January 17, 2007 00:25 AM
PERMANENT FEATURE… Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (centre) officiating the 2007 F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Looking on are Petronas Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Merican (left) and Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Dr Mahathir. Pix: Azman Firdaus
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tuesday night said that the government would ensure that the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix remains a permanent feature in the country's sports calendar.
He said the Grand Prix had been a key event for the government in enhancing the country's international image and in promoting Malaysia as a leading international tourist destination.
"I am confident that Malaysia's participation in Formula One will continue to grow even further. One of the targets for the Sepang International Circuit when it was established nine years ago in 1998 was for it to be an official test circuit for all things F1.
"Hence, after nine years of ongoing effort, I am happy to note that the Sepang F1 Circuit has now been included as one of the official test circuits for 2007," said Abdullah at the official launch of the 2007 F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix here.
The Prime Minister called upon the race promoter, Sepang International Circuit Sdn Bhd, to continue their good work to ensure that Malaysia remained a permanent test circuit in the F1 calendar.
He said that the selection of the Sepang F1 Circuit as an official test track was a prestigious recognition of the track facilities as well as the solid capabilities of the people involved in the administration and operation of the circuit.
Abdullah noted that as the Malaysian Grand Prix was amongst the key thrusts of the 2007 Visit Malaysia Year programme, the government would further extend its involvement in the F1 world championship.
He said that the event also attracted an average of 40,000 international fans besides tens of thousands of local supporters.
"Some six hundred million more view it live via television broadcasts. Effectively that makes the Malaysian Grand Prix the largest single event to showcase Malaysia to international audiences and to attract foreign tourists," Abdullah said.
He also called upon the organizers of sports tourism-related events to perform at their peak when promoting and executing their respective programmes for VMY 2007.
The Prime Minister said that Malaysia's ability to stage an F1 event had far reaching significance in the overall nation building process and which allowed Malaysia to draw closer in its aspiration of becoming a developed country by 2020.
"This is because the F1 has, in its own way, helped to draw Malaysians closer towards advanced technologies and applications, which are showcased by all the teams participating in this annual event," he said.
He said that the exposure to an F1 team was one of the most precise, exacting and demanding job available anywhere in the world.
He added that through local F1 events, many Malaysians had been given the opportunity to work as part of engineering, maintenance and service crews of participating teams.
"I believe that the F1 has helped developed confidence and competitiveness for those Malaysians fortunate enough to have been given the chance to participate directly or indirectly in the sports," he added.
Source: BERNAMA
Showing posts with label Bernama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bernama. Show all posts
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Monday, January 1, 2007
MAS Flights To Delhi Diverted Due To Thick Fog
January 01, 2007 22:32 PM
By P. Vijian
NEW DELHI, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- The daily Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to the Indian capital has been diverted due to thick fog hanging over the city since Sunday night and most of today.
A MAS flight that departed from Malaysia to New Delhi, Sunday carrying about 200 passengers was diverted to Kolkata after authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi started to divert flights entering the Indian airspace.
Another 200 passengers heading to KL are currently stranded at the Delhi airport as most flight operations were disrupted with runway visibility dropping to about 130 metres.
"This is the first time it has happened to us (MAS). The fog is common during the winter months of December and January and it is difficult for flights to land," MAS Delhi-based regional manager Christopher Yek Hua Yong told Bernama.
He said Sunday's flight from KL was diverted to Mumbai but since there were no space at the airport, the flight was then diverted to Kolkata and was only expected to arrive in Delhi tomorrow morning.
And, the passengers flying to KL, who are stranded in Delhi, can only leave the airport Tuesday if the sky is clear.
Airport authorities had diverted at least 20 domestic and 12 international flights since last night as the stubborn fog refused to disappear even at the break of dawn, Monday.
Another MAS flight which departed from KL to Delhi, Monday is yet to arrive. The national airline has only one flight to Delhi daily.
If the foggy situation continues and visibility drops below zero metres then the airport would be closed for flight operations.
However, there was some respite despite the disturbing fog that shrouded the entire city today as Delhi enjoyed a warmer day with temperature at about eight degrees Celsius.
Source: BERNAMA
External Links:
Malaysia Airlines - http://www.malaysiaairlines.com
By P. Vijian
NEW DELHI, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- The daily Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to the Indian capital has been diverted due to thick fog hanging over the city since Sunday night and most of today.
A MAS flight that departed from Malaysia to New Delhi, Sunday carrying about 200 passengers was diverted to Kolkata after authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi started to divert flights entering the Indian airspace.
Another 200 passengers heading to KL are currently stranded at the Delhi airport as most flight operations were disrupted with runway visibility dropping to about 130 metres.
"This is the first time it has happened to us (MAS). The fog is common during the winter months of December and January and it is difficult for flights to land," MAS Delhi-based regional manager Christopher Yek Hua Yong told Bernama.
He said Sunday's flight from KL was diverted to Mumbai but since there were no space at the airport, the flight was then diverted to Kolkata and was only expected to arrive in Delhi tomorrow morning.
And, the passengers flying to KL, who are stranded in Delhi, can only leave the airport Tuesday if the sky is clear.
Airport authorities had diverted at least 20 domestic and 12 international flights since last night as the stubborn fog refused to disappear even at the break of dawn, Monday.
Another MAS flight which departed from KL to Delhi, Monday is yet to arrive. The national airline has only one flight to Delhi daily.
If the foggy situation continues and visibility drops below zero metres then the airport would be closed for flight operations.
However, there was some respite despite the disturbing fog that shrouded the entire city today as Delhi enjoyed a warmer day with temperature at about eight degrees Celsius.
Source: BERNAMA
External Links:
Malaysia Airlines - http://www.malaysiaairlines.com
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Welcome To Malaysia 2007
December 31, 2006 18:19 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to dazzle visitors from all over the world with its culture, art, history, food, nature and, most importantly, its multi-ethnic people as the country opens its door for the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007.
With various events planned throughout the year, VMY 2007 aims to aggressively market and promote the country as a major international tourist destination.
The VMY 2007, with the theme "One Golden Celebration" is the third campaign after two successful efforts in 1990 and 1994.
The campaign is made more significant by the fact that the country is celebrating its 50 years of nationhood.
Malaysia is determined to give tourists a pleasant surprise with 50 major events to commemorate the country's independence on Merdeka Day on Aug 31.
The month of August will be filled with a myriad of parades, cultural performances, street shows and carnivals.
Malaysia invites all visitors to share the joy and excitement of the forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration which marks a significant milestone in the history of the nation.
Tourists are also invited to join the enthausiatic crowd at the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of Merdeka Day for the countdown to the momentous event.
The VMY 2007 will be officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here on Jan 6.
The launch, which promises to be filled with pomp, will showcase the colours of Malaysia, incorporating a concert featuring the country's popular artistes, the unveiling of a 60-metre high ferris wheel, a water-stunt show and an exciting fireworks display.
The Malaysian floral fest will kick off the VMY 2007 programme which is expected to attract 20.1 million tourists to Malaysia.
Some of 1.7 million foreign tourists are expected to come for the flower festival scheduled from Jan 20.
Another highlight of the year will be the "Citrawarna" or "Colours and Flavours of Malaysia" parade, an annual event showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the country, Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix in Sepang and rainforest world music festival in Sarawak and the nationwide Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival.
Malaysia expects to rake in a cool RM45 billion during the VMY 2007 from at least 20 million tourists who are expected to spend an everage of RM2,250 during their stay in the country.
Source: BERNAMA
Keywords: Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Tourism, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, VMY'07, VMY2007
External Links:
Tourism Malaysia - http://www.tourism.gov.my
Virtual Malaysia - http://www.virtualmalaysia.com
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to dazzle visitors from all over the world with its culture, art, history, food, nature and, most importantly, its multi-ethnic people as the country opens its door for the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007.
With various events planned throughout the year, VMY 2007 aims to aggressively market and promote the country as a major international tourist destination.
The VMY 2007, with the theme "One Golden Celebration" is the third campaign after two successful efforts in 1990 and 1994.
The campaign is made more significant by the fact that the country is celebrating its 50 years of nationhood.
Malaysia is determined to give tourists a pleasant surprise with 50 major events to commemorate the country's independence on Merdeka Day on Aug 31.
The month of August will be filled with a myriad of parades, cultural performances, street shows and carnivals.
Malaysia invites all visitors to share the joy and excitement of the forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration which marks a significant milestone in the history of the nation.
Tourists are also invited to join the enthausiatic crowd at the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of Merdeka Day for the countdown to the momentous event.
The VMY 2007 will be officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here on Jan 6.
The launch, which promises to be filled with pomp, will showcase the colours of Malaysia, incorporating a concert featuring the country's popular artistes, the unveiling of a 60-metre high ferris wheel, a water-stunt show and an exciting fireworks display.
The Malaysian floral fest will kick off the VMY 2007 programme which is expected to attract 20.1 million tourists to Malaysia.
Some of 1.7 million foreign tourists are expected to come for the flower festival scheduled from Jan 20.
Another highlight of the year will be the "Citrawarna" or "Colours and Flavours of Malaysia" parade, an annual event showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the country, Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix in Sepang and rainforest world music festival in Sarawak and the nationwide Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival.
Malaysia expects to rake in a cool RM45 billion during the VMY 2007 from at least 20 million tourists who are expected to spend an everage of RM2,250 during their stay in the country.
Source: BERNAMA
Keywords: Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Tourism, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, VMY'07, VMY2007
External Links:
Tourism Malaysia - http://www.tourism.gov.my
Virtual Malaysia - http://www.virtualmalaysia.com
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Mainland China Tourists Boost For VMY Malaysia 2007
December 30, 2006 22:48 PM
By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2007 will see many groups of mainland China tourists and journalists making a beeline for Kuala Lumpur and other destinations, in particular, beach resorts.
A check with Tourism Malaysia offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou revealed that thousands of Chinese tourists are expected in the month of January alone.
The first flight from China touching down at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on New Year's Day will be a China Eastern carrier from Shanghai's Pudong Airport. It is scheduled to arrive at 12.30 am on Monday.
Shuhaimi Shaharuddin, Tourism Malaysia director in Guangzhou, said response from local tour operators was good following a series of promotional events and tie-ups with television stations.
"South China is traditionally the strong market for Malaysia. Several thousand tourists are estimated to travel to Malaysia in January via Guangzhou because we have 50 flights a week from here," he said.
Arrivals from Shanghai were very encouraging as well, said Wan Zawawi Mohammed, director of Tourism Malaysia there.
"In the first week of January, there will be 1,200 direct arrivals from Shanghai from one airline alone. Tour operators are also bringing in tourists directly or via other destinations. These will run into a few hundred visitors," he said.
He said tours to Langkawi and other beach resorts were a big attraction and a few groups would also attend the Floral Fest in Putrajaya on Jan 26.
Tourism Malaysia offices in the three Chinese cities have also arranged for more than a dozen television crews from Beijing and the provinces to attend the launch of VMY 2007 on Jan 6 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa and to interesting spots in other parts of the country.
Michael Tay, Tourism Malaysia director in Beijing, has arranged for five TV crews from Beijing TV and the provinces of Shangdong, Tianjian, Hebei and Henan, and magazine writers to visit Malaysia in January.
From the south, five television crews including from Guangdong, Yunnan, Fujian and Hunan, would be coming. Yunnan TV will film five selected girls holidaying in Genting, Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh and Pangkor from Jan 6 to 13.
Tourism Malaysia in Shanghai has also secured five television broadcasters -- China Business News, Shanghai TV, Dragon TV, Nanjing TV and Hangzhou TV -- and print journalists from Chengdu and Chongqing.
China's growing affluence has made it a top market in the global tourism industry. Last year, 31 million mainlanders travelled abroad.
Source: BERNAMA
Keywords: Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Tourism, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, VMY'07, VMY2007
External Links:
Tourism Malaysia - http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2007 will see many groups of mainland China tourists and journalists making a beeline for Kuala Lumpur and other destinations, in particular, beach resorts.
A check with Tourism Malaysia offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou revealed that thousands of Chinese tourists are expected in the month of January alone.
The first flight from China touching down at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on New Year's Day will be a China Eastern carrier from Shanghai's Pudong Airport. It is scheduled to arrive at 12.30 am on Monday.
Shuhaimi Shaharuddin, Tourism Malaysia director in Guangzhou, said response from local tour operators was good following a series of promotional events and tie-ups with television stations.
"South China is traditionally the strong market for Malaysia. Several thousand tourists are estimated to travel to Malaysia in January via Guangzhou because we have 50 flights a week from here," he said.
Arrivals from Shanghai were very encouraging as well, said Wan Zawawi Mohammed, director of Tourism Malaysia there.
"In the first week of January, there will be 1,200 direct arrivals from Shanghai from one airline alone. Tour operators are also bringing in tourists directly or via other destinations. These will run into a few hundred visitors," he said.
He said tours to Langkawi and other beach resorts were a big attraction and a few groups would also attend the Floral Fest in Putrajaya on Jan 26.
Tourism Malaysia offices in the three Chinese cities have also arranged for more than a dozen television crews from Beijing and the provinces to attend the launch of VMY 2007 on Jan 6 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa and to interesting spots in other parts of the country.
Michael Tay, Tourism Malaysia director in Beijing, has arranged for five TV crews from Beijing TV and the provinces of Shangdong, Tianjian, Hebei and Henan, and magazine writers to visit Malaysia in January.
From the south, five television crews including from Guangdong, Yunnan, Fujian and Hunan, would be coming. Yunnan TV will film five selected girls holidaying in Genting, Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh and Pangkor from Jan 6 to 13.
Tourism Malaysia in Shanghai has also secured five television broadcasters -- China Business News, Shanghai TV, Dragon TV, Nanjing TV and Hangzhou TV -- and print journalists from Chengdu and Chongqing.
China's growing affluence has made it a top market in the global tourism industry. Last year, 31 million mainlanders travelled abroad.
Source: BERNAMA
Keywords: Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Tourism, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, VMY'07, VMY2007
External Links:
Tourism Malaysia - http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
Friday, December 29, 2006
Road Closure In KL For New Year Celebrations
December 29, 2006 15:48 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- Several roads to four locations in the capital will be closed to make way for the New Year's eve celebrations from this Sunday to Monday.
Kuala Lumpur traffic police chief ACP Hamzah Taib said the spots would be Dataran Merdeka, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Telawi in Bangsar and the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers.
A number of roads would be closed completely while the rest in stages, he said in a statement issued Friday.
At Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja from the Jalan Raja-Jalan Hishamudin junction to the Jalan Raja - Jalan Tun Perak - Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman junction will be closed from 8pm on Sunday to 5am on Monday.
At the KLCC, Jalan Exxon Mobil will be closed from 6pm on Sunday until the end of the celebration and fireworks display.
In Bukit Bintang, a section of Jalan Sultan Ismail in front of Sungei Wang Plaza will be closed from 12pm on Sunday. Vehicles using Jalan Imbi from Jalan Hang Tuah and Jalan Pudu will not be allowed to enter Jalan Sultan Ismail.
In Bangsar, Jalan Telawi 3 will be closed from 3pm on Sunday until the end of the celebration.
"To ensure no traffic congestion will occur especially around the celebration spots, traffic police will deploy personnel to control the movement of vehicles at junctions, roundabouts and access roads," Hamzah said.
He also advised the public to go early for the celebrations, use alternative roads or public transport and not to park their vehicles by the roadside to avoid being fined or having their vehicles towed.
Source: BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- Several roads to four locations in the capital will be closed to make way for the New Year's eve celebrations from this Sunday to Monday.
Kuala Lumpur traffic police chief ACP Hamzah Taib said the spots would be Dataran Merdeka, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Telawi in Bangsar and the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers.
A number of roads would be closed completely while the rest in stages, he said in a statement issued Friday.
At Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja from the Jalan Raja-Jalan Hishamudin junction to the Jalan Raja - Jalan Tun Perak - Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman junction will be closed from 8pm on Sunday to 5am on Monday.
At the KLCC, Jalan Exxon Mobil will be closed from 6pm on Sunday until the end of the celebration and fireworks display.
In Bukit Bintang, a section of Jalan Sultan Ismail in front of Sungei Wang Plaza will be closed from 12pm on Sunday. Vehicles using Jalan Imbi from Jalan Hang Tuah and Jalan Pudu will not be allowed to enter Jalan Sultan Ismail.
In Bangsar, Jalan Telawi 3 will be closed from 3pm on Sunday until the end of the celebration.
"To ensure no traffic congestion will occur especially around the celebration spots, traffic police will deploy personnel to control the movement of vehicles at junctions, roundabouts and access roads," Hamzah said.
He also advised the public to go early for the celebrations, use alternative roads or public transport and not to park their vehicles by the roadside to avoid being fined or having their vehicles towed.
Source: BERNAMA
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