Friday, 25 December 2015
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Sunday, 8 November 2015
Northeast monsoon season will go on until March
Northeast monsoon season will go on until March
The northeast monsoon season in the country will go on until March next year, with the heaviest rainfall to be in Nov and Dec.
The bad news is that floods will become a high possibility, however the haze will not be gone.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) deputy director-general Alui Bahari told theSun that based on the department's forecast, most places are expected to receive heavy rainfall.
He added that during the monsoon season, winds will blow from the South China Sea heading here, which will result in no haze in the country.
"The northeast monsoon will cause the wind to blow from the South China Sea, peninsula as well as Sabah and Sarawak. The haze will be present anymore, even if there is no rain," Alui said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the flood management template used in Kemaman, Terengganu last year will be the benchmark to be implemented nationwide this year.
Speaking to the press after chairing the High-level Committee Meeting on National Flood Disaster and Haze Management in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, he said this was decided following the example exhibited by Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who is the Kemaman MP, in managing the situation before, during and after the floods last year.
"The methods used in Kemaman will be the new template for flood management at national, state, district and community levels," he said.
Ahmad Zahid added that parliamentarians in flood-prone constituencies will be called for a briefing soon on flood disaster management.
"This is to ensure there is standardised implementation and management," he said.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
The northeast monsoon season in the country will go on until March next year, with the heaviest rainfall to be in Nov and Dec.
The bad news is that floods will become a high possibility, however the haze will not be gone.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) deputy director-general Alui Bahari told theSun that based on the department's forecast, most places are expected to receive heavy rainfall.
He added that during the monsoon season, winds will blow from the South China Sea heading here, which will result in no haze in the country.
"The northeast monsoon will cause the wind to blow from the South China Sea, peninsula as well as Sabah and Sarawak. The haze will be present anymore, even if there is no rain," Alui said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the flood management template used in Kemaman, Terengganu last year will be the benchmark to be implemented nationwide this year.
Speaking to the press after chairing the High-level Committee Meeting on National Flood Disaster and Haze Management in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, he said this was decided following the example exhibited by Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who is the Kemaman MP, in managing the situation before, during and after the floods last year.
"The methods used in Kemaman will be the new template for flood management at national, state, district and community levels," he said.
Ahmad Zahid added that parliamentarians in flood-prone constituencies will be called for a briefing soon on flood disaster management.
"This is to ensure there is standardised implementation and management," he said.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Johor should create joint tourism package with Southern Thailand
Johor should create joint tourism package with Southern Thailand, says consul
Johor should create a joint tourism package with Southern Thailand according to Malaysia's consul-general here.
Consul-general II, Mohammad Shaharul Md Osman proposed for the package which could be initiated in the spirit of Asean, to start from Phuket and Hat Yai, Thailand to Johor.
"The tourism industry in Southern Thailand is very robust and has helped to stabilise the national economy; at certain times it is overwhelmed by visitors particularly to Songkhla and Hat Yai.
"In this regard, Johor should capitalise and initiate a cooperation with southern Thailand to persuade its tourists to proceed to Johor," he told a Johor media group that visited the Malaysian consulate here recently.
The group was in southern Thailand in conjunction with a Johor Media-Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) exploration mission.
Mohammad Shaharul opined that Southern Thailand's tourism players deserved credit for successfully promoting their tourism packages and local products.
"They smartly diversify and come up with other products besides the island destinations, food, shopping and entertainment to attract visitors, for example the Khlong Hae floating market in Hat Yai," he said.
~News courtesy of Bernama~
Johor should create a joint tourism package with Southern Thailand according to Malaysia's consul-general here.
Consul-general II, Mohammad Shaharul Md Osman proposed for the package which could be initiated in the spirit of Asean, to start from Phuket and Hat Yai, Thailand to Johor.
"The tourism industry in Southern Thailand is very robust and has helped to stabilise the national economy; at certain times it is overwhelmed by visitors particularly to Songkhla and Hat Yai.
"In this regard, Johor should capitalise and initiate a cooperation with southern Thailand to persuade its tourists to proceed to Johor," he told a Johor media group that visited the Malaysian consulate here recently.
The group was in southern Thailand in conjunction with a Johor Media-Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) exploration mission.
Mohammad Shaharul opined that Southern Thailand's tourism players deserved credit for successfully promoting their tourism packages and local products.
"They smartly diversify and come up with other products besides the island destinations, food, shopping and entertainment to attract visitors, for example the Khlong Hae floating market in Hat Yai," he said.
~News courtesy of Bernama~
Heavy traffic at Causeway, Second Link leading up to Deepavali
Expect heavy traffic at Causeway, Second Link leading up to Deepavali: ICA
Heavy traffic is expected at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints from Friday (Nov 6) until Deepavali on Tuesday (Nov 10), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said, adding that travellers using the land checkpoints during this period can expect delays.
"With security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable, especially when a large number of travellers use the checkpoints at the same time. To avoid a surge of travellers and vehicles seeking clearance at the land checkpoints, travellers are advised to adjust their travel plans if possible," said the ICA on Tuesday (Nov 3).
"The ICA will continue to take the necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security. We seek travellers’ understanding and cooperation when using the land checkpoints during the peak period."
Travellers are encouraged to car-pool where possible, maintain lane discipline at all times, and ensure that they do not bring unlawful or prohibited goods into or out of Singapore, ICA said.
Eligible users - Singapore citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and Long Term Pass holders - are encouraged to use the enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) lanes at the bus halls for immigration clearance.
Motorists are advised to check on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints before embarking on their journey, ICA said. Travellers leaving Singapore by Woodlands or Tuas Checkpoint will be able to know in advance the traffic situation from LTA’s Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) installed along the AYE and BKE, respectively.
For more information, the public can call 6863 0117, tune in to the radio for the latest traffic news, or visit these websites to check latest traffic conditions: http://onemotoring.com.sg or http://www.mytransport.sg.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Heavy traffic is expected at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints from Friday (Nov 6) until Deepavali on Tuesday (Nov 10), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said, adding that travellers using the land checkpoints during this period can expect delays.
"With security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable, especially when a large number of travellers use the checkpoints at the same time. To avoid a surge of travellers and vehicles seeking clearance at the land checkpoints, travellers are advised to adjust their travel plans if possible," said the ICA on Tuesday (Nov 3).
"The ICA will continue to take the necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security. We seek travellers’ understanding and cooperation when using the land checkpoints during the peak period."
Travellers are encouraged to car-pool where possible, maintain lane discipline at all times, and ensure that they do not bring unlawful or prohibited goods into or out of Singapore, ICA said.
Eligible users - Singapore citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents and Long Term Pass holders - are encouraged to use the enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) lanes at the bus halls for immigration clearance.
Motorists are advised to check on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints before embarking on their journey, ICA said. Travellers leaving Singapore by Woodlands or Tuas Checkpoint will be able to know in advance the traffic situation from LTA’s Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) installed along the AYE and BKE, respectively.
For more information, the public can call 6863 0117, tune in to the radio for the latest traffic news, or visit these websites to check latest traffic conditions: http://onemotoring.com.sg or http://www.mytransport.sg.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Haze will not last till March 2016
Haze will not last till March 2016
The haze affecting the country currently will not last till March 2016, as claimed by certain parties.
"The current haze situation is caused by typhoon Champi and Typhoon Koppu, east of the Philippines, and when these typhoons hit landfall, the winds will change and the haze situation will improve after Oct 26," said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau in a statement today.
Madius said the coming northeast monsoon season from November will see a change in wind direction and will no longer carry over haze from Indonesia to Malaysia, despite the Indonesian forest fires expected to last until March.
Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to decrease nationwide due to typhoon Koppu, thus making the haze situation even worse.
According to the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) weather outlook, typhoon Koppu is currently 1,187km north-east of Kudat, Sabah. It will eventually head north-west towards Taiwan.
In addition, typhoon Champi located 2,942km north-east of Kudat is slowly heading north.
The presence of both typhoons has affected the wind patterns across the country as a result, especially rainfall due to the moderate south-westerly winds.
Separately, the Department of Environment recorded 3,534 cases of open burning detected nationwide, from the start of the year to Oct 19.
As of 6pm today, a total of 27 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, with Port Klang with the highest at 179, followed by Shah Alam at 164, and Kuala Selangor at 139.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
The haze affecting the country currently will not last till March 2016, as claimed by certain parties.
"The current haze situation is caused by typhoon Champi and Typhoon Koppu, east of the Philippines, and when these typhoons hit landfall, the winds will change and the haze situation will improve after Oct 26," said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau in a statement today.
Madius said the coming northeast monsoon season from November will see a change in wind direction and will no longer carry over haze from Indonesia to Malaysia, despite the Indonesian forest fires expected to last until March.
Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to decrease nationwide due to typhoon Koppu, thus making the haze situation even worse.
According to the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) weather outlook, typhoon Koppu is currently 1,187km north-east of Kudat, Sabah. It will eventually head north-west towards Taiwan.
In addition, typhoon Champi located 2,942km north-east of Kudat is slowly heading north.
The presence of both typhoons has affected the wind patterns across the country as a result, especially rainfall due to the moderate south-westerly winds.
Separately, the Department of Environment recorded 3,534 cases of open burning detected nationwide, from the start of the year to Oct 19.
As of 6pm today, a total of 27 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, with Port Klang with the highest at 179, followed by Shah Alam at 164, and Kuala Selangor at 139.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Cheaper TEKS1M by year-end
Cheaper TEKS1M by year-end, says SPAD
Teksi 1Malaysia (TEKS1M) fare rates will be reduced by year-end to encourage more people to use the service.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said today the commission is finalising a study to make the gold-brown taxis more popular.
It is also considering a new sedan-type car for TEKS1M other than the MPV-type vehicles," he said.
"We will standardise the fare rates between TEKS1M and budget taxis. Hopefully, we can announce it in a month or two," he told theSun.
Syed Hamid said when TEKS1M was introduced two years ago, SPAD had envisioned that it would lift the image of the taxi industry by providing better ride comfort and better quality drivers.
However, many cabbies were not keen to migrate to TEKS1M due to the vehicles' higher cost while the public preferred to use the cheaper budget taxis.
For Klang Valley and Johor Baru, the current flagfall rate for TEKS1M is RM4 with 30 sen for every 200m, while the budget taxi rate is 25 sen for every 200m with the flagfall fare set at RM3.
It also includes time-based charge of 30 sen for every 36 seconds for TEKS1M while the budget taxi is 25 sen for every 36 seconds.
Based on the current fare rate, for a 10km ride (based on distance rate), TEKS1M would clock RM17.50 while budget taxi would cost RM14.25.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Teksi 1Malaysia (TEKS1M) fare rates will be reduced by year-end to encourage more people to use the service.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said today the commission is finalising a study to make the gold-brown taxis more popular.
It is also considering a new sedan-type car for TEKS1M other than the MPV-type vehicles," he said.
"We will standardise the fare rates between TEKS1M and budget taxis. Hopefully, we can announce it in a month or two," he told theSun.
Syed Hamid said when TEKS1M was introduced two years ago, SPAD had envisioned that it would lift the image of the taxi industry by providing better ride comfort and better quality drivers.
However, many cabbies were not keen to migrate to TEKS1M due to the vehicles' higher cost while the public preferred to use the cheaper budget taxis.
For Klang Valley and Johor Baru, the current flagfall rate for TEKS1M is RM4 with 30 sen for every 200m, while the budget taxi rate is 25 sen for every 200m with the flagfall fare set at RM3.
It also includes time-based charge of 30 sen for every 36 seconds for TEKS1M while the budget taxi is 25 sen for every 36 seconds.
Based on the current fare rate, for a 10km ride (based on distance rate), TEKS1M would clock RM17.50 while budget taxi would cost RM14.25.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Monday, 28 September 2015
Senai International Airport not closed
Senai International Airport not closed
The management of Senai International Airport today denied claims the airport was forced to close today due to worsening haze.
Its chief operating officer, Noor Safura Suib reaffirmed that so far all operations at the airport was going on smoothly and all flights were on schedule.
"We pray the winds favor us and take all this haze out of Senai," she told Bernama here.
Confusion arose when Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) issued a statement yesterday saying that the Malaysia Cup match between Johor Darul Ta'zim II and Kedah scheduled here for tonight had been postponed as the Senai International Airport had to be closed yesterday due to worsening haze.
It is understood that the flight supposed to be taken by the Kedah squad from Penang yesterday evening, was cancelled due to the haze in Senai.
Thick haze had forced four airlines to cancel 21 flights to Senai International Airport early yesterday morning. Noor Safura said, their chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin had also clarified the real situation to the media yesterday.
"Senai International Airport is not closed and operating as normal and all flights that were cancelled were because of the haze," said Mohd Rani.
The Air Pollutant Index reading in Larkin Lama as at 9am this morning was 92, while in Pasir Gudang it was 88.
An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
The management of Senai International Airport today denied claims the airport was forced to close today due to worsening haze.
Its chief operating officer, Noor Safura Suib reaffirmed that so far all operations at the airport was going on smoothly and all flights were on schedule.
"We pray the winds favor us and take all this haze out of Senai," she told Bernama here.
Confusion arose when Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) issued a statement yesterday saying that the Malaysia Cup match between Johor Darul Ta'zim II and Kedah scheduled here for tonight had been postponed as the Senai International Airport had to be closed yesterday due to worsening haze.
It is understood that the flight supposed to be taken by the Kedah squad from Penang yesterday evening, was cancelled due to the haze in Senai.
Thick haze had forced four airlines to cancel 21 flights to Senai International Airport early yesterday morning. Noor Safura said, their chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin had also clarified the real situation to the media yesterday.
"Senai International Airport is not closed and operating as normal and all flights that were cancelled were because of the haze," said Mohd Rani.
The Air Pollutant Index reading in Larkin Lama as at 9am this morning was 92, while in Pasir Gudang it was 88.
An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Thursday, 24 September 2015
Vehicle Entry Permit to Johor delayed
Vehicle Entry Permit to Johor delayed
Drivers who make frequent trips to Malaysia will not be required to hold a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) until the end of the year at least.
The Oct 1 deadline to register will be pushed back by at least another four months to give authorities time to develop a radio frequency identification tag that is clone and tamper proof, a Malaysian Ministry of Transport (MOT) spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday.
The VEP, which has a five-year validity, costs vehicle owners an administrative fee of RM10 (S$3.27).
Upon payment, each owner will need to collect a tag to stick on their car windshield.
"Don't worry. If you have no tag on Oct 1, you will not be stopped at the border," said the spokesman. "The latest decision is that we want a better tag that is tamper and clone proof, so we are trying to enhance the tag at this point of time."
It will take about four months to finalise the tag's design.
Vehicle owners will then be given "ample time" - several months - to collect it, he said.
"We will announce the cut-off date for all Singaporean vehicles to display the tag when we are ready. It could be in June next year."
He added that collection information will be sent to applicants when the tags are ready. Although details are still being ironed out, the plan is for vehicle owners to be able to pick them up at several locations, including roadside rest areas.
Many motorists were fretting about the Oct 1 deadline. Some gave up on registering, citing the onerous process and problematic website. Others who managed to register said they had not received information on how to collect the tags.
About 74,000 drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles have submitted VEP applications since Aug 15, when online registration began.
Malaysian authorities expected 200,000 to 300,000 Singapore-registered private vehicles to be enrolled by the end of this year.
Muhammad Shiraq, 25, who registered his family car for the VEP in early September, has not received information on where to collect the tag.
The engineering student, who visits Malaysia once a month with his family for meals and shopping, also said that it was tedious filling up the registration form as it required specific information, like the vehicle chassis number and insurance expiry date.
"Having to wait after the tedious process is frustrating," he said. "Why can't they prepare everything on their side first before asking us to register?"
Malaysia's VEP will initially involve foreign-registered vehicles entering the country via Johor, and will later be implemented at the country's other 12 road entry points.
On Aug 1 last year, Singapore increased the cost of the VEP for foreign vehicles entering the Republic from $20 to $35 a day. It also raised the cost of the Goods Vehicle Permit from $10 to $40.
~News courtesy of My Paper~
Drivers who make frequent trips to Malaysia will not be required to hold a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) until the end of the year at least.
The Oct 1 deadline to register will be pushed back by at least another four months to give authorities time to develop a radio frequency identification tag that is clone and tamper proof, a Malaysian Ministry of Transport (MOT) spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday.
The VEP, which has a five-year validity, costs vehicle owners an administrative fee of RM10 (S$3.27).
Upon payment, each owner will need to collect a tag to stick on their car windshield.
"Don't worry. If you have no tag on Oct 1, you will not be stopped at the border," said the spokesman. "The latest decision is that we want a better tag that is tamper and clone proof, so we are trying to enhance the tag at this point of time."
It will take about four months to finalise the tag's design.
Vehicle owners will then be given "ample time" - several months - to collect it, he said.
"We will announce the cut-off date for all Singaporean vehicles to display the tag when we are ready. It could be in June next year."
He added that collection information will be sent to applicants when the tags are ready. Although details are still being ironed out, the plan is for vehicle owners to be able to pick them up at several locations, including roadside rest areas.
Many motorists were fretting about the Oct 1 deadline. Some gave up on registering, citing the onerous process and problematic website. Others who managed to register said they had not received information on how to collect the tags.
About 74,000 drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles have submitted VEP applications since Aug 15, when online registration began.
Malaysian authorities expected 200,000 to 300,000 Singapore-registered private vehicles to be enrolled by the end of this year.
Muhammad Shiraq, 25, who registered his family car for the VEP in early September, has not received information on where to collect the tag.
The engineering student, who visits Malaysia once a month with his family for meals and shopping, also said that it was tedious filling up the registration form as it required specific information, like the vehicle chassis number and insurance expiry date.
"Having to wait after the tedious process is frustrating," he said. "Why can't they prepare everything on their side first before asking us to register?"
Malaysia's VEP will initially involve foreign-registered vehicles entering the country via Johor, and will later be implemented at the country's other 12 road entry points.
On Aug 1 last year, Singapore increased the cost of the VEP for foreign vehicles entering the Republic from $20 to $35 a day. It also raised the cost of the Goods Vehicle Permit from $10 to $40.
~News courtesy of My Paper~
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
Air quality in Peninsular Malaysia remains bad
Air quality in Peninsular Malaysia remains bad
Air quality remained bad today as the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia continued to be blanketed by a heavy shroud of haze, with many coastal cities recording an unhealthy reading on the Air Pollutant Index (API).
According to readings published on the Department of Environment's (DOE) website, six locations including Seremban, Malacca, and Putrajaya were rated as unhealthy (100-200) on the API as at 5pm today.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said in a statement today that the haze is caused by open burning of forests and land in Sumatera, Indonesia according to satellite images captured by the Singaporean based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The agency detected 132 hot spots in Kalimantan, Indonesia, alone, while only one hot spot was detected in Sumatera due to incomplete satellite coverage as of Sunday.
According to satellite coverage, the ministry said, the haze is expected to spread to Pahang and to east Johor in the next 48 hours while in East Malaysia the haze from Kalimantan is expected to spread to west Sarawak and the waters surrounding both Sabah and Sarawak in the same period of time.
The ministry said the country is still experiencing the southwest monsoon phase that is expected to end by mid-September and noted that the haze will likely dissipate by the monsoon transition phase in October.
Meanwhile, the Environment Department will continue monitoring the status and trend of air quality on an hourly basis due to the uncertain haze situation and increased hot spots in Sumatera and Kalimantan.
All government agencies relevant to haze disaster response have also stepped up efforts in preventing open burning locally that will worsen the already unhealthy air quality.
Local governments and land owners have also been instructed to closely monitor and take preventive actions in places that could easily catch fire such as waste disposal spots, forests, farm land, and industrial complexes.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will also head to Indonesia as soon as possible to meet his counterpart there to discuss solutions and to finalise a memorandum of understanding on cross-border haze prevention.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Air quality remained bad today as the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia continued to be blanketed by a heavy shroud of haze, with many coastal cities recording an unhealthy reading on the Air Pollutant Index (API).
According to readings published on the Department of Environment's (DOE) website, six locations including Seremban, Malacca, and Putrajaya were rated as unhealthy (100-200) on the API as at 5pm today.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said in a statement today that the haze is caused by open burning of forests and land in Sumatera, Indonesia according to satellite images captured by the Singaporean based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The agency detected 132 hot spots in Kalimantan, Indonesia, alone, while only one hot spot was detected in Sumatera due to incomplete satellite coverage as of Sunday.
According to satellite coverage, the ministry said, the haze is expected to spread to Pahang and to east Johor in the next 48 hours while in East Malaysia the haze from Kalimantan is expected to spread to west Sarawak and the waters surrounding both Sabah and Sarawak in the same period of time.
The ministry said the country is still experiencing the southwest monsoon phase that is expected to end by mid-September and noted that the haze will likely dissipate by the monsoon transition phase in October.
Meanwhile, the Environment Department will continue monitoring the status and trend of air quality on an hourly basis due to the uncertain haze situation and increased hot spots in Sumatera and Kalimantan.
All government agencies relevant to haze disaster response have also stepped up efforts in preventing open burning locally that will worsen the already unhealthy air quality.
Local governments and land owners have also been instructed to closely monitor and take preventive actions in places that could easily catch fire such as waste disposal spots, forests, farm land, and industrial complexes.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will also head to Indonesia as soon as possible to meet his counterpart there to discuss solutions and to finalise a memorandum of understanding on cross-border haze prevention.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Registration period for Singapore vehicles entering Malaysia extended to Oct 1
Registration period for Singapore vehicles entering Malaysia extended to Oct 1
Malaysian authorities have extended the registration period for the Vehicle Entry Permit to Oct 1 to give more motorists the chance to register their vehicles as well as to enable the delivery of Radio Frequency Identification cards and approval by the authorities in both countries.
Only 45,000 Singapore vehicles have registered for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) levied on foreign cars entering Malaysia, according to Malaysian authorities.
VEP registration has now been extended to Oct 1 to enable the delivery of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards and approval by the authorities in both countries.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Hasni Mohammad admitted that the VEP registration system still needed some improvement.
"Only 45,000 foreign vehicles have registered for the VEP compared to the expected 500,000 vehicles," he said after visiting the VEP registration counter at Sultan Iskandar building on Tuesday (Sep 1). "The two weeks starting Aug 15 did not allow all the foreign vehicles to be registered online or over the counter."
Since Aug 15, motorists could register online and pay a RM10 (S$3.35) fee for a five-year period before the Road Transport Department (RTD) issued RFID cards. Once registered, the vehicles would be allowed to enter Johor free of charge for one month from Sep 1 to Sep 30. Motorists will have to pay RM20 for VEP for each entry from Oct 1.
"It is not just to provide comfort to those who have registered but also to ensure that all the rules and regulations are adhered to," Mr Hasni said. He said as many as 200,000 to 230,000 vehicles of various types went through the two checkpoints weekly.
In August, Malaysia's Transport Ministry pushed back the start date of the VEP fee from Sep 1 to Oct 1.
The VEP is levied on all passenger vehicles (including MPVs and SUVs). Government vehicles, motorcycles, public buses and taxis are exempted from payment but still need to register with RTD.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Malaysian authorities have extended the registration period for the Vehicle Entry Permit to Oct 1 to give more motorists the chance to register their vehicles as well as to enable the delivery of Radio Frequency Identification cards and approval by the authorities in both countries.
Only 45,000 Singapore vehicles have registered for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) levied on foreign cars entering Malaysia, according to Malaysian authorities.
VEP registration has now been extended to Oct 1 to enable the delivery of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards and approval by the authorities in both countries.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Hasni Mohammad admitted that the VEP registration system still needed some improvement.
"Only 45,000 foreign vehicles have registered for the VEP compared to the expected 500,000 vehicles," he said after visiting the VEP registration counter at Sultan Iskandar building on Tuesday (Sep 1). "The two weeks starting Aug 15 did not allow all the foreign vehicles to be registered online or over the counter."
Since Aug 15, motorists could register online and pay a RM10 (S$3.35) fee for a five-year period before the Road Transport Department (RTD) issued RFID cards. Once registered, the vehicles would be allowed to enter Johor free of charge for one month from Sep 1 to Sep 30. Motorists will have to pay RM20 for VEP for each entry from Oct 1.
"It is not just to provide comfort to those who have registered but also to ensure that all the rules and regulations are adhered to," Mr Hasni said. He said as many as 200,000 to 230,000 vehicles of various types went through the two checkpoints weekly.
In August, Malaysia's Transport Ministry pushed back the start date of the VEP fee from Sep 1 to Oct 1.
The VEP is levied on all passenger vehicles (including MPVs and SUVs). Government vehicles, motorcycles, public buses and taxis are exempted from payment but still need to register with RTD.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Monday, 31 August 2015
Johor zoo's grand old lion recovering
Johor zoo's grand old lion recovering
An undated file photo of the frail looking lion at the Johor Zoo struggling to get on its feet has since gone viral.
The emaciated lion which was reportedly in pain when its long claws dug into its paws, preventing the king of the beasts from pawing and gripping is on the road to recovery.
Johor Zoo manager Zakaria Rosli said the 18-year-old named Syarif was quarantined in a special cage to obtain full treatment.
"Sharif is now in a state of recovery after its nails were trimmed, and his appetite and body weight are also increasing as compared to the previous week. The long claws had prevented Sharif from pawing and gripping.
"We hope that after receiving adequate treatment, the lion will regain health as usual and can be transferred to its cage within two to three weeks' time," he told reporters after the Zoo Enrichment Programme with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) here today.
Earlier, a video of the lion appearing weak and thin had gone viral in the social media.
Zakaria said Sharif, the oldest among the 13 lions in the zoo was usually active at night, eating three to four kilograms of meat daily to meet its dietary needs.
On the issue of relocating the zoo to Nusajaya, he said the matter had yet to be decided.
"We were informed that the location in Nusajaya covers an area of 50 acres (20.2ha), with 45 acres (18.2ha) to accommodate animals while the rest was for landscaping," he said.
Irda chief executive officer Datuk Ismail Ibrahim had indicated willingness to help in terms of financial aid or site preparation if the relocation was underway.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
An undated file photo of the frail looking lion at the Johor Zoo struggling to get on its feet has since gone viral.
The emaciated lion which was reportedly in pain when its long claws dug into its paws, preventing the king of the beasts from pawing and gripping is on the road to recovery.
Johor Zoo manager Zakaria Rosli said the 18-year-old named Syarif was quarantined in a special cage to obtain full treatment.
"Sharif is now in a state of recovery after its nails were trimmed, and his appetite and body weight are also increasing as compared to the previous week. The long claws had prevented Sharif from pawing and gripping.
"We hope that after receiving adequate treatment, the lion will regain health as usual and can be transferred to its cage within two to three weeks' time," he told reporters after the Zoo Enrichment Programme with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) here today.
Earlier, a video of the lion appearing weak and thin had gone viral in the social media.
Zakaria said Sharif, the oldest among the 13 lions in the zoo was usually active at night, eating three to four kilograms of meat daily to meet its dietary needs.
On the issue of relocating the zoo to Nusajaya, he said the matter had yet to be decided.
"We were informed that the location in Nusajaya covers an area of 50 acres (20.2ha), with 45 acres (18.2ha) to accommodate animals while the rest was for landscaping," he said.
Irda chief executive officer Datuk Ismail Ibrahim had indicated willingness to help in terms of financial aid or site preparation if the relocation was underway.
~News courtesy of The Sun~
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Foreign-registered vehicles enter Johor can register for VEP
Foreign-registered vehicles looking to enter Malaysia via Johor can register for VEP
Foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor can now register for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) via an online portal.
Malaysia's Transport Ministry said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 15) that registration for the VEP can be done online via www.jpj.gov.my/vep. In a move to encourage online transactions, only online registration is available at the moment.
According to the VEP website, all categories of vehicles ranging from individual- or company-owned private vehicles, commercial vehicles and diplomat vehicles are required to register for the VEP if they wish to enter Malaysia. This is required under the Road Transport Act 1987, it stated.
For registration, the owner or representative appointed by the owner of foreign-registered vehicle would have to provide information including his personal and car registration details, according to the ministry.
After successfully registering the vehicle, the owner will be advised on the collection of an RFID tag to be displayed on the vehicle's windshield at Malaysia Road Transport Department's (JPJ) designated premises.
There will be an administration fee of RM10 (S$3.40) imposed during tag collection, and the VEP is renewable every five years. The VEP is implemented by the Transport Ministry via JPJ for foreign-registered vehicles entering into Malaysia.
It will initially involve foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor and will be implemented at the rest of the 12 road entry points in Malaysia in stages. The second phase will cover Thailand, the third phase Brunei and Indonesia, and the fourth phase other designated entry points.
The VEP is in addition to the RM20 (S$7.16) entry fee for foreign-registered vehicles travelling through Johor. Singapore's Ministry of Transport said earlier this month the fee "discriminates against Singapore vehicles".
However, in a report by The Star on Monday (Aug 17), Johor Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the online registration should be extended beyond Aug 31, but the implementation date of Oct 1 remains.
Based on feedback, the JPJ needed to address some issues such as the registration forms being too complicated or ambiguous, said the official in the report.
“The two weeks may not be enough. There is no point in rushing to register everyone,” he said in the report, adding that the government did not want to "pile unnecessary pressure on Singaporeans".
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor can now register for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) via an online portal.
Malaysia's Transport Ministry said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 15) that registration for the VEP can be done online via www.jpj.gov.my/vep. In a move to encourage online transactions, only online registration is available at the moment.
According to the VEP website, all categories of vehicles ranging from individual- or company-owned private vehicles, commercial vehicles and diplomat vehicles are required to register for the VEP if they wish to enter Malaysia. This is required under the Road Transport Act 1987, it stated.
For registration, the owner or representative appointed by the owner of foreign-registered vehicle would have to provide information including his personal and car registration details, according to the ministry.
After successfully registering the vehicle, the owner will be advised on the collection of an RFID tag to be displayed on the vehicle's windshield at Malaysia Road Transport Department's (JPJ) designated premises.
There will be an administration fee of RM10 (S$3.40) imposed during tag collection, and the VEP is renewable every five years. The VEP is implemented by the Transport Ministry via JPJ for foreign-registered vehicles entering into Malaysia.
It will initially involve foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor and will be implemented at the rest of the 12 road entry points in Malaysia in stages. The second phase will cover Thailand, the third phase Brunei and Indonesia, and the fourth phase other designated entry points.
The VEP is in addition to the RM20 (S$7.16) entry fee for foreign-registered vehicles travelling through Johor. Singapore's Ministry of Transport said earlier this month the fee "discriminates against Singapore vehicles".
However, in a report by The Star on Monday (Aug 17), Johor Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the online registration should be extended beyond Aug 31, but the implementation date of Oct 1 remains.
Based on feedback, the JPJ needed to address some issues such as the registration forms being too complicated or ambiguous, said the official in the report.
“The two weeks may not be enough. There is no point in rushing to register everyone,” he said in the report, adding that the government did not want to "pile unnecessary pressure on Singaporeans".
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Friday, 17 July 2015
Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Heavy traffic expected at both land checkpoints
Heavy traffic expected at both land checkpoints during Hari Raya weekend
Heavy traffic is expected at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from Thursday (Jul 16), ahead of Hari Raya Puasa on Friday.
Traffic volume is expected to build up from Thursday and continue till Sunday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement, adding that travellers using the land checkpoints during this period can expect delays.
For departure from Singapore, traffic at both checkpoints is expected to be particularly heavy on Thursday and Friday, ICA said. For arrival, traffic at both checkpoints is expected to be particularly heavy on Sunday.
The authority has advised travellers to adjust their travel plans if possible. If not, motorists should check on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints before embarking on their journey, it said.
Travellers are encouraged to car-pool where possible, maintain lane discipline at all times, and ensure that they do not bring unlawful or prohibited goods into or out of Singapore, ICA said.
For more information, the public can call 6863 0117, tune in to the radio for the latest traffic news, or visit these websites to check latest traffic conditions: http://onemotoring.com.sg or http://www.mytransport.sg.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Heavy traffic is expected at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from Thursday (Jul 16), ahead of Hari Raya Puasa on Friday.
Traffic volume is expected to build up from Thursday and continue till Sunday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement, adding that travellers using the land checkpoints during this period can expect delays.
For departure from Singapore, traffic at both checkpoints is expected to be particularly heavy on Thursday and Friday, ICA said. For arrival, traffic at both checkpoints is expected to be particularly heavy on Sunday.
The authority has advised travellers to adjust their travel plans if possible. If not, motorists should check on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints before embarking on their journey, it said.
Travellers are encouraged to car-pool where possible, maintain lane discipline at all times, and ensure that they do not bring unlawful or prohibited goods into or out of Singapore, ICA said.
For more information, the public can call 6863 0117, tune in to the radio for the latest traffic news, or visit these websites to check latest traffic conditions: http://onemotoring.com.sg or http://www.mytransport.sg.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
Thursday, 18 June 2015
New JB-Woodlands train service from July 1
New JB-Woodlands train service from July 1
A new shuttle train service plying between Woodlands and Johor Baru (JB) Sentral will start on July 1.
Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) will operate the service called Shuttle Tebrau.
There will be 14 trips daily: seven from JB Sentral Station and seven from Woodlands Station.
A one-way fare from Woodlands will cost $5, while the return trip from JB Sentral will be priced at RM5 (S$1.80).
KTM said in a media release that the shuttle service will provide a transport solution for commuters who are travelling daily from Johor in Malaysia to Singapore.
"It is also an effort to reduce the massive road congestion, especially during the peak hours at the Johor Causeway," the operator added.
The departure timings from Woodlands Station will be: 6.30am, 8am, 9.30am, 5pm, 6.30pm, 8pm and 11pm.
From JB Sentral, the timings will be: 5.30am, 7am, 8.30am, 4pm, 5.30pm, 7pm and 10pm.
On each trip, the train can ferry between 300 and 320 passengers.
Commuters said that, compared with taking the bus to JB, the train may be quicker but will cost more.
Travel blogger Liau Yun Qing, 29, said it took her about two hours to get from Queen Street in Singapore to JB Sentral on Saturday, using the Causeway Link bus service.
"This is because of the queues to clear immigration and queues to board the buses again (after clearing immigration)."
The ride cost her $3.30 going in and RM3.40 coming back.
There are currently seven cross-border bus services which ply between Singapore and Johor Baru: two are operated by SBS Transit, one by SMRT and the other four services by private bus operators.
Prices for the private services range from $2 to $7.
KTM said that, with the new shuttle, train services from Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Butterworth and Gemas stations - which currently end at Woodlands Station - will end at JB Sentral instead from July 1.
Commuters will have to use Shuttle Tebrau to complete the rest of the journey to Singapore.
Said beautician Janice Lee, 50, who visits JB occasionally to shop and eat: "I've never taken the train (to JB) before, but if this new shuttle service is convenient and safe, I wouldn't mind giving it a try."
~News courtesy of My Paper~
A new shuttle train service plying between Woodlands and Johor Baru (JB) Sentral will start on July 1.
Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) will operate the service called Shuttle Tebrau.
There will be 14 trips daily: seven from JB Sentral Station and seven from Woodlands Station.
A one-way fare from Woodlands will cost $5, while the return trip from JB Sentral will be priced at RM5 (S$1.80).
KTM said in a media release that the shuttle service will provide a transport solution for commuters who are travelling daily from Johor in Malaysia to Singapore.
"It is also an effort to reduce the massive road congestion, especially during the peak hours at the Johor Causeway," the operator added.
The departure timings from Woodlands Station will be: 6.30am, 8am, 9.30am, 5pm, 6.30pm, 8pm and 11pm.
From JB Sentral, the timings will be: 5.30am, 7am, 8.30am, 4pm, 5.30pm, 7pm and 10pm.
On each trip, the train can ferry between 300 and 320 passengers.
Commuters said that, compared with taking the bus to JB, the train may be quicker but will cost more.
Travel blogger Liau Yun Qing, 29, said it took her about two hours to get from Queen Street in Singapore to JB Sentral on Saturday, using the Causeway Link bus service.
"This is because of the queues to clear immigration and queues to board the buses again (after clearing immigration)."
The ride cost her $3.30 going in and RM3.40 coming back.
There are currently seven cross-border bus services which ply between Singapore and Johor Baru: two are operated by SBS Transit, one by SMRT and the other four services by private bus operators.
Prices for the private services range from $2 to $7.
KTM said that, with the new shuttle, train services from Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Butterworth and Gemas stations - which currently end at Woodlands Station - will end at JB Sentral instead from July 1.
Commuters will have to use Shuttle Tebrau to complete the rest of the journey to Singapore.
Said beautician Janice Lee, 50, who visits JB occasionally to shop and eat: "I've never taken the train (to JB) before, but if this new shuttle service is convenient and safe, I wouldn't mind giving it a try."
~News courtesy of My Paper~
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Lego replica of Istana Bukit Serene unveils at Legoland
Lego replica of Istana Bukit Serene unveils at Legoland Malaysia
Visitors to the Legoland Malaysia Resort now have a new attraction to see after the Sultan of Johor officially unveiled a Lego replica of his residential palace, Istana Bukit Serene today.
During a ceremony at the theme park, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar laid the final gold-coloured Lego brick on the replica of a crown arch which in real life is situated in front of the palace.
The entire replica is made up of 278,023 Lego bricks and weighs 350kg.
It took four months to make and includes intricate details such as the sultan's motorcycle, cars and even a stray black cat which is said to be a regular visitor to the palace grounds.
Legoland Malaysia model builder, Stefan Bentivoglio said the work was conducted by a team of six builders.
"We had an audience with the sultan after his coronation in March.
A team then went to Istana Bukit Serene on several occasions to take pictures and measurements of the palace that was built in 1939.
"The biggest challenge of building the replica was making the sultan happy, and judging from Tuanku's smile today, I think he is indeed happy," Stefan said after the launch ceremony.
The Istana Bukit Serene is now among the other replicas of iconic buildings such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the Taj Mahal at Legoland.
The Sultan of Johor (centre) flanked by Lego model builder Stefan Bentivoglio (left) and State Tourism, Dosmestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (right) looking at the Istana Bukit Serene at the Legoland minipark here today. Beside him (left) is the builder Stefan Bentivoglio.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Visitors to the Legoland Malaysia Resort now have a new attraction to see after the Sultan of Johor officially unveiled a Lego replica of his residential palace, Istana Bukit Serene today.
During a ceremony at the theme park, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar laid the final gold-coloured Lego brick on the replica of a crown arch which in real life is situated in front of the palace.
The entire replica is made up of 278,023 Lego bricks and weighs 350kg.
It took four months to make and includes intricate details such as the sultan's motorcycle, cars and even a stray black cat which is said to be a regular visitor to the palace grounds.
Legoland Malaysia model builder, Stefan Bentivoglio said the work was conducted by a team of six builders.
"We had an audience with the sultan after his coronation in March.
A team then went to Istana Bukit Serene on several occasions to take pictures and measurements of the palace that was built in 1939.
"The biggest challenge of building the replica was making the sultan happy, and judging from Tuanku's smile today, I think he is indeed happy," Stefan said after the launch ceremony.
The Istana Bukit Serene is now among the other replicas of iconic buildings such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the Taj Mahal at Legoland.
The Sultan of Johor (centre) flanked by Lego model builder Stefan Bentivoglio (left) and State Tourism, Dosmestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (right) looking at the Istana Bukit Serene at the Legoland minipark here today. Beside him (left) is the builder Stefan Bentivoglio.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Heavy traffic expected at Tuas, Woodlands checkpoints
Heavy traffic expected at Tuas, Woodlands checkpoints over Vesak Day weekend
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued an advisory to warn travellers to expect delays at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
If you are planning to drive to Malaysia for the upcoming long weekend, plan for heavy traffic.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued an advisory to warn travellers to expect delays at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
Traffic leaving Singapore will be especially heavy on May 29 and May 30. Traffic entering Singapore will be heavy on June 1.
The ICA said that with security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable and urged travellers to adjust travel plans.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued an advisory to warn travellers to expect delays at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
If you are planning to drive to Malaysia for the upcoming long weekend, plan for heavy traffic.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued an advisory to warn travellers to expect delays at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
Traffic leaving Singapore will be especially heavy on May 29 and May 30. Traffic entering Singapore will be heavy on June 1.
The ICA said that with security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable and urged travellers to adjust travel plans.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
New deadline for High Speed Rail project
New deadline for High Speed Rail project
Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to re-assess the initial target of a 2020 deadline to complete High Speed Rail Project (HSR) connecting both countries, given its complexity and scale.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the development of the project will take five years, while the tender and design processes will take a year each, thus it would push the initial target of 2020 further.
"Bilateral issues on the matter will be settled by the year's end, and we will announce a new deadline for the project," Najib told reporters during a joint press conference between Najib and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at the Malaysia-Singapore Sixth Leaders Retreat today.
Lee also announced that the HSR terminus for the Singapore's side will be located in Jurong East which is being developed by the republic as its next central business district.
The announcement follows Malaysia's announcement last year that the HSR project on its side will start from Bandar Malaysia in Sungai Besi.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (L) and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (R) attend a joint press conference after a meeting at a hotel in Singapore. Najib is here on a two-day visit for the 6th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' retreat.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to re-assess the initial target of a 2020 deadline to complete High Speed Rail Project (HSR) connecting both countries, given its complexity and scale.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the development of the project will take five years, while the tender and design processes will take a year each, thus it would push the initial target of 2020 further.
"Bilateral issues on the matter will be settled by the year's end, and we will announce a new deadline for the project," Najib told reporters during a joint press conference between Najib and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at the Malaysia-Singapore Sixth Leaders Retreat today.
Lee also announced that the HSR terminus for the Singapore's side will be located in Jurong East which is being developed by the republic as its next central business district.
The announcement follows Malaysia's announcement last year that the HSR project on its side will start from Bandar Malaysia in Sungai Besi.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (L) and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (R) attend a joint press conference after a meeting at a hotel in Singapore. Najib is here on a two-day visit for the 6th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' retreat.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
MRT link to Johor Baru unlikely before 2020
MRT link to Johor Baru unlikely before 2020
50 YEARS OF SINGAPORE-MALAYSIA TIES: The Malaysian delegation (left) led by PM Najib Razak (wearing red tie) and the Singapore delegation (right), led by PM Lee Hsien Loong, at the Shangri-La Hotel yesterday.
Hopping onto an MRT train and arriving in Johor Baru is unlikely to be a reality before 2020, as Malaysia has yet to determine a station site for its end of the line.
This Rapid Transit System link was first announced by Singapore and Malaysia in May 2010, and was initially targeted to be ready by 2018.
This was pushed to 2019 when Singapore decided to lengthen the Thomson Line - to which the cross-border MRT line will link.
Rail construction experts said even if work started today, the line would be completed by 2020 at the earliest. But work is unlikely to start any time soon because no decision has yet been made on where the JB station will be.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
50 YEARS OF SINGAPORE-MALAYSIA TIES: The Malaysian delegation (left) led by PM Najib Razak (wearing red tie) and the Singapore delegation (right), led by PM Lee Hsien Loong, at the Shangri-La Hotel yesterday.
Hopping onto an MRT train and arriving in Johor Baru is unlikely to be a reality before 2020, as Malaysia has yet to determine a station site for its end of the line.
This Rapid Transit System link was first announced by Singapore and Malaysia in May 2010, and was initially targeted to be ready by 2018.
This was pushed to 2019 when Singapore decided to lengthen the Thomson Line - to which the cross-border MRT line will link.
Rail construction experts said even if work started today, the line would be completed by 2020 at the earliest. But work is unlikely to start any time soon because no decision has yet been made on where the JB station will be.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Fares increased for taxi, train and express bus services
Fares increased for taxi, train and express bus services
Be prepared to pay more for your public transport. The increase in taxi fares takes immediate effect while train and express bus charges will be raised on May 1 and May 15 respectively.
Budget taxis in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru will charge 25 sen per 200m and 25 sen per 36 seconds although the flagfall will remain at RM3 for the first kilometre.
This is a sizable increase as each budget taxi will get RM1.25 per km (from RM0.87 per km, up by 44%) and 42.67 sen per minute (from 28 sen per minute, up by 49%).
For example, a budget taxi that is stuck in traffic for an hour will take in RM25 (RM30 for those in Penang) from time-based charges alone, up from RM16.80 previously. This is likely to make taxi drivers more willing to face congestions.
Express buses will charge 2.1 sen more (or 22.5%) per km, setting the new fare at 11.4 sen per km.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said taxi and express bus operators were facing rising costs, adding that the last fare review for both was in 2009.
“We took into account the needs of the operators and the public (in coming up with these new fares),” he told reporters at SPAD headquarters here.
Teksi 1Malaysia (TEKS1M) cabs – consisting exclusively of the brown Proton Exora – are the only taxis to have the flagfall rate raised from RM3 to RM4.
The hike in taxi fares does not cover airport limos and executive taxis (typically blue in colour), and is limited to Peninsular Malaysia.
According to SPAD, taxi fares would be reviewed each year based on operating cost changes.
Although the increase in fares took immediate effect, taxis could only charge the new rates after the meter had been recalibrated.
SPAD chief executive Mohd Nur Ismal Mohd Kamal said it would take one to two months for all taxis to use this new setting.
“There’s a panel of service providers they can go to. We have asked them to increase (operating) capacitym,” he said.
SPAD said that senior citizens, the disabled and children below 12 years old would continue to enjoy the 25% discount on express bus fares.
On train fares, Syed Hamid said SPAD had given its approval to KTM Bhd and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to set new rates covering LRT, KTM Komuter, KTM Intercity and KL Monorail.
According to SPAD, the Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT Line fares have not been reviewed for the past 19 and 17 years respectively. Monorail, KTM Komuter and KTM Intercity fares have remained the same for 12, 12 and 25 years respectively.
Mohd Nur said the fares of stage buses would not be increased now or in the near future.
“This is because low-income earners rely on stage buses for transport, and they cannot afford to pay more,” he said.
He added that the Government would cover stage bus costs.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Be prepared to pay more for your public transport. The increase in taxi fares takes immediate effect while train and express bus charges will be raised on May 1 and May 15 respectively.
Budget taxis in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru will charge 25 sen per 200m and 25 sen per 36 seconds although the flagfall will remain at RM3 for the first kilometre.
This is a sizable increase as each budget taxi will get RM1.25 per km (from RM0.87 per km, up by 44%) and 42.67 sen per minute (from 28 sen per minute, up by 49%).
For example, a budget taxi that is stuck in traffic for an hour will take in RM25 (RM30 for those in Penang) from time-based charges alone, up from RM16.80 previously. This is likely to make taxi drivers more willing to face congestions.
Express buses will charge 2.1 sen more (or 22.5%) per km, setting the new fare at 11.4 sen per km.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said taxi and express bus operators were facing rising costs, adding that the last fare review for both was in 2009.
“We took into account the needs of the operators and the public (in coming up with these new fares),” he told reporters at SPAD headquarters here.
Teksi 1Malaysia (TEKS1M) cabs – consisting exclusively of the brown Proton Exora – are the only taxis to have the flagfall rate raised from RM3 to RM4.
The hike in taxi fares does not cover airport limos and executive taxis (typically blue in colour), and is limited to Peninsular Malaysia.
According to SPAD, taxi fares would be reviewed each year based on operating cost changes.
Although the increase in fares took immediate effect, taxis could only charge the new rates after the meter had been recalibrated.
SPAD chief executive Mohd Nur Ismal Mohd Kamal said it would take one to two months for all taxis to use this new setting.
“There’s a panel of service providers they can go to. We have asked them to increase (operating) capacitym,” he said.
SPAD said that senior citizens, the disabled and children below 12 years old would continue to enjoy the 25% discount on express bus fares.
On train fares, Syed Hamid said SPAD had given its approval to KTM Bhd and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to set new rates covering LRT, KTM Komuter, KTM Intercity and KL Monorail.
According to SPAD, the Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT Line fares have not been reviewed for the past 19 and 17 years respectively. Monorail, KTM Komuter and KTM Intercity fares have remained the same for 12, 12 and 25 years respectively.
Mohd Nur said the fares of stage buses would not be increased now or in the near future.
“This is because low-income earners rely on stage buses for transport, and they cannot afford to pay more,” he said.
He added that the Government would cover stage bus costs.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival
50 nations to join Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival
The Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has achieved its target of getting 50 nations to participate.
Malaysia Kite Council secretary Ismail Mat Taib said the festival, themed "Flying for Harmony", is set to enter the Malaysia Book of Records with an event with the highest participation of foreign nations.
The festival is organised by the state government through the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Johor Tourism Department, Johor Kite Association and Malaysian Kite Council.
Some 200,000 visitors are expected to turn up at the five-day event which will see colourful kites dot the Pasir Gudang sky.
Date: 25 February - 1 March 2015
Location: Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
The Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has achieved its target of getting 50 nations to participate.
Malaysia Kite Council secretary Ismail Mat Taib said the festival, themed "Flying for Harmony", is set to enter the Malaysia Book of Records with an event with the highest participation of foreign nations.
The festival is organised by the state government through the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Johor Tourism Department, Johor Kite Association and Malaysian Kite Council.
Some 200,000 visitors are expected to turn up at the five-day event which will see colourful kites dot the Pasir Gudang sky.
Date: 25 February - 1 March 2015
Location: Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Hot weather to ease by March end
Hot weather to ease by March end: Met dept
The hot and dry spell in many areas is in the final phase of the monsoon season which is expected to abate by the end of March, said Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.
“It is now the tail end of the northeast monsoon which causes many areas to receive less rain over an extended period, leading to the hot and dry weather,” she said when attending the 2015 message by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, here today.
Che Gayah said the current weather condition had not reached the ‘hot wave’ level and was still categorised as normal with 30 per cent rainfall based on the long term average.
Asked if the temperature of the hot and dry weather was different from last year, she said there was not see much difference with the temperature varying over three degrees Celcius.
The temperature in Malaysia is currently between 33 and 35 degrees Celcius.
Che Gayah said the inter-monsoon season would start in April until mid-May, when states in the peninsula would experience wet weather with thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.
She said heavy rain and thunderstorm were common before the southwest monsoon begins from June to September which is the dry and haze season.
Che Gayah said under its standard operating procedure (SOP), the department would only carry out cloud seeding when haze reached the level hazardous to human health.
“The department is always prepared to conduct cloud seeding with private flight companies to overcome the problem. At times, dam operators will also carry out cloud seeding to raise the level of water. If they seek our help, we will be prepared to assist,” she said.
Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail says the hot weather is expected to cool down by the end of March.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
The hot and dry spell in many areas is in the final phase of the monsoon season which is expected to abate by the end of March, said Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.
“It is now the tail end of the northeast monsoon which causes many areas to receive less rain over an extended period, leading to the hot and dry weather,” she said when attending the 2015 message by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, here today.
Che Gayah said the current weather condition had not reached the ‘hot wave’ level and was still categorised as normal with 30 per cent rainfall based on the long term average.
Asked if the temperature of the hot and dry weather was different from last year, she said there was not see much difference with the temperature varying over three degrees Celcius.
The temperature in Malaysia is currently between 33 and 35 degrees Celcius.
Che Gayah said the inter-monsoon season would start in April until mid-May, when states in the peninsula would experience wet weather with thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.
She said heavy rain and thunderstorm were common before the southwest monsoon begins from June to September which is the dry and haze season.
Che Gayah said under its standard operating procedure (SOP), the department would only carry out cloud seeding when haze reached the level hazardous to human health.
“The department is always prepared to conduct cloud seeding with private flight companies to overcome the problem. At times, dam operators will also carry out cloud seeding to raise the level of water. If they seek our help, we will be prepared to assist,” she said.
Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail says the hot weather is expected to cool down by the end of March.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Friday, 20 February 2015
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