Langkawi to host singing bird and bush cricket festival

Langkawi to host singing bird and bush cricket festival

Tourism Malaysia and the Langkawi Municipal Council are holding The Voice of Nature -- Bird and Bush Cricket festival on June 6 and 7.

The festival, which is being held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014, will take place at Taman CHOGM in Langkawi,

It is being organised with the Kedah State Economic Planning Unit, Kedah Bird-Singing Club and State Arts and Culture Council.

State Tourism director Roslan Othman said the festival aimed to promote elements of Malay culture that were long forgotten.

"Villagers used to organise singing cricket competitions, but it is not popular anymore.

"By organising this festival, we hope it will bring back those memories and reintroduce our culture to the younger generation," he said.

Activities planned for the festival include a traditional dance and music performances and cricket singing.

He said the target was to have 500 Murai Batu and Merbah Jambul birds.

"Participants need to bring their best singing crickets in containers and the judges will pick the winners based on clarity, loudness and melodious tone," he added.

Roslan said he hoped the competition would become a tourism attraction.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

开放民众进庭院游览 玻州亚娄皇宫灿烂

开放民众进庭院游览 玻州亚娄皇宫灿烂


皇宫庭院尽显耀眼光芒。

耀眼的玻璃市州亚娄【Arau】皇宫光芒普照，配合本月17日玻州拉惹端姑赛西拉祖丁庆祝71岁华诞，在周末晚上，开放予民众进入皇宫庭院游览，观赏灿烂亮丽的灯饰色彩。

逾千人于昨晚涌入皇城，难得有机会踏入皇宫，争睹五彩缤纷的装饰光和皇宫风采。

禁入宫殿

皇宫于晚上9时开放，惟在1个小时前，就有人在宫大门外等候开门。

经过一番装饰的皇宫，张灯结彩，庭院花草和树木在LED光各种造型发射下的夺目艳丽色彩，吸引各族人士，成群结队，一家大小，纷纷前往观赏及拍照。

民众只准在皇宫庭院范围观赏及拍照，惟不准进入宫殿内，也不允许随地丢垃圾或烟蒂。

设立在皇宫范围的皇室纪念馆也于今年开放，让民众进入参观，惟身穿短裤及身著不雅观者，禁止踏入纪念馆内。

除了昨晚及今晚，皇宫庭院也于本月30日及31日上9时至11时开放予民众。

～以上新闻转载自南洋商报～

泰国以牙还牙 大马旅巴客车禁入泰5府

泰国以牙还牙 大马旅巴客车禁入泰5府

泰南宋卡府府尹和交通部会议决定，不批准大马旅游车从泰南4个关口进入泰国5府的决定，超越这些地方都必须租用泰国旅游巴士或冷气休闲车，否则将被当局展开取缔行动。

大马旅游界人士今天对此新措施极感震惊，并促请泰国当局关注这起严重影响大马旅游巴士业者的正常营运的措施，希望与泰国交通部商讨尽快解决此事，以免使到马泰旅游业两败俱伤，成为大输家！

据了解，该新措施被怀疑可能是大马陆路交通局对泰国旅游车展开取缔行动，泰方作出的反击的一项行动。

据悉，吉州陆路交通局日前起在黑木山一带展开多天的检举行动中，取缔了54辆滥用国际通行证（ICP）运载游客至我国的泰国休闲旅行车，并时时刻刻对于入境到我国的泰国休闲旅游车进行严格守关，一旦发现违例者，将采取行动对付他们。

我国陆路交通局也规定，运载游客入境到我国的泰国休闲车，在边境的2公里范围内就应让游客下车，再由我国的士运载游客，但泰国客货车司机却没有这么做，违例了我国陆路交通法令。

消息对本报说，其实上述措施早已存在，惟没有严格执行，泰马两方在达致共识的情况下，皆允许两方旅游车进入马泰境内，惟我方交通局近期对泰国旅游车展开严格的取缔行动，导致泰方展开对抗行动。

~光华日报~

New Kuala Kedah jetty crucial

New Kuala Kedah jetty crucial

The authorities are concerned that the existing facilities will be overstretched to cater for the increase in tourist arrivals on Langkawi

The state government is studying the possibility of building a new jetty in Kuala Kedah to replace the existing one which can no longer accommodate the increasing number of passengers coming here.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said the existing jetty is being used by over two million passengers annually and traffic flow is expected to increase in near future.

Mukhriz said the state government had received a proposal to build a new jetty on the north side of the Kuala Kedah river mouth and it would involve some reclamation work.

"It is time to focus on building a new jetty in Kuala Kedah as the RM70 million expansion of the Kuah Jetty in Langkawi has already started," he said in a press conference after the introduction of Rahsia Estates Resort Residences, Eco-Hotel and Spa Langkawi here on Saturday.

He said the proposed new jetty for Kuala Kedah will complement the Kuah Jetty expansion project which is funded by the Federal government through the Transport Ministry.

Mukhriz said that it was not feasible to expand the existing jetty in Kuala Kedah because of space constrain. "It is not just about the passengers' waiting area, but also the overall facility, such as an ample and conducive parking area. There is a serious parking shortage at the existing jetty," he said.

Currently, holiday goers park their vehicles at private parking areas scattered in Kuala Kedah and the parking shortage is worse during school holidays and major festive holidays.

The expansion of Kuah Jetty and the proposed new jetty for Kuala Kedah are in line with the Langkawi Tourism Masterplan to attract three million tourist arrivals by next year.

However, as of October last year, the number of tourist arrivals has reached 2.6 million and Mukhriz said Langkawi is expected to exceed the targeted figure soon.


The Kuala Kedah jetty accommodates over two million passengers annually.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Poor park amenities keep visitors away

Poor park amenities keep visitors away

POOR maintenance and inadequate amenities are keeping tourists away from the stalls at the foot of Gunung Keriang, located about 7km away from the city centre.

Standing at 217m high in the middle of a padi field, Gunung Keriang is a popular recreational park.

However, its shine has been fading away over the past few years due to poor maintenance.

One of the traders, Tijah Yaakob, 65, said her business had been affected as the visitor number has been dwindling.

"Even local visitors are shying away due to the lack of facilities.

"They do not mind the makeshift stalls but the park is in dire need of well-maintained amenities such as restrooms, a surau and rest area.

"The dirty restrooms are a major turn-off for visitors," said Tijah who has been selling crystals at Gunung Kerian for almost five years.

Her sentiment was echoed by another trader, Mahadi Mat Akhir, 48.

"We need a permanent complex here so that the visitors will feel comfortable when they come to the recreational park," he said.

There are 11 makeshift wooden stalls at the park selling souvenirs made from quartz mined at Gunung Keriang.

The stalls, which are in a state of disrepair, depend on nearby houses for electricity supply.

A check by Streets found the recreational park in a deplorable condition. The restrooms, which appeared to have been neglected for some time, did not have water and electricity supply. They were also filled with rubbish.

It is a shame that the park is an eyesore during Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Alor Star Mayor Datuk Mat Noh Ahmad could not be reached for comment.


Mahadi Mat Akhir, who sells crystals mined from Gunung Keriang, says there should be a permanent building for the traders to do business in.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Food street smart in Kedah

Food street smart in Kedah

KEDAH, with its myriad of local delicacies in every nook and corner, is an undisputed food heaven, with Jalan Pintu Sepuluh as the epicentre to which all foodies flock.

The street is where the food-loving crowd go to sample a vast variety of flavours at the many stalls and eateries that are open from morning till night.

One can find many types of hawker food here, such as bak kut teh, Penang nasi lemak, porridge of all kinds, tom yam, dim sum, curry puff, char koay teow, koay teow soup and steamed pau.

For almost six years now, Lim Bee Bee, 58, has been there selling her mee ku, which has gained quite a following.

"My mee ku is made of fragrant coconut water and without the use of baking powder to raise the dough.

"It is pink in colour and comes in the shapes of turtles and peaches," she said.

Herbal dessert hawker, Ching Siew Heong, 45, said Jalan Pintu Sepuluh was similar to Jalan Petaling in Kuala Lumpur, both being old streets where Chinese hawkers had long plied their trade.

"This street is become a bustling food centre, full of food and food lovers," he said.

With bestsellers such as "three colour vegetable and fruit" and "lung yen san san hu chao", Ching has surely had a part in the street's sweet success.

The "three-colour vegetable and fruit" is a concoction of flavoured jellies in sea coconut and lychee syrup. It is priced at RM2.80.

The "lung yen san san hu chao", a herbal brew with seaweed from Sabah, can be had for RM3.30.

Jalan Pintu Sepuluh's other popular items are Kedah asam laksa, laksa lemak, curry fried rice, shrimp fried rice and lolok.


Jalan Pintu Sepuluh is the epicentre of the food heaven to which all epicures flock.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

能见度大跌‧空污指数99点‧霾锁北马

能见度大跌‧空污指数99点‧霾锁北马

北马3州昨日（3日）的烟霾情况恶化，不只能见度大大降低，双溪大年峇甲亚兰的情况最严重，空气污染指数上升到99点，处於不健康水平的边缘，情况令人担忧。


昨日上午的乔治市因为太阳逆向照射，让人產生烟霾微尘严重的错觉。（图：星洲日报）

在诗不朗再也，空气污染指数更是一度保持在96点，同时接近100点的不健康水平。

从前日（2日）开始，北马各地的空气开始瀰漫刺鼻呛喉的微尘，人们担心健康受影响，医生也提醒民眾多喝水，减少户外活动，以减低呼吸道发炎等疾病。

北赖能见度降至3公里
烟霾暂未威胁飞行

在北海一带，烟霾重重锁住上空，截止昨日下午5时，只有马来西亚理科大学的检测器维持在90点以下，北赖和诗不朗再也都在90点或以上。

北赖的能见度则一直降至3公里，虽然烟霾加剧，但是，目前的情况仍然未对飞行的机只构成影响。

余添山：微尘刺鼻呛喉
民眾少出户外多喝水

执业医生拿督余添山说，近日受到烟霾影响入院的病患明显增加，民眾应儘量减少户外活动，特別是那些对不净空气过敏或患有支气管疾病的人士，更要关紧窗户，避免外出。

他说，烟霾的微尘会造成呼吸系统受影响，继而延发多痰、咳嗽、哮喘等病状，尤其是那些患有呼吸气管疾病的小孩情况会更加严重。

他披露，患有哮喘的成年人或老人，若是遇上烟霾则很容易旧病復发。微尘也会影响眼睛，造成眼膜炎或红眼症，摩哆车骑士必须留意。

他说，很多人误解烟霾在夜晚会有改善，其实，微尘在夜晚沉淀，反而会让人不知不觉吸入更多微尘。他说，频密喝水，舒缓喉咙，是最简单的预防发炎方法之一。

（星洲日报／大北马）