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

Najib's trial moved to High Court

The hearing of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.08 billion and four counts of abusing his position to obtain RM2.28 billion will take place in the High Court, instead of the Sessions Court.

Najib's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he has no issues with Najib’s graft charges being broadcast live on TV, as everything should "be transparent."

Najib touted Mubadala's statement that 1MDB does not owe Mubadala or IPIC any debt at present, because the Malaysian fund had conceded billions to the Abu Dhabi firm in a settlement when he was finance minister.

Meanwhile, former deputy education minister P Kamalanathan 'clarified' that Najib had approved RM36 million for Tamil schools before the 14th general election, adding that Pakatan Harapan might have 'overlooked' the allocation when it took over federal power.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Najib can help the country pay its debts by revealing how to bring out the money he is allegedly hiding.

Dr M merely going after 1MDB money, says Nazri

Former Umno minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said Mahathir merely wants to find, and recover, 1MDB money by going after BN/Umno leaders.

Nazri also likened the call from Umno Youth to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down to cannibalism.

The Setiawangsa Bersatu division wants party chairperson Mahathir to be allowed to continue as prime minister until the next general election.

Mahathir said the government will seek to discuss the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) with all races in the country before ratifying the treaty.

Meanwhile, Ummah - a coalition of Malay-Muslim NGOs, said ratifying the treaty was no acceptable excuse for any move that could jeopardise the special rights of the Malays and bumiputera, as provided under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

Other Kinibites

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim claimed that allegations of him sexually harassing a 15-year-old girl was all a misunderstanding and threatened legal action against those who continue to spread news about it.

MCA presidency contender Ngoo Teck Kiong was thrown out of Parliament for trying to hold a press conference at the lobby without getting prior approval.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur found Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos guilty of defaming former Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and ordered him to pay RM300,000 in damages for his allegation that Bersih had been infiltrated by Islamic State elements.

Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong said he was wearing a khaki-coloured bush jacket, which was the ministry's designated corporate outfit, and not a communist uniform as alleged by several quarters on social media, when inspecting a line of soldiers during a recent visit to Kuching.

Examinations for primary school students in Year One to Three will be scrapped from 2019, Education Minister Maszlee Malik announced today.

Looking ahead

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun will attend a integrity and anti-corruption seminar at Maktab PDRM, Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir will attend an award for National Science Academy fellows, at Sunway Putra Hotel.