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

Mukhriz backs Bersatu Youth

Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir backed Bersatu Youth's position against the party using government resources to stay in power.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman – who is facing the threat of being ousted from his post by division chiefs – said his principles mattered more than his political career.

As for the infighting in PKR, analysts warned that its reform agenda could be derailed if its president Anwar Ibrahim does not act to quell dissent within the party.

Dr M says even rulers are not exempt from the law

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that nobody is exempt from the law – not even rulers – while adding that legitimate public complaints about wrongdoings will not be considered seditious.

However, DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh said that such complaints can still be considered seditious, so long as the Sedition Act 1948 remains in force.

MCA questioned if Mahathir took into account the feelings of the Chinese community after he said in an interview that that Malay sentiment must be considered before the government recognises the United Examination Certificate (UEC).

Asked to respond to this, the Prime Minister’s Office sent Malaysiakini a transcript of the said interview, which is reproduced here.

Umno claims uneven playing field in coming by-election

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa claimed that BN faces an uneven playing field in the Cameron Highlands by-election, citing among others the freezing of his party’s bank accounts.

Sg Koyan Bersatu announced its endorsement of DAP’s M Manogaran – the candidate who filed the election petition for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat – to contest in the by-election.

The Form 14 or election document for the Tasek Gelugor election petition, meanwhile, was unsealed by the High Court in Penang.

Other Kinibites

Penang became the first state in the country to employ a facial recognition system to combat crime.

The Court of Appeal upheld the death sentences of a Malaysian and a Chinese national for drug offences.

FGV Holdings Bhd appointed Mohd Hairul Abdul Hamid, formerly of MRT Corp, as its chief financial officer.

The Meteorological Department said strong winds and turbulent seas are expected to hit the waters of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang this weekend.

Another transwoman was killed in Klang - and police denied that the killing arose from hate crime.

Looking ahead

Transport Minister Anthony Loke, together with China ambassador Bai Tian, will visit the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) facility in Batu Gajah.

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah will receive UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Putrajaya.