Latest news with #Kelantan-based
The Star
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Frustrated Jasmir hopes Kelantan TRW will settle salary arrears
PETALING JAYA: Another Kelantan-based football team have found themselves mired in controversy, with Kelantan The Real Warrior (TRW) now under pressure to resolve outstanding salary issues involving former players. Previously known as Kelantan Darul Naim (KDN), the club underwent a rebranding exercise for the new Super League season after merging with former Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) president Tan Sri Annuar Musa. Despite the new identity, the team are still grappling with unpaid wages. Among those seeking resolution is former midfielder Jasmir Mehat, whose contract ended in April. When contacted, Jasmir expressed frustration that his salary arrears amount to only about three months – roughly RM18,000 – yet the club have shown little urgency in settling the amount, even though the previous season has long ended. What's more upsetting to the player is that the club have been actively recruiting new signings, including foreign imports. 'They've cleared some of the back pay owed to other players, but when I checked, my payments are still pending,' said Jasmir when contacted. 'Even the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions were well below the actual figure. I only saw about RM60 a month credited when it should have been closer to RM300. 'What's even more frustrating is that they're willing to pay their imports in full but want local players like me to accept less. 'Now they're signing new players, and I doubt they're being paid peanuts – yet my claim is just for three months' salary.' Jasmir added that he and several other former teammates, who are still owed wages, have brought the matter to the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) for further action. On July 15, Annuar, who now serves as president of Kelantan TRW, pledged to settle all outstanding payments owed to former players and coaches – estimated to be around RM300,000.
The Star
27-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Confusion over Kelantan team's rebranding draws FIFA's attention
PETALING JAYA: The rebranding confusion involving several Kelantan football teams has attracted the attention of the world football governing body FIFA. It had issued a show-cause letter to Kelantan Red Warrior (KRW), who were set to compete in the Semi-Pro League A1. The letter requests clarification about KRW's identity and how it differs from earlier Kelantan-based teams, especially Kelantan FC, which was previously owned by entrepreneur Norizman Tukiman and still has unresolved debts. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Datuk Noor Azman Rahman confirmed on Sunday (July 27) that they had received a letter from FIFA and handed it over to KRW on Friday. "Yes, we received a letter from FIFA regarding Kelantan KRW and have forwarded it to them for further action. "I can't disclose further details, but the issue is not related to player claims. It is linked to a previous club, Kelantan FC. "FIFA have identified certain concerns, which may be connected to the former team," said Azman. The deadline for KRW to respond to FIFA's letter was on Monday (July 28). KRW was established in December last year by Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan, who was previously a co-owner of Kelantan FC alongside Zamsaham. It was understood that the similarity in logo, team identity and even jersey design between KRW and the defunct Kelantan FC was among the reasons FIFA requested clarification. Kelantan FC were effectively dissolved last year after being relegated from the 2023 Super League. The team were also barred from competing in last season's A1 Semi-Pro League due to heavy debts. Former team president Tan Sri Annuar Musa later revived Kelantan's presence in the Super League by introducing a new identity under the name Kelantan The Real Warriors.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Rampant abuse of subsidised cooking oil
PETALING JAYA: Subsidised cooking oil meant for household usage has been sold in bulk to restaurants and caterers, with over 50 tonnes of the product diverted. The Auditor-General's report series 2/2025 revealed that as much as 55,167kg of subsidised cooking oil was sold to these quarters, in breach of official guidelines. In the report published yesterday, it said this did not align with the standard operating procedures of the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme (COSS) guidelines issued by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. An audit at a Kelantan-based retailer last July found a business, which operated as a restaurant, had stored up to 204kg of subsidised cooking oil. In 2024, the company had purchased 11,390kg of subsidised oil from five manufacturers. CLICK TO ENLARGE An unrecorded sale of 561kg between the retailer and a manufacturer was also flagged. In Terengganu, a wholesaler was found to have sold cooking oil to multiple caterers between January 2023 and June 2024. Audit checks revealed 189 cash transactions worth RM77,657.50 involving subsidised oil. A separate case in Miri, Sarawak, found that a supplier had distributed RM5,700 worth of subsidised cooking oil to unlicensed individuals for free between April and July last year. The supplier claimed to represent an NGO. Following these findings, the ministry confirmed that the Kelantan company's controlled goods licence had been revoked and its eCOSS account deactivated to prevent further supply. The unrecorded transaction will meanwhile be referred to the ministry's enforcement division. The wholesaler's account in Terengganu has also been deactivated pending investigations. The report also revealed cases of retailers selling more than three packets of subsidised oil per customer. This includes a case in Selangor where a retailer sold 170 packets worth RM425 to a catering company, and a separate case in Terengganu where a trader made two transactions of subsidised cooking oil totalling RM57.50. The report also revealed discrepancies in how subsidised cooking oil stocks were recorded and kept in the inventory. 'Lack of effective enforcement will open opportunities for companies to manipulate sales in their stock books,' the Auditor-General's report said. It also said there were no clear guidelines for managing spoiled cooking oil nor its sale, resulting in two companies storing 942kg of the product for sale to used cooking oil collectors. The report said a total of 16 companies were involved in this. To this, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said its COSS guidelines would be reviewed to include a procedure for this. To plug leakages, the Auditor-General recommended that the COSS scheme be overhauled. 'There must also be targeted distribution schemes to ensure only eligible households can purchase the subsidised product, and limit it from being sold to foreigners and commercial entities. 'The purchase limit should also be reviewed,' it stated. It said the COSS system must be used holistically to prevent any leakages. The A-G's report also proposed that targeted initiatives such as the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme be expanded.
The Star
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Over 50 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil sold in breach of guidelines, Auditor-General's Report reveals
PETALING JAYA: More than 50,000kg of subsidised cooking oil was sold to food operators, restaurants, traders, and non-governmental organisations, in breach of official guidelines, the latest Auditor-General's Report has revealed. According to the report released Monday (July 21), these transactions were not in line with the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme (COSS) standard operating procedures issued by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. An audit at a Kelantan-based retailer last July found the business, which operated as a restaurant, had stored up to 204kg of subsidised cooking oil. In 2024, the company had purchased 11,390kg of subsidised oil from five manufacturers. An unrecorded sale of 561kg between the retailer and a manufacturer was also flagged. In Terengganu, a wholesaler was found to have sold cooking oil to multiple caterers between January 2023 and June 2024. Audit checks revealed 189 cash transactions worth RM77,657.50 involving subsidised oil. A separate case in Miri, Sarawak, found that a supplier had distributed RM5,700 worth of subsidised cooking oil to unlicensed individuals for free between April and July last year. The supplier claimed to represent an NGO. Following these findings, the ministry confirmed that the Kelantan company's controlled goods licence had been revoked and its eCOSS account deactivated to prevent further supply. The unrecorded transaction will meanwhile be referred to the ministry's enforcement division. The wholesaler's account in Terengganu has also been deactivated pending investigations. The report also revealed cases of retailers selling more than three packets of subsidised oil per customer. This includes a case in Selangor which sold 170 packets worth RM425 to a catering company, and a trader in Terengganu who made two transactions totalling RM57.50. The report also revealed discrepancies in how subsidised cooking oil stocks were recorded and kept in the inventory. 'Lack of effective enforcement will open opportunities for companies to manipulate sales in their stock books,' it said. The report also said there were no clear guidelines for managing spoiled cooking oil nor its sale, resulting in two companies storing 942kg of the product for sale to used cooking oil collectors. 16 companies were also involved in the repackaging of spoiled cooking oil. The Auditor-General proposed that the ministry improve its COSS guidelines to tackle said issues. 'There must also be targeted distribution schemes to ensure only eligible households can purchase the subsidised product, and limit it being sold to foreigners and commercial entities. 'The purchase limit should also be reviewed so it aligns with actual needs alongside avoiding large-scale purchases for commercial purposes,' it said. It added that the COSS system must be used holistically to prevent any leakages. 'Periodic internal audits and cross verification with stock books and reporting systems must be made mandatory for manufacturers, packaging companies, wholesalers and traders to ensure a more comprehensive monitoring system,' it said. It also proposed that targeted initiatives like the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah programme be expanded.
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Tighter checks as syndicates use livestock dung to smuggle in drugs
KOTA BARU: Kelantan police have confirmed the existence of drug syndicates whose members hid their narcotics beneath animal waste in livestock enclosures. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said police received intelligence on the tactic several months ago and believe local traffickers may have copied the method from their counterparts across the border. "This is not new to us. I had highlighted this several months ago that drugs were being smuggled in using cattle, goats and other livestock," he said here today. Yusoff added that police would now intensify checks on those bringing in livestock, both through legal means and smuggling. "We are monitoring those suspected of smuggling drugs into the state and using animal waste to conceal the drugs. These individuals are already on our radar," he said. It was reported today that the scent of goat dung is proving more than just unpleasant — it's being used by drug traffickers to evade detection by the authorities at the Malaysia-Thailand border. Thai authorities say Kelantan-based syndicates are now mimicking a long-used tactic by regional smugglers: burying narcotics under piles of animal waste to conceal the scent. "Authorities in the neighbouring country have been aware of this tactic for years and have successfully foiled several attempts," said a source.
