Mutiara Line LRT issues resolved, work starts soon
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said he had chaired the meeting with Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow at his ministry in Putrajaya last month and resolved outstanding issues, including the release letter from the state government.
'Physical work will begin shortly, in one or two months. So we ask them (the state government) to ensure there is a traffic diversion plan when piling work and construction begins to ensure the project doesn't have a negative impact on road congestion,' he said during a media conference after ending his one-day working visit to Penang today.
On Rapid Penang On-Demand service by Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus), he said that the service, which began in phases from August 2024, was running smoothly with 50 vans covering 13 zones in Penang - seven on the island and six in Seberang Perai.
'The average daily users stand at 1,944 people, with an average of 39 passengers per van daily and an average travel time of 16 minutes and a waiting time of 19 minutes,' he said.
He added that there were 150 additional drivers to handle the vans to ensure smooth operations and that passengers would enjoy a fare of RM1 per trip.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
![E-invoicing Phase 3 begins for businesses earning RM5mil–RM25mil [BTTV]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
E-invoicing Phase 3 begins for businesses earning RM5mil–RM25mil [BTTV]
CYBERJAYA: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) is accelerating its digital tax compliance drive with the rollout of Phase 3 of e-invoicing today, a move set to impact around 55,000 businesses earning between RM5 million and RM25 million annually. IRB Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Tax Operations) Shaharrudy Othman said the agency is committed to providing continuous support to taxpayers, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), through various promotional and educational programmes. "IRB is actively stepping up efforts to educate and raise awareness among target groups to ensure that the e-Invoice implementation is comprehensive and effective," he said at the launch ceremony and media conference on the implementation of e-Invoice for Phase 3 held here today. Shaharrudy said a total of 352 million e-invoices have been submitted via the MyInvois system to date. "This involves over 37,800 taxpayers, including about 5,400 taxpayers from Phase 1 and more than 13,000 taxpayers from Phase 2. "Furthermore, over 19,000 taxpayers have voluntarily adopted e-invoicing ahead of their scheduled implementation dates," he said. Last month, IRB announced that Phase 4 of the e-invoice implementation for taxpayers with annual income or sales between RM1 million and RM5 million has been postponed to Jan 1, 2026. Phase 5, involving the income group of up to RM1 million, will commence on July 1, 2026. Meanwhile, taxpayers with an annual income or sales below RM500,000 are exempted from the initiative. Shaharrudy added that the grace period for the implementation of e-invoicing for Phase 2, involving businesses with an annual revenue between RM25 million and RM100 million, had ended on June 3, and taxpayers must now fully comply with the guidelines. "To ensure ongoing support for MSMEs who are starting their e-invoicing implementation from today, IRB has increased the number of briefing sessions and expanded the use of the MyInvois Portal nationwide. "IRB has also created a dedicated e-invoicing microsite on the agency's official portal and is using various communication channels to disseminate relevant information," he said. Shaharrudy said the agency will continue to enhance communication across businesses, tax practitioners, professional bodies and stakeholders to raise awareness and improve their understanding of the benefits of e-invoicing implementation. "To facilitate a smooth implementation, we have also set up dedicated service counters nationwide to assist taxpayers in understanding the use of the MyInvois Portal, MyInvois application and the free-to-use MyInvois e-Pos system," he said. IRB also launched the MyInvois e-Pos system, which is designed for MSMEs with annual income or sales of under RM750,000. Shaharrudy said the system simplifies the implementation of e-invoicing by integrating core business functions such as sales recording, inventory management, financial reporting and e-invoice support. He added that the system also aims to help MSMEs enhance business operational efficiency while facilitating the smooth implementation of e-invoicing.
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Three-day George Town Heritage Celebrations kick off with cultural workshop
GEORGE TOWN: The three-day George Town Heritage Celebrations (GTHC) 2025 in Penang kicked off with a cultural workshop on Saturday (July 5) evening. Held at Armenian Park, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi and along surrounding streets, it attracted a crowd of thousands. Featuring some two-dozen interactive activities, the workshop allowed locals and tourists alike to experience and learn about traditional art forms, games, handicraft, rituals, cuisines, dialects and more. There was also an interactive stage where various communities put on inviting dances that convinced many spectators to get up and join in the fun. Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai and other state and community leaders. The celebration continues on Sunday (July 6) with the George Town Heritage Walk flagging off from Beach Street at around 7am. Around 2,000 participants have signed up for the 5km early morning stroll whose route was designed to take in some of the city's most iconic sights and structures. On Monday (July 7) - which is Heritage Day and a public holiday in Penang - there will be Open Houses across eight heritage buildings from 9am to 5pm. They are the Kwangtung and Tengchow Association, Makam Dato Koyah, Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, Nam Hooi Wooi Koon, St. George's Church Sun Wui Wui Koon, Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) building. This will give the public a rare opportunity to explore the structures and learn about their historical significance and preservation efforts. GTCH 2025 is themed Doors and Doorways in reference to the event serving as a gateway to the city's rich cultural tapestry, community legacies and lesser-known narratives. The celebrations started in 2009 in commemoration of George Town's Unesco World Heritage inscription alongside Melaka a year earlier (2008).
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Going deep to study scammers using AI deepfake vidoes
PETALING JAYA: With deepfake videos showing supposedly well-known Malaysians promoting fake investments, scammers are increasingly using advanced AI tools to deceive the public and gain their trust. Former Pasir Pinji assemblyman Datuk Chan Kam took a bold step by deliberately engaging with a fake online investment scheme to warn the public about how such scams operate. He said many scammers were now using artificial intelligence (AI) to create highly realistic fake investment videos and advertisements. These are then widely circulated on social media to trick people into handing over their money. Chan, who was accompanied by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, held a press conference at Wisma MCA on Saturday (July 5). 'In the past two months, I've noticed more of these fake investment ads appearing online. So last month, I decided to click on one of them to see what would happen,' he said. 'After entering my contact details, I received a call from someone speaking Mandarin. The caller told me about an investment opportunity and even helped me set up an account.' Chan said he then transferred RM1,100 to a bank account provided by the scammer and followed the instructions as though he were a genuine investor. 'The scammer contacted me daily, sharing so-called good news about the investment and encouraging me to invest more. 'Fortunately, I knew it was a scam from the beginning, so I didn't proceed further. But the RM1,100 I initially transferred is gone,' he said. He explained that the money had been pooled together by himself, Chong, and several members of the Malaysia-China Friendship and Mutual Assistance Association and the Crime Prevention Foundation. Their aim was to understand how these online scams work. Chan said he used his real name and bank account for the transaction and has kept all relevant evidence. He plans to lodge a police report soon. 'I hope that by sharing my experience, more people will be cautious and avoid falling for these scams on social media,' he added. Meanwhile, Chong said scammers are using AI to produce deep fake videos that appear to show well-known Malaysians endorsing fake investment schemes — raking in billions from unsuspecting victims. He added that the scammers also create deep fake videos of leaders like Anwar, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and other ministers. Some videos even include logos from trusted media outlets like The Star to appear as authentic news reports. Other prominent individuals targeted in these scams include tycoon Tan Sri Robert Kuok, former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Capital A CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. 'It's ridiculous – our Prime Minister doesn't even have an Indian accent,' Chong remarked. 'And remember, there's no such thing as easy money. How could paying a small amount give you huge returns? 'With AI now so advanced, people must be extra cautious. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.' He also shared police data showing that in 2024, there were 13,956 scam cases reported, involving total losses of RM2.11bil. He added that 85% of these scams originated from platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram.
