BATU PAHAT, June 16 — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) are targeting completion of the MyLesen B2 programme by July to help more youths obtain valid motorcycle licences.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the initiative aims to expand access to safe and structured licensing, particularly for young people and those facing financial difficulties.

A total of RM10.5 million has been allocated for the programme this year, benefiting more than 30,000 participants nationwide.

“We hope it will help more youths comply with existing laws when driving or riding motorcycles,” he said at the Youth Empowerment Programme, MyLesen B2 and MyLesen B2 Sekolah (MyB2S) event at SJK(C) Yong Peng 1 today.

Loke said the MyB2S programme, implemented with the Ministry of Education, involves 60,000 students nationwide with an allocation of RM18.5 million. Johor recorded the highest participation, with 8,000 students.

The programme enables students to obtain a Learner’s Driving Licence (LDL) before undergoing motorcycle training and tests in stages, beginning with practical lessons. — Bernama 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 — A delivery worker was sentenced to six months’ jail by the Magistrates’ Court in Batu Pahat today after pleading guilty to punching his wife in the face and head after becoming angry when she asked him to settle their outstanding house rent.

Harian Metro reported that Magistrate Arun Noval Dass handed the sentence to Mohamad Norkholis Idris Imam Muryadi, 35, after considering his guilty plea and the facts of the case.

Under the first charge, the father of three was accused of intentionally causing hurt to his 32-year-old wife by pushing her against a wall at a store in Parit Raja at about 9am on June 13.

Under the second charge, he was accused of causing further injury to her by punching her in the face and head while they were inside a car parked outside their home at about 9.30am on the same day.

Both charges were framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same law.

Section 323 carries a maximum sentence of one year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, while Section 326A allows for the prison term to be doubled for offences involving a spouse.

According to the facts of the case, the victim lodged a police report alleging that her husband assaulted her at a store and later inside a car.

Investigations found that the incident began with an argument after the accused became upset when his wife urged him to pay their overdue rent.

He then pushed her against a wall, and the dispute continued as they travelled home.

Upon arriving at their residence, he allegedly punched her in the face and head, causing minor injuries.

Police arrested the accused at about 1.35pm on June 13 at the compound of the Batu Pahat district police headquarters.

Investigations also revealed that the couple had previously lived in a rented house but later moved into a rented room after they were unable to keep up with rental payments.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Firdaus Ruslan, while the accused was represented by lawyer Heng Eng Gee from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK).

The court sentenced him to three months’ jail for each charge, to run concurrently from the date of his arrest on June 13.

BATU PAHAT, June 6 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Annual Congress has been postponed to Aug 14-16 to allow the party to focus on preparations for the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

PKR information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was made at the party’s monthly Political Bureau and Central Leadership Council (MPP) meeting held here today.

He said the congress, originally scheduled for June 26-28, would still be held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, Melaka.

“The postponement will provide PKR Johor and Negeri Sembilan with more time to strengthen preparations for the upcoming state polls,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the meeting also appointed Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and PKR Johor chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa as vice-presidents.

“The appointments are aimed at further strengthening the party’s organisation and operations at the central level,” he said. — Bernama

 

BATU PAHAT, June 7 — A fire that destroyed about 80 per cent of MCA’s office in Yong Peng yesterday has disrupted the party’s preparations for the upcoming Johor state election, its Youth chief Ling Tian Soon said.

Ling said MCA is considering relocating its operations to a temporary premises after investigations by the Fire and Rescue Department are completed.

“This incident will affect MCA because the building has long served as the party’s operations centre. We may need to find a temporary location to continue our preparations for the state election,” he told Bernama today.

The Yong Peng assemblyman said the blaze destroyed the building’s public address system, newly installed air-conditioning units, furniture, as well as documents and equipment used for community programmes.

He said the loss was also deeply felt by the local Chinese community, many of whom regarded the 70-year-old building as a landmark and a hub for community activities.

“Everyone feels saddened by the loss of an iconic building in Yong Peng. I ask the public to remain patient.

“MCA will make plans moving forward to ensure it continues serving as a centre for community and family activities in the area,” he said.

According to Ling, the building, measuring about 100 feet long, 70 feet wide and 20 feet high, had hosted a wide range of activities, including meetings, dance classes, exercise sessions, lion dance training and karaoke programmes held four times a week.

“Although the fire mainly spread through the upper section of the building, the entire interior is no longer usable, and all activities have been temporarily suspended,” he said.

The Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call on the incident at 8.28pm yesterday.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control and fully extinguished it by 9.56pm. — Bernama

 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — A 67-year-old man was sentenced to 33 years’ jail and 14 strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court in Muar today after pleading guilty to rape and sexual assault involving two of his granddaughters, aged 12 and nine.

According to Harian Metro, judge Mohd Khairi Haron handed down the sentence after accepting the accused’s guilty plea to five charges.

The man, who has three children, was accused in the first and fourth charges of committing sexual assault against his 12-year-old granddaughter at a house in Batu Pahat.

The offences were framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16 of the same Act.

For the second and third charges, he was accused of raping the same victim at the house between January and December last year, under Section 376(2)(d) of the Penal Code.

The fifth charge involved the sexual assault of another granddaughter, aged nine, at the same location last year.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Ameerah Allaudeen prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.

The court also ordered him to undergo counselling while in prison and to be placed under police supervision for three years after completing his sentence, in line with Sections 26 and 27 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.