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

China scuttles Bandar Malaysia deal

A consortium which was supposed to buy a 60 percent stake in Bandar Malaysia for RM7.41 billion failed to make payment, reportedly due to China's refusal to endorse the massive investment.

However, the consortium comprising Iskandar Waterfront Holdings and China Railway Engineering Corporation disputed claims that they had failed to make payment and will take legal action over the termination of the deal.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua questioned whether 1MDB or the government will refund the RM741 million deposit to the consortium following the cancellation of the deal.

1MDB chairperson Irwan Serigar Abdullah refused to comment on the collapse of the deal. He however repeatedly insisted that the Bandar Malaysia project “is still on”.

Perkasa hailed the collapse of the deal, stating that the government can now ensure bumiputera participation in the Bandar Malaysia project.

The SRC ‘bagman’

PKR president Rafizi Ramli questioned why Bank Negara let a trader who had withdrawn RM43 million in cash cheques which originated from SRC International off the hook.

Rafizi also claimed that Prime Minister Najib Razak had disbursed funds originating from SRC International to a company belonging to his aide.

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz urged those claiming evidence that Umno received funds linked to SRC International to lodge a report with the authorities.

SRC International will be selling its assets to repay a RM310 million loan it owes the government.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it will proceed with certain graft cases after the general election to avoid them being used as election fodder.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang likened the investigation of the 1990s forex scandal to probing an "elephant carcass", warning that they should not wait another 25 years to probe the current 1MDB scandal.

Johor sultan takes swipe at newspaper

Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Iskandar, in a speech read out by his son Ismail Ibrahim, described a newspaper which had been critical of his expansive powers as "good for wrapping nasi lemak".

The sultan, who has invited investment from China into his state, also said that people shouldn't be choosy over sources of investment.

Bank Negara said an interagency initiative led by the Attorney-General's Chambers will act against illegal financial schemes.

Other Kinibites

Pakatan Harapan invited a public submission of logos for the opposition coalition after an internal design received brickbats for being unappealing.

The case of an alleged death threat against Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah has been classified as "No Further Action" (NFA).

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he is bracing for jail over his corruption case, which he insists is politically motivated.

High Court judge Kamaludin Md Said, who is presiding over Najib's defamation case against Malaysiakini, was transferred back to Kuala Lumpur.

Syariah Chief Justice Mahamad Ibrahim and Syariah High Court judge Muhamad Abdul Karim Wahab lodged a police report against PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, accusing him of slandering the syariah courts.

Looking ahead

A coalition of NGOs are holding a press conference on missing pastor Raymond Koh and other alleged abduction cases this morning.