Latest news with #PasirGudang
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Preacher arrested for third time over unauthorised sermons in Johor freed on bail
JOHOR BAHRU, May 31 — A religious preacher detained by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) last Wednesday for allegedly delivering a sermon without authorisation in Pasir Gudang was released the following day on bail. JAINJ director Nasri Md. Ali said the 50-year-old preacher had cooperated fully during his detention. 'He was arrested at 8.30pm on Wednesday and released the next day. He was called in again yesterday and is scheduled to return on July 3 to assist with the ongoing investigation by our enforcement division,' Nasri said when contacted today. Last Thursday he confirmed that the arrest was made with assistance from the Seri Alam District Police under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without proper credentials. Nasri added that the preacher had previously been detained in 2016 for the same offence and had evaded arrest during a raid in 2020. 'This is the third action taken against him for preaching without credentials. We don't stop anyone from giving sermons, but they must obtain proper authorisation from the Johor Islamic Religious Council, as required in all states,' he said. Earlier, celebrity preacher Ustaz Abdullah Khairi shared a video showing the preacher's arrest in Pasir Gudang. — Bernama
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Popular preacher arrested in Johor for unlicensed religious sermon, video sparks online debate
JOHOR BARU, May 29 — The Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) arrested Muslim preacher Ustaz Mat Esa Deraman, popularly known as Tok Ku Pasir Gudang, for delivering a religious sermon without state-mandated accreditation at a house in Pasir Gudang last night. The arrest was carried out at 8.30pm by JAINJ's enforcement division, with assistance from the Seri Alam district police. Following that, a two-minute and 58-second video of Mat Esa's arrest was widely circulated on social media. Celebrity preacher Ustaz Abdullah Khairi shared the footage on his Facebook page, questioning the circumstances of the arrest and Mat Esa's subsequent detention in a lock-up. JAINJ director Nasri Md Ali said the arrest was made under Section 11 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 for teaching religion without a license or permit. 'I can confirm that the speaker is still under the department's investigation,' he said when contacted by the media today. Nasri said checks revealed that the speaker in question is known to give talks to congregations and broadcasts the sessions live on social media. 'The house where he conducts his talks is the residence of another individual that is used as a place for religious talks on a daily basis after maghrib and subuh prayers. 'When the arrest was made, there were several people in the house where the live session were said to be broadcasted on Facebook and Youtube. 'However, checks showed that the speaker's latest video has since been deleted,' he said. Nasri said the speaker's act of conducting sermons without a valid license or permit was among the complaints brought to the department's attention. 'We had prior instructions from JAINJ's licensing committee to take action on him,' he said. Based on records, Nasri said the speaker was arrested by the department in 2016 for giving a sermon without valid accreditation. He added that the same speaker was also investigated, but managed to flee from a JAINJ enforcement raid, during a sermon in 2020. 'This is the third time that the department has taken action on him for teaching or giving religious talks without a license or permit,' he said, adding that the requirement is similar to other states that also require the preachers or organisers to obtain a valid license or permit prior to giving their talks.
Malay Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Passenger rail service coming to Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru line by next year, says transport minister
JOHOR BARU, May 9 — Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) will introduce passenger services on the Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru line by next year at the latest. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the new service is expected to start within six to 12 months, taking into account the need to build new passenger stations along the line. 'Throughout this year, we can find at least three locations (stations) to drop off and pick up passengers,' he told reporters after officiating the reopening of the track for cargo service operations for the Kempas Baru-Pasir Gudang route, near here today. He said the Transport Ministry will carry out studies and discuss with the state government to get suitable locations for the stations. Loke said that for a start, the passenger services would use existing KTMB coaches and that he would consider purchasing new coaches in the future. 'We want something that can be immediately implemented within a short period. We want this project to be implemented promptly, so we will discuss with the Finance Ministry for approval and use RAC resources to finance this project,' he said. Meanwhile, Loke said that the Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru line has been reopened after being closed since last October for work to upgrade the 39.9-kilometre (km) track, encompassing three main sections, namely Kempas Baru-Seelong, Seelong-Johor Port and Johor Port-Pasir Gudang. He added that the upgrading work involved repairing railway structures, building new drainage systems, replacing track and gravel and improving the signalling and safety systems, with a total project value of RM55 million. 'With the reopening of the track for the Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru cargo service operation, KTMB will increase container handling from 140 20-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) per day previously to at least 420 TEUs per day, which is a three-fold increase.' 'Previously, KTMB only made two trips a day, but after the reopening, KTMB will have cargo trains making at least six trips daily,' he said. He said that customers can also increase their container transfer activities not only from the Pasir Gudang Port to the Tanjung Pelepas Port but also to other ports in Peninsular Malaysia, including the Kuantan Port via the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Port Klang, Penang Port and even out of the country via Thailand and to China. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
I oppose nepotism, but Nurul Izzah deserves to be PKR No 2, says Hassan
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said Nurul Izzah Anwar has proven her mettle, having been part of PKR's struggle since the age of 18. PETALING JAYA : Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has again stated support for Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR deputy presidency, saying her qualifications to helm the post had nothing to do with her father being the PKR president. Hassan said he was against nepotism in political parties or the government, but Nurul Izzah had proven her mettle, having been part of PKR's struggle since the age of 18. 'Who are we to deny Nurul Izzah's right to contest for the post just because she's Anwar Ibrahim's daughter?' he said, according to Utusan Malaysia. 'I myself have been outspoken in opposing nepotism, whether in political parties or the government, but Nurul Izzah has (earned the right to contest for the PKR deputy presidency) in her own capacity. 'This is an important position and she deserves to helm the post,' said the two-term PKR MP. Hassan welcomed contests for the post in the central leadership elections, saying it would allow delegates to decide who they wanted to serve as Anwar's second-in-command in PKR. In 2023, Hassan had urged Anwar, the prime minister, to review Nurul Izzah's appointment as his senior economic and financial adviser amid claims of nepotism. After several weeks, she left the post and was instead made co-head of a secretariat for the advisory committee to the finance ministry. Numerous top and divisional leaders have stated their support for Nurul Izzah to contest the deputy president's post, which is currently being held by Rafizi Ramli. This followed Rafizi's leave of absence after the PKR divisional polls, which saw the defeat of several bigwigs aligned with him. Rafizi has confirmed that he will defend his PKR deputy presidency, while Nurul Izzah said she would make 'the best decision possible' following calls for her to challenge for the post. Nominations for PKR's central leadership elections opened today and close at 11.59pm tomorrow.
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Couple leads cops on 96km car chase involving 14 police MPVs
The suspects were eventually stopped at Jalan Persiaran Tanjung Langsat, Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru, and arrested. (PDRM pic) PETALING JAYA : A couple led police on a wild 96km car chase in a desperate attempt to evade arrest in Johor Bahru early this morning. The pair triggered a high-speed pursuit involving 14 police mobile patrol vehicles (MPVs) from the Johor Bahru Selatan, Johor Bahru Utara and Seri Alam police headquarters. Johor Bahru Selatan police chief Raub Selamat said the incident began at around 1.40am when a 36-year-old man was spotted driving a Proton Wira in a suspicious manner with a 34-year-old woman in the passenger seat. They were detected by a patrol unit during routine surveillance. Despite being ordered to stop, the driver sped off, even driving against traffic on several highways and main roads. 'The suspect's car weaved dangerously at high speed through Pasir Gudang Highway to Perling, then onto the North-South Expressway, before turning back onto Pasir Gudang Highway. 'They then continued to the EDL Highway, city centre, Southkey, Jalan Bakar Batu, Jalan Masai Lama, before finally reaching Tanjung Langsat,' he said in a statement. The vehicle was eventually stopped on Jalan Persiaran Tanjung Langsat in Pasir Gudang. Raub added that both suspects have prior records for criminal and drug-related offences, and were under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the incident. 'Further checks revealed the driver did not possess a valid driving licence and the vehicle's road tax had expired,' he said. Both suspects have been remanded for four days and investigations are being carried out under the Penal Code, the Road Transport Act 1987 and the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
