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

MACC chief takes on minister

MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad publicly rebuked Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low, accusing him of trying to control the commission.

Low denied this, stating that the proposed National Integrity and Management Department (JITN) which will oversee several enforcement agencies including the MACC was meant to help with transformation instead of controlling them.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang agreed that the MACC should not come under the JITN but said the commission should be placed under a parliamentary committee led by the opposition in the interest of independence and professionalism.

On a separate matter, Low said MACC's offer to vet election candidates was not a case of political meddling.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who is from DAP, said the MACC lacked moral authority to vet election candidates due to failure in acting on the multi-billion ringgit 1MDB scandal.

Dzulkifli said the vetting was voluntary but reminded the DAP that people were watching them.

Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem pledged that his ministry will give full cooperation to the MACC into the alleged embezzlement of RM40 million, which amongst others, involved his aide.

The minister's aide was remanded for six days to facilitate investigation.

Irwan denies kickbacks in Uber investment

Treasuer-general Irwan Serigar denied reports of kickbacks from Uber in the form of corporate donations to the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (Magic) in exchange for the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) investing US$30 million in the e-hailing company.

Irwan, during a talk, also said that Malaysians who are poor were in such a position due to their own doing, pointing out how migrants have been able to thrive in the country.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak boasted that he was responsible in getting durians in the country exported to China.

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian criticised the use of military planes to ferry village chiefs from the state to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Putrajaya.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng appointed preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin as his information officer.

Turkish author recounts Jawi detention

Renown Turkish author and journalist Mustafa Akyol recounted his detention by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), describing it as a case of "bigots acting in God's name".

Selangor Umno information chief Zain Isma said Azmin as a Muslim should stop beer festivals in the state.

A Sinar Harian survey found a majority of voters favoured Azmin staying on as menteri besar with an approval rating of 55 percent.

Amidst debate over a Muslim-only laundrette, lawyer Syahredzan Johan also highlighted the issue of discrimination in renting properties with such advertisement requiring renters to be of a specific race.

Two teens accused of perpetrating the deadly tahfiz school fire in Kuala Lumpur were charged with 23 counts of murder.

Another tahfiz school caught fire in Seremban with three suffering injuries from the incident.

Other Kini bites

Universiti Malaya campus election in Kuala Lumpur saw the status quo maintained with Pro-Aspirasi coming out on top.

Malaysia imposed a travel ban on its citizens from going to North Korea amid mounting tensions from the latter's nuclear tests.

Bersih rebutted the Election Commission's claim that a constitutional amended was needed to allow East Malaysians to vote as absentee voters.

PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli said he will lodge a disciplinary complaint against Rizal Mansor, an aide to the prime minister's wife, for allegedly being involved in politics.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low said the political financing reform was "difficult" but hopes the law can be tabled in Parliament next year.

Looking ahead

The Court of Appeal will hear PKR vice president Tian Chua's final appeal for refusing a police order.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court will decide on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

DRB-Hicom and Zhejiang Geely are holding a joint-press conference in Shah Alam.