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

Minister alleges lawyers paid thugs

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that lawyers working for the developer that owns the contentious Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple land allegedly hired the group which accosted devotees on Monday morning.

Muhyiddin further questioned the source of the RM150,000 allegedly paid out to the men who invaded the Seafield temple.

The developer, One City Development Sdn Bhd, denied hiring "thugs", and said it only sent “personnel” to the temple grounds under police watch to provide support for the relocation.

Legal firm Skrine, which acts for the developer in proceedings related to the plot of land, denied that its lawyers were involved in the payout.

Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said that the lawyers in question had committed serious professional misconduct, and promised to take action against them.

Fire Dept rubbishes 'mowed down' claim

Fire and Rescue Department director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid produced the firefighter mistaken for another injured personnel, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kasim.

Earlier, the Seafield temple committee claimed that Adib was not beaten by a mob outside the temple on Tuesday, but was instead”‘mowed down” by a reversing fire engine.

In a separate video clip making its rounds, a group of men can be seen carrying an injured firefighter – purportedly Adib – to a pickup truck to be sent to the hospital.

Adib’s condition is reportedly improving after being moved to the National Heart Institute.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Bukit Aman has formed a special task force to assist the Selangor police in hunting down the rioters.

Other Kinibites

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the construction of places of worship will soon require prior approval from local authorities.

Mahathir also announced that former Umno turned independent Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali, along with four Umno senators, have joined Bersatu.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the state government will make an announcement on the settlement of issues related to the Seafield temple.

The Election Commission is appealing against the finding of the Seremban Election Court’s decision earlier this month, which called for a re-election for the Rantau state seat.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the coming Dec 8 rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) should not be linked to the Seafield temple riots.

Looking ahead

There will be a court case concerning the Seafield temple and developer One City Sdn Bhd in Shah Alam.

Fuzi will attend a forum on the IPCMC at the Police College in Cheras.

The Selangor MB will hold a press conference on the Seafield temple land tussle outcome.