30/06/2025

MONDAY | JUNE 30, 2025 3 August opening for Pasir Gudang Hospital JOHOR BAHRU: Hospital Pasir Gudang which was officially handed over to the Health Ministry yesterday, will begin operating in phases from Aug 1, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the initial phase would involve 30% of core services, including Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Paediatric Department, Bernama reported. “So far, 274 positions have been filled, and we expect to be fully operational with 1,845 staff by July 2026,” he said after the handing over ceremony of the hospital project yesterday. Also present was Public Works Department director-general Datuk Roslan Ismail. Dzulkefly said with a capacity of over 300 beds, the hospital would help reduce the workload at Johor Bahru’s two main hospitals – Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) and Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) – particularly in handling emergency cases and stable patients. He said this was in line with Johor’s projected population growth, which was expected to reach 3.9 million by 2025, up from 3.35 million in 2010, with an annual growth rate of 2%, particularly in Johor Bahru. Dzulkefly also said Hospital Pasir Gudang was the first hospital to offer 20 on-call suites for specialist doctors as part of efforts to safeguard their welfare and ensure staff comfort. He said during its construction, which began in Sept 2020, the hospital consistently remained ahead of schedule and was never listed among delayed or ‘sick’ projects, despite the challenges posed by the movement control order. “The hospital has become a benchmark for meticulous planning and integrated implementation.” Dzulkefly said the total number of specialist hospitals in Johor now stands at eight and this was expected to ease congestion at the two main hospitals in the state capital. “For example, the waiting time for elective surgery services at HSA is expected to be reduced by 30% within the first two years.” Upsi students hurt in crash get PwD cards KEPALA BATAS: The Social Welfare Department is helping Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) students who suffered permanent disabilities in a recent bus crash by processing their applications for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) cards. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said the ministry is compiling details of students who suffered long-term injuries in the June 9 crash, reaching out to them and extending related support. “The exact number of affected students is still being gathered as we are awaiting for their medical assessments,” she told reporters yesterday. Noraini, who is also Umno Wanita chief, was speaking after officiating the Kepala Batas Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri division delegates meeting, which was also attended by Kepala Batas Umno chief and Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican. She said counselling sessions are ongoing for survivors and the families of those who died, including the family in the multipurpose vehicle (MPV) involved in the crash, as many are still traumatised by the tragedy. “Ongoing psychological support is crucial, especially for those grieving the loss of their loved ones. I visited a family yesterday and they are still visibly affected.” The crash occurred at Km53 of the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in Gerik, when a chartered bus carrying the Upsi students from Jertih, Terengganu to the Tanjung Malim campus rear-ended the MPV and overturned. Fifteen students were killed, while 33 others, including the bus driver and co-driver, as well as the driver and three passengers of the MPV were injured. – Bernama

Stricter enforcement needed on heavy vehicle restrictions

o Experts propose smart surveillance systems, cameras for licence plate recognition and CCTVs at strategic locations

Ambak

said

inadequate

on-ground encouraging

“So, in terms of a reduction in traffic congestion, the objective has been achieved.” Hairolazaman also said enforcement remains inconsistent, with some logistics companies and drivers still operating during restricted hours. “There are drivers who knowingly ignore the rule, and in some cases, they’re under pressure from their employers to meet tight delivery schedules. “On top of that, enforcement isn’t always present. Sometimes there are officers, sometimes none at all.” He proposed installing closed-circuit television cameras at strategic entry points to bolster enforcement, particularly where manpower is limited. Hairolazaman also recommended linking captured footage to enforcement databases to enable the automatic issuance of summonses which target transport companies, not just individual drivers. “The issue is, some companies treat summonses lightly, knowing there’ll be massive discounts at year-end. “That kind of practice undermines the whole objective. Once a fine is issued, there should be demerit points, followed by audits and permit suspensions if safety rules are breached.” He said the Kejara demerit system, while in place, is not being fully leveraged. “The system exists but isn’t fully implemented. Drivers with multiple violations still manage to renew their licences. “If we want behavioural change, we need to close that gap.” Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia road safety expert Professor Dr Kamaruddin

monitoring

may

be

non-compliance. “Some drivers may feel emboldened to flout the restriction because they sense enforcement is inconsistent. “Without frequent or visible monitoring, they assume the risk of getting caught is low.” To counter this, Kamaruddin suggested deploying smart surveillance systems with automatic number plate recognition technology. “We need intelligent cameras capable of licence plate recognition (LPR). “It allows for faster, more accurate detection of heavy vehicles entering restricted zones during peak hours.” He said LPR-based enforcement would allow authorities to link violations directly to logistics companies, ensuring accountability at the organisational level. “These companies are traceable. Once identified through plate recognition, summonses can be issued immediately and efficiently. “This would make enforcement more systematic – similar to how RFID (radio frequency identification) and electronic toll systems already work on our highways.” Additionally, National Road Safety council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said weak enforcement could stem from a shortage of traffic personnel. “From what I see, traffic congestion worsens by the day, and allowing heavy vehicles on highways only adds to the chaos. “There are simply too many vehicles to monitor, and we don’t have enough manpower to enforce the ban effectively.”

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Experts have called for stricter enforcement on road restrictions for heavy vehicles during peak hours, with enhanced surveillance by authorities and the use of technology to detect rule breakers. The ban, which was imposed by the Malaysian Highway Authority on Feb 19, applies to the NSE, NKVE, Elite and DUKE highways during peak hours (6.30–9.30am and 4.30–7.30pm) Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays. However, complaints persist that heavy vehicles continue to ply these highways during the restricted hours. Malaysian Road and Transportation Safety Association president Md Hairolazaman Muhamed Nor acknowledged the ban’s effectiveness in easing highway congestion but noted there were weaknesses in enforcing the ban. “From my observation, there’s a significant drop in travel time since the ban was enforced. A route that used to take me an hour and 30 minutes now takes less than an hour.

‘More than 60% of operators fail safety audit’ KOTA BHARU: The Road Transport Stricter enforcement of road restrictions for heavy vehicles during peak hours has been urged, as well as the use of technology to detect errant drivers. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

hotline numbers or the names of responsible officers on their vehicles for public complaints. “The department will submit the list of non compliant companies to the Land Public Transport Agency for further action, including possible suspension or cancellation of operating licences.” Aedy Fadly stressed that RTD will not compromise on safety and will continue to take firm enforcement action as part of efforts to enhance road safety and uphold the integrity of the national transport system. – Bernama

43 lorry operators and 42 tour and express bus operators,” he said after attending RTD’s Setia Khas assembly yesterday. Among the key violations were the failure to appoint occupational safety and health officers, absence of GPS devices in all vehicles. Many companies also failed to record drivers’ working hours, which must not exceed eight hours a day, and did not ensure a minimum 30-minute break after every four hours of driving. He added that some companies had no safety action plans in place and did not display

Department (RTD) has found that 64% of commercial vehicle operators audited during the Special Operation on Safety Audit System Guidelines failed to meet mandatory safety requirements. Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the nationwide operation, which began on June 23, involved audits on 133 companies operating commercial vehicles. Of these, 85 companies failed to comply with the guidelines, while only 48 passed. “The non-compliant companies comprised