Cheaper air tickets but pay per use toilets

This is definitely a first and perhaps the wildest and most brilliant idea. In an effort to reduce the price of an airline ticket, Ryanair, Europe's primier budget airline is proposing a pay per wee for the use of the on board toilet. The price? A British pound per wee. How? Just deposit the coin into the toilet coin slot.

So my questions are...what happens if I do not have a pound with me and I really have to go? And what if I need to go for more than a wee? 3 pounds per poo? Let's hope Mr Tony Fernandes doesn't get the same ideas. I certainly hope that Air Asia have more dignity than Ryanair.

Read more. Click on the link below.

Source: The Star

Toll hike deferred till end of the year

PUTRAJAYA: The proposed toll increase for five highways effective from Sunday has been deferred till the end of the year. Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed said the decision was reached at the Cabinet meeting on Friday following negative public reaction over the hike and the current economic situation.

On Thursday. Mohd Zin announced that road users would have to pay a higher toll when using the North-South Expressway (PLUS), the Sprint/Kerinchi/Damansara Link highways, Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Expressway (AKLEH), Sungai Besi Highway and the New Pantai Expressway (NPE).

Source: The Star

Related Stories:
- Toll hike on hold indefinitely (The Star)
- DAP lauds move to put off toll hikes (NST)
- Renegotiate highway contracts, govt urged (NST)

New Toll Rates

Source: The Sun (27 February 2009, Page 1)

Related stories:

- New toll rates may be deferred following public outcry (The Star)

- Groups call for buyouts, new highway deals (The Star)

- MPs say no to toll increase (The Star)

Toll Increase......What The &@#%!

Just when we just received news that the Salak Jaya toll is closed thus benefiting road users RM1.30 each way......then the latest news is that Gomen will increase toll for 5 major higways mostly around KL effective MARCH 1st. The highways are North-South Expressway (Plus), Sprint, Ampang Elevated Highway, Sg Besi Highway, and New Pantai Expressway.

However, the new toll rates have not been decided yet but not beyond end of this week.

I think this will definitely burden the average employees who have to ply these routes to and back from work. I think the timing is real bad. Transport vechiles which use these road will also be not spared and as usual the increase will be passed on to consumers in terms of higher price of goods

Read more from the link below

Source: The Star

Time to Prepare for Your 2008 tax returns

It's that time again. Pretty soon, you will be receiving reminders to file your 2008 tax returns by April. So it is good to know what new tax exemptions for 2008 which will help to stretch your Ringit more. Below are a graphical illustration I extracted from The Star

Fish price likely to be increased

Seems like no good news nowadays. Prices are stil high and now the news is that fish prices are like to be increased due to a new ruling for imported fish to be kept in insulated boxes instead of old plastic boxes. Perhaps the cost of the insulated boxes are more expensive.

The insulated container also ensures that the freshness and quality of the fish are not compromised. The container also had its own anti-bacterial cassette and radio frequency identification device to trace the vessel which transported the fish.The old plastic box did not come with its own lid which required importers to buy wooden boards and might cause food contamination if the wood rots and comes into contact with the fish. The new ruling will take effect from this Sunday

Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) development department deputy director-general Mohad Khazin Hamzah urges fish importers not to increase fish prices

To read more, click on the link

Source: The Star

Banks to auto reduce monthly loan repayment amounts

Remember in my previous blog, I said that Bank Negara (Malaysia Central Bank) will be reducing its OPR (Overnight Policy Rates)?

As such it will bring about the reduction of the base lending rates and banks will automatically reduce the loan repayment amounts of their customers and this will be completed by the first quarter of this year.

However, borrowers also had the option of maintaining their monthly installment amounts and have a shorter loan repayment period. (this is a good thing!!!. Otherwise you only continue stretching the loan repayment period which is bad for you). Therefore, it is very important to note that borrowers who wish to maintain their current loan repayment amounts need to get in touch with their banks IMMEDIATELY.

The move by all commercial banks to cut instalment amounts follows the request by the Government to help borrowers facing difficult economic times. “Lower monthly loan repayment instalments will allow for more disposable income to be in the hands of the public" says ABM (Association of Banks in Malaysia)

Read more by clicking the link below.

Source: The Star