Good morning. Here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

  • Johor campaign in 60 seconds

  • Loke's olive branch to PM

  • Najib hires firm to deal with US press




Johor campaign in 60 seconds

Campaigning for the Johor state election will end at midnight tonight.

Here's a quick summary of what's been going on in this past two weeks.

What are the key players offering:

BN is trying to paint itself as a more progressive pact, vowing equal funding for opposition state lawmakers, and carrying out a redelineation exercise for more equal voter distribution.

PN is positioning as the anti-corruption coalition, while also trying to convince Chinese voters that PAS is not as extreme as they believe - putting the Islamist party in an awkward position.

As for Harapan, it has pledged to restore welfare policies and programmes abolished by BN.

Harapan's partner, Muda, has its own manifesto that focuses on economic prosperity, such as job growth, bridging the income gap and also defending the middle class.

What's been going on down there:

Harapan has been acting as an older sibling to Muda in the six seats where they have a pact, but tensions between the youth party and PKR - which are clashing in Larkin - continue to persist.

The Johor polls have been another stage for convicted former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to improve his public standing, with MCA in particular banking on him to stump for them.

PN and Harapan in turn have gone after Najib in Felda areas, trying to use mismanagement of the programme during his time in power to spark a rebellion against BN.

DAP and MCA have been pecking at each other incessantly, trying first to prove who cares more about Chinese education, and then later about who has a better command of Bahasa Malaysia.

At least six candidates also tested positive for Covid-19 during the campaign.

HIGHLIGHTS

If Singapore had Umno, it would be more developed - Hasni tells PAS

'Misquoted' - Muhyiddin defends Hadi over Johoreans' Islamic knowledge

PSM: Sad that Harapan 'ganging up' with Umno on EPF withdrawals



Loke's olive branch to PM

If BN wins the Johor polls tomorrow, it will empower Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to put further pressure on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament.

DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke, however, is offering the prime minister an olive branch that would bolster the latter's position while staving off the 15th general election.

Loke suggested that Ismail Sabri inks a second memorandum of understanding with Harapan if the current one meets its primary goals, such as implementing an anti-hopping law.

With 90 MPs, Harapan could easily give Ismail enough support to stay in power if the latter can keep PN and GPS onboard.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sulu claim: Arbitrator's dodgy award will be challenged - minister

Govt studying targeted fuel and cooking oil subsidy

New approach to address hardcore poor to be introduced in April



Najib hires firm to deal with US press

Najib Abdul Razak has hired a global communications firm, Karv Communications, to provide media relations support in the US. It was reportedly paid a fee of around RM600,000.

The firm is tasked with making sure Najib's actions are "understood" by the US press.

This comes amid the Roger Ng-1MDB trial.

Previously, former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner had dropped several nuggets about Najib in his testimony.

These include allegations that Najib wanted to get jobs for his kids at Goldman Sachs, that proceeds from 1MDB's third bond offering were channelled into the former prime minister's GE13 war chest and that his aides were involved in the bond issuance.

HIGHLIGHTS

Najib's aide verbally abuses journalist who refused to delete photos

Najib's aide offers a month's salary cut after altercation with journalist

Datuk among five charged with money laundering involving millions



What else is happening?

  • Malaysiakini dives into a new sea reclamation project off the coast of Muar in Johor, owned by Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar that could begin as early as this year. It is part of BN's election manifesto.

  • The Health Ministry issued 42 compounds over SOP violations during the Johor polls, including five to Najib Abdul Razak.

  • A landslide in Ampang hit 15 houses. At least two people have been killed.


HIGHLIGHTS

Unlicensed recruitment agencies can face jail time

MOH to announce SOPs for frequent travellers next week

Food deliveryperson almost ends up in tiger's jaws



What are people saying?

What a young voter hopes Johor polls will deliver
By Ungku ‘Arifin

Lost in Johor: A haunted campaign
By Bridget Welsh

DAP’s off-messaging in Johor
By S Thayaparan