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Key Highlights
Parliament of the apes
PKR veep battle royale
RM50k jetty above board
Parliament of the apes
Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah set tongues wagging when he purchased a painting depicting MPs in the Dewan Rakyat as apes, monkeys, and frogs.
The painting appears to have been inspired by English artist Banksy's ‘Devolved Parliament’ painting - which depicts the UK Commons as being run by chimpanzees.
Though Malaysian MPs haven't resorted to fisticuffs like in other parliaments, they are infamous for frequent shouting matches - as depicted by the apes shouting at each other in the painting.
The monarch's purchase of the painting comes a day after attempts to curb political frogs devolved into a threat to political freedoms via a severely panned bill to amend the Federal Constitution.
The bill was fortunately dropped, and lawmakers have been tasked to refine anti-hopping laws by the end of May.
With all the monkey business that MPs have got up to in the last four years, one hopes that Malaysia's fate will not be the same as the ending of the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Malaysia moving towards political stability - Ismail Sabri. |
 | He will be the first defence witness to take the stand. |
 | Defeated Umno candidate taking action against PN victor. |
PKR veep battle royale
The PKR vice-presidents race is shaping up to be a battle royale, with 18 nominees vying for four elected posts.
The candidates include Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari - one of the highest profile former Azmin Ali allies still in PKR - as well as Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.
There are also seven MPs in the mix, namely Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Chang Lih Kang (Tanjong Malim), Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (Hang Tuah Jaya), Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan), Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai) Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (Kapar), and Chan Ming Kau (Alor Setar).
Aminuddin, Nik Nazmi, Chang and another contender G Manivannan are on PKR deputy president hopeful Rafizi Ramli's team.
Rafizi's opponent Saifuddin Nasution Ismail officially does not have a team yet, but PKR president Anwar Ibrahim loyalists such as Fuziah, Fahmi, Abdullah Sani, and former Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador could be aligned with him.
Notably absent from the race of PKR's top six positions was Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar - who has chosen to skip the party polls this year and focus on her Ayuh Malaysia campaign.
Ayuh Malaysia, co-founded by Nurul Izzah and Rafizi, aims to get fence-sitting voters to back PKR and Pakatan Harapan again.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Online voting reduces warlords' influence on party, Rafizi says. |
 | Hans Isaac and Altimet are said to be going for Ampang division chief post. |
 | He is the only candidate nominated for the post. |
RM50k jetty above board
The Public Works Department is still getting brickbats over the wooden jetty in Kampung Mutap, Miri that cost RM50,000 to build.
It prompted calls from Sarawak Pakatan Harapan for the MACC to investigate the matter.
However, the MACC has found no elements of bribery or embezzlement in the project, indicating that despite criticism, the wooden jetty was above board.
The department said that the amount included hazard costs as the local river was infested with crocodiles, and that the wood used was actually below market prices.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Detainee was held in Pahang lock-up. |
 | Justice must continue to be served. |
 | Alleged gang leader pleads not guilty to 26 charges, gets bail. |
A daily glance at Covid-19
9,002 new cases yesterday (April 12) bring the cumulative infections to 4,333,557.
19 new fatalities put the death toll at 35,311.
New cases by states
Selangor (5,100)
Kuala Lumpur (1,003
Negeri Sembilan (493)
Perak (373)
Johor (359)
Penang (355)
Kedah (288)
Sarawak (245)
Terengganu (209)
Pahang (153)
Sabah (150)
Malacca (123)
Kelantan (86)
Perlis (23)
Putrajaya (23)
Labuan (19)
What else is happening?
Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah is under fire after his ministry shifted the blame for diplomatic bungles during Prime Minster Ismail Sabri Yaakob's visit to the UAE on two envoys.
The Public Services Commission will hand over to the Health Ministry a list of 3,281 contract medical officers whose applications for permanent positions were initially rejected - with some citing technical errors in the application process.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak are sparring over when to hold their debate. Anwar's camp wants it to be held soon, but Najib's side wants it to be held after Aidilfitri, urging PKR to respect the fasting month.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Negotiations will continue, Shahidan Kassim says. |
 | Kulleh Comrades seek help bringing local sound to world stage. |
 | Ex-employer pledges to pay after picket outside parent company. |
What are people saying?
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By Bridget Welsh |
 | By Paul Selva Raj |
