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

WSJ: 1MDB funds laundered through legal loopholes

Loopholes in the regulation on trust accounts held by US law firms allegedly allowed them to be abused for money-laundering purposes, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing 1MDB as an example.

One is that law firms need not disclose the source of cash held in trust accounts, which can be used to purchase property, the US financial daily reported.

DAP-PKR to swap seats in Sarawak?

Responding to speculation, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said there are several seat swap proposals made to PKR, including for the seat of Miri.

However, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said there is no talk of seat swaps but if winnability is a concern, Pakatan Harapan parties can discuss which party should contest in a particular seat.

MRT 1 twice as expensive as similar projects

Malaysia's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 1 project, which began operations last week, costs double that of similar projects in Spain and South Korea, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said.

The Barcelona Santa-La Sagrera line completed in 2011 cost US$39 million per km while the Seoul Line 9 MRT project completed in 2009 cost US$43 million per km.

At an exchange rate of RM4 per US dollar, the MRT Line 1 would cost US$103 million per km, Rafizi said.

Other Kinibites

Universiti Malaya students who were suspended and fined for their involvement in the “Tangkap MO1” rally last August are seeking a court order that UM's action is unconstitutional.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail disagreed with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia cash aid is corruption, a statement that is fodder for attack by Umno leaders.

Bank Negara Malaysia takes action against a financial institution for failing to disclose findings that its dealers were fixing US dollar to ringgit rates.

Hospital Kuala Lumpur reportedly successfully reattached a boy's penis after it was severed in a botched circumcision.

Looking ahead

Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos is expected to file a legal challenge against the Sabak Bernam Municipal Council for demolishing his hotel, which the council said does not have a permit to operate.