Johor To Carry Out Cloud Seeding
Without enough rain and the hot weather, water levels are dropping. An allocation of RM500,000 has been approved for cloud seeding around water catchment areas and dams to ensure adequate water supply. State International Trade, Industry, Energy, Water, Communication and Environment Committee chairman Tan Kok Hong said it would be carried out around Sembrong Barat, Timur and also at the Bekok Dam. The cloud seeding would be handled by a private company with the assistance of the airforce. [AsiaOne]

The New Sultan Bans Hunting of Wildlife
There will be no more hunting in the state, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almar­hum Sultan Iskandar decreed. “The poaching of these animals are so cruel. Eating one tiger claw will not make you have tiger strength for months,” he said referring to beliefs that consuming certain animal parts would help boost virility. [TheStar]

Pantai To Open Hospital In Johor
Healthcare group Pantai Holdings Bhd is scheduled to open a RM500 million hospital in the Iskandar region in Johor. The 400-bed hospital will also have a center of excellence and a nursing college. [BusinessTimes]

The interesting part about this campaign is that they use public figures and celebrities as icons for Malaysia reading culture. Those include former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’a first astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and the Bond girl, Datuk Michelle Yeoh.

These icons are hoped to promote and triggers the public interest to read more books, about 8 to twelve books per year. Well, I agree with these selections as they people are the true reader.

I still remember to DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) programme that I used to have in primary school, where teacher will stop the lesson and students will keep quiet and read.  And also for the NILAM which is just the same reading programme of different name. At that time, I just took my book, and read or just listened to my teacher reading. That was my part to join in and support the programme. It was a very, very long time ago.

And now the campaign is back!

So all JB citizens, play your part and support this “Mari Membaca 1 Malaysia” reading campaign. Go to the bookstores nearby or have a visit to the public library along with your family members and friends and get some books to read. Enjoy your reading!

1.Perpustakaan Sultan Ismail  (Library of Sultan Ismail)

Jalan Datin Halimah,
80350 Johor Bahru, Johor.
Phone no : 07-239 1792, 07-239 1799
Fax : 07-237 3845
Email: info@psi.gov.my

2.Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Johor

Jalan Yahya Awal,
Johor Bahru.
Phone no : +607- 227 9261/ 227 8261
Fax +607 -227 6471

JOHOR BAHRU – A total of 300 riders will be played in the championship motorcycle racing Lasak 1Malaysia 2010 on Friday until Sunday.

Among the participants who took part came from Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Canada, Japan, Switzerland and Indonesia.

The competition is divided into eight categories was held at the Circuit Sutera Mall, Skudai, here.

Johor Tourism Department Director, Abdul Jabar Mohd. Tahir said, the categories are contested Motorcross MX1, MX2 Novice Motorcross, Enduro International, Open Enduro, Enduro Veteran, ATV Open, Open Cubcross A and B. Open Cubcross

This photo was taken during a practice session yesterday (5/3/2010) at the track by Mr. Yatan (professional photographer). You can view other photos from the 1Malaysia race taken by him at forum.nikonian.com.

He said, among the leading riders who joined the competition is Larry Stuart Blair and James Robo Robinson from New Zealand, Catry Pierre (France) and Frank Craighton (United Kingdom).

According to him, the local participants who will provide stiff competition is Muhamad Khairi Zakaria and his brother, Muhammad Azim.

“It’s time for fans to see the greatness of outdoor motor sports champions played directly. Participants will compete in motorcross track circuit along 1.3 kilometers (km),” he said at a press conference here, yesterday.

Top photo – courtesy of www.thehogwash.com/index.php?page=18.

LANGFANG (China): Singapore-based Raffles Education Corp Ltd (REC), which aims to set up a multi-institutional education campus at Iskandar Malaysia by 2011, hopes to invest about RM200mil in the proposed venture over the next five years as part of its move to fortify its education business in the region.

Chairman and CEO Chew Hua Seng said in order to set up the campus, they needed to get the approval from Higher Education Ministry which would take about six to nine months.

“After that, we need also to register the programmes which will be offered and, in all, the approval for a licence will take a year or so,” he said after a media tour of REC’s campus – Oriental University City (OUC) – here.

“For investment, REC will need to factor the cost of land and buildings, among others, and we estimate the investment in Iskandar will probably be about RM200mil spread over a five-year period. During this period, we hope to enrol about 5,000 students.”

Oriental University City Ltd (which owns OUC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of REC. For the proposed development, REC would be collaborating with Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned unit of Iskandar Investment Bhd, which in turn is 60% owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

The development, to be known as Raffles University Iskandar, would include the launch of Raffles University as part of its first phase of development. The university would be developed on a 26-ha site and would offer a range of undergraduate programmes.

Good news for Johor Bahru dwellers!!!

The new Tesco Bukit Indah will be opened.

When?

It will be officially opened on 4th March 2010 at 9.00 am sharp. To celebrate his grand opening, Tesco is going to give away 1,000 freebies but it is limited to only the first 1,000 customers. Q-card will be given earlier to the customers before a lucky draw is held.

Check out interesting facts about this new Tesco Bukit Indah:

• Long term saving with Tesco’s Clubcard points
• 6,000 price check ups every week to help you save more
• Hundreds of weekly promotions
• Low prices everyday
• 14% more saving compared to their biggest rivals
• Unbeatable price for 50 basic necessity goods
• Tesco product range at value added low prices

For those interested to work with Tesco, you can check on Tesco openings here.

For more information on Tesco’s promotions and others, click here.

Among attractions during the colourful and lively Pesta Konvo are street soccer contest, mini festival, entrepreneur workshop, and concert performance by local artists.

As usual, stalls will be opened and offered to business people with very reasonable price (rent). Students are also given opportunity to exhibit their business skills and provide them some enterprise exposure.

The stalls will be opened from 27th March and 70 units of dry stalls and 25 units of wet stalls (food, snack and beverages) will be opened for bidding. Price for dry stall is RM1,600 while for wet stall is RM2,200.

More news here.