Another royalty-linked mining project

A company with links to the Pahang royal family is planning to excavate iron from a degazetted forest reserve at Kuala Tembeling in Jerantut - which is home to several protected species, including the critically endangered Malayan Tiger.

The company is linked to Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah's younger sister, Tengku Nong Fatimah.

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that the monarch's aunt, Tengku Hanizar Tengku Muhammad, co-owned a company that plans to mine minerals near Tasik Chini, in Pekan.

Both projects had appointed Golden Prosperous Resources Sdn Bhd as the contractor.

The project in Kuala Tembeling sits in the middle of the Som Forest Reserve. Curiously, its mining lease will end next month but site clearing is only scheduled to begin in August this year.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Police arrest youth activist over tweets Aiman Hakim probed under Sedition Act
	Study: Graft drives up property development costs Costs were then absorbed by buyers
	Labour Dept confirms electronics factory raid But Human Resources Ministry says the UK report got the date wrong.

Zahid undermined

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob poured cold water on an ultimatum from the party urging the Perikatan Nasional-led government to convene Parliament in 14 days, "or else".

Ismail said the ultimatum was just the view of Umno's political bureau and that the party's stance can only be decided by the supreme council.

This undermines Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who announced the 14-day notice on Monday.

The supreme council has been a stumbling block for the Umno president - with its anti-Anwar Ibrahim stance torpedoed during alleged plans to align the party with the PKR president in order to form a new government.

Zahid also faces challenges outside the supreme council from a rival faction believed to be involved in an effort to secure SDs and capture Putrajaya.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Zahid slams loan moratorium obstacles  Umno chief says it's like interviewing for top job.
	PAS veep denies eight MPs will quit  He says rumours spread by malicious detractors.
	Bipartisan pledge to reopen S'gor state assembly Rare show of unity from leaders of both benches.

Selangor least vaccinated

The percentage of residents vaccinated in Selangor is the lowest in the country, at just 17.15 percent of those registered to get inoculated.

Selangor Taskforce for Covid-19 chairperson Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in comparison, neighbouring Kuala Lumpur has vaccinated 52.3 percent.

Conversely, he noted, Selangor tops the list in terms of proportion of Covid-19 deaths.

At present, the main vaccination programme is run by the federal government. Phase 3 of the national programme is currently underway and plans have been made to expedite vaccinations.

Selangor is also expected to get its own stock of vaccines by the month-end.

HIGHLIGHTS

	KJ aims 80pct vaccinated in Negeri Sembilan by October 20,000 doses to be administered daily from next month.
	Govt checks out vaccine shopping cart PM asks ministers to push for faster supplies.
	MOH denies eyeing 500 negative pressure ambulances Open tender is for 500 regular ambulances.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 4,743 new cases yesterday (June 22)
  
  
• Death toll is now at 4,554.
  
  
• Active cases and patients in ICU are continuing their downtrend.
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital beds capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

---

What else is happening?

• The Health Ministry is investigating a Father's Day celebration allegedly held at the home of Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Ismail Muttalib despite the current nationwide movement control order (MCO).
  
  
• Police are probing a viral post alleging that Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali was arrested in Terengganu last month.
  
  
• Police also took the statement of a Malaysiakini journalist over articles related to the death of A Ganapathy.
  
  
• Indira Gandhi seeks to meet Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in her quest to reunite with her daughter.
  
  
• A disabled student was allegedly denied the chance to pursue her tertiary education at a local public university due to her physical disability.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	'Stop political appointments at public unis' 13 PN-linked individuals hold positions at varsities.
	YTL assures its smartphones safe It says original cable should be used when charging.
	Covid patient allegedly turned away at hospital  Volunteers told to stop bringing patients to 'full' Serdang Hospital.

---

What are people saying?

	PM buying time with Parliament committee nonsense By Malaysiakini readers
	Retail sector - an open letter to the PM By Malaysia Shopping Malls Association
	Sexual harassment - apply legal values, mechanisms By Fatin Nur Majdina Nordin

---

KINI LENS