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

PD goodies under spotlight

Electoral reform group Bersih urged Anwar Ibrahim to postpone a large-scale dinner event in Port Dickson until after the by-election for the parliamentary seat.

The Pakatan Harapan candidate downplayed concerns over the potential flouting of election laws, asking why he could not go to an event he was invited to.

As Anwar joked about his election campaign being under close scrutiny at a fundraising dinner, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced an RM10,000 allocation for a temple in Port Dickson.

The Election Commission reaffirmed Anwar's candidacy in Port Dickson amid a legal challenge to disqualify him.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said people should not dispute Anwar's royal pardon if they did not want to be disloyal to the Agong.

'Pain and sacrifice' in Budget 2019

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told investors to expect "pain and sacrifice" in Budget 2019.

Lim also announced that the country would need around three years to resolve its RM1 trillion debt.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government is considering new taxes to bring its "inherited debt" under control.

Mahathir said he believed that "very small kitty" Malaysia can eventually roar again as an “Asian tiger.”

Najib blames Harapan for drop in Chinese tourists

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak put the blame for the drop in tourists from China on the Pakatan Harapan administration.

Lim responded to concerns about job losses from the temporary cancellation of the MRT2 underground project, stating that those affected could get their jobs back once it is retendered.

He also stressed that Malaysia will ensure 1MDB's debt is serviced by the end of the month.

Tony Pua, the special officer to the finance minister, said government-linked investment companies will review and offload their “non-strategic assets".

Pua also said Putrajaya was in talks with Grab to ferry commuters from MRT stations, and work to reduce expenditure on public transportation.

Other Kinibites

Malaysiakini launched its PKR election tracker to help readers keep track of the longest and most complex party electoral process in the country.

Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has recovered RM149 million through the renegotiation of 16 land deals.

Former minister Rafidah Aziz warned that Harapan may lose power after a single term if it is too rigid in adhering to its manifesto.

MACC sources said former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is not likely to be arrested today.

Sabah police refuted claims that a deputy chief minister's aide was involved in the rape of two Indonesian women.

Looking ahead

The MACC will be questioning Zahid at its headquarters in Putrajaya.

Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali will be speaking at the China Conference in Kuala Lumpur.