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Najib weighs in on Harapan's budget; Nazri explains closing of Jho Low's case
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KINI ROUNDUP | Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Najib weighs in on Harapan's budget

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak branded Pakatan Harapan's alternative budget as "populist".

BN Strategic Communications deputy director Eric See-To noted that some items in Harapan's alternative budget were similar to BN's policies, and accused the opposition of making a U-turn after criticising the government.

Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen, who led the Harapan alternative budget committee, defended the alternative budget and panned what he described as "lazy vilification" of the document.

Former minister Zainuddin Maidin penned a controversial book titled "Pergi Mampuslah Umno" (Go to Hell Umno).

The book riled up Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii who accused Zainuddin of ranting and labelling him a failed minister.

Nazri explains closing of Jho Low's case

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said Malaysia can only act against Penang businessperson Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, if he had committed an offence locally.

Government lawyers insist that Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali does not have locus standi to demand the declassification of the auditor-general's report on 1MDB.

Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua questioned if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was proud about the 18 percent slide in the ringgit after the latter boosted about the country's economic achievements.

1MDB in a statement said Pua should stop hoodwinking the public and stated that attempts to sabotage the country's economy had failed.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng were eligible to contest in the party's re-election amid calls for them to abstain.

MIC president S Subramaniam said Najib has the final say on which BN party will contest in Cameron Highlands after MyPPP lay claim to the seat.

Putrajaya okays new Chinese schools

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid announced that the government has approved the creation of 10 new Chinese schools.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Wee Ka Siong highlighted MCA and Gerakan's role in the announcement, pointing out that this has put to rest the myth that Putrajaya would never increase the number of Chinese schools.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak told the Dewan Rakyat that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) instruction for Lowyat.net to remove a news article about a major data breach in the country was due to miscommunication and the article had since been restored.

He also revealed that MCMC had investigated 67 instances of "fake news" since January 2016.

Other Kini bites

In the final part of a special report on Parti Warisan Sabah, Malaysiakini takes a look at the party's chief Shafie Apdal's enduring support in Semporna.

Bersih questioned if BN is privy to the outcome of the redelineation exercise after it launched its election machinery based on new electoral boundaries despite ongoing disputes.

A former administrative assistant with the Selangor Menteri Besar's office was remanded for three days to facilitate MACC's investigation into a graft case.

Nazri defended Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng against calls for him a resign over a landslide in Tanjung Bungah, pointing out that no leaders resigned during the Highland Towers landslide in 1993.

The Malaysian Bar is seeking the removal of the chief justice and Court of Appeal president on grounds that the extension of their appointment beyond the age of 66 and six months is unconstitutional.

Looking ahead

Batu MP Tian Chua will be released from Kajang prison after serving a one-month sentence for refusing a police order to leave the restricted Police Training Centre (Pulapol) area following the Bersih 3 rally in 2012.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will table Budget 2018 in Parliament at 3.30pm, the last before the 14th general election.

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