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These are the first sketches of the Skoda Kamiqhttps://www.topgear.com/car-news/suvs/these-are-first-sketches-skoda-kamiq Right, let’s sort this out early on. The new Skoda Kamiq will be the smallest of the Czech brand’s three SUV offerings, putting it below the medium-sized Karoq and larger Kodiaq. Its rivals will be the likes of the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Juke and fellow Volkswagen Group little’uns the Seat Arona and VW T-Cross. For the sake of even more confusion though, Skoda is hoping to make the Kamiq slightly bigger than its competitors in order to score a point on interior space. So, it’s a big little SUV. Got it? Anyway – model minefield aside – based on the initial sketches that Skoda has released it’ll be a great looking thing. The front end is tall and imposing for a small (big) car and the split headlights have been flipped from the Karoq and Kodiaq – with sharp daytime runners above the main lights. The angular theme continues towards the back, where all lines converge to create a sporty-looking rear-end with Skoda spelt out along the boot. Whatever happened to logos? We don’t know anything more about what’s under the skin yet, but based on its sister cars from Seat and VW we can probably expect to get 1.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel versions here in the UK. The Kamiq will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Like it, or will it fade into SUV obscurity? Let us know below… https://youtu.be/vMHehOIjzkc

Business Times - 16 Jul 2008 CNG car sales race ahead as petrol prices soar Over 800 units sold in past 6 months compared to just 34 for whole of 2007 By SAMUEL EE SALES of CNG cars are continuing to power ahead this year, with the number of such vehicles in the first six months soaring to 804 from a mere 34 for the whole of last year. According to the Land Transport Authority, there were 1,564 bi-fuel cars on Singapore roads as at end-June. June was also the hottest month in the first half of this year for such cars, with an all-time high of 124 units registered. Bi-fuel cars can run on both petrol and CNG (compressed natural gas). Mercedes-Benz is the only car maker that offers a CNG model - the E200 NGT (Natural Gas Technology) - direct from the factory. The rest of the petrol-engined cars here have been retrofitted with gas tanks and injectors so that they can also operate on CNG. As petrol prices soar, more and more buyers of new cars are converting their vehicles to run on CNG, which is less expensive. Apart from lower running costs, such retrofitted cars also attract a green vehicle rebate, currently set at 40 per cent of OMV (open market value). This means its list price will also be lower, thus outweighing the CNG conversion cost, which can range from $3,400 to $4,500, depending on the size of the gas tank installed. But the price of CNG is also rising fast because it is pegged to the price of high sulphur fuel oil (HFSO). Last week, it cost $1.59 per kg at Smart Energy, one of two CNG refuelling stations in Singapore. On Monday, the price rose to $1.73. 'The higher cost of CNG will definitely affect the demand for CNG cars because the price difference compared with petrol is reduced,' says Johnny Harjantho, managing director of Smart Energy. But he says that the mileage gains from CNG versus petrol will continue to make it a popular alternative, 'especially for those who travel a lot'. Mr Harjantho says that on average, a 2.0-litre car can travel about 250km on 18kg of CNG, for a cost per km number of 12.5 cents. For that same distance, the 2.0-litre car will need an average of 27.78 litres of petrol, or 23.4 cents per km using the cheapest fuel grade at $2.102 per litre. One parallel importer also believes the popularity of CNG cars will remain strong. 'Current demand is overwhelming,' he says. 'For every 10 enquiries about new cars, six or seven are for CNG models.' He adds that the waiting time for the installation of a CNG kit used to take two weeks two months ago. 'Now, the queue time is two months,' he notes. 'Look at it this way - one full tank of petrol for a 1.8-litre MPV costs $80 to $90. With CNG, it's about $40 or half the price. So, of course, you will go CNG.'

This demo of the Apple Ipad clearly shows it's way ahead in technology. Instant hardcopy of your picture., teleportation of your drinks. .

Singapore - 13 years old in robbery ..... Boleh Land - 10 years old arrested for protesting ..... Win leow lor ... from Yahoo : Malaysian police arrest 15 over flash-mob protest Malaysian police on Saturday arrested 15 people over a flash-mob protest held ahead of a planned June 22 opposition rally against alleged fraud in elections last month, but they were later freed. Those detained, who included opposition-aligned activists but also a 10-year-old boy, were held for disrupting public order in a busy shopping area of the capital Kuala Lumpur, media reports and opposition politicians said. "We had warned them to disperse but they refused to do so. They have been detained to facilitate investigations," Zainuddin Ahmad, a local police official in the area, was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper. Malaysia's long-ruling coalition was returned to power in May 5 elections that were the country's closest ever. The opposition insists vote fraud secured the win for the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front), but Prime Minister Najib Razak has denied the charge. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has organised a string of post-election rallies nationwide demanding election reforms including an overhaul of an Election Commission it considers biased. The next gathering is set for June 22 in Kuala Lumpur, but police have warned they may stop the rally, setting up a potential confrontation. All of the rallies have so far proceeded with no incident. more story, link: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/malaysian-police-...-184414242.html

ALl these members of the public, analysts and MPs are talking nonsense. Didn't they hear what LTY said recently? The rising COE prices is actually due to the booming economy, he said IIRC. We should really be appreciative of that yes? From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1204394/1/.html The road ahead for COEs By Sumita Sreedharan, TODAY | Posted: 30 May 2012 0534 hrs SINGAPORE: With the Land Transport Authority (LTA) due to complete a review by the end of the month - on the feasibility of increasing the supply of Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) - analysts TODAY spoke to called on the authorities to re-examine the system to address its volatility and to ensure social equity, with one even urging an overhaul. Most experts and observers felt that by and large, the system has worked. However, tweaks are in order, they said. Suggestions include temporarily allowing motorists to sell their COE back to LTA at the market price, allocating a certain number of COEs to different income brackets, having a fixed quota of COEs every year and having an additional category for luxury cars. As COE premiums hit record levels in recent months, members of public have questioned the 22-year-old system. In a letter published on May 18, TODAY reader Chua Yao Kun argued that the COE system "has proven to be a blunt tool". Apart from contributing to inflation, he argued that the COE system has resulted in vehicle ownership being increasingly concentrated in the hands of the rich, rather than being allocated to activities that promote economic value. The letter has since garnered 1,700 'likes'. National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der Horng felt the COE system needs an overhaul. "The affordability (of a car) is not equal to the true desire or need to have a vehicle," he said. One way to address the issue of social equity is to allocate a certain number of COE to different income brackets, said UniSIM School of Business urban transport management expert Park Byung Joon. Nevertheless, such a method is "easier said than done", Dr Park noted. He added: "Who will evaluate the level of needs of each family and how? We may end up with having a bureaucratic monster, not necessarily better than COE system." Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency MP Gan Thiam Poh, who is on the Government Parliamentary Committe for transport, concurred: "It will be difficult to assess whose needs are more pressing and it will be difficult to satisfy everybody." Assoc Prof Lee suggested a balloting system. However, he noted that doing so could make the situation worse if it encourages the "entire population" to try their luck. "But then again, such things can be prevented much in the way the HDB has the rule that you can only sell your flat only after five years. If implemented for cars as well, it would ensure car owners know their responsibility and will have to take care of the car for the next five years," he added. To address the volatility, Assoc Prof Lee suggested a more stable COE supply. Having a new category for luxury cars could also ensure that those who can afford it can pay more, he added. HAS COE SYSTEM WORKED? Overall, Dr Park believes the system has achieved its objective. "Without the COE system, the Singapore roads would become even more congested," said Dr Park. He pointed out that the current situation is due to the oversupply of COE between 2004 and 2008 - during that period, Singaporeans enjoyed relatively low COEs, he noted. "The COE price is determined by the market force of supply and demand.. When supply decreases in such a huge number, it is not surprising that COE price drastically increased," he said. Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan, who is also on the GPC for transport, said the COE system has "worked to a certain extent". "The question now is how it can be tweaked as people are feeling the pinch and there have been various requests and proposals," said Mr Lim. Apart from the COE system, some MPs were concerned at the ease with which prospective buyers are able to finance their cars. These days, some banks are even offering on-the-spot approval for car loans. Mr Lim suggested "cutting financing so that you do not allow people who cannot afford cars to leverage payments they may not be able to finance". Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Ang Hin Kee cautioned against implementing "stop gap measures" which could throw the Republic's long term plans "into disarray". The entire transport system should be looked at in its totality before any tweaks to the COE system are made, he stressed. - TODAY

Are they still teaching "L" drivers to tap their brakes when they are uncomfortable with another car following behind them? Personally, i think this is one of the stupidest thing ever taught. Everyday i face this kind of people on the roads, even when there's absolutely no cars ahead of them. If you're not comfortable with matching the flow of traffic, then find an opportunity to keep to the left. If cannot or refuse to keep left, just maintain your speed and leave it to the driver behind to overtake you either left or right when an opportunity presents itself. There are even some idiots who intentionally slow themselves down to the same speed as the car beside so as to deny the car behind with the opportunity to overtake. Why need to do something like that? It is already so blardy irritating when somebody hogs the road. To tap their brake some more is simply dumb, and to intentionally slow down to prevent being overtaken is an invitation for retaliation.

Orchard Rd..... look for mscp instead

When i first visit Japan Railway/MRT station...i notice that the station is longer than the train... I also notice that in Thailand (maybe because Thailand railway was done by Japan)... with this limitation, it is impossible for SMRT to increase the no of carriage per train... which I think is a easier and cheaper way to increase capacity... rather than spend money on the switching/lighting control... which spend millions for just marginal increase in capacity.... What projection SMRT or the government had done when they place the order for the MRT? when we started the MRT, out population was like 3 millions or less. if we are planning 4 millions or 5 millions population, the supporting infrastructure should be there too..is the authority are slacking and become short-sighted?

Unique feature: Heated steering, heated rear seat, auto defogging system, panaromic sunroof Safety feature: 9 airbags, Lane Assist, Park Assist, Adaptive headlamp Powertrain: Petrol: 1.6GDi 138hp, 2.0GDi 175hp Diesel: 1.7 113/134hp 2012 New addition: 1.7 Twin Turbo diesel 160hp i40 sedan will be launched in Autumn

Barcelona could be a turning point in Renault's 2010 season. Despite the tumult of the crashgate scandal and the pre-season period, the Enstone based team - and particularly Robert Kubica - has had a surprisingly strong start, trailing Mercedes by just 14 points after four races. But some teams - notably Mercedes - will use vastly upgraded cars at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend. Pole Kubica admits Spain could be a "big test for us" because the R30 will not be fundamentally different to the car raced in China two weeks ago. "We are not planning to bring any huge updates, but we will keep gradually improving the car, just like we did during the first four races," he said. "We have to wait and see how we compare with the others; maybe the order of the teams will be quite different compared to the start of the year," added Kubica. Moreover, the last winter test at Barcelona was not a good one for the yellow and red car, and chief engineer Alan Permane admits that Mercedes might make a step away from Renault this weekend. "Mercedes may move away from us a little bit but we've got a new front wing and some other new aerodynamic parts that should help us make another step forward," he said. "It's not the biggest update we've had this year, but it continues our approach of adding new parts at each race," added Permane. Force India's Adrian Sutil on Tuesday told spox.com that Renault "are within striking distance". But the German is not expecting the pecking-order to change radically in Spain, despite some reports predicting a huge step forward for Mercedes. "If that happened, then I would cease to understand a few things about formula one," said Sutil. Source: GMM

by Eric Loveday (RSS feed) It seem like just a few days ago BMW came forth stating that its use of carbon fiber on upcoming vehicles would become a high-volume deal. Now Green Car Advisor reports that Daimler, never willing to be a step behind, has also announced plans to increase its investment in the material. Daimler has enlisted the help of Toray Industries, a Japanese textile company, to help make carbon fiber body parts for Mercedes-Benz vehicles beginning in 2012. The parts will reduce vehicle weight and help the company meet upcoming CAFE regulations. The first Mercedes product to be adorned with carbon fiber will be the SL-Class. Daimler choose Toray Industries due to its expertise in carbon fiber. Though not a common name to many, Toray is actually the dominant force in the industry, controlling 34 percent of the global market. This will be Toray's first venture into making car parts out of carbon fiber. The company's current automotive-related experiences with the material has been limited to supplying carbon fiber yarns to Ferrari and various aftermarket companies. Daimler and Toray will work together on development of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic body parts and production will be carried out at a Toray facility in France.

Mar 12, 2010 Big drop in COEs ahead By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent From next month, there will be a bigger-than-expected cut in certificates of entitlement (COEs) needed to buy vehicles. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN FROM next month, there will be a bigger-than-expected cut in certificates of entitlement (COEs) needed to buy vehicles. With almost 30 per cent fewer COEs available each month, car traders foresee premiums rising soon to between $30,000 and $35,000, from around $25,000 now. The biggest reduction of close to 40 per cent will be for COEs for cars up to 1,600cc, the mainstay of car buyers. The reduction is the result of a new formula unveiled yesterday in Parliament to determine the number of new vehicles allowed. It will be based on the actual number of vehicles taken off the road, and not a forecast of vehicles to be deregistered over 12 months. With the new formula, as well as adjustments for an oversupply of about 17,000 COEs in the last two years, the monthly supply from April to July will plunge to 4,238. Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times. [email protected]

Some people would risk their life to have one day of freedom could this be the case Singapore minister warns against twins' surgery: report [Top: Singaporean neurosurgeon, Keith Goh (right) greets five year old conjoined twins Vani and Veena while Indian surgeon A. Narendra Kumar stands nearby in Hyderabad in late March.] SINGAPORE, April 20, 2009 (AFP) - Singapore's health minister has cautioned against a planned surgery in the city-state to separate Indian twin sisters joined at the head, citing the risks involved, a report said Monday. The operation is more likely to harm the patients than improve their situation, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in remarks carried by the Straits Times. A Singaporean neurosurgeon, Keith Goh, has said he had been asked by the state government of Andhra Pradesh in India to surgically separate five-year-old Indian twin sisters Vani and Veena, possibly later this year. But Khaw said that in certain situations, it may be better not to operate on conjoined twins. "To change the course of nature may do more harm than good," he was quoted as saying. In some cases, surgeons also have to pick one twin to die in order to save the other, the health minister said. "Even those who survive would often be left with brain damage. So, to what extent is this quality of life?" he asked. In 2001, Goh was involved in a 97-hour operation that separated 11-month-old Nepalese twins Ganga and Jamuna Shrestha who were born with fused skulls. The surgery left Ganga with brain damage and Jamuna unable to walk. It also left a hole in Jamuna's skull covered only by a layer of skin. Last year, Ganga died from respiratory problems at a hospital in Kathmandu, where she was being treated for pneumonia and meningitis. Goh was also involved in the tragic operation of 29-year-old Iranian twins - Ladan and Laleh Bijani - in July 2003. Both women, joined at the head, died from severe blood loss following a 52-hour operation.

Numbers don't lie... Looks like the first 2 months... Skoda falls under the "Others" section .. ( less than 5 cars sold! ). Look at this official figures http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/doc/M03-Ca...20by%20make.pdf C'mon Harvest... got to keep up the momentum and exceeds customer expectations.. u guys have to work twice as hard as others.. and perhaps 10x more effort than T0Y0T@ but doable... Listen to your customer...

I thought Mr Malboro said sometime ago that a leaked letter stating the Go-ahead for Serangoon Gardens dorm was a misunderstand. so it has become reality so is this another case of wayang http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews...1003-91443.html

http://tomorrow.sg/archives/2008/07/25/tem...rill_lynch.html

May 11, 2008 Where have all the customers gone? Many are cutting back on spending in wake of rising food prices, possible US recession By Shuli Sudderuddin When private banker Jeremy Ching went to Robinsons' yearly sale last week, he found the crowd at the Centrepoint outlet thinner than last year's. 'Last year, it was so crowded that I didn't get to try on anything. This year, I actually bought something,' said Mr Ching, 24. The Sunday Times did a check with 20 shoppers in various city locations and found that, like Mr Ching, many were holding on more tightly to their wallets. Fifteen said they had been going out less often in the last two months. Reason? Gloomy news about rising food prices and a possible recession in the United States. When we spoke to 100 retailers and food and beverage outlet managers, 59 said they were seeing fewer customers, and at least 10 said business was down by 10 per cent or more. The rest - 41 shops in large shopping malls, especially beauty and retail electronics outlets - still saw brisk business. A spokesman for movie memorabilia shop PopcornPop in Suntec City said weekend sales have dropped by up to 50 per cent. Noting that the Great Singapore Sale will start in two weeks' time, he said: 'I'm sceptical about spending going up during the Great Singapore Sale. Spending won't increase.' Some shoppers echoed this view. Photographer Colin Koh, 28, said: 'Why buy during the sale? I have to prioritise and pay for necessities like petrol for my car.' At Raffles City, customer service agent Christina Simon said: 'There used to be more people in malls but things are getting more expensive. I tend to eat out less now - twice a month rather than every weekend as I used to.' Department of Statistics' figures show that on a year-on-year basis, retail sales declined by 1.3 per cent over a year ago for the month of February. Also, the latest Business Expectations Survey shows that the services sector is generally cautious about business outlook for April to September this year. From the survey, 29 per cent of retail firms predicted slower business during this period. At Suntec City, accessories pushcart operator Wendy Lee has noticed a steep drop in takings compared to the same period last year. 'We could make about $400 daily last year but this has decreased by about 40 per cent,' she lamented. Mr Suzuki Nobuaki, manager of Tonkichi Japanese restaurant, which has outlets in Ngee Ann City, Isetan Scotts and Suntec City, said: 'Our customers have decreased by 5 to 10 per cent compared to last year. It looks like people are saving on food to cope with the cost of living.' At Clarke Quay, walkways and restaurants were empty approaching dinner time last week. Ms Junydah Madon, marketing, event and operation manager for the Tapas Tree, cited the heatwave as one reason for the empty seats outside the restaurant. 'Customers prefer the air-conditioning inside.' But she added: 'Business has been quite slow at Clarke Quay and customer flow dropped last week because it is the off-peak season.' Mr Benny Lee, marketing manager for Zingrill which runs restaurants such as Breeks, said there has been a 10 to 15 per cent drop in sales in Breeks outlets in town. 'Our pricing is not expensive, so it could be that fewer people are eating in town because fewer are shopping there,' he speculated. New retail entrants are also feeling the pinch. At least three new businesses contacted said that they were not doing as well as projected. Mr Sreeram Muthiah, shift manager at smoothie and coffee cafe Maui Wowi in Suntec City, said that weekends see more business, but sales have not picked up as quickly as anticipated since the cafe opened three months ago. 'On Sundays at lunch time, we are sometimes only half-full,' he said. Economist Selena Ling, head of treasury research at OCBC, felt that the pessimism could be due to the impression that the global economy is in bad shape. 'Last year's optimism is wearing off. Because people have to pay more for staples, they'll cut down on discretionary spending like shopping and eating out,' she said. Ms Lau Chuen Wei, executive director of the Singapore Retailers Association, said March, April and May traditionally see seasonal dips. But she added that higher domestic spending would be a booster. 'Higher economic activity within a country will not only boost sales but also the entire nation's economy,' she said. One shopper seemed to be in tune with that view. Mr Eric Xu, 25, who works in advertising, still goes out to restaurants and shops. 'I'm not going to let gloomy predictions change my life,' he said. Additional reporting by Becky Lo and Stacey Chia [email protected] http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_236239.html

This weekends will come down with a bang with 2 exciting games in hand. The top teams are playing against each other. Firstly, it's Chelsea vs Man City on Saturday and second, Liverpool vs Arsenal on Sunday. For my view, Chelsea will beat Man City by 2-0 and Liverpool will handed Arsenal first defeat by 1-0. What your picks.....

Deregistrations fall, pointing to slower sales of new cars ahead Dealers of Japanese cars may be hit hard as Cat A leads drop THE first nine months of 2007 were characterised by a remarkable reduction in the number of deregistrations, and this could point to a slowdown in new car sales for the near future. This drop in cars being scrapped means that in the short term, there will be fewer buyers of new cars because fewer owners are replacing their vehicle for a new one, say some motor distributors. 'The drop in Category A deregistrations is even more pronounced, and since this is the bread and butter category which accounts for volume sales, it could hit us badly,' says the senior executive of a popular Japanese dealership. Cat A certificates of entitlement are used to registers cars below 1,600 cc. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a 31 per cent plunge in the number of deregistrations. In January 2007, 4,425 cars were taken off the road. In August, the number was just 3,058. For Cat B - cars above 1,600 cc - it was 2,532 cars scrapped in January and 1,809 in August. Fewer cars are being deregistered these days after the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (Parf) benefits - or scrap rebate - were lowered for cars registered after May 2002. Then in 2003, the government eased restrictions on car financing and the liberalisation led to the industry offering 100 per cent loans and 10-year repayment periods. Car owners who took auto financing with such conditions later found it difficult to settle their outstanding loans if they wanted to trade in their cars for a new one. 'There are no new hot, mass-market models to get people excited. There has to be a real incentive to draw them into the showroom,' says one sales manager. He adds that one such incentive could be if the COE premium suddenly dives, like it did for Cat A in the second half of August. 'But when that happens, people rush in to buy and push the premium up again. Then everyone holds back because the COE premium is now so high. So car bookings cool down and market becomes lacklustre again,' he says.

[/color]Oil falls towards $76 ahead of OPEC Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:56 AM ET mmmm...wonder petrol price will come down??? By Annika Breidthardt SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil slid towards $76 on Monday, as traders waited to see if top exporter Saudi Arabia will continue to back steady OPEC supply curbs, after weak U.S. jobs data raised concerns of a recession that could hit demand. U.S. light crude fell 55 cents to $76.15 a barrel by 0850 GMT, after climbing 40 cents on Friday. London Brent crude shed 66 cents to $74.41 a barrel. Ahead of its meeting in Vienna on Tuesday, most oil ministers in OPEC, which supplies more than a third of the world's oil, have stuck to the line that current output was sufficient to meet demand. But Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi has declined comment, after a report by Washington-based consultancy PFC Energy saying Saudi Arabian sources signaled OPEC may need to consider an output boost of up to 1 million barrels per day (bpd). "Near-record spot prices, steep inventory draws and economic uncertainty would all be good reasons for OPEC to reverse its October 2006 production cuts at its meeting on September 11," said Lehman Brothers in a research note. "But few observers, us included, believe that it will do so." Saudi Arabia told its customers in Asia it would keep its crude oil supplies steady for October from September levels, industry sources in Japan and South Korea said on Monday. More than half of Saudi Arabia's crude heads to Asia. Saudi Arabia's view is key to any OPEC decision. The kingdom pumped 8.65 million bpd of the cartel's total August production of 30.37 million bpd, Reuters data shows. It also has the bulk of OPEC's spare production capacity. Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have lowered output since last year, following deals to remove 1.7 million bpd, or about 6 percent of supply, from the market. Economic troubles that some analysts fear could undermine future oil demand have kept a lid on an oil price rally to near the record high of $78.77 a barrel struck on August 1. Payrolls in the United States shrank unexpectedly for the first time in four years last month, data showed on Friday, prompting concerns that credit market turmoil may drag the economy into a recession.

Whats your choice?

RM20 Levy On Foreign Cars Unlikely To Affect Arrivals From S'pore By Jackson Sawatan SINGAPORE, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The proposal to impose RM20 levy on foreign cars entering Malaysia is unlikely to affect arrivals from Singapore, the country which contributed the biggest number of tourists to Malaysia, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said. He said that it was just a matter of getting used to paying the levy. "I believe Singaporeans will still come to Malaysia even after the imposition of the levy. It's just RM20 which is not a big amount if you convert that into Singapore dollar... I think you'll get used to it," he told a news conference, here Monday. Tengku Adnan is in Singapore to attend the Asean Tourism Ministers Meeting which is one of the key meetings in conjunction with the ongoing Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2007. Tengku Adnan said that cars from Malaysia were also being charged S$20 to enter Singapore and he had not heard of complaints from the Malaysian motorists even though the amount was huge if converted into the Malaysian ringgit (S$1 = RM2.28). Tengku Adnan would not say when the authorities would begin to collect the fee or who would be tasked to collect it. "The matter is currently being finalised by the Attorney-General's Chambers." Tengku Adnan was also asked whether the target of 10 million tourist arrivals from Singapore this year, is achievable given the various issues such as crime rate in Johor Baharu and the possible haze this year, which may affect the travel plans of Singaporeans. Tengku Adnan said that the state of crime in Johor Baharu was not as bad as was made out to be by the media here. "The crime statistics for the whole of Malaysia have gone down, including those in Johor," he said. Out of 20 million trips that Singaporeans made to Malaysia annually, only 0.005 per cent of the trips encountered problems, he said. "I'm not saying that it's good (statistics). We certainly don't like what is happening and we are working very closely to the authorities to look at this matter seriously," he said. Security is being beefed up to bring the rate further down and to make sure the safety of tourists are taken care of, he said. Malaysia has targeted nine million tourists from Singapore last year. As of October, Malaysia already recorded 7.9 million arrivals from the island state. A total of 72 companies from Malaysia's travel and trade industry participated in the ATF 2007. --------------- http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=244046 tis guy also another one trying to massage the numbers. out of 20 million trips made by Spore, 0.005% encounter problem. but then go on to say only 7.9mil spore recorded. cow head no meet horse mouth.