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

Rosmah charged with money laundering

Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, was slapped with 17 counts of money laundering charges - 12 over deposits totalling RM7.1 million into her personal account from 2013 to 2017 and the remaining five for failing to declare the income.

Rosmah's lawyers K Kumaraendran and Geethan Ram Vincent cried foul over the prosecution's allegation that their client had tampered with potential witnesses.

Prominent businessman Halim Saad was identified as the purported witness which Rosmah was alleged to have approached in the tampering issue, claimed the prosecution.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police will call Rosmah to assist investigations into various issues next, including the 1MDB scandal.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad denied political revenge behind Rosmah's arrest, saying 'If you steal, you get charged.'

Deputy minister clarifies Sedition Act remark

Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman clarified that his remark on the Sedition Act staying for now was merely an answer to a question posed to him and not representative of his stance on the law.

Earlier, Azis had said that the controversial Act will continue to be used until it is amended or repealed and that the arrest of Azman Noor Adam under the Act was done according to police standard operating procedures.

This remark by Azis had courted friendly fire from within Harapan, with Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh saying it shows that the Pakatan Harapan government lacks the political will to implement pledges to abolish draconian laws as it had pledged in its election manifesto.

Mahathir himself urged the police to stop arresting people who insult him, following the backlash on the arrest of Azman, who allegedly criticised the premier on social media.

On another matter, Mahathir expressed hope that Fire and Rescue Department personnel will be equipped with more effective training following the loss of six lives during a search and rescue operation last night.

Other Kinibites

Former premier Najib said one of the accused in the murder of deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais had committed perjury by implicating his name in the matter.

Senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he is prepared to debate with the authors of the Billion Dollar Whale regarding what his client, Najib, knew of the funds in his personal bank accounts.

Malacca PKR vice-chairperson G Gajendran claimed that MIC skipped contesting in the Port Dickson by-election as it feared losing its deposit and that the Indian-based party is much hated in the parliamentary constituency.

Hassan Al Kontar, the Syrian who had been stranded at KLIA2 since March will be deported to his homeland soon, said the Home Ministry.

The new national car project is expected to roll out it first model before 2020, said Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof.

Looking ahead

MCA's Gan Ping Sieu will hold a press conference.

The Pakatan Harapan presidential council will meet.