Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday.

Straight fights in by-elections fizzle

Selangor PAS chief Iskandar Samad downplayed speculations that he and his party colleagues were asked to resign from the state government if PAS insisted on contesting in the Sungai Besar by-election.

He insisted that Sungai Besar is a traditional PAS seat and other parties should stand down.

As the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar seats were previously contested by PAS, splinter party Amanah is looking to contest in both but PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is seeking for PAS to stand down in Sungai Besar where PKR will contest as compromise.

Meanwhile, political analyst Shaharuddin Baharuddin dismissed speculations that he was a potential candidate for Sungai Besar if PKR were to contest, calling it "hearsay".

Despite the negotiations for one-on-one fight, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang appear resigned to the fact that that is unlikely to happen and believed that Pakatan Harapan can still win the two by-elections in three-cornered fights.

Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri gleefully said the opposition should continue bickering to Umno's benefit.

Meanwhile, a political analyst said with the disintegration with Pakatan Rakyat means direct fights with the opposition represented by either PAS or Harapan may not necessarily help the opposition and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno rebels are likely to play a more important role.

Travel ban laws questioned

Putrajaya's blurry stance on imposing travel bans against government critics courted criticism from DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who slammed the government for not making its position clear.

Meanwhile, lawyer Syahredzan Johan said there is no legal provision for the travel ban the government imposed on Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

The Star had reported that the Immigration Department had enforce a new rule where government critics would be barred from travelling overseas.

Deputy Home Minister Mohamed Nur Jazlan had denied this, but gave a vague explanation that the travel ban only applied to those who violated the federal constitution such as those engaging in sedition of inciting racial or religious hate.

Other Kini bites

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has yet to submit its investigation papers into Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's purchase of his bungalow at below market price.

The remains of Kho Jabing, who was executed in Singapore, arrived in Miri, Sarawak.

Umno supreme council leader Puad Zakarshi claimed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had confided in Umno leaders that he discussed the RM2.6 billion that went into his personal account with then Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz and had received the central bank's green light.

Looking ahead

The PAS central committee will meet tonight and journalists will be hoping that it will shed some light on whether PAS is prepared to compromise with Pakatan Harapan on the twin by-elections or press on alone.