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

Mat Taib move fuels defection talks

Najib Abdul Razak's anti-climatic announcement that former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib was rejoining Umno led to speculation that the prime minister was supposed to announce defections of Selangor assemblypersons, which failed to materialise.

Several Selangor executive councillors denied the speculation, stating that it was aimed at distracting from the prime minister's announcement, which had turned into a joke.

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz is unsure about what Muhammad, better known as Mat Taib, could contribute to Umno.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad took the stand at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the foreign exchange scandal for the first time and wasted no time in attacking the current government, accusing it of trying to distract from the 1MDB scandal.

Mahathir also targeted Najib during the hearing, declaring that the prime minister too should appear before the RCI.

Also testifying was former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, who denied knowledge about Bank Negara's forex trading, adding that the onus was for the central bank to inform him.

Meanwhile, jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who had previously testified at the RCI, said he was troubled by the conduct of RCI chairperson Mohd Sidek Hassan and called for former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to appear as a witness as well.

Worries over PM's pledge on Boeing purchases

The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) expressed concern over an apparent political decision for Malaysia Airlines to purchase Boeing aircraft following the prime minister's visit to the US.

Nazri defended the purchases, stating that they were necessary for the country's tourism industry.

Deputy Finance Minister Othman Aziz also defended Najib's pledge for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to invest up to US$4 billion in US infrastructure projects, stressing that the fund should seize the opportunity for good returns.

Mahathir in an interview with Malaysiakini explained his insistence in refusing to apologise for his alleged past transgressions.

Amanah vice-president Husam Musa, who previously contested the parliamentary seat of Putrajaya, believes Mahathir can pull off what he could not by winning the administrative capital.

Nazri Aziz defied Mahathir to take him on in his Padang Rengas seat in Perak, and forget about contesting in Putrajaya or even Langkawi.

PAS drains the beer fest

The Better Beer Festival 2017 was cancelled following complaints by PAS, with organisers claiming that approval was denied on grounds of "political sensitivity".

PAS hailed the cancellation and said the recent event was a result of previous festivals being allowed to proceed.

Several non-Muslim Pakatan Harapan MPs objected to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) decision to block the event but Amanah's Kota Raja MP Siti Mariah Mahmud said there should also be health considerations.

MCA religious harmony bureau chief Ti Lian Ker said people should vote for MCA to maintain BN's brand of moderation.

Other Kinibites

The teens suspected for the fire at the tahfiz school in Kuala Lumpur may be charged for murder, but they will likely be spared the death penalty as they are underaged, attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali announced.

Apandi also said he had yet to receive the MACC's investigation papers on SRC International.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) will be roped in to be part of a task force to improve safety at religious schools.

MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun denied knowledge of a plot of land allegedly sold to Selangor MCA at below market price when she was the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.

Putrajaya is planning to amend the Goods and Services Tax Act to tax online shopping, the Customs Department said.

Looking ahead

The RCI into the forex scandal continues at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.Kini Roundup