Good morning. Here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

• Umno's secret account
  
  
• Media threat
  
  
• CNY Reunion SOP
  
  

Umno’s secret account

Prosecutors seeking to forfeit funds claimed by Umno revealed in court that the party has a secret bank account hidden from auditors.

The revelation has serious implications as it contravened the Societies Act 1966.

In 1988, Umno was declared illegal after the party was found to have violated the Societies Act 1966.

Bersatu supreme council member Muhammad Faiz Na’aman urged the Registrar of Societies (ROS), which governs the registration of political parties, to investigate Umno.

The more than RM110 million which Umno is claiming were seized from properties linked to Najib in 2018, which prosecutors believe is linked to 1MDB.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Najib's supporter pleads not guilty He falsely linked the SRC trial judge to Mahathir.
	Rosmah to know fate on Feb 18 This is on graft charges over a gov't project.
	Zahid cries impersonation over post mocking PM He also says it may have been doctored.

Media threat

Media boss Hussammudin Yaacub spoke out against threats by ministerial officers to pull advertising contracts if his newspaper did not give publicity to certain individuals.

He heads Karangkraf Group which publishes the Malay daily Sinar Harian.

He urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to rein in such officers which he described as “something else”, noting previous governments did not threaten the newspaper.

Meanwhile, Umno supreme council leader Mohd Puad Zarkashi was defiant in the face of the Prime Minister’s Office’s threat to sue for defamation.

The PMO had demanded an apology after Puad claimed Muhyiddin’s entourage refused to quarantine after returning from Indonesia.

HIGHLIGHTS

	MPs against 'unscientific' 3-day quarantine rule They say ministers should set a good example.
	Expert cautions against shorter quarantine She says the plan is as good as no quarantine.
	Sarawak won't relax quarantine for ministers The state will maintain at 14 days.

CNY Reunion SOP

It’s Chinese New Year’s Eve. For those celebrating, Xin Nian Kuai Le. For those who aren’t, happy holidays.

Here’s a quick recap of the standard operating procedures (SOP) for family reunion dinners under the MCO.

• Only spouse, children and siblings may gather at home
• Gathering capped at 15 people
• Only two persons per vehicle when travelling
• Travel limited to 10km and must not cross districts or states

Kini News Brief will be taking a break on Chinese New Year and will be back on Monday.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Driving schools also seek MCO exemption Jobs are at stake.
	Lion dancers face a bleak new year The performance is banned this year.
	From mild symptoms to ICU MCA man shares his story.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,288 new cases yesterday (Feb 10).
  
  
• The brief respite did not last as active cases resumed climbing to a new high of 52,186.
  
  
• Yesterday also saw the first victim die at a private hospital since the private sector started taking Covid-19 patients.
  
  
• Malaysiakini also compiles daily locations affected by Covid-19 so you can take precaution.
  
  

What else is happening?

• The 1MDB trial revealed that the cabinet in 2010 agreed with then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak not to reveal a purported "Arab donation" to the 1MDB foundation.
  
  
• Ex-Tenaga Nasional Bhd president Amir Hamzah Azizan appointed as the new Employees Provident Fund chief executive officer.
  
  
• The Health Ministry plans to maintain the ban on inter-state and inter-district travel even if the MCO expires.
  
  
• The ceiling prices for RON95 and diesel were reduced by three sen.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	From med student to injecting black-market hormones A 21-year-old's story of transition.
	Sabah records 30.6pct jump in deaths This was in Q4 2020.
	Anwar: Gov't failed poor students He donated 1k tablets to them.

What are people saying?

	Perception vs reality of the AG's office By Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said
	Malaysia’s economic life: Sick or terminally ill? By Raman Letchumanan
	Flying parcels: Whose fault? By Malaysiakini readers

CARTOON KINI