FAX Ground for Rural Area Services

Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) took over the Fokkers 50 from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) last August 2006 under rationalisation domestic flights. MAS has offered to FAX with 10 Fokkers which it had leased from Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB). However, only 7 Fokkers delivered to FAX.

FAX Chief Operating Officer, Raja Mohd Azmi Raja Razali informed on 15 June 2007 that FAX had to use 7 Fokkers to serve destinations that were served by 10 Fokkers., then make more rounds and carry more load due to decrease in the number of Fokkers.

He said FAX has no choice but to ground these aircraft so that they can put exch of them hhrough exra-intensive checkup and repairs.

The Fokkers are used to serve – among others, Sibu, Kapit, Bintulu, Mukah, Miri, Limbang, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan – an area equal to about 70% of peninsular Malaysia in size.

UM Relocation

The property developer, Goucoland (M) Bhd controlled by Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan, who owns the Hong Leong Group, had made a bid for the UM grounds for its commercial development project and residential hub worth RM10 billion. The offer is to relocate the university with Guocoland's land area in Sepang, as part of their agenda to build seafront villa and and waterfront bungalows which later to be offered to the university staff, if it succeeds in relocating UM.

Earlier, the company’s proposal to relocate UM had met with objections and arouse the anger of various parties including former vice-chancellor Royal Prof Ungku Aziz. The Government should realise that the entire commercial development project purposes will enrich only a handful few who are already extremely rich (3rd richest man in Malaysia). I feel that this should be strongly opposed by all.

RM5 for 20's Pack Cigarette

The Ministry of Healthy of Malaysia has proposed that the minimum price for a of 20's cigarette should be at least RM5 to discourage price war among the tobacco firms and smoking habits among the teenagers.

It was reported that almost 3 million Malaysian are smokers, and 30% is between 16 to 18 years old. Most of them are being exposed to subtle forms of cigarette advertising, where this includes watching movies of their favourite actors or actress smoking.

The minimum price can't be to high as this will lead to cigarette smuggling into this country. The anti-smoking campaign is still weak in this country same as the enforcement of law, to adopt more smoke-free areas as being in place by our near neighbour, Singapore. Their pack displays how bad the smoke to our healthy.

SMART Tunnel Toll Begins

Today, Friday 15 June 2007, all the users of the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) will be charged a RM2 toll one way. SMART is open only to cars, taxis, MPVs and SUVs not exceeding 2 meter in height. No motorcycles, buses or lorries are allowed. Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG facilities are available for paying toll.

The 9.7km SMART project is meant to divert rain water away from the city centre to prevent flash floods and alleviate traffic congestion along Jalan Sungai Besi to Jalan Ampang. The project is jointly carried out by MMC Corporation Berhad and Gamuda Berhad.

The SMART is the world’s first dual purpose tunnel (double deck), and among the largest in the world with a diameter of 13.2 meters. The construction cost is RM1.9 billion. Road users have been using the motorway for free since 14 May 2007 and they had the option of using the road tunnel for speedier or other roads.

Why RM2 and not below RM2? Should the publics blame SMART for the flash floods which hit areas in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday 10 June 2007, as apart from the motorway, the infrastructure was not fully operational!!.

SMART Tunnel Only Designed for Storm Flood Not Flash Flood

The most recent came at an incongruous time which created some wisecracks in its wake. Sunday’s flash flood hit the city when traffic was already passing through the billion ringgit SMART Tunnel (Storm water management and road tunnel project). It didn’t have a ‘tidal flow’ system yet.

The one thing that went through many people’s mind was why wasn’t the SMART utilised? In fact, motorists who used the tunnel to get home on Sunday found themselves stuck in a bumper-to-bumper crawl after exiting the tunnel to Sungei Besi.

Motorists found their Sunday drive through KL a nightmare. Some who parked their cars for a Sunday outing were pulling at their hair upon seeing their vehicles submerged or floating like boats.

It seem like the SMART flood tunnel is not designed to handle and prevent all floods. A chance viewing of the Discovery Channel programme on the Smart tunnel gave me a dose of national pride that we had finally outwitted nature for a flood-free KL.

Well, Mother Nature had the last laugh on Sunday.