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

PMO denies Najib pressured Thais

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has denied Swiss daily Le Temps' report that Najib Razak had a hand in preventing the prisoner transfer of PetroSaudi International ex-employee and 1MDB whistleblower from Thailand to his home country of Switzerland.

Regardless of the cause, authorities in Switzerland said they “regretted” Thailand’s decision not to extradite the Swiss national.

The PMO also said that Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor and her early child education brainchild Permata have declined to receive the 'Lead by Example' award in New York which has been deferred to next year following controversies over the award to avoid “further distraction from the important work for the children of Malaysia”.

MCA rejects EC’s redelineation

BN's Chinese-based component party MCA has opposed the redelineation exercise proposed by the Election Commission (EC), saying it will see the country’s minorities losing their political rights while the majority bumiputeras will dominate the electoral process, reports party organ MCA online.

This is despite that Selangor DAP saying that the proposed boundary changes will see the bundling of non-BN voters into a handful of extra-large “super constituencies” and thus allowing BN to win many smaller seats, paving the way for yet another victory for the ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, electoral watchdog Bersih is contemplating filing a legal suit against EC over the malapportionment of constituencies. It cited Section 2C of the 13th Schedule of the Federal Constitution which requires all constituencies to be approximately equal in size.

Responding to accusations that the EC redelineation is doing the party favours, PAS insisted it did not gain from the exercise. Party vice-president Iskandar Samad argued that the process would benefit Umno and those who say otherwise "don't know how to count".

Gestapo tactics rued

The government should stop using Gestapo-like tactics to stifle free speech and harass dissidents, said Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago in respond to the early morning arrest of ex-journalist Sidek Kamiso over a tweet which supposedly insults Islam.

Meanwhile inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar erred when he said no warrant was required to arrest Sidek for allegedly breaching the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), said lawyers.

In fact, some lawyers argued that Sidek could sue the cops for wrongful arrest since he was detained without a warrant, as required by Section 258 of the CMA.

In a related matter, DAP lawmaker Jeff Ooi was released from police custody after four hours of questioning at the Penang Northeast police headquarters for retweeting Sidek's tweet.

More Kini Bites

Himpunan Merah leader Jamal Md Yunos warned Bersih 2.0 that his band of red-shirted brethren would confront the movement’s supporters if they dare to gather this year. This is irrespective of whatever consequences such an encounter between the two groups would bring.

Direct interference by the government and indirect pressure it applies via twisting the arms of media owners are adversely affecting the rakyat's right to be informed, lamented press freedom activists.

Those with information on child abuse cases should report it to the relevant authorities and not make them viral on social media, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Chew Mei Fun.

The Malaysian Paralympics contingent will be feted upon arrival at Kompleks Bunga Raya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday with a celebratory city parade in an open-top bus from Jalan Tun Razak to KLCC to follow suit.

Looking ahead

The Johor sultan will be holding a tea-party with Chinese associations at the Chinese Hall in Istana Besar today.