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ALOR SETAR — A total of 41,849 ferry tickets have been sold so far for routes between Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Langkawi in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration and school holidays, which begin tomorrow until March 29.

Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd operations manager Lt Commander (Rtd) Norhafiz Abdul Wahid said passenger traffic has been encouraging across all routes.

He said 9,903 passengers were recorded travelling from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah, while 6,960 passengers travelled in the opposite direction.

For the Langkawi–Kuala Perlis route, 13,756 passengers were recorded, while 11,230 travelled from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi.

“On average, there are 10 ferry trips daily, five for the Langkawi–Kuala Perlis–Langkawi route and five for the Langkawi–Kuala Kedah–Langkawi route. 

“Two additional trips will be provided subject to demand, which is expected to rise two days before Aidilfitri and again ahead of the new school term,” he said in a statement today.

Norhafiz added that ticket demand is expected to continue increasing as Langkawi residents return to work and the school session resumes on March 29.

To accommodate the surge, a total of 28 additional trips have been scheduled from March 17 to 29. These include three extra trips from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah, one from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi, 13 from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis and 11 from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi.

He said ferry operations are expected to run smoothly throughout the festive period, with all vessels fully mobilised and safety measures heightened.

Passengers are advised to purchase tickets early via the Cuti Cuti Langkawi application or at designated ticket counters to avoid last-minute inconvenience. — BERNAMA

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SEREMBAN — An e-hailing driver, P. Mahendra Bhoopaty, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here today to a charge of uploading a Facebook video containing statements that caused public alarm on February 27, and issued an apology to Muslims.

Mahendra Bhoopaty, 53, entered the plea after the charge was read out before Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli.

According to the charge, he uploaded a video on Facebook containing statements likely to cause public alarm and incite offences against public order.

In the video, he questioned religious sensitivities by comparing a temple and a mosque, asking, “kalau kuil India di bawah jambatan haram, yang ini masjid bawah jambatan flyover macam mana? haram ke halal, cuba terangkan” (If the Indian temple under the bridge is haram, how about this mosque under the flyover? Haram or halal, try to explain).

The offence was committed at Masjid Jamek Dato’ Bandar Hj Ahmad Rasah, Kampung Dato Mansor, at about 12.30 pm last Feb 27. 

He was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Negeri Sembilan Director of Public Prosecutions Ku Hayati Ku Haron urged the court to impose a proportionate sentence, stressing that the action by the accused could threaten national harmony and that the punishment should serve as a lesson to respect religious sensitivities and places of worship.

Unrepresented, the accused appealed for a lighter sentence, citing financial difficulties.

He told the court he was unable to continue driving for Grab due to a damaged car, and that he needed to support his child and elderly father.

The court sentenced him to a fine of RM4,000, with a default of seven months’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The track laying of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) for the entire Kota Bharu, Kelantan to Gombak, Selangor alignment, covering 519 kilometres (km) has been completed. 

China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL) said the accomplishment marks the completion of the construction phase of the track, coupled with system installations, and the ECRL has now officially entered the testing and commissioning phase.

“The first of its kind in Malaysia, the CCPG‐500A mechanised track-laying machine was deployed to complete the full ECRL alignment. 

“The final Phase 4, covering 126 km from Maran to Gombak, began in April 2025, and was completed on Feb 5, 2026, half a month ahead of schedule,” said the company, which is the main engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contractor (EPCC) of the ECRL, in a statement today. 

Meanwhile, CCCECRL managing director Deng Bo said that with the track now fully laid and electrification underway along the Kota Bharu-Gombak alignment in Selangor, the arrival of the electric multiple unit marks the start of 8,000 km of fault-free run testing and commissioning. 

“This milestone brings us one step closer to full operations in January 2027, underscoring our commitment to precision, safety, and delivering a state-of-the-art ECRL project,” he said.

Track laying officially began in December 2023, with a royal blessing from the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, at Kuantan Port City (KPC). 

According to the statement, the alignment then progressed northward from KPC to Maran, onward to Dungun, and finally reached Kota Bharu. 

The stretches covered 92 km, 95 km, and 206 km, respectively, marking steady progress that paved the way for Phase 4 and the successful completion of the full Kota Bharu to Gombak track alignment.

As of February 2026, the ECRL project has achieved approximately 92.62 per cent overall progress, reflecting continuous advancement across all phases and readiness for the next stage of testing and commissioning.— BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — Intel’s investment in Malaysia is set to expand, with its advanced packaging complex and assembly manufacturing expected to be operational later this year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I received a briefing yesterday from Intel Corporation chief executive officer, Tan Lip Bu, and his team on the latest developments regarding Intel’s investment expansion in Malaysia,” Anwar said in his social media post.

The discussion focused on efforts to support the development of the advanced packaging complex, and assembly and test manufacturing, key components of Intel’s investment expansion in Malaysia, the Prime Minister said.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said Intel Foundry executive vice president and general manager, Naga Chandrasekaran, outlined plans to begin the first phase of the complex with assembly and testing for advanced packaging.

“I welcome Intel’s decision to start operations at the complex later this year,” Anwar said.

Emphasis was also placed on continuous training and upskilling of local talent across the value chain, which is important in the government’s efforts to generate high-value jobs in line with the aspirations of the MADANI Economy.

“The MADANI Government machinery will continue to be a partner and facilitator for investments that clearly provide long-term benefits, as targeted in the plans that have been launched, including the National Semiconductor Strategy,” the post said. — BERNAMA

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NIBONG TEBAL — Activist Arun Dorasamy, whose real name is Arumugam Dorasamy, pleaded not guilty at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court here today to a charge of making statements with the intent to cause public alarm via his Instagram account last year.

The 56-year-old is accused of making a statement that was seen and heard by an individual, with the intention of inciting public alarm and potentially prompting offences against public order.

The alleged incident took place at a shopping centre in Batu Kawan, South Seberang Perai, at 3.45 pm on March 12, 2025.

The video in question reportedly called on a Hindu religious association, Pertubuhan Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia,  to organise a street protest if no action was taken against independent preacher Zamri Vinoth over a controversial video involving three local radio presenters accused of mocking a religious festival.

The charge was framed under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

The prosecution was led by Penang Director of Prosecutions Nazran Mohd Sham, alongside Deputy Public Prosecutor Airina Syazreen Zainurin. They proposed bail at RM5,000 with one surety, a sum agreed upon by the defence team comprising lawyers T. Gunaselaan, Balwant Singh Purba and Dickson Ng.

Magistrate Nurul Aina Ahmad granted bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed June 22 for mention.

Arun posted the bail. — BERNAMA

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