Making Malaysia the top destination

Making Malaysia the top destination

Making Malaysia the top destination

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:03 AM PST

  For the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC), collaborations forged between the ministry, other government agencies and the private sector have created a seamless and effective working network to implement ideas and share expertise, particularly in the implementation of the Tourism National Key Economic Area (Tourism NKEA).

  Under the Tourism NKEA, the tourism industry has targeted to rake in RM168 billion in  receipts and 36 million tourists by 2020 in order to secure Malaysia's position as a leading tourist destination. In 2012, the receipts were about RM60 billion.

  Taking the lead on this NKEA, MOTAC has been tasked to oversee the implementation of 12 Entry Point Projects (EPPs) that will  land Malaysia on the world's stage as a preferred, top-of-mind tourist destination.
  MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng says his ministry's key performance indicators (KPIs) and that of the Economic Transformation Programme's (ETP) are very much aligned as both parties have common visions.

  "Our focus in terms of organisational structure, priorities and resources management are aligned, so we are able to focus on our strategies and maximise  resources to meet our targets. That could be a reason for this seamless relationship.

  "In addition, we have project managers, leaders and capable individuals heading our projects at the steering committee levels. We also work with the private sector to create a positive environment for a public-private partnership. This is important as most of our investment-based projects are dependent on private intervention.

"With a good working relationship between agencies and private sector, we are very much progressive in all aspects," says Ong.

  Shopping, themed as Affordable Luxury, is one the key areas that gets most of the attention and has recorded tremendous improvement.

Three out of the 12 EPPs are connected closely to the development of the shopping scene in the country, namely the positioning of the country as a duty-free shopping destination; the designation of Bukit Bintang-KLCC area as a vibrant shopping precinct; and the establishment of premium outlets.

  "One of the best examples that demonstrate our collaborative network is the establishment of the Bukit-Bintang-KLCC Tourism Association.

"In the beginning, all representatives in the association committee were from the government. But today, we have got the buy-in from the private sector as well. The committee members now are from both private and public sectors, including  the malls within the golden triangle," says Ong, adding that association is now active in organising events, activities and programmes that correlate with the ministry's goals and targets.

  "Ideally, this is what we are trying to achieve with all our EPPs.

"For instance for cruise tourism, we have set up the Malaysian Cruise Council (MCC) that will make policy recommendations and facilitate regional cooperation to grow cruise tourism.

"It involves both public and private sector members from the industry, such as representatives from the major ports," says Ong, adding that the government should only act as facilitators in all these committees and the KPIs of all parties will be incorporated when programmes are drafted and implemented.

 He adds that one of the biggest challenges faced in streamlining the agencies and private sector is to get their buy-ins.

  "We have to get all parties to see how each goal benefits them and then once they come on board, we need to get them take ownership of the goals  and work together. It's convincing them that we are working towards a common objective that's hard, but once we get their commitment, it becomes much easier."

  Tourism NKEA has five themes that incorporate 10 EPPs. Apart from Affordable Luxury (shopping), there's Nature Adventure (Malaysia as global biodiversity hub), Business Tourism (Malaysia as leading business tourism destination), Family Fun (Integrated resorts and cruise tourism) and Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports (dedicated entertainment zones, international events, spa and golf tourism).

  It also focuses on Enhancing Connectivity and Improving rates, mix and quality of hotels as the 11th and 12th EPP.   The ministry has also taken  progressive measures and initiatives to include innovative approaches in marketing  events and products.

  These include the creation of  mobile applications for homestay and the Malaysia Trip Planner, dedicated websites for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and MOTAC,  as well as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube sites to promote various tourism products and programmes.

  On Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014, Ong says there is always a surge in tourist arrivals and tourism receipts during every VMY, and the ministry will do what it can to accelerate the implementation of the EPPs that will help the ministry meet its target.

  This year, in conjunction with VMY 2014, the ministry targets an arrival of 28 million tourists and receipts worth RM76 billion.

A flash mob performing at the main entrance of Pavilion KL to kick off Visit Malaysia Year 2014 in style. Shopping, themed as Affordable Luxury under the Tourism National Key Economic Area, is one sector that gets most of MOTAC's attention.

A Tourism Malaysia contractor putting the finishing touches on a Visit Malaysia 2014 poster at Dataran Merdeka.

BNM Syariah adviser honoured

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

15 January 2014| last updated at 12:07AM

Daud, 50, was among eight recipients conferred the awards by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at the Putra Mosque here yesterday.

Other recipients were former High Court judge Datuk Faiza Tamby Chik, who is also the National Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) fellow, Sabah police chief Datuk Hamza Taib, former Federal Territory mufti Tan Sri Abdul Kader Talip, former Malaysian ambassador to Egypt Datuk Zainal Abidin Abdul Kadir, National Fatwa Council adviser Professor Datuk Zakaria Stapa, religious teacher Datin Rusmiati Harun and radio presenter Azimi Mohd Kassim.

Student activist Ahmad Ammar Ahmad Azam, who died in a road accident in Turkey last November, was named one of the recipients. His father, Ahmad Azam Abd Rahman, picked the award on Ammar's behalf.

Daud received RM50,000, a certificate and a plaque, while the other recipients received RM20,000 each.

Daud, who is also founder of finance company Amanie Advisors Sdn Bhd, said the award would spur him to continue promoting Islamic finance.

Maulidur Rasul Perdana award recipients (seated from left) Datin Rusmiati Harun, Tan Sri Abdul Kader Talip, Dr Mohd Daud Abu Bakar and Datuk Hamza Taib. Standing from left are student activist Ahmad Ammar's father, Ahmad Azam Abd Rahman, Datuk Zainal Abidin Abdul Karim, Datuk Faiza Tamby Chik and Mohd Azimi Kassim. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

Devotees celebrate 'Ponggal' with joy

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

15 January 2014| last updated at 11:20PM

Dressed in traditional outfits, 40 temple members participated in a mass Ponggal ceremony, where freshly harvested rice, milk and ghee were boiled in clay pots until the contents overflowed.

Ponggal, which means "boiling over" in Tamil, refers to the overflowing of boiling milk to symbolise a bountiful harvest.

The members chanted "ponggolo ponggal" (overflowing) as the liquid overflowed the pots.

Rice and brown sugar were then added to make sweet rice, which was offered to those present.

The festival is celebrated for four days and kolam (colourful motifs) are drawn, using rice, on the floor to invite prosperity into one's house.

Temple coordinator S. Purusothaman said it was a time for Hindu devotees to start afresh to welcome a good year.

"It is a day when we start with positive thoughts, celebrate prosperity and plan for a fruitful year ahead."

Purusothaman said he was glad that many in the Indian community observed the age-old tradition.

"The temple members are in high spirits and have been up since before dawn to celebrate."

The festival originated with farmers in Tamil Nadu, India, 5,000 years ago.

It is meant to show gratitude to God and nature, particularly the sun, for a bountiful harvest.

On the eve of Ponggal, called Bhogi, old items are discarded and burnt to cast away old thoughts and sins.

The day after Ponggal is called Maatu Ponggal, which is when agriculture animals, such as bulls and cows, are feted with ponggal rice and garlands.

Some have their horns painted in bright colours.

On the last day, called Kaanu Ponggal, family members visit one another and exchange gifts.

A Temple of Fine Arts member serving the sweete ponggal rice, while -consisting of sugar, milk, and ghee. others hold carry deepam (ghee lamps in George Town yesterday. ) in welcoming the dawn of the harvest month. Pic by Amir Irsyad Omar

'Malacca Sultan' held at jetty

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

15 January 2014| last updated at 12:18AM

State deputy police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Shah Ghazi Shahadad said "Raja Noor Jan Shah Raja Tuah", 56, was picked up at 10.50am while on the way to attend what is also believed to be a thanksgiving function on the alleged revival of the Malacca Sultanate.

"The arrest was based on at least 10 reports made by several organisations, including non-governmental organisations, which have expressed apprehension after a so-called investiture plan and invitations to attend the event.

"Raja Noor Jan Shah, who is from Kampung Teluk Perang in Parit, Perak, was detained under the Sedition Act.

Last month, Noor Jan claimed his claim as the "Sultan of Melaka" was granted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Nov 25.

However, the ICJ has denied Noor Jan's claim that it had recognised him as the "Sultan" of Malacca.

On Jan 8, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the state government had dismissed the claim by Noor Jan to be recognised as Sultan of Malacca.

Noor Jan had written a letter to Idris to discuss the matter, claiming that he had obtained the recognition from the ICJ.

In doing so, Noor Jan had tried to challenge the Federal Constitution, which mentions Malacca as a state administered by a federal representative as the head of state, who is appointed by the King.

Shah Ghazi said numerous police reports had been lodged against the self-proclaimed "Sultan of Malacca" and his claim to be the rightful ruler of the state, as well as the investiture ceremony in Pulau Besar to confer "state" awards, titles and medals on several individuals.

One of the reports was by the Pulau Besar Security Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghafaar, who wanted police to take action against the plan, as it contravened the state constitution.

"It is an offence, as the conferment of state awards and titles can only be made by the Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob. We don't want this to be made a joke by certain individuals," he said.

Meanwhile, state Criminal Investigation Department director Assistant Commissioner Raja Sahrom Raja Abdullah said Noor Jan, whose given name according to his MyKad is Noor Jan Tuah, would be produced in court tomorrow to be remanded.

"He is the only one in our custody at the moment.

"We were told that his followers, some 50 of them, had already gone to Pulau Besar.

"We will wait for them before deciding on our next course of action. If they create any chaos, they will surely be detained, but otherwise, we have nothing against them that warrants an arrest."

Raja Shahrom said the arrest would allow police to scrutinise and authenticate the letter from the ICJ.

Raja Noor Jan Shah (centre), whose given name is Noor Jan Tuah, from Parit, Perak, being arrested by police before boarding a boat at the Anjung Batu jetty in Malacca yesterday. Pic by Muhammad Hatim Ab Manan

Hiker dies after falling into ravine

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

15 January 2014| last updated at 11:16PM
By ATIQA HAZELLAH AND HANI SHAMIRA SHAHRUDIN | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A UNIVERSITI Kebangsaan Malaysia student died nearly three hours after being rescued from a ravine she had fallen into at Bukit Tabur near the Klang Gates Dam in Taman Melawati yesterday.

Solihah Ab Rahman, 25, had been hiking with seven students when she fell 60m down the ravine at 8am.

A search and rescue operation was organised soon after and she was found almost six hours later.

A helicopter was dispatched from the Fire and Rescue Department's air unit in Subang to airlift Solihah out of the forest at 3.40pm, and she was taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) where she died at 4.30pm.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department rescue and special team operation and response mechanism chief Juyana @ Azlan Musa said the department received a distress call at 10.38am, and the first team was immediately despatched to the scene.

He said Solihah fell into the ravine between checkpoints 10 and 11 of the hiking trail, 470m above sea level.

Juyana said the search and rescue operation involved 60 firemen, policemen and Civil Defence Department personnel.

"The victim was found unconscious at 1.46pm, around three hours after the search and rescue effort began. Looking at her condition, I sought help from the department's air unit to assist in transporting her."

The department's Agusta A139 helicopter reached the scene at 3.31pm and an air rescue operator was winched down. He placed Solihah on a stretcher and she was pulled up to the helicopter and transported to hospital.

Juyana said the hill was not suitable for recreational activities as it was steep. However, he did not rule out weather as a factor in the incident.

"The rainy season nowadays might cause hikers to slip and lose balance, causing them to fall into the ravine."

Solihah's elder sister, Fadilah, 38, said she did not know her sister had gone hiking yesterday.

"She loves outdoor activities, such as mountain climbing. She has even climbed Bukit Broga many times before," she said at the HKL mortuary yesterday.

Solihah was the third of five siblings and had been pursuing a Master's in economics. Fadilah said Solihah was living in Pantai Dalam with friends and was working part-time at a bank in the city.

Solihah will be buried in her hometown of Kampung Padang Machang in Terengganu

The Fire and Rescue Department helicopter pulling up Solihah Ab Rahman on a stretcher after she was found in a ravine between checkpoints 10 and 11 of the Bukit Tabur hiking trail. Bernama pic

More seek shelter from floods

Posted: 14 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

15 January 2014| last updated at 11:17PM

A state National Security Council operations centre spokesman said the evacuees from 877 families were being sheltered at 11 relief centres.

The centres included halls at SK Bakong, SK Sri Kiambang, SK Tok Deh, SK Rantau Panjang 2, SK Kedai Tanjong and SK Gelang Mas.

The spokesman said most of the water levels at rivers in the state had gone down.

"Only Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang is still above the danger level while the rest are below their warning marks."

He said the water level of Sungai Golok was 10m as at 5pm yesterday, a metre above the danger mark.

Most residents living along Sungai Golok said they would not clean their properties at the moment.

"It is better for us to wait until the monsoon season ends as there may be another round of flooding," said housewife Ramlah Ismail, 45.

The mother-of-four from Kampung Rantau Panjang Baru said she and her family had just returned to their home after floods in the village receded on Monday.

Idris Yahya, 38, who lives 150m from Sungai Golok, had told his family to be prepared to move again.

"We returned to our house early today (yesterday) but we may move back to the relief centre as the flood situation has yet to return to normal. Therefore, it will be a waste of time for us to clean our home now."

In Kuala Lipis, although the floods had subsided, nine evacuees remained at the Kampung Beralas multipurpose hall as their homes were badly affected by floodwaters.

A state police flood operations centre spokesman said the victims from two families planned to clean their houses before moving back in.

He said Taman Negara in Jerantut was now accessible to all vehicles as the inundated stretch of road was opened on Monday.

Children sitting on a plank by the window of their flooded home in Kampung Kubang Chenok, Rantau Panjang, yesterday. Pic by Syamsi Suhaimi