Good morning, here’s what you need to know today.
Key Highlights
Veteran lawyers push Bar Council
Houseman’s death
Opposition backs minister
Veteran lawyers push Bar Council
A group of former Malaysian Bar presidents organised a petition to push the Bar Council to organise a "Walk for Justice" in the face of what they claimed are efforts to discredit the judiciary.
Newly-minted Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah Yee Lynn said the matter was already under discussion and an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) will be called.
Meanwhile, Ambiga Sreenevasan, who is among those who started the petition, said immediate and decisive action was needed from lawyers.
This was amid an investigation by the MACC on Court of Appeal judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali after a politically-linked blog posted an allegation claiming he had unexplained wealth.
Nazlan, when serving as a High Court judge, had convicted former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak of corruption, money laundering and abuse of power.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Lawyer Fadhlina Siddiq answers a new calling. |
 | He is vying to lead the Hulu Rajang division. |
 | They should find ways to make the industry lucrative. |
Houseman’s death
The spotlight fell on the circumstances of the death of a houseman attached to the Penang Hospital after he "fell" to his death from a building, three weeks after he was posted there.
It was the second death involving a junior doctor at the hospital.
Following the death, Penang exco Norlela Ariffin said junior doctors were being subjected to ”inhumane” working conditions based on her family's experience.
There were also calls to look into allegations of bullying.
Penang Health Department director Dr Ma'arof Sudin urged the public not to speculate on the matter and to allow the police to investigate.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | He had a gunshot wound. |
 | They involve 2,506 contract teachers. |
 | 19 deaths involved motorcycles. |
Opposition backs minister
Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who has come under criticism from Myanmar's junta government, found backing from opposition MPs.
Several opposition MPs supported Saifuddin's suggestion for Asean to initiate informal engagement with Myanmar's National Unity Government, which was democratically elected before it was ousted by the military.
Klang MP Charles Santiago, who is also the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights chairperson, said Petronas' move to withdraw from a gas field in Myanmar showed the junta government was ruining its economy.
Petronas had said that its withdrawal was not due to the Myanmar coup.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | It says things took a turn for the worse since March. |
 | This follows the festive season. |
 | V Yilamaran to receive gift from Johor MB. |
A daily glance at Covid-19
1,054 new cases yesterday (May 4) brought the cumulative infections to 4,452,835.
Three new fatalities put the death toll at 35,567.
New cases by states
Selangor (547)
Kuala Lumpur (113)
Penang (60)
Negeri Sembilan (59)
Johor (50)
Kedah (40)
Perak (37)
Sarawak (32)
Sabah (23)
Pahang (22)
Putrajaya (21)
Malacca (20)
Terengganu (14)
Kelantan (12)
Perlis (2)
Labuan (2)
What else is happening?
De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he preferred if the anti-hopping law can be passed before the 15th general election.
Umno's Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz spoke out against calls for early polls, stating that it would threaten political stability.
PAS said it is prepared to face a new state-level opposition alliance led by Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah aimed at ousting the party's hold on power in Kelantan.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Wong says press freedom is in decline. |
 | This is over the 5G network. |
 | Several Kiwi players tested positive for Covid-19. |
What are people saying?
 | By Majidah Hashim |
 | By Concerned Lawyer |
 | By Malaysiakini readers |
