Johor government gives nod for agro-resort park
KLUANG: The Johor government will consider a request by the Kluang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCCI) for a piece of land to be developed into an agro-resort park.
Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state would liaise with the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry to identify the suitable land plot for the project.
He said this would include land within the Ayer Hitam Agricultural Centre along Jalan Kluang-Batu Pahat just few kilometres away from the Ayer Hitam toll exit.
“KCCCI must make sure that the agro-resort park is successful and able to attract visitors to Kluang,” Ghani said after opening the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) 64th annual general meeting recently.
Ghani said Kluang has the potential to attract visitors interested in the agro-tourism related activities as it has many products such as fruits and vegetable farms and animal husbandries.
He was responding to the request made by the KCCCI president Datuk Tan Seng Leong in his welcoming speech.
Earlier in his speech, Ghani said the Johor government has agreed to contribute RM100, 000 to the KCCCI for its activities.
Tan said the proposed agro-resort park would be different from other agro-resort parks in the country where visitors could plant their favourite fruit trees in dedicated plots.
He said a certificate of ownership of the plants would be issued to them while workers at the park would be the caretakers of their plants.
“As owners, they have a choice of harvesting the fruits for their own consumption or they could ask us to sell the fruits to other visitors,” said Tan.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Friday 6 August 2010
Monday 2 August 2010
Lower toll charges when using 2nd Link
Motorists enjoy lower toll charges when using Second Link
Starting Sunday, motorists will enjoy lower toll charges when they drive into or leave Singapore using the Second Link.
Some coach operators were worried that the lower charges would encourage more to use the link, which could cause jams.
They pay a toll of S$3.90 at the Second Link.
One operator, Grassland Express, is taking a wait-and-see approach.
That is because it said the toll does not form the bulk of operating costs.
Instead, it said that rising fuel costs could offset the 30 per cent or S$1.70 toll reduction.
But another coach operator is happy that toll has been reduced. Transtar told Channel NewsAsia that it plans to bring down fares by about 10 per cent.
Destinations that could possibly enjoy such reductions include Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Taiping in Perak and Alor Star in Kedah.
Transtar hopes that the move can make coach travel more attractive.
Sebastian Yap, executive director, Transtar, said: "Low cost carriers have been affecting us a bit. This will be a good opportunity for us to have some free area to adjust ourselves to be more competitive."
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Starting Sunday, motorists will enjoy lower toll charges when they drive into or leave Singapore using the Second Link.
Some coach operators were worried that the lower charges would encourage more to use the link, which could cause jams.
They pay a toll of S$3.90 at the Second Link.
One operator, Grassland Express, is taking a wait-and-see approach.
That is because it said the toll does not form the bulk of operating costs.
Instead, it said that rising fuel costs could offset the 30 per cent or S$1.70 toll reduction.
But another coach operator is happy that toll has been reduced. Transtar told Channel NewsAsia that it plans to bring down fares by about 10 per cent.
Destinations that could possibly enjoy such reductions include Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Taiping in Perak and Alor Star in Kedah.
Transtar hopes that the move can make coach travel more attractive.
Sebastian Yap, executive director, Transtar, said: "Low cost carriers have been affecting us a bit. This will be a good opportunity for us to have some free area to adjust ourselves to be more competitive."
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Tour guides can cater to foreign tourists
Tour guides can cater to foreign tourists
Tour guides should not be blamed over the dwindling number of foreign tourists into the country said Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong.
“Several ASEAN countries have seen a drop in arrivals over the past two years especially Japanese and Korean tourists,” he said.
“The world economic situation was a big reason for the drop in arrivals from Korea which was recorded at 250,000 in 2005 but only 78,000 Koreans visited the country last year,” he said.
He added the political instability in Thailand recently did not help the situation.
When asked about a suggestion to improve linguisitic proficiency among the guides to boost tourist arrivals from Korea, Japan, Iran and Russia, Leong dismisses it by saying that there are ample guides who could speak those languages.
Leong, who is also the Johor Tourist Guide Association chairman, said in Johor Baru alone, there are 49 Japanese and 13 Korean-speaking guides.
“We are also embarking on a nationwide survey to gather feedback on the livelihoods of tour guides speaking such languages,” he said.
He said there are a total of 292 tour guides around the country who are proficient in conversing in Japanese, Korean and Arabic respectively.
“The belittling of poor quality tour guides nationwide reflects on the failure of training programs adopted by the Tourism Ministry.
“This is because the process of selection, training, examination and licensing are directly under the purview of the ministry,” he said.
He added that more stringent monitoring of training modules used by institutes was needed to ensure guides are trained professionally.
Last week, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said that foreign tour guides would be allowed to work here due to the lack of Korean, Japanese, Iranian and Russian speaking tour guides nationwide.
She said that foreign tour guides would be closely monitored by the ministry and would only be allowed into the country when there is a need.
Ng added that the move is a wake-up call for local guides to buck up.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Tour guides should not be blamed over the dwindling number of foreign tourists into the country said Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong.
“Several ASEAN countries have seen a drop in arrivals over the past two years especially Japanese and Korean tourists,” he said.
“The world economic situation was a big reason for the drop in arrivals from Korea which was recorded at 250,000 in 2005 but only 78,000 Koreans visited the country last year,” he said.
He added the political instability in Thailand recently did not help the situation.
When asked about a suggestion to improve linguisitic proficiency among the guides to boost tourist arrivals from Korea, Japan, Iran and Russia, Leong dismisses it by saying that there are ample guides who could speak those languages.
Leong, who is also the Johor Tourist Guide Association chairman, said in Johor Baru alone, there are 49 Japanese and 13 Korean-speaking guides.
“We are also embarking on a nationwide survey to gather feedback on the livelihoods of tour guides speaking such languages,” he said.
He said there are a total of 292 tour guides around the country who are proficient in conversing in Japanese, Korean and Arabic respectively.
“The belittling of poor quality tour guides nationwide reflects on the failure of training programs adopted by the Tourism Ministry.
“This is because the process of selection, training, examination and licensing are directly under the purview of the ministry,” he said.
He added that more stringent monitoring of training modules used by institutes was needed to ensure guides are trained professionally.
Last week, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said that foreign tour guides would be allowed to work here due to the lack of Korean, Japanese, Iranian and Russian speaking tour guides nationwide.
She said that foreign tour guides would be closely monitored by the ministry and would only be allowed into the country when there is a need.
Ng added that the move is a wake-up call for local guides to buck up.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Book fair to cultivate reading among students
Book fair to cultivate reading among students
The Johor Book Fair, which attracted the participation of 60 publishers with 100 stalls set up, aims to to promote reading as a habit especially among students.
Students from 20 schools statewide are expected to make trips to Danga City Mall’s Expo hall daily for the fair which ends tomorrow.
Secondary school student Siti Hajar Mohd Gazali, 14, said the book fair was a good way to cultivate reading habit among students “I think students who come to the fair will have fun because there are many types of books to choose from such as novels, comics and academic exercise books.
“I plan to tell my parents about the fair and hope they will bring my siblings to buy books,” she said.
Primary five student Wan Hakim Wan Halim said his favourite part of the exhibition was the caricature corner.
“There were five artists who drew caricatures in a matter of minutes.
“For only RM7, one of the artists sketched a caricature of me and I am very satisfied with the drawing,” he said.
His classmate from SK Taman Rinting (2) P. Praavintran said that he bought a few exercise books for revision.
“My friends and I bought History, Mathematics and Science workbooks to prepare ourselves for the UPSR exams next year.
“I am glad that my teacher brought us to the fair because there are a lot of books for us to choose from,” he said, adding that reading was one of his favourite past times.
Johor Education director Sufa’at Tumin, who launched the fair said that there were a total of 100 exhibitors including 60 publishers at the fair.
“The public can get their hands on various types of books including academic books, novels, comics, religious and cookbooks at the fair.
“Such fairs will encourage more people to read as reading is a productive activity that promotes critical thinking and exercises the mind,” he said.
He added other than book exhibitions, there was also the 1Malaysia dance performances, colouring contests, lucky draws and singing performances to entertain visitors while they read.
The fair which ends tomorrow is from 10am until 9pm, admission is free.
-News courtesy of The Star-
The Johor Book Fair, which attracted the participation of 60 publishers with 100 stalls set up, aims to to promote reading as a habit especially among students.
Students from 20 schools statewide are expected to make trips to Danga City Mall’s Expo hall daily for the fair which ends tomorrow.
Secondary school student Siti Hajar Mohd Gazali, 14, said the book fair was a good way to cultivate reading habit among students “I think students who come to the fair will have fun because there are many types of books to choose from such as novels, comics and academic exercise books.
“I plan to tell my parents about the fair and hope they will bring my siblings to buy books,” she said.
Primary five student Wan Hakim Wan Halim said his favourite part of the exhibition was the caricature corner.
“There were five artists who drew caricatures in a matter of minutes.
“For only RM7, one of the artists sketched a caricature of me and I am very satisfied with the drawing,” he said.
His classmate from SK Taman Rinting (2) P. Praavintran said that he bought a few exercise books for revision.
“My friends and I bought History, Mathematics and Science workbooks to prepare ourselves for the UPSR exams next year.
“I am glad that my teacher brought us to the fair because there are a lot of books for us to choose from,” he said, adding that reading was one of his favourite past times.
Johor Education director Sufa’at Tumin, who launched the fair said that there were a total of 100 exhibitors including 60 publishers at the fair.
“The public can get their hands on various types of books including academic books, novels, comics, religious and cookbooks at the fair.
“Such fairs will encourage more people to read as reading is a productive activity that promotes critical thinking and exercises the mind,” he said.
He added other than book exhibitions, there was also the 1Malaysia dance performances, colouring contests, lucky draws and singing performances to entertain visitors while they read.
The fair which ends tomorrow is from 10am until 9pm, admission is free.
-News courtesy of The Star-
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