Latest news with #RM30
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Sympathy scam alert: rider asks for money on WhatsApp, promises to repay next day
SCAMMERS are becoming not just smarter, but more creative by coming up with new, emotionally manipulative tactics to trick the public. In a Threads post, a user shared a suspicious WhatsApp message from a food delivery rider, who delivered a food order the previous day. The rider told her his motorbike had a flat tyre and he needed to borrow RM30 to fix it, promising to pay her back by the next night. The user said she felt conflicted — unsure whether it was a genuine plea or a well-disguised scam. Many netizens quickly chimed in, warning her that this method has been increasingly used to deceive unsuspecting victims. 'No need, sis. I came across a similar Threads post the other day — someone also shared a fake story. Now I'm reading yours, and it's the same case: flat tyre and asking for help,' said Eliana Aminuddin. Others said that riders from different p-hailing and courier services have recently been linked to similar scam attempts. Netizens urged the public to stay alert and not fall for such emotionally charged stories, especially when money is involved.
New Straits Times
21 hours ago
- New Straits Times
RM150 debt sparks RM30,000 loan shark extortion threat
GOMBAK: An elderly man has been left shaken after loan sharks demanded an astonishing 200 times more than his son's RM150 debt, insisting he pay RM30,000 or face dire consequences. The unnamed senior citizen said he was gripped with anxiety when the loan sharks threatened to burn down his home if he failed to hand over the sum. The extortionists turned violent last week — throwing yellow paint at his car and chaining the gate shut with heavy iron locks, he said. "When I returned home at around 5pm, I found the gate locked and a threatening note left behind. I've been threatened like this before over my son's unpaid debt," he told Harian Metro. "The note said: 'Last warning! I've sent a letter, no response, no response means I will burn this house.' That was the threat made to me and my family by the loan sharks. They also threw yellow paint on my car." He added that on July 16 at about 10pm, while asleep, the same group hurled more paint at his house in Rawang. "I woke when my wife nudged me. She heard a motorbike outside and smelt petrol. I opened the front door to check and saw that the gate and front door had been splattered with yellow paint by unidentified individuals." The victim said the extortionists also left a note instructing him to contact a specific WhatsApp number, warning they would set fire to his home if he failed to comply. He has already filed two police reports, and hopes authorities will take strong action against those responsible.
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Four nabbed over Sarawak Energy's RM30,000 transformer theft in Beladin
Police apprehend the four suspects and managed to recover the transformer unit. KUCHING (July 18): Police have arrested four men in Beladin, Betong in connection with the theft of a transformer unit belonging to Sarawak Energy. Betong District Police Chief DSP Rejali Angong said the suspects, aged between 30 and 39, were apprehended at various locations around Beladin yesterday (July 17). 'Acting on intelligence, a team from Betong district police Criminal Investigation Division carried out a series of arrests between 12pm and 5.50pm at several locations around Beladin on July 17. 'As a result, four local male suspects aged between 30 and 39 were apprehended. Two of them were found to have prior records on drugs,' he said in a statement today. Rejali said the stolen transformer unit, worth approximately RM30,000, was also recovered during the operation. He added that two of the suspects have prior drug-related records. The transformer was reported missing on July 16 at about 8.56am from a site near the Tanjung Lilin ferry point in Beladin. All four suspects have been remanded starting today (July 18) to assist in investigations under Section 379 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both upon conviction. arrest Beladin Sarawak Energy theft transformer
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MAHB says 62 million passenger movements by year-end target ‘very achievable'
SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is optimistic of achieving its target of 62 million passenger movements by year-end, a milestone that would mark its return to pre-pandemic levels. Group managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the positive trajectory is being driven by a series of strategic upgrades and service transformations across its network, particularly at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. 'This year is about re-establishing our strength. Passenger movement numbers are moving in the right direction. Looking at the trend, 62 million by year-end is very achievable,' he told reporters during a media briefing on MAHB's strategic direction here today. Mohd Izani, who took the helm at MAHB in August last year, said the company has pivoted towards a more agile, responsive and customer-focused model, shedding old bureaucratic ways in favour of speed and service excellence. 'I told my team we cannot run an airport at the pace we used to. This is a customer-facing business. Passengers expect quick responses and smooth experiences, so that's what we are focusing on,' he said. He added that MAHB's transformation is anchored on three pillars: service excellence, growth, and capacity enhancement under the group's refreshed airport strategy, and the KLIA ecosystem is at the centre of this repositioning plan to build a connected and efficient hub. MAHB has already completed 14 facility upgrades in the first half of the year (H1'25) at KLIA Terminal 1, involving improved passenger clearance lanes and check-in zones. These efforts, costing about RM30 million, have increased throughput by 40%. 'These are the low-hanging fruits, done with support from our experienced partners, including Global Infrastructure Partners. They helped us fine-tune operations, such as shortening clearance times and optimising passenger flows,' he said. When asked about capital expenditure for H2'25, Mohd Izani replied that the company is still finalising the figures. On MAHB's regional competitiveness, he said the group is focused on building strength in the regional travel segment rather than competing head-on with larger hubs such as Changi (Singapore) or Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok). 'We do not need to fight head-on. We focus on our niche. Many regional carriers are already operating out of Malaysia and we can build on that. We provide the customer flow and the experience, and the connectivity will follow,' he said. He noted that collaboration between airports and airlines has improved in recent months, which bodes well for long-term route development. Asked on whether MAHB faces restrictions when engaging foreign carriers due to commitments to the national carrier, Mohd Izani said the airport operator maintains a performance-driven approach. 'We support our national airline as best we can. At the same time, we do not restrict others from coming in. Everyone has to perform. It's a level playing field,' he said. Mohd Izani said MAHB is exploring the feasibility of enabling seamless passenger transfers between KLIA Terminals 1 and 2. Proof-of-concept trials are under way, including evaluating shuttle routes and baggage transfer processes. 'We are testing how many minutes it takes to move passengers between terminals, including baggage transfers. Once that is sorted, and if airlines are aligned, it can happen,' he said, adding that the Ministry of Transport is supportive of the initiative. Commenting on the recent brief disruption to the newly resumed aerotrain service at KLIA due to rainwater accumulation, Mohd Izani said the issue was promptly resolved by replacing the faulty pump and improving the drainage system. 'We've been assured by our engineering team that it is under control now. The improvements have addressed the root cause,' he said. In preparation for Visit Malaysia 2026 and the Asian Games in 2027, MAHB is curating new passenger experiences. Among them is Project Rimba, a revitalised indoor forest with thematic features including improved lighting, waterfalls and seasonal floral showcases. 'We want to give passengers something to look forward to. This is part of our commitment to continuous improvement,' he said. MAHB, now privately held by Khazanah Nasional via UEM, the Employees Provident Fund and Global Infrastructure Partners with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, continues to hold its golden share under the Ministry of Finance. Mohd Izani said the privatisation has helped expedite decision-making, with a supportive board comprising seven shareholder representatives and four government-appointed members. 'The transformation journey is only just beginning. We are putting the right team, the right partnerships, and the right pace to bring Malaysia Airports to the next level,' he said. – Bernama
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt in talks to ease oil palm land conversion for smallholders
BANTING: The Plantation and Commodities Ministry is in talks with state governments to help smallholder farmers convert the land status of their plots from rubber to palm oil cultivation, enabling them to qualify for Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification. Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said one of the key prerequisites for MSPO certification, particularly in meeting European Union Deforestation Regulation standards, is having a legitimate land title that reflects the actual crop being cultivated. "If the land is planted with palm oil, the title must indicate it as palm oil land," he told reporters at the launch of SD Guthrie Bhd's B30 biodiesel pilot project in Carey Island here today. "However, in many cases, smallholders are farming palm oil on land officially titled for rubber, which complicates the certification process," he said. He noted that the cost of converting land titles, including premiums and penalties, can be prohibitively high, often between RM30,000 and RM40,000, making it unaffordable for many smallholders. "This is the challenge. Some cannot afford the premium, and when penalties for late conversion are included, the burden becomes even heavier," Johari added. The ministry estimates that around 50,000 smallholders may be affected by these mismatched titles. To address this, Johari said a comprehensive list of affected farmers is being compiled, with the aim of negotiating financial solutions or possible penalty waivers with state governments.
