Kelantan authorities bust smuggling ring, seize orchids, other ornamental plants worth RM4.5m Posted on 14/12/2024 KOTA BARU, Dec 14 — An attempt to smuggle ornamental plants including orchids and bidara tree (saplings) estimated to be worth RM4.5 million in Kampung Limau Purut, Jalan Panglima Bayu-Rantau Panjang, was crippled by the General Operations Force (GOF) of the Southeast Brigade on wednesday Southeast Brigade GOF commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said a local man was arrested and the plants and saplings confiscated at about 7pm when a suspicious vehicle was stopped under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan. He said an inspection revealed more than 15,000 saplings believed to have originated from Thailand, stuffed into the vehicle, without valid documents (no phytosanitary shipment certificate from country of origin). “The 53-year-old driver was likely hired as a transporter to smuggle the saplings in for distribution in the local market and this case is being investigated under the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 (Act 167) Section 5,” he said in a statement yesterday. According to him, the suspect and confiscated plants were taken to Komtak Taman Bakti for further action. — Bernama News
Floods damage 180 Kemas preschools in Kelantan, over 8,000 students impacted, lessons move online in worst-hit areas, says state director Posted on 11/12/2024 TUMPAT, Dec 11 — A total of 180 preschools under the Community Development Department (KEMAS) were damaged during the first wave of floods that struck Kelantan at the end of November, said Kelantan KEMAS director Wan Norlee Wan Ismail. She said the affected preschools are located across all districts except… Read More
Myanmar ethnic armed group executes six men following public trial Posted on 06/12/2024 Many of Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups run parallel legal systems in territories they hold along the country’s borders. (EPA Images pic) YANGON: A Myanmar ethnic minority armed group has executed six men following a public trial in an enclave it controls near the China border, media affiliated with the group… Read More
Afghanistan refugees minister killed by suicide blast Posted on 12/12/2024 Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani was listed on US and UN sanctions lists, with a US$5 million reward from Washington for information on him. (EPA Images pic) KABUL: The Afghan minister for refugees was killed on Wednesday in a suicide bombing at the ministry’s offices in the capital Kabul, government sources said, with… Read More