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Key Highlights
Has KJ decided?
Govt won’t compel paid internships
Battle for Suhakam
Has KJ decided?
Khairy Jamaluddin has been relatively vague about his political leanings since being sacked from Umno.
While he claimed to have received a number of membership offers - and even toyed with the idea of forming his own party - Khairy has given the impression that he is leaning towards one side, Perikatan Nasional.
Khairy met with Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, and both sides have not yet said anything about what was discussed.
One PN source, however, claimed that Khairy has committed to support the coalition in the upcoming polls, without joining any party.
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Govt won’t compel paid internships
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wants companies to give their interns a reasonable allowance to cover their expenses.
However, he said the government will not be coming up with a policy on internships as this can’t be forced on the companies.
It is unclear how this is different from government policies that affect the private sector, such as minimum wage requirements and local worker quotas for the manufacturing sector - among others.
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Battle for Suhakam
All is not well with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).
The commission - which has long struggled with being a toothless tiger - now appears to be at odds with itself.
The commission’s deputy secretary, Shahizad Sulaiman, had filed a complaint against chairperson Rahmat Mohamad for alleged racial discrimination and abuse of power.
Rahmat retaliated with a defamation suit, which was later dropped.
This has prompted civil society groups - who are usually allied with Suhakam - to pressure the commission’s chairperson to go on leave.
Rahmat has, however, found unlikely allies in the form of conservative Muslim NGOs who believe that Suhakam is more inclusive now.
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Views that matter
 | By S Thayaparan |
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 | By Terence Netto |
Other news that matter
The relocation of contract doctors being transitioned into permanent positions may result in critical understaffing, Hartal Doktor Kontrak warned.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, however, assured that the new contract vacancies will be filled immediately.
The government has ruled out pegging the ringgit in order to overcome the current currency depreciation.
Meanwhile, the government is lowering stamp duties for stock trades, and speeding up the IPO listing process in an effort to reinvigorate Bursa Malaysia.
An election petition to invalidate PN’s win in Gua Musang will go to full trial.
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