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No more cabotage for Sabah, S'wak; ex-mufti raps child marriage

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

No more cabotage for Sabah, Sarawak from June 1

Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan will be exempted from the cabotage policy, effective June 1, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said. However, this won’t affect, but shipments from Sabah and Sarawak to Labuan, and vice-versa.

Under the cabotage policy, goods from Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan must go through Port Klang first before they are exported to other countries.

At an event in Sandakan, Najib also promised that more Sabahans would be hired in the civil service in the state.

In election mode, the prime minister added that patriotism would stop incursions, like that which occurred in Lahad Datu in 2013, and the toppling of the government.

Ex-mufti: Zina no reason for child marriage

Former Terengganu mufti Ismail Yahya (photo, above) said judges should not allow a marriage application for a child, just because the child has had sex, and instead consider the child's welfare.

Under the Islamic penal code, Ismail said, a married man who has sex outside of marriage is punished with stoning, not allowed to marry the person he had sex with - who in some instances has not attained the age of consent of 16.

Under syariah enactments in Malaysia, those under the age of consent must seek permission from the syariah court to marry.

'Rising cost of living destablising for Najib'

Analysts say civil servants, a traditional vote bank for BN, are turning away from the coalition due to the rising cost of living.

While BN will likely still win the next general election despite this, it could see the coalition concede more seats in Parliament, thus undermining Najib Abdul Razak's position as Umno president.

Meanwhile, Najib's deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi painted himself as colour blind as he meets non-Malay communities, in the lead up to the the next general election, which could be called in September.

Other Kinibites

Selangor BN chief Noh Omar claimed PKR manufactured rumours that four of its assemblypersons were withdrawing support from Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, to divert attention from internal squabbles.

PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad said those who are reading too much about MPs attending government events have an "illness", after eyebrows were raised on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang attended an event with Umno minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek in Marang last week.

Looking ahead

The Court of Appeal will hear the defamation suit between Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun and PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

The wife of Ihsan Alsan, the Turkish national arrested last week for alleged involvement in terrorism, will hold a press conference today.

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