巴东勿刹与旺吉辇关卡 没24小时开放
巴东勿刹马泰边境关卡没24小时开放。（档案照）
玻州巴东勿刹马泰边境关卡和旺吉辇关卡并没24小时开放!
巴斯里：玻璃市2个关卡没24小时开放。
玻州移民局局长巴斯里受询时证实开放24小时的措施只涉及吉打黑木山马泰边境关卡的重型罗里通道，而该州两个关卡并没有落实该项措施。
他表示，巴东勿刹马泰边境关卡的运作时间如常，从早上6时至晚上10时，开放16个小时。至于旺吉辇的开放时间是早上7时至晚上7时，12个小时。
早在2017年3月，就有消息指出，巴东勿刹马泰边境关卡将实行24小时开放，该政策已在内阁通过，一旦实行24小时开放，警方将在移民丶关税及检疫大厦开设行动室，全天候驻守以协调各执法单位工作。不过，过后没有下文。
郑成泉：黑木山关卡17日开始 24小时开放 只限重型罗里通道
玻璃市行动党主席郑成泉表示，自从掌管吉打工业及投资事务委员会的行政议员陈国耀宣布黑木山马泰边境关卡重型罗里通道将于本月17日开始全天候开放24小时，很多人都询问巴东勿刹关卡的重型罗里通道是否也落实该项措施。
因此，他强调，巴东勿刹马泰边境关卡的重型罗里通道，并没有涉及本月17日全天候开放24小时的措施。
居住巴东勿刹的他指出，巴东勿刹每个通道，包括物流运输，开放时间仍保持早上6时至晚上10时。
此外，他提醒游客掌握好通关时间，尽量提早抵达，以有足够的时间办理过境手续。
～光华日报～
Harumanis' sweet returns
Harumanis farmers in Kedah are aiming to produce up to 75 tonnes of mangoes this season.
The handsome returns from the harumanis trees was what “attracted” a sizeable number of farmers in Kedah to grow the mango variant.
Kedah Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) deputy director (Operations) Hasrol Nizam Muhammad Zuki said those who had been in the business for a long time would be able to attest to this.
Among them were harumanis farmers from Kampung Pida 3, Kodiang in the Kubang Pasu district.
Hasrol said a mature harumanis tree, usually more than 5 years old, would be able to produce an average of about 50kg of fruits a season.
The current season began early last month and is expected to last until early July.
“So, for a farmer who has five mature harumanis trees, and if he really takes good care them, he would be able to collect 250kg of the fruits for the season.
“If the price is RM20 per kg, then the farmer will get RM5,000 this season just from the five trees.
“The more the farmer grows, the more returns he gets.
“If a farmer has 100 mature harumanis trees, which would be able to produce 5,000kg fruits, he will earn RM100,000 for the season,” he told the New Straits Times.
Hasrol, however, said the majority of the farmers in Kedah were newcomers and might not have seen such promising returns yet.
This is when, he said, Fama, the Kedah state Agriculture Department, Kedah Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute and Muda Agricultural Development Authority could come forward to help the farmers by providing them with the necessary guidance and technical expertise.
“However, this is not an easy task and it takes a lot strength and patience,” he added.
The New Sunday Times reported that contrary to popular belief that the harumanis could only be grown in Perlis, it was fast gaining the attention of the Kedah farmers.
Kedah Fama had registered 46 harumanis farmers, operating on 42.1ha, with a total of 3,742 trees. There were more than 90 harumanis farmers in Kedah.
Last season, the state produced between 17 and 18 tonnes of mangoes. This season, the figure is expected to rise significantly to between 70 and 75 tonnes.
Since the start of the season, Kedah has recorded sales of 2.5 tonnes of the fruit known as “king of mangoes”.
Sales are expected to soar after the fasting month and before the end of the season.
~New Straits Times~
PLUS: Plan your Raya trip
Two million vehicles are expected to be on the highways during the peak period of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season and those heading back to their hometowns are advised to plan their trips well.
PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said he expected traffic volume to increase by 18% from the usual 1.7 million vehicles on normal days.
PLUS, he said, would also issue its travel time advisory (TTA) schedule to help people plan their balik kampung and balik kota travel between May 30 and June 10.
“PLUS has made various preparations in terms of highway operations and traffic distribution strategy to help drivers travel safer and more comfortably this festive season,” Azman said at a media briefing yesterday.
Those who are heading to nearer locations such as Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Selangor are advised to enter the highway after 10am.
Motorists can also get the TTA schedule via the PLUS mobile application.
The application also has an “SOS” button which allows help to be channelled immediately when turned on.
It provides real time CCTV footage from over 1,400 CCTV cameras on the highways.
“You can state your starting point and destination and it will show the traffic conditions.
“The CCTV footages are also updated every 10 seconds,” said Azman.
Motorists are advised to top up their Touch ‘n Go cards as the reload lanes on the highways will be closed from May 30 to June 11 to avoid congestion.
PLUS chief operating officer Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi advised the public, especially motorcyclists, to avoid using the emergency lanes on the highway.
“We would like to advise motorcyclists to wear bright-colour clothing to make themselves more visible, and if possible, travel during the day for better visibility,” he said.
PLUS will also place about 5,000 of its personnel on the North-South Expressway to help motorists.
Drones will also be used to facilitate traffic management at strategic locations on the highways.
Earlier, PLUS also unveiled its Hari Raya Aidilfitri video titled Tumpang which signifies the concessionaire’s endeavour to provide a meaningful journey for its customers.
Tumpang is about two men whose lives are unexpectedly intertwined.
The video also highlights the concept of silaturahim (friendship).
It can be viewed through all PLUS social media platforms as well as on YouTube.
~Courtesy of The Star~
