Malaysia Info Guide
for Locals & Visitors

The Transport Ministry has stepped up efforts to attract yacht owners from all over the world to register their vessels in Langkawi.

There are now 130 yachts and 26 yachting entities registered with the Langkawi International Yacht Registry (LIYR), but targets 150 yachts by the end of the year, the ministry's special maritime adviser Datuk Captain Abdul Rahim Abd Aziz said.

"Spearheading the ministry's efforts is secretary-general Datuk Zakaria Bahari. To date, vessels registered with the registry include those from the US, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Italy and Indonesia," he told Business Times in an interview.

LIYR, which is operated by the Marine Department, was launched in October 2003 by the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to help make Malaysia and Langkawi better known to yacht owners throughout the world and promote tourism.

New Phuket airline launches regional flights

PHUKET: A new Phuket-based airline has announced the launch of daily flights between Phuket and Haad Yai along with a new weekend Phuket-Langkawi route.

The newly-launched Happy Air will begin operating flights from Phuket next month with its 34-seat Saab 340A aircraft.

The daily 40-minute Phuket-Haad Yai flights are currently scheduled to depart from Phuket at 9:30am and arrive in Haad Yai at 10:30am. The return journey from Haad Yai is scheduled to depart at 11am. Tickets on this route are priced at 2,500 baht (one way) and 5,000 baht for a round trip.

The 50-minute flights between Phuket and Langkawi are currently scheduled to depart from Phuket at 1pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and to depart from Langkawi at 3pm. Ticket prices for this route are 4,500 baht (single) and 9,000 baht round trip.

However, the airline said the flight schedules may change slightly before operations begin in October.

AirAsia will launch its inaugural Miri-Singapore flight on September 9, 2009.

Schedules for four flights per week, AK 6066 will leave Miri at 8.55 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The return flight, AK 6067, will depart Singapore at 11.15 a.m. on the same days.

AirAsia is presently flying daily direct Kuching–Singapore flights, departing from Kuching at 6.40 pm and a returning from Singapore at 8.45pm.

CHENNAI -- Indian tourists visiting Malaysia will now be able to obtain their visa within 24 hours following the introduction of a new facility to encourage more tourist flow to achieve the Malaysian Tourism Ministry's one million visitors target from India.

"As of tomorrow (Monday), the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi and its two consulates will shorten the time to process visa to one working day. This is our commitment to you (India)," visiting Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen announced in Chennai, during a dialogue with travel operators.

At present, the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi, consulate-general's offices in Chennai and Mumbai take three working days to process visa for Indians travelling to Malaysia.

The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) is scheduled to open for business in October. Located at Kuching Isthmus about 5km from downtown Kuching, the BCCK is the first purpose-built international-class convention centre.

All meeting facilities are located on the same level. The functionally designed centre is able to accommodate 5,000 people at one time in the Grand Hall and 14 meeting rooms.

Other facilities at the centre include a business centre, media room and restaurant. The spacious complex is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to cater for every type of conferences, exhibitions and events.

To celebrate its opening, BCCK is offering attractive packages for events scheduled for the period between September 30 and December 30, 2009.  The offer is open to event organizers in Malaysia and Singapore.

For details, logon to www.bcck.com.my.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 -- RapidKL, the integrated bus and rail public transportation company has included Twitter feed and a SMS alert system to enhance its communication with commuters.

Its communication general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said in a statement Sunday, Twitter users could tweet to @MYrapidKL about disruptions of services, dangerous driving, traffic jams and pilferage.

Through its SMS alert system, commuters would be notified on any major interruptions or delays in LRT and bus services and the public need to register as a member on its website which has been upgraded at www.rapidkl.com.my .

RapidKL had also set up a new helpline at 03-78852585 and extended its operating hours from 7am to 8pm on weekdays and from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.