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News Wrap-up: No more Hassan al-Kontar fiascoes

Oct 17, 2018

Anthony Loke adresses "replacing" feeder buses and airport security

Image source: The Star

The Transport Minister says the government doesn't plan to replace feeder buses with ride-hailing car services.

Anthony Loke clarified that the move was merely a suggestion from Tony Pua, who is the special officer to the Finance Minister, as an additional service.

He says the government intends to roll out a multi-bus service soon.

Recently, taxi company operators expressed unhappiness over Pua's announcement that the government will hold talks with an e-hailing company to provide complementary transport services to commuters.

Taxi drivers are now demanding a meeting with the Finance Minister within 24 hours to explain Pua's statement.

Separately, there will no longer be pat downs at immigration checkpoints at KLIA and KLIA2, starting next year.

Loke says the government will install special X-ray scanners in stages to beef up airport security.

He adds this will also address the issue of money being smuggled in or out of the country.

Loke was referring to a recent report claiming that an agency related to the former Prime Minister's Department had brought in RM49 mil through VIP lanes.

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MACC invites Zahid over yet again

UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been summoned to the MACC's headquarters tomorrow.

MACC is investigating claims that RM800,000 belonging to a charity run by his family was used to pay off credit card bills.

Last week, Zahid was questioned for the fifth time by the MACC for nearly 11 hours.

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Airport transit time to be restricted

Authorites are planning to restrict the transit period for passengers at KLIA and KLIA 2 to just 72 hours.

It says this is to prevent foreigners from making the international zone their home.

This comes following the arrest of Syrian man, Hassan al-Kontar earlier this month, for having stayed at the KLIA 2 restricted zone since March this year.

It adds that any transit passenger who stays longer than 72 hours will be arrested by the Immigration Department.

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Ariff Yusof says he knows nothing of a smoking ban in Parliament

Image source: The Star

The Dewan Rakyat speaker says he was not informed about the smoking ban in Parliament.

He says the Health Minister has not met him to discuss about the non-smoking restrictions in the Parliament building.

The speaker was referring to the Health Ministry’s decision to gazette the building as a non-smoking zone, effective October 15th.

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Government steps up efforts to reduce use of plastic bags

The government wants all states to charge for plastic bags used in hypermarkets, chain stores and restaurants by 2021.

It says there will also be a “no-straw default” position for eateries, as it's looking to cut down on single-usage plastic waste.

By the end of the year, the government will be launching standards drawn up by SIRIM for biodegradable and compostable bags.