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

Key Highlights

• SC looking into MACC chief
  
  

• Azam Baki strikes back
  
  

• Booster ramp-up
  
  

SC looking into MACC chief

The MACC's "tell-all" presser to clear its chief commissioner Azam Baki of wrongdoing backfired as pressure mounted for proper investigations to be conducted.

Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairperson Abu Zahar Ujang's justification that Azam Baki's ownership of millions of company shares in 2015 and 2016 by claiming that these were purchased in Azam's name by his younger brother ended up attracting the attention of the Securities Commission (SC).

The SC said it will be in touch with Azam to establish facts of the case, noting that the purchase of shares must be in the name of the beneficial owner of the deposited securities or in the name of an authorised nominee.

The episode has also led some ruling coalition parties and conservative groups, which are normally not critical of the current government, to call for an investigation.

Meanwhile, Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub filed an emergency motion seeking the Dewan Rakyat to debate Azam Baki's large ownership of shares, which he claimed has since been transferred to Azam's brother.

HIGHLIGHTS

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Azam Baki strikes back

Amid pressure on Azam Baki, the MACC chief commissioner struck back by threatening a lawsuit against a whistleblower who had highlighted his previous ownership of millions of shares in public listed firms.

Azam is seeking an apology and RM10 million in damages from Lalitha Kunaratnam, who had exposed the anti-corruption czar's share ownership.

Political economy professor Edmund Terence Gomez, who helped put the spotlight on the issue after he resigned from the MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel due to inaction over the allegation, criticised the lawsuit as a case of intimidation.

In a comment piece, Gomez added that the MACC's "tell-all" presser raised more questions than answers, including the poor administration in MACC and the role of its advisory bodies, which were supposed to hold the MACC accountable but ended up trying to exonerate the MACC chief commissioner.

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	Dr M: I never endorsed Forest City project He says he is still an opponent of the project.

Booster ramp-up

The government will reopen mega Covid-19 vaccination centres in the Klang Valley from Jan 15 onwards in a bid to ramp up the administering of booster shots.

The locations are World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam and Soka Gakkai Hall in Klang.

The Health Ministry added that similar centres may also be set up again in other states.

The move came amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases involving the Omicron variant in the country.

A major source of the infections has been from Saudi Arabia. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said if the government had not suspended pilgrimage trips to the country, the daily Covid-19 cases could have spiralled to 15,000 a day.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Group raises vaccine awareness among Orang Asli Growing Covid-19 cases in Jerantut community.
	Rapid tests may not catch early Omicron cases - study Some transmitted the disease in between false-negative tests.
	KJ refutes false claims he's unvaccinated Minister reminds his vaccination was aired on TV.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 3,543 new cases yesterday (Jan 6).
  
  
• Another 19 fatalities put the death toll at 31,628.
  
  

New cases by states

Selangor (919)
Johor (410)
Kelantan (296)
Pahang (260)
Sabah (245)
Kuala Lumpur (229)
Penang (222)
Kedah (217)
Malacca (168)
Perak (166)
Negeri Sembilan (160)
Terengganu (153)
Putrajaya (38)
Perlis (21)
Labuan (20)
Sarawak (19)

What else is happening?

• The government agreed to convene a special Dewan Rakyat sitting on Jan 20 to discuss the flash floods that have devastated the country in recent weeks.
  
  
• The MACC took down its reenactment video of a "corrupt doctor" after it rubbed the Malaysian Medical Association in the wrong way, stressing that it had never intended to paint medical professionals in a bad light.
  
  
• Malaysia Airlines explained that a passenger wearing a pink Covid-19 quarantine bracelet on its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan had been cleared by the Health Ministry to fly. It said the passenger was on a connecting flight from Phnom Penh and was tagged upon entry into Malaysia before being allowed to board his connecting flight to the final destination.
  
  
• Raja Bomoh is in the news again after he performed a ritual to "ward off" floods, prompting an investigation by the Perak Islamic Religious Department.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Canteen rental collection on hold - Education Ministry School canteen operators are seeking rental exemptions.
	Johor assembly lowers age limit for state seat candidates State constitution amendment passes unanimously.
	Police to monitor street begging activities at 'hotspot' areas Police also investigating a viral video showing child beggars.

What are people saying?

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	Enhance disaster management with drones By Sheriffah Noor Khamseah Al-Idid Syed Ahmad Idid