Langgar injunksi: Setiausaha DKU akan mula prosiding hina mahkamah

 Raja Norazli Raja Nordin akan memulakan prosiding penghinaan mahkamah terhadap pihak yang terlibat dalam pelantikan 'Yang di-Pertuan Besar'.

Setiausaha DKU Raja Norazli Raja Nordin kata beliau akan memulakan prosiding penghinaan mahkamah selepas berlakunya pelanggaran perintah injunksi ‘ad interim’.

SEREMBAN:

Setiausaha Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan (DKU), Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, akan memulakan prosiding penghinaan mahkamah terhadap pihak yang terlibat dalam pelantikan ‘Yang di-Pertuan Besar’, seperti yang dilaporkan hari ini.

Beliau berkata langkah itu diambil selepas berlakunya pelanggaran perintah injunksi ‘ad interim’ yang dikeluarkan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi.

Raja Norazli berkata Hakim Roz Mawar Rozain memberikan perintah itu dalam saman pemula untuk memelihara ‘status quo’ DKU serta kedudukan beliau selaku setiausaha DKU sementara menunggu pendengaran isu-isu bidang kuasa dan kebolehadilan, dan sehingga perintah selanjutnya dikeluarkan oleh mahkamah.

“Sejak perintah injunksi ad interim tersebut diberikan, saya mendapati melalui laporan media bahawa plaintif terutamanya plaintif kedua (Undang Luak Jelebu Maarof Mat Rashad) terlibat dan (atau) mengambil bahagian dalam kononnya pelantikan seorang Yang di-Pertuan Besar, yang didakwa dibuat di bawah Fasal 11 Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan.

“Perkara ini dilaporkan berlaku selepas Mahkamah Tinggi memberikan perintah-perintah injunksi ad interim pagi tadi,” menurut kenyataan.

Raja Norazli berpendirian bahawa plaintif-plaintif berkenaan, khususnya plaintif kedua, bertindak secara terburu-buru dalam percubaan untuk mengingkari perintah mahkamah.

“Sehubungan itu, peguam cara saya telah menulis kepada peguam cara plaintif-plaintif, di mana saya telah merizabkan hak saya untuk memulakan prosiding-prosiding penghinaan mahkamah terhadap plaintif-plaintif bagi memelihara integriti perintah mahkamah,” katanya.

Beliau berkata tindakan itu adalah tambahan kepada prosiding penghinaan mahkamah yang difailkan terhadap pihak plaintif berhubung tindakan mereka sejak tarikh perbicaraan pertama membabitkan isu berkenaan di Mahkamah Tinggi pada 13 Mei lepas hingga hari ini.

Raja Norazli berkata prosiding itu ditetapkan untuk perbicaraan pada 7 Julai depan.

Terdahulu, Mahkamah Tinggi membenarkan permohonan injunksi ‘ad interim’ terhadap enam plaintif dalam pertikaian melibatkan DKU Negeri Sembilan, yang antara lain menghalang mereka daripada memanggil atau mengadakan sebarang mesyuarat termasuk Sidang Khas yang dijadualkan berlangsung hari ini.

Selain Maarof, lima lagi plaintif ialah bekas Undang Luak Sungai Ujong Mubarak Thahak, Undang Luak Johol Muhammed Abdullah, Undang Luak Rembau Abdul Rahim Yasin, Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri, dan Shahbandar Sungai Ujong Badarudin Abdul Khalid. - FMT

Improve tax system to gain traders’ trust, says deputy minister

 Liew Chin Tong says tax systems should evolve into trusted platforms instead of being viewed as a 'compliance burden'.

Liew Chin Tong, the deputy finance minister, delivering his keynote address at a forum on the future of Malaysian taxation. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA :

The government should invest in improving the digital tax system to gain the trust of small traders and businesses, deputy finance minister Liew Chin Tong said.

Speaking at a forum on the future of Malaysian taxation, Liew said that tax systems should evolve into trusted platforms that simplify operations and support growth instead of being viewed as a “compliance burden”.

“We should invest significantly more in improving these digital systems so that businesses can use them comfortably and confidently,” he said.

Liew said the government must ensure that fairness, transparency, and good governance are practised consistently in order to earn the confidence of the people.

He also called on business leaders to advocate for a clean, honest, and transparent economy rather than one that is overly dependent on a shadow economy.

“Instead of focusing solely on tax cuts, I would like to see more businesses unite in calling for a level playing field that enables Malaysian companies to thrive, and for fair and honest competition among Malaysian businesses,” he said.

Liew said tax policies should be guided by broader economic objectives rather than being treated solely as a technical matter. Among these economic objectives was building a resilient middle class to expand the government’s revenue base.

On the debate surrounding the goods and services tax (GST), he said the focus should not be on extracting more revenue from the existing pool of taxpayers via consumption tax. “Instead, we should strive to build a resilient and prosperous middle class, and through that expand the government’s revenue base.”

The GST, a multi-stage consumption tax, was introduced in April 2015 at a rate of 6% before being zero-rated in June 2018. It was replaced by sales and service tax in September 2018 when Pakatan Harapan came to power.

Liew also called for greater support for the development of Malaysian firms and for Malaysian to acknowledge that many companies were highly capable. “Where Malaysian companies and foreign investors are of equal merit, we should give greater priority to Malaysian firms,” he said. - FMT

Police say action at Tunku Besar’s residence was to ensure public order

 The Negeri Sembilan police chief says the police respect the ongoing legal process, while carrying out their duties in keeping with the law.

Negeri Sembilan police took action to preserve public order after a crowd gathered at the residence of the Tunku Besar of Tampin, the state police chief said. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Police personnel were stationed at the entrance to the official residence of the Tunku Besar of Tampin today to ensure public safety and order, as well as compliance with the law, without favouring any party, state police said today.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said police received information about the presence of members of the public in the area, prompting the Tampin district police chief to take action to maintain security and monitor the situation.

He said the move was aimed at securing public order, safety, and the smooth management of the situation in the area, Bernama reported.

“Action was taken in line with the functions and responsibilities of the police to maintain peace, safety and public order, and to prevent any unlawful acts,” he said in a statement quoted by Bernama.

Alzafny said police had also received a copy of a court order related to the matter and they respect the ongoing legal process, while carrying out their duties in keeping with the law.

Earlier today, the High Court in Seremban issued a temporary injunction which restrains the state’s council of customary chieftains, the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, from meeting or making decisions, including a special meeting scheduled today. The council was also barred from removing its secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin.

The court acted on an application by the council and Raja Norazli against the former undang of Sungai Ujong and the undang of Jelebu, Johol, Rembau, Tampin and Sungai Ujong.

The court action was the latest in a series of events prompted by an attempt by three undangs and a former undang to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Tuanku Munawir.

The state police chief advised members of the public to remain calm, obey the law and avoid any actions that could disrupt public order or interfere with ongoing processes.

Alzafny said the security situation at the location was under control, and police would continue to monitor developments and take appropriate action to maintain public peace and safety. - FMT

300,000 Malaysians flock to southern Thailand during school break

 There was full occupancy at the 30,000 hotel rooms, the Hatyai-Songkhla hotel association reported.

Many Malaysian tourists returning home had to wait between three and four hours to get through the immigration process, particularly at Sadao, a hotelier said. (Bernama pic)

SONGKHLA:

Nearly 300,000 Malaysian tourists flocked to southern Thailand during the school holidays and Aidiladha break from May 27 to June 4, generating more than one billion baht (RM123 million) in revenue, according to a Thai hotelier.

Sittipong Sitthiphataraprabah, president of the Hatyai-Songkhla Hotel Association, said there was full occupancy of the more than 30,000 hotel rooms in that duration, generating more than one billion baht in tourism revenue.

He said Songkhla, Satun, Phatthalung, Trang, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat were some of the favourite destinations of Malaysian tourists.

Sittipong expressed unhappiness that many Malaysian tourists had to wait between three and four hours to get through the immigration process, particularly at the Sadao checkpoint.

“Some tourists were stranded on their way back to Malaysia, to the point where they had to spend the night in their vehicles or by the roadside due to the unusual congestion,” he said. He hoped remedial action can be taken soon.

A Malaysian tourist, Faizul Nasruddin, 40, from Banting, Selangor, said he and his wife found it worth their while to take an eight-hour motorcycle ride to get to their holiday in Hatyai for its variety of delicious and reasonably priced food.

“Even when faced with the congestion at the land crossing, I would still come because there is no other place quite like Hatyai,” he said.

Another tourist, 42-year-old Hasbul Hisyam Yusuf from Terengganu, said his family visits Hatyai every holiday season because of the food. “We have been to most destinations in Malaysia, but Hatyai is our family’s choice.” - FMT

Sarawak plans to set up own football league

 The state youth, sports and entrepreneur development minister says his ministry is working on this with the state football association and Kuching City Football Club.

A stronger local league system will allow more clubs like Kuching City FC to emerge in other divisions such as Sibu and Bintulu, said state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Sarawak is planning to establish its own football league to strengthen grassroots development and create a more sustainable football ecosystem in the state, says state youth, sports and entrepreneur development minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said his ministry is now working with the Football Association of Sarawak, Kuching City Football Club (KCFC) and corporate partners to develop a structured state league system that will include age-group competitions at the district, divisional and state levels.

Karim said a stronger local league system would allow clubs similar to KCFC to emerge in divisions such as Sibu and Bintulu.

He said KCFC, which is set to compete in next year’s AFC Champions League Two and requires about RM15 million in funding, is already operating beyond the development stage.

“Our role is development. KCFC is already at the professional or semi-professional level,” Dayak Daily reported him as saying in Petra Jaya today.

Karim said KCFC’s rapid progress over the last 10 years, which saw them reach the Malaysia Cup final for the first time and qualify for the AFC Champions League Two, showed good management.

“Even if millions are spent, success will not come without proper management,” he said. - FMT

Day hikes banned on high-risk Perak mountains

 A climbing duration of three to five days has been imposed following a risk assessment of the affected routes and terrain conditions, the forestry department says.

A minimum period of five days is now required for the Trans Spencer Chapman route, which passes through the Bar Gading, Kak and Batu Putih mountains in Perak. (Bernama pic)

IPOH:

The Perak forestry department has imposed an immediate ban on day hikes and compressed hiking activities on several high-risk mountain routes across the state.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the department said the decision was made following a risk assessment of the affected routes and terrain conditions, with climber safety being the primary consideration.

The ban comes as rescue efforts continue for missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin who was last seen on May 24 while on the Trans Spencer Chapman trail across the Batu Putih mountain in Tapah, Perak.

Among the routes affected is the Mount Korga trail via the Korbu-Gayong mountain route, which now requires a minimum climbing period of three days. The Trans Spencer Chapman route, which passes through the Bar Gading, Kak and Batu Putih mountains, must be completed over a minimum period of five days.

Other routes subject to the restriction include the Trans Jerging route (Suku–Irau), Trans Batu (Batu Putih–Batu Bujang–Kak–Batu Dara) and Trans Slim (Liang East/West–Chondong Geliting–Tumang Batak), all of which require a minimum climbing period of three days.

The Trans Titiwangsa V1 route, which includes the Korbu, Gayong and Yong Belar mountains, must be completed over at least five days.

A minimum climbing duration of four days is required for the Trans Beratih route, involving Bukit Berapit, and the Rayu and Batu Putih mountains.

Failure to comply with the directive could result in the immediate suspension and blacklisting of the forestry mountain guide identification of those involved for a period of six months or longer, depending on the circumstances.

The department said information and updates regarding hiking regulations and route requirements would be available at its website https://www.perakforestry.gov.my. -  FMT