Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
story images
story images
mk-logo
News
Jong-nam's body embalmed; fight child sexual abuse; Bersatu denies backing Act 355

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

Jong-nam's body embalmed

The body of murdered North Korean national Kim Jong-nam has been preserved to prevent deterioration, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. "Yes, we have preserved the body as it is kept in the morgue and there has been fear of decay," Zahid told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Zahid also said 50 North Korean workers in Sarawak would be deported because their work visas have expired, explaining that they are among more than 170 North Koreans working in mines in the Borneo state, in a government-to-government arrangement.

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said it is a "good proposal" to allow the two North Korean suspects in the murder of Kim Jong-nam to leave Malaysia, in return for the release of the nine Malaysians in North Korea, as it can ensure the safety of the Malaysians.

Fight child sexual abuse

Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, is urging everyone to unite and take part in raising awareness about sexual crimes against children. She called on parliamentarians and all sections of society to support the Child Sexual Crimes Bill, which will be tabled in during the current sitting of Parliament.

However, DAP lawmaker Teo Nie Ching wants the government to include a ban on child marriages as well in the proposed new law.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said related that MPs can propose amendments, including adding a provision to outlaw child marriages, in the new law, though she clarified that the law focuses more on sexual crimes, and not other elements such as child marriages.

Bersatu denies supporting Act 355 amendments

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin has denied agreeing to the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 or Act 355. "We will wait and see the final form that will be tabled first," he said at a press conference yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bersatu will be making a formal request to join Pakatan Harapan, but it first wants the coalition's name and logo changed, as well as for a manifesto to be worked out before the next general election, Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad said at the same press conference.

In a show of solidarity, Selangor Pakatan Harapan Youth wings and their counterparts in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will be holding a campaign against racism in the run-up to the 14th general election.

More Kinibites

The government has launched a website to help the people detect fake news, to provide a one-stop centre where one can verify whether a news article is false or not. Communications and Mulitmedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said the site, 'sebenarnya.my', has nothing to do with the forthcoming 14th general election.

Malaysians should be thankful that the retail price of sugar in the country is lower than in Thailand, despite the 11 sen a kilo hike earlier this month, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said.

Walt Disney has decided to shelve the release of “Beauty and the Beast” in Malaysia, despite the Malaysian Censorship Board approving the movie with a minor cut to what is described as a “gay moment” in the fairy tale adaptation, according to a news report.

Looking ahead

Today is the day the Batumalai brothers, both convicted of murder, are scheduled to be executed, despite an appeal for clemency pending with the Pardons Board.

ADS