Good morning. Here's what you should know today.
Key Highlights
Iran war to hit your wallet next?
PKR hit with graft allegations
Azam the reformer
Iran war to hit your wallet next?
The war on Iran continues to have global ramifications, and your wallet might be next. Starting April 1, Malaysians will only get to buy up to 200 litres per month of subsidised RON95, down from 300 litres previously.
The government expects that 90 percent of Malaysians will not be impacted by the belt-tightening.
However, a bigger concern is the impact of diesel - which fuels much of the country’s logistics transportation - getting way more expensive, with prices skyrocketing over the past month.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said supply of food and fertilisers will also be affected, and that “prices will certainly rise.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
PKR hit with graft allegations
Businessperson Victor Chin accused a PKR MP of taking RM9.5 million from him to help resolve issues with the so-called “corporate mafia”.
He also threatened to expose the MP’s identity if the money is not returned to him by March 30.
Chin later clarified that the payment was a service fee to stop attacks from the mafia, and not a bribe to authorities.
PKR vice-president R Ramanan has denied being the MP implicated.
Meanwhile, two PKR leaders at the division level have been accused of demanding "protection money" from a business in Kuala Lumpur.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
Azam the reformer
MACC chief Azam Baki - who is still staving off corruption allegations of his own - has proposed three laws to help tackle graft better.
The first law proposed would cover misconduct in public office, aimed at preventing improper conduct among government employees, which paves the way for more serious offences.
The second proposal would be a Welfare Act to hinder NGOs from misusing public funds, while the third proposal concerns political funding, which Azam described as essential to prevent conflicts of interest, corruption, and undue influence in politics.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
Views that matter
 | By Chang Lih Kang |
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By Aizat Zainal Alam |
 | By Tan Yew Sing |
 | By S Thayaparan |
In case you missed it
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
Other news that matter
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
