Sabah assembly dissolved, and 9 news you may have missed

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

1. The Sabah state assembly has been dissolved just as Sungai Sibuga state assemblyperson showed proof that he has sufficient support to command a simple majority in the house, paving way for fresh elections in the state.

2. Several analysts say a state election is the best way to resolve the political crisis in the state, but electoral reform group Bersih warned that this won’t put an end to the problem of party hopping.

3. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party has decided against joining the Perikatan Nasional government but will remain a part of the PN-led administration. Muafakat Nasional co-secretary Annuar Musa said it has officially invited Bersatu to join the pact between Umno and PAS.

4. Zahid’s announcement does not affect the status quo, and there are several ways Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin could defuse a potential crisis with Umno, according to analysts.

5. Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has filed an appeal against his conviction and sentencing in relation to the SRC International case. Umno and BN said it would pay close attention to the case to prevent meddling.

6. Malaysia and Singapore have finally inked a much-delayed deal to build the Rapid Transit System across the Singapore Straits, but Bukit Batu assemblyperson Jimmy Puah questioned why the cost as supposedly increased by RM540 million.

7. Embattled glove maker Top Glove has insisted it maintains “strict labour governance” and has appealed against US Customs and Border Protection detention order against the importation of its products.

8. Tras assemblyperson Chow Yu Hui has filed a lawsuit challenging the Pahang government’s directive to require signages to have Jawi text.

9. Amnesty International criticised the government’s plans to deport Bangladeshi migrant worker Md Rayhan Kabir and urged the government not to do so.

10. As Muslims prepared for today’s Aidiladha celebrations, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reminded Malaysians of the shared social responsibility to prevent the spread of Covid-19.