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

Umno Youth takes on MOH over BM qualification waiver

Umno Youth leaders have criticised the Ministry of Health for waiving the requirement for SPM Bahasa Malaysia (BM) qualification for those hired on contract basis to undergo compulsory house officer training.

They argue it demeans the language as the official and national language, may lead to misdiagnosis due to poor communication and could exacerbate the glut in house officer training provided at teaching hospitals.

However, the Health Ministry says it has previously offered similar waivers to address staffing needs and was extending this waiver for house officers because not all attend national schools and have SPM certicificates to prove proficiency in BM.

Tuan Ibrahim: DOJ did what M'sian authorities failed

While some PAS leaders are complaining about foreign intervention in the 1MDB affair, the party's deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has acknowledged that the US Department of Justice's investigations on funds related to the firm was a result of the failure on this by Malaysian domestic institutions.

Tuan Ibrahim said repeated claims that nothing is amiss has eroded public confidence in local agencies, prompting the need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry inot 1MDB. He also urged all to accept the eventual verdict of the US courts.

While party information chief Nasrudin Hassan agrees on the RCI, he stressed that all investigations must be done locally because the US "cannot be trusted".

On related matter, former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan urged the Immigration Department to lift a travel ban against him so he can take a working holiday to Barbados, after 1MDB-lilnked individual Jho Low was reported to have been mulling buying a bank in that Carribean island.

Other Kinibites

Former prime minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed the government ticked off Malaysian students in the UK who went to see him, following his speech at Oxford University.

However, in his blog, he said he forgives all who wronged him, including PM Najib Abdul Razak, in the spirit of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he, too, is worried about how unprepared Pakatan Harapan is to face the 14th general election but is optimistic because an even more unprepared opposition pact had made major inroads in 2008 with the political tsunami.

Looking ahead

A group of tax drivers plans to hold a demonstration against the appointment of Mohd Isa Samad as Land Transport Commission (Spad) chairperson.

More Umno leaders are expected to speak out against the BM waiver for house officers.