Local News Archives

Man Dies After 4×4 Struck by Falling Rock

In a tragic incident in Mansaam, Tenom, earlier today, a man lost his life after his vehicle was struck by a rock that fell from a hillside. The victim, identified as Ho Ka Cheong, aged 66, was pronounced dead at the scene by medical officers from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

According to FMT, Zainal Sinsianm, Chief of the Tenom Fire and Rescue Department stated that the emergency call came in at 12:27 noon, prompting a rapid response from a team of officers dispatched to the location, approximately 55km away.

Zainal explained that the incident involved a 4×4 being hit by a rock dislodged from the hillside, resulting in the victim being trapped inside. Negotiating the challenging terrain, the firefighting team had to adjust their route after covering 45km, proceeding for another 10km via an untarred road known as the timber lorry route to reach the accident site.

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Selangor to Expand Glow-in-the-Dark Road Markings Initiative

The Selangor government has announced plans to expand the glow-in-the-dark road markings initiative to 15 locations across all nine districts in the state, aimed at enhancing road users’ safety.

According to The Star, Izham Hashim, state infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman, the initiative will be rolled out gradually and is expected to cost approximately RM900,000 in total. These glow-in-the-dark road markings will be applied to roads lacking street lights, covering approximately 15km of roadways in districts such as Sepang, Kuala Langat, and Petaling.

This initiative aligns with the ‘Selangor Bercahaya’ program, which has already installed 600 LED street lamps throughout the state. An additional allocation of RM1.5 million has been earmarked for more LED street lamps this year to further enhance road safety.

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Proton Sets New Sales Record For Brunei – X50 Accounted for 60% of Total Proton Sales

In 2023, Proton achieved exceptional sales performance both domestically and internationally, with its sales in the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam reaching a new record. Following a successful year, where the company surpassed 150,000 units in domestic sales, Brunei showed remarkable growth, setting a new sales record for Proton.

After selling 422 units in 2022, Proton’s sales in Brunei increased by 87% in 2023, with 789 units of Proton vehicles sold. This outstanding performance elevated the brand to fifth overall in the sales table, capturing a market share of 5.4%, up one spot and an increase of 2.2% over the previous year. The Total-Industry-Volume (TIV) for Brunei also saw growth, closing at 14,640 units for 2023, up from 13,000 units in 2022.

The Proton X50, which has been the best-selling Proton X-series model since its introduction in October 2020, emerged as the top-selling model in the B-segment SUV category in Brunei. With 476 units sold in 2023, the Proton X50 accounted for approximately 60% of total Proton sales in Brunei and secured the third position in its market segment.

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The BMW Premium Selection Showcase Returns to Bukit Jalil National Stadium

The BMW Premium Selection (BPS) Showcase by BMW Group Malaysia is set to return to the Bukit Jalil National Stadium from March 1st to 3rd, offering an extensive selection of up to 500 pre-owned premium vehicles alongside new models from across the BMW Group lineup, including the BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, and the BMW X range. Additionally, a premium lineup of pre-owned Mini and BMW Motorrad vehicles will be available at the fair.

The BMW Premium Selection experience goes beyond just the purchase, service, and maintenance of the vehicle. It encompasses a complete 360-degree suite of privileges and services, creating a life cycle and ownership ecosystem where the vehicle is part of a value chain of ownership. The showcase reflects BMW Group Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to delivering the epitome of Sheer Driving Pleasure, even in the luxury used car market.

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UMW Toyota Motor Unveils ‘Beyond Zero’ Initiatives

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) has introduced its Beyond Zero initiative in alignment with Toyota’s global goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050. The event, held at the Technology Park Malaysia from today until 28 February, unveiled transformative initiatives demonstrating the brand’s commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

The event signifies the company’s promise to lead the way toward a sustainable and connected future, going beyond traditional automotive concepts to envision a society where individuals make choices aligned with their values and lifestyles. This approach, termed the multiple pathway approach towards Carbon Neutrality, aims to foster a sustainable environment while promoting individual happiness.

The event showcased UMWT’s dedication to aligning its practices with broader national and global efforts to combat climate change. UMWT demonstrated a multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality, offering multiple electrification solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of customers and regions.

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Range Rover Evoque Facelift Now Available From RM498,800!

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM) is celebrating the Lunar New Year with the launch of the Range Rover Evoque Facelift. This updated model combines state-of-the-art enhancements while retaining the distinctive DNA of Range Rover’s compact luxury.

The exterior design of the Evoque Facelift maintains its iconic silhouette, enhanced by a redesigned grille, sleek Pixel LED headlights, and signature Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The chiselled front and rear signature graphics add to its jewel-like appearance, complementing the iconic floating roof and unbroken waistline. The car’s profile, characterised by its fast roofline and coupe-like silhouette, is accentuated by 21-inch wheels and a refined grille design, exuding robustness and sophistication.

Inside the cabin, modern luxury is exemplified by a new 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen, seamlessly integrated into the centre console. The latest Pivi Pro infotainment technology, along with features like Wireless Device Charging and a premium Meridian sound system, ensures a seamless and comfortable digital experience. Additionally, the Evoque Facelift offers premium amenities such as an electrically adjustable steering column and satin chrome gear shift paddles.

Under the hood, customers can choose between the P200 and P250 models, each offering a unique set of features. The P200 model is powered by a 200PS 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering swift responses and efficient performance. The P250 model boasts 249PS and 365Nm of torque, achieving 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds.

Safety remains a top priority, with advanced camera technologies such as the 3D Surround camera, ClearSight Ground View, and ClearSight Interior Rear View available on select variants to enhance driver reassurance and safety.

The Range Rover Evoque Facelift is available in three variants, priced from RM498,800.00 for the 200PS Dynamic SE (MSpec), RM529,800 for 249PS Dynamic SE (H Spec), and RM565,800.00 for Evoque 249PS Dynamic HSE (Lux Spec). The colour palette, inspired by the Year of the Dragon, includes auspicious hues such as Corinthian Bronze, Tribeca Blue, and Arroios Grey, symbolising prosperity and tranquility.

Customers can experience the new Range Rover Evoque Facelift at JLRM’s award-winning dealerships in Ara Damansara and Penang. These dealerships uphold global JLR standards, providing customers with personalised purchasing and ownership experiences, including personalisation studios for configuring exterior colours and interior upholstery choices.

ACO Tech, Geno, and MARii Unite to Advance Malaysia’s EV Industry

ACO Tech, in collaboration with Geno and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii), has formalised a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to explore the integration of blockchain solutions into Malaysia’s Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

The partnership aims to leverage blockchain technology to enhance various aspects of the EV ecosystem, including smart contracts, digital traceability management of the supply chain, tokenomics solutions, and privacy protection technologies. These solutions will complement ACO Tech’s E-Mobility Service Platform (EMSP), which is integral to the Government’s Connected Mobility Vision and aims to accelerate the development of EV infrastructure in Malaysia.

By utilising blockchain technology, the alliance seeks to address challenges such as the scarcity of charging ports and inconsistent charging rates. The decentralized ledger system enabled by blockchain will empower EV manufacturers, service providers, and owners/users to engage more interactively, reduce costs, enhance user experience and confidence, and establish seamless tracking and maintenance records. Additionally, it will facilitate peer-to-peer energy and charger-sharing, ensuring transparency throughout the lifecycle of products and services.

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Waze Introduces Speed Bump and Sharp Curve Alerts

The latest updates to Google’s Waze app are aimed at providing users with better real-time insights about road conditions, including speed bumps and sharp curves, to ensure smoother and ticket-free commutes.

One of the key changes is the introduction of speed bump and sharp curve alerts, initially available on iPhones and expected to roll out to Android devices in the coming weeks. Users may have already received notifications about these new features upon launching the app.

These updates come with a redesigned reporting menu, featuring a new hazard icon that prompts users to contribute real-time data more effortlessly. This streamlined process aims to make reporting road conditions more intuitive and efficient.

Within the reporting menu, users can now easily report various road conditions such as traffic, crashes, police activity (including speed traps), bad weather, blocked lanes, road closures, and more. They can also report gas prices or request roadside assistance from fellow travellers.

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Berjaya Group Eyes Toll Plaza Transformation with Barrier-Free System Bid

A major public company believed to be Berjaya Group, is reportedly seeking support from highway concessionaires for a competing bid to install a barrier-free system at toll plazas. This move comes after 32 highway toll concessionaires opposed the government’s plan to appoint a unit of YTL Holdings for the same purpose.

According to FMT, Senior executives from Berjaya Group have allegedly held individual meetings with representatives of the 32 concessionaires to explain their proposal and gather feedback before submitting the final proposal to the works ministry. The Berjaya offer is more favourable than the earlier proposal being considered by the government.

Under Berjaya’s plan, highway companies would construct multi-lane free-flow toll booths, while Berjaya or another company would provide toll collection services. This arrangement would allow concessionaires to receive revenue the next day, similar to the current practice. Additionally, the company providing toll collection services would address revenue leaks from motorists driving through without paying.

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New Honda BR-V N7X Edition: Looks Great But Will Malaysians Ever Be Able To Buy One?

As Honda fans across Southeast Asia buzz with excitement over the launch of the Honda BR-V N7X Edition at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2024, Malaysian car aficionados are left wondering; could this special edition model make its way to Malaysian roads?

The reality and the bitter truth is that it is unlikely that the new BR-V will be offered here, since the BR-V was discontinued in the Malaysian market last year, and was instead replaced by the WR-V.

According to Yujiro Sugino, Executive Coordinator for Honda Malaysia, the BR-V was discontinued because the SUV class had a larger market potential, especially in the gap below the HR-V.

But let’s take a look at the specifications of the newly launched Honda BR-V N7X.

With its captivating design elements inspired by the futuristic N7X concept model, the BR-V N7X Edition is already turning heads. From the striking chrome accents adorning the grille to the sleek glossy black accents and 17-inch black alloy wheels, every detail exudes sophistication and style.

Furthermore, the introduction of the BR-V N7X Edition in a new sand khaki pearl colour adds a touch of elegance to this already eye-catching vehicle, setting it apart from its predecessors.

Under the hood, the BR-V N7X Edition retains the reliable 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine, delivering a robust performance of up to 121PS and 145Nm of torque, coupled with a CVT transmission. The Indonesian market continues to offer a six-speed manual gearbox variant as well.

Safety remains a top priority, with advanced features such as Honda SENSING, including Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), High Beam Support (AHB), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Honda LaneWatch, available for the highest variant. This underscores Honda’s commitment to providing cutting-edge technology that enhances both convenience and safety on the road.

The question is, will the BR-V N7X Edition be priced competitively in the Malaysian market if it were ever to be offered here again? The starting price in Indonesia ranges from Rp 319,400,000 to Rp 363,400,000, equivalent to approximately RM97,639 to RM111,090. With competitors like the Perodua Alza, Toyota Veloz, Mitsubishi Xpander and of course, the Proton X50 already offering hard-to-beat prices, we imagine that the BR-V would not do well here. So perhaps Honda Malaysia was right to focus on the small SUV segment with the WRV instead, in which there is only the Perodua Ativa to worry about.