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Ministry sec-gen nabbed for graft; RM's new low; FT says BN will win GE14

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

Ministry sec-gen nabbed for graft

The secretary-general of a federal ministry has been arrested for abuse of power and receiving bribes, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said.

RM3 million in cash and gold bars have been seized in the case, the anti-graft body said.

Malaysiakini is withholding the names of the 59-year-old Datuk and a 29-year-old man linked to him, who was also arrested, until they are charged in court for the alleged offences.

Ringgit hits new low

The ringgit hit a psychological level of RM4.50 to the US dollar at 11.20am yesterday until the closing of trade at 5pm.

The ringgit's lowest ever point was at RM4.88 to US$1 in January 1998, prompting the prime minister then, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to peg it to RM3.80 against the greenback.

BMI Research said the ringgit would weaken further in the near term, but would hover around RM4.50/US$1 in 2017 and strengthen to RM4.40/US$1 next year.

FT: BN will win GE14

The Financial Times research predicts that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will retain power and BN will win the 14th general election, which is expected to be called in the third quarter of this year.

It also expects the Pakatan Harapan-PAS negotiations to fail.

Political sentiment index for Malaysia dropped 6.1 points, making Malaysians the most pressimistic respondents, based on the survey of 1,000 Malaysians.

Other Kinibites

The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) lauds fast food chain McDonald's for ensuring that only halal-certified birthday cakes are allowed on its premises. Jakim is Malaysia's halal certification agency.

Stateless children in Kedah aged seven and above are allowed to enrol in public schools, but they must be born to Malaysian parents, and should immediately seek documentation from the National Registration Department so that they can sit for national examinations.

Nearly 23,000 people have been evacuated due to floods in Kelantan and Terengganu, while a girl became the first casualty of this flood season when she drowned after falling into a canal in Pasir Mas.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has vowed to address the Chinese schools funding issue after the Education Ministry froze the budgeted RM50 million, citing shortage of funds.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman wants stern action to be taken against serving and retired civil servants who defame the government.

PKR-linked watchdog National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW) urged whistleblower protection to be given to former MACC special divisions director Bahri Mohd Zin.

Looking ahead

MACC will seek a remand order for the arrested ministry secretary-general.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli will hold another press conference on the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).

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