin K Yum (the marathoner, photographer and newspaper columnist) pushing his foldable bike and walking towards the train platform. I chatted with him for a while. He told me he was waiting for another friend Chan Wai Yee, who I met later, who also brought along a foldable bike. That was such an awesome idea – travelling with foldable bike for leisure cycling after the run in Perlis!

We found out that we were in different coaches so off we went to our separate seats.

TRAIN TO PERLIS

As I entered Coach C, I passed through a nice-looking cafeteria.

My seat was in a four-seat layout, with two seats facing another two, and a blue table in the middle. Throughout the journey, I was not be able to stretch my legs comfortably. Or if I took a nap, strangers sitting across me would be able to watch me all the time.

I was worried I would snore, or saliva would drool from my open mouth, in front of strangers. What if a fellow passenger decided to take a video of me snoring and upload it onto YouTube or Facebook? That made me wonder how I could sleep throughout the five-hour ride.

Five minutes after the train departed, Kin (or "KK" as his friends call him) came over to ask if I wanted to join him and the other runners in their coach. I thought all the seats were sold out! KK then told me that he bought an extra seat, which he was offering to me. My prayers were answered! I would have some peace and a restful journey.

FROM KL TO IPOH

The journey would have 14 stops before its scheduled arrival in Arau at 12.13pm. Pretty fast and efficient.

I found out that the train was moving at speeds averaging around 120kmh, reaching 150kmh at times. However, inside the train, one didn’t feel the speed at all as it ran very smoothly. It was a great way to travel, and we beat the traffic jams along the North-South Expressway!

From cityscapes, the views morphed into smaller towns with lush green vegetation before arriving at the old and beautiful Ipoh train station.

FROM IPOH TO ARAU

The journey from Ipoh saw an even more noticeable change in the landscape. I could spot more oil palm plantations, more forests, and finally padi fields, especially in Kedah. I got excited when the train passed the freshwater lake at Bukit Merah near Taiping. It was the lake I swam in when I took part in the 113 Triathlon last year.

We got off the train at Arau station. We then took the bus to Kangar, where the marathon would be held.

Before we arrived, I suggested to KK and Wai Yee to assemble their foldable bikes in the spacious air-conditioned train.

To our surprise, the train attendant did not object to them assembling their bikes in the train. In fact, he was courteous and friendly.

I was so impressed by the whole train experience – it was unforgettable, awesome and pleasant.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Malindo stepped in for MAS at KLIA

Malindo stepped in for MAS at KLIA

MALINDO Air has helped fill the void at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) left by national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS), which has downsized its operations.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi said there were at least 50 international carriers using KLIA for their operations.

He said alternatives were needed for KLIA to remain a transit hub for the region after MAS downsized its operations, ended a few routes and collaborations with several international airlines and reduced its staff.

“Malindo functions as a full-service carrier as it can provide (baggage) interlining services for travellers, making it easy for tourists to make KLIA a transit hub,” said Ab Aziz in reply to Datuk Abd Latif Ahmad (BN-Mersing), who asked when Malindo would be placed at KLIA 2 as it is also a low-cost carrier.

Ab Aziz said the Government wanted international and local passengers to have seamless travel and not struggle to find connecting routes to their final destinations.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Kuala Lumpur top 10 most visited cities

Kuala Lumpur top 10 most visited cities



Hong Kong tops the list of the most visited with 26.6 million visitors followed by Bangkok and London while Kuala Lumpur is at 10th spot.

Euromonitor International unveiled on Wednesday the Top 100 City Destinations Ranking 2017 Edition1 at World Travel Market (WTM) London, the leading travel and tourism event worldwide.

This year's report highlights how future travel trends are borne out of the opportunities and challenges cities face.

On the contrary, the performance of European cities has been hampered by the Eurozone and migrants' crisis, as well as Brexit and terrorist attacks.

Despite the uncertainty, some European destinations, in particular Greece, Italy and Spain, have profited from unrest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Performance in the MENA region has fluctuated greatly in recent years, however, Euromonitor forecast data shows a recovery for the region in 2017 and beyond.

While MENA's main challenges remain wars and border disputes, Sub-Saharan Africa is looking to do the reverse: opening borders and enhancing collaboration with the African Union for a plan towards seamless borders.

In stark contrast to Africa, the plans towards stronger border controls might weigh heavily on America's tourist arrival growth. According to Euromonitor International's Travel Forecast Model, if the US drops out of NAFTA and imposes a 35 percent tariff on Mexican imports, followed by Mexican retaliation, the impact on inter-regional travel would be considerable.

New York, the most visited city in America and the only US city in the top 10 most visited city ranking, has revised its 2017 forecast, expecting a potential fall of 300,000 visitors as a worst case scenario.

The top 10 most visited cities are:

Hong Kong: 26.6 million visitors, Bangkok: 21.2 million visitors, London: 19.2 million visitors, Singapore: 16.6 million visitors, Macau: 15.4 million visitors, Dubai: 14.9 million visitors, Paris: 14.4 million visitors, New York: 12.7 million visitors, Shenzhen: 12.6 million visitors, Kuala Lumpur: 12.3 million visitors

Geerts concludes: “This report highlights why some cities are performing better than others and how emerging trends are going to reshape the travel industry and disrupt the ranking up to 2025.”

~News courtesy of Bernama~

RM1 flight levy starts January 2018

RM1 flight levy starts January 2018

ALL passengers leaving Malaysia by air will have to pay a levy of up to RM1 from January, following changes to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) Act 2015.

“The Government spent almost RM30mil on Mavcom’s operational costs last year. The levy for air travellers is justified, considering the services Mavcom provides, which range from receiving and processing complaints to conducting educational activities,” he said.

The changes to the law also allows Mavcom to impose penalties for any non-compliance over guidelines on competition, regulatory fees and charges.

~News courtesy of The Star~

明年起离境征收1令吉

国会三读通过 明年起离境征收1令吉

国会下议院周二三读通过2017年大马航空委员会（修正）法案，当局将于明年1月起向离境乘客征收1令吉服务费。

该法案在进入委员会阶段后，正式三读通过。

1令吉的监管服务费，仅限于离境的所有大马人及外国游客支付，主要是用作协助航空委员会监管航空业在经济领域方面的事务。

交通部副部长拿督阿都阿兹卡巴拉威在为该法案总结时表示，此收费是按照航空委员会的营运费用计算得出的。

他说，政府未来不会调高该服务费，征收该费用是为应付航空委员会的营运成本，并非为了牟利。

他说，航空委员会的职责包括设置所有航空公司降陆的电子登记系统、客户投诉管理系统等，每年的营运费用大约2500万至3000万令吉。

~以上新闻转自光华日报~

Happy Deepavali!

Happy Deepavali!
தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
屠妖节快乐！

Asean to open skies further

Asean to open skies further

Asean countries signed the protocol to put into place a package of commitments to further liberalise air transport services in the region.

At the 23rd Asean Transport Ministers Meeting, the countries also agreed to improve connectivity among member states.

Transport ministers and senior officials from Asean member countries attended the two-day meeting. Also present were dialogue partners from China, Japan and South Korea.

Among the highlights of the meeting was the conclusion of the “tenth package of commitments on air transport services under the Asean Framework of Services”.

Liow said the ministers also signed the protocol of domestic code-share rights, allowing code­-sharing arrangements between the marketing airline and domestic airline in Asean member countries.

“This would increase connectivity between Malaysia and other Asean member states.

“At the same time, it would enable designated airlines of Malaysia to offer their passengers a wide range of travel options which can extend beyond the airlines’ own network and route structure,” he added.

Liow said the ministers signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Flight Crew Licensing, which would facilitate air services to complement liberalisation efforts in Asean, and ensure the highest degree of security in international air transport.

They also reached an agreement on the Facilitation of Cross Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicles.

“This is to promote seamless cross-border mobility of passengers between Asean member states,” said Liow.

He added that the ministers had concluded the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the authorities in charge of aircraft accident investigation under the Asean-China partnership.

“This agreement would further strengthen Malaysia’s cooperation with China in relation to aircraft accident and incident investigations, sharing experiences and expertise in various specialist fields, equipment and research,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

开放联号航运权 亚细安区内航班选择增多

开放联号航运权 亚细安区内航班选择增多

亚细安成员国将开放各自的国内联号航运权，让在亚细安区域内飞行的航班共享班号。如此一来，航空公司可在不使用旗下飞机的情况下，扩大跨国飞行网络，为搭客提供更多航班选择。这也有助促进亚细安各国人民和货物的流通，有利于经济与商业发展，也能扩展旅游业。

过去两天在我国举行的第23届亚细安交通部长会议昨天结束，与会国在本次会议中签署了五项协议，并采纳六项计划，重申致力于加强亚细安成员国与对话伙伴国之间交通合作的承诺。

这包括进一步开放区内的航空服务、改善亚细安航空飞行的安全和效率，以及促进乘客的无缝跨境流动。

各国部长昨天签订两项开放航空服务的协议，其中包括开放联号航运（code-share）权，让在亚细安区域内飞行的航班都能提供联号航运服务，搭客也能享有较便利的转机登机与行李托运服务。

例如，一家本地航空公司和一家泰国航空公司合作提供联号航运服务，搭客只需订购一次机票，便能先飞往曼谷，再转国内航班到泰国的另一目的地。同样的，原本不直飞本地的泰国航空公司，也能让搭客通过一次订票，先飞曼谷再转飞新加坡。

另一项协议则是在亚细安服务业框架协议（ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services，简称AFAS）下，落实第10项配套，以求逐步减少亚细安航空运输辅助服务的贸易限制。新加坡将对提供销售与营销航空运输服务的公司，提高它们所能允许的最高海外股本参与率，从51％提高到70％。

此外，各国采纳了亚细安航空交通管理总体规划，目的是打造无缝的亚细安空中交通，以更一体化的方式改善区域的航空流量。一旦全面落实，料将改善航空交通管理与安全，空域容量也能增加，航班延误的情况因此有望减少，航空公司的运作成本也会降低。

各国也签署了协议，相互承认对方颁发的机组人员执照。

成员国各500辆客运巴士 可享简化出入境要求

在陆路交通方面，亚细安成员国签署了促进陆路客运跨境的亚细安框架协议，方便客运巴士在各国之间跨境穿行。

按照这项协议，每个成员国都有500辆巴士的配额，可享有简化出入境的要求。这些必须是非固定行程的客运巴士，如旅游巴士。固定行程的跨境巴士在路线、停靠站、巴士数量、技术要求及车费方面，仍得取得邻国的同意。

与对话伙伴国的合作方面，亚细安将与中国加强在航空事故调查的合作。

负责调查航空事故的官方机构与中国民用航空局签署了谅解备忘录，同意相互分享调查航空事故方面的设施与专才资源，也相互提供培训、分享安全资料，及安排观察员参与调查等。这有助提升调查员的能力与专业水平。

基础建设统筹部长兼交通部长许文远为会议主持闭幕式时说：“我们对亚细安交通合作的承诺将助我们实现‘2020年亚细安愿景’，以及‘2025年亚细安互联互通总体规划’。这将提高人民的生活质量，制造良好的就业机会，也能为区域带来稳定与和平。”

第24届亚细安交通部长会议明年将于泰国举行。

~联合早报网~

Four-car KL monorail trains back on track soon

Four-car KL monorail trains back on track soon

KL Monorail's four-car trains, which have been grounded since May for safety enhancements, will be returning to service soon.

In a statement Tuesday, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Zohari Sulaiman said that five four-car monorail train sets would be placed back on service in stages by year-end.

"Works to further enhance the safety features of the trains are ongoing. We are working hard to have the works completed as soon as possible, but strictly according to the work details highlighted.

"As the operator of the KL Monorail Line, Rapid Rail would like to express our sincere apologies to our customers for the inconvenience caused.

"We had no choice but to ground them temporarily in the interest of public safety," Zohari said.

In the absence of the four-car train sets, Zohari said Rapid Rail has been deploying shuttle buses throughout the alignment to complement the operations of the two-car trains.

"We now have six sets of two-car trains in operation," he said, adding that train frequency is between eight and 15 minutes.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Tourism Tax 旅游税

Wai Sek Kai destroyed in fire

Wai Sek Kai destroyed in fire



Fierce flames: Firemen battling the blaze in Pudu.

The Pudu hawker food street, a heaven for foodies, has been destroyed in an early morning fire, leaving the traders there with an uncertain future.

A row of stalls went up in flames at about 2am yesterday and was razed in about an hour.

The place, better known as Pudu Wai Sek Kai, has stood at the intersection of Jalan Pudu and Jalan Sayur for more than five de­cades.

Teams of firemen from five stations – Pudu, Hang Tuah, KLCC, Sri Hartamas and Keramat – responded within four minutes when the call came in at 2.02am.

“Low water pressure made it difficult to bring the blaze under control,” said Fire and Rescue Department operational commander Supt Mohd Yunus Ibrahim.

He said the fire was finally put out at 3.13am and 10 stalls were razed.

A 45-year-old helper at a fried chicken stall said she found out about the fire from a shopkeeper.

Dira A. has been working there for the past 14 years.

She said that they finished cleaning and packed up the stall at about 11pm and headed home.

After being alerted by the shopkeeper, they rushed back but by then more than half the stalls were already ablaze.

“We sell about 40 to 50 chickens a day and now without the stall, I’m worried for my boss who is like family to me,” she said, adding that their three refrigerators were also destroyed.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall socio-economic development executive director Datuk Ib­ra­him Yusoff said that the traders could apply for a temporary or permanent spot at the nearby Pudu Integrated Commercial Com­plex.

“There are 30 traders affected and we talked to them about moving, prior to the fire,” he said.

“If they plan to rebuild, they can operate at the complex for the time being.”

~News courtesy of The Star~

KLIA helpdesk to assist tourists from China

KLIA helpdesk to assist tourists from China

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is the first airport in South-East Asia to have a Chinese Travellers Affairs Helpdesk to make arrivals easier for tourists from China.

The desk, located before the Immigration counter, will have two Mandarin-speaking volunteers to help Chinese tourists with directions and essential information.

A similar helpdesk will also start operating at KLIA2 from tomorrow.

The desk will operate from 7pm to midnight, when most flights from China arrive. From October, its hours will be 5pm to 1am to accommodate higher tourist traffic.

“These initiatives will boost the confidence of Chinese tourists in choosing Malaysia as a holiday destination,” said Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Dr Siew Ka Wei after launching the helpdesk at KLIA here yesterday.

Tourism Malaysia said in a statement that tourist arrivals from China were increasing again after a slowdown in 2014.

“Siew told reporters after the launch that the helpdesk was a collaboration of Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, the Immigration Department, the Embassy of China in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysia China Welfare Advisory Society.

~News courtesy of Bernama~

Happy Independence Day 独立日快乐

Japan courts Singapore in bid for High-Speed Rail project to KL

Japan courts Singapore in bid for High-Speed Rail project to KL

Japan is pulling out the stops in making a pitch to Singapore for the proposed High-Speed Rail (HSR) project to Kuala Lumpur.

The country’s Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Mr Keiichi Ishii, hosted a symposium in the Republic on Monday (Aug 28) to tout its wares for the project, with Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in attendance.

Japanese public sector officials and companies cited the safety, reliability and sustainability of its Shinkansen High Speed Rail system as selling points for the Singapore-Malaysia joint project.

Since the Shinkansen opened in 1964, the system has experienced zero fatalities in its decades of operations and the average annual delay per train is under a minute, they said.

Potential ideas for collaboration between the two countries were thrown up, including for the Shinkansen system to be manufactured in Singapore and for the two countries to develop design and implementation policies for the HSR together. The latter includes working out how space in the project’s Singapore terminus is utilised and enhancing transportation links around the station.

Japanese representatives said its Shinkansen system will be able to complement the network of trains, buses, taxis and even shared bicycles currently in the Republic.

At the symposium, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority said it will hold a second industry briefing on the HSR in London in September.

It also said plans to call a tender for the building and maintenance of the project’s rolling stock and rail assets by the end of this year are on track.

A similar symposium was held by Japan in Kuala Lumpur in May this year.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Travellers departing airports to pay RM1 levy from 2018

Travellers departing Malaysian airports to pay RM1 levy from 2018

Air travellers will be subjected to a RM1 (US$0.23) levy when departing Malaysian airports as early as 2018, the country's aviation regulator said on Tuesday (Aug 15).

The new levy to be imposed by the Malaysia Aviation Commission, MAVCOM will be tabled in parliament in October. It will apply to all departing passengers for both domestic and overseas destinations except for rural air services in interior Sabah and Sarawak.

The passenger service charge at all Malaysian airports may also be raised from the current RM50 to RM73 for all international flights beyond Asean beginning January 2018 to standardise the system.
v Currently a different rate applies to KLIA1 and KLIA2 international airports.

The passenger service charge is fixed at RM35 for all destinations in Asean.

MAVCOM, which was set up last year to regulate the civil aviation industry, is expected to collect RM30 million in the first year from the RM1 levy, according to its chief operating officer Azmir Zain.

"I can confirm there is a definite plan by Mavcom to charge RM1 levy to all departing passengers with exception of those flying the rural air services in Sabah and Sarawak. The purpose of the RM1 levy is to ensure financial sustenance and more importantly the independence of the commission. In the last 12 months we have shown results. Example, by lowering the passenger service charge from RM65 to RM35 flat for all ASEAN destinations. That's a saving of RM30 for customers."

MAVCOM, in tabling its first industry report on Tuesday, said it expects the air passenger traffic to grow between 7.8 and 8.6 per cent in 2017 with the number of air travellers expected to hit 99.6 million.

But amid decreasing air fare and competitive operating environment, revenues are expected to remain flat for most airlines. 

Source: Channel News Asia

8月1日落实酒店旅游税

Selamat hari raya 开斋节快乐

i-City brightens up Malaysia

i-City brightens up Malaysia



Wonderland attraction: Many have been captivated by i-City’s vibrant and colourful lights on its property.

Malaysia’s city of digital lights, i-City, has been listed in the top 25 of the most bright and colourful places in the world by CNN.

The urban development located in Shah Alam, Selangor, made the 21st spot in the list, joining the ranks of globally renowned locations led by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef which came in first.

Other top locations in the list include Holland’s tulip fields (13th), Rio de Janeiro in Brazil (16th), Times Square in New York (23) and Venice (25).

“i-City in Selangor, is a peculiar blend of a hi-tech development centre and an amusement park that includes an ice palace called the Snowalk, where the indoors is kept at freezing temperatures to preserve chambers of ice lit with coloured lights,” the CNN list read.

“In the evenings, outdoors in the tropical heat, millions of twinkling lights illuminate the trees in every artificial colour imaginable.

“It’s a Christmas yard display amped up to the nth degree,” the list said.

The 25 locations selected, said CNN, were places where nature’s palette concocts colours that seem unreal, or where designers have turned ordinary neighbourhoods into wonderlands.

In response, i-City said it welcomed the accolade which has now put it firmly on the global stage.

“It is very much an honour to receive the accolade as one of the world’s most colourful places in the world together with beautiful cities such as Cape Town, Tokyo, Argentina, Italy and France.

“A convergence of both technology and art, the digital lightscapes showcase will constantly be updated according to themes and festive celebrations,” the i-City statement said.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said the listing was good news for Malaysia’s tourism industry.

“It’s not easy to get in such a list and the accolade given to i-CIty also shows the big role that the private sector in Malaysia plays in helping to promote tourism in our country,” he said.
v Civil servant Anisyuhada Zulkifle, 29, said she first visited i-City as a university student and was captivated by the colourful lights.

“The lights there are simply beautiful beyond words. Not only are the trees covered in lights, they also have lights shaped like flowers, so it’s very unique,” she said.

A graduate student, who only wanted to be known as Fatin, said i-City was also enjoyable for its many attractions.

“I don’t like taking pictures that much, but the sights at i-City are a unique experience that you won’t forget easily,” said Fatin.

The list can be accessed at http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-most-bright-colorful-places/index.html

~News courtesy of The Star~

Clear skies expected over Raya

Clear skies expected over Raya

It will likely be a sunny Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year in most parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

The date for sighting the Syawal new moon to determine when Aidilfitri falls has been set for June 24, and many expect Hari Raya to start the next day.

Malaysian Meteorological De­­part­­ment director-general Alui Bahari said a detailed forecast for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period will only be released today but added that the weather is generally expected to be dry due to the current south-west monsoon.

The south-west monsoon started on May 17, and will continue until September, typically associated with lower rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

“There is always heavy traffic on the highways during the Raya pe­­riod, but good weather conditions will hopefully help to make journeys safer as the roads are dry and visibility is better,” said Alui.

The volume of vehicles that will hit the roads starting this week as families make their way back to their hometowns is expected to grow.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd said traffic plying the North-South Expressway during peak days starting Wednes­day to July 3 is set to hit 1.7 million vehicles per day.

The figure is an increase of 30% from the reported 1.2 million vehicles during the Raya peak period two years ago.

Another highway concessionaire, Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak), expects a 10% increase in the number of vehicles on the Sprint and Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) highways in Selangor as the Hari Raya celebration draws closer.

The LDP, which is normally used by more than 470,000 vehicles each week, may see an increase of about 10,000 vehicles this week.

Association of Highway Con­cessionaires Malaysia said in a statement that the volume of traffic is expected to increase by between 30% and 40% during the coming Raya period compared to normal times.

“The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Express­­way, East Coast Expressway (LPT1) and East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) is expected to see an increase of 50% in traffic volume,” the statement said.

To cope with the traffic volume, PLUS has issued a travel time advisory to help the public plan their journey and to distribute traffic between June 21 and July 3.

Those planning to travel from the Klang Valley to their hometowns in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, northern Perak and Johor are advised to enter the highway before 10am.

Those heading towards nearer destinations such as in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, southern Perak and central Perak, are advised to start their journey and enter the North-South Expressway after 10am on designated days.

Meanwhile, Penang is expecting an influx of visitors who are set to take advantage of the four-day Aidilfitri holiday.

“Last year, the traffic was not so bad, but it is too early to predict the congestion this year,” said state traffic police enforcement chief Supt Roslan Ali.

He added that traffic police would be out daily under Ops Selamat from now until July 2.

Malaysian Hoteliers Association Penang Chapter chairman Khoo Boo Lim said most hotels in the state were almost full.

“Penang is a top choice for local tourists and many are definitely coming here during the break,” he added.

~News courtesy of The Star~

BBCC set to transform KL

BBCC set to transform KL



A new world: BBCC’s chief executive director Datuk Richard Ong (left) showing Najib the model of the complex during the groundbreaking ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. Also present were (from third left, front row) Mitsui Fudosan Asia Malaysia & MFBBCC Retail Mall managing director Takehito Fukui, Dr Mohd Shafei, Liew and EPF CEO Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) and a retail mall marks the start of the ambitious transformation of an iconic landmark in the city.

The BBCC and Mitsui Shopping Park (LaLaport KL) projects have entered its construction stage with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak performing the groundbreaking yesterday.

The Prime Minister said the BBCC was a successful example of public-private collaboration which the Government was keen to promote.

“BBCC is also an example of the key projects which support the Government’s focus under the Economic Transformation Programme for Greater KL and Klang Valley,” Najib said in his speech.

Also present were Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Urban Development Authority (UDA) Holdings Bhd and BBCC Development Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Shafei Abdullah and Eco World Development Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin.

Najib said the site was historical as it was where the old colonial-era Pudu Prison used to be, adding that it would be transformed into a world-class integrated development by 2020.

“With the scarcity of land in a developed capital city like Kuala Lumpur, it is essential that re-development of the city centre’s brownfield sites is done carefully and very well.

“I am pleased that the BBCC consortium has a spectacular masterplan to regenerate this historical location,” he added.

The BBCC sprawls over 7.85ha and will have a total gross built-up area of 6.7 million sq ft with a gross domestic value of RM8.7bil. The project is spearheaded by UDA, Eco World and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) board.
v Phase one, scheduled to be completed by December 2020, will comprise a retail mall, entertainment hub, a four-star hotel, strata office and two blocks of serviced apartments.

The LaLaport KL retail project is a joint venture between Mitsui Fudosan Asia and BBCC Development Sdn Bhd and will have a built-up area of 1.4 million sq ft.

Poised to be the new centre of attraction for Malaysians and tourists, it will be the first LaLaport branded shopping mall in South-East Asia as well as Mitsui’s flagship project in the region.

The BBCC, said Najib, would also have its own purpose-built Transit Hub to connect to the nearby LRT, MRT and monorail stations.

“From early on, the Government has taken very seriously the challenges of our public transport system.

“Besides expediting the completion of the LRT extension, the Government has rapidly undertaken the construction of the MRT system.

“By the time BBCC opens its doors, an integrated network of KTM, LRT and MRT lines, as well as the city centre’s monorail, will be efficiently transporting commuters around the city, Greater KL, Klang Valley and beyond,” said Najib.

Calling it an iconic development, Najib is certain the project will draw people.

“With our investor friends from Japan working in partnership with the Malaysian joint developers, I am confident that BBCC will succeed in further uplifting the image of Kuala Lumpur as an international modern metropolis,” he said.

Najib said the BBCC project, with its fully integrated retail, leisure and entertainment attractions, the unique Malaysia Grand Bazaar initiated by UDA and Zepp KL Concert Hall by Sony Music Japan, will contribute significantly towards efforts to make the country a tourism hub.

~News courtesy of The Star~