Positive Qualifying For DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team At Aragon

MotorLand Aragon, Spain– Saturday 26th September

Circuit: MotorLand Aragon
Circuit Length: 5.1 km

Bike #63 – Zulfahmi Khairuddin
Qualifying: P16; 1’58.978 (DRY) – 13 laps

Bike #84 – Jakub Kornfeil
Qualifying: P12; 1’58.698 (DRY) – 14 laps

The DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team concluded a positive qualifying session today, that will see Jakub Kornfeil line up on the grid in 12th place and teammate Zulfahmi Khairuddin in 16th, for tomorrow’s Aragon Grand Prix.

Making an impressive start, Khairuddin and Kornfeil immediately launched themselves into the top ten as qualifying began, where they then remained for the majority of the session.

Quickly setting his fastest time of the weekend on race tyres, Zulfahmi Khairuddin provisionally held onto sixth position within the Moto3 field. Looking strong throughout, it was only in the final twelve minutes that the determined Malaysian rider was knocked out of the top ten.

Lapping alone for the majority of the chaotic forty minute qualifying practice, Czech rider Jakub Kornfeil worked hard to improve his pace and find his rhythm. Feeling more confident on his #84 KTM machine, the 22 year old showed a consistently fast race pace, concluding qualifying a mere two tenths from fourth place.

Starting tomorrow’s race from row four (Kornfeil) and row six (Khairuddin), the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team riders are feeling confident they can battle for a strong result.

Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager

“It’s been a pretty good weekend here so far. After the test in Misano we found some good things for both riders and have made a lot of progress. We’ve only made minor changes today and all in the right direction. This has allowed us to concentrate more on the rider’s performance instead of always focussing on resolving problems. Fahmi and Jakub are doing a really good job. The times are very close; Jakub is only two tenths from fourth position and Fahmi is also not far away. This is also Fahmi’s best qualifying position since Indianapolis this year. It looks good for tomorrow. Both Jakub and Fahmi can do consistently quick lap times on race tyres. We just need a good race start and the results can be there. I hope to continue this momentum.”

#63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin

“I’m really happy again with the bike today. Between the morning practice and afternoon qualifying we barely changed a thing and it felt great. To be honest this entire weekend I’ve had a good feeling on the bike. I ride well at this track and I feel a lot more confident. The bike here is unbelievable; I think it’s the best I’ve had all season. Tomorrow we will keep the set-up exactly the same. I know I can be fast and overtake people, so I really think points are possible here. We started qualifying on a medium tyre and I went fast straight away, but when we changed to the soft tyre I couldn’t improve anymore because it had a lot of chatter. In the end we went back to a used medium tyre, which felt better, but unfortunately by this point there was a lot of traffic and I couldn’t get a clear lap. Nevertheless I know I have a good race pace and a competitive bike. I want to say a big thanks to the team and tomorrow I hope we can finish this weekend with a great result.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil

“Yesterday we prepared as much as possible because we knew it wouldn’t be an easy qualifying session today. This is why in morning practice we were a little bit further back because we were trying to save the tyres for the qualification. I think our strategy worked well because we were able to go fast straight away. In the middle of qualifying we put in the medium tyre, which was the best, so I knew I had to push hard at this point. I set my fastest lap time completely alone which I was very happy about, so despite a lot of riders going faster at the end, I feel confident with my pace and set-up for tomorrow. We have a good starting position in twelfth place and from the fourth row of the grid you can make a very good result. We have the speed, the rhythm and a strong bike, so I’m really really looking forward for tomorrow and seeing what we can do. Today we have made a good job and I am happy for this and for the guys.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.

PelanconganKini supports DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.

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

M7 Energy Drink (European Version) also now available.

Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2015 @ Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil ( 26 September ~ 4 October 2015 )

Come and Watch World-Class Tennis Live in KL!

The Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2015 is an ATP World Tour 250 Series event, and one of only five ATP World Tour tournaments in Asia. Now in our seventh year, the Singles Main-Draw features a field of 28 players, whilst the Doubles Draw features 16 teams. There is also a Qualifying tournament played during the first weekend, where 32 players complete for four spots in the Main Draw. The tournament features world-class ATP players competing for USD 1,041,540 in prize money and valuable ATP ranking points. Local players are given the chance to participate through a number of wild cards.

The Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur Interactive and Entertainment Zone is a vibrant interactive entertainment precinct designed to provide tennis fans with an opportunity to actively participate in tennis related activities.

The Interactive and Entertainment Zone includes a mini-tennis court, speed serve cage, Wii tennis and face painting. Fans will get the chance twice every day to meet the tennis stars in our public “Player Autograph Sessions”.

Great food and drink, live music and sponsor sales and display booths offering special discounts via coupons printed on your ticket, are also available at the Interactive and Entertainment Zone.

Every day from Wednesday to Sunday, 500 ATP World Tour t-shirts will be given away to ticket holders (one shirt per ticket per day only) after the featured match, in addition to our now quite famous “Catch the Ball Challenge” promotions conducted after every centre court match, with hundreds of prizes to be won. And you get to keep the autographed ball as well!

Dates : Qualifying Weekend – September 26-27, 2015
Main Draw – September 28 – October 4, 2015

Venue : Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur

Official Website : www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/MalaysianOpen.KualaLumpur

Twitter : //twitter.com/#!/KLopentennis

Past Champions :
Year Singles Doubles
2014 Kei Nishikori (JPN) Marcin Matkowski (POL) / Leander Paes (IND)
2013 Joao Sousa (POR) Eric Butorac (USA) / Raven Klaasen (RSA)
2012 Juan Monaco (ARG) Alexander Peya (AUT) / Bruno Soares (BRA)
2011 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) Eric Butorac (USA) / Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO)
2010 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) Frantisek Cermak (CZE) / Michal Mertinak (SVK)
2009 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) / Marcin Matkowski (POL)

Tournament Schedule
Qualifying Rounds : Saturday - Sunday Sep 26-27 Starts at 10:00am (free admission)

Main Draw : Monday - Tuesday Sep 28-29 Starts at 1:00pm (free admission)
Wednesday - Thursday Sep 30-Oct 1 Starts at 1:00pm
Friday - Sunday Oct 2-4 Starts at 2:15pm

The above schedules are subject to the final confirmation.

-www.ticketcharge.com.my

Constructive First Day At Aragon For The DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team

MotorLand Aragon, Spain– Friday 25th September

Circuit: MotorLand Aragon
Circuit Length: 5.1 km

Bike #63 – Zulfahmi Khairuddin
FP1: P10; 2’00.446 (DRY) – 14 laps
FP2: P21; 2’00.085 (DRY) –13 laps

Bike #84 – Jakub Kornfeil
FP1: P6; 2’00.030 (DRY) – 16 laps
FP2: P19; 1’59.960 (DRY) – 16 laps

Starting strong the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team riders got straight down to work as a cool but dry morning practice at Aragon got underway.

Immediately on the pace, Jakub Kornfeil looked in good form throughout the forty minute session. Lapping alone the Czech rider continued to progress, concluding FP1 in sixth place, just 0.896s off the top of the timesheets.
Feeling more positive and confident on his #63 KTM machine, teammate Zulfahmi Khairuddin also made an impressive start building his pace and finishing morning practice in a solid tenth place.

#63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin
“I’m very happy with the bike today and also I feel my performance has improved. This morning I felt really good with our set-up; the bike was working well and I was able to get into a rhythm. We made just a couple of small changes but straight away I could feel the improvement between the first and second exit. For the second practice the team and I agreed to try something different but unfortunately it didn’t help and from the beginning of the session I wasn’t as comfortable with the set-up. We didn’t have enough time to change back to our previous settings from the morning but at least now we know what works and what doesn’t. I was still able to improve my lap time in FP2, which was good, so I believe we can do well here. I know I can be competitive at this track, so I’m confident for tomorrow.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil 
“Today from FP1 the bike was working very well so in the afternoon we didn’t touch the settings; I was able to improve my time but not my position. Nevertheless I know we are definitely capable of more. At the end of second practice today, most riders were able to get a slip-stream but unfortunately I didn’t. I did my fastest time alone which was good, but this is also why I couldn’t go four tenths quicker and finish in the top ten. Still I am feeling positive; I think we have made good progress since the last GP. There is still work to be done but compared to Misano my feeling on the bike here is so much better. I think practice tomorrow morning will be good but of course qualifying will be the most important thing and this is what we really have to focus on. I hope that we can find something more for this and we can really aim for a good grid position for Sunday’s race. Now we have to be clever and see what we can do to further improve. The main thing is we have the speed and this is very important for us, so for sure we can be strong.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.

PelanconganKini supports DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.

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

M7 Energy Drink (European Version) also now available.

Wild Cards Announced For Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur

The tallest man in tennis who possesses one of the most lethal serves in the sport is coming to the US$1,041,540 Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur.  Fans will be overawed by “The King of Aces” at Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil, September 26 to October 4, 2015.

Ivo Karlovic, currently ranked 18, shot to fame in 2003 when he stunned then defending champion Lleyton Hewitt in the first round of Wimbledon. The Croat has rekindled his elite status on the ATP World Tour with some consistent results over the last two years and in 2015 reached two finals so far, including winning Delray Beach.

Joining Karlovic, is Spain’s former top-ten star Nicolas Almagro who is working his way back up the rankings after sitting much of 2014 out due to injuries to his shoulder and right foot, which required surgery. Ranked as high as nine in the world two years ago and making his 3rd appearance in KL, Almagro won the ATP Challenger in Genova and reached the quarters or better at five other events so far in 2015.

The final main draw wild card has been awarded to 20 year old Ramkumar Ramanathan from India. He trains at the highly regarded Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona and has been playing mainly on the Futures and Challenger circuits. Ramanathan is ranked 228 and this year won two Futures and reached the final of another, and was a quarterfinalist at the Kolkata Challenger.

Additionally, Nick Kyrgios, who arrived in KL on Wednesday and who was already seen practicing at the National Tennis Centre later that same day, has requested and has been granted a wild card into the main draw of the doubles with fellow Australian, James Frawley.  Subject to draws, this means local fans will see Kyrgios in action on both Monday and Tuesdaywhen entry to the tournament is free. Nick will also be signing autographs for the public on Sunday afternoon at the Pavilion Mall. Also, in a first for the tournament, the remaining marquee players including David Ferrer (who will play his first match on Thursday evening), Grigor Dimitrov, Feliciano Lopez, Viktor Troicki and Fernando Verdasco have confirmed their early arrivals into KL for between Friday and the weekend. This is a clear sign of how serious they are taking the tournament – with the players also traveling with their full coaching delegations.

Unfortunately French player Richard Gasquet has informed Tournament Director Nick Freyer that he has been forced to pull out of this year’s event with injury.

“The tournament respects Richard's decision of deciding not to compete when his body and mind were not up to the task, but at the same time we warmly welcome his replacement, the "King of Serves", Ivo Karlovic on his inaugural visit to Malaysia,” Nick Freyer said.

“Ivo is a player no other player wants to be drawn against, especially as he celebrates arguably his best year on Tour. My advice to fans watching any of his matches live is not to blink when Ivo serves… because they will miss it.

“At the same time, we welcome back our second wild card recipient and former top-ten player, Nicolas Almagro, who is playing his way into form after injury and also extend a welcome and opportunity to Ramkumar Ramanathan as he develops his young career.”

Karlovic, 36, has won six career titles and at 2.11m he is the tallest player to ever be ranked in the world’s top 100 since the computer rankings were created in 1973. He holds a record of 10,000 aces served in ATP play. In addition to his Delray Beach win, this year he was a finalist in Newport, a semi-finalist in Doha where he upset Novak Djokovic, in Halle where he beat Tomas Berdych and in Bogota. He was also a quarter-finalist at Acapulco, Bucharest and s’Hertogenbosch.

30-year-old Almagro is another of the growing number of 30-something players on the Tour. He owns 12 career titles and has career wins over the likes of Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray. This year the Spaniard has been a semi-finalist at Kitzbuhel and a quarterfinalist in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, upsetting Tommy Robredo both weeks, Casablanca and Estoril.

The Tournament Director also announced that all wild cards for the qualifying event have all been awarded to players from Malaysia, three who have played the event previously, together with a tournament rookie. They are Syed Mohd Agil Syed Naguib, Ahmad Deedat Abdul Razak, Mohd Ashaari Zainal Abidin and newcomer Christian Oliver Lee who returns to Malaysia after a period of training in the United States.  Local players will also feature in the main draw of the doubles with the pairing of   Mohd Assri Merzuki / Syed Mohd Agil Syed Naguib.

Once again the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur is making the event affordable for all Malaysians. Entry from Saturday 26 September to Tuesday 29 September is free.  Thereafter tickets will be between RM10 to RM620. Tickets can be purchased now on-line via the tournament website www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com, at TicketCharge outlets or through the ticket hotline at TicketCharge Ph: 603-9222 8811.

The tournament would like to thank its suite of official sponsors. In addition to the distinguished support of the Event Patron, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia, Ministry of Education as well as the Ministry of Youth & Sports, the event is proud to have prestigious commercial sponsors that include KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Rado, CNN International, the DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Wilson, 100 Plus, the Albukhary Foundation, Astro and the ATP World Tour’s Premier Partner Corona. 

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

-MalaysianOpenKualaLumpur.

Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix 2015 ( 23 - 25 October 2015 )

The race just gets bigger and better! 

Be part of the biggest motorcycling festival in Sepang International Circuit with the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix which will be held from 23rd to 25th October 2015.

With over 120,000 attendance every year, 80 booths from anything to everything for bike lovers, entertainment on and off-track and hours of pure speed, adrenaline and bikes galore.

Throughout the years, there have been numerous winners in Malaysia across the various classes of bikes (Moto3™, Moto2™ and MotoGP™) but they have all shared a common trait, being among the best riders in their classes. The list is studded with multiple world champions and some of them have completed a triple crown of wins in all categories.

With bigger impact in 2015, witness the debut of SIC Racing Team showcasing our national hero together with a list of Malaysian boys competing in this world class championship.

Don’t miss out to watch the battle of champions racing their way to Sepang this 2015.

-www.ticketcharge.com.my

Tourism Malaysia To Take Part In First Global Relay On Instagram

MELBOURNE, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia will take part in the first global relay on Sept 27 to be hosted on Instagram.

The Global Relay is organised by HelloWorld to help celebrate and acknowledge World Tourism Day.

This global relay will take followers on a visual journey and feature many of the wonders of the world over one day, Tourism Malaysia said in a statement.

For 12 hours, nominated travellers will guide the public through their country by taking a snap of their surroundings every hour and posting it on Instagram.

The relay will begin in Samoa, the Western most point of the planet at sunrise, and finish at sunset 24 hours later in the Cook Islands, with another 74 destinations in between.

With its unbeatable scenery and vibrant culture, Malaysia is sure to be one of the highlight destinations!

Tourism Malaysia is collaborating with one of Australia's favorite Instagrammers, Annette Widitz.

Widitz has a passion for all things travel and photography and her supreme ability to capture the beauty of a country in photographs is appreciated by more than 33,000 followers.

The itinerary for Widitz during her 12-hour tour of Malaysia begins with one of the world's top shopping cities, Kuala Lumpur and later travels to Malaysia's food capital, Penang and to end her adventure she will finish up in Sabah where she'll admire the majestic, Kota Kinabalu.

"To ensure you don't miss out on the action, tap the follow button (@dawa_lhamo) - you will be treated with inspiring imagery of nature, mouth-watering food and plenty of unique Malaysian beauty," it said.
-bernama.

PLUS : Follow The TTA During Hari Raya AidilAdha Holidays

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) expects traffic on the North-South Expressway (NSE) will increase for the Hari Raya Aidiladha holiday. As such, those planning to use the NSE during the upcoming holiday and weekend are advised to follow the PLUS Travel Time Advisory (TTA) schedule for a smoother journey.

The TTA, which was issued during the previous festive seasons and peak days has helped to facilitate smoother traffic flow on the highways. As such, those planning to travel on the NSE between 23 September and 27 September are advised to follow the TTA.

TTA is a staggered travelling schedule for various destinations along the North-South Expressway. It is part of PLUS’ strategies to distribute the traffic and reduce traffic congestion on the mainline, rest areas and toll plazas.

PLUS also advises the public to contact the toll free PLUSLine 1800 88 0000, follow the PLUSTrafik Twitter service or downloaded PLUS Mobile Application through their smartphones or tablets for the latest traffic updates on the highways.

-www.plus.com.my

Malindo Air To Start KL-Amritsar Flight On Oct 25

www.malindoair.com

NEW DELHI, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Malindo Air is to launch a direct flight between Kuala Lumpur and Amritsar in Punjab, India, on Oct 25, according to a statement from the airline.

The budget airline will have thrice-weekly flights using Boeing 737-900ER aircraft on the route, it said.

"The 4,268km route or equivalent to a 5-hour 20-minute flight will signify the airline's furthest destination from its main hub in Kuala Lumpur," the statement said.

Malaysians now going to Punjab have to fly to New Delhi and travel five to eight hours by rail or road to destinations in the state.

The Malindo Air statement said promotional fares for Business Class will start at RM1,309 one-way while the Economy Class fare will start at RM759 one-way, inclusive of light refreshments and a meal, in-flight entertainment and free baggage allowance.

The airline's CEO, Chandran Rama Muthy, said in the same statement: "We are proud to extend our wings further up north of India to Amritsar."

"Malaysians and transiting visitors from neighbouring Singapore can now look forward to a smooth flight to Amritsar via Kuala Lumpur whether for business, leisure or religious purposes," he said.
-bernama.

A new Hotel Jen arrives in Kota Kinabalu

Shangri-La International Hotel Management has unveiled plans to develop Hotel Jen Kota Kinabalu, the brand's first property in Borneo and the third in Malaysia.

Opening in 2018, the 440-key hotel will be located on top of PacifiCity mall in Likas Bay, opposite the Sabah Trade Centre and near the new Sabah International Convention Centre currently under construction.

It will comprise twin iconic towers and offer views of the South China Sea, coastal wetlands and Mount Kinabalu.

Amenities include a fitness centre, 75m resort-style pool, children’s pool and play area, and private club lounge with bistro, lounge and al fresco café. Meeting and convention facilities are also available, including a column-less ballroom.

For F&B options, there is Jen’s Kitchen, which offers all-day dining with local specialties and international cuisine, while Jen’s Kitchen On-The-Go is a deli counter offering easy-to-eat meals.

The announcement was made today by Shangri-La International Hotel Management and Pacific Sanctuary Holdings during a signing ceremony at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu.

-TTG Asia.

27 September is World Tourism Day!

Every time we travel, for whatever reason, we are part of a global movement; a movement that has the power to drive inclusive development, create jobs and build the sustainable societies we want for our future; a movement that builds mutual understanding and can help us safeguard our shared natural and cultural heritage.

This year on the 27th of September, we want you to talk Tourism. Help us raise awareness of the important impact tourism has on countries and communities around the world and its potential as a force for good, creating a better world for all.#1billiontourists#WTD2015

Burkina Faso will host the Official Celebration 2015. Find out more.

Each year on the 27th of September, the purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

-UNWTO.

DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team Aiming To Regain Competitiveness At Aragon

MotorLand Aragon, Spain– Monday 21st September

Circuit: MotorLand Aragon
Circuit Length: 5.1 km

Located near Alcaniz in north-eastern Spain, MotorLand Aragon will host the penultimate European round on the calendar before the MotoGP paddock embark on three consecutive races overseas.
Consisting of seventeen turns the modernistic circuit is a favourite among many riders and in 2010 was awarded the IRTA Best Grand Prix of the Year. Zulfahmi Khairuddin currently holds the circuit record for a top speed of 239.7kph.

Having completed a successful test at Misano last week, the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team are feeling confident that they can return to their competitive form at Aragon.

Jakub Kornfeil overcame his relentless struggles with the new KTM chassis after carrying out a vigorous day of testing at Misano. Regaining his confidence with an improved set up on the #84 machine, the Czech rider is ready to redeem himself and battle with the leaders once again.

A DNF at Misano was disappointing for Zulfahmi Khairuddin who had been in good form all weekend but after using his test time on track to correct the technical issue he encountered during the San Marino Grand Prix and further improve his riding style, the Malaysian rider is looking forward to turning his positive progress into race results.

#63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin

“There are a lot of fast corners at Aragon, so I like this track a lot. After the test at Misano I’m excited to get back on the bike and see what we can do. We found a really good set-up for the fast corners in Misano, so I think this will really help us to be on the pace from the start at Aragon. Also I think the new KTM chassis that we have is really good for me; I feel a lot more confident on the bike and going through the fast parts of the track. I’m feeling positive about this next race, so I’m looking forward to getting started on Friday. We had an unlucky end to the last GP with a technical issue but our potential was there. We must continue to work hard and push for the points.”

#84 Jakub Kornfeil

“I think Aragon will be a much better GP for us; especially after such a difficult weekend at the last Grand Prix. The test day after Misano was exactly what we needed and it proved incredibly beneficial for us. We initially had a lot of problems with the new KTM frame but now I feel we have found a good base. We had a very positive test last Monday; we learned more about the bike and I felt a lot more confident with the set-up. Now I’m looking forward to the next race because I feel that my bike will work much better. I really like the track at Aragon and I think it suits my riding style too, so if I can find a good feeling, we are definitely capable of a strong result. With a competitive bike, I know we can do well.”

-SIC Racing Team facebook.

PelanconganKini supports DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team.

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

M7 Energy Drink (European Version) also now available.

Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival 2015 ( 29 October ~ 1 November 2015 )

-Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival facebook.

Kuching Waterfront Festival 2016 Aspires To Feature More International Boat Races

KUCHING, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The Kuching Waterfront Festival (previously known as Sarawak Regatta) next year aspires to feature even more international boat races.

Sarawak Minister of Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said there was a proposal to have special events involving foreign and local universities.

"If there is a consensus between the alumni of the Henley Business School and those of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the United Kingdom, we may even have their famous rowing races on the Sarawak River.

"Then, we can get our local university teams to compete against the British student teams," he told reporters after performing the eye-doting ceremony to symbolise the holding of the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta 2015 here Saturday, as part of the two-week long festival.

Also held was the Sarawak Handicraft Festival 2015.

Representing Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the event, he said there was also a proposal for similar rowing races to be organised among universities in the country, as well.

Abang Johari said the three-day international dragonboat race events of the festival beginning yesterday, had managed to attract eight international and four local teams.

"We have teams (comprising 544 rowers) from the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore joining us.

"Kuching is now a circuit for this international race in the region too, which is a very positive development," he said, adding that traditional boat races would be held on Sept 27.

On another matter, Abang Johari said it had been proposed that next year, the annual festival be held in November, instead of September.

He said this was because there were many major celebrations in September such as the Merdeka Month, Malaysia Day and the Sarawak Head of State's birthday.

"November should be ideal, especially after the public examinations are over so that we can attract even more holiday makers to the state," he noted.

Meanwhile, the 10-day Sarawak Handicraft Festival beginning Sept 18, is organised by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, in collaboration with Kuching resident Office and Unit Pembangunan Usahawan dan Industri Halal.
-bernama.

Citrawarna @ Kuala Lumpur Targets 50,000 Visitors From Home, Abroad

image: MOTAC

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The Tourism and Culture Ministry is targeting more than 50,000 visitors from home and abroad for the 'Citrawarna' programme this year.

The ministry's deputy secretary-general, Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah said the event would showcase a variety of unique music, song and dance in a large-scale musical performance.

"Of the 50,000 visitors, we are looking at 20 per cent from abroad.

"The ministry has conducted various promotions at hotels, the focus of foreign tourists, in addition to getting travel agencies to include the 'Citrawarna' programme in their itinerary and travel packages," he said at a press conference and pre-launch of Citrawarna@Kuala Lumpur 2015, here, today.

Carrying the concept of "Culture, Nature and Future", 'Citrawarna' this year will feature more than 600 dance artistes of all races from all over Malaysia with the creative touch of Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, who is no stranger to the entertainment industry.

The 'Citrawarna' programme, now in its 16th year, aims to promote Malaysia to the world as a tourist destination that has a lot to offer, from a variety of tourism products to the different cultures of each state and ethnic groups through music, song and dance.

The event will be held on Oct 17 at Dataran Merdeka from 10am to 11.30pm, with various activities and performances by local artistes.
-bernama.

Experience Malaysia October

The Malaysia Year of Festivals has entered the last quarter of 2015 but many exciting events are still in store for tourists. Fans of the Malaysian MotoGP would be thrilled to know that the annual race is back for the 25th year while golfers would be excited to see the return of CIMB Classic – PGA Tour. The general public can participate in the BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon and enjoy the beauty of the federal administrative capital at night.

October is also the month for foodies as the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival returns for the 12th year. Besides that, this is also the month for arts and culture enthusiasts. Among the not to be missed events include the unique International Aborigines Art Festival, Citrawarna@Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival.

Till then, we hope you’ll enjoy all the exciting events for this month!

- Corporate Communication Division, Tourism Malaysia

Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix

This is a very special year for the Malaysian MotoGP as it marks the 25th anniversary of the event. To celebrate its silver jubilee, the organiser has lined-up special elements at its annual Mega Moto Carnival, such as the MotoGP Wall of Fame, exclusive 25th anniversary merchandise and social media contests. Its race week line-up will thrill fans with returning favourites and exciting new events, including a MotoGP pre-anniversary party, stunt shows, a Riders Mini GP Race, Public Pit Lane Walk, Riders' Autograph Session, Safety Car Ride, Grid Walk, and many more.

Organiser : Sepang International Circuit Sdn. Bhd

Date : 23 – 25 October

Venue : Sepang International Circuit, Selangor

Contact : 603 8778 2200

Website : www.sepangciruit.com

Malaysia International Gourmet Festival 2015

Malaysia International Gourmet Festival is back for its 12th successive year. For those who love to eat, get ready for a delectable feast as gourmet restaurants and top chefs whip up a variety of special dishes and delicacies using quality ingredients. Travel around the country and savour delicious culinary creations.

Organiser : AsiaReach Events

Date : 1 - 31 October

Venue : Selected Hotels in Malaysia

Contact : +603 2282 8028

Email : info@migf.com

Website : http://www.migf.com

 

BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon

In this year’s BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon 5km run, you will be running or walking with thousands of people along the beautiful streets of Putrajaya. Participants are encouraged to put on something illuminated (think glow-in-the-dark shoe laces, etc) as they complete the 5km course along the main Putrajaya boulevard. Putrajaya itself will glow in a myriad of colours for this event, transforming Malaysia’s administrative capital into a night-time paradise. So dust off your running shoes, find anything that shines, blinks or glows, and get ready for a night full of fun and shine!

Organiser : Bank Simpanan Nasional

Date : 24 October 2015

Venue : Dataran Putrajaya, Precinct 3

Contact : 03-56373821

Website : www.bsnpnm.com

CIMB Classic – PGA Tour

The beautiful fairways of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) will be the witness to this year’s CIMB Classic. The tournament, the only official PGA TOUR FedEx Cup event in Southeast Asia, features a limited 78-player field with a prize purse of USD7 million, making it one of the richest professional golf tournaments in the region. Hosted in Malaysia, the CIMB Classic combines the best of golf and hospitality in one captivating event.

 

Organiser : CIMB Classic

Date : 29 October – 1 November

Venue : Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

(KLGCC)

Website : www.cimbclassic.com

 

International Aborigines Festival

This unique festival features the aboriginal/ indigenous peoples from various countries: Maori (New Zealand), Aboriginal (Australia), Zulu (South Africa), Aboriginal (Papua New Guinea), Samoas (Samoa) and Malaysia’s Orang Asli. View gala performances featuring unique music, dance, and culture of the various aboriginal groups, art and culture demonstrations, products sales and pocket shows.

 

Organiser : National Department For Culture & Arts (JKKN)

Date : 23 – 25 October

Venue : Titiwangsa Lake Garden, Kuala Lumpur

Contact : 603-2614 8200 / 8283 / 8316

Website : www.jkkn.gov.my
 

Citrawarna@Kuala Lumpur 2015

 

The signature tourism event of Malaysia is back with a fresh brand and concept – Citrawarna@Kuala Lumpur – to enthrall audience in a whole new way! Mark the date on your calendar and join us for a spectacular night of lights, dance and culture that celebrates Malaysia Truly Asia!

 

Organiser : Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC)

Date : 17 October

Venue : Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Contact : 603 8000 8000

Website : www.motac.gov.my

Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival

The development of Putrajaya as a contemporary administrative capital city of Malaysia was inspired by the need to project her unique image of Islamic heritage and its values. In support of this aspiration, the Putrajaya International Islamic Arts and Culture Festival, in short PIIACUF, was conceived as the platform for the expression and appreciation of Islamic values. The Festival will feature two art exhibitions, namely Wonders of Islamic World and the Al Aqsa Exhibition: Forms of The Doa, as the anchor, plus Islamic art collections from the region extending to the Middle East and Central Asia. The Festival will certainly upgrade Putrajaya’s stature as an international lifestyle centre reminiscent of the grandeur of Islamic civilisation in shaping human knowledge in all fields, spanning across various disciplines of philosophy, economics, finance, the arts and the sciences.

Organiser : Putrajaya Corporation

Date : 29 October – 1 November

Venue : Dataran Putrajaya, Precinct 3, Putrajaya

Contact : 603 8887 7000

Website : www.piiacuf.com

All information is correct at time of publication.

Visitors are advised to contact the event organiser for the latest updates.

-Tourism Malaysia.

ACV Music Festival @ Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach ( 24 October 2015 )

Get ready for ACV Music Festival featuring amazing line up from around the world assembling music culture from both International and homegrown talents. Expect a party like no other as we change the atmosphere in Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach into a One Night Only theme party with multiple surprises and music genres at all times! Our objective is to bring the hottest high demand music genres to the hearts up the mountains attracting not only locals but also neighbouring state and neighbouring countries. 

Headliners such as Paris Hilton, Havana Brown, Sky Blu from LMFAO, DJ Soda, Dato's AC Mizal, Leng Yein and other line ups are sure to give music supporters a night that they will never forget with intense music and smashing performance from the biggest names in date.

Get your tickets from:

1. Online at www.AirAsiaRedtix.com
2. Rock Corner outlets:	The Gardens, Mid Valley (TEL: 03 - 2201 4893)
	Subang Parade (TEL: 03 - 5613 1139)
	The Curve (TEL: 03 - 7733 1139)
	Bangsar Village (TEL: 03-22021139)
3. Victoria Music outlets:	Sg Wang(TEL: 03 - 2148 7208)
	Amcorp (TEL: 03 - 7956 0592)
	Tropicana (TEL: 03 - 7722 2955)
4. Penang outlets:	Artist Gallery, Gurney Plaza
	Artist Gallery, Queensbay Mall

-AirAsia RedTix.