Latest news with #RM128
Barnama
29-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: May 29, 2025
French mining giant Eramet signed a deal related to the nickel-based battery materials with Indonesia's sovereign wealth funds Danantara and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) in Jakarta on Wednesday. This memorandum of understanding was one of the major outcomes from French President Emmanuel Macron's meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto. Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti met with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) president to discuss strategic research collaboration to strengthen ASEAN's response to US tariff impacts. During a meeting with ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe in Jakarta, Tuesday, she discussed a research proposal for ERIA to conduct a comprehensive and multidimensional analysis of the US tariff policy issue. 1. CENTRAL BANK ENTERS TO STABLISE CURRENCY -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The Central Bank of Myanmar announced that it would sell RM128 million (US$30 million) to fuel oil imports. The central bank aims to curb instability in the foreign exchange market and currency devaluation. 1. EYE DISEASE PATIENTS ON THE RISE -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Nearly 20,000 people with eye disorder sought treatment during the 12th round of eyesight donation at the Sitagu Cakku Dana Hospital in Yangon. Over 4,000 underwent surgery and about 250 received laser treatment. SINGAPORE 1. FIRST TRANCHE OF GE2025 CANDIDATE EXPENSES PUBLISHED, WITH HIGHEST SPENDING BEING OVER $100,000 -- THE STRAITS TIMES A total of 35 candidates who contested the May 3 General Election have declared their election expenses so far, with their combined spending coming up to $884,978. 2. US TRADE COURT BLOCKS TRUMP'S 'LIBERATION DAY' TARIFFS -- CNA/REUTER A United States trade court on Wednesday (May 28) blocked President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs from going into effect, ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the US than they buy. THAILAND 1. CENTRAL BANK RECOMMENDS USING STIMULUS FUND TO SUPPORT EXPORTERS AMID TRADE CHALLENGES -- THE NATION The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has urged the government to prioritize the recently approved 157-billion-baht economic stimulus fund toward supporting exporters and domestic manufacturers facing mounting challenges from intensified import flooding and global trade tensions. 2. AIIB KEEN ON LAND BRIDGE INVESTMENT -- BANGKOK POST The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has expressed interest in investing in Thailand's Land Bridge project, describing it as beneficial for both Southeast Asia and East Asia, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. VIETNAM 1. SKILLED WORKFORCE SHORTAGE TO PROPEL E-COMMERCE -- VIETNAMPLUS The rising e-commerce sector needs skilled workers to drive further growth. Last year the market was valued at RM106 billion (US$25 billion). According to authorities, the professional workforce for e-commerce was lacking and weak. 2. HUNGARY TO SUPPORT REMOVAL OF IUU 'YELLOW CARD' -- VIETNAMPLUS Hungarian President Sulyok Tamas, during his visit to Vietnam, said he will ask the European Commission to lift its "yellow card" regulation related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing against Vietnam's seafood exports. A move to enhance bilateral trade with Vietnam. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- New Straits Times
'Datuk' civil servant charged with misappropriating RM200k
SHAH ALAM: A civil servant holding a "Datuk" title has been charged at the Sessions Court with the misappropriation of RM200,000. The accused, Datuk Azlan Johar, 54, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud. According to the charge, Azlan is accused of dishonestly misappropriating part of an allocation from the Felda Madani Empowerment Programme 2024, amounting to RM200,000, by handing it over to his 57-year-old elder brother for personal use. He allegedly committed the offence inside a Proton X70 that was parked by the roadside in Section 9, Bandar Baru Bangi, on the morning of Sept 7, 2024. Azlan is currently assigned to the Public Service Department. In a separate case in the same court, the managing director of a travel company was charged with misappropriating RM128,399 belonging to the company. The accused, Mohamad Anas Mohamad Naem, 33, pleaded not guilty before Judge Awang Kerisnada. He was accused of committing the offence at a bank branch in Denai Alam between Nov 16, 2023, and Sept 6, 2024. Both Azlan and Anas were charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for the dishonest misappropriation of property. The offence carries a punishment of up to five years' imprisonment, whipping, and a fine. Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin proposed that each accused be granted bail of between RM20,000 and RM30,000, with one surety each. He also proposed additional conditions, including that both accused surrender their passports to the court and refrain from contacting any prosecution witnesses. Lawyer Zainal Omar represented Azlan, while lawyer Muhammad Kausar Mohd Khairi represented Mohamad Anas. Both requested reduced bail amounts. The court then set bail at RM25,000 for each accused, with one surety, and allowed the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution. The case involving Mohamad Anas was fixed for mention on June 25, while Azlan's case will be mentioned on July 23.
![[UPDATED] 10 underage victims rescued from sex trafficking syndicate operating out of spa](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fimmiraidjb_%25281%2529_1746261436.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] 10 underage victims rescued from sex trafficking syndicate operating out of spa
KUALA LUMPUR: Ten underage victims were rescued during a raid on a sex trafficking syndicate operating under the guise of a spa and massage parlour in Johor Baru. Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation was carried out yesterday following public complaints and intelligence gathered by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Money Laundering (Atipsom and Amla) Division at its Putrajaya headquarters. He said a total of 71 individuals were detained in the raid, which took place at 3.15pm and involved 58 officers from various units, including the enforcement division, intelligence and special operations division, as well as the Johor and Negri Sembilan state immigration departments. "Checks at the premises led to the arrest of 37 Vietnamese women and 16 Indonesian women, aged between 18 and 40, believed to be involved in prostitution. "The services were discreetly advertised to select customers via WeChat and WhatsApp, with rates ranging between RM200 and RM300 per hour," he said in a statement. Zakaria also said that 11 foreign men - from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh - believed to be working as cleaners, were detained, along with seven local men suspected of acting as caretakers, 'captains', or owners of the spa. "Some of the women were found entertaining local and foreign clients during the raid, while others were discovered hiding in a concealed room built into the premises, believed to have been used to evade detection. "Cash totalling RM128,464, suspected to be proceeds from the illegal activities, was also seized during the operation," he said. He added that preliminary investigations using the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators (NGHTI 2.0) identified 10 underage foreign women, four Indonesians and six Vietnamese, as victims of sexual exploitation. "These victims were allegedly misled with false job offers, denied wages, had their movements restricted, and their passports confiscated. "As such, the case is being investigated under the Atipsom Act 2007, with the rescued victims placed in protective shelters pending further action," he said. Zakaria said the remaining foreign nationals have been sent to immigration detention depots and are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, and the Immigration Regulations 1963. "The local men suspected of managing the premises are also being investigated under Section 12 of the Atipsom Act, Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act, and Section 55B of the Immigration Act," he added.
Malay Mail
03-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Just RM300 an hour: Immigration officers rescue 10 girls from sex traffickers in JB, over 50 other women from Vietnam, Indonesia also found
JOHOR BARU, May 3 — Ten underage foreign girls were rescued from a sex trafficking syndicate operating behind a spa and massage parlour front here during an Immigration Department raid yesterday. Director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation was launched following public complaints and intelligence gathered by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Money Laundering (Atipsom and Amla) Division in Putrajaya. 'As many as 71 individuals were detained including seven local men believed to be 'captains', and 10 underage women rescued,' he said in a statement posted on the department's official Facebook account. He added that more than RM128,000 in cash was seized during the raid. A scrawl space behind a spa and massage parlour in Johor Baru led Immigration officers to women and children offered by a sex trafficking ring to local and foreign customers. — Picture from Facebook/Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia Separately, the New Straits Times reporting on the incident disclosed that the 10 underaged girls were six Vietnamese and four Indonesians, based on the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators. Their ages were not disclosed. 'These victims were allegedly misled with false job offers, denied wages, had their passports withheld, and were coerced into providing sex services,' Zakaria was also quoted telling a news conference. According to the New Straits Times, 53 other women from Vietnam and Indonesia, between the ages of 18 and 40 were also found at the hidden premises, and suspected to be involved in the prostitution ring. 'Some of the women were found entertaining local and foreign clients during the raid, while others were discovered hiding in a concealed room built into the premises, believed to have been used to evade detection,' Zakaria was quoted as saying. A spa and massage parlour in Johor Baru hid a sex trafficking business offering underaged girls to local and foreign men. — Picture from Facebook/Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia He added that the sex trafficking ring would promote its services to select customers through WeChat and WhatsApp, charging between RM200 and RM300 per hour.
