25/07/2025

FRIDAY | JULY 25, 2025

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Clay mine operator pledges action after repeated floods

Maxim, Indrive to undergo monitoring KUALA LUMPUR: Two e-hailing operators, Aist Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Maxim) and ID Applications Sdn Bhd (InDrive), will undergo a three-month monitoring period starting yesterday, although being allowed to continue operating. The move aims to ensure full compliance with service conditions. In a statement, the Land Public Transport Agency said both companies are required to send representatives for monthly sessions at its headquarters throughout the monitoring period to demonstrate sustained commitment. “The frequency of attendance will be at the agency’s discretion, based on monitoring needs and ongoing issues,” it added. The sessions would enable real-time oversight, including random checks on drivers through the InDrive and Maxim apps. Stern action may be taken under Section 12A(5) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 if any breach of service conditions is detected. On April 24, the agency issued a Notice of Business Mediation Licence cancellation to both operators, effective July 24, after an audit revealed non-compliance, particularly with the requirement for valid E-Hailing Vehicle Permits (EVP). The companies appealed to the Transport Ministry and were instructed to implement corrective measures by the cancellation date to continue their services. In response, both Maxim and InDrive upgraded their registration systems to ensure that only drivers with valid EVP are assigned jobs. They also provided the agency with “view only” access to internal data, enabling cross verification with official EVP records. – Bernama ‘Safety must come first in infrastructure projects’ GEORGE TOWN: Public safety must remain the top priority in the execution of infrastructure projects, especially as the government accelerates efforts to expand Malaysia’s public transport systems, said industry experts. Transport consultant Rosli Azad Khan and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) associate professor Bernard L.P. Saw said safety should be treated as a fundamental requirement throughout every phase of a project’s lifecycle, not as an afterthought. They emphasised that whether building rail lines, highways or transit hubs, safety must be embedded in the planning, approval and execution stages, and never compromised for speed or cost. “Public transport operations need to be fast and effective,” they added. “But when safety is not prioritised, it could cause major interruptions, physical damage, ballooning costs and in the worst cases, injuries or even death.” Rosli stressed that while deadlines may be tight, cutting corners on safety could lead to far-reaching consequences. He added that the publicultimately pays the price through service disruptions, accidents and costly system overhauls. “The cost of cutting corners is far greater than doing things right from the start,” he said. Saw, from Utar’s Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, highlighted the need for robust safety standards to be integrated from the ground up. Meanwhile, former Prasarana Malaysia Bhd managing director and MRT Corp CEO Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said safety considerations must extend beyond public transport. He added that water supply infrastructure, government buildings and other public facilities should also meet strict safety benchmarks. Their remarks follow renewed scrutiny over infrastructure safety in the wake of several recent tragedies involving structural failures. The incidents have reignited long-standing concerns over oversight, accountability and whether safety is being sidelined in the push to deliver mega projects quickly. Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

paper be environmentally damaging if it enters river systems or soil. The Department of Irrigation and Drainage has been tasked with monitoring whether the operator instals proper drainage infrastructure that meets the required standards. Both the department and the Land and Mines Department are expected to carry out evaluations and submit comprehensive reports. “(Both) departments will examine the matter thoroughly,” said Arafat. “They will also propose measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.” The mining operator has been given a one-week deadline to begin implementation of the measures. Residents have long struggled with sludge-covered roads and blocked access routes each time heavy rain occurs. The aftermath often requires extensive cleanup before residents can safely move in and out of their homes. production, which can

Roads become submerged, sludge flows into homes and compounds, and residents are left stranded until the floodwaters and debris subside. Responding to growing complaints, Ulu Kinta assemblyman Muhamad Arafat Variasai Mahamad visited the mining site, accompanied by officers from the Land and Mines Department, resident representatives and staff from the Tambun and Ulu Kinta service centres to assess the situation firsthand. During the visit, he said the mining operator committed to a list of improvements aimed at addressing the cause of the flooding. “The operator has given a commitment to carry out improvements and also implement new plans,” he said. “This includes constructing a proper retaining pond to hold back water that flows down from the hillside.” Muhamad Arafat stressed the importance of protecting natural waterways from contamination by kaolin, a type of white clay commonly used in ceramics and

IPOH: After enduring repeated flash floods and sludge-filled streets, hundreds of residents from four neighbourhoods in Changkat Kinding, Ulu Kinta, may finally see some relief as the operator of a nearby kaolin (white clay) mining site has pledged immediate corrective measures. The affected areas – Taman Kinding Raya, Taman Kinding Permai, Taman Akasia and Taman Hijaun – have long grappled with worsening conditions each time it rains. o Retaining pond and drainage upgrades promised after residents endure sludge-filled streets and blocked access Ű BY P. CHANDRA SAGARAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Jepak Bridge renamed Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud Bridge BINTULU: The Jepak Bridge, opened to the public in March, has been officially named the Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud Bridge, in honour of Sarawak’s fourth chief minister. Energy initiative. The initiative helped attract investments to the Samalaju Industrial Park. to see the bridge completed. “She allowed me to serve the people wholeheartedly. Tonight, I am here with my daughter (Dayang Norjihan) to witness the opening of this bridge in memory of her sacrifice,” he added. The bridge was among the development promises made by Abang Johari in 2017 during a dialogue session with the people of Bintulu, shortly after he assumed state leadership. – PIC COURTESY OF BORNEO PAGES

Abdul Taib passed away on Feb 21 last year. The bridge was among the development promises made by Abang Johari in 2017 during a dialogue session with the people of Bintulu, shortly after he assumed state leadership. “I promised to build an iconic bridge like the one in San Francisco. Today, I have fulfilled that promise. This bridge is not only a physical connector, but also a symbol of unity and progress for the people,” he said. He also shared a personal reflection involving his late wife Puan Sri Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, who passed away last month. Although born in Bintulu, she did not live

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg announced the name during the official opening ceremony of the RM466.7 million bridge on Wednesday night. He said the decision was made to recognise Abdul Taib’s contributions to the development of Bintulu. “If he were still alive, he would surely be impressed by the bridge we are inaugurating,” Abang Johari said. He added that Abdul Taib played a major role in establishing the Regional Corridor Development Authority, the agency behind the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable

Spanning 1.2km across the Kemena River, the Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud Bridge connects the Bintulu town centre with the fast-developing area of Jepak, reducing travel time between the two areas from over 30 minutes to just a few minutes. As a symbol of Bintulu’s second wave of development, the bridge plays a key role in unlocking new zones for state administrative offices, commercial centres, housing projects and utility infrastructure, including a domestic gas pipeline. – Bernama