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

Key Highlights

  • Najib's pardon bid

  • PAS' hall pass

  • UNHCR shut down bid




Najib's pardon bid

Najib Abdul Razak is trying to get out of jail via two methods - a judicial review or a royal pardon.

Lawyers whom Malaysiakini spoke to said it was not wrong to make both applications at the same time.

However, former attorney-general Tommy Thomas opined it was not legally possible for Najib to be pardoned at the moment.

This is as Najib has failed one criteria for consideration of a pardon - not having any other criminal cases.

Najib has four other criminal cases pending against him.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Country, judicial system will become laughing stock if Najib pardoned'
Tommy Thomas: You cannot hold the Federal Court to ransom
Cold showers for Najib in Kajang prison




PAS' hall pass

PAS has been quite open about the fact that it is engaging with Umno in the hope of cooperating in GE15.

However, PN chief Muhyiddin Yassin appeared to be in the dark on the matter when quizzed about it on Thursday.

At first, Muhyiddin said it would not augur well for PN if there were divergent opinions - especially as Umno has already decided not to work with Bersatu.

However, after a PN meeting, Muhyiddin appeared to indicate that all was forgiven after PAS explained its attempts to court Umno were unofficial and the party also affirmed its commitment to the coalition.

HIGHLIGHTS

Did a 2017 paper really find non-Malays to be prolific bribe-givers?
Author of study on race and bribes cautions against generalisations
MACC calls up all individuals named in UKSB ledger




UNHCR shut down bid

The government wants to shut down the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR).

The NSC has called the UN body disrespectful for granting refugee status to those who have fled to Malaysia, without referring to local authorities first.

The bid to shut down the UNHCR comes as the government implements its own Tracking Refugees Information System (Tris) - with the promise that those registered can get access to public healthcare, education and job opportunities.

The UNHCR itself is publicly taking the developments in stride and is working with the government on a framework to manage refugees.

HIGHLIGHTS

‘Inefficient’ Home Ministry placing refugee resettlement at risk – Santiago
Amnesty: M'sia insincere if UNHCR deemed 'foreign interference'
Cop, wife charged with trafficking Indonesian woman for forced labour



Views that matter

10 reasons why Harapan must spurn Muda
By P Gunasegaram
Why there is no saving Rosmah
By June HL Wong
Where’s everyone else’s safety net to be as ‘bodoh’ as they want?
By Alena Nadia



What else is happening?

  • The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by the government and police to dismiss a lawsuit by M Indira Gandhi over the authorities’ failure to recover her kidnapped daughter.

  • Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has threatened to sue critics over the degazettement of 406ha of the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve, prompting more criticism.

  • DAP chief Anthony Loke wants Pakatan Harapan to expedite talks on whether to let Muda join their ranks. PKR, however, may be an obstacle to such efforts.



HIGHLIGHTS

Najib responsible for transactions in his personal accounts - banker
Journalists: Jho Low used wife as front for bank accounts, yacht club
New route linking M’sia and Indonesia to be built in Malacca