Court rules against manager in PKFZ scandal

The Shah Alam High Court ruled that former Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager OC Phang has to pay damages to PKA for the losses it suffered in the Port Klang Free Zone’s construction.

Former PKA chairperson Lee Hwa Beng lauded the decision, saying that he was vindicated and meant that the years he spent trying to bring the case have not gone to waste.

BN boycotts PD by-election

BN has decided that it would boycott the upcoming Port Dickson by-election, saying that it had been “forced” by PKR and the RM3.6 million cost is a waste of government funds.

Separately, PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah suggested that PAS too should give the by-election a miss, because it is “not important since the by-election is being held to satisfy an individual's needs.”

Meanwhile, analysts told Malaysiakini that PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim must win the by-election convincingly to show that he is fit to become prime minister.

Apex court declines to rule on ex-top judges’ appointments

The Federal Court declined to rule on the former chief justice Md Raus Sharif and former Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin’s controversial appointments, saying that the matter has become academic.

Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said he was disappointed with the verdict, since it leads to uncertainty over the legal position of those appointments.

Other Kinibites

The MACC said its investigation on former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor has been completed, and the report has been submitted to the attorney-general for a decision on whether to prosecute.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the government may reconsider the SST exemption on construction materials if developers fail to reduce house prices despite the exemption.

The exodus at Umno continues with Cheras Umno division leader Syed Ali Al-Habshee’s resignation from the party, following a wave of resignations from other current and former top party leaders.

Also resigning is Najib’s brother and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairperson Nazir Abdul Razak, who said he is leaving the bank by the end of the year after overseeing the completion of its four-year recalibration plan.

Looking ahead

Wall Street Journal reporter Tom Wright is in Malaysia to promote his book "Billion Dollar Whale" today, including a book launch at the Kinokuniya bookstore in Kuala Lumpur.

The PKR political bureau will meet tonight regarding the controversial e-voting system that is being used in the party election.

The Public Accounts Committee has summoned former Finance Ministers II Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah and Johari Abdul Ghani to testify in an investigation on the government’s arrears in paying GST input tax credits.