Orchards drawing in durians lovers from afar

Orchards drawing in durians lovers from afar



Aromatic delight: The foreign visitors enjoying durians during their visit to the farm. With them is Chang (right).

It’s like the Pied Piper but of aroma as durian orchards here lure travellers despite it not being the peak season yet.

Tourists from as far as the Middle Kingdom are following their nose to the durian trail.

Chinese nationals Guo Xin and his wife Xing Zhi Yun, both 32, were among the many foreign holidaymakers whose mission here was solely to savour the thorny fruit.

“This is our first time to Penang. We came here just to eat durians. In China, there are durians imported from Malaysia but they are very expensive.

“Thai durians are not as pricey but we prefer the taste and fragrance of those from Malaysia,” Guo said when met at a durian farm here.

Guo, who is from Dalian, and Xing arrived in Penang on Thursday. They will be here for a week.

Another couple from China were also spotted enjoying durians with coffee at the orchard.

Wei Chan Fang, 39, said she and her husband Zhan Xiang, 38, were durian lovers and they especially loved the Musang King variant.

“We travelled to Penang just for durians,” she said.

She said that durians from Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia were available in her country.

“But in my opinion, the ones from Thailand and Vietnam lack the aroma of Malaysian durians.

“The durians from Malaysia, especially Musang King, have become very expensive in China, so much so that ordinary people cannot afford to buy them. So we rather travel here to enjoy the best of the fruits,” she said.
v For Indonesian Martin Suhartono, 29, eating durians with a group of people was a new experience.

“Back in my hometown, there’s no practice where people gather together to eat durians like this,” said Martin, who is from Bandung but works in Singapore as a logistics manager.

Bao Sheng durian farm owner Chang Teik Seng said this year’s peak season was expected to be from July till early August.

“The durian season is usually around May to July every year.”

“The durian supply this year is also expected to be low, with an average of 100 fruits per day in July as compared with 400 to 500 fruits per day during May and June in previous years when weather conditions were better,” he said.

Chang said that the fruits started to drop three days ago.

“The number of fruits is expected to increase from now on before slowing down in August.”

~News courtesy of The Star~

Selamat hari raya

Clear skies expected over Raya

Clear skies expected over Raya

It will likely be a sunny Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year in most parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

The date for sighting the Syawal new moon to determine when Aidilfitri falls has been set for June 24, and many expect Hari Raya to start the next day.

Malaysian Meteorological De­­part­­ment director-general Alui Bahari said a detailed forecast for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period will only be released today but added that the weather is generally expected to be dry due to the current south-west monsoon.

The south-west monsoon started on May 17, and will continue until September, typically associated with lower rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

“There is always heavy traffic on the highways during the Raya pe­­riod, but good weather conditions will hopefully help to make journeys safer as the roads are dry and visibility is better,” said Alui.

The volume of vehicles that will hit the roads starting this week as families make their way back to their hometowns is expected to grow.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd said traffic plying the North-South Expressway during peak days starting Wednes­day to July 3 is set to hit 1.7 million vehicles per day.

The figure is an increase of 30% from the reported 1.2 million vehicles during the Raya peak period two years ago.

Another highway concessionaire, Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak), expects a 10% increase in the number of vehicles on the Sprint and Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) highways in Selangor as the Hari Raya celebration draws closer.

The LDP, which is normally used by more than 470,000 vehicles each week, may see an increase of about 10,000 vehicles this week.

Association of Highway Con­cessionaires Malaysia said in a statement that the volume of traffic is expected to increase by between 30% and 40% during the coming Raya period compared to normal times.

“The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Express­­way, East Coast Expressway (LPT1) and East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) is expected to see an increase of 50% in traffic volume,” the statement said.

To cope with the traffic volume, PLUS has issued a travel time advisory to help the public plan their journey and to distribute traffic between June 21 and July 3.

Those planning to travel from the Klang Valley to their hometowns in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, northern Perak and Johor are advised to enter the highway before 10am.

Those heading towards nearer destinations such as in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, southern Perak and central Perak, are advised to start their journey and enter the North-South Expressway after 10am on designated days.

Meanwhile, Penang is expecting an influx of visitors who are set to take advantage of the four-day Aidilfitri holiday.

“Last year, the traffic was not so bad, but it is too early to predict the congestion this year,” said state traffic police enforcement chief Supt Roslan Ali.

He added that traffic police would be out daily under Ops Selamat from now until July 2.

Malaysian Hoteliers Association Penang Chapter chairman Khoo Boo Lim said most hotels in the state were almost full.

“Penang is a top choice for local tourists and many are definitely coming here during the break,” he added.

~News courtesy of The Star~

‘Time’ lists Penang among most budget-friendly Asian destinations

‘Time’ lists Penang among most budget-friendly Asian destinations

Tourists have another reason to visit Penang: it is easy on the pocket.

Time magazine has selected it as one of the 10 “amazing Asian vacations that won’t cost a fortune” out of almost 50 other popular destinations in Asia.

According to the article, the 10 destinations got the best score based on factors such as price of airfare, lodging and food, number of restaurants and attractions offered, low crime rates, pleasant weather and ease of access to public transportation.

The total cost for two persons to spend a week in Penang was US$2,669 (RM11,400).

“Penang island’s diverse attractions – white sandy beaches, large resorts, quiet fishing villages and a bustling urban centre – are a steal right now,” the magazine said in its report.

It stated that hotel room rates were down 10% from last year, averaging US$80 (RM342) a night while airfare dipped 16% to US$916 (RM3,918) for a roundtrip from the United States.

The article also highlighted Penang’s famous street fare which was described as “some of the best food in South-East Asia”.

“Most dishes will set you back only about a dollar,” added the magazine.

The article added that the city’s charm included the East-meets-West design blend, the heritage buildings and clanhouses, jungle trails and quiet beaches.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday the selection puts Penang as one of the best value for money destinations and among the cheapest.

The nine other destinations listed are Xi’an in China; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Hoi An, Vietnam; Taipei, Taiwan; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Kathmandu, Nepal; Bali, Indonesia; Chennai, India; and Luang Prabang, Laos.

~News courtesy of The Star~

DPM: Tourism tax will be imposed

DPM: Tourism tax will be imposed

The Government is going ahead with its tourism tax to be imposed from July 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who disclosed this yesterday, said more funds were needed to support tourism promotion activities.

“At present, some states receive little (funds), some get more,” he said. Under the new tax, hotel guests will be charged between RM2.50 and RM20 for every night’s stay, depending on the classification of the hotel.

Dr Ahmad Zahid disclosed that the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday directed that the tourism tax spat involving Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and the Sarawak and Sabah governments be put to an end.

“The Prime Minister chaired the Cabinet meeting and I have personally met with the Chief Ministers of Sarawak and Sabah.

“So the chapter is closed,’’ he told reporters after closing an Islamic education workshop here yesterday.

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had called on the Government to defer the implementation of the tourism tax in Sarawak and Sabah. This invited criticism from Nazri.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also said RM10mil will be given to the Advisory Board for the Coordination of Islamic Education for the enhancement of Islamic educational institutions.

The workshop approved several resolutions, including one on a special mechanism to strengthen Federal-state cooperation in Islamic educational development.

~News courtesy of The Star~

More trains and buses for Raya

More trains and buses for Raya

The Transport Ministry hopes to add more trains and express buses to serve the balik kampung crowds during the coming festive season.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he had already directed KTM Berhad to increase its services for the period.

“Most of the demand is from Kuala Lumpur to the northern states. So, they will be providing 27 trips daily to the northern states, some up to Padang Besar.

“There is a limit to how much we can increase for the time being, however, because we do not have enough train coaches,” he told reporters after launching the Hari Raya integrated operations and road safety campaign here yesterday.

The ministry, said Liow, was also working with express bus operators to try and increase the number of buses during the Hari Raya period.

However, he said there was a lack of bus drivers due to more stringent selection criteria.

Promoting safe trips: Liow talking to a passenger after launching the Hari Raya integrated operations and road safety campaign.

“(For some routes) we will need two drivers to take turns because of the long distance.

“These are among the shortcomings we have during the Raya season but we will work towards overcoming them,” he said.

On the road accident statistics for last year, Liow said the numbers had increased, especially for fatalities.

“Last year, we had 521,466 road accidents compared to 489,606 previously.

“The number of fatalities from road accidents showed a sudden increase – going up to 7,152 deaths last year compared to 6,706 in 2015.

“During the two-week road safety campaign last year, police recorded 20,982 accidents, with 299 deaths,” he said.

As over 60% of the fatalities involved motorcyclists, Liow said this year’s campaign would focus on raising awareness among this group of road users.

“None of these statistics mean that the previous campaign have failed. If you look at the ratio of accidents to registered vehicles, that has actually gone down.

“We went from four deaths for every 10,000 vehicles in 2010 to 2.59 deaths for every 10,000 vehicles last year.

“In developed countries, the ratio is two deaths for every 10,000 vehicles and we aim to reach this by 2020,” he said.

This year's road safety campaign, with the theme “Pandu Cermat Sampai Selamat” will run for two weeks and includes advocacy as well as enforcement of road safety rules and regulations.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Matta supports tourism tax

Matta supports tourism tax, but ...



The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (Matta) is urging the Government to delay the rollout of the impending Tourism Tax (TTx), or at least parts of it.

While saying the association is behind the tax, its president Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said the Aug 1 implementation date may not be an ideal time.

The TTx will not only affect domestic tourists, but also Malaysians who have to travel for other purposes such as studies, medical treatments or family obligations.

"Those people who have to travel will have to travel, and they will be forced to pay for it. It doesn’t just affect tourists," he said on Wednesday.

Hamzah suggests the TTx be imposed on 4-star and 5-star hotels first, but be deferred on lower-rated hotels, hostels and accommodation premises to a later date.

“I’m not saying that this tax shouldn't be imposed at all, but now is not the time for it,” he said.

Hamzah added that domestic travel is currently picking up due to the high cost of overseas travel, and he was concerned that an additional tax would deter Malaysians from travelling domestically.

The Penang, Langkawi and Malacca state governments are already charging RM2 to RM9 depending on the type of hotel the guest is staying in.

Passed as part of the Tourism Tax Bill 2017, TTx will see local and international tourists paying a levy to the operators of accommodation premises.

The tax rate is fixed and charged on a per-room, per-night basis.

The rates are RM20 for five-star accommodations, RM10 for four-star accommodations, RM5 for one- to three-star accommodations, and RM2.50 for non-rated accommodations, including budget hotels.

Engineer Lim Chze Hong, 33, who travels twice a month for work, said the TTx would be an unnecessary burden for Malaysians and should only be imposed on foreign tourists.

"It is an extra burden on top of the funds we need to spend to travel outstation for work, regardless if the rooms are paid for by the company or not.

“If this is a ‘tourism tax’, then they should not impose the tax on anyone who books a room using their MyKad,” he said.

Meanwhile, 41-year-old writer Vivan Chong said that she wouldn't mind paying the tax if the revenue was used to develop the local tourism industry.

She however asked if there are solid plans in place regarding the funding.

"The rates are not a burden money-wise, but I think the real question is, who is this supposed to benefit in the first place and why are we being taxed for already contributing to the economy by travelling locally," she added.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said that the tax revenue would be spent mainly on tourism and infrastructure development throughout the country.

He said the tax was necessary because the Government needed to mitigate uncertainties in the oil-and-gas industry, adding that the Government was expected to collect about RM800mil annually through the new tax.

~News courtesy of The Star~

AirAsia warns of ticket scams

AirAsia warns of ticket scams

AirAsia is warning the public of a scam using its brand name on social media.

In the scam, free tickets are offered through an online survey and participants are directed to the website www.airasia.com-2017-givea.us where they are required to answer a few questions to redeem vouchers.

There is also another scam circulating on Facebook offering 268 free AirAsia tickets in conjunction with AirAsia’s 28th anniversary.

In a press statement released yesterday, AirAsia stressed that the two social media posts are scams.

“The public is strongly advised to ignore those posts and not click on any link or provide any personal information, as AirAsia is not held liable for any claims pertaining to the false schemes,” said the statement.

All official announcement will be made through AirAsia’s official channel and credible mass media, it added.

Should the public encounter any suspected scams or would like clarification, please access www.facebook.com/airasia, www.twitter.com/airasia or www.airasia.com/ask.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Floating mosque to hold feast on June 22

Floating mosque to hold feast on June 22



Welcoming sight: The floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah will be hosting a feast to mark Lailatul Qadar.

The mosque qariah committee of the Tanjung Bungah floating mosque will hold a kenduri (feast) after breaking of fast and terawih prayers on June 22.

Committee deputy chairman Badarul Jamal Mohd Ariffin said the feast, which falls on the 27th day of Ramadan, is to commemorate the auspicious time of Lailatul Qadar when the Quran was revealed.

“Everyone is welcome to join us. After breaking fast, we will invite preachers to deliver sermons and also recite the Quran,” he said in an interview here yesterday.

Badarul Jamal said during the Ramadan month, the mosque provides break fast meals for about 100 people daily, followed by nightly terawih prayers and Quran recitals.

The picturesque Tanjung Bungah floating mosque’s minaret is seven storeys high.

From the air, its star-shaped design is evident, while concealed pilings and stilts below give it a floating effect.

Inspired by Moorish architecture, the mosque, which stretches over 70m out to sea from the shoreline, was built at the cost of RM15mil to replace an older mosque which was damaged by the 2004 tsunami.

Orderly rows of fishing boats floating around the mosque preserve its heritage as a fishermen’s place of worship to this day. Over 1,500 Muslims can answer the call to prayer at any one time at the mosque.

~News courtesy of The Star~