Pisang goreng (fried banana in Indonesian/Malay) is a snack made of banana or plantain, covered in batter or not, being deep fried in hot cooking oil, and is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
Pisang goreng is most often associated with Indonesia, and indeed the country has the largest variety of pisang goreng recipes. However, this fried banana snack is also considered native to neighbouring countries; particularly Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
It is consumed as a snack in the morning and afternoon. In Indonesia and Malaysia, pisang goreng is often sold by street vendors, although some sellers have a storefront from which to sell their wares.
~Wikiepdia~
Thai ‘kereta sapu’ stealing business from taxi drivers
“It is very difficult to earn even RM20 a day. They (Thais) just hop over easily and offer fares that are much lower and steal our customers, ” lamented a 46-year-old taxi driver who wanted to be known only as Amran.
He complained that the situation involving the transport operators from Thailand has persisted for years.
“...depa (they) operate as though they are immune to the law and are free to pick up passengers, ” he said when met at the Padang Besar taxi stand here.
He said these illegal operators not only ferry passengers around Padang Besar but also transport workers of Thai restaurants in Penang, Alor Setar and Seremban to renew their social visit passes at the Padang Besar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.
Most of these illegal operators, he said, were from Pattani and Songkhla in southern Thailand and carried out their activities during the school holidays and weekends.
Amran disclosed that they had three illegal stands around here, one in front of the Padang Besar Railway Station, another in front of Arked Niaga Padang Besar and the other in front of the Padang Besar Fire and Rescue Station and that it is not difficult to identify the vehicles because they have tinted windows and Thai registration plates.
“When the JPJ (Road Transport Department) officers are on patrol, they just ‘disappear’, ” he said.
“This is all I made today, not even RM20 toiling from morning to evening. If it continues, I don’t know how I will feed my wife and children, ” he said, showing a RM10 note and a few RM1 notes that he had.
Amran said he and several other fellow taxi drivers have lodged complaints with the authorities and even furnished photographs and video recordings of the illegal activities.
“The patrols carried out by the authorities are not enough to stamp out this menace, ” he said.
Also affected by these kereta sapu (pirate taxis) is a fellow taxi driver identified only as Rahmat, 52, who claims that the local taxi drivers are living a hand-to-mouth existence now, unlike five years ago.
He has been in the business over the last 11 years and recounted the good old days when the returns were lucrative with domestic and foreign tourists alike patronising their services because they (tourists) did not have much choice then.
“Now, they (the pirates) not only pick up passengers on the Malaysian side but also bring passengers in and out of Thailand.
“Depa (they) are having the best of both worlds, ” he said.
If kereta sapu and vans are not bad enough, he revealed, there is now the added menace of motosikal sapu (pirate motorcyclists) from Thailand.
The father of four said that, to his knowledge, they are only allowed to operate in Thailand and cannot pick up passengers on the Malaysian side.
Checks by Bernama found the pirate cars, vans and motorcycles from Thailand operating daily, from 10am to 6pm.
During the Chinese New Year festive season, Bernama found about 50 pirate motorcycles operating, charging fares ranging from RM7 to RM10 for a trip to Padang Besar town on the Thai side.
Rahmat said the authorities, including the state government, must think of ways to overcome the problem.
“If this is not cleaned up, my taxi will end up a rust bucket, ” he said. — Bernama
交怡然布甘度假村吸引敦马目光
敦马哈迪（右2）在牌匾上签名留念。
以亲近大自然及本地货概念为主的浮罗交怡然布甘度假村（Rebungan Resort Langkawi），吸引首相敦马哈迪的目光。敦马说，他相信该度假村能获得游客的青睐。
他说，浮罗交怡被视为是亲近大自然旅游中心，包括气候、植物等，而该度假村符合所需。
“我希望其他度假村发展项目能够效仿该度假村使用更多的本地货物的概念，我国拥有足够的货物，但还有人认为从其他国家买比较方便”。
敦马是于周五上午在浮罗交怡巴东高为浮罗交怡然布甘度假村项目主持动土礼后，在记者会上如此表示。
~光华日报~
旅游局集中火力推本地游
为应对新型冠状病毒疫情所带来的影响，大马旅游局将把火力集中在本地旅游，以推动2020大马旅游年。
该局总监拿督慕沙尤索夫说，此举能够提高收入，因为数据显示，全国酒店的86%入住者是大马人。
他说，本地旅客去年在购物、娱乐、体育和住宿，花费超过700亿令吉。
他接受马新社专访时说，旅游局将专注在两大组别的本地旅游，即是家庭度假，以及为本身的雇员策划活动的国内公司。
“这方面的本地旅游非常重要，因为它是由大马人本身所促成，不管是大家庭还是小家庭，会于学校放假、佳节和庆典期间，在国内的行程花费，参观国内景点。
“此外，我们也鼓励公司为雇员在酒店举行团建、家庭日或培训，酒店的设备齐全，可展开这些活动。”
慕沙尤索夫指出，雪兰莪、吉隆坡、柔佛和槟城4州被列为旅客来源州，州内的许多居民喜欢外出旅游，而马六甲、吉兰丹、登嘉楼、沙巴和砂拉越，则是接收大量旅客的州属。
他也促请全国旅游业者推出具吸引力和公道的旅游配套，以一同促成2020大马旅游年，进而提升国家旅游业。
他说，2020大马旅游年要取得成功，不能只是单靠一个市场，反之，旅游局也将跟东南亚国家肩并肩，以提升区域的旅游水平，因为69%到访大马的旅客是来自本区域。
“大马跟其他东盟国家尤其是新加坡、印尼和泰国展开密切合作，也就是我们打造‘双目的地计划’，结合两个国家的景点，以鼓励旅客游走于两个国家。
“此外，大马也与其他东盟国家推出2019-2020年东盟旅游配套，以推广东盟，这当中有69个旅游配套，每一配套会有超过一个东盟国家。”
他补充，旅游局保证旅客可安心游马，因为政府已采取防范措施，以对抗新冠病毒疫情。
~马新社~
疫情影响中国游客来马·旅游部重组旅游年策略
随着新型冠状病毒疫情影响中国游客来马，旅游、艺术及文化部将重组2020年旅游年宣传策略，转向其他国家市场。旅游部长拿督莫哈末丁哥达比指出，该部发现武汉疫情已导致中国游客人数剧降，而去年来马的中国游客占11%。
“令人关注的是我国人民特别是从事旅游业者，对于游客来马带来感染风险及负面影响的反应及担忧。”他主持旅游复苏行动委员会会议后，在记者会上这么说。
莫哈末丁提到，旅游年宣传将专注在新市场如欧洲、澳洲、中东、中亚、俄罗斯，以及东亚如日本及韩国，以吸引有素质及高消费的游客到我国。他说，该部也为东盟国家市场拟定“速赢”（Quick Win）策略，作为恢复国家旅游业的替代方案。该部将于2月10日至3月，在数个州属举办与民对话会，以获取旅游业者对于恢复旅游业的反馈。“此外，我也将与雪兰莪、槟城、柔佛及沙巴州政府商讨及寻找最佳方案，恢复各州旅游业。”
大马旅游局也受指示，与业者推广“旅游大马”活动，巩固本地旅游及平衡外国游客人数减少情况。 “旅游部也将与马航、马印航空及亚航深入商讨开拓新航线，尤其是欧洲、中东及中亚市场，因为目前许多飞往中国航班已暂停。”
~马新社~
Health screenings at Langkawi International Airport to continue: Health DG
Health screenings will continue at Langkawi International Airport (LIA) although all direct flights between China and Langkawi Island have been temporarily suspended, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
He said passengers and airline crew would continue to be screened by the relevant agencies at the international entry points (PMA).
Dr Noor Hisham said he had the opportunity to see for himself the measures taken by the Health Ministry (MOH) in addressing the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection at LIA and the Kuah Ferry Port in Langkawi Island.
“From Jan 25 to 31, 2020, 6,539 passengers and crew from various international destinations arrived via the LIA, while 3,082 came via Kuah Jetty,“ he said in a statement today.
Apart from the two entry points, four other international entries are via Kedah at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Tanjung Lembung Wharf, Telaga Harbour Park and Kota Putra in Durian Burung.
Dr Noor Hisham said since early January this year, health screenings had been intensified at all PMAs nationwide and the good co-operation fostered between the MOH and related agencies had enabled rapid detection of symptomatic travelers.
According to him the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) would be notified of suspected cases of coronavirus infection who would then be referred to MOH hospitals which have been identified, while the asymptomatic cases would be provided with a Health Alert Card before they could continue with their travels.
Apart from the health screenings he said, disinfection activities were also being carried out at the entry points to prevent and control the spread of the infection.
Dr Noor Hisham called on all parties to cooperate with the health authorities and agencies involved to protect the public’s health and safety. - Bernama
Pedu Lake offers rich diversity of flora and fauna
PADANG TERAP, Jan 31 -- Pedu Lake or Tasik Pedu as it is better known among the locals, is undoubtedly an under-the-radar destination, however, for those who are adventurous enough to stray off the beaten tracks, this place offers a rich diversity of flora and fauna to lucky visitors.
To make it even more exciting, visitors will have the opportunity to see wild animals, especially herds of elephants that often visited the salt licks around the Kedah’s largest man-made lake, which is located about 80 kilometres from Alor Setar.
Pedu Lake Eco and Services operation manager Amir Wahab said working on an ecotourism packages featuring a boat house concept has given him an added advantage as he could take visitors to a number of salt licks in the area to see wild animals within the safe distance.
“We really prioritise the safety of our visitors, as this place is surrounded by wild, expanse of rainforest jungle, so seeing wildlife from the boat house is much safer as they can watch the animals without any obstructions.
“Thus far, our visitors have had the opportunities to see herds of elephants, as well as other animals such as rusa (deer) and seladang (gaur or Indian bison), but personally I think watching a herd of elephants is more exciting,” he told Bernama here.
Amir said as the jungle surrounding the Pedu Lake creates a corridor for wild animals to cross into the Thailand jungle, the area often witnessed the presents of elephants at the salt licks particularly in May.
“Thus far, we have received an impressive number of tourists, over 1,300 arrivals throughout last year, including those from European countries. This is exciting for a destination like ours as it is not as popular as other major tourist destinations,” said Amir, a former employee of a resort at Pedu Lake which has since closed due to plummeting tourist arrivals .
Apart from wild animals, visitors can also get a glimpse of variety of tree species in the dense jungle surrounding the lake which are not found elsewhere.
“Here we have that famous Tualang tree which synonymous to high quality wild Tualang honey, which is usually harvested by the end of February,” he said.
He said visitors who stayed at his boat house would also be served a variety of local dishes from freshly-caught fish including ‘baung’, ‘lampam’, ‘tengalan’, and shrimp as well as of a type of mussels locally known as ‘kedaya’ or ‘temagik’, found in the area, particularly during the current dry spell.
His boat house-based ecotourism activities also received the support of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), which provided a wide range of assistance including solar power equipment and building a proper sewage system, he said.
-- BERNAMA
