Latest news with #RM1mil
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
Four, including foreigner, plead guilty to misappropriation of subsidised LPG in Seremban
SEREMBAN: Four men, including a Myanmar national, pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here Tuesday (June 3) to misappropriating 1,200kg of subsidised liquefied petroleum gas last month. Lee Kin Choong, 57; Lim Chun Wee, 38; Tang Kai Lin, 28, and Mar Thang, 31, made the plea before Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam. They were jointly charged with committing the offence with another person, Phaway Ai, 23, also a Myanmar national, but the charge was not read out to him on Tuesday because an interpreter was required. They are jointly charged with possessing a scheduled controlled substance, namely liquefied petroleum gas, amounting to 1,200kg, in circumstances giving rise to reasonable suspicion under Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 at about 6.45pm at an unnumbered premises in Jalan Mantin, here on May 30. The charge, under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, provides a maximum fine of RM1mil or imprisonment for up to three years upon conviction. Judge Mohamad Kamil set bail at RM6,000 with one surety for the three local men, while bail for Mar Thang, who is a Myanmar national, was set at RM8,000 with one surety. They were also ordered to surrender their passports to the court, report at the Negeri Sembilan office of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry once a month and not intimidate witnesses. The court set July 2 for mention. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry prosecuting officer Janawatul Fieza Hamisan appeared for the prosecution, while all the accused were unrepresented. - Bernama
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Funds needed for KGV school hall
IT is not often we hear of students who left school decades ago coming forward to help their alma mater, either financially or in kind. Former students of SMK King George V (KGV) in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, had planned to build a clubhouse like what the Old Paulians did for St Paul's Institution, but decided to build a multipurpose hall instead. Old Georgian Association (OGA), led by their former president and state police chief Datuk Osman Salleh, had dropped plans for a clubhouse in place of a multipurpose hall about 10 years ago. The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, who is also a former student, performed the groundbreaking ceremony in July 2016 and, at the same time, urged former students to contribute. OGA carried out several fundraising activities over the years and managed to raise more than RM1mil for the project. But the association is still short of funds, as the cost has since increased to an estimated RM2.5mil. Abdul Aziz showing an artist's impression of the new school hall. OGA committee member Abdul Aziz Hamzah said the project was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and inability to raise the targeted amount. Abdul Aziz, who has been the school's Parent-Teacher Association chairman since 2018, said efforts were now underway to raise the funds as the project's piling work started in February. 'The school desperately needs a bigger hall, as the current one, which used to have only one badminton court and where legend Datuk Punch Gunalan used to train, can only accommodate some 300 students. 'The new hall will, among other things, have four badminton halls, a stage, toilets and changing rooms, and it will be able to accommodate up to 800 students,' he said, adding that the present hall could not be expanded as it was a heritage building. The school currently holds its assemblies and other events that require the attendance of all students in an open area. KGV, established in 1923, was initially known as the Government English School. In 1928, its name was changed. Today, it has some 870 students in forms one to five. Abdul Aziz said OGA, which has some 1,000 members, was bent on building the hall as a mark of gratitude. 'We Old Georgians would like to leave behind a legacy and to be forever connected to the school. 'But to make it happen, we need to raise more funds so that the hall can be completed on schedule by September next year,' he said, adding that the date was also significant as it would mark a century of the renaming of the school. He said once completed, the hall could also be used to hold examinations, teaching and learning activities as well as sporting events. Abdul Aziz said the new hall, which was being built near the school's famous Georgian Green field, could also be used during sports festivals or tournaments such as rugby, cricket and softball, which KGV was known for. 'OGA will hand over the hall, which we plan to call Georgians Hall, to the school once it is completed. 'We are hoping former students will come forward and support us financially and even make contributions in instalments if they wish to,' he said, adding that the PTA would also be roped in to help. Those wishing to contribute can call 018-979 7455 (Aziz), 019-660 7288 (OGA secretary Eric Lee) or deposit their donation to the association's RHB Bank account (2550 4700 0002 91).
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MACC seizes RM32mil in assets belonging to 'Tan Sri' in highway funds probe
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized various assets worth RM32mil believed to belong to a highway concessionnaire with the title 'Tan Sri', following an investigation into the misappropriation of highway construction funds in the Klang Valley. According to a source, among the items seized were handbags, jewellery, luxury vehicles, watches and cash after the MACC Investigation Division searched two residences belonging to the individual in the capital. The source stated that in the search, MACC seized 217 luxury watches of various brands estimated to be worth about RM5mil, 27 handbags worth over RM1mil and jewellery valued at RM4mil. "During the search, MACC also seized nine luxury vehicles such as Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover worth almost RM7mil," it said on Thursday (May 29). The source added that following the search, MACC also found a storage containing various types of luxury liquor in another residence estimated to be worth about RM3mi and believed to be linked to money-laundering activities. "In the same operation, MACC also seized another luxury residential unit in the capital estimated to be worth around RM12mil," he said. The source also explained that all goods and assets were seized for the purpose of further investigation under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001. – Bernama
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Apex court dismisses bid for leave to appeal in HSR lawsuit
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has dismissed lawyer Mohd Hatta Sanuri's application for leave to appeal in his bid to reinstate a suit over the cancellation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project. A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof, Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah unanimously ruled on Tuesday (May 27) that the legal questions posed failed to meet the threshold under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964. Delivering the court's decision, Justice Zabariah held that the matter was interlocutory in nature and did not involve any novel legal issue or question of public importance. She noted that the issues raised, specifically those relating to locus standi and justiciability, have been conclusively settled in existing case law. Justice Zabariah further remarked that the court views frivolous legal claims with seriousness and observed that the questions of law submitted were verbose and lacked precision. ALSO READ: Court throws out suit against govt, four others over HSR cancellation "If they (the questions) were drafted well, then maybe we could ventilate,' Justice Zabariah said in dismissing Hatta's application for leave, with no order as to cost. This decision effectively brings to an end Hatta's legal challenge against the government, former prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and former transport minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Hatta had sought leave to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision on Jan 16 last year which upheld the High Court's ruling that his suit was non-justiciable and disclosed no reasonable cause of action. The High Court struck out the suit on Dec 15, 2023, after allowing the government's application to dismiss the claim. Acting in person and purporting to represent over 32 million Malaysians, Hatta filed the suit in December 2022, seeking to nullify the cancellation of the project and demanding compensation of RM1mil for each Malaysian over its termination. ALSO READ: Appeals court dismisses bid to reinstate lawsuit over HSR cancellation The suit arose from the termination of the 350km HSR project, jointly announced by the governments of Malaysia and Singapore on Jan 1, 2021, following the parties' failure to reach an agreement on proposed modifications before the expiry of the bilateral agreement on Dec 31, 2020. The project had been envisioned to facilitate high-speed travel between the two countries within 90 minutes, inclusive of domestic and shuttle services. Hatta was represented by counsel Mohaji Selamat, while Senior Federal Counsel Donald Joseph Franklin appeared on behalf of the government. – Bernama
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
PayNet eyes 50 fintech firms in its programme
Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) group chief executive officer Farhan Ahmad KUALA LUMPUR: Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) aims to onboard more than 50 local financial technology (fintech) firms into its community and accelerator programme, PayNet Fintech Hub. 'There are about 300 fintech firms in Malaysia. For the programme to be competitive, we want about 50 to be in our programme,' said group chief executive officer Farhan Ahmad at the launch of the fintech hub here yesterday. The programme aims to accelerate fintech growth in Malaysia by providing firms with direct access to capital, key industry connections, financial incentives, and the ability to learn from and work alongside global powerhouses. On the once vibrant startup ecosystem in Malaysia, Farhan said among the reasons why local startups have yet emerged as unicorn companies are due to them not being able to find good venture capital and not having a natural liquidity option. 'It's hard to go into an initial public offering and there is no acquisition in the market. 'So we learned that and thought about how we connect fintechs that want to work with banks and interested investors – there is no place for them to meet each other,' he said, adding that PayNet is trying to play a role in creating the fintech community. 'If you are a small startup and you cannot find anybody to partner you, maybe PayNet can help you. 'I think we looked at all these little problem statements faced by the fintech startups,' he added. When asked how PayNet is looking to further scale the startups involved, Farhan said the group's role is to provide inspiration, support and international exposure, including access to global venture capital and partners like Amazon Web Services. This will allowa the startups to scale beyond Malaysia while ideally staying rooted in Malaysia. The PayNet Fintech Hub initiative features two tracks, namely community and catalysts, and offers about more than RM4mil in support. According to PayNet, the fintech hub community members will get exclusive financial support in the form of more than RM1mil in PayNet value-added credits and over RM600,000 worth of sponsored advisory services across legal, finance, human resources and market research. The members will be granted up to RM3mil in cloud credits and support from major cloud service providers, as well as access to a fully sponsored co-working space. Community members will also be provided direct access to a vibrant community of founders, expert mentors, corporate partners, and fintech investors offering over 450 hours of hands-on guidance, collaboration and funding opportunities.
