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

Key Highlights

  • Mahathir backs PN

  • Audit report debated

  • Terengganu land scandal

Mahathir backs PN

It’s official. Dr Mahathir Mohamad is backing Perikatan Nasional.

While he had given vague answers indicating this before, this new alliance for the six state polls was confirmed at a press conference yesterday.

The glue that binds them is Mahathir’s Malay proclamation - which was signed by leaders from Bersatu and PAS.

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin had led the 2020 coup which deposed Mahathir as prime minister.

However, this appears to be bygones as the nonagenarian trains his guns on his biggest rival - Anwar Ibrahim.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Common knowledge' - Mahathir defends remark against royalty
‘Revoke Mahathir’s Tun-ship if he keeps attacking royals’
KJ mulls forming own party

Audit report debated

For what may be the first time ever, the Dewan Rakyat yesterday debated the Auditor-General’s Report.

While the reports are public and are presented to MPs, its contents are rarely discussed in the Dewan Rakyat unless via an emergency motion.

Instead, the Public Accounts Committee has been the main Parliament body scrutinising the reports.

However, not everyone was happy with the government’s move to debate the latest audit report in the Lower House.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chaos in Parliament as PN MPs oppose debate on 2021 national audit report
Azalina: Standing Order doesn’t bar MPs from debating audits report
Audit report: MOH faces scrutiny as MPs question defective supplies

Terengganu land scandal

A land deal in Terengganu involving a politically connected body has raised eyebrows.

An 11,299 square metre plot of land in Batas Baru - which had previously been awarded to a PAS-owned body - was reportedly sold to the Khairunissa association.

The association is made up of wives of current and former Terengganu state elected representatives.

The association is alleged to have paid RM500,000 for the land, which is reportedly valued at RM23.9 million.

State menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, however, has brushed off the sale as a “non-issue”.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Kedah owns Penang' claim: PM lets AG decide further action on Sanusi
Ending poverty: Sanusi accuses PM of ‘using’ the poor, says he’s all talk
Saifuddin: Anwar jailed under ISA for fighting for the poor

Views that matter

Dr M and PN - Disrespecting the royal institution
By S Thayaparan
The MCA-fication of DAP
By Kua Kia Soong
Sanusi’s extraordinary, dangerous land-grabbing gambit
By Mariam Mokhtar

Other news that matter

  • The Umno general assembly will kick off tonight, with party deputy president Mohamad Hasan officiating the wings’ AGMs.

    Like the Unity Government Convention last month, the general assembly will see past Umno rivals present at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre.

    However, expect the atmosphere to be very different.

  • The MACC has nabbed a district police chief in Pahang for allegedly receiving bribes exceeding RM1 million.

  • Indonesian President Joko Widodo will be in Malaysia for an official visit starting Thursday.

  • The High Court denied leave for Zuraida Kamarudin’s judicial review to be recognised as the PBM president.

  • The government’s Rahmah initiative now covers eyeglasses.

HIGHLIGHTS

Now a 'Tan Sri', DAP veteran says to just call him 'Kit'
Nik Aziz's widow: Tan Sri title recognition for his, PAS' struggles
Title by Agong worth the wait, says 1967 Thomas Cup winner