06/04/2026

MONDAY | APR 6, 2026

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‘ Tumpang lori service riddled with risks’

Security guard killed in assault PETALING JAYA: A security guard died after an assault at a residential estate in Bandar Bukit Raja, Klang, with a suspect taken into custody within hours of the incident. North Klang police chief ACP S. Vijaya Rao said the attack was reported at about 1am at a guardhouse within the housing area. The victim, who sustained injuries from the assault, was rushed to the Shah Alam Hospital but succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead at 4.18am yesterday. Preliminary investigations suggest the confrontation arose from a misunderstanding between the suspect and the victim at the scene. The suspect is believed to have struck the victim with a blunt object. Following the attack, police tracked down the individual and recovered a car lock suspected to have been used as the weapon. The suspect, believed to be in his 40s, was found to have police records showing he has been involved in eight criminal offences and two drug-related charges. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. “In road safety, regulation is not bureaucracy, it is protection. When responsibility in transport is unclear, the risk becomes a burden for everyone.” use and increased risk. “Using a private vehicle to carry goods results in incorrect road tax payment, and the vehicle may be confiscated if detected.” Meanwhile, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon said rising transport costs are driving the shift toward informal services despite the dangers. He said while sharing cargo space may appear practical, the arrangements bypass regulations and expose users to serious safety and liability risks. “Drivers of private pickup trucks or lorries are often not registered for commercial work. “They may not hold a Goods Driving Licence, and are unlikely to have undergone the necessary training or medical certification to transport goods safely. “If anything goes wrong, the owner of the goods may have no protection, as private vehicle insurance does not cover cargo or paid transport.” Wong emphasised that cheaper options are not worth the potential consequences, urging the public to use authorised transport providers with verified credentials and proper insurance coverage. He added that regulated services offer safeguards and ensure accountability when issues arise. “The real cost of informal transport is not the price paid upfront, but the risks assumed without safeguards.

unidentified man approached her from behind and inappropriately touched her before fleeing. The incident reportedly occurred in a crowded, publicly visible area. Police are investigating the case under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which pertains to acts intended to insult a person’s modesty. – By theSun Team represented by lawyer Ku Nur Farahi Eliana Ku Abd Razak. The judge allowed the accused bail of RM80,000 for all charges in one surety, and ordered her not to contact the victim and prosecution witnesses, as well as to surrender her passport to the court. The court set May 5 for next mention of the case. – Bernama the convenience comes with serious downsides, including theft, damage, financial losses and unsafe transport practices, all compounded by the absence of accountability. “Road safety is a major concern for tumpang services as they lack formal contracts and consignment notes, making it difficult to facilitate compensation in cases of damaged or lost goods. “Overloading without proper cargo security may also lead to crashes. “Informal operators may offer cheaper services but they pose heightened risks to customers due to the absence of legal protection, insurance coverage, proper documentation and dispute resolution mechanisms. “The lack of accountability could result in complications such as damage or loss of goods in transit, delivery delays, denied insurance claims and unresolved disputes if operators refuse responsibility.” Law urged the public not to compromise on safety for the sake of lower costs, adding that many tumpang lori drivers are not recognised commercial operators. He also said consumers should verify whether service providers are registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and hold a valid permit. “Not all tumpang lori drivers are commercial vehicle operators as some may be private owners transporting goods for hire. “People should check if the service provider is registered and possesses a valid Goods Vehicle Permit. “Commercial vehicles are subject to a higher road tax due to business

through unofficial networks. Experts say while the arrangement may seem practical and cost-effective, it operates largely outside regulatory oversight, raising concerns over safety, compliance and accountability if things go wrong. Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said consumers may be overlooking significant risks in their attempt to cut costs. He acknowledged that informal services are cheaper, but added that

o Arrangement raises concerns over safety, compliance and accountability: Experts

Ű BY SIVAA TANGAI RAJU newsdesk@thesundaily.com

consequences

or

even

road

tragedies. With

professional movers increasingly out of reach for many households and small businesses, some are opting to tumpang – paying for spare cargo space on lorries that are already travelling interstate, or engaging private vehicle owners

MALACCA: A growing number of Malaysians are turning to informal tumpang lori services to move their belongings as living costs surge, a risky trend that experts say could lead to financial loss, legal

Law urged the public not to compromise on safety for the sake of lower costs, adding that many tumpang lori drivers are not recognised commercial operators. – AI GENERATED IMAGE BY SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

Kajang MRT sexual harassment suspect nabbed PETALING JAYA: A man suspected of sexually harassing a woman at the Kajang MRT station has been taken into custody, police confirmed, days after a video documenting the alleged incident circulated on social media. Kajang police chief ACP Naazron Abdul Yusof said the 24-year-old suspect was detained on April 4 at his residence in Taman West Country, Bandar Baru Bangi. According to an English daily, he is expected to be taken before the Kajang Magistrate’s Court for a remand application to allow investigators to proceed with the case. The incident came to light after a 23-second video was posted on the Threads social media platform on April 2 at about 6.15pm. The footage, recorded earlier that morning at about 9am at Gate A of the Kajang MRT station in Selangor, prompted swift public response and drew significant attention online. According to the account shared in the post, the victim – a woman who had been waiting alone at the station to be picked up by her parents after an outing with friends – alleged that an Housewife pleads not guilty in jewellery fraud case ALOR SETAR: A housewife pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to eight counts of cheating involving orders for non-existent jewellery worth RM173,500 two years ago. She is accused of defrauding a 55-year-old woman by deceiving the victim into depositing money into her bank account for non-existent jewellery in Kampung Mani Mukim Belimbing Kanan, Padang Terap, from June 2 to Aug 16, 2024. transactions, funds she would not have handed over if she had not been deceived. The charges were framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine. DPP Muhammad Fahmi

Siti Hajartul Haini Abd Hamid, 39, entered the plea after all eight charges were read before Judge Sharmila Abdul Samad.

The victim was tricked into depositing RM173,500 into the bank account of the accused via several

Kamaluddin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was

Duo drown while kayaking in Kedah SUNGAI PETANI: Two individuals, a man and a woman in their 20s, were found drowned after they were believed to have fallen into the sea while kayaking at Pantai Merdeka yesterday. both deceased were discovered at about 7.30pm. He said the deceased are believed to be participants in an event organised by a higher learning institution at the location.

some had capsized, but the other participants were rescued. He also said the bodies have been sent to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital for post-mortem, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. – Bernama

were kayaking in a group, moving from one location to another. “The victims are believed to have encountered strong waves, and their kayak is thought to have become entangled in a fisherman’s net.“ Hanyan said several other kayaks were involved in the incident, and

“The incident is believed to have occurred at about 5pm while they

Kuala Muda police chief ACP Hanyan Ramlan said the bodies of