Good morning. Here's what you should know today.
Key Highlights
Dr M challenges Anwar
MCA-DAP friendly fire
End to mandatory execution
Dr M challenges Anwar
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is setting the stage for another bout with his former protege Anwar Ibrahim.
After being accused that he enriched himself and his children for three decades, Mahathir is demanding Anwar furnish proof to these allegations.
He has also demanded Anwar retract the remarks or face a lawsuit.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
|
MCA-DAP friendly fire
A parliamentary faux-pas when Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying did not have answers ready for a written question, has triggered friendly fire between MCA and DAP.
MCA took potshots at Lim, saying she should have her pay docked by RM10 and likening her to an ill-prepared student taking an exam.
DAP shot back saying that MCA should be aiming at PN instead.
MCA and DAP were fierce rivals for the non-Malay vote in the past, but are now strange bedfellows in the coalition government.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
End to mandatory execution
The government is on track to end the mandatory death penalty.
Several offences where a death sentence was already optional will also be amended so that it is only punishable with imprisonment and whipping.
The proposed legal amendments will also end "natural life imprisonment" and replace it with a 30-40 year prison term.
The 30-year "life imprisonment" sentence will still remain for certain offences.
The bill will be debated on April 3 and is expected to pass in the Dewan Rakyat on April 4.
It will accompany a second bill that gives the Federal Court authority to commute the sentences of death row inmates in line with the new amendments.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By S Thayaparan |
 | By Loh Wei Leng |
Other news that matter
One hundred and thirty-seven Orang Asli from the Bateq Mayah ethnic group are suing to nullify their status as Muslims, claiming the community was forced to convert 30 years ago to avoid torture.
Eight victims of the 2021 LRT crash are suing Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd and Prasarana over injuries sustained.
The full grounds of judgment of the ruling to strike out former premier Najib Abdul Razak's wrongful prosecution suit against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas is out.
Judge Ahmad Bache ruled that Najib's suit was "filled with unconnected political issues” and lacked details on Thomas' alleged involvement in the wrongful prosecution.
The cause of UUM student S Vinosiny's death is still shrouded in mystery.
While police said she died from electrocution, the Energy Commission said otherwise.
The MACC has reportedly identified 20 individuals, including two aides to a former prime minister, as having assets abroad linked to 1MDB.
The government will return RM2.1 million which was allegedly linked to 1MDB and forfeited from PBRS, Pahang MCA, and the family of the late former Paya Besar MP Abdul Manan Ismail.
This is after the government agreed not to challenge their appeal.
The Court of Appeal allowed Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to have his passport back permanently for international travel to attend official functions.
Zahid hinted that some reshuffling in the Malacca government might soon include Pakatan Harapan.
Anwar Ibrahim's first budget as prime minister passed in the Dewan Rakyat with just a voice vote.
Budget 2023 will now be debated in the Dewan Negara.
Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin backed down from a proposal to allow political parties to set up branches in public university campuses, after opposition from lawmakers.
The Economy Ministry has launched “KitaJaga”, an application that can display the daily price of items according to a specific locality.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
