Good morning, here's what happened over the weekend.


Key Highlights

  • RM10k fine fiasco

  • Losing 15 MPs

  • Party AGMs



RM10k fine fiasco

Putrajaya did not appear to have thought through its decision to hike the fine for MCO violations from RM1,000 to RM10,000.

After initial confusion where all offenders were slapped with the maximum fine by default, there are now complaints that there isn’t a proper mechanism to appeal for reduction.

A minister said the cabinet discussed the problem last week and a solution will be announced later today.

The hefty fine was intended for repeat offenders but the poor implementation turned the issue into a political lightning rod.

There have been horror stories on social media about barbers and beggars getting fined RM10,000, the latter which cops clarified were arrests instead of fines.


HIGHLIGHTS

DAP assembles legal teams to handle RM10k fines
They will offer free legal aid.
330 individuals fined RM10,000
'It's not for Putrajaya to collect money'
Opposition MPs ask if PM violated MCO
This over a welcome event after his Middle East trip.

  



Losing 15 MPs

The shocker over the weekend was Hulu Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar’s defection from PKR to support Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Xavier’s colleague claimed he was pressured by a potential MACC probe. His associate was arrested on Feb 16 over a development project in Perak.

Azmin Ali, an ex-PKR leader who engineered the exodus to Bersatu, disputed the claim. He also hinted at more defections.

Xavier was part of Azmin’s camp but did not defect during the initial exodus last year. But his recent departure put the spotlight on other PKR leaders previously in Azmin’s camp.

They include PKR vice-president Tian Chua and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari. Both spoke out against the defection.

To date, PKR has lost a total of 15 MPs to defections.


HIGHLIGHTS

Anwar will convince 'stubborn' Rafizi and Nurul
He wants them to return to active politics.
Minister: 7 or 8 more to defect
'Recent defections will encourage them'.
DAP MPs will not be cowed - Guan Eng
'Not easy for DAP reps being enticed'

 



Party AGMs

Gerakan and Perak DAP held their annual party gatherings over the weekend.

In the wilderness after qutting BN, Gerakan found its fortunes improved after joining PN, with a recorded message from the prime minister at its annual general assembly (AGM).

Gerakan positioned itself as the party representing non-Malay interests in PN, something that it could not confidently claim while in BN due to MCA and MIC acting as competitors.

Meanwhile, the Perak DAP convention saw an election for its state leadership but was marred by claims of phantom voters.

Party election officials denied the claim. The incumbent Nga Kor Ming-Ngeh Koo Ham faction won a clean sweep.



HIGHLIGHTS

Hadi unfazed by 'political prostitute' label
Umno's Tengku Razaleigh labelled PAS as such.
Najib calls out Gerakan for 'fake news'
Gerakan displayed a doctored image at its AGM.
Gerakan boss sorry for 'fake news'
He says that's why anti-fake news law needed.

 


A daily glance at Covid-19

  • 1,354 new cases and 4 deaths yesterday (March 14). New infections under 2,000 for nine consecutive days.

  • Active cases declined for 18 consecutive days from 30,677 on Feb 24 to 16,279 yesterday. Less pressure on hospital capacity.

  • Infectivity rate at 0.87, meaning for every 100 patients, they infect 87 others. Infectivity rate must be under 1.0 to prevent exponential growth.

  •  infectivity rate fell below 1.0 on Feb 5 and is hovering in 0.8 range since March 2.

  • For trends on daily cases, individuals tested, hospital bed capacity and more, follow our Covid-19 tracker.


What else is happening?

  • Umno and Warisan pushed the Election Commission to break its silence on the progress of lowering the voting age to 18.

  • The Pahang government is mulling to establish a rare earth mine the size of 924 football fields near Orang Asli villages in the Jelai forest.

  • The Malaysian bar elected AG Kalidas as its new leader, who pledged to lead various efforts on fundamental freedoms, including challenging the emergency proclamation.

  • Muhammad Nizam Alias confirmed he was axed as the Prasarana Malaysia Bhd CEO amid clashes with chairperson Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who is also Umno's Pasir Salak MP.

  • The opposition launched a campaign to petition the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to end the emergency proclamation.


HIGHLIGHTS

'End emergency' panel has no power - minister
The committee was formed by the opposition.
Saifuddin: We will differentiate criticism and fake news
'Anti-fake news ordinance won't be used on critics'.
Zaid: 'Allah' word should be solved through consensus
He says it's a delicate issue.

 


What are people saying?

Are motor vehicle insurers profiteering?
By Raman Letchumanan
Close chapter on 'Allah' saga, focus on policies
By Upko
Is ‘fake news’ ordinance really about misinformation?
By Ding Jo-Ann & Jac Kee



CARTOON KINI