No Negative Impact To Ecosystem

The Star Report

Firm: Forest City project will not damage ecosystem

BY MOHD FARHAAN SHA

JOHOR BARU: The huge Forest City project that will be taking shape off Tanjung Kupang, near here, will not damage the ecosystem between Malaysia and Singapore, state company Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ) said.

Before the reclamation works for the man-made island started, Country Garden Pacific View (CGPV) had conducted several tests on the possible environmental impact to the surrounding areas, said Datuk Md Othman Yusof, executive vice-chairman of KPRJ, one of the stakeholders in CGPV.

“We appointed a consultant to carry out hydraulic works to see whether the island will affect the water currents in the designated area.

“The test results proved Forest City will not have a negative impact on the environment,” he told a press conference at the KPRJ office in Danga Bay here yesterday.

“Furthermore, the first phase of the reclamation work is for a 49ha to build our showroom,” he said.

The 2,000ha project – expected to involve the biggest man-made island in the region with a size larger than Pangkor Island – had also raised eyebrows across the causeway.

The Singapore government was reportedly perturbed over the project, which would take three decades to complete, because of the massive reclamation involved.

Furthermore, Singapore said there were international obligations that both countries had to be concerned about.

At around the same time, the Department of Environment (DOE) issued a temporary stop-work order on the reclamation works, pending a detailed study.

Positive Impact to Johor's Economy

Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) executive vice-chairman Datuk Md Othman Yusof showing reporters a map of the controversial RM600 billion Forest City development during a press conference at the KPRJ office in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, this morning.

The man-made island is built by Country Garden Pacific View (CGPV) Sdn Bhd where the Guangdong-based property developer Country Garden Holdings have a 60 per cent stake and Planet Esplanade Sdn Bhd has a 40 per cent stake. Of this, KPRJ has a 20 per cent share in Esplanade.

As for the direct investment in the mammoth project, KPRJ will get only eight per cent returns.

"KPRJ did not contribute any land at all as it is all reclaimed from the sea," he said.

"This eight per cent will bring a huge return to the people of Johor.  The state government will re-direct that money to build low-cost houses for the local folk," he added.

to be continued ...

Hot Number

I knew it!

Out of curiosity, I decided to check out the 4D outlets today and true enough, the crash of  the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17 has prompted punters to head to the 4D outlets to bet on 1717, only to be told that the number has been sold out for this Saturday and Sunday (July 19 & July 20) for Sports Toto, Damacai and Magnum.

A counter girl said that it was sold out by 8am, which was even before the outlets open for business. How can that be?



The same thing happened when MH370 went missing. Punters made a beeline for the number.

Punters are very well-informed about current affairs, and very good at putting together four digits.  Even at a relative's funeral, they'd come up with a 4D to bet on based on the deceased's age or day of departure.

And when the number comes up, they'd say the departed relative liked them and had given them some money.  I've heard this after attending several funerals --- I'm not making this up.

But then, it's not a big sin to be a punter, as long as you don't get obsessed with gambling, and start borrowing money or short change family and friends.

And it's not just one race that is prone to punt, although the majority of punters are Chinese.  One Malay man came up to me just now --- I'm not making this up --- and said that he can come up with a person's winning number based on one's birthdate.  He asked me if I was interested.  

I told him I was not, because I was buying the numbers for someone else. 

Out of curiosity I also tried 2525, which is sold out for Saturday but available for Sunday (Magnum and Toto). For Damacai, 2525 was available for Saturday and Sunday.

VEP and New Investments in Iskandar Malaysia

I want to thank Anon 8:15 for taking the time to comment on the Vehicle Entry Permit issue. Just in case some readers miss it, I'm re-posting it.

1. 
   AnonymousJuly 16, 2014 at 8:15 AM

   I think most Singapore cars that we see in Malaysia, especially in JB are driven by Malaysian working in Singapore and travel daily. It's a push factor for Malaysians to reconsider moving into Singapore since they have to pay a much higher price now to travel by car, driving either the Malaysia/Singapore car. I think the government should study it in detail first and not implement it to "counter attack" the increase of VEP by Singapore government. If most of those affected are Malaysians, then the government is punishing it's own people for bringing in foreign currency and help boost the economy here. On top of that, it may not be good for the development of Iskandar, which, as far as I know, have been trying to pull in as much investors as possible from across the causeway.

   ReplyDelete
   
   

Some business operators at Jalan Segget, Johor Baru, that I talked to recently were also worried that their businesses would be affected if the Singaporeans were to stop coming to the city.

Most of the customers of the shops at Jalan Segget are from across the Causeway.

However, some traders remain optimistic that the Singaporeans will still come because of the currency exchange rate.

Bernama reported today that

Iskandar Malaysia secures RM9.72 bil in new investments (May to June)

Total new investments this year RM14.56 billion

JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Malaysia has secured RM9.72 billion in new investments from April to June this year, bringing a total new investments for this year at RM14.56 billion.

From 2006 until June 30, 2014, Iskandar Malaysia has secured a total cumulative committed investment of RM146.2 billion.

Of the total cumulative committed investments, RM69.53 billion, or 48 per cent, represented investments that have been realised as projects on the ground.

In a statement here today, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said last year, Iskandar Malaysia secured a total of RM25.33 billion worth of investments and closed the year with a total cumulative committed investment of RM131.64 billion.-- Bernama

VEP Charge For Singapore Vehicles

Thi is the printed version in the New Straits Times today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (second from left) at the launch of the ‘Bas Bandaraya’ in Johor Baru yesterday. With him are Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (second from right), Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (right) and Johor Baru Mayor Abdul Rahman Dewam. Pic by Roslan Khamis

by Ben Tan and Chuah Bee Kim

JOHOR BARU: All Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor will soon be subjected to a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) charge.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday said the government agreed to the implementation of the VEP following a request from the Johor government.

“However, the VEP needs some fine tuning before its implementation.

The Johor government also needs to inform the Road Transport Department of its implementation as part of the administrative process,” he said in a speech before a breaking of fast event at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here yesterday.

Najib said the Federal Government and Johor would also discuss proposed rates for the VEP.

“A portion of the VEP collection will go to the state government.”

Among the 1,500 guests at the event were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

When the VEP would be implemented and the fee structure would be determined soon, said Najib.

“Muhyiddin agreed with me on this and I have informed Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar (minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) via telephone just now on the agreement to implement the VEP.”

The Johor government has been awaiting the Federal Government’s go-ahead to implement the VEP for Singapore-registered vehicles entering both the Causeway in the city and the Second Link in Gelang Patah. The VEP was proposed in 2006 and 2010 as a means to curb losses incurred as a result of foreign vehicle owners buying subsidised petrol and diesel.

During a Johor Umno liaison meeting on July 5, Khaled had said the proposal for the implementation of the VEP in the state had been submitted to the Federal Government five months ago.

At that time, he said, the Johor government had proposed a RM20 levy on Singapore-registered cars, with RM5 to be channelled back to the state for road maintenance.

At the same time, the Singaporean authorities had announced a hike in the republic’s VEP for foreign cars from S$20 (RM51.40) to S$35 per day beginning Aug 1. The Singapore Land Transport Authority also said the Goods Vehicle Permit for lorries would be increased from S$10 to S$40 per month.

Earlier, Najib attended a closed-door briefing on Johor’s development and progress here by Johor state planning unit (Unpen) director A. Rahim Nin.

Pinterestbee1

I was visiting a friend when I saw her dog Izzy (note: not her real name) bullying Meeky, another medium-sized mongrel like Izzy but she is more reserved and meek, which was how she got her name.

I told my friend about the bullying. I said Izzy would growl and stare at Meeky.  The growl and menacing stare would cause Meeky to lie down and not move until Izzy allows it. I told my friend this, expecting her to "educate" Izzy a bit.

But did my friend do that? NO .....

The clueless (or is it conniving?) guardian praised Izzy for being a class act and applauded Izzy's alphaness.

Frustrating, isn't it? You expect the guardian to look out for Meeky and she calls Izzy a good dog instead.

But I'm not the guardian of Izzy and Meeky, so just let it be.

Meanwhile, I have started a board at Pinterest called "Crackpot Nation". I recently discovered the allure of Pinterest and am now creating boards for various topics. It's fun!

If I can't be reached today that means I'm busy pinning.

Pic from Pinterest. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pinterestbee1/crackpot-nation/