We can all take a leaf from the way they treat visitors, the environment
Tourists can feel safe walking around Japan
COMPARING countries with different cultural backgrounds may not be fair but my recent trip to Japan had me taking notes.
How the Japanese stand to the left on escalators and follow the directional arrows while walking left an impression.
As a true blue Penangite, I know we are nice people, and going to Japan made me realise how similar we are in that aspect.
One day, I left my umbrella on the midnight train in Osaka and walked off with a friend.
Not only did a passenger ask the train driver to stop, she then jumped off to pass it to me, bowed, gave me a quick smile and hopped back on as I said thank you.
She could have missed her train, which was the last one for the night, but she did what she felt honour-bound to do.
In another instance, a lady running a busy cafe left her work to show my friends and I the way to the subway station.
I told her that she needn’t bring us there but she insisted with a bright smile and ran with us to the destination before bowing and returning to her cafe.
My train card did not work one time and I couldn’t leave the station.
I stepped aside to let others pass, and a group of school students behind me stepped aside too.
I urged them to go ahead but they said “no, we will wait with you”, and proceeded to help me find someone in charge.
Only after my card problem was resolved did they leave the station, while urging me to “take care”.
Not once during my 12-day trip there did I feel like a foreigner alone in a strange land.
I felt safe and at home, except for the language barrier, of course.
Penang, being a tourist hub, has its share of equally heartwarming stories about visitors receiving cordial treatment.
But there is one thing Penangites can learn from the Japanese, and that is cleanliness.
I recalled seeing only three pieces of litter on the ground during my 12 days there.
The roads and pavements were clean, almost like walking in a movie set rather than a real city or town.
Despite there not being many dustbins in open areas, there was no rubbish.
I was told people usually took their rubbish home.
Everyone I saw in eateries cleaned up after themselves, clearing their dishes and wiping down the table.
Their public toilets looked so clean that you felt you could lie down on the floor.
Even if there was only a single washroom shared by 20 small bars, it was clean and had ample toilet paper.
They do have workers cleaning the toilets but I observe the locals play a big part by never wetting the floor and leaving them cleaner than they were before.
I watched the Japanese wipe the counters or dust off crumbs even if they might not have caused it.
It was nice to see people wanting to make the space nice for everyone rather than having the mindset: “I did not cause it; it’s none of my business.”
Safety is another aspect that impressed me as a woman. I could walk around without the slightest fear.
It is safe to walk about in Penang too; you won’t need to peer around every corner, but the public safety in Japan was at another level.
It was nice to return home but I miss the cleanliness and civic-mindedness of the Japanese.
If only there was some way for Penangites to develop such a culture; we will surely reach greater heights.
In the meantime, I will be mindful to clean up after myself and leave a public spot better that it was before I used it.
How did China become so powerful in just one generation? Some attribute it to adopting a capitalist system, but this isn't the whole story. Others credit China's success to its large population, but India, with a comparable population, didn't achieve similar growth. So what makes China so powerful? Well, this is exactly what we’re going to discover in today’s video...
Warmest welcome: Manoharan (right) presenting souvenirs to passengers of Qingdao Airlines flight QW9893 at the Qingdao Airlines inaugural flight celebration ceremony. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: There has been a surge in the number of Chinese travellers coming to Malaysia following the increase of red-eye flights here from their home country, according to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
Red-eye flights are rising in popularity, with officials reporting a 28% increase of such flights arriving at KL International Airport (KLIA) during the first half of the year compared with the same period last year, with flights from China accounting for 74% of them.
A red-eye flight refers to a flight that departs at night and arrives the next morning.
This increase in nighttime flights is expected to help Malaysia hit its target number of tourists, including five million Chinese visitors.
The 28% increase in flights in the first half of the year translates to an additional 313 flights per month.
“A significant portion of this increase is attributed to flights to and from China, which accounted for 232 extra flights or 74% of the total growth in red-eye flights,” MAHB said.
“The YoY performance for China-specific red-eye flights shows a remarkable increase of 168%, with the number of flights skyrocketing from 138 to 370 per month.
“KLIA also experienced a +20% YoY increase in red-eye departures, with flights to China making up 61% of the additional 171 monthly flights,” it told The Star.
Red-eye flights, characterised by departures after 9pm and arrivals before 5am the following morning, have become pivotal in meeting rising passenger demand and strengthening the airport’s operational capabilities.
MAHB said the considerable increase in red-eye flights, particularly those linked to China, highlights the growing intercontinental travel demand and “reinforces KLIA’s status as a key aviation hub in the region”.
In response to the increasing number of Chinese passengers, KLIA has boosted its efforts to enhance the passenger experience by increasing the number of Mandarin-speaking Airport CARE Ambassadors.
“Currently, KLIA employs 36 Mandarin-speaking ambassadors with nine on duty per shift, a significant improvement from the pre-pandemic period when only four Mandarin-speaking ambassadors were available per shift.
“Our Airport CARE Ambassador team now operates at full capacity 24/7, with a robust force of 280 ambassadors, including Mandarin speakers,” MAHB added.
It said plans are under way to install an additional 10 autogates from the current 10 to improve passenger flow and reduce wait times.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Manoharan Periasamy said red-eye flights have become popular because they allow travellers to have more time at their destination.
The visa-free agreements that Malaysia signed with China and India have made weekend travel more convenient as well, he added.
Manoharan said Tourism Malaysia plans to increase the number of officers at its information desk at the airport to cater to the increase in the number of foreign visitors.
“At least two staff members who can speak English and Mandarin will be at the helpdesk.”
Short-haul flights are those less than three hours in duration, while flights lasting between three and six hours are considered medium-haul flights.
Manoharan said Tourism Malaysia will focus on short-haul and medium-haul countries.
Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association president Mint Leong said red-eye flights are crucial in attracting more Chinese tourists and believes this will significantly contribute to achieving the goal of attracting five million Chinese tourists to Malaysia this year.
“Over 70% of tourists prefer ‘flexible independent travel’ and are likely to choose midnight flights.
“This allows them to save on travel time without needing to take (extra) leave from work and they save on hotel costs,” she said.
China and Europe should not create artificial political conflicts but should instead expand the vast space for economic and trade cooperation. Win-win cooperation helps both sides' companies enhance their competitiveness and make technological achievements more accessible to the public. This is the best way to “de-risk.”
Penang Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang says the island welcomes both visitors
and locals returning home to meet their families after a long travel
hiatus. – The Vibes file pic, October 13, 2021
GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is bracing for an expected influx of 50,000 tourists this weekend and has frozen leave for 78% of its staff.
Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the island welcomes both visitors and locals returning home to meet their families after a long travel hiatus.
Many will be taking the opportunity to travel as the Tuesday after the weekend is a public holiday to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
“We are not only expecting an influx of tourists. From what is reported by the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Penang will also be expecting a heavy downpour this weekend with 300-500mm of rain.
“When that happens, we will need to be on alert for possible landslides and flash floods,” he said at a press conference here today.
“We will be working closely with police to monitor hotspots such as the Esplanade and action will be taken if there are any breaches of SOPs.”
There has already been a significant increase in traffic and use of urban services since the interstate travel ban was lifted on Monday, Yew said.
Therefore, he said, it is necessary that city council staff remain working to ensure the island’s safety and cleanliness.
Out of 3,019 staff, 2,342 are expected to come back to work from October 15 to 19. Leaves that were approved beforehand for workers required for this period are being annulled.
Many other workers are expected to be on standby as they may be called back to work if the need arises.
Yew also reminded the public that the city council’s Intelligent Operation Centre, which has almost 1,000 closed-circuit television cameras functioning as “eyes in the sky” will be in full swing as the authorities will be on the lookout for those who do not comply with SOPs.
He urged those coming back to see their loved ones to observe the “green bubble” precaution and self-test for Covid-19, entering the state only if the result is negative.
The MBPP hotline and WhatsApp numbers at 04-2637637 and 016-2004082 respectively will continue operating on a 24-hour basis to tend to any complaints or issues that may crop up. – The Vibes, October 13, 2021
A tough life: Malaysians seen working at a vegetable farm near Seoul.
SEOUL: An estimated 5,000 Malaysians are working and staying illegally in South Korea, with the less fortunate ones forced to live like refugees and always on the run from the authorities.
Lured by job advertisements that claimed they could make money hand over fist in the land of K-pop and Descendants of the Sun, they paid recruitment agents thousands of ringgit in fees and entered the country on tourist visas.
Unfortunately, many of them have been left in dire straits after finding out that reality did not match up with the promises.
Star Media Group’s Bahasa Malaysia news portal mStar Online sent a team to South Korea to look into their plight and found many of these Malaysians stranded and destitute.
These 5,000, based on figures that volunteer aid workers pieced together from Malaysians and recruitment agents, are part of an estimated 251,000 illegal foreign workers in the country as reported by The Korea Herald.
Their problems, first highlighted by the portal in a series of special reports in association with The Korea Herald in January, ranged from suffering permanent disability after workplace accidents to being left broke and homeless when they were fired by their employers.
Among the locations the team visited were Itaewon in the central region and Daeso and Muguk in Eumseoung district, about 80km from Seoul.
A Malaysian who wanted to be known only as Farhan said he and two of his friends have been homeless for more than two months since they were fired without pay after working at a seaweed processing company for just one week.
“I was fired because I came down with fever a week after starting work. We have to rely on our friends for food,” he said, adding that sometimes they only had biscuits to eat.
The 24-year-old said that on weekends, they would sleep at the Seoul Central Mosque, while on weekdays, they would stay at a friend’s house.
Visiting the mosque, the mStar Online team found several bags in the corridors, believed to belong to the foreign workers who sleep there.
Another Malaysian, who did not want to be named, said she had to live in one house with 18 others.
The woman, who works on an onion and sweet potato farm, said the house is so overcrowded that some of them have to sleep in front of the toilet or on the kitchen floor.
She and her housemates said there had been cases of Malaysians being physically abused if they did not work fast enough.
Their story was echoed by others the team interviewed, as well as those who came forward in the earlier reports in January, and because of their illegal status, they are often exploited, made to work long hours without rest and barred from talking to their colleagues.
The risk of accidents is also great because they are seldom given briefings or safety equipment and protective gear.
After such hardship, their labour sometimes even goes unrewarded because of employers who, taking advantage of their workers’ illegal status, hold back their pay in the belief that they would not dare report it to the authorities.
As a result, many suffer in silence for fear of being detained by the authorities, and are ignorant of their rights as workers.
Winter in South Korea will come to an end later this month. Without money, shelter or a way home, these stranded Malaysians can only wait it out, and hope for new job opportunities that will be available in the spring.
SEOUL: The 5,000 Malaysians working and staying illegally in South Korea may be grouped into six categories, based on the findings of the mStar Online team that visited South Korea and spoke to some of those affected.
• The lucky ones
These are the “successful” ones who entered the country on tourist visas, have the funds to return home or travel to other countries after these visas expire. They then return to South Korea on new tourist visas and take up jobs here again.
Those in this category are considered fortunate because they have responsible employers who pay them as promised. They have also managed to evade the authorities.
• Those who overstay
There are also Malaysians who took the risk of overstaying. They are either working or waiting for other job opportunities. They can get by as long as they are not caught or face workplace issues such as accidents or exploitation by their employers.
Generally, it can be said that those who belong to the first two groups managed to realise their dream, have a place to stay, and are living comfortably in a foreign land.
• The unemployed and homeless
On the other hand, there are those who have been made homeless and forced to sleep in mosques or rely on the kindness of friends.
Their situation is caused by several factors: they may have been cheated by recruitment agents, had their salaries withheld, or had their contracts terminated, leaving them with nowhere to live and no funds to return to Malaysia.
• Waiting for spring
Job opportunities drop considerably during winter. Those without work are forced to endure the cold and wait for spring, which brings more job openings with it.
Those who have the money would not find the winter months a problem, but the unemployed have to depend on others for food and shelter.
• Accident victims
There are also those who overstay because of workplace accidents. They have to remain behind while waiting for their cases to be heard at the Labour Office so that they can claim compensation from their employers.
• Those on medical visas
Some of those hurt in workplace accidents are fortunate enough to be granted medical visas by the authorities, enabling them to stay in South Korea until their treatment is completed.
The specific reasons for not returning home vary from one individual to the next. Some may be victims of circumstance, while others are just determined to achieve their goals and earn as much as they can before coming back.
And with each new job opportunity that comes along, a new set of risks and hazards arises.
Malaysians lured by higher pay
Getting the story: Nadia speaking to an agent about the risks of illegal employment in South Korea.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysians who brave the perils of working and staying illegally in South Korea do so because of monthly salaries advertised in the range of RM6,000 to RM12,000.
In fact, recruitment agents say, they choose to go even after being told of the risks involved.
It is estimated that as many as 5,000 Malaysians have gone there since 2016, to work in factories producing kimchi, cosmetics, calendars, furniture, auto spare parts and aluminium, among other items.
When the big pay they expected does not materialise, usually because of workplace accidents or exploitation by unscrupulous employers, they often find themselves homeless and broke.
An mStar Online team probing their plight spoke to one agent who said about 800 Malaysians had used his services last year alone.
The agent, who asked to be known only as Nasir, said he charged each customer RM2,800.
The amount covers securing the job, a return air ticket and a South Korean job agency’s fees.
According to The Korea Herald, there are about 251,000 illegal workers from various countries working in South Korea.
This group is highly exposed to occupational hazards and is at risk of being duped or exploited by employers because of their immigration status.
Local agents as well as aid volunteers in Seoul said Malaysians made up about 5,000 of the overall figure.
Taufik, another agent, said he knew of about 20 others who were in the same line.
“I personally handled trips for almost 100 Malaysians to South Korea since 2016,” he added.
He said not all agents were responsible enough to inform their clients of the risks.
Taufik said he was honest in his dealings and made sure those who used his services were fully aware of the risks they faced as illegals working in South Korea.
However, he was surprised to see that all these potential problems did not deter a single one of his clients from going to South Korea, which reportedly had the highest household income in Asia.
“There are agents who do not give clear information, but I tell my customers about the real situation and ask them to think carefully before going.
“Among the most important things they must have is a strong spirit.
“This is just my side job. I have my own business. I don’t depend on their money,” he told mStar Online.
Taufik claimed he only pocketed RM500 to RM600 of the RM2,500 fee he charged clients.
Based on surveys and from talking to agents and their clients, the team learned that an agent stood to make up to RM15,000 for every batch of recruits – ranging from 10 to 30 per group – sent to South Korea.
Another agent, Azhar, said it was easy to get through immigration checks there as the job seekers posed as tourists.
To prove they were just visiting, Azhar said he would provide them with fake return tickets to show to South Korean immigration officials.
His package, priced at RM2,500, includes one night’s accommodation, a prepaid T-Money payment card, job arrangement charges and transport to the workplace.
The former flight attendant used a tourist visa to enter the country and work illegally in a steel factory, where she met with the accident. Sally (not ... “I received treatment, monthly expenditure and some compensation, but only after I got help from a Malaysian activist who fights for the rights of workers like us.
Demanding conditions: Workers labouring at a
construction site in Seoul. Malaysians, using tourist visas to work as
illegal labourers, take up tough jobs in the manufacturing, construction
and plantation sectors in South Korea. — AP
