Good morning. Here are our picks for today.

Key Highlights

  • Associate nabbed, Jho Low next?

  • New law to expedite 3R prosecution

  • “Tone deaf” communications department

Associate nabbed, Jho Low next?

Newly-minted Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain is confident that fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) will be brought to book over his role in the 1MDB scandal.

He gave this assurance in the wake of the police detaining Low’s associate, Jasmine Loo.

"If we can bring back Jasmine Loo, it is only a matter of time (before Jho Low is arrested). The police have never stopped investigating the case," he said.

However, the police chief was tightlipped on the circumstances that led to Loo’s arrest, citing security reasons.

Loo was 1MDB's former executive director of group strategy and alleged to be in Low's inner circle.

Razarudin also declined to reveal information regarding the Penang-born Low’s whereabouts, saying: "How can I reveal to you where Jho Low is hiding now?”

"If we reveal our investigation, it's akin to revealing our secret. The suspect will run away," he said.

HIGHLIGHTS

Arrested ex-1MDB exec wants to help expedite asset recovery: Lawyers
MACC detains former special officer to ex-minister
Sarawak's PSB pledges support for Abang Jo

New law to expedite 3R prosecution

The government is considering new legislation to address race, religion and royalty issues, commonly referred to as “3R” cases.

According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, the new law would be similar to Singapore’s Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, but in the local context.

She said the proposed Act, which may be called the “State and Nation Act”, had been presented to the cabinet yesterday and received a positive response.

Any offence involving 3R is currently investigated under the Sedition Act 1948. Since the law is more geared towards elements of criminal offences, it delays prosecution due to legal procedures.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil expressed support for the new law.

“I welcome the suggestion. I believe there is room for us to look at the current laws and to see what we can do to enhance them,” he added.

HIGHLIGHTS

Police to investigate Sanusi over 'insulting' remark on S'gor ruler
'Don't be rude' - Selangor caretaker MB warns Kedah counterpart
LRT crash: 8 to present medical reports in negligence suit

‘Tone deaf’ communications department

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil agreed that the Community Communications Department’s (J-Kom) cost of living infographic, which courted brickbats, was “tone deaf”.

The minister said he would be meeting J-Kom soon to discuss the matter.

However, J-Kom director-general Mohammad Agus Yusoff, whom Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim roped in after convincing him to postpone his retirement plans, defended the infographic on the cost of groceries.

Agus said the infographic - which had claimed that groceries for a family of four can be worth under RM400 a month - was aimed at combating "false claims".

"The simulation was done based on six main items which are said to have gone up in price drastically, causing spending (on groceries) to increase from RM200 to RM500 a month," he told Malaysiakini.

HIGHLIGHTS

PM has 10-year lease for Kajang house, says lawyer
Sanusi: PAS didn’t sacrifice ideals when working with DAP, unlike Umno
SUPP leader: Racial quota undermines very essence of education

Views that matter

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By Bridget Welsh
What happens when things get too hot to handle?
By Azliyana Azhari & Raksha Pandya-Wood

Other news that matter

  • The government has decided that airline companies must manage travellers who are denied entry into Malaysia instead of a third party. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the decision was in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization rule and Malaysia's Immigration Act, which stipulate that travellers turned away from a country are to be managed by the respective airline.

  • A women empowerment activism group has called on political parties to support fair representation of women in the upcoming six state elections. Women in Power said parties and relevant stakeholders should proactively address gender disparities in politics.

  • Leaders from the Youth wings of PAS and Umno, as well as Muda, have expressed willingness to take up PKR Youth’s challenge for a debate on policy issues. However, there appears to be no consensus yet among the four parties on when and where the debate should be held.

HIGHLIGHTS

Union lauds progressive wage proposal, says intervention needed
Muda announces 4 state polls candidates for S'gor
Syahredzan demands Bangi PAS chief apologise over alleged slander