No more toll hikes

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


Key Highlights

• No more toll hikes
  
  

• MySejahtera internal tussle
  
  

• Retirement savings

No more toll hikes

There will be no further toll hikes for four major Klang Valley highways, namely Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), Smart Tunnel, Sprint Highway, and the Damansara Puchong Expressway (LDP).

This was part of a restructuring exercise that will see the government, through a special purpose vehicle, acquire the four highways for RM5.48 billion.

The restructuring exercise was first initiated by the Pakatan Harapan government in 2019 but the administration collapsed in 2020 before the takeover deal could proceed.

Works Minister Fadilah Yusof said the government is considering a similar restructuring exercise for more highways concessionaires to prevent further increases in toll charges.



HIGHLIGHTS

	Record 5 M'sians admitted as Harvard undergrads This is the highest number of Harvard admissions in M'sian history.
	Harapan lodges police report over airport land sale They want authorities to prove possible abuse.
	Zahid warns Umno of Bersatu's 'true colours' This is as Muhyidddin seeks new allies.

MySejahtera internal tussle

The new licensee of the MySejahtera application is engaged in an internal tussle amid negotiations with the government.

The application was initially developed by Entomo Malaysia but the licence was sold to the newly set up entity MySJ Sdn Bhd which has roped in various players ahead of a potentially lucrative deal with Putrajaya.

Among the players is Hasrat Budi Sdn Bhd, which has bought a 10 percent stake in MySJ Sdn Bhd and is now seeking the removal of two directors in the firm after claiming that some of them had acted "contrary" to their mutual understanding.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had stressed that the government won't pay the RM338.6 million that MySJ Sdn Bhd paid to Entomo for the licence and is seeking a price that is "much, much lower".

In a separate development, the European Union now accepts MySejahtera Covid-19 vaccination certificates.



HIGHLIGHTS

	DAP hits out at MCA for 'glorifying an extremist party' PAS is a threat to the fabric of the nation, he says.
	Confidential data of M'sian employers exclusive rights of private firm It’s the terms in the govt’s domestic worker recruitment portal.
	Labuan MP fails in bid to quash abuse of power charge He is accused of soliciting bribes.

Retirement savings

As the fourth round of special withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) commences, Kini News Lab explores the implications of dipping into our retirement savings for present needs. 

A key benefit of the EPF is to provide compounded returns. At an average of six percent dividend a year, every ringgit invested can return more than three ringgit after 20 years. But there won't be any if they are withdrawn now.

Check out Kini News Lab's interactive features on how it will impact your retirement and how reforms are necessary to provide better safety nets in future.



HIGHLIGHTS

	Closing arguments to begin in ex-Goldman banker's trial Prosecutors say Ng helped Leissner embezzle 1MDB money.
	Ex-director: 'Najib’s fingerprint not seen, 1MDB mishandled transaction' This is over the BVI-based 'investment'.
	Defence: Rosmah raised reasonable doubt without Najib as witness Lawyers argue prosecution failed to prove corruption.

A daily glance at Covid-19

• 10,002 new cases yesterday (April 4) bring the cumulative infections to 4,256,469.
  
  

• 28 new fatalities put the death toll at 35,127.
  

New cases by states

Selangor (5,791)
Negeri Sembilan (586)
Johor (489)
Kuala Lumpur (481)
Penang (414)
Perak (403)
Kedah (338)
Sarawak (328)
Pahang (306)
Terengganu (238)
Malacca (212)
Kelantan (190)
Sabah (140)
Putrajaya (46)
Perlis (20)
Labuan (20)

What else is happening?

• PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said he is prepared to debate with ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak on the state-backed and financially-troubled Sapura Energy Sdn Bhd.
  
  

• Seputeh MP Teresa Kok urged the government to clarify the involvement of a private recruitment agency in the development of the Human Resources Ministry's domestic worker recruitment portal.
  
  

• The Perak Tengah Municipal Council walked back its ruling prohibiting restaurants from serving dine-in customers before 3pm during the Ramadan month.
  
  
  

HIGHLIGHTS

	Don't bring kids to Ramadan bazaars - Noor Azmi It's not advisable, especially for those who are unvaccinated.
	Bersih on Johor polls: Only 15pct happy with 'flawed' postal voting About 30pct have issues with the registration process, facing technical issues.
	Police need better domestic violence reporting process - Awam Police play essential role in handling gender-based violence cases.

What are people saying?

	Post-Johor projection: Who could win GE15? By Bridget Welsh
	Has Kelab Shah Alam settled on lesser of two evils? By R Nadeswaran
	Lecturer’s 'tough love' should not cross the class line By Malaysiakini readers