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

PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali remains coy on whether he would contest Anwar Ibrahim for party presidency, claiming that he is currently bogged down with work as minister for economic affairs.

However, incumbent PKR Youth deputy chief Afif Bahardin, who is seen as Azmin’s protégé said the 'dynamic duo' of Anwar and Azmin should team up, with Anwar as president and Azmin as his deputy.

As to whether incumbent PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should step down as deputy prime minister to allow her husband Anwar to contest in next month’s party election, Afif said the question arises only if Anwar becomes an elected lawmaker.

Fresh debate on the fate of Sosma

There has been renewed debate on what the new government should do with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was quoted saying that the government would repeal it.

Civil rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan said the government should consult stakeholders when abolishing or amending draconian laws like Sosma, to ensure that it is brought in line with international human rights standards.

DAP lawmaker A Sivanesan suggested that Sosma could be maintained with some amendments, while opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi questioned whether the repeal is to make way for even more draconian laws like the Internal Security Act.

However, the prime minister was likely to have been referring to the National Security Council 2016 in his speech, rather than Sosma.

Other Kinibites

With PKR Sungai Kandis candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni cheekily claiming that PAS supporters would vote for him, Selangor Umno chief Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Umno and PAS have agreed to hold a joint forum in the constituency.

The government said it would table legislation in Parliament next Monday to abolish the goods and services tax.

A report by South China Morning Post says that the fugitive financier Low Taek Jho is still operating his Hong Kong-based company, despite being on the run.

S Nimalan, who is accused of murdering deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais, claimed during his trial that prison guards had threatened him and told him to admit to the murder.

Looking ahead

The Human Rights Committee (Suhakam) inquiry on the disappearance of the activist Amri Che Mat continues today.

Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan will hold a press conference on matters relating to national security and intelligence.

The human rights groups Suaram and Bruno Manser Foundation will hold a briefing on the outcome of 15 years of community mapping efforts undertaken by the Penan community in Sarawak.