New police beat base in Jalan Wong Ah Fook
ROUND-THE-CLOCK: The bustling area will have two policemen on duty on a 24-hour rotation
A NEW police beat base in Jalan Wong Ah Fook, built by Johor Bahru City Square, was opened recently.
Johor Bahru City Square general manager Catherina Quek said the beat base is a collaborative effort between the mall, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and the police.
Quek, who is also the mall's chief financial officer, said the air-conditioned base is a permanent structure built courtesy of the mall which cost about RM80,000.
"We were informed that there will be two policemen stationed at the base on a 24-hour rotation.
"This is on top of the auxiliary police and in-house guards working at the mall," she said.
She said the traffic on Jalan Wong Ah Fook is heavy as it is a bustling area in the town centre.
"I hope the police beat base will improve the image of Johor Baru in terms of safety and security," she said, adding that it will make the public feel safer as it projected the presence of police.
Quek said the mall is now bigger, with 51,096 sq m of rent area after refurbishment work was carried out about one-and-a-half years ago.
"Previously, the mall had only 38,740 sq m of space for rent," she said.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commisioner Zainuddin Yaacob said two officers from the Johor Central police station will be stationed at the police beat base.
"The police motorcycle unit called Ninja Squad will also be patrolling the area in addition to places like Larkin, Kampung Melayu Majidee, Taman Pelangi and the city centre," he said.
He said the temporary police beat base was located opposite the new one, which was about 30m away.
"The previous police beat base was built courtesy of the MBJB while IRDA played a role by providing auxiliary police to the mall," he said.
He said the temporary beat base will be shifted to Taman Daya which had been identified as a location in need of a police beat base.
Assistant Commisioner Zainuddin Yaacob (third, left) and Catherina Quek at the launch of the new police beat base.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
MyTeksi comes to town
Network is aimed at helping to achieve the vision of providing an efficient transportation service in Iskandar Malaysia
MYTEKSI, the mobile taxi booking application, is now available in the southern state through a collaboration between MyTeksi Sdn Bhd, Perbadanan Pengangkutan Awam Iskandar Malaysia (PAIM) and Koperasi Permodalan Melayu Negeri Johor Bhd (KPMNJ).
"We are pleased to announce our partnership with PAIM which will further augment the existing integrated transportation system in Iskandar Malaysia.
MyTeksi's penetration into the Johor market will further boost our presence in Malaysia, as we prepare our next phase of growth to meet commuters' ever-increasing needs in today's fast-paced lifestyle," said MyTeksi Sdn Bhd general manager Adelene Foo, during the recent soft launch of MyTeksi in Iskandar Malaysia.
MyTeksi currently includes more than 2,000 registered taxis in the Klang Valley area.
In Iskandar Malaysia, MyTeksi is providing its services through an exclusive collaboration with PAIM, the corporation for public transport in the special economic zone.
Concurrently, MyTeksi is partnering KPMNJ to launch its taxi booking application to taxi fleet operators.
Said Foo: "Our strategic alliance with KPMNJ in Johor will see MyTeksi commencing its mobile taxi-booking services to an initial group of taxi drivers.
Moving forward, MyTeksi will actively touch base with other fleets through smart partnerships to further grow our network and connectivity.
Essentially, we will continue to focus on the key areas of speed, convenience and safety. Our promise to commuters is their being able to confirm their taxi booking with MyTeksi within one minute."
Utilising an application available for downloads via iPhones, iPads and Androids, the MyTeksi application allows commuters to book taxis in a fast, convenient and safe manner. A booking fee of RM2 applies.
"With Iskandar Malaysia three times the size of Singapore, an efficient transportation network is vital to its success," said Mohd Gadaffie Abd Aziz, the chief executive of PAIM and principal assistant director of Johor's Economic Planning Unit.
"The significant investment and business opportunities here in Iskandar Malaysia are expected to create thousands of jobs for both the locals and expatriates.
Our strategic partnership with MyTeksi today can help us achieve the vision of providing an efficient transportation service in Iskandar Malaysia which is projected to have a population of 3 million by 2025."
Upon launching the application, MyTeksi will automatically detect the commuter's current location using the smartphone's in-built GPS (Global Positioning System). The commuter then selects the desired destination, and nearby taxis will be shown.
After selecting the taxi, the commuter will receive a booking confirmation within one minute. Information such as estimated time of arrival, taxi plate number, driver's contact details, estimated fare and an option for tips will be prompted.
The commuter is then able to track the real-time location of the booked taxi.
As a safety feature, the Share My Ride tool on its application allows commuters' loved ones to track the location of their ride in real-time.
(From left) Koperasi Permodalan Melayu Negeri Johor chairman Mokhtar A. Aziz, Mohd Gadaffie Abd Aziz and Adelene Foo promoting the MyTeksi mobile application.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
New Johor terminal for Singapore-Malaysia express buses ready by year end
The new terminal, GP Sentral, situated along Jalan Gelang Patah-Kampong Ulu Choh, on the outskirts of Gelang Patah in Johor, is slated to open by the end of the year. (Photo: Alfred Chua)
The possibility of a centralised bus terminal here for Singapore-Malaysia express bus services is looking slim, even though some progress has been made across the Causeway.
Express Bus Agencies Association (EBAA), which represents 30 companies, told TODAY that a new centralised bus terminal, which it has invested in, is near completion at Gelang Patah in Johor.
The new terminal, GP Sentral, situated along Jalan Gelang Patah-Kampong Ulu Choh, on the outskirts of Gelang Patah, is slated to open by the end of the year. There is no traction yet for such a terminal in Singapore.
Replying to a question by Nominated Member of Parliament Teo Siong Seng in Parliament last week, Parliamentary Secretary (Transport) Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said that projected demand for inter-city bus services "did not merit the provision of a centralised inter-city bus terminal".
Associate Professor Faishal said there was "little indication of growth in inter-city travel". "In fact, the number of inter-city bus licences this year has declined by 9 per cent," he noted.
"The existing approach where bus operators ride on existing infrastructure at various premises for their passenger boarding and alighting operations remains adequate to support the projected growth in demand."
He added that the Land Transport Authority will "continue to monitor the demand for inter-city bus services and, if necessary, review the need for a centralised bus terminal".
To the EBAA's Terminal Services Sub-Committee Chairman Sebastian Yap, it was disappointing that the authorities have not yet given the green light for such a project. His association had "waited quite a while for an official reply" on the issue, he said.
In 2004, the Urban Redevelopment Authority rejected a proposal to convert Turf City into a bus terminal. The Government then offered a plot of land near Turf Club in Kranji, but both sides were unable to agree on key points, like the terminal location.
In 2007, the association identified a site at Seah Im Road, off Telok Blangah Road, while shortlisting other possible locations at Victoria Street, Outram Park and Jurong East. The plans, however, failed to get off the ground. This led the EBAA to decide, in 2010, to invest in a new bus terminal in Johor.
The main terminal, which will have 15 bus bays, and a neighbouring petrol kiosk have been built. Nearby facilities will include eateries and retail shops, while the terminal will have a food court, money changers and a centralised ticketing counter, said the EBAA.
Mr Yap, who is also Executive Director at Transtar Travel, declined to comment on the costs involved.
The EBAA had envisioned the terminal to "be the first and the last stop for Singapore-Malaysia bus services".
In addition, the terminal will "cater to the Johor-Singapore market", taking passengers from the Malaysian state to various points in Singapore, a route now served by buses plying the Causeway, not the Second Link.
Mr Yap said this can help promote people taking day-trips into Singapore.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Johor targets more Middle Eastern tourists
The Johor Government is looking to the Middle East to attract wealthy tourists from the region to achieve its target of 4.9 million tourist visits by 2015.
State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said that more should be done to ensure that the state’s tourism sector continued to remain vibrant and attractive.
“Johor has a unique tourism package that is able to attract visitors not only from Middle Eastern countries but also from other parts of the world,” he said after launching the three-day Johor MATTA Fair 2013 at Danga City Mall here yesterday.
Tee pointed out that besides world-class theme parks and the Johor Premium Outlet in Iskandar Malaysia, the state also had beautiful islands and other natural attractions to offer tourists.
“We already have a large number of tourists from other countries such as China, India, and Indonesia that frequently visit the state.
“Now we are looking to penetrate the Middle Eastern market. We want to get more people from that region to come here and spend their money. With that in mind, all those who are involved in the local tourism sector are expected to benefit,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Express bus tickets selling like hot cakes
With Hari Raya drawing closer, express bus tickets are selling briskly, despite the 10% surcharge imposed during the festive period.
Checks by The Star at express bus counters at the Larkin Bus Terminal here found that many tickets had been sold.
The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) imposed the 10% surcharge on June 18 after express bus operators aired their reluctance to sell advance tickets if they could not increase the fares.
Qisma Express operator B.Thinagar said that most of the bus tickets to northern destinations were selling fast.
“About 30% of our Penang and Kedah tickets have been snapped up, especially for the Hari Raya period.
“Within the next couple of days, I expect tickets to northern and central states to be completely sold out,” he said, adding that tickets to the Klang Valley were still available.
StarMart Ekspress Sdn Bhd ticket sales representative M. Rajendran said many of his customers were taken aback by the new fare at first.
“The increase is just 10% or an extra RM3 from the previous price so passengers can still afford it,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Transnasional Johor Baru ticketing agent, who wanted to be known only as Ismail, said tickets to Kelantan and Terengganu had already been sold out for the Ramadan period.
“However, we are still waiting for a directive from our headquarters to sell additional tickets for Hari Raya within the next couple of weeks,” he said.
On another front, train tickets from Johor Baru-Singapore to Tumpat and Johor Baru-Singapore to Padang Besar were sold out on July 2.
KTM Bhd senior marketing manager Mohd Noordin Kimi said that with the hike in express bus tickets, more people were expected to use trains for their balik kampung trip.
“There will be no price increase for our tickets and concession holders will still enjoy their benefits during the festive season,” he said.
Mohd Noordin said that from Aug 2-7, KTM would add two more coaches to the regular 10-coach trains to Tumpat and Padang Besar.
“Additional coaches will only be made available based on demand,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Asia’s biggest water park at Legoland
Promise of fun: The Legoland Water Park in Nusajaya, which is almost 70% completed, will have more than 20 water slides and over 70 Lego models.
On Oct 21, visitors to Legoland Malaysia can enjoy a splashing good time when it unveils its new water park.
A first in Asia, and the largest in the world, the Legoland Water Park will have more than 20 water slides and over 70 Lego models among its attractions.
Its general manager Siegfried Boerst said the park would also be the only one that would have a second entrance so that visitors could visit the water and theme parks separately.
“It will provide further savings for visitors,” he said.
The water park, covering an area equivalent to 50 football fields, is 70% complete. It contains about 15,000 models made from over 60 million Lego bricks.
“The water park will feature slides, wade pools, rides, an interactive water-play structure as well as a Build-A-Raft River where families can build their own raft using soft Lego blocks,” Boerst said at a media briefing here yesterday.
About 1,000 visitors are expected daily at the water park, which has a smaller capacity than the theme park.
“It is also the second installation of the Legoland resort after the theme park’s opening last September,” said Boerst.
“Our Lego-themed hotel is also slated to open early next year.”
Other than domestic visitors, he added that the park and hotel were expected to attract more tourists from Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia.
The park is designed for families with children aged two and above, and they can buy one of the three categories of tickets: theme park only, water park only or the combo ticket, which allows free movement between the first two options.
~News courtesy of The Star~
