Segget River To Reopen After June 2014 - Johor MB

Source from ~ http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=961534

JOHOR BARU, July 6 (Bernama) -- The Segget River, which is currently undergoing a process of restoration and rejuvenation, is expected to reopen after June next year, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

He said the first phase of the river restoration project had begun on June 24, involving the construction of a centralized sewage treatment plant.

"The entire restoration project is scheduled for completion by end of 2015," he told reporters after launching the Johor Baharu Transformation Open Day themed 'Johor Baharu Towards New Transformation Era' at Galleria@Kotaraya, Plaza Kotaraya here Saturday.

The three-day event, which begins today, is aimed at providing latest information related to Johor Baharu transformation plan to the public.

Mohamed Khaled said the Segget River restoration project was not just to improve water quality and reduce pollution in the Tebrau Straits, but also to turn the riverbanks into recreational areas for public and tourists.

The river was closed in 2005 as measure to curb the stench from polluting the air in the surrounding area.

The menteri besar said it was part of the catalyst for Johor Baharu transformation programme.

Other projects include the conservation of historic sites, buildings and icons; upgrade of information technology and communication networks; increase the level of public safety and well-being; preparation of a more conducive public infrastructure and increase of environmental quality.

Commenting on heritage buildings, Mohamed Khaled said a total of 466 iconic and historic buildings in Johor Baharu had been examined and 263 of them were identified to be preserved and maintained.

"I look forward to this transformation as I'm confident that we will be able to preserve Johor Baharu as a regional financial and economic hub, which will be able to lure many people, including tourists, to come here," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Source from ~ http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=961534

Learning how to start a business

Source from ~ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/learning-how-to-start-a-business-1.317555

JOHOR BARU: Net Consult Training Academy and MRR Consultants & Training Centre (MRRCTC) are offering a Creative Entrepreneur Business Management certificate course to help single mothers and the unemployed learn how to do business.

The academy's managing director Anuar Nordin, said the course was open to the state's residents.

He said the four-month course consisted of 12 modules.

He said participants had to pay a RM350 fee to enrol in the course.

"After they have completed the course, a certificate will be given to them by MRRCTC and the Oxford Centre for Excellence, United Kingdom," he said at the Creative Entrepreneurs Icon Convocation pre-launch at The Zon, here.

He said the 12 modules included lessons on personal image, self grooming, communication, marketing, financial management, promotion and resources management.

"A total of 25 participants from Johor attended the programme.

"They were among the 50 participants nationwide who attended the Creative Entrepreneur Icon programme."

Anuar said throughout the programme, the target group would be educated on how to increase their income by doing business.

"They were also taught how to do business online to minimise the advertising cost," he said.

Shahrida Yusof, 40, who completed the course, said: "I participated in the programme since April and the courses helped me to gain more knowledge on business. I am now running a chicken rice stall."

She said the course consisted of 20 per cent theory and 80 per cent practical training.

"I was taught how to deal directly with suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers.

"I was also taught about packaging.

"During my practical training, the instructors would observe how I conducted the business," she added

She said the course provided good exposure for those who wished to start up businesses, especially if they were unemployed.

Source from ~ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/learning-how-to-start-a-business-1.317555

Property show attracts 20,000

Source from ~ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/property-show-attracts-20-000-1.317557

EXHIBITION: The three-day Setia 4U Showcase at Johor Baru City Square shopping mall featured SP Setia Bhd Group’s property development projects

JOHOR BARU: ABOUT 20,000 people turned up to view   property built by SP Setia during the three-day Setia 4U Showcase  at the Johor Baru City Square shopping mall, here, recently.

SP Setia Bhd Group general manager Hoe Mee Ling said the annual event was in its third year.

"The property exhibition kicked off at Gurney Plaza, Penang, on June 7 and will be heading to Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 16," she said.

"The event features the group's properties in the country's three economic regions -- the Klang Valley, Johor and Penang.

"It also features international projects such as Battersea Power Station in the United Kingdom, Fulton Lane in Melbourne, Australia, and Eco Sanctuary in Singapore. In Johor, we have eight developments and they are all in Iskandar Malaysia."

The eight projects comprise double-storey terrace eco homes, semi-detached homes, bungalows, luxury condominiums, serviced apartments and commercial industrial properties.

"In the eco-themed Setia Business Park, all the investors are foreigners," said Hoe.

"Our other projects such as Bukit Indah, Setia Indah, Setia Tropika and Setia Cascadia are mostly snapped up by locals.

"The company does not encourage property speculation, so our foreign investors are all homeowners," she said, adding that eco-concept homes were currently in demand.

"The property exhibition allows property buyers to see all our developments under one roof."

Since its incorporation in 1974, SP Setia has grown to be a household name in the property development industry.

In 2012, it secured the top spot in The Edge Malaysia's list of Top 10 Developers for the seventh time, making it the only developer to achieve this feat since the inception of the awards.

SP Setia is also the only Malaysian developer to have received five International Real Estate Federation Prix d'Excellence Awards. Its flagship township of Setia Alam was recently recognised for Best Master Plan Development in May this year.

Source from ~ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/property-show-attracts-20-000-1.317557

Housing enactment to be amended

Source from ~ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/housing-enactment-to-be-amended-1.317570

MEETING NEEDS: The amendment includes a quota for the development of affordable houses and property ownership

JOHOR BARU: THE Johor Housing Enactment will be amended to ensure that more affordable houses will be built.

Johor Housing and Local Government executive councillor Datuk Abd Latiff Bandi said the amendment would include a quota for the development of affordable houses and ownership of property.

He said, through this amendment, the state government would supervise housing development directly. It is currently under the local councils.

"The amendments of this enactment will be brought up in the coming executive council meeting and will be discussed in depth before being presented at the state assembly meeting.

"Through this amendment, the state government wants to ensure that the people of Johor, especially those in the middle- to low-income groups, can afford to buy their own houses," he said.

Latiff said amending the enactment would also improve the housing requirements and make sure that developers will abide by the law and not sidestep the development of affordable houses.

"Every developer must build affordable or low-cost houses.

"The requirement is 35 per cent but we may raise it to 40 per cent," said Latiff.

He said the effort was part of the measures taken to help solve housing problems in the state.

Source from ~ http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/housing-enactment-to-be-amended-1.317570

Taman Tema Air Legoland Dibuka Pada 21 Oktober 2013

Sumber daripada ~ http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/newsindex.php?id=962570

JOHOR BAHARU, 11 Julai (Bernama) -- Legoland Malaysia Resort akan secara rasminya membuka Taman Tema Air Legoland pada 21 Oktober tahun ini.

Pengurus Besarnya, Siegfried Boerst berkata taman air yang kini 75 peratus siap, akan menarik lebih banyak pelancong tempatan dan antarabangsa.

"Taman Tema Air Legoland akan meningkatkan keseronokan kepada keluarga dengan anak-anak berusia 2-12 tahun.

"Taman Air menawarkan lebih 20 gelongsor air dan lebih 70 model Lego di antara tarikannya," kata beliau di sidang media di sini Khamis.

Antara yang paling menarik termasuk Build-A-Raft River dan Joker Soaker.

"Build-A-Raft River adalah konsep unik di mana kanak-kanak boleh membuat rakit mereka sendiri menggunakan kepingan Lego lembut dan Joker Soaker ialah platform interaktif dalam kolam cetek di mana kanak-kanak boleh bermain meriam air dihiburkan oleh model pelawak Lego sementara 77 liter air dicurahkan ke atas mereka," kata beliau.

Taman air itu juga menampilkan dua restoran, pondok kabana untuk disewa dan kedai jualan runcit.

Maklumat lanjut seperti harga tiket boleh didapati di http://www.legoland.com.my/.



-- BERNAMA

Sumber daripada ~ http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/newsindex.php?id=962570

Johor wants to increase chartered flights

Source from ~ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/07/Johor-wants-to-increase-chartered-flights.aspx

BATU PAHAT: The Johor Government wants to increase the number of chartered flights to the state to boost its tourism industry.

State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said Johor was hoping to increase tourist arrivals to 4.9 million by 2015 from the 3.9 million tourists targeted this year.

He said getting airlines to fly directly to the state would be one of the main focus to attract more tourists to Johor.

At present, the state received chartered flights only from Indonesian cities Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya, he added.

“Tourists from Pekan Baru, Indonesia, will land in Sultan Ibrahim International Airport in Senai starting next month.

“We are also in the midst of working with tour operators to bring in 17 chartered flights from South Korea to Johor soon.

“Besides attracting tourists from Singapore, we are also looking at getting chartered flights from Hong Kong, China, Thailand and India,” he told reporters after opening Johor MATTA Fair 2013 in BP Mall here yesterday.

Tee said Johor was only a transit for many tourists to Malaysia through the south gate.

“Johor has the potential as one of the important tourist destinations in the country due to its culture, food and similarities with many other countries,” he said.

Tee added that Johor also had many international-level recreational places such as theme parks which were suitable for family vacations.

He said the Desaru Coast, which would be a luxury gateway, would be completed by 2015, adding that the state also had theme parks such as Legoland and Hello Kitty Town, with the Angry Bird theme park coming up soon.

Tee said the increase in tourists to the state would benefit many tourism-related businesses such as tour agencies, restaurants and hotels.

“We have to provide quality service to tourists so that they will remember us and will come back to Johor for their next vacation,” he added.

Source from ~ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/07/Johor-wants-to-increase-chartered-flights.aspx