KESUMA investigates Johor bus driver strike over unpaid wages
Initial findings by the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) revealed that drivers hesitated to file complaints due to fear of retaliation. 'Many drivers were reluctant to lodge formal complaints due to fear of retaliation. To avoid a repeat of the incident, JTKSM conducted early-morning checks at the premises today and found no further disruptions,' the ministry stated.
KESUMA also discovered that the company breached the Employment (Overtime) Regulations 1980, with drivers logging over 104 overtime hours in one month during inspections on July 17. The same operation saw 32 companies inspected, leading to 34 investigation papers—30 under the Employment Act 1955 and four under Act 446.
The ministry warned employers to adhere to labour laws, particularly regarding lawful salary deductions, with fines up to RM50,000 per violation. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim has directed strict enforcement against non-compliant firms.
Workers facing wage issues or mistreatment are encouraged to contact JTKSM via hotline 03-8886 5192/5937 or email jtksm@mohr.gov.my. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesian man held over suspicious entry stamps
PUTRAJAYA: An Indonesian man was detained on Saturday afternoon after being found with suspicious security stamps during immigration checks at the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. Initial investigations revealed that he had entered Malaysia via the Pasir Gudang entry point in Johor on July 18, 2022, and was recorded as having left the country through KLIA on Aug 13, 2022. 'However, several entry and exit security stamps bearing his name from 2022 to 2025 raised doubts,' said the Malaysian Checkpoints and Border Agency yesterday, Bernama reported. Further checks through the system found no official records of the man's movements in or out of Malaysia during that period. He later admitted to investigators that he had never left Malaysia since 2022 and had paid RM4,000 to obtain the fake stamps. The agency said the case pointed to possible involvement in a 'flying' syndicate, a term used for fraudulent immigration stamping. Further investigations will be carried out to identify those behind the activity and to pursue disciplinary action and criminal charges.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Scripted deception: How scammers 'coached' doctor into RM8.7mil loss
JOHOR BARU: The RM8.7 million that vanished from a doctor's savings did not disappear in a single swoop — it was drained through 252 transfers over 90 days, in a calculated sequence that slipped under the regulatory radar. Banking insiders said that the syndicate behind the high-return investment scam probably coached the 53-year-old victim into structuring her transactions in a way that dodged red flags in the banking system. A source familiar with commercial bank fraud procedures told the New Straits Times that the scam appeared to rely on a common tactic. "It is very likely the doctor was told to break large amounts into smaller, seemingly routine transfers made over time to multiple mule accounts. "If each transfer is RM20,000 to RM30,000 and made a few times a day to different accounts, it can bypass most automated detection tools," the banker said. "When the customer is the one initiating and authorising the transfers, especially when spread over 60 to 90 days, the system assumes she knows what she's doing. "We rely on algorithmic triggers. If a customer walks willingly into a scam, the system may never catch it," the source said, adding that returns above 15 to 20 per cent annually are a red flag. The NST reported that a 53-year-old doctor lost RM8.7 million of her savings in an online investment scam. Between May and July, the victim was persuaded to transfer the RM8.7 million into accounts controlled by the syndicate. Johor Baru (South) deputy police chief Superintendent Azrul Hisham Mohd Shaffei said the scam began with an investment pitch that promised returns of up to 520 per cent. The fraudsters had even paid out a small initial "profit" to establish trust. The NST tried to contact the doctor, but she did not respond. However, it learnt that the bulk of the RM8.7 million was moved in stages. Over three months, the victim was coaxed into moving her life savings through staggered transactions designed to avoid banking red flags. In May, she made two daily transfers of RM25,000 each over 26 days, amounting to RM1.3 million. In June, she made three daily transfers of RM30,000 over 28 days, totalling RM2.52 million. In July, she made 140 transfers, averaging RM34,857, resulting in RM4.88 million being drained. The structuring allowed the RM8.7 million to slip beneath the banking system's detection thresholds. The banker said that by spreading out the transactions and keeping them under critical thresholds, the scammers mimicked legitimate investment activity. Under Malaysia's anti-money laundering compliance framework, banks are required to monitor and report suspicious transactions. However, when the victim is an active participant, the effectiveness of the detection system is limited. "If there's no sudden spike, no blacklisted accounts involved, and the sender shows no distress, then even RM8.7 million can move silently," the source said It is believed the scammers also used multiple mule bank accounts, including new or "clean" ones with no prior suspicious activity, to avoid triggering alerts. A police source told the NST that the victim was still coming to terms with the financial and emotional blow. "They didn't just steal her money; they broke her, one transfer at a time," the source said The doctor was lured by the legitimate-looking online investment advertisement in April. They often include a clause stating that profit margins will be disclosed only after direct contact, allegedly to "comply" with government or banking regulations. This made the investment scheme appear legitimate while maintaining control over the victim. "The ads on social media, complete with fake testimonials, rarely advertise sky-high returns, which might seem too good to be true. "Instead, they include a clause stating that the profit schedule is accessible only after direct contact. "They would claim that the profit scheme had to be shared personally with investors to comply with banking or government regulations, which led to false legitimacy while tightening their grip on the victim," the source said. The trap snapped shut the moment the victim made the call. The smooth-talking scammers almost always reeled in their victims from there. The doctor was told the scheme offered total returns of up to 520 per cent — meaning every RM1 invested would give her RM5.20, a profit of RM4.20. A minimum investment was required to access that rate. She was cautious but curious. She spoke to the so-called agent rather than relying on text messages. She requested a face-to-face meeting, but was told the company was based overseas. She tested the waters with a RM1,160 investment. Within a week, RM6,033 landed in her account. It was the bait she didn't realise she had taken. The NST was told that the scammer had shown the doctor charts, fake profits and testimonials, which made everything look legitimate. When she received the RM6,033 profit, she fell for the scam and made bigger investments. From May to July, she was persuaded to make dozens of transfers to multiple bank accounts under the syndicate's control. But when she attempted to withdraw what she believed were her gains, the portal stalled. Then came a new demand to pay another RM500,000 as deposit fees or risk having her account frozen. By then, she realised she had been scammed. Scams and 'willing' victims JOHOR BARU: Despite advanced fraud monitoring systems, many scams, particularly those involving 'willing' victims, slip past undetected. The tactics commonly used by the scammers. LOW-VALUE, HIGH-FREQUENCY TRANSFERS Scammers instruct victims to send money in small sums, often below RM30,000, to avoid hitting high-risk thresholds set by banks. USE OF 'CLEAN' MULE ACCOUNTS Funds are directed to new or unflagged bank accounts, making them harder for banking systems to identify as suspicious. STAGGERED TRANSACTIONS Money is transferred over days or weeks, not all at once. This method mimics ordinary investment or business behaviour. VICTIM-LED INITIATION When customers log in and completes the transfer, without complaints or distress signals, banks treat the transaction as legitimate. Syndicates provide victims with fake investment platforms, contracts or profit dashboards to boost credibility and suppress doubt.
New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Clerk loses RM277,000 in online hotel booking job scam
MUAR: A 42-year-old clerk lost over RM277,000 in savings after falling victim to a part-time job scam that promised lucrative commissions for completing online hotel booking tasks. The woman was drawn in on July 29 after searching for extra income opportunities via a search engine. She clicked on a link that led her to an individual claiming to represent a company named "HR HotelRunner," which was allegedly hiring part-timers to book hotels online. After sharing her details, she was added to a WhatsApp group named "BookAssist Marketing GRP" and was instructed to complete several hotel booking assignments. She was required to make upfront payments and was promised commissions ranging between 10 and 35 per cent per task. Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the victim received a small commission after her first transaction, which convinced her to continue. "In a short time, she completed 44 transactions involving 13 different bank accounts, amounting to RM277,445.65 — all allegedly required to fulfil the assignments," he said in a statement today. The scam unravelled when the woman was asked to pay an additional fee to withdraw her earnings. Growing suspicious, she refused and lodged a police report yesterday. The hotel booking scam — also known as the "hotel runner" scam — is part of a rising trend in online fraud targeting people seeking part-time or remote work. Victims are often approached through Google search results, WhatsApp, or LinkedIn, where scammers pose as recruiters offering online hotel booking or review-based assignments. After gaining trust, victims are added to WhatsApp groups and asked to make upfront payments for seemingly simple tasks, with commissions of up to 35 per cent promised. Initial small payouts are made to build credibility, but later transactions require escalating payments, eventually wiping out victims' savings. The name "HR HotelRunner" appears to mimic a legitimate hotel technology company called HotelRunner. However, New Straits Times checks found no official link between the scam and the legitimate firm, nor any verified online job postings or ads using that name. The operation displays hallmarks of an organised fraud syndicate, using cloned identities and fake company fronts to deceive victims. Raiz said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, whipping, and a fine upon conviction. He also urged the public to be wary of part-time job offers that promise high returns and to verify the legitimacy of companies or agents before making any transactions.
