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

AG won't help EC

The Attorney-General's Chambers has advised the Election Commission (EC) to hire its own lawyers because government lawyers cannot represent them in election petition hearings to avoid potential conflict of interest.

Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, a former Bank Negara Malaysia official who probed 1MDB, has been brought back as the new central bank governor.

The Council of Eminent Persons has instructed MRT Corp to propose cost-cutting measures for its Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP Line) project, which is currently being constructed.

The council also heard proposals to improve Penang's ferry service instead of proceeding with undersea tunnel project to link the island to the mainland.

The transport minister's officers have lodged a police report on the illegal sale of driving licences, or "lesen terbang".

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad met with tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, DRB-Hicom Bhd group chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar Syed Ali Reza Albar and a top official from China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd, sparking speculation of possible new plans for Proton.

Mahathir was believed to have submitted a list of 15 people he would like to include in his cabinet to the Agong on Wednesday.

Zahid sets condition for debate

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he will only join the televised debate between Umno presidential candidates if he could do it via live telecast from his home base of Bagan Datoh.

Umno information chief Annuar Musa believed that the televised debate was not a good idea because it would involve making "internal affairs" public, and instead mooted a government-opposition debate.

Zahid also accused Amanah member Khairuddin Abu Hassan of initiating and arranging the former's meeting with Mahathir in Putrajaya earlier this month.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim believed that Umno, the country’s biggest party, has the potential to rebuild itself and become an effective opposition.

Klang MP Charles Santiago has urged the police to investigate Umno and 1MDB-linked individuals over their alleged involvement in a pharmaceutical drug cartel which had a monopoly on the supply of medicine to the government.

Other Kinibites

Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran said restaurants will only be able to hire locals from Jan 1 onwards.

1MDB committee chairperson Abu Talib Othman revealed that investigations on 1MDB are almost complete.

The "Save Batu Caves Temple" rally will go on this Sunday despite the temple committee securing a court injunction against rally organisers.

Looking ahead

Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings will be electing their new national office bearers today. Results are expected in the evening.