Latest news with #RM26mil
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Kuantan boy reported missing found safe in relative's house
KUANTAN: A 13-year-old student who was reported missing on Sunday was found safe at his relative's house in Chukai, Terengganu. Pahang police chief Comm Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said police was informed by the family that the boy was seen at the house at about 7am yesterday. 'Police have conducted investigations and interviewed the boy's family members. 'We are conducting further investigations to find out how the student reached the location,' he told reporters after the Pahang police contingent monthly assembly. On Sunday, Kuantan OCPD Assistant Commissioner Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu was reported to have said the teenager was reported missing after leaving home without the family's knowledge. It is believed that this was because he refused to return to his boarding school in Pekan. Meanwhile, Comm Yahaya said the police seized various types of drugs worth more than RM84mil with 4,839 arrests in the first four months of this year. He said this was a sharp increase compared to the same period last year, where RM8.2mil worth of seizures were recorded while the total number of arrests was 4,810. 'A total of 190 cases were brought to court from January to April this year compared to 220 cases for the same period, Bernama reported. 'The police also succeeded in busting four drug trafficking syndicates involving six arrests through Ops Indera,' Comm Yahaya said. In addition, he said the Commercial Crime Investigation Department had opened 817 investigation papers involving losses worth RM26mil.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Smooth ambulance transfers, new facilities in Segamat
Ambulance responses in Johor are coordinated through the MECC that ensures clinic and hospital-based support. — Filepic SEGAMAT Hospital is equipped to handle medical emergencies within the district, a Johor exco says. These include calls that involve road transfers of patients between medical facilities. Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the hospital's six ambulances met the district's emergency and inter-facility transfer needs. 'The hospital maintains a daily bed occupancy rate of 78%. 'This is within manageable limits,' he said during the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar. He was replying to N. Saraswati (BN-Kemelah), Ng Kor Sim (PH-Jementah) and Fauziah Misri (BN-Penawar) who raised concerns about ambulances and health services within their respective constituencies. Ling said Segamat Hospital had begun operations at a RM75mil facility that was handed over for use on Feb 25, 2023, and officially opened on April 1 that year. He said a new RM26mil health clinic would open in Segamat on July 31. 'Ambulances attend to about 78% to 89% of calls in the Segamat district within 15 minutes. 'The remaining 11% to 22% of calls receive ambulance assistance within the 16- to 34-minute range,' he added. Ling further said that nearby health clinics were also equipped with ambulances and assist in covering emergencies closer to their areas. 'These efforts are coordinated through the Medical Emergency Coordination Centre (MECC), a system used nationwide. 'It ensures that ambulance response is not solely hospital-based but includes clinic support as well,' he added. Ling said Johor would soon receive 45 new ambulances under a federal initiative. The state government, he said, was also funding four additional ambulances for the Tangkak, Batu Pahat, Mersing and Kota Tinggi districts. 'To improve emergency services, RM1.2mil has been allocated to upgrade emergency wards in 12 public hospitals across the state,' he said. Ling said the funds, announced by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, would be used for medical equipment purchases and renovation works. 'This reflects our commitment to enhancing the public healthcare system and providing a more comfortable, efficient environment for patients,' he added. ― By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH and RHEMA SENG
The Star
22-05-2025
- General
- The Star
JRTB elephant haven set for 2030 launch
IPOH: The Perak Elephant Sanctuary at East-West Highway (JRTB) is expected to be completed by 2030, says Perak's Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff. He said the RM40mil project was submitted to the Economy Ministry on May 6, and the decision on its construction falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government. 'If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as in 2028, but for (the infrastructure facility) to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target. 'With the availability of such a facility, it will reduce human-elephant conflicts at JRTB by about 50%,' he said. Bernama reported on July 18, 2020, that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry announced the development of the Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Batu 11, JRTB in Gerik. Based on Perhilitan's records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflicts were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property loss estimated at RM39.4mil. On the effectiveness of a wildlife crossing at JRTB, Yusoff said the 200m underpass (viaduct) that was built for RM26mil in 2015 proved helpful, but does not guarantee the safety of elephants that inhabited the area along the route. He added that this was because the crossing was built at KM157 of the JRTB, and only used by elephants living nearby. 'The viaduct only helps on a small scale, and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So, we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at JRTB,' he said.
The Star
22-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Perhilitan expects elephant sanctuary in Gerik to be operational by 2030
IPOH: The Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) is expected to be completed by 2030, says Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff. He stated that the RM40mil project was submitted to the Economy Ministry on May 6, and the decision regarding its construction was solely under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. "If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as 2028, but for the infrastructure facility to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target. "With the availability of such a facility, it will reduce human-elephant conflicts at JRTB," he said when contacted by Bernama on Thursday (May 22). Bernama reported on July 18, 2020, that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry announced the Perak Elephant Sanctuary (PES) development at Batu 11, JRTB in Gerik. Perhilitan's records show 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflicts were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property loss estimated at RM39.4mil. On the effectiveness of a wildlife crossing at the JRTB, Yusoff said the 200-metre crossing, also known as a viaduct that was built for RM26mil in 2015, proved helpful but does not guarantee the safety of elephants that inhabit the area along the route. He added that this was because the crossing was built at KM157 of the JRTB and only used by the elephants inhabiting that area. "The viaduct only helps on a small scale and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So, we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at the JRTB," he said. He also did not rule out the possibility of building more wildlife crossings along the JRTB if there is a specific allocation for it. – Bernama
