MATTA Fair 2010 is Back
** Read Latest MATTA FAIR Update- 3rd to 5th September 2010 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur
The 2010 Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair in coming March is expected to receive more than 78,000 visitors.
Last year, the fair alone have attracted a total of 70,000 visitors despite of the influenza A (H1N1) threat.
Matta Fair is usually held twice a year because Malaysian love to Travel and Enjoy a great Travel Deals! 😀
MATTA’s main objective is to promote the interests of the travel and tour industry in Malaysia.
MATTA also works closely with the Ministry of Tourism (Motour) as well as Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB), help organise fairs, seminars, convention and workshops both to create public awareness of the tourism industry to the world.
At MATTA Fair, Top travel and tour agents in Malaysia will showcase their Best and value for Money Travel packages
At this moment, the MATTA association is having an internal crisis. It is said the internal strife in Matta should not affect the MATTA annual tourism promotion event.
MATTA Fair 2010
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When: 12 Mar – 14 March 2010
Time: 10am – 9pm.
Where: Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur
There will be a nominal RM3 entry fee per person.
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Kangaroo and Koala at Matta Fair 2009
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It is wise to plan ahead where do you want to Travel Destination in order to save time, energy and Money!
Visitors would be offered Matta membership cards, which would entitle them to a discount at the fair.
The Matta Card
The MATTA Card comes in two product types:
1. Credit Card – Platinum & Gold (For Customer s who qualify for credit card)
2. Standard – (For Customers who prefer to use their own cash or do not meet their credit card qualifying criteria)
1. Credit Cards
– Free for Life Card- 1st year waived and subsequent years subject to cardholders spends at least 24 x for Gold and 36 x Platinum
– Free Will Writing Services for Platinum Cards
– ‘Bonus Plus’ Rewards Programme
– Zero Interest Installment Plan (ZIIP)
– Free Travel Accident and Inconvenience Benefits up to RM2 million for Platinum cards and RM 700,000 for Gold Cards
– Free Personal Accident Insurance Coverage of RM100,000 for Platinum
– Travel Personal Accident & Medical Insurance
– Concierge Service and Platinum privileges provided by VISA International
– Free Plaza Premium Lounge Services at KLIA & Changi Airport
2. Prepaid Cards
– Free for Life Card- 1st year waived and subsequent years subject to cardholders spends at least 12x
-‘Bonus Plus’ Rewards Programme
– “Privileges for life” discount programme
– Free Personal Accident Insurance Coverage of RM 3,000
– Prepaid Card is sold On-The-Spot
– Reload can be made via:
- cash deposit at EON Bank Cash Deposit Machines
- fund transfer via EON Bank ATM
- cash payment at EON Bank Counters
Potential Loyalty Merchants
– MATTA Members
– Airlines
– Hotel and Resort
– Recreation Clubs
– F & B
– Retails Outlets
– Transportation
Source from MATTA web site
If possible, use Public Transport when you visit Matta Fair.
Car parking is very limited at PWTC, Hentian Putra Bus Station and the place nearby.
Guide on taking Public Transport to PWTC:
Star LRT
If you are taking the Star LRT, stop at the PWTC station. The centre is within walking distance from the PWTC Star LRT station.
Putra Line
If you are taking the Putra Line, stop at the Masjid Jamek Station and take the STAR LRT to the PWTC Station.
KTM Commuter & KL Monorail
If you are taking the KTM Commuter, stop at KL Sentral Station first.
Next, take the Putra Line to the Masjid Jamek Station. To reach PWTC, take the Star LRT from Masjid Jamek Station to the PWTC Station.
* Have you been to MATTA Fair before?
* Are happy so far?
* Are you getting a value-for-money travel package?
Feel free to comment below!
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More visitors expected for Matta Fair
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The Matta Fair organising committee is expecting an increase of 10,000 visitors to this year’s fair that will be held from March 12-14 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).
“Last year’s target was 65,000 but we had a total of 70,000 visitors despite various issues such as the Influenza A(H1N1) scare as well as the bad economy,” organising committee chairman Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said during the Matta Fair launch reception held at The Teeq Brasserie, Lot 10 Shopping Centre.
He said that they were confident of this year’s visitor response and were not too worried about the second wave of the flu.
“I think the government and private sector have handled the situation very well and curbed the disease. We hardly see people wearing masks these days which is a good indicator that the worst of the scare is over,” Khalid said.
He added that they were also in the process of negotiating with the sponsors and soon, with the exhibitors, for something special for the customers.
“We are hoping that the exhibitors will be able to give the customers something extra like points or discounts, particularly cardholders of our official card EON Bank,” Khalid said.
He added that cardholders may also be able to take home special goodie bags.
As for the exhibitors this year, they are expecting about 300 to be present, taking up a total of 893 booths in Hall 1, 2 and 3.
“We have had so many requests for space and booth allocation from local and international exhibitors however everyone has to wait until Mon (Jan 11) before we start accepting applications,” Khalid said.
He added that they have had exhibitors from overseas countries like Mexico, Spain and America opening booths at the fair and hoped they too would return.
Until Jan 22, an early bird discount of up to RM500 will be given to active Matta members who join except those representing hotels, airlines, cruises and others, who will only get RM300 discount.
Among the most popular destinations at the fair among customers usually are Asian countries.
The official media for the event are The Star, Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily (newspapers), whereas the magazines are Escape and Traveller’s Digest.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/6/nation/20100106143148&sec=nation
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Matta fair for Muslim travellers
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THE Malaysia Association of Tour & Travel Agents – Selangor Chapter (Matta Selangor) is organising the third Matta International Fair Selangor Umrah & Muslim Travel Destinations (Masum).
Masum 2010 will be held from Jan 15 to 17 at the SACC Convention Centre, Shah Alam, and will focus on offering Umrah tour packages as well as worldwide travel packages that are suited to Muslim travellers.
“As in previous years, the main objective is to provide a platform for Matta members, particularly bumiputra travel operators handling Umrah tours and Muslim travel, to promote and sell their packages,” said Masum 2010 organising committee chairman Khairiyatul Azmin Akhiruddin (Kay).
This year, Matta Selangor will be organising the event with Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) and SACC Convec.
The organising committee anticipates 20,000 to 25,000 people to visit the three-day fair.
The organisers had planned to make available more than 90 booths and so far, more than 85% of the booths have been sold.
The fair is expected to showcase more than 50 exhibitors, ranging from travel agents and national tourism organisations to financial institutions.
The organisers added that the fair would be a boost and a great way to start the new year for travel industry players in view of the recent unfavourable market conditions.
As an added incentive for those buying their travel packages during the fair, there will be a buyer’s contest with many prizes offered by airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Egyptair, Gulf Air and Firefly.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will be launching Masum 2010.
The Selangor state government is supporting the event through Tourism Selangor and will feature an extensive range of Selangor tourism products during the fair.
Kay said although the available booths were limited, potential exhibitors could still log on to masum.com.my to register online.
Interested parties can also call the Matta Selangor Secretariat at 019-632 7724 or email secretariat.selangor@matta.org.my for further details.
The event is supported by the Selangor State Tourism Action Council in collaboration with Shah Alam City Council and endorsed by the Saudi Arabian embassy.
Among sponsors are PKNS, SACC Convention Centre, Cathay Pacific, Egyptair, Gulf Air, Firefly Airlines and Virtual Malaysia.
fr:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/1/11/central/5440027&sec=central
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Internal strife won’t affect Matta Fair 2010
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The Matta Fair 2010 will go ahead as planned on March 30, said Datuk Dr Joshua Peter Tan, the suspended president of the fair’s organising association.
Tan, whose membership of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) has been suspended, said the internal strife in Matta should not affect the annual tourism promotion event as it was for the good of the whole industry.
“We expect participants to increase by more than 10% from last year,” he told reporters at a briefing today.
Tan said the association was now seeking the tourism ministry’s help to solve its internal crisis.
He said Matta’s in-bound vice-president Khadijah Abdul Rahman, whose membership has also been suspended, sent a letter on Dec 28 seeking Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen’s intervention.
Tan and Khadijah were elected to their Matta posts at its annual general meeting (AGM) on June 27, 2009, but on Jan 1, 2010 their memberships were suspended for 15 years by the association’s exco.
Matta caretaker president Datuk Ngiam Foon had reportedly said their suspensions were “on the grounds that they have caused moral and material damage to the association”.
In her letter to the tourism minister, Khadijah said the conflict started when candidates who were expected to win office in the polls did not.
On July 23, 2009, Matta’s former president Ngiam and 15 other exco members passed a vote of no-confidence against Tan, the newly elected president, and his deputy Rozana Rahmat.
An EGM was convened on Oct 31 where 91 members resolved to declare the previous annual general meeting null and void and pushed for fresh polls on Dec 17.
Tan, however, said the Dec 17 election was not valid as it was not held in accordance with Matta’s constitution, adding that more than 100 members were barred from participating in the election.
fr:theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/156855-internal-strife-wont-affect-matta-fair-2010.html
[…] take a look at AlanTanBlog. Im going to look for Redang trip package adv_username = “icycool1121”; adv_gid = […]
it’s good to know the fair is back. i’ve been a staunch supporter, morally though. last year i went in march. booked with a group of friends to cambodia. however, i had a horrible experience with one travel company. bad arrangement, cheated on us (itinery and food), bad service. now what about if there’s only a single person wanting to go on a trip? we’ll always be charged extra. maybe a company can come up with finding a way for a single person to go in a group with others, without exorbitant price?
Get huge fare discounts at airline travel fair
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair 2010 (MATF’10) until March 7 is dangling attractive offers to customers including a 75% discount to 49 destinations worldwide.
The travel period starts from March 24 until Jan 14 next year.
Tickets can be bought via the airlines’ ticketing offices, travel agents or malaysiaairlines.com, said Malaysia Airlines (MAS) senior general manager (sales) Datuk Bernard Francis.
MAS will also be extending these offers to its customers in Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, where the fair will run concurrently, he added in a statement.
Customers can purchase one-way air tickets to any destination in Asia; starting from as low as RM133 to Medan, RM213 (Phuket) and RM359 (Hong Kong).
Those planning on flying down south can fly at only RM639 to Perth one-way, and RM1,069 to Mel- bourne (one-way).
Customers heading to Europe can opt to fly one-way to London, Paris or Rome for only RM1,549.
They can also opt for package deals of four days, three nights travel from MASholidays – inclusive of return airfare, airport transfers, accommodation and breakfast.
A trip to Bangkok will cost RM264; Beijing (RM487), Sydney (RM754) and the Gold Coast (RM816).
Additionally, customers intending to go on their umrah and ziarah journeys can opt for MASholidays’ travel package from RM4,999 for 14 days/ 12 nights to Jeddah, with three nights in Madinah and nine nights in Mecca.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/22/nation/5718733&sec=nation
KTMB Offers Discounts At Matta Fair 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) — In conjunction with the Matta Fair 2010 from March 12 to 14, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will be offering a 25 per cent discount for its intercity services to any destination.
KTMB Intercity Services marketing manager Mohd Noordin Kimi said Wednesday the tickets, valid for three months from the date of purchase, could be obtained from KTMB’s booth.
“We will give a discount on intercity tickets, regardless of how many are bought,” he said at a news conference at the KL Sentral station Wednesday.
Other promotions not to be missed include a 25 per cent discount for intercity service tickets heading to the KL Sentral station, with a minimum purchase of four tickets, from March 11 to 16.
Matta Fair 2010 is expected to see 80,000 visitors with participation of 900 booths, including those from Asia and Mexico.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=477735
Hi, how should i know whether that traveling company is reliable or not?
hi Amy,
Try to do a search at Internet or ask your friend who are in travel line
Be extra careful when buying tour packages, advises Matta president
KUALA LUMPUR: Be extra careful and read the fine print when purchasing tour packages that promise the perfect holiday.
This is the advice given by newly-appointed Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun.
“Whatever excitement you are offered, please be a little bit cautious and pay attention to the details of what you are getting into,” Mohd Khalid told The Star yesterday.
“Make sure you observe the terms and conditions of the package and acknowledge them accordingly.”
He said this after receiving a copy of a police report lodged on Tuesday by a group of 23 holiday-makers who claimed that they were not given a full refund totalling RM24,220 after their tour to China was cancelled due to “technical errors” on not being able to secure air fares for the group.
Group member Cheryl Lim said they accepted the deal at the previous Matta Fair but claimed that they were not shown the special terms and conditions of the offer.
Mohd Khalid said he would investigate the matter further but advised consumers to know what they are getting when they paid up.
“Ask your travel agent for a complete payment itinerary and ensure that nothing is hidden,” he added.
Asked on what would Matta do if such a case was reported to it, Mohd Khalid said there are mechanisms to ensure consumers are protected.
“If we find out there is a case for the customer, then the agency have to make a refund. Failing which we can cancel their membership and in serious cases, have their licences revoked upon recommendation to the Tourism Ministry,” he said.
He added that Matta would call the travel agent who also happened to be an exhibitor in this up-coming Matta Fair to show cause why they should not be barred according to the association code of ethics.
Those with complaints are advised to call Matta at 03-9287 6881 or lodge a complaint online at matta.org.my.
The Matta Fair will be held from March 12 to 14.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/5/nation/5797739&sec=nation
Firefly Offers Attractive Holiday Packages At MATTA Fair 2010
PETALING JAYA, March 4 (Bernama) — MATTA Fair 2010 will be a “must-go” event next week as community airline Firefly Sdn Bhd is offering attractive holiday packages to local and international destinations.
Firefly’s head of marketing and communications department, Angelina Fernandez, said the airline was now able to offer more variety, including to destinations worldwide through connectivity with Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
“In the previous three years, we offered only Firefly destinations but this year we are offering over 100 MAS destinations worldwide, including London, Paris and Tokyo,” she said at a press conference here Thursday.
With the slogan “Kick Off Your Holiday with Firefly Holidays”, Angelina said the theme would be on football as the World Cup fever was already in the air.
The packages are categorised under “Striker” for the best value package deals, “Midfielder” for packages with complementary value-adds such as spa sessions, dinners and transfers, and “Defender” for free and easy packages.
Another offer is Firefly tickets at RM1 to all destinations via the newly introduced Firefly Mobile application.
Head of Firefly’s distribution Lawrence Chai said this promotion would only be available onsite and visitors must make their purchases using their mobile phones.
Angelina said following the success in last year’s MATTA Fair, the airline had decided to reward customers with attractive prizes worth more than RM500,000.
“There will be a ‘penalty kick’ for any customer spending more than RM6,000 on Firefly and MAS packages with the chance to win a Maxis-Blackberry mobile phone or flight tickets,” she said.
The flying simulator, which was the main attraction on last year’s event, will again be present to give visitors a chance to test their piloting skills.
“The top three best piloting and landing participants will stand to win two complimentary Firefly tickets each as well as MAS tickets to Los Angeles, Istanbul and Hong Kong as grand prizes,” Angelina said.
MATTA Fair will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur from March 12 to 14.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=479738
Please be extra careful and read the fine print when purchasing tour packages that “promised the perfect holiday”!
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Still no refund from travel firm
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of holiday-makers seeking refunds for their cancelled trip to Shanghai, China, went home empty-handed after they failed to meet the travel agency’s manager.
Leow Kim Pu, 59, who was one of the six people who turned up at the agency’s office here for the refund, said they were supposed to meet the manager yesterday.
“But when we arrived, an employee told us that the manager was in a meeting.
“We are very frustrated because the worker acted as if they wanted to avoid meeting us,” he claimed, adding that he had even tried calling the manager several times but there was no answer.
Leow was among 23 people who lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police station last week, alleging that they were not given a full refund totalling RM24,220 after their tour was cancelled due to “technical errors”.
The group had purchased the package from the agency during a Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair in September last year.
Another traveller, C.L. Ooi, 58, claimed that although she had to pay RM870 per person for her group of 13, she was not given a receipt despite her request for one.
“We were informed by the agency that our flight was on March 4. When we went to the agency’s office two days before that, we were told that they had to cancel our flight due to technical problems faced by the airline involved,” she said.
Matta secretary-general Joseph Xavier said the association had contacted the company and that it had also initiated an investigation into the matter.
Last week, newly appointed Matta president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun advised travellers to be extra careful and read the fine print when purchasing tour packages that “promised the perfect holiday”.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/10/nation/5828328&sec=nation
MAS Offering Great Travel Deals At MATTA Fair
KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) — Malaysia Airlines is working with travel agents to offer great travel packages at the three-day Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair which will take off here tomorrow.
In a statement here on Thursday, the national airline said it will offer fares starting from RM250 to Bali, Indonesia; RM313 to Phnom Penh, Cambodia; RM649 to Perth, Australia; RM719 to Maldives and RM829 to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
For ground packages, MASholidays will be offering travel deals from RM264 per person for three days/two nights (3D/2N) to Bangkok, Thailand; RM424 4D/3N to Bali and RM816 for 4D/3N in Gold Coast Australia.
Apart from that, MASholidays is also offering umrah packages at RM5,600 per person for a 14D/12N tour to Madinah and Mecca.
The travel period for domestic destinations start on April 1, 2010 and ends on Oct 31, 2010, while international packages start on the same day and end on Dec 31, 2010.
Malaysia Airlines sales and marketing senior general manager Datuk Bernard Francis said the MATTA Fair provided a good platform for the airline to foster ties with its key partners to develop tourism resources for better travel options.
“Last year, we saw RM18.14 million sales from the fair. The top three destinations we foresee to be much sought after are London, Bangkok and Jogjakarta,” he said.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=481764
No free ride for errant travel agents
KUALA LUMPUR: Unscrupulous travel agents will not be let off the hook but instead hauled up to face a tribunal, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) said.
Matta president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun assured travellers that the association would call both the client and the agency concerned to attend a tribunal when a complaint is lodged.
“If we receive a complaint, regardless if it is from (sales during) the Matta fair or not, we have to act immediately. Within 14 days, we will call both parties to a tribunal to hear both sides of the story.
“If it is serious enough, it can lead to a suspension (from Matta), or we can even recommend to the (Tourism) ministry to revoke its licence,” he told reporters.
Khalid said Matta had advised its members to ensure that they delivered their promises.
“If you have promised a package at a certain price, then make sure you deliver,” he said, adding that consumers should also understand the terms and conditions of their holiday packages.
While Khalid admitted there was no specific refund mechanism, he said genuine business entities would not want to have their licences revoked.
“If the agency is set up just to con people, then they are committing a crime.
“But if it is a genuine corporate entity, and the cancellation (of the holiday) is not intentional, the agency is most likely to abide by the Tourism Act.
“The Tourism Ministry will give a grace period for the agency to resolve the issue, failing which its licence will be revoked,” he said.
Last week, 23 people lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police station, alleging that they were not given a full refund totalling RM24,220 after their tour to Shanghai was cancelled due to ‘technical errors’.
The group had purchased the package from a tour agency during a Matta fair in September last year.
When contacted, Matta secretary-general Joseph Xavier said Matta’s consumer affairs board had deliberated on the issue and notified the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Khalid reminded those who are not part of the Matta fair that they cannot use the Matta fair label and logo on their promotions as it is a trademark infringement.
“If they are not exhibitors and not our members, they have no right to use it,” he said, adding that many had removed the label after they were informed.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/12/nation/5845831&sec=nation
Special privilege for bank card holders
EON Bank Group Matta Credit card holders can look forward to greater deals and special rewards at the Matta fair from tomorrow to Sunday at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
For a start, card holders can gain priority entrance for themselves and one guest via the EON Bank Group VIP express lane.
This year, EON Bank Group is even more dedicated to delivering simple, convenient and excellent value for their Matta credit card holders.
“I am pleased to announce that card holders will earn Triple Matta points for every RM1 spent,” said EON Bank group head of cards and unsecured leading Aaron Tan.
He added that card holders would receive instant rewards with a minimum of RM500 swipe at the fair which is redeemable at the EON Bank Booth; special member purchase-with-purchase offers for travel items like Samsonite luggage and Thermos flasks; the option to convert purchases to a 12-month zero-interest instalment plan and up to RM2mil in travel insurance covering incidents such as flight delays, lost baggage, missed connections and more when they charge their travel arrangements to the card.
This year visitors are given the opportunity to visit more than 800 booths participated by 196 organisations, 27 hotels and resorts and 100 tour and travel agents.
An estimated 80,000 visitors are expected to attend the three-day Matta fair.
As there is a projected recovery in the economy, a sales turnover of RM100mil is expected at the fair this year.
For more information on the Matta Fair, log on to mattafair.org.my or call 03-9287 6881. To find out more about the EON Bank Group Matta Credit Card, visit eonbank.com.my or call 03- 2616 1133
fr:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/11/central/5797744&sec=central
Three More Countries Join MATTA Fair 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama)– The three-day Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair 2010 beginning on Friday saw the participation of three more countries — Uzbekistan, Syria and Yemen — bringing the total to 25.
This year’s edition featured 200 booths set up by various travel agencies, airlines and hotels.
Matta president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun told reporters after the launch of the fair at the Putra World Trade Centre here that this time a “Domestic Draw” would be held with tourism gift vouchers worth RM5,000 up for grabs for purchases of domestic tour packages worth RM200 and above.
Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Dr Victor Wee Wee, who launched the fair, said the Tourism Ministry targeted 24 million foreigners to visit Malaysia this year compared with 23.6 million last year.
“Our country’s economy is recovering slowly and is doing better than last year, so we expect more tourists to visit this year,” he said.
He added that last year, Singaporeans were the largest group to visit Malaysia, followed by Indonesians, Thais and Bruneians.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=482070
MATTA Fair 2010 To Enhance Langkawi’s Tourism Sector This Year
KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Travel Fair 2010, or popularly known as the MATTA Travel Fair, is expected to boost Langkawi’s tourism sector, this year.
The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) Tourism Manager, Megat Shahrul Azman Abas said three million tourists are expected to visit the historical island, this year.
“This is an increase of approximately half a million from the 2.5 million tourist arrivals recorded last year.
“Malaysians are still the major contributor to this figure and Thailand, Singapore and China, follow suit.
The MATTA Fair 2010 is being held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from Friday till Sunday.
In order to further boost Langkawi’s tourism, LADA has come up with the “1Passport Langkawi”. This is a document similar to a passport, which offers six major attractions in Langkawi at a single price.
The passport is being sold at LADA’s booth at the MATTA Fair’s Domestic Hall at RM40 for adults and RM25 for children.
The 1Passport Langkawi will cover the Langkawi Cable Car, Langkawi Wildlife Park, Langkawi Mahsuri Town, the Langkawi Craft Complex, the Underwater World Langkawi and “Galeria Perdana”, a historical museum on Langkawi.
“It was launched at the MATTA Fair in September last year and we managed to sell about 1000 of it.
“As this is the second attempt, we are expecting to sell more than 2000 passports,” Underwater World Langkawi Sdn Bhd’s Assistant Manager for Marketing and Communications, Haizolsam Mustaffa said.
He added the passport has seen an increasing demand compared to the last fair and both the company and LADA are very confident of the sales target.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=481949
Abu Dhabi Debuts At MATTA Fair
The Arabian Gulf Emirate of Abu Dhabi is making its debut at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair in a bid to attract more South East Asian travellers to its shores.
Spearheaded by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the destination’s pavilion features tour operators, the Emirate’s leading exhibitions facility, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre, and the Abu Dhabi Airports Company, which operates the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi International Airport.
“Our estimates show that Abu Dhabi attracts between 20 to 22 per cent of all Malaysian tourists arrivals to the Middle East.
“The number of Malaysian tourists is set to increase a lot by next year as more events will take place then,” Rajiv Vats, Manager of Abu Dhabi Pavilion sharer Kanoo Holidays for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, said in a statement here on Friday.
Abu Dhabi received 72,328 hotel guests from South East Asia last year, 5,515 of whom were from Malaysia.
Abu Dhabi was also tipped last year by two of the world’s top travel guides, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet, as a top 10 destination to visit in 2010.
fr:bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=482057
Abu Dhabi wants three million tourists this year
KUALA LUMPUR: Abu Dhabi targets to draw three million tourists this year, 22% of them from Malaysia, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) International Promotions Manager Mubarak Al Nuaimi said.
According to ADTA statistics, the emirate registered 72,328 hotel guests from Southeast Asia last year, and 5,515 of them were from Malaysia.
Abu Dhabi participated in Malaysia’s Matta travel fair for the first time this year, and Mubarak said the main intention was to attract tourists from Southeast Asia.
“We are here for the first time, and hope that we can attract more travellers to Abu Dhabi this year. We also welcome more tourists from Malaysia, which can strengthen bilateral relations,” he told Bernama when met on Sunday at the three-day Matta Fair 2010 which ends Sunday, at the Putra World Trade Centre.
Abu Dhabi is the capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates.
Visitors to Abu Dhabi will uncover an expanding range of attractions and services within the emirate, a highly diverse destination boasting 400km of pristine coastline, 200 islands with warm and clear water with a myriad of marine life, awe-inspiring deserts, cooling oases, centuries-old heritage and modern cityscapes.
“Our attraction base has expanded significantly with the introduction of new boat tours, hot air balloon rides over the desert, helicopter tours over the capital, kayaking trips through mangrove forests, stunning new championship-ready golf courses and a fabulous new desert retreat,” he said.
Mubarak said Abu Dhabi also offered sports and Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events such as the Rally Abu Dhabi, which will take place later this year as the World Rally Championship candidature for Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Abu Dhabi also provides the best travel facilities within an easy six to seven hours flying time from Southeast Asia and Etihad Airways, the award-winning national airline of the UAE, operates daily services from Kuala Lumpur to Abu Dhabi.
“Easy air access from the region and the fact that Abu Dhabi is a prime stopover for Southeast Asian travellers on their way to Europe and North America make Southeast Asia an emerging source market for us,” he said.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/14/nation/20100314112721&sec=nation
Positive response at Matta Fair as H1N1 subsides
KUALA LUMPUR: Visitors to the ongoing Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair are more willing to fork out for their tour packages, now that the fear of influenza A(H1N1) has subsided.
Organising committee chairman Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said public response to the fair had been very positive.
“There were 27,100 people who came on the first day of the fair. On the second day, 38,300 people turned up to see what was on offer.
“From what I can see, visitors seem to favour tourist destinations like China, Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and Japan,” he said.
Khalid also advised consumers not to get caught up by the heat of the moment due to attractive low prices on offer and read through the details of the tour packages.
“They need to be careful of hidden costs when choosing their holiday packages and ensure that the travel agencies honour their contracts,” he said, urging consumers to report to Matta any travel agency that short-changed them.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/14/nation/5861813&sec=nation
Economic recovery doubles visitors at Matta event
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 100,000 visitors thronged the Matta Fair in search of travel bargains over the weekend, almost double the number that visited the fair in September last year.
Organising committee chairman Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said the increased number was an indication of economic recovery.
“There has been an improvement in the global and domestic economic sector, hence, more jobs and extra income that allows people to travel,” he said yesterday.
Mohd Khalid also attributed the positive response to “an improved mindset”, after a successful campaign by the Government to encourage people to travel domestically.
“People realise they need to take a break after working hard throughout the year. They save money and splurge it on holidays especially on school breaks,” he said.
The trend, he added, has always been medium-haul travel to nearby destinations like Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and India.
The three-day fair at the Putra World Trade Centre here, which saw 196 exhibitors taking part, ended yesterday.
Visitors queued as early as 9.30am for entry tickets priced at RM3 apiece.
Sabah-based Lembah Impian Country Homes Resort sales executive Shafarhan Kahar, who has taken part in the fair for four years, said business was good since people were no longer afraid to travel as the fear of Influenza A(H1N1) had subsided.
He added that most visitors were families and newly-weds.
“There’s a lot of competition (with travel agencies at the fair), hence we have to come out with attractive packages for customers,” he said.
First-time visitor Kimberly Kwan, 26, bought two packages for Bali and Turkey for some quiet time with her boyfriend.
“I found many value-for-money holiday package deals. It’s good to be able to take off on a vacation once a year, but in my case, I’m going for two,” said the marketing executive.
University students and friends Tan Ju-li, 23, and Aimi Atiqah Mohamad Norzlen, 22, took time out of their busy schedule to look for vacation bargains, to celebrate completing their studies.
Aimi Atiqah said the Muslim holiday packages offered were a bonus as it made it easier for her to travel to foreign countries.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/15/nation/5864314&sec=nation
Firefly Chalks Up RM1.8 Million Sales At MATTA Fair
Community airline Firefly recorded RM1.8 million sales at the three-day Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair 2010 which ended here on March 14.
Head of Firefly Holiday, Lau Yin May, said that sales at the travel and tourism fair exceeded the airline’s target of RM1.5 million.
“Our sales at MATTA fairs just keep on getting better and better, and this is definitely the most successful MATTA Fair that we have participated in,” she said in a statement on Monday.
The airline said its latest Firefly Mobile Booking feature contributed RM30,000 sales at MATTA Fair this year.
“The figure further convinces Firefly that mobile booking is a potential medium of booking and purchasing flights tickets in the coming future,” it said.
Firefly is operated under FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysian Airline System Bhd.
It received the “Best Value Airline of the Year” award at the 2010 Frost and Sullivan Asia Pacific Aerospace and Defence Awards.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=482648
Matta bans agency from shows
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) has suspended a tour agency from taking part in its exhibitions and roadshows.
The move followed the failure of the company’s directors to turn up last Thursday for an inquiry by Matta’s consumer affairs inquiry committee, Matta deputy president John Tan told The Star.
“We gave them a chance to appear before the committee to explain their side of the story.
“However, after one hour wait, we decided that they were not coming,” he said.
Last month, a group of 23 holiday-makers were told by the tour company that they would not be given refunds totalling RM24,220 after their tour to China was cancelled due to the inability to secure air tickets, with the company citing “technical errors”.
Matta president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun received a copy of a police report on March 4. followed by other complaints about the company. The committee called the agency for questioning.
Tan said Matta would inform the Tourism Ministry about the reports lodged against the company.
“If the ministry finds a case, it will proceed to revoke the agency’s licence. If that happens, the agency’s membership with Matta will also be suspended,” he added.
The company was barred from the Matta fair in Kuala Lumpur last weekend.
According to Cheryl Lim, who was part of the cancelled-tour group, other groups also had complained of similar problems with the company.
The group had sought help from MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Michael Chong.
When contacted yesterday, Chong said he had made an appointment for the group to meet Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/18/nation/5868795&sec=nation
Tour agency’s licence revoked
Tour agency Andalas Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd has had its licence revoked, following recent complaints from customers over non-fulfilment of tours due to “technical errors” and unfulfilled promises of refunds.
The Tourism Ministry revoked the agency’s licence effective Monday, Malaysian Associa-tion of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun told a press conference here yesterday.
“They were given a warning to resolve the issue two weeks before the recent Matta fair on March 12-14. On March 11, we invited the agency’s management to a meeting to explain themselves but nobody turned up after we waited for an hour,” Khalid said.
The agency was suspended as a Matta member and not allowed to take part in the Matta fair, where it had registered for three booths.
To date, the association has received 26 group and individual complaints against the agency, with claims close to RM300,000.
Khalid said that after the fair, an Andalas tour manager brought to Matta’s office by a group of customers, said the company’s management could not be contacted.
On March 23, one of the agency’s directors, Mohd Shahrim Mohd Isa, who owns the company with his brother, went to the Matta office and said that a senior company official had been diverting funds to another account and could not be contacted since early March, Khalid said, adding that a police report was lodged on March 12 against the official.
He also said Matta, along with the ministry, Bank Negara and the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) were nearing the end of discussions for a mandatory basic insurance plan for agents to sell.
“Customers can opt out of it by signing a waiver form or they can enhance or add on the basic plan for extra coverage,” Khalid said.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/31/nation/5963145&sec=nation
Beware cheap offers of umrah trips
PETALING JAYA: A syndicate that poses as a tour agency offering semi-sponsored umrah packages is believed to have cheated at least 65 people and more could fall victim.
The warning came from Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun who told The Star that this was “getting very rampant” and consumers should be aware of them.
“There is no such thing as cheap umrah,” he said adding that umrah sponsorships were given mostly through private arrangements and not through commercial promotions.
Mohd Khalid was referring to a case in which a group of 65 people claimed the agent to whom they paid for their umrah in Mecca had absconded with their money last week.
“The agent had charged the group only RM2,500 each for the package, which is a very suspicious figure as an umrah package usually costs around RM5,000,” he said.
“They also did not disclose who the group’s sponsors were and the flight details,” Mohd Khalid added.
According to Mohd Khalid, those who want to validate the authenticity of a travel agent offering umrah packages should look out for the valid outbound travel licence and certification from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj.
“If they are still in doubt they can also call us at the Matta office (03-9287 6881) or visit our website matta.org.my”
Mohd Khalid also said that Matta was currently investigating such cases and two travel agencies were currently being probed.
“The two are not registered with the association,” he said, adding that there are 20 authorised travel agencies in the country that offer umrah packages.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/6/nation/6202958&sec=nation
Loan officer wins Matta Fair 2010 travel ‘jackpot’
KUALA LUMPUR: Loan officer Ng Pei Ling has a RM20,000 windfall to spend on overseas trips after she was named the grand prize winner of the Matta Fair 2010.
The 33-year-old has her sister to thank – she bought a trip to Taiwan to attend her sister’s convocation next month.
“She really brought me luck. I wasn’t aiming to win any prize, much less the grand prize,” said Ng, who bought a RM5,000 8D/7N trip for herself, her parents and her five siblings at the fair.
Ng, married and living in Kuala Lumpur, received the good news via a call from Matta last month.
Consolation prizes of return tickets to various international and domestic destinations were also announced at the prize presentation ceremony yesterday.
About 13,000 buyers submitted contest forms during the fair.
Homemaker Wong Siew Kuen from Kajang was the big winner of the domestic draw section, pocketing RM5,000 in travel vouchers.
Wong sent in three entries for the contest when she bought a tour to Langkawi.
Matta deputy president John Tan expected the next fair in September to feature more discounts and innovation in tours and travel offers.
“We hope exhibitors will look into more discounts and be more innovative in selling tours,” he said.
The March fair saw an attendance of 101,000 visitors, double the number over the previous fair.
Over 200 participating exhibitors recorded ticket and tour sales totalling more than RM95mil.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/12/nation/6238874&sec=nation
Firefly offers travel bargains at tourism fair
PETALING JAYA: Firefly will be highlighting packages for group travels during the Malaysia Domestic Tourism Fair from today until Sunday at the Putra World Trade Centre.
Its marketing and communications head Angelina Fernandez said Firefly encouraged families and groups to explore and enjoy the variety of domestic holiday spots through its Family Holiday packages.
“In short, the more people travel together, the cheaper it will be for all. There will be a holiday package for everyone both in terms of budget and also activities,” she said in a statement.
The promotion, which starts today until Sunday, is valid for the travel period between June 14 and March 26, 2011.
Packages start as low as RM369 to Penang both ways or RM239 for a drive-your-own package to Cameron Highlands.
Another exciting bargain on offer are Firefly tickets for RM1, which are only available at the fair and can only be purchased on Firefly’s new mobile phone application, Firefly Mobile.
Customers must register with Firefly Mobile at fireflyz.com.my/mobile and download the application to start booking, and the highest spender of the day will also be rewarded with gifts.
Travellers and holiday-makers will get more than just special packages and cheap fares from Firefly when they visit its booth.
The first 100 customers who purchase Firefly Holiday Packages will be rewarded with a gift voucher worth RM50.
Free 10-minute massages will also be provided for those who purchase holiday packages.
Customers of all ages will also get to experience flying a plane on the Wing Commanderz flight simulator and stand to win free tickets to selected destinations if they win the challenge.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/14/nation/6251795&sec=nation
Now you can pay AirAsia in any currency
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia customers can now buy air tickets in their currency of choice after the low-cost carrier launched a multi-currency online sales platform.
AirAsia Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the enhanced sales platform would take away the uncertainty of exchange rates fluctuation for guests, making the purchase of flights more convenient, straightforward and transparent.
“We don’t want our guests to have surprises when they receive their credit card statements at the end of the month,” Fernandes said in a statement.
The platform will enable guests to get instant pricing in five foreign currencies – US, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australian dollars and the British pound – and is the first Asian low-cost carrier to adopt the system.
The platform used by AirAsia, FXmicropay, is a cash management and merchant acquiring service offered by The Royal Bank of Scotland.
It supports over 60 currencies and AirAsia plans to accommodate other currencies in the future.
Guests with credit cards issued for the currencies may purchase flights on AirAsia from anywhere in the world at airasia.com.
In Kuala Lumpur, Transport Minister announced that AirAsia would start flying to Teheran, Iran, five times a week beginning July.
“This will bring more tourists from the region to Malaysia, hence further boosting the country’s tourism industry,” he said after launching the Marhaba Golden Card here yesterday.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/14/nation/6261752&sec=nation
Raise quality, tour agents told
PETALING JAYA: Local tour operators have been advised to make domestic tourism attractive by combining quality with reasonable pricing.
“Our tour operators must see that we no longer have a wall to keep Malaysians in the country. If our ‘products’ don’t give good value, people will just fly out,” said Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Dr Victor Wee, who represented Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen at the opening of the Malaysian Domestic Tourism Fair 2010 yesterday.
He said the quality of the hotels, travel agencies, tourism items, tourist guides, and facilities and services generally had to improve to attract more tourists here. The fair runs until tomorrow.
Deputy president of the National Tourism Council Malaysia (NTCM) cum fair organising chairman Datuk Shamsul Falak Abdul Kadir told reporters that revenue could hit RM7mil this year, some 40% over last year’s figure.
“We foresee the fair to attract 25,000 visitors this year. Last year there were about 10,000 visitors,” he said.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/15/nation/6265318&sec=nation
Currency strength boosts confidence
PETALING JAYA: The stronger ringgit is bringing cheer to Malaysians eager to squeeze more from their money. In the travel industry, operators are expecting a boom in business because many will want to cash in on the chance to see the world for less.
“And with low-cost carriers offering so many destinations, people will tend to travel more at a relatively cheaper cost,” said Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun.
He recalled that when the Australian dollar was selling at a lower rate (RM2.50 to the dollar) a few years back, there was a big shift of Malaysians going there.
However, he reminded travellers always to get value for their money, because the cheapest travel need not mean the most enjoyable experience.
Writer Foong Chee Yan, 23, who will be going on a business trip to England, was happy he would be spending less during his trip.
Parents with children studying overseas are also happy with the stronger ringgit.
Peter Yoong, 49, a residential manager, said his eldest son would be leaving for his Computer Science studies in Oklahoma in August.
He expected to pay US$12,000 (RM38,700) in fees annually. In March, Yoong said the exchange rate was RM3.30 to the dollar.
“Now, the rate is at RM3.20. There is definitely some savings here,” he said.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/18/nation/6283860&sec=nation
Tourism Industry Act to be enforced to combat cheating
PETALING JAYA: The Tourism Ministry has agreed to take up the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ (Matta) recommendation to make it compulsory for outward-bound travel agents to purchase insurance for themselves.
Matta president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said the recommendation was made following the Andalas Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd fiasco recently when packages signed up by customers were not fulfilled.
He said the Ministry was now meeting insurance companies to come up with packages for the operators.
At a press conference yesterday, Mohd Khalid said the Government had not enforced the Tourism Industry Act 1992, but in view of the rampant cheating cases, it had become important that the provision requiring tour operators to buy insurance was enforced.
He advised customers not to take a wait-and-see approach when cheated but to lodge a police report immediately and to check the tour agent’s licence with Matta or the Ministry.
Andalas Travel & Tours was blacklisted recently and had its licence revoked after going defunct without compensating seven clients as ordered by the Small Claims Tribunal.
Mohd Khalid, who said Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) was closing all its counters to travel agents at KL International Airport today, added that Matta had taken up MAB’s offer that trade associations take up the counters and service their clients.
At the press conference, Matta secretary-general Joseph Xavier announced that the committee led by Mohd Khalid was the rightful one since the Kuala Lumpur High Court had, on May 27, struck out with costs the writ and injunction obtained by three individuals to stop Matta from holding an extraordinary general meeting on Jan 7 and to retain the Dec 17 election result where Joshua Peter Tan Pin Pin was elected president.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/4/nation/6399949&sec=nation
Good turnout on Matta Fair’s final day
PETALING JAYA: Crowds thronged the last day of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair at Putra World Trade Centre.
Matta Fair organising chairman John Tan said with improving economic conditions in the country, more people had turned up to buy tour packages.
He said tour packages for both domestic and international holiday destinations were in high demand.
“Packages to up and coming destinations in countries like Taiwan, Australia, South Korea and Japan were the most popular among Matta Fair due to their pricing,” he said here yesterday. Tan said the fair managed to meet its target of having 80,000 visitors during its three-day exhibition.
“All the exhibitors were also happy with their sales results,” he said.
The travel fair was the second to be organised this year after a successful one in March.
There were more than 855 booths in the 20,000 sq m area in Halls 1, 2, 3 and also at the linkway of PWTC.
Holders of the Matta Credit Card issued by the EON bank Group not only got to enter the fair for free but also enjoyed plenty of goodies by using the credit card.
There were also discounts and loyalty bonuses for early birds.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/9/6/nation/6987322&sec=nation
Only a handful at Matta counter
By REENA NATHAN
KUALA LUMPUR: The Matta-Assist Counter at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has only had about 20 tourists daily since starting operations in August.
And the figure has not increased after its official opening ceremony six days ago.
Matta-Assist Counter customer service executive S. Sivam said this was because it was not the peak season for tourists yet.
“We are expecting the numbers to pick in the next few weeks because of Christmas,” he said yesterday.
He added that the location also played a role in the number of tourists approaching the counter.
The counter seeks to provide quality service by giving international tourists and visitors information and other relevant assistance upon arrival at KLIA.
“Of late, we have received several complaints from foreign tourists about the exorbitant sum charged by unscrupulous people for transporting them to various destinations upon arrival at KLIA,” Sivam said.
He said that the enquiries usually revolved around directions and accommodation as some tourists did not make an early booking.
“We would then suggest the nearest hotel and arrange transportation for them (tourists),” Sivam said.
He added that the main objective of the counter was to assist tourists from the registered panel members of Matta-Assist as the travel agents could not be at the airport to deal with every tourist.
The Matta-Assist counter is open throughout the year from 6am to 11pm and is located at the arrival hall of the main terminal on Level 3.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/21/nation/7473199&sec=nation
Travel advice fee not a must
PETALING JAYA: It is not compulsory for local tour agents and operators to impose consultation fees for advice on vacations.
Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Paul Paw said the fees were merely guidelines by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).
“The guidelines are to avoid certain irresponsible quarters from simply placing bookings,” he said.
Paw was commenting on a statement by MATTA on Thursday that a consultation fee would be charged effective Jan 1 when prospective travellers sought advice on vacations.
A tour agent from Kuala Lumpur, known only as Chan, said she would not impose such fees.
She said the living standard in Malaysia was not on par with that in Western countries, where many travel agents charged consultation fees.
“Personally, I think RM30 for an enquiry is expensive. We will chase away our customers if we charge the fee,” she said.
Travel and tour agents in Sabah said they were also unlikely to impose the fees.
Regular traveller Ivy Lee, 35, said it was unfair for travel agents to charge the fees because it was the consumers’ right to compare prices.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/27/nation/7514252&sec=nation
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