KINI ROUNDUP Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

DPM ticks off North Korean embassy

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned the North Korean embassy that there will be a "heavy price to pay" if the embassy continues to lambast Malaysia, including disparaging the country’s investigations into the death of the North Korean supreme leader's half-brother, Kim Jong-nam.

Zahid also said the authorities have other means of securing DNA to confirm Jong-nam's identity if none of his family members volunteered samples to do so. Malaysia will not release the body until the identity is confirmed.

This comes after North Korean citizen Ri Jong-chol, who was remanded in relation to the murder case, was released and deported because police did not find sufficient evidence to charge him at the end of the remand period yesterday.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the authorities are tightening border controls as at least two of seven men wanted in connection to the case are believed to be still in Malaysia.

Police also issued an arrest warrant for an Air Koryo staff, believed to be linked to the assassination.

Tiff over ‘donation’ in wake of Saudi king’s visit

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak lambasted those who accuse Malaysia of becoming a failed state, arguing that Saudi's King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud would not have visited Malaysia if it was.

Meanwhile, Ampang Umno chief Ismail Kijo slammed Lim Kit Siang for the DAP veteran's "idiotic" claim that King Salman's silence on the RM2.6 billion "political donation" to Najib is a slap on PM’s face.

King Salman did not touch on the alleged donation, which Najib said came from the Saudi royal family, during his four-day visit to Malaysia which ended yesterday.

Ex-federal minister wanted to be CM, claims Najib

A former federal minister expressed desire to be Sabah chief minister, putting his personal ambitions before state welfare, Najib claimed.

Najib did not reveal who the minister is, but it is believed he was referring to Mohd Shafie Apdal, who last year quit Umno and then set up Parti Warisan Sabah.

However, former information minister Zainuddin Maidin noted that there is nothing wrong with Shafie wanting to be chief minister, arguing that even "no longer popular" Najib is still the PM.

Other Kinibites

Former MCA president Ong Tee Keat leaves the party on a bitter note, telling Malaysiakini he wants to wipe off all traces of his involvement in the party.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan said he did not abuse his powers when he was housing minister to extend the construction period of a residential project in 2014, following a letter from now attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's wife.

Umno information minister Annuar Musa said there had been a smear campaign against him after a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission report against him was withdrawn.

China car maker Geely mulls pulling out of a partnership with Proton, citing Proton owner DRB-Hicom's indecision, Bloomberg reported.

A group of Muslim activists send a memorandum to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo to protest his remarks on Act 355 amendments, and hope it would also inspire Gobind to embrace Islam.

Looking ahead

Family and friends of those on board ill-fated Flight MH370 will hold a remembrance event today, three years to the day the plane disappeared.

Shafie is expected to respond to PM's insinuation that he had asked for the CM’s post at a Warisan event in Silam today.