Umno leaders push for Zahid to be included in cabinet, and 8 news from yesterday

KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Umno leaders nationwide pushed for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to be included in the new cabinet line-up led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin after the Umno president, who is facing corruption charges, said he was prepared to be left out.

Malacca Bersatu deputy chief Mohd Rafiq Naizamohidden appeared to back down by announcing that his party will support any candidate from Perikatan Nasional as the next Malacca chief minister. BN had earlier cut ties with Bersatu over a dispute on the post.

In Kedah, Muhyiddin is not expected to interfere in Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir's decision to maintain a Pakatan Harapan government so as not to further anger Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir snubbed Muhyiddin's request for a reconciliation meeting, stating that the prime minister should purge corrupt leaders in his new Perikatan Nasional coalition.

Mahathir revealed that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had sought the deputy prime minister's post if he (Mahathir) was successful in forming a new government.

Istana Negara refuted UK daily The Guardian's claim that the installation of a Perikatan Nasional government was a "royal coup".

Some 300 people took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with International Women's Day.

The father of deceased firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim expressed hope that the new attorney-general, Idrus Azhar, will ensure justice is served over his son's death during the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riots two years ago.

Covid-19 cases in Malaysia climbed to 99, with two requiring breathing aid and are in the intensive care unit.