VM2020 logo emits strong Malaysia vibes, says graphic designer
A Penang-based graphic designer said the new Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) tourism campaign logo, which was unveiled by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 22, truly reflected what the nation was all about. (BERNAMA)
A Penang-based graphic designer said the new Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) tourism campaign logo, which was unveiled by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 22, truly reflected what the nation was all about.
The VM2020 logo was designed by 23-year-old graphic designer Alfred Phua Hong Fook, who had beaten over 500 other entries in a competition held between March 11 and March 24 after the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture decided to scrap the previous version.
Danz Chee, who has 15 years of logo design experience under his belt, said the official VM2020 logo has brought out strong “Malaysia” vibes with its simplistic Batik-style design, the fitting colour scheme of “Jalur Gemilang”, as well as the usage of iconic national trademarks, which are the rhinoceros hornbill, the red hibiscus and the wild fern known as “paku pakis”.
“I’ve checked out other entries from the contest, some of which are pretty well done, but I personally find the winning logo really screamed out what Malaysia is really all about,” Chee told Bernama.
Not long after the unveiling of the VM2020 logo, allegations of plagiarism through other logo designs began to brew up in social media platforms.
A different version of the VM2020 logo went viral on social media, alleging that the graphic designer had plagiarised from another hornbill design associated from a stock image, but the allegation was later dismissed by Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.
This, however, did not stop netizens’ accusations of strong resemblance to a combination of multiple stock images, they believed were applied in the official VM2020 logo.
Chee explained that professional graphic designers normally do not trace stock images completely but rather use them, as well as other relevant logos and photos for designing references to develop a firm grasp of its design concepts and ideas.
He also said that graphic designers also look up these references to prevent any possible conflicts or clashes of resemblance.
“Say for instance, a client would want a tiger as their logo, and of course, we would have to look up real photos of a tiger as references and develop the important aspects of a tiger, such as its fur patterns. We would then modify them to our own desired art style, but still retain its resemblance as a tiger. You do not want to end up with a design of a cat when your client expects a a tiger,” he said.
He added that the modern trend of minimalism art style also played a huge role in the preference of the logo design, given the examples of known companies such as Adidas and Pepsi shifting their complex logo design to a more simplistic form over time. -- Bernama
Resumed ECRL project to spur more development, industrialisation, says Loke
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will resume, after nine months of negotiations, with alignments and stations restructured to make it more viable. -- Bernama photo
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will resume, after nine months of negotiations, with alignments and stations restructured to make it more viable.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the resumption would have a positive impact on the well-being of the people in terms of social economic development.
“Once completed in 2026, we will see more development and industrialisation in the east coast,” he said after THE relaunching of works on the tunnel here today.
“This section from Dungun to Mentakab is the least impacted by the realignment deal.”
The contractors will prioritise works on the tunnels and viaducts along the proposed alignment from Dungun to Mentakab in Pahang over the next one month to propel the construction of the re-negotiated RM44 billion rail network.
The supplementary agreement inked between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) on April 12 in Beijing paved the way for the resumption of the ECRL project to proceed at a lower cost, compared with the price tag of RM65.5 billion.
The focus of the renegotiated project will be on the design and physical works of the 14.13km tunnels in 23 locations, as well as preparatory works for 39.03km of viaducts in 65 locations situated within the 223km stretch from Dungun to Mentakab where no rail alignment changes were made under the improved ECRL project.
Earthworks at several ECRL tunnel sites, including the 871m Dungun Tunnel, 1.1km Paka Tunnel, and 2.8km Kuantan Tunnel, and site clearing and pile testing on multiple sites for viaducts have commenced.
Loke said, despite the realignment involving diversions from the original design, the government would keep the option open for future development when the need arose.
Asked whether the project would encourage existing investors in the more developed states to shift or expand their operations to the east coast states, Loke said it could entice existing firms to expand, but more importantly there would be new investments.
“The joint-venture with CCCC ensures new investments.
“We are not building the railway at the expense of other states. We may see expansion, but not relocation.”
The improved ECRL project involves a distance of 640km that will entail rail alignment changes between Kota Baru in Kelantan and Dungun, Terengganu, with the introduction of a new southern alignment from Mentakab in Pahang to Port Klang in Selangor that runs through Negri Sembilan and Putrajaya.
The entire project will see the construction of 30 to 40 tunnels along its alignment from Kota Baru to Port Klang, with the longest tunnel measuring about 7km to be built in the Jelebu-Semenyih area.
The project will also witness the construction of multiple viaducts with a total length of approximately 100km.
Loke said Environmental Impact Assessment reports had been submitted where land clearing had started, and more would be submitted as the project progressed.
“This is a national project. It is apolitical.
“It involves states not won by the present government.
“It is for the country and the people,” he said, adding that it was well-positioned as a national infrastructure project as it linked cities and towns, upgraded public transport in rural areas along its entire 640km rail network that would traverse five states and Putrajaya.
~New Straits Times~
东铁周四正式复工 2026年秒竣工启用
陆兆福（左5）主持东海岸铁道计划复工。左起阿末苏海米、尤索夫依斯迈、凯鲁阿迪、阿米努丁、阿末山苏里、诺若拉扎里、阿都拉曼尤诺斯及达维斯。
东海岸铁道计划（ECRL）复工，预料2026年12月启用。
纷纷扰扰的东海岸铁道计划周四正式复工，交通部长陆兆福披露，若工程一切顺利，东海岸铁道将于2026年竣工，并开始投入运作。
他说，经过与中国交通建设股份有限公司（CCCC，简称“中国交建”）的重新谈判后，这项计划从原本的665亿令吉削减至440亿令吉，减少了215亿令吉或33%。
陆兆福是于周四登嘉楼龙运，主持东海岸铁道计划复工仪式上，这么表示。
他也表示，这项计划的贷款也已经敲定，预料会在近期签署附加合约。
“我被告知马来西亚铁道衔接公司（MRL）与中国进出口银行（China EXIM Bank），将针对东海岸铁道计划的贷款已经敲定。因此，有关东海岸铁道计划贷款附加合约预料会在近期签署。”
他说，根据这项附加合约，中国进出口银行将提供85%的贷款，但由于成本价格削减，因此我国需承担的利息并不高。
“这也意味着政府所承担，由中国进出口银行所提供的贷款利息也减少了。”
陆兆福也提及，东海岸铁道计划全长640公里，主要是借以提升东海岸的公共交通设施。
“一旦东海岸铁道计划完成后，将为国人提供更便捷的交通。举例来说，民众若要从丹州的哥打峇鲁到布城，只需要乘搭4小时每小时160公里的列车，就能够抵达。”
他表示，重新规划的东铁计划将分为3段工程，分别是吉兰丹州哥打峇鲁到龙运的A段，登嘉楼州龙运到文德甲的B段，以及彭亨州文德甲到巴生港口的C段。
“在这3段工程当中，223公里的B段工程的路线没有更改，这个工程占了整个东铁计划的34.8％，而A段工程的路线会有少许更改，C段工程的路线则作出最大 的更改，2段工程全长417公里。”
“东海岸铁道计划共计20个站，其中14个站是让乘客能够上下站，另外5个站是供乘客和货柜，至于另一个站只是用作货柜使用。”
他说，整个东海岸铁道计划，登嘉楼州共计6个站，包括甘榜拉惹（Kampung Raja）、瓜拉登嘉楼、柏拉岸（Pengkalan Berangan）、龙运（Dungun）、甘马仕（Kemasik）及朱盖（Chukai），以及2个供乘客和货柜的站。
“在登州，也需要建造3个地下隧道，这包括龙运隧道、北加隧道（Terowong Paka）及关丹隧道。”
出席这场复工仪式的也包括登嘉楼州务大臣阿末山苏里、森美兰州务大臣拿督斯里阿米努丁、中国驻马大使白天、交通部秘书长拿督莫哈末凯鲁阿迪、马来西亚铁道衔接公司首席执行员那毒死达维斯、董事阿末苏海米及拿督尤索夫依斯迈、中国交建副总裁孙子宇、彭亨州务大臣代表拿督斯里诺若拉扎里、吉兰丹州务大臣代表阿都拉曼尤诺斯等。
陆兆福也表示，东海岸铁道计划启用后，将刺激铁道周边的旅游业，尤其是惠及民宿、酒店及当地的旅游活动业者。
“虽然重启后的东海岸铁道计划将减少站点，但跨越多个州属，因此势必带动东海岸经济走廊的成长，吸引更多外资进驻投资，进而创造更多的就业机会。”
“届时，像是珍拉丁（Cherating）、龙运（Dungun）、瓜拉登嘉楼、督巴里（Tok Bali）及哥打峇鲁。”
陆兆福也宣布，东海岸铁路工业技能培训计划（PLKI-ECRL）将复办，届时将会有约5000名在地学员参与培训。
“在此之前，只有3600名学员参与这项培训计划。”
白天：东铁将改变东海岸经济
中国驻马大使白天认为，东海岸铁路计划（ECRL）项目将改变登嘉楼、吉兰丹和森州等东海岸一带的交通运输与经济发展，并将其称为贸易创造。
“一旦东海岸铁路建竣，将能加强州与州，以及海外市场之间的连接，创造更多的贸易往来。例如，东海岸农民种植1公顷的榴槤，如猫山王。我会想，要如何出售。”
“不过，这些榴槤最终可能会因为运输问题和成本，而被浪费，但如果有铁路，就会不一样。”
因此，他相信，东海岸铁路将能为东海岸社区带来更多的经济活动，包括旅游。
“届时不只会有来自西马的游客，其他国家，包括中国游客都会前来旅游。因此，我相信，东海岸铁路的建成可以让大马中国游客翻倍增长。”
~光华日报~
Tourism industry expected to generate RM100 billion next year
Malaysia’s tourism industry is expected to generate RM100 billion in revenue next year.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said his ministry is confident of achieving its target of 30 million tourist arrivals next year, contributing to the RM100 billion in revenue expected from both international and domestic tourism, compared to a projected revenue of RM92 billion for this year.
“Kelantan is among the states expected to attract a higher number of foreign tourists to Malaysia. A total of 5.5 million tourists are expected to visit Kelantan this year. Tourist arrivals to the state will increase further next year and this will help boost the number of tourists coming to Malaysia,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of the 2019 Kelantan Folk Arts Festival (FKRK) here today.
Also present were Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) director-general Tan Sri Norliza Rofli, Kelantan Culture, Tourism and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Md Anizam Abd Rahman and Narathiwat deputy governor Patimoh Sadiyamon.
The FKRK introduced in 2017 is one of nine cultural programmes listed in the cultural tourism sector calendar in nine states to highlight unique local cultures as tourism products.
Among the activities held at the FKRK this year were Rebana Ubi, Kertuk and Dikir Barat competitions and performances by the Kelantan Percussion Symphony Orchestra.
Meanwhile, Mohamaddin said his ministry is always open to proposals from state governments in the effort to revive the traditional art forms in their respective states.
“For instance, the Mak Yong cultural performance has been allowed to be continue in Kelantan by mutual agreement. We would like to say thank you to (the) Kelantan (state government) for giving a new breath to Mak Yong, now it can be watched at the Kelantan JKKN Auditorium,” he said.
The PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) -led government in Kelantan had previously banned Mak Yong, a dance drama, in the state on the grounds that it had animist and Hindu-Buddhist roots.
-- BERNAMA
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Fraser's Hill is named after Louis James Fraser, a Scotsman who prospected for gold in Australia but eventually struck tin here instead in the 1890s. Employing Chinese miners to do the hard work for him and earning his keep by operating mule trains down the mountain, Fraser set up opium and gambling dens to increase his profits, which may have had something to do with his subsequent mysterious disappearance.
The tin ran out in 1913, but the lush valley within was rediscovered as a colonial hill resort that, thanks to its 1524 m elevation, enjoys considerably cooler temperatures than Kuala Lumpur. By 1922 a road had been cut through the mountains to the valley, which soon sprouted bungalows and even one of Malaya's first golf courses.
Not much has changed since, and Fraser's Hill retains a wonderfully weird mixed-up character, where locals eat curries off banana leaves in a English cottage next to a golf course while the call to prayer sounds from the mosque.
~wikitravel~
成为亚细安物流枢纽 泰国要建跨亚洲多国高铁网络
泰媒报道，高铁工程主要分为泰国到老挝及中国南部、泰国到柬埔寨、泰国到马来西亚和新加坡，以及曼谷到清迈四条路线，全长达3193公里，造价约914亿新元。
（曼谷讯）泰国政府希望通过一个横跨亚洲多国的高铁网络，致力推动泰国发展成为亚细安的物流枢纽。
《曼谷邮报》报道，这项庞大工程主要分为泰国到老挝及中国南部、泰国到柬埔寨、泰国到马来西亚和新加坡，以及曼谷到清迈四条路线，全长达3193公里，造价约2.07万亿泰铢（约914亿新元）。
可从中国开到新加坡
泰国交通部副部长拜林说，泰国政府希望这个高铁网络可以从中国一路开往新加坡。他说：“到时候，人们就可从曼谷城区挽赐（Bang Sue）乘高铁北上中国北京或南下新加坡。”
连接曼谷和毗邻老挝的东北部廊开府（Nong Khai）的第一阶段工程正在兴建，预计2023年竣工。这一段铁路长达608公里，落成之后，将会成为曼谷通往老挝的主要运输系统。
下一段铁路将把泰国和老挝边境与老挝首都万象连接，最后一段铁路则会将万象与中国云南省边城磨憨镇相连接。
据一个不愿具名的老挝官员说，万象与磨憨镇之间长达414公里的铁路至今已经完成了55%，衔接万象与廊开的铁路工程也已经展开。
他说：“这是一个将我们从内陆国家转变为有土地联系的国家。”他指，目前人们要从万象前往磨憨镇需要两天，但如后有了高铁，来往这两地“就只需要三个小时”。
老挝希望跨国高铁网络能促进经济发展。受访官员预计，有了这条高铁路线，未来到访老挝的中国游客每年可能多达1000万至2000万人次。
泰国也希望借助这个跨国高铁网络来刺激其经济发展，尤其是该铁路网络将把廊开与泰国东部经济走廊（EEC）衔接起来；泰国东部经济走廊是在泰国东部沿海三府北柳、春武里和罗勇设立的国家经济特区，旨在将泰国东部打造为一个现代智能生产的工业中心。
由于项目的重要性和成本非常高，政府应该认真地与中国谈判，并研究随后的利益和条件。从长远来看，我们需要能自己照顾铁路的一切运作，而毋需依靠中国。——泰中战略研究中心前主任阿克松斯里
泰国国立法政大学经济学院副教授、泰中战略研究中心前主任阿克松斯里表示，高铁网络是中国倡议“一带一路”计划的一部分，落成后将会提高泰国的竞争力和与邻国的联系。
不过她指出，发展高铁网络存在一定担忧，主要是在软件和系统安全方面，其他可能影响铁路网络建造项目的障碍还包括“高建筑和征收成本”。放眼望去，泰国日后决定购买中国科技时，也必须明智地进行谈判。
她说：“由于这个项目的重要性和其成本非常高，政府应该认真地与中国谈判，并研究随后的利益和条件。从长远来看，我们需要能自己照顾铁路的一切运作，而毋需依靠中国。”
~联合早报~
Prasarana to manage Go KL City bus service in August
(File pix) Prasarana Malaysia Berhad will now manage the Go KL City free bus service in the federal capital. Pix courtesy of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad
KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) will now manage the Go KL City free bus service in the federal capital.
All the routes for the free bus service will be managed by Prasarana's subsidiary, Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, and its service provider Rapid KL.
The one-year agreement with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, which will take effect on Aug 31 onwards, will see Rapid Bus managing six Go KL City bus routes. They are:
- KLCC - Bukit Bintang (Green Line);
- Pasar Seni - Bukit Bintang (Purple Line);
- Titiwangsa - Bukit Bintang (Blue Line);
- Titiwangsa - KL Sentral through Dataran Merdeka (Red Line);
- Titiwangsa - MINDEF (Orange Line); and,
- LRT Universiti - PPR Pantai Ria (Pink Line).
Prasarana Group chief operating officer (operations), Muhammad Nizam Alias said the company appreciated DBKL's trust in them to manage the six major routes and increase mobility in the federal capital.
“This is an important recognition for Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd and we will continue striving hard to provide the best service for our customers in line with our mission which is to provide world-class services for Malaysians,” said Nizam said in a statement.
The Go KL City bus service, launched on Aug 31, 2012, is a public bus service that offers free rides for commuters within the Kuala Lumpur Central Business District (CBD).
It is also aimed to reduce congestion in Kuala Lumpur by encouraging users to park their cars and use Go KL city bus service to travel around.
The stops encompass popular spots within the heart of Kuala Lumpur such as shopping havens, tourist attractions and prominent office towers.
The Go KL City bus service is equipped with free WiFi and designed to be disabled- and eco-friendly.
The bus service, which operates seven days a week, starts at 6am and ends at 11pm except for Fridays and Saturdays, where the service ends at 1am.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Malindo Air to start Varanasi service on July 18
Malindo Air will start flying from Kuala Lumpur to Varanasi on July 18 as it looks to capitalise on pilgrimage traffic to the Hindu holy city in northern India. - NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
Malindo Air will start flying from Kuala Lumpur to Varanasi on July 18 as it looks to capitalise on pilgrimage traffic to the Hindu holy city in northern India.
There will be three flights per week with a total capacity of 486 seats.
With the launch of its new service, Malindo Air will be operating 63 weekly flights connecting 10 Indian cities to Malaysia.
The direct flight to a major city in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, would help encourage more people from the region to visit Malaysia, said Datuk Hidayat Abdul Hamid, High Commissioner of Malaysia to India.
“We have 224 flights weekly between India and Kuala Lumpur and Indian travelers can travel from 14 cities to Malaysia. We are promoting tourism beyond Kuala Lumpur and focusing on destinations like Ipoh, Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Sarawak and the beautiful unexplored beaches to attract one million Indian tourists by 2020,” he said.
Sulaiman Suip, director of Tourism Malaysia in New Delhi, said tourist arrivals from India in the first three months of this year grew 18.6 per cent due to easy air links and a hassle-free online visa process.
Malindo Air, which began flying to India in December 2013, sees potential to attract both inbound and outbound travellers.
“However, Varanasi may have the added advantage in terms of demand as it is also primarily a sacred pilgrimage destination for Hindus around the world,” the airline’s chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy said.
Many travellers from India use Malindo’s wide network to travel to destinations within the region. - BERNAMA
Air Arabia’s maiden flight arrives at KLIA
Inaugural flight: The Air Arabia flight landing at the KL International Airport.
SEPANG: The inaugural Air Arabia Flight G9 0921 from Sharjah to Kuala Lumpur has touched down safely at the KL International Airport.
This marks the first time a low-cost carrier is connecting the country directly to the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Present to greet the arrival of the passengers yesterday morning was Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.
“The flight couldn’t have come at a better time as we are promoting the country in the run-up to our Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign.
“This year, our target is to have 337,000 tourists from the West Asia region.
“I believe the launching of Air Arabia’s Sharjah-KL route will help increase tourist arrivals from this region,” he said.
Mohamaddin said the ministry would continue to boost air connectivity as part of VM2020.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Musa Yusof said there were plans to attract more airlines to the country.
“We are looking at attracting eight more airlines this year as part of the Joint International Tourism Development Programme,” he said.
Last year, Malaysia recorded RM3.1bil in tourist receipts from West Asia, a growth of 32.9% compared to the previous year.
As of March this year, tourist arrivals from West Asia countries stand at 65,202.
The seven-hour flight between Kuala Lumpur and Sharjah operates daily.
Sharjah is a neighbouring city of Dubai and the third largest emirate of the UAE.
Air Arabia is the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa.
~The Star~
