MALAYSIA (PNA) – A unique nation in her own right, Malaysia offers visitors a wide variety of beaches, mountain parks and unique slices of her tropical paradise.
Moreover, this diversity spills well into her population mix, creating a little Asia within Malaysia. However, population of mainly Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazan, Dayaks and numerous other minority groups has spawned many cultural and religious festivals.
When you’re in Malaysia, you’re at home. There are several similarities with the Philippines, like for example the words “tolak,” “masuk”, or with products (majority of them can be found in the southern part of the Philippines). You can easily get in touch with your loved ones in the Philippines or with any country in the world with the use of your Smart cellphones which has partnered with TMTouch mobile company.
It’s work and fun when BASF invited at least 31 delegates from Asian countries, including Germany to attend the “BASF Asia Tour 2002.” From Singapore, we went directly to Kuantan, Malaysia. Travel time from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan is 40 minutes.
Kuantan itself exudes a mystical charm of unspoilt beaches and traditional cultures. There is much to explore in the enchanting east coast of Malaysia such as the legendary Lake Cini, Panching Cave with the reclining Buddha, the typical Malay village in Beserah, or the river cruises along the Pahang River in the town of Cherating.
Upon arrival at the Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ahmad Shah airport in Kuantan, we went directly to the Hyatt Regency Kuantan, a resort hotel were we were billeted.
The hotel is of the “Kampong” style of the Malaysian village architecture. It has 336 rooms including one Presidential Suite, seven Executive Suites, and five Regency Suites. The five floors of exclusive accommodation with the Regency Club Lounge are offering complimentary Continental breakfast, evening cocktails and canapes, concierge service, magazines, daily newspapers and television.
For a taste of the Orient, Yue Yuen Chinese Restaurant serves delectable Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine for dinner only. For some Italian delights, the Cocco Loco Bistro offers scrumptious Italian dishes and good selection of wines.
To cap off the day’s activities, Cocco Loco Fun Pub provides live entertainment and popular music nightly by the Filipino band. On the other hand, the Sampan Bar with a commanding view of the South China Sea, is a perfect place for a pre or after dinner drinks.
For golf enthusiasts, there are three golf resorts to choose from – the Astana Golf Resort, an 18-hole golf course designed by Golf Strategies of Australia; the Panta Legenda Golf and Country Club, an 18 hole, par 12 Championship course sprawled across 6,547 meter tees and “links” style fairways, natural vegetation, waterways, surrounded by breathtaking views; and the Royal Pahang Golf Course, an 18-hole course which is just two minutes drive from the hotel.
The BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn, Bhd. We toured is in a 150hectare “Verbund” (integration) site which currently comprised 12 plants built in three phases, producing acrylic monomers, oxo products and butanediol, including port tank.
Here, we were met by John Duncan Fastier, managing director, BASF Petronas; Dr. Friedrich Towae, director, Kuantan Site; Klaus Mueller-Dethard, director, Marketing & Logistics Division; and Ghazali Hassan, director, Resource Management & Administration Division.
Fastier said that BASF Aktiengesellschaft, the world’s leading chemical company holds 60 percent and the Malaysian state-owned Petronas Nasional Berhard (Petronas) owns 40 percent.
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