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

Key Highlights

  • PM rewards Bersatu turncoat

  • Politician pension limits

  • New Sarawak governor

PM rewards Bersatu turncoat

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rewarded a Bersatu turncoat with a committee post.

Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Syed Abdul Fasal will head the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol).

Syed Abu Hussin has been the most vocal of the Bersatu MPs who switched allegiances by declaring support for Anwar.

He claimed on Friday that more Bersatu and PAS MPs would be switching sides as well.

The Bersatu MP said last November that he would support Anwar in exchange for constituency funds.

He followed through with the pledge later that same month.

Syed Abu Hussin has switched sides before.

He was elected on an Umno ticket in 2018, became an independent that same year, and later joined Bersatu in 2020, before effectively turning against the party by supporting Anwar last year.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bersatu MP: Muhyiddin's 'U-turn' after wife’s advice upset members
Opposition MPs losing confidence, more will support govt - PM
No ultimatums from Bersatu MPs to support PM - Wan Fayhsal

Politician pension limits

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is appealing to politicians with multiple pensions to choose one.

He said this was the morally responsible choice.

Currently, politicians who have served in multiple roles, such as minister, menteri besar, assemblyperson and such can collect multiple pensions.

Meanwhile, Anwar said planned changes to do away with pensions for new civil servants will also apply to political appointees.

HIGHLIGHTS

PN Youth urges govt to reconsider non-pensionable civil service jobs
Daim to be charged Monday, says looking forward to it
MACC summons another son of Dr M, now it’s Mokhzani

New Sarawak governor

It's official, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is the new Sarawak governor.

He received his instrument of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Friday.

The appointment came a month before his predecessor Abdul Taib Mahmud's term was supposed to end.

It is unclear as to why Taib's term was cut short.

Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi's ascension means that the government needs to find a new president for the Senate - which is due to convene on March 18.

HIGHLIGHTS

Daim, wife axe part of legal team handling graft case
UK museum says ship model’s Chinese, but designs similar across region
PKR, Harapan need bold rebranding moving forward - Yuneswaran

Views that matter

Of academic quality, integrity and predatory journals
By Ranjit Singh Malhi
Rewarding mediocre footballers ultimate insult to sports fans
By R Nadeswaran
Legal challenges in prosecuting Daim for old cases
By Mohamed Hanipa Maidin

Other news that matter

  • The government rewarded the Football Association of Malaysia with RM5 million after it secured its first-ever point in the group stage of the Asian Cup following a 3-3 draw with South Korea.

    Malaysia had lost its two earlier group-stage matches for the championship, meaning it did not advance to the knockout stage.

  • A landslide in Cameron Highlands killed five vegetable farm workers.

    Authorities said the farmland was illegally cleared.

  • Malaysia will present its oral submission at the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's atrocities against Palestine on Feb 22.

HIGHLIGHTS

Don’t disturb Pasti kindergartens, PAS warns govt
Traffic cop in hot water for asking tourists RM100 to 'settle' ticket
Chance encounter with squirrel helped dropout find his calling