VMY 2014 'to generate RM76b'

VMY 2014 'to generate RM76b'

VMY 2014 'to generate RM76b'

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 08:10 AM PST

04 January 2014| last updated at 12:11AM
By SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA | sharanpal@nst.com.my

  Malaysia Tourism Promotion board  director Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said the 136 holiday packages could be viewed at www.discovermalaysia.com.my

  He said the holiday packages were tailored to showcase the unique attractions and iconic holiday destinations of each state.  

  "For example, for Johor, the focus is on the Legoland theme park,  Hello Kitty Town and  Johor Premium Outlets  while for Sabah and Sarawak, the focus is on their famous beaches and rich eco-tourism spots.

  "Langkawi is being promoted for its famous beaches and as a duty-free shopping haven while  not forgetting Perlis, a small state but famous for its Gua Kelam and its variety of foods  such as laksa Kuala Perlis, its Pesta Harumanis, which attracting thousands of visitors," he said  at the pre-launch of the state-level VMY 2014.

   Khalid said  the holiday packages were not only designed for foreigners but also for domestic tourists.

   Malaysia Tourism Board (advertising division) director Datuk Abdul Khani Daud said the board was  confident that  VMY 2014 would be a catalyst to place Malaysia on the right track to achieve the 36 million tourists arrivals by 2020.

  He said this was due to the aggressive campaigning w carried out across the globe since 2012, including promotions on 14 television stations worldwide.

  "It is a solid team work and our main focus are tourists from China, the Middle-East, Asian countries, India and Australia.  
 
Perlis had set a target to attract over 3.18 million tourist in conjunction with  VMY 2014, a six per cent increase from the number of tourist arrival recorded last year.

  State Tourism Committee chairman Abdul Jamil Saad said the state had initiated a wide-range of promotional activities over the last several months to draw more tourists.

  "2014 is an important year for Perlis as the state will also be hosting the Sukma (Malaysian Games).

 "Our target is mainly those coming into the country via the  Thai-Malaysia border gates.

  "We are prepared for the influx of tourists. We have a number of standard and budget hotels to accommodate the tourists."

A foreign tourist looking at the proboscis monkey eating at the Lubuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary near Sandakan. about 40km from the town Sandakan The Proboscis monkey was chosen as the mascot for VMY 2014the Visit Malayia Year 2014. Pic by Zahari Zakaria

New rest days a blessing for Johor Muslims

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

04 January 2014| last updated at 12:00AM
By SARAH RAHIM AND SIM BAK HENG | news@nst.com.my

  The announcement was made by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during his 55th birthday celebrations last year.

  Abd Halim Mohamad, a dental surgery assistant from Bandar Uda Utama, said he took his sons, Muhammad Irfaan Hazeeq, 10, and Muhammad Irfaan Ashrafeeq, 9, to Masjid Jamek Bandar Baru Uda,

   Halim, 41, said his Friday break used to be between 12 noon and 2.45pm but he will enjoy a whole-day break starting this year for quality time with his children.

  "I would never had the chance to bring my sons to the mosque before this as my children had to go to religious school at 2.30pm. If I were to send them to school after prayers, I would be stuck in traffic and could not make it on time to work."

 He said as a father, it was his responsibility to ensure that his children had the chance to go for Friday prayers, which is an obligation for Muslims.

  Checks at  mosques showed an increased in the number of people as the corridors were also packed.

  A mother, Jamilah Jalil, 49, from Lima Kedai, said she was delighted with the change as it was easier to monitor her children on Friday.

 "At times, some may loiter elsewhere like in cyber cafes although they say that they are going to the mosque. If they are going with their fathers, then they would have no chance to go astray."

  Civil servants also took the opportunity to settle their errands on   the new rest day.

  Nor Azlinda Othman, 30, who works at the Johor Health Department, said, previously, she had to take leave to go to the bank.

 "My department is strict as I am working as a pharmacy enforcement officer. It is also not easy for us to take leave during weekdays."

  Her sister, Nor Azliza Othman, 27, a physics teacher at SMK Sultan Ismail, said she often heard cases of students and teachers being late in attending Friday prayers due to traffic congestion.   

  "As our school is near SMK Mohd Khalid, SMK Aminuddin Baki, and SJK(C) Foon Yew 2, the area is congested during Friday prayers.   But now, the problem of being late for Friday prayers is resolved."
        

Muslim faithful leaving after performing Friday prayers at the Skudai mosque in Johor Baru. Pic by Mohd Azren Jamaludin

Measures to battle future floods

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

PUTRAJAYA: IN a bid to bolster the country's readiness to face floods, a host of new measures have been drafted, including a revamp of existing standard operating procedures.

These new measures included mobilising civil servants, ensuring better coordination among non-governmental organisations and roping in the private sector to use their facilities as flood relief centres.

These were among some of the initiatives announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after chairing a three-hour meeting with the National Disaster Management Committee yesterday.

He said apart from roping in civil servants in affected areas to help out with flood relief efforts, it was also imperative to involve NGOs as well as the private sector.

"There are many NGOs and funds established by the private sector to help those affected by floods. In this respect, we urge them to register with the National Security Council (NSC) to ensure better coordination, especially in the event of extraordinary flood situations.

"Once they are registered, we can activate them and deploy them to assist."

Muhyiddin called on private sector companies with large facilities located near flood-prone areas to consider offering their premises as flood relief centres in the event of an emergency.

He said such companies could lend a hand by registering themselves with their respective district offices.

"So far, we have yet to see any relief centres operated by the private sector. If we can get them on board, it will, to a certain extent, ease the government's burden in flood relief efforts."

Muhyiddin said overcrowding at government-run relief centres was an issue during the recent floods.

"The affected centres could only accommodate between 2,000 and 3,000 people, but the number ballooned up to 5,000."

He said other areas which could be improved include management at relief centres and land, air and water logistics.

Muhyiddin said the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) had also been tasked with identifying flood-prone areas to assist the government in future flood-mitigation plans.

The Welfare Department has also been asked to look into the number of food stockpile facilities available, especially in flood-prone districts, and increasing such facilities in flood-prone areas, he said.

"The department has to find ways to improve the transportation system to get the supply to relief centres."

Muhyiddin said the DID and Meteorological Department had also taken steps to improve the forecast and early warning systems for floods.

"We have to get the warning out to the public fast, maybe through sirens and a text messaging system."

He stressed that the disaster management committees at the state and district levels must be in sync, while the NSC would coordinate relief operations at the central level.

"Allocations for revolving funds for disaster management at the district level must be set up, with a larger allocation set aside for emergencies," he said.

The committee, Muhyiddin added, had also agreed to beef up the number of assets used in disaster operations, such as trucks and rescue boats.

Earlier this month, floods hit the east coast and Johor, with Pahang and Terengganu being the worst-hit states. Floods in Pahang forced more than 40,000 victims to be evacuated to relief centres.

The east coast is now bracing itself for a second wave of floods, expected sometime this month.

Sabah and Sarawak were also battered by floods, with 42 villages in Baram, Sarawak inundated by flood waters last week.

A total of 366 flood victims from 84 families in Miri and Bintulu were also evacuated to three relief centres on Dec 30.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (left) talking to Minister in the Prime Minister' s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim before chairing the National Disaster Management Committee meeting in Putrajaya yesterday

Break-in pair caught red-handed

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

04 January 2014| last updated at 11:58PM
By SYLVIA LOOI | sylvialooi@nst.com.my

IPOH: TWO suspects, including one high on police wanted list, had been arrested by police at Taman Shatin here as they were trying to break into a house on Thursday.

District police chief Asst Commissioner Sum Chang Keong said here yesterday that police found a screwdriver and a spanner with the duo, aged 31 and 48, in the 3.25am incident.

"The group, who had been active for six months, were responsible for at least nine cases, which include five break-in cases and four armed robberies."

Sum said the duo was caught by the police's Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) as they were engrossed at trying to break into the house.

Investigations showed the 31-year-old suspect, unemployed, had five previous convictions, which include drugs and armed robbery while the 48-year-old suspect had no previous records.

"Both suspects, who are friends, are from Pasir Puteh here."

Both suspects had been remanded until Sunday.

"The case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for house trespassing or break in at night."

Sum later presented certificate of appreciation to the four policemen involved in the arrest.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Sum Chang Keong presenting certificates of appreciation to the four policemen involved in the arrest of the two suspects. Pic by Ikhwan Munir

'Electronic tolls will work only if implemented well'

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

04 January 2014| last updated at 12:13AM

Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Dr Tam Weng Wah said the multi-lane road segments would prevent slowing down of vehicles and ease congestion.

"I look forward to having this system as even SmartTag users have to slow down at the lanes."

However, he said MHA, Touch 'n Go vendor and relevant authorities would need to work hand-in-hand to educate Malaysians on using the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system.

"I find it strange that highway users here still prefer to pay cash, although we have Touch 'n Go and SmartTag lanes. We still see people queuing up at the cash lane. They don't mind waiting I suppose.

"The authorities need to educate the public on ETC, otherwise it will defeat the purpose of the MLFF system."

Tam said ETC vendors could assist by charging an appropriate price for their device.

For example, SmartTag users could be allowed to exchange the device for one that was compatible with the MLFF system to prevent extra cost, he said.

He also noted that the highway concessionaires, system operators and MHA should ensure the system was well-maintained and the law should be well enforced.

Simitha Thuraisingam, 25, from Bangsar, said the system would be a success provided if it was implemented properly and maintained proficiently.

"Everyone who drives in Malaysia knows the torture of going through tolls, especially during the holiday season. With this drive-through system, I believe there's a high potential to significantly ease traffic congestion, especially on the North-South Expressway (NSE).

"I mostly use the NPE and Sprint Expressway. The traffic jam at the toll plazas on the NPE isn't too bad but Sprint can perhaps use this system."

Marketing executive Adam Riff, 26, said the cost of the device might discourage drivers to use it.

"Being Malaysians, I doubt everyone will get the device, especially when many can't even get a Touch 'n Go now.

"The government should probably consider making it compulsory for everyone to use the ETC system and ensure there's a law to run the system successfully."

Radio news presenter Ayesha Rahim, 26, who often used the Damansara and Penchala link on Sprint Expressway, said the system would ensure faster and easier driving on highways.

"I believe the only downside to the system is that people can still cheat their way out by not paying the summons if they do not travel with the electronic device in their cars."

The Malaysian Highway Authority, the Touch 'n Go vendor and relevant authorities need to educate Malaysians on using the Electronic Toll Collection system.

Fifa World Cup campaign launched at Sri Pentas

Posted: 03 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

04 January 2014| last updated at 12:06AM
By ARNAZ M. KHAIRUL | arnaz@nst.com.my

PETALING JAYA: MEDIA Prima Bhd's "Riuh di Brazil" campaign was aptly launched in the presence of the Fifa World Cup trophy at Sri Pentas here last night.

The campaign, spread over the media group's television networks, print, radio and online media for the World Cup in Brazil in June, was launched by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

"It was inspiring to actually get to hold the trophy.

"I'm sure this is the most anticipated event of the year, and Media Prima is doing a good job of hyping up the atmosphere leading up to it.

"It is the World Cup in Brazil. How often do you get that? This is going to be a special World Cup."

Present at the launch was Media Prima Television Networks chief executive officer Ahmad Izham Omar, who said the group would be providing extensive World Cup coverage via all of its platforms.

"We're delighted to bring part of the excitement to our viewers through a wide range of football-related programmes, extended news coverage, up-to-date results, updates and many more.

"Our integrated media platforms -- television, radio, print, digital and out-of-home solutions -- have the potential to provide the widest reach to football fans across the nation," said Ahmad Izham.

The World Cup trophy is on a worldwide tour, being brought from Rio de Janeiro to 88 cities across the world before returning to the host country to be contested for by 32 countries in the World Cup finals in June.

Sports and Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (second from left) unveiling the Fifa World Cup trophy at Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, yesterday. With him are Fifa ambassador Dwight Yorke and Media Prima Television Networks chief executive officer Ahmad Izham Omar (left). Pic by Aizuddin Saad