New cash-free card system for KL

New cash-free card system makes visiting KL a breeze

Tourists to the capital will soon find it much easier with the launch of the KL PASS card system, enabling seamless access to the various tourist spots around KL.

Speaking at the launch, mayor Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin said the system, produced and managed by Meridian Tourist Access Sdn Bhd, was aimed at making it easier for tourists visiting certain attractions.

“From the KL Tourism Master Plan’s research, some attractions record high daily visitors while others suffer from low numbers. This is partly due to the limited packages to motivate tourists and the absence of sufficient awareness to the diversities KL has to offer,” he said.

Amin expressed his confidence in KL PASS’s potential to reflect the capital’s position as one of the world’s top ten shopping destinations.

“Given the international recognition, it is vital to ensure continued growth, development and maintain standards of excellence in enhancing tourists’ experiences,” he said.

Meridian Tourist Access managing director Farouk Nurish said the project’s system cost RM1.2 million to set up, with another RM1 million expected to be spent.

“We conservatively estimate about 20,000 cards will be sold in the first year alone,” he said.

Farouk described the KL PASS as a cash-free solution for tourists to enjoy not just attractions but also retail and F&B outlets, with public transportation soon to come.

It is estimated between 2011 and 2014 some 38 million international tourists have travelled to Malaysia.

The KL PASS is available for purchase online at www.klpass.com and various sales outlets in the city and at KLIA.

~News courtesy of The Sun~

恐袭阴影笼罩 部分贩商休业 阿罗街人潮稀落

恐袭阴影笼罩 部分贩商休业 阿罗街人潮稀落



晚上7时左右， 不少夜市业者刚开业， 人潮依旧稀疏。

“噢，怎么没开档？”

吉隆坡著名旅游景点阿罗街(Jalan Alor)被突如其来的恐袭消息笼罩，上午时段部分食肆没开业，至晚上7时许虽然不少业者开档，但人潮也显得稀落，不见平日的车水马龙。

早市冷清气氛怪

阿罗街不仅是隆市美食天堂，也是闻名海外的旅游点，这里更是是吉隆坡金三角地带上班族常去的用餐地点，平日一踏入中午12时即高朋满座，一些食店甚至需大排长龙等位。

不过，随着警方接获可靠消息，指阿罗街及附近或有恐袭威胁，美国大使馆和澳洲政府也个别在该国的旅游网页向他们的公民发出旅游警戒，避免前往阿罗街后，当地的氛围确实有所不同。

《南洋商报》记者走访当地时发现，尽管仍有部分不知情商家如常营业，惟据观察，该区比平时稍为冷清，一整天下来气氛和平日的热闹喧哗不一样。

尽管不确定这是恐袭传言造成，但部分食肆没开业，倒真的让不少食客扑了个空，而且部分受访者也直言，踏入阿罗街不见人流，感觉“怪怪”。

一些食客一如平日到常光顾的档摊，但到达时发现档口居然无人并上锁，才知道休业没开，大感扫兴，只好转往其他食肆“找吃”。

未见警方巡逻

受访的大部分食肆业者及食客均相信，有者是因为恐袭传言而却步，因为直到下午12时40分，业者也只见稀稀落落的人群走进阿罗街，预计今天生意已受影响。

阿罗街食肆分早市及夜市，一些业者今早8、9时开业后，陆续从食客转述或翻阅报章得悉恐袭威胁的消息，他们说虽然有消息指警方提高警戒并增加巡逻人力，惟业者看不到有警方人员在该区巡逻。

他们表示，情况看来仍是相当平和，加上如今消息真真假假，而且仍有食客上门，所以不会提前打烊，反之会像平日般如常作业。

游客减少变外劳街

阿罗街两边均有食肆摊档，但今天情况有异，一半档口没开业，平日如联合国般的美食天堂今天看来倒像成了“外劳街”。

当地附近有很多酒店，入住的游客都喜欢到阿罗街享受地道美食，一般上午约8时就会看到三三两两的游客，从酒店步行到食肆用早餐。

不过，据本地食客说，平时可见大群游客的阿罗街，今天非常冷清。

丘祖昆：安抚小贩 工会理事留守视察

阿罗街小贩联合商工会副主席丘祖昆受访时向《南洋商报》记者说，为了安抚小贩紧张心情，阿罗街小贩联合商工会理事议决，晚上留守阿罗街视察。

他说，主席马国强和他本身以及理事们都会留守阿罗街，虽然他们不是保安员，但为了保护小贩能继续营业，留守现场是他们能做的事。

同时，他出表示，该会对警方维持治安的能力有信心，并表示小贩其实做不了什么，只能依赖警方协助提升安全措施和策略。

另一方面，他也说，有的食客可能不清楚阿罗街早市只有4个档口营业，另外超过100个档口为夜市业者，从傍晚开始营业直到次日清晨3时，所以会以为整个阿罗街都变得静悄悄。

他坦言市道不好，早在9‧16集会事件前业者的生意已受影响，随着的集会和如今的恐袭阴影，或会加剧情况，惟他庆幸昨天的公共假期，有看到人流恢复。

方贵伦促警方加强巡逻 确保游客商贩安全

武吉免登区国会议员方贵伦说，政府须积极及严正看待美澳大使馆旅游警戒游客避免接近阿罗街的情报来源，并希望警方及反恐小组加强巡逻及提升安全措施，确保游客及商贩的安全。

“我们一定要避免阿罗街及武吉免登区成下个恐怖袭击目标。”

他说，武吉免登区是我国重点的旅游区，在美元兑马币的优势下，将吸引游客到来，因此安全因素非常重要，警方须时时刻刻提高警惕，避免恐怖袭击案发生。

另外，他也希望警方能禁止本周六的大集会，因为该集会所衍生的种族仇恨会让我国一直提倡的国民团结功亏一篑，警方应避免让这次的大集会成为种族团结的绊脚石。

他说，我国经历了航空意外事件、9‧16集会等已重创旅游业，政府须积极向海外推展我国旅游业，此时若发生恐袭将让我国旅游业一蹶不振，尤其泰国曼谷近期发生的爆炸案应成为警方的借镜。

法国籍食客●柯林（来马工作3年）：比平时冷清

我在马来西亚从事基本建设领域相关事业，办公地点就在吉隆坡，知道阿罗街平时确有不少游客。

今早从新闻知道阿罗街旅游警戒的消息，但我还是如常到阿罗街来用餐，只是发现比平日冷清，平时可以看见一大群游客，今天没有。

德士业者●李添喜：游客却步“未发市”

平常到阿罗街用餐，都会看见对面街的摊档有营业，但今天发现很多档口没开，但不确定是否与恐袭消息有关。

我常载游客到阿罗街，他们都很喜欢这里，一般载来的游客是2人或6人。

自从9‧16集会至今，阿罗街游客有减少的情况，今天更是人流稀疏，除了下午有游客要赴机场，我上午大半天时间都没有载过游客到来，可谓是“未发市”，不过倒是发现不少外劳。

烧腊鸡饭业者●李雪亮：阅报才知消息

我上午9时来开档后，读报章才知道有“恐袭”消息，如今已是中午时分了仍不见有多少食客，感觉和平时街头巷尾热闹大有不同。

往日从中午至下午2时30分左右，阿罗街总是人潮满满，但今天食客不多。相信是听到消息者为策安全，减少接近这地区。

无论如何，一切安好，没有发生不妥的情况，我也没看见警方加强巡逻，我们一般营业至下午4时，不会提早收档。

炒粿条业者●黄亚仔：不担心恐袭消息

食客前来打包交谈时，我才知道美、澳发出阿罗街旅游警戒，这是阿罗街第一次听到的恐袭消息。

我是吉隆坡人，在这里长大、工作和居住，不会太担心这项消息，反而眼前是市道已经很差了，如今阿罗街游客更是越来越少，今天也很冷清，这才让人头痛。

~以上新闻转自南洋商报~

雪隆7地区破百点 莎阿南最严重

雪隆7地区破百点 莎阿南最严重

雪隆烟霾情况出现恶化，清晨6时的空气污染指数已踏入不健康水平，多区更保持指数上升趋势，以致天空一片朦朧，能见度减低。

　根据环境局张贴的数据，雪隆7个地区，在早上的空气指数已突破百点，莎阿南更是去到204点，隨后的指数更是节节上升，截至中午1时的指数是255点，在眾地区中位列榜首。

　另一个空气糟糕地区为巴生港口，除了清晨6时以外，接下来的时段都是不健康水平，当中最高指数是255点。

《中国报》

中秋节快乐

Haze expected late this evening

Haze expected late this evening

The air quality nationwide which was reported to be improving since this morning, is expected to see the return of the haze late this evening.

A spokesman for the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Dr Hisham Mohd Anip said a tropical cyclone wind currently taking shape in the eastern Philippines would push the wind carrying the haze from Indonesia to Malaysia.

"If this happens, the wind changes that usually occur gradually, are expected to bring back the haze late this evening.

"For sure, starting tomorrow the air quality will begin to be affected," he told Bernama today.

"He said the haze was expected to linger for the next seven to 10 days, while the level of the Air Pollutant Index (API) was also dependent on the speed of the cyclonic winds, as well as rate of forest burning activities in Indonesia.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) portal, 14 areas recorded healthy API readings as at 1pm, with Sandakan recording a reading of 22, Industrial Training Institute Miri (24), Limbang and Tanjung Malim (28) and Kapit (31).

The other areas are Keningau (33), Kota Kinabalu (39), Miri and Kuala Selangor (42), Jerantut and Perai (45), Kangar (49), Muar (47), and Bintulu (50). Meanwhile, 32 areas registered moderate API readings with Banting recording the highest moderate reading at 80.

No region recorded unhealthy API readings. API readings of 0-50 is categorised as good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (hazardous).

The public can visit the website at http://apims.doe.gov.my/v2/ to obtain the current API readings.

~News courtesy of Bernama~

Petaling Street hawkers may close on Sept 16

Petaling Street hawkers may close on Sept 16

Some 80% of the hawkers in Petaling Street have indicated that they will close on Sept 16 to avoid any untoward incident should the "Red Shirt" gathering go ahead.

The mammoth anti-Bersih rally planned by the Himpunan Maruah Melayu, which has identified Bukit Bintang, Law Yat Plaza and Petaling Street as gathering points, has raised the concern of traders in those areas.

Apart from the Petaling Street hawkers, traders in Bukit Bintang are also ready to declare a day off on Malaysia Day.

According to Sin Chew Daily, hawkers in China Town are keeping close tabs on the development of the planned rally, and the majority of them are prepared to stay closed when the rally takes place to avoid possible confrontation with the protesters.

Some of the petty traders interviewed by the daily said since the majority of their customers are Chinese, they decided to take a break on Sept 16 as they believe Chinese would avoid Petaling Street that day.

Some of them told the daily that up to 80% of the hawkers would not open for business as they are worried that the Red Shirt rally, which has a racial connotation based on remarks posted by Himpunan Maruah Melayu on social media, may not be as peaceful as the Bersih 4.0 rally held on the eve of Merdeka Day.

However, a small group of the hawkers are keeping their options open, believing that police would adopt the same stand they took during the Bersih rally and would be able to control the crowd.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said neither Bukit Bintang nor Petaling Street is suitable for big rallies as they would affect both traders and tourists.

"If such rallies have to be held, the Merdeka Square is a more suitable venue, not crowded tourist spots."

Ang said he is working closely with the police and hoped that they would act to stop the rally.

However, he urged the traders concerned to close for business if the organisers insist on having the rally and use Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street as gathering points.

He said he will use all available channels to notify traders of the association's decision, adding that those who ignore its advice would be left to their own devices.

~News courtesy of The Sun~

Air quality in Peninsular Malaysia remains bad

Air quality in Peninsular Malaysia remains bad

Air quality remained bad today as the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia continued to be blanketed by a heavy shroud of haze, with many coastal cities recording an unhealthy reading on the Air Pollutant Index (API).

According to readings published on the Department of Environment's (DOE) website, six locations including Seremban, Malacca, and Putrajaya were rated as unhealthy (100-200) on the API as at 5pm today.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said in a statement today that the haze is caused by open burning of forests and land in Sumatera, Indonesia according to satellite images captured by the Singaporean based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The agency detected 132 hot spots in Kalimantan, Indonesia, alone, while only one hot spot was detected in Sumatera due to incomplete satellite coverage as of Sunday.

According to satellite coverage, the ministry said, the haze is expected to spread to Pahang and to east Johor in the next 48 hours while in East Malaysia the haze from Kalimantan is expected to spread to west Sarawak and the waters surrounding both Sabah and Sarawak in the same period of time.

The ministry said the country is still experiencing the southwest monsoon phase that is expected to end by mid-September and noted that the haze will likely dissipate by the monsoon transition phase in October.

Meanwhile, the Environment Department will continue monitoring the status and trend of air quality on an hourly basis due to the uncertain haze situation and increased hot spots in Sumatera and Kalimantan.

All government agencies relevant to haze disaster response have also stepped up efforts in preventing open burning locally that will worsen the already unhealthy air quality.

Local governments and land owners have also been instructed to closely monitor and take preventive actions in places that could easily catch fire such as waste disposal spots, forests, farm land, and industrial complexes.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will also head to Indonesia as soon as possible to meet his counterpart there to discuss solutions and to finalise a memorandum of understanding on cross-border haze prevention.

~News courtesy of The Sun~

逢周六日提供服务 餐车入驻独立广场

逢周六日提供服务 餐车入驻独立广场



流动餐车相当受民众欢迎， 因此获得市政厅允许在苏丹阿都沙末大厦市政厅剧场外围提供饮食服务。

为多元化旅游元素，吉隆坡市政厅允许流动餐车在独立广场毗邻苏丹阿都沙末大厦市政厅剧场外围，向公众提供餐饮服务。

这项措施从昨晚开始，市政厅料将逢周六晚及周日上午，局部围起道路供餐车之用。

隆市政厅（规划部）执行总监拿督莫哈末纳吉指出，位于独立广场的流动餐车，是于昨天首日投入服务，并有15名餐车商贩参与。

他指出，当局观察昨天的情况，发现流动餐车颇受民众欢迎。

“因此隆市政厅将和峇都路零售商协会（BARRA）合作，在周六晚及周日上午，局部关闭路段提供流动餐车服务。”

莫哈末纳吉是今早参与“绿色无车早晨”后，这样指出。

绿色早晨无车日

不过他说，独立广场逢周末举办流动餐车活动，并非为配合绿色早晨无车日而准备，只是流动餐车已是国际趋势，市政厅与协会初步合作，以测试公众对餐车服务的反应。

他也回应有意在隆市地区的提供流动餐车服务者需依据一般的小贩执照程序，向隆市政厅小贩组申请执照。

另外，峇都路零售商协会（BARRA）主席拿督刘伟强指出，协会属下有25个流动餐车商贩，其中15个年轻创业者于昨天开始，每逢周六晚上8时至12时及周日上午7时至10时，提供饮食类的服务。

今办荷兰脚车基建研讨会

吉隆坡市政厅将于近期举办荷兰脚车基建研讨会，并于明日（9月7日）上午在市政厅大厦主持推介仪式。

莫哈末纳吉说，隆市政厅与荷兰驻马大使馆配合举办研讨会，以针对脚车道设施事项展开交流。

吉隆坡市长拿督阿敏诺丁今早主持“绿色无车早晨”活动，与荷兰驻马大使馆一众代表，以及荷兰驻马大使夫妇哈利摩利纳及路易娜丝体验骑脚车乐趣。

荷兰驻马大使馆代表们也受邀体验流动餐车服务。

荷兰驻马大使哈利摩利纳指出，荷兰城市人早已视骑脚车往办公处上班为日常生活的一部分，乐于分享脚车道设施有趣概念，而吉隆坡半年内已设置脚车道，仍有提升设施的空间。

他说，其办公室毗邻公交站只是5分钟路程，为鼓励员工骑脚车上班，办公处范围有提供浴室及橱柜，以方便员工抵达办公处后更衣上班。

~以上新闻转自南洋商报~