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

Key Highlights

  • Student uprising brewing

  • Govt stands by Apandi

  • Hamzah under fire




Student uprising brewing

Varsity student groups are threatening to take to the streets unless the government gets the rising cost of living under control.

The call, made first by Universiti Malaya and International Islamic University Malaysia, is now being echoed by students in other universities.

The cabinet, in turn, has said it will set up a special "jihad" task force to tackle inflation.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chicken ceiling price now RM9.40/kg, up 50 sen
New ceiling prices for eggs are also set.
RM10 for mixed rice - varsity students hit by price hikes
Student groups complain about being overcharged by stores on campus.
Sudden cooking oil subsidy removal will hit B40 hardest - Group
‘It should be done gradually.’




Govt stands by Apandi

The government will not be removing former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali as chairperson of a special task force reviewing Malaysia’s claim on Pulau Batu Puteh.


De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Dr Mahathir Mohamad - who is protesting Apandi's appointment - should have objected earlier.

Mahathir - who walked out from the task force's meeting - argued that Apandi was involved in Malaysia's efforts to claim the rocky outpost, and hence had a conflict of interest.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dr M should be 'jantan' - Najib
Ex-PM tells nemesis to cooperate with Apandi panel.
Late Dutch model's family seeks PM's help
They want the investigating officer off the review panel.
Tok Pa refutes Zahid's misappropriation claim
‘Funds managed by a committee that follows party guidelines.’




Hamzah under fire

Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin is under fire for saying "anyone can die anywhere" in response to queries on deaths in custody.

Among his critics is MCA Youth, which wants the minister to issue a public apology.

A recent report noted that the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta recorded 149 Indonesians who died in five Sabah detention centres over 18 months between 2021 and 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ramkarpal: Hamzah is ignoring main issue
‘It's about appalling detention conditions, not death predictions.’
35 M’sian job scam victims rescued at Thai-Myanmar border
They’re currently detained in Mae Sot.
IPCC bill a ’paper tiger' - Bar Council
'It failed to live up to the collective expectations.'



What are people saying?

‘My brother did it’ – remembering a dark day for integrity
By R Nadeswaran
It's increasingly hard to be excited by GE15
By Francis Paul Siah
GE15 hustings fertile ground for comedy
By Eric Loo



What else is happening?

  • Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong - who was born in Sabah - pledged to help introduce investors to Malaysia.

  • A community garden in Bangsar that was lauded by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is now under the threat of eviction by the authorities in Kuala Lumpur. They will be appealing.

  • Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin denied that leaks of the people’s personal data were an inside job involving the National Registration Department.



HIGHLIGHTS

Anwar ‘casually’ meets Rafizi to discuss strengthening PKR
Nurul Izzah was also present.
Nazlan’s Maybank job not linked to Najib’s SRC case - prosecution
DPP contends it’s more related to the 1MDB trial. 
Zahid, Najib to attend Sabah BN convention
5k delegates are expected to attend.