AirAsia to deploy 84 more flights this CNY

AirAsia to deploy 84 more flights this CNY

There’s good news for travellers with more flights servicing selected domestic and international routes ahead of the Chinese New Year festive period.

AirAsia Berhad will deploy an additional 84 flights from Jan 25 to Feb 1.

“We would like to encourage travellers to book their flights early for the upcoming festive season,” said AirAsia’s head of commercial Spencer Lee in a statement.

“These flights will have an added capacity of 15,000 seats to facilitate the high demand of air travel during that period.”

Among the routes are from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, Penang, Sibu and Tawau, as well as from Penang to Singapore and from Johor Baru to Miri and Sibu.

“Whether it’s a family reunion or a quick getaway, we hope that these additional flights with everyday low fares will help everyone to have a memorable Chinese New Year celebration,” Lee added.

Travellers are advised to book their flights early at airasia.com or through the airline’s mobile app on the iPhone and android devices. For more information, follow AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

~News courtesy of The Star~

S'pore, M'sia made very good progress on high-speed rail agreement

Singapore, Malaysia have made very good progress on high-speed rail agreement: PM Lee



PM Lee in an interview with the chairman of Malaysian state news agency Bernama Azman Ujang on Monday (Nov 28).

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singapore and Malaysia have made very good progress on a bilateral agreement on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High-Speed Rail (HSR), and hopes both sides can sign the agreement when he and Prime Minister Najib Razak meet at the Leaders' Retreat. 

"It is a very ambitious, very complicated and a very expansive project, in terms of scale. We have to try our best to anticipate what the likely issues are, when we build it, when we operate it, and have a clear understanding on how we will deal with it if a situation arises," Mr Lee said in an interview with the chairman of Malaysian state news agency Bernama Azman Ujang on Monday(Nov 28).

"The first thing is to have a sound agreement between the two countries on the basis of how the project is structured, how it is going to be executed, and how it is backed by the two governments," said Mr Lee in the interview, the transcript of which was released by the Prime Minister's Office today (Nov 30).

"That is the first requirement, that we have a very good agreement which sets out clearly a sound basis to build and operate the system."

Singapore, KL 'working towards' inking High Speed Rail pact on Dec 5

Both countries have been discussing the agreement for more than a year, Mr Lee noted.

"We are almost there, and I hope that when I meet Prime Minister Najib at the next retreat, we will be able to sign the agreement," he said.

On Tuesday (Nov 29), Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan met Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, and Mr Abdul Rahman said on Instagram they met "to harmonise last minute details of the Bilateral Agreement on Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Rail project before signing ceremony in December".

A memorandum of understanding for the HSR project was signed in July this year by Mr Khaw and Mr Abdul Rahman, and it was witnessed by the two prime ministers.

Construction for the project is expected to begin in 2018, with trains running in 2026.

Secondly, Mr Lee noted that the project's execution will be very important - designing it, calling for tenders, evaluating the proposals.

"Several high-speed rail systems in the world have been lobbying very hard to get this contract - the Japanese, the Koreans, the Chinese high-speed rail," he noted.

"Each has its strengths, and we will have a very difficult decision evaluating the bidders who come along and deciding which one is the best overall."

Asked about the cost-sharing of construction, PM Lee said things like that had to be clearly specified, and it was one of the items that made the project complicated.

"When you have two authorities involved, you have to decide how to partition, where the line is drawn. I build my part, you build your part, and we have to meet at the same point," he said. "If it does not meet then we have a big problem."

PM Lee added: "It is complicated but there is a will. And there is a good will, and we would like to make it succeed."

He was also asked if a third bridge between Singapore and Malaysia - which some in Malaysia had suggested recently - is necessary with the HSR project.

Mr Lee said there are currently no plans for it.

"We are not currently planning for a third bridge," he said. "I have seen some statements in Malaysia suggesting one, but the high-speed rail is a very ambitious project. I would focus all my energies doing that one before we launch a new big project."

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

RM8mil dragon attraction in Yong Peng

RM8mil dragon attraction



A 106.9m-long dragon tunnel, dubbed the Prosperity Dragon, is the latest tourist attraction in this small southern Johor town.

Vying for a place in the Malaysian Book of Records as the biggest dra­gon tunnel in the country and potentially clinching a world record too, the celestial structure sprawls on more than a hectare of the Green Garden of Che Ann Khor Yong Peng Association grounds at Taman Kota Impian here.

Costing RM8mil and three years to build, the interior of the hollow dragon structure is adorned with Chinese cultural and religious paintings.

Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar launched the dragon tunnel yesterday.

He was accompanied by his son Tunku Temenggong Tunku Idris Iskandar at the event which was also attended by 5,000 local and foreign visitors.

Sultan Ibrahim planted a tree at the site.

The spectators were entertained to a lion dance by 99 lions and also a dragon dance performance.

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the dragon would attract more tourists to the district and boost the state’s economy.

“This dragon is a symbol of prosperity for Johor and I hope Green Garden will become an iconic destination.

“The 24 paintings portray the teachings of the Buddha on honouring and obeying parents and another 18 paintings depict the afterlife,” he told reporters during a media conference yesterday.

Visitors have to pay a minimal entry fee to enter the “dragon’s body” which is an air-conditioned tunnel to view the paintings.

“Everything about this structure is related to the number nine, which represents prosperity and luck for the Chinese community.

“Inside, there are 108 stairs and the length of the dragon is 315ft. Both figures add up to the number nine,” Tee added.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Extra $6.60 fee to enter Johor kicks in

Extra $6.60 fee to enter Johor kicks in

UNTIL recently, Johnson Tan would drive his Grab car across the Causeway to refuel up to four times a week.

Doing that saved him up to $80 for a full tank.

Now the 27-year-old is having second thoughts. It follows the change in road charges imposed by Malaysia.

From yesterday, Singapore-registered cars entering Malaysia will be charged an extra RM20 (S$6.60).

"I will save less now, so unless I happen to be near the checkpoints, I wouldn't intentionally drive in," said Mr Tan, who lives in Sengkang.

The road charge came into effect at the two land checkpoints from 12.01am yesterday.

This followed an announcement by Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai on Facebook last Friday.

The extra charge was targeted to roll out as early as October last year but was repeatedly delayed.

From Nov 1, a round trip for a Singapore car going into Johor will cost about $19 and this includes existing checkpoint tolls levied by both countries.

The Straits Times spoke to 12 Singaporean drivers in Johor Baru yesterday.

Unlike Mr Tan, 10 of the drivers said they were unfazed about paying more, saying that it still falls within their means.

The drivers were also prepared with sufficient value in their Touch 'n Go cards, which they now have to tap twice after getting their passports stamped, once for the road charge and again for the checkpoint toll.

They previously tapped once at the Malaysia checkpoint.

"RM20 is still a comfortable rate for me," said Iskandar Samat, who is self-employed.
v The 42-year-old was in JB with his mother, Sabariah Tik, 64, yesterday for some shopping.

"With the year-end holidays coming up, I think I will be back a few more times this year with my wife and two children.

"We can split the cost among us," he added.

Operations manager Desmond Chin, 33, who travels to JB several times a week for work, said: "I don't have a choice since I have to attend meetings and visit the company factory in JB. But if I were to come here for leisure, I might think twice."

However, technician Jani Jamari, 57, said making the trip to visit his favourite eateries has become "not worth it".

"I come in about once a month on my day-off to eat because the halal food is cheap and good... But now, I may take a ferry to Batam instead," said Mr Jani, who was busy working out the cost of a round trip to JB on a piece of paper.

Traffic was smooth entering Malaysia yesterday morning.

However, several motorists said the weekend crowd will return and traffic jams are unlikely to ease in the months ahead.

~News courtesy of My Paper~

RM20 charge on foreign vehicles entering via JB

RM20 charge on foreign vehicles entering via JB



Vehicles making their way along the Causeway between Johor and Singapore.

All foreign private-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor will be subjected to a RM20 road charge (RC) effective Nov 1.

This RC will be collected each time motorists enter using the Touch n’ Go card, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

“The RC system has been activated at the two land entry points in Johor – the Causeway and the Second Link.

“Initial collection exercise will only involve foreign private-registered vehicles excluding foreign registered motorcycles,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Liow urged all foreign-registered vehicles to register their vehicle information under the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system to ensure smooth entry to Malaysia once the VEP is implemented.

Not to be confused with RC, he explained that the VEP is an automated vehicle registration system and is part of ongoing efforts by the Malaysian Government to improve border control and monitoring, as well as comprehensive collection of entry point data that could be used for strategic planning, management and efficient enforcement purposes.

“While the implementation of RC and eventually VEP will only involve foreign private-registered vehicles at the two entry points in Johor initially, this exercise will be extended throughout the 12 entrances to Malaysia in stages,” he added.

Liow said updates and announcement on the implementation date for VEP would be made closer to the date.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Happy Deepavali!

Causeway border scan gets thumbs up

Causeway border scan gets thumbs up



Motorists from Singapore being stuck in a traffic congestion heading towards Malaysia via the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) in Johor Baru, Johor on June 11.

Each year, dozens of Malaysian and foreign motorcyclists are jailed or fined for entering or leaving the country without stopping to present their passports at the 150 Immigration counters at the Johor Causeway and Second Link.

For years, many have claimed ignorance, blamed the counters for being closed or having no Immigration officials present to verify their passports, as there are no gantries to stop the motorcyclists from zooming past the counters, especially during rush hour.

For the first nine months this year alone, some 104 local and foreign motorcyclists have been detained for such offences at both the checkpoints.

Offenders face fines of between RM1,500 and RM1,800, in default two or three months’ jail.

Some 40,000 Malaysian motorcyclists travel to Singapore daily, mainly for work.

The Immigration Department plans to overcome this problem with a new automated border control system known as MBIKE, to be launched in December.

It is similar to the autogates placed at all entry and exit points in Malaysia.

This system, which uses a radio frequency identification device (RFID) sticker attached to the holder’s passport, requires the holder to place their thumb on the reader before the gantry gate opens.

The advanced system will also be able to detect if there is only one person or a pillion rider as well on a motorcycle.

If there are two people on the motorcycle, both will be required to scan their thumbs.

Johor Immigration director Datuk Rohaizi Bahari said this system will be the first of its kind at any CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quaran­tine) in Malaysia for motorcycle clearance.

“This system will not just enhance security at both checkpoints but also ease clearance at the Johor Causeway and Second Link,” he said.

Registration, which is free of charge, is now open.

“So far, response at the Johor CIQ has been overwhelming, with 4,500 people having registered for it since Sept 30,” he told The Star.

Requirements for the application include holding a passport that is valid for more than six months, being free from any blacklist and being at least 18 years old.

Singapore has automated its clearance for motorcycles since 2008.

At present, there are 100 motorcycle lanes in and out at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar CIQ here and 50 lanes at the Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar at the Second Link.

The system, said Rohaizi, will also help free their personnel to focus on other areas because much manpower is needed to man at least 60% to 75% of the counters to clear the motorcycles daily.

Manual booths at both CIQs will continue for motorcyclists who do not have MBIKE and foreigners, he added.

To apply for MBIKE, just go to the one-stop registration centre at the Johor CIQ or contact its hotline at 07-218 2400, or visit www.mbike.my.

Another one-stop centre at the Second Link will open by this month.

Both centres will operate round the clock.

~News courtesy of The Star~