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

PAS finalises PKR divorce

PAS formally severed ties with PKR after the syura council, PAS' highest decision-making body, endorsed the decision.

However, the syura council declined to decide on PAS' position in the Selangor government, passing the buck to the central committee.

Selangor PAS commissioner Sallehan Mukhyi insisted that PAS will remain in the Selangor government even though the party will not have political cooperation with PKR.

PKR said it regretted PAS' decision, but rejected their reasons, which include accusations that PKR had betrayed their political cooperation and had worked against the agenda of Islam.

Pua: Najib continues to pull 1MDB strings?

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua questioned if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was bypassing Treasury guidelines and corporate governance regulations in the Bandar Malaysia deal, since the public accounts committee had recommended his involvement in decision-making powers would end when Bandar Malaysia was still under 1MDB.

Najib, who leaves for China today, was mum on speculation that he will be seeking a new developer for Bandar Malaysia, and instead touted his planned meeting with Alibaba founder Jack Ma.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi insisted the government's decision to terminate a deal for China Railway Engineering Corporation and Iskandar Waterfront Holdings to buy a 60 percent stake in Bandar Malaysia was purely on commercial grounds.

Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani said it was misleading to say the Budiman committee, in charge of the 1MDB rationalisation plan, had been relieved of its duties as it had already completed its main tasks.

The London International Court of Arbitration granted a consent award, paving way for 1MDB to move ahead with a US$6 billion settlement with Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).

CIMB chairperson Nazri Abdul Razak, who is also the prime minister's brother, said the government needs to be more transparent following the 1MDB scandal.

MACC's congratulatory message to Umno raises eyebrows

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raised eyebrows when it issued a congratulatory message to Umno, but also urged the party to combat corruption.

Parti Bebas Rasuah deputy president Khairuddin Abu Hassan criticised the MACC and demanded that its chief apologise for the unusual congratulatory message.

DAP's Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching questioned whether the MACC will look into the alleged lavish lifestyle of Umno president Najib Abdul Razak.

The MACC arrested a Tenaga Nasional Berhad manager for allegedly accepting a BMW as a bribe.

The commission also arrested a woman contractor over a graft probe relating to the Penang zakat body.

The developer of Forest City vowed to crack down on some of its contractors that had hired illegal workers, while the opposition urged the government to act against China developers hiring their own citizens instead of locals.

Other Kinibites

The driver who was assaulted outside a surau in Johor after he honked incessantly during Friday prayers apologised for his actions.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the three Turkish citizens detained by Malaysia will be deported to Turkey despite warnings by human rights groups that they may be tortured in their home country.

Najib took thinly veiled swipe at former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad and instead rained praise on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang during Umno's 71st anniversary celebration.

The prosecution withdrew its charges against Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Matthias Chang for alleged financial sabotage in lodging reports against 1MDB abroad.

Najib's brother Nazir at the World Economic Forum asked Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar if it was easy for her to forgive former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Looking ahead

Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Matthias Chang will challenge their non-acquittal for economic sabotage.

The Malacca High Court will hear a local resident's application for an injunction against the Election Commission's redelineation exercise.

The Shah Alam High Court will hear PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli's appeal against his conviction for insulting Umno.