RM47m KLIA drug seizure

RM47m KLIA drug seizure

RM47m KLIA drug seizure

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

03 January 2014| last updated at 12:15AM
By A. AZIM IDRIS | news@nst.com.my

SEPANG:  A STAGGERING RM47.6 million worth of drugs was seized by the Customs Department last year at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Its director, Datuk Chik Omar Chik Lim said the 809 kg of drugs hauled by the authorities last year was nearly triple to the haul recorded in 2012 which stood at 317kg worth of drugs, valued at RM36.1 million.   

He said from the total 55 cases last year, 29 were recorded in KLIA, followed by 22  at the adjacent Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT).

Another 10 cases were reported in the international airport's cargo area, while 5 cases were detected in the KLIA mail and courier centre. The department also pursued one case in Kuala Lumpur.

Chik Omar said the most recent arrests involved two  foreign women, aged 19 and 29. They were nabbed separately on Dec 30 and new year's eve.

In the first case involving the  teenager, the department found 6.1 kg of a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine worth RM1.16 million. The drugs were hidden in the soles of 14 pairs of shoes  found in a luggage of a Chinese national who arrived at the LCCT from Shenzen.

The 29-year-old Chinese national  who was arrested in LCCT after arriving from Hong Kong on Dec 31,  also had hidden a similar substance weighing 3 kg in two rolls of wire. The drugs were believed to be worth some RM570,000.

"Their modus operandi is similar in the two cases where the drugs were concealed in luggage," Chik Omar said.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Customs director Datuk Chick Omar Cik Lim (centre) showing confiscated shoes filled with methamphetamine hidden in the its heels. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

Export of local bird's nests to China to resume

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

03 January 2014| last updated at 12:28AM
By KOI KYE LEE | kklee@nst.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: THE  two-year-old ban by China on the importation of Malaysian bird's nests has been officially lifted by China, said the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail Sabri said yesterday the approval letter from the republic's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine was received on Dec 25 last year.

"So far, eight companies have been given the certification to export their products to China and there are 13 more companies waiting for approval."

The companies, Ismail Sabri said, had been registered in China's Certification and Accreditation Administration system.

"Malaysia is the only country given the approval by the republic to export raw clean bird's nests as it has adhered to the regulations."

Ismail Sabri said swiftlet operators who were interested in exporting bird's nests could apply for the certification from the Veterinary Services Department or state health departments.

"The certification will be approved within a week if their premises meet the requirements set by China."

Ismail Sabri added that officers from China would visit the premises after receiving another 13 applications to export bird's nests to the republic.

At the same time, he reminded swiftlet operators to adhere to regulations that had been set by China and to refrain from bringing in raw bird's nests from other countries to be processed and packaged in Malaysia before exporting them to China.

"If the rules are not adhered to, the approval given may be withdrawn and this will affect not only one operator but also others in the industry."

Malaysian bird's nests were banned from entering China in July 2011 after high nitrate content was found in the products. Some had contained 200 parts per million (ppm) of nitrate.

The level allowed by the World Health Organisation is 34ppm.

Processed bird's nests. China has lifted the two-year ban on Malaysian bird's nests.

Heads turn for two sets of triplets

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

03 January 2014| last updated at 12:19AM

Despite their instant fame, it was school as usual for the six Year One pupils.

One of them, Wong Yin Han, was a bit nervous and wept when she arrived at her classroom.

"Now I feel much better because my sisters are also with me," the 7-year-old said of her first day of school.

To keep her comfortable, Wong's teacher, Ng Mee Fong, had allowed her to share the same table with her other siblings -- the eldest, Yin Rou, and her second sister, Yin En.

Ng said the girls were getting along with their classmates and they would be seated separately later so that they could make friends with others.

For another set of triplets, comprising two boys and a girl, they had no problem settling in with the rest of their classmates in another class.

The eldest, Chang Jia Sheng, was seen comforting his sister, Jia Qi, and their youngest sibling, Jia Jun.

Triplets (from left) Wong Yin Rou, Yin Han and Yin En looking at a school book in their classroom at SJK (C) Shang Wu in George Town, Penang, yesterday. Pic by Muhammad Mikail Ong


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'State education depts may approve school projects'

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

03 January 2014| last updated at 12:29AM
By HANA NAZ HARUN | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: STATE education directors now have the authority to approve projects  worth up to RM5 million annually to improve infrastructure of schools in their states.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the move was to ensure that matters related to enhancing school performance could be quickly resolved.

"The state director can now make decisions without having to go through the Education Ministry to appoint contractors.

"This is another step in transforming the education system, aimed at empowering the state education departments and district education offices under the first phase of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025."

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said this after visiting SJK (C) Chong Hwa in Setapak, in conjunction with the first day of the new school term yesterday.

"They can call for tender to resolve matters related to appointing contractors and suppliers, and acquisition that have to be made by the states.

"This is meant to decentralise decisions, speed up approvals and improve the learning process."

He said school projects had been delayed because of the slow processing of approval as everything had to go through the ministry before it was approved.

Muhyiddin said state education directors were previously allowed to only approve projects of up to RM500,000. Sabah and Kedah had already began the delegation of authority and the initiative would be expanded to other states in stages, he added.

"We realise that many have been critical of the country's educational achievements and we have taken this into consideration.

"To implement these plans in a short period of time is not possible. It has to be implemented in phases, hence, the 13-year period."

He said it was important to empower the state and district education departments as they were more aware of the situation at hand.

He said community and parents must support schools to improve the standards of education.

"They play an important role. One of the reasons schools are successful is because of the support given by the community and parents."

Earlier, Muhyiddin visited SK Presint 14 (1) in Putrajaya, SMK (M) St Gabriel in Kampung Pandan and SJK (T) Kampung Pandan in Jalan Thaver.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin talking to Year One pupils Gershom Chong (centre) and Goh Jia Rong during his visit to SJK (C) Chong Hwa in Setapak yesterday. Pic by Sairen Nafis

New toll collection system in the pipeline

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

 KUALA LUMPUR:  THE Multi-Lane Free-Flow (MLFF) gantry electronic toll collection system is being evaluated by the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) to ease congestion at toll plazas  on highways in the Klang Valley run by PLUS Malaysia Bhd.

The system, if approved and implemented, may also be extended to other highways in the country as it has the capability to ease traffic as well as end the problem of cheats who avoid paying toll.

PLUS chief operating officer Mohammad Fuad Khusairi told the New Straits Times that the MHA has conducted trial runs for the system, which places readers on gantries to detect vehicles and deduct toll payments using the existing Electronic Toll Collection System (ETCS), and was currently evaluating the findings.

"PLUS is keen to implement the MLFF System on highways to curb traffic congestion and provide better facilities for highway users."

Fuad said with the MLFF, toll plazas would be removed as the readers on the gantries would be able to detect the ETC units on board vehicles to deduct toll payments accordingly.

"It is also possible to set up an MLFF system using cameras and automatic registration number plate recognition system."

PLUS currently runs seven highways and the Penang Bridge, with the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) and Federal Highway Route 2 (FHR2) located in the Klang Valley.

Fuad said the system would allow more than 1,200 vehicles to pass through per hour, compared with Touch 'n Go at 600 vehicles per hour and SmartTag at 1,200 vehicles per hour.

"It would help reduce congestion on the highways by a certain percentage. This would also put an end to the problem of highway users cheating at toll booths as all payments are processed electronically.

"The fare is deducted from the card or back-end purse, which is linked to a central clearing house or local banks, to ensure payment integrity to the toll concessionaires," he said.

The NST had, on Dec 21, reported that motorists had found ingenious ways to avoid paying toll by using conventional methods like swapping toll tickets to more sophisticated ones, like hacking the ETCS.

Cases included drivers successfully overriding a gate mechanism after bypassing the Touch 'n Go scanner at an unidentified highway. A video uploaded on the Internet suggested that the driver had allegedly hacked into ETCS using his smartphone.

Another video had shown how a driver had beaten the payment system after tailgating a lorry at the toll gantry.

A regular long-distance highway user had also said swapping of toll tickets among drivers plying the roads going in opposite directions was the norm, especially among commercial vehicles.

These drivers, he said, would arrange to meet midway, cross the highway and swap tickets.

ETCS service provider Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd had then responded by saying that they were working with MHA to nip the problem in the bud in anticipation of the problem escalating in view of the impending toll hike.

Fuad said a comprehensive legal framework needed to be in place before its implementation to curb toll evaders and non-payment of toll.

He also said an in-depth study on the MLFF needed to be conducted to suit Malaysia's environment, such as its integration with current systems, legal aspects, back-end processing, impact on job opportunities, infrastructure and cost.

"System operators also need to invest in the implementation."

The traffic volume on PLUS highways, including that in the Klang Valley, in the last 10 years had averaged 1.2 million vehicles per day.

The 35-km NKVE stretch between Jalan Duta and Bukit Raja, Klang has an average of 240,000 vehicles per day. The average traffic growth is around three to five per cent.

The 16-km section of the FHR2 connecting the industrial and urban areas of Subang and Sungai Rasau, Klang has an average of 250,000 vehicles per day, with the average growth of traffic between at 0.2 and 1.5 per cent.

The 63-km Elite expressway linking South and North Kuala Lumpur to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport has an average of 180,000 vehicles per day. Its average growth is around five to nine per cent.

The MHA Annual Report 2012 revealed that there was a positive increase in traffic on most highways in line with the increasing number of vehicles and population in the vicinity of the highways.

In 2010, the total traffic volume on the 28 highways nationwide was 1.3 billion, while in 2011, it was 1.4 billion and in 2012, it increased to 1.5 billion.

The MLFF system was first mooted by former works minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in 2007, to be implemented in the Klang Valley highways in mid-2008.

Despite receiving positive feedback from highway concessionaires and the MHA, saying it would be implemented in stages from 2010, the system failed to take off.

The Malaysian Highway Authority is looking to implement the Multi-Lane Free-Flow gantry electronic toll collection system at toll plazas in Klang Valley.

28mil tourists and more

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

03 January 2014| last updated at 12:09AM
By LAVANYA LINGAN | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIANS are urged to  welcome  tourists  during  Visit Malaysia Year 2014.Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) immediate past president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said apart from programmes lined up for this year, tourists would get a chance to experience Malaysian hospitality and enjoy a more fulfilling holiday.

"It is the responsibility of each and every Malaysian to show our courtesy, politeness, hospitality and the richness of our culture to the tourists."

He said with the extensive promotions, the number of tourists coming in was expected to be more than the Tourism Ministry's target of 28 million.

"The increase in connectivity is another plus point. The number of low-cost carriers coming into the country have increased, and by May 2014, KLIA 2 will be ready, giving more comfort and accessibility to the tourists."

Matta, in its website, http://www.discover-malaysia.com/, has a comprehensive list of popular destinations in Malaysia, including information on tour package , activities, hotels and accommodations.

A website dedicated for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 could be reached at http://www.vmy2014.com/, which has a list of events and festivals, places to visit, food and shopping destinations for travellers.

Tourists at Dataran Merdeka eagerly looking at preparations for the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 launch. Pic by Muhd Zaaba Zakeria