Umno just can't break away from PAS

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Key Highlights

• Umno just can't break away from PAS
  
  
• Drinking 'Malay women'
  
  
• Royal backing for Lynas PDF
  
  

Umno just can't break off from PAS

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously gave hints that ties with PAS had soured and that Umno may contest without working with the Islamist party in Malacca.

But it seems that despite Zahid's wishes, Umno doesn't know how to break away from PAS.

The Umno supreme council has decided to cooperate with PAS in Malacca and avoid clashes between the two.

But this appears to hinge on PAS contesting in Malacca using its own logo - which could pose a problem for the party.

According to Zahid's rival Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS leaders had agreed to contest in Malacca using the Perikatan Nasional logo.

However, there seems to be an effort within PAS to reconsider this decision.

Preliminary analyses indicate that PAS would have a difficult time winning a seat in Malacca if it partners with Bersatu.

However, a partnership with Umno could help both sides secure enough seats to form the next state government.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Harapan to announce Malacca seat distribution A decision on logo also expected.
	MOH slaps compound on BN It violated SOPs at Malacca polls machinery launch.
	Bersih warns against PN's Gerai Prihatin Rakyat Initiative may violate election law.

Drinking 'Malay women'

The politicking over whiskey brand Timah has made its way to Parliament.

PKR lawmaker Rusnah Aluai claimed the brand gave the perception to its drinkers that they were "drinking a Malay woman".

The bizarre remark triggered whimsical ponderings such as whether eating Daim chocolates was akin to eating former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, and whether most of the country had eaten a man named Ramly after consuming a Ramly Burger.

However, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Deputy Domestic Trade Minister Rosol Wahid both opined that the Timah issue had been over-politicised.

The continued controversy has led Timah's producer to agree to considering revamping its name and logo.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Federal liability rose to RM1.187 trillion in 2020 Audit Department flagged the increase.
	Immigration lost RM81.69m in unclaimed penalties Unclear monitoring and agreements caused losses.
	Mindef had RM10.30m losses in rental revenue Weak management was the cause.

Royal backing for Lynas PDF

Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah has regained his stake in the main contractor for the planned construction of Lynas' permanent disposal facility (PDF).

He had relinquished his shares in Gading Senggara Sdn Bhd (GSSB) on Feb 17 - the same day Malaysiakini reported that he was the company's majority shareholder.

The prince appears to have retaken his shares in April.

Lynas has until March 2022 to build the PDF, which means GSSB needs to get its plans approved and complete the construction within the next five months.

HIGHLIGHT

	Decision on PDF site proposal in November Govt has to review two assessment reports.
	Mitra case: 205 companies under MACC probe MACC suspects many have made false claims.
	Weak rental collection of highway admin offices RM2.57 million was not accounted for

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 6,377 new cases yesterday (Oct 28)
  
  
• Terengganu, Pahang, and Kedah are recording a rise in hospital admissions.
  

What else is happening?

• The four cops arrested for partying in a police station three months ago are facing disciplinary action, but will not be charged for any crime.
  
  
• Selayang MP William Leong says he decided to stash funds from his overseas job in the 1990s offshore because he felt the Malaysian market was unstable.
  
  
• Education Minister Radzi Jidin is under fire for his alleged slow response to the issue of period spot checks, which led to a recent case at a vocational college in Kuala Lumpur.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Deepavali: Only fully vaccinated allowed at temples Religious processions are not allowed.
	Lawsuit by ex-soldier who refused vax approved He is challenging his dismissal.
	M'sian creates 'world's first unisex condom' It was created by a gynaecologist.

What are people saying?

	MACC should open Mitra's can of worms By R Nadeswaran
	Politicians do not want to reform Malaysia By S Thayaparan
	Don’t expect 'fat cats' to heed Khairy’s warning By Malaysiakini readers