14/01/2026

WEDNESDAY | JAN 14, 2026

6 Probe into army includes review of Defence Ministry

Three remain hospitalised after university explosion Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com PETALING JAYA: Three victims remain hospitalised following a gas explosion on the fourth floor of a HELP University building along Jalan Sri Semantan in Bukit Damansara on Tuesday morning. In a statement, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus yesterday said 54-year-old supervisor Liew Ying Chen is conscious and under medical observation at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for burn injuries after undergoing treatment to remove metal fragments lodged in her body. “HELP University student Reeya Kaur Thandal, 19, remains unconscious and is being closely monitored in intensive care due to internal brain bleeding and a skull fracture. “Canteen worker Muhammad Rizki Rudi Hartono, 22, from Indonesia, did not sustain serious injuries and is being treated at the Sungai Buloh Hospital for observation.” Fadil added that other victims, namely Maryam Zulaikha, Mohamad Syahadah, Lya Izryn, Kabchuaary, Mohammad Fadhil (Indonesian) and Jen Wee Leon, were discharged from hospital yesterday. The incident is under investigation by the Fire and Rescue Department forensic team. On Tuesday, 10 people were affected in an air-conditioning compressor explosion at HELP University, with one man confirmed dead and nine others injured. Police said they received an emergency call at 11.40am and initial investigations found that an air-conditioning compressor had exploded in a maintenance area adjacent to the cafeteria on the fourth floor of the university building. Police also said the university management had earlier called in technicians after detecting technical problems with the air-conditioning system, although repair works had not yet begun when the explosion occurred. The Fire and Rescue Department, together with its hazardous materials (Hazmat) team, conducted a thorough inspection to ensure the area was completely safe and prevent the risk of a second explosion. A total of 38 firefighters were involved in the operation, including personnel from the Fire Forensics team, Hazmat unit and nearby fire stations. Elderly man loses RM622,000 to scam KUANTAN: An elderly property consultant lost RM622,161 after being duped by a non-existent investment offer promoted via WhatsApp last month. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 71-year-old man was duped on Oct 16, 2025 through an investment offer that promised profits of up to 50% for each investment. “The victim was asked to participate in an investment known as ‘JMC M Trading Venture’ and download an app via a provided link.” He said the victim made 16 money transfer transactions to four bank accounts using personal savings between Oct 27 to Dec 27, 2025. Yahaya said the victim received an initial return of RM140,889, but the money was reinvested based on instructions. “The victim only realised that he had been scammed after being asked to increase his investment capital by RM1 million, supposedly to enable all profits to be withdrawn.” He advised the public to seek advice from the nearest police station before making any investment to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, and to check account numbers at semakmule.rmp.gov.my/ before making any transaction. – Bernama

Forces officers. “In the procurement issue at the ministry, the matter of public concern is the issue of transparency and governance. We cannot only look at the case that is being investigated, but also several other issues that may have existed in the ministry for a long time.” Azam was commenting on a question regarding allegations of corruption involving the former army chief and several senior Armed Forces officers who were called to give statements at MACC headquarters on Monday. Earlier, Azam attended and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between MACC and HELP University here yesterday, Bernama reported. Commenting further, he said the investigation showed that the issue is not small scale, based on the position and rank of the individuals involved. “Based on the rank involved, this issue is

indeed big.” Azam also said MACC is not ruling out the possibility that more officers would be identified and called to assist in the investigation as it continues. MACC would hold a meeting with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in the near future to discuss matters related to the ministry, including current issues and comprehensive improvements to the ministry’s internal procedures and regulations, he added. “MACC will focus on aspects of regulations, procedures and leakage issues, which are among our main concerns as an enforcement body, for the benefit of the people.” He praised Mohamed Khaled’s action in announcing a plan to overhaul the ministry’s Anti-Corruption Plan comprehensively this year as part of efforts to restore the people’s trust and strengthen the integrity and governance of the country’s defence sector.

KUALA LUMPUR: An investigation into a corruption scandal involving the Armed Forces includes a comprehensive review of the procedures and systems in the Defence Ministry. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the probe is not limited to specific cases. “The ongoing investigation also takes into account the possibility of weaknesses in systems, procedures and existing issues in the ministry, following investigations into several top Armed o Investigation considers possibility of weaknesses in systems, procedures and existing issues: MACC

Najib fails to reinstate suit against ex-attorney-general PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has failed in his appeal to reinstate his RM1.9 million lawsuit against former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas. Court of Appeal judge Datuk Ravinthran N. Paramaguru said the panel agreed with the High Court’s ruling that the civil suit was clearly premature as the criminal cases had not yet begun when it was filed. decision on Nov 25, 2022 to strike out his lawsuit, filed on Oct 22, 2021, against Thomas, claiming that he had committed misfeasance in public office when he prosecuted him over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case. Ravinthran further said the High Court found that Thomas had immunity and his actions were non-justiciable. was challenged.” In his lawsuit, Najib claimed that Thomas had acted maliciously in preferring charges against him, in relation to the 1MDB and International Petroleum Investment Company cases.

The charges in the underlying prosecution included abuse of power under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and several counts of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Najib sought, inter alia , a declaratory judgment that Thomas had committed the tort of misfeasance in public office. Thomas served as attorney-general from June 4, 2018 to Feb 28, 2020. – Bernama

“With respect to the issue of immunity and justiciability, we disagree with the High Court’s decision as Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution does not confer immunity on the attorney-general with respect to civil suits taken against him personally. “The cases cited by the High Court do not apply as there are criminal cases in which the discretion of the attorney-general

“We also find that the tort of malicious process does not exist in our law,” said Ravinthran, who presided over the appeal with justices Datuk Wong Kian Kheong and Datuk Nadzarin Wok Nordin here yesterday. The court dismissed Najib’s appeal with costs of RM12,000. Najib was appealing against the High Court’s Man killed in blast at waste recycling centre MALACCA: One man was killed while another was injured in an explosion involving welding works at a waste recycling centre in the Bukit Rambai Industrial Park here yesterday. Malacca Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohd Hafidzatullah Rashid said the 44-year-old man died at the scene after suffering 90% burns in the 1.30pm incident. “Another man, aged 32, sustained 5% burns and was taken to Malacca Hospital for treatment,” he said in a statement. He added that his department received an emergency call at 1.32pm and dispatched a team of 11 personnel from the Tangga Batu Fire and Rescue Station to the scene. Initial reports suggest the explosion was due to negligence, as workers may have failed to follow instructions to clear a fuel tank before welding. The Hazmat team confirmed that gas detector readings were low and safe, and there was no resulting factory fire.

SEIZED SUBSTANCES ... Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad (second, right) showing drugs confiscated during a raid last week during a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Loan shark cases reopened for investigation in Kelantan KOTA BHARU: More than 100 cases involving unlicensed moneylenders, previously classified as no further action in the state last year, have been reopened for investigation, said Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat. and intimidation, with some victims borrowing RM40,000 but being forced to repay up to RM200,000. “The loan-shark activities in the state also involve borrowers from among civil servants and educated individuals.

states. Once here, they work with local gangs, hiring them. “I ordered a review, and where there is prima facie evidence, investigations must proceed. We are neither intimidated nor deterred by threats,” he said, adding that the cases would be investigated under Section 5(1) of the Moneylenders Act 1951. – Bernama

He said reviews found prima facie evidence in most cases that had previously been dropped. “Many cases involve illegal moneylending

“They (loan sharks) are not from Kelantan but from Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and other