Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today's agenda for the English, Bahasa, Tamil and Chinese papers?

Frontpage

English newspapers

New Straits Times headlined a raid by the police's anti-vice unit on a New Year's Eve party that included drugs and sex at Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur. The police hauled 26 people in the raid. It also reported the death of approximately 60 people in a blaze that razed a nightclub in Bangkok.

Star also zoomed on the botched sex party in Kuala Lumpur. In addition, 52 people were picked up for being public nuisance in the city while eight were detained in Penang. Another 56 people were nabbed in Kuantan by the Pahang Islamic Religious Department officials in a raid of various budget hotels.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia led with the successful operation of the Royal Malaysian Navy in Gulf of Aden. The naval force succeeded in stopping the pirates' attempt to take over an Indian tanker ship.

Berita Harian reported on the raided sex party in Kuala Lumpur.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban reported the murder of handphone shopowner, M Ramachandran, 41. The victim was shot and killed at approximately 10.45pm in front of his business premise at Jalan Pasir Bedamar, Teluk Intan.

Makkal Osai headlined Selangor opposition leader, Dr Khir Toyo stating that PKR is in shambles after failing to keep their promises to the Indian community. He said this in response to Kapar MP S Manickavasagam's resignation from the post of Selangor PKR deputy liaison committee chief.

Tamil Nesan also reported on the Bangkok night club which resulted in scores of people being killed.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily and Oriental Daily front-paged the enforcement of the rear seat-belt rule beginning yesterday.

Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press reported the devastating fire in the Bangkok nightclub.

Editorial

New Straits Times urged all parties to allow the Election Commission to do its job.

Berita Harian backed the government for taking various initiatives to strengthen the financial sector in light with the upcoming global economic crisis.

Makkal Osai expressed its unhappiness over the failure of ceasefire had led to war even as Palestine and Israel are in the midst of peace negotiations.

Malaysia Nanban called upon all to place their trust in the present leadership of Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi just as he had placed his trust on Malaysians to ride out of the global economic crisis.

Tamil Nesan is ushering more changes in this New Year.

Sin Chew Daily suggested that continuation of the New Era College controversy will not bode well for the Chinese education movement.

Oriental Daily discussed the pros and cons of traditional methods of dividing students according to their test scores.

Nanyang Siang Pau urged Israel to stop its deadly air strikes against Gaza Strip.

China Press urged Malaysians to fasten the rear seat-belt for the sake of their own safety.