Hot weather to ease by March end

Hot weather to ease by March end: Met dept

The hot and dry spell in many areas is in the final phase of the monsoon season which is expected to abate by the end of March, said Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.

“It is now the tail end of the northeast monsoon which causes many areas to receive less rain over an extended period, leading to the hot and dry weather,” she said when attending the 2015 message by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, here today.

Che Gayah said the current weather condition had not reached the ‘hot wave’ level and was still categorised as normal with 30 per cent rainfall based on the long term average.

Asked if the temperature of the hot and dry weather was different from last year, she said there was not see much difference with the temperature varying over three degrees Celcius.

The temperature in Malaysia is currently between 33 and 35 degrees Celcius.

Che Gayah said the inter-monsoon season would start in April until mid-May, when states in the peninsula would experience wet weather with thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

She said heavy rain and thunderstorm were common before the southwest monsoon begins from June to September which is the dry and haze season.

Che Gayah said under its standard operating procedure (SOP), the department would only carry out cloud seeding when haze reached the level hazardous to human health.

“The department is always prepared to conduct cloud seeding with private flight companies to overcome the problem. At times, dam operators will also carry out cloud seeding to raise the level of water. If they seek our help, we will be prepared to assist,” she said.



Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail says the hot weather is expected to cool down by the end of March.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Malacca airport a boost for tourism

Malacca airport a boost for tourism

As the entry point by air into the state, the Malacca International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam has become busier since Malindo Air began operations to it last November.

The airport, says the state Exco for Transport and Rehabilitation Projects Datuk Lim Ban Hong, can be the catalyst for boosting Malacca’s tourism industry.

He added that Malindo Air’s five times weekly flights to Penang, Kelantan and Pekan Baru (Indonesia) are a key factor in encouraging the arrival of both local and overseas tourists.

“It includes tourists from Indonesia, particularly Pekan Baru, with Malacca being a medical tourism state now.

“The air entry point is now a very important one for the state and we hope that in time, we will start receiving tourists from other countries such as China,” Lim said.

The LTAM, completed in 2011, has a 2,135 metre runway with a 45 metre clearance for large aircraft, including the Airbus 320.

It started operations on a low key note but seems to have received a new lease of life with Malindo Air’s presence.

Malacca has set a target of 15 million tourist arrivals in the state in 2015 with 120,000 of them being medical tourists seeking specialist treatment at private hospitals.

Lim said the frequency of flights will encourage bigger participation by travel agents in Malacca and also promote it on the international stage as a heritage site.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Happy Chinese New Year 2015

Happy new year 2015

Decorations light up holiday spirit

Decorations light up holiday spirit

FROM small baubles to huge reindeers, Christmas ornaments featuring various themes have over the years livened up the spirit of Christmas in the Portuguese settlement in Ujong Pasir, Banda Hilir, drawing in hundreds and thousands of foreign tourists and local visitors.

Every year, residents go all out to decorate every nook and corner of their houses, from the kitchens right up to their gardens to create a lively Christmas atmosphere.

This year, despite a rather toned-down Christmas decor, the settlement hasn’t failed to mesmerise tourists and local visitors alike, thanks to their legacy in creativity and charm.

A house along Jalan Day was spotted with huge Christmas candies planted just outside the garden and glittering garlands were seen wrapped around the pillars in the porch.

There was also a lighted wooden crib, a colourful gingerbread house and several small Santas on parachutes, hung next to the window.

Corinna De Silva, a 47-year-old resident here, who started decorating her house on Nov 10, said the garlands should be put up first.

“My sister, Frandora De Silva, 46 dislikes using many colours so we always stick to the same colour, using mostly white and a little bit of blue and red in our lighting decorations,” she said.

Corinna added that some technical skills were needed to insert lights into house sculptures, without the protruding wires.

“My brother-in-law Jerry Alcantra and nephew Adam help with the lighting. They put garlands around the decorations so that wires don’t hang out and make it look messy,” she said.

Corinna said decorating the house for Christmas was also a good bonding time among family members.

“It is a feeling that you only get once a year. This is the time when families get together, decorate homes, sing carols — it’s a good bonding session for us,” she said.

Moses Hendricks, 49, said making an extra effort to store the ornaments helps him save cost when it comes to the decorations.

“Every year, I would add some powder to the lights before keeping them in a box.

“This is to prevent the wire coating from becoming sticky,” he said, adding that he reuses the LED lights year after year.

“With the money I save on lighting, I can afford to buy new decorations every year.

This year, I bought two lighted reindeers costing RM500,” he said.

Hendricks, a fisherman, said the Christmas decorations were put up early this month.

“My father John Hendricks, passed away last year at 83, and my mother Margaret Hendricks, 72, is too old to move around.

“When I was not out at sea, I decorated and painted my house in white and green.

“This was followed by other decorations, including trees, lights and other ornaments,” he said.


Corinna De Silva, a resident of Ujong Pasir, decorates her home.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Malindo Air launches Malacca flights

Malindo Air launches Malacca flights

After only two months of discussions with the state government, Malindo Air’s maiden flight from Penang touched down at the Malacca International Airport in Batu Berendam, here, recently.

The flight, which was welcomed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, marks the start of the airline’s five times weekly service from Malacca to Penang and Malacca to Pekanbaru, Indonesia.

Idris said the flights were a good start for the airport, which was only utilised by private flights and the Malaysian Flying Academy, to be turned into a hub for medium and small commercial planes.

He was confident that the flights, initiated by Malindo Air which is an affiliate of Indonesia’s Lion Group, would boost tourism in the state, in particular medical tourism.

“I expect hospitals in the state will benefit the most from the flights initiated by Malindo Air as this will encourage more tourist arrivals for medical purposes,” he said.

He said more commercial flights were expected to operate at the airport as the state government had already carried out discussions with several airline companies.

Idris declined to name the companies but it was previously reported that the state had held discussions with airline companies such as AirAsia, Firefly and Sriwijaya Air.

Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy said the flights depart from Malacca for Penang and Pekanbaru on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

He said bookings start from RM79 all-inclusive for a one-way trip from Malacca to Penang and RM70 all-inclusive, one way from Malacca to Pekanbaru.

“This new flight connection will allow businessmen, frequent commuters and tourists to visit both Malacca and Penang via a quick and comfortable flight without the need to drive long hours.

“Hopefully, through this launch, Malindo Air will pave the way for more inbound and outbound tourism opportunities for Malacca and position the city-state as a popular tourist attraction in Southeast Asia.”

On another matter, Chandran said Malindo Air would begin operating three flights weekly from Malacca to Kota Bahru, Kelantan, on Nov 21.

He said the company aimed to provide daily flights from Malacca to Penang, Malacca to Pekanbaru and Malacca to Kota Bahru within the next six months. By Roshidi Abu Samah


Datuk Seri Idris Haron (left) said the new flights were a good start for Malacca International Airport to be turned into a hub for medium and small commercial planes.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha