MAYOR’S MESSAGE | Selamat Datang to KL!
K
uala Lumpur is the 7th most visited city in the world according to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index for 2016. The index that covers a total of 132 of the biggest cities worldwide, shows that Kuala Lumpur received 12.02 million visitors in 2016 as compared to 11.19 million visitors in 2015. That is a 7.4% year-on-year increase in the total number of overnight visitors to the city. The city’s achievement is due to the collective efforts made by all the Kuala Lumpur tourism industry players. As such, I would like to congratulate all those in the industry who have made this possible. However, I must also remind you that we cannot be complacent with this achievement. We must continue with this growth trend and ensure the momentum doesn’t stop. Although we have been ranked as seventh, there is still very much more potential that can be realized in making us the top destination city in the world. I continue to stress the importance of the tourism sector in the city’s economy. Kuala Lumpur garnered USD11.3billion (MYR49.8billion) in visitor spending for the year 2016. Of this sum, 30.8% was for accommodation, 30.7% was for retail shopping and 16% went to food & beverage. The remaining 22.5% went into other services including transportation.
I continue to stress the importance of the tourism sector in the city’s economy. Kuala Lumpur garnered USD11.3billion (MYR49.8billion) in visitor spending for the year 2016
It is important that the tourism sector continues to keep to the high standards of service delivery in order to further improve on our performance thus far. At the end of May I shall look forward to recognizing the best of the industry by presenting the Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2017 to the select few whom will receive the prestigious awards. The distinguished panels of judges have been carrying out the tedious judging process according to their strict criteria to determine the most deserving of winners. I am confident that they will identify the best of the best in the industry for the award. Kuala Lumpur is a truly Asian city that is a melting pot of cultures, religions and people of different races. This is most evident with the umber of festivals and celebrations that are held in the city. In April, the city’s Sikh community will be celebrating Vaisakhi and then at the end of May, the Muslim community will be welcoming the coming of the Holy month of Ramadhan. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Sikh readers a Happy Vaisakhi and all Muslim readers a peaceful and enjoyable fasting month.
Datuk Seri Hj Mhd Amin Nordin Bin Abd Aziz Mayor of Kuala Lumpur
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EDITOR’S NOTE
A
s we move into the second quarter of the year, the momentum of events and happenings in the city continues with equal energy, colour and vigour. The contrasts and diversity of Kuala Lumpur is once again clear through the varied events that are set to take place over the next two
months.
We have cultural diversity through the number of festivals that will be held in the city including the My Vaisakhi Festival that will be staged at the Malaysia Tourism Centre, along Jalan Ampang, on the 29th of April 2017. Organized by the Malaysian Punjabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the open house event will showcase Malaysian Punjabi culture and authentic Punjabi cuisine. Visitors will be treated to a variety of cultural performances and will be served with Punjabi food. Kuala Lumpur will also be hosting a number of international sporting events such as the Standard Chartered KL International Marathon and the KL Tower International Towerthon.
Kuala Lumpur is already known as an international culinary destination due to variety of cuisine and dining options as well as the readily available food at all hours of the day. During the Muslim Holy month of Ramadhan which will begin at the end of May, the city’s food offering increase many fold
Kuala Lumpur is already known as an international culinary destination due to variety of cuisine and dining options as well as the readily available food at all hours of the day. During the Muslim Holy month of Ramadhan which will begin at the end of May, the city’s food offering increase many fold. The various eateries in the city such as restaurants, cafes and hotels will all be providing a number of special deals and promotions for Iftar (breaking of fast). The city’s street food scene to will be intensified with the number of Ramadhan bazaars that will be set up just for this period to cater to the locals and visitors alike who are looking for some seasonal specialties. The newest attraction to open is the Malaysian Cartoon and Comic House at the Perdana Botanical Gardens. After the soft opening on the 1st of April, the gallery of Malaysian cartoonists and comic artists has already had a number of visitors and followers amongst enthusiasts and collectors alike. Another major event on the city’s tourism industry calendar will undeniably be the Gala Dinner and Awards presentation ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2017, which is scheduled to take place on the 23rd of May 2017 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. To be attended by the who’s who of the KL Tourism industry, the gala dinner event will recognize 28 organizations and individuals with the prestigious awards. With so much happening I the city over the months of April and May, it is as always a great time to visit the city.
Khairul Anuar Bin Mhd Juri General Manager Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau
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HELLO KL APR / MAY 17
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FEATURE STORIES
FOOD DESTINATION IN KL
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My Vaisakhi Fest 2017 Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2017
Ramadhan Bazaar In KL Repurposed Old Buildings of Kuala Lumpur
EVENTS IN KL
NEW TOURISM PRODUCT
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Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 KL Tower International Towerthon Challenge 2017
Malaysia Cartoon & Comic House
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KL Accolades Kuala Lumpur Popular Attractions
FRONT COVER : Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2017
EVENTS IN KL
Vaisakhi, also spelled Baisakhi, is the festival that celebrates the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Sikh community, known as the Khalsa, in 1699. It is celebrated annually either on the 13th or 14th of April. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab before it became the Sikh’s most important festival. In Malaysia, the Sikh community will celebrate this festival with equal fanfare and cheer. Like most of the other festivals in Malaysia, it is celebrated with open houses and colourful cultural events that is participated in by all Malaysians of various races and religions.
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EVENTS IN KL
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This year’s Malaysia Vaisakhi Festival also known as My Vaisakhi Fest 2017, will take place at the Malaysia Tourism Centre located along Jalan Ampang. The event is organized by the Malaysian Punjabi Chambers of Commerce and Industries and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism & Culture Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Tourism Malaysia, The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Federal Territories. The event is scheduled to begin around 7.00pm with the arrival of guests and visitors. Then an authentic Punjabi dinner will be served to all guests and visitors to the festival by 9.00pm. The food will continue to be served as the event goes on into the night. There will also be a variety of Sikh and Punjabi cultural performances to keep everyone entertained. Dancers in colourful costumes will perform to the sounds of traditional music played on authentic instruments. Among the list of performers scheduled to take part in the stage content are Punjabi Virsa, Bombay Beat Dancers, Gatka Federation Malaysia, B-Cademy, Malaysian Punjabi Bhangra, Gidda Performance and Modern & Folk Singers.
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FEATURE STORY from left: Mr. Andy Wong Thiam Siew – Head of SI Sales, Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Andrew Lee – CEO of Arch Collection Sdn. Bhd., Dato’ Ibrahim Bin Yusoff (Executive Director – DBKL), Datuk Seri Hj. Mhd Amin Nordin Bin Abd Aziz – Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datin Paduka Chen Mun Kuen – Director, Royal Selangor Marketing Sdn. Bhd., Mr. Manfred Weber – General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Tuan Syed Azhar – CEO of Elang Wah Sdn. Bhd.
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2017
KL Mayor’s Tourism Awards Get Encouraging Response From Industry The third edition of the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards (KLMTA) programme will take place this year. This tri-annual awards programme for the Kuala Lumpur tourism industry was launched in 2011 and the second edition was held in 2014. Over the years, the programme has grown in stature and is becoming a recognizable brand in the city’s tourism industry. The programme is designed to recognize the highest levels of excellence achieved in delivering tourism products and services, as well as outstanding contributions made towards making Kuala Lumpur a preferred international tourist destination. Award recipients will set the benchmark for the industry standards and serve as an inspiration for all industry players to follow. The programme has already reached the judging stage as the nominations for 12 out of the 14 categories closed on the 31st of March. The awards committee met on the 6th of April to finalize the preparations for the upcoming judging process of the shortlisted nominees.
The response from industry players was encouraging with a total of 449 nominations received for all categories and sub-categories. Having undergone a stringent vetting process to ensure that all nominees were in compliance with the statutory licensing and taxation requirements, the final lists were further reduced to shortlists by the panels of judges. The shortlisted nominees will now undergo the tedious judging process that will vary according to each category of award.
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FEATURE STORY
From left: Mr. John Chan, En. Saifuddin Bin Ahmad, Mayor of KL, En. Azlan Hussain.
The panels of judges will take just under a month, from the 7th of April to the 5th of May, to conclude their judging process. The head judges will then tabulate the score-sheets and submit the finalized scores identifying the positions of the nominees in order of highest scoring marks to lowest scoring marks, in a sealed envelope to the audit committee for confirmation of the results. This judging session will make up 95% of the total points awarded to each nominee, while the remaining 5% of the points will be determined by way of a public vote. From the 16th of April to the 5th of May, members of the public will have the opportunity to vote online for their favourite establishment via the official Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards 2017 website (www. klmayortourismawards.com). The points awarded from the public voting are based upon the percentage of votes each nominee gets from the total number of votes cast.
The Meeting was Chaired by the General Manager of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, En. Khairul Anuar Bin Mhd Juri. 12 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
Nominees who receive 25% and above of the total votes cast will get 5 points added to their total judging score. Nominees who receive between 20% and 24% of the total votes cast will get 4 points added to their total judging score. Nominees who receive between 15% and 19% of the total votes cast will get 3 points added to their total judging score. Nominees who receive between 10% and 14% of the total votes cast will get 2 points added to their total judging score, and nominees who receive between 1% and 9% of the total votes cast will get 1 point added to their total judging score. The award recipients will each receive a trophy and certificate, which will be presented at the KLMTA 2017 Gala Dinner and Award Presentation Event to be held on the 23rd of May 2017. Award recipients will also be given the exclusive rights to use the KLMTA 2017 logo in their promotion materials and marketing efforts. Award winners will also be given formal acknowledgement through advertisements in the local media as well as discounts in licensing fees. Platinum award recipients will get a 50% discount on their licensing fees while gold award recipients will get a 25% discount. Winners of the Mayor’s Commendable Award for Front Liners will each receive RM3,000.00 and a sponsored gift together with their trophy and certificate.
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Speaking to the press, the Mayor said that participation in the awards programme was absolutely free of charge and that there were no hidden costs or charges to participate. “I was told that some industry players have queried if there are any hidden costs to participate in the programme. Let me confirm that there are none and that the judges will carry out their judging without bias, fear or favour. Nominees who have been confirmed to receive an award will be invited to attend the Gala Dinner to receive their award without any charge to them”. He said the timing for the awards was appropriate given the global challenges faced by the travel industry. “Global affairs such as regional unrest, economic downturn and the threat of international terrorism have had a negative impact on international travel. As global challenges continue to effect the tourist arrivals to our city, it is more important now that we strive to increase our competitiveness in attracting more tourists to Kuala Lumpur. Elevating the level of excellence in our tourist offering is critical in making Kuala Lumpur a preferred tourist destination,” said the Mayor.
FEATURE STORY
The Mayor then introduced the KLMTA 2017 award partners that included The Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Royal Selangor Marketing Sdn. Bhd., Elang Wah Sdn. Bhd., Arch KL City Gallery and Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. The Shangri-La Hotel will be the official venue partner for the KLMTA 2017 gala dinner and award presentation ceremony. Royal Selangor have entered an agreement with the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau and Kuala Lumpur City Hall to be the official trophy partner for this year’s edition of the awards programme and to continue as the official trophy partner for the next two editions in 2020 and 2023. In his address, the Mayor mentioned that the bespoke trophy design provided for the award recipients by Royal Selangor is to be retained for future editions of this awards programme to create a distinct and recognizable brand.
Elang Wah Sdn. Bhd. the company that runs the Kuala Lumpur Hop-On-HopOff City Tour Bus will be wrapping one of their buses to promote the KLMTA 2017, while Arch KL City Gallery will be providing specially designed and produced frames for the certificates presented to the award recipients. Canon will be the official photographer during the gala dinner event as well as providing printers as prizes for the Mayor’s Commendable Awards for Front Liners. The KLMTA 2017 Gala Dinner & Award Presentation Ceremony event will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur Grand Ballroom and will be attended by the who’s who of the Kuala Lumpur tourism industry. The guests of honour for the evening will be the Minister of Federal Territories, YB Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan Bin Tengku Mansor, and the Minister of Tourism & Culture, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Abdul Aziz. For those interested in attending this high profile industry event, a limited number of tables are offered for sale at RM5,000.00, RM7,500.00 and RM10,000.00. Interested parties may contact the KLMTA 2017 secretariat for table bookings and more information on the event.
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From left: En. Fahmy Mubarak, Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, Mr. Boris Chang.
From Left: Datuk Wan Yaacob Wan Ibrahim, Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, Dato’ Satinah Syed Salleh, Mr. Ramanathan Perianan 15 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
FOOD IN KL
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Ramadhan In Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur’s food scene becomes intensified during the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadhan. It is undoubtedly one of the best times to visit the city for a truly cultural and gastronomic experience.
Muslims observe Ramadan every year during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this time, Muslims practice fasting and abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk. Fasting is intended to educate the Muslim in spirituality, humility and patience. From the end of May to the end of June marks the month of Ramadan this year and the various Ramadhan Bazaara of KL will be filled with festive lights and the hustle and bustle of vendors preparing delicious food for the evening breaking of fast.
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FOOD IN KL
Food traders at the Kg. Bharu Ramadhan Bazaar.
Food traders at the Kg. Bharu Ramadhan Bazaar. 18 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
Bubur Lambuk being pr
repared at the Kg. Bharu Mosque.
Bubur Lambuk being prepared at the Kg. Bharu Mosque. The Kampong Bharu area is one particular place that is a delight to visit during the fasting month. Founded in 1899, Kampong Bharu is the oldest residential area in Kuala Lumpur and is famous for its night bazaars and markets, especially along the streets of Jalan Raja Alang and Jalan Raja Muda Musa. These are just some of the many food street bazaars to visit during the fasting month to savour some traditional Malay foods like the famous bubur lambuk – a porridge with pieces of meat. Also widely available are the selections of “kuihmuih” or sweet desserts made from local ingredients. At the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, Muslims around the world will be celebrating Eid, which is locally known as Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. The celebratory atmosphere is felt and seen by everyone wearing their best or new clothes, and decorating their homes. Men will congregate at the local mosque for special morning prayers on the morning of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri adorning new traditional outfits of batik and pelikat – a chequered patterned cloth. The rest of the day is usually spent visiting relatives and friends to celebrate. This is a great opportunity to visit some open houses around KL. The locals are welcoming and usually would not say no to a visitor to their homes to join in the festivities. Shoppers should also take note that the Ramadhan month is also a great time to look out for sales in retail centres around the city. As locals shop in preparation for the up-coming Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, festive sales are the highlight of shoppers all over the country.
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EVENT IN KL
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Back for the ninth year, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 21 May 2017 at Dataram Merdeka. The marathon, owned and organised by Dirigo Events, will open to 35,000 participants, ranging from elite athletes to first-time distance runners. A truly international event, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon boasts participants from all over Malaysia and over 70 countries. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 continues as Malaysia’s premier running event with top runners competing for a total of USD 125,000 in prize money. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon was awarded the Platinum award in the events category of the Kuala Lumpur Mayor’s Tourism Awards programme in 2014 for bringing tourists to Kuala Lumpur. The award is testimony to the success of the event in drawing participation from an international field. A new pre-registration system was introduced for the 2017 race to acknowledge and thank runners who took part in the 2016 event. This would give previous participants a better chance of ensuring they have a spot in the much sought after event. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon has grown to become the premier running event in Malaysia that draws thousands of local and international runners to the country whilst firmly establishing Malaysia in the global running calendar. The 2017 edition of the race will once again see Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia returning as title sponsor, along with a host of returning and new sponsors. 21 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
Mahendra Gursahani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank said, “It gives us tremendous pride to be the title sponsor of such an iconic event that has come to symbolise the coming together of communities and fostering nation building through sport. We wish all runners the best of luck and we look forward to welcoming them at the race.” Rainer Biemans, Managing Director of Dirigo Events, added “We are delighted to have retained our Title Sponsor Standard Chartered Bank and Gold Sponsor Honda Malaysia, along with our official partners Seiko and Pacific Regency, and we’re very excited to welcome new sponsors Brooks and Lucozade, for apparel and energy drinks respectively, to the SCKLM fold”. Elite runners will be competing to earn a slice of the almost RM500,000 in total that is on offer at the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017,which include bonus prizes for record breaking course times. In last year’s race, Malaysian runner Sheela Samivellu broke the Half Marathon course record with a time of 1’24:44s.
EVENT IN KL
“Sheela made Malaysians proud last year with her record breaking effort. We want to keep raising the competitive level of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon and we hope that records will continue to fall as the quality of the field increases,� said Rainer. In an effort to reduce congestion and make the race more competitive, SCKLM 2017 will continue with a seven hour cut-off time for the Full Marathon with checkpoints at designated areas along the route to ensure runners are within the specified time frames. Runners who don’t make it to the checkpoints within the required times will not be allowed to complete the race and will be transported to the finish line. This is also meant to ensure the safety of runners as the public roads need to be opened to regular traffic at times strictly stipulated by the authorities. Other initiatives to look forward to this year include the Friendship Run and Pasta Party, which will be held on the eve of the race. Only Full Marathon participants are eligible for these events which are intended to foster camaraderie amongst runners from around the world.
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A perennial feature of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon is its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative Run For A Reason that aims to channel funds raised to deserving charities that assist underprivileged communities and those in dire need. This year the participating beneficiaries are the Standard Chartered Foundation, National Cancer Society of Malaysia, Dignity for Children Foundation and Hospis Malaysia. Apart from the Full and Half Marathons, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 will also feature a 10km distance and a 5km Fun Run for social runners, along with Kids’ Dash categories for children under 12 years of age. There will also be several categories like the Corporate Challenge, Media Challenge, Universities Challenge and Ministries Challenge to either raise money for charity as well as provide friendly competition and bragging rights for the eventual winners. A full list of categories and their eligibility details can be found at www.kl-marathon.com. Participating runners can also look forward to a total of 12 running clinics that will be provided by the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017, including 5 Junior running clinics and specialised clinics for those attempting their first Half and first Full Marathons.
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FOOD IN KL
Pulp at APW, Bangsar
Repurposed Old Buildings of Kuala Lumpur Pocket Park at APW, Bangsar 26 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
Pocket Park at APW, Bangsar
Kuala Lumpur is positioned as a city of contrasts and diversity, mainly because of the multiple ethnicities of its population that offers a vast array of cultures, cuisine, traditions, festivals and celebrations. This contrast can also be seen in the landscape where heritage buildings stand beside modern skyscrapers. Be it big buildings or smaller shop lots and houses, this contrast is evident in many areas.
The city has many repurposed spaces where old buildings are transformed into modern contemporary living and working spaces while keeping the main elements of its original architecture. One such place is APW (Art Printing Works) in Bangsar. This printing company was established in 1952 with its original office and factory in Ampang and later relocated its operations to the 70,000 square foot campus it currently occupies since 1965. As one of the city’s most prolific printers throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties, their main campus contained a number of buildings that housed various printing machines, printing materials and storage facilities. As the printing landscape evolved, it was clear that APW did not need the entire area of their campus solely for their printing operations, and so in 2013 the idea to repurpose much of their campus was hatched. The underutilized areas were converted into contemporary creative spaces that include a collaborative workspace, versatile event venues, food & beverage outlets and even pocket parks. A portion of the area is kept as a printing facility, which is operational till today.
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FOOD IN KL
Paper Plates at APW, Bangsar
Art Printing Works
Uppercase at APW, Bangsar
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Uppercase at APW, Bangsar
The facilities available at APW have been cleverly named to keep with the theme of printing and yet offer a nomenclature that is as contemporary as the place itself. The collaborative workspace is known as Uppercase that attracts many from the creative fields and startups that require office facilities and a conducive working environment. More than just a facility, Uppercase is touted as a community space where networking and community activity is encouraged.
APW’s food hall is called Paper Plates and features carefully curated eateries to provide visitors with a unique dining experience. Among its tenants is the critically acclaimed Breakfast Thieves from Melbourne, Agak-Agak that serves a fresh new take on some local favourites, Pulp Café, which is run by the Singaporean coffee boutique Papa Palheta, Case Study Bar – that serves some fresh and reinvigorating cocktails, Proof Pizza that offers wood-fired pizzas, and Kaiju Company, which serves a fusion of Thai and Japanese gastronomic creations. A good place to hang out or even explore the interesting eateries, APW is open 7 days a week from 9am to around 10pm. Although it may be a little off the beaten track, it is easy enough to find and any cab driver in the city will know where Jalan Riong, Bangsar is.
Uppercase at APW, Bangsar
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NEW PRODUCT IN KL
Malaysia Cartoon & Comic House 30 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
Comic fans have another reason to visit Kuala Lumpur with the opening of the Malaysia Cartoon & Comic House located beside the Panggung Anniversary at the Perdana Botanical Gardens. The gallery showcases Malaysian comics and illustrations from the pioneers in the local scene of the 1920s to the boom of the industry in the 1970s and 80s to the contemporary works of present day artists. Packed with over 500 original works from collectors and contributors the gallery chronicles the history and development of the comic and cartoon industry in the country. Among the notable works on display are original drawings from world renowned Malaysian cartoonist Datuk Lat, the late Rejabhad, and Gila-Gila magazine founder Jaafar Taib. The walls of the gallery are packed with original comic book art, editorial cartoon strips, storyboard sketches, studio notes and vintage magazines. The gallery’s curator is Tazidi Yusof, himself a cartoonist who has some of his own work (his contributions to Gila-Gila magazine) on display at the gallery. He said that it took over a year to compile the materials for the gallery and this exercise brought about a lot of support from veteran cartoonists and the current generation of cartoonists and artists. More a work of passion that an entrepreneurial adventure, he mentioned that the artwork on display represents only about 10% of the materials they have in storage and displays can easily be changed from time to time to make every visit to the gallery an interesting one with new materials on display. “The importance of this gallery is to ensure that this part of our heritage is not lost, as comics and cartoons also have a place in our history,” said Tazidi. “For example, a lot of the pre-war works depicted elements of culture and life during that era. Then when the Japanese occupied Malaya, cartoons were used as propaganda tools by the Japanese. This continued during the drive for independence when cartoons were used to instill a sense of nationalism amongst the population”.
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NEW PRODUCT IN KL
En. Tazidi Yusof – Exhibition Manager & Curator
The gallery manager, Azhar Adnan, says that the big idea behind the Malaysia Cartoon & Comic House is to have a public space that is dedicated to the industry. “It is a place where collectors, enthusiasts, budding artists and students can have to get together to gain a better understanding of the developments of the industry,” he said. “The gallery is designed to be a fun and interesting place with a relaxed atmosphere. We want the place to be entertaining and informative for all visitors to the gallery including tourists.” At the end of the gallery, there is a small gift shop that offers souvenirs such as t-shirts, caps and key-chains as well as a selection of comics and books on the subject. The Malaysia Cartoon & Comic House is open to the public daily from 10am to 5pm and closes on public holidays. There is a RM10.00 charge for entrance for adults and RM5.00 for children.
The cover of the first issue of Gila-Gila magazine, which hit the newsstands in April 1978. 32 | HELLO KL APR/ MAY 17
Malaysia Cartoon & Comic House
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EVENT IN KL
The KL Tower International Towerthon Challenge 2017 is an annual event held at the iconic KL Tower, which is currently in its 16th year. Scheduled to take place on Sunday the 14th of May 2017, this year’s race carries the theme of “Let’s Be Victorious”. One of the objectives of this year’s edition is to ride on the hype of the KUALA LUMPUR 2017 (KL2017) 29TH SEA GAMES. This event has participants racing up one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks is both physically and mentally challenging. Beginning at the KL Tower’s open parking area, participants must first run 800 meters up the hill to the tower complex lobby. They will then climb a total of 2,058 steps to the Megaview Banquet Hall, which is located 288 metres above ground level. Standing at 421 metres in height, the KL Tower is the seventh tallest telecommunications tower in the world and the tallest in South East Asia. So, conquering the challenge to complete this extreme race will certainly give every participant bragging rights.
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EVENT IN KL
“Since it was first held in 1998, the best timimg record for the individual Malaysian men so far is 11 minutes 56 seconds and the best timing for individual women is 14 minutes 51 seconds. We welcome all to try their best to beat the current records”, said Mr. Meor Shahril Anuar Ahmad Rathuan, Chief Executive Officer, Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd. “What’s special about this year’s edition is that it is a teaser to promote the KUALA LUMPUR 2017 (KL2017) 29TH SEA GAMES. We will also have an additional category for celebrities, making it a total of 9 categories of competition for this edition.” This year’s competition offers total prizes worth RM48,500.00, with a special additional cash prize of RM2,000.00 for the participant to achieve the Best Timing for the Malaysian Men’s and Malaysian Women’s categories. Participants must be at least 13 years or older to register for the race, the closing date for which is on the 5th of May 2017. While participations fees apply for all runners, those with disabilities may enter the race free of any charges.
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After 16 years of successful organization, this event has become a much looked forward to fixture on the city’s calendar of sporting events by both local and foreign enthusiasts. Those interested to participate may register by calling +603-2020 5448 / +603-2020 5499 or by visiting the KL Tower official website at www.menarakl.com.my.
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KL ACCOLADES
Over the years, Kuala Lumpur has received many accolades for various areas of tourism, from many different international organisations. Here are some of the most recent accolades the city has received.
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