KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Ministry will intensify
promotion to showcase Ramadan in Malaysia in efforts attract more tourists,
especially from West Asia.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the third Ramadan Bazaar in
Kampung Baru jointly hosted with the Jamek Mosque would enable foreign tourists
to experience the atmosphere of Ramadan in the country.
"As of last January, Malaysia received 16,329 tourists from Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates and Iran compared to 15,008 in the corresponding period
last year," she said after launching the Ramadan Bazaar at the Jamek Mosque,
Kampung Baru here today.
Dr Ng said the iconic "bubur lambuk" (porridge) of Kampung Baru would be
popularised in other places such as Raub, Pahang on Aug 16.
She said 66 Ramadan Bazaars catered to the delight of customers and tourists
in the city, including three in Kampung Baru, namely in Jalan Raja Alang, Jalan
Raja Muda Musa and Jalan Raja Uda.
At the ceremony, the Tourism Ministry contributed 100 pots of bubur lambuk
and distributed about 23,000 sachets of the porridge in Kampung Baru, the
Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Bukit
Bintang and the Art Market.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Pekan to get its first tropical four-star resort
PEKAN: The construction of a RM80 million four-star resort here will complement the development of the royal town as an integrated hub for automobile, education and maritime industries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
To be built by UDA Holdings Berhad, the "modern tropical" resort on the river bank of Sungai Pahang which is expected to be ready by 2013.
Najib, who is also the Pekan member of parliament, said the resort was an important component in the transformation plan for the town that had been prepared by the government.
"We have decided that Pekan will be developed as an automotive hub with an international automotive college which had opened last year," he said at the ground-breaking for the seven-storey resort yesterday.
Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and UDA Holdings chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Najib said Pekan was also an education hub where various institutions for higher learning had been built, including Universiti Malaysia Pahang's permanent campus in Kuala Pahang.
At the same time, he said the on-going construction of the RM3 billion Tanjong Agas oil and gas and logistics industrial park near here had also spurred development in the surrounding areas..
He also said the completion of a four-lane dual-carriageway from Kuantan to Pekan had also made it easier for the people to commute between the two main towns.
Under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) initiative, Najib said various allocations had been approved, including the upgrading of the Sultan Abu Bakar museum and Pekan riverfront landscape beautification project.
All the projects, he said, would draw more visitors to Pekan, also known for its various attractions, including the Tun Razak memorial hall, which is the rebuilt home of the late Tun Abdul Razak.
Nur Jazlan, is his speech, said that the resort, which was the first four-star facility to be built here, would have 133 rooms, five seminar rooms and a main function hall that could accommodate 450 people.
He said the hotel would also act as the main venue for meetings, conferences and exhibitions for Pekan and the surrounding areas.
"Apart from improving the tourism sector and changing its landscape, the resort will also provide job opportunities and other benefits for the people here," he said.
To be built by UDA Holdings Berhad, the "modern tropical" resort on the river bank of Sungai Pahang which is expected to be ready by 2013.
"We have decided that Pekan will be developed as an automotive hub with an international automotive college which had opened last year," he said at the ground-breaking for the seven-storey resort yesterday.
Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and UDA Holdings chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Najib said Pekan was also an education hub where various institutions for higher learning had been built, including Universiti Malaysia Pahang's permanent campus in Kuala Pahang.
At the same time, he said the on-going construction of the RM3 billion Tanjong Agas oil and gas and logistics industrial park near here had also spurred development in the surrounding areas..
He also said the completion of a four-lane dual-carriageway from Kuantan to Pekan had also made it easier for the people to commute between the two main towns.
Under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) initiative, Najib said various allocations had been approved, including the upgrading of the Sultan Abu Bakar museum and Pekan riverfront landscape beautification project.
All the projects, he said, would draw more visitors to Pekan, also known for its various attractions, including the Tun Razak memorial hall, which is the rebuilt home of the late Tun Abdul Razak.
Nur Jazlan, is his speech, said that the resort, which was the first four-star facility to be built here, would have 133 rooms, five seminar rooms and a main function hall that could accommodate 450 people.
He said the hotel would also act as the main venue for meetings, conferences and exhibitions for Pekan and the surrounding areas.
"Apart from improving the tourism sector and changing its landscape, the resort will also provide job opportunities and other benefits for the people here," he said.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The curious case of Carcosa
COME August, boutique hotel Carcosa, a building that Malaysia had "struggled" to get back from the British, turns 113.
It was returned to Malaysia in 1987 and started operating as a hotel.
In late 2009, plans for its rejuvenation, as well as for neighbour Seri Negara and its surroundings, were announced. The plans were aborted shortly thereafter. Nineteen months have gone by since the announcement, but its future seems to be shrouded in secrecy.
Carcosa was once home to Frank Swettenham, the highest ranked British representative to the Malay States. The first prime minister of Malaya Tunku Abdul Rahman gifted "Carcosa" to the British government as a token of goodwill.
"Inevitably, that such a prominent and resonant property should remain in British hands sparked resentment, and the 'Carcosa issue' was taken up by young radical politicians, in particular one Anwar Ibrahim," according to the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur's website said.
In fact, Malaysia's Department of National Heritage states that Carcosa and Seri Negara are the most prestigious properties in the country's national history as the site where the properties are located was prominent in the struggle to get back Malaysia's assets from the British government.
In 1987, in return for giving up "Carcosa", the British government was given a plot of land near the corner of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Ampang, where the British High Commission building now sits. Interestingly, the High Commission plans to sell this land and it may fetch close to RM200 million.
While business seems to be as usual at the hotel, it is only at Seri Negara. A drive up to the hotel will reveal that the road leading to Carcosa, and Carcosa itself, have been closed since December 31 2009.
Now, I am no conservation or restoration expert, but somehow it feels that more should be done to maintain the century-old building.
The Property and Land Management Division of the Prime Minister's Department, which made a request for proposal (RFP) and later called it off, has not returned any calls.
Although a new RFP was to come, to date, no new RFP has been heard of. A RFP, which is issued at an early stage in a procurement process, is an invitation for providers of a product or service to bid on the right to supply that product or service to the entity that has issued the RFP.
Peremba Sejagat Sdn Bhd, a unit of Saujana Hotels and Resorts, was told to manage the property for six months until July 2010, pending a decision on the winner of the bid. Calls to the hotel revealed that it is taking bookings for at least another year.
Is it not time for some indication on the status of the redevelopment? After all, some nine bidders had to toil and hurriedly put in a proposal as the tender's closing date was set within two weeks, which fortunately later extended by another two weeks.
Although designated as a heritage site by the Department of National Heritage, there has been no responses to questions posed to the Heritage Commissioner and deputy director-general on the status of Carcosa.
Numerous calls to the secretary general of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture Datuk Kamaruddin Siaraf were unanswered.
After all the fights to get back the property, one would think that it would only be right to take care of it.
For a start, it would be good to know what the status of the building is, or at the very least, if someone could say which ministry is actually responsible for the building.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Issues in Islamic tourism
KUALA LUMPUR: The hosting of World Islamic Tourism Forum here this week has evoked questions on the definition of "Islamic Tourism".
Does it relate to gender segregation in the use of facilities? Is it halal food? Is the focus on ornate Islamic architecture or beautiful mosques? When the New Straits Times asked around, many seemed to associate the term with religious visits to Islam's holy places and historical sites and also visits and tours to Muslim-majority countries.
A civil servant, Fatima Zahra, 28, responded to NST's query on Facebook about the topic by asking a reporter if the term meant that the tour would be syariah compliant such as providing halal meals and observing the time for prayers or did it just simply mean visiting historical Islamic places.
While many regard this as symbolic of Islam, there are many other aspects that make up Islamic tourism. This was the subject dwelt upon and discussed at length by participants of the World Islamic Tourism Forum this year for two days at the Seri Pacific Hotel here.
Themed "Enhancing the Spirit of Global Understanding Through Islamic Tourism", the forum also discussed and addressed issues surrounding the misconception of Islam and the Muslim community worldwide due to the negative publicity given by the Western media.
Organised by the Global Islamic Tourism Organisation Malaysia and the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies and also supported by Tourism Malaysia, about 200 people attended the forum where issues ranging from Islamic tourism, the halal industry and Islamic hospitality were discussed.
In his opening address at the forum on Tuesday, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi acknowledged that Islamic tourism was still in its initial stage.
"Islamic tourism is a new brand in the contemporary world of tourism. It is a brand that will have to deal with the same issues of any conventional tourist agency. However, in the case of Islamic tourism, there are additional requirements that have to be fulfilled in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
"For example, observance of the halal requirement would be a major part of being syariah compliant. Muslims generally can only accept tourism as Islamic if this fundamental requirement is observed. Therefore, non-Muslims who want to participate in Islamic tourism would need to have sufficient understanding of the halal requirement," he said.
It was learnt that many tour operators who operate Muslim tour packages or Islamic tour packages still do not fully comprehend or understand the halal requirement.
On a trip to Singapore recently, 28-year-old technology writer Afiq Hanif was asked by the organisers whether he would mind if the restaurant they were going to had no halal certification by the authorities but did not serve pork or alcohol.
"This is a classic example of how the term halal is not really understood. Halal is not about an establishment just not serving pork or alcohol, it is about how the food is prepared. The meat needs to be slaughtered or prepared in the manner that is prescribed by Islamic law," he said.
In a discussion about the proper definition of the term, Insaniah University College Rector Prof Datuk Dr Jamil Othman said cross-case studies and academic exchanges of views among Islamic and non-Muslim hospitality practitioners were needed to enrich the knowledge base and to set guidelines for Islamic hospitality and travel.
"Terminology like Islamic hospitality, Islamic tourism, Muslim hospitality, syariah compliant hotels, Islamic hotels and halal friendly hotels have created much confusion as to which is to be used.
"Sometimes because of the lack of understanding it scares foreign visitors. This may be one of the factors that explains why major hotels are reluctant to attach the term to their brand".
By Liyana Mokhtar
news@nst.com.my
2011/07/16
A civil servant, Fatima Zahra, 28, responded to NST's query on Facebook about the topic by asking a reporter if the term meant that the tour would be syariah compliant such as providing halal meals and observing the time for prayers or did it just simply mean visiting historical Islamic places.
While many regard this as symbolic of Islam, there are many other aspects that make up Islamic tourism. This was the subject dwelt upon and discussed at length by participants of the World Islamic Tourism Forum this year for two days at the Seri Pacific Hotel here.
Themed "Enhancing the Spirit of Global Understanding Through Islamic Tourism", the forum also discussed and addressed issues surrounding the misconception of Islam and the Muslim community worldwide due to the negative publicity given by the Western media.
Organised by the Global Islamic Tourism Organisation Malaysia and the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies and also supported by Tourism Malaysia, about 200 people attended the forum where issues ranging from Islamic tourism, the halal industry and Islamic hospitality were discussed.
In his opening address at the forum on Tuesday, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi acknowledged that Islamic tourism was still in its initial stage.
"Islamic tourism is a new brand in the contemporary world of tourism. It is a brand that will have to deal with the same issues of any conventional tourist agency. However, in the case of Islamic tourism, there are additional requirements that have to be fulfilled in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
"For example, observance of the halal requirement would be a major part of being syariah compliant. Muslims generally can only accept tourism as Islamic if this fundamental requirement is observed. Therefore, non-Muslims who want to participate in Islamic tourism would need to have sufficient understanding of the halal requirement," he said.
It was learnt that many tour operators who operate Muslim tour packages or Islamic tour packages still do not fully comprehend or understand the halal requirement.
On a trip to Singapore recently, 28-year-old technology writer Afiq Hanif was asked by the organisers whether he would mind if the restaurant they were going to had no halal certification by the authorities but did not serve pork or alcohol.
"This is a classic example of how the term halal is not really understood. Halal is not about an establishment just not serving pork or alcohol, it is about how the food is prepared. The meat needs to be slaughtered or prepared in the manner that is prescribed by Islamic law," he said.
In a discussion about the proper definition of the term, Insaniah University College Rector Prof Datuk Dr Jamil Othman said cross-case studies and academic exchanges of views among Islamic and non-Muslim hospitality practitioners were needed to enrich the knowledge base and to set guidelines for Islamic hospitality and travel.
"Terminology like Islamic hospitality, Islamic tourism, Muslim hospitality, syariah compliant hotels, Islamic hotels and halal friendly hotels have created much confusion as to which is to be used.
"Sometimes because of the lack of understanding it scares foreign visitors. This may be one of the factors that explains why major hotels are reluctant to attach the term to their brand".
By Liyana Mokhtar
news@nst.com.my
2011/07/16
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A mega-city taking shape in Malaysia
IT is believed that those who visited Johor Baru five years ago might get lost at the southern gateway if they were to visit it today.
This second biggest city in the peninsula after Kuala Lumpur has undergone a metamorphosis in the past five years. It is probably like Singapore, another red dot city.
Works on the new Coastal Highway connecting Danga Bay and Nusajaya is under way. Once completed, the highway will enhance accessibility to the southwestern part of Johor.
For city folk, the anticipated Eastern Dispersal Link will help ease travel woes from Pandan to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine checkpoint at the Sultan Iskandar Building.
An EduCity has been planned in Nusajaya and several institutions of higher learning are poised to set up their campus in Iskandar Malaysia.
The Legoland in Nusajaya is scheduled to open next year, while the first Premium Outlet in Southeast Asia will open its door in Kulaijaya by the last quarter of this year.
The Iskandar Malaysia project, launched in 2006, has sparked off many vibrant changes.
"Next year is important in the calendar of this region's growth as many infrastructure projects are scheduled for completion," said Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Johor Baru member of parliament Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad is confident that more investors, expatriates and Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme participants will move to Johor Baru-Iskandar Malaysia.
Skudai assemblyman and Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau believes there are vast business opportunities for foreigners, too.
Based on the statistics from the Immigration Department, there are 5,289 expatriates living in Johor as of June 15, of whom 4,456 are residing in Johor Baru.
Singaporeans, Japanese, Indians and Filipinos make up the bulk of the expatriates, who are mainly employed in the manufacturing and services sectors.
Most of the MM2H participants favour Johor Baru to Singapore as the cost of living in the southern city is deemed more affordable.
A survey by the London-based ECA International on annual cost of living recently placed Johor Baru as the 37th most expensive city in Asia for expatriates this year, as compared with 41st last year. It is slightly behind Kuala Lumpur, which ranked 33rd, and ahead of George Town, which placed 40th in the ranking.
Johor Baru's immediate neighbour, Singapore, is in sixth position. The republic's ballooning property market and food bills, coupled with inflation and higher currency values, are bitter pills which even the locals find hard to swallow. Some have opted to stay or shop in Johor Baru to cushion the impact.
The Singapore factor has, therefore, raised the competitive edge of Johor Baru. Johoreans know well that the Singapore factor is also the cause of their "suffering", which started when the Singapore dollar started to appreciate in the late 1970s. One had to pay RM1.05 for every S$1.
Most Singaporeans cross the Causeway to spend their money, just like the northerners who like to lavish themselves across the border during the weekends.
On average, about 100,000 people use the Causeway daily, making it the busiest land entry point in the world.
With all the changes taking place, it makes sense that Johor Baru has been re-branded "Iskandar Malaysia". Will there be a name change?
MP Shahrir firmly said: "No way."
Johor Baru was founded in 1855 when the sovereign ruler of Johor, Temenggong Daing Ibrahim, established his administrative headquarters there. It was then known as Tanjung Puteri. His son and successor Temenggong Abu Bakar renamed it Johor Baru in 1866
"History shows that Johor Baru is a royal town and state capital. It is a name that cannot simply be changed or replaced," stressed Shahrir.
"Moreover, Iskandar Malaysia encompasses areas beyond Johor Baru, such as Senai, Pasir Gudang, Nusajaya and parts of Pontian."
This second biggest city in the peninsula after Kuala Lumpur has undergone a metamorphosis in the past five years. It is probably like Singapore, another red dot city.
 |
| Kota Iskandar, the modern administrative centre of Nusajaya in Johor Baru |
For city folk, the anticipated Eastern Dispersal Link will help ease travel woes from Pandan to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine checkpoint at the Sultan Iskandar Building.
An EduCity has been planned in Nusajaya and several institutions of higher learning are poised to set up their campus in Iskandar Malaysia.
The Legoland in Nusajaya is scheduled to open next year, while the first Premium Outlet in Southeast Asia will open its door in Kulaijaya by the last quarter of this year.
The Iskandar Malaysia project, launched in 2006, has sparked off many vibrant changes.
"Next year is important in the calendar of this region's growth as many infrastructure projects are scheduled for completion," said Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Johor Baru member of parliament Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad is confident that more investors, expatriates and Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme participants will move to Johor Baru-Iskandar Malaysia.
 |
| The enchanting night scene at Danga Bay, Johor Baru |
Based on the statistics from the Immigration Department, there are 5,289 expatriates living in Johor as of June 15, of whom 4,456 are residing in Johor Baru.
Singaporeans, Japanese, Indians and Filipinos make up the bulk of the expatriates, who are mainly employed in the manufacturing and services sectors.
Most of the MM2H participants favour Johor Baru to Singapore as the cost of living in the southern city is deemed more affordable.
A survey by the London-based ECA International on annual cost of living recently placed Johor Baru as the 37th most expensive city in Asia for expatriates this year, as compared with 41st last year. It is slightly behind Kuala Lumpur, which ranked 33rd, and ahead of George Town, which placed 40th in the ranking.
Johor Baru's immediate neighbour, Singapore, is in sixth position. The republic's ballooning property market and food bills, coupled with inflation and higher currency values, are bitter pills which even the locals find hard to swallow. Some have opted to stay or shop in Johor Baru to cushion the impact.
The Singapore factor has, therefore, raised the competitive edge of Johor Baru. Johoreans know well that the Singapore factor is also the cause of their "suffering", which started when the Singapore dollar started to appreciate in the late 1970s. One had to pay RM1.05 for every S$1.
 |
| A bird’s eye view of the Sultan Iskandar Building in Johor Baru |
On average, about 100,000 people use the Causeway daily, making it the busiest land entry point in the world.
With all the changes taking place, it makes sense that Johor Baru has been re-branded "Iskandar Malaysia". Will there be a name change?
MP Shahrir firmly said: "No way."
Johor Baru was founded in 1855 when the sovereign ruler of Johor, Temenggong Daing Ibrahim, established his administrative headquarters there. It was then known as Tanjung Puteri. His son and successor Temenggong Abu Bakar renamed it Johor Baru in 1866
"History shows that Johor Baru is a royal town and state capital. It is a name that cannot simply be changed or replaced," stressed Shahrir.
"Moreover, Iskandar Malaysia encompasses areas beyond Johor Baru, such as Senai, Pasir Gudang, Nusajaya and parts of Pontian."
Monday, May 30, 2011
Top three theme parks
Water Park, Scream Park, Extreme Park, Amusement Park
and Wildlife Park. For more information, visit www.sunwaylagoon.com.
business convention facilities, fun-filled amusement parks and endless entertainment, all packed in one place.
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