Latest news with #ShahAlam
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Protect Shah Alam's forests to curb floods, group tells Selangor govt
About 180 homes were affected and more than 100 residents evacuated after flash floods hit Taman Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam this morning. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Environmental group Peka has urged the Selangor government to take immediate action to protect forested areas to prevent recurrent flash floods around Shah Alam. Its president, Rajesh Nagarajan, called for a halt to any clearing or development in forest areas regardless of their gazetted status. He said the forests act as crucial water catchments and flood buffers for areas like the Shah Alam community. Rajesh urged the authorities to re-gazette environmentally sensitive zones for their permanent protection, as well as to enforce strict no-development zones on steep slopes and water catchment areas. He said the Shah Alam community forest – a 174ha lowland rainforest stretching from Sections U10 to U13 – is being fragmented by encroachments, despite being part of a wildlife corridor. 'The loss of tree cover and soil permeability has led to increased runoff, overwhelmed drainage systems and accelerated flood risks,' he said in a statement. This follows the flash floods at Taman Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam this morning, affecting about 180 homes and forcing more than 100 residents to evacuate. Motorists were also reportedly stuck at the Kota Kemuning toll plaza. Rajesh said these floods were not isolated weather anomalies. He cited the many incidents around the area as key examples, including one instance in April involving Taman Sri Muda and Taman Melawis. He also pointed to the devastating December 2021 floods, which forced the evacuation of 400,000 people and resulted in nearly 50 deaths. 'These floods are not natural disasters, they are man-made. The forests were our protection and we have destroyed them. 'This is not just an environmental issue, but a human one. The destruction of forests has led directly to property damage, economic loss, and community hardship,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Minister Na'im files defamation suit against lecturer
Religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar claimed that on Feb 5 and May 4, lecturer Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin had published and reposted defamatory, malicious and untrue statements on the latter's X account. PETALING JAYA : Religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar has filed a defamation suit against a public university lecturer over alleged defamatory statements posted on social media. Harian Metro reported that Na'im named Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin as the defendant in the lawsuit filed at the Shah Alam High Court via Messrs Akberdin & Co on June 14. The lawsuit relates to defamatory statements allegedly posted by Abu Hafiz on X and Facebook. In the statement of claim, Na'im said the defendant had shown a consistent pattern in his various public statements since the end of 2024, whether via posts on X or Facebook, or statements published by news portals. He said the statements had directly or indirectly touched on and attacked him in an unfair and excessive manner. Na'im claimed that on Feb 5 and May 4, Abu Hafiz had published and reposted defamatory, malicious and untrue statements on the latter's X account. He said the statements implied he was an arrogant, hard-headed and conceited leader who rejected advice and was unwilling to accept other views in matters related to religion. Na'im also said the statements implied he had failed to effectively carry out his duties, even in simple matters, causing the government's policies and initiatives to become a laughing stock and rejected by a number of MPs. Na'im said the statements also implied that he was an elitist and considered himself superior to other officials, and that he acted contrary to the principles of Islamic leadership. 'It is beyond doubt that the defendant harboured malicious intent towards me. It is also clear that the defendant intended to cause disharmony in society by defaming me,' he said. Na'im is seeking general, aggravated, and exemplary damages from the defendant, as well as an injunction to have the posts removed and to prevent them from being republished.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-deputy Senate president claims trial to RM235K graft over reclamation project
The Shah Alam sessions court allowed former Dewan Negara deputy speaker Ali Mohamad to post bail of RM60,000 for all 20 charges against him. PETALING JAYA : Former Dewan Negara deputy speaker Ali Mohamad pleaded not guilty today to 20 charges of corruption involving RM235,000 and three luxury cars, allegedly linked to a land reclamation project in Melaka. Ali, 61, entered the plea at the Shah Alam sessions court after the charges were read to him before judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud, Utusan Malaysia reported. The Bersatu deputy information chief was accused of accepting bribes between April 18, 2024, and Jan 20 this year while serving as managing director of Puncak Jasasia Sdn Bhd. The alleged bribes, ranging from RM5,000 to RM20,000 per transaction, were purportedly received 15 times as an inducement for appointing Benalec Sdn Bhd as the contractor for a 40-hectare reclamation project in Kota Laksamana. Ali was also accused of receiving a BMW 730Li, a Range Rover, and a Bentley Flying Spur between January 2017 and May 2024 at premises in Glenmarie and Sungai Buloh. The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher. Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib proposed bail of RM60,000 and requested that Ali surrender his passport. Ali's counsel, Md Yunos Shariff, agreed to the terms and appealed for judicial discretion in granting bail. Judge Awang then set bail at RM60,000 and ordered Ali not to interfere with prosecution witnesses. The case is scheduled for mention on July 24.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
Klang River restoration lays bare haunting finds — over 10 bodies including baby discovered since 2022, along with fridges, motorbikes
SHAH ALAM – More than 10 bodies, including that of an infant, have been discovered during the ongoing Klang River Flood Mitigation Project under the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) initiative, shedding light on a grim reality behind the restoration of the river. As reported by Sinar Harian, Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB) managing director, Syaiful Azmen Nordin, said the discovery of bodies is not an isolated incident but has occurred almost monthly since dredging and widening works began on November 1, 2022. 'So far, we have handed over more than 10 bodies to the police and fire department for further investigation,' he was quoted as saying. Aside from the grim finds, the team has also encountered severe pollution, having retrieved various heavy waste items such as refrigerators, lorry tyres, bed frames, mattresses, sofas and even motorcycles from the riverbed. 'I honestly don't understand how a fridge ends up in the river,' he said, describing the current level of pollution as severe and a challenge to the dredging efforts. The mitigation project forms part of SMG's holistic efforts to increase the Klang River's capacity by up to 40 per cent, while also rehabilitating the ecosystem and improving water quality to at least Class III on the Water Quality Index (WQI).
Malay Mail
13-06-2025
- Malay Mail
‘My shoulder is very heavy': Loke backs Motac taking over tour bus oversight, but says Cabinet must decide
SHAH ALAM, June 13 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke today said he has no objections to returning the oversight of tour buses to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac). He said the matter was raised two years ago, and he had already conveyed his support to Motac Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. 'This is not due to the UPSI (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris) incident as Motac had raised this matter two years ago," Loke told reporters after visiting Scania Malaysia headquarters here. 'I don't have a problem with this, I've raised this with Tiong, if you want to take up this responsibility and guarantee that these tour buses are safer, I'm more than happy to surrender that portion back to Motac. 'But that is subjected to the Cabinet's decision because there are many implications in terms of staff employment, enforcement, human resources, this has to be decided by the Cabinet,' Loke told reporters after visiting Scania Malaysia headquarters here," he added. He said the decision was not under his ministry's jurisdiction, but instead required action from the Public Service Department (JPA), particularly regarding staffing for enforcement. 'I've said that from the aspect of licensing power and enforcement for tour buses — to return to Motac — my stand is I have no problem," he said. 'The more people there are to shoulder this responsibility, I'm more than happy. Because I don't want to be the only one shouldering all these responsibilities. 'Now my shoulder is very heavy. So if there are more agencies that are willing to help ensure better regulation by all means I have no problem and I fully support it," he added. However, Loke said his condition was that enforcement officers under the Road Transport Department (JPJ) must not be reassigned or reduced. 'Our enforcement officers cannot be reduced — because we ourselves at the Transport Ministry are facing constraints. 'Because when JPA requests for JPJ officers to be placed under Motac, that will make my job harder as our enforcement officers have its constraints." On June 11, Tiong called for Motac to be given back authority over tourism vehicles, citing safety concerns and poor coordination between enforcement agencies. He reportedly said that Motac's original mandate had been diluted over the years, weakening its ability to ensure compliance and safety in the tourism transport sector. The issue was raised following the June 5 Gerik-Jeli crash that killed 15 UPSI students and exposed major regulatory gaps, prompting national debate over tour bus oversight.
