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

Expelled North Korea envoy fires farewell salvo

Expelled North Korean envoy Kang Chol expressed "grave concern over the extreme measures taken by the Malaysian government" in a final salvo before departing Malaysia on a flight to Beijing.

He was expelled over scathing remarks on the alleged assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un, at KLIA2 on Feb 13.

North Korea also declared Malaysia's envoy to the republic a persona non grata, but this was standard reciprocal practice in diplomacy and the Malaysian envoy has returned on Putrajaya's instructions weeks ago, Wisma Putra clarified.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Kang Chol was kicked out because he was "rude", while Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican said the government had given due consideration to the matter before deciding to expel the envoy.

Najib also said Malaysia was determined to solve the murder, and will not hand over the body to North Korea until the identity of the deceased has been ascertained.

The Jong-nam murder has also reignited interest in a four-decade-old case involving the disappearance of four Malaysians and a Singaporean woman, where North Korean agents were similarly suspected.

Speculation over gov't-linked operatives in pastor's abduction

Gerakan deputy Youth chief Andy Yong urged police to end speculations following talks that the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh was influenced by someone with authority in government.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak expressed concern over the Feb 13 abduction - the first from the cabinet to do so - but urged all not to jump to conclusions.

Meanwhile, Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh expressed disappointment over road blocks and heavy police presence at the vigil in solidarity with Koh, which was attended by about 300 people in Shah Alam on Sunday night.

Dr M for Langkawi?

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad challenged Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz to contest against him in Langkawi in the next general election in a posting on his son Mukhriz Mahathir's fan club Facebook page.

The Bersatu chairperson said this in response to Nazri's dare for Mahathir to contest against him at Nazri's constituency of Padang Rengas.

However, Mahathir later clarified that while he applauds Nazri's bravado, he had no intention of contesting in the 14th general election.

Meanwhile, former information minister Zainuddin Maidin ridiculed Nazri for declining Mahathir's challenge to contest in Langkawi.

Other Kinibites

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V expressed displeasure at corrupt civil servants as well as those who leak government information in his speech, while officially opening the Dewan Rakyat sitting for 2017.

Election data analysis showed that even a five-percent swing from BN among voters in Felda settlements could cost ministers Liow Tiong Lai and Ismail Sabri Yaakob and deputy minister Chua Tee Yong their seats in Parliament.

Manual distribution of Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) aid in Perak invited scorn after recipients, including the elderly, are made to queue in "disorganised" events.

Looking ahead

Parliamentary debates for the 2017 session commences. In this first meeting of 2017, the Parliament will sit for 20 days from March 6 to April 6.