New Kedah gov’t likely tomorrow, and 9 news from yesterday

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

1. Kedah will likely see a new Perikatan Nasional-led government tomorrow, according to sources, with PAS’ Jenari assemblyperson Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor replacing Mukhriz Mahathir as menteri besar. The new state cabinet members will be sworn in on Sunday.

2. Faced with a prospect of being deposed for a second time, analysts are divided on whether this would mark the end of Mukhriz’s political career.

3. Despite being at odds over Bersatu’s future direction, Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman wrote a heartfelt birthday message for party president Muhyiddin Yassin recalling the ‘fatherly’ advice given by the latter.

 4. The one-day parliamentary sitting on Monday is set to be a costly affair, particularly for Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan MPs who would have to fly in days in advance and get tested just to hear the royal address. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has urged for the address to be televised from Istana Negara instead.

5. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed bewilderment and concern over the plea bargain for Riza Abdul Aziz’s money laundering charge, asking whether this means “thieves” could be let off the hook in the future if they return the money they stole.

6. The Chini by-election has been set on July 4, with nomination set for June 20 and early voting on June 30.

7. Razor wire barricades have been erected around Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur, but Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this is to reinforce testing and quarantine of foreigners in the area and it is not under the enhanced movement control order.

8. The number of people reported having been tested for Covid-19 nearly doubled overnight to 424,306 after the Health Ministry set up a centralised database to integrate information from various sources.

9. Friday prayers and congregational prayers have resumed for the first time in two months in some states, but Ismail Sabri Yaakob warned that the policy could be reversed if precautions against Covid-19 are not observed.

10. The price of petrol has increased for the first time in nearly a month – both RON95 and RON97 are up by six sen.