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

MCA scorches Dr M

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai accused Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad of attempting to sour ties between Malaysia and China by criticising several mega-projects which are financed and built by China’s state-owned companies.

Incidentally, Mahathir was to tour Bentong, a parliamentary constituency held by Liow, today. However, the event was postponed because Mahathir was feeling under the weather.

China's ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Bai Tian hoped that the bilateral relations between Beijing and Putrajaya would not become a political hot potato at the upcoming general election.

Meanwhile, Liow denied allegations that he had abused his power as a transport minister in meeting China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), which has a role in the Penang tunnel project.

On the Penang tunnel, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak regarded the project as "wasteful" because there are already two bridges connecting the island to the mainland.

Generous EPF dividends?

Multiple sources told Malaysiakini that Putrajaya looked set to announce the highest Employees Provident Fund (EPF) dividend rate in more than two decades.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed former Batu Kawan Umno division leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan's application to cross examine Low Taek Jho @ Jho Low to challenge the appointment of his lawyer, Francis Ng Aik Guan.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said the government had disgraced itself following the sentencing of PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli to 30 months’ jail for whistleblowing.

Other KiniBites

In a special report, Malaysiakini examined how the 'kampung parit' region served as an important fortress for BN in Johor’s Ayer Hitam constituency.

Several medical experts told a forum that ketum (Mitragyna speciosa) was not harmful as they do not see evidence of addiction. In fact, they believe that it can be used as a substitute for methadone therapy.

A Federal Court judge ruled that the executive and legislature cannot take away the powers of judicial review entrusted to the civil courts as it is safeguarded by the Federal Constitution.

Looking ahead

Najib will officiating the annual general meeting of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PPBS) in Kuching.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be touring parts of Johor, one of the frontline states in GE14.