2020旅游年放眼招亚欧中东客 目标1千亿令吉收入
慕沙尤索：预计能吸引更多来自新加坡、印尼、泰国、汶莱、中国、欧洲和中东的游客。
迎接2020大马旅游年来临之际，大马旅游促进局继续积极在海外展开宣传活动，放眼实现吸引3000万名外国游客，贡献1000亿令吉旅游收入的目标。
该局总监拿督慕沙尤索夫接受马新社专访时说，宣传活动预计能吸引更多来自新加坡、印尼、泰国、汶莱、中国、欧洲和中东的游客。
他说，新一轮宣传活动将于明年1月在印度、汶莱和西班牙开跑;2月是意大利;3月是德国;紧接着是其他目标国家。
他解释，实际上，2020大马旅游年海外宣传活动早在2017年已在伦敦开跑，随后是聚焦2018年1月在泰国举行的东盟旅游论坛。
中东的游客是大马旅游局欲吸引游马的目标之一。
慕沙说，除了通过巡回宣传活动、社交媒体和旅游促进局官网宣传，浮罗交怡旅游配套、郊区民宿和趣味活动配套等也是宣传活动的一部分。
他说，各项本地传统文化体验的旅游活动也能让本地居民参与其中。
慕沙说，相比网络促销配套，多数游客倾向于在门市购买度假促销配套。因此，他促请消费者慎选拥有合法执照的旅行社。
~光华日报~
传马国新隆高铁要减站点缩规模降成本
消息指马来西亚政府明年5月宣布新隆高铁的最新情况时，预料将减少停靠站点及缩小站点建筑规模，以压低预计耗资上千亿令吉的成本。（档案照片）
马国《南洋商报》引述消息指马国政府为了降低成本，预料将减少新隆高铁站点和缩小站点建造规模，例如柔佛站点原本计划的大型商场将不会出现在首期计划内。消息没透露将舍弃马国七个站点中的哪个或哪些站点。
（吉隆坡综合讯）消息指马来西亚政府明年5月宣布新隆高铁的最新情况时，预料将减少停靠站点及缩小站点建筑规模，以压低预计耗资上千亿令吉的成本。
消息人士告诉《南洋商报》，马国政府计划采取上述两项措施以减低新隆高铁（HSR）成本。“例如柔佛依斯干达布蒂里站点面积将缩小。”
消息表示：“根据原本的蓝图，这个站点将建有购物商场。但根据新的‘缩小版计划’，当局将只着重兴建站点，原本计划的大型商场等其他设施将不会出现在第一期计划内。”消息说，另一项减低成本的措施是减少马国境内的七个站点。消息没透露将舍弃哪个或哪些站点。
据马来西亚高铁机构早前的宣布，马国境内的原有的七个站点包括吉隆坡马来西亚城、布城、芙蓉、马六甲，以及柔佛的麻坡、峇株巴辖和依斯干达布蒂里，然后延伸到新加坡裕廊东的高铁终站。
峇株巴辖站最可能被舍弃
据了解，上述七个站点之中，吉隆坡站与布城站最不可能舍弃，芙蓉站与马六甲站又是森美兰及马六甲唯一高铁站点，舍弃的可能性也不高。
至于柔佛境内的三个站点，依斯干达布蒂里站点直接连接新加坡，因此较不可能舍弃，麻坡则是内政部长、希盟署理主席与土著团结党主席慕尤丁的选区所在，慕尤丁多年来都视高铁站点为其政绩之一。因此相比之下，最有可能割爱的可能是峇株巴辖站。
消息人士也透露，马方也将征地赔偿金和站点设计费，列为可以降低成本的关键领域。
关于新隆高铁的成本，纳吉政府指其成本约550亿令吉（约184亿新元）。但经济事务部长阿兹敏7月18日在国会下议院答询时表示，新隆高铁实际成本高达1100亿令吉（约359亿新元）。
新加坡与马来西亚在2016年12月签署“新隆高铁双边协定”，打造全长350公里、新加坡直通吉隆坡的高铁服务。此计划原定2018年动工、2026年底投入运作，但希盟赢得去年5月大选上台后，再次出任首相的马哈迪先以减少国家债务为由，要取消新隆高铁计划，过后则要求展延工程。
两国经过几轮谈判，终于在去年9月签署协定，同意把高铁工程展延约两年。马来西亚为此必须赔偿新加坡1500万新元的延期费用。
双方虽同意延迟新隆高铁项目开工日期，但开工日期不能晚于明年5月31日，也就是希盟政府成立超过两年之后，否则马方就视同毁约而必须额外赔偿新方超过6600万新元。
新加坡交通部：至今未收到马国任何正式企划书
新加坡交通部发言人受询时指出，新加坡至今尚未收到马来西亚有关新隆高铁项目的任何正式企划书。
~早报网~
In support of inbound tourism
Visa has announced its partnership with Mid Valley Megamall. At the event, (from left) Ng, Tourism Malaysia Package Development Division director Syed Yahya Syed Othman, Tourism Malaysia Package Development Division Secretariat Shopping Malaysia head, Norliza Md Zain and Mid Valley City chief executive officer Daniel Yong.
KUALA LUMPUR: In support of Visit Malaysia 2020, and its target of achieving 30 million international tourist arrivals, Visa has unrolled a series of initiatives to promote inbound tourism.
“We have year-long promotions and offers in various parts of Malaysia including Klang Valley, Johor Baru and Penang. Visa cardholders can enjoy discounts and benefits at family attractions such as Legoland, Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, and KidZania, other outlets like BH Petrol and Swarovski, as well as hospitals such as ParkCity Medical Centre and Subang Jaya Medical Centre,” says Visa country manager for Malaysia, Ng Kong Boon.
Aside from establishing partnerships with such attractions, hotels and dining outlets, the company has also established tie-ups with major shopping malls to roll out attractive promotions in an effort to play its part in promoting Visit Malaysia 2020.
To this end, Visa has announced its partnership with Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur recently on Dec 12. Being the world’s leader in digital payments, this partnership seeks to encourage tourists to use digital payment for their purchases during the festive season.
With this campaign Visa cardholders can make payment with their contactless card for purchases made at Mid Valley Megamall here and The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, Johor Baru, to be eligible for redemption gifts. To sweeten the deal, when they shop on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and on the eve of public holidays and on public holidays, they will also receive eco-friendly metal straws and pans as giveaways for transactions about RM200 and RM350 respectively.
For the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration, Visa and Mid Valley will be introducing another campaign from Jan 5, 2020 to Feb 2, 2020 where Visa cardholders will receive Toys “R” Us vouchers when they spend minimum RM350 with their contactless cards.
Ng notes a tremendous growth in adoption of digital payment.
Visa cardholders in Melaka are also in for a treat as Visa has also partnered with Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, Terminal Pahlawan and Hatten Square. From now till Jan 2, 2020 Visa cardholders will receive a specially designed Barbie canvas shopping bag when they spend minimum RM300 using their contactless cards.
According to Ng, this is part of the effort to propel adoption of digital payment, which has seen a tremendous growth due to the introduction of e-wallets. Furthermore, digital payments are a more convenient and safe way to making payment, as no physical cash is involved and tourists do not need to walk around with a big amount of local currency.
“Many people have the impression that the exchange rate applied when using their cards to make payment in a foreign currency is not as good as what they can get at a money changer. However, this is not necessarily true, as the exchange rate offered by the banks are just as competitive.
“We are extremely excited to promote Malaysia as a tourist destination, especially to our neighbours in Asia Pacific. Based on our data, Singaporeans, Indonesians and the Chinese are the top spenders when they travel to Malaysia. During this festive period, we are partnering with malls frequented by tourists to encourage them to use their payment cards, particularly contactless payments, when they make their purchases here. These promotions are designed to help boost tourism spend as part of the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign, “ Ng said.
~The Star~
吹东北季风迎寒凉岁末 巴生谷北马冷气候至2月初！
这是个充满寒意的季末，继泰国曼谷出现低气候，我国的多个州属特别是北马区，在这个岁末直至明年，同样充满凉意，最低温或在摄氏20至22度左右！
气象局国家气候及地球物理营运中心主任莫哈末希山博士接受《中国报》专访时说，当局预测，国内多个州属特别是北马，从12月至明年2月初，有低温现象可能性。
他说，这是因为受到东北季候风影响，以致北极、在西伯利亚和蒙古地区形成的冷风团，在年杪至2月初，会通过季候风从中国带到南中国海再吹向东南亚，包括大马。
“根据气候学，大马在年尾通常气候会比较寒凉一点，这很正常，至于今年的的温度可以多低，胥视北极气候而定。”
据了解，常年炎热的马来西亚，曾在2005年，在瓜拉吉赖出现摄氏15.7度低温。
他不忘提醒一些居住在较低洼地区的居民，由于近期会持续下雨，因此要防范突发水灾可能性，而一些水灾黑区基于涨潮情况会恶化。
日前，《马新社》也报道，巴生谷一带气候犹如金马仑高原和云顶般寒冷，特别是在晚间，巴生谷一带的气温创下本月最低的摄氏22度，但这与东北季候风有关，而该季候风预计在明年3月结束。
（新闻整理自《中国报》）
Nasi Goreng Pattaya, or simply nasi pattaya, is a Southeast Asian fried rice dish made by covering or wrapping chicken fried rice, in thin fried egg or omelette.
Despite its name, the dish is believed to originate from Malaysia, and today is also commonly found in Indonesia and Singapore. It is often served with chili sauce, tomato ketchup, slices of cucumber, and keropok.
~wikipedia~
A friendlier Immigration experience
Immigration officers will be taught basic Mandarin and other essential languages in an effort to provide a friendlier service at the country’s entry points.
Besides easing communication, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud (pic) said the move was also made in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign.
“As part of our ongoing effort to improve the Immigration Department, we want to enhance our counter service, especially at the KLIA (KL International Airport) and other airports.
“Our officers must provide a friendly service because they are our visitors’ first impression of the country when they arrive.
“Those who are stationed at counters will be taught a basic level of Mandarin and other languages to help ease communication, ” he said in an interview ahead of the Immigration Department Day celebrations today.
Khairul Dzaimee, who took over the helm of the department in January this year, said one of his focus areas was personal development for all his officers.
“For me, training and upskilling of our officers is a very important aspect.
“This year, we increased the training period for our cadet officers to four months.
“As for existing officers, they, too, will be required to attend intensive courses to improve themselves, ” he said.
He also spoke on instilling integrity among Immigration officers.
“My wish is for the Immigration Department to be an enforcement agency that is respected by all because of the integrity of our officers, ” he added.
Besides training, Khairul Dzaimee said the department would also beef up its enforcement operations.
“When I inherited the department, we already had a policy where there is no day without an enforcement operation.
“I continued that policy and we intend to increase it further.
“With the Back For Good (B4G) amnesty programme ending on Dec 31, we will ensure that on Jan 1 we will go ahead with our enforcement efforts on a massive scale.
“There will be no compromise for illegal immigrants who are caught after the programme, ” he said.
Khairul Dzaimee also said the department did not intend to extend the deadline of the Back For Good programme.
“As we are approaching the deadline, we see the queues at the Immigration Department getting longer and we expect this to increase further.
“To accommodate this, we have extended our operating hours from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays. We also open on Saturdays until 3pm.
“However, the Home Ministry has made it clear that there will be no extension of the Dec 31 deadline, ” he added.
The B4G programme was introduced this year as an effort to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in the country.
Under the programme, illegal immigrants are allowed to return home without punishment as long as they pay a RM700 compound and can produce flight tickets.
On the Immigration Department Day celebrations, Khairul Dzaimee said for the first time, the department would honour outstanding officers with medals.
The department would also be giving out a special award to an individual for his lifelong contribution to the department.
~The Star~
