Good morning, here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

• Najib strikes back
  
  
• Sabah objects to new syariah law
  
  
• More Covid-19 data transparency
  
  

Najib strikes back

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak turned his pointed social media posts into action when he struck back at his enemies.

Najib has lodged a police report against the Inland Revenue Board, claiming that an RM1.69 billion tax suit against him was based on false documents.

He further claimed the suit was instigated by politicians abusing their power.

The Pekan MP also sent a legal letter against his former deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, demanding that Muhyiddin reveals if he had spread rumours that Najib had asked him to interfere in his court case.

He gave Muhyiddin until today (Sept 10) to answer this allegation, and would decide on how to proceed based on the response.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Appeals court upholds tax ruling against Najib Ruling against his son was also upheld.
	Najib, Justo lock horns over 1MDB scandal Najib called Justo a thief.
	Analysts warn against giving Najib a post An appointment will be fodder for opponents.

Sabah objects to new syariah law

Sabah became the first state to reject a proposed plan to introduce a new syariah law to restrict the propagation of non-Muslim religions.

State Chief Minister Hajiji Noor cited Sabah's diversity and harmony in objecting to the proposed law.

Sabah, together with Sarawak and Penang, are the only states without a local law on the propagation of non-Muslim religions.

De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar - who hails from Sarawak - said the proposed law has yet to be brought to cabinet.

He also said that the bill must be consented to by all states before it is brought to Parliament.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Patriot warns Marzuk not to ‘overstep’ jurisdiction This is over his remarks on syariah laws.
	GPS blames Dr M for rise of S'wak regionalism  'Dr M short-changed the state.'
	Status quo in N Sembilan Anwar says MB will keep his job.

More Covid-19 data transparency

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has delivered his pledge to improve the government's Covid-19 data sharing and transparency.

The government has a new website, CovidNow, which provides data in an easy to understand format for public understanding.

The ministry's data repository on Github also provides more granular raw data, including more data points for Covid-19 cases and deaths, including age, nationality and vaccine status.

Khairy said the Health Ministry will also transition to a new way of reporting daily statistics via CovidNow, starting next week.

The way deaths are reported will also be updated to reflect the Covid-19 situation in real-time, instead of piling up due to a backlog.

HIGHLIGHTS

	KJ orders MySejahtera to resolve 'missing' digital certs He gives them a one-week deadline.
	MOH studying additional Covid-19 measures in S'wak S'wak cases rising despite the high vaccination rate.
	Scientists watching out for new variants Lambda is receding; Mu is rare but spreading.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 19,307 new cases yesterday (Sept 9)
  
  
• Perlis reported triple-digit new cases for the first time. The smallest state in the country had been reporting a slow but steady rise in Covid-19 cases since August.
  
  
• Most states are reporting a decline in hospitalisations, but Kelantan is bucking the trend. The state's hospital bed capacity is now at 111.2 percent - the highest in the country - after the number of Covid-19 patients jumped to four digits.
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital bed capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

What else is happening?

• The courts have ruled that children born overseas to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers are automatically entitled to Malaysian citizenship, in a victory for equal rights.
  
  
• The businessperson who assaulted security guard S Thava Sagayam last year has been charged with murder following the latter's death on Aug 27.
  
  
• DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng denied breaching Covid-19 home quarantine, after his social media posts during the quarantine period raised questions.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	What to expect at Parliament Royal signals, positions, deals.
	Forced labour claims could cause 'untold economic damage' Ex-minister says govt must act.
	Kuala Langat forest reserve reversal lauded 'It’s a win for people power.'

What are people saying?

	Now MACC is pinning blame on its own officers By R Nadeswaran
	The tragedy of the non-Malay dilemma By S Thayaparan
	We need a comprehensive sustainable development policy By Rafidah Aziz