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


Key Highlights

  • Dr M walks out on Apandi

  • Zahid's counter-offensive

  • FGV allowance review





Dr M walks out on Apandi

Dr Mahathir Mohamad was summoned by a special task force looking into his decision not to pursue a review of the Pulau Batu Puteh case when he was the prime minister.

However, the Langkawi MP walked out moments after arriving for the interview after discovering that the panel was still being chaired by Mohamed Apandi Ali.

Mahathir argued the former attorney-general was also involved in the case and his chairing the panel was a conflict of interest.

There is also bad blood between the duo as Mahathir was responsible for sacking Apandi, who as the attorney-general "cleared" former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak of wrongdoing in the SRC International graft case. Najib was later found guilty.

In 2008, the International Court of Justice ruled in Singapore's favour, granting Pulau Batu Puteh - which Malaysia continues to claim - to the republic.





HIGHLIGHTS

Dr M opens fire on Johor sultan
'Explain sale of land to foreigners.'
Witness: I did not see bribes given to Guan Eng
Ex-CM accused of receiving bribes.
Rosmah challenges Sri Ram's appointment again
Her legal team contends it’s unlawful.






Zahid's counter-offensive

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's allies went on the counter-offensive after the party's rebellious Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman launched a broadside against him.

Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi suggested that Tajuddin was attacking Zahid due to a corruption investigation against him. 

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said Zahid has led Umno to several electoral victories and those results were what mattered.





HIGHLIGHTS

Tajuddin to host ‘kenduri’ for PM
Roadshow will be in Pasir Salak. 
Zahid claims ignorance of alleged plot
It was allegedly to oust him.
Zahid: Umno members will decide Tajuddin’s claims
He stresses that Tajuddin is no longer in the supreme council.






FGV allowance review

FGV Holdings Berhad appointed an independent consultant to conduct a review of its non-executive directors' remuneration.

This was amid outrage at steep allowance hikes for the government-linked company's chairperson and directors.

FGV chairperson Dzulkifli Abd Wahab received a 60 percent allowance hike from RM300,000 to RM480,000 a year while six directors received a 25 percent hike from RM120,000 to RM150,000.



HIGHLIGHTS

Bar: Shafee more qualified than Queen’s Counsel
This is to represent Najib.
Najib's bid to adduce additional evidence rescheduled
It’s for case management.
Cinemas can open in Kelantan - PAS Youth
They say it’s subject to syariah law.






What are people saying?

Are we going down the road of Sri Lanka?
By P Gunasegaram
Nazri’s flood tourism does not hold water
By YS Chan
The PM has no clothes?
By Malaysiakini readers




What else is happening?

  • Bersatu lost another lawmaker after Lahad Datu MP Mohamaddin Ketapi resigned from the party. He previously defected from Warisan.

  • The Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur requiring a Mongolian national to fork out an RM70,000 deposit in order to sue her alleged rapist.

  • Klang MP Charles Santiago urged the authorities to expedite the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds by a bank employee in Klang.




HIGHLIGHTS

Exam leak: Ex-prof wants USM to reveal panel
This is to sustain public confidence.
M'sian palm oil millers halt production
This is as CPO prices plummet.
M'sia urges palm oil mills to resume production
Harvested oil palm fruit would rot otherwise.