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

China deals and Malaysia's sovereignty

Malaysia inked 14 memorandums of understanding (MOU) with China worth a whopping RM143.6 billion as part of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's six-day visit there.

Najib in a commentary in Beijing-based China Daily also lashed out at "former colonial powers", telling them not to meddle in the affairs of former colonies.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned that Najib's deals with China may threaten Malaysia's sovereignty, in particular over the South China Sea dispute between the two countries.

Bersatu unveils line-up

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia unveiled its leadership line-up, where Mukhriz Mahathir was named deputy president.

However, the line-up which included the appointment of former election commission chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, was met with some internal criticism.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said the party welcomes former finance minister II Ahmad Husni Hanazlah if he is interested to join the party.

 

In another development, Muhyiddin revealed Bersatu had entered into talks with PAS on a possible electoral pact.

PAS, after shunning Pakatan Harapan, also indicated that it was now prepared for talks on condition its potential partners did not interfere in the Islamic party's internal matters.

Dataran Merdeka off limits

Kuala Lumpur City Hall rejected Bersih and the red-shirts' requests to hold separate rallies at Dataran Merdeka.

Jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, in a note released through his party, called on Malaysians to participate in the Bersih 5 protest on Nov 19.

The red-shirts announced a plan to protest outside independent news portal Malaysiakini on Saturday.

Open Society Foundations said claims it was trying to overthrow the Malaysian government were untrue.

Other Kinibites

A Singapore court was told that former banker Yeo Jiawei, implicated in aiding the laundering of 1MDB-linked funds, had accompanied billionaire Jho Low on his jet to watch a boxing match.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia dared Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng not to attend Parliament when he is chairing the sitting after the lawmaker called him a "disgrace".

Mahathir called Pandikar a "government goalkeeper", accusing him of deflecting tough questions on the government in Parliament.

Ahmad Husni's aide denied his boss was involved in a sex scandal as alleged by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

MPs questioned how the East Coast Rail Link's RM30 billion project could have ballooned to RM55 billion and asked for the feasibility study to be made public.

Looking ahead

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar is to call a press conference today amid mounting criticisms against him.

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali's bid to declassify the auditor-general's report on 1MDB will be heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Bersih will meet with police at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters over its Nov 19 rally.

Jamal and his red-shirts are calling a press conference outside Malaysiakini's office at 2.30pm.