S'gor ban on political preachers kicks in

Good morning and Happy New Year! Here's what you need to know for the last day of 2021.

Key Highlights

• S'gor ban on political preachers kicks in
  
  
• Pahang pulls the plug on royal mining project
  
  
• PAS still wants to have its cake and eat it too
  
  

S'gor ban on political preachers kicks in

It is Dec 31, and effective today all politicians and political operatives will have their accreditation (tauliah) to teach Islam in Selangor revoked.

The only exception is for the Selangor Islamic Affairs executive councillor, who can teach Islam as long as it is free of politics.

The ban starting in the new year is in line with a decree by Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah barring Islam from being politicised and being used as a political tool.

The Selangor ban on non-accredited preaching has a history of being enforced beyond mosques and surau.

PAS leader Ahmad Dusuki Abdul Rani said the ban would further divide Muslims and would make the enemies of Islam "rejoice".

HIGHLIGHTS

	'M'sia held back by anti-multiracialism' Lim: Country overtaken by others.
	Mitra funds: 'What is Unity Ministry hiding?' Planned briefing cancelled.
	Edict pans NFA on custodial deaths Hamzah told to resign.

Pahang pulls the plug on royal mining project

The Pahang state government has cancelled a royalty-linked manganese mine near Tasik Chini, in an effort to restore the country's second-largest freshwater lake to pristine condition.

The project concession belonged to a firm co-owned by Raja Shah Zurin Raja Aman Shah, an actor and cousin of Kelantan ruler Sultan Muhammad V.

The other co-owner listed is Tengku Hanizar Tengku Muhammad, who is the aunt of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is also the Pahang ruler.

However, it is not yet clear whether the land involved would have its status as an Environmentally Sensitive Area Level 2 reinstated. It is not covered by the plan to expand the Chini Forest Reserve.

HIGHLIGHTS

	'Wood debris not due to logging at reserve' Pahang forest dept found no logging.
	'Sri Muda floods not due to construction' Exco blames rainfall, high tide.
	126 landslides this monsoon 51 in S'gor, 40 in Pahang.

PAS still wants to have its cake and eat it too

PAS has not given up its attempts to be allied to both Umno and Bersatu, despite the latter two being sworn enemies.

The Syura Council, the party's highest decision-making body, decided after a meeting that PAS should strengthen both its Muafkat Nasional pact with Umno and the Perikatan Nasional coalition with Bersatu.

As usual, the party said this was important to ensure Malay-Muslim unity.

PAS' ties with Umno have grown considerably cold this year, with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang often taking veiled swipes at each other's party.

Both parties even contested against each other in the Malacca state election.

Unless Zahid's faction is ousted from the Umno leadership, it appears unlikely for now that PAS will attain its dream of uniting the three main Malay parties.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Boo: Was MOU abused for senatorship? He accuses Chin Tong of lobbying for the post
	Teo denies Boo's accusations It's baseless, selective, she says.
	Preliminary objections against Sg Udang petition in Feb Umno man challenging the Bersatu win.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,997 new cases yesterday (Dec 30)
  
  
• National R-number creeping up to 0.95. A number exceeding 1.00 suggests a growing spread of infections.
  
  
• 34 fatalities bring the death toll to 31,462
  
  

New cases by state:

Selangor (965)
Johor (433)
Sabah (425)
Penang (328)
Malacca (254)
Sarawak (243)
Kelantan (241)
Negeri Sembilan (239)
Pahang (226)
Perak (209)
Terengganu (207)
Kuala Lumpur (161)
Perlis (25)
Kedah (24)
Putrajaya (10)
Labuan (7)

What else is happening?

• Two DAP lawmakers want the Parliamentary Special Select Committee for Agencies under the Prime Minister's Department to summon and investigate MACC chief Azam Baki over allegations that he violated rules on civil servants owning company shares.
  
  
• Police are being sued for the alleged wrongful arrest of 16 people during a candlelight vigil for Covid-19 fatalities in August.
  
  
• ProtectHealth Corp is advising those eligible for a booster shot but don't have an appointment yet to join a waiting list.
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	The newsmakers of 2021 As picked by Mkini readers
	Floods: RM500 rebate to buy electrical goods Rebates start Jan 7.
	US donates RM420k for M'sian flood relief Funds given to Red Crescent.

What are people saying?

	Yet another horrible year By Syahredzan Johan
	Let's have a new 2022 national resolution for Keluarga Malaysia By Saleh Mohammed
	Much ado about flies… and cicak By Fa Abdul