Muhyiddin seeks Dr M's endorsement, and 9 news from yesterday

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

1. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin maintains that his new government has majority support and wants former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's endorsement.

2. Mahathir claims he lost to Muhyiddin in forming the new government as Muhyiddin had allegedly offered his supporters "sweet" positions in the government.

3. Muhyiddin said even though there are four senior ministers instead of a deputy prime minister, International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali will chair the cabinet meeting in his absence.

4. Umno's Pengerang MP Azalina Othman criticised the new cabinet's representation, in an apparent reference to Bersatu's dominance in the government.

5. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia climbed to 149, an increase of 20 cases.

6. The Health Ministry called on some 10,000 people who attended a mosque gathering to report themselves at the nearest district Health Department after one of the participants was confirmed with Covid-19.

7. The government announced a blanket ban on Italians, South Koreans and Iranians from entering the country amid the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic.

8. Covid-19 infections have also hit several government agencies, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

9. The urine test of Bersatu's Dengkil assemblyperson Adhif Syan Abdullah, who was arrested during a drug raid, has returned negative.

10. Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said his priority will be to mend ties with Saudi Arabia.