KINI ROUNDUP | Key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Rocky start for Harapan

At least six Pakatan Harapan nominees failed to become candidates for the 14th general election due to disqualification or technical difficulties.

The most high profile among them was PKR vice president Tian Chua who was disqualified due to a RM2,000 fine imposed against him by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Both PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali condemned the disqualification, claiming it to be underhanded tactics against Pakatan Harapan.

Election Commission (EC) chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah said those disqualified can still appeal the decision at the courts.

Tian Chua vowed to ensure BN's defeat in Batu despite his disqualification.

There were also several close shaves where candidates from both sides of the political divide nearly did not qualify for nomination due to blunders and mistakes.

One was PKR's Wangsa Maju candidate Tan Yee Kew, who forgot to bring her MyKad and had to get someone to rush the identity card to her from Subang Jaya.

Cops blamed for failed PKR Rantau nomination

BN's Rantau candidate Mohamad Hasan, who is also caretaker Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, won the state seat by default after PKR's S Streram could not submit his nomination papers.

Police denied blocking Streram from submitting his nomination papers, claiming that it was merely acting on the Election Commission's instruction.

Streram disputed this and claimed cops had threatened to handcuff him.

Police arrested seven drone operators for flying drones in restricted areas during nomination day.

The EC advised voters not to submit their postal votes at the last minute.

Puad claims royal advice not to take on BN

Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who had indicated he may contest as an independent in Batu Pahat after not being nominated by BN, claimed he reconsidered after receiving advice from the Johor Sultan.

Puad instead chose to attend his daughter's wedding.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said he was thankful for Puad's decision.

PAS sacked its member Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz after he contested in the state seat of Chempaka under Pakatan Harapan.

Amanah will go up against Warisan in the state seats of Batu Sapi and Merotai after being left out of seat negotiations.

Other Kini bites

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia denied Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's private jet was sabotaged, claiming that it merely faced a "technical fault".

The latest edition of Calonkini features Umno's Mohammad Khairi A Malik who comes from a line of prominent political secretaries in Johor.

Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she was staying out of the general election for the second time in a row to focus on helping BN win.

PKR vice president Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said he was asked to contest a state seat in Malacca at the 11th hour to ensure there are options for chief minister candidates if Harapan wins.

The US Department of Justice formally filed a mutual legal assistance request to Indonesia over the superyacht Equanimity which it believes was acquired using misappropriated 1MDB funds.

Looking ahead

Bersih will hold a press conference on issues during nomination day.

The second day of campaigning for the 14th general election continues.