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

AG's Chambers explains decision

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has finally explained the reasons for dropping prosecution against former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng and businessperson Phang Li Koon.

Among others, Appellate and Trial Division/Deputy Public Prosecutor head Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria dismissed suggestions that the decision was politically motivated, and said the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses have substantially weakened the case (read Hanafiah’s statement in full).

The explanation comes as NGOs and politicians from both the government and the opposition have called the decision into question and demanded an explanation.

However, not all are satisfied with the explanation. Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina Merican has urged the AGC to appeal against the acquittal, saying that the chambers has a moral responsibility to ensure that cases involving high-profile individuals are judged as best possible in an open and fair court.

Advance polling for twin by-elections

Voters comprising 2,801 police and military personnel have gone to the polls yesterday for early voting in the Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections.

Only 28 of the 31 police personnel have turned out to vote in Balakong in what the Election Commission (EC) involved one of the smallest ever number of registered voters. Seri Setia meanwhile saw a turnout of 77 percent of advance voters.

The EC expects a turnout of at least 70 percent on the big day on Saturday, which is polling day for most voters in the two by-elections.

Other Kinibites

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur sentenced American citizen Gerald Wayne Mickelson, 63, to death after finding him guilty of murdering his ex-wife in a hotel in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

The government has deemed it unlawful to use English as the medium of instruction in national schools, which include those in Sarawak.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has questioned former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to establish whether he was involved in bringing US$12 million in cash into the country prior to the 14th general election.

In a nuanced response to the public caning of two women on Monday, PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim said it was done without "proper due process, understanding and show of compassion".

Looking ahead

The Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) is expected to hold a press conference to announce its views on the recent Future of Bumiputera Economy Congress, including the Anti-Economic Sabotage Act mooted by a former MACC chief at the congress.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will be handing a memorandum to the prime minister on the problems faced by settlers at Kampung Bukit Kuda.