'JB Lucky Draw' scam

10 fall prey to 'JB Lucky Draw' scam since April

Some 10 Singaporeans have fallen victim to the 'Johor Bahru Lucky Draw' scam since April 2013.

This is more than the total number of people scammed in the first three months of this year.

Most victims fall prey at the bridge linking Woodlands Customs and JB's City Square.

Scammers would approach the victims, telling them that they have won a lucky draw prize.

They would then ask the victims to withdraw money from their bank account to pay for taxes or administrative fees in collect the prize.

Some would offer victims a ride back to their country, where the victim can make the withdrawal.

'Madam Lee', a victim who lost S$12,000, said: "I told him that I had only a few thousand dollars in my savings account. I told him that I couldn't get any cash advance with my credit card.

"They said that they would only take a look at it, scan the card number, and then return the card to me. But they lied. I was told there wouldn't be any interest charged, that when I withdrew the money, they'd put it back immediately."

The police remind the public to be vigilant of "get-rich-quick" offers and lucky draws that come with payment.

Victims are advised to make a report at the nearest police station in the country where the scam took place.

~News curtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Plans for Johor-S'pore rapid transit system in final stages

Plans for Johor-S'pore rapid transit system in final stages: Abdul Ghani

Outgoing Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman says plans for the rapid transit system (RTS) linking Johor and Singapore are in their final stages.

Singapore's transport ministry said the architectural and engineering consultancy study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Johor and Singapore is currently on-going, and its first phase is nearing completion.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia (IM) will then decide on the option for the RTS Link to be further studied as part of the second phase of the study.

Both countries have agreed for both sides to co-locate their Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at both the Singapore and Johor Bahru (JB) stations, so that cross-border commuters on the RTS Link need to clear immigration only once at either station.

This means that those who are taking the RTS Link from Woodlands in Singapore will clear both Singapore and Malaysian Customs before boarding the train and need not clear again when they arrive at JB.

A similar arrangement will also be in place for those from JB taking the RTS Link into Singapore.

Meanwhile, outgoing Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman on Thursday took his electoral fight to Singapore - by taking a bus down to meet factory workers in the Republic.

Mr Abdul Ghani travelled by bus from Gelang Patah in Johor to Jurong East bus interchange in Singapore.

It was his first time travelling on the Causeway Link bus and he noted that the journey took more than an hour.

The Chief Minister wanted to experience what it was like for Malaysians who travel to Singapore daily.

And he said commuting will be more efficient once the Rapid Transit System is ready.

He said: "A lot more people can be moved with the RTS. The capacity with be enough, the speed will be fast enough, and people will be moved into Singapore and back more efficiently.

"So, that will definitely reduce congestion as a result of the daily usage of the causeway or the second link."

The Rapid Transit System is aimed at enhancing connectivity between the two countries.

It will also be integrated with public transport services in both Johor Baru and Singapore.

Some 100,000 workers in Johor commute to Singapore every day. To help commuters move more speedily, there is a possibility of making the CIQ facilities more efficient.

Caretaker Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman is suggesting to have a single CIQ complex for both countries.

He said: “Of course it should be enhanced with a joint CIQ; if that takes place then it will achieve the most optimum objective of an RTS."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Fanta-stic discounts await Legoland visitors

Fanta-stic discounts await Legoland visitors

FANTA is offering RM40 discounts on tickets to the Legoland Malaysia theme park in Johor through purchases of any 1.5l or 2l bottle of any flavour.

Fanta producer Coca-Cola Refreshments Sdn Bhd was recently named as the theme park’s official beverage partner.

From now until April 30, consumers need to present a label from a 1.5L or 2L bottle together with the promotional voucher which can be redeemed from supermarkets or hypermarkets.

With the new partnership, visitors at the park can now enjoy a wide range of beverages under the Coca-Cola portfolio including Fanta, Sprite, A&W Sarsaparilla, Heaven & Earth, Dasani mineral water, Vanilla Coke, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola.

The 76-acre Legoland is the sixth in the world and features seven themed areas with more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Tanjung Piai tourist attractions

Tanjung Piai needs more public amenities and tourist attractions

Daily catch: Kukup in Tanjung Piai, Johor is known for fishing activities and fresh seafood.

This area attracts tourists from around the world who throng Tanjung Piai National Park to experience the thrill of being at the Southern tip of not just Peninsular Malaysia but Asia.

Tanjung Piai is the only Ramsar wetlands in the state, which has a lot of mangrove and is diverse with marine and migratory birds.

Known for its fishing activities and seafood restaurants located on stilts, Tanjung Piai is located along the coast of south Johor.

The Tanjung Piai constituency, made up of Pekan Nenas and Kukup, is about half an hour drive from Johor Baru via the Skudai-Pontian highway.

Usually at the mention of Pekan Nenas, people will instantly associate the place with pineapples and pineapple plantations.

Enjoying a visit: Tanjung Piai National Park in Johor.

With the many resorts and homestay villages in the constituency, the tourism sector in the area has boomed over the years but locals feel that more can be done not just to develop the sector but also spruce up the area including adding more facilities and amenities.

Traditional Chinese Medicine shop owner Teo Giak Song, 46, from Kukup, said the area lacked other leisure attractions for tourists to enjoy during their stay there.

Teo said on weekends especially, he noticed between 20 and 30 tour buses making stops at the Kukup bus station, which is next to his shop.

“This is a good sign and shows that domestic and international tourists are visiting our area.

“But other than going for boat rides to look at the mangrove forest, fish kelongs and karaoke activities at the resorts, there is hardly much to do for tourists here.

“I believe that the tourism sector can be expanded with the building of more attractions, which will in turn benefit other businesses as well,” he said.

Traditional stores: A shop selling local products and tidbits in Kukup.

Teo, who has been operating in Kukup for four years, suggested attractions that are more focused on health and a person’s wellbeing.

“If rightly done, more tourists are expected to arrive in Tanjung Piai in the coming years as people would want to escape the ‘urban jungle’ and busy city life for a solar solace by the sea,” he added.

But not many people know that the Pekan Nenas was not its original name. The town was initially called Batu 27, according to bakery owner Noorhaza Mardikon, 40, who grew up there.

“It was because many people ventured into pineapple harvesting few decades ago and there were also many pineapple processing plants and production factories for the fruit that the name was then changed to Pekan Nenas,” she said.

However, Noorhaza said these days many pineapple harvesters have switched to oil palm and rubber plantation as these commodity items fetched higher prices.

“We now rarely see pineapple farms along the roads compared to before. It’s a shame because our town used to be unique and true to its name but now Pekan Nenas is slowly losing its identity,” she said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

S'pore, Malaysia agree on high-speed rail link

S'pore, Malaysia agree on high-speed rail link

Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to build a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with a target to complete it by 2020.

This was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday during their annual Leaders' Retreat.

With the new link, it will take about 90 minutes to get from Singapore to KL and vice versa.

The two leaders described the high-speed rail system as a strategic development in the bilateral relations, saying it will dramatically improve the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.

The link will also facilitate seamless travel between KL and Singapore, enhance business links, and bring peoples of Singapore and Malaysia closer together.

Mr Lee said: "It is a strategic project for the two countries. It will change the way we see each other. It is the way people in London and Paris are able to think of it -- as twin cities, where you can commute, go up there, do business, meet friends, have a meal and come back, all within two thirds of the day.

"And I think it is going to be a game changer. It will transform the way people interact, the intensity of our cooperation and the degree to which we become interdependent on each other and therefore have stakes on each other's success."

The leaders added that it will usher in a new era of strong growth, prosperity and opportunities for both countries.

They said ultimately the project will give both countries greater stakes in each other's prosperity and success.

Mr Najib said a joint ministerial committee will look into the details of the project.

He said: "Our two cities will complement each other. Our two countries will look at each other differently and the opportunities are boundless between our two countries.

"So I am excited about the project. We will certainly do our level best to meet the 2020 deadline. It may go slightly beyond that, but those are details in implementation.

"The modalities will be offered to Singapore. Basically, we want Singapore to participate in this based on the different kinds of options that we will offer to the Singapore government."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

18th World Kite Festival

Columbia, Russia and Zambia join the 18th World Kite Festival

Up, up and away: Johor State Tourism and Domestic Trade Committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang (third from left) together with Johor Tourism director Md Zainal Misram (second from left), On (fourth from left) and Rosniza (far right) and Kamaruld (far left) during the 18th World Kite Festival press conference.

Four new countries - Colombia, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia will be taking part in the upcoming 18th World Kite Festival.

Their participation will increase the number of countries taking part from 32 to 36 in 2011 and foreign participants from 225 to 236 in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

“More and more foreign countries have expressed their interest to participate in the yearly event,” Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MMPG) president On Jabbar said in a press conference, recently.

He said this after receiving RM50,000 sponsorship from Johor Corp Business acceleration unit corporate services vice-president Kamaruld Salleh and KFC Holdings (M) Bhd group corporate communications general manager Rosniza Baharum.

On said the number of foreign countries and international participants taking part in the event had increased gradually since the event first started in 1995.

He said this year’s event would be more exciting as more local and foreign participations would show off their kite-flying skills with their own uniquely designed kites.

“Apart from watching colourful kites flying over Pasir Gudang skies, we have lined-up several activities in the four-day event,” added On.

Kite exhibitions, competitions, kite making workshops as well as cultural performances were among the activities to watch out for.

Similarly, MPPG has also launched the mobile radio vehicle which will roam different areas in Johor Baru, Nusajaya, Kulaijaya and Kota Tinggi to promote the event.

More than 800 local and foreign participants will take part in event at Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang from Feb 20 to 24.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Working together to fight crime

Working together to fight crime

The Johor and the Singapore police are working hand in hand in crime prevention in both countries by handing out crime prevention pamphlets at the entry points.

State deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ismail Yatim said the move would help to create better awareness between Malaysians and Singaporeans from falling victim of crimes.

He added that the state police would distribute 30,000 crime prevention pamphlets at main entrance points including at the Causeway here and Second Link Crossing in Tuas near Gelang Patah.

SAC Ismail said among others the pamphlets have tips on crime prevention and the hotline numbers of each police districts in Johor together with the state police hotline for Singaporeans to report on any crime cases involving them.

“Over the years the number of Singaporeans becoming crime victims in Johor has increased, from 400 in 2011 to 466 last year.

“Most of the cases involving Singaporean are vehicle theft where motorcycle thefts are the bulk of it,” he said.

He added that the republic’s Jurong police district would also issue similar pamphlets at the Singapore entry points.

“With the Iskandar Malaysia progressing well and the influx of Singaporean investors, we want to ensure that Johor is a safe place for them to do business,” he said.

He said this in a press conference after the launching of the pamphlets with Singapore Police Force Deputy Comm T. Raja Kumar at AEON Bukit Indah here recently.

Meanwhile, DCP Raja Kumar applauded the initiatives from both the Malaysia and Singapore police force.

“The cooperation between the two has long been established where sharing of intelligence from both sides has help solve and arrest criminals in both countries.

“In today’s borderless world, the initiatives taken will to ensure the safety and security of Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~