Some Legoland Malaysia News Update

Could be another theme park that will not generate enough revenue.

Group unhappy over Legoland Theme Park choice
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/12/17/southneast/2796171&sec=southneast
JOHOR BARU: The arrival of the Legoland Theme Park in Iskandar Malaysia comes as a disappointment as Legoland is a brand unfamiliar to locals.
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Legoland Malaysia seen tapping government loan
http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/16048/84/
(Business Times Singapore) The government is likely to be tapped for a loan to kick-start the development of the proposed Legoland theme park in south Johor in view of the current credit crunch which has made funding tougher and more expensive to obtain.

A senior government official told BT that the joint venture behind Legoland Malaysia was expected to approach the federal government for a loan not exceeding RM500 million.
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Comment (View more comments on the MalaysiaToday website)
written by chelsea, December 16, 2008 10:43:10
It's interesting to note that 5000 jobs will be created. If each employee draws a mere miserable RM1k/mth, the average payout would cough out to be RM5mil per month on salaries alone discounting off all other social funds, expenses, franchising and miscellaneous loans, etc before we even talk about profit margins! We'll need 100k visitors per month spending a minimum of RM50 each. Look around the development and attractions in Johore and how on earth the authority thinks this joint venture could lure a minimum of 100K visitors to the theme park each month, when RM50 is considered expensive for the locals, i.e. it takes an average family of 4 to spend at least RM200 per visit, excluding hotel and transportation to the destination...and you wanna dream of successes when Paris, Hong Kong renowned as dream holiday destinations, are struggling to survive with their Disneyland ventures!

Stolen Wallet @ Cheras Selatan

My colleague recently lost her wallet which was kept in her handbag, while she was at Jusco Cheras Selatan. The thief (pickpocket) cut her handbag and removed her wallet and she didn't even noticed it.

She reported it and was informed that on the same day there were other similar cases at the same shopping center.

Shoppers at Jusco Cheras Selatan (not only in Jusco) be wary of your surroundings, take care of you handbags, purse, wallets, and always keep a watch on your children, always.


Picture: The handbag with the cut

Below is the comment from the victim WWF (not World Wrestling Federation):

Halloo… I’m the victim of this incident, just to share my experience on the troubles I had gone through.

I went to the nearest police station at Bandar Tun Hussien Onn to report the incident, unfortunately this is a Pondok Polis and not Balai Polis, where you can still report your case but no interview will be conducted. So, I was asked to go to the Kajang police station for an ‘interview’, just a simple Q&A session. At Kajang police station, I was not allowed to park my car inside the police station; although there is a sign for ‘visitor parking’, but being instructed to park outside, yellow line parking….funny right?!

After the interview, I was told that in order to get my I/C and license re-issued, I need to pay RM2 for the police report and obtain an official receipt. This has to be done at the Batu 9 police station during working hours (8am-4pm), meaning I got to go there the next morning on Monday. Sigh, can you believe this, as I have to go to 3 police stations to complete the whole process.

After obtaining the official receipt from Batu 9 police station on Monday, I went to the JPN in Seri Kembangan. The officer didn’t allow me to take the number as I had to first fill in the form and make a copy of my police report from the shop outside. So, I had to walk around and looked for a shop with photostat service. When done, I got my number 2040, with 16 persons in the queue. My number should be 2036 if I was given a number when I first walked in. Sigh, they never show empathy for me being the victim of the incident yet I have to go through all these hassles!!

Only 4 persons working in JPN Seri Kembangan, after waiting for 2 hours +, my number being called, then the officer told me that my case requires her boss’s approval, as it might subject to 50% of the penalty amount. However, the boss is away attending meeting in HQ and will be back in the afternoon, but not sure what time. She suggested me to come back again in the afternoon or I can go to other branch….. I was so fed up, and finally she offered me a ‘better’ solution, i.e., to leave my form and report with her and she will call me when the boss is back…. I really feel like slapping someone!!!! She also suggested me to go to PJ, where there is JPN & JPJ, and I can have both I/C and license done within the same area. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with PJ at all, then she suggested me to go to the Seri Petaling branch, JPN is located at 5th floor in Endah Parade; less people in this branch.

I reached JPN Seri Petaling at 12:15noon, taken a number (I asked the officer if the boss around while taking the number and shared my experience with him; he told me there’s no such procedure and the penalty will be waived for me), 9 persons in the queue, and I had my temporary I/C done within 30 minutes….phew!! Does this mean different JPN branch has their own policy & procedure?!

Later in the afternoon, I went to JPJ Setapak, taken my number and there were 150 persons in the queue…. I almost fainted. Then somebody approached me if I want my license done within 5 minutes but need to pay him RM30. Honestly speaking, I don’t encourage this, but I really don’t have a choice as I still have to go to the bank to get my new ATM card; so, I paid the person and I got my license within 5 minutes!!!!

After that, I went to the Maybank in Setapak. When I called Maybank customer service to stop my ATM card on Sunday, I was told that I can have my ATM card re-issued at any branch. However, when I was at Setapak branch, the bank officer told me that I have to go back to home branch (where you opened your account) to get my ATM card re-issued due to I’m holding temporary I/C. So, without much hassles, I decided to obtain my new ATM card one month later when I get my permanent I/C.

The story doesn’t end here. Later, when I receive my replacement cards for credit cards, I have to inform all my merchants (fill in the form again, etc) which I have auto debit instruction on the change of card numbers. Luckilly the auto debit instruction is still valid and running for 3 months upon reporting of card lost, meaning I have some buffer to execute the change of card number...phew!!

Fuel Price 10 Cents Reduction

This morning I went to Shell to feed my car, and I thought I was seeing things. The price of petrol was (RON97) was RM1.80.

Well I did not get the news last night as I returned home late.

News was reported in MalaysiaKini Petrol, diesel prices: Another 10 sen cut around 6PM yesterday evening.

The price of RON97 petrol is RM1.80 a litre, RON92 is RM1.70 a litre and diesel is RM1.70 a litre.

Petrol and diesel down 10 sen
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/16/nation/2815077&sec=nation
PETALING JAYA: Petrol and diesel prices have been slashed by another 10 sen effective today.
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Legoland Coming Soon To Malaysia

I used to play with Lego when I was a kid. Lets see, I will bring my children there in year 2013 as my inner child still wants to play with Logo :-P


Work on RM750m theme park to start 2010
http://star-space.com/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/15/pnews/2808465&sec=pnews
JOHOR BARU: Work on the RM750mil Legoland theme park at Bandar Nusajaya in Iskandar Malaysia will start in 2010 and the opening slated for 2013.
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Legoland has four theme parks.

The park in Billund, Denmark opened in 1968, Windsor, England (1996), California (1999) and Germany (2002) and in Dubai, which will open in 2011.
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He said Legoland park targeted at children aged from two to 12 years old accompanied by their parents or grandparents and not teenagers and young adults which was the main focus of the other theme park operators.


Malaysia’s first international theme park set to boost tourism sector
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/15/nation/2808443&sec=nation
... The RM750mil park, on a 930ha site in Medini Iskandar, will have more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions when it opens in 2013. Another Legoland is expected to open in Dubai in 2011.


Legoland website http://www.legoland.com/

CIQ Complex Replaces Causeway Checkpoint

If you are going to Singapore via Johor Bharu, don't look for the Causeway checkpoint from tomorrow, head for the CIQ complex. Hopefully the signboards are sufficient and informative.

New CIQ complex opens
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/15/nation/2809691&sec=nation
JOHOR BARU: The new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex will be fully operational tomorrow and replace the Causeway checkpoint in the city centre, which will be closed.

This means that all vehicles travelling to and from Singapore will have to use the new complex to get their passports stamped and Customs checks.
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Starting tomorrow, all vehicles coming from Singapore must also use Touch ’n Go cards to pay toll as they enter Malaysia.
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Dinner @ Korean Restaurant Maehwa Maul

Last night, our family had dinner with aunt Jade, mei mei Faith at Maehwa Maul Korean Restaurant located at Plaza Mont Kiara. Click to view map.

Food was good and so too was the company.


A Christmas tree and a snowman at Plaza Mont Kiara.

*Pictures taken with SE K800i

Lunch @ Mr Teppanyaki

We went for lunch at Mr Teppanyaki at the Mines Shopping Center food court. We ordered the chicken, salmon and beef teppanyaki set.


Improvements to the car park at the Mines Shopping center. It is brighter, accepts the Touch&Go card and there are lights that indicate if the parking lot is occupied (red) or not (green). Helpful when you are looking for a vacant parking lot.

Dinner @ Taiwan Restaurant in Kajang

Dinner last night with Philip and family, at a Taiwanese Restaurant (I can't read Chinese) in Kajang (Jalan 10-1, Jalan Bukit).


Thanks Philip for the dinner treat and birthday celebration.

I ordered the grilled chicken with black pepper sauce on a hot plate.


Overall the food was 'average', even the spaghetti that Philip ordered was too sweet. The restaurant is new and has much to improve on its food served.

Joke: Ah Huay At A Job Interview

A forwarded joke from my colleague.

Nanny Fran For Senate?

Can you picture the Nanny Fran in Senate, with her high pitched voice :-D


Nanny star Fran Drescher seeks Hillary Clinton's Senate Seat
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24779771-26397,00.html
ACTRESS Fran Drescher, star of The Nanny, has thrown her hat in the ring to contest the US Senate seat being left vacant by Hillary Clinton.
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The Nanny website http://www.thenannytv.com/