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

Najib charged in court, again

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was jointly charged with former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah with six criminal breach of trust offences involving some RM6.6 billion in government funds.

MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki said that Najib's administration allegedly redirected government funds, including those meant for the BR1M programme to repay money owed by 1MDB to International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).

Speaking to reporters later, Najib said his "conscience was clear" and that what he did was in the interest of the nation and not for personal benefit.

Najib's lead counsel Mohd Shafee Abdullah said he is anticipating this trial to be filled with fun as the prosecution would have a hard time proving the 'trumped up' charges.

Speaking at an event in Thailand, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Pakatan Harapan government would continue to crack down on the previous government's corruption, abuse of power and other wrongdoings by hauling up more BN leaders to court - one by one.

Lokman Adam slams Asyraf Wajdi

Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam challenged Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi to step down from his position and face him in a re-election for the post.

This came after Asyraf called on Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to consider going on leave, pending the Umno president's court trial for various alleged offences.

Zahid, who appeared in court to provide support for Najib, later tweeted a picture of him with Najib, 'thanking' the government for dragging them to court as the 'overkill' was actually benefitting the opposition.

Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Harapan vice-president Mukhriz Mahathir said Umno information chief Annuar Musa’s offer to his father to rejoin Umno is probably a "naughty invitation".

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the government would maintain its decision not to compel schools to purchase newspapers owned by political parties, such as Utusan Malaysia, which is majority-owned by Umno.

Other Kinibites

Former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) director Hasanah Abdul Hamid said she was forced to borrow money in order to settle her RM500,000 bail after she was slapped with a criminal breach of trust charge in the same court as Najib and Irwan.

MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong said he never told Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin that he was committed to staying in BN.

MP Ramasamy, who lost the race for deputy presidency in the recently concluded MIC elections, called the polls the 'dirtiest' in 25 years and alleged there were phantom voters and third party votes involved.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Ahmad Al-Jubeir, who in 2016 said the billions in funds received by Najib were a "genuine donation", is to meet with Mahathir and his counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah during his three-day visit.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said there are houses worth a total of RM22.5 billion unsold nationwide, with 73 percent of them comprising affordable houses priced RM250,000 and below.

Looking ahead

Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor and her sons are expected to be questioned by the police.

Suaram will hold a press conference on a police intimidation case.

Bersih will hold a press conference on election offences during the Port Dickson by-election.