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Visit Perak Year 2024 Updates @ The Octagon Christmas Musical Night 2023

For the first time, the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI) collaborated with Ipoh City Council (MBI) to jointly organise a street Christmas musical event in the heart of Ipoh City.

arrival of VIP guests led by SK Methodist bagpipe band
arrival of VIP guests led by SK Methodist bagpipe band

PCCCI led by President Dato’ Liew Chee Ming and the team from MBI headed by Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud were the hosts. This event was graced by Minister of Local Government Development (KPKT) YB Nga Kor Ming. Other guests-of-honour were Deputy Education Minister YB Wong Kah Woh; Deputy Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly YB Jenny Choy; Chairman of the Perak State Tourism, Industry, Investment & Corridor Development Committee YB Loh Sze Yee; Chairman of the Perak State Housing & Local Government Committee YB Sandrea Ng Shy Ching; Ipoh Timur Member of Parliament YB Howard Lee; Bercham State Assemblyperson YB Ong Boon Piow; Jelapang State Assemblyperson YB Cheah Pou Hian, and Menglembu State Assemblyperson YB Steven Chaw.

L-R: Minister of Local Government Development (KPKT) YB Nga Kor Ming, PCCCI Life Honorary President Dato' Liew Sew Yee & President Dato' Liew Chee Ming
L-R: Minister of Local Government Development (KPKT) YB Nga Kor Ming, PCCCI Life Honorary President Dato’ Liew Sew Yee & President Dato’ Liew Chee Ming
guests
guests
SK Methodist bagpipe performance
SK Methodist bagpipe performance

A public Christmas event like this allowed people from all races to experience the joy of the season. This celebration showed the country’s appreciation of every role and contribution by all citizens, and is reflected through the close relationship among the communities of different races. Malaysia’s diversity in race, religion, and culture is a uniqueness that is the key to the country’s socio-economic progress.

Wesley Methodist School Ipoh hand bell performance
Wesley Methodist School Ipoh hand bell performance
reprsentatives from six NGOs receive cheques
reprsentatives from six NGOs receive cheques
Sabrina Lee from Canning Garden Baptist Church
Sabrina Lee from Canning Garden Baptist Church

In his speech, Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud shared, “This Christmas celebration helps fuel the tourism and culture industry in Ipoh. As you are aware, Ipoh is a major tourist attraction in Malaysia. Tourists who are in Ipoh during this time of the year can also enjoy the excitement of Christmas as they celebrate alongside the locals. Besides eating and shopping, Christmas in Ipoh is a new experience for tourists.

speech by PCCCI President Dato' Liew Chee Ming
speech by PCCCI President Dato’ Liew Chee Ming
speech by Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud
speech by Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud
speech by Minister of Local Government Development (KPKT) YB Nga Kor Ming
speech by Minister of Local Government Development (KPKT) YB Nga Kor Ming

“Visit Ipoh Year 2023 may be concluding shortly but it has created momentum among tourists as we welcome Visit Perak Year 2024, followed by Visit Malaysia Year 2026. For now, we are targeting 5 million foreign visitors to Ipoh in 2024.” The state’s tourism budget allocation for Visit Perak Year 2024 is RM24 million.

one for the album
one for the album
Ipoh Elim Gospel Hall
Ipoh Elim Gospel Hall

As for tourist arrivals to Malaysia in 2024, the country’s target is 30 million visitors, with tourism receipts of RM100 billion. According to YB Nga Kor Ming, this is a realistic target as Malaysia achieved 27 million tourists in 2019 with RM87.4 billion in sales, pre-COVID-19.

Mandarin carols by Ipoh Elim Gospel Hall
Mandarin carols by Ipoh Elim Gospel Hall

This year until November, Malaysia leads Southeast Asian countries in tourist arrivals with 26 million, ahead of Thailand at 24.6 million and Singapore at 11.3 million (until October). With the liberation of visas for Middle Eastern countries, China and India, Malaysia expects to see more tourists to the country.

Canning Garden Methodist Church
Canning Garden Methodist Church

YB Nga said, “To boost Malaysia’s economy, the government is offering three visa packages in the ‘Malaysia My Second Home 2.0’ programme: Silver, Gold and Platinum.”

Silver: Fixed deposit of RM500,000 in a Malaysian bank. After one year, invest RM250,000 in any Malaysian business. Benefit: 5-year visa.
Gold: Fixed deposit of RM2 million in a Malaysian bank. After one year, invest RM1 million in any Malaysian business. Benefit: 15 years visa.
Platinum: Fixed deposit of RM5 million in a Malaysian bank. Benefit: Malaysian Permanent Residency.

He added, “There are three major benefits from this programme. There will be an increase in foreign investments. There will also be a demand for Ringgit. Our target is to raise the MYR-USD foreign exchange rate of RM4.20 to a Dollar. Of course, there will also be more job opportunities after one year, with the compulsory investment of 50% of the fixed deposits.”

Video: The Octagon Christmas Musical Night 2023

In the spirit of Christmas, PCCCI made cash donations to six non-profit organisations, to assist them to continue running their various charity programmes.

View the full photo album of The Octagon Christmas Musical Night 2023 on our official Facebook Page by clicking HERE.

Event: The Octagon Christmas Musical Night 2023
Venue: Wisma Octagon, Ipoh
Date: 16th Dec, 2023
Time: 8pm

With love

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