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

Najib’s stark warning

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has warned of a fresh bid to split the nation, alluding to actions by two nemesis turned ally, jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Meanwhile, Anwar in a commentary piece in US-based Washington Post urged international support to hold Najib to account for his alleged “misdeeds”.

Mahathir’s legacy

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak denied the government was out to destroy Mahathir’s legacy, stating that if this were true, Putrajaya would have demolished the Petronas Twin Towers.

Prime Minister’s Department officer Rizal Mansor also said that national car maker Proton should not have to choose suppliers and contractors linked to Mahathir.

Meanwhile, Mahathir’s son Mokhzani resigned as Sepang International Circuit chairperson after 13 years at helm. It’s not clear whether he is a casualty in the war between Mahathir and Najib.

Spotlight on rulers’ meet

Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah said it was a mistake to think that the Agong can influence how the government is run

This was amid speculation that the new Agong could take a more vocal approach as efforts are being made to lobby for royal intervention over the government’s involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah attended the second day of the Conference of Rulers meeting at Istana Negara, and a new Agong is set to be announced today to serve a new five-year term.

Meanwhile, across the northern border, Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest-serving monarch in history, passed away.

Other Kinibites

Ex-senator Ezam Mohd Nor, a former PKR leader who defected to Umno more than a decade ago, joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Bersatu secretary-general Shahruddin Salleh denied being racist when he said those who could not converse in the national language should have their citizenship stripped, stating that it was posed as a question, not a suggestion.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill is set to be tabled in this month’s Parliament sitting after it was listed as the fourth item in the Order Paper.

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan apologised and promised the delay in allowances for 21,000 matriculation students since August will not recur.

Cosmetics millionaire Hasmiza Othman, better known as ‘Datuk Seri Vida’, was charged in the Sessions Court in Ipoh with failing to pay RM4.2 million in Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Newly-minted PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin vowed the party will not work with DAP even if it means three-cornered fights in the next general election.

Looking ahead

Bersih is set to file a legal suit against the Election Commission for failing to provide sufficient land mass information for its redelineation exercise.

Political parties will be filing more objections against the redelineation as today is the last day for submissions.

A group of protesters favouring royal intervention in the scandal-plagued government will be gathering outside Istana Negara to “show their respect” amid the Conference of Rulers meeting.

The Conference of Rulers is expected to vote on the new Agong for the next five years.