KINI ROUNDUP Here are the key headlines that you may have missed yesterday, in brief.
Threat to Malaysiakini condemned
Independent news portal Malaysiakini lodged a police report against the threat by Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos to "collapse" part of its Petaling Jaya office. The threat was made at a meeting with Malaysiakini editors on Thursday.
Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said despite various threats made by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, he had not followed through with them but Khalid advised Malaysiakini to lodge a police report.
The threat against Malaysiakini drew condemnation from several organisations, including the National Union of Journalists and the Institute of Journalists.
Malaysiakini, in an editorial piece, said it will not waver in its task to provide ‘news and views that matter’ despite the harassment and intimidation.
Meanwhile, Jamal's red-shirts movement took aim at another target, protesting outside former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Perdana Leadership Foundation building in Putrajaya.
Najib defends pivot to China
A US diplomat criticised Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's anti-Western rhetoric during his week-long visit to China, likening it to statements by Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he was prime minister.
Still in China, Najib announced the appointment of Alibaba founder Jack Ma as digital economy adviser to the Malaysian government.
The boss of the China-based company said he was very excited by the appointment.
Malaysian Armed Forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said Malaysia's purchase of four warships from China would help fortify the defence of the country's territorial waters.
Najib also deflected criticism that he was ‘selling the country’ to China, stressing that ownership of mega projects granted to China still lies with Malaysia.
Cops insist on probing three ex-ministers
Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar insisted that police have the authority to investigate three former ministers who criticised 1MDB in Parliament as their parliamentary immunity does not cover offences under the Official Secrets Act 1972 and Sedition Act 1948.
However, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang disputed the grounds of the police investigation, questioning the top cop's legal knowledge.
Meanwhile, former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan lodged a police report against Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia for claiming that the three former ministers had violated their oath of secrecy, saying that Pandikar aimed to silence the MPs.
The tiff between Pandikar and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng continued, with the latter telling Pandikar to leave the Dewan Rakyat after being told the same.
Other Kinibites
Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali claimed the government had tried to appoint Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's aide as the Election Commission's deputy chief but that this was rejected by the Conference of Rulers.
Najib will file an objection against Azmin's legal bid to declassify the Auditor-General's Report on 1MDB, which is believed to contain damaging information on the scandal involving the troubled sovereign fund.
A Singapore court was told that former banker Yeo Jia Wei, who was involved in allegedly aiding the laundering of 1MDB funds, told his accomplices that "if we die, we die together" as investigators moved on them.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Mohamad Amin Nordin Abd Aziz called Bersih "stubborn" for insisting to demonstrate near Dataran Merdeka, stating that he will leave the matter to the police.
PAS said it will not accept any "rubbish" in negotiations for direct fights in the next general election.
Looking ahead
Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos is expected to lead his red-shirts movement in another protest at Malaysiakini's office in Petaling Jaya at 2pm today. He had earlier vowed to bring 30,000 people and "runtuh" (tear down) a part of the news portal's building.
Electoral reform movement Bersih is set to continue its nationwide roadshow, two weeks before the Bersih 5 rally.
