Good morning, here’s what you need to know today.
Key Highlights
Jail sentence for Maria Chin
Judicial interference
Umno-Amanah tie-up?
Jail sentence for Maria Chin
The Federal Territory Syariah High Court sentenced Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah to seven days in prison for contempt of court.
This was after Maria criticised a separate contempt of court case against Emilia Hanafi in 2019, the ex-wife of Naza Group chairperson SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.
At the time, Emilia was also given a seven-day jail sentence for rescheduling visitation dates for their children to be with the father without the court's permission.
This prompted Maria to lament what she described as "discrimination against women" in the syariah legal system. Subsequently, SM Faisal also sought contempt proceedings against Maria.
The court allowed Maria's application to stay the jail sentence pending an appeal.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Judge rules the charge is defective. |
 | This is in relation to her RM7mil money laundering case. |
 | NGOs call for the abolition of the Sedition Act. |
Judicial interference
The MACC's move to investigate Court of Appeal judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali has caught the attention of other judges.
Shah Alam High Court judge Mohd Firuz Jaffril noted that allegations of judges on the take could land them a MACC investigation and referenced the claim of a judge having RM1 million in the account.
This was after the judge sternly reprimanded a defendant for trying to contact him about his ongoing case and threatened him with contempt of court proceedings.
The defendant was spared contempt action after he apologised to the judge for attempting to interfere in the case.
The investigation against Nazlan, based on a blog post alleging he had unexplained wealth, has courted criticism from the Malaysian Bar which described it as unconstitutional.
DAP lawyer Syahredzan Johan said the MACC is casting aspersion on Nazlan, who convicted former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak for corruption.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | This is over what is claimed is MACC’s double standards. |
 | This is to file his SRC appeal petition. |
 | Defence argues courts have erred. |
Umno-Amanah tie-up?
A meeting between Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and the Kelantan Amanah leadership sparked speculation of a possible tie-up between Umno and Amanah at the state level.
The discussion was intended to explore cooperation to unseat the PAS-led government in the state.
Umno has been the opposition in Kelantan since 1990.
However, whether a deal can materialise remains to be seen as BN and Pakatan Harapan have an uneasy relationship at the federal level.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | Doctor says betrayals by MPs motivated him. |
 | Lack of transparency 'simply outrageous'. |
 | He says they have feedback from all quarters. |
A daily glance at Covid-19
2,478 new cases yesterday (April 25) bring the cumulative infections to 4,433,551.
Eight new fatalities put the death toll at 35,507.
New cases by states
Selangor (1,127)
Kuala Lumpur (356)
Negeri Sembilan (195)
Penang (165)
Kedah (113)
Johor (112)
Perak (101)
Malacca (57)
Sarawak (57)
Sabah (48)
Terengganu (41)
Pahang (40)
Kelantan (27)
Putrajaya (22)
Perlis (11)
Labuan (6)
What else is happening?
Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, an intellectual-challenged Malaysian on death row in Singapore for drug trafficking, is set to be executed tomorrow (April 27). His mother has filed a last legal challenge to stop the execution which will be heard today.
Several parts of Kuala Lumpur were again hit by flash floods yesterday, stranding several cars.
The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) called for an independent probe into a riot at the Sungai Bakap detention centre near the Penang-Kedah border that saw the escape of over 500 refugees who have been detained for two years. Cops are still hunting for 61 escapees.
HIGHLIGHTS
 | It indicates Malaysia's response to the pandemic was effective. |
 | Ayob Khan says she is an officer from Bukit Aman. |
 | MP says it’s needed due to M'sia's reputation for corruption. |
What are people saying?
 | By Akhbar Satar |
 | By Dennis Ignatius |
 | By Francis Paul Siah |