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

Dr M's perks in focus

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad complained that many of his long-time staff members were replaced by the government.

The Prime Minister's Department denied it had retracted Mahathir's perks as former prime minister, stating that he is allocated 21 staff members paid for by the government.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng thanked the people for their help in the Penang flood aftermath and apologised for any shortcomings.

Lim also announced an RM100 million fund to help flood victims in Penang to get back on their feet.

'Zamihan an expert in deradicalising extremists'

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defended controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin's role in the government, stating that he is an expert in deradicalising extremists.

Assistant professor Maszlee Malik proposed that an independent evaluation be conducted on Zamihan's deradicalisation credentials as this is a matter of national security.

Activist Anthony Thanasayan criticised Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua for allegedly belittling sufferers of mental illness. This was after the DAP lawmaker said, in reference to Umno's Padang Besar MP Zahidi Zainul Abidin, that those who linked the Penang floods to religion had mental illnesses.

And, referring to the prime minister's speech, PKR's Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin said the use of the coarse language "kepala bapak kau" is a case of mental illness.

Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos said he planned to sue Zuraida for her gloating, which included unflattering remarks about him after she had earlier secured a favourable settlement in her defamation suit against Jamal.

Zuraida denied defaming Jamal and stood by her statement.

Bersatu faces deregistration threat

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) said Bersatu's use of the name "Armada" for its Youth wing was illegal and that it could risk deregistration for the party.

Bersatu supreme council member Tariq Ismail said his party had submitted constitutional amendments to use the name since July but the ROS had been non-responsive.

The Economist said Najib may call for an election after Chinese New Year next year and the outcome could potentially be bad for the opposition.

The government's propaganda arm, Special Affairs Department (Jasa) said it will convey "concrete facts" to the ground ahead of the 14th general election.

Other Kinibites

Malaysiakini, in a fact check, takes a look at whether the Malaysian Meteorological Department provided adequate warning for last Sunday's tropical storm over Penang.

Najib, in an opinion piece in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation meeting in Vietnam, emphasised Malaysia's role amid global security challenges.

Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen complained about Najib only spending eight minutes in Parliament during Question Time.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek claimed Malaysian durians were now more popular in China than the iPhone X.

Former Malaysian envoy to Mexico Yeop Adlan Che Rose joined the DAP.

Looking ahead

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang will hold a press conference to welcome Yeop Adlan to the party.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will flag off a convoy in Putrajaya to help flood victims.