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MCA's Loke admits to mooting DPM II; Orang Asli blockade arrests

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

MCA's Loke admits to mooting DPM II

Former MCA deputy secretary-general Loke Yuen Yow confirmed he had, in 2009, suggested the creation of a second deputy prime minister position, to be filled by an MCA leader, but said it was made in his personal capacity.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak denied MCA requested for a DPM post as claimed by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir had initially mistakenly said DAP sought the DPM post, prompting a DAP denial, but he later corrected himself to say he meant MCA.

MCA's publicity chief Chai Kim Sen said DAP's admission that it is not after the DPM post showed it no longer believes a non-Malay can be prime minister, and has abandoned its "Malaysian Malaysia" ideals.

More arrests as Orang Asli blockade dismantled again

Five Orang Asli activists from the interiors of Gua Musang were arrested by the Forestry Department after their anti-logging blockade was dismantled by the department.

The arrests came barely a week after a magistrate's court in Gua Musang quashed a logging company's bid to dismantle the Orang Asli anti-logging blockade.

Other Kinibites

MCA said Umno could risk breaking up BN if the Umno-led federal government takes over PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355).

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said the party's seven backbenchers would vote against the bill, even if it is tabled by the government, if the bill is unconstitutional.

Tourism Malaysia offices nationwide will be closed with immediate effect to avoid job duplication with state agencies promoting tourism, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

The move is estimated to save the federal government RM6 million annually, Nazri said.

AirAsia X denied allegations that it sought personal favours or gratification from jet engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce PLC, following UK's Serious Fraud Office naming AirAsia Group as one of several foreign parties involved in a bribery case with the jet engine manufacturers.

Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin offered Mahathir a tour of the Gelang Patah Forest City project, which was heavily criticised by Mahathir.

PSM urged police to investigate the assault of the lorry driver under Section 325 of the Penal Code, for causing grievous hurt, instead of Section 147 which is for rioting, as the use of Section 147 could lead to the acquittal of the assailants.

Looking ahead

The Federal Court will hear the application from former Selangor menteri besar Mohd Khir Toyo and his wife for a judicial review of the forfeiture of their Balinese-style mansion, the purchase of which landed Khir in jail for corruption.

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