Latest news with #AmpangJayaMunicipalCouncil
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- New Straits Times
MPAJ department head charged with accepting RM30,000 bribes
IPOH: A department head at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) was charged in the Sessions Court here today with two counts of accepting bribes totalling RM30,000 two years ago. Ahmad Alhairi Mohamed Yusuf, 47, who is the director of MPAJ's Building and Architecture Department pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read before Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi. For the first charge, he is accused of accepting RM20,000 in cash through his personal bank account from Nazman Puteh, 64, who is known to have connections to the accused's official duties. On the second charge, he allegedly received RM10,000, also through his Maybank account, from Nazman via Song Teik Sun, 61, and Wong Huey Peng, 37. Both offences were allegedly committed at a Maybank branch in Taiping, within the Larut, Matang and Selama district, on Nov 2, 2023. The charges were brought under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction. Deputy public prosecutors Asmaa' Zamri and Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin led the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Khairul Nizam Abd Razak. Asmaa' offered bail of RM15,000 for both charges, along with additional conditions. These were the surrender of the accused's international passport and monthly reporting to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Selangor office in Shah Alam on the first Saturday of every month until the case concludes. While agreeing to the additional conditions, Khairul appealed for the bail amount to be reduced to RM10,000, citing his client's ongoing service at MPAJ and consistent cooperation with the MACC since the investigation began a year ago. The court granted bail at RM10,000 with one surety and imposed the two additional conditions. Mention of the case has been set for Aug 19.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Amazing views await MPAJ night race runners
Hasrolnizam (sixth from left) with event sponsors during a press conference on AJNR 2025 held at Menara MPAJ. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star RUNNERS during the July 5 Geopark Ampang Jaya Night Run (AJNR) 2025 can look forward to nocturnal bird calls, moonlit landscapes and a night view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the run, which is divided into 5km and 12km categories, will take place around the well-lit roads of Taman Melawati. 'Participants will be able to experience varying trails, with some parts of the route flat and others hilly,' he said. 'The night scenery will also be different compared to the daytime. 'During the day, you will hear the sound of cars, but at night, you will hear the sound of birds, and see the surrounding fauna and flora in a different light.' Hasrolnizam said a highlight was an uphill run stretch, taking place in an area where the Bukit Tabur quartz ridge was the backdrop. There will also be illuminated views of the city skyline. 'At this run, runners will get to take in a combination of views from nature and urban development,' he said. The event is supported by 19 sponsors contributing via cash, time and volunteer hours. Close to 2,000 participants are expected to take part. Participants from 12 other countries such as Belarus, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore have also been confirmed. The AJNR is an annual event and is into its eighth series this year. The run will be flagged off at the MPAJ Convention Centre in Taman Melawati. For details, visit MPAJ's social media pages.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MPAJ orders removal of e-cigarette, smoking product ads
Hasrolnizam (front row, fifth from right) with councillors celebrating MPAJ's 33rd anniversary after the full board meeting. —AZMAN GHANI/ The Star ENFORCEMENT against advertisements for smoking products including e-cigarettes will start in Ampang Jaya municipality, Selangor, next week. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said notices were sent out on June 6 to 126 e-cigarette businesses to remove product advertisements. 'The shops must remove all advertisements relating to smoking products including vape- related items on the premises, within 14 days of the notice. 'Enforcement action will be implemented if business owners fail to comply,' Hasrolnizam said during MPAJ's full board meeting. All local authorities in Selangor were instructed to take immediate action to seize and confiscate advertisements related to e-cigarette products. State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin had said that the decision was made during a coordination meeting which she chaired. 'This action is in line with provisions of Control of Tobacco Product for Public Health Act 2023 (Act 852), which explicitly prohibits any form of advertising, promotion and sponsorship related to electronic smoking products,' she said in a media statement on May 20. Hasrolnizam said while vape shops had been given licences to sell, they were not allowed to carry the word 'vape' on their signboards. 'We will revoke their business licences if they do not comply.' On the mushrooming of roadside coffee stalls in Taman Keramat, he said MPAJ had received complaints about this as a public nuisance issue, specifically in causing traffic chaos. 'Though we support the coffee culture, operators need to know that there must be an orderly way in handling their operations,' he said. Hasrolnizam said MPAJ Licensing and Entrepreneurial Development Department director Addy Hissham Elias was currently carrying out an inventory to assist these small businesses. 'Many coffee sellers are youths, and MPAJ is keen to help them look for suitable sites to do business without obstructing traffic,' he said. 'Most of the complaints are traffic-related as these coffee businesses are set up by the roadside and under trees.' Hasrolnizam also said that public complaints about Dataran Komuniti Dato Mokhtar Dahari in Kampung Pandan Dalam becoming a haunt for vagrants was being addressed by the Welfare Department. 'We asked the department for assistance and steps are being taken to address the issue,' he said. Meanwhile, he said MPAJ collected revenue of RM4.2mil between January and June 23 from parking fees, with the highest amounts from online payments (RM1.9mil) and reserved bays (RM2.1mil). On assessment tax collection, he disclosed that Menara ARC, Beverly Heights and Taman Kosas had the most number of defaulters. MPAJ Revenue Department, he said, had sent notices to 313 accounts for commercial and residential properties in these areas in a bid to recover arrears amounting to RM532,419.90. The full board meeting ended on a cheerful note as MPAJ celebrated its 33rd anniversary with a cake-cutting ceremony.
The Star
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
About 70 tonnes recyclables collected in trash-to-cash programme
ALMOST 70 tonnes of recyclable waste have been collected by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) in a trash-to-cash programme. MPAJ, in a media statement, said the total included 1,164.15kg of used cooking oil, 2,405.08kg of electronic waste and 66,424.19kg of recyclable items such as plastic, paper and aluminium. Carried out throughout May, the programme was to encourage the local community to continue preserving the environment through recycling initiatives. Residents earned RM2 for every kilogramme of used cooking oil, RM1 for aluminium, 20sen for electrical and electronic waste or recyclable items such as paper, boxes and plastic. Glass, fabric, batteries and light bulbs are accepted without additional incentives. Running almost weekly, the programme rotated between different zones under MPAJ's administration, working closely with all 24 local councillors to bring the service directly into neighbourhoods. Community centres, housing areas, mosques and schools are among the spots for residents to drop off the recyclables. The spots included Bukit Indah Mosque parking area, Pangsapuri Rasmi (Taman Rasmi Jaya), Jalan Jujur 1/8 (Taman Bakti Ampang), Padang Perbandaran MPAJ Pandan Indah, SJK (C) Choon Hwa Lembah Maju and community halls of Angsana Hilir and Jalan Hilir 7 in Ampang. 'We partnered with licensed companies – TTD Metal for recyclables, Electronic Recycling Through Heroes (ERTH) for e-waste, and Weimar Sdn Bhd, Waumas and Seri Gunung for used cooking oil to manage waste responsibly. 'We plan to broaden our initiative further by exploring a plastic-to-diesel conversion project, reinforcing the vision for a circular economy. 'In the long term, the trash-to-cash programme aims to significantly reduce landfill waste and raise the recycling rate to 15%, in line with Selangor government's First Selangor Plan (RS-1),' MPAJ added. The municipal council also stated that it was in the midst of developing a recycling site in Dewan Kampung Perwira Jaya. 'This 3.011m site can accommodate waste collected in MPAJ's administrative area. 'MPAJ is also collaborating with KDEB Waste Management and waste collecting companies registered with MPAJ,' said MPAJ, adding that proceeds from the sale of the wastes would be added to the local council's coffers.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Malaysia tackles rising abandoned vehicle crisis
PETALING JAYA: The issue of abandoned vehicles continues to affect public spaces despite enforcement policies and disposal programmes by local councils. Experts warn that the presence of more than 2,000 abandoned cars annually is hindering the effectiveness of public housing areas, from urban planning and transport economics perspectives. Universiti Teknologi Mara Institute of Transport (Legal Services and Quality) head Dr Siti Ayu Jalil said such vehicles represent a misuse of public land, often obstructing emergency access, school bus routes and waste collection services. 'Although local councils have regulatory frameworks under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 and national guidelines to manage abandoned vehicles, we need more proactive public involvement.' She warned that if the problem persists, it could strain public amenities, encourage illegal dumping and vandalism, compromise community safety and degrade property values. 'Local councils are also burdened with the high cost of identifying, tagging, towing and disposing of these vehicles. Such resources could be better allocated elsewhere.' She cited the 2022 Voluntary Disposal Scheme by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Road Transport Department (RTD), which successfully removed 50 vehicles by cancelling their registrations. 'The scheme offers buy-back or scrappage incentives to encourage owners to surrender unused vehicles. It is worth replicating nationwide. 'Community engagement tools, such as WhatsApp hotlines and online reporting systems, are also crucial for the public to flag abandoned vehicles.' Siti Ayu said such vehicles distort parking occupancy data, leading to flawed urban planning decisions and misdirected parking policies. 'This misrepresentation undermines public transport strategies and low-carbon goals, especially in cities aiming to reduce private car use and promote shared mobility. 'It also exposes enforcement gaps, weak coordination with the department and the lack of efficient deregistration processes,' she said, adding that the Road Transport Act 1987 does not give councils enough power to quickly tow or auction such vehicles. She stressed that a proper tracking or deregistration system would ease the burden on communities, particularly in high-density areas, and simplify the process for residents. 'Many low and lower-middle income residents leave old cars idle because repairs cost more than the resale value. Without strong penalties or enforcement, financial hardship often prevents them from disposing these vehicles,' she said. Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said the problem is especially serious in densely populated areas, where abandoned cars pose safety, health and environmental risks. 'These vehicles often block emergency routes, delaying fire engines, ambulances or police in critical situations,' he said. 'They frequently become dumping sites, attract pests and in some cases harbour illicit activities. Some even contain flammable materials, heightening fire risks in already cramped neighbourhoods.' He said addressing the issue demands a multi-pronged approach, blending better enforcement with community engagement. He proposed that Malaysia adopt international best practices, such as Singapore's seven-day removal notice or Japan's strict parking verification rules. Other measures include creating a national database of abandoned vehicles, introducing harsher penalties for repeat offenders and rolling out incentive programmes for proper disposal. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said more than 2,500 complaints about abandoned vehicles are lodged each year in Kuala Lumpur. She said the Federal Territories Department has been instructed to work with RTD to review legal loopholes hampering action on abandoned vehicles in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
