Sarawak - The Next Diving Haven

MIRI, 30 September 2014 – Tourism Malaysia introduced six scuba diving packages today to help make Sarawak the next diving haven. The state-level launching of the “Sarawak Adventure Dive” 2014/15 package was officiated by Tourism Malaysia’s Director of Domestic Marketing Division Datuk Musa Yusof at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Miri, Sarawak, today.

Tourism Malaysia collaborated with four local tour agencies to produce the dive packages. They consist of the Borneo Exploration Tours & Travel Service and CPH Travel Agencies in Kuching; and Minda Nusantara Tour & Travel Agencies and Planet Borneo Tours & Travel Service in Miri.

The six dive packages that are being offered until December 2015 are as follows:-

• Wreck Dives (Kuching) – A 4D/3N package from RM1,860 – RM2,400 per person (a minimum of four people without equipment).

• Dive Package 1 (Kuching) – A 3D/2N package, starting from RM719 per person.

• Dive Package 2 (Kuching) – A 4D/3N package, starting from RM1,132 per person.

• Dive Miri – A 4D/3N package, starting from RM850 – RM1,350 per person (minimum two people).

• Miri Dive Holidays – A 5D/4N package, starting from RM1,080 – RM1,450 per person.

• Miri Dive & Stay Package @cocohouse – A 4D/3N package, starting from RM748 per person.

In conjunction with the event, a total of 30 divers comprising media, dive centre operators, and travel agents from all over the country, as well as Miri-based tourism industry players were invited to experience the diving activities in Sarawak waters.

They will have the opportunity to dive at the Anemone Garden, Kenyalang Wreck, Atago Maru WW2 Wreck and Eve’s Garden, as well as explore the Gua Niah (Niah Great Cave).

Earlier, the participants had also attended a seminar on diving organised by Tourism Malaysia Sarawak featuring experts such as PADI Course Director Clement Lee, Regional Manager of PADI Asia Pacific Johnny Chew and  Director of Kids Scuba Malaysia Syed Abdul Rahman Syed Hassan.

The “Sarawak Adventure Dive” 2014/15 package was first unveiled at the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Travel Fair at Mid Valley shopping centre on 8 August 2014.

Dive spots in Kuching 

The World War 2 shipwreck near Santubong is a favourite dive spot for local and international diving enthusiasts, who revel in the chance to explore the remnants of Japanese warships, such as the Katori Maru, Hisyoshi Maru and Sagiri.

The remnants of the warships also play an important role in the marine ecosystem, because they act as shelters and artificial habitats for the local marine life. The shipwrecks are about 22 metres below the water’s surface, which is considered an easy depth for divers to explore. 

Aside from diving, there are plenty of other tourist activities, such as a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Bako National Park, or even an exploration of Gua Sireh & Gua Sebayan in Bau. 

Dive Spots in Miri

Miri is among the earliest places that have been designated as a diving destination. There are more than 30 dive sites around Miri’s waters, with a visibility of 10 to 30 metres. The best season to dive in Miri is from March to September or November, depending on the weather. 

Aside from its natural dive spots, Miri also has 5 shipwreck dive spots. Among the most beautiful of them are the artificial reefs named the Kenyalang Wreck, which was a joint development by Shell and Petronas from 7 years ago. Other areas to explore include the Anemone Garden, Siwa Reef and Hawa Reef.  

The effort to develop the “Sarawak Adventure Dive” 2014/15 package is a continuation of the ‘Product Introduction & Packaging – Kuching Adventure Dive’ programme which was organised by Tourism Malaysia Sarawak on May 2013 in Kuching, Sarawak.

The programme received the attention of the Sarawak Tourism Minister, YB Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, who visited the Katori Maru Wreck dive site in Santubong on 25 May 2014.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Asia Music Festival @ Miri, Sarawak ( 3-4 October 2014 )

First it was the award winning Rainforest World Music Festival with Sarawak’s traditional Sape, the boat-shaped lute that has become the symbol of the festival, then it was the Borneo Jazz, bringing jazz from around the world to Sarawak. Coming up next we have the Asia Music Festival!

The Asia Music Festival promises the most electrifying eclectic mix of live music on stage comprising bands from the Asian region.

Asia Music Festival is a 2-day musical event featuring artistes and musicians from Asian countries namely from India, Korea, Indonesia, Brunei Philippines and Malaysia.

With its objective of attracting the Asian expatriate community working in neighbouring Brunei, the local Bruneians themselves , our neighbours from Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia as well as those in Indonesia, Singapore and the surrounding region, the atmosphere is planned to be that of a carnival style.

The Asia Music Festival is organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board.

Come live the adventure with our music festivals in Sarawak!

-www.ticketpro.com.my

Malaysia Lures Japanese Tourists With Nasi Lemak!

yummy basic nasi lemak. photo: PelanconganKini

TOKYO, JAPAN, 29 September 2014: With the help of Japanese food celebrity, Kentetsu Koh, the Malaysian nasi lemak made its way into Japanese tummies in an effort to introduce Malaysian food, culture and holiday destinations to the Japanese market.

It is part of the Tourism Malaysia “Sudah Makan?” campaign launched on 25 September in Tokyo, Japan, where the fiery nasi lemak was selected as the icon dish of Malaysia, and Kentetsu Koh, a Japanese food specialist, as its Malaysian Food Advisor.

The campaign will follow through with several food promotions being held in Japan, including a Malaysian Jazzy Night and Food from 17 to 31 October at Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo. Several Malaysian restaurants already operating in Japan will also be featured at a restaurant carnival at Kai Jyo Row in Chubu Centrair Airport in Nagoya from 7 to 16 November. A similar restaurant promotion will also be held in Japan from 1 Nov 2014 to 31 Jan 2015 where some 15 Malaysian restaurants are taking part to showcase Malaysia’s delicious cuisine to the Japanese public.

The campaign gained ground with Tourism Malaysia’s participation in the JATA Tourism Expo 2014 for the 36th time from 25 to 28 September. The JATA Opening Ceremony was held on 26 September, followed by JATA Tourism Award.   

Malaysia’s presence at this year’s expo was grand with a total of 17 organisations comprising Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, Sarawak Tourism Board, Sabah Tourism Board, hotels and travel agencies, under the Malaysia Pavilion, themed ‘Year of Festivals 2015’. The Pavilion was opened by Tourism Malaysia’s Director of International Promotion Division (North & East Asia) Nor Aznan Sulaiman. Tourism Malaysia also hosted a JATA Luncheon and organised a ‘Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest) 2015 Seminar’.      

The Malaysia Pavilion, dressed up in a “Festival and Culture” theme, is appropriate for the launch of the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 in Japan. At the international food pavilion, Malaysia also had two booths to promote a selection of Malaysian favourites such as roti canai and curry, nasi lemak, mee goreng, ais kacang, teh tarik, mango juice and more. 

Japan has been a major tourist market for Malaysia with 513,000 arrivals from Japan in 2013.

-Tourism Malaysia.

6th Qualifying Round Of WAITGC 2014 Plays Out In Kuala Lumpur & Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 September 2014 – The 6th qualifying round of the World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) tees off at the Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA) and the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club beginning today till 2 October. This is the last qualifying round before the Grand Final in November.

This sixth qualifying round sees the participation of 29 teams, with four teams each from Brunei, Indonesia and Hong Kong, and 17 teams from Australia. 

The tournament begins at the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, which is a five-star, 18-hole golf course in Shah Alam. Since its opening in March 1998, it has won numerous awards of excellence, and has also hosted several major tournaments such as the Malaysian Maybank Open, the World Cup Qualifying Round, the Volvo masters, and most recently, the Selangor Worldwide Masters. Complimented by friendly staff and numerous sport, food and beverage facilities, the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club is one of the hallmark names in Malaysia’s golf industry.

The tournament then continues at KGPA, about 18km from Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Established in 1989, it is one of the more famous golf clubs in the city, with a 27-hole golf course. Intermediate and senior golfers usually flock to its third nine forest course, while professional tournaments are held on its championship (hills & lakes) course, a classic par 72, spanning over 6,091 metres with lush fairways and scenic landscapes. It also boasts a Roman architecture clubhouse, which can host a banquet that caters up to 400 people at one time. 

Golf tourism has been identified as one of the key priority projects to increase the nation’s tourism contribution to the economy, and has in fact been underscored in the country’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Last year, golf tourism receipts amounted to RM304 million compared to 296 million in 2012. This year, Malaysia aims to push that figure to RM310 million. 

WAITGC is Tourism Malaysia’s initiative to promote the country as a top-of-mind golf destination in the region, attracting more than 500 international amateur golfers and spouses annually. It is played in Strokeplay gross for the gross category and Stableford for the nett and senior category. Since its debut in 1994, WAITGC has emerged as a well-regarded tournament and one of the highly anticipated golfing events in the region. 

The World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship is managed by the Golf Club Managers Association of Malaysia (GCMAM) and sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA). 

-Tourism Malaysia.

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2014 @ KLGCC ( 9~12 October 2014 )

October 2014 will see the best in international women’s golf return to the glorious surroundings of the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) as one of the world’s top women’s golf tournaments celebrates its fifth anniversary.  Held from 9 – 12 October 2014, this year’s event will see a a host of new on- and off-course attractions to celebrate five years in Malaysia, and ensure a great day out.  The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2014 promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

Defending Champion and World No. 5 Lexi Thompson will return to the familiar surroundings of the East Course where she triumphed last year with a victory that marked something of a turning point in her professional career as she went on to claim victory in the final tournament of the year before bagging the first ‘major’ of the 2014 tour.

She’ll be up against some big name players including the likes of Lydia Ko and Suzann Pettersen and a host of other top players in a new look field that will include six Malaysian Angels representing their country and giving local fans plenty to cheer about.

As part of its fifth year celebration, the tournament will boast a schedule of activities offering everyone five days of first class entertainment both on and off the course. So irrespective of whether you know your birdies from your bogeys, KLGCC is the place to be this October.

For all the tournament updates and happenings, see www.simedarbylpgamalaysia.com . Tournament activities can also be followed on Twitter and Instagram (@SimeDarbyLPGA) and on the official Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/SimeDarbyLPGAMalaysia ).

-www.ticketpro.com.my

AirAsia To Recommence Kuala Lumpur-Hyderabad Route On Dec 8

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- AirAsia today announced the recommencement of its international route from Kuala Lumpur to Hyderabad, India beginning Dec 8.

The route will be serviced with daily flights, marking another enhancement to the airline's extensive route network and further bridging the gap between Malaysia and the rest of the region.

"We are very pleased to recommence the Kuala Lumpur-Hyderabad route. "This route also reinforces our aim to make Malaysia one of the significant centres of low-fare travel in the region," said AirAsia Bhd Head of Commercial Spencer Lee in a statement today.

In conjunction with the recommencement, AirAsia would offer promotional all-in fares from as low as RM129 one way. The booking period is from Sept 30 until Oct 5, 2014 for the travel period from Dec 8 until Oct 24 2015.
-bernama.

Malaysia Airlines’ 42nd Anniversary Specials

Subang, 28 September 2014: In conjunction with its 42nd Anniversary, Malaysia Airlines will be offering great deals for bookings effective 29 September until 3 October 2014 through its website, ticket offices, participating travel agents and call centre.

The promo, in line with the national carrier's promise of providing affordable airfares to Malaysians, are for international and domestic on the national carrier's flights out of KL International Airport. Customers can enjoy these air fares for travel from 2 October 2014 to 30 June 2015.

Malaysia Airlines’ Regional Senior Vice President Malaysia, Dato' Muzammil Mohamad said, "We would like to thank everyone for supporting us throughout these years. We have come a long way since 1972 in delivering 'Malaysian Hospitality' across our network and have flown millions of Malaysians home and internationally. It is our commitment to continue to serve you with our world class service at affordable prices.”

“Everyone loves a good bargain—and as a token of appreciation, we have lined up some fantastic deals for you to purchase for a limited time only. We invite our customers to grab this incredible opportunity to experience our products and services," he added.

The all-in return promotional fares start from RM120 for Malaysian domestic travel, from RM250 to ASEAN destinations, from RM800 to China, from RM750 to the Indian Sub-Continent, from RM1000 to North Asia and from RM2600 to Europe.

Malaysian domestic air travelers can fly to Penang and Johor Bahru from RM120, Kuching from RM260 and Kota Kinabalu from RM360. For those planning a trip to ASEAN destinations, passengers can avail these amazing deals from RM250 to Medan, RM350 to Phuket, RM420 to Jakarta or Siem Reap, RM530 to Bali, RM600 to Hanoi and RM700 to Manila.

Fares to Orient destinations begin from RM800 to Hong Kong, RM900 to Kunming and RM1200 to Guangzhou. Meanwhile for destinations in the Indian Sub-continent, offers start from RM750 to Kochi, RM1000 to Chennai and Colombo and RM1300 to New Delhi.

Fares to North Asia start from RM1000 to Taipei and RM1800 to Tokyo, while fares to Europe start from RM2600 to Istanbul, RM2790 to Paris and RM2890 to London.

Prices mentioned are for Economy Class travel. Business Class promotional fares are also available from RM900 to domestic destinations to RM11900 to Europe.

For more information, customers may log on to Malaysia Airlines' website at www.malaysiaairlines.com or call 1-300-88-3000.

-Malaysia Airlines.

Kei Nishikori Wins Sixth Career Singles Title At MALAYSIAN OPEN, KUALA LUMPUR

MOTAC facebook

Japanese tennis superstar Kei Nishikori’s superb run of form in 2014 continued as he defeated Julien Benneteau 7-6(4), 6-4 in a thrilling final to win his third title of the year and sixth overall at the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2014 held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The 24-year-old US Open finalist had to endure a tough first set, with his serve being broken as early as the third game. The world No.8 also squandered nine break points before finally leveling matters in the tenth game to force the tie-break and take the straight sets victory in one hour and 47 minutes.

“I was waiting for my opportunity in the last few games of the first set. I had so many break points and I couldn't take them. In the last game he got a little bit tight. I took some chances and after that I was playing much better and I was getting much better. I could see he was a little bit tired in the second set so I tried to raise my level. It was a really tough match… but it's good to win this,” said the world No.8.

Nishikori is on course to make the ATP World Tour finals in London for the first time, and will compete next in the Rakuten Japan Open (which he won in 2012) and the Shanghai Masters.

“I want to do well in Japan for sure because it's my home country. Also Shanghai is a Masters, so those are two big goals for me to do well. I'm sure that this win is going to help for my confidence and also it showed physically that I'm strong,” said the Japanese.

Three-time Malaysian Open runner-up Benneteau once again failed in his bid to win a maiden ATP tour title in his tenth career final, but will take heart from having played the best tennis of his year here.

“It was good week for me and I think that this was my best match of the week. Kei was simply too good in key moments, especially at the end of the first set. I’m disappointed with my loss but happy with the level of my game because today it was a very high level game,” said the 32-year-old world No.28.

In the doubles, fourth seeds Marcin Matkowski and Leander Paes fought back from a set down to claim their first title as a team in as many attempts, defeating number two seeds Jamie Murray and John Peers 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-6 in a thrilling 90 minute super tie-breaker victory.

The Brit-Aussie pairing of Murray and Peers looked on course to pick up their fifth title in two years at 4-2 up in the second set tie break, but with a full capacity crowd egging the underdogs on, the Polish-Indian pair forced a super tie-breaker in which they dominated their shaken opponents and maintain their unbeaten record as a team.

“In a match like that, especially in the finals, the margins between winning and losing are very small. What I really like about Marcin's game is that he is a student of tennis. He's not only a nice guy, but on the court he's always looking to improve. In today's match especially - it was our toughest match - we didn't play our best tennis in the beginning. We were playing a team that was very confident, they don't give you much rhythm. But even when we were down, we were looking to improve. And the minute Marcin's returns got going, it was pretty much a different story then,” said the former world number one and last year’s US Open doubles champ Paes, who is winning his first title of the year and 54th career title.

Matkowski is lifting the doubles crown here for the second time, having previously won with Mariusz Fyrstenberg in 2009.

“Obviously I am very happy to play with Leander. He's a great player. Unfortunately, his usual partner Radek Stepanek is out for the remainder of the year. So we still have to play two more tournaments in the fall and indoor tournaments in Europe and I think we're off to a good start, undefeated. So we look forward to keeping it this way,” said Matkowski, who picks up his 15th career doubles title and second of the year.

A record crowd attended the finals today, with this year’s tournament seeing a sharp increase in spectators over the nine days compared to previous years.

The tournament’s rousing success was a fitting celebration for Visit Malaysia Year 2014, with strong Japanese and French contingents attending the final.

Youth and Sports Minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin and Director General of Tourism Malaysia Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab was also present today and were on hand to present the winner and runner-up trophies on Centre Court.

The tournament would like to thank its suite of official sponsors. In addition to the distinguished support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia as well as the Ministry of Youth & Sports, the event is proud to have prestigious commercial sponsors that include Rado, CNN International, the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Wilson, the Albukhary Foundation, Astro, the ATP World Tour’s Premier Partner Corona, as well as welcome on board KPJ Healthcare Berhad, making its first foray into sponsorship of professional tennis.  Other supplier level sponsors include House Restaurant, Cream & Fudge, Pizza Hut, 100Plus, KFC and KiekLover.KL.

For more information on the tournament, visit www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com or  https://www.facebook.com/MalaysianOpen.KualaLumpur  or https://twitter.com/KLopentennis. 

-MalaysiaOpenTennis.

Najib Wants Tourism Industry To Continue To Shine

www.unwto.org

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hopes the tourism industry will continue to retain its position as one of the largest contributors to the country's growth.

Commenting on World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrated every year by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) member countries on Sept 27, he noted the tourism industry was a competitive, dynamic and people-based economic activity. "Built on social interaction, it can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance," he said on his Facebook account.

This year's theme 'Tourism and Community development' brought to the forefront the potential that tourism has to promote new socio-economic opportunities and better livelihoods for communities worldwide.

Najib said it also highlighted the critical role that community engagement had in advancing sustainable development. He took the opportunity to congratulate the Tourism and Culture Ministry and all industry players for their efforts to sustain and increase the nation's tourism achievements and uplift the cultural aspects of Malaysia.

This year, the national celebration for WTD takes place at the Mall of Medini, Nusajaya, Johor from Sept 26 to 28 via various smart partnerships with the private sector. WTD has been celebrated since 1980.
-bernama.

Top Seed Nishikori And Two-time MALAYSIAN OPEN Runner-up Benneteau Set For Finals Showdown

Top seed and world No.8 Kei Nishikori will make his first Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2014 finals appearance after a tense 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 semifinal victory in one hour and 37 minutes over Jarkko Nieminen on the Putra Stadium Centre Court here in Bukit Jalil today.

Both players were in great form in front of a near capacity crowd, and although Nieminen rallied early in the second set to force a decider, last month’s US Open runner-up Nishikori responded imperiously in the third to take the match.

“Today was a little bit tough, because he was playing a little better in the second. Maybe I relaxed a bit, because I couldn't take my chances, and I had a couple of unforced errors in the last couple of games of the second set. But I tried to concentrate and focus in the first couple of games (of the third set) and everything worked well after that. And I finished well, so I'm very happy,” said the 24-year-old.

Nishikori meets Benneteau in tomorrow’s final, with the Japanese having beaten the Frenchman twice in the last three years.

“Julien is definitely a tough player, especially on indoor courts. Also he's been playing well this tournament, so he can be a really dangerous player, and he just beat Gulbis. There's going to be long rallies for sure. I'll just try to stay focused and try to play another good match,” added Nishikori on his chances for a sixth career title.

Coming into the game, former world No.13 Nieminen had not dropped a set the entire tournament and had enjoyed a remarkable return to top form.

“I played really well in the second set but it’s tough to keep up that kind of quality all the time. Kei is playing really well, he’s very confident and in the end he was obviously a little bit better. But this was maybe the most positive week for me this year,” said the Finnish number one after his second semifinal run of the season.

Fourth seed world No.28 Julien Benneteau makes the finals of the Malaysian Open for the third consecutive time after he upset second seed Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4 in 79 minutes on Centre Court.

The 32-year-old Frenchman, widely regarded as the best player on tour to have never won an ATP Tour title, has lost in all nine previous finals appearances, most recently in Kuala Lumpur last year.

“You never expect to win a match easily, especially against a Top 20, Top 15 guy. But on this surface you never know, it can be fast and quick and you have to be ready for the key points. Last year I was very close, and I've given myself another chance to have a title, and we will see,” said Benneteau.

Speaking on his chances against Nishikori, the Frenchman said: “Nishikori is a very good player and he made the final of the US Open. He's in the Top 10. He's quite fast and has a good backhand and he doesn't have too many weaknesses. He's very complete… it's going to be difficult, but we will see.”

Top Latvian Gulbis has been solid throughout this tournament but struggled to find a foothold against Benneteau today, winning just 68 per cent of service points even though he hit 11 aces.

“I didn’t play great, I lost two easy breaks each set when we were at 4-4. He was very solid and I made too many unforced errors. That’s what made the difference,” said the 26-year-old.

Doubles fourth seeds Marcin Matkowski of Poland and Indian Leander Paes booked their spot in the finals with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory in 62 minutes over Andre Begemann and Julian Knowle.

“It was a good match and we had a good start in the beginning. I must give credit to our opponents because even though they were down in the first set 6-2, they kept on coming back after us. They kept on trying and kept on working which was nice, it was a good competition. Marcin played well today, he returned serve really well today and that allowed us to break four times. In this format if you're going to break four times in a match it's going to be a long day for your opponents,” said the former doubles No.1 Paes.

Matkowski is making the Malaysian Open finals for the third time and won the title in 2009 with compatriot Mariusz Fyrstenberg.

Second seeded Brit-Aussie duo Jamie Murray and John Peers fought off a late rally from third seeds Dominic Inglot and Florin Mergea to win 6-2, 7-6(0) in 65 minutes and also move into the finals. Murray and Peers have picked up four titles as a pair in the last two years.

The doubles finals will be broadcast globally and will played from 2.15pm with the singles at 4.30pm. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia and a host of different ambassadors representing various nations will attend the Sunday finals.

The tournament is proud to welcome back its suite of official sponsors. In addition to the distinguished support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia as well as the Ministry of Youth & Sports, the event is proud to have prestigious commercial sponsors that include Rado, CNN International, the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Wilson, the Albukhary Foundation, Astro, the ATP World Tour’s Premier Partner Corona, as well as welcome on board KPJ Healthcare Berhad, making its first foray into sponsorship of professional tennis.  Other supplier level sponsors include House Restaurant, Cream & Fudge, Pizza Hut, 100Plus, KFC and KiekLover.KL.

Tickets prices remain very reasonable and range from RM 10 to RM 160.  Tickets can be purchased now on-line via the tournament websitehttp://www.malaysianopentennis.com/2014/tickets.php, at TicketCharge outlets or through the ticket hotline at TicketCharge Ph: 603-92228811

  

For more information on the tournament, visit www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com or  https://www.facebook.com/MalaysianOpen.KualaLumpur  or https://twitter.com/KLopentennis. 

-MalaysiaOpenTennis.

Malaysia Year Of Festivals 2015 (MYFEST 2015): Proboscis Monkey Mascot Name Contest

Putrajaya, 27 September 2014 – To kick off the activities for next year’s Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015, known as MyFest 2015, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia is organising a contest to select a worthy name for the official mascot, the Proboscis Monkey. 

MyFest 2015 carries on the momentum of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and is intended to give visitors a magical holiday experience and invite them to participate in the various festivals celebrated by Malaysia’s colourful multiracial communities, as well as the other colourful events that are help to promote the country’s rich treasure trove of attractions. 

The Proboscis Monkey is the official mascot of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and with the upcoming MyFest 2015, it is again designated as the official mascot. An endangered species that is a truly ecological treasure and native to the heartland of Borneo (East Malaysia), the Proboscis Monkey possesses some of the most unique qualities that set its biological and physical features apart from other primates. The selection of the Proboscis Monkey is apt for MyFest 2015 as it represents Malaysia's rich biodiversity, fascinating wildlife, rainforest conservation and environmental sustainability efforts.

The Proboscis Monkey Mascot Name Contest runs from 1 – 27 October 2014 and offers a Grand Prize of RM5,000 cash as well as exciting consolation prizes to the top 11 winners who suggest the best names for the mascot. 

Malaysians are encouraged to participate in the contest to share their ideas and show their support for this campaign. You can do this by visiting http://www.vmy2014.com/ from 1 October 2014 onwards to click the contest link. 

The contest is organised in two rounds. 
•    For the first round, contest entries may be submitted from 1 October 2014 till 12 midnight on 13 October 2014. Judges will review the submitted entries and select the most worthy 11 names for the second round of the contest which involves public voting via Facebook. 
•    In the second round, the selected names will be posted on https://www.facebook.com/VisitMsiaYear2014 on 15 October 2014. The 11 contestants who have qualified for this second round are encouraged to repost their submissions on their own Facebook pages to encourage more Likes for their proposed name. These will constitute 50% of the judgement, together with another 50% to be determined by the panel of judges in determining the Grand Prize Winner. 

Results of the contest will be announced the following month and a prize giving ceremony will be arranged to present the RM5,000 Grand Prize to the deserving winner. 

For more information of the contest, please leave a message at https://www.facebook.com/VisitMsiaYear2014.
-Tourism Malaysia.

First DJ Gig At ASIA MUSIC FESTIVAL With DJ Roundhead

KUCHING – The Asia Music Festival will be featuring DJ gig for the first time this year by adding the Malaysian famous DJ Roundhead into the program. DJ Roundhead will be playing at the post-festival late show on both Friday and Saturday night, 3^rd and 4^th October. He will also be playing a huge array of famous dance music during a break between each bands both nights.

Performing as a DJ for with at least 20 years experience, DJ Roundhead was once crowned as the ‘Malaysia DJ Champion’ 3 years in a row when he entered the Malaysian DJ Championship competition from 1995-1997.

When he was in high school, he would work part-time jobs during the weekend just to blow it all away on CD's and records. That made him the "go-to-guy" when it came to house parties from high school all the way to college. Roundhead would bring his own player and set up his own mini console and rock the crowd at the party. Only after college he join a company during the 90's called Clubworld Entertainment that supplied DJ's to entertainment outlets around Malaysia, where then only he started his professional career.

Among his best moment is representing Malaysia in the Rotterdam Love Parade in the Netherlands for a crowd of 10,000 strong on a 34 wheel trailer while proudly flying the Malaysian flag in front of his console. He played as a DJ residency in Melbourne, Australia for a year before returning to Malaysia and is currently attached to TraxxFM in Kuala Lumpur.

The major challenge for any real DJ is being able to perform under pressure. The most interesting bit is studying the crowd earlier before any performance without undermining their expectations of entertainment. According to Roundhead, a real DJ can tell if a record or a song is going to be a hit or a dance floor filler. Knowledge is the key for everything.

Asia Music Festival now in its second year will bring again the very best eclectic mix of live music together for one mind-blowing weekend in Miri, Sarawak. The inaugural festival last year saw incredible performances from headliners from Asian region as far as India, Thailand and Korea. With the main goal to develop the brand of Asia Music Festival to be an iconic music festival of mixed genre in the Asian Region, the festival has recorded around 3000 music fans attending the first edition of the festival last year.

Asia Music Festival will also incorporate a range of Asian food as well as tattoo exhibition so there will be something for everyone. The festival will start at 5:00pm daily with a tattoo exhibition as well as food and village mart. Stage performance will begin at 7:30pm until midnight, followed by the DJ set with DJ Roundhead until 2:00am.

Eight international bands has been confirmed for this year’s festival. Get your tickets now at a pre-sale price, only RM25 for adults and RM10 for children/student (aged 3-18) at www.asiamusicfestival.net . Tickets also on sale at Visitors Information Centre in Kuching (+6 082-423600), Miri (+6 085-434180) and Sibu (+6 084-340980). Door-sale tickets are priced at RM30 for adults and RM15 for children/students.

-Sarawak Tourism Board.

Pancake 80 Representing The Philippines At ASIA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014

KUCHING – Pancake 80 from the Philippines will be performing at the upcoming Asia Music Festival 2014 to be held at Miri, Sarawak on the 3 & 4 October. This is a band comprising five musically talented individuals who share the same interest and love for music of different genres. From reggae, rock, pop alternative and especially new wave music of the 80’s to which they add their own flavor when covering songs.

The band made achievements throughout the course of their career. They have also joined local and international Battle of the Bands and have been recognized for their talents as they have won several awards Most notable was as the grand prize winner of the YAMAHA ASIAN BEAT Band competition with the song “FLAME” This earned them the right to represent the Philippines in the ASIAN BEAT COMPETITION in Hongkong, competing with 10 other bands from different countries on February 2009 in which they were placed third overall. They were also third runner-up at the REDAMP’s search for ASEAN’s next best band with the song “TIME” held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2010 and more recently, winner of the first HARD ROCK CALLING Battle of the Band competition 2011 by HARD ROCK CAFÉ Makati, making them the Philippine representative to the International HARD ROCK CALLING Battle of the Band competition.

Watch Pancake 80 performing on stage at Asia Music Festival. Other confirmed line-up this year includes SoulMate (India), Salammusik (Malaysia), Masia One (Singapore), Pisco (Taiwan), Retrospect (Thailand), Ras Muhamad (Indonesia) and Mad August (Malaysia).

Get your presale tickets now at only RM25 for adults and RM10 for children/student (aged 3-18) at www.asiamusicfestival.net . Tickets also available from all STB’s Visitors Information Centre located at Sarawak Tourism Complex, Kuching (+6 082-423600), Jalan Melayu, Miri (+6 085-434180) and Jalan Tukang Besi, Sibu (+6 084-340980). Door-sale tickets are priced at RM30 for adults and RM15 for children/students.

-Sarawak Tourism Board.

Malaysia’s Sport Highlights – OCTOBER 2014

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2014

The fifth edition of the US$ 2 million purse Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will take place on the East course at KLGCC from 9-12 October 2014. 75 players, made up of 63 players from the LPGA tour, 6 Malaysian Nationals and a further 6 sponsor exemptions, including one place in the Asia Qualifying Tournament, will compete in the 72-hole stroke play, no cut tournament

for one of the largest prize purses in Asia.

Date: 9 – 12 October 2014

Venue: Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

Website: http://www.simedarbylpgamalaysia.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimeDarbyLPGAMalaysia

Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2014

The 2014 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix will be the 24th consecutive year motorcycle racing’s premier class competes in Malaysia. It will be held from 24-26 October 2014.

Date: 24 – 26 October 2014

Venue: Sepang International Circuit

Website: http://www.sepangcircuit.com/Races-@-MotoGP.aspx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sepanginternationalcircuit

CIMB Classic 2014

First played in 2010, the CIMB Classic is the only official PGA TOUR FedExCup event in Southeast Asia. It features a limited 78-player field, with a prize purse of USD 7 million and no cut, making it one of the richest professional golf tournaments in the region. Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the CIMB Classic combines the best of golf and hospitality in one captivating event.

Date: 30 October - 2 November 2014

Venue: Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

Website: http://www.cimbclassic.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CIMBClassic

-Compiled by PelanconganKini.