Category: Legal

GEORGE TOWN, March 16 (Bernama) — Police have completed their probe into a child abuse case involving a foreign woman in Gelugor here and have submitted the investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Northeast district police chief ACP Soffian Santong said a video which went viral on social media recently was actually about the case which happened in December last year, and the suspect had been arrested.

The 53-year-old woman was arrested on Dec 8, one day after police received a report from a woman, he told reporters here today.

“The case was investigated under Section 31(2) of the Child Act 2001 for child abuse and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act because the suspect did not have valid travel documents. The suspect is expected to be charged after the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s Office has given its consent,” he said.

Soffian said based on the police report lodged by the woman last year, four children under the care of the suspect were allegedly abused by her at a house in Taman Persiaran Minden.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — The Immigration Department detained 33 foreign nationals on suspicion of not having any valid travel documents at a private university in Semenyih last Monday.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said they comprised 27 Indonesians, four Pakistanis, a Bangladeshi and a Nepali who work as cleaners and gardeners.

He said based on intelligence, all the individuals, aged 22 to 67, were working from 7 am to 4.30 pm in the university’s vicinity.

“Initial investigations found that they have been working there for about two years and did not have any Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) or identification documents.

“The company that employed these workers is also said to have never applied for PLKS for them. Seven witness summonses were issues on managers and supervisors of the company to trace the actual employer,” he said in a statement today.

Khairul Dzaimee said during the raid, some of the illegal immigrants attempted to flee by climbing a nearby hill behind the students’ hostel while others took off their uniforms to avoid detection by the authorities.

“Some were hiding in a small room. However, all the efforts of these illegal immigrants were successfully thwarted by the swift action of the Immigration personnel.

“The offences committed include not having identification documents, overstaying, violating passes requirements and other offences under Immigration Act,” he said.

All the individuals detained will be placed at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot and the case is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM), Immigration Act 1959/63, Passports Act 1966 and Immigration Regulations 1963.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, March 9 — The Perak Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will take legal action against any party responsible for yesterday’s quarry rockfall incident in which two victims are believed to be still buried under the rubble in Keramat Pulai, Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands.

Its director, Supian Alias said if there have been any violations, then those responsible can be charged under the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.

He said a team of investigating officers from the Perak DOSH will conduct a thorough investigation to identify any legal violations and other elements that were the cause of the accident after the search and rescue operation has been completed by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.

“According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, it is the duty of every employer to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of all his employees while at work as well as of the public in the workplace under his control.

“The employer has full control on all activities at the workplace, to make risk analysis and provide effective risk control before employees begin to carry out their work activities. This is to reduce safety risks to employees and the public as well as to help prevent accidents from occurring,” he said in a statement today.

Supian said such incidents could be avoided if employers carried out comprehensive risk assessment and control in accordance with the methods set out in the Guidelines for Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC).

In yesterday’s 9.15 am incident, apart from the two victims who are missing and believed to be buried under the rubble, another two victims, Mohd Razli Suhaimi, 35, and Pan Tam, 38, managed to escape with injuries.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, March 8 — The announcement that the country would be entering the ‘Transition to Endemic’ Phase and the reopening of borders from April 1 was seen as a good move as the country could not afford to continue keeping its borders closed.

Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the same move has been taken by some other countries around the world after being hit by COVID-19 for two years.

“Australia had opened their borders on Feb 12, so have the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. We need to accept the fact that COVID-19 is here to stay but with good precautionary measures, our fight against its surge will soon be over,” he said when commenting on the announcement.

He said the Sarawak government is one of the few state governments which had already worked out its Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) in its continuous efforts to keep the state’s development agenda on track in the long run.

“We need this move because our people’s livelihood is at stake and together we need to work hard to keep everyone’s lives return to normalcy,” he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced today that the country would be entering the ‘Transition to Endemic’ Phase and the reopening of borders from April 1.

Ismail Sabri said the decision was made after taking various factors into consideration, and conducting risk assessments and obtaining feedback from the Health Ministry as well as the recommendation of Quartet Ministers.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Women’s involvement in the country’s political arena is still low including being the people’s elected representatives in Parliament, says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

The Member of Parliament for Masjid Tanah said that until now, the target of having 30 per cent female elected representatives in the Dewan Rakyat had not been achieved.

“Towards meeting this target, women should be given more space in politics including fielding them as candidates in the General Election.

“If we want to field female candidates, place them in seats that are winnable for them so as not to waste talents. Women members of Parliament have the edge as they are more caring and loving while the people’s issues are close to their hearts.

“Certainly, we’ve always stridently called for at least 30 per cent women’s participation in the Dewan Rakyat but we are still far from the target.”

Mas Ermieyati said this as a panellist at the ‘Bual Bicara Bersama YB’ programme held in conjunction with the inaugural Malaysian Parliamentary-Level Women’s Day 2022 celebration, themed ‘Saksama Bersama’ and held at the Banquet Room, Parliament Building, here, today.

Officiated by Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun, the forum was also participated by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman, Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi as the moderator, and two panellists, the MP for Batu Kawan P. Kasthuriraani and secretary-general of the National Council of Women’s Organisations Malaysia, Dr Sabariah Baharun.

Kasthuriraani said stereotyping and character assassination against women should stop while there must be efforts to create awareness of women’s issues so as to be brought to the fore for redress.

She said many women elected representatives, not just in Malaysia but throughout the world were facing the big challenge of being victims of character assassination.

“The government should view this issue seriously as many women elected representatives and activists have become victims of character assassination as well as given rape and death threats and more,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sabariah said all parties must play a role in inculcating values including appreciating and recognising women’s immense contribution to the nation and its people and this could start from the home.

Ras Adiba, who is also the OKU Sentral chairperson, said women should be supporting each other so as to change public perception about women and to give more women the opportunity to be parliamentarians.

“What is important now is to have more programmes, particularly to help women improve their skills in facing difficult situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.

The forum, organised by the Malaysian Parliament in recognition of women’s contributions and services to the nation and in upholding the government’s policies, will be made an annual event to discuss topics related to women.

Currently, there are 33 women Members of Parliament in Malaysia or 14.86 per cent out of the total of 222.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, March 8 — Two men remained missing after they were believed to be buried in rubble by a quarry rockfall incident occurred in Keramat Pulai, Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands this morning.

The Perak Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement earlier today that they received a distress call at about 9.40 am and a team from the Simpang Pulai Fire and Rescue station that rushed to the scene learnt that four people were involved in the rockfall. Two victims, in their 40s and 50s, were lucky enough to escape with injuries.

A search and rescue operation was then mounted by 57 personnel from various agencies but the authorities suspended efforts later in the evening due to the occurrence of soil movement around the rockfall area and unfavourable weather conditions, Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said.

“This is because we do not want any unforeseen incidents happening while (the security team) is conducting operations. We are waiting for clearance from the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia and SMART (Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) before continuing the process of removing the victims from the incident site.

“The operation is expected to take around two days,” he told reporters at the incident site today. He was joined by Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Osman.

Mior Faridalathrash said it was the first time such an incident occurred in the area and the company managing the quarrying work possessed a legal licence.

He identified the two missing men as Kheow Loo Siew Soon, 49 and Itam Lasoh, 43, while the two victims who managed to escape with injuries were Mohd Razli Suhaimi, 35, who suffered fractures, and Pan Tam, 38, who suffered minor injuries. Both victims were brought to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for further treatment.

“We are still investigating the real cause of the rockfall. Based on investigations, there were no quarry explosions taking place today,” he added.

Meanwhile, Itam’s wife, Wak Uda Bahkim, 41, said she was praying that her husband would be found safe and sound.

“I don’t care (if he) is found (with) trauma, injuries, as long as he is safe. I prayed to God asking for my husband to be safe,” the mother of four said.

Wak Uda said her father, Bahkim Kipak told her of the mishap, adding that the last time she met her husband was around 7 am today at their home in Kampung Jelintuh, Gopeng here during breakfast.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency