延长征收10%附加费 长巴车资变相起价

延长征收10%附加费 长巴车资变相起价

长途巴士业者要求车票调涨30%未有定案又遇柴油涨价，陆路公共交通委员会（SPAD）宣布，考虑到燃油涨价营运成本将提高，允许长途巴士继续征收10%的附加费，直到当局宣布新收费为止。

附加费原订今天停收

长途巴士业者获准在开斋节期间征收10%的附加费措施，原定于明天结束。该委员会这项宣布，形同巴士车资变相涨价。

泛马巴士业者公会是在政府宣布燃油涨价后，致函陆路公共交通委员会要求延长征收10%附加费措施。

该委员会之前是在6月中旬宣布，同意让巴士业者在开斋节期间收取长途快车票10%附加费，有效期限从7月8日至9月8日为止，包括全部现有的长途快车班次及因应佳节需求而推出的额外班车。

柴油上一次调涨零售价，是2010年12月4日。政府是在本月3日调涨RON95汽油和柴油每公升零售价20仙，使RON95每公升售价涨为2令吉10仙，而柴油是2令吉。

调涨车票年底决定

这也是近年来，政府首次因为柴油价格上涨，允许长途巴士业者延长原本只限佳节期间征收车票附加费的措施。

泛马巴士业者协会（PMBOA）原本是要求长途快车票涨价30%，不过陆路公共交通委员会拒绝，只允许在佳节期间给予两个月征收10%附加费，而调涨车票事宜将在年底有决定。

陆路公共交通委员会今日发文告说，尽管政府调涨燃油费，但长途巴士车票价格目前不会涨价，当局将会宣布新收费。 该会表明，研究长途巴士收费的工作处于最后阶段，该委员会确保即将宣布的新收费不会对人民和业者构成负担。

～以上新闻转载自南洋商报～

Happy national day！

Happy national day！国庆日快乐！

Turn war bunkers into attractions

Turn war bunkers into attractions

The Historical Society of Malaysia says WW2 bunkers in Kedah can become tourist attractions

The Historical Society of Malaysia is urging the state government to initiate a programme to rehabilitate and turn World War 2 bunkers into heritage tourism attractions.

Its Kedah chapter chairman Datuk Wan Shamsudin Mohd Yusof said the association had identified 26 bunkers in Alor Star, Bukit Pinang and Sungai Petani which had the potential to be turned into historical sites.

He said the bunkers had become an eyesore and some had been turned into dumping sites or become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and poisonous reptiles.

"The WW2 bunkers have precious historical value.

"We hope the state government will take the initiative to rehabilitate the structures and turn them into tourist attractions," he said.

Wan Shamsudin said the association was worried that the bunkers would be eroded in time and forgotten by the public.

One of the villagers of Hutan Kampung, Firdaus Othman, 18, said the bunkers had potential to become tourism products for the state.

He said, about two months ago, a group of tourist from Europe had visited the bunkers in the area.

"It is a waste if we do not value these historical structures," he added.

State Tourism, Energy, Indian and Siamese Affairs and Islamic Religious Committee chairman Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid said a plan to rehabilitate and conserve the bunkers was already in the pipeline.

He said work to rehabilitate the bunkers would be starting soon and they would be turned into tourism products.

"Besides the war bunkers, we have also identified other structures that have the potential to be turned into heritage tourism attractions such as old houses and buildings which have national historical value," added Rawi.



Firdaus Othman (right) said European tourists visited WW2 bunkers in Hutan Kampung about two months ago.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Govt promises better bus service

Govt promises better bus service

Authorities in Kedah to adopt both short and long-term solutions for commuters

The state government has vowed to solve the public transport woes in Kedah.

State Education, Transportation and Public Works committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the new state administration, which assumed office in May, was aware of the people's grouses on the poor public transport service.

Tajul Urus said the state government would adopt both short and long-term solutions to improve the situation.

"We are aware of the issue. The state government has been receiving complaints from the public.

"We will discuss the issue with Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to formulate a long-term plan to resolve this matter," he said.

Tajul Urus said the plan would also improve public transport service in the rural areas.

The move is welcomed by commuters who hope their transport woes would end soon.

A Streets check at several bus stops in the city showed that the public transport system in Alor Star is plagued with inefficiency and lacks integration.

Many bus stops do not have signboards to guide commuters on bus routes, frequency and time of arrivals.

As such, commuters, particularly those from the outskirts, are forced to wait for long hours for their bus.

Nuratiqah Markhasan, 14, who travels by bus to school everyday, said the irregular stage bus service has caused her to arrive late at school.

"I have no idea when the bus arrives. Sometimes, I have to wait for an hour, making me late for school.

"We need more buses to reduce the waiting time," said the Form Two student who has walk for about 15 minutes to reach the nearest bus stop from her home.

Her sentiment was shared by another commuter, Kamariah Ibrahim, 74, who said the bus frequency needs to improve.

"I have to wait for an hour to reach a destination which takes only a 10-minute drive. It is a sheer waste of time but I have no option," she said.

Kamariah hoped the state government would soon come out with a sound solution for all. Another frustrated passenger, Salleh Janai, 75, said the public bus transport is unreliable.

"I do not own a vehicle. The only way I can reach town to work is by using public transport but the bus service is poor," said Salleh.



Passengers waiting for buses at Shahab Perdana, the main bus hub in Alor Star.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Selamat Hari Raya

Alor Star Landmark 米都地标

Langkawi Wildlife Park comes in 10th

Langkawi Wildlife Park comes in 10th

TripAdvisor, the global site that lets travellers rate hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions worldwide, had listed Langkawi Wildlife Park as the top 10 in the 2013 Travelers' Choice Destination awards.

Award winners were determined according to their popularity, taking into account travellers' favourites and how they were rated.

Langkawi Wildlife Park general manager Teoh Cheng Kung said the award was motivation for the staff to strive to provide even better service.

"We would like to thank all the visitors for their support," he said, adding that the park received the award last week.

"We hope this recognition will entice our visitors to stay even longer, repeat their visit and spread word of their experience to their friends back home," he said after attending the event to break fast with orphans organised by the park at Langkasuka Hotel, here, recently.

Kuah assemblyman Nor Saidi Nayan, park operation manager Beh Swee Eng and administrative manager Mazni Sahadan were also present.

Teoh said the park was also being promoted as the perfect location for the filming international and local movies.



Teoh Cheng Kung (second from left) shows the award from Tripadvisor to Nor Saidi Nanyan (third from left) at the event to break fast with orphans at Langkasuka, Langkawi. Pic by Hamzah Osman

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~