Good Morning and Happy Thaipusam. There were some significant developments in the courts. Here's what you need to know.

Key Highlights

• Mongolian rape case
  
  
• Taking on developers
  
  
• Exams under Covid-19
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Court urged to waive fee on rape survivor She had to put an RM70k deposit.
	Man gets 1,050 years for raping daughter He raped her 105 times over two years.
	Appeal by Adib's father set for May This is over proceedings against ex-AG.

Challenging developers

Kuala Lumpur residents fighting to keep their park scored a major victory after the Court of Appeal quashed the approval to develop Taman Rimba Kiara.

The park was to be jointly developed by a private developer and Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, an affiliate of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which approved the project.

The court cited a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile, another battle is heating up against attempts to de-gazette the Kuala Langat forest reserve for development by a royalty-linked firm.

Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said negotiations will take another month but he is facing pressure from his own party to scrap the project.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Court quashes approval to develop TTDI park This is on Taman Rimba Kiara.
	Sri Ram and Apandi's 'brotherly talk' Lawyers argue this over a 1MDB-related case.
	Lokman faces proceedings for intimidation He allegedly intimidated a 1MDB witness.

Exams under Covid-19

The MUET oral assessment started this week and gave a glimpse of exams under Covid-19.

Students at the Negeri Sembilan Matriculation College took their exams today amid a new Covid-19 cluster at the institution.

Malaysiakini first reported several cases there on Jan 18 and by Jan 26, was confirmed as a new Covid-19 cluster.

The government had been postponing major exams since last year but can no longer do so. The current MUET was supposed to take place last December.

SPM students for 2020 and 2021 will also take their exams this year.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Suhakam suggests free vaccines for the vulnerable They say the virus does not discriminate.
	MP wants alternative to emergency mantra  Civil servants are required to mention 'emergency' in letters.
	PKR wants details of RM100m for private hospitals It wants transparency.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,680 new cases yesterday (Jan 27).
  
  
• The four-day decline in active cases ended with a sharp increase of 1,815, putting the total at 42,389.
  
  
• Patients in the intensive care unit rose to a new record high of 314, an 11 percent increase in a day.
  
  
• Malaysiakini also compiles daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precaution.
  
  
  

What else is happening?

• 100,000s of Chinese New Year apparel are stuck as textile factories and apparel stores can't operate during MCO 2.0.
  
  
• Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, who is also the Bersatu secretary-general, has recovered from Covid-19.
  
  
• The Malacca government decided to allow a maximum of 500 worshippers to perform Friday and obligatory prayers.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Pejuang mulls borrowing Amanah logo It's a suggestion for now.
	Fitch: Malaysia's recovery rests on vaccines MCO 2.0 will dampen the economy.
	Gov't asked to subsidise foreign workers' test Builders complain of cash flow problems.

What are people saying?

	Time to rethink migrant housing strategy By Klang MP Charles Santiago
	Klepto-economics: Race, religion and kafirs By Raman Letchumanan
	PAS' arrogance, MIC and MCA By Malaysiakini readers

CARTOON KINI