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


Key Highlights

  • Najib faces bankruptcy

  • SRC judge bashing

  • Tolled highways



Najib faces bankruptcy

The Inland Revenue Board has slapped former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak with a bankruptcy notice.

This was over RM1.69 billion in taxes on the multi-billion ringgit deposits Najib received as prime minister, which he claimed were “donations”, but which prosecutors in the charges against him believe were “stolen” from 1MDB.

The Pekan MP called the bankruptcy notice a "persecution" and vowed to fight back.

Najib, who led the Alliance/BN coalition to its first defeat in 61 years, claimed he was being targeted because an online poll showed he was the most popular prime ministerial candidate for GE15.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim spoke out against a plan by a private equity fund led by Najib’s brother to acquire shares in Ambank, the same bank that paid RM2.83 billion as a settlement for facilitating the billions in Najib’s accounts.

On a side note, the deadline to file your taxes for non-business income is the end of this month.



HIGHLIGHTS

Najib 'vindicated' over Ziana Zain rumour
He blames opposition bloggers.
Minister questioned on exclusion from climate summit
Vietnam, Indonesia and S'pore were invited.
Tok Pa's statement an insult to graduates - youths
This is over his comment on low salaries.

 



SRC judge bashing

Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah tore into High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali during the second day of the former prime minister’s appeal hearing.

Najib is appealing at the Court of Appeal against Nazlan’s decision to sentence him to 12 years imprisonment and an RM210 million fine over the misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

Shafee called Nazlan “hopelessly incompetent” and described his judgment as “poisoned”, prompting the Court of Appeal to ask the lawyer to watch his words.

A Najib supporter previously also tried to discredit Nazlan by falsely claiming he was a relative of ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The supporter, Ramesh Rao, is now facing criminal action.

During Najib's appeal hearing, Shafee also raised doubts about the credibility of witnesses who testified in Najib's trial.

While a trial looks at the facts of the case, an appeal tends to focus on legal procedures and technicalities, an area where Shafee excels.



HIGHLIGHTS

Recall elections - Umno, DAP reps agree
This is a move to prevent party hopping.
Chart your courses carefully, MIC and MCA warned
'Don't try and find a new partner for seats.'
Umno division chief demands Zahid quits
Simpang Renggam division rebels.

 



Tolled highways

Works Minister Fadilah Yusof revealed that the PN-led Putrajaya has axed the previous Pakatan Harapan government’s plan to take over tolled highways from Gamuda Bhd.

If the plan rings a bell, that’s because the debate about tolls subsided along with the demise of the Harapan government.

The Harapan government had planned to take over the highways and introduce tiered payments in place of tolls - congestion charges during peak hours, 30 percent discount during normal hours and free during non-peak hours.

It was a compromise after Harapan promised, in its GE14 election campaign, to abolish tolled highways.

Fadilah said the plan had to be axed due to financial considerations and that the government is considering a new proposal from Gamuda, where toll hikes are to be frozen in exchange for a longer concession term.


HIGHLIGHTS

Minister confident Selangor will cooperate on ECRL
Wee Ka Siong says there can't be any more delays.
'Heed UN's call to suspend fake news ordinance'
An academician says the UN sent a letter to Putrajaya.
'Revoke honorifics of those convicted of crimes'
Patriot says they have dishonoured their titles.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 1,300 new cases and five deaths yesterday (April 6).

  • The infectivity rate rose further to 1.03, the fourth consecutive day it is above 1.0. The infectivity rate must be under 1.0 to make progress against Covid-19.

  • The death toll also hit the 1,300-mark. 28 people have so far died this month.

  • For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital beds capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.


What else is happening?

  • Sarawak, which has seen the highest number of new Covid-19 cases in recent days, is now requiring all social activities to be registered with the district offices.

  • Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said Putrajaya will proceed with the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine when it arrives as data points to benefits rather than harm.

  • A "datuk" was among five people arrested for hacking the Immigration Department's database.

  • The MACC nabbed a senior government official who was allegedly bribed RM1.2 million for assisting a tender rigging cartel.

  • Private hospitals offered to register people who are interested to be vaccinated against Covid-19 amid the government's concern that registration numbers are low.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Prioritise teachers for Covid-19 vaccine'
The former education minister nudges Putrajaya.
Drugs from cow dung fungi now popular in clubs - Cops
They are used in liquid form.
Farmers say proposed seed quality bill harmful
They said it does more harm than good.

 


What are people saying?

Communists and Stalin favoured
By Martin Vengadesan
Pointing fingers over Hindu temple land ownership issue
By C Sivarraajh
Big brother controversy – optics not good for Malaysia
By Malaysiakini readers

 

CARTOON KINI