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Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Most Singaporean motorists relieved to have VEP ready ahead of July 1
Malaysia will begin enforcement action on Singapore-registered vehicles without a VEP from July 1. PHOTO: ST FILE Most Singaporean motorists relieved to have VEP ready ahead of July 1 JOHOR BAHRU - Eager to stay on the right side of the law, many Singaporean motorists are glad to have their Malaysian Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) RFID tags ready ahead of the July 1 enforcement at the border. Mr Kelvin Chan, 62, was relieved his VEP tag was finally fitted to his car during an appointment at the installation centre in Danga Bay here on June 4. The retiree from Singapore said the registration process had taken six months as he initially failed to submit the correct documents. 'I am not very familiar with the internet, so there were some issues on my end. But once I gave the right documents, the VEP was issued promptly and I got my appointment date. 'I admit I was getting a bit worried previously as many of my friends who often come to Johor Baru for local food and short holidays have already got their VEP tags last year,' he said. Mr Chan said he left home early in the morning for his appointment. However, just before reaching the Woodlands checkpoint, he realised he had forgotten the physical copy of the form. 'After turning back to pick it up, the rest of the journey went smoothly. On the way to Johor Baru, I heard the news that VEP enforcement will start on July 1. 'I am relieved I have it now,' he said, adding that he plans to visit Johor Bahru more frequently, as he owns a condominium near the Causeway. Another motorist who only wished to be known as Mohd Faizal, 39, is also glad that his appointment date to get his VEP tag fitted is coming up. 'I heard the summons for Singapore cars with no VEP is 300 ringgit (S$91). 'Although some might say the amount is not much after conversion from Singapore dollars, it is still money and I do not want to get fined for something that I can avoid,' said the freelancer. Singapore permanent resident Evelyn Lee, 40, is glad that the Malaysian government has given ample time before enforcement. 'When the VEP rule was announced in May last year, there were many Singapore-registered car owners who had rushed to get their tags done. 'I managed to get my VEP tag at the end of December, thanks to a reminder from my Malaysian relative,' said the mother-of-three. She travels to Malaysia frequently to visit family members in Johor, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur. Ms Lee said the RFID tag, which is linked to her e-wallet, has also made VEP payment at the Immigration checkpoint more convenient as she does not have to wind down her window to tap at the machine. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Holidaymakers flock to Penang as hotels offer all-you-can-eat durian deals
Many Penang hotels bundled room rentals with all-you-can-eat durian feasting. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK GEORGE TOWN - Never underestimate the power of the Musang King, Black Thorn and all their genetic cousins to pull in the crowds. With the durian season here as well as the school holidays, most hotels were at least 85 per cent full during the weekend while some were fully booked, said Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chapter chairman Tony Goh. 'The hotels were packed and did well during the long weekend. 'Hotels by the beach and in the town area were almost full,' Mr Goh added. As with the yearly tradition, most hotels bundled room rentals with all-you-can-eat durian feasting. 'Penang is renowned for having orchards that produce durians you cannot find in other states. 'Other than the ever-popular Musang King and Black Thorn, there are 'vintage' clones like Hor Lor, Red Prawn, Green Skin and Capri, and rare variants like Tupai King and Lin Feng Jiao (purportedly named after Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan's wife). 'Each variant offers a slightly different tang, and for durian lovers, these are complex flavours to be appreciated and deciphered,' said Mr Goh. Penang tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the 'King of Fruits' was a fail-proof attraction. He said with the surge in visitors, the funicular train to Penang Hill also saw an increase in ridership: 6,691 on May 30, 8,183 on May 31, 9,396 on June 1 and 9,251 on June 2. 'The ridership totalled 33,521 in the past four days. 'On normal non-peak days, it is around 4,000 a day,' Mr Wong said. He said the increase in visitors was also attributed to Singapore's school holidays, which had started as well. Mr Wong urged tourism players, including hawkers, to give out good deals and provide top-level service during the holiday period. As for Penang's ever-popular murals, Mr Wong urged visitors to avoid scribbling, scratching or defacing them, which had happened in the past. 'The murals are meant to be admired, not vandalised,' he said. Penang Tourist Guide Association chairman Clement Liang advised tourists to avoid engaging unlicensed tourist guides. 'Many visitors unknowingly hire unlicensed guides and end up being disappointed by the tours organised,' he said. Mr Liang urged tourists to use only licensed hotels and facilities to avoid scams. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Japan to create digital archive of manga, anime and games
Anime and manga fans have increasingly sought to visit the real-world settings of their favorite stories. PHOTO: PEXELS TOKYO - The government is set to launch a new 'digital archive strategy' aimed at preserving and promoting Japan's trove of such cultural assets as manga, anime and video games, which are immensely popular among young people worldwide. The initiative seeks to digitise these cultural treasures and add them to a database, thereby boosting Japan's soft power and attracting people from all over. The government also aims to promote the online distribution of local arts and cultural properties, with the goal of fostering regional revitalisation. The strategy is the first of its kind to be formulated by the government. It outlines a framework and policy for initiatives over a five-year period, from fiscal 2026 to 2030. Work on the strategy began when an expert panel was established in March last year. Two key areas are prioritised. Namely, 'media arts,' which include manga, anime and video games and which have added to Japan's soft power thanks to their global acclaim; and 'regional resources,' which encompasses cultural properties and works of art with a high tourism potential. Within the media arts domain, the strategy outlines the establishment of a national media arts center, which will be tasked with collecting and preserving original manga drawings and animation cells and creating a comprehensive database for these items. In recent years, anime and manga fans have increasingly sought to visit the real-world settings of their favorite stories. The government wants to boost tourism in regions that have these connections by encouraging fans from around the world to visit. To improve the digital preservation and distribution of regional resources, the government will collaborate more closely with local municipalities using Japan Search. This portal allows users to search the materials held by libraries, museums and other institutions nationwide all at once. The strategy emphasises that local communities should lead the decision-making process for preserving local cultural and artistic works, with municipalities playing a central role in expanding and utilising digital archives. This initiative is expected to have a spillover effect, encouraging domestic and international enthusiasts to, after seeing the digitised version of a digital cultural asset, pay a visit to wherever the asset is located. Furthermore, the government aims to document cultural properties as a safeguard against large-scale disasters, ensuring their preservation for future generations. The strategy mirrors efforts by the European Union, which has been developing platforms for cultural assets for some time. 'We want to have a system on par with Europe's in the next 10 years,' said a Japanese government official. THE JAPAN NEWS/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Straits Times
Teacher in viral ‘affair case' relieved of duties: Malaysia's education minister
Malaysia's education minister Fadhlina Sidek said a teacher who allegedly had an affair with a married man has been relieved of her official duties until investigations are completed. PHOTO: FOTOBERNAMA NIBONG TEBAL, Penang - A teacher who allegedly had an affair with a married man has been relieved of her official duties until investigations are completed. 'The teacher has been relieved from teaching duties but continues her role as a public servant. We have ensured the investigation progresses without interference. The teacher needs to be involved in the process,' said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. News about the recently divorced teacher and a man went viral after their WhatsApp exchanges were screenshot and posted on social media. Ms Fadhlina said the woman had also been transferred out of the school to ensure the investigation proceeds smoothly. 'We want to reassure the public that the ministry views such matters seriously, as they relate to the integrity, morals and ethics of teachers,' she said. 'Whether it is an official report or becomes viral, we take it seriously and investigate these matters. We take full responsibility to ensure our teachers comply with the integrity and teaching ethics established by the ministry.' THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Health experts urge Malaysians to stay vigilant of Covid-19
Doctors are advising vigilance, urging people to wear mask and sanitise their hands regularly. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK GEORGE TOWN, Penang - Malaysians have been urged to remain vigilant of Covid-19, especially during the coming school holidays. Virologist Dr Kumitaa Theva Das said Covid-19 cases would usually hike when there are large gatherings, as the phenomenon increases the chances of the spread of the virus. 'For example, the spike in Thailand was attributed to the Songkran Festival in April. 'But since this JN.1 variant has been circulating for a while, we are not going to see 20,000 cases a day despite the school holidays,' she said. Schools around the country will take a one-week break from May 29 to June 9. Dr Kumitaa, who is with Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the country's healthcare providers were also not expected to be overwhelmed. Experts surmise that JN.1, a descendant of the Omicron lineage, emerged two years ago in several countries, including Malaysia. She said the current spike in neighbouring countries, like Singapore, was due to the LF.7 and NB.1.8 variants, which are offshoots of JN.1. She said LF.7 was actually detected in Malaysia middle of 2024. 'This means that many people may have been infected with it in the past and have immunity against it,' she said. She added that the public should always practice caution at all times and wear masks if necessary. 'If you have young children or elderly in your family, wearing a mask will help keep you safe, especially for the high-risk groups,' Dr Kumitaa said. Penang Hospital's infectious disease unit head Datuk Dr Chow Ting Soo said it was important for people not to drop their guard. 'We should always practice good cough etiquette and avoid public spaces when down with respiratory illnesses,' she said. Dr Chow said wearing masks and avoiding crowded areas were a must if one is immunocompromised or elderly. She also urged people to adopt proper hygiene practices and get their annual vaccinations. 'Now, we have the Covid-19 vaccine available at government health clinics. The elderly and those with comorbidities can get their appointments via the MySejahtera app,' she said. Penang health director Dr Fazilah Shaik Allaudin said that, according to the latest announcement from the Health Ministry on May 16, all states in Malaysia reported Covid-19 cases that fell below the warning threshold for the period spanning Epidemiological Week (EW) 16 to EW19/2025, which includes Penang. She said the ministry would continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation and will implement suitable preventative measures based on the current risk assessment. In Kedah, health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the situation was also under control. 'Cases recorded are not serious, and there is no indication that there will be an increase,' he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
