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Hello, I am looking for a season parking lot around Revenue House (IRAS - Newton) vicinity. Please PM me. Thanks in advance.

Malaysia busted smuggling syndicate in 'biggest scandal' involving civil servants 468 195 0 1PRINTEMAIL One of the Customs officers being escorted to the court in Petaling Jaya on Sept 4, 2014. -- PHOTO: THE NEW STRAITS TIMES KUALA LUMPUR - An anti-corruption taskforce in Malaysia has uncovered what it believed could be "the biggest scandal involving civil servants". Investigators remanded 24 members of a syndicate running an intricate network at the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) that is believed to have cost the government RM4 billion (S$1.57 billion) in lost revenue, the New Straits Times reported on Friday. Among those arrested were a state customs director and 11 personnel of various ranks from the customs department, said the newspaper. Twelve others were also arrested, including company owners and lorry drivers. Investigation into the syndicate started in 2011, according to the report. The syndicate allegedly left a long money trail that allowed investigators to blow the lid on their illicit operations. "Their lavish lifestyle was among what gave them away. They couldn't have been more blatant in displaying their ill-gotten wealth," one of the investigators said. Among the things seized were 10 luxury cars, including a Porsche, several Audis and Mercedes, and RM3 million in cash. Investigators have also frozen 200 bank accounts allegedly used by the syndicate's network. "RM1.67 billion worth of cigarettes and alcohol were brought into the country under their watch since 2011... but from that amount, only a total value of RM420 million was declared,'' said Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, deputy chief commissioner (Operations) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "Investigations had shown that the goods were brought in from Scotland, Sweden, Indonesia, Thailand, China, India and Cambodia." The commission is looking at making more arrests soon, said the report. The Star newspaper said the smuggled items were being sold in Malaysia as well as in neighbouring countries. The New Straits Times quoted Shukri as saying this could be just the tip of the iceberg as the estimated losses calculated were based on investigations into only 10 of 70 companies that operate in PKFZ. "The Customs Department and the Inland Revenue Board are crunching the numbers to identify exactly how much the government had lost to this syndicate and how it had affected the market trend." Shukri said the syndicate had allowed into the country high quality cigarettes and liquor, kept them at the PKFZ and released the goods after their minimal tax value were declared. The syndicate used cash in their transactions with importers, and had under their payroll, a large number of people, including the port's gatekeepers, he added. The Malay Mail quoted former PKFZ chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng as saying the Royal Malaysian Customs Department should not be the only agency in control of the zone as such practices could lead to abuse. "The free zone area is fenced from the entrance and the Customs is in control of the entire area," he said. During his tenure as chairman between 2009 to 2011, all entry points were heavily guarded by the Customs while auxiliary police served as back up. "Security screening was strict that even I, as chairman, was required to register and collect a pass at the checkpoint to get into the area. I feel there is too much control by one party," the website quoted Lee as saying. He described the zone as a "gold mine'' as it functions as a warehouse and storage area for goods brought into the country via Port Klang. "Companies stock their goods there before they are sent out. This gives room for wrongdoings," he said, adding that such situations created an opportunity for illegal activities especially during off-peak hours. http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/malaysia-busted-smuggling-syndicate-biggest-scandal-involving-civil-#xtor=CS1-10

I would like to share an interesting observation with everyone, this is probably old news to many MCFers, but I really don't wish to start a new discussion about the necessity of the COE or ERP, enough threads have been opened for them. According to the Budget 2013 website, vehicle quota premiums (ie COE) and motor vehicle related taxes (road tax, ERP etc) contribute to 4% of the government's revenue each. That means altogether, vehicle-related taxes make up 8% of the government's income every year! Now I'm no tax expert and I don't how much vehicle taxes contribute to government revenues in other countries (maybe there'a tax accountant here who can contribute?), but personally, I find 8% quite high for anywhere. The government probably didn't start out with the intention to get so much tax from vehicles, but as they tried to curb vehicle population and ease congestion, they end up collecting more and more and found it to be a convenient source of income. And when you can count on that source for next year's budget, it's natural that you might not want to disturb this fat goose. My real question is this: has collecting so much money been an effective way to manage vehicular growth? Personally, I think we've been put on a path where we cannot afford to cease the COE and ERP, or all hell will break loose when everyone gets easy access to a car, when there are not enough car parks and not enough lanes. We'll become a Bangkok or a KL. And if an alternate government does take power, they may not want to let go of this fat goose even if they know it's not been effective. What do you think?

Ferrari announced that 2012 was the best financial year ever for the 66-year-old brand. A total of 7,318 vehicles were delivered to worldwide dealership in 2012 while a revenue of 2.43 billion euros was recorded, breaking the record set in 2008. Net profit rose 17.8% to just under 244 million euros. "We are all enormously proud of ending the year with these kind of results despite the unfavourable economic backdrop in many European nations, and the distinctly hostile one in Italy," said Chairman Luca di Montezemolo. Although the US economy was threatened by the looming 'Fiscal Cliff' last year, Ferrari's sales in the US exceeded 2000 units for the first time by delivering 2058 cars. Sales in Europe was impressive as well with deliveries in Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany increasing by 20.4%, 17.4% and 8.2% respectively. Consumer behaviour is hard to predict some times. The results delivered by brand-related activities in areas of retail, licensing and e-commerce were excellent too, showing a 40% improvement in operating margin to over 50 million euros. If a Chinese idiom was used to describe Ferrari

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post...-020251685.html Good for them... and for the tax collector.. Quite silly of them to be interview for such thing.. now the iras will be after them.

So that's where the revenue from COE goes to I heard from market sources that the budget for this tender is by no means small, by industry standards. http://www.marketing-interactive.com/news/23632 Singapore - The Land Transport Authority has called a pitch looking for an advertising agency for its employer branding campaign. While not much detail is available, the tender document states the appointed agency will also be responsible to place ads across print titles such as The Straits Times and The Star in January 2011. The tender closes 15 December, 2010. LTA is also currently reviewing its OOH account which was up to pitch earlier this year.

http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story...817-232398.html helo....minister....dun give me that kind of crap loh....purchase energy-efficient/environmental friendly bus/train, employ FT to drive buses, deploy driverless trains, all these should reduce operators operating costs otherwise what for spend money for all these. No company in the right frame of mind will want to spend money to increase operating cost.

Quote:Drive.com.au http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleD...age:ClassiePuff A new study in the United States has found that red light cameras may do more harm than good. By RICHARD BLACKBURN. Red light cameras significantly increase the risk of crashes at intersections, according to a new study released in the United States. Researchers at the University of South Florida found that cameras increased crashes and related injuries because drivers were slamming on their brakes to avoid fines, causing rear-end accidents. They also claim that some red light camera operators in the US have shortened the time that a light flashes orange in an attempt to increase revenue.