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

Gov’t may back bonds to buy Eagle High

Putrajaya will likely provide a guarantee on the sukuk bonds that will be issued soon to finance Federal Land Development Authority’s (Felda) controversial acquisition of a stake in Indonesia’s PT Eagle High Plantations Tbk (EHP), StarBiz reported.

The sukuk bonds will provide half of the RM2.26 billion required to acquire a 37 percent stake in EHP.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, however, questioned if Felda has the financial capacity to undergo required replanting for its existing plantations, let alone fund the EHP buy.

PAS accuses Amanah of seat grab

PAS said Amanah is showing its true colours after the splinter party’s information chief Khalid Samad said it wants to contest 40 seats including those contested by PKR in GE13.

However, Khalid the 40 parliamentary seats are those Amanah believes it can win but it is up for discussion with Pakatan Harapan.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said the party will not steal seats from its allies, nor contest against them.

Public discussions over seats could, however, undermine the Harapan-Bersatu pact, said a Universiti Utara Malaysia political analyst.

Other Kinibites

Award-winning journalist R Nadeswaran announced his retirement to write a book on corruption called ‘Curi-curi Malaysia’.

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said the move to lift tax exemption for religious bodies signals desperation to fill government coffers.

Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos filed a suit against the Selangor government to stop the local council of Sabak Bernam from demolishing his resort in Sekinchan.

Russia, Iran and Turkey seek to broker a deal to dice Syria into zones of influence, with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to remain president for at least a few more years, sources tell Reuters.

Actress and writer Carrie Fisher, most known for her role as the iconic Princess Leia in ‘Star Wars’, dies after suffering a heart attack at age 60.

Looking ahead

The new LRT coaches will have its first run today.

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali is scheduled to be questioned by Shah Alam police for allegedly insulting the inspector-general of police.