KEE@FSWMAG.COM
Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datin Angie Manam of Van Cleef & Arpels
Female power; Joyce Yap, Michelle Hee, Datin Angie Manam, Dato Sr Dr Ng Yen Yen Minister of Tourism, Jennifer Ong, Yenti Luo and Annette Chan
Still pretty and powerful!
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM DATO SRI DR NG YEN YEN AND TAN SRI FRANCIS YEOH OPENED THE 6TH EDITION OF 'A JOURNEY THOUGH TIME' AT STARHILL DURING THE STAR-STUDDED GALA AT SHOOK! RESTAURANT ON THURSDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2012.
In the midst of the evening, news reached the Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen that Kuala Lumpur has been declared by CNN to be the World's Best 4th Shopping City! Kuala Lumpur only lost to New York (first), Tokyo (second) and London (third), beating flat Hong Kong which came in 6th while Singapore was nowhere to be seen! Bet these two cities are vomiting blood and I hear Singapore has lapsed into an irreversible coma.
"CNN has just announced Kuala Lumpur is the World's 4th Best Shopping City!"
Cheers to the stunning good news that came in halfway through dinner!
Thumbs up to KL as the World's 4th Best Shopping City!
1Malaysia! And Malaysia Bolih!
Dato Yeoh Soo Ming and Minister of Tourism toasting to the good news issued by CNN
The World's Top 10 Best Shopping Cities are, in descending order, New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai and Madrid. KL and HK are the only 2 cities from Asia!
This spectacular watch and jewellery exhibition is like a mini-Basel Fair. Entrance is free as you just walk into Starhill like every visitor and you can admire the latest and most innovative timepieces and bling. Enough to melt your platinum cards!
The Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen in her welcome speech said, "When the inaugural 'Journey Through Time' exhibition started in 2006, tourists spent RM 6.6 billion. Last year in 2011, tourists spent a staggering RM 17.6 billion on shopping! That's an increase of RM 11 billion in 10 years!
"But we are not content! BY 2020 we expect tourists to spend RM 60 billion on shopping! So events like tonight are very important in making Malaysia a top luxury shopping destination.
"In 1999 duties were lifted on watches and cameras. The Government has taken cognisance of the importance of tourist dollars and gone further last year when all duties were lifted on luxury goods! Starhill is now a major luxury centre because of this."
The Minister of Tourism attributes Malaysia's stunning tourism success story to what she calls the 5 P's.
Continued the dynamic Tourism Minister, "First 'P' is Public Policy by the Government which must support all initiatives taken by the Tourism Ministry and its agencies. I tell everyone on my overseas campaign trips there are 5 things you should not buy and bring home from Malaysia. These are cars which are expensive, crystalware, alcohol, cigarettes and chocolates! As a medical doctor, I know the last three are bad for health.
"The Second 'P' is Private Enterprise. We need people like Tan Sri Francis Yeoh who thinks in terms of decades and are not in for the short term. Starhill is a great example! By the way, he is going to be a grandfather soon to a grandaughter and Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay will be a great grandfather! Congratulations!
"The third 'P' is People. Without the Malaysian touch and our natural friendliness and ability to speak English and moderate, modern way of life, the nation would not have been so successful!
"The fourth 'P' is Products & Services. We have a drivesre range of tourist attractions second to none and are a hospitable race and we must maintain this reputation.
"The fifth and last 'P' is Promotion. We must always promote, publicise, push and promulgate and then press harder in print and multimedia! We cannot risk resting on our laurels and take things for granted."
She noted tourists spend 30% of their budget on shopping. Malaysia won Second Best Shopping City in the Globe Shoppers Index with a score of 65 whereas Hong Kong the winner of Best Shopping City romped home with a score of 68.5.
Third was Shanghai, followed by Beijing, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Delhi which make the Top 10 list followed by Manila, Taipei and Auckland.
In Istanbul recently, Malaysia won the United Nations award for Innovative Public Policy! This is something money cannot buy so make sure Barisan wins the next election!
The Minister of Tourism is hugely popular and this is also due to her natural charm and friendliness. Unlike most Ministers who sit immobile at their VIP seats, the Tourism Minister makes it a point to walk to nearby tables to say hello to friends! Most are stunned when she nonchalantlt strolls to their table to say hello and pose for photos!
Suddenly she rounded up her lieutenants and shepherded on stage as she had an announcement to make.
On stage with drink in hand, she said, "I have just been informed CNN has declared Kuala Lumpur as the World's 4th Best Shopping City in the world! This list is compiled by CNN for CNN Travel section and we only lost to New York, Tokyo and London! So we are in excellent company as a world city! I congratulate the Malaysian Government for always supporting the tourism industry and allocating us the budget and also the private sector and of course my staff at the Ministry of Tourism!"
Well, well, well, why am I not surprised? Congratulations to all!
Jennifer Ong and Kee Hua Chee
Jennifer Ong and Kee Hua Chee
The Minister of Tourism with the producers of Beijing Olympics 2008
With Kee Hua Chee, producer of this blog!
The Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and the creators of the light and sound shows for the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Kee Hua Chee with the producers from Impression Wonders Arts Development Co from Beijing
Puan Sri Puteh, Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Tan Sri Dato Seri Panglima Azumi
Puan Sri Puteh, Tourism Minister and Tan Sri Azumi
Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad, Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Dato Zainab Ibrahim
Top VIPs
News came in that CNN has announced Kuala Lumpur was placed World's 4th Best Shopping City and Hong Kong came in 6th! KL and HK are the ony 2 cities in Asia. The Top 10 Best Shopping Cities are New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai and Madrid.
Cheers to KL!
Arianna Teoh, ex-wife of racing ace Alex Yoong
Still stunning; Arianna Teoh, Miss Malaysia World 1997
Stephanie Chia of Shiatzy Chen and Arianna Teoh
Stephanie Chua and Arianna Teoh
Malaysia's first and only male supermodel Wilson Tan
Malaysia's first and only certified male supermodel Wilson Tan
Wilson Tan leading the models wearing watches nominated for Journey Through Time awards
Francois and Lyndon Felix of IJM Corporation
Datin Angie Emam and Kee Hua Chee
Datin Angie Emam of Van Cleef & Arpels and Kee Hua Chee of keehuachee.blogspot.com
The Leading Men from Australia performed
The dishy Leading Men from Australia!
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