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


Key Highlights

  • Harapan seniors defend Anwar

  • Malacca polls insights

  • Sarawak election next



Harapan seniors defend Anwar

Pakatan Harapan's lacklustre performance in the Malacca state assembly election prompted some within the coalition to call for the resignation of its chairperson Anwar Ibrahim.

However, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said it was counter-productive to blame Anwar and Harapan must instead develop a coalition mindset where no single party dominates the decision-making process.

He said this would avoid a repeat of the decision to allow Umno defectors to contest as Harapan candidates, which DAP had objected to.

Meanwhile, Amanah's Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin said Anwar has a share of responsibility in Harapan's defeat but said it was unfair to only blame one individual for the coalition's collective decision.

On his part, Anwar called on the government to explain why it showed no reluctance at all in approving the request by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has been convicted of corruption, for an RM100 million residence.

Najib had since withdrawn the request after it became a public controversy.

Anwar also called the government to relax standard operating procedures against Covid-19 during elections, stating that they undermine voters' ability to make an informed choice.


HIGHLIGHTS

Timber firm keeps millions offshore
Meanwhile, Penans mount blockades to save the forest.
Harapan in disbelief over dropping Ku Nan’s graft case
Its presidential council says AGC's decision is wrong.
PKR activist: Not too late for Harapan to change
Yuslaini says party must bring in new faces.

 



Malacca polls insights

BN may have come out triumphant in the Malacca polls, winning 21 out of 28 seats but a scrutiny of the finer details showed the coalition is facing new threats.

PN, in particular, was able to challenge BN in the rural Malay heartland in ways that past rivals have not been able to do.

PN, which also took away substantial votes from BN and Harapan, although not enough to win, has changed the game in mixed seats.

Harapan's support base remained largely intact, but around a third of the people did not turn out to vote due to disappointment.



HIGHLIGHTS

Umno's defeated candidate vows to purge saboteurs
He claims some assisted the enemy.
PAS, Umno youth chiefs at loggerheads
This was over the Malacca polls.
Mat Sabu: Loss of Bersatu votes cost Harapan
A post-mortem will be conducted.

 



Sarawak election next

The Election Commission (EC) is set to announce the date of the Sarawak polls tomorrow.

With another state polls on the horizon, Harapan in Sarawak is still in disarray with Sarawak DAP complaining that its PKR counterpart was walking back on concluded seat negotiations.

Negotiations with Parti Sarawak Bersatu, an opposition party that has absorbed a large part of the state PKR following an exodus but is not part of Harapan, is also not yet resolved.

De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is from the Sarawak ruling coalition, said the standard operating procedures used in the forthcoming state polls would differ from the Malacca election.



HIGHLIGHTS

Zahid's lawyer suffers gout episode
Trial postponed after 30 minutes.
Mitra funds case: Probe almost complete - MACC
DPP will determine next course of action.
MP: Institute 'no gift policy' for ex-PMs
He asks if govt will give all ex-PMs RM100m.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 4,885 new cases yesterday (Nov 22). 63 new fatalities put the death toll at 30,063.

  • After a slight surge, the spread of Covid-19 cases began to slow again with the infectivity rate returning to 1.00 as of Nov 21.


New cases by state:

Selangor (968)
Kelantan (683)
Sabah (485)
Kedah (472)
Johor (374)
Pahang (356)
Malacca (291)
Penang (246)
Perak (228)
Kuala Lumpur (208)
Terengganu (202)
Sarawak (147)
Negeri Sembilan (132)
Putrajaya (70)
Perlis (13)
Labuan (10)


What else is happening?

  • Former Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow apologised for making a defamatory statement against the former state chief minister, Lim Guan Eng, over the Pulau Jerejak land sale. He will also pay RM75,000 in cost as part of a settlement.

  • The Prime Minister's Department's budget passed the committee stage of the Dewan Rakyat without a bloc vote, despite a previous request by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

  • The National Union of Bank Employees is pushing the government to return the withdrawals from Employees Provident Fund (EPF) which were used as relief payments for Covid-19  because they are intended for retirement.


HIGHLIGHTS

'Why isn’t Suhakam accorded equal treatment?'
MP compares it with other statutory bodies.
Petronas didn't hide financial performance, says Mustapa
Minister says firm practised accountability.
'South China Sea will not hinder Asean-China relations'
Minister says it should be a region of peace.



What are people saying?

Who after Anwar?
By Zaid Ibrahim
In Kedah, DAP is demonstrating the right stuff
By S Thayaparan
The one colour of the Malaysian Bar
By Surendra Anath