Latest news with #Hii
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Malaysian man steals electricity for bitcoin mining operation, gets $36,000 fine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Hii King Lee pleaded guilty to two separate charges on July 11. MIRI, Sarawak - A 49-year-old man has been fined RM120,000 (S$36,000) by a court in Sarawak for electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining. The accused, Hii King Lee, on July 11 pleaded guilty to two separate charges. The first offence involved the dishonest extraction of electricity at a row of commercial shops along Jalan Bulatan Parkin, Sarawak, in January 2024. The second offence took place at a residential property in Jalan Desa Seri Utama, Sarawak, on April 23, 2025. According to the facts of the case, officers from energy development company Sesco's revenue management division, licensed under Sarawak Energy Berhad, had conducted routine inspections of electricity meters at both locations. They discovered illegal direct tapping cables that bypassed the meters, unlawfully diverting electricity. With a court-approved search warrant and the landlords' consent, forced entry was carried out. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Singapore Over 150 e-bikes and other non-compliant mobility devices impounded in last 2 months: LTA Life Anti-smoking advisory in new plaque for controversial samsui woman mural Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July Business CEO salaries: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Investigations revealed 90 units of Bitcoin mining machines connected directly via these cables, thereby avoiding legitimate electricity charges. At the residential premises, the police accompanied Sesco officers during the raid. Hii, the occupant, was also allegedly found in possession of illegal substances. He is currently facing several other charges in Miri relating to drugs and corruption. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin underscored the seriousness of electricity theft, particularly in cryptocurrency operations, which require a continuous power supply and cooling. He warned that such installations pose fire hazards and broader safety concerns. He further advised landlords to ensure that electricity accounts are transferred to their tenants to avoid being implicated in potential future misuse. Judge Afidah Binti Abdul Rahman imposed the RM120,000 fine. The court also noted that Hii is facing an additional electricity theft charge under the same ordinance, which is currently pending before the Sessions Court in Kuching. That case is scheduled for further mention on July 24, 2025. Hii's wife, 38-year-old Hii Lay Ching, failed to appear for her court hearing on the same day. She is facing two counts of electricity theft, allegedly committed on Nov 23, 2024, at shophouses in Jalan Pujut, Sarawak . She had previously claimed trial in relation to a similar offence at a shophouse in Eastwood Valley Industrial Park on Dec 16, 2024, and was released on bail on June 26, 2025. The court has issued a warrant for her arrest, with the next mention scheduled for Aug 4, 2025. Several officers from the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Ministry and Sesco's Investigation Unit were present in court during the proceedings. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
Man fined RM120,000 for crypto mining linked power theft, wife fails to turn up for trial
MIRI: A 49-year-old man has been fined RM120,000 by the Sessions Court for electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining. The accused Hii King Lee on Friday (July 11) pleaded guilty to two separate charges under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance (Chapter 50). The first offence involved the dishonest abstraction of electricity at a row of commercial shoplots along Jalan Bulatan Park on January 32, 2024, at 11am. The second offence took place at a residential property at Jalan Desa Seri Utama on April 23, 2025, also at 11am. According to the facts of the case, officers from Sesco Berhad's revenue management division, licensed under Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), had conducted routine inspections of electricity meters at both locations. They discovered illegal direct tapping cables that bypassed the meters, unlawfully diverting electricity. With a court-approved search warrant and the landlords' consent, forced entry was carried out. Investigations revealed 90 units of Bitcoin mining machines connected directly via these cables, thereby avoiding legitimate electricity charges. At the residential premises, police accompanied Sesco officers during the raid. Hii, the occupant, was also allegedly found in possession of illegal substances. He is currently facing several other charges in Miri relating to drugs and corruption. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin underscored the seriousness of electricity theft, particularly in cryptocurrency operations, which require a continuous power supply and cooling. He warned that such installations pose fire hazards and broader safety concerns. He further advised landlords to ensure that electricity accounts are transferred to their tenants to avoid being implicated in potential future misuse. Judge Afidah Binti Abdul Rahman imposed the RM120,000 fine. The court also noted that Hii is facing an additional electricity theft charge under the same ordinance, which is currently pending before the Sessions Court in Kuching. That case is scheduled for further mention on July 24, 2025. In a related matter, Hii's wife, 38-year-old Hii Lay Ching, failed to appear for her court hearing on the same day. She is facing two counts of electricity theft, allegedly committed on November 23, 2024 at shophouses in Jalan Pujut 7. She had previously claimed trial in relation to a similar offence at a shophouse in Eastwood Valley Industrial Park on December 16, 2024 and was released on bail on June 26, 2025. The court has issued a warrant for her arrest, with the next mention scheduled for August 4, 2025. Several officers from the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Ministry and Sesco's Investigation Unit were present in court during the proceedings.
Borneo Post
04-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Integrity summit to gather 800 reps from across Borneo
Juanda, flanked by Hii (third second left) and Shahrul Razid, joins Wan Mohamad (second left) and others in a photo-call, taken after the press conference at Bangunan Baitulmakmur 2 in Kuching. KUCHING (July 4): The inaugural Borneo International Integrity Summit (BIIS) 2025 will be taking place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from July 29 to 30, bringing together over 800 participants from across the region in a collective effort to promote good governance and ethical leadership. Organised by the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (Unions) under the Sarawak Premier's Department, in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Sarawak and the Konsortium Universiti-Universitas Borneo (KUUB), the event will focus on fostering integrity as a cornerstone of sustainable development. Held under the theme 'Driving Innovation, Transparency and Ethical Leadership for a Sustainable Future', BIIS 2025 will record participation from academics, civil servants, students from 31 universities and colleges across Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, as well as representatives of secondary schools and several government departments and agencies. According to Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier's Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, BIIS 2025 is a strategic platform meant to elevate transparency, drive innovation and nurture ethical leadership across Borneo. 'The summit is not just an intellectual event, but a collective movement to embed integrity into our institutions and systems. 'Through KUUB and Unions, we are uniting voices across sectors to build a more transparent, fair and accountable future for Borneo,' he told a press conference on the event today. He stressed that the summit should reflect Sarawak's long-term vision of instilling integrity as a shared responsibility among leaders, educators, civil servants and youth. 'Integrity is not optional. It is the foundation of a progressive and just society. 'We are investing in a generation of leaders who are not only innovative and capable, but also guided by strong moral values and a sense of accountability,' said Juanda. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is scheduled to officiate at the opening ceremony this July 29. According to Juanda, the programme is aligned with the Sarawak government's commitment to cultivating a culture of integrity and ethical governance. 'This is how we build trust in public institutions, by showing that we are willing to be accountable, to collaborate, and to lead by example,' he added. He also said Sarawak would host BIIS every two years. 'As the permanent secretariat of KUUB, UPM Sarawak plays a central role in regional collaboration. 'The KUUB network currently includes 16 universities from Brunei, Indonesia (including Kalimantan), Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,' he added. In conjunction with the summit, an 'Innovation Exhibition' will be set up, showcasing research works and products by local institutions of higher learning that have the potential to enhance socio-economic development and global well-being. Among the participating institutions are Centre of Technology Excellence (CENTEXS), Sarawak Skills, i-CATS University College, University Technology Sarawak (UTS), University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi Mara Sarawak (Samarahan Campus), and Curtin University Malaysia. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between KUUB and Unions will also be signed during the summit, aimed at strengthening the cooperation in enforcing integrity values across the region. The summit is supported by Business Events Sarawak (BE Sarawak) and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP). Also present at the press conference were Deputy State Secretary (Operations) Datu Hii Chang Kee, UPM Sarawak director Prof Dr Shahrul Razid Sarbini, and Unions director Wan Mohamad Wan Drahman. BIIS Borneo International Integrity Summit Dr Juanda Jaya Kuching
Borneo Post
02-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Media Conference 2025 to focus on AI, journalism's future
Abdullah (second right) discusses the final preparations for SMeC. At right is Hii. KUCHING (July 2): The second edition of the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) 2025, which kicks off today, will feature a distinguished line-up of local and international media and communication experts, who will share their insightson adapting to the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) era. Among the speakers is Shelly Bryant, founder of TL Global Insights (Singapore), a content strategist with over 30 years of experience in strategic storytelling, branding, and cross-cultural communication at the global level. Other featured speakers include Steve Saerang, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indonesia), who also serves as Chairman of Membership Development and Youth Public Relations at Perhumas Indonesia. Also speaking at the event is Director-General of Broadcasting Malaysia and prominent broadcasting figure Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman. Additional panellists include Soh Wan Wei, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AI Visionary Society; Ainol Amriz Ismail, CEO of Malaysia Press Institute; Dr Jun-E Tan, Senior Researcher, Khazanah Research Institute; Prof Jugdutt (Jack) Singh, Chief Scientist and Chief Advisor for Sarawak Digital Economy; Malia Taibi, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Faculty of Languages and Communication lecturer; Darmain Segaran, Manager (Policy) of the National AI Office; and Patrick Then, CEO of Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre. Meanwhile, a full rehearsal session was held at Sheraton Hotel Kuching yesterday, according to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit report. Present were Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol and Deputy State Secretary (Operation) Datu Hii Chang Kee, among others. Abdullah and Hii later delivered a final briefing to ensure readiness for the conference. The two-day event is being organised in conjunction with the state-Level National Journalist Day (Hawana) 2025 celebration. 'With the theme 'Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Media and Journalism', this year's edition will offer in-depth discussions on the influence of AI on the present and future media landscape,' said Abdullah. He added that the conference is expected to bring together over 700 delegates, including media practitioners, academics, and students in the fields of communication and journalism. The opening ceremony is scheduled to be officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today. 'Throughout the two-day conference, participants will be exposed to current and future trends in AI adoption in the media, including ethics, journalistic integrity, and innovation opportunities in writing, broadcasting, and news delivery,' Abdullah said. 'SMeC 2025 is expected to serve as a strategic platform not only to strengthen the journalism profession but also to pioneer new approaches that are inclusive, adaptive, and ethical in the digital era.'
The Star
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Multifaceted artiste Henley Hii reflects on his career and fatherhood
With a career that's seen him shift seamlessly between music and acting, Henley Hii has quietly carved out a space for himself in Malaysia's entertainment landscape. With a string of accolades to his name, the actor, singer and songwriter has had a varied career. Known for his roles in films like Kepong Gangster (2012), Paskal (2018) and The Assistant (2022), among others, Hii will appear next in Legasi: Bomba the Movie , which will be shown in cinemas in August this year. As a recording artiste, the 40-year-old has enjoyed moderate success with an album, several EPs and multiple singles. Career-wise, things are pretty swell for Hii at the moment, as is his personal life – the Sabah native is married to actress Pauline Tan and is also father to a 14-month-old daughter, Maya. While he is in a good place right now, he has had his fair share of challenges: 17 years ago, he was almost forced to abandon his showbiz dreams. An illustrious career Growing up in Kota Kinabalu, Hii dabbled in music and singing in school, and his first foray into the world of entertainment was Astro Talent Quest in 2004. 'After Astro Talent Quest , I wanted to start a boy band, which had always been a dream of mine,' says Hii, who taught himself to play the guitar and piano. The plan was set in motion but ultimately, the boyband never made its debut and Hii found himself faced with the possibility of giving up on his dreams and returning to Sabah. 'I hope she is kind and self-loving, and has integrity,' says Hii, referring to his daughter. 'Being successful without integrity is meaningless. Being respectful to other people is also very important.' 'After the talent show I was mostly singing in cafes with my guitar,' says Hii. 'My dad, who is a contractor, called me and asked me to come and work for him. I told him I would, but then the audition for the reality talent show Project Superstar came up,' says Hii. Telling his dad he would move back after trying out for just one more competition, it seemed like divine intervention when he emerged as the winner, thus laying the foundation for his career in entertainment. From then on, Hii says his professional life has been pretty smooth sailing. 'Because I was signed under a record company, I was placed under a manager, and I didn't need to do anything but focus on my music,' says Hii. While he grew up speaking Mandarin, he never learned to read or write the language, but spending a year in Taiwan to film the drama Roseate Love changed that. 'It was hard to learn, but I spent every day forcing myself to write and after a year, I realised I could read a lot of words, I could even read my script,' says Hii. His creative process when approaching a role is through observation. 'I like to look at people. Sometimes I look at people and just imagine I'm them. I see the way they speak, the way they write,' says Hii. 'For my roles, I get inspiration from friends around me.' Sometimes, he lands a part but only has a short time to prepare before filming starts due to various reasons, such as the original actor dropping out due to illness. 'We get a role, and then we need to prepare for it in as little as one week. Once, I got a role on a drama series and because it was pretty last minute, I based my character on my own brother because I already knew him so well,' says Hii. Every role poses different challenges for an actor, but apart from learning lines and memorising fight scene choreography, acting can take a toll on one's physique in various ways. 'One of the hardest roles was in The Assistant, where my character has a big tattoo on my back. I think it took 16 to 17 hours where I was just lying down,' he says. 'Because you're just lying there doing nothing. It's not like a sticker, it has to look authentic, they need to put on the mould and draw the outline, put in the colour. You pray you don't have to do a reshoot the next day,' says Hii. When it comes to music, he says writing a song is like writing in one's diary. 'My inspiration actually comes to me when I'm driving. Many times I tell my wife, 'I need to write a song, I'm going for a drive'. It's 'me time',' he says. 'Music is about feelings. Whether you're sad, happy or feeling inspired by another song,' he adds. Acting and music, he says, balance each other out for him: working with others as a team on the set of a production brings out the extrovert in him, while working on his music appeals to the introvert in him. The Sabah native is married to actress Pauline Tan and is also father to a 14-month-old daughter, Maya. Photo: Pauline Tan Family matters Having the best of both worlds when it comes to his career in entertainment, it's always a balancing act when it's his personal life. With a wife who is also an actor, they often bring their daughter to each other's sets during filming. 'It always brightens up the ambience on set and it keeps me motivated,' says Hii. Thankfully, their filming schedules haven't clashed yet, making juggling parenting duties and work commitments easier. Finding time to spend as a couple can be a challenge, but they try to do this during their daughter's naptime and after she goes to sleep at night. He emphasises the importance of integrity, kindness and patience when it comes to parenting his young daughter, Maya. 'I hope she is kind and self-loving, and has integrity,' he says. 'Being successful without integrity is meaningless. Being respectful to other people is also very important.' Looking ahead With a solid career in both acting and music, what is there left for Hii to pursue? A biopic, he says. 'I always wanted to do one. It's the hardest thing to do because you are basing the role on a real person,' says Hii. 'I need to not only convince myself, I need to also convince the family members. What if they watch it and say, 'that's not what the character would do or say',' he adds. Taking on a fictional role, he says, is sort of like assuming that role as yourself, and building from that. 'But if I act as someone else, I would really need to talk to the person, ask about their personality, what their mindset is, who inspires them, basically to do a lot of homework,' says Hii. Ultimately, whether he's on set, behind a microphone, or simply being a dad, Hii is driven by purpose and heart.
