Search for Perak MB continues and other news you may have missed

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

1. Umno decided to nominate its Kota Tampan assemblyperson Saarani Mohamad (photo, above) as the new Perak menteri besar but has yet to submit his name to the state palace as it still needs to negotiate with a suitable partner to form the new government.

2. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his party is open to working with all parties, including the possibility of forming a new coalition instead of the previous Perikatan Nasional.

3. Pakatan Harapan leaders have also indicated their willingness to cooperate with Umno in forming the Perak government.

4. However, some have rebelled against the overtures by Umno and Harapan, with DAP's Pokok Assam Leow Thye Yih vowing never to back a Perak menteri besar candidate from Umno.

5. Meanwhile, Umno's Ketereh MP Annuar Musa lamented that some leaders appear confused in differentiating friends from enemies.

6. Despite the pushback, similar overtures between Umno and Harapan were seen in Johor with Umno's state menteri besar, Hasni Mohammad, hailing Harapan as a "strategic partner".

7. Johor Harapan also revealed that it had previously met with Hasni who agreed to institute proposed democratic reforms.

8. Former Bersatu supreme council member A Kadir Jasin said he had received information about a possible tie-up between Umno and DAP and said it could become a reality.

9. Meanwhile, embattled Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, defended his controversial plan to exploit rare earth elements in his state, maintaining that it is not a cover for logging activities.

10. He was also criticised by religious groups for greenlighting the demolition of a Hindu temple without informing the federal government. An Umno leader also criticised him for describing his Indian critics as "drunk on toddy".

11. On the Covid-19 front, the country recorded 1,335 new cases with Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Perak all recording more than 100 new infections.

12. Covid-19 cases in Bentong, Pahang have also prompted the local council to order more than 60 businesses to close.

13. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry which is purchasing Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer Inc said it will seek information from the pharmaceutical company following reports that production will be cut.

14. The parody Twitter account "Bermana TV" was taken down following a complaint from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).