Sunday 24 January 2010

Cycling events

Two cycling events in May and December

MORE cycling activities in Penang are being planned for the year, this time through the beautiful scenic paddy fields of north Seberang Prai.

The Penang Youth and Sports Committee, with the support of the Penang State Sports Council and the cooperation of the Laksamana Cycling Club, is organising two 30km cycling activities for the community in May and December.

State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Lydia Ong said some 50 cyclists from the state government and the cycling club had hit the bike trails recently for a reconnaissance trip to ensure the trails would be suitable.

“The trail will start at SMK Teluk Air Tawar and we will ride through Jalan Penaga, Kampung Paya, Jalan Permatang Kuang, Kampung Guar Tuan Said, Kampung Bakar Kapor, Kampung Baru, Penaga, Kampung Baharu Penaga, Jalan Penaga and end back at SMK Teluk Air Tawar.

“This route will allow cyclists to see the beauty of Malaysia’s kampungs, fishing villages and greenery, which have long been enjoyed by members of the cycling club who are based in north Seberang Prai,” she told a press conference in Komtar recently.

Ong said the exact dates of the rides would be announced later and those interested in joining could gather at SMK Teluk Air Tawar on the morning of the events.

Participation is free.

For more information, contact James Peng at 012-4339335 or Raymond Ho at 012-4988462.

-News courtesy of The Star-

CNY Celebrations in malls

Malls preparing for joint CNY and Valentine’s Day celebration

SHOPPERS are in for a visual treat as Penang’s malls splurge on festive Chinese New Year decorations.

With less than a month to go before the arrival of the Year of the Tiger, shopping complexes have gone all out to bring about a festive mood.

Gurney Plaza’s marketing communications manager Sharley Ooi said bamboos and cherry blossoms would welcome shoppers to the mall.

“Bamboo represents peace, tranquillity and simplicity while cherry blossoms represent good fortune, love and affection.

“As Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day fall on the same day, we choose these two elements to create a special atmosphere,” she said, adding that some RM200,000 was spent on beautifying the mall.

Besides elaborate decorations, Sunway Carnival Mall is also having various charitable events, promotions and giveaways for shoppers.

“Drop by Sunshine Square, Sunshine Farlim, Sunshine City, Sunshine Times Square and Sunshine Lip Sin and you will see gold windmills everywhere,” Sunshine Wholesale Mart advertising and promotion manager Peter Chan said.

“We didn’t want to focus on just the Chinese zodiac although tigers are cute. We wanted to be different.

“Furthermore, we felt that the windmill is appropriate because in feng shui, it’s believed to bring luck,” he said.

Queensbay Mall advertising and promotions manager Wendy Wong said the mall spent RM80,000 preparing a grand celebration for shoppers this Chinese New Year.

“The theme for us is ‘Reunion’. We have transformed the complex into glorious ‘old Shanghai’. The idea is to bring shoppers back in time to the bustling era of the Shanghai Bund,” she said.

-News courtesy of The Star-

CNY Celebrations

Historical touch to CNY extravaganza

A STAGE play depicting the four Chinese core moral values — faithfulness, loyalty, piety and courtesy — will be the highlight of the Penang state-level Chinese New Year celebration to be held on Feb 20 at the George Town heritage enclave.

The event organising chairman, Loh Boon Huan, said the 5,000 years of Chinese history would also be portrayed in the play.

Loh said other activities to be held included lion dance and chingay performances, singing, traditional Chinese childrens’ games, traditional crafts display and a ‘Memories of Old Penang’ exhibition.

He was speaking to reporters at the launching of streamers highlighting the event by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in front of the Eastern and Oriental hotel in Penang on Thursday.

Lim said the event would be held from 3pm to midnight at Acheen Street, Armenian Street, Cannon Street, Ah Quee Street, Soo Hong Lane, Chulia Street and Kampung Kolam among other places.

“We hope it will attract both domestic and foreign tourists,” he said, adding that the state’s green culture would be promoted at the event.

The event is jointly organised by the state government, Penang Chinese Clan Council and Clan Associations Youth Committee. Admission is free.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Monday 18 January 2010

Anti-plastic campaign

Penangites onboard anti-plastic campaign

NO complaints have been received so far regarding the Penang Government extending their ‘No Plastic Bag Day’ drive on Mondays to include shops this year, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said the response to the campaign had been encouraging and his office had not heard of any opposition to the campaign by the shops.

In Penang, all stores have to go without plastic bags on Mondays, while hypermarkets and supermarkets must abide by the ruling for three days from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Customers who insist on plastic bags will be charged 20 sen per bag, and the money is to be channelled to the state government’s Partners Against Poverty (PAP) fund to wipe out hardcore poverty.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Saturday 9 January 2010

Fuel price by car size

Malaysian fuel price by car size

The bigger your car, the more you will have to pay for petrol from May 1.

This is because the Malaysian government is going to change the way fuel is subsidised.

It is planning for a fuel pricing mechanism that will ensure only targeted groups, particularly those from the lower-income, will receive fuel subsidy.

Also, foreigners who drive into the country to fill up their tanks will not be eligible for subsidy and will have to pay more for fuel.

“The bigger the engine, the higher petrol will cost,” Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday.

The move was based on the assumption that those in the lower income group would normally drive a car with a lower engine capacity and thus be eligible for the subsidy, he said.

“For RON95 petrol, the subsidy is 30 sen per litre. The current price of RON95 petrol is RM1.80 compared with the actual price of RM2.10.

“Malaysians who are not eligible are those who drive a higher engine capacity car or non-Malaysians. They will have to pay RM2.10 or more for RON95,” he told a press conference after launching the new corporate identity of the F&N soft drinks division here yesterday.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Saturday 2 January 2010

Happy new year 2010

Wish everyone a happy new year!

Friday 1 January 2010

Glass sculptures

Glass sculptures to be displayed in Penang

AN exhibition showcasing glass sculptures depicting flora and fauna by Liuligongfang will be held at G Hotel in Penang from Tuesday.

More than 100 pieces of the sculptures will be put on display in the exhibition entitled ‘The Power of New Tiger 2010’.

Liuli, which means ancient Chinese glass and gongfang, which means workshop, is a studio founded in Taiwan in 1987 by acclaimed director Chang Yi, his award-winning actress wife Loretta Yang, and five other associates.

This is the first time the exhibition will be held in Penang. Admission to the exhibition is free.

-News courtesy of The Star Online-

Enjoy go-kart rides and Penang food

Enjoy go-kart rides and Penang food

A GO-Kart and Food Festival is among the new events listed in the Penang Tourism Calendar this year.

State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said the festival would be held on March 13 and 14 at the Esplanade.

“The public will be able to go for go-kart rides and, at the same time, enjoy the best of Penang food,” he told a press conference at his office in Komtar on Wednesday when announcing the calendar of events.

He said some 20,000 English pamphlets of the Penang 2010 Tourism Calendar had been printed while the Malay and Chinese versions would be out soon.

The other events listed include the Chap Goh Meh celebration at the Esplanade on Feb 27, Vasakhi Open House at the Esplanade on April 24, Penang Floral Festival at the Botanic Gardens from June 6 to June 13, Ramadan Bazaar at the Komtar pedestrian walk from Aug 11 to Sept 9, Deepavali at Little India on Nov 5 and Christmas Eve celebration at the Esplanade on Dec 24.

Law said singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan would be invited to perform at a ‘reunion celebrations in Penang’ to be held as part of the Chap Goh Meh festival.

He said the durian season in Penang would also be promoted from the end of May till early July, especially aimed at Singaporeans.

“With several direct flights between Singapore and Penang now, it can be cheaper for Singaporeans to come over here and enjoy the delicious fruit instead of buying it back home,” he added.

Law said the Penang 2010 Tourism Calendar had been uploaded on the VisitPenang website (www.visitpenang.gov.my).

-Information courtesy of The Star Online-