01/07/2025

TUESDAY | JULY 1, 2025 5 M’sian rescued after snorkelling ordeal JAKARTA: A Malaysian tourist swept away by strong currents while snorkelling off Gili Lawa Island in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, was found safe on Sunday. In a video released by Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency Basarnas, 35-year-old Amirah Bazil was seen signalling for help from shallow waters near Gili Lawa before being assisted onto a rescue vessel. “She had been snorkelling with friends early Sunday morning when she became separated from the group due to strong currents,” said Maumere Basarnas head Fathur Rahman in a statement. A joint search and rescue (SAR) team was immediately deployed from the West Manggarai SAR Post after receiving a report of the incident at about 6.45am local time. However, before the rescue team arrived, a passing speedboat named Fenides spotted Amirah near the shoreline and transferred her to the Sea More Papua – the vessel that had hosted the diving trip. “She was found conscious, uninjured and smiling when our team reached the boat. She plans to continue her trip in the Labuan Bajo area,” Fathur added. Authorities credited the swift rescue to coordinated efforts between SAR personnel and local vessel crews operating in the area. Labuan Bajo, located within the Komodo National Park, is a renowned diving destination celebrated for its crystal-clear waters and strong ocean currents. This is the second successful rescue involving a Malaysian this month, following the safe recovery on Friday of a Malaysian climber who slipped while descending from Danau Segara Anak on Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. – Bernama Boatman in capsize tragedy remanded BANDAR PERMAISURI: A boatman involved in the tragic accident that claimed the lives of three passengers near Pulau Perhentian on Saturday night has been remanded for three days. The remand order, effective until tomorrow, was issued by Magistrate Nurliyana Md Zukri at the Setiu magistrate’s court. It is to facilitate an investigation under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, after the 22-year-old man tested positive for drugs. In the 10.30pm incident, S. Arumugam, 40, his three-year-old daughter A. Sarrvihka and another female relative V. Vennpani, 10, died, while two others were injured, including one in critical condition. Ten other passengers survived. The victims were returning from Pulau Perhentian Kecil to Perhentian Besar when a large wave hit the boat, causing it to capsize. Besut police chief Supt Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu said on Sunday the boatman has five drug-related records. – Bernama Boy suffers injuries after beaten by father MALACCA: An 11-year-old boy sustained head injury and bruises on his left arm after he was allegedly beaten by his father at a house in Taman Cheng Baru on Wednesday. Central Malacca police chief ACP Christopher Patit said the boy’s 38-year-old mother lodged a police report at the Tanjung Minyak police station at 9.11pm on Sunday. “The complainant, who is also a tuition teacher, said at about 10.30pm on the day of the incident, she returned home and found her son with a bandaged head. “Her husband admitted to hitting the boy, claiming the son had lied,”he said in a statement. Christopher added that the mother lodged the report to protect her son and to refer the matter to relevant authorities. – Bernama

Uphill battle to curb ‘elusive’ online gambling menace

PETALING JAYA: Despite over 173,000 pieces of harmful online content – more than half linked to illegal gambling – having being removed since January, experts said Malaysia is fighting an uphill battle against a fast-evolving cybercrime ecosystem. Criminologist Datuk Shahul Hamid Abd Rahim said illegal online gambling continues to thrive because these syndicates are well-organised and operate in separate parts, making them harder to shut down. “Each syndicate functions like a decentralised enterprise. One group handles website development, another manages payments – often via e-wallets or cryptocurrencies – while others focus on marketing or ‘customer service’,” he told theSun. o Well-organised syndicates function like decentralised enterprises, making it harder to shut down fast-evolving cybercrime: Criminologist Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

websites are adept at evading blocks. “They change domains, rotate IPs, use encryption, VPNs, proxies – whatever it takes to stay ahead. They’re constantly promoting on social media too.” He added that these sites are often gateways to more sinister activities. “They’re not just gambling hubs. They’re also conduits for phishing, malware and money laundering.” While Nor Badrul acknowledged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s efforts, he described enforcement as a game of “whack-a-mole”. “New sites emerge within hours, often hosted in jurisdictions beyond Malaysia’s legal reach. This makes takedown efforts slower and less effective,” he said. “What is more worrying is that the ease of access is feeding a deeper issue – addiction,” he added. “Gambling addiction is growing, but it’s often overlooked in enforcement narratives. We’re not just battling crime, we’re battling a public health concern.” Both Shahul Hamid and Nor Badrul agreed that while enforcement is crucial, it must be matched by deeper, longer-term reforms. “There’s no silver bullet. We need stronger cross-border cooperation, updated laws, better tech tools and public education. This is not just a policing issue, it’s systemic,” said Shahul Hamid.

The money trail becomes harder to trace as it flows through shell companies, underground financial networks like hawala and hundi and offshore crypto exchanges, he added. “You’re not just looking at gambling. You’re looking at laundering, fraud and cybercrime converging under one roof.” A 2022 survey cited by Shahul Hamid found that over 78% of 60 youths interviewed had gambled at least once, predominantly among non-Muslim communities. The trend is now spilling into unlicensed online platforms, particularly during major sports seasons. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has recently revealed that 51% of the content flagged and removed involved unauthorised gambling activities, while another 43,000 were linked to scams. Facebook was reported to carry the highest volume of flagged content, with TikTok close behind. Telegram was the least responsive in handling scam-related removals. Shahul Hamid also highlighted the role of virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to access foreign gambling sites that cater directly to Malaysian users and accept deposits in ringgit. “The platforms may be offshore, but the harm is local and growing,” he said. Universiti Malaya cybersecurity expert Prof Dr Nor Badrul Anuar echoed these concerns, noting that illegal gambling

Shahul Hamid said stronger cross-border cooperation, updated laws, better tech tools and public education are needed to fight online gambling. – MASRY CHE ANI / THESUN

Two Sabah reps claim trial in mining bribery case KOTA KINABALU: Two Sabah assemblymen and a businessman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to corruption charges involving mineral mining licensing in the state in 2023. Andi Muhammad Suryady, 44, who is also Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship assistant minister and MP for Kalabakan, was charged with receiving a RM150,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. of the same law. They face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Izzati Sapifee and Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution.

The accused – Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob, Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and businessman Datuk Tei Jiann Cheing – made their pleas after separate charges were read before Judge Jason Juga. Yusof, 69, who is Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman, was charged with one count of receiving a RM200,000 bribe from Tei as an inducement to facilitate a prospecting licence application for mineral exploration in Sabah. The alleged offence took place at a hotel here at 2pm on March 6, 2023.

Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Shahlan Jufri and Ridzwandean Borhan, while Tei was represented by Edward Paul. Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady were each granted bail of RM50,000 with one surety, while Tei was allowed RM60,000 bail with one surety. The court also set Aug 5 for mention and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest MACC office every two months. – Bernama

The alleged offence occurred at the assemblyman’s residence here at 11pm on May 12, 2023. Tei, 36, was charged with two counts of giving bribes to Yusof and Andi Muhammad Suryady at the same locations, dates and times. The two assemblymen were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Tei was charged under Section 16(b)(A)