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

Inquest into Adib's death to be held; Umno undergoing 'whitening' process, says sec-gen

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said an inquest will be held soon to determine the cause of death of the late fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.

A member of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple taskforce claimed that witnesses to the riots outside the temple last month during which Adib was allegedly beaten, are hesitant to come forth with evidence as they fear police action.

Meanwhile, police obtained a four-day remand for Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah who threatened to attack a police station if the authorities did not arrest the perpetrators of the riots.

In an unrelated matter, PAS Youth announced that it will hold a New Year's eve rally for Malaysians to protest against what it claims to be false promises made by the Pakatan Harapan government.

Umno undergoing 'whitening' process, says sec-gen

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa said the party is undergoing a 'whitening' process until the end of this month which involves a clean-up of its membership list, to prep the party to face the 15th general election.

 Strapped for cash following its electoral loss, Umno will open the doors of its private retreat in Janda Baik, Pahang to the public, beginning next March.

Youth members of Bersatu are divided in their opinion about allowing former Umno leaders to join the party.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he himself would quit the party if any "thieves and robbers" were to be allowed to join the party.

Other Kinibites

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will be investigating fast-food chains KFC and McDonald's following complaints of price hikes of their products.

The cabinet will freeze all toll rate hikes for all vehicle classes on 21 highways across the country that are eligible for an increase in 2019 which will incur the government an estimate RM972.75 million in compensation to toll operators, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

A former special officer to an ex-cabinet minister was sentenced to two years’ jail and fined RM400,000, in default a year’s jail, by the Sessions Court in Shah Alam for corruption, involving RM80,000.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak questioned the Pakatan Harapan government's method of determining the number of Bottom 40 (B40) households in its electricity bill rebate programme.

Looking ahead

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin will launch the Adib Award in Putrajaya.

Bersatu annual general meeting will kick off today, and will go on until Sunday.