Editor’s Note: Several corrections have been made to this edition of the Kini Morning Brief. We apologise for the errors.
Good morning. Here's what you should know today.
Key Highlights
Pak Lah passes away
Durian farmers face royal pressure
CJ wants PM out of judicial appointments
Pak Lah passes away
The country's fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi passed away on Monday.
He was 85.
Abdullah had succeeded Dr Mahathir Mohamad in late 2003, marking what was supposed to be a new era in Malaysian politics.
In the 2004 general election, he led BN to win an overwhelming majority, bagging 90 percent of seats.
However, the euphoria of his term was short-lived, and BN's electoral setback in 2008 caused many in Umno to turn on him.
This eventually led to his retirement as prime minister and from active politics the next year.
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Durian farmers face royal pressure
Durian farmers in Raub are facing mounting pressure in their battle against the Pahang state government.
The Pahang government is attempting to reclaim unlicensed durian farms on a large scale through a joint venture between the state statutory body Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP) and a royalty-linked private company Royal Pahang Durian Resources.
On Sunday, the farmers were dealt another blow after state ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah condemned encroachment on state land - though not directly aimed at the farmers.
The farmers had wanted to petition Sultan Abdullah to save their plantations, which they claim to have cultivated for decades.
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CJ wants PM out of judicial appointments
Outgoing Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat wants the prime minister - as in the position not the individual in said position - to no longer be involved in judicial appointments.
This, according to her, "would reinforce the impartiality of the selection process" and "remain free from any perception of political influence".
The government has committed to reform judicial appointments.
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