Samster Gathering JB

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bernama dated 23 June 2014 :-

Malindo Air announces JB-Penang route

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23: From July 23, 2014 Malindo Air will start its daily services from Johor Bahru to Penang and five times weekly commercial services from Subang to Kuantan.

In a statement today, the hybrid airline said the Johor Baharu-Penang-Johor Baharu service will depart and arrive at the Senai International Airport in Johor Baharu and the Penang International Airport daily.

Meanwhile, the Subang-Kuantan-Subang service will fly to and from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang and the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, Kuantan every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, it said.

Malindo Air recently took delivery of two more ATR72-600 aircraft which will be deployed for the new services.

“We are excited to add these new services, as it has always been an ambition of ours to link major Malaysian cities with direct flights that are not only easy on the pockets but convenient as well.

“Besides, it was opportune to launch these new services right before the Raya festivities begin as it will be a splendid opportunity for families to make their way home,” Chief Executive Officer Chandran Rama Muthy said.

One-way all-inclusive fares start at RM79 for the Subang-Kuantan service and RM99 for the Penang-Johor Bahru route.
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bernama dated 12 July 2014 :-

Review ENTRY PERMIT for foreign vehicles entering Malaysia – UMNO Youth

KOTA TINGGI, July 12 : Johor Umno Youth has called for a review on entry permit fees for foreign vehicles from Singapore entering Malaysia.

Its chief Hahasrin Hashim said the proposed RM50 fee for each vehicle was too low and must be increased to RM100, considering the republic’s currency is relativey higher.
“The review is needed as goods’ prices in the country are cheaper,” he said in a statement here today.

Hahasrin also welcomed a suggestion that part of the proceeds (entry permit fee) submitted to the state government to be spent for maintenance infrastrucure

“The proceeds will benefit not only the people but Malaysians in general,” he said. ------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Direct Flight from JB to Ipoh by Firefly

Firefly will be launching a DAILY direct flight from Senai Airport, Johor Bahru to Ipoh commencing from 15 September 2014.

Flight FY 2522 : Leaving JB at 10.20 am and arriving in Ipoh at 11.45 am

Flight FY 2523 : Leaving Ipoh at 12.05 pm and arriving in JB at 1.30 pm

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bernama dated 15 July 2014 :-

Khairy: Govt should impose fee for S'pore cars entering M'sia

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth is proposing to impose a fee on Singaporean cars entering Malaysia to counter Singapore's decision to increase the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP) permit fee for vehicles entering the republic.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (pix) said Singaporeans are not charged any fees by the government for cars entering Malaysia, while no action has been taken against those who did not settle their traffic summonses.

"Such action is not fair, because they (Singapore) should reduce and not increase the fee from SGD20 to SGD35 (about RM90). Why not we too collect some revenue from Singapore cars entering Malaysia," he told reporters after chairing an Umno Youth exco meeting, here today.

He said the proposal would be tabled in the cabinet meeting. Khairy said Umno Youth would also propose that the government study a system that would prevent cars that fail to settle their summons, from entering the country, just like the procedure practised by Singapore.

"It is time to act, we are losing in terms of revenue, they don't pay the summons, and when they increased the fee, it was the call for us to act," he said.
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR (Malaysia) dated 17 July 2014 :-

Vehicle Entry Permit to be implemented for all foreign vehicles entering Johor: PM Najib

JOHOR BARU - The Government will implement a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee for foreign vehicles that enter Johor.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made following a request made by the state.

"I have discussed the implementation with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and have informed Minister in the Prime Mi­­nister's Department Datuk Seri Wa­­hid Omar pertaining to our decision.

"I have instructed him (Wahid) to inform the Road Transport Depart­ment (JPJ) to discuss on when it can be implemented and to allow them space to work out the details," he said during a buka puasa event orga­nised by the state after launching a free City Bus service initiated by the Johor Baru Municipal Council (MBJB).

Najib said the details over the VEP fee and its implementation date would be released later, adding that a portion would be channelled to the state government.

Prior to the event, Najib attended a closed-door briefing by the state economic planning unit together with state officials that included Muhyiddin, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

Deputy Transport Minister Da­­tuk Aziz Kaprawi, who was also present, said the state government proposed a fee of RM20 (S$8) for Singa­pore-registered vehicles entering the state via the Causeway and the Second Link.
Aziz also said the VEP would only be implemented on the country's southern border and would only in­­volve Singapore-registered vehicles.

The issue of imposing a levy for foreign-registered vehicles entering Johor has been raised various times in the past but the idea was scrapped following views it could deter Sin­­­gaporeans from visiting Malaysia.

However, the state government has been pressing for the VEP to be implemented especially after Singapore recently announced that it would raise its VEP fee for fo­reign-registered cars from S$20 to S$35, beginning August 2014.

The republic also announced that the fee for foreign-registered goods vehicles would also be raised from S$10 to S$40.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Transport Ministry will present a paper to the Cabinet on the proposed fee to be imposed on Singapore-registered vehicles.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said this was relayed to him by Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai when he voiced the movement's stand on the issue.------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR (Malaysia) dated 19 July 2014 :-

Johor vehicle entry fee could affect ties with Singapore, say traders

JOHOR BARU - Business associations have described Malaysia's proposed fee on foreign vehicles entering Johor through the Causeway and the Second Link as unwise. Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME) Association of Malaysia national president Teh Kee Sin suggested that Malaysia should consider a different approach.

"Of course, a RM20 (S$8), RM50 (S$20) or even RM100 (S$40) levy would be significant for the country's revenue, but it would not help strengthen bilateral ties," he told The Star yesterday.

Teh said the Government should instead concentrate on transforming Johor Baru into a more vibrant and lively space, which would then lead to economic growth.

"The authorities must understand that SMEs depend on Singaporeans from the low to middle income category for the bulk of their revenue, and if Malaysia imposes the fee, less of these people would come in to spend their money," he added.

Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba) president P. Sivakumar said that while charging RM20 (S$8) was acceptable, the Government should offer some flexibility.

"We should extend some goodwill by imposing the fee only during peak hours, or by reducing rates on weekends or public holidays for the benefit of genuine travellers," he added.

Malaysia's proposal is leaving folks like Danny Cheung, a sales executive at a plumbing company in Singapore, 35, caught in the middle.

"My friends and I thought that buying a Singapore-registered vehicle would mean saving on Singapore's Vehicle Entry Permit fee when entering the republic.

"Now there's another fee to pay when we re-enter Malaysia, I could be looking at spending an additional RM400 (S$160) per month," he said.

Sub-contractor Yap Chin Keong, 59, feels that the entry charge would be useful if it could reduce the number of Singaporean-vehicles entering Johor Baru.

"The charge is a good way to manage congestion as we sometimes get stuck for as long as two hours each way."
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[Goatslooter]

reasonable rate is acceptable to all samsters ie. Rm20~30, otherwise this additional charge will be added to the Cheonging fee. Night life surely will be affected.

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by Goatslooter

reasonable rate is acceptable to all samsters ie. Rm20~30, otherwise this additional charge will be added to the Cheonging fee. Night life surely will be affected.

Some Malaysians felt that RM 20.00 ( = S $ 7.80 ) is TOO LOW and that the VEP should be RM 50 ( = S $ 19.55 ) ..... Still VERY, VERY CHEAP compared to S $ 35 ( = RM 90 ) VEP for Malaysian cars on 1/8/14

[KatoeyLover69]

Levy on Singapore-registered cars entering Johor to be capped at "not more than RM50", says Minister
JOHOR BARU - A Malaysian minister has said the government will cap the levy for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor at not more than RM50 (S$20), a newspaper reported on Friday, just days after he reportedly said the fee would be at least this amount.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi said any decision on the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) charge would not be made at the expense of tourist arrivals and the Visit Malaysia Year campaign, New Straits Times reported.

He said Malaysia would not follow the same VEP quantum imposed by Singapore, although it had the liberty to do so.

The entry fee for foreign-registered vehicles entering Singapore is currently S$20 but it will increase to S$35 or about RM89.50 from Aug 1, 2014
------ KatoeyNewsNetwork

[octman]

Singaporean go in JB is to spend money and improve the economy of JB....look at how many massage spa/palour/centre had open and so many eateries around. Think their business will be greatly affected bcos of the PIG brain PM!
Malaysian go to Sinagpore daily is to work and earn money! Not like Singaporean go in and spent money. Think JB many businesses will closed down in a few mths time if fees is collected from Sinagpore CARS...... We shall see what happen.....

[Goatslooter]

From 1 Aug till early 2015 an entrance fee of Rm 16.5 will not helping the traffic condition at causeway, only after implemented the VEP of Rm 50 , in total of RM66 or more will ease the traffic.

[Goatslooter]

As for the JB biz, likely will have great impact only from the impose of VEP Rm 50 in early next year, so they have about 6 mths to prepare for the biz drop! there is no way of abandon of this implementation, bcos the revenue collected is a great income for MY government.

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by Goatslooter

As for the JB biz, likely will have great impact only from the impose of VEP Rm 50 in early next year, so they have about 6 mths to prepare for the biz drop! there is no way of abandon of this implementation, bcos the revenue collected is a great income for MY government.

Bro Goat,

You are 100% correct !!!

The Malaysian Govt need a few billion US $ to pay for the insurance victims of MH370 and MH17 and also to pay for the submarine searches in Southern Indian Ocean ...... 6% GST from April Fool's Day in 2015

[Goatslooter]

yes, to lighten the nation burden in the recent air disasters.
Hope the PM do not pressure too much on Singapore vehicles? must consider LONG term benefit! Don't frighten away your southern good neighbor. Just a Touch n Go figure will be good.

[KatoeyLover69]

JB causeway toll up 400%

Toll rates at the Johor and Singapore gateway is to increase dramatically from 1 August 2014

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) announced an increase of about 400% for Johor-Singapore toll rates starting August 1.

The rates will apply to those leaving the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru for Singapore.

The move to revise the toll rates come in the heels of Putrajaya’s plans to introduce the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor.

In a statement, the Malaysian Highway Authority said passenger car rates will be revised from RM2.90 to RM16.50 (RM9.70 inbound and RM6.80 outbound) while taxis will have to pay a total of RM8.20 (RM4.80 inbound, RM3.40 outbound), up from the previous RM1.40.

Meanwhile charges for buses will be revised from RM2.30 to RM13.30 (RM7.80 inbound, RM5.50 outbound).

It said the toll rate for Class Two vehicles will go up from RM4.50 to RM24.90 (RM14.70 inbound and RM10.20 outbound) while toll rates for Class Three vehicles was revised to RM33.30 (RM19.70 inbound, RM13.60 outbound) both ways from the previous RM6.10.

Its director-general Datuk Ismail Mohd Salleh said the revised rates were appropriate given the facilities and services enjoyed by users that traveled to the complex from the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), the elevated highway built to disperse traffic towards Johor Baru town.

On July 16, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that Putrajaya would introduce VEPs for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor.

He gave assurances that a portion of the VEP collection would be channeled to the Johor government.

Putrajaya’s move came after Singapore recently announced that effective August 1, the VEP fee for foreign-registered cars entering Singapore would be raised from S$20 (RM52) to S$35 (RM90) a day.

The Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP) fee for foreign-registered goods vehicles will be raised from S$10 (RM26) to S$40 (RM103) a month.------ KatoeyNewsNetwork