Citing unnamed sources, the Edge said the theme park, to be located in Bardar Nusajaya in the Iskandar development zone, would be ready six years after a deal was signed, according to early proposals.

The proposed Disneyland theme park and resort is slated to be bigger than Hong Kong Disneyland and about the size of Tokyo Disney Resort, it said.

The government unveiled a $105 billion blueprint late last year to transform the southern tip of Johor state, which neighbors Singapore, into a regional economic zone for industry, logistics, trade and leisure.

Although the talks with Disney are progressing fast, discussions with other theme park operators, including Warner Bros Entertainment and MGM, have not ceased, the Edge said.

"However, a deal with Walt Disney looks most promising as it has expressed its seriousness and has come out with specifications on its requirements," it quoted a source as saying.

If the talks with Disney are successful, a deal is expected to be signed by the middle of next year, it added.

Malaysia's state-controlled UEM World is developing Bandar Nusajaya, a township in southwest Johor.

The 2,200 square km (850 sq miles) Iskandar zone has so far clinched at least $6 billion in investments, including a $4.7 billion maritime park proposed by Dubai World and Malaysia's infrastructure-to-energy group MMC Bhd.

You need only two things when it comes to surviving Kuala Lumpur's annual shopping marathon - plenty of cash and rottweiler-like haggling skills.

From haute couture and luxury brands to flea markets and designer knock-offs, Kuala Lumpur offers everything a shop-a-holic with a credit card and plenty of suitcase space could hope for.

The Malaysian Government is on a mission to carve out a global reputation for its capital as a shopper's Shangri-La, urging consumers to look beyond the usual hotspots such as Thailand and Singapore.

Their answer is the Mega Sale (read: mega opportunity to bleed your savings account dry).

Virtually the entire city goes on sale during the annual Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival, with discounts ranging from 10 to 90 per cent on items such as jewellery, fashion, electronics, cosmetics, footwear and eyewear.

The sale began in June and finishes on September 3, lasting a whopping 11 weeks this year instead of the usual six to help celebrate the country's 50th year of independence.

And coupled with favourable exchange rates - NZ$1 equals 2.75 Malaysian ringgits - you'll get more value for money than usual.

Kuala Lumpur has a bewildering range of malls, plazas and department stores to cater for all tastes and budgets.

But the heart and soul of shopping in Malaysia's bustling capital is the Chinatown markets.

There's more game-playing and bluffing going on in Petaling St than in a casino's high-roller room, and shoppers have learn a few tricks to avoid being ripped off.

Selling counterfeit goods in Malaysia is illegal, but the markets are awash with knock-off brand clothing, watches, sunglasses, handbags and hats, as well as toys, trinkets, fresh produce, dried food and herbal remedies.

They're also crowded, uncomfortable and hot, and there's certainly no time for manners.

Elbows are regularly used to keep the choked conga line of shoppers moving. Pushy traders will holler at and harangue you, thrust their merchandise into your hands and even chase you down the street.

"I give you best price" and "special deals for you!", they'll sing out as you beat a path between their stalls. Although if you're a foreign female shopping alone, you're more likely to hear more slippery lines like: "I think you need a new watch, and a new boyfriend."

Much of the merchandise comes with an unrealistic price tag - think up to 10 times more than you're willing to pay. It's when you pretend to walk away in a huff that the real business starts.

The majestic and awe-inspiring Mount Kinabalu is one of the premier destinations for thousands of visitors to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo each year. Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, boasts an estimated 4,500 species of plants which includes 1,500 species of orchids, 77 of which are endemic to Kinabalu, Nepenthes pitcher plants, and the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. The Park also supports 289 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies.

Besides being the highest peak in Borneo and the whole of South East Asia (between Irian Jaya and the Himalayas to be exact), and the youngest non-volcanic mountain in the world, Mount Kinabalu is extremely climber-friendly and compared to other much lower mountains around the world, Mount Kinabalu is an ideal first mountain for novice mountain trekkers to conquer.

The standard climb up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park (~1,560m above sea level). The first ascent is from the starting point at Timpohon Gate, about 4km or 30 minutes drive from the Kinabalu National Park Headquarter.

If you prefer to start the ascent on Day 1, it is advisable to arrive at the Park late morning the latest or else, depending on the weather, the Park may not allow you to do the first ascent due to hazardous condition (i.e., the fog may be too thick by late evening causing visibility problems and/or the trail may be extremely slippery).

Most climbers prefer to stay overnight at Kinabalu National Park upon arrival to not only acclimatize to the altitude but also to enjoy the magnificent flora and fauna at the Park before the “assault” on the next day/morning.

The first ascent is from Timpohon Gate just after the Power Station up to the mid-summit Laban Rata Resthouse (or more popularly known as the 11,000 ft or ~3,873m). You will first follow the crest of a narrow ridge that dips down onto the main slopes of Mount Kinabalu itself. A little further on, you will reach a scenic waterfall known as Carson's Falls, named after the first Warden of the Park. Don't forget to take a sip and fill your water bottles with the fresh natural mountain water.

Conservatively, it should take a normal fit person an average 5-6 hours to reach Laban Rata. Participants at the annual Mount Kinabalu Climbathon competition went all the way up to 13,400ft (4092.5m above sea level) and back in 2 hours. But it is not really about how fast you can reach the top. It is about the experience of trekking pass different vegetation zones from Oak and Chestnut to mossy and eventually to alpine type of vegetations, and observing the rare and exotic flora and fauna on the way up.

Besides the heated Laban Rata Resthouse, the other option for climbers is to stay at the unheated mountain huts. There is actually another accommodation option at the so-called VIP Lodge, which is more expensive compared to the others and also, more difficult to secure (i.e., only two such units available).

After a short night rest to recharge your battery, the second and more grueling phase will commence early morning on Day 2, at about 2 am to 3 am. The second ascent will be from the mid-summit all the way to the summit, which is called Low's Peak, named after the British colonial officer Sir Hugh Low, supposedly, the first person to conquer Mt. Kinabalu.

The ascent should normally take a few hours but it is much more challenging than the initial ascent due to the thinner air near the summit. But near the peak on the granite portion of the ascent, there will be a thick nylon rope laid down to mark the route so that climbers will not get lost in the fog. You can use this rope to pull your tired body up.

Although, to reach the summit is already an achievement, it is best to target, if possible, to reach the summit just before sunrise to catch the awesome sight. If you reached too early, it will be too freezing cold to wait too long for the sunrise. On a good clear weather, the sky seemingly turns from black to red then orange and finally gold as the sun appears. When daylight breaks, you will truly feel that you are standing on top of the world. You can see as far as Kudat and even Sandakan if the weather permits.

One important tip is to make reservation early. Given the popularity of the Mount Kinabalu climb nowadays, it is advisable to book at least 3-4 months in advance (or even much earlier during the peak season usually around mid-year) to avoid any disappointment.

This is mainly due to the limited accommodation at the mid-summit (i.e., Laban Rata Resthouse, Mountain Huts or the VIP Lodge). In the event that there is no accommodation at the mid-summit, the climb will not be possible as strictly stipulated in the National Park's rules and regulations. Additionally, a mountain guide is compulsory.

In essence, Mount Kinabalu is relatively an easy mountain to climb. There is not much risk of acute mountain sickness at the first phase of climbing. Given climber-friendliness of the mountain, conquering the mountain must be high in your list of "activities to do" if you were to visit Sabah. For the average fit person, a visit to Borneo will not be complete without conquering Mount Kinabalu.

KUALA LUMPUR: Five of the 10 animals and plants most threatened by the illegal wildlife trade are in Malaysia.

The tiger, Asian rhinoceros, elephant and orang utan are included in the top 10 list released by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International, together with a red and pink jewel-like coral species, Corallium borneense. All are found in Malaysia.

"Malaysia's global position in providing habitat to some of the most charismatic and endangered flagship mammal species, such as the tiger, Asian elephant and orang utan has to be recognised and emphasised," said WWF-Malaysia's National Programme Director Dr Arun Venkataraman.

The list was released ahead of the annual Conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to be held from June 3 to June 15 in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Representatives from 171 countries are expected to attend.

The tiger and Asian rhino have been threatened for decades because of poaching and illegal trade.

Others, particularly marine species, are on the list because their populations have declined drastically in recent years.

According to WWF-Malaysia, tigers are at risk because of a loss of habitat and forest conversion. And an old threat has re-emerged which could sound the death knell for the species - the reopening of tiger farms in China.

The population of Asian rhinos has been devastated by the trade of their highly prized horns. An upsurge in poaching has put the last remaining populations at risk, said Venkataraman.

"The Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is already extinct in Malaysia," he said, adding that WWF-Malaysia was working with government agencies and the corporate sector to protect the near-extinct Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatranus), the only rhino species remaining in Malaysia, and the one most threatened by poaching.

The poaching of elephants and illegal international trade in ivory is stimulated by rampant ivory sales in some countries, particularly in East Asia.

In Sabah, government agencies are working with WWF-Malaysia to reduce the threat to the Bornean pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) through AREAS (Asian Rhino Elephant Action Strategy) and the Heart of Borneo programme, which aims to connect fragmented lowland forests using corridors, said Venkataraman.

Wild populations of great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees and orang utan) are declining because of a combination of the illegal trade in live animals (usually for pets), poaching for meat, disease and habitat disturbance, fragmentation and destruction.

This includes Malaysia's only great ape, the Bornean orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus).

Red and pink coral (Corallium spp.) is the most valuable of all the precious corals. Pink coral has been extracted for over 5,000 years and used for jewellery and decoration. Over-harvesting and the destruction of entire colonies by bottom trawlers and dredges have led to dramatic population decline.

"At least one species, Corallium borneense, is found in Malaysian waters. Malaysia also imports coral from Taiwan and Japan, which is made into jewellery and then re-exported to the United States," Venkataraman said.

Other species on the list are the Porbeagle (Lamna nasus), a powerful, medium-sized shark highly valued for its meat and fins; the Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias), a smaller, slender white-spotted shark also known as rock salmon, used in fish and chips in the United Kingdom and eaten smoked as a delicacy called Schillerlocken in Germany.

The saw fish (Pristidae spp.), whose distinctive saw-like snouts are sold as souvenirs and ceremonial weapons while other body parts are used for traditional medicines; is also on the list, as well as the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), for which there is significant international demand, both for adults whose meat is highly valued and live juvenile eels (shipped from Europe to Asia) for rearing in aqua-culture.

The Bigleaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), a highly valuable South and Central American rainforest timber species, is also endangered because of illegal logging.

A South African vet will perform what is being described as the world's first cataract surgery on an orangutan in Malaysia.

Animal Ophthalmologist Izak Venter will perform the two-hour surgery early Wednesday, assisted by South African anesthetist Frik Stegman and local veterinarian S. Amilan, said an official at the Matang Wildlife Center in Sarawak state on Borneo island.

Venter flew to Malaysia in March to examine the 19-year-old orangutan, named Aman, who was suffering from severe cataract in both eyes, said the official.

The New Strait Times daily quoted Venter as saying in a report to the wildlife center that he would make a small incision in Aman's eye to remove the cloudy contents.

"It will be the world's first cataract surgery on an orangutan and it is going to be performed on home territory. It will be a big achievement," the Times quoted Amilan as saying.

The vets could not be reached for comment. The Matang wildlife official confirmed it was the first ever such surgery performed on an orangutan.

The newspaper said Aman, who was rescued from a market in Sarawak, had suffered two permanent injuries - his tongue was removed after he bit an electric cable and his left index finger was bitten off by another orangutan, the report said.

Aman has two female offspring, both now living with him at the center, officials said.

Orangutans are species of great apes with long arms and reddish, sometimes brown, hair native to Malaysia and Indonesia. They have a life span of up to 30 years.

Orangutan is derived from the Malay word "orang hutan," which means the "man of the forest."

Malacca will host the Malaysia Games XIII (Sukma) in 2010, said its Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. 

He said the state government was ready for the biennial event and 27 committees have been set up to ensure the championship would be a success.  

"The state government will spend some RM30mil, including for accommodation, transportation and food for officials and participants. 

"The main venues for the events will be at the Hang Jebat Sports Complex in Paya Rumput and also Tun Fatimah Sports Complex in Bukit Serindit," he said. 

Mohd Ali said a total of 6,500 athletes were expected to take part in the games and around 6,000 officials and staff would make it a success.