Malaysian Hospitality

MH is Malaysian Hospitality. Two letters now stand for something more. Our Belief : To treat you as a guest in our own home. This is after all, how Malaysians have raised: Guests first. Welcome to MH, the Malaysian way of hospitality.

Chingay - A Balancing Act

With a deft lift of foot, a flag pole 'flies' high into the air and lands neatly on the forehead of a waiting member of the troupe, who tilt his head back and stretches his arms out for balance. Moving back and forth, he keeps the pole standing erect for several minutes while the crowd cheers. All eyes are on the pole: a sturdy contraption made from joining several bamboo stick. Tied to this is a large triangular flag made from a soft, gauze fabric that flutters in the breeze. The flag is that of the state of Penang and the spectacle in question is Chingay, a unique street performance that has been integral part of the island state's cultural identity for generations. The Penang Chingay association celebrates it's 109 anniversary this year.

A must during Chinese New Year Chingay can also be viewed during other Chinese festivals, special occasions and state functions. A typical performance involves 15 members- of all ages and cultural background - who use two poles to entertain crowds. The poles measure between 7.6 meters and 9.8 meters, and when attached with the flag and balanced in the air, could weigh up to 27kgs each! Yet, watching the troupe toss them around with effortless dexterity, one would think that they are mere featherweights, especially when a member as young as 10 appears to make light work of it. But if you take a close look at the faces of the players, you realize how much effort goes into even the simples action.

With their colorful flags and outfits, acrobatic displays and accompanying traditional Chinese music, every Chin gay procession is inevitably a feast for the eyes and ears. No matter how many times one watches the troupes perform, their balancing acts never fail to impress.

KL Tower

There's More Here Than Meets The Eye

When you want to find the best of anything it's usually where the heart is. When it comes to Kuala Lumpur, then that special something is Menara KL. Here, you get to discover the true nature of what make this city, this country, special.
Besides the best view of the city, come and see live shows that showcase Malaysia's fascinating cultural heritage. Scream with delight at our exciting events. Satisfy your cravings when you "makan" our wide selection of mouthwatering local and international cuisine.
Explore the Bukit Nanas Forest Recreational Reserve that will reveal to visitors Malaysia's vibrant flora and fauna and charismatic wildlife. You'll even discover our oldest resident, the 106- year old Jelutong tree and how prized it is.
But with more to see than can be said, why not come to Menara KL and experience it for yourself? Because you haven't seen Malaysia until you've been to Menara KL

Music Fest

Celebrate the wonderful beats in Malaysia at Penang World Music Festival. This fest of traditional and ethnic sounds features performance by 15 Malaysian and international bands on 2-5 May 2008 at Botanical Gardens in Penang.

Formula One Circuit action

World class drivers, blazing machines and a screaming crowd. It's all happening at the Sepang International Circuit the 10th edition of the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix. Join thousand of spectators on 4 - 6 April 2008 at Sepang International Circuit KLIA Selangor as they witness one of the country's biggest racing events involving some of the biggest names in Formula One Racing

Batik

Batik by cap (pronounced "chop") or blok (block) is a rapidly vanishing craft. It is produced entirely by hand in small family-owned "factories" in the state of Terengganu on the east coast of Malaysia.
Both the rapid industrialization of the 90s and economic crisis at the end of that decade have contributed to the decline in batik production. Silk-screen printing of batik motifs is faster and cheaper and it is considered more progressive.

Batik is a resist process employing wax and dye. The cap (pronounced "chop") method uses copper or zinc blocks dipped in melted wax and stamped onto two-meter lengths of white cotton. The cloth is repeatedly dyed and stampled with wax until the finishing step when the wax is boiled out of the cloth. It is hung to dry on a clothesline and then folded for sale.

Malaysia At Glance

Malaysia is a cultural melting pot. Here, you will find an interesting mix of Malays, Chinese,Indians, Peranakans, Europeans, aborigines and others whose culture, religion, language and socio-cultural activities make up the country’s unique character.
Any time of the year is fine to enjoy tropical Malaysia. However, take note that rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year. It is heaviest from November to February, especially on the east coast of West Malaysia.
Main international gateway: Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Other key international gateways: Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Malaysia has a modern transportation system with world-class airports, shipping ports, well-linked rail system with excellent roads and highways

Putrajaya

Intelligent Garden City

Putrajaya, a Federal Territory and the administrative hub of the Federal Government, is the pride of the nation. It is the country’s first “Intelligent Garden City” that epitomises the government’s vision of Malaysia in the 21st Century. Its architectural excellence and superb infrastructure is the finest showcase of Malaysia’s achievements and capabilities. Just 25km from Kuala Lumpur and carved out of former oil palm plantation land, the city sprawls over 4,900 hectares. It provide a conducive environment for quality urban living and the pursuit of economic activities. Build to house all Federal Government ministries and departments in a nucleus, Putrajaya has been developed as an intelligent city that utilises the latest in multimedia technology, broadband facilities and modern communication facilities. Basically, the city is divided into the Core Area and Peripheral Area. The Core Area comprises five precincts with mixed developments, all linked by a 4.2km long boulevard. The Peripheral area consist of 15 precincts of which 12 have been earmarked for residential purposes while the rest is maintained as a green area with lush garden, parks, lakes and even a wetland. These have now become among the city’s foremost tourism attractions.