
Residents turn village into 32ha illegal dumpsite
It is learnt that the lorry drivers paid RM30 per trip to some of the residents, as a fee to dump construction waste under the cover of night.
The illegal dumpsite, which has been in operation over the past five years, was detected by other residents using drones, prompting complaints to the Department of Environment and Solid Waste Management Corporation.
Pulai member of parliament Suhaizan Kaiat said the site had caused worsening river pollution and flash floods, with more than 500 residents suffering from foul odours and pest infestations.
"Some residents allowed trucks in for a fee. Most of the rubbish dumped are construction materials. It's done at night to avoid detection," he said.
Authorities have since identified the landowners and barred vehicle access.
Suhaizan called for closed-circuit television sets to be installed to identify the culprits.
He also called for centralised waste bins to prevent dumping into nearby rivers.
A resident, Rosli Mohamad, 60, said venomous animals were also found nesting in the site.
"We feel betrayed. Urgent action is needed before the problem becomes unmanageable," he said.

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New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Scripted deception: How scammers 'coached' doctor into RM8.7mil loss
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"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.


The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Former director, company fined RM15,000 for unpaid service tax in Melaka
MELAKA: A former director and his company were fined RM15,000 by the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court for failing to pay service tax and penalties amounting to RM139,755.25 between 2021 and 2023. Judge Haderiah Siri imposed the sentence after Ng Wen Hua, 31, and Go Lounge Sdn Bhd pleaded guilty to five charges. She also ordered a one-month jail term in default for each charge if they fail to settle the fine. According to the charges, Ng and the company failed to pay service tax within the stipulated period under Section 26(4) of the Service Tax Act 2018. The unpaid taxes ranged from RM19,000 to RM30,000, with penalties between RM3,000 and RM12,000. The offences occurred at the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Wisma Kastam Negeri, Ayer Keroh, on multiple dates in 2022 and 2023. The charges were brought under Section 26(8) of the Service Tax Act 2018, read with Section 78(1)(a), which carries a maximum penalty of RM50,000, three years' imprisonment, or both. Prosecuting officer Mohammad Azhar Habib urged the court to impose a RM5,000 fine per charge, citing non-compliance and loss of government revenue. The accused, unrepresented, requested leniency as the business was no longer operational. - Bernama


New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Family wins suit over suicide in MMEA custody, govt to pay RM194,170
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