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

GE14 is officially on

The Election Commission (EC) set April 28 as the nomination day for the 14th general election, with voting to take place on Wednesday, May 9.

Bersih accused the EC of trying to suppress voter turnout by setting polling day on Wednesday, which is a working day in the middle of the week.

Pakatan Harapan is considering a two-day holiday after polling day, if it wins so that voters won't need to rush back to work.

Caretaker Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said there was no need for polling day to be declared a public holiday as existing laws require employers to allow their workers time to vote.

Caretaker Human Resources Minister Richard Riot urged employers to give time to their workers to vote.

Former Bersatu leader Anina Saadudin, who has now realigned herself with the BN, said the Wednesday polling day was to allow time for Muslims to prepare for the holy month of Ramadan over the weekend.

On Twitter, netizens began organising carpooling and other efforts to help people to return home to vote.

The EC said voters registered in 2018 will not be eligible to vote in GE14.

Rafidah endorses Dr M

Former minister Rafidah Aziz, described as the "Iron Lady" of Malaysia, endorsed Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad but said she will not join GE14.

Sin Chew Daily highlighted a campaign offering RM300 for people to stick giant BN stickers on their cars.

Federal Territories BN denied that it was funding the RM300 offer.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin launched the BN Youth manifesto, stating that he wanted to "renew our contract" with the people.

A US think-tank warned that a big win for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak could lead to an era of repression.

Battle royale for Indera Mahktoa

The parliamentary seat of Indera Mahkota is set to see a repeat of the closely fought battle between Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah and PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan, which was witnessed in Temerloh during the last general election.

Bersatu is said to have aborted its plan to field Wan Saiful Wan Jan in Titiwangsa after failing to secure unanimous grassroots support there. He is now being considered for a different parliamentary seat.

Sabah Umno chief Musa Aman accused Parti Warisan Sabah chief Shafie Apdal of being ambitious to become the deputy prime minister, after he rebelled against Najib.

Other Kinibites

AirAsia and several other airlines announced a waiver on rebooking fees for voters to return home for the 14th general election.

Nur Jazlan, who previously branded a similar offer by Cathay Pacific to Malaysian voters as an attempt at "regime change", sarcastically suggested AirAsia should offer free tickets outright.

Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad apologised for using the "keling" word, which is common in the northern peninsular states but considered derogatory in most parts of the country.

Police have begun investigating individuals who insulted Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim after he suggested that voters not change a ship's engine simply because the skipper is problematic, in an apparent reference to the current political scene.

Police said they have placed some 1,131 people under surveillance for being possible "troublemakers" in the general election.

Looking ahead

Caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak will be on a blitz in Kelantan, where he will also launch a section of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

In the evening, Najib will be attending a National Journalists' Day function in Kuala Lumpur.