(eTN) – As an expat living and working in Southeast Asia, there is no shortage of countries that can provide excellent top-quality healthcare at affordable prices, particularly when comparing the costs with European or American hospitals.

Each country has its strengths and markets them aggressivley. Thailand sells the softer side of healthcare combined with first-rate hospitals; Singapore trumps efficiency but is no longer a bargain; and Malaysia, well, that’s the quandary.

When I talk about Malaysia to my friends in Europe and the US, most of them are not even sure where it is. Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a world-class city, with a world-class infrastructure, and some of the best connectivity in the world. Just to arrive at hassle-free Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is a pleasure in itself. It is only after dispelling these myths and misperceptions that one can talk about Malaysia’s excellent state of healthcare and its world-class hospitals.

Perhaps Malaysia actually comes out on top in terms of healthcare and hospitals when compared to its neighbors. According to Thomas Jacob, President of the Association of Private Hospitals, Malaysia’s health care standards are world class. Many are Joint Commission International (JCI)-accredited and most carry the MSQH (Malaysian Society for Quality in Health) seal of approval. Thirty-five Malaysian hospitals throughout the country have been earmarked by the government to participate in health tourism.

From a purely practical standpoint, costs here are the lowest in the region. The level of English is the highest, emanating from many years of British rule. Malaysia gained its independence from Britain in 1957. Political stability is the norm.

Malaysia’s Minister of Health Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is also supporting health tourism to boost the nation’s economic growth. In fact, the Ministry aims to attract more than 1.9 million visitors by 2020. This is up from a present level of 400,000.

Recently I sat down with the Grande Dame of Malaysian Healthcare, Datin Paduka Siti Sa’diah Sheik Bakir, Managing Director of KPJ Hospitals, the largest healthcare provider in the country with 22 hospitals and growing.

Her personality and youthful charm, as well as an endless reserve of energy, have made KPJ into what it is today, an award-winning group of hospitals. Just recently, Datin Paduka was awarded CEO of the year by American Express. She presides over the most successful stock on the Malaysian bourse and received the award for its 1 billion ringgit turnover.

I asked her what she thought Malaysia’s main a,ttributes were when it comes to becoming a major health tourism destination and she responded with:

1. Affordable procedures, particularly if you are coming from a “western” country like the United States, where a triple heart bypass may be as high as US$100,000 and in Malaysia only US$25,000-35,000.

2. Modern facilities, where extensive investment has been made to ensure that all medical centers are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

3. Professional medical staff and doctors with internationally-recognized credentials of which a vast majority have studied in the United States or Great Britain and bring back a wealth of experience.

4. Short waiting times.

With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, KPJ Hospitals, under Datin Paduka’s leadership, have exceled in all arenas. According to Dr. Jalil Jidon, Principal Resident and Reconstructive Surgeon at KPJ’s flagship hospital, Ampang Puteri, “Plastic surgery here is safe and affordable, and you can have a relaxing vacation while recuperating.” Dr. Jalil receives patients from as far afield as Australia and the United Kingdom.

The Malaysian government has already recognized the huge potential of healthcare tourism with the creation of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) in 2009. The purpose of the council is to streamline service providers and industry players in both private and government sectors, thereby giving a huge boost to the industry.

Image via blogspot.com

Chief Minister YAB Datuk Seri Ali Rustam of Melaka says:

“Global recognition of the country’s ability to protect our unique heritage will not only preserve Melaka’s rich heritage, but tourism and the service industries will bring economic benefits to the people.”

Conference Overview

Melaka World Heritage Site is proud to welcome delegates from around the world to the city, bringing together tourism and tourism planning experts in the fields of preservation of historical and archeological monuments, and scholars from various disciplines in tourism.

The conference will analyse the situation, success stories and experience gained in the utilization of World Heritage sites for tourism purposes and put this experience to good use in laying foundations for sustainable management plans.

Discussions will focus on models, theories as well as factual knowledge of protected historical centers, using examples from other World Heritage Sites.

The conference will examine the relationship between the conservation and management of urban heritage and the development of cultural tourism.

Delegates will study the mechanism and conditions in which tourism has become an important economic driver for the Heritage Sites.

Other key topics to be highlighted:

• Assessing, planning, preparing and marketing cultural heritage tourism. Successful stories of heritage tourism.

• Creating awareness among policy makers Heritage Sites are cultural assets which can be turned into a commodity.

• Building know-how on the ways to connect local initiatives with global networks and markets.

• Building the capacity of World Heritage sites to deal with tourism.

• Framework,  guiding principles and steps for successful and sustainable cultural heritage tourism.

• Using World Heritage Sites as a lever for local economic, social and cultural development.

• Promoting the benefits of cultural and heritage tourism as a way to build audiences.

• Training of local community members in environment, cultural preservation and tourism related activities for tourism’s benefit.

• Lessons to be learnt from good and bad examples worldwide. Lessons will focus on how to develop and manage cultural heritage tourism.

• Meeting the challenge of increasing tourism through the promotion of authentic, unique cultural and heritage offerings.

• Creating a forum for fresh ideas and renewed vitality among cultural and heritage tourism professionals and the industry through networking, professional development and mentorship.

• Tourism + culture + heritage = sustainable economies.

• Building increased awareness of the objectives of the 1972 World Heritage Convention and other UNESCO conventions to the tourism programs, activities and policies for local and national public tourism authorities, industry officials and tourists.

Melaka & George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.

Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca.

The influences of Asia of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible.

With its government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications, Melaka demonstrates that early stages of this history originating in the 15th century Malay sultanate and the Portugese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century.

Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century.

The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

World Heritage Center

UNESCO

The venue is the beautiful country of Malaysia.

Email for more information:

leman@malaccaheritage2011.com

http://malaccaheritage2011.com/Malaccaheritage2011/Welcome.html

MALAYSIA (eTN) – “Malaysia Truly Asia” is the tried and tested advertising slogan, which has considerably helped brand Malaysia and implant its unique identity to the world. The country is truly Asian and is made up of a potpourri of ethnic races, cultures, and religions. It is precisely this ethic mix, or cultural cappuccino, that brings out the best in Malaysia. From its food to its traditions the country is one of the most diverse and yet tolerant nations in Asia, if not the world. It is home to three main races – Malay, Indian, and Chinese – all practicing their respective religions alongside a multitude of many Christian churches, which prevail throughout the country.

Kuala Lumpur is home to the iconic Petronas Towers and is a vibrant commercial capital home to both government and commerce. Less known and almost 2,000 kilometers to the east, lies the world’s third largest island, Borneo, home to two of Malaysia’s largest states, Sabah and Sarawak. The island is also home to the countries of Brunei and Indonesia.

A focus on Sabah is rich in diversity of landscapes and people, as well as plant and animal life. Its landscapes range from long white sandy beaches to magnificent rainforests and Malaysia’s largest freshwater floodplain, home to Borneo’s unique proboscis monkey and the orangutan. Dominating the scenery is Southeast Asia’s largest mountain, Mount Kinabalu, towering at an impressive 4,095 meters. It is the focal point of Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site (UNESCO, November 2000). Sabah is also the perfect place for adventure sports and offers world scuba diving sites – Palau Sipadan and Layang-Layang. Hiking, white water rafting, and a range of sea sports, as well as horse riding and golfing, are readily available.

Biodiversity and Conservation

The tropical rainforests are the world’s most diverse forests, and Borneo is home to one of the greatest collections of plant diversity on Earth. Sabah’s forests house more than 3,000 tree species. No other rainforests in the world show such abundance and diversity of a single family of big trees. Borneo has a very rich and diverse palm flora with about 280 recorded species representing more than 10% of the world’s total.

No less impressive are available estimates for Borneo’s fauna. The rich bird fauna has an amazing diversity of around 622 species, of which 434 are known to have been breeding. The Bornean snake fauna includes at least 154 species. Insects are by far the most numerous, and at least 5,000 beetle species alone have been recorded in Gunung National Park. Other groups of mammal species to be sighted are Sumatran rhinoceros, proboscis monkey, red banded leafmonkey, silvered leaf monkey, as well as the group consisting of dolphins and porpoises.

Shangri- La Hotels Commitment to the Environment

One of the best and most luxurious hotels in Sabah is Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria located 45 minutes north of the capital city of Kota Kinabalu. The hotel offers five-star service in a natural environment adjacent to the rainforest. It is particularly pertinent to this article as Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts have, over time, shown a dedicated and committed spirit to protecting the environment and Rasa Ria is a star that shines in this field.

The hotel has its own nature reserve offering a first-hand glimpse into the Borneo jungle and is the cornerstone of commitment and contribution towards responsible and sustainable environmental tourism. Encompassing 64 acres within the resort, the Nature Reserve is a conservation effort between the Sabah State Wildlife Department and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

The Nature Reserve

The Nature Reserve is aimed primarily at nature conservation and orangutan rehabilitation, with research, study, and education activities carried out as well. The Rehabilitation Program for orangutans is the only one of its kind on the west coast of Sabah (Sepilok Rehabilitation Center in Sandakan on the east coast is the main orangutan rehabilitation center in Malaysia).

The topography of the reserve is ideal, with steep slopes on the lower part of the hill gradually becoming gentler on reaching the ridge. The highest point stands at 90 meters above sea level. The hill is mostly covered by secondary forest growth and outcrops are visible at the ridge.

Among the activities available within the reserve are the nature walks, nocturnal animal watch, bird watching, mini canopy walk, and “In Search of Orangutans.”

Twice daily, a ranger escorts small groups through the reserve to view the orangutans in the wild, lured to close proximity through a natural feeding program.

Situated within the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, Orangutan Island is a research institution dedicated to the preservation and research of the orangutan. It was developed to resemble the orangutan’s natural habitat as closely as possible. The island itself, formerly known as Pulau Panjang, has five acres of land dedicated as a research and rehabilitation center for the endangered orangutan.

The island has specialized medical facilities that cater to the healthcare of the orangutans. The facility’s Infant Care Unit (ICU) is equipped with heart monitors, IV drips, incubators, as well as a trained veterinary surgeon. Possible complications that commonly occur among infant orangutans include premature birth, a low birth weight, upper respiratory tract infections, and chronic diarrhea. To minimize the risk of these complications, expecting orangutan mothers are closely monitored.

Infants who are admitted to the ICU will go through a specially designed rehabilitation program consisting of six stages to ensure the development of their natural instincts. These include foraging, nest building, searching for water source, swinging, and climbing. The rehabilitation program aims to ensure the infant adapts well to their natural environment before their eventual release into the wild.

Aside from the rehabilitation of orangutans, the island also acts as a research and resource center and is available for undergraduate and graduate students who would like to conduct research. Detailed educational programs are also organized for interested school and college students.

For a more hands on approach, visitors are able to educate themselves by observing the orangutans firsthand at the conservation center, a 328-foot steel caged tunnel that traverses the conservation site. Keen observers take note of the ironical role reversal: on this island, humans are caged, while the orangutans roam free.

For more information on Orangutan Island in Perak, please visit www.orangutanisland.org.my/about-oui/oui-overview.html

image via malaysiasite.nl

The attention is fantastic as it helps raise awareness of some of the problems associated with global warming, yet on the other hand, such an amount of divers continuously returning to a few spots has a very negative impact. Due to the rising sea temperature (from 27°C to 29°C), the corals have started to develop a condition known as bleaching. Between 60 – 90% are already affected and without a ‘rest’ they will surely die.

The Department of Marine Parks has been very clear about necessary actions to be taken in order to give the corals a chance to recover; twelve most frequented and most threatened sites around the islands of Tioman, Redand and Perhentian have been ‘closed’ until the end of October 2010. That way, no divers will come anywhere near them and the stress will be at least limited. Even though the increased temperature is the main cause of coral bleaching, divers often accidentally touch or brush over the corals, raise sand from the sea bed and generally damage the corals. One or two would not make a difference, however, half a million divers undoubtedly does.

The Department of Marine Parks as well as environmentalists hope that the corals will have time to regenerate naturally and with a bit of luck will survive. Fortunately, they are prepared to fight uncontrolled tourism and protect their marine world as fiercely as possible in order to preserve its fragile beauty.

from www.tourism-review.com

The Homestay Program is designed with the aim to help the visitors better understand the country and the way the common Malaysians live. The tourists opting for staying with the families get opportunity to try a variety of home-made dishes as well as to experience the rural life, surrounded by beautiful nature, away from the bustling cities.

Besides the accommodation and meals the families that open their homes to the guests shall provide also other services. The travelers can thus look forward to hiking in the jungle, collecting rubber, learning singing and dancing, flying kites, picking fruits and coconuts, fishing and visiting local workshops producing handicraft articles.

The Homestay system was launched in Malaysia already in 1995. Today 141 families from all around the country participate in the program and are ready to host tourists in their homes. The promotion campaign announced recently by the ministry is expected to further boost not only the number of participating families but also the amount of travelers who opt for this unconventional type of accommodation.

According to the representatives of the Homestay e-Marketing Promotion, both local and foreign tourists may choose from a range of different types of accommodation. Travelers interested in staying in the locals’ homes are provided with information not only about the given region and its tourism highlights but also about the family.

from tourism-review.com

Unaware passers-by or visitors would probably pay little attention to an old building, half hidden behind trees along a highway running parallel to Singapore Port. They should, however, as a page of Singapore/Malaysia history is soon to be finished. In Tanjong Pagar, an concession agreement from 1918 gave to the Malay Rail Administration (KTM) the administration of Tanjong Pagar Rail Station, a grand building from the early twenties still bearing frescoes of old Malaya landscapes.

In the old days, Tanjong Pagar used to be the main rail station of the KTM network and the end-station for a rail line linking Singapore to the border to Thailand. The station still welcomes a couple of trains every day, but it looks rather derelict, as little has been done by the rail administration to preserve it.

For years, Singapore has tried to convince Malaysia to sell or to rent the station and its premises to Singaporean companies. Such a large surface in the center of land-strapped Singapore was likely to generate interest. An agreement was signed in 1990 to transfer the rail station closer to the Singapore-Malaysian border, but legal issues and usual political bickering between both countries have delayed the procedure until today.

It sounds then almost like a miracle when Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong agreed on May 24 to finally relocate all train operations to Woodlands from July of next year. Woodlands is already the Singapore border rail station to Malaysia. Singapore would then facilitate the relocation to the Woodlands checkpoint and improve bus service connectivity from the rail station to the closest MRT station.

The Tanjong Pagar area will then be managed by a new company jointly owned by both governments. It is likely that the empty parcel will see real estate and commercial development taking place in this premium piece of land. What would then happen for the old charming rail building? According to Ms. Aw Kah Peng, chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, the rail station facade should be preserved and integrated into a new project. “It would be easy to adapt the old building for a new use as we already did for other historical structures on Sentosa Island or around the port area,” she explained.

Meanwhile, both Prime Ministers agreed to significantly boost connections between Singapore and Johor Bahru in neighboring Malaysia. A rapid transit system link will be built by 2018. Both countries decided also to improve current bus links by opening eight new routes – including direct services to Singapore Changi airport, Resorts World Sentosa, and Marina Bay Sands – while charges along the second link tollway will be reduced. And finally, taxis from both countries will be able to take passengers at any place along the journey from Singapore to JB or vice versa.

I personally love tourism data provided by countries. And I particularly love data when they can tell whatever you would like to show. Among weird numbers, there is a mystery around Singaporeans going as “tourists” to Malaysia. Looking at the official statistics from Tourism Malaysia, in 2009 over 12.7 million tourists came from Singapore to Malaysia. Taking the rational by dividing total number of travelers from Singapore to Malaysia by Singapore total population, it shows that each Singapore inhabitant was a tourist in Malaysia 2.55 times last year.

From 2000 to 2009, Singaporean tourists visiting Malaysia has grown by a stunning 135 percent. Just for comparison, growth from Thai travelers to Malaysia during the same period was up by 54.1 percent from 0.94 million to 1.45 million, while numbers from Indonesia jumped by 341 percent, from 0.54 million to 2.40 million arrivals. Indonesia’s quantitative jump is due to the removal of the fiscal tax for traveling to most Malaysian cities, as well as the multiplication of low-cost flights between both countries. Malaysia’s tourism performance looks even more impressive compared to its neighbors with their appalling results. Malaysia travelers to Singapore grew “only” by 35 percent from 2000 and 2009, while Indonesian travelers to Singapore grew by 44 percent. Indonesia registered during the same period of time a decline of 31 percent for Singaporeans balanced by a growth of 80 percent of Malaysians.

It would a perfect world if Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority did not provide a different picture with their own data. In 2008, Singapore ICA indicated that 6.25 million traveled overseas by air and sea, and for the ten months of 2010, this figure reached 5.36 million. Of course, it does not include travel by land transportation – train and road vehicle. A study from Euromonitor estimates that Singaporean did 14.08 million departures to foreign countries including 9.2 million to Malaysia. It would still make a difference with the number claimed by Malaysia for 2008 (11 million), and Euromonitor indicates that these are departures, including day trips.

Even figures about Johor Bahru hotels seem to contradict the figures of Tourism Malaysia. Over 35 percent of all Singaporean traveling to Malaysia have the neighboring State of JB as their destination. Unfortunately, it does not bring many benefits to JB hotels, which recorded in 2008 an average occupancy of 61.6 percent and only 1.71 million of foreigners.

The differences in figures should worry both Singapore and Malaysian authorities, as the vanishing of at least two million Singaporean travelers across the border makes the infamous Bermuda Triangle look safe. Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority wants to be reassuring. “We have different methods to account travelers’ movements,” explained (very seriously) an employee from the Communication Department.

The incredible jump in total tourist arrivals to Malaysia has an explanation, which sounds like a fairy tale. Once upon the time in 1998/1999, a new minister of tourism was appointed in Malaysia. To show to his master, the Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir, that he was an efficient working minister, tourist arrivals between 1998 and 1999 jumped by 43.6 percent and by another 29.1 percent between 1999 and 2000. Within two years time, the total number of tourist arrivals to the country almost doubled, from 5.5 million to 10.2 million. The moral of this story is, the former minister of tourism also loved data.

Photo by Luc Citrinot, eTN

K.Kavitha, 34, who was carrying the ‘pal kudam’ said it took her a longer time to reach the top as she had to use the high overhead bridge.

A. Sri Saravanan, 10, who was carrying the ‘kavadi’ for the fifth time said his feet hurt as it was a long climb up the bridge before reaching the temple.

A Bernama survey found that people have started to occupy the temple compound which is littered with stalls ready for business.

Police personnel were also at hand to maintain security.

Tourists Sarah Tomlinson, 25, and Tom Fletcher, 26, from England said he decided to visit the temple after reading an article in a newspaper.

“We feel so amazing just looking at the huge statue. This is totally a different environment, a far cry from our customs and traditions,” said Tomlinson who hoped to return to the temple on Saturday.

More than 1.5 million visitors are expected to converge on the temple for Thaipusam celebration.

The procession of Lord Murugan from Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee to Batu Caves will start at midnight and reach Batu Caves at 11am tomorrow.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) has supplied 18,000 litres of water for the ‘Free Mooru’ feast to devotees visiting the temple.

Source: bernama.com/etn

Note – Please see video clip on this website in the Travel Video Section under Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur (KL) has always be seen by the Malaysian government as the symbol for a modern high-tech Malaysia. Over the last 15 years, Kuala Lumpur has been turned from a capital city with a rather provincial flavor into a bustling metropolis of over 2.5 million people crossed by tollways, highways, LRT, and train lines. Kuala Lumpur likes to align itself with superlatives: in southeast Asia, KL has one of the most modern airports with the busiest low-cost terminals in the region, the Petronas Twin Towers are dubbed as the highest in the region, and many malls in KL claim to be the largest in the region.

There is, however, a superlative that KL is probably less proud of – one of the region’s ugliest international bus stations. Puduraya Bus Station is a sore in the eye of a city so keen on showing how sophisticated it has turned over the last decade. Located in the middle of the ancient city center, Puduraya Station is an ugly concrete grayish-green block invaded by the fumes of hundred of busses and frequented by 70,000 to 80,000 passengers on a weekday and over 100,000 during weekends. The terminal is so crowded and derelict that many busses have to stay outside the terminal as there is not enough parking spaces. The area is infamous for its thieves and touts operating within the station premises. Puduraya probably is probably one of the biggest places for the trafficking of stolen mobiles and counterfeit bus tickets in the whole of Malaysia.

In the nineties, ex-Prime Minister Mahathir had the ambition to build a brand-new bus station, just a couple of meters away from the current facility. However, the economic crisis of 1997 put an indefinite stop to its construction. From the grand plans of Dr. M. – as the ex-Prime Minister is named – remains a carcass of concrete with pillars rising to nowhere.
Thirteen years later, it seems this project is finally moving forward.

The Malaysia federal government set up a budget last year of RM 30.3 million (US$10 million) to completely refurbish the 30-year-old station. Large panels are now displayed over the facade giving a glimpse of what the future of Puduraya will be – spacious, well-lit, and air-conditioned halls with electronic ticketing machines similar to ATMs, along with escalators, travelators, specific facilities for disabled people, and new food and shopping precincts, as well as upgraded public toilets. Work should be completed by the end of the year. The integrated Puduraya Hotel will be upgraded and modernized, while a pedestrian covered walkway will link the bus station to the LRT Plaza Rakyat Station, which was built on the premises of the dream of Dr. M’s majestic bus station.

Although this is all good news for passengers, Puduraya will soon lose most of its intercity and interstate traffic. Routes to southern peninsular Malaysia -including Singapore – are due to move by the end of the year to a new “Integrated Transport Terminal-Southern Sector (ITT-S)” in Bandar Tasik Selatan. And a new northern sector bus station is also being planned for Gombak or Selayang, north of KL. The brand-new glamorous Puduraya Station will then serve only city bus routes. It would help then to divert hundreds of busses from the old town, which have turned the historical center of Kuala Lumpur into a sad bus parking area.

Photo from malaysiasite.nl