A top minister slammed Malaysia’s taxi drivers, saying they were more of a problem for the tourism industry than the nation’s notoriously filthy toilets, amid reports that tourists are being taken for a ride in more ways than one.
“The complaints by tourists about the taxi drivers’ behavior are more than toilets now, so in that context the taxi drivers are worse than dirty toilets,” cabinet minister Nazri Aziz said.
“People are complaining about the taxi drivers overcharging, being impolite and not using their meters, forcing the tourists to bargain with them,” he told AFP.
“This is the third-world taxi driver mentality. Even in China now, taxi drivers can no longer haggle, they just have to take the passengers, no questions asked.
“It’s not that all taxi drivers behave like that, it’s just a small group of them but that is already giving Malaysia a bad name,” said Nazri, who is a minister in the prime minister’s department.
Complaints about taxis are common the world over, but it has become a hot topic in Malaysia, where frustrations are vented on blog sites and in letters to newspapers.
In a survey by the local magazine The Expat last year, some 200 foreigners from 30 countries rated Malaysia the worst among 23 countries in terms of taxi quality, courtesy, availability and expertise.
The respondents lashed the fleet as “a source of national shame” and “a serious threat to tourists — rude bullies and extortionists.”
(AFP)
面對觀光客被計程車司機以各種手段坑錢的報導，馬來西亞一位最高官員猛烈抨擊該國計程車司機，說他們對觀光業的負面影響，更甚馬國惡名昭彰的骯髒廁所。
內閣部長納茲里．阿濟茲說：「遊客對計程車司機行為的抱怨比對廁所的抱怨還多，也就是說，計程車司機比骯髒的廁所還不如。」
他對法新社表示：「民眾抱怨計程車司機喊價過高、態度無禮，還有不跳錶計費，迫使遊客和他們討價還價。」
「這是第三世界國家計程車司機的思維。現在就連在中國，計程車司機也不再（講價），他們只能載客，不能問問題。」
總理署部長納茲里說：「並不是所有的計程車司機都那樣，只是少數人的行為已經讓馬來西亞冠上惡名。」
抱怨計程車是全世界常見的情形，但在馬來西亞卻已成為發燒話題，民眾紛紛利用部落格和投書報紙的方式表達不滿。
當地雜誌《The Expat》去年針對約兩百名來自三十個國家的外國旅客做了一項評分調查，結果馬來西亞的計程車在素質、禮貌、載客率和專業度方面，名列二十三個國家之末。
調查對象怒斥馬來西亞的計程車隊是「國家之恥」，也是「對觀光客的一大威脅──無禮的惡霸和敲詐者」。
（法新社╱翻譯：袁星塵）
A: It’s a pity that I can’t go to Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue’s concert. B: Why not? A: Hit Japanese singer Kenshi Yonezu is staging two shows at the Taipei Arena this weekend, and I already bought tickets long ago. B: Wow, isn’t he one of the most popular Japanese singers in recent years? A: And Yonezu’s megahit “Lemon” topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100’s year-end chart in 2018 and 2019 consecutively. A: 我不能去澳洲歌后凱莉米諾的演唱會真可惜。 B: 為什麼？ A: 日本人氣歌手米津玄師週末將在小巨蛋熱唱兩場，我早早就買票啦。 B: 哇他可是日本近年來最紅的歌手之一。 A: 米津的神曲《Lemon》甚至還在2018、2019年連續稱霸告示牌日本單曲榜年度冠軍！ (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪)
A: Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue is set to visit Taiwan for the third time on Saturday. B: I remember that her Taipei concerts in 2008 and 2011 caused a sensation, and I love her megahit “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” A: This will be her first time performing in the southern city of Kaohsiung. B: Many music critics praise Kylie’s show as “a must-see in your lifetime.” A: Let’s go to Kaohsiung this weekend. A: 澳洲歌后凱莉米諾週六即將三度訪台。 B: 她曾在2008、2011年兩度在台北開唱都造成大轟動，我超愛她的神曲《Can’t Get You Out of My Head》。 A: 這次可是她首度唱進南台灣的高雄呢。 B: 許多樂評家說她的演唱會是「此生必看」！ A: 那我們週末去高雄吧。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
Donburi, often simply called don, is a beloved Japanese dish that consists of a bowl of steamed rice topped with various other ingredients. The word donburi itself actually means “bowl” in Japanese, but it has come to represent much more than just a vessel. Donburi first emerged during the Edo period (1603–1867) as a quick and convenient meal for busy city dwellers. By the 19th century, donburi had become immensely popular among theater enthusiasts, who often purchased these portable meals to enjoy during long performances. Una-don, a donburi topped with grilled eel, was a particular favorite. Easy-to-carry and satisfying,
The Lemon Festival is a fun annual celebration in Menton, France. This festival began in 1934 and honors the region’s exceptional lemons. __1__ in February during the lemon season, the festival features beautiful floats and sculptures covered with dazzling lemons and oranges. These citrus creations are on display in the bright sunshine throughout the day, while at night, they are lit up and turn the town into a __2__ spectacle. The festival’s origins can be traced back to the late 19th century, when Menton was a major lemon producer. __3__, hotels would decorate their spaces with lemons and oranges
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