KOTA KINABALU: RedOne is targeting to raise RM500,000 for 10 Chinese primary schools in Sabah through its charity dinner at…

BEAUFORT: An employee of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) died from electrocution while fixing electrical cables on a high voltage…

SANDAKAN: Some 95 percent of prisoners detained for involving in extremism and terrorism activities have undergone successful rehabilitation and de-radicalization programme, said Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Bin Mohamed. He said these prisoners had undergone four phases of rehabilitation to help them to recover. “The four phases are as follows: they will be given good service, treatment and orientation while in prison, they join in a character building program to change their mind, equip themselves with skill and vocational training and lastly through a social re-integration with their families. “With all these methods, especially the social reintegration with their families, it could strengthen inmate relationships with their own family. Thus, their family will be a safety net for them and will prevent the inmates from returning to extremism activities. “For the record, only five percent of the prisoners refused to undergo this programme to recover from their ‘illness’. “In Malaysia, we are still using this rehabilitation method to help this category of inmates to recover and return to society. Therefore, they are being imprisoned separately from other prisoners,” he said at a medal presentation ceremony yesterday. A total of 316 prison officers received their medal of national sovereignty as a recognition for their outstanding contribution during the Sulu gunmen invasion in Lahad Datu from March to June 2013. These 316 prison officers were part of the 650 nationwide who voluntarily served during that period. Apart from that, Jazlan said the government was committed to taking care of the welfare of prison officers and increase prison facilities. Meanwhile, the government had approved the proposal to build a prison that can accommodate some 15,000 inmates in Lahad Datu. The construction will start at the end of this year and is expected to be completed in 2019. Commenting on the illegal immigrants issue, Jazlan said the government was still continuously giving its commitment to curb the problem by arresting these illegal immigrants and send them back to their homeland. “As in Sabah, 50 percent of all inmates are illegal immigrants. Therefore, we are serious in dealing with the issue. “To curb the illegal immigrant issue, all parties must be cooperate, including the local people. Avoid from harbouring these illegal immigrants and lodge a report with the enforcement if they know of any illegal immigrants in their respective areas,” he added.

KENINGAU: Police have warned goldsmith shop operators not to buy gold and jewellery items offered by individuals at low prices. Keningau police chief DSP Douglas Nyeging Taong disclosed that police were investigating a goldsmith shop that had bought gold items from a burglary suspect. “Police found two receipts of purchase issued by a goldsmith shop that had bought gold jewellery items from the suspect,” he said on Wednesday. Douglas said the 44-year-old local suspect, who committed five offences, including possession of drugs, was arrested on July 16 and remanded for further investigation. “I am asking owners of goldsmith shops to cooperate and inform us when there are people offering to sell gold items at a cheap price because buying and possessing stolen goods can be taken as abetting thieves and punishment, if found guilty, could be imprisonment,” he said. Shop owners should report the sellers to the police for appropriate action to be taken. Douglas also reminded the public not to buy branded goods that are offered at bargain prices because the items could be stolen goods. In other development, he said police on July 16 arrested six men and solved four theft and burglary cases reported in Kampung Keningau, in front of futsal court, Kampung Lingkudau and in Sook. Douglas said the six suspects were remanded for investigation under Sections 379, 380, 457 and 506 of the Penal Code.