DBKL

UMNO Youth defends ‘Abang Belon’ amid backlash over DBKL raid

UMNO Youth led by Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has vowed to defend the rights of “Abang Belon”, a balloon vendor allegedly mistreated by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers during a raid on unlicensed traders at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman despite his reported 13 past criminal records, mostly drug-related.

Dr Akmal insists that the focus is on the injustice faced by the vendor, not his criminal history and rejects the notion that a criminal record justifies oppression. The incident has led to three police investigations, with two papers already submitted to the deputy public prosecutor.

He meant that UMNO Youth remains steadfast in its stance, prioritising justice over public backlash. Note that Bersatu and the PKR also came to the defence and support of the poor balloon vendor.

Dr Akmal emphasised, “UMNO Youth is defending ‘Abang Belon’ not because of his 13 past criminal records but because he was wronged while conducting his business; he was treated in a harsh and undignified manner.”

He further argued, “Even if someone has 100 past criminal records, that does not give us a licence to oppress or harm ‘Abang Belon'” challenging critics who suggest otherwise.

Addressing hypocrisy, he noted, “If the person involved were a minister’s child or a tycoon’s son with a criminal record… yet you remain silent. But when it involves a poor person like ‘Abang Belon,’ they are insulted and ridiculed.”

Former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expressed dismay over the viral incident involving DBKL enforcers allegedly roughing up the balloon vendor during Ramadan. The Perikatan Nasional chairman called the aggression unwarranted especially against a street hawker whose only fault was selling balloons.

Meanwhile, DBKL has suspended three enforcement officers following a scuffle with unlicensed balloon trader Muhamad Za’imuddin Azlan on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

PKR also played catch-up in the drama, aiming to secure Abang Belon’s livelihood, with PKR’s Federal Territories chairman Datuk Azman Abidin rushing to aid street balloon vendor Muhamad Za’imuddin Azlan urging better licensing support for vendors. — Focus M April 6, 2025

ASEAN

ASEAN to step up aid to Myanmar after devastating quake

MORE support and aid from ASEAN member states are expected to arrive in Myanmar Tuesday to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts as the death toll from last week’s massive quake continues to climb.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, emphasised that as ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia is working closely with fellow ASEAN member states to support Myanmar in this time of need, reflecting the bloc’s collective commitment to disaster response and regional cooperation.

Malaysia’s Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), MAS-01, arrived in Sagaing on March 31 and is currently establishing a Base of Operations (BOO) at the Sagaing Anniversary Football Pitch.

Equipped with command posts, medical facilities, decontamination zones, and rest areas, the BOO is fully self-sufficient for up to 14 days of operations.

The team, operating under the direction of Myanmar’s Department of Disaster Management (DDM), has focused its search and rescue (SAR) efforts on critical sites including religious buildings, schools, and hospitals.

According to the ministry, the Malaysian team remains the only international search and rescue team currently operating in Sagaing, filling a critical gap in humanitarian relief.

“Despite frequent aftershocks, challenging terrain, and extreme hot weather, the team has made significant progress at locations such as Nyat Private School and various mosques and temples.

“Their efforts have been met with appreciation by local communities, who have responded with acts of kindness such as pooling drinking water for the team,” it added.

Support from ASEAN neighbours has already begun arriving in Myanmar. Teams from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam have been deployed and are actively contributing to search and rescue and relief operations on the ground.

“These deployments reflect ASEAN’s united response and commitment to standing together in times of hardship,” it said in the statement.

The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), has mobilised the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) and is preparing the delivery of regional relief supplies through the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) to support affected communities efficiently and effectively.

It said that as of March 31, local authorities reported a death toll of 2,900, with 3,400 injured and many still missing following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.

The ministry, through the Malaysian Embassy in Yangon, added it will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide support to MAS-01. – 1 April 2025 Bernama

 

Band Toto

Legendary rock band Toto to perform one-night-only concert in Malaysia this May

By Malay Mail

Wednesday, 19 Mar 2025 2:33 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Legendary rock band Toto is bringing their “Dogz of Oz” tour to Malaysia, set to electrify the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting, on Thursday, May 1, at 6pm.

According to concert promoter, Unusual Entertainment, tickets are priced at RM988 (VIP), RM788 (PS1), RM588 (PS2), RM388 (PS3), and RM188 (PS4).

Known for timeless classics like “Africa,” “Rosanna,” “Hold the Line,” and “I’ll Be Over You,” Toto remains one of the most celebrated bands in music history.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1977, the multi-Grammy-winning group continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Their hit “Africa” has surpassed 10.5 million in cumulative sales and earned a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Other chart-topping singles like “Hold the Line” (triple platinum) and “Rosanna” (double platinum) have also secured their place in rock history.

Joining Steve Lukather (guitar/vocals) and Joseph Williams (vocals) on this tour are an all-star lineup of musicians.

The band’s touring members include Greg Phillinganes (keyboards/vocals), Shannon Forrest (drums), John Pierce (bass), Warren Ham (horns/percussion/vocals), and Dennis Atlas (keyboards/vocals).

Individually, they have contributed to countless Grammy-winning albums across various genres.

Strays

Provide financial aid to manage strays, animal welfare group tells govt

Proper support for shelters will also lead to more humane treatment of the animals, thereby reducing the incidence of dog attacks, Fauziah Paws says.

PETALING JAYA: Animal welfare group Fauziah Paws has urged the government to take responsibility for managing the stray animal population in a humane and sustainable way by offering financial support.

Its president, Siti Fauziah Abdul Jaabar, claimed that animal shelters across Malaysia, including those in Langkawi, are struggling financially due to a lack of funding.

She said that by allocating funds to support animal shelters, the government will help to ease the financial burden of providing food, veterinary care, and proper facilities.

She added that this will ensure that the stray population is managed more effectively.

“Providing financial support to shelters and NGOs helps to reduce incidence of dog attacks while ensuring humane treatment of these animals,” Siti Fauziah told FMT.

“Relocating stray dogs to an isolated island is not a viable long-term solution and does not address the root cause of overpopulation,” she added.

Last Tuesday, Langkawi MP Suhaimi Abdullah proposed that one of the smaller islands near Langkawi be turned into a dedicated shelter for stray dogs to prevent further attacks on residents and tourists.

Last Saturday, a four-year-old boy was severely injured in an attack by a pack of dogs in Kampung Dedek, Langkawi.

In response to reports on the attack, Suhaimi suggested that the dogs could be properly cared for by NGOs and local authorities on the designated island.

Suhaimi’s proposal garnered mixed reactions.

Unlike Fauziah Paws, the Global Human Rights Federation gave the thumbs up to the idea.

Its president S Shashi Kumar agrees that it can be viable if the entire operation is fully managed by animal welfare NGOs and shelters.

Shashi, who had previously criticised the local authorities for their poor management of the stray population, said the government could allocate funds to support the efforts of the NGOs and animal shelters to manage operations on the island.

He said the lack of government support means that all animal shelters now have to spend their own money or collect donations from the public.

“It costs more than RM80,000 to manage our animal shelter in Semenyih, the Selangor Furry Future Association,” he told FMT.

“Even after getting all the donations we could, we still have to top it up with at least RM35,000. I have incurred a personal debt of RM20,000 from operating the shelter,” he added.

He also suggested that the government assess the viability of the island as a habitat for strays before it begins to move the animals there.

“The government must also underwrite more than half of the cost of the operations on the island,” he added. - FMT 14 March 2025

Taiping

Taiping council to take short-term measure to save fallen raintree, protect hornbill nest

IPOH: The Taiping Municipal Council will take short- term measures to save the raintree that fell along the 630m Raintree Walk in Taiping Lake Gardens last month.

Council president Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir however said an ornithologist (bird expert) would be consulted as well to provide advice before, during and after the tree restoration to protect a hornbill nest.

He said the presence of a pair of hornbills incubating their eggs is a key consideration in trying to avoid cutting down the tree.

“We will take short-term actions to save the fallen tree while ensuring that the habitat of hornbills and other wildlife in the area remains undisturbed.

“At the same time, the council is also planning for a conservation program as long-term action plan,” he said when contacted Monday (March 10).

On Feb 14, when the 140-year-old raintree fell due to heavy rain and strong winds, Taiping Zoo and Night Safari staff members had come together to save the hornbill’s nest by temporarily providing a perching platform.

Zoo director Dr Muhammad Ridhwan Affendi had said that he was informed about the Oriental Pied hornbill’s nest on the uprooted tree by bird enthusiasts.

Khairul Amir added that the report from the arborist stated that the tree had experienced major root decay over a long period, and that the failure of the root and trunk could be attributed to several factors.

He said the factors include lack of root plate, effect of the level of the lake water, decay mechanism, and trunk failure.

“So the arborist has recommended immediate short-term treatments such as removing dead or damaged main branches, pruning other dead branches, and removal of dead roots.

“All this is to ensure the structural load of the tree is reduced, to prevent pathogen attack, minimise decay risk, to reduce pest infestation, and to prevent disease spreading to healthy roots.

“After doing all that, the tree’s structure will become unstable, and thus it is recommended to carry out propping works, similar to what was done for another raintree that fell in 2016,” he said.

He added that while taking all the recommended measures, in this case it is important for the ornithologist to be present to monitor and protect the nest while the works are being carried out.

As for the long-term measures to protect the raintrees in stages, Khairul Amir said that would take about 10 years.

He said several treatment methods to address structural instability, root problems, and environmental factors over a long period would be looked into.

He said root pruning, root collar excavation, soil management, fungal treatment, and improving soil drainage systems are among the steps recommended.

“Despite all the steps taken, and to be taken, it is however unrealistic to expect a tree to be maintained without any possibility of failure.

Trees are living organisms, and it is impossible to ensure they are completely free from risks such as falling or breaking branches,” he added. - Star 10 March 2025

ERA FM

Era FM fined RM250k, no suspension of license after controversy

ERA FM, spared from suspension, has been fined RM250,000 following a recent controversy involving three of its DJs by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

MCMC today said Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd, the operator of Era FM, has sent an appeal following a notice of intent for suspension, issued on March 7.

“After reviewing the arguments made in the appeal, we have decided not to suspend the licence of Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd.

“In making the decision, we also considered follow-up actions taken by the company, the apologies issued by those involved, as well as effects on radio stations Melody and Mix FM, which operate under the same licence,” the MCMC said in a statement today.

The company was issued a RM250,000 compound under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 (after amendments) for uploading offensive content on Era FM’s official TikTok account.

“The compound was issued with the consent of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“We view any action that could cause tension between religions or disrupt societal harmony seriously,” said the statement.

The MCMC referred the investigation paper to the AGC regarding the video allegedly mocking the Hindu religion. — TMR 11 Mac 2025

JOB SCAM

Teen urges Malaysians not to take job offers abroad that are “too good to be true”

A YOUNG Malaysian caught in the dragnet of sleazy scammers is now advising locals not to fall for job offers abroad that are too good to be true.

What happened to 18-year-old Gan Jiea Jie who got attracted to an online job offer promising RM80,000 (S$24,200) for a week’s work transporting gold from Thailand to Malaysia is unbelievable.

Struggling with debt and coming from a broken family, he eagerly accepted the offer, unaware that it would lead him into a brutal human trafficking syndicate.

Gan was convinced of the legitimacy of the job when he received a plane ticket from Johor to Bangkok, along with a booking for a luxury hotel in Thailand.

“They also sent me a return ticket to Johor. This convinced me, and I decided to leave home with just a small bag of clothes and my passport,” he recalled to a local newspaper.

Instead, after flying to Thailand he ended up being trafficked to Myanmar, where he endured beatings, tasers, and 18-hour workdays at a scam center.

Upon arrival in Bangkok, he was taken to a remote area, then smuggled into Myanmar. There, traffickers told him he had to work for a year or pay US$50,000 for his release.

Forced to scam victims worldwide, Gan was repeatedly “sold” to different bosses and saw fellow captives attempt daring escapes. “I had a quota to achieve. If not, I would be punished,” he said.

After 11 months, he found his chance while being moved to Cambodia. Seizing the opportunity, he escaped to Thailand with the help of a friend and the Malaysian Embassy.

Now awaiting repatriation, he warns others: “Never take job offers abroad that are too good to be true.”

He feared escaping due to traffickers placing US$10,000 bounties on those who fled. —Focus M Mar 2, 2025