Security upgrade at Penang airport...a minor change

Just a minor changes to the arriving guests....don't be panic of the new arrangements :)

In a move to further tighten security at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, the authorities have put up a glass partition between the domestic and international lounges to segregate the movement of air travellers.

Work on the glass partition was completed recently.

Penang Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad airport manager Abdul Wahab Mohd Yusof said the move to have the glass partition was to also ensure easier and speedy screening, and faster movement of passengers for their domestic or international flights.

Previously, both the domestic and international passengers shared a common lounge as well as security check- point.

He said Gate 8 and Gate 10 are now strictly used for international flights while others are for domestic and connection flights.

“The new security arrangement is part of the airport extension plan,” he said.

Abdul Wahab said Penang airport was recently declared as the safest in the country by police following measures to upgrade its security.

“We are constantly looking at ensuring and maintaining high security in view of the global threats against the aviation industry,” he said.

Abdul Wahab said with the increase in flight routes in view of the “open skies” policy among Asian nations, there was a need to ensure that security was also beefed up.

TheStar

Rossi ends Stoner's spell, wins Qatar GP :)

Defending world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy won the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday after Casey Stoner crashed out early in the season-opening Moto GP race.

Rossi finished 1.022 seconds ahead of Yahama teammate Jorge Lorenzo of Spain for his 104th career win and his first in the opening race of a season since 2005 at Jerez, Spain.

Stoner was aiming for his fourth successive win in Qatar, but the Australian skidded off the Losail International Circuit while leading the race in lap five.

"I was fast enough to win," Rossi said. "It became easy after Casey went out, but it is great way to start a season. This win is great for myself, my team and my supporters."

Andrea Doviziso of Italy was 1.865 seconds back in third.

The 31-year-old Rossi finished in 42 minutes, 50.099 seconds in what is the only night race on the 17-stop Moto GP calendar. Nicky Hadyen of the United States was in the top three at one stage but was overtaken by Lorenzo and Doviziso to finish fourth.

"I did my maximum to overtake Hayden and I am glad I did that," Lorenzo said.

Ben Spies, Randy De Puniet, Dani Pedrosa, Colin Edwards, Loris Capirossi and Hiroshi Aoyama completed the top-10 riders.

GREAT start to the new season, DOCTOR !!! Keep it up :)

Times Book Clearance @ Penang 9th to 18th April 2010

Event : Times Book Clearance

Date : 9th April till 18th April 2010

Venue : Times Island Plaza, George Town, Penang.
Highlights : Up to 90% Off

Book lovers in Penang...how can you miss this !!!

EPF revises withdrawal amount

The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) yesterday announced a revision of the minimum amount that can be withdrawn from accounts containing more than RM1 million.

Its general manager for public relations, Nik Affendi Jaafar, said with the revision, the minimum amount that could be withdrawn each time had been reduced from RM100,000 to RM50,000.

"Members having at least RM1.05 million in their accounts are eligible to withdraw RM50,000 and above once every three months subject to there being sufficient savings," he said in a statement here.

Bernama

Penang Bridge Gets Top Score From MHA

Wow, so proud of this result, even though we are no more world's third longest bridge :)

The Penang Bridge obtained the top score from the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) in a 2009 survey for its maintenance and operational services.

In a statement Friday, Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd said the bridge scored an average rating of 92.4 per cent, which was an improvement over 2008 when the bridge scored an average of 83 per cent.

According to MHA's rating system, scores above 90 per cent is considered "Excellent".

Penang Bridge's Head of Public Relations and Marketing Department, Suriani Mansor said MHA conducts routine maintenance works to ensure the highest standards of safety and road usability.

She said any defects found during daily inspection would be remedied immediately and to keep the 25-year old bridge in top condition, regular repair and upgrading works are conducted while keeping traffic disruptions to a minimum.

Bernama

Amazing Race 16 in Penang !!!

Amazing Race Recap: 04/04/10

Winners: After a near-elimination last week, cowboy brothers Jet and Cord were back on top, winning themselves a "romantic" trip for two to Maui. (Cowboy hats only add to the romance, we hear.)

Eliminated: Father/daughter team Steve and Allie had major Detour woes and went from first to worst.

Detour: Teams had to choose between Buddhist Tradition (carry a set of 12 extra-large incense sticks up 150 steps to a temple) and Chinese Custom (balance a 32-foot flagpole on their foreheads and walk a given distance across a field). While most of the teams sweated through the incense task, trudging repeatedly up and down the temple steps in the intense heat, Jet and Cord picked up the flagpole balancing technique with ease -- making up enough time to win the leg.

Roadblock: One member of each team had to smash coconuts until they found one with brightly colored liquid inside. Then the Racers had to put half of their coconut onto a leaf tray and surround it with flower petals, creating a ritual float that would be sent out to sea for good luck. While some of the Racers seemed to enjoy their little moment of "arts and crafts" (as Jet called it), Caite looked a little aggressive as she hurled her coconuts down against the ground -- she must have been imagining each one as Carol or Brandy's head.

Speed Bump: As a penalty for coming in last place on the previous leg, Jet and Cord had to complete an extra task this week. They went to a tropical spice garden, where they had to find a woman who was preparing a tea from herbs and determine, based on scent, which of three teas the woman was preparing with those particular herbs. Despite the strong scents, it took the cowboys two tries to complete the task -- maybe they're coffee drinkers?

Biggest Blunder: Two teams -- Steve and Allie, and brothers Dan and Jordan -- got so impatient while their cab was sitting in a traffic jam that they decided to leap out and run instead. Given the heat and humidity of the local climate and the fact that they had no idea where they were going, this decision left them tired, lost and lagging behind -- and in Steve and Allie's case, it cost them the Race.

Savviest Travel Move: Dating couple Carol and Brandy took frequent breaks at the Detour to rest in the shade, making sure they didn't succumb to heat exhaustion in Penang's tropical climate.

Funniest Moment: After leaving their backpacks behind by accident in the previous leg, Steve and Allie found themselves sporting fashionable new "suitcases": blue plastic shopping bags. Steve filled his with a kind contribution of underwear from Louie and Michael. (Gotta say, we could have happily gone our entire lives without ever seeing the detectives' drawers.)

Must-See Sight: We want to join the Racers at the Pit Stop just to explore the opulent Pinang Peranakan Mansion.

Boustead seeks land replacement from Penang as compensation

Hmm...wondering how the state government will negotiate with Boustead. If they do compensate the developer with land or money, I'm quite sure the other affected parties will seek the same kind of compensation from the Penang State Government...

Boustead Holdings Bhd is seeking compensation in the form of land replacement from Penang state government as it will reduce the height of its new Royale Bintang Hotel.

The group had agreed to alter its hotel construction plans to comply with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) guidelines on World Heritage which recommends that buildings in Penang's heritage zones should be less than five storeys tall.

"We are seeking compensation, we are still in talks with the state government. It could be in the form of land compensation," said Boustead deputy chairman and group managing director Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin.

Construction of the RM140 million Royale Bintang Hotel project behind the General Post Office in Lebuh Downing hit a snag in November 2008 when the Penang state government pointed out that the proposed buildings were too high.

Boustead is one of four companies which received approvals from the Penang Municipal Council to build hotels in the heritage zone before it was placed on the World Heritage List.

BTimes