IPOH, May 8 — A 28-year-old fireman was charged at the Sessions Court here today with seven counts of sexual offences involving a 14-year-old boarding school student in Parit, Perak.
Muhammad Aidilafifi Muhammad claimed trial before judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason, several local news outlets including The Star and the New Straits Times reported.
He is also accused of committing the offences at multiple locations between February and May 1.
The charges are framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable with a maximum jail term of up to 20 years and whipping.
Muhammad Aidilafifi is also facing a separate charge for possessing an obscene image of the teenage girl.
The court set bail at RM9,000 for all charges with additional conditions, including monthly police reporting and a prohibition on contacting the victim or witnesses.
PUTRAJAYA, May 8 — Claims for compensation involving an Indian woman tourist who died after falling into a sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, will be left to the court to decide, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh.
She said the victim’s family could submit their claim through the courts as Kuala Lumpur had never faced such a case before.
“What I can say here is, firstly, we sympathise with the family over the incident, and I am sure they are relieved now that the death certificate has been issued.
“For compensation claims, I believe they need to settle the matter through court proceedings and for this, their lawyers can file a claim in court and we leave it to the court to decide the amount of compensation required. We have never had a case like this in Kuala Lumpur,” she told reporters here today.
She said discussions had been held with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud on the matter and it was understood that the victim’s family would first return to India before meeting her.
The media previously reported that the family of the woman tourist, G Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, was seeking appropriate compensation and planning to meet Hannah and Fadlun within two weeks to one month after Vijaya’s death certificate was issued yesterday.
On August 23, 2024, Vijaya fell into a sinkhole that suddenly formed while she was walking along Jalan Masjid India.
Although a large-scale search and rescue operation involving various agencies was carried out, the victim was never found.
On February 27 this year, the victim’s family urged the government to issue a death certificate to enable compensation claims to proceed.
Previously, Vijaya had still been classified as a missing person and for that reason, a death certificate could not be issued. — Bernama
IPOH, May 8 — An elderly man was killed while his wife was injured after they were allegedly assaulted with a hard object during a robbery at a house along Jalan Melayu, Ayer Tawar near Sitiawan, yesterday.
Manjung police chief ACP Hasbullah Abd Rahman said police received a call from a member of the public at about 5.30am informing them of the robbery.
“The elderly couple were attacked by a man, causing both victims to suffer serious injuries after being struck with a hard object.
“The suspect fled after taking two mobile phones and the victims’ wallets. Neighbours who heard the commotion came to assist the victims and took them to Seri Manjung Hospital for treatment,” he said in a statement today.
Hasbullah said the 84-year-old male victim was later pronounced dead while receiving treatment, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
He said police intelligence and investigations led to the arrest of a 27-year-old male suspect, who has seven previous criminal records, at about 7.45pm yesterday.
He said the suspect has been remanded for seven days, from today, to assist investigations under Sections 302 and 394 of the Penal Code.
“Witnesses or members of the public with any information related to the incident are urged to contact the Manjung district police headquarters operations room at 05-688 6222 or WhatsApp at 017-682 8005 to assist in investigations,” he said. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — The Kuala Lumpur Festival (KL Festival) is now a permanent fixture in the city’s yearly calendar in a bid to transform the city centre into a thriving cultural hub.
Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, who announced it last night, said that the KL Festival will be held annually starting from May next year, adding that it is also in support of the Visit Malaysia 2027 campaign and to further strengthen its status as a Unesco Creative City.
“For far too long, many people experienced Kuala Lumpur only as a city to work in, drive through, and rush home from. We want to change that.
“We want Kuala Lumpur to be a city people slow down to enjoy. A city that feels alive beyond office hours. A city where public spaces are activated with culture, creativity, and community.
“Because a city should not only feel alive inside shopping malls. Our streets, our heritage buildings, and public spaces must feel alive too,” Yeoh said during the launch.
Returning for its second edition this year, the KL Festival 2026 will run from May 6 to May 31 with over 80 programmes across 26 venues transforming heritage buildings, streets, and public spaces in Downtown KL into a network of cultural experiences.
This includes traditional arts like the wayang kulit reimagined, contemporary dance, immersive installations, outdoor cinema and theatre as well as community programmes.
As part of the Warisan KL national initiative, KL Festival is also focusing on heritage-led urban rejuvenation by encouraging people to rediscover urban spaces while fostering a deeper sense of belonging, collective pride and national identity.
“KL Festival is part of a long-term effort to strengthen Downtown Kuala Lumpur as a place people actively choose to spend time in — where culture, community and commerce come together to bring the city to life.
“It demonstrates how heritage and public spaces can be activated through curated programming, storytelling and partnerships, creating experiences that are meaningful and sustained over time.
“This is something we are building deliberately and systematically – working across the public, private and creative sectors to shape a more vibrant, liveable and culturally confident Kuala Lumpur,” said Think City’s managing director Datuk Hamdan Abdul Majeed.
KL Festival 2026 is organised by Think City along with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) with support from the Ministry of Finance and Federal Territories Department while Maxis is one of their main sponsors.
The festival, also held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026, opened yesterday evening with a gala performance coined as ‘Irama Pusaka – Akar Tradisi, Nadi Baharu’ at the DBKL Auditorium in Jalan Raja Laut.
Guests were treated to an evening musical feast featuring Orkestra Kuala Lumpur alongside leading ensembles including Gangsapura (gamelan), Lee Rubber Chinese Orchestra, EKAM Ensemble, and sape virtuoso Leslie Eli.
Communication Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, and KL Mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud were also present at the KL Festival 2026 opening night.
The evening was also graced by the appearance of several other prominent Malaysians such as former national squash player Datuk Nicol David, singer and musician Loque as well as theatre doyenne Jo Kukathas.
More information on the KL Festival 2026 is available here.
KLANG, May 7 — The family of the Indian national who perished in the 2024 Jalan Masjid India sinkhole tragedy officially received her death certificate yesterday, enabling their legal team to begin the process of claiming compensation from the authorities.
The family’s lawyer, M. Partiben, said the document was handed over by the National Registration Department in Putrajaya to Surya Madhaiha, 28, the daughter of G. Vijaya Lakshmi, 48.
“The focus has now shifted fully to claiming the family’s rights, and we hope the authorities will expedite the compensation process to reduce the family’s expenses while they remain in Malaysia,” he said at a press conference here today.
“The next step is to arrange meetings with the special officer to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Hannah Yeoh, as well as Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, in the near future to discuss the compensation amount,” he added.
Partiben said the compensation claim covers multiple elements, including damages for bereavement, funeral costs, special damages and exemplary damages following the incident, allegedly due to negligence in maintenance by the local authorities.
He also suggested that the government refer to a Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court decision on March 24, which ordered the Kuala Lumpur Mayor to pay RM824,180 in damages to the family of a victim killed by a falling tree due to maintenance negligence near the Selayang Market on March 22, 2023.
“A comparison should be made because in this sinkhole tragedy, the cause has also been linked to underground utility negligence and geological factors. We hope the ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will make a reasonable assessment,” he said.
Meanwhile, another lawyer, Muhamad Saifullah Muhamad Azmi, said the issuance of the death certificate has brought some relief to the family, who are now facing financial pressure as the deceased was the main breadwinner.
He said the document was urgently needed to settle the deceased’s outstanding debts with Indian banks and prevent any further action against the family.
On August 23, 2024, Vijaya Lakshmi, originally from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, was reported missing after falling into an eight-metre-deep sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India.
Extensive search and rescue operations were conducted for nine days before being called off due to safety concerns for the rescue team. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — For Taman Segar resident Swee Len, 80, happiness at her age can be found in the simplest pleasure — a daily morning walk at a playground near her house.
So when Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh announced that a park smaller than half a football pitch is now safe from development, Swee Len breathed a sigh of relief.
“To us seniors, this is all we want. Almost daily, in the morning, the senior community will have this part to walk,” the octogenarian said.
“It’s a relief to know this little playground will not be taken away for yet another high-rise development. I’m sure the rest of the community feels the same,” she added.
The modest playground at Persiaran Lemak in Taman Segar, Cheras, is among four newly gazetted sites under a broader push to protect green and open spaces in the capital city, which often become flashpoints between residents and developers.
The other three consists of a community hall right next to the playground on Persiaran Lemak and two open spaces at Jalan Damai Puspa in Alam Damai. All these locations are in Cheras.
Swee Len, a proud member of the local Rukun Tetangga, said both the sites have long been used by local residents.
“The centre is almost like home for us seniors. We always meet and hang out here,” she said while offering a tour and some tea.
Yeoh, speaking to the press as she announced the playground’s new protected status, said public spaces like the the playground in Taman Segar can signify more than just recreation – often it can be the beating heart of the local community, especially for older persons.
“This is why these green spaces are so important,” the minister said today.
“This is the reason we have a task force and we are running against time to gazette as many parks as possible, so that our senior citizens can have a breathing space where they can walk in the morning, meet their friends and exercise,” she added.
“As long as people support us this is what we’ll do.”
Yeoh announced the push to protect the city’s green spaces upon becoming FT minister.
By February, 494 areas were already given protected status before an additional 45 areas she announced on April 15.
The four additional areas designated as public space means the total number of green and open spaces successfully gazetted has increased to 543 areas.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has rejected claims that the national governing body lacks talented singles players.
The allegation was raised by several parties following the disappointing performance of BAM’s men’s singles players at the recent Thomas Cup.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said the governing body actually has talented players in the individual events, but the squad has at times been unfortunate due to injuries.
“I do not agree when people say we (BAM) lack talent. Perhaps we have just been unfortunate in the singles events because we already have the talent, but then injuries happen.
“You all know how many players are injured, while some are still recovering and others have only just recovered. So I don’t think we lack talent; we have just been unlucky in that aspect,” he said when met yesterday.
Meanwhile, Kenny said that, to ensure BAM does not run short of new talent, the governing body’s talent scouts continuously monitor various national tournaments throughout the year.
He added that, besides monitoring national tournaments, BAM also conducts Talent Identification selections at least twice a year to ensure the country’s best players can be identified and absorbed into BAM’s development system. — Bernama
BACHOK, May 7 — While many choose to slow down after retirement, a group of retirees in Kuala Rekang, Melawi, have taken a different path by reviving idle land with Harumanis mangoes, which are now gaining recognition and putting Bachok on the map.
The premium mango, previously synonymous with Perlis, is gradually establishing a new foothold in Kelantan.
What began as a casual conversation among friends has grown into a shared source of income, strengthening community ties and giving new meaning to life after retirement.
Head of the Harumanis farm project, Mohd Rudzuan Jusoh, 53, said the initiative was sparked in late 2019 following discussions with fellow villagers after Isyak prayers, before evolving into a group farming project involving more than 40 participants.
“The idea was well received as the participants wanted to make use of idle former tobacco land while generating new income through high-value agriculture.
“We sourced the seedlings from Perlis at our own cost and cultivated them in stages,” he told Bernama recently.
He said more than 3,000 Harumanis trees are now being cultivated, with most of the participants comprising retired civil servants, including teachers, who have the time, interest and capital to venture into agriculture after leaving service.
He added that Bachok’s geographical advantages, its coastal location, prolonged hot weather and sufficient water supply make it suitable for the crop, along with the fertile land previously used for tobacco farming.
“According to feedback from customers, including those from Kuala Lumpur, the taste and aroma of Harumanis Bachok are comparable to those from Perlis. We offer both fully ripe (yellow) and semi-ripe (green) fruit based on demand,” he said.
Mohd Rudzuan said Harumanis trees typically begin to bear fruit within three to five years, and for this May season, the harvest is estimated at three tonnes, among the best yields so far.
He said sales will begin on May 16, with premium-grade fruit priced at RM100 for three kilogrammes and Grade A at RM100 for four kilogrammes.
Farm purchases are also available at RM100 for five kilogrammes without grading, including the option for customers to pick the fruit themselves.
Meanwhile, retired teacher Rasidi Teh, 63, said the project’s success proves that retirees can remain active and generate income while strengthening community bonds.
“From idle land, it has become a shared source of livelihood. We hope Kuala Rekang can emerge as a new Harumanis hub in Kelantan,” he said, expressing appreciation for the state government’s support through courses and grants to expand the cultivation. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that the National Unity Ministry has been directed to spearhead discussions regarding issues related to unregulated houses of worship across the country.
Fahmi said that instruction came from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the weekly Cabinet meeting.
“The Cabinet has discussed the issue of unregulated houses of worship and the prime minister has directed the National Unity Ministry to coordinate further discussions to manage and resolve this matter,” he said.
Fahmi added that the discussion will involve several key ministries and agencies including the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, The Housing and Local Government Ministry, the Home Ministry as well as the Federal Territories Department and other stakeholders.
The discussions were aimed at finding solutions to issues involving unregulated houses of worship nationwide.
Previously in February, Anwar said that no unregulated houses of worship would be allowed to be built and local authorities have the right to remove structures that were built without proper legal approval.
Meanwhile in April, the federal government froze all construction and expansion at 163 unregulated non-Muslim places of worship identified on public land in KL.
To resolve the status of these sites fairly, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh announced the formation of 11 MP-led sub-committees tasked with negotiating structured solutions with religious leaders and stakeholders.
This initiative marks a shift toward a more inclusive and “prudent” approach, balancing legal enforcement with the sensitivities of Malaysia’s multicultural community.
The move is supported by a parallel effort at the national level, where the Ministry of Housing and Local Government is refining guidelines for the management of non-Islamic places of worship to ensure a more orderly approach nationwide.
IPOH, May 6 — A man was killed after the car he was driving skidded before being pierced by a guardrail in an accident at Kilometre 295.5 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) southbound, near Gopeng, yesterday afternoon.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director of operations, Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, said the department received an emergency call at 4.29 pm, after which a team from the Simpang Pulai Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene.
“The accident involved a Perodua Axia and a Perodua Myvi. The deceased has been identified as Mohd Iqhbal Afiq Abd Ghafar, 37, the driver of the Perodua Axia.
“The victim was pinned inside the vehicle after the guardrail pierced through the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Ministry of Health (MOH) medical officers,” he said in a statement.
Sabarodzi added that also in the Perodua Axia were the victim’s wife, his two daughters and a niece. All four sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital, while the driver of the Perodua Myvi escaped unhurt.
“The rescue team conducted an extrication operation using hydraulic equipment to remove the pinned victim.
“The operations commander sized up (the situation) at the location before applying the SAVER (Systematic Approach to Victim Entrapment Rescue) concept, directing personnel to carry out the rescue work until the victim was successfully extricated,” he said.
Sabarodzi said the body was handed over to the police for further action. The operation was brought under control at 5.25 pm and concluded at 6.46 pm. — Bernama
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