Here are the key headlines from yesterday that you may have missed, in brief.

Bersatu founders justify cause against Najib

The founders of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in an open letter spelled out the purpose of the new party, stressing that they wanted to "save the country" from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, the party's emergence has raised concerns over multi-cornered fights in the next general election with Perak Amanah urging Bersatu's pro tem chief Muhyiddin Yassin to immediately initiate seat negotiations.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who led the anti-Najib movement, has not been actively involved in Bersatu's initial moves as he is still recuperating at the National Heart Institute from a chest infection.

Meanwhile, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said Mahathir could be invited to speak at the upcoming Bersih rally as he now subscribes to the reform agenda.

Shafie prepares to battle Umno in Sabah

Across the South China Sea, former Umno vice-president Mohamad Shafie Apdal is also planning a movement against his former party in Sabah with speculations that he had taken over a dormant party.

However, this new addition may further muddle an already fractured Sabah opposition as seen in their split voting last Tuesday at the state assembly on the re-delineation bill, which created 13 new seats.

Both upcoming parties were a result of Najib's move in axing Muhyiddin and Shafie from the Umno leadership after they became increasingly critical over his handling of the 1MDB scandal and the multi-billion ringgit found in his personal bank accounts.

Bank Negara insisted that the 1MDB case is closed despite the US Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed US$3.5 billion was stolen from the fund.

Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron, who claimed the DOJ action was a conspiracy by the US to "kill Malays", had clarified that he said so merely to drum up patriotism.

The army has banned soldiers from playing Pokemon Go on grounds of security concerns.

The economy took a further dip as Malaysia's gross domestic product growth slipped to four percent in the second quarter of this year.

Looking ahead

Jerlun Umno, the division of sacked Umno leader Mukhriz Mahathir, is set to hold its divisional meeting. Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Mukhriz's successor, is expected to officiate at the function.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is in Malacca to officiate at the Tangga Batu Umno divisional meeting, which is led by state chief minister Idris Haron.

Najib will also join Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a 'Pray for Malaysia' function at Dataran Merdeka tonight.