Spiderman Did It Again!
A French daredevil climber who has scaled skyscrapers around the world without ropes was arrested in Malaysia on Tuesday as he tried to clamber up the world's tallest twin towers.
Alain Robert, 44, known as the "French Spiderman", slipped past security guards at the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers and reached the 60th floor before giving himself up.
The climb was Robert's second failed bid to scale the Petronas Towers. Exactly 10 years ago, he was arrested on the 60th floor of the other tower, a mission he accomplished in 30 minutes.
Robert has climbed over 65 buildings around the world, including the Eiffel Tower, London's Canary Wharf building, New York's Empire State Building and Chicago's Sear's Tower.
In 2004 he fended off stormy weather to climb the world's tallest building, Taipei 101, in Taiwan's capital.
If found guilty, he could be sentenced to a jail term of up to one year, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Entry Date: 28/03/2007 4.48pm Posted by: Roszs
KL Budget Hotels
Budget hotels today are trendy and offer comfortable accommodation complete with Internet connection. The best of all, it is at a fraction of the price you would pay at a regular hotel!
Thanks to the push by the Tourism Ministry, budget hotels around the country have evolved from grimy old shophouses into modern, clean accommodation offering first class service. With the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 in full swing, many have spruced themselves up with a fresh coat of paint and cosy interior.
Most budget hotels in the country are usually rated three stars and below and the usual facilities are a bed, breakfast and shower room. Other types of budget accommodation include lodges, chalets and dormitories.
The recent introduction of the no-frills hotel concept by Tune Hotels.com is expected to boost the image of budget accommodation even further.
Tune Hotels.com, a hotel by AirAsia, offers clean and safe hotel accommodation with basic facilities like bed and shower. You can get a room at rates as low as RM9.90 a night during the promotional period and pay a sum for other facilities like towels and air-conditioner.
Among the popular budget hotel in Kuala Lumpur are Tengkay Tong Shin and The Green Hut.
Tengkat Tong Shin, situated in the Golden Triangle, houses old colonial buildings which have been modified into stylish guesthouses and eateries offering some of the best food in town. The street is fast becoming a hotspot among budget travellers who spend between two and five days, or more, here.
The Green Hut at the Bukit Bintang area is another popular choice and it gets repeat travellers who stay for months.
While 60 per cent of their guests are walk-ins, rooms can also be reserved online as these hotels have developed their own websites.
Entry Date: 28/03/2007 4.48pm Posted by: Roszs
WiMAX Services
The government has awarded four firms the much-awaited licences for super high-speed Internet access and immediately set targets for them to offer their services this year.
The award of WiMAX licences would help Malaysia catch up with tech-savvy Asian neighbours such as Singapore and Korea by boosting broadband penetration and use.
The winners were Bizsurf (M) Sdn Bhd, a unit of YTL Corp Bhd; MIB Comm Sdn Bhd, a unit of Green Packet Bhd; Redtone-CNX Broadband Sdn Bhd, a unit of Redtone International Bhd; and Asiaspace Dotcom Sdn Bhd, owned by businessman Datuk Abdul Ghani Abdullah.
WiMAX, an emerging technology, can blanket large areas with high-speed Internet access, enabling faster downloads for laptops, mobile phones and other devices. Some experts dub it "Wi-Fi on steroids", a reference to the existing Wi-Fi technology that covers a 50-metre radius.
With WiMAX, you can surf the Internet from laptops while in a park, on a bus during a traffic jam, or anywhere in a residential neighbourhood.
Redtone-CNX is to serve only Sabah and Sarawak.
WiMAX is expected to increase the country’s broadband penetration rate.
Entry Date: 28/03/2007 4.48pm Posted by: Roszs
KL Marathon
The Ambank - Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) was held at Dataran Merdeka on Sunday, 18th March 2007.
The KLIM is jointly organised by KL City Hall and FTAAA for the fourth time. The run was inaugurated 16 years ago as the Kuala Lumpur Run.
With the slogan "Hit the Streets and Beat It", the run was aimed at cultivating the spirit of sports among Malaysians while attracting foreign participants and tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2007.
The run started and finished at Dataran Merdeka, via Old Klang Road, Federal Highway, KL-Seremban Highway, Jalan Loke Yew, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Raja, Jalan Raja Muda, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Syed Putra, Jalan Duta and Jalan Mahameru.
The Ambank - Kuala Lumpur International Marathon has 14 categories offering a total of RM300,000 in prizes.The winner in the Men's Open will receive RM25,000. He will receive an additional RM13,000 if he completes the 42km run within 2hr 20min.
Any Malaysian who breaks the national record will receive RM10,000. The national record is 2hr 29min 27sec (men) and 2hr 49min 28sec (women). The organisers are also offering other incentives to Malaysians who finish among the top five in the Men's and Women's Open categories.
www.klmarathon.gov.my
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Conference on Emergency Medicine
Kuala Lumpur will be hosting the Asian Conference on Emergency Medicine (ACEM) 2007, it’s fourth edition, for the first time this year.
The congress organised by the Malaysian Society for Traumatology and Emergency Medicine and the Health Ministry will be held from March 22 to 25 at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Emergency Medical Services in Malaysia head Prof Datuk Dr Abu Hassan Asaari Abdullah will be chairing the congress.
Dr Abu, who is also Asian Society for Emergency Medicine’s vice-president, will be conferred the title of president during the congress.
Themed Holistic and Quality Care, The Emergency Medicine Brand, the conference provides a platform for doctors, paramedical personnel and allied health staff from all over Asia to exchange knowledge on the topic.
The programme also includes six pre-congress workshops and a trade exhibition. All seats for the workshops have been filled while the exhibition has already had close to 100 booths taken up to showcase the latest designs, technology, equipment and vehicles in the field.
The pre-conference workshops aim to train and improve the clinical skills of doctors and paramedics. The topics are Airway Management, Disaster Management for Hospital Managers, Focussed Assessment Sonography in Trauma (FAST), Advanced Life Support Instructor Course (ALSIC), Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training and Pre-hospital Trauma Care.
You are welcome to visit the trade exhibition to get some tips on how to deal with emergency situation if you face any.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Malaysia Property Expo
About 20,000 people thronged the Malaysia Property Expo (MAPEX) 2007 held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) from 10th to 11th March 2007.
The three-day event was jointly organised by Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia's (Rehda) Kuala Lumpur and Selangor branches.
Covering about 3,000 square metres, MAPEX 2007 featured 74 developers showcasing over 9,000 units of properties with a retail value of nearly RM4bil.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Mozart’s The Magic Flute
As a tribute to legendary classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) presents Mozart’s The Magic Flute, from March 22 to 25.
One of Mozart’s last and most popular operas, The Magic Flute was first performed in Vienna in 1791.
The stars include Peter Ong, Irma Lailatul Munira, Tan Sin Sim, James Long, John Tan, Kho Mei Ling, Wang DiXia and Janet Lee. Brian Tan is the conductor.
The Magic Flute’s story begins with the evil Queen Of The Night (Sin Sim) convincing Tamino (Ong) to save her beautiful daughter, Pamina (Irma), who is kidnapped by Sarastro (John). As a reward, she promises to make Pamina his wife.
With bird-catcher Papageno’s (Long) help, Tamino sets out to save Pamina. The Queen’s three maidservants give him a magic flute to protect him from danger. Papageno is given magic bells, and three young assistants.
Along the way, Papageno meets a girl, Papagena (Lee). Sarastro is actually protecting Pamina from the Queen and has put Tamino to the test, to see if he is worthy of Pamina.
Tickets: RM50, RM40 and RM30 (students, senior citizens and the handicapped).
Time: 8.30pm (March 22 to 24) and 3pm (March 24 and 25). Call 03-4047-9000 or 03-2094-9400.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Etihad Larger Jets For Its Kuala Lumpur Service
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, is to introduce larger aircraft on its Kuala Lumpur - Abu Dhabi route due to strong passenger demand.
The Boeing 777-300ER has 378 seats, 28 in business class and 350 in economy class - 113 more per flight than the Airbus A340-300 aircraft being used now. Cargo capacity also increases to 20 tonnes.
Etihad flies six times a week (except Saturday) between Kuala Lumpur and Abu Dhabi.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Passport Renewal Foreign Spouse
Foreigners married to Malaysian citizens can stay here for up to five years without having their passports endorsed annually, as presently exercised.
The new regulation would take immediate effect.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
21 Years of Art at CM
After 21 years, the artists of Central Market past and present are strutting their stuff at a large exhibition and showing that they are capable of more than just popular portraits and landscapes.
Central Market has been home to quite a few Malaysian artists since it was converted from a wet market into a cultural centre in 1986. Tourists and locals arriving at Central Market have often been captivated by the artists as they transform a piece of blank canvas into vivid life.
As the arts scene becomes more rarefied and perhaps even elitist elsewhere in Kuala Lumpur, the Central Market folks are said to be truly people’s artists. Their customers range from folks looking for living room paintings to those wanting drawings of loved ones. And, of course, there are the VIP paintings.
Over the years, their numbers have grown to about 30. Some among them have become internationally recognised artists, like Long Thien Shih, Aris Aziz, Abdul Ghani Ahmad, Ujang, Yusof Gajah and several others.
The list of artists exhibited: Abdul Ghani Ahmad, Agus, Ali Bakar, Anuar Dan, Aris Aziz, Azmi Aris, Azmi S.H, Baim, Charles Low, Dino, Hadi, Iedet, Ismail Baba, Jack (Abdul Aziz), Jaja, Long Thien Shih, Mohamad Hairul, Nik Zaiton, Nor Hisyam Asmawi, Raja Mohd, Ronnie, Rosli Mohd Don, Suria Suim, Syed Nahar, Syed Noah, Ujang and Yusof Gajah.
Central Market Artists: 21 Years On is being held until March 25 at 2nd Floor, The Annexe, Central Market, KL, Viewing hours are 10am to 9pm daily.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Cheng Lock Memorial
A memorial for the late Tun Datuk Tan Cheng Lock will be proposed to remember the contribution of MCA’s first party president.
Tan Cheng Lock was a leader who struggled, sacrificed and fought with Tunku Abdul Rahman and MIC leaders for independence. He died on Dec 13, 1960.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
More Female Cops Soon
The number of policewomen will be increased by nearly 5,000 soon.
About 10 per cent of the 90,000-strong force were women and that their number would be increased by five per cent.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Shortage of Bone Marrow
If you suffer from any form of blood cancer, there is little hope of getting a bone marrow transplant in Kuala Lumpur.
With only 11,000 registered donors, the Malaysian Marrow Donor Registry is facing an acute shortage. The chances of finding a match from a donor unrelated to the patient stands at only one in 10,000.
The National Cancer Coucil (Makna) need about 70,000 to 80,000 donors to be a good registry. To overcome the shortage of donors, Makna and the Institute for Medical Research will launch a nationwide campaign to attract more bone marrow donors.
The National Cancer Registry’s records show that there are 433 cases of lymphatic leukaemia, 539 of myeloid leukaemia and 115 of myeloma among cases of blood cancer in 2003.
Patients needing bone marrow transplants would normally turn to siblings and other family members to see whether there is a match. The more siblings a patient has, the higher the chances of finding a match.
For example, if a patient has one sibling, the probability of a match is 25 per cent but if the patient has five, the probability rises to 76 per cent.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
National Craft Expo 07
National Craft Expo 07 was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmed Badawi at Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Conlay on National Crafts Day Wednesday, March 7, 2007. The Expo is organised by Kraftangan Malaysia and will run until March 18.
The event is a kaleidoscope of Malaysian arts and crafts like batik, wood carvings and rattan products by 400 local artists and crafts entrepeneurs.
You will be delighted to see various displays of fine works using wood, stone, silver, ceramic, cane and and textiles.
They are also demonstrations on wau (kite) making, traditional Indian pottery and textile weaving like songket and Rungus, which is a traditional weaving method by the Ru-ngus ethnic group from Kudat, Sabah.
The expo provides a platform for local craftsmen, artists and business people to market their products. At the same time, you can view handicraft from throughout the country under one roof and in air-conditioned comfort.
You can also watch cultural shows including singing and dancing as well as learning how to play traditional games like congkak, wayang kulit (shadow play).
The National Craft Expo 07 is open to the public from 9am to 8pm.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
KLIA Won World Best Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), has once again won the World's Best Airport award presented by the Airport Council International (ACI).
KLIA ranked as the World's Best Airport in the 15-25 million passengers per annum category for the ACI's Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards 2006.
San Diego Airport in the United States and Zurich Airport in Switzerland were placed second and third respectively in the category.
A total of 81 airports worldwide participated in the ASQ Survey 2006 which evaluates airport performances in terms of service quality, facilities and passengers feedback in several categories. KLIA first participated in the survey in 2002 and has won the award for the same category since 2005.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
National Water Fest 2007
National Water Fest 2007 offers you a month-long beach fun fest!
The month-long festival starting April 6 will provide participants a kaleidoscope of exciting beach activities, both traditional and modern.
A grand three-day launch will be graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Dataran Lang in Langkawi on April 7.
The festival will also be held in five other venues including Danga Bay (Johor), Reggata Lepa (Semporna, Sabah), Perlis, Labuan and Pantai Puteri (Malacca).
Free transportation would also be provided at Pantai Cenang, Jeti Kuah, Air Hangat, Padang Maksirat and Awana Porto Malai on April 6th and 7th, between 7am and 2am.
Local artists will entertain the crowd. Other sports activities slated are parasailing, beach bowling, slippery pole climb, pukul bantal and tarik upih. Competition for the Family's Most Creative Beach Picnic would also be held in Pantai Cenang, Langkawi.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
Water Cuts in Selangor
Water supply in Gombak, Petaling and Hulu Selangor will be disrupted from March 15 until March 20 to for maintenance and upgrading work.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) said residents in Taman Sri Melati in Gombak, would experience a supply disruption from 10pm today till 3am tomorrow for the installation of a zone meter.
The affected areas include: Taman Salak Jaya, Taman Sungai Besi, Taman Salak Selatan, Taman Gembira, Taman Pagar Ruyung, Taman Continental, Taman Indrahana and Taman Kuchai Jaya.
The other affected places are: the Industrial Training Institute, Cindai Mas condominium, the Ajinomoto factory industrial area and Carpet Malaysia.
In Hulu Langat, areas in Felda Sungai Tengi and Felda Sungai Tengi Selatan will experience supply disruptions on March 19, from 6am to 4pm, for the cleaning of the Sungai Tengi treatment plant.
The work to clean the reservoir at the Sungai Dusun treatment plant will cause supply disruptions in all areas in Felda Sungai Dusun and Felda Soeharto on March 20, from 6am to 4pm.
Entry Date: 18/03/2007 8.16pm Posted by: Roszs
KL Book Festival
The Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival is back this year with an impressive line-up of authors from all over the world!
With the theme The Nation at 50, the programme from March 29 to 31 will include book launches, discussions, meetings with writers, exhibitions and workshops, for adults and children.
Some authors attending the festival are Randa Abdel Fattah, Brian Castro, Benjamin Zephaniah, Goenawan Mohamad, Camilla Gibb, Eda Kriseova, Elizabeth Smither, Simithra Rahubadhe,Tash Aw, Dina Zaman, Salleh Ben Joned and Cecil Rajendra.
The festival will take place at various venues in Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Registration for the event costs RM200. Students pay half the price.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Smart Tunnel Can Withstand Quakes
The RM1.6bil Smart tunnel in Kuala Lumpur will not be affected by earthquakes or tremors. The tunnel’s circular shape will enable it to withstand forces from any direction.
About 2,000 participants are expected to take part in the 16km run, which includes a 4.1km stretch outside the tunnel. The run will start at the Smart management office at Jalan Davis, off Jalan Tun Razak. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will flag off the run at 7.30am on March 11.
This is a chance for you to visit the tunnel before it is opened to traffic. You can walk in the tunnel from 10am to 1pm. There will also be a carnival, cash prizes and lucky draws.
The winner for every category will receive RM1,800 cash while the first 150 runners to complete the run will receive medals.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Auto Debit at Toll Plazas
It will be a smooth drive along the North-South Expressway when the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system is implemented by the end of this year.
Under the MLFF, which is similar to systems used extensively in Europe, the United States, Australia, Canada and Singapore, the toll charges will be deducted electronically as vehicles bearing special tags pass through toll plazas at normal driving speeds, as there will be no barriers.
Efkon Asia Sdn Bhd, a local consultant appointed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA), is in the final stages of completing its feasibility study and submitting its recommendations.
The recommendations will be discussed in a committee comprising officials from the Works Ministry, MHA, toll concessionaires and Rangkaian Segar, the operator of the Touch ‘n' Go electronic payment system and SmartTag, before the MLFF electronic toll is implemented.
The MLFF would reduce congestion at toll plazas, be environmentally friendly and increase road safety. Some of the advantages include improved traffic flow, reduction in travel time, savings on fuel and cutting down the vehicle's wear and tear.
There are over 650,000 SmartTags in circulation at present. All the technology used in the SmartTag lane is easily extended to high-speed MLFF.
Under the MLFF system, a laser scanner would detect and classify the vehicle, triggering the camera system to capture an image of it on the dedicated lanes on the expressway. It will then debit the amount and inform the user of the correct payment.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
KL Sentral Contest offers great prizes
The next time you’re in KL Sentral watch out for the LG Plasma TVs that are placed in strategic areas in the station to entertain you while you wait for the train.
They announced the placement of the innovative LG Time Machine TVs in the station during the "Senang Menang" contest period, which is expected to end on April 30.
There are a total of nine LG LCD and Plasma TVs in Station Sentral to give visitors a chance to experience the features of the TV.
In conjunction with the station's sixth anniversary, they have collaborated with LG Electronics to offer commuters the "Senang Menang" contest that guarantees great prizes.
Some of the prizes up for grabs are LG products and tickets sponsored by Station Sentral Kuala Lumpur. The grand prize comprises LG Time Machine 42" inch Plasma TV, LG Tall Boy Home Theater System and three-day/two-night holiday package for two to Langkawi.
To enter the contest, you have to spend at any of the vendors at KL Sentral Station and have the receipt stamped at the information counter, which you then attach to the form and return it to the information counter on level 1.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Amazing Photo Entries
With such a wide variety of photographs, many of them amazing, judges of the Malaysia@50 National Photography Contest 2006 find the shortlisting process rather tough.
The contest themed A Day in the Life of Malaysia saw about 4,000 entries based on seven themes -- our home, at work, at play, our beliefs, our culture, our heritage and our cities/towns/kampungs.
A thousand photographs were shortlisted last Sunday, and from that the panel of judges narrowed it down to the 20 winning photographs. About 150 photographs will be selected for an exhibition and catalogue for the National Art Gallery while about 400 will be used in a coffee table book to be published by Star Publications (M) Bhd.
Both the exhibition and book will be launched on Aug 17.
The top three winners in the School Children & Youth Category will receive RM1,000 each plus prizes in kind and a certificate each. The five consolation winners will get RM500, prizes in kind and a certificate each.
For the Open Category and the Open Photo Essay Category, the top three winners in each of the two categories will receive RM5,000, prizes in kind and a certificate each. The three consolation winners in each of the two categories will receive RM1,000, prizes in kind and a certificate each.
The Malaysia@50 National Photography Contest 2006 is organised by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, the National Art Gallery and Star Publications.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
AirAsia New Routes to Vietnam
Asia's top budget carrier AirAsia plans to launch up to six new routes, including to destinations in Vietnam and Myanmar, from Malaysia this year.
Chief executive Tony Fernandes said he wanted services to Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane in Laos and to Myanmar.
AirAsia net profit for the six months to December soared jumped to 227 million ringgit (64.7 million dollars) from 59.9 million ringgit.
AirAsia was launched as a budget carrier in December 2001 with just two aircraft. It now offers more than 100 domestic and international flights to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
The Malay Mail Big Walk (The Biggie)
The Malay Mail Big Walk (The Biggie) this year is dedicated to bone cancer child patients who have lost the use of their legs. A sum of RM1 from the RM10 registration fee for each participant will go towards buying artificial limbs and walking aids for the children.
You can also contribute by buying RM10 donation vouchers from designated New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad employees. Companies and clubs wishing to help may do so by sponsoring a minimum of RM4,000 for a prosthetic limb.
The walk, to be held from Dataran Merdeka on April 29, will have as its theme "If They Can Walk, Why Can’t You". There will be 14 categories, from 5km to 20km.
For more information, please call Lee Lay Kim at 03-22823131 ext 2470
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Kanye West In Kuala Lumpur
Rap superstar Kanye West will head to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a performance at Stadium Negara, on 8th April 2007.
West, 29, is expected to perform material from his platinum selling albums The College Dropout and Late Registration, as well as selections from his upcoming album, Graduation.
The rapper will be accompanied by a female string orchestra during the performance, which is a being billed as a major event for the growth of the Hip-Hop scene in Kuala Lumpur.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Malaysia Approves Four Seasons Hotel
The Singapore tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who owns Four Seasons resorts in Bali, Singapore and the Maldives, won government approval to build the brand's first hotel in the Malaysian capital after a 17-month wait.
Ong will join with a Malaysian sultan and CapitaLand to build the 1.5 billion ringgit, or $427 million, hotel and apartment complex in Kuala Lumpur.
The project, next to the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's second-tallest building, marks the biggest investment in Malaysia's hospitality industry this year as a surge in tourist arrivals filled rooms, possibly pushing rates to a record in 2007. The country counts on tourism for about 6 percent of its gross domestic product.
The Four Seasons development will include 200 hotel rooms, 50 serviced apartments and 173 condominium units.
Ong bought his 2.6-acre Kuala Lumpur site in 2003 from the late Singapore billionaire Khoo Teck Puat for 90 million ringgit, or 785 ringgit a square foot. The development, through Venus, would be the fifth Four Seasons property for Ong. His Hotel Properties owns four of the brand's hotels.
Venus, the owner and developer of the hotel project, is owned by Ong and his associates. Its chairman is Syed Yusof Nasir, who handles the business interests of Sharafuddin Idris Shah, ruler of Malaysia's richest state of Selangor.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Lunar Eclipse At Dawn
Stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts were up early om 4th March 2007 to catch the lunar eclipse at dawn. Two popular spots in the federal capital were the National Planetarium at Taman Tasik Perdana and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
The moon darkened, reddened, and turned shades of grey and orange as the eclipse set in at 4.16am. The last time Malaysians caught a lunar eclipse was on May 5, 2004.
As the eclipse unfolded, the penumbra (Earth’s shadow) took six hours to crawl across the moon’s surface, eating it into a crescent shape before engulfing it completely and then leaving.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, an uncommon event because the moon spends most of its time either above or below the plane of the Earth’s orbit.
The next total lunar eclipse would take place on Aug 28 this year and would be visible in Asia, Australia, the Pacific and parts of America. It would last for three hours and 33 minutes, of which one hour 31 minutes would be in totality.
Entry Date: 11/03/2007 7.25pm Posted by: Roszs
Thai AirAsia Fly Daily To Xiamen, China
Thai AirAsia will fly daily to Xiamen in China beginning March 25 as it increases its flight from four a week to better serve its fast-growing number of passengers. The increase in flight frequency comes less than two years after the airline began flying to Xiamen.
The Bangkok-Xiamen route, which opened in April 2005, enjoyed an average load factor of 85 percent last year.
Xiamen, dubbed as China's Garden by the Sea, is among Asia's most famous cities and offer visitors a wonderful mix of spectacular natural sceneries and vibrant city entertainment.
The three-year-old airline, which carried three million passengers last year, is also offering 20,000 seats under its latest promotion designed for traveling families this summer.
It offers low airfares for domestic destinations and international travel, with local routes starting at 299 Baht for travel between March 19 and April 27 this year.
For international routes, the fare, excluding tax, starts at 499 Baht (US$15/RM49.99) to Phnom Penh, Penang and Langkawi, 699 Baht (S$29.99) to Singapore and 899 baht (CNY 198 /MOP 199) to Xiamen and Macau.
The subsidiary of Malaysia's AirAsia currently flies to nine domestic routes in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hatyai, Krabi, Narathiwat, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani while its 10 overseas destinations includes Xiamen, Macau, Phnom Penh, Yangon, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Singapore.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Hotel Rooms for 99 sen?
Believe it. You can stay in Kuala Lumpur hotel for just 99 sen!
Tune Hotels.com, a home-grown, no-frills hotel chain is offering rooms for a super-low price online in conjunction with the launch of their flagship hotel at the end of the month. Tune Hotels.com which is located in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, is the first of the company’s six to open in Malaysia and the Asian region.
The new Tune Hotels.com has 172 rooms, each with a five-star King Koil bed and 250 threadcount duvets and showers. The booking price starts from RM0.99 to RM9.99. The price may vary depending on time of booking, availability and demand. Last-minute booking does not guarantee a low price as the hotel’s average room rate at peak periods could shoot up to RM89.90.
Tune Hotels.com hotel rates do not cover facilities such as air-conditioning, towels, minibar, sofas, hotel kitchen, swimming pool and meeting rooms. Some of these, however, are made available at a cost, based on customers’ demands. A 24-hour convenience store and a Kopitiam that serves a wide variety of food are provided at the hotel lobby.
Five more hotels are scheduled to open at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Baru and Penang by the end of the year.
The company was also planning to open between 30 and 40 hotels in major cities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, concentrating on destinations where local low-cost carrier AirAsia flies.
Tune Hotels.com runs on the tagline "Now Anyone Can Sleep Well". Online booking via www. tunehotels.com is valid for a stay period from April 15 to Oct 31, 2007.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Antara Reopens Office
Indonesia's national news agency Antara will reopen its Kuala Lumpur office from March in efforts to widen its coverage on Malaysia and also help foster closer ties between the people of both countries through the spread of information and news.
Antara's senior journalist Adi Lazuardi would head the bureau, which would be based at Wisma Bernama, the headquarters of Malaysia's national news agency Bernama in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.
After Kuala Lumpur, the 70-year-old agency planned to reopen its bureaus in Canberra, Beijing and Tokyo, besides continuing with those already operating in New York, Egypt and several other countries.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Air Sahara Flights to KL
Expanding its presence in the international sector, aviation major Air Sahara announced on 27th February 2007 the launch of its flight to Kuala Lumpur and Male.
The private carrier will commence its Kuala Lumpur flight on March 19 from Delhi and from Thiruvananthapuram to Male on March 10. The Delhi - Singapore flight would now stop at Kuala Lumpur and then go onwards to Singapore, which was connected earlier, he said and pointed out that attractive packages would be offered to the passengers on the international route.
On the domestic front the company would extend its Delhi Bangalore flight to Coimbatore, besides flying three flights daily from Delhi to Cochin including one non-stop from March 10.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Bilateral Tourism
Malaysia and Sri Lanka have agreed on establishing an inter-governmental mechanism to enhance bilateral tourism.
A statement from Tourism Malaysia here today said the decision was made by Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Milinda Moragoda, during the former's current visit to Sri Lanka.
During the talks between the two ministers, they also discussed a move to speak in one voice on issues which negatively affect the tourism industry of both countries. Malaysia aims to attract 27,000 Sri Lankan tourists this year, up from 20,200 in 2006.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Zass!! Bus Hair Salon
Having a bad hair day? Take the Zass!! bus hair salon and get you new hair done. It's a brand new mobile hair salon services that you can enjoy in Kuala Lumpur and the first of it kind in the world!
Just keep your eyes open to a red, vintage-looking bus with the words "Zass!!" emblazoned on its sides. The bus will be zipping around town offering hair-styling services to Klang Valley residents on daily basis.
Some locations identified for the bus include Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia hostels, housing estates and various office car parks.
The mobile unit willl, first and foremost, offer basic hairstyling service (dry-cut and blowing for four clients at any one time) at only RM8. The red bus is equipped with 4 hair-styling stations, a multimedia info kiosk and retail centre.
The first batch of hairstylists on the bus are children of Felda settlers who had graduated from hair-styling schools and will be trained to manage business expansion. RM1 from each haircut will be channelled to a student welfare fund for the various universities hosting the mobile unit. For details on Zass!! and house-call services visit www.myzass.com
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Touch ’n Go 2nd Outlet
If you use use Touch ’n Go cards, you can buy Touch ’n Go and SmartTAG cards, reload your card and make enquiries regarding the card services for LRT, KTM Komuter, Monorail and Express Rail Link at the new sales outlet in KL Sentral.
Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Yahya Yaacob opened the second Touch & Go outlet on 24th February 2007. The first such Touch ’n Go outlet in Jalan Klang Lama was opened in August last year by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Miss Sunway Princess 2007
Ong Shwn Jing beat the other contestants to bag the Miss Sunway Princess 2007. Joining her were first runner-up 19-year-old Chin Jiaa Jiaa and second runner-up Shirley Hew, 16.
The event, organised in conjunction with Chinese New Year, was to showcase the cheongsam and other garments it inspired throughout the ages. The young women were judged on their poise, elegance, confidence and personality.
They also had to take part in a gruelling question-and-answer session to assess their general knowledge and overall fluency of expression. Over several weeks, the participants received extensive coaching to polish their social skills, confidence and presence.
The winners received trophies, cash prizes and a variety of products.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Halal Food Hub
The Middle Eastern tourists to Malaysia increased by 21 per cent in 2006 with 178,000 visitors compared to the same period in 2005. This a testament to the success of the country’s promotion of the halal food industry.
The second edition of the halal food guide titled Halal Food: Kuala Lumpur - A Guide to Good Eating here yesterday.
It provides information on locations, prices, opening hours and promotions available at hundreds of halal restaurants in the country. The book, priced at RM19.90, will be sold at all major bookstores in the country from next month onwards.
Adnan also hoped that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would expand its halal certification to eateries serving halal food, although such establishments might also be providing alcoholic drinks to non-Muslims.
Many hotels in Kuala Lumpur are already providing halal food but they also had bars and pubs within the premises for the convenience of their non-Muslim guests.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
Charter Flight Deal
Taiwanese? You will have more options to travel to Malaysia now with the signing of a charter flight programme between a Taiwanese airline company and two local subsidiaries of an investment holding company.
Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) in Taipei sealed an agreement with Sanbumi Holiday (SH) Sdn Bhd and Sanbumi Air Transport (SAT), which are subsidiaries of Sanbumi Holdings Bhd, to allow tourists to fly into Malaysia through FAT’s charter flights.
166,700 tourists from Taiwan came to Malaysia between January and November last year, an increase of six per cent compared with the same period in 2005. The introduction of the charter flights was expected to boost arrivals as the ministry targeted 400,000 visitors from Taiwan this year.
Chartered flights are popular among tourists for its unique characteristics such as flexibility and privacy, unlike commercial flights. The maiden charter flight into Malaysia will arrive in Kuala Lumpur in the first week of April and would operate five times a week.
There are also plans to fly direct into Penang, Kuantan, Langkawi, Terengganu and Kota Kinabalu.
Entry Date: 04/03/2007 3.07pm Posted by: Roszs
World's Best Destination
Malaysia was voted the world’s best destination for 2006 in a survey conducted by US-based business travel publication, Global Traveler. The survey, carried out between February and August last year, collected the opinions of 13,653 of the magazine’s readers who are regarded as an elite group of international travelers. The survey respondents answered a questionnaire covering 42 travel categories.
The travel magazine published the results of the poll in its January 2007 issue. In the Best Tourism Destination category, Malaysia was selected over other renowned destinations such as Hawaii, Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy, Phuket, South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
Other categories rated by the readers ranged from best international hotel chain, best airline to best airport in the world.
Global Traveler is a business travel publication that caters mainly to executive travelers in North America who appreciate business and luxury travel. It has a circulation of 60,055 subscribers.
On the same note, global financial services company, UBS, reported that Malaysia was the “best bargain” for business travelers. This was confirmed through its cost evaluation report covering various cities which revealed the cost of business travel in Kuala Lumpur (including hotel room, meals, transportation and entertainment) as US$260 (RM910). In comparison, a similar trip to Tokyo would cost US$1,090, making it the most expensive city for business.
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