/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2021/05/7c373c9e8adcdf3513c0ba8a7b39acfd.jpg)
Party hopping alert: Sabah Bersatu
Good morning. Here's what you need to know today.
Key Highlights
Party hopping alert: Sabah Bersatu
Deputy ministers sworn-in
Azeez acquitted
Party hopping alert: Sabah Bersatu
Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor has led an exodus out of Bersatu, including four out five of the party's MPs in Sabah - with plans to form a new party under the Gabung Rakyat Sabah coalition.
Under the anti-hopping law, resigning from a party is cause for an MP to lose their seat.
However, the Sabah Bersatu case falls into a grey area.
This is as the four Sabah Bersatu MPs who quit the party, had contested under the GRS logo instead.
GRS is a coalition formed in the aftermath of 2020 Sabah state election, as a local coalition for Perikatan Nasional and other Sabah parties in the state government.
There is disagreement whether the MPs' Bersatu membership, or being part of the GRS coalition should be the triggering factor.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Deputy ministers sworn-in
The deputy ministers of the Anwar Ibrahim administration have been sworn-in.
Most ministers have just one deputy, allowing Anwar to cut down the number of deputies to 27, compared to 38 under the previous PN and BN governments.
Exceptions are the Finance Ministry, where Anwar has two deputies - including Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan - while the religious affairs minister has no deputy.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Azeez acquitted
Former Baling MP Azeez Abdul Rahim has been acquitted of three corruption and six money laundering charges linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah.
The road to Azeez's acquital began as early as July, when the MACC was reportedly presented with new evidence that could exonerated the Umno leader.
Then on Sept 23, Azeez was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on the prosecution's request after Azeez submitted representation.
Following this, Azeez applied for a full acquittal from the High Court, and was granted it on Friday after the prosecution did not object.
Azeez lost his Baling seat during the 15th general election to Perikatan Nasional.
HIGHLIGHTS
| |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By Mariam Mokhtar |
 | By R Nadeswaran |
 | By Zan Azlee |
Other news that matter
MACC says RM92.5 billion of the alleged RM600 billion misappropriated by PN came from government coffers.
Initial investigations into a data leak involving five million AirAsia passengers and staff was due to a cyberattack, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Najib Abdul Razak’s daughter urged the new government to permit a live broadcast for her father’s upcoming judicial review hearing.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had - in 2019 - supported the idea of having Najib's trial be broadcasted live.
PN picked Hamzah Zainuddin to be the opposition leader in Parliament. The post was elevated to minister-level under the previous government.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa plans to fine-tune the generational end game bill aimed at eradicatiing smoking for the first Dewan Rakyat meeting next year.
The littoral combat ship (LCS) project will be continued but subject to a review, said Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan.
Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said amending Act 355 is part of his agenda.
Police made 28.710 drug related arrests under Ops Tapis Khas. 64.5 percent of those detained were drug users or addicts.
After being sacked from Umno, former Ketereh MP Annuar Musa kickstarted a recruitment drive for an NGO with a familiar name - Muafakat Nasional.
He also claimed to have been wooed by PAS, but is in no hurry to answer.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.