Malaysia Week on Stage

Part of the opening of MALAYSIA WEEK in Potters Field by the Thames
had been a concert of Malaysian music,
then fashion shows featuring batiks and woven fabrics created into very beautiful,
often flowing, dresses for the ladies, and fine quality shirts for men..........

In Malaysia 'Batik' on an invitation card means that men can wear a
batik shirt, without
a jacket, even for quite formal events
the batik shirt is correct formal attire
suiting the climate

At this event I met the new Director UK & Ireland of the Malaysia Minstry of Tourism Rauf,
and AGKader Vice Chairman of OMEC and I talked,
he is publishing my books,
and he introduced me to Trevor Krueger Publisher of the first
issue of Taste of Asia Magazine
He told Trevor as I approached that 'You should interview this lady, not me'
and so Trevor decided to do just that especially for articles about my new Malaysia book
'Labuan'....................soon being launched after this WEEK

Meeting with Radziah Omar OMEC

The Chairman of OMEC and I,
have met many times, since I first went to the National Day Merdeka Carnival in Hertfordshire
She invited me to the Taste Asia open day in Ilford at Valentine Park
which was opened by the Mayor of Redbridge, who came to the OMEC stand for lunch,
Malaysia style ..as always Malaysia hospitality
is offered generously ..

OVERSEAS MALAYSIA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
has UK and Malaysia members
brought together by Trade and also cultural ties
This event was a mixture of both,
with a radio station on site, music and dancers provided entertainment,
and I also talked with The Director UK & Ireland of the
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
Abdul Rauf Hassan, showing him the proofs of my book LABUAN
which he will have in his office in Malaysia House Trafalgar Square

Victoria in New Straits Times

This is the first article about me in New Straits Times
the English Language daily newspaper ......
widely read throughout Malaysia
with its associated papers including the Business Times
I was pictured many times, and quoted in all of Malaysia's press,
as I was Advisor to the Country and New Zealand, and involved with all aspects of Malaysia,
including the media
I wrote, at the request of the Group Editor in Chief, book review and
a number of full page articles which were illustrated with my photographs,
now as I have my second Malaysia book published
one of the full page articles is most apt
as it was about LABUAN the island in the South China Sea
which is the title of my new book
of this beautiful country

Malaysia Kitchen in London

In London during MALAYSIA WEEK
I did the obvious thing I visited Jom Makan again
This restaurant which is part of the Malaysia Government
overseas marketing campaign to encourage people
to taste Malaysian food, enjoy its hospitality,
and, perhaps, through these experiences to visit
or in some way become involved with Malaysia and its people

It is very close to Trafalgar Square in Pall Mall East,
any visitor to The National Gallery will see it alongside
the entrances,
and with its restrained decor, it does not try to bring
all of Malaysia to London
simply its excellent hospitality and food
............................
The very first article about me in New Straits Times quoted my comments
that Malaysia should export more of its food products
and I recall being taken to restaurants in Kuala Lumpur by
the Chairman of the organisation for Sate
which many people associate with Malaysia

I especially enjoy seeing this piece of Malaysia in my favourite city
and each time now in London I know that I can have a typical Malay meal

I show the proofs of my new Malaysia book, the 2nd about Malaysia
entitled
'LABUAN'
about the island which I called 'my favourite place'.................
where I was guest of the King, Prime Minister, Chief of the Navy,
and others, many times

Global Emerging Markets Summit

I enjoyed very much meeting Mohamed
the Director of Islamic Development Bank,
he is based in Jeddah,
a Malaysian who debates strongly with those who say that
ASEAN is not important in the world scheme
He, Dr Mohamed Ghazali Noor, like I, believes that the

Association of South East Asia Nations
can play a pivotel role in world markets,
and certainly the development of Malaysia, since I was first invited by,
and became the Bilateral Aid Advisor New Zealand and Malaysia,
then Consultant to the Board of Malaysia Airlines,
then writing my book which became the Official book of Malaysia
'Malaysia Terima Kasih '

by the private sector, and the Government, has been dramatic

Global Emerging Markets Summit

I was invited to be Guest at The Global Emerging Markets Summit held at
The Institute of Directors
This Summit held under the auspices of ASLI... Asian Strategy and Learning Institute,
as was the Cambridge Malaysia Forum late last year,
hosted many distinguished delegates and Speakers
all concerned in some way with the global changing marketplace
which we all know now.. represented were Europe, Asia including Malaysia, Phillipines, China Hong Kong, USA, Africa
All spoke with authority about their various programmes, growing pineapples in Africa,
desalination plants and their effectiveness ..biodeisel, too many to list here...
I opened the questions when the Cabinet Minister for Tourism Malaysia spoke first,
with my interest in the Iskander development
in Johor, which will compete with, take traffic,
income, and generate new businesses
for Malaysia, instead of Singapore
which I have helped to do with my Advisory work for New Zealand and Malaysia
long ago

Johor is being changed from the comparatively quiet stretch of land at the southern tip of
Peninsular Malaysia


For me it was a pleasure when some time ago this development was mentioned ..
as, of course, it is named after the King who hosted me on two occasions in Labuan

HRH Iskander .. he showed interest in my strategies to develop trade and tourism throughout Malaysia..not forgetting the offshore islands ...
.........with Dato' Dr Michael Yeoh CEO & Director ASLI Chairman of the Summit..............

The Minister for Tourism and I spoke later about my new book of the island of
LABUAN
which is also the book title

Malaysia Week London

I was invited to Malaysia Week, in July ..................................
my first..in London.....It was held in Potters Field.. the very nice park alongside City Hall,
The Tower Bridge and the river
It was delightful to sit, during a lovely sunny day to watch and listen to Malaysia Cultural troupes
from the many different cultures and States
My host Dato' Seri Mohd Shafie the Minister of Unity Culture Arts and Heritage
spoke of the beauty of his country, of which I am well aware
and welcomed us with The Deputy Mayor of London, Mayor of Southwark
and guests from Embassies and High Commissions
As often happens at a formal Malaysia event ..the finale was the audience..........
pulled into the centre of the grassed area in front of the stage
we all danced traditional Malaysia Dances
not a new experience for me ......................I learned this long ago...................
but I did note few hesitant people ..however the dancers from the troups ensured
that all the sedentry spectators in the formal area joined in....... as did the Minister and I