Good morning. Here's what you should know today.

Key Highlights

  • Muhyiddin, Zafrul & Jana Wibawa

  • Citizenship amendment for moms

  • Shahrizat returns

Muhyiddin, Zafrul & Jana Wibawa

A little-known programme during the Muhyiddin Yassin administration has landed both the former prime minister and his finance minister at the time, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, in the MACC's cross hairs.

The programme - Jana Wibawa - aimed to boost bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, MACC sources have claimed that the programme also generated around RM300 million in kickbacks, which allegedly ended up in Bersatu's accounts.

The MACC has already taken a statement from Muhyiddin and will next be calling up Zafrul.

HIGHLIGHTS

Muhyiddin maintains innocence after MACC quizzing
Muhyiddin a suspect in Jana Wibawa probe – report
MACC: Those questioned should not assume they're witness or suspect

Citizenship amendment for mums

The cabinet has agreed to amend the Federal Constitution to allow married mothers to confer Malaysian citizenship to their overseas-born children.

This will be done by amending the word father to "at least one parent" in sections pertaining to citizenship.

With the government controlling a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the amendment is expected to pass without a hitch once it is tabled.

However, the amendment stops short - at least for now - of fulfilling an election pledge by Pakatan Harapan to make it easier for adoptive parents as well to confer citizenship on their children.

HIGHLIGHTS

Citizenship rules: Address other kids’ statelessness issues too – Suhakam
Ministry to halt competitions, celebrations that burden teachers
Minister: Education curriculum on par with Singapore, Japan

Shahrizat returns

Former Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has confirmed her return to active politics.

She has joined the race for next month's Umno polls to reclaim her position in the party.

Shahrizat had helmed the women's wing from 2009 until 2018 - when she bowed out to make way for new blood.

Her successor, Noraini Ahmad, has been under fire for allegedly failing to further the wing's cause - including their long demand for 30 percent of Umno election candidates to be women.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dr Mahathir receives invitation to join Putra as adviser
Former Bersatu VP returns to Umno
Bersatu leader’s son to contest Umno Youth vice-chief post

Views that matter

AG’s report continues to be catalogue of shame
By R Nadeswaran
Citizenship rules amendments: Could women now be equal to men?
By Zan Azlee 
Autism: Great deal of stigma and low awareness
By Syerleena Abdul Rashid

Other news that matter

  • The state leaders of Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu will meet this week to discuss a suitable date to dissolve their state legislatures.

  • The move by Selangor State Assembly Speaker Ng Suee Lim to vacate the Batang Kali seat is being challenged by its incumbent and a former Election Commission deputy chief.

  • Terengganu has banned the screening of the horror film ‘Pulau’ in the state, but is open to hear an appeal by the movie's producer.

  • Several organisations have called for Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah’s intervention to protect the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve from being turned into a timber plantation.

HIGHLIGHTS

PAS 'warriors': Tuan Ibrahim likens it to Chinese opera, cops probe march
Ship out waste, maintain Gebeng plant - minister's alternative for Lynas
Groups call for another round of EPF withdrawals