Wahid Ooi, Author at BikesRepublic.com

Two Malaysian Students Died in New Zealand Car Crash

Two Malaysian students died after being involved in a road accident around Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, yesterday. Three of their colleagues were injured in the same crash.

The Malaysian High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the tragedy.

“Two victims were reported to have died at the scene while the other three have been flown to Christchurch Hospital, South Islands, New Zealand for immediate treatment.

“The Malaysian High Commission in Wellington with the help of the Malaysian community in Christchurch, is extending appropriate consular assistance to the victims and family members to ensure that the welfare management of all victims runs smoothly.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Malaysian High Commission are ready to help if the next of kin decide to bring the body back to Malaysia.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also wishes to express its condolences to the family members of the victims involved in this incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said his party is waiting for the decision of the families of the two deceased victims to be brought back to Malaysia or otherwise.

“Our students in New Zealand who had accidents have all been taken care of, those who were injured and died have been taken to the hospital and their bodies will be taken care of.

“We are waiting for the family to come or even to ask for whatever help is needed. The High Commission of Malaysia is always ready to help,” he said.

There were also reports that there was another fatal accident involving 2 cars and a motorcycle on the same road, just 2 hours after the accident involving the Malaysian student. Altogether, these accidents caused 20 injuries and 3 deaths.

Dua Pelajar Malaysia Maut Kemalangan di New Zealand

Dua antara pelajar Malaysia meninggal dunia setelah terbabit di dalam sebuah kemalangan jalan raya di New Zealand, semalam. Kemalangan di sekitar Tasik Tekapo itu turut mencederakan 3 rakan mereka.

Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Wellington, New Zealand telah memaklumkan Kementerian Luar Negari mengenai tragedi tersebut.

“Dua mangsa dilaporkan terkorban di tempat kejadian manakala tiga lagi sudah diterbangkan ke Hospital Christchurch, South Islands, New Zealand untuk mendapatkan rawatan segera.

“Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Wellington dengan bantuan komuniti Malaysia di Christchurch, sedang menghulurkan bantuan konsular sewajarnya kepada mangsa dan ahli keluarga bagi memastikan pengurusan kebajikan kesemua mangsa berjalan dengan lancar.

“Kementerian Luar Negeri dan Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia sedia membantu sekiranya pihak waris membuat keputusan untuk membawa pulang jenazah ke Malaysia.

“Kementerian Luar Negeri juga ingin merakamkan ucapan takziah kepada ahli keluarga mangsa yang terbabit dalam insiden ini,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Menteri Luar Negara, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan berkata pihaknya sedang menunggu keputusan pihak keluarga dua mangsa yang meninggal dunia itu untuk dibawa balik ke Malaysia atau sebaliknya.

“Pelajar kita di New Zealand yang kemalangan semuanya sudah diuruskan, yang cedera dan meninggal dunia sudah dibawa ke hospital dan jenazah masing-masing akan diuruskan.

“Kita menunggu pihak keluarga untuk datang atau pun untuk minta apa juga bantuan yang diperlukan. Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di sana sentiasa bersedia untuk membantu,” katanya.

Terdapat juga laporan bahawa turut terdapat sebuah lagi kemalangan maut yang membabitkan 2 kereta dan sebuah motosikal di jalan yang sama, hanya 2 jam selepas kemalangan yang membabitkan pelajar Malaysia. Kesemua kemalangan ini menyebabkan 20 kecederaan dan 3 kematian.

SPRM tidak akan Berkompromi dengan Penyeludup

Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) berkata mereka tidak akan berkompromi dengan penyeludup.

Memetik penahanan terbaharu 34 pegawai Kastam di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa KL (KLIA) Kargo yang disyaki terlibat dalam penyeludupan alat ganti kenderaan dan barangan terlarang, Ketua Pesuruhjaya Tan Sri Azam Baki berkata mereka bukan sahaja akan bertindak terhadap pegawai-pegawai yang menerima rasuah ini tetapi juga memastikan hasil yang hilang dikembalikan kepada tabung negara.

Amalan rasuah itu disyaki berlarutan sejak 2017 yang menyebabkan kerugian hasil cukai lebih RM2 bilion.

“Apa yang juga penting ialah kita bertindak terhadap mereka ini untuk menghentikan ketirisan dan kerugian, dan untuk menjejaki wang itu supaya ia boleh dikembalikan kepada kerajaan,” sambungnya.

Azam memberi amaran bahawa mereka yang bersekongkol dengan penjawat awam yang rasuah juga akan dikenakan bayaran. “Kami akan membuat mereka memulangkan wang itu, termasuk melalui pembayaran cukai yang mereka elakkan membayar sebelum ini.”

SPRM juga telah menahan 27 orang tambahan termasuk pemilik perniagaan berhubung kes itu melalui operasi khas bernama Samba 2.0.

Azam berkata pasukan petugas terdiri daripada SPRM, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) dan Bank Negara ditubuhkan untuk menyiasat kes itu, sambil menambah bahawa kes itu disiasat selama enam bulan sebelum tangkapan dibuat.

“Pegawai-pegawai itu terlibat dengan pemeriksaan dan pencegahan. Kami percaya mereka telah menerima rasuah daripada syarikat dan ejen penghantaran untuk membiarkan barangan itu pergi tanpa pemeriksaan atau pengisytiharan.

“Walaupun mereka melakukan pemeriksaan, ia tidak akan menyeluruh,” tambahnya.

Setakat ini, siasatan mendapati pegawai-pegawai Kastam tersebut menerima RM4.7 juta daripada sindiket bagi memudahkan penyeludupan alat ganti kenderaan, tembakau kunyah, rokok, minuman keras dan produk kesihatan.

231 akaun bank dengan lebih RM17 juta milik suspek turut dibekukan oleh bahagian anti-pengubahan wang haram SPRM.

“Kami tidak melibatkan Jabatan Kastam dalam kes ini untuk mengelakkan sebarang konflik kepentingan,” katanya.

MACC will not Compromise with Smugglers

The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) say they will not compromise with smugglers.

Citing the latest arrest of 34 Customs officers at KL International Airport (KLIA) Cargo suspected of being involved in the smuggling of vehicle spare pars and contraband items, Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said they will not just act against these corrupt officers but also ensure the lost revenue is returned to the country’s coffers.

The corrupt practices is suspected to have been going on since 2017, constituting more than RM2 billion of losses in tax revenue.

“What is also important is that we act against these people to stop leakages and losses, and to track the money so that it can be returned to the government,” he continued.

Azam warned that those in cahoots with corrupt civil servants would also be made to pay. “We will make them return the money, including through payment of taxes that they avoided paying before.”

The MACC had also arrested an additional 27 persons including business owners in connection with the case through a special operation codenamed Samba 2.0.

Azam said a taskforce comprising the MACC, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara was set up to investigate the case, adding that it was on the case for six months before the arrests were made.

“These officers were involved with inspection and prevention. The officers, who we believe have received bribes from companies and forwarding agents, would let the goods go without inspection or declaration.

“Even if they did carry out an inspection, it would not be thorough,” he added.

Thus far, the investigation has revealed that the Customs officers received RM4.7 million from a syndicate to facilitate the smuggling of vehicle spare parts, chewable tobacco, cigarettes, liquor, and health products.

231 bank accounts with more than RM17 million belonging to the suspects were also frozen by the MACC’s anti-money laundering division.

“We are not involving the Customs Department in this case to avoid any conflict of interest,” he added.

Tol Percuma Kekal Dua Hari bagi Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Pemandu di Malaysia akan menikmati tol percuma untuk dua hari di lebuh raya semasa Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Bagaimanapun, kerajaan tidak akan melanjutkannya lebih dari itu.

Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan menjelaskan mereka tidak akan melanjutkannya kerana kerajaan sudah memperuntukkan RM37.6 juta untuk menampung pengecualian itu. Jumlah itu akan dibayar kepada 33 syarikat konsesi lebuh raya.

“Ia kira-kira RM19 juta sehari. Ini adalah keputusan Kabinet dan ia muktamad,” katanya selepas meninjau persiapan PLUS Malaysia Bhd untuk Hari Raya Aidilfitri di Menara Korporat Persada PLUS di sini semalam.

Pada Khamis, Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi mengumumkan bahawa kerajaan telah meluluskan tempoh dua hari bebas tol pada 8 dan 9 April untuk pengguna kenderaan persendirian Kelas 1 di lebuh raya sempena Hari Raya. Langkah yang sama turut dilakukan semasa Tahun Baru Cina pada Februari tahun ini.

Ahmad Maslan menambah bahawa PLUS menjangkakan trafik harian kira-kira 2.1 juta kenderaan semasa cuti perayaan. Hari-hari yang paling sibuk yang dijangkan ialah 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, dan 14 April, berbanding 1.82 juta pada hari puncak biasa.

PLUS bersedia untuk menempatkan lebih 4,500 kakitangan di lebuh rayanya untuk memastikan tindak balas pantas dalam tempoh tersebut.

“PLUS mempunyai 70 kakitangan pada waktu puncak harian di pusat pemantauan trafiknya untuk memantau, mengumpul dan menyebarkan maklumat trafik terkini serta menyelaras bantuan kepada pengguna lebuh raya.

“Pemandu perlu merancang perjalanan mereka menggunakan jadual perjalanan digital yang terdapat pada aplikasi MyPLUS-TTA,” kata Ahmad Maslan.

Toll-Free Remains for 2 Days During Raya

Malaysian motorists will enjoy two toll-free days on highways for 2 days during Hari Raya Aidilfitri. However, the government will not extend the it further.

The Deputy Works Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan explained that they will not extend it as the government has already allocated RM37.6 million to cover the exemption. The sum will be paid to the 33 highway concession companies.

“That is about RM19mil per day. This is the Cabinet’s decision and it’s final,” he said after inspecting preparations by PLUS Malaysia Bhd for Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the Persada PLUS Corporate Tower here yesterday.

On Thursday, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that the government has approved a two-day toll-free period on April 8 and 9 for Class 1 private vehicle users on highways in conjunction with Hari Raya. The same measure was also done during the Chinese New Year in February this year.

Ahmad Maslan added that PLUS anticipates a daily traffic of approximately 2.1 million vehicles during the festive holiday. The particularly busy days are expected to be 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, and 14 April, compared with 1.82 million during regular peak days.

PLUS is set to deploy over 4,500 personnel on its highways to ensure swift response during the period.

“PLUS has 70 staff during daily peak hours at its traffic monitoring centre to monitor, gather and disseminate the latest traffic information and coordinate assistance to highway users.

“Motorists should plan their journey using the digital travel schedule available on the MyPLUS-TTA app,” said Ahmad Maslan.

Monopoli Puspakom Berakhir pada September 2024

Kerajaan telah mengumumkan sebelum ini bahawa monopoli Puspakom (Pusat Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Berkomputer) sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan pemeriksaan kenderaan komersial wajib akan berakhir pada September 2024, apabila konsesinya tamat pada 31 Ogos.

Justeru, pihak yang berminat untuk menawarkan perkhidmatan tersebut dipelawa untuk menghantar permohonan mereka pada suku pertama 2025. Bengkel ini perlu melantik pekerja yang memenuhi syarat kelayakan, serta menggunakan peralatan pemeriksaan berkomputer yang diluluskan oleh JPJ. .

Menterinya Pengangkutan, Anthony Loke turut menegaskan bahawa kerajaan tidak akan memberikan bantuan dalam menyediakan kemudahan tersebut. “Kami tidak akan membelanjakan wang untuk membina sistem mereka,” katanya.

Loke juga menyatakan bahawa isu penyedia perkhidmatan tunggal, selain masa menunggu pemeriksaan yang panjang, telah wujud selama bertahun-tahun.

“Kenderaan besar, lori dan bas tergendala berjam-jam. Terdapat aduan bahawa beberapa negeri hanya mempunyai satu pusat perkhidmatan.

Bagaimanapun, kerajaan menegaskan bahawa mereka tidak menutup Puspakom. Sebaliknya, mereka ingin mewujudkan persaingan sihat di sektor pemeriksaan kenderaan mandatori. Kabinet semasa memutuskan untuk tidak memperbaharui konsesi bagi membuka sektor itu kepada semua pihak yang layak untuk menjalankan pemeriksaan bagi pihak Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ). Menteri Pengangkutan Malaysia telah berkata bahawa langkah sedemikian “membolehkan persekitaran perkhidmatan yang lebih kompetitif dan memudahkan semua rakyat Malaysia.”

Puspakom telah menikmati monopoli selama tiga dekad walaupun wujudnya undang-undang anti-monopoli, kerana anak syarikat DRB-HICOM ini telah ditubuhkan pada tahun 1994 oleh kerajaan pada masa itu.

Puspakom’s Monopoly Ends in September 2024

The government had announced earlier that Puspakom’s (Pusat Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Berkomputer/Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre) monopoly as the sole mandatory commercial vehicle inspection service provider will end in September 2024, when its concession expires on 31 August.

As such, parties (read: workshops) who are interested in offering the services are invited to send in their applications in the first quarter of 2025. These workshops must appoint employees who meet the qualification requirements, plus use computerised inspection equipment approved by the JPJ.

The Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke also stressed that the government will not provide assistance in setting up these facilities. “We won’t spend money building their system,” he said.

Loke also stated that the single service provider issues, besides the lengthy inspection wait time, had existed for many years.

“Large vehicles, lorries and buses are held up for hours. There have been complaints that some states only have one service centre.

However, the government iterated that they are not closing down Puspakom wholesale. Instead, they wish to see other inspection centres giving Puspakom for their money (no pun intended).

The current Cabinet had decided not to renew the concession in order to open up the sector to all qualified parties to carry out the inspections on behalf of the Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan/JPJ). The Minister had said that such move “allows a more competitive service environment and facilitate all Malaysians.”

It had enjoyed a three-decade-long monopoly despite the existence of the anti-monopoly statutes, as the DRB-HICOM concern was set up in 1994 by the government during the time.

Penang LRT Project to Begin in Mid-Year

The Penang LRT (Light Rail Transit) project is expected to start in the middle of this year.

An analyst of Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd., Teh Kian Yeong, said that the main contractor, Gamuda Bhd. is already in final stage of discussions with the government to finalise the implementation model of the project involved.

“This is subject to government approval, while the Environment Department has published an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for this LRT segment on March 5.

“This federal government-funded project consists of land acquisition costs of approximately RM1.5 billion and construction costs of between RM7 billion and RM8 billion.”

This is ambitious projecte, connecting Tanjung Bungah in the north to Permatang Damar Laut in the south of the island. This route includes several important locations, including:

Penang Airport,
Bayan Lepas and Bayan Baru,
Ayer Itam,
Penang Hill,
Ferry Terminal,
KOMTAR (main station),
Pulau Tikus.

There is also a line that connects to the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia, with its main station at Penang Sentral, through a 7.2km long tunnel link under the seabed.

The route to the north reaches Kepala Batas, while the route to the south ends at Nibung Tebal. The route furthest to the east reaches Kulim South and Kulim North.

Among the important locations connected are:

Juru,
Tambun,
Batu Kawan,
Lunas (this writer’s late father’s hometown),
Bukit Mertajam.

The Penang LRT project has long been desired by the island’s residents due to worsening traffic congestion. It will also play an important role to developing the infrastructure for tourists to the state, apart from further developing the economy of several cities and towns along the way.

Projek LRT Pulau Pinang Bermula Pertengahan Tahun Ini

Projek LRT (Transit Aliran Ringan) di Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang dijangka bermula pada pertengahan tahun ini.

Seorang penganalisa Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd., Teh Kian Yeong, berkata bahawa kontraktor utama, Gamuda Bhd. sudah dalam perbincangan peringkat akhir dengan kerajaan untuk memuktamadkan model pelaksanaan projek terbabit.

“Ini tertakluk kepada kelulusan kerajaan, manakala Jabatan Alam Sekitar telah menerbitkan laporan Penilaian Kesan Alam Sekitar (EIA) untuk segmen LRT ini pada 5 Mac lalu.

“Projek yang dibiayai kerajaan persekutuan ini terdiri daripada kos pengambilan tanah kira-kira RM1.5 bilion dan kos pembinaan di antara RM7 bilion hingga RM8 bilion.”

Projek ini berskala amat besar, menghubungkan Tanjung Bungah di bahagian utara sehingga Permatang Damar Laut di bahagian selatan pulau. Laluan ini merangkumi beberapa lokasi penting, antaranya:

Lapangan Terbang Pulau Pinang,
Bayan Lepas dan Bayan Baru,
Ayer Itam,
Bukit Bendara,
Terminal feri,
KOMTAR (stesen utama),
Pulau Tikus.

Terdapat juga laluan yang menghubungi tanah besar Semenanjung Malaysia, dengan stesen utamanya di Penang Sentral, melalui hubungan terowong sepanjang 7.2km di dasar laut.

Laluan ke utara sampai ke Kepala Batas, manakala laluan ke selatan tamat di Nibung Tebal. Laluan terjauh ke sebelah timur sampai ke Kulim South dan Kulim North.

Antara lokasi penting yang dihubungkan ialah:

Juru,
Tambun,
Batu Kawan,
Lunas (kampung mendiang ayah penulis ini),
Bukit Mertajam.

Projek LRT ini sudah lama diidamkan oleh penduduk di pulau kerana kesesakan trafik yang makin teruk. Projek ini turut akan memainkan impak dalam kemajuan pengujung ke negeri tersebut, selain daripada mengembangkan lagi ekonomi beberapa bandar dan pekan yang dihubungi.

No Decorative Lights on Vehicles – Warns JPJ

The Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan/JPJ) has issued a warning to not decorate vehicles with decorative lights, especially during the festive season.

We as Malaysians are generally very creative and this spirit is brought to the point of decorating or customising our vehicles, regardless if they are cars, motorcycles, lorries, rickshaws, bicycles and so on. However, the authorities do not appreciate this creativity because they have a duty to ensure that each of our vehicles is safe not only for us, but also for all road users.

The Public Relations Officer of the Road Transport Department, Mohd Syahmi Abdul Latif explained that the act of decorating vehicles with decorative lights is wrong.

“Even if the intention is only to celebrate Ramadan, vehicle owners are warned to remove the decorative lights and return them to their original state or be fined.”

“In any case, the decision rests with the responsible officer. For this type of offence, the fine is usually between RM100 and RM200,” he said when contacted by Berita Harian.

He said this when commenting on a video uploaded to the Tik Tok application by a user who goes by the name @kaksuemeow, which shows her car fully decorated with decorative lights.

@kaksuemeow claimed she had encountered the police several times while driving in Bukit Bintang but was not fined.

“On the contrary, the police only showed thumbs up. I have already removed the decorative lights from the car but there is still a possibility that I will decorate them again. It took me about six hours to install all the lights and wrap them around my car,” she added.

JPJ Beri Amaran Jangan Hias Kenderaan dengan Lampu Hiasan

JPJ memberi amaran jangan hiasi kenderaan masing-masing dengan lampu hiasan, apatah lagi ketika musim perayaan.

Kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia ini secara amnya memang amat kreatif dan semangat ini dibawa sehingga menghiasi atau custom-kan kenderaan kita, tidak kira kereta, motosikal, lori, beca, basikal dan sebagainya. Namun, pihak berkuasa tidak hargai kreativiti kerana mereka mempunyai tugas untuk memastikan bahawa setiap kenderaan kita selamat bukan bagi kita sahaja, tetapi juga buat semua pengguna jalanraya.

Pegawai Perhubungan Awam Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ), Mohd Syahmi Abdul Latif menjelaskan perbuatan menghias kenderaan dengan lampu hiasan itu sebenarnya adalah perbuatan yang salah. “Walaupun niatnya hanya untuk menyambut Ramadan, pemilik kenderaan boleh diberi amaran supaya menanggalkan lampu hiasan berkenaan dan mengembalikan ia kepada asal atau dikenakan denda.”

“Apa pun, keputusan terletak pada pegawai yang bertanggungjawab. Bagi kesalahan jenis ini, denda biasanya dikenakan antara RM100 dan RM200,” katanya ketika dihubungi oleh Berita Harian.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas sebuah video yang dimuat naik ke aplikasi Tik Tok oleh seorang pengguna yang bergelar @kaksuemeow, yang menunjukkan keretanya yang dihiasi penuh dengan lampu hiasan.

@kaksuemeow mendakwa dia pernah terjumpa dengan polis beberapa kali ketika memandu di Bukit Bintang tetapi tidak didenda.

“Sebaliknya, polis berkenaan hanya menunjukkan tanda bagus. Saya sudah menanggalkan lampu hiasan dari kereta tetapi masih ada kemungkinan saya akan menghiasnya semula. Saya mengambil masa kira-kira enam jam untuk memasang semua lampu dan membalutnya di sekeliling kereta saya,” tambahnya.

Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

Two Malaysian Students Died in New Zealand Car Crash

Dua Pelajar Malaysia Maut Kemalangan di New Zealand

SPRM tidak akan Berkompromi dengan Penyeludup

MACC will not Compromise with Smugglers

Tol Percuma Kekal Dua Hari bagi Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Toll-Free Remains for 2 Days During Raya

Monopoli Puspakom Berakhir pada September 2024

Puspakom’s Monopoly Ends in September 2024

Penang LRT Project to Begin in Mid-Year

Projek LRT Pulau Pinang Bermula Pertengahan Tahun Ini

No Decorative Lights on Vehicles – Warns JPJ

JPJ Beri Amaran Jangan Hias Kenderaan dengan Lampu Hiasan

Two Malaysian Students Died in New Zealand Car Crash

Dua Pelajar Malaysia Maut Kemalangan di New Zealand

SPRM tidak akan Berkompromi dengan Penyeludup

MACC will not Compromise with Smugglers

Tol Percuma Kekal Dua Hari bagi Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Toll-Free Remains for 2 Days During Raya

Monopoli Puspakom Berakhir pada September 2024

Puspakom’s Monopoly Ends in September 2024

Penang LRT Project to Begin in Mid-Year

Projek LRT Pulau Pinang Bermula Pertengahan Tahun Ini

No Decorative Lights on Vehicles – Warns JPJ

JPJ Beri Amaran Jangan Hias Kenderaan dengan Lampu Hiasan

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