Immigration officers get jail, fine for bribery

Immigration officers get jail, fine for bribery

Immigration officers get jail, fine for bribery

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

03 December 2013| last updated at 11:45PM

Nik Azan Nik Man, 31, was sentenced to five years' jail and fined RM20,000, or 12 months' jail, for receiving bribes, while his colleague, Mohd Hasrul Che Othman, 28, was sentenced to two years' jail and fined RM20,000, or 12 months' jail, for abetting him.

At the same time, Indonesian Abdullah Busahlan, 43, was sentenced to 54 months' jail on charges of forgery and possessing passports belonging to other people.

The three accused pleaded guilty before judge M. Bakri Abd Majid.

Bakri said their actions had contributed to the rising number of illegal immigrants in the country.

He ordered that their sentences run consecutively from the date of arrest on Nov 20.

Nik Azan faced four charges of committing the offences between July and October in his capacity as an Immigration officer and receiving RM5,000 in bribes.

He received two amounts of RM400 from Abdullah, a runner for the department, at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang, as incentive for not take action against two "Indonesians", Hendrawan and Amrizal, who possessed passports that did not have a legal stamp of entry into the country.

The other two offences were committed at Petronas stations in Taman Kota Kemuning, Petaling Jaya, and Jalan Pekeliling Kargo, Sepang, where Nik Azan received RM1,850 and RM2,350 from Abdullah.

Hasrul was charged with two counts of abetment on Aug 28 in his capacity as an Immigration officer by allowing Hendrawan and Amrizal to possess passports devoid of a legal stamp of entry.

Abdullah faced two counts of forging passports and seven counts of possessing passports issued to seven others.

The offences took place between Aug 28 and Nov 20 at two locations, namely the LCCT departure hall and Lot 3736-A, Lorong Abullah, BT71/2, Jalan Kebun in Petaling Jaya.

Abdullah was nabbed after an undercover Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer requested the services of the accused to prepare two Indonesian passports for his workers.

Deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais prosecuted, while the three accused were unrepresented.

 

2 held over Pom-Pom abduction and murder

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

03 December 2013| last updated at 11:34PM
By OLIVIA MIWIL | news@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: POLICE picked up two men whom they believe have links to the murder of a Taiwanese tourist and the kidnapping of his wife.

The men who had no valid documents were arrested in a house in Kampung Bangau-Bangau, near the town area of Semporna, early Sunday morning.

They were nabbed by a special police team set up to investigate the incident, which occurred at Pulau Pom-Pom, an island off Semporna, on Nov 15.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib yesterday said the raiding party, which was formed under Ops Cantas, had found documents that police believed could help in their investigations.

"We believe the two men, aged 30 and 31, have links to the group behind the murder and kidnapping."

In the incident, a group of armed men broke into a chalet at the island resort where Taiwanese couple Li Min Hsu, 57, and Evelyn Chang, 58, were staying.

Li was shot dead while Chang was abducted.

Authorities believe her kidnappers had taken her into the Philippines.

Police also believed contact might have been made between the armed group and the Taiwanese authorities.

Chang's brother, Richard, had travelled to the Philippines to secure the release of his sister.

Hamza said Ops Cantas would be widened to other areas in the state, to complement a special operation Ops Gasak, launched two days ago to tighten security in Semporna.

Under the operations, police mounted several integrated operations to check on resorts on three islands -- Kapalai, Pom-Pom and Mabul.

They arrested nine illegal immigrants. The operations were coordinated by the Eastern Sabah Security Command.

Hamza said police had found a shotgun, bullets and valuables, all believed to have been stolen, following the arrest of 16 people from three gangs in Penampang.

"These were members of the George Chong, Wai Chai and Lee Tong Yong gangs.

"They are believed to have been involved in burglary cases between September and last month this year," he said, adding that police believed the gangs were responsible for more than 10 cases in several districts.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib (centre) yesterday showing items seized during Ops Cantas. Pic by Mohd Adam Arinin

King confers 156 awards, medals

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

03 December 2013| last updated at 11:47PM

Topping the list was former home minister Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who received the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), which carries the title 'Tan Sri'. Two other recipients PSM were AlloyMTD group chairman Tan Sri Dr Nik Hussain Abdul Rahman and former Sarawak deputy state secretary Tan Sri Safri Awang Zaidell.

Tuanku Abdul Halim conferred the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) which carries the title 'Datuk' to 10 recipients.

They included lawyer Tunku Datuk Dr Sofiah Tunku Md Jewa, Sabah Land and Survey Department director Datuk Osman Jamal, CEO of KLVV (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, Datuk Hashim Wahir and Sogo (KL) Department Store Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Andrew Lim Keong Tatt.

Former special officer to the Johor menteri besar, Datuk Low Teh Hian, former Selangor state assemblyman Datuk Wong Koon Mun and United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation deputy treasurer Datuk Wong Thien Fook were also honoured.

The king also conferred the Johan Mangku Negara (JMN) to four recipients, including Labuan Financial Services Authority deputy director-general Danial Mah Abdullah and private secretary to the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Wong Fung Kiang.

Other awards conferred were Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM) to 21 recipients, Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) to 27 recipients, Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) to 37 recipients, Pingat Pangkuan Negara (PPN) to 51 recipients and Bentara Setia Diraja (BSD) to three. Bernama

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah awarding former home minister Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad with a Panglima Setia Mahkota at Istana Negara yesterday. Bernama pic

Teen seeks funds for cancer surgery

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

03 December 2013| last updated at 11:36PM

Khairul Azwan Zainal Abdin, 18, needs RM35,000 for the surgery next month.

He said his family could not raise enough money for the operation with the meagre income earned by his father, Zainal Abdin Mat Dahan, 44.

His mother, Zaiton Md Nawi, 41, is a housewife and his father works as a labourer and earns about RM800. "The money is not enough to pay for the surgery as my father also has to support my four schoolgoing siblings."

When met at HUSM in Kubang Kerian, the eldest of six siblings said his family had no other resources to rely on to pay for the operation.

Donors can send cheques with the patient's name written on the reverse side to the Finance Department/Charity Unit NSTP, the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Khairul Azwan Zainal Abdin, 18, showing his swollen left knee caused by bone cancer in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, yesterday. Pic by Zaman Huri

English teachers learn new skills

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

03 December 2013| last updated at 11:36PM
By TASNIM LOKMAN | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE proficiency of English of the teachers  participating in the Professional Up-skilling of English Language Teachers (Pro-ELT) programme has improved.

Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said these teachers had learnt new methods of teaching.

Idris, who visited one of the training centres yesterday at SK Cochrane Perkasa here, said 4,957 teachers attended the one-year programme, which began in November last year, and another 9,000 teachers will participate in the second programme in January.

"Teachers attending the programme are effective and well-qualified.

"To raise the standard of English of students, we must ensure teachers are fluent and competent enough to guide them."

He said teachers who enrolled in the programme were expected to reach a C1 level based on the Common European Framework of Reference as far as proficiency was concerned.

Preliminary findings by the ministry's research team, comprising Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Teacher Training Institutes and the ministry's English Language Teaching Centre, into the programme showed promising results with an upward trend in three areas -- teacher proficiency, teacher pedagogy and student performance.

It also allowed more student-focused approaches in lessons while teachers found time for self-reflection and improved their teaching methods.

British Council director Gavin Anderson said he had never seen such an effort made by any other government to ensure teachers were well-trained in English.

British Council and the Education Ministry are partners in Pro-ELT.

Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh visiting teachers at a training centre at SK Cochrane Perkasa, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. Pic by Farizul Hafiz Awang

'Assembly is a platform'

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

03 December 2013| last updated at 11:55PM
By HARIZ MOHD AND HANA NAZ HARUN | news@nst.com.my

 KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO Youth members are set to turn the party's general assembly,  which starts today,  into a platform for them to discuss issues  closest  to their hearts, in   keeping with the   momentum towards its  transformation.

Umno Youth assistant secretary Datuk Mohamad Safri Ab Aziz expressed hope that members of the movement would address challenges and work on improvements, following the outcome of the 13th General Election.

"The youth played an important part in the victory of Barisan Nasional and Umno in the past election. More than 40 per cent of voters in the next general election will comprise of youth.

"I hope this general assembly will see a healthy debate on concerns pertaining to the youth in the country," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

With the new line-up of Umno Youth state chiefs and 85 per cent of its division chiefs comprising new faces, Safri said it was proof that the movement was capable of transforming itself and fighting for the party's struggles.

Umno Youth exco member Dazma Shah Daud echoed Safri's sentiments by saying the new faces in the movement's leadership were proof that its members at the grassroots level had voted for a line-up with the desire to strengthen the party.

"With the inclusion of more delegates at this year's assembly, I hope that the motions to be debated will work towards preparing the party for the next general election.

"The motions should focus on ways to strengthen the economy and the social aspects of youth."

Commenting on Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's call for a muzakarah (discussion) between Pas and Umno, Dazma said Umno Youth should be ready to welcome views for the betterment of Islam and Malays' unity.

"I think the muzakarah is a good opportunity for us to exchange ideas towards the development of the race and religion.

"We will be ready to accept the exchange of views, as long as we remain on common ground."

The call was made by Hadi during Pas' 59th muktamar (general assembly) on Nov 24.

Umno worker Sheera Ismail sorting bags for distribution to Umno General Assembly delegates at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Sairien Nafis