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

Key Highlights

  • Is Umno trading your retirement for votes?

  • Mukhriz trains guns on Anwar

  • Pre-presser recap on MACC chief scandal



Is Umno trading your retirement for votes?

What do a push for more Employees Provident Fund withdrawals and calls for snap general elections have in common?

The answer: Umno leaders aligned to president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who are in favour of both, and may want to be seen as the good guys after two years of backing two severely panned governments.

The recent floods in the country were used as a pretext to push for another round of EPF withdrawals after many people suffered major losses.

However, the withdrawal calls persisted even after the government announced a slew of measures that could go beyond RM15,000 and even up to RM61,000 for those whose homes were destroyed.

Allowing for further EPF withdrawals comes at the expense of the ability of contributors to support themselves in their old age.

Even before the pandemic and three rounds of emergency withdrawals, the EPF expressed concern that many contributors were running out of money within three to five years of retirement.

PKR leaders have chastised Umno for trying to destroy the EPF, and also for thinking that the people are as allegedly rich as politicians are.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Umno wears the pants in Muafakat'
Nur Jazlan hits back at PAS.
PM: Cabinet reshuffle just rumours
'Govt is focusing on floods, Covid-19.'
Cops grill reporter over flood report
Group condemns harassment.

 



Mukhriz trains guns on Anwar

Five months after throwing Pejuang's support behind Anwar Ibrahim for another failed attempt at becoming prime minister, Mukhriz Mahathir says it's time for the opposition leader to step down.

Mukhriz did not mince his words and said that Anwar should make way for new leaders, while not discounting himself taking a leading position for the leadership.

Unsurprisingly, PKR leaders leapt to their party president's defence with a scathing rebuke for the Pejuang president.

This animosity may make cooperation between Pejuang and Pakatan Harapan more difficult in the next general election.

Mukhriz has indicated that Pejuang may instead form a coalition with Warisan and Muda.

This could turn GE15 into a four-horse race with tumultuous outcomes due to Malaysia's continued use of the flawed first-past-the-post electoral system.

HIGHLIGHTS

PAS cleric claims he's sidelined by divisions
This is over alleged anti-Muafakat views.
Penang wants reclamation project approval reinstated
It's challenging this in court.
Cops grill PBK sec-gen over TikTok videos 
The videos were on independence for Sarawak.

 



Pre-presser recap on MACC chief scandal

MACC chief Azam Baki is expected to hold a press conference later today to address allegations of conflict of interest.

Also expected to be present are MACC advisory board chairperson Abu Azahar Ujang and consultation panel head Borhan Dollah.

Here's a quick refresh of what you need to know about the allegations.

Azam is alleged to own somewhere between 1.9 million to 2.9 million shares in a public-listed company in 2016, as well as 2.15 million warrants in another company,

At the time, he was the MACC investigations division director.

Besides conflict of interest, Sungai Buloh MP Sivarasa Rasiah claims this violates the circular preventing civil servants from owning more than RM100,000 worth of shares in any company.

Borhan is also accused of ignoring calls for the MACC consultation panel to discuss the allegations against Azam.

HIGHLIGHTS

PM told to axe Azam if he's uncooperative with PSC
PSC hasn't officially called for probe.
MACC probing KL flood ponds development plans 
MPs claim plans will lead to worse floods.
Bersih slams Redzuan's GLC appointment
'It's unethical.'

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 2,842 new cases yesterday (Jan 4).

  • The R-number is still at 0.99.

New cases by states:

Selangor (514)
Kelantan (397)
Johor (284)
Sabah (258)
Kedah (237)
Penang (230)
Kuala Lumpur (206)
Pahang (146)
Terengganu (138)
Negeri Sembilan (117)
Malacca (105)
Perak (101)
Perlis (45)
Putrajaya (35)
Sarawak (24)
Labuan (5)


What else is happening?

  • A senior MACC officer was charged with misappropriating RM25 million. He was denied bail and will face another 101 money laundering charges.

  • The Health Ministry confirmed four locally transmitted cases of Omicron in Kedah. They were close contacts of an umrah pilgrim.

  • PKR president Anwar Ibrahim wants Putrajaya to address the prohibitive costs of hotel quarantines for returning umrah pilgrims. The government said they can choose between publicly funded or private facilities.

  • The Pahang Forestry Department issued a temporary stop-work order on timber logging activities due to the flood situation.

HIGHLIGHTS

MOH confirms AEFI, 2 deaths in Kajang prison
NGO demands more clarity.
EMCO at Felda Keratong 5
It starts on Jan 6.
Former diving world champ retires
Cheong Jun Hoong was an Olympics silver medalist.

 


What are people saying? 

MACC chief must go on 'garden leave' until he is cleared
By Gerak
Reductionist politics of current parties
By Ronald Benjamin
PAS wants to have its cake and eat it too
By Malaysiakini readers