Good morning, here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

• Big brother China
  
  
• MIC and PN
  
  
• Signature mistake
  
  

'Big brother' China

Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s two-day working visit to China was overshadowed by a diplomatic gaffe.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim skewered Hishammuddin for calling China a "big brother" during his joint address with his Chinese counterpart Minister Wang Yi.

This was amid outstanding diplomatic issues, including Beijing’s constant encroachment into Sarawak waters.

Hishammuddin clarified that his “big brother” comment was in reference to Wang Yi personally and not China.

Former foreign minister Anifah Aman dismissed Hishammuddin’s explanation and observed that even Wang Yi’s body language suggested that he was surprised.

HIGHLIGHTS

	'Five reasons why Hisham should apologise' This is over his 'big brother' comment.
	Anwar: Hisham may set us back 25 years with China He claims Malaysia's neutrality has been undermined.
	Muhyiddin arrives in Brunei He is on an official visit.

MIC and PN

The MIC annual general assembly has been a low-key event in recent years but the one last weekend attracted plenty of attention.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin delivered an online speech there and made multiple veiled shots at Umno for trying to set BN on a collision course with the Bersatu-led PN.

MIC president S Vigneswaran defended inviting Muhyiddin amid the feud between Bersatu and its BN ally Umno. Muhyiddin is the Bersatu president.

In August last year, MIC had planned to become a founding member of PN but backtracked after Umno’s reservations.

From rebelling Umno leaders to PAS and MIC becoming critical of Umno, the signal is clear - isolation will be a tool to pressure Umno into changing course.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Umno man claims Tajuddin plotted against Zahid Tajuddin is now supportive of the Umno president.
	Discontent could morph into a movement to oust Zahid This amid Zahid's push to cut ties with Bersatu.
	'Bodoh, bangang' - Umno leaders quarrel over Bersatu Umno is split over its future.

Signature mistake

A Sabahan was freed after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin made a mistake in his preventive detention order when he was the acting home minister.

Muhyiddin had signed off the order with his popular name instead of his real name “Mahiaddin Md Yasin”.

That immediately led to questions if the emergency proclamation, which Muhyiddin signed off, was also void.

However, checks showed that Muhyiddin signed off as “Mahiaddin” in all legal documents related to the emergency proclamation.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Dr M: If Umno can work with MCA, why not DAP? He says both parties are perceived to be 'extreme'.
	PKR to demand RM10m compensation from Xavier Xavier had defected to support PN.
	Bersatu appoints reps to a joint panel with PAS They will also help GPS.

 

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 1,349 new cases and two deaths yesterday (April 4).
  
  
• Sarawak again topped the chart with 419 new cases, the second-highest on record for the state.
  
  
• The national infectivity rate rose to 1.02 on April 3, the first time it rose to above 1.0 since Feb 5. A sustained value above 1.0 will lead to exponential growth in fresh infections.
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital beds capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

What else is happening?

• Putrajaya says it has backup plans in the event the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will arrive in June, is rendered ineffective following the discovery of the South African Covid-19 variant spreading locally.
  
  
• Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong maintained that the decisions of Facebook and Google to skip Malaysia in favour of Singapore and Indonesia for their undersea internet cable had nothing to do with the cabotage policy.
  
  
• The MRT3 project, which was put on hold by the previous Pakatan Harapan government, will proceed in the second half of this year.
  
  
• Universiti Malaysia Sabah saw a Covid-19 outbreak at three of its residential colleges which have been put on lockdown.
  
  
• The Court of Appeal, beginning today, will hear former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's appeal against his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine over criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power in relation to SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Many out of jobs, be grateful to have one - Minister 'It's something to be thankful for, even if the salary is low'.
	Evicted mother of 10 finds hope Help came as she wept outside her former home.
	Indie musicians battle odds to keep recording originals It's a serious financial challenge.

What are people saying?

	We should not be the world's dumping ground! By Nathaniel Tan
	Address 'Allah' cultural shock with empathy, wisdom By Abdul Latiff Abdullah et al
	Confronting evil and the fool in society Sharifah Munirah Alatas

KINI LENS