Latest news with #RM243
New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Retired teacher, senior citizen lose RM352,000 to scams
JOHOR BARU: Police are investigating two commercial crime crises that cost a retired teacher and a senior citizen more than RM352,000 in total losses. Johor Baru South police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the first case involved a 60-year-old retired teacher who lost RM243,975 in an investment scam advertised on social media. Lured by a promised 560 per cent return within three months, the victim joined a WhatsApp group and was instructed to download an application purportedly linked to the investment. Between April 28 and June 19, the victim made seven online and over-the-counter bank transfers totalling RM255,100 into two bank accounts. She received RM11,125 in returns, resulting in a net loss of nearly a quarter million ringgit. "Checks revealed 17 prior fraud reports linked to the bank accounts used," Raub said in a statement today. In the second case, a senior citizen lost RM108,959 after he received a phone call from a man claiming to be a bank officer. The caller claimed the victim's credit card had been misused on an e-commerce online platform and convinced him to perform several "verification" transactions, which included transferring RM8,989 from his wife's credit card to the suspect's TNG eWallet. He was also instructed to transfer RM99,970 via DuitNow from his bank account. Raub said the suspect became unreachable once the transactions were completed. Checks showed the phone number had been linked to two similar fraud cases. He urged the public to be wary of investment offers on digital platforms and not to trust promises of unrealistic returns. He also advised verifying suspicious calls through official bank channels and reporting scams immediately to the National Scam Response Centre at 997, which can help block suspect accounts and stop fund transfers.
New Straits Times
14-06-2025
- New Straits Times
More than a beach escape: Sabah resort's green revolution
Tucked away on the sun-drenched coastline of Tuaran, about 34 kilometres north of Kota Kinabalu, Shangri-La Rasa Ria occupies a rare space where nature, heritage and community seem to converge with quiet, unhurried grace. Framed by 400 acres of rich tropical wilderness and the shimmering sweep of Pantai Dalit beach, the resort has long drawn visitors in search of escape. But behind its picture-postcard serenity lies a deeper, evolving story - one of mindful hospitality shaped by the land and people around it. For general manager Fiona Hagan, sustainability here isn't a trendy catchphrase or a greenwashed tagline. It's a responsibility born of place. "Our journey in sustainability has always been deeply rooted in the people of Rasa Ria and the community of Pantai Dalit and Tuaran," she reflects, adding: "The community's knowledge, traditions and unwavering support have inspired us to go beyond hospitality." This commitment was formalised through the resort's pursuit of globally recognised benchmarks, including the ISO 20121 sustainability certification. Yet, much of Rasa Ria's environmental stewardship happens quietly, in spaces guests rarely see. Shared Care for the Environment Rainwater harvesting systems and laundry water recovery processes hum discreetly behind the scenes, while food-waste management and electricity conservation initiatives help reduce the resort's environmental footprint. In 2024 alone, these collective efforts saw over 63 per cent of waste diverted from landfills. A standout among these initiatives is the resort's Glass Bottle Recycling Programme, which transforms discarded glass bottles into reusable glass sand. The sand finds new life in landscaping and minor construction projects around the property. Local residents are invited to join in too, dropping off their used bottles and participating in a simple, circular economy rooted in shared care for the environment. But Rasa Ria's mission stretches beyond conservation. It's also a protector of Sabah's delicate biodiversity. The resort partners with local environmental groups to support Pangolin Conservation through habitat protection, biodiversity monitoring, and awareness programmes — a quiet but essential contribution to safeguarding one of our country's most elusive creatures. Of Land and Community The heart of Rasa Ria's sustainability story, however, beats in its community. From collaborations with Sabahan artisans and vendors to employing differently-abled individuals, like long-serving carpenter Samri Butak — who once represented Sabah at the Malaysia Paralympic Games — the resort's initiatives weave economic opportunity with cultural preservation. In 2024 alone, the resort invested RM243,360 in ESG initiatives, with over 60 school children benefiting from outreach programmes like World Pangolin Day and food safety workshops. Women-led projects, including the Sarimpak Robe initiative with Changgih Designs and sewing collaborations in Tuaran and Tamparuli, provide steady income while celebrating Sabah's rich textile traditions. For Hagan and her team, purposeful hospitality isn't a destination but a journey, constantly evolving in tandem with the land and community that sustain it. "This is about building a more sustainable Sabah, together," she concludes, as Rasa Ria quietly redefines what it means to be a resort with a conscience.
