MAS raises ticket fares due to higher fuel prices

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will revise its fuel surcharge effective Nov 15 due to the current high fuel prices.

The national carrier said in a statement here that the revised rates for tickets sold in Malaysia had been approved by the Government.

The revised rates are for:


Travel from Malaysia to Europe, Australia and New Zealand, North and South America, West Asia and Africa from US$36 (RM137) to US$50 (RM190) per sector.

Travel from Malaysia to Asia, including Singapore and Brunei, unchanged at US$18 (RM69) per sector.
For tickets sold outside Malaysia, the rates are:


Travel from Europe, Australia and New Zealand, North and South America, West and Africa into Malaysia from US$45 (RM170) to US$50 (RM190) per sector.

Travel from Asia, including Singapore and Brunei, into Malaysia unchanged at US$20 (RM75) per sector.
“The revised surcharge is applicable for tickets issued on or after Nov 15 for travel on or after Nov 15. The surcharge will be collected at the point of ticketing,” the statement said.

However, MAS said, domestic surcharge rates remained unchanged at RM15 for travel between Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak as well as RM7.50 for travel within Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak, including the rural air services. – Bernama

Source: The Star...MAS raises ticket fares due to higher fuel prices

A new 24-hour Park in Ipoh

Ipoh will never be the same again with the new 24-hour outlet,
the Kinta Riverfront Park.


Children enjoying themselves at the playground of the Kinta Riverfront Park

Kinta Riverfront Park has fountains, arches topped with mosque-like domes, a children’s playground and a recreational pool.

The RM4.4mil park is mainly visited by city folk at night after dinner.

Five-year limit for driving licences

PUTRAJAYA: Effective today, the maximum renewal period for driving licences will be five years instead of 10, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the move was to enable the authorities to act quickly against those who flouted traffic rules and also reduce road accidents.

“It has been a problem for the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to take action against those holding 10-year licences because after flouting the laws, the people are still on the road causing mischief,” he said after a briefing at the JPJ headquarters here yesterday.

Abdullah said more stringent rules have been introduced for learner drivers.

Their temporary licences would be revoked if they break traffic rules.

“Those issued driving licences can renew them annually only if they have one traffic offence while those with a clean slate could renew their licences for two years.

“If their record continues to be clean, they can renew their licences for up to five years,” he said, adding that the stringent measures were not to burden the people but to nurture more responsible drivers.

Source: The Star...Five-year limit for driving licences

VIP buses to Tasik Kenyir

Good news for tourists and locals alike.

BY K. SUTHAKAR
The Star

MORE tourists are expected to visit Tasik Kenyir in Hulu Terengganu following the launch of two bus services from the lake to Johor Baru and Kuala Perlis.

Four super VIP buses costing RM1.6mil have been bought for the purpose by Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah).

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said he hoped the services would get a good response from the public.

“We hope more people from Johor, Singapore, Kedah and Langkawi will visit the scenic man-made lake,” he said after inspecting the buses at Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah in Dungun on Sunday.

He said that Express Kenyir had been operating seven buses plying daily from Tasik Kenyir to Kuala Lumpur since 1997.

Ketengah general manager Abdul Ghani Che Man said that more tourists were expected to visit the lake following the Government’s move to declare two off days per week for civil servants.

The service to the two destinations begins today.

The bus from Tasik Kenyir will head to Johor Baru via Kuala Berang, Kuala Terengganu, Dungun and Mersing. The fare is RM39.10 per adult.

The fare from Kuala Terengganu to Johor Baru is RM33.90 per adult.

The second service from Tasik Kenyir to Kuala Perlis will pass through Kuala Berang, Kuala Terengganu, Jerteh, Sungai Petani, Kangar and Kuala Perlis. The fare is RM42.55 per adult.

The fare from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Perlis is M37.35 per adult.

Source: The Star

The Millennium Monument in Putrajaya

Nation’s history set in stone

By GEETHA KRISHNAN
The Star

AFTER a two-year wait, the Millennium Monument (Monumen Alaf Baru) in Putrajaya is finally open to the public.

The 68m tall, amber-coloured historical monument in Precinct 2 is uniquely shaped like an obelisk with etchings denoting important periods and milestones in the nation’s history.

Visitors and tourists, eager to get a glimpse of the nation’s history, can now visit the monument via land or via cruise boats operated by Cruise Tasik Putrajaya. The first Millennium Monument stopover cruise begins on Saturday.

Cruise passengers will disembark at the monument, situated by the edge of the Putrajaya Lake, for about 15 minutes. There will be ample photo opportunities as the landmark sits on the Core Island with good view of the Seri Wawasan and Seri Saujana bridges.

Future plans for the waterfront promenade include a cafe, information kiosk and souvenir outlet.

At night, the monument serves as a beacon with strong light projected at 360 degrees and sweeping lights visible from various locations in Putrajaya. The lights also guide the cruise boats.

Source: The Star...Nation’s history set in stone

Pangkor Island

The Foo Lin Kong temple, at the foothill of Sungai Pinang Besar, is a must-see for tourists


Workers at Hai Seng Hin Enterprise Sdn Bhd arranging fish for grilling


The fishing village at Sungai Pinang, Pangkor

FOR centuries, the beauty of Pangkor Island in Perak had enthralled visitors and seamen sailing through the Straits of Malacca who sought refuge there.

Today, the island's natural wonders remain unscarred.

Pulau Pangkor is now a thriving tourist destination where visitors will be charmed by the serenity of her fishing villages and towns.

Read article: Sun and sea, and a little history, too...The Star

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR)

New features are being added to Jalan TAR, like this area dedicated to art

If you are in Kuala Lumpur, do make a trip to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman or popularly referred to by locals as Jalan TAR. Jalan TAR, or Batu Road, as it was known in the 1960s, is still very much the city's shopping destination.

It is a colourful place that is popular for its mix of textiles, fabrics and carpets.

Added to these are the sounds of street musicians playing oldies at its sidewalks.

Old “stalwarts'' like Central Shoe, P. Lal Store, Coliseum, Lee Wong Kee and Tang Ling still make their presence felt as they did years ago.

Central Shoe Sdn Bhd, for instance, on 1.98km is a place to go to for shoppers in search of footwear.

Another familiar name in Jalan TAR is Coliseum, a restaurant that has stood the test of time since 1921. It is busy during lunch hour and is popular for its palatable Western selection.

Another old and familiar outlet is the A&W restaurant, the first fast food chain that opened in 1963.


Coliseum Cinema is a prominent building in Jalan TAR

Picture source: The Star

No points for card payment

By MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR AND CLARA CHOOI
The Star

PUTRAJAYA: There is good news for motorists. They can now continue paying for fuel at petrol stations with their credit cards.

The “not so good” news is that they will no longer be eligible for bonus points when they use their credit cards for fuel purchases.

The move was taken to overcome the credit card stalemate between the banks and petrol station owners.

The Petrol Dealers' Association had earlier threatened to stop accepting payment via credit cards if banks refused to reduce high charges that were eating into their profits.

Read article: No points for card payment...The Star

Prime Minister's wife dies

This is a rare moment of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to the public's eyes as seen here kissing his wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood upon arriving home from work two days before becoming the Prime Minister. Abdullah sworn in as the 5th Prime Minister on 31 October 2003.

Today is a sad day for Malaysians. A sadder day for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

PM's wife dies after bout with breast cancer
From The Star Newsdesk

PUTRAJAYA: The Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood died at 7.55 am today at the Prime Minister's official residence here after fighting a long battle with cancer.

Endon, 64, breathed her last about 18 days after returning from treatment for breast cancer in Los Angeles, United States.

She is survived by two children.

Read full story: PM's wife dies after bout with breast cancer...The Star

A place connected to the first British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch

A diorama at the Time Tunnel on the Pangkor Treaty of 1874 when Raja Muda Abdullah(shown here with songkok)and Governor Andrew Clark(seated,right)met onboard the steamship Pluto

A kampung steeped in history

By MAZNI MUSTAFA
The Star

MENTION Pasir Salak and one will associate this little village, at a remote corner of Perak, as a pivotal piece of the state’s past.

This is where the first British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch, was assassinated – an act which sparked off the war between the British colonial administration and the Malays.

It remains significant in history as the first area where a rebellion was staged against the British rule.

Read full story: A kampung steeped in history...The Star


How to get there

VISITORS can reach Pasir Salak, about 80km from Ipoh, by road.

It takes about 80 minutes via the Ipoh-Lumut Road and visitors will pass through several villages in Bota Kiri.

For a shorter route, visitors can take the Batu Gajah Road and head towards Tanjung Tualang and Kampung Gajah before reaching Pasir Salak in about an hour.

Travelling along this route is also interesting as visitors get to enjoy the scenic view of traditional wooden Perak-styled houses, the padi fields and buffaloes.

Driving is also a breeze on this road as there are fewer vehicles especially lorries, unlike the Ipoh-Lumut Road.

Source: The Star

Greening KL with an orchard park

Another tourist attraction - a new green lung right here in Kuala Lumpur. Not quite like New York's Central Park but no less welcome. Kudos to the Mayor for mooting this idea of an orchard park here in Kuala Lumpur.

Story and photos by CHOW HOW BAN
The Star

INSTEAD of losing greenery to concrete, an unusual development is taking place that will add a new green lung to Kuala Lumpur.

In a recent edition of City Hall's newsletter, City News, Datuk Bandar Datuk Ruslin Hasan said the new green lung, to be created at the site of the former Kampung Delima squatter colony in Jalan Bellamy, Kuala Lumpur, would be called City Orchard Park.


City Hall has erected a signboard to inform the public of the City Orchard Park project



Full story: Greening KL with an orchard park...The Star

Honda counts on new City

By Goh Ee Koon and Keith Hiew
The Star

HONDA Malaysia Sdn Bhd, after introducing its third generation models of City i-DSI and City VTEC cars at a launch in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, has set a combined sales target of 1,000 a month.

Senior sales and marketing manager Zainuddin Taib told StarBiz the target was achievable within the first month as sales for present i-DSI and VTEC models were 870 units per month, with a ratio of six to four.

Managing director and CEO Yasuhide Mizuno unveiled the prices of the two models, with the 1.5-litre i-DSI at RM84,300 compared with the present model's RM81,888, and the 1.5-litre VTEC at RM89,300 compared with RM84,500.

The price increase is generally due to addition of up-to-date safety and emission-control devices.

Full story: Honda counts on new City...The Star

Mandatory inspections of private cars studied

THE Government is seriously considering enacting laws to make it mandatory for private cars to be sent for regular inspections.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the move by financial institutions to require used cars to undergo inspection at Puspakom before approving loans for them had allowed many cut-and-join cars to be discovered.

“I’m sure with mandatory inspection, we will be able to find more such cars,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He said mandatory car inspection was a common practice in developed countries and many NGOs had proposed that it be carried out in Malaysia, too.

Cut-and-join vehicles, where two halves are welded together to make a whole vehicle, are not allowed by the Road Transport Department because they are not roadworthy.

Chan said those who bought used vehicles should send them for inspection even if they were not taking loans.

“This will protect them from buying cut-and-join vehicles.”

Earlier, Chan told the Dewan that the number of cut-and-join vehicles discovered by Puspakom rose from 82 in 2000 to 1,502 between January and August this year.

Source: The Star

Credit card issue at a crossroads

BY YAP LENG KUEN
The Star

IN every story, there are always two sides to the coin. In the current furore over usage of credit cards at petrol stations, it is looking more like a clash of the titans – banks and petroleum companies – on who should bear more of the credit card charge or discount fee.

Both sides are looking at each other – who is making more money and, therefore, would be in a better position to bear more of the costs.

For a fact, the bankers are literally up in arms over this. Their main contention is they have invested heavily in the migration to chip cards and other related technology. They also pay for loyalty programmes and fund customers.

Both the banks and petroleum companies have shareholders to take care of. It would be equitable if both parties can come up with a compromise in the interest of corporate responsibility.

A follow-up meeting between all parties concerned is scheduled for next week with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry. In response to a StarBiz query, the Shell Malaysia retail division said: “Shell would like to reassure the Malaysian motoring public that customer convenience and service standards at Shell retail stations nationwide remain optimum and will not be compromised.’’

The bankers said they were still committed in providing convenience to customers but just wanted to see some adequate returns.

Read full story: Credit card issue at a crossroads...The Star

Deepavali

Deepavali, a Hindu festival, is just around the corner. It's on November 1 to be exact. So if you're looking to buy clothes and other good stuff, why not head over to Klang to Little India as it is called.


So crowded is Little India during this period that there is hardly enough room to walk easily

Little India abuzz again

By EDWARD RAJENDRA
Photos by K.K. SHAM
The Star

There are sarees, salwar kameez, kurta, ghara cholis, children’s clothing, jewellery, Indian food, sweets and handicraft of various kinds.

The street in Jalan Tengku Kelana is filled with the sound, aroma and colours of Deepavali.

The heady smell of curry powder permeates the street, mingling with that of incense sticks and flowers, especially Jasmine.

Read article: Little India abuzz again...The Star

Prepaid phone user registration begins

PENANG: The registration of prepaid cellphone users in the country has begun.

The exercise started here on Oct 1 and 2, with the registration of new prepaid account holders under a three-month pilot programme.

The programme kicked off with a two-day roadshow in Plaza Gurney here, hosted by the country’s three cellular service providers – Maxis Communications Bhd, Celcom (M) Bhd, and DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.

A similar event will be held at the Mahkota Parade in Malacca on Oct 8 and 9.

Existing prepaid users in every state are encouraged to register now, although actual nationwide registrations will only begin in January, next year.

To register, go to any authorised service centre, agent or dealer with your phone and identity card – or some other official document of identification – and fill up a form.

The Government is making it compulsory for users to register in order to prevent abuse of prepaid cellphone accounts.
Source: The Star