SkyscraperCity Forum banner

JOHOR BAHRU (Johor Baharu, Johor Baru & Johore Bahru ) | Johor | District, Royal & State Capital City

2M views 7K replies 348 participants last post by  FaridL 
#1 ·
the Awesome Johor Bahru! 2 is nearly full so i thought i'll open a third thread on JB!!

Lets continue our discussion on JB!! :)
 
#804 ·
City halal chicken processing hub opens
Yiswaree Palansamy
A NEW halal chicken processing centre was opened at the Pandan City Wholesale Market in Tebrau, Johor Baru, recently.


HYGIENIC AND HALAL: Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohammad Naim Nasir (third from left) inspecting a processed bird at the newly-opened chicken processing centre.
The RM17 million centre is jointly run by the Johor Baru City Council, Mahabuilders Sdn Bhd and Triton Worldwide Sdn Bhd.

Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohammad Naim Nasir, who opened the plant, said the centre uses high-end technology from France and its chicken processing procedures were designed to abide by syariah.

He said experienced slaughterers approved by the Johor Islamic Council were hired to ensure the slaughter of chickens followed syariah.


The centre operates up to 12 hours daily.

Its 100 workers had undergone training according to the requirements set by the local and religious authorities, as well as health and veterinary departments.

Naim said the centre was an excellent measure to shut down illegal chicken processing centres in Johor Baru.

"Chicken breeders can now send their birds to the centre to be processed at an affordable rate.

"The centre reflects Johor Baru City Council's seriousness in closing down illegal processing centres and to restore consumers' confidence in the halal status of chicken meat."

He said there are about 20 illegal chicken processing centres in the state capital.


..i like Pandan City Wholesale Market, the best place to buy cheap pirate dvd in malaysia..hehe...
 
#805 ·
Pembeli kecewa pemaju mungkir janji
Oleh Johan Afandi
johan@bharian.com.my

JOHOR BAHRU: Impian segelintir pembeli kediaman di JP Perdana di sini untuk berpindah ke kawasan perumahan mereka awal tahun ini, masih pudar berikutan pemaju didakwa akan melanjutkan tempoh masa menyiapkan projek selama enam bulan sehingga setahun.

Seorang pembeli, Wahida Othman, 35, berkata ratusan pembeli kediaman di projek perumahan itu kecewa apabila pemaju mungkir janji apabila gagal menyiapkan rumah mengikut jadual.

Katanya, projek rumah teres dua tingkat berharga antara RM160,000 dan RM280,000 setiap satu unit dilancarkan pada 2005 dan sepatutnya disiapkan dalam tempoh setahun selepas perjanjian jual beli ditandatangani.



Wahida berkata, projek itu bukan saja terbengkalai, malah menimbulkan pelbagai kesulitan di kalangan pembeli unit kediaman.

“Pembeli hilang sabar kerana selain terpaksa menyewa rumah, mereka juga membayar ansuran bulanan dengan institusi kewangan antara RM800 hingga RM1,000 sebulan sejak 2006.

"Misalnya, bagi keluarga saya, kos menyewa mencecah RM600 sebulan, manakala ansuran bulanan yang perlu dibayar pula RM800 sehingga mengakibatkan beban kewangan kami bertambah,” katanya.

Seorang lagi pembeli, Sazlina Abdul Samad, 26, berkata bukan saja rumah yang diharapkan tidak dapat diduduki, malah struktur rumah di sesetengah fasa projek dibangunkan di tapak berkenaan juga hanya siap 50 peratus.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya sudah beberapa kali bertanya kepada pemaju tetapi kakitangan syarikat itu memberikan pelbagai alasan tidak munasabah .

Katanya, pembeli menjangka projek itu akan disiapkan pada awal tahun ini, namun tindakan pemaju menangguhkan tempoh selama beberapa bulan menimbulkan tekanan.
 
#806 ·
Pengguna kecewa tren JB-Singapura lewat


Ekspres Timuran melalui kawasan Hentian Danga City Mall di Johor Bahru, kelmarin.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



JOHOR BAHRU 6 Jan. - Perkhidmatan tren ulang-alik menghubungkan Johor Bahru- Singapura yang mula beroperasi semalam nyata mengecewakan pengguna kerana ia tiba lewat satu setengah jam daripada jadual.

Tinjauan Utusan Malaysia di Hentian Danga City Mall semalam mendapati, jadual tren yang sepatutnya tiba di situ pukul 9.37 pagi hanya sampai pada pukul 11 pagi.

Seorang warga emas, Teng Yen Thong, 70, mengakui dia pada mulanya 'bersemangat' untuk menggunakan perkhidmatan baru itu, namun akhirnya kecewa dengan kelewatan tersebut.

"Saya sudah janji dengan anak untuk ambil saya di Tanjung Pagar, Singapura untuk sambut hari lahir cucu yang berumur lapan tahun.

"Sekarang sudah lewat lebih sejam, mana boleh macam ini," katanya yang merupakan seorang ahli perniagaan di bandar raya ini.

Seorang peniaga restoran, Koo Yoke Twee, 50, berkata, dia juga rasa bersalah kerana mengajak dua lagi rakannya untuk melancong ke Singapura dengan menggunakan perkhidmatan tren itu.

"Saya baca dalam surat khabar tentang perkhidmatan ini, sangat senang naik kereta api ke Singapura cuma RM3, 'parking' pun percuma.

"Ingatkan nak cepat, tapi jadi lagi lambat, kasihan kawan saya," katanya.

Seorang suri rumah, Zunaidah Andrawoo, 39, pula meminta Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) memperbaiki perkhidmatan tren tersebut bagi memberi keselesaan pengguna.

"Selain itu, papan tanda sepatutnya dibuat lebih besar supaya mudah nampak dan di sini langsung tiada tempat duduk untuk penumpang menunggu.

"Eskalator juga tidak disediakan sedangkan tangga untuk turun ke hentian adalah setinggi tiga tingkat dan yang paling penting ketepatan masa," katanya yang tinggal di Jalan Tampoi di sini.

Katanya, kemudahan untuk orang kurang upaya (OKU) juga tidak disediakan selain ruang menunggu agak sempit.

Mengenai perkhidmatan tren berkenaan, ia akan singgah di Hentian Danga City Mall sebanyak 10 perjalanan iaitu lima dari Tanjung Pagar-Woodlands-Danga City Mall- Kempas Baru dan lima lagi bagi perjalanan sebaliknya.

Tambang dikenakan bagi perjalanan dari negeri ini adalah RM3, manakala S$3 dari Singapura ke sini.

Jadual perjalanan dari Danga City Mall ke Singapura adalah pada pukul 5.10 pagi, 9.37 pagi, 2.19 petang, 6.50 petang dan 8.08 malam, manakala jadual dari Singapura ke Danga City Mall adalah pukul 5.35 pagi, 7.40 pagi, 2 petang, 7.10 malam dan 10 malam.

Sementara itu, Pegawai Operasi Selatan KTMB Johor Bahru, Khadir Khalid berkata, kelewatan berlaku kerana perkhidmatan tren itu terpaksa memberi laluan kepada Ekspres Timuran yang melalui laluan sama.

"Ekspres Timuran dari pantai timur menghadapi kelewatan kerana terpaksa mengurangkan kelajuan di kawasan berisiko berlaku tanah runtuh terutamanya antara laluan Kuala Lipis dan Kerambit.

"Disebabkan menggunakan laluan sama, perkhidmatan tren ulang-alik yang bertolak dari Gemas terpaksa menunggu di Segamat bagi memberi laluan kepada Ekspres Timuran," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia.
 
#808 ·
Johor to relocate squatters


JOHOR BARU: Close to 5,000 riverside squatters living within the multi-billion ringgit Iskandar Malaysia project will be relocated over the next three years.

The move is aimed at cleaning up several rivers in the state, which have become polluted as squatters often use the waterways as dumping grounds. They do not have access to waste disposal due to their status.

Of the squatters targeted, 2,900 live along Sungai Tebrau and 2,000 in Skudai.

Iskandar executive director Ha**run Johari said the first phase of the project would begin this year and be completed within three years, and the squatters would be relocated in phases.

Construction work to house the 2,000 Sungai Skudai settlers would also begin at the same time and be completed in about four years.

He was speaking to the media after a briefing on the latest developments under the project at the Is**kandar Regional Development Of**fice.

At the briefing, attended by some 20 members of the press, Harun and Iskandar Technical and Projects division head Zainol Ra**shid Zainuddin were bombarded with a host of questions.

These included questions on how to resolve the problems that cropped up since the opening of the new Customs, Immigration and Qua*rantine complex.
 
#809 ·
Lorry protest creates a jam


JOHOR BARU: More than 100 lorry drivers caused a massive traffic jam at the Inner Ring road in the city when they parked their vehicles near the Tanjung Puteri Customs Complex here yesterday.

The two-hour protest from about 10am yesterday was against enforcement by Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers on overloading since Jan 1. They dispersed after talks with police and JPJ officials.


Making a stand: Lorries and trailers parked along the Inner Ring road near the Tanjong Puteri Customs complex disrupted traffic in the area for a good two hours. - Bernama

Lorry operator Andrew Chia, 40, said he had 30 lorries but only 10 drivers willing to work.

“My drivers have received at least eight summonses since the operations started.

“I am still not sure of how much they totalled but the summonses ranged between RM1,000 and RM10,000 each,” he said.

Chia said they had to overload because the factory operators had forced them to do so.

He also said that the enforcement was “unfair” as it only involved lorries leaving Malaysia but not those entering the country.

Lorry driver Md Amri Ahmad, 29, said that the enforcement had affected his income.

“My income is based on the number of trips I make each day, and the implementation of the ruling had caused traffic jams that delayed my journeys,” he said.

Johor JPJ director Rosly Ramly said the operation was part of their duties.

“We received information from the public that many roads are damaged due to overloaded lorries,” he said.

He added that they were ready to discuss with the lorry operators about their problems and that the protest should not have occurred.

“Such protests only cause inconvenience to the other road users,” he said.

Since Jan 1, 319 out of 531 lorries inspected were found to be overloaded.

However, Johor Lorry Operators’ Association president Leow Hock Tiap said the association was not involved in the protest and that it was organised by individuals.

Leow urged the Government to increase the vehicle’s load weight by 30% to help ease their burden following a drop in business due to the economic downturn.

Currently, the approved weight is between eight and 10 tonnes per axle, depending on the size of the vehicle.

“This is lower than the international standard of 11 tonnes, and we hope the Government can make the adjustment accordingly,” he said.

Leow also urged JPJ to be more lenient during the Chinese New Year period.
 
#810 ·
Lorry protest creates a jam


JOHOR BARU: More than 100 lorry drivers caused a massive traffic jam at the Inner Ring road in the city when they parked their vehicles near the Tanjung Puteri Customs Complex here yesterday.

The two-hour protest from about 10am yesterday was against enforcement by Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers on overloading since Jan 1. They dispersed after talks with police and JPJ officials.


Making a stand: Lorries and trailers parked along the Inner Ring road near the Tanjong Puteri Customs complex disrupted traffic in the area for a good two hours. - Bernama

Lorry operator Andrew Chia, 40, said he had 30 lorries but only 10 drivers willing to work.

“My drivers have received at least eight summonses since the operations started.

“I am still not sure of how much they totalled but the summonses ranged between RM1,000 and RM10,000 each,” he said.

Chia said they had to overload because the factory operators had forced them to do so.

He also said that the enforcement was “unfair” as it only involved lorries leaving Malaysia but not those entering the country.

Lorry driver Md Amri Ahmad, 29, said that the enforcement had affected his income.

“My income is based on the number of trips I make each day, and the implementation of the ruling had caused traffic jams that delayed my journeys,” he said.

Johor JPJ director Rosly Ramly said the operation was part of their duties.

“We received information from the public that many roads are damaged due to overloaded lorries,” he said.

He added that they were ready to discuss with the lorry operators about their problems and that the protest should not have occurred.

“Such protests only cause inconvenience to the other road users,” he said.

Since Jan 1, 319 out of 531 lorries inspected were found to be overloaded.

However, Johor Lorry Operators’ Association president Leow Hock Tiap said the association was not involved in the protest and that it was organised by individuals.

Leow urged the Government to increase the vehicle’s load weight by 30% to help ease their burden following a drop in business due to the economic downturn.

Currently, the approved weight is between eight and 10 tonnes per axle, depending on the size of the vehicle.

“This is lower than the international standard of 11 tonnes, and we hope the Government can make the adjustment accordingly,” he said.

Leow also urged JPJ to be more lenient during the Chinese New Year period.
 
#811 ·
JB needs to reclaim its ‘soul’
Satiman Jamin
“BECAUSE it’s there!”

That was the response from British mountaineer, the late George Leigh Mallory, when asked in 1924 why he wanted to climb Mount Everest.


ALL GONE: Jalan Wong Ah Fook is a lonely place at night since the opening of the new CIQ building. It was once the centre of various activities.


DESERTED: Beautiful Segget Walk, now empty, could be a venue for street vendors.
Those three words became famous as he followed his heart’s desire despite the obstacles he faced.

Johor Baru would do well to take heed of the wisdom behind Mallory’s response if it does not want to be reduced to a “hollow” devoid of any soul.

There are lots of empty streets in Johor Baru these days after the opening of the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) or the Sultan Iskandar Building.


Motorists no longer have to use the city roads to travel to and from Singapore.

Newspaper reports highlighting the laments of restaurant and sundry shop owners whose businesses had been reduced by as much as 70 per cent since the change of route to the Causeway, reminded me of something similar 16 years ago.

It was the early 1990s and the North-South Highway was nearing completion, linking Bukit Kayu Hitam in the north to Johor Baru in the south.

About a year before the completion, there were similar stories about the fears of Air Hitam residents of their town being bypassed by motorists using the new highway.

The town, bordering Batu Pahat and Kluang, was already a well-known stopover for travellers, for its pottery, agriculture and souvenir products.

Their fears, however, were unfounded with the continued growth of the town and today even motorists from outside Johor take detours from the highway to shop there.

What the doomsayers had failed to take into account was that Air Hitam had its own attractions and people go there to get the unique shopping experience that it offers, never mind which road they have to take to get there.

The vibrancy of Air Hitam had seen the highway taking the role of an important lifeline instead of a noose that choked the breath out of it.

When Johor Baru went from bustling to almost empty overnight after traffic was diverted to the new route, it pointed to the stark reality that the city had no attraction to call its own.

It was obvious that the crowds were there previously just out of convenience as it was right smack on their route.

If it had its own attractions, motorists would not mind taking detours to get to the city centre, just like Air Hitam.

It was not surprising that the rows of tin-roofed stalls of farmers selling their produce in Air Hitam could do better, than the fancy buildings with intricately paved sidewalks of Johor Baru in attracting people.

It was simply because Air Hitam had “soul”.

Johor Baru was also vibrant once, when the people were the soul of the place and their daily life was the heartbeat of the city.

However, it became totally dependent on floating communities to lend it some life after the city centre inhabitants were relocated elsewhere with the demolition of the Bukit Chagar and Lumba Kuda flats.

Long before the demolition of the flats, communities like the Jalan Datuk Dalam squatters were evicted when the bus terminal moved to Larkin.

Those were the people who lived in Johor Baru and made the city alive, as intended by the late Sultan Abu Bakar when he founded the city more than a century ago.

Thus, without its own citizens, the city became dependent on visitors to keep it alive but the artery that led them here was severed by the new CIQ building.

It was good that the authorities had taken the trouble to organise events like the Johor Baru Arts Festival but without the involvement of the communities, the events become exposed as one-off implants instead of becoming a culture of its citizens.

Segget Walk, touted to be an attraction when it was opened and said to be a modern promenade with exciting entertainment and refreshment kiosks, is now almost deserted.

Street vendors selling all sorts of trinkets and second hand goods could play a part in attracting visitors to the city if the Johor Baru City Council could issue licences to them to ply their trade in designated areas within the Segget Walk.

These traders could well be the nucleus to make Segget Walk into something like Lorong Kulit in Penang which is well known for classic and antique items sold by street vendors.

MBJB has to admit that the street vendors have their own customers, which was why they persisted despite frequent raids.

The first step to overcome a problem is to acknowledge that it exists as it will only get bigger if treated with denials.

So, quo vadis JB?
 
#812 ·
Daiman Development undeterred
By Racheal Lee Mei Nyee
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


While other property developers may have delayed their development projects or product launches in view of the global financial crisis, Daiman Development Bhd decided to go ahead with some of its launches for 2009 but on a smaller scale by offering only a limited number of units for sale.
The Johor-based developer has all its projects in the southern region of the state. Its general manager Siah Chin Leong tells City & Country that Daiman, like other developers, is taking a cautious approach in its sales and marketing strategy.
The developer hopes to initiate new products in both its Taman Gaya and Taman Daiman Jaya projects in Johor by mid-2009, depending on how the economic situation turns out in the next couple of months. "This time, we will launch only a few units instead of all the units available. We will open the remaining units if the response is good," says Siah.
Taman Gaya, which is about 13km from Johor Baru, is a freehold 459-acre residential area along the Tebrau corridor within the Iskandar Development Region (IDR). Taman Gaya has a total gross development value (GDV) of RM34.8 million, and Daiman plans to build 87 units of 2-storey cluster houses. However, Siah says the company intends to initially offer only 59 units, which has a built-up of between 2,347 sq ft and 2,467 sq ft each, at about RM170 psf.
"Four years ago, we launched 128 units of 2-storey cluster houses in a gated and guarded enclave here. They have all been completed and the response has been positive, with only 14 units left. But with the current financial turmoil, we have to be cautious about our next launch," adds Siah.
The developer also sees good response from the shop offices in the residential area. Out of 118 units launched in 2007, only eight remain unsold.
To date, Daiman has launched 2-storey terraced houses of different built-up sizes, 1-storey terraced homes and low medium-cost flats in Taman Gaya.
Besides the cluster houses, also in the works are some 76 units of 2-storey semi-detached houses with a total GDV of RM41.8 million. Similarly, the developer does not intend to put up all the semidees for sale during its scheduled launch in 1H2009. Instead it plans to put on the market only 26 units with a built-up of 3,039 sq ft at an indicative price of RM181 psf.
According to Siah, most of its customers are locals buying the houses for their own use and that Daiman has not been affected when the neighbouring Singapore fell into technical recession in October.
Over in the 950-acre integrated township of Taman Daiman Jaya in Kota Tinggi, the developer plans to launch 2-storey cluster houses with a built-up of 2,150 sq ft although it has yet to decide on the selling price.
Meanwhile, Daiman is constructing a commercial building for lease to Econsave Supermarket in the Taman Daiman Jaya township. Expected to be completed next year, the building has a net lettable area of more than 70,000 sq ft.
Although sales have currently slowed down, earlier residential launches in Taman Daiman Jaya had received good response. "We launched some 120 units of single-storey terraced houses for a total GDV of RM20 million in Taman Daiman Jaya in June 2008. The houses, with a built-up area of 1,212 sq ft, were priced at about RM148,000 for each intermediate lot," says Siah.
"The response was very good and some 60% to 70% have been sold. Three months later, we launched another 40 units of 1-storey terraced houses at a higher price of RM158,000 due to the higher cost of construction. Sales slowed down following the higher selling price," adds Siah.
Some 60 units of shop offices launched in Taman Daiman Jaya early 2008 have also received positive response. Out of the 38 non-bumiputera units, 26 units have been sold. The shop offices have a total GDV of RM25.5 million. An intermediate lot has a built-up of 3,840 sq ft and is priced at RM104 psf or RM398,000 per unit.
Daiman has a total land bank of over 2,500 acres, with a GDV valued at RM1.8 billion, in Taman Gaya, Taman Daiman Jaya, Taman Perindustrian Murni, Taman Johor Jaya, Taman Senai Utama and Taman Sri Senai, in which some commercial land parcels in these housing estates are available for lease or sale.
Daiman is also a developer of factories and the company plans to build another six units of 1½-storey semi-detached factories with a total GDV of RM8.7 million in Taman Perindustrian Murni Senai, which is also within the IDR. Daiman sold three out of four units of semi-detached factories launched there. Each new factory unit, with a built-up of 8,815 sq ft, will be priced from RM165 psf.

Cash-rich developer
Cash flow is crucial for developers to get through this tough period. Nevertheless, Daiman is looking for acquisition opportunities. "We are careful in reading the economic data. We need to look at employment rates, the economy and other issues before we move on," says Siah.
"We have the cash and this is a good time for acquisitions. We are basically open to anything, be it properties or land. We are looking for investments in both local and overseas markets," adds Siah. As at Sept 30 last year, Daiman had a total cash pile of RM105.96 million and some RM109 million worth of investments.
"It was reported that there may be a 5% drop in property prices in general and 10% at some locations and in certain segments. Our margins may be eaten up, but we will wait and see what will happen this year," says Siah.

Venturing into Australia
Daiman is eyeing the overseas market for more development opportunities. Siah says the company has already made inroads into Perth, Australia, after it acquired a piece of land along Lockhart Street there last year, through its wholly-owned overseas subsidiary Caversham Universal Ltd. The developer is still looking to acquire good landbank or investments in Perth.
"We wanted to go into Australia and it so happened that there was such an opportunity for us in Perth," says Siah.
He, nevertheless, declined to elaborate on the project as the developer is still working on the development plan of the land.
In the second quarter of last year, Caversham Universal bought some 437,500 shares, or a 70% stake in CNES Property Pty Ltd for USD410,944 (RM1.3 million based on the exchange rate of RM3.153 per USD).
CNES was incorporated in Australia on Feb 6 last year and its principal activity is property development.
 
#815 ·
A palace in the sun
Fauziah Ismail
Before we moved to JB in 1969, we had lived in a government bungalow in Jalan Bukit Petaling in Kuala Lumpur, which is just behind the Istana Negara.


Istana Bukit Serene

It so happened that when we moved south, the government bungalow allotted to my federal government auditor father was near the Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baru. The bungalow at Jalan Straits View was situated in front of the palace's main gate. We had lived there until 1973 before moving into our own home in Kempas.

That, I thought, was the nearest I could get to a palace or its grounds.

The term "istana" (palace) is to be used only for the official residences of the Ruler and the Crown Prince, as well as those that have been recognised as Sultanate properties.


They are Istana Bukit Serene, Istana Pasir Pelangi, Istana Besar, Istana Bukit Pelangi, Istana Muar, Istana Batu Pahat and Istana Segamat.

I was informed that the current ruler, Sultan Iskandar, had also decreed last year that all other residences occupied by members of the royal family are to be known as "Kediaman" (residences).

The Istana Bukit Serene, for example, is now the official palace of the current ruler, Sultan Iskandar.

It was in 1935 that Sultan Ibrahim and Sultanah Helen planned for an official palace on a hill overlooking the straits. A considerable amount of work had to be done on the chosen site. Sultan Ibrahim had engaged an English architect to design the palace on the hill that Sultanah Helen had described as "serene."

It has a sprawling garden, and quarters for the Sultan's private secretary and aide-de-camp known as East Lodge and West Lodge respectively.

According to notes provided by the secretary of the Johor Council of Royal Court and Chancellor of the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor, Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli, the Johor government had presented the istana to Sultan Ibrahim as a gift on his 40th year of reign, along with a new sword of office.

Unfortunately, Sultanah Helen did not step into the palace as she was divorced in 1937. Officially, Sultan Ibrahim moved there in 1953.

Istana Bukit Serene had also served as the headquarters of the Japanese Army in the 1940s. The palace tower had a splendid view of the positions of the Australian Army and Navy across the Straits of Johor.

Stories are varied on why the palace was not damaged during the war.

One story, according to Rahim, was that sometime in January of 1942, Sultan Ibrahim had made an appearance at the palace in full uniform resplendent with the Grand Order of the Rising Sun. Japanese commander General Tomoyuki Yamashita, bowed in respect and deference and assured that the palace would not be damaged in any way.

A more logical explanation would be the fact that the British would not attack the palace because it was the pride and possession of the Sultan of Johor, who had a close relationship with the British royal family.

Although advised by his top military personnel that the palace was an easy target, Yamashita was confident that the British Army would not attack Istana Bukit Serene because it was the pride and possession of the Sultan of Johor. Yamashita's prediction was correct as the British Army did not dare invade the palace. He used the palace tower as a viewing point as it had a bird's eye view of Singapore.

Besides the seven palaces, there were other privately owned ones that were demolished, transferred to the government and used either as accommodation for senior civil servants such as Istana Bukit Jepon or converted for public use like the former Istana Ulu Air Molek.

Rahim pointed out that the palaces built by the Temenggong and Sultan Ibrahim were their personal properties, expended from their own coffers.

The state government had promulgated the Sultanate Lands Enactment No. 146 to ensure the historical palaces and their grounds remain forever and preserved as heritage for the use and enjoyment of the rulers and their descendents.

By virtue of this law, the government provides for the maintenance of the properties and that they cannot be disposed off in any way by the ruler or his successors and descendants.
 
#816 ·
Tebrau Teguh wins RM303m Johor deal
Published: 2009/01/20




TEBRAU Teguh Bhd, a property developer, has won a RM303 million contract from the Johor state government to build 2,932 units of low-cost apartments in Johor Baru.

The apartments are for the relocation of squatters along the eastern dispersal link highway, Tebrau said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

Work will take 36 months.
 
#817 ·
Midnite Sale sasar RM15 juta

Oleh MAZNAH MOHD. ARSAD
utusanjohor@utusan.com.my

JOHOR BAHRU 19 Jan. - Program Chinese New Year Midnite Sale 2009 @ Johor Bahru di tiga pusat beli-belah di bandar ini dijangka mampu mengumpul perolehan jualan sehingga RM15 juta.

Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pelancongan, Datuk Dr. Ong Hong Peng berkata, ia mampu dicapai dalam program yang berlangsung tiga hari mulai Jumaat lalu itu berdasarkan kedudukan Johor Bahru yang berhampiran dengan Singapura.

"Kedudukan itu memberi kelebihan kepada kita kerana warga Singapura dan pelancong asing memilih bandar raya ini sebagai syurga membeli-belah.

"Kita turut memperoleh keuntungan dari segi pertukaran wang asing, kuasa beli yang tinggi di kalangan masyarakat tempatan juga menjadi penyumbang besar kepada perolehan jualan," katanya.

Hong Peng berkata demikian kepada para pemberita selepas menghadiri Pelancaran Zoom Chinese New Year Midnite Sale 2009 @ Johor Bahru di Danga City Mall di sini malam tadi.

Program itu dirasmikan oleh Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Hadir sama Pemangku Ketua Pengarah Kementerian Pelancongan, Amirrudin Abu dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Danga Bay Sdn. Bhd., Datuk Lim Kang Hoo.

Hong Peng berkata, perolehan itu dijangka dicatatkan oleh peniaga yang membuka premis jualan di Danga bay City Mall, City Square dan Plaza Pelangi dalam tempoh tiga hari.

Katanya, jumlah itu tidak termasuk jualan di pusat dan pasar raya besar lain di bandar raya ini.

"Pusat-pusat jualan ini juga sentiasa sesak terutama pada hujung minggu dan menjelang musim perayaan," katanya.

Sementara itu, Amirrudin berkata, Johor Bahru dipilih sebagai lokasi jualan tengah malam kerana ia mempunyai potensi dan kekuatan tersendiri sebagai tarikan pelancong.

"Johor Bahru mempunyai banyak kompleks beli-belah yang sesuai dikunjungi golongan rendah, sederhana dan kaya.

"Faktor itu menjadikan ia pilihan pelancong dari Singapura dan warga tempatan untuk membeli-belah," katanya.
 
#819 ·
Anger over delays in JB-Singapore service
By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH


JOHOR BARU: Frequent delays in the train service from Danga City Mall to Singapore have left many commuters irate.

Several felt that although the service was convenient, given the ample parking bays nearby, the delays were unacceptable.

One complainant, retiree Ong Gim Thian, 60, said although he drove into Singapore during the weekends, he found the lanes at the CIQ very narrow.


Amirul: Malaysians working in Singapore find it hard because of the delays.
“It was the first time I took the train and thought it would save me time. But it arrived very late,” he said.

The train reached its destination at 11.30am although it was scheduled to arrive at 9.27am.

Ong said that KTMB should ensure its trains arrived according to schedule as this would encourage more people to use the service.

The service which started on Jan 1 involves eight trains making five trips daily between 5.30am and 8.08pm from Johor.

Trains from Singapore ply the route between 5.35am and 10pm.

Another commuter, British expatriate Amirul Azlan said he believed more Singaporeans would take advantage of the service compared to Malaysians.

“I waited two hours for the train. If it was going to be late, they should have told us,” he said.

Retiree Baharuddin Harun, 58, said the mall and KTMB needed to fix the problem if they wanted more people to use the service.

“Many shops at the mall are closed. If the shops were open, passengers waiting for late trains could do some shopping,” he said.

Meanwhile, KTMB marketing manager Mohd Noordin Kimi said the trains used for the service were express trains and not shuttle trains.

“They come from places like Kelantan, Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur and the journeys are long with stops on the way,” he said.

Mohd Noordin said that KTMB hoped to increase the number of trains between Singapore and Kluang in February and was upgrading tracks from Gemas to Johor in a new project.

Hopefully, the journey would be shorter and the trains be more punctual, he said.
 
Top