Latest news with #RajeshNagarajan
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Landscaper remanded 3 days after toddler's death
Police originally applied for a seven-day remand at the Shah Alam magistrates' court to facilitate investigations under the Child Act 2001 for negligence. PETALING JAYA : A 19-year-old landscaper has been remanded for three days following the death of his 19-month-old nephew. According to his lawyer, Rajesh Nagarajan, police originally applied for a seven-day remand at the Shah Alam magistrates' court to facilitate investigations under the Child Act 2001 for negligence. However, Rajesh told magistrate Zur Azureen Zainalkefli that such a length of remand was 'ridiculous'. 'His statement has been taken. There's no need for him to remain in lock-up,' Rajesh told FMT. Shaamerul Zamri was arrested on Wednesday after a 19-month-old boy was found dead after a dog attack near his home at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buloh earlier this week. A post-mortem showed that the infant died from neck injuries due to alleged canine mauling. Police began investigating the case following a report lodged by a medical officer at Sungai Buloh Hospital. An initial investigation found that the toddler was left in the care of his uncle while his parents were at work. When his parents returned, they found the gate open and the child missing. The boy's body was discovered about 20m from the house, surrounded by several dogs. Rajesh said they were awaiting the forensic report to determine the infant's cause of death, as he could have been attacked by a leopard, given the location of the village near a forest reserve. 'There are claw marks and deep scratches that are inconsistent with a dog attack,' he said. Rajesh also said that the case is being investigated by the wildlife and national parks department. 'I was informed that they have set up three cameras in the vicinity,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Sue town councils that issue fines for feeding strays, says activist
Animal rights activists are to hold a demonstration calling for reform of the Animal Welfare Act at the compound of the Prime Minister's Office on July 25. KUALA LUMPUR : People who have been issued summonses by local councils for feeding stray animals, including dogs, were urged today to challenge such rules. Animal rights activist and lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said he would help them take the councils to court. Any by-law against feeding stray animals would be unconstitutional and an abuse of power, he said, and the same principle would apply to feeding stray animals at any residential area, including serviced apartments. 'We can feed whoever we want. If anybody wants to fine you for feeding stray animals, take the summons to me, I will take them (the authority) to court pro bono,' Rajesh said at an animal rights forum today at HELP University. Rajesh also spoke on a suit brought against the Terengganu state government and Besut district council over the alleged unlawful killing of a stray dog, Kopi. He said that the decision date has been postponed to September. He said the plaintiff was ready to take the case to the Court of Appeal should the case be lost. Demonstration at PMO on July 25 Rajesh Nagarajan and S Shashi Kumar (front row, centre) with participants who attended an animal welfare forum in Kuala Lumpur today. Separately, S Shashi Kumar, the president of Global Human Rights Federation, announced that a demonstration calling for reform of the Animal Welfare Act will be held at the compound of the Prime Minister's Office on July 25. Shashi said the government should stop the inhumane killing of stray animals. He said a week of debates and discussion had ensued after a memorandum was handed to MPs at Parliament in October last year, but there was no follow-up after that and animals were being killed again.
Free Malaysia Today
03-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
K'tan govt to blame for residents' reliance on boreholes, says NGO
A recent report said around 600,000 Kelantan residents who rely on wells and boreholes may face long-term health issues due to the high iron and manganese content in the groundwater. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Environmental group Peka has accused the Kelantan government of providing inadequate water infrastructure for its residents, forcing them to rely on wells and boreholes as their primary source of water. Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said this reliance on boreholes forces residents to depend on underground sources without sufficient monitoring or regulatory safeguards. His remarks follow an Utusan Malaysia report that around 600,000 Kelantan residents who rely on wells and boreholes may face long-term health issues due to the high iron and manganese content in the groundwater. The report quoted the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia as saying iron levels in Bachok and Kota Bharu had reached 3.79 mg/l, while manganese levels had reached 0.76 mg/l, far above the health ministry's standards of 0.3 mg/l and 0.1 mg/l, respectively. Responding to the report, Kelantan deputy menteri besar Fadzli Hassan said the state government was ready to work with the state health department to examine the levels of these substances. He said immediate action would be taken if a serious health hazard was found. However, Rajesh said the government should instead work to provide clean, treated and piped water. 'Water from boreholes may, and do, contain elevated levels of iron and manganese, which can lead to serious long-term health risks, particularly for children, pregnant women, and the elderly. 'These risks include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiovascular issues, as well as various respiratory and neurological disorders,' he said. Rajesh suggested that the state also emulate Thailand in harvesting rainwater as a sustainable water source, given Malaysia's abundant rainfall. 'In Thailand, schools, homes, and government buildings are equipped with rooftop collection systems, filtration units, and storage tanks to supply clean rainwater throughout the year. 'This approach reduces pressure on the supply of piped water,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Peka demands answers from mayor on new Bukit Gasing bungalows
Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said the Petaling Jaya mayor has not provided any document to prove a controversial bungalow project in Bukit Gasing meets MBPJ's criteria. PETALING JAYA : Environmental group Peka has demanded Petaling Jaya mayor Zahri Samingon prove that the construction of several bungalows at Bukit Gasing here meets the city council's conditions. In a statement, Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said Zahri's assertion that the project complies with Petaling Jaya City Council's (MBPJ) criteria is unsubstantiated, as no supporting documents or reports were provided. 'There is no transparency at all from the authorities even though this is a matter that affects the lives of the residents of Bukit Gasing,' said Rajesh. 'If the project is truly compliant with the rules, we demand that MBPJ show us the approvals. Failing this, the only logical conclusion is that the approvals were not in order.' Peka recently called for a halt to the development of several bungalows at Bukit Gasing as they are being constructed on steep slopes. The group threatened to take legal action against MBPJ if it did not halt the development, which it claimed involved the extensive felling of trees on steep slopes. Peka claimed several landslides had already been reported in the area and that continued clearing could endanger lives. In response, Zahri today said the bungalows were being developed on private land and the project meets MBPJ's conditions, adding that it did not encroach on Bukit Gasing's forest reserve area. In a report in The Star, Zahri said the construction is located on land that can be developed, going on to note that there is a clear delineation of the border with the forest reserve. Rajesh today said Zahri's remarks on the delineation were irrelevant as Peka never said the development was encroaching into the forest reserve. 'Our concern is with bungalow development on steep slopes, which poses landslide risks to the area,' he said. 'The mayor is steadfastly avoiding addressing the issue at hand and is instead deflecting our concerns by responding to a point that was never raised and is not a point of contention.'
Free Malaysia Today
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Protect Shah Alam's forests to curb floods, group tells Selangor govt
About 180 homes were affected and more than 100 residents evacuated after flash floods hit Taman Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam this morning. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Environmental group Peka has urged the Selangor government to take immediate action to protect forested areas to prevent recurrent flash floods around Shah Alam. Its president, Rajesh Nagarajan, called for a halt to any clearing or development in forest areas regardless of their gazetted status. He said the forests act as crucial water catchments and flood buffers for areas like the Shah Alam community. Rajesh urged the authorities to re-gazette environmentally sensitive zones for their permanent protection, as well as to enforce strict no-development zones on steep slopes and water catchment areas. He said the Shah Alam community forest – a 174ha lowland rainforest stretching from Sections U10 to U13 – is being fragmented by encroachments, despite being part of a wildlife corridor. 'The loss of tree cover and soil permeability has led to increased runoff, overwhelmed drainage systems and accelerated flood risks,' he said in a statement. This follows the flash floods at Taman Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam this morning, affecting about 180 homes and forcing more than 100 residents to evacuate. Motorists were also reportedly stuck at the Kota Kemuning toll plaza. Rajesh said these floods were not isolated weather anomalies. He cited the many incidents around the area as key examples, including one instance in April involving Taman Sri Muda and Taman Melawis. He also pointed to the devastating December 2021 floods, which forced the evacuation of 400,000 people and resulted in nearly 50 deaths. 'These floods are not natural disasters, they are man-made. The forests were our protection and we have destroyed them. 'This is not just an environmental issue, but a human one. The destruction of forests has led directly to property damage, economic loss, and community hardship,' he said.
