This morning, I took my son to Poliklinik Johari in Silibin, Ipoh for circumcision. It’s about time for him to go through the process of turning a boy into a proper teenager.
Circumcision is practised by all Muslim in Malaysia and throughout the Islamic world.
Just as expected, the highway operators are not willing to sacrifice for the sake of Malaysian by reducing the toll rates. I believe not many highway users will travel in the middle of the night just to save money except on the festive seasons.
Thank you BN for saving the highway operators from having to collect less.
Cruise along PLUS highway after midnight for 10 per cent discount By : Presenna Nambiar and Jennifer Gomez
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed showing the memorandum on “Revision of Highway Concession Agreements to be Made Public” yesterday
KUALA LUMPUR: A much-anticipated reduction in toll rates fizzled out yesterday, with only one of the 23 concessionaires agreeing to reduce the rates.
PLUS Expressways Bhd agreed to reduce toll rates for its PLUS and Elite highways by 10 per cent — but only for travel between midnight and 7am from Jan 1 for two years.
Its managing director Noorizah Abd Hamid said there would be a further 10 per cent reduction for travel during the same off-peak hours during festive periods such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas.
The discounted rates would apply at the time of exit.
Speaking at the Works Ministry headquarters here yesterday, she said this move was part of a three-step initiative under its PLUS Travel Incentive Programme which will end on Dec 31, 2010.
The incentive programme is, however, awaiting approval by bondholders.
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed, who was present, said he was confident bondholders would agree to it.
“We are also confident that they will be able to make up for the loss in toll collections with higher traffic volume,” he said.
With the 10 per cent discount, it would cost RM23.80 instead of RM26.50 for a one-way off-peak journey from Jalan Duta toll to the Ipoh Selatan toll.
“At the festive discount of up to 20 per cent, it would only cost RM21.40,” Noorizah said.
To encourage more highway users to use the electronic payment system, the third initiative involves a rebate of five per cent for those who spend at least RM200 a month on toll charges on PLUS and Elite highways.
Noorizah said the incentive programme was a corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at encouraging its highway users to travel during off-peak hours.
“Currently, 10 per cent of our highway users travel between midnight and 7am.
“We are hopeful that the incentive will make more users travel during off-peak hours.
“This will help distribute traffic better and our highway users can have a smoother ride.”
Noorizah said they had not worked out the earnings impact on the company but believes that it will be manageable.
The five per cent rebate incentive, aimed at getting more users to switch to the electronic payment system, would be facilitated by a soon-to-be launched PLUS Loyalty Programme.
KUALA LUMPUR: Taxi drivers will be allowed to do side businesses by selling packet drinks and phonecards to passengers.
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar said this was to help them supplement their income.
“The cabbies can sell drinks or pre-paid cards by collaborating with telcos in their taxis,” he told reporters yesterday after presenting certificates to 135 taxi drivers who completed a course co-organised by the ministry and Malaysian Taxi, Limousine and Hired Car Drivers and Operators Association (Petekma).
Another move to help cabbies supplement their income was to make it simpler for taxis to seek ministry approval to carry advertisements, including placing them on the roof of the vehicle.
He added the ministry had decided to increase the road worthiness of taxis from seven years to 10 years, as long as they received approval from Puspakom.
On new standardised taxis to be specially designed and produced by Proton, Noh said the ministry was working to get the national car manufacturer to trade in the taxis.
Noh also said public transport fares would be reviewed on an annual basis from next year. The last review was in 2005.
“If we review the fares every four, five years the increment will drastic. By making it annual, any increment will be more reasonable and less of a burden to consumers,” he said.
Noh added the ministry had actually completed its fare review but had to re-look it following several incentives recently given for public transportation, including slashed toll rates and fuel incentives.
He said the review would also consider peak hours as well as distance travelled as the ministry wanted to resolve the problem of cabbies not wanting to take passengers during peak hours.
Noh also said the Government would issue 1,000 permits to individual taxi drivers by this year.
A cabinet committee on pubic transportation, expected to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, will be set up for the purpose.
Petekma president Yusoff Lahir lauded the opportunity given to cabbies to take up side businesses and suggested they could also offer services like selling insurance.
“Of course, cabbies won’t be selling nasi lemak in the taxi,” he said.
Even the life of an Ustaz is not spared. Even worse when it is someone you know and lives in your neighbour hood. May Allah bless you Ustaz.
Oleh Nurhayati Abllah bhnews@bharian.com.myPASUKAN forensik memeriksa tempat kejadian Mohd Khairuddin (gambar kecil) ditetak oleh sekumpulan perompak, semalam. |
Pekerja sambilan mangsa rompakan di stesen minyak
IPOH: Seorang Pembantu Pentadbir Jabatan Agama Islam Perak yang bekerja sambilan sebagai juruwang di stesen minyak Petronas di Jalan Kuala Kangsar di sini, mati ditetak dalam satu rompakan di stesen minyak itu, pagi semalam.
Dalam kejadian jam 6.50 pagi itu, Mohd Khairuddin Mohamed Isa, 42, dari Chemor mati di tempat kejadian selepas pendarahan serius di kepala.
Ketua Polis Daerah Ipoh, Asisten Komisoner Azisman Alias, berkata sebelum kejadian itu, empat suspek yang menaiki sebuah kereta Proton Iswara datang ke stesen minyak untuk mengisi minyak.
“Bagaimanapun, dua daripada mereka masing-masing bersenjatakan parang keluar dari kenderaan dan memasuki premis itu sebelum menghampiri mangsa yang berada di kaunter pembayaran.
“Dua suspek terbabit dipercayai mengugut sebelum menetak kepala mangsa dan melarikan wang tunai berjumlah hampir RM1,000,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini, semalam.
Beliau berkata, pada masa sama, seorang wanita berusia 30 tahun yang juga pekerja di stesen minyak itu terselamat selepas dia menyedari kejadian berkenaan dan menyembunyikan diri.
“Polis masih mengenal pasti identiti keempat-empat suspek terbabit dan kes itu disiasat mengikut Seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan,” katanya.
Sementara itu, saksi kejadian, Norazila Mohd Sufian, 30, berkata dia menyedari kejadian itu ketika memulakan syif pagi bagi menggantikan mangsa yang bekerja syif malam.
“Pada mulanya, saya hanya melihat sebuah kereta yang dinaiki empat lelaki berhenti di pam minyak itu untuk mengisi minyak. Bagaimanapun, dua daripada mereka tiba-tiba keluar dari kenderaan dengan membawa parang memasuki kaunter pembayaran.
“Saya tergamam ketika mendengar jeritan mangsa yang dikenali sebagai ‘ustaz’ dan melihat dua lelaki menetak kepala mangsa sehingga berlumuran darah,” katanya yang masih trauma dengan kejadian itu.
Beliau melarikan diri kerana bimbang kumpulan itu akan turut mencederakannya.
“Saya sedih dengan kehilangan rakan sekerja kerana ‘ustaz’ adalah seorang rakan yang baik. Dia hanya bekerja sambilan pada waktu malam di stesen minyak berkenaan untuk menambah pendapatan keluarga,” katanya.
