KINI ROUNDUP Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.
Bersatu opens fire on PAS
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council member Muhammad Faiz Na’aman claimed opposing factions between PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man led to a breakdown of PAS-Bersatu talks.
Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad also fired a salvo at PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, claiming that he was “uncharismatic” and making PAS confused.
Mahathir had cendol with Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz in Kuala Kangsar after their planned debate was postponed.
Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said organisers had yet to seek approval for the rescheduled Mahathir-Nazri debate in Shah Alam.
Federal minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who was belittled by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for being unlike Nazri by aborting their debate, claimed the cancellation helped prevent Lim from incriminating himself in a corruption case.
Minister tells of role in Aramco deal
Abdul Rahman said he was at the right place and the right time when the US$7 billion deal with Saudi Aramco did not progress as expected.
He added that those to attempt to undermine the country’s economy should be punished.
On another matter, Abdul Rahman defended Umno information chief Annuar Musa for offering RM50,000 in an essay writing contest on whether DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang ‘is racist’.
PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli ticked off the debate on the controversial essay contest, stressing there were more pressing matters like the spike in the inflation rate.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man urged the government to lower the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate amid rising inflation.
TMJ leads new guard in FAM
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim formally took over as Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president unopposed, after Umno information chief Annuar Musa dropped out of the contest.
In his first act, Tunku Ismail announced that national coach Ong Kim Swee would be replaced by Mario Gomez, a former coach of his club Johor Darul Ta'zim.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who was an incumbent FAM vice president, was defeated.
Other Kinibites
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said he was open to contesting in a new parliamentary seat as part of a strategic move for the 14th general election.
Former urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan said he was prepared to cooperate with the authorities over allegations that he abused his power in granting an extension of time (EOT) to a developer.
MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 were not discussed in the cabinet meeting even though it is speculated to be tabled in this Parliament session.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said he was upset at some people who belittled the police’s achievements.
The US has granted controversial Singapore blogger Amos Yee asylum.
