Putra Heights inferno: Dr M urges public to stop finger-pointing, speculating

KUALA LUMPUR: There should not be any unnecessary finger-pointing over the gas pipeline explosion and fire in Putra Heights, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The former prime minister said the matter must be studied thoroughly while also expressing displeasure at speculations. “We don’t know just yet and can’t go around accusing people. We have to investigate. “If we...

Putra Heights inferno: No gas detected in pipeline, recovery work deemed safe, say cops

KUALA LUMPUR: The recovery work in the area of the gas pipeline blaze at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, is currently safe, as no gas content has been detected in the pipeline, say Asst Comm Wan Azlan Wan Mamat. The Subang Jaya OCPD said that PETRONAS had conducted an inspection and found that the...

Over 30 arrested, close to S$1mil seized in Singapore’s islandwide blitz against impersonation scams

SINGAPORE: More than 30 people were arrested and over 240 bank accounts were frozen following an islandwide police operation against government official impersonation scams. In a statement on Tuesday (April 1), the police said 27 men and seven women - aged between 17 and 46 - were nabbed during raids targeting suspects who gave their bank...

Four Chinese nationals who removed files from collapsed Thai building charged

BANGKOK: Authorities have charged four Chinese nationals for illegally removing 32 files of documents from the collapsed 34-storey State Audit Office (SAO) building, which was destroyed by an earthquake on March 28. A legal officer from the Chatuchak District Office’s municipal affairs division filed a complaint at Bang Sue Police Station against five Chinese individuals accused...

Bangkok earthquake: Korean man leaps across condo’s damaged sky bridge to seek wife, kid

BANGKOK: As Bangkok experienced tremors on March 28, a Korean man jumped across a broken sky walkway, 50 storeys above ground, to get from one swaying building to another where his wife and daughter were supposed to be. Thai resident Kwon Young-jun’s feat has been captured on video and circulated online amid other indelible images of...

As pets become more like family, more owners in Japan are opting for elaborate funerals

TOKYO: Increasingly, people are holding proper funerals when they lose their dog, cat or other beloved pet. The ceremonies may be attended by Buddhism priests who read out sutras, and memorial services may follow to mark religious milestones in the afterlife of the pet. Mourning a pet as you would a family member who has passed...

Britain hopes U.S. tariffs will be reversed with economic deal

LONDON (Reuters) - British business minister Jonathan Reynolds said the government was hopeful that any tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump would be reversed shortly, if the two sides agree a tech-led economic deal. Britain expects to be hit by Trump's plan to put tariffs on goods from countries across the globe this week, but...

Philippine cops praised for quick arrest of road rage suspect

MANILA: The quick arrest of a motorist who shot a motorcycle rider in Antipolo City shows how far the Philippine National Police (PNP) has improved in terms of response, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Tuesday (April 1). In a statement, Romualdez lauded the PNP, saying it has evolved into a stronger and smarter policing...

‘Residents immediately evacuated at 8am because the heat was too strong’

PETALING JAYA: Soon after explosions were heard in Putra Heights, residents rushed to vacate their homes because the heat was too strong, a resident recounts. Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, a retiree, said he is working with the local community to shelter fire victims here. “The explosion was about 8.12am. Then people just evacuated...

Subang Jaya inferno: Three family members in critical condition

SERDANG: Three family members are in critical condition after the burst gas pipeline blast in Putra Height on Tuesday (April 1) morning. According to Bernama, Rohanawati Ismail, 49, the mother of one of the fire victims, said the extent of the injuries suffered by her eldest son, 28, has not yet been determined. "My son lives with...