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Key Highlights

• Rosmah's lawyers drop Najib as witness
  
  

• Vetting Azam Baki
  
  

• Assassination in KL
  
  

Rosmah's lawyers drop Najib as witness

There was much anticipation at Rosmah Mansor's graft trial yesterday as her husband Najib Abdul Razak, the former prime minister, was supposed to testify in her case.

However, Rosmah's lawyers, who initially planned to call Najib as a defence witness, had a change of heart.

Rosmah's legal team said after a brainstorming session, a decision was made not to call Najib as his testimony would be "corroborative in nature".

The court case has put a spotlight on the dynamics between Najib and Rosmah, including an audio conversation where Rosmah purportedly ticked off Najib for allowing the MACC to make them look like "villains" - and which has been admitted as court evidence.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Bersatu unaffected by defections to PBM - Wan Saiful Party membership is still growing, he says.
	Perak govt still intact despite three reps joining PBM They did not withdraw support - MB Saarani.
	Warisan veep touts party as an alternative They are targeting disillusioned Harapan supporters.

Vetting Azam Baki

The controversy surrounding MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki's ownership of shares amounting to a peak of over RM700,000 in 2015 has raised questions about the vetting process when he was appointed to the top job in 2020.

Marzuki Mohamad, a senior aide to then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, maintained that the issue of a background check did not arise as the appointment followed proper procedures.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu president, said he had no hand in nominating Azam Baki as the MACC chief.

He said the chief secretary at the time nominated Azam and this was confirmed by a committee and the name was later submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The shareholding had raised conflict of interest concerns and whether it commensurated with Azam's income as a public servant. Azam denied any misconduct.

HIGHLIGHTS

	MACC arrests two over RM250k false claims They are a managing director and an engineer.
	PKR Youth holds protest at MACC They want Azam Baki to step down.
	Doctor nabbed for issuing fake Covid-19 vaccination certs A cetificate costs between RM400 and RM600.

Assassination in KL

In 2018, the country was shocked by the assassination of Palestinian lecturer Fadi Al Batsh in Kuala Lumpur.

Fingers were pointed at the Mossad, the Israel intelligence unit, but Tel Aviv denied any involvement and the case remained unsolved.

However, the Interior Ministry of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory last week announced that that it has arrested a suspect who it claimed was recruited by the Mossad.

While Malaysia is a relatively small country, it has not been spared of international espionage.

In 2017, Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un, was assassinated at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

HIGHLIGHTS

	Cambodian PM undermining Asean, say MPs 'Coup-makers conducting another coup in Asean.'
	25 agents sending Bangladeshi workers to M'sia – sources Migrant rights groups urge govt to disclose MOU terms.
	No expired vaccines supplied to PSV, PPV Shelf life depends on storage temperature.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 2,641 new cases yesterday (Jan 10).
  
  
• 18 new fatalities put the death toll at 31,696.
  
  

New cases by states

Selangor (666)
Johor (278)
Kedah (265)
Kuala Lumpur (262)
Kelantan (197)
Pahang (193)
Penang (165)
Sabah (161)
Malacca (123)
Perak (116)
Terengganu (88)
Negeri Sembilan (83)
Putrajaya (30)
Sarawak (7)
Labuan (5)
Perlis (2)

What else is happening?

• The Perak Land Office has decided to revoke eviction notices against 19 temples following an intervention from MCA.
  
  
• The physical schooling session at SK Bihai in Gua Musang, Kelantan, was suspended after a tiger mauled a local villager to death. 
  
  
• Malaysia's progress in its Covid-19 recovery in recent months earned it 13th place in the Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index. About 120 countries were ranked.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Rep cries discrimination over SK Assumption closure 'Is it due to its missionary roots?'
	Rep calls for special sitting on developer of defunct theme park Briefing cancelled at last minute, says ex-MB.
	Awam inks MoU with social workers' group This is to combat gender violence.

What are people saying?

	Weaponising the refugee issue in Malaysia By S Thayaparan
	Tour buses must start running By YS Chan
	More confessions, this time from Malaysians By Malaysiakini readers

CARTOON KINI