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KOTA KINABALU — The Sabah Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) seized 305.722 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of RM15.28 million, last month.

Sabah JKDM director Dr Ahmad Taufik Sulaiman said the inspection of a container at Sepanggar Port on April 22 at 11.30 am led to the discovery of 15 boxes believed to contain illicit substances.

“The modus operandi used was to declare the goods as ‘drink stuff’ in the bill of lading,” he said at a press conference at Menara Kastam here today.

Ahmad Taufik said no arrests had been made so far, and that the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.

He said the syndicate was believed to have smuggled the drugs from Port Klang for distribution in Sabah, with Sepanggar Port serving as the final destination of the shipment.

Ahmad Taufik added that the seizure was the result of intelligence gathered by the narcotics branch of the Sabah State Enforcement Division, in collaboration with the Sepanggar Port Import and Export Division.

He called on the public to assist enforcement efforts by channelling information on smuggling activities via the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855.

–BERNAMA

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KOTA BHARU — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has detected the use of its official logo without authorisation by irresponsible parties to spread unverified information regarding the discovery of the body of a 19-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds near a paddy field in Kampung Simah, Ketereh.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat (picture) said the tactic was deliberately carried out to create the impression that the content was an official statement from the PDRM.

He said those involved were also found to be using his official photograph to attract public attention, along with sensational headlines that could mislead readers.

“Among the content detected were the spread of speculation about the suspect’s background, as well as the exploitation of official PDRM statements through manipulation or embellishment,” he said in a statement today.

Following the circulation of various unverified information on social media, a police report has been lodged.

“This case is being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said.

He stressed that the spread of false or misleading information can not only cause public alarm but may also disrupt and affect ongoing investigations.

As such, the public is urged to be more responsible social media users by refraining from sharing unverified information.

“Cooperation from all parties is greatly appreciated to ensure public order is maintained and that investigations can proceed smoothly and effectively,” he said.

On May 2, police confirmed the discovery of the victim’s body on a road near a paddy field in Kampung Simah, Ketereh, here, with initial findings indicating the victim was believed to have been killed elsewhere before the body was dumped at the location.

Following the incident, four suspects – three men aged between 19 and 66, and a 60-year-old woman – were remanded to assist investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. — BERNAMA

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JEDDAH — The case of dozens of Malaysian haj pilgrims who had already entered ihram but were stranded at the airport here after being found to be using invalid visas in 2015 should serve as a lesson for prospective pilgrims.

Jeddah Haj Operations director Darul Nain Abu Bakar said about 30 pilgrims were believed to have been duped by unofficial package offers promising a shortcut to perform the haj.

According to him, although the documents presented appeared convincing, with matching names and photographs of the holders, checks with the Saudi immigration system found that the visas were invalid and not registered under their names.

“On the surface, everything looked correct, but in the system the visas did not exist or did not belong to them. That is why they were immediately denied entry,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Recalling the incident, he said he and consulate officers rushed to the airport as soon as they received reports to assist the affected pilgrims.

However, Darul Nain said the situation became deeply emotional when it was discovered that all the pilgrims had already entered ihram and were ready to perform the haj. But in the end, they had to accept that they could not proceed.

In an effort to ease the pilgrims’ distress, they were only held in a designated area at the airport while arrangements were made before they were sent home. That was all they could do given the very strict regulations.

He added that although there was sympathy and a desire to help, they remained bound by the laws enforced by the Saudi government.

“This experience serves as a strong reminder that in haj matters, compliance with regulations is paramount and must not be taken lightly,” he said.

He also reminded prospective pilgrims to be more cautious and not easily influenced by dubious offers promising easy entry into the Holy Land.

“Use official channels such as Lembaga Tabung Haji or recognised agencies. Do not take shortcuts as the risks are very high,” he said.

He added that controls have now been further tightened, with multiple layers of checks at every entry point, including on local residents, to ensure no violations occur.

In large-scale haj operations involving millions of pilgrims each year, compliance with regulations is the most critical aspect in ensuring overall safety and the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

“There is no room for compromise when it comes to visas. If they are not valid, action will still be taken even if we know they have made significant sacrifices to get here,” he said.

According to him, apart from being unable to perform the haj, pilgrims also face other risks, including financial losses and the possibility of being blacklisted by the Saudi authorities, which could affect their chances of returning to the country in the future. — BERNAMA

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SHAH ALAM — A total of 280 police reports have been lodged as of yesterday over the circulation of a caricature on social media containing elements deemed insulting to the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, on April 25.

Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar (picture) said the reports were received from across the country, lodged by various parties condemning what he described as an extreme act of provocation.

“Investigations are currently being conducted under Bandar Kinrara RPT: 4809/26 and classified under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955.

“The main focus of the ongoing investigation by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is to track down and apprehend those responsible for tarnishing the sovereignty of the royal institution,” he said in a statement today.

Shazeli also advised the public to leave the investigation process entirely to the authorities and to refrain from making comments or speculation that could disrupt the case.

He said any further developments would be announced when necessary.

Earlier, several parties, including Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, state executive councillors and non-governmental organisations, had called on the PDRM and MCMC to take firm action against the post deemed insulting to the Sultan of Selangor. — BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA — Dengue cases in Putrajaya fell by 36.2 per cent from January to April 2026 compared with the same period last year, with the implementation of Wolbachia technology identified as a key factor in enabling faster and more effective control of the urban outbreak.

Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Datuk Mohd Sakeri Abdul Kadir said the decrease shows that conventional approaches alone are no longer sufficient to address dengue challenges in densely populated urban areas.

“Data in Putrajaya shows that innovations such as the Wolbachia technology can accelerate dengue control and protect communities more effectively.

“At the same time, this effort is part of an ongoing commitment to make Putrajaya a safer and more conducive city, especially to ensure children can play in residential areas without worrying about health risks,” he said in a statement today.

Sharing the latest data, Mohd Sakeri said as of April 2026, the implementation of Wolbachia technology in Putrajaya has been carried out in stages in high-risk localities, namely Precinct 14, where 588,800 adult mosquitoes have been released in several phases since 2020.

The programme, said Mohd Sakeri, is now in the maintenance phase, including additional releases.

“In Precinct 18, a total of 554,400 adult mosquitoes have been released since October 2025, with the area now in the ‘sustain phase’, indicating that the Wolbachia mosquito population is stabilising,” he said.

He added that the Federal Territories Department is evaluating the effectiveness of existing budget allocations, including community clean-up programmes, while considering expanding Wolbachia technology to People’s Housing Projects (PPR) and public housing areas, which recorded high dengue case rates. — BERNAMA

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