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

‘Racist’ essays and scholarships

Umno information chief Annuar Musa increased his prize offer to RM50,000 for essays on whether DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang is a racist.

This was shortly after DAP leaders lodged a police report against Annuar for proposing the essay competition.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli reminded that Annuar was the pro-chancellor of Universiti Kuala Lumpur and that he would do better to offer the money as scholarships.

Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said he is worried the upcoming debate between his colleague Nazri Abdul Aziz and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad may negatively impact his party.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir said he can't wait over a separate challenge from his former special officer to debate on his wealth.

Two Penang DAP leaders released documents to what they claimed was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan allegedly abusing his power when he was urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister.

Travel ban lifted on top SRC man

The travel ban on Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, a key figure in the SRC International probe where RM42 million of its money was found in the PM’s bank account, has apparently been lifted.

Swiss-based Falcon Private Bank will undergo restructuring after suffering heavy losses from the 1MDB scandal.

Malaysia's inflation rate for February hit 4.5 percent, the highest in eight years.

Johor sultan and affordable homes

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar said Johoreans shouldn't lobby him as only the underprivileged will qualify for affordable housing, after more than 265,000 applications came in for the 2,000-plus RM100,000 units he had launched.

PAS' Pokok Sena MP said police should investigate who attempted to bribe the Johor sultan after the ruler claimed he was offered RM2 million for ‘Tan Sri’ title.

Johor police arrested a man in Kedah for allegedly insulting the Johor monarch.

Other Kinibites

Malaysiakini and Tempo investigated the exploitation of Indonesian workers in the third and final instalment of this special report.

BN's Tungku assemblyperson Mohd Suhaili Said passed away at age of 56. However, this Sabah state seat will remain vacant until the next general election.

The prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor said she was sincere in wanting to help children with the Permata programme.

The 19-year-old teen who killed a man by driving against traffic was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong questioned if the government had a hand in banning journalists from stationing themselves at the Parliament lobby, after the prime minister and deputy prime minister's aides attempted to convince journalists to accept the move.

Looking ahead

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar are expected to be at the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur for Police Day.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is to proceed with his ceramah in Padang Rengas, Perak after his planned debate with federal minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was postponed.