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Key Highlights

• Azmin on the horizon to be DPM
  
  
• Rocky start for the new PM
  
  
• Covid-19 rampages outside Klang Valley
  
  

Azmin on the horizon to be DPM

Gombak MP Azmin Ali appears to have become the front runner in the race to become deputy prime minister.

Sources from Bersatu and Umno have indicated that this will likely become reality.

Umno sources, however, claim that this was done after Azmin threatened to withdraw support for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Azmin's aide denied the allegations, calling them malicious.

The former PKR deputy president is believed to have been a key architect for the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government last year, together with fellow deputy prime minister candidate Hamzah Zainuddin.

HIGHLIGHT

	GPS wants Borneo-led Rural Development Ministry 'It will be more meaningful to us'
	MCA wants attention on Chinese new villages 'New minister must understand villages' needs'
	Yeoh, friends urge opposition parties to join Harapan This is in line with a 'big tent' concept.

Rocky start for the new PM

Prime Minister Ismail has hit a rough patch just a few days into office.

His working trip to visit flood-ravaged areas in Kedah has been marred by the large Umno delegation that tagged along.

Criticism is being hurled over the Umno MPs catching a ride with the prime minister on board a government jet.

The entourage was also reportedly so large that 50 cars were allegedly part of Ismail's convoy.

An Umno supreme council member warned party leaders not to overdo following the prime minister around.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Zahid: New govt must avoid Muhyiddin's failures He lists down the previous govt's mistakes.
	Ku Li calls for confidence vote soon This is to ensure the legitimacy of the new PM.
	Dr M: Don't hold a confidence vote so soon He says the PM may fail in the vote.

Covid-19 rampages outside Klang Valley

The Klang Valley is showing signs of recovery as Covid-19 figures begin to drop beyond a weekend underreporting in Selangor.

However, the situation in other states is worsening.

Five states - Sabah, Penang, Johor, Kelantan and Perlis - reported record high cases yesterday.

It was also the first time Sabah reported more than 3,000 cases, while Penang reported more than 2,000 cases.

Besides the Klang Valley, only Negeri Sembilan and Labuan have an infectivity rate or R-naught of below 1 - suggesting that an outbreak is in decline.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Labuan first to move to Phase 4 of NRP Over 92 pct of Labuan adults have been fully vaccinated.
	Health DG encourages use of face shields 'Face shields can be quickly, affordably produced.'
	MOE: 1,517 school children lost parents to Covid-19 A task force will channel aid and care.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 20,837 new cases yesterday (Aug 24).
  
  
• 211 fatalities pushed the death toll to 14,533.
  
  
• 40 of the deceased brought in died before reaching the hospitals.
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital bed capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

What else is happening?

• Khairy Jamaluddin reportedly signed off on Lynas extending its deadline to build a permanent disposal facility (PDF) before leaving office.
  
  
• The government offered 300 contract doctors permanent jobs, but one-third of the doctors snubbed the offer.
  
  
• Prosecutors have decided not to take action against graphic artist Fahmi Reza over a satirical artwork using the image of the queen.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Harapan lists 4 areas of reforms for new PM This includes fiscal, institutional, legal and NRP.
	MMA roasts 'clueless' CITF for dropping GPs CITF asked why it is not acting according to Health DG's advice.
	Iranian man freed after 152 days 'unlawful' detention He was not presented to a magistrate for a remand order.

CARTOON KINI