Tips and Tricks

Important Numbers
Put these hotline numbers into your mobile phone…
03-2262 7555/03-2262 6555
They may save your life, prevent a crime or catch a criminal!

These are the numbers for Bukit Aman's Malaysia Control Centre (MCC) - the call centre for all police emergencies. Bukit Aman Public Relations Superintendent, Mohamad Daud said motorists may help prevent crime by calling these numbers - even after the crime has occurred, the police could go to the crime scene in the shortest possible time and it may result in the capture of those responsible.
An MCC spokesman said the public from any parts of Malaysia can call the centre to report an emergency anytime. "We will direct the call to the nearest police station for the officers there to handle the matter," said the spokesman. 
Other CCC phone numbers are
Negri Sembilan : 06-7682222,
Malacca : 06-2851999,
Johor : 07-2254459,
Penang : 04-2691999.
For more information call
MCC at 03-2626 555/2262 7555.

Buying Plant Pots

Another great buy in Sungai Buloh are the plant pots and in particular the Blue pots which look as if they have been imported from Vietnam. Head out in the same direction as the plant nurseries and you will see lots everywhere. There are a couple of shops recommended by Georgina Unger and Elaine Wade. The Potter’s Garden stocks blue and
white pots and have a variety of others including 'Chinese' designs in various colours. They also stock plates, teapots, dishes, plant pots and blue and white balls. You can also find shops along Jalan Sungai Buloh stocking blue and white pots. Check out the following addresses or phone first to check they stock what you want.

Kim Hing Hong (M) Sdn. Bhd
No. 9, Jalan 51A/227
46100 Petaling Jaya,
Tel.: (03)7876 7061

Heng Kee Bak Kut Teh
No.16, Jalan 1/10 (old Town)
46000 Petaling Jaya
Tel.: 03-7785-1663

Although this is a restaurant the shop is on the next block and sells Chinese things from red ghost houses to blue china, a good place for new year things. Over the road is a sewing shop. The restaurant is also very good and worth a refreshment stop.

Returning your pet to Australia
Cats and dogs returning to Australia AQIS - the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service -
cannot guarantee that dogs and cats exported from Australia will be eligible for re-import. Please consider this carefully before exporting your pet.
This is largely due to the fact that exported animals may be exposed to exotic diseases and therefore may not be able to meet the AQIS import requirements. Dogs and cats that are
eligible for re-import MUST complete a minimum of 30 days quarantine upon return to Australia, as once exported cats and dogs immediately relinquish their Australian status.
Animals must be resident in the country of export for six months before being eligible to return to Australia, under the conditions of that country. If you wish to re-import your pet within six months of export, preparations must be made prior to leaving Australia. You can find details about these preparations under: http://www.daff.gov.au
Importing cats and dogs from Malaysia
 MINIMUM 30 DAYS QUARANTINE IN AUSTRALIA
All animals entering Australia require an import permit, issued by AQIS, based on an application to import your pet. Your application must include your pet’s microchip number. An import permit will be returned to you. The import permit contains Veterinary Certificate A and B which must be completed and endorsed by an Official Veterinarian in the country of export prior to the arrival of your pet in Australia. You have to precede all steps below for the import process. Your pet will not be allowed to enter Australia without a valid AQIS permit to import.
STEP 1: GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
STEP 2: MICROCHIP CAT OR DOG
STEP 3: RABIES VACCINATION (within 1 year of export)
STEP 4: FIND A GOVERNMENT APPROVED VETERINARIAN,
AN OFFICIAL VETERINARIAN AND A GOVERNMENT
APPROVED LABORATORY.
STEP 5: RABIES NEUTRALISING ANTIBODY TITRE TEST (RNATT)
STEP 6: APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO IMPORT (People wishing to have their pets accommodated at an Australian animal quarantine station should apply for an import permit at least 5 months in advance of anticipated departure. An import permit does not guarantee a space at an animal quarantine station.) the quarantine station. AQIS provide housing, bedding, food, water and care for your pet for the duration of its stay. All quarantine costs must be met by the importer, an invoice for these charges will be posted to you after arrival of your pet in Australia and must be paid prior to release of your pet (cheques take 2 weeks to clear). Should your pet require veterinary care, AQIS will contact you and arrange for a private veterinarian to visit your pet. The private veterinarian will charge you directly. The most current information can be obtained via the Internet at www.aqis.gov.auor by e-mail at animalimp@aqis.gov.au
Reporter Ines Winter

Travel Tips

Why spend more on holiday
hotels than you need to? There are some fantastic websites which can save you huge amounts of money booking hotels and resorts of all types, from one to five stars!
These websites offer hotel deals that are both for Malaysia and most if not all other countries in the world. Remember to compare one site to the others as they will all list the
same hotels and even these budget booking sites offer very competitive deals to out-bid each other.
If the hotels are in Malaysia, you might want to satisfy yourself that this is the best price by phoning the hotel too to check any special offers they give at the time (but we’ve always found the websites offering unbeatable deals). Recently we booked into a five star hotel on the east coast of Malaysia and the hotel website and telephone booking office could only offer us RM 650 for a double
room without the extra taxes included. We found exactly the same room on one of the websites below for RM 260 including breakfasts and all taxes and surcharges!
Some of the best sites which we have used and can testify that they worked for us are

If you need cheap car hire in Australia and need to compare the best rates between all the competing car hire firms on one page then try
www.vroomvroomvroom.com. If you need more just type in “budget hotel discount sites” into Google search and you’ll find plenty more! There are some sites
which give you a comparison of what different companies are offering on deals for the same hotels.
A few additional tips:
• When booking rooms on these sites check that there is a“security sign” of a padlock on the bottom right hand side of your page to confirm it’s a secure online system as most sites require you to give your credit card details to make reservations or confirm bookings
• Check if the rate includes all taxes and surcharges in the room price (some sites do and some don’t)
• Check which currency the rates are in (almost always very clear)
• Most sites ask for your email address and will confirm the booking after checking with the appropriate hotel after 24-48 hours. After this time you will find an email confirming your booking and your reservation voucher or number which you have to print out and give to the hotel when you arrive and check in• If the hotel you requested is not available on the day you requested, all sites will give you other alternative options to consider for booking – you don’t have to agree to these and can simply cancel the request
• Check whether your credit card will get debited immediately the booking is confirmed or whether they will take the payment on arrival at the hotel.
Happy bargain hunting and holidays and let us all, as readers ofthis magazine, know if you find any other better sites too!

Motoring Tips

How to check your traffic summons!
 Have you ever been in this situation – driving too fast, parking in the wrong place or driving up a one-way street in the wrong direction? You have this feeling that you were watched doing this but you are not sure? All this happened a couple of weeks ago but you didn’t get a ticket.
You should be so lucky!
However, this bad feeling stays in your tummy. Because of the Malaysian interpretation of time, you might think the expected ticket may just come later.
Here is the solution for this little problem: just register yourself under www.rilek.com.my (choose “Resident of Malaysia” for IC-category) and you will be able to check your summons.
The website is not always working but with some patience you will see under “Polis DiRaya Malaysia” or under “Jabatan Pengangkutan Jln” your summons with all necessary details. What you do with this information is up to you but if you wait
for the official letter it normally becomes more expensive. That’s why the authorities in charge expect every driver here in Malaysia to check their summons by themselves.
Checking Summons through SMS
In cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) DAPAT
has introduced a faster way to check your traffic summons
issued by the traffic police. Here is what you do; type an SMS:
IC no: POLIS SAMAN [identification card no] or
Vehicle: POLIS SAMAN [car registration no.]
Example:
IC no: POLIS SAMAN 710503005100 or
Vehicle: POLIS SAMAN HW1234
Then send the SMS to DAPAT or to 32728
The reply is in Bahasa, but look out for the key word TIADA which means you do not have any summons. If you do, it will
display WHERE, WHEN and AMOUNT. If you think your vehicle may have more than a couple of traffic summons, or you want details sent to your email, then do the following SMS:
1. POLIS SAMAN [identification card no] SEMUA
The number of replies that you receive is based on how many
outstanding traffic summons you have incurred.
2. POLIS SAMAN [car registration no.] [your email]
You will get an SMS reply stating the email address given and you will receive an email giving the detailed summary of the outstanding traffic summons.
To subscribe to summons alert by sms type POLIS SAMAN <Car No.> ON.
To unsubscribe summons alert type POLIS SAMAN <Car No.> OFF.
Then send the SMS to DAPAT or to 32728. Source: Azman Armat and www.DAPAT.com