21/05/2025

WEDNESDAY | MAY 21, 2025

6

MACC to beef up crackdown on ‘grand corruption’

35 undocumented migrants detained KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) 8th Battalion, Southeast Brigade rescued 35 undocumented migrants believed to be victims of human trafficking during a raid at a house in Lorong Dato Kadok in Ketereh on Monday. Its commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the 11.30am operation followed intelligence on human smuggling activities using the premises as a transit point. “During the raid, two local men were found inside a car parked in front of the house. Further inspection led to the discovery of 11 Bangladeshi men and 24 Myanmar nationals, comprising 19 men and five women,” he said in a statement. Investigations revealed the Bangladeshis and one Myanmar man had no valid entry stamps on their papers, while the rest did not have any identification documents. He said the two local suspects, aged 31 and 57, are believed to be agents smuggling the migrants via illegal routes, adding that one suspect tested positive for methamphetamine. All the detained migrants are being held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the locals are being investigated under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. In another case, GOF seized 55.89kg of cannabis worth over RM1.95 million in a raid at the Tok Awang Belulang illegal jetty in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas. Nik Ros Azhan said the raid at 7.20am on Monday was carried out in collaboration with the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Pasir Mas district police headquarters. “Acting on intelligence, the team watched for 10 minutes before conducting a raid on a 4WD vehicle at the jetty,“ he said when contacted. He added that a local man in his 30s and a 52 year-old Thai woman were arrested. Further inspection found 13 boxes containing the cannabis wrapped in plastic. “The initial urine screening tests found that the Thai woman was positive for methamphetamine.“ He also said the 4WD vehicle, estimated to be worth RM100,000, was also seized. – Bernama Driver charged with hiding stolen cows TELUK INTAN: A lorry driver who is facing a charge of dangerous driving that resulted in the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) members was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday with transporting two stolen cows. Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, 45, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting in concealing the two cows belonging to Rozali Ismail, 66, from Kampung Sungai Keli, Hutan Melintang. The offence was allegedly committed in Kampung Kebun Baru in Hutan Melintang at 6pm on April 14. The charge, under Section 414 of the Penal Code, provides a maximum prison sentence of seven years or a fine, or both. Magistrate Naidatul Athirah Azman allowed bail of RM3,000 in one surety and set June 16 for mention. Earlier, DPP Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan proposed bail of RM5,000 in one surety, but lawyer Mohd Hafizuddin Khan Norkhan requested a reduced bail on the grounds that his client was facing 10 charges, including causing the deaths of the FRU members. He said the accused also had no income because his licence had been suspended, and the two cows had been handed back to the owner. Last Friday, Rudi Zulkarnain pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of nine FRU members on May 13. He was allowed bail of RM6,000 in one surety. His employer posted the bail. – Bernama

o Commission to focus on misappropriation of public funds and strict oversight of procurement processes

Department, Inland Revenue Board, Companies Commission of Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. “The Accounting Fraud Working Group reflects our collective commitment to ensuring full accountability for every ringgit of public funds, while reinforcing coordinated action grounded in each agency’s expertise. “We can no longer operate in silos, as if each agency were sailing its own ship toward an unclear destination. The working group serves as the strategic map that aligns our course and strengthens our joint navigation in tackling increasingly complex financial crimes,” said Azam. He added that the graft busters also play an active role in the Auditor-General’s Report Action Committee, taking follow-up action on audit findings that may involve elements of corruption or abuse of power.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is ramping up its integrated crackdown on public fund misappropriation and procurement leakage through targeted, cross-agency collaboration and systemic reforms. Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said one of the key priorities for 2025 is to enhance oversight of procurement processes, enforcement and the fight against large-scale corruption, or grand corruption, particularly in high-risk sectors. “Recurring findings in the Auditor General’s Report clearly highlight weaknesses

in internal controls, creating opportunities for leakage, low-impact investments and payments made without a solid contractual basis,” he told Bernama yesterday. He added that MACC is also placing special focus on “sick” and abandoned projects, which have a significant impact on national financial stability. To address these issues comprehensively, Azam said MACC and six other agencies have established the Accounting Fraud Working Group as a coordination platform to address financial crimes more effectively. The agencies are the National Audit Department, Accountant General’s

An enforcement officer examining the illegal e-waste stored at the premises. – PIC COURTESY OF KEDAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com Raid conducted on errant recycling plant

authorisation to recover scheduled waste.” The case is being investigated under multiple provisions of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which governs environmental safety and public health. Among the provisions breached were Section 18(1) for operating without approval (RM25,000 to RM250,000 fine or up to two years’ jail), Section 34A(7) for failing to comply with EIA conditions (RM100,000 to RM1 million fine and up to five years’ jail) and Section 34B(1) for storing scheduled waste without approval (RM100,000 to RM10 million fine and mandatory five-year prison term). Tools and machinery used to process the batteries and e-waste were also seized. Sharifah said the facility is a known offender with a string of past violations. “Despite earlier enforcement action and advisory efforts to help them legalise operations, the operator continued with unlawful activities,” she said, adding that five investigation papers have been filed, with one

case resulting in a conviction and four others still in progress. She also said illegal waste handling is not confined to Kedah. “Even with strict laws and heavy penalties, these activities persist, often driven by low awareness and financial greed,” she told theSun . Sharifah added that lithium batteries and e-waste contain toxic elements such as cobalt, lead, cadmium and mercury, which pose serious environmental and health risks if mishandled. “They can contaminate soil and water, trigger spontaneous fires and release toxic fumes. Health risks include respiratory issues, nerve damage, kidney failure, hormonal disruption and increased cancer risk, especially among vulnerable groups.” The department also urged the public to report any similar illegal activities via its toll-free hotline at 1-800-88-2727 or online at http://eaduan.doe.gov.my.

SUNGAI PETANI: A recycling plant in the Gurun Industrial Area that was flouting environmental laws has been raided in a late night operation by the Kedah Department of Environment (DOE) and police. The raid, that began late on Monday and stretched into the early hours of yesterday, was part of a statewide blitz targeting repeat environmental offenders. Authorities found the facility illegally handling, storing and recovering scheduled waste that included five metric tonnes of used lithium batteries and 26 metric tonnes of mixed electronic waste, without proper approvals or documentation. “These materials were being processed without the necessary licences,” said Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab. “The plant was operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or