Day: July 3, 2024

RAUB, A tour bus driver pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here today to charges of driving with no valid license and in a dangerous manner, causing the death of two Chinese nationals on Jalan Genting Highlands, Bentong, last June 29.

S. Anand Kumar, 32, of Klang, Selangor, made the plea before Magistrate Siti Aisyah Ahmad.

According to the first charge, he was alleged to be driving dangerously, causing the death of Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Suhong, 49, at KM 16.5 Jalan Genting Highlands (downhill), Bentong at about 10.20 am last June 29.

The charge, framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, provides imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of RM50,000 upon conviction.

He was also charged under Section 26(1) of the same law with driving the tourist bus without a valid licence on the same day and time.

Anand Kumar, unrepresented, can be fined a maximum of RM2,000 or imprisoned for up to three months or both if found guilty of the offence.

The court allowed him bail of
RM8,000 with one surety and was prohibited from applying for a driving licence pending disposal of the case.

The court set Aug 7 for mention.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Zamharir Muhammad Zuhid.

In the incident last June 29, two China men were killed while 19 other passengers were rescued after a tour bus they were travelling in overturned at KM 16.5 of Jalan Turun Genting Highlands.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ADATA Technology Co., Ltd. will conduct detail study on investment opportunity in technology sector and other potential areas in Cambodia, under the coordination of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).

The plan was unveiled by visiting Mr. Simon Chen, Chairman and CEO of ADATA Technology Co., Ltd. while he was paying a courtesy call on H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and CDC First Vice President, at the CDC headquarters on July 2, to learn about Cambodia’s investment potential.

On the occasion, H.E. Sun Chanthol informed his guests about favourable investment environment in Cambodia, and open investment law to all foreign investors and related regulations, in addition to political and economic stability, low inflation rate, young labour forces, and the average of 7-percent economic growth before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The CDC first vice president also underscored Cambodia’s open markets through bilateral, multilateral and regional trade agreements such as Cambodia-China Free Trade A
greement (FTA), Cambodia-Republic of Korea FTA, and RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), as well as the Royal Government of Cambodia’s support to all businesses and investments, and interconnected physical infrastructure across the nation.

H.E. Sun Chanthol suggested the company to consider investing in the fields of technology and other potential sectors, and reaffirmed the CDC’s readiness to coordinate and facilitate all investment affairs.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

KUALA LUMPUR, The channelling of raw water from Perak River to Bukit Merah Dam, which is partly implemented to support the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) project, is expected to be able to supply the projected need of 1,500 million litres of water per day to northern Perak and Penang, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this would inadvertently fulfil the water supply needs in the Seberang Perai Selatan area and KIGIP, in addition to solving water woes in Kerian, Larut Matang and Selama districts in the future.

‘The projection shows that Perak River’s capacity can reach up to 1,500 million litres per day, which meets the needs in northern Perak and the whole of Penang.

‘This is why the government agreed with the large funding, but it shall be managed through the cooperation of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Sime Darby, SD Guthrie Berhad and the Perak state government,’ he said during the Minister’s Question Time.

Anwar said this in reply to Da
tuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) who wanted to know the direction of the KIGIP project in boosting domestic investment aligns with the Energy Transition Roadmap while also balancing the needs of nearby areas, such as addressing the water supply issues in Seberang Perai Selatan.

The Prime Minister said that although Kedah had expressed its desire to supply raw water for the said areas, the volume was relatively small, which is only 25 million litres per day, while the initial requirement in northern Perak, namely Larut Matang, Kerian and Selama, reached 300 million litres per day.

‘The capacity of the Perak River, if given an injection of funds to manage the river more effectively, can meet the needs of Penang, or most of it, with approximately 700 million litres a day,’ he said.

He said the raw water channelling project from Perak River to Bukit Merah Dam with an allocation of RM4 billion is expected to start this year.

‘This project is simple because the land in Kerian belongs to Sime Darb
y. So, there is no acquisition issue involving the 1,000 acres (404 hectares) of land. Once they agreed, the Perak Government agrees to expedite it,’ he said.

KIGIP is an industrial park project that will be powered by solar energy as the main green energy source, with the first phase involving the development of 404 hectares of land.

With a strategic location, which is close to the electrical and electronics (EandE) sector hub in Penang and Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) in Kedah, KIGIP will complement the rapid spillover demand of the industry.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Johor has embarked on another initiative to help the people of Palestine by launching the Johor-Palestine Tabung Kasih 2.0 here today.

State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman, Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, said that the fund, managed by the state government in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to raise RM2.5 million over two months until August.

He said the assistance will be delivered in four ways: donation packages from the people of Johor through volunteers will be sent by sea, donation packages at the Egypt-Gaza border, the provision of tents under the Johor Village in Gaza, and the distribution of hot meals in Palestinian refugee camps.

Mohd Fared said the aid in the form of hot meals, tents and packages from Egypt will be delivered first to help Palestinians face the winter season in Gaza.

“Meanwhile, the packaging by Southern Volunteer and Aqsa Brigade volunteers will be done through a gotong-royong (communal work) effort in Johor, with the shipment exp
ected to take place in mid-August in conjunction with Independence Month,” he added.

‘We have been advised to provide suitable food items for the Palestinian people, such as olive oil and flour, and we purchase these items according to the regulations set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on advice of the Palestinian authorities,’ he said.

He told reporters after the launching ceremony of the Johor-Palestine Tabung Kasih 2.0 by Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at the Menteri Besar’s Office here today.

Earlier, a donation of RM500,000 was contributed by the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ), while RM2,061 was donated by the UMNO Parit Sulong division.

Mohd Fared added that the fund would be extended to nearly 3,000 surau and mosques throughout the state, which have been instructed to collect special donations every Friday.

He said that every expenditure related to the donations would be announced to the public to ensure transparency in the management of the collected funds.

‘The State Ex
ecutive Council also decided today that all collections must be announced and all expenses, including the costs involved will be shared with the public transparently in accordance with the stipulated financial regulations,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged developers, architects, planners and policymakers to ensure that development projects are infused with culturally vibrant values.

Speaking at the launch of the ASEAN-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing (ACMROCH) and the 23rd International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition 2024 (ARCHIDEX) here, Anwar emphasised the importance of considering Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage during the planning and construction phases of development projects.

He highlighted that the country’s rich cultural values, derived from various communities such as the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Dayak, Kadazan and Murut, should be integral to the development process.

‘It would be a shame if we do not incorporate these cultural features in our planning, crafting or building,’ Anwar stated.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for development projects to be not only culturally vibrant but also modern, technologically advanced and
environmentally friendly.

‘They must address the needs of all sectors to avoid creating a dichotomy where one area serves the very rich while another serves the poor,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the challenges of maintaining a competitive edge in the construction and housing industries encompass various complex factors including technological innovation, cost efficiency, availability of skilled labour, regulatory compliance and fluctuations in market demand.

The government also encourages public-private partnerships by promoting collaborations between the government and the private sector to jointly develop infrastructure and housing projects,he said.

He added these partnerships can leverage the strengths and resources of both sectors to deliver high-quality developments.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency