04/06/2026

THURSDAY | JUNE 4, 2026 5 Landlords urged to be wary of scam syndicates LABUAN: Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abd Rahman has urged property owners on the duty-free island to exercise greater caution when renting out their premises to prevent them from being misused for online scam operations. He said the recent police raid on a commercial building in downtown Labuan, which led to the arrest of 57 individuals believed to be involved in an international investment scam syndicate, should serve as a warning to landlords. “The tenants had apparently misrepresented the purpose of renting the premises, claiming the space would be used for agro-related investment activities. “However, no one would have expected the premises to be used as a call centre to carry out fraudulent investment schemes targeting victims overseas,”he told Bernama yesterday. Suhaili urged landlords to conduct thorough background checks on prospective tenants, including verifying their business activities and supporting documents before entering into tenancy agreements. He also commended police and other enforcement agencies for their swift action in crippling the syndicate. “I believe this is the second raid on the island involving investment scams. The authorities acted quickly and professionally, and their success has helped protect potential victims while safeguarding Labuan’s reputation as a secure and reputable destination for business and investment.” Suhaili stressed that criminal syndicates often disguise their operations as legitimate businesses, making vigilance among property owners increasingly important. He said the building involved had previously operated as Sara Hotel before management ceased hotel operations in December 2025. The premises were subsequently converted into commercial office space and rented out to various tenants. On June 1, police raided the premises and arrested 57 individuals aged between 20 and 46 who are believed to be linked to an online investment scam syndicate targeting victims in South Korea. The suspects comprise 48 Chinese nationals, eight Vietnamese nationals and one Malaysian. The Sessions Court in Labuan on Tuesday granted a remand order until June 6 against all suspects to facilitate investigations. Police cripple three crime networks BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang police have crippled three international scam syndicates and arrested 32 individuals, including four local men, during separate raids on premises operating as call centres in Bukit Mertajam. Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the operation, carried out by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Penang police contingent headquarters, also resulted in the seizure of equipment used by the syndicates, with an estimated value of RM123,000. “The first raid, conducted on Tuesday at Taman Pinggiran Bukit Minyak, successfully crippled a love scam syndicate believed to have been operating since January and targeting victims in Malaysia, China and Taiwan. “In the raid, 10 foreigners comprising eight Chinese men, a Chinese woman and a Taiwanese man aged between 24 and 41 were arrested,” he said in a statement. The second raid uncovered a USDT cryptocurrency exchange scam syndicate targeting victims in Taiwan and led to the arrest of 15 individuals. Those detained comprised six Taiwanese men, a Taiwanese woman, two Vietnamese men, two Vietnamese women and four local men aged between 20 and 49. Meanwhile, the third raid successfully brought down a phone scam syndicate whose members allegedly posed as Japanese police officers to deceive victims in Japan and Taiwan. – Bernama

KLIA kerbside system shows early success

o Broader assessment needed to determine long-term effectiveness and inclusivity, says expert

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The Vehicle Access Management System (VAMS) at KL International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA T2) has shown early success in easing kerbside congestion, but a transport expert cautioned that key performance indicators alone may not fully reflect the system’s real-world effectiveness. Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said a broader range of indicators was needed to properly assess the impact of systems such as VAMS. “These include queue lengths during peak hours, vehicle throughput, travel time reliability, passenger satisfaction, accessibility outcomes, safety records and incidents of illegal stopping at kerbside areas.” He also warned that congestion may not be eliminated entirely, but merely shifted elsewhere. “It is essential to ensure congestion is not simply transferred from the airport kerbside to surrounding road networks.” Law added that any effective system must strike a balance between operational efficiency and passenger experience. He noted that stricter kerbside management is increasingly being adopted at major international airports across Europe, East Asia and Australia, where kerbside space is treated as a regulated transport asset rather than an unrestricted stopping zone. However, international experience shows enforcement alone is insufficient. “It must be supported by automated monitoring, clear signage, passenger-friendly navigation systems, waiting zones and strong integration with public transport.” For Malaysia, he said the key lesson was the need for a broader mobility strategy that integrates private vehicles, taxis, e-hailing services, buses and rail connections, rather than relying solely on vehicle control measures. While VAMS has improved operational efficiency, Law said strict time limits may create challenges for certain passenger groups. “These include elderly passengers, families with young children and persons with disabilities who may require additional

Law said VAMS has the potential to evolve into a broader airport mobility management platform.

three females aged 47, 26 and 17, and a two year-old girl. Firefighters used rescue equipment to extricate the four victims trapped inside the vehicle before handing the remains over to police. The cause of the accident is being investigated. The tragedy comes amid growing concern over road safety in Sarawak. State Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin recently said road accidents and fatalities in the state had increased by more than 30% this year compared with the corresponding period last year. According to Malaysia Airports, more than 1.12 million vehicles used the KLIA T2 kerbside between April and May, with 1,117,170 of the 1,127,986 vehicles completing their stops within the permitted timeframe. Average kerbside dwell time was slightly above three minutes, well below the 10 minute limit, indicating faster turnover and improved traffic discipline at one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs. “With the right development, it can support demand forecasting, multimodal integration and improved passenger flow management. “Ultimately, VAMS could become part of a smarter, data-driven airport mobility ecosystem in Malaysia.” Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports said VAMS has managed more than 7.3 million vehicle movements across KLIA Terminals 1 and 2 since its rollout, helping to ease congestion at high-demand kerbside areas. Since its introduction on March 31, 2026, the system has significantly improved traffic flow at KLIA T2’s drop-off and pick-up zones, with 99% of vehicles complying with the 10 minute grace period during its first two months of operation.

water pipe by the roadside. “When our Serian rescue team arrived, the car was found to have left the road and crashed into a nearby water pipe. “Four occupants were trapped inside the wreckage, while a toddler was found on the road nearby. “All five victims were pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance personnel. “The child is believed to have been thrown from the vehicle due to the impact of the crash,” the department said in a statement. Initial investigations confirmed all five victims were members of the same family. The deceased were a 30-year-old man, time to board or exit vehicles.” Without sufficient such measures could increase stress and negatively affect the passenger experience. He suggested airport operators consider dedicated accessibility bays, extended-time zones or assisted drop-off services to ensure inclusivity is not compromised. “Efficiency should not come at the expense of accessibility and safety.” Looking ahead, Law said any expansion of VAMS to other airports should be carefully assessed based on local operating conditions. Among the factors that should be considered are passenger volume, terminal layout, kerbside capacity, the share of private vehicle usage, public transport connectivity and seasonal demand patterns. “Not all airports will benefit equally. Larger metropolitan airports may require advanced systems, while smaller airports may not have sufficient traffic demand to justify similar investment.” Law also stressed that VAMS should not be viewed solely as a traffic enforcement tool. Instead, he said, it has the potential to evolve into a broader airport mobility management platform. flexibility

Family of five killed in road crash

Ű BY JOSEPH PETER newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUCHING: A family of five, including a two year-old girl, was killed after their car veered off the road and crashed into a water pipe in Serian yesterday morning. The fatal incident occurred at about 9am in Jalan Baki-Ensengei on the third day of the Gawai Dayak celebrations. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said it received an emergency call at about 8.40am and dispatched personnel from the Serian fire station. Upon arrival, rescuers found the vehicle had skidded off the road and collided with a