17/02/2026

TUESDAY | FEB 17, 2026

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Crowd management vital for success of RTS: Expert

Cops investigate shooting at bank SIBU: Police are investigating an incident in which the glass door of a bank in Jalan Lanang was found to have been struck by gunfire, and are working to establish the motive and identify those responsible. Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili said inspections at the scene led to the discovery of a bullet casing and a live round believed to be linked to the incident. “The Sibu police headquarters confirms receiving a report from a man regarding the incident. Based on witness accounts, two men were seen riding a motorcycle and one of them discharged a shot using what is believed to be a pistol before fleeing the scene.” He also confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident. He added that the case is being investigated under Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960, which provides a prison sentence of up to five years, a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or both. He also advised the public not to speculateon the case, as it could interfere with the investigation. “Any information related to the incident may be channelled to the investigating officer or the nearest police station,” he said, adding that news about the incident, believed to have occurred at about 3pm, had been widely circulated on social media. – Bernama He also said police confiscated several items, including handphones, clothes, a pair of gloves, a machete and a vehicle. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. – Bernama Four held in probe over dismembered human remains KOTA KINABALU: Four individuals have been detained to assist in a murder investigation following the discovery of several dismembered human body parts in a rubbish disposal area at Indah Permai in Manggatal on Feb 12. Kota Kinabalu acting police chief Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said the first suspect, a 71-year-old local man, was detained at the emergency unit of the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital on the day of the incident. He said following that, another local man, aged 19, was arrested on the same night in the Sepanggar area. “Today, two more arrests were made involving two local women, aged 29 and 21, in the Sepanggar and Inanam areas,“ he said in a statement on Sunday. Syed Lot said the two women were the children of the main suspect and were detained to assist in the investigation regarding their roles and knowledge related to the incident.

o ‘Measures needed to avert crowding, gridlock and loss of public confidence’

which ultimately affects the RTS objective.” He urged authorities to monitor early warning indicators such as pedestrian spillback, rail-to-street transfer times and last-mile vehicle turnover rates. The same opinions have also surfaced in Parliament, highlighting concerns over Johor’s readiness for the cross-border rail system. The concerns follow remarks by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda) on Feb 12, who during a Dewan Rakyat session on the RTS Link Bill 2026 said Bukit Chagar could face up to 30,000 individuals converging during peak hours if traffic dispersal systems are not ready. The RTS Link Bill 2026 was tabled for first reading on Feb 9 by Home Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah. The law gives effect to Malaysia’s bilateral agreement with Singapore on joint Customs, Immigration and Quarantine operations at Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North. Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia international strategic management associate professor Dr Narentheren Kaliappen said first impressions would be crucial for Johor’s cross-border appeal, particularly among short-stay Singaporean visitors.

Woodlands, Singapore. “The concern of 30,000 RTS users at Bukit Chagar is realistic as a peak-hour scenario if RTS passengers and existing flows converge within the same time window and the dispersal system is insufficient or ineffective. “The figure of 20,000 passengers within two hours from RTS and another 10,000 from buses and taxis during peak hours, creating ‘simultaneous concentration,’ is a reasonable number at a specific point in time. “The key to managing crowding is to match the station exit rate with last-mile absorption and pedestrian space capacity, not to merely focus on train capacity,” he told theSun . Muhammad Zaly added that mismatches between arrival volumes and onward connectivity could trigger cascading failures across the transport ecosystem. “When high passenger inflow is not matched with last-mile dispersal and pedestrian flow, the first risk is crowd safety. “The second risk is a chain of operational failures when curbside and access junctions around the area lock up and traffic movement becomes static, causing bus flow cycles and taxi or e-hailing movements to fail operationally. “The third risk is loss of user confidence,

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: As the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) nears completion, experts have said last-mile dispersal systems in Johor must keep pace with the anticipated massive passenger volumes. They say measures need to be in place to avert severe crowding, traffic paralysis and loss of public confidence, especially with up to 30,000 passengers expected during peak hours. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia transport planning expert Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah Muhammad Hussein said the projected load, combining RTS passengers with existing bus and taxi users, could overwhelm the area during overlapping peak periods. The 4km railway link will have two stations, one in Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru, and one in

Muhammad Zaly urged authorities to monitor early warning indicators such as pedestrian spillback, rail-to-street transfer times and last-mile vehicle turnover rates. – ARTIST IMPRESSION OF PROJECT COURTESY OF MRT CORP

E-cigarettes, vape paraphernalia worth over RM8.8 million seized KUALA LUMPUR: Police seized e-cigarettes and vape devices worth RM8.87 million during the integrated Ops E-Cig Mega, carried out simultaneously nationwide on Feb 10. Department of Internal Security and Public Order acting director Datuk Fisol Salleh said the operation targeted 154 locations and involved 2,140 officers and personnel from police and other enforcement agencies. He said inspections were conducted at 141 e-cigarette premises, resulting in 199 cases, with more than 950 litres of vape liquid and 83,289 devices seized. “Other items seized included device accessories, batteries, sales equipment and contraband cigarettes valued at RM67,596,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday. He added that 181 individuals were screened and four arrests were made, involving three men and a woman. “A man was detained under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in Tangkak, Johor, while a woman, wanted by police in connection with an offence under Section 182 of the Penal Code, was held in Ipoh. “An Indonesian man was detained under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying and a Bangladeshi man was arrested under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act for lacking valid documents.” Fisol also said the operation was aimed at preventing revenue leakage to the black market and addressing the distribution of unregistered e-cigarettes, particularly among youths and students. The operation, led by the General Operations Force, also involved the Federal Reserve Unit, marine police and the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence. Personnel from the Health Ministry, Inland Revenue Board, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and local authorities also took part in the operation. – Bernama