Wednesday April 15, 2009

Terengganu plans direct flights to woo more Singaporeans

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government is confident about starting direct flights between here and Singapore.

State Tourism, Culture, Art and Heritage Com­mittee chairman Datuk Zaabar Mohd Adib said talks between the Transport Ministry and its Singapore counterpart had been positive.

“It will certainly be a boom for our tourism industry as Singapore tourists are the most treasured group,” he told The Star.

He added that by having the route, Singa­poreans would not be burdened by making transit stops in Kuala Lumpur.

Zaabar said low-cost carrier FireFly was interested to service the route and the state government anticipated that Singapore operators would also start flights.

“Singaporeans make up the bulk of tourists to Terengganu and direct flights could increase their numbers three-fold,” he said.

“Singapore is our traditional market and we are now intensifying our promotion to woo more people to make Terengganu their favourite holiday destination.”

Zaabar said Terengganu Fest would be promoted in Singapore in the next few months and the new Terengganu Zoo in Kemaman, dubbed the largest recreational concept zoo in the country, would form part of the package.

He said facilities at islands off Terengganu would be enhanced to attract Singaporeans.

Friday April 17, 2009

Terengganu Customs aims to rake in RM1.18b

KUALA TERENGGANU: Despite the faltering economy, Terengganu Customs has targeted the collection of RM1.18bil in taxes this year, said Customs deputy director-general (enforcement) Datuk Md Hassim Pardi.

He said the target was equal to last year’s revenue, of which 90% came from taxes on petroleum.

“It is a tall order for Terengganu Customs to achieve the target,” he said after witnessing a handing-over-of-duties ceremony here recently.

Datuk Aziz Yacub replaced Datuk Hassan Ibrahim as Terengganu Customs director.

Hassan was promoted to Customs Corporate Planning Division director. — Bernama

Saturday April 18, 2009

Terengganu to focus on tourism

By SIMON KHOO and R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government plans to make tourism its main revenue earner instead of just depending on royalties from petroleum and gas, Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said.

Ahmad (BN-Kijal) said plans were in the pipeline to increase more tourist products to attract more visitors, citing the recent opening of a mini zoo in Kemaman and beautification of Tasik Kenyir as examples.

“We want to make the tourism sector our backbone and top revenue earner in the years to come.

“This is because unlike commodities like petroleum and gas, it would not deplete in supply.

“The recent flunctuation of global oil price also create uncertainties,” he said in his winding up speech at the last day sitting of the state assembly here on Wedneday.

All the missing 10 Barisan Nasional backbenchers were present after they stayed away on Tuesday, citing safety reasons when three of them received threatening SMses.

Ahmad said so far, the state had received RM650mil in royalties and was still awaiting the remaining balance and another RM2.6bil in other forms of payments from the Federal Government.

He said this year, the state government would allocate RM50mil to promote island hopping activities and develop new islands such as Pulau Burung, Pulau Orkid, Pulau Herba and Pulau Buah-Buahan.

“We will also build an elephant sanctuary over an area of 40,000 acres to house between 120 and 150 wild elephants.

“An elephant training centre will also be set up to complement this tourist attraction product,” he said, adding that with the establishment of the sanctuary, the problem of wild elephants destroying crops of villagers would be minimised.

On the mini zoo, Ahmad said he was impressed that 10,000 people visited the zoo on the opening day while 3,000 tickets were sold on the second day.

He also expressed the state government’s appreciation to former premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his contributions to the country.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our sixth Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for taking over the helm,” he said.

The sitting adjourned sine die after the nomination of Dungun Wanita Umno chief Zainun Abu Bakar as a senator, proposed by Datuk Zaabar Mohd Adib (BN - Rantau Abang) and supported by Rosli Othman (BN - Kemasik).

Tuesday April 21, 2009

Massive tree felling in Pulau Redang

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu government has started a probe on the indiscriminate felling of trees at a project site on Pulau Redang.

State Industrial, Commerce and Environment Committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw, who discovered the felling, said a stop-work order would be issued to prevent further environmental damage.

“The state will issue the stop-work order pending a report from the Department of Environment,” he said.

Toh, who visited the island on Thursday, expressed disappointment over the massive felling of the trees.

“This is surely an irresponsible act. The question is whether one of the contractors of the project was involved,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

Toh said that DOE enforcement officers had visited the site to check the situation.

Friday April 24, 2009

RM234m Govt funds for Terengganu telecom projects

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Federal Government has allocated RM234.3mil to implement various telecommunication infrastructure projects in Terengganu over the three years from last year.

State Public Amenities and Infrastructure Committee chairman Yahaya Khatib Mohamad said the funds were for the construction of new towers, setting up 48 community broadband centres, upgrading 21 rural libraries into community broadband libraries and providing the disabled access to basic telecommunications.

“We expect all the projects to be completed by 2010,” he told reporters after launching the Civil Works Preparation Guideline for telecommunication infrastructure in new development areas here recently.

Also present was Malaysian Communica-tions and Multimedia Commission eastern regional office manager Mohd Shafie Harun.

Yahaya said the biggest project was the construction of 98 new towers costing RM137.4mil.

He said, besides Federal Government initiatives, the state was doing its part in supporting the national broadband plan.

This included the T@WAN project, a wireless broadband service in Terengganu, and a government proposal to provide fibre optic cables at all district offices statewide, said Yahya. — Bernama

Timur: Pemandu bot penambang sukar cari pengganti

Oleh Hamid Salleh
bhnews@bharian.com.my

Generasi muda tak minat warisi kerja dianggap tak glamour

KUALA TERENGGANU: Perkhidmatan bot penambang dari Seberang Takir ke jeti Pasar Kedai Payang, menjadi nadi perhubungan utama penduduk sekitar untuk berulang alik ke Bandaraya Kuala Terengganu sejak sekian lama.

Bagaimanapun, perkhidmatan yang berkembang menjadi satu tarikan pelancongan, mungkin berkubur jika tidak ada usaha menarik generasi muda untuk mengambil alih tugas sebagai pemandu bot.

Ini kerana kebanyakan pemandu bot penambang sekarang rata-ratanya berusia antara 40 hingga 60 tahun. Mereka mungkin tidak mempunyai kudrat untuk meneruskan kerjaya dalam masa 20 tahun lagi kerana faktor usia. Berikutan golongan muda kurang minat menjadi pemandu bot dibimbangi perkhidmatan itu pada masa depan akan hanya tinggal kenangan saja.

Pada masa kini hanya terdapat 25 buah bot penambang beroperasi di Sungai Terengganu setiap hari membawa penumpang untuk ke bandar ini, walaupun perkhidmatan itu masih mendapat sambutan menggalakkan penduduk dan pelancong yang mahu merasai sendiri kehidupan penduduk bandar raya warisan pesisir air itu.

Pengerusi Persatuan Bot Penambang Seberang Takir, Ali Muhammad, 59, dari Kampung Baru, Seberang Takir mengakui memang sukar untuk mencari pengganti dikalangan golongan muda menjadi pemandu bot penambang dewasa ini kerana tarikan pekerjaan lain yang dilihat lebih 'glamour'.

"Jika 30 tahun lalu terdapat lebih 100 buah bot penambang beroperasi di Seberang Takir tetapi kini jumlahnya tinggal 25 buah saja kerana ramai pemilik bot terpaksa menjualnya disebabkan tidak ada pemandu baru untuk mengambil alih tugas itu," katanya ketika ditemui, baru-baru ini.

Berikutan kurang minat pemandu generasi muda, Ali berkata, pemilik bot akhirnya menjual bot mereka kepada pengusaha chalet yang beroperasi di Tasik Kenyir dan Pulau Redang.

Beliau mengakui berlaku kemerosotan bilangan penumpang berbanding sebelum wujud Jambatan Sultan Mahmud merentangi Sungai Terengganu, juga menjadi antara faktor generasi muda beralih mencari pekerjaan lain. Sebelum itu, jumlah penumpang yang menggunakan khidmat bot penambang memang sangat ramai kerana jarak untuk ke Pasar Besar Kedai Payang cuma mengambil masa lima minit saja.

"Tetapi selepas tahun 2000, bilangan penumpang merosot sedikit kerana orang ramai yang memilik kenderaan sendiri menggunakan jambatan itu untuk ke bandar," katanya.

Walaupun demikian, Ali berkata, purata penumpang menggunakan khidmat bot penambang masih sekitar antara 200 hingga 300 sehari dan jumlah itu bertambah jika cuti sekolah.

Katanya, bayaran untuk satu perjalanan yang dikenakan hanya RM1 setiap seorang penumpang dan seorang pemandu bot boleh meraih pendapatan bersih antara RM30 hingga RM40 sehari.

Ali berkata, dia sudah menjalankan kerja memandu bot penambang sejak 40 tahun lalu ketika berusia 19 tahun dengan membeli sebuah bot bernilai RM500 ketika itu.

"Pada masa itu harga bot memang murah dan jika ada wang sebanyak RM3,000 sudah mampu mengendalikannya tetapi sekarang harganya terlalu mahal kerana harga kulit bot saja mencecah RM50,000 tidak termasuk harga enjinnya," katanya.

Pemandu bot, Ghazali Abdullah, 48, dari Kampung Seberang Takir turut mengakui memang susah untuk mencari pengganti di kalangan golongan muda kerana mereka tidak berminat dengan kerja sebagai pemandu bot.

Katanya, dia yang sudah menjadi pemandu bot sejak 20 tahun akan meneruskan kerjaya itu selagi ada penumpang menggunakan bot penambang.

Regent: Spend wisely on projects

NST Online » Local News

2009/04/14

KUALA TERENGGANU: Continue spending where it matters to help keep the economy going but avoid being wasteful, the Regent advised the state government yesterday.

Tengku Seri Panglima Raja Terengganu, Tengku Baderul-zaman Sultan Mahmud said this at the opening of the second term of the 12th state assembly yesterday.

Tengku Baderulzaman, who is the president of the Regency Advisory Council, said continued government spending would help stimulate the economy.

It was important to carry on spending on local projects and services to help withstand the current economic slowdown, he said.

However, Tengku Baderul-zaman said such projects and economic activities must bring about direct and immediate benefits to the people.
He also advised all parties to be moderate in their spending and not be wasteful.

He said the state government must remind itself that global oil prices had dipped below US$45 (RM161) per barrel, and this would have a direct impact on the state's oil royalty receipts.

"This is why the state has to plan its spending carefully. Cut down on utility bills, official functions and activities that are not cost-effective."

Tengku Baderulzaman was pleased that the state government was now placing much emphasis on people-oriented programmes and activities.

"The (state) government needs to be more flexible and constantly adapt to changes when dealing with the needs of the people."

He called on all parties in Terengganu, including administrators, politicians and the rakyat, to be part of this cause by helping the state government deliver its pledges.

Tengku Baderulzaman also called on the government to commercialise its agriculture industry by investing in modern and large-scale projects.

At the same time, the industrial sector must continue to be developed, especially on investments that hold a comparative advantage, such as petro-chemical.

However, he said the small- -and-medium industries must continue to thrive, as the majority of locals depended on them.

He said the same applied to tourism, and expressed his pleasure that Terengganu's natural beauty and attractions had placed the state on the world map.

"The Visit Terengganu Year 2008 was a success and I hope the government will build on this by continuing to develop the local tourism industry."

Policy makers, however, must also balance the state's physical development plans with a comprehensive social agenda that encompasses a holistic and spiritual approach.

Tengku Baderulzaman reminded the government that all its achievements would mean nothing if poverty among his subjects continue to exist.

The zero-poverty agenda must continue to be a focal point in the state's poverty eradication policy, he said.