Good morning. Hope you had a good long weekend.

Here's a recap to bring you up to speed on the news.

Key Highlights

  • 'Charity' begins at campaigning

  • Umno takes power tussle to ROS

  • Prices go up but don't come down




'Charity' begins at campaigning

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has deflected attacks on party leaders accused of allegedly handing out money to voters during the 15th general election.

Hadi said those caught handing out money were not candidates or their representatives, but rather "members of the public" who were giving out alms.

Hence, he said there was no violation of electoral law.

The alleged vote buying is the subject of several election petitions filed by Umno against PAS in Terengganu.

HIGHLIGHTS

Zahid: Charity if Hadi does it, corruption if others do it
Hamzah: Intention most crucial element in cash handouts to voters
PM: Giving ‘charity’ for votes is corruption




Umno takes power tussle to ROS

Umno members unhappy with the AGM decision not to open up the party president and deputy president posts for contest have taken the matter to the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

The duo who took the matter to the ROS contend that Umno's constitution requires the top two posts be contested.

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi, however, implied that the duo were former officers of Umno presidential hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan and the party's lawyers will meet with the ROS to defend the AGM's decision.

HIGHLIGHTS

Umno belongs to all members, not just leaders - KJ hits back at Puad
No contest for top 2 Umno posts: Let ROS decide its validity – Zahid
'Contest for positions other than top 2 to reform Umno'




Prices go up but don't come down

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has again repeated his argument that consumers must play a role in battling inflation, by not spending on overpriced goods.

This time his target was restaurants and eateries that don't lower their prices despite the cost of ingredients dropping.

Last month, he suggested consumers do the same when shopping for groceries to influence supply and demand.

HIGHLIGHTS

'Govt should reduce price of raw food materials, not call for restaurant boycott'
Ismail Sabri questions silence of past EPF withdrawal champions
RM15m allegation: 'Anwar shouldn’t be offended by legitimate criticism'



Views that matter

The gloves are off in Shafee-Zaid war of words
By R Nadeswaran
Sosma inconsistent with Malaysia Madani
By P Ramasamy
Religious extremism in Malaysia
By S Thayaparan



Other news that matter

  • Recognition for Sabah and Sarawak as regions instead of states will have to be deliberated by the Conference of Rulers first before the cabinet can discuss the matter.

  • Malaysia's borders will soon be under the sole jurisdiction of a single agency.

  • Putrajaya granted preliminary approval for an additional RM1 billion to upgrade border facilities at Sabah and Sarawak.

  • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended MCA’s Chinese New Year open house for the first time since he last set foot at the BN component party’s headquarters some 25 years ago.

  • Students aged up to 12 and people with disabilities will get to ride the KTM for free starting Feb 15.

  • Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil plans to meet Telegram officials to discuss measures to counter scams on the app.

  • A 20-year-old job seeker from Johor was abducted and made a slave by a scam syndicate in Myanmar last September, where he and 15 other Malaysians were kept in a prison-like facility and forced to eat rats, among others.

  • An illegal e-waste factory in Parit, Perak, was raided last month by the Perak Department of Environment but the owner has yet to be found.



HIGHLIGHTS

S’gor Mufti Dept: Giving anti-HIV drug to LGBT is colluding in sin
Bersatu man: Roping in S’pore's HDB to solve housing woes violates sovereignty
Hadi: Chinese community close part of my life