Malaysia picked to host ‘Fear Factor’

DARING ATTEMPT: The South African production centre stunt director Francois Grobelaan replacing a Fear Factor flag with the Jalur Gemilang at the KL Tower on Thursday.The stunt was part of the launch of the Asian version of the reality show.

BY ZACK YUSOF
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been chosen to house the first Asian production centre for the popular stunt-challenge reality television programme Fear Factor.

The centre was set up this month by local media company Juita Viden to produce Fear Factor, which is licensed by Endemol, the world's largest format creator for television.

The centre will produce the Asian version of the show for Malaysia and other countries in the region.

Currently, it is shooting the first season for Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

Read full story: Malaysia picked to host ‘Fear Factor’

Good news for Petaling Jaya

Petaling Jaya will be declared a city next March
Read the good news from The Star:


PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya will be made a city next March, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said Friday.

Petaling Jaya will be the second municipal council in Selangor to be given the city status after Shah Alam.

Shah Alam was made a city on Oct 10, 2000.

The MPPJ made an application to the Federal government for Petaling Jaya to be upgraded into a city in August, he told reporters after launching a project to name tree species here.

700 turtle hatchlings freed

BY K. SUTHAKAR
The Star

For decades, the beaches of Rantau Abang in Terengganu were famed for being the nesting sites of giant leatherback turtles.

However, the reptiles are in danger of disappearing forever from the beaches because of a significant fall in their population.

As part of efforts to halt the decline in numbers, some 700 green turtle hatchlings aged between one and two days were released on the beach recently in conjunction with National Day celebrations.

Read full story: 700 turtle hatchlings freed

The buck stops here, Bank Negara tells traders

BY M. KRISHNAMOORTHY
The Star

PETALING JAYA: “Don’t pass the buck,” Bank Negara has told petty traders, restaurants and retailers in a bid to collect the millions of RM1 coins in circulation before they cease to be legal tender on Dec 7.

Petty traders, restaurants and retailers have been “getting rid” of their RM1 coins by passing it off as change to the public.

Bank Negara, aware of this, held briefings for traders, hawkers and business associations telling them to stop the practice and bank in the coins to help the central bank mop up the coins by the deadline.

The central bank said that the public should refuse to accept RM1 coins as change.

Read full story: The buck stops here, Bank Negara tells traders...The Star

Related story: Bank Negara to withdraw RM1 coin from Dec 7

Get ready to Stomp

Yeh, get ready to Stomp.




All eyes will be on Istana Budaya’s concert hall foundations tomorrow night as the West End musical Stomp’s makes its explosive debut in Malaysia. Stomp, regarded as the loudest musical on Earth, cranks up the volume at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 13 to 25 – and this wacky show has the rocking pedigree to shake any venue to the ground.

After a thrilling weeklong run of sold-out shows at Hong Kong’s Academy of Performing Arts – Lyric Theatre, which ended yesterday, it’s now the turn of local theatregoers to brace themselves for impact.

All eyes will be on Istana Budaya’s concert hall foundations tomorrow night as the West End musical Stomp’s makes its explosive debut in Malaysia. Stomp, regarded as the loudest musical on Earth, cranks up the volume at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 13 to 25 – and this wacky show has the rocking pedigree to shake any venue to the ground.

After a thrilling weeklong run of sold-out shows at Hong Kong’s Academy of Performing Arts – Lyric Theatre, which ended yesterday, it’s now the turn of local theatregoers to brace themselves for impact.

Source: The Star

Whopping RM1.5b remains unclaimed

BY M. KRISHNAMOORTHY AND MEERA VIJAYAN

KUALA LUMPUR: A whopping RM1.5bil belonging to people who have forgotten about their money, lost their passbooks or died, is waiting to be claimed from the Registrar of Unclaimed Monies.

The money is mainly from savings accounts, fixed deposits and dividends that had been left dormant for seven years in financial institutions. These are submitted to the Accountant-General, who is also the Registrar of Unclaimed Monies.

Read full story: Whopping RM1.5b remains unclaimed...The Star

Move to promote hibiscus flower

Yes! Finally, some action is being taken. I have often wondered why the authorities have not been promoting the growing of our national flower, the hibiscus. Being the national flower, shouldn't we see more of this flower? With the many varieties and colours, they would certainly brighten up the place.



Read article...The Star

Bank Negara to withdraw RM1 coin from Dec 7

A collector's item from Dec 7, 2005.

PETALING JAYA: The RM1 coin will be withdrawn from circulation from Dec 7.

A Bank Negara statement yesterday confirmed that the coin would cease to be legal tender from that date.

“The public can exchange the coins at face value without any charge at all commercial banks from Sept 7 to Dec 6.

“The main branches of Bank Simpanan Nasional and Bank Negara branches at Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu will also provide such services,” the central bank said in the statement, adding that the RM1 banknote would continue to be legal tender and remain in circulation.

Details are available at Bank Negara's website, www.bnm.gov.my, or by contacting the currency management and operations department at 03-2698 8044 ext 7442/7417.

Source: The Star

Fraser's Hill

One of Malaysia's popular hill resorts is Fraser's Hill. I have gathered below a few sites that will give you a better picture of the resort.

Fraser’s Hill, named after a Scottish trader, is a quiet and cool resort that retains colonial charm. Fraser's Hill offers visitors refreshing cool mountain air, an abundance of luxuriant vegetation, peace and tranquility.

About one and a half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, passing the town of Kuala Kubu Bharu, then drive along a winding stretch right up to the Gap, which is the base of the resort. From here it is 8 km drive to the top of Fraser's Hill by scenic road.

By Bus:
Regular bus services ply from Pudu Raya Bus Terminal, Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Kubu Bharu then to Fraser's Hill. From Kuala Kubu Bharu, the Fraser's Hill bus service operates twice daily -
Uphill at 8am and 12noon and Downhill at 10am and 2pm.

Taxi
Taxi's are also available from Pudu Raya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur.
Source...



Fraser's Hill nestles quietly at 1,524 meters above sea level, slightly to the north of the Genting Highlands and also in Pahang. The beauty of Fraser's Hill is based primarily on its cool mountain air, its abundance of luxuriant vegetation, and its peace and tranquility--all of which have made it a favored destination for birdwatchers.

While there are many other attractions to be found here, they are all pleasantly complementary to Fraser Hill's tranquil charms. There are jungle trails, waterfalls, and flower nurseries, a very pleasant 9-hole golf course, and a riding stable. Other facilities include a children's playground and a roller skating rink.

For accommodation, Fraser's Hill has a range of hotels, chalets and colonial bungalows to suit one's preferences and budget. The resort is about an hour and a half away from Kuala Lumpur. The road to the hill resort winds for about 35 km after the Gap. Source...



The architecture of the older buildings are essentially Georgian as it was meant to be a cool retreat from the humidity of the lowlands for the earlier British community when Malaysia was still a colony of the British empire.

Today, it is still a favoured destination for anyone wishing to escape from not only the humidity but also the hustle and bustle of city life. Fraser's Hill is truly an idyllic place for one to rest and to be away from it all.
Source...



At the foot of Fraser's Hill is the Gap - a colonial resthouse and one of the remaining few in Malaysia. A short rest at the Gap Resthouse is a welcome relief..for those who suffer greatly from motion sickness.. A chance to stretch your legs, take big gulps of fresh air and smaller gulps of coffee at the restaurant does wonders. One of the last remaining Resthouses built during the heydays of good old fashioned, unhurried travelling, the Resthouse is a well preserved relic of colonial architecture. Source...

Perlis a paradise for budget shoppers

BY MANJIT KAUR
The Star

KANGAR: Perlis is a paradise for budget shoppers as it is the state where some of the cheapest food and products are found.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said goods, food and fruits were cheap in the state, especially those sold along the border with Thailand.

"....1kg of ikan bilis at Padang Besar is sold at RM7 compared to as much as RM50 in Kuala Lumpur,..."

The area has various attractions, including the state's harumanis mango farm, the 18-hole Putra Golf Club, a newly established vineyard, a herbal park, a paintball sports ground, and a snake park.

Read article: Perlis a paradise for budget shoppers...The Star

Underwater World Langkawi (UWL)

Yet another attraction in Malaysia. It's the Underwater World Langkawi. Look Ma, penguins.



Read article: Penguins catch Merdeka mood...The Star

The Wondrous Cave - Gua Tempurong, Perak

The interior of Gua Tempurung is an awesome sight


One of the two unique formations found inside the cave

Malaysia has much to offer nature-lovers, one of the attractions is the caves. The pictures above are those of Gua Tempurong found in Perak, Gopeng to be exact.

PERAK is known for its relatively unexplored caves filled with magnificent formations of stalactites and stalagmites.

One such cave is the Gua Tempurung in Gopeng, about 25km south of Ipoh.

The place is popular with local and foreign tourists alike. More details from The Star...

New spot for Arab tourists

Dancers performing during the launch

TOURISTS and visitors from the Middle East can expect to be given the red carpet treatment and be greeted with open arms by Malaysians.

The latest effort to make them feel at home is the opening of Ain Arabia, an enclave in the middle of Bukit Bintang.

Read article: New spot for Arab tourists...The Star

48th National Day celebration

Malaysia's 48th birthday celebration at the Boulevard in Putrajaya and key towns across the country showcased the nation's rich cultural heritage and a promising future in the hands of its vibrant young people. In the federal administrative centre, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Prime Minister were among the hundreds of thousands of people who watched the grand parade of singers, marchers, floats and aerial acrobatics.

Related articles:
Celebrations impress foreigners


Most Malaysians flunk Tunku test

Much achieved since 1957, but young take things for granted

Source: The Star

‘Pledge love for nation’

This is a good message to all Malaysians.

PUTRAJAYA, Wed
NST
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Globalisation and the spiralling price of oil are among the greatest challenges Malaysia has faced, the Prime Minister said here today.
"The kinds of challenges we are facinGlobalisation and the spiralling price of oil are among the greatest challenges Malaysia has faced, the Prime Minister said here today.g today are entirely different and greater than what we faced 30, 40 or 50 years ago," Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a message published in the Merdeka Parade souvenir booklet.

"We have to be dynamic to withstand the challenges posed by globalisation, liberalisation as well as global pressure, like the increase in oil prices and environmental pollution."

He said it was crucial that the country’s unity and harmony be maintained.

"Let us renew our pledge to be citizens who truly love and care for the nation, not expecting to gain from it but willing to sacrifice for it," he said.

Source: NST