Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
Campaign to ‘stab’ Anwar
Keep Najib’s case public
Apologise for ‘Ops Lalang’
The Kini Morning Brief Team will be taking a break this weekend. We’ll be back on our regular schedule on April 24 (Wednesday).
Campaign to ‘stab’ Anwar
Indian Malaysian voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu are being told to heed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call - to “stab” him.
Several quarters comprising former ministers, former Pakatan Harapan leaders and allies as well as NGO representatives are holding meetings with local leaders and the Indian community’s representatives urging for a boycott of the May 11 by-election.
A former DAP leader, who declined to be named, said the move is not to help Perikatan Nasional win the election but rather to send a clear message to the prime minister that the Indian community is not satisfied with his government.
“We believe a boycott is the best way to send the signal,” he told Malaysiakini.
On April 14, the prime minister denied neglecting the Indians and highlighted the various initiatives put in place to assist the community.
“If I didn’t do anything for the Indian community, you have the right to ’stab’ me,” he had said.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Keep Najib’s case public
The court proceedings surrounding former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s bid to be held under house arrest must be public, said Bersih.
“Since the case involves a high-profile individual, is of public interest, and involves public funds, it needs to be done openly and transparently that is available to the public,” stressed the electoral watchdog.
Bersih was responding to the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to allow Najib's application to switch proceedings of his judicial review bid to be held in chambers instead of regular court proceedings.
If held in chambers, Bersih warned that it would create the impression of a double standard and erode public confidence.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said preventing the media from covering the case prevents the public from monitoring a corruption scandal that rocked the nation.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Apologise for ‘Ops Lalang’
Former Court of Appeal judge Hishamudin Yunus wants the government to publicly apologise for the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) dragnet Ops Lalang.
“I propose that the present government, although it has nothing to do with Ops Lalang, should offer an apology, a public apology to the victims of Ops Lalang,” he said.
Hishamudin raised this during former DAP leader Karpal Singh’s 10th death anniversary memorial. Karpal was among the more than 100 individuals detained without trial in 1987 when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the prime minister.
The former judge also referred to another black mark during Mahathir’s reign - the 1988 judicial crisis.
“The two disgraceful episodes must never be forgotten because they are lessons to be learnt.
“We as a nation must never allow another Ops Lalang to happen again,” he said.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By Martin Vengadesan |
 | By S Thayaparan |
Other news that matter
Bersatu’s insistence for the six elected representatives who pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to step down from their positions is a form of intimidation that can be dealt with by the law, said an expert.
The government clarified that a company linked to the premier’s former aide won a RM190.01 million Road Transport Department (RTD) deal through an open tender process without being influenced by any individuals in the firm.
Putrajaya’s plan to introduce a flexible account for Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) members to withdraw a portion of their monthly contributions, dubbed Account 3, has received pushback.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 |
