The Anwar-Zahid-Najib plot
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Key Highlights
The Anwar-Zahid-Najib plot
OPR rates increased
Hunt for doctors who do harm
The Anwar-Zahid-Najib plot
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak are set to square off in a much awaited debate on Sapura Energy tonight.
But a debate yesterday between two candidates vying to become Anwar's number two in PKR showed that the party president and Najib are not always at odds.
In fact, they were once in talks to become allies.
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that he had previously engaged in talks with Najib and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to secure support for Anwar in a bid to oust then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
This corroborated past claims by Zahid's enemies in Umno.
The incumbent PKR secretary-general said he had been assigned to the talks by PKR and Pakatan Harapan's top brass, but the deal fell through.
Anwar had on Sept 23, 2020, claimed to have secured a strong formidable majority to become prime minister.
A month later, Najib lobbied BN lawmakers to consider supporting Anwar - on the condition that DAP is not involved.
Anwar told Malaysiakini last month that his bid to capture Putrajaya failed after he refused to meddle with the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Zahid had to toe the Umno line that they would not work with the PKR president and DAP.
However, talks between Anwar-PKR and Umno persisted beyond the 2020 'formidable government' bid with meetings still being held as late as March 2021 at least.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Both generally kept things civil. |
 | Deputy president candidates to debate next. |
 | Umno man claims party will save Malays 'insulted' during Harapan's rule. |
OPR rates increased
Bank Negara has raised the overnight policy rate (OPR) to 2 percent.
This is almost two years after the central bank slashed the OPR to a record low of 1.75 percent in July 2020 and kept it there.
The lending rate had been reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic in an effort to stimulate the economy.
But with the economy recovering, Bank Negara is slowly raising the rates back up in an effort to control inflation.
What the hike means for you, is that your loans such as for housing will likely be more expensive to service as banks will increase the base rate (BR) in line with the OPR.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | The ringgit continues to weaken against the US and Singapore dollar. |
 | The govt will maintain the price for RON95 and diesel. |
 | They will be blocked from opening new bank accounts. |
Hunt for doctors who do harm
The death of a junior doctor in Penang on May 3 is leading to a hunt for senior doctors accused of bullying house officers and creating allegedly toxic work environments at public hospitals.
The names of seven doctors accused of bullying have been submitted by the health excos of Penang and Negeri Sembilan to the Health Ministry.
The Health Ministry has also set up a task force to investigate the death of the junior doctor in Penang and allegations of bullying in the medical fraternity.
The issue of bullying in the medical fraternity last gained prominent attention in 2018.
Then health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, remarked on Tuesday that bullying was pervasive in the public health system but that taking action against perpetrators was difficult due to civil service red tape.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Ramasamy claims MMA president has missed the elephant in the room. |
 | It denies downplaying the issue. |
 | Anyone who breaks law will face consequences, minister says. |
A daily glance at Covid-19
3,321 new cases yesterday (May 11) bring the cumulative infections to 4,467,061.
8 new fatalities put the death toll at 35,598.
New cases by states
Selangor (1,220)
Kuala Lumpur (573)
Negeri Sembilan (288)
Perak (221)
Penang (208)
Putrajaya (182)
Malacca (140)
Kedah (98)
Johor (88)
Pahang (73)
Sarawak (71)
Sabah (57)
Terengganu (42)
Kelantan (37)
Labuan (14)
Perlis (9)
What else is happening
AirAsia apologised for repeatedly rescheduling flights during the festive season, saying they didn't have enough planes to match demand. Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii shot back that the airline shouldn't sell tickets for planes it doesn't have.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke denied that more of the party's current crop of MPs will follow Ong Kian Ming's lead to sit out GE15.
A group of retired military veterans are planning a protest next month to raise unaddressed welfare issues faced by former troops such as being denied pensions.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Discriminatory clauses in Employment Act First Schedule to remain, says DG |
 | Agents promised workers would receive 'special permission' to work. |
 | The duo amassed 292.14 points after completing five dives. |
What are people saying?
 | By Lutfi Hakim Ariff |
 | By Charles Santiago |
 | By Ong Kian Ming |
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