Malaysia welcomes tourists from all over the world

Malaysia welcomes tourists from all over the world

Malaysia continues to welcome tourists from all over the world, including China, without any restriction.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office today said other than the usual immigration requirements for all foreign tourists, there are no other restrictions for anyone including visitors from China.

“Tourists from China will still be given a single-entry visa for up to 30-days stay in the country and are eligible to take up other programmes organised by the government as well,” it said.

The statement said property purchases by foreigners were also allowed irrespective of nationality but there were certain conditions imposed by the government.

“Purchase of property, however, does not guarantee automatic residency in the country. But for foreigners who wish to make Malaysia their permanent residence, they could consider the ‘ Malaysia, My Second Home (MM2H)’ programme.

”Malaysian government also welcomes foreign direct investment that contributes to the transfer of technology, provides employment for locals and the setting up of industries locally,” the statement read.

It added that last year Malaysia received 2.3 million Chinese tourists from China and it now aims to multiply the number to 10 million visitors in time to come.

Information on these programmes and conditions are available.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Malaysia seeks KL-Singapore HSR delay pending review

Malaysia seeks KL-Singapore HSR delay pending review



A file picture of a KL-Singapore HSR station concept design.

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Months after the Malaysia signalled that it was rethinking the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) link, Malaysian Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is in charge of the project held an official meeting with his Singapore counterpart last Saturday.

Azmin told The Straits Times that his meeting with Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in the Republic was "official... good and productive".

"I explained Malaysia's position on the project. The Minister for Infrastructure will have to bring it to Singapore's Cabinet," Azmin said.

A spokesman for Singapore's Ministry of Transport confirmed the meeting was held. "The ministers discussed the HSR project and agreed to continue discussions in the coming weeks," she said.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration had initially expressed its desire to scrap the HSR project due to cost concerns after claiming that it had inherited more than RM1 trillion in debt from the previous Barisan Nasional government.

However, it later softened its stance, saying it would first have to negotiate with Singapore as there were penalties for cancelling the deal inked in December 2016.

Kuala Lumpur most recently said it would seek a deferment of the project it estimates will cost RM110bil and was originally slated to be completed in 2026.

But it had yet to convey this request formally to Singapore.

Khaw said last month that Singapore has spent more than S$250mil (RM743mil) on the project, and is likely to pour in another S$40mil (RM118mil) by the year end.

It had written officially to Malaysia in a diplomatic note on June 1 asking for clarity and a meeting to be held by July 31.

Azmin, charged with handling negotiations for Malaysia, had said he would try to meet the deadline but was busy with duties at the ongoing Parliament sitting.

In a letter to the Singapore government dated July 23, Azmin stated that the Malaysia was studying the details of the HSR project and will commence discussions with the Republic soon.

Singapore had welcomed Malaysia's suggestion to commence discussions on the project that will shorten travelling time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to only 90 minutes.

On Aug 6, Azmin said he had met "senior officials" in Singapore the previous weekend when he visited Malaysian Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was then hospitalised in the Republic. He said that "the official meeting will take place some time in August".

However, Singapore's Ministry of Transport said on Aug 7 that no meeting had taken place or had been scheduled between Azmin and Singapore officials overseeing the HSR. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network

City Holidays Express Bus (Malaysia - Singapore)

Scoot to increase fares by 5% as fuel costs rise

Scoot to increase fares by 5% as fuel costs rise

Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines Group, said it will raise fares across its network by an average of 5 per cent in response to a surge in jet fuel prices that had pushed up costs.

The fare hike, effective Sep 1, will add S$5 to S$30 to the cost of each one-way journey depending on the flight duration, the airline said in a news release on Thursday (Aug 2).

Jet fuel prices have surged almost 40 per cent year-on-year and are now close to US$90 (S$123) per barrel on average, Scoot said.

The International Air Transport Association in June forecast average passenger yields, a proxy for air fares, would rise by 3.2 per cent this year, in the first annual gain since 2011 but lowered its annual profit estimate due to the rising cost of fuel and labour.

Air New Zealand in May announced a 5 per cent increase in domestic fares due to rising costs, while regulators in Japan and Taiwan have allowed airlines to put in place fuel surcharges to help compensate for the higher oil price.

Singapore Airlines last week reported a 3.2 per cent decline in passenger yields for the quarter ended Jun 30, including a 1.8 per cent fall at Scoot, disappointing investors who had hoped for fare increases.

Scoot on Thursday said it would look to cut costs in addition to raising fares, by exploring ways to reduce fuel burn, reviewing supplier contracts, using measures to increase productivity and keeping manpower resources lean.

The airline said fuel comprised an average of 32 per cent of its operating costs and its fuel costs had risen by 31 per cent compared to a year earlier.

Scoot reported a S$1 million profit in the June quarter, down from S$3 million a year earlier.

Singapore Airlines said there were no plans for the parent airline and its regional arm SilkAir to follow Scoot's lead and announce specific fare rises in response to higher oil prices.

"Our airfare pricing is dynamic based on supply and demand," a Singapore Airlines representative said.

Source: Channel News Asia