F1 race fans left fuming with long queues, shuttle delays

 Visitors to the Sepang circuit complain of disorganised transport and long waits for water, urging improvements before the weekend.

Formula One fans have taken to social media to complain of chaos at the Sepang International Circuit today, as shown by this huge crowd surrounding a shuttle bus. (Threads pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Motor racing fans have taken to social media complaining of long queues for shuttle buses and difficulty in getting drinking water at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), and called for better crowd management and transport services before the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

They complained of delays entering and leaving the circuit, while one social media user claimed people had resorted to walking along a highway emergency lane while waiting for buses after today’s practice sessions.

Instagram user pompey1980 said ticket-holders had been waiting for a shuttle for hours. “I’ve been to Grand Prixs all over the world and not experienced chaos like this. And it’s only Friday. Dreading Saturday and Sunday,” the user wrote.

Another user “timkatyvegas02” claimed thousands of people were still waiting for buses at 8.20pm. “People are walking down the hard shoulder of the motorway,” the user said.

On Threads, user mhd.adli described “crazy scenes” at the Sepang circuit claiming there was little crowd control as people pushed one another and ran to catch buses.

On X, user “rocky19” described the journey from the circuit to Kuala Lumpur International Airport as “horrendous”, criticising the transport arrangements and traffic management.

The user tagged Rapid KL, police and KLIA Ekspres, urging better planning ahead of Sunday.

Complaints also centred on queues at entry gates and access to drinking water. Instagram user “sunnyboyh” said visitors had to queue for “everything”, from buying a bottle of water to entering the circuit and using shuttle services, despite the hot weather.

“People need to queue for everything under the super hot weather,” the user wrote, expressing hope that arrangements would improve the following day.

Some of the crowds waiting for transport at the Sepang motor racing circuit today. (Threads pic)

The F1 Speed account on X also alleged that shuttle queues were unorganised, most water stations were not operational and several spectators had fainted.

On Reddit, user Nicholsonstreet criticised the long queues for water and food, a lack of free water refill stations, poor signage and communication, and chaotic bus arrangements.

The user also claimed it took three hours to travel from the circuit to the KLIA train station, compared with an estimated 20-minute journey under normal conditions.

“Really disappointing. I hope the organisers can fix this for the rest of the weekend after seeing the disorganised chaos today,” said the netizen.

Another Reddit user, SergeantTiller, said there were “tens of thousands” of people stuck waiting for shuttles at 7pm. “No signs. No lines. Just a complete free for all,” said SergeantTiller.

FMT has contacted Prasarana and SIC for comments on the shuttle services, traffic management and water facilities.

In July, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from Oct 2 to 4, following an agreement between Formula 1, the FIA, and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.

The agreement keeps the Bahrain GP on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

SIC hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 before it was removed from the calendar because of rising hosting costs and licensing fees.

Petronas previously held the title sponsorship rights for the race. In July, Petronas clarified that although it currently holds naming rights to the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, it is not the event organiser for this weekend’s race. - FMT

Girl, 8, awarded RM12.19m in medical negligence suit

 

Mohd Sukri Mahat (fourth from right) with his wife Noraisah Ali (fifth from right) and Hanan Qaireen (carried by her lawyer) after the proceedings at the Ayer Keroh High Court today. NSTP/MEOR RIDUWAN MEOR AHMAD

MELAKA: The Ayer Keroh High Court today awarded RM12.19 million in damages to an 8-year-old girl in a medical negligence suit involving a government hospital and its doctors.

Hanan Qaireen Mohd Sukri, who suffered brain damage during birth and was subsequently diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, filed the suit through her father, Mohd Sukri Mahat, 46, who is her legal litigation representative.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Isa Aziz Ibrahim awarded RM10.77 million in future general damages to cover the plaintiff's lifelong treatment, rehabilitation and multidisciplinary care.

The court, however, rejected a RM220,000 claim for stem cell treatment after ruling that its effectiveness had yet to be established and that it remained experimental.

Hanan Qaireen was also awarded RM500,000 in general damages, RM441,754.83 in special damages, RM300,000 in aggravated damages, RM157,792.22 in pre-trial damages and RM176,718.75 in legal costs and expenses.

Interest of five per cent was also imposed on the relevant damages and judgment sum.

In his judgment, Isa advised the family to manage the compensation carefully for the girl's welfare.

"Although the amount may seem large, it is for 55 years. If calculated, the compensation is only about RM20,000 a month, which I believe is adequate and not excessive.

"What has happened has happened. This is our qada and qadar as Muslims. I hope the amount will not be wasted and will be used as it should," he said.

The suit was filed on Oct 30, 2023, naming 11 defendants, including the Malaysian government, a hospital director and nine doctors. Hanan Qaireen's mother, Noraisah Ali, 42, was initially named as the second plaintiff.

However, the suit against the 10 other defendants was withdrawn and Noraisah's name was removed after the Malaysian government, the 11th defendant, admitted liability on the final day of the trial on June 16.

The assessment of damages took six days from Sept 29 last year, with the plaintiff calling four witnesses, including two experts. The defence did not call any witnesses.

According to the statement of claim, Hanan Qaireen was born on Feb 18, 2018, with APGAR scores of 1, 3 and 4 at 1, 5 and 10 minutes respectively. She required intubation at the fourth minute after being unable to breathe on her own before being admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

An electroencephalogram conducted on the same day showed moderate to severe neonatal encephalopathy.

An MRI scan on March 9, 2018, showed severe injuries to several key brain structures. Subsequent examinations between 2019 and 2023 confirmed the diagnosis of Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, which affects movement in all four limbs.

Hanan Qaireen was represented by lawyers Nur Maizatul Syakira Hashim and Mohamed Fadly Zakariya, while Senior Federal Counsel Norafiah Saini represented the Malaysian government. - NST

Anwar provides RM2,000 aid to Tambun crash victims' family

 

IPOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today presented RM2,000 in initial assistance to the family of three sisters involved in a road accident on Jalan Perpaduan, Tambun, here, which claimed the lives of two and left another seriously injured.

The contribution was handed over by Tambun parliamentary community service centre officer Muhammad Izzudin Hariz Bohari on behalf of Anwar, who is also the Tambun MP.

Meanwhile, Tambun parliamentary community service centre officer Ashraf Kahasani said Anwar had instructed the centre to deliver the initial assistance to the family.

"The Prime Minister also conveyed his condolences to the victims' family and asked us to provide the assistance directly to the next of kin to help ease their burden.

"If further assistance is needed for the other victim who was injured and is currently being treated in hospital, we will look into how we can help," he said when met by reporters after the contribution was presented at the victim's family home in Taman Bagus, Tambun, here on Friday (Oct 2) night.

The accident at about 7.20am on Friday (Oct 2) claimed the lives of a 19-year-old girl who was riding a motorcyle and her nine-year-old sister.

Another 12-year-old victim, who was also riding pillion, sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here.

The victims' eldest sister, Nurul Aeina Ibrahim, 28, said she learnt about the accident involving her three siblings from their school teacher at about 8am.

She said, however, that she was only informed of the accident and was not told that her sisters had died.

"It was only when I reached the scene that I was told they were gone," she said.

Nurul Aeina said Norhayati Qaliesha, who survived the incident, had yet to be told about her two sisters' deaths as she remained in critical condition.

The two victims killed in the crash, Elyana Nasuha and her younger sister Suhaila, were buried in a common grave at the Tambun Muslim Cemetery here at about 6.30pm. – Bernama

Sesi persekolahan 2027 mula 4 Jan

 Kalendar akademik bagi sekolah Kumpulan A bermula 4 Jan hingga 2 Dis 2027, manakala bagi Kumpulan B, 4 Jan hingga 3 Dis.

KPM berkata, langkah penyeragaman bertujuan pastikan keselarasan pembukaan sesi persekolahan 2028 di seluruh negara, mudahkan perancangan pentadbiran sekolah serta pelaksanaan aktiviti pengajaran dan pembelajaran. (Gambar Bernama)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) mengumumkan kalendar akademik 2027 bagi sekolah kebangsaan dan sekolah bantuan kerajaan akan bermula 4 Jan hingga 2 Dis 2027, bagi sekolah di negeri Kumpulan A, dan 4 Jan hingga 3 Dis 2027 bagi sekolah di negeri Kumpulan B.

Kumpulan A melibatkan Kedah, Kelantan dan Terengganu manakala, Kumpulan B adalah sekolah-sekolah di Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan dan Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya.

KPM turut menyelaras tarikh-tarikh bagi cuti perayaan sepanjang tempoh sesi persekolahan 2027, melibatkan perayaan Hari Raya Puasa, Tahun Baharu Cina, Deepavali, Hari Raya Korban, Pesta Kaamatan, Hari Gawai Dayak, Hari Wesak dan Hari Krismas.

“Semua sekolah hendaklah mematuhi peruntukan cuti tambahan oleh KPM sempena perayaan utama bagi sambutan Hari Raya Puasa, Tahun Baharu Cina, Hari Raya Korban, Hari Wesak dan Deepavali.

“Peruntukan cuti tambahan berkenaan tidak perlu diganti,” kata KPM dalam kenyataan hari ini.

KPM berkata, langkah penyeragaman itu bertujuan memastikan keselarasan pembukaan sesi persekolahan 2028 di seluruh negara dan memudahkan perancangan pentadbiran sekolah serta pelaksanaan aktiviti pengajaran dan pembelajaran yang lebih teratur dan efektif. - FMT

Cellmax launches locally-developed wound care products

 The products, developed after eight years of research and RM7 million in investment, have been registered with the Medical Device Authority.

Cellmax managing director Loke Mei Chan and Cellmax chief scientific officer Dr Azizi Ayob at the launch of two locally-developed wound management products on Sept 25. (Cellmax pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Malaysian medical technology company Cellmax Healthcare Sdn Bhd has launched two locally-developed wound management products after more than eight years of research and development.

The products, Cellmax Freeze-Dried Powder and Cellmax Wound Spray, were launched at the World Union of Wound Healing Societies congress at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sept 25.

The launch was officiated by science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang and Cellmax managing director Loke Mei Chan.

In a statement, Cellmax chief scientific officer Dr Azizi Ayob said the products help reduce long-term treatment costs for patients recovering from chronic ulcers, traumatic injuries and surgical wounds.

The products were developed after clinical studies conducted in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur Hospital, including trials involving patients with complex, chronic and hard-to-heal wounds. The products underwent two years of safety compliance and were registered with the Medical Device Authority.

Loke said the company aims to reduce reliance on imported medical products by developing locally-made alternatives and eventually exporting them.

Before the commercial launch, Cellmax’s research team won Season 2 of Innovathon, Malaysia’s first innovation reality TV show organised by the science, technology and innovation ministry. The team also received a gold award in the innovation pioneer (patent) category at the National Intellectual Property Awards 2026. - FMT

Sarawak hotel overheads up by 30% in two years, says hotelier

 The Malaysian Association of Hotels' Sarawak chairman attributes the increase to higher costs of labour, utility, food, material and maintenance.

John Teo, the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ Sarawak chairman, called for government support measures to take into account the actual operating conditions of hotels of different sizes. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Hotel operators in Sarawak have seen their overheads increase by 30% over the last two years, which they attribute to higher labour, utility, food, material and maintenance costs, a hotelier said today.

John Teo.

Material costs rose significantly following the Covid-19 pandemic, while labour costs continued to increase, said John Teo, Sarawak chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels.

He said electricity and water costs had also increased, as hotels needed to replace older meters, the Borneo Post reported. These increasing costs were reducing profit margins, and operational costs could surge further if the government approves the proposal to increase the minimum wage to RM2,100 from the current RM1,700.

Teo said hotels needed to maintain adequate manpower to ensure smooth operations and service quality regardless of occupancy. “Even when occupancy fluctuates, essential functions such as housekeeping, equipment maintenance and basic front-line services still need to be carried out continuously,” he was quoted as saying.

Teo called for government support measures, including initiatives in the 2027 federal budget, to take into account the actual operating conditions of hotels of different sizes. The 2027 budget will be tabled on Oct 9. He said the government should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.

Teo also called for targeted support to strengthen Sarawak’s air connectivity, including opening new regional and international routes and increasing flight frequencies.

The government should work with airlines to chart new routes and consider temporary promotional or operational support for routes with strong tourism potential. - FMT