There were no incidents of a trailer allegedly brushing against a vehicle blocking the entrance to the Ayer Keroh rest area in Alor Gajah, Melaka, yesterday. - NSTP file pic
KUALA LUMPUR: There were no incidents of a trailer allegedly brushing against a vehicle blocking the entrance to the Ayer Keroh rest area in Alor Gajah, Melaka, yesterday.
The Federal Police Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department (TEID) said this follows a viral video of another alleged incident.
It said that checks found no physical collision involving the trailer and any other vehicle had occurred.
"This was confirmed by the Section Manager (SM) S2 responsible for the operational area. Based on a review of the viral TikTok video, the presence of PLUSRonda personnel at the location was part of traffic control measures to ensure smooth vehicle movement and road user safety.
"The personnel were observed carrying out enforcement by instructing drivers who had stopped or parked in the yellow line area to move away, as such behaviour could cause traffic obstruction and potentially lead to accidents," it said in a statement.
It added that no reports have been lodged by any vehicle owner so far.
Earlier, the incident went viral on social media, where it was claimed that a trailer allegedly brushed against a vehicle blocking the entrance of the rest area.
The 33-second video shows a trailer navigating past a sport utility vehicle parked on the curved road shoulder.
"Today, Dec 29, Ayer Keroh parking again. It feels like this car is part of yesterday's story, same place, just a different day, crunchy like fried chicken," the post read.
On Sunday, it was reported that a trailer hit three vehicles at the same location, which prompted a police probe. - NST
Statements claiming that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin will step down as opposition leader are false. - NSTP file pic
KUALA LUMPUR: Statements claiming that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin will step down as opposition leader are false.
An officer from Hamzah's office rejected the reports circulating online that he would resign effective Jan 1, 2026, calling them fake news.
Earlier tonight, a fraudulent media statement, allegedly bearing the letterhead of the Office of the Opposition Leader and purportedly signed by Hamzah, was circulated online.
Another statement, carrying the Bersatu letterhead, was also confirmed to be fake by the officer. - NST
Another analyst expects Bersatu to maintain cordial ties with PAS despite potentially losing the PN chairmanship, as it needs the Islamic party's machinery and support.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin (left) resigned as PN chairman earlier today, prompting coalition secretary-general Azmin Ali to follow suit.
PETALING JAYA: A political analyst expects the resignations of Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin Ali as Perikatan Nasional chairman and secretary-general, respectively, to lead to mounting calls for a similar change of guard in Bersatu.
Syaza Shukri of the Islamic International University Malaysia said it was “logical” for such calls to surface as the pair’s resignations were akin to them having lost confidence in leading PN.
“If they’re not good enough for PN then what makes them good enough for Bersatu? I foresee the internal struggle and factionalism in Bersatu to only grow after this,” she told FMT.
Syaza said Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin was next in line for the party presidency, especially since he was perceived as being “more acceptable” to coalition partner PAS.
However, she said Hamzah would have his work cut out should he become Bersatu president as Muhyiddin’s faction remained influential in the party.
She said Hamzah would still need to deal with Bersatu’s deeper issues, namely its identity as an Umno splinter party and its lack of grassroots support.
“Hamzah needs broad support and I’m not sure if he has that. Perhaps this is because he hasn’t been tested yet, as Muhyiddin has always been seen as the more popular leader within the party and among the Malay electorate.”
Earlier today, Muhyiddin announced that he would be stepping down as PN chairman on Jan 1. This announcement followed the political crisis in Perlis, which saw PAS losing the menteri besar’s post to Bersatu.
Following Muhyiddin’s announcement, Azmin said he would be resigning as PN secretary-general and Selangor PN chief. He was joined by several other state PN heads from Bersatu.
‘Dependent’ Bersatu to maintain cordial ties with PAS
Adib Zalkapli, managing director of geopolitical consultancy Viewfinder Global Affairs, said the relationship between Bersatu and PAS now faced an unprecedented challenge, although the Islamic party has the upper hand in this.
He expects Bersatu to maintain cordial ties with PAS as it depends heavily on the latter’s machinery and support in elections.
“Without the support from PAS, it will be difficult for Bersatu to repeat its achievement in 2022,” he said, referring to the 31 parliamentary seats Bersatu won in the last general election. - FMT
THE Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) is a new agency under the Home Affairs Ministry that strengthens border security by consolidating personnel and functions formerly spread across multiple agencies.
Under the leadership of former Director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, MCBA is mandated to prevent and curb smuggling through streamlined, intelligence-led, and coordinated border enforcement.
A review of its performance is timely as MCBA enters its second year of operations.
MCBA currently manages 22 legal border checkpoints nationwide. In its first year, it is reported to have centralised border enforcement, improved coordination and disrupted smuggling activities.
However, it still faces key challenges to fully achieve its mandate due to manpower gaps, legacy practices, weak accountability, under-equipped personnel and outdated technologies.
Among others, 18 MCBA officers were arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport over alleged counter setting, while the Kelantan police chief warned that the porous Sungai Golok border with Thailand faced growing security risks.
(Image: Malay Mail)
Prior to the formation of MCBA, anti-smuggling operations were coordinated by the Counter Smuggling Unit, which operated at key border points such as Bukit Kayu Hitam, Padang Besar and Sungai Golok.
The limited success due to coordination issues, overlapping authorities and poor intelligence sharing across multiple agencies finally led to the creation of MCBA as the centralised border control agency.
Drawing on firsthand experience in border regions, including at Rantau Panjang and five years in Perlis as the state’s then Anti-Corruption Agency director, this writer had previously highlighted gaps between border policy objectives and on-the-ground realities, underscoring the need for practical, field-informed adjustments.
One key area requiring urgent attention is human resource. Currently, MCBA officers are drawn from other enforcement agencies such as Customs, Immigration and police.
As far back as 2010, I had suggested the recruitment of new officers in the fight against smuggling, rather than relying on officers transferred from existing enforcement bodies.
Transferred officers often retain previous loyalties, cultures and practices, which can undermine command, accountability and reform. In contrast, new recruits are more adaptable to the agency’s systems, technology and accountability. This supports long-term institutional integrity without the need to unlearn conflicting legacy practices.
This single action can have an immediate impact in fostering stronger teamwork, professionalism and field-based training while ensuring commitment to MCBA rather than to former agencies.
Fresh officers should be subject to thorough background checks, provided training in modern enforcement techniques as well as basic laws and border-specific protocols (border inspection, Customs procedures and anti-smuggling operations), and given intelligence analyses and refresher courses to keep up with evolving threats.
(Image: AWANI International)
Random integrity testing should also be conducted to ensure ethical standards are consistently upheld. Having fully recruited new officers will also help in building a culture of integrity and accountability within MCBA.
Additionally, the government should create a robust legal framework that cuts redundancy, strengthens oversight, fosters a conducive workplace, and equips MCBA with advanced technology to tackle complex border security challenges.
Although establishing a dedicated workforce and acquiring modern assets involve significant costs, these expenses can be quickly offset by the savings realised through the reduction of smuggling activities.
MCBA’s mandate is to cripple smuggling activities that cost the country billions of ringgit.
As it enters its second year of operations, operating MCBA as a fully unified agency with its own professionally recruited officers and strong institutional integrity will enable it to respond effectively to emerging border security threats.
Datuk Seri Dr Akhbar Satar is the president of the Malaysia Integrity and Governance Society (MIG).
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
PARK at your own risk—it’s a sign that many motorists will be familiar with but few will have envisaged the kind of damage visited on three vehicles that were haphazardly parked on the kerb.
As reported in Berita Harian, police are investigating an incident that went viral on social media involving a trailer believed to have crashed into three cars at the Ayer Keroh Overpass Rest and Treatment (R&R) area in Alor Gajah on Dec 28.
Through video recordings and photos shared by the public, several vehicles, including a Perodua Alza parked on the shoulder of the road, were seen suffering damage after it was believed to have been hit and dragged by a trailer that was trying to enter the R&R route.
Alor Gajah district police chief Superintendent Ahmad Abu Bakar, when contacted, confirmed the incident and that the case is currently being investigated by the Bukit Aman Highway Investigation Unit (USLR).
“The accident involved a heavy trailer vehicle and three private cars. Further investigations are still underway,” he was quoted as saying.
That advice was not heeded as scores of motorists took to social media to share their two sen. On the Dunia Lori’s Facebook page, it was remarked that these haphazardly parked cars were the cause of massive traffic jams and inconsiderate motorists lead to road safety issues.
Highlighting that the lorry driver had waited up to an hour before taking matters into his own hands, many commenters applauded the lorry driver for taking decisive action, arguing that motorists who follow their own set of road rules deserve this outcome.
One commenter opined that this was a valuable lesson for all those who park indiscriminately, applauding the lorry driver’s “scratch and win” approach to the problem.
Bearing bad news for errant motorists was one road user who claimed that a similar incident happened to him. The cops’ query was two-fold:
Was the vehicle parked near the main thoroughfare and obstructing other vehicles?
Were there yellow lines on the road?
If the answer is ‘yes’ to both queries, then the fault lies completely with the errant parker. Furthermore, one can only claim, if at all, from one’s own insurance company. In this case, the commenter had to pay from his own pocket for damages to the side of his car.
Similar sentiments were also on show on Peminat Truck’s Facebook page where the same incident was highlighted. One commenter argued that this be a valuable lesson to those who think “only they needed to eat, rest, defecate and urinate at the R&R”.
One commenter pointed out that sufficient time had been given to allow these motorists to move their cars.
One even encouraged more drivers of heavy vehicles to follow suit as this seems to be the only way to teach road etiquette to such “brainless” motorists.
What say you? Did the errant motorists deserve to have their cars damaged in this manner or was the lorry driver well within his rights? ‒ Focus Malaysia
