Thursday 23 October 2014

The Ritz is the most popular hotel in London for multimillionaires

A recent report released stated that The Ritz and the Mandarin Oriental are particularly popular among wealthy traveleres from the Middle East and Asia. 

LONDON: Where do the world’s mega-rich travelers rest their heads when they stay in London? According to a newly released report, that would be The Ritz London, which drew the most multimillionaires of any other luxury hotel in the city over the past year.

According to a report from New World Wealth, which keeps tabs on the hotel habits of 20,000 multi-millionaires in their database, the hotel of choice for 2,600 of the world’s ‘one-percent’ in London was The Ritz, followed by the Mandarin Oriental (2,200), and Claridge’s London (1,900).

The report also highlights different market preferences for luxury brands: The Ritz and the Mandarin Oriental are particularly popular among wealthy travelers from the Middle East and Asia, analysts say.

Claridge’s, meanwhile, is mainly used by business visitors, while The Berkeley brand is popular among rich American and Canadian visitors.

The report estimates that the UK received about 80,000 multimillionaires in the 12 months from June 2013 to 2014.

Meanwhile, the Mandarin Oriental London, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire and The Ritz London were the highest-ranking hotels when it came to guest satisfaction, as rated by a panel of selected multimillionaires.

Last month, the same group also found that the internationally, the splashy Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas emerged the most popular hotel among the world’s wealthiest travelers, as it received 6,400 visits in a one-year period.

For the purposes of the study, a multimillionaire is defined as an individual with net assets of at last $10 million USD.

-Source: AFP RELAXNEWS

Roslin Hashim: 'Perkara ini serius'




BEKAS pemain badminton kebangsaan, Roslin Hashim mahu atlet terkemuka negara yang gagal ujian doping pada kejohanan antarabangsa baru-baru ini tampil ke depan merungkaikan segala persoalan.

Katanya, sekiranya ikon negara itu betul-betul mengambil ubat terlarang, dia seharusnya berani tampil ke depan dan tidak cuba menegakkan benang basah.

“Perkara ini serius, ia bukan sahaja melibatkan kariernya sahaja tapi imej sukan terbabit juga akan terjejas. Saya tak tuduh dia ambil, dan sebolehnya saya harap perkara ini tidak benar kerana dia merupakan atlet ikon negara dan menjadi kebanggaan rakyat Malaysia sebelum ini.

“Tapi, sekiranya betul, jujur dan berterus terang dan ia boleh memudahkan siasatan,” katanya.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian

Zahida Rafik ex-driver charged with CBT

The ex-driver allegedly misappropriated the money belonging to his employer Zahida Rafik, who had entrusted him to deposit it into her bank account. - File Photo


A Malaysian actress' former driver claimed trial in the Ampang Magistrate's Court here today to criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM200,000.

Noor Azman Azmi, 40, now a taxi driver allegedly misappropriated the money belonging to his employer Zahida Rafik, 40, who had entrusted him to deposit it into her bank account.

The single father of two who was arrested today is accused of committing the offence at Lot 186, Lorong Kempas 2, Kampung Melayu Ampang at 11.30 am on February 29, 2012.

Counsel Eric Paulsen told the court that Noor Azman also had an ongoing civil case in the High Court, in which he was suing Zahida for accusing him of misappropriating her money.

Magistrate Ayuni Izzaty Sulaiman set bail at RM20,000 with two sureties and ordered his passport to be temporarily impounded; she also fixed November 20 for mention.

- Source: Bernama

Theme park claims report of children infected from virus untrue

FALSE REPORT: Wet World Water Park Shah Alam claims the rumour first started circulating in 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR: A water theme park today dismissed a rumour that went viral on WhatsApp recently which claimed that a group of kindergarten kids had been infected with a virus and then hospitalised after bathing there.

The management of Wet World Water Park Shah Alam said no such cases have been reported to date.

In a statement to Astro AWANI, they clarified that the rumour was started by unidentified and irresponsible individuals.

"Unidentified individuals have yet again used the social media to defame a renowned theme park in Shah Alam. Police reports were done by responsible citizens, which were informed to the Park Management.

"The Park Management, upon receiving such disturbing news and unfounded rumours, immediately lodged a police report and called up hospitals in Klang Valley to verify the claims," the statement said.

The statement said a hospital administrator also attested that should there be such a case, a public announcement by the Health Ministry would be made known.

The statement said the park's regular patrons were appalled that there were individuals capable of such malicious acts.

"The park is in no way affected by such a disease and the management have confirmation from the hospitals contacted that no fatalities nor any illnesses of the sort had been attended to by them at present," said the statement.

The park management urged the public to be cautious of rumours and report them under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) as they are false in nature.

Recently, a 'report' went viral on social media, particularly the WhatsApp application, claiming that a group of preschool children who had patronised the venue were infected with a virus that made their fingers turn black and needed to be amputated, in addition to suffering blisters on the mouth.Astro Awani 

The rumour claimed that the kids subsequently received treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital. The 'information' apparently came from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

This is not the first time the theme park is faced with such an incident. In 2012, a rumour circulated claiming that one of the theme park's visitors had died from leptospirosis after bathing in the water that was allegedly contaminated by rat urine.

That 'report', however, was later found to be false.

- Source: Astro Awani 

Pencuci mulut luar biasa

Azhar menunjukkan betik dalam betik yang ditemui di rumahnya di Bukit Payong, Marang semalam.
Azhar menunjukkan betik dalam betik yang ditemui di rumahnya di Bukit Payong, Marang semalam.

MARANG - Hasrat seorang mekanik untuk menikmati betik yang ditanamnya sebagai pencuci mulut selepas makan tengah hari terbantut setelah mendapati buah tersebut luar biasa.

Azhar Mohamed, 40, dari Bukit Payong, di sini, berkata, ketika betik itu dibelah dua, dia terkejut kerana mendapati ada sebiji lagi buah betik di dalamnya yang berwarna putih berukuran empat sentimeter panjang berada di dalam buah tersebut.

“Melihat keadaannya yang luar biasa, saya batalkan niat untuk makan betik ini,” katanya.

Katanya, ini adalah kejadian pertama dialaminya selepas menanam pokok tersebut beberapa tahun lalu.

Menurut bapa kepada empat anak ini, pokok betik tersebut ditanamnya di belakang rumah dan tidak menyangka ia akan mengeluarkan buah seperti itu.

“Sehingga semalam, saya masih simpan betik ini di dalam peti sejuk dan tidak berhasrat untuk memakannya kerana buah betik ini memang lain daripada yang lain, malahan biji di dalamnya juga sedikit sahaja.

“Bukan senang dapat buah betik sebegini dan mungkin saya akan menyimpannya,” katanya.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Mariah Carey tayang punggung di Malaysia?

Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey

DIVA Pop antarabangsa, Mariah Carey tayang punggung ketika beraksi dalam konsert 'The Elusive Chanteuse Show" Tour in Malaysia 2014'? Biar betul!?

Binatang barat itu dikatakan menarik perhatian penonton membuat beberapa ‘pose’ atau aksi nakal yang mendedahkan punggungnya kepada peminat.

Dengan hanya mengenakan jaket hitam pendek paras punggung, aksi-aksinya dikatakan menggamatkan lagi kehangatan konsert yang berlangsung di Dataran Merdeka malam semalam.

Setiap kali bintang ini membuat aksi tersebut, stadium dikatakan gegak gempita dengan sorakan peminatnya.

Konsert Carey dilapor bermula pada jam 9.15 malam semalam.

Bagi membuka tirai persembahan, Carey memilih untuk mendendangkan singlenya yang bertajuk ‘'Fantasy', 'Touch My Body' dan 'Shake It Off'.

Namun kehangatan konsert terhenti dan bertukar suasana panik akibat kebakaran kecil di pentas stadium.

Menurut sumber, kebakaran tersebut terjadi ekoran percikan bunga api yang menyambar bahagian bawah tirai yang melatari pentas.

Kebakaran tersebut disedari oleh kru dan segera dipadamkan sebelum keadaan menjadi tidak terkawal.

Menurut laporan, insiden tersebut berlaku sebaik Mariah Carey menamatkan alunan single ‘Hero’.

"Oh, ada kebakaran rupanya di situ? (sambil menunjukkan ke arah tirai yang terbakar itu)".

"Ini berereti konsert saya pada malam ini bukan saja diterangi cahaya gemerlapan (spotlight, percikan bunga api), hujan tapi... juga ada kebakaran. Tak mengapa..., apa pun yang berlaku persembahan harus diteruskan juga", katanya dengan tenang.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Mangsa rogol insaf selepas hamil

Suriyani (kanan) menceritakan pengalaman hidupnya kepada salah seorang pegawai Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (Mais) pada Program Hari Kecemerlangan Baitul Ehsan.
Suriyani (kanan) menceritakan pengalaman hidupnya kepada salah seorang pegawai Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (Mais) pada Program Hari Kecemerlangan Baitul Ehsan.

SABAK BERNAM - “Bayangkan saya hamil sewaktu saya tingkatan tiga, macam mana saya nak rahsiakannya daripada ibu bapa sedangkan perut makin membesar,” kata Suriyani (bukan nama sebenar), 21.

Suriyani yang kini menuntut di sebuah Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (IPT) berkata, peristiwa lima tahun lalu itu masih segar di ingatan setelah disahkan hamil selepas dirogol seorang lelaki tidak dikenali di sebuah jirat Cina.

Menurutnya, kejadian itu menjadi titik hitam dalam hidupnya selepas dia bersama rakan-rakannya berhibur sambil meneguk minuman keras sebelum dia dipelawa seorang lelaki menaiki sebuah kereta.

“Saya tak sedar apa yang berlaku waktu tu kerana mabuk, sebaik sedar saya dah berada di kubur Cina. Ketika itu rasa dunia ini kelam selepas dirogol dan dibiarkan di kubur,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

Suriyani memberitahu, sebulan selepas kejadian itu, dia mula merasakan perubahan pada dirinya akibat sering kali ke tandas kerana mengalami muntah yang teruk terutama ketika sedang belajar di dalam kelas.

“Saya merahsiakan kehamilan ini hingga kandungan berusia sembilan bulan sebelum seorang guru kaunseling menegur saya dan meminta saya berdiri sambil menyuruh saya memegang perut.

“Saya hanya menangis dan memberitahu saya mengandung sembilan bulan sebelum dia membawa saya berjumpa dengan pengetua yang baru dua hari melapor diri di sekolah berkenaan,” katanya.

Menurut anak bongsu dari tujuh beradik itu, ibu bapanya hanya mengetahui dia hamil setelah dia dimasukkan ke sebuah hospital kerajaan pada 13 Mac 2010 dan selamat melahirkan seorang bayi lelaki dua hari selepas itu.

“Memang ibu bapa saya amat kecewa selepas mengetahui saya lahirkan anak luar nikah, tapi apa boleh buat, nasi dah jadi bubur, cuma mereka tak putus-putus beri perangsang kepada saya untuk teruskan hidup,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun, sikapnya yang suka berfoya-foya dengan rakan-rakan masih diteruskan selepas habis berpantang hinggalah dia terpaksa mengambil keputusan untuk berhenti sekolah dan pindah ke sebuah sekolah baharu.

“Saya mula pergi kelab malam dan minum arak sejak tingkatan satu lagi. Semuanya kerana pengaruh rakan-rakan. Saya rasa segala tekanan hilang setiap kali berjumpa dengan rakan-rakan,” katanya.

Menurutnya, dia hanya bersekolah selama dua minggu di sekolah baharu sebelum dia dibawa ibu bapanya menjalani rawatan pemulihan di Pusat Perlindungan Wanita Baitul Ehsan Sabak Bernam.

“Pada mulanya memang saya tak nak datang ke sini kerana tak bebas, tapi selepas tinggal beberapa minggu, saya rasa seronok dan jiwa semakin tenang selain tekad untuk berubah,” katanya.

Selepas keluar dari pusat perlindungan wanita itu, Suriyani kemudiannya belajar di sebuah sekolah aliran agama swasta dan menduduki peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) setahun lewat daripada rakan-rakan seusianya.

“Saya insaf dan bergaul dengan rakan-rakan yang baik di sekolah agama dan kemudiannya menyambung pengajian di sebuah IPT di Melaka dan berhenti sebelum menyambung pengajian peringkat asasi dan ijazah di kolej sekarang,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun, dia bersyukur kerana keluarganya dapat menerima dirinya, malah anak yang dilahirkannya itu yang kini berusia lima tahun dijaga baik kakak sulungnya.

“Saya berharap walaupun anak saya bukan anak sah taraf, dia boleh jadi pemimpin yang baik suatu hari nanti.

“Saya sebenarnya malu dengan diri sendiri bagaimana nak bagi tahu dia adalah anak saya, sedangkan dia menganggap saya makciknya, saya harap dia dapat memaafkan kesalahan yang saya lakukan,” katanya.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Asia Klasika Motor Festival 2014


The Asia Klasika show is back for the fifth time to showcase the finest of vintage, classic and contemporary supercars from the region. This year’s event will be held at Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Hotel from October 31 to November 2.

Now called Asia Klasika Motor Festival to reflect the “transformation of the show from a historic-car based festival to a full-fledged motor festival,” the event includes the Malaysia International Vintage & Classic Concours and aims to be South-East Asia’s version of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (California, USA) and Salon Privé London.



“Malaysia proves to be one of the most conducive locations in Asia for an internationally-styled car show as the country is rich in its motoring culture, transportation infrastructure and people friendly tropical climate. It is our desire to place Malaysia on the world map of exotic motor events,” said Andrew Suresh, curator of Asia Klasika.

Suresh was a nominee and the only Asian shortlisted for the Personal Achievement of the Year Award at the inaugural International Historic Motoring Awards in the UK in 2011, for his efforts in pioneering heritage based motoring events in Asia.

As usual, a major highlight of the show will be the showcase of fine automobiles from the “Royal Johor Automobile Collection” courtesy of the event’s royal patron, HRH Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. The Sultan of Johor will also personally present the Sultan Ibrahim Cup to the cream of the crop of the region’s historic cars.


Additional components making their debut this year are Rally Klasika – a Tour d’ Elegance of Putrajaya, Super Marques Asia – a supercar “show and shine” competition and the self-explanatory Retro Japan.

Another feature is “The Pullman Sale”, a private treaty sales-show brought to you by Kuala Lumpur & Temasek Classic Automobiles. Here, collector car shoppers can feast their eyes on a range of newly imported classic cars from UK, Australia and Japan valued at an estimated RM5 million collectively.

- Source: Paultan.org