Mat Hasan laments level of politicking in M'sia, and 9 news from yesterday

KINI ROUNDUP | Key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

1. Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan lamented the level of politicking in the country, warning that Malaysia itself faces a crisis of confidence and risks remaining a mediocre country.

2. The Kuala Lumpur High Court has rejected the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam-linked businessperson B Subramaniam’s bail application, noting that he is accused of a non-bailable offence.

3. Former education minister Mahdzir Khalid testified at the corruption trial against Rosmah Mansor that he has no doubt Rosmah was helping Jepak Holding Sdn Bhd to win a solar energy project.

4. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has cited the lack of scientific expertise and having to deal with radioactive waste as reasons for Malaysia to abandon plans to set up nuclear power plants.

5. Malaysia’s economy is expected to maintain its expected 4.8 percent growth this year, despite a potential global economic slowdown.

6. Orang Asli activists are appalled by a plan to degazette the Kuala Langat (Utara) Forest Reserve for development.

7. A 31-year old Malaysian who recently worked in Macau, China, has become the 18th case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Malaysia, while local transmissions of the virus were reported in the French Alps.

8. Artist Ahmad Fuad Osman has accused the National Art Gallery of censoring his life’s work and urged it to close an exhibition featuring him, but the gallery said it is within its right to remove the four paintings.

9. A local band has apologised for its performance at Anugerah Juara Lagu that appeared to mock Najib Abdul Razak, Rosmah Mansor and other personalities, while a mental illness NGO criticised singer Aina Abdul’s supposed depiction of suicide at the same awards ceremony.

10. CyberSecurity Malaysia clarified that an advisory from its Malaysia Computer Emergency Response Team regarding a cyberespionage campaign targeting government officials was merely a piece of advice regarding such a possibility.