Malaysia’s ex-finance minister charged again in graft case

13 Sept 09:28 Key points summarised by AI

Former Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng pleaded not guilty to a second corruption charge, accused of abusing power to secure a construction contract for a $1.5 billion undersea tunnel project and obtaining 3.3 million ringgit.
Lim vehemently denies the allegations, labeling them "baseless" and "politically motivated" by the new government, highlighting a lack of evidence and vague timelines.
He anticipates a third charge, and his wife, Betty Chew, is also expected to face money-laundering charges, which Lim views as further political targeting against his family.
These charges arise after Lim's reformist government was ousted in March, with political observers suggesting the prosecutions could be linked to the new government's slim majority and pressure for early elections.

Detained Suu Kyi receives UK royal package: Myanmar govt

Today 03:08 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's detained Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, received a package from Britain's King Charles III, which included two gardening books, a sealed envelope, and diplomatic communication.
The event marked the first release of images of Suu Kyi in two months and saw Myanmar authorities describe her as a "special female prisoner" for the first time.
Suu Kyi, who was deposed in a 2021 military coup that triggered an ongoing civil war, remains under house arrest on charges that rights groups contend are politically motivated.