DVDs worth RM33m seized in Selangor

DVDs worth RM33m seized in Selangor

DVDs worth RM33m seized in Selangor

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

31 December 2013| last updated at 12:02AM
By EUNICE AU | euniceau@nst.com.my

 SHAH ALAM: THE Selangor Film Censorship Control and Enforcement Division will  intensify efforts to curb the distribution and sales of pornographic, uncensored and unauthorised films next year.

Its director, Noor Aziah Abdullah said the division would increase the number of raids at various locations, including licensed CD and DVD premises, stores, factories, night markets, corridors, eateries, cinemas, as well as land, air and port entry gateways into the state.

She said the division, under the Home Ministry, faced the challenge of curbing syndicate activities and not just small-time CD and DVD salesmen.

"We have to trace their modus operandi as they keep changing their methods with the development of new technology. Our officers will continue to collaborate with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's forensic division to learn techniques to identify such illegal operations," she said during a press conference at the division's office in Bangunan Affin Bank, Section 14, here, yesterday.

She said distributors had evolved into using hard discs and thumb drives to sell movies.

"Customers only need to bring their devices to copy films at a price of RM5 for two films."

This year, the division's single biggest raid saw RM1.3 million worth of goods seized in October from a distributor that operated out of three houses. Aziah said the distributor was a repeat offender as it used the same modus operandi in different locations last year.

This year, the Selangor division conducted 946 operations at licensed and unlicensed stores according to the Film Censorship Act 2002.

From these raids, 3,468 pornographic DVDs and 1.19 million unauthorised DVDs were seized with an estimated value of RM33.15 million.

Selangor Film Censorship Control and Enforcement Division director Noor Aziah Abdullah (left) and officer Fazi Amar Ahmad Suhimi showing confiscated DVDs in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Pic by Asyraf Bokhar

Cuepacs: Raise allowances

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

31 December 2013| last updated at 11:57PM
By AVILA GERALDINE | avila@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: THE Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has called on the government to revise  allowances of civil servants to ensure their welfare was well taken care of next year.

Its president, Azih Muda, said there were 231 allowances that had not been reviewed for more than 10 years, including service, lodging, housing and mileage.

"Many civil servants have to fork out their money to pay extra (during outstation trips) because of the high cost of living and this is not fair. This can lead to protests against the government because of dissatisfaction," he said here yesterday.

The newly appointed president was in the state to meet Sabah Cuepecs members for the first time to discuss civil service issues.

Azih hoped the government would consider allowing civil servants aged 55 to take 20 per cent of their retirement funds for medical purposes.

"This will reduce their financial burdn. They can also use the money to go on pilgrimage or pay for their children's education."

He also hoped the government would increase the haj quota next year, including extending leave replacement from 150 to 180 days.

Meanwhile, Cuepacs wants the state Health Department to explain the refund of the balance of uniform allowance by its staff.

In September, the department had issued a notice to 5,000 staff to return the balance or face disciplinary action.

"The notice did not state the sum and the staff have expressed dissatisfaction. Cuepacs is ready to sit down with the department to resolve the matter," said Azih.

Parents to sue over Ferris wheel mishap

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

31 December 2013| last updated at 12:11AM

Abu Kassim Yaacob, 41, said he would wait for the authorities to complete their investigation before filing the suit. "For now, I just want my son to recover."

State Safety and Health Department director Annuar Embi said his officers were investigating the case.

"We will revert to the authorities concerned," he said.

Penang Pesta manager C.A. Kher said workers did not spot the boy at the entry point of the wheel for height restriction checks, claiming that the boy had sneaked in.

"We know this boy. His father has a stall at the Pesta and we have seen him running around unsupervised."

In the 12.50am incident, Mohamad Khairul Naimme Abu Kassim was found unconscious on the ground next to the wheel and slipped into a coma after sustaining injuries to his head and internal bleeding. Kher said the boy had gone into the wheel after it had ceased operations at the time.

"We are investigating the matter. It is difficult to make insurance claims as the boy got into the Pesta without a ticket."

State financial officer Datuk Mokhtar Daip said he would issue a statement on the incident today.

Family of three escape blaze

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

31 December 2013| last updated at 12:17AM

A 61-year-old former plantation company manager, his wife and their son in his 20s managed to rush out of the house before fire razed 90 per cent of its structure.

The fire is believed to have started from a room on the bungalow's ground floor.

TTDI Fire and Rescue station chief Hamdan Maat said they received a call at 6.40pm, before a team of 38 firemen from four fire stations were deployed to the scene.

"When we arrived, the flames were so strong that we had to use a turntable ladder fire engine to control the blaze from above.

"Luckily, three people who were inside the house managed to escape. We managed to control the fire about 40 minutes later."

He said authorities were still investigating the cause of the fire.

It is learnt that the family had lived in the house for 20 years and it was valued at about RM9 million.

The razed bungalow in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, where a family of three escaped the fire at 6.30pm yesterday. Bernama pic


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Cabbies, hawkers worry rally may affect their income

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

31 December 2013| last updated at 12:07AM

Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia (Gabungan) deputy president Datuk Mohd Alias Abdul said the rally would affect the income of taxi drivers.

"Besides affecting the taxi drivers' earnings on New Year's Eve, it will also affect traders," said Alias after Gabungan and another group lodged police reports against the rally at the Dang Wangi police station here yesterday.

He said such rallies tainted the country's image and affected tourist arrivals as the country ushers in Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) activist Mohd Mustaffa Hamzah said every time there was a rally, the country's peace would be affected.

It was reported that the illegal rally at Dataran Merdeka, which is being organised by groups backed by the opposition, was aimed at toppling the government.

However, the organisers insisted that it was a protest against the rising cost of living.

Invitations to attend the rally had been circulated on social media and pro-opposition blogs.

On Friday, police listed four non-governmental organisations -- Kumpulan Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (Turun), Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), Jingga 13 and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia -- as allegedly planning to "cause trouble" during New Year celebrations.

City deputy police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh had said police would not hesitate to arrest any one who incited commotion.

On Thursday, the owner of a Facebook page "Asmaelz Hadeny II" was arrested for allegedly inciting the public to participate in the rally.

On Wednesday, police arrested the leader of an anti-price hike movement over the planned rally.

Traders in the city hoped the anti-government rally would not take place. Mohd Sabri Shafie, 39, who was hoping to earn extra money, said he would have to close his store if the rally went ahead.

"My stall is run by my wife and kids, hence their safety would be my priority," he said, adding that he had to close his drinks stall in Masjid India during the Bersih 2.0 rally.

"I incurred tremendous losses during the Bersih 2.0 rally, and I have yet to recover from it."

Another trader, Kristina Rosdi, 33, who had set up a food stall near Dataran Merdeka, said she hoped the celebration would proceed without incident.

Local travel agent Abdul Hamid Jamilamat said his agency had decided to bring visitors to celebrate New Year's Eve at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).

"We choose to celebrate at KLCC because of rumours that there would be an anti-government rally at Dataran Merdeka."

A member of Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia holding a poster against the planned rally at Dataran Merdeka. Pic by Muhd Asyraf Sawal

Disgruntled folk told to use proper channels

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

31 December 2013| last updated at 12:07AM

Norian, who is a former inspector-general of police, said there were many channels available for the public to protest. He added that assemblies could be organised as long as they adhered to laws and were held in suitable places.

"The Peaceful Assembly Act allows peaceful assemblies so long as an application is done and an appropriate spot is chosen," he said at Wisma Sunway Mas, Section 9, here yesterday.

He said those who applied for rally permits had to consider the interests of the public in choosing a location. His comments came on the heels of the anti-government rally planned at Dataran Merdeka tonight.

Norian dismissed the notion that the gathering would lead to an "Arab Spring" as the scenario in Malaysia was different from the Middle East.

"I think Malaysians understand the situation in the country has no basis for such political uprising. The Arab Spring resulted from a very different background."

Norian expressed confidence that the police would be able to handle the rally and urged that firm action be taken in the interest of the public.

He urged members of the public who have questions and complaints to utilise the police's Integrated Public Agency Complaint Monitoring System, or i-SPAAA, that was launched on Dec 20.

Bernama quoted Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek as describing tonight's planned protest as a waste of time and energy.

"We have a parliamentary system. They can express themselves in Parliament, through the media and so on. The government is prepared to listen. We will provide an explanation," he said after attending a programme to distribute school aid for flood victims in Kemaman.

Ahmad Shabery said it was better for that time and energy to be channelled into helping flood victims.

In Alor Star, National Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang urged the organisers to cancel the rally.

Tan said the masterminds, most of whom were linked to the opposition, should be mature enough to anticipate the risk of holding such rallies, which might lead to chaos.

"The organisers purposely select Dec 31 to take advantage of the crowd gathering at Dataran Merdeka to usher in the New Year."

Tan said it would be better if the organisers rallied against the governments of Selangor and Penang.

He said the salary for Selangor assemblymen had been increased from RM6,000 to RM11,250, or 87 per cent, and 130,000 consumers in Penang had to pay more for their water bill after the state utility raised the surcharge by 20 per cent.