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The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
Place social workers in school to address disciplinary issues, Education Ministry told
KOTA KINABALU: It is time for the Education Ministry to place social workers in schools to address disciplinary issues amongst students, said a social works specialist. Prof Dr Peter Voo of the Psychology and Social Works Faculty in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said the Education Ministry must now put more emphasis on issues such as bullying, truant and disrespect towards teachers. 'It is important to place social workers in schools at this crucial time because the job of educators has become so much more challenging and complicated,' he said. Voo said there were many processes to go through involving teachers, parents, community and the government in educating children. His suggestion comes after the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, who was believed to have fallen from the third floor of her school hostel building in Papar. 'Social workers in schools are tasked with roles of advocating, preventing, recovering and connecting. 'Advocating the rights of students, especially vulnerable groups such as the poor, orphans, and the disabled can help prevent social ills from becoming a crisis.' he said. He said it can also help the affected students recover from behavioral or traumatic issues, with social workers acting as the bridge between the students, their school, families and agencies involved. Voo said in many countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Singapore, social workers are part of the schools' support system and often are part of the teachers or counselors group. He said Malaysian schools only have counselling teachers or guidance counsellors who are also often tied to extracurricular academic duties. 'This is different from social workers who are 100% focused on the social and emotional issues of students. 'These are trained professionals in this field of work including case management and community intervention,' he said. Voo said the presence of a dedicated social worker could ease the workload of teachers or guidance counselors in schools. 'Social workers can properly support these students needing the kind of emotional, psychological and mental support and intervention,' he said. He said for UMS, their social works programme had created over 900 graduates since 2004, many of whom are now serving in government hospitals and non-governmental organisations as social workers. Voo added that UMS is "ready to work with the government" in terms of human capital preparations and training towards this cause.
Daily Express
05-08-2025
- Daily Express
Power theft: Man fined RM21,000
Published on: Tuesday, August 05, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 05, 2025 By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: The offence, under Sub-61(3)(c) of the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, and punishable under Sub-Section 61(3)(ii) of the same Enactment, provides for a fine of between RM20,000 and RM1 million, or both, on conviction. Kota Kinabalu: A 58-year-old man was fined a total of RM21,000 for two counts of using electricity that bypasses the meter terminals, causing the Sabah Electricity to undercharge and incur losses. Voo Hen Sang @ Tonny pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, to both charges against him, Monday. On the first count, Voo was fined RM1,000 or 14 days' jail for dishonestly using electricity through the installation of a black bypass cable connected to the terminal of meter number 99178340 on the red phase. On the second count, he was ordered to pay another RM20,000 fine or spend five months in prison for fraudulently using electricity through the installation of a blue bypass cable connected to the terminal of meter number 98992844 on the red and blue phases. The charges stated the offences committed by Voo had caused the Sabah Electricity to undercharge and incur losses. He committed the offences on Feb 24, this year, at 4.40pm and 8pm at Kg Kauluan in Tamparuli. Advertisement The offence, under Sub-61(3)(c) of the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, and punishable under Sub-Section 61(3)(ii) of the same Enactment, provides for a fine of between RM20,000 and RM1 million, or both, on conviction. In mitigation, Voo through his counsel Jeremy Ho, asked for a lenient fine, saying that it was his first offence. In reply, Prosecution Officer Nureen Natasha Mohd Raffie from the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECOS) urged for a deterrent sentence on the grounds Voo had committed a serious offence which had caused losses to the Sabah Electricity and to serve as a lesson to him and would-be offenders. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
04-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Electricity thief fined RM21,000
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 4): A 58-year-old man was fined a total of RM21,000 by a Sessions Court here today for illegally using electricity by bypassing terminal meters with cables. Tonny Voo pleaded guilty before judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan to two charges under Sub-Section 61(3)(c) of the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, punishable under Sub-Section 61(3)(ii) of the same law. The provision carries a penalty of between RM20,000 and RM1 million, or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction. For the first and second counts, Voo was fined RM1,000 (in default, 14 days' imprisonment) and RM20,000 (in default, five months' imprisonment) respectively for committing the offences in Tamparuli on February 24. In mitigation, Voo's counsel Jeremy Ho appealed for a lenient sentence, citing it was his client's first offence. However, the prosecution pressed for a deterrent sentence, highlighting the seriousness of the offence and the financial loss suffered by Sabah Electricity. A heavier sentence, the prosecution argued, would serve as a warning to Voo and others against similar violations in the future.
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Sextortion syndicate: Six charged over teen trafficking and child abuse videos
JOHOR BARU: Five members of a sex-for-blackmail syndicate — including a minor — were charged in the Sessions Court here today with trafficking two teenagers and an adult man for exploitative labour and deception. Sham Chee Fei, 33; Kuek Pei Lin, 19; Lee Chun Kit, 28; Tommy Voo Tze Hau, 27; and a 17-year-old male juvenile pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before judge Thalha Bachok @ Embok Mok. According to the three charges, the accused allegedly trafficked a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, and a 26-year-old man at a house in Jalan Lagenda 34, Taman Lagenda Putra, Kulai, between March 23 and May 23. They were charged under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to life or a minimum of five years and whipping upon conviction. They also face charges under Section 12 of the same act, punishable with up to 20 years' jail and a fine. Separately, before judge Nor Aziati Jaafar, Kuek, Voo and the juvenile denied two more charges of producing child sexual abuse materials — videos and photos — featuring the same teenage victims. They face charges under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum 30-year jail term and up to six strokes of the cane. In a related charge, Abdul Rahufur Rahim Idris, 30, pleaded not guilty to committing non-physical sexual assault by instructing the girl to perform sexual acts on the teenage boy. He was charged under Section 15(f) of the same act, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence, a fine up to RM20,000 or both. The offences allegedly took place between 6pm on May 22 and 5am on May 23 at the same Kulai house. Meanwhile, Lee faces an additional charge of possessing two videos and two images of child sexual abuse on his mobile phone on June 20. He claimed trial to the offence under Section 10 of the act, which is punishable with up to five years' jail, a RM10,000 fine or both. Deputy public prosecutors Nur Diyana Zubir and Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin led the prosecution. Defence lawyers Muhammad Abd Kadir and Gary Ng Boon Hui represented Sham, Voo, and Lee, while N. Moganeysha appeared for Rahufur, Kuek and the juvenile. Sham Chee Fei, 33; Kuek Pei Lin, 19; Lee Chun Kit, 28; Tommy Voo Tze Hau, 27; and a 17-year-old male juvenile pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before judge Thalha Bachok @ Embok Mok. Bail was set at RM15,000 for Sham; RM30,000 for Kuek; RM26,000 for Lee; RM35,000 for Voo; RM20,000 for the juvenile; and RM6,000 for Rahufur. All must also report to police every month and are banned from contacting any of the witnesses, besides having to surrender their passports. Case mentions were fixed for Aug 13, 14 and 19. Those charged today were among nine arrested between June 20 and July 1. The group was believed to have been active since November.
The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
Trio claim trial to hurting man using rubber hose in Johor
KULAI: Three syndicate members pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate's Court here to injuring a man using a rubber hose at a house in Taman Lagenda Putra here. The accused, Sham Chee Fei, 33, Tommy Voo Tze Hau, 27, and M. Nageswaran, 32, were charged with causing injury to a 26-year-old man using a rubber hose as a weapon, in an act that could have resulted in death. They allegedly committed the act, with another individual who is still at large, at a house on Jalan Lagenda, Taman Lagenda Putra between 7pm on May 22 and 6am on May 23. The three were charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine, or whipping or any two of the punishments, upon conviction. In the same courtroom, Sham was also charged with possessing the MyKad of a 32-year-old man and two international passports belonging to other individuals without lawful authority, at Senai International Airport at 9.45am on June 20. He pleaded not guilty to the charges under Regulation 25(1)(o) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966. Deputy Public Prosecutor S. Thiviya proposed bail of RM15,000 each with one surety. Sham and Voo's lawyer Gary Ng Boon Hui asked for a lower bail, saying that his clients worked as a real estate agent and a travel agency employee respectively without a fixed income and were supporting their elderly parents. Nageswaran's lawyer Lim Seay Sean also requested a reduced amount, saying his client is currently unemployed. Magistrate R. Salini granted Voo and Nageswaran a bail of RM5,000 each with one surety, while Sham was granted a bail of RM7,000 with one surety. The court fixed Aug 27 for next mention and submission of documents for all the cases.
