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Ex-minister accused of sexual assault; Harapan to discuss crossovers from Umno

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

Ex-minister in sexual assault claim

A former minister has been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The police are due to question him today, even though the victim’s family has withdrawn the police report against him.

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Latheefa Koya said the former minister must be arrested if there is basis to the complaint, while BN law portfolio committee member Azalina Othman Said said there should be no compromise in such cases involving children.

However, the former minister implicated in the case reportedly said the incident was a misunderstanding and that he would issue a statement today.

Harapan to meet on Umno defections

The Pakatan Harapan presidential council is expected to discuss the issue of crossovers from Umno on Saturday, amid speculation circulating that 40 Umno MPs could switch over to Bersatu.

Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir said those interested in joining Bersatu must fulfil certain criteria, and the likes of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamid were not welcome.

Meanwhile in Jeli, the local MP Mustapa Mohamed, who joined Bersatu last week, faced a backlash from his constituents. Billboards featuring his likeness were reportedly defaced.

In a commentary, veteran activist Kua Kia Soong argued that integrity requires Mustapa to vacate the MP seat that he had won under the BN ticket.

Lynas wins permit extension

The Australian rare earths miner Lynas Corp has been granted an extension to a temporary permit that allows it to store residues at its Malaysian site near Kuantan.

This prompted the environmental activist-turned-government backbencher Wong Tack to warn the government not to repeat BN’s mistake of allowing the Lynas refinery to operate.

Other Kinibites

Public Accounts Committee deputy chairperson Wong Kah Who told Parliament that the 2016 Auditor-General’s Report on 1MDB had been tampered with on the instructions of “specific people” in the previous administration.

Tabung Harapan Malaysia has accumulated RM196.3 million as of 3pm yesterday, and will be closed at the end of the year.

The PKR central election committee has ordered seven party divisions to hold re-elections on Nov 11.

Looking ahead

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will deliver his keynote speech at the Anti-Corruption Summit organised by Transparency International’s Malaysia chapter.

Bank Negara governor Nor Shamsiah Yunus and National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption director-general Abu Kassim Mohamad will address the 10th International Confrence on Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing.

Several NGOs are expected to announce a new coalition to push for the abolition of the death penalty.

Electoral reform coalition Bersih will be announcing the results of its steering committee election.

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