Promote the Federal Territories in your own creative medium

What say you on the issue below?

ALL bloggers out there, take note.

The Federal Territories Ministry is calling for entries for a blogging competition called ‘Blog For FT’ that promises lucrative prizes to winners who can best describe and promote the three Federal Territories in the various themes.

Its minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, said the competition was in response to the realities of today, including the rapid development of new media whereby Facebook has become the number one website in Malaysia.

“I believe Facebook and blogs are popular and successful as it crosses traditional barriers and allows people to communicate their thoughts freely.

“As for me, Facebook and blogs are a platform to share my vision and experiences with the rakyat and for them to give their opinion on how things should be improved.

Let the competition begin: Nong Chik (centre) launching the ‘Blog For FT’ competition. Looking on are Saravanan (right) and Ahmad Phesal.

“Even till now, I’m known by my nickname as the Facebook Minister!” he said after the launch of the competition at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur recently.

Nong Chik said the idea for the competition came following his meeting with bloggers.

“So what better way to foster the spirit of 1Malaysia and promote unity than through this competition, which I hope will provide the platform for those with ideas to be heard,” he said.

The three-month-long competition will end on Jan 5.

Nong Chik said blogs were far-reaching and followed by many people, including those overseas.

“Before becoming minister, Internet technology for me was about receiving and sending e-mails and it is after much persuasion from my family that I extended to using Skype.

“But in less than six months now, I’m a facebooker, not so frequent blogger, and a Blackberry user!” he said with a laugh.

He said bloggers could write on various themes - history, lifestyle, tourism, music, heritage and culture, humanity, architecture, and life in the Federal Territories - based on storytelling concept to better promote Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan as peaceful and developed places to tourists.

There are four main categories for the competition - Junior (18 years and below as of Dec 31, 2009), General, Media (for media employees) and International (for non-Malaysians).

“Constructive comments on how we could better improve and develop Federal Territories are welcomed,” he said.

Entries could be in English or Bahasa Malaysia and can be submitted in mediums of text, visual, audio, video and any other formats according to one’s creativity.

Winners will be determined by public-voting (constituting 30%) while the balance of points will be from a panel of judges, comprising bloggers and editors Ahirudin Attan and Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, AirAsia CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes and educationist Tan Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing.

Among the prizes to be won are a Peugeot 308 VTI, a Kia Optima 2.0, Naza Prisma motorcycles, Dell computers, Blackberry Bold, Sony PSP, Ipod Touch, flight tickets, hotel stays, and cash.

These prizes are all worth over RM500,000.

Also present at the launch was Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, Federal Territories Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib and Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

Meanwhile, monthly prizes are also up for grabs for the best five blogs for all categories except the international category.

For details on registration process, log on to www.blogforft.com