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Free Malaysia Today
24-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Kawaguchi facing charges over unpaid worker wages, says source
Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd is facing charges for failing to pay outstanding wages to 249 former employees, according to a source. (Andy Hall pic) PETALING JAYA : The labour department has filed charges against plastic component supplier Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd — now known as Alpha Integral Sdn Bhd — over its alleged failure to pay outstanding wages to 249 former employees, a source said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the case was called up in court on July 16 but was postponed as the department's officers were unable to serve the summons on the company or its director. 'As a result the court fixed a new date in September to allow the prosecution time to serve the summons,' the source said. Louis Liaw Chambers, the law firm representing the affected workers, told FMT the charges relate to the company's purported failure to comply with orders issued by a labour court. Kawaguchi Manufacturing had in December last year agreed to pay the workers their salary arrears in nine instalments, beginning January 15, with the rest due monthly from April 2025 until November 2025. The agreements were reached after the former workers staged a peaceful protest at the company's factory in Port Klang. They agreements were recorded in orders issued by the labour court. The company made the first payment, but is alleged to have missed payments due in April, May, June and July. Last Friday, it was reported that the workers' lawyers had issued the company with a letter of demand giving it until July 21 to settle all overdue payments or risk further legal action. Kawaguchi Manufacturing is understood not to have responded to the letter or met any of the outstanding payments. Separately, independent migrant worker rights activist Andy Hall said the labour department's decision to take Kawaguchi Manufacturing to court was 'timely and appropriate'. 'Accountability is essential and deeply personal for the exploited workers in this case,' he said when contacted. However, Hall expressed concern that victims of 'modern slavery' are still required to fund their own legal representation.
Malay Mail
12-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
ECRL marks new milestone with Genting Tunnel breakthrough, set to be longest rail tunnel in South-east Asia
BENTONG, July 12 — Malaysia's ambitious East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) marked a major milestone today with the successful breakthrough of the 16.39km Genting Tunnel – expected to be the longest railway tunnel in South-east Asia. Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who launched the event, said the tunnel would significantly improve logistics between the east and west coasts of peninsular Malaysia by connecting Kuantan Port and Port Klang, The Star reported. 'It will certainly complement international trade, making it more attractive for businesses by boosting export-oriented industries as its 'last-mile' connectivity, linking Kuantan Port and Port Klang, will bring both coasts closer together and ease the transfer of goods along the ECRL network,' he was quoted as saying. The Genting Tunnel, which passes under the Titiwangsa Range, has been recognised in the Malaysia Book of Records as both the country's longest railway tunnel and the one with the highest overburden. Loke said the achievement demonstrated strong engineering cooperation between Malaysia and China, as well as the commitment of ECRL personnel across all 41 tunnel excavation sites. The ECRL has been touted as a 'game changer' for the movement of passengers and freight in peninsular Malaysia. When complete, the rail line will link state capitals, major urban centres, industrial hubs, seaports, airports, and tourism zones up and down as well as the east and west coasts of the peninsula. With construction now 84.59 per cent complete as of June, Loke said the ECRL is on track to begin operations in January 2027. 'With the progress reaching 84.59per cent as of June, the Transport Ministry is confident that the Malaysian Rail Link is on the right track and operational by January 2027,' he was quoted as saying.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia seeks urgent trade talks with US after 25% tariff blow
Malaysia will press ahead with talks towards a 'comprehensive' trade agreement with the United States , its trade ministry has said, as Kuala Lumpur races to soften the blow of a newly imposed 25 per cent tariff on its exports unveiled by US President Donald Trump On Monday, Trump revealed he had sent letters to leaders of 14 countries announcing tariffs ranging from 25 to 40 per cent, in an apparent gambit to accelerate trade negotiations. The new 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian goods is one percentage point higher than the rate first outlined by the mercurial US leader when he first revealed his 'Liberation Day' levies on April 2. In a statement on Tuesday, Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) said the country was committed to 'continued engagement with the US towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and comprehensive trade agreement'. Shipping containers are seen stacked at Port Klang, Malaysia's biggest and busiest port. Photo: AP 'Specifically, MITI will continue discussions with its US counterparts in good faith to address outstanding issues, clarify the scope and impact of the announced tariffs, and pursue avenues for the timely conclusion of our negotiations,' it said.
Malay Mail
07-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Atom says Malaysia sees around 15 cases of radioactive material smuggling yearly
JOHOR BARU, July 7 — The Department of Atomic Energy (Atom Malaysia) revealed today that it has successfully uncovered several attempts by a syndicate to smuggle in illegal radioactive materials using forged customs documents. The syndicate forged customs declaration forms that stated it was importing toys, dairy products or textiles as a cover for smuggling in the radioactive materials. Atom Malaysia deputy director-general Monalija Kostor said the syndicate's activities were recently uncovered after an inspection by the authorities. She said attempts to smuggle in the radioactive materials were carried out via land and sea routes, involving the national border areas, with an average of 15 such cases per year. 'The syndicate also attempted to smuggle in radioactive materials via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang and through the entry point in Penang. 'However, the most frequent attempts occurred in Port Klang, Selangor, where the radioactive materials were declared as other items,' she told reporters after the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise, Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand-Singapore 2025 (MITSATOM 2025) opening ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel here today. Present at the event were Atom Malaysia director-general Noraisha Pungut and Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin. Monalija said Atom Malaysia actively conducts radioactive material smuggling detection at Malaysian borders through the installation of Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) at the respective entry points. 'Most of the radioactive materials are smuggled in from foreign countries, including some taken out of our own country without a licence. "This activity, which is carried out illegally without permission, can cause harm and be used by terrorists,' she said. Monalija explained that the radioactive materials were smuggled mainly for use in the oil and gas, electronics, research and medical industries. She added that such radioactive material, which is very dangerous when openly exposed, was smuggled to reduce the cost of legally importing the material. 'Legally importing radioactive material usually costs more than RM1 million and is dependent on the type of radioactive material. 'By smuggling these materials, the users aim to maximise their profits without realising the harmful public health effects and national security risks they pose,' she said.
Malay Mail
03-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Pahang Customs foils bid to smuggle RM4.4m e-waste, aluminium via false declarations at Port Klang
BENTONG, July 3 — The Pahang Customs Department has foiled two attempts to smuggle in e-waste and aluminium scrap from overseas, seizing seven containers worth an estimated RM4.4 million at North Port, Port Klang. Its director Mohd Asri Seman said the simultaneous operations on May 21 were carried out by the Bentong Customs Enforcement Division in collaboration with the Selangor Department of Environment. 'In the first raid at 1.15pm, three 40-foot containers were found to contain 46,726kg of e-waste valued at RM700,890, believed to have been imported without a permit or proper customs declaration,' he told a press conference today. In the second raid, four containers carrying 105,760kg of aluminium flakes, worth about RM3.7 million, were found to be falsely declared as other goods. Mohd Asri said such imports require approval from the Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) and are regulated by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). He added that the smuggling method involved misdeclaring the items as copper concentrate to bypass import permit requirements. Both cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967. — Bernama
