logo
Festive traffic crawl to east coast begins ahead of Aidiladha

Festive traffic crawl to east coast begins ahead of Aidiladha

PLUS Malaysia Bhd previously said it expected two million vehicles to use its highways daily from today till Monday as people head back to their hometowns for Aidiladha.
PETALING JAYA : Traffic headed towards the east coast on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway is reportedly congested ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha which falls on Saturday.
Kosmo reported that traffic flow from the Gombak toll plaza towards the east coast on the highway was already congested at 4.30pm.
It said traffic was especially slow near the Genting Highlands turn-off due to the increase in the number of vehicles on the highway.
Traffic on the East Coast Expressway 1 and 2 remains smooth.
On the North-South Expressway (PLUS) an increase in motorists had reportedly caused traffic jams near Seberang Jaya.
Highway concessionaire PLUS Malaysia Bhd previously said it expected two million vehicles to use its highways daily from today until Monday as people head back to their hometowns for Aidiladha.
It advised road users to plan their travels and check for traffic updates.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MACC to question Tan Sri over RM143m asset seizure, sukuk misuse and gambling linked to Klang Valley highway project after hospital discharge
MACC to question Tan Sri over RM143m asset seizure, sukuk misuse and gambling linked to Klang Valley highway project after hospital discharge

Malay Mail

time32 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

MACC to question Tan Sri over RM143m asset seizure, sukuk misuse and gambling linked to Klang Valley highway project after hospital discharge

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — A Tan Sri under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged misuse of sukuk funds involving a Klang Valley highway project is expected to be questioned soon. The individual, believed to be a highway concession holder, was recently discharged from a private hospital and is also being probed over foreign assets and high-stakes gambling activities involving millions of ringgit. According to a report by Astro Awani, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the Tan Sri has not yet given a statement due to his recent medical treatment. 'A statement has not yet been recorded from the Tan Sri, but I have been informed that doctors have recently allowed him to be discharged. My officers will be contacting him soon to arrange an appointment,' Azam said yesterday. He added that although the Tan Sri is considered a key individual in the case, MACC has already recorded statements from 45 other witnesses. 'He is indeed one of the individuals we have yet to question, but we already have testimonies from other witnesses. I cannot confirm whether additional witnesses will be required after his statement,' he said. Sources said MACC had obtained medical confirmation from the doctor on the Tan Sri's condition before arranging to question him. The investigation centres on the suspected misappropriation of sukuk bond funds that were meant for the construction of a highway. On June 3 last year, MACC disclosed that it had seized about RM143 million in assets from the individual as part of its probe. The seized items included 14 personal bank accounts with RM4.5 million, eight company accounts holding RM33 million, a luxury condominium and a parcel of land worth RM24.5 million, nine luxury vehicles valued at RM7.65 million, designer watches worth around RM25 million, handbags worth RM3 million, and jewellery and diamonds estimated at RM6 million. MACC also seized four horses valued at RM400,000, high-end alcoholic beverages worth RM3 million, foreign assets estimated at over RM15 million, and assets linked to gambling activities involving about RM20 million. Azam said asset declaration notices have been served to the Tan Sri and other related parties.

Rapid KL On-Demand expands with 13 new zones tomorrow, launches booking app
Rapid KL On-Demand expands with 13 new zones tomorrow, launches booking app

Malay Mail

time43 minutes ago

  • Malay Mail

Rapid KL On-Demand expands with 13 new zones tomorrow, launches booking app

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd will introduce 13 new zones for its Rapid KL On-Demand service as well as a new booking application, Rapid On-Demand on Monday. Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd group chief operations executive (operations) Amir Hamdan said that 11 new zones will be available for booking on the Rapid On-Demand app, including MRT Semantan-KTM Segambut, MRT Bukit Dukung-Sungai Sekamat, MRT Sungai Buloh-Bandar Rahman Putra, MRT Serdang Raya Selatan-Taman Bukit Serdang, MRT Metro Prima-Taman Botani Kepong (FRIM), MRT Kentonmen-Malaysian Internaitonal Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), MRT Sungai Jernih-Taman Puncak Saujana, MRT Serdang Raya Utara-Pavilion Bukit Jalil, MRT Taman Equine-Lestari Perdana, MRT Metro Prima-Taman Bukit Maluri and MRT Sri Delima-Sri Segambut. The remaining two zones, Kota Kemuning-Gamuda Walk Mall and LRT Alam Megah-Alam Megah can be booked on the Kummute app, he added. He also said that the Rapid On-Demand app aims to make bookings easier for users and to boost the quality of their experience. 'With this innovation that emphasizes on sustainability, responsiveness and is user-friendly, we aim to make public transport the main choice of residents in the Klang Valley,' he said in a statement today. Rapid KL On-Demand services now cover 47 zones, and is open for booking daily from 6 am to 11.30 pm, at a promotional price of RM1 per trip. Those who wish for further information can check out Rapid KL's official social media channels or — Bernama

Sub-regional initiatives such as IIMT-GT, BIMP-EAGA have borne fruit while complementing ASEAN Economic Community ambitions
Sub-regional initiatives such as IIMT-GT, BIMP-EAGA have borne fruit while complementing ASEAN Economic Community ambitions

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Sub-regional initiatives such as IIMT-GT, BIMP-EAGA have borne fruit while complementing ASEAN Economic Community ambitions

KUALA LUMPUR: Sub-regional initiatives such as the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) have not only borne fruit significantly but proven to be vital complements to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in boosting trade, investment and regional connectivity. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said while the AEC sets a broad macroeconomic framework, prioritising sub-regional areas have also addressed developmental disparities by targeting marginalised and less-developed areas while operationalising ASEAN's inclusive growth agenda. 'The IMT-GT hugs the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest trade routes, while the BIMP-EAGA sits along the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, a gateway for maritime connectivity, making them natural nodes for boosting trade, investment and connectivity across ASEAN and beyond. 'Their strength lies in their focus on what economists call 'spatial economics' — targeting lagging regions with tailored interventions,' he told Bernama. These sub-regions were not just random patches of land, but are strategically positioned along critical maritime corridors, he added. Elaborating, Mohd Sedek said IMT-GT leans into agro-processing and tourism, capitalising on the complementarities between southern Thailand, northern Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, while BIMP-EAGA plays to its strengths in fisheries, renewable energy and ecotourism. 'This is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it is about leveraging local advantages to plug into regional and global value chains,' he said. Both sub-regional initiatives will develop special economic zones (SEZs), which act as economic rocket fuels by attracting foreign investments, sparking industrial growth and creating jobs through incentives and streamlined regulations. In the IMT-GT, zones such as Medan and Bukit Kayu Hitam in Malaysia, or Sei Mangkei in Indonesia, are already humming with activity while BIMP-EAGA boasts over 60 SEZs from Bitung in Indonesia to Zamboanga in the Philippines. 'These zones are not just factories — they are engines of structural transformation, fostering 'agglomeration economies' — clusters where businesses, workers, and infrastructure feed off each other to drive growth. 'By linking these SEZs to cross-border trade and investment, IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA are building bridges to ASEAN's broader economic cohesion,' he said. Winning sectors in IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA regions Mohd Sedek said ASEAN could leverage IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA in sectors such as tourism, agrobusiness, renewable energy and manufacturing. Tourism remains a high-impact sector with strong growth in eco and halal tourism. For example, IMT-GT is promoting cross-border tourism under its Vision 2036. BIMP-EAGA focuses on community-based ecotourism and multi-country tourism circuits aligned with ASEAN standards, with strategic sites such as the Heart of Borneo and the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, further enhancing the value of regional tourism offerings. Mohd Sedek said both sub-regions aim to build integrated value chains in the agrobusiness sector, with IMT-GT leading in agro-processing like palm oil and rubber, while BIMP-EAGA serves as ASEAN's food basket (shrimp, rice and seaweed), adding that halal food industries also benefit from this regional complementarity. He highlighted the potential of geothermal energy in Kalimantan as well as ocean energy and biodiesel, saying that the clean energy transition is important due to rising energy costs, which could benefit other ASEAN countries. The same applies to the manufacturing sector, where export-oriented industries in SEZs such as Medan, Sei Mangkei and Lhokseumawe are driving structural transformation and deeper integration into regional value chains. IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA advancing ASEAN Mohd Sedek said both sub-regions have become critical platforms for advancing ASEAN's inclusive development agenda by targeting economically lagging and geographically marginalised regions. He said their interventions have helped narrow intra-national development gaps and improve spatial equity as well as challenges not fully addressed by the AEC. 'For instance, IMT-GT's economic corridors such as the Penang-Medan corridor has facilitated US$4.2 billion (RM17.8 billion) in trade in 2024, while the Malaysia-Thailand cross-border infrastructure projects have significantly enhanced connectivity. 'Similarly, BIMP-EAGA's Vision 2025 has catalysed US$2.8 billion (RM11.87 billion) in infrastructure investments, including major upgrades to the Davao and Bitung ports, reinforcing regional resilience and supporting ASEAN's broader connectivity goals under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025,' he said. Beyond infrastructure, Mohd Sedek said both sub-regional initiatives have boosted local economies by developing SEZs and strengthening regional value chains. He cited Thailand's Southern Economic Corridor — supported under IMT-GT — which generated over 15,000 jobs in 2023, with projects that not only attract foreign investment and integrate entrepreneurs into regional supply chains but also promote sectoral complementarity in agriculture, energy and tourism. Their bottom-up, project-driven approach complements ASEAN's top-down mechanisms, acting as decentralised building blocks of integration. 'By reinforcing trade linkages, fostering human capital development and enhancing cross-border governance, IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA help ASEAN hedge against global supply chain risks and advance a more resilient, balanced and people-centric regional growth trajectory,' he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store