Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.
Key Highlights
Azam gone, but scandals refuse to die
Asset declaration rules tightened for civil servants
Verdict deferred as judge falls ill, PSM unimpressed
Azam gone, but scandals refuse to die
Come July 12, it will be two months since Azam Baki retired as MACC chief commissioner under a cloud of controversies - from questions over his shareholdings to explosive allegations that some anti-graft officers colluded with business figures to engineer hostile corporate takeovers.
Yet the dust refuses to settle as certain quarters continue to press for answers.
The latest pressure comes from a coalition of activists who marched to Parliament to submit a memorandum demanding that the government establish a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the alleged "corporate mafia".
Previously, several DAP leaders had openly called for an RCI. But those demands have since fallen conspicuously silent, with one notable exception: the party's women's wing legal chief, Sangeet Kaur Deo.
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Asset declaration rules tightened for civil servants
As wealth increasingly moves beyond property, bank accounts and traditional investments, Malaysia has overhauled the rules governing asset declarations by public officers.
Effective June 16, the revised framework significantly broadens what civil servants must disclose, bringing cryptocurrency holdings within the scope of mandatory declarations, expanding the definition of "children", and tightening scrutiny of beneficial ownership arrangements involving spouses and children.
The new rules also require public officers to declare assets held by their children. The definition now extends beyond biological children to include those born out of wedlock, stepchildren, adopted children, and certain adult children with disabilities.
The changes are set out in the Public Service Department's Human Resources Services Circular (MyPPSM) Section UP.7.2.6, a copy of which was sighted by Malaysiakini.
Read more on Kini News Lab for further details on the revised asset declaration framework.
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Verdict deferred as judge falls ill, PSM unimpressed
The Federal Court has postponed its verdict on Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman over charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and misappropriation of funds, after one of the presiding judges took medical leave.
The court has set a new date for the decision on July 13, just two days after the high-stakes Johor state election.
Following the postponement, the former Muda president said he would step back from campaigning during the election period.
The delay, however, drew criticism from PSM, which has formed an alliance with Muda for the polls.
PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan said that proceedings could have continued with the remaining judges if one was unavailable, adding that the written judgment had already been prepared.
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Views that matter
 | By P Gunasegaram |
 | By Malaysian Media Council |
 | By Hanipa Maidin |
 | By 7 PKR MPs |
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