Good morning. Here are our picks for today.

Key Highlights

  • Political plots to hit royal wall

  • ‘Mastermind’ in police’s crosshairs

  • Rafizi vs Padu critics

Political plots to hit royal wall

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is set to become the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong and political analysts believe that attempts to unseat the government will grind to a halt after he is crowned.

His predecessor, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, on the other hand, became the first Malaysian monarch to swear-in three prime ministers. His reign will officially end on Jan 30.

Universiti Malaya political analyst Abdul Muqit Muhammad noted that since Sultan Ibrahim has stressed the importance of stability, politicians would be more realistic and cautious.

“This does not mean that His Highness is interfering in the country's political affairs, but these are neutral statements which would impact opposition leaders hoping to unseat the government,” he said.

The analyst was responding to news of a fresh plot in the works dubbed the “Dubai Move”.

Last October, Sultan Ibrahim’s son, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail, made it clear that the next Agong (his father) wanted to “restore order” in the nation.

“He always says something about restoring order because of the unstable (political) situation in the country,” he said, adding that Sultan Ibrahim’s reign would be an “interesting time”.

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‘Mastermind’ in police’s crosshairs

Police are zooming in on the alleged mastermind implicated in a quota fraud with regard to his deceptive migrant worker recruitment activities.

The fraud unearthed by Malaysiakini last year has led to several reports being lodged against the individual.

Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf Ramli confirmed four reports were received alleging the mastermind's involvement in shell companies used to recruit migrants.

Last November, Malaysiakini’s investigations found that through an alleged syndicate of six companies, hundreds of workers were recruited under quotas obtained using fake documents and loopholes in the system.

However, the mastermind remained anonymous in the dealings, allegedly hiding behind shell companies or existing firms owned by others and leaving no money trail which could link him to the businesses.

HIGHLIGHTS

Wan Saiful: Ngeh's apology an 'old', oft-used tactic
Focus on taking Kedah forward, not political 'moves', Loke tells Sanusi
Minister moots fining firms RM30k for each migrant brought in without jobs

Rafizi vs Padu critics

There is a “bigger goal” behind the decision to opt for in-house expertise to work on the Central Database Hub (Padu).

Apart from saving costs, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, who was addressing security concerns, said the move would help build a digitally capable civil service.

According to him, the previous practice of appointing vendors or private firms to develop government applications is no longer appropriate.

The minister also took a sarcastic swipe at rights group Lawyers for Liberty’s call for Padu to be suspended until the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) is amended to remove a clause that exempted the government from liability.

“I was hoping LFL would first understand (the difference) between (data under) PDPA and publicly available data.

“I would have thought that a ‘so-called’ lawyers group would have understood that. If we start talking about laws we don’t understand, we look silly,” he added.

HIGHLIGHTS

Chow sues businessperson for defamation over land deal remarks
Padu registration not user-friendly for elderly, reps say
Puad: Dubai Move exposé shows that J-Kom needs overhaul

Views that matter

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Other news that matter

  • Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh is on a mission - He wants to nab litterbugs and teach them a lesson.

  • Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform) Azalina Othman Said revealed that the Freedom of Information Bill will include provisions for greater transparency in the drafting and amending of laws.

  • Opposition leaders have backed the call for the Community Communications Department (J-Kom) to be overhauled, or even dissolved.

HIGHLIGHTS

Padu: Concerns of M40 singles need to be examined – experts
T20 parents should pay MRSM admission fee - alumni president
Father confirms girl who wrote letter to PM accepted back to school