Dr M: No need for high-speed rail in M'sia, yet [NSTTV]
Malaysia does not yet need a high-speed train service, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.
“At the moment, a high-speed train (service) is not really necessary for Malaysia, especially as it is only within Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
“Later on, we might need a high-speed train from Johor Baru to Penang or even to the Thai border. So, we will not build the high-speed train yet,” he told reporters after launching local rail engineering innovation exhibition and technology showcase, or TECHNOMART.
Instead, Dr Mahathir said, the government was more keen on improving the existing railway services.
“We want to improve the quality of service given by our railway system, and that has been done to some extent, by double tracking and electrification.”
The prime minister, however, said Malaysia would go back to the discussion table with Singapore within two years to discuss the High-Speed Rail project.
“We have spoken to Singapore. For the time being, we are not going to build (the high-speed rail). We (have) asked for two years before we begin talks again.
“(For) the HSR at the moment, we are not giving out any contracts but we have had to compensate to Singapore earlier.”
Dr Mahathir was also asked whether Singapore would be agreeable to the idea of the HSR being connected to the Thai border.
“No, I don’t think they will consider. We only think about Kuala Lumpur.”
On the possibility of having an HSR alignment from Johor Baru to Penang, the prime minister said eventually, Malaysia would need such an alignment.
“When the time comes. We are not yet in need of such an alignment. Eventually, we will need it.”
On Sept 5, 2018, Singapore agreed to suspend the construction of the project until the end of May 2020.
As a result of Malaysia’s request for the deferment, it agreed to pay an abortive cost of S$15 million (RM45.6 million) to Singapore by Jan 31 of this year.
Dr Mahathir also said Malaysians had begun to appreciate using the railway system, which had improved over time.
He said some Malaysians would rather use the existing railway services than driving and facing traffic jams.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Monday, April 15, 2019
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Malaysia, Indonesia tie for top spot among Muslim-friendly travel destinations
Malaysia, Indonesia tie for top spot among Muslim-friendly travel destinations
Malaysia has taken the top spot in the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for the ninth year in a row, but for the first time it is sharing that position with Indonesia.
The GMTI 2019 report, which includes 130 destinations globally, gave both countries a score of 78.
In a joint statement today, MasterCard and CrescentRating said Indonesia had climbed from second place to the top spot through sustained efforts by the country’s Tourism Ministry to invest in its tourism and travel industry, and develop Muslim-tourist friendly infrastructure.
The rest of the top 10 countries are Turkey (score of 75), Saudi Arabia (72), United Arab Emirates (71), Qatar (68), Morocco (67), Bahrain (66), Oman (66) and Brunei (65).
In a joint statement today, MasterCard and CrescentRating said Indonesia had climbed from second place to the top spot through sustained efforts by the country’s Tourism Ministry to invest in its tourism and travel industry, and develop Muslim-tourist friendly infrastructure.
Last year, Malaysia received a score of 80.6 while Indonesia tied with the United Arab Emirates with a score of 72.8.
Singapore remains the premier Muslim-friendly travel destination among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations this year, followed by Thailand, the United Kingdom, Japan and Taiwan.
The index tracks the health and growth of Muslim-friendly travel destinations in four strategic areas – access, communications, environment and services. — BERNAMA
Malaysia has taken the top spot in the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for the ninth year in a row, but for the first time it is sharing that position with Indonesia.
The GMTI 2019 report, which includes 130 destinations globally, gave both countries a score of 78.
In a joint statement today, MasterCard and CrescentRating said Indonesia had climbed from second place to the top spot through sustained efforts by the country’s Tourism Ministry to invest in its tourism and travel industry, and develop Muslim-tourist friendly infrastructure.
The rest of the top 10 countries are Turkey (score of 75), Saudi Arabia (72), United Arab Emirates (71), Qatar (68), Morocco (67), Bahrain (66), Oman (66) and Brunei (65).
In a joint statement today, MasterCard and CrescentRating said Indonesia had climbed from second place to the top spot through sustained efforts by the country’s Tourism Ministry to invest in its tourism and travel industry, and develop Muslim-tourist friendly infrastructure.
Last year, Malaysia received a score of 80.6 while Indonesia tied with the United Arab Emirates with a score of 72.8.
Singapore remains the premier Muslim-friendly travel destination among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations this year, followed by Thailand, the United Kingdom, Japan and Taiwan.
The index tracks the health and growth of Muslim-friendly travel destinations in four strategic areas – access, communications, environment and services. — BERNAMA
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Be prepared to pay a departure levy
Flying out of the country? Be prepared to pay a departure levy
Anyone flying out the country will have to pay a fee when the Departure Levy Bill 2019 is passed in Parliament.
The Bill tabled by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (pic) for its first reading on Monday (April 8) seeks the implementation of a new levy on any person leaving Malaysia.
However, the amount of the proposed levy was not mentioned in the Bill.
In Budget 2019, the government had proposed a departure levy of RM20 for Asean countries and RM40 for non-Asean countries.
The Bill also proposes hefty punishments for those who avoid paying the levy.
Any registered person who makes an incorrect return or information can face a fine not exceeding RM500,000, a three-year jail term or both, upon sentencing.
According to the Bill, a registered person means any operator or agent of foreign operators.
The Bill also states that anyone with the intent to evade or assist another to avoid the departure levy will also be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1mil, a five-year jail sentence or both upon sentencing.
The proposed Act also states that any person who in any way assaults, obstructs, hinders, threatens or molests a Customs officer in the discharge of his function or fails to give reasonable assistance to any Customs offer will also be liable to a maximum three-year jail term, a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or both if found guilty.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Anyone flying out the country will have to pay a fee when the Departure Levy Bill 2019 is passed in Parliament.
The Bill tabled by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (pic) for its first reading on Monday (April 8) seeks the implementation of a new levy on any person leaving Malaysia.
However, the amount of the proposed levy was not mentioned in the Bill.
In Budget 2019, the government had proposed a departure levy of RM20 for Asean countries and RM40 for non-Asean countries.
The Bill also proposes hefty punishments for those who avoid paying the levy.
Any registered person who makes an incorrect return or information can face a fine not exceeding RM500,000, a three-year jail term or both, upon sentencing.
According to the Bill, a registered person means any operator or agent of foreign operators.
The Bill also states that anyone with the intent to evade or assist another to avoid the departure levy will also be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1mil, a five-year jail sentence or both upon sentencing.
The proposed Act also states that any person who in any way assaults, obstructs, hinders, threatens or molests a Customs officer in the discharge of his function or fails to give reasonable assistance to any Customs offer will also be liable to a maximum three-year jail term, a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or both if found guilty.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Monday, April 8, 2019
TripAdvisor to aid tourism
TripAdvisor to aid tourism
The Tourism Ministry will be working with all the industry players and international travel website TripAdvisor to improve the review ratings for the country.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said they would visit every state, starting with Penang after Hari Raya in June.
“In tourism, it is all about the reviews. We want to bring all the industry players and stakeholders together and share the knowledge on how to obtain a higher rating.
“If you are lowly rated, tourists will not visit.
“If people leave bad reviews about the food or the hotel being noisy, the ratings will be low.
“There are many unknown attractions and service providers that are highly-rated although we may not know about them,” he said after handing over certificates to five Malaysia Tourism Quality Assurance 2019 (MyTQA) recipients at Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang on Saturday.
Muhammad Bakhtiar said Gurney Drive last year received low ratings probably due to land reclamation.
“It is rated by the people who went there and for obvious reasons, perhaps after the reclamation, sometimes people were disappointed as they wanted to see the sea.
“TripAdvisor is providing us with big data on why people visit Malaysia so we can figure out a strategy.
“There will be representatives from TripAdvisor joining us to advise the industry players.
Taiping was listed by Green Destinations (GD) as one of its 100 sustainable cities in the world last year.
“This shows that Malaysia has the potential.
“We, however, need to improve our service culture and Malaysian front-liners have to learn how to greet people and give it a personal touch.
“Other countries where English is not their first language have found a way to greet people in a welcoming way,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
The Tourism Ministry will be working with all the industry players and international travel website TripAdvisor to improve the review ratings for the country.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said they would visit every state, starting with Penang after Hari Raya in June.
“In tourism, it is all about the reviews. We want to bring all the industry players and stakeholders together and share the knowledge on how to obtain a higher rating.
“If you are lowly rated, tourists will not visit.
“If people leave bad reviews about the food or the hotel being noisy, the ratings will be low.
“There are many unknown attractions and service providers that are highly-rated although we may not know about them,” he said after handing over certificates to five Malaysia Tourism Quality Assurance 2019 (MyTQA) recipients at Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang on Saturday.
Muhammad Bakhtiar said Gurney Drive last year received low ratings probably due to land reclamation.
“It is rated by the people who went there and for obvious reasons, perhaps after the reclamation, sometimes people were disappointed as they wanted to see the sea.
“TripAdvisor is providing us with big data on why people visit Malaysia so we can figure out a strategy.
“There will be representatives from TripAdvisor joining us to advise the industry players.
Taiping was listed by Green Destinations (GD) as one of its 100 sustainable cities in the world last year.
“This shows that Malaysia has the potential.
“We, however, need to improve our service culture and Malaysian front-liners have to learn how to greet people and give it a personal touch.
“Other countries where English is not their first language have found a way to greet people in a welcoming way,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
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