30/11/2025

NATIONAL 5 theSun on Sunday NOV 30, 2025

Buyers in limbo as Perak housing project stalls

KUALA LUMPUR: The Customs Department has foiled an attempt by three Japanese nationals to smuggle 43.36kg of cannabis buds worth RM4.2 million at the KL International Airport (KLIA). KLIA Customs director Zulkifli Muhammad said the three men, aged between 19 and 42, were detained on Nov 18 after scans of six pieces of luggage revealed plastic packages containing plants, believed to be cannabis. “The cannabis buds were hidden inside packets of dried food in the suspects’ luggage. The seized items have been handed to the KLIA Customs Enforcement Division for further investigation,” he said in a statement yesterday. Zulkifli added that the case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed. He also said drug smuggling not only results in revenue losses but also poses a threat to national security and the wellbeing of the people. Zulkifli urged anyone with information on smuggling activities to contact the Customs toll-free line at 1-800-88-8855 or the nearest Customs office. – Bernama Kindergarten owner loses RM1.3m in scam private kindergarten owner has lost RM1.3 million after falling victim to a fake online share investment scheme, said Johor police chief CP Datuk Ab Rahman Arsad. In a statement, he said the 42-year-old woman had seen a social media advertisement in September promising high returns and contacted an individual for more details. “She was promised profits of up to 41% and made transactions into several bank accounts between Nov 6 and 21,” he said. Ab Rahman added that the individual continued to pressure her to deposit more funds, supposedly to withdraw the profit. “When the promised returns did not materialise, the victim realised she had been scammed and lodged a police report at the Batu Pahat district police headquarters,” he said. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a jail term of one to 10 years, whipping and a possible fine. Ab Rahman urged the public to be cautious and avoid online investment schemes promising high and unrealistic returns, especially those advertised on social media. – Bernama Japanese trio held over drug smuggling attempt JOHOR BAHRU: A

PUTRAJAYA: Former senior political secretary to the prime minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing have been remanded until Dec 4. The six-day remand order was granted by Magistrate Fatin Muneerah Sofian following an application by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday. This was confirmed by lawyers Yusmadi Yusoff and Mahajoth Singh, who represent Shamsul Iskandar and Tei respectively. Both lawyers also confirmed that IPOH: About 100 buyers of a housing project in Bandar Baru Lahat who were hoping for a roof over their heads are now in the lurch as the project has stalled. The group has sought assistance from the Perak MCA public services and complaints bureau to help find a solution. Bureau chief Charles Yuen urged the state government, local council and the Housing and Local Government Ministry to step in and mediate. “The buyers need to know whether the project will continue under the same developer or a third party,” he said during a press conference at the Perak MCA office on Thursday. Several buyers at the press conference voiced dissatisfaction and asked for temporary reductions or a suspension of interest on their housing loans. MCA calls for state and federal intervention to resolve dispute between developer and landowner Ű BY P. CHANDRA SAGARAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Affected house buyers expressing their grievances during the press conference . – P. CHANDRA SAGARAN/THESUN

various stages of construction, with no work carried out at certain parts of the site. Tan Yeng Kwai, 60, from nearby Taman Kledang, expressed disappointment that the developer has not provided a clear explanation on the fate of the project. “When I approached the developer for a response, they only told me to wait. I kept asking the same questions repeatedly but hit a wall. “The developers do not answer our calls. We want to know what plans they have to complete the project. “The state government should intervene and take over the project if no solution is in sight,” he said. heart disease, when determining the duration of the order. “We have submitted all medical reports from the National Heart Institute and we hope the investigation can be completed quickly,” he said at the Palace of Justice yesterday. Meanwhile, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the probe into the trio was carried out immediately as it is of public importance. He also denied claims that his officers pointed their weapons at Tei’s head during the arrest at the businessman’s home. – Bernama the police headquarters for urine screening and further investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 377B of the Penal Code. A check by Bernama at the scene found that visitors came from various backgrounds, including professionals, students and foreign tourists, with most admitting they learnt about the premises through social media. Dang Wangi

payment totalling RM18,000. “I will collect all data and information such as interest paid, loans taken, banks involved and other relevant details to submit to the Housing and Local Government Ministry and other authorities for further action,” he added. The project comprises 1,465 units, including low-cost flats, medium-cost flats and single storey terrace houses. The affected buyers had booked the terrace houses, which were scheduled for completion in April this year. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in January 2023. Some units are only 50% completed while others are at confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This followed the exposure of a support letter he had issued in 2024 recommending six contractors for a government hospital project, as reported in the media, The matter was raised in the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 18 when opposition MPs alleged that he had improperly endorsed the contractors. Commenting on the remand, Yusmadi said the court considered his client’s health conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure and

Yuen added that buyers are also worried that continued payments will affect their Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) records and other housing loan applications in the future. CCRIS is operated by Bank Negara Malaysia and compiles credit information from financial institutions to produce standardised credit reports. Yuen claimed the buyers were informed that a dispute over payments between the developer and landowner led to the halt in construction. “The buyers were attracted as the cost of RM180,000 per unit was affordable. They paid a booking fee of RM3,600 based on 2% and later a 10% down their clients were remanded to assist investigations under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009. On Friday, Shamsul Iskandar, Tei and Sofia Rini Buyong were detained in connection with an alleged corruption case involving Tei, who is suspected of paying bribes to Shamsul Iskandar to recover funds said to have been distributed to Sabah assemblymen. Shamsul Iskandar and Sofia Rini were detained at the MACC headquarters after giving their statements while Tei was arrested at his home in Puchong. On Tuesday, Shamsul Iskandar

Ex-senior political secretary, businessman remanded

Seventeen civil servants held during health club raid KUALA LUMPUR: Seventeen civil servants were among 208 people arrested by police on Friday night in a raid on a health club believed to have been used for unnatural sexual activities. Hall after two weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance. 5pm to 11pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 11pm on weekends. According to Mohd Azani, the health centre promoted its services on social media platforms such as TikTok and through word-of-mouth from regular customers.

“We detained 201 patrons and seven employees aged between 19 and 60, including 24 foreigners. We also seized condoms and several other items believed to have been used for immoral purposes,” he said at the scene after the four-hour operation. He explained that the two-storey premises had been operating for the past eight to 10 months, from

Kuala Lumpur police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Azani Omar said the 8pm operation in Chow Kit was carried out by the KL Strike Force with the cooperation of the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department and Kuala Lumpur City

“Visitors were charged RM35 per entry while new customers had to pay RM10 as a registration fee before receiving a membership card,” he added. All those arrested were taken to