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Najib paints rosy picture of 1MDB; Penang mulls moratorium on hillside development

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

Najib paints a rosy picture of 1MDB

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak claimed 1MDB has played an important role in resolving the lopsided power agreements of his predecessor, in an apparent reference to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The International Police Organisation (Interpol) declined to comment on whether it was engaged by Malaysia to help locate 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government had no information on Jho Low's superyacht Equanimity, which is being sought for seizure by the US Department of Justice.

Gombak MP Azmin Ali may refer Zahid to the Rights and Privileges Committee over an alleged erroneous reply in Parliament.

Mahathir lamented that Malaysia has become a country of thieves, referring to it as "Darul Penyangak."

Two aides of Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal were released on bail following their arrest by MACC over the alleged misappropriation of at least RM1.5 billion in rural development funds for Sabah.

Penang mulls moratorium on hillside development

The Penang government is mulling a moratorium on hillside developments following the deadly landslide at a Tanjung Bungah construction site last week, which claimed 11 lives.

The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) questioned how the Tanjung Bungah project was allowed to proceed without the Department of Environment's nod, and said those responsible must be held accountable.

DAP's Tanjung Bungah assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu said the state government and the project developer must ensure that no bodies remain buried at the site of the tragedy.

Penang BN chairperson Teng Chang Yeow claimed the police may not be the best authority to investigate the landslide for reasons of technical competence.

State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh said NGOs had every right to follow through with their threat to oust the DAP-led Penang government over the landslide, but said they should do so based on facts.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said NGOs should not hold the state government “at gunpoint” if they wanted a serious dialogue with the state.

Anti-racism law shot down

The Prime Minister's Department said in a parliamentary reply that there are no plans for anti-racism or anti-discrimination legislation, as the government felt it would not be the best way to foster unity in the country.

Zahid said the police acted in a "colour blind" manner when they decided to prevent beer fests from being organised in the Klang Valley.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua accused Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia of overstepping his role by refusing to accept questions on 1MDB.

Other Kinibites

Malaysiakini highlights Parti Warisan Sabah's efforts to capitalise on Sabah nationalism in an attempt to dislodge BN from the state.

Felda Investment Corporation has threatened to sue PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli for alleging improper deals by the company.

Pahang regent Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah urged the government to find effective ways to alleviate the people's burden in dealing with the rising cost of living.

The murder suspects of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, were brought to the alleged assassination site as part of their ongoing trial.

Zahid Hamidi said a “line” needed to be drawn with regard to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual community serving in Malaysia's security forces.

Looking ahead

The sitting of Parliament resumes.

The Shah Alam Sessions Court will decide whether Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli will need to enter his defence on the charge of leaking classified bank information in relation to the National Feedlot Corporation case.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be making contributions to Tamil schools in Kuala Lumpur.

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