Good morning. Here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

  • Lazy Malay dilemma

  • Sexual harassment quagmire

  • MACC grilled




Lazy Malay dilemma

Comedian Rizal Van Gayzel is expected to be charged in court today.

The crime? Allegedly for telling a joke about lazy Malays.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called the Malays lazy, repeatedly over many years, without facing any legal repercussions.

The upcoming charge against Rizal comes after some of his critics made an effort to send his family death threats.

HIGHLIGHTS

Shocked by Bon Odori, group calls for 'Malay Civilisation Day'
How minorities are underrepresented in the civil service
Cuepacs: Seputeh MP never did anything on 'ethnic imbalance' while in govt




Sexual harassment quagmire

The anti-sexual harassment law has passed its first legislative hurdle after being approved by the Dewan Rakyat.

Once in effect, victims can lodge complaints to a tribunal, which can order harassers to pay compensation and apologise publicly.

However, the law's broad definition of sexual harassment has opened up the potential for it to be abused, among other concerns.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dressing provocatively can be sexual harassment if targeted - minister
Yet another alleged case of period spot check
Pahang exco's child sex jokes resurface as Kedah raises the marriage age




MACC grilled

The tables have turned on the MACC as lawyers for Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman grilled the graft buster in court.

Among others, the lawyers questioned why the MACC did not question Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin for allegedly taking out money from the party's accounts without permission.

The Muar MP, meanwhile, was charged with, allegedly, doing the same thing.

A recording played in court also appeared to have an MACC officer ask why Syed Saddiq did not abide by requests to sign an SD to support Muhyiddin.

HIGHLIGHTS

'MACC intentionally delayed prosecuting Syed Saddiq to pressure him'
Syed Saddiq trial: Court rules public can comment within boundaries
Court says nay to Queen’s Counsel for Najib’s SRC appeal



Views that matter

Zuraida, here’s an easy answer to oil palm labour woes
By P Gunasegaram
Kit Siang helps Najib launder his reputation
By S Thayaparan
I will never launder Najib’s reputation
By Lim Kit Siang



What else is happening?


  • The government will be giving MPs a closed-door briefing on the Sulu seizure of Petronas assets - at a hotel.

    Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Harun had said that debating it in Parliament would give away the government's "element of surprise".

  • Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said and Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah are leading a bipartisan caucus to explore parliamentary reforms.

  • The government successfully nullified a vote it lost in March to extend the detention without trial provision under Sosma.

    The government will retable the extension bill next week.



HIGHLIGHTS

Dr M: Anwar losing popularity and Rafizi knows it
 ‘Turun’ protest against price hike in KL on Saturday
Saifuddin retained as PKR sec-gen, Nurul Izzah appointed VP