Latest news with #Singapore-bound
The Star
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Larkin Sentral revamp boosting travel, business confidence, say commuters
COMMUTERS are happy with Johor government's efforts to improve public transport, saying that recent upgrades have contributed to smoother, hassle-free travel. College student Nur Syafiqa Sulaiman, 23, who travels from Johor Baru to her family home in Pasir Gudang every weekend, said she had noticed significant improvement in punctuality, especially at Larkin Sentral – the main transport terminal. Nur Syafiqa says nowadays, buses arrive on time at Larkin Sentral. 'Public transportation in Johor has improved a lot lately. The buses I take always arrive on time at Larkin Sentral,' said the information technology diploma student. Upon reaching the terminal, Nur Syafiqa opts for a taxi instead of e-hailing services. She is also looking forward to the Electric Train Service (ETS) in Johor Baru. 'The ETS will strengthen public transportation in Johor Baru and make it easier and faster for people, especially students like myself,' she said. For cross-border travellers like consultant Mohd Ariff Leow Abdullah, 61, improvements in immigration processes have made a difference. 'I cross the Causeway at least once a month for meetings in Singapore. 'Nowadays, there is a lot of improvement in immigration clearance on both sides.' Mohd Ariff: Improvements in immigration processes have made a tangible difference. Mohd Ariff prefers taking Singapore-bound taxis from Larkin Sentral as they allowed him flexibility and comfort. 'I prefer taking the cross-border taxi because I don't need to rush to catch a bus. 'I can travel at my own pace, and that really matters for business trips.' He is especially optimistic about the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, expected to be operational by end-2026 or early 2027 – connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru with Woodlands North in Singapore. 'With RTS coming soon, travelling will become even more seamless. 'It will be a game changer for regular commuters,' he added. Natasha: State initiative to upgrade the facility is long overdue. Long-time business operator Natasha Juan, 45, who runs a hair salon at Larkin Sentral, said the upgrading project was long overdue. 'I have been here almost 30 years. Larkin Sentral is not just a transport hub – it is also an economic centre. 'There is a wet market, shops and services. People don't just catch buses here, they come to shop and run errands,' she pointed out. Juan hopes the RM2.5mil upgrading project will attract more visitors and help boost businesses. 'Once upgrading works are completed, especially for the toilets, I believe more people will feel comfortable coming here. 'It will help businesses like mine,' she added. Meanwhile, Dr R. Daya Para Rao, 63, a Klang Valley resident who visited Johor Baru for a meeting, had his first experience using Larkin Sentral when boarding a bus home. 'I was pleasantly surprised. It was very systematic, and the staff were helpful. 'As a senior citizen, I appreciate that things are well-organised and not confusing.' He said transportation projects like RTS and ETS would further complement Johor's growth as a modern and investor-friendly city. 'The Johor government is clearly serious about upgrading public transport. 'That is very important for everyone,' he said. Dr Daya Para Rao said that as Johor's economy expanded, seamless transport was crucial for supporting mobility and daily life. He said, 'Johor Baru is growing rapidly in terms of economic development, and this will attract more people to live and work here. 'With good public transport, Johor's vision of becoming a developed state can be a reality.' — By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
New Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
JB-Singapore shuttle bus drivers end strike
JOHOR BARU: Some 100 shuttle bus drivers serving the Johor Baru-Singapore route resumed duty yesterday morning after the company agreed to reinstate their previous salary structure, ending a one-day strike that caused major disruptions for thousands of cross-border commuters. The strike was sparked by a revised pay scheme that saw drivers losing between RM800 and RM900 in monthly income. They were also required to make an additional daily trip to Singapore. Previously, they were required to make four trips back and forth between Johor Baru and Singapore. A shuttle bus driver, who wanted to be known only as Atoi, 35, said his monthly salary had previously averaged RM2,800 before the changes were implemented two months ago. "The new structure significantly reduced our earnings. We were not trying to inconvenience commuters, we just wanted our rights respected," he said. "We returned to work only after the company agreed to revert to the original pay terms." He added that the discontent among Singapore-bound shuttle bus drivers over pay cuts and additional duties had been brewing for months. "When our latest salary slips were issued a day late, it was the straw that broke the camel's back, triggering the strike by some 100 drivers," Atoi said. On Monday, the drivers had kept the bus doors shut while parked at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) bus terminal platform, where the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex is housed. The New Straits Times learnt that drivers on the Causeway route usually received higher allowances than those on the Second Link. "We used to earn between RM2,800 and RM2,900 a month. After the adjustment, some of us took home less than RM2,000. "There were also salary deductions that we do not fully understand. The system has become unfair and unclear," he said. The drivers resumed work after the bus company agreed to revert to the previous salary structure following a meeting with Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh. The strike began about 5am and triggered a massive congestion at BSI, with some workers resorting to walking across the Causeway to reach their workplaces in Singapore. Operations resumed in stages after Fazli intervened and mediated between the drivers and the company. Anwar Ahmad, 29, a Malaysian cleaner working in Singapore, said yesterday's morning commute went smoothly with no queues at the BSI bus platforms. "Monday was a nightmare. Everything returned to normal today (yesterday). Buses were on time, no delays," he said. Fazli, who is Bukit Pasir assemblyman, confirmed that the service had fully resumed. He expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved in good faith.
New Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Pay cut, extra trips caused strike among Singapore-bound bus drivers
JOHOR BARU: Some 100 shuttle bus drivers serving the Johor Baru–Singapore route resumed duty this morning after the company company agreed to reinstate their previous salary structure, ending a one-day strike that caused major disruptions for thousands of cross-border commuters. The strike was sparked by a revised pay scheme which saw drivers losing between RM800 and RM900 in monthly income. They were also required to make an additional daily trip to Singapore. Previously, they are required to make four trips back and forth Johor Baru-Singapore. Driver Atoi, 35, said his monthly salary had previously averaged RM2,800 before the changes were implemented two months ago. "The new structure significantly reduced our earnings. We were not trying to inconvenience commuters, we just wanted our rights respected," he said. "We returned to work only after the company agreed to revert to the original pay terms." He added the discontent among Singapore-bound shuttle bus drivers were over pay cuts and additional duties has been brewing for months. "When our latest salary slips were issued a day late, it broke the camel's back, triggering yesterday's strike by some 100 drivers," Atoi said. The drivers had kept the bus doors shut while parked at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar's bus terminal platform, where the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex, is housed. The New Straits Times learnt that drivers on the Causeway route usually received higher allowances than those on the Second Link, so the impact was deeply felt. "We used to earn between RM2,800 and RM2,900 a month. After the adjustment, some of us took home less than RM2,000," he said. "There were also salary deductions we do not fully understand. The system has become unfair and unclear," he said. The drivers resumed work after the bus company agreed to revert to the previous salary structure following a meeting with Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh. The strike began at 5am on Monday and triggered a massive congestion at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI), with some workers resorting to walking across the Causeway to reach their jobs in Singapore. Operations resumed in stages after state exco Mohamad Fazli intervened and mediated between the drivers and the company yesterday afternoon. "About half of us resumed work yesterday evening. The rest returned to work this morning," Atoi said. Anwar Ahmad, 29, a Malaysian cleaner working in Singapore, said this morning's commute went smoothly with no queues at the BSI bus platforms. "Yesterday was a nightmare. Today, everything was back to normal. Buses were on time, no delays," he said. Mohamad Fazli, who is also Bukit Pasir assemblyman, confirmed service had fully resumed and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved in good faith.
Filipino Times
20-07-2025
- Filipino Times
Tulfo Wants Airport Staff Fired Over Jewelry Theft at NAIA
Senator Raffy Tulfo called on airlines and security agencies to fire ground handling staff allegedly involved in the theft of ₱500,000 worth of jewelry at NAIA Terminal 3. The victim, Kimberly Nakamura, lost the items before a Singapore-bound flight on June 28 but later recovered them after CCTV footage helped trace the theft. Tulfo's office said the individuals were already identified and referred to the New Naia Infra Corp, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the airlines involved. However, since Nakamura chose not to press charges after getting her jewelry back, the Department of Transportation cannot file a criminal case without her consent. Despite this, Tulfo urged the companies to still impose sanctions, including termination, to show that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Exhibition marking The Straits Times' 180th anniversary opens on July 12 at Jewel Changi
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The exhibition is equipped with interactive features that allow visitors to flip through thousands of front pages and participate in a Reporter-In-Training quest. SINGAPORE – An avid reader of the news, Mrs Wendy Yap took a bus on Saturday to Jewel Changi Airport, to be among the first at The Straits Times' 180th anniversary exhibition. The 57-year-old primary school mathematics teacher said she has the ST app, but still prefers the physical copy. 'It is my routine to read ST every morning. Once, the newspaper wasn't delivered to my home and I felt like something was off that day,' said Mrs Yap, who added that she feels a sense of pride when the newspaper is distributed to passengers on all Singapore-bound SIA flights. She especially likes the human-interest reports and enjoys trying food recommendations published in ST's Life! section. Mrs Yap highlighted two stories in particular: Mr Ricqo Rafiezuwan , who used to be a stateless unemployed youth, and is now a permanent resident and Mr Hsu Hu-Chin, who found his mother – a former SIA stewardess - after his story appeared in ST . 'I wanted to be at the exhibition to see more of the stories ST has covered over the years - different events in history and how the stories actually unfolded. 'I'm glad ST's articles has had an impact on people's lives,' she said, adding that she looks forward to reading profile features every weekend. The exhibition takes visitors through eras the nation has experienced. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Like Mrs Yap, several other visitors at the roving exhibition at South Gateway Garden at Jewel Changi Airport, said they were intrigued by the range of stories the publication has covered over the years. Ms Cheong Yin Ping , a r etired bank worker in her 60s , liked the interactive features, which she felt would do well in keeping the younger visitors engaged. Her favourite part was when she created her own front page. 'In this age, people usually need instantaneous response, since their attention spans are shorter,' said Mrs Cheong. Others like Mr Albert La i liked the interactive display comparing photographs of places in Singapore then and now, including landmarks like Clarke Quay, Bukit Batok Hill and the Padang. 'Because we forget the past sometimes, and now (this display) helps us to remember and see the changes,' added the 52-year-old sales executive . For J arred Loo , 17 , his favourite part of the exhibition was the comic-book style panels that showed how the newsroom transformed from producing print-only papers to multi-media news formats. The secondary school student said he has often reads ST, to expand his knowledge of current affairs. Visitors at an interactive section of the exhibition. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Adult visitors were treated to a complimentary tote bag and notebook upon completing activities at three checkpoints, while children were presented with a specially designed sticker set. Titled Heartbeats and Headlines: 180 Years of Telling The Singapore Story , the roving exhibition organised by ST is equipped with interactive features that allow visitors to flip through thousands of front pages and participate in a Reporter-In-Training quest. Adult visitors were treated to a complimentary tote bag and notebook upon completing activities at three checkpoints, while children were presented with a specially designed sticker set. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The exhibition takes visitors through eras the nation has experienced: war and occupation in 1942 , the beginning of Housing Board flats in 1960 , the nation's dramatic exit from Malaysia in 1965 , the very first MRT trains starting service in 1987 , as well as national football team Singapore's Lions' victory in the Malaysia Cup in 1994, which sparked the rise of the 'kallang roar'. It also showcases headlines that ST delivered when the world ushered in the millennium, ranging from the Singapore Airlines SQ006 crash in Taiwan in 2000 , the nation's largest manhunt for Mas Selamat Kastari who broke out of detention in 2008 , Singapore's first Olympic gold medal won by national swimmer Joseph Schooling in 2016 , the pandemic Covid-19 that brought the world to a standstill from 2020 to 2022 , to the present. The exhibition is held at Jewel Changi Airport from July 12 to 20, and will shift to Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3, before settling at Raffles City Shopping Centre from Aug 8 to 17. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The exhibition also chronicles the evolution of ST from a newspaper of record to a multi-platform media outlet in today's digital age. One section displays readers' fondest memories of ST, and the lives of those transformed after being featured in its pages. The exhibition is held at Jewel Changi Airport from July 12 to 20 , and will shift to Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3 , before settling at Raffles City Shopping Centre from Aug 8 to 17 .
