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

M'sia-N Korea impasse ends

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced an end to the impasse with North Korea as nine Malaysians there were allowed to return home, while Kim Jong-nam's body was released to North Korea.

Najib also met three Sabah kidnap victims who were recently rescued by the Philippines army.

The man who allegedly tried to bribe the Johor sultan for a "tan sri" title surrendered himself to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Act 355 fallout

PAS leaders offered mixed reactions towards BN after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that the government will not table amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, or Act 355.

PAS Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said his party will continue to push for the amendments and will seek to convince Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to allow the matter to be debated in Parliament.

PKR Youth claimed BN's decision had left PAS red-faced and urged the party to refocus efforts on dislodging the ruling coalition.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the government refusing to take over the amendments didn't mean it would vote against it if it went to the floor.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said BN should make clear its position on the amendments and not hide behind the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

MCA hailed the government's decision not to table the amendments as the result of its perseverance.

Paying off 1MDB debts

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in a parliamentary reply said 1MDB had cleared its bank debts and short-term debts, which amounted to almost RM3.9 billion.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad pointed out 1MDB still had approximately RM40 billion in other debts and asked how the beleaguered fund intends to repay them.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua criticised Putrajaya for allowing China to decide on the contractor for the East Coast Real Link (ECRL) project.

Damansara Utama state assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin urged the Selangor government to exercise its powers over land acquisitions to ensure the ECRL project is above board as 80km of the 600km rail line passes through the state.

Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani urged youths to change their mindset and rent property instead of buying until they are financially stable.

Other Kinibites

A total of 118 people reportedly died in Immigration detention centres between 2015 and 2016.

Klang MP Charles Santiago urged police involved in the death of S Balamurugan to be suspended following the Malaysian Human Rights Commission's findings that he had been illegally detained and tortured.

Works Minister Fadillah Yusof said the Penang government has yet to submit the necessary documents for the third Penang bridge and offered assistance to expedite the process.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the appointment of PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to special positions in the Pakatan Harapan structure was not racially-motivated but based on merit.

The father of Siti Noor Aishah Atam made a tearful plea for her release, following her continued detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

Looking ahead

DAP MPs will be visiting Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's official residence after it was announced a RM1.4 million road had been built leading to the house.

The Syariah Court of Appeal is set to decide on the matrimonial assets division between Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, the son of the Sarawak governor, and his ex-wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid.

Bersih will be holding a press conference on the Election Commission's updated redelineation exercise that excludes Selangor.