KINI ROUNDUP | Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.
Hadi calls to reject foreign meddling in 1MDB saga
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang warned against “foreign meddling”, including investigations into 1MDB by overseas jurisdictions, as a means for unnamed parties to win elections.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang criticised Abdul Hadi for allegedly being a "greater defender" of the 1MDB controversy than Umno.
Former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said there was nothing much the central bank could do about 1MDB apart from imposing hefty fines, as it did not have prosecution powers.
The Special Affairs Department claimed a RM43 million fine imposed on private bank Edmond de Rothschild was linked to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and not 1MDB.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) strategist Rais Hussin criticised "third-tier wannabes" for denying the claims made by the US Department of Justice with regards to 1MDB, while slamming key figures for remaining silent.
Forex RCI to dig deeper
Former chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan, who had led a special task force to investigate the forex (foreign exchange) scandal, said the probe was meant to provide closure.
He added that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) established by the government to investigate the forex scandal could also help to shed more light on the matter.
A government official familiar with the decision to establish a RCI said that the special task force had not been high-level enough to obtain documents from Bank Negara, which are protected by tough secrecy laws.
Harapan plans surplus without GST
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed a Pakatan Harapan-led federal government could do away with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) while still maintaining BR1M cash handouts and achieving a surplus budget.
Zeti Akhtar Aziz called for a rational view of investments from China, pointing out that they only make up two percent of Malaysia's total foreign investment.
Other Kinibites
Regional affiliates of the Islamic State were reportedly ordered to "finish off" Bukit Aman special branch counter-terrorism division assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
Kelantan PKR chief Ab Aziz Ab Kadir said two PKR leaders had taken up positions as district council members in Kelantan of their own accord, despite central party leadership asking them to relinquish their positions in the PAS-led state.
The Pahang government will soon launch an anti-bullying awareness campaign following a recent spate of fatal cases.
Wisma Putra said no Malaysians were affected by an attempted suicide attack at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Zaidi Ahmad, an aide to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, urged the public to lodge police reports over claims made by the US Department of Justice over the 1MDB scandal.
Looking ahead
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will be hosting a Hari Raya open house at his official residence.
