SNAPSHOT | Friday prayers not allowed in S'gor malls; govt mulls caning scammers

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

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2pm

Islamic affairs

• The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) said that Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has not consented to holding Friday prayers for any surau in shopping centres across the state.

  Mais chairperson Salehuddin Saidin said the decision was based on the view that allowing this would undermine efforts to strengthen and enliven mosques.

  He said this could lead to a decline in the number of congregants at mosques and surau for Friday prayers.

  Only one surau in a mall has permission, but it is only temporary as there are no mosques nearby, he added.

Cybercrimes punishment 

• The government is considering punishing scammers with caning as part of measures to strengthen cybercrime laws.

  The findings of a study into this will form the basis of proposals to update legislation, including the possible introduction of compensation for cybercrime victims, Utusan reported.

  Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said was reported as saying that the study will look into similar punishments implemented in other countries, including Singapore, which allows six strokes of the cane for such crimes.

  A mechanism for returning money to victims of online scams, similar to systems implemented in the UK and Australia, will also be examined, she added. 

Corruption

• Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng expressed disappointment over the government's statement that the records of former MACC chief Azam Baki’s shareholdings are not public documents and cannot be disclosed.

  The ex-finance minister said this contradicts the basic tenets of transparency, public accountability and responsibility.

  Lim urged Putrajaya to review its decision regarding Azam and disclose if any action has been taken against him.

  "There is no justification to withhold such information or refuse to make such shareholding records public when it is in the public interest,” he said in a statement.

Johor polls

• Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has conceded that Perikatan Nasional may fall short of forming the Johor government, but said the coalition is aiming to secure enough seats to act as an effective check on the administration.

  

  The former prime minister said a sizeable opposition bloc in the state legislative assembly was necessary to ensure the government is subjected to proper oversight.

  “The state government cannot do as it pleases. It must explain how Johor’s funds are spent and be held accountable in the state assembly,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today at the Bersatu Demi Johor rally in Parit Raja last night.

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PARLIAMENT | Azalina: Govt cannot disclose Azam Baki's shareholdings