Under a Deal Signed Today at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL, Saudi Aramco invests US$7b in Petronas' Rapid refinery project

Saudi Aramco invests US$7b in Petronas' Rapid refinery project

NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) is investing US$7 billion (RM31 billion) for a 50 per cent stake in Petroliam Nasional Bhd's Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project.

Under a deal signed today, Saudi Aramco will also be supplying up to 70 per cent of the crude feedstock requirements of the refinery. Petronas, on the other hand, will supply natural gas, power and other utilities.

Both parties will hold equal ownership in selected ventures and assets of the Rapid project within Pengerang Integrated Project (PIC).

The share purchase agreement (SPA) signed today was witnessed by Saudi ruler King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The signing was held in conjuction with King Salman's state visit to Malaysia.

Petronas president and group chief executive officer Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said the partnership will bring together two strong organisations in developing mega projects as well as having commercial networks in different markets globally.

Saudi Aramco president and chief executive officer Amin H Nasser said the agreement further strengthens its position as a leading supplier of petroleum feedstock to Malaysia, Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific.

"Malaysia and Southeast Asia offer tremendous growth opportunities and with Rapid's strategic location in a prolific hub, it would serve to enhance energy security in the Asia Pacific region," he said.

With capacity to refine 300,000 barrels of crude per day, Rapid's refinery will produce a host of refined petroleum products as well as feedstock for its integrated petrochemical complex producing 3.5 million tonnes of products annually.

Situated in the southern region of Malaysia, the PIC development is currently 60 per cent completed and on track for start-up in 2019. - by Zarina Zakariah, Amir Hisham Rasid, Adrian Lai and Hana Naz Harun

Two women will be charged with the murder of Kim Jong-Nam, who was assassinated with a lethal nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur's main airport,

Two women to be charged with Kim murder: Malaysia attorney general

AFP

Two women will be charged with the murder of Kim Jong-Nam, who was assassinated with a lethal nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur's main airport, Malaysia's attorney general said Tuesday.

"They will be charged in court under Section 302 (murder) of the penal code," said Mohamed Apandi Ali, two weeks after the half-brother of North Korea's leader was killed.

The suspects, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, will appear in court on Wednesday. If found guilty they face death by hanging.

In leaked CCTV footage, two women are seen shoving something into Kim's face at the airport's Terminal 2. The 45-year-old suffered a seizure and died before he reached hospital.

Both women have insisted they thought they were taking part in the making of a prank video.

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, reportedly told a senior diplomat Saturday she had been paid just 400 ringgit ($90) for her role, adding she believed she was handling a liquid like "baby oil".

Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 28, told Hanoi officials she had been tricked into killing Kim and thought she was taking part in a prank for a comedy video.

A third suspect, 46-year-old North Korean man Ri Jong-Chol, was also arrested following the brazen February 13 killing.

Apandi did not mention if he would be charged.

High Level North Korean Delegation Arrives in Malaysia to Discuss return of body of its citizen (Kim Jong Nam / Kim Choi) and North Korean in custody

Jong-nam murder: Delegation from North Korea arrives in Malaysia

Ri Tong-il (left) addressing the media at the North Korean Embassy.

KUALA LUMPUR: A high-level delegation from North Korea has arrived in Malaysia to discuss a number of issues with Malaysian government officials, including the return of the body of one of its citizens.  

The delegation’s spokesman, former North Korean ambassador to the United Nations Ri Tong-il, said high on the agenda would be the return of the body of its citizen who died at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) on Feb 13.  

“We will also be discussing the release of another citizen, who was arrested by Malaysian police related to the above incident.  

“Development of friendly relations between North Korea and the Malaysian Government will also be discussed,” he said in reading out a statement outside the North Korean embassy here Tuesday.  

Asked by reporters whether the embassy’s second secretary has been interviewed by Malaysia police, Ri refused to answer and walked away.  

On Feb 13, Kim Jong-nam, the elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed by two women who had wiped his face with a chemical that has since been identified as the VX nerve agent, at the KLIA2 departure hall.

He was about to leave for Macau.  

The two female suspects held in connection with the murder, Vietnamese national Doan Thi Huong and Indonesian citizen Siti Aisyah, are expected to be charged at the Sepang magistrate’s court on Wednesday.  

Doan was arrested on Feb 15 as she was attempting to catch a flight back to Vietnam, while Siti Aisyah was detained early the next day.  

Police have also arrested a third suspect, North Korean citizen Ri Jong-chol, and are seeking three more men.  

North Korean embassy second secretary Hyon Kwang-song, 44, was named by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as one of the three being sought.  

Malaysian police said they would obtain a warrant of arrest for Hyon if the embassy does not hand him over within a “reasonable” time.  

North Korea has criticised Malaysia’s handling of the investigation of the case, which has threatened to spark a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/delegation-from-north-korea-arrives-in-malaysia/#9pOh0GH2MoCX7KXD.99

Police clarifies that the Uber passenger involved in a fight with Uber driver will be charged also – same as driver Chang Seow Kiat, once they locate him him

Tuesday, 28 February 2017 | MYT 4:39 PM

Uber passenger in brawl facing similar charges as driver

 

PETALING JAYA: The Uber passenger involved in a fight with his driver will be charged with disturbing the peace – same as driver Chang Seow Kiat – once he is arrested by the police.

The police have only arrested Chang, the 43-year-old Uber driver, so far.

A source said the passenger, Ong Kok Seng, 30, is expected to face the same charge as Chang under Section 160 of the Penal Code, but the police have yet to locate him.

On Monday, Chang pleaded guilty to a charge of quarrelling and fighting with Ong at Petronas Pinggir Zaaba in Taman Tun Dr Ismail at about 7am on Feb 15, 2016.

He was fined RM300 in lieu of four month's jail.

Chang was charged despite reports of him being on the receiving end of two punches in the face during the fight.

According to the statement of facts, Chang was given a wrong address when Ong requested a trip via the Uber app.

Chang waited at the wrong address and even checked with an occupant of the house as Ong was not answering his phone.

Ong showed up later and got into Chang's car, before an exchange of words ensued between the two.

He then asked the driver to stop at the petrol station, where they both got out of the car and started brawling.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/uber-passenger--in-brawl-facing-similar-charges-as-driver/#uyeT3zSfcyDywGlD.99

Local actor-producer Hans Isaac will be ending his bachelorhood when he weds former beauty queen Gabriella Robinson on July 29.

Malaysian actor-producer Hans Isaac to wed beauty queen

Local actor-producer Hans Isaac, 45, will soon be ending his bachelorhood when he weds former beauty queen Gabriella Robinson, 27, on July 29.

On Feb 28, Isaac introduced the media at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur to his bride-to-be Robinson, who is the first Malaysian to win the Miss Tourism International 2011/12 pageant.

Robinson also came in second in the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 pageant.

Isaac first met Robinson when he was chosen as a judge at the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 pageant. They became friends and have remained so until a year ago when they began their romantic relationship.

“You just know it,” Isaac said on finding “the one”. “We were friends before anything else. We’ve known each other for many years. And I know that whatever happens, if I’m a successful person or not, she’ll always be next to me.”

Isaac proposed to Robinson on Jan 29 in Singapore.

“I told her we were going to Singapore for a Chinese New Year holiday. I proposed to her in front of the church my parents got married at, Cathedral Of The Good Shepherd,” Isaac shared.

The upcoming wedding ceremony will take place at St John’s Cathedral in KL while the reception will be held at Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

image: http://www1.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/doc62y4vjudxsl1dv72fjry.jpg

Read more at http://www.star2.com/people/2017/02/28/malaysian-actor-producer-hans-isaac-to-wed-beauty-queen/#Xg5pysr6wb1Uq4Q3.99

A video clip, showing a male instructor purportedly slapping and kicking a trainee of a technical institute in Kubang Pasu district has gone viral

Viral: Instructor slaps, kicks trainee at technical institute in Kedah

NST

ALOR STAR: A video clip, showing a male instructor purportedly slapping and kicking a trainee of a technical institute in Kubang Pasu district has gone viral on the social media today.

The one-minute-33 second-duration video, which was uploaded by a Facebook account user by the name of Zakqwan Taman Suria at 11am today, has garnered nearly 830,000 views.

He questioned the need for the instructor to use violence when teaching his students.

In the video, the instructor was seen showing and explaining to one of the students on ways to maintain an air-conditioning unit.

After a few steps, the man was heard raising his voice at the trainee before he suddenly slapped the youth's neck and kicked him several times before pulling his left ear.

The footage, shared by over 1,200 Facebook users, has drawn criticisms from netizens, who were furious over the instructor's harsh teaching method.

When contacted, a staff at the institute told the New Straits Times that it is carrying out an investigation over the matter, but declined to elaborate

Appeals Court Unanimously upholds decision ordering MAS to release 37 documents to MH370 next of kin

Appeals court upholds order that MAS releases documents to MH370 next-of-kin

 

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court order compelling Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) to provide documents on flight MH370 to the 76 next-of-kin of the passengers who were on board.

This followed a decision by a three-member panel chaired by Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat which unanimously dismissed the appeal by MAS to set aside the High Court order made on Sept 8 last year.

"We find no compelling or substantive reason to disturb the High Court order which was discretionary in nature," she said.

She also said that there was no error in the High Court judge's exercise of discretion.

The panel, which included Justices Abdul Rahman Sebli and Zaleha Yusof, also ordered MAS to pay RM10,000 in costs.

MH370 went missing en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014.

The 76 next-of-kin of the passengers were plaintiffs in a suit filed in March last year against MAS, Malaysian Airlines Berhad (MAB), the Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Government for alleged negligence and breach of duties.

They comprised 66 Chinese nationals, eight Indian nationals and two Americans.

They are seeking 37 documents, including communications, correspondence, documents and other materials, notes, memoranda, internal documents and investigators reports in relation to flight MH370.

In the suit, they are also seeking among others, special, general and aggravated damages, mourning expenses, interests and other relief deemed fit by the court.

The Kuala Lumpur-Beijing bound flight carrying 239 passengers and crew was declared missing after disappearing from the radar screens on March 8, 2014.

Lawyer Saranjit Singh represented MAS, while senior federal counsel Andi Razalijaya A. Dadi represented DCA, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Government.

Lawyer Tommy Thomas appeared for the family members of the passengers. - Bernama

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/appeals-court-upholds-order-for-mas-to-release-mh370-documents-to-next-of-kin/#rbwkcuYgZh24bUUK.99

Perak Immigration Department director and 3 others, who were detained for alleged bribery, have been released.

Four in graft probe freed from remand

 

IPOH: Four men, including an Immigration Department director, who were detained for alleged bribery, have been released.

The 57-year-old director, a 26-year-old mechanic and two businessmen, both 30, were released unconditionally after the magistrate’s court here denied the application made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to extend their remand.

All four were represented by their counsels Ranjit Singh Sandhu and Dexter Mah.

During the proceeding, both Ranjit and Mah argued that investigations could proceed even without the presence of the suspects.

“All the information needed in the investigation have been handed over to the forensic team, and having my clients released would, in no way, interfere and allow tampering with such evidence.

“My clients have given their utmost cooperation in the investigations. If needed, MACC is free to call them up again, but until then, there’s no reason for them to continue being detained,” Mah told magistrate Suhaima Mohd Noor yesterday.

MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Wahida Jalaluddin said the investigations could only see progress if they were able to unlock the four handphones seized from the suspects using the correct pin code.

“Until today, we are still facing difficulties because they refused to cooperate with us.

“If the remand is not extended, there’s a possibility that there is a risk in the destruction of evidence, as certain data like WhatsApp messages cannot be accessed,” she said, to which Mah replied that the investigation team could easily contact the telecommunications company concerned to release the data needed in the phone.

The men, who were nabbed on Feb 23, were ordered to be remanded for five days to help in investigations over graft probes involving massage parlours and entertainment outlets in the state.

Under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act, those found guilty of soliciting or receiving any form of gratification as an inducement for performing (or not performing) a task, face a maximum penalty of 20 years jail and RM10,000 fine, or five times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/four-in-graft-probe-freed-from-remand/#ujvhcs8qYMbi2XPA.99

A couple is facing a murder probe over the death of their 38-year-old Indonesian maid, who is believed to have been sexually abused

Couple held over maid’s murder

In big trouble: The man and wife shielding their faces while being escorted out of the Sessions Court in George Town.

GEORGE TOWN: A couple is facing a murder probe over the death of their 38-year-old Indonesian maid, who is believed to have been sexually abused.

According to sources, there were injuries to her private parts.

Apparently, both the husband and wife had also given contradicting statements to the police.

They were brought to court yesterday and remanded for seven days.

Both of them were seen covering their faces when they walked out of the courthouse after the remand was obtained pending investigation into the maid’s murder.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid denied that the woman had been sexually abused, but said that their investigation was still ongoing.

He said that the couple had earlier claimed that their maid had slipped and collapsed at the staircase of their double-storey house in Jelutong at 12.45am on Saturday.

“They said that about 11 hours later, they found her unconscious.

“The maid was pronounced dead by a medical officer after the couple called for an ambulance,” he said in a statement yesterday.

ACP Mior said a post-mortem, however, revealed that the cause of death was a blunt force trauma to the chest.

“We then arrested the 42-year-old woman and her 48-year-old husband,” he said.

ACP Mior said the maid had a valid passport and had been working as a domestic helper for two years.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/couple-held-over-maids-murder-hubby-and-wife-remanded-for-seven-days-after-helper-found-dead-at-home/#E1beTgMe8fPRpLBW.99

18 people, including five children, rescued by police after being trafficked and exploited by a couple managing a estate.

Workers exploited by couple with promises of good pay packages

BY T. AVINESHWARAN

 

PENGKALAN HULU: Life was tough in his sleepy hometown of Bahau for Jag, who could not find a job to support his family.

He decided to take a leap of faith, travelling to an isolated oil palm estate, some 10km away from the nearest town and accessible only by four-wheel drive along dirt roads.

Little did he know that he was leaving life in Negri Sembilan for a nightmare.

The 29-year-old was among 18 people, including five children, rescued by police after being trafficked and exploited by a couple managing the estate.

Jag was made to work long hours and paid next to nothing for his hard labour.

The victims have told police that the adults were made to work 12-hour shifts almost daily and some of the children were forced to carry the harvested fruits without pay.

Deplorable conditions: Only four-wheel drive vehicles can get to the estate due to the poor road conditions. The deplorable shelter (below) that housed 18 people at the palm oil estate in Kg Tasek.

One victim even claimed that a two-year-old was being fed only with “teh O” because the parents were afraid of having their salaries deducted should they ask for milk.

Relating his ordeal to the police, Jag said he had arrived as a labourer in the estate in 2015 together with his wife and two kids, aged two and five, and were made to share a small room with another family in a building, smaller than a low-cost house.

Despite having to live in deplorable conditions – the building was so dirty and cramped with 18 people – Jag said he decided to endure it because the management had promised a good pay package.

However, the management started deducting money from their salary for every food item they received, he alleged.

“However, they always deducted more than the actual price of the item. After deducting from our salaries, some of us only got RM100 each month.

“We were promised a steady income but once we got our salaries, the management would give excuses by saying that we told them to get so many things and they were at a loss,” Jag told the police.

“We left our hometown, thinking that our life would turn around but it only got worst. The children, including mine, were supposed to go to school but because of the management, they had to work, too.

“We were threatened if we asked about our salary. They even took away our identity cards because they were afraid we would run away,” Jag claimed to the police.

During the midnight operation, officers from the Perak Crime Investigation Department (CID), together with the Pengkalan Hulu CID, had raided the 202ha estate as the workers slept.

Police have detained the couple – a 43-year-old man and 24-year-old woman – believed to be acting as middlemen and management for these workers.

The woman is from Negri Sembilan and it is believed that she had forced the children to work without wages. Her husband is from Pokok Sena, Kedah.

The two have been placed under remand until March 3, at the Pengkalan Hulu police headquarters.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/28/dream-of-a-better-life-crushed-workers-exploited-by-couple-with-promises-of-good-pay-packages/#2ERXi9F1E2ZherOR.99