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

Envoy tells Indonesians 1MDB is clean

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, in an interview with Indonesian magazine Tempo, claimed that there was "no case" against 1MDB.

Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani said the Inland Revenue Board has no records of 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho and Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, who is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stepson.

Johari later clarified that the Malaysian tax system relied on self-declaration and action would be taken if it was found that they had been earning in Malaysia or brought back taxable income from abroad.

Anti-Johari banners appeared in his parliamentary constituency of Titiwangsa, which the minister claimed was an attempt by some within his party to oust him as the local MP.

The Australian Federal Police said its seizure of A$320,000 (RM985,000) belonging to Bukit Aman CID chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd was based on suspicion that the country's anti-money laundering law had been violated.

Another Bersih activist to join politics

A meeting between former MCA president Chua Soi Lek and DAP's Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong sparked speculation but the duo explained that it was a chance meeting.

Chua said MCA was being scorned for making a U-turn on the party's decision not to join the government after suffering heavy losses in the 13th general election.

MCA publicity spokesperson Ti Lian Ker complained that Pakatan Harapan's manifesto had mentioned "Chinese" very few times and accused the DAP of caving-in to Bersatu's "ethnocentrism".

DAP is set to recruit Bersih activist Johnson Chew Chong Sin, who is expected to be fielded in Kluang after it was announced that Liew will be moved to Ayer Hitam.

Selangor DAP is mulling to shift its veteran members Ean Yong Hian Wah and Teng Chang Khim, who are exco members in the Selangor government, to tougher seats in the 14th general election.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the plan for early announcement of its election candidates by the BN is to help prevent sabotage.

Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil declined lobbying for her to contest in Sungai Besar.

Guessing game on GE date

Oh Ei Sun, a former political secretary to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, predicted that the general election date could drag on into late August.

However, a decision to move up the Dewan Negara sitting so that it will end together with the Dewan Rakyat on April 5 further suggests an earlier general election.

The move appeared to be to expedite the passing of an RM7.12 billion supplementary budget before the next general election.

Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir said his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad threw a fit when Umno had tried to field him in the general election when the latter was still prime minister.

Special adviser to the government Rais Yatim stayed firm on his criticism of 1MDB and Jho Low despite attacks from other government supporters.

Other Kinibites

BN-linked NGOs lodged a police report against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, accusing him of brain-washing children with an anti-goods and services tax (GST) song.

Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi said Putrajaya is finalising a fare ceiling for domestic flights.

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court allowed cartoonist Zunar and lawyers N Surendran and Eric Paulsen to take a constitutional question to the High Court on the Sedition Act charges against them.

Controversial businessperson Deepak Jaikishan failed to testify in S Santamil's suit against him. His lawyer claimed that Deepak was ill.

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali's aide Shuhaimie Shafie dismissed BN Selangor chief Noh Omar's debate challenge against his boss, claiming that it was a diversionary tactic.

Looking ahead

Parliament sitting continues.

Suhakam resumes its inquiry into the disappearance of Amri Che Mat and Joshua Hilmi.