Kuala Gandah elephant centre to be world-class

The Government plans to turn the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah here into a world-class facility which will also focus on eco-tourism.

A total of RM13mil has been set aside to turn it into a learning, research and reference centre.

Become one with the herd

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said the programmes and activities carried out at the centre had proven to be successful.

"The centre is not only a facility that manages elephant translocation and conservation programmes, it also organises activities to promote public awareness on the plight of elephants,'' he added.

The three-hectare centre is located within the Krau Wildlife Reserve area, and sprawls over 60,000ha.

"The land is sufficient to be a roaming ground for elephants, has a lot of potential in eco-tourism and is also rich in biodiversity,'' he said after visiting the area here yesterday.

Uggah noted that the importance of the Kuala Gandah centre as a roaming area for elephants had been curtailed due to development, and that human-animal conflicts had been on the rise.

To a question, the minister said some of the methods used in the translocation programme were stressful to the animals and should be reviewed. Uggah said a total of 158,000 people visited the centre last year, including 30,500 foreigners.

"Our target is to increase the number to 500,000. Although this place is about 110km from Kuala Lumpur, it is easily accessible.''

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Perak attractions at Singapore travel fair

The state government plans to promote its food and tourist destinations with the theme Perak — The Gateway To Nature during the Fascinating Malaysia Travel Fair in Singapore next month.

State executive councillor Datuk Hamidah Osman, who heads the state Tourism Commit-tee, said the state had booked 14 booths at the Suntec City Mall from Oct 13 to 15.

“We want to sell famous foods and tourist destinations in Perak to the Singaporeans.

“We will even promote dry food like the kacang putih from Buntong, Kampar chicken biscuits and Ipoh white coffee,” she said at a press conference here yesterday.

Tourist destinations to be highlighted include the Royal Belum state park, the Matang mangrove forest in Kuala Sepetang, Taiping Zoo, the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, Gua Tempurong, the state herbal park, Sungai Klah Hot Springs, Ipoh limestone hills and Pangkor island.

Hamidah said the basic infrastructure and services must be upgraded at tourist spots.

She said information for tourists needed to be coordinated and made readily available to visitors in hotels, at the airport and in the various districts.

Hamidah added that the state also had a six-month course for those interested in becoming licensed tour guides.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

New Low Cost Carrier, Silverfly To Fly Ipoh-Medan Route

Another new low cost carrier, Silverfly Sdn Bhd with the cooperation of Riau Airlines is expected to make its maiden flight serving the Ipoh-Medan-Ipoh route beginning this September 9.

Datuk Bandar of Ipoh, Datuk Roshidi Hashim in announcing this, said that the air service was a proactive move taken by the state government to bring about benefits and facilities to the people in the state.

"The Silverfly air services will certainly bring a lot of benefits for the people as it involves three flights weekly, namely Monday, Friday and Sunday," he told reporters after officiating the MATTA Perak Travel Fair 2009 here Friday.

He earlier witnessed the signing of a joint flight service agreement between Silverfly and Riau Airlines.

Roshidi said the the flights will also activate the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here and promote tourism activities between the two countries.

Meanwhile the Regional Manager of Silverfly Sdn Bhd, Eddy Azuan Sidik, said that the flights will cost RM369 for a two-way trip and RM259 for one way travel.

The airline will be using the Fokker-50 which has a 48-passenger capacity, while the flight from Ipoh to Medan has been scheduled at 12.30 pm.


Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Firefly makes maiden Ipoh-S'pore flight

Sultan Azlan Shah airport was a hive of activity when Firefly's ATR 72-500 flew in from Singapore yesterday. The flight marked the airline's first flight between Ipoh and the island republic.

The flight from the republic, with 57 passengers on board, landed at the airport at 4.45pm to a welcoming ceremony which included traditional dances and a band from Sekolah Menengah Anderson Ipoh.

They were also screened for influenza A H1N1 by a medical team before they were allowed into the arrival hall.

They were received by state Industry, Investment, Entreprenuer Development, ICT, Tourism and Women Affairs committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman who represented Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

They were garlanded and given state tourism goodie bags.

Hamidah later launched the flight from Ipoh to Singapore with 71 passengers, including 21 Perak media representatives, which took off at 5.20pm. The delegation was led by state Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Public Transport and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Mah Hang Soon.

In her speech, Hamidah said the air link was expected to "open up opportunities in the tourism and industrial sectors which would eventually contribute to the growth of the economy of the state".

Firefly operates four flights a week to Singapore.

The airport was previously used by Riau Airlines for its Medan-Ipoh service, with the last flight in March.

It is currently used by a flying academy for training purposes.

AirAsia operated the Ipoh-Senai route for nine months before it suspended the service in September 2006.

Firefly managing director Eddy Leong, who was present at the event, said the airline might increase the frequencies if there were demand for it.

The airline was also talking to travel agents to reopen the Ipoh-Medan routes.

Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Firefly to fly Ipoh to Singapore on July 12

Firefly, which billed itself as “Your Community Airline”, will fly the Ipoh-Singapore route starting July 12.

The all-inclusive promotional fare is RM88 one way.

However the fare can go up to RM300 depending on the time of booking.

FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd managing director Eddy Leong said the route would open up Ipoh to the world.

The 80-minute flight will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

It departs Ipoh 4.45pm, arriving at the Changi budget terminal at 6.05pm.

From Singapore, the new 72-seater aircraft takes off at 2.50pm and lands at the Sultan Azlan Shah airport here at 4.10pm.

“We have been in discussion with the Perak Government since 2007 to provide accessibility to exploit the untapped and hidden treasures of Perak,” Leong said after a briefing with the state officials, tour agents and hotel operators yesterday.

Leong said Firefly would provide free refreshments and snacks, assigned seats and free 20kg baggage allowance for check-in baggage.

The RM88 promotion is available for booking (www.fireflyz.com.my or call 03-7845 4543) from now until Oct 24.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Gopeng residents want to keep landmark pre-war pipeline

Gopeng residents are planning a last-ditch effort to preserve the remnants of a century-old pipeline as the town’s landmark.

Muzium Gopeng ad hoc management committee secretary Phang See Kong said the residents want to appeal to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to retain the last 1.6km stretch of the pipeline, part of which was erected above the Gopeng-Kampar trunk road.

“For years, visitors to Gopeng have used the pipeline as a landmark for the town.

“The pipeline is also a reminder of the past glory of Gopeng as a major tin mining town in the Kinta Valley. We should be proud to have it as an icon for it reminds the world that hydraulic tin mining was first practised in Gopeng,” Phang said in an interview.

According to The Gopeng Consolidated Tin Mines written by A.G. Glenister, it was the Wickett-Osborne and Chappel Group which built the Kampar Water Supply pipeline in 1911.

Ancient structure: Gopeng residents want what remains of the century-old pipeline in the town preserved as a historical landmark.

Measuring 1.1m in diameter, the pipeline was completed four years later.

A construction company, Gopeng Bhd, which owns the 14.5km pipeline running from the Ulu Geroh water catchment area to Gopeng town, started taking apart the pipeline in 2007, apparently for safety reasons.

A spokesman for Gopeng Bhd had said that people had been stealing the metal structural parts supporting the pipeline, which posed a danger to the public as it could just fall on them.

However, the spokesman said the company planned to preserve certain sections of the pipeline as “monuments of history” near homestay locations.

Phang said his committee would also seek the assistance of state Health, Local Government, Consumer, Environment, Transport and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Mah Hang Soon and state Industry, Investment, Entrepreneur Development, Information Communication Technology, Tourism and Women’s Affairs chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman to help preserve the last stretch of the pipeline.

It is learnt that the pipeline has been sold by Gopeng Bhd to a second contractor, Global Terbilang Sdn Bhd.

Global Terbilang executive director Raja Amir Firdaus said the Public Works Department had given the green light for the pipeline across the trunk road to be dismantled as it was a danger to heavy vehicles.

Raja Amir, however, said he was prepared to discuss the issue with the residents.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

AirAsia and Firefly eyeing LCCT in Batang Padang

Budget carriers AirAsia and Firefly are courting the Perak government to operate a low-cost carrier terminal at the Batang Padang district.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mo­­hammad Nizar Jamaluddin said discussion on the airport offering international flights started in May and to date two meetings on the matter had been held.

The state’s commitment is only to provide between 1,212ha and 1,616ha of land while the operator would foot the development cost of the airport, he said yesterday. The new airport would also handle cargo flights.

Speaking to reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Japanese ambassador Masahiko Yoire at his office, Nizar said that the plan, however, still hinged on clearance from the Transport Ministry and Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

The state, said Nizar, needed an international airport to attract foreign investors.

Nizar also added that the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here would be used only to service local flights if the Batang Padang airport project took off.

On the courtesy call, Nizar said that the ambassador had expressed Japan’s confidence in the Pakatan Rakyat-led states.

He had received positive feedback from Perak-based Japanese companies of which two of them would expand their operations here.

The ambassador, said that Nizar, also discussed plans to package Perak’s tourism products to attract Japanese tourists.

They also discussed student exchange programmes between Fukuoka University and universities in Perak.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

Proposed new Ipoh airport a boon to Perak’s tourism

THE proposed airport in Ipoh can be a boon to Perak’s tourism as the existing airport is under-utilised.

Locals as well as tourists and investors need hassle-free and convenient travelling in and out of Perak.

Having the airport in the Seri Iskandar area can be a catalyst for tourism growth for the surrounding areas.

It’s undeniable that Ipoh/Perak doesn't lack scenic destinations that can be promoted extensively (Pangkor, Lumut, Gua Tempurung, to name a few), so why is a new airport a waste?

As for high-rise buildings in Ipoh, I do not see why they shouldn’t be built in Ipoh.

New projects like the Ipoh Tower and Ipoh Tourism Hub beautify the skyline of Ipoh.

High-rise buildings don’t cause Ipoh’s old charm and its natural beauty to fade.

I think the new airport will not become a white elephant if there is proper planning and ambitious plans to turn Ipoh/Perak into a tourist-bound area.

A new airport as well as other infrastructure such as the Ipoh-Penang and Rawang-Ipoh double-tracking railway can bring tremendous growth as well as opportunities for many job-searching youths.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Lost World of Tambun Theme Park eyes more Tourists

The Lost world of Tambun theme park in Sunway City, Ipoh, expects to receive more foreign tourists next year, especially Singaporeans, once the Ipoh-Rawang double-tracking railway is operational.

Its general manager Calvin Ho said the railway would not only boost the number of tourists visiting the park but also the entire city in general.

“The train ride itself can be marketed as a tourism product and be included as part of tourism packages,” he told reporters after a familiarisation tour of the park for over 30 Singaporean travel agents recently.

Ho said foreigners on a trip across the country would love to include a train ride in their holiday plans as “trains offer a nostalgic experience”.

Relaxing trip:Travel agents from Singapore enjoying a train ride around the Lost World of Tambun waterpark.

“It is so much more different from taking a bus, flying or driving,” he said.

The RM4bil 180km railway project is expected to be completed by Dec 31 and operational by early next year.

Ho said they targeted 350,000 tourists to visit the Lost World of Tambun this year, which would be 50,000 more than last year’s.

“Next year, with all the added developments to our park, our number of visitors will definitely grow,” said Ho.

Amongst the development, he said, was the construction of a five-star RM50mil Hot Springs Spa Resort to be ready next December. Other plans include a 50-room karaoke lounge, seafood restaurant and extreme sports park to be ready this December.

During the familiarisation tour, the travel agents were taken on a three-day two- night tour of tourist hotspots in Ipoh, like Gua Tempurung and the famous pomelo farms.

At the Lost World of Tambun, they were taken on a train ride around the park to see attractions like its Tiger Valley, Kepura Cave, Musical Fountain, Waterfall Beach Garden, Tambun Hot Springs, water slides and dry rides.

The tour was a joint effort between the park and Tourism Malaysia Perak in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2007.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Pak Lah unveils big plans for Ipoh

Travellers can look forward to a bigger airport here and a fast commuter train service from Penang.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the good news when opening the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry trade exposition here in conjunction with its 100th anniversary yesterday.

Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, would fly here, he added.

“We will improve and expand the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport to take you to various destinations,” he added.

However, Abdullah declined to give details on the airport expansion when asked at a press conference after a luncheon with state Barisan Nasional leaders.

It was welcomed news because the airport is currently under-used, with only twice weekly flights from here to Medan.

Last year, low-cost carrier AirAsia stopped flights from here to Senai, saying the runway was too short for its aircraft.

Abdullah said the fast commuter train service would be a convenience for travellers and it could help reduce traffic jams on the highway.

He added that the train service could be expanded later to other northern destinations like Sungai Petani.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

FREE 20,000 durians to be given away at Durian Festival

Foreign tourists, including Europeans, will be well-informed about the Malaysian king of fruits so that the Perak Durian Festival on Sunday will be a success.

"We don't want our Durian Festival to face the same fate as what had happened in Penang when promoting the fruit," said Changkat Jering assemblyman Datuk Mat Isa Ismail, who is co-organiser of the event.

"We want our foreign guests to take part in the event until the end of the programme," he told reporters here on Tuesday.

On June 18, it had been reported that 18 foreign tourists taking part in a durian-eating competition in Penang fled the scene soon after taking a whiff of the fruit as they could not stand its strong smell, resulting in the cancellation of the contest.

Mat Isa said a group of 60 foreign tourists, including Europeans, would be taking part in the durian festival.

He said event organiser, the state Tourism Council, had taken steps to brief them so that they would know what to expect during the programme to promote the fruit.

The move was to ensure the foreigners, who would be arriving in two express buses from Kuala Lumpur, would be able to bear the strong smell of the Malaysia king of fruits.

On the festival, Mat Isa said about 20,000 durians would be given out free during the event to be held at the Bukit Gantang public field in Taiping from 10am onwards.

He said the people would also be treated with all kinds of durian-flavoured foods such as gulai tempoyak, dodol, jam, ice-cream, fritters, yoghurt, and juice.

"The highlight will be a gotong-royong involving 50 housewives to make cucur durian (durian fritters) using eight gunny sacks of wheat flour," he said.

The people could also buy the fruit at bargain prices from the 15 stalls set up at the field, he said.

He added that 10,000 people were expected to attend the event to be launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Plan to turn last tin dredge into tourist draw

IPOH: A tin dredge left idle in Tanjung Tualang, about 40km from here, will be given a facelift to bring it into the mainstream of Perak tourism.

Said to be the only one of its type left in Malaysia, there are plans to bring visitors there for a taste of the glory days when the Kinta Valley was the world’s richest tin producer.

Mining consultant company Osborne & Chappel plans to fence up the premises and redevelop the site into an exciting tourist destination.

“Once we sign the official agreement with the state government this year, we will engage engineers to survey the dredge to determine whether it is safe for visitors to go in,” said Steven Ng, a manager and spokesman of the company.

To get a facelift: There are plans to spruce up this tin dredge, sited in a man-made lake in Tanjung Tualang, and open the interior for guided tours.

“If it is safe, we can clean up the place and show visitors how the tin dredge works, moves and draws in the tin-bearing soil in manganese steel buckets,” he said.

Ng added that the dredge, weighing 4,500 tonnes, is one of the last great reminders of the time when the Kinta Valley was the world’s richest tin producing area.

Built in 1938 by W.F. Payne & Sons for Pernas Chartered Management Sdn Bhd, the dredge had scoured for tin ore in the Kinta Valley for 44 years.

The state government had reportedly spent about RM600,000 to develop facilities there some time back but the site had, nonetheless, fallen into a state of neglect.

The dredge, with the words T.T. No. 5 on it, used to belong to Southern Malayan Tin Dredging (M) Sdn Bhd.

Operations stopped in 1983 due to the collapse of the tin mining industry and the subsequent downward spiral of tin prices.

Ng said that among the many artefacts still intact on the dredge were the 155 manganese steel buckets, documents from the dredge master’s control room, a giant crane, power generators and the oscillating screen.

He added that there was also a plan to open a museum there, where he would display his private collection of dulangs (trays) used to sift for tin ore, wooden buckets, straw hats and numerous old photographs of the mining industry.

“It should be an interesting tour for schoolchildren and foreign tourists, especially since this is the last tin dredge left intact in Malaysia.

“Many young people forget that without the tin ore our forefathers had mined in the old days, our nation would not be enjoying much of the prosperity we have today,” Ng said.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Eco-tourism Resort in Perak soon

BUKIT MERAH: Perak will soon have a 132-ha eco-tourism resort of international standard on Pulau Banding in Grik.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli said the project, entrusted to MK Land Holdings Bhd, would be carried out in stages after a series of meetings with several non-governmental organisations.

"We will try to preserve the area’s natural beauty as much as possible by seeking advice from the relevant experts," he said after attending a drift car demonstration on Saturday.

Tajol Rosli said the resort would have 40 rooms, chalets and serviced apartments overlooking the lake.

"There will also be a two-kilometre canopy walk for tourists to observe wild animals throughout the day without disturbing them"

Tajol Rosli said the state government was still in negotiations with the army on areas in the Belum forest, where tourists were allowed to have access, adding that similar talks were ongoing between the Malaysian Nature Society and the Department of Environment.

Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Property tycoon gets Banding Island Resort job

The Perak government has asked Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar, one of the country’s well-known property tycoons, to develop the Banding Island Resort near Grik.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the businessman was selected to turn the man-made island at Tasik Temenggor, in the Belum forest into a tourist attraction because of his good track record.

Mustapha Kamal is responsible for turning the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, near here, into one of Perak’s most attractive tourism lures.

Tajol Rosli said Mustapa Kamal had shown that he could add economic value to projects.

The mentri besar said that under the first phase of the move to privatise the island resort, owned by the Perak State Parks Corp, the state government would allot him 132ha of land and allow him to take over the running of the resort.

“The resort now provides more than 20 rooms for visitors but we hope he (Mustapha Kamal) will be able to provide more rooms to cater for more tourists,” Tajol Rosli told reporters at the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort yesterday.

He also said Bukit Larut, the oldest hill station in the country, would be administered by the private sector.

The Larut Matang and Selama district office currently administers the hill, formerly known as Maxwell Hill, which was founded in 1884.

Other than this hill station, the administration of three other tourists spots in Perak that are currently run by the respective local authorities – Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah, Gua Tempurung in Gopeng and Gunung Lang in Ipoh – will also be privatised.

Tajol Rosli said the Perak State Parks Corp would supervise the privatisation move of the four tourist spots.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Perak to get more Tourist Police Booths

MORE tourist police booths will be built in Perak to help ensure the security of visitors.

Tourism Malaysia's new state director Mohd Izal Mohd Nor said the booths would be built in Sungai Perak, Tapah, Ipoh, Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Lumut, Pangkalan Hulu and Pang- kor.

“We hope to complete the booths this year.

“Tourist police will man the booths to han-dle inquiries from visitors and help them lodge police reports,” he said during the farewell gathering and handover of duties ceremony for outgoing director Rohaiza Haris in Ipoh re-cently.

He said the booths would be built with the cooperation of the police.

Mohd Izal said he planned to organise international-level events to attract visitors, especially foreign tourists to Perak.

He also said he planned to promote sports tourism as the state had many sports facilities.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Puteri Bayu Beach Resort won "garden resort by the sea"

Puteri Bayu Beach Resort of Pangkor Island came out tops with a strong 'garden resort by the sea' theme that won over the judges.

The hotel went ‘wild' with a wealth of orchids, roses, carnations, hibiscus, helliconia and island ferns indigenous to Pangkor Island, said its general manager Kamarull Zaman Abd Rahim.

“Our team of 15 staff members also added replicas of butterflies and fish, an aquarium and fountains to go with the seaside garden resort theme.

“We wanted to use flora and even fauna which you might find in the natural surrounds of Pangkor,” he said after receiving RM5,000, plaque and certificate in Ipoh recently.

It was the first time hotels had taken part in such a contest held in conjunction with the Floral Fest 2007.

Best decorated lobby:The entrance to the Puteri Bayu Beach Resort decorated with various kinds of plants and flowers.

The second prize went to Impiana Casuarina Hotel in Ipoh for the use of birds of paradise, fresh yellow helliconia, monstera leaves, red ginger and orchids gracing tabletops, reception counters and the lounge.

“We also offered flower-based cocktails and teas such as hibiscus, roselle, jasmine and chrysanthemum,” said hotel public relations officer Mai Basariah Abdul Rahman.

The Pangkor Island Beach Resort took third place with the lobby sporting a profusion of pandanas leaves, ferns, orchids and replicas of the famous hornbills for which it is known.

During the prize presentation ceremony at Greentown Mall in Ipoh, Tourism Malaysia Perak director Rohaiza Haris said the Flora Fest 2007 was one of the 50 main events of Visit Malaysia 2007.

“The different types of our colourful blooms represent multi-racial Malaysia. The flowers clustered together on the logo denote the closeness of Malaysians living in perfect harmony,” he added.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Safety of Tourists a Priority

KEEPING tourists visiting Perak during Visit Malaysia 2007 safe and sound is one of the priorities of state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Aziz Bulat.

He said the Government has invested a lot of money to attract visitors to Malaysia this year.

“The campaign will benefit the country’s economy. Hence, we will do our part to make sure this goal is realised,” he said at the first police monthly gathering held at the state police headquarters in Ipoh recently.

DCP Aziz said he had already issued directives to all the state OCPDs to step up patrols in their districts.

“In Perak, we do not have any specific unit to work as tourist policemen. But this does not mean that we will not be able to protect the tourists,” he said.

If need be, DCP Aziz said mobile police units would be set up at tourist destinations like in Pangkor Island.

“Other than that, rank and file policemen will double up as tourist policemen,” he said.

DCP Aziz added that policemen would be sent to courses to improve their command of English and communication skills.

“As policemen, we need to converse well with foreigners in case they need our assistance,” he said.

On the crime rate in Perak, DCP Aziz said he was satisfied.

“There was a slight increase in the crime rate but most of the increase involved petty property crime.

“Most importantly, I am pleased that the number of snatch thefts has dropped,” he said.

He said there were 821 snatch theft cases in 2005 compared with 659 cases last year, indicating a drop of 162 cases or 19.73%.

However, he added that the records showed the state’s index crime rate had increased by 10.9% from 12,043 cases in 2005 to 13,358 cases in 2006.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Honeymooning in a Hut - Adeline Rest House

INSTEAD of celebrating their wedding night at an established hotel, newlyweds John Kelly Sexton and Kuo Mui Lin opted to spend their day in a kampung-style bamboo hut in Gopeng, near Ipoh.

The hut was part of the 2ha nature resort, called Adeline’s Rest House, owned by Mui Lin’s older sister Adeline.

The rest house has been gaining popularity among foreign tourists who like to rough it out in the wild and experience nature activities like trekking, white-water rafting and abseiling.

Despite staying in hut without air-conditioning and an attached toilet, the newlyweds were a picture of happiness when they arrived at their ‘bridal chamber’ recently.

Romance in the air:John and Kuo are a perfect match at Adeline's Rest House.

The high-spirited groom lifted his new bride in his arms and carried her this way and that during the photo-graphy session as she could not climb the wooden planks leading to the chamber in her high heels.

“I slept so soundly on the wedding eve. I actually woke up late this morning for the wedding,” said John after a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and the exchange of ang pows.

John, an English teacher from New Zealand who turns 31 on Jan 28, said he planned the wedding at the rest house because he loved the natural surroundings.

His wife, a 31-year-old nurse in Kuala Lumpur, added that her family home was also in nearby Lawan Kuda.

“We have stayed here a few times before and even spent a few nights here before my sister had even completed setting up the place,” said Mui Lin.

She added that although there was no air-conditioning, the air gets very cool at night.

“We don’t feel hot at all staying here. It is a very beautiful and pleasant place,” said John.

John’s parents Malcolm, 68, and Vivienne, 62, who had flown in from their home in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, also stayed at the resort for a week.

“We love this place. I recommend it to everyone,” said Vivienne.

She added that she and Malcolm had even gone swimming in the resort’s ‘natural spa’ one night.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]