The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort - Redang Island, Malaysia

‘The Taaras’ is a bespoke Private Beach Residence, tucked away and hidden from the outside world on a small Island found just off the unspoilt East Coast of tropical Malaysia.


Considered to be one of the most beautiful Island locations in the South China Sea, the Isle of Redang is home to our natural, yet stylish resort found on one of the most spectacular bays surrounded by one of the bluest oceans on earth.

The resorts ethos is to provide a contemporary, barefoot luxury experience with warm Asian hospitality, remembered with a smile long into the future. The name of the property is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘TAARA’, meaning ‘Star or Apple of my eye’ as well as ‘Goddess of the Sea’ which are all represented and epitomised by our mermaid figurehead. The resort is managed by The Taaras Luxury Group, and was formerly known as Berjaya Redang Resort managed by Berjaya Hotels and Resorts.

Overview
One hundred and ninety one stylish suites and rooms, as well as a stunning five bedroom Private Villa perched high up on the cliff overlooking the ocean and resort below. The resort boasts commissioned furniture and bespoke photography of Redang Island and the landscapes of Malaysia. Each suite or room contains oversized beds and hand-picked linens and fabrics for your comfort. Most rooms and all suites have larger washrooms containing both bath tub and separate rain or monsoon shower (some with spa bathtubs looking out over the rainforest or the bay). Most residences have an outdoor balcony or verandah and our suites at the top of the cliff summit have spectacular views over the beach and ocean below. For clients who prefer or require further privacy ‘The Cliff Private Villa Bay & Sea View’, our private five bedroom residence perched high up on the cliff more than meets the requirements; private access, a Villa Host at your ‘beck and call’ as well as twenty four hour security; should it be a necessary requirement. The residence also enjoys a sixteen meter Infinity swimming pool, personal fitness room and both interior and exterior lounge decks.

Different
The resort should be seen as a ‘home away from home’, where a full complement of dedicated and interesting staff will do their best to assist you in a ‘personally professional’ way… a team who already know how important that ‘few days’ vacation is whether you have travelled from near or far. Imagine for one moment walking along the white talc like beach, under the warm azure sky, surrounded bytropical plants and coconut palms with only like-minded people within your view, all of whom are appreciative of the importance of those quiet moments. A space that is simple… yet elegant, where you can dress up or dress down and life is barefoot luxury inspired.

Imagine
A Resort Host or Leisure Concierge to organise your day…breakfast on your balcony overlooking the ocean, a quick snorkel at the coral reef before boarding the launch to do a spot of Island hopping or turtle watching. Then perhaps a true Robinson Crusoe moment; a castaway picnic on a deserted spot of the island or to learn to dive with an energetic dive Instructor who will even ‘find Nemo’ if that’s your desire. Back on land; a massage and rejuvenating treatment to soothe the soul and calm the mind before a dinner where your table and chair may even be made out of sand and where the music played is “song of the surf”.

Location
The Malaysians call their Island ‘Pulau Redang’ which is thought to be because of the Redang tree that once grew here as well as it’s literal meaning as ‘a stop-over place’; perhaps long ago to take refuge from pirates on the trade routes between India and China. Redang is located 45km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu and is the largest (6km by 7km) among a group of Islands dotting the north east cost of Malaysia and surrounded by the South China Sea. The Island is blessed with crystal clear waters housing numerous dive sites, and some amazing as well as abundant marine life. The coral collection is generally excellent all year but can be influenced from time to time by weather and sea conditions. As part of the surrounding waters there are designated conservation sites as well as a protected Marine Park (including turtle sanctuary) actively protected by the Malaysian Government.

Access
The Island enjoys daily direct access flights with Berjaya Air to Redang Island Airport from both Kula Lumpur (Subang Terminal) and Singapore (Changi Budget Terminal) Airports. In less than sixty minutes from Kuala Lumpur and seventy five minutes from Singapore you can swap ‘City Chic’ for ‘Beach Chic’ Private transfers are also available from the Mainland of Malaysia through our Reservations Office either by private yacht charter or third party helicopter charter (please note this service is subject to availability).
-http://www.thetaaras.com/index.php

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-http://www.nazahotels.com/

Group Lotus unveils Exige S, flagship store

LONDON: Norfolk-based carmaker Group Lotus has taken the wraps off its new Exige S sports car as it also opened a Lotus Originals flagship store in the heart of the city’s West End here earlier this week.

The new car is the centrepiece in the state-of-the-art store, which is spread over 4,800 sq ft in a landmark building that once housed the famous Cafe Royal, a short distance from Piccadilly Circus. DRB-HICOM Bhd group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil said the 170mph high-performance two-seater coupe with a supercharged V6 engine would begin rolling off the production line at the company’s headquarters at Hethel, Norfolk, later this month. “These two major milestones mark the beginning of the way ahead for Lotus under the DRB-HICOM Group,” he said in his opening remarks at the pre-production launch of Exige S and the store.

The high-performance Exige S will begin rolling off the production line at Group Lotus’s headquarters at Hethel, Norfolk, later this month.

The sports car and the flagship store are the first major announcements since the company was taken over by the Malaysian automotive group, DRB-HICOM, earlier this year. DRB-HICOM’s unit, Proton, bought Group Lotus in 1996. Mohd Khamil reiterated and reassured that DRB-HICOM and Proton are fully committed in bringing Lotus up to the next level and to a brighter future ahead.

“Lotus is for keep. Do not listen to any speculation. It is something that is worth keeping it,” he stressed. Speaking to the Malaysian media on a three-day visit to Lotus facilities in the United Kingdom, he said, the Exige S would be made available in Malaysia as early as this year with the opening of Lotus’ first showroom in the country.

Mohd Khamil, who is also Proton executive chairman, said: “Malaysia will be Lotus’ second home.” “Malaysians will see some Lotus activities in the second half of this year. Lotus will make its presence felt in Malaysia in the coming months,” he said. Besides the flagship store, Mohd Khamil said the sports car would also have its own 3S centre and Lotus Originals store at strategic places in Britain.

Priced at more than £52,000 in the United Kingdom, the Exige S is from the Exige family of Lotus. Lotus, however, has more variants to offer in the future, coming from the other lines of the Elise and Evora.

As for the flagship store, it hosts a collection of Lotus Originals, which features a relaxed range of leisure clothing aimed at 25 to 45 year-olds. The store offers a collection of apparels reflecting the Lotus heritage, which has been inspired by its glorious racing days of the sixties and seventies. The Exige S and the store were officially launched by the Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong.

-Bernama.

MAS comes up with new fares to Kathmandu

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines is introducing new promotional fares for its recently launched Kuala Lumpur Kathmandu route, thanks to positive response from customers.

The airlines is offering all-in return economy class promotional fares from RM1,299 for travel from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu. “We believe that the natural grandeur of the Himalayas and rich cultural heritage of Nepal is attracting travellers,” said Muzammil Mohamad, the airlines' regional senior vice-president for Malaysia and the Asean region.

Booking starts from now until Aug 19 for travel between Sept 1 to Dec 31. A two-class configured Boeing 737-800 aircraft is being used for the thrice weekly direct route.

Starting Sept 1, flight MH170 will depart from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8.55am to arrive in Kathmandu at 11.30am, while flight MH171 will depart Kathmandu at 12.20pm and will arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 7.15pm. Offers are available through its website www.malaysiaairlines.com, MHmobile, flymas.mobi, nationwide ticket offices, 24-hour toll-free number 1300-88-3000 and all appointed travel agents.

-thestar online.

Yen Yen: Malaysians of all races thronging Ramadan bazaars

KUALA LUMPUR: Ramadan bazaars exemplify the 1Malaysia spirit, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Dr Ng said that even though the holy month of Ramadan was observed by the Muslims, the bazaars were filled with Malaysians from all races. “Visit the Ramadan bazaar and you will understand what the 1Malaysia spirit is. Malaysians, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, come out in huge numbers to buy delicious local delicacies,” said Dr Ng at the official launch of Bazar Ramadan 2012 at Kampung Baru here yesterday.

Uniquely Malaysian: Dr Ng launching the Pasar Ramadan in Kampung Baru by stirring the ‘bubur lambuk’. With her are (from left) Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng, KL Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib and Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru chairman Datuk Idris Shaari.

She said Ramadan was able to foster religious tolerance, unity and understanding among Malaysians. “If you go to hotels for Ramadan buffets, you will see even the non-Muslims waiting for the break of fast before enjoying their meal. “This is a sense of mutual respect and understanding that Malaysians have developed, and Ramadan is the best time to see this,” said Dr Ng. She also said Ramadan bazaars had indirectly become a platform for Malaysia to promote its local delicacies to tourists.

In conjunction with the launch, the Tourism Ministry donated 100 large pots of Kampung Baru’s famous Bubur Lambuk Agong to the public for breaking fast. “The Bubur Lambuk Agong is a signature dish of Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and is renowned not only among the residents, as people from all over the Klang Valley would stop by to get it,” said Dr Ng.

About 23,300 containers of Bubur Lambuk Agung were distributed to the public at Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru, Jalan Ampang, Central Market, Bukit Bintang and the Masjid Jamek LRT station. At the same event, the ministry also donated RM3,000 to Rumah Sinar Salam, Yayasan Chow Kit and Rumah Kebajikan Tara Bhavan.

-thestar online.

F&B businesses prepare for a busy time during Ramadan

Come Ramadan season and the first thing that comes to mind is the sumptuous buffet spreads laid out for iftar (buka puasa).  For restaurants and hotels, the joy of breaking fast during the holy month is made sweeter with the merry chimes of their cash registers.

When Lebanese expatriate Toufic El-Ozeir, 39, and his Malaysian wife, Sharifah Zainab Hafidh, 49, opened Al Rawsha, initially a 400-seat Arabian cuisine restaurant in Jalan Damai, Kuala Lumpur in 2004, they thought a Ramadan buffet would be a good way for Arab students studying away from home to get together. The buffet was priced at RM25 per head and just covered their costs. The Ozeirs saw this as their personal contribution for the fasting month. The response was beyond their expectations as students came from as far away as Cyberjaya and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa in Selayang, filling the restaurant with some 100 customers a night.

Castle in the city: Al Rawsha restaurant in Jalan Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur.

Since then, the Ozeirs have learnt that buffet spreads are a necessary feature in the festive landscape of the Malaysian Ramadan season. Having moved from Jalan Damai to Jalan Kampung Pandan and increased dining capacity to 1,500, the RM25 price tag for their Ramadan buffet is only applicable for children. Adults pay RM59. From last year’s records, total takings per night during Ramadan season has been hovering around the RM30,000 mark.

Action time

Oliver Cheng, 52, currently the director of sales for Premiere Hotel, a business hotel in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang, affirms that in his 18 years of experience as a hotelier, Ramadan season literally means “action time” for hotels and restaurants.

According to Cheng, it is not uncommon for coffee houses to see business from some 700 diners during buka puasa time alone where gross sales can amount to RM60,000 in just four hours. The highest number of diners he has managed was at his last posting in 2008 at a 178-room hotel in Serdang where he and his team personally saw to it that 1,800 diners could break fast together.

Peak time: Cheng says business during Ramadan is not as simple as many think.

Back then, Cheng and his colleague, Alan Chong, 46, now the food and beverage manager of Premiere, had secured a deal with an oil and gas company, despite knowing full well that the coffee house could only take in a maximum capacity of 200.

Admittedly, the gungho spirit got the better of them and the men devised a set up that took up two ballrooms, the whole poolside area and all the available space at the garden terraces. This is in stark contrast to the off-festive week-day dining pattern where the whole hotel with perhaps a coffee house, a Chinese restaurant and maybe a Japanese outlet will only see some 50 customers in total at dinner time.

Time for CSR work

Cheng says of the popularity factor of the Ramadan buffet: “The season of Ramadan is seen as a time for togetherness, especially when it comes to the act of breaking fast. So, this is when companies will see it as the ideal time to get together with their staff to foster closer ties.

Moorish decor: The interior decor at Al Rawsha is a conducive environment for a good makan gathering.

“A lot of CSR work also happens around this time when residents of children’s homes will be feted. Even where families are concerned, the tendency to cook at home for large groups of people can be a challenge for a working people, so eating out is a more convenient and comfortable alternative.”

For Zainab of Al Rawsha, the Ramadan buffet makes perfect business sense. “First, it makes up for the lunch hour as the restaurant is closed in the afternoons during fasting month. “Second, it makes it easier for the kitchen staff to handle the buka puasarush. Imagine having 100 people ordering from the a la carte menu all at the same time. It will be a long wait,” says Zainab.

Preparation still vital

On whether the Ramadan season is an automatic money spinner for the food and beverage industry, Cheng and Zainab insist that marketing efforts and knowledge of diner’s preferences are still necessary. The notion of clean profit is also debatable as the staff to customer ratio has to be increased significantly.

In a 250-room hotel, for example, an extra 25 employees daily are needed to handle the increased volume of business. There is also the question of giveaways. At Premiere, they are expected to give away RM400 worth of dodol a day, which will come up to RM12,000 after 30 days.

“The Ramadan season may look like a profitable time on first impression, but it is really about having a big crowd coming to eat all at once. “In fact, our figures show that sales are better during the Arab school holiday season because that’s when entire families will come and eat throughout the day,” says Zainab.

She also points out the existence of a dining pattern during the season itself. In the first week, attendances are always smaller as diners settle into the fasting routine. At this time, customers usually number between 50 and 75 per night. But by the second and third week, things go into full swing with diners rising to 100 nightly. By the fourth week, the crowd invariably thins as this is when celebrants make their way back to hometowns and families for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

As a direct result of this pattern, Cheng and his team have developed special price tiers and voucher books where for every 10 tickets, two will dine free. At press time, his sales team have sold some 200 books worth some RM136,000 in gross sales. Speaking of advertising expenditure, Cheng reveals they spent some RM20,000 last year, but the budget for 2012 has been increased to RM35,000.

As it is, planning for the Ramadan season has taken up some 247 hours in manpower since July. “The Ramadan season is a time for the food and beverage department to shine. If you look at past trends, this period is where sales for seminar and function rooms will take a dip. “So, revenue is largely up to the food and beverage team,” says Cheng who has set a target of RM1mil for the sales team to reach this season.

-thestar online.
http://alrawshakl.com/index.php

Japanese expatriate loves Malaysia

It was truly a defining moment when Japanese expatriate Ayako Sugahara first came to Malaysia as a tourist in 1997. Ayako, who is the Japanese liaison manager at the Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, fell in love with life in Malaysia after backpacking around the country and visiting Pulau Kapas. “I really enjoyed my visit to Pulau Kapas. I ended up staying there for seven months. I even met my godmother, who is a local operating a resort there. I visit her every now and then,” she said.

Ayako, who studied to be a dietician, has been in Malaysia since 2000 although she has lived in several other countries such as Denmark. “I lived for two years in Denmark as my husband was posted there a few years ago, but I was not fond of the lifestyle there,” she said.

Local flavour: Ayako prefers to wear kebaya to work.

“It was hard to communicate as the people there only spoke Danish. The weather was also too too cold for me,” she added. In Malaysia, however, Ayako adapted to the lifestyle easily. “Here I have a lot of friends and I have no problems with communication as most people here can speak in English. I also like the warm weather as I enjoy the outdoors,” she said.

Ayako, who loves the outdoor and nature, has travelled all around Malaysia. “I have been to Taman Negara 17 times. That is probably a lot more than most Malaysians,” she joked. “It is very easy to get around in Malaysia and the people here are so friendly, hence I have no issues,” she said.

An avid diver, Ayako has been to many of the prominent diving spots in Malaysia. “Some of my favourites are Pulau Kapas, Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Sipadan,” she said. Ayako added that she even preferred the Malaysian lifestyle compared the Japanese. “I am rather taken up by the traditional clothes here. The designs are very colourful and I like to wear dresses such as kebaya to work,” she said.

“In Malaysia, people are not so formal when it comes to dressing. “The Japanese tend to be rather formal when going to work and I was never comfortable with that,” she added.

Ayako also said that she found local food hard to resist. “The food here is also really good. I really like spicy food and a lot of the local hawker and street food,” she said. When asked about her plans for the future, Ayako said she would love to continue living in Malaysia. “I really like working and living here as all my friends are here,” she said.

-thestar online.

Riverside Majestic Kuching unveils value added meeting deal

The Riverside Majestic Hotel in Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak, is offering value added benefits with its Genius@WOK meeting package. 

Designed to save event organisers time and money, the all-inclusive package encompasses all the necessary elements to host a successful event, and comes with additional benefits such as complimentary WiFi Internet access in the meeting room, room upgrades, and free addition of a delegate for every 10 confirmed.

Located on the 18^th floor of the building, Windows On Kuching (WOK) is the Riverside Majestic Hotel’s dedicated meeting and banquet space. Each of the seven meeting suites within this 900m² venue provides a sophisticated setting ideal for executive business meetings, while offering skyline views of the city, and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and amenities.

The hotel itself is strategically located in the heart of Kuching’s business, entertainment, dining and shopping district. A versatile event venue, the property is able to offers event spaces for delegations ranging from 10 to 1,200 pax. For more information on Genius@WOK, email meetings@centraloffice.my

-TTG Asia.

Penempatan Imam Tarawih Luar Negara Di Wilayah Persekutuan

Bersempena dengan Ramadhan yang bakal menjelang beberapa hari lagi, Jakim sebagaimana tahun sebelum ini telah membuat jemputan khas imam tarawih dari luar negara. Seramai 3 orang imam dari negara Mesir dan Syria akan ditempatkan di dua buah masjid di bawah seliaan Jakim dan JAWI iaitu Masjid Negara dan Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan.


Bagi Masjid Negara, imamnya adalah Syeikh Abdurrahman el-Dousuky Taha Radwan dari Mesir. Beliau merupakan imam tarawih jemputan bagi Masjid Negara untuk dua tahun berturut-turut sebelum ini. Manakala bagi Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, 2 orang imam tarawih jemputan yang bakal mengimarahkan tarawih di masjid berkenaan adalah Syeikh Muhammad Munjiy dari Mesir dan Sheikh Roomiy dari Syria. Kesemua imam tarawih jemputan ini dijadualkan untuk mengimamkan masjid berkenaan selama 30 hari sepanjang bulan Ramadhan.

Lebih menarik pada tahun ini adalah kesediaan negara Arab Saudi untuk menawarkan seramai 6 orang imam dari masjid-masjid sekitar Mekah kepada kerajaan Malaysia. Perkara ini telah dimaklumkan kepada Jakim melalui satu kunjung hormat dari atase Arab Saudi di Malaysia kepada Dato' Ketua Pengarah pada 18 Julai 2012. Imam tersebut adalah Syeikh Fadi Muhammad Al Batsy, Dr. Bader Al- Utaibi, Dr. Ahmad al Abdul Qadir, Dr. Sufian Ibnu Umar, Imam Aiman Al Hamdan dan Syeikh Soleh Al Sikhan. Mereka ini akan ditempatkan di beberapa negeri di seluruh Malaysia pada Ramadhan ini.

Justeru, kehadiran imam-imam jemputan ini diharapkan mampu menarik para jemaah yang merindui kefasihan dan kelunakan alunan bacaan al-Quran dari orang arab sendiri.

Sehubungan dengan itu, Jakim menjemput seluruh masyarakat Islam di Malaysia khususnya sekitar Wilayah Persekutuan dapat memanfaatkan peluang yang ada ini dengan mengimarahkan tarawih di masjid-masjid ini.
-JAKIM.

Firefly mounts extra flights to satiate Hari Raya travel fever

Firefly will ramp up its flight operations during the upcoming Hari Raya festive season in anticipation of heightened demand.


The carrier will operate five additional flights to Kota Bharu, three additional flights to Pekanbaru, and two additional flights to Medan from its central hub of Subang. From its northern Penang hub, one extra flight to Langkawi will be added. These supplementary return flights are scheduled to depart on August 16, 17, 18, 25 and 26.

Ignatius Ong, Firefly CEO, said: “ Historically, the demand for flights on these routes during the Hari Raya period has always been high, but this year the demand has been even more so. Based on our advance sales figures, we can see that most of the flights on the key festive dates are (already) averaging 65 to 70 percent full."

This year, the Hari Raya holiday in Malaysia falls on August 19-20, resulting in a long weekend, while the Malaysian National Day public holiday falls on a Friday just 11 days later. "With two long weekends within weeks of each other, which also coincide with the one-week school holidays, we had anticipated higher demand from both Muslims looking to go for a short break as well as non-Muslim holiday-makers, and the sales numbers thus far prove this," said Ong.
-TTG Asia.

All set for St Anne’s feast

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The stage is all set for St Anne’s Feast with volunteers putting the final touches, including flower arrangements on the altar and around the church as the nine-day novena begins today.


Some 2,000 strong volunteers were busy cleaning up the important areas in the church and arranging flower pots at the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in the compound for the annual feast themed “Evangelisation through liturgy – tell the story of Jesus”.

A smaller scale candlelight procession will start on Thursday, the actual birthday of St Anne, while the main procession will be held on July 28, when the statue of St Anne and her daughter, the Virgin Mary, will be taken on a 3km journey, passing through Jalan Kulim, Jalan Kg Baru, Jalan Berjaya and Jalan Maju before returning to the church.

Final touches: Volunteers Felcy Lee (left), 60, and Clinda Phang, 55, placing flowers on the altar of the Church of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

A Kadazandusun mass will be celebrated at 3pm next Friday, as well as a Thai mass at 2pm the next day, apart from the regular masses in English, Mandarin and Tamil. The annual feast is celebrated by Catholics in honour of Jesus Christ’s grandmother St Anne, which falls on the last weekend of July.

Hotels in Seberang Jaya and Butterworth have been fully booked for 10 days as people make their annual pilgrimage here. Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya marketing and communication manager S. Virgiana Ann said her hotel would be enjoying 100% occupancy. She said that a few groups from Singapore had made room reservations in advance and many would be staying for the duration of the feast. Bukit Mertajam Palm Inn hotel reservation executive M. Saula said there should be 100% occupancy during the event and many of its guests were from outstation.
-thestar online.

Borneo Highlands Resort targets corporate wellness segment

photo: borneo highlands resort


Borneo Highlands Resort, a golfing haven located an hour’s drive southwest of Sarawak’s capital, Kuching, is widening its marketing efforts to tap government and corporate travellers interested in health and wellness programmes.

Since opening in 2000, the 30-key resort has mainly catered to golfing clientele. The property features an 18-hole golf course surrounded by greenery, two meeting rooms that can each accommodate 50 pax in a theatre setting, and cool temperatures ranging from 21-28 degrees Celsius.

Resort manager Zakaria Ismail told TTG Asia e-Daily that plans to branch into the wellness segment and to market beyond Sarawak were aimed at increasing average room occupancy – which rose from 20 per cent last year to 35 per cent this year. 

According to Zakaria, traditional Chinese treatments and Ayurvedic offerings were in the pipeline, while a sales representative would be based in Kuala Lumpur to ramp up marketing efforts in key cities across Peninsular Malaysia. Beginning this year, the resort will also increasingly target overseas markets such as Singapore, Brunei, Japan and South Korea, he added.

“We have key elements to make this new (marketing) venture a success – fresh air and a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by nature, organic food in the restaurant and traditional massage treatments all make for healthy living. The resort and its surroundings are also Important Bird Areas," said Zakaria.

The average room rate at the Borneo Highlands Resort is RM200++ (US$63++), inclusive of a one-day meeting package, meals, accommodation based on quad share, and return transfers from the foothills.

-TTG Asia.

http://www.borneohighlands.com.my/

Ministry to turn Malaysia into ‘preferred international stage’

PUTRAJAYA: The Tourism Ministry has its eyes set on making Malaysia the preferred stage for international events, targeting RM3.9bil in incremental revenue.

The newly-launched Internatio nal Events Unit (IEU) of the Mal a y sian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) would be the main agency responsible to ensure that this target is achieved, said MyCEB general manager Tony Nagamaiah. “The unit is expected to contribute to 5% of the overall international tourist arrivals in Malaysia. These events bring tremendous economic impact to the country.

“The unit will attract international events of high calibre and to draw the international audience to Malaysia,” Nagamiah said in a press conference at the Maritime Centre here last night. Nagamiah said apart from bringing in international events, the unit would also work to increase overseas publicity for home-grown events such as the Sarawak Rainforest Festival and the Penang Jazz Festival.

In her speech, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the unit would complement the ministry’s efforts to attain its target of 30 million tourist arrivals in Malaysia by 2020. “The Malaysian tourism industry has grown by leaps and bounds.

“We have been consistently placed as the ninth country in the world with the highest number of tourist arrivals. “And we are only one of the two Asian countries included in the top ten (the other being China),” Dr Ng said.

-thestar online.

www.myceb.com.my

The Alan McDonald Aircraft

AirAsia, the World's Best Low Cost Airline owned by QPR Chairman Tony Fernandes, have paid a glowing tribute to the late, great Alan McDonald, naming a special QPR-themed plane after the former QPR stalwart. McDonald tragically passed away on June 23rd, aged 48, after collapsing on a golf course in native Northern Ireland.

Tributes flooded into the Club from all areas of the globe, with players past and present as well as supporters of the beautiful game wanting to pay their respects to the man affectionately known as 'Macca.'

Fernandes was particularly taken aback by the many testimonials he read about McDonald on his twitter account and as a result opted to name the Airbus A320 after the iconic R's legend.

The airbus is painted in the R's famous blue and white colours with a prominent tail that features QPR's iconic hoops. The interior of the aircraft carries fun facts on both QPR and McDonald himself. Macca, of course, spent 17 wonderful years at Loftus Road, making close to 500 appearances for the Club.

Present at the unveiling of the aircraft in Kuala Lumpur were the entire QPR First Team squad, as well as gaffer Mark Hughes, CEO Philip Beard and of course, Fernandes himself. AirAsia Group Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan told www.qpr.co.uk: "The special aircraft does not only symbolise our energetic relationship with QPR, but also further cements our relationship with a team with an amazing history in English football and whose passion, determination and commitment reflects our own hard work and fervour in attaining success."

Tonia McDonald, Alan's widow, added: "On behalf of myself, Joshua and all the McDonald family I cannot thank Mr Fernandes enough for his overwhelming gesture of deciding to remember and honour Alan by naming one of his planes after him.

"We know Alan would have been so proud and amazed at such a generous tribute. I'm only sorry that we could not be in KL to witness the unveiling, but I feel immensely proud that Alan's name and the QPR colours will jointly become a legacy incorporated in such a wonderful aircraft. "Mr Fernandes has already promised me that if ever the plane comes to the UK then we will have the opportunity to see it for ourselves and Joshua and I can't wait for that to happen."

She added: "Since Alan's death we have really been taken aback by the amount of messages of support we have received both personally and through the Club. The letters, cards, e-mails and texts seem to have been never ending and reading them all brings us such comfort. "This amazing gesture by Mr Fernandes really tops everything and we are so proud to know we have such fantastic friends at QPR."

-http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/Home

1MCAT Festival Lagkawi @ Four Points By Sheraton Langkawi Resort

Duration: July ~ September 2012
Venue: Four Points By Sheraton Langkawi Resort, Kuala Muda, 07000 Langkawi, Malaysia

-1MCAT.
photo: PelanconganKini.

Lija works hard at carrying on Mah Meri legacy despite disability

KUALA LUMPUR: Lija Uju never went to school and can hardly hear or utter a word. The 41-year-old wood carver, however, is not letting his disability stop him from carving out a future for himself and his family. As soon as he was spotted chipping away at a 1m tall sculpture at the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Mah Meri sculptures exhibition, he became a hit among visitors even though he could only communicate through gestures with a big smile on his face.

“This sculpture has already taken me 10 months!” he said through fellow wood carvers who helped to interpret his gestures.

Born in a family and neighbourhood of wood carvers in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Bumbun in Carey Island (less than 20km from Port Klang in Selangor), Lija is one of the 12 Mah Meri tribe wood carvers who are still carrying on the tribe's legacy in wood carving. He was in his 20s when he first got interested in the art. “Although he could not speak, he learned by observing his family and friends,” said Samari Abdul Rahman, a 37-year-old carver with more than 16 years experience.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who launched the exhibition yesterday, said this was the first time the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism festival featured art from the orang asli community. The Mah Meri sculptures exhibition is being held at the Malaysian Tourism Centre at Jalan Ampang until July 31.
-thestar online.

Liow: Ministry’s medical tourism target surpassed

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has surpassed the expected target for medical tourism.


Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the revenue last year was RM511mil, an increase of 18.6% from RM431mil in 2010. “We expect it to hit RM600mil by year-end,” he said at a press conference after opening the 20th APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition 2012 yesterday.

Liow said the RM600mil could easily be achieved as up to May 31, as many as 236,836 foreign medical tourists had been treated, bringing in a total revenue of RM200.4mil. He said tourist arrivals had also been growing at the rate of 30% for the last five years. The popular areas of medical tourism were cardiology and orthopaedic surgery while aesthetic medicine was also fast catching up.
He said the Government had given all ministries the task of contributing to the economic growth of the nation, adding that the Health Ministry had worked together with its partners and other stakeholders to achieve the target through medical tourism.

On another matter, Liow said government hospitals still lacked specialists and hoped that more doctors would move towards specialisation. “My intention is to offer specialist services at all district hospitals,” he said, adding that the private sector too should train specialists as currently, most were trained by the Government.

Asked if there was any progress on the issue of Lincoln University College (LUC) recruiting students for three unrecognised medical schools in Ukraine, Liow said he would look into it again.
-thestar online.
http://www.mhtc.org.my/en/index.aspx

Queens Park Rangers (England) vs Kelantan The Red Warriors (Malaysia)

For the first time ever, Queens Park Rangers is coming to Malaysia. The might of the English Premier League team will be tested to the fullest when they face Kelantan The Red Warriors, arguably Malaysia's best team.

What is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated friendly game held against any club side in Malaysia, Queens Park Rangers and The Red Warriors will hold battle at Stadium Shah Alam on the 20th of July 2012 (9.15pm kick off). Both clubs are going for a win, with QPR fighting to uphold the standards of the English Premier League while The Red Warriors will give their all to show what Malaysia football's true power and potential. QPR will be bringing their full squad, including all new signings so this is your chance to be one of the first in the world to see them in action in QPR colours.

Someone who is well known around the world and is undoubtedly one of the most respected managers, Mark Hughes, leads Queens Park Rangers. The team also features world-class players such as Adel Taarabt, Bobby Zamora, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Anton Ferdinand, Rob Green and Andy Johnson.

At the same time, The Red Warriors is considered the best Malaysian football team and has won many trophies in the past three years. The team is also representing Malaysia in the prestigious AFC Cup. The team features top class players such as Norshahrul Idlan, Khairul Fahmi and Mohd Badri. The team is led by Bojan Hodak a coach who is well known for his no nonsense and strong will to win approach to the game.

Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Support your team to victory!

Get your tickets from:

1.Online at www.AirAsiaRedtix.com
2.Rock Corner outlets -
The Gardens, Mid Valley (TEL: 03 - 2283 4893)
Mid Valley (TEL: 03 - 2284 1423)
KLCC (TEL: 03 - 2161 9417)
Subang Parade (TEL: 03 - 5636 9520)
The Curve (TEL: 03 - 7729 6313)
One Utama (TEL: 03 - 7725 5667)
3.Victoria Music outlets -
Sg Wang(TEL: 03 - 2148 7208)
Amcorp (TEL: 03 - 7956 0592)
Tropicana (TEL: 03 - 7722 2955)
BSC (TEL: 03 - 2093 1093)
4.KL Life Centre (TEL: 03 - 2162 2570) 

-http://redtix.airasia.com/Events/QPRAsiaTour2012/