KINI SNAPSHOT | What's going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

2pm

Drink driving

  • The tourist killed in an alleged drunk driving incident on the MEX Highway yesterday has been identified as Bangladeshi gaming influencer Muzahid Millad.

    According to the New Straits Times, Bangladesh’s gaming community is circulating the hashtags #JusticeForMuzahid, #JusticeForAdvanceGaming, and #BangladeshDemandsJustice on social media to demand accountability over the crash that claimed the content creator’s life.

    As of 10am, checks by Malaysiakini found around 70 posts on Facebook using the hashtags, with some bearing the caption: “He was one of the most popular influencers in Bangladesh. We demand justice for Muzahid Millad.”

    Muzahid’s YouTube channel, @Advance_Gaming_0, had about 785,000 subscribers.

READ MORE: 'Drink-driving': Military officer crashes into MPV, killing foreigner who just landed at KLIA

Corruption

  • The Kuala Lumpur High Court will soon decide whether Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should be granted a full acquittal for 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

    Zahid was previously granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA).

    Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

    The date for the judgment has been fixed on May 14. This is subject to the outcome of a related proceeding at the Court of Appeal on May 7, where the Malaysian Bar is challenging the attorney-general’s decision to drop the case against Zahid.

  • The MACC now requires its officers to declare their involvement in NGOs, Bernama reported last night.

    Its chief commissioner, Azam Baki, said this is to strengthen integrity and prevent any conflict of interest within the organisation, and ensure the agency’s reputation and credibility are consistently safeguarded.

Working from home

  • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has again urged the private sector to consider following the public sector’s footsteps in implementing flexible work arrangements, including working from home.

    He said this could help reduce fuel consumption, ease cost pressures and maintain workforce productivity and morale, Bernama reported.

    Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

    “The private sector cannot remain comfortable with old methods in a world that has changed. Instead, this is the time to accelerate productivity improvements, increase investment in innovation and automation, and generate added value and sustainability,” he said.

Economy

  • The Inland Revenue Board’s direct tax collections have increased by RM19.19 billion to RM203.99 billion last year - surpassing the RM200 billion mark for the first time.

    Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that, as such, the government allocated an additional RM11.4 billion for tax refunds owed to corporate taxpayers.

    “This has enabled past commitments to be settled in a more orderly and transparent manner,” Bernama quoted Anwar as saying, in a speech read out by his deputy, Fadillah Yusof, at the launch of the IRB’s 30th Anniversary celebration today.

Previously at 9am | Vet Dept tracking down dog abuse suspect; Yeo rallies behind Wong over pig farming issue