Drivers can now apply for hassle-free clearance at Second Link

Drivers can now apply for hassle-free clearance at Johor’s Second Link



The Johor Immigration Department on Wednesday (June 19) opened applications for the new Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) — the scanning device that offers a hassle-free entry to Johor — for visitors entering Malaysia.

However, its implementation will only be valid for foreigners who are long-term social visit pass holders at the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine facility on the Malaysian checkpoint at the Second Link crossing in Tanjung Kupang.

In a notice issued by the Johor Immigration Department, Singaporeans or other foreigners with long-term social visit passes can apply for the new MACS at the Malaysian Immigration MACS office at the Iskandar Regional Development Authority at Danga Bay in Johor.

“Please take note that the MACS facility can only be used at KSAB (Sultan Abu Bakar Complex),” stated the notice which was in Malay and English, referring to the particular border crossing where the automated clearance system can be used.

MACS uses a sticker that is embedded with an RFID chip that is attached to a passport and scanned upon entry and departure from Malaysia. This eliminates waiting time and also makes do without the Malaysian immigration passport stamps.

It was learnt that the new MACS system will be improved from the previous one where it will cater only to Singaporeans or foreigners with long-term social visit pass holders.

The system will only cater to genuine non-Malaysian investors, business persons and professionals.

Malay Mail reported last August that more than 500,000 Singaporeans and other foreigners have been registered with MACS.

However, the system was prone to abuse as a majority of visitors were not long-term social visit pass holders, investors or property owners in Johor.

Due to the MACS weaknesses, there have been cases of Singaporeans and foreigners entering Malaysia through Johor and travelling from the state to take flights out of the country without getting their passports endorsed.

The reintroduction of the system for the target groups follows the end for those previously registered with the MACS system that ceases this month.

Chairman of the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex operations task force, Mr Cheo Yee How said he has been notified by the Johor Immigration Department that the MACS application had restarted on Wednesday and will only be implemented on the Malaysian side of the Second Link crossing.

He expects about 10,000 foreigners who are mainly Singaporeans with long-term social visit passes and property in Johor to apply for the new MACS initially.

“The reintroduction of MACS is timely as this will hopefully assist in some ways to ease the traffic congestion on the Second Link crossing as it eliminates waiting time and also makes do without the Malaysian immigration passport stamps,” Mr Cheo told Malay Mail when contacted.

Mr Cheo, who is also a Perling assemblyman, added that the previous system was criticised for its purportedly weak security measures as well as being abused by Singaporeans and foreigners.

“However, I have been told that the new MACS system has been improved and is synchronised and connected with the passport clearance system,” he said.

The MACS system, introduced in 2010, was lauded at first as it also coincided with the development boom of south Johor into what is now known as the Iskandar Malaysia zone.

It was initially one of several measures to strengthen transport connectivity to both sides of the Malaysian checkpoint along the Johor Causeway and Second Link.

However, the previous system had its problems such as not having biometric scanning as well as being prone to abuse by Singaporeans and foreigners who travel out of Johor. MALAY MAIL

Vehicle Entry Permit setup not ready: KL

Vehicle Entry Permit setup not ready: KL

MALAYSIA'S transport ministry said it will announce the start of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) requirement and road charge on Singapore cars in "due course", refuting earlier reports which stated that the system would kick off last Saturday.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the country's Ministry of Transport (MOT) said "ample notice" will be given as to when the proposed RM20 (S$6.70) charge will be levied on foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia.

Commercial vehicles and motorcycles will be excluded.

The VEP - which also requires Singapore cars to register with Malaysia's Road Transport Department (JPJ) before entry - had been targeted to commence as early as last October but its implementation has been repeatedly postponed.

A report in Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times on Monday said while the system was planned to launch last Saturday, it has been pushed back due to a "technical glitch".

This was because authorities are working out "integration issues" to allow motorists to pay for the existing toll and new VEP fee together with a single swipe of their cash card.

Malaysia's MOT said: "The MOT and JPJ is currently conducting the system tests to ensure smooth and seamless implementation."

It added that about 144,000 vehicles have been registered for the VEP. Singapore vehicles still to register after the VEP is implemented will have to do so at the checkpoint counters at the Causeway in Johor Baru and the Second Link crossing.

~News courtesy of My Paper~

Entering M'sia? No need for arrival cards

Entering M'sia? No need for arrival cards 

 Starting from June 1, foreigners entering Malaysia need not fill in arrival cards issued by the Immigration Department, the Home Ministry said in a statement yesterday. 

Chief Secretary of the Home Ministry, Mr Mahmood Adam, said the procedure would not be required because the Immigration Department had already introduced a biometric recording system for every foreigner upon arrival, under the National Enforcement Registration System (NERS), the Bernama news agency reported. "

Through the NERS system that was introduced on June 1, 2011, the data of foreigners will be recorded and stored. The procedure will also fulfil the requirement of the Tourism Ministry to record data and number of tourist arrivals," he said in the statement quoted by the agency. 

Mr Mahmood said the decision was made after consultations with the Immigration Department, Home Ministry and Tourism Ministry, and that the NERS system was a much faster way to record the data of foreigners. 

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

ATM of Malaysia

Hibiscus - National Flower

Travellers thinking twice about Johor trips

Travellers thinking twice about Johor trips

The traffic snarl plaguing the Causeway and the Second Link on weekends is causing some frequent travellers to hold back on trips up north.

Motorists have been locked in jams the last two weekends, with some reportedly taking up to seven hours to clear immigration.

This comes after Malaysia rolled out its biometric fingerprint system at the start of the month, which requires travellers to scan both index fingers in addition to getting their passports stamped.

46-year-old engineer, Rene Gorada, organises bi-monthly golf tournaments for people living in Singapore.

The group, which typically consists of 50 to 70 golfers, would travel to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand for their Sunday tournaments.

Mr Gorada said half their games are held in Johor Bahru.

He said: "You need to get to the golf course on time. Some of them are suggesting going somewhere else, maybe Batam. But (there are) some other concerns.....going to Batam, it's a whole-day affair because you have to take a ferry. So most of the golfers still prefer Malaysia, because it's nearer. The only thing is that you really have to plan and beat the traffic jam."

Mr Gorada said the group has to leave at 6am to make the 8am tee-off. This is an hour earlier than previously.

Another golfer living in Singapore, 51-year-old Ren Carino, said he drives to Johor three times a month to play golf.

But with the current congestion, he may move his game to another country. He said: "We would rather go to Batam now, or Bintan, Indonesia. It's a lot better now in terms of traffic jams.. there are no traffic jams (there)."

With Singaporeans avoiding the hassle of crossing the Causeway, businesses in Johor Bahru are reporting a drop in sales.

P. Sivakumar, president of the Malaysian Indian Business Association (MIBA), said the city heavily depends on business from Singaporeans.

"Most of them (Singaporeans) patronise all the eateries that have cropped up everywhere in Johor Bahru. And it's of great concern at the moment, because what we're receiving is that initially the jam was 7 hours, now it's around 5 hours, and it's not good for business," he said.

Mr Sivakumar said no formal survey has been conducted yet on how badly business has been affected, and his assessment is based on feedback received from merchants.

Malaysia's Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam has said it's "unfair to blame the biometric system for causing the congestion".

He said the congestion only happened at the Causeway and the Second Link, but not at any of the other 67 checkpoints across Malaysia.

He pinned the blame on the high volume of human traffic and daily movement between Johor Bahru and Singapore.

But MIBA's Mr Sivakumar disagrees.

He said there has always been high traffic flow at the Causeway, and the jams only started after the biometric system was implemented.

Mr Sivakumar said he plans to make another appeal to the Malaysian government to remove the system and revert back to just stamping of passports.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Malaysian Road Sign

Malaysian Road Sign

Budget airline’s southern hub flies to Kuching

Budget airline’s southern hub flies to Kuching

Budget airline Firefly commenced its inaugural flight from Senai International Airport to Kuching in Sarawak recently.

The twice-daily flight departs from Johor Bahru at 7.30am and 6.35pm respectively while the flights from Kuching to Johor Bahru are timed at 9.55am and 8.30pm.

The Johor Bahru-Kuching flight marks Firefly’s inaugural route from its southern hub.

From June 16, the airline will commence a twice daily return flight from Johor Bahru to Kota Kinabalu and both East Malaysian routes will operate using the Boeing 737-400 with a seating capacity of 162.

Firefly will go regional from its southern hub in August with flights to Surabaya and Bandung in Indonesia.

The company’s managing director Datuk Eddie Leong said tickets were already for sale and by the end of the year, the airline would commence flights from Johor Baru to Bangkok, Thailand.

“The introduction of Firefly’s services underline our commitment to develop Johor Bahru as our southern hub, offering Johoreans more travel choices and contribute significantly to the rapidly developing opportunities in commerce and tourism.

“Johor is a significant part of Firefly’s growth plan as our target market will now expand to mass passengers from the southern region, Singapore, Batam and transit passengers in East Malaysia,” he said.

Additional domestic flights have also been scheduled between Johor Bahru and Langkawi as well as Johor Bahru and Penang in conjunction with the school holidays in the second quarter of this year.

At Senai, flight FY816 took off at 7.30am with a 70% passenger load and touched down at Kuching International Airport at 8.55am.

The travel trade and media from Johor were among those onboard this inaugural flight.

They were greeted at the airport by children from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Negeri Sarawak and Salvation Army Kuching Children’s Home.

Sarawak Tourism Board’s CEO Datuk Rashid Khan led the welcoming party and children who greeted the passengers.

“I am pleased to welcome passengers from Johor Bahru to Kuching.

“At the same time, I also look forward to travel with Sarawakians to Johor Bahru on Firefly’s return flight,” said Rashid.

To date, Firefly has flown 3.6 million passengers. From its southern hub, the airlines is targeting to fly one million passengers by the end of 2012.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Relocation of Tg Pagar Train Station from July 1

Relocation of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station from July 1

The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be relocated to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint with effect from July 1.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the Bukit Timah Railway Station will cease all operations on that date.

And all arrival and departure trains will terminate and start at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Hot spell likely to ease next week

Hot spell likely to ease next week

THE rising temperature now is caused by reduced air humidity and rainfall in the region caused by tropical storm Aere in northern Philippines that blew hot air to the country, said Malaysian Meteorological Department (Met) weather forecasting director Saw Bun Liong.

Saw told Bernama that the current hot spell in the peninsula was only temporary and likely to ease next week.

He said the hot spell was, however, normal in May and the temperatures recorded were lower than during the same period in 1998.

The country has beem experiencing warm weather since May 6. The highest temperature recorded throughout the country since May 6 is 36.2°C.


Cooling off: Children playing at the pool at Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers due to the hot weather recently. — By AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star.

The department will continue to monitor the situation continuously round the clock and will alert the National Security Council if any action needs to be taken.

Saw advised the public to avoid open burning, reduce outdoor activities and drink a lot of water.

According to information posted on the department’s website, Malaysia is now experiencing inter-monsoon season which will last until the end of the month..

During this period the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah will occasionally experience thunderstorms and heavy rain in the afternoon and fair weather over the eastern states of the peninsula.

Subsequently, the South-West Monsoon is expected from June to September. The South-West Mon-soon is comparatively drier throughout the country and this is attributed to relatively stable atmospheric condition due to less intense convective development.

It was also stated that the current La Nina condition is expected to continue weakening in the coming months and the weather will be back to normal by June.

The hot spell has resulted in more people staying indoors and drinking more water and switching on the air-conditioners.

Electrical product retailers like Courts and Harvey Norman confirmed that they had recorded an increase in sale of air-conditioners in recent weeks.

Consumers are spoilt for choice as the retailers are running promotions by air-conditioner brands like Panasonic, York, Mitsubishi and LG.

A spokesman from the Seri Andalas Fire and Rescue Department in Klang said they had received instructions to monitor the Kampung Johan Setia area, which is prone to peat fires during a drought and farmers conducting open burning of jungle waste.

“We have yet to receive any complaints about fires in the area.

“But the department has recorded fewer forest fires this year compared with previous years because we have taken early preventive measures and carry out regular monitoring,” he said.

At press time, Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd could not be contacted for comments on the water level at the dams in Sungai Langat, Klang Gates and Tasik Subang.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Drinks cost the same despite sugar price hike

Drinks to cost the same despite sugar price increase, say restaurant operators

GEORGE TOWN: Muslim restaurants will not be increasing the prices of their drinks although sugar now costs an extra 20 sen per kilo.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Noorul Hassan Saul Hameed said its 3,700 members would not increase the prices of drinks.

“We can easily absorb the cost,” he said yesterday.

He said restaurant operators had already reduced the amount of sugar in drinks following the Government's call for the public to consume less sugar.

“Our customers are also asking for less sugar in their drinks,” he added.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom had announced that the price of coarse and fine sugar would be increased by 20 sen to RM2.30 per kilo.

Coffeeshops in Sibu have also pledged to maintain the prices of their drinks for the time being.

However, Sibu Coffeeshop and Restaurant Owners Association chairman Tong Ing Kok said it would have to consider any appeal from members for a price increase.

“The prices of other ingredients for drinks such as condensed milk, evaporated milk and coffee powder have also increased,” he added.

Tong said the per-carton price of condensed milk had increased from RM124.40 to about RM148 and evaporated milk from RM105.80 to about RM127.

He added that the price of coffee powder had increased from RM17 to RM22 per kilo.

“With or without a price increase, I strongly urge our members to maintain standards and not reduce the quality of their drinks, which can result in them losing customers,” he said, advising members to comply with the association's price list on drinks.

Malaysian Chinese Food Consumers Association vice-chairman Chia Yuk Koay said he had not received any feedback from his members on the sugar price increase.

~News courtesy of The Star~

JB Checkpoint Arrival Hall

Security tightens after Osama's death

Malaysia tightens security after Osama's death

KUALA LUMPUR: One day after the US announced that the death of its most wanted man, several governments around the world tightened security against possible retaliation from terror networks linked to Al Qaeda. Malaysia has also heightened security in key areas.

Speaking after meeting the visiting Indian Foreigh Minister SM Krishna, Malaysia's Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said a special counter terrorism taskforce is working closely with regional and international intelligence agencies to stay on top of the situation.

Mr Hishamuddin said: "Right now we have not seen any movement that will concern us...I can give assurance as of today there's no concern. Malaysia was never a target at the moment. I believe they have no plan making malaysia a target."

Malaysia recently set up a joint working committee with India to combat terrorism, arms smuggling, as well as human and drug trafficking. It is also actively sharing information with the US, UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia and China on cross border terror links.

The minister denied that Malaysia is seen as a breeding ground for regional terror networks.

He said: "It was never been seen as breeding ground. There's no room for them to breed, to train terrorism. But the world is porous now. Anywhere they exist, they move, they are mobile, they do end up on our shores and some stayed on."

Still the Malaysian authorities are not taking chances. The police have stepped up security measures at strategic locations in and around the capital, in particular the embassy enclave in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia is also putting in place a better mechanism to screen foreigners at entry checkpoints. This after reports that terror suspects were infiltrating Malaysian schools and institutions of higher learning to recruit students.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Scratch and win scam

Scratch and win scam

A Singaporean who was shopping at the Johor Baru City Square lost RM 7,500 in a scratch and win scam.

The victim, Loh Kum Fai, 53, said a saleswoman had approached him and offered a coupon while he was walking along the pedestrian bridge from Custom & Immigration Quarantine Complex (CIQ) to the mall early this month.

“I was told to tear open a coupon given to me and upon opening it, she shouted that I had won a special prize,” he said at a press conference organised by Johor Baru MCA Youth chief Kua Song Tuck.

Loh added that he took a taxi with the salesgirl to the company’s office in Taman Molek and was told to pay a total of RM7,500 in fees before he could claim the prizes.

Among the items that he had won were a Jade Mattress, an electric stove and a leg massager machine.

Loh said that after a few weeks, he only received the mattress, which was delivered to his house in Singapore and has yet to receive the rest of the prizes despite several visits to the office and lodged a police report against the scratch and win company.

In an unrelated case, a factory worker employed in Singapore was also cheated in a similar scam last month.

The victim, Siew Kim Hong, 52, said she was approached by a salesman near City Square.

“I followed the man to his office located in Taman Molek and I was greeted by his supervisor who claimed to be an ‘Eric Tiong’.

“Tiong told me to pay RM7,600 in order to see the prizes I have won,” she said.

Siew added that she forked out the money and was told she had won a Jade Mattress, electric stove and a foot massager.

After few weeks, she went to the office to collect her prizes but she was told that the company has no employee by the name of ‘Eric Tiong’.

Following the discovery, Siew lodged a police report.

Commenting on the matter, Kua said that in the month of March, he received 10 complaints about scratch and win scam.

“We hope Domestic Trade Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry will do something about this,” he said.

Police, when contacted, confirmed the reports and said that the cases are pending investigations.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Tiger Airways Discount Promo

Tiger Airways Discount Promo
(April 2011)

More flights to Langkawi and Penang

More flights to Langkawi and Penang

FIREFLY will be introducing additional flights from Senai International Airport, Johor to Langkawi and Penang, from May 27 to June 12 in conjunction with the coming school holidays.

“This added service will give our southern passengers wiser choices in spending valuable time with their children. It serves as a perfect opportunity for families to take a break and head up north to Langkawi for a family holiday,” said Firefly head of marketing and communications Angelina Fernandez.

Firefly also offers flights between Johor Baru and Kuching, and between Johor Baru and Kota Kinabalu.

The flights will commence operations on May 19 and June 16 respectively. Both sectors will have a frequency of 14 flights weekly.

For details, visit www.fireflyz.com.my

-News courtesy of The Star-

Cross-border transport gets boost

Cross-border transport gets boost

From July, taxis plying both sides of the Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.

The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed on Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee.

Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.

There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.

The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services.

It noted that additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.

A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.

The statement said officials from both sides will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.

The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings have progressed in the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.

The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.

The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia is progressing well.

The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.

The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-

CW5 - Cross Border Bus

New cross border bus service launched on
27 March 2011

JB -- Newton Circus (Singapore)

http://www.causewaylink.com.my/

KTM relocation under way

KTM relocation under way

Work is under way to implement the Points of Agreement (POA) which will see the Malaysian railway (KTM) station in Tanjong Pagar move to Woodlands Train Checkpoint by July 1, 2011.

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo said this in Parliament, during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate.

Mr Yeo said a schedule of implementation has been drawn up, adding that work on some aspects of the implementation has also started.

The deal struck by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia in September last year was described as a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations.

The two leaders agreed on the implementation of the POA which had been "outstanding for almost 20 years".

Mr Yeo said the July 1 deadline for the KTM railway station to move from Tanjong Pager to Woodlands is a "firm deadline."

Already, he said work on some aspects of the implementation has started.

Several developments along the main railway line including the redevelopment of Silat Estate and the expansion of One North business park at Buona Vista will begin after July 1.

The question of development charges payable on land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands will be settled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

"When KTMB moves out of Tanjong Pagar, the Singapore government would vest in M-S Pte Ltd, a 60-40 joint venture company formed between Khazanah and Temasek, four land parcels in Marina South and two in Ophir-Rochor," said Mr Yeo.

Other initiatives agreed between both sides in the Joint Statement of May 24, 2010 include the joint development of a rapid transit system link between JB and Singapore.

It also includes Singapore's handing over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor authorities free of charge and in good working order on 31 August 2011.

In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will set up a 50-50 joint venture company to undertake the development of an iconic project in Iskandar Malaysia. Khazanah and Temasek are looking to launch the project in May 2011.

"Settling the POA was not a simple matter," Mr Yeo said.

"It took a few years of careful negotiations -- a lot of it, quiet, a lot of it looking for win-win political and economic outcomes on both sides and being mindful of the domestic commentary in Malaysia.

"The key was (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib's leadership and his relationship with our own Prime Minister, and I believe this will continue.

"I once had a discussion with a Malaysian friend and I told him, 'we are more likely to have our elections before yours'. He smiled. We don't know yet, but I think it's likely to be, and I hope -- in fact, I'm quite sure -- that both sides will win handsomely and this good relationship will continue," Mr Yeo said.

Beyond relations with neighbouring states, Mr Yeo also stressed on Singapore's heavy dependence on external relations.

He said the world is moving towards a messier multipolar reality and in this fluid situation, it's crucial to strengthen ASEAN.

One issue highlighted is the continuing turmoil in the Middle East, which Mr Yeo described as "history in the making".

He added it's something Singapore needs to adjust to and cut its losses if needed.

Singapore's economic and political links with countries in the Middle East have grown significantly in the past eight years, reaching an all-time high of S$44 billion last year.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-

JB - Ipoh Flight Route

New JB - Ipoh flight route run by fly2ipoh airways! Subang (KL) - Ipoh route also available.