Good morning. Here are our picks for today.

Key Highlights

  • Rep absent, seat falls vacant

  • Muhyiddin scorches Anwar

  • Lynas continues to cry foul

Rep absent, seat falls vacant

The assemblyperson for Batang Kali, Harumaini Omar, has been absent from the state assembly for more than six months without leave.

Given this, Selangor Legislative Assembly Speaker Ng Suee Lim has declared the seat vacant in accordance with the State Constitution.

Harumaini is a member of Pejuang. He was elected in 2018 when he stood as a Pakatan Harapan coalition candidate. At the time, he was with Bersatu.

Harumaini's last appearance at the assembly was on July 27 last year.

According to the speaker, there is no record of Harumaini explaining his absence from the state assembly between Nov 23, 2022, and Dec 6, 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

Shahrizat eyes comeback, to contest Wanita Umno chief post
Menu Rahmah: PAS MP courts flak for implying it may pose autism risk
Bank Negara, IRB involved in Pandora Papers probe - Azalina

Muhyiddin scorches Anwar

Muhyiddin Yassin launched a scorching broadside against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accusing the latter of a witch hunt against his Perikatan Nasional administration.

The former prime minister claimed the government was attempting to defame him and the coalition he leads ahead of the forthcoming state elections.

He warned Anwar that there would be repercussions.

Muhyiddin also said he would not initiate legal action against Anwar because he “pitied” the new prime minister.

HIGHLIGHTS

Kit Siang: King's wishes ignored, war cry hints at Sheraton Move redux
Audit: Govt lost over RM13m due to unusable ventilator machines
Radzi: Law needed to prevent PM from being finance minister as well

Lynas continues to cry foul

Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd is upset for being ”singled out” by the authorities despite complying with regulations.

It pointed out that the partial closure of its processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, would cost hundreds of jobs.

On Tuesday, the government agreed to renew Lynas’ licence for three years beginning March 3 but retained the conditions in place since March 2020 under the Pakatan Harapan government.

This included the prohibition on importing and processing lanthanide concentrate after July 1, 2023 - which effectively forces that component of the Lynas refinery in Gebeng to shut down.

HIGHLIGHTS

Zafrul visits Lynas plant amid its processing facility conundrum
KINIGUIDE | From total closure to partial closure - Lynas, 11 years on
Petronas units in Luxembourg seized again in RM66b arbitration dispute

Views that matter

Late activist's work reminds us everyone counts
By S Thayaparan
Should Petronas be listed to pare debt?
By P Gunasegaram
Return Lynas radioactive waste to Australia
By Mohideen & Mageswari

Other news that matter

  • Those who pollute raw water sources could face a maximum fine set at RM10 million compared to the current penalty of RM100,000.

    Natural Resources, Environmental and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said there is also a proposal to increase the current one-year jail term to 15 years.

  • Mydin hypermarket owner Ameer Ali Mydin defended the “Menu Rahmah” initiative, saying its cheap price does not mean the food would be of inferior quality.

  • Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria’s son, who claimed that his father apologised to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to “save the PM's name”, has retracted his remarks.

    Apart from deleting his postings, Muhammad Rif'aat also deactivated his Facebook account.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ex-PAS leader Khairuddin to join new Umno ulama council - sources
Kota Belud MP: Constituency funding crucial for rural areas
Accused of being 'bought', ex-Warisan rep welcomes probe