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

The superyacht Equanimity, which is linked to the 1MDB scandal, has finally returned to Malaysian waters under police escort.

In a video message, delighted Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad thanked Indonesia for its cooperation, while the lawyer for the vessel’s financier Low Taek Jho warned that the handover of the vessel to Malaysia is in violation of court orders in the US and Indonesia.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the US$250 million vessel may be opened for public viewing after all the necessary paperwork is done, after which it would be sold to the highest bidder.

Furore over claims of IRI meddling

Umno has called for an independent investigation after the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) revealed that it had been 'strengthening' opposition parties in Malaysia since 2002.

Several PKR leaders said IRI merely provided leadership training and did not plot to topple BN or otherwise interfere in domestic politics.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said DAP is no friend of the US Republican party and has no contact at all with the IRI.

Other Kinibites

The first part of the 2017 Auditor-General’s Report has been tabled in parliament yesterday, which among others revealed that the Royal Customs Department had to keep 304 firearms in storage instead of issuing them to its officers because it had fail to obtain licences for the weapons.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said he is baffled to see foreign investment projects branded as “national sell-outs” during his administration are now deemed key investments.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Md Farid Md Rafik said the government will rebrand the National Civics Bureau (BTN) to instil unity, which runs against Pakatan Harapan’s promise to abolish it.

Looking ahead

With debates on the speech of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong being wrapped up yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat will move on with government business, starting with the proposed legislation to abolish the GST and replace it with SST.

The government will also table a motion to name Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson, and Ipoh Timur MP Wong Kah Woh as his deputy.

The Equanimity is slated to arrive at Port Klang, after being handed over by Indonesian authorities in Batam yesterday.