Malaysia Info Guide
for Locals & Visitors

Some 225 Malaysians are among 690 athletes from 38 countries who will compete at Ironman Langkawi 2010 on Feb 27.

Race director Datuk A. Chandrakumanan said the local participation was the the highest in the triathlon's ten year history.

"Previously, only 100 to 150 local athletes sign up for Ironman Langkawi," he said after a sponsorship ceremony here Wednesday.

Chandrakumanan said champions in the Malaysian men's and women's categories will each receive RM1,500.

The 465 foreign competitors come from South Africa, New Zealand, United States, Italy, Argentina, Belgium, Australia, Canada and Asean.

Ironman Langkawi 2009 champions Luke Mackenzie and Belinda Granger of Australia will be defending their respective titles.

The triathlon championship which involves swimming (3.8km), cycling (180km) and running (42.2km) offers prizes totalling USD50,000 (about RM170,500).

Hotels in Langkawi

KUALA LUMPUR  -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is offering six more United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland destinations online where passengers arriving at or departing from Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester can now book their flights at www.malaysiaairlines.com.

Malaysia Airlines senior general manager, Network and Revenue Management, Dr Amin Khan said MAS already served these routes through a code-share with British Midlands (BMI) but previously, these tickets could only be purchased from ticketing offices or travel agents.

"Purchasing and flying are now seamless and hassle-free. We fly to London twice daily while BMI offers many daily flights to these destinations.

"We will soon make available online all the European destinations that we are code sharing currently with KLM," he said in a statement here, Sunday.

Dr Amin said this was also in line with the MAS hub-and-spoke strategy to improve feeder traffic into their trunk routes.

"We expect to generate more than RM10 million annually through the partnership with BMI," he added.

He said MAS offered two daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to London, departing at 10.45 am and 11.55 pm.

BMI connects to Glasgow 27 times weekly, Aberdeen 24 times, Dublin 21 times, Belfast 20 times, Edinburgh 19 times and Manchester 17 times weekly.

KUALA LUMPUR -- The police have given an assurance that security patrols in the coastal areas and islands of Sabah will be intensified as a precautionary measure following a "warden notice" issued by the United States' embassy here that foreign tourists might come under attack by irresponsible elements n the area.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said tight security would always be maintained to ensure that the country was free of all types of threats that could jeopardise national security.

"I have directed the state police chief to intensify patrols along the coast and islands around Sabah especially Semporna, Mabul and Sipadan.

"We will always monitor the situation and take appropriate action, thus the people and tourists are asked to be calm and not to be worried because we are always on alert," he told Bernama when contacted.

LANGKAWI - A new air route from Phuket-Hadyai-Langkawi which started operations today, is expected to propel duty-free Langkawi as a major tourism destination and reduce the travel time from seven hours to one hour.

Honorary Consul of Thailand in Langkawi Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah said through the service, travel time would be reduced from seven hours by road to one hour by air.

He added that previously, tourists from Thailand who wished to come to Langkawi, especially from Phuket, would take a flight to Hadyai and then take a bus from Satun to the jetty to catch a ferry to Langkawi.

It was very time consuming and hectic, so the service provided by Happy Air Tarvelling Phuket-Hadyai-Langkawi, would eliminate the hassle and also cut the travel time so that they can spend more time on the Island, said Shazryl after receiving passengers of the maiden flight which arrived at the Langkawi International Airport with 33 passengers at 11.20am on Saturday, 19 December 2009.

The passengers on the maiden flight included journalists from Thailand headed by Phanga province deputy Governor, Woraproj Rotthasima.

Shazryl said the service would further enhance the cordial relationship between Malaysia and Thailand, especially after the visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Thailand and Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's visit to Malaysia.

He added that 200,000 tourists from Thailand are expected to use the service every year and enjoy the unique attractions in Langkawi like the Langkawi Geopark, Cable car and duty free shopping.

Happy Air Travelling runs three flights a week, namely Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

OPEN SINCE 26 NOVEMBER 2009

The Eagle Rock Cafe Langkawi resides at the ground floor of Awana Porto Malai Resort at Tanjung Mali.

Live bands and D.J.'s present rock musik from 3.00 PM until the wee hours for unlimited dance.

Tel.604 9552181

KUALA LUMPUR -- The wheels of his bicycle races on the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur as cars honk along the congested lanes during peak hour madness.

He navigates through the rough terrains of the city landscape - avoiding the potholes, slowing down for pedestrians and careful to distance himself away from the oncoming traffic.

He takes this route everyday to work, cycling by houses, apartments and skyscrapers, noticeably the iconic Petronas Twin Towers located just a few blocks away from his workplace.

Taking only 10 minutes to reach his building, it was another triumphant morning as he managed to escape the traffic nightmare experienced by others on the road. Wiping off the beads of sweat on his forehead, he locks his bicycle then fixes his tie and suit. Upon entering the office a staff greets, "Good Morning Your Excellency!".