Char Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow

‘Char Kway Teow’ or ‘stir-fried ricecake strips’ is arguably one of the most popular dishes among Malaysians of all races. The name is derived from the Hokkien term for ‘fried’ which is ‘char, while ‘kway teow’ refers to the ‘flat rice noodles’, which is the main ingredient.



The latter is stir-fried over very high heat with light or dark soy sauce, chili, while prawns, deshelled cockles, bean sprouts, chinese chives and eggs.

Among the chinese community, the char kway teow is traditionally stir-fried in pork fat with crisp croutons of pork lard and serve on a piece of banana leaf or plate. In some instances, slices of chinese sausage and fishcake are added to accentuate the taste.

Originally conceived as a poor man’s food, mostly consumed by laborers, farmers, fishermen and cockle-pickers, the dish has today evolved into one of the most-loved dishes among Malaysians – but with certain ingredients omitted to adhere to ‘halal’ guidelines of muslim community.

As the dish became more widespread, many cooks have come up with their own versions of ‘char kway teow’ but with the same essential ingredients ‘Char kway teow’ was said to have its origins in S.E.Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei) but the common consensus is that ‘Penang char kway teow’ tops the list when it comes to taste and originality.

In Kampar, Perak, the dish is cooked with cockles but no prawns, unless on request. In East Malaysia, other ingredients are used in the cooking eg beef, onions, sweet soya sauce etc.

There are also so-called ‘gourmet versions’ of char kway teow, especially in Ipoh, Penang, Taiping and even the Klang Valley, where seafood, crab meat and even duck eggs are added to suit discerning tastes.

~Info courtesy of Tourism Malaysia~

Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak



No visitors will leave Malaysia without tasting our very own Nasi Lemak. Hot cooked rice with pandan aroma steamed with coconut cream goes heavenly well with sizzling spicy sauce or “sambal”. 

Generous sprinklings of roasted peanuts and salty dried anchovies with a hard boiled egg perfect this dish. 

A platter of everything good all wrapped up in banana leaves to further enhance its unique taste. Nasi Lemak is truly a national heritage of Malaysia.

~Courtesy of Tourism Malaysia~

Expect more rain until January, says weatherman

Expect more rain until January, says weatherman

The start of the northeast monsoon today will bring more rain to the east coast of the peninsula and parts of Sabah and Sarawak.

The wet season is expected to last until January.

MetMalaysia director-general Alui Bahari said the northeastern winds from the South China Sea will mark the start of the monsoon season.

“Right now, the winds are still from the southwest, they are variable, but by tomorrow, they will persist from the northeast,” said Alui when contacted yesterday.

He said an episode would range between three and four days of moderate to heavy rain.

This monsoon season is expected to see four to five such episodes.

MetMalaysia has its own colour coding for rainfall, with yellow indicating heavy rain is expected within the next one to three days, and if there is continuous rain, it will not last for more than six hours and the rainfall will be less than 60mm.

Meanwhile, orange indicates continuous heavy rain that will exceed six hours and rainfall collection of at least 60mm while red shows continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day.

Alui said the department would also be monitoring wind speeds and wave heights, as monsoon winds could whip up waves.

For the day’s weather forecast, log on to www.met.gov.my/in/web/metmalaysia/forecasts/general/country.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Electric Train Service provides smooth ride from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis

Electric Train Service provides smooth ride from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis



Commuter Vincent Khor feels the interior of the electric train operated by Malayan Railways is comfortable and cosy. There are even power sockets under the seats.

I was very excited about taking Malaysia’s Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Arau, Perlis, for the very first time.

It was probably the best decision I made on this trip – to travel by electric train instead of car or plane during the Labour Day weekend in April/May, to participate in the Perlis Marathon.

I bought my Malayan Railways ETS train ticket online.

When I fly, I prefer an aisle seat in the centre of the plane. I decided to make the same seat selection for the train ride. From the online ticketing system, I couldn’t tell if the seat I had chosen was facing the direction the train would be moving or the other way around. And I also couldn’t tell if the cafeteria was in the same coach.

What I was looking forward to was a nice, cosy seat with peace, quiet and privacy so that I could get some sleep. I needed some rest ahead of the marathon, which was held exactly one minute past midnight on the day I arrived.

While waiting for the train, scheduled to depart KL Sentral Station at 7.05am, I bumped into so many runners, some of whom I knew. They were also planning to take the same train and take part in the same marathon.

As I was about to board, I saw Kin K Yum (the marathoner, photographer and newspaper columnist) pushing his foldable bike and walking towards the train platform. I chatted with him for a while. He told me he was waiting for another friend Chan Wai Yee, who I met later, who also brought along a foldable bike. That was such an awesome idea – travelling with foldable bike for leisure cycling after the run in Perlis!

We found out that we were in different coaches so off we went to our separate seats.

TRAIN TO PERLIS

As I entered Coach C, I passed through a nice-looking cafeteria.

My seat was in a four-seat layout, with two seats facing another two, and a blue table in the middle. Throughout the journey, I was not be able to stretch my legs comfortably. Or if I took a nap, strangers sitting across me would be able to watch me all the time.

I was worried I would snore, or saliva would drool from my open mouth, in front of strangers. What if a fellow passenger decided to take a video of me snoring and upload it onto YouTube or Facebook? That made me wonder how I could sleep throughout the five-hour ride.

Five minutes after the train departed, Kin (or "KK" as his friends call him) came over to ask if I wanted to join him and the other runners in their coach. I thought all the seats were sold out! KK then told me that he bought an extra seat, which he was offering to me. My prayers were answered! I would have some peace and a restful journey.

FROM KL TO IPOH

The journey would have 14 stops before its scheduled arrival in Arau at 12.13pm. Pretty fast and efficient.

I found out that the train was moving at speeds averaging around 120kmh, reaching 150kmh at times. However, inside the train, one didn’t feel the speed at all as it ran very smoothly. It was a great way to travel, and we beat the traffic jams along the North-South Expressway!

From cityscapes, the views morphed into smaller towns with lush green vegetation before arriving at the old and beautiful Ipoh train station.

FROM IPOH TO ARAU

The journey from Ipoh saw an even more noticeable change in the landscape. I could spot more oil palm plantations, more forests, and finally padi fields, especially in Kedah. I got excited when the train passed the freshwater lake at Bukit Merah near Taiping. It was the lake I swam in when I took part in the 113 Triathlon last year.

We got off the train at Arau station. We then took the bus to Kangar, where the marathon would be held.

Before we arrived, I suggested to KK and Wai Yee to assemble their foldable bikes in the spacious air-conditioned train.

To our surprise, the train attendant did not object to them assembling their bikes in the train. In fact, he was courteous and friendly.

I was so impressed by the whole train experience – it was unforgettable, awesome and pleasant.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Met Dept forecasts more rain in northern states

Penang floods: Met Dept forecasts more rain in northern states

The flood situation in Penang improved slightly by noon Sunday, but the Meteorological Department has forecast that bad weather will continue.

In the latest post on its Facebook page, the department issued an "orange" alert warning, which indicates expected continuous rainfall with strong winds in the northern states of Kedah, Perlis and Penang on Sunday.

On Saturday night, the department issued a red alert which indicated continuous downpour in Penang and Kedah.

Putrajaya has mobilised the police and the military to help with the Penang flood situation.

~News courtesy of The Star~

马泰边境关税大厦升级 料2019年6月竣工

马泰边境关税大厦升级 料2019年6月竣工



许福光（中）与鲁斯里（右1）讨论提升工程的图测。左为丹尼尔。

马泰边境玻璃市州巴东勿刹移民、关税、检疫及安全（ICQS）大厦正在进行提升工程，预计于2019年6月全面竣工，解决出入境及通关阻塞问题。

玻州移民局代主任鲁斯里说，提升工程从今年6月开始阶段性地进行，第一阶段将在半年之后完成，全面工程则预计于2019年6月完成。

他说，巴东勿刹关卡开放出入境的时间是清晨6时至晚上10时。

他说，随着提升工程展开，各执法单位已做好准备，有秩序地检查民众出入境通关的工作。



一辆从大马离境返回泰国的摩托车骑士，在摩托车上安装挡雨和防晒的小帐蓬。

最早或2019年初完工

工程承包商Perniagaan Usahakita私人有限公司的场地技术人员丹尼尔说，工程预计于2019年6月完成，若一切顺利，可能提早至年初1月便完工。

他说，这项工程包括兴建一座两层楼新建筑物、提升现有的移民局大厦的设施、提升通关柜台、增加通关通道至5条、更换建筑物的新屋顶等。

他指出，汽车的通关通道将从原本2条，增至3条，其余两条分别是巴士及摩托。

他说，罗里的通关通道将移至附近的渔业发展局大厦。



巴东勿刹入境泰国的关卡通道（左边）经常阻塞，反观从泰国入境巴东勿刹的关卡通道（右边）则十分顺畅。

许福光提醒民众耐心等待

马华知知丁宜州议员许福光提醒使用巴东勿刹关卡入境泰国的民众，耐心等待工程完成，届时就不会再面对交通阻塞的问题。

他也呼吁民众遵守交通规则，顺序排队及避免超车，以免造成不必要的情况发生，而加剧阻塞。

针对此事，许福光希望当局能在摩托车通道安装屋顶，尤其是阻塞问题发生时，排在外面队伍的摩托车骑士被迫晒太阳或淋雨。

~以上新闻转自光华日报~

RM1 flight levy starts January 2018

RM1 flight levy starts January 2018

ALL passengers leaving Malaysia by air will have to pay a levy of up to RM1 from January, following changes to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) Act 2015.

“The Government spent almost RM30mil on Mavcom’s operational costs last year. The levy for air travellers is justified, considering the services Mavcom provides, which range from receiving and processing complaints to conducting educational activities,” he said.

The changes to the law also allows Mavcom to impose penalties for any non-compliance over guidelines on competition, regulatory fees and charges.

~News courtesy of The Star~

下月起开放至凌晨2时 马泰关卡增60官员

下月起开放至凌晨2时 马泰关卡增60官员



移民局全国总监拿督斯里慕斯达法（左4）带领北马各州移民厅官员誓言反贪，左2为吉打州局长祖海尔，右3为反贪会副局长苏威。

吉北黑木山马泰边境关卡将在11月1日起开放至凌晨2时，而首相纳吉将在当天亲临巡视。

移民局全国总监拿督斯里慕斯达法证实这项消息时说，黑木山关卡的开放时间将从原本的18小时增加至20小时。为了配合时间的延长需要更多人手轮班，黑木山关卡获批准增加60名移民厅官员。

2019年24小时开放

他是周二上午在米都出席一项北马区移民局尽忠职守集会及宣誓反贪仪式后向在场媒体透露，黑木山关卡也将在2019年1月1日全面开放24小时，而移民局已经作好准备接受新的挑战，尤其采用先进的生物辨识数码技术在制止非法入境方面全力以赴。



吉北黑木山边境关卡将在11月1日起开放至凌晨2时（档案照）。

~以上新闻转自光华日报~

明年起离境征收1令吉

国会三读通过 明年起离境征收1令吉

国会下议院周二三读通过2017年大马航空委员会（修正）法案，当局将于明年1月起向离境乘客征收1令吉服务费。

该法案在进入委员会阶段后，正式三读通过。

1令吉的监管服务费，仅限于离境的所有大马人及外国游客支付，主要是用作协助航空委员会监管航空业在经济领域方面的事务。

交通部副部长拿督阿都阿兹卡巴拉威在为该法案总结时表示，此收费是按照航空委员会的营运费用计算得出的。

他说，政府未来不会调高该服务费，征收该费用是为应付航空委员会的营运成本，并非为了牟利。

他说，航空委员会的职责包括设置所有航空公司降陆的电子登记系统、客户投诉管理系统等，每年的营运费用大约2500万至3000万令吉。

~以上新闻转自光华日报~

Happy Deepavali!

Happy Deepavali!
தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
屠妖节快乐！

黑木山关卡开放20小时

吉北黑木山关卡开放20小时

掌管吉打州工业投资事务的拿督古阿都拉曼行政议员表示，州政府的最终目標是24小时开放黑木山关卡，但会先试验性开放20小时，主要是確保一切可达到预期的顺畅。

他今日在吉打州议会回答巫统黑木山区州议员阿末再尼的口头询问时指出，州政府提议在该处打造黑木山免税区计划，中央政府已批准1亿6800万令吉的拨款进行这项计划。

该计划佔地4736公顷，拥有高级和普通住宅、工业发展、教育、休閒发展于一身，由吉打大臣阿末峇沙倡议的黑木山免税区计划已由乡村及城市发展部门完成了整个发展蓝图计划书，並交由財政部作最后决定。

阿都拉曼说，州政府也在与中国外资商谈洽耗资20亿令吉的中国轮胎厂计划，这个计划一旦落实，可製造5000个就业机会，而且每年有能力生產1500万条轮胎，目前的马牌（Continental）厂每年只能生產400万条轮胎。

~以上新闻转自东方日报~

交怡机场扩建 料明年8月竣工

交怡机场扩建　料明年8月竣工

中央政府已批准耗资8900万令吉的浮罗交怡国际机场扩建工程，该工程预料明年8月竣工。

该由大马机场控股负责进行的扩建工程將分两个阶段，第一个阶段涉及扩大停车场工程，第二个阶段则是扩大航站楼工程。目前，当局未计划在机场建设登机桥。

吉州交通事务委员会主席拿督达祖勿鲁斯说，首阶段扩大停车场工程已于7月24日公开招標，8月9日招標截止时获得18家承包商的竞標，该扩建停车场工程预计在今年10月竣工。

他指工程的第二个阶段是扩大航站楼，包括抵达大厅、商业楼等，于本月7日开始招標並会在10月进行，预计在明年8月竣工。「这项耗资8900万令吉的工程已获得中央政府的批准，由大马机场控股负责进行。」

未计划增建登机桥

达祖勿鲁斯也是巫统班茶州议员，他今早在州议会回答巫统瓜镇州议员诺赛迪提问有关扩大浮罗交怡国际机场的进展时，这么回应。

诺赛迪提问达祖勿鲁斯这项工程是否包括增建登机桥，对方回应当局未计划增建登机桥。

另外，达祖勿鲁斯也说，目前共有6家航空公司在浮罗交怡国际机场营运，包括马航、亚航、马印航空、飞萤航空、新加坡虎航和中国南航。截至7月31日，一周有278航班来到浮罗交怡，比2016年增加22.4%。

「目前浮罗交怡国际机场有两个国际航线，即新加坡及中国广州直飞航班。其中，中国南航于今年7月11日甫开启从广州直飞浮罗交怡的航线。」

他指出，浮罗交怡发展机构（LADA）正物色新的国际航空公司提供包机服务来到浮罗交怡，包括新加坡酷航（Scoot）、泰国快乐航空（Happy Air）、德国途易飞航空（Tuifly）、芬兰航空、印度航空、卡塔尔航空及阿联酋航空。

资料档：主要提供內陆航线

浮罗交怡位于半岛西北部的吉打，是吉打州104个群岛中最大的岛屿，与泰国邻近。该岛面积约400多平方公里，岛上约有7万多人口，属热带气候。

浮罗交怡国际机场（LGK）位于浮罗交怡岛巴当未西勒（Padang Mat Sirat），该机场距离瓜镇（Kuah）市中心约25分钟车程。

该机场主要提供內陆航线服务，亦设有少量国际航线，主要航点包括吉隆坡、檳城、广州和新加坡。机场內设有咖啡厅、酒吧、餐厅、免税店等。

~以上新闻转自东方日报~

Masjid Zahir - Alor Setar

Masjid Zahir - Alor Setar

Mosque

回教堂 / 清真寺

Tourism Tax 旅游税

New complex at Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint

New complex at checkpoint

A new complex for heavy vehicles passing through the Malaysia-Thailand border will be set up at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) facility here.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who announced this after chairing a high-level committee meeting on the ICQS security here, said the new Heavy Vehicles Complex makes up 60% of Phase 1 of ICQS.

The remaining 40% comprises a Light Vehicle Complex, Operational and Administrative Office as well as public amenities.

“Five departments and agencies will start operating at the ICQS on Nov 1.

“This committee will visit the ICQS again at a later date to check on its operations,” Dr Ahmad Zahid told reporters after chairing the meeting at the Malaysian Border Control Agency Complex.

Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum.

The full handing over of the new RM425mil complex by the developer, Syarikat Northern Gateway Infrastructure Sdn Bhd, will be carried out at a later date.

The ICQS will open for 20 hours a day from Nov 1. From January onwards, it will operate around the clock.

Dr Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that all issues and problems could be overcome in order to realise the aspirations of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to turn Malaysia into a transportation and logistical hub for the Asean region.

“We are serious in tackling any issues in order to realise what had been directed by the Prime Minister,” he said.

Commenting on the 24-hour operations for the ICQS, Dr Ahmad Zahid said he had met with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan to discuss the matter.

~News courtesy of Bernama~

Happy Independence Day 独立日快乐

AirAsia's Langkawi-Shenzhen flight

Najib launches AirAsia's Langkawi-Shenzhen flight

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched AirAsia's direct flight from here to Shenzhen, China.

The new route is expected to further develop Langkawi as a world-class tourist destination.

AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes thanked Najib for officiating the direct flight on Saturday.

"Last year, the Prime Minister launched our direct flight from Guangzhou to Langkawi.

"Leadership takes courage and it is courageous leadership shown by the Prime Minister to support AirAsia in reducing the airport tax which for years Malaysia Airports had resisted.

"Today, we see that value of his brave leadership. Direct international tourists have increased from 83,754 in 2015 to 187,433 in 2016 – an increase of 120 per cent.

"This represents a contribution of RM300mil to GDP, based on the 12 times multiplier effect," Fernandes said in his speech.

He said 2016 was the first time when international tourists outnumbered domestic tourists.

"We are driven by this and already this year we have flown over a million tourists to Langkawi with our 238 weekly flights from Langkawi.

"But we want to get to the three million mark and contribute a large part to the Langkawi Development Authority’s (LADA) target of RM9bil revenue.

"Our vision is that we will make Langkawi as connected as Phuket, if not greater."

~News courtesy of The Star~

Langkawi to be the ‘Monaco of the East’ for luxury tourism

Govt mulls making island the ‘Monaco of the East’ for luxury tourism

Plans are being made to further improve tourism in Langkawi with the implementation of luxury tourism and the promotion of people’s tourism concepts for the island, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He added that the Government was considering two concepts in further developing Langkawi as a tourist destination, one of which was to make it the “Monaco of the East” for luxury tourism and the other to promote people’s tourism.

“We have laid the foundation to bring Langkawi to the next phase of development,” he said at the “Leader with the People” programme and at the launch of the People’s Housing Project and Chenang fishermen’s jetty here yesterday.

Najib also said Langkawi will retain its duty-free status as long as the Barisan Nasional government remained in power. 

“In fact, we will bring more projects to the island.”

Najib said the successful development of Langkawi was not due to the efforts of any individual or Umno leader alone, but because of the strong support of the party members he led.

He also said that the housing project launched here proved the Government is concerned for the need of the people on the island to own their own homes.

The RM242mil project is expected to be completed by 2019.

“This is not a political project because the contractor has already started work on it,” he said of the project which involves the construction of five blocks of 11-storey apartments.

At another function, Najib said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attempts to vilify the country’s leaders have backfired on him. 

Without naming the former premier, he said it has been understood that the country’s leaders would pass the mantle to their successors and give them the opportunity to lead in their own way.

“I’ve always wanted the best for the country, having transformed it for the better by bringing in more development and investments.

“This former leader may have forgotten, but I remember it is the principle of a Prime Minister to do good for the country,” he said at the opening of the Langkawi Umno division delegates meeting.

Najib said Umno’s principles dictated that a former party leader should respect the initiatives carried out by the present Prime Minister.

“This has been done since the tenure of the first prime minister and we continue to carry on the good work done by our predecessors,” he added.

Najib also thanked the Langkawi Umno members who have stayed loyal to the party.

Earlier, Najib launched Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad’s digital mobile application “i-Muamalat Mobile” during the Langkawi Digital Carnival.

The service, which can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Store, offers customers online banking services such as money transfers, bill payments and credit top-up payments for handphone users.

~News courtesy of The Star~

JPJ: Malaysia to implement VEP fee at Thai border

JPJ: Malaysia to implement VEP fee at Thai border

Malaysia will implement road charges and the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system at the Thai border soon, said the Road Transport Department.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Nadzri Siron said the Transport Ministry was studying the matter and carrying out surveys on the number of vehicles crossing bordering states in Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan.

"JPJ as the executing agency has started its work at all the border states. It will be the same as how it is implemented at the Johor Baru–Singapore border.

"The charges would be the same, which is RM20 for every foreign registered vehicle entering Malaysia, and RM5 from that will be given to the state government," he told a press conference after the "One Community One JPJ" event here on Monday.

He added that the VEP, which will be carried out at the same time, would see a better record of vehicles entering the country.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Travellers departing Malaysian airports to pay RM1 levy from 2018

Travellers departing Malaysian airports to pay RM1 levy from 2018

Air travellers will be subjected to a RM1 (US$0.23) levy when departing Malaysian airports as early as 2018, the country's aviation regulator said on Tuesday (Aug 15).

The new levy to be imposed by the Malaysia Aviation Commission, MAVCOM will be tabled in parliament in October. It will apply to all departing passengers for both domestic and overseas destinations except for rural air services in interior Sabah and Sarawak.

The passenger service charge at all Malaysian airports may also be raised from the current RM50 to RM73 for all international flights beyond Asean beginning January 2018 to standardise the system.
v Currently a different rate applies to KLIA1 and KLIA2 international airports.

The passenger service charge is fixed at RM35 for all destinations in Asean.

MAVCOM, which was set up last year to regulate the civil aviation industry, is expected to collect RM30 million in the first year from the RM1 levy, according to its chief operating officer Azmir Zain.

"I can confirm there is a definite plan by Mavcom to charge RM1 levy to all departing passengers with exception of those flying the rural air services in Sabah and Sarawak. The purpose of the RM1 levy is to ensure financial sustenance and more importantly the independence of the commission. In the last 12 months we have shown results. Example, by lowering the passenger service charge from RM65 to RM35 flat for all ASEAN destinations. That's a saving of RM30 for customers."

MAVCOM, in tabling its first industry report on Tuesday, said it expects the air passenger traffic to grow between 7.8 and 8.6 per cent in 2017 with the number of air travellers expected to hit 99.6 million.

But amid decreasing air fare and competitive operating environment, revenues are expected to remain flat for most airlines. 

Source: Channel News Asia

8月1日落实酒店旅游税

Selamat hari raya 开斋节快乐

Clear skies expected over Raya

Clear skies expected over Raya

It will likely be a sunny Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year in most parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

The date for sighting the Syawal new moon to determine when Aidilfitri falls has been set for June 24, and many expect Hari Raya to start the next day.

Malaysian Meteorological De­­part­­ment director-general Alui Bahari said a detailed forecast for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period will only be released today but added that the weather is generally expected to be dry due to the current south-west monsoon.

The south-west monsoon started on May 17, and will continue until September, typically associated with lower rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

“There is always heavy traffic on the highways during the Raya pe­­riod, but good weather conditions will hopefully help to make journeys safer as the roads are dry and visibility is better,” said Alui.

The volume of vehicles that will hit the roads starting this week as families make their way back to their hometowns is expected to grow.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd said traffic plying the North-South Expressway during peak days starting Wednes­day to July 3 is set to hit 1.7 million vehicles per day.

The figure is an increase of 30% from the reported 1.2 million vehicles during the Raya peak period two years ago.

Another highway concessionaire, Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak), expects a 10% increase in the number of vehicles on the Sprint and Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) highways in Selangor as the Hari Raya celebration draws closer.

The LDP, which is normally used by more than 470,000 vehicles each week, may see an increase of about 10,000 vehicles this week.

Association of Highway Con­cessionaires Malaysia said in a statement that the volume of traffic is expected to increase by between 30% and 40% during the coming Raya period compared to normal times.

“The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Express­­way, East Coast Expressway (LPT1) and East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) is expected to see an increase of 50% in traffic volume,” the statement said.

To cope with the traffic volume, PLUS has issued a travel time advisory to help the public plan their journey and to distribute traffic between June 21 and July 3.

Those planning to travel from the Klang Valley to their hometowns in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, northern Perak and Johor are advised to enter the highway before 10am.

Those heading towards nearer destinations such as in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, southern Perak and central Perak, are advised to start their journey and enter the North-South Expressway after 10am on designated days.

Meanwhile, Penang is expecting an influx of visitors who are set to take advantage of the four-day Aidilfitri holiday.

“Last year, the traffic was not so bad, but it is too early to predict the congestion this year,” said state traffic police enforcement chief Supt Roslan Ali.

He added that traffic police would be out daily under Ops Selamat from now until July 2.

Malaysian Hoteliers Association Penang Chapter chairman Khoo Boo Lim said most hotels in the state were almost full.

“Penang is a top choice for local tourists and many are definitely coming here during the break,” he added.

~News courtesy of The Star~

DPM: Tourism tax will be imposed

DPM: Tourism tax will be imposed

The Government is going ahead with its tourism tax to be imposed from July 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who disclosed this yesterday, said more funds were needed to support tourism promotion activities.

“At present, some states receive little (funds), some get more,” he said. Under the new tax, hotel guests will be charged between RM2.50 and RM20 for every night’s stay, depending on the classification of the hotel.

Dr Ahmad Zahid disclosed that the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday directed that the tourism tax spat involving Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and the Sarawak and Sabah governments be put to an end.

“The Prime Minister chaired the Cabinet meeting and I have personally met with the Chief Ministers of Sarawak and Sabah.

“So the chapter is closed,’’ he told reporters after closing an Islamic education workshop here yesterday.

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had called on the Government to defer the implementation of the tourism tax in Sarawak and Sabah. This invited criticism from Nazri.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also said RM10mil will be given to the Advisory Board for the Coordination of Islamic Education for the enhancement of Islamic educational institutions.

The workshop approved several resolutions, including one on a special mechanism to strengthen Federal-state cooperation in Islamic educational development.

~News courtesy of The Star~

More trains and buses for Raya

More trains and buses for Raya

The Transport Ministry hopes to add more trains and express buses to serve the balik kampung crowds during the coming festive season.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he had already directed KTM Berhad to increase its services for the period.

“Most of the demand is from Kuala Lumpur to the northern states. So, they will be providing 27 trips daily to the northern states, some up to Padang Besar.

“There is a limit to how much we can increase for the time being, however, because we do not have enough train coaches,” he told reporters after launching the Hari Raya integrated operations and road safety campaign here yesterday.

The ministry, said Liow, was also working with express bus operators to try and increase the number of buses during the Hari Raya period.

However, he said there was a lack of bus drivers due to more stringent selection criteria.

Promoting safe trips: Liow talking to a passenger after launching the Hari Raya integrated operations and road safety campaign.

“(For some routes) we will need two drivers to take turns because of the long distance.

“These are among the shortcomings we have during the Raya season but we will work towards overcoming them,” he said.

On the road accident statistics for last year, Liow said the numbers had increased, especially for fatalities.

“Last year, we had 521,466 road accidents compared to 489,606 previously.

“The number of fatalities from road accidents showed a sudden increase – going up to 7,152 deaths last year compared to 6,706 in 2015.

“During the two-week road safety campaign last year, police recorded 20,982 accidents, with 299 deaths,” he said.

As over 60% of the fatalities involved motorcyclists, Liow said this year’s campaign would focus on raising awareness among this group of road users.

“None of these statistics mean that the previous campaign have failed. If you look at the ratio of accidents to registered vehicles, that has actually gone down.

“We went from four deaths for every 10,000 vehicles in 2010 to 2.59 deaths for every 10,000 vehicles last year.

“In developed countries, the ratio is two deaths for every 10,000 vehicles and we aim to reach this by 2020,” he said.

This year's road safety campaign, with the theme “Pandu Cermat Sampai Selamat” will run for two weeks and includes advocacy as well as enforcement of road safety rules and regulations.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Matta supports tourism tax

Matta supports tourism tax, but ...



The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (Matta) is urging the Government to delay the rollout of the impending Tourism Tax (TTx), or at least parts of it.

While saying the association is behind the tax, its president Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said the Aug 1 implementation date may not be an ideal time.

The TTx will not only affect domestic tourists, but also Malaysians who have to travel for other purposes such as studies, medical treatments or family obligations.

"Those people who have to travel will have to travel, and they will be forced to pay for it. It doesn’t just affect tourists," he said on Wednesday.

Hamzah suggests the TTx be imposed on 4-star and 5-star hotels first, but be deferred on lower-rated hotels, hostels and accommodation premises to a later date.

“I’m not saying that this tax shouldn't be imposed at all, but now is not the time for it,” he said.

Hamzah added that domestic travel is currently picking up due to the high cost of overseas travel, and he was concerned that an additional tax would deter Malaysians from travelling domestically.

The Penang, Langkawi and Malacca state governments are already charging RM2 to RM9 depending on the type of hotel the guest is staying in.

Passed as part of the Tourism Tax Bill 2017, TTx will see local and international tourists paying a levy to the operators of accommodation premises.

The tax rate is fixed and charged on a per-room, per-night basis.

The rates are RM20 for five-star accommodations, RM10 for four-star accommodations, RM5 for one- to three-star accommodations, and RM2.50 for non-rated accommodations, including budget hotels.

Engineer Lim Chze Hong, 33, who travels twice a month for work, said the TTx would be an unnecessary burden for Malaysians and should only be imposed on foreign tourists.

"It is an extra burden on top of the funds we need to spend to travel outstation for work, regardless if the rooms are paid for by the company or not.

“If this is a ‘tourism tax’, then they should not impose the tax on anyone who books a room using their MyKad,” he said.

Meanwhile, 41-year-old writer Vivan Chong said that she wouldn't mind paying the tax if the revenue was used to develop the local tourism industry.

She however asked if there are solid plans in place regarding the funding.

"The rates are not a burden money-wise, but I think the real question is, who is this supposed to benefit in the first place and why are we being taxed for already contributing to the economy by travelling locally," she added.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said that the tax revenue would be spent mainly on tourism and infrastructure development throughout the country.

He said the tax was necessary because the Government needed to mitigate uncertainties in the oil-and-gas industry, adding that the Government was expected to collect about RM800mil annually through the new tax.

~News courtesy of The Star~

所有酒店8月起 向房客征旅游税

所有酒店8月起 向房客征旅游税

马来西亚政府宣布，从8月1日起，所有酒店将向房客征收每晚介于2.5令吉至20令吉的旅游税。

征税介于2.5至20令吉 视酒店级别而定

据关税局发表的公告，业者可从7月1日起向关税局登记。该局也列出不同酒店应征收的旅游税：五星级酒店20令吉；四星级酒店10令吉；一、二及三星级酒店5令吉；一、二及三胡姬花级酒店2.5令吉；无级别住宿2.5令吉。

无论如何，五种酒店及民宿可豁免登记及征收旅游税，分别为向旅游部民宿（Homestay）计划、甘榜住宿（Kampungstay）计划民宿、宗教团体所创办及注册的非商业用途住宿、少过10间客房的住宿及国州政府机构所经营的非商业用途住宿。

关税局说，业者必须在30天内向关税局注册，违例者可被判罚款不超过三万令吉或坐牢不超过一年，或两者兼施。

去年，旅游部长纳兹里坦承，由于国库收入减少，必须征收旅游税，作为推广马来西亚旅游业的经费。他预计这将为国家带来高达8.7亿令吉的税收。

由于马国目前落实消费税，加上马六甲、槟城及浮罗交怡的酒店早已征收文化遗产保护费、地方政府管理费及旅游推广费，因此酒店业者称这将进一步剥弱马来西亚旅游业的竞争力，因为一旦落实新的旅游税，国內酒店就会被征收双重或三重税务。

尽管旅游业者反对，但国会在4月通过了2017年旅游税法案。根据该法令，酒店业者必须向游客征收旅游税，游客若没有缴税，可被禁离境，直到还清旅游税为止，或给予一些能让关税局总监满意的抵押或保障。

~联合早报~

Hot, dry days until September

Hot, dry days until September

The southwest monsoon has brought with it hotter and drier weather to peninsular Ma­­laysia and Sarawak.

Malaysian Meteorological Depart­ment (MetMalaysia) director-general Alui Bahari said the monsoon season started yesterday.

He said the southwest monsoon came after the end of the inter-monsoon period which brought heavy rains to the peninsula last month.

The monsoon is expected to last until September.

“Generally, during the southwest monsoon, the country will experience lower rainfall in the peninsula and Sarawak,” Alui said in an email.

He said there would be more dry days ahead than wet ones in these two areas during this period.

“But Sabah will receive more rain than other states” he added.

According to the MetMalaysia website, there are four seasons in Malaysia - the southwest monsoon (May to September), northeast monsoon (early November to March), and two inter-monsoon seasons in between.

Rain is only expected to return in October during the next inter-monsoon period.

The northeast monsoon will bring heavy rain to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, west Sarawak and the northeast of Sabah.

Meanwhile, to escape the hot weather, more people have been seeking shelter in shopping malls

Malaysia Shopping Malls Asso­ciation adviser HC Chan said families would spend more time in malls when the weather got hotter.

“They will have many options in­­clu­­ding going to the restaurants and shops to escape the heat,” he said.

Chan said since the hot spell began recently, there has been a 10% increase in the number of visitors to shopping malls in the Klang Valley.

~News courtesy of The Star~

PLUS highway tolls go cashless

PLUS highway tolls go cashless



Traffic snarl: Motorists stuck in traffic jam on the first day of toll plazas going cashless.

KUALA LUMPUR: All tolls on PLUS highways are now fully electronic and no cash payments will be accepted.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said as of yesterday, PLUS highway users were required to pay toll with PlusMiles card, Touch ‘n Go (TnG) Card, SmartTag, or MyKad equipped with TnG chips.

“The objective of a fully electronic system is to ensure a smoother and faster toll transaction and a more comfortable journey for road users,” said Azman.

“The electronic toll collection system is 300% faster than the manual cash system.”

A SmartTag lane can cater up to 1,000 vehicles per hour and a TnG lane, 600 vehicles per hour, compared with only 180 vehicles per hour at a manual cash lane, he added.

Azman said the migration to full electronic toll collection system was implemented by PLUS in stages since 2008.

The affected highways, which have a total of 94 toll plazas, are the North-South Expressway (NSE), North-South Expressway Central Link, New Klang Valley Expressway, Federal Highway Route 2, Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, Malaysia–Singapore Second Crossing and Penang Bridge.

Speaking at a press conference at the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza, Azman said that feedback and the level of awareness from highway users on the cashless system have been positive, with a 92% penetration nationwide.

He added that PLUS has been running campaigns and advertisements to create awareness on the migration to the new system.

Lanes to top up and purchase TnG cards will be opened for 24 hours at all toll plazas.

PlusMiles cards are also available at all PLUS Customer Service Centres operating at selected toll plaza offices.

Meanwhile, Azman gave an assurance that all existing PLUS toll booth attendants numbering more than 2,000 would not be affected and that some would be redeployed to nearby toll plazas to assist with the new system.

Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Syahrunizam Samsudin said there were no plans to reduce the price of the SmartTag (RM127.20) or TnG card (RM10.60, without pre-loaded value).

He also clarified that the service charge to top up a TnG card and the cap on the reload amount were business models of respective retailers, and customers always have the options to reload their cards elsewhere.

~News courtesy of The Star~