Traffic to Kuala Lumpur set to surge this evening as Deepavali holiday wraps up

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Malay Mail

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Traffic on several major highways heading to the capital is expected to increase this evening and tonight as people begin returning after the long Deepavali weekend.

Sharifah Nazatul Maslama, Deputy Director of Operations Monitoring at the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), said traffic movement is expected to slow due to the rising number of vehicles, BuletinTV3 reported today.

“Highway users are still taking advantage of the Deepavali and school holidays, which end tomorrow.

“We anticipate this traffic trend will begin to slow from late afternoon into the evening,” she said.

A survey at the LLM Operations Centre this morning found traffic from the north, south, and East Coast directions remains smooth and under control.

LLM also projected that 2.3 million vehicles will use the major highways today.

In view of this, LLM advises road users to plan their trips in advance using driving apps and to follow highway regulations to ensure smooth traffic flow.

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Bandar Utama school stabbing: Remand extended for another week, suspect to stay in custody until Oct 28

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Malay Mail

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The remand period for a 14-year-old male student arrested over the stabbing of 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen at her school in Bandar Utama has been extended for another week.

Petaling Jaya District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Shamsudin Mamat, confirmed the extension, valid until next Tuesday, was granted by the Petaling Jaya Magistrates’ Court this morning, according to a report published in Berita Harian today.

Yesterday, Shamsudin had said that police would apply for an extension of the suspect’s remand as the previous remand period was set to expire today.

He also added that the investigation papers would be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor tomorrow for further instructions.

Earlier reports stated that Shing Xuen died after being stabbed at her school in Bandar Utama last Tuesday.

The suspect, a 14-year-old male student and a schoolmate of the victim, was arrested on the day of the incident.

Police also seized two sharp weapons found with the suspect, believed to have been used in the attack.

At a press conference last Thursday, the victim’s mother, Wong Lee Ping, revealed that her daughter was stabbed approximately 200 times.

Yesterday, hundreds of family members and close friends atte壯陽藥
nded the final farewell as the late teenager’s coffin was brought to Nirvana Shah Alam crematorium in a solemn ceremony.

Prior to that, a memorial ceremony was held at Nirvana Memorial Centre 2, where 100 blue and white balloons — Yap’s favourite colours — were released into the air as a symbol of blessings and remembrance for the young girl.

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Retired Johor civil servant duped of RM308,000 in phone scam by fake ‘Sergeant Zuraidi’

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Malay Mail

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — A retired civil servant lost RM308,000 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate posing as police officers from the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.

Johor Baru Selatan district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the 69-year-old man received the first phone call at about 11am on June 3 while at his home in Kampung Melayu Majidee in Johor Bahru, according to Berita Harian today.

The caller, who introduced himself as “Sergeant Zuraidi” from the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters, accused the victim of being involved in money laundering and terrorism financing activities.

“Shortly after, the victim received another call from a different number, allegedly from a court office, instructing him to make payments to avoid imprisonment.

“Out of fear, the victim followed the suspect’s instructions and made 44 money transfers totalling RM308,000 to four different bank accounts between June 30 and October 9.

“Initial checks showed that the four accounts had no prior records of involvement in phone scam cases.

“The victim only realised he had been duped after being told to make additional transfers and began to feel suspicious about the calls he had received,” Raub said in a statement today.

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Najib’s 1MDB trial enters final stage as court begins hearing defence submissions today

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Malay Mail

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The final defence submissions in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s RM2.3 billion 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) misappropriation trial begin today at the High Court.

Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah has fixed two weeks for the hearing of submissions, from today until October 24, and to resume from October 27 to 31, according to BuletinTV3.

The submissions will be heard before the court decides whether the former prime minister will be convicted or acquitted.

If found guilty, Najib, who is also a former finance minister, faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of either five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher.

On May 6, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah closed the defence’s case after the re-examination of the final witness, document forensic expert Tay Eue Kam.

The trial, which began on August 28, 2019, saw the prosecution close its case on May 30, 2024, after 233 hearing days involving 50 witnesses.

On October 30, 2024, the court ordered Najib to enter his defence, with proceedings beginning on December 2, 2024, and concluding on May 6 this year. During that period, the defence called 26 witnesses over 58 days of hearings.

Najib, 71, faces four charges of using his position to receive bribes totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Jalan Raja Chulan, between February 24, 2011, and December 19, 2014. He is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.

For the 21 money-laundering charges, Najib allegedly committed the offences at the same bank between March 22 and August 30, 2013, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum jail term of five years, a fine of RM5 million, or both.

The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Kamal Baharin Omar.

Najib has been serving his prison sentence at Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, after being convicted in a separate case involving the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Following his conviction, the former Pekan MP filed a royal pardon petition on September 2, 2022, which resulted in his 12-year prison sentence being reduced to six years and his fine lowered from RM210 million to RM50 million.

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Melaka police nab man for allegedly slashing teen factory worker riding pillion, to seek remand

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Malay Mail

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MELAKA, Oct 21 — Police have arrested a man to assist in investigations into an incident where a young female factory worker was injured on her lower back, allegedly after being slashed with a sharp object along Jalan Tangga Batu, opposite Taman Tangga Batu Section 1 in Tanjung Kling, yesterday evening.

The suspect was detained at a house near the scene at about 10.30pm last night, Berita Harian reported today.

It is understood that the man, believed to be in his 20s, will be brought to the Ayer Keroh Court Complex this morning for a remand application.

Melaka Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Christopher Patit confirmed the arrest when contacted, saying the case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code.

Yesterday, media reports stated that a teenage girl sustained a waist injury after being attacked with a sharp object by an unknown man while riding pillion on a motorcycle along Jalan Tangga Batu, opposite Taman Tangga Batu Section 1, yesterday evening.

The 4.45pm incident reportedly occurred as the 19-year-old victim was on her way home to Batu 9, Tangga Batu, riding pillion with her sister-in-law, who also works at the same factory.

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MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for parts of Perak, Sarawak

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Malay Mail

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning for several areas in Perak and Sarawak this morning.

In a post on Facebook, the department said thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in Perak — particularly in the districts of Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Bagan Datuk and Hilir Perak — and across parts of Sarawak, including Kuching, Samarahan, Betong, Pakan, Julau, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit and Bintulu.

The warning remains in effect until noon today (Tuesday, October 21).

MetMalaysia explained that such alerts are issued when there are indications of thunderstorms with rainfall intensity exceeding 20 millimetres per hour, expected to occur or persist for more than an hour.

It added that thunderstorm warnings are short-term alerts, valid for up to six hours from the time they are issued.

The latest warning was issued at 8.55am today.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to remain alert and follow the latest weather updates via MetMalaysia’s official website and social media channels.

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Zara Qairina inquest resumes today

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Malay Mail

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir resumes today for its 25th day at the Coroner’s Court.

According to BuletinTV3, the inquest, held to determine the cause of death of the Form One student on July 17, is being heard before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

At last Thursday’s proceedings, the 15th child witness — a student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha — told the court that she was the first person to find Zara Qairina on the morning of July 16.

The student said it was her daily routine to wake up early to wash clothes, iron her uniform and fill water for bathing before preparing for dawn prayers at the school hostel surau.

Zara Qairina, 13, was found unconscious beneath her school hostel building in the early hours of July 16, before being pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) the following day.

The inquest to determine her cause of death began at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court on September 3.

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Double murder of woman and daughter in Penang: Two more men remanded for seven days until Oct 26

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Malay Mail

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BUKIT MERTAJAM, Oct 21 — Police have obtained a seven-day remand order against two more men detained to assist in the investigation into the murder of a woman and her daughter at a house in Kampung Sekolah Juru here on Saturday.

Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail, when contacted by Bernama, said the remand order for the two men, including a Bangladeshi national, both in their 40s, began today and would run until October 26.

“The two men are being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, and a detailed investigation is underway, including efforts to determine whether other suspects were involved in the killings.

“Police have also found the weapon believed to have been used in the incident, which was discovered at the back of the victim’s house,” he said when contacted last night.

It is understood that police have also seized the two men’s mobile phones for further investigation, and both are known to have been acquainted with the elder 51-year-old victim.

On Saturday, the media reported that the bodies of a kuih seller and her adopted daughter were found in a tragic state at a house in Kampung Sekolah Juru, believed to be victims of murder.

Azizee was quoted as saying that the bodies were discovered by the woman’s husband when he returned home at about 7.30pm, with the case being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Following the incident, police remanded the victim’s 57-year-old husband for a week until October 25 to assist in the investigation. — Bernama

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Woman killed, husband hurt as car skids and crashes into divider near Tanjung Malim

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Malay Mail

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IPOH, Oct 21 — A woman was killed and her husband injured when their car lost control and crashed into a road divider at KM 96 of Jalan Persekutuan Ipoh-Kuala Lumpur near Tanjung Malim yesterday.

In a statement, Muallim deputy police chief DSP Suhaimi Muhamad said police received a report of the accident around 3pm.

The victim, 32-year-old Nur Syuhada Mohd Yusoff, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 34-year-old husband sustained minor injuries.

“Initial investigations indicate the Toyota Vios, driven by the husband, was traveling from Ipoh towards Kuala Lumpur when it skidded, collided with the road divider and veered into the opposite lane,” he said.

Nur Syuhada’s body was sent to Slim River Hospital, where her husband is also receiving treatment.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. — Bernama

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Kulim Deepavali fireworks blast: Two men arrested after 22 injured

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Malay Mail

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ALOR SETAR, Oct 21 — Police have detained two men to assist investigations into a fireworks explosion that occurred during the Deepavali celebration in Kulim early yesterday, injuring 22 people.

Kulim District Police chief Supt Zulkifli Azizan said the duo were arrested yesterday in Taman Senangin and Paya Besar, near Kulim, based on a 22-second video clip of the incident that went viral on social media.

“The first suspect, aged 34, from Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, works in customer service and has one prior criminal record. The second suspect, aged 23, from Jalan Paya Besar, Lunas, is a shop assistant and also has one previous criminal record.

“Initial investigations found that both suspects were hanging out with several friends at the scene. The first suspect, who was intoxicated, bought a type of firework known as kelapa from a stall for RM200,” he said in a statement lat night.

He said the suspect later placed the firework into a cylinder by the roadside, as friends and passers-by stopped to watch the fireworks display.

“After that, the second suspect lit the firework, but it failed to launch and exploded on the ground, believed to be because the first suspect had inserted it upside down while intoxicated.

“As a result of the explosion, 22 people at the scene were injured, including one victim who suffered a serious head injury with a fractured forehead and was referred to Penang Hospital,” he said.

Zulkifli added that statements from 10 victims had been recorded to assist the investigation so far.

“The fireworks seller has also been identified, and the case is being investigated under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1958 and Section 326 of the Penal Code,” he said.

In the incident that occurred at about 12.45am, 22 people were injured following the fireworks explosion during the Deepavali celebration along Jalan Paya Besar, near Kulim. — Bernama

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