SNAPSHOT | Drug abuse among drivers rising; M'sia to repurpose decommissioned coal plants

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

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2pm

Drugs abuse

• The National Anti-Drug Agency said that drug abuse among drivers, particularly methamphetamine, ketum and cannabis, is on the rise.

  Its director-general Ruslin Jusoh said this trend is evident from the anti-drug operation held nationwide yesterday, which saw over 22 drivers arrested after testing positive for these drugs, Free Malaysia Today reported.

  The operation was in collaboration with agencies, including the police, the Land Public Transport Agency and the Road Transport Department (RTD).

  It was also reported that RTD’s director-general Aedy Fadly Ramly said that the department will take firm action against those positive for drugs, including withholding their vocational licence as well as suspending their driving licence.

READ MORE: SNAPSHOT | Licence renewal: Commercial drivers must do health screening; army probing explosion

Repurposing coal plants

• Malaysia is planning to repurpose decommissioned coal-fired power plants into renewable energy hubs and battery energy storage facilities, said Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof.

  

  These, he added, were part of the country’s proposed National Coal Site Repurposing Framework, Bernama reported.

  Fadillah, in noting the existing coal fleet as significant national infrastructure, further said that Malaysia remains committed to not building any new coal-fired power plants, as part of a plan to transition away from coal-fired electricity generation by 2044.

  He raised this plan in his speech at the World Economic Forum’s “Malaysia’s Energy Future: Power Sector Decarbonisation Deep Dive” this morning.

Online fraud and scams

• Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on June 18 that the government established a special working committee and technical group to address online fraud or scam-related crimes.

  Bernama reported him saying that the establishment followed a cabinet retreat that discussed the rise in such crimes. The working committee's first meeting will be held soon.

  Fahmi reportedly said that the cross-agency approach aims to strengthen enforcement, legal and investigative efforts to enhance user safety on digital platforms.

  

  “This will involve various ministries, agencies and departments. And, for the first time, the banking sector, telecommunications sector and major platforms, including social media, will also be involved.

  “This is a proactive measure by the government to identify issues and manage them, be it in terms of enforcement, legislation and also investigation, so that Malaysians can be safer when using digital platforms,” he said.

Smart Selangor Parking app

• The Smart Selangor Parking payment app's services have resumed following an earlier disruption, allowing users to make parking payments as usual.

  In a notice to users on its Facebook page, Smart Selangor Parking said the app was operating normally again and advised motorists to proceed with their parking payments.

  It also invited users requiring further assistance to contact its customer support.

  

  Two days ago, Free Malaysia Today reported that the Smart Selangor Parking and Flexi Parking phone applications were down due to technical disruptions.

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