Penang Hill needs cable car connection, says Nazri

Penang Hill needs cable car connection, says Nazri

Penang Hill is in dire need of a cable car connection and the Tourism and Culture Ministry has been applying for the RM325mil funds needed to build it.

"We have been applying since two years ago and we will keep putting it in the budget proposals until the Government has enough money for it," said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (pic).

He said the cable car was not only a tourist attraction but also a mode of transportation.

"It starts from the Penang Botanic Gardens. The first leg goes up to the hill and from there, passengers can take another cable car to Teluk Bahang.

"It will be faster than driving," said Nazri, adding that the planned cable car station in Teluk Bahang will be located close to the Escape theme park and Entopia, formerly Penang Butterfly Farm.

Mohd Nazri said the number of visitors to Penang Hill has increased from 200,000 in 2008 to 1.6 million this year.

"We know how badly the cable car is needed.

"It only depends on Government income. Sooner or later, the price of oil will go up again and we will have the budget for it."

Nazri was speaking to reporters after opening THE TOP@Komtar.

The rejuvenation of this 31-year-old landmark icon now includes an observatory deck on Level 65 and a glass skywalk in the new rooftop on Level 68, on top of a myriad of carnival attractions in Level Five that is accessible through Komtar's Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong side.

"This old building has gone through an amazing transformation. We are listing Komtar now as a must-visit place in all our promotional literature of Penang," he said.

Komtar underwent a revitalisation programme after Only World Group, a listed company specialising in building theme parks and tourism attractions, won a 45-year lease of about 300,000 sq ft of floor space in the building.

Also at the launching were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several local government leaders and businessmen.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Trishaw a firm favourite in the old part of George Town

Trishaw a firm favourite in the old part of George Town



Iconic draw: Tourists walking past a row of trishaws lining the Swenttenham Pier entrance as the ‘Mein Schiff I’ berths for the day in the background.

The modernity of planes and cars has not rendered obsolete that old port city feel of Penang.

People still love to visit by ship and when they get here, they still want to use the trishaws, an icon of the island.

A whopping 22 cruise ships will be calling on Swettenham Pier this month alone and it has become almost a daily sight to see fleets of trishaws lining the pier entrance.

Trishaw fleet owner Saw Chin Choon said tour companies organising day trips for the passengers would book up to about 100 trishaw trips from him when the ships arrive.

“We take the passengers to Khoo Kongsi or the Peranakan Mansion, anywhere in the heritage hub that the tour companies organise. It is usually a two-hour excursion. We take the passengers out three times a day,” he said.

Saw added that his riders were booked all the way until March.

A Penang Port Sdn Bhd spokesman said the pier would see between 80,000 and 100,000 cruise ship passengers and crew members in December alone.

He said yesterday that Mein Schiff I and Superstar Gemini came from Singapore with a total of almost 4,000 passengers and crew.

“Every week, four to five cruise ships are calling and this doesn’t include Superstar Libra and Amusement World, which have their homeport here,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

AirAsia to deploy 84 more flights this CNY

AirAsia to deploy 84 more flights this CNY

There’s good news for travellers with more flights servicing selected domestic and international routes ahead of the Chinese New Year festive period.

AirAsia Berhad will deploy an additional 84 flights from Jan 25 to Feb 1.

“We would like to encourage travellers to book their flights early for the upcoming festive season,” said AirAsia’s head of commercial Spencer Lee in a statement.

“These flights will have an added capacity of 15,000 seats to facilitate the high demand of air travel during that period.”

Among the routes are from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, Penang, Sibu and Tawau, as well as from Penang to Singapore and from Johor Baru to Miri and Sibu.

“Whether it’s a family reunion or a quick getaway, we hope that these additional flights with everyday low fares will help everyone to have a memorable Chinese New Year celebration,” Lee added.

Travellers are advised to book their flights early at airasia.com or through the airline’s mobile app on the iPhone and android devices. For more information, follow AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

~News courtesy of The Star~

Malaysia’s highest skywalk opens to public

Malaysia’s highest skywalk opens to public

For those scared of heights, taking the first step out on the Rainbow Skywalk can be a daunting experience.

Situated at the top of Komtar, Penang’s tallest building, the semi-circle glass walkway gives thrill-seeking visitors the chance to feel as though they are walking on air. And at 68 floors up and almost 250m from the ground, looking down to the roofs and roads below through the glass floor can be slightly nerve-wracking.

The Rainbow Skywalk officially opened its doors to the public on Sunday (Dec 18), as part of a rejuvenation plan for the building by Malaysia-listed company Only World Group (OWG).

I’ve seen people with their knees knocking, and some of them have to be led out by their friends,” said OWG’s chief operating officer Jean Koh. “They won’t even dare open their eyes.

“But once they go out, the view is amazing. Some of them even lie down on the glass floor and take selfies,” she added.

Komtar was completed in 1986 and is Malaysia’s sixth-tallest building. In 2012, OWG won a 45-year lease to revitalise the building.

“A lot of people have been talking about the tower being rundown, the tower has been neglected, so we thought it would be something that we can do to make it great again,” said OWG’s chief executive officer Richard Koh. “We want to enhance the whole tower and bring more family attractions in.”

Speaking on Sunday at the opening, Penang's Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng described the refurbished Komtar as a symbol of the "incredible journey Penang has taken over the last eight years to pick itself up after falling into decline".

"We have seen a revival of both the tourism and manufacturing industry to be a dynamic Penang, and now (the) new Komtar is reborn as a symbol of success from the wreckage of failure."

NEW ATTRACTIONS

Three more floors have been added to the building, bringing it to 68. An observatory deck at level 65, the original top level of the building, features floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allow visitors to enjoy panoramic views of Penang.

A host of family attractions was also developed at level five to cater to both locals and tourists. The Jurassic Research Center is an interactive walk-through attraction featuring animated dinosaurs and educational exhibitions, while a 7D Discovery Motion Theatre features virtual reality and simulators.

But for Mr Koh, the main highlight remains the top. And he has more grand plans for the place. “There is a lot of potential for doing unique things here and to polish it up … we’re going to put up a full-scale orchestra here for weddings, make it a romantic place, and maybe we could even see a wedding proposal up here,” he said.

It costs RM118 (S$38) for an adult ticket to the observatory deck and Rainbow Skywalk, while a child ticket costs RM88.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Happy Deepavali!

AirAsia CEO: Build LCCT in Penang

AirAsia CEO: Build LCCT in Penang

Penang should have a low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), said AirAsia Berhad chief executive officer Aireen Omar.

“Ideally, we would like to see a dedicated LCCT in Penang, because then we can easily build that connectivity and link it to all the destinations that we have already established.

“The Penang International Airport is becoming quite congested. There are a lot of opportunities to grow and build more connectivity into Penang but unfortunately there is infrastructure constraint,” she told reporters after her speech at the World Tourism Conference 2016 at E&O Hotel Penang yesterday.

She also said that the country’s aviation industry looks promising.

“The Government is now realising that the returns from the aviation industry is far larger than any other industry in the economy.

“The contribution to the economy is 12 times multiplied.

“It is not just about aerospace or aviation industry, but it is also about tourism and all other industries that fit into it as well.

“Aviation industry definitely benefits tourism and tourism is one of the fastest ways to build the current account balance for any country.”

Aireen also said that the group was looking at introducing new routes to Langkawi by next year.

“Next year we will create a hub in Langkawi and place two aircraft there, as we want more international connectivity in Langkawi.

YTL Group of Companies managing director Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh, who was among the other speakers at the conference, said that culture is one of the important assets in promoting tourism.

“People will go to a tourism destination as long as the culture and the experience is real.

“We cannot ‘fake’ culture. Either we have it or we don’t have it.

“If we have it, we have to preserve it,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Penang Bridge

Air services not hit in airport blackout

Manager: Air services not hit in airport blackout

The flight operations at the Penang International Airport were not affected despite a power outage which lasted about 40 minutes.

A netizen took Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to task on social media about the incident which started at 10.35am yesterday.

“Penang International Airport got no electricity? Soo ‘International’ wow..@cmlimguaneng tido lagi ka?” the message read.

In his reply, Lim’s page administrator said the situation was not under the jurisdiction of the state government.

“Unfortunately, neither the airport nor TNB (Tenaga Nasional Bhd) is under the state govern-ment but we will follow up with the Federal departments for you.”

Airport acting manager Hassim Duman said the power outage happened in a few areas at the terminal.

“Power supply was restored in stages from 10.50am onwards and all was back to normal by 11.15am.

“No flight was delayed or cancelled,” he said via WhatsApp.

Penang TNB general manager Zubir Hasshim said: “Our system shows there was no interruption.

“The power failure may have been due to an internal problem.”

~News courtesy of The Star~

Happy national day

From the land of spices since 1900

From the land of spices since 1900



Mohamed Meera in front of the store as it appears today at 116 Penang Street in George Town.

UNDER British rule, this land saw a hodgepodge of governmental systems that created a list of problems for its people for centuries.

Sabah was governed by the British North Borneo Company. Sarawak belonged to the White Rajah Dynasty, rulers descended from Englishman James Brooke.

Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor were called the Federated Malay States and the British were particularly protective of them because of their abundance of tin.

Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu were the Unfe­derated Malay States, which were standalone British protectorates without a common legal system.

Penang, Malacca, Singapore and later Labuan – with their vital ports – the British held tightest, ruling them as the Straits Settlement and later, Crown Colony.

This set-up began in the late 1800s and was established by 1910.

After World War II, the British moved to strengthen their hold on the land by forming the Malayan Union in 1946. But wanting more workers, they relaxed citizenship laws to the point that nearly anyone could get it.

They also reduced the powers of the Sultans greatly and gave nearly full administration powers to the Malayan Union governor and the states’ British Residents. This angered the local population, who all but boycotted state functions and meetings.



The facade of Mohamed Meera Sahib (M) Sdn Bhd as it appeared in the 1960s.

In a knee-jerk response, the British dissolved the Malayan Union and formed the Federation of Malaya just two years later. They restored the rulers’ powers and tightened citizenship, but migration problems had set in.

“My grandfather came here in 1900 when he was just 18. He left India in search of a better future, but found himself nearly stateless because of the legal problems,” said foodstuff dealer Mohamed Meera Sahib, 46.

Mohamed Meera is named after his grandfather, who was literate and found a job as a clerk in a spices and herb shop in Penang street.

Years later, he was accepted as a company partner and in 1954, he took over the business entirely after the founders retired and named the shop M. Mohamed Meera Sahib.

Though he was already 72 and had settled down here for decades, his citizenship applications were mired in red tape by the British.

When Aug 31, 1957 came, it was settled. With the freedom to decide, the independent Malayan government took note of all the local people who had been part of the country’s growth and allowed citizenship applications.

The shop in Penang Street was set up in March 1957. It is named Mohamed Meera Sahib Sdn Bhd, after the young man who came from India and gave everything he had to settle down here.

Even the in-house brand “Meera 1882” recognises the year their grandfather was born.

The shop is one of Penang’s leading retailers in halal spices, lentils, dates, food and household products.

Despite being run by the fourth-generation descendants now, they still enjoy the patronage of those who knew their grandfather.

Always charge reasonably, their grandfather told them, so that customers will not feel the pinch.

“We have stuck to that motto all these years,” Mohamed Meera said, smiling.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Georgetown World Heritage Celebrations 2016

Penang - Butterworth Ferry

Penang Laksa

Char Kway Teow

Char kway teow, literally "stir-fried ricecake strips", is a popular noodle dish in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia. The dish is considered a national favourite in Malaysia and Singapore.

It is made from flat rice noodles (河粉 hé fěn in Chinese) or kway teow (粿条 guǒ tiáo in Chinese) of approximately 1 cm or (in the north of Malaysia) about 0.5 cm in width, stir-fried over very high heat with light and dark soy sauce, chilli, a small quantity of belachan, whole prawns, deshelled blood cockles, bean sprouts and chopped Chinese chives. The dish is commonly stir-fried with egg, slices of Chinese sausage and fishcake, and less commonly with other ingredients.[2]Char kway teow is traditionally stir-fried in pork fat, with crisp croutons of pork lard. In Penang, Char kway teow commonly served on a piece of banana leaf on a plate.

Char kway teow has a reputation of being unhealthy due to its high saturated fat content. However, when the dish was first invented, it was mainly served to labourers. The high fat content and low cost of the dish made it attractive to these people as it was a cheap source of energy and nutrients. When the dish was first served, it was often sold by fishermen, farmers and cockle-gatherers who doubled as char kway teow hawkers in the evening to supplement their income.

~Courtesy of wikipedia~

Connectivity to Queensbay Mall

Jawi Durian Festival 2016

Famous Hutton Lane Hainanese coffee shop to move in September

Famous Hutton Lane Hainanese coffee shop to move in September

IT’S confirmed – the almost century-old traditional Hainanese coffee shop named Kong Thai Lai in Hutton Lane, Penang will move out in September, Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported.

Owner Tan Jeng Seow was quoted as saying that the landlord had rejected his appeal to continue with his business there until the end of the year.

“The landlord asked me to move out by September. I first received a letter from the Singaporean landlord asking me to move out by June 6 and I appealed for more time to look for a new place to continue my business.

“But he told me that the new building plan had been approved by the Penang Island City Council and that construction would start soon,” he added.

Tan lamented that rental rates in the city were presently at RM2,500 and above, which was too high for him.

“I will have to close down the business if I cannot find a suitable place,” he said.

Gerakan’s Padang Kota coordinator H’ng Khoon Leng said he was willing to act as “match-maker” to pair pre-war building owners with those evicted in George Town.

Kwong Wah Yit Poh also reported that Hong Kong actor Chris Lai and actress Sharon Chan were spotted filming a special TV programme in Penang. Lai and Chan touched down in Penang on Tuesday and started the filming on Wednesday morning.

They were hosting a TV programme for the coming Chinese dumpling festival and visited two dumpling shops – Feng Yi in Weld Quay and Cintra Food Corner in Cintra Street, to sample Penang’s famous Hokkien delicacy.

The two-episode TV programme, which will showcase rice dumplings of different dialect groups in Malaysia, is scheduled to be aired over Astro Wah Lai Toi at the end of the month.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Asia's comic cultural museum opens in Penang

Asia's comic cultural museum opens in Penang

A comic-themed museum, said to be Asia's first, was opened at ICT Mall, Komtar here, today.

The Asia Comic Cultural Museum showcases work of cartoonists from nine countries in Asia, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

Penang Youth Development Corporation chief executive officer, Teng Kok Liang said the opening of the museum was to give comic and cartoon illustrators the opportunity to show off their talent.

"The museum also serves to conserve and promote historical and cultural heritage as well as recognise comic as an important form of entertainment in generating innovation and cultural industries," he said when met after the museum opening by State Tourism and Cultural Development executive councillor Danny Law Heng.

The museum to be opened to the public from 11am to 6pm daily will display comics from the pre-world war two years to the present, 3D cartoon illustrations and popular comic characters such as Monkey King, Ultraman and Masked Rider.

In fulfilling the 1Malaysia concept, notices of all displays at the exhibition area were in the four languages : Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil, he added.

~News courtesy of Bernama~

Upset over long walk ...

Upset over long walk ...



Commuters at Penang Sentral are upset over what they described as poor accessibility at the public transport hub here.

The most frequent complaint theSun heard when talking to them was the distance from the ferry terminal to the bus station and vice-versa.

Complaints also included concerns over accessibility for the elderly as well as the mobility impaired.

Polytechnic student S. Charand, 19, said the stairs were steep which made the walk difficult if he was carrying books or groceries.

He also voiced his worries for older commuters, handicapped persons and pregnant women who had to walk the steep flight of stairs.

"The management should do their part by raising awareness of the shuttle service which is scheduled every 15 minutes," he added when asked about improvements he liked to see.

Clerk Aishah Yaakob, 25, meanwhile was unhappy over how far she had to walk to get to the buses from the ferry and the other way around.

Although the shaded path is about 500m, she expressed her hope the management can address the issue to make the walk more bearable adding that more lighting during evenings can help matters.

Her sister, customer service agent Amira Yaakob, 19, expressed similar sentiments and claimed the van used for the shuttle service was not handicap friendly.

A tourist, G. Julien, 38, said he was fine with the stairs but agreed that those who were not so mobile or who were carrying luggage will find the going difficult.

A Rela official told theSun they were deployed to assist commuters who were experiencing difficulties.

"We work in shifts, two Rela officers are on standby 24 hours a day to help people," he said.

The integrated transport and logistic hubs which will integrate rail, ferry and land transport on a 9.7ha site in Butterworth is currently in its first phase of construction and expected to be completed in 2017.

When contacted, Seberang Prai Municipal Council councillor Dr. Tiun Ling Ta urged for patience and said facilities for the handicapped and elderly will be in place when the hub is ready.

"We have to be patient, I think all the necessary features for easy accessibility will be available when the hub is completed," he added.

~News courtesy of The Sun~

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy New Year