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

'Superman' quits over South China Sea row

Outspoken DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, popularly known as 'Superman' for his penchant to sport attire featuring the superhero's logo, announced his immediate resignation from the party after brickbats were thrown his way over his Facebook post that the South China Sea belongs to China.

This was after he was taken to task by figures from both sides of the political divide who called for DAP to take immediate action against Hew for what they say are his unpatriotic comments that may disparage Malaysian sovereignty.

Hew had earlier defended his remarks, saying that patriotism is too narrow a perspective for historians like himself when viewing maritime disputes which involve regional and global peace.

Dr M to set up new party

Ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed there are talks to form a new party to be part of the Save Malaysia movement where he will be "first among equals", though not necessarily the president, arguing that this is necessary as existing opposition parties are "sometimes not attractive" to others.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak however was not impressed with what he termed as Mahathir's "last throw of the dice", sniping that "it takes more than forming parties and coalitions to win elections".

Political pundit and Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat opined that the new party would attract those who are against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, particularly Umno rebels who are wary of Amanah which is too new, and averse to DAP's diverging ideology as well as "Anwarites’ PKR".

PAS ceasefire U-turn poser

Following his call for a truce among opposition parties, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man appeared to take a step back, with a statement calling for differences between the parties to be respected, noting that PAS had soldiered on alone in the political battlefield in the past and may do so still to stay true to its principles.

This was followed by what may be a response to the ceasefire offer by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who in a statement reiterated that the Islamic party cannot walk hand in hand with neither sworn enemies nor duplicitous friends.

Responding to the ceasefire call, Mahathir said that his camp and the opposition will not attack PAS if they are not attacked first, pointing out that the politically diverse factions joined together under the Save Malaysia group which he leads, had themselves agreed to have a similar truce among themselves.

More Kini bites

Swiss financial authority Finma told Malaysiakini it has flagged four 1MDB-linked transactions in Singapore for investigations involving suspicious dealings with possible violations of Swiss law, though it declined to name the Swiss bank involved.

Police have shot dead the main suspect in the Batu Maung chicken factory shooting case last night near the Kek Lok Si temple in Air Itam Penang, reports Berita Harian.

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) claimed that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has increased costs for small businesses, citing respondents to its 2016 SME taxation survey report.

Looking ahead

Whistleblower website Sarawak Report will continue to publish extracts from the alleged auditor-general's report on 1MDB, which is still sealed under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). It had earlier published what it said is the executive summary.

At 2pm today, PAS Youth will gather in front of the Myanmar embassy on Jalan Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur, to protest the persecution of Rohingya Muslims.