KINI ROUNDUP Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

PM deals with budget expectations

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, in an apparent bid to manage expectations over Budget 2017 amid shrinking revenue, released a message stressing the new budget is not meant for short-term political gains.

He also scoffed at claims that the country will go bankrupt and hinted that there will be more BR1M cash handouts.

Malaysiakini also took a look at what to watch out for in Budget 2017.

More intimidation against Bersih

Bersih was hit by more intimidation, this time with the car of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah's son splashed with red paint.

Maria said she has to take extra precautions over concerns about her family's safety.

Meanwhile shortly after he was released, Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, who was arrested over the red shirts provocations against Bersih, vowed to "wage war" against the pro-democracy group.

Umno MP Noh Omar insisted following Jamal's arrest, Bersih leaders should also be probed for sedition for "inciting hatred" against the government.

However, inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar said critics shouldn't tell the police how to do their job.

Syariah spotlight in Parliament

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang may be pushing for amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to facilitate Kelantan's hudud laws, but the government now says it too is looking at introducing its own amendments.

Meanwhile, PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Hadi's planned amendments must be within the framework of the federal constitution, and asked that Hadi as well as Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak clarify the matter.

In another development, Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia barred MPs from raising the Department of Justice case against 1MDB in Parliament, claming that whatever is said in the House could be used by the US for the case.

Meanwhile, IGP Khalid said cops are still trying to track down some unnamed witnesses for its 1MDB investigation.

Other Kinibites

Setev Shaariibuu spoke about the justice owed to his daughter Altantuya, who was murdered in Malaysia and blown up with military grade explosives 10 years ago.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Sabah conducted 19 new arrests and seized RM4.2 million over graft in the state's water department.

Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said the common man will still receive subsidy for cooking oil and the government was merely cracking down on abuse.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun's defamation suit against PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, who had accused him of involvement in property graft in Australia.

Looking ahead

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will be tabling his Budget 2017 in Parliament at 4pm.

Bersih will be holding a press conference in support of its leader Maria Chin Abdullah after a series of threats.