Sunway Pyramid welcomes Chinese New Year

Sunway Pyramid recreates docking junk to welcome Chinese New Year

New tourism platform: (From left) Ooi, Liang, Poo, Kam, H.C. Chan, Sunway Group property investment division managing director Datuk Ngeow Voon Yean, Ooi’s manager Susan Ooi and Sunway Shopping Malls chief operating officer Kevin Tan

Chinese New Year festivities have blown into Sunway Pyramid with the launch of its Winds of Fortune showcase.

Speaking during the launch recently, chief executive officer H.C. Chan said: “Shopping malls have now become a platform to showcase festivals to both locals and tourists.”

For its showcase this year, a replica of a Chinese Junk, the Sha-Chuan, docked at Fortune Harbour has been recreated at LG1 Concourse level.

“The junk symbolises the journey of sailing together into prosperity in 2013 and it is also a symbol of wealth,” said Chan.

To complement the scene, the concourse has been decorated with willow trees, red lanterns, sacks, crates and wooden barrels.

Shoppers will not only have a chance to enjoy the showcase but also get to walk through the Fortune Harbour and board the Sha-Chuan.

To add to the merriment, Sunway Pyramid will conduct various activities for shoppers, including lion dance performances, Spring Fleur Market, Sand Bottle workshop, Calligraphy workshop as well as a repeat of the Shanghai Tang Dance drama for those who missed it during the launch.

Also, Sunway Pyramid mascots Leo and Leona will give out treasure boxes during their walkabout.

While the festive season is a time for celebration, the shopping centre has also taken the opportunity to involve shoppers in its Some of Us Campaign: Food for Thoughts to help the underprivileged.

Capital FM radio announcer Xandria Ooi said the campaign was aimed at encouraging shoppers to put more thought into food and appreciate it.

Ooi, together with celebrities Joanne Kam, Liang and Chermaine Poo, donated food to the food bank.

The proceeds from the sales will be channelled to Jumble Station, a community outreach initiative to help single parents and the underprivileged.

“Non-perishable items can be donated to the Food for Thoughts box in front of Cold Storage and AEON until Feb 24,” said Ooi.

The Winds of Fortune showcase will be held until Feb 12.

~News courtesy of The Star~

茨厂街灯笼装饰应更换

方贵伦：让游客感受新年气氛‧茨厂街灯笼装饰应更换

农历新年跫音近，但高掛在茨厂街上方的已泛白的灯笼却仍未更换，难以让游客及消费者感受到新年气氛。（图：星洲日报）

行动党武吉免登区国会议员方贵伦与吉隆坡小贩商业公会促请吉隆坡市政局，儘快更换茨厂街的灯笼及装饰，以將该区打造成充满农历新年喜气的购物景点！

灯笼装饰已泛白

方贵伦今日到茨厂街派发2013年月历时表示，农历新年来临在即，政府应该儘速更换茨厂街的装饰、泛白的灯笼及提昇基本设施，以在让游客感受浓厚的新年气氛之余，也能趁此机会將该区打造成国际旅游购物的天堂。

“身为国內最重要旅游景区之一的茨厂街，是外国游客必到的景点，所以政府应该多关注该区的情况，以確保该区能持续吸引外国游客。＂

此外，他也呼吁捷运公司在苏丹街及茨厂街进行工程及封路之前，儘早通知该区商家及小贩，並吸取武吉免登路塞车的经验，尽可能减低工程对商家的影响。

“捷运公司在武吉免登路展开工程及封路使武吉免登成了塞车黑区，许多商家大嘆生意额至少跌了50%。＂

吁政府放弃建摩天楼

另一方面，方贵伦也促请政府以保护国家文化遗產为考量，放弃在国家独立公园原址兴建118层摩天大楼的计划，以免破坏了我国重要的独立歷史见证地。

他说，摩天大楼的兴建，不仅將破坏国家文化遗產，也会影响附近旧建筑的面貌，甚至也將造成交通拥挤，並对附近的学校带来很大的衝击，包括导致学校被迫搬迁等。

他也说，包括双峰塔及大地宏图在內，隆市许多办公室的单位仍悬空，因此，一旦政府再兴建118大楼，將导致隆市出现办公室过剩的情况。

“政府不应好高騖远，执意兴建亚洲最高建筑，以免浪费资源。＂

洪细弟：若破坏歷史建筑衝击旅游业

吉隆坡小贩商业公会主席拿督洪细弟揶揄政府总爱“逆道而行＂，往往喜欢在充满歷史意义的地区展开新的建筑或新的发展计划，破坏了当地景区的文化价值。

“纵观世界，各国的政府大多將古城及新城分开发展，如此一来，在打造新城及兴建新式建筑之余，也能保留古城的文化歷史，但我国政府却总反其道而行，令人遗憾。＂

他指出，歷史是有钱都买不到的，若政府执意破坏充满歷史意义的建筑，必將使我国的文化遗產消失，连带將对我国的旅游业带来衝击。

此外，洪细弟也呼吁茨厂街的小贩及商家踊跃申请政府提供的小贩免费保险及免息微型贷款基金，以免错失良机。

他说，该会已安排大马公司委员会（SSM）官员在近两週內亲自前来茨厂街，协助申请有关两项福利，希望商家及小贩能踊跃出席。

“只要是年龄介於18至59岁之间，且没有申请过破產者都符合申请免息贷款的资格。＂

也透露，该会將在下週代表华裔小贩联同其他4个异族小贩组织，出席市政局在波德申举办为期3天的“小贩干训营＂。

出席者包括吉隆坡小贩商业公会財政赵勇池、副財政陈国展、理事洪瑶梅及陈汝顺。

（星洲日报／大都会）

Happy new year 2013

Happy new year 2013
新年快乐
Selamat tahun baru

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~