Latest news with #Pandak
The Star
13-05-2025
- The Star
Reeling from sudden loss
TELUK INTAN: A heavy silence settled outside the Teluk Intan Hospital mortuary as grieving families gathered to identify the bodies of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers killed in a tragic road accident. The nine personnel – eight who died at the accident site on KM15 Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam, and one who passed away at the Teluk Intan Hospital red zone – were in an FRU vehicle when a sand-laden lorry crashed head-on into the vehicle yesterday. Among those at the hospital was 71-year-old Pandak Rompan, who is still mourning the recent loss of his grandchild and must now also face the tragic passing of his son. The grief-stricken Pandak said his third child Kpl Nurit, 34, who had been with the force for 15 years, was among the casualties. 'He was previously with FRU Cheras before being transferred to Sungai Senam, Ipoh. He used to commute daily from Kampar to work. Usually, he would return home on his days off,' he said. 'I knew he was on duty in Teluk Intan, but I never expected to receive news of his death.' According to the retired police officer, the last time he saw his son was two weeks ago at their family home in Kampar. 'He was a good person, quiet and very friendly with never gave me, his mother, or his siblings any trouble,' he said. He added that Nurit was married and had a child who passed away five months ago due to heart complications after being critically ill for over a year. 'We just lost our grandchild, and now our son is gone too,' Pandak lamented. The wife of Kpl Amiruddin Zabri, 38, could not hold back her tears when talking about the tragedy. Norazian Mohd Joned, 38, a civil servant at the Kampar police headquarters, said she last met her husband on Monday afternoon, shortly before he left to carry out his duty in Teluk Intan. The mother of three children, aged between 15 months and 12, from Gopeng said she was used to his out-of-town travel for work. 'This morning, I received information in some chat groups regarding the accident and I immediately called my husband, but the calls went unanswered. 'I called a friend of my husband's, who told me to be calm, and then he broke the news to me,' she said. The brother of Sjn S. Perumal, 44, another personnel who died in the accident, said his older brother was supposed to take his family in his car to the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan. Ahren, 41, a teacher, said his brother had told his wife, a nurse at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, and two young children to come along to the event and that he would drive. Perumal leaves behind two daughters aged five and seven. He had been in the police force since 2011. Ahmad Saat, 75, the father-in-law of Kpl Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41, said he received the news from his daughter, a teacher in a school in Ipoh. 'My son-in-law was a good man and a father of three girls aged between five and 13. I don't know what to say. It's fated,' said Ahmad, who lives in Hutan Melintang.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Adding to charm of Kg Sungai Melayu
Kampung Sungai Melayu is known for Malay cuisine and river-based leisure activities. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star RM12.2mil upgrade for Kota Iskandar fishing village part of preparations for Visit Johor 2026 Johor government is investing RM12.2mil to turn Kampung Sungai Melayu into a major tourist destination in time for Visit Johor 2026 (VJ2026), says Iskandar Puteri assemblyman Datuk Pandak Ahmad. He said the fishing village was already a popular weekend spot, known especially for its asam pedas dish and mangroves. 'We are upgrading the area in two phases, with work expected to wrap up by February next year. 'The upgrades include additional parking bays, jetty, concrete boardwalk, cultural walkway and a range of other tourist-friendly amenities,' he said when met at the village. Located about 20 minutes from Kota Iskandar, Kampung Sungai Melayu is also known for its river-based leisure activities such as fishing, boat tours and crab catching. Pandak showing a rendering of an upcoming development at the village located near Kota Iskandar. Pandak said the village was selected as one of the key tourism attractions for VJ2026, thanks to its growing popularity with visitors from China, Japan and South Korea. 'More than 100,000 tourists have visited the village since it became an eco-tourism hub in 2018,' he said. 'We are expecting at least 10,000 visitors next year.' One of the highlights of the upgrading project is a new village archway completed at a cost of RM500,000. Pandak said a 1.2ha parking facility costing RM3mil, meanwhile, was designed to accommodate the expected rise in visitor numbers. Shuttle buses will also be provided to help tourists move around more easily. 'We are also building facilities such as trading spaces, an information centre, electric vehicle parking bays and recreational areas. 'All of these additions are aimed at boosting economic opportunities for the village's 800 residents while enhancing the overall visitor experience,' said Pandak.
