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

PMD gets bigger budget

The Prime Minister's Department (PMD) received RM17.4 billion under Budget 2018, with Permata's allocation growing from RM45.3 million this year to RM54.3 million in 2018.

Malaysiakini analysed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s budget speech to gauge the focus of his words.

We also took a look at the top five ministries that are getting a financial boost next year, as well the five ministries for which budgets have been cut.

Most major public universities in the country will see an increase in their allocations under Budget 2018, following a cut in the previous budget.

Putrajaya's propaganda arm Special Affairs Department (Jasa) received a 31.1 percent increase in funding under the 2018 budget to RM30 million.

Najib abolished Selangor tolls 20-years early

Toll concessionaire Plus clarified that the two Selangor tolls Najib abolished under Budget 2018 had been scrapped 20 years ahead of schedule.

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali claimed that the decision to remove four tolls in Selangor, Kedah and Johor was to counter the influence of Bersatu leaders Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin.

Azmin said unlike Najib, he did not have to grovel to secure foreign direct investments.

Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said Azmin was daydreaming if he thought the federal government had copied Selangor's budget.

Ops Lalang detainees revisit old wounds

A group of NGOs urged former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to apologise for the detention of 106 people without trial during Operasi Lalang 30 years ago.

Former Operasi Lalang detainee Chandra Muzaffar said an apology from Mahathir over the incident would serve no purpose.

Fellow detainee Kua Kia Soong said the operation was the “worst assault” on Malaysian civil society.


 

Other Kinibites

Selangor PAS commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi was accused of hijacking a state government health programme meant for the poor.

A "Datuk Seri" allegedly assaulted three Rela officers after being told to move his car.

Looking ahead

MIC president Dr S Subramaniam will hold a press conference at the party’s headquarters this afternoon.

NGO Penang Forum will hold a dialogue session on the deadly Tanjung Bungah landslide tragedy today.

Former Operasi Lalang detainees will speak at a forum at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tonight.