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The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) affirmed its commitment to taking firm action against any party that violates the law and threatens the safety and integrity of the country’s tourism industry.

This affirmation follows the decision of the Gerik Magistrate’s Court, Perak, on Nov 3, which convicted Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd on two charges under Regulation 6(1)(f) of the Tourism Industry Regulations 1992 for failing to comply with a licence condition that prohibits dealing with unlicensed parties.

In a statement last night, Motac announced that the company pleaded guilty to the offence of selling a tour bus with registration number PLD 8892 and leasing the vehicle permit to Noreen Maju Trading, an entity that was operating a tourism control business without a licence under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 [Act 482].

The case relates to a tragedy on June 9, when the bus PLD 8892, operated by Noreen Maju Trading, was involved in a fatal accident in Gerik, Perak, while transporting a group of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students back to the Tanjung Malim campus.

Consequently, the court imposed a fine of RM10,000 for each charge against the company, totalling RM20,000, and ordered a maximum five-year jail sentence should the company fail to pay the fine.

“Motac emphasises that violations of Act 482 and its regulations constitute a serious criminal offence,” the statement read.

In the early morning incident on June 9, 15 UPSI students died when the chartered bus carrying them from Jertih, Terengganu, to the main campus in Tanjong Malim, Perak, was involved in an accident on the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding, Gerik.

The accident also resulted in injuries to 33 others, including the bus driver and conductor, as well as the driver and three passengers of a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).

Two young siblings escaped injury after being involved in an incident with a baggage conveyor machine at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) last night.

The incident occurred around 9.30pm when a two-year-old boy became trapped in the conveyor mechanism while his three-year-old sister was exposed to radiation from the machine.

A team from the Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene following an emergency call received at 9.52pm.

Firefighters used special equipment to free the boy before both children were handed over to paramedics and taken to Likas Hospital for examination and further treatment.

Both were reported safe, and the operation ended at 10.20pm after confirming the area was secure, with authorities urging parents to monitor their children closely in public spaces.

The forest fire in the hilly area of Taman Seri Timah, Balakong, near here, was fully extinguished early this morning after more than five hours of firefighting operations by the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Director (Operation) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the fire and rescue team managed to control the blaze at about 9pm before completely extinguishing it at 12.15am today.

He said the fire involved a forest area on top of a hill, covering about 2.4 hectares, up from the initial estimate of 1.2 hectares.

“The fire department received an emergency call regarding the fire at 7.02pm yesterday, and the firefighting operation ended at 12.15am today. No casualties were reported,” he said in a statement today.

He said the operation involved 27 personnel from the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Seri Kembangan, Pandan Indah, Sungai Besi and Cheras fire and rescue stations (BBP), with Senior Fire Officer I Roduan Sudin as the operations commander.

Two senior officers were also at the location, namely Assistant Fire Chief (PPgB) Mohd Akmal Mohd Hairi and PPgB Mohd Hafis Hamdany, to coordinate actions on the ground.

“A total of six vehicles were used in the operation, namely a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) from BBP Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, one FRT and one Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit from BBP Seri Kembangan, a water tanker each from BBP Pandan Indah and BBP Cheras, and one FRT from BBP Sungai Besi,” he said.

Ahmad Mukhlis said two volunteer fire brigades (PBS), namely PBS Balakong with six members and one four-wheel drive vehicle, and PBS Serdang with four members and one First Response Vehicle (FRV), also assisted in the forest firefighting operation.

Police have detained six Indian nationals who were housemates of the main suspect in the murder of an Indian permanent resident found dead in Pusat Bandar Puchong near here yesterday.

Serdang district police chief ACP Muhamad Farid Ahmad said they were being questioned over the discovery of the body on the staircase of a shoplot.

“So far, statements from four witnesses, including the complainant, have been recorded to assist the investigation.

“We have also identified the main suspect, who is an Indian national,” he said in a statement today.

He said the 49-year-old victim, who worked as a self-employed technician, had been residing in Malaysia for the past 19 years.

Muhamad Farid added that police were also reviewing closed-circuit television footage from the scene to assist investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

“Members of the public with information on the case are urged to contact the nearest police station or the Serdang district police headquarters at 03-8074 2222,” he said.

A couple was arrested by police on suspicion of growing ganja plants in their rented condominium unit in Bangsar here last night.

Brickfields district police chief ACP Hoo Chang Hook said they were arrested during a raid by the Kuala Lumpur Narcotics Crime Investigation Department on the condominium unit at about 11.30pm.

“During the inspection, police found two suspected ganja plants and 27 grammes of dried leaves believed to be ganja, worth about RM1,210,” he said in a statement today.

He said the 48-year-old male suspect admitted to learning how to grow ganja through an online video platform. The man also tested positive for drugs and has a previous record related to a similar offence.

Police also arrested his 40-year-old girlfriend and seized two mobile phones and several pieces of jewellery, including three necklaces, four pendants and two rings.

Hoo said both unemployed suspects have been remanded for further investigation under Section 6B and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

A man was found dead in a stream near his orchard at Lata Telaga 7, Kampung Repoh, near Batu Kurau, yesterday.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) acting operations chief Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah said the department received a distress call about the incident at 3.05 pm, and a team from the Batu Kurau Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was dispatched to the scene.

Shazlean said police sought assistance from JBPM to retrieve the victim, believed to be in his 50s, from the stream.

“The victim is believed to have lost control of his motorcycle while travelling along a hillside trail before plunging into the stream near his orchard.

“The JBPM team had to use a utility vehicle to reach the location, about one kilometre from the main road, due to narrow access,” he said in a statement today.

“Once the investigation was completed, the victim’s body was retrieved from the stream and handed over to the police for further action. The operation concluded at 6.45 pm,” he said.

Police have arrested two men in separate rape cases involving teenage victims here on Wednesday.

District police chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the first case involved a 15-year-old girl who was found to be six months pregnant after a medical check-up at a clinic in Taman Sawit.

Her foster sister lodged a police report after learning that the girl had been taken to a house in Taman Sri Balung by her boyfriend, who allegedly raped her.

Police later arrested a 19-year-old suspect in Bandar Sri Indah following an operation by the district’s Criminal Investigation Department, while in another case, a 23-year-old man was detained at Tawau Airport for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.

Jasmin said both suspects are being held under Section 376 of the Penal Code, urging parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s movements to prevent them from falling victim to such crimes.

Police arrested a foreign man in his 20s suspected of being a paedophile after he allegedly broke into a home naked and sexually harassed an 11-year-old girl here early Tuesday.

District police chief ACP Jasmin Hussin said the suspect was caught within the Tawau District Police Headquarters compound around 10am following a swift operation.

The incident occurred about 3am when the girl, asleep in the living room, awoke to find a naked man kissing her cheek and forehead.

Startled, the girl screamed, waking her mother, who rushed from her room, prompting the suspect to flee the scene.

Jasmin said the arrest was made possible through public information and police intelligence, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, while parents are urged to strengthen home security and monitor their children closely at night.

A 13-year-old tahfiz student has been reported missing from Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Quran Zawiyah Darul Madad in Kampung Sagil here since Tuesday.

Tangkak police chief Supt Roslan Mohd Talib said the student, Muhammad Aisy Thaqif Mohd Khalid, was last seen within the madrasah compound, wearing a dark blue jersey and black three-quarter pants with white stripes on the sides.

“The student is 157 centimetres tall, of slim build, and has short hair,” he said in a statement today.

Police are appealing to anyone with information on the boy’s whereabouts to come forward and contact the nearest police station or investigating officer Insp Nurul Amira Ibrahim at 01161565593.

Malaysia has prohibited the sale and distribution of a popular Thai inhaler after authorities in Thailand issued an urgent recall over microbial contamination.

In a statement this afternoon, the Health Ministry said the “Hong Thai Formula 2” inhaler was not registered with Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).

“The sale and possession of unregistered medicines is an offence under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations,” the ministry noted.

The move follows Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration recalling the inhaler after it failed health quality tests.

The ministry added that “Hong Thai Formula 2” is being advertised and sold on multiple e-commerce platforms.

“We have lodged complaints with the respective platforms, requesting that the product listings be removed immediately,” it said.

Members of the public were also urged not to buy the inhaler and to stop using it immediately.