GWR
21-03-08, 01:22 AM
Malacca to host Eye on Malaysia
MALACCA: The Eye on Malaysia will move from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca.
The 60-metre state-of the-art ferris wheel has provided a breathtaking view across Taman Tasik Titiwangsa of the Petronas Twin Towers and Menara KL against the city skyline to some 1.2 million riders since the launch of Visit Malaysia Year last year.
It will be moved to the mouth of Sungai Melaka in Kota Laksamana.
"It is expected to be open to the public by mid-October," Ad Suria Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Adam Yong Abdullah said yesterday.
Yong signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kumpulan Melaka Bhd CEO Ismail Lajim yesterday at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who was present at the signing, said: "Discussions are still ongoing as to whether to purchase the wheel or to rent it from Ad Suria."
The wheel would cost RM22.5 million to buy outright, and leasing it will cost RM5 million a year.
The rental is inclusive of delivery and installation. Operational costs and profits would be spilt equally between the two companies, aside from the rental payments.
Ad Suria, said the chief minister, will set up a water screen presentation to entertain passengers at an additional cost of RM2.5 million, a reduction on the original cost of RM13 million.
"Meanwhile, passengers will get a gorgeous view of the Straits of Malacca, the longest in the world."
When asked what will happen to the scaled -down Eye on Malacca at Kampung Morten, the chief minister said: "It will be open to tourists. We are expecting about six million visitors a year by 2010."
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2191287/Article/index_html
2008/03/22
2 'eyes' better than one
By : Cynthia Lee
http://www.nst.com.my/Saturday/National/2192974/insidepix1
[Photo: NST - The Malacca Eye has only 16 gondolas and is only 25m tall.]
MALACCA: Two eyes are better than one.
Despite having its own smaller version of the Eye on Malaysia viewing wheel - the Malacca Eye - the 60m-tall icon currently at Lake Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur, which is to be moved here, is necessary to boost the state tourism sector.
When moved this October, said Kumpulan Melaka Bhd (KMB) chief executive officer Ismail Lajim, the Eye on Malaysia would encourage tourists to lengthen their stay here.
KMB is a subsidiary of the state government and Ismail signed a memorandum of understanding with Ad Suria Sdn Bhd on Wednesday to move the viewing wheel here.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who witnessed the signing, said discussions were still ongoing on whether to purchase the wheel or rent it from Ad Suria.
The wheel would cost RM22.5 million to buy outright, and leasing it will cost RM5 million a year.
The rental is inclusive of delivery and installation. Operational costs and profits would be spilt equally between the two companies.
"KMB would be leasing the equipment for a year because we have intentions to buy it. We are splitting the profit with Ad Suria because it will come in as a business partner which operates the equipment.
"However, profit-sharing terms will be reviewed if and when we decide to purchase it," said Ismail yesterday.
He said the Eye on Malaysia and other new attractions in the city were merely tourism products to support Malacca's unique attraction as a historical city.
"They would not overshadow Malacca's uniqueness but lure tourists to stay longer instead because there would be more activities to keep them occupied," he said.
The Eye on Malaysia, said Ismail, is already known as a Malaysian icon among tourists and this itself is an assurance of profitability.
State Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Seet Har Cheow said making a profit out of the wheel was only the beginning.
"In the long run, other industries like hotel, food and beverage and small and medium industries in the state would benefit if tourists spent more nights in Malacca."
The Malacca Eye, he said, was small, had only 16 gondolas and was only 25m tall.
"Malacca hopes to host some 6.8 million tourists by year-end and with the bigger Eye, with 42 gondolas, we can seat more people.
The location of the bigger Eye is also strategic.
"It will be situated at the river mouth in Kota Laksamana, which means tourists would be able to catch a glimpse of 80 per cent of the entire city," said Seet.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2192974/Article/index_html
MALACCA: The Eye on Malaysia will move from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca.
The 60-metre state-of the-art ferris wheel has provided a breathtaking view across Taman Tasik Titiwangsa of the Petronas Twin Towers and Menara KL against the city skyline to some 1.2 million riders since the launch of Visit Malaysia Year last year.
It will be moved to the mouth of Sungai Melaka in Kota Laksamana.
"It is expected to be open to the public by mid-October," Ad Suria Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Adam Yong Abdullah said yesterday.
Yong signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kumpulan Melaka Bhd CEO Ismail Lajim yesterday at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who was present at the signing, said: "Discussions are still ongoing as to whether to purchase the wheel or to rent it from Ad Suria."
The wheel would cost RM22.5 million to buy outright, and leasing it will cost RM5 million a year.
The rental is inclusive of delivery and installation. Operational costs and profits would be spilt equally between the two companies, aside from the rental payments.
Ad Suria, said the chief minister, will set up a water screen presentation to entertain passengers at an additional cost of RM2.5 million, a reduction on the original cost of RM13 million.
"Meanwhile, passengers will get a gorgeous view of the Straits of Malacca, the longest in the world."
When asked what will happen to the scaled -down Eye on Malacca at Kampung Morten, the chief minister said: "It will be open to tourists. We are expecting about six million visitors a year by 2010."
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2191287/Article/index_html
2008/03/22
2 'eyes' better than one
By : Cynthia Lee
http://www.nst.com.my/Saturday/National/2192974/insidepix1
[Photo: NST - The Malacca Eye has only 16 gondolas and is only 25m tall.]
MALACCA: Two eyes are better than one.
Despite having its own smaller version of the Eye on Malaysia viewing wheel - the Malacca Eye - the 60m-tall icon currently at Lake Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur, which is to be moved here, is necessary to boost the state tourism sector.
When moved this October, said Kumpulan Melaka Bhd (KMB) chief executive officer Ismail Lajim, the Eye on Malaysia would encourage tourists to lengthen their stay here.
KMB is a subsidiary of the state government and Ismail signed a memorandum of understanding with Ad Suria Sdn Bhd on Wednesday to move the viewing wheel here.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who witnessed the signing, said discussions were still ongoing on whether to purchase the wheel or rent it from Ad Suria.
The wheel would cost RM22.5 million to buy outright, and leasing it will cost RM5 million a year.
The rental is inclusive of delivery and installation. Operational costs and profits would be spilt equally between the two companies.
"KMB would be leasing the equipment for a year because we have intentions to buy it. We are splitting the profit with Ad Suria because it will come in as a business partner which operates the equipment.
"However, profit-sharing terms will be reviewed if and when we decide to purchase it," said Ismail yesterday.
He said the Eye on Malaysia and other new attractions in the city were merely tourism products to support Malacca's unique attraction as a historical city.
"They would not overshadow Malacca's uniqueness but lure tourists to stay longer instead because there would be more activities to keep them occupied," he said.
The Eye on Malaysia, said Ismail, is already known as a Malaysian icon among tourists and this itself is an assurance of profitability.
State Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Seet Har Cheow said making a profit out of the wheel was only the beginning.
"In the long run, other industries like hotel, food and beverage and small and medium industries in the state would benefit if tourists spent more nights in Malacca."
The Malacca Eye, he said, was small, had only 16 gondolas and was only 25m tall.
"Malacca hopes to host some 6.8 million tourists by year-end and with the bigger Eye, with 42 gondolas, we can seat more people.
The location of the bigger Eye is also strategic.
"It will be situated at the river mouth in Kota Laksamana, which means tourists would be able to catch a glimpse of 80 per cent of the entire city," said Seet.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2192974/Article/index_html