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By Marie Moon
Carnivals are such fun. They are times when everyone is happy,
the streets are vibrant and festive spirits are uninhibited. Children
quiver with the excitement of balloons and show rides, adults rejoice
about having a few extra days off work, organizers buzz around,
exhausted but too anxious to relax, and performers adorn themselves
with the most glamourous of costumes. It is carnival time in Malaysia
during August and the festivities are going to be grand.
If you have ever spent time in modern Asia, you will be familiar
with the Asian passion for shopping. All the major cities have immense
shopping complexes with merchandise ranging from the beautiful to
the bizarre for prices that are hard to beat. With the West’s lingering
fascination with Eastern style decor coupled with the great savings
to be found on all manner of electrical and technological devices,
it can be cheaper to have a holiday shopping spree in tropical Asia
than it is to shop at home.
Some years ago the Malaysian government formulated a plan to turn
their nation into a leading international shopping destination.
This strategic decision resulted in a tri-annual event that sees
drastic discounts on all kinds of merchandise, across all states
of the nation.
The first Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival was initiated in March 2000
to help the country increase its foreign earnings while simultaneously
encouraging the local community to spend in their own country. Three
successful years has enabled the participants to refine and reorganize
the Carnival into what is expected to be the greatest Malaysian
Mega Sale to date.
The Carnival will be launched in Kuala Lumpur on 2 August 2003
amid a burst of colourful song and dance. The official opening will
be made by the Honourable Menteri after which the shops will open
and the bargain-hungry crowds appeased.
The Carnival signifies a four-week spree of abundant discounts
on a wide range of products including hi-tech equipment, haute couture,
cosmetics and unique Malaysian knick-knacks. Concessions on room
rates, discounts on food and beverage and attractive offers on holiday
packages present strong incentive for international visitors and
to amplify the carnival atmosphere, exciting activities and competitions
have been organized at many shopping complexes and retail outlets
nationwide.
Home d?cor items, rattan, wickerwork, silver and pewter handicrafts
offer excellent workmanship at modest prices while carvings of wood
and stone, paintings, tapestries, silks and woollen rugs stand out
among myriad Asian ornaments.
Malaysian women stay abreast of the latest fashions with a plethora
of retail clothing outlets to keep them looking good. During the
Mega Sale an extensive range of apparel will be greatly reduced
offering ready to wear items in the latest designs and ethnic clothes
composed of fine Asian textiles. To compliment new outfits an impressive
stock of handbags, shoes, jewellery and accessories will be offered
at similarly discounted rates.
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! The Mega Sale festivities will come
to a climactic end on 31 August coinciding with the 46th celebration
of Malaysian Independence. Merdeka Day 2003 will be celebrated nationwide
but the most spectacular revelry will be held at Dataran Merdeka
in the nation’s capital. A grand cast of over 12,000 Malaysians
will participate in a theatrical two-hour parade winding through
the streets with the beauty of fourteen splendid floats and the
drama of 1,500 drummers of the Malaysian Drum Symphony.
The Chairman of the 46th National Day Parade committee announced
that this year’s parade would focus on the tourism industry. Accompanying
the floats will be representatives from the various sectors of the
tourism industry, schools, government agencies and the largest ever
contingent from the Malaysian Armed Forces. Representatives of the
Royal Malaysian Police Force and the Malaysian Armed Forces will
present displays of new equipment from their respective regiments.
The ceremony will be officiated by His Majesty, The King of Malaysia,
the Prime Minister, government Ministers and foreign dignitaries
before crowds of merry Malaysians from all walks of life. Merdeka
Day is an important time for all Malaysians and this year’s festivities,
signalling the end of the Mega Sale Carnival, promise all the joys
of when the carnival comes back to town.
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Schedule of Events and Festivals in 2003
Mega Sales Carnival August 3 - September 1
National Day August 31
Deepavali November 4
Ramadhan Bazaar November 6 - December 5
Mega Sales Carnival November 30 - December 31
Hari Raya Aidilm Fitri December 6 - 7
Christmas Day December 25
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