Local News Archives

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.

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.

Majority of Children’s Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmets in Malaysia Fail Safety Standards

While we adults understand the importance of wearing a helmet when we ride motorcycles, a study conducted has found that the majority of children’s motorcycle and bicycle helmets in Malaysia fail safety standards.

The survey was jointly conducted by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Road Road Safety Marshal Club of Malaysia (RSMC).

Children’s motorcycle helmets

The two bodies had purchased 10 child helmets from retails outlets, with an additional 10 from online platforms. The helmets were then set to the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) for testing.

The test results were alarming. Of the former group, only 5 passed safety standards. The batch bought online fared even worse as 7 failed.

All helmets were tested against the newly-proposed and much overdue MS 1-2:2023 helmet standard. The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and and SIRIM had proposed to implement the new standard.

Children’s bicycle helmets

As for child bicycle helmets, 11 were purchased from retail shops and another 10 from online stores. They were also sent to SIRIM for testing to the current MS 1763: 2004 bicycle cycle helmet standard .

6 from retail outlets failed while 7 from online stores failed.

MMA and RSMC noted that the retailers were generally aware of the standard requirements for child motorcycle helmets but not so for child bicycle helmets.

A worrying state of affairs

“Some retailers were unaware of the quality of the helmets they were selling. Some retailers verbally said that the helmets meet standards while there were no labels on the helmets.

“Some of the helmets sold had a QC label implying that they met the manufacturers’ standards,” said the statement.

It added that the majority of the bicycle helmets did not have a standards certification label while some had labels of foreign standards that were acceptable, such as USCPSC and EU standards.

“Some of the helmets were labelled ‘toy’. Some were flimsy,” it said.

MMA and RSMC urged the authorities to take action to ensure that all motorcycle and bicycle helmets available in retail and online stores meet Malaysian or international standards.

They also advised the public to exercise caution and make sure that they purchase motorcycle and bicycle helmets that are up to standard.

MMA said it would be invited by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry in May to present the findings to the management group and discuss further steps towards protecting the public from unsafe helmets.

Advice from BikesRepublic.com

Implementation of the new SIRIM standard will be a much-welcomed development in terms of helmet safety, as several – if not all – local helmet manufacturers are still producing products that comply to the very old MS 1:1996 standard. For comparison, the European standard which is also adopted by the United Nations, is now ECE/UN R22.06 which came into effect this year. The previous ECE/UN R22.05 standard was implemented in 2000. So that shows you how old the current SIRIM standard is! There was a revision to the MS 1:2011 but not all local helmets comply to this.

Again, do buy and only wear helmets that were either approved by SIRIM (for locally produced helmets) and/or by ECE/UN R22.05 or ECE/UN R22.06 (for imported helmets). Solely DOT approved helmets are not approved for sale in Malaysia unless it has the additional ECE/UN approval.

Changed to New Car as Old One Often Breaks Down – Sanusi

The Kedah Menteri Besar explained that he changed to a new car because the old one often breaks down. According to him it is or official use.

Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md. Nor said that the high cost of maintenance and repairs of the previous car made it no longer worth using. He also said the state government has never bought a car for the Menteri Besar since May 2020 and he has only used cars bought by the previous Menteri Besar.

“Those two old Mercedes-Benz used to break down in the middle of the road, sometimes tilted to one side, sometimes lifted due to suspension problems.

“They have reached a stage that is no longer economical, but we continued to repair it because they looked like they were still good but it costs up to RM50,000 to repair.

“The new car is not a luxury car, it’s ordinary… if I want to buy it myself, I have money, I can buy two.

“It’s not very expensive, but the government has already bought it. Those who are jealous will buy it when they become the Menteri Besar,” he said.

Previously, the issue of the Korean-made Hyundai Palisade sports utility vehicle (SUV) priced between RM368,888 to RM399,888, which was used by Muhammad Sanusi with the registration number KCX8, went viral on social media.

Muhammad Sanusi said, the purchase of that type of car is based on his needs because it is more rugged and suitable for his tens of thousands of kilometers of travelling a month.

“If you look at my movements as menteri besar, you cannot will give up and not follow. I travel tens of thousands of kilometers a month, so I have to have a tough car,” he said.

Decision to Resume Search for MH370 this May

The decision to resume the search for MH370 will be known this May. The decision will be made after the meeting with Ocean Infinity.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he will personally meet with representatives of the seabed exploration firm to discuss the contract and the proposed search mission. His ministry has already made an appointment with Ocean Infinity for them to present a proposal.

The Ministry of Transport will then propose to the Cabinet after that.

Anthony Loke also emphasized that the search principle is “no find, no fee”. This proposal needs to be approved by the Cabinet because there are financial implications and promises if the plane is found.

Ocean Infinity previously searched the Indian Ocean from 2017 until the search mission was called off in 2018.

But in early March, the company based in Texas, United States claimed to have new scientific evidence about the final location of MH370.

Loke said that, so far, his side is waiting for a proposal from Ocean Infinity first, especially the focus of their search, before any decision is made.

Flight MH370 carrying 239 passengers and crew disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, before it was announced to have ended up in the Indian Ocean.

Case of Police Officer Killing Student Transferred to High Court

The case of a senior police officer who allegedly caused the death of a student was transferred to the Ipoh High Court, for a criminal procedure hearing.

The senior officer who holds the rank of Assistant Superintendent (DSP) is accused of killing a Form 5 student who was also a candidate for the SPM examination on 5 December 2023.

Magistrate S. Punitha allowed Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz’s request to transfer and try the case in the High Court, in accordance with Section 177A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

However, the date for the case to be mentioned in the High Court has not been decided.

On December 18 last year, Mohd Nazri was accused of causing the death of Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie, 17, at Jalan Taman Jati 1, near SMK Jati, in the Kinta district, here, between 12.05pm and 12.40pm, last December 15.

In the tragic incident, Mohd. Nazri, who was waiting to pick up his wife who is a teacher at the victim’s school, got angry when he heard Zaharif revving his friend’s motorcycle engine.

Nazri is alleged to have chased the victim for a distance of one kilometer before hitting the victim with his car, causing serious injuries to his chest and stomach. The victim’s sister, who is a nurse, was near the accident area and administered CPR to her half-conscious brother.

Unfortunately, the victim was declared as deceased by the ambulance team that arrived later.

The accused’s wife said that her husband was “hot-tempered and couldn’t listen to people revving motorcycles.”

Offences under Section 302 of the Penal Code which calls for the death penalty, or imprisonment for a minimum of 30 years and not exceeding 40 years, and if not sentenced to death shall also be punished with no less than 12 lashes of the cane.

F1 is Four Times Dearer than MotoGP – KBS

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kementerian Belia dan Sukan/KBS) informed that organizing F1 (Formula One) is four times more expensive than MotoGP (World Motorcycle Championship). In fact, MotoGP is cheaper than Formula E too.

Its minister, Hannah Yeoh, said the expenditure was RM53.2 million for the organization of MotoGP, while F1 required a capital of around RM228 million. For Formula E (Formula Electric), the cost is estimated at around RM120 million.

“Although everyone says organising this is good, organising that is good, we have to look at affordability and people’s interest in the sport.

“Why MotoGP? As I said, 182,000 visitors will come and the Sepang International Circuit needs this MotoGP event,” she said.

Hannah said this during the closing session of the debate on the KBS Supplementary Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

Hannah added, there are parties trying to organize F1 without the government’s knowledge even though they bid and got the right.

“After bidding, they came to see us and said we have received the bid and want money to organize (F1). So it is not fair for the government if there is a party that bids without getting approval,” he said.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: So does the government bear all the expenses of organizing MotoGP? Often not because there are corporate companies that will sponsor the event. For example, Shell hosted the Shell Malaysia MotoGP from 2022 to 2023, and Petronas will take over as the main sponsor from this year. There are also other sponsors apart from the main sponsors. However, they did not disclose the amount of money they sponsored.

Modenas Ninja ZX-25RR Launched (from RM36,500)

The up-specced Modenas Ninja ZX-25RR has been launched in Malaysia. The launch was announced by Edaran Modenas Sdn. Bhd. (EMOS), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (MODENAS), today.

The Modenas ZX-25R SE has enjoyed a good reception from Malaysian motorcycle enthusiasts and continues to sell well, mostly due to its howling inline-four engine, amongst other things. It is no slouch either, pushing out 46.3 hp (34.5 kW) and 22 Nm of torque.

On the other hand, the ZX-25RR version brings a better suspension system to the table, as per Kawasaki/Modenas tradition, for example the Z900 vs. Z900 SE.

The highlight of the Modenas Ninja ZX-25RR is the rear suspension, consisting of a Showa Horizontal Back-Link BFRC (Balance Free Rear Cushion) Lite gas-charged monoshock. It offers compression and rebound damping in addition to preload adjustments, plus a top-out spring. So, better customisation according to rider weight, riding style and riding environment.

Its front suspension retains the same Showa 37mm SFF-BP (Separate Function Forks-Big Piston) forks, adjustable for preload.

Other features include the advanced electronics and rider aids, including Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), and riding modes. Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS), Assist & Slipper Cluth are retained.

Apart from those, both models also feature the TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity via the Rideology app. Riders can sync music, make and receive calls, as well as navigation.

The Modenas Ninja ZX25-RR is available in two colours, namely the traditional Lime Green, and the additional Ebony. Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is RM36,500 (not on the road). It will be available at Kawasaki All-Star Dealer showrooms by end March 2024.

For more information about the Modenas ZX-25RR and Kawasaki’s complete range of motorcycles, please visit http://www.kawasaki.com.my. You can also contact their Toll-Free Line at 1-800-880-008 or reach out to their WhatsApp Careline at +6019-570 8135.

Where do the Funds from Special Registration Number Sales Go?

One of the many frequent questions asked by motorists is “Where do the funds from special registration number sales go?”

Where did the funds go?

During the question and answer session in Parliament today, Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (PN-Kuala Kangsar) sought information on the revenue generated from Special Registration Number (NPI – Nombor Pendaftaran Istimewa) bidding offers. He also requested fordetails about the initiatives undertaken by the ministry in utilising NPI proceeds from 2018 to 2023.

The Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke Siew Fook answered that all revenue generated is channeled into the Federal Consolidated Fund. Also, the Ministry of Transport does not benefit from the proceeds of vehicle number plate sales.

The Minister went on to state that the total revenue from special registration number sales in 2023 reached RM311.8 million, which included proceeds from the sale of special registration numbers totaling RM21 million.

A portion of the funds were used to cover the driving test fees for motorcycle B2 class, e-hailing, and taxi licences, which benefitted over 40,000 underprivileged youths.

He also stated that 100,000 helmets, including children’s helmets, were also distributed free of charge to financially disadvantaged families.

“The FLYsiswa initiative will be continued to benefit nearly 60,000 students from low-income families, especially in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, along with financial initiatives by Perkeso (Social Security Organisation) for nearly 50,000 taxi drivers, rental car drivers, and school bus drivers,” he said.

Loke added that the ministry had recently introduced the NPI for the GOLD series, with total collection amounting to RM17 million thus far.

“As mentioned earlier, the GOLD1 serial number was bid by His Majesty, the King of Malaysia, for RM1.5 million, contributing to government revenue. Half of these proceeds were returned to the Ministry of Transport for the implementation of initiatives as stated,” he highlighted.

Scam activities involving vehicle plate sales

A supplementary inquiry from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) was brought up, concerning concerns on social media alleging fraudulent activities related to vehicle registration number sales on social media.

The Minister urged the public to only bid through the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and cautioned against purchasing from third-party sources, to prevent falling victim to fraudulent schemes.

“If you intend to bid, use the government’s JPJ e-bidding system, avoid third-party channels. Raising awareness is vital as we aim for the revenue to contribute to government funds, enabling us to implement more initiatives to assist the people,” he emphasised.

New Vehicle Sales Dipped in February

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.

JDT Racing Team, Hafizh Syahrin takes First ARRC 2024 Podium

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

8 Vehicles Owned by Tobacco, Liquor, Cigarette Smugglers Confiscated

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.

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Children’s motorcycle helmets

Children’s bicycle helmets

A worrying state of affairs

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Where did the funds go?

Scam activities involving vehicle plate sales

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