Malaysia Airports holds annual media treasure hunt

Two treasure hunters (in red T-shirt) climbing the steep steps to the top

of Batu Caves to collect a clue to solve one of the treasure hunt's puzzles

Mentakab town is one of the stopovers to look for treasure

A time to relax for members of the media after a hard day on the road

Malaysia Airports holds annual media treasure hunt
Text and photos by Anthony Tan

In appreciation of the close working relationship with the local print and electronic media, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) organises an annual media treasure hunt. This year saw participation from about 200 media in 56 cars.

The distance covered in its recent Media Explore Hunt was slightly longer than previous years. It took at least nine hours for many of us to reach our destination, Awana Kijal Beach Resort & Spa in Kijal, Terengganu and some took much longer.

The destination for the MAHB’s media treasure hunts was different each year. Its first hunt in 2002, which finished at the KL International Airport was only half a day affair.

After skipping for one year, MAHB’s treasure hunt took the media to other parts of Peninsular Malaysia. The finishing point was at A’Famosa in Melaka in 2004, Swiss-Garden Resort & Spa Kuantan in Pahang (2005), Bayview Beach Hotel at Batu Ferringhi in Penang (2006) and Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa in Langawi (2007).

Last year’s format was different from the previous years where the media were taken on a six-hour long overnight bus journey which was not made known to us. When we stop at dawn, we discovered that we have arrived at Kuala Perlis jetty. We were transferred by ferry to Langkawi where the proper hunt event was held after we had breakfast and given a briefing on the treasure hunt. The format of this treasure hunt this time incorporated some elements of the popular TV series “The Amazing Race”.

The Media Explore Hunt at Langkawi was more interesting than the previous hunts, which had us spending most of the time on the road. In Langkawi, the treasure hunters were various tasks to accomplish. They included taking a cable car ride to the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang, a ride on an elephant and canoe rowing at Pantai Tengah.

This year’s Media Explore Hunt, which had the physical aspects toned down, was flagged off by MAHB chairman Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman and its managing director Datuk Seri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid at the former Subang Terminal 2, which had been converted into MAHB administration offices after the Subang International Airport been closed.

The treasure hunters were given tulips (route directions) preset by the clerk-of-course for the participants to follow unlike Indiana Jones’ old treasure maps that lead to the unearthing of hidden gold treasures and artifacts of the lost world.

The tulips took us treasure hunters to places such as Damansara Jaya, Bandar Sri Damansara, Batu Caves, Karak, Mentakab, Temerloh, Maran, Gambang, the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan before we headed for Cherating, Kemaman to reach our final destination, Awana Kijal Beach Resort & Spa.

Today’s “treasure hunt” might look like simple but it is more a mind twisting game with multiple riddle questions to solve. Part the hunt’s task is to collect or buy “treasure items” from shops along the way based on the riddles that you are supposed to figure out.

MAHB corporate communications general manager Norliza Kamaruddin was assisted by her department staff, including media relations senior executive Faisally Ahmad Rusdy, in organising this year’s treasure hunt.

The team with the highest cumulative marks is declared the champion and rewarded with cash and prizes in kind at a media party that is held later at night on the same day where the results will be announced.

The highlight of this year’s gala dinner and prize presentation was the performance by the popular local band NRG.

MAHB’s annual hunt not only generates friendly quarrel along the way but the creation of team spirit among the media members is important. It also provided an opportunity for members from different media to mingle with one other and to catch up with ex-colleagues during the weekend.

This incentive event also helps to promote domestic tourism by introducing new destinations each year. Awareness of these destinations is created when the media who had participated in the event write in their respective media about their experiences and the outback places that they had passed through during the treasure hunt.

Looking forward to next year’s Media Explore Hunt, the treasure hunters are already speculating where the next destination would be.