Wednesday 25 February 2015

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~

Friday 20 February 2015

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Iconic Penang ferry ride may cost more soon

Iconic Penang ferry ride may cost more soon

Users of the iconic Penang ferry may have to pay more, based on a proposed fare hike circular issued by Penang Port Commission (PPC).

The circular, titled ‘Proposed Ferry Tariff Hikes’ by the regulatory body, have been placed at the Butterworth and George Town ferry terminals, and went viral over social media platforms.

Under the proposed fares, car owners would have to pay RM9 from the present RM7.70 while pedestrians may have to pay RM2, 80 sen more from the present rate.

The fare for motorcycles is slated to rise from RM2 to RM3.50, while the cost of the monthly season ticket for students, will be doubled from RM3 to RM6, and for adults, from RM30 to RM50, if approved.

Lorries with two axles with four wheels may be charged RM20 (previously RM13.20) and lorries with two axles and six wheels (RM40 from RM27.50).

Cyclists are also not spared as they may have to pay 10 sen more from the present RM1.40.

The PPC has also urged users to email their comments or objections to zalina@penangport.gov.my

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Air Itam hills shine bright like a diamond

Air Itam hills shine bright like a diamond

Beautiful' and 'glowing like diamonds'.

Those are some of the words used to describe Penang's 112-year-old Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple in Air Itam.

Earlier, the temple's lighting ceremony began about 8pm, with hordes of people gathering to pray and also witness the annual spectacle.

Thousands of LED lights were lit up, accompanied by thundering firecrackers filled the skies with a majestic backdrop of the Air Itam hills.

The lights adorning the temple will be switched on daily until Mar 15 to commemorate the celebration of Chinese New Year that will be celebrated on Feb 19 and 20.


Fireworks colouring the sky adds to the excitement of lighting ceremony at the Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple in Jalan Air Hitam, George Town. It is an annual ceremony to commemorate the celebration of Chinese New Year that will be celebrated on Feb 19 and 20.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Strings of lanterns

Strings of lanterns



More than 10,000 lanterns cover the Kek Lok Si Temple on Jalan Air Itam, Penang. Kek Lok Si Temple is the biggest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia and the most famous temple in Penang since it was established in 1893.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Friday 6 February 2015

“It’s all good” at Line Clear Nasi Kandar

“It’s all good” at Line Clear Nasi Kandar

Business is as usual for the famous Penang Line Clear Nasi Kandar restaurant, despite rumours that local authorities would 'clear' them out today.

Checks by New Straits Times at the famous eatery at an alley off Jalan Penang showed all was well, with few tables filled with patrons as early as 7am.

However, operators of the eatery were seen anxiously walking back and forth at the entrance, in anticipation of a possible appearance of local council enforcement workers.

When contacted, Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) licencing department director Asman Sirun said the clear-out was "on hold pending discussion with legal advisers".

The eatery, a staple for tourists and locals alike, had been mired in an apparent ownership tussle, which led the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) with no choice but to intervene.

Yesterday, the eatery obtained a stay of execution to prevent MPPP from a possible tear down of its premises.

The popular Nasi Kandar outlet was recently in the spotlight yet again, when the council's enforcement team cleared out the tables and chairs, loaded them onto a lorry and took them away in the wee hours of Monday last week.

The outlet, which has been in existence since 1949, is operated on a rotational basis among four cousins -Abdul Hamid, T. Abdul Latiff Sahubarali China Mohd Hanibal, and Pathumah Iskandar.


Shamsudin Seeni Pakir, 58, of Line Clear Nasi Kandar restaurant serves a customer.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Female backpacker injured in attempted snatch theft

Female backpacker injured in attempted snatch theft

A 57-year-old female foreign backpacker sustained hand injuries from a knife cut in an attempted snatch theft late yesterday.

The tourist was walking in Jalan Chulia when a lone motorist rode up to her and whipped up the knife to cut the strap of her handbag.

The motorist however ended up cutting the victim’s finger.

Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mior Farid Alatrash Wahid confirmed the 11.30pm incident.

He said no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~