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

'Hope Fund' set up

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that the government is setting up a 'Hope Fund' to enable Malaysians to contribute towards settling the country's debt.

Mahathir also confirmed that the MRT3 project, which is estimated to cost between RM40 billion and RM50 billion, has been scrapped.

The prime minister said the previous BN administration's BR1M scheme for low-income earners would be continued, but under a different name.

The same will apply for the Permata programme – the brainchild of the former prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor – which will now be placed under the Education Ministry.

Mahathir’s political comeback may be immortalised in a Bollywood movie, courtesy of Indian producer and director Raman Kumar.

RM40m to air World Cup

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that the cabinet has fixed a ceiling price of RM40 million to air 41 out of the 64 World Cup 2018 matches on RTM1.

Gobind said the 41 matches – of which 27 will be shown live and 14 delayed – will be aired for free, with the source of the funding to be revealed tomorrow.

Former minister Rais Yatim asked Gobind to explain where the RM40 million would come from, saying that it would fly in the face of the current austerity drive if the government was paying for it.

Earlier, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang dubbed the telecast idea "unbelievable" and said that it may be why the government felt the need to set up the Hope Fund.

Meanwhile, MCA deputy publicity chief Chai Kim Sen asked Mahathir to clarify if the cancellation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail was approved by the cabinet.

Other Kinibites

Selangor police said they have intensified their hunt for Jamal Md Yunos and will apply for an arrest warrant, after the Umno man’s no-show at the Ampang Jaya police headquarters yesterday.

Former finance minister II Johari Abdul Ghani said “ arrogant” BN lost the election because it assumed that Malaysians would forever be indebted to it and keep it in power.

Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, said he wants to settle down in Australia, as he would be “jailed and killed” if he came back to Malaysia.

Police recorded a statement from former PM Najib Abdul Razak regarding his claim that some personal belongings were seized during the recent raids on properties linked to him.

Raj’s Banana Leaf Restaurant in Bangsar has been ordered to close immediately after a viral video clip allegedly showed its workers washing dishes in a puddle of murky water.

Looking ahead

Education Minister Maszlee Malik will present university award letters to SPM top scorers at the Higher Education Ministry building in Putrajaya.

Gobind will visit the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation in Cyberjaya.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will attend a programme at Kajang Prison.