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

Reactions pour in on AG pick

Reactions have poured in after news broke on Saturday night that the veteran lawyer Tommy Thomas has been tapped to be the next attorney-general, which Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed yesterday.

Some have voiced support for the lawyer, such as Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin who praised him as a lawyer of high integrity and credibility and PSM central committee member S Arutchelvan who said Thomas would be a “great person” for the job.

Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii, accused Harapan of wanting to create a “liberal” state by putting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a spot, and urged the government to be more sensitive its choice.

Others, meanwhile, focused on Pakatan Harapan’s promises to reform the attorney-general’s office by separating it from the role of the public prosecutor. Gerakan Youth’s Andy Yong argued it is high time to do so.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh called for a review of another Harapan promise, which is to appoint the attorney-general from among qualified Members of Parliament. He said this would unreasonably limit the talent pool from which an attorney-general can be chosen.

More line up for Umno polls

More Umno leaders have expressed interest in various positions up for grabs in the June 30 party election, including the Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who said he is considering to run for party presidency.

Perlis BN chief Shahidan Kassim said he is considering to contest for vice-presidency, while Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunus said he would contest for the post of Umno Youth chief despite being at large with an arrest warrant to his name.

In an interview, Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali Alhabshee told Malaysiakini that Umno needs a leader as strong as Mahathir to make a comeback but currently lacks such a personality.

As for Mahathir himself, he said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar is the best person for Umno presidency.

Other Kinibites

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun said the state government is tracking down civil servants who had campaigned for BN during the 14th general election to take action against them.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the government has secured enough private sponsorship to pay for the full RM30 million cost of the 2018 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights, while contributions to the government’s Hope Fund have exceeded RM30 million.

As Hari Raya Aidilfitri draws near, Bernama reports that 105,000 out of 192,000 express bus tickets available at the Southern Integrated Terminal (TBS) in Kuala Lumpur for the festive season have already been sold. This includes all tickets to the East Coast.

Looking ahead

Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran is set to make an announcement on the minimum wage.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will be visitng the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman, where he would be welcomed by a parade before receiving a briefing.

Bersatu will be hosting a breaking of fast event in Putrajaya, with top leaders including Mahathir and Muhyiddin expected to be in attendance.