Friday 31 January 2014
Friday 24 January 2014
Islands to draw more tourists
Islands to draw more tourists
Islands around here are set to be major crowd-pullers among locals and foreign tourists during the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014).
Mersing District Council (MDM) president Zainal Eran said among the favourite tourist destinations of island getaways are Pulau Rawa, Pulau Besar, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Aur, Pulau Tengah and Pulau Sibu which are accessible via the Sungai Mersing jetty.
"We are expecting an increase in the number of visitors compared with the 200,000 people recorded last year," he said.
"Throughout last year, there were 68,788 overseas visitors including those from Europe, Japan, Korea and China. The rest were local visitors," he said.
"We will woo the tourists with various promotions as carried out by the government in conjunction with VMY2014," he said.
"MDM has also beautified several places in the district including having a beach cleanup. We believe a pristine, litter-free beach will make tourists feel more welcome," he said.
Zainal said he hoped the locals will play their part in ensuring the cleanliness of tourist spots.
He said MDM has also placed several centralised waste containers for residents living in rural areas outside its jurisdiction.
"With the facilities, it is hoped that the locals will enjoy a better garbage disposal system. Previously, the locals will dispose of garbage by the roadside for the garbage collectors," he said.
He said the new measure will not only eliminate the stench coming from the garbage but also make the area look more appealing.
"MDM will monitor the cleanliness in the city and act against litterbugs," he said, adding that the local council will not compromise with those who show a blatant disregard for the cleanliness of the city.
The Tad Marine Resort in Pulau Tinggi, Mersing, offers visitors an enjoyable stay amid lush surroundings.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Islands around here are set to be major crowd-pullers among locals and foreign tourists during the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014).
Mersing District Council (MDM) president Zainal Eran said among the favourite tourist destinations of island getaways are Pulau Rawa, Pulau Besar, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Aur, Pulau Tengah and Pulau Sibu which are accessible via the Sungai Mersing jetty.
"We are expecting an increase in the number of visitors compared with the 200,000 people recorded last year," he said.
"Throughout last year, there were 68,788 overseas visitors including those from Europe, Japan, Korea and China. The rest were local visitors," he said.
"We will woo the tourists with various promotions as carried out by the government in conjunction with VMY2014," he said.
"MDM has also beautified several places in the district including having a beach cleanup. We believe a pristine, litter-free beach will make tourists feel more welcome," he said.
Zainal said he hoped the locals will play their part in ensuring the cleanliness of tourist spots.
He said MDM has also placed several centralised waste containers for residents living in rural areas outside its jurisdiction.
"With the facilities, it is hoped that the locals will enjoy a better garbage disposal system. Previously, the locals will dispose of garbage by the roadside for the garbage collectors," he said.
He said the new measure will not only eliminate the stench coming from the garbage but also make the area look more appealing.
"MDM will monitor the cleanliness in the city and act against litterbugs," he said, adding that the local council will not compromise with those who show a blatant disregard for the cleanliness of the city.
The Tad Marine Resort in Pulau Tinggi, Mersing, offers visitors an enjoyable stay amid lush surroundings.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Faulty escalators annoy tourists
Faulty escalators annoy tourists
Some of the faulty escalators and lifts at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building (SIB) and JB Sentral are still not fixed, leaving locals and tourists disgruntled.
The problem was highlighted in the media just before the start of Visit Malaysia Year 2014
Warning signs have been placed next to several descending escalators to inform the public that they are under maintenance.
Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong Wie Kong said the only escalator leading to the waiting bay for coaches has out of order for at least three months.
He said tourists with heavy luggage, including the elderly and disabled, were forced to use the staircase.
Leong said this was giving first-time visitors a very bad impression.
He said most of the complaints received by his Johor Baru-based members in the past few month were about the faulty escalators.
Leong added that it was also causing a lot of inconvenience to locals commuting to work in Singapore daily.
"To complicate matters, the maintenance work is being carried out during the peak period. This is really an unwelcome gesture by our welcoming committee," he said.
"No matter what excuse they give, an escalator should not be out of order for months. And, even if it is shut down for maintenance, why do it during the peak period?" Leong said.
"The faulty escalators mean I have to walk. I find it a bit tough because I have arthritis," said Kursiah Othman, 61, who visits her grandchildren in Singapore quite often.
"I have spotted the same warning sign for more than a month but nothing seems to have been done," she said.
State tourism, domestic trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said they were waiting for the escalator parts from overseas.
"It will be fixed as soon as the escalator parts arrive," he said.
Tee does not know where the parts are coming from.
The Prime Minister Department's property management division safety officer Azali Bachok said the escalators and lifts at SIB and JB Sentral were maintained by two different contractors.
He said they had been notified of the problem.
"The escalators are in dire need of maintenance as they handle a large number of commuters daily. "We are sorry for the inconvenience," he said.
Azali could not say when the maintenance works would be completed.
The Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building is a major entry point into the country.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Some of the faulty escalators and lifts at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building (SIB) and JB Sentral are still not fixed, leaving locals and tourists disgruntled.
The problem was highlighted in the media just before the start of Visit Malaysia Year 2014
Warning signs have been placed next to several descending escalators to inform the public that they are under maintenance.
Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong Wie Kong said the only escalator leading to the waiting bay for coaches has out of order for at least three months.
He said tourists with heavy luggage, including the elderly and disabled, were forced to use the staircase.
Leong said this was giving first-time visitors a very bad impression.
He said most of the complaints received by his Johor Baru-based members in the past few month were about the faulty escalators.
Leong added that it was also causing a lot of inconvenience to locals commuting to work in Singapore daily.
"To complicate matters, the maintenance work is being carried out during the peak period. This is really an unwelcome gesture by our welcoming committee," he said.
"No matter what excuse they give, an escalator should not be out of order for months. And, even if it is shut down for maintenance, why do it during the peak period?" Leong said.
"The faulty escalators mean I have to walk. I find it a bit tough because I have arthritis," said Kursiah Othman, 61, who visits her grandchildren in Singapore quite often.
"I have spotted the same warning sign for more than a month but nothing seems to have been done," she said.
State tourism, domestic trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said they were waiting for the escalator parts from overseas.
"It will be fixed as soon as the escalator parts arrive," he said.
Tee does not know where the parts are coming from.
The Prime Minister Department's property management division safety officer Azali Bachok said the escalators and lifts at SIB and JB Sentral were maintained by two different contractors.
He said they had been notified of the problem.
"The escalators are in dire need of maintenance as they handle a large number of commuters daily. "We are sorry for the inconvenience," he said.
Azali could not say when the maintenance works would be completed.
The Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building is a major entry point into the country.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Traffic crunch expected at S’pore-M’sia land borders
Traffic crunch expected at S’pore-M’sia land borders over Lunar New Year weekend
Expect a traffic crunch going to and from Malaysia at Singapore's land borders over the coming Lunar New Year weekend.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has advised motorists to adjust travel plans if possible, with traffic expected to be especially heavy from January 28 to February 2.
The ICA said vehicle build-ups are inevitable, as it seeks to improve clearance efficiency without compromising security.
With a recent incident that saw a Malaysian woman slip past checkpoints, authorities will be watching every vehicle closely; add in the usual inspections, and delays will be likely.
If necessary, canines will be called upon to sniff out any suspicious activity.
Immigration and auxiliary police officers work together to facilitate smooth and orderly border clearances, and authorities have asked for travellers' understanding, especially in situations where motorists converge at checkpoints at the same time.
For now, motorists are bracing for the traffic crunch, or may even avoid it totally.
Businessman Tan Chee Seng said: "I’m not coming to the Causeway because the traffic is too (heavy)… the jam is three hours!"
Lee Cheng Hwi, a draftsman, said: "Maybe come out early, plan your time well, before you actually cross the border."
Tay Wee Khoon, a production line leader, said: "I want to avoid the (traffic) jam, that's why I don't want to cross over the bridge."
So for motorists still planning on making the road trip -- be prepared, or consider alternatives such as car-pooling.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Expect a traffic crunch going to and from Malaysia at Singapore's land borders over the coming Lunar New Year weekend.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has advised motorists to adjust travel plans if possible, with traffic expected to be especially heavy from January 28 to February 2.
The ICA said vehicle build-ups are inevitable, as it seeks to improve clearance efficiency without compromising security.
With a recent incident that saw a Malaysian woman slip past checkpoints, authorities will be watching every vehicle closely; add in the usual inspections, and delays will be likely.
If necessary, canines will be called upon to sniff out any suspicious activity.
Immigration and auxiliary police officers work together to facilitate smooth and orderly border clearances, and authorities have asked for travellers' understanding, especially in situations where motorists converge at checkpoints at the same time.
For now, motorists are bracing for the traffic crunch, or may even avoid it totally.
Businessman Tan Chee Seng said: "I’m not coming to the Causeway because the traffic is too (heavy)… the jam is three hours!"
Lee Cheng Hwi, a draftsman, said: "Maybe come out early, plan your time well, before you actually cross the border."
Tay Wee Khoon, a production line leader, said: "I want to avoid the (traffic) jam, that's why I don't want to cross over the bridge."
So for motorists still planning on making the road trip -- be prepared, or consider alternatives such as car-pooling.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Saturday 11 January 2014
Little India in need of a spruce up
Little India in need of a spruce up
It is Visit Malaysia Year 2014, but there are still so much that is found lacking in the city here that needs the attention of the authorities.
Johor's Little India, in Jalan Ungku Puan, is listed as a "must-visit" place in the Johor Tourism Department's official website.
It is popular for its carnival-like atmosphere, local Indian food and sweetmeat, the latest Indian music, and fashion, and decorations in all colours imaginable.
There are also tailors and shops selling flower garlands and prayer paraphernalia.
An interesting building in Jalan Ungku Puan is the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam temple, which is over a century old.
The temple was founded in 1911 by Kootha Perumal Vandayar, a supervisor in the rubber and coconut plantation in Pasir Pelangi.
The plantation belonged to the former Sultan of Johor Sultan, the late Sir Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar (Sept 17, 1873 to May 8, 1959).
Kootha Perumal approached the Sultan for a piece of land to build the Hindu temple, and the Sultan gave him an acre (0.4ha) of land and RM500.
In return, Kootha Perumal added "Raja" to the temple's name, in appreciation of the sultan's gift. The temple was originally known as the Mariamman Temple.
Today, the temple, and its surrounding attract locals, and foreign visitors from all parts of the world.
Its rich history, beautiful architecture and colourful culture, are often written about by its visitors on the Internet. However, its lack of facilities and cleanliness is casting a shadow over its beauty.
Lawyer Khalilah Abdul Rasip, 40, said during a visit recently, she found that the road strewn with rubbish, and the signboards vandalised. She said it was embarrassing to see that little was done by the authorities to clean up the mess.
To make matters worse, she said, the traders did not dispose of their rubbish properly, and the area smelt like a dirty drain when it rains.
"Stop the blame game, if the traders are at fault, then the enforcement officers from the municipal council should slap them with summonses, and if the council is providing below par services, then it should buck up," said Khalilah.
Trader Salman Hadhir Khan who sells traditional garments said the Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd, (SWM), the company awarded with the task to dispose of solid waste in the state, hired foreigners to sweep and clean the area.
"We often see these foreigners in bright green fluorescent uniforms with the SWM logo on their backs, but they hardly clean up the rubbish, normally, they just sit around," he claimed.
Johor Baru’s Little India has a carnival-like atmosphere and is a popular place to shop for locals and visitors alike.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
It is Visit Malaysia Year 2014, but there are still so much that is found lacking in the city here that needs the attention of the authorities.
Johor's Little India, in Jalan Ungku Puan, is listed as a "must-visit" place in the Johor Tourism Department's official website.
It is popular for its carnival-like atmosphere, local Indian food and sweetmeat, the latest Indian music, and fashion, and decorations in all colours imaginable.
There are also tailors and shops selling flower garlands and prayer paraphernalia.
An interesting building in Jalan Ungku Puan is the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam temple, which is over a century old.
The temple was founded in 1911 by Kootha Perumal Vandayar, a supervisor in the rubber and coconut plantation in Pasir Pelangi.
The plantation belonged to the former Sultan of Johor Sultan, the late Sir Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar (Sept 17, 1873 to May 8, 1959).
Kootha Perumal approached the Sultan for a piece of land to build the Hindu temple, and the Sultan gave him an acre (0.4ha) of land and RM500.
In return, Kootha Perumal added "Raja" to the temple's name, in appreciation of the sultan's gift. The temple was originally known as the Mariamman Temple.
Today, the temple, and its surrounding attract locals, and foreign visitors from all parts of the world.
Its rich history, beautiful architecture and colourful culture, are often written about by its visitors on the Internet. However, its lack of facilities and cleanliness is casting a shadow over its beauty.
Lawyer Khalilah Abdul Rasip, 40, said during a visit recently, she found that the road strewn with rubbish, and the signboards vandalised. She said it was embarrassing to see that little was done by the authorities to clean up the mess.
To make matters worse, she said, the traders did not dispose of their rubbish properly, and the area smelt like a dirty drain when it rains.
"Stop the blame game, if the traders are at fault, then the enforcement officers from the municipal council should slap them with summonses, and if the council is providing below par services, then it should buck up," said Khalilah.
Trader Salman Hadhir Khan who sells traditional garments said the Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd, (SWM), the company awarded with the task to dispose of solid waste in the state, hired foreigners to sweep and clean the area.
"We often see these foreigners in bright green fluorescent uniforms with the SWM logo on their backs, but they hardly clean up the rubbish, normally, they just sit around," he claimed.
Johor Baru’s Little India has a carnival-like atmosphere and is a popular place to shop for locals and visitors alike.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Sunday 5 January 2014
Komtar upgrade complete in 2015
Komtar upgrade complete in 2015
The 35-year-old iconic Menara Komtar, in the city centre, is being given a RM21 million facelift.
Upgrading work on the office tower, which is part of the Komtar Johor Baru City Centre development, commenced last September and is expected to be completed in February, 2015.
Following the renovation, Menara Komtar will have a new facade and main lobby, six high-speed lifts, Wi-Fi facilties and a better security system. Menara Komtar is owned and managed by Damansara Assets Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Johor Corporation.
DASB executive director Yusaini Sidek said the upgrading was needed because the tower was more than three decades old.
"We hope to have a new look and image for this iconic tower as we move forward to a new era in urban office space development," Yusaini added.
"This is also to cater to the needs of the increasingly sophisticated tenants and maintain our competency in the office space sector."
Despite the limited demand for office rental space in the state capital, Yusaini is confident that the upgrading and the right marketing strategy will attract more people to set up their offices there.
He said DASB was anticipating an occupancy rate of 98 per cent by the end of next year.
"So far, the occupancy rate is 60 per cent," he said.
Since our upgrading work, we have received enquiries from many parties expressing their interest in our office tower. I think 98 per cent is achievable."
Menara Komtar is directly linked to Komtar JBCC which will have retail space, indoor theme park, food court and a mosque.
It is surrounded by banks and hotels, while the JB Sentral and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex is just a stone's throw away.
Menara Komtar will have 1,600 car parking lots and 600 motorcycle parking lots.
The 26-storey tower was built in 1978.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
The 35-year-old iconic Menara Komtar, in the city centre, is being given a RM21 million facelift.
Upgrading work on the office tower, which is part of the Komtar Johor Baru City Centre development, commenced last September and is expected to be completed in February, 2015.
Following the renovation, Menara Komtar will have a new facade and main lobby, six high-speed lifts, Wi-Fi facilties and a better security system. Menara Komtar is owned and managed by Damansara Assets Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Johor Corporation.
DASB executive director Yusaini Sidek said the upgrading was needed because the tower was more than three decades old.
"We hope to have a new look and image for this iconic tower as we move forward to a new era in urban office space development," Yusaini added.
"This is also to cater to the needs of the increasingly sophisticated tenants and maintain our competency in the office space sector."
Despite the limited demand for office rental space in the state capital, Yusaini is confident that the upgrading and the right marketing strategy will attract more people to set up their offices there.
He said DASB was anticipating an occupancy rate of 98 per cent by the end of next year.
"So far, the occupancy rate is 60 per cent," he said.
Since our upgrading work, we have received enquiries from many parties expressing their interest in our office tower. I think 98 per cent is achievable."
Menara Komtar is directly linked to Komtar JBCC which will have retail space, indoor theme park, food court and a mosque.
It is surrounded by banks and hotels, while the JB Sentral and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex is just a stone's throw away.
Menara Komtar will have 1,600 car parking lots and 600 motorcycle parking lots.
The 26-storey tower was built in 1978.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Friday 3 January 2014
Wednesday 1 January 2014
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