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

Data breach puts MCMC system under spotlight

Malaysiakini, in a special report, found indications that the massive data leak involving personal data from telecommunications companies was linked to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) phone blocking system.

In a KiniGuide, Malaysiakini also explained the nature of the stolen data and what the implications were.

Responding to Malaysiakini's report, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry said it was premature to point fingers over the data leak.

The second series of the auditor-general's report 2016 was released.

The report found certain weaknesses in the government, including the failure of a Defence Ministry contractor to complete a hanger at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Kuantan for RM109.89 million.

The report also found that certain Johor land offices took a whopping nine years in processing temporary occupation licences (TOL).

On another matter, the auditor-general found that the police had trouble verifying the i-Kad of migrant workers, which exposed them to arrests.

DAP rep ejected over graft query against Johor MB

DAP's Senai assemblyperson Wong Shui Qi was referred to the Johor state assembly rights and privileges committee and subsequently ejected from the chamber for questioning whether Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin received payments from developers for land conversion.

Another DAP assemblyperson, Pasir Pinji's Howard Lee, was ejected from the Perak assembly after adamantly attempting to refer a BN assemblyperson to the rights and privileges committee for allegedly using foul language.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia rejected the opposition's appeal to review a bloc vote and revealed that PKR's Kapar MP G Manivannan had miscounted the opposition's votes.

Pandikar, a Sabahan, also released his book in which he argued against claims that East Malaysia was discriminated against by Putrajaya.

Billionaire tells of his M'sian experience

Billionaire Robert Kuok, in his memoir, revealed that intervention from two prime ministers eventually led him to dispose of the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC), which he had pioneered.

Kuok said his mother had drilled into him against profiteering at the expense of the poor and to this end, he had given up some RM30 million to help moderate commodity prices in Malaysia.

He also spoke about his brother, who was a communist, and on Kuok's own role in helping to put an end to the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).

The Finance Ministry reiterated that 1MDB has a limited impact on the country's economy.

It also defended the EPF's overseas investments, stating that they provided better returns.

Other Kinibites

Dance producer Bilqis Hijjas was acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court of "insulting behaviour" after she dropped yellow balloons with the words "democracy" and "justice" onto an event attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said his statement that slow learners should go to Universiti Teknologi Mara was misinterpreted as it was intended to highlight the university's role in granting access to those who previously not had such opportunities.

A teenager lodged a police report against police officers, alleging that they beat him with a rubber hose and poured toilet water into his nostrils.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said large tracts of forest reserves in Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor would have to make way for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

Opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail questioned the RM20,000 a month salary of Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-general Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

Looking ahead

Parliament is expected to enter its last day of the Budget 2018 debate before moving on to other bills.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor will disclose details on the upcoming party general assembly at a press conference.

The prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, will attend a badminton function in Kuala Lumpur.