Zaqhwan Remains Positive After Heavy Rain Interupted Testing

image: JPMoto Racing Team facebook

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Moto2 rookie, Zaqhwan Zaidi's preparation for his debut season was interrupted by heavy rain at Jerez Circuit in Spain, on Wednesday.

JPMoto said in a statement that the challenging weather had limited Zaqhwan's track time and did not allow him to push the Suter machine to the limit.

Despite the setback, Zaqhwan and his JPMoto team remained positive, using whatever possible sessions to the fullest in getting the rider and his bike ready for the season opener at Losail Circuit, Qatar, on March 29.

"Obviously, things did not go as planned. Heavy rain had affected the first two days of testing in Jerez. I could only manage a limited number of laps. Nevertheless, we need to always be positive and take this challenge positively.

"I am happy that I managed to do a few laps on both days. Naturally, I was quite nervous with the challenging weather and track conditions; especially as this is my first look at Jerez circuit.

"But in all, everything went well. We will continue to work hard and get ourselves ready for Qatar," said the statement.

Zaqhwan concluded his session in 22nd position clocking one minute and 49.255s.

Two other Malaysians in Moto2 class, Azlan Shah Kamaruzzaman (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) clocked 1:45.729s and 1:46.523s, respectively.

image: SIC Racing Team facebook

In the Moto3 class, the Malaysian team, Drive M7 SIC Racing Team continued to make headway at the Spanish circuit today, despite intermittent rain.

Malaysia's Moto3 ace, Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin said the wet condition was very challenging especially after a minor crash saw him lose valuable time on track to work on his set-up and better his time.

"It was raining heavily during the final session and unfortunately I had a minor crash on lap two. I was only able to do nine laps but now we know what to do with the bike. I hope the weather will be more consistent tomorrow and we can get more time on track," he said in the team's press statement.

Undeterred by the weather conditions, his teammate, Jakub Kornfeil (Czech Republic) took to the track to test the wet set up on his KTM Moto3 machine for the first time.

"In the end (of the testing session) it was raining heavily, which was perfect as we had a full wet session...it was an ideal time to test our wet set-up properly, which was what we wanted. Finally we did a great job.

"I have to say thanks to my team; we set-up the bike for the wet very well and I felt good. Still we have to work on the electronics as we have a couple of things to improve, but when we have done this I am confident that we can again be faster," said Kornfiel.
-bernama.

KLIA Transit Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Transfer Package ( 27 - 29 March 2015 )

The hottest race in Malaysia is back! The Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix 2015 is happening soon at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from 27 – 29 March 2015. Those going for F1 can now beat the traffic and catch the race with the KLIA Transit Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Transfer Package.

This complete package includes train ride (KL Sentral – KLIA) and shuttle bus service (from KLIA to SIC) for only RM150 return trip for all 3 days; RM120 return trip for Saturday and Sunday; and RM35 for a one-way trip on any day of the race.

Tickets can be purchased at:

• Selected Ticket Counters at KL Sentral, KLIA and KLIA2
• Buy your Transfer Package here from sepangcircuit.com
• Authorized Sales Agents

Package includes train (KL Sentral-KLIA) & shuttle bus (KLIA – Sepang International Circuit).

-www.kliaekspres.com

Kuala Lumpur forms tourism bureau and MICE desk

Dataran Merdeka. photo: PelanconganKini

In line with the city's 10-year master plan for more tourists, Kuala Lumpur will upgrade the City Hall tourism unit to a tourism bureau with a dedicated MICE desk component in 2H2015.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s head of tourism, Noraza Yusof, said the bureau and MICE desk will be headed by a COO who will in turn report to Kuala Lumpur mayor, Ahmad Phesal Talib.

The MICE desk’s tasks will include the development of a MICE strategy such as branding and offering subventions, and fostering industry collaboration between associations with members of MACEOS and the travel trade, event planners, transportation and equipment suppliers, venue providers and restaurant operators in Kuala Lumpur.

So as not to overlap with Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), the MICE desk will be limited to providing on-ground support to MyCEB’s bids for business events to Kuala Lumpur.

Noraza elaborated: “The idea is to bring people together three or four times a year to update all parties on what is happening in the city and to build a closer working relationship so everyone knows what’s happening.”

The 10-year Kuala Lumpur Master Plan was launched early this year, a roadmap towards achieving the city’s ambitious targets of nearly doubling tourist arrivals to 16 million between 2015 and 2025. It also aims to increase average length of stay from 3.1 nights to 5.5 nights, and raise average spend per day from RM682 (US$183.90) to RM900.

-TTG Asia.

2015 Formula 1 RapidKL Shuttle Bus Service ( 27-29 March 2015 )

-www.myrapid.com.my

Langkawi to become AirAsia's next international hub

AirAsia has named Langkawi as the airline's next international base, a move that will likely see tourist traffic to the Malaysian island take off.

Announced at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2015, the airline’s group CEO, Tony Fernandes, said: “We are very excited about this announcement. We plan to put five planes in Langkawi and generate approximately one million to 1.5 million passengers through Langkawi very quickly.

“We will obviously focus on ASEAN destinations and gradually expand the connectivity to China and India, which are both very strong routes. It is exciting news for the state of Kedah and exciting news for job creation as we will base pilots and cabin crew in Langkawi.

“By making it a hub, we hope to contribute further to the growth of traffic of this airport,” he added.

The LCC currently operates three routes from Langkawi with a total of 98 flights weekly. Langkawi will become AirAsia’s sixth international hub in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Johor Bahru, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

Aireen Omar, CEO of AirAsia, said: “Today is a big day for us at AirAsia. We have been campaigning for a while now, and we are pleased to know the government and the airport are beginning to see the benefits of LCCs and understand that with the right cost structure, we can grow the airport and churn new businesses.

"We have a great airport here in Langkawi but it is under-utilised. We firmly believe Langkawi have a huge potential to grow as an international hub.”

-TTG Asia.

Borneo Jazz 2015 @ Miri, Sarawak ( 8 - 9 May 2015 )

The Borneo Jazz, currently in its 10th year features Jazz musicians from the region as well as across the globe. This 2 day event held in Miri, at the Park City Everly Hotel is  in support of Miri as Sarawak’s Resort City.

Besides being a  Resort City, Miri is located near to the Sultanate of Brunei and Malaysian state of Sabah, which has a significant number of expatriate communities, and Jazz is deemed to be suitable music genre and is of interest for these communities. In attracting them into Miri, it is hoped that it will contribute in raising tourist arrivals into the State and contribute towards the expansion of socio economic activities in the city.

At this event, the local schools brass bands also feature as a prelude to the opening act as part of their exposure on the international stage.  For more details, please log on to www.jazzborneo.com
-www.ticketcharge.com.my

Selangor rolls out tour packages for Visit Selangor Year

photo: Tourism Selangor

Tourism Selangor this month unveiled a series of tour packages showcasing the Malaysian state's heritage and culture, sports, and ecotourism aspects, and is inviting the trade to spread the word.

The packages are targeted at domestic and international markets and were created by Tourism Selangor Travel & Tours, a division of Tourism Selangor. Travel consultants who sell the packages will be able to earn commissions.

Noorul Ashikin Mohd Din, Tourism Selangor’s general manager, said the packages were rolled out in conjunction with the year-long Visit Selangor Year campaign, which itself rides on the national Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 (MyFest 2015).

The state tourism body has increased its annual marketing and promotional budget by 30 per cent, with allocations for travel consultant support, fam trips to Selangor for trade and media, and advertisements.

This year, Tourism Selangor is aiming for seven million tourists, up form the 6.1 million in 2014. 

-TTG Asia.

SABAH Best Of Borneo Holiday Packages

-Tourism Malaysia Sabah office.

New helicopter tours lift off from Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi

image: http://asiaheli.com/

Luxury helicopter tours for Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi Island, together with exclusive chartered flights to several popular tourist destinations around Malaysia, have been launched by AsiaHeli.com.

James Greaves, director of the Kuala Lumpur-based company which began operations this January, said: “Services are targeted at high-end tourists in search of breathtaking scenery and ‘time-saving’ charter flights.”

The tours include narration from the pilots. In Kuala Lumpur, customers may choose from 30-, 45- or 60-minute tours, with prices starting from RM1,105 (US$299) per person for a 30-minute flight.

In Langkawi, options of six-, 15-, 20- or 30-minute tours are available, with a six-minute flight costing RM185 per person.

There are also charter flights available from Kuala Lumpur to popular tourist destinations around Malaysia, including Tioman Island, Malacca, Cameron Highlands, Penang, Langkawi and Pangkor. Charter services to Singapore are also available.

AsiaHeli.com works with travel consultants and will discuss the commission structure upon enquiry.

-TTG Asia.

New Airline in Malaysia, flymojo Executes Letter of Intent for up to 40 Bombardier CSeries Airliners

Bombardier CS100 aircraft in flymojo’s livery

March 17, 2015, Montréal: Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Fly Mojo Sdn Bhd announced today that the parties have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the sale and purchase of 20 CS100 aircraft with options for an additional 20 CS100 aircraft.

The announcement was made in parallel with the Government of Malaysia’s announcement at LIMA on a new airline, flymojo, which will be based out of Johor Bahru, Johor and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Upon execution of a firm purchase agreement, flymojo is expected to become the first customer and operator of the CS100aircraft in the region.  

Based on the list price of the CS100 aircraft, a firm order would be valued at approximately $1.47 billion US, and could increase to $2.94 billion US, should flymojo exercise all its options.  

At the LOI signing ceremony, flymojo was represented by Managing Director, Janardhanan Gopala Krishnan and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft by Regional Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Frank Baistrocchi.

In attendance were the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak, the Honorable Minister of Transport, Liow Tiong Lai, the Honorable Deputy Minister of Transport, Aziz Kaprawi, Canada’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Her Excellency Judith St. George, flymojo Chairman, Alies Anor Abdul and Vice President, Sales, China and Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, Andy Solem.

“The announcement of a new airline in Malaysia is an exciting way to kick off LIMA. With flymojo’s primary hub at Senai International Airport, Johor and secondary hub in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, the airline’s ultra-modern fleet of CS100 aircraft will play a key role in improving connectivity between the Peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak, as well as other parts of the region,” said Deputy Minister of Transport, Aziz Kaprawi.

“In addition, as the only airline utilizing the Southern Corridor as its headquarters, flymojo will transform Senai into a key regional aviation and logistics hub - augmenting the government’s initiatives in developing Iskandar Malaysia and the Southern Corridor. Further strengthening Kota Kinabalu’s standing as a gateway into Malaysia, flymojo will also boost tourism into Sabah and Sarawak,” added Deputy Minister Aziz.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate Malaysia’s flymojo and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft as they work together to bring the CSeries aircraft to Malaysia and the ASEAN region,” said the Honorable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, Government of Canada. “As the travel needs in the region increase, Canada is committed to supporting the growth of economic ties between our two countries. As Minister of International Trade, I am pleased to see a Canadian company growing through exports, creating jobs and prosperity for all Canadians."

“Born of the desire to make air travel a much-anticipated and longed for experience, flymojo is dedicated to providing value, and exceptional customer service that will focus on putting the human touch back into flying,” said flymojo Chairman, Alies Anor Abdul.

“We are confident that our model will resonate deeply with our passengers and that the use of the technologically advancedCSeries aircraft will transform the aviation industry in Malaysia and the region,” added Mr. Alies.

“With its strategic market footing and unique operations, flymojo is an ideal match for the all-new CS100 jetliner,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The CSeries family of aircraft will enable new airlines such as flymojo to cover markets efficiently thanks to its exceptional economics, operational flexibility and widebody comfort, coupled with an unmatched environmental and noise footprint.

“The CSeries family of aircraft’s game-changing technology, and its two models – the CS100 and CS300 jetliners -- provide airlines the capability for natural progression in terms of market coverage and passenger capacity,” added Mr. Arcamone.

About CSeries aircraftBombardier is creating the future with its CSeries aircraft -- the only 100 per cent-new family of airliners specifically designed for the100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market. Benefitting from a clean-sheet design that includes leading-edge technology and systems integration, advanced materials and latest generation aerodynamics, the CSeries aircraft offer a 15 per cent* cash operating cost advantage, a 20 per cent* fuel burn advantage, exceptional operational flexibility, widebody comfort and an unmatched environmental and noise footprint.

The CS100 aircraft offers unmatched flexibility for many airline business models and is an ideal solution for hot-and-high and city-centre airport operations.

Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 603 CSeries aircraft, which include firm orders for 243 CSeriesairliners.

About flymojoflymojo, operated by Fly Mojo Sdn Bhd, is a new airline targeting the travel market within ASEAN and the regions bordering it. flymojo was born out of the desire to make air travel a much-anticipated and enjoyable experience. flymojo aims to deliver value and exceptional service to our customers, and to put the human touch back into flying. flymojo intends to set the standard in passenger comfort, on time performance, inflight entertainment and communication, as well as in delivery of seamless services. flymojo will operate out of its primary hub at Johor Bahru, Johor and secondary hub at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

-www.bombardier.com

Experience Malaysia April

April is an exciting month to travel around the country to experience the Malaysia Year of Festivals. Let the Bajaus of Sabah share their love for the sea with you during the colourful Regatta Lepa race. Or enjoy the traditional food, culture and past times of the Sarawakian Melanaus during the Kaul Mukah Festival.

There’s also a silat carnival, featuring Malaysia’s martial arts tradition, going on in Kelantan.

For more modern pursuits, Penang’s World Music Festival, Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya and shopping bargains during the Grand Prix sale promises lots of fun.

To give you some ideas of what to do this April, here’s a line-up of well-balanced events for tourists, both local and foreign, to enjoy in Malaysia. Plan your trip well, or engage the services of a licensed tour operator/travel agent.

Happy holidays!

Communications & Publicity & the Editorial Team, Tourism Malaysia

Penang World Music Festival
Penang World Music Festival features a colourful assortment of performances ranging from traditional to fusion. Experience mind-blowing performances by international musicians from Spain, Germany, South Africa, India and more. Marvel at the fusion of historic and contemporary attractions, right in our UNESCO Heritage City. We invite you to experience food that will exhilarate your taste buds while indulging yourself in this all-in-one music and culture trip.

Date  : 11 to 12 April
Venue  : Esplanade, Penang
Organiser : Penang  State Tourism
Website : www.penangworldmusic.gov.my
Contact :+604-650 5136

Labuan National Water Festival

This water-splashing event invites visitors to come and enjoy, relax, eat, play and compete in numerous water-related activities such as fishing, round-island kayaking, cross-channel swimming, and shore fishing. Take part in a beach tug-of-war competition, test your agility in climbing a slippery pole or take out the competition in a fun pillow fight! Visitors are also welcome to join the Labuan International Sea Challenge which is part of the annual Malaysia Water Festival; it is among the biggest and popular water sports events in the country. If you are a water sports lover, then Labuan is the place for you.

Date: 24 to 26 April 2015
Venue: Federal Territory of Labuan
Organiser: Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia
Website: www.motour-labuan.com / www.lisc.com.my
Contact: +6087-422622

1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale

The 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale, held in conjunction with the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix, is a highly-anticipated sale in which shoppers can expect to buy fabulous products at a bargain. Tourists coming to enjoy the F1 race can later experience the Truly Malaysian shopping thrill off-circuit which not only offers the best prices with the best varieties of items but also offers an array of dining choices that will ignite your senses. From seductive culinary temptations and fun and recreation to relaxation and entertainment, experience it all at the 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale.

Date: 14 March to 5 April
Venue: Participating malls throughout the country
Organiser: Ministry of Tourism and Culture
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
Contact: +603-8891 8000

Ironman 70.3
The Ironman event is not for the faint-hearted. If you have the iron will and determination to swim for 1.9 km, cycle for 90 km, and run for 21.1 km, then you might just cross that finish line with bragging rights. But if you don’t, it’s still great to watch the sheer physical and mental strength of man from the sidelines.

Date: 5 April
Venue: Millennium Monument, Precinct 2, Putrajaya
Organiser: World Triathlon Corporation
Website: http://www.ironman.com/
Contact: +603-7491 0591

Wings of Kuala Kubu Bharu- Selangor Bird Race

The fourth Wings of Kuala Kubu Bharu is a great opportunity for birders to come together to enjoy nature and expand their knowledge of the different species of birds and their habitats. Participants will go through 10 different checkpoints starting from the charming town of Kuala Kubu Baru, past the Kalumpung Hot Springs and ending at the Genting Highlands Awana Resort. The area is part of the Important Bird Area and has gems such as the Marbled Wren Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Large Niltava, Silver-Breasted Broadbills and three hornbills namely Rhinoceros, Great and Bushy Crested. Experience the green side of Malaysia here at the Wings of KKB Selangor Bird Race event.

Date: 24 to 26 April
Venue: Kuala Kubu Bharu and Awana Resort, Genting Highlands
Organiser:  Hulu Selangor District Council
Website: wingsofkkb.blogspot.com
Contact: +603-60641331

Nasi Ambeng Carnival
Nasi ambeng or nasi ambang is a fragrant rice dish consisting of white rice served with chicken curry or chicken cooked in soy sauce, vegetables, fried noodles, some salted fish, fried coconut flesh, and so on. It is cooked during important celebrations and served in a tray to be shared by four to five people. Come and experience the unique, communal dining style and delicious food of the Javanese-Malay people at the Nasi Ambang Carnival.

Date: 17 to 18 April
Venue: Banghuris Homestay, Sg. Pelek, Sepang, Selangor
Organiser: National Department for Culture and Arts
Website: www.jkkn.gov
Contact: +603-5510 2664

UNESCO World Heritage Exhibition

The UNESCO World Heritage Exhibition is being held at Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Kuala Lumpur. This exhibition features the four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Malaysia namely the cities of Melaka and George Town, the Archaeological Heritage of Lembah Lenggong, Gunung Mulu National Park and Kinabalu Park. Though small, the exhibition is packed with many interesting exhibits and information about each UNESCO site, and is a great stop before tourists decide to visit any of the actual destinations. The UNESCO World Heritage Exhibition runs until 31 December 2015. Admission is free.

Date: Until 31 December 2015
Venue: Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Kuala Lumpur
Organiser:  Department of National Heritage
Website: www.facebook.com/jabatanwarisannegara
Contact: +603 2260 9000

Regatta Lepa Fiesta

The Regatta Lepa traditional boat race occurs annually in April and it is a vibrant festival that pays homage to the lepa, the traditional single-mast sailing boat of the Bajau people of Semporna, Sabah.  Witness a fleet of colourful lepas decorating the coast of Semporna during the annual Regatta Lepa event. Enjoy unique cultural performances, the Lepa Beauty Pageant, the Most Beautiful Lepa competition, fireworks displays and so much more!

Date: 24 to 26 April
Venue: Regatta Lepa Square, Semporna
Organiser: Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd
Website: www.sabahtourism.com
Contact: +6088-232121 / +6013-850 4007

The Nusantara Silat Carnival

The Nusantara Silat Carnival 2015 is organised by the Kelantan Tourism Information Centre. This event brings silat practitioners all the way from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. Kelantan is proud to be the birthplace of the silat jatuh which is a very unique form of martial arts. Visitors are welcome to learn about the unique martial art culture of silat in the beautiful and culture-rich state of Kelantan. 

Date: 5 to 7 April
Venue: Kota Bharu City Hall Council, Kelantan
Organiser:  TIC Kelantan
Website: tic.kelantan.gov.my
Contact: +609-748 5534/+609-748 3543

Kaul Mukah Festival

Come and experience the lifestyle of the Melanau community living along the coastal area of Sarawak, and celebrate one of their highly cherished traditional festivals. The Kaul Mukah is celebrated as a religious ceremony to appease spirits of the sea, land, forest and farm, making it the most important festival in the Melanau traditional calendar. The festival site is on the banks of the Mukah river estuary where visitors can relax, soak in the culture and participate in the activities, traditional games (a major highlight is the giant traditional swing called “Tibow”) as well as savour their unique delicacies. The Kaul Mukah festival provides an amazing opportunity for visitors to experience the Truly Malaysia cultural heritage that in its essence is what makes Malaysia a diversified and culturally rich country.

Date: 25 to 26 April
Venue: Mukah Festival Ground
Organiser: Kaul Mukah Festival Committee
Website: www.kaulmukah.com
Contact: +6016-5781945 (Mrs Jennifer)

All information is correct at time of publication. Visitors are advised to contact the event organiser for the latest updates.

-Tourism Malaysia.

GO KL Now! Visit KL Launch KL Super Saver 3days/2 nights Under RM150

Kuala Lumpur, 12th March 2015 – In conjunction with the up-coming school holidays, VisitKL @ DBKL’s, has introduced the GO KL Super Savers campaign. The tactical campaign is targeted at the domestic tourist market and will run from the 13th to the 22nd of March 2015.

The main objective of this tactical campaign is to encourage more visits to the nation’s capital during the school break and at the same time to dispel the perception that Kuala Lumpur is an expensive destination for Malaysians from other parts of the country to visit as a holiday destination. GO KL Super Savers for domestic tourism is an implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025 under Initiatives 10.3 – Develop KL specific collaborative marketing.

VisitKL has arranged for a number of value-for-money offers with the Kuala Lumpur tourism players including hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and even transportation. Visiting KL during this period will give Malaysians the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic 3 Day / 2 night stay for just under RM150 per person at the Silka Maytower Hotel, take a ride to 45 attractions in the city on board the KL Hop-On- Hop-Off Tour Bus for just RM10.00 (usual price with MyCard is RM35.00), take a full day KL Tram ride for just RM4.00, and catch the musical extravaganza, MUD at the Panggung Bandaraya, for a special ticket price of just RM10.00 (usual ticket price with MyCard is RM45.00). Other offers to grab are listed in the website www.visitkl.gov.my


Visitors to the city can also take advantage of the numerous other freebies that are on offer, such as the free cultural and heritage guided walking tours, the unlimited free rides on the Go KL Buses around the city, and free entry to a number of museums. And during this period what is especially attractive is that even shopping will be very much more affordable with the Malaysian GP Sale which is on from the 14th of March to the 5th of April 2015.


In conjunction with this campaign Visit KL will also be running an easy and fun to enter ‘Selfie’ contest that will be open to Malaysians only. All you have to do is take a ‘selfie’ (or a ‘wefie’) with a distinctly Kuala Lumpur background and submit your selfie entry online via your facebook, intagram or twitter and #visitkl and you could stand to win a free 4 Day/3Night holiday package in the city. The contest will run for a month, form the 13th of March to the 12th May 2015.

The Mayor of Kuala Lumpur said that the perception of many Malaysians from the other states, towns and the rural areas is - KL is an expensive city to stay or visit. He said that when comparing the cost of a holiday in Kuala Lumpur with many other destinations within Malaysia or in neighbouring countries, KL is actually very affordable. "We have many world class standard attractions, shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment and so much more that has proven to attract international tourists and placed KL as 9th most visited city in the world. Malaysians too must not miss out on these tourism experiences. Malaysians don’t have to travel far and overseas to experience them, when we have them right here in our own capital city", said Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Bin Hj. Talib. "And to make it even more attractive for Malaysians to have their holiday in KL, the Go KL Super Savers tactical campaign will make it even more affordable and fun for the whole family", he added.

Details on more of the offers and benefits of the GO KL Super Savers campaign are available on the official Visit KL website at www.visitkl.gov.my. Those interested in joining the ‘Selfie KL Contest’, can also find links to the contest page and details to participation on the website.
-Visit KL Tourism Unit @ Kuala Lumpur City Hall. 

Guardini Makes It 18 Stage Wins As Reguigui Conquers 20th Edition Of Le Tour De Langkawi

KUALA LUMPUR: Astana's Andrea Guardini added another victory to his collection after ending the 20th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) the same way he started it, with a win in a bunch sprint ahead of Orica GreenEdge's Caleb Ewan n the final stage from Kuala Kubu Bharu to Kuala Lumpur today.

It was Guardini's 18th ever LTdL stage win, coming on a day when MTN-Qhubeka's Youcef Reguigui confirmed his first ever overal victory as a professional as he emerged with the yellow jersey he won on the decisive Stage 7 yesterday.  

When he tried hard to stop Ewan and tghird placed Michael Kolar of Tinkoff-Saxo in the final sprint, Guardini, who lost three teammates to food poisoning a day earlier had to sprint early with 200 metres to go and completed the stage in a time of 2:00.27s.

The final stage saw Reguigui crowned as the overall winner of LTdL 2015 after the Algerian sprinter chose not to take too many risks in challenging Guardini and Ewan as he did in the earlier stages and finish 10th on the day.

Reguigui clocked a total time of 28 hours 12 minutes and 04 seconds to emerge the overall winner over the eight stages contested this time around. He finished 9 seconds ahead of Astana's Valerio Agnoli and 10 seconds ahead of third placed Sebastian Henao.

The red jersey for the mountains classification remained in the hands of United Healthcare's Kiel Reijnen, who took charge of the lead from the first stage in Langkawi and brought it to the finish to be crowned the king of the mountains of this edition.

The Asian riders classification was won by Japan's Tomihiro Hayakawa of Aisan Racing Team.

The surprise of this edition was the rise of Indonesia's Pegasus Cycling Team, who bagged both the Asian and overall teams classification title.

Guardini thanked his two remaining teammates - Agnoli and Maxat Ayazbayev - for the effort they put in for him to bag his fourth win of this edition.

"It was tough by this was a race that I wanted to win and I also wanted to help Agnoli get second place in the general classification and we achieved both," said Guardini.

"I knew what to expect in this final stage. It is a win that is special and I hope this will give a good year for my career." Guardini, as he did in the opening stage in Langkawi, repeated his win in the final stage in his debut year with Farnese-Vini in 2011.

Asked if he would return next year, Guardini who's contract with Astana expires at the end of the year, hoped he could return to the race, but wasn't sure of the team he would represent next.

Reguigui, for whom this is the biggest ever win in his professional career, admitted he had just started his pre-season training before coming to Malaysia and took a bit of time to acclimatise before showing his true colours when he won Stage 7 from Shah Alam to Frasers Hill.

"I would like to congratulate all my teammates and I am happy with this yellow jersey although it was supposed to be Natnael Berhane who took it in Frasers Hill," said Reguigui, 25.

"In this final stage, my team controlled the pace from the beginning until the final two laps of the circuit before leaving it to Astana and Orica GreenEdge. I wanted to challenge in the sprint, but I didn't want to take any risks."

-www.ltdl.com.my

Animax Carnival Malaysia 2015 1st LIVE Concert

A glitzy two hour free-standing concert featuring Ani-song artistes all the way from Japan –

May’n (Macross Frontier, Accel Word), Mami Kawada (Shakugan no Shana, Hayate the Combat Butler) and ELISA(VALVRAVE, The World God Only Knows)!

• 29 March 2015 (Sun), 3pm to 5pm at Sunway Pyramid Convention Center
• Doors open at 2pm
• 1st year special price of RM20 per ticket
• More information of Animax LIVE Concert can be found on the Animax Carnival website: www.animax-asia.com/acmy2015

-www.ticketpro.com.my

Malaysians throng MATTA Fair looking for cheap domestic destinations

Hunting for bargains: MATTA Fair visitors also checking out local tour packages
at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur. — SAMUEL ONG / THE STAR.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MATTA Fair is attracting travel enthusiasts from around the country in droves to explore not only foreign destinations, but also domestic ones.

Hospitality and tourism student Lim Mee Yee from Ipoh said the fair provided cheaper avenues to explore domestic destinations.

Lim said there were also booths that promoted travel to local destinations that were not known to many, even Malaysians. “As students pursuing tourism and hospitality, this excites us and we feel that this fair serves to promote inbound travel,” she said at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

Asked about the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Lim said the package was still cheaper compared to many international destinations. “We are looking to buy a trip to Pulau Pangkor for RM395 and when you include 6% to that, I don’t think it will come to much more,” she said.

Sharing her sentiments were accountant P. Selva, 33, and his wife G. Shamini. “We have always liked the idea of travelling, but never really had the time before.

“Now that we can, we certainly want to start with domestic destinations as there are countless beautiful places in the country. “I have done a lot of research on where to travel and there are many impressive destinations right here,” said Selva, adding that they would be travelling to Sabah in June.

Another person looking for a domestic destination is Musa Sukor, 63. “Call me biased, but Malaysian destinations will always top my list,” he said.

Musa, who hails from Muar, Johor, said he and his wife had been visiting local destinations since he retired. “It is something we planned when we were young and now with the Government encouraging travel, everything works to our advantage,” he said.

“Previously, my wife and I would save up and work towards our travel until we heard about this fair three years ago. “Since then, we have been coming here annually.”

MATTA Fair organising chairman S. Jayakumar said the first day of the fair charted a 10% sales growth, exceeding expectations. “There were 21,139 entrance tickets sold on the first day itself,” he said. As at 6pm yesterday, there were more than 19,800 visitors to the fair.

-thestar online.