
Worker at ECRL site died of heart attack, not from fall, say cops
PETALING JAYA : The death of a construction worker at the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project site in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, on Wednesday was due to a heart attack and not because he fell from a train carriage, say police.
Pasir Puteh police chief Zaizul Rizal Zakaria said the Chinese national died while he was pulling cables near the train track, Sinar Harian reported.
'The victim died due to a heart attack, not due to a fall from the train as alleged on social media,' he was quoted as saying.
Zaizul said a post-mortem carried out on the victim found no elements of foul play.
A video shared widely on social media had alleged that a ECRL worker died after falling from a train.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Increase tobacco tax to RM0.77 per stick in 2026 budget, says think tank
Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.6% of retail prices, below the World Health Organization's recommendation of 75%. (Pixabay pic) PETALING JAYA : A health think tank today called for the excise duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products to be raised to at least RM0.77 per stick in the next federal budget. Azrul Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said raising the excise tax would lift its share of the retail price to 61% and bring in an additional RM771.8 million in revenue. 'Malaysia spends an estimated RM16 billion annually treating smoking-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer,' he said in a statement. 'For every RM1 collected from tobacco excise duties, RM4 is spent on treating smoking-related diseases. We do not yet know how much will be spent on treating vape-related diseases.' Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.6% of retail prices, below the World Health Organization's recommendation of 75%. The excise rate has not been raised since September 2014, when it was increased from 28 sen to 40 sen per stick. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that the government is considering a hike. When announcing the 13th Malaysia Plan, he said the government would broaden its 'pro-health' tax beyond sugary products to cover tobacco, vapes and alcohol as well. He said the expanded tax framework aimed not only to increase revenue, but more critically, to encourage behavioural change and curb the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Separately, Azrul said the ban on the open display of cigarettes, vape and e-cigarettes under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 also needed to be carried out. He said enforcement had been delayed from April to October, allowing continued open sales. 'Experience from countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Australia with the display ban in place has shown that it works to reduce smoking initiation, which is common during adolescence,' he said.


Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
48 more ‘wellness hubs' to promote healthy lifestyles
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad (centre) at the newly-opened wellness hub in Kuala Langat, Selangor, today. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The health ministry is to set up 48 more wellness hub community centres across the country to help promote a healthy lifestyle among the people, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said. He said 33 such hubs have been established since 2020 in urban and rural areas and the remaining 48 hubs are expected to be completed by 2033, Bernama reported. 'While hospitals and clinics play a crucial role, I regard wellness bubs as the cornerstone of healthcare, particularly in urban and rural areas, offering substantial support for people's health,' he said at the opening of a wellness hub in Kuala Langat, Selangor. A new facility will be launched in Kuala Selangor later this year, the fourth in the state, after Hulu Langat, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Langat. Dzulkefly said the centres had helped nearly 1.5 million Malaysians, of whom 75% had successfully lost weight, 74% improved their physical fitness, and 54% quit smoking. He said the wellness hubs, formerly known as community health promotion centres, have been upgraded into community centres that offer health and wellness services, focussing on behavioural changes and promoting consistent, sustainable healthy lifestyles. At today's ceremony, the ministry entered a collaboration with the fire and rescue department on health and wellness initiatives, including activities at the Fire and Rescue Academy and fire stations. Dzulkefly said more than 1,100 firefighters have taken part in activities at wellness hubs and most of them have successfully lost weight and become more fit.

Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
DPM Fadillah urges calm, says early investigation lapses in Zara Qairina case addressed
KUCHING, Aug 17 — The negligence in the initial investigation over Zara Qairina Mahathir's case in Sabah has been addressed, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has assured. According to him, the process after this is further investigation on whether or not any individuals will be charged. 'As Malaysians, let's just leave the matter to the police, and legal action will be taken accordingly. 'Let's not resort to creating negative sentiments that can destroy the peace of our country,' he said when met by reporters after attending a function at Jalan Sultan Tengah here yesterday. Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near here school hostel at around 4am. Adding on, Fadillah expressed hope that everyone would continue to show respect for the nation's judiciary system, policing system and the integrity of the health system. 'This is not the time for people to politicise this issue — an act that may jeopardise the prevailing harmony. 'Allow time for the authorities to investigate transparently until a decision is made. 'If there is indeed an injustice involved, we will see to it that a fairer and more transparent action be taken. 'Right now, let this matter take its course since investigations are underway,' he said. The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), on August 8, announced that the girl's body would be exhumed to allow post-mortem to be conducted, stating that further investigations by the police were necessary to ensure that all aspects of the case would be thoroughly examined. — The Borneo Post