Sun bear surprises Pekan neighbourhood, sniffs out snacks and makes a mess before rescue team steps in
KUANTAN, May 18 — A sun bear was successfully captured by the Civil Defence Force (APM) after it wandered into a residence in Taman Tanah Putih, Pekan yesterday.
Pekan District APM officer Capt (PA) Ahmad Azmi Nafiah said the bear damaged several items in the house supposedly in search of food at about 4.30am.
'The bear then climbed out of the house and it is believed to be a pet bear that escaped from a nearby residential area,' he said in a statement today.
He added that they received an emergency call regarding the incident at 8.36am and five APM personnel were dispatched to the scene.
'Upon reaching the site at 8.57am, a team from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) arrived a few minutes later,' he said.
He added that the Perhilitan team fired a tranquiliser at the bear to subdue it before taking it back to the Kuantan Perhilitan. — Bernama
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Malay Mail
19 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
MACC says assets seized from ‘Tan Sri' in highway sukuk scandal now reach RM143m
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized assets linked to the misuse of sukuk funds of the construction of a highway in Klang Valley believed to be owned by a highway concessionaire with a Tan Sri title totalling RM143 million during an operation conducted last week. Its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki said the seizures include 14 individual accounts totalling RM4.5 million, eight company accounts totalling RM33 million, luxury condominium and land worth RM24.5 million, nine cars worth RM7.65 million, and 13 cars that have yet to be handed over to the investigation team. Other items seized include luxury watches worth RM25 million, handbags worth RM3 million, jewellery and diamonds (RM6 million), four horses (RM400,000), alcoholic beverages (RM3 million), foreign assets worth more than RM15 million and around RM20 million in gambling activities. 'Preliminary investigations revealed there was misconduct between 2016 and 2020 involving approved sukuk funds of about RM1.35 billion, involving false claims of about RM360 million and RM416 million and RM50 million in other bank facility loans. 'The RM1.67 billion highway project also failed to be completed according to schedule and investigations are focused on bribes worth RM12 million paid to certain parties as inducement in helping the cash flow out and back to the suspect,' he said in a statement last night, adding that the proceeds were also believed to have been used in money laundering activities. He explained that to embezzle the funds, the parties involved were believed to have used professionals such as auditors, financial experts, engineers and shell companies. 'Until now, the MACC has yet to take the Tan Sri's statement as he is in a private hospital ward and today the investigating officer will get confirmation from the doctor on the status of the Tan Sri's health before recording his statement. 'Meanwhile, the number of witness statements stands at 45, and those witnesses who have given their statements have been asked to provide further statements,' he said, adding that the investigating team is also tracking down luxury vehicles and properties belonging to the Tan Sri abroad, including in London and Switzerland. The investigation is focused on the true amount of luxury liquor kept by the Tan Sri and the possibility that funds have been transferred to other accounts, he said. He added that an asset declaration notice has been handed to the Tan Sri and other related parties. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
The audacious Al-Maunah siege that shook the nation
Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Abdul Aziz Hassan with his book 'A Gunner's Call: The Memoir of Lieutenant-General Datuk Abdul Aziz Hassan'. (Adrian David pic) KUALA LUMPUR : He was just months away from a long-awaited retirement after over 37 years in the army. Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Abdul Aziz Hassan, then serving as army deputy chief, recounted a ghastly episode that shocked him and the nation while competing in a golf tournament on July 2, 2000. 'It was a serene Sunday morning, when suddenly an Army Operations Room duty officer telephoned me. 'He relayed a matter of national urgency that required my immediate attention at the defence ministry,' related Aziz, 82. He was referring to the Al-Maunah Islamic militant group who raided the 304th Infantry Battalion camp in Grik and the Kuala Rui military post 25 years ago. However, then Army chief General Md Hashim Hussein was officiating the closing of the 'Ex Land MALPHI 2/2000' army exercise with the Philippines in Manila. As acting army chief at the time, Aziz was tasked with formulating a contingency plan for the capture of the militants and the recovery of the arms. 'Then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad requested the military to collaborate with the police for the task,' he said. Abdul Aziz Hassan (second from right) and former officers from the Royal Artillery Regiment at the book launch in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur. (Adrian David pic) 'Mahathir's directive was unequivocal – conduct the operation without the loss of lives; avoid a repeat of the tragic Kampung Memali armed religious militancy in Baling, Kedah in November 1985,' said Aziz, in conjunction with the launch of his book 'A Gunner's Call: The Memoir of Lieutenant-General Datuk Abdul Aziz Hassan'. Al-Maunah's audacious raid, he said, left a profound impact on him and put the army in bad light. 'Disguised as army officers and soldiers, 30 individuals deceitfully conducted a surprise readiness dawn check at the two locations. 'The militants over-powered the sentries and subsequently absconded with 100 small arms: M16 rifles, Steyr rifles, general-purpose machine guns, light machine guns, 10,000 rounds of ammunition and radio sets,' he said, adding that after making their getaway, they hid at Bukit Jenalik in Sauk, Perak. Two days later, Aziz was ordered to replace Hashim in Manila, who was recalled to oversee the Al-Maunah stand-off. Despite this, Aziz kept track of the developments in Sauk and learnt that the situation was soon quelled with the surrender of the militants. However, three people lost their lives: police special branch detective corporal R Saghadavan, army commando corporal Mathew Medan, and militant Abdul Halim Ali. Abdul Aziz Hassan (seated) evaluating a 155mm FH77 artillery gun at Karlskorga, Sweden in 1979. (Abdul Aziz Hassan pic) 'I learnt that police assistant superintendent Abdul Razak Mohd Yussof persuaded Al-Maunah leader Mohamed Amin, a former army private, to surrender. '(Army field commander) Lt-Gen Zaini Mohd Said – assisted by Razak and army provost marshal colonel Masood Zainal Abidin – were then tasked with capturing Amin. 'In the ensuing encounter, Amin aimed his M16 at Zaini, who managed to deflect the weapon. 'Amin was eventually overpowered and captured,' said Aziz, adding that Razak and Zaini were later bestowed the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) gallantry award, the highest federal recognition by the king. Aziz admitted that the Al-Maunah incident almost gave him a second heart-attack, after he had survived the first one on his 54th birthday on Feb 25. 'My main artery was clogged and I underwent emergency angiography at the National Heart Institute. 'It bruised my ego as I had foolishly believed I was an incredibly fit general, being an active squash and golf player for a good many years,' said Aziz, born in Kampung Tengah, Sepri in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan in 1946. A young Abdul Aziz Hassan at his wedding reception to Norsimah Abdul on Aug 22, 1970 in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. (Abdul Aziz Hassan pic) Aziz is of mixed ancestry: the Biduanda tribe of the Minangkabau Highlanders in Sumatera, Indonesia and the Sakai-Jakun indigenous tribe of Peninsular Malaysia. He said that accurate communication was vital for survival during operations in the deep jungle. 'There is no room for error in the artillery. Miscalculation, miscommunication and incorrect grid-reference plotting can lead to injuries or fatalities. For example, three people died and 11 policemen were injured on June 24, 1976 during 'Ops Parabola' when a miscalculated artillery shell struck a Police Field Force platoon involved in joint operations with the army. 'Those responsible for the horrendous accident were severely reprimanded, including being court martialled and dismissed from service,' said Aziz, adding that a similar incident took place during 'Ops Gonzalez' in Gubir, Kedah in the 1980s when one soldier was injured. Aziz recounted a comical miscommunication incident during one jungle operation: 'We radioed operational headquarters for replacement walkie-talkie batteries (using the Malay code 'pasu bunga'). 'What a shocker the soldiers had when the authorities misinterpreted our message, with actual flower pots (pasu bunga) air-dropped to our forward location!' said Aziz, laughing.
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Professionals, firms used to hide money trail in highway project, says MACC
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the corporate figure with a 'Tan Sri' title involved has yet to be questioned as he is still warded at a private hospital. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that the misappropriation of sukuk funds for a Klang Valley highway project involved professionals and multiple companies to obscure the flow of funds. MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the professionals involved included auditors, financial experts, as well as engineers, Utusan Malaysia reported. He also said the corporate figure with a 'Tan Sri' title involved has yet to be questioned as he is still warded at a private hospital. 'Today, investigators obtained a medical assessment from the attending doctor to verify the Tan Sri's condition before we can proceed to record his statement. 'In the meantime, 45 individuals who previously gave statements have been called back to provide further information,' he said. Azam added that the investigation team is also tracking down luxury vehicles and properties belonging to the Tan Sri in London and Switzerland. He said investigations now focus on the actual value of luxury alcoholic beverages in the Tan Sri's possession, amid suspicions that some of the misappropriated funds may have been transferred to other accounts. 'At the same time, a notice for asset declaration has been issued to the Tan Sri and other relevant parties,' he added. To date, the seized assets include 14 individual bank accounts totalling RM4.5 million, eight company accounts totalling RM33 million, a luxury condominium and a plot of land valued at RM24.5 million, as well as nine vehicles worth RM7.65 million. Azam said 13 more vehicles have yet to be handed over to investigators. Also seized were luxury watches worth around RM25 million, designer handbags valued at RM3 million, jewellery and diamonds worth RM6 million, and four horses valued at RM400,000. 'RM3 million worth of alcoholic beverages, overseas assets valued at over RM15 million, and gambling activities estimated at around RM20 million are also under investigation. 'Investigations are also focussing on RM12 million in bribes allegedly paid to certain parties to facilitate the movement of funds out and back into the suspect's possession,' he said. Previously, Azam said that the anti-graft agency was investigating three cases of alleged bribery and false claims connected to the Maju Expressway Extension (MEX II). He said the first investigation paper involves false claims amounting to RM361 million which came from sukuk funds, while the second case concerns false disclosures involving RM416 million in sukuk funds and RM50 million in bank loans. The third case involves certain parties who allegedly solicited and received around RM12 million in bribes.
