The Malaysia Year of Festivals has entered the last quarter of 2015 but many exciting events are still in store for tourists. Fans of the Malaysian MotoGP would be thrilled to know that the annual race is back for the 25th year while golfers would be excited to see the return of CIMB Classic – PGA Tour. The general public can participate in the BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon and enjoy the beauty of the federal administrative capital at night.

October is also the month for foodies as the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival returns for the 12th year. Besides that, this is also the month for arts and culture enthusiasts. Among the not to be missed events include the unique International Aborigines Art Festival, Citrawarna@Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya International Islamic Arts & Culture Festival.

Before I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you The Haven, a luxury resort located in Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh. It is the first and only 5-star luxury resort in Ipoh, Perak.

Till then, I hope you’ll enjoy all the exciting events for this month!

This is a very special year for the Malaysian MotoGP as it marks the 25th anniversary of the event. To celebrate its silver jubilee, the organiser has lined-up special elements at its annual Mega Moto Carnival, such as the MotoGP Wall of Fame, exclusive 25th anniversary merchandise and social media contests. Its race week line-up will thrill fans with returning favourites and exciting new events, including a MotoGP pre-anniversary party, stunt shows, a Riders Mini GP Race, Public Pit Lane Walk, Riders' Autograph Session, Safety Car Ride, Grid Walk, and many more.

Organiser : Sepang International Circuit Sdn. Bhd

Date : 23 – 25 October

Venue : Sepang International Circuit, Selangor

Contact : 603 8778 2200

Website : www.sepangciruit.com

Malaysia International Gourmet Festival is back for its 12th successive year. For those who love to eat, get ready for a delectable feast as gourmet restaurants and top chefs whip up a variety of special dishes and delicacies using quality ingredients. Travel around the country and savour delicious culinary creations.

Organiser : AsiaReach Events

Date : 1 - 31 October

Venue : Selected Hotels in Malaysia

Contact : +603 2282 8028

Email : info@migf.com

Website : http://www.migf.com

In this year’s BSN Putrajaya Night Marathon 5km run, you will be running or walking with thousands of people along the beautiful streets of Putrajaya. Participants are encouraged to put on something illuminated (think glow-in-the-dark shoe laces, etc) as they complete the 5km course along the main Putrajaya boulevard. Putrajaya itself will glow in a myriad of colours for this event, transforming Malaysia’s administrative capital into a night-time paradise. So dust off your running shoes, find anything that shines, blinks or glows, and get ready for a night full of fun and shine!

Organiser : Bank Simpanan Nasional

Date : 24 October 2015

Venue : Dataran Putrajaya, Precinct 3

Contact : 03-56373821

Website : www.bsnpnm.com

The beautiful fairways of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) will be the witness to this year’s CIMB Classic. The tournament, the only official PGA TOUR FedEx Cup event in Southeast Asia, features a limited 78-player field with a prize purse of USD7 million, making it one of the richest professional golf tournaments in the region. Hosted in Malaysia, the CIMB Classic combines the best of golf and hospitality in one captivating event.

Organiser : CIMB Classic

Date : 29 October – 1 November

Venue : Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

(KLGCC)

Website : www.cimbclassic.com

This unique festival features the aboriginal/ indigenous peoples from various countries: Maori (New Zealand), Aboriginal (Australia), Zulu (South Africa), Aboriginal (Papua New Guinea), Samoas (Samoa) and Malaysia’s Orang Asli. View gala performances featuring unique music, dance, and culture of the various aboriginal groups, art and culture demonstrations, products sales and pocket shows.

Organiser : National Department For Culture & Arts (JKKN)

Date : 23 – 25 October

Venue : Titiwangsa Lake Garden, Kuala Lumpur

Contact : 603-2614 8200 / 8283 / 8316

Website : www.jkkn.gov.my

The signature tourism event of Malaysia is back with a fresh brand and concept – Citrawarna@Kuala Lumpur – to enthrall audience in a whole new way! Mark the date on your calendar and join us for a spectacular night of lights, dance and culture that celebrates Malaysia Truly Asia!

Organiser : Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia (MOTAC)

Date : 17 October

Venue : Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Contact : 603 8000 8000

Website : www.motac.gov.my

The development of Putrajaya as a contemporary administrative capital city of Malaysia was inspired by the need to project her unique image of Islamic heritage and its values. In support of this aspiration, the Putrajaya International Islamic Arts and Culture Festival, in short PIIACUF, was conceived as the platform for the expression and appreciation of Islamic values. The Festival will feature two art exhibitions, namely Wonders of Islamic World and the Al Aqsa Exhibition: Forms of The Doa, as the anchor, plus Islamic art collections from the region extending to the Middle East and Central Asia. The Festival will certainly upgrade Putrajaya’s stature as an international lifestyle centre reminiscent of the grandeur of Islamic civilisation in shaping human knowledge in all fields, spanning across various disciplines of philosophy, economics, finance, the arts and the sciences.

Organiser : Putrajaya Corporation

Date : 29 October – 1 November

Venue : Dataran Putrajaya, Precinct 3, Putrajaya

Contact : 603 8887 7000

Website : www.piiacuf.com

The Haven Luxury Resort is currently the first and only five-star luxury resort hotel in Ipoh, Perak. It is located in Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, just 5 minutes after exiting from the North South highway interchange. This luxury condominium development consists of 512 units spread across three 26-storey towers. The units measure from 968 to 2,840 square feet. The Haven is operated by Best Western International, one of the world’s largest hotel management chains under their Premier 5-star category. It offers an attractive eco-vacation destination with accommodation, food and services that caters to guests of three generations – parents, children, and grandparents.

Its facilities and services include gym, spa, jogging track, restaurant, shuttle services, infinity pool, clubhouse and a children’s playground. They also offer adventurous activities, such as flying fox, Via Ferrata and Burma Bridge.

The Haven is near Sunway Lost World of Tambun and Ipoh Heritage Walk. It is currently in the running for three World Luxury Hotel Awards, namely Luxury Family “All Inclusive Hotel”, Luxury Hotel “Best Scenic Environment”, and Luxury Suite Hotel. It offers guests an exclusive experience and nature that they have never experienced before.

Location : Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, Perak

Contact : +605 546 6666

Website : www.thehaven.com.my / www.thehavenresorts.com

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website athttp://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2014, Malaysia registered 27.4 million tourist arrivals and RM72 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner.

Malaysia celebrated its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) in 2014 with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The promotion of the country continues with the MALAYSIA YEAR OF FESTIVALS (MyFEST) campaign in 2015 with the theme “Endless Celebrations” emphasising the various festivals celebrated by its multicultural society. Both campaigns are key drivers towards achieving the country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area).

Through the Tourism NKEA, collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, other Government agencies and the private sector have been enhanced to help secure Malaysia’s position as a leading tourist destination. The targets set under the Tourism NKEA will be achieved through the implementation of twelve Entry Point Projects (EPPs) clustered under five themes: Affordable Luxury; Nature Adventure; Family Fun; Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports; and Business Tourism.

Press contact:

Media Relations Unit:

Chresentia F.B. Sadatal (Ms), Assistant Director, Corporate Communication Division

Tel: +603-8891 8776

Email: chresentia@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:

Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Corporate Communication Division

Tel: +603-8891 8759

Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my