Latest news with #SeberangPerai
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
‘Withdrawal fee' trap: Two Penang retirees lose RM1.15m in Facebook, Instagram scam ads
GEORGE TOWN, June 17 — Two retirees lost over RM1 million after falling victim to online investment scams recently, according to Penang police. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in a statement that in the first case, the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters received a report from a 55-year-old man on June 12, alleging that he had been scammed by an online investment company for RM827,120. 'In early April, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Facebook promising high returns and subsequently got in touch with a WhatsApp. 'The victim was promised a seven per cent return on each investment made,' he said, adding that the man was told to download the company's app to register as a member and invest through the platform. Hamzah said the victim made 22 fund transfers into six different company accounts between April 19 and May 26. 'He realised he had been scammed after being unable to withdraw profits totalling RM23,241,952 as shown on the investment app and subsequently lodged a police report,' he said. In a separate case, he stated that a 56-year-old retired factory technician lost RM321,250 after falling victim to another online investment scam, adding that the victim lodged a police report on June 12 at the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters. Hamzah stated that around December of last year, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Instagram that promised high returns. He then contacted a female suspect via WhatsApp, who promised a 30 per cent return within three months. He said that on March 21, the victim made the first fund transfer of RM20,000 through the company's app, and within less than three months, he received RM14,150 in profits. 'He made 11 additional fund transfers between March 27 and June 3 into four different company accounts linked to the scheme, but realised he had been scammed after he could not withdraw RM280,000 in purported profits and was instead asked by the suspect to pay an RM120,000 withdrawal fee,' he added. He said investigations are ongoing, and both cases are classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating. — Bernama
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Penang ferry terminal to get seaview deck, commercial spaces in revitalisation effort
GEORGE TOWN, June 11 — The Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU) ferry terminal on Penang island will undergo an upgrade to include a seaview observatory deck, commercial spaces, and open car parks, the Penang Port Commission (PPC) announced today. PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the revitalisation aims to modernise the terminal with an attractive design to improve visitor comfort and satisfaction. 'This will boost operational productivity,' Yeoh said in a statement. He added that the commercial spaces will feature a food and beverage hub and a garden bridge, alongside other attractions to draw more tourists. The PRTU upgrade is part of broader efforts to improve ferry operations, Yeoh noted. In addition, he said the extension of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) now enables Oasis-class cruise ships to dock simultaneously, accommodating up to 12,000 passengers at a time. 'SPCT has been developed as a regional cruise ship hub, and projects around the terminal are being prioritised to complement these upgrades and attract more cruise ships to Penang,' he said. Yeoh also announced plans to collaborate with Printhero to establish a ferry museum showcasing Penang's iconic ferries, which once served as a crucial transportation link between Seberang Perai and the island. 'The conservation project aims to preserve the state's maritime heritage while offering visitors a chance to explore the history of water transportation in Malaysia. The old ferry, which carries countless memories, will be revived as a historical tourism attraction,' he said. Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook visited the PPC and reviewed key projects, including the North Butterworth Container Terminal Expansion Master Plan. According to Yeoh, the expansion involves reclamation work over 322.83 hectares and includes plans for a major petroleum hub in the northern region called the Northern Petroleum Terminal (NPT). 'The NPT will be a bulk petroleum storage facility designed to accommodate Medium Range (MR) class tankers,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Penang councils call for action after bribery, extortion claims in videos
Several video clips on social media have made allegations against city council staff of bribery, abuse of power, extortion and physical threats. PETALING JAYA : The two city councils in Penang have called for action over viral video clips alleging bribery and abuse of power by council staff in dealings with business operators. The Penang island city council called for an investigation into two viral videos alleging bribery for allowing foreign nationals to operate businesses, Bernama reported. The videos, circulated on TikTok, also allege that council enforcement officers applied double standards in their operations. Separately, the Seberang Perai city council said that it has launched an internal investigation into another viral video in which a man alleges that council officers abused their powers at his friend's business premises. The viral video, which runs for two minutes, includes claims of extortion, threats against customers, wrongful detention of foreigners, and even an incident in which a local man was allegedly slapped after being mistaken for a foreign national. The Penang island city council said two videos circulated on TikTok contained 'numerous false and biased claims which amount to slander and misrepresentation of the council'. It called for an investigation by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. The council said city councillors Tan Soo Siang, R Harikrishnan, Muhammad Khairul Mohd Ali, and Abdul Razak Rahman had also lodged police reports against the person who posted the videos. The Seberang Perai council said an internal investigation has been launched and a meeting held with the business owner involved to gather detailed information about the incident. The council urged the business owner to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission if there was genuine evidence of corruption involving council staff.
Malay Mail
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Malay Mail
Penang braces for 2.5 million vehicles this Aidiladha, police urge drivers to stay safe
GEORGE TOWN, June 5 — Penang Police expect 2.5 million vehicles to enter the state ahead of the Aidiladha celebration this Saturday. State police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said the figure was based on projections by the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) of vehicles passing through the North-South Expressway (PLUS) from May 26 to June 8. 'In addition, the increase is likely attributed to the current fruit season in Penang,' he said when contacted by Bernama. To prepare, the JSPT launched an operation dubbed 'Op Lancar' from May 31 to June 8 to ensure smooth traffic flow during this period, he added. Hamzah said sufficient personnel have been deployed to patrol and monitor areas prone to congestion and accidents. Meanwhile, he noted that the police have identified several traffic hotspots where control efforts will be focused, including the Penang Bridge, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, and areas in Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT). In this regard, he advised motorists to exercise caution by avoiding the use of mobile phones while driving and ensuring their vehicles are in good condition for safe travel. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Pulau Tikus hawker crowned Penang's char koay teow champ
Penang's char koay teow champion Winnie Ong, 53, with runners-up Chin Foh Shin of Seberang Perai and Khoo Kay Keat of Ayer Itam. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A relatively new hawker operating in a kopitiam in Pulau Tikus has been crowned Penang's char koay teow champion for 2025. Winnie Ong, 53, who has been in the business for only three years, won the top prize at the Penang Char Koay Teow Competition 2025. Ong, who trades at Swee Kong Coffee Shop, was surprised by her win, saying it was her daughter who had signed her up for the competition. She agreed to join only to 'try my luck', Buletin Mutiara reported. 'I don't have a secret recipe, maybe it's the sauce that makes the difference. Thank you to the organisers and all the supporters. This is truly a memorable day for me,' said Ong, who can sell up to 200 plates of the iconic noodle dish over a weekend. Second place went to 50-year-old Chin Foh Shin, who has been operating at Hobe Restaurant in Seberang Perai for more than 10 years. Third place was taken by Khoo Kay Keat, 47, who fries up his noodles in Beng Chin Garden Restaurant in Ayer Itam. The competition was organised by the Jalan Transfer and Jalan Argyll village community management council, which plans to hold the next competition in 2027. A total of 30 hawkers took part while members of the public were allowed to sample the various plates fried up by the contestants, with the costs covered by the organisers. Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has a go during the Penang char koay teow championship today. (Facebook pic) Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow who attended the event took a shot at whipping up his own plate of char koay teow. Chow, the Padang Kota assemblyman, said the competition was more than just a culinary contest, but a platform that allowed every hawker to put their skills on display while gaining public recognition. 'As we often say: 'food is the soul of a city', and char koay teow is indeed one of the soul symbols of Penang's culinary identity. It is not only an emotional attachment but also a taste embedded in the memories of Penangites,' he said.
