What will the fate of Malaysia Airlines be?
Several bids have come in for Malaysia Airlines Bhd and the government and Khazanah Nasional Bhd are expected to have this as the next big decision to make. After all, the ailing national carrier did account for nearly half of Khazanah’s losses in 2018.
Meanwhile, two big Umno personalities were hauled to court to answer charges relating to “gifts” from Najib Razak, while the fallout from Pakatan’s Kimanis by-election loss and the power struggles within the coalition seem never-ending.
Did Dr M really call Pakatan a one-term government?
PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he never labelled Pakatan Harapan a one-term government? But are they, really? And if yes, is there time to change that?
In other news, the Youth and Sports Minister swears he didn’t attend no drug party, and India’s curbs on refined palm oil may just screw us. Big time.
What does BN’s win in Kimanis mean?
It’s yet another by-election win for Barisan Nasional. But does Kimanis actually signal that the former ruling coalition’s poised to return to Putrajaya?
Elsewhere in today’s newsletter, PKR veep Zuraida Kamaruddin is handed a show-cause letter over remarks made at a party gathering, and Ambiga Sreenevasan warns Pakatan Harapan to act on reforms or get ready to face street protests.
Of lies, theft and a ‘stupid’ government decision
PM Mahathir Mohamad has officially announced that highway concessionaire PLUS will not be sold. However, the juiciest part of this whole affair is the leader of another highway company calling the Khazanah MD a bald-faced liar, the company a thief, and the government stupid for not selling. Damn, son!
Elsewhere, Maddey’s first act as interim Education Minister seems to miss the most important point of providing free and nutritious breakfast for all schoolchildren, while a witness in the Najib Razak-Arul Kanda 1MDB audit report tampering trial sticks to her guns despite pressure from the defence.
Cheaper toll rates soon?
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says the Cabinet has reached a decision regarding PLUS Bhd but will only announce this at a later date. However, the word is apparently out … PLUS will not be sold, but motorists will likely have to pay less. We hope so, anyway.
Meanwhile, the Pakatan Harapan government has been given a less-than-stellar rating in terms of human rights; the Ponggal issue is still being debated; and, now even DAP members are calling for PM Mahathir Mohamad to relinquish power.
Ponggal gaffe raises ire of Indians
Jakim’s gone and made a boo-boo by wrongly labelling Ponggal a religious festival. And the Education Ministry has compounded things by banning Muslim students from taking part in any celebrations of the festival. The combined brilliantness of both departments has, of course, irked (and that’s putting it mildly) Indians in Malaysia.
In other news, Anwar Ibrahim has dodged a bullet in the form of sexual misconduct allegations, and MACC chief commissioner Lat Koya has lodged a report on an alleged criminal plot against her.
Minimum wage goes up … minimally
Minimum wage is going up in February. However, questions abound as to whether the government is actually approaching the problem of low wages in the right manner.
Elsewhere in today’s newsletter, the cops want a word with Lat Koya, a state assemblyman is nabbed at a party, and folks worry that carriers of infectious diseases may be slipping into the country undetected.
G25 ruffles feathers with report on Islam
G25, that group of eminent ex-top Malay civil servants, has launched a report on the administration of Islam in the country. And now some folks want them investigated – or better yet, banned, for apparently attempting to destroy Islam.
In other news, the once and current PM has appointed himself Acting Education Minister, and election watchdog Bersih is pissed that its advice on playing fair in Kimanis has gone unheeded.
The sex tapes are real … sorta
We finally have confirmation: the sex vids allegedly featuring a Cabinet minister are real. But according to the Attorney-General, the quality is so bad it’s impossible to say who’s really involved.
Elsewhere in today’s news letter, the fallout from the MACC’s audio exposé continues, and an award-winning school principal is in the spotlight for allegedly sexually grooming a student.
Can I advise you something?
The Cabinet has come out to lambast anyone trying to undermine national unity by playing up racial and religious sentiment. This came in reaction to a letter from a lawyer who threatened a school over its Chinese New Year decorations. But why did this guy get the space to make such threats in the first place?
In other news, the MACC created a sensation by releasing audio clips allegedly proving a high-level conspiracy involving several people, including dear old Jibby Razak; Zuraida Kamaruddin has been likened to the Angel of Death (well, not outright); and, things are getting heated in the race for the Kimanis parliamentary seat.