Here’s a recap of major headlines yesterday you may have missed.
The bungalow debate
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is still in the news over his alleged below market purchase of a bungalow and his opponents capitalised on this with a tweet claiming that he would be arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The alleged MACC arrest is fake, but the commission is indeed investigating the bungalow matter, which Guan Eng welcomed and expressed confidence that there will be no element of corruption found.
Guan Eng's father Lim Kit Siang even proposed that his son allow a tour of his bungalow, to see if it was anywhere near to jailed Selangor Menteri Besar Khir Toyo's mansion, after comparisons were made between the two cases.
Malaysiakini also did a price comparison of other properties in Guan Eng's neighbourhood, but the good buy does not suggest wrongdoing, unless exchange for favours is proven, as it had been in Khir's case.
Malaysiakini has obtained a list of transacted properties on Jalan Pinhorn which showed that the plot area for the two-storey bungalow Lim purchased at RM2.8 million on Jul 28, 2015, was 10,161.13 sq ft.
Posted by Malaysiakini on Saturday, March 19, 2016
More heat for the AG
The motion calling for Mohamed Apandi Ali's removal as attorney-general was passed by the Malaysian Bar on grounds of upholding the rule of law.
The motion was prompted by Apandi's refusal to prosecute over the multi-billion deposits received by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which a minister claimed MACC's investigation found no elements of corruption.
The minister's claim was raised to the MACC yesterday, but the anti-graft body refused to comment .
Mindful of negative publicity, Najib yesterday impressed upon a rally in support of him that they shouldn't think him a crook .
Posted by Malaysiakini on Saturday, March 19, 2016
Najib, Dr M exchange salvoes
At the same rally in Kuantan yesterday, Najib also urged people not to take heed of the Citizens' Declaration calling for his ouster, which was initiated by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Hours later, Mahathir fired back in a blog post, accusing Najib of flouting Umno's democratic traditions.
Too hot to handle
Malaysia is experiencing one of the hottest months with a first death from heat stroke but anti-bauxite protesters from Kuantan are pressing on into the eighth day of their 254km march to Parliament.
Other Kini bites: Scholarships, S'wak polls, another arson bid
Minister Azalina Othman said the RM240 million savings from cutting JPA overseas scholarships was just an estimation but they were not cancelled and merely converted to scholarships for local public universities.
DAP reiterates it will not work with PAS or Ikatan in the Sarawak election.
Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos again failed to torch a billboard calling for Anwar Ibrahim's freedom, due to heavy police presence.
Looking ahead
Tasek Gelugor MP Shahbudin Yahaya, who had accused Guan Eng of buying his bungalow below market price, is set to snub the chief minister's challenge to meet him face to face at a joint press conference.
Shahbudin will instead hold his own separate press conference to explain himself, concurrently with Guan Eng's.
