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PARTI Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) said Bersatu and PAS had agreed to abolish the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman post as part of a restructuring of the Opposition coalition, a claim swiftly denied by PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

In a letter dated Jan 27, Muhyiddin said he did not receive any notice for an extraordinary Supreme Council meeting called by PN deputy secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan for this Thursday. 

He said the meeting’s agenda, which included appointing a new chairman, ran contrary to what he described as an earlier consensus to abolish the post, which he said was why the Jan 29 meeting was cancelled.

According to Muhyiddin, the decision was reached during a meeting between Bersatu and PAS leaders on Jan 16. He said the restructuring would see Bersatu heading the presidential council, while PAS would lead the executive committee.

The former prime minister (PM) said the presidential council would be the coalition’s highest decision-making body on policy matters, while the executive council would manage administrative affairs, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported yesterday.

“The existence of these two councils is vital to ensure that PN maintains its moderate image in line with Malaysia’s plural society,” he said.

Muhyiddin resigned as PN chairman effective Jan 1, following the political crisis in Perlis.

However, Tuan Ibrahim denied that PAS had agreed to abolish the PN chairman post or that the matter was discussed during the Jan 16 meeting.

“We only agreed to strengthen the presidential council, while the mechanisms and structure would be examined (at a later date),” he told the portal.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS did not discuss abolishing the chairman post at the meeting, which was also attended by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Takiyuddin, the party’s secretary general .

Earlier, Muhyiddin had claimed that the agreement to abolish the post was part of a broader restructuring of PN, following discussions held at his residence more than a week ago.

Meanwhile, the dispute escalated further after two PAS Youth leaders openly criticised Muhyiddin over his claim that Bersatu and PAS had agreed to abolish the PN chairman’s post.

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden took a dig at Muhyiddin by likening the situation to a football team whose goalkeeper decided the position was no longer needed.

“The team is supposed to get together to select their new goalkeeper, but suddenly the goalkeeper calls for the goalposts to be abolished. To him, there’s no need for goalposts, and therefore for a goalkeeper,” he said in a Facebook post.

“If that’s the case, we should just overlay the football pitch with cement, install a roof and turn it into a hall. There’s no need for a football pitch,” he added.

Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar was more direct, warning the former PM that his leadership of PN had run its course, reported the portal.

“First, you resign as PN chairman. Now, suddenly, you want to lead the PN presidential council. The problem still isn’t solved.

“Your time is finished! What goes around comes around,” he said in a Facebook post.

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BANGI — The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting targeted screening of travellers arriving in Malaysia from high-risk countries, particularly India and Bangladesh, as an initial measure to strengthen the country’s preparedness against the potential spread of the Nipah virus.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (picture) said the measures are being implemented at all international entry points nationwide, with body temperature scanning systems continuously activated to detect early symptoms, such as fever, among travellers.

“We are focusing on travellers arriving from India and Bangladesh, as these are among the high-risk countries, and it is important that targeted screening has been initiated.

“There are no special routes for these travellers. However, if indicators, such as fever, are detected, they will be referred for further assessment. We remain on high alert, and screening continues to be carried out at all entry points,” he told reporters after launching the RHB-IJN Heart Health Screening Mobile Unit, here, today.

Also present at the event were RHB Banking group managing director and group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Rashid Mohamad and National Heart Institute (IJN) chief executive officer Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib.

Dzulkefly said the approach was in line with current practices adopted by most countries, with screening measures adjusted according to ongoing risk assessments.

He added that the MOH remained in close contact with the World Health Organisation (WHO), to ensure that the control measures implemented were appropriate, and aligned with the latest developments at the international level.

Meanwhile, on the RHB-IJN Mobile Unit, Dzulkefly said the initiative was a collaboration between RHB and the National Heart Institute (IJN), aimed at providing early heart disease screening services to the community.

He said under the collaboration, RHB supplied a new Volvo Prime Mover unit, while IJN provides a screening trailer equipped with advanced cardiac diagnostic equipment.

“When these two elements are combined, they form the RHB-IJN Mobile Unit, which brings sophisticated clinical technology directly to people’s doorsteps. Facilities such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO) are now available, free of charge, to rural communities who may otherwise face difficulties accessing specialist hospitals,” he said.

Dzulkefly added that under the three-year strategic partnership, the RHB-IJN Mobile Unit is expected to operate in at least 12 locations nationwide each year, benefiting more than 4,000 people. — BERNAMA

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SEREMBAN — An autopsy on a two-year-old boy who was found dead in a car on Jalan Tunku Hassan here yesterday revealed no physical injuries or damage to internal organs.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad (picture) said the nearly five-hour post-mortem, which began at 2.30 pm at the Forensic Medical Unit of Hospital Rembau, also showed the child tested negative for COVID-19.

“The cause of death is classified as undetermined for now. Further investigations are ongoing under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001,” he told Bernama today.

Alzafny said the child’s 35-year-old mother, who was detained yesterday, was released on police bail this morning. He added that she may be called again to assist with investigations, if necessary, as the case remains under inquiry.

He also urged parents to be vigilant and ensure the whereabouts of their children at all times, particularly when in or around vehicles, and cautioned the public against speculating on the incident.

The boy was discovered dead in the car after being reportedly left by his mother, who works at a nearby bank, at 8 am. The incident was only noticed around 5 pm after she finished work. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has devised a more fair and equitable strategy to ensure that the refund allocations provided by the government can be distributed in an orderly manner, the Finance Ministry said.

In a written reply published on the parliament website, the ministry said that among its strategies is to consider giving priority to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) or companies experiencing cash flow problems by adopting the First In First Out concept.

This includes distributing excess tax refunds evenly based on the age of the arrears and making full payments for excess tax refund arrears for individual taxpayer categories.

“Tax legislation amendments have also been made to allow taxpayers to make a review in the 11th month, as opposed to a review in the sixth or ninth month or both.

“Through this additional review facility provided, the estimated tax payment that needs to be made should be close to the actual tax liability that needs to be paid by the company, and this will in turn reduce the government’s excess tax refund,” it said.

The ministry was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) on the amount of excess tax arrears that have not been settled so far for taxpayers, including SMEs, as well as the government’s target for 2026, including the settlement period and mechanisms to prevent new arrears.

The total amount of excess tax refunds for 2025 that have been settled by the IRB is RM22.45 billion, involving 3.6 million taxpayers, which includes MSMEs. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating a leading massage parlour chain believed to be involved in a corruption case involving enforcement officers.

The MACC posted on TikTok that its Special Operations Division and the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) are investigating the massage parlour chain, which has 32 branches nationwide and is believed to have been operating since 2023.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the company has adopted a two-tier accounting system, in which most of its cash sales were not reported, resulting in an estimated annual tax leakage of around RM7.56 million.

“In addition, investigations also found incidents of bribes paid to enforcement officers and local authorities (PBT) to facilitate the company’s operations and as protection money. Several individuals have been identified and follow-up action is being taken against them.

“MACC has also frozen 121 bank accounts involving private and company-related accounts, with an estimated total of RM11.5 million,” it added.

So far, 12 witness statements have been recorded to assist in investigations.

“Investigations also involved the freezing of assets in the Klang Valley and Johor, which are suspected to have been procured from the returns of money laundering activities, involving five luxury vehicles estimated to be worth RM1.5 million.

“Five commercial premises valued at about RM7.3 million, two industrial properties worth about RM2.3 million, and seven residential units totalling about RM7.7 million have also been frozen,” it added.

Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah approved the remand order submitted by the MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court this morning for the five individuals, comprising company directors and senior management staff of several business entities, aged from 30 to their 50s.

Four of the suspects were remanded until Jan 31, and one was remanded for three days until Jan 30. All the suspects were arrested around the Klang Valley and Johor yesterday.

Meanwhile, MACC Special Operations Division senior director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin confirmed that the operation is underway.

He said that the investigation focuses on offences committed under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, as well as other criminal elements, including money laundering. — BERNAMA

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MELAKA — The Melaka Road Transport Department (JPJ) seized 85 luxury vehicles under Op Luxury, carried out from January 2025 until last Tuesday (Jan 27), to ensure compliance with road transport laws.

Melaka JPJ director Siti Zarina Mohd Yusop said the vehicles were seized under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, including 17 vehicles impounded in January this year.

“The highest number of offences recorded involved expired road tax (LKM) and insurance coverage, with 76 cases, followed by expired road tax with valid insurance (five cases), foreign drivers driving without a competent driving licence (CDL) (three cases), and one case involving the display of another vehicle’s registration number.

“During the operation, a total of 579 luxury vehicles were inspected under Op Luxury,” she said when met by reporters after an integrated operation involving several agencies in Paya Rumput, here, last night.

Siti Zarina said Mercedes-Benz vehicles accounted for the highest number of seizures, at 20 units, followed by Toyota Vellfire (16), BMW (12), Toyota Alphard (10), and other luxury vehicles. 

She added that, through Op Luxury, JPJ also detected vehicles with road tax which had expired for more than five years, including a Toyota Vellfire with road tax lapsed on June 25, 2021, and a Toyota Alphard with road tax that expired on Nov 11, 2021.

Meanwhile, she said that, during the integrated operation last night, a total of 395 vehicles were inspected, of which 120 were found to have committed various offences, resulting in 244 notices being issued.

“JPJ (P) 22 summon notices recorded the highest number at 210, with 186 notices issued to motorcyclists and the remaining 24 to other vehicles,” she said.

“Meanwhile, a total of 14 notices to prevent use of a vehicle (PG1) and 17 inspection order notices under Section 61(1) were issued,” she said.

Siti Zarina added that four motorcycles and a car were also seized during the operation, after being found to have committed various offences, including expired road tax and lack of insurance coverage.

She further said that inspections by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) found two individuals tested positive for methamphetamine, out of 14 individuals screened, while the Department of Environment (DOE) issued three compounds for noise offences which did not comply with prescribed standards, involving six vehicles. — BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA — The Immigration Department (JIM) uncovered immoral activities disguised as beauty and spa services at four locations in Kuala Lumpur and Puchong, leading to the arrest of 19 foreign women on Jan 27.

Its director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban (picture) said the premises used legitimate beauty and spa centre licences, displaying signs and offering treatments to deceive the authorities.

“The illegal services were not advertised openly. Instead, they were promoted through Telegram and WhatsApp to select customers,” he said in a statement today.

“The customers were offered regular massage services, while secret codes were used to access additional services,” Zakaria said, adding that the premises were modified and equipped with tight security systems.

The charges for the services ranged from RM180 to RM250, and the operation is believed to have been running since March last year.

Those arrested included 12 Filipinas, six Vietnamese, and one Mongolian, aged between 22 and 48.

Initial checks showed that three Vietnamese women held social visit passes (PLS), the Mongolian woman had a student pass, and the 12 Filipinas held domestic helper passes. The others had no valid travel documents or passes to stay in the country.

“During the operation, we confiscated nine Filipino passports, three Vietnamese passports, a Mongolian passport, five mobile phones, a QR payment scanner, employee records, transaction books, business licences, Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) documents, and RM1,500 in cash,” he said.

Zakaria added that those detained were believed to have violated the Immigration Act 1959/63 and were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further action.

Seven local men were issued notices to assist with the investigation. — BERNAMA 

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KOTA BHARU — A 72-year-old woman was injured in a snatch theft incident at Kampung Paloh Rambai, Ketereh, here this morning.

Kota Bharu district police chief ACP Mohd Azmir Damiri said in the 10.30 am incident, the victim was burning rubbish in her house compound when she was approached by two unidentified men riding a motorcycle.

“One of the suspects dismounted and snatched a bracelet from the victim’s left wrist before pulling the necklace she was wearing,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Azmir said the victim struggled in self-defence, causing her to be dragged on the road for about 10 metres before both suspects fled the scene.

As a result, the victim sustained injuries and suffered losses amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit.

Mohd Azmir said the case is being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code and efforts to trace the suspects are ongoing.

He also reminded the public to be mindful of their surroundings and not to display valuables excessively, as this could make them targets for criminals. — BERNAMA

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