The Bentong police have opened an investigation paper concerning a viral video showing a group of vehicle owners driving recklessly on the Genting Highlands road.
According to Bentong District Police Chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar, the video footage came to their attention after being shared by the public via private messages on the Bentong Police Facebook page.
“As a result of the investigation, the video clip was found to have been uploaded on social media.
“There are several recordings showing activities believed to be carried out by a group of vehicle owners driving dangerously on the bends of Genting Highlands Road, causing concern and anxiety among the community,” he said in a statement.
In response, Zaiham said that the police have initiated an investigation under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act (RTA) 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving in public.
He urged members of the public who witnessed the incident and have information to come forward to assist the police in their investigation.
He added that the police would take firm action and conduct integrated operations in the area, particularly during weekends and public holidays, when it is believed that vehicle owners tend to engage in disruptive activities that upset other road users.
Cars have a great amount of small and cramped spaces that can easily serve as hiding spots for various unwelcome creatures and critters.
Animals getting inside a vehicle is a pretty common occurrence yet in many cases, vehicle owners remain unaware until a foul smell begins to permeate the inside of their vehicle.
Such was the experience of a woman in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, not long ago. In a TikTok video uploaded by Baihaki Automotive, it was said that this woman had visited their workshop to investigate the source of an unpleasant odour in her car.
According to the video, the stench was so nauseating that one of the workshop staff nearly fainted from it.
This, however, did not deter them from uncovering the source of the smell. After two days of dismantling the poor car, they finally discovered the true origin of the repugnant aroma.
It turned out that a family of squirrels had made themselves quite comfortable, nesting within the left side of the car’s frame. They had to use a borescope camera just to have a peek into the space.
Baihaki Automotive revealed that the unpleasant smell was actually caused by a decomposing squirrel left in that confined area.
Such unfortunate incidents can happen to anyone, especially those who leave their cars parked outside their homes.
Fortunately, there are several steps that can be taken to prevent such occurrences. These include parking your car in a garage, closing all windows securely, and ensuring that no rubbish or food is left inside the vehicle.
Yesterday, a video went viral on social media showing a woman smashing the windows of a Honda City as it was being towed by individuals believed to be car repossession agents.
The 63-second video also features a man damaging the vehicle with a wrench.
The true story behind this incident remains uncertain, but many netizens claim the car was repossessed due to the owner failing to pay monthly instalments for eight months.
However, a Facebook user named Rasis Jalil stated that the car was purchased through a sambung bayar arrangement.
“This family has paid the original owner, but the original owner has not paid the bank. We have repeatedly advised against buying cars through this method,” he said.
What is sambung bayar?
Some of you might be wondering what sambung bayar actually means. To put it simply, sambung bayar is when a vehicle owner, who is still servicing the monthly payments, sells the car to a third party (the buyer) without officially transferring ownership.
The buyer pays a deposit to the original owner and continues to make monthly payments to the bank on behalf of the original owner until the end of the hire purchase term.
While it may seem like a win-win situation, with the original owner receiving immediate cash and the buyer acquiring a car without paying the full price, it’s important to note that any sambung bayar transactions are illegal under the law.
According to asklegal.my, such agreements are illegal under Section 38 of the Hire Purchase Act 1967. The Act states that those found guilty can face fines of up to RM30,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
Moreover, the sambung bayar method carries various risks. Since the car remains in the name of the original owner, their credit score could be adversely affected if the buyer fails to make the monthly payments.
The original owner is also responsible for any summonses issued against the vehicle, even if it is driven by the buyer at the time. Worse still, the original owner could be charged as an accomplice if the car is involved in a criminal case.
For buyers, there is the risk of being double-crossed by the original owner. Even if they consistently pay the monthly instalments, the original owner can reclaim the car at any time since it remains under their name.
As sambung bayar agreements are illegal, any contract or arrangement between the original owner and the buyer is void. This means the buyer cannot take legal action against the original owner.
The situation becomes even more complicated if the original owner passes away. In such cases, ownership of the car automatically transfers to the heirs. The heirs can reclaim the vehicle and are not legally obliged to continue or comply with any agreements between the original owner and the buyer.
Typically, cars left sitting for an extended period can encounter various issues, including an inability to start. However, this is not the case for the Perodua Myvi.
In addition to having the remarkable ability to ‘fly’ and tailgate supercars on the highway, the Myvi can also be started normally, even after lying unused for years. It’s little wonder that the hatchback has earned the title of King.
The extraordinary quality of the Myvi was recently demonstrated by its owner from the United Kingdom in a video that has gone viral on social media.
The man recorded the video as a farewell to his Myvi before disposing of it. However, he was astonished when the car, which had been left neglected for nearly five years, started up easily.
Not only that, the engine also sounds like as if it had been driven regularly over the years.
In the video, the Myvi owner expressed some regret about having to dispose of his old car.
“I’m regretting it but you are not going to change my mind,” he said.
“Rather than scrapping it, maybe try to get it to the MOT (Ministry of Transport). Because someone is selling it for £2,000 still,” he added.
A school bus carrying elementary and junior high school students and their teachers caught fire in Pathum Thani, resulting in the tragic loss of 25 lives.
According to a spokesperson from the authorities, the bus was one of three rented by Wat Khao Phaya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani to take students and teachers on a field trip to Ayutthaya.
The spokesperson reported that the bodies of 22 students and three teachers were found after the fire was extinguished, while 19 other individuals on the bus survived.
Major General Sipakhom Iamwong, Deputy Commissioner of the Region 1 Police Bureau, confirmed that the bus was carrying 38 students and six teachers.
He noted that retrieving the bodies was particularly challenging due to the extensive damage caused by the fire.
Photo: Sakchai Lalit/AP
Meanwhile, CNN reported that Thai police managed to apprehend the driver of the bus. The driver, identified as Saman Chanput, surrendered on Tuesday, just hours after the incident.
Chayanont Meesati, deputy head of the provincial police, stated that the bus suddenly lost balance on its right front tyre, causing it to swerve, collide with a car in front, and scrape against a concrete barrier.
It was believed that sparks from the collision ignited the fire which engulfed the bus. The driver claimed he attempted to extinguish the flames using a fire extinguisher taken from another bus but was unsuccessful and subsequently fled in panic.
Thai police reported that Chanput is being held on charges of reckless driving resulting in death and injury, failing to stop to assist others, and failing to report the accident.
Authorities are also investigating whether the bus company adhered to all safety standards.
A woman vacationing in Phuket, Thailand faced a torrid time when her Proton X50 that she drove all the way from Malaysia suddenly experienced a system malfunction.
In a post on the Facebook group ‘X50 Owners Club Malaysia,’ Amira Murad claimed that her car key unexpectedly stopped working and could not be detected, preventing the engine from starting.
For your information, the X50 is equipped with a Remote Engine Start feature that allows the engine to be started remotely using the key fob.
Amira further explained that her X50’s engine could only be started via the Atlas app. However, the engine would immediately shut down every time she opened the door.
In her post, Amira mentioned that she managed to get assistance from Proton service technicians, but they were unable to identify the issue affecting her X50.
This is what she wrote in the post (directly translated):
“The remote battery has been changed. All methods have been tried, but still, no success.
“Proton We Care advised towing it back to Malaysia, as they only cover services within the country. We had to bear the costs for everything, even though the car had a problem due to their product. It’s only been six months since I bought the car.
“The most frustrating part is the ACC system that caused all four tyres to lock. We couldn’t just use ordinary towing. I had to sit in the car on the tow with the windows up. I was stuck in the car for seven hours without being able to open the windows.
“I requested towing service under Proton while waiting at the duty-free area in Bukit Kayu Hitam. They refused, claiming it wasn’t covered. So now we have to figure out how to tow the car to the Malaysian border, as towing services in Thailand only cover up to Thai immigration,” she wrote.
Additionally, in one of the videos she posted, Amira showed that her car door could not be opened, even though the app indicated that it was unlocked.
Some commenters suggested that Amira should have used the physical key hidden inside the key fob to manually unlock the door.
To the experts out there, what do you think happened to this poor woman’s X50? Share your thoughts.
Recently, a video of a group of teenagers gathering and cooking instant noodles at a gas station in Genting Highlands went viral. In response, the police have initiated an investigation.
The District Police Chief of Bentong, Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar, stated that they received reports regarding a video clip showing a group of individuals engaging in this behavior, which circulated on social media.
“The investigation revealed that the video clip was uploaded on May 13 before it went viral on social media platform X. The video, which lasted approximately 50 seconds, depicted a group of vehicle owners cooking at the gas station,” he said in a statement.
He mentioned that a joint operation would be conducted more frequently in the area, especially on weekends and public holidays. Stringent action will be taken against anyone engaging in activities that disrupt public peace.
“The police have received information and complaints that the location in question is often a gathering place for vehicle owners who engage in activities that disturb public peace. An investigation has been opened under Section 268 of the Penal Code (causing public nuisance) and Section 336 of the Penal Code (acts endangering life or personal safety).
“Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to come forward to assist in the investigation,” he added.
A Proton S70 owner is facing stroke of bad luck as his newly purchased sedan was reported to have encountered a total of 73 issues despite being brand new.
In a post on the Proton S70 Malaysian Community (MYS70COM) group, Ku Azhar mentioned receiving a Space Grey S70 Flagship X on February 2, 2024. However, the car reportedly began facing issues the following day (February 3), after merely traveling 300 km.
Ku Azhar said he sent his car to the service center on February 5, where it remained for 15 days. He stated that the car was also sent to the Proton headquarters for a day and to the Proton factory in Tanjung Malim for 15 days.
It was revealed that 33 issues were pinpointed during the Tanjung Malim visit, and as of March 17, a total of 69 problems had been detected.
Ku Azhar highlighted that the latest count of issues reached 73, with 54 problems remaining unresolved at the time of the visit.
Here are some of the problems experienced by Ku Azhar’s S70 Flagship X:
Noisy steering rack/absorber
Excessive engine vibration (confirmed by Service Center, abnormal compared to other S70s, vibrating after being returned by Proton Tanjung Malim)
AEB suddenly brakes when taking corners
IHU lagging, unable to change mode/do anything on the screen
Loud brake pad noises: Proton Tanjung Malim replaced brake pads and discs due to overheating spots.
Loud bubbling noise from AC: Proton Tanjung Malim replaced o-ring, piping, condenser, and topped up coolant tank to maximum
Loud knocking sound every time compressor starts running
Low gear makes very loud noise compared to test-driven S70 – confirmed by Service Center, borrowed test drive unit for comparison.
Powertrain missing next service mileage while at Proton Tanjung Malim, odometer not working but next service mileage shows 776 km left – HQ instructed to have service at 10,000 km at 9,400 km, with owner covering costs to avoid warranty issues later.
Car difficult to start, remote start also not functioning. No response from HQ/SC in when stranded at R&R.
Auto-hold gear not engaging even after pressing brake and stopping, car still moves forward, green P symbol did not come on
Additionally, he mentioned his car also suffered from exterior and interior cosmetic issues due to improper installation after returning from Proton Tanjung Malim.
These included stone chip marks on bumpers and hood, and scratch marks on the dashboard. He even claimed there were shoe prints on the rear seats.
According Ku Azhar his last meeting with CRM on March 18 at the Proton Center of Excellence (COE) in Shah Alam. He explained that the rectification plan, initially scheduled for the following week, was postponed to April 15, 2024, due to the promised replacement car not being available yet.
He claimed that the date was further pushed to April 16 as the contact person was on leave on April 15, 2024. In the meantime, Proton suggested continuing to use the car until the rectification is done.
JUST a few days prior, we have read about the stories of Perodua Bezza and Honda HR-V owners whose vehicles experienced breakdown shortly after purchase.
This time, another social media user has expressed concern about the new Honda CR-V, which was purchased by his father last December.
According to Facebook user Ahmad Shah, the vehicle allegedly produced strange noises just minutes after it was driven off a car showroom in Melaka. He claimed that the noise resembled that of a moving motorcycle.
“My father sent the car to the relevant vehicle centre for inspection. The staff only changed the door key, but the car still made the same sound,” he said.
The SUV was then taken back to the centre for a second inspection and test drive. The manager of the centre confirmed that there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle.
“He informed us that the car would be sent to the main service center, Honda Malaysia, as he claimed that the branch couldn’t do anything without a more thorough inspection from Honda Malaysia,” he said.
Following that, the SUV was sent to Honda Malaysia, but there was no news about its status.
“My father contacted the manager again, and he said that he’s trying to get updates and progress from Honda Malaysia, but till now, we still don’t know the cause.
“It’s quite strange because the car is not even a month old, but it is as if the warranty period from Honda has already expired for decades.
“Then my father contacted the Customer Service Chief of Honda Malaysia, who stated that the case would be referred back and resolved by the branch,” he expressed.
Ahmad Shah claimed that after investigation, it was found, according to there report, that there was no mention of the strange noise; instead, they only stated that there was an issue with the tyres.
“The noise disappeared when the car stopped, but it would emit a very loud sound when the car was moving,” he said.
In another Facebook post, Ahmad Shah said that the manager of the centre called his father to arrange a meeting regarding the car. However, the meeting date was not disclosed.
Last week, a frustrated Perodua Bezza owner took to social media to complain about her car, which experienced an engine failure just 8 hours after purchase.
This time, another user, Noriya Mamat, experienced a similar situation when her Honda HR-V, which she purchased last August, broke down after only two weeks of use.
In a Facebook post, Noriya stated that the SUV began having issues after it was sent to a Honda service center in Gong Badak, Terengganu on September 2 for a 1,000 km service.
Two days later, her car experienced several malfunctions including the front lights could not be adjusted properly, blinking lights from the meter console and the emergency lights turning on.
Noriya claimed that the situation became more distressing when the Honda service center informed her that they could not identify the root cause of the problem.
“The car was sent back to the service centre for a week. I had to make multiple trips to the service center while I was heavily pregnant,” she said.
In December, when Noriya was informed that a technical officer from the Honda headquarters would come to Terengganu to inspect the vehicle.
On January 10, Noriya was contacted by Honda Malaysia headquarters and was told that her vehicle will be taken to Kuala Lumpur for a month to troubleshoot.
“How much longer do I have to wait? Every month, I have to pay RM1,500 for a vehicle I’m not using. Why is Honda taking so long for cases like this? Where is the promised excellent after-sales service from Honda?” she asked.
THE Energy Commision (ST) in a statement revealed that the operator of an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) in Johor, which caught fire on December 31, was found to be operating without a licence.
In the statement, the Energy Commission noted that the Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 447) and the Electricity Regulations 1994 stipulate that energy supply activities from any installation must be carried out with a valid licence from ST.
In the incident, a Mercedes-Benz EQB was engulfed in flames while charging at a vehicle showroom building in Tampoi.
According to ST, about 5% of the 256 sq metre premises and 20% of the EV charging bay were also destroyed. No injuries were reported.
The commision said that it is currently investigating to identify the real cause of the incident. The responsible party and the company involved will also be called upon to assist in the investigation.
On December 16, 2022, ST reportedly advised the operators of charging point operators (CPO) involved in the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EV) to promptly obtain a valid public distribution licence for the EVCS installations in the country, including those already in operation, by March 31, 2023 last year.
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