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Tourism Malaysia

Sarawak Bird Race

To promote bird watching tourism in Sarawak and also the importance of bird preservation for ecology and environment. The Mini Bird Race is a “fun race” where teams of two compete against each other in searching, identifying, and recording as many species of birds around the areas of Penrissen Range within a stipulated time. According to recent observations, there is a list of 143 birds, which had been sighted in the area.

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Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Day 2011

September 16, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Today is the 16th of September 2011, the 48th anniversary of the foundation of the federation of Malaysia. Two decade ago, Malaysia Day was just a footnote in the country’s collective memory, a historic day that passed without much ado. It was not even a federal holiday, until last year, when it was finally declared a holiday by the government.

Malaysia Day is rather interesting. If Tunku Abdul Rahman had his way, we would be celebrating Malaysia Day on 31st August, a day that bears more meaning to the country, as it is also Merdeka Day. 31st August was not the date that only Peninsular Malaysia gained independence, but also the date Sabah and Singapore declared theirs, on 31st August 1963. The date does not bear any significance for Sarawak as it declared its independence on 22nd July 1963. Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was the Prime Minister at that time, was known to be a man who chose historic dates carefully, and as such had planned for the federation of Malaysia to share the same date as Merdeka Day. As we all know, the date was postponed due to certain objections from Indonesia and the Philippines which were resolved through a referendum in Sabah and Sarawak. Thanks to them, we, for better or for worse, celebrate the founding of our country, Malaysia, on the same date as the birthday of the founder of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. For those who are not familiar with the shared history of Malaysia and Singapore, Singapore seceded from Malaysia in 1965, thus giving that little bit of trivia a sense of irony.

Malaysia Day 2011

Happy Malaysia Day to all Malaysians out there!

Anyhow, we certainly have come a long way as a nation. Although it took nearly 50 years for Malaysians to finally feel a need to celebrate the founding of our nation, the focus on the establishment of Malaysia, as opposed to the celebration of our independence, does show that the citizens of Malaysia have come to view this country that they were born in as their own. We hope that another 50 or so years will bring prosperity and joy for this country and its people.

Happy Malaysia Day 2011!

Photo (c) .E.T

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Tourism Malaysia

MNS Nature Talk: Things Coming Ashore

September 16, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Malaysia is well known for its wildlife, both on land and in its waters. While more renowned species like tigers and turtles are often better known to the public, lesser known animals also play important roles in the ecosystem that they live in. One such creature is an odd looking fish called the mudskipper. Mudskippers are quite common all around Malaysia, and large numbers of these fishes can be seen happily gliding and skipping around the mud flats of the coastal regions of Malaysia. Many Malaysians do not give these creatures a second glance, although there has been renewed interest in them in recent years.

Mudskippers

These mudskippers look like the mini version of a swamp monster!

The Malaysian Nature Society’s talk this September will feature the mudskipper. Entitled Things Coming Ashore, the talk will be held on 18th September 2011 at the MNS HQ Auditorium. The talk begins at 2pm and will be conducted by Dr. Gianluca Polgar, who is currently lecturing at the University of Malaya. Dr Gianluca is also working on a project regarding Malayan mangrove benthic food webs and mudskippers are one of his major interests. As such he is also involved in several projects regarding their ecology and evolution, in collaboration with several research groups worldwide. Dr. Gianluca obtained his Laurea degree in Natural Sciences (2004) and Ph.D. in Ecological sciences (2009) at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy.

Those who are interested in attending this talk can contact Ilyas Sapiyan (email your full name and email address to isapiyan@hotmail.com or sms to 012-617 5870)

Photo (c) rakugo

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Cuisine in Melaka

BRING BACK OUR FAVOURITE LONDON BUS IN MELAKA

Getting London bus back on the road

2011/09/14
By Kelly Koh Ling Min
streets@nstp.com.my
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One of the two London buses that used to take tourists on a tour of Malacca city that is being repaired at a cost of RM100,000. — Picture by Rasul Azli Samad
MALACCA: One of the two double-decker red tour buses which were brought here from London three years ago and temporarily placed in the State Transportation Museum would cost RM100,000 to be repaired.
However, it would not cost its owners, the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council, a single sen as Mamee Double Decker (M) Bhd has come to the rescue.

The Malacca-based snacks maker is forking out the money needed to get the bus plying the roads of the historical city again as it takes tourists on tour.

Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council president Sapiah Haron said the repairs would take a month or two, depending on how soon the spare parts from London can be obtained.

The bus had been out of service and made a museum exhibit since last September.

The other bus, which is undergoing repairs at a workshop in Sungai Udang, is owned by the Malacca Historical City Council.

It is expected to resume operations soon.

The buses, which are also known as the Panorama Bus, were brought to Malacca from London in 2007 at a cost of RM200,000 each.

The London Bus, as they are known by locals here, started its services on Aug 14, 2007.

It makes 13 stops, including shopping and leisure areas. The buses are operated by Panorama Malacca Cultural Tourism Sdn Bhd.