RM6m refurbishment, rebranding for Mint Hotel

Property tycoon Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, the owner of Mint Hotel, is now drafting a business plan to turn the hotel around

The three-star Mint Hotel along the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban highway will undergo a RM6 million refurbishment and rebranding programme and re-open by the first half of next year.

Property tycoon Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, the owner of Mint Hotel, said he is now drafting a business plan to turn the hotel around, which had ceased operations since February 2005.

This follows the conclusion of Lee's acquisition of Mint Hotel from Ambank (M) Bhd for RM45 million, which Lee said was not voluntary.

A sales and purchase agreement was signed with the liquidator, Ernst & Young, in June this year, via his privately-held firm Lambang Raya Sdn Bhd.

"The hotel is not worth that much now. I am a victim. If i don't buy it, the bank will sue me. I will end up in a legal suit. I am caught because of the undertaking I had with the bank a few years ago," Lee, who is also the founder and executive chairman of Country Heights Holdings Bhd, told Business Times.

Property valuers have estimated Mint Hotel to be worth some RM23 million.

Ambank declined to comment.

The issue started when Jennico Associates Sdn Bhd, which is 50 per cent owned by Lee through Lambang Raya, was liquidated by a creditor in January 2000.

At that point, Jennico had already defaulted on a term loan of RM47 million granted by AmFinance Bhd in 1995, under the stewardship of Datuk Major (R) Zulkifli Abdul Mokti and KifliMokti Sdn Bhd, who owns the balance 50 per cent of the company.

Mint Hotel was then auctioned by Ernst & Young in 2005 and this attracted many bidders, including Lee, Lotus Family Group and Majestic Hotel.

They were keen to buy the 413-room hotel as it overlooks the Selangor Turf Club race course and is close to the Mines Exhibition Centre, Mines Wonderland, the Mines shopping mall and a golf course.

Business Times reported in August 2006 that Lotus won the bid to buy the hotel.

But a tussle broke as Lee claimed he was the rightful owner of the property.

According to Lee, he had submitted a bid for RM55 million for the hotel in October 2005 after being advised by AmBank, and a 5 per cent, or RM2.75 million, deposit was made to Ernst & Young.

Lee said his bid was based on a letter of undertaking he signed with Ambank in October 1995 stating that he will buy the hotel for RM55 million in the event of default of a loan taken by Jennico.

Tune plans to add 24 hotels in Indonesia by 2015

BALI: Tune Hotels.com plans to add 24 new budget hotels in Indonesia by 2015, including Jakarta, Medan and Bandung, to capture a pie of the republic's lucrative tourism market.

Group chief executive Mark Lankester said the new hotels are part of the no-frills hotel operator's plan to open 100 hotels all over Asia in the next five years, in line with its shareholders' plan to open one budget hotel at every city that budget airline AirAsia flies to.

Tune Hotels.com's shareholders include Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes of AirAsia.

"We will invest an average of RM15 million for each hotel in Asia, depending on the number of rooms," Lankester told reporters at the opening of TuneHotels Legian, its second hotel in Indonesia, here yesterday.

In the first quarter of next year, the hotel chain will invest RM50 million to buy land in Jakarta, Medan, Bandung as well as the UK, Phnom Penh, Melbourne and Perth.

"It takes up to 12 months from buying land right up to building the hotel," said Lankester.

He said the company also has received enquiries to start up operations in Japan, the Middle East, France, India and is looking for land in Singapore.

Tune Hotels.com signed an agreement with Thailand's Evolution Capital Public Co Ltd last Saturday to jointly open 44 hotels across Asia with an investment of US$200 million (US$1 = RM3.44).

The 44 hotels are part of its plan to open 100 hotels across Asia, of which five are already operating in Malaysia.

Hearty And Halal

WHEN she became a Muslim some 20 years ago, Haslinda Sim Abdullah had no problems adjusting to a new way of life except for one aspect - food. She couldn't find a Chinese restaurant that catered to Muslims. So Haslinda had little choice but to cook the food herself, more so when she got married and started to raise a family.

She became very good at it and eventually, her husband suggested that she take over the Zenith Restaurant when its owner had trouble making it profitable. She agreed as she wanted to share the joys of Chinese food with fellow converts and her Muslim friends but was nevertheless anxious.

After all, she could only cook Chinese and she worried about whether the largely Malay Muslim market would find Chinese food acceptable though all the ingredients were halal. So she started with quite a lot of Malay dishes, interjecting a few Chinese dishes here and there to test the market.

Later, she says, when she decided to switch to all Chinese dishes (except for a few items like nasi goreng kampung), the number of customers grew and many of them kept coming back.

Their praises for her cooking gave her the much-needed confidence and she began to expand on the menu.

Today, the no-frills but airconditioned restaurant has gained a reputation that Muslims in Kuala Lumpur and even as far away as Rawang and Seremban come to when they get a craving for Chinese cuisine.

She also attracted the Chinese Muslim community who were now glad they could eat out and enjoy halal Chinese food.

These days, with her clientele growing, she's roped in a proper Chinese chef from a major Chinese restaurant chain of restaurants, to help her cope with the vast amount of cooking.

"A lot of Malay customers don't really know what to order when it comes to Chinese food, so I have to be there all the time to make recommendations," says Haslinda. Some regulars never bother with the menu anymore, preferring to happily let Haslinda take charge of their meal. Now she is in the process of coming up with a picture menu that will help her customers decide better.

Lunch time sees a good crowd who come in for the chap fan - the pay-for-what- you -take Chinese coffeshop buffet. Haslinda offers only eight to 10 dishes there are vegetables, fish, tofu, eggs, chicken - all cooked Chinese-style.

"I think I'm the only one offering chap fun in this area. The rest are mostly mamak shops. Many office workers come in for a quick bite.

With chap fun, they don't have to think about what to order and many don't have the time for a leisurely meal," she says.

But I notice that many of her customers do pick up items from her a la carte menu. These range from quick single- serve meals like noodles and fried rice to more elaborate dishes to go with rice.

A set lunch of meat or fish with rice and a fruit juice costs only RM6.50.

There's black pepper beef, sweet and sour fish, marmite chicken, venison kuay teow, Cantonese fried and tom yam noodles.

There are Package Meals designed for the busy businessman, priced from RM30 to RM88 (nett) for between two to six persons and from RM115 to RM210 for between five and 10 persons. Three dishes of Hong Kong kailan with ginger and onion fish slice and mustard pickle and beancurd soup is RM30 nett.

Many customers come by to order ta-pau or take-aways and for nearby offices, all it takes is a phone call and Haslinda obligingly sends the food over.

Chap fun is not on our minds today.

Instead, we ask Haslinda to make us some recommendations and soon, our table is spread with a variety of dishes that make us feel like we are in a Chinese restaurant.

Wong nga pak (Chinese long, white cabbage) with dried scallops, for instance, is almost a festive dish.

Here, it's very well done indeed. The cabbage is well cooked to a tenderness that you can feel with your heart. I do so love softly-cooked Chinese cabbage.

It comes packed in a plate with dried scallops in oyster sauce ladled over.

The scallops add a delicate dried seafood flavour to the otherwise bland cabbage.

Then we have a Yin-Yang Fish. It's a pretty dish and such a lot of work. The chef has carefully filleted the whole siakap and used the meat to cook in two different styles. Half of this he has done in a deepfried butter-style with filigreed egg-white and curry leaves to add a gorgeous aroma.

The other half he spreads with a fish paste and carefully rolls each piece up with a scallion and julienned carrot in the centre.

These are steamed and lightly flavoured with soya sauce.

That's not all. What's left of the central bone, head and tail of the fish is dipped in a light batter and deepfried to crunchiness so that no part of the fish goes to waste.

The next dish is a Thai-sauce Roast Chicken. I find the sauce, with a generous sprinkle of roasted sesame seed, far too sweet. I prefered the chicken without the sauce.

Fried Abalone Mushroom is one of Haslinda's favourite dishes. The mushrooms are battered, deepfried and tossed in a sweet and sour sauce with chopped cucumber and capsicum.

Currently, the top favourite with her customers, according to Haslinda, is Yin-Yang Vegetable. "I remember recommending this dish to one group of customers but one of them protested, saying she had tried it in another restaurant and didn't think much of it.

But she was out-voted and later, she said that it was good! I was so happy," says Haslinda. "Our chef really does this dish very well."

The imported Hong Kong kailan is cooked in two styles. The stems are steamed while the leaves are shredded and deepfried till they are crispy and arranged on top of the stems. Then little silver ikan bilis are sprinkled over the kailan - a nice touch by the chef. The ikan bilis does wonders but it is also the contrasting textures of the steamed stems and the crispy leaves that make it so enjoyable.

For dessert, Haslinda doesn't offer too many choices. She has jin tui (sesame balls) and Shanghai pancake. She makes these herself, she says. Noticing some customers enjoying the jin tui, we ask for the same and soon we are happily munching on the glutinous rice flour balls with a red bean stuffing.

The coating of sesame seeds adds a nice crunch to the balls.

Photographer Rohanis couldn't resist having three though she professes to being "stuffed".

While we are having lunch, I can't help noticing the food ordered by customers at the other tables. The fish-head curry looks great as does the Seng Kong Tofu. The aroma of the Claypot Chicken with Saltfish simply irresistible.

Restoran Zenith is open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 10.30pm. It's closed on Sundays.

Taman Desa Petaling is on the way to Seremban from TUDM in Sungai Besi.

You'll have no problems locating Zenith with its bright blue canopy.

Haslinda also does catering and even managed a small wedding at the restaurant.

RESTORAN ZENITH (halal)
Block B, 3-LG-1, Megan Salak Park
Taman Desa Petaling,
57100, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-9056 3668

Food a Major Attraction to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR:Malaysian food has become one of the major attractions to foreign visitors because of the unique blend of cultural and ethnic histories that are not found anywhere else in the world, chairman of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Dr Victor Wee said today.

He said this unique blend of culture is very much reflected in the broad range of influences and flavours found in Malaysian food.

"Coupled with centuries of cohabitation, shared recipes and continous experiments from restaurateurs and food operators, we have produced an interesting potpourri of Malaysian cuisines not found anywhere else in the world, making Malaysia a gourmet paradise," he said when launching the 1Malaysia Fruit Tower contest at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.

Wee said apart from good food, Malaysia also has a great variety of refreshing and nutritious tropical fruits and praised the otganiser for creatively design the contest to help promote Malaysian fruits.

The 1Malaysia fruit tower contains a mix of local fruits whereby visitors of the ongoing Malaysia Restaurant Food Festival are encouraged to guess the quantity of local fruits in the tower.

At the fuction, Wee also lanched the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia - Malaysia Restaurant Food Festival that showcases fabulous food from renowed restaurants in the country.


With the theme 'Come Celebrate The Festivities with Tasty Malaysia' the three-day festival also features and promote the restaureters year end and new year dinner and wedding packages at a great value whereby visitors can make bookings and enjoy additional benefits. -Bernama

Khazanah and Pinewood in RM400mil studio project

By IZWAN IDRIS

KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Nasional Bhd has committed to invest RM400mil to build the region’s biggest independently-owned studio facility in Johor together with renowned international film production company Pinewood Shepperton plc, as the Government’s investment arm steps up efforts to boost Iskandar Malaysia’s appeal as a global creative hub.

The Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studio (PIMS) is scheduled to open by early 2013.

New investment flows into the Iskandar Malaysia economic region have suffered a “slight setback” due to the fallout from the economic recession, which also crippled Dubai recently, Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar told reporters at a briefing yesterday.

However, he was quick to point out that the overall impact of the Dubai financial crisis on Iskandar Malaysia was minimal, as the special economic corridor’s exposure to Dubai investors was considered “very small”.

Azman also reiterated that Khazanah would “definitely” continue with ongoing plans to divest none-core assets and equities held in “mature” government-linked companies (GLCs).

Observers said funds raised from the disposals would be used to finance new greenfield projects, such as the PIMS and other facilities being developed in Iskandar Malaysia.

PIMS will be sited on 80 acres located adjacent to Medini, a large international urban development in Iskandar Malaysia which is backed by a number of global investors, including those from Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

The PIMS project is estimated to cost RM400mil and would be entirely “underwritten” by Khazanah.

Azman said PIMS was “conservatively” projected to contribute about RM1bil in economic spinoffs over the next eight years and “will create 3,000 direct jobs and potentially an additional 5,000 indirect jobs a year.’’

About half the amount would come in the form of construction-related works.

Khazanah, through wholly owned unit, Beserah Venture Sdn Bhd, will own the bulk of the equity in PIMS.

Pinewood chief executive Ivan Dunleavy said the company would provide key operational and marketing input during both the construction and operating phases, in addition to the rights to use Pinewood’s global brand.

The PIMS project has already got off to a good start with pay-TV operator Astro signed up as an anchor tenant.

Under the deal, Astro will use the studios at PIMS to produce its local language content programmes.

PIMS itself will remain an independent studio, and Khazanah is relying on Pinewood’s global reach to market the facility as a “host” to bi-budget movie producers in Europe and the United States.

Pinewood has over 75 years of filming history, playing host to around 1,500 productions including international blockbusters like the James Bond and Harry Potter series, Batman Begins and The Da Vinci Code.

The PIMS project would start on a relatively “modest” scale of 30 acres, with room for further growth, Dunleavy said.

It will be Pinewood’s first studio in Asia.

Khazanah said the investment in PIMS was expected to contribute to the development of creative industries, with spillover effects to other economic sectors like tourism, finance and high-value manufacturing.

“The development of a creative eco-system in Iskandar Malaysia, one of the nine economic pillars identified in Iskandar Malaysia’s comprehensive development plan, will enhance innovation, creativity and stimulate entrepreneurship,’’ Azman said.

The state investment arm, however, would be keen to avoid the failure of the now abandoned RM3bil multimedia content facility known as E-Village in Sepang, Selangor that was launched in 2000.

Green boost for Tg Aru

KOTA KINABALU: The main attraction of Tanjung Aru has always been its sandy beach with picture perfect sunsets and swaying casuarina trees.

But a major facelift and rebranding will soon see it earn its stripes as Sabah's first town to be declared "green and litter-free".

Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim said the old town was an ideal location for the pilot project because of its historical value and its proximity to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and the famed Tanjung Aru beach.

City Hall's efforts in turning Tanjung Aru into a model clean and safe town will be completed in stages over a year.

"The town will soon also have a 'green' hotel in line with the government's policy of using green technology in development," he said in his speech at a stakeholder's meeting for the project at Wisma Puspanita yesterday.

The project is also in line with the beautification and preservation of the water village in Tanjung Aru, which will begin welcoming homestay tourists by May.

"It is a low-cost campaign because it involves community participation and only part of the city budget.

"So far, the response has been positive."

City Hall Health Department and City Services director Robert Lipon said future plans included upgrading the waste disposal system, sewerage system, water supply, increasing the number of car parking bays, a park and a pedestrian walkway.

Arrivals Set To Surpass Target

By Vasantha Ganesan and Presenna Nambiar

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourist arrivals and receipts this are expected to surpass the government's projection and hit a new record of over 22 million and RM50 billion respectively, despite the global recession.

Given this surprise showing, the forecast for 2010 is 23 million tourists spending a total of RM52 billion.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said that in the first 11 months of this year, 21.51 million foreign tourists entered the country, a 7.6 per cent increase over the same period last year.

Strong support came from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei. Strong arrivals were also recorded from China, India, Australia and the United Kingdom.

With one more month to go and December being traditionally the strongest month, arrivals may well surpass the 22 million record arrivals set in 2008.

Last December, 2.058 million tourists came to Malaysia. If this and the latest November figures, which were up by 11 per cent to 2.048 million, are anything to go by, this year will be a bumper year.

Earlier in the year, the projected number of tourist arrivals was revised downwards to 20 million, and with the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in May, it was again revised to 19 million.

"In 2010, the economy may still be bumpy.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances such as terrorist attacks, political instability or natural disasters, we could receive more than 23 million tourists and we foresee RM52 billion in foreign exchange earnings," Ng said yesterday after the launch of the Naza Group's newly-rebranded hotels, Naza Talyya Hotels.

Next year Tourism Malaysia, the marketing arm of the ministry, will focus its promotion in Asean, followed by China, other parts of Asia and selected European countries.

On the impact of the Dubai debt crisis on Malaysia, especially since Middle Eastern per capita spending is the highest, Ng said :"We are watching the Arab market carefully ... but we do not expect any big impact as their numbers are small."

Holiday Villa adds Paris hotel to its chain

Holiday Villa, a home-grown hotel chain, has added a new hotel in Paris, France, to its international portfolio, following its acquisition of Marciano Hotel Paris for RM33 million.

The hotel, opened on October 28 2009, is centrally located at Rue de Trevise in Paris, which is minutes away from places of interests and exhibition centres.

Holiday Villa International managing director and chief executive officer Datin Mavis Masri Azman said the group plans to upgrade the hotel to Holiday Villa standard and re-brand its name to Holiday Villa Lafayette, Paris.

The three-star hotel features 38 guest rooms comprising single, double and suite.

The opening of Holiday Villa Lafayette, Paris, marks the second Holiday Villa hotel in Europe after Holiday Villa Hotel & Suites London in 1997.

"They will both complement each other well and play a pro-active role in promotion of Malaysia, well known for its gracious hospitality among the Euro-pean community," she said.

The Holiday Villa group operates in seven other countries including Malaysia, the UK, Indonesia, Sudan, Qatar, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

Expo to Unveil Halal, Islamic Tourism Draw

By Annie Freeda Cruez

KUALA LUMPUR: An International Islamic Tourism and Halal week (IISTHAL), showcasing Islamic wonders of the world, will be held for three days from Tuesday at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre.

The Islamic Tourism Centre, in collaboration with GITC Secretariat Sdn Bhd, Khaaz International Sdn Bhd and Persatuan Pedagang dan Pengusaha Melayu Malaysia would be organising the inaugural event which will include the second national halal conference, the second global Islamic tourism conference and exhibition and global Islamic food festival.

A Global Islamic Tourism Organisation conference and a gala dinner of Malaysian halal excellence awards would also be held.

The tourism ministry's Islamic Tourism Centre said the main objectives of the conference and exhibition were to showcase the world's Islamic wonders and also to share and discuss current issues, tourism attributes and new frontiers on Islamic tourism.

It is also aimed at strengthening the Malaysian halal industry and tapping its opportunities.

Firefly, the country's first community airline, is the official airline for the event.

The collaboration would give trade visitors and members of the public a chance to win flight tickets -- six return tickets to Singapore, four return tickets to Medan and two return tickets to Koh Samui.

Visitors also have a chance to win plenty of other attractive prizes and vouchers.

The event, themed "Showcasing Islamic Wonders", has received encouraging response from industry players and the public.

Chief executive of GITC secretariat and co-organiser of IISTHAL, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, said based on previous deliberations, it was felt that Islamic tourism could not be a single entity without addressing the issue of halal cuisine.

"Thus, the conference will cover certain issues on this pertinent subject," she said.

On the Firefly collaboration, she said she had met Firefly representatives at the World Trade Mart in London recently.

"IISTHAL is happy with the collaboration in making the event another milestone event in developing Islamic tourism and halal infrastructure."

Firefly head of marketing and communications Angelina Fernandez said it was a privilege to work with IISTHAL as they shared the same aspirations in making the growing Islamic tourism market an entity that would increase the number of travellers, both inbound and outbound, when greater awareness was created.

"Previously, when we hear of Islamic tourism, we only connect it with tourists from the Middle East.

"Today, with events such as IISTHAL, we are given the opportunity to showcase Islamic-based countries as a viable destination for non-Muslim travellers while Muslim travellers will have a peace of mind when they travel to non-Muslim countries. This certainly bodes well for tourism development."

For more information, visit www.itc.gov.my or www.islamic-tourism.com or www.halalconference.com.

4,347 Steps of Discovery

By LAVIINIA DHANAGUNAN

Where in Kuala Lumpur can you spend an interesting afternoon with history and nature, without having to travel long distances? At Lake Gardens, of course. Slipping her feet into comfortable sneakers, LAVIINIA DHANAGUNAN is set for fun.

HURRAY! It’s the long year-end school holidays and if you are wondering where you can go without burning a hole in your pocket or are reluctant to join the endless queues of holiday-makers in some out-of-town destination, then come with me on a short, healthy break to... Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens!

The best thing is that it’s practically free except for nominal entrance fees at some attractions like Bird Park and Butterfly Park.

Now, put on your walking shoes, and trace some 4,347 fun steps I took in the Lake Gardens area, starting from the National Mosque.

0 Step


National Mosque
After prayers every Friday, the sight of people spilling out from the National Mosque onto the footpaths leading to Dataran Merdeka never fails to catch my attention.

So I start my discovery of the neighbourhood from the front of the mosque and spend a few moments to admire the sharp, pointed minaret. Then I look for the KL Hop On Hop Off tour bus stop. The location of the pink flag marking this is at a bit of a blind spot and, as I am crossing the street, I catch sight of something in the distance. It turns out to be a relatively unknown jewel – the Islamic Arts Museum.
325 Steps

Islamic Arts Museum
Taking 325 steps away from the National Mosque, I reach the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (http://www.iamm.org.my). Its facade is a balanced mix of glass and Islamic architecture. Inside is an amazing collection of Islamic artifacts from all over the world.

Trawl the extensive sections and be mesmerised by Quran of different sizes. Some are as small as your thumb and can only be read with the aid of a magnifying glass!

Equally impressive is the intricate details of clothes and jewellery that the museum has amassed from India and China, among other countries.

The building has three peach and blue domes that rise to the heavens. In addition, there is an inverted dome, definitely a unique feature. All four seemingly fragile structures boast of intricate details in design. The inverted dome in the exhibition area is the only thing that tourists are allowed to photograph. Sadly, everything else is off limits. It would have been really nice to be able to snap some pictures of the architect models of mosques from around the world that are displayed on the top floor. They are quite amazing.

2,050 Steps

KL Butterfly Park
Only 1,725 steps away from the Islamic Arts Museum and I’ve reached the KL Butterfly Park (Tel: 03-2693 4799). The entrance is somewhat hidden away and quite ordinary-looking. The real fun begins only after you step in through the mesh and enter a netted area filled with butterflies. These small creatures fly around and are just about everywhere so be careful not to slap at your head or body if you feel something brush against you.

The butterflies come in all sizes. There are some really tiny ones and others that are as big as saucers.

All have one thing in common – the pretty colours that flash as they flutter their wings. If you’re lucky, kindergarten children may be visiting and the sight of little kids marvelling at and running after these precious, small creatures is quite adorable.

Pos Malaysia has dedicated a collector’s series of stamps just for them. These can be bought at the post office (depending on stock availability). There is also a gift shop on the grounds for you to buy souvenirs.

3,090 Steps

KL Bird Park
Still in a dreamy state after the close encounter with so many butterflies, I leave Butterfly Park and trudge 1,040 steps towards the KL Bird Park (http://www.klbirdpark.com), touted as the largest bird park in this region.

It’s located slightly uphill and the walk snaps me out of my reverie. By the time I get to the Hornbill Cafe, I am sweating profusely and taking frequent swigs of water as well as wiping the sweat trickling down my face. I sit and rest before I push on to the entrance gate.

That a member of the male species can be so beautiful is one thought that has never crossed my mind. We are talking about the feathered kind, of course.

But that is before my encounter with a male peacock dragging its gorgeously coloured feathers behind him as he sashays down the footpath. That’s the unique thing about this bird park – the birds here roam about freely and often walk alongside visitors.

I stare at the peacock intensely, hoping it will open up its magnificent tail for me to admire. The bird, however, does not oblige and seems to prefer sitting quietly in a corner than being photographed.

Fifteen minutes later, the sound of the peacock’s cry rings clearly through the 20.9 acres that make up the park. There are some 2,000 species of birds living in the park.

Try not to miss the daily show at 3pm as you get to enjoy light entertainment provided by parrots, eagles and cockatoos. Of particular interest to students and those interested in the life cycle of birds, is the information centre. Among other things, it offers details on the different types of eggs and how you can differentiate one from the other.

3,200 Steps

KL Orchid Park & Hibiscus Garden
Outside the entrance to the bird park, a sign for KL Orchid Park (Tel: 03-2617 6000) across the road catches my eyes. I stop briefly at an empty ticket counter at the end of a flight of circular steps and am puzzled until I realise that there’s no entrance fee.

At the top of the hill (after taking 110 steps), the first things that catch my attention are trellises full of green plants providing shade for pergolas. Actually, the whole walkway leading to the orchids is quite shady.

The Orchid Park is beautiful and there are some 3,000 varieties of the flower here. It’s amazing to see these fragile looking flowers bend as strong winds sweep over the area. Even better, come in the early morning when the flowers are wet with morning dew.

The Orchid Park is a misnomer because it also houses the Hibiscus Garden, which has over 2,000 kinds of hibiscus plants. To see the national flower in full bloom, just walk a little further from the row of stalls selling orchids.

4,347 Steps

National Museum
To my surprise, I learn that I can actually walk to Muzium Negara (National Museum, http://www.muziumnegara.gov.my) in Jalan Damansara from Lake Gardens. It is also accessible from Jalan Bangsar.

From Orchid Park & Hibiscus Garden, I pass by the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial (381 steps) and the guardhouse for the National Planetarium & Space Agency (266 steps from the memorial) to get to the National Museum (500 steps). If you have the time, step into the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial to learn more about our second prime minister and the Planetarium to see how far the country has come in the space industry. But I’m giving these two places a miss this time.

As I walk, I take in the quietness of the area, broken only by the clip-clopping of horses circling the area. Guards frequently patrol the Lake Gardens area on horseback. From the main route, I take a side path to get to a bridge located just before the National Museum. Tiny yellow leaves line the tarred single-lane road that also leads to the parking area at the Planetarium. A few steps down and I am on the bridge, making my way across to the museum, above the buzzing highway.

Worth The Walk
The 200-year-old Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur is certainly a surprise to behold, especially considering the many treasures that lie hidden within its vast grounds.

Perhaps the most treasured gems are the matured trees that extend their branches to create a veil that shelters all that pass through from the hot sun. Except for the tropical heat, walking on the muted terracotta tiles in parts of the gardens makes it almost seem like you’re on holiday in a European city. All in, I spent a whole afternoon enjoying the few limited sights within the Lake Gardens and for as far as my legs could take me.

Apart from the different parks mentioned here, there’s the National Monument, the Royal Malaysian Police Museum, the Deer Park and the Asean Sculpture Garden. You’d need to spend a whole day or two to do the place justice.

There are several paths for those interested in exercising. On my trek, I come across a few runners pounding the pavement furiously. And why not? The air is cool here, thanks to the large lake in this green oasis in the city.
Source: NST Online

LIMA '09: Free Daily Entry to Maritime Show

By Adib Povera

LANGKAWI: There is good news for visitors to the coming Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima '09).

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday announced that the public may now view the maritime segment of the five-day show without charge every day.

"In previous years, the public were only allowed to watch the displays of ships and boats on the last day of the exhibition.

"However, for this year's Lima, the maritime segment is open to the public every day of the exhibition," he said after inspecting the aerospace exhibition ground at Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) here. Zahid earlier visited the vessels and maritime demonstration at Porto Malai.

Also present were Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Gen Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud, Royal Malaysian Navy deputy chief Vice-Admiral Datuk Mohammed Noordin Ali and Kedah police chief Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan.

Zahid said opening the maritime segment to the public was to woo more local and international visitors to the exhibition from Dec 1 to 5.

The exhibition will showcase 96 warships and other vessels. A total of 40,000 trade visitors are expected to flood Lima '09.

Zahid said discussions were ongoing with Lima '09 organiser HW Lima Sdn Bhd to halve the admission fee for the aerospace segment for the public to RM10.

"The aerospace segment is open to the public on the last day of the exhibition, for a fee of RM20 per person. I hope the organiser could consider my request that the fee be slashed by 50 per cent to RM10."

To assist exhibitors to commute around the island, 12 superbikes from the Malaysia Superbikes Club would be stationed at MIEC, he said.

Zahid said, for a fee, exhibitors could use the superbikes to commute between the exhibition centre and their hotels.

Iskandar to Hold Food and Culture Projects

JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Malaysia is all set to be-come very much alive and tourist-friendly starting next year.

The Iskandar Malaysia Tourism Steering Committee, set up by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) to oversee and expedite tourism development at the economic growth region, will initiate four tourism projects to attract visitors.

Top of the four is food and culture.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the best of cultural dance performances and partake of the local cuisine in Johor, all under one roof, at Rumah Limas in Danga Bay here every night.

A source close to Irda said one only had to pay a fraction of the price compared with other hotels to enjoy the delicacies dished up by well-known names in the food industry, while attendance at the performances is free.

"Local cuisine and traditional dances are what tourists are looking for when they come to a new place.

"The project will ensure that their wishes are fulfilled. They will dine and enjoy the show in the open air," said the source.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is expected to launch the projects next month, which also include rural tourism, central business district's (CBD) heritage and human capital development.

On rural tourism, the committee will promote the Tanjung Piai mangrove forest and homestay programme in Pontian aggressively, as the former is an important landmark in Asia.

Proper signage, interpretative boards, pathways and brochures will be put up to welcome tourists at the landmark, which is at the southern-most tip of mainland Asia.

Homestay operators will be trained to speak in English and to attend to the needs of tourists.

On CBD heritage, the committee plans to draw up a heritage trail here to highlight the history and cultural aspects of the CBD.

"Along the trail, there would be several interpretative boards and pedestrian crossings.

"Brochure on the trails will be available for the convenience of those who do not need a guided tour," he said.

On human capital development, Irda will provide training for manpower in tourism, including tour guides, and frontliners in the industry such as taxi drivers.

The Most Southern Point of Mainland Asia

Ever dreamed of listening to the lilting sounds of the ocean, and waking up to the splendour of the universe? Come to Tanjong Piai, a natural wonderland at the southernmost tip of Asia.

It's like being transported to a different era, far way from the respite of city-life. Frolic with wide-eyed mudskippers, funny macaques, wild birds and much more!

Located 90km south of Johor Bahru's city centre, Tanjung Piai's natural wonders have been gazzetted into a National Park. Visitors can see different habitats here, especially for enthusiasts interested in mangrove dwelling.

Mangroves, important for their resilience, are also one of the maintstays to sustainable growth of the various mangrove wildlife. It also serves to protect land from the fierce onslaught of the wild sea.

Make sure to bring good walking shoes, to enjoy the beautiful mangroves. Platforms are built through the park so visitors can walk around in comfort.

When in Johor, come visit exotic Tanjung Piai National Park.

Key Tips
Entrance fees are RM3 for Malaysians and RM5 for foreign visitors. These entry fees are payable at Tanjung Piai's visitors' complex.

How to get there
By Taxi
Tanjung Piai is located about 75km from Johor Bahru. Currently there is no direct bus service to the Tanjung Piai Johor National Park. Taxi service is available from Pontian bus station, in the town centre, to Tanjung Piai's entry point in Sungai Belukang. Be sure to book your return passage back to town in advance with your cab driver.

By Road
From Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Expressway (NSE) south past Machap, then take the Simpang Rengam exit (Interchange 247) onto the highway headed for Tanjung Piai, via the Benut - Pontian - Kukup highways (Highway 96, Highway 5 and Highway 95). Once near Kukup, follow the signboards leading you to Tanjung Piai.

Who to contact
For more information, please visit: http://johorparks.com/TgPiai/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Accommodation Overview
This park has become a popular camping destination in recent years. But if you are less inclined to rough it, your best choice is to make a day trip. This option affords you a wide range of comfortable accommodation choices in the nearby city of Johor Bahru.

PNB may turn MAS building into 5-star hotel

PERMODALAN Nasional Bhd (PNB) may convert Bangunan MAS into a business or five-star hotel and demolish the multi-level podium next to it to make way for a luxury serviced apartment tower worth a combined RM1 billion.

PNB bought the 35-storey building on Jalan Sultan Ismail from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) three years ago for RM130 million.

The building, the former MAS headquarters, is currently 60-70 per cent tenanted at an average RM3.50 per sq ft.

Its biggest tenants are Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara and Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd, each occupying 10-12 floors.

It is learnt that PNB is finalising details of the building plans and working on getting the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.

"It would be wise for PNB to build the apartments from scratch instead of the hotel. Once PNB has finalised the details of the plan, it would demolish the podium, maybe around the second half of 2010 to make way for the apartments," sources said.

The podium levels have a huge advantage of large floor plates boasting some 15,000 sq ft to 23,000 sq ft, enabling efficient space allocation for the apartments to generate higher returns.

On Bangunan MAS, PNB will be refurbishing the whole building while retaining the existing structures.

"The hotel will have world-class standards. It would be operated by a third party," a source said

PNB president and group chief executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, when met at the launch of the Malaysia 1000 (Malaysia Top Corporate Directory) 4th Edition in Kuala Lumpur recently, told Business Times the redevelopment of Bangunan MAS would take place "soon".

He declined, however, to give details of the plan but said it would feature high-end products.

Meanwhile, the tenants of Bangunan MAS have yet to get any letter from PNB to vacate the building.

"If they want us to vacate, they should give us six months notice so we have time to find a new place," said the official of one company, who declined to be named.

By Sharen Kaur
Source: Business Times Online

A Tale of Two Resort

By PUTRI ZANINA

At Datai Bay in Pulau Langkawi, PUTRI ZANINA is caught in a slice

of paradise between two luxurious resorts — The Datai and The

Andaman — set against the natural attractions of the forest and the sea.

GENTLE surf ripples toward the shore and hits the white sand beach lined with lazy chairs under tall trees. As the waves roll to my knees, I splash through the rippling water at the edge of the beach at Datai Bay in Pulau Langkawi.

I am all alone, enjoying the mild surf, the blue sky and the bright morning sun in this absolutely beautiful, deserted bay on the northeastern part of the island.

The bay is set against the deep blue waters of the Andaman, fringed by a coastal rainforest that stretches to the rolling range of Gunung Mat Cincang. The 550-million-year-old mountain guards the bay that opens to the sea and the horizon is dotted with the islands of Tarutao in the waters of neighbouring Thailand.

There are only two resorts in Datai Bay – The Datai and The Andaman. Both straddle the land sandwiched between the beach and the forest. And it’s not just any forest – it’s a virgin beauty that has remained relatively untouched for 250 million years.

The Datai is named after the bay near the fringe of the forest, and The Andaman, after the sea. Two luxurious resorts set against two gorgeous, natural attractions – the forest and the sea. You’ll simply have to split your time there between walkabouts in the lush forest and hours on the secluded beach. Not too difficult though as they are just perhaps 100 paces from each other.

Although Datai Bay is just a 45-minute drive from the main town of Kuah, it isn’t overcrowded with locals or tourists.

The road leading to it starts near the Langkawi Crocodile Farm, then passes the Pasir Tengkorak Beach and the man-made Langkawi Waterfall (which I feel is an eyesore in the pristine natural surrounding). Approaching Datai Bay, the road winds uphill and from there, you’ll see one of the most stunning vistas of the island. The sea, the coves, the forest-clad mountain and the entire view across the bay to Thailand are simply spectacular.

The Datai

I love the feeling of being cocooned in a forest at The Datai. It’s the kind of place that will immediately make you go “ooooh”. In its airy lobby is a pool where lotus flowers and leaves float gently on the water surface. At around 9.45 every night, the pink petals will open to reveal the pure beauty of the blooms. The petals unfold to the croaking of frogs and you can even see these amphibians leaping about in the water garden, bathed in soft candle light coming from candles placed around the pool.

Seeing the lotus reminds me of the famous saying by Confucian scholar Zhou Dunyi who said “I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained”.

Allow me to rephrase this: “I love The Datai because while built in the forest, the forest remains intact.”

Like the unfolding petals of the lotus which symbolises the expansion of the soul, The Datai untangles the knots in your muscles and relieves the stress in your mind as you soak in the pure freshness of the forest that envelopes the resort.

Centuries-old trees, many with huge buttress roots, and jungle plants cloak the chalets on the forest floor. Rooms on the upper floors of the main building are linked by corridors that pass palm trees, fruit trees and flowering trees and trees with branches covered with tiny creepers.

Birds and squirrels live in the trees. Monkeys are permanent residents too. Beware: If you leave your room door open, these long-tailed macaques will rummage your room for food.

It’s a natural zoo out there. You need little else for entertainment. Then again, you are not here for the modern trappings although the resort offers all modern luxuries like super large beds, en suite twin vanities and bath, and verandahs that open to the forest. Music comes from the forest, courtesy of twittering birds and humming insects.

Walking around the resort reveals its understated elegance. Unpolished natural woods for pathways and poles, muted earth tones, soft lighting and candle light add to the ambience. The architectural style is mainly Malay with a mix of Thai and Indonesian. Yet, you can’t miss the Japanese zen-like feel and European classiness that pull in the fairly sizeable European and Japanese clientele.

Stone walls flank the “100 steps” (tangga seratus to the local workers) that lead to the jungle pathway. Along the way is the spa house, tucked in the forest with a little stream that flows from the mountain nearby. And you won’t need the taped sound of water as you surrender to the healing and rejuvenating touch of the therapists. A stream gurgles naturally right next to you and, a few paces away, the waves pound the white sand beach.

The Andaman

The Andaman stands closer to the beach than The Datai. Both share the beach which runs some 2km in the gently curved bay. A rocky headland to the right of The Andaman leads to a water passage that opens to Pulau Anak Datai.

At low tide, you can walk across to this tiny island but I give it a miss, preferring instead to soak in the warm sea water that early morning.

Imagine being all alone in the deep blue sea with no other human in sight. The silence is disturbed only by the sounds of hornbills soaring in the sky.

Later, relaxing in a lazy chair under a tree, I watch squirrels scurrying among the trees, making loud noises but they are music to my ears.

By late morning, the tide rises and the waves reach almost to the edge of the shore. The body of water swells and the fingers of the white water hit the lazy chairs lining the beach. By now, other guests are astir, enjoying the breeze under the sun.

Like The Datai, the rooms in The Andaman are linked by walkways that overlook the forest. Verandahs open out to the pristine bay. Inside, you are lulled by gentle gamelan music and if you leave the verandah door open, you’ll hear the insects adding to the tune.

In the lobby, the bellboys tell me to look out for a colugo in a tree just outside. I have not heard of this animal before though it’s found in our country, The Philippines and some other parts of Southeast Asia. I learn later that it’s also called (though incorrectly) the Malayan flying lemur. It’s not a lemur and it doesn’t fly — it merely glides through the air with the aid of skin-wings. Spotting the colugo, the size of a house cat, takes some effort as its greyish, brown fur offers perfect camouflage among the tree branches.

Craning my neck, I finally see it perched on a branch. “It’s almost always there at the same spot,” says a bellboy. The colugo has large eyes, a curvy body and claws that give it a good grip.
While spotting the colugo is a thrill, meeting the resort mascots – Atan and Timah, the monkeys — delights resort guests even more. Alas, neither show up when I’m on the walkabout.
Other animals commonly sighted include various butterflies and birds, monitor lizards, long-tailed macaques, dusky leaf monkeys and squirrels. Leave them be and they won’t disturb you.
The secluded location is perfect for some spa magic. The spa house is perched on a hill overlooking the bay. It’s a journey of body, mind and soul that takes you soaring to a pleasurable high.

Now in such a serene setting, it puzzles me why people come here for meetings or seminars though such facilities are provided. Perhaps an isolated surrounding helps bosses tap the best from their staff or they simply want to reward the staff for good performances. Personally, I feel The Andaman is more perfect for doing nothing or for couples getting married to take their vows.

The likes of Formula One racers, the Schumacher brothers, F1 bosses Sir Frank Williams and Eddie Jordan, South African leader Nelson Mandela and Hong Kong star Andy Lau have all taken sojourn at The Andaman. Even Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has been seen here several times.

I may not be a VVIP but I’m here and I feel truly special. And if I can camouflage myself like the colugo, there’s nothing I’d love better than to simply lose myself in the wilderness.

Fast facts

The Datai, Jalan Teluk Datai, Langkawi. Tel: 04-959 2500. Website: www.ghmhotels.com.my
Five-star resort with 112 rooms including suites and villas. Rates (Nov to mid-Dec): from RM1,745 nett. Current promotion for Malaysians and Singaporeans: RM925 nett for Deluxe room.

Dining: The Dining Room (Malaysian and Western), Beach Club Restaurant (al fresco dining), The Pavilion (Thai for dinner), The Lobby Lounge (snacks & refreshments), and the stand-alone The Gulai House restaurant (Malay & Indian).

Other facilities include the spa, two swimming pools, a gift shop, a health club and meeting facilities. Guided nature walks, non-motorised water-sports and other tours and activities are available. For golf, go to Datai Bay Golf Course next door.

The Andaman, Jalan Teluk Datai, Langkawi. Tel: 04-959 1088. Website: www.ghmhotels.com/www.theandaman.com
Five-star resort with 185 rooms in traditional Malaysian style with modern touch. Rooms include the Lanai Deluxe with deck, Seaview Deluxe and suites. Rates (up till Dec 19): From RM990 nett for Deluxe room. RM1,675 nett for Deluxe room from Dec 20-Jan 15, 2010.

Dining: The Restaurant (Continental and Asian specialties), Japanese Restaurant, Pool Side Terrace (refreshments and light food including wood-fired pizzas), Beach Bar and Lobby Lounge.

Other facilities include the hilltop spa, swimming pool with islands of tall trees and waterslides for kids, gym, games room, kids club, gift shop, ballroom and function halls. Romantic beach front dining, themed functions, guided nature walks, non-motorised water-sports, golf at the nearby Datai Bay Golf Course and other activities can be arranged.