27/01/2025

MONDAY | JAN 27, 2025 5 RM12.5m collected via RTD fines offer TANAH MERAH: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has collected RM12.5 million from the settlement of 83,000 summonses following a special compound initiative offering a flat rate of RM150 since early January. RTD Director-General Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the special compound offer applies to three types of offences involving the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas - Summons 53A), Notice of Inquiry (114) and Summons Notice (115/JPJ(P)23). “This special compound offer is available only until June 30, allowing Awas summonses to be settled at RM150 compared with the original RM300,” he said on Saturday. He said failure to settle outstanding summonses by July 1 would result in stricter enforcement actions, including transaction restrictions and blacklisting until the summons is cleared. Aedy Fadly said individuals who fail to pay their outstanding summonses will be unable to renew their driving licences and road tax until payment is made. “We are currently in a grace period, providing an opportunity for everyone to settle their outstanding summonses under the special compound rate until June 30. “The payment for this special compound can be made through various channels, including RTD counters, the RTD portal and the myJPJ app,” he said. – Bernama Attempt to smuggle drugs foiled PONTIAN: The Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs worth RM360,000 at the Sungai Rambah estuary near here on Saturday morning. Johor MMEA acting director Kapt Kama Azri Kamil said the drugs were being smuggled out of the country when a patrol team carrying out enforcement operations intercepted a suspect. “During the operation, our team spotted a suspicious blue fibre boat at 1.15am about 0.5 nautical miles from the river mouth. Upon detecting our presence, the boat attempted to flee,” he said in a statement. “The suspect fled into a nearby mangrove area, abandoning the boat. “After securing the vessel, our team found a black backpack containing five packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing 5kg, as well as a 1.2kg package of suspected Ecstasy pills.” The drugs, along with a mobile phone and plastic packaging for tea, believed to be used for wrapping the narcotics, were seized. – Bernama 124 penalised for traffic offences KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,106 vehicles were inspected during the Road Transport Department (RTD) Ops Sepadu conducted in the federal capital on Saturday night, resulting in 124 drivers being penalised for various offences. Kuala Lumpur RTD director Hamidi Adam said the most common offence was driving without a valid licence, with 103 cases recorded. This was followed by expired road tax with 70 cases, lack of insurance coverage with 58, non-compliant car number plates with 18, vehicle modifications with one, and missing side mirrors with one. A total of 253 notices were issued. The operation, conducted along Jalan Raja Laut from 8pm to midnight, also saw the seizure of three cars and eight motorcycles, including one found using a fake number plate “The operation aims to raise public awareness, particularly during the upcoming festive season,” Hamidi said. – Bernama

Cheer and hope for Down syndrome children

o NGO celebrates achievements of group in developing social interaction and communication skills

essential skills for the classroom and daily life. “We hope the programme will empower the children to approach their education positively, and with determination and a sense of excitement. We also welcome any individual, organisation or the media to help promote awareness and educate the public about Down syndrome, including the challenges and needs of sufferers and their families,” he said. Rosli said despite ongoing efforts by support groups, many people still lacked a basic understanding of what Down syndrome is, the challenges faced by sufferers of the condition, and the potential they have when given the right support and opportunities. “Awareness efforts should not only target the public but also policymakers, educators and employers. By showcasing our programme, we aim to engage policymakers and government bodies, and urge them to acknowledge the unique needs of individuals with the condition.” Rosli said the media also plays a crucial role in promoting the message of inclusivity and raising awareness about Down syndrome to the public. “Through continuous efforts, we hope to encourage the implementation of targeted strategies and programmes that enhance the well-being of the Down syndrome community as they require additional support to ensure they are not marginalised or isolated,” he said. Mother of six Noorazlina Annuar, 52, who has a Down syndrome child, said the

programme is an excellent community initiative that offers support to families with children with the condition. “This programme has been incredibly beneficial to me and my friends who have Down syndrome children. It has provided us with opportunities to meet, get to know one another, and share our experiences.” Noorazlina said she has not faced many challenges and is determined to raise her daughter, Noor Shamilia Nadirah, 17, just like any other child, and believes encouraging her to be independent has helped her manage her daily tasks with confidence. “We’ve worked together to build routines, from waking up in the morning to getting everything ready for school. Now, Noor Shamilia can take care of herself and prepare for school all on her own,” she said. Mawaddah Abdul Latif, 37, a mother of two Down syndrome children, said her family is grateful for the help provided by the NGO, as it has eased the financial burden of preparing school supplies for her children, Huzayfah Muhammad Ihsan, 13, and Irsyad, nine. “Preparing school supplies can be quite costly, especially when you have more than one special-needs child, so it has made things more manageable for me.” Mawaddah expressed hope such efforts would continue, as they provide much needed support to families like hers. “As parents, it’s our job to help them grow and give them our full support. It’s not always easy, but we must trust that there’s something valuable in every challenge we face,” she said.

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN: NGO Bunga-Bunga Syurga Down Syndrome Malaysia brought smiles to 100 children with the condition and their families during its 11th Majlis Kasih Mesra event here yesterday. The children sang, performed dances and participated in a fashion show, among others. Its president Rosli Yacop said the event coincided with its “Back to School” initiative, in which the children were presented bags, supplies and RM70 each. “We organise our annual event to support and encourage Down syndrome children as they prepare for the new school term. We also celebrate their progress and inspire them to do well as they enter the new school year.” Rosli said the programme also served as a platform to celebrate their achievements in areas such as social interaction, communication, reading, performing arts, and singing, which helps them develop

Senator Isaiah D. Jacob and Rosli presenting school bags to children at the event. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

2.4m vehicles expected to enter Penang during CNY GEORGE TOWN: Penang police estimate that over 2.4 million vehicles will enter the state during this year’s Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays. areas are Jalan Teluk Air Tawar to Jalan Bagan Luar, Jalan Perusahaan Perai and the North South Expressway in Central Seberang Perai, and Jalan Besar Simpang Ampat in South Seberang Perai.

address any issues that may arise. The council has activated Ops Payung at several key focal locations. On Penang Road, monitoring will be on from 11am to 5pm until Feb 16, while at Bukit Bendera, the operation covers two areas from 12pm to 6pm until Feb 16. In Ayer Itam, the operation will commence from 4pm to 11pm from Wednesday to Feb 5. In a statement, Shafiz said the council has also implemented a road closure for the entry lane from Lebuh Light to Jalan Padang Kota Lama (facing Town Hall) starting from 6pm daily until Feb 16 to ensure smooth vehicle flow exiting Padang Kota. The council, police and the Road Transport Department are also conducting patrols and traffic management at other areas prone to congestion during the school holiday season, such as at Gurney Drive, Pulau Tikus, as well as areas around Komtar and Persiaran Bayan Indah (Queensbay Mall). – Bernama

Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said on average, around 200,000 vehicles are expected to travel in and out of the state daily, with the volume increasing as the Chinese New Year celebration on Wednesday approaches. “The traffic volume is expected to reach its peak beginning next week as Chinese New Year nears. So far, police have identified eight ‘blackspot’ areas where accidents frequently occur in Penang,” he said. The identified areas are Jalan Ayer Itam, Paya Terubong and Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu in the northeast district, as well as Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and Jalan Tun Dr Awang in the southwest district. In North Seberang Perai, the identified

Hamzah said police will be stationed at “blackspots” and high-traffic hotspots to manage vehicle flow around the clock. Meanwhile, Penang Island City Council Enforcement and Public Education Permanent Committee acting chairman Shafiz Rahim Raja said the city council has launched a school holiday operation to focus on enforcement and traffic control at key tourist and high-traffic areas to ensure smooth traffic flow. Among the traffic management initiatives are Ops Payung and utilising closed-circuit cameras as “intelligent eyes” to monitor and report congestion points, enabling officers to be promptly deployed. A 24-hour maintenance team will also be on standby to