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

Dr M scores 71pct approval rating

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad scored a high approval rating of 71 percent as the Pakatan Harapan administration approached its 100th day in office, a Merdeka Center survey found.

The same poll also found that Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is the most popular figure in the cabinet, with an overall approval rating of 76 percent.

According to the poll, a majority of respondents are still dissatisfied with the cost of living despite their confidence in the Pakatan Harapan government's economic management.

Speaking at a town hall session for civil servants, Mahathir reminded them to serve the government of the day but not to the extent of committing crimes.

Mahathir also said the government will restore positions or provide adequate compensation to civil servants who were wrongly punished by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration.

Najib against witch-hunt in PAC 1MDB probe

Najib said while he has no qualms about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reopening an investigation into the 1MDB scandal, it should not just focus on finding faults.

This after Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng filed a motion in the Dewan Rakyat for the auditor-general and the PAC to reopen investigations into the 1MDB scandal and make the findings public.

Najib, who is the former Umno president, also said he does not interfere in the administration of the party since relinquishing his post in the aftermath of the May 9 general election and that president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi calls the shots.

Amid calls for Najib to step aside from party affairs, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said Najib is entitled to air his views as a Member of Parliament from Umno.

Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who also defended Najib, brought up Mahathir's purported close relationships with several business tycoons.

Other Kinibites

Lawyer Gunamalar Joorindanjn questioned the decision of the Attorney-General's Chambers to charge her client - Telok Bahang Umno deputy chief Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin - over an allegedly offensive Facebook post when similar charges against a Harapan MP were recently dropped.

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin submitted his resignation as commander of the 508 Regiment of the Territorial Army, saying that he no longer feels 'welcomed' there.

The suggestion that transgender persons use toilets meant for the disabled (OKU) was not intended to upset the feelings of the disabled, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Fuziah Salleh said.

MCA candidate for the Balakong by-election Tan Chee Teong conceded that it would be nothing short of a miracle for him to win the seat - and added that what mattered was that he has the courage to contest.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu made it clear that he would not compromise on the issue of integrity and welcomed MACC's investigation against his aide, who is being investigated in connection with several parties settling his debts amounting to RM800,000.

Looking ahead

PM Mahathir will launch the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur Hospital at Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, KL.

Harapan will unveil its pick for the Seri Setia by-election