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Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur Expresses Gratitude to our Unsung Heroes during COVID-19

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Shangri-La Hotel expresses gratitude

Kuala Lumpur, 10 April 2020 – Since the inception of COVID-19, frontliners throughout Malaysia have been working tirelessly to help curb the spread of the virus. To express our gratitude for their sacrifices, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur has taken the initiative to offer donations first to Dang Wangi Police Station and Hospital Serdang on April 7, 2020, followed by Lembah Pantai Health Clinic throughout April 9 to April 14, 2020.

To offer support for the work the police force has done for the country, the culinary team prepared packed lunches for Dang Wangi Police Station. Mr. Gonzalo Duarte Silva, General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur presented the hot meals to representative ASP Riduan at noon. The hotel also donated toiletries to the frontliners at Hospital Serdang with Resident Manager, Mr. Sachin Tyagi welcoming and passing the donated goods to representatives Dr. Norimie Binti Nafi and Ms. Nurul.

Shangri-La Hotel expresses gratitude 2

On a separate initiative, the hotel will be providing 100 packed lunches for the team at Lembah Pantai Health Clinic from April 9 to April 14, 2020. The clinic is currently Malaysia’s top red zone with the highest cumulative tally of COVID-19 cases recorded and the hotel would like to offer moral support and show appreciation for their contribution towards the community.

The hotel has encouraged its followers on Facebook and Instagram to contribute meals to Dang Wangi Police Station and Lembah Pantai Health Clinic. All they need to do is log onto www.shangri-la-specials.com and place their orders, leaving a note to let our staff know that it will be a sponsored meal. Alternatively, they could also donate medical supplies to Hospital Serdang by emailing the Communications team at [email protected].

Shangri-La Hotel expresses gratitude 3

Shangri-La Group is committed to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner while balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders. We strive to be a leader in corporate citizenship and sustainable development and our CSR initiatives are focused on five key areas namely environment & biodiversity, community engagement, sustainable supply chain, employee development and health & safety.

The two CSR programmes at the hotel levels – Embrace & Sanctuary – are aimed at promoting education and the environment. Embrace, Shangri-La’s Care for People project, looks at the highest level of education and health support needed in under-privileged communities. Sanctuary, Shangri-La’s Care for Nature project, promotes the conservation and restoration of biodiversity.

For more information, please visit the group’s CSR section on www.shangri-la.com.

Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur Delivery Service

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Kuala Lumpur 30 March 2020-Discover your Shangri-La dining experience, from the comfort of your own home.

In light of the recent Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented by the Malaysian government from 18-31 March 2020 Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur outlets will remain closed during this period.

However, our restaurant and kitchen professionals remain dedicated to providing you with an impeccable Shangri-La dining experience delivered straight to your door.

Browse from a great selection of all our tasty & gastronomical delights from Lemon Garden, Zipangu and Shang Palace from the comfort of your own home.

Enjoy international dishes from Lemon Garden with a selection of freshly prepared favourites such as New York Smoked Salmon Bagel, Margherita Pizza, Grilled Beef Burger and more. Local delights such as Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang, Nyonya Laksa and Hainanese Chicken Rice is also available to get your local cravings fixed. Not forgetting the little ones, our Children’s Menu offers a selection of Chicky Super Mac & Cheese, Bangers and Mash and Spaghetti Bolognaise just to name a few. To complete your meal, take a pick from either a slice of: Raspberry Millie Feuille, ‘Dolce De Leche’ Cheesecake, Gluten-Free Vegan Moist Chocolate Cake or Mango Pudding.

Download Order Form-Lemon Garden

Our Japanese outlet, Zipangu is offering four different types of Bento Box perfect for either lunch or dinner. Choose from our Premier Bento Box of Grilled Mackerel with Teriyaki Sauce, Beef & Chicken Bento Box of Stir-Fried Sliced Beef and Deep-Fried Chicken, Deep-Fried Bento Box of Breaded Chicken and Prawn Cutlets. All the above Bento Box comes with a rice dish, mixed vegetable, Macaroni Salad Curry and Japanese Omelette. For vegetarians, there is a Vegetarian Bento Box option featuring assorted Breaded Vegetable Cutlets, Fried Rice with Picked Plum, Tofu and Wakame Seaweed Salad with Sesame Dressing.

Download Order Form-Zipangu

Experience, Hong Kong Style Roasted Duck or Deep-Fried Bean Curd Skin with Prawn. For sharing dishes of two, Indulge on Deep-Fried Crispy Prawns Coated with Salted Yolk, Stewed Hong Kong “EeFu” Noodles with Minced Prawns, Wok-Fried Red and White Rice with Seafood and Sakura Prawns and more.

For nearby offices, we are also offering a Corporate Office Lunch Box available on weekdays, priced at RM25+ with a minimum order of ten portions. The menu will change on a weekly basis with meals such as Teppanyaki Chicken Thigh, Chicken Curry with Biryani Rice, Beef Bulgogi with SesameRice, Spaghetti Chicken Bolognaise, Char Kway Teow, Peri Peri Groupa Fillet and plenty more. Vegetarian options are also available.

All outlets offer a selection of Soft Drink, Fruit Juices and Mineral Water (Evian or Perrier).

To view our full menus, please head onto: www.shangri-la-specials.com.

The special service is open daily from 8am to 6.30pm. Please call+603 2074 3900/+601 9390 2257 to place your order or access through Shangri-La Specials Mobile App.

For deliveries, a minimal fee of RM8 will be charged for locations within the 3km radius of the Hotel. Locations within 3-5km radius, RM18 will be charged while 5-10km radius, RM28 will be charged. Menu and prices are subject to change without prior notice. Golden Circle members can earn GC Award points for every order. Golden Circle membership promotion and redemption is not applicable.

A minimum order of RM50 is required with a 60-minute notice for deliveries. Alternatively, self-pick up is also available at the Concierge Counter, Lobby.

Download Order Form-Shang Palace

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCHERS CLAIM THEY HAVE FOUND CURE FOR THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS

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A team of Australian researchers say they’ve found a cure for the novel coronavirus and hope to have patients enrolled in a nationwide trial by the end of the month.

University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research director Professor David Paterson told news.com.au today they have seen two drugs used to treat other conditions can wipe out the virus in test tubes.

He said one of the medications, given to some of the first people to test positive for COVID-19 in Australia, had already resulted in “disappearance of the virus” and complete recovery from the infection.

Prof Paterson, who is also an infectious disease physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, said it wasn’t a stretch to label the drugs “a treatment or a cure”.

“It’s a potentially effective treatment,” he said.

“Patients would end up with no viable coronavirus in their system at all after the end of therapy.”

The drugs are both already registered and available in Australia.

“What we want to do at the moment is a large clinical trial across Australia, looking at 50 hospitals, and what we’re going to compare is one drug, versus another drug, versus the combination of the two drugs,” Prof Paterson said.

Given their history, researchers have a “long experience of them being very well tolerated” and there are no unexpected side effects.

“We’re not on a flat foot, we can sort of move ahead very rapidly with enrolling Australians in this trial,” Prof Paterson said.

“It’s the question we all have – we know it’s coming now, what is the best way to treat it?”

Prof Paterson said positive experiences in the fight against coronavirus have already been recorded overseas, citing China and Singapore. His research team are confident they can start getting the drugs to patients in a very safe way on home soil.

“We want to give Australians the absolute best treatment rather than just someone’s guesses or someone’s anecdotal experiences from a few people,” Prof Paterson told news.com.au.

He said they hope to be enrolling patients by the end of March.

“And that way, if we can test it in this first wave of patients, we do fully expect that there are going to be ongoing infections for months and months ahead, and therefore we’ll have the best possible information to treat subsequent patients,” Prof Paterson said.

“That’s really our aim, to get real world experience in Australia.”

He said the trouble with the data coming from China was that it wasn’t really gathered “in a very controlled way”, given they were the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak at the time.

“Things were just chaotic,” Prof Paterson said.

“There were these emergency hospitals being built and the system really being very, very stretched.”

One of the two medications is a HIV drug, which has been superseded by “newer generation” HIV drugs, and the other is an anti-malaria drug called chloroquine which is rarely used and “kept on the shelf now” due to resistance to malaria.

He said the researchers want to study them in a “very meaningful way” against the coronavirus to “try and alleviate that anxiety of Australians”.

“There have already been patients treated with these in Australia and there’s been successful outcomes but it hasn’t been done in a controlled or a comparative way,” Prof Paterson said.
The drugs would be given orally, as tablets.

Prof Paterson said patients would be asked to participate “as soon as they’re admitted” to hospital with the aim of beginning treatment “very early on in their illness”.

He said the research was sparked by Chinese patients, who were first given the drug in Australia, showing their doctors information on the internet about the treatment used overseas.

“Our doctors were very, very surprised that a HIV drug could actually work against the novel coronavirus and there was a bit of scepticism,” he said.

“That first wave of Chinese patients we had (in Australia), they all did very, very well when they were treated with the HIV drug.

“That’s reassuring … that we’re onto something really good here.”

The RBWH Foundation has established a Coronavirus Action Fund. By Monday afternoon it had raised $30,000 of the desired $750,000 for the clinical drug trials and other related medical research.

“The trials will start as soon as funding is secured,” the fund states.

When asked why they had to put a call out money, Prof Paterson said they “want to give as many people in Australia access to this” and can’t take doctors away from their normal work.

“The reality is that doctors are going to need to be concentrating on their patients and we need to get a very strong research team across Australia that can make sure that all the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed and make sure that it is a really high-quality study so that we can be really confident in the results,” he said.

“We did this with bushfires, this is an example where we’re reaching out to the public to put the financial support behind the study so it can get underway.

“Fifty hospitals have expressed interest in participating and we expect there may even be more to come.”

Source: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/cure-found-for-coronavirus-in-australia/3973564/

GREAT VALUE DEALS IN PENANG WHEN BOOKING DIRECT WITH THE WEMBLEY ST GILES

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The Wembley – A St Giles Hotel in Penang is managed by Cititel Hotel Management (CHM), a subsidiary company of IGB Berhad. The Wembley, located on Magazine Road, centrally sits in the heart of the historic city of George Town, where this historical site was famously known as the Wembley Park. The name bestowed during the British rule and this propitious site was the prime venue of entertainment where theatrical troupes ranging from European and American operetta and vaudeville, Chinese opera inclusive of Javanese tonil performed for Penangites.

The four-star hotel’s 415 comfortable guestrooms inclusive of Suites and Executive Rooms are exquisitely designed with batik-style motif, complement with luxurious amenities and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Offering panoramic views of the north and south channels including the iconic Penang Bridge and the city of George Town, the guestrooms and suites are well-appointed with modern facilities that are practical to both business and leisure travellers. Guests will appreciate the Hotel’s convenient access to major commercial and government offices, cultural and historical sites, quaint shops, shopping complexes, bazaars and a variety of popular local food fare.

The famed Batu Feringghi beach is a mere 30 minutes’ drive away whilst it takes only five minutes to get to the Penang Ferry Terminal and just a mere 20 minutes from the Penang International Airport!

The Wembley’s extensive dining and entertainment facilities include the 24-hour Wembley Café located on Level 2, the Lobby Lounge and Enoshima Japanese Restaurant (located on the Lobby Level). Even while eating out, guests are spoilt for choice as many reputable eateries, local hawker stalls, open-air coffee shops, stylish cafes and pubs are within walking distance from the hotel. The Hotel’s Executive Lounge, DSRT Sky Room and the first Helipad in Penang and Northern Region are located on Level 30 and 31 of the hotel and offer a panoramic view of George Town and Penang Island.

The Hotel’s function space on Level 9 and 10 would set as the preferred venue for many successful annual dinners, corporate meetings, seminars and weddings with the impressive Wembley Grand Ballroom, one of the largest pillar-less ballroom in Penang, with a seating capacity of more than 1,000 persons, complemented by 10 other supporting function rooms suitable for smaller private meetings and events. It is a dream to any astute meeting planner as each function room features modern audio-visual equipment and wireless internet access. Tailor-made proposals to meet guests’ needs and requirements can be arranged accordingly. Special Wedding banquet celebration packages are also available.

Other in-house services and facilities within the hotel include wireless internet connectivity throughout the hotel, laundry and valet services, a salt-water infinity swimming pool, a gymnasium, a 24-hour internet kiosk, ample covered car park (560 parking bays), doctor-on-call, travel and transport arrangements. The health centre and shopping arcade will be open soon.

Offering guests a choice of enjoying their stay in a sea-facing or heritage-view room, rooms come equipped with a 39-inch or 50-inch LED-colour television, based on the room category, air-conditioning, international direct dial, attached bathroom with rain shower/long bath, bidet, digital in-room locker (electronic safe), iron and ironing board wireless internet connectivity, coffee and tea-making facilities, six local television channels, thirteen selected satellite television channels, in-house movie channels, and music channels, amongst others.

Be it a first-time visitor or regular, a visit to Penang is never complete without taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of Penang. Discover George Town’s old-world charm and cultural diversity either on foot or the old-fashioned (and eco-friendly) way – by taking a leisurely ride on a trishaw or on a bicycle to explore this historic city up close and personal. Or if you prefer exploring George Town in air-conditioned comfort, you can enjoy a bus ride within this heritage city for FREE! The ‘Hop-On Free Central Area Transit’ (CAT) plies the route between the Weld Quay Jetty and Komtar at 15-minute intervals from 6 am to midnight daily.

Exploring the grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage City has never been this convenient – now with 19 CAT stops in between all the famous heritage landmarks of Penang, just climb on board the CAT bus and discover all the wonderful history that George Town has to offer. You can also catch the latest Penang “Hop-On, Hop-Off” double-decker bus which will take you on a city or beach route, at a minimal charge.

Embark on a tour to the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, Fort Cornwallis, Penang War Memorial, Town Hall, City Hall, State Assembly Buildings, Penang Supreme Court Building, Convent Light Street (the oldest girls’ school in Penang), Cathedral of the Assumption, Penang State Museum, St George’s Church, Little India, Goddess of Mercy Temple, The Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Khoo Kongsi, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kapitan Kling Mosque, Church Street Pier, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Captain Francis Light’s final resting place and many more heritage sites which are just between five to ten minutes driving distance away from our new hotels.

Do take some time to explore the living heritage of George Town, where, on a walk-about or cycle-ride tour, you will come across traditional tradesmen such as the rattan weaver, songkok maker, joss stick maker, tombstone engraver, ‘poh piah skin’ maker, ‘yu char kuih’ maker, signboard engraver, wooden and bamboo blinds maker and the ‘nyonya beaded shoes’ maker – at work.

So go ahead and rent-a-bike, grab a map and away you go to explore historical Penang! For the ardent shopper, bargains galore await at the many bazaars, shops, departmental stores and shopping malls, namely Komtar, 1st Avenue Mall and Prangin Mall which are located right opposite our hotels and are about 100m walk away, or Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon along the renowned Gurney Drive – a 10-minute drive away.

The Wembley currently offers the best rate promotion, for the guest that book direct on our website will enjoy up to 15% discount and guest who books 14 days in advance will enjoy up to 20% discount. Apply promo code – “BESTRATESTGILES”

For more information, please visit www.StGilesHotels.com.

Malaysia Airlines taking the Gold medal for Best Overall Cellar at the Cellar in the Sky Awards

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The winners of Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky Awards 2019 have been announced, with Malaysia Airlines taking the Gold medal for Best Overall Cellar.

The annual awards, which recognise the best business and first class wines served by airlines around the world, were presented on Monday evening at The Langham hotel in London by Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge.

Qantas was awarded Gold in the Best First Class Cellar category, with Cathay Pacific awarded Silver, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Singapore Airlines awarded joint Bronze.

Malaysia Airlines won Gold for Best Business Class Cellar, with Qatar Airways and Air New Zealand jointly taking Silver, and Aer Lingus taking Bronze.

Business Traveller magazine’s Cellars in the Sky Awards has been running since 1985.

In 2019, 35 airlines entered, with the judges – masters of wine Sarah Abbott, Tim Atkin and Peter McCombie, journalist and wine writer Kathryn McWhirter and head judge Charles Metcalfe –  blind tasting more than 250 bottles to find the winners.

The event was kindly sponsored by Champagne house Duval-Leroy.

ANA won Best First Class Red (for its Domaine David Duband, Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er cru 2017, Burgundy, France), while Air New Zealand won Best Business Class Red (Brennan B2, 2016, Queenstown, Central Otago, New Zealand).

Qantas won Best First Class White (Shaw and Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2017, Adelaide Hills, Australia), with Best Business Class White going to another Australian wine, this time served by ANA (Stella Bella Skuttlebutt Sauvignon Semillon 2018, Forest Grove, Margaret River, Australia).

This year’s awards saw the introduction of a rosé category. Best First Class Rosé went to American Airlines (Château Gassier Le Pas du Moine Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018, Sainte-Victoire, France). Best Business Class Rosé was awarded to Air New Zealand (Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rosé 2018, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, New Zealand).

In the battle for best bubbly, Cathay Dragon took Gold for Best First Class Sparkling (Champagne Rare Millesimé 2002, Piper-Heidsieck, France), while Malaysia Airlines took the top spot for Best Business Class Sparkling (Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007, France).

Emirates took Gold medals in both Best First Class Fortified/Dessert (Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2013, South Africa) and Best Business Class Fortified/Dessert (Dow’s Colheita Port 1992, Douro Valley, Portugal).

Oneworld was named Best Airline Alliance, while Singapore Airlines was judged to have both the Best-Presented First Class Wine List and Best-Presented Business Class Wine List.

See the full list of shortlisted wines and tasting notes here. 

Blind tastings took place in November 2019 at London’s Amba Hotel Grosvenor in Victoria.

The judges paired up and tasted half of the entries for each flight. Once they had tasted them independently, they convened in their pairs and compared findings, scoring the wines out of 100. Scores were then averaged to get a fair mark.

Team A then picked their favourite wines of the flight and put them up against Team B’s selection, with the quartet then re-tasting the final selection and awarding Gold, Silver, Bronze and sometimes Highly Commended.

“By the time we get to the final top winners, they’re bloody good wines and they’ve been through the mill to get there,” head judge Charles Metcalfe commented.

The competing airlines were Aegean, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aircalin, Air Canada, Air Italy, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, American Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Dragon, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Gulf Air, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, Jetblue, Jetstar, Korean Air, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Virgin Atlantic and Westjet.

Readers are invited to join us at the Business Travel Show at Olympia London on Wednesday February 26 and Thursday February 27 from 1400 to 1500 to try some of the winning wines.

For more information and images for publication, please contact Kirsty Clark at [email protected] or tel +44 (0)20 7821 2700.

Business Traveller subscribers can read more about the judging process here:

A Paradise of Pure Tranquility – The Mangala Resort and Spa

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200kms outside of Kuala Lumpur, lies a beautiful oasis formed from the aftermath of decades of man taking from the land. Revived by putting back more than what was lost, the landscape has been re-born and has become what is now a paradise retreat known as Mangala Resort and Spa.

Mangala, in Sanskrit means ‘’auspicious well-being’’ and from its beginnings, it was clear that the resort had the auspicious well-being of its surrounding landscape as well as its guests at heart.

The story of Mangala began way before the idea of a resort was conceived. It was born from one man’s hobby and a desire to experiment with modern solutions to revive a barren landscape.

Mining of tin and sand from the 1930s onwards devoured the land until there was almost nothing left. Nothing, that is, except a seed of inspiration for Franky Group Managing Director, Datuk Franky Chua Goon Eng, when in 2002 he saw beyond what it was, to what it could be. One bungalow, as a family getaway for Chua grew into what it is today due to the reaction of family and friends when they began to visit.

Eco-friendly methods of replacing top-soil with locally produced organic waste from palm oil mills started to revive the land enough for trees, shrubs and flowering plants to take root and let nature take its course. And over time as the land was encouraged and allowed to mature, a symbiosis occurred between animal, plant and human life.

Perhaps that’s why there is a sense of calmness and tranquillity at Mangala. Its success story speaks through the sound of birdsong and the abundant variety of fauna and flora that are now flourishing in the resort. Over a hundred species of birds make Mangala their home. Beautiful birds such as heron and kingfisher fly in the skies above aquatic ecosystems, while animal life thrives below in lush landscapes of palm trees and fruit orchards.

Conservation projects ensure measures are in place to sustain the delicate balance of life and reduce the resort’s carbon footprint. Buggies and bicycles are the only transportation you’ll see around the resort. The use of up-cycled materials such as the timber for the water gates that control the water levels throughout the year is just one of many low-impact eco-friendly methods adopted at Mangala.

To date, there are 67 villas, including one bungalow, a lobby, spa complex, fitness centre, and outdoor saltwater pools spread around 400 acres. It is an ongoing project that has seen a miraculous transformation based on respect for the earth and a desire for the resort to be integrated with nature through seamless design.

Forests, wetlands, and lakes sit in perfect harmony with eco- friendly detached villas in a range of designs but all with a common feeling of privacy, luxury, and tranquillity. Nestled amongst the tropical landscapes they open up to stunning vistas and dazzling night skies, allowing guests to experience nature to the full from within their villas as well as out.

It’s a haven for those desiring total exclusivity and privacy. Private enclosures surrounded by palm forests and nature are perfect for those wanting a quiet retreat. It’s a resort worthy of royalty. Stayed in by kings and visited by princes, it’s a location that draws those who want to spend some time away from their hectic lifestyles and connect with nature and themselves.

It has been an amazing transformation through sustainable design and it hasn’t gone unrecognised.  The project has won many awards, including the World Gold in the Environmental (Rehabilitation/ Conservation) Category at the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence Awards 2018 and in 2019 it won the FIABCI Malaysia Property Award as the Best Resort in Malaysia. And it’s no surprise that as the Environmental Resort of the Year this five-star haven is affiliated with the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

A ‘Low-tech, high-touch’ philosophy, using organic methods to revive life, except for the mosquitos! There are no mosquitoes at the resort despite the abundance of water. The flora and fauna introduced over the years have produced an eco-system devoid of these pests ensuring that the only buzz guests will hear is of an iridescent dragonfly darting by or the buzz of excitement as they experience what this stunning resort has to offer.

Activities at the resort include eco-tours, archery, cycling, kayaking, and birdwatching, as well as private spa suites and wellness programmes.

Nevertheless, if you want to combine paradise with business then corporate events and activities are catered for too in this beautiful and inspiring setting.  

Facilities include meeting rooms suitable for small to medium-sized events, dinners, launches, and conferences. Rooms are equipped with the latest technology to ensure a successful event.

Whatever the occasion, Mangala Resort and Spa aims to leave you with a feeling of auspicious well-being and continues to be an on-going environmental project to ensure the resort remains in perfect ecological balance.

Malaysia Airlines – Adopting measures to deliver peace of mind during coronavirus outbreak

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MALAYSIA Airlines has adopted a series of measures to deliver safe and best-in-class service to passengers, allowing them to travel with peace of mind in view of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

This includes control measures to lower the risk of on-board disease transmission such as preparing medical communicable disease kits in every aircraft to cater to ill passengers.

The national airline is also carrying out temperature screening for all passengers travelling to and from China to meet the requirements outlined by China’s Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Authority.

“All passengers are advised to arrive early at the airport and head to the boarding lounge 90 minutes prior to departure where the screening will be conducted,” said the airline’s advisory.

To protect the safety and interests of passengers and crew, Malaysia Airlines has advised those with symptoms of fever, cough, or breathlessness to postpone their travels to avoid being denied boarding and entry to China.

On Jan 28, the Ministry of Health Malaysia mandated anyone originating, residing, or traveling from China within the past 14 days to identify themselves to health authority personnel before approaching the Immigration counters at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Passengers would then be provided with a health alert card.

“Those suffering from fever, difficulty in breathing, and cough, are also required to identify themselves for further health screening by the health authority,” added the advisory.

All passengers will undergo body temperature screening at thermal scanner counters in KLIA, while for those from China screening is conducted by China’s health authority.

HEPA-filtered air

Malaysia Airlines has also explained that the air in an aircraft is recirculated and filtered regularly by High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. Passengers are therefore less likely to be exposed to bacteria and viruses.

The cabin’s air is changed 20 to 30 times per hour and 50 per cent of the cabin air is recirculated through the HEPA filters, whereas used air is expelled from the aircraft.

“In fact, because of the high-efficiency filters and frequent air circulation, the air you’re breathing on your flight is likely much cleaner than most office buildings and is on par with the air in most hospitals,” Malaysia Airlines said in a Facebook post.

Malaysia Airlines has also illustrated the air-circulation patterns in a typical single-deck and double-deck aircraft.

Precautionary measures

All hard surfaces are cleaned, wiped down, and disinfected with approved disinfectants after each flight, in addition to periodic cleaning of lavatories every 35 minutes by crew members during flights to reduce the risk of 2019-nCoV.

“We work closely with all destination health authorities to ensure our passengers and crew are safe and healthy,” said the airline.

Malaysia Airlines is guided by aviation health procedures put in place by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, World Health Organisation (WHO), and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) when having contact with potentially infectious travellers.

The airline has also notified cabin crew of a modified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique, where mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is no longer done and is replaced with the use of the Bag Valve Mask.

Malaysia Airlines has also ceased nightstops at Beijing Daxing and Shanghai Pudong airports to limit the risk of exposure to infection to both crew and assets.

Travel recommendations

The national carrier has also outlined travel recommendations for passengers so they can better protect themselves and others, as well as prevent the spread of 2019-nCoV.

Passengers are advised to practice cough and sneezing etiquette, as well as avoid individuals showing symptoms of fever, runny nose, and cough.

Cancellation and Waiver Policy

In light of this situation, passengers holding Malaysia Airlines confirmed tickets issued for travel from 28 Jan until 29 Feb 2020 to/from mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen) will be permitted cancellation with full refund or a one-time flight change with waiver of change/cancellation fees (applies to partially used and wholly unused tickets). Revised/alternative travel date must be on or before 31 May 2020, subject to flight availability. Passengers may call our Contact Centre at 1 300 88 3000 (in Malaysia) or +603 7843 3000 (outside Malaysia) to initiate these transactions.

Relocating to Asia? – Why the property market is quite exciting

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Finding the right place to live is one of the most important decisions you have to make in life and can impact on a healthy work-life balance. Nowhere is it more important than fast-paced, vibrant locations such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, where working hard is the norm but having a place to call home, in a location that suits your living needs is paramount if you’re going to find that healthy balance.

The property market in Asia is an exciting one and Kuala Lumpur is no exception. It has been documented as one of the top five cities in Asia to buy property and arguably described as having the most open and competitively priced market in Southeast Asia.

With a stable property market, Malaysia stands alone as the country in Southeast Asia where non-locals can own 100% of the property in their own name and even get a long-term residence status through property ownership. This opens the door to a viable and secure future in Kuala Lumpur and although there are certain restrictions on foreign ownership, it still leaves a variety of property and locations to choose from.

Move to Kuala Lumpur and you will be living in Malaysia’s most expensive housing, spread throughout eclectic districts that have a variety of living options.

Top of the list of most popular areas to live in Kl is KLCC, unsurprisingly commanding a high price tag for purchases and rentals.

But you will be buying into that city centre lifestyle. Ensuring easy access to the office but also within walking distance to world-class shopping centres and restaurants, and the Golden triangle entertainment district which all help in maintaining that vital work-life balance.

Spacious condominiums and apartments with building facilities of fitness centres and swimming pools are popular here. You’ll find a mix of singles, couples and families from around the world enjoying this lifestyle connected to the heart of the city.

Damansara Heights (Bukit Damansara) is also known to locals as Kuala Lumpur’s Beverly Hills district and there’s no need to explain why when you see the quality of accommodation on offer in one of the most affluent parts of the city.

It’s a leafy neighbourhood but a convenient 15 minutes away from KLCC. Made up of mostly gated communities of bungalows, small houses and scatterings of low rise apartments all within close proximity to schools, makes this a perfect location for families too.

If you are looking for an established but less modern neighbourhood of long-term residents that include ex-pats, then Bangsar is the place for you to nest. Young singles and couples who have a desire to experience community in Kuala Lumpur tend to gravitate here, but the lack of international schools and day-care centres makes Bangsar a little less practical for families.

Bungalows and condos built in peaceful settings are close to the buzz of affordable bars, restaurants and shopping centres.

Desa Sri Hartamas has a get-away-from-it-all feel even though its great road links give quick access to KLCC. It underwent a major, but sympathetic renovation in the 1990s. Low-rise condos and townhouses with lots of green spaces give this district a homely and secure feel with good access to amenities such as childcare facilities, high-end spa facilities and the country club.

Another popular, upmarket area to live in KL is Mont Kiara. There is a wide range of accommodation on offer here from deluxe bungalows, small houses, high- rise apartments and high-end accommodation to suit any lifestyle. This suburban district has everything you will need or want for yourself and your family. But public transport links aren’t as extensive here so a car might need to be considered.

If money isn’t an issue and you are looking for a haven to establish a perfect work-life balance, then look at what Bukit Tunku has to offer. It’s the luxury end of the market outside of KLCC. The affluent lifestyle afforded by a big bank balance or a generous company housing allowance means exclusive condos surrounded by greenery and everything else that might entice you to work from home more often!

Singapore has a property market that is booming. It is the second most expensive housing market in the world, second only to Hong Kong and has revelled in enormous increases in real estate prices over the last few years, due to a high level of development around the city-state. But the market for foreign investors is regulated by the Government who controls prices, allocation and permits in order to prevent speculative buying and selling.

Nevertheless, there’s a huge amount of foreign investment. Property offers a relatively stable and safe investment opportunity compared to some other Asian countries because of a number of factors that include its strong strategic position, neutral stance, low crime and high standards of living.

Singapore is a small island with strong public transport links throughout. This means that you can’t go wrong finding a location to call home. It comes down to what type of property suits your lifestyle and property type here produces a beautiful patchwork of eclectic housing across its landscape, giving you a great deal of choice.

Condominiums and apartments are the most widespread property type in Singapore and a popular choice for those looking to move to the island.  They are usually leased partially furnished with larger items of furniture and appliances included, making it a practical option. Finding the right place to live to establish that perfect work-life balance isn’t hard when you are presented with condos and apartments in complexes that usually have 24-hour security and swimming pools, and many even have tennis courts, squash courts, gyms, saunas, children’s playgrounds and BBQ areas.

Bungalows are independent residence that can be one or multi-storied. There’s no one particular style as they are influenced by colonial, Balinese and modern living. You’ll find a hefty price tag for a bungalow with land and a swimming pool in Singapore’s land-scarce climate.

A particular type of bungalow is the Black & White Houses, tracing back to the Tudor-style house introduced by the English officers in colonial times. Mostly leased out by the Singapore Government now, a few are privately owned and can be seen commanding an impressive foothold in the Singapore landscape.

Quintessentially Singapore-styled detached, semi-Detached and terraced houses are scattered throughout Singapore in rows or as cluster houses. These are arranged as the name suggests, around focal points such as courtyards or swimming pools. They are a popular property type for families wanting that community feel and outside space for their children to play.

And then there are the shophouses or Peranakan Townhouses that colour the landscape throughout Singapore but particularly found in the city centre, Chinatown and Little India. They are again a remnant of British colonialism from the early 20th Century. These two or three-story buildings have been renovated to produce lovely private housing, and businesses such as restaurants, boutiques and hotels

So, there’s undoubtedly a lot of choice in the Asian property market and Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are prime examples of that. It’s good to remember that ‘home is where the heart is’ and heart can certainly be found in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

How Serviced Offices Can Help You Transform Your Business

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Now, more than ever freelancers, entrepreneurs and digital nomads are job descriptions that highlight our ever-changing workforce. Along with the shift in what people do, is a shift in where they do it. Over the years in places like Southeast Asia free-thinkers have moved their location as well as their vision to serviced offices and have become coworkers with other like-minded people.

These are spaces you can occupy quickly and easily. You can generally have 24/7 access so you can accommodate time zones and working patterns from anywhere in the world. They come with a team of friendly management staff, with internet, phone lines, printers, copiers, scanners, refreshment hubs, reception areas offering admin support and much more. What grabs you at first though is the space. The best ones come with modern, classy ergonomic space that epitomizes success, elegance and comfort.

The traditional route for a growing business is to expand into rented offices. They differ to serviced offices in that it often involves lengthy fixed contracts, sourcing all your own furniture, utilities, equipment, cleaning services, etc. It means time and money spent on getting your business running rather than running your business.

With coworking comes core values of community, collaboration and with that, it has statistically been found that productivity increases too.

Why does it work so well? Maybe it’s because it’s a formula we are used to? As youngsters we shared our learning and experiences in schools. Later, universities connected like-minded people to realise their dreams in a shared environment similar to coworking. So, it’s a formula that has worked in other settings for generations.

Well established in many parts of the world as a viable option for freelancers and entrepreneurs, small and large enterprises too are opting for coworking to grow their business.

Co-sharing workspace can even increase your business networking opportunities. Imagine what happens when you are co-sharing with others from various fields of expertise …. you take a break… have a coffee… and start to chat and voila! networking becomes an integral part of your working day. It’s a natural process that is happening throughout the coworking world.

Locations for shared offices are well-considered. Thriving neighbourhoods in exciting cities that have an established infrastructure of quality shops, restaurants, hotels and leisure amenities. Prime city spots that consider logistics too. Public transport links and parking are all considered so even your commute becomes part of the experience.

The benefits of coworking are even more apparent when you step into the space that transforms the concept into the reality.

Walk into The Great Room for example, with offices in Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. The space oozes sumptuousness. It was heralded in 2016 as ‘…born to change the way people work, meet and socialize.’ Woven into its very fabric is the ethos of hospitality which stems from the traditions inspired by the architectural design of ancient buildings. Great rooms of old were the hub of the house in which people socialized, shared food, drink and ideas. And so, it is with the Great Rooms of our Modern Age which too, are inspired by hospitality.

Each site is created by a hospitality designer and evokes feelings of being in one of the best hotel lobbies in the world. They are designed to be the heart of where people meet, greet and exchange and where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s more than a business meeting over a cup of coffee, it speaks of people who want to get on with achieving their goals and get along with others as they do it.

Singapore’s The Great Room offers a range of options for this modern way of ensuring ‘It’s all work… It’s all play’.

Dedicated offices start from 2500 sgd a month. Fully equipped for two people or up to whole floors that accommodate companies of twenty or more, allowing your business and employees to flourish, in a professional, warm environment where you will be proud to invite your clients.

Then there’s the Hot Desk, from 750 sgd a month. Designed in dynamic lounge and work-hall areas, there’s a vibe that speaks of ambition and accomplishment based on sharing.

And if you just want that postcode, there’s the Virtual Office from 75 sgd a month. It’s sure to impress with its prime corporate address and mail-handling service.

Another option with no commitment needed is instant access to your shared office via a Day Pass, coming in at 70 sgd a day, it’s great for when you need a temporary base while staying in the city.

Business Club from 380 sgd a month is on offer too where you can become part of the Great Room community, networking and enjoying other perks even if you aren’t in need of office space.

But they’re not the only ones to brand the concept of communal working. Another giant in the arena is Common Ground, a fruitful enterprise of serviced offices and coworking space with roots, to date, in Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, attracting business leaders, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, developers and designers to name but a few.

In Malaysia, their success story is exemplified in Common Ground Kuala Lumpur which has spread out over the city in no less than ten locations. In a city where business is booming there is a hive of activity at Common Ground. They are thriving on the motto of ‘Ambition lives here’, offering an elegant space to convene and work, so supporting fast-growing companies to take their business to the next level without all the overheads the conventional route might entail.

Prices vary by location, but contact the team at Common Ground for prices on Hot and Fixed Desks. Private offices are designed for small to medium-sized companies and satellite teams who want a bit more privacy and prices can be given on request and tailored to your needs.

So, when we were taught as children that it was good to share maybe we should have followed through in our adult work-life and become an ambassador for sharing. After all, it has its advantages!

Why Kuala Lumpur is the 12th easiest place in the world to do business in

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Greater Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is reaching for the skies in more ways than one. The end of 2019 saw the completion of its tallest skyscraper of 492 meters, towering over the many other impressive man-made homages to 21st-century life. In contrast, below on ground-level, the city is scattered with a patchwork of green parkland that adds to the ease of KL work-life balance.

When you invest in Greater KL you are becoming part of a rich and diverse community. The people of KL are extremely friendly, made up of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds they speak, of course, Bahasa Malaysian but many residents speak English as their first language as it is widely used in education and business.

It’s all about the future and the future seems to be happening now in this modern, high-tech city which is ranked as the 12th easiest place to do business in the world. (Doing Business 2020 report based this ranking on areas including property registration, tax payments, contract enforcement and insolvency procedures.)

InvestKL

International companies setting up a business in KL are welcomed and supported with open arms and MNCs are already an integral part of its cityscape. InvestKL has a lot to do with that. Recognised as one of the Asia Pacific top investment promotion agencies for 2019 it is a ‘one-stop centre’ to help multinationals set up their regional business, innovation and talent hubs.

InvestKL works with various government ministries and agencies to help shape and offer attractive fiscal packages.  Special tax incentives support businesses in maintaining a level of competitiveness with the global playing field and what’s more,  InvestKL with their links to government ministries and agencies ensure they are in the best position to identify and overcome any red tape that might complicate a company’s move to Greater KL.

In a city where its skyscrapers symbolize how companies can grow in a market that is strategically positioned to connect the rest of the world with Asia, InvestKL is pivotal in ensuring a seamless transition into Kuala Lumpur. In the world of business, they are the perfect hosts. After all, what more do you want from a host than to support and advise you before, during and after your move? Their team of specialists, amongst other things, help in the formation of effective business strategy, introduce you to the best investment locations and talent, and offer familiarisation programmes that make Greater KL feel like a home from home.   

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Industry 4wrd

InvestKL is a contributing agency in Industry 4wrd, the national policy on industry 4.0. The policy has emerged from Malaysia’s already global manufacturing industry and aims to;  

‘Reimagine the future of manufacturing…with the objective of transforming the Malaysian manufacturing industry and its related services to be smart, systematic and resilient.’ YB Datuk Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry Malaysia, 2018

Setting up shop in Greater KL will mean that businesses will be surrounded by the ethos of the Industry 4wrd policy to ‘not only “make better things” by creating innovative products and services, but also to “make things better,” by improving design, engineering, service planning and execution, management and production processes.’

Malaysian Global Talent Programme

InvestKL, in collaboration with the Talent Corp and the Ministry of Education, are investing in people too. Money might be what makes the world go round but its people that start the ball rolling and thanks to the Malaysian Global Talent Programme the ball is well and truly rolling.

With its ‘Creating Leaders of the Future’ objective, the programme has connected government agencies, global companies and universities to nurture the most talented Malaysia (and others) have to offer and produce global corporate leaders. Leaders that will help businesses realise that the old adage of ‘the skies the limit’ is somewhat restrictive in a city where the skies are touched and stretched to bridge the gap between Asia and the world. These are the leaders that are trained to ‘scale up the leadership ladder of corporate organisations, into both local as well as global multinational companies.’

Shared Prosperity Vision 2030  

There are visionaries in Malaysia that have gone beyond rhetoric and implemented a government blueprint that aims to embed institutions in the foundations of creating a fairer, more equal society. The Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 aims to upskill the population to bridge the economic gap of all ethnic and social groups which means a larger pool of eligible workers for businesses looking to Greater KL. 

Shared Prosperity Vision 2030

Innovation and moving up the value chain

Business and innovation are at the heart of Greater KL. The global economic landscape is a fast-changing one, but Greater KL is underpinning itself with the belief that innovative ideas and business models are essential to future growth and competitiveness. So much so that they have dozens of universities in the city, innovation agencies and knowledge centres fuelled by a diverse and skilled population.                                                                                                                                              

Step into Greater KL and you will be in an environment where your ideas can be legally protected. Malaysia’s Intellectual Property Corporation handles the registration of ideas from trademarks to patents. 

Ideas are also funded. Malaysia’s largest bank, as well as other agencies, fund ideas because they believe that ideas generate viable and profitable businesses.                                                              

Innovation investors are offered comprehensive support from research and development to producing a commercially viable product or service.  So, dreams become goals, and goals become realised through three key focus areas; Create, Manage and Monetise and there are countless success stories now to show that Malaysia’s business and innovation initiative is working.

In Summary… 10 reasons why you should invest in Greater KL:

  • Tremendous vision and support from the government through agencies such as InvestKL
  • Excellent location in relation to the rest of ASEAN
  • Mature legal and regularity framework
  • Competitive cost of doing business
  • Excellent living conditions making it easy for ex-patriots to assimilate into the local culture
  • Ability to find and retain talent
  • English used in education and business
  • Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, attracting people from all over the world to live and work in Greater KL
  • Well-established and intricate network of airports, roads, railways, highways and ports making for a world-class infrastructure
  • A beautiful city made up of a mix of green and commercial space

For further information on business opportunities in KL, visit – http://www.investkl.gov.my/