17/08/2025

NATIONAL 5 theSun on Sunday AUG 17, 2025

Fire Dept expecting increase in ‘unusual’ cases

JASIN: Police have arrested four men for allegedly rioting with a wooden stick and an industrial extension wire along Jalan Jasin-Bemban in Malacca on Friday. State police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said in the 9am incident, the suspects, aged between 20 and 57, were among seven men believed to be involved, following an accident involving three vehicles. “Bemban police received a call from a man reporting an accident along the road. The caller also mentioned seeing a man wielding a wooden stick. “It is believed that the altercation involved seven men, as well as an accident with three vehicles.” He added that following the brawl, five suspects fled the scene in a vehicle with an unidentified registration number. Dzulkhairi said two suspects were arrested at the scene, while another two were detained later at the Jasin police headquarters. Initial checks revealed that a 20-year-old suspect had four previous criminal records. However, all suspects tested negative for drugs. “Further investigations are under way to track down the remaining three suspects. The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting in a public place.” – Bernama Police probe brawl in online video BUTTERWORTH: Police are investigating an online video on a riot involving a group of individuals believed to have taken place here on Friday. North Seberang Perai District police chief ACP Anuar Abdul Rahman said this followed a report on the incident lodged by a local man at the Butterworth police station. “Investigations found that the incident occurred when the complainant tried to help a motorcyclist who was involved in a road accident. As the man was trying to help the motorcyclist, the latter suddenly got up and punched him (complainant) before some passers-by joined in the fight.” He said the case was being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting. Anuar urged those with information regarding the incident to contact Sgt Muhammad Adib Ikmal Sukri at 04-576 2222 (ext 2275) or any nearby police station to assist in the investigation. – Bernama Cops detain four over alleged rioting

minor, the department will still conduct an initial assessment. “If the location is within a reasonable distance, about 10 minutes from the nearest station, we will respond. However, if it is too far and not critical, the department would guide (a caller) on how the situation could be resolved. “Our approach has two aspects. Firstly, we assess whether it is worth deploying personnel. Secondly, we acknowledge that the public trusts the fire department’s ability to help resolve their problems. This trust is something we must respect.” He also said there may be a need for education on the proper use of emergency services, particularly in cases involving animals that do not pose an immediate threat. outraging the victim’s modesty. The incident occurred at a house in the Muallim district, Perak, at about 9am on July 9, 2022, when the victim was 19 years old. He subsequently appealed to the High Court, which acquitted and discharged him last year. The prosecution then brought the matter to the Court of Appeal. DPP Solehah Noratikah Ismail argued that the man’s act of entering the victim’s locked bedroom via a bathroom connected to the kitchen, while she was asleep, demonstrated malicious intent. – Bernama

was closed to the barrier, while the right door could be opened as usual. In their panic, they could not think logically.” He also shared other unusual cases, such as emergency calls triggered by green flies mistaken for wasps or drones stuck in trees but reported as if a person were trapped. “We have also received calls to catch catfish that escaped into drains or to deal with fireflies entering a house after a tree branch broke through a window. “Many people no longer keep tools such as saws, machetes or ladders at home. So when (certain) situations occur, they turn to us because they believe the fire department can solve the problem.” Nor Hisham added that while some situations may appear

More than 32,000 special operations conducted as of July

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal reinstated an eight-month prison sentence on a 52-year-old man for outraging the modesty of his teenage stepdaughter, overturning the High Court’s earlier decision to acquit him. A three-person bench led by Justice Datuk Azman Abdullah allowed the prosecution’s appeal, setting aside the High Court’s acquittal and restoring the conviction and sentence imposed by the Magistrate’s Court in November 2023. Delivering the court’s unanimous decision on Friday, Azman said the High Court had Transport Department (RTD) has seized 270 luxury vehicles nationwide for not having valid road tax and insurance under Ops Luxury, carried out since July 1. Its director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the operation is being carried out continuously across all states to take action against luxury vehicles being driven without a valid motor vehicle licence or insurance. “This operation is a measure against luxury vehicles that are being driven without paying road tax or without insurance coverage. The vehicles will be detained and seized until the owners settle all outstanding road tax, insurance and summonses before they are released,” he said at a press conference at RTD Taman Daya. Also present were RTD senior director (Enforcement) Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan and Johor RTD director PUTRAJAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department is anticipating a rise in special rescue operations this year, involving not only animals and poisonous insects, but also unusual requests. Its director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said as of last month, the department responded to more than 32,000 special rescue cases for 2025, compared with 23,999 cases recorded throughout 2024. “Among the cases we handle are catching snakes, lizards, bees and wasps, as well as rescuing cats stuck on roofs or trees. We also receive non-life-threatening

calls such as retrieving keys that have fallen into drains or helping when a neighbour’s chicken refuses to come out from under a car,” he told Bernama. He said while some cases may appear trivial or even amusing, the department always assesses them from the standpoint of safety and the ability of a caller to resolve the situation on their own. “For example, we once received a call from someone on the Penang Bridge claiming they could not get out because they were ‘trapped’ in their car. “When our team arrived, we discovered that only the left door

Court reinstates sentence in outraging modesty case erred in acquitting and discharging the man, who works as a security guard. said, sitting with Justices Datuk Azmi Ariffin and Datuk Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz.

He also said the man’s defence that he entered the room to retrieve dirty clothes was unreasonable, as he entered through the bathroom door without knocking on the door, because the victim’s room door was locked. He added that the victim’s testimony was not a fabrication intended to incriminate the respondent. The Magistrates’ Court earlier found the man guilty of using criminal force with the intention of

He said the High Court judge did not assess the victim’s testimony thoroughly and ignored her spontaneous response following the incident, which included kicking the respondent (the man), calling for her younger brother, her aunt and her mother and lodging a police report. “We find that there is overwhelming evidence showing the victim to be a credible witness and her testimony is consistent with the police report,” Azman

270 luxury vehicles seized by RTD since July JOHOR BAHRU: The Road

Aedy (centre) with one of the luxury vehicles seized for not having valid road tax. – BERNAMAPIC

“Ops Luxury will be expanded nationwide, including to Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak. This is not a one-off action. “We do not want luxury vehicles on the road without valid road tax and insurance.” – Bernama

tax of RM29,000 per year. He added that some of the vehicles had not had their road tax renewed for more than a year, with one case in Kuala Lumpur involving a lapse of up to three years, in which the owner claimed to have “forgotten” to renew it.

Azmil Zainal Adnan. Aedy said the seized vehicles included a Ferrari in Johor Bahru, which was without road tax and insurance, a Lamborghini Huracán with an annual road tax of RM12,000 and a Rolls-Royce in Kuala Lumpur with unpaid road