MALACCA: Bollywood superstar Datuk Shah Rukh Khan is happy to be able keep his promise to shoot a movie here.
He is currently in Sungai Udang to shoot the sequel to his 2006 hit, Don.
He said he would spent several more days here with the 140 actors and crew members.
The movie, he said, was an action thriller in the same genre as the Bond movies.
“However, I play the villain but one which the women love,” he said after a luncheon with Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam yesterday.
The movie is set for worldwide release on Christmas Day.
Khan said filming for the RM48mil production would continue in Kuala Lumpur with the Petronas Twin Towers forming the backdrop for a sequence, adding that shooting would be completed in Langkawi.
The Bollywood heartthrob said he was also considering doing a romantic movie in Malacca.
“There are a lot of beautiful and romantic scenery in Malacca especially near the Malacca River,” he said.
Mohd Ali, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Asmah Abdul Rahman, said the state was justified in conferring the Datukship title to the international superstar.
“He has helped promote Malacca and Malaysia through his movies,” he said.
Khan was conferred the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka which carries the title “Datuk” by Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob in 2008.
[Source: thestar.com.my]
MALACCA: The RM250mil Arab City project - on reclaimed Pulau Melaka off the Bandar Hilir Coast - is tipped to become the country’s foremost attraction for the growing Middle East tourist market.
The Arab City will boast 240 lots offering products from the Arab world, including 10 restaurants specialising in authentic Middle Eastern cuisines and a museum with genuine Egyptian artifacts.
On site: Saleh Al Mansour (in white robe) being briefed on the project by Golden Corporate Heritage’s managing director Hesham Fathi (left). Looking on are the company’s finance director Majed Taufik Rahman Zaho (second from right) and marketing and public relations director Ammar Helal. (right) The Arabian extragavanza is expected to be completed in March next year.
“The Arab City will become a showcase of Arab culture for locals while offering Middle Eastern tourists a taste of home when visiting the country,” project developer Golden Corporate Heritages president Saleh Al Mansour said.
He added there was also intention to blend Arab and Malaysian culture as it was done here 600 years ago during the Malacca Sultanate Empire.
Saleh said many Arab tourists coming here wanted to see more of the country and not merely shop in Kuala Lumpur.
“When Arab tourists are in Kuala Lumpur, they get a big let down when they visit the Arab Street.
“It does not reflect our culture and they feel insulted at the representation. That is why we decided to develop the Arab City project here to promote authentic Arab culture,” he told reporters when met at the project site here on Sunday. Construction work was set to start next month with the recruitment for workers beginning in August.
Some 800 to 850 workers, representing 75% of our workforce, will be locals. The remaining will be Arab and Middle Eastern professionals brought in from 20 countries to train and supervise the workers,” he said.
Covering 1.8ha of seafront land, the Arab City represents the first of three projects worth RM1.2bil to be undertaken by Arab investors in Malacca over the next several years.
The other Golden Corporate Heritages projects in the pipeline here are a five-star hotel; exclusive chalets and private medical centre on 13.75ha of seafront land in Klebang and the Arab traders bazaar in Kampung Jawa.
Source:
MALACCA: The state will make major changes to traffic routes in Taman Melaka Raya starting this month.
Vehicles coming in from the heart of the old city centre in Jalan Merdeka will have an alternative route to exit the city via Jalan Melaka Raya.
To accomplish this, the current one-way traffic in Jalan Melaka Raya will undergo reverse flow to ease congestion at the interchange leading to Jalan Parameswara.
Motorists can now head directly for Garden City, Bukit Senjuang, Ujong Pasir and Semabok before heading towards the highway.
Changes made: A bird eye view from Hotel Equatorial Melaka of the interchange connecting Jalan Merdeka, Jalan Melaka Raya and Jalan Parameswara.The 'island' will be removed to make way for motorists to enter Jalan Melaka Raya directly from Jalan Merdeka. State Public Works and Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo said there would be no trial period and the change would be permanent.
He said the number of vehicles entering the city had increased after its inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
“There were 76,000 vehicles in the heart of the old city in the first three days of Chinese New Year,” he said.
Gan also urged contractors to complete the new RM12mil Kota Laksamana- Limbongan coastal highway ahead of the May deadline to alleviate congestion in the state’s commercial district.
He said, if successful, the road curbs between Dataran Pahlawan and Mahkota Parade would be scrapped to make room for a four-lane road.
Traffic police will be stationed at the interchange to manage the flow beginning for one week.
State Public Works Department and local council personnel will be on standby to assist.
For feedback and inquiries, call MBMB at 06-285 9824 or toll free at 1800-88-4411.
MALACCA: Chinese New Year festivities here kicked off with the launch of an exhibition featuring 500 brightly-lit replicas of famous landmarks and animals.
The exhibition, held next to Malacca River, is among the state’s latest attractions for tourists.
One item that stands out is a 50m red dragon illuminated by 700 lights.
Wow factor: The 50m red dragon seen during the fireworks show in Malacca recently. At its launch, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the dragon was crafted by artisans from China.
“The exhibition makes the Malacca River cruise more exciting, especially at night,” he said to reporters after touring the site.
Apart from the dragon, there are replicas of Porta De Santiago, Independence Memorial Museum, a traditional Malay wooden house, Eye on Malaysia, Menara Taming Sari and animals like rabbits, deer, birds, bees, butterflies and dogs and plants like the rose and hibiscus.
“We will add more replicas that represent Malacca and Malaysia,” said Mohd Ali.
He said the state spent RM1.8mil on the exhibition which will last for two months.
“We may extend the exhibition for up to a year, depending on the response,” he added.
Engineer Goh Jun Hao, 23, said the exhibition was great, especially the red dragon.
During the event, it showcased a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display witnessed be thousands.
Source: http://thestar.com.my
MALACCA: The heat of the global economic slowdown does not seem to have any effect for An Yang Sdn Bhd in Cheng whose locally made Chinese New Year decorative items continue to remain popular.
Instead of seeing orders drop, the company, located in the Cheng Industrial Zone, had increased production by 10% following good demand for their items, in particular Chinese red lanterns.
Factory owner and wholesaler Wong Liang Fatt, 60, said he was confident that sales would remain brisk despite much talk about economic slowdown.
Quality items: Wong's younger brother, Liang Sing,55,showing some of the lanterns made at their factory sold at their retail outlet in Jalan Bunga Raya. “For the Chinese community, Chinese New Year is a major event which is celebrated in a grand manner.
“Most families do not mind spending because it is a time for family reunion. The dinner on the eve of the New Year is an important gathering to usher in prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead,” he said in an interview.
Wong, who has been in the family business for more than 30 years, said the company sold more than 100,000 lanterns last year and he expected sales to improve this year. “We used to import the lanterns from several neighbouring countries.
“However, shortages and breakages owing to poor production quality prompted us to start producing our own lanterns eight years ago,” he said.
Besides lanterns, he said the company also produced other decorative items such as printed Chinese spring couplets and other non-seasonal items.
Source: The Star, http://thestar.com.my
MALACCA: Christmas this year will be extra special for residents of the Portuguese Settlement who will host some 30,000 people at the national-level celebrations on Dec 27.
The residents of the 118 homes have been working feverishly to get their houses and village ready for the event.
Regedor (headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said that most of the homes have already put up Christmas trees and decorations and the entire village is expected to be lit up by today.
Festive joy: Marina Danker, 42, putting the finishing touches to her Christmas tree with sons Ezekiel Hendricks, seven, (right) and Isaiah Henricks, nine.
“The village is like a Christmas fairyland decked with decorations and thousands of flickering lights,” he said, adding that each home spent about RM350 on lights and decorations with the well-to-do families spending up to RM10,000.
“This year is extra special for us as we have been given the honour to host the national Christmas celebrations,” he said.
An open house will be held for visitors along Albuquerque Road from 4pm to 6pm before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launches the celebration at 8.30pm.
Resident Marina Danker, 42, a kindergarten teacher from Texiera Road, said her family began putting up decorations last week.
“I had to spend a little more this year as I had to change the Christmas lights which I bought two years ago,” she said, adding that she spent about RM400 on decorations and lights.
She said that residents were honoured to show the nation how the Portuguese community celebrated Christmas.
Source: The Star, http://thestar.com.my
MALACCA: Bollywood superstar Datuk Shah Rukh Khan has agreed to assist the state in developing the local film industry including shooting one of his movies here later next year.
Shah Rukh said that a team from Mumbai, India, would visit Malacca some time between August and September next year to scout for possible locations for the movie.
“There is a flim I am planning some time in August and September and will send a team down to look around,” he told reporters Saturday at a press conference after receiving his Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) from governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at a ceremony held in Ayer Keroh.
Bollywood superstar Datuk Shah Rukh Khan receiving his Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka title award from Malacca governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob. He added that the tentative title for the proposed movie is “Happy New Year”.
He noted that Malacca is a beautiful state that possesses many locations ideal for moviemaking.
He suggested the state set up at least one or two floor studios and labs here in order to attract moviemakers.
On how he felt about his Datukship, the actor said that it was an honour not only for him but also for all actors from India.
“I am very happy that I have found a big space in the hearts of people here,” he added.
Bharat K. Ajmera (right), the owner of Villa Istana, the swanky hotel where Shah Rukh Khan was staying in Malacca, took Zuraidah Abdul Razak, the General Manager of Karyaneka for a private tour of Shah Rukh's royal suite. Zuraidah was the only fan of the Bollywood star who was given the opportunity to visit Shah Rukh's room and admire his personal belongings. - Photo by NOORSILA ABD MAJID Earlier, some 500 specially invited guests attended Shah Rukh’s investiture ceremony held at Dewan Seri Negeri and waited patiently for more than an hour for the arrival of the superstar.
The actor arrived at about 11.15am.
The ceremony went on flawlessly and he was conferred his award from Mohd Khalil at noon.
The actor later toured several sites in the city including taking a cruise on the Malacca River and rides up the Taming Sari Tower and Eye on Malaysia including meeting fans at Dataran MBMB in Ayer Keroh before leaving for Mumbai.
By MARTIN CARVALHO
Source: The Star, http://thestar.com.my
MALACCA: Tourists in Malacca can now enjoy sailing on a luxury yacht and enjoy the experience of five-star dining at high seas.
The 76.62m Lili Marleen, owned by Halim Mazmin Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, can take on 50 visitors at a time.
“It's a floating hotel. Besides sailing, tourists can enjoy fine dining,” Halim told reporters after a visit by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam on the yacht moored near Malacca Port here recently.
He said the yacht with sails bought in Germany would be used for social activities, adding that tourists would be taken to islands on the Straits of Malacca.
“We can also take tourists to Penang, Langkawi or Sumatra,” said Halim.
He said that tourists could liase with hotels and travel agents to arrange trips.
Asked about the rates, he said this would be discussed with players in the tourism industry.
Halim said the service was in line with Malacca’s recent listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said the state and related bodies would help promote the product. – Bernama
THE path towards World Heritage Site listing for George Town and Malacca was gruelling and at times controversial.
1. St Paul's Church located on top of St Paul's Hill.2. Various tourist spots can be found in the City Centre.
3. A row of old shophouses along the river in Malacca.
The perseverance of the state governments of Malacca and Penang as well as the Federal Government paid off after 10 years when the two towns received approval to be listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco) World Heritage List in Quebec, Canada, on Monday.
1. The Kapitan Keling Mosque.2. The brightly lit Town Hall building at the Esplanade.
3. The Khoo Kongsi at Cannon Square.
1988 – Malaysia ratifies the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972.
1997 – Then Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry begins World Heritage Site initiative to get Malacca and George Town nominated as World Heritage Sites.
1998 – George Town and Malacca nominated into a waiting list by Unesco’s World Heritage Centre under two separate nomination dossiers.
2000 – Taman Negara Mulu and Taman Negara Kinabalu listed under World Heritage Sites under the natural heritage category.
2004 – Completed dossiers submitted to World Heritage Centre but rejected as they did not fulfil the format and were deemed incomplete.
2005 – The ministry improves on the dossier to suit requirements by agreeing to both applications under “serial nomination”, where both sites would be granted a joint World Heritage Site title.
2007 – Revised nomination dossiers officially submitted to World Heritage Centre in January. Unesco World Heritage Centre certifies submission as complete in March.
2008 – George Town and Malacca listed as World Heritage Sites.
What it means to be on the list
> The resulting prestige often helps raise awareness among citizens and governments for heritage preservation.
> Greater awareness leads to a general increase in protection and conservation.
> A country may receive financial assistance and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites.
Source: National Unity, Heritage, Culture and Arts Ministry, http://whc.unesco.org/en/faq
KUALA LUMPUR: The citizens of Malacca and Penang rejoiced as they celebrate the inscription of their state capitals as World Heritage Sites.
Besides an increase awareness and commitment towards heritage conservation, George Town and Malacca should also see a boost in tourism from the new recognition.
MALACCA
Historical site: St Paul’s Church located on top of St Paul’s Hill. The World Heritage Site covers:
> St Paul’s Hill civic zone with St Paul’s Church, Porta de Santiago (A Famosa) fortress and Stadhuys complex,
Landmarks: Various tourist spots can be found in the City Centre. > Residential and commercial areas of Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk) and adjacent streets, including Harmony Street, and
> The Malacca River.
GEORGE TOWN
Holy ground: The Kapitan Keling Mosque. The site here covers:
> Waterfront district including the Esplanade and harbour area, Fort Cornwallis, Weld Quay and Beach Street,
> Historical commercial centre, including the “ethnic streets” like Bishop Street and Church Street (Eurasions), China Street (Chinese, and Market and Chulia Streets (Indians), and Little India,
Meeting place: The brightly lit Town Hall building at the Esplanade. > The guilds and trades precinct including Chulia, Muntri, Leith and adjacent streets,
> Mosque and wakaf enclave of Acheen Street and Kapitan Keling mosques
> Chinese clans enclave with the Khoo, Cheah, Tan, Lim, Yap and Yeoh clan or kongsi houses.
MALACCA: Elation and relief were the reaction of people in the historic city and in George Town following the cities' joint inscription as Malaysia’s first cultural World Heritage Site.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who is in Quebec, Canada for the 32nd World Heritage Committee session, described the success as "global recognition of the country’s ability to protect our unique heritage."
“I wish to thank the people of Malacca and all who have worked hard to achieve this. The inscription today bears the fruit of 8 years of planning and preparations,” he said in his SMS reply when asked to comment on the decision.
Besides being better able to preserve the state’s rich heritage, he said UNESCO recognition would also bring in economic benefit for the people through the tourism and service industries following expected increase in tourist arrivals.
Malacca Historic City Mayor Yusof Jantan receiving World Heritage Site membership form from secretary general of the Organisation of World Heritage Cities Lee Minaidis in Quebec, Canada. Looking on is Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Malacca Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Seet Har Cheow. Besides the recognition of Malacca and George Town, the Kinabalu National Park in Sabah and the Mulu National Parkin Sarawak were also inscribed as natural sites in the World Heritage List.
Malacca City Mayor Yusof Jantan, who is also in Quebec, said that the recognition would bring benefit for the state in terms of funding for conservation and preservation work including gaining foreign expert assistance in joint exchange programs.
As the secretariat for the state’s World Heritage Site effort, he said a permanent conservation and preservation unit would be immediately set up by the city council to oversee the implementation of UNESCO’s guidelines.
Malacca Heritage Trusts president Debbie Lee said that the inscription marked the beginning of a new phase in conservation and preservation work.
“The authorities must now ensure that the city’s intrinsic cultural heritage and monuments are protected and preserved through implementation and enforcement of proper policies and guidelines,” she added.
The 17th Century Cheng Hoon Teng Temple trustee member Josephine Chua said the state must now take steps to create greater awareness amongst the public on the importance of preserving the city’s rich cultural heritage.
“The continued recognition as a World Heritage Site is also dependent on the recipients ability to implement and enforce regulations. The tile can also be taken away if we jeopardise our heritage,” she added.
In GEORGE TOWN, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said a state-level heritage committee would be formed to formulate an integrated heritage policy.
Lim, who would head the committee, said it would hold discussions on fulfilling and complying with the parameters of a living heritage and cultural site.
“Penang needs not only an integrated policy, but one that has concrete short, medium and long-term aims.
“The state government will work closely with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Federal Government and other stakeholders towards creating a plan that include mechanisms to implement the heritage policy and to focus on conservation efforts within the heritage zone,” he said.
He said the world heritage listing was often followed by an increase in heritage and historical tourism.
"Tourism is Penang’s second income earner. Therefore, we will oversee a coordinated effort to upgrade Penang’s heritage tourism products," he said.
Lim said the state government recorded its appreciation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for listing George Town and Malacca as World Heritage Sites
Lim also expressed his gratitude to the previous Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, NGOs, the previous state government and government officials from the state agencies who had helped George Town achieve the listing.
George Town, he said, has been recognised for its largest concentration of pre-World War II buildings in South East Asia and multi-ethnic living heritage.
“Malays, Indians, Chinese, Eurasians, Armenians, Japanese, British, Jewish, Filipinos and other small nationalities have contributed to the development of George Town,” he said.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state government has great responsibility to protect and maintain the World Heritage Site status.
“Failing which, the Unesco will degrade us and strip us off the heritage city status,” he said.
8tv takes its hottest summer music extravaganza to Malacca.
By SETO KIT YAN
skyseto@thestar.com.my
SUMMER LIVE Concert is back! 8tv’s hottest Chinese music extravaganza returns for the fourth year running with sizzling hot stars from the Asian music scene.
Last year, the scorching summer soiree saw a staggering turnout of 100,000 music lovers merrymaking at Padang Ipoh, Perak. Having been to Esplanade, Penang, then Danga Bay, Johor Baru, and Padang Ipoh, Perak, the free live party is set to blaze its way to Malacca this August.
Stanley Huang: ‘I’ve never been to Malaysia before but I heard from my friends that there are lots of lovely girls there.’ “Over the past three years, Summer Live Concert has always been a hit amongst our fans and viewers as well music lovers. It’s a free concert that celebrates musical individuality while providing a massive opportunity for every one to get together and just have a good time,” said 8tv Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Izham Omar at a press conference last week.
From Taiwan come popular Golden Melody award-winning artistes and the most exciting young stars in the Chinese pop music scene – Jolin Tsai, Show Luo, Stanley Huang, Rainie Yang, Jam Hsiao, with boybands Energy and Awaking.
“I’m really excited about the show because I rarely go to Malaysia. I’m looking forward to working with Stanley Huang,” said Taiwanese singer Show Luo in a teleconference during the launch of the event. The 18th Taiwanese Golden Melody Awards Most Popular Male Singer was among the international artistes who performed at the first Summer Live Concert in 2005.
“I’ve never been to Malaysia before but I heard from my friends that there are lots of lovely girls there. I hope to meet some of them on stage,” said Taiwanese American singer-songwriter Stanley Huang in a videoconference at the launch.
Catch Jolin Tsai at 8tv’s Summer Live Concert in Malacca this August. The local artiste line-up includes the winners of three seasons of Project Superstar Malaysia – Season One’s John and Des, Season Two’s Henley and Orange, and Season Three’s Kay and Hau.
Returning as hosts for the concert are popular 8tv entertainment hosts Gary Yap, Dylan Liong, and Cheryl Lee; who will be joined by Natalie Ng for the first time at this year’s musical bash.
988 FM is once again the official radio station for the event, which is organised by 8tv with Better Events and Productions. The concert is supported by the Malacca Tourism Industry, with four-time main sponsor Magnum Corporation being joined by partner sponsors Silky Girl, Daia and Baskin Robbins.
The Summer Live Concert 2008 will be staged at MITC Outdoor Parking, Malacca on Aug 23 at 8.30pm. This year, the concert is themed sporty (sports and dance) with the catchy slogan is City in Rock! Go!
Details on the venue where free concert tickets can be obtained will be announced at a later date.
MALACCA: The Malacca government will build a RM100,000 temporary jetty at the mouth of Malacca River for tourists disembarking from cruise ships.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the jetty was necessary as Star Cruises ships had stopped making Malacca a stopover owing to the lack of a jetty for passengers to disembark.
“I was informed that Star Cruises has chosen to bypass Malacca and sail directly to Langkawi as of last month,” he told reporters during a visit to Malacca River recently.
He said the move meant the loss of 3,000 day-trippers from the ship who spent the afternoon sightseeing and shopping.
Besides this, a proper jetty was necessary owing to an influx of medical tourists who arrived by ferry from Sumatra, he said.
“I have received complaints that the present jetty does not cater to tourists and immigration officers treated those disembarking from ferries as Indonesian migrant workers,” he added.
To overcome this, he said the new jetty would have separate counters to deal with migrant workers and tourists.
Mohd Ali said the state would also carry out dredging at the river mouth once every two months rather than once in two years.
The present jetty was used as an exit and entry point by 92,000 people in the first five months of this year.
MALACCA: The state will be investing RM42mil in a joint-venture project for the construction of an integrated complex to permanently house the Eye On Malaysia Ferris wheel by the year’s end.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the state had agreed that its subsidiary Kumpulan Melaka Berhad would enter into a 40-60 joint-venture agreement with operators of the Eye On Malaysia, MST AD Suria Sdn Bhd.
“On our part, we have agreed to provide land for the project (and invest) RM12mil, with the remaining being borne by the company concerned,” he told reporters after holding prayers to mark the soft launch of the 110m Taming Sari viewing tower in Bandar Hilir yesterday.
The 60m-high Eye on Malaysia, the largest portable Ferris wheel in the world, is currently operating at Lake Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur, until the end of August.
Mohd Ali said the complex will be located on a two-hectare site next to the Malacca River and will include a water screen display and aerospace walk featuring projections to give visitors a feel of being in space.
“The Ferris wheel will become a permanent tourist landmark here and is in line with our effort to promote Malacca as an open-air theme park.
“Several other projects such as the 52-lane bowling centre and international go-kart track in Ayer Keroh are also expected to be completed this year,” he added.
He said the Eye on Malaysia would earn enough to let the operators get back their investment within four years, based on projected ticket sales.
An estimated 6.8 million tourists are expected to visit Malacca this year with the number likely to increase to eight million by 2010.
MALACCA: The state’s next tourist attraction, Menara Taming Sari, is expected to be open to the public on Monday.
Several setbacks in the past had caused a delay in the construction and operations of the 110m tower.
With its peak shaped like a keris, it stands tall in the middle of the busy tourist hub surrounded by heritage museums, shopping centres, and the Malacca River.
The tower was built at a total cost of RM23mil funded by Kumpulan Melaka Berhad and will be run by its subsidiary Melaka Taming Sari Berhad (MTSB).
Standing tall: The Menara Taming Sari standing tall in Malacca’s tourist hub. The unique feature is the revolving cabin ( inset) from which visitors can have a bird’s eye view of the city. The air-conditioned viewing cabin, which can accommodate up to 80 people at a time, revolves as it rises from ground level to the top of the tower. It also revolves on its downward journey.
Among the extra services offered are kiosks, a restaurant and limousine services.
Menara Taming Sari will be the first of its kind in the country with a revolving observation cabin, which provides a breathtaking 360-degree view of the entire historical areas in the city. Each viewing session would last seven minutes.
The operating hours of the tower will be from 10am to 10pm everyday. Admission fee for MyKad holders will be RM10 for adults and RM5 for children below 12 years old and senior citizens above 55 years old. Foreigners will be charged RM20.
Nazary said that he expected Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to launch the tower after the Malacca Historical City celebrations on April 15.
THOUSANDS of young and old residents and tourists flocked at Kampung Chetty in Jalan Gajah Berang, Malacca, to witness the 2008 Ponggal festival.
Other than being a harvest festival, which dates 5,000 years, it is a traditional event among Indians denoting thanksgiving to God.
Organised by the Indian Chetty community this year, a variety of activities were held to add merriment to the four-day event.
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All ready: G. Puvanesh (left) and N. Ranjini (right) holding Ponggal rice pots. |
K. Vimala Devi, a resident of Kampung Chetty, prepared prayer offerings such as fresh flowers, fruits, silk, kumkum and vibuthi for the festival,.
“These items will be offered to the sacred cow for its hard work during the harvest,” said the 40-year-old, adding that the Ponggal festival was also a time for the community to pray for prosperity.
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Traditional: A demonstration of the Chetty wedding. |
Kurt Thomas and his wife Carolyn from the United States said it was his first time they saw a traditional event like this.
“I think the culture is cool and special. I enjoyed learning from it and it opened my eyes,” said the 57-year-old Kurt, who was on his first trip to Malaysia.
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In appreciation: Residents feeding fruits to a sacred cow. |
“Indians do celebrate Ponggal there, but they do it on a smaller and simpler scale,” said the 32-year-old.
Her friend Russell Jo Lee, 28, was amazed by the traditional dance karagatam in which the dancer made cheerful moves with the rhythmic music while balancing a big urn on his head.
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Rhythmic: Boys beating traditional drums for the parade of sacred cows. |
The Ponggal festival is held during the Tamil month of Thai, which falls between January and February.
The celebrations involve boiling milk in a clay pot until it overflows, after which rice, sugar, raisins and cashew nuts are added. This is done to thank God for the bountiful harvest and for continued good produce.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam officiated at the festival.
“Festivals like this serve as an introduction of our unique ethnic characteristics to the outside world, and this tallies with tourism promotion under the Ninth Malaysian Plan,” he said.
MALACCA: It was a relief for the Jonker Street Committee when Kota Melaka MP Wong Nai Chee succeeded in getting the local city council and Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan Melaka to support the cost of street decorations and organising the Jonker Street Chinese New Year carnival.
MBMB will foot the Jonker Street electricity bill throughout the Chinese New Year period while Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan will install panel boards and steel brackets extending from the sides of buildings along the street.
Installation of the 5m by 1m brackets will ease the job of hanging 1,500 lanterns for the carnival.
Fifteen associations and societies will decorate streets in the city, towns and villages to usher in the Year of the Rat.
More than 70 activities have been lined up by the organizing committee to keep tourists and locals occupied during the carnival.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has been invited to launch the carnival on Jan 19.
MALACCA: Malacca has launched a WiFi service to cover the entire state.
The Wireless Melaka project hopes to cover 70% of populated areas and deliver low cost Internet access, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.
“I am very happy that wireless Internet access is now available in three locations – two at MITC (Melaka International Trade Centre) and at UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara) on Jalan Hang Tuah,” he told a press conference yesterday.
He said the service would be implemented in three phases at a cost of RM2.5mil, adding that the state government had asked the consortium handling the project for Internet access at parklands and subsidised access fees for students and the poor.
Wireless Melaka is a consortium formed by Melaka ICT Holdings Sdn Bhd, The Red Snapper (M) Sdn Bhd and Jaring Communications Sdn Bhd which would build and operate the service.
Red Snapper executive chairman Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff said the first phase covering 45% of the populated areas would be ready within six months with micro-cellular base stations installed in Melaka Tengah (38), Jasin (3) and Alor Gajah (3).
To register for the service, visit www.jaring.my. Payment schemes are available are RM5 per day, RM20 (one month) and RM50 (three months).
MALACCA: Christmas carolling has always been a tradition of the Ayer Salak village. This year, youths in St Mary Church, organised a carolling group to visit the 50 Christian family homes in the village.
The church youth deputy president Martha Chua Swee Chin said it was a time for interaction and sharing in the spirit of Christmas. 
She said the 25-member group, aged between 10 and 35, had practised singing for one week before their carolling rounds.
“We have to visit the houses on our motorcycles as the roads are narrow,” she said.
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Sensible: Travelling by motorcycle is the practical way. |
“We would sing four songs in either Chinese or English at the request of each household; our two Santa Clauses would also dance for them.
“The family would normally give us a donation which we channel to the church’s youth association.”
MALACCA: It was a slow process but the revolving top of the Taming Sari tower in Banda Hilir was finally put in place yesterday. The RM23mil, 116m-high tower, now at its makeshift location, would be moved to its permanent location 15m away in a few days’ time. The state’s latest tourist attraction, is expected to be opened in February. The tower, named after Hang Tuah’s mythical kris, and built using Swiss technology, will be the first tower in the country to have a fully revolving structure. It can accommodate up to 80 people at one time. The revolving tower, some 100m above ground, will make a complete circle in five minutes. There is also a restaurant, convenience store and a souvenir shop on the ground floor. The tower was to be built near the Parameswara Jetty but work stopped when an ancient Portuguese wall was discovered at the site near the Stadthuys. A ground-probing radar survey was undertaken to ensure that there were no historical artefacts or construction under the new site before work began in January.
