Saturday, July 30, 2016

New parking rates in Kuala Lumpur starting today - Saturday July 31

Three zones in Kuala Lumpur will have new parking rates starting today as set by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Federal Territories Ministry citing parking rates in the city have not been increased in the last 40 years.

In an about-turn, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has reduced parking charges by up to 33% depending on the locality, after motorists raised a hue and cry.

RM1.50 charge would be levied for the first hour of parking in the city centre and RM2.50 for the second hour, with a maximum parking period of two hours.

For areas outside the city centre, deemed to be with a high-level of activities such as Sentul, Bangsar and Brickfields, the charge for the first and subsequent hours will be RM1.

"Charges for areas outside the city centre such as Segambut, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Setiawangsa, Sungai Besi and Bandar Tun Razak for the first and subsequent hours is RM0.80," Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said, adding that there would be no parking time limit in these two zones.


Parking fees may be paid using coins, Touch 'N Go cards, and a mobile phone application.


For details, the public can visit the website at www.citycarpark.my.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Selena Gomez's concert to go on in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow


After much ado about Selena Gomez performing in Kuala Lumpur, Selena has finally arrived today for her concert tomorrow at the Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam. Kuala Lumpur is the second stop of the Asian leg of her Revival tour which kicked off in Jakarta on Saturday.

The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) said it did not issue any notice or order for mosques in the state to hold special prayers for the Selena Gomez "Revival Tour" concert to be called off.

"We did not release any order for there to be a solat hajat (special prayers) after Friday prayers to ask for Allah to cancel the Selena Gomez concert" - Jais director Datuk Haris Kasim.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had already said that the state government had no problem issuing a permit for the concert if the terms and conditions are met.
- The Star

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Malaysia has a fairly long history of banning musicians from playing within its borders. As far back as the early ’90s, the band Chicago wasn’t allowed to perform because some of its members had long hair. BeyoncĂ© canceled her 2007 concert after refusing to change her revealing costumes for the country, while Kesha and Erykah Badu have also seen their shows canceled. Other artists who’ve had run-ins with Malaysian authorities over their image and lyrics include Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, and the Black Eyed Peas. Both Elton John’s and Adam Lambert’s performances have been protested because the artists are gay, and Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Madonna, and Shakira are all banned from appearing there, ever.

But thankfully for Malaysia’s Selenators, Gomez’s show will go on. On Tuesday, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Selangor’s menteri besar (chief minister), announced that there was no reason to cancel her concert because every month — not just Shawwal — should be treated with equal respect, and also, “sexiness is God’s creation”. - Yahoo!


Next stops after Kuala Lumpur will be Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, and Japan.

And then there's another side of Selena Gomez..


Giving back has always been an important element in Ms Gomez's life. She was named the youngest goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF at 18 years old and has worked tirelessly to support this organization ever since. Selena was honored for her continued support at Variety’s first ever Unite4: Humanity event with the Young Humanitarian Award alongside Bill Clinton. Gomez has traveled to Ghana, Chile and most recently to Nepal as an advocate for some of the world’s most vulnerable children. She has hosted “We Day” in both Vancouver and Chicago for Free The Children, an organization that empowers young people to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change by being active local and global citizens. - SelenaGomezJakarta.com


Update:
Selena Gomez thrills fans at Stadium Melawati
Selena Gomez’s concert goes on smoothly
Selena chooses outfit out of respect for Malaysia's culture


Image source: The Star

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Green Updates that Add Value to Your Real Estate

Energy-efficiency is incredibly important for the health of our environment, and with energy prices rising, more residents aim to save money on monthly utility bills. If you own a home or apartment building, you can take control and incorporate some green updates to boost property value. You’ll be able to sell for a higher price or charge a higher rent, so you’ll get your money back in no time.


Harness the Sun’s Power
It’s no secret that solar panels are an incredible way to use renewable energy and decrease our carbon footprints. Installing solar panels may be an expensive investment, but you will save money in several ways to compensate over time.

First, your monthly energy bill will decrease significantly, and some states will even compensate you for generating extra energy and selling it back to the grid. Often times, this is the same compensation price as they would have charged you to use that energy. You can also take advantage of federal tax deductions, lump-sum rebates, and partial reimbursement for solar panels, depend on where you live.

Solar panels will boost your home’s value significantly, but luckily, most states won’t charge you that additional property tax!


Control Your Airflow
Your windows might actually be working against you. Single-pane or poorly insulated windows may release or let in cold air and heat. So when you don’t feel like the heater is working in the winter, you might crank it up higher. With better window options, you can eliminate this problem, add value to your home, and decrease your utility bills.

Installing Energy Star windows could save you an average of 12% on your utility costs per year. These green windows are mostly double- and triple-pane windows that rely on multiple sheets of glass to seal in air and improve the effectiveness of A/C and heating units. Low-emissivity coatings cut back on harmful chemical emissions and improve heat conservation. Certain states will also provide financial incentives for this switch, like the Energy Star tax credit. With perks like these, your home’s value will increase, and homebuyers will be more inclined to purchase or rent your property.


Light Up Your Potential
Lighting plays a huge part in staging and showing your home when it’s on the market, but you can do even more with lighting to boost your property value. The government’s energy website highlights a few options to save some bucks.

Ditch the light switches and go for dimmers, motion-sensors, or timer controls—a favorite of ours here at Modernize. These options allow you to set lighting schedules, so that you’re not wasting energy when you aren’t home or when you forget to turn off the lights. Motion-sensor lights only stay on when someone is in the room, and they turn off after a period of no occupancy. If you pair them with eco-friendly light bulb options, you’ll have another great selling feature to boost your property value.

These are just a few green updates that can significantly increase your selling price. Have fun converting your home into an eco-friendly habitat!

Monday, July 4, 2016

UEFA EURO 2016 - Semi-finals

Which team are you rooting for?

Source: uefa.com

Match schedule

Semi-finals
SF1: Portugal v Wales – Wednesday 6 July, 21:00 (Lyon)
SF2: Germany v France – Thursday 7 July, 21:00 (Marseille)
•Golden Boot: tournament top scorers
•Official form guide: Player Barometer

Final
Portugal/Wales v Germany/France – Sunday 10 July, 21:00 (Saint-Denis)