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


Key Highlights

  • Bank Negara's 1MDB bailout

  • How much for PM's advisers?

  • Mahathir and DAP



Bank Negara's 1MDB bailout

At the end of 2017, state-owned 1MDB was struggling to repay its debt. Coincidentally at the time, it was revealed that Bank Negara had forked out RM2 billion to purchase a 22.5-hectare plot of land from the government.

This led to speculation that the land deal was a means to extract funds from Bank Negara to bail out 1MDB.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which tabled its report on the matter yesterday, confirmed that the proceeds were indeed used to pay 1MDB debts.

The PAC found the land in Kuala Lumpur to be valued at RM1.422 billion but it was purchased at RM2.07 billion.

Bank Negara, under the leadership of Muhammad Ibrahim, had in 2018 defended the purchase, insisting that it was intended for a financial education hub. Muhammad resigned as the Bank Negara governor two weeks later.



HIGHLIGHTS

Hybrid trial mulled due to Rosmah's MySejahtera status
Rosmah was unable to attend court.
Najib not allowed in court due to MySejahtera status.
The judge vacates the trial.
'This must stop' - young Malaysians react to 'virtual graveyard'
Malaysiakini highlights 'unsolved' cases.




How much for PM's advisers?

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is spending the most amount in taxpayers' funds to hire special advisers since the era of Najib Abdul Razak's premiership.

Since coming into office in August, Ismail Sabri has hired five special advisers, costing RM136,136 a month. Their tenure is until 2023, which will cost RM3.267 million over two years.

The trend of hiring many special advisers started under Najib. At the peak in 2018, he had a total of 10 active advisers taking in salaries totalling RM244,791.65 a month.

Prior to that, Najib's predecessors Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Mahathir Mohamad never had more than one special adviser at any one time.

Mahathir's second stint as the prime minister from 2018 to 2020 saw four advisers costing a total of RM46,853 a month.

The full list of special advisers, their salaries and tenure, past and present, is available here.



HIGHLIGHTS

Govt losing credibility for breaking SOPs - KJ
This comes after govt failed to enforce SOPs at its own event.
Over 500 companies probed for bid-rigging govt tenders
They were worth a total of RM2 billion.
The issue is with certain individuals, not Umno as a whole - Hadi
This was amid cracks in Muafakat Nasional.

 



Mahathir and DAP

A day after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's latest memoir went on sale, it has continued to generate controversy, including a tiff with DAP's Damansara MP Tony Pua whom he had accused of threatening a property developer while in government.

DAP's Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu said the spat should open the eyes of DAP members who view Mahathir favourably.

Pua had said he was proud of his conduct as he was defending the public's interest and expressed regret that Mahathir cared more about big businesses.

Mahathir also created another controversy at the launch of his book last Sunday when he complained about the Chinese community using chopsticks as an example of the challenges in assimilating them.

DAP's Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim said the example was a false dichotomy and people should not be forced to choose between their national and ethnic identity.



HIGHLIGHTS

Rais sends regards to 'never present' home minister
Dewan Negara president is unhappy.
Up to RM1m compound for firms flouting Covid-19 SOPs
Amendment to the laws will be made.
G25 renews call for oversight committee following Najib's verdict
It will be the public's watchdog.



A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 3,504 new cases yesterday (Dec 13).

  • 29 new fatalities put the death toll at 30,908.


New cases by states

Selangor (682)
Kelantan (455)
Johor (378)
Pahang (279)
Penang (276)
Kedah (263)
Kuala Lumpur (218)
Perak (205)
Terengganu (193)
Sabah (181)
Malacca (143)
Negeri Sembilan (120)
Sarawak (47)
Putrajaya (32)
Perlis (24)
Labuan (8)



What else is happening?

  • Budget 2022 passed the final hurdle in the Dewan Rakyat with a voice vote. It is not expected to face any trouble in the Dewan Negara, clearing the way for the government's budgetary needs next year.

  • Next on the Dewan Rakyat agenda is a constitutional amendment to recognise Sabah and Sarawak as equal territories to Peninsular Malaysia. DAP's Lim Kit Siang said this was made possible by the memorandum of understanding with the government.

  • Electoral reform group Bersih criticised caretaker Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg for leveraging on his position to gain an advantage in the state polls. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Edict claims intimidation
This was after it called for a probe into police inaction.
Authorities chop DAP's 'pricey veggies' billboard
DAP's Kelvin Yii criticises the heavy-handed tactics.
S'wak opposition: Ceramah restrictions a bane for us, but not GPS
They say incumbents are using govt machinery.

 


What are people saying?

Are Rais and Nazri barking up the wrong tree?
By Andrew Sia
Don't allow Najib circus to distract from systemic dysfunction
By S Thayaparan
 'Wee saves the kopitiam': Is it merely a 'wayang'?
By Malaysiakini readers