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

Umno's haemorrhaging continues

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's grip on Umno continued to weaken as six more MPs quit the party. Umno is now the third largest party in Parliament with 38 seats.

One of the six, Larut MP Hamzah Zainuddin, claimed that more will follow suit unless Zahid stepped down as Umno president.

Hamzah also claimed that 36 BN MPs had already signed a pledge of allegiance to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir said it was acceptable to admit former Umno members into Bersatu once they had redeemed themselves because there were "good people" in Umno.

Harapan partners' take on Umno exodus

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang's pre-condition for former Umno members wishing to join Pakatan Harapan component parties was to renounce Umno for its role in the 1MDB scandal.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said there were Umno lawmakers who wanted to join his party but he had told them to wait because more discussions were needed first.

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said it was wise for Umno members to abandon a sinking ship.

Knives are out for Zahid

Some Umno MPs have demanded that their president Zahid step down amidst the growing number of party members quitting.

Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin suggested that the party "immediately" hold a fresh leadership election.

In response, Zahid said Umno's ongoing crisis was only "temporary" and those calling for his resignation were merely making "excuses" to leave the party.

Similarly, Zahid's former boss Najib Abdul Razak said it was not fair to blame Umno's current leadership for everything.

Other KiniBites

Zahid Md Arip, the political secretary to the prime minister, was implicated in corruption charges against former Felda chairperson Isa Abdul Samad.

Isa was charged with criminal breach of trust and receiving gratification over Felda's acquisition of a hotel in Kuching, Sarawak.

Mahathir said the main reason Umno No 2 Mohamad Hasan saw him in October was to state the latter's intention to quit Umno.

However, Mohamad said the meeting was merely a courtesy call.

Attorney-general Tommy Thomas said the land dispute over the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya will be resolved "in months".

A government circular claimed that only 11 percent of the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) customers used the facility between 7pm and 10pm.

Looking ahead

Today is the second day of Amanah's national AGM in Ipoh, Perak.