Samster Gathering JB

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR dated 8 December 2013 :-

Pay up or face the music, errant S’pore drivers warned

JOHOR BARU: Police are on the lookout for errant Singaporean drivers with outstanding summonses under the Ops Cantas Khas Trafik.

State police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said 10 warrants had been issued so far against such drivers from the republic.

He said Singapore police would also be notified to help with the search.

“We will use all means to track them down. We will also be setting up roadblocks along highways, major trunk roads and at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quaran­tine complex (CIQ),” he told reporters after opening the state level crime awareness day at Tesco Tebrau here yesterday.

He also warned Singaporean drivers who had received traffic summonses over the years to pay their fines or be prepared to face the music.

Since Ops Cantas Khas Trafik was launched in the state on Nov 25, police have collected almost RM150,000 in fines from traffic offenders.

“We will continue to conduct operations to find errant drivers and suspected criminals,” he said.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[WeChatEscort]

Wishing All Members in SammyboyForum Merry Christmas

[Kalv]

Wishing all












A Very
























2013

[Kalv]

[KatoeyLover69]

Happy New Year 2014 !

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/x/...COVCZf56w9.jpg

[KatoeyLover69]

Move to ease congestion at Johor checkpoints

JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) : Discussions are taking place between the Johor government and the state Immigration Department on ways to resolve the infamous congestion at the Johor Causeway Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex and the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.

State executive councillor for tourism Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the Johor authorities were well aware of the plight and grouses of those who used the entry and exit points connecting Malaysia and Singapore.

The congestions, he said, had persisted for many years.

"The Immigration Department will hire more staff to be placed at both checkpoints, improve infrastructure and open all lanes during peak hours and holiday seasons," he said at a press conference at the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Qua­rantine complex (CIQ) here on Wednesday.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Massive traffic congestion, acute shortage of hotels in JB

JOHOR BARU - Discussions are taking place between the Johor government and the state Immigration Department on ways to resolve the infamous congestion at the Johor Causeway Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex and the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.

State executive councillor for tourism Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the Johor authorities were well aware of the plight and grouses of those who used the entry and exit points connecting Malaysia and Singapore.

The congestions, he said, had persisted for many years.

"The Immigration Department will hire more staff to be placed at both checkpoints, improve infrastructure and open all lanes during peak hours and holiday seasons," he said at a press conference at the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Qua­rantine complex (CIQ) here on Wednesday.

Tee said that 10.2 million vehicles and 38.2 million visitors passed through the causeway in 2011. The number jumped to 11 million vehicles and 51.5 million visitors the following year.

"Up to October last year, we recorded 9.6 million vehicles and 19.8 million visitors using the Causeway," he said, adding that the figures reflected the severity of the congestion at the Causeway.

Tee also said that Johor needed 11,550 new hotel rooms from now until 2017, as the existing 14,450 rooms were insufficient in meeting the needs of domestic and foreign visitors to Johor.

He said the opening of Legoland Theme Park Malaysia, Puteri Harbour Indoor Family Theme Park in Nusajaya and Johor Premium Outlets (JPO) in Kulaijaya in recent years had boosted the state tourism industry.

"Work is already taking place in Desaru in Kota Tinggi to position and develop it as a leading tourism hub in the southern region with world class hotels and water theme parks," said Tee.

The opening of the Freeport Retail Outlet in Malacca, offering discounted branded fashion items next year, would not be a threat to JPO as both catered for different segments of shoppers, he said.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from AFP dated 16 January 2014 :-

More than two drinks a day could speed memory loss: Study

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Men who consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day while in middle age may speed up their memory loss in later life by up to six years, said a study on Wednesday.

However, there were no differences in memory or mental function between non-drinkers and those who drank less than two drinks, or 20g per day, said the findings in the journal Neurology.

For the study, more than 5,000 middle-aged men were interviewed about their drinking habits three times over 10 years.

Then, they underwent memory and other cognitive tests beginning at an average age of 56. These tests were repeated twice over the next 10 years.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[nicklite]

Originally Posted by magical

All bros,

We have a samster's gathering in Singapore (TCSSGL) and also a samster gathering in KL.

Why dun we also have a samster gathering in JB. Any bro out here in JB game enough to organise one..., I confirm my attendence.

Maybe a senior samster can volunteer!

Cheers,

Hi Bro,

Can i join?

I had been visiting blue wave, grand paragon and Nyny alot of time.

[kaye2]

I'm in JB too, don't mind a TCSS session

[KatoeyLover69]

ALL Singaporeans who fill up petrol in their cars in JB/Malaysia, please read the following WARNING :-

Report from The New Paper (Singapore ) dated 27 January 2014 :-

Mechanics say tilting car to fill more petrol can be dangerous

A photo of a man filling up his tilted Singapore-registered car at a petrol station in Johor Baru has gone viral in online forums on both sides of the Causeway.

The picture, initially posted and edited on a Malaysian forum, had captions in Chinese describing the man as "silly" and a "cheapskate" for jacking up the rear of his car just to get a few extra dollars' worth of petrol.

The photo on citizen journalism website Stomp has more than 46,000 views and almost 100 comments.

Netizens in Singapore forums mocked his unorthodox method, with some saying they were embarrassed with his actions while others defended him, saying he had done nothing wrong.

Car mechanics told The New Paper that his method would not increase the intake of petrol into his car.

One of them, Mr Hanafi Othman, 32, said he has never seen it in his 12 years in the industry and described it as "quite crazy".

"Jacking up the car would not make any difference," he said.

"Maybe the idea was to let the air escape from the petrol tank to create more space, but I doubt there would be any noticeable difference.

"If he fills up the tank to the brim before removing the jack to lower his car, some petrol might spill out, which could be dangerous."

Another mechanic, who wanted to be known only as Mr S.H., has seen this method before but agrees that it might do more harm than good.

The mechanic, who is in his 40s and has six years of experience, said: "Filling up this way might cause uneven weight distribution to the car and loosen screws and bolts underneath the car.

"The method does not work at all."

TNP had in the past reported on other Singaporeans jacking their vehicles in attempts to get their money's worth at petrol stations across the Causeway.

Drivers were seen filling up after tilting their car with a wooden ramp. To gain a further saving of just over $1, these drivers even filled their tanks to the brim, putting themselves at risk.

Mova Automotive service adviser Luqman Nurhakim, 29, said: "Filling fuel tanks to the brim might cause the petrol to flow out and pose potential danger. It is best not to overfill."

Myths
Other fuel-efficiency myths that car mechanics have heard of include rocking the vehicle while pumping petrol and filling up in the morning when underground petrol storage tanks are cooler, thus producing denser petrol.

Both methods, however, are either myths or produce minimal increments in the amount.

Mr Luqman said: "Rocking the vehicle till the tank overflows and filling the tank to the brim again afterwards or jacking the car up can squeeze in only about 1 litre more of petrol.

"Petrol storage tanks are very insulated so there won't be any huge temperature differences no matter the time of day," Mr Luqman said.

"A definite way to save money on petrol would be to take care of the vehicle's engine, cutting down on excessive braking and sending the vehicle for regular maintenance."
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[Kalv]

Wishing You


A


Happy & Prosperous



Chinese New Year


























Year of the Horse









2014

[KatoeyLover69]

Ringgit falls to fresh record low of RM2.624 against Singapore dollar

The Malaysian ringgit hit a fresh record low against the Singapore dollar this week as several regional currencies continue to stay weak, which analysts attributed to capital outflows from emerging markets to developed markets.

The Straits Times reported that just three days after softening to an all-time low of RM2.622 against the Singdollar last Thursday, the ringgit fell further to RM2.624 at the start of this week.

It was hovering around RM2.6207 yesterday, said the republic's authoritative newspaper.

The ringgit's persistent weakness was not so much due to the Singdollar gaining strength, but rather a massive outflow of capital from the emerging markets back to developed markets, experts told broadsheet.

"Overall, in terms of fiscal and financial strength, (Singapore) is perceived to be stronger, so our currency has held up better and it looks as if the ringgit has been weakening against the Singdollar," Fundsupermart general manager Wong Sui Jau was quoted as saying.

Oanda currency analyst Wu Mingze agreed, telling The Straits Times: "In terms of fundamentals, Malaysia is not looking great, but it's not that bad either compared to Thailand, the Philippines, or Vietnam."

He added that despite coming close to a current account deficit in the middle of last year, Malaysia's trade surplus had been improving, which would help to keep its current account in the black.

The outflow of capital has hit emerging market currencies, with the Thai baht and Indonesian rupiah among those particularly hard-hit.

One Singdollar was trading at 26.86 Thai baht yesterday evening. It was also equal to 9,611 Indonesian rupiah.

It was hard to say how long the volatility will last or how low the currencies could go, the analysts added.

However, judging by past market swings, Wu said it was likely that Malaysia's central bank would intervene if the ringgit depreciates to as low as RM3.80 against the US dollar.

Today, one US dollar buys about RM3.33.

But Asian currencies would have to ride out the volatility until confidence returns, said Wong. "When we will hit bottom, it's hard to say. But confidence will return and the rebound could be quite fast."

Companies said the weak ringgit has not affected business much.

Mike Lim, executive director of bottling firm Dr Who, which imports some material from across the Causeway, said the weaker ringgit was a cushion against general rising costs in Malaysia. "But we don't expect it to stay weak very long," he said. – February 7, 2014.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The New Straits Times dated 11 February 2014 :-

Homestay catches on in towns in Johor

SIMPLE: Most clients only need a three-room facility with air-conditioning system, a kitchen and television set, preferably with Astro programme

JOHOR BARU: IN the past, the homestay programme was specially created to cater to tourists who want a taste of local life, especially in rural areas, when touring the country.

However, it has acquired a new meaning these days.

Today, the homestay programme is commonly found in urban housing estates to fulfil the needs of domestic tourists who travel with big families and need a big yet reasonably-priced accommodation.

Although the daily rate could be as high as a standard room in a two- or three-star hotel, the upside is that the rental is for the whole house which comes with a range of basic facilities.

Such a trend is popular among visitors to Iskandar Malaysia since it solves the question of the lack of hotel rooms in the area.

It was reported that Johor needs another 11,550 new hotel rooms between now and 2017, as the existing 14,450 hotel rooms were insufficient in meeting the needs of domestic and foreign visitors to Johor.

Mohd Taufik Ibrahim, who has turned his single-storey terrace house in Bandar Baru Uda (BBU) into a homestay, said there is a huge demand for urban homestay, especially during the weekends and public holidays.

"A big family of eight, for example, will need at least two to three hotel rooms, provided they are willing to squeeze a bit. That will easily cost them about RM500 or even more.

"Urban homestay helps solve their problem, and yet enables them to stay in comfort like in their own home," he said.

Taufik charges RM200 a night. He also offers weekly and monthly stays. Beside using outdoor signages, Mohd Taufik also advertises his services online.

In the past, he rented his house to factory workers for a mere RM600. Even then, rental collection was a big problem.

After converting the house into a homestay, he earns more and has less bad debts as he collects cash payment when visitors check in.

In BBU, at least two dozens houses have been converted into homestays. The area is among the many housing estates here which offer the facility.

Another homestay operator, Faridah Maimunah, said she had renovated her apartment in Tampoi for homestay a year ago.

"Initially, I advertised in the newspapers.

"Later, through word of mouth, I enjoy a regular clientele," she said, adding that homestay in apartments caters to those who prefer high-rises with swimming pool.

According to homestay operators, most clients only need a three-room facility, complete with air-conditioning system, kitchen and television, preferably with Astro programme.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Straits Times ( Singapore ) dated 17 February 2014 :-

Singapore firms, residents take advantage of falling ringgit

Shoppers, property buyers and companies here with dealings over the Causeway are all counting the gains from the record lows plumbed by Malaysia's ringgit against the Singapore dollar.

For instance, property buyers are looking to pay down ringgit denominated loans faster to capitalise on the exchange rate.

And shoppers, already attracted by the bargains in Johor Baru, are finding their Singdollars going even further now.

The Malaysian currency fell to an all-time low of RM2.6287 against the Singdollar last Monday, following previous record nadirs earlier this month.
----- KatoeyNewsNetwork