Mid-Year Shopping Carnival Begins!

(From L-R): YBhg. Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Director General, Tourism Malaysia; YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng, Secretary General, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; and YBhg. Datuk Rashidi bin Hasbullah, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism and Culture launched the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival on 27 June 2015. 

PUTRAJAYA, 27 June 2015 – The country’s biggest shopping extravaganza – the annual 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale – are back again, offering big bargains, huge discounts and fun-filled promotional activities put together by malls, retail stalls and other participating trades throughout Malaysia.

Running for over two months from today till 31 August, both sales pulsate with excitement at a time when Ramadan bazaars also sprout up all over the country, lending a dynamic fusion of colours to the local shopping scene. Street bazaars and shopping malls are also hyping up with numerous offers for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations and the Merdeka Day public holiday.

The sales events were launched today by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng at the Marriot Putrajaya Hotel.

The launching ceremony was also attended by 49 foreign journalists, TV crews and travel agents from 13 countries, namely Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Thailand, UAE, and Vietnam. They are here under Tourism Malaysia’s Mega Fam programme to help promote the country as a premier shopping haven, as well as a top-of-mind tourist destination.

Prior to the launching ceremony, the Mega Fam participants attended a Destination Seminar at Marriott Putrajaya where the Director General of Tourism Malaysia Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab delivered a presentation on Malaysia’s tourism industry and its latest developments. Representatives from KL City Grand Prix and Jump Street Asia were also there to share their tourism products and attractions with the participants. 

Retail stalls and various trades in the country have put together a wide range of products and bargains under the 1Malaysia Unified Sale 2015, which is aimed at creating greater spill-over effects of consumer shopping and boosting trade and business transactions. As at 23 June, a total of 1,267 retailers have registered to participate in the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale.

Adding to the excitement of both sales is the #beautifulMalaysia Online Contest, with weekly prizes to be won over 12 weeks from 15 June to 20 September. One grand prize and three consolations prizes are up for grabs every week. Grand prizes include a GoPro Hero 4, iPad Air 2, Canon EOS 100D and OPPO Find 5.

The contest, which is open to participants from all over the world, requires them to submit photos that best encapsulate the beauty of Malaysia in four categories, namely places, festivals, food and shopping. Photos can be uploaded on Instagram using the hashtag #beautifulMalaysia or directly on to the contest campaign website (www.tourism.gov.my/beautifulMalaysia).

Winning photos will be featured on postcards at the end of the campaign. These postcards together with other specially designed postcards bearing the theme Beautiful Malaysia will be placed at selected airports in the country. The postcards will also be used to further promote 2015 as Malaysia Year of Festivals, or MyFest 2015. Various festivals and events happening in the country will be highlighted on the postcards, which can easily be picked up by tourists visiting the country.

Besides the contest, two pocket events will also be held to coincide with the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2015, namely the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2015 (12 to 16 August) and Time Kulture, which is a timepiece exhibition (29 July to 9 August). Both events will be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

KLFW 2015 promotes local fashion designers and local brands, and creates opportunities for international recognition and further develops the Malaysian retail market for branded fashionable wear. Time Kulture Exhibition by Swiss Watch Gallery showcases the best of Swiss Watch makers renowned for the finest watch brands and high-end jewellery and accessories.

To boost the country’s shopping sector, Tourism Malaysia has embarked on promoting Experiential Shopping packages with lifestyle elements, encompassing culinary delights, entertainment, and recreation for the whole family. Besides that, places of interest around the malls are also being highlighted in the packages.

Tourism Malaysia has also earmarked specific areas with attractive shopping attributes and categorised them as Extended Shopping Zones. These include Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Heritage Shopping Zone, Bandar Utama, Bandar Sunway and Subang Jaya in Selangor, George Town in Pulau Pinang, Johor Bahru in Johor, as well as Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak.

The designated zones have been approved in February 2015 during the National Key Economic Areas Tourism Steering Committee meeting. The Extended Shopping Zones will be promoted along with the major shopping districts in Kuala Lumpur, such as Bukit Bintang, KLCC and Central Market.

Tourism Malaysia is also producing the Shopping Malaysia Fun Maps that will make it easier for shoppers to find shopping attractions in different locations. These maps will come in handy for both locals and tourists to enjoy the best shopping experience in Malaysia.

The 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival is one of three nationwide shopping campaigns. The other two are the 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale in March and the 1Malaysia Year-End Sale from November 14 2015 to January 3 next year. Organised by Tourism Malaysia through its shopping promotion arm, Secretariat Shopping Malaysia, the three sales events have helped bring numerous benefits to the local retail sector and boost tourist expenditure in the country.

Malaysia’s shopping sector is a major contributor to the country’s tourist receipts, amounting to RM21.6 billion or 30% of the total receipts of RM72 billion in 2014. The shopping sector continues to hold the second biggest share of tourist expenditure after accommodation, which was only higher by 0.3%.

FAST FACTS:• Malaysia’s tourist arrivals for 2014 reached 27.4 million, an increase of 6.7% compared to 25.7 million tourists in 2013. 
• Tourist receipts for 2014 were RM72 billion, an increase of 10% compared to RM65.4 billion in 2013.
• In 2014, tourists spent RM21.6 billion on shopping in Malaysia, an increase of 9.3% compared to RM19.8 billion in 2013.
• The retail sector constituted 30% of the total tourist expenditure in 2014 against 30.2% in 2013.
• Shopping expenditure continues to hold the second biggest share of tourist expenditure after accommodation.
• MyFest 2015 is expected to help Malaysia achieve the targeted 29.4 million tourist arrivals and RM89 billion in tourist receipts for 2015. These figures will help achieve the target of 36 million tourist arrivals with RM168 billion in tourist receipts by 2020 under the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Borneo Cultural Festival 2015 To Be Held From July 30-Aug 8

photo: sarawaktourism.com

SIBU, June 30 (Bernama) - The Sibu signature event, Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) 2015, will be held at the Sibu Town Square from July 30 to Aug 8.

The organising chairman of the 12th annual event, Datuk Andrew Wong Kee Yew said, a lot of interesting events had been lined up including stage performances by various groups.

"There are 15 local groups, two from peninsular Malaysia, one each from Indonesia, India and Taiwan, China and South Korea," said Wong at a press conference on the BCF here today. The type of performances included traditional and modern dances, martial arts and song performances.

Apart from those performances on the main stage, there will be a lot of other activities held nightly at the Malay/Melanau, Dayak, Chinese and Youth pavilions which are erected separately.

The Sibu Tradex (trade expo), held in conjunction with the BCF at the Sibu Town Square Phase II, will also feature many interesting activities for members of the public such as product promotions, young talent contest, comic drawing contest, colouring contest for children and dance competition. Wong invited members of the public all over Sibu and other places to experience the BCF and enjoy themselves.

However, Wong, who is also the deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council, reminded the public not to illegally park their vehicles within the Sibu Town Square as the area will be very congested during the event. Those who do not adhere to this reminder will be issued compounds," he said, adding that members of the public could park their vehicles anywhere outside the town square.
-bernama.

Pelancong jana RM21.6 bilion perbelanjaan beli-belah

photo: PelanconganKini

PUTRAJAYA 27 Jun - Sektor beli -belah terus menjadi penyumbang kedua terbesar perbelanjaan pelancong tahun lepas kata Menteri Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz. 

Menurut beliau, perbelanjaan beli belah daripada pelancong ini mencatatkan peningkatan sebanyak 0.3 peratus kepada RM21.6 bilion iaitu sumbangan sebanyak 30 peratus daripada perbelanjaan keseluruhan pelancong. 

"Jadi untuk meningkatkan lagi sektor beli-belah, kita telah mengenal pasti setiap bandar utama setiap negeri untuk dijadikan Zon Beli-Belah Tambahan. 

"Selain itu, kita juga akan mengeluarkan peta-peta lokasi beli-belah Malaysia yang berkonsepkan keriangan bagi membolehkan pelancong tempatan dan luar negara merasai sendiri pengalaman beli-belah di negara ini," katanya. 

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menyampaikan ucapan perasmian Karnival Juala Mega 1Malaysia, Jualan Bersepadu 1Malaysia dan pertandingan dalam talian #BeautifulMalaysia di sini hari ini. 

Teks ucapan beliau dibacakan oleh Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng yang turut dihadiri Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Pelancongan) Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah dan Ketua Pengarah Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab. 

Karnival Jualan Mega 1Malaysia dan Jualan Bersepadu 1Malaysia ini akan diadakan selama lebih dua bulan sehingga 31 Ogos nanti. Menurut Mohamed Nazri lagi, Zon Beli-Belah Tambahan yang dikenalpasti itu termasuk Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Utama, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Georgetown, Johor Bahru, Melaka, Sabah dan Sarawak. Selain pelancaran Karnival Jualan Mega 1Malaysia, turut dilancarkan hari ini ialah peraduan dalam talian dengan hashtag #BeautifulMalaysia melalui laman sosial Instagram. 

Menurut Mohamed Nazri, peraduan ini akan membolehkan sesiapa sahaja di seluruh dunia memuat naik gambar-gambar menarik sekitar Malaysia yang turut membolehkan mereka memenangi hadiah-hadiah mingguan terbaik. 

"Peserta boleh memaparkan keindahan Malaysia melalui empat elemen termasuk tempat menarik, sambutan perayaan, makanan dan beli-belah dan memuat naik ke Instagram dengan hashtag #BeautifulMalaysia," katanya.
-Utusan Online.

SIC Zoomers - Jom Singgah Sahur ( 26 Jun - 12 Julai 2015 )

-Sepang Circuit facebook.

Unlucky Race For DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team At Assen

Assen, Netherlands – Saturday 27th June

Circuit: TT Circuit Assen
Circuit Length: 4.5 km

The Dutch Grand Prix saw an unlucky end for the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team, with Zulfahmi Khairuddin caught up in a high speed crash and Jakub Kornfeil crossing the line outside the points in 20th.

As race day at Assen got underway luck was not on the side of Zulfahmi Khairuddin. After heading out for morning Warm Up, the Malaysian rider soon encountered a technical issue with his bike. Returning to the box before one flying lap was complete, Khairuddin was forced to sit out of the remainder of the twenty minute session whilst his crew worked relentlessly to fix the problem.
Starting from row ten Khairuddin steadily began to pick away at positions but only five laps in bad luck struck again when Gardner clipped the back wheel of the #63 machine taking him out of the race.
Feeling more confident following a positive morning warm up, Jakub Kornfeil made a good start claiming four places on the opening lap. The 22 year old was looking in good form as he fought his way up to fifteenth place but as he entered the last chicane on lap six, another rider forced him wide. Despite re-joining the fight for eighth place Kornfeil was again caught up in another incident, running off track for a second time. Losing valuable time Kornfeil was unable to progress further than 20th position.

Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager
“Today has not been a good race for us. Both riders made a good start so it’s very unfortunate how it has ended here at Assen. Jakub worked his way up to fifteenth and was in the group fighting for eighth position which was good. Top ten was what we were hoping for and what we expected. Unfortunately on lap six he got pushed into the last corner and ran off the track, losing about four positions there. Then when he was going into turn two another rider came from the outside and didn’t see him, so he had to run off track again losing around seven seconds. This caused him to lose all contact with the group so that was the race over for him because it’s very hard to get back from something like that. I believe if this hadn’t have happened we would have finished with a good result. Fahmi had really bad luck today, starting with a technical issue in warm up and then after making a positive race start, he was taken out by another rider. He’s alright and that’s the most important thing.”

#63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin – DNF
“The start of the race was not so bad and I made up a few positions. I knew I had the pace to catch up, even with Jakub and then the other riders behind me started to make a fight; in the last turn they hit me from behind. There’s nothing really else I can say after that; it’s disappointing because I feel I improved so much with my riding here and I was feeling very positive. I look forward to improving more in Sachsenring because I think now we are in a good place and I know I can continue to progress more on track. I also want to say a big thank you to my crew who worked non-stop to fix my bike after warm up for the race.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil – P20
“My bike was very good today and I was prepared to battle for a good position. The start was very good and I made progress from the first laps, which I wanted, so I did it. I was in the second group fighting for eighth position, so I knew it was possible to finish well. Then before the last corner unfortunately one rider came in front of me on the brakes very hard and I had to go straight through the chicane onto the grass. I lost a lot of positions here but I didn’t think it was too much of a problem because I was still in the group and there were fifteen laps to go. I was just focussing on building my race again when in corner three I was ran ride again. I went completely out because another rider who went wide did not see me and as I was full gas he moved into my line, I nearly crashed there; I lost all the contact with the group and here is where my race really finished. For sure the result today could have been much better.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.

PelanconganKini supported DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.
Note: DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team Polo T-shirt & Round Neck T-shirt is now available at http://www.m7shop.com/home.aspx

Moto3 Qualifying At Assen: Ninth And Tenth Row For Kornfeil And Khairuddin

Assen, Netherlands – Friday 26th June

Circuit: TT Circuit Assen
Circuit Length: 4.5 km

Bike #63 – Zulfahmi Khairuddin
Qualifying: P30; 1’43.438 (DRY) – 17 laps

Bike #84 – Jakub Kornfeil
Qualifying: P25; 1’43.016 (DRY) – 16 laps

The DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team riders will start tomorrow’s Dutch Grand Prix from rows nine and ten, after qualifying in 25th place with Jakub Kornfeil and 30th with Zulfahmi Khairuddin.

Zulfahmi Khairuddin concluded the day just three tenths off his target time set from yesterday’s practice sessions but despite provisionally being placed in 25th, as the session progressed his time of 1’43.438s wasn’t enough to hold onto the position.

Making a strong start in qualifying Jakub Kornfeil set his fastest time of the weekend on lap three. Looking to continue his momentum the Czech rider pushed for further improvement, but was unable to take full advantage of his #84 KTM and better his time.

Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager

“It’s been a very bad qualifying for us, similar to Barcelona actually. We were making a lot of progress before these last two rounds with Jakub, so I don’t understand why we have taken this step back. For Fahmi he has shown improvements throughout the practice sessions, but again his qualifying has let him down.
The race is still tomorrow so of course we are not giving up, but these results are not making it easy for anyone. Both bikes have been working well today, we just need both riders to be smarter and faster when they have to be because at the moment they are not doing a good enough job. This is clear. We are an experienced team with a lot of support, so we are not missing anything there and still we cannot do what we have to do. We have to continue to work hard for tomorrow and I hope that both Jakub and Fahmi can find more within themselves to improve.”

#63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin

“Qualifying was very difficult; I was sure I could do better with my lap time but for the last run I couldn’t get a clean lap. I’m not happy about my qualifying position but I feel I have definitely improved my feeling on the bike from the last race. Now we have to work on getting closer to the top because I believe that now my bike is able to do it. I just need to put more race into my riding and tomorrow I have to fight hard. I know I am quite strong in the first part of the track so I must take advantage of this and overtake as many riders as possible from the start.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil

“I don’t really know what to say; we are missing the speed and I feel like I am slow everywhere. I don’t know why this is because of course if I did I would go faster. In the beginning I started well and could make a very good lap time but towards the end of the session I really struggled with my feeling on the bike and wasn’t able to improve, so I am where I am. It’s very disappointing and I’m very sorry for everybody because they are all trying their best. I think now I have to reset and focus on the race tomorrow. If it is dry I don’t think it will be easy but I will push as much as I can and I hope that some luck will be on our side.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.

PelanconganKini supported DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.
Note: DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team Polo T-shirt & Round Neck T-shirt is now available at http://www.m7shop.com/home.aspx

MATTA aims for carnival air at three-day Johor fair

Bargains await: Lee (second from right) and Ngi (right) posing with the MATTA Fair 2015 banner.

JOHOR BARU: The third MATTA Fair 2015 here will be festive with a carnival-like atmosphere, and a lucky visitor will walk away with a new Proton Saga 1.3SV in the lucky draw event.

The three-day fair from Aug 7 at Expo Hall, Danga City Mall, is expected to draw at least 15,000 visitors and target revenue of RM14mil, said Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Johor chapter organising chairman Kenny Ngi.

There will be 176 booths from over 90 travel agencies, organisations, hotels and resorts and other related agencies at the fair.

“We are trying to create a carnival-like event with about seven do-it-yourself stations,” Ngi said, adding that the activities would be held on Saturday and Sunday only.

Entrance fee is RM3 for adults and free for children below 12.

Visitors who spend RM500 or more can take part in a lucky draw for a chance to win the car.

MATTA Johor chapter chairman Kathryn Lee said the weaker ringgit had led many Malaysian travellers to choose to holiday in countries with lower currency rates.

Instead of favourite Europe, more people were interested in budget­friendly countries in South-East Asia and the Middle East, she added.

Travellers were also opting for shorter travel periods to save on costs.

“There is no denying that travel agencies are facing difficulties in selling packages due to the weakening ringgit.

“We are trying to find ways to sustain business,” she said at a press conference here yesterday.

She added that among the measures taken to keep business going were promoting popular inbound destinations such as Langkawi, Tioman and Redang.

As for packages to countries affected or have suspected cases of MERS, such as South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Lee said demand had dropped to over 80% this year.

She also pointed out that the Korea Tourism Association had introduced travel insurance for inbound travellers.

-thestar online.

IFTAR@KL Tourist Attraction For The Month Of Ramadhan

photo: MOTAC facebok

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 June 2015 – The National Department for Culture & Arts has once again organised the Iftar@KL 2015, previously known as the Ramadan Festival. The event, which will be happening every weekend throughout the fasting month, will be held at Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur, opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Visitors can expect an array of activities available at the event, such as the preparation and distribution of the ‘bubur lambuk’ or spiced porridge, tourism exhibitions, nasyid performances and competitions, Ramadan talks, Al-Quran recitals, fast-breaking ceremony followed by communal prayers and other activities.

The Iftar@KL event is organised by the National Department for Culture and Arts, with cooperation from various other agencies such as Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Visit Malaysia Year Secretariat, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, Islamic Tourism Center (ITC), Department of Federal Territory Islamic Affairs, the National Heritage Department, and Masjid Jamek Kampong Bharu.

Entrance is free and the public is invited to participate in the event which is happening on 20, 21, 27, 28 June, and 4, 5, 11, 12 July 2015. For more information, please visit http://www.jkkn.gov.my/.

-Tourism Malaysia.

Kornfeil And Khairuddin Looking For Answers After Day One At Assen

Assen, Netherlands – Thursday 25th June

Circuit: TT Circuit Assen
Circuit Length: 4.5 km

Bike #63 – Zulfahmi Khairuddin
FP1: P24; 1’44.909 (DRY) – 17 laps
FP2: P28; 1’44.186 (DRY) –18 laps

Bike #84 – Jakub Kornfeil
FP1: P16; 1’43.998 (DRY) – 18 laps
FP2: P24; 1’43.690 (DRY) – 17 laps

The DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team riders conclude day one of the Dutch Grand Prix positive that they can find the answers to improve their pace ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying.

Making a steady and encouraging start, Zulfahmi Khairuddin continued to improve his time throughout the first forty minute session, whilst showing consistently strong form in sectors one and two.
Heading into Free Practice Two the Malaysian rider further progressed, but struggling with his feeling into the fast corners concluded the day in twenty eighth place.

Feeling happy with the set-up of his #84 KTM machine, Jakub Kornfeil was confident that he could push more and improve his position for the last of the days practice sessions. As the wind picked up around the legendary TT Circuit Assen, the Czech rider worked hard to improve his time, but lapping alone was unable to take advantage of a slipstream to significantly better his pace.

#63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin
“In the second practice session we improved our lap time but still not enough. We need some more weight in the front of the bike because in the fast corners I am still struggling a little bit to keep my speed going into the corner. Now we need to study more of the details and work on how we can improve this for tomorrow. I think we can go at least one second quicker; this is the target for FP3 and this is what I’m going to push for.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil 
“The first practice was quite good, I was happy with the bike and everything was going well. There was not so much wind in FP1 either which was better, it was only that I was not pushing so much because I didn’t feel so much grip. My goal was to push a lot more in the afternoon but although I did a better time, it was very difficult to be in the same position. I finished 24th and of course I am not happy about this. I did everything alone and with so much more wind this afternoon, you really need someone in front of you to have the slipstream. This I missed today, which I believe was the main problem. If I was only three tenths faster I’d have been around the top sixteen. Today is not a disaster; we did this time on our own and without a perfect tyre, but still I was able to improve, so I have to be happy for this, but not the position. We need to find a little bit more for tomorrow. We have to work hard and push more for Friday’s sessions. The target is top fifteen because if you are in the top fifteen, everything is possible.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.

PelanconganKini supported DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.
Note: DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team Polo T-shirt & Round Neck T-shirt is now available at http://www.m7shop.com/home.aspx

Kuala Lumpur as haven for foodies

Kuala Lumpur is striving to become the region’s gastronomic hub, calling enthusiasts’ attention to its first food festival and F&B standards rating system, among other initiatives.

Think food, think Kuala Lumpur! That’s the message Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s tourism unit and the mayor of Kuala Lumpur hope to drive across to tourists, with intensified efforts to position the Malaysian capital into a gastronomic haven of South-east Asia and to develop a comprehensive standards framework, as outlined in the Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025.

Many initiatives were thus introduced in 1H2015. The tourism unit organised Malaysia’s first-ever gourmet food festival, Kuala Lumpur Big Kitchen Festival 2015, in the city from May 29 to 31 at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square). Food trucks and stalls served all kinds of local, fusion and gourmet items, offering visitors plenty to sample. A hotel dining section satisfied those seeking a finer dining experience.

Kuala Lumpur’s food ambassador,  Norman Musa – who is also the executive chef and co-founder of Ning restaurant in Manchester, UK – as well as other local celebrity chefs conducted cooking workshops and demonstrations to ‘edutain’ attendees on the variety of Malaysian dishes. One of the highlights was the KL Big Kitchen, Big Race, in which 12 pairs of participants raced between Merdeka Square and Chow Kit wet market to retrieve ingredients missing from recipes, drawing on clues provided at different legs of the race.

In fact, in conjunction with ITB Berlin in early March, Norman had given a cooking demonstration to the travel trade and international media at Berlin’s Kochatelier. That was part of his 2015 European tour covering also Paris, Amsterdam and London to demonstrate the art of Malaysian cooking and promote the city’s gourmet scene through a series of hands-on cooking ateliers.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s tourism unit has also recently produced a Food Trails map in association with popular lifestyle publication, TimeOut Kuala Lumpur, for FIT  travellers and tour operators to include in their itineraries.

“The map is a great way for travellers to navigate their way through the food streets of the city,” said Noraza Yusof, head of tourism, Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

The idea is to give exposure to and highlight the culinary attractions in five areas, namely Kampong Bharu, Old Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Alor, Jalan Pudu and Brickfields, covering cuisines of the city’s main ethnic communities of Malays, Chinese and Indians.

The Kuala Lumpur Food & Beverage Quality Assurance rating programme, introduced in February, was part of the tourism unit’s efforts to develop a comprehensive standards framework for dine-in establishments. It is also intended to allay food hygiene concerns among foreign tourists. Food outlets that have been rated will sport ‘Quality Assured Restaurant Kuala Lumpur’ stickers.

Ahmad Phesal Talib, mayor of Kuala Lumpur, said: “This new initiative is meant to raise the standard of F&B establishments and facilitate service excellence. Food outlets are audited based on global industry standards and accreditation is valid for two years and renewable.”

Targeted at dine-in establishments such as fine dining restaurants, café, bistros and fast food chains, the audit covers areas such as hygiene, cleanliness, facilities and amenities, customer service, food variety and presentation, as well as safety and security.

Ahmad Phesal added: “Those who have not yet met the minimum standards required will be provided with a report identifying areas of improvement, in order for them to upgrade themselves to reach the minimum score for accreditation.”

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Malaysia Chapter president, Jagjit Singh Sambhi, suggests that City Hall also provides a listing of accredited restaurants to make it easy for locals and tourists to identify them.

Meanwhile, the city’s iconic street food paradise of Jalan Alor is set to get a major facelift for a more pleasant ambiance. City Hall will invest RM12 million (US$3.4 million) to upgrade the food street through improvements in the drainage system, landscaping and cleanliness. The project is expected to commence in July and be completed within a year.

Luxury Tours Malaysia senior manager, Arokia Das, opined: “It is great that City Hall is taking efforts to improve Jalan Alor, which is so well known among Singaporeans and Thais. Every kind of local food can be found there to suit all palates.

“Food is very important for tourism. Asians and Westerners love to try the local cuisine, and this is one great way of promoting the city – through people’s stomachs. This initiative should have been carried out a long time ago, and it is great that City Hall is putting so much passion into it!”

-TTG Asia.

Follow BoBoiBoy’s adventures at Movie Animation Park Studios

An artist’s impression of the Movie Animaion Park Studios entrance. The first animation theme park in South-East Asia is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

It’s one thing to see your favourite cartoon characters on screen and in the pages of comic books, but what about experiencing them within a real-life attraction in a theme park? Now, that’s a goal for all fanboys out there.

Fans of BoBoiBoy will soon get to tick that off their bucket list. The adolescent superhero will be getting his own “home” at the upcoming RM450mil Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) in Meru Jaya, Perak. The first animation theme park in South-East Asia is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

The inclusion of BoBoiBoy at MAPS means that visitors will be able to immerse themselves in exciting activities based on the series. Visitors will get to see BoBoiBoy come to life in an exclusive 4D adventure film which will only be available for viewing at the theme park.

There’s also the BoBoiBoy Animation & Sound FX, a special attraction that lets kids experience what it feels like to be a superhero through the use of 3D animation technology. And, of course, one can’t possibly omit the significance of Tok Aba’s Kokotiam, which is to the animated series what Central Park was to the hit sitcom Friends.

In BoBoiBoy, the cocoa shop is owned by our young hero’s grandfather Tok Aba and is touted to have the best cocoa beverage in the world. Fans will finally be able to enjoy the famed drink once Tok Aba’s Kokotiam opens at MAPS. It will serve a range of BoBoiBoy food and beverages.

“With the inclusion of BoBoiBoy to MAPS Perak, it would be an enormous pull factor as it is an animation which most Malaysian children can relate to,” says RSG MAPS chief executive officer Ramelle Ramli. The company owns 51% of the park.

Ramelle is certainly spot-on about the excitement of young fans. Since its introduction in 2011, the series has gained much popularity among young and young-at-heart viewers.

Produced by Cyberjaya-based animation content developer Animonsta Studios, the series follows the adventures of BoBoiBoy who has the ability to separate into three elemental clones. Each episode revolves around the young boy and his friends – Ying, Yaya, Gopal and Fang – as they protect mankind from intergalactic threats aiming to conquer Earth.

BoBoiBoy’s sci-fi premise has that global appeal and the series’ inclusion at MAPS will enhance that appeal.

“BoBoiBoy will now be placed alongside internationally renowned franchise characters from one of the world’s leading animation studios, DreamWorks Animation, which is based in Los Angeles,” says Animation Theme Park chief executive officer Darren McLean. The company is the developer of the upcoming theme park.

At MAPS, BoBoiBoy will be joining other beloved characters from Mr Peabody & Sherman, Mega-mind, The Croods, Casper The Friendly Ghost and The Smurfs.

“It’s such an overwhelming experience but we are really excited,” says Nizam Razak, the creator of BoBoiBoy, referring to the partnership with the theme park.

“When we first started, we had no idea that BoBoiBoy would be this successful. Our vision was to create something that is popular around the globe. We targeted that, but we never thought it would lead to a theme park,” he adds.

Nizam, who is also Animonsta Studios chief executive officer, is also excited for the chance to develop a special storyline for the series’ attraction at the theme park.

In the 10-minute 4D adventure film, our young characters stumble on a ruin where aliens are developing technology. Nizam invites fans to find out more when the attraction opens.

He credits this significant feather in BoBoiBoy’s cap to the fans who have shown their support since day one.

“Now, they will have a physical place for them to visit their favourite local superhero character,” he says.

While fans’ involvement is crucial, there must be other factors that contributed to BoBoiBoy’s triumphant success. After all, the series has set a new high for the local animation scene by being featured alongside other internationally renowned characters at a multi-million ringgit theme park. So, what’s the secret to BoBoiBoy’s success?

“I think we have managed to create an icon that is relatable. People could relate to the series in terms of the storyline,” Nizam offers.

“Although BoBoiBoy has superpowers, he is still a normal boy with little boy problems. He still has to do his homework while fighting super villains,” he concludes.

-star2.com

Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival - coming soon ( 27 June ~ 31 August 2015 )

-PelanconganKini.

SIC Rolls Out WSBK Roadshow Promotions

Discounted tickets plus lots of goodies, a wheelie contest that could win you a stylish Benelli, a sponsored ‘sahur’ and lots of other attractions await motor racing fans when Sepang International Circuit (SIC) rolls out its World Superbike Championship (WSBK) roadshow at the end of this month.
 
Headlined as the SIC Zoomers-WSBK Roadshow, the programme will run for three weekends from 26 June throughout the fasting month - beginning in Kuala Lumpur, before making stops in Shah Alam, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Putrajaya, Genting Highlands, Johor Bahru and Melaka.
 
“This being the fasting month, scheduled activities will start at night from 9pm, with the SIC Zoomers making stops at selected popular eating places and running overnight up until  5am, offering perfect timing for ‘makan sahur’ with motorsport fans. The programme will be packed with activities that appeal to fans, especially the wheelie contest. It is going to be a very exciting programme that motorsports fans will definitely enjoy,” said SIC Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Razlan Razali.
 
Offering an awesome Benelli TNT 600 GP Edition machine worth RM33,000 as the thrilling prize, the WSBK Wheelie Challenge will require participants to perform a wheelie for more than 20 seconds for an opportunity to appear among the finalists who will compete against each other at the final round in Sepang at the eni FIM World Superbike Championship Malaysian Round.
 
Sepang hosts Round 10 of this season’s 13-leg eni FIM World Superbike Championship from 31 July to August 2. It will be the second edition to be hosted by SIC after a successful inaugural event last year - that pulled in more than 30,000 spectators for the race.
 
“We are confident of a bigger success for the 2015 event. After the first race last year, local fans are now more familiar with the event. We have also lined up a host of promotional activities including the WSBK roadshow and a special wildcard programme featuring a legendary rider,” Dato’ Razlan said. 
 
“Fans visiting the SIC Zoomers-WSBK Roadshow can get tickets at a 50 percent discount and the opportunity to participate in various activities conducted at the event including a free ‘makan sahur’ and the wheelie challenge,” Dato’ Razlan shared, adding that there would be fun games and quizzes for fans to win instant prizes in the form of free tickets and exclusive merchandise for the 2015 eni FIM World Superbike Championship Malaysian Round.
 
After various locations in the Klang Valley this weekend including Dataran Merdeka, Dataran Shah Alam, Alam Sentral, Sunway Mentari and Uptown Cheras, the roadshow will head south next weekend, stopping in Johor Bahru on 3 and 4 July – with appearances at Bazaar Karat, Restoran Singgah Selalu, Pandan City, Dataran Johor Baharu, Banafee Village and Danga Bay.
 
The Zoomers will then proceed to Melaka for a one-day promotion on 5 July - meeting motorsport fans at Jonker Walk, Asam Pedas Claypot and Dataran Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah.
 
For the final weekend between 10 and 12 July, the roadshow will visit selected areas in the Klang Valley, including in Putrajaya and Downtown The Mines, as also head to Awana Genting,
 
Fans can follow all the action on SIC’s official website at www.sepangcircuit.com, SIC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sepanginternationalcircuit and Twitter account at https://twitter.com/sepangcircuit. Tickets can be purchased online at SIC’s website or by calling the TICKET HOTLINE at 03-8778 2222.

-www.sepangcircuit.com