buletin - Kementerian Pelancongan
Transcription
buletin - Kementerian Pelancongan
K E M E N T E R I A N APRIL- JUNE 2015 BULETIN P E L A N C O N G A N DA N K E B U DAYA A N M A L AY S I A ISSN 2289-6945 9 772289 694003 www.motac.gov.my mymotac MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURE MALAYSIA DARI IPAD KSU… Malaysia merupakan sebuah negara yang mempunyai pelbagai daya tarikan dan warisan yang patut disyukuri oleh rakyatnya dan dihayati oleh pelancong. Pelaksanaan kempen Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 atau MyFEST 2015 berfokus untuk mempromosi kepelbagaian kaum dan budaya, destinasi membeli-belah serba mewah yang berpatutan serta keindahan flora dan fauna di Malaysia sebagai produk yang menjadi tarikan utama pelancong asing. Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia (MOTAC) sentiasa berusaha menonjolkan keunikan Malaysia bagi menarik lebih ramai pelancong asing datang ke Malaysia. Usaha ini boleh dimantapkan melalui agensi-agensi yang mempunyai kepakaran dalam bidang masing-masing serta dengan sokongan padu dan tidak berbelah bagi daripada pihak swasta dan organisasi bukan Kerajaan (NGO). Sehubungan ini, pendekatan Strategi Lautan Biru Kebangsaan (NBOS) sering diguna pakai oleh MOTAC dalam melaksanakan program dan aktivitinya. Melalui kaedah ini, keterlibatan oleh NGO dan juga rakyat dalam acara-acara anjuran MOTAC dapat ditingkatkan sekali gus menyemai rasa tanggungjawab kepada pembangunan industri pelancongan dan kebudayaan negara. Selain itu, kempen pelancongan domestik yang baru dilancarkan “Dekat Je” merupakan satu lagi inisiatif oleh MOTAC melalui Tourism Malaysia bagi menggalakkan lebih ramai rakyat Malaysia melancong ke tempat-tempat menarik di Malaysia dan memupuk budaya untuk merancang percutian mereka. Kempen ini diharap akan dapat memberi pemahaman serta dimensi baru bahawa mereka tidak perlu pergi jauh untuk menikmati percutian yang hebat selain mengingatkan mereka bahawa melancong juga dapat membantu merapatkan hubungan kekeluargaan dan sesama rakan. Tambahan pula dengan kadar penggunaan laman media sosial yang tinggi di negara ini, secara tidak langsung rakyat juga dapat membantu mempromosi tarikan pelancongan Malaysia kepada dunia. Kejayaan pencapaian sasaran bagi ekonomi negara, terutama dalam bidang pelancongan dan kebudayaan, merupakan hasil perkongsian pintar (smart partnership) dengan pihak swasta dan NGO dan seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Terima kasih di atas sokongan anda dan semoga kerjasama ini berterusan pada masa akan datang. MALAYSIA YEAR CELEBRATIONS OF FESTIVALS 2015 – ENDLESS TAN SRI DR. ONG HONG PENG Editorial PENERBIT Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia PENASIHAT YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng Ketua Setiausaha, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia KETUA EDITOR Dr. Amerjit Singh a/l S. Bhag Singh Ketua Komunikasi Korporat, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia EDITOR Izaitul Farah Ibrahim Pegawai Perhubungan Awam, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia PENGARANG/FOTO Unit Komunikasi Korporat, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia Unit Editorial, Bahagian Komunikasi dan Publisiti, Tourism Malaysia Bahagian Sokongan Pemasaran, Tourism Malaysia Sekretariat Tahun Melawat Malaysia, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia Kandungan 3 Malaysia Receives 6.5 Millions Tourist 4 Sky Ride Putrajaya 5 Superpass Discount Booklet 6 Hari Terbuka NBOS 2015 7 Festival Homestay Selangor 2015 8 Iftar KL 9 Pameran ASEAN 2015 10 Magic of Night 2015 11 Malaysia Water Festival Labuan 2015 12 PM urges private sector to support Go ASEAN 13 Children can now play at being Tour Agents 14 New Chairman for tourism Malaysia 15 Festival Nasi Ambeng 2015 16 Vaisakhi The Celebration of Harvest 17 My Fest 2015 Maybank Prepaid Visa Card 18 Mid Year Shopping Carnival Begins 19 Read for 3 Minutes DIEDARKAN OLEH Unit Komunikasi Korporat, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia Buletin 1MOTAC mengalu-alukan sebarang cadangan serta sumbangan artikel mengenai aktiviti Kementerian serta agensi di bawahnya. Artikel hendaklah dihantar kepada : EDITOR Buletin 1MOTAC, Unit Komunikasi Korporat, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia Tingkat 15, No. 2, Menara 1, Jalan P5/6, Presint 5, 62200 Putrajaya Telefon : 03.8000.8000 Emel : info@motac.gov.my 6.5 Million Tourists In The 1st Quarter 2015 Malaysia recorded a total of 6,482,696 tourist arrivals from January to March 2015, indicating a decrease of 8.6% compared to the same period during Visit Malaysia Year 2014. Nevertheless, it represented a slight increase of 0.5% if compared to the same period of 2013, which was a regular year (no special campaign). The top 10 tourist generating markets to Malaysia for the first quarter of 2015 were : Country Arrivals Singapore 3,241,651 Indonesia 671,211 China 379,265 Thailand 311,064 Brunei 305,899 India 177,196 The Philippines 138,803 Japan 125,339 South Korea 121,178 Australia 121,037 Besides that, the sudden interest of many countries in the region to draw each other’s tourists resulted in greater choices for Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, and Singaporean tourists. Japan too had joined the league to draw tourists from these markets by liberalising its visa regime and carrying out greater promotional efforts. The popularity of Japan and Korea for ASEAN tourists has grown substantially. The medium-haul markets contributed 18.9% or 1,223,480 tourists to Malaysia’s total arrivals from January to March 2015. Countries that registered positive growth were South Korea (+11.2%) and India (+2.5%). This growth can be attributed to some positive developments in accessibility from the markets. A total of 54 special flights were launched by Eastar Jet Airlines and Asiana Airlines to connect Incheon/Kota Kinabalu and Busan/Kota Kinabalu from December 2014 to March 2015. Besides that, for the Indian market, AirAsia introduced a daily flight from Hyderabad to Kuala Lumpur with promotional fares from as low as RS4,999 (RM290), beginning 8 December 2014. Several countries recorded a drop in tourist arrivals, namely Taiwan (-1.6%), Iran (-10%), Saudi Arabia (-12.5%), New Zealand (-16.2%), Japan (-16.4%), United Arab Emirates (-22.6%), Australia (-22.7%), China (-27.1%) and Kuwait (-45%). During the same period, the ASEAN region continued to be the largest contributor of tourist arrivals with 73.5% share (4,766,520) of Malaysia’s total arrivals. Among ASEAN countries, arrivals from Brunei and Cambodia registered an increase of 3.3% and 0.8% respectively, compared to same period a year ago. Additional flights offered by Malaysia Airlines from Bandar Seri Begawan to several main cities in Malaysia through Kuala Lumpur contributed to the growth demand from Brunei. Tourist arrivals from Indonesia registered a decline of 0.8%, followed by the Philippines (-4.2%), Myanmar (-4.3%), Thailand (-6.6%), Singapore (-8.6%), Vietnam (-16.3%) and Laos (-49.7%). The poor performance can be attributed to several reasons. The air tragedies of 2014 affecting travel decisions for holiday was only realised during the winter travel season. In addition, arrivals from Malaysia’s immediate neighbours, i.e. Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia, by road were severely affected by the floods that affected some parts of Malaysia. Economic uncertainty in Australia discouraged their people from travelling overseas, while less Japanese travelled overseas due to the depreciation in the value of Yen. A total of 491,099 tourists or 7.6% of Malaysia’s total arrivals were contributed by the long-haul markets during the first quarter of 2015. The only market that registered positive growth was Spain (7.3%). This was due to some new promotion initiatives and the improved accessibility between Spain and Malaysia by Turkish Airlines contributed to greater interest which triggered this growth. The air tragedies in 2014 affected the decision of travellers from winter travel season markets. Countries that registered a decline in arrivals were the Netherlands (-13%), Russia (-16.9%), Sweden (-19.6%), Italy (-3.2%), Germany (-6.8%), France (-11%), the United Kingdom (-12.1%), the United States (-13%), South Africa (-13.7%), Canada (-16.6%), and Kazakhstan (-18%). Note: Data on tourist arrivals is supplied by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Buletin 1MOTAC | 3 FACTS AND FIGURES Malaysia Receives WHAT’S NEW SKY RIDE PUTRAJAYA Yet another impressive attraction was launched in Putrajaya, showing the full commitment by Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) together with local authority, Putrajaya Corporation and Marina Putrajaya, to ensure the nation’s capital continue to grow its momentum in the tourism sector. Sky Ride Festivals Park, officiated by the Minister of MOTAC, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz on 29 April 2015, was a five-year project that consists of Sky Rides Balloon, SkyWarrior Rainforest Challenge with water-themed obstacle courses, SkyKids amusement centre for children, SkyCruise for lakeside sailing and SkyTaste and SkyCafe for dining, among other things. The park's main attraction would be the Sky Rides Balloon, touted as Malaysia's first and largest tethered balloon ride, which will lift visitors to a height of 120m, offering an unprecedented view of Putrajaya and its surrounding areas. It can accommodate a total of 30 passengers per ride. YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri said that the theme park lives up to MyFEST 2015’s campaign theme of “Endless Celebrations”; with its year-round attractions that promise family fun, feasts and festivities. “Other than branding Putrajaya as a heritage destination and Islamic travel destination, we further foresee the potential of Putrajaya to take on the role of a family destination. Additionally, its eco-friendly development is in symbiosis with Putrajaya’s intelligent green city concept, while fulfilling the socio-economic and recreational needs of Putrajaya’s residents, workers and visitors, ” he added. The Sky Rides Festivals Park is targeted to attract approximately 2 million tourists to Putrajaya this year. This will be a significant increase from the previous years’ statistics of 1.85 million tourists to Putrajaya in 2013 and 1.83 million in 2012. Entry to Skyrides Festivals Park is free. Only the rides and food are chargeable. Sky Rides Balloon Category MyKad Non-MyKad Adult RM38 RM68 Child RM30 RM60 SkyWarrior Rainforest Challenge SkyKids 4 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia RM10 with unlimited tries RM10 per child SUPERPASS DISCOUNT BOOKLET With the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 picking up momentum, the Superpass Travel Guide Cum Discount Booklet which aims to drive tourism consumption, was launched on 22 April 2015 by YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng, Secretary General, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. The launch of the discount booklet was also timely with the recent implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 1 April 2015. Malaysians are now more price-conscious and the variety of discounts offered may influence purchase decisions on where to dine, shop and play; while indirectly promoting domestic tourism. The handy pocket-sized booklet uses a two-pronged strategy to promote Malaysia’s exciting offerings and attractions. The first is destination highlights with short and succinct highlights of Kuala Lumpur’s top ten attractions, nightlife, restaurants and shopping malls. Then there are also attractive discount coupons offering over RM3500 in savings on dining, shopping, entertainment, spa and beauty services, recreation, tours and travel packages within Kuala Lumpur and beyond, prepaid SIM card and more. Travel comparison website www.wego.com which recently listed its 2015 travel trends indicate that Malaysians favoured Kuala Lumpur, followed by Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Kuching in their domestic holiday searches. YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong said that the succesful launch of the Superpass Travel Guide Cum Discount Booklet marks another step forward in our initiatives to create momentum within the tourism industry. “Merchants will benefit from the increased exposure and market reach while tourists will be able to enjoy the best of Malaysia for less, and with the savings, be able to extend their holidays for longer duration,” he added. For example, families going for local getaways will appreciate the discount coupons offered by tourist hotspots such as Zoo Negara, Aquaria KLCC and promotions for eco-tourism packages in Langkawi, Perak and even island escapades in Sabah. There are also interesting snippets on free guided tours in Kuala Lumpur, such as the Dataran Merdeka Heritage Guided Tour and the FREE Little India Walking Guided Tour. Overseas visitors will also greatly benefit from the Superpass Travel Guide Cum Discount Booklet as it will help them to plan their holiday better even before arriving in Malaysia. MyFEST 2015’s website at http://myfest2015.com.my/aboutmyfest-2015/strategic-partnerships/super-pass provides a link for travellers to purchase the discount booklet online with over 30% discount. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the discount booklet can be collected at designated counters in the airport or selected cities and towns. Buletin 1MOTAC | 5 EVENT HARI TERBUKA NBOS 2015 Jabatan Perdana Menteri dengan kerjasama pelbagai Kementerian dan Agensi telah menganjurkan Hari Terbuka Strategi Lautan Biru Kebangsaan (NBOS) 2015 pada 23 hingga 24 Mei 2015 bertempat di Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Kuala Lumpur. Program ini telah dirasmikan oleh Perdana Menteri, YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Razak pada 23 Mei 2015 di mana Buku Laporan (Report Card) NBOS, Portal NBOS 2.0 dan Buku Bergambar NBOS (NBOS Coffee Table Book) telah dilancarkan. Hari Terbuka NBOS ini diadakan untuk memberi peluang kepada masyarakat untuk mendapatkan maklumat serta berkongsi informasi mengenai pelbagai inisiatif di bawah NBOS yang diwujudkan oleh Kerajaan sejak tahun 2009. Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia (MOTAC) telah mengambil bahagian dan menerajui kluster “Pelancongan”. Terdapat 3 inisiatif NBOS yang telah dipamerkan oleh MOTAC iaitu Tourists First, Visit My Kampung dan 1Malaysia Voluntourism. Semasa lawatan ke pameran MOTAC, Perdana Menteri telah disambut dengan kemunculan maskot proboscis monkey dan beliau telah menandatangani plaque perasmian. Di samping itu, MOTAC telah mempersembahkan dua aktiviti pentas iaitu Tarian MyFEST 2015 daripada Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN) dan persembahan daripada Homestay Banghuris, Sepang yang membawakan lagu tradisional Melayu. Turut hadir Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri Ali Hamsa. Dalam ucapannya, Perdana Menteri berkata NBOS telah berjaya memecahkan silo antara kementerian dan agensi kerajaan dalam melaksana dan menjayakan sesuatu program. Beliau berkata sebelum ini, satu daripada kekangan dalam kerajaan adalah setiap kementerian dan agensi berfikir dan bertindak dalam ruang lingkup sendiri. “Kecenderungan untuk mempertahankan bidang kuasa kita atau bidang pengaruh kita yang disebut sebagai ‘guarding our turf’ menyebabkan kebanyakan kementerian dan agensi selama ini bertindak dalam silo masing-masing. Mentaliti silo menjadi teras kepada pemikiran dan cara kita, NBOS berjaya pecahkan sempadan silo dalam kementerian dan agensi,” katanya. Tambah beliau, pelaksanaan NBOS turut merangkumi tiga kriteria dalam menjalankan sesuatu program yang melibatkan idea yang kreatif dan inovatif, dibuat dengan cepat serta kos yang minimum. NBOS didukung empat kelompok utama iaitu pembangunan ekonomi, pembangunan bersepadu, keselamatan awam dan penyertaan sosial itu dan kesemua kelompok ini telah terbukti memberi pelbagai manfaat kepada rakyat. 6 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia FESTIVAL HOMESTAY SELANGOR 2015 Festival Homestay Selangor 2015 yang telah diadakan pada 29 Mei 2015 di Taman Tema i-City, Shah Alam, telah berjaya menarik penyertaan dari 14 inap desa di Selangor dan 12 persatuan inap desa negeri seluruh negara. Festival 3 hari itu bertujuan mempromosikan produk inap desa selain industri kraftangan tradisional dan jualan produk industri kecil dan sederhana. Ia dirasmikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Pelancongan) MOTAC, YBhg. Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah. Dalam ucapan beliau, Datuk Rashidi berkata selain mengadakan Festival Homestay Selangor, MOTAC juga mempromosikan inap desa yang terdapat di negara ini di luar negara iaitu di Jepun dan Singapura. “Sehingga Jun tahun ini, sambutan pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara begitu menggalakkan, malah MOTAC akan mengadakan promosi sekali lagi ke Jepun pada bulan September kelak,” tambah beliau. Pada tahun 2014, Program Pengalaman Homestay telah mencatatkan jumlah 367,473 kedatangan pelancong dengan kenaikan hampir 4.7% berbanding tahun 2013. Dari segi pendapatan, terdapat peningkatan sebanyak 7.7% bagi tahun 2014 berbanding tahun 2013 dengan jumlah pendapatan RM23.2 juta berbanding RM 21.6 juta. Selain Homestay, MOTAC turut mempromosikan homestay railway (homestay keretapi) yang diperkenalkan sejak 2011. Terdapat 22 inap desa di negara ini yang berhampiran stesen keretapi di jajaran Semenanjung Malaysia dari Singapura ke Utara dan Pantai Timur Semenanjung Malaysia. Sehubungan itu, peluang ini diambil oleh MOTAC untuk bekerjasama dengan Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) untuk mengadakan pakej daripada gabungan kedua-dua tarikan tersebut. Program Pengalaman Homestay Malaysia telah dimulakan pada tahun 1995 oleh MOTAC, sekarang kini, ia telah menjangkau 20 tahun. Anugerah tertinggi yang pernah diperolehi ialah pada tahun 2012, di mana program ini mendapat pengiktirafan dunia apabila memenangi tempat pertama bagi Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance oleh United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Sehingga Januari 2015, Kementerian telah mendaftarkan sebanyak 172 kluster homestay yang terdiri daripada 308 kampung dengan penglibatan 3,519 pengusaha yang menawarkan 4,867 bilik kepada pelancong. Buletin 1MOTAC | 7 AGENCY IFTaR@KL Semarak kedatangan Ramadhan al-Mubarak Berbuka puasa sambil menikmati keindahan kota Kuala Lumpur dalam remang senja telah menarik kehadiran pengujung tempatan dan antarabangsa sejak ia dilaksanakan dari tahun 2012 – 2014 menerusi program Festival Ramadan. Seramai 500 ribu orang melibatkan diri dalam program itu yang terdiri dari pengunjung tempatan dan pengujung antarabangsa dari negara Timur Tengah, Korea, Kanada, Amerika, Australia dan Negara Asean. Pada tahun ini, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia melalui Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara memberi penjenamaan baru kepada Festival Ramadan dan mengkhususkan aktiviti yang berlangsung di Jalan Raja Dataran Merdeka dengan nama baru iaitu Iftar@KL 2015 bersempena dengan My Festival 2015 adalah untuk menjadikan bulan Ramadan sebagai satu bulan yang membudayakan kegiatan kerohanian dan kesenian Islam, di samping memupuk nilai-nilai murni menerusi penganjuran aktiviti. Iftar@KL 2015 telah dirasmikan secara bersama oleh Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Ahmad Phesal Haji Talib dan Ketua Setiausaha (KSU) Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan (KPK), Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng pada 20 Jun 2015. Program Iftar@KL 2015 juga mendapat kerjasama daripada syarikat korporat termasuklah Takaful Ikhlas, Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YaPEIM), Nescafe (Nestle), Julie’s, Adabi, Chriszen, Yeo’s, F&N, Al Meswak Mu’min dan Pusat Pungutan Zakat (PPZ) Wilayah Persekutuan. Kehadiran imam dari Mekah, Syeikh Dr. Abdurrahman AlSudais pada 4 Julai bagi memimpin solat isyak dan tarawih berjemaah merupakan saat yang ditunggu oleh umat Islam di sekitar Lembah Klang. Selain itu, selebriti tanah air seperti Datuk Ramli Sarip, Datuk M.Nasir dan Kumpulan Rabbani serta pendakwah terkenal, Datuk Mohd. Kazim Elias dan Datuk Siti Nor Bahyah Mahmood turut memeriahkan festival tersebut. Acara ini turut mendapat kerjasama Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim), Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi), dan Masjid Jamek, Kampung Baru. Acara ini berlangsung pada setiap hujung minggu iaitu pada 20, 21, 27, 28 Jun & 4, 5, 11, 12 Julai 2015 (setiap Sabtu dan Ahad) di Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur. Antara aktiviti yang dilaksanakan termasuklah agihan bubur lambuk; pameran pelancongan masjid, iftar dan bubur lambuk di Malaysia; pertandingan dan persembahan nasyid Ramadan; tadarus al-Quran; majlis berbuka puasa; solat maghrib berjemaah; soal jawab agama; solat isyak dan tarawih berjemaah; dikir zikir; ceramah; malam kesenian Islam serta moreh. 8 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia PAMERAN ASEAN 2015 Platform fahami semangat penubuhan ASEAN Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia (MOTAC) menerusi Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (PNM) telah menganjurkan Pameran ASEAN 2015, bermula pada 30 Jun 2015 dan akan berlangsung sehingga bulan Disember 2015 di PNM, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur. Dalam ucapan beliau, Tan Sri Dr. Ong berkata dalam konteks kerjasama serantau, salah satu inisiatif yang diambil ialah dengan mengadakan Pusat Maklumat ASEAN di PNM, yang memaparkan bahan bacaan terbitan negaranegara ASEAN. Pameran ini adalah bersempena dengan pelantikan Malaysia selaku Pengerusi ASEAN pada tahun 2015 dan juga Pengerusi Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN ke-6 yang telah diadakan di Pusat Konvensyen Kuala Lumpur pada 26 hingga 28 April 2015. “Projek seperti ini akan bertindak sebagai platform untuk menggalakkan perpustakaan-perpustakaan anggota ASEAN untuk berkongsi koleksi budaya dan intelektual mereka dengan negara lain, yang mana selari dengan hasrat Malaysia untuk menaiktaraf peranan perpustakaan secara keseluruhannya,” tambah beliau. Pameran ini adalah sebahagian daripada acara sokongan bagi meraikan sambutan Hari ASEAN yang diadakan pada 8 Ogos 2015 di Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur. Pameran ini mensasarkan untuk memupuk minat dan meningkatkan kefahaman tentang komuniti ASEAN terutama kepada generasi muda, dan fokus pameran diberikan khusus terhadap peranan dan tanggungjawab serta memalarsegarkan warisan budaya bangsa ASEAN kepada generasi baru. Pameran yang bertemakan “Warga Kita, Komuniti Kita, Visi Kita” ini dirasmikan oleh Ketua Setiausaha MOTAC, YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng pada 30 Jun 2015. Pameran ASEAN 2015 turut memaparkan karya-karya agung oleh sasterawan Negara-negara ASEAN, selain maklumat tentang negara anggota ASEAN. Ia turut dimeriahkan dengan pertandingan Kuiz ASEAN, Tayangan Filem ASEAN dan program temubual Bicara ASEAN. Melalui program seumpama ini, generasi masa kini dapat melihat dan memahami aspek sejarah, pencapaian masa kini dan cabaran yang perlu dihadapi dengan perubahan masa, kemajuan ilmu, tamadun serta masa depan kelangsungan budaya ASEAN. Buletin 1MOTAC | 9 HIGHLIGHTS MAGIC OF THE NIGHT 2015 A MAGICAL PUTRAJAYA Magic of the Night 2015, the magical event set amidst the breathtaking garden city of Putrajaya brings forth joyous and lively rhythms of the heart and soul of our country’s unique attractions for four remarkable nights commencing from 28 May 2015. Being a one of a kind spectacular event of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, the lighted boat parade stirred Putrajaya Lake with a total of 17 beautifully decorated floats from every state of Malaysia and local organizations as well as a special entry from Suzhou, China. Among the featured boats are Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak, Putrajaya Corporation, Cruise Tasik and also Tourism Malaysia. With the theme “Endless Celebrations”, each participating boat showcased their distinctive treasures with colourful diversity of cultures, cuisines and heritage defining Malaysia as a whole. All these participating boats vied for four different prize categories of Overall Best Boat, Most Creative Boat, Best Lighted Boat and the Most Popular Vote that involved public voting. Being a fun-filled event for the whole family, Magic of the Night 2015 offered a variety of food stalls highlighting the iconic specialty dish from each Malaysian states such as Pulut Mangga (Perlis), Sate Tulang (Negeri Sembilan), Pepes (Johor), Mee Kolok (Sarawak), Patin Tempoyak (Pahang), Laksam (Kelantan) and many more. There are also craft sales, photography contest, interactive exhibitions, and children games. Among the main highlight of the event was the 1Malaysia Drum Performances consist of the drummers from various major races and other traditional instruments in Malaysia such as Kompang, Jido and Bhangra. The staging was called the “Hundred Rhythms of MyFest 2015” which in concept with MyFest 2015’s logo, the Rebana Ubi that reflects the country’s heritage, traditions and culture that certainly brought out the magic of this event. Internationally, Tourism Malaysia has brought in 70 media and tour operators from 14 countries to have a hands-on experience of the Magic of the Night 2015 and other beautiful destinations for better publicity of Malaysia overseas through media write-ups and holiday packages created. The outstanding boat of Sabah won the Overall Best Boat depicting its beautiful islands and coral reefs as well as their exotic sea creatures. The exceptional boat of Pulau Pinang won two categories of prize as the Most Creative Boat and the Most Popular Boat highlighting the old gramophone which represents the pride of Pulau Pinang being the place of birth for internationally famous artists such as P. Ramlee, Jimmy Boyle, Alley Cats and Dasha Logan. The Best Lighted Boat category earned by Putrajaya Corporation featuring the iconic architecture of Putrajaya as well as its iconic events such as Ironman, FIA Formula E Championship and the F1 Power Boat Championship. 10 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia MALAYSIA WATER FESTIVAL LABUAN 2015 Positioning Labuan As A Top Water Sports Destination Blessed with a gamut of attractions promising a splashing time in the sea, games and competitions, Labuan is definitely the preferred holiday getaway this weekend. The Malaysia Water Festival Labuan 2015, currently underway from 24 to 26 April 2015 at the Labuan International Sea Complex, has attracted over 2,000 participants. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, this year’s edition showcases 20 events which are well-received by local and international tourists, young and old alike. Gracing the Opening Ceremony were YB Datuk Rozman Datuk Haji Isli, Labuan Member of Parliament who is also the Chairman of Perbadanan Labuan and YBrs. Dr Junaida Lee Abdullah, Deputy Secretary General (Management), Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. In her opening remarks, Dr Junaida Lee Abdullah said that the Malaysia Water Festival Labuan 2015, a home-grown tourism initiative, is also one of the 50 major events in the Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFEST) 2015 campaign. It is integral for promoting the country as a top-of-the-mind holiday destination that is abundant with events, festivities and celebrations. “The Malaysia Water Festival Labuan 2015 is testament that the Government recognises Labuan as one of the country’s top tourist destinations” she added. In his speech, YB Datuk Rozman bin Datuk Haji Isli mentioned that it was the event’s 19th consecutive year since 1997, attracting water sports enthusiasists from all around Malaysia and Asia. “This event promotes public-private partnership through the collaboration of the Federal government, state government and public sector; in line with the concept of the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS),” he added. Highlights of the Malaysia Water Festival Labuan 2015 include the Labuan Cross Channel Swimming Competition and Labuan Round Island Kayak Challenge which has gained worldwide prominence with participants coming all the way from Russia, France, Japan, Africa and Netherlands. Introduced in 2014, the Stand Up Paddle competition is also very popular. Another notable event is the deep sea Labuan Fishing Safari competition offering prizes amounting to RM40500. For non-swimmers and family recreation, there are a variety of beach activities such as the Coastal Fishing Competition, Sand Castle Building Competition, Slippery Pole Climbing Competition, Pillow Fighting Competition, and Tug of War with prizes worth over RM10000. Another annual highlight is the Battle of the Bands which attracted 15 local bands from East Malaysia. The Voice of Labuan singing competition also saw 52 participants from Sabah and Sarawak, as well as from neighbouring Philippines. There is also the 1Malaysia Green 1Malaysia Clean voluntourism and family-oriented activities such as Children’s Colouring Competition and Creative Deco Competition. Other Government agencies and private sector companies involved in organising the event include Perbadanan Labuan, Department of Fisheries Sabah, Fire and Rescue Department, Maritime Enforcement Agency, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysia Civil Defence Department, Health Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Department of Marine Parks Malaysia, Sabah Ports and Harbour Department, Marine Department Malaysia, Department of Environment, Tourism Malaysia Sabah, Department of National Unity and Integration, Sports Council, Youth Council, homestay operators, LabuanFM and media partners. It is the Ministry’s aspiration to ensure the event continuity into the future as an engine of growth to propel Labuan as a hub of tourism and international trade. Buletin 1MOTAC | 11 IN THE NEWS PM URGES PRIVATE SECTOR TO SUPPORT GOASEAN, ASEAN’S FIRST TRAVEL CHANNEL KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today urged the private sector to support and maximise GoAsean, the first 24/7 Asean travel channel to reach out to the region. Pointing out that this channel is an initiative part of Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year, he said the government hopes that it will grow into a vehicle that can help further enhance cooperation between the 10-member states of ASEAN. “It is estimated that ASEAN’s middle class will reach the 400million mark by 2020, more than that of Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States combined. “According to a recent report, 44% of consumers surveyed said they would spend any spare cash on vacations. “So there is great opportunity here for us to share information about travel within our region,” he said when launching the GoAsean Astro travel channel here. Najib said this channel will provide an opportunity for Malaysians to reach out and be exposed to new cultures and experiences in the region. “For this initiative is not only about tourism and travel. It’s also about realising the vision of people-centred ASEAN, something which I believe is important for our region to move forward,” he said. -Published by The Sun Daily, 3 June 2015 About GOASEAN GOASEAN is an ASEAN-focused travel initiative to promote ASEAN as a single tourism destination. It brings ASEAN to the world with the best travel, food, culture, entertainment and business stories that the region has to offer, distributed through multiple broadcast and digital platforms. GOASEAN is a multi-platform channel that also includes a website which allows travellers to book flights, hotels and tours throughout the region comprising 10 countries: Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. GOASEAN’s flagship show, GO Travel, airing now on Astro channel 737. Malaysia is spearheading the GOASEAN initiative to promote travel and spur economic growth within the region. It was announced on 27 January 2015 at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. 12 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia Children Can Now Play At Being Tour Agents Visitors to KidZania can role-play as tourists, travel agents and tour guides, thanks to the introduction of a mini Tourist Information Centre (TIC) at the theme park. It is a replica of an actual TIC and was launched by Tourism and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng. Dr Ong said the TIC would allow children to learn more about the tourism industry. “This could help inculcate interest in the tourism industry among young children and is in line with the government’s aim to have tourism clubs in secondary schools. “The children can learn a lot about sustainable tourism behaviour, the importance of having a planned holiday and get to know local culture and traditions better,” he said. Dr Ong added that the TIC at KidZania would focus on domestic tourism. “After spending time at the TIC, the children will probably inform their parents of all the interesting places in the country and ask to be taken there,” he said. Dr Ong added that domestic tourism contributed RM37.4bil to the economy last year. - Published by The Star Online, 22 June 2015 NEW CHAIRMAN FOR TOURISM MALAYSIA Minister of Tourism & Culture YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has appointed Wee Choo Keong as the Chairman of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, better known as Tourism Malaysia, effective today. Wee is a Barrister-at-Law from the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London, and has been a practising advocate and solicitor of more than 32 years. Upon being called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, he returned to Malaysia in 1980 where he was actively involved in serving the community through his legal consultation. The political and social development in Malaysia were also issues that were close to his heart, and this saw him serve two terms as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Bintang, the heart of commerce and tourism in Kuala Lumpur, and another term as MP for Wangsa Maju. We welcome Mr. Wee Choo Keong as Chairman of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board from 17 June 2015. Buletin 1MOTAC | 13 HAPPENINGS FESTIVAL NASI AMBENG 2015 Perpaduan dan kesepakatan merupakan antara nilai utama yang ditonjolkan oleh Nasi Ambeng, makanan tradisi masyarakat Jawa. Ini telah meletakkan Nasi Ambeng sebagai salah satu ciri unik bagi masyarakat Jawa, terutama mereka yang berada di Malaysia. Menyedari nilai murni yang tinggi ini, Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negeri Selangor telah menganjurkan Festival Nasi Ambeng pada 17 hingga 18 April 2015, di Homestay Banghuris, Kampung Ulu Chuchoh Sungai Pelek, Sepang, Selangor, bagi memberi peluang kepada pelancong baik tempatan mahupun asing, untuk mengenali makanan tradisi yang serba unik ini. Festival ini dirasmikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Pengurusan) MOTAC, YBrs. Dr. Junaida Lee Abdullah. Menu nasi ambeng mengandungi ayam masak kicap, mee goreng, sayur goreng Jawa, serunding kelapa dan ikan kering. Nasi Ambeng tradisional dihidangkan dengan alas daun pisang. Lazimnya makanan ini disediakan dalam majlismajlis tertentu seperti kenduri kesyukuran. Keunikan nasi ini ialah ia dihidangkan untuk 3 hingga 5 orang di dalam satu talam bulat dan dimakan secara beramairamai. Namun, nasi tersebut tidak dimakan di tempat tersebut sebaliknya tuan rumah akan membekalkan pembungkus supaya makanan tersebut boleh dibawa pulang dan dimakan bersama keluarga di rumah. Di sinilah konsep kemuafakatan itu timbul kerana tanpa mengira pangkat mahupun darjat, makanan yang diedarkan semuanya sama baik bagi yang miskin mahupun yang kaya. Program yang berkonsepkan manifestasi makanan warisan bagi masyarakat etnik Jawa ini diadakan bertepatan dengan objektif utamanya untuk mengetengahkan dan mempopularkan makanan tradisi ini. Festival yang padat dengan pelbagai aktiviti ini juga diadakan bagi memupuk penghayatan dan apresiasi masyarakat Malaysia terutamanya golongan belia terhadap seni dan budaya. Selain itu, program ini juga merupakan salah satu pendekatan untuk mempromosikan daerah Sepang sebagai salah satu destinasi tarikan pelancong. Antara pengisian program ini ialah jamuan Nasi Ambeng, pameran serta demonstrasi budaya dan warisan masyarakat Jawa Selangor, pertandingan memancing, pertandingan permainan tradisional, sukan rakyat, pertandingan mewarna kanak-kanak, pertandingan mencanting batik dan lain-lain lagi. Penganjuran Festival Nasi Ambeng ini masuk tahun keduanya pada tahun ini dan ia merupakan salah satu daripada program teras Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN) yang dikenali sebagai Program Merakyatkan Seni dan Budaya. 14 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia VAISAKHI, THE CELEBRATION OF HARVEST The Vaisakhi festival traditionally symbolises the harvest season whereby harvesters will rejoice and celebrate the harvested crops and the coming of the New Year. This festival was introduced by the tenth Guru of the Sikh community, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. It is also known as the birth of Khalsa, the Punjabi-Sikhs. For the first time, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) organized the MyViasakhiFest2015 in collaboration with Malaysian Punjabi Chambers of Commerce and Industries to allow tourists to experience this colourful and vibrant festival. Themed “Arts, Culture and the Heritage of Punjabi”, the three-day festival began on 10 April 2015 and took place at the Malaysia Tourist Centre (MaTiC) in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. It was packed with a host of activities to recreate the festival of ‘renewal and rebirth’ and showcase the hospitality of the Sikhs. Among others, the Ms. & Mr. Punjabi pageantry, Sikhs History and Culture Exhibition, Bollywood music and dance performances, Ghatka and Ghidda traditional showcase, Bhangra performance, martial arts demonstration, Punjabi film screenings, feasts of Punjabi heritage food and desserts and many more. MOTAC Minister, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, in his speech during the launch of the event said that the festival has the potential to be turn into a tourism product as it was equipped with amazing music, wonderful performance, exuberance and delecatable cuisine. “Our multi culturalism has made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise and home to hundreds of colourful festivals. I sincerely believe our warmth and hospitality is unparalleled and we do it in our truly unique Malaysian way,” he added. What the Sikh Communities Do During Vaisakhi? • Early morning, the Sikh community will visit Gurdwara (temple) to seek for forgiveness and blessings from the Almighty • Holy offerings (Deg) will be given to the devotees to begin their new year with sweet delicacies. • Priests in the temple will chant the ‘Kirtan’ in remembrance of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh Holy Scripture. Kirtan is a term meaning the singing of hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. • An authentic vegetarian lunch of traditional favourites will be served in the temple for the devotees to eat before leaving back home. • Programmes in the temple will continue till the end of the festival. • In the evening, communal activities may be conducted in the nearest field. • At night, there is a celebration of music, dance and laughter where everyone comes together in harmony. The men will usually dance ‘Bhangra’ and the women will dance ‘gidda’. Buletin 1MOTAC | 15 PARTNERS TOURISM ADVISORS APPOINTED Tourism Malaysia has engaged a list of who’s who in various fields to help promote the country’s tourism and boost its arrivals and receipts. A High Tea Reception was organised on 11 June 2015 at Carcosa Seri Negara, Kuala Lumpur to officially announce and present the credentials to the nine famous personalities who have been selected as Malaysia’s Tourism Advisors. The Minister of Tourism and Culture Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz personally presented the certificate of appointment to entrepreneurs Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Tun Syed Nasir and Datuk Jeffery Sandragesan, renowned shoes maestro Prof. Datuk Dr. Jimmy Choo OBE, famous 80’s singer Dato’ Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad (better known as Dato’ Shake), multi-award winning entertainer and entrepreneur Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, singer-songwriter Yuna, famed chef Dato’ Hj Chef Ismail Ahmad, and diving ambassador and conservationist Clement Lee. Malaysia’s Tourism Advisor also includes a Korean, Datuk Lee Jin Bok. A man of many hats, Datuk Lee can best be described as a bridge connecting South Korea and Malaysia. The Tourism Advisor Programme is an initiative by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture through Tourism Malaysia to engage prominent, well-established and influential Malaysians in various fields, either living abroad or in Malaysia, to promote the country among their circle of friends, fans, and network of contacts. The appointed Tourism Advisors will help promote the country’s tourism based on their respective markets and fields, which include Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, UK, USA, and the South East Asian and European regions, as well as in the fields of entertainment, diving, gastronomy, and luxury tourism. As Tourism Advisors, they hold the responsibilities of presenting ideas and strategies to build the image of the country. They will speak well of the country and help promote its tourism attractions and services. Tourism Advisors also need to inform their fans, audience, or network of contacts, on the unique selling points of Malaysia and share their experience of being a Malaysian to influence them to visit the country. In addition, the Tourism Advisors will also make special appearances at selected Tourism Malaysia’s events to give credence to the functions and attract more visitors. From its inception in 2009 until now, a total of fourteen (14) luminaries, each notable personages in their own spheres of influence, have been appointed as Tourism Advisors. These individuals have been carefully selected from a pool of outstanding personalities to help Tourism Malaysia propel the country’s tourism industry to greater heights. 16 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia MYFEST 2015 MAYBANK PREPAID VISA CARD One of these key partners, Berjaya Hotels and Resorts offers 15% off Best Available Rates (BAR) for all of their hotels in Malaysia including Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Berjaya Langkawi Resort, Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Bahru and many others. More offers include a free original glased donnut from Krispy Kreme with a purchase of coffee and 15% off for all food items at Rasa Utara restaurant. How to get the prepaid card This limited edition Maybank Prepaid Card is available at the selected MYFEST 2015 events • Magic of the Night, 29 - 31 May 2015, Marina Putrajaya • Sky Rides Festival Park, Putrajaya - 01 June until 31 Dec 2015 The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) in partnership with global technology company Visa and Malaysia’s largest banking group Maybank, announced the launch of MyFEST 2015 Maybank Prepaid Visa Card on 25 May 2015. The MyFEST 2015 Maybank Prepaid Visa Card provides a cashless payment option to encourage non-cash usage among users, particularly tourists, when they visit local attractions, while offering attractive privileges and benefits from key partners encompassing F&B and hotels. Speaking at the launching event, Secretary General of MOTAC, YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng stated that the unveiling of the card propagates an important turning point in the strategic partnership between MOTAC, Visa and Maybank. “It is also important to acknowledge that VISA, as the Official Card for Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 and Visit Malaysia Year 2014, is already regularly promoting Malaysia through their global network and mix media channels including the social media and print collaterals. Maybank, as our new partner further value-add in this collaboration through the development of the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 Maybank Prepaid Visa Card,” he added. The MyFEST 2015 Maybank Prepaid Visa Card initiative targets to attract more key partners who are keen to participate. It is expected to nominate more brands as key partners which will provide more attractive benefits and incentives for tourists. Buletin 1MOTAC | 17 HAPPENINGS MID-YEAR SHOPPING CARNIVAL BEGINS! The country’s biggest shopping extravaganza –– the annual 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale –– are back again, offering big bargains, huge discounts and fun-filled promotional activities put together by malls, retail stalls and other participating trades throughout Malaysia. They runn for over two months from 27 June till 31 August 2015. The contest, which is open to participants from all over the world, requires them to submit photos that best encapsulate the beauty of Malaysia in four categories, namely places, festivals, food and shopping. Photos can be uploaded to Instagram using the hashtag #beautifulMalaysia or directly to the contest campaign website (www. tourism.gov.my/beautifulMalaysia). The sales events were launched by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng at the Marriot Putrajaya Hotel. Winning photos will be featured on postcards at the end of the campaign. These postcards together with other specially designed postcards bearing the theme Beautiful Malaysia will be placed at selected airports in the country. The postcards will also be used to further promote 2015 as Malaysia Year of Festivals, or MyFest 2015. Various festivals and events happening in the country will be highlighted on the postcards, which can easily be picked up by tourists visiting the country. Besides the contest, two pocket events will also be held to coincide with the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2015, namely the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2015 (12 to 16 August) and Time Kulture (29 July to 9 August), which is a timepiece exhibition. Both events will be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Retail stalls and various trades in the country have put together a wide range of products and bargains under the 1Malaysia Unified Sale 2015, which is aimed at creating greater spillover effects of consumer shopping and boosting trade and business transactions. As at 23 June, a total of 1,267 retailers have registered to participate in the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale. Adding to the excitement of both sales is the #beautifulMalaysia Online Contest, with weekly prizes to be won over 12 weeks from 15 June to 20 September. One grand prize and three consolations prizes are up for grabs every week. Grand prizes include a GoPro Hero 4, iPad Air 2, Canon EOS 100D and OPPO Find 5. entertainment, and recreation for the whole family. Besides that, places of interest around the malls are also being highlighted in the packages. Tourism Malaysia has also earmarked specific areas with attractive shopping attributes and categorised them as Extended Shopping Zones. These include Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Heritage Shopping Zone, Bandar Utama, Bandar Sunway and Subang Jaya in Selangor, George Town in Pulau Pinang, Johor Bahru in Johor, as well as Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak. The designated zones have been approved in February 2015 during the National Key Economic Areas Tourism Steering Committee meeting. The Extended Shopping Zones will be promoted along with the major shopping To boost the country’s shopping sector, districts in Kuala Lumpur, such as Bukit Tourism Malaysia has embarked on Bintang, KLCC and Central Market. promoting Experiential Shopping packages with lifestyle elements, Tourism Malaysia is also producing encompassing culinary delights, the Shopping Malaysia Fun Maps that will make it easier for shoppers to find shopping attractions in different locations. These maps will come in handy for both locals and tourists to enjoy the best shopping experience in Malaysia. 18 | Ministry Of Tourism And Culture, Malaysia READ FOR 3 MINUTES GALAK BUDAYA MEMBACA Perpustakaan Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia (MOTAC) buat pertama kalinya menganjurkan program “Read For 3 Minutes” yang diadakan pada 11 – 15 Mei 2015 bertempat di Ruang Perpustakaan MOTAC dan juga ruang legar Lobi MOTAC yang melibatkan warga MOTAC dan Tourism Malaysia. Melalui program ini, Perpustakaan KPK telah sedikit sebanyak memupuk budaya membaca, sifat bekerjasama dan toleransi di kalangan kakitangan MOTAC dan agensinya. Semoga program seperti ini dapat diteruskan pada setiap tahun bagi meneruskan kempen budaya “Bangsa Membaca Bangsa Berjaya” hingga akhir zaman. Program ini telah dirasmikan oleh Ketua Setiausaha MOTAC, YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng dan turut dihadiri oleh pegawai-pegawai kanan serta kakitangan MOTAC dan Tourism Malaysi. Semasa majlis perasmian, mereka yang hadir diminta untuk membaca bahan bacaan selama 3 minit sebagai simbolik bermulanya program tersebut dan sebagai salah satu cara untuk menggalakkan pembacaan tersebut diteruskan. Tujuan program ini dilaksanakan adalah bertepatan dengan slogan “Kempen Bangsa Membaca, Bangsa Berjaya” yang merupakan satu pendekatan dalam memupuk budaya membaca di dalam usaha membentuk bangsa yang cintakan ilmu dan membudayakan pembelajaran sepanjang hayat. Ia juga mensasarkan untuk membentuk kakitangan yang berilmu pengetahuan, berinovasi dan mampu berfikir di luar kotak pemikiran. Sepanjang program ini berlangsung, pelbagai aktiviti telah dianjurkan termasuklah Pameran GST Info, Kuiz Uji Minda, IQ Game yang melibatkan permainan Sahibba dan Congkak serta perlumbaan i-Xplore (Race and Learn). Buletin 1MOTAC | 19