Category: Legal

MELAKA, Oct 27 — The registration system for persons with disabilities (PwDs) known as MyDaftar OKU was launched today as part of efforts to improve the existing registration system that uses the OKU Information System (SMOKU) platform.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said MyDaftar OKU would also enhance the service delivery for disabled persons, in line with the eighth thrust of the Action Plan for PwDs 2016-2022.

She said the thrust has outlined the need to set up a PwD database and a comprehensive information system to faciliate the registration of the group.

“It is important for all PwDs to register to enable the government to make careful planning and formulate policies that are appropriate to the needs of the group based on accurate and comprehensive data.

“This has also become an important KPI (Key Performance Indicator) to ensure that the PwD community is not left behind in line with the Malaysian Family slogan,” she said in a speech at the launch of MyDaftar OKU today.

Meanwhile, at a press conference later, Rina said through MyDaftar OKU, the ministry targeted to approve 2,000 registration applications next month.

She said prior to getting their own OKU physical card, each applicant would be provided with a digital card through QR code that was equipped with security features to facilitate access to services provided for the group.

“Registration is very important to enable PwDs to get benefits and assistance provided by various parties, including the government and private sectors,” she said.

Rina said as of Sept 30, a total of 582,944 PwDs in the country had registered with the Social Welfare Department.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The punishment for the aggravated offence of smuggling of migrants is proposed to be increased from a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine or both to life imprisonment and shall also be liable to whipping.

The matter is contained in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill 2021 which was tabled for the first reading by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The bill is to provide that a public officer who commits an offence of smuggling of migrants in the performance of his public duties commits an aggravated offence of smuggling of migrants.

The amendment is also to increase the punishment of imprisonment for the offence of smuggling of migrants from a term not exceeding 15 years to a term not exceeding 20 years.

Other than that, the amendment is also to increase the punishment of imprisonment for the offence relating to bringing in transit a smuggled migrant from a term not exceeding seven years to a term not exceeding 15 years.

The bill seeks to ensure that the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) is consistent with the requirements stipulated in the Palermo Protocol and the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP).

Ismail said the second reading of the bill would be made during this parliamentary session.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SINGAPORE, Oct 14 — A Malaysian bus driver accused of trafficking heroin to a woman outside a supermarket in 2014 had his acquittal of the capital charge upheld by the Singapore Court of Appeal, CNA reported today.

The report said the prosecution had appealed against the High Court’s decision in May 2021 to acquit Mangalagiri Dhruva Kumar of trafficking at least 22.73g of diamorphine or heroin.

However, a three-judge panel comprising the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justices Judith Prakash, and Chao Hick Tin dismissed the appeal this afternoon.

Speaking through his lawyer, Mangalagiri was reportedly said that he is “very thankful to God and the system in Singapore”.

The report said Mangalagiri was accused of handing a bag containing heroin to a woman on May 16, 2014, outside Sheng Siong Supermarket at Woodlands Centre Road.

The woman then handed the drugs to a man with Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers arresting both later that same day.

They were tried and the woman was sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking at least 22.73g of heroin, while the man was convicted in 2016 of possessing the heroin for the purposes of trafficking.

He was sentenced to death and executed after his appeal was dismissed in 2018, said the report.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 14 — The Malaysian Bar has applied to be an ‘amicus curiae’ or friend of the court in the appeal proceedings filed by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his son Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin regarding the payment of income tax, amounting to RM1.69 billion and RM37.6 million respectively, to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) before the Federal Court.

Based on a letter dated Oct 13 sent to the Federal Court, the Malaysian Bar applied for the court to allow eight of its lawyers to be admitted as ‘amicus curiae’ to hear the appeal.

Najib and Mohd Nazifuddin filed a notice of motion to the Federal Court to seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing their appeal to set aside the High Court’s decision on the payment of the tax.

The Malaysian Bar in the letter, among others, stated that the case involved an important constitutional issue whether Section 106 (3) of the Income Tax Act 1967 contradicted or contravened Article 121 of the Federal Constitution and asked the court to accept its lawyers as an ‘amicus curiae’ to present arguments and views to assist the court in reaching an appropriate decision.

Meanwhile, lawyer Wee Yeong Kang, who represented Najib and Mohd Nazifuddin, when contacted by reporters, confirmed that his team had received the letter via email today.

The lawyer said further case management was set for Oct 29 before Federal Court deputy registrar Rasidah Roslee.

On Sept 9, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision allowing the IRB’s application for a direct judgement to claim tax arrears of RM1.69 billion from Najib and RM37.6 million from Mohd Nazifuddin.

Direct judgement is when the court decides a particular case through argument without hearing the testimony of witnesses at the trial.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has thanked the security forces involved in roadblock operations nationwide since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented last year to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

This followed the government’s decision to remove roadblocks at state borders due to the lifting of the ban on interstate travel that was announced earlier today. The approval for interstate travel begins at midnight today.

“It may look easy to us, but only the tenacious and strong-willed are able to work night and day at various roadblock locations.

“Thank you to members of the security forces involved. May you always be under the protection of Allah SWT,” he said through a posting shared on his official Facebook page.

Hishammuddin said that, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at a special press conference today, roadblocks to safeguard national security would continue to be conducted.

Today, the government agreed to allow individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to cross state borders without having to obtain police permission from tomorrow.

In a statement today, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said that the Royal Malaysia Police will conduct random inspections in focus areas and end roadblocks at the state borders, except in the areas placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order, Op Benteng, as well as for crime prevention and security reasons.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — A strong ASEAN military cooperation can guarantee the security and stability of the region in facing any external threat, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said there was no denying that the combined military strength of 10 ASEAN countries was more capable of facing any major power compared to the might of a single nation.

This matter, he said, was brought up by the Indonesian Defence Minister during a telephone conversation with him yesterday with regard to the importance of all ASEAN nations to interact more closely, especially following the new strategic alliance with Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS).

However, speaking at the winding up of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Hishammuddin said this did not mean ASEAN countries need not continue to approach the powers that are involved with AUKUS.

“As it happens, the special envoy from Australia, the Australian Vice-Admiral will be meeting me today. What we do through diplomacy is not to say that we are strong but at least we have our own stand as a sovereign nation.

“At the same time, the 10 nations in ASEAN also have our own stand and strength, which can be voiced out to any parties that try to deny our position in this region,” he said.

He was replying to a question from Mohamad Sabu (Amanah-Kota Raja), who suggested that ASEAN, as an allliance bloc of Southeast Asian nations, play a crucial role in dialogue sessions with major countries, especially if it involved the security of the region.

Elaborating, Hishammuddin felt that it was an apt suggestion and was the sixth thrust under the Defence Ministry’s strategic plan, namely strengthening of international cooperation in ensuring national defence.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Anyone who aspires to join the police is aware of the risks and dangers of the job, but being ambushed by communists terrorists on the first day of duty, narrowly escaping death multiple times and having a bullet pass through the thigh are among the experiences endured by police veteran, S.K. Puvaneswaran.

 

Now at 90, the former superintendent is having difficulties hearing and moving, but his memories are still sharp after serving the force for 33 years before retiring in 1983.

 

The nonagenarian shared his love for the force and sacrifice of sweat and blood for the country, including from confronting communist terrorists to gangsters as well as patrolling coastal areas while posted in the Marine branch.

 

 

Born on July 21, 1931, at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, Puvaneswaran said his interest to be a police officer started from a young age, so he joined the force in June 1950, aged 19, and was among the first batch of Asian inspectors in the country during the British colonial era.

 

On the very first day of his appointment on Dec 10, 1950, when he was on the way to join duty as Assistant Officer-in-Charge in the small town of Renggam in Johor, his train was ambushed by the communists.

 

Renggam, now a quiet town in the Kluang districts with its residents having moved to larger urban areas, used to be of British interest, having large plantations that remain until now, and even Queen Elizabeth II had visited it in the 1950s.

 

Puvaneswaran shared that was not the last communist attack he faced, he continued to face the threat from the terrorists as the Renggam Police Station had been attacked besides several other bloody battles.

 

“During that time, I also disguised myself as a rubber tapper between Renggam-Kluang to collect information on Indian communist terrorists. Then, I managed to arrest a person with an Armalite gun with ammunition at Layang-Layang police station,” he told Bernama when met at Wisma Bernama.

 

After a short stint at the Johor Bahru Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Puvaneswaran was later tasked as a platoon commander to hunt for communists terrorists in the jungles of Kota Tinggi and  Mersing in Johor, as well as Tanah Merah, Gua Musang and border areas in Kelantan, before serving as chief in Marine Police Patrol.

 

“I captured intruders, pirates and provided safety for fishermen. During that time, the confrontation by Indonesia (1963-1966) made me work day and night, and captured saboteurs with arms off Pontian,” he added.

 

After mostly dealing with communists and pirates for about 17 years, he was later tasked to confront gangsters when appointed for CID duties in Ipoh, Perak where he detained 50 gangsters.

 

One day while in a gunfight, he was shot in the right thigh by a gangster, and the bullet passed through. Even though in deadly pain, he still managed to swiftly shoot the attacker’s hand to help other officers to capture.

 

He later served as Dungun district police chief (OCPD), and was followed by stints in Bukit Aman Marine division, Kuala Lumpur CID and was Sabah Marine division chief, before serving as a prosecutor at the Jalan Duta courts prior to retirement.

 

During his time in the force, Puvaneswaran, who is known as Puvan, said he was active with the Johor, Selangor and Perak polo teams, where he came in close contact with several royal families.

 

He even related his experiences in two books – Memoirs of Early Life & 33 Years in the Police Force published in 2004 and Recollections & Reminiscences of Past Police Service in 2018.

 

He added that he had been honoured with the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) and Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) awards for his services and hoped to be given a Datukship as well.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency