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Key Highlights

  • Anwar gets an upgrade

  • A test of coalitions

  • Watered down IPCMC



Anwar gets an upgrade

The Dewan Rakyat sitting which concluded yesterday has been closely watched as it was the first with Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the prime minister, who also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the main opposition bloc.

What has been achieved on the MOU front? For now, they mostly revolved around bipartisan negotiations, including on Budget 2022 and several constitutional amendments.

This sets the table for the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, which will reconvene on Oct 25, to be a litmus test on whether the MOU is sustainable.

Pakatan Harapan had previously slammed the progress of the MOU's implementation, which Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim described as slow and deliberately delayed.

However, some immediate measures have been implemented. Ismail Sabri formally handed Anwar a letter informing him that the Opposition Leader's office will be upgraded with facilities equal to that of a minister.

Meanwhile, DAP's Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng was appointed to the Dewan Rakyat's Selection Committee, replacing Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin.

This was in line with the MOU to ensure committees in Parliament are more representative of the party composition in the house.

Previously, the Selection Committee comprised two representatives from Bersatu and one from Umno, GPS, PAS and PKR respectively. Bersatu made way for one slot in favour of DAP.



HIGHLIGHTS

'Foundation trustees were 'puppets' controlled by Zahid'
The prosecution argued this in his graft case.
Three bills and 12MP passed, Dewan Rakyat adjourns
It will reconvene on Oct 25.
Revocation of EOs to be discussed at next sitting
The motion is listed as number 13 in the order paper.




A test of coalitions

Even though the Malacca state election for this year is not yet confirmed, jostling has already begun that could define the next general election.

For the longest time, there has been a behind the scenes tussle between those who want BN to take on PN in the 15th general election (GE15) and those who want both to cooperate in a grand coalition.

Now, that tussle is manifesting in Malacca. PAS is working hard to convince Umno to work with Bersatu.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, sees the Malacca polls as an opportunity and has ruled out cooperation. If he can prove BN can win without PN, it will solidify his stance for GE15.

However, if Zahid's Umno rival Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is the prime minister, is able to postpone the Malacca polls with a localised emergency until the general election, that would neutralise the impact of the state election on national politics.

Many Malaccans are also concerned that the state polls could plunge the country into another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.



HIGHLIGHTS

Harapan: Sulaiman can't be 'minority' caretaker CM
It wants a 'majority' caretaker govt.
Malacca secretary reminds Idris of his oath of secrecy
'If the oath is broken, action can be taken.'
Dec 14 hearing on Hamzah's refusal to register Muda
This is Muda's third legal challenge.

 



Watered down IPCMC

Civil society groups are stepping up their objections to the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) bill.

The bill is a severely watered-down version of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill tabled by the previous Pakatan Harapan government but was never passed after it was ousted from power.

The groups warned that the IPCC will be worse than the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), which already faces criticism of lacking "teeth".

They said if the IPCMC, intended to ensure police accountability, was a coconut, then PN's version of it under the IPCC would merely be the husk.

Meanwhile, the police force was rocked by controversy after a senior officer allegedly issued a death threat in order to get out of an RM100,000 debt, purportedly taken out to "buy" a promotion.



HIGHLIGHTS

Pemas chairperson charged with insulting Muhyiddin
Dayalan pleads not guilty.
AGC finds other offences in case of missing US$6.94m
This is based on IP submitted by the MACC.
Adib case: Senior pathologist to examine coroner's decision
The pathologist will also examine police findings.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 7,276 new cases yesterday (Oct 12).

  • Another 103 reported fatalities put the death toll at 27,525. Sarawak topped the chart with 26 new deaths, or 25.2 percent.


New cases by states:

Selangor (1,302)
Kelantan (1,028)
Sarawak (834)
Sabah (707)
Johor (665)
Kedah (517)
Terengganu (420)
Penang (406)
Pahang (384)
Perak (336)
Kuala Lumpur (253)
Malacca (195)
Negeri Sembilan (138)
Perlis (57)
Putrajaya (32)
Labuan (2)


What else is happening?

  • The government decided to discontinue the requirement for travellers to Langkawi to undergo a Covid-19 test before departure due to the low positivity rate. However, it is still encouraging self-testing.

  • Putrajaya said transport companies must ensure their passengers are fully vaccinated before ferrying them or they could face action.

  • The Health Ministry corrected its mistake after lumping "lain-lain" Malaysians with non-citizens. It now provides a breakdown of Covid-19 deaths by Malay, Chinese, Indian, Sabah bumiputera, Sarawak bumiputera, Orang Asli and non-citizens.

  • A total of 76,786 divorce petitions were filed between March 2020, when the Covid-19 lockdown began, and August this year.

  • Batu Kawan MP P Kasthuriraani criticised government agencies for sending their annual reports in individual pen drives and compact discs that ended up in the Parliament's dustbins.



HIGHLIGHTS

Activist: Use 'special draw' income for Orang Asli
'Orang Asli villages are far from schools.'
'Govt followed foreign lawyers’ advice on Pulau Batu Puteh'
This is according to a court filing.
PM: Bumi equity rule won't take away rights of other races
'Private companies are not subject to this proposal.'

 


What are people saying?

Putrajaya's inability to make wise decisions
By Zaid Ibrahim
Pandora Papers: Nothing to hide? Then allow for debate
By Charles Santiago
Rush for molnupiravir at possibly high cost
By Malaysiakini readers