KINI ROUNDUP | Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.
Balakong rep killed in car crash
Balakong assemblyperson Eddie Ng was killed after a car accident at about 12.40am yesterday, making him the second lawmaker to pass on after the May 9 elections.
Umno Youth vice-chief Razlan Rafii caused a stir by writing harsh comments on Ng's death on Twitter and later apologised.
While initially adamant he did no wrong, Razlan only apologised after receiving brickbats from his Umno and BN colleagues.
Even his own party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chimed in, but not before claiming that Ng had "made mistakes by saying the wrong things".
Zahid also said that BN will be depending on MCA to field a candidate for the upcoming Balakong by-election.
BN's fields Lokman in Sg Kandis
Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam has been chosen as BN's candidate for the Aug 4 Sungai Kandis by-election.
Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan described the GE14 as an “irrational election” and the Sungai Kandis by-election would be a test of how rational people would vote.
Lokman will be counting on internal dissent within PKR and “his friends” from PAS to help his campaign.
He also expressed a lack of confidence in Bersih, which has been appointed as an official observer of the by-election, because of its alleged reliance on foreign funding.
BN held a low-key event to announce its election candidate in a marked departure from the normal pomp when it was in power.
Other KiniBites
Malaysiakini compared the size and salary costs of the current cabinet with the last one.
Police are unable to ascertain media reports claiming that Jho Low had been arrested by their Chinese counterparts.
Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's upcoming trip to China will go beyond re-negotiating deals inked by the previous administration.
Mahathir said that his plan was to reduce borrowings from China in order to save Malaysia from bankruptcy.
A demonstration was held in Penang after Friday prayers to condemn Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy for demanding that Zakir Naik be deported back to India.
Police recorded a statement from one of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's domestic helper.
Looking ahead
The Sungai Kandis by-election campaign kicks off today with the nomination process in the morning.
A forum in Shah Alam tonight titled ‘The future of Islam under the Pakatan Harapan government’ will see speakers from PAS, Amanah, Umno and DAP.
