Tuesday, 11 June 2019
Monday, 10 June 2019
New VMY 2020 logo to be unveiled this month
New VMY 2020 logo to be unveiled this month
The logo for Visit Malaysia 2020 will be unveiled during the national-level Hari Raya open house at the Royal Museum in Kuala Lumpur on June 22.
“The Prime Minister himself chose the logo on the eve of Hari Raya.
“The theme and logo will be unveiled then,” Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said during his Hari Raya open house at SMK Pondok Upeh here yesterday.
A total of 586 entries were submitted for a design competition in March.
The design will also symbolise the various attractive ecotourism products in Malaysia.
Early last year, the Visit Malaysia 2020 logo did not go down well with social media users, as they generally felt that the design was not up to standard.
The emblem featured a cartoon of an orang utan in sunglasses hugging a proboscis monkey, a silhouette of the Petronas Twin Towers and a turtle on a beach, also wearing sunglasses. It included a caption: “Travel. Enjoy. Respect.”
Muhammad Bakhtiar said that events meant for Visit Malaysia 2020 would be required to be coordinated with the secretariat in charge of the campaign.
“This is to ensure it does not clash with other events under Visit Malaysia 2020,” he said.
He was responding to the proposal to bring BTS, a K-pop group, to the country for the celebration next year.
In April, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had promised to bring the boy band to Malaysia and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes was tasked to deliver on this pledge.
Yesterday’s Raya open house was jointly hosted by Muhammad Bakhtiar, who is also the Balik Pulau MP, together with Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Tuah Ismail and Teluk Bahang assemblyman Zolkifly Md Lazim.
~News courtesy of The Star~
The logo for Visit Malaysia 2020 will be unveiled during the national-level Hari Raya open house at the Royal Museum in Kuala Lumpur on June 22.
“The Prime Minister himself chose the logo on the eve of Hari Raya.
“The theme and logo will be unveiled then,” Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said during his Hari Raya open house at SMK Pondok Upeh here yesterday.
A total of 586 entries were submitted for a design competition in March.
The design will also symbolise the various attractive ecotourism products in Malaysia.
Early last year, the Visit Malaysia 2020 logo did not go down well with social media users, as they generally felt that the design was not up to standard.
The emblem featured a cartoon of an orang utan in sunglasses hugging a proboscis monkey, a silhouette of the Petronas Twin Towers and a turtle on a beach, also wearing sunglasses. It included a caption: “Travel. Enjoy. Respect.”
Muhammad Bakhtiar said that events meant for Visit Malaysia 2020 would be required to be coordinated with the secretariat in charge of the campaign.
“This is to ensure it does not clash with other events under Visit Malaysia 2020,” he said.
He was responding to the proposal to bring BTS, a K-pop group, to the country for the celebration next year.
In April, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had promised to bring the boy band to Malaysia and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes was tasked to deliver on this pledge.
Yesterday’s Raya open house was jointly hosted by Muhammad Bakhtiar, who is also the Balik Pulau MP, together with Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Tuah Ismail and Teluk Bahang assemblyman Zolkifly Md Lazim.
~News courtesy of The Star~
New airport proposals for Penang
New airport proposals for Penang
Amid all the hype surrounding the Kulim International Airport (KXP) there is now even talk of two companies proposing to build a new airport in two different locations in south Seberang Perai on mainland Penang.
It is learnt that one private company proposed to the Federal Government its plans to build a new airport in Penang, while another company is about to do the same soon.
If the plans materialise, it would spell the end for Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas which is on Penang island.
It is understood that the proposal for NMIA, if given the nod, would be an exchange for the rights to develop the coveted prime land now occupied by PIA.
A source revealed that the location of NMIA, which would cost about RM10bil and covering a whopping 650ha, would be near the border shared by Kedah, Penang and Perak.
The site, at present, is a vast tract of padi fields, and the project includes an additional 400ha for warehousing and logistics facilities.
“The company proposed an airport large enough to handle 16 million passengers a year, expandable to 25 million.
“It will serve the three states with a check-in terminal featuring a transit monorail for flight passengers to commute between Penang island and NMIA in 45 minutes,” the source revealed.
He said the monorail transit line was calculated to be 57km long, about the same as the train link between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KL Sentral.
This rail link includes an interchange station with the Electric Train Service between Padang Besar (Perlis) and Kuala Lumpur, and stops at Batu Kawan Industrial Estate on the Penang mainland and near Queensbay Mall in Bayan Lepas on the island.
“The company’s proposal for NMIA was so detailed that it surprised those to whom it was presented to in the Federal Government,” said the source who declined to reveal who attended the project presentation.
A check revealed that the state government might not be aware of the proposal.
When asked, a senior state executive council member replied that “this is the first time I am hearing about it”.
The source said the company did not “ask for a sen” to build NMIA, and the proposers offered to build it in exchange for the land that PIA is on.
“They won’t even need the land until NMIA is fully operational.
“The company claims it can raise enough funds to build NMIA fully before seeing a return on their investment by developing the Bayan Lepas airport land,” he said, adding that the company is also willing to finance the cost of acquiring land in south Seberang Prai to build NMIA.
He said while the current estimated value of the Bayan Lepas airport land is RM7.2bil, the development value would be more than double and “immense” enough to make NMIA commercially viable.
The other proposal, NORIA, includes the building of an industrial fisheries port, a major enhancement to Penang’s aquaculture sector in south Seberang Prai and a new electronics industrial park.
A different source revealed that this entails reclaiming 5,000ha between the second Penang bridge and the Penang-Perak border.
“It will be an island. On top of an airport, it will be the largest aquaculture and deep-sea fisheries hub in peninsular Malaysia,” the source said, adding that the fishing port would support tuna fishing activities in the Andaman Sea and even the Indian Ocean on the other side of Sumatra island.
More than 30,000 tonnes of salt and brackish water fish are farmed here yearly and it is the largest source of farmed fish for peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.
He said NORIA includes a mega industrial park for the electronics industry.
“The population in northern Perak and southern Kedah will be the greatest beneficiaries of such an industrial park because it will create tens of thousands of new jobs for them.
“Now, there are fleets of factory buses bringing workers from Kamunting and Taiping in Perak to Bayan Lepas every morning.
“They have to wake up before 5am to get to work. They sleep in their buses. By having a new hi-tech estate closer to Perak and Kedah, the spillover benefits will be more thoroughly shared,” the source said.
He said the prospect of building an inland port in Kedah with a rail link to NORIA was also being studied.
“The company is planning to propose it formally to the Federal Government soon,” he added.
On KXP which is in Kulim, the source said, it “has not been cast in stone”.
“It is closer to Sungai Petani, too far from Perak to give direct benefit,” he said.
It was announced in March that the RM1.6bil KXP has been approved as a private financing initiative and a company to develop it will be picked via open tender.
KXP has generated much interest in the northern region, with industry players in Kedah eager for it and industrialists on Penang island feeling worried that it would adversely impact their state’s economy, especially if it leads to the eventual decommissioning of PIA.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Amid all the hype surrounding the Kulim International Airport (KXP) there is now even talk of two companies proposing to build a new airport in two different locations in south Seberang Perai on mainland Penang.
It is learnt that one private company proposed to the Federal Government its plans to build a new airport in Penang, while another company is about to do the same soon.
If the plans materialise, it would spell the end for Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas which is on Penang island.
It is understood that the proposal for NMIA, if given the nod, would be an exchange for the rights to develop the coveted prime land now occupied by PIA.
A source revealed that the location of NMIA, which would cost about RM10bil and covering a whopping 650ha, would be near the border shared by Kedah, Penang and Perak.
The site, at present, is a vast tract of padi fields, and the project includes an additional 400ha for warehousing and logistics facilities.
“The company proposed an airport large enough to handle 16 million passengers a year, expandable to 25 million.
“It will serve the three states with a check-in terminal featuring a transit monorail for flight passengers to commute between Penang island and NMIA in 45 minutes,” the source revealed.
He said the monorail transit line was calculated to be 57km long, about the same as the train link between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KL Sentral.
This rail link includes an interchange station with the Electric Train Service between Padang Besar (Perlis) and Kuala Lumpur, and stops at Batu Kawan Industrial Estate on the Penang mainland and near Queensbay Mall in Bayan Lepas on the island.
“The company’s proposal for NMIA was so detailed that it surprised those to whom it was presented to in the Federal Government,” said the source who declined to reveal who attended the project presentation.
A check revealed that the state government might not be aware of the proposal.
When asked, a senior state executive council member replied that “this is the first time I am hearing about it”.
The source said the company did not “ask for a sen” to build NMIA, and the proposers offered to build it in exchange for the land that PIA is on.
“They won’t even need the land until NMIA is fully operational.
“The company claims it can raise enough funds to build NMIA fully before seeing a return on their investment by developing the Bayan Lepas airport land,” he said, adding that the company is also willing to finance the cost of acquiring land in south Seberang Prai to build NMIA.
He said while the current estimated value of the Bayan Lepas airport land is RM7.2bil, the development value would be more than double and “immense” enough to make NMIA commercially viable.
The other proposal, NORIA, includes the building of an industrial fisheries port, a major enhancement to Penang’s aquaculture sector in south Seberang Prai and a new electronics industrial park.
A different source revealed that this entails reclaiming 5,000ha between the second Penang bridge and the Penang-Perak border.
“It will be an island. On top of an airport, it will be the largest aquaculture and deep-sea fisheries hub in peninsular Malaysia,” the source said, adding that the fishing port would support tuna fishing activities in the Andaman Sea and even the Indian Ocean on the other side of Sumatra island.
More than 30,000 tonnes of salt and brackish water fish are farmed here yearly and it is the largest source of farmed fish for peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.
He said NORIA includes a mega industrial park for the electronics industry.
“The population in northern Perak and southern Kedah will be the greatest beneficiaries of such an industrial park because it will create tens of thousands of new jobs for them.
“Now, there are fleets of factory buses bringing workers from Kamunting and Taiping in Perak to Bayan Lepas every morning.
“They have to wake up before 5am to get to work. They sleep in their buses. By having a new hi-tech estate closer to Perak and Kedah, the spillover benefits will be more thoroughly shared,” the source said.
He said the prospect of building an inland port in Kedah with a rail link to NORIA was also being studied.
“The company is planning to propose it formally to the Federal Government soon,” he added.
On KXP which is in Kulim, the source said, it “has not been cast in stone”.
“It is closer to Sungai Petani, too far from Perak to give direct benefit,” he said.
It was announced in March that the RM1.6bil KXP has been approved as a private financing initiative and a company to develop it will be picked via open tender.
KXP has generated much interest in the northern region, with industry players in Kedah eager for it and industrialists on Penang island feeling worried that it would adversely impact their state’s economy, especially if it leads to the eventual decommissioning of PIA.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Saturday, 8 June 2019
Penang collaborates with popular Hindi TV channel to pull in tourists
Penang collaborates with popular Hindi TV channel to pull in tourists
The Penang state government is planning to increase its market share of Indian tourists through a collaboration with a popular Indian TV channel.
The 17 million viewers of AAJ Tak TV will get an opportunity to see Penang’s best attractions to be featured in a special programme at the end of June.
The programme showcasing the best of Penang was shot from May 31 to June 4 by a crew. The crew included AAJ Tak TV show editor Amit Tyagi and Indian celebrity couple Nishant Malkani and Gia Manek.
Both Nishant and Gia are well known television stars back home having starred in many top drama series in India.Both TV stars will be promoting Penang through the channel to their Hindi-speaking audience mainly in India, Britain, the Middle East and Asia.
“We are confident that the number of leisure and business tourists from India will increase and the collaboration with AAJ Tak will further promote and help boost the publicity and awareness of Penang.“There were 43,537 Indian tourists who visited Penang last year, although there were no direct flights,” said Ashwin in his speech at the event.
Amit said the coverage of Penang would air as part of AAJ Tak’s one-hour travel show called Saas Bahu Aur Betiyaan.
“It has a Bollywood-type format with dance and songs featuring Nishant and Gia, who are famous TV stars,” he said.
Yeoh in his address said the state was very serious in making a permanent name as a top tourist destination in the Indian market.
“This effort by having AAJ Tak’s crew and India’s famous TV stars in Penang is also another strategy to showcase the state further to the Indian market,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
The Penang state government is planning to increase its market share of Indian tourists through a collaboration with a popular Indian TV channel.
The 17 million viewers of AAJ Tak TV will get an opportunity to see Penang’s best attractions to be featured in a special programme at the end of June.
The programme showcasing the best of Penang was shot from May 31 to June 4 by a crew. The crew included AAJ Tak TV show editor Amit Tyagi and Indian celebrity couple Nishant Malkani and Gia Manek.
Both Nishant and Gia are well known television stars back home having starred in many top drama series in India.Both TV stars will be promoting Penang through the channel to their Hindi-speaking audience mainly in India, Britain, the Middle East and Asia.
“We are confident that the number of leisure and business tourists from India will increase and the collaboration with AAJ Tak will further promote and help boost the publicity and awareness of Penang.“There were 43,537 Indian tourists who visited Penang last year, although there were no direct flights,” said Ashwin in his speech at the event.
Amit said the coverage of Penang would air as part of AAJ Tak’s one-hour travel show called Saas Bahu Aur Betiyaan.
“It has a Bollywood-type format with dance and songs featuring Nishant and Gia, who are famous TV stars,” he said.
Yeoh in his address said the state was very serious in making a permanent name as a top tourist destination in the Indian market.
“This effort by having AAJ Tak’s crew and India’s famous TV stars in Penang is also another strategy to showcase the state further to the Indian market,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Friday, 7 June 2019
Penang among best places in Asia to visit
Penang among best places in Asia to visit
George Town, the island's main city, makes for an ideal home base, thanks to a dynamic cityscape that's punctuated by British colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and ornate Chinese manor houses.Pix from Pixabay
CNN Travel, CNN International’s new travel website, has named Penang as one of 17 Asia's best destinations to consider for the next adventure.
The article, published yesterday, singled out Penang as a mecca for food and architecture lovers. it was written by Kate Springer, a Hong Kong-based freelance writer and editor, with focus on travel, dining, culture and environmental reporting.
Her work has been published by CNN, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Vogue, Munchies, BBC Travel, Fodor’s, Time, HK Magazine, Sotheby’s, Tatler, Home Journal, Time Out Hong Kong, Revolution Magazine, Liv Magazine, Expat Parent Magazine, Horizon Magazine, Where, The List, Post Magazine, Superfuture, Fast Media and WBEZ (Chicago Public Media).
On Penang, Springer said: "Located off the western coast of Malaysia, the island of Penang is a mecca for food and architecture lovers.
"George Town, the island's main city, makes for an ideal home base, thanks to a dynamic cityscape that's punctuated by British colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and ornate Chinese manor houses.
"This seaside city is known as one of the world's top food destinations, serving up a delicious mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine.
"You'll crave dishes like Hokkien mee (fried prawn noodles), roti canai (an Indian-influenced flat bread dish with dal or curry) and Penang laksa for years after visiting."
Besides Penang, also named were Bhutan, El Nido in the Philippines, Bali in Indonesia, Seoul in South Korea, Rajasthan in India, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Phu Quoc in Vietnam, The Great Wall and Xi'an in China, Chiang Rai in Thailand, Luang Prabang in Laos, Kathmandu in Nepal, Yogyakarta in Indonesia, Kyoto in Japan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has since taken to his official Facebook page to urge visitors to visit Penang for an unforgettable experience.
"It is a great honour for Penang. We need to ensure that we do not rest on our laurels.
"The state Tourism Committee chairman (Yeoh Soon Hin) is working very hard to transform this important economic sector so that we continue to be a destination of choice and provide job opportunities for our people," Chow said in an immediate WhatsApp response to the New Straits Times.
On July 13 last year, Bangkok-based CNN Travel senior producer Karla Cripps, in her article "George Town, Penang: Asia's greatest street food city?" wrote at length on Penang's street food culture and the state as an eater's paradise.
~New Straits Times~
George Town, the island's main city, makes for an ideal home base, thanks to a dynamic cityscape that's punctuated by British colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and ornate Chinese manor houses.Pix from Pixabay
CNN Travel, CNN International’s new travel website, has named Penang as one of 17 Asia's best destinations to consider for the next adventure.
The article, published yesterday, singled out Penang as a mecca for food and architecture lovers. it was written by Kate Springer, a Hong Kong-based freelance writer and editor, with focus on travel, dining, culture and environmental reporting.
Her work has been published by CNN, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Vogue, Munchies, BBC Travel, Fodor’s, Time, HK Magazine, Sotheby’s, Tatler, Home Journal, Time Out Hong Kong, Revolution Magazine, Liv Magazine, Expat Parent Magazine, Horizon Magazine, Where, The List, Post Magazine, Superfuture, Fast Media and WBEZ (Chicago Public Media).
On Penang, Springer said: "Located off the western coast of Malaysia, the island of Penang is a mecca for food and architecture lovers.
"George Town, the island's main city, makes for an ideal home base, thanks to a dynamic cityscape that's punctuated by British colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and ornate Chinese manor houses.
"This seaside city is known as one of the world's top food destinations, serving up a delicious mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine.
"You'll crave dishes like Hokkien mee (fried prawn noodles), roti canai (an Indian-influenced flat bread dish with dal or curry) and Penang laksa for years after visiting."
Besides Penang, also named were Bhutan, El Nido in the Philippines, Bali in Indonesia, Seoul in South Korea, Rajasthan in India, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Phu Quoc in Vietnam, The Great Wall and Xi'an in China, Chiang Rai in Thailand, Luang Prabang in Laos, Kathmandu in Nepal, Yogyakarta in Indonesia, Kyoto in Japan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has since taken to his official Facebook page to urge visitors to visit Penang for an unforgettable experience.
"It is a great honour for Penang. We need to ensure that we do not rest on our laurels.
"The state Tourism Committee chairman (Yeoh Soon Hin) is working very hard to transform this important economic sector so that we continue to be a destination of choice and provide job opportunities for our people," Chow said in an immediate WhatsApp response to the New Straits Times.
On July 13 last year, Bangkok-based CNN Travel senior producer Karla Cripps, in her article "George Town, Penang: Asia's greatest street food city?" wrote at length on Penang's street food culture and the state as an eater's paradise.
~New Straits Times~
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
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