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

Harapan struggles over Dr M's 'interim' status

Ahead of the Pakatan Harapan convention, party insiders said DAP, Amanah and Bersatu are ready to name chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad as their official prime ministerial candidate, although PKR insists that he remain the "interim candidate".

 

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Mahathir as Harapan's interim prime minister would lead to a crisis when PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim – previously seen as the agreed upon candidate – is released from prison later this year. 

Mahathir reiterated that Bank Negara Malaysia's decline in foreign reserves under Najib Abdul Razak’s administration far surpassed the forex losses suffered during his tenure.

Zaid claims PM outmanoeuvred

Former minister Zaid Ibrahim claimed that Najib was outmanoeuvred by Mahathir by allowing Bersatu to register, given that he is now trying to get the party deregistered.

The Election Commission clarified that Rela members do not qualify for postal voting.

MCA and Gerakan are set to hold a pre-election rally themed "Stronger Together."

PAS strikes back at rebels, critics

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man reminded Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, who made his exit last Sunday, about his religious oath to the party. 

The party also dropped its Paya Jaras state assemblyperson Khairuddin Othman, who was seen to be friendly to the PKR-led Selangor government, from the state PAS leadership.

PAS ulama chief Mahfodz Mohamed said Amanat Hadi was relevant in 1981 because Umno was “anti-Islam” during Mahathir's tenure as prime minister. 

PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad claimed he welcomed attacks from DAP, stating that it helped show the latter's true colours.

Other Kinibites

Political cartoonist Zunar filed a legal challenge against the ban of his comic collection "Sapuman."

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim filed a challenge to have three laws declared unconstitutional, since they were passed without the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's assent.

Putrajaya education director Roani Jaafar said Putrajaya schools have abolished the streaming system which separated students based on academic achievement. 

Flooding resulted in the closure of 20 schools in Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. 

Three people were injured after a ceiling collapsed at Genting’s Resorts World Sentosa casino. 

Looking ahead

Mahathir will attend a policy talk at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya.

BN will launch "The Rakyat" portal for the general election.

The Election Commission continues with its redelineation public inquiry for Selangor, focusing on the parliamentary constituency of Petaling Jaya Utara.

Institute Darul Ehsan will release its findings on how the redelineation exercise will affect the next general election.