Good morning. Here's what you need to know today.
Key Highlights
PM term limit bill ready, if needed
Najib's 1MDB 'good deed'
Nenggiri forest under threat
PM term limit bill ready, if needed
A bill to impose a two-term limit on the prime minister post is ready, and could be tabled in Parliament next month together with the anti-hopping law.
However, de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said whether or not the term limit bill is tabled is up to the government and those on the memorandum of understanding committee.
This is because his team was tasked to focus on other reforms rather than the constitutional amendment.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | All questions raised by cabinet resolved. |
 | The bar is one of the government’s proposals |
 | ‘It's enshrined in our Federal Constitution’ |
Najib's 1MDB 'good deed'
Besides alleged money-laundering, graft, and campaign financing, 1MDB funds under former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's watch had also been used for used charitable purposes, such as sponsoring haj pilgrimages.
Former chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan revealed in court that Najib also had a soft spot for at least one 'low-paid' civil servant.
Sidek said Najib felt his salary of RM29,125 per month as chief secretrary was too low, and out of the "goodness of his heart" gave him a cushy job on 1MDB's board of advisors.
The board position gave Sidek an extra RM30,000 a month in salary, from July 2010 to June 2012. Best yet, he didn't have to attend a single meeting.
Subscribe to Malaysiakini for more news on Najib's 1MDB trial.
HIGHLIGHT
 | Lip Eng takes the ex-top civil servant to task. |
 | 'Govt policy is the policy of the party in power,' |
 | Lebanese jewellery company also claiming for the bracelet. |
Nenggiri forest under threat
The Nenggiri forest in Gua Musang, Kelantan - home to Temiar Orang Asli communities and also various forms of wildlife - is under threat.
A hydroelectric dam that has been planned for almost a decade, had entered the implementation stage as of late March.
The Temiar have repeatedly raised concerns that the dam would submerge four Orang Asli settlements in the area as well as flood 5,384ha of forest land (about 43,000 Olympic swimming pools).
They have proposed the construction of smaller dams as a compromise in a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, logging in the proposed dam site - including at a site one marked as a virgin jungle reserve - is already underway, reportedly by a Kelantan state GLC.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | It underscores the importance of engagement with indigenous peoples. |
 | 'If we don't look after the ocean, we lose its benefits.' |
 | ‘How sea creatures adapt to their environment is amazing.’ |
What are people saying?
| By R Nadeswaran |
 | By Eric Loo |
 | By Malaysiakini readers |
What else is happening?
Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has instructed the state Islamic department not to obstruct the upcoming Japanese Bon Odori event in Shah Alam, saying it does not threaten Muslim faith.
Not quite sure what Bon Odori is? Read our Kiniguide.Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz denied he has plans to contest in Kuala Selangor.
Antiviral Paxlovid courses will now be used to treat Covid-19 in private hospitals - for free.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Duo earlier charged with trafficking ganja, possessing cannabis oil. |
 | It also shows some have opted not to return. |
 | ‘Issues cannot be resolved by Defence Ministry alone.’ |
