Malaysian Youth Museum

Housed on the first floor of a heritage building dating back to the Dutch colonial era, the Malaysian Youth museum (Muzium Belia Malaysia) presents an interesting site amongst the many historical and cultural treasures of the World Heritage City, Malacca.

This museum was founded in 1992 and inaugurated by the former Malaysian premier Prime Minister, A.B Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohammad on April 15^th of that same year.
The exhibits at the museum catalogue the activities and achievements of the various youth groups in Malaysia. The museum commemorates the youth of Malaysia for it showcases the efforts and triumphs of youth organizations from around the region and other parts of Malaysia and beyond.
The many displays at the museum include photographs of past and present youth leaders, trophies and awards won by Malaysian youth groups and co-operatives over the years, uniforms sported by youth leaders down the ages as well as handicrafts and other knick-knacks created by youth organizations.
This unusual though sufficiently interesting museum endeavors to concentrate all available information on youth organizations in order to help research efforts and also to create greater public awareness about the important role that youth organizations play in society and the growth and development of the nation.
The building that houses the museum also has much significance for it once formed a part of the Dutch Administrative Complex during the Dutch colonial era in Malaya in the 17^th century. The building was later on used as the Anglo-Chinese school, until the British transformed it into the General Post Office in 1931. A small post office still operates from a corner of the building at present.
The second floor of the museum is home to a vibrant, art space, the Malacca Art Gallery. This gallery displays the artworks of several local Malaysian artists. At any given time the gallery has approximately 150 paintings and over thirty sculptures on display. So if you are curious about Malaysian art, do remember to include a tour of the Malacca Art Gallery, during your visit to the unique attraction that is the Malaysian Youth Museum.

Kuala Lumpur Festival

01 Jul 2013 – 31 Jul 2013


The Kuala Lumpur Festival is an annual event that celebrates the diversity of the dynamic Malaysian capital. The festival which was launched in 2006 usually kicks off at the beginning of July and lasts throughout the month. On offer during the festival month, is an exciting line-up of special activities and performances. These varied events and exhibits aim to promote unity amongst all Malaysians through a spirit of creativity. 

This year’s festival starts off with energizing band performances at popular malls and shopping centers around KL like Sungei Wan Plaza, Festival City, Vivo Mall, Lot 10 and others. These free to the public band performances will be followed by events like the Kuala Lumpur Music Festival, to be held over the weekend of 6th and 7th July at the Panggung Bandaraya DBKL (DBKL City Theater). This music fest will feature local and international artists like Jeffrey Yong, Steve Thornton and Dylan Elise amongst others and will also be free for the public. 

The KL festival schedule also features various dance performances like Dance 2013 by the Aswara Dance Company (3rd to 7th July at Aswara Experimental theater), Cultural and Holiday Dance Performances on various dates throughout the month at the popular tourist attraction of Central Market at Kasturi Walk. The Indian community of Kuala Lumpur will showcase their own dance forms through events like NirtyaSamarpanam, a Kuchipudi Dance presentation, Bharatha Natyam Arangetram concert and  Sharangathi, a  Bharatha Natyam/ Odissi Dance Concert. All these three events will be held at the Shantanand Auditorium of the Temple of Fine Arts in the Bricksfield Neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur.

In addition to these music and dance events, the festival also has on offer various Malay drama and  theater performances like Grey, Postcards from Rosa, Boeing Boeing,  Bumiputeras Lucky Lucky Son, Rashomon and others which are to be held on various dates in July at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center. Also included within the festival schedule are various martial arts performances like Silat, Wushu, Silambam and Taekwondo which showcase the traditional martial arts of Malaysia.

As the Kuala Lumpur Festival, coincides with the holy fasting month of Ramadan this year, the fest will also feature special Ramadan-themed events like the Bubur Lambuk Congee Cooking Competition to be held at the National Institute of Broadcasting and Information Abdul Razak or IPPTAR on the 24th of July. Bubur Lambuk is a rice porridge which is traditionally consumed as a breakfast meal during Ramadan. Other activities include a Ramadan Youth Camp to be held over the weekend of the 26th and 28th July at the National Mosque, a Islamic Fashion Display to be held on 20th, 21st and 28th July at the Sungei Wan Plaza, a Ramadan Spiritual concert and Nasyid competition scheduled for the July 28th at the DBKL City Theater. 

The above mentioned events are just a few of the many festivities on offer during the KL festival 2013.  So if you plan to be in the Malaysian capital during the month of July, do make sure that you take in a few of the many enthralling cultural events on offer during the cultural extravaganza that is the Kuala Lumpur Festival.

Festival website-http://www.klfestival.org.my/

Bukit Merah Orangutan Island

Adorable Orangutans or the fuzzy, red-haired Asian primates have been declared ‘endangered’ by the World Conservation Union. It is estimated that only approximately 7000 of these gentle giants now remain in the wild, largely within the jungles of Sumatra and Borneo. Efforts however are on in full swing to conserve these intelligent creatures so that future generations continue to know them.
One of these conservative efforts takes the form of Orangutan Island situated in Semanggol, Perak. This sanctuary, is in fact located within the boundaries of the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, a popular vacation spot which borders Malaysia’s largest 7000 acre freshwater lake.
Pulau Orangutan is a 35-acre island, which hosts an Orangutan conservation and rehabilitation facility extending over five acres of the island. Housed within the facility are a dozen Borneo orangutans of various ages. Ferries depart from the resort every 45 minutes for Pulau Orangutan and the ride to the island spans only about ten minutes. Once you have arrived on the island, you are led on to a specially, constructed 328-foot long steel caged walk-through, which enables you to observe these gentle creatures at close quarters. Ironically on Orangutan Island, it is humans who are caged while the endangered primate species are allowed to go about their business without a care in the world.
The orangutans housed at this refuge center are mainly rescues or orphans. The center aims to rehabilitate them so that can adapt easily once they are released into the wild. Aside from functioning as a center for rehabilitation, this Orangutan sanctuary also serves as an educational and research organization which aims to promote better understanding of the orangutans.
The Orangutan Island is one of the prominent attractions of the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort though along with this nature sanctuary the resort offers various other attractions like thrilling rides within its waterpark, an Echo Park which offers a chance to get up close and personal with diverse animals and birds and jungle canopy walk.
A trip to the Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort and Orangutan Island promises much enjoyment as well as valuable instruction for all ages.