Jom with me as we uncover their buffet highlights in line with my #JomtaraletsSupportLocal Campaign Stories.

Jom with me as we uncover their Buffet Highlight with special mention on their Daging Panggang Bumbu, Kambing Kuzi, Roasted Whole lamb, Satay Ayam pasu, Sup Gear Box, Azam Pedas Murtabak, Putu Piring and Putu Bambu, Tapai, Dodol, Wajik and many more.

Their package was said to be RM98 net per adult and RM48 nett per child from 6-12 year-old.  They are currently having an early bird promotion of Buy 5 Free 1 before 13^th April 2021.

His arrival was welcomed by the Chairman of the Johor State Public Works, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee, Mohd Solihan Badri, and Chief Executive of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.

The Pilot Testing is a three-month programme that involves the demonstrations of new green technology buses such as electric and biodiesel that may be potentially used for the IMBRT service. These buses will be tested to determine their roadworthiness as well as feasibility for use on the feeder, direct, and trunk routes.

IRDA and related agencies will also conduct assessments, collect feedback on the effectiveness and safety of the buses as well as obtain approval for its actual use in the future.

In his speech, Datuk Ir. Hasni Mohammad said the BRT project is important to increase the mobility of the people in the state.

“This service will ensure an efficient, convenient and environmentally friendly public transportation system, covering a wide range of areas.”

"I am confident that it will be a catalyst for development, not only for the Iskandar Malaysia area, but for the entire state of Johor," he added.

IRDA Chief Executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim stressed that an efficient and integrated public transport infrastructure is important to attract foreign and domestic investments, thus increasing the attractiveness of the development corridor.

"This IMBRT project is expected to create up to 35,000 jobs and increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Johor," he added.

The project has identified feeder, direct, and main routes that reach 2,043 kilometers or about 90 percent of the populated areas in Iskandar Malaysia.

When fully implemented, the IMBRT will be able to connect 55 feeder routes and 44 direct routes with the main route covering 33 stations.

The participating bus suppliers include Mobilus Sdn Bhd, CRRC Zhejiang Electric vehicle, Scania, WSH Automative Sdn  Bhd, HMN Electric Transport Sdn Bhd, Hyundai Corporation, Wise Star Group, BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Go Automobile Manufacturing Sdn Bhd.

For more information on the project, other details can be found via official social media channels of Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT).

Allow me to share with you my experiences in processing the renewal of my Passport at the Embassy during this time.

a. Secure online appointment at the Philippines Embassy

b. Prepare all your documents for your renewal transaction

• A confirmed online appointment which you need to present to the Embassy Security guard before you are allowed to get inside to process your transaction. Please don’t give a fake appointment letter as they have a master list of those expected applicants on that day.
• Dully accomplished renewal application form which is downloadable at the Philippine website.
• Your current e-Passport
• A photocopy of your e-Passport (info page)

I need to secure a travel permit to the nearest police station in my place. I downloaded the form online and I need to indicate the time and date that I will be leaving my place to go to Embassy and a date and time that I need to get back to my place. If you will not fill this up, you will not be approved to go for interstate travel.

It took about 4.5 - 5 hours for me to drive to our embassy from Johor Bahru. There was no jam and in between, I need to take a break at the R&R for a toilet break and also to get some food. I used Waze App and so far it helped me to get straight to the embassy conveniently.

The transaction was very simple. This includes the submission of the document followed by a payment of RM288 for the renewal fee (10 years) and the last one is the encoding of your details, biometrics, and photo-taking of yourself which took about 10-15 minutes.

According to the embassy officer, there had been some cases of new passports lost and the impact is more costly. You need to undergo another set of transaction like filing an affidavit of loss etc (it's about RM1000 not including the time that you need to spend just to settle this).

According to the officer, in order for you to know the status of your passport application, you need to visit the passport finder at the Philippine Embassy website and just type in your Service Number (this is located at the receipt of your passport renewal fee ) and your last name.

With the announcement from the Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the extension of Conditional Movement Control Order Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor including other states that high cases of new Covid19 daily infection, interstate traveling is not yet allowed.

With this Status, the interstate is only allowed unless you (the travel) have a valid reason to go for interstate travel. For me, I am able to acquire a travel permit from the Police Station as I need to go to my Embassy to settle my passport renewal.

During those times where there is no restriction of  traveling, it is very convenient to take a bus to get to Kuala Lumpur, but this time around public transport catering for interstate is not yet allowed hence we need to drive ourselves to get to our embassy.

Speaking of driving, I have listed here an estimated cost of traveling by car via the North South expressway to get straight to the Philippines embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Here is How I Calculated My Cost

1.  How much was my fuel consumption?

I took  petrol 4 times to ensure that I have sufficient fuel even when there is a heavy jam, especially in Kuala Lumpur area. My total cost is RM96.00 until I reach my Embassy and going back to my hometown in Johor Bahru. It's about 658 Kilometers distance from Johor Bahru with a fuel rate of RM2.05 per litter (Ron95).

The fuel consumption of the car depends on the type of vehicle you are using. So we can say that with these findings, fuel consumption for traveling this distance is about +/- RM90 to RM110 for both going in and going back to Johor Bahru.

2. How much is my Toll Fees?

I spent a total amount of RM71.86 on all the expenses for the toll I used to get to my Embassy and back to Johor Bahru on the same day. I checked my transaction from my service provider Touch and Go so my transaction is all stated there.

3. How much all in all?

The expenses for my Petrol and Toll Fee for this trip is RM167.86. Please take note that food and shopping expenses were not included in this costing.

4. Can we compare the cost to public transport?

If comparing using public transport here is how I calculated:

If you compare these two options, using public transport can save you up to RM58.96 per trip. But when traveling by more than two, driving a car is the cheapest and economical choice for everyone.

Disclaimer:

This documentation was captured on April 1, 2021. Costing was based on actual traveling experience and subject to change according to fare rates by buses, grab, train for a public commuter while fuel rates and car type for self-driving to the said destination.