SNAPSHOT | PAS: No conditions yet for PN-BN pact in N Sembilan; PKR MP explains rally participation

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

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Harapan disappointed with N Sembilan Umno; Afif invites DAP rep to visit 'polluted' villages

6pm

Negeri Sembilan

• PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad said Perikatan Nasional has not set any conditions for an alliance with BN in Negeri Sembilan.

  The PN supreme council member attributed this to the opposition’s concern for political stability and public interest.

  According to the New Straits Times, Idris (above) said PN does not want a snap election that will “burden” the people, nor does it want to interfere in matters pertaining to customary law.

  The Bagan Serai MP told reporters at an event in Ipoh, Perak, that PN had already discussed the possibility of cooperating with BN in Negeri Sembilan, but that the decision cannot be made unilaterally.

READ MORE: N Sembilan Umno seeks audience with Tuanku Muhriz

MACC

• PKR central committee member Lee Chean Chung said he had joined the protest against MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki last Saturday because he felt he had exhausted all internal avenues to raise the issue.

  “When I can no longer fulfil the mandate given by the people within the system, I have no choice but to return to them,” the Petaling Jaya MP said in a Chinese-language podcast published last night.

  

  He revealed he had met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim before to discuss the issue and advocated the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry as the best way to clear the names of the innocent and punish bad actors.

  He said Anwar agreed with him that the investigative committee report should be released as soon as possible.

  But on the RCI, Lee said Anwar initially seemed to disagree, though he did not continue pushing back on the idea when he told Anwar that an RCI could help clear his name as well.

• The Malaysian Bar reiterated its call for the MACC’s reformation to fortify its independence via transparent appointments and an appropriate fixed term for its chief commissioner.

  Noting that such measures would avoid “unnecessary annual speculation”, Malaysian Bar president Anand Raj cited proposals detailed in a memorandum submitted to the anti-graft agency in 2015.

  Anand added that the Malaysian Bar looks forward to the incoming MACC chief commissioner, former judge Abdul Halim Aman, bringing his considerable legal knowledge “to bear fully and conscientiously” in the discharge of his duties.

  The role, Anand stressed, demands objectivity, independence, as well as conduct beyond reproach, and without fear or favour.

READ MORE: Gobind urges new MACC chief to scrutinise 'corporate mafia', shareholding saga

Court

• The prosecution’s ninth witness in the corruption trial involving Muhyiddin Yassin said there were RM19.5 million funds given by Mamfor Sdn Bhd to Bersatu via 29 cheques between 2021 and 2022.

  

  Norazeanti Miswan, who is the Bank Muamalat PKNS branch assistant manager, had testified so at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, adding that the branch had flagged suspicious transaction reports for each transaction.

  She further testified that Mamfor had only made such donations to Bersatu, and not other political parties such as Umno, DAP or PAS.

  The construction company had closed its Bank Muamalat account last year, after receiving notice from the bank, she added.

  Reporting by Farah Solhi

READ MORE: Muhyiddin charged with corruption involving over RM232m

• The Court of Appeal has fixed June 24 to decide on Lim Guan Eng and his wife, Betty Chew, as well as businessperson Phang Li Koon’s appeal to strike out their corruption and money laundering charges.

  

  Deputy public prosecutor Ashrof Adrin Kamarul confirmed the date to Malaysiakini today, adding that the date was fixed at a case management yesterday.

  The court, whose panel led by judge Azman Abdullah, had reserved their judgment after hearing the trio’s appeal on April 8.

  Lim is accused of using his position as the Penang chief minister and chairperson of the Penang Development Corp tender board, in 2020, to receive RM372,009 for his wife, while Phang was charged with conspiring with him.

  The trio had filed to strike out their charges in 2023, which was dismissed by the Penang High Court in 2024.

READ MORE: Court reserves judgment on Guan Eng, wife's appeal to strike out graft charges

• The Magistrate’s Court in Penang has set Aug 18 for the trial of former Penang exco member Fahmi Zainol, Bernama reported.

  The Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson was charged with intentionally injuring his wife, Nur Hidayah Abd Jabar, 35, on Feb 22.

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