Latest news with #DrainageandBuildingAct1974
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
MPAJ's Highland Towers demolition bid stalls in lower court
AMPANG, July 30 — The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) must now apply to the High Court for order to demolish the remaining Highland Towers blocks in Hulu Kelang, after its latest attempt was rejected by the Magistrate's Court. MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the High Court's permission is now required since the landowner, Highland Properties Sdn Bhd, has been wound up. He added that the Magistrate's Court directed MPAJ to escalate the matter to the High Court for further decision, The Star reported. MPAJ began pursuing demolition plans last year in response to repeated complaints from nearby residents over safety and nuisance concerns. Then-MPAJ president Dr Ani Ahmad had said notices would be served to the property owners as part of the legal process. She also said the demolition would follow Sections 87, 88, and 89 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which address public nuisances and unsafe structures. The cost of tearing down the derelict buildings was then estimated at RM6 million to RM7 million. The Highland Towers tragedy occurred on December 11, 1993, when one of three apartment blocks collapsed, killing 48 people and prompting the evacuation of the remaining towers.
The Star
17 hours ago
- General
- The Star
MPAJ seeking High Court ruling on Highland Towers
MPAJ is seeking legal recourse to demolish the two remaining blocks at Highland Towers in Hulu Kelang, Selangor. The blocks have been abandoned following the Dec 11, 1993, tragedy which killed 48 people. — Filepic AMPANG Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) will seek a High Court order to proceed with the demolition of the remaining blocks of Highland Towers in Hulu Kelang, Selangor. This comes after MPAJ failed in its latest bid to obtain court approval from the Ampang Magistrate's Court to bring down the structures. MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the next course of action would be to bring the matter to the High Court for a ruling. 'We will need to get leave from the High Court to decide if MPAJ is allowed to carry out the demolition. 'The Magistrate's Court directed MPAJ to seek an order from the High Court as Highland Properties Sdn Bhd (the landowner) has been wound up,' Hasrolnizam said after chairing the local council's monthly full board meeting at Menara MPAJ in Pandan Indah yesterday. Last year, MPAJ initiated the process to demolish the remaining blocks, following multiple complaints from neighbouring residents. Then president Dr Ani Ahmad had said MPAJ would issue a notice to the property owners to demolish the structures. She had also said due process would be carried out according to Sections 87, 88 and 89 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133). These relate to nuisances (Sections 87 and 88) and demolition of a house unfit for habitation (Section 89). At the time, she said the demolition was estimated to cost between RM6mil and RM7mil. The Highland Towers tragedy occurred on Dec 11, 1993, when one of the three blocks collapsed, resulting in 48 fatalities. The remaining towers were evacuated for safety reasons, leading to the area's eventual abandonment. On another matter, Hasrolnizam said MPAJ supported Selangor's centralised parking initiative, citing its potential to streamline operations and boost revenue. 'Although MPAJ is not one of the four initial councils targeted for the first phase, there have been discussions. 'So far, we do not have any major concerns,' he said, adding that the municipal council currently collected about RM600,000 in monthly parking fees. The Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) system is a state-led initiative to digitalise and centralise public parking. It is spearheaded by Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor and implemented through a company in collaboration with local councils. Under the SIP model, parking revenue will be split with 50% going to the concessionaire, 40% to the local councils involved and 10% to MBI. SIP is meant to kick off with Petaling Jaya City Council, Shah Alam City Council, Subang Jaya City Council and Selayang Municipal Council. Hasrolnizam said between January and July 24, MPAJ collected RM5.1mil in parking revenue. The main contributors were special bay rentals (RM2.5mil) and online payments (RM2.3mil), followed by monthly passes (RM144,000) and resident passes (RM193,000). During the meeting, Hasrolnizam also reported on MPAJ's efforts to recover assessment tax arrears from property owners as part of a pilot project launched in June last year. The initiative targeted 57 account holders with a total debt of RM109,462. 'As of July 2025, MPAJ successfully recovered RM75,728, achieving a 69.2% recovery rate.'
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Kopitiam owner claims trial to bribery charge
JOHOR BARU: A 23-year-old kopitiam owner claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of bribing a local council enforcement officer to avoid action against his premises. Tan Kai Dee, who owns a kopitiam in Taman Mutiara Mas, Skudai, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail. According to the charge sheet, Tan allegedly handed RM2,000 in cash to an enforcement assistant from the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) as an inducement to avoid enforcement action under Section 47(1)(a) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which prohibits modifications to drains without written permission from the council. The offence was allegedly committed at the restaurant at 6.20pm on Nov 4 last year. He was charged under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher. MACC deputy public prosecutor Ameera D'aneez Mohd Shukari requested that bail be set at RM10,000, with additional conditions to prevent the accused from fleeing. Tan's counsel, K. Barathi, urged for a lower amount, citing that his client supports his wife and both parents. The court allowed bail at RM10,000 with one local surety and imposed two additional conditions: Tan must report to the Mutiara Rini police station once a month and surrender his passport to the court. The case has been fixed for mention on Sept 17 for document submission.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Skudai kopitiam owner claims trial to charge of offering RM2,000 bribe
JOHOR BARU: A kopitiam owner has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here for allegedly offering a RM2,000 bribe to a local council enforcement officer last year to avoid action being taken against his restaurant. Tan Kai Dee, 23, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Sessions Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail here on Monday (July 29). According to the charge sheet, Tan was accused of giving RM2,000 in cash to an assistant enforcement officer with the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), who is considered a public servant under the law. The alleged bribe was an inducement for the officer not to take enforcement action against Tan's kopitiam, which was found to have committed an offence under Section 47(1)(a) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133). The provision carries a maximum fine of RM500, and RM1,000 for repeat offences. The offence allegedly took place at the restaurant in Taman Mutiara Mas here in Skudai at around 6.20pm on Nov 4, 2024. Tan was charged under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, and faces sentencing under Section 24(1) of the same Act. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, or whichever is higher. MACC prosecuting officer Ameera D'aneez Mohd Shukari requested bail be set at RM10,000 with additional conditions to prevent the accused from absconding. Lawyer K. Barathi, who represented the accused, however, appealed for a lower bail, stating that Tan supports his wife and both parents. Judge Ahmad Kamal Arifin then set bail at RM10,000 with one local surety and also ordered Tan to report to the Mutiara Rini police station once a month and surrender his passport to the court. He then fixed Sept 17 for the next mention of the case for handing over of documents.
New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Nga wants all MPs to support 'litterbug' bills
KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has called on all members of parliament (MPs) to support amendments to three acts that will make community service mandatory for litterbugs. They are the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 and the Local Government Act 1976. Nga said the three amendment bills, which would be tabled for the second reading tomorrow, were part of efforts to ensure the success of Visit Malaysia 2026. He said if the amendments were passed, offenders would be required to perform up to 12 hours of community service while wearing a green uniform provided by the authorities. "As such, we seek the cooperation of all MPs to unanimously support the amendments, as they have proven successful in developed countries such as Sweden, Japan and Singapore. "Now is the time and we must ensure that this law can be enforced this year," he said after a city walkabout after the launch of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week 2025 yesterday. Nga said litterbugs would be made to clean drains, sweep roads and wash public toilets alongside cleaners engaged by local authorities. Those who failed to comply with a community service order would be committing an offence and, upon conviction, be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000. He said cleanliness was not only a civic duty but also a moral and religious obligation. "Cleanliness is half of faith. We must ensure that when tourists visit Malaysia, they see a country that is clean and attractive, not dirty or unkempt," he said. Nga said during the Malaysia Clean-Up Day programme on Sept 28 last year, 51.9kg of food waste, 64.3kg of paper waste, 127.6kg of plastic waste and 541 cigarette butts were collected in the Pasar Seni area in just 12 hours. He said the figures showed that fines alone were no longer effective in deterring repeat offenders.
