State represented at global virtual conference on tourism

MELAKA tourism players are going global to discuss the impact of Covid-19 crisis on tourism ecosystem. The pandemic had caused a growing number of hotel cancellations here, especially after the conditional movement control order (CMCO) was implemented in the Klang Valley.

Datuk Marco Seow, who represented two Melaka tourism-related associations, and Melaka Tourism Business Club vice-chairman Dennis Samford joined an international video-conferencing.

Medical practitioners from England, Scotland, Singapore and India shared about how they managed Covid-19 patients and the setbacks that they faced.

They also shared the bigger picture of measures to deal with the effects of the pandemic in their respective countries.

The video-conferencing organised by Krescendo Communication of Singapore was supposed to be launched by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

However, Sulaiman had to rush to Johor Baru to attend an urgent meeting.

The online forum that was hosted by social activist Ganesh Somwanshi from Singapore lasted for almost two hours where panellists from various countries and observers from media outlets were also invited to the live stream.

Seow and Samford explored the opportunities in making Melaka a hub for medical tourism by inviting the various hospitals abroad to venture into the industry here after Covid-19. - The Star

PM: CMCO extended till June 9

PM: CMCO extended till June 9

The conditional movement control order (MCO) will be extended for another four weeks until June 9 as public sentiments are also in favour of it, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister said mass movements would not be allowed although major festivals – Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Kaamatan and Hari Gawai (the harvest festival in Sabah and Sarawak respectively) – fall within that period.

“On the advice of the Health Ministry, I am announcing that the conditional MCO, which will end on May 12, will be extended for another four weeks to June 9.

“This means all rules and standard operating procedures (SOP) during the conditional MCO will continue to be enforced until June 9. Any changes to the SOP or list of sectors which will be allowed to operate will be announced from time to time.“There is Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Kaamatan Feast and Hari Gawai. I remind all of you that the ban on interstate movement stays.

“Many apologies and I beg your forgiveness, but for your safety and health, returning to your hometowns across state borders for Hari Raya purposes will not be allowed.

“When the situation improves, Malaysians can go back to their hometowns to visit their parents or relatives,” he said in a live broadcast on national television yesterday.However, he said visiting close neighbours and families in the same state would be allowed during the festivals, provided that there was a maximum of 20 people gathered at any one time.

He also stated that spouses living in separate states would be allowed to travel, as there were husbands and wives who could not meet during the conditional MCO due to work commitments.

“To those who need to cross states in Sabah and Sarawak, I urge the state governments to give them the flexibility. Applications can be made through the Gerak Malaysia app or by applying to the nearest police station,” he said.

He also said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was refining its SOP for congregational prayers in mosques, including Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers.

The SOP, he added, must first be finalised and presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before it could be made public.

He said the SOP for other houses of worship such as churches and temples was also being drawn up.

On another issue, Muhyiddin said the Finance Ministry was extending the appeal period for Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) to May 31 and the public could go to the Inland Revenue Board counters from today to appeal.

He said he could not promise that all appeals would be approved, but those who qualified would get what was due.

As of today, 10.6 million people have qualified as BPN recipients involving RM11bil.

The Prime Minister also said although almost all districts in the country had been designated as green zones, the people should not be lulled into a false sense of security.“From 1,178 districts, sections, zones, sub-zones and precincts in the country, 1,112 or 94.4% have been categorised as green zones, 62 or 5.2% as yellow zones and only four or 0.34% as red zones.

“You may think you will not be infected because you are in a green zone but this virus is an unseen, silent enemy. It can strike you any time and anywhere,” he said.

The red zone category is for areas with more than 40 Covid-19 positive cases; orange zone (20-40 cases); yellow zone (one to 19 cases); and green zone (no case).

“Only four areas are red zones: Batu in Gombak, Selangor; Batu in Kuala Lumpur; Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur; and Pedas in Rembau, Negri Sembilan.

“To those living outside these areas, do not visit these places for the time being to avoid getting infected,” he said.

Muhyiddin also commended the country for ranking fourth out of 105 countries in terms of people’s satisfaction with the government’s efforts in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak.

This achievement, he said, was reported in a study done by a research agency based in Singapore.

This will be the fourth time the government has extended the MCO. The order has been implemented in phases from March 18 to 31, April 1 to 14, April 15 to 28 and April 29 to May 12.

On May 4, the government imposed the conditional MCO, which allowed almost all economic sectors to reopen.

~The Star~

Public transport and motorbikes can travel, too

Public transport and motorbikes can travel, too

Bukit Aman has decided to allow public transport and motorcycles to make journeys across state lines.

Federal CID director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed said the decision was made after assessing the current situation on the roads.

He said police observed and studied the movement on highways and federal roads yesterday and found traffic to be smooth.

Comm Huzir, however, said only public transportation and motorcyclists with approval from the authorities would be allowed to make the interstate trips.

~The Star~

MCO Phase 4 from April 29 to May 12

MCO Phase 4 from April 29 to May 12

The Movement Control Order (MCO), currently in its third phase, has been extended by another two weeks until May 12.

This was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a special televised broadcast today.

Muhyddin also did not rule out the possibility of another extension beyond May 12, subject to how the situation develops.

"During this period, the government will study the latest data from the Health Ministry to determine the next steps.

"I do not discount the possibility that the MCO may be extended beyond May 12, therefore you may not be able to celebrate Hari Raya in your kampung," he said.

Muhyiddin added that if cases continue to show a downward trend, the government may slightly relax MCO regulations in stages to include several sectors including the social sector.

He also said the government will also allow university students in hostels to return home.

The process to facilitate the movement of some 100,000 students, he added, will be done on the advice of the Health Ministry.

Before they are allowed to go home, all students must be healthy and do not display any Covid-19 symptoms.

"The government may consider a one-time journey for Malaysians who have gone back to their hometowns before the MCO was enforced, to return to their homes.

"As this would involve a big number of people, the government is gathering data and studying the best methods to allow this movement."

Muhyiddin said those who needed to do so would need to register online or make an appointment at the nearest police station.

The MCO was implemented by the government on March 18 as a measure to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

On March 25, Muhyiddin announced that the first phase of the MCO, which ended on March 31, would immediately be succeeded by a second phase, lasting until April 14.

A third phase was then announced from April 15 to April 28.

~New Straits Times~

MAS: All passengers must wear face masks, starting Thursday (April 23)

MAS: All passengers must wear face masks, starting Thursday (April 23)

All Malaysia Airlines passengers are now required to bring and wear their own protective masks effective April 23, 2020, at touch-points such as check-in, boarding, in the aircraft cabin, disembarkation and collection of baggage on arrival to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

This requirement applies to all passengers (excluding infant) travelling on all Malaysia Airlines’ domestic, international and charter flights, to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of each passenger and airline employee, it said in a statement here Wednesday (April 22).

Malaysia Airlines will not accept passengers that do not have/wear a face mask at the time of check-in and boarding, it stressed.

"For passengers’ own comfort, especially on long haul flights, you are advised to bring additional masks and hand sanitisers for your own use.”

Passengers are also reminded to respect the personal space of others and observe social distancing where required and to comply with other safety measures in our pre-departure and arrival processes to ensure you have a safe journey.

The safety of its passengers and staff is of utmost importance to Malaysia Airlines. - Bernama

Taxis and e-hailing vehicles to operate from 6am to 10pm

Taxis and e-hailing vehicles to operate from 6am to 10pm 

Taxi, e-hailing and delivery services will only be allowed to be on the road for specific hours daily from today during the extended movement control order (MCO), says the Transport Ministry.

“From April 1 onwards, during the MCO, taxis and e-hailing vehicles are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm.

“Delivery services are allowed to operate between 8am and 8pm, ” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

The ministry is encouraging logistics and transportation companies involved with delivering essential goods to do so between 7pm and 7am, the most unhindered movement during the extended MCO.

It said operational hours under the MCO for stage buses, express buses, trains and their terminals continue to be limited to 6am to 10am and 5pm to 10pm as announced previously.

The statement said the restriction, covering the two-week extended MCO period, was necessary in line with the government’s efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19 infections and put the country on the path to full recovery.

“Several difficult decisions had to be made under the second phase of the MCO from April 1-14.

“For measures related to public transportation, they are aimed to further reduce person-to-person contact on buses, rail services, taxis and in e-hailing services, and break potential chains of infection on these modes of transportation, ” the statement added.

The ministry reminded passengers to adhere to regulations and social distancing practices, including reducing crowding while using public transportation during the extended MCO period.

~The Star~

Covid 19 Update

KTMB to suspend interstate, intercity train services from Wed

KTMB to suspend interstate, intercity train services from Wednesday (March 25)

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will be suspending its interstate and intercity train services beginning Wednesday (March 25), and not on Tuesday (March 24) as stated earlier.

According to a statement issued on Monday (March 24), the suspension of the services is until the end of the movement control order (MCO) and the effective date was deferred to Wednesday as many commuters have bought the tickets for tomorrow's train services.

Earlier, its chief executive officer Datuk Kamarulzaman Zainal said with the suspension of the services, only two services - Electric Train Services (ETS) and KTM Intercity - would operate daily, compared to eight in the normal situation.

He said KTM Komuter operation would be reduced to 49 services a day for the Klang Valley and north sector while services of several other trains would be continued to serve certain needs.

"This includes the transporting of medical and food supplies as well as the movement of staff of various critical services involved in the enforcement of the MCO," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Kamarulzaman said Skypark Link train services between Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang would be reduced to four services daily, against eight before.

However, he said KTMB would fully suspend Ekspres Rakyat Timuran, Ekspres Selatan and Shuttle Tebrau services until the MCO enforcement ended.

"Passengers can make amendments or cancel their tickets via the website www.ktmb.com.my, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Express Rail Link (ERL) in a separate statement, said it would limit its services, effective Tuesday (March 24) until further notice.

ERL said the KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) Ekspres and KLIA Transit will run as a combined service at 30-minute intervals from 6am to 10am, and 5pm to 10pm daily.

"Please note that there will be no train services at other times,” the statement said.

Also, the journey time between KL Sentral and KLIA will take 35 minutes, while all departures at the KL Sentral Station will be from KLIA Ekspres Departure platform. - Bernama

Restricted movement for 14 days

Restricted movement for 14 days



Public measure: The movement control order will limit congregation at religious, sport, social and cultural events.

PETALING JAYA: A movement control order will be imposed from tomorrow until the end of the month to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister announced the measure after chairing the National Security Council (NSC) last night.

“The government has decided to enact the measure, starting March 18 until March 31, throughout the whole country.

“This order is being issued under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967, ” he said during a special broadcast.

The measure will restrict the movement and congregation at religious, sport, social and cultural events.

While public and business premises will be closed, Muhyiddin announced that supermarkets, sundry shops and other shops which sell daily essentials will remain open.

Overseas travel for Malaysians will be restricted while those returning to the country must undergo health checks and voluntary quarantine.

Educational centres and schools, including higher learning institutions, will also be closed during this period.

The Prime Minister assured the public that essential services will continue.

These include health services, utilities such as fuel and electricity, along with the Fire and Rescue Department, police and those involved in the food supply chain.

Muhyiddin said he will chair daily NSC meetings and periodic updates will be announced to the public.

He also urged for all Malaysians to be patient during these trying times and to comply with the restrictions.

He assured the public that enough food and essentials are available, including face masks.

But at the same time, he said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will monitor the supply of these items.

“I realise the public might feel these actions create difficulties and hardships during their day to day lives. However, such action must be taken by the government to contain the outbreak.

“We cannot wait any longer for the situation to turn more dire. Drastic measures have to be taken immediately, ” he said.

He urged the public not to panic and remain calm.

“I believe that with these measures, we will be able to contain the outbreak soon, ” he said.

Muhyiddin also thanked those directly involved in combating the Covid-19 outbreak, including health officers and public servants who have been working around the clock.

“I pray that you will remain strong in performing your duties for the country to ensure public safety, ” he said.

~The Star~

MATTA: Malaysia is safe for travellers

MATTA: Malaysia is safe for travellers



Fair bargains: (From left) Only World Group Holdings Bhd founder Tan Sri Richard C.K. Koh, Kho and Phua at the media conference to announce the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia programme.

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), which is seeking to shore up domestic tourism, is assuring travellers that Malaysia is safe for holidaymakers.

“Malaysia is safe to travel. And for Malaysians, if the price is right there will be action,” said Rocky Kho, chairman of the oversight committee on MATTA Fair’s Cuti-Cuti Malaysia.

He cited the Finance Ministry’s personal income tax relief of up to RM1,000 on expenses for domestic tourism, which was part of Stimulus Package 2020 announced last month.“That is an incentive for Malaysians to travel domestically,” he told a press conference yesterday that was focused on Cuti-Cuti Malaysia events by MATTA Fair, which will be held on April 4 and 5 at the KL Convention Centre.

MATTA said the event would be the first-ever fully local tourism-centric event under its banner.

While there are no plans to have temperature checks during the event, medical personnel will be on standby.

Amid the drop in the tourism industry globally in view of the Covid-19 outbreak, Kho said the domestic tourism market was there to tap into.

“We really don’t know when this outbreak will be over. We’re praying hard that things will pick up again by May. We are hearing news from China that the numbers would be coming back by the end of April, hopefully,” he said.

MATTA chief executive officer Phua Tai Neng said they would follow guidelines set by the Health Ministry in combating the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

“We are always guided by their advice,” he said.

On another matter, MATTA congratulated Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri for her appointment as Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.

“We have met with YB before and I think she is a very good minister. She’s very open,” said Phua.

~The Star~

New Tourism Minister pledges effective solutions to boost industry

New Tourism Minister pledges effective solutions to boost industry



New Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri is committed to coming up with effective solutions and long-term measures for the tourism sector.

The Batang Sadong MP said she was aware that many industry players, including airlines, were facing trying times from Covid-19 and falling oil prices.

"With the apparent impact of Covid-19 on the world economy, businesses and routines are adversely affected. Coupled with the downward trend of crude oil prices, it is clear that we have to work harder to overcome the challenges ahead.

"I believe our economy is resilient enough to face these challenges.

"With this new Cabinet line-up, we shall take advantage of all opportunities available to persevere through this crisis," she said in a statement on Tuesday (March 10).

Nancy thanked Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for their trust in appointing her to the Cabinet.

She pledged to put the needs of the country and people first in her ministerial duties and to uphold the principles of fairness and equity.

"I shall endeavour to continue serving the people of Malaysia regardless of race, religion and political alliances.

"My focus will be on delivery with the notion of accountability to the rakyat," she said.

She also assured Sarawakians that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would remain focused on preserving and safeguarding the state's constitutional rights and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
v "To my constituents in Batang Sadong, I am still the same Nancy Shukri you know and will continue to serve you in my capacity as the Member of Parliament of Batang Sadong," she added.

~The Star~

COVID-19: Malaysia bars entry of cruise vessels

COVID-19: Malaysia bars entry of cruise vessels

Malaysia will not to permit entry of cruise vessels to its ports with immediate effect due to the COVID-19 outbreak until the overall situation improves and the spread of the virus is contained, said Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said in view of the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia and around the world, various measures were being taken by the Malaysian authorities to contain local transmission and to safeguard public health.

He said entry and transit of cruise vessels, passengers and crew members require considerable medical resources to be made available at ports for screening and treatment purposes.

"During this difficult period, it is important that more medical resources are concentrated at hospitals to attend to medical emergencies and undertake preventive measures.

"As such the Ministry of Health in consultation with other government ministries and agencies has taken the decision not to permit the entry of cruise vessels to Malaysian ports," he said in a Facebook posting today.

Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry aknowledged that the cruise industry is an important component of Malaysia’s tourism sector and has contributed significantly to the Malaysian economy but was hopeful that this is a temporary measure and was confident that the concerted efforts of all parties will assist in resolving the issue at hand soonest possible.

-- BERNAMA

Curry puff

A curry puff (Malay: Karipap, Epok-epok; ) is a snack of Southeast Asian origin. It is a small pie consisting of curry with chicken and potatoes in a deep-fried or baked pastry shell. The curry is quite thick to prevent it from oozing out of the snack.



A common snack in Malaysia and Singapore, the curry puff is one of several "puff" type pastries with different fillings, though now it is by far the most common. Other common varieties include eggs, sardines, and onions or sweet fillings such as yam.

Curry puffs are enjoyed throughout Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand. It also shares many similarities with the empanada, a popular pastry in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.

In Malaysia, curry puffs are commonly found sold freshly fried at many Malay, Chinese and Indian food stalls and even at trendy cafes.

Another Malay version of this snack is known as epok-epok[4] and teh-teh which is smaller than the curry puff. The curry puffs from Indian bakeries differ from epok-epok in the use of 'layered' pastry that creates a flaky crust. Other varieties of the epok epok are filled with a half boiled egg instead of chicken. Another alternative is tinned sardines.There are also vegetarian curry puffs that are in fact not spicy and made from shredded radish, tofu, potatoes and grated carrots. They are often eaten with sweet chili sauce. There is also relatively large and nice looking version of curry puff called shell curry puff sold in shopping malls of Isetan and AEON and others in Malaysia.

Manufacturers have developed a version of the curry puff that can be frozen and later reheated by the consumer. These are suitable for the export market and can be produced in volume for shipment to various regions, such as the Middle East, where there is demand. In addition, new fillings have been experimented with, including tuna and black pepper.

In Indian food stalls in Malaysia, it is quite common to find vegetarian curry puffs with potatoes, carrots and onions as fillings.

~Wikipedia~

Sup Kambing (Mutton Soup)

Sup Kambing or Sop Kambing is a mutton soup from Indonesia, commonly found in Indonesian cuisine and Malaysian cuisine. It is prepared with goat meat, tomato, celery, spring onion, ginger, candlenut and lime leaf, its broth is yellowish in colour.



In Malaysia, sup kambing is associated with Muslim Malaysian Indian community and believed to be of Indian origin. In Singapore, the dish is also associated with the Muslim Indian community of the island.

Ingredients

There are many versions of sup kambing recipes, however there are two main groups of sup kambing traditions; the Indonesian version are derived mainly from Arab, and to some extent, Dutch influences, while Malaysian and Singaporean version is often called as sup kambing Mamak which solely derived from Muslim Indian influences. Other main differences are the Malaysian and Singaporean version consists of the chunks of goat meat in yellowish, rather thick and oily broth with rich spices; while in Indonesian version, the goat meat often also includes its bones (ribs or leg bones), has a lighter broth and balanced spices, and it also contains slices of vegetables including tomato, leek, celery, carrot and sometimes potato.

A simple sup kambing recipe uses goat meat, slices of tomato, leek, celery, and ground spices which includes; ginger, pepper, garlic, shallot and salt. However, another elaborate recipes might add more complex spices, which might includes cardamom, cinnamon, candlenut, nutmeg, clove and star anise to add aroma and taste.

~Wikipedia~

Pisang Goreng - Fried Banana

Pisang goreng (fried banana in Indonesian/Malay) is a snack made of banana or plantain, covered in batter or not, being deep fried in hot cooking oil, and is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.



Pisang goreng is most often associated with Indonesia, and indeed the country has the largest variety of pisang goreng recipes. However, this fried banana snack is also considered native to neighbouring countries; particularly Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. 

It is consumed as a snack in the morning and afternoon. In Indonesia and Malaysia, pisang goreng is often sold by street vendors, although some sellers have a storefront from which to sell their wares.

~Wikiepdia~

Melaka develops strategies to protect tourism sector

COVID-19: Melaka develops strategies to protect tourism sector



The state government is developing new strategies to reduce the impact on the tourism sector in Melaka, particularly in the hotel industry, following the cancellation of tourist bookings from China due to the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Chief Minister Adly Zahari said one of the possible initiatives was to focus on the health tourism sector especially among tourists from Indonesia.

He said there were only about 700,000 Indonesian tourists to Melaka including for treatments in private hospital, to date, which could increase to over one million if promotions and attractive packages were offered.

"We have four private hospitals offering health services and they are in high demand among foreign tourists especially at Mahkota Medical Centre, but there is more room available to accommodate the arrival of health tourists in the other three private hospitals.

"We believe that health tourism is the best sub-sector that can be boosted in line with the current situation where health services are needed," he told a press conference after the state executive council meeting here today.

Yesterday, the media reported that the Malaysian Association of Travel and Travel Agents (MATTA) had confirmed the cancellation of about 95,000 hotel bookings in the country as a result of coronavirus outbreaks, citing most of the cancellations were made by visitors from China.

Commenting further, Adly said focus would also be given to attracting domestic tourists to the state especially to increase room bookings or support the hotel industry in Malacca.

He said various programmes or activities could be implemented at the hotel including meetings, conventions and exhibitions including involving government agencies and departments.

"We will also look at large-scale programmes that can be implemented to attract domestic tourists during the COVID-19 outbreak with the cooperation of various parties and take into account the advice of the State Health Department," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Geographér Café

Geographér Café is conveniently located in a conspicuous corner pre-war shophouse right in the heart of Chinatown, Old Malacca. This eatery with its warm ambience reflects the gracious old charm of the seasoned traveller and truly maintains the tradition in a place where East meets West.

Visitors are provided a window with a "Living Museum" as they keep an exciting look-out for the bustling activities that pulse through the many narrow streets nearby, which are lined with shops, houses and buildings, centuries old. 

Within walking distance from Geographer Cafe, history is alive in abundance from Geographer Cafe. The oldest Chinese Temple and Muslim Mosque are located on harmony street, a short stroll away. This beautiful old architecture respond to cultural and spiritual expectations from the glorious past till the present day.



The charm of Malacca is spell-binding and timeless. Its proximity to the riverfront made it the location for settlement and development. 

The Baba Nyonya House situated at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock or formerly known as Heeren Street, is one of the most exquisite, displaying a blend of Dutch and Chinese influences. The Babas were called the Straits Chinese or Peranakans. Their culture is derived from Traditional Chinese with Malay influence. They belong to their own unique community and Malacca is the original birthplace of this clan. Their beautiful homes which contains their heritage structure are located a short distance from Geographer Cafe.

Join us at Geographer Cafe, a city of many historical cultures and delicious local cuisines.

Geographér Café
83, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia
Tel: +60 6 281 6813 Fax: +60 6 2816613
https://geographer.com.my/

Kota Linggi a forgotten place

Kota Linggi a forgotten place


The area around Kota Linggi and the river mouth is a popular fishing spot while the calm and beautiful waters is a tourist draw. — Bernama

Despite its wealth of history which included the Bugis, Dutch and Melaka Malay Sultanate, Kota Linggi, also known as Kota Bukit Supai, now lies neglected and forgotten.

The local community wants the city, built by the Dutch and the Bugis at the mouth of Sungai Linggi in the 1870s, to be revived as a tourism product.

Salmah Harun, who operates a stall selling kuih muih, said previous efforts by the Melaka Museum Corporation and Alor Gajah District Council to promote the area had failed.

Since then, Salmah, 48, together with the local villagers, have taken the initiative to revive the area by starting small food and drinks businesses catering to tourists. There is also a food court which opens at night.


The Stadhuys building in Melaka is a popular tourist attraction. — Filepic

“The biggest problem we face is the location of this place compared to other places such as Bandar Hilir which is in the middle of Melaka City.

“This place is about 50km away, on the border of Melaka and Negri Sembilan, so it is difficult for tourists to come here.

“One solution is for the tour operators to bring in groups of tourists. The villagers are willing to work with them as it is sad to see the town gone quiet, ” she said.

Based on records, Kota Bukit Supai is also known as Kota Belanda, Kota Meriam Patah and Kota Filipina.

It was a strategic location for the Dutch to monitor the movement of their enemies as well as a site to collect the taxes imposed on tin ore brought from Rembau and Linggi.


History and natural beauty makes Kota Bukit Supai a potential tourism product. — Bernama

In the end, however, the city was neglected after the Dutch left Melaka.

Factory supervisor Tham Zhee Meng, 39, who often goes fishing in the area, said the town was a heritage location.

“It has a high historical value and should be promoted as a tourism attraction as Melaka is rich in history, ” the Rembia resident said.

Tham said the area around the river mouth was also a popular fishing spot while the calm and beautiful waters had the potential to draw tourists there.

Fisherman Abu Bakar Md Piah, 57, said the combination of history and natural beauty made Kota Bukit Supai a potential tourism product.


Kota Linggi was built by the Dutch and the Bugis at the mouth of Sungai Linggi in the 1870s. — Bernama

Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari said the state government was looking at rural tourism products like Kota Bukit Supai to attract tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020.

He said local and foreign tourists were already familiar with popular locations in Melaka like the Stadthuys, A’Farmosa Fort, St Paul’s Hill and museums in Bandar Hilir.

“We want to have a variety of tourism products in the state which are not just focused in the Bandar Hilir area, but in rural areas such as Kota Bukit Supai, ” he added. — Bernama

No cases of coronavirus in Melaka, but hotels taking precautionary measures

No cases of coronavirus in Melaka, but hotels taking precautionary measures



Tourists visiting the Stadthuys Building in Melaka. - Filepic

Major hotels here are taking temperatures of foreign guests and hotel workers as part of precautionary measures in the wake of the novel coronavirus.

Frequent disinfection works were also being carried out in hotels, including the rooms, said Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH) Melaka Chapter's honorary secretary Jason Bak.

"For instance, Ramada Plaza Melaka Hotel has made it compulsory for hotel workers to wear face masks, as well as providing masks to guests upon request.

"This was a remedial effort embarked by hotels even though Melaka, as a top tourist destination in the country, has not reported any cases of coronavirus," he said in an interview here on Saturday (Feb 1).

Bak said hotels were also placing hand sanitisers in their washrooms, gyms, kitchens and restaurants.

He said all the managers had been told to maintain high hygiene levels and that failure to do so could lead to disciplinary action being taken against them.

Bak said the hotels were making sure that their managers attend daily meetings on the protocol of dealing with the contagion.

"This is to ensure that the hotel staff, from the managers to the cleaners, are aware of what to do in case they think guests or their colleagues have symptoms of viral infection," he said.

Bak added that hotels in Melaka would continue to ensure the safety of guests and workers by working with the state health authorities.

~The Star~

Melaka's iconic red clock tower continues to draw tourists

Melaka's iconic red clock tower continues to draw tourists



The 134-year-old iconic red clock tower, located at Dutch Square in Stadthuys here, is one of the main tourist draws.

The chief guard of the clock tower, Fadlina Mohni, 43, said as early as 8 am, local and foreign tourists gather around the 50 feet high clock tower, built in 1886, to take pictures for remembrance sake.

“More commonly known as the Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower, it was built about 61 years after the Dutch surrendered Melaka to the British and it is actually not as old as the Dutch colonial administration building Stadthuys which was built in 1650.

“Now a hundred years old, the clock was never allowed to stop because over the years it has been carefully cleaned, serviced and every component tested to ensure it continues to tick for another 134 years or longer,” he told Bernama at the Stadthuys building here.

Fadlina, who is also the Senior Electrical Engineer, Department of Engineering, Historical Melaka City Council (MBMB) said even more interesting is that the clock tower was also a symbol of family love because it was built by a son who wanted to fulfill his father's request.

She said according to history, the clock tower was built by Tan Jiak Kim, a Peranakan Chinese philanthropist who wanted to fulfill the wishes of his late father Tan Beng Swee who dreamed of a clock tower in the heart of Melaka when he was still alive.

“After Tan Beng Swee’s death, the clock tower was built in the Stadthuys building near Queen Victoria’s Fountain, the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum and Christ Church. Each of the four clock faces with a diameter of 34.5 centimetres (cm) featuring Roman numerals were specially imported from England.

“Then in 1982, the four clocks were replaced with ones from Japan's Seiko brand, much to the chagrin of local senior citizens around Melaka who remembered the harsh treatment and sufferings under the Japanese Occupation,” she said.

Fadlina, who oversees the clock tower, also known as the Bandar Hilir Red Clock Tower, has for the past 17 years hoped that the historic clock tower would continue to be maintained and preserved so that the tourism product could be enjoyed by future generations.

Meanwhile, according to Fadlina’s assistant Mohd Suhaimi Idris, 36, an assistant Electrical and Facilities engineer at MBMB, the 24-volt voltage clock is also equipped with a global positioning system (GPS), to provide the accurate time.

“In collaboration with the Melaka Health Department we installed a predatory bird sound system which plays the sound for 45-seconds with one minute long intervals to prevent crows and pigeons from perching and defecating around the clock tower,” he said.

The hourly striking clock tower is among the core zones recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Melaka as one of the states selected to boost Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM 2020).

-- BERNAMA

Tourist events to go on unless WHO advises otherwise

Tourist events to go on unless WHO advises otherwise, says DPM

The Deputy Prime Minister said events on a big scale can proceed as usual despite the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

“We will see how the situation is. If WHO says we are not allowed to have big gatherings then we will issue statements or directives, ” she told a press conference on Wednesday (Jan 29) after visiting the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre here.

She said this when asked if the government intends to restrict Thaipusam celebrations next weekend in Batu Caves, which will be visited by both local and international visitors.

Dr Wan Azizah said the 2019-nCoV virus outbreak is under control and reminded people not to spread false or fake news that can cause uneasiness.

She said 57 hospitals are available for screenings, out of which, 26 have been identified to handle the suspected cases that need further examination and treatment.

Earlier, Dr Wan Azizah held a meeting with several ministries and agencies to discuss the virus situation in the country.

She said among the things agreed in the meeting include enhancing the screening of travellers from China by having a special lane for them.

She also said those with 2019-nCoV symptoms are advised to get themselves checked, especially if they had just returned from China.

Earlier Wednesday, the Health Ministry confirmed three more cases, bringing the total number of such cases to seven.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said two out of the three new cases were from the Patient-Under-Investigation (PUI) group.

Meanwhile, one case was from close contact with infected patients.

All the seven who tested positive are Chinese nationals.

~The Star~

VM2020: 3.2 mln museum visitors expected, 131 events planned

VM2020: 3.2 mln museum visitors expected, 131 events planned



The Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM) is targeting 3.2 million visitors to 22 museums across the country in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020).

Secretary-General of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Datuk Dr Noor Zari Hamat said he was confident that the target could be achieved through the various programmes and activities planned by JMM.

He said the number of visitors to the museums last year increased by 18.2 per cent to 2.7 million from 2.3 million in 2018.

He added that through the exhibitions held, sale of entrance tickets, book sales and space rental throughout 2019, JMM collected RM3.7 million in revenue compared to RM2.6 million in 2018.

“I see museums as a very big product which we can use to attract people of other countries to visit Malaysia. Therefore, with regard to museums, innovations and creativity are very important,” he said after opening ‘The Lost Kingdoms’ and ‘Enchanting Malaysia’ exhibitions, as well as JMM’s Calendar of Events 2020 at Muzium Negara, here, today.

Meanwhile, JMM director-general Datuk Kamarul Baharin A. Kasim, in his speech, said the department had planned 131 programmes as tourism products in line with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.

He said among the programmes were the Paranormal, Snake and Gold exhibitions, besides JMM’s signature programmes, such as ‘Nostalgia Anak Kampung and ‘Denai Malam’.

“All these will give a new life to the era of museums in the country as outlined in the National Policy on Museums 2020.

The ‘Lost Kingdoms’ exhibition runs from last Dec 4 until this April 30 and the ‘Enchanting Malaysia’ exhibition from last Dec 25 to May 23, 2020.

For more information on JMM’s events and programmes, the public can visit www.jmm.gov.my

-- BERNAMA