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

Maria Chin arrested

Sabah police arrested Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah for distributing flyers on the electoral reform movement in Langkon, Kota Marudu, yesterday.

She was brought to Kota Marudu district police headquarters for questioning and was subsequently released on police bail three hours later.

Kota Marudu police chief supt Mohd Izaan Abdullah said she was suspected to have committed an offence under Section 11 of the Printing Machines and Publications Act 1984.

Meanwhile, DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok wanted to know if police would haul up Md Jamal Yunos for his “bathe in blood” comment, in reference to the red-shirts' efforts to stop the Nov 19 Bersih 5 rally.

Kok said it was unwise for inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar to play down such comments from Jamal as the red-shirts group that he leads has had a history of violence.

Ex-ministers to be probed

Khalid said three former cabinet ministers will be investigated under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972 for revealing government secrets including matters pertaining to 1MDB.

Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, former rural and regional development minister Mohd Shafie Apdal and former second finance minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah had allegedly leaked government secrets when debating on the 2017 Supply Bill at the Dewan Rakyat.

On a related note, Umno Youth exco Armand Azha Abu Hanifah criticised his party's bashing of Ahmad Husni, warning that such actions may backfire on the party.

Instead, Armand said it was better to focus on strengthening Umno and spreading the message of the party.

Najib's China power play

Najib's working trip to China is more to do with Malaysia eyeing investments from the superpower, than troubles with the US over the DOJ lawsuits related to 1MDB, analysts said.

Defence analyst Lam Choong Wah said Malaysia needed more money, but would not abandon its traditional allies, while Oh Ei Sun said issues related to 1MDB are over in Malaysia. But James Chin said this also shows how China is the only superpower willing to host Najib despite the 1MDB crisis.

Meanwhile, veteran former news editor A Kadir Jasin pointed out the irony of Umno vowing to fight what they describe as a "Chinese" DAP, while its own president was surrendering the country's strategic interests to China.

He said the relationship between Malaysia and China during former prime minister Abdul Razak's time was one of equals, but this was no longer the case.

Other Kini bites

Celebrity chef Redzuwan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, told critics not to blame him for the waste of 1,500 servings of Sarawak laksa or his comments on the increase in cooking oil prices.

Hundreds of homes including a village nearby Kampung Melayu Air Itam were flooded after continuous heavy rain hit Penang island since about 4pm yesterday, putting a damper on Deepavali celebrations.

Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Khairuddin Abu Hassan's resignation from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia shows he has no confidence in the party.

Looking ahead

Jamal will hold a red-shirts rally at Sungai Besar Umno's headquarters tomorrow afternoon, three weeks ahead of Bersih's planned rally.

Selangor DAP elected representatives will visit the location of the Sungai Buah river contamination tomorrow afternoon.