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

Key Highlights

  • Umno Purge: Election Year

  • The Prime Minister's Daughter

  • The Handover: Malaysiakini




Umno Purge: Election Year

Umno has axed party president hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin ahead of the party elections due in March.

Several other leaders were also suspended for six years including Hishammuddin Hussein and Noh Omar.

However, Noh chose to get axed rather than just be suspended.

Those purged were accused of breaching party discipline, although critics have accused Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of weeding out rivals.

There was allegedly no due process or show cause letters given for those purged.

Curiously, Khairy was sacked for criticising Zahid and the party, while Noh and Hishammuddin were suspended on grounds of allegedly sabotaging Umno.

HIGHLIGHTS

I objected to 'flawed' Umno sackings, suspensions - Ismail Sabri
PKR may shut its door on KJ to preserve govt
Noh Omar barred from using hall bearing his name after Umno purge




The Prime Minister's Daughter

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar revealed that she has been serving as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's senior adviser on economics and finance since Jan 3.

She is serving in the role pro-bono (without payment).

The appointment has given rise to questions of nepotism, but Anwar has defended his daughter as being qualified to serve in the role.

HIGHLIGHTS

Rafizi likens economic recovery to his weight loss struggles
Musa Hitam: Political reset needed before economy can be fixed
Maszlee apologises for dialogue degrading women in TV drama




The Handover: Malaysiakini

After helming Malaysiakini's editorial for 23 years, Steven Gan has stepped down as its editor-in-chief.

He will, however, remain in Malaysiakini, taking a nominal role as editor-at-large.

The editor-in-chief post will remain vacant for now, but the editorial team will be led by executive editor RK Anand and managing editor Ng Ling Fong.

With Steven stepping down, both of Malaysiakini’'s co-founders are no longer playing an active role in the company.

Co-founder Premesh Chandran had stepped down as Malaysiakini CEO last year.

HIGHLIGHTS

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram dies
PM, CJ, ex-AG Thomas, others condole Sri Ram's passing
TMJ announces Khairy as new Johor Youth adviser



Views that matter

Anwar is Zahid’s biggest collateral damage
By Wong Chin Huat
We expect a lot more from a govt that stresses unity
By Zan Azlee
Mr Minister, restoring third vote is a priority!
By G Vinod



Other news that matter

  • Home Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he would not interfere in the police probe against two Pakatan Harapan MPs’ aides over a tweet linking Umno Youth to a commotion at a Muda ceramah during GE15.

  • Attorney-General Idrus Harun said the withdrawals of two review applications against the decision of the Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge sovereignty cases are not in order.

  • The Education Ministry has pledged to resolve the shortage of teachers in all states before the new school session begins in March.

  • Fisherfolk who have been opposing the Penang South Island (PSI) reclamation project, have refused to accept any compensation offers from the state government until they can meet with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

    The Penang government denied that the project would destroy the livelihoods of the fisherfolk.

  • The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) has yet to issue any fatwa regarding the prohibition of providing a drug meant to prevent HIV infection to those engaging in “homosexual lifestyles”.

  • Najib Abdul Razak’s former banker testified it was her failure when she dealt with fugitive businessperson Jho Low in relation to the then prime minister’s bank accounts.

  • The Green Party claims it has a ”secret weapon” that it will use in the forthcoming Selangor state assembly election.



HIGHLIGHTS

M’sia to print 1m copies of al-Quran in condemnation of holy book's burning
Summon Afghan, Iran ambassadors for human rights violation - DAP
S'gor PAS touts multiculturalism after Amanah asks sultan to act on Hadi