'JB Lucky Draw' scam

10 fall prey to 'JB Lucky Draw' scam since April

Some 10 Singaporeans have fallen victim to the 'Johor Bahru Lucky Draw' scam since April 2013.

This is more than the total number of people scammed in the first three months of this year.

Most victims fall prey at the bridge linking Woodlands Customs and JB's City Square.

Scammers would approach the victims, telling them that they have won a lucky draw prize.

They would then ask the victims to withdraw money from their bank account to pay for taxes or administrative fees in collect the prize.

Some would offer victims a ride back to their country, where the victim can make the withdrawal.

'Madam Lee', a victim who lost S$12,000, said: "I told him that I had only a few thousand dollars in my savings account. I told him that I couldn't get any cash advance with my credit card.

"They said that they would only take a look at it, scan the card number, and then return the card to me. But they lied. I was told there wouldn't be any interest charged, that when I withdrew the money, they'd put it back immediately."

The police remind the public to be vigilant of "get-rich-quick" offers and lucky draws that come with payment.

Victims are advised to make a report at the nearest police station in the country where the scam took place.

~News curtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Plans for Johor-S'pore rapid transit system in final stages

Plans for Johor-S'pore rapid transit system in final stages: Abdul Ghani

Outgoing Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman says plans for the rapid transit system (RTS) linking Johor and Singapore are in their final stages.

Singapore's transport ministry said the architectural and engineering consultancy study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Johor and Singapore is currently on-going, and its first phase is nearing completion.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia (IM) will then decide on the option for the RTS Link to be further studied as part of the second phase of the study.

Both countries have agreed for both sides to co-locate their Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at both the Singapore and Johor Bahru (JB) stations, so that cross-border commuters on the RTS Link need to clear immigration only once at either station.

This means that those who are taking the RTS Link from Woodlands in Singapore will clear both Singapore and Malaysian Customs before boarding the train and need not clear again when they arrive at JB.

A similar arrangement will also be in place for those from JB taking the RTS Link into Singapore.

Meanwhile, outgoing Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman on Thursday took his electoral fight to Singapore - by taking a bus down to meet factory workers in the Republic.

Mr Abdul Ghani travelled by bus from Gelang Patah in Johor to Jurong East bus interchange in Singapore.

It was his first time travelling on the Causeway Link bus and he noted that the journey took more than an hour.

The Chief Minister wanted to experience what it was like for Malaysians who travel to Singapore daily.

And he said commuting will be more efficient once the Rapid Transit System is ready.

He said: "A lot more people can be moved with the RTS. The capacity with be enough, the speed will be fast enough, and people will be moved into Singapore and back more efficiently.

"So, that will definitely reduce congestion as a result of the daily usage of the causeway or the second link."

The Rapid Transit System is aimed at enhancing connectivity between the two countries.

It will also be integrated with public transport services in both Johor Baru and Singapore.

Some 100,000 workers in Johor commute to Singapore every day. To help commuters move more speedily, there is a possibility of making the CIQ facilities more efficient.

Caretaker Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman is suggesting to have a single CIQ complex for both countries.

He said: “Of course it should be enhanced with a joint CIQ; if that takes place then it will achieve the most optimum objective of an RTS."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~