First Day Toll Blues

Sim Bak Heng 

sourced from NST online

JOHOR BARU: TWO factory bus drivers have been singled out as the culprits behind the chaos at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at the Sultan Iskandar Building here yesterday, which led to thousands of Malaysians working in Singapore having to walk across the Causeway to reach the republic early in the morning.

The Works Ministry said the act of the two bus drivers who had refused to pay the toll at the complex, triggered the chaos, which lasted for almost three hours.

The ministry said it viewed the case seriously and warned that legal action would be taken against the drivers.

“There were no protests by drivers at the CIQ Complex this morning.

“The overall toll collection was carried out smoothly without incident.”

It was learnt the chaos was orchestrated by the two factory bus drivers, who stopped their vehicles about 100m away from the complex and blocked the bus lanes, preventing hundreds of buses from entering the complex.

It was learnt the two drivers were unhappy with the toll hike, which took place yesterday, and had demanded an explanation from the authorities.

The drama unfolded at 4am and escalated at 5.30am when Malaysians working in Singapore began entering the complex via stage buses and express buses.

Due to the drivers’ actions, numerous Malaysians working in Singapore had to walk across the 1.056km causeway.

The toll rates for vehicles coming into Malaysia start from RM9.70. For outbound vehicles, the toll rates start from RM6.80.

Previously, only inbound vehicles were charged a RM2.90 toll.

Some questioned the rationale behind the drivers’ protest, as the government had only imposed the new toll rates yesterday, 27 months after it was supposed to have been implemented.

Questions were also raised as to why there were no similar reactions when Singapore increased the Vehicle Entry Permit charge into the republic on the same day by RM38 to RM86.

Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoint Authority said it deployed more officers on the ground yesterday to ensure travellers were cleared smoothly.

It said it would work with its Malaysian counterparts to monitor the situation.

Johor Baru South deputy police chief Supt Mohd Nadzir Ghulam Kadir said the drivers were not arrested, but were advised against repeating their offence.

He said the commotion began about 4.15am and ended about 8.05am, when those involved in the chaos were asked to remove their vehicles from the bus lanes leading to the complex.

Only Reel Drama For Today

LOVE is the deadliest poison.  And so is hatred. But love is still more powerful than hatred, and LOVE can conquer all.

That was the message I got from watching The White-Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom (白髮魔女傳), a timeless classic adapted from a novel by Liang Yusheng.  There was a 1993 film version of the story starring the luminous Brigitte Lin as the lead in The Bride With White Hair.

The new version stars the equally dazzling Fan Bingbing in the titular role.

After the movie, I went over to the Kinsahi Japanese Restaurant  for an Imperial Ebi Maki

After the movie, I went over to the Kisahi Japanese Restaurant for an Imperial Ebi Maki 

and

Kinsahi Ya Soft Shell Crab Maki.

Just felt like indulging in writing, reading (novel), feasting and loving, to my heart's content.

This is my day of rest.

Deal With It

There's so much anger concerning the toll hike and the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) issue right now. Maybe things are not all that rosy.

When Johor announced that it was changing the state's rest days to Friday and Saturday starting January 1, 2014, that left many baffled. Among the concerns was that the change would affect work, investments, family time, as it was not the same as other states and Singapore.

Currently only Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have rest days on Friday and Saturday.  Before 1994, Johor had Friday and Saturday as rest days. 

The people have probably gotten used to the change by now, and life goes on.

Then came the controversial Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014 issue that also got a lot of people talking about it.

And now it's the VEP and toll hike issue that have garnered criticisms even from some veteran Barisan Nasional lawmakers. Of course Malaysians who work in Singapore and those who have relatives across the Causeway will be really really pissed with the massive toll hike.

For Malaysians working in Singapore, driving in and out of the Causeway beginning August 1 is going to cost them about RM2,200 (just toll and VEP). Singaporean families who come to Johor Bahru for a meal, for a car wash, haircut, grocery shopping would probably reduce the frequency of their trips to JB.

Change is the only constant. No matter how unhappy you feel about these changes, it has and will take place. Work around it. A change in your circumstances and situation calls for change in mindset and game plan. And if you still can't accommodate the change, remove yourself from that predicament.

Take the case of the woman I talked to recently whose house is in Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad (Century Garden).  She has to come home either before 5pm or after 10.30pm, sometimes 11pm, because of the night market that is blocking the entrance of her house every Monday.

She knows the traders have to make a living.  But their presence is causing her some inconvenience.  She is in a dilemma, and it's sad that life dealt her such a card.  How will she play it? Complain, accept, resist, turn the other cheek, pray ... ?

“The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not look down on those weaker than you. One’s sorrow at the other side of the world can make the entire world suffer; one’s happiness can make the entire world smile.”

― Shams Tabrizi

Monday Blues: Pasar Malam in Taman Abad

DRIVING on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri was a breeze. It reminded me of the Lunar New Year when most of the shops were closed and people returned to their hometowns to celebrate with their family members.

It is the same with the Hari Raya celebrations, and I think it made the occasion even more meaningful after the aviation tragedy that struck the country in March and July.
The tragedies have nudged us to cherish every moment with the people in our lives, as we will never know what tomorrow brings.

Anyway, I was happily driving around the city, enjoying the light traffic when I ended up in Century Garden where the KSL City Mall and KSL Hotel and Resort is located.

I seldom drive to this area, so I was shocked when confronted with the "noise pollution" here.

The horns were blaring, and there was a traffic congestion on the roads around the KSL building. The car park of the shopping mall was also jam-packed.

The security guards, many of them foreigners, seemed to be at a loss as to what to do.
Welcome to the city, I thought. The situation was really chaotic.

It was a harrowing experience going up the steep and narrow multi-storey car park of the shopping mall, not knowing whether to turn right or left as motorists were all over the place without any security personnel to direct the traffic.

After I managed to find a parking space, I went to talk to some residents to see if this traffic jam was because it was a public holiday, being the first day of Hari Raya, or was it a regular occurrence?

A resident, living in Jalan Seladang, told me that she could only reach home before 5pm or after 10.30pm or 11pm on Mondays because of the night market right outside her house.

 "I can't bring my car into the house on Mondays now. I'm used to it and can't do much about it as the traders are also trying to make a living.

"If you don't allow people to make a living, then there will only be more snatch thefts and petty crimes, so my main complaint is not them (the traders) blocking the entrance to my house," she said.

However, the resident told me that she was irked that some traders are selling raw chicken and fish.

"The stench from the blood of the fresh meat is overpowering the next morning. I have no complaints against traders who sell clothes or pots and pans but raw poultry and fish is a strict no-no," she continued.

Besides this complaint, I heard another one about the road congestion and attitude of some road users.

This one is from a frequent shopper who applauded the shopping mall for bringing in Singaporeans by free shuttle bus to the mall.

When the shopping mall began operations, the tenants complained of slow business due to lack of promotion.

However, since the shuttle bus service was introduced, the place is now filled with shoppers from across the causeway.

However, this has aggravated the jam, not to mention the presence of the pasar malam traders hogging the road.

She was also upset that there were people who would flag the taxis down in the middle of the road and instead of just getting into the cab, they would either be bargaining or discussing the routes with the cabbie, and that, too, was another contributor to the road congestion.

All Seems To Be Rosy in Johor

"My bet is that there are many more Singaporean registered cars plying the Causeway than those of Malaysia.

I believe it will still be so even if the costs of driving across the Causeway increase by 10 times.

In short, if there is going to be a tit-for-tat over the cost of traveling across the Causeway, the Singaporeans are the ones who are going to be worse off.

I believe the Malaysian government had taken this into account before deciding on imposing the VEP and additional toll charges at the Causeway."

Why not just go and read what Annie has to say. Please go to

http://lifeofaannie.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-fight-singapore-cannot-win.html

The roads surrounding KSL City Mall and KSL Hotel and Resort in Taman Century, Johot Bahru was jam-packed with vehicles on the first day of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. 

In chaos. There was traffic congestion and noise pollution as motorists were blaring their horns.

Anyway, a taxi driver I spoke to yesterday supported Annie's sentiment on the recent announcement concerning the recently revised toll and levy charges that those using the Causeway will feel, come Aug 1.

The taxi driver is a Malay man who had worked in Singapore from the 1980s to 2010. He now drives a taxi for a living. He said he was all stressed up when he was working in Singapore.

Although he was making SGD3,000 a month, he decide to quit when the Singapore firm stated taking in inexperienced degree holders to fill the positions.

"When the inexperienced employees make mistakes, the seniors were blamed for their mistakes.

"It also became harder to work there when the company started employing foreign workers from China and India. These Chinese and Indian nationals don't get along with one another, and when they quarrel, we have to be thei mediators."

He says the Causeway is also heavily congested because there are more Singaporeans staying in Johor Bahru now.  The families stay in JB while the breadwinner travels to Singapore or stay there, and returns home only during weekends to be with the family.

The taxi driver says he has lots of Singaporean passengers taking his cab and they'd say something like when they step into JB, all their stress evaporates. When they see the Customs Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at JB Sentral, their headache will come back.

Yes the Singaporeans will continue to come to JB no matter what.

My opinion

1. JB can relieve stress

2. Singaporeans can shop and eat to their hearts' content before going back to the grind.

3. JB is a shopping haven across the Causeway as more branded outlets open in the City Square, Komtar JBCC Mall and Plaza Galleria@Kotaraya.

4. Singaporeans can live in landed properties with their pets. If you're not a pet lover, you will never understand this.

5. Those who don't like pets and too much housework can always opt for a posh condo, which is sprouting everywhere in JB.

I wonder what's the new game plan for Malaysians working in Singapore? Will more be switching to motorcycles or are they going to take the bus to work? Will they give up the "high" pay and look for a job in Johor? Will they move to Singapore and continue to work in the republic?

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. What will this new challenge and change bring?

As for Singapore-Johor ties, all is well and good. See this http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-ministers/1286078.html

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

The Ketupat is a symbol of Hari Raya like the Kolam  and the Kumquat are associated with Deepavali and the Lunar New Year respectively.

This is the burasak, a favourite among the Bugis community.

July 28 marks the first day of the month of Syawal 1435H (Hari Raya) or Eid al-Fitr also known as Feast of Breaking the Fast. 

Feast, Celebrate and Rejoice.