Latest news with #RAJAFAISALHISHAN
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Three nabbed, RM4.7mil of syabu seized in raids
Stopping the flow: DCP Mohamed Usuf (centre) and other senior officers displaying the drugs seized in the raids. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Three members of a drug distribution syndicate were caught after simultaneous raids led to the seizure of RM4.7mil worth of syabu. The arrests were made last Thursday after two raids were conducted in the Klang Valley. The first raid saw the arrest of a syndicate member at a shopping mall car park, said acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad. 'Inspections of his vehicle led to the discovery of a bag containing around 10.34kg of suspected syabu. 'At the same time, a second raid at the same area led to the arrest of two other suspects, including an Indonesian,' he said. In total, three men aged between 32 and 61 were nabbed. The arrests were made while the suspects were moving the drugs around. Follow-up investigations led to another raid at a terrace house within a gated community in Seri Kembangan, where 122 packages of suspected syabu weighing 135.34kg were seized. The total seized drugs were estimated to be worth around RM4.66mil. 'It is believed that this syndicate has been active since May. 'The two Malaysian men arrested were believed to be the main leader and transporter,' DCP Mohamed Usuf said. He added that the house owner would be called in to record his statement. For now, investigations are ongoing to determine the role of the Indonesian member of the syndicate and to trace more members of the syndicate. It is believed that the group was distributing the drugs in and around the Klang Valley, as well as to Indonesia. All the suspects have been remanded for six to seven days from last Friday.
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
‘Give Sabah, S'wak postings a chance'
Learning curve: Dzulkefly (fourth from right) holding a copy of 'Crisis and Community Covid-19 in Malaysia' at the launch event. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star PETALING JAYA: About 20% of medical officers who have applied to be transferred from Sabah and Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia may have to remain in their current postings, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He urged the doctors to 'give it a chance'. 'I have seen many specialists in Sabah during my hospital visits. When they were first posted, they were very reluctant to be there but now, they are in their 10th year. 'So give the posting a chance, especially if both husband and wife are posted together. 'We are looking into the appeals by doctors based in Sabah and Sarawak, but 20% may have to bite the bullet (and stay on),' he told the media after launching the book Crisis and Community: Covid-19 in Malaysia yesterday. Dzulkefly said the ministry is looking into ways to improve the incentives and allowances for those stationed in the two Borneo states. It was reported that around 600 medical officers currently posted there have applied for transfers to the peninsula. The Health Ministry said the high number of transfer requests has made it difficult to ensure sufficient public health services in Sabah and Sarawak. The Malaysian Medical Association had called for current policies to be amended to ensure travel and cargo reimbursements are allowed for all inter-state transfers, especially for those moving from contract to permanent posts across regions. It also called for the rectification of the Bayaran Insentif Wilayah disparity, which has led to discrepancies in take-home salaries of doctors transferred within regions after Dec 1, 2024. 'This has caused more doctors to refrain from going to Sabah and Sarawak. 'This policy sees doctors of similar seniority being paid differently for the same work and responsibility,' it added.
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
More breathing room for housemen
Learning curve: Dzulkefly (fourth from right) holding a copy of 'Crisis and Community Covid-19 in Malaysia' at the launch event. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star Rotations tailored according to hospitals' needs, says Health Ministry PETALING JAYA: More flexibility will now be given for the rotations of house officers where postings will be done based on a hospital's internal manpower needs. This comes after a review by the Health Ministry on housemanship postings. According to a ministry circular dated July 25 signed by Health director-general Datuk Mahathar Abd Wahab, the Medical Qualifying Committee had decided that the postings will be done in accordance to the needs of hospitals. The order comes into immediate effect. House officers are required to finish six postings over two years. This includes rotations in compulsory departments, namely general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, paediatrics, orthopaedic surgery and emergency medicine. An earlier circular dated Feb 18 earmarked the first year of training for general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and internal medicine. However, the latest circular states that for the three postings in the first year, trainee doctors will have to be posted at obstetrics and gynaecology, and either general surgery or orthopaedics. The third posting would be either for paediatrics or internal medicine. The hospital, too, has the flexibility to determine the order of posting based on its needs. For the second year, when the doctors become junior medical officers, they will be posted to the emergency medicine department and any department that they have not been rotated to in the first year. 'In order to ensure effective coordination, all housemanship directors are responsible for determining the rotation of posting for each housemen according to the distribution and training needs in the department.' According to the circular, the Housemanship Programme Committee at the hospital level also needs to play a role in ensuring the housemen posting rotation is practical, innovative, and suitable so that the distribution of housemen in each department does not burden any particular department. The ministry had reviewed an earlier proposal issued in February where house officers will undergo surgical, medical, obstetrics and gynaecology in the first year and orthopaedics, paediatrics and emergency medicine in the second year. The ministry had also studied the efficacy of the move. 'Given that the dynamic nature of the numbers (of house officers) and how the positions are filled, the ministry had reviewed the posting rotations,' it said. The Star reported on Feb 21 that the six rotations were proposed in preparation of reducing the housemanship training from two years to one year. Rotations of house officers to the anaesthesiology, psychiatric and primary care units would also be stopped temporarily. On Feb 24, the ministry explained that its proposal to shorten housemanship from two years to one was intended to improve efficiency and productivity. The house officers training was increased to two years in 2008 due to an increase in medical graduates at that time.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Stakeholders await details on RON95 targeted subsidy
Uncertain: Stakeholders are now awaiting information on how the RON95 targeted subsidy will be implemented. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star PETALING JAYA: Stakeholders are awaiting further details from the Finance Ministry on the implementation of the RON95 petrol targeted subsidy, which is set to benefit some 18 million Malaysians. As a detailed announcement is expected by the end of September, they say the mechanism must not be burdensome and prolong queues at petrol pumps. The Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) said it will engage with the Finance Ministry before making further announcements. 'PDAM welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement to reduce the RON95 pump price to RM1.99 per litre, and we fully support the government's commitment to easing the rakyat's financial burden,' the association said when contacted. 'However, numerous grey areas remain concerning the implementation mechanism, as well as the operational and financial implications for petrol station dealers. 'These uncertainties require further clarification. 'We will be seeking direct engagement with the Finance Ministry to obtain detailed information.' The Star has also learnt that the National Registration Department (NRD) is also awaiting for the Finance Ministry's direction on how the MyKad will be used in the implementation. However, drawing on the experience of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, a spokesman for the department said the chip on the MyKad must be in working condition. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that the price of RON95 petrol will soon be reduced to RM1.99 per litre under a targeted subsidy scheme with further details to be announced by the end of September. Meanwhile, content executive Tan Ah Wah, 36, said the government should come up with a refuelling system that is time efficient if the MyKad is to be used as a verification tool for fuel subsidies. 'Whenever I refuel my car, I just do it right away at the credit card terminal at the petrol pump and a full tank usually takes about three minutes. With IC verification, it may take up to 20 minutes to refuel. 'An efficient time system is essential so that we do not waste time refuelling our cars,' he added. Accountant Shakira Wong, 33, believed that using MyKad may be efficient when it comes to filtering eligible subsidy recipients but it may also prolong time at the petrol pump. 'One option would be for petrol companies to link ICs to their apps for face verification when registering. 'If still required to line-up and be verified, that's okay too but perhaps the busier stations can set-up self-order kiosks where people can just key in their IC number. 'Most foolproof way is still going to the counter as the cashier can see if the person filling is the same as the person in the IC,' she added. E-hailing driver Zamzuri Ali, 25, said there must be a digital system in place to avoid queues at the counter. 'It will be tedious if one needs to verify at the counter. It could result in long queues,' he said.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
MyVisa 2.0 to elevate Immigration digital services
Ever-ready team: Elite Immigration enforcement personnel conducting a drill showcasing their operational capabilities. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star PUTRAJAYA: Enhanced digital service delivery from the Immigration Department for electronic visa applications is in the pipeline with the launch of MyVisa 2.0. The upgraded system was launched yesterday in conjunction with the 103rd Immigration Day celebrations and is slated for rollout on Aug 1. 'It is an enhanced version of the original MyVisa system introduced on Dec 1, 2021. The new system has been developed as an integrated digital visa platform, offering faster, safer and more efficient application experiences, in line with the expectations of citizens and international visitors who prioritise convenience in public services. 'MyVisa 2.0 incorporates various advanced technologies such as Optical Character Recognition, real-time notifications, smart automation and a dedicated mobile app for applicants. 'It provides a fully digital visa application process, including passport scanning, document uploads, virtual interviews, real-time tracking, eVisa approval with QR codes and interactive support via live chat,' the department said in a statement yesterday. It added that the new system will no longer require applicants to head to the Malaysian Representative Offices abroad. The 103rd Immigration Day celebration ceremony was launched by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah on behalf of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution. He left the event before its conclusion to attend another meeting. Earlier, Saifuddin Nasution said the country is still behind despite embracing artificial intelligence (AI). 'Today, we embrace AI, but we are still three years behind. 'But if we don't start now, we will be 30 years behind,' he said in his opening speech. The minister urged the department to send officers for AI training at local universities. 'Send personnel to local public universities such as UKM and UiTM in batches. 'Give them the opportunity to attend one- to two-week courses to gain knowledge of AI and develop the skills needed to use AI tools, which are evolving rapidly day by day.' Saifuddin Nasution also urged the Immigration Department to increase its commitment to combating graft within its ranks. 'With reforms anchored on efficient governance, strengthened integrity and impactful service delivery, I hope the department will uphold a zero-tolerance policy against corruption,' he said.
