Latest news with #NCH
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia Airlines passenger fined for joking about bomb in carry-on bag
KUALA LUMPUR: A Vietnamese man was fined after joking that he had a bomb in his carry-on luggage upon arriving at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Sunday. Vietnam News reported that the passenger, who was on Malaysia Airlines flight MH752 from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi, was issued a fine of four million dong (RM162). The passenger, identified only as NCH, made the inappropriate remark while disembarking. As the cabin crew stood at the aircraft door to bid farewell to passengers, a flight attendant asked the man about a black box he was carrying. In response, he said, it was a bomb. Subsequently, the flight crew reported the incident to airport authorities, and the man was detained by immigration police for questioning. An inspection of the carry-on item revealed the box contained only a computer keyboard and a mouse. No suspicious or prohibited materials were found. The man later admitted the remark was a joke made without thinking, citing a lack of awareness of the seriousness of such comments. A representative from Noi Bai Airport's Emergency Command Unit said the case involved a joke made after the aircraft had landed, which allowed for quicker verification and resolution. "Had the joke been made by a departing passenger, the entire process would have been far more complicated. "The flight could have been delayed while all passengers and baggage underwent security re-screening, disrupting the flight schedule and overall terminal operations," the representative said. Any mention of bombs, firearms or weapons aboard an aircraft or within airport premises triggers immediate response from the flight crew, aviation security and immigration officers.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Vietnamese passenger fined for bomb joke on Malaysia Airlines flight to Hanoi
HANOI, June 25 — A Vietnamese male passenger has been fined for joking that he had a bomb in his carry-on luggage after landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi last Sunday, according to the Northern Airports Authority, Vietnam News reported. The passenger, who was on Malaysia Airlines flight MH752 from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi, was issued an administrative fine of VNĐ4 million (RM30). According to the authority, shortly after landing, a flight attendant standing at the aircraft door to bid farewell to passengers inquired about a black box the passenger was carrying. The passenger responded by saying it was a 'bomb.' The report said that the flight crew immediately alerted airport authorities, and the passenger was detained by immigration police at Noi Bai International Airport for questioning after disembarkation. An inspection of the rectangular black box revealed it contained a computer keyboard and a mouse, with no suspicious items or prohibited materials found. The passenger, identified as N.C.H., admitted the joke was inappropriate and stemmed from a lack of awareness. Written reports were filed, and a record of the incident was completed. The passenger, along with his belongings, was handed over to the Northern Airports Authority, Vietnam News added. A representative from the Emergency Command Unit at Noi Bai International Airport noted that the case was resolved more swiftly because the joke was made after landing. Had the comment been made before departure, it could have caused significant delays, requiring all passengers and baggage to undergo security re-screening, disrupting the flight schedule. Authorities reminded the public that aviation security and safety are top priorities, and even jokes about bombs, firearms, or terrorism trigger immediate emergency responses. Passengers making such remarks risk fines, potential flight bans, and being held responsible for damages caused.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Gamuda drives further with New Zealand highway shortlisting
KUALA LUMPUR: The shortlisting of Gamuda Bhd's consortium for a New Zealand highway project is expected to boost the group's overseas construction portfolio, said RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB Research). Gamuda, via the Together North consortium comprising four other members, has been shortlisted for New Zealand's Northland Corridor Highway (NCH), covering the Warkworth to Te Hana section, the NZ Transport Agency. "Should the consortium succeed as the preferred bidder, the project would be a good addition to Gamuda Bhd's overseas construction exposure. "It currently covers Australia, Taiwan, and Singapore, and accounts for about 50 to 60 per cent of its total order book," RHB Research said in a note. The firm noted that two other consortia — Northway and Go>North — have also been shortlisted for the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the NCH. The first stage of the project includes a 26km four-lane expressway from Warkworth to Te Hana, which connects to the new Pūhoi to Warkworth expressway. The indicative design for Warkworth to Te Hana includes an 850m-long twin-bore tunnel in the Dome Valley and three interchanges located at Warkworth, Wellsford, and Te Hana. The NZ Transport Agency had estimated the capital cost for the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the NCH at between NZ$2.9 billion and NZ$3.8 billion in 2023. The preferred bidder for the project, which will be carried out under a public-private partnership model, is expected to be confirmed in early 2026. If contract talks go well, the award is scheduled for mid-2026, with detailed design and early construction expected to begin later that year. According to RHB Research, Gamuda now has four shortlisted jobs overseas — one in New Zealand and three in Australia — with a cumulative value of approximately RM30 billion. This figure does not yet account for Gamuda's effective share in the respective consortiums it is part of. RHB Research added that Gamuda also holds early contractor involvement packages for various renewable energy projects in Australia. These packages typically have higher conversion rates into full-fledged contracts, with at least A$3 billion in total value across three projects. Overall, RHB Research has maintained a "buy" call on Gamuda with a target price of RM5.64. The firm also believes that Gamuda deserves to trade at a premium to the Bursa Malaysia Construction Index, not only for its data centre construction capabilities but also for its involvement in renewable energy projects in Australia.
Borneo Post
13-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Bank Negara, Recoda team up to improve financial reach in rural Sarawak
Mohd Safri (sixth right) presents a memento to Rantai, while others look on. MIRI (June 13): The Highland Development Agency (HDA) office recently hosted a courtesy visit from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Regional Office Kuching, led by its Head Rantai Naga, in conjunction with the central bank's working visit to Miri. The visit reinforced BNM's strategic commitment to ensuring that all Malaysians – especially those in rural and remote areas – have access to financial services. This includes physical access via Financial Access Points (FAPs), bank agents (EBs), cash recycle machines (CRM), and conventional bank branches or digital platforms. According to the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda), six 'mukims' (districts) in Sarawak still lack FAP coverage. This includes three in the Miri Division – Bario, Mulu, and Long Bedian. During the session, Recoda director (Project Management Division) Mohammad Safri Ibrahim provided a comprehensive briefing on the proposed road network in northern Sarawak. This includes Northern Coastal Highway (NCH), Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) Phase 1 & Phase 2, Miri-Marudi-Mulu-Long Lama, Sarawak Border Road (Long Banga-Bario-Bakelalan), as well as plans to improve rural connectivity between Long Lama and Long Bedian. The Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak, led by SSLR project manager John Wong, presented an update on the current progress of SSLR Phases 1 and 2 during the visit. 'The improved infrastructure is expected to further facilitate financial inclusion and spur socio-economic growth in highland communities,' said Recoda. The collaboration between stakeholders underlines the importance of integrated planning that supports not only infrastructure but also financial accessibility in underserved communities, it added. Bank Negara banking financial HDA infrastructure lead Recoda rural
The Guardian
01-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Tom White obituary
My friend Tom White, who has died aged 93, was director of social services at Coventry city council in the 1970s and 80s, before becoming chief executive of the National Children's Home (NCH), where he spent more than a decade until his retirement. When Tom first arrived at the NCH in 1985 it was running 128 projects on a budget of just over £22m; by 1996, it had changed its name to NCH Action for Children, and its spending had increased to £70m across 270 programmes, with the number of children it helped having increased fivefold. More importantly, however, Tom had helped to move the charity away from its image of providing children's homes (most of which have now closed) towards a wider range of preventative service for children and families within the community. Tom was born in Ystradgynlais in south Wales to Walter, a coalminer, and Annie (nee Williams), a parlour maid and cook. He went to the local Maesydderwen grammar school before gaining a social science diploma from Swansea University and then a social work qualification at the London School of Economics in 1957. Tom's first job was as a childcare office at Devon county council. He moved back to Wales in 1961 as deputy children's officer with Monmouthshire county council. From 1965 to 1970 he was deputy children's officer at Lancashire county council, moving to Coventry in the wake of the 1968 Seebohm Report, which recommended the amalgamation of council welfare services for children, older people and people with mental health issues. At Coventry he was appointed the council's first director of social services, remaining there until his move to the NCH, initially as director of social work before rising to be its principal and then chief executive. He and I first met in a professional capacity in 1979, when Tom, as president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, helped me when I was setting up Panahghar, a domestic violence refuge for Asian women in Coventry. A large section of the Asian community was opposed to the idea, but Tom took my side and helped the project get off the ground, despite attempts to block it. He retired from the NCH/Action for Children in 1996 and from then until 2004 he was a Labour councillor on Coventry city council, becoming a member of its first ever community wellbeing cabinet, responsible for elderly and disabled people as well as housing and equality issues. As a young man Tom had been chair of the Labour League of Youth (now known as Young Labour) before focusing on social work, and he met Eileen Moore, a history teache, whom he married in 1956, when they were both on its national committee. Eileen died in 2024. He is survived by two daughters, Viv and Ceri, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. His son, David, died in a car accident in 1972.
