Malaysia destinasi pilihan Qatar Holding

Dr Hussain Ali (kiri), bersama Ng Yen Yen melihat model hotel yang bakal dibangunkan di Bukit Bintang, semalam.

Syarikat labur RM2b buka rangkaian hotel mewah

Kuala Lumpur: Qatar Holding LLC, pemilik rangkaian peruncitan Harrods memilih Kuala Lumpur sebagai dua daripada lokasi pertama rangkaian hotel di bawah jenama mewah itu. Pembangunan hotel itu yang akan dilaksanakannya secara usaha sama dengan syarikat tempatan, Jerantas Sdn Bhd bakal membabitkan pelaburan RM2 bilion.
Naib Pengerusi Qatar Holding, Dr Hussain Ali Al-Abdulla, penerokaan dalam bidang perhotelan itu adalah sebahagian strategi jangka panjang syarikat berkenaan mengembangkan portfolio Harrods selepas mengambil alih rangkaian peruncitan mewah berpangkalan di London itu daripada Mohammed Al Fayed pada 2010.

Beliau berkata, Hotel Harrods Kuala Lumpur itu akan dibangunkan di tapak seluas 2.19 hektar berhadapan pusat membeli-belah Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

“Kami sudah selesai menjalankan kajian daya maju dan menjangkakan pembinaan hotel tujuh bintang itu akan dimulakan dalam tempoh setahun dari sekarang,” katanya pada sidang media selepas majlis menandatangani memorandum persefahaman antara Qatar Holding dan Jerantas bagi usaha sama itu di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Hadir sama Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
Hussain Ali berkata, pertumbuhan kukuh ekonomi Malaysia, persekitaran politik yang stabil serta prospek pelancongan yang cerah mendorong Qatar Holding memilih negara ini untuk membangunkan Harrods Hotel.

“Harrods Hotel Malaysia itu akan mempunyai antara 250 hingga 300 bilik berserta apartmen dan ruang niaga,” katanya.

Selain menjadi rakan usaha sama, Jerantas juga akan menjadi pemaju tunggal projek berkenaan.

Three very hungry chicks

Remarkable ... The chicks open their beautiful beaks

THESE may look like pretty flowers nestled in a hay stack, but look closely and you will find the mouths of three very hungry little chicks.

The striking image in very high focus was taken by keen photographer Gabor Pozsgai, 35, who had his camera to hand when he came across the nest on the main Shetland Island off Scotland.

Gabor captured the chicks in perfect timing as they tilted their heads back in the hope of a quick bite to eat, and revealed their beautiful orange and black speckled mouths.

Gabor, an insect ecologist, said: “I took about 1,000 photos that day and this one stood out to me immediately as being something special because of the bright colours.

“Normally these nests are well-hidden and I only happened to notice it because I was looking at the ground trying to take photos of insects.

“I take photographs of lots of different types of birds and insects so as soon as I saw the chicks I knew it would make a great photograph.”

Giant killer crocodile is world's biggest

20.24ft beast is record breaker

Giant ... saltwater crocodile Lolong measures 20.24ft

A GIANT crocodile has officially been declared the largest held in captivity in the world.

Saltwater croc Lolong, who was caught in the southern Philippines last September, measures a whopping 20.24ft (6.17m).

Guinness World Record chiefs confirmed the beast had taken the record from an Australian crocodile, which measured more than 17ft (5m).

Lolong was captured in the remote town of Bunawan following the deaths of a nine-year-old girl and a fisherman.

Locals believed the victims were killed by the crocs and launched a three-week hunt.

About 100 people pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane on to a truck.

Bunawan Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde says villagers still fear that more mammoth crocs could be lurking in the water where locals fish.

He said of Lolong's world record: “We’re really proud because it proves the rich biodiversity of our place but at the same time, there are fears that Lolong may not be alone.”

Killer croc ... villagers capture Lolong after fears he attacked girl and fisherman