Sarawak BN dissolved; MACC submits 1MDB papers to AG

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

Sarawak BN dissolved

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg announced that four BN component parties in the state left the coalition to form a new alliance called Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Abang Johari said the coalition will be friendly with the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government.

In turn, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Harapan government would now have stronger backing in Parliament with GPS’ pledge of support.

BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Umno and other remaining BN component parties should not get dispirited by the Sarawak move.

However, Gerakan’s Andy Yong said BN component parties should decide on whether to expel Umno from the coalition for its “arrogance” instead of leaving it altogether.

MACC submits 1MDB papers to AG

The MACC has submitted its investigation papers on 1MDB to attorney-general Tommy Thomas, who in turn gave the greenlight for mutual legal assistance requests from several countries on their investigations into the scandal.

The MACC also refuted former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim that his statement was not recorded in 2015, though it may have been referring to a separate incident.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that assets seized by the United States from 1MDB will be monetised and returned to Malaysia as early as possible.

The United Kingdom said it would do the same, which was revealed by de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim after he met with its Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Businessperson Low Taek Jho, a central figure in the 1MDB scandal, is reportedly in hiding in Macau, with which Malaysia does not have an extradition treaty.

Other Kinibites

Former ambassador Dennis Ignatius said the government's plan to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea, is premature and a waste of public funds.

Police arrested four men for allegedly putting up a slew of banners in Klang, which among others, accused non-Malays of disrespecting the rulers.

Najib reportedly paid some of his advisors salaries of up to RM200,000 a month, exclusive of perks and privileges.

Lim Guan Eng thanked the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V for initiating a 10 percent reduction to his salary and emoluments to help alleviate the federal government debt.

Pahang regent Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah refuted an allegation on social media that he had received RM1.3 billion as a kickback for his ‘patronage’ of a project.

Looking ahead

The Council of Eminent Persons will reconvene today.