Compiled by C. ARUNO, TARRENCE TAN and R. ARAVINTHAN
A WEIRD smell from a lorry seized by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) on Sunday led to the discovery of 3,000kg of ketum leaves, Berita Harian reported.
Perak JPJ enforcement chief Mir Khairol Hafizal Mir Idris said the lorry was stopped at 10.30pm during an operation in Gerik as the driver did not have a driving licence.
He said further investigations into the lorry’s chassis and engine number revealed its registration number was fake.
The lorry was then seized and the driver fined for driving without a licence, he said.
However the next day, a stench coming from the lorry led to Rela personnel inspecting the cargo.
“They removed the lorry’s canvas and found more than 30 black bags filled with ketum leaves weighing about 3,000kg,” said Mir Khairol.
> A senior citizen suffered 20% burns after his home at the People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Desa Petaling was razed in a predawn fire, Harian Metro reported.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 6.41am and a team was despatched to the scene.
When the firemen reached the location, the fire had already destroyed 70% of the apartment on level one and the elderly man was rescued, he said.
“The fire was put out at 7.50am. The cause (of the fire) is still being investigated,” added Roshdi.
> A driver, who panicked after seeing police, drove into oncoming traffic before crashing into a police patrol car, Berita Harian reported.
Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said the incident took place near the Sri Damansara police station at 2.30am on Feb 7.
“A car was driving in a suspicious manner and jumped the red light. Police then attempted to stop the car in front of SMK Damansara Damai 1.
“The driver initially managed to escape and the police, upon checking the vehicle, found various tools suspected to be used to steal cars,” he said.
Police checks found that the Proton Wira was reported missing in Ampang recently.
“After receiving information, a team from the Sri Damansara police station succeeded in arresting an 18-year-old man at the Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai at 3.45am on Feb 7,” he added.
ACP Mohd Fakhrudin said that investigations were ongoing.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
