A residential area at MPL Housing near Tanjung Aru, Labuan, was hit by a tornado-like storm last night, damaging 33 houses and injuring one man. Bernama pic
LABUAN: A residential area at MPL Housing near Tanjung Aru here was hit by a tornado-like storm last night, damaging 33 houses and injuring one man.
The victim, identified as Wong Kwet Kiong, 64, suffered head injuries after being struck by flying debris.
The incident, which occurred at 9.40pm, saw strong winds ripping off rooftops, damaging several vehicles and uprooting large trees in nearby areas.
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Labuan Fire and Rescue Department director Abdul Rahman Ali said the department received a distress call at 10.12pm before dispatching a fire engine with eight personnel to the scene.
"When we arrived, the housing area was in darkness following a power supply disruption. Several roads were blocked by scattered debris and fallen objects.
"We were unable to determine the actual number of affected residents as many had already moved to their relatives' homes for temporary shelter," he told Bernama when contacted today.
He added that firemen focused on clearing roads and removing debris to ensure the area was safe for residents and emergency access.
"Several vehicles parked near the affected houses were also damaged after being hit by falling debris, while a number of large trees in the vicinity were uprooted by strong winds," he said.
One of the victims, Azahar Aziz, 36, said he was at home with his parents and siblings when the incident occurred.
"It started with rain, followed by lightning and strong winds. When we noticed the winds getting stronger, we quickly closed the windows.
"Not long after that, the roof was blown away and the house was flooded. We are now staying at a relative's house," he said. - NST
KUALA LUMPUR: MetMalaysia has issued a thunderstorm and heavy rain warning for eight states until 1.00am early Friday (May 15).
The affected areas involve Kedah (Sik, Baling, Kulim and Bandar Baharu) and Perak (Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Kampar, Batang Padang and Muallim).
Similar weather conditions are also forecast in Kelantan involving Jeli, Tanah Merah, Machang, Pasir Puteh, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang; Terengganu (Besut and Hulu Terengganu).
The warning also covers Pahang (Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Raub, Jerantut, Bentong, Temerloh, Maran, Bera, Pekan and Rompin); and Selangor (Hulu Selangor).
In Sarawak, the areas affected are Sri Aman (Lubok Antu), Kapit (Song, Kapit and Belaga), Bintulu (Tatau and Sebauh), Miri (Miri and Marudi) and Limbang, while in Sabah the warning covers Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Nabawan and Sandakan (Tongod and Telupid), as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan. — Bernama
MetMalaysia menjelaskan status itu dikeluarkan apabila suhu maksimum harian 35 hingga 37 darjah Celsius berlaku sekurang-kurangnya selama tiga hari berturut-turut.
MetMalaysia mengeluarkan status cuaca panas Tahap 1 atau kategori berjaga-jaga bagi kawasan Machang, Kuala Krai dan Pasir Mas di Kelantan. (Gambar Bernama)
KUALA LUMPUR: Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) hari ini mengeluarkan status cuaca panas Tahap 1 atau kategori berjaga-jaga bagi kawasan Machang, Kuala Krai dan Pasir Mas di Kelantan.
Menurut kenyataan MetMalaysia, status itu dikeluarkan apabila suhu maksimum harian 35 hingga 37 darjah Celsius berlaku sekurang-kurangnya selama tiga hari berturut-turut.
Dalam pada itu, jabatan berkenaan turut mengeluarkan amaran ribut petir dan hujan lebat di lapan negeri hingga 1.30 pagi esok melibatkan Kedah di Sik, Baling, Kulim dan Bandar Baharu serta Perak (Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Kampar, Batang Padang dan Muallim).
Cuaca sama turut diramal melanda Kelantan melibatkan Jeli, Tanah Merah, Machang, Pasir Puteh, Kuala Krai dan Gua Musang; Terengganu (Besut dan Hulu Terengganu); Pahang (Tanah Tinggi Cameron, Lipis, Raub, Jerantut, Bentong, Temerloh, Maran, Bera, Pekan dan Rompin) serta Selangor (Hulu Selangor).
Di Sarawak melibatkan Sri Aman (Lubok Antu), Kapit (Song, Kapit dan Belaga), Bintulu (Tatau dan Sebauh), Miri (Miri dan Marudi) dan Limbang, manakala Sabah di Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Nabawan dan Sandakan (Tongod dan Telupid) selain Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan. - FMT
MMEA director-general Rosli Abdullah says many ship-to-ship oil transfers occur in remote locations near maritime boundaries or international shipping routes.
The Associated Press said that waters near Johor are now a key hub for ship-to-ship transfers involving Iran’s transfers of US-sanctioned oil. (Unsplash pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) says Iranian-linked tankers are exploiting “jurisdictional gaps” to conduct ship-to-ship transfers of US-sanctioned oil near Malaysia’s waters in the South China Sea.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the operations take place about 70km from Johor in the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) area – which is one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes and is about halfway between Iran and China, which buys about 90% of Iranian oil.
The AP report stated that the area is now a key hub for ship-to-ship transfers involving Iran’s “shadow fleet” – aging tankers that often operate with disabled tracking systems, false identities and opaque ownership structures to conceal the origins of crude bound largely for China.
The activity is said to be carried out to evade US energy sanctions imposed on Tehran, with US officials previously stating that Iranian oil exports rely heavily on service providers and ship-to-ship transfers operating near Malaysian waters.
MMEA director-general Rosli Abdullah acknowledged that many ship-to-ship oil transfers occur outside Malaysia’s territorial waters and in remote areas beyond radar coverage, especially in locations near maritime boundaries or international shipping routes.
“The selection of such locations is intended to exploit jurisdictional gaps and limit direct enforcement action by local authorities,” he told AP.
Although not illegal, Malaysia discourages ship-to-ship transfers conducted outside approved zones as these activities are harder to monitor, often involve older vessels, and carry a higher risk of oil spills far from port facilities where incidents can be more effectively managed.
US-based advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said satellite imagery has shown 42 ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil conducted in the EOPL area since Feb 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran, starting a war in the Middle East.
UANI adviser Charlie Brown said Malaysia’s “inaction” is facilitating the business model by Iran and China and “dark fleet actors”, warning that Malaysia is becoming “a facilitator rather than merely a transit point” for illicit activity.
However, Rosli said UANI’s allegations did not align with the “actual situation on the ground” and did not reflect the operational realities of maritime enforcement conducted by MMEA, adding that the lack of real-time intelligence-sharing among domestic and international agencies also hampered effective action.
Rosli said enforcement is conducted strictly under Malaysian law and relevant international conventions, and authorities have “never compromised nor provided any special treatment or privileges to any country.”
Neither the Iranian embassy in Kuala Lumpur nor the Iranian mission to the United Nations answered AP’s requests for comment. The US state department declined to comment.
Though the area where the oil transfers are taking place is widely regarded as part of Malaysia’s broader economic zone, it borders the Riau archipelago, which is Indonesian territory.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesman Yvonne Mewengkang told AP that Indonesian authorities were reviewing the situation to determine the legality of the activity. - FMT
This comes after DAP's Chong Chieng Jen voiced concerns over the appearance of certain individuals at SUPP events after they were arrested by police.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang (left) accused DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen of trying to cause political damage to SUPP instead of discussing solutions or policies for Sarawak.
PETALING JAYA: A Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) assemblyman has dismissed claims that the party’s leaders have ties with people allegedly involved in criminal activities.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said such claims were purely based on insinuation and guilt by association instead of actual proof, Borneo Post reported him as saying at a press conference at the state assembly building.
Lo said politicians often interact with members of the public, event organisers and businessmen, which do not amount to any wrongdoing.
“The argument put forward by the Padungan assemblyman (Chong Chieng Jen) is deeply flawed because it is built entirely on insinuation and guilt by association rather than by evidence.
“Simply appearing at public events, sponsorship functions, or community programmes together with political leaders does not prove criminal involvement, political collusion, or institutional wrongdoing.
“If that logic were accepted, then virtually every political party in Malaysia could be accused based on photographs or the attendance of thousands of members of the public, businessmen, donors, or community figures at various events over the years,” he was quoted as saying.
Lo, a SUPP deputy secretary-general, was responding to Chong who had voiced concerns over the appearance of certain “individuals” at events involving SUPP after they were arrested by police for alleged gang activities.
The Sarawak DAP chief had questioned if the presence of these individuals at events attended by political leaders would create a negative perception.
Lo maintained that the individuals nabbed have yet to be convicted, and that the matter should be left to the authorities and the courts.
“Instead of discussing solutions, policies, or constructive proposals for Sarawak, (Chong) is attempting to create suspicion and political damage through names, appearances at events, and selective insinuations broadcast on live television.
“That style of politics may generate headlines, but it does not elevate the standards of the state assembly,” he added. - FMT
The jet-propelled suits are manufactured by UK-based Gravity Industries, which claims users can fly for around three minutes each time at up to 137km/h.
Singapore police are considering the use of jet-propelled suits to allow its officers to fly onto hostile ships and tackle high-risk threats. (Singapore Police Force pic)
PETALING JAYA: Singapore police are exploring the deployment of armed policemen donning jet-propelled suits during special operations, which could include boarding hostile vessels or dealing with armed assailants holed up in a building.
The country’s police force is also looking into weaponised drones to provide cover fire for officers and help them breach booby-trapped entry points, reported The Straits Times.
Singapore’s home minister K Shanmugam said that incorporating such advanced technology will give the country’s police force a key tactical advantage.
“It gives our officers cover, and it keeps down potential aggressors who may otherwise be shooting at our officers,” he said.
“You see people who want to do you harm. You see it around the world, the kind of technologies they use… I would say the threats of terrorism, and other kinds of attacks, are increasing.”
The jet-propelled suits, which weigh around 35kg, are manufactured by UK-based Gravity Industries, which claims that users can fly for around three minutes each time at up to 137km/h.
Trials for both the jet suit and the weaponised drones will be conducted over the coming months.
Singapore’s Special Operations Command (SOC) – the police’s elite unit – have been using drones since 2023.
The SOC can deploy five types of drones weighing between 350g and 7kg. They are used to access tight or inaccessible areas to allow officers to get a better understanding of an incident or to help in decision-making processes. - FMT
