Honorary Consul of Malaysia
The Honorable Mun L Kho Kaplan
(Winnie Kho Kaplan)
MalaysiaConsulAZ@gmail.com
About Honorary Consul Kaplan
Winnie was born in Borneo Island, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. In 1987 she was the Kuching Hilton Pioneer Senior Sales Manager where she was appointed by the State Secretary in charge of dignitaries’ visits and Protocol. With her excellent public relationship services, she was awarded the Look East Program to Japan by Malaysia/Japan Government to do implant training on Japanese Tourism and businesses. After her one year training, she brought 300 Japanese to Sarawak for bilateral trade. She was the organizing committee for the European Commission/ ASEAN Ministerial Meeting hosted by Malaysia in Kuching in 1992 and Asian Film Festival in 1991.
She moved to Los Angeles in 2003, after marrying her husband Dr. Steve Kaplan, a California native. Actively assisting the Consulate General of Malaysia, Los Angeles in organizing the Royal visit, Minister’s visits, Festival celebration, Businesses and tourism.
She moved to Arizona in 2010 following her husband’s career as Naturopathic Doctor. She organized Asian Festival 2022 partnering with the City of Mesa and Metro Valley to unveil the Asian District Signage and Culture Night 2023 promoting Asian District. At the Asian Festival 2024, she had the Guest of Honor, foreign dignitaries from Sarawak, Malaysia, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts, and delegates. It was a great success and attracted more than 100,000 attendees in 3 consecutive years of the Asian Festivals.
The Asian Festival create a substantial economic boom, generating increased consumer spending, promoting tourism, and supporting various industries and governments. Festivals bring happiness to a lot faces.
The mission of Asian Festival is to promote cultural awareness, business, harmony and celebration for the whole community, thus making the world a better place.