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

Najib denies controlling 1MDB funds

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak reiterated he had no role in the alleged embezzlement of 1MDB funds, saying it would be 'absurd' to use public funds to buy yachts and paintings as alleged.

He also said police had omitted the fact that a RM3.4 million Rolex Daytona watch, which was among the items seized from properties linked to him, was a gift from a Middle Eastern prince.

On elusive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), Najib said he was under the impression that the latter was acting on behalf of Middle Eastern royalty in 1MDB-related matters.

A source close to Najib's family has said police gave a " vague" list of the items seized from three units at the Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur to the condominium's building manager.

Meanwhile, the MACC raided a service apartment unit near KLCC which allegedly belongs to Jho Low.

Zahid says Umno's money is clean

Umno acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party's money is clean and not laundered following the freezing of the party's bank accounts by the MACC.

Earlier, Zahid was reported saying that the party's main account, as well as those of its Selangor counterpart, had been frozen by the anti-graft body.

Another Umno presidential hopeful, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, said that the party will not be affected by the seizure of items worth close to RM1.1 billion from properties linked to Najib as it had nothing to do with the party.

Former Selangor menteri besar Mohamad Khir Toyo has picked Tengku Razaleigh as his choice for the Umno president's post, because the latter does not carry 'any baggage' unlike the two other aspirants - Zahid and Khairy Jamaluddin - who served under Najib's administration.

The MACC is also investigating a landscaping contractor who worked on the official residences of the prime minister and deputy prime minister in Putrajaya among other projects.

Other Kinibites

Umno supreme council member Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said he will defend Najib until the latter is 'truly' found guilty in line with the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the country will offer citizenship to foreigners who are experts in fields deemed important to the country in line with efforts to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI), and to train the local workforce to have skills in hi-technology sectors.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that four top officers of the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), including its chairperson and chief operating officer, have resigned.

Federal commercial crimes director Amar Singh insisted that former premier Najib was furnished with a full list of the items seized from residences linked to him after the latter claimed otherwise.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the police have applied to have Interpol issue a red notice for former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.

Looking ahead

There will be a demonstration against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng outside the Putrajaya mosque in the afternoon.

The Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda will hold a press conference on the alleged misappropriation of RM3.4 billion worth of Felda funds.