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


Key Highlights

  • 'Ex-spy chief' and the MACC

  • Senior minister flexes on speaker

  • Shafee and RM9.5 million



'Ex-spy chief' and the MACC

The story of Hasanah Abdul Hamid, described as the country's "spy chief" during Najib Abdul Razak's tenure as the prime minister, has been an enigmatic one.

Her position was little known until the collapse of the BN government and her subsequent arrest for allegedly clearing out US$12.1 million before the new government came in.

She had also controversially written to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) urging the US to continue backing Najib shortly before his fall from power.

Hasanah was eventually granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal after the prosecution dropped her criminal breach of trust case but the story did not end there.

Now, MACC officers are accused of stealing part of that seized US$12.1 million.

Claims that MACC officers swiped half the sum had circulated on social media since last week and the graft buster finally acknowledged the incident - kind of.

The MACC confirmed it arrested three of its own officers for "misuse of power and misconduct" in a case involving a "former department head". It asked members of the public to refrain from speculation.

But Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo panned the MACC for its vagueness, pointing out that it would lead to exactly that - speculation.

Gobind also questioned why the MACC was investigating itself in a theft case, which falls under police jurisdiction. The police said they have yet to receive a report on the incident.


HIGHLIGHTS

Takiyuddin: Gunung Jerai floods an act of God
He says there was no logging.
Deepak's bid to reinstate suit against Najib dismissed
The Court of Appeal rules the suit to be unsustainable.
RM6m to Yayasan Akalbudi a donation - lawyer
Zahid's lawyer argues it's not a bribe.

 



Senior minister flexes on speaker

After asking Umno's Azalina Othman Said to chair the Dewan Rakyat sitting temporarily last week, Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun made the same offer to DAP's Nga Kor Ming.

Both of them were former deputy speakers. However, that offer to Nga did not happen.

A senior minister who reportedly caught wind of Azhar's plan pressured the Dewan Rakyat speaker to rescind the offer.

Under the parliamentary standing order, the Dewan Rakyat speaker can ask any member of the House to help chair the sitting.

Azhar needs all the help he can get as the election to fill one of two deputy speaker positions has been postponed to next month amid concerns that the government's candidate may be defeated due to dissent from Bersatu.



HIGHLIGHTS

Kit Siang: 'Red lines' not to be crossed
This is despite an MOU with the govt.
Nazri urges for equal allocation for all MPs
He says the people will benefit.
I did not hop between parties, Syed Saddiq rebuts Nazri
Ex-minister says he was sacked by Bersatu.

 



Shafee and RM9.5 million

Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is not an ordinary lawyer, having acted for people who walked the corridors of power, including Najib Abdul Razak.

A highlight of his career was his posting as a special prosecutor in the case that helped secure the conviction and jailing of Anwar Ibrahim in 2015.

But Shafee's involvement in the Anwar case extended beyond the courtroom, for he went on a roadshow describing lurid details of the sodomy case.

Sarawak Report later revealed that Shafee received RM9.5 million in alleged 1MDB-linked funds from Najib.

The senior lawyer was coy right until the collapse of Najib's government, calling it nonsense. It was only with a new government that evidence of the transactions came to light.

Shafee was later charged with money laundering and after multiple postponements, details of the case is finally being aired in open court.

Shafee had used the money to, among others, purchase a three-storey bungalow.

He maintained that the money was not related to his role as a special prosecutor in Anwar's case. The trial resumes today.


HIGHLIGHTS

Ismail Sabri govt faces growing internal flak
This is over the appeal of a landmark court decision.
Ex-IGP Hanif apologises to Kit Siang
It is to resolve a defamation suit.
'Medieval thinking': Nazri urges govt to withdraw appeal
On the court case that struck out a discriminatory citizenship rule.



A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 14,345 new cases yesterday (Sept 20), another new low since July 26.

  • Another 301 people died from Covid-19, the fifth consecutive day where reported deaths were above 300. The death toll now stands at 23,744.

  • However, new deaths are trending downwards compared to the average of 374 deaths in the last seven days.

  • The bulk of the newly reported deaths are still coming from Selangor. 43.19 percent of the new deaths yesterday were from the state.



What else is happening?

  • A website has been selling the details of Malaysians, including their address, MyKad number and contact number. The data source is unclear but there have been several leaks in past years, including from the MCMC's own project that exposed the details of millions of Malaysians.

  • The Health Ministry has set up a website to deal with travellers from abroad seeking to undergo home quarantine. The previous system of using emails led to a backlog of 6,000 applications.

  • Police are attempting to extradite Nur Sajat, the cosmetic businessperson on the run from the law due to her gender identity. She skipped a syariah court hearing where was put on trial for dressing as a woman at a religious event.


HIGHLIGHTS

Govt: Depression, financial woes main causes of suicide
The majority are in the 19 to 40 age group.
Over 8,000 migrants in detention caught Covid-19 
The statistics were for last year.
Environmentalists urge govt to reject T'ganu reclamation project
Kuasa says if the plan is approved, it will cause coastal erosion.



What are people saying?

Would you not vote for Harapan?
By S Thayaparan
Ismail Sabri - the ultimate compromiser
By James Chai
What's the future of wildlife rehabilitation in M'sia?
By Sharifah Sofia

 


CARTOON KINI