Sulu-Petronas debate blocked
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Key Highlights
Sulu-Petronas debate blocked
Contradictory foresty law
Umno still on tenterhooks
Sulu-Petronas debate blocked
Attempts to debate the seizure of Petronas assets by the Sulu sultanate's purported heirs were blocked in the Dewan Rakyat.
This led to a flare-up that resulted in Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis getting suspended for two days.
Parliament Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun argued that debating the matter would violate a sub judice rule preventing matters currently in court from being debated by MPs.
Petronas's legal fight against the Sulu heirs is currently being heard at courts in Europe.
But not to worry, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob assured, the government would do all it can to protect the country’s assets from the Sulu heirs.
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Contradictory foresty law
The Dewan Rakyat passed amendments to the National Forestry Act that aim to give permanent forest reserves (PFRs) better protection.
This includes requiring state governments to conduct public inquiries before they can degazette PFRs.
However, a clause that ensures degazetted PFRs are replaced by another forest of equal size elsewhere, may end up having a negative ecological impact.
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Umno still on tenterhooks
The ROS was supposed to give its decision on Umno's bid to postpone party polls on Saturday, July 16.
Four days later and there has still been no answer.
Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party has provided additional documents, as requested by the ROS, and will give the registrar another week or two to respond.
The ROS decision is important. If it approves Umno's bid, embattled party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi gets to extend his control of Umno until after the next general election.
If the ROS rejects the bid, Umno will have to hold party polls, opening up an opportunity for rebels in the party to oust Zahid.
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Views that matter
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What else is happening?
The Dewan Rakyat will continue debating - and will likely pass - the long-awaited anti-sexual harassment bill today.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh warned that the law must not be used to police how victims dress.The Dewan Rakyat has passed a bill that would allow convicts to do community service, instead of serving jail time, in an effort to transition to rehabilitative justice.
The revised version of the anti-hopping bill protects MPs who rebel against their party from losing their seats.
Kedah has increased the marriage age for Muslim girls to 18. Those younger can get married if they have permission from a syariah court.
After successfully crowdfunding bail, the woman charged for insulting Islam over her "standup comedy" performance was arrested by Jawi officers, right after she was released from police custody.
Three Malaysian-born boys - who have a Malaysian-born mother - are in danger of being deported by the Immigration Department while the family anxiously waits for a court date to save them.
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