Ft McMurray's Homepage

<strong>GEORGE TOWN</strong>: Penang has dismissed claims that a high-rise development at Tanjung Bungah is above the 76m height limit.

State housing committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said the project at Pesiaran Lembah Permai, near a residential area, is below the state-imposed limit set to preserve the environment.

He said the plans submitted by the developer for approval showed the proposed two-block condominiums to be below the limit.

"Proposed projects above the 76m limit will not get approval from the state government," he told a press conference after a meeting with residents today.

The project comprise a 33-storey block of 132 units and another 34-storey block of 138 units to be built at the site. Residents had earlier expressed fears that rock blasting and piling works could affect their safety and well-being.

They had also expressed their unhappiness over the situation where the main access road has now become the entry road for construction vehicles. Resident representative N. Kanagavalli thanked Jagdeep for trying to resolve the issues surrounding the development.

"We hope the state can get an alternative route for construction vehicles set up soon for our safety and privacy," she said.

<strong>GEORGE TOWN</strong>: A couple has been waiting since April for a refund from a travel agency which cancelled their tour to Cambodia.

Phua Tat Teik and Cynthia Lim, both 49, claimed Lohas Premium Vacation Sdn Bhd owed them RM786 in airport tax, luggage fees, meals, tips and other charges.

Lim said they paid the money in January to the agency after buying the trip package on a discount coupon website in October last year.

She said they sought a refund after the trip was cancelled.

"The company suggested we change the (trip package) but we did not agree, so we requested for a refund and was told it would be paid in a month.

"I tried to call them when the refund did not come but was told to only contact them via email," Phua told a press conference today with Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

A check showed the company shared the same address and phone number of Lohas Premium Travel and Lifestyle Sdn Bhd, which came under the spotlight recently.

theSun reported in May that a group of 10 senior citizens had complained they were given the runaround for their refunds after the tour to Cambodia was cancelled.

The group finally got their refund of RM4,050 after this newspaper highlighted the matter.

Zairil urged the company to expedite the matter and the relevant authorities to take such cases seriously.

<strong>GEORGE TOWN</strong>: Inquiries to the attorney-general (AG) and the Health Ministry on the status of investigations into six custodial deaths here this year have been met with silence.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy said he had sent letters to the AG's Chambers and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam about a month ago on the issue but has yet to receive any reply.

"This is a serious issue as deaths in custody should not happen in Malaysia," he told a press conference today after announcing the state has set up a task force on custodial deaths.

The task force is aimed at monitoring such incidents and to provide legal assistance if required and is chaired by Ramasamy.

This comes after the latest custodial death of lorry driver Agin Raj Sunmarkkan Naidu, 29, who died on June 7 after being arrested on June 2, with his death making it six cases this year.

Meanwhile, state housing committee chairman and task force member Jagdeep Singh pointed out Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) required an inquiry to be conducted by a magistrate in the event of a death in custody.

He said the law requires such action to be taken and urged the AG to be forthcoming on the matter.

"The task force will be writing to seek an explanation from the AG on the status of the cases vis a vis Section 334 of the CPC," he said in the same media conference.

<strong>KUALA LUMPUR</strong>: A Filipino maid who was hired to take care of an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer's disease, allegedly uploaded indecent photos of the man on Facebook.

The maid, known as Evelyn, apparently did so while claiming that she was not paid the wages she was supposed to get.

Speaking at a press conference today after meeting MCA Public Service and Complaint Bureau head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, the man's daughter, known only as Chia, 50, said she had hired the maid as a part-time caregiver for her 79-year-old father for one week from April 14 until April 20.

Her father passed away in June.

"My late father needed some help because he was also a stroke patient. So I needed someone to take care of him at that time as I was busy with my business," Chia said.

"I contacted Evelyn, who had worked with me for four years from 2004, and offered her RM100 per day and she agreed to it. Her wages for seven days was RM700 but I paid her RM1,000.

"On April 24, she uploaded my late father's indecent photos on her Facebook page and claimed that I did not pay her enough.

"She claimed her wage should be RM13 per hour, making it RM312 each day," Chia said.

Chia warned Evelyn that she had lodged a police report against her on April 25, but Evelyn countered by claiming she had lodged a police report against Chia for running an illegal business.

Chia said she was told by her current maid that Evelyn was still displaying her late father's indecent photos.

Chong advised the public to always keep an eye on their maids to prevent similar incidents from happening to them. He said his department had received six maid-related cases so far this year compared with 18 last year.