VM2020 logo emits strong Malaysia vibes, says graphic designer
A Penang-based graphic designer said the new Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) tourism campaign logo, which was unveiled by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 22, truly reflected what the nation was all about. (BERNAMA)
A Penang-based graphic designer said the new Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) tourism campaign logo, which was unveiled by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on July 22, truly reflected what the nation was all about.
The VM2020 logo was designed by 23-year-old graphic designer Alfred Phua Hong Fook, who had beaten over 500 other entries in a competition held between March 11 and March 24 after the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture decided to scrap the previous version.
Danz Chee, who has 15 years of logo design experience under his belt, said the official VM2020 logo has brought out strong “Malaysia” vibes with its simplistic Batik-style design, the fitting colour scheme of “Jalur Gemilang”, as well as the usage of iconic national trademarks, which are the rhinoceros hornbill, the red hibiscus and the wild fern known as “paku pakis”.
“I’ve checked out other entries from the contest, some of which are pretty well done, but I personally find the winning logo really screamed out what Malaysia is really all about,” Chee told Bernama.
Not long after the unveiling of the VM2020 logo, allegations of plagiarism through other logo designs began to brew up in social media platforms.
A different version of the VM2020 logo went viral on social media, alleging that the graphic designer had plagiarised from another hornbill design associated from a stock image, but the allegation was later dismissed by Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.
This, however, did not stop netizens’ accusations of strong resemblance to a combination of multiple stock images, they believed were applied in the official VM2020 logo.
Chee explained that professional graphic designers normally do not trace stock images completely but rather use them, as well as other relevant logos and photos for designing references to develop a firm grasp of its design concepts and ideas.
He also said that graphic designers also look up these references to prevent any possible conflicts or clashes of resemblance.
“Say for instance, a client would want a tiger as their logo, and of course, we would have to look up real photos of a tiger as references and develop the important aspects of a tiger, such as its fur patterns. We would then modify them to our own desired art style, but still retain its resemblance as a tiger. You do not want to end up with a design of a cat when your client expects a a tiger,” he said.
He added that the modern trend of minimalism art style also played a huge role in the preference of the logo design, given the examples of known companies such as Adidas and Pepsi shifting their complex logo design to a more simplistic form over time. -- Bernama
Promoting Balik Pulau as new tourist destination in Penang
BALIK PULAU, July 19 (Bernama) -- The three-day Balik Pulau Festival 2019 from today will promote Balik Pulau as a new tourist destination in Penang.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said many programmes have been organised throughout the festival, including running and cycling events that provide an opportunity for tourists to explore the surrounding Balik Pulau area.
Muhammad Bakhtiar who is also Balik Pulau member of Parliament, said that the public will also be feted to traditional orchestral performances, as well as performances by invited artistes, besides having the chance to win various prizes in lucky draws among them flight tickets, motorcycles, watches, cameras and so on.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the slogan ‘I Love MY (Malaysia)’ in conjunction with Festival Balik Pulau 2019, here today. The slogan, among others, aimed at promoting the spirit of patriotism among the people, especially the young.
“I purposely took advantage of the Balik Pulau Festival to start the ‘I Love MY’ campaign. It should be followed by all Malaysians, as we are all proud of our beloved country. Malaysians should popularise this tagline,” he said.
Earlier, Muhammad Bakhtiar attended a motivational talk by celebrities and entrepreneurs, Ariz Ramli or better known as Caprice, titled ‘Jihad in Education’ to about 1,000 students from schools and institutions of higher learning.
-- BERNAMA
Mural painting gives different satisfaction to an artist
BALIK PULAU, July 21 (Bernama) -- Due to a profound interest in arts, Nasrul Hisham Jamaludin dared to leave his career as a costume designer to venture into a full-time mural art.
The 43-year-old was determined to leave his 15-year career as a costume designer and decided to open a business as a full-time painter by the name of NashArt.
"When I worked as a costume designer, I do portrait painting, mural and others as a part-time job. But when I get used to it and had the feeling that I could go a long way with painting, so I left my job. I set up a business in Ipoh by painting murals, portraits and at the same time, I also did costume designing.
"In addition, I also held workshops on mural painting for the public, so I could not focus on one thing only but to diversify it. We need to be good in marketing," he told Bernama when met after the visit of Tourism, Art and Culture Deputy Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik to the mural at Lily Flat, here yesterday.
Nasrul Hisham with four other local artists was given the opportunity to paint murals on the wall of Lily Flat, Green Flat, Seri Indah Flat and Pekan Kongsi, here in conjunction with the three-day 2019 Balik Pulau Arts Festival.
He said painting a mural gave more satisfaction to an artist compared to canvas painting because murals were closer to the community besides the vast space to work.
"Portraiture painting, for example, can only be seen at the Art Gallery or in an exhibition. If painting on the walls, many people can see it and I think these paintings are more appreciated by the community... it does give a different kind of satisfaction," said the Kg Titi Teras-born artist, who has painted eight murals in Kajang, Ipoh and Bagan Datuk since becoming a mural painter in the last five years.
The Penangite noted that a career as a painter could generate a lucrative income if the painter was wise to take the opportunity and know the marketing strategy.
Meanwhile, Amir Andhar Abu Samah, 25, also shared the same opinion and noted that painting a mural was more satisfying from drawing on canvas as the space was quite limited.
"When you paint on canvas, the number of viewers is not large but it is more fun when you paint a mural because we paint it for people to see. I will feel satisfied whenever people look at my work, and we can show what we can do," said the 25-year-old who became a full-time mural painter after graduating in arts in 2014.
His artworks could be seen in areas around Butterworth, Bagan Luar and Kuala Lumpur and in Singapore.
-- BERNAMA
Tourism industry expected to generate RM100 billion next year
Malaysia’s tourism industry is expected to generate RM100 billion in revenue next year.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said his ministry is confident of achieving its target of 30 million tourist arrivals next year, contributing to the RM100 billion in revenue expected from both international and domestic tourism, compared to a projected revenue of RM92 billion for this year.
“Kelantan is among the states expected to attract a higher number of foreign tourists to Malaysia. A total of 5.5 million tourists are expected to visit Kelantan this year. Tourist arrivals to the state will increase further next year and this will help boost the number of tourists coming to Malaysia,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of the 2019 Kelantan Folk Arts Festival (FKRK) here today.
Also present were Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) director-general Tan Sri Norliza Rofli, Kelantan Culture, Tourism and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Md Anizam Abd Rahman and Narathiwat deputy governor Patimoh Sadiyamon.
The FKRK introduced in 2017 is one of nine cultural programmes listed in the cultural tourism sector calendar in nine states to highlight unique local cultures as tourism products.
Among the activities held at the FKRK this year were Rebana Ubi, Kertuk and Dikir Barat competitions and performances by the Kelantan Percussion Symphony Orchestra.
Meanwhile, Mohamaddin said his ministry is always open to proposals from state governments in the effort to revive the traditional art forms in their respective states.
“For instance, the Mak Yong cultural performance has been allowed to be continue in Kelantan by mutual agreement. We would like to say thank you to (the) Kelantan (state government) for giving a new breath to Mak Yong, now it can be watched at the Kelantan JKKN Auditorium,” he said.
The PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) -led government in Kelantan had previously banned Mak Yong, a dance drama, in the state on the grounds that it had animist and Hindu-Buddhist roots.
-- BERNAMA
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Penang Hill's century-old bungalow to be turned into family lodge, campsite
Eco-holiday goers will have another reason to immerse themselves in the 130 million-year-old rainforest in Penang Hill once the Hillside Bungalow is refurbished into a family lodge and campsite.
Hillside Bungalow and Tulip House are being renovated under the Hillside Retreat Penang project to tap the eco-tourism potential of Penang Hill.
Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager Cheok Lay Leng said Hillside Bungalow and Tulip House, the oldest bungalows on Penang Hill, are nestled comfortably within the surrounding rainforest.
"Under this project, Hillside Bungalow along upper tunnel road will have four boutique rooms, four bunk rooms plus an open area that can accommodate up to 16, four-person-tents for camping.
"Tulip House, located just below the main Summit Road near the Bee Gallery, will have two rooms. The maximum capacity for this project is about 80 persons," he told a press conference here today.
He said Hillside Retreat Penang is expected to be ready by end of October 2019 and the official launch date will be announced soon.
Cheok said besides a design that blends well with the environment, the refurbished properties will have living and dining areas, toilets and shower rooms, refuse and recyclable material storage, rain harvesting system and many other eco-friendly features.
"Campers will get a chance to indulge themselves under a blanket of stars, inhaling the cool fresh air while casting their eyes over the Milky Way. This is a chance to enjoy a timeless moment of tranquility and intimacy with loved ones in peace and quiet," he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the project would provide more opportunities for tourists to explore such hidden gems at different parts of Penang Hill with the extended time spent on the hill.
"It also reflects the endeavours of the Penang state government to promote eco-tourism and allowing families to spend quality time together by enjoying the natural beauty of Penang Hill throughout the day," he said.
Built in the early 1900s, Hillside Bungalow is one of the oldest bungalows on Penang Hill and is classified as a Category II heritage building in the Penang Hill Local Plan 1998 and Penang Hill Special Area Plan 2016.
The bungalow was once used as a rest house for British government officers. It was turned into a rest house for public servants after Independence and left vacant.
Tulip House was built by the British in the 1920s for workers at that time, and the place was used as a government quarters after Independence. It was then handed over to PHC after 2011 and was renovated in 2016.
-- BERNAMA
Melaka-Penang AirAsia flight resumes operation at LTAM
The Melaka-Penang AirAsia flight has resumed normal operation two days after it was grounded due to a navigation system glitch at Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam.
State Public Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Datuk Mohd Sofi Abdul Wahab said the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) in Putrajaya had issued its approval to use the flight procedure after ensuring the damaged operation equipment had been repaired.
He said CAAM had also taken proactive measures to manage and ensure the system is running well after conducting an investigation and examination to identify the cause of the problem.
"The AirAsia flight today resumes operation by carrying 158 passengers to Penang, two days after it was grounded after experiencing disruption in the system.
"The parties and the airline concerned had also taken temporary measures and succeeded in repairing the operation system after undergoing tests and receiving the approval of CAAM,” he told reporters after inspecting LTAM in Batu Berendam here today.
Mohd Sofi said the state government also hoped the parties responsible would find a comprehensive solution to the technical problem so that it would not recur in future.
He said, the maintenance procedures and practice must be reviewed to ensure all equipment is ready for use at any time.
“The 158 passengers today exceeded 70 per cent of the flight capacity, and it shows their confidence and the problem did not affect the service.
Yesterday, Bernama reported the Melaka-Penang AirAsia flight at LTAM at 2.50pm had to be suspended due to a technical problem with the navigation system.
-- BERNAMA
Conservationists disagree over way forward
The decorated entrance to Lee Jetty in Pengkalan Weld. Some activists are concerned the jetties are becoming ‘theme parks’. -NSTP/Danial Saad
Conservationists are split over whether the Unesco World Heritage status accorded to parts of the city, which led to an influx of tourists, has done more harm than good to the clan jetties here.
The difference of opinion appears to rest on the best way to preserve the integrity of the jetties, with some calling for a ban on businesses operating on the jetties, while others feel there is a need to encourage it.
Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Housing, Building and Planning Professor Dr. A. Ghafar Ahmad says so long as there are residents staying on the jetties, they will be preserved.
“You must understand the history of the clan jetties, which began as a homestead for Chinese immigrants who came here for work in the then booming Penang maritime trade.
“So the true meaning of the jetties and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) is still intact as long as there are residents living there,” he tells the New Sunday Times.
However, he says, the jetties, especially Chew Jetty, may end up losing its OVU if the entire jetty is converted into a fully-commercial enterprise.
“It is all right for residents living there to carry out business or trade. You cannot stop that. In fact, residents should be encouraged to participate in economic activities as seen in other World Heritage listed sites.”
However, Ghafar qualifies this by stating that only residents living in the jetties should be allowed to conduct businesses to ensure they would invest in maintaining the place, which is also their home.
“They know the place, so they will take better care of it.”
He says there should be control over the types of businesses allowed to operate on the jetties as well as their opening hours.
“There should be do’s and don’ts for business operators as well as tourists visiting the jetties.
“There should be stringent rules, strictly enforced.
“The authorities must conduct research to determine these factors before implementing them.”
He says the authorities must look into limiting the number of tourists visiting the jetties.
This, he says, was to ensure that the narrow wooden boardwalks would not be damaged and that residents would not be inconvenienced with the presence of tourists at all times.
“The authorities can charge tourists a fee, which can be channelled towards maintaining the jetties.”
Ghafar says effort must be undertaken to improve the infrastructure of the jetties.
“For example, the toilets must be improved, instead of allowing residents to release their sewage into the sea. There should also be steps taken to protect the structure against fires.”
Conservation architect Tan Yeow Wooi disagrees with Ghafar on the way the jetties are being preserved for future generations.
He says the identity of the clan jetties is becoming lost due to the increasing number of tourists and commercial enterprises on the jetties.
“Looking back in history, we understand that these clan jetties were set up to replicate the immigrants’ hometowns in China, where the village residents mostly share the same ancestors.
“Of course, their homes in China would have been on land, but since they came to Penang to work as coolies at the docks or in the town, as well as sampan operators ferrying passengers and food in the straits channel, they may have decided to stick close to the sea.”
He says another clue that indicates the villages are built to mirror the residents’ hometowns is the fact that the temples in all the villages share the same name as the temple back in their ancestral villages in China.
“How can we claim that the clan jetties have retained their integrity if the residents of the clan surname begin leaving the jetties? It will no longer be a clan jetty.”
He says after the end of Penang’s free-port status, many residents moved out of the jetties in search of jobs.
“Due to social changes, only old people and young children are left in the jetties.
“However, with the tourism boom, most residents are now no longer living in the jetties, but are instead subletting the premises.”
He says physical changes to the facade of the jetties have compromised their character.
“It used to be wooden houses with thatched roof, but now you have more modern materials, such as stainless steel, glass and zinc.
“The facade (of houses) has also been removed to accommodate the trinkets being sold.”
Tan points out two different pictures of the same spot in Chew Jetty taken 10 years apart.
“Look at this picture. In the older picture, there is a mother cutting her son’s hair on the porch. In the newer picture, the entire area is filled with souvenirs.
“This is a shocking change and you will not be able to tell that it’s the same place.”
He says many had been caught by surprise when, two years ago, the businesses on the jetties suddenly increased by nearly 80 per cent within six months.
“In the beginning, residents used to complain that they were not getting any benefits from tourists. A few then started to do business selling souvenirs. Before you knew it, more shops began popping up.”
What is worse, Tan says, is the fact that most shops sell things that have nothing to do with the identity of the jetties.
“They sell things that are not related to the jetties and you can see more and more businesses catering to tourists and that’s really intrusive.”
He says the lack of control on the number of businesses operating in jetties shows that George Town World Heritage Inc is not managing the jetties well.
He says immediate action is needed before the settlements fully become markets.
“They need to control the commercialisation and gentrification to protect the OUV.”
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Power to limit tourists lies with clan jetty chiefs'
Tourists buying souvenirs at Chew Jetty, Pengkalan Weld. - NSTP/Danial Saad
George Town World Heritage Inc (GTWHI), which manages the World Heritage Site here, said clan jetties need to decide what they want in terms of allowing tourists to flock to their homes.
GTWHI general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee says the clan jetty chiefs acted on consensus when they decided to allow residents to set up trinket shops and other businesses to capitalise on the high tourist flow.
She says GTWHI respects their wishes, but if some quarters are not to keen to have too many tourists, they ought to bring it up to their respective clan chiefs.
“GTWHI can’t take over the jetties as it is under the control of the respective clan chiefs.
If they want to limit tourists entering the area, then they have to bring it up to their chiefs.”
Ang says public feedback is welcome as the state government is reviewing its George Town Special Area Plan.
However, as site managers, she says they are obliged to protect the clan jetties, ensure sustainable tourism and ensure the residents’ future generations continue to live there.
“We want their offspring to continue staying there in preserving the intangible culture that is synonymous with George Town.
“So we will do all we can to ensure that the clan jetties continue to be a safe and comfortable place for them to live in.”
Today marks George Town’s 11th anniversary as a World Heritage Site.
Ang adds that the state government has to ensure clean water supply to the homes in the jetties and carry out works to improve the sewerage system.
Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi says the state government understands that residents need to make a living.
“It is not cheap to maintain their homes, so we understand that they need to make an income to help them sustain their living.
“Their shops are not legal as per the zoning of the jetties, which are essentially residential, but we are looking at changing the zoning to set better rules and regulations on operating businesses, including on the types of businesses allowed.”
Gooi says the state will help residents maintain the jetties’ boardwalk, improve the infrastructure and help maintain the houses of those who cannot afford to.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Upcoming flights between Melaka, Penang cancelled until Saturday (July 6)
All flights between Melaka and Penang have been cancelled until Saturday (July 6) following a navigation system failure at Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam.
AirAsia confirmed in a statement that six of its flights will be cancelled as the VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigational aid and Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Melaka International Airport in Batu Berendam were inoperable.
An AirAsia spokesperson said the flights to-and-from Melaka will resume on July 6 when its systems are back online.
"We have contacted all affected guests and offered them alternatives.
"Guests may either move their travel dates, retain their fare values in their credit accounts for future travels or opt for a full refund," she said.
Guests who were affected by the cancelled flights may contact the AirAsia support team at https://support.airasia.com/s/?language=en_GB
It was earlier reported that flights AK6284 (Penang to Melaka) and AK6285 (Melaka to Penang) Wednesday (July 3) were cancelled following an apparent failure in the navigation system at LTAM.
It was learnt that AirAsia had sent buses to transport the stranded passengers in Melaka to KLIA2 to put them onboard Penang-bound flights.
~The Star~
