SNAPSHOT | Network School shuttered temporarily; PKR MP wants PSSC to probe KWAP's RM163m loss

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

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2pm

Network School

• The controversial Network School in Forest City, Johor, has been shuttered, at least temporarily, according to a notice at the premises, with signage removed or covered, The Star reported.

  Yesterday, the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) revoked the business and advertising licence of Network School’s operator, NSO Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

  MBIP ordered the company to halt operations after finding that it did not comply with licensing conditions and the approved use of its premises under by-laws.

READ MORE: Network School licence revoked, Johor MB urges tighter investor vetting

• The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) announced it will revoke Network School’s Malaysia Digital (MD) status.

  In a statement issued yesterday, MDEC said businesses seeking MD status must obtain the relevant permits and licences, as well as comply with licensing conditions.

  It added that Network School had breached these requirements after MBIP revoked its business licence.

eFishery

• Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has urged the Finance and Economy Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) to hold a special hearing on the losses suffered by the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP) involving Indonesian aquaculture start-up, eFishery.

  Lee said on Facebook today that he had submitted a formal request to the committee chairperson, calling for explanations from KWAP and relevant stakeholders on the investment process and efforts to recover RM163 million in lost funds.

  

  The parliamentarian also rejected PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s suggestion to establish a royal commission of inquiry, saying that the issue should first be scrutinised at the PSSC level.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Hook, line, and sinker: How KWAP's eFishery gamble unravelled

• DAP MP Chong Zhemin has accused PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden of “playing politics” over the latter’s call for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to resign from his position as the finance minister following the failed KWAP-eFishery investment.

  The Kampar MP said the priority should be to establish facts, recover as much of the investment as possible, strengthen KWAP’s safeguards, and prosecute the actual wrongdoers.

  Daring Afnan to submit any evidence of Anwar’s alleged involvement in the issue, Chong stressed that turning the fraud into a “political resignation stunt” does not aid in protecting public funds or improving governance.

  While Chong directed his remarks at Afnan, PKR MP Hassan Abdul Karim had earlier issued a similar statement pressing for Anwar’s immediate resignation as finance minister.

  

Negeri Sembilan polls

• Police have opened nine reports and five investigation papers in relation to election offences in the Negeri Sembilan polls, The Star reported.

  Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said two reports were lodged yesterday, with one investigation paper opened under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire.

  He added that police had approved 173 out of 178 applications for ceramah and campaign-related permits received since nomination day, including 32 of 35 applications submitted on Tuesday.

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Crime

• Kelantan police have raised concerns over commercial crimes in the state as it recorded more than a 100 percent increase, with a total loss of RM23.6 million this year up until June.

  Statistics showed there were 1,480 cases compared with 732 in the same period last year, with the police saying it stemmed from phone, online investment and part-time job offer scams.

  

  “Nowadays, there are all kinds of ways to cheat people; even looking for jobs exposes one to getting scammed. Each victim suffers significant financial loss.

  “This is concerning and needs to be tackled, with raising public awareness being the most important,” Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat was quoted as saying by Berita Harian, adding that police will ramp up enforcement.

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