Umno splits ahead of budget vote and other news you may have missed

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

1. The split in Umno is coming to the fore ahead of the critical Budget 2021 vote with two Umno leaders separately attacking the BN secretary-general, Annuar Musa, who is seen to be close to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

2. The first budget vote is expected to take place on Thursday and Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has already declared he will snub the debate and questioned the legitimacy of Muhyiddin's government.

3. The budget vote may force Umno MPs to finally take sides amid months of debate over whether the party should remain in the Perikatan Nasional government.

4. Meanwhile, the government is pushing to promote Budget 2021 among the public, deploying vehicles with loudhailers to announce about the benefits of the fiscal plan.

5. Umno is not the only one facing internal upheaval, with Amanah also split over the leadership apparent friendliness to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This led to some leaders shifting to PKR with a few more leaning towards a switch.

6. NGO Patriot criticised deputy minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary's suggestion that a ban on the sale of liquor by convenience stores and grocery shops could be expanded nationwide.

7. However, Federal Territories MIC said it is supportive of the ban in Kuala Lumpur as the easy access to alcohol is causing social ills.

8. On the Covid-19 front, the country recorded 1,096 new cases, with more than half coming from Selangor. The bulk of cases in Selangor was linked to the Teratai cluster which is related to Top Glove's factory in Meru, Klang.

9. The Malaysian Medical Association said private healthcare services are being underutilised in the battle against Covid-19. At present, only public hospitals handle Covid-19 cases.

10. Amid the pandemic, the country saw sporadic flooding in various parts of the country and hundreds of people have been evacuated.

11. A light aircraft landed on the North-South Expressway after facing technical difficulties. Both the pilot and co-pilot were unhurt.

12. Malaysian Chong Keat Aun bagged the best new director prize at the prestigious 57th Golden Horse Awards.