Posts filed under 'News and Information'
Starting 1 Jun 2011, all visitors to Malaysia will have to scan both their index fingers at immigration checkpoints. This applies to both the Johor Bahru CIQ as well as at Linkedua. The new system is required due to the escalating cases of foreigners committing crimes in Malaysia and re-entering using a fake passport.
The procedure is relatively straightforward:
1. First, the immigration officer scan the passport and indicates the passengers whom need to scan the fingerprints are.
2. Both driver and passengers will have to alight and one-by-one, scan both index fingers. People with weak fingerprint (can barely see the lines on the index fingers) or with a scar on their index fingers are not excused. All in all, it takes about 90 seconds per person.
3. If you are a MACS holder, you are exempted as your records should already be in the system.
4. Once you have scanned your fingerprints successfully, you are given a sticker with an ID code.
Fingerprint. (Image by Kevin Dooley under Creative Commons license.)
The sad fact for all travelers is the time it will now take you to clear the customs at Johor Bahru. This gets a little frustrating as you watch the people in front of the queue go through the fingerprint scanning procedure – which can take a long time if it is a large family. For the next 1 week, expect Read on…
June 5th, 2011
Amongst the inflation experienced in Singapore, the increase in petrol price is one of the most felt items for motorists. The price of petrol has increase steadily over the past 2 years in Singapore, from a low of about S$1.65 in year 2009 for RON95 grade petrol to about S$2.10 at current rates (prices stated are before house discounts), a 27% increase.
Little wonder do you see streams of Singapore vehicles heading northward to Johor Bahru, motorist waking up as early as 4am to top up their petrol.
With the steady increase in price of RON97 grade petrol in Malaysia as well, there has been an obvious trend of Singaporeans topping up their tank with RON95 grade petrol in Johor Bahru. In Malaysia, there is a big differential between RON97 petrol (at RM2.90/litre) and RON95 Petrol (at RM1.90/litre). A typical Singapore-Registered vehicle can top up an average of about 25 litre/visit to Johor Bahru (assuming that you enter Johor Bahru with the petrol gauge just above the middle level). This equates to a saving/trip of:
For RON 97 Petrol: (25 X (S$2 – S$(2.9/2.4))) = S$19.80
For RON 95 Petrol: (25 X (S$1.85 – S$(1.9/2.4))) = S$26.45
We spoke to a few petrol station owners in Johor Bahru and all of them highlighted that there is a marked increase in business from Singapore-registered vehicles, especially at late night. There have also been more motorists from Singapore topping up using RON95 petrol.
RON97 or RON95? Which is the nozzle you should pick up?
As you might be aware by now, it is against the law in Malaysia for a Singaporean to top-up the petrol tank using RON95 petrol, as this grade of petrol is subsidized for Malaysians only. Recently, 4 Singaporean motorists had been caught topping up their fuel tank at a Mobile petrol station along Tebrau highway – the authorities had been lying in wait with cameras Read on…
May 22nd, 2011
Unfortunately for Mr Chiam See Tong, his gamble to leave Potong Pasir SMC to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC did not yield the desired results. Not only did he not win the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC contest, his wife – Lina Chiam who is taking his contest seat in the Potong Pasir SMC has lost to Mr Sitoh Yih Pin in the Singapore General Election 2011 by a very narrow margin of 114 votes. Lina Chiam got 7859 votes while Sitoh got 7973 votes.
The results meant that the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) does not hold any seats in Singapore Parliament.
Just some images in tribute of Mr Chiam See Tong – Source (The Temasek Review)
Mr Chiam See Tong at a rally
We will never see this again
Love of Mr Chiam See Tong
This will probably be the last election contest for Mr Chiam due to his ailing health and there are concerns on what will happen to Potong Pasir. Will it be absorbed into the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in the next Singapore General Election? Will the well bonded community spirit in Potong Pasir be lost? Will Lina Chiam continue her husband’s work Read on…
May 8th, 2011
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