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As expected, new vehicle sales dipped in February 2024 compared to January 2024.

According to the Automotive Association of Malaysia (AAM), there were 62,833 units sold in February 2024, compared to 65,499 in January 2024. It was a 4% decrease, due to the shorter month and shorter working days following the Chinese New Year holiday.

Of that number, 57,979 were passenger vehicles, while another 4,584 were commercial vehicles. When compared to the same period last year, a total of 56,443 passenger vehicles, and 7,128 commercial vehicles were sold.

Total sales as of February 2024 were 128,332 units, which is 13 percent higher than 113,729 units in the same period in 2023.

In terms of manufacturing, vehicle production rose 3% to 65,611 in February 2024 compared to 63,798 in February 2023.

Of that number, 61,935 units were passenger vehicles (up 3 percent from 59,843 units in the same month last year), while the remaining 3,676 units were commercial vehicles (down 7 percent from the previous 3,955 units).

New vehicle sales are expected to increase in March 2024, following fast deliveries by the company as the financial year will end on March 31, 2024, as well as various Hari Raya Aidilfitri promotional campaigns.

Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Racing Team and Hafizh Syahrin took their inaugural podium finish in the FIM Asia Motorcycle Championship (ARRC) 2024, thereby achieving their hopes, yesterday. The first ARRC 2024 round took place at the Buriram International Circuit, Thailand.

Hafizh who rode a Ducati V4 R in the Asian Superbike 1000cc (ASB1000) class made up for the disappointment of failing to finish in Race 1 on Saturday. He had to withdraw due to technical problems on his motorcycle.

Regardless, he was able to ride consistently in Race 2. He was also able to lead the race at one stage, but was overtaken by Indonesian rider Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo) to finish the race as the winner.

Andi’s teammate from Thailand, Nakarin Atiratphuvapa crossed the finish line in third place. Yuki Kunii (SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Philippines), and another Malaysian rider, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (TKKR BMW Racing Team) rounded out the top five.

The first race witnessed Azlah Shah’s amazing performance. He had started from 7th place on the grid and was able to overtake every rider in front of him until catching he caught the leader Nakarin who was already quite far ahead. Azlan then overtook Nakarin on the 9th lap and led until the end of the race.

Behind Azlan, Andi was able to overtake Nakarin for second place, while the Malaysian rider, Md. Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo) jumped to third place.

FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2024, ASB1000 Overall Standings

(Top 5)

Pelumba Pasukan Mata
1. Andi Farid Izdihar (INA) Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo 45
2. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (MAS) TKKR BMW Racing Team 36
3. Nakarin Atiratphuvapa (THA) Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo 27
4. Md. Zaqhwan Zaidi (MAS) Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo 26
5. Yuki Kunii (JPN) (SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Philippines) 26

 

Eight luxury vehicles estimated to be worth around RM6 million were seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). All vehicles are owned by individuals who are allegedly involved in tobacco, alcohol and cigarette smuggling syndicates.

The vehicles consisted of two Lamborghinis, two Toyotas, and one Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, and Volvo each.

The vehicles were seized in a special operation around the Klang Valley carried out by MACC’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Division, since last Monday in collaboration with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

“The vehicles were seized from several individuals who held positions as company owners as well as middlemen who bribed officials in an enforcement agency,” according to MACC sources.

The syndicate is suspected of money laundering by using licensed money lending companies, money changers, and ‘ghost company’ business accounts.

The syndicate’s smuggling activities are believed to have caused the loss of tax revenue estimated at more than RM400 million.

They are also suspected of giving more than RM8 million in bribes to several individuals including civil servants to launch smuggling activities.

MACC AML Director, Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin confirmed the seizure of the vehicles and the arrested individuals were investigated under Section 17(a) and Section 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009.

It is official: The heatwave hits Peninsular Malaysia, no sooner than when the Meteorological Department of Malaysia (MetMalaysia) issued the warnings in the last days of February.

Pokok Sena, Kedah was issued a Level 2 heatwave warning yesterday. It was the second time the area has received the alert, following the first on February 28th.

Pokok Sena was hot (pun intended) on the heels of the entire state of Perlis which was issued a Level 2 alert on Friday. However, it was downgraded to Level 1 status yesterday.

Level 1 warnings were also issued for several areas of West Malaysia as advised by MetMalaysia as of 4.30pm yesterday:
  • Kuala Lumpur.
  • Kedah: Padang Terap, Sik, Baling, Kuala Muda, Pendang and Kota Setar.
  • Perak: Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, and Kampar.
  • Pahang: Raub, Temerloh, and Bera.
  • Selangor: Hulu Selangor.

A Level 1 alert is issued when temperatures at a particular location are between 35 and 37°C over 3 consecutive days.

A Level 2 warning is issued whenever temperatures hover between 37 and 40°C over three consecutive days.

Drought monitoring

According to MetMalaysia’s drought monitoring report on March 13, Chuping in Perlis, Kota Baru in Kelantan, Melaka and Sitiawan in Perak recorded moderately dry and very dry readings.

Chuping, the hottest town in Malaysia, recorded a sizzling 37.9°C for the entire February due to no rainfall. However, the highest temperature on record was 40.1 °C on 9th April 1998.

The National Water Commission’s war room site revealed that water levels at dams in Perlis and Kedah were at warning levels:

  • Perlis: Timah Tasoh dam was at 59.72% capacity.
  • Kedah: The Muda dam was at 47.8% capacity, BS Padang Saga (59.83%) and Malut (45.8%).
  • Penang: Air Hitam dam only at 37.7% capacity.
  • Johor: Sembrong Barat dam only at 35.23% capacity.
Advise for our fellow bikers

Please remember to stay hydrated and stop if you feel dizzy as that could be a sign of heat exhaustion or worse, a heatstroke. DO NOT take the symptoms lightly. Please refer to these tips on how to keep cool while riding in hot weather.

Seven-time Formula One (F1) champion and driver for the Petronas Mercedes team, Lewis Hamilton encouraged students to embrace and take advantage of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. He gave this advice when he visited Seri Keramat National Secondary School, last Friday.

His surprise visit was in conjunction with the school coming out tops among 39 other schools in a responsible waste management competition. The competition was led by Petronas Chemicals Group.

Hamilton also conducted some experiments with the school’s students. He expressed his happiness after meeting the students of the school, and praised their interest in the field of science at a young age.

The principal of SMK Seri Keramat, Noraini Ibrahim, said she was happy to witness the school’s efforts to integrate environmentally friendly initiatives into its curriculum because she believes in fostering student awareness of the importance of sustainable efforts and practices over time and that can build an environmentally conscious community. around.

General Manager (Communications Management), Petronas Group Strategic Communications, Khairul Hisham Mazlan said, the program is in line with one of PETRONAS’ social impacts ‘Planting for Tomorrow’ which focuses on educating young people about the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable living.

The Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT – Jabatan Siasatan dan Penguatkuasaan Trafik) of the Royal Malaysian Police has begun publishing daily road accident statistics, starting from Thursday, 14th March 2024. It is a move highlighted by the Malaysian Transport Minister a while ago.

Director of the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Saperi said there were 1,999 cases of road accidents that resulted in 12 deaths last Thursday.

Statistics for Friday, March 15, 2024 decreased by 121 cases to 1,878 cases. However, the number of deaths increased to 16 cases.

“The release of statistical data to the public is a step to increase the awareness of road users and the public how serious accidents are every day,” he said in a statement yesterday (Friday).

The police also called for all road users to always follow the rules and ensure that road laws are obeyed. He explained that cooperation from the public is expected to further increase awareness of the importance of maintaining safety and thus reduce the rate of road accidents.”

Note from the author: The numbers are still at an alarming level, as on average, there were 83.3 and 78.3 accidents per hour on Thursday and Friday respectively. In terms of deaths, the daily average was 1 every 2 hours on Thursday, and 2 every 3 hours on Friday.

One Motorcyclist Dies every Two Hours

Harley-Davidson Orange and Black Carnival Sales – The Sale that Won’t Come Back. Happening from 15th to 17th March 2024 at Harley-Davidson dealers nationwide.

Get ready to kickstart your excitement with Harley-Davidson’s Orange and Black Carnival Sale, the event of the season that you won’t want to miss! From 15 March to 17 March, gearheads and enthusiasts alike can indulge in unbeatable deals and thrilling offers on a wide range of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and accessories.

Hosted by Harley-Davidson dealerships across Malaysia, this exclusive event, in partnership with Harley-Davidson, promises an unforgettable experience with special promotions, and amazing deals that won’t come back, and much more. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just starting your journey, the Orange and Black Carnival Sale has something for everyone.

Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity to revitalise your ride and embrace the thrill of the open road with Harley-Davidson. Join us at our dealerships and experience the Orange and Black Carnival Sale – the sale that won’t come back.

The Johor Police are investigating two traffic cops suspected of extorting money from Singaporeans in an incident at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar on March 10.

The state police chief, Commissioner M. Kumar, said his party detected a viral video on social media Facebook uploaded by the name Irene Teo on the ‘Sage‘ page. The video was then also shared by several other sites including the popular Facebook site, MY SG Road Trip – Your Malaysia Road Trip Guide.

“The police have confirmed that they are conducting an investigation against two traffic police officers who are believed to have committed extortion following the sharing of two videos on Facebook, yesterday.

“The video was also commented on through an article uploaded by the Mothership website dated March 11,” he said in a media statement today.

He said that through the post that went viral, it is believed that the poster ‘Irene Teo’ was instructed to pay a sum of RM600 to the two traffic police members at BSI to avoid being sued.”

According to Irene Teo, they said they only had RM500 and not enough RM600 as requested. The policeman replied, “RM500 is ok too.”

“The victim is said to have committed an offense by entering the lorry lane at check point 8A towards Johor Bahru to Singapore on March 10, at about 8.15pm,” he said.

However, according to Irene again and as in the video, it was the policeman who ordered them to drive into the lorry lane.

He said the investigation was carried out in accordance with Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion.

“However, we have not yet received any report made by the victim regarding the incident and an official request was made to the Singapore Consulate Office in Johor Bahru for help locating the Facebook owner ‘Sage’ and the poster ‘Irene Teo’ to assist the investigation,” he said.

The Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan/JPJ) confirmed that the issue of the display of the owner’s photo being different from the actual owner’s information in the Malaysian Digital Driving License (e-LMM) was due to system maintenance.

JPJ also informed that there was no element of system abuse or identity theft in the issue.

JPJ in a statement today informed that the matter occurred when the information technology team was carrying out system maintenance work which was done periodically to ensure the sustainability of the MyJPJ system.

“The JPJ takes note and apologizes regarding the issue of the display of the e-LMM owner’s photo being different from the actual owner’s information. This department would like to inform that this matter has been immediately rectified and improved,” according to the statement.

JPJ assures that there is no element of system abuse or identity theft of driver’s license holders’ information. On the contrary, all information is protected and safe.

“JPJ will always improve the system from time to time to strengthen the delivery of the best digital services to the people,” according to him.

National motorcycle racer, better known as Damok (Syarifuddin Azman) will participate in the Asian Road Racing Championship (ARRC) race this season.

His new team, Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda (BSH) Racing Team released the statement. This new contract means that Damok will be able to compete in a major racing championship after he no longer competes in the Moto3 Championship in MotoGP.

He along with his teammate Md. Irfan Haykal will compete in the AP 250cc class.

Apart from Damok, Md. Zaqhwan Zaidi will continue his career in the ASB1000 premier class on the new Honda CBR1000RR-R 2024 machine. Md. Helmi Azman and Azroy Hakeem Anuar will ride the Honda CBR600RR in the SS600cc.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BSH Mitsuharu Funase said his side set high targets to hunt for various successes, as well as make 2024 the year of success for the team.

“We are hoping to emerge as the overall champion of the SS600 class. Our riders have experience and high fighting spirit while Syarifuddin in the AP250 class promises consistent action,” he said.

The opening round of the ARRC (Asia Road Racing Championship) takes place on March 15-17 at Chang International Circuit, Thailand.

The police have arrested a motorcyclist who deliberately hit another vehicle and caused an accident in order to be able to claim compensation.

The 41-year-old unemployed man was arrested at a house in Changkat Bukit Gambir, Gelugor, Penang.

North East District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Razlam Ab Hamid said, further review found that the suspect has 13 previous records, five involving crimes and eight related to drug cases.

“We have completed the investigation papers and submitted them to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (TPR) for further action.

“Following that, we received instructions to charge the suspect in court this Thursday according to Section 384 of the Penal Code,” he said when contacted today.

Section 384 of the Penal Code is the law regarding the offence of extortion.

Last Sunday, a photo and video went viral on social media showing a motorcyclist who deliberately hitting a car before claiming that the fault was caused by the owner of the vehicle involved. He then asked for damages ranging from RM20 to RM60 from the car owner on the grounds that his side mirror was broken due to the incident.

Police Hunts Man who Causes Accidents to Claim Money

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM) has issued a recall notice for the Yamaha NVX and Yamaha YZF-R15M. The programme involves some 2021, 2022, 2023 Yamaha NVX and Yamaha YZF-R15M in Malaysia.

According to HLYM’s press release on their website, the programme involves the replacement and upgrading of the CCU assembly for the NVX and R15M. The programme will be conducted in stages.

The CCU is the Communication Control Unit in Yamaha’s terminology. It is the electronic unit which allows the rider to communicate with the bike through his smartphone. In other words, the unit governs the Yamaha Y-Connect’s connectivity feature. However, HLYM did not elaborate on the issues faced or whether it is a preventive measure.

The press release also cites the motorcycles involved in the programme.

The chassis (frame) numbers for the Yamaha NVX are:

  • PMYSG7410L0000011 – P0039700
  • PMYSG7420L0000011 – P0026367

The chassis (frame) numbers for affected Yamaha YZF-R15M are:

  • PMYRG7910N0000011 – N0002990
  • PMYRG7910P0002991 – P0005190
  • PMYRG7910P0004991

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor also stated that they will not issue official letters to the affected owners. Instead, customers can visit Yamaha’s authorised dealers for further information.

Owners can set an appointment at authorised dealers or HLYM’s headquarters at Sungai Buloh. The appointment link is https://service.yamaha-motor.com.my/booking.

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