Dont miss this Melaka MITS Matta Fair 2015 from 21 – 23 August 2015 @ MITC, Ayer Keroh, Melaka. More than 150 booths are waiting for u with special offers. The show will starts from 10.30am until 9.30pm.

If you are planning for holiday trip this coming season, this is a must visit events. We also got promotion from others countries such as Thailand, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia and also other states.

Besides that, we also have a special cultural performance from Briged Seni Melaka, Dikir Barat from Kelantan and artist appearance.

Ok, please save the date and meet me during the events. Plan your holiday now!! Thank you and have a nice day my dearest readers.

— asmaliana

Other Interesting posts:

Malaysia International Mask Festival

Venue: Esplanade KLCC Park, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Mask Festival will highlight the uniqueness of the performing arts that uses masks as a prop performances.

The festival involve participation from all major races in Malaysia including indigenous peoples or indigenous Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak society.

To add, neighboring country who will be invited are Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Thailand, China, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Estimated number of participants is around 320 people.

Organizer
BAHAGIAN PENGEMBANGAN BUDAYA, JKKN
Tel: 603-2614 8200 / 8283 / 8316
Fax: 603-2697 0786
E-mail: noraliza@jkkn.gov.my / rosnan@jkkn.gov.my

RWMF 2015

RWMF 2015 – Image from Malaysia Asia/Sarawak Tourism Board

This year, the Rainforest World Music Festival or RWMF 2015 is happening from 7-9 August in Sarawak. Being the 18th year this world recognized festival has been running, there are some pretty interesting line ups spread over three days at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong. Festival goers would also be interested to know who is performing and below is the list of artist, musicians and bands who will be playing at the RWMF 2015.

List of RWMF 2015 Performers in alphabetical order are;

1Drum.org (Malaysia)
1Drum.org is a wonderful celebration of rhythm and spontaneous percussive beats; where everyone, young and old are invited to participate in a musical experience that is second to none. 1Drum Circle is a great way to meet like-minded people and an opportunity to reconnect with your inner rhythm. Drums will be provided for 100 pax per session.

Alaverdi (Georgia)
The four-piece ensemble Alaverdi from Georgia has specialised in the traditional Georgian folk music and church chants which are hailed as one of the most unique musical traditions around the world. Performing on the most traditional folk instruments, such as string, wind and percussion instruments, the band brings back the original sound of Georgian music and creates a mystical atmosphere.

Bargou 08 (Tunisia)
The band BARGOU 08 from Tunisia brings back the almost forgotten music of a region in the north west of the country which is isolated between the mountains and the Algerian border. Their music is the gateway to old Tunisian traditions and stories which are embedded in the lyrics, the melody and the dance.

Culture Shot aka La La Li La Tam Pong (Penang, Malaysia)
This six-headed band from Penang, Malaysia, combines different musical traditions and instruments into a multiracial music style based on old Hokkien music. Using instruments such as Er-hu, Lang Tin Tang, Rebana, Gongs and a Gendang, they mix sounds from different regions and create a new sound representing the diversity of their country.

Driss El Maloumi (Morocco)
The talented artist from Agadir, Morocco, mixes Arabic music with classical Western music and has not only worked with various famous musicians from all over the world such as Montserrat Figueiras or Omar Bashir, but also composed music for shows and films such as “La Source Des Femmes”. In 2013 Driss El Maloumi released his album “Makan” which he recorded in a trio with two percussionists Said El Maloumi and Lahoucine Baquir.

Enkh Jargal Danfarvaanchig aka EPI (Mongolia)
Epi is a Mongolian Moorin Hoor (Horse Fiddle), a traditional Mongolian instrument, player who grew up in the countryside and is therefore deeply rooted into the traditional and nomadic way of life that his people live in Mongolia. He studied the Moorin Hoor at the Music-Conservatorium of Ulaanbaatar and has performed all over the world and also on TV to bring back the awareness towards Mongolian traditional music.

Harubee (Maldives)
Harubee is 16 young men exploding with energy. Boduberu music evolved from the 11th century, brought in from the sailors traveling from parts of Africa. It is the relief found in dance for the common people. The songs are about everyday life, often heavy with satire. The drumming and dancing are frenetic, crescendo-ing into immense passionate climaxes.

Kapela Maliszow (Poland)
Kapela Maliszów is a family band of three members, led by the multi-instrumentalist Jan Malisz and inspired by the traditional music of Beskid Niski and Pogorze in South Poland. Their instruments have been played by family members since the early 20th century and they have won a variety of prizes playing folk songs and dance music from Gorlice County using their traditional instruments (violin, basolia and drum).

Kenwy Yan-Qin Ensemble (Sarawak, Malaysia)
The yangqin or the hammered dulcimer of China originally came from Persia, and it’s characterised for its bright tones yet extreme expressive range. Ken Wy is a master at this instrument and has established a Music Arts Academy in Kuching. He brings an impressive ensemble of yangqins and percussion to the festival playing a range of traditional Chinese songs.

Rainforest World Music Festival

Kobagi Kecak from Bali performing at RWMF 2015

Kobagi Kecak (Bali, Indonesia)
The sixteen headed band Komunitas Badan Gila was formed in 2008 in Bali, Indonesia and has developed a special performance style they call Angga Suara Murti, which is a mixture between Balinese masked dance, puppetry, the processional ensemble balaganjur and contemporary music. Kobagi combines the western body percussion with Balinese music using their own bodies as primary instruments accompanied by stamping tubes made of bamboo.

Kobo Town (Trinidad/Tobago)
Kobo Town was founded by the Trinidadian Drew Gonsalves, who spent half of his childhood in Canada and was inspired by Calypso music from early age and consists of a few Trini expats from Toronto and some of Gonsalves’ old band members. Since feeling a strong boundary towards his home country Trinidad, he has developed a unique calypso style inspired by Jazz, Funk and Disco music as well as other elements which he performs with his band to bring back the old sounds of Caribbean music.

Korrontzi (Spain)
The Spanish band Korrontzi has specialised in traditional Basque music merging with music styles from different cultures and countries such as Flamenco, Fandango, Portugese fado, arin-arin, Italian sounds and others. They have reached no. 6 in the “European World Music Charts” and have gained international fame.

Lan E Tuyang (Sarawak, Malaysia)
Lead by Sarawakian Mathew Ngau, the master sape player and story teller, this band has been touring Europe several times in the last couple of years. Mathew Ngau Jau, leader of Lan E Tuyang, has been playing the sape or the boat shaped lute of Sarawak since he was little.  This is music of the Kenyah from the Orang Ulu tribe in Sarawak – the lonely strains of the boat lute with the dances of the warriors.

Le Blanc Bros Cajun Band (Australia)
This Australian band performs the music and language of the Cajuns which traditionally comes from southern Louisiana and is a popular dance music with French influence. This would be an interesting act to catch for those who love traditional Cajun music.

Lindigo (Reunion Island)
The band members of Lindigo from Reunion Island have always felt passionate about the traditional Maloya music and dance, characterised by complicated percussion rhythms. Their lyrics tell Reunion’s symbolic stories of complex sentiments and personal experiences which the band spreads by performing all over the world.

Mah Meri (Selangor, Malaysia)
The Orang Asli are the indigenous people from Peninsular Malaysia who have been living there since even before 1000 BC. They were traditionally animists led by their shamans, and the Mah Meri show their reverence for this from their carvings of spirit animals. They come to the festival with their fearsome masks, log drums, ladies in mengkuang skirts, and bring with them the ancient rites and folklore that they still maintain in their community in Carey Island.

Ndima (Congo Brazzaville)
NDIMA is a group consisting of members of the pygmies aka, a tribe in the forests of Republic of Congo which still lives in its traditional way in the forest and whose culture is endangered nowadays. Their traditional music is an important cultural heritage for the pygmies aka, as it is played every day to accompany certain rituals. To remain their culture and to create an awareness for it, Ndima perform in countries all over the world letting their audience experience the magic of this spiritual music.

Sangpuy RWMF 2015

Sangpuy from Taiwan to perform at the RWMF 2015

Sangpuy (Taiwan)
This musician from an old tribe in Taiwan sings songs from ancient ceremonies dedicated to gods of the natural world. Sangpuy’s forceful, penetrating voice has the ability to teleport audiences from urban settings to a place where Aborigines believe the wind is their friend, and can be summoned by whistling. When the musician talks, he frequently uses natural metaphors like insects, rivers and trees to get his point across.
Sarawak Cultural Village Group (Sarawak, Malaysia)
‘Penjan Kasih’ dance group has performed internationally and an awards winning cultural dancers led by the choreographer Mr. Othman Hassan. The artistes are the resident dancers and musicians of the international acclaimed living museum, the Sarawak Cultural Village of Sarawak, East Malaysia.

Sayu Ateng Echoes of Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia)
In Borneo, among the Orang Ulu people, Sayu Ateng means “welcome”. Sayu Ateng, an eight piece band, cuts a cool swathe with a little bit of contemporary pop sound textures and World Beat Music while never straying far from its principal roots of Sarawak. Taking ancient and modern sounds and fusing them with their own infectious character, the original sound and lyrics are based on the historical makeup of Sarawak.

Shooglenifty (Scotland)
Shooglenifty from Scotland combine traditional sounds of their homeland with devilish rhythms and an international flavour.

Son De Madera (Mexico)
This trio from Mexico has specialised in interpreting and composing a traditional genre of Southern Mexico called Son Jarocho and is hailed as top band in its genre.

Sona Jobarteh (Gambia/United Kingdom)
This woman has broken through the traditions in her patriarchal environment and is the first female Kora virtuoso to come from a West African Griot family. The Kora is an African harp which is traditionally only allowed to be played by male members of these families wherefore Sona is an exceptional talent being trained in Europe and performing with many famous artists.

Ukandanz (France/Ethiopia)
uKanDanZ plays an unique style.  It’s an unusual meeting between an electric quartet from France and Asnake Guebreye’s terrific voice. This charismatic lead singer originates from the vibrant music scene in Addis Abeba. With impertinence, they rock it wildly.  Their music is inspired by traditional and popular Ethiopian songs. uKanDanZ is a blast of real energy and emotion. Ethiopia meets rock, jazz, and noise.

The above are 24 performers from around the world and also locally which is scheduled to perform over three days here at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2015. For the full performance schedule and detailed information on the festival, please visit the official website of the RWMF.net or additional information from this article from Malaysia Asia on behalf of the RWMF 2015.

Tourism Malaysia News

This roundup of Tourism in Malaysia news is for 7-8 July collected from various online sources.

Taxi industry must buck up or put up with Uber, GrabCar

In a sobering blog entry about the less than satisfactory standards of the local taxi industry, chairman of the Malaysian Tourism and Promotion Board Wee Choo Keong said that unless they buck up in term of service, competitors such as Uber and GrabCar will continue taking a big chunk of their market share.

Wee, a former MP, said, “Until the local taxi industry improves its quality of service, which includes their drivers’ appearance, attitude and taxi conditions, I honestly don’t see services like Uber and GrabCar ‘going away’. After all, many people love it! It’s all about demand and supply.”

He was commenting on the report by the London Cabs portal that placed Malaysian taxi drivers at the top of the list of “10 countries with the worst taxi drivers in the world.” He said this dismal rating would have an adverse effect on tourism and while he personally believed our taxi drivers were not the “worst in the world”, they were admittedly still “quite bad”.

Full Story: Free Malaysia Today.

Ringgit’s dive expected to boost travel to Malaysia

THE Malaysian ringgit hit a fresh low of RM 2.81 against the Singapore dollar on Monday, which could further lift tourist volumes into Singapore’s neighbour. The currency has depreciated to its lowest level against the Sing dollar since 1981, due in part to domestic concerns.

The recent fall in oil prices as well as intensifying political uncertainty in Malaysia over allegations that Prime Minister Najib Razak misappropriated funds are contributing to the ringgit’s latest slump. Conversely, the Sing dollar has remained quite resilient.

“Global sentiment had been weighed by the ‘No’ vote from the weekend Greek referendum and this acted as a depressant for Asian currencies,” said FX strategist at OCBC Bank, Emmanuel Ng. “The Malaysian ringgit had the additional baggage of the negative weekend news flow, resulting in the SGD-MYR pushing higher.”

Full Story: Business Times Singapore.

Sabah Parks director disappointed over unethical behaviour of some dive operators

Sabah Parks will be engaging four dive marshals for Sipadan next month to monitor activities within the diving spots in the area. Its director, Dr Jamili Nais, said that Sabah Parks was also in discussion with environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO)  Reef Check Malaysia regarding the implementation of a certification mechanism for ethical diving, such as the ‘Green Fin’ certification programme.

“I read with concern the social media postings regarding the unethical behaviour of some dive operators and their foreign tourists, handling and harassing marine life such as marine turtles, coral fishes, puffer fish and starfishes,” said Jamili, referring to the several photographs of divers harassing marine life which allegedly took place off Semporna.

Stressing that Sabah Parks would continue with its ethical diving awareness and education programme, he said the recent act that went viral on the social media was uncalled for and that Sabah Parks strongly condemned the unethical behaviour of some visitors harassing marine life within or outside the Park.

Full Story: The Rakyat Post.

More Indonesian visitors expected in Malaysia after Hari Raya

Malaysian inbound tour agencies are projecting a rise in post-Hari Raya business from the Indonesian market. Agencies that TTG Asia e-Daily interviewed predicted business to be better than last year, with the weakened ringgit driving demand. Pent-up demand is also fuelling travel, as some had held back their plans to holiday last year due to Indonesia’s general election.

Nanda Kumar, managing director of Hidden Asia Travel Tours, said he is anticipating a 10 per cent increase in business events travel to Malaysia this year, with five bookings already confirmed. He expects a pick-up in leisure family travel as well, with Genting, Kuala Lumpur and Legoland Malaysia in Johor Bahru being favourite destinations.

Arokia Das, senior manager, Luxury Tours Malaysia, said: “This year, post-Raya will definitely be stronger than last year. We expect leisure business to increase by at least 35 per cent year-on-year during the Lebaran holiday and MICE by at least 18 per cent post-Raya.

Full Story: TTG Asia.

Malaysia aims for 10% increase in medical tourists in 2015

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is working hard to increase medical tourism industry revenue. The Health Ministry says that medical tourism contributed RM730 million in revenue in 2014,and they want to increase this by 10% in 2015.

In Malaysia Penang gets most medical tourists, with the other key regions being Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. Johor state claims 27,500 medical tourists in 2012, 31,000 in 2013 and 33,700 in 2014 based on the number of patients, and this does not include chaperones, family members and visiting friends and relatives. Singaporeans are able to use their Central Provident Fund savings and insurance at hospitals, contributing to the rise in medical tourism. The Health Ministry wants more private hospitals to join MHTC. Numerous promotional efforts are being undertaken by MHTC.

Full Story: International Medical Travel Journal.

Sabah Handicraft Targets RM250,000 In Sales Revenue

The Sabah branch of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation targets RM250,000 in collection from the sales of 69 entrepreneurs during the 18 days of Colourful Aidilfitri Craft Promotion. State Tourism, Culture and Environment assistant minister, Datuk Kamarlin Ombi said the target exceeds last year’s sales by RM130,574.90.

“The promotion is being hosted for the third time in conjunction with the forthcoming Aidilfitri celebrations comprising 64 entrepreneurs from Sabah, four from Sarawak and one from the Peninsula,” he said at a press conference in conjunction with the state-level event at Lintasan Deasoka.

Full Story: Bernama News.

Johor Hotel Industry Urged To Promote Local Food, Culture To Attract More Tourists

The hotel industry has been urged to intensify efforts to promote local food and culture in order to attract more tourists. State Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said this was because the hotel industry was the right platform to introduce local cuisine, culture and food. “Johor features a wide range of cuisine, food and a unique culture which can attract local and international tourists. Most tourists who enjoy local food here will definitely come back,” he told reporters at the launch of ‘Citarasa Kampung Kita’ at a hotel, here, yesterday.

According to Tee, 6.42 million people visited the state last year, exceeding the original target of 4.9 million people. He was confident that active promotion by hotel operators in the state can increase tourist arrivals this year too, particularly in conjunction with the Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest) 2015. The ‘Citarasa Kampung Kita’ programme will allow the state to showcase its culinary prowess and dishes like ‘otak-otak’, ‘mi bandung Muar’, Johor laksa and ‘nasi briyani gam’. The programme can also realise the strategic cooperation between the government and the private sector, to spice up the country’s tourism industry. – Bernama.

Mt Kinabalu to reopen to climbers this September

Mount Kinabalu is expected to be reopened to climbers in early September, said Sabah Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. The mountain, which stands at 4,095 metres, was closed to climbers following an earthquake in the state on June 5 that claimed the lives of 18 people comprising climbers and mountain guides. Masidi said, however, the number of people on the mountain at any one time would be reduce by about half, from 192 to about 90, in the early stages of its reopening to climbers.

“The safety of climbers is of utmost priority. We do not want to take a risk by maintaining the number as in the past,” he told reporters after handing over contributions to the victims of the June 5 earthquake. The earthquake, of magnitude 5.9, caused rocks and boulders to tumble from the mountain, killing the 18 people, and damaged property in the district of Ranau and surrounding areas. – Bernama.

Malaysia Airlines axes Brisbane flights, trims Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth

Qantas partner Malaysia Airlines will cease flying from its Kuala Lumpur hub to Brisbane this year, and also looks to be reducing its services to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Brisbane – Malaysia Airlines will axe its daily Brisbane (MH134/135) service from August 9.

Sydney will see flights reduced from triple-daily to double-daily as the airline drops MH143 from August 3 and return leg MH142 from August 4. These were same flights suspended earlier this month as Malaysia Airlines’ A380s temporarily appeared on Sydney flights.

Melbourne is also cut from three flights to two each day, dropping MH147 from August 2 and KL-bound MH146 from August 3.

Adelaide will be trimmed back to four flights a week with the cancellation of MH136 to Kuala Lumpur on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from August 10 and MH139 home to Adelaide on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from August 9.

Perth’s five-times-weekly flights (MH126/127) have also been removed from sale on the airline’s website beyond August 15, while the city’s daily MH124/125 flights remain untouched.

A Malaysia Airlines spokesperson confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that its Brisbane flights were on the chopping block, but is yet to advise whether the changes observed on its Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth routes are temporary or permanent.

Full Story: Australian Business Traveller.

Malacca airport seeks flights to Guangzhou and Ho Chi Minh City
Thursday, 2 July 2015

MALACCA: Malacca International Airport (LTAM) is discussing with the airline companies to use the airport to fly to Guangzhou, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

State Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong, said LTAM was also eyeing Medan, Palembang and Surabaya in Indonesia.

“So far the discussions are positive,” he told a media briefing here yesterday.

Currently, Malindo Air flies from LTAM to Kota Baru, Penang and Pekan Baru, Indonesia.

Lim said that LTAM recorded 24,616 passenger departures and 28,275 arrivals since the commencement of Malindo Air’s operations on Nov 5, 2014 until May 15 this year.

Lim said that the state government planned to launch flights to various Unesco sites.

He said among them were ngkor Wat in Cambodia, Borobudur in Indonesia and Luang Prabang in Laos.

He said that the proposal was also in line with Malaysia taking over chairmanship of Asean.

In addition to this, Lim said that Malacca, an Unesco heritage site, was working to promote ties with other sites.

“This will allow tourists to LTAM as the gateway to other Unesco heritage sites in other Asean member countries,” he said. – Bernama