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

Key Highlights

• Umno out of the woods
  
  

• Selangor under fire
  
  

• Swearing-in hiccups
  
  

Umno out of the woods

At the height of Umno's clash with former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, it had expressed fear that it could be deregistered as a political party.

This was after the Registrar of Societies (ROS) declared Umno's postponement of its party election to be invalid.

It was seen as an attempt to force a change in the Umno leadership which had been hostile to Muhyiddin, who is the Bersatu president.

But with Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob now taking over as the new prime minister, things are looking up for the party.

The ROS reversed its decision to declare the postponement invalid. It now agrees that the postponement was done properly after additional information was submitted.

That means there won't be a showdown in Umno until the tail end of 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

	PM hopes this Merdeka will be the last under Covid-19 PM urges all Malaysians to play their role.
	Anwar: Merdeka not just about replacing colonialists He says colonial ways must also be rid of.
	Nov 8 verdict on 1MDB-linked forfeiture suit against Najib The suit is also targeting 17 others.

Selangor under fire

The Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor government came under fire over a couple of decisions that were seen to be inconsistent with the values and position espoused by the coalition.

For one, it approved the partial degazettement of the Kuala Langat North forest reserve despite a unanimous motion approved by the Selangor assembly last year urging the state to protect its forest reserves.

Environmental groups slammed the Selangor government over the hushed manner in which the degazettement happened.

It was done in May but never publicised. It only came to public attention after questions were raised during Monday's state assembly sitting.

Selangor exco Hee Loy Sian argued the state government had taken heed of the objection - that's why it was only degazetting about half of the forest reserve.

The state government also came under fire from a fellow PKR MP for "approving in principle" a tolled highway in Petaling Jaya.

Selayang MP William Leong said the move went against Harapan's manifesto.

HIGHLIGHTS

	S'gor factories remain open because of NSC  Local authorities can only act if licence violated.
	MP: Three reform deals Harapan can pursue He says faith needs to be restored in political system.
	'Don't mistake willingness to work with PM as unity govt' Guan Eng says DAP will still play its role as opposition.

Swearing-in hiccups

Most of the ministers and deputy ministers of the new government were finally sworn in yesterday but it was met with some hiccups.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was already sworn in on Aug 21, could not attend as he had to be quarantined after being exposed to a Covid-19 patient.

Two others, Noh Omar (entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister) and Mohamad Alamin (deputy education minister II) also missed the swearing-in ceremony.

Noh was also in close contact with a Covid-19 patient while Mohamad tested positive for Covid-19.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Klang Valley: Committee to mull easing restrictions This is as the Covid-19 vaccination rate increases.
	'Retention of Zafrul, Tok Pa indicates Budget 2022 on track' 'We retain a balanced market positioning,' says Maybank IB.
	UM student union raises doubts over minister's return They cited her alleged past failures.

 

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 19,268 new cases yesterday (Aug 30).
  
  
• Five states recorded fresh infections of more than 2,000 - Selangor, Sabah, Johor, Kedah and Sarawak.
  
  
• The positivity rate climbed to an all-time high of 17.8 percent. That means out of every 1,000 people tested, 178 have Covid-19. The World Health Organisation recommends a positivity rate of no more than five percent.
  
  
• For trends on daily cases, tests, hospital bed capacity, vaccination progress and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.
  
  

What else is happening?

• The Malaysian Medical Association wants the police and MACC to investigate reports of anti-vaccine individuals trying to bribe doctors to falsely issue Covid-19 vaccination certificates.
  
  
• The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) spoke out against disciplinary action on workers who refused to get vaccinated, pointing out that the government had yet to make it mandatory.
  
  
• Former Sabah chief minister Sakaran Dandai passed away at 91 after being admitted to the hospital as a suspected Covid-19 case.
  
  
• Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was urged to urgently release funds to various state health departments as the Covid-19 situation beyond the Klang Valley worsens.
  
  
• National powerlifter Jong Yee Khie dedicated his silver medal in the men's 107kg category at the Tokyo Paralympic Games to his late mother.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Shareholders 'forced' into deals with proxy of political leader High Court orders defendant to pay RM1.5mil.
	SRC ex-director seeks full indemnity against US$1.15b suit Azhar contended he had no knowledge about RM4b loans.
	Fashion policing at Covid-19 vaccination centres persists Kluang MP receives another three complaints.

What are people saying?

	Rebuilding education with staggered schooling By Omar Yaakob & Zaliza Alias
	Covid-19 vaccines for children By Dr Kerpal Singh
	Hope reforms will be PM's highest priority By G25 Malaysia

CARTOON KINI