Thursday, December 16, 2010

Our Speaker: Alex Hunter

Get to know more about our main well-known speaker upon registering to our Social Media Conference!





Alex Hunter is an independent digital ninja, brand consultant, company advisor, and angel investor.

Alex is also a noted public speaker, appearing at events all over the world. You can find out more about Alex’s speaking engagements and availability here.

He has served as an adviser to the Prince of Wales’ Rainforest Trust specifically around the use of social media and engagement to propagate the Trusts’ message.

Alex’s work has been featured in the best-selling book “The Whuffie Factor” by Tara Hunt.

He has been a mentor at the annual SeedCamp venture capital and angel funding event in London and South Africa, helping young companies refine their marketing and branding before pitching to some of the most influential VCs in the tech community.

Previously, Alex served as the global Head of Online Marketing for the Virgin Group.

Before joining the Virgin Group, Alex was based in California at Virgin America, where he used the web to build a grassroots marketing campaign to garner public support for Virgin America’s certification process on a tight schedule and even tighter budget. The campaign was covered by Time magazine, CNN, and CNBC, amongst others. He also oversaw the front-end development of Virgin America’s website which has since won several accolades including ad:tech and Webby Award honors.

Alex currently splits his time between the UK and Northern California and regularly blogs at TripHunter.


This is one of his recorded speech. Give a chance for yourself to meet him face to face by register with us now! Click here to view our brochure.

Branding and Marketing Essentials for Your Web App by Alex Hunter from Carsonified on Vimeo.



You can view delegates' testimony from his blog. His speech during the iStrategy2010 conference gave a major impact to all delegates! Follow his closely through his blog, Linkedin and Twitter account!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

HIGHLIGHT: RM1b Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera launched

PELABURAN Hartanah Bhd (PHB), a subsidiary of Yayasan Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera, today launched a RM1 billion investment fund to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs own properties.

The "Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera" launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is open to Bumiputera entrepreneurs with an initial investment of only RM500.

"Under the Syariah-compliant investment scheme, Bumiputeras will indirectly have an opportunity to own equities in major properties. The unit trust will be sold at RM1 a unit," said PHB managing director and chief executive officer Kamalul Arifin Othman at the launch of the scheme.

He said PHB was collaborating with Maybank to facilitate smooth transaction of the scheme.

"Bumiputera entrepreneurs who are keen to participate in the scheme can go to the 400-odd Maybank branches nationwide to buy the AHB units," he said.

On AHB returns, Kamalul Arifin assured investors that the returns would not be less than six per cent per annum based on the property sector's performance at the Golden Triange area.

He said the PHB would continue to identify business opportunities through acquisition of premier assets and developing properties particularly in the commercial property development sector.

"We are also looking to grow the fund size by another RM500 million by next year," he added.

Established in May 2006, PHB is an investment holding company, which currently owns properties worth in excess of RM1 billion in and around the Klang Valley.

By Bernama


Sedikit sebanyak mengenai Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera:

* Berlandaskan Islam / Shariah
* RM1 unit dan harganya tetap
* Pelaburan minimum RM500 dan tambahan RM100 dan maksima RM200,000
* Jangkaan pulangan tidak kurang 6%
* Jika berminat untuk melabur dalam skim ini boleh kunjungi cawangan Maybank di seluruh Malaysia

Untuk makluman lanjut boleh baca:

* Maybank: Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera (AMB)
* Bernama: PHB Lancar Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera Bersaiz RM1 Bilion
* Berita Harian: Skim AHB beri peluang Bumiputera nikmati kekayaan negara adil, saksama: PM
* Utusan: AHB beri peluang Bumiputera nikmati kekayaan negara: PM







Monday, November 29, 2010

Conference: Digitalize Your Marketing Strategy!

Social Media Marketing - One of the most powerful ways for building brands and marketing products & services in current media landscape. Companies can be ensured of a greater presence and increased popularity of their brand apart from getting an opportunity to promote their services or products to a vast base of potential customers with minimum cost in the quickest possible time. Realizing the importance of social media, we at Toplink-asia has come out with a world-renowned conference: DIGITALIZE YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY!

Our conference Digitalize Your Marketing Strategy! is going to be the most anticipated event of the year! WE are bringing you the Malaysian’s most valuable brands, review their successful stories and provide you hands on tips to manage your online marketing strategy. This is going to be the most dazzling event for everyone who wants to achieve in marketing.

Alex Hunter will be conducting the workshop on the first day and it will be followed by 2 days conference to get exclusive insights from leading brands like Digi, Microsoft, Intel, Jobstreet, Alt Media, Maybank and NSTP and learn from experienced marketing experts how to apply and adapt the lessons from the case studies to your organization. Be sure to grab this opportunity to acquire insights through best practices that will win the hearts of your potential clients!

Who should attend: VPs, Directors and Managers involved in:
  • Digital marketing
  • Online marketing
  • Brand marketing
  • Interactive communication
  • Marketing communication
  • Media planner
  • Corporate communication
  • Public/ Media relations
  • Business development

You can check the brochure online (www.toplink-asia.com) or call for our Johor Bahru Office (+607 226 7352) for more information.

Contact Person: Michelle Lee

Telephone: +607 – 226 7352

Email: michelle.lee@toplink-asia.com

Website: http:// www.toplink-asia.com

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Top Link Conference & Event Management was set-up in Malaysia in 2006 as a world-class business intelligence provider in the Asia Pacific region focusing in Malaysia and China to understand clients’ needs and latest market trends.

Monday, September 27, 2010

25.9.10 - Robe Collection + Pre-convocation photography session

Nothing much to say. Just want to share with all of you this two pictures. Our pre-convocation pictures. Taken after we took our robes. We hired 2 photographers. One of them doing full time. His art work is flawless. I'm totally impressed. He charged RM100 per DVD full with all of our pictures from various angles and stunts, then we shared the DVD with all of us. It was totally worth it. I won't hesitate to hire him as my wedding photographer. Hopefully he won't charge me that expensive. LOL. Nak yang terbaik, tapi harga nak yang murah2 je la pulak kan... hehe... So let us credited this pics to him; Mr. Syahiran Sukardi



Location: Cemerlang Height, Gombak. (Believe me, Gombak is a beautiful place okk. xD)

From Left: Me, Anis, Dayah, Nadirah, Mira and Roha
Two guys at the bottom: Izzi and Mahfuz.




Location: KAED, IIUM (tapi kami semua bukan budak KAED, sekian...)


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

You're amazing Just the way you are

Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day


Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She wont believe me
And its so, its so
Sad to think she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look okay
I say


When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are


Her nails, her nails
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think its so sexy

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day


Oh you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change
If perfect is what you're searching for
Then just stay the same


So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say


When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are




Click here to download...



Sunday, September 19, 2010

Amazing New Designs For The Dollar Bill

Hari ni bukak Yahoo page, aku tertarik dengan article ini. Dollar ReDe$ign Project telah diadakan untuk memberi wajah baru kepada wang kertas Dollar Amerika sekarang. Antara design yang paling menarik dan kreatif adalah Dollar design seperti di bawah ini, Karya Dowling Duncan.

Why a vertical format? "When we researched how notes are used we realized people tend to handle and deal with money vertically rather than horizontally," they note on the Dollar ReDe$ign Project's website. "You tend to hold a wallet or purse vertically when searching for notes. The majority of people hand over notes vertically when making purchases. All machines accept notes vertically. Therefore a vertical note makes more sense."

Although it was creative and very relevant, however, it looks fancy to me. Comel betul rasanya kalau berurusan menggunakan wang yang colourful. hohoho...

Friday, September 17, 2010

Raya pics 2010 @ JB

Some of our Raya pictures this year. In a way, Raya this year was quite meaningful because all families were here on 10th September/1st Syawal. Alhamdulillah...

Our beloved legend: Atuk Isa. 78 years old.

Pak Ngah and family

Pak Cik Sidek and Mak Cik Ana

Pak Long and Mak Long. Tak jumpa gambar family diorang.

Barisan cucu-cucu lelaki atuk Isa.

Budak kecik yang sedang menangis beria2 itu (anak mak cik Zaini) sebenarnya anti-gambar, tapi dipaksa sekeras2nya oleh Ustaz Uzir (berketayap hitam dan berbaju hijau). Kalau Uzir ade baca nie, jangan ambik hati ok. Saje nak buat cerita dalam blog. haha... Kau tengok abang kau pegang Ismad (Anak Mak cik Liza), dia sangat bahagia okk.. ;p

My aunties... The front lines from left are Mak Ngah, Mak Long and my Mom. ;)

My families...

So the grand total are 9 couples of married sons and daughters, and 27 grand children. Alhamdulillah...

Tribute to MaK Cik Ati. Dia tak de dalam gambar di atas sebab sedang 'berjuang' dalam toilet ketika ini. ;p

Click here for more Raya pictures

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Brochure: Continuous Reliability Improvement for Rotating Equipments

Suitable for: Oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, power, automation etc. Tags: rotating equipments, fan, turbine, bearing, compressor, rotor, maintenance, improvement, training, workshop, etc.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Optimization of Rotating Equipment with Continuous Reliability Improvement (CRI) 3-Day Workshop

Emission failures, hydraulic problems and mechanical defects are few common problems found in rotating equipments. The good news is that your issues are not unique and we have found that all those involved will face the common challenges as well.



PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 02, 2010 – KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 18th August 2010 –Top Link Conference & Event Management will be the host for a 3-day workshop titled “Optimization of Rotating Equipment with Continuous Reliability Improvement (CRI)” at Prince Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The Optimization of Rotating Equipment with Continuous Reliability Improvement (CRI)” course aims to communicate and translate Pete’s experience into a practical approach with today’s best practices to reduce your downtime and reactive maintenance.

Anyone can teach theory but there is certainly no substitute for experience as Ralph W “Pete” Peters is a high profile leader with 35 years of experience. He has been serving clients in the maintenance field such as British Petroleum, Nigeria Liquid Natural Gas, UNC-Chapel Hill, Atomic Energy Canada Ltd, Boeing, Ford, and Honda etc. He is an expert in maintenance with a vision that “Maintenance is forever”

You can check the brochure online (www.toplink-asia.com) or call for our Johor Bahru Office (+607 226 7352) for more information.




Person Contact: Ahmad Huzaifah
Telephone: 607 – 226 7352
Email: ahmad.zulkifli@toplink-asia.com

Website:
http://www.toplink-asia.com

Address:
Top Link Conference & Event Management
Suite 13.06, Level 13, Johor Bahru City Square Office Tower,
106 – 108, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Bahru.
Telephone: 607 – 226 7352


--- end ---


Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Ubat Selesema... -___-"

Sekarang tengah slesema. dah nak dekat seminggu. hari tu pegi klinik fatimah, jb. aku beli ubat selesema. erm... erm... tanpa rujuk kepada doktor dahulu. huhu... skali staff kaunter tu bagi aku satu jenis ubat nie. Satu kotak RM10. Ade 10 tablet. Kena makan ubat tersebut 2 kali sehari, selepas makan. Nama ubat tersebut Ezede.


Source: Cropped from medical website.

Seperti yang di describe di atas, satu tablet bersamaan dengan 10mg loratadine. Pas tu aku baca2 lagi, ubat ni berada dalam kategori Antihistamines & Antiallergics. Er... aku bukannye allergy... tapi makan je la. dah habis RM10 kot aku beli ubat nie. Aku makan je la. Tapi memang sangat mangkuk. Dah habis tablet ni aku telan, tak sembuh2 jugak. Dah la mahal. Kalau aku mintak pandangan doktor kang, jadi RM25 lak kang. huhu... lepas aku baca2 kat internet, baru aku tau ubat ni lebih sesuai untuk cure allergies dan gatal2. Agaknye aku kena bagitau awek tu aku dapat flu ni sebab makan ABC sampai perut kembung, baru awek kaunter tu bagi ubat lain yang dia rasa sesuai kot. Rasa marah kat diri sendiri dan awek kat kaunter tu lak. huhu...


Pas tu Mak cik Ita belikan aku ubat yang lain lak. Fedac Tablet. Yang tak tahannye, Mak cik aku beli tablet ni RM1.60 je kat farmasi. Berat bersih per tablet pon macam lagi banyak. 2.5mg triprolidine HCl  dan 60mg pseudoephedrine per tablet. Berbeza dengan Ezete, lepas aku makan 1 tablet fedac, aku rasa sangat pening. Aku makan masa sahur td. Sampai sekarang pon kepala masih rasa sakit. Ngantok dah hilang dah. Walaupon ubat ni pon dalam kategori Antihistamines & Antiallergics, ubat ini jugak jatuh dalam ketegori Cough & Cold Preparations. . So aku harap kali ni aku telah membuat keputusan yang lebih tepat untuk makan ubat nie.... walaupon aku masih lagi slesema skrg. huhu... harap2 akan sembuh tak lama lagi. srooot.... (sound effect menarik hingus masuk ke dalam hildung. xD)


Source: Googled. lalu aku jumpa gambar dari blog awek ini

More info on Fedac

By the way, Selamat Hari Raya everyone. Kali ni tak sempat nak design kad. Lepas ni kena buat benda lain lak. huhu...


Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Preview: You're Beautiful




Details:
  • Title: 미남이시네요 / Minami Shineyo
  • Also known as: He's Beautiful / You're Beautiful
  • Genre: Romance, comedy
  • Episodes: 16
  • Broadcast Network: SBS
  • Broadcast period: 2009-Oct-07 to 2009-Nov-26
  • Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 21:55


Synopsis:

The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL insisted on adding a new singer to the group as the lead vocal, Tae Kyung's voice was hurting. However,the new member, Mi Nam, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu,to stand in for him and pretend that she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn't want to spoil her brother's chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother.

Reasons to watch "You're Beautiful":
  • It's a korean drama! xD
  • Won Best Korean Drama of 2009 awards
  • Won 2009 SBS Drama Awards: Netizen Highest Popularity Award (Jang Geun Suk)
  • UEE [After School] appears as an extended cast! (okay, seriously only having her (Uee) showing up in the drama is already a good reason for me to watch it. My eyes are currently on her! xD)



Since I really wanted you guys to watch this kdrama, I'll share with you it's download page at dramakrn-yab.blogspot.com/
You can also watch it online at mysoju.com.
No subtitle? Don't worry, you can try to search for it in withs2.com! ;>

I am also looking forward to watch her act as the main actor in Birdie Buddy. >.<



Until next time, thank you for reading... ;)


Sunday, July 04, 2010

In the Spotlight: The Launching of MCAT 2010

MEDIA RELEASE:
THE INAUGURAL 1MALAYSIA CONTEMPORARY ART TOURISM UNVEILED
A New Art Wave to Attract High-Yield Tourists by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia


KUALA LUMPUR, 3 JULY 2010 – Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj Mohd Yassin today officially launched the inaugural “1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism 2010” (or MCAT 2010) at Galeria Seri Perdana here.

The MCAT 2010 Festival - a new and innovative tourism product by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia - is a three-month long event that will be held from July to September annually.

The Festival, a brainchild of the Minister of Tourism Dato’ Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, is aimed at attracting high-yield tourists to Malaysia. It is also a bold and innovative initiative to establish Malaysia as a hub for contemporary art in the region.

MCAT 2010 will showcase the most explosive, dynamic and provocative art works by internationally-acclaimed Malaysian artists. It will also feature the Aliya & Farouk Khan collection of local contemporary arts as well as the works of other local artists.

Speaking at the launch, YB Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen said “The 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival (or MCAT 2010) would be the platform for the entry of Malaysia as a serious player in the regional art scene. We hope MCAT 2010 will place Malaysia in good stead as the Beijing Contemporary Art Fair, Dubai Contemporary Art Fair, Vienna Art Fair and Hong Kong Art and Antiques Fair.”
YB Dato’ Sri Ng Yen Yen envisaged the MCAT 2010 festival, a long-term strategy by the Ministry to woo greater high-yield tourists, would churn out more economic spin-offs, in line with her vision of boosting the Malaysian tourism sector’s contributions to the national coffers by 2.1 times or RM115 billion and providing two million job opportunities by 2015.

Sharing the Government’s support for MCAT 2010, YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin, who described the event as an innovative new tourism product, welcomed joint initiatives by the public and private sectors in creating new and creative tourism products.

The 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival, is one such innovative tourism product and I am confident it would further boost the nation’s profile as a top tourist destination and simultaneously contribute towards greater economic growth for our country.

MCAT 2010 also augurs well with the Government’s call for more new, dynamic and innovative strategies to cater to unique and distinctive travelers. In this case, high-yield tourists who prefer the finer things in life; he added.

The main highlights of the festival will be several exhibitions showcasing exciting and vibrant works by some of the best internationally-acclaimed Malaysian artists, both young and established personalities such as Abdul Multhalib Musa, who is regarded as one of Malaysia’s leading contemporary sculptors; Fauzan Omar, Annuar Rashid; abstract expressionist Yusoff Ghani; Eng Hwee Chu; visual artist/writer A Jegadeva; Dhavinder Gill and many more.

Besides Galeria Seri Perdana, local and foreign visitors will have the opportunity to view their works at Starhill Art Gallery, the National Art Gallery, PETRONAS Gallery, Malaysia Tourism Centre (or MaTiC); Folk Art Gallery in Melaka and IMCAS 2010 Danga City Mall in Johor.

During the MCAT 2010 Festival, a series of seminars and talks on Malaysian contemporary art by internationally-acclaimed speakers such as Mika Kuraya from Japan and Russell Storer from Australia will also be held.

The Ministry of Tourism Malaysia has also produced “Tourism Art Trail” – a directory that lists contemporary art galleries as well as events, including those that our visitors can participate.

The directory will highlight public and private galleries, the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Exhibition, seminars and talks on Malaysia’s contemporary art scene.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Prepared by the Corporate Communications Unit, Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.
For further information, please contact T: +603.4043.0462 or email info@motour.gov.my





Tuesday, June 29, 2010

MCAT 2010 Schedule

Exhibition Schedule:

  • Title : Negaraku...
                   'Nationalism & Patriotism' The Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection
  • Date : 3rd July – 30th Sept 2010
  • Venue : Galeria Sri Perdana, Kuala Lumpur


  • Title : Social & Cultural Values in Contemporary Art
  • Date : 15th July – 30th Sept 2010
  • Venue : MaTiC | Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Show


  • Title : Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku...
                   ‘Contemporary Social and Cultural Heritage’
                   The Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection
  • Date : 1st August – 30th Sept 2010
  • Venue : Galeri Seni Rakyat, Melaka



Seminar Schedule:

  • Title : Malaysian Contemporary Art Seminar |
                 A Curatorial Discourse on the Making of an Artwork
  • Date : 8th July – 10th July 2010
  • Venue : 12 Gallery, Kuala Lumpur

  • Title : Malaysian Contemporary Art Seminar |
                 The Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection Seminar
  • Date : 1st – 3rd August 2010
  • Venue : Galeri Seni Rakyat, Melaka


  • Title : Malaysian Contemporary Art Seminar |
  • Date : 18th -19th August 2010
  • Venue : Penang

  • Title : Malaysian Contemporary Art Seminar |
                 The Influence of Mahathirism on Contemporary Art
  • Date : 20th – 24th Sept 2010
  • Venue : MaTiC, Jalan Ampang

  • Title : Malaysian Contemporary Art Seminar |
                 The Aliya & Farouk Khan Collection Seminar
  • Date : 27th – 1st October 2010
  • Venue : IMCAS, Danga City Mall, Johor Bahru





Sunday, June 27, 2010

In the Spotlight: 1MCAT 2010 Press Release

MEDIA RELEASE:
MINISTRY OF TOURISM MALAYSIA UNVEILS NEW ART WAVE
TO ATTRACT HIGH-YIELD TOURISTS




KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2010 - The Minister of Tourism Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen today announced yet another exciting and innovative tourism product, the “1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism 2010” (or MCAT 2010) Festival which aims at targeting more high-yield tourists to come to Malaysia.

MCAT 2010, the brainchild of YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng as an effort to spur the development of the local contemporary art scene, is the first ever Malaysia’s contemporary art event and will be held annually from July to September each year. It will showcase the most explosive, dynamic and provocative art produced by internationally-acclaimed Malaysian-born artists, and hosting of exhibitions as well as seminars nationwide.

For a start, MCAT 2010 is aimed at establishing Malaysia as a reputable destination for art aficionados in the region to enjoy and acquire contemporary art, with museum-quality pieces. It is also hoped to create initiates among owners of art galleries to launch new pieces by young artists that will set the trend for the next few years.

Speaking at a media conference, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng said the Ministry believes that MCAT 2010 will educate, excite and inspire both local and foreign visitors particularly on the beauty and variety of contemporary art.

“We are indeed very glad to introduce MCAT – Malaysia’s first Contemporary Art Tourism Festival. With rising interest and demand for contemporary creative works, I hope that this event will serve as a meeting point for art enthusiasts, gallery owners, artists as well as new generation of collectors from all over the world in forging business alliance, acquiring new contemporary art works, sharing ideas and exchanging information - all under one roof. Of course, to discover and learn about the new contemporary Malaysia.”

“The Ministry of Tourism Malaysia hopes through 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Festival, we will be able to attract more high-yield tourists which is expected to also increase the contribution towards the economic spin-off through new market niche areas in the tourism industry.

“Through this new innovative, tourism industry being among the 12 main National Key Economic Areas (NKEA), we believe the country will be able to achieve the goal as stated in the 10th Malaysia Plan that the industry will contribute RM115 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with two million jobs created by 2015,” added Dato’ Sri Dr Ng.

Local and foreign visitors who enjoy spending time browsing in art galleries, will have the opportunity to view many sculptures and art works, revealed for the first time in Kuala Lumpur at Galeria Seri Perdana, Starhill Art Gallery, National Art Gallery, PETRONAS Gallery, Malaysia Tourism Centre (or MaTiC); Folk Art Gallery in Melaka and IMCAS 2010 Danga City Mall in Johor.

Among the key highlights of the Festival will be a display of Aliya and Farouk Khan’s personal collection as well as several exciting and vibrant works by some of the best internationally-acclaimed Malaysian artists, both young and established ones such as Abdul Multhalib Musa, who is regarded as one of Malaysia’s leading contemporary sculptors; Fauzan Omar; Annuar Rashid; abstract expressionist Yusoff Ghani; Eng Hwee Chu; visual artist/writer A. Jegadeva; Dhavinder Gill and many more.

Other art works that will be showcased include those by Ahmad Zaki Anwar, Hamir Saib, Tan Chin Kuan, Shooshie Sulaiman, Eng Hwee Chu, Umi Baizurah Mahir, Kaw Leong Kang, Anthony Chang, Rajinder Singh, Bayu Utomo, Fauzan Mustapha, Stephen Menon, Ivan Lam and the list goes on. Besides the presence of curators and art collectors during the three-month period, world-renowned speakers such as Mika Kuraya from Japan and Russell Storer from Australia will also be there to conduct the seminars.

The Ministry of Tourism Malaysia is also highlighting the Festival via its “Tourism Art Trail” - a directory that contains a listing of contemporary art galleries, seminars and talks on Malaysia’s contemporary art scene, information on places where tourists can visit as well as events that they can attend or participate.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Prepared by the Corporate Communications Unit, Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.
For further information, please contact T: +603.4043.0462 or email info@motour.gov.my





Press Conference Photo: MCAT 2010




She looks forward on the success of 1MCAT 2010






CREATIVE BUNCH: Dr Ng (standing third right) with local art aficionados after announcing the '1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism 2010' festival



Spot the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism 2010 Exhibition at Petronas Art Gallery and National Art Gallery this July!

Kindly visit www.motour.gov.my for more information



Saturday, June 19, 2010

Karate Kid: I will never say never!

The first Karate Kid was released on 1984. The main actor was Ralph George Macchio and his teacher was Noriyuki "Pat" Morit. The movie was directed by John G. Avildsen and it was a success. This year, director Harald Zwart has attemped to remake the movie and it was outstanding and a very great remake. I think, the tiny thing that might become the issue is that  Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in the first Karate Kid was really trained to practice Karate, compared to Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) which was trained to practice Kung fu. However, the remake will not let you down. 5 star!



Karate Kid (1984)


High school senior Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moves with his mother (Randee Heller) from Newark, New Jersey to Reseda, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Their apartment's handyman is an odd but kindly and humble Okinawan immigrant named Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

Daniel meets Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), a high school cheerleader, but earns the anger of her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), a karate student. Johnny is the best student at the Cobra Kai dojo, where he is taught an unethical, vicious form of martial arts. Daniel knows some karate from books, and from a few months' experience at the YMCA, but is the victim of repeated beatings from Johnny and his friends.

When Miyagi witnesses one of the beatings, he intervenes and defeats all five Cobra Kai with ease. Awed, Daniel asks Miyagi to be his teacher. Miyagi refuses, but agrees to go with Daniel to the Cobra Kai dojo in order to resolve the conflict. They confront the sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), an ex-Special Forces Vietnam Veteran who sneers at the concepts of mercy and restraint. Kreese and Miyagi agree to a match between Johnny and Daniel in two months' time at the "All Valley Karate Tournament", where Cobra Kai students can fight Daniel on equal terms. Miyagi also requests that the bullying stop while Daniel trains. Kreese orders his students to leave Daniel alone, but threatens that if Daniel does not show up for the tournament, the harassment will resume and Miyagi will also become a target.

Miyagi becomes Daniel's teacher and, slowly, a surrogate father figure. He begins Daniel's training by having him perform laborious chores such as waxing cars, sanding a wooden floor, painting a fence, and refinishing Miyagi's house. Each chore is accompanied with a specific movement, such as clockwise/counter-clockwise hand motions. Daniel eventually feels frustrated, believing he has learned nothing of karate. When he expresses his frustration, Miyagi reveals that Daniel has been learning defensive blocks through muscle memory learned by performing the chores.

As Daniel's training continues "in the open," his bond with Miyagi becomes closer. He learns that Miyagi lost his wife and son in childbirth at Manzanar internment camp while he was serving overseas with the United States Army during World War II. The loss of his family and Daniel's loss of his father further strengthens the father-son surrogacy. Daniel also discovers that the outwardly peaceful and serene Miyagi was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for heroism against German forces in Europe.

Through the teaching, Daniel learns not only karate but also important life lessons such as the importance of balance, reflected by the belief that martial arts training is as much about training the spirit as the body. Daniel applies the life lessons that Miyagi has taught him to strengthen his relationship with Ali.

At the tournament, Daniel surprises everyone by reaching the semi-finals. Johnny advances to the finals, scoring three unanswered points against a highly skilled opponent. Kreese instructs Bobby Brown, one of his more compassionate students and the least vicious of Daniel's tormentors, to disable Daniel with an illegal attack to the knee. Bobby reluctantly does so, injuring Daniel but getting disqualified in the process. With Daniel unable to continue, Miyagi assures him he has already proven himself. Despondent, Daniel believes that if he does not continue, his tormentors will have gotten the best of him. He persuades Miyagi to use a pain suppression technique to allow him to finish the tournament. As Johnny is about to be declared the winner by default, Daniel hobbles into the ring.

Kreese directs Johnny to repeat unethical moves to achieve victory. Despite the moves, Daniel gets up each time. Ultimately Daniel and Johnny are tied. Daniel, barely able to stand, assumes the "Crane Kick" stance and delivers a blow to Johnny's chin, winning the tournament. Johnny, having gained newfound respect for his adversary, takes Daniel's trophy from the Master of Ceremonies and presents it to Daniel himself. Miyagi looks on proudly as Daniel celebrates his victory.



Karate Kid (2010)

12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mother (Taraji P. Henson) arrive in  Beijing from Detroit to start a new life. Dre develops a crush on a young violinist, Mei Ying, who reciprocates his attention, but Mei Ying's classmate Cheng, a kung fu prodigy whose family is close to Mei Ying's, attempts to keep them apart by beating Dre, and later harassing and humiliating him in and around school. During a particularly brutal beating by Cheng and his friends, the kindly maintenance man of Dre's building, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), comes to Dre's aid, revealing himself as a kung fu master who adeptly dispatches Dre's tormentors.

After Han mends Dre's injuries using fire cupping, they go to Cheng's teacher, Master Li, to attempt to make peace, but the brutal Li, who teaches his students to show no mercy to their enemies, challenges Dre to a fight with Cheng. When Han declines, Li threatens him, saying that they will not be allowed to leave his school unless either Dre or Han himself fights. Han acquiesces, but insists the fight take place at an upcoming "Open Kung-fu Tournament"(LOL!), and that Li's students leave Dre alone until the tournament. The amused Li agrees.

Han begins training Dre, but Dre is frustrated that Han merely has Dre spend hours taking off his jacket, hanging it up, dropping it, and then putting it back on again. After days of this, Dre refuses to continue, until Han explains to him that the repetitive arm movements in question were Han's method of teaching Dre defensive block and strike techniques, which Dre is now able to display instinctively when prompted by Han's mock attacks. Han emphasizes that the movements Dre is learning apply to life in general, and that serenity and maturity, not punches and power, are the true keys to mastering the martial arts. During one lesson in the Wudang Mountains, Dre notices a female kung fu practitioner copying the movements of a cobra before her, but Han informs him that it was the cobra that was imitating the woman, as in a mirror reflection. Dre wants Han to teach him this technique, which includes linking Han's hand and feet to Dre's via bamboo shafts while practicing their forms, but Dre's subsequent attempt to use this reflection technique on his mother is unsuccessful.

As Dre's friendship with Mei Ying continues, she agrees to attend Dre's tournament, and does Dre her upcoming recital. After sharing a kiss at an outdoor festival, Dre persuades Mei Ying to cut school for a day of fun, but when she is nearly late for her violin recital, which has been rescheduled for that day, Mei tells him that her parents have deemed him a bad influence, and forbid her from spending any more time with him.

When Dre finds Han drunk and despondent, he learns that it is the anniversary of his wife and son's deaths, which occurred years ago when he lost control of his car while arguing with his wife. Dre reminds Han that one of his lessons was in perseverance, and that Han needs to heal from his loss, and tries to help him do so. Han then assists Dre in writing a note of apology to Mei Ying's father, who, impressed, allows Mei to attend the tournament.

At the tournament, the underconfident Dre is slow to achieve parity with his opponents, but soon begins to best them, and advances to the semifinals, as does Cheng, who violently finishes off his opponents. Dre eventually comes up against Master Li's students, in particular a classmate of Cheng who is instructed by Master Li to break Dre's leg. When his student insists that he can beat Dre, Master Li sternly tells him that he doesn't want him beaten, but broken. During the match, Li's student delivers a devastating kick to Dre's leg, along with a series of brutal follow-up punches. Although Li's student is disqualified for his illegal strikes, Dre is incapacitated, which means Cheng will win by default.

Despite Han's insistence that he has earned respect for his performance in the tournament, and that he needs to learn when to walk away from a fight, Dre convinces Han to use his fire cupping technique to mend his leg, in order to see the tournament to the end. Dre returns to the arena, where he confronts Cheng. Dre delivers impressive blows, but Cheng counters with a debilitating strike to Dre's already injured leg. Dre struggles to get up, and adopts the one-legged form he first learned from the woman on the mountain, attempting to use the reflection technique to manipulate Cheng's movements. Cheng charges Dre, but Dre flips, and catches Cheng with a kick to his head, winning the tournament, along with the respect of Cheng and his classmates, both for himself and Mr.Han.


Reasons to watch Karate Kid 2010:

  1. Jaden Smith acts very well. He inherited his father's style.
  2. If one of the objective of the movie is to promote the beautiful culture of China, then it was a great success! I wish malay movies are creative and good like this one.
  3. Dre Parker moves to China to learn kung fu is more realistic compared Daniel who move to California and ended up learning Karate! (Karate is originated from Japan) xD
  4. This is a great movie remake. The director keeps the story line the same, but he successfully remakes the content of the movie.

Click here for Karate Kid OST Justin Bieber - Never Say Never ft. Jaden Smith.mp3 download
Click Here for Karate Kid OST Justin Bieber - Never Say Never ft. Jaden Smith.mp4 download


Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Colours of 1Malaysia 2010

5:00 pm : Pre-show






8.00 pm : Arrivals of Respected VIPs





9.00 pm : Main Performance










The main highlight was the Colours of 1Malaysia Dikir Barat. 5,500 participants were involved to make it a success. A performance that was acknowledged by the Malaysia Book Of Record as the show with the largest number of participants. This was during the practice session. 20th May 2010, PWTC.



This was during the actual event. I'll definitely going to get the full version of this performance from RTM. Thanks to
eyriqazz for being able to capture this although it was short.



News coverage. Credit to The Star.



P/S: Dah ter jatuh cinta dengan lagu citrawarna 1Malaysia ni. Pak Ngah memang penulis lirik melayu yang hebat. Tak dapat dinafikan lagi.



Dapat gak bergambar dengan Dato' Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen sebelum beliau berangkat pulang. huhu..

Kindly visit Ministry of Tourism's official website for more Colours of Malaysia pictures!


Errmm... By the way, another part of Co1M rehearsal. Very nice!