News

IPOH — More than 30 families in the Rancangan Penempatan Tersusun (RPT) Batu 10 in Ulu Chepor near here have alleged that mineral extraction activities near their homes over the past several years have caused damage to their houses and raised concerns over residents’ safety and health.

Residents claimed that vibrations from blasting activities and the movement of heavy machinery, coupled with airborne fine dust, have resulted in various forms of damage to the homes of more than 30 families out of about 500 families living in the area.

Retiree Harun Aziz, 63, who has lived in the area for the past six years, said he began noticing cracks appearing on the walls of his house, in addition to worsening dust pollution.

“Whenever blasting takes place, the house and walls shake. The vibrations usually occur in the morning and evening. When lorries transporting minerals move in and out of the area, fine dust becomes airborne and settles on the windows of our homes and vehicles.

“If we leave our doors or windows open, the dust gets into the house. We are worried that the situation could affect residents’ health, especially children and those suffering from asthma,” he told reporters here today. 

Harun also alleged that the activities sometimes continued beyond permitted hours, including at night and on weekends.

Another resident, Zulkifli Md Salleh, 69, said erosion near his home had become increasingly alarming since he moved to the area in 2011.

What was once a stream measuring about 0.6 metres wide has since widened to nearly three metres and become deeper, causing the collapse of his house fence.

“Previously, there was only a small stream behind my house flowing from the affected area. In 2016, I had to spend about RM15,000 to build an L-shaped retaining structure to prevent the water from encroaching further towards my house.

“However, by this year, the erosion had worsened, damaging the structure and causing my boundary wall to collapse. I believe the strong water flow, especially during heavy rain, may have originated from a retention pond located at a higher elevation,” he said.

Complaints over the issue had previously been submitted to several relevant agencies, but residents claimed they had yet to receive any satisfactory solution. 

Meanwhile, Perak Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) director Nizarulikram Abdul Rahim said the use of explosives was not permitted in mineral extraction activities in the area.

He said the last application for a supporting letter for blasting works related to a development project in the area was submitted to JMG in 2023 for a three-month period, and no extension had been sought by the applicant since then.

“The applicant employs a fully hydraulic mechanical method to break up rock formations.

“Mineral extraction is carried out using a hydraulic rock splitter powered by a small portable diesel engine unit to separate the bedrock.

“For large rock boulders, operations are conducted using only a rock breaker for secondary breaking works. Both mechanical methods operate without the use of chemical explosives, gas pressure or loud explosive blasts,” he told Bernama when contacted. — BERNAMA

The post Residents claim mineral extraction activities caused cracked homes, collapsed fences appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

SHAH ALAM — The Selangor Road Transport Department (JPJ) has detected locals renting or allowing foreigners to drive their vehicles without valid licences through the Foreign Drivers Operation (Ops PEWA) conducted since the start of this year.

Selangor JPJ deputy director Datuk Ahmad Kamarunzaman Mehat (picture) said the matter came to light when vehicle owners claimed their impounded vehicles and the cases were brought to court.

He said the issue was also detected during a three-day operation that began on Tuesday in Balakong, Puchong, Petaling Jaya, and Persiaran Hamzah Alang here, carried out in collaboration with the Selangor Immigration Department and local authorities, including the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

“Vehicle owners and foreign drivers must pay the fines decided by the court before the vehicles can be released from the JPJ impound depot. If they fail to pay, the vehicles cannot be claimed,” he told reporters at an Ops PEWA press conference at the Selangor JPJ headquarters in Jalan Padang Jawa today.

Elaborating on the operation, Ahmad Kamarunzaman said action was taken against 304 vehicles, comprising 125 motorcycles, 90 private vehicles, 74 goods vehicles, and 15 public service vehicles. 

In addition, action was taken against 239 foreign drivers, with Myanmar nationals accounting for the highest number at 50, followed by Bangladesh (46), Indonesia (44), India (10), and other countries (89).

The operation also recorded 734 offences. The highest was driving without a Competent Driving Licence (CDL) at 268 cases, followed by driving without a motor vehicle licence (207 cases), lack of insurance coverage (178 cases), driving without a Goods Driving Licence (GDL) (77 cases), and operating without a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence (four cases).

A total of 95 vehicles were impounded, comprising 61 motorcycles, 23 goods vehicles, nine private vehicles and two public service vehicles.

Ahmad Kamarunzaman said the department also found some vehicles used by foreigners were poorly maintained, including bald tyres and malfunctioning brakes, posing a safety risk to other road users.

Therefore, he warned vehicle owners, employers and transport companies that under Section 109 of the Road Transport Act 1987, registered owners are held responsible for any offences committed by drivers operating their vehicles, including foreigners.

He added that under Section 64 of the same Act, JPJ has the authority to impound vehicles if the foreign driver does not possess a valid driving licence.

For transport companies employing unauthorised drivers, actions such as the suspension or revocation of permits may be taken under the Land Public Transport Act 2010. — BERNAMA

The post Ops PEWA detects local owners renting vehicles to unlicensed foreigners appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

PUTRAJAYA — The ban on prawn imports from Thailand and curbs on seabass exports to that country are expected to provide opportunities for local producers to increase output, strengthen the domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on imported sources.

Department of Fisheries (DOF) director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain (picture) said the country’s prawn supply remains stable and sufficient to meet domestic market demand, while the local aquaculture industry has adequate capacity to offset any supply shortfalls gradually.

“The country’s prawn supply remains stable and sufficient to meet domestic market demand. Any changes in import patterns will not affect food security, as the domestic aquaculture industry has sufficient capacity to gradually fill any supply gaps.

“At the same time, the situation presents an opportunity for local producers to further increase production, strengthen the domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on imported sources,” he said in a statement today.

According to Adnan, Malaysia had previously recorded a strong seabass export performance, with Thailand remaining the country’s main export destination. 

He said that from 2022 to 2024, the value of Malaysia’s seabass exports to Thailand grew by 55.7 per cent in compound annual growth rate (CAGR), rising from RM38.21 million to RM92.64 million, while export volume increased from 4,838 metric tonnes to 9,285 metric tonnes.

“In 2024, Thailand accounted for 80.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total global seabass export value of RM114.99 million, highlighting the industry’s heavy reliance on the Thai market,” he said.

However, he said the current shift in trade policies posed new challenges to the local seabass industry, as reduced access to its main export market could increase pressure on the domestic market through oversupply, which in turn may affect farmgate prices and profit margins for aquaculture operators.

“The ban on prawn imports from Thailand is expected to affect domestic market supply patterns, but any supply shortfall is expected to be offset by local prawn production, which remains stable and competitive,” he said.

Adnan said existing domestic production capacity, particularly through the aquaculture subsector, was capable of meeting rising market demand gradually without compromising the country’s food security.

“The current developments also present strategic opportunities to strengthen downstream industries through the development of value-added products, expansion into new markets and reduced reliance on imported sources, thereby enhancing the resilience of the country’s fisheries industry in the face of global market uncertainties,” he said.

He stressed that the department would continue to monitor developments and strengthen strategic intervention measures, including exploring alternative markets, reinforcing the domestic supply chain and providing continued support to industry players to ensure that the country’s fisheries sector remains competitive, sustainable and resilient. — BERNAMA

The post DOF: Trade restrictions with Thailand create opportunities for local producers appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

PUTRAJAYA — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has identified another 1,638 companies suspected of submitting false claims to secure incentives under the Social Security Organisation’s (PERKESO) Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, involving an estimated loss of RM45 million.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the investigation is currently focused on 143 companies that allegedly submitted false claims worth around RM9 million, before expanding to the remaining firms uncovered through intelligence and investigations.

“There is no time limit for this investigation. We do not need to rush and we are not racing against time. The agency aims to complete the probe by working closely with PERKESO not only at the headquarters but also at the state level.

“This means that when we get good cooperation and the investigation is complete, we will start charging,” he said during a special press conference here today.

He said Op Daya, launched on June 9, is a joint operation between the MACC and PERKESO to investigate the misappropriation of incentive claims under the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme. 

As of last Tuesday, 63 investigation papers had been opened, leading to the detention of 97 individuals, including 86 company owners and 11 agents assisting in the investigation, Abdul Halim said, adding that 77 of those individuals have been remanded, with statements recorded from 577 people.

“During the operation, 36 corporate bank accounts containing RM463,076 were frozen, and movable assets including gold, cash, and various valuables worth an estimated RM74,198 were seized,” he said.

According to Abdul Halim, the fraudulent tactics involved misusing individual data for incentive claims, handing out one-off tokens to employees after full claims had been made, and exploiting the details of people with disabilities to pay third parties.

He said the investigation revealed that the misappropriation occurred between 2024 and 2025, when several companies allegedly submitted false claims by declaring individuals who did not work for them to secure government hiring incentives. 

PERKESO chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said that as of yesterday, the agency has recovered RM1.26 million from employers who admitted to making fraudulent claims under the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme.

On June 9, the MACC detained 73 individuals, comprising 48 men and 25 women aged between their 20s and 70s, who operated as agents and company owners across the country, except Perlis, for their alleged involvement in a syndicate that falsified Daya Kerjaya 2.0 incentive claims worth around RM9 million.

Initial investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly operated between 2024 and 2025 by submitting fraudulent claims under a government employment incentive scheme that provided RM1,500 per month for six months for each employee hired by private and government-linked companies. — BERNAMA

The post Op Daya: MACC identifies 1,638 more firms suspected of false claims appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

ALOR SETAR — Two army personnel were brought before the Sessions Court here today on charges of transporting smuggled illegal immigrants in Bukit Kayu Hitam near here last month. 

Mohd Zulhilmi Aqwa A Rahman, 34, and Mohamad Johan Iskandar Shah Jeffry Pidin, 26, nodded in understanding after the charges were read out separately before Judge Sharmila Abdul Samad. 

No plea was recorded from both accused. 

According to the charge, Mohd Zulhilmi Aqwa was accused of transporting two Myanmar nationals, identified as Binajo, 19, and Antoi, 29, using a Toyota Yaris car. 

Meanwhile, Mohamad Johan Iskandar Shah was charged with transporting a 61-year-old Myanmar national, Win Shwe, using a Perodua Bezza car.  

Both accused were alleged to have committed the offence at Check Point Foxtrot, Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) at about 7.13 pm on May 22. 

They were charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, and may include a fine, or both upon conviction. 

Mohd Zulhilmi Aqwa was represented by lawyer Datuk G Shanmugam, while Mohamad Johan Iskandar Shah was not represented. 

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurfatin Mastura Asri, who handled the case, did not offer bail to both accused. 

The court fixed Aug 17 for case mention. — BERNAMA

The post Army duo charged with transporting illegal immigrants in Bukit Kayu Hitam appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.

PUTRAJAYA — The Court of Appeal here today reduced the general damages awarded to DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng from RM1.05 million to RM450,000 in a defamation suit filed against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) relating to the revocation of tax exemption for Yayasan Albukhary.

A three-member panel comprising Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli, Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid and Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar made the ruling after allowing part of Muhyiddin’s appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision. 

In the unanimous verdict, Justice Azhahari said after examining the three impugned statements dated March 9, 11, and 12, 2023, the High Court was correct in finding that the statements were defamatory and there was no reason to disturb this finding of fact.

“On the issue of quantum, having considered the pattern of events, and the evidence adduced at trial, we are of the opinion that the general damages awarded are manifestly high.

“Accordingly, this court awarded RM150,000 for each of the three statements leading to RM450,000. We therefore substitute the sum of RM1.05 million with RM450,000,” he said. 

The panel also set aside the High Court’s decision in awarding RM150,000 for aggravated damages and RM150,000 for exemplary damages to Lim.

However, the court granted Lim’s cross appeal on interest and ordered that interest be paid at the rate of five per cent per annum from the date of judgment until full settlement.

The panel ordered Muhyiddin to pay RM5,000 in costs to Lim, while the former Penang chief minister was ordered to pay RM30,000 in costs to the former prime minister.

On March 27, 2023, Lim filed a lawsuit against Muhyiddin for allegedly making three defamatory Facebook statements on March 9, 11, and 12, 2023, involving him in the tax exemption issue.

Reports on the matter were subsequently published in several newspapers and news portals.

In Nov 2024, the High Court allowed Lim’s suit and ordered Muhyiddin to pay RM350,000 for each of the three statements leading to RM1.05 million in general damages, RM150,000 for aggravated damages and RM150,000 for exemplary damages. — BERNAMA

The post Suit against Muhyiddin: Court reduces Guan Eng’s damages from 1.05m to RM450,000 appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.