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Borneo Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sabah Town Hall gathers input for criminal law reform
Tan Sri Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal KOTA KINABALU (Jan 10): The Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC), tasked with reviewing and proposing reforms to the Penal Code [Act 574], Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593], and Evidence Act 1950 [Act 56], successfully held a Town Hall session in Sabah on Monday to gather input from stakeholders in the state. This session follows a similar series held in Peninsular Malaysia on 21 May 2025. The Town Hall was chaired by Tan Sri Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, former Federal Court judge and chairman of CLRC, alongside his deputy, Datuk Ravinthran N. Paramaguru, a Court of Appeal judge. Also in attendance was Datuk Zamri Misman, Director-General of the Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister's Department. The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department said in a statement on Monday that the session aimed to collect suggestions and feedback from Sabah stakeholders regarding criminal law reforms, including the introduction of new offences, amendments to evidence law, burden of proof and sentencing, improvements to fair trial principles, and enhancements to pre-trial procedures — all aligned with the goal of strengthening overall criminal justice. This initiative was spearheaded by Dato' Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), as part of a comprehensive national consultation effort. The inclusive approach emphasizes broad participation from various segments of society, including vulnerable groups, professionals and civil society, to ensure fair, equitable and people-centric legal reforms. The overwhelming response during the Sabah Town Hall highlights the initiative's relevance to the public and reflects a collective commitment towards criminal justice reform. It aligns with the MADANI Government's efforts to ensure the nation's legal framework remains relevant, effective, and just in addressing technological advancements, socio-economic developments, emerging threats, and international best practices. To allow more public participation, the deadline for submitting feedback on proposed criminal law reforms has been extended from 31 May 2025 to 15 June 2025. The Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister's Department extends its highest appreciation to all ministries, government agencies, civil society organizations, higher education institutions, the Malaysian Bar Council, Sabah Law Society, CLRC committee members, and researchers for their valuable contributions. The establishment of the CLRC is a special initiative to review and propose reforms to three key laws — the Penal Code [Act 574], Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593] and Evidence Act [Act 56] — within 18 months in a phased manner. So far, the Committee has held two meetings to discuss the direction of the study and planned reform phases. To strengthen the study's implementation, an Ad Hoc Committee comprising legal, enforcement, technology and civil society experts has also been formed to provide ongoing technical and strategic input. The Chair and members of both committees were appointed by Azalina, reflecting the MADANI Government's commitment to comprehensive legal reforms. This effort aims to ensure the country's criminal justice system becomes more responsive, fair and effective while upholding the rule of law and protecting individual rights.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Ilham Tower seized again by MACC
PETALING JAYA: The iconic Ilham Tower (pic) has been seized again by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – this time under a different Act. The anti-graft body did so after receiving legal authorisation for the seizure from the deputy public prosecutor's office. The tower, owned by the family of the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, whose widow Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid is facing charges in court, had been seized in 2023 but the order expired recently. With the new order, all dealings related to the 274m-tall tower's transfer of ownership will be prohibited. The MACC said it had ordered the immediate seizure of the 60-storey skyscraper under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001. 'Through a notice of seizure of immovable property under the section on June 4, the authorisation for seizure was granted pursuant to the powers conferred upon the Public Prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). 'This means the deputy public prosecutor is satisfied with the information provided by the MACC related to an offence under subsection 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 for this case,' it said in a statement yesterday. The tower was originally seized by the MACC in December 2023 due to an offence under the MACC Act 2009. That seizure order expired after 18 months. The seizure is believed to be part of an anti-money laundering probe that started in late May this year over a RM2.3bil (US$500mil) corporate transaction in November 1997 involving public-listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM), both Umno-linked entities. Meanwhile, lawyers for Na'imah has issued a statement, labelling the seizure as 'pure harassment'. 'The same building has already been seized by the MACC and yet, is now being seized again. 'In short, they want to keep seizing our client's property even though there is no evidence of corruption. 'We will, on behalf of our client, challenge the seizure of Ilham Tower in court immediately,' said lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal. On May 22, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said eight investigation papers had been opened into the assets owned by Daim, his family and proxies, which had not been declared to the MACC during the initial 2023 investigation. On Wednesday, the High Court allowed an application by the MACC to freeze £132mil worth of assets in London that were also allegedly linked to Na'imah and her family.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MACC seizes Ilham Tower again
Photo: AZMAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: The Deputy Public Prosecutor's office has given the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) the full legal authorisation to seize Ilham Tower again. MACC said it had since ordered the immediate seizure of the 60-storey skyscraper through its investigating officer after authorisation was given. It said that the seizure will be done under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001. 'Through a notice of seizure of immovable property under the section on June 4, the authorisation for seizure was granted pursuant to the powers conferred upon the Public Prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). 'This means the Deputy Public Prosecutor is satisfied with the information provided by the MACC related to an offence under Section 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 for this case,' it said in a statement on Thursday (June 5). It added that all dealings related to the 274m-tall tower's transfer of ownership would be prohibited with immediate effect. This seizure comes after the tower, owned by the family of former finance minister the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, was originally seized by MACC in December 2023 due to an offence under the MACC Act 2009. This was believed to be part of an anti-money laundering probe that started in late May involving a corporate transaction valued at RM2.3bil (US$500mil) in November 1997 involving public-listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM), which were both linked with Umno. On May 22, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that eight investigation papers had been opened into the assets owned by Daim, his family and proxies, which had not been declared to the MACC during its initial 2023 investigation, due to having received new information from external agencies. Then on Wednesday (June 4), the High Court allowed an application by MACC to freeze assets worth £132mil in London that were allegedly linked to Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, wife of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, and her family.
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Energy Commission disposes of seized goods worth over RM1.7mil
PUTRAJAYA: The Energy Commission has disposed of 2,933 seized items valued at over RM1.7mil following investigations into various offences related to electrical safety and usage. According to the commission, the disposal carried out on Tuesday (June 3) involved seizures from cases in Perlis, Kedah and Penang that led to 21 investigation papers resolved through court rulings and compounds. Of the total, 16 involved electrical accidents, four were electricity theft cases, and one was for the use of illegal electrical equipment. "The disposal process was conducted at a licensed metal disposal centre in Balakong, Selangor, and was witnessed by our Enforcement and Regional Operations director Ismail Zaili Yusop, and Investigation Unit deputy director Nik Mohd Bakhry Abu Bakar,' it said in a statement on Wednesday (June 4). It added that the disposal process was carried out according to instructions from the prosecution under Sections 406A and 413 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). The commission also stressed that the disposal was conducted in an environmentally responsible manner through the appointment of a company licensed by the Environment Department (DOE) to handle e-waste management. This process complies with the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Waste) Regulations 2005, it added. "The management of seized goods also involves the separation of scheduled waste, recyclable materials and regular waste. Suitable items are sent to legitimate buyers and appropriate recovery facilities according to the waste categories,' it said. The commission said this integrated approach reflects its ongoing commitment to law enforcement while supporting environmental conservation. – Bernama
Borneo Post
20-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Court approves disposal of seized animal parts in Sibu
Some of the wildlife meat seized by SFC. – Photo courtesy of SFC SIBU (May 20): The Magistrates' Court here today allowed applications by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for the disposal of about half a tonne of wild animals' parts, including freezers used to store them, which were seized from residential units, shophouses and pasar tamu. Senior assistant registrar Jessica Lee, sitting as magistrate, allowed the applications filed by the wildlife officer pursuant to Section 48 of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 (Chapter 26) and Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). According to the applications submitted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin of the State Attorney-General's Chambers appearing on behalf of SFC, all the seized exhibits were of perishable nature, and the freezers were equipment provided under Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). Furthermore, there were constraints in proper storage space at the Sibu Regional Office. 'One of the suspects has since absconded despite Warrant of Arrest being issued by the trial judge at the Sessions Court in Sibu in the midst of trial proceedings,' he added. Among the seized wild animal meat were cuts from wild boar (Sus barbatus Suidae species), deer (Cervus Unicolor species), reptile belonging to Python species, and one lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil species). The suspects were being investigated under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 (Chapter 26). Several wildlife officers attended the court proceedings. animal parts Court disposal lead Sarawak Forestry Corporation
