No lack of tourist attractions
I WAS assigned to cover the Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, at the Malaysian Productivity Corporation southern region office, where he launched the Johor Baru Taxi Driver Cooperative Bhd's 19th annual general meeting.
He also handed the keys to new Proton Persona taxis to drivers.
Khaled, who had once held the post of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development minister had suggested that in the near future the state's taxis should be replaced by Proton Exora cars.
The Proton Exora is a compact multi-purpose vehicle manufactured by Proton. Its name was inspired by the Ixora flower.
I spoke to several taxi drivers who are members of the cooperative. They said they paid a daily rental of RM50 for their taxi, and RM20 of the amount went to the cooperative which provided a hire-purchase service to members. So, the drivers will eventually own the vehicles that they are driving.
The cooperative was established in 1996 with only 40 members. At the last count in December, it had a membership of 300.
All the facts and figure that were given were impressive.
Khaled also spoke about the facilities that the state government had provided in smart partnerships to improve public transport facilities to be at par with Iskandar Malaysia, including grooming and language classes, a new application system and an easier way for the public to book taxis.
I thought it was a remarkable effort and would be welcomed by many.
Meanwhile, a taxi driver, who has been driving his taxi in Johor Baru for 20 years, said the authorities should produce a map of the city with interesting places that tourist could visit in a day.
He said he was lost at times when tourists asked him to take them to interesting places in the city.
"We do not have a museum. We no longer have the Rumah Limas and the former state administration centre, Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim, does not have activities for visitors," he said.
"Even the state art gallery is just a building without English-speaking guides. All there is to do here in the city is shopping and shopping complexes. Not all tourists are interested in shopping."
He said there were many tourist attractions like Legoland but tourists have to spend the whole day there.
I do not totally agree with the driver. Maybe there is a need for a map, but there are definitely places to visit in the city in a day.
Yes, the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum is closed because the Istana Besar palace ground is undergoing refurbishment works for the Sultan of Johor's upcoming coronation, but there are many beautiful structures and historical buildings in the city.
Let's start with Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Sengget and Jalan Ungku Puan and its vicinity. Besides Bukit Timbalan, I am sure tourists would be ecstatic to see the magnificent houses of worships.
The Arulmigu Rajamariamman Temple built in 1911, with its deities sculpted from single granite stones, the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib built in 1921, the Church of the Immaculate Conception built in 1927 and the Old Chinese Temple in Jalan Trus that was built in the 19th century, are brilliant tourist attractions.
There is also the majestic National State Mosque, the Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar, which is more than 100 years old.
There are arches with brilliant historical elements and the Chinese Heritage Museum.
There is also the Johor Zoo.
The Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple was founded in 1911.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
I WAS assigned to cover the Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, at the Malaysian Productivity Corporation southern region office, where he launched the Johor Baru Taxi Driver Cooperative Bhd's 19th annual general meeting.
He also handed the keys to new Proton Persona taxis to drivers.
Khaled, who had once held the post of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development minister had suggested that in the near future the state's taxis should be replaced by Proton Exora cars.
The Proton Exora is a compact multi-purpose vehicle manufactured by Proton. Its name was inspired by the Ixora flower.
I spoke to several taxi drivers who are members of the cooperative. They said they paid a daily rental of RM50 for their taxi, and RM20 of the amount went to the cooperative which provided a hire-purchase service to members. So, the drivers will eventually own the vehicles that they are driving.
The cooperative was established in 1996 with only 40 members. At the last count in December, it had a membership of 300.
All the facts and figure that were given were impressive.
Khaled also spoke about the facilities that the state government had provided in smart partnerships to improve public transport facilities to be at par with Iskandar Malaysia, including grooming and language classes, a new application system and an easier way for the public to book taxis.
I thought it was a remarkable effort and would be welcomed by many.
Meanwhile, a taxi driver, who has been driving his taxi in Johor Baru for 20 years, said the authorities should produce a map of the city with interesting places that tourist could visit in a day.
He said he was lost at times when tourists asked him to take them to interesting places in the city.
"We do not have a museum. We no longer have the Rumah Limas and the former state administration centre, Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim, does not have activities for visitors," he said.
"Even the state art gallery is just a building without English-speaking guides. All there is to do here in the city is shopping and shopping complexes. Not all tourists are interested in shopping."
He said there were many tourist attractions like Legoland but tourists have to spend the whole day there.
I do not totally agree with the driver. Maybe there is a need for a map, but there are definitely places to visit in the city in a day.
Yes, the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum is closed because the Istana Besar palace ground is undergoing refurbishment works for the Sultan of Johor's upcoming coronation, but there are many beautiful structures and historical buildings in the city.
Let's start with Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Sengget and Jalan Ungku Puan and its vicinity. Besides Bukit Timbalan, I am sure tourists would be ecstatic to see the magnificent houses of worships.
The Arulmigu Rajamariamman Temple built in 1911, with its deities sculpted from single granite stones, the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib built in 1921, the Church of the Immaculate Conception built in 1927 and the Old Chinese Temple in Jalan Trus that was built in the 19th century, are brilliant tourist attractions.
There is also the majestic National State Mosque, the Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar, which is more than 100 years old.
There are arches with brilliant historical elements and the Chinese Heritage Museum.
There is also the Johor Zoo.
The Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple was founded in 1911.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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