KOTA KINABALU: Hotel guests and workers had to scramble for safety after a fire broke out at a spa in a five-star resort here yesterday. It was believed that the fire started in one of the sauna rooms before spreading to the men’s changing room at the Nexus Karambunai Resort and Spa at about 1pm.

The problems and needs of the Indians in Wangsa Maju will be looked into, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. He added that an action plan would be drawn to improve the condition and infrastructure of Indian and Chinese temples. “We will also look for land to build new temples. As for funeral parlours, there should be one for every religion especially at low-costs flats,” he said at a dinner with the Indian community of Wangsa Maju at the SJK (C) Mun Yee recently. More than 100 people attended the dinner, including Indian non-governmental organisations, organised by MCA Wangsa Maju.

Ipoh residents will soon get to marvel at the dancing lights and sounds of the city’s very own musical fountain. Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim revealed that plans were afoot for the city to have a musical fountain. However, its actual location had yet to be decided.

Unique retail centres should be introduced in heritage buildings as a way to modernise them, according to a French expert who specialises in city and cultural development. “I encourage small independent businesses that promote local culture and sell meaningful goods and services where a balanced blend of traditions and contemporary creati-vity is the key,” said Sali Sasaki. In an e-mail to clarify her statement in StarMetro North on Aug 8 titled ‘Heritage appeal with a twist’, she said her idea of retail in George Town was an opposite model from that of shopping malls.