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

Key Highlights

  • GE15 anytime now

  • Muhyiddin swan song

  • Baling flooded again




GE15 anytime now

The 15th general election can be called anytime now.

A clause in the Putrajaya-Harapan MOU preventing snap polls before July 31 has expired, meaning that the Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob can dissolve Parliament at will.

However, contrary to Umno's narrative, the MOU will still be in effect until Parliament is dissolved.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office previously told Malaysiakini that Ismail Sabri is considering polls in November this year if the Peninsular east coast is not battered by major floods.

If snap polls are not called, Parliament will automatically dissolve on June 16 next year - on the fifth anniversary of when the 14th Parliament convened.

While Umno wants GE15 to be held soon, Ismail Sabri has hinted that he would like to settle some unfinished businesses.

HIGHLIGHTS

Najib: BN tired of being opposition in S'gor, victory is possible
Analysts: PM's reform efforts, ROS' approval for Umno, make GE unlikely this year
ROS allows Umno to hold party polls after GE15 - Ahmad Maslan




Muhyiddin swan song

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin announced that GE15 may be his last election ever.

However, he said, this would depend on circumstances.

Muhyiddin has been an elected representative since 1978.

His Perikatan Nasional coalition has been suffering at the polls due to being disadvantaged in multi-cornered fights under the first-past-the-post political system.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dewan Rakyat speaker hails Muhyiddin as 'overlooked reformist'
Muhyiddin tells PM to keep promises, denies threatening Umno
Pejuang: Malays trapped between corrupt leaders and multiracial opposition




Baling flooded again

Kampung Iboi near Baling, Kedah, was hit by another round of flooding on Thursday - the second time in July.

The flooding was triggered by just three hours of rain.

Many villagers are now traumatised and fear going home.

HIGHLIGHTS

Settlements around Sg Kupang, Baling, no longer safe - NGO
'Sinking ground' affecting Megamall, major structures in Seberang Perai
Science ministry confirms Chinese rocket debris in Sulu Sea, S'wak



Views that matter

Royal pardon: Be careful what you wish for
By Mariam Mokhtar
Was Muhyiddin a closet reformer?
By Lim Kit Siang
With bans and shutdowns, best to stare at a brick wall
By Martin Vengadesan



What else is happening?

  • Former Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim passed away last night after a long battle with illness.

  • Police will question former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali today, for disobeying the law when he cleared Najib Abdul Razak of wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal.

  • The Dewan Rakyat is due to debate plans to legislate the "generational end game" to smoking this week.

    Read about the proposed law's key features.

  • De facto law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is taking the next steps in efforts to implement a PM term limit, and regulate political financing.



HIGHLIGHTS

Trials, tribulations: Discrimination against women in syariah courts
Syariah courts: Own testimony insufficient to show one has left Islam
King: Don't insult, ridicule religions in the name of freedom of expression