Wednesday 30 November 2016

S'pore, M'sia made very good progress on high-speed rail agreement

Singapore, Malaysia have made very good progress on high-speed rail agreement: PM Lee



PM Lee in an interview with the chairman of Malaysian state news agency Bernama Azman Ujang on Monday (Nov 28).

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore and Malaysia have made very good progress on a bilateral agreement on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High-Speed Rail (HSR), and hopes both sides can sign the agreement when he and Prime Minister Najib Razak meet at the Leaders' Retreat. 

"It is a very ambitious, very complicated and a very expansive project, in terms of scale. We have to try our best to anticipate what the likely issues are, when we build it, when we operate it, and have a clear understanding on how we will deal with it if a situation arises," Mr Lee said in an interview with the chairman of Malaysian state news agency Bernama Azman Ujang on Monday(Nov 28).

"The first thing is to have a sound agreement between the two countries on the basis of how the project is structured, how it is going to be executed, and how it is backed by the two governments," said Mr Lee in the interview, the transcript of which was released by the Prime Minister's Office today (Nov 30).

"That is the first requirement, that we have a very good agreement which sets out clearly a sound basis to build and operate the system."

Singapore, KL 'working towards' inking High Speed Rail pact on Dec 5

Both countries have been discussing the agreement for more than a year, Mr Lee noted.

"We are almost there, and I hope that when I meet Prime Minister Najib at the next retreat, we will be able to sign the agreement," he said.

On Tuesday (Nov 29), Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan met Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, and Mr Abdul Rahman said on Instagram they met "to harmonise last minute details of the Bilateral Agreement on Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Rail project before signing ceremony in December".

A memorandum of understanding for the HSR project was signed in July this year by Mr Khaw and Mr Abdul Rahman, and it was witnessed by the two prime ministers.

Construction for the project is expected to begin in 2018, with trains running in 2026.

Secondly, Mr Lee noted that the project's execution will be very important - designing it, calling for tenders, evaluating the proposals.

"Several high-speed rail systems in the world have been lobbying very hard to get this contract - the Japanese, the Koreans, the Chinese high-speed rail," he noted.

"Each has its strengths, and we will have a very difficult decision evaluating the bidders who come along and deciding which one is the best overall."

Asked about the cost-sharing of construction, PM Lee said things like that had to be clearly specified, and it was one of the items that made the project complicated.

"When you have two authorities involved, you have to decide how to partition, where the line is drawn. I build my part, you build your part, and we have to meet at the same point," he said. "If it does not meet then we have a big problem."

PM Lee added: "It is complicated but there is a will. And there is a good will, and we would like to make it succeed."

He was also asked if a third bridge between Singapore and Malaysia - which some in Malaysia had suggested recently - is necessary with the HSR project.

Mr Lee said there are currently no plans for it.

"We are not currently planning for a third bridge," he said. "I have seen some statements in Malaysia suggesting one, but the high-speed rail is a very ambitious project. I would focus all my energies doing that one before we launch a new big project."

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Sunday 13 November 2016

RM8mil dragon attraction in Yong Peng

RM8mil dragon attraction



A 106.9m-long dragon tunnel, dubbed the Prosperity Dragon, is the latest tourist attraction in this small southern Johor town.

Vying for a place in the Malaysian Book of Records as the biggest dra­gon tunnel in the country and potentially clinching a world record too, the celestial structure sprawls on more than a hectare of the Green Garden of Che Ann Khor Yong Peng Association grounds at Taman Kota Impian here.

Costing RM8mil and three years to build, the interior of the hollow dragon structure is adorned with Chinese cultural and religious paintings.

Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar launched the dragon tunnel yesterday.

He was accompanied by his son Tunku Temenggong Tunku Idris Iskandar at the event which was also attended by 5,000 local and foreign visitors.

Sultan Ibrahim planted a tree at the site.

The spectators were entertained to a lion dance by 99 lions and also a dragon dance performance.

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the dragon would attract more tourists to the district and boost the state’s economy.

“This dragon is a symbol of prosperity for Johor and I hope Green Garden will become an iconic destination.

“The 24 paintings portray the teachings of the Buddha on honouring and obeying parents and another 18 paintings depict the afterlife,” he told reporters during a media conference yesterday.

Visitors have to pay a minimal entry fee to enter the “dragon’s body” which is an air-conditioned tunnel to view the paintings.

“Everything about this structure is related to the number nine, which represents prosperity and luck for the Chinese community.

“Inside, there are 108 stairs and the length of the dragon is 315ft. Both figures add up to the number nine,” Tee added.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Thursday 3 November 2016

Extra $6.60 fee to enter Johor kicks in

Extra $6.60 fee to enter Johor kicks in

UNTIL recently, Johnson Tan would drive his Grab car across the Causeway to refuel up to four times a week.

Doing that saved him up to $80 for a full tank.

Now the 27-year-old is having second thoughts. It follows the change in road charges imposed by Malaysia.

From yesterday, Singapore-registered cars entering Malaysia will be charged an extra RM20 (S$6.60).

"I will save less now, so unless I happen to be near the checkpoints, I wouldn't intentionally drive in," said Mr Tan, who lives in Sengkang.

The road charge came into effect at the two land checkpoints from 12.01am yesterday.

This followed an announcement by Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai on Facebook last Friday.

The extra charge was targeted to roll out as early as October last year but was repeatedly delayed.

From Nov 1, a round trip for a Singapore car going into Johor will cost about $19 and this includes existing checkpoint tolls levied by both countries.

The Straits Times spoke to 12 Singaporean drivers in Johor Baru yesterday.

Unlike Mr Tan, 10 of the drivers said they were unfazed about paying more, saying that it still falls within their means.

The drivers were also prepared with sufficient value in their Touch 'n Go cards, which they now have to tap twice after getting their passports stamped, once for the road charge and again for the checkpoint toll.

They previously tapped once at the Malaysia checkpoint.

"RM20 is still a comfortable rate for me," said Iskandar Samat, who is self-employed.
v The 42-year-old was in JB with his mother, Sabariah Tik, 64, yesterday for some shopping.

"With the year-end holidays coming up, I think I will be back a few more times this year with my wife and two children.

"We can split the cost among us," he added.

Operations manager Desmond Chin, 33, who travels to JB several times a week for work, said: "I don't have a choice since I have to attend meetings and visit the company factory in JB. But if I were to come here for leisure, I might think twice."

However, technician Jani Jamari, 57, said making the trip to visit his favourite eateries has become "not worth it".

"I come in about once a month on my day-off to eat because the halal food is cheap and good... But now, I may take a ferry to Batam instead," said Mr Jani, who was busy working out the cost of a round trip to JB on a piece of paper.

Traffic was smooth entering Malaysia yesterday morning.

However, several motorists said the weekend crowd will return and traffic jams are unlikely to ease in the months ahead.

~News courtesy of My Paper~