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

Front Page

English newspapers

New Straits Times front-paged a report stating that Air France Flight 447 with 228 passengers has gone missing over the Atlantic Ocean. It was en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

The Star led with the news that Malaysians have been conned of RM20 million by at least 11 international scams in the past few years. This was revealed by the police authorities.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia' s lead story was on the government's decision to create a special loan scheme for those who do not have permanent source of income. This is in line with government's move to curb loan sharks.

Berita Harian reported that the most powerful loan shark was among the six being hunted down by the police in Selangor.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban led with the murder of 39-year-old S Sundarajan in Port Klang.

Tamil Nesan and Makkal Osai led with Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Jaloh stating that the police force cannot be blamed for the death of 27-year-old S Thilak in Port Dickson.

Chinese newspapers

China Press, Nanyang Siang Pau and Oriental Daily led with the police going after six 'along' or loan sharks after discovering that two more shoplots were used by them as 'lock-ups' to confine loan defaulters.

Sinchew Daily front-paged the statement by Higher Education Department director-general Prof Radin Umar Suhadi that the 4,547 students wrongfully listed by Universiti Sains Malaysia as successful applicants will be automatically transferred to University Admissions Unit (UPU) to be considered for other public universities.

Nanyang Siang Pau however quoted Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin promising those students will be given place in USM or other universities.

The allegation by former model Manohara Odelia Pinot that she was sexually abused by her husband Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, a Kelantan prince, also appeared in the front-pages of major Chinese dailies.

Editorial

New Straits Times stated that the USM fiasco revealed a possible systemic unreadiness of the university to become a world class institution.

Utusan Malaysia commented that the outcome of the Penanti by-election did not indicate PKR's overwhelming victory.

Berita Harian blamed part-time contractors for problematic projects.

Makkal Osai questioned why loan sharks were allowed to advertise their services.

Tamil Nesan stated that PM Najib's trip to China would boost bilateral relations of both countries.

Malaysia Nanban echoed former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam that there were too many political parties representing the Indian community who make up only 7.5 percent of Malaysians.

Nanyang Siang Pau criticised the USM for the technical glitch that had wrongfully listed 4,547 students as being successful applicants. It urged the apex university to correct its weakness.

China Press commented that Najib's official visit to China has significant impact to regional development as China's economy was still growing fast despite the world economy downturn.