Yahoo! Selects Penang Amongst the 10 Top Islands to Explore Before You Die

View Yahoo! Top 10 Islands to Explore Before You Die in a larger map

Another proud moment for Penang as we are ranked at #8 amongst the Top 10 Islands to Explore Before You Die published by Yahoo!

Yahoo! travel writer Gary McKechnie is particularly impressed by the fusion of food, local architecture, beach resorts, preserved mangroves, fishing villages, mosque, church and temple especially Kek Lok Si.

Below are the top 10 list of islands.

1. Bali, Indonesia
2. Vieques, Puerto Rico
3. Easter Island, Chile
4. Ischia in the bay of Naples, Italy
5. Chiloe, Chile
6. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
7. Key West, Conch Republic
8. Penang, Malaysia
9. Galapagos, Ecuador
10. Palm Islands, Dubai

Source: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-37926474

Penang vs Malacca: Who Has More Tourists?

Lately there has been some dispute between Penang and Melaka over who has more tourists. Both states received the Unesco World Heritage Site awards in 2008. If we refer to the statistics of hotel guests by state published by the Tourism of Malaysia website, Penang has 5.96mil tourists as compared to Melaka's 3.76mil tourists in year 2009. Interesting to know the top 8 states as below.


1. Kuala Lumpur - 15.74mil
2. Pahang - 9.65mil
3. Penang - 5.96mil
4. Sabah - 5.36mil
5. Sarawak - 3.98mil
6. Kedah - 3.85mil

7. Melaka - 3.76mil
8. Johor - 3.53mil

Reference: http://www.tourism.gov.my

Malacca did not have more tourists, says Penang from The Star Online: Metro: North

No Plastic Bags from 2011 Onwards?

First it was Monday, then Mon-Wed and now it is permanently implemented. Kudos to Penang for being the first state in Malaysia to successfully implement the banning of plastics for all business sectors. So what is your opinion of this move? Have you gotten used to living without plastic bags? Yes it is very inconvenient and troublesome to carry your own bags. What will be the repercussions? More good than bad? Only time can tell.

Read the full article from TheStar

Heavy Rain & Storm to Hit Penang (Flood Warning - Yellow Stage)

Beware fellow Penangites.

Flash floods may occur on Nov 1 & 2 due to heavy rain from monsoon. As a precautionary measure, people are advised to unclogged drains and avoid low-lying areas. People living near riverbanks are also at risk.

Above is the official warning letter from the Meteorological department. 

Read more >>

Penang plans smoking kiosks

Smoking kiosks will be set up around the island once the Health Ministry approves the Penang government’s proposal to make the state smoke-free.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the designated smoking areas, by the roadside or in open air areas, complete with ashtrays and chairs, would be built to accommodate some 20 people.

He said, however, a survey would be conducted before the move was implemented in stages.

Phee said since it was difficult to get people to stop smoking, it would be easier to provide smoking areas for them.

“We respect their right to smoke even though it’s detrimental to health,” he said.

Phee said the smoking and non-smoking areas would be gazetted based on general consensus.

Phee said chances were that the state would emulate Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea to differentiate the smoking and non-smoking zones.

THESTAR

Penang to Implement No Car Zone?

First it was no plastic day, now Penang would be the first to implement the "No Car Zone" area to make a cleaner and greener state whilst promoting a healthier lifestyle. Certain areas of the heritage zone in Georgetown and Esplanade would be off-limits to vehicles on Sunday mornings.

Is it a good move???

Read on>>>

Pappa Rich First Outlet in Penang

Pappa Rich just open its maiden outlet in Penang at E-Gate. Located at the corner lot below the Hair Impression studio, this lot has been abandoned for quite some time, the last tenant being a pub outlet. Pappa Rich specializes in traditional Malaysian delights and is ubiquitous in the Selangor and KL area.

I was there last night to meet a friend and was not surprised at the crowd, this being their 2nd week of opening. Only had a drink and was quite satisfied with the Red Bean Ice priced at RM6.50, not too bad considering the quality of the red beans.

These modern fusion food outlets are getting more popular especially amongst youngsters. Will Pappa Rich still be here in 1 year's time? Yes I think so if they keep maintaining their quality and don't increase their prices. Bye Bye to Hongkie Kopitiam...



Specialties at PappaRich:

Char Koay Teow - Prawn Mee - Nasi Lemak - Dry Koay Teow - Chicken Chop - Chicken Porridge - Ice Kacang - Barley Lime
Website: www.papparich.com.my

1st Avenue Shopping Mall to Open in 3Q2010

1st Avenue, Penang's latest RM300 million shopping mall designed after Singapore's Raffles City, Marina Square and Suntech City, is set to open its doors in the third quarter of 2010.

The city centre retail mall, located in the heart of George Town on Magazine Road is jointly developed by three property and retail heavyweight groups Asian Retail Mall II Limited (ARML II), Belleview Group and Lion Group.

ARML II is the Asian real estate for Pramerica, which is the real estate investment management subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc.

Asiamalls Management (SEA) Pte Ltd employer's representative and CEO Michael Leong said that the mall would house 280 shops on 400,000 sq ft of retail space with seven levels of zoned shopping.

Leong said the upmarket mall was modelled to target mainly the young and chic shoppers.

"80% to 90% of the shops will be the popular brandnames.

"We want to raise the standard of retail malls in Penang via 1st Avenue as tenants would also include Singapore retailers and the mall has also been carefully modelled after other successful malls in Singapore," he added.

The official launch of 1st Avenue and signing of its anchor tenant, Parkson Departmental Store, was witnessed by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Also present were 1st Avenue Mall Sdn Bhd director Datuk Sonny Ho, Pramerica CEO Victoria Shigehira Sharpe and Parkson Corporation Sdn Bhd COO Toh Peng Khoon.

Parkson is taking up 92,000 sq ft of retail space across four levels and the outlet will be Parkson's 36th.

Sharpe said that the collective expertise of Pramerica, Lion Group and Belleview Group will bring a new wave of shopping experience to Penang.

"Malaysia's sound economic fundamentals and strong growth capacity is evident from the Asian Public Real Estate's Association's recent REIT report, which stated that Malaysia's market capitalisation of US$1.43 billion (RM4.9 billion) is behind markets like Japan, which leads, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand.

"We are encouraged by these statistics, which point to a robust growth potential," she added.

As of June 30, Pramerica Asia managed US$6.4 billion of gross assets throughout Asia via ARMF-managed shopping malls in Singapore, namely Tiong Bahru Plaza, Century Square, Hougang Mall, White Sands, Liang Court and Tampines 1. - By Regina William (The Edge Property)

Station 1 Cafe Opening Soon at Queensbay Mall

Station 1 Cafe is opening its 3rd branch in Penang after the success at Komtar Walk and Bukit Mertajam. It is still under renovation and I have no information on the opening date yet. I'm guessing soon before the World Cup as they have released a few Football Frenzy menus. The new outlet would be situated at the Ground Floor just beside an entrance next to TGI Friday's. Their concept is modern, chic-dining with fusion food very popular amongst the younger generation these days.
Website: http://www.station1.com.my

Take a look at their Promotional Menu!

Subway Now Open at Queensbay Mall

Subway recently opened its 4th branch in Penang at Queensbay Mall. When the 1st outlet opened at E-Gate, everyone was hesitant and nobody expected it to be so successful especially as our staple food being rice. But ever since, it has proliferated and other branches soon follow at Gurney Tower and Auto City.

This is an alternative choice which is much more healthier than the hawker food we grew so accustomed to, albeit at a heftier price. Is good that Penangites are starting to eat and live healthier lives, and it reflects on our development progress. I would love to see more sandwich delis opening up and other healthier food alternatives being offered.

Lot No.GF-26 K26A & K26B
Ground Floor Queensbay Mall
Bayan Lepas PP 11900
60 4 6403838
Website: http://www.subway.com

Neway Karaoke Box First Outlet in Penang

Neway Karaoke Box Penang Opening Promotion – Celebrate the 8th outlet of Neway Karaoke in Queensbay Mall, Penang (tentatively on 6th May 2010) with Neway 8uddies Promotion. Just show an “8″ in your identity card and get a 15% discount on head charge. Every subsequent “8″ will be entitled for an additional 5% discount on head charge (up to maximum of 50% discount).  Eg: IC number of 880808-07-5768 will get 15%  + 20% discount.
*Promotion valid from 10/5/2010 – 30/6/2010 at Penang outlet only.


Queensbay Mall
3F-28, 27 & 26, Queensbay Mall, 100 Persiaran Bayan Baru 11900 Bayan Lepas Pulau Pinang
+604.642.9029
customer@newaykb.com.my
Website: www.newaykb.com.my

Rates

LED Chip Maker Creates 1,000 Jobs

THE new Osram light-emitting diodes (LEDs) wafer fabrication facility at the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park will create about 1,000 jobs.

This means that the company will have some 4,000 workers by end of the year.

“Some 15% to 20% of the workforce to be recruited will comprise engineers,” said Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH president and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ruediger Mueller after the launching of the wafer fabrication facility by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed on Tuesday.

“Each year, the new production facility can turn out enough chips to cover an area of 500 sq metres.

“That’s equivalent to the surface area of a wing on a Boeing 747 or two tennis courts.

“And we are not talking about giant chips. We’re talking about structural elements hardly visible to the naked eye. At least eight of our smallest chips fit on the head of a pin!” he added.

Osram manufactures the LED chips with indium-gallium-nitride technology on 4-inch wafers, which serve as the basis for blue and white LEDs.

“Their main fields of application are solid state lighting, LCD backlights, flash for cameras and mobile phones, automotive forward lighting and others which are only emerging today,” he said.

Mueller said the new LED chip production facility would further strengthen Osram’s LED market position.

He said: “Penang’s strategic location enables us to get our products quickly to the market.

“We are the only manufacturer to make LED chips in Asia and Europe.

“This unique advantage gives us a perfect position in terms of quantity, quality, cost and flexibility.”

Register as Voters in Penang at Major Shopping Complexes

There are about 3 million unregistered voter in Malaysia. Register as voter NOW to make your voice counts! Hurry! Don’t miss the boat for the next General Election. Be part of Change Agents for this country! Together we can change the country for better!

Date: May 1st & May 9th
Time: 10.30am-9.30pm
Venue: Major Shopping Malls in Penang (See List below)
Contact Person: Martin 016- 474 1283 <martinlim@bukitbendera.org>
Website: www.simformalaysia.com

Penang Island Venues:

Molested in Public Toilet at Komtar Bus Station

These muggers/molesters have employed new tactics by luring victims using a female accomplice. The victim after seeing another female entering the toilet will feel safer but never will she expect that this is all part of the show. So avoid secluded public toilets and refrain from wearing miniskirts at all cost.

Read on...

Did You Feel It Rock?

Many residents of high-rise buildings in Penang felt the tremors of the 7.7-mag earthquake that hit Sumatra recently. Tsunami warnings were issued but people here were still very laid back. The tsunami that hit Penang 6 years ago was just a once-in-a-lifetime incident, many people would say. Being so close to the ring of fire, I would doubt so. Even when there was a tsunami warning, we're not sure what is the right thing to do. Stay away from the coast, move to the higher ground, stay put? I think the government step in here and provide more awareness and training to its people. Its better to be safe than sorry later. A little instance of pro-activeness could save lives...who knows.

Read on