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

Key Highlights

  • RM100 goodie to weather subsidy cuts

  • PM is seen as weak in Zuraida's case

  • Cop suspects Saddiq of stealing his own money




RM100 goodie to weather subsidy cuts

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob acknowledged that chicken and eggs - a staple source of protein for many - will likely be more expensive once subsidies to maintain ceiling prices are revoked on July 1.

Cooking oil prices will also go up after the pandemic-era subsidies are removed. While 1kg polybags of palm oil are still subsidised, this is not always easy to find.

The government's solution to help the people face the impending price hikes was to give B40 households an extra RM100 for their Keluarga Malaysia Aid (BKM), raising the total amount in the next payout to RM500.

HIGHLIGHTS

Govt given 24 hours: Announce cost of living plan or resign
Harapan is also planning mass protests
Electricity tariff hike inevitable - economists
They call for targeted subsidies.
Economists expect a lower EPF dividend rate for 2022
This follows weaker investment income in Q1 2022.




PM is seen as weak in Zuraida's case

It has been almost one month since Zuraida Kamaruddin quit Bersatu and joined PBM.

Despite Bersatu's insistence that she be removed from cabinet, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has done nothing despite meeting Zuraida at the weekly cabinet meetings.

Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Ismail's inaction made him weakest Umno prime minister ever.

HIGHLIGHTS

’Don't make cabinet more bloated’
PAC chief pans Muhyiddin’s suggestion that a new ministry be created for Zuraida.
Bersatu 'insincere', thus not welcomed in Muafakat - Shahril
Umno man says Bersatu had worked against the party on many occasions.
Umno Youth's memorandum on 5G project will be scrutinised - Annuar
'We will extend a copy of the memorandum to the MOF.'



Cop suspects Saddiq of stealing his own money

A police officer testifying in Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's corruption case believes the latter was involved in the alleged theft of RM250,000 from his own safe.

This is because only Syed Saddiq's fingerprints were found on the safe, and there was no sign it was forced open.

The cop said only two others knew the safe's combination code.

Previously, a MACC officer testified that the missing funds were allegedly not family monies for home renovations as claimed.

Syed Saddiq is on trial for allegedly misappropriating RM1.1 million from Bersatu Youth - funds that are reportedly unrelated to the missing RM250,000.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hishammuddin denies knowledge of UKSB link
If MACC wants to probe, he says he will cooperate.
Who ordered MACC to focus on Zahid only, asks lawyer
Witnesses at Zahid's graft trial have implicated other prominent politicians.
1MDB trial: Funds transfer would worry me if I was PM - Husni
Witness denies he was insulting Najib.



What are people saying?

As tortoises overtake hare, right leaders needed for boost
By Rafidah Aziz
Corporate bosses parroting 'Politicians Say Darndest Things'
By R Nadeswaran
Adam Adli will have to woo uncommitted youths
By Malaysiakini readers



What else is happening?

  • At least 1,000 people were killed after a deadly earthquake struck Afghanistan.

  • Chinese nationals who were previously held in Malaysian immigration detention shared their harrowing experience in unsanitary conditions that left them scarred, literally.

  • DBKL could have skipped the middleman and install the 5G smart lamp posts itself by getting licences through a subsidiary, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidi said.

HIGHLIGHTS

Expect more severe flooding in KL with climate change, study warns
If nothing changes, by 2050, flooding would cost US$180 per capita.
Nube urges EPF to sack bank CEO over alleged union-busting
EPF holds 65.4 percent stake in MBSB bank.
Radzi: No plans to review History as SPM must-pass subject
MOE will instead review factors that led to students failing the subject.