Good morning, here’s a quick rundown of what happened over the weekend.


Key Highlights

  • Najib leverages on Johor polls

  • PM's Ukraine stance

  • 'Blackmail' of Leissner





Najib leverages on Johor polls

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is leveraging on the Johor polls to burnish his reputation marred by his corruption conviction, making very public appearances in the state.

He visited a Chinese independent school in Johor which he approved when he was prime minister and contrasted the decision with then education minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who he claimed tried to block it.

Najib, despite being a Pahang native and Kuala Lumpur resident, cheered for Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) as they took on Kuala Lumpur City FC in the Malaysia Charity Cup, a match that was closely watched by Johoreans. 

He later met with JDT's owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and was handed a "bossku" jersey.

Yesterday, Najib also hit the campaign trail for MCA's Perling candidate Nicole Tan Hiang Kee and was greeted by a warm reception.

This was as campaigning for the Johor polls officially kicked off last Saturday.



HIGHLIGHTS

Bossku - boon or bane for BN in Johor polls?

Awkward encounter: DAP candidate gets earful from hawker

Marina sees no problem becoming first Malay rep in traditional Chinese seat





PM's Ukraine stance

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob issued a statement on the Russian offensive into Ukraine, expressing serious concern and calling for de-escalation.

Notably, though, he stopped short of calling the attack an "invasion" nor was there any mention of Russia in the statement which referred to the crisis as "conflict in Ukraine".

This was pointed out by Malaysiakini, which courted a protest from the Prime Minister's Office.

"Freedom of the press does allow you to write freely, but there is also an obligation for you to raise an article that upholds the truth," his press secretary had said.

The Ukrainian crisis had put the Foreign Ministry's credibility to the test amid a report by Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post citing a source that described the evacuation of Malaysians from Ukraine as a "cluster f***".

The report said this was partly due to Wisma Putra refusing to believe month-long warnings that Russia was about to invade Ukraine, causing it to be caught by surprise when the assault finally took place.

The diplomats who reportedly made a dash for the Polish border in four cars after their chartered bus failed to turn up, arrived in Poland yesterday morning. They will fly from Warsaw to Kuala Lumpur.

The group included a Singaporean and the Singapore High Commission thanked Wisma Putra for its assistance.

Wisma Putra defended its handling of the evacuation, stating that it could not reveal the mission due to sensitive information.



HIGHLIGHTS

PKR MP on Russian invasion: Why is PM afraid to call out the aggressor?

Govt instructs officials to speak BM primarily at international stage

Pontian MCA lashes out at leadership after seat swap with Umno





'Blackmail' of Leissner

The fallout from former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner's testimony at the 1MDB corruption trial in a US court was still unabated, with the Malaysian who Leissner admitted to having an affair with going public.

Former Astro chief executive officer Rohana Rozhan, who Leissner said he had an affair with and later allegedly blackmailed him for a US$10 million mansion in London for not exposing the 1MDB scandal, said she will extend full cooperation to the MACC.

The transcript of Leissner's testimony also continued to yield previously unknown details, including how the Goldman Sachs bankers used their wives to disguise kickbacks from the 1MDB deals.

Meanwhile, the new 1MDB management, which is battling in the courts to recover billions of ringgit in misappropriated funds, described fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho as then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's proxy and shadow director in 1MDB.



HIGHLIGHTS

Najib and Sheikh on Jho Low's 'bribe list', Leissner recalls

Developers using forest plantation 'loophole' – Peka ropes in PM and king

Zahid sends letter of demand to Muhyiddin over 'piles of files' claim




A daily galnce at Covid-19

  • 24,466 new cases yesterday, putting the cumulative infections at 3,419,636.

  • 40 new fatalities put the death toll at 32,674.


New cases by states

Selangor (6,823)
Sabah (2,874)
Kedah (2,060)
Johor (1,818)
Penang (1,548)
Negeri Sembilan (1,520)
Pahang (1,461)
Perak (1,330)
Kelantan (1,146)
Kuala Lumpur (1,123)
Malacca (750)
Terengganu (731)
Sarawak (475)
Perlis (321)
Labuan (311)
Putrajaya (175)




What else is happening?

  • PKR decided not to retaliate against Muda for contesting in its allocated state seat of Larkin in the Johor polls but resentment persisted and grassroots members are refusing to assist each other.

  • Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the expansion of the Vaccinated Travel Lane, including with Thailand, can be implemented before Hari Raya. Meanwhile, election candidates in the Johor polls are also pushing for a full border reopening with Singapore.

  • A senior police officer attached to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters was found dead. The police said they believe the officer shot himself with his firearm and the case have been classified as "sudden death".

  • Kelantan and Terengganu have been hit by floods after sustained heavy rain. The prime minister said rescue agencies have been deployed for the evacuation efforts.

  • Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin was honoured with two awards from two universities in Bangladesh for her contribution to women's empowerment.




HIGHLIGHTS


Ramasamy explains viral comment on lack of Indian DAP candidates

Will Najib get same treatment? - Muda asks after possible fine for 'fist bump’

SOP breach: Khairy to review Najib's visit, cancels journo's RM1k fine





What are people saying?


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