Good morning. Here are our picks for today.
Key Highlight
PN’s Pelangai move
Court denies Mahathir’s application
Special ID for subsidised cooking oil
PN’s Pelangai move
Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition could take over the Pahang state government through defections if it were to win the upcoming Pelangai by-election.
Muhyiddin also hinted that PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (above) will be the next Pahang menteri besar if this happens.
Pahang has yet to enact an anti-hopping law aimed at preventing elected representatives from defecting to a different party than the one they were elected on.
If PN were to win the Pelangai by-election, they would only have four fewer representatives than the government side.
The Pelangai by-election is set to take place on Oct 7.
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Court denies Mahathir’s application
Dr Mahathir Mohamad has failed in his bid to compel Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reveal documents linked to the latter’s claim that the former had amassed personal riches while in power.
These documents are related to Mahathir’s RM150 million defamation suit against Anwar.
Mahathir is suing Anwar over the claim the latter made during a policy speech at PKR’s special national congress earlier on March 18.
Anwar had previously cited multiple alleged bail-outs of companies linked to Mahathir’s children, as well as purported cronyism and nepotism during Mahathir’s first stint as prime minister.
Mahathir then countered that Anwar is a pathological liar who has never furnished proof of the allegations.
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Special ID for subsidised cooking oil
The government is mulling the introduction of special identification cards for those really deserving to purchase subsidised cooking oil.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh said under the current open market system, even the well-to-do are buying subsidised products.
A special identification system would also help prevent the issue of foreigners purchasing subsidised products, she said.
It is unclear how Fuziah’s proposal would integrate with an earlier announcement from Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, who said the government was working on building a mega database profiling 10 million households to be used to target subsidies.
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Views that matter
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By S Thayaparan |
 | By Sharifah Rose Ee |
Other news that matter
Despite earlier reports and weeks of intense speculation, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said there will be no cabinet reshuffle on Oct 4.
A Terengganu PAS assemblyperson wants the state government to take strict action against Muslim tourists wearing revealing clothes when visiting the state.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has defended a direct negotiation deal over the sale of state-owned land in Byram, South Seberang Perai.
The Home Ministry justified its banning of a comic book, saying the publication posed harm to morals, public interest and state interests by causing concern and unrest in the community.
Bersatu information chief Razali Idris reportedly said the party will not hold elections for the party’s top posts, supreme council and division levels this year.
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