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The Sun
14-07-2025
- The Sun
RM3.55 million drugs seized in Johor, three arrested including Vietnamese women
JOHOR BAHRU: Police seized drugs worth RM3.55 million and arrested three individuals, including two Vietnamese women, in a series of raids conducted on July 10 and 11. The suspects, aged between 32 and 39, were detained in operations led by the Johor Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and Johor Bahru Selatan district police. Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar revealed that the syndicate had been active since April last year, using guarded residences to store and process drugs before distributing them locally. The breakthrough came after the arrest of a local man, which led police to a rented shophouse room and three luxury condominium units. 'The suspect also led the police to conduct raids at three luxury condominium units, also rented by him, where more drugs were seized and two Vietnamese women were arrested,' Kumar said during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters. Authorities confiscated 20.7 kg of suspected ecstasy powder, 18.49 kg of marijuana, 154.25 grams of ketamine, and 141 grams of erimin 5 pills. Drug processing equipment and RM800 in cash were also seized. Kumar noted a shift in trafficking trends toward marijuana flowers, which have a higher hallucinogenic effect and market value of RM36,000 per kilogramme. All suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and are remanded until July 17. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. - Bernama
Barnama
14-07-2025
- Barnama
Drugs Worth RM3.55 Million Seized, Two Vietnamese Women Among Three Arrested
JOHOR BAHRU, July 14 (Bernama) -- Police seized various types of drugs worth RM3.55 million and arrested a local man and two Vietnamese women in special operations conducted on July 10 and 11. Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the three suspects, aged between 32 and 39, were arrested during separate raids conducted by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department of the state police and the Johor Baru Selatan district police. He said the syndicate, which is believed to be active since April last year, used gated and guarded residences to store and process the drugs before distributing them to the local market. According to him, the drugs were seized following the arrest of the local man by a roadside, which then led the police to raid a rented room in a shophouse here. "The suspect also led the police to conduct raids at three luxury condominium units, also rented by him, where more drugs were seized and two Vietnamese women were arrested," he told a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters, here today He said that in total, the police seized 20.7 kilogrammes (kg) of powder, suspected to be ecstasy, 18.49 kg of marijuana, 154.25 grams of ketamine and 141 grams of erimin 5 pills, as well as various equipment for processing and repackaging drugs, as well as RM800 in cash. He said the current drug trafficking trend also appears to be shifting towards marijuana flowers, based on recent seizures. ''This may be because marijuana flowers have a higher hallucinogenic effect due to their purity, besides being more expensive, with an estimated market value of RM36,000 per kilogramme," he said. Kumar said all the suspects, who tested positive for methamphetamine, were on remand until July 17, and the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Focus Malaysia
13-07-2025
- Focus Malaysia
Confronting cyberbullying with law
Letter to Editor In today's hyper-connected world, the internet has become a powerful tool for communication, education, and work. But behind the glow of our screens lurks a darker reality: cyberbullying — a silent epidemic that's tearing through digital communities and leaving real-world scars. Cyberbullying happens when people use online platforms — like social media, messaging apps, or comment sections — to harass, shame, threaten, or humiliate others. Unlike traditional bullying, it doesn't stop at the school gate or the office door. It follows victims 24/7, invading the one space that should feel safe — their own homes. Malaysia now ranks fifth globally for cyberbullying incidents, according to a 2024 report by IPSOS, as reported in Sin Chew Daily. While this statistic is alarming on its own, what's more concerning is how underreported these cases are. Many victims suffer in silence — especially women and young people — fearing judgment, a lack of legal protection, or simply because there's no clear or effective way to report abuse. The nation was rocked in July 2024 by a tragic case that brought the cyberbullying crisis into sharp focus. On July 5, Malaysians woke to heartbreaking news. A 29-year-old Indian influencer known online as 'Eesha' — real name Rajeswary — was found dead in her family home in Kuala Lumpur after enduring a brutal online harassment campaign. The abuse, which took place largely on TikTok, included doctored photos used as backdrops for live broadcasts and coordinated attacks by trolls who incited mass ridicule. Two individuals were arrested soon after. One was charged with criminal intimidation and released on bail of RM36,000; the other was fined a mere RM100 for public insult. The punishments triggered public outrage, with many Malaysians asking: is that all a life is worth? As Lianhe Zaobao reported, the backlash was swift and overwhelming, and it forced the government to act. Legal reform amid tragedy In December 2024, the Malaysian government introduced a landmark legal reform. For the first time, doxing — the act of publishing someone's personal information online with malicious intent — was officially criminalised under amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. Under the new law, anyone who threatens, insults, or defames another person through digital communication can now face up to 10 years in prison. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, quoted in Ta Kung Pao, emphasised that the government is working to define cyberbullying more precisely and ensure that offenders are held accountable. 'It's time we treat online abuse as seriously as we do real-world threats,' he said. The rise of cyberbullying reflects a deeper ethical crisis in our digital culture. As digital sociologist Daniel Trottier notes in the European Journal of Communication, the internet can act as a 'magnifier for moral panic,' turning individuals into targets of a rapidly growing digital mob. Cyberbullying thrives in a digital environment shaped by a dangerous mix of inauthenticity, anonymity, and algorithmic amplification. Offenders often manipulate or falsify images and information to publicly shame or humiliate their targets, as seen in Eesha's tragic case. Hidden behind fake profiles, they exploit anonymity to avoid accountability while unleashing verbal violence without restraint. Making matters worse, social media algorithms tend to boost the most sensational and emotionally charged content — whether true or not — further fuelling online abuse. Although legal frameworks are slowly catching up, experts like Whittaker and Kowalski note that vague definitions and weak enforcement still leave significant gaps in prosecuting digital harassment. As Trottier points out, the imbalance of justice is stark: victims shoulder the emotional and financial burden of defending their rights, while perpetrators often walk away with minimal consequences. Together, these factors create a system where cruelty is easy, and justice is hard to reach. A moral crisis, not just a legal one While the new law marks progress, cyberbullying isn't just a policy issue — it's a moral and cultural challenge. How did cruelty and humiliation become online entertainment? What responsibility do platforms, media outlets, and users bear? Media coverage must also tread carefully. Over-exaggeration or sensationalist headlines can retraumatise victims and inflame tensions. Ethical journalism demands compassion, accuracy, and restraint — especially when reporting tragedies. Social media companies, meanwhile, must go beyond symbolic gestures. They have the power to create ethical algorithms, launch real-time moderation, and provide accessible mental health tools. As the main gatekeepers of today's digital discourse, their accountability is critical. Experts agree that tackling cyberbullying requires more than isolated fixes — it demands a comprehensive, multi-level strategy. Legal reform is a critical first step, and while Malaysia's new anti-doxing law marks important progress, broader legislation is still needed to address the full range of online abuse. At the same time, social media platforms must take greater responsibility, investing in real-time monitoring systems and adopting transparent policies that prioritise user safety over engagement metrics. Education plays a crucial role as well. By embedding digital literacy in schools and community programmes, especially for young users, we can empower individuals to recognise manipulation, think critically, and choose empathy over cruelty. Lastly, support systems must be strengthened — from expanded mental health services to accessible victim support and confidential reporting channels. Only through this layered approach can we begin to dismantle the digital environments that allow online harm to flourish. Digital media scholar Elizabeth Whittaker stresses that education must include not just how to use technology — but how to use it ethically. 'Behind every screen is a person,' she reminds us. 'Empathy must be part of our digital DNA.' —July 1, 2025 The authors are from the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya Main image: GovTech
Barnama
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Barnama
Repair Of Collapsed Aring-Kenyir Road To Start In November
KUALA NERUS, July 13 (Bernama) -- Repair work on the Aring 8-Kenyir-Kuala Jeneris Road, along Jalan Tasik Kenyir, near Hulu Terengganu, which collapsed due to heavy rains late last year, will only begin this November. Terengganu Public Works Department (JKR) director Ir Dr Hasli Ibrahim said the government has approved RM36 million for the repair of the serious road collapse. "We are now at the final design stage before procurement takes place, so according to our plan and Insya-Allah…this November," he said during a working visit by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to Kampung Tanjung Batu Rakit here today.
The Star
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ex-oil company exec charged with over RM400,000 in bribes
SHAH ALAM: A former transport management head at an oil exploration company pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here Tuesday (July 8) to 12 charges of accepting bribes amounting to over RM400,000 between 2021 and 2023. Mohd Khairil Mohd Anuar, 41, faces seven counts of receiving RM367,000 in cash and four counts involving electronic items worth RM36,168. He is also accused of accepting RM23,000 to cover renovation costs at his home in Bandar Bukit Mahkota, Hulu Langat. The alleged bribes were received from a company's chief operating officer and senior executive as inducement to provide technical assessments in support of payment claims. The offences were said to have taken place at several locations in Hulu Langat, Ampang and Kuala Lumpur between June 2020 and 2023. All charges are framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. In a separate charge, Mohd Khairil also pleaded not guilty to money laundering involving RM90,000, allegedly used to purchase three land lots totalling 5.21 hectares in Hulu Perak on Nov 25, 2020, at the Pengkalan Hulu district and land office. The charge falls under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of at least five times the value of the proceeds or the instrument of the offence at the time it was committed, or RM5mil, whichever is higher. MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohd Radzi Shah Ab Razak proposed bail of RM60,000 to RM80,000 with conditions including surrendering the accused's passport and monthly reporting to MACC Putrajaya. Defence counsel Syed Naqiuddin Shahab requested RM40,000 bail, citing his client as the sole breadwinner and cooperative during investigations. Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud set bail at RM70,000 with one local surety residing in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur. The accused must surrender his passport, report monthly to MACC Putrajaya and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses. The case is set for mention on Aug 18. - Bernama
