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

Key Highlights

  • Govt tightening its belt

  • Jho Low's RM1.5bln offer

  • Rocky start for the new PKR team




Govt tightening its belt

Have you had to cut down on spending because of the rising cost of living?

Well, the government too, is now going to do that.

Putrajaya has been ordered to start cost-saving measures as part of an internal austerity drive.

The goal is to reduce operating costs for the rest of the year by at least 5 percent to balance out the rising cost of subsidies.

Subsidies are projected to hit RM77.7 billion, RM46.1 billion more than was allocated under Budget 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

Austerity drive: Govt to defer, cancel new projects
IGP: Cops will take action if anti-price hike flashmobs don't follow the law
Anwar promises to reduce petrol price if he becomes PM




Jho Low's RM1.5 bln offer

Alleged 1MDB mastermind Jho Low is back in the news.

His lawyers had met with the Attorney-General's Chambers, to discuss a settlement deal.

Reportedly, he is offering to repatriate RM1.5 billion siphoned from 1MDB, in exchange for having charges against him dropped.

The AGC rejected the deal.

The meeting was set up by former AG Mohamed Apandi Ali - who famously once declared Najib Abdul Razak innocent of wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hassan: Jho Low should return to face trial if he thinks he’s innocent
Meeting Jho Low's reps sends wrong message, Guan Eng tells Idrus
Rafizi orders PKR members to start countering Najib's 'lies'




Rocky start for the new PKR team

The PKR congress over the last weekend saw internal divisions within the party continue to fester.

While leaders from the unofficial "Team Anwar" called for a stop to infighting, newly-minted PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli told them to stop being bootlickers.

Anwar Ibrahim, himself, meanwhile, threatened not to field those who continue squabbling in GE15.

Publicly, Anwar is extending an olive branch to Rafizi, calling the latter a cure for his headache.

However, the party president also appears set to make Rafizi prove he can do better with PKR, saying that the deputy president will be given "many important duties" and be directly responsible for the party.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Big tent': Wan Azizah is non-committal while Akmal opposes
Rafizi's team dominates PKR central leadership council 
Najib mocks 'populist' Anwar, 'weak' Rafizi speeches at PKR congress



Views that matter

Whom would you trust to run the country?
By Mariam Mokhtar
Anwar’s obsession with becoming PM caused Sheraton Move
By Muhammad Hilman Idham
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me
By Zan Azlee



What else is happening?

  • Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has met Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding his appointment as ambassador to Indonesia. However, no one is saying why exactly he hasn't got his appointment letter.

  • The ROS has not responded to Umno's bid to amend its constitution and postpone party polls despite the July 16 deadline passing.

  • The government is setting up another task force, this time to look into claims made against Malaysia by purported heirs of the Sulu sultanate.

  • The Dewan Rakyat begins a three-week meeting today.

HIGHLIGHTS

Religious groups urge the public to stop making jokes about religion
Beng Hock's sister: Has DAP woken up from the 'Sheraton nightmare'?
Wrestler Ayez Shaukat makes history in Texas competition