Contraband smokes may be tainted

Contraband smokes may be tainted

Contraband smokes may be tainted

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:01 AM PDT

07 June 2014| last updated at 12:45AM
By ELVINA FERNANDEZ AND LAVANYA LINGAN | news@nst.com.my

 KUALA LUMPUR: THE Health Ministry has cautioned the public against smoking illicit cigarettes as they may be contaminated by non-tobacco  elements.

The ministry's disease control division director Dr Chong Chee Keong said the origin of illicit cigarettes might not be known, and might have dangerous substances.

"For example, illicit cigarettes may be smuggled with petrol or pesticides. This can easily contaminate the cigarettes," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Dr Chong said action could be taken by the ministry against those who smoke illicit cigarettes.

"This is because illicit cigarettes do not comply to the (government's) standards," he said.

He added that if one was caught smoking in a non-smoking area and later found to have an illicit cigarette pack, he would be fined for the second offence,which was heavier.

The ministry revealed that some chemicals found in these cigarettes included butane, cadmium, arsenic, nicotine, methane, ammonia, toluene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

The chemicals can cause a host of health effects including tooth decay, tongue cancer, lung cancer, erectile dysfunction, heart disease and respiratory problems.

Those found guilty of selling illicit cigarettes can be fined up to RM10,000 or imprisoned for not more than two years or both.

Dr Chong said the ministry was working closely with a number of agencies and had held discussions to find the best solution to curb the trade of illicit cigarettes.

"There is an ongoing enforcement operation nationwide enforcing the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004."

In addition, Dr Chongsaid the ministry also conducted joint enforcement operations with other agencies, including the Customs Department, police and local authorities.

Checks by the NST recently revealed that contraband cigarettes were sold publicly in several markets and shops around the federal capital.

Many smokers are not apologetic about buying contraband cigarettes, making it tougher for authorities to bust the syndicates. Additional reporting by Melizarani T. Selva

A Selangor Customs officer arresting a shopkeeper for selling illicit cigarettes in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam. Pic by Amirudin Sahib

Man drowns while on holiday swim

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

07 June 2014| last updated at 01:14AM

Lee Lam Tai, from Butterworth, was travelling with a group of 30 others on a boat, which was sailing from Monkey Beach to Pantai Kerachut. They planned to spend a night in two tents at Pantai Kerachut.

Southwest district police chief Superintendent Lai Fah Hin said: "His travelling companions sensed something was wrong when they spotted Lee floating motionless, face down.

"The victim was fished out of the water by two people."

The body was taken ashore at Teluk Bahang jetty.

Paramedics at the scene could not resuscitate him. Lee's body was then taken to Balik Pulau Hospital, where his wife, Teoh Choon Keoy, 62, was inconsolable as she embraced their two sons and two daughters.

Police classified the case as sudden death and ruled out foul play.

No nod yet for heavier car tints, says RTD

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

07 June 2014| last updated at 12:59AM

Checks at workshops in the city showed that business has spiked, with many motorists already opting for the 70 per cent tint for their rear windows.

Meanwhile, Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad said vehicle owners should not jump the gun quite yet.

"The existing regulation of 50 per cent rear window tint levels still appliesuntil the new regulation takes effect.

"Although the proposal has been submitted, it will have to wait for the minister's approval. Until then, if motorists are found to have breached the regulation, they would be issued summons."

‘Executive power of panel lies with MB’

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

07 June 2014| last updated at 01:09AM
By RIZALMAN HAMMIM | news@nst.com.my

JOHOR BARU: THE executive powers of the proposed Johor Housing and Property Board will rest with the chairman of the board, who is the menteri besar.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said under the proposed enactment, he would automatically be the chairman of the board, with the state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman as his deputy.

The bill for the controversial enactment is set to be tabled at the state assembly on Monday.

"Under the bill, the sultan of Johor can appoint members of the board on the advice of the menteri besar, which is similar to the power that the sultan has at the moment," he said here yesterday.

Khaled was responding to concerns that the proposed enactment would include provisions that provide sweeping powers to the sultan, such as the power to appoint board members, dissolve board and oversee its accounts.

Critics have argued that, among others, the bill, if passed, would be against the constitutional monarchy practised in the country.

"The news report today (yesterday) that said the sultan of Johor would be given authority over the board is not true.

"This is because I will be the chairman of the board, with executive powers," said Khaled, stressing that any decision regarding the administration of the state would be made by him as menteri besar.

He said the proposed enactment was similar to the Johor Corporation Enactment 1968, adding that it must be read together with the Johor State Constitution (Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor).

Under the enactment, the board would be tasked with promoting the development of housing and land in the state with the approval of the state government.

The establishment of the board will also streamline administration and to ensure that development would not destroy the environment.

The remaining five committee members are Johor's state secretary, legal adviser, financial officer, Rural and Urban Planning Department director and the Economic Planning Unit director.

Big jump in car tinting offences

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

07 June 2014| last updated at 12:58AM
By ZARINA ZAKARIAH AND MASTURA YUSOFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: IN five years, the Road Transport Department (RTD) recorded a staggering 5,775 per cent increase in the number of cases involving motorists flouting tinting regulations.

Although only 1,330 cases were recorded in 2009, the figure escalated massively in 2013, when 76,802 cases were recorded, involving offenders violating the regulation under the Road Transport Act 1987.

The statistics also showed that the highest number of tinting offences were committed in Selangor with 44,383 cases, followed by Penang with 24,599 cases, and the Federal Territory with 20,064 cases.

RTD director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad attributed the spike to increased enforcement action by the authorities, especially during festive periods.

"Many factors contribute to the number of cases, including the time and location the operations are conducted.

"The department regularly conducts such operations to cover a wide array of offences," he said.

On Tuesday, a proposal to review and fine-tune tinting regulations was mooted at a two-day workshop in Shah Alam, attended by representatives from the Transport, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, International Trade and Industry, Finance and Health Ministries, 11 non-governmental organisations as well as Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi had submitted a proposal to amend the tinting regulation under Rule 5(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Certain Types of Glass) Rules 1991, allowing for darker tints to be installed.

Under the proposal, motorists can tint their rear passenger windows and rear windscreen up to 70 per cent.

However, the tint level for the front windscreen and front windows, remain at 30 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is expected to make the announcement on the approval by next week.

Girl gets RM2.8m compensation

Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

07 June 2014| last updated at 12:30AM
By HIDIR REDUAN | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A 9-YEAR-OLD girl who suffered brain damage during her birth at a government hospital was awarded  RM2.78 million in compensation.

Counsel Manmohan S. Dhillon, acting for Nurul Husna Muhammad Hafiz's parents, said High Court judicial commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera made the ruling at the end of yesterday's hearing to assess damages to be awarded in the suit against the government and 29 others.

He said the damages awarded were RM345,031.90 for special damages, RM151,330 for pretrial damages, RM350,000 for general damages for pain and suffering, and RM1,937,810 for future general damages.

He said his clients were also awarded RM213,864 in costs.

"The money will be paid to her parents, who are also her trustees."

Manmohan said the parents gave their testimonies.

Two medical experts also testified, while the defendants called one medical expert during the damage assessment proceedings.

He said the defendants, including 21 doctors and eight nurses from Selayang Hospital, admitted liability to negligence on Sept 3 last year.

Nurul Husna's father Muhammad Hafiz Abd Wasit, who attended the hearing yesterday, expressed his satisfaction at the outcome as he and his wife, Dr Nor Azalina Mohd Soghib, had been looking after their daughter who was wheel- chair-bound.

"The compensation is satisfactory considering what our daughter had gone through.

"It will also ensure her future," said Hafiz, a bank officer.

Senior federal counsel Zaliha Mohd Janis appeared for the defendants.

Hafiz and Dr Nor Azalina filed the suit on Dec 27, 2012, on behalf of Nurul Husna.

They claimed that the defendants had failed to recognise Nor Azalina's pregnancy was a high-risk case in view of her medical history and thus, required close and direct specialist management.

They claimed that the defendants had wrongly allowed Dr Nor Azalina's pregnancy and labour to be managed by house doctors, junior medical officers and inexperienced nurses.

Because of their negligence, Nurul Husna had suffered irreversible brain damage.