Latest news with #IPOH
The Star
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Manjung Municipal Council denies beach fee claims at Pantai Teluk Senangin
Photo taken from Facebook IPOH: The Manjung Municipal Council refutes claims that it is collecting fees from visitors at Pantai Teluk Senangin as it goes against the council's policy on the management of public beaches. The statement was made in response to allegations that individuals have been charging the public to access the beach. 'The council takes this matter seriously as it concerns the public's right to access recreational areas freely, without additional charges, " it added. According to the council, it had issued a statement on Aug 15 2024, through its official social media channels, stating that no fees were charged for picnic-related activities at Pantai Teluk Senangin. The same notice was also displayed on-site. "Despite this, irresponsible individuals have continued to take advantage of visitors, tarnishing the image of Manjung's local tourism sector. These actions are unlawful," it said. In collaboration with the Manjung District Police Headquarters, the council said it recently conducted an enforcement operation at Pantai Teluk Senangin following complaints of unauthorised float rentals. To date, 10 permits have been issued to operators who comply with set conditions, but only three remain active. The operation was conducted under Section 46(1)(d) of the Street, Drainage, and Building Act 1974 (Act 133), which prohibits obstruction in public spaces. "Licensed operators must adhere to strict conditions, including not placing equipment in advance of rentals and not charging for other items or using public spaces for unapproved activities. "The council is calling on the public to lodge a report if they encounter any suspicious activity or individuals attempting to collect payments at Pantai Teluk Senangin or any other beaches within the council's jurisdiction," it said.
The Star
13 hours ago
- Climate
- The Star
Only 62.2% of designated premises have valid Fire Certs, says Bomba
IPOH: Only 62.2% of designated premises nationwide currently possess a valid Fire Certificate (FC), says Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman. The Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general (operations) said that that out of 9,321 such premises nationwide, only 5,801 have valid FCs. He added that 8,595 of the designated premises were private while 726 were government premises. 'This shows that there are still many premises that need to take action. We're now in June, so we have another six months to ensure that premises obtain valid FCs,' he said during a press conference after officiating the Fire Safety Organisation (OKK) Seminar here Wednesday (June 4). He added that various efforts have been made to improve enforcement, including the introduction of the ePremis platform and digitalisation efforts to streamline inspections and monitoring. 'We are clear about our focus and the categories of premises that require more thorough inspections,' he said, adding that enforcement is carried out in accordance with the Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341), which governs fire safety regulations in Malaysia. 'This Act outlines the responsibilities of premises and buildings to comply with fire safety regulations, including the requirement to obtain a FC to ensure the premises are safe from fire risks,' he added. In Perak, he said that 75.9% of designated premises have already obtained valid FCs. "Of the 349 such premises, 265 are certified, while the remainder are in the process of applying, undergoing inspection, or have been issued notices," he said. Of the total premises in the state, 330 are privately owned and 19 are government buildings. 'Last year, only 244 premises obtained FCs. This year, the number is higher,' he added. On a separate matter, Ahmad Irzam said the department is fully prepared to face the current hot and dry weather conditions expected to continue until early next month. 'All equipment and personnel are ready. We're prepared to respond to any incidents related to the dry season, including forest and bush fires, which are not technically complex for us to handle,' he said. He also said that the department has the support of volunteer firefighter associations across Malaysia who are prepared to mobilise when needed. 'We are always ready, especially since we have anticipated this weather pattern,' he said.
The Star
19-05-2025
- The Star
FRU crash driver rearrested
In trouble again: Rudi Zulkarnain was rearrested at the Teluk Intan Magistrate's Court, shortly after having his bail posted by his employer, on suspicion of being involved in the theft of two cows. Man detained again, this time over alleged cow theft IPOH: The lorry driver who is accused of causing the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel in an accident in Teluk Intan last Tuesday, has been arrested again, this time for the alleged theft of two cows. Rudi Zulkarnain Md Radi, 45, was rearrested at the Teluk Intan Magistrate's Court yesterday, shortly after having his bail posted by his employer at about 12.20pm. Bagan Datuk OCPD Supt Mohammad Ali Mohd Jali said the arrest was made following a report on April 14 about two missing cows at Kampung Sungai Keli in Hutan Melintang. 'The case will be investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code,' he said yesterday. 'We will take the suspect to court on Tuesday for a remand order to facilitate the investigations,' he said, adding that those found guilty could be jailed up to seven years or fined, or both. Rudi Zulkarnain has been in police custody since Friday after he was unable to secure bail. This was after he claimed trial to nine charges of causing death by dangerous driving at the Magistrate's Court. In the incident at Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam on May 13, nine personnel from the FRU lost their lives, while another nine sustained injuries. Of those who were injured, six remain in hospital – five at Teluk Intan Hospital and one at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital – while the others have been discharged.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Stamp duty on employment contracts burdens businesses, says association
IPOH: The enforcement of stamp duty requirements for all employment contracts is an unnecessary financial and administrative burden impacting businesses, says an employers' association. Malaysian Industrial, Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) president YK Lai said while they commend the Inland Revenue Board's (LHDN) efforts to strengthen compliance with the Stamp Duty Audit Framework effective from 1 January, the enforcement has caused issues for companies across all sectors. "The growing concerns among employers include financial strain on companies, increased compliance costs, and the added workload on administrative operations, including human resources procedures. "The increasing number of audits of stamp duties without any grace period or amnesty will likely impact companies with high turnover rates and small and medium enterprises (SMEs)," he said on Monday (May 19). "Without clear guidance, these companies risk facing unavoidable penalties. Companies now face the added responsibility of ensuring all employment contracts are stamped at a cost of RM10 per copy, with a penalty of RM100 for non-compliance to ensure admissibility as evidence in court," he added. Lai said employers must also bear the cost of stamping past employment agreements with existing employees that were previously unstamped, increasing administrative expenses while managing tight operational budgets. "This retrospective requirement offers little practical benefit, as many agreements are carried out without disputes or issues. Although employment contracts involving monthly wages below RM300 are exempt from this requirement, the exemption holds little practical relevance given that the current minimum wage in Malaysia is set at RM1,700," he said. Lai said MICSEA supports the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers' proposed solutions and recommendations on implementing new enforcement methods. "The LHDN should grant a one-time amnesty on past unstamped documents. They also need to issue clear, sector-specific guidelines and introduce a six-to-12-month grace period," he said. "We urge the LHDN to cooperate with employers to ensure fair and balanced implementation," he added.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
M'sian youth support Asean but need more awareness of activities, study finds
IPOH: Malaysian youth are proud that the country is part of Asean but have limited knowledge and awareness of the grouping and its initiatives, a study has found. The joint research project by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and UiTM Perlis found that most young Malaysians expressed positive sentiments towards Asean despite limited awareness. It found that the respondents, aged between 16 and 40, have moderate knowledge about Asean but expressed strong support for Malaysia being part of it. "The research aimed to measure how Malaysian youth perceive Asean. "It shows that more efforts must be put into ensuring that information related to Asean is well understood," the research team said in a statement on Monday (May 19). "Generally, Malaysian youth have a sense of belonging and are proud that the country is part of Asean. "They feel connected to youths from other member countries and are excited about the opportunities in education, work, culture and business." The project members included Dr Tan Sing Pei, Dr Azhar Abdul Rahman, Dr Chin Yee Mun, Dr Wong Voon Hee, Dr Phua Yeong Nan and Ani Hafify Anil Yakin. The researchers found that Malaysian youth believe Asean can play a significant role in economic development, regional peace and stability. "The biggest advantages of Asean to them include unity, cooperation, the economy, culture, and peace. "Malaysian youth support stronger economic and cultural cooperation among Asean countries. "They also believe that the function of Asean in maintaining political stability and development can be promoted further, as it will have a direct impact on the people living in the region," they added. The respondents were also found to be open towards and interested in engaging in Asean activities. "They are willing to be involved in voluntary services related to the grouping and support programmes initiated by Asean," the team said.
