The Ghazal Maestro " Pankaj Udhas Live In Concert " on 10th February 2013

The Ghazal Maestro " Pankaj Udhas Live In Concert " on 10th February 2013 @ the prestigious Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

After almost a decade, the maestro is back to serenade his Malaysian fans with his soulful voice & harmonious melodies.

Pankaj Udhas is an Indian singer, credited in the Indian music industry, along with other musicians like Jagjit Singh and Talat Aziz, with bringing the Ghazal style to the realm of popular music.

​Udhas rose to fame for singing in the 1986 film Naam, in which his song "Chitthi Aayee Hai" became an instant hit.

​Following that, he has also performed as a playback singer for numerous films. He has recorded many albums since then and tours the world as an accomplished ghazal singer. In 2006, Pankaj Udhas was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.

-www.ticketcharge.com.my

Musical troupes help devotees on their journey to the temple

Hand-in-hand: The Akini Periya Gandhi Amman Urumi Melam group and a kavadi bearer. This troupe has the first female pambhai player in Malaysia.

Thaipusam is an important festival dedicated to Lord Murugan. The Hindus celebrate it in the Tamil month of Thai (January to February).

The festival typically comprises a hive of activity as devotees flock to the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves to fulfil their vows and pay penance to Lord Murugan. Kavadi bearers and those who carry pots of milk as offerings to Lord Murugan are also part of this crowd. However, among this lot, another group also stands out.

They are the musical troupes known as urumee melam in Tamil. Without a doubt, this group adds colour to the festivities with their mesmerising beats.

The kavadi bearers’ demonstration of devotion and thanksgiving to Lord Murugan usually starts weeks before the festival. As part of their preparations, they fast and even abstain from certain comforts.

On Thaipusam day, the urumee melam group plays a pivotal role as they are a must-have for kavadi bearers who walk along to the thumping beats. The Akini Periya Gandhi Amman Urumee Melam troupe is one of the many groups from the Klang Valley that has taken up the challenge of accompanying the bearers on their spiritual journey.

Practice makes perfect: The Sri Maayakarar Bhagavathy Urumee Melam training for the Thaipusam festival at the Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple in Taman Sentosa, Klang.

Group leader Kalimuthu Ramalingam, 29, is a religious man who joined the group four years ago. Most of the group members are relatives and good friends, making it a fun venture. “No event, function or festival is complete without music and for Thaipusam, the urumee melam is part and parcel of the festivities,” said Kalimuthu.

He has regular bookings as well and over the last few years, the group’s popularity has grown, thanks to his cousin Meenachi Saravanan’s fame. Meenachi is the only female pambhai player in the country and during Thaipusam, many visitors enjoy wathching her play the instrument. The 18-year-old started playing for the group at the age of 15. “She watched us play and picked it up. Now, she can compete with the boys,” he added.

Another group, the Sri Maayakarar Bhagavathy Urumee Melam, was formed by Uwan Kannathasan, 26, and his friends, who developed a deep interest in the folk drum called urumee, a double headed hourglass shaped drum. Uwan believes that urumee plays an important element in the Thaipusam festival as it gives devotees the energy derived from the musical beats.

“The kavadi bearers are lulled into a trance-like state by the beats. The music also gives them the energy to sustain and complete the two-hour journey up to the caves,” he said. “We also feel that as part of the urumee melam groups, youths are engaged in a healthy activity and not go astray.

“In our group, we teach our boys discipline as well as the importance of charity work,” said Uwan. Surprisingly, there are no special classes that urumee melam groups attend to master the skills of playing the instruments, namely urumee, pambhai and thavil.

Uwan, who is also the president of the group, said they mastered the skills simply by listening to urumee melam albums by popular groups in the country. “To learn the art and get it right takes about one to two months. We usually practise two times a week but nearing Thaipusam, we practise three to four times a week,” he said. When they first started, the group comprised only 10 people but has now grown to 20 members, the youngest a six-year-old and the oldest a 27-year-old.

Teamwork: Krishnamoorthy (centre) briefing his team members during rehearsal.

Playing during Thaipusam is no easy feat as they have to be at their best for the huge crowd that converges at the temple. They receive bookings as early as six months prior to the festival. During the two-day festival, they accept a maximum of eight bookings.

The money they receive is used for repairing or buying instruments and on uniforms for group members. “None of the boys has asked us for a single sen. We play because of our interest in music and not for the money. “When possible and when we have some extra money, we perform for residents at charity homes, like on Ponggal day,” added Uwan.

Like the Sri Maayakarar group, the Sri Nageswari Amman Urumi Melam (SNAUM) is another favourite among the Indian community. Its manager, R. Krishnamoorthy and his brother R. Jeyaraman as well as a friend had set up the group in June 1989. Since then, SNAUM has grown to become a leading urumee melam group in the country.

Presently, the group has 20 members. For each of them, the instruments have to be respected when handled.

“We do not drink alcohol and we are barefooted when we play the drums, even during practice sessions,” said Krishnamoorthy, adding that the youngsters do not smoke. For them, the music they make is a link between the kavadi bearer and god, bringing them closer spiritually.

A SNAUM member, Surendran Chandragasi, 28, said they took their music seriously and would never do anything to obstruct the kavadibearer’s aim or the group’s reputation.

SNAUM usually receives bookings a year ahead, mostly from regular clients and to ensure they give their best, they practise often. Their earnings are also spent on repairing and buying instruments. “We only buy the best hide for the drums because it produces better beats. We also place a lot of importance on the traditional attire we wear when performing,” said Krishnamoorthy.

For Kalimuthu, the leader of the Akini Periya Gandhi Amman Urumee Melam troupe, competition is a healthy way to gauge the the performers’ expertise. He does not allow his team members to compete outside the music arena.

“We have had players joining us, learning new things and leaving to join other groups. We don’t mind or see it as a loss as we believe in imparting our knowledge and skills. It makes us happy,” he said. The group has a Facebook page and its videos can be found on Youtube.

-thestar online.

Asia's tourism players demand better ecotourism practices

While balancing economic development and environmental sustainability continues to be a challenge, tourism players should chart the way forward for ecotourism in South-east Asia, a salient theme that was raised during the ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC) at ATF 2013.

  

“We have to take care of the goose that lays the golden eggs,” said Victor Wee, chairman, Tourism Malaysia, on sustainability and ecotourism. “Ecotourism is a two-way street – it requires the responsible, conscious and committed participation of all parties.”

Tour operators should take a proactive stance, urged Umberto Cadamuro, director of business and operations, Pacto Indonesia. “The key is to keep sustainability in mind when developing products. We would recommend incentive groups to have their CSR activities in South-east Asia. It is the responsibility of DMCs to suggest this to their clients.”

Jimmy Sim, business development manager, Dorison Travel Singapore, agreed: “Sustainable tourism enjoys a higher profile in the Western world but is still something very new in this region.”

“Hotels are the most polluting link in the tourism field. There are a lot of opportunities but it’s very frustrating as many hotel owners are just looking at dollars and cents,” said Anthony Wong, group managing director of Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel Malaysia and Frangipani Hotels & Resorts.

“General managers are often appointed for two years or so, therefore it’s up to owners to set the vision and goals for their properties.”

Since adopting green practices such as rainwater harvesting, composting and setting up a wetland at Frangipani Langkawi, the resort’s operating costs have declined by 20 per cent, Wong revealed.

Community-based tourism can be tapped to improve the well-being of the local community while raking in tourist dollars, keynote speakers pointed out. For example, PATA Foundation has partnered Canada’s Capilano University to launch homestay programmes in Vietnam’s Sapa, according to chairman – board of trustees, Mario Hardy.

Better policies and regulations should be drawn up, as ecotourism products are generally under-priced in the region, leading to high visitations and environmental degradation, Wee added.

-TTG Asia.

Malaysia Wins Most Charming Asian Island Destination Award

BEIJING, CHINA, 25 JANUARY 2013: Malaysia was recognized as the most charming Asian island destination by New Voyage Magazine at its annual awards ceremony held at Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel on 15 January 2013.

The win is seen as a boost to Malaysia’s tourism plans for 2013 as it prepares to receive tourists this year, which has been designated as a promotion year for the Visit Malaysia Year campaign in 2014.

Malaysia’s many islands and beaches have long been a favourite destination for many. Langkawi is known for its natural attractions such as forests and 500 million-year-old rock formations which earned it the status of World Geopark by UNESCO in 2007.

Penang island, meanwhile, is a melting pot of cultures, beautiful architecture, rich history and delicious food, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pangkor Laut Island is known for its truly luxurious “one island, one resort” concept and has attracted celebrities the likes of actress Jodie Foster, golfer Nick Faldo, and world-renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The east coast of Malaysia also boasts of jewels such as Perhentian, Redang, Gemia and Sibu islands. Equally captivating are the islands and beaches in Sabah and Sarawak, with Sipadan Island leading the pack for the world-class diving experience it offers. 

Mabul and Mataking islands are also gaining popularity as diving destinations in Sabah, while the five islands within Tunku Abdul Ramman Marine Park offer visitors an island experience close to the city.

Nominations for the New Voyage Magazine awards for Best Outbound Travel Destinations were received throughout 2012 for voting by its readers, media, travelers and tourism industry players. Besides Malaysia, AirAsia also emerged the top winner for favourite airline.

About 200 guests from airlines, hotels, national tourism boards, China’s tourism bureaus, and members of the media attended the function. The monthly magazine has a circulation of about 310,000.

-Tourism Malaysia.

www.tourism.gov.my

Islamic influence on local art

Curatorial walk-through: (From) Prof Muliyadi with Mohammad Medan, Ismawi and Galeri Petronas director Rosli A.Rahim.

Galeri Petronas launched its latest exhibition recently — ‘Taman Nurani’ — a display of 56 local artworks that highlight the expression of Islamic influence in contemporary Malaysian art.

Themed “Islamic Impressions in Malaysian Contemporary Art”, Taman Nurani invites visitors to appreciate the beauty and richness of the works by 27 artists including National Art Laureate Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal, Abdul Latiff Mohidin, Omar Basaree, Khatijah Sanusi, Datuk Sharifah Fatimah Syed Zubir, Raja Zahabuddin, Husin Hourman, Nizar Kamal Ariffin and more.

Petronas group corporate affairs senior general manager Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah said: “The Taman Nurani exhibition enables Malaysians to appreciate Islamic influence on Malaysian contemporary art. “Galeri Petronas has been advocating contemporary Malaysian art over the last decade and our latest exhibition exemplifies our commitment and effort to educate the public and create awareness of Malaysian contemporary art development.

“The exhibition features local artists who have contributed to a flourishing contemporary art scene in the country. “We hope the exhibition will be a reference point for current and future generations to distinguish the distinctive and stylistic approaches of our prominent artists in creating different types of artworks.”

The artworks are from the Petronas Art Collection, National Visual Art Gallery and private collectors in the country.

Curated by Prof Dr Muliyadi Mahamood from the Faculty of Art and Design, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam, the exhibition is divided into four categories — Cultural and Traditional Motifs: The Continuation of Tradition in Contemporary Art; Landscape: Reflections of God’s Greatness; Calligraphy: Stylistic Transformation in Contemporary Art; and Abstract Works: Manifestations of Spirituality.

Muliyadi commented that there was a lack of public understanding on Islamic impressions in contemporary artworks as many do not realise that it is much more than just calligraphy.

“Throughout the years, Galeri Petronas has been instrumental in supporting the local contemporary art movement. “I hope the gallery’s latest offering will not only uphold the dynamic and diverse nature of Islamic impressions in Malaysian contemporary art, but also promote a better understanding of Islamic perspective in contemporary art,” he said.

The exhibition was launched on Jan 11 by International Islamic University Malaysia’s International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) dean Prof Ismawi Zen and is open for public viewing at Galeri Petronas, Level 3, Suria KLCC until Feb 17.

Various public programmes have also been organised to complement the exhibition, including a curatorial walk-through by Prof Muliyadi, a calligraphy workshop and a lecture by Dr Choong Kam Kow, an internationally recognised local artist and a prominent academician in art and design.

An Islamic Art Forum — Confluence of Thoughts & Ideas, moderated by Muliyadi will be held at Galeri Petronas today, at 10am. The panelists include Dr Ruzaika Omar Basaree, Dr Siti Zainon, Dr Sulaiman Esa and Ustaz Don Daniyal. For details, call 03-2051 5634 / email rashil@petronas.com.my(Rashidah) or 03-2051 0901 / email haslizan_jemeli@petronas.com.my(Haslizan).

-thestar online.

Firefly set to fly high again, aims for higher passenger load, sustained profitability

Ong: ‘We are profitable. In fact, the turboprops have always been profitable.’

SUBANG: After having incurred losses due to its short-lived jet operations, Firefly turned the corner last year. And now, to enhance its position in the marketplace before the Asean skies open for competition, the community airline is set to raise loads and sustain profitability.

Energising its product offering and targeting leisure travellers is a good start towards this end. Firefly aims to raise average passenger loads by 5% to 75% this year. It plans to carry 1.8 million passengers by year-end and about two million by June, 2014, as compared to the 1.6 million carried in 2012.

Developing a new hub in Johor Baru is also high on its agenda. The carrier is also on track to add about 10% new capacity to its system this year by taking delivery of two of the 20 new ATR 72-600 it had ordered in December.

“We are profitable. In fact, the turboprops have always been profitable,''chief executive officer Ignatius Ong told StarBiz in an interview.

However, he would not elaborate on the profit figures for 2012. But prior to deploying jets for its Sarawak and Sabah operations in 2010, the airline was said to have earned about RM10mil in net profit.

The jet operations, however, flew it into the red territory rather quickly. Ong does not see the airline reviving its jet operations any time soon, as the focus is on the turboprops to drive its point-to-point operations.

The 20 ATRs, costing some RM1.7bil, will be self-funded, with the first delivery expected in June and the second in October. Several more are expected to land in 2014. The first delivery will be used to add frequencies, especially to Johor Baru and Penang, while the second is to be hubbed in Johor Baru, where it intends to ply routes such as Sumatra and Northern Java which fall within the two-hour radius category.

Firefly currently flies to domestic and regional destinations in the Asean network, serving more than 25 destinations within Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. It operates from its base in Subang and has a hub in Penang. A fourth hub is planned for the East Coast. More daily flights to Penang, Johor Baru and the East Coast areas which Ong felt had “unfulfilled demand'' are in the planning.

The need to energise the product comes after six years of its inception. Ong said the need was there to refresh the airline, be it for its product or branding. Even a change in the crew's uniform is in the offing. However, he remained mum on the cost of the refreshing exercise.

For now, most of Firefly's passengers were business travellers, and entry into the leisure market was vital as it would give the airline a bigger addressable market, said Ong.

“We have to look at ways to stimulate demand. We need to add frequencies and even one or two destinations, offer more seats on promotional fares, fortify the brand and create excitement as we want more people to fly with us. “We also need to create awareness among leisure travellers that we fly out of Subang, as many do not know this,'' he noted.

As part of its refreshed image, the airline has made some changes to its website for a better customer booking experience, as most of its sales is done online, also providing connectivity to all devices like tablets and smartphones.

Firefly is a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the latter of which is expected to report a loss for 2012. Analysts, however, expect MAS to turn the corner this year.

Now that Firefly is profitable again, will it eventually be slated for a listing? Ong said: “We would not say never, but not in the next two years. For now, we need to fortify the brand.'' Firefly's edge is that it operates out of Subang, but since it uses turboprop, it can only fly short distances.

However, Ong believes that by providing a seamless experience for its travellers and remaining innovative, there is a huge market for point-to-point traffic that prefers fast and easy connectivity, and Subang serves precisely that need. It is just a matter of reaching out to a wider population.

The airline, according to Ong, also has a very low-cost base “and we are always looking at ways to reduce cost and bring down our turnaround time, which is currently about 20 minutes. And while our fuel consumption is 30% lower than jets, we will set the right fares to ensure our loads grow (though our fares are competitive now).''

-thestar online.

www.fireflyz.com.my

Inclusion Of Singaporeans In Malaysia's Tourist Arrival Follows Guidelines - Mirza

VIENTIANE: The inclusion of Singaporeans in Malaysia's tourist arrival data is in line with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) guidelines on tourists.

According to the UNWTO, it is stipulated that any foreigner who enters a country through proper entry points is counted as tourist. The industry has generally, felt that Singaporeans should not be included in the tourist arrivals data as Singapore did not include Malaysians visiting the republic in their tourist arrivals data.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab has defended the country's stand to include Singaporeans in their tourist arrivals data. What Tourism Malaysia did, did not go against the UNWTO guidelines on tourists which stipulated that any foreigner entering a country, via proper entry points, was a tourist, he said.

Mirza noted that even Thailand counted Malaysians visiting the country as tourists. So did, European countries which counted foreigners from their neighbouring countries as tourists when they visited the countries.

Malaysia recorded 24.7 million tourist arrivals in 2011, with Singaporeans making up the biggest portion of 9.7 million tourists.

"The data is genuine. We did not fabricate or doctor the data as it all conforms with the UNWTO guidelines. "Malaysia is among the top countries in the region which receives a high number of tourist arrivals," said Mirza, adding that Malaysia was well connected by land with neighbours such as Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.

There have been many feathers on Malaysia's tourism cap.

The UNWTO ranked Malaysia as the ninth Most Visited Country in the World in 2011, and CNN's survey last year, placed Malaysia as the fourth Best Shopping City in the World, after New York, London and Tokyo.

Malaysia is the world's top Muslim-Friendly Holiday Destination, according to a survey by Crescentrating, Singapore-based Muslim travel consultancy released on Jan 16, 2013.

The country is ranked third for 2013 World's Top Retirement Havens by Internationalliving.com and takes seventh spot on the top 10 Meetings Destination in Asia Pacific by ICCA.

It was named the World's Friendliest Country in 2012 by Forbes Online and numbers 12th Most Competitive Economy in the World for Doing Business by the World Bank's Doing Business Report 2013 edition.

It also won the first prize for the UNWTO 2012 Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance for its Homestay Experience Programme. UNWTO also ranked Malaysia 14th in International Tourism Receipts in 2010 and 2011.

Mirza said Malaysia might not have won so many awards without a proper tourist arrival data. "We are just a small country but I am proud when I opened the book, we are among the top 10 countries in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) chief executive officer Zulkefli Sharif said 19 events were secured for the period between 2012 and 2014, with tourist expenditure of RM373 million.

The events include Jennifer Lopez Concert, Kids Golf World Championship, Vijay TV Movie Awards, Tropfest South East Asia, Asia Pacific Cheerleading Championship, World Universities Debating Championship and MuayThai World Championship.

MYCEB was established in 2009 by the tourism ministry as a non-profit organisation to further strengthen Malaysia's business tourism brand and position for international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions market.

-Bernama.
www.tourism.gov.my
http://corporate.tourism.gov.my/research.asp?page=facts_figures

Batu Caves expects 1.6m visitors

LONG WEEKEND: Temple set for larger crowd at this year's Thaipusam

BATU CAVES: More than 1.6 million visitors are expected to celebrate the annual  Thaipusam festival at  Batu Caves Temple this Sunday.

Temple committee chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said the crowd would be bigger this year as the festival fell on a long weekend.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin was expected to grace the event for the first time. "All the preparations are almost complete and we are looking forward to this Sunday," Nadarajah said yesterday.

He added that 400 stalls would be set up on the temple grounds this year, more than double the usual number. The fun-fair held on the temple grounds every Thaipusam would also be back as it was part of the festival as well as a popular attraction at the iconic tourist hotspot for more than 40 years, he said.

Gombak OCPD Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rahim Abdullah said police were geared up for the festival and would have more than 1,300 officers on duty during the whole event. "We are more than prepared for this year's festival.

"We have set up the Special Indian Task Force for this year's Thaipusam. "Some of them would be in plain clothes to keep watch on the situation."

Rahim said there would be five mobile police stations in the vicinity of the temple as well as Federal Reserve Unit officers, K9 unit, traffic police, RELA members and Malaysian Red Crescent Society in case of emergencies.

He urged those who wanted to visit the temple to use public transportation to get there and plan their journey accordingly.

-nst online.

Public’s wish to visit palace granted with opening of Royal Museum

Kingly: The King’s office where official business was conducted.

Take a peek into the inner sanctum of the royal family on Feb 1 when the Royal Museum, located at the old Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur opens its doors to the public for the first time. Located in Jalan Istana, the museum will be open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Department of Museums director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ismail expressed excitement about the opening. “The best part about the palace is its overall uniqueness as each room is different. We have also retained all the original fittings,” Ibrahim said. He said many people, both foreign and local, had expressed interest in visiting the historical building.

“Visitors at the Raja Kita (Our King) exhibition, held at the Balairong Seri Utama (Throne Room) of the old palace, expressed their hopes of visiting the palace and now they can,” he said, adding that visitors have the option of taking a guided tour or explore the palace on their own.

“For now, we will provide simple information boards but in future, we hope to be able to provide more details. In fact, we are in the midst of seeking out retired palace officials whom we hope can provide guided tours and interesting anecdotes to visitors,” he said. There will also be outdoor performances such as silat, cultural performances and brass bands to liven up the museum. The schedule for this will be announced later.

Royal bedchamber: The room where the King and Queen slept has four different kinds of lighting to emulate the four seasons, this one being spring.

Beginning this year, guards dressed in the olden Malay Sultanate era uniforms have been stationed at the gates of the old palace, becoming a new attraction where the popular cavalry guard used to stand.

Ibrahim also said most parts of the palace would be opened to the public but that in certain area, they would merely get to look into the room from the doorway.

The palace was built in 1928 and was originally the residence of a Chinese millionaire called Chan Wing from 1942 to 1945, during the Japanese Occupation, when the building was used as the Japanese officers’ mess.

It was later bought by the Selangor government to be used as a palace for the Selangor Sultan before it was acquired by the Federal Government in 1957 to become the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong until November last year. The palace has undergone renovations several times, including in 1980 to build the Throne Room extension that was used for the first time during the installation of the seventh king.

Warm shades: The Queen’s office, decorated in brown and pink, was where she received her guests.

Among the rooms that visitors will get to see is the Minister’s Room where guests accompanying heads of states and dignitaries and not part of the audience with the King wait, the Royal Clinic, the small Throne Room that is used by the King for small ceremonies and functions, the royal bedchamber and more.

Ibrahim said for now, visitors would only get to visit the main palace building while the rest of the palace grounds may be opened in the future. He also said they have yet to decide on entrance fees or dress code for visitors.

Rusli Asri, who has worked at the palace for 32 years, said the guided tours would highlight the importance of the King and the palace to the younger generation. He added that by transforming the King’s former residence into a museum, locals and visitors can now get a glimpse into how the royal family lived and learn more about their history.

-thestar online.

Malaysia Airlines Commences Paris Journey with A380 - offers great deals as Airbus A380 is rolled out to serve Paris

Subang, 22 January 2013 : Malaysia Airlines will commence A380 services on its Kuala Lumpur-Paris route beginning 1 March 2013. The French capital is the second European destination after London in the national flag carrier’s long haul network to be operated by the superjumbo. The 494-seater Airbus 380 daily services to Paris will be rolled out to replace the current 282 seat B777 operations, increasing daily seat capacity by 75% effective 1 March 2013.

In conjunction with the A380 operations, Malaysia Airlines is offering attractive promotional fares from now till 11 February 2013, valid for travel from 1 March 2013 till 30 September 2013. Economy class travel on the state-of-art A380 is now possible at all inclusive return airfares starting from RM2899. A ‘Golden Ticket’ campaign during this offer period, allows economy class customers a chance to be upgraded to business class when travelling between 1 March 2013 and 30 Sept 2013. Winners of ‘Golden Tickets’ will be randomly chosen by seat number on flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris.

Meanwhile, the all-inclusive promotional return fares for Business Class from Kuala Lumpur to Paris starts from only RM11969, while return First Class fares start from RM 31465.

Malaysia Airlines, Senior Vice President, Sales and Distribution, Duncan Bureau said, "We first started flying this route in April 1982 using the DC-10 aircraft with a transit in the Middle East. Today in 2013, almost 31 years later, we are using our latest flagship aircraft, the A380 which showcases our newest premium offering in products and services, for this non-stop service. With the A380 flying to Paris, Malaysia Airlines is proud to offer new levels of comfort, luxury and convenience to our guests.”

“The "Golden Ticket" free upgrade incentive and the low fare promotions is also our way of rewarding our customers who have patronized Malaysia Airlines throughout the years. We are currently celebrating our 40th anniversary flying as Malaysia Airlines and with our entry into Paris with our big bird, this is indeed timely to share the A380 joy with our customers.” Duncan added.

With the A380 replacing the B777-200, Malaysia Airlines is also introducing First Class travel on this route. The super jumbo has 8 First Class seats on the main deck, each with a pitch of 89 inches and convertible into a full flat bed of 87 inches length and a width of 40 inches. Each seat also boasts an individual 23-inch in-flight entertainment screen with personal closet and stowage for coat, luggage, laptop and personal belongings.

First and Business Class Customers flying to Paris will also cherish the premium chef-on-call service which features various meal options ranging from Malaysian favourites, international cuisines, chef’s recommendations and also light and healthy choices. Customers can pre-book a chef-on-call meal by contacting Malaysia Airlines 24-hour Call Centre at 1300 88 3000 or +603 7843 3000 (outside Malaysia), or by visiting a Malaysia Airlines Ticketing Office anytime 24 hours before their flight.

Customers can book their travel on Malaysia Airlines through  all distribution channels mainly www.malaysiaairlines.com, Malaysia Airlines 24 hours toll free number 1 300 88 3000, MHBuddy in Malaysia Airlines Facebook, MHmobile, Malaysia Airlines ticket offices and appointed agents throughout Malaysia.

Since first entering service in 2007, the A380 has exceeded all expectations, flying more people further at lower cost, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.  The spacious, quiet cabin and smooth ride have also made the A380 a firm favourite with passengers. Malaysia Airlines received its very first A380 last July, becoming the 8th in the world to fly the world’s largest and most eco-efficient airliner.

Paris is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. The city is rich with historic associations and is predominantly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed as the Capital of Fashion, it is home to the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics. The French capital is a must visit place in most avid travellers’ list. Malaysia Airlines aims to make travel to Paris more memorable with its luxury product, the A380.

-Malaysia Airlines.