TMR

SHAH ALAM — Nearly 84 per cent of the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve fire in Banting has been extinguished, leaving 3.64 hectares still burning two days after the blaze broke out.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations officer Hamdan Hamzah said that, in collaboration with various agencies, they have extinguished the fire across 19.02 hectares so far, with today’s firefighting efforts divided into three sectors.

A total of 22.66 hectares were affected by the fire, which broke out around midday last Tuesday.

“The fire is still active, and there are small hotspots, but they do not affect nearby settlements or the nearby Water Treatment Plant.

“Today’s operation involved Strike Team A carrying out firefighting using Wajax hose lines from open water sources in Sector A, Strike Team B conducting suppression in Sector B, while Strike Team C monitored and extinguished fire using fire beaters in Sector C,” he said in a statement today.

Hamdan said the operation, which entered its third day today, involves 35 officers and personnel from various related agencies. — BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA — The Federal Court has set Feb 10 to deliver its verdict on the prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal of former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad (picture) on nine corruption charges involving RM3.09 million.

A three-member panel, led by Federal Court Judge Datuk Nordin Hassan, said the court required time to consider the submissions from both parties, as well as to review the earlier Court of Appeal judgment. “The decision is fixed for Feb 10 at 9.00 am,” he announced.

The bench, which also included Justices Datuk Lee Swee Seng and Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, had heard oral arguments from both the prosecution and defence earlier in the proceedings.

The appeal stems from the Court of Appeal’s ruling on March 6, 2024, which overturned the High Court’s conviction of Mohd Isa and the subsequent sentence of six years’ imprisonment and an RM15.45 million fine.

On Feb 3, 2021, the High Court convicted Mohd Isa, 77, on nine counts of corruption. The offences were alleged to have taken place on the 49th floor of Menara Felda, Platinum Park, Persiaran KLCC in Kuala Lumpur between July 15, 2014, and Dec 15, 2015. 

The former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar was accused of accepting RM3.09 million in gratification from Ikhwan Zaidel, then a director of Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd, through his former special officer, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip.

The payment was allegedly an inducement for approving the Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd’s (FICSB) purchase of the Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak, for RM160 million.

During today’s appeal hearing, submissions from both parties lasted approximately 43 minutes.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz characterised the case as one of being “innocently asked for, but corruptly received”.

He contended that the prosecution had established that Mohd Isa accepted gratification on nine separate occasions from Ikhwan via his former special officer between July 2014 and December 2015.

The prosecutor further submitted that evidence was adduced showing that, following a meeting with Ikhwan, Mohd Isa had indirectly instructed Muhammad Zahid to solicit a bribe from him, an instruction which Muhammad Zahid subsequently carried out. 

Afzanizam argued that the bribes were delivered by Ikhwan to Muhammad Zahid, who then passed them on to Mohd Isa in stages at his office in Felda.

He submitted that the Court of Appeal had erred in overturning the High Court’s judgment and urged the Federal Court to reinstate Mohd Isa’s conviction on all corruption charges.

He further contended that, while the investigation had not located the bribe money in Mohd Isa’s possession, such physical discovery was not a requisite element for proving a charge of receiving gratification under established legal principles.

In response, Mohd Isa’s counsel, M M Athimulan, submitted that the Court of Appeal had committed no error of law in reversing the High Court’s finding of guilt against his client.

“The Court of Appeal’s finding that there was no credible evidence Mohd Isa had approved, directed or influenced the FICSB Board’s decision demolishes the prosecution’s case altogether.

“This is a finding of fact that the prosecution failed to prove the respondent (Mohd Isa) committed the alleged act for which the gratification was purportedly received,” he said.

Athimulan countered that the Court of Appeal was correct in finding the trial judge’s conclusion that Mohd Isa’s request to convey his “salam” was a coded demand for gratification to be speculative and lacking direct evidentiary support. — BERNAMA

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by GLORIA HARRY BEATTY

MALAYSIA has imposed an absolute ban on the importation of electronic waste (e-waste), effective Feb 4, under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023.

The decision was reached at the second meeting of the Special Task Force on the Enforcement Management Direction for Plastic Waste and E-Waste Imports, as part of broader efforts to strengthen controls over hazardous waste and protect the environment.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, who chaired the meeting, said the decision requires firm and coordinated enforcement action by all relevant agencies.

“E-waste is no longer permitted and strict enforcement must be carried out involving all agencies. 

“As such, the Department of Environment (DOE) has been directed to submit an application to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department to place e-waste under the Absolute Prohibition category in the Customs Order,” he said in a statement.

Previously, e-waste was listed under the “Conditional Prohibition Unless in the Prescribed Manner” category in the Third Schedule, Part 1 of the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023. This allowed the DOE director-general (DG) discretionary powers to grant exemptions for the importation of prohibited waste, subject to specific conditions.

That discretion is also provided for under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

The task force meeting, led by MACC’s Governance Investigation Division at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya, also agreed to strengthen coordination and enforcement related to e-waste through the establishment of a special committee.

The committee will be chaired by Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal and is expected to be formed in the near term.

Outcomes from the committee’s deliberations must be reported to the special task force within one week, aimed at ensuring a more systematic and effective approach to e-waste management.

Separately, the meeting discussed a proposal to impose a three-month moratorium on plastic waste imports, in line with discussions and directives involving the prime minister (PM) and the chief secretary to the government.

However, before any final decision is made, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the National Solid Waste Management Department and the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) have been instructed to submit detailed data for presentation to the PM.

The data will cover the sector’s contribution to the economy and national income, as well as industry needs, to assess the suitability of implementing such a moratorium.

Among those present at the meeting were Royal Malaysia Police Anti-Money Laundering Crime Investigation Team chief Datuk Fazlisyam Abd Majid; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability deputy secretary-general Datuk Nor Yahati Awang; MACC Governance Investigation Division director Datuk Mohd Zaki Hassan; and MACC Public Sector Governance Division director KPKPj Sudirman Aban.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Chief Secretary’s Office, the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and AKPS.

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JOHOR BAHRU — The Johor State Fatwa Committee has set zakat fitrah (personal tithe) rates at RM8, RM10 and RM20 for this year.

State Islamic Affairs Committee chairman, Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, said the rates were based on the price of commonly consumed by Muslims in Johor, measured at one Baghdad gantang (2.6kg).

He said the rice prices and usage rates were sourced from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Paddy Control Division and local wholesalers and retailers.

Mohd Fared said the RM8 zakat fitrah rate applies to Muslims whose daily staple is rice, including local super special, parboiled, broken and brown rice, while the RM10 rate applies to those who eat imported rice such as white rice from Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam.

“The RM20 rate applies to Muslims who eat imported rice, such as basmati and super fragrant varieties,” he told reporters at the event to announce the 1447H/2026M zakat fitrah rates at Iskandar Islamic Centre, here today. 

He said Muslims in the state can pay their zakat fitrah through 1,672 authorised amil (collectors) appointed by the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ).

Mohd Fared said payments can be made in cash or via QR code, online through Zakat Johor Online Payment and the Tulus app at https://www.bayarzakatjohor.com, at MAINJ mobile counters in each district, or at MAINJ Urban Transformation Centre counters in Kotaraya and Pasir Gudang.

He said all Muslims residing in Johor, including foreign nationals, are required to pay zakat fitrah.

He added that this year’s zakat fitrah collection is projected at RM27.33 million, with an estimated 2.29 million Muslims in Johor expected to make payments.

“This projection is based on the current economic situation, with an estimated 29 per cent paying RM8, 47 per cent paying RM10, and 25 per cent paying RM20,” he said. — BERNAMA

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by NURNABIHAH DINI 

THE approval process for medical treatment benefits for Armed Forces veterans is determined by whether they are pensioned or non-pensioned, rather than the length of their service. 

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Adly Zahari (picture) explained that before 2005, medical facilities for public service retirees, including Armed Forces veterans, were limited to pensioned retirees and their dependents, with funding provided under the Health Ministry (MOH).

“However, as a sign of concern and special appreciation for the veteran community, these facilities were extended to non-pensioned Armed Forces veterans and eligible dependents beginning in 2005,” he told Dewan Rakyat today.

Adly said the decision followed a Cabinet meeting on Nov 24, 2004, which placed the provision of medical benefits for non-pensioned veterans under the Defence Ministry, managed through the Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV ATM).

“Therefore, the provision of these facilities is not subject to the length of service, but rather based on the veteran’s category – whether pensioned or non-pensioned,” he said.

He added that JHEV ATM’s role is to act as a one-stop service centre for veterans, including the coordination of medical assistance for veterans and their dependents.

“In this regard, JHEV ATM works closely with MOH to facilitate and ensure that medical services for veterans are delivered in the best possible manner,” Adly said.

During a supplementary debate, Ketereh MP Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor raised concerns about difficulties faced by pensioned veterans when seeking treatment at public hospitals, including long waiting times and administrative hurdles.

“I have met many veterans on the ground. When they go to MOH facilities, problems arise,” he said, citing a recent visit to Hospital Tengku Mizan where elderly veterans reportedly waited up to three hours to collect medication.

In his reply, Adly acknowledged that such concerns had been raised and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all veterans.

“Our duty is to ensure that all veterans, whether pensioned or non-pensioned and their dependents receive free healthcare,” he said.

He noted that some medical claims approved for veterans and their dependents had reached significant amounts, reflecting the government’s commitment to their welfare.

“There have been cases where healthcare support for a veteran’s dependant reached RM250,000, and in some instances, claims amounted to hundreds of thousands of ringgit,” he said.

Adly stressed that regardless of whether healthcare services are administered through JHEV ATM or MOH, veterans’ medical needs remain a priority.

“There may be cases involving delays, but overall, we are working with MOH to ensure that whether a veteran is pensioned or not, their healthcare continues to receive priority,” he said.

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