Yet another RCI linked to Dr M
Good morning. Wishing a belated Happy Thaipusam to those who celebrate.
Here's what you should know today.
Key Highlights
Yet another RCI linked to Dr M
Daim to be charged next week
Govt begins phasing out pensions
Yet another RCI linked to Dr M
The government has moved to create yet another Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) that is related in some way to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
This time, an RCI will probe the issue of Malaysia's sovereignty over Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah (Middle Rocks) and Tubir Selatan (South Ledge) - three tiny islands between Johor and Singapore with overlapping claims.
Mahathir's 2018 government had dropped a plan to appeal the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling on who owns what.
The matter is of special interest to the incoming Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who views it as a matter of Johor's sovereignty.
Previous governments have launched other RCIs that involve Mahathir in one way or another, such as the RCI on the 1990s forex scandal, and an RCI on migrants in Sabah, among others.
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Daim to be charged next week
Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin is expected to face at least one charge brought on by the MACC next week
This is over failure to declare assets to the MACC, the same charge his wife Na'imah Abdul Khalid is battling.
The MACC had initially wanted to charge Daim last week but was delayed due to Daim being in hospital.
Na'imah had said that Daim was not hiding from the MACC, and was willing to be charged in hospital.
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Govt begins phasing out pensions
The government is phasing out pensions for new civil servants.
For now, the government is hiring recruits on a contract basis, before giving them permanent positions.
The new permanent positions will have civil servants enrolled with the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) like other private sector workers.
Civil servants who are already on pension schemes, will not be affected.
Government spending on pensions has been steadily increasing, with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying it could hit RM120 billion per year by 2024 if Putrajaya doesn't change track.
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Other news that matter
The government wants to streamline pre-school education. with the Education Ministry in charge.
It is unclear how this will affect private nurseries, including the Pasti kindergartens run by PAS.
The government is also creating a single body to rate TVET programmes and standardise course quality.
The next Sarawak governor will be sworn in on Monday, according to an invitation received by a state assemblyperson.
A group on trial for murder and conspiracy over the death of an e-hailing driver were acquitted after the victim's ex-wife made a shocking confession in court that she was the killer.
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