Authentic Malay Food

Most tourists like to savour local fare when they visit a country. If you are a tourist to this part of the world, you simply have to try out local fare too.

Malaysia being multi-racial and multi-cultural has a lot to offer when it comes to food. The main food fare includes the Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines.

There are many restaurants everywhere you go. Even roadside stalls may sometimes be serving one of the best you've ever tasted.

If you are looking for Malay food, why not head on to The Maya Hotel. They are right now promoting authentic Malay cuisine.

The Maya Brasserie,
Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur,
138 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2711 8866 ext 258.
Business Hours: 6.30pm - 10pm daily (dinner)

Source: The Star

Formule One in Malaysia

Last weekend, Kuala Lumpur was abuzz with activity because it was the venue Formula One Grand Prix and look who came to town.


A Ferrari fan all dressed up as a Roman soldier complete with a Trojan helmet, a sword and a mock prancing horse attached to his costume, property developer, Kwai Hau, was definitely a sight to behold at the Formula 1 last Sunday. The horse was to symbolise the logo of his favourite team.

Hau, who’s originally from Hong Kong and currently living in Britain, became an instant “celebrity” when he arrived at the Sepang circuit's mall area.

He was stopped by many F1 fans for pictures as they were amused by his costume.

Hau said he would usually dress up in interesting costumes to add to the excitement.

“Last year, I was in a car. This year, my friends made me this costume,” said Hau, who has been an F1 fan since 1983.

Source: The Star

Pineapple Museum in Pekan Nenas, Johore

The pineapple industry is one of Malaysia's oldest agro-based export-oriented industries. In West Malaysia, the industry is concentrated in the southern region of Johore.

A museum in Johor has been set up to showcase the history of the pineapple, the evolution of the industry and the tools used to plant and harvest the fruit.

IF you want to know all about pineapples, head for Muzium Nenas in Pontian, Johor. The museum is located at KM53 off Jalan Johor-Pontian, in a small town called Pekan Nenas, literally translated as Pineapple Town.

The general section provides insights on how the fruit and industry have developed since it was brought in from South America in the early 20th century.

On display is a wide array of pineapple-related equipment, from grading, peeling and cutting to canning and labelling, are on display at the product section. Pineapples for export are in various forms - canned pineapple single-strength juice or pineapple concentrate and fresh fruit.

The museum is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm daily. The entrance fee for adults is RM2, while admission is free for children under 12.

Source: The Star

SMART tunnel closed indefinitely

Those who are used to taking the SMAR Tunnel will have to use the route they were using due to it being closed for flood-mitigation works.

The Star reported that the Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel (SMART) has been closed since 6pm Saturday for flood-mitigation works because of heavy rains, and its management is unsure when it will be re-opened.

Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel Sdn Bhd experts will meet Monday to determine when the tunnel can be reopened, a spokesman told The Star.

The company is a joint venture between Gamuda Bhd and Malaysian Mining Corporation Bhd.

Call 1300-88-7188 for further information.

PM announces new Cabinet

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced his new administration this morning, trimming his Cabinet from 32 to 27 seats, of which more than half featured new faces.

He also scrapped the post of parliamentary secretary and dropped big guns such as Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (former International Trade and Industry Minister), Datuk Azmi Khalid (Home Affairs Minister) and Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (Science, Technology and Innovations Minister).

He also merged the Home Affairs and Internal Security ministries, saying that they had many overlapping functions, and named former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as its minister.

The full list:

Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim
Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz

Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Datuk Johari Baharom
Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim
Datuk K. Devamany
Datuk Hassan Malik


Finance
Minister - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Second Finance Minister - Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputies - Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Datuk Kong Cho Ha

Defence
Minister - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy - Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop

Internal Security and Home Affairs
Minister - Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Deputies - Datuk Chor Chee Heong, Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh

Housing and Local Government
Minister -Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputies - Datuk Robert Lau , Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Works Minister
Minister - Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad
Deputy- Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Energy, Water and Communications
Minister - Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy- Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Minister - Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy - Datin Paduka Rohani Abdul Karim

International Trade and Industry
Minister -Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies- Loh Wei Keong, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan

Foreign Affairs
Minister -Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy- Tunku Azlan Abu Bakar

Education
Minister -Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies -Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Razali Ismail

Higher Education
Minister - Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Khoo Kok Choong, Datuk Idris Harun

Transport
Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy - Anifah Aman

Human Resources
Datuk S. Subramaniam
Deputy- Datuk Noraini Ahmad

Women, Family and Community Development
Minister-Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy- Noriah Kasnon

National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage
Minister- Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputy-Datuk Teng Boon Soon

Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister- Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy- Fadilah Yusof

Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development
Minister - Datuk Noh Omar
Deputy- Datuk Saiffuddin Abdullah

Natural Resources and Environment
Minister - Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy - Datuk Abu Ghapur Salleh

Rural and Regional Development
Minister - Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Deputy- Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Minister - Datuk Shahrir Samad
Deputy - Jelaing Mersat

Plantation Industries and Commodities
Minister - Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy- Senator A. Kohilan

Youth and Sports
Minister - Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob
Deputy - Wee Jack Seng

Health
Minister - Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy- Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad

Information
Minister - Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputy- Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Tourism
Minister - Datuk Azalina Othman
Deputy - Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abu Taib

FT
Minister - Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy- M. Saravanan

Source: The Star

Malaysia Election Results

Malaysians went to the polls yesterday, March 8. The election results have shocked the nation as five states have been won by the Opposition comprising DAP, PKR and PAS.

However, Barisan Nasional will form the next government having won more than half of the Parliamentary seats and the federal territory. Barisan National is reeling from its worst ever election performance.

The five states won by the Opposition are Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.

The State of Parliament stands at: BN = 136; Opposition = 80 (PKR = 29; DAP = 28; PAS = 23).

Among the results yesterday were:

- The Barisan lost Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor,

- PAS strengthened grip on Kelantan,

- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting won in their seats,

- Among ministers who lost their seats were Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin,

- Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon lost to Dr P. Ramasamy in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, party leaders urged for calm and police have banned all victory celebrations.

Video clip of the PM's post-election press conference



More..BN wins federal govt but opposition takes five states