13/08/2025

WEDNESDAY | AUG 13, 2025

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Government effort to reduce wildlife roadkill cases

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said following a media report on Friday, a man came forward to hand over 200 casino chips, each valued at RM10,000, which he had bought from a suspect who is a “junket”. “The victim, who is also one of the junkets at the casino, had purchased the chips from the suspect at the Genting Grand lobby on Aug 2 via handover without any written agreement,” he said at a press conference after the Pahang police contingent monthly assembly yesterday. He said police, in cooperation KUALA TERENGGANU: A public university student here lost RM187,800 after falling victim to a phone scam syndicate posing as a Touch ‘n Go representative. Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said last Monday, the 26-year-old received a call from someone claiming that she had misused the app and was involved in money laundering and drug trafficking. The caller instructed her to make several bank transfers “for investigation purposes” and to clear her name. “The victim made eight payments to six accounts between last Monday and Saturday, using her savings and money taken from her parents’ account without their knowledge. “In addition, she handed over Company director denies cheating S’poreans, M’sian JOHOR BAHRU: A Singapore-based company director pleaded not guilty in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court yesterday to four charges of cheating three Singaporeans and a Malaysian of RM155,000 in a company investment scheme a decade ago. Singapore permanent resident Chong Kok Ming, 54, is jointly accused with a Singaporean man still at large of deceiving Lim Swee Chong, Lim Swee Joo, Ho Sang Bin and Puah Kot Choon into depositing money into the account of a Malaysian-registered company. The accused allegedly made false promises, inducing the victims to believe they would be registered as shareholders in a local company and entitled to annual dividends. Chong is charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, which carries up to five years’ jail, a fine or both upon conviction. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission DPP Chan Lee proposed bail at RM15,000 for each charge. Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail set bail at RM20,000 in total for all charges, in one surety, and fixed Sept 17 for case mention. – Bernama

wildlife roadkill. The partnership would involve transport companies, logistics service providers and other industry players in promoting safe driving through ecological zones. WWF said the collaboration would also address the role of heavy vehicles in roadkill incidents by ensuring drivers are better informed and alert in high-risk areas. The ministry urged all sectors of society, from government agencies to private companies and road users, to work together in reducing roadkill incidents. “Protecting wildlife is a shared responsibility. By working together, we could safeguard our natural heritage for the wellbeing of current and future generations.” These measures follow a spate of roadkill incidents over the past year. The elephant calf’s death on the East–West Highway renewed calls for dedicated measures and more wildlife crossings in Malaysia’s animal-rich landscapes.

improving forest connectivity to reduce the need for animals to cross roads, and maintaining or upgrading existing wildlife crossings. “These measures must be implemented proactively to improve safety for humans and wildlife,” the ministry said. The roundtable brought together 60 stakeholders from ministries, agencies, the private sector, and the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association (Empta). The announcement came ahead of World Elephant Day yesterday, which raises awareness on elephant conservation and threats to the species. The ministry said the initiatives align with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan 2.0. In conjunction with World Elephant Day, WWF and Empta signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on road safety initiatives aimed at reducing

o Measures include strengthening wildlife protection laws, installing more visible road signs, running awareness campaigns

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

convened a high-level roundtable on July 17 to chart immediate and long-term strategies. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the East–West Highway linking Gerik, Perak to Jeli, Kelantan has been identified as one of the worst-affected stretches, with more than 2,300 wildlife roadkill cases recorded between 2020 and 2024. Short-term measures would include strengthening wildlife protection laws, installing more visible and eco-friendly road signs, running nationwide awareness campaigns for motorists and promoting responsible driving in known wildlife crossing zones. Medium and long-term plans would focus on restoring habitats,

PETALING JAYA: An alarming surge in wildlife roadkills, among them an elephant calf struck on the East–West Highway last May, has prompted the government to roll out stricter laws, visible eco-friendly road signs and targeted safety measures to protect animals and motorists. The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry said immediate action is needed to stem the rising toll on wildlife and reduce collision risks for road users. Through the Wildlife and National Parks Department and WWF Malaysia, the ministry

RM2m stolen casino chips recovered KUANTAN: Police have recovered 200 casino chips worth RM2 million, part of 300 chips stolen from Genting Highlands in Bentong on Aug 2. with the International Criminal Police Organisation, are tracking down the suspect, who had fled with the remaining chips worth

RM1 million and left the country via the autogate at KL International Airport (KLIA), Bernama reported. Yahaya said CCTV footage showed the suspect taking the chips and heading to the car park before hurriedly leaving the casino in Genting Highlands and heading to KLIA the same day. The case is being investigated under Section 408 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust. Earlier, the media reported that police had received a report from a 32-year-old junket company manager who said the casino chips had been taken away while in a closed casino room at the resort. three bracelets, five rings and a pendant belonging to her mother to a female suspect by the roadside at Pantai Penarik in Setiu on Saturday,” he said in a statement yesterday. He said the victim lodged a police report at 9.43pm the same day after realising she had been duped. However, she could not provide a detailed description of the woman she met as the woman was wearing a face mask. “I urge the public not to be gullible and instead use the Semak Mule app to verify phone numbers and bank accounts provided by suspects. “They can also contact the National Scam Response Centre hotline at 997 for verification before transferring funds to third-party accounts,” he added. – Bernama

Varsity student loses savings to phone scam syndicate

COMBAT DRILLS ... Pendekar Tanks conducting a firing demonstration during firepower training at the Gemas Range in Syed Sirajuddin Camp yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

198kg drugs seized in Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu police dismantled a drug distribution syndicate and seized 198.9kg of methamphetamine worth RM6.3 million on July 28. State police chief Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairuddin said the seizure was made through an integrated roadblock operation by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division and Traffic Enforcement Division of the Kuala Terengganu district police headquarters in Sungai Ikan on the Kota Bharu-Kuala Terengganu route at 5pm. He said the drugs were found in two cars, which the suspects had abandoned in front of residents’

Terengganu, including the Klang Valley, Bernama reported. According to him, police have identified the owner of one car but are still tracking down two suspects, including the drivers who are believed to be locals. Police have been unable to identify the owner of the other car because its chassis had been damaged. “Those with relevant information can contact the Terengganu police contingent Narcotics Crime Investigation Division hotline at 011-6735 1234.“ He added that the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

houses in Kampung Felda Belara after fleeing a roadblock. Police found that two cars had made sudden U-turns before fleeing towards Kota Bharu. After a five-kilometre chase, police managed to find the abandoned vehicles in front of villagers’ houses. “The results of the inspection found seven polystyrene boxes containing 188 packages filled with drugs,“ he said during a press conference at the Terengganu police contingent headquarters. Mohd Khairi said initial investigations found that the drugs were brought in from Kelantan to be distributed to markets outside